Just Can't Get Enough

by LeBelle

5 times story- 5 potential times Sebastian and Kurt could have been a thing (and were).

6. Married

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Bonus- Time 6

Married

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(still mine)

"This particular varietal at this time of year yields the most exquisite palate."

Kurt closed his eyes listening to his husband talk. The pompous ass didn't even really know what he was saying, just using a whole lot of buzz words that sounded familiar and good together. He had no idea what he was saying and had no references for it either. He was a beer man, not a wine guy.

Except now that they were in wine country he was aiming to sound like the tour guide that he dismissed as out of hand and with absolutely no French in his arsenal to back him up.

Rachel was lapping it up, oohing and awing over what he said. Jesse St. James looked to be in as much pain as Kurt was and Kurt nodded to himself, pleased by that. Jesse deserved a world of hurt after not only everything so far that he'd done to everyone but also for making this trip to France a New Directions Reunion Tour. Then he paid for them all to go, even paid for the passports when that held people up. He was also paying for pretty much everything else too and would have paid for the tour guide but Blaine had said he was a much better one.

They could barely find a van that would cart Artie around. Not to mention the complete lack of access for people who needed extra help in Europe. Finding a hotel room had been even more of an issue and of course since Kurt was the only one who could read and speak French it had been up to him to organize it all. He did despite not wanting them along but didn't want to hurt any of them either.

Santana and Brittany were just happy to be drinking and they didn't really give much of a toss about what they put in their mouth as long as it got them drunk.

Puck was already drunk and had nearly dragged Sam and Artie to that point. The three were totally out of their realm just now.

Mike and Tina were making out between drinks. Kurt had asked Tina if they were back together and she told him no, it was just a France thing.

Quinn and her husband were down the bar, trying to sit as far away from the rest of them as possible. They at least had some class and Kurt would have sat with them if he didn't dislike Quinn so much and couldn't stand her husband.

Mercedes kept shooting him looks from her spot on her own at another table. Kurt couldn't even remember why they'd fallen out of best friend zone. It had been too long since they really hung out and it happened before they left Lima too.

They were still friends when he went to Dalton but they never reclaimed that after he returned. He was not quite sure why. He'd ended up being 'best friends' with Rachel Berry. He still did things with Mercedes when they were all back in Lima but that friendship had faded.

Kurt looked over at his handsome husband who was entertaining Rachel if no one else. She sighed and rested her chin on her folded hands and just sucked him in. Maybe it was Rachel's fault? He looked at his husband looking at Rachel and decided it was both of their faults. Rachel stuck closer once Blaine started dating Kurt. While Blaine just wanted to be around Rachel all the time. He must had subtly pushed Kurt into it. He was good at that.

"The varietal he's talking about is not actually from this region, it's from the next crest over and sometimes they mix it with the Chardonnay to help balance the two distinct flavors. Of course once you start mixing varietals it removes it from the competition of pure grape and wine making process to what we affectionately know as table wine. Some of the best and most expensive wines can be table wines and they can get quite competitive and sought after, winning all kinds of awards. There's fewer limitations and so you can really play with the palate and taste."

Kurt grinned and turned toward the speaker. "Thank you! Finally we have a well educated-" His words died off as he recognized the male who stopped at his table. "What are you doing here?"

"This is my vineyard." Sebastian said with a rogue smile and completely at ease. Kurt had never seen him so relaxed and laid back. There had always been a fire in his eyes, a need to dominate and succeed and tear down the competition or anyone who just happened to be in his way. There was a very messed up kid in there, one who was hurting and could only deal with it by hurting others. Yet he was always charming and possessed all the skills to make people follow him without question. He'd gotten Kurt's own friends from Dalton to turn on him, and turn a blind eye on what they'd done to Blaine.

Kurt nodded, irked internally but tried hard to keep it from his voice. "Of course it is."

Instead of challenging him on that or questioning him about anything important going on in their lives up to this point, Sebastian swung it around skillfully to his advantage. "Are you enjoying the wines?" He slid into the chair next to Kurt, having a full view of the tasting room.

Kurt couldn't lie about this. "Yes." Blaine was already talking about sending cases back home. He wasn't listening to a word Kurt was saying about which ones and how cases was a bit extreme since it was only their first vineyard on the tour.

Sebastian nodded and glanced at the glasses in front of Kurt. He picked one up and twirled it around and then smelt it. "Ah, I see you are enjoying the Camenere the most. It is the 2017, is it not?" He waved a waiter over and spoke with him in low tones in French. Kurt would have been able to pick up what he said but it was too soft for him to hear. "Was there anything particular you enjoyed about it?"

"There was a bit of a burnt white oak flavor that was particularly pleasing."

Sebastian's eyes sparkled and that relaxed attitude was tainted a little bit by excitement. "There was definitely some of that going on in there. Anything else of note stand out to you?"

"The soil it was grown in, had to have a little bit of clay in it, the flavor had a different intensity."

"Have you been speaking with our waiters? Heard their stories?" Sebastian was now a little more weary, as if Kurt was pulling one over on him.

"I've only been hearing Blaine spout off nonsense." The New Directions had far more members that had been excluded like Sugar, Joe and Unique, all of which had been around while Kurt was in school. Jesse basically limited it to the ones he knew, even though it hadn't been his trip. It was just Kurt and Blaine's anniversary (and Santana and Brittany's) but they hadn't been invited either, though the two couples wouldn't have been such a bad thing. Kurt could have hung out with either or both or switched it up with Blaine when they weren't off in their own couples activities.

Sebastian shook his head and his eyes flickered over to his once pursuant. Kurt was curious to note that there was nothing in that gaze but mild interest and not interest. "Ah yes, Blaine Anderson, the man who knows everything." Sebastian's eyes bounced around the room onto all those in attendance and he chuckled. "I should feel out numbered and fearful for my life over those in attendance." A small flicker of a frown, then, "Where is your brother?"

"Dead."

"Oh." Sebastian looked at him with the same look everyone else gave him, a mix of sadness, pity and disbelief and a desire to question and know more about the circumstances. "I'm sorry to hear that. Was it recent?"

"About 10 years ago." Kurt looked at the room himself and wondered where everyone would be now if Finn were alive.

"He..." Sebastian swallowed. "He was a pretty decent guy. I expected him to tear my head off but he shook my hand instead."

"Yeah, you never expected it out of him."

Sebastian's eyes flickered over the ring on Kurt's finger. "When did you tie the knot?" He'd been there for the engagement but hadn't been seen since.

"About a year after we got engaged. It was kind of a semi-elopement with all our friends and family there." Kurt laughed when Sebastian's face died to know more. "We piggy-backed Santana and Brittany's wedding. Their idea actually."

"So your brother... he died somewhere between the engagement and the wedding?" Sebastian checked and for the first time in his life, when asked like that, all the irrational and quick decisions he'd made, made so much more sense. He glanced at his husband again, he'd wanted to wait and it had broken them up and then he just went and got married anyway. He'd been so concerned over Rachel's rash behavior he hadn't stopped and thought about his own.

Knowing he was sharing secrets he should have kept between him and his husband, Kurt chose his words carefully. He couldn't believe he was sharing it with Sebastian of all people, the one who had actively tried to break them up for so long. He just needed to let them do it themselves and he would have had an in. Except then Blaine had gone after someone totally unavailable even while 'pining' after Kurt. He wish he'd known that before suggesting becoming boyfriends again.

For some reason while here with the wine flowing through his veins he felt that he could share whatever he wanted with Sebastian and it would end there. "It wasn't right after his death, but still under a year since he died. We'd broken up, dated other people and got married without bothering to date or get engaged that time."

"You two really do things your own way, don't you?"

Kurt shrugged. "Every time we skipped more of the steps we had already gone through."

"Compounding it." Sebastian tipped his head to the side as he studied Kurt's face. "You've become so handsome." Kurt reddened and Sebastian laughed. "Still have that habit, huh? Never thought you'd still do it even after being with Blaine for... 14 years?"

"Something like that." Kurt muttered. "Depends on how and what you count."

"Still not bored with him?" Sebastian asked silkily and Kurt's eyes shot to him and narrowed.

"Sebastian, if you're still angling toward him-."

Sebastian held his hands up with a mischievous smile. "No, no. That ship sailed long ago. Like my wine, my tastes have... matured and I've learned to be patient. Can't rush the grape to grow or the wine to process, it needs time and dedication and to be left alone for awhile. Then it needs to be maintained and tended to and then left alone for awhile again before you can come back for the last of the process and then finally enjoy it. There is wisdom in letting it sit for awhile longer untouched but not for too long, then it sours. I know exactly when to indulge." His eyes never once left Kurt's as he spoke and Kurt felt a shiver go through him.

Kurt breathed in sharply. "Blaine-"

"Is like the beer he drinks. Every pour is exactly the same as the last, you can let it sit for years but it doesn't improve the taste, just gets worse if not properly stored or drank. Beer is one of those things you can only drink for so long before you're done and may never even get the satisfaction of a buzz. Wine can be savored for a long time and it's easy to get and maintain the buzz and oh so easy to slip further along that path and the entire ride is pleasurable."

"Not for everyone." Kurt warned.

"Not for the feint of heart." Sebastian agreed readily. "The tried and true are ready for it."

"So you're like wine?" Kurt checked.

"Yes and you like wine." Sebastian's fingers stroked the stem of the wine glass he still held in his hand.

"How do you know that? Why bother coming up and talking to me?" Kurt shook his head, trying to pull himself out of the spell he seemed to be under. His heartbeat was too fast, his palms were sweating, his mouth was watering and he felt flush while his head was a little foggy and he couldn't look away from those green eyes. Those green eyes, tracking his movements, the smallest of tells and his lips curving up like a predator's about to strike. Those green eyes like jade, like some of the most dangerous creatures, mesmerizing.

"Someone who drinks Carmenere is someone who has my interest. Most people stick with the varietals they know and maybe venture out to ones that sound similar." Sebastian pulled his gaze from Kurt as a bottle was presented to him by the waiter he'd talked to earlier. He looked at it then nodded and the man produced two new wine glasses and popped the cork. Another waiter put a basket of bread and crackers in front of them and a carafe of water and filled two water glasses before taking off. The waiter with the wine started to tell them about the wine but Sebastian waved him off.

"I wanted to hear what he had to say." Kurt was mostly hoping to have someone keep that intense gaze off of him and all that Sebastian was saying.

"I will tell you about this particular bottle." Sebastian's hand stroke the beautifully crafted bottle. "This is from my private collection, only those select few do I choose to share it with. I've been waiting a particularly long time to find someone worthy of sharing this one with." His eyes flickered to Kurt's. "You understand and appreciate wine in a way I haven't seen by any novice. You will enjoy this one, it will open you up to a whole new world of flavors and experiences and make it difficult to go back."

Kurt was finding it difficult to breath but in short gasps. It was hard to think clearly but knew that Sebastian shouldn't be saying these things to him. It was a heady flirtation that he didn't think Sebastian had in him, from what he knew and saw, Sebastian's brand of coming on to someone was a lot more base and direct and heavy handed. It was not this subtle allegory and sustained flirt where if Kurt called him out on it, Sebastian could claim it was all in his head and not at all what Sebastian was actually saying. He was reading too much into it. Except Kurt knew he wasn't.

"You shouldn't waste this on me."

"On you, it would never be a waste." Sebastian poured the dark red drink slowly into first one glass and then the other, allowing it to swirl around the goblet and showcase it's beauty. It was a very pretty red color and Sebastian handed the glass over to Kurt. "Let me know what you smell first." It needed time to open up and breathe but Kurt used that time to take it it's appearance.

He tipped and turned his glass, watching the tannins and his eyes softening as the lines sticking to the glass and slowly following the majority of the liquid was surprisingly lacking. "It's not a young wine. It's been sitting for awhile in a cellar, kept at a good temperature for several years."

"Hmm." Sebastian made a noncommittal sound, letting Kurt continue his deduction.

"The Carmenere by the way, is a very Chilean wine." Kurt mentioned, trying to bring the conversation back to wine.

"It is." Sebastian nodded. "Many places own grapes in different parts of the world and ship them to the region they will either store or sell them in. It's a trick many places employ, the California grapes sold in South Carolina but able to be claimed as a Southern Carolina wine since it was bottled and fermented in South Carolina." Sebastian was impressed Kurt knew his wines as well as he did.

Kurt breathed the released smells deeply and closed his eyes, taking in all the notes he could at first. "Blueberry, black currants."

Sebastian's smile grew even though Kurt couldn't see it, he could almost feel it. "The Carmenere was nearly extinct in France and it is a very difficult grape to grow. I have a small patch that I was able to purchase and have tended to with utmost care. Some disapprove of the use of heat lamps and imitation sunlight but I would rather carry it on for another year with less than natural practices than lose the vine altogether. The Carmenere you've drank is all mine."

Kurt let himself relax and to breath in the regular air before opening his mouth slightly and breathing in deeply again. "Floral, violets? Yes. Espresso and dark chocolate too."

Sebastian sat forward in excitement. "You have done an excellent job so far of looking deeper, seeing past the obvious and finding the hidden, the most important parts."

Kurt swirled his glass just a little more before he took a sip and let it swish around in his mouth and then breathed in through his mouth too. Sebastian sat back abruptly and glanced around guiltily and then looked to Kurt again, holding the edge of the table with white fingers.

"Medium bodied, smooth tannins, which I had expected from looking at it. The fennel and black olive were surprising and yet very fitting." He took another sip and Sebastian physically restrained himself as he watched fascinated as Kurt went through the steps again. "It has a strong layer of savory herbs and one could be forgiven if they thought there was meat roasting nearby. Quite layered I would say." Kurt opened his eyes and looked to Sebastian. "How'd I do?"

"Spectacularly." Sebastian seemed to be having trouble breathing himself now and was having trouble speaking. "You nailed all the points."

"American Oak for a very French grape." He teased, surprised he'd found it in him to play along with what Sebastian had started. "Very potent for a wine." Kurt arched a brow. "What is it?"

Sebastian smiled broadly. "One you won't find all that often on it's own. It's a Petit Verdot. Usually it is mixed with other grapes because it is too stringent but we had a particularly good harvest that year and just the right conditions."

"You grew it here?" Kurt was impressed, it was another one that was difficult to raise in France.

"Painstakingly, yes."

"So you don't harvest grapes from any other country?"

"We do." Sebastian gave a small shrug. "Just not the two that produced these two bottles. I know that it's important to diversify in case something were to happen in one region, we'd still be able to float the company. I have a vineyard in all the major regions but this is my favorite."

And for good reason, it was clean, open, welcoming and contained all at the same time. There was a restaurant attached and they had finger foods and palate cleansers in here but was kept separately from the heartier foods. "You haven't touched the charcuterie board."

"I prefer to save my appetite for the main course and then partake in fiddling with the small meals afterward."

Kurt blushed hard and shifted uncomfortably and Sebastian didn't comment or laugh. "Nothing first?"

"The wine is all I need to savor first, why get anything else involved or interfere with the taste?" Kurt was pretty sure they lost the metaphor somewhere but if they hadn't – wow. "I said I was like wine but you are too and as you can see, I am very passionate and knowledgeable about wine."

"You're not as knowledgeable as you like to believe. I told you almost all of what you know." Kurt sat back and crossed his arms over his chest, Sebastian had gone too far there.

Sebastian leaned against his chair and regarded Kurt, rerunning what they said through his head and then his brows lifted. "Touche." His gaze skated over Kurt's face then down to his hand that was still blatantly displaying his ring and then to Blaine who was still flapping his gums and then at Mercedes before resting on Kurt's face again. "The finer details needed to be shared but the rest of it is wide open and ready to be seen with the right decipher, the right investigator. The right one to decant and indulge in all the secrets it holds."

Kurt narrowed his eyes but didn't say anything for a long moment. "And you're the one who can explore all those depths, pull out all the secrets? Then what?"

"Share." He stated simply and while Kurt said nothing in response to that, Sebastian added. "Savor, make it better by exposing it to the air."

Kurt's nose wrinkled and he shook his head. "Never." He didn't turn his head but his eyes flickered almost nervously toward Blaine and then away again, as if he didn't want Blaine to notice him looking his way or to catch his attention. "Even if the wine is aching to be tasted, it is too expensive, too rare, too... hidden and lost to be found."

"I have a way of making what is off limits mine, finding it even in the most difficult of places and lack of hope of being found." Sebastian watched Kurt bite his lower lip in indecision. "I am also very good at taking it without the original owner aware that it's gone, if not for forever then for a very long time. They might even thank me for it."

Kurt scowled and Sebastian wondered if he went too far with that metaphor. "Some owners would rather break the bottle than let another taste it's contents."

"I'd make sure that never happened. I will take it all."

"What if the bottle doesn't want an owner at all? Or at least the one it currently has but can only give the contents."

"The owner can keep the bottle as long as the contents are mine, if the bottle is ok with that."

Kurt blushed profusely once more and made sure his face wasn't seen by Blaine. "There's more than just the owner to contend with. A lot of different types of security surrounds the prized possession."

"I can get around security and I have some of my own."

Kurt gave a hard shake of his head. "We're nuts. This is nuts. What are we even saying?" Kurt ended the game and spoke directly, needing this to be clear.

"That I can give you something that Blaine can't. If I'm right, something he's never been able to give you." His hand reached to cover Kurt's but Kurt moved his out of the way and a panicked look accompanied it when his eyes darted to Blaine.

"He's incredibly jealous." Kurt hissed. "He may be across the room right now but the second he thinks you're more than just an employee giving me a private tasting, he's going to go bonkers."

Sebastian's mouth hardened into a straight line as he took in how worried Kurt was. "He hurts you?"

Kurt gave a sharp shake of his head. "Not physically. He's just got this way... never mind. He just makes things incredibly awkward and difficult for everyone, not just those directly involved."

"You've cheated on him before?"

"Look around you again, you noted that they were all New Direction kids for the most part but do you see where everyone is? Not one person was sitting with me, all the boys are clustered together again. I'm all alone, not even Mercedes is sitting next to me. Ask yourself why that might be." It wasn't until he put it to words did he answer his own question about what happened to him and Mercedes. Blaine had a way of just subtly shutting people out or pulling them in or making them do what he wanted. He'd shut Mercedes out because she couldn't be quieted or made to do anything. He made her feel disconnected from Kurt when they'd had the most interests aligned. Not even just hobbies or things they liked, but their bigger interests, their bigger plans outside of work and relationships. At one point they had been on a mission to change things, together. "Did I cheat on him with all these people?" Kurt let that sit there for a moment.

"Doubtful." Sebastian did look again, there were a lot of glances toward Kurt but nobody moved toward him. Then there were forced looks away or someone pulling them away and glanced toward Blaine as they did so. Sebastian subtly observed Blaine now, his eyes and attention had all been for Kurt. Blaine kept looking at them, he kept up the appearance and his mouth kept running but more and more his eyes found them and didn't look away for longer periods of time. "Hmm, interesting."

"Exactly." Kurt slipped his hands into his pockets along his sides. Sebastian noted he wore something with not only pockets but pockets where if it was too full would make him look like he had fat rolls. Definitely not in keeping with the Kurt's style he had witnessed in high school. It had been over 10 years since they'd last seen each other, it could be more than his looks had changed.

"What do you do now?" Sebastian's change of conversation had made sense in his head but Kurt lifted a brow as if wondering if he'd had a brain damaged cell in there somewhere, possibly STD brain damage.

"I block for a theater company."

"That is not what I would have expected."

"Times were tough and I didn't exactly have the support and backing I needed to tough it out with it. I was convinced to at least get on the stage and I could always pivot later." Kurt gave a small unhappy shrug. "Never worked out for me and it's hard to drop work at a theater to go audition for a play at another theater. Looks bad, you know?"

"But you block, it's not like you were the lighting director or something."

"No, but I needed to be there to make sure it continuously worked or tweak as needed." He got to sing along to the radio when he worked and got to pretend he was singing as he showed the actors what to do and where to go for each of their marks.

"You could always skip signing up for the next contract." Sebastian reached out again and pressed the glass of water toward Kurt. He hadn't drank much of his glass other than to give his thoughts on the flavors and smells.

Kurt reached for it and Sebastian purposefully didn't pull his hand away, instead he let their hands collide. Then as Kurt gripped the glass he let his fingers glide ever so lightly over the back of Kurt's hand. The hairs there stood up on end and goosebumps appeared. Kurt had difficulty regulating his breathing as Sebastian's fingers skated over his skin. "Have you not been listening?" He whispered. "Are you nuts? I'm the one to live with the fallout and consequences."

"You don't have to, you can run away to France and I will shelter you."

"For how long? Until you've had your fill? Until the bottle runs dry?"

"I assure you, I will never let that happen."

"You can't make any assurances. You're still just a flirt and a playboy even if your methods and prey have changed."

"Let me prove otherwise to you."

"How do you think you're going to manage that?" Kurt glanced at him through his lashes. "You're here in France and I'm only visiting for a few days and then heading back to New York with my husband."

"It doesn't have to be a thing." Sebastian said lightly.

Kurt's frown crashed down over his face at that assessment. "You really haven't changed at all. Still don't care about labels and pre-existing relationships."

"I only care about established relationships and labels if the people involved care about them. Going after a happily married man is different from just a married man." Sebastian's gaze flickered down to Kurt's lips. "You don't look happy, nor does your husband, way over there."

"Regardless, I will never leave my husband nor cheat on him. That's just not who or what I am."

"So you say." Sebastian's eyes caressed his skin as the gaze went from his face down his body and to his hands. "But you are right, that husband of yours sure is... possessive." Blaine was slowly making his way toward them but keeping up his spiel. "I'm easy to find, my room is open to you if you need a secret respite." Sebastian's eyes brushed over his face again and met Kurt's eyes. "And I don't mean just for a tryst."

"Running away now?"

"Better that and give you a safe space than make my intentions known to him. However, if you ever want to take me up on a more permanent solution, I'll announce it for you."

"I don't even know why I would dare risk it-" Kurt knew he'd been flirting with Sebastian and had been intrigued, but he would never risk his marriage. It had become like a worn shoe, soft, comfortable, warm in it's way despite it's holes and pain it caused due to loss of support. He knew it well and sometimes it was hard to leave what you knew to try and force fit into something else, even if it was good for you.

"Come find me and we can talk, you can see." Sebastian let his eyes do the touching for them before he disappeared.

Blaine came over and picked up the bottle that Sebastian had brought to the table. Blaine frowned as he slid into the seat Sebastian vacated and didn't even note that the seat was warmed for him. "This? It's got to be gross, how'd you drink a whole bottle?"

Kurt looked at it and was surprised that despite the talking, they'd managed to drink all but maybe half a glass. Even in the best of wines, that last half glass was the worst part of it. Blaine poured it into his glass and made a face. "Yuck, honestly, how do you drink this swill?"

Keeping him on talk of wine was the safer route and Kurt let him say his piece and carefully added to it and kept him going on it. Then he asked a question that he already knew the answer to about a wine and Blaine brightened and talked to him about it. He tried to keep his face perfectly neutral. It was just karma considering how much he'd been pleased by Jesse's irritation earlier.

Rachel dragged her husband over and pushed him into a chair between Kurt and Blaine and perched on his lap. She had been the only one Blaine had liked and the only one oblivious to him keeping Kurt away from his friends and she didn't care because she didn't notice.

Kurt excused himself to go to the bathroom and when he came back he made sure to walk by Mercedes' table. Then said something to her which required a response and he soon slipped into the seat next to her and chatted.

They chatted for maybe a half hour before Blaine dropped into Kurt's lap and laid a kiss on him. Kurt shifted uncomfortably because Blaine was heavier than he looked and Kurt had fairly skinny legs. He was still also not huge on PDA. It's what made Sebastian's new brand of flirting all the more enjoyable.

Kurt allowed Blaine to talk to Mercedes, offering her a rueful smile and then let himself get lost in faded, jagged memories of a long ago past. He'd gotten passed all the troubles from back then and only one had remained. It resurfaced, repeating, refusing to go, no matter how much they talked about it or went to counseling or how much he'd tried on his own to put it away. It wasn't his to put away and Blaine was never going to change.

The memories of Sebastian were rough sketches of what happened. He remembered being painfully possessive and jealous of the attention he'd bestowed upon Blaine. While they'd done things together, gone out as a trio, been attacked by Sebastian, Kurt couldn't remember Sebastian once actually laying a hand on Blaine. It might not have been because he wouldn't or had; just that Kurt couldn't recall it.

Even as they danced together, it was Blaine feeling up Kurt and not the other way around. Blaine hadn't felt up Sebastian either. Blaine had always touched Kurt when they'd talked or danced and often sat on his lap. For so long it had tricked Kurt into thinking it meant so much more than just a tick. Blaine didn't really do that with others, even today and it still made Kurt wonder. He'd asked but Blaine hadn't an answer himself.

Rachel left Jesse at Kurt's former table and nodded to Mercedes as she took the seat next to her. Why had Mercedes agreed to come when she didn't like most of the people on this trip? Kurt wondered briefly. There was still some unsaid tension between the two women, though they tried to pretend like it wasn't there most of the trip.

Why had anyone other than Jesse and Rachel agreed to come when Jesse offered the trip? He supposed he understood Santana, she'd always go for the free trip, no matter her opinion on who offered it. Perhaps it was because they offered it and it was her way of sticking them with her pitchfork. She didn't always think of the consequences to her actions, like asking Blaine and Kurt to get married with them. It had seemed like a good idea at the time then she grew to regret it, nearly instantly, but had gotten over it for the most part in the last 10 years.

Kurt had second thoughts not too long after, had questioned it himself at the time but had been caught up in the excitement too. Reality had reared it's ugly head not long after, confirming his doubts. Still, he'd worked through it, again and again. Blaine kept repenting, again and again. They were married and that wasn't ever going to change.

Kurt hadn't lied when he'd told Sebastian he didn't cheat and he wouldn't divorce Blaine. If he were going to divorce Blaine, it would have been years ago. Now he was just resigned to it, the fight going out of him, his care about it disappearing and he was just numb other than to put on a front for everyone else. He put on a front for Blaine too most of the time, letting him think everything was fine, letting him get his emotional high from Kurt finding out and reacting in a way he thought Kurt should react. He liked Kurt getting upset, he liked hurting Kurt emotionally as some sort of punishment for something Kurt didn't know he'd done. Kurt had tried over the years to figure out what he'd done to deserve Blaine's joy in his emotional pain and determined that it was some slight that Blaine must have made up in his head because there was nothing Kurt could think of to warrant this.

Yet the thing that could have hurt Kurt the most, more than Blaine dating Karofsky and living with him was the one thing he hadn't ever done even though it was offered up on a silver platter.

Blaine suddenly turned in his lap and sliced a hand into Kurt's perfectly coiffed hair and kissed him. Kurt was startled and didn't catch his intention in time and then there was a tongue in his mouth. Kurt really didn't like PDA and this was far and above anything he tolerated. Blaine knew it and yet he'd done it anyway. The story of their life together, actually. Kurt struggled to get free but Blaine held him still, invading his mouth with his tongue. Kurt didn't care any more what their friends thought, didn't care about the image they were trying to present all these years. This was over the line and Blaine knew it too and the fact that he'd done it anyway had pissed Kurt off in a way he hadn't been in years. He shoved Blaine off of his lap and got to his feet. They hadn't been intimate even in private in a year and a half and now Blaine was trying to pretend like they were in a very public setting.

Blaine had fallen onto the ground and was jumping back up to his feet while Rachel very vocally scolded Kurt. She was reaching out to help Blaine up. "How could you do that to your husband?" She nagged. "He could have gotten hurt. You need to be more careful. I guess you don't know you're own strength. Are you ok, Blaine?"

"I'm fine." Blaine brushed off his backside, eyeing Kurt with a speculative look and a grin crossed his features. Oh he'd just found a new button to push, hadn't he? Kurt frowned right back at him, knowing that Blaine was going to utilize that from now on too. He liked when Kurt got riled up and he could be the one to try and calm him, settle him, even though he was the one at fault. He got to appear like the knight in shining armor for everyone. Kurt was already calm, so it was just a trick of memory for others, or seeing what they wanted to see. Kurt was in the wrong, yet again, they'd say.

Kurt was done with that right this minute, while he wasn't angry, he was disturbed by this. He wasn't going to stick around and let Blaine play hero. "Just stop." Kurt spun and strode purposefully and quickly out of the room. Santana was standing up, looking at him with a look in her eyes and Mercedes watched him go with another look he couldn't describe. Puck and Sam were eying him too. He looked away, not wanting to see them look at him like that.

With a heavy sigh of frustration, Kurt pushed out of the room and let the door swing shut behind him. It closed with a gentle click, annoying the hell out of him, he wanted it to slam shut. The others were all judging him and finding him guilty of crimes he didn't commit and he was just behaving poorly.

He thought about heading back to their room but knew Blaine would find him too easily there. Instead he turned and headed outside and into the vineyards. He paused as he walked by a structure and realized it was a stable. They had horses here? He glanced around and then slipped into the building. He was never an outdoorsy person and horses seemed like the last thing he'd be interested in. But they were beautiful, strong and gorgeous at the same time, having an elegance to them.

There were a few horses in the stables and most were chocolate beauties, a couple of black ones and a few gray, a couple of painted and tan ones too and then in the prized location was a lone white one. His fingers had slid along the name of each as he'd passed, he'd chuckled as he recognized the nod to some of the people they'd known growing up but maybe it was just a coincidence too as there were other names too that were just a play on words or related to the others. They were all grouped together., all French versions of the words. The last few he'd passed were,

Hunter, Trapper, Ryder.

Melody, Harmony, Beat

Bass, Tenor, Soprano

Sugar, Candy, Honey

Skylar, Aurora, Himmel.

The white stallion was named Himmel. Kurt stopped as he looked at the name and then at the horse. A white horse named Himmel? Kurt found that he needed to sit down. He found a bucket that was empty and turned it over and sank heavily onto it as he just stared at the horse. The horse didn't even seem to notice him, lost in it's own thoughts, probably.

It had to be a coincidence, right? Hummel and Himmel just sounded close but Himmel meant heaven and the others were related to that too. They were in France, perhaps the German word really was just a note to draw in Germans or the horse came from Germany.

It was the only word that wasn't French.

Kurt shook his head, he was just reading more into it than was actually there. After Sebastian's flirtation and words, he just wanted it to mean more than it did. He steadied himself and stood back up, the wind out of his sails, but also much calmer now than he'd been. He put the bucket back where he'd found it and then felt a muzzle knock into his shoulder. He looked over at the horse pressing itself against him and he was shocked the white horse was paying attention to him now and that it was so friendly. He rubbed his fingers against the velvety feel of it's snout and he got a non-verbal sound of pleasure in return and the horse rubbed his head against Kurt some more. Kurt stroked it's cheeks and neck a little longer before the horse stepped away. Kurt patted him once more before heading back outside.

He wasn't ready to head back in again and so started to walk through the extensive rows of vines. Trying not to let his thoughts stray back to the horse that appeared so cold and distance but had been a great source of comfort and actually quite warm in it's actions. Those eyes had been so blue too... Kurt had never seen such shockingly clear blue eyes on a horse that wasn't a painted.

About an hour later, he headed back in, going to his room to shower and change. They'd be getting together for dinner soon. He was incredibly mellow now and perhaps a bit pink from being in the sun for so long without protection.

He walked in and heard the shower running. He had no idea what had happened after he left the tasting room. Blaine had to save face somehow but wasn't sure what he'd done to do so. Had he just come here or had he gone after Kurt only to come back in empty handed or with a story? He supposed he'd find out when he joined them for dinner. Rachel would definitely say something.

The shower turned off and Kurt worked at his shirt, they'd done this enough over the last year. Blaine showered and would come out for Kurt to use or vice versa. They'd just pass each other without a word or a glance at the other.

This time though, Blaine came out and his eyes brightened at seeing Kurt sitting on the edge of the bed. Jesse had made sure to get them one bed at each place they went to on this tour. Some had bigger beds than others and Kurt was so glad that the bed was a king here. The double was just a little too close quarters at the last place. Though Blaine probably would have been fine even with a single, he hogged most of the bed and one this trip had been very snuggly, even with space allowed between them, he still somehow draped himself around Kurt. Kurt's sleep was not very good when Blaine did that. Blaine's body let off a lot of heat and the a/c was cold and he always kicked the blankets off. Kurt also could never move or get into a comfortable position or change positions when Blaine did that. He was always trapped under that heavier body and even in sleep, tight embrace.

Kurt looked back at Blaine wearily. He only had a towel around his waist and he padded over to Kurt and slid a hand over Kurt's shoulder, nearing his neck and Kurt moved out from under his touch. Blaine put a knee on the bed on the side the Kurt moved toward, blocking his escape. Kurt tried going the other way but Blaine blocked him with another knee, now kneeling over Kurt's lap, trapping him beneath him. Kurt frowned up at Blaine as he leaned over him, putting a hand on his shoulder again and Kurt put both hands on Blaine's bare chest. His lips twisted at the fact this was the most they'd touched in a long time. Blaine had tried to get intimate a few times over the course of their dry spell but Kurt had pushed him off or told him no on each occasion. Since Blaine knew exactly why Kurt said no, he didn't push harder.

Blaine tried to kiss Kurt but Kurt turned his head and got his cheek instead. He pushed Kurt backward so he was on his back and Kurt cursed that he was so easily knocked over. Blaine started to press kisses against Kurt's neck. Kurt pushed at Blaine's chest. "No, Blaine."

"Come on, it's our 10th anniversary!" Blaine slid his fingers along the buttons Kurt had been undoing and worked on finishing the job.

"No, Blaine. We have too many issues and I'm not going to compound them." Kurt dropped a hand over Blaine's wandering hand. "Stop."

"I'm your husband." Blaine argued. "I'm entitled to some liberties."

"Not when I say no, it doesn't matter if there's a ring on our fingers. It's not a marriage from the dark ages where you're the man and I'm the woman and you can do whatever you want to me or expect me to put out willingly or feel duty-bound. I'm also a man. I get the same considerations and since we're both men, we both have a say in what's happening. The fact that we're also in the 21st century means that even if I were the woman, I'd still have a say in the matter, as she should."

"Exactly, we both get a say in the matter. I want to do this." Blaine attempted to do more but Kurt pushed him off.

"No." Kurt got up and went into the bathroom and stripped and got into the shower quickly. There was no lock on the bathroom door unfortunately. Blaine followed him in once he heard the shower running. He dropped his towel and slipped his arms around Kurt's waist and rested his chin on Kurt's shoulder. "Blaine, I already told you."

"Kurt... haven't I been a model husband?"

"The last week, sure." Kurt felt Blaine pressed up behind him, full contact and he didn't feel like he could sleep in the same bed as him tonight. He didn't put it passed Blaine to try to feel him up as he slept. "It doesn't make up for all the other things you've done over the years."

"It's our anniversary. We should connect physically too, it'll help soothe things between us. It's going to make the rest of the relationship better too. His hands started to slip over Kurt's wet chest from the shower. "You always liked the shower the best, less mess to clean up afterward." Blaine purred in his ear and his hands were knowing, knew exactly what Kurt liked, so much experience and history between them.

Kurt started to lean back into his embrace. He hadn't been touched other than by his own hand in over a year and a half. It felt so good. Blaine's kisses along his shoulder had him closing his eyes and he didn't protest when Blaine's hand slipped lower nor when he felt Blaine's excitement behind him, pressing against his thigh. He was so weak, he's pushed off Blaine for so long and now... now he was right back where he started, panting and groaning as Blaine's fingers worked their advantage. He was so needy for it, having denied himself for so long, even the unwanted touch was welcomed. He knew logically he was going to regret it, was going to feel only disgust in himself for giving in but his body had taken over. His body craved a release and connection with another, knowing what it had been deprived. Blaine knew it too, had bided his time until he was certain he could get away with changing their physical status back to where it had been before.

"We're going to have such a good anniversary now." Blaine said into Kurt's neck and it nearly ruined the moment but Kurt was already over the edge and barely heard him. He was pressed forward into the shower's wall, his hands along the cool tile despite the heat from the shower's spray and he rested his cheek against it, hoping to cool and calm him down even after the release. Blaine's fingers started working him in a different way, his intention clear and Kurt was too loose limbed and dazed to tell him no after that release. His fingers disappeared for a second and then were back again, widening him further with lube and Kurt hesitated at the stretch he hadn't felt in so long. This wasn't in his plans, he was still coming down from his high and it felt good but was it worth the consequences?

Blaine's fingers hit a spot and he moaned in pleasure, his body ready for the next release, demanding one. Blaine took that as a cue to move on to the next stage and Kurt came back to himself long enough to demand one thing. "Condom."

"We're married." Blaine complained, they had only gone without condoms for a short while, for about a month after they got married. Then Kurt would only do things with condoms, even oral. Blaine hadn't liked it but had respected his choice. This was the first time he'd argued in years, always attempting to slip it by Kurt but always complying when Kurt said the word.

"That-" Kurt grunted when Blaine slid into him, cutting him off. Blaine didn't want to hear Kurt's words and lose out on the opportunity to have sex with him. Kurt reached back with one hand and while he thought he felt it without needing to touch Blaine, he just had to make sure. His fingers found the rolled edge and he was able to relax again and enjoy the moment while it was happening. His hand went back to the wall and worked with Blaine's thrusts and thrusting back up against him. It was a little rougher than normal though, as if Blaine was holding back some anger toward Kurt. Because he'd made sure there was a condom? Because that was the only time he'd touched Blaine since submitting to his own body's desires? Or was there something more? Blaine hadn't pushed for the first 3 days of their trip, just wrapped himself around Kurt while sleeping. Today he'd pushed for a lot more intimacy.

Blaine was the only one he was going to let touch him and the fact that he hadn't let Blaine do as much as that over the last few years was only hurting himself. He'd only deprived himself as Blaine had always found his pleasure elsewhere when he couldn't have Kurt. He'd put himself in this position with depriving himself for so long. He was too easy to turn into putty with the right touch.

He let himself be fooled yet again. Maybe he'd finally gotten through to Blaine his seriousness on the matter? Maybe this time, Blaine wouldn't stray again? He'd been denied for a year and a half and still wanted Kurt. Maybe this time it would be enough.

Kurt let himself believe it, let himself take pleasure from this and ignored what his brain was screaming at him; his heart too. Only his body thought this was a good idea.

When Blaine was done, he'd made sure that Kurt was too. It wasn't as easy to get him off the second time. The first time, any touch would have done. The second time required skill and effort. He'd made sure that Kurt was satisfied and soft in his hands before cleaning them both up. He helped Kurt finish up his shower tasks and then wrapped them both up in warm white fluffy towels. He kept smiling at Kurt, soft and warm smiles. He was incredibly pleased and Kurt was still in a haze of post lust and so let Blaine move him around. It felt nice after such a long time of being at odds with his husband. He didn't want or like the discord.

Except as they dried off and went through the motions of getting dressed, Kurt's brain started to be heard through that cloud. He was starting to realize exactly what he'd done and undone with letting this happen.

Unfortunately the only thing they'd really agreed upon with this marriage was that marriage was forever. There was no way that Blaine would initiate a divorce either. There was a determination in Blaine to ensure that they weren't even separated. He wouldn't let Kurt sleep in a different bed. If Kurt tried to sleep in the guest room, Blaine picked the lock and joined him in that bed. Even on their worst nights, after any of the arguments, no matter how angry Kurt was, Blaine would be in that bed with him. He wouldn't touch Kurt, but he made sure they were in the same bed.

Kurt had tried to move out, tried to stay at a hotel but Blaine always found a way to join him wherever he went. Not that Kurt would have actually moved out, just threatened it, because he'd been trying to save face too. He would never let anyone know that they were having some very serious issues, no one else had a right to know that was happening in his relationship. It was his marriage and he kept it all a secret. Which is why he never went back to his dad's house on his own either, never told his dad. He knew what his dad would say, his dad would encourage him to divorce and would be the first to pull him out of that situation.

His dad had been too perceptive anyway, he'd suggested Kurt come home for a while on his own, once. Kurt reassured him that everything was fine and that he was staying right where he was. Burt had looked incredibly torn with that response and said. "Even though you're married, if you ever need me, I'm always there for you. I'm always on your side and will do whatever I can, whatever you need. You're my son and that's my first priority, always."

Kurt had nearly cried and fallen into his dad's arms to tell him all the sordid details. Except he didn't. He'd held the tears back and had nodded sharply, thanking his dad heartily. Blaine had never once touched him harshly nor took things too far against his will. It was the only thing that would drive Kurt to pursue the big D word. The rest of it, Kurt would just suffer in silence for the rest of the world, only Blaine got to hear his opinion on it and even these days, not even Blaine. Kurt kept it to himself. He had such high hopes for his marriage and hadn't wanted this, but he'd made his decision to wed, he'd live with the consequences now. Blaine had shown his true colors before they even got engaged. Kurt had turned a blind eye to who Blaine was...for a dream?

They'd been too young, when they met Kurt had been too vulnerable and impressionable. Since Blaine had made his mark at that time, it had followed through the rest of their lives. Even now that he was older and stronger, he was still weak to Blaine because Blaine had a hold on that soft, weak spot.

Blaine came in for another kiss once they were dressed and Kurt turned his head, feigning that he was looking for something; not knowing what either were doing. He spotted his phone so it was a bit more believable. He pocketed his phone and let Blaine take his hand and lead him out of their room.

Blaine looked over the moon the entire time that evening. He kept touching Kurt on different places of his body, ever obscene, but it was too obvious that he'd gotten lucky recently. Kurt swallowed back his revulsion every time Blaine's hand or knee came into contact with him. The foot sliding up his calf was nearly his undoing and he kept himself from jumping to his feet again and storming out. Blaine thought that since he'd let them get carried away in the shower that everything was fine? That he'd go back to having more intimate relations with him whenever, where ever now?

Kurt kept his dark look off his face with the pure grit of his teeth and acting ability. Too green, ha! He would have floored the biggest critics if they'd known just how good and long he'd kept this up.

Mercedes reached out a hand and laid it over Kurt's on the table. He realized he'd let a little slip as his hand was curled in a fist around his fork. Her touch was gentle and her eyes were worried. "Ok?" She asked softly.

He forced himself to release his grip over his fork and laid it down gently. He pulled a smile up onto his lips and lied through his teeth. "I'm great. Why?"

"You just... well..." She glanced over at Blaine who couldn't hide the fact that he was listening even though he was talking with Rachel yet again. "I'm here." She finished unsure how to say anything else without tipping Blaine off or causing a problem for Kurt. It sounded weird to anyone else but Kurt got it and he smiled at her a little more genuinely then.

"Everything's good." He lied but it was for her sake. "Thank you."

She shook her head, seeing through his words but she didn't press or say anything further, just squeezed his hand and then let him go.

Blaine dropped an arm around Kurt's shoulders and he leaned back into his chair and lifted a glass of wine to his lips with his other hand. Kurt frowned lightly at this new position, it restricted his movements in return. He lifted his own glass of wine and sipped at it and closed his eyes as the flavors danced over his tongue. He hadn't seen the wine bottle the waiter had filled his glass with recently but it was definitely not the same as the one in Blaine's glass. There wasn't bad wine in Sebastian's collection but there were definitely a few Blaine preferred and a few that Kurt preferred and they weren't nearly on the same palate.

He glanced around the room, all of their friends were at the same table this time in a big circle. He saw Sebastian across the room talking with a man in a white uniform jacket and he realized that it was the chef. After whatever Sebastian said to him, the man nodded and headed deeper into the room to talk with a patron. They talked for a little while, Kurt noted out of the corner of his eye but his focus was solely on Sebastian.

Sebastian was watching them from his spot and then his attention swung directly to Kurt. He gave a small nod with a sassy lift to his lips. Kurt thought he was far too cocky still. His eyes fell onto the arm around Kurt's shoulders and he shook his head and looked back over to the chef before tossing another smile toward Kurt when he noted Kurt's eyes still on him.

Blaine shifted and his nose brushed against Kurt's ear. "Want to get out of here and repeat our conversation from earlier?"

The answer was a hard no. Kurt turned his head and lost track of Sebastian as he did so. "We've barely talked to our friends this evening." He murmured back. Blaine sighed, taking Kurt's no the way he had intended, knowing that Kurt wasn't going to budge on this again any time soon.

"Spoilsport." Blaine said lowly, just for Kurt's ears. "I can't believe you're going back on this again. I haven't done anything wrong. Just give in, you want me, you know you do."

"A moment doesn't make a pattern." Though there was another disturbing pattern where Kurt kept falling into his hands when his body was frustrated enough.

Kurt turned to look back at Sebastian, not really trusting him either. Except he was gone and he couldn't spot him anywhere in the room. The chef was gone now too. Kurt sighed, he didn't know why Sebastian's sudden reappearance in his life was disturbing him so much.

"We'll see how you feel when we get back to the room tonight." Blaine nodded for a waiter to refill their wine glasses. Kurt eyed it suspiciously, was Blaine intending to get him drunk and take advantage of his inebriated state? This would be Kurt's last for the night and he'd nurse it for as long as possible. It was such a shame too though, it was very good wine and he would have liked to drink more.

Blaine got drunk though and face-planted in their bed when they got in the room. Kurt didn't even bother to help him undress or turn onto his side or anything. Instead he went onto their balcony and just enjoyed the moonlight casting light onto the winery. It was gorgeous, and the backdrop of stars only added to it's beauty.

He pulled a blanket around him and lounged out on the balcony's padded lounge chair, falling asleep without realizing it. Only waking up when the sun hit his closed eyelids. He went back in, found Blaine snoring, still on his stomach and Kurt quickly changed. He didn't want to wake Blaine up.

He headed to breakfast and sat with Tina and Mike who kept looking over Kurt's shoulder the entire time but were pleasant and cheerful and talked with him warmly. Sam joined them about halfway into the meal and ordered his own but didn't get coffee like the rest of them. At times Sam really reminded Kurt of his step-brother, they were a lot alike on some scores.

The group finished up with breakfast and headed out to walk the grounds. Kurt remembered his sunscreen this time and lathered it on as they walked. Tina teased Kurt and Kurt teased her right back, slipping his arm around hers as they walked. Sam and Mike walked slightly ahead of them and chatted as they went.

Sometimes they changed up the grouping as they went further than what Kurt had wandered to on his own. Tina pressed a kiss to Kurt's cheek, surprising him and she laughed. "You were so lost in thought."

"Oh, I didn't even realize." Kurt shook his head. "Sorry, what did I miss?"

"Nothing really, we were just talking about how life has turned out so differently for everyone than what we'd planned.

"Well not for Rachel." Kurt pointed out, she'd just changed one male with another, but life was exactly as planned otherwise. None of them, not even married Quinn with plans of having 2 children with her husband by now had happened. Granted that wasn't including Puck and Quinn's offspring from high school. Puck had removed that option for himself when he turned 18.

He knew Quinn and her husband were frustrated with the lack of children and he never pressed for why it hadn't happened for them yet. Rachel was planning on having kids when she was 30, not a moment sooner, though that wasn't exactly the best of plans either. It only gave her a small window but the window was nearing soon, this year actually. Except it didn't look like she and Jesse were actively trying, she seemed more interested in talking with Blaine than using this as a second honeymoon with Jesse.

The conversation drifted away onto another topic and Kurt participated. They eventually headed back and reluctantly went toward the dining room to see if anyone else was awake yet. Tina abruptly removed herself from Kurt's side when they saw Blaine. He hadn't spotted them yet but by the time Blaine turned his head toward Kurt, Kurt was standing alone in the room. Tina, Mike and Sam were seated at a small bistro table that didn't have a fourth chair. They were ordering some drinks and determinedly not looking at either him or Blaine.

What was that about?

Rachel attached herself to Kurt's arm and dragged him over to his husband, her's following behind them. Rachel pushed him into a seat and took the one between him and Blaine. Jesse chose to sit closer to Kurt than Blaine in one of the empty seats.

The day started to pass as the others had since they'd gotten to France. The only day that had been different had been yesterday and this morning.

Blaine disappeared for awhile between lunch and dinner and then was there getting dressed along with Kurt and at dinner sat with his arm around Kurt. He followed Kurt back upstairs and they spent some time in their room pursuing different pursuits and then Kurt got dressed for bed and crawled in. Blaine followed quickly after and attached himself to Kurt, pressing kisses but Kurt shut him out and stopped his hands from exploring ground again. "Want to top?" Blaine pressed his chest to Kurt's back, holding on tightly.

"No." Kurt wasn't offered that often with Blaine but it was his go-to to try and entice Kurt. He'd gotten his fix, he would be able to hold out for a while again now, no matter what Blaine did or suggested.

"Can I?" Blaine asked sliding his hand up the outside of Kurt's thigh toward his hip.

Kurt put a hand over Blaine's to stop him. "No."

"Why are you so cold again? You were so hot in the shower yesterday. So frustratingly hot. I wasn't done with you but we had to go to dinner."

"That's too bad, I'm done with it." With Blaine. It was just then as Blaine pouted and just went back to encircling Kurt with his arms, put out but understanding all he'd be able to do now is hold Kurt, that Kurt realized that he hadn't seen Sebastian all day. It shouldn't have mattered but it did. Kurt found that he had wanted to run into Sebastian again. He heard the softening and evening of breath behind him, and by now he was used to it against the back of his neck. The arms didn't relax though and content that Blaine was well and truly asleep, Kurt let himself drift off to sleep too.

Even in his sleep though, he blocked Blaine's hand from sinking down his front. He couldn't keep Blaine from snuggling, but he could keep Blaine's hands above the equator.

–

At breakfast the next morning, Kurt let Blaine leave the room thinking he was still asleep. He gave him some time as he slowly acclimated to the morning and then when appropriate time had passed, he started to head to the breakfast area himself. He was hoping that Blaine would wander off with Rachel and Jesse before he got there. Maybe he'd be able to eat with Mercedes.

Sebastian fell into step with him though before he could even get to the hallway that would lead him to the breakfast room. "I need to show you something." Sebastian's tone was icy and flat. His words short and succinct, a feat to do in French. "I apologize for showing it to you so early in the morning though, but it's something I can't let go unseen."

Kurt followed Sebastian down another hall, dreading what he was about to see. He felt like he knew what it was though, even without Sebastian's strange attitude. He'd never actually seen Blaine cheat but he knew it was true enough, every time.

"Sit, stay in that seat until I show you everything." Ok, so maybe more than once with the same guy? Or two different guys?

Unfortunately that was true enough and Kurt tried to look away. The time stamps showed it was happening in this hotel since they practically stepped foot into it. There were 3 different guys that Blaine let take the lead, let take him in the hallways or the elevator. Apparently he was the receiver for everyone but Kurt on a regular basis and that he liked elevators. Once was shortly before he'd taken Kurt in the shower and then the next was sometimes around breakfast yesterday.

"That's bad enough." Sebastian said gravely and pressed another button. "This is... probably even harder to watch but you need to see it."

As much as Blaine had been getting up to things with other guys while on their anniversary trip, it had unprepared him for the fact that Blaine's sex drive was even higher than when they were teenagers. Blaine had been frustrated that Kurt hadn't put out more than once on this trip, and had confessed to cheating on Kurt probably once every 6 months over the last 10 years, and had always sworn it was a one time thing with a random guy and didn't mean anything. Sure enough, Blaine didn't do repeats with men, but it was 3 times in 3 days.

Blaine found someone smaller than him this time in the next video and Kurt couldn't see who it was at first. Then his stomach dropped as Blaine lifted his conquest up into his arms and legs wrapped around his hips. Again in the elevator, and Blaine was clearly thrusting in as the view made it possible to see exactly what was going on. The dribble down thighs afterward made it clear that condoms weren't part of this arrangement.

It hadn't been clear if Blaine had worn one or if the male he was partnering with had been, but this time it was clear as day. Kurt closed his eyes. "I'm sorry." Sebastian laid a hand gently on Kurt's shoulder. "But there's one more video you need to see." Kurt forced his eyes open and saw Blaine with his unprotected partner once more but they weren't alone, they had company. They were stumbling and laughing together and then fumbling with the door and Blaine kissed both, deeply, intimately with heavy touching before someone finally managed to get the door open and they were falling into the room.

Kurt placed both hands, palms open over his face and just held his position for a long time. He wasn't breathing harder or crying, just trying to make sense of what he'd seen. Most of it was so typical for Blaine. The fact that he'd now seen his indiscretions with his eyes didn't even phase him. He was just so done and numb to it.

"Blaine never was sure of himself. He'd gone that route once before and then determined I was more in line with what he wanted. Maybe he just finally realized that he was right all along with his original experiment. Or maybe she'd always been special, the exception to the rule. I just didn't know about Jesse. It makes more sense now though." Kurt dropped his hands from his face and looked over at Sebastian who looked so torn, it made him laugh a little. Sebastian hadn't been sure on why he was doing it or even if he should but had in the end. Now he was second guessing it. "It's fine, I knew about the rest, knew who Blaine was. Thank you for opening my eyes to Rachel and Jesse though. Why Jesse wanted this trip now makes a lot of sense." He probably misunderstood the pained look too from the other day while Blaine was talking nonsense.

Kurt got up and Sebastian looked alarmed. "You're not going back to him, are you?"

"For the first time in years, I need to think about my answer to that question." Kurt admitted to them both. Cheating on him was never good, never acceptable, but now Blaine had crossed a new line, he'd slept not only with friends but that he'd slept with a female. Unprotected sex with a female, several times it seemed. He'd slept with both Rachel and Jesse, it was no longer random, 'meaningless' or once and done.

He didn't come across Blaine again for several hours, but he didn't really seek him out either. He had just gone back to their room and onto the balcony. He was pretty sure Blaine had gone to Rachel and Jesse's room again. Blaine came back in around lunch time whistling and in a very good mood. He cameout onto the balcony and wrapped his arms around Kurt's shoulders, kissing any of the skin he could reach. "I love you." He said and his hands started wandering but Kurt stopped them. "Come on Kurt, you're so closed off to the world. Relax and let go a little, be freer with your body. You''ll regret it when you're old that you denied yourself more experiences while you could."

Blaine was being really pushy. Pushier than normal. "I'm surprised you can go again so soon."

"That was two days ago." Blaine was put out and tried to drag Kurt into the room to do more.

"No, I'm not talking about the last time we had sex. I'm talking about the fact that I can smell it on you, you didn't even shower before leaving their room. What's the plan there? Trying to play the game of 'who's daddy?'"

"What are you talking about?" Blaine frowned, offended. "I don't like calling people daddy or being called that when it comes to sex. That's just confusing and gross."

"Oh, you do find something over the line and gross, huh?" Kurt shook his head. "I knew about the random hookups. I did, even on this trip, I knew you were stepping out of our marriage vows. How much you've been doing it was a little surprising but that wasn't the biggest surprise. You were caught on tape, fucking Rachel Berry-St. James of all people! I knew you were close, I just hadn't realized that extended to an intimate sexual relationship on your end. I knew she would always be open to it, she's always been open to that with you, obviously so."

"Oh." Blaine looked at Kurt dumbfounded and for once not trying to touch Kurt at all. Then he brightened. "We're going to have a baby!"

Kurt blinked at him, not sure what to say or think about that. "Sorry?"

"You and I. She agreed to have a baby for us."

"What?" Words were difficult to force out of his lips. He and Blaine had never discussed kids. Blaine said he wanted some and Kurt had wanted some but after Blaine admitted to cheating on him the first time in their marriage, Kurt had shut that door firmly. He would not bring a child into this mess.

"She's going to be our baby mama. That's why I was having sex with her. I mean it was fun, especially when Jesse got involved, but the purpose was to get her pregnant for us."

"You didn't discuss this with me and you could have done it without having sex with her. Definitely without including Jesse. I don't want a kid with you, I definitely never agreed for you to the be the father of any kids we might have had, had we agreed to trying to expand our family."

"Oh, you want to be the biological father to our child with Rachel?" Blaine's eyes seemed to glow with the possibilities going on his warped brain.

"No."

"Then what's the problem?"

"The problem is, we have a sham of a marriage to begin with and I do not want to bring a child into this mess. It's not fair to the child and it would just be a further tie that I have with you. I'm not going to stand for it."

"But you're not going to divorce me and we're getting up in years. If we're going to have a family, we have to start now. I want kids, I've never hidden that fact and if I have kids, you have kids. Rachel and Jesse want to have kids of their own but it would only confuse their kids if they saw Rachel give our child to us after they were born. This is the best way to do it."

"Without even discussing it with me? That's not going to be a great parenting team there." Kurt rolled his eyes. "Whatever Blaine. You know I won't divorce you, that marriage is eternal. But that doesn't mean I have to stay with you."

"Yes you do!" Blaine grabbed Kurt's arm as he attempted to leave the room. "You're not going to move out. You're my husband and you're going to raise our children with me!"

Kurt fought to be free but Blaine didn't let go this time. He dragged Kurt to him and was completely sober as he pressed his mouth to Kurt's. "Just submit, you know you love my body and love having me in you. Why do you fight it so much? You shudder in pleasure around me every time. If you would just let go and just keep having sex with me, you'd be so much happier." There was desperation and panic in his movements, a very real fear that Kurt would be done with him completely now and Blaine had to prove otherwise.

"And dumber." Kurt shoved at his chest and Blaine tightened his arms around him, walking them forcefully back to the bed and taking Kurt down onto it with him. "I don't want this. Don't compound the issue by adding other problems to the mix. I will divorce you if you continue to touch me, if you take this further. I'll slam you with charges and a restraining order too."

Blaine froze, didn't let Kurt go but stopped trying to force the issue. "You're not moving out."

"Let me go, I need space and a walk to clear my head." Kurt held perfectly still in Blaine's arms and he sighed and dropped his hold on Kurt. Kurt rolled out of the bed and put space between them.

"You'll be back." Blaine predicted. "We'll be waiting for you, your child and me."

"Your child." Kurt snapped back and then fled the room. The fact that no child had been born or even confirmed pregnancy was beyond the scope just then.

Kurt ended up in Sebastian's apartment within the hotel, in the end. Sebastian had let him in and Kurt realized he'd hadn't been there before, had no idea how he knew where to go. Sebastian led him to a guest room equipped with it's own bathroom and mini-kitchen and couch, TV and balcony.

"I'll be back later, if you want to talk, but take all the time you need, feel free to stay here for as long as you want. Sleep if needed." Sebastian didn't touch him and left him with the door open a crack, letting Kurt know he wasn't stuck here either. He was free to move about as he pleased.

Sebastian didn't force him to talk, didn't ask any questions. He just opened his home up to Kurt and left it at that.

Kurt paced the small living quarters for what seemed like an hour before he laid on the bed, thoughts racing and somehow he'd fallen asleep.

He woke to a loud banging on the door. It stopped and he heard Sebastian's voice raised and clear and then Blaine's too. Sebastian had called for security even before he answered the door and there was a scuffle and then Blaine's voice was fading away as he was taken away. Kurt didn't poke his head out of his mini-suite in Sebastian's apartment. He only muttered a 'come in' when Sebastian knocked softly.

"Heard that?" Sebastian asked, not coming into the room, just putting his head in. Kurt nodded. "You're safe here, even if I am not in the apartment. If you choose to walk the grounds, my security team will keep an eye on you. He won't be able to touch you if you don't want him to."

"Why did he come here?" Kurt wondered.

"He'd gone to all of your friends first, none had seen you since last night and so he came here, thinking I could help and then realized who I was. He wasn't exactly happy." Sebastian still didn't come in and Kurt appreciated it. "I meant it when I said stay as long as you like, be it days or years."

Kurt turned toward Sebastian at those words. "Honestly? With everything else going on?"

"I'm not saying as my... I'm saying it as my guest, as someone I had grown up with and am offering a safe haven to. I know eventually you'll go back to the states and sort it out. In the meantime, enjoy the French countryside and French hospitality and everything the French people and country has to offer until you're ready to face that again."

"You're a very different person than I remember."

"Memories have a way of distorting the truth, even while you're creating them. There's so many sides to the story, unsaid, unknown at the time to others." Sebastian smiled gently. "Again though, I'm not pushing you, take the time you need and sleep well." He gave a small nod before leaving the room completely but still left the door open a crack.

Kurt turned his back to it and the confusing man who laid beyond that door. Instead he looked out over the gorgeous grounds lit up once more by moonlight. It seemed to go on forever.

–

He chose not to see Blaine except for once more, when he faced him in the courtyard out front by the water fountain in the center of the drive. "I want you to go home, Blaine. Or continue your trip with Jesse and Rachel. I don't care, but I'm not joining you for the rest of it or at home. I don't know if it will ever be my home again." He had kept their accounts separate thankfully and so his money would remain untouched. There were things there that he'd like to see again but if he didn't, it wouldn't be the end of the world.

He needed to make a clean cut with them. Rachel and Jesse were dead to him now. He'd call his dad and explain to him that he wasn't going to be residing at the same address as Blaine any more. He'd still have to decide what he was going to do about the marriage and the kid that Blaine was trying to tie him down with. It was Rachel and Blaine's if she got pregnant. Jesse and Rachel could raise it as their own or the three of them could, but it wouldn't be Kurt's, not even in the slightest. He'd never accept that child as his. However, he still couldn't imagine being cold to the child, it wasn't their fault their parents were great big tools.

Blaine had reached for him and had grabbed his sleeve but was knocked down by a security guard seconds later. Blaine was allowed back up but was spitting mad and saying things that Kurt knew to be false and so let it roll off of him. It did explain some of what fueled Blaine though. Like Sebastian had said, even as we make the memories, sometimes they were lies or falsities. That was true enough with the things Blaine was saying, he'd remembered things wrongly.

Then Blaine was trying to apologize but Kurt was walking away and Blaine was held back from following him. One of the security guards did follow behind even though the one they were protecting Kurt from was not able to follow.

He met up with Mercedes and the girl had hugged him hard and whispered things about how she wished it had happened sooner, how she'd missed him and was there for him. The others kind of eyed him before they all hugged him and said they'd talk more next time they saw him. No one knew when that might be.

Rachel tried to hug him and he kept a big distance between them. Then she started scolding him and getting on him about what he was doing to Blaine. He snapped back at her about the whole 'child' thing and her sleeping with his husband while her husband joined in. She didn't seem phased whatsoever and basically blamed him for the situation. She was just trying to help Blaine save his marriage while Kurt was so cold and distant to him. Apparently he had no qualms about sharing intimate details with others, especially the fact that he hadn't slept with Kurt in over a year and a half until this trip. He neglected to tell her about all the other men he slept with. When Kurt pointed it out, she'd blamed him for being frigid and causing the situations.

Kurt hung his head, tired and just over Rachel Berry St. James. "Go away, I'm done talking to you." Kurt said it coolly and Rachel ignored him, so he was the one who walked away instead. She intended to go after him but was stopped by security.

She glared a him the entire time he saw the others off on the next leg of their adventure. He had no desire to see more wineries and most of them were thinking the same thing. Later, he'd learn they didn't go with Blaine in the end. Some went home, some went elsewhere, but Blaine was alone with Rachel and Jesse from then on. Blaine had sent him hurt puppy dog eyes and hung his head quite a bit but Kurt wasn't fooled or buying it.

They all left and he breathed easier. He didn't head home right away. He intended to get back before Blaine and move his stuff out, at least to storage if no where else. Except after spending a few days alone in France, with only Sebastian's presence leaving faint memories around the place, he warmed greatly to the country he'd always wanted to see. After about a week of playing tag with Sebastian, he'd finally cornered him and asked him to go to Paris with him. Sebastian had agreed when Kurt thought he never would.

They went around the shops and enjoyed the finger foods and fresh cuisine for three days in Paris. They shared a room but not a bed and Sebastian never pressed for more than just being his company, which Kurt had asked for to begin with.

He went back to Sebastian's hotel and vineyard with him and spent a few more days there. A few relaxing days in wine country and at the pool in the nice warm days, slowly rolled into a couple of weeks. When he realized he'd been there a month, he called up his company and told them he'd be taking an extended hiatus. He'd had enough money saved up to spend some considerable time there, but Sebastian had kept him living in the guest suite and didn't charge him a cent to stay there. So his funds were going to last him a lot longer than he thought.

His plane ticket had been refunded and was able to leave at any time.

Weeks rolled into months. He wasn't sure why he hadn't moved out of Sebastian's apartment or back to the states. He had a job that he should have gone back to but had called up the day before he was due back and quit on the spot. He was left alone in his little corner of Sebastian's apartment, made it feel like he had his own place and majority of the day, they didn't see each other.

They had dinner together every night and one night Sebastian mentioned he had a house in New York just outside the city if Kurt wanted to use it.

The first day reality started to impinge in this weird holding pattern was the day the French government sent him a text reminding him he only had 1 week remaining in their country before his visitor's visa would be expired. Sebastian reminded him of the house and even offered to help him settle in there and Kurt kissed him.

It had surprised both of them and Kurt had beat a hasty retreat but came out an hour later and asked Sebastian if it was ok. Sebastian's eyes were flirting as he told him it was more than ok and would be ok for a second round, one that he was prepared for.

Kurt gathered his courage and stepped into Sebastian's embrace. They didn't do more than kiss on the couch for hours. It changed only a few things. They started kissing more often- whenever they saw each other actually, whether it was in hello or goodbye or just because they wanted to. Otherwise they had dinner every night and Sebastian left him to his own devices and never pushed for more.

Sebastian did go back with him to the states when the time came and helped him settle into his 'house' which was more like a mansion. Kurt didn't know what to do with himself now that he was back in the states. For the first week he and Sebastian just played and had fun and just did practically whatever and Sebastian showed him around the town. It really was just outside New York City and extremely easy to access the city. There was a small vineyard that Sebastian grew grapes in nearby too. They weren't prized grapes but he loved his grapes all the same. Kurt teased him about that.

"I like your grapes more." Sebastian whispered in his ear and he shivered. They hadn't had sex yet but they were definitely a lot closer to doing so than Kurt had ever imagined in his life.

Sebastian couldn't stay long but he did return every other week when he could manage it. He had a hotel and vineyard to run in France and smaller plots around the world.

Kurt didn't know how to be a kept man and so had gone back to at least attempting to work. Like at the hotel, his cleaning skills were pointless as Sebastian had a full staff to take care of things at the house. Kurt then went out and got a job as a barista, he had put himself through college with that skill and they were happy to have him. The patrons especially so.

"You don't have to work." Sebastian bemoaned the fact that Kurt had to go in while he was there the first day on his most recent trip back. "It's only for 3 months, then you can come back to France with me."

"And not work there, I know." Kurt shook his head. "I feel listless and useless not working. The three months in France was the longest I'd ever been without a job. I got used to always being busy."

Sebastian sat on the edge of the bed as he watched Kurt get ready for work, a light entering his eyes as he did so. "Why don't you become my sommelier? I can get you a business visa then to come to France and have you travel the world with me, checking on all the different varietals I grow and their progress."

"So you're going to pay me to be your... companion?" Kurt wasn't sure.

"I know you're still married and we've talked about it at length. I'm hoping one day you'll change your mind about that." Sebastian reached out and gently placed his hands on Kurt's elbows. "But I want to be your boyfriend, maybe one day more, but I'll be content just to be in your life as a permanent fixture, even without the title."

"You want to be my boyfriend forever?" Kurt looked uneasy. "We've only kissed and spent time together. That's already so much more cheating than I ever thought I could do but I'm holding fast on the line about marriage. It's not something I can cross."

"If all we ever do is kiss and talk and spend time together, I'm ok with it." Sebastian looked him in the eye, trying to explain just how serious he was. The two of them had done so much mental sexual acrobatics in the time they were together than the real thing would be terrible and disappointing. Perhaps that's what scared Kurt the most, knowing that if they got together physically it could never ever compare to the stuff they said or mimicked over the last several months. Nothing was outright or base, the grapes comment the most candid of comments.

"You're used to having your way with any guy you set your sights on." Kurt didn't know what he was doing with Sebastian. Sebastian had been nothing but supportive and a gentleman during this whole thing but he'd been set up with someone just like that in the beginning before. Blaine had been dapper and sensitive to his needs and timing for the most part and then turned into a sex hound in the blink of an eye.

Sebastian's hands stayed exactly where they were, not increasing the intimacy but also not restraining Kurt, just resting there. "I'm not Blaine. I got my crazy oats out of the way years ago, seeking something, always hoping it was around the corner. Then I gave up on it, letting whatever it was just come to me rather than chase after it foolishly. It was only when you walked back into my life months ago that I realized that what I was searching for wasn't ahead of me but behind me. I had it in right next to me but I stupidly couldn't see it and so had been looking for you in every face I came across. I can wait a lifetime because what we've had together so far has been more than I could have ever dreamed of, more than I've ever had with anyone else."

"Let's have sex." Kurt declared and Sebastian lifted a brow. "What?"

"You were just saying-"

"I know but then after everything you said, I realized neither of us know anything for certain until we have sex. If this isn't going to work out then I'd rather know it now before agreeing to anything else. Before we both get even more emotionally involved with each other. This way it'll hurt less when we part."

"Such a nihilistic view."

"What? You don't want to?" Kurt asked glancing at his watch. "I'll be back at 3:30, you have time to figure it out." He pressed a kiss to Sebastian's lips and then left.

Sebastian just stared after him, wondering who this person was and knowing it had something to do with the husband he refused to talk about nor the implosive relationship he'd left.

Sebastian glanced down at his own watch, 3:30? He had a lot to do then before Kurt returned. He had a feeling in the back of his mind that Kurt was going to change his mind.

Yet Kurt didn't, he came in with a press of his lips against Sebastian's. He'd found him in the kitchen, liking the light of the afternoon through the large garden windows as he worked on a contract. He had been a bit distracted, thinking about Kurt, sipping his coffee and looking out of the window at the garden beyond. He preferred the hands on stuff at the vineyard, the interaction with customers, but the business side had to be managed too.

Kurt had surprised him by sliding onto his lap and kissing him, his fingers working at the tie and the shirt buttons below. Sebastian kissed him back automatically and then purposefully, his hand going around Kurt's body, pressing on the small of his back and holding his hand there, warm against such a vulnerable spot. Kurt shivered in pleasure and Sebastian didn't deny him his experiment.

He locked his arms around Kurt and stood up. They stumbled their way into Sebastian's bedroom, a room Kurt hadn't been in yet, either here or in France. All their clothes were strewn around the room as they made their way to the bed. The comforter and sheets were stripped off the bed with quick movements. Once on it and hands had explored some ground, Sebastian reached over and pressed lube into Kurt's hands.

Blue eyes locked onto green in shock. "Really?"

"Yes, yes." Sebastian closed Kurt's hand around it. "Yes."

It had been a long time since Kurt was the pitcher and he fumbled with it a couple of times, worried he'd hurt Sebastian but Sebastian kept reassuring him that it was good and kissing him to distraction. Sebastian worked the condom onto Kurt with fingers that nearly undid Kurt before they could go all the way. Then Sebastian was turning for Kurt to have an easier time accessing him. Kurt checked one last time if Sebastian was really ok with this setup and Sebastian moaned for Kurt to stop dillydallying about.

Kurt couldn't help but laugh and then reached around Sebastian to delay it just a bit longer, tease him in other ways. Then he was giving them both what they had really wanted and both just soaked it in for a long moment before either moved. Kurt pressed kisses to Sebastian's shoulder blade and spine before Sebastian moved his hips, bring them both more pleasure. Kurt picked up a pace with Sebastian, teasing him, pleasuring him, bringing them both so close then backing off, not wanting this to end just yet. Then did it all over again, twice more before allowing both of them the satisfaction of completion.

"Wow." Sebastian gathered Kurt into his arms and held him close. Kurt pressed kisses to Sebastian's chest. "You good?"

"Fantastic." Kurt's fingers drew lazy patterns on Sebastian's side furthest from him and snuggled into the warm sweaty embrace. "So good."

"This is going to work." Sebastian vowed to Kurt and Kurt nodded. He was seeing that clearly for himself now. He didn't even feel a second of guilt for sleeping with Sebastian, it was too... right.

–

People had reached out to Kurt several times, especially those first few months. Blaine had called and text constantly. Santana and Mercedes had each cornered him at different occasions when he'd still been working at the coffee shop while they worked on securing his business visa. Santana before the topic came up and Mercedes after.

He'd looked at both of them when they'd come in on their own and thought for sure that he'd have to defend himself with them. Santana had punched him lightly in the arm and said "Good, I was nearly about to come into your home and drag you out by your precious hair if you didn't leave him soon."

"Sebastian?"

"Blaine, it was especially obvious while we were in France. That wasn't a good fit for you any more. Looking back, I'm not sure if it ever was." She looked around. "Not sure I see you here either."

"It's just while I figure things out." Kurt defended.

Santana nodded but looked unsure. "Sebastian is... well, Sebastian. Never thought I'd think he was a good fit for you either. Are you sure you don't want to call up Adam or Elliott and see if they wanted to rekindle something?"

"Elliott and I were never together, just band-mates and Adam probably never wants to see me again, considering we were kind of dating and getting close when I came back with a ring on my finger." That told her all she needed to know about Adam and Kurt's potential future, obviously Kurt hadn't been as in to him as they thought when put like that.

Santana frowned though. "I don't care if you're here in New York or across the ocean, if he hurts you, I will kill him and drag you back to Ohio."

"Thanks Santana." Kurt didn't know she felt that way, she'd kept her distance since they'd gotten married.

"Now, where's my free coffee? I want a mocha."

Kurt laughed but provided her one anyway. It was just too Santana.

Mercedes on the other hand, had come in and just hugged him, congratulating him on breaking free. They'd talked for hours after that, clearing the air, getting to the bottom of their separation and vowing to never let anyone come between them again.

They were still going strong and Sebastian actively encouraged his friendships with all but the St. Berrys. "It's Berry St. James." Kurt corrected as he packed up his lone suitcase. He'd been rewearing the same outfits he'd brought to France. He hadn't dared buy anything else or gone to his apartment to retrieve more. He was positive his clothes were still probably hanging there untouched, perhaps dusted and cared for, but still there.

Blaine had told him as much. Thankfully none of them had found out where Kurt was staying while in the states. His dad had offered to come up and clear out the apartment for him or with him, whichever he preferred. Kurt reassured him that it was fine. He'd get more clothes. He hadn't though, and part of him wondered if it was because he still thought this would end, or if clothes weren't as important to him, or if these were the clothes that signaled his new relationship and was less inclined to part with them or expand on it.

Perhaps it was just a mix of it all.

"It's St. Berry since she seems to be the one controlling the entire situation."

"Is that why I took the last name Anderson?" Kurt countered. It had been a knock out dragged out fight about it too with Blaine, who'd shouted that's why he cheated after the first time when they were married because he didn't feel married, because his husband still had a different last name. Kurt had finally relented and changed his last name, the suggestion of changing Blaine's to Hummel had been met with a deafening no. Blaine had a career and couldn't mess with it, but Kurt could. Giving up Hummel had nearly stripped him of his self-identification but he had to try, for his marriage. It hadn't done anything but make Kurt feel disconnected from himself for awhile. He still signed things Kurt Hummel whenever it was something that wouldn't get back to Blaine. That had been a small act that had saved him from completely losing himself. They'd talked about the Anderson last name before though and Kurt would change his last name back at the one year mark. They'd accounted for that change in his visa application and so wouldn't interfere or set that back.

Sebastian watched as Kurt's clothes disappeared from the room and a frown flirted around his lips. They'd moved his stuff into Sebastian's bedroom a month after they first slept together, giving Kurt time and distance in case he changed his mind or to come to terms with it.

"Leave one in there, at least, please."

Kurt paused, his fingers brushing over the sleeve of one of his favorite pieces. He looked over at Sebastian, he never had to pack for any of his trips, his clothes were already waiting for him, clean and refreshed at all his destinations. Kurt wondered if he'd ever get used to something like that. Sebastian wanted him to keep something of himself here? So he'd return to it, or that Sebastian would have a piece of him if he didn't?

"I don't like seeing you disappear from my life, even if it's just in my closet." Sebastian explained. "Your stuff belongs next to mine, just like you belong next to me. Taking everything out... just feels like an omen. Our stuff should always be together, even if we're not here."

"I didn't leave anything in France." Kurt let the shirt go, it was the last piece anyway that he would have packed. He needed to get some new clothes.

"I didn't feel like I had the right and you left so much of yourself there that I feel you around every corner. Yet you're right, you should leave some clothes there too. You're bringing them back."

The visa had taken longer to procure then they'd hoped, even with Sebastian trying to grease the wheels. It wasn't a typical business visa, it was one that would allow Kurt access in and out of Europe and to let him go anywhere Sebastian was going. It took 6 months and while they were working on it, he wasn't allowed in Europe, not even on a tourist visa, which he could have done every 3 months for 3 months at a time. It would have null and voided his business visa. He couldn't go to work for Sebastian in that time either, even to some of his non-European locations so he stayed at the coffee shop.

They told him he was welcome back any time. He'd laughed and said he hoped things worked out with him and Sebastian but since he was living nearby he'd be back when they were in the states.

Kurt closed his suitcase and looked considering at Sebastian. "I need to get more clothes."

"We can buy them in France. You like their labels better anyway."

"I like my New York labels too." Kurt was trying to tell Sebastian his plans but he feared what saying them out loud would do to either of them and their little bubble.

Puck had shown up too last month and hugged Sebastian and told him he was about to pop one in Blaine's face if Sebastian hadn't interfered. Kurt said it had all been his own doing, Sebastian had just shown him something he couldn't ignore anymore. Puck and Sebastian had looked at him smugly as he'd just confirmed Puck's words. Then Puck hugged Kurt and told him to do better, get out sooner if something was wrong. He hadn't stuck around long, he had his daughter in his car and he was heading up to see Quinn who'd finally told her husband about her daughter. He'd been surprisingly chill about it, Kurt was told by Puck before he went and wanted to meet her now. Kurt had waved at her from the front door, she hadn't wanted to come in, not really knowing her dad's old friends anymore and she had a work call she needed to take care of.

Puck and Quinn's daughter was an adult now. It was strange, the rest of them hadn't even begun to have kids.

"I'll go with you." Sebastian said instantly, catching on to what Kurt was saying.

"No, I better go on my own." Kurt took Sebastian's hands. "I think I waited to go until my visa went through and you were back to pick me up. I wanted backup in case he tried to lock me up or something, knowing you'd come get me, but this initial visit, I think I need to do by myself."

"I won't be far." He wouldn't either, he would sit in the car, waiting for Kurt to come out with at last one load or help him gather up the rest of his no doubt bulging closet's contents.

He hadn't seen Blaine in over 10 months, and hadn't talked to him in 8. His hands were shaking as he let himself into the apartment he'd shared with his husband. There was silence and he let out a heavy breath and went directly to his room to gather everything he could. They thankfully had an elevator, something he hadn't had for the first several years and his back had told him how stupid that was on occasion. Especially as he'd been the one to find all the furniture and often had to drag it up himself, by himself.

He was on his second load down when Blaine came in. They both stopped dead in the living room, staring at each other with their arms both filled. Kurt's arms were full of clothes and Blaine's had a small child and a stroller. "Kurt, hi." Blaine smiled broadly, relief in his eyes, he didn't seem to notice Kurt's exit strategy. "Did you want to meet our daughter?"

Kurt paled and shook his head. "Your daughter, with Rachel."

"Ours, her name on her birth certificate is Lilly Hummel Anderson."

"That was your choice. My last name isn't Hummel anymore." Well it wasn't but that wasn't for long, he had about 2 more months before he put it in. Legalities expected them to be separated for at least 1 year before the petition could be made. He could have changed his last name at any time for any reason but he wanted to make it official it was because he was separated from his husband and that their taxes were going to be separate too. He wanted a clear separation legally in all ways.

"I put you as the father."

"You're the father. Don't confuse the poor girl, just correct it and label you and Rachel as the biological parents. Leave me out of it." He looked down at the girl, his curiosity peaked despite himself. She looked a lot like Rachel. "You might want to make sure that you're the father and not Jesse."

"There's no way Jesse's the father. The last year and a half he's only penetrated her anally and with condoms. I'm the only one who could offer my seed to her egg. We'd all agreed on it. He was ok with it, he still got to be inside her or me."

Kurt shuddered in disgust. "I didn't need to hear that." He walked around Blaine and Lilly, would have shoved through if it hadn't been for the small child in his arms. "You could have just said that you knew absolutely she was yours and left it there." Kurt ignored Blaine's calls for him to stop, wondering why he was taking his clothes. Kurt had probably another load but he'd already taken down his favorites. "Let's go." Kurt said as he put the clothes in the back seat.

"Is that everything?" Sebastian asked, unsure.

"No, but it's enough. I don't want to go back up there again. Blaine came home and – I can't even." Kurt shook his head as he slid into the seat next to Sebastian. "Let's just go. He can do whatever he wants to the rest; I never need to know."

It was the last time he saw Blaine. The last time he talked to him. He didn't talk to any of the St. Berrys again. Nobody mentioned to him what they were up to or how they were doing. His bid to keep everything separate from now on was mostly acknowledged completely except a few telemarketers who thought they were still married in full.

Blaine tried a few things the first couple of years to get him back or at least to talk to him again, but Kurt handled everything through his lawyers. They kept suggesting that he divorce Blaine, it would make things so much easier on them. Sebastian never asked him to, understanding and not pushing for more.

Years passed and they stayed together, stayed strong and were so happy with each other. They were 57and 58 respectfully when Kurt got a letter in the mail. It was from Lilly and she talked about her father and Kurt nearly tossed it as Blaine's manipulation of his daughter to try to get a husband back that he hadn't seen in over 20 years. Blaine never once filed for divorce either. Kurt might have fought it if he had.

Blaine's years of sexual exploits had caught up to him and had a weakened immune system when a virus spread through his system. He had a heart attack and died a month ago. The lawyers weren't sure where to send the death certificate and it had taken Lilly awhile to find a current address for Kurt. It had gone to their French hotel but they were in Brazil for the season and had it had been sent back to her by accident rather than added to his desk at the hotel. She'd found the New York address after a lot more digging and sent it there.

Kurt looked through the letter a second time and then at the official death certificate. He could give it to his lawyers so they could finish the process of separating him completely from Blaine. He would post it on his way out the property. He found the address that Lilly had sent the letter from and after kissing Sebastian, he promised he'd be back by nightfall. Sebastian watched him with a little bit of confusion, they'd only gotten in an hour ago.

"Where are you going?" He asked softly, his hands resting on Kurt's hips, stopping him from leaving right away.

"To go talk to Blaine's daughter." The name hadn't been said for decades, by anyone.

"Why?" Sebastian was concerned, what was Blaine up to now?

"She's grieving the loss of her father and needs answers. I want to give her some sense of closure." He didn't owe anyone anything but he wanted to do this for her, she had been an innocent in this entire mess.

"Loss?" Sebastian checked. "He's dead?" Kurt nodded and Sebastian didn't press more than a kiss onto his lips and let him go.

Despite the calm and clear letter to Kurt, Lilly was definitely Rachel and Blaine's daughter. After inviting him in and giving him a cup of tea, she started throwing wild accusations at him. He sat and listened to her vent and scream and cry and break down into tears before yelling at him again. He didn't correct her or stop her, he just let her run her steam. He'd learned over the years how to handle both Rachel and Blaine and while he hadn't needed these skills in so long, he never forgot.

"You made him sick." She finally said, sniffing and rubbing at her running nose with her sleeve. "You left him high and dry with a daughter you promised to help raise and didn't let him move on with his life by never giving him a divorce. So he went out and slept with other men while you lived it up with a high roller."

Kurt couldn't help himself, he snorted before laughing hard. He hadn't heard anything so obscene in years but it had come from the offspring of his most over the top classmates; from the most dramatic people he'd ever met and his dad had called him dramatic over the years but it wasn't anywhere near this level.

"Your father couldn't keep it in his pants once he knew how to use it. He had never been faithful to me. Over the years I realized the only reason he didn't sleep with Sebastian is because Sebastian would have rubbed it in my face and I would have broken up with Blaine and been done with him. Instead he'd chosen guys who wouldn't tell me, would keep it a secret for him until he could drop it in my lap at the moments that best suited him. He'd gotten me on the hook and would keep me dangling there for a long time because he knew all my weak points and exploited them. He enjoyed pulling one over on me, he knew I expected him to sleep with Sebastian, so he didn't. He slept with people I hadn't expected meanwhile purposefully sowing discord between me and Sebastian for his own pleasure. Yet if I talked to anyone else, he was all over me and scaring them away."

It had all come out, all the dirty secrets and problems. It was all Blaine's fault and a little bit Kurt's for not recognizing it sooner and doing something about it. It was also the others' fault for not making Kurt see when it was obvious he was kept in the dark about it all.

"I'm all alone now! How could you disparage my own family?"

Kurt shook his head. "Yeah, that's not going to fly with me, sweetie because you have a very large family. Your mom, her husband, your half siblings, your grandpas on your mom side, your grandma on your mom's side, your adopted aunt, whatever family is on your dad's side. There's a lot of family left for you." It was Kurt who only had his dad and Carole officially and Sebastian's side unofficially.

"You didn't want me!"

"You were never mine." Kurt said gently. "Blaine slept with Rachel to get her pregnant and then some and claimed it was a child for us when I was walking out the door. He was definitely using a child to keep a marriage together, but the ironic thing was that if he had done it the right way or hadn't slept with Rachel then I would have still been with him. Him sleeping with someone who was once my best friend and getting her pregnant was what had driven me to leave."

"Not the other guy?" Lilly checked and Kurt shook his head.

"I may still have had a mental relationship with him if he had pursued me." Which he would have, Kurt saw that now, he'd always would have had Sebastian in his life once they met again. In some way, shape or form at least. Maybe he'd have eventually worn him down to a sexual relationship too. "But I never would have left your father." She might have had 3 daddies and Rachel and Jesse had it gone any other way. "I didn't want a child with your father though, not when he kept stepping out on me all the time."

"He was a great guy."

"He was." Kurt had never thought otherwise, there were things that irked him but overall Blaine had been a good guy with a lot of personal problems. It's how he'd kept Kurt for so long, how he'd gotten Kurt in the first place.

"Rachel's my mom?" Lilly frowned, finally catching up to what he'd been saying. "She never once told me that, not even after dad died."

"You'll have to talk to her about that."

"You're going to leave my life permanently now, aren't you?" Lilly looked at her father's husband, the one he'd had her entire life but had just now met.

"I am. I had never wanted anything to do with your parents again when I left him all those years ago, but I felt I owed you at least one meeting to set things right. I've done that and now we'll only see each other by accident."

"Can I give you a hug?" He gave a small nod and her arms were tight around his waist, she was a tiny little thing, both hallmarks of both her parents in her. He wished her luck and hoped she didn't go down her parents' paths, they were successful but at a very big cost.

Kurt returned home and slipped into bed with Sebastian, it was later than he'd anticipated. There had been an accident which had delayed him an hour. Sebastian wrapped an arm around his waist but didn't sprawl all over him. Kurt settled into the bed and rested his head against Sebastian's chest and fell asleep.

They didn't talk about his trip to see the Anderberry child. Sebastian didn't broach the topic of marriage. They just continued where they'd left off, Sebastian handed him lube and condoms weren't a thing they used, not since Kurt officially changed his last name back to Hummel. They would switch off but both preferred Sebastian receiving. They had joint accounts and everything was in both of their names.

Neither retired when they came of age, they enjoyed what they were doing but did pass the reigns onto the next generation. They'd groomed a married couple to take over from them, but they still did the things they liked, still owned the company. They each would have controlling shares in it until the second passed or until they gave it up completely by choice.

Sebastian held Kurt's face in his hands one day as they stood in the vineyard in France. "The only thing I regret is not seeing your genes continue onto the next generation." Sebastian had several siblings to continue his family's lineage, they were all older than him too and had been spoiled as the baby boy with a big gap between him and his next sibling.

"Carole and Burt had a last minute pregnancy." It had been a total fluke that neither thought was possible as she'd been starting menopause. It had been a difficult pregnancy and it was kind of ironic but both Finn and Kurt's genes were going to continue on in a strange mix but were missing all the other genes that had gone into making both of them – Finn's father's and Kurt's mother's.

Their younger brother was married with three kids of his own. He worked at a bank and was living a simple life, no interested in fame or show business and wasn't into drama or sports. He'd married his college girlfriend.

"I love your brother but you know what I'm saying." Sebastian's siblings were full siblings and one even looked a lot like Sebastian.

"It's a little late for kids." Kurt teased. "We're grandparents age and my kids would have a lot of genetic issues if I tried to have them now."

Sebastian shook his head. "They'd be fine, strong and gorgeous like you, no matter when you sired them."

"We have so many years left ahead of us Sebastian, it's not time for regrets or what ifs." Kurt held his hands firmly in his. He'd only been a completely free agent for 5 years but Sebastian had never wanted more than what they'd had.

"No, but it will be a regret if I don't tell you this now. I think we should. We're settled here permanently now and it would be nice to have a little you run around. We have care takers for the harder stuff, the more physically challenging for us but we're also both still in really great shape."

"Who'd be the one to carry this child?" Kurt had wanted kids but he'd put that desire aside a long time ago, knowing it wasn't in the cards and he was worried about his genes passing on to another person. His dad had a heart attack at a young age and then cancer. He'd been surprisingly healthy with a clean bill at every check up. He'd felt like some of the young ones they'd mentored and helped grow in the company where their children.

In France they didn't need to be married to adopt a child together. "I- ok, one."

"One." Sebastian agreed. "It will be the most spoiled child on the planet."

His prediction came true. They watched their son run around the vineyard like they had so often before him. He was as healthy and precious as could be.

They linked hands and walked together behind him, talking about that season's wines and predictions for the year's crops. Not a blight on their horizon and only a shining future ahead of them.

–

THE END

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EAN: Another long one for you guys. It was a bonus afterall though, so might as well be long. Really Blaine, Puck, Finn, Karofsky; Rachel, Santana, Quinn; (and Mr. Schue) and even Sebastian and Sam to an extent all had a lot of aggression shown on screen. Trying to be as true to their characters as possible while put in different environments/ages/situations when it comes up. Some aggression, nothing too crazy though for some of those characters.

I hope you guys enjoyed my 5x series + bonus.