Burt was sitting on the couch watching the morning news when the pounding on the front door came. It scared him half to death. He spilled hot coffee in his lap and paused to take a deep calming breath before answering it.
He slowly swung the door open and before he could say hello, he was met with the screech of Kurt's best friend, Mercedes.
"Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!" She shouted, pushing past Mr. Hummel and running straight upstairs.
Burt just looked over at Sam who had been standing quietly behind her. He smiled awkwardly, "She's just really excited about the proposal." He pointed at where she disappeared upstairs.
"The what?" Burt's head stuck so far from his neck, he had to rub his shoulders after.
Sam gulped. "Uhh."
Blaine and Kurt were still processing the loud bang coming from the doorway when a body flung itself on top of them.
Mercedes was still shouting, "Oh my God!" As she slapped them.
"Ow. Mercedes what the hell?!" Kurt sat up and glared at her.
"Why didn't you guys tell me!" She was on the end of the bed on her knees bouncing up and down, smiling and clapping.
"It was kind of…spontaneous."
"Spontaneous enough that there was a ring?" She gave him a judging look, before going back to being excited.
"This is amazing. How did it happen? Is this why you didn't want to watch a movie with us last night?" She was still bouncing on her knees.
"For the love will you sit still?!" Kurt shouted, flapping his hands around. Blaine was still trying to roll back to sleep, but his excited smile was betraying him.
"Get up!" Mercedes slapped his foot and he groaned but sat up against the headboard smiling at Kurt as he filled his friend in on the details.
"Good morning, gentlemen. Am I missing something?"
Kurt smiled nervously at his dad in the doorway. Not mentioning it to Mercedes was one thing. But he hadn't even asked his dad. Mostly because he had been on the fence about being too young and in a rather new relationship. He didn't want to hear logic and reason. He just wanted to do it.
"Good morning." Kurt and Blaine smiled at Mr. Hummel. Neither wanting to be the one to prompt a reaction.
"Blaine. When we talked in the car yesterday I kind of thought you were asking for further in the future not a few hours later."
Kurt tilted his head and smiled over at Blaine, raising an eyebrow. "Actually Mr. Hummel this wasn't me." He held up his hand to show him the ring and Burt quickly turned to his son.
"Kurt?"
"I mentioned it to mom at the graveyard yesterday. I guess I just didn't want to hear you say it's a bad idea." Kurt rolled his promise ring around on his right hand.
"So you didn't even want to talk to me about it?"
"Well we are talking now. Hey dad. I proposed to Blaine and he said yes."
"Well I'm disappointed you wouldn't come to me with this. But you are your own man. And regardless, I am very happy for you two. I'll make a big breakfast. Mercedes and Sam, are you two staying?"
They nodded and thanked him. He smiled at Kurt and Blaine, then went to get started on the pancakes and bacon.
After he had cleared the stairs, Mercedes looked over at them. Her eyes were narrowed, and Blaine and Kurt waited for the attack. She squealed and threw herself on top of them again. They pulled her into a hug as Sam jumped on top of everyone.
"Woah orgy." Finn walked in the room. "Is that what everyone is screaming about?"
"Mercedes was the only one screaming." Sam corrected, pulling himself up from the bed to greet Finn. "And no not an orgy. Two gay guys, one woman, and a straight guy that would be a strange orgy.
"You have got to stop saying orgy." Kurt covered his ears from where he sat on the bed. Blaine laughed over at him.
Finn looked over at Mercedes who was sitting between Kurt and Blaine and inspecting a ring on Blaine's hand. "Wait what's going on?"
Mercedes lifted Blaine's hand for him, and he laughed, "We're gonna be bros for real."
"Dude no way. Kurt you proposed to Blaine? When did this even happen?"
"Last night."
"That's awesome. Wait it's not like a shotgun marriage, right?"
Blaine rolled his lips in and gave Finn a strange look. "I don't know how to explain this to you, but no Kurt and I can't really get in that situation." Finn tried processing in his head what Blaine was saying. "Anyway, Kurt asked, and I said yes, and we are both super excited and we haven't talked about any of the plans so don't ask questions." Blaine got it all out then took a big breath.
"Now would you all leave! My fiancé and I are still in pajamas under the covers and quite frankly if you don't leave we will start making out and getting progressively more naked until you are too uncomfortable to stay."
Blaine reached for the top button on Kurt's pajama top and made eye contact with everyone in the room. They all slowly backed out.
"You win this time. But the second you leave this room, we are coming for you." Mercedes flipped her hair as she pulled the door closed.
"Oh good. They are gone now we can change and get ready for the day."
"Oh no you don't. You put the idea in my head we are going to follow through." Blaine quickly unbuttoned all the buttons and kissed Kurt as he slid his shirt off. He slid the sweatshirt off and tossed it on his pile of things. As Blaine took Kurt's pants and boxers off, he laughed.
"Not the sound I want to hear the second my genitalia is visible."
"No, it's just. I can start calling you fiancé now. Remember when I said boyfriend felt so temporary."
"Well pretty soon it will be husband."
"Music to my ears." He whispered. He pulled the sheets up over their heads as his mouth pressed against his fiancé's.
Their making out was interrupted by Blaine's phone.
He groaned as he pushed the sheets off them and reached for the nightstand.
"It's Santana. I better take it." He got off the bed and answered the phone. He shimmied into a pair of boxers as he spoke.
"Hey. Yeah I'm sorry. He surprised me with it and I put a picture up and… Yes I know I caused a riot… Well tell Kitty I'm sorry she had to work on the night of Christmas, but I don't see why she would need to spin the allegations. It's true what does it matter if people are speculating?"
Blaine looked over at Kurt and made an awkward face, apparently there were a lot of things he hadn't thought about when he posted the picture.
"Okay we can do that. Just book a place for tomorrow and we will prepare today…Can we have at least half a day with family and friends before an interview? Okay deal. Interview tonight, photos tomorrow. No, I'm sure we can find something here. Thank you, Santana. You're the best." He smiled and put the phone down before jumping on the bed and hugging Kurt. "I couldn't talk her out of interviews and we have to do an engagement shoot tomorrow. Is that okay with you?"
"Of course." Kurt thought it through, "Where are the pictures and what are we going to wear?"
"She's working on booking a place for the pictures and you can pick whatever you like. For both of us."
"Shopping?"
"Yes. You get to go shopping." Kurt excitedly clapped his hands. "Hey." Blaine looked at him seriously for a moment. "We're going to get married." They smiled at each other. Blaine kissed him, reaching his hands out to grab Kurt and pull him back into the bed, but Kurt was already on his feet running around to get ready.
"Are you going to come to the mall with me?"
"If its okay with you, I would prefer not to. I think us being together in public would cause chaos." He laughed and Kurt grabbed his phone to recruit shopping buddies.
"I'm sure Finn and Sam can keep you entertained while I'm away."
"I'm sure they can." Blaine watched Kurt walk into the bathroom. Once the door was closed, he looked at his hand and the circle of silver around his finger. His smile stretched so all his teeth were showing, and he kicked his feet a little before taking a breath and getting dressed to go downstairs.
"Thanks for bringing me here, guys. I'm sure Kurt's going to choose something skintight for the photoshoot tomorrow and I've eaten weeks' worth of food in just a few days." Blaine looked around the gym in Kurt's old high school.
"No problem, man." Sam patted his shoulder and headed toward the radio in the corner to find them workout music.
"I'm surprised Kurt didn't make you do Pilates with him."
"He tried but he's so bendy. I usually got distracted and we just—"
"Dude. That's my brother."
"Yeah. Sorry." Blaine smiled and walked toward the punching bag. He pulled his wraps and gloves out of his bag and put them on.
Once he stretched, he started hitting the bag. He sped up with the music and the entire beam it was hanging on started to croak.
"I was going to say you better be a good husband to Kurt or I will hunt you down, but it looks like you could kick my ass."
"Yeah, man. I watched him box when we were in LA. He could kill a man."
"I don't need to kill. Just incapacitate."
"Why do you even have a bodyguard?"
"For Kurt." Blaine answered turning back to the bag and going at it. He pictured a few faces as he threw out jabs and hooks but they were only brief, so he didn't think much of it.
He took a short break to stretch and get water. He grabbed his phone and smiled at the millions of texts Kurt had sent him of all different outfit choices.
Blaine: I trust your vision 100%
Kurt: If you don't answer me. I will make you wear a loin cloth.
Blaine: Sounds like the beginning of a Katy Perry music video
He thought about one of the faces that had flashed through his head as he boxed and opened up a message to Jeff.
Blaine: Jeff, please stay close to Kurt and the girls.
Jeff: I won't let him out of my sight.
Kurt, Rachel, Mercedes, and Brittney headed to the mall with Jeff tagging along. They had invited Kitty and Santana who were also in Ohio visiting family, but they were too busy talking to interviewers and making arrangements.
The girls and Kurt went through store after store as Kurt pieced together outfits. He wanted a lot of color, so he spent way too much time comparing to make sure nothing would clash and neither of them would be washed out by the tones.
After a while he turned to Jeff who was flipping a silk scarf around with a bored expression.
"Jeff. You can hang out in the food court if you want. I'll give you a call if I need help."
"No can do." Jeff smiled up at him apologetically. He knew Kurt hated being followed around by a glorified babysitter.
"Blaine told you not to let me leave your sight, didn't he?"
"Sure did."
"Of course."
"He just wants you safe, Kurt."
"I know Jeff." He held a jacket up. "Do you think he would look good in this shade of yellow."
"Kurt I'm here to subdue attackers. I have no clue what colors look good on your fiancé." Jeff grinned and went back to twirling the scarf around.
"Well we are fresh out of attackers for you to subdue, so give it your best guess. I think it might be too bright." Jeff rolled his eyes and sat in the chair by the dressing rooms. The girls came in a few minutes later and gave Kurt the answers he needed.
Brittney grinned and jumped up and down when Santana walked in the store. "Tana! You came! I found the perfect cat sweater for you at this one store."
"Hey Britt. I actually just came to check with the Mrs. and Mrs. if they had found outfits for the shoot and also to tell them we are doing it at Dalton Academy."
Kurt perked up at hearing the name of Blaine's high school. "Dalton?"
"Yeah turns out Ohio has like two decent looking buildings in it and that's one of them so it works well." Santana looked around. "Where's Blaine?"
"He thought it best we not go out in public together today."
"Well now he thinks about what would be best. Apparently, the thought didn't cross his mind last night."
"Leave him alone. It was one picture."
"And it has caused chaos for the PR team. Everybody wants an interview and an exclusive."
"And we will give as many as we can."
"It would take years to answer everyone's questions that is why you have us to pick and choose the more important ones."
"Well if you wanted to give Blaine the info he's apparently at McKinley with Sam and my brother Finn."
"I'm sure a call will suffice." She looped an arm through Brittney's and pulled her out of the store, her phone already up to her ear.
"Santana."
"Blaine."
"Did you find Kurt?"
"Yes and just a heads up, I saw some pretty flaming colors in his bags so I think he's making you guys wear pride flags."
"I already told him I will wear whatever he wants me to if that's a loin cloth with a pride flag tied around my neck like a cape then so be it." Blaine got silent for a minute. "That would make a decent promo picture for our next charity chat."
"Okay. You can fantasize about yourself another time. I booked a location. You guys will be doing it at Dalton Academy. Your usual photographer, Sarah is flying in to take them."
"Dalton?" Blaine's voice was hesitant.
"Yeah. What's wrong with Dalton? The school is gorgeous, and you went there."
"Yeah but I went there with Sebastian."
"But it's booked and there are like zero other places in this state to take decent photos so unless you and Sebastian had sex literally everywhere in that school I'm sure we can find a spot that you and Kurt can take some pretty pictures to throw in a magazine." Santana was about to hang up. "Oh and your interview is on Skype at seven o'clock make sure you sign on a few minutes early." She hung up before Blaine could talk again.
Blaine just sighed and put his phone down. He looked over at Sam and Finn on the bench press then went back to the bag hitting it harder than before. He hadn't realized he was wearing it down until he threw a right straight and the bag tore, spilling out on the floor.
"Shit" He ripped his gloves off and ran for duct tape.
"Damn. Who's face was that?" Sam asked watching as the beans spilled rapidly out of the destroyed bag.
"I'll get a new one." Blaine stated quietly, taping the hole to stop it from spilling out.
"Maybe we should call it a day." Finn watched Blaine sweep up what had fallen on the floor. He had a concern Finn had never seen the rockstar have.
Kurt and Blaine leaned together in front of the laptop on the table. Kurt brushed a stray whisp back from Blaine's face before the voice of the woman interviewing them sounded.
"Tonight's exclusive is with recently engaged rockstar Blaine Anderson and his hubby-to-be Kurt Hummel. Can you guys hear me?"
"Loud and clear Kate." Blaine smiled and leaned closer to Kurt.
"Great. Well let me start with congratulations!" They looked at the woman's image on their screen.
"Thank you." Kurt smiled shyly.
"So everyone is dying to know who asked who and how? Can you guys clear things up for us?"
"We would love to." Blaine put his elbow on the table and rested his chin on it, displaying to the best of his ability the ring on his finger. Kurt just laughed.
"What a show off."
"I can't help it." Blaine winked at Kurt then turned back to the screen. "Kurt asked me at night on Christmas. It was actually really clever how he did it. I'm sure many of you have seen in my tour pictures a sweatshirt that I seem to wear pretty often. It's actually the same sweatshirt I was wearing in the album picture. Well anyway let's just say I'm rather attached to the sweatshirt because it belongs to the love of my life. So, I put it on to watch a movie and I notice that there is something in the pocket."
Kurt leaned in and finished the story, "And that's when I held it up and asked him to marry me." Blaine grinned at him and kissed his cheek.
"That story is just as adorable as you guys are." The interviewer's smile was wide. "Have any plans been made or dates been set. Many fans thought you had just decided to elope while you were with family in your hometowns."
"No. No plans or dates. We haven't eloped. We are still going to be here for about a week, so I guess there's still time."
"Blaine Anderson, always the tease." Kate chuckled and looked down at her notes.
"Now Blaine, obviously your relationship has not been without its troubles. Anti-gay campaigns boy-cotting your recent album. Your playboy past. Needless to say, despite the 180 your image has taken in just a few months, fans were very surprised to see you ready to settle down and especially at only 19. Why so soon?"
Blaine turned from the camera and looked at Kurt. "It doesn't feel soon. You see I've been waiting for Kurt for a while. The second he turned up I didn't need to do anymore waiting. I knew right away Kurt was the one. I'm surprised he popped the question before me if anything. I nearly did it the first day we met when he handed me coffee." Kurt smiled and kissed Blaine's nose.
"Kurt, going along with that question, are you not bothered by Blaine's past? Are you just hoping that tying him down will keep him on the straight and narrow?"
Kurt glared at the camera only briefly before remembering he had to stay professional.
"No, Kate. Blaine's past doesn't bother me. He did what he thought he needed to do to be the person he thought he was. He's since seen that he doesn't need to do that. We have a very trusting relationship and we discuss everything. Nothing that has happened in Blaine's past is any of my concern just as it shouldn't be any of your concerns. And no, I am not tying him down so that he is bound by law to keep going in the direction he is going. I asked him to marry me simply because I love him more than I ever thought I could love and I want to spend the rest of my life with him. I don't want to steal him away from his fans or his music career I just want to come home to him every night."
"You guys are a breath of fresh air for the media amid all the divorces and nasty breakups happening in Hollywood." Her smile was genuine, "We've just been told that you two are doing an engagement shoot tomorrow at Blaine's old high school. That must be pretty exciting."
"Yeah. Sarah is a great photographer and I can't wait for Kurt to experience a real photoshoot not just random candids for twitter." Blaine forced a laugh and Kurt smiled at him.
"Well it has been great talking to you guys I'm sure you are busy being showered in love and congratulations in your hometowns. Thank you for the exclusive and the world looks forward to seeing your amazing engagement shoot photos! This is Kate for Celebrity Media One signing off."
"Bye everyone!" Kurt waved.
"Thanks. Bye." Blaine smiled into the camera.
As soon as it showed that they were disconnected they both slumped over.
"Do those get any less awkward?"
"Nope." Blaine rolled his head over onto Kurt's shoulder. "You did great though."
"She kept saying both our hometowns and it made me think, aren't there people in Westerville who might want to hear about this in person?"
Blaine frowned, "You mean my family?"
Kurt just nodded.
Blaine sighed, "I guess I would kind of like to tell my mom before she sees it all over the place. But I don't even want to look at my father."
Kurt nodded, "Let's give her a call." He pulled Blaine out of the chair and they trudged up to Kurt's bedroom.
The drive to Blaine's parents' house was pretty quiet. Blaine hadn't spoken to his mom since before his first album came out two years prior. The only family he had contact with was Cooper and that was rare given the brothers weren't exactly close. Mrs. Anderson was willing to see Blaine at any cost, and that cost was getting her husband out of the house for the morning. It wasn't difficult he, unlike everyone else, went back to work for the rest of the week after Christmas.
"My dad is at work so it's just my mom." Blaine sounded worried.
"Blaine, this will be okay."
"I haven't made an effort to see her in so long, Kurt. What if she resents me for it?"
"How could she? She is your mother, even if you broke her heart she will understand."
Blaine reached a hand off the steering wheel and Kurt squeezed it. He put it to his lips and kissed it. "She loves you Blaine, unconditionally."
A few minutes later they pulled into the driveway of the Anderson home. Kurt subtly raised an eyebrow. He knew Blaine's parents had money, but this place looked like a mansion.
"Yeah. I know." Was all Blaine said at Kurt's speechlessness.
"I didn't say anything." Kurt turned to him, closing his mouth.
"Welcome to my hell." They got out of the car and Blaine hesitated a moment before taking Kurt's hand and pulling him up to the front door.
Kurt took a deep breath as the door opened. He was going to have to really impress this woman. Blaine had been through enough, he didn't want to cause more tension between them.
Pam Anderson was not what Kurt had expected. He wasn't sure why he was surprised she was beautiful and young looking, after all Blaine and his brother seemed to have pretty great genes. Maybe it was all the horrible stories Blaine had told about his family that made them look like horrid, ugly beasts in Kurt's mind.
"Blaine." His mother breathed a sigh of relief and extended her arms before drawing them back. Blaine smiled weakly and took a step toward her with his arms out. They hugged, and Kurt watched her pull her son in and squeeze him against her chest. In that moment, she looked like she wouldn't let a tornado pry them apart.
Once they finally separated, Blaine took a step back and put a hand on Kurt's lower back.
"Mom, this is—"
"Kurt." She ran forward and squeezed him quickly before pulling back. "I'm sorry." She looked embarrassed. "It's just Blaine said on the phone last night that it was your idea to come here, so thank you."
"You're welcome." Kurt smiled before looking down at his shoe.
"I'm sorry to leave you two outside. Come in. Come in. Would you like some coffee? Kurt, do you drink coffee?"
Blaine laughed. "Yeah he drinks quite a bit. We would love some thanks."
"I actually own a coffeeshop in New York. That's where I met Blaine."
"Blaine was always a coffee drinker." She swiveled to look at Kurt. "Does he still get a medium drip?"
Kurt chuckled, "Basically every day."
"What? It's good?"
"Never had a taste for it myself." His mother led them to the kitchen.
"Well people tend to have different preferences." Blaine mumbled, and Kurt gave him a stern look. He needed to go into this positively or it would just be more of a disaster.
She pointed to the kitchen table, they sat as she started the coffee.
"So, Blaine. What made you decide to come see me after all this time? Aside from Kurt?"
"Well actually it was all Kurt." Blaine looked at him longingly. "Uh Kurt thought it would be a good idea for us to come talk to you about something in person."
"Is Kurt your boyfriend? Is that what you guys want to tell me? I can already tell there is something between you." She looked knowingly at each of them, Kurt kept a smile to himself if only she knew how much she didn't know.
"Kurt and I have been dating for months." Blaine stated simply. He wasn't going to let her cancel out things like that.
"Well how was I supposed to know? You never call." She shrugged.
"I'm sure you could look at the front of any magazine or just open the internet and you would have seen all this."
"They spew lies about you on there. They say you go to clubs and get with strangers. Why would a mother believe any of that?"
"Because most of it was true." His expression darkened. "Did you think after what dad did to me, I would just be normal? Do you know how long it took me to realize I could be in love with someone? I spent my childhood thinking that if my own father couldn't love me then surely love didn't exist."
"Blaine, I—"
"No, you don't get to talk now. Do you know how many times you could have said something? You could have spoken to somebody, but you just gave up. You used to stand up for me and you just stopped."
"I just don't understand why you think that means you should throw yourself around and drink away your pain. Do you want to be just like your father?" Her voice started to rise to match Blaine's. He was breathing heavily and clenching his fists.
Kurt put a hand over Blaine's fist. He forced his fingers to splay Blaine's open. "You are not your father." He whispered.
Blaine let all the tension in his body go.
"Kurt and I are going to get married. He proposed on Christmas. We thought you would want to know."
"You're getting… How long have you been together? All the tabloids said you were sleeping around."
"None of that matters." Blaine looked at her with defeat in his eyes.
"My little boy is getting married?" Pam started to tear up. Blaine and Kurt were confused. They didn't know if she was upset, angry, or just going into some sort of shock.
"Yeah." Blaine whispered.
"I'm so happy for you." She stood from her seat and ran around the table to hug Blaine.
"You are?" He was beyond surprised. He was expecting her to kick him out of the house before his dad got home and found out about it.
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"Um because I'm marrying Kurt and Kurt is a man." He looked to Kurt for clarity, but Kurt just smiled at him and gave him a face that said, Told you so.
"Blaine, honey, I knew who you were years ago. I never cared the gender of the person you would end up with only that they make you happy. Does Kurt make you happy?" Blaine looked over his mom's shoulder at his proud fiancé.
"Yeah. He really does." Kurt got out of his chair and wrapped his arms around them both.
"Oh." Pam chuckled. "Oh my gosh Kurt. I want to show you all of Blaine's baby pictures. You can put them in a slideshow to embarrass him at the wedding."
Blaine slapped his forehead.
"I knew this was a bad idea, bringing you here."
"Come on. I have them out here." She dragged Kurt into the living room and dug into a cabinet. "He was such a cute kid and always so well dressed."
Kurt looked over at Blaine who forced himself into the living room to be a part of the embarrassment.
"I don't like this. I have a very specific brand I have to uphold and mom please no, not the tub pictures!"
Blaine ran to smack them away, but Kurt was already laughing at them. "Oh my God, Blaine you were adorable. Look at your little baby afro."
"We weened him off my milk and right onto hair gel." Kurt and Pam cackled, and Blaine sat in a chair in the corner accepting this as preparation for when he was finally part of an MTV roast.
They looked through every picture from age 1 to age 17. The last one taking place right before he got signed to the label. The second he did, he left and never came back. Pam was hiding regret as she went through all the pictures with Kurt. Kurt noticed this and flipped back to Blaine's freshman year school photo from Dalton.
"Blaine you look so handsome in your blazer." He grinned at Kurt and tried to forget his time at Dalton, or a very particular amount of time spent there.
"You can keep that one, Kurt. I have tons." Pam shoved it into his hands, Kurt thanked her and tucked it away in his pocket.
Blaine realized he was being a buzzkill, so he pulled Kurt from the floor where Mrs. Anderson and he had been going through Blaine's life and dragged him down the hall and up the stairs.
"Where are you guys going?"
"I'm going to show him my blazer." Blaine yelled back at her already taking the steps two at a time to get to his old room.
"Wait. Blaine!" She pulled herself off the ground to chase after them.
Blaine flung the door to his bedroom open, prepared to show Kurt where he grew up.
"What the?" His face immediately dropped as the door swung open.
Blaine would have understood if all of his things had been given away. If the room was completely empty like he had never existed there. But the sight in front of him was way worse. Everything he had ever owned and loved was flung about the room. His clothes were ripped from the closet and torn apart. His mattress was overturned. He waded into the mess to see trophies he had won from show choir and memorabilia from school plays were completely torn apart. The most horrifying of all was his Dalton blazer splayed across the ground in shreds. It had been sliced to pieces and spread out.
Kurt put a hand over his mouth and rushed to Blaine's side. He put an arm around Blaine to pull him out of the room, but Blaine pushed him back.
"Kurt, go."
"Blaine we should—"
"Kurt, go." His voice was sharp and deep, making Kurt quickly leave the room. He passed Pam in the hall and shook his head at her.
She went through the door and Blaine turned on her. "Why?" The anger pulled on his face. "Why did he do this?"
"He did it right when you left."
His teeth ground the harsh breath that tried to pass them. "Why?"
"He was angry."
"What did I ever do to him? Why was my mere existence such a burden to him that he would take it out like this?" Kurt could hear the tears Blaine was biting back.
"Blaine honey, he just doesn't understand."
"Ignorance is one thing. This…this is psychotic." He was shuffling through the stuff. "Why did you leave it like this?"
"He told me to. He still comes in here."
"To rip apart more of my memory?" Blaine's voice had left anger and was back to the point where he was just drained.
"To remind himself of what he did."
"Does he regret it?"
"Yes."
"Well he can take that regret and shove it up his ass." Blaine snatched something off the ground and pushed past his mom. "We are leaving."
"Blaine, wait. I love you. I don't want to lose you again."
"You never had me back."
He flew down the hall and Kurt ran after him, down the stairs, and straight out the door. He threw himself against the car, his hands squeezing the roof and his head dropped. Kurt reached in his pocket and took out the key. He helped Blaine into the passenger's seat and drove away. He saw Pam watch from Blaine's window as the car disappeared down the street.
Kurt pulled into an empty parking lot after driving for a few miles. Without a word he turned to Blaine and unbuckled his seatbelt pulling his upper half across the divider.
"I'm sorry." He held Blaine tight and pressed their foreheads together. Blaine remained silent.
"It's not your fault." The emptiness in Blaine's voice worried Kurt more than if he had been uncontrollably sobbing.
"I made you go back." Kurt whispered.
"I needed to go back. I needed to see one more time why I left in the first place and now I have no regrets."
"We don't have to do this shoot right now. We can push it back."
"No. We are doing it. I want everyone to see how much better off I am."
Kurt gave him a kiss before putting the car in drive and heading to Dalton Academy.
If Blaine thought seeing his childhood bedroom in shambles was jarring, he was beyond amazed to see his high school in flames.
Kurt slowed and parked the car as they both got out and looked on in horror.
"Dalton is on fire." Blaine stated, his mouth wide as they watched the flames lick up the old building. Firefighters were spraying hoses, but try as they might, the fire had spread too far.
Santana and the camera crew were parked nearby and came over to Kurt and Blaine to share in the surprise.
"Was anyone in there? Is everyone okay?" Blaine asked taking a quick head count of his staff.
"Everyone is fine." Santana assured. "We turned up here about a half hour ago to prep lighting and stuff and all of a sudden all the alarms are going off. We ran out of the building, luckily not much had been set up and now here it is 25 minutes later completely in flames."
"Has anybody said why? Was it an overload because of the lights or something?" Kurt was squinting toward the heat from the building.
"The man that talked to us said the source was unknown, but they think it might have started with a gas leak."
Kurt and Blaine both looked worried. What were the chances that just thirty minutes before they showed up, the building would catch fire?
"They are absolutely sure everyone made it out? There weren't any staff, janitors, random people walking about." Blaine looked over his crew once more to make sure he hadn't missed anybody.
"We were the only people supposed to be in the building. Aside from the secretary that was to monitor things while we were there, and she is over by the van."
"Supposed." Kurt repeated weakly. "The only people supposed to be there." Blaine looked over at him with his eyebrows furrowed.
"Maybe we should just call it a day on this. I thought I could handle this day, but I really can't."
"Blaine, we have to do it today. Sarah flies out tonight and the magazines have already left spaces for your pictures in Monday's run."
"We don't have a location." Blaine threw his arm up at the pyres of fire shooting off the academy.
"I have an idea." Kurt offered. They nodded, and he explained his plan.
"Well, I guess if it's all we got." Santana rolled her eyes and marched back to their van full of equipment. "We will meet you guys there."
Blaine took the keys and Kurt pulled out his phone. It rang until a man's voice answered, surprised.
"Hey, Mr. Schue. I was wondering if you could do me a favor?"
**
They rolled up to McKinley a little later. Mr. Schuester was leaning against his car waiting for them. He smiled as they got out.
"Kurt. How have you been? It's so nice to see you."
"I'm doing really well. How are Ms. Pillsbury and the kids?"
"They are—They're great, Kurt." They hugged and grinned at each other.
"Oh. Mr. Schuester this is my fiancé—"
"Blaine Anderson. It's awesome to meet you. I'm a huge fan. Your last album was phenomenal. Especially The Day That the Dance is Over, I recognized a very familiar counter tenor in there."
"Thank you, Mr. Schuester. I'm a big fan of yours too. Kurt's told me a bunch of stories. I remember competing against the New Directions and them being so good every year. That was all you."
"No, it really wasn't. I worked with some great kids." He grinned at Kurt. "It's freezing, let's get inside." He pointed them toward the front door. He swiped a card and it unlocked. He held it open for everyone as they all piled through. First the guys, then Santana, and the photography crew.
"Thanks for letting us use McKinley, Mr. Schue. Our other plan didn't really work out."
"Yeah I was sad to hear Dalton Academy burned down. It's a shame, it was a great school."
"Yeah it was." Blaine frowned. Despite the bad memories, he would always love Dalton for the good ones.
"Well the auditorium is right this way, feel free to use it how you like."
"Actually, I was wondering if we could access the storage closet as well?" Kurt tapped his fingers together nervously.
"You mean the closet we put all our leftover costumes and props in?"
"Yeah."
Mr. Schue's smile widened, "I thought you would never ask." He tossed Kurt the key and chuckled as he walked to his office.
Kurt made short work of the prop closet. Blaine knew he already had an idea in mind as he sifted through things and found each item before moving onto the next.
"There's some interesting stuff in here."
"Yeah there's many stories behind the things in this closet."
"I don't suppose you are going to tell me any of them."
"How much time do you have? It will take about 5 days and an hour or so."
"Oddly specific." Blaine squinted.
"Like I said there are many stories." Kurt smiled as he grabbed a few more things before pushing it all to the auditorium. "Go get ready, I'll set up." Kurt pushed him toward the choir room where makeup had set up to do their hair and cover any blemishes.
Blaine watched Kurt fly down the hallway with a mixed pile of stuff, wondering what his fiancé had in store for them.
After his hairdresser secured his hair in a cement like state, he went to find Kurt.
No one was in the auditorium when he entered. It was eerily quiet, given there was a whole camera crew somewhere in the building bustling around to make up lost time. Blaine walked onto the stage. There was a makeshift gazebo with fairy lights dangling all over it. Off to the side was a neon sign propped up on risers.
He laughed as he walked into the Moroccan style gazebo. How had Kurt done this in just 30 minutes?
Blaine laughed as he paced around looking for Kurt and the crew. When he figured they were all prepping someplace else he took his opportunity to perform to the empty seats.
Never knew I could feel like this.
Like I've never seen the sky before.
He closed his eyes remembering only somewhat the night he climbed Kurt's fire escape.
Want to vanish inside your kiss.
Seasons may change.
Winter to spring.
But I love you. Until the end of time.
Blaine walked around the gazebo taking in all the details Kurt had put. The cushions, the lights, it was just like Moulin Rouge.
Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place.
Blaine whipped his head around to find the source of Kurt's voice. He was making his way around the neon sign. Blaine's smile took up the majority of his face as Kurt walked closer to him.
Suddenly it moves with such a perfect grace.
Suddenly my life doesn't seem such a waste.
It all revolves around you.
Kurt circled Blaine then took his hand and they began slow dancing as they sang together.
And there's no mountain too high.
No river too wide.
Sing out this song and I'll be there by your side.
Storm clouds may gather. Stars may collide.
But I love you.
I love you.
Until the end of time.
Blaine spun Kurt away from him in a grand gesture.
Come what may.
Come what may.
I will love you until my dying day.
Their voices faded softly into the empty auditorium. Blaine pulled Kurt back toward him and their lips found each other in an instant. Blaine wrapped his arms around Kurt and lifted him as they kissed. He spun him around then slid him down with their foreheads pressed together.
Blaine was breathing heavily from the passionate moment, "We should really get this photoshoot going."
The lights clunked on. Each fluorescent lighting in a ripple. They both shielded their eyes, but Kurt laughed as the photography team flooded out of all the nooks and crannies on the stage. One even climbed down from above.
"What?" Blaine looked around as they all walked out looking at their cameras.
"Well I wanted the photos to be genuine. I didn't want you to feel like you had to force them for magazines and everybody. I wanted pictures we can look back on in 50 years and recall exactly how we felt about each other right this moment."
Blaine bit his lip then ran at Kurt, tackling him to the ground. "I don't think I can forget how much I want to tear your clothes off and make love to you right here on this stage."
They heard a click and looked over at Sarah who was nervously holding her camera up. "You said you wanted genuine."
"Well I didn't think Blaine would maul me." Kurt defended as Blaine kissed at his neck. He giggled trying to push Blaine off as he talked business with the team. "Did they turn out okay. Was it too dark?"
"They turned out great. That little bit of fairy lights dangling and the soft spotlight we had on you provided just enough contrast against the dark background. They are perfect. Just give us a few hours to edit them and I will send them to Santana for your final approval."
"Perfect thank you, Sarah." Blaine said into Kurt's shoulder. He was still laying on top of Kurt on the ground.
"Do you want us to leave you?" She questioned quietly.
"Yes please." Blaine grumbled.
She waved for her crew to follow her out and they all scurried to the nearest exit.
"You really can't wait until we get somewhere normal?"
"Is your teacher still here?"
"Yeah he's in his office catching up on paperwork."
"Will he check in on the auditorium?"
"I assume at some point."
"Then we better be quick."
Blaine slid Kurt over to the gazebo and tugged on his pants.
"Blaine no. He could show up at any time. It's one thing if we are making out but I am not having sex with you on this stage."
Blaine grumbled and pouted. Kurt just glared at him.
"Fine I'll take what I can get." Blaine leaned down and pressed into Kurt, grinding his hips against him as his tongue trailed Kurt's lip.
"I think we need to cool off." Kurt pulled away from Blaine, who just went after his neck instead. He used his teeth to loosen the ascot around Kurt's throat and bit him once it was gone.
"We are just getting started." Blaine pushed Kurt's arms above his head and held them there. Going back to kissing Kurt's lips. He nibbled and licked them until they were swollen.
"We should at least go to the car."
"Too far."
They heard the top auditorium door push open. Blaine rolled off Kurt in less than a second. Kurt's face was bright red as he lay there with his ascot untied and bite marks all over him.
"How are the photos going?" Mr. Schuester hopped up the steps to the stage.
"They're great." Blaine laughed.
"We are just taking a little break."
"So I see." Mr. Schuester chuckled and leaned against the neon sign. "I'm really glad you found someone, Kurt." Mr. Schuester had the same proud look in his eyes that he had with all his original Glee club students. The same look he had when Rachel performed her first Broadway show, when Mercedes told him she was running a church choir, when Artie went to film school after directing the plays, and now when he had walked in on Kurt making out with his fiancé in the school.
"So am I." Kurt and his former teacher shared a look. A look that said, I remember everything, and I remember how we went through it all together.
Blaine just looked back and forth between them smiling.
"Thanks again for letting us use your auditorium."
"It's no problem, Blaine. Anything for Kurt Hummel." Blaine laughed and nodded. How the tables had turned.
The two were undressing and unwinding from an eventful day, when Blaine turned to Kurt nervously.
"When we were at Dalton, Santana said everyone that was supposed to be there was accounted for and you repeated her. Were you thinking that perhaps there was someone who wasn't supposed to be there in Dalton?"
Kurt looked at Blaine ready to answer his question honestly, then he shook his head and turned back to what he was doing. "Neverminded. It's stupid."
"Kurt tell me what you were thinking because I may have been thinking the same thing."
Kurt looked over at Blaine surprised, "You were thinking that Sebastian started the gas leak that caused the fire?"
"Sebastian? He's still in New York."
"Not according to my source." Kurt grabbed his phone and pulled up his messages with Unique.
"Your source?" Blaine looked at him a little saddened to have been left out of the information share.
"Yeah. I've been having Unique tail him since LA. She sees him at clubs most nights, she tries to go to the ones he frequents. She told me he hasn't been to any of the regular ones in a few days."
"Oh my God. Sebastian might actually be in Ohio." Blaine thought he was overreacting yesterday when he pictured Sebastian stalking Kurt at the mall. Now he was glad he had texted Jeff. He didn't realize he was staring wildly at Kurt until Kurt put his phone aside and looked Blaine in the eye.
"Who did you think it was?"
"Huh?"
"You were surprised by my answer. You must have thought it was someone else." Kurt raised an eyebrow at a worried Blaine.
"I thought it might have been my dad."
"Why would your dad have done it?"
"I can't think of any reason for him not to." Blaine picked at the comforter, not making eye contact with Kurt.
"Hey." Kurt kneeled in front of Blaine and kissed his forehead. "The cops are investigating. We don't need to worry about this right now. You need sleep, you have a concert tomorrow."
"You invited your family, right? There were no seats left but they can stay backstage with you."
"Yes. They were thrilled to be invited."
"Good, I don't want you alone back there."
"We can hire more security for the concert if it will make you feel better."
"I just want you safe." Blaine smiled softly, meeting eyes with Kurt.
"I will be." They held each other for a long moment before going to bed.