A/N You guys never fail to amaze me with your reviews and comments. I spent the weekend smiling like a giddy fool from the fun reviews posted by new readers. I'm so flattered to have you on board! I know, as some of you are writers as well as readers that you know the importance of a review. They make you wanna jump around and squeal :) And I did that, many times, over the past few days. I'm truly thankful for everyone making this story part of your day! I can't thank you enough :)

CHAPTER 30

"So Trent said when you got back this morning we should give him a call." Blaine said casually.

"Ok, we're leaving here now, I'll be home in….wait….Nicky!? How long does it take to get to Blaine's from here?" Jeff yelled. "Ok, I'll be there in about 20 minutes, man. See you then!" he said, and hung up.

Blaine hung up as well and turned to see Kurt making breakfast in the kitchen. Maggie had called and said they'd be home to pick up Mattie in a few minutes, so he was making a mountain of pancakes and the heaping pan of sausage was already done and warming in the oven.

"Kurt…uh…Jeff's on his way home and I think Nick's coming with him…so….should we make more?" he laughed.

"Probably more pancakes, just to be safe." Kurt said, and began to whip up more pancake batter. "There's enough sausage here to feed a small village I think."

Blaine busied himself with grabbing out the butter, syrup, powdered sugar and honey. He set fruit on the counter, washed it and patted it dry, then cut it in to bite sized pieces and put it in a bowl.

Mattie was helping to set the table, arranging plates and silverware, doing his very best to fold paper towels in half to use as napkins. Blaine wasn't sure what looked more weird….someone actually cooking in his kitchen, or a child arranging flatware at his seldom-used-to-actually-eat-on dining table.

"You look confused, Blaine. What's up?" Kurt asked, grinning, snaking an arm around his waist and leaning with his back against the kitchen island the same as Blaine. Blaine grinned back, but was hyper aware that he shouldn't move too quickly, lest Kurt yank his arm away and retreat. He wondered if Kurt even realized what he'd done? Oh God, the feeling of Kurt's arm wrapped around him….

"I…..I…uh…" was all he was able to stutter out. He bit his lip and laughed at himself. "My spine is on fire and fireworks are shooting through my nerve endings, no biggie." He deadpanned.

"Ooooooookay?" Kurt answered, giving him a strange look that said "I don't know what to do with that information".

"We make one helluva couple, Hummel." Blaine laughed.

"Oh…..we….." Kurt breathed out. He said we're a couple…dear God….breathe, Kurt…in…out…in…out…holy cow! "And why, exactly, do you say that?" he managed.

"You touch me and I damn near spontaneously combust. I touch you and you flinch away from me like my hands are on fire. If I don't laugh about it, I'll cry." He smiled at Kurt, then took his hand and squeezed it.

Kurt smiled with downcast eyes, just a brief glimmer that showed he was aware that Blaine was making light of the situation.

"Don't you dare go all sad on me, Kurt. We'll get through this, I promise you. In the meantime, promise me that you'll still be here when everyone else is gone after breakfast? I think we have some unfinished business from the sofa?" Blaine teased.

Kurt gave a short nod, grinning, and returned to flip his pancakes.

Maggie arrived about 10 minutes later, Evee in tow, looking as sweet as ever. Her hospital wrist bands were still in place and Maggie explained that she wanted to keep them on because it meant "she was brave…'cause the doctor said so!" She had something blue and wrinkly in her hand and she smiled at Kurt like he was Santa Claus.

"Mr. Kurt! Look what the nurse said I could bring home!" she squealed, handing him a handful of latex gloves. "They feel all funny…they're wrinkly and soft and….she said you can make them like balloons!" she grinned.

"Let's see if it works…" Kurt replied, gathering the wrist of the glove and blowing it up for her. Of course, Mattie had to have one as well, so he blew up a second one for him. They swatted each other with them in the living room for a few minutes while the adults talked in the kitchen.

"What did the doctor say, Mags?" Blaine asked.

"She's good…she'll be fine. He was only really worried about…." She began, but her voice cracked before she could continue, and she wiped a tear away, trying valiantly to smile and continue the conversation. "He um…Josh…when he showed up, I told them to go in their room, and I immediately called the police because I thought he was drunk. God knows he looked like he was half dead, and it frightened me! I knew they were in their room with the door locked, so when he broke my front door, I ran for the bathroom. My bedroom door doesn't have a lock on it….well, it did, but it's old and it doesn't work anymore. He followed me and that's pretty much where you guys came in. I had no idea the kids had left the apartment….thank God too, because I think I would have died on the spot. As it is, I had a nightmare last night about them crossing that street alone. Matthew assured me that he looked both ways three times, but still…."

Blaine hugged her and Kurt squeezed her hand in support.

"They're good now. Evee's head is ok?" he said.

"She's fine. They did a CT scan to make sure, but she's ok…thank God. Blaine, I was so damn scared!" she said, clearly still afraid of the fresh memories. Taking a deep breath, she squeezed Kurt's hand back and pulled him into a hug, thanking him as well for his help. He immediately froze and tensed up, closing his eyes and gritting his teeth as his arm slowly slid around her back to squeeze back. Blaine could tell it was taking every ounce of fortitude he had not to bolt away, but he managed to keep it together for the short hug and then released her as easily as possible. "Thank you, Kurt…for keeping them outside, for keeping them safe, and oh my God, when I heard he came after you…after them….I was so scared. Blaine tells me you kind of threw the kids closer into the doorway and put yourself between them and Josh. I can't ever express my gratitude enough. Maybe some day I can make it up to you…I hope. I'm in your debt, both of you….and Sebastian, of course. Kurt rolled his eyes.

As if summoned, Sebastian knocked once and flung the door open, letting himself in and looking rather harried, yet oddly smirking. He looked as if he didn't know whether to be frantic or snide about something, and it was rather amusing to see.

"Blaine, can I borrow a…..holy shit, you having a party and you didn't invite me? What gives?!" he squealed as if offended.

"Hey Sebastian, knock much?" Blaine scoffed. "It's not a party….it's just breakfast, and if you're hungry, you're welcome to hang out and indulge? Lord knows there's plenty." Blaine said, being a good neighbor.

"Naw, I'm good, thanks. I already had breakfast with Hunter, we got back not long ago."

There was a strange noise in the hallway, and then some loud banter which caused Sebastian to smirk again, then turn toward the door.

"What the heck is that? What's going on out there?" Blaine asked.

"Just live porn. There are two hot guys fuc-" he began, Kurt's eyes going wide.

"Sebastian…KIDS here!" Kurt yelled. "Don't you have a filter?! Geeeez….."

"er…fornicating…on the steps in the hallway. It was a good show until another hot guy showed up and started harassing them….then they stopped. Friends of yours?" Seb asked, straight-faced, as if it was an everyday occurrence. Considering his own activities, it probably was.

"WHAT?" Blaine yelled, heading for the door. He was met by Cooper, who was walking backwards down the hall towards him, cat calling to a mortified Jeff and a grinning Nick.

"Yep, that's the guy that stopped the free show….." Seb deadpanned.

"I resent that! We were not….fornicating!" Jeff yelled at Sebastian, stepping through the door with Nick on his heels, still buttoning his pants.

"Oh please! His pants may as well have been around his ankles, Blondie!" Seb laughed. Jeff blushed to the roots of his hair.

"It wasn't that bad!" Jeff yelled.

"It wasn't bad at all, baby…" Nick teased him, grinning.

"Mama, what's 'fordicating'?" Mattie asked innocently.

"It's….uh…." she muttered, giving Seb a look that could kill. "It's something we'll discuss later, baby, ok?" she finally said.

"OK…is it like sbontan-ee-us kimbust?" he asked, clearly curious. Kurt's eyes flew open wide. Maggie gave Matthew a questioning look.

"You mean 'spontaneous combustion?'" she asked.

"Uh huh…..Mr. Kurt makes Blaine a sbontan-ee-us kimbus-chin and Blaine's hands are on fire" he said, innocently turning to the table to find a plate.

Kurt's eyes shot wider and his mouth fell open and Blaine took only half a second more to mimic his facial features, both of them turning bright red from their head to their toes.

"Oh….oh my God….I'll just be in the other room slowly dying if anyone needs me….." Kurt said, walking down the hall to Blaine's bedroom and closing the door.

"Uhm…." Blaine said, biting his bottom lip, then finally bursting into giggles. "Foods ready…help yourselves….I'm just gonna go die with Kurt for a minute…." He said before following Kurt down the hall.

When the bedroom door closed for the second time, the kitchen and living room erupted into gales of laughter, hoots and hollers.

"Ok, so Jeff, you're the only one in the room that I know now!" Cooper said, exasperated.

"Oh…yeah…ok, well…Cooper, this is Nick, my …." Jeff began.

"I'm his boyfriend," Nick said, proudly, "and it's nice to meet you, Cooper….and you are?" Nick asked.

"I'm Blaine's brother."

"Well, then we're in the same boat, because Maggie's the only one I know in the room." Seb said.

"Who's Maggie?" asked Cooper.

"Hey! You know Evee and me!" Mattie yelled.

"My apologies, young man, you're entirely correct, and I don't know how I could have forgotten!" Seb grinned at the little boy.

"Oh for God's sake!" yelled Maggie. "All of you! Go around and introduce yourselves and state your business!" she laughed, pointing at Coop.

"Cooper Anderson, I'm Blaine's brother….business? Um….annoying Blaine? Oh! And saying goodbye to Jeffie!" he smiled.

"Jeff Sterling, Blaine's best friend, visiting from Ohio….and leaving shortly, unfortunately" he grinned.

"Don't forget shagging the hot dude on the stairs!" Seb laughed.

"Holy sh….You know what, I'm going to go out on a limb here, and just take a guess. You're Sebastian aren't you?" Jeff asked.

"How'd you know that?" Seb asked, confused.

"You're reputation precedes you, sir!" Nick laughed.

"And YOU are?" Seb asked Nick.

"Nick….I'm Jeff's boyfriend, and I work with Blaine at the bar."

"Ooooh, Jeffie…he's hot, baby!" Coop said, wiggling his eyebrows.

"Standing here…..right here, Cooper" Nick laughed. "And TAKEN!"

"It's ok, I'm straight….and feeling REALLY outnumbered here. Awkwarrrrdddd!" he laughed.

"You're not the only hetero!" Maggie chimed in

"Oh? And who might you be?" asked Coop.

"Maggie….I live across the street. These are my kids, Evee and Matthew. Matthew hung out with Blaine and Kurt last night while Ev and I were at the hospital after the fight."

"And how is Ms. Evee this morning?" Seb asked.

"Whole and hearty, and really…..thank you all, Sebastian…you, Kurt, Blaine. Without you it would have gotten really ugly yesterday, and that terrifies me." Maggie said.

"Awww, shucks, ma'am, it was nothin'." Seb said, acting shy. "Kurt's a born protector apparently and Blaine and I were just blowing off some steam by pummeling your ex!" He laughed.

Jeff threw a look at Cooper and said "We missed all the fun, damn it!"

"There's a story here, somewhere. Who's gonna tell it?" Coop asked.

"I'll tell it, but let's sit down and eat before it gets cold, yes?" Maggie said, using her best authoritative mom tone. The boys didn't need to be asked twice.

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"Kurt….I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that out loud with Matthew here….I'm sorry if I embarrassed you." Blaine said quietly. "I'm just not used to having to filter things for young ears, ya know? You ok?"

Kurt was sitting on the edge of Blaine's bed, his head hung down, hands on his knees. Blaine couldn't see his face, but he was shaking his head slowly back and forth. It sounded like he was whimpering, and it broke Blaine's heart.

"Kurt…please…..can I sit….I want to sit by you, but not if it's going to upset you?" he said, trying to comfort Kurt.

Suddenly it became clear to him that Kurt wasn't sobbing, he was laughing, and it made his face light up like a beacon.

"Kurt? KURT! You moron! I thought you were upset….I thought you were crying for God's sake!" Blaine laughed, punching Kurt lightly on the arm.

"I've never been more mortified by a child in my whole life!" he laughed, sitting up and wrapping his arms around his waist. "Is my face still pale? I actually felt all the blood drain out of it when he said that." Kurt laughed.

"Actually, it's kind of bright pink…all over." Blaine teased him. "I'm sure mine is as well, though, right?"

"No, yours is….." Kurt began, raising his eyes to look at Blaine's face. It was right there…so close….just close enough to lean in and steal a kiss if he wanted to. And, oh boy, did he want to, but he was shy, and somewhat afraid, and almost a little embarrassed at the fact that they were sitting on Blaine's bed. Not to mention the house full of company. Blaine was looking at him expectantly.

"Um…yours….it's…it's perfect." Kurt was finally able to say, although not without difficulty. He was very aware that he was being pretty forward, and this just wasn't like him at all, but it felt right. It felt like the right thing to say at this moment, and it was so, so true. His face was perfect…in fact, he'd have a hard time finding something about Blaine that he didn't think was perfect. To hell with nerves, he was going to do it….just lean in and do it! He raised his fingers to Blaine's face, his own smile tentative, yet heartfelt, and placed his fingers on Blaine's cheek. Eyes closing of their own accord, he leaned the rest of the way in, heart soaring when there was a sudden pounding on the door and, again, he jerked back away from Blaine. He dropped his eyes to his knees again, smiling broadly and shaking his head.

"Guys! We're not saving you any food. If you want some, you better come out and get some! Unless you're 'getting' some' in there, well, then that's different…." Cooper trailed off.

"Not anymore, Cooper, thank you!" Blaine growled at the door, picking up a shoe to throw in it's general direction. He smiled, shaking his head, eyes closed, and let out a short laugh. "Again….if I don't laugh, I'll cry."

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"Oh! Before you go, Jeff, we have to text Trent!"

"Oh ...mfgt abot dat!" Jeff answered, his mouth full of pancakes. Nick turned to look at him with the world's biggest cheesy grin on his face.

"Chew it up! You're gonna choke!" Nick laughed. "What are you, four?"

"Hey!" Mattie yelled, looking distressed. "I'm four and I don't do that!"

"You know mouth to mouth resuscitation? It might be worth it!" Jeff smiled back, shoving another mouthful in. Sebastian rolled his eyes and shook his head at them, gnawing on a piece of sausage wrapped up in a pancake.

Coop leaned over to the little girl next to him and whispered something in her ear, giving her a wrinkly nosed look when he sat back up in his seat properly. She giggled and gave him a questioning look. After thinking on it for a minute she turned to ask him her question.

"Wouldn't you have to eat glitter and rainbows if you were gonna throw up glitter and rainbows?" she asked seriously.

The table erupted with laughs, while Jeff blushed and Nick slid his arm around his blonde boyfriend.

"He's just jealous, baby...ignore him..." Jeff stage whispered to Nick, leaning his head over to rest it on Nick's shoulder. "Coop's bedroom door is revolving." He laughed. Coop threw him a snarky look, grinned and went back to eating.

Blaine shoved a mountain of food into his mouth and texted Trent from the table, apologizing to everyone for his manners….or lack thereof.

10:13 from Blaine: You there, T?

10:14 from Trent: Hey man, I'm here.

10:15 from Blaine: You have our undivided attention. What's up?

10:15 from Trent: Jeff's there too?

10:16 from Blaine: Among others J Everyone says hello.

10:17 from Trent: Anyone I know?

10:17 from Blaine: Kurt, Cooper, Maggie, Evee, Mattie, Sebastian, Nick, Jeffie and me!

10:18 from Trent: Wow…ok….um…..well…..the um, big news…Thad put in for a transfer a while back. Several have come up, and he has a choice of where to go.

10:20 from Blaine: What are his choices?

10:21 from Trent: Cleveland, Philly, or….

There was a long pause, and Blaine began to wonder if he'd missed something.

10:25 from Blaine: Ok…well, either of them is closer, right? But Cleveland…Trent, that's only what, 2 hours? That's awesome!

10:26 from Trent: or NYC

10:26 from Blaine: Wait, what? REALLY? J

10:27 from Blaine: That's awesome! But not if you're not here, too L

10: 28 from Trent: Yeah, about that….hold on…sending you something.

10:30 from Trent: jpg image 355 / Open?

Blaine clicked 'open' and let out a whoop of joy, turning the screen so that everyone could see the picture. The room erupted in shouts and cheers. It was clear what the other surprise was. There, on the screen of Blaine's phone was Trent's hand holding Thad's hand….Trent's clearly with a beautifully engraved band on his ring finger. Blaine didn't bother to text back. He immediately called Trent instead.

"Hey, B" Trent smiled into the phone.

"OH MY GOD! This is so awesome! Congratulations man!" Blaine yelled.

"Thanks….we'll both be fellow New Yorkers within the month, it seems." Trent said.

"Is he there?" Blaine asked.

"Oh yeah, we need to talk to Thad!" Jeff yelled in the background.

"He's here, I'll put you on speaker…..go ahead."

"THAD! Only the fact that we are over-the-moon happy for you is keeping you from getting a swift smack to the head when I see you next!" Blaine said, his laughter and happiness evident in his voice.

"Thanks…I think?" Thad replied, clearly smiling and happy. "Listen…I hope you guys aren't upset with us….with Trent….you can be angry with me, but please don't be angry with him….." he began.

"Thad….we get it. No harm done, what matters is now we all know and we can harass you as much as we want!" Jeff laughed.

"And we obviously will…" Blaine said, "Because we've missed out on so many opportunities to do so while you kept it all a secret!" Everyone laughed at that, but Blaine got up and moved away from the table. Jeff followed.

"Seriously, though, guys. We're just so happy for you two. Really, really happy."

"That means a lot, coming from some of our closest friends, guys. Thank you. I hope Thad's family feels the same way." Trent said, and there was a hint of trepidation in his voice.

"Honey, really….we've been over this. I love you, they love you, case closed." Thad said in the background.

"Yes, well, I'm keeping my fingers crossed and still praying to every known deity for divine assistance, idiot. I'm scared to death to tell them!" Trent said back to Thad.

"Well get a move on, because we're already late for brunch, babe! We won't make any points if we keep my mom waiting." Thad said.

"Wait, where are you guys?" Blaine asked.

"Outside Thad's parents' house in the driveway." Trent laughed.

"You told US before you told THEM?" Jeff mused.

"Yeah…well…you guys are my family. It was important to me to let you know. I feel awful that you were the last to know about us dating….so I thought I'd try to make it up to you by letting you know about our engagement before anyone else. And with that, I'm going inside to have my head handed to me on a platter. I'll text you later if I'm still alive." Trent snarked.

"They'll love you for loving their son, T. Hang in there. Love you, man! Congrats again, Thad!"

"Bye guys!" they yelled in unison and hung up.

Blaine bit his bottom lip, and studied the floor with a grin. When the picture that Trent sent came through, he was immediately both surprised and ecstatic for his friends. What snuck up on him, though, was the image that popped into his head of Kurt in a tuxedo with a ring on his finger. His heart jumped in his chest and he quickly glanced up at the dining table to see Kurt's eyes watching him. His head was tilted to the side a little, his beautiful chestnut hair perfect, his eyes shining with so many colors it was probably illegal.

Blaine's heart stopped. He managed a weak smile at Kurt, waiting for his breathing to return to normal, knowing in his heart right then and there, that one day, he would give Kurt a ring and ask him to belong to each other forever. This was a perfectly normal thing to consider when you've known someone for 72 hours, right?

They finished eating, and Maggie helped Kurt clear the table while the boys moved to the sofa. Evee had made herself comfortable in front of Blaine's T.V. Kurt had brought some things over to keep Mattie busy the night before and he had clay all over the table. He was in the process of rolling snakes.

"So, Sebastian, what was it that you wanted to borrow when you came over, anyway?" Blaine said.

Sebastian's face was suddenly the picture of distress. So much so, that everyone had to hold back snickers and guffaws it was so comical.

"Seb?" Blaine promted again.

"Bolt cutters" he muttered out. "Oh shit…..oh SHIT!" he blurted out, jumping up off of the sofa and charging to the door. "Do you have any? Anything like that?!" he was almost yelling now.

"Why the hell would I have…." Blaine began.

"Oh my God, he's going to KILL me!" Seb said, frantically.

"Who's going to kill you?" Kurt asked.

"Hunter! He's chained to my bed! I can't find the key…" he yelled before rushing out the door and slamming it behind him.

Everyone in the room was silent. Nobody said a word, they just all took turns looking at each other to see if they'd heard him correctly. Oddly, all eyes ended up on Blaine, who merely shrugged and shook his head.

"I tried to tell you guys…." He said, grinning. Then the laughter broke out.