Crowded House

by kellyb321

All of your favorite Warblers and a few new faces, too. Follow our boys as they start their lives in NYC, each couple facing their own challenges, heartbreak, self-discovery and redemption. Stick around as they realize support, acceptance and most importantly, true love can all be found in one big Crowded House. Heavy on the Klaine and Niff.

105. Chapter 105

I sent you a Christmas gift. Did you get it? :) It's called "Lots of Toys and Goodies" and you should read it if you're bored and looking to fill some time! Also, there's a special Author's Note at the end of this chapter of Crowded House...please give it a look-see. It would mean a lot to me, as you all do.

Ch. 104

"Nick Duval…"

"Nick? Cooper Anderson, how are ya? How was your Thanksgiving?"

"Hey, Cooper! I'm well, man, thanks for asking. And it was quiet and uneventful, thankfully! How are things with you and the new family?" Nick smiled into the question, his phone cradled into his shoulder as he grabbed some things from his desk and shoved them in his briefcase.

"Couldn't be better, and I am the luckiest man alive!"

"Glad to hear it, man, although I might disagree with that 'luckiest man' part," Nick teased. "I mean, you know who I come home to every night."

"Ahh, our Jeffrey. A fine young man, indeed," Cooper laughed.

"What can I do for ya, Coop?"

"I need to sell my place, and I don't wanna mess around with starting high and coming down in a month or 6 weeks if it hasn't sold and all that garbage. I just want to put a fair price on it and sell it quickly. Paying on two places is ridiculous and there's no reason to do so. We finally got everything out that I'm keeping. So my question is this: are you my guy and when can you take a look at it?"

"Oh, well…sure, I mean, you know I generally do commercial stuff, but I'm happy to do it if you want me to. I can uh…" Nick paused, checking his calendar. "I can come by to see it and get some comps on the building and the area maybe….Wednesday? Around lunchtime, if you're free?"

"Sounds fantastic, Nick. I'll text you the address now so you can get to work on comps. I have some photos I took this weekend as well. I'll send those over to you. There are a few furniture pieces still in there, but Maggie put them on Craigslist this morning, so I'm sure they'll be gone soon. Wednesday it is."

---

Kurt was certain there were gods conspiring against him. He didn't know why. He had no idea what he'd done to deserve it. But someone, somewhere, was laughing their ass off at his misfortunes. Kurt, however, wasn't amused. At all. Things just seemed to be coming out of the woodwork to bite him in the ass and it was getting annoying. Still, he tried to look on the bright side of things.

They'd finally settled on having Burt and Carole in the city with them for Christmas in a couple weeks. Rachel and Finn were ecstatic, having argued about it for weeks because Rachel's dads wanted to come to New York for Christmas and New Year's Eve. She didn't want Finn to go home alone, but she certainly didn't want her dads in the city if she wasn't there to spend time with them. This decision made everyone happy.

They'd coordinated a few dates together over coffee, Rachel getting tickets to a Broadway show she wasn't in and paying for everyone's ticket as her Christmas gift. Kurt was glad, as he'd wanted to see the show as well but hadn't had time. Finn wasn't so thrilled, but he'd sit with Burt and probably commentate the whole thing on the end of the row while everyone else enjoyed what was going on with the actors on the stage. Give and take…right?

Cris wanted everyone over for dinner one night and while Rachel had met and loved Cris, she would take that as her opportunity to spend some time with her dads, alone, while Finn went to Cris' with his family. It only took Mattie challenging him to a Halo 5 game for him to relent. He figured he could whip a five year old easily. He was in for a rude awakening.

Work had been intense for a few days, David having offered their services for a handful of outfits for a benefit after speaking with a colleague over Thanksgiving weekend. Any way he could get Kurt's name out there was a good thing. Any publicity was good publicity, David told him. Kurt rolled his eyes thinking of the not-so-helpful article in the paper about Blaine's encounter at Aria's, and David's subsequent panic.

Kurt wasn't told about the benefit, though, until the last minute and he wasn't happy about it. So, after Thanksgiving he was busier than he'd have liked, staying late at work again, trying to get a gown to hang just right. In an epic bitch fit worthy of Rachel on steroids, Kurt literally ripped the gown he'd been working on right off the mannequin and threw it to the floor. He didn't give a damn about the ripped seams or the tiny buttons that flew off, he just couldn't look at that damn dress hanging incorrectly for another minute.

Unfortunately, that meant he had to start over, which he knew he'd have to do anyway, with new fabric that might….should….hang better. He wasn't happy with that, but it was what it was. He'd have to cancel his dinner with Blaine.

Kurt knew Blaine wasn't at all happy with the dinner cancellation and he'd been more than uptight when Kurt finally got home. Little did he know that Blaine had made dinner for Kurt, thinking he'd have just enough time to eat and then pop the question before going to work…hopefully taking Kurt along with him to celebrate. Well, clearly that wasn't happening. Blaine was beyond flustered at that point.

It took Kurt three days to get things right, and he was at wit's end with the lost time, but the dress was complete, hanging flawlessly and ready to show in a few days' time. The other ensembles were complete as well and awaiting transport to the show. Kurt was expected to be there and David and Naomi would accompany him. Kurt had asked for an extra ticket for Blaine, since the show was during the daytime hours, and David had said he'd secure one. Kurt figured he and Blaine could catch a nice dinner on the way home and he'd ask Blaine then, on the heels of what he was certain would be a major feather in his hat. The show went splendidly, but David hadn't remembered to get Blaine a ticket, so he didn't get to attend. Kurt was less than happy, David was falling over himself apologizing and Blaine was more than a little miffed at being forgotten. Clearly any proposal wasn't happening that night.

Between Kurt's working late hours and Blaine going in early to deal with holiday revelers, they barely saw one another. It was taking its toll on both of them, too. They were snippy with each other as well as everyone around them and Jeff had finally had enough.

"Listen Blaine, you've been here with me every day for the last two weeks. I've let it go, mostly because I know you're stressed out because you're not seeing Kurt enough, but damn man….I mean, what gives? This isn't my fault and I don't think it's fair to chew my head off over little, insignificant shit like this!"

"Little shit? Seriously, Jeff? It's not little, insignificant shit!"

"Blaine, they forgot your fortune cookies in the bag and you ripped me a new asshole. Can we just admit you're a bit higher strung than normal and try to work through this?" Jeff questioned, eyebrows raised and hands on his hips. "The first step on the road to recovery is admitting you have a problem," he teased with a snarky grin.

Frustrated, Blaine let out a long sigh and hung his head.

"You're right, and I'm sorry. I'm really just…Jeff, I can't do this much longer. This thing with me working nights and him working days. I see him, at most, for an hour or two before I have to be in to work. That's barely enough time to eat and say hello and then we're apart again."

"You know when the center opens you'll be working daytime hours, right? School will begin by 8 a.m., and they'll be here all day, but classes will be done by 3 p.m., Blaine. You'll have all of your evenings free for Kurt. Just hold on with me for a few more months, man."

"I know…I know, Jeff. Really, it's just…that's still half a year away and we have so much work to do. I'm here with you all day and working my ass off, which I don't mind, so don't even go there…but then I go home and I barely see him, if at all, before I'm off to the bar and he's asleep by the time I get home. He always tells me to wake him up, but I kinda figure he would be awake if he wasn't tired, so clearly he IS tired, and I'm not waking him up in the middle of the damn night to say hello!" Blaine ended his tirade loudly, a wide eyed Jeff watching him spout off without saying a word.

"Feel better?"

"A little," Blaine said, then laughed. "I'm a wreck, aren't I?"

"You are. How can I help, B? Is being here all day too much? We can scale it back. I don't want to overwhelm you. Clearly something's eating at you."

"So many things, man. I have a lot on my mind. Christmas is coming up and I don't have much for Kurt yet. When I ask him what he wants he says 'you know what I like…' and goes on about his business. I know what he likes, in general, but you know I'm not good at that shit, Jeff. I don't want to get him something that he'll keep and maybe even act as if he likes, while he's thinking what a moron I am!"

"I'll go shopping with you. I know what Kurt likes. Working hip to hip with him for months taught me what not to wear," Jeff grins. "We'll get this done, B, ok? Don't sweat it. Now tell me….what about the ring?"

"Don't even mention it," Blaine replied, utterly dejected. "At this point, I'm pretty sure I'm not supposed to ask him. I've tried so many times…it's ridiculous how many times I've had the opportunity and lost it. I don't want to wait, but I'm thinking maybe I should just give it up for a little bit. Maybe the powers that be are trying to tell me something?"

"Something…such as? You're not seriously telling me that you think you and Kurt aren't supposed to be together, are you? Because I've known you a long time, B, and I've known you to do some stupid things, but I've never thought you were stupid."

"Thank you?"

"Blaine…it's meant to happen. Man up. Get it done!"

"Well, I'm just sayin'! We went out the other day for coffee. Finally we had a free day to do something together, and we were sitting there at this cute little café that just opened up around the corner from home. I thought surely I'd just ask him on the way home, walking back to our place, right? It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining, the temperature wasn't so bad and I thought it would be romantic, you know? We'd pass that spot all the time and he could say "remember when…?" I was staring at him, just taking him all in. He's a lot, ya know? He's just everything to me and without thinking or paying any attention I knocked my damn coffee into my own lap. Damn near scorched my own junk and spent the rest of the day with a bag of frozen peas in my crotch. Seriously it's like the world is conspiring against me!" Blaine roared. "Oh very funny…laugh it up…" Blaine said, watching Jeff nearly fall out of his chair laughing.

"I wondered why you were walking funny on Monday, but I just assumed you'd had a helluva night in bed, man!" Jeff laughed, doubled over and holding his stomach. "I don't know what to tell you, Blaine. I'm more than happy to help you arrange something. Maybe if we put our heads together we can—"

"No…I'm not dragging you into this mess. I think I'm just going to hold off until after New Year's and—"

"You think putting it off longer will help? You'll just continue to be high strung and irritable through the holidays?! No, you need to get this done. I don't know how or when or where, but damn, B….just get it done! You have it hidden well, don't you? He's not gonna take your clothes to the dry cleaner and lose the ring in the process, is he?"

"No, it's hidden just fine. Unless he decides my deceased grandfather's suit jacket needs to be cleaned? I have it hidden in the pocket. There's no reason for him to get in there. We'll see, Jeff. I just don't want to wait, but I don't think I can take anymore screw ups, ya know?"

---

"And a grande nonfat mocha for you!" Rachel sang as she set the cup in front of Kurt. "Thank you for meeting me, Kurt. I feel like we haven't had coffee for ages! I had some down time—"

"Rachel, it's never going to happen," Kurt said, totally dejected.

"What? What's never going to happen?"

"Proposing to Blaine. It's just not meant to be."

"What? Oh, Kurt, no. NO! You just…things haven't worked out, but come on, you know you have to do it! You can't just let it go and not ask him. You still want to marry him, right?" Rachel barreled on.

"Of course I do!" Kurt huffed. "But you'd die laughing if you knew how many times I've tried to ask him and something went majorly wrong…or even minor-ly wrong. It's like I'm not supposed to do it. I'm doomed!" Kurt pouted, lip pushed out for good measure.

"I told you I'd help you pull something together if you want me to."

"No, I don't want to drag you into the mire that is my plan gone awry. It's a miserable place to be right now. On top of that, I don't get to see him enough. He's going in to work by the time I'm getting home. I'm working way too many hours and I'm going to have to talk to David about it. I thought I could handle it, but I'm there ten to twelve hours a day and I'm getting burned out. I go in early because I get more work done when nobody's there to interrupt me but that means I'm there at 7 a.m at the latest….and I don't normally leave until everyone else does, and that's at least 5 p.m. if not later. By the time I get the train and get home, I have time to inhale whatever Blaine's made for dinner, God love him for it, and then he's out the door to work. It's just not working. I miss him, Rachel. I want more time with him. I can't wait until he's working with Jeff and he's on first shift like me, but it's half a year off at this point and it feels like forever from now." Kurt finished his rant and looked up from his coffee to see Rachel giving him a pitying look, which he hated. He hated anyone pitying him for anything, most of all Rachel.

"Oh, honey, we need to find a way to get this done once and for all."

"This past weekend I told him I was running out to grab some stationery really quickly, and that he should meet me at our favorite bakery for breakfast. I was ready and he wasn't, so I went ahead to our favorite place and ordered two cream filled donuts. I got his favorite, ya know? And I put his ring in the damn donut, thinking it would be romantic, right? Well, when I turned to find a table, he was walking in and I nearly dropped the damn tray because someone's unruly child nearly took me out at the kneecaps. My coffee went sloshing around and I barely righted it in time to not spill all over some woman seated in front of me. So at some point, the tray got turned and I got the donut with the ring instead of him! Chipped a freaking tooth, too! I couldn't even say anything because he'd want to know how the hell I chipped a tooth on a donut…."

"Oh my God, Kurt! How did you explain that one away? You didn't just give him the ring at that point?"

"No, Rachel! That's not romantic! I'd have suddenly developed a lisp or something while trying to ask the love of my life to marry me…just no! So I told him I didn't feel well, had him grab a box for the damn donuts and took 'mine' home to fish the ring out later when he'd gone out. I'm telling you, it's not gonna happen any time soon."

"As long as you have it hidden somewhere safe and he doesn't stumble across it, I guess," Rachel commented.

"It's in my scarf drawer with the ones from last season. He'll never get in there. He doesn't wear those kinds of scarves. I think I'm safe. Eventually I'll do it, but I think the cosmos is trying to tell me to lay off, you know?" Kurt pouted some more and Rachel tried her best to offer suggestions, to no avail.

They discussed Christmas, what they were buying as gifts and what they'd do when Carole and Burt were in town. Then they talked about what was going on in Rachel's life for a little bit before they both had to get back to work. Kurt left feeling no better than he felt when he walked in.

---

"Kurt!?"

"Up here!" Kurt yelled back, wondering why in the hell Sebastian had such a hard time actually knocking on a door. Ever.

Seb ran up the stairs two at a time and when he saw Kurt in the kitchen he broke out into a wide grin. Striding straight over to him he threw his arms around Kurt and squeezed him tightly. Kurt stood stock still, arms at his side and eyes wide. What the heck?

"Thank you. That's all I can say is thank you, Kurt. I don't know what you did or what you said, but…I appreciate it."

"What are you talking about? And can you let go so I can breathe?" Kurt laughed.

"Hunter told me you two had lunch yesterday. Whatever you said must've finally gotten through to him, Kurt. He doesn't want me to quit, and actually told me that he's ok with my job as long as I promise that whenever I'm out, no matter what kind of detail it is, I have to wear the vest. I do that anyway, the vast majority of the time, ya know? I'm golden! And I'm due for a raise if I keep my current position, so it's a win / win!"

"I'm glad, Seb," Kurt smiled. "I can't take much credit, though. Yes, I brought it up and talked to him about it, but I think whatever that Vulcan neck trick thing was that you did at Trent and Thad's wedding was…well, I think that was the deciding factor. That was insane, Sebastian, and I want you to teach me how to do that. Why didn't you show me how to do that when you were going over all the gun stuff? It's just as useful, isn't it?"

"It is, if you can get close enough. With Jax, you didn't want to be that close. God knows what he'd have done. You did just fine with what you had to work with, Hummel," Sebastian smiled. "But really, Kurt, thank you for whatever you said. I was really starting to panic. I love my job. I love what I do and the last thing I wanted was to have to quit or take a lesser position. I worked my ass off to get where I am and that's exactly where I want to be. It appears I owe you, again. Are you keeping a tally?"

"I'm not…what did you owe me for before this?"

"When Hunter wanted to leave me, you read him the riot act about the texts and voicemails I'd left him, about how he hadn't listened to them. You told him that he was being selfish for expecting me to change my whole life when he wasn't even willing to come out to his parents and share our relationship. Nobody else would have stood up for me like that."

"He told you that?" Kurt grinned.

"Hell no. I was sitting on the floor in my room next to the vent listening to you give him shit about it," Seb smiled. Kurt rolled his eyes.

"Well, don't get a big head about it. I don't 'like' you or anything," Kurt laughed.

"Oh thank God. I don't like you either, ya know."

"All is as it should be, then."

"All is so much better than it should be, believe me. He's off my back about my stitches and healing up and all that, too. Don't even tell me that had something to do with you?" Sebastian asked, watching Kurt blush. There was no way in hell he was going to tell Sebastian what he and Hunter had talked about, and how personal it had gotten.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Sebastian," Kurt said regally, looking down his nose. Seb smiled, knowing very well that Kurt obviously had something to say, and he'd just tack that on to the tally. With a sly grin, he turned to go.

"I'm going. I just wanted to say that. So I'm saying it. Thank you, for whatever you said or didn't say…I appreciate it."

"You're welcome. I'll start that tally now, don't you worry," Kurt teased.

"Counting on it!" Seb yelled up the stairs.

---

Rachel: This isn't working out.

Jeff: They're miserable at this shit. I got it right the first try. What gives?

Rachel: Kurt's really bummed out. I feel terrible for him.

Jeff: Blaine's a mess. He's saying he's gonna give it up until after New Year's.

Rachel: Kurt said something similar. What's with those boys?

Jeff: Time to step in?

Rachel: He said he doesn't want help *frowns*

Jeff: Blaine said the same. Yet here they are, both in misery.

Rachel: Let's give them a week and see where we are then?

Jeff: If we must. I gotta tell you though, this shit's making ME tense!

Rachel: I feel your pain, Jeffrey. I truly do. Seeing Kurt upset like this isn't easy for me.

Jeff: Coffee soon?

Rachel: Absolutely!

---

"We have a week left before Christmas, Blaine, and a zillion things to do and buy and wrap and cook and, of course, NOW it's snowing like crazy, because that's what I need to deal with. Damn it, couldn't we have just avoided snow until after the craziness of Christmas and relatives and traveling and everything else that needs to be done. That reminds me, did you find that sweater for your mom? Or pick up the things for the kids?"

"Please…don't stress me out more than I already am, Kurt. I'm doing my best," Blaine replied, his tone a bit off. Kurt heard it but paid little attention, his mind on the sketches he was laying carefully in his portfolio to take to work the following morning.

Blaine was washing the dishes from the dinner he'd cooked, his face set in an obviously tense grimace and his mind just spinning with the hundreds of things he felt needed to be done in the 6 days before their home was invaded by out of town guests. Unfortunately, it seemed many of those things…the vast majority of those things…were being asked of him. Blaine tried to mentally tally the number of errands he could run in one day while still being at school with Jeff, working at the bar, finishing the Christmas shopping, wrapping everything they'd already purchased, making the grocery list for Christmas dinner, cleaning the apartment, and oh, he'd promised Kurt new sheets weeks ago, not to mention Cooper hadn't answered him when he'd asked what the kids were telling Santa they wanted this year. Was he supposed to pick up Burt and Carole at the airport? Were they staying with Kurt and Blaine first or Rachel and Finn? Or were they staying in the same hotel as the Berry's now? They'd shipped their gifts from Ohio, already, too…would he have to be here to sign for that delivery? What if he wasn't? Would he, then, have to make an extra trip to the post office to retrieve it? He realized his breathing had gotten quicker and he was just standing at the sink with the water running and hands shaking.

"Blaine? I said did you pick up that dry cleaning that you dropped off on Wednesday evening?"

"I'll try to get to that tomorrow, Kurt. I will, I'm just a bit busy—"

"I know all about 'busy', Blaine, believe me," Kurt tossed out offhandedly.

"No, you know about getting up, going to work, and leaving lists for me to try to accomplish before you come home from being in the same place all day long, not running around like a mad man doing errands, trying to make something of your future workplace and then going to work at your current job at night….at night, you know, when some people can pull out a book and relax or watch T.V. all evening. I'm trying, Kurt. I am. Damn….cut me some slack, will you, please?" Blaine shut the water off and grabbed a dishtowel, wiping his hands as he walked away, then threw the towel back to the counter. The bedroom door clicked shut before Kurt could even snap his gaping mouth shut.

"What the ever loving hell…." Kurt breathed out, stunned, eyes blinking owlishly. He flopped back on the nearest chair, unsure what had just happened. Well, Blaine had blown up a bit…that's what happened. It was so unlike him, so out of the blue, that Kurt wasn't sure what to say or do…so he stayed where he was and thought about what Blaine had said.

He had a point. For the most part, Kurt went to work at the loft and he was there the vast majority of the day. If he went out to lunch or needed to grab a bolt of fabric from Mood, he left the loft, but that wasn't common, and it wasn't for very long…nor was it very far. Blaine, though…Blaine was running all over the place, dropping off dry cleaning, getting groceries, trying to help Jeff, getting back to the apartment in time to get dinner going so that he could have a meal with Kurt before work. Blaine was on the go all day, every day, doing something. Many of those 'somethings' were for Kurt. With a sigh, Kurt hung his head realizing he was asking a bit much of Blaine and needed to pick up some of the slack. Once again he realized he was working way too many hours at the loft and he needed to take stock of what was happening at home because of it. He'd talk to David about it tomorrow.

The bedroom door opened and Blaine walked out dressed for… work? He looked much less 'put together' than he normally did, wearing a pair of jeans that weren't nearly as dark as the pairs he normally wore to work, faded out, worn and ripped at the knees. But the thing that caught Kurt's eye the most was that Blaine wasn't wearing a button up or a Polo shirt as he usually would. He was wearing a plain white t-shirt, threadbare and tight, and he had thrown on…dear God…an old, black leather jacket with silver zippers and snaps that was well worn and looked…Jesus. Kurt was momentarily stunned and couldn't speak, his heart pounding right out of his chest. Blaine looked like sex on a stick, a classic bad-boy, a teenaged Kurt Hummel's wet dream come true. Screw that, a twenty-something Kurt Hummel's wet dream come true.

"B-Blaine?"

"I'm going to work, Kurt," he said, eyes on the floor. "I can't talk now…I…I just don't have time, I'm sorry I…I'm sorry. Leave me a list of what needs to be done and I'll do my best to get to it tomorrow, ok? Love you…" Blaine said, and the door shut behind him without another word.

---

Kurt: Guys….I need…help?

Cooper: What? Kurt, are you ok? Is Blaine ok?

Jeff: What's up, Kurtie?

Kurt: Jeffrey, we have talked about the name….

Jeff: My deepest apologies, Sir. Please proceed with the conversation. Are you well? Has something gone wrong?

Kurt: No! We're fine, I mean…yes, we're ok…physically. I just….I've upset him.

Cooper: Kurt, it happens. What can I do?

Jeff: Spill it. Let the Jeffster analyze the sitch.

Kurt: The sitch? The…what? Sigh. Ok….

Kurt: Tell me what faded jeans and an old white t-shirt means?

Cooper: Jean jacket or black leather?

Kurt: Black leather.

Jeff: Ouch…what happened? Ripped jeans?

Kurt: Just at the knees, why?

There was a long pause, and Kurt wondered why, then thought perhaps nobody wanted to tell him what the complete and utter change in Blaine's wardrobe meant. Then it crossed his mind that perhaps the two of them were talking to each other…in another text… behind Kurt's back. Why, though? What had happened? They wouldn't do that. Would they?

Cooper: Kurt, I'd say he's upset about something, uptight, thinks he's letting you down. No reason to make the effort to dress nicely and look good if he's already let you down and you probably don't expect him to live up to … whatever hasn't happened.

Kurt: Are you serious? You can tell all that from a change of clothing?

Cooper: He's my brother, Kurt. I've known Blaine a helluva long time, ya know? You're sure everything's ok?

Kurt: No. I need to change some things. I've been…inconsiderate…I think. I need to fix it.

Jeff: He's been edgy at work, too. Tore into me the other day at lunch because they left something out of the bag when they delivered it.

Kurt: He gets testy when they don't bring him his fried rice. *sad face*

Jeff: It was fortune cookies…they forgot and he went freaking nuts. I was a little taken aback.

Kurt: Over fortune cookies? Ugh…ok.

Kurt: It's not him, it's me. He's his normal, adorable, wonderful self and I'm not…well, I'm not being what I should be. This is my fault. I'll fix it. I promise I'll do my best. Thanks guys.

Jeff: A good romp always helps *salacious grin*

Kurt: It's been way too long since we've had time for that.

Cooper: Ouch…define 'way too long'….

Kurt: No, I will not DEFINE how long, Cooper!

Cooper: Fair enough. If we can help, you just have to yell, ok? Or stomp on the floor or something?

Kurt: Will do. Thanks guys.

---

Jeff: Baby? How's Blaine?

Nick: How'd you know?

Jeff: Kurt texted me. Said something's off.

Nick: Oh, something's off, alright. He's uh…I dunno. Not Blaine?

Jeff: Ripped denim and leather…yeah, not what you're used to with Blaine, I guess.

Nick: Are you here?

Jeff: LOL No, I'm still home, waiting for my hot ass husband to join me in bed. Kurt texted Coop and me….said he and Blaine are going through some stuff. Wanted answers I think he's only gonna get from B. We'll see. Just be there if he needs you tonight, ok?

Nick: He's kicking ass on his own tonight, babe. Hasn't taken a break all night. Played the most un-fucking-believable version of Great Balls of Fire I've ever heard. I thought the place was literally shaking, it was so insane! Piano bench tipped over, he was playing like a man on fire, I swear. We all just stood there staring, gaping really, because he was just….I dunno, Jeff. Your boy's a freaking BAD ASS piano player when he gets going, isn't he?

Jeff: The best! But he's upset…obviously. Just know that and keep it in mind. Do what you do. *wink*

Nick: Noted. I love you, Pretty Boy.

Jeff: I love you, too, Nicky.

"Blaine?"

"No, I don't want to talk about it, but thank you, Nick."

Nick snickered, lowering his eyes to the floor and grinning. "You don't have to talk about anything. Just know that if you want to, I'm around, ok? I can tell something's wrong and I just wanted to offer an ear, man."

"And I thank you for it, but I'm not up for confessing my sins and shortcomings just yet."

"Sins and shortcomings?"

"Probably not sins, but definitely shortcomings," Blaine said softly, head rested on his arms which were crossed over each other on the table in the breakroom. Mac had finally given him 'the eye' and forced him backstage for a cold drink and a breather.

"I'm assuming you're not talking about your height?"

"Ha ha freakin' ha," Blaine deadpanned. Nick chuckled and dropped down into the chair next to Blaine, elbows on the table.

"Look, I'm not prying. I just want you to know I can tell something's off and that I'm here. That's all. You've listened to me bitch and complain so often I know I owe you this and so much more."

With a deep breath, Blaine let his eyes fall closed and confessed what had been on his mind all evening.

"I'm not enough for him, Nick. He needs more, I think, and maybe I'm not it. I can't…I just think he needs more than I am sometimes…I dunno."

"More, as in…?"

"I can't do it all, man. I'm only one guy. I'm trying, but it's not…I mean, there aren't enough hours in the day and I'm mentally falling apart trying to keep my shit together for everyone and…it's a lot."

"Ok…what are you trying to keep together?"

"I think I'm trying to do too much. Maybe I'm not planning things well enough, not using my time to the best advantage. There's only so much time to do the things I need to do… but…there are only so many days in the week and I'm…lacking. He's getting upset with me, I think, and I have to do better. I just wanna be enough, ya know?"

"Blaine…"

"This is really something I should discuss with Kurt. I shouldn't be talking about him behind his back. I'm sorry…I….just forget I said anything, Nick." With this, Blaine got up and walked away leaving Nick unsure if Blaine was actually the problem at all. It was very clear, though, that Blaine had a lot on his mind and he didn't really want to talk about it.

Blaine played the rest of their set, then grabbed his jacket and left without a word to anyone. When he got home, Kurt was fast asleep.

---

"Good morning, Kurt, I have a few things I'd like to talk—"

"I need to talk to you and it's important. Can you come in and close the door, please?" Kurt asked David, who had a look of astonishment on his face. Kurt never interrupted him and he surely never spoke with such determination. David had a moment of panic, his brain remembering what he'd told Kurt in that coffee shop months before: "If it's not for you, you can leave and go back to school, I'll even pay for it." He suddenly felt ill.

"Kurt, what is it?" David asked, pulling the door behind him and approaching Kurt's desk. "Are you well?"

"Have a seat, will you? And stop looking at me like I'm telling you life altering news…the bad kind," Kurt huffed, trying for a gruff laugh and failing.

"You're obviously upset, Kurt. Something is on your mind and I hope I can help. Please share?"

"David…I have to cut back on my hours. There's no way around it. I…I know you're aware that I come in early in order to avoid some of the chaos that happens when everyone gets here at 9 a.m. I usually stay until everyone else leaves, and that's at least 5 or 6 in the evening. By the time I get the train and get home, it's after 7 pm some nights and Blaine leaves for work around 8. If we see each other, it's for a short time and it's…David, it's not working. I need to see him more than an hour a day and it's hurting us…Blaine and me. I don't know what the answer is, other than to cut my hours back here at the loft. I—"

"Kurt! Good heavens, please…take a breath?" David chuckled. He breathed out a sigh of relief knowing that Kurt wasn't leaving them for good.

"I'm sorry, I don't mean to ramble, I'm just…I have to make changes before I ruin the best thing in my life. He's unhappy and stressed and I know a lot of it has to do with…well, things I can help with and I'm not. I suspect he thinks I'm asking too much of him and it's taking its toll. I hope you can understand?"

"Kurt, you're here, in the office, earlier than anyone. I know from the lock log on the door that you're in here at 6 a.m. some mornings, and that's fine if that's what you want, but please, goodness lad, don't think you have to stay until everyone's gone at the end of the day. That's absurd! We don't have set hours here, Kurt, you and I. The rest of the staff, yes, of course. They keep normal office hours. You, Kurt…I said it before and I'll say it again: Creativity doesn't keep office hours. If you want to work at home more often or if you want to leave before everyone else, then that's your call. We'll make this work for all of us. And for goodness sake, Kurt, don't burn yourself out with being here, either. But you must know that Blaine has to be your priority. This is the reason I left when the baby was born, Kurt, regardless of what was going on here. My family is my life. I love this place and all of you in it, but at the end of the day…my family is my rock and my reason for living. Don't let work or anything else in your life get in the way of what you have with Blaine."

"It is, David. Well, not my work, per se, but the amount of time I'm here and not home. I know things will change when he's working first shift like the majority of the free world," Kurt said with a sad smile, "but for now I have to make these changes. It's important to me that he knows I'm taking steps to right the wrongs I've allowed to go on for too long. I'm sorry…."

"Don't be sorry. You do what you need to do, Kurt. If there ever comes a time when I think you're not pulling your weight, then we'll discuss that then. As it stands, you're pulling your weight and that of a few other bodies, I'm afraid. Which is what I came in to speak to you about, actually," David smiled.

"Oh? Do tell."

"If I recall correctly, you said some time ago that you were acquainted with a young woman with whom you'd spoken to regarding her skills as a seamstress?"

"Oh, yes! Maggie…of course. You're thinking of hiring someone?"

"I am, Kurt. I believe it's time we did so. It's becoming too much for the few of us to handle, especially when we get busy, as we have been these past few weeks. Often these things will creep up on us and I'd like to add someone into the fold who knows what's going on so that it's not sprung on her … or him… at the last minute as a new hire. I'd like to speak with her and see some samples of her work if you're on board with the plan? Do you think she's amenable to this sort of thing?"

"I'll speak with her this evening, or tomorrow morning, if that's ok? For now, I think I'd like to head home, and see if I can speak with Blaine before he goes in to work."

"By all means, Kurt. Go right ahead. I hope you can speak to your young man and straighten things out. He's a fine man and I don't want to see the two of you on the outs over a few hours here and there."

"He is…he is such a good guy, David…the very best. I need him to know it, and if that means working a few evenings at home when he's gone so that I can have the day to spend with him, then that's what I'll do."

"I wish you all the best of luck tonight, Kurt," David told him with a smile and a wave. Kurt was absolutely relieved to know that David was on his side and didn't mind his proposed changes. Now he'd have to see if Blaine was good with things.

Kurt packed his bag and hurried home, unwilling to wait to see Blaine any longer. They needed to talk and it needed to be done ASAP. He called Blaine's phone, but there was no answer and it went to voicemail. That wasn't something that happened often at all, and it concerned Kurt. He was sincerely hoping that Blaine wasn't avoiding him.

Figuring there was more than one way to get in touch with Blaine, Kurt decided to call Jeff to see if they were together at the school. Blaine had been there almost every day for weeks assisting Jeff with everything from cleaning and painting to administrative things. It was imperative that they keep in contact with city and state offices to ensure that they were doing everything necessary to open the school on time, as well as to get the word out that a new performing arts school was opening in the city.

"Hey, Kurt…." Jeff said brightly into his phone.

"Hi Jeff, is he with you?" Kurt asked.

"No, man, he called me this morning, said he had a shit ton of stuff to do and he wouldn't be in."

Kurt let out a long sigh, knowing that Blaine was running himself ragged and he needed to step in and pick up the slack. If Kurt felt badly before, he felt awful now.

"Did he say what he was doing or where he'd be?" Kurt asked.

"No…said he had some things to take care of…that something came up…change of plans and all that. I'm sorry I don't know more, Kurt…although…nevermind."

"What? No…no 'nevermind', Jeff. What is it?"

"I don't want to overstep, Kurt. Nick talked to him last night and I…it's not my place to say—"

"Out with it, Jeff. Please. You know I'll do whatever it takes to make this right. I know he's upset with me and I have to fix it."

"He told Nick he doesn't think he's 'enough for you'…that he's trying and just not getting things done in time…sometimes he's stressed, etc."

"Yes…well, he and I have to have a long talk, and it's way overdue. Thanks for telling me, Jeff."

"I take it, then, you didn't have time to talk to him last night or today yet? Nick said he took off after work like that like his ass was on fire. Didn't even say goodbye to anyone."

"I left work early. I want to talk to him today, but he's not answering his phone. He could be on the train, I don't know. I just thought I'd check with you to see if he was there or not. I'm headed home. If he gets in touch with you, send him home to me, would you?"

"Absolutely, Kurt. Look man, don't stress. Blaine's a 'bounce back' kinda guy. Christmas stresses everyone out, yeah? Just talk to him, it'll be ok. If you need me, you know where I am."

"Thanks, Jeff. I hope maybe he's at home sleeping or something. I'm headed there now. Talk to you soon," Kurt said, then disconnected the call.

His stomach grumbled loudly, so Kurt ducked into a sandwich shop and grabbed lunch, figuring it was past lunchtime and Blaine had more than likely already eaten anyway. Afterwards, he hit a couple of stops on the way home, picking up some last minute Christmas items, something for Blaine and something for Rachel. Then, in the late afternoon, he fought the heavy snow that was still falling and headed home.

By the time Kurt had made it to the apartment the snow was every bit of fifteen inches deep and he'd slipped and nearly wiped out a half dozen times. He was tired, cranky, wet and cold and all he wanted to do was get inside and make himself a hot cup of coffee…and see Blaine. Kurt sincerely hoped his boyfriend was home because he had some apologizing to do.

The door was unlocked, so he assumed that meant Blaine was in the apartment somewhere, but it was eerily silent as he climbed the stairs. At the landing he found a pile of hats, gloves and scarves and gave it a questioning look but continued on up. Reaching the apartment he heard no movement and wondered if Blaine had, with good reason, decided to take a nap. The thought of curling up next to his lover for a quick afternoon snooze had Kurt smiling softly as he quietly padded to the bedroom. But…there was no sign of Blaine. He checked the bathroom and then headed back out into the kitchen, then through the dining area, past the piano and into the living room. There, he spotted a socked foot hanging over the arm of the sofa, but that's all he could see. A grin broke out on Kurt's face as he approached the sofa from the rear, but it was nothing at all compared to the ear splitting smile he sported when he saw what awaited him on the other side.

Sprawled out across the huge sofa was Blaine, sound asleep, but with two mops of wavy brown hair, one long, one short, tucked on top of and around him. Evee was wedged between Blaine and the back of the sofa and Mattie was passed out, face down, on his uncle's chest, his soft hair ruffling every time Blaine let out a breath of air. Blaine was softly snoring, although he'd deny that until his dying day. Mattie and Evee were also sound asleep and there was a blanket haphazardly flung over their bodies, covering most of everyone, but not quite.

Without a second thought, Kurt grabbed his phone and snuck a few pictures of the trio from different angles, then sent one of them to Maggie and Cooper. He then walked over and grabbed another blanket from the basket in the corner and made sure they were all sufficiently covered up and set about unpacking the bag of sketches and such that he'd brought home from work with him. When he'd done everything he could do that wouldn't wake everyone, Kurt curled up in the oversized side chair and snuggled under his own blanket, dozing off within minutes.

When he woke, the sofa was empty and the apartment was fairly quiet…except for the frantic sounds from the kitchen. Kurt stretched and stood to see what Blaine was up to, walking quietly into the kitchen to spy on his boyfriend unloading the dishwasher with haste, being as quiet as he could.

"Looks like you had company today?" Kurt said with a smile. Blaine jerked around, surprised and caught off guard.

"Yeah, um….with the snow, school was called off and…and Maggie called this morning. Ms. Helen couldn't keep them and…I thought it might be fun to go out and play in the snow. We went to the park and went sledding. Some other kids there loaned us their disc sled and…uh…don't worry, Kurt, I'll still get to the cleaners and I have some chicken thawing for dinner. I have a load of whites in the dryer now and—"

"Honey…" Kurt said softly, walking up behind Blaine and wrapping his arms around the shorter man. "I think all that can and will wait, ok? I need some time with you, if you're ok with that?"

Blaine looked a little dumbfounded and wasn't sure what to make of it all. He glanced at the clock on the stove and back to Kurt before opening his mouth to speak.

"I only have two hours before—"

"I called Mac. His nephew is home for Christmas break and he's happy to take your shift tonight if you'll spend a little time with me…just us. We have to talk about some things, ok? Please?"

Blaine nodded and it was clear he wasn't sure he wanted to hear what Kurt had to say. Who knew what he wanted to talk about, and Blaine was well aware that he wasn't finishing his 'lists'. He was more than a little tense now.

"But…we have things to do, don't we? I mean, wrapping and shopping and—"

"Which will surely wait, right?" Kurt asked, his smile soft and hopefully welcoming.

"If you…yeah, ok."

"How about you call in some dinner…whatever you want, ok? You know what I like. And I'm going to get started on something else. I think it's something we both need." Kurt winked and walked into the bedroom, slipping his sweater off as he went.

"Kurrrrrttt…." Blaine whined, the feeling of Kurt's fingers in his hair just too much for him to take.

"Like that?"

"So much…conditioner too?"

"Mmmm….of course. Close your eyes…." Kurt eased them both back under the water in the shower and rinsed the shampoo from Blaine's hair, he squeezed the conditioner into his hand before massaging that in as well.

Afterward they sunk into the tub which Kurt had filled with too-hot water before they stepped into the shower. It had cooled to just the right temperature and Kurt sat facing Blaine with the man's ankle propped up on his raised knee, massaging Blaine's feet and calves with bath oils.

"I think you and I have some things to hash out, love."

"Don't wanna hasssshh…." Blaine moaned, eyes close and head back on the edge of the tub with Kurt's spa pillow behind him.

"B, you're doing too much. I want to talk about the lists."

"I'll do better, Kurt. I know I'm not getting it all done—"

"Blaine! No, baby, listen. I started leaving lists of things which needed to be done but they weren't FOR YOU, they were just "to do"….not "for Blaine to do"! And I'll admit, I got used to coming home and having the vast majority of those things done. I didn't think about it, really, and I didn't realize that you were considering those a 'to do' list for yourself. It's just a list. I can pick up the dry cleaning just as easily as you can, and I don't expect you to do those things. I know you're busy. I know you run all over the city all day doing everything you can and I appreciate it. I really, really do. But please know that I don't expect that from you, ok?"

"Don't?" Blaine said, half out of it, eyes still closed as Kurt massaged his other calf and foot.

"I don't. I want you to do what you want to do, Blaine. I don't want you to resent me for leaving lists, when they surely aren't there as a 'Blaine needs to get these things done' list."

"M'kay. I thought…I was trying so hard, Kurt. I just…I wanted to do what you needed me to do and I thought I was failing you."

"You…failing? Blaine…oh my God, you could never fail me. Never. You are the best thing that's ever happened to me and—"

"C'mup here…." Blaine said, smiling and tugging on Kurt. He turned his body and slid back to sit between Blaine's legs, leaning his body back onto Blaine's chest. He was so completely and utterly relaxed that he forgot about the plate with several slices of pizza on the edge of the tub until Blaine reminded him. "Open up…"

"Mmmm…forgot that was there."

"Not very warm anymore, but you need sustenance."

"I do?"

"You do. Gotta keep your strength up. You'll need it."

"I will, huh?" Kurt grinned.

"Unless you just wanna lay there and take it while I rock your world?" Blaine purred quietly in Kurt's ear as he shifted his hips forward and made Kurt squeak.

"Give me a few more minutes in the water with you?"

"You can have as many minutes as you want, you know that."

"I just love sitting in here with you. Good call on the big tub when you designed the bathroom, baby."

"I had all kinds of selfish motives in mind, though. Does it still count?"

"Still counts…" Kurt mumbled, his mouth full of pizza now. "I'm sorry, Blaine. I didn't realize you were struggling. Please talk to me about those things, ok?"

"I will. I was wrong not to just say something. I was just trying so hard to be what you needed me to be."

"NO, you were trying to exceed what I need, which is you and only you. I don't need an errand boy, a messenger service, a personal shopper or a secretary. I only need you, Blaine. Just you…always."

"You have me and just me, always, ok?"

"M'kay. Bed?"

"Bed."

"And Blaine?"

"Mmmm?"

"Feel free to wear that outfit you had on last night around the house any time. Or the bedroom. Or…you know….around me. Any time," Kurt grinned.

"You like the ripped jeans?"

"No, absolutely not. I like YOU in the ripped jeans…the nearly see-through t-shirt…"

"Not the jacket?"

"Oh, God, the jacket…" Kurt breathed out, Blaine's chin on his shoulder, then kisses and a few little nibbles that made him crazy.

"Is that a yes?" Blaine teased.

"Maybe…just…God, you're such a—"

"Be nice and I'll make sure to wear the jacket this weekend sometime when we're alone."

"It's a nice jacket, really…."

---

"Love waking up with you."

"Not as much as I do. Even on nights when I don't work, you're off to work bright and early and I don't get to actually see you and touch you before you go," Blaine grinned, his fingers playing in the fine, pale hair on Kurt's chest.

"Make no mistake, Blaine, if you want to touch me before I go to work in the morning, this is me giving you a blanket approval to do so at any time," Kurt replied, turning his head to search out Blaine's lips.

"Nothing in the world I like more than touching you…"

"Oh! Yes…yes you do, don't you…Blaine….oh God….yeah….there babe…oh… please…" Kurt begged, eyes fluttering closed as Blaine wrapped his hand around Kurt's quickly hardening cock beneath the covers. "Thought you'd have gotten your fill last night, B….so good…would you….ohhhhhh, God yes…." Kurt whined, back arching now.

"Is that you saying you've had enough, because I can stop if you want?" Blaine teased, giving a little twist as he stroked upwards.

"If you stop I promise bad things for you, Blaine Anderson, mark my woo-ooooordsssss…oh fuck…faster…yeah….yeah….oh God…gonna come…Blaine….Blaaaaine….." Kurt let out a moan so wanton and sexy that Blaine sucked in a breath and barely got his other hand to his own cock before he was coming all over the sheets and Kurt's hip, eyelids falling closed and mouth dropping open as he forced himself to keep pumping Kurt through his release and not leave himself half wanting at the same time.

"Gonna…." Blaine began, but had to pant out a few more breaths before he continued. "Gonna have to uh….wash sheets today. "The other set—"

"Has a huge tear in it, I know….someone said they'd buy me new ones," Kurt laughed, turning to run his fingers through Blaine's crazy bed head.

"Sheets. Noted. I'll put that on today's to-do list—"

"Nooo…no more lists. From now on it's going to be called something else…maybe 'stuff we don't wanna do but should eventually be done by one of us when we have time and energy to do it'…maybe."

"Wow, ok. That's…kind of a long name, don't you think?" Blaine laughed, turning his face into Kurt's chest again.

"Perhaps, but I don't want to fall back into what we were doing. Lists are for both of us, not just you. We'll divvy up the chores and things. I didn't even get to tell you that I talked to David yesterday about cutting my hours back a little bit. I was thinking about it yesterday when I got home and I figured I was actually working in the office around fifty five hours a week. If I was bored when I got home and you were at work, I'd break out the sketch book and fiddle around late at night, too, so I think telling David I'm cutting back wasn't quite a shock for him. He's on board, and wants things to be fine between us again."

"You told David we were…having issues?"

"I told him I needed to spend more time with the love of my life, that an hour each night before you went to work wasn't cutting it and that it was putting a strain on us. He understands fully and told me to do what needed to be done and he was absolutely on board. He genuinely likes you, Blaine, and he knows how in love with you I am," Kurt smiled.

"I love you so much, Kurt…" Blaine muttered out, his heart in his eyes as he stared at the man beside him. It crossed his mind that it would be the perfect time to ask that all important question but to his dismay, Kurt rolled to his side and hopped out of bed, tugging on Blaine's hand as he did so.

"Wash me, servant. You've soiled my body with your seed and now you must pay the price for your impertinence!"

"You've lost your mind, Kurt Hummel," Blaine laughed.

"I know that you're the most important thing in my life, so I don't think I'm completely gone just yet," Kurt grinned back, bumping hips with Blaine as he dragged him under the hot water.

---

"Rachel, I have way too much to do, though!" Kurt argued into the phone. "You realize tomorrow's Thursday and Christmas is on Friday, right?"

"Kurt, come on, please? You know how useless I am when it comes to clothing and you're my go-to gay for these things! I have everything else bought and I really want to buy something for my dads before they get here and I have to smuggle it into the house. You know how they are about snooping, and if it's not wrapped, they'll go through every bag in the apartment!"

"So have them gift wrap something at the store for you?"

"Please, Kurt. If I come over and help you wrap ahead of time will you go with me? I promise it won't take too long. I know you're already off work."

"Gahhhhh! I don't know, Rachel. Hang on a second, will you?"

Kurt put his phone on mute and turned to find Blaine removing a tray of cookies from the oven.

"Blaine, Rachel wants me to go shopping with her tomorrow morning. Do we have any plans we can't change? Do you mind if I go? I know we said this week was for us, and tomorrow's Christmas Eve—"

"You know what, it's fine, really. You should go help her, or Lord only knows what she'll buy. In fact, Jeff texted me this morning to see if I'd help him move something out of Cooper's old place tomorrow. Nick's putting it on the market so Coop's selling everything still inside on Craigslist or something and I guess someone's coming to pick up that big ass desk chair he has in his office. Either way, yeah, it'll work out fine. He's coming over here to get me around 10 a.m. See if she can do it then and we'll both be gone at the same time, then we can come back here and get some 'us time' in before everyone gets here tomorrow night."

With a sigh, Kurt went back to his conversation with Rachel and made plans for the following morning.

"She's insane. This will take forever, I'm sure. Did I ever tell you about Rachel's affinity for sweaters with animals on them? She wore them all the time in high school and it wasn't until our junior year of college before I finally told her if she didn't get rid of them I was going to stage an intervention which included all of our friends and a bonfire for good measure. Horrible…" Kurt shuddered.

"I'd laugh, but I'm afraid you'd give me one of those looks ….yep, there it is. You're right. Absolutely nothing funny about that at all. Animal sweaters are the enemy. Noted." Blaine grinned, going back to his cookies. "These are freaking fantastic, mind you. Your mom must've been some amazing baker, Kurt."

"She was…the very best. Dad always teased her that she missed her calling and she should have opened a bakery."

"Did she work? You've never said."

"Not until I went to school all day. Kindergarten was only half a day, but when I got into first grade, she went back to work. She worked in the office of a school in town…not the one I went to, but one nearby, until she…until…" Kurt said, eyeing a spot on the floor as if remembering something.

"I'm sorry, Kurt. I didn't mean to bring up bad memories."

"You didn't…not at all, really," Kurt smiled back at him. "I was having a sort of…happy memory, actually. When my mom died, the kids in the second grade classes at her school all sent me letters and cards. I suppose they figured I'd relate to that class the best since I was eight and the majority of them were as well. I saved each and every one of them, some of 'em barely legible, but it was the thought that was so huge to me. Each of those kids wrote something about how sorry they were that my mom was gone and how nice she was to them. One little boy, though…he hit the nail on the head. He said 'don't be too sad, because some day maybe you'll see her again. She's watching over you every day and now she's your lucky charm. Every time something good happens, you'll know it's her helping you out.' I never forgot that one, ya know? Back then I still sort of held on to hope that maybe there actually was a heaven and I might see her again….well, we all know how that turned out. But, I held tightly to the 'lucky charm' part of the message, and every time something good happened, I knew it was her there with me."

"That's very sweet, Kurt, and a special memory," Blaine beamed at him from the kitchen. "Sounds like that boy knew what he was talking about…but hopefully it wasn't from his own experience."

"Who knows…surely not me, but it helped me through many a hard day."

---

"How the hell is one chair so heavy?" Blaine complained. "And why the hell are we here moving it on Christmas Even when a) we don't live here b) it's not our chair c) we don't see a dime from the sale of this damn heavy chair and d) my brother is a lazy ass!"

"It's only one chair, B," Jeff grinned, realizing Blaine was a bit testy. It was probably because he'd plucked him out of Kurt's arms where they were snuggling on the couch when he and Rachel arrived just minutes apart. "Let's get it down the freight elevator and then we can just…" Jeff trailed off as his phone buzzed. Glancing at it, he typed in a reply and shoved it back in his pocket without a word.

"Nick?"

"Hmmm?"

"Was that Nick?" Blaine laughed.

"Oh, no it was the guy about the chair. Says he's on his way, he'll be here around 11:30 and is that ok. I told him that was fine."

"Ok, so freight elevator and what? We leave it? We wait for the guy?"

"We wait for the guy and take the money. I'll just give it to Cooper when I see him," Jeff said, not thinking.

"If you want. But chances are I'll see him first. He lives in my building after all," Blaine replied.

"Oh yeah, that's true, isn't it. I guess I'm thinking this is his place…but it's really not, anymore, is it?" Jeff chuckled.

"Ok, let's do it. We're wasting time," Blaine said, irritated at having to be there at all with so many things left to do at home.

"What time's Burt due in? I can tell you're agitated, I figured that's why," Jeff laughed. "Either that or you're already missing Kurtie."

"I'm not agitated!" Blaine barked, then looked sheepish. "Ok, I'm a little…uptight. I talked to Burt about asking Kurt to marry me and then I never asked. I'm afraid he'll either grill me, and want to know why I haven't popped the question, or he'll ask me something about it in front of Kurt."

"Burt's a smart guy. He won't give away your secret. I'm sure of it."

"I hope you're right. I don't know what I'm going to say if he does ask me why I haven't asked yet, though. Can you imagine the look on his face if I tell him why I haven't? Or how many times I've tried only to fail? God, he'll think I'm an idiot…"

"You're not an idiot. Just assure him that you'll tell him first and he'll be happy!" Jeff laughed. "You would, wouldn't you?"

"Would what? Tell him first? Oh, I'm sure Kurt wouldn't be able to wait a single second. I'm counting on him being so excited he's calling Burt before he actually says yes," Blaine grinned, and it warmed Jeff's heart to see it.

"It'll work out, Blaine. I have every faith that you'll find the perfect time and the perfect place and get the job done. You two are so good for each other that it can't help but all slot into place, ok?"

Blaine nodded, a lump in his throat that his best friend had such faith in him and Kurt. A vote of confidence was exactly what Blaine needed this week, as he was still feeling a bit off from the 'list' situation with Kurt. He'd let that go on too long and should have talked to Kurt about it sooner. But, that was all over and done with and they'd come out of it stronger.

---

"Rachel, this will be a short trip, do you understand? I have six zillion things to do before my dad and Carole get here tonight and I've been done with my shopping for days. Let's get in, get what we need and get out, ok?"

"Absolutely, Kurt. I saw a sweater in the window of this cute little shop and I really just want to see if it's still there. I know I should have gone in and just gotten it or at least asked them to hold it until you could approve it," she huffed. "I don't know what I was thinking…"

They climbed the stairs up out of the subway stop and she curled her arm through Kurt's and he felt a strange surge of love for his friend. She may be annoying as hell sometimes, but Rachel had been there for him through thick and thin and he would likely never be able to thank her properly. Without thinking he blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

"You know you'll have to be my maid of honor, right?" He said. She came to an abrupt halt on the sidewalk, heedless of anyone grumbling around them.

"Oh, Kurt….you mean it? Really?" She almost whined, then threw her arms around him, squealed, and squeezed him tightly. "I'd be absolutely honored! But please don't make me wear something that makes me look fat. Especially now that you work for David, and with his Broadway background, Lord knows who might be in attendance at the wedding and I always have to look my best, you know?"

Kurt nearly burst out laughing as this was what he'd come to expect from her. It was always about her and he'd long since gotten used to it.

"Of course. Are you insinuating that the fabulous Kurt Hummel would dress you improperly on any level, Rachel Berry?" He grinned. Rachel had the good grace to look chagrined and rolled her eyes.

"Of course not, Kurt. And I better be the first person you tell when he says yes, do you hear me?"

"Well, don't you think I'd probably call my dad first? And I'm thinking Blaine might want to tell his mom and Cooper…but if you don't tell anyone, I'll sneak you in before any other friends or family members. You're practically family anyway, what with you shacking up with Frankenteen and all," Kurt laughed, throwing his head back with a full laugh when Rachel scowled at him. They started walking again as Rachel admonished him.

"He's not that tall, Kurt!"

"Oh, Rachel, he is and you know it…." Kurt said, then veered off the sidewalk as Rachel tugged him into a clothing store. "Have we been in here before? Or maybe just in this neighborhood?" He asked looking around curiously.

---

"I swear, I thought he wasn't gonna show! Then we'd have had to haul that damn thing back up to the apartment!" Blaine grumbled. They'd brought the chair down and waited near the back freight entrance where it was cold and drafty. The guy was almost 25 minutes late and texted Jeff a handful of times while they waited.

"All said and done, signed, sealed and delivered. But I'm frozen. There's gotta be a place to get coffee around here, right?" Jeff said, rubbing his hands together. "I should have grabbed my gloves, man. Damn it's cold…"

"Yeah, there are a few places. Let's get out of here, shall we?"

"Without thinking, and as if on auto pilot, Blaine led Jeff out the door and down the block to a doorway he'd been through quite a few times. He grinned like an idiot when the bells on the door rang and the guy behind the counter yelled out to him.

"Blaine!" He said, wearing a huge grin.

"Tony, how are you, man?" Blaine said. Tony came around the counter and gave Blaine an enthusiastic hug.

"Where ya been? I haven't seen you in months!"

"I found a place and moved out of my brother, Cooper's, apartment back in February. Then he started dating the girl across the street from me and he's selling his place down the block now that they're married. We were moving a chair—" Blaine said, then stopped, realizing he'd been rude. "Oh, man, I'm sorry. Tony, this is my best friend, Jeff Sterling. Jeff, this is Tony. He got to see my smiling face on many an early morning when I woke up to Cooper and the flavor du jour and needed to escape, right?" Blaine asked, looking to Tony for confirmation.

"I remember it! That last morning I recall you being here you were talking about him and the girl on the kitchen counter. A guy don't forget that kinda imagery, does he, eh?" Tony asked, his accent getting thicker as he went on.

"I…well, I tried very hard for a very long time to forget those things, but you can keep all the images you want!" Blaine laughed. "So how's things? You doing well?"

"Can't complain, can't complain. I'm back in school and studyin' takes up all my time when I'm not here or there, but it'll all pay off, right?"

"Absolutely, it will," Blaine said.

"What are you studying?" Jeff asked, finally allowed a word in the conversation.

"I'm goin' to art school, actually. I've always been pretty drawn to art, ya know?" Tony asked, then stared at Blaine and Jeff when they gave each other a goofy look and burst out laughing. "What? What'd I say?"

"You said you…" Blaine began, still snickering. "You said you were going to art school because you'd always been drawn to it!" At which point they all laughed again. "Ahh, that's funny…." Blaine sighed.

"Ok, ok, enough o' that," Tony laughed again. "What can I get you guys, eh?"

"I just want a cup of coffee, I think," Blaine told him. "I'm taking Kurt out to lunch when we get home, and I don't wanna spoil my appetite or he'll read me the riot act," Blaine grinned.

"Ahhh, Kurt, is it? You've got yourself a guy now, eh?"

"I do, he's amazing. Best thing to ever happen to me," Blaine grinned widely. Tony just nodded and gave Blaine a slug on the arm for good measure. Then looked at Jeff with raised eyebrows.

"Just coffee for me, too, Tony. Thanks…" Jeff said.

"I'll bring 'em right out to ya, yeah? Have a seat, guys."

---

"YOU are absolutely insane, Rachel Berry. That was, without a doubt, the most horrendous sweater I've ever…I mean…it was worse than any of your animal sweaters ever was! What in the world?" Kurt reprimanded her.

"There is absolutely no reason to belittle my taste in clothing, Kurt. I realize I'm not a…a…fashionista like you are, but you don't have to make fun!" Rachel said, giving Kurt her best haughty expression as they exited another shop, bags in hand. "We've clearly found something suitable and I'd like to forget the ordeal the first sweater brought on, please." Her phone buzzed and she looked down at it, the corners of her lips lifting ever so slightly as she did so.

"Finn?"

"Oh, um…yes. Finn is…he's wrapping my gifts while I'm gone. He was up late last night. He got in late and couldn't get to sleep, so he's just waking up," she said distractedly. Glancing up at the street sign, then the walk light, she tugged Kurt along with her.

"Where to now?" Kurt asked, unsure why they were headed away from the subway stop they needed.

"I'm chilled, Kurt. These boots are highly fashionable, but they don't keep my toes warm. I'd like to grab some tea if you're agreeable? Well, coffee for you, I suppose…"

Kurt rolled his eyes but let her tug him along. He never turned down coffee.

"This is weird, like déjà vu or something. I've been on this street before, but I don't…OH! Oh, Rachel! Guess where we are!?"

---

Blaine sat down at an old familiar table and Jeff dropped into the chair across from him. Blaine had a silly grin on his face and Jeff gave him a curious look.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Seriously? What gives?" Jeff chuckled. Blaine just dropped his eyes to the table and shook his head.

"You'll think I'm sappy."

"I already know you're sappy. What is it?" Jeff pressed. With a bashful smile, Blaine told him the story.

"I was at this table, drinking coffee after escaping Cooper and the 'girl of the hour' one morning when I first saw Kurt. I texted you immediately after—"

"And told me you'd just seen 'the most amazingly beautiful man in the whole f-ing world'," Jeff grinned. "I remember it well. In fact, I screen shotted that conversation for posterity," Jeff told him. "Now who's sappy?"

"Yeah…Yeah, I did, and I was right, wasn't I? He's so stunning," Blaine breathed out, remembering. "And yeah, you're sappy, too," He grinned, stirring his coffee and blushing as he remembered gushing to Jeff about the handsome man he'd seen.

"Blaine?"

"Hmmm?" Blaine looked at Jeff, fully aware that his friend would harass him, but instead Jeff nodded at the window. Blaine turned to look and…

"Oh…oh my God, look at him, Jeff," Blaine said on a breathy exhale. "He's just as beautiful today as he was that day and…wow." Blaine grabbed the table with both hands as if to steady himself, his smile one of pure love and reverence as he took in the scene outside the window.

Blaine watched as Kurt and Rachel walked toward them, Kurt not even realizing Blaine was staring at him through the glass once again. There was Rachel on Kurt's arm, her red coat flaring out at her hips in the breeze, just as it had that morning months ago.

"He's so…Jeff, I'm the luckiest man alive. Do you see that guy? He loves me. That amazing, talented, beautiful man loves me…oh…" Blaine said, sounding immediately flustered. He settled on a content, albeit lovesick, grin and watched Kurt and Rachel cross the street.

---

"Rachel, do you know where we are!? This is where we were when I was apartment hunting and…yes! There's the coffee shop where…." Kurt began, but trailed off when he got a good look at the coffee shop and the occupants at the window grinning at them.

"Kurt?" Rachel asked, her smile bright and warm.

Kurt had come to a stop just at the edge of the curb and he was staring in the windows at Blaine. That long ago morning ran through his mind like a movie clip and he smiled, remembering Blaine raising his cup to take a drink and then seeming to freeze there, staring at Kurt in awe. Kurt recalled being so awestruck at the man's adorable face, strong hands and beautiful eyes that he couldn't even smile at him or say anything. That Kurt, the broken and shy Kurt from Lima, Ohio was long gone, though, and the man looking at him through the glass with such love in his eyes was the reason for it.

"Blaine…" He said softly, smiling widely, yet still standing there staring.

"I think maybe someone wants your attention? Should we go in?" Rachel asked, grinning madly.

"In a second….just let me look," Kurt said, biting his bottom lip, heart pounding wildly. "You know what, Rach? It would have been perfect…here. I should have thought of it. I could have asked him here. It's…special, ya know? It's sort of "our place". I didn't think…" Kurt trailed off, feeling Rachel slip her smaller hand into his and lay her head on his shoulder.

"Yep, I thought so, too. Do your thing, Kurt Hummel," she whispered into his ear and covertly slipped the ring into his hand. He froze when he felt the cold metal in his fingers, his head whipping around to look her in the eyes.

"Rachel?" he gasped, grinning. She just nodded at him and gave him a little nudge toward the window.

Kurt felt like his feet were actually off the ground and he floated to the window, eyes locked on Blaine who was grinning at him like a fool, completely unaware of what Kurt held in his hand.

---

"Of all the things that went through my mind, all the locations, all the fancy and crazy and absolutely boring ways I could have asked Kurt…this is where it should have been all along, Jeff," Blaine said quietly, eyes locked on the man approaching him on the sidewalk on the other side of the glass.

"You're right. This place is pretty special to you, now that I think about it. And Kurt is clearly one for going back to the "first place" for things," Jeff snickered, visions of his two friends wrapped up in sheets on the piano flitting through his memory.

"He is, isn't he?" Blaine giggled, choked up now with tears in his eyes. "I should have thought of it sooner. You think it's too late? I can bring him back here, can't I? I will, I'll—"

"Blaine…" Jeff said calmly, and he took Blaine's hand in his, curling their fingers together as he did so.

"Jeff? Oh, but…You…." Blaine said, knowing the shape and weight of the small object in his hand better than most anything in his life at the moment. "How did you…?"

"Git 'er done, Blainers," Jeff said, his own eyes glassy. With a nod, Jeff motioned his head to the glass where Kurt had stopped outside, still grinning and biting his bottom lip.

Kurt raised a hand, flat to the glass, his breath shallow and his heart pounding. Blaine stood and approached from the inside, laying his hand on the cool glass to mirror Kurt, and Blaine's smile nearly took what little breath Kurt still had.

"I love you," Kurt mouthed, setting Blaine's heart to fluttering all over again.

Blaine was so choked up he could barely breathe. He was certain Kurt could see his heart thumping and even more certain anyone on the block could hear it. It was time….

"I love you more," he laughed, tears streaming over as Kurt threw his head back and laughed out loud. Kurt shook his head as if to say he couldn't believe the whole crazy situation. He dropped his hand and headed for the door. Blaine met him halfway, Kurt barely inside the door of the shop before they had their arms around each other.

"You're insane," Kurt whispered, squeezing Blaine tightly. "You're absolutely crazy…" He laughed.

"I think you love my insanity almost as much as my craziness, though. Am I right?"

"I do, and I always will. I see much laughing in my future, Blaine, and I want every single second of that future to be with you. And I've been thinking, you know, that maybe sometime, in that future, perhaps…since I love you more than anything or anyone else, that you might say yes if I asked you to be my husband?" Kurt stepped back from Blaine's arms as he heard his boyfriend softly gasp. Kurt held up the ring and Blaine's eyes went wide, a splitting grin covering his face as his eyes teared up.

"Oh Kurt…I….see, I don't know if I can do that…" Blaine paused, almost laughing at Kurt's expression. Before it got to "panic" level, he continued. "You see, I have been trying, desperately, for weeks now to ask YOU to be MY husband," Blaine said, then produced his own ring, watching Kurt's eyes light up like stars as he breathed out "oh my God, Blaine….", and then tugged him in even closer.

"Crazy for you. Always you, Kurt. You're the love of my life and nothing and nobody will ever measure up to you," Blaine told him, holding Kurt's face and slowly pecking kisses on his jaw, his neck, his cheeks, his lips. "I had speeches written and odes to your stunning beauty, talent and wit…and I've forgotten every single word. You take my breath away, Kurt," Blaine breathed, holding Kurt securely in his arms. "Please say yes? Tell me you'll marry me, love me and spend every day together. Tell me you'll be mine forever?"

"Blaine, I swear, I have tried in so many ways and so many places to make this happen, and now that we've gotten to this point, and I'm standing here in this place, where we first saw each other, there is no way on this earth I'm saying 'no' to you, the most talented, adorable, amazing man I've ever met. Yes, a thousand times yes!" Kurt answered, leaning in to squeeze Blaine tighter, nuzzling their noses together. "Now make me the happiest man alive and tell me you'll put up with my insanity, my crazy and my insane love for you, Blaine. Will you marry me?" He grinned.

"Nothing in the whole world would make me happier," Blaine nearly squeaked, his smile wide and his eyes leaking over as Kurt slid the beautiful band onto Blaine's finger. "I love you so much, Kurt."

"I love you, too. Now give me that gorgeous ring and make it official, fiancé!"

Blaine slipped the ring onto Kurt's finger and he swore a thousand butterflies took flight from inside his chest. He felt euphoric and light as air. Nothing and nobody was going to stop him from kissing Kurt then and there. Rising up on his toes, he put his hands on Kurt's cheeks again and tugged him down softly, kissing his lips as if his life hung in the balance. Kurt, usually a little uptight with PDA, didn't mind one bit and kissed him back urgently, slumping into the wall behind him. When they finally pulled apart, foreheads resting against each other and giggling, it dawned on them that they hadn't come to get coffee alone.

"Whoooooo! That was freaking fantastic! I never had anything like that ever happen here when I was workin'! Yes!" Tony yelled from behind the counter, giving a huge fist pump and dancing around gleefully. His smile was bright and he gave Blaine a big thumbs up as he stared, clearly overwhelmed by what just went down. "I'm goin' in the back now because I don't think I can look you in the eye again if I start blubberin' in front of yous. I'm callin' my Ma to tell her what just happened! Don't let anybody rob the joint, eh?"

Glancing back at the table, they spotted Jeff and Rachel sitting there quietly, both of them with the biggest grins, phones in hand, Rachel wiggling her fingers at them. It was Jeff who rose from the table first, though, approaching them both and looking sheepish.

"You guys were just taking sooo long—" He began before Blaine and Kurt both laughed and tugged him in for a hug. Rachel, not to be left out, scurried over to get her share of the hugs, too.

"I hope you're not angry," Rachel said, eyes hidden under long lashes as she looked slightly chagrined. "It just seemed like you were both so frustrated. We only wanted to help."

"I'm not angry, Rach. Thank you both for stepping in," Kurt laughed, tugging her in for a side hug again. She looked to Blaine then, as did Jeff.

"Not angry, guys – not even a little bit. Relieved, yes…and absolutely beside myself with happiness, so we're all good. Thank you, I guess," Blaine laughed. He leaned in to Kurt again, seemingly unable to keep himself away and pecked him on the lips several times, whispering silly little things to make Kurt smile.

"Well, then, that's all settled. Let's go get some lunch. Jeff and I made reservations," Rachel beamed.

"Oh, Rachel?" Kurt grinned, bumping hips with her. "I guess this is me telling you first!"

When they stepped out of the coffee shop a sleek, black car pulled to the curb and Jeff held the door for everyone before the driver could even get out of the driver's seat. A huge guy, clearly built like a pro-athlete, stepped toward them with a frown creasing his brow.

"I've got it…you know I'm not down with that stuff…" Jeff chided the driver with a smile.

"But Mr. Sterling-Duval—"

"My name's Jeff, Ethan, and we went over this already," Jeff teased as they all climbed inside.

"But Mr….Jeff. Your guests—"

"- all call me Jeff, too. What a coincidence, right?" Jeff was having a blast giving Ethan a hard time, good naturedly, of course, and Ethan stammered and grunted his way through their drive to the restaurant, much more in tune with guarding bodies than driving large, expensive cars and guarding bodies. Although Jeff assured Nick that he sincerely felt it wasn't necessary since he'd spoken with David Duval, Nick still wasn't taking any chances.

As they sat in traffic, Kurt pulled out his phone and looked at Blaine with a tentative smile.

"I should call my dad! He'll be so excited!"

"Oh, yeah, if you want to…sure…" Blaine replied, a little trepidation because he was more than a little intimidated by Burt Hummel. But, he already knew he had Burt's permission, so he didn't worry too much.

"Dad? Hi! It's me…oh, of course you know it's me, I….Dad. Um….I have news to tell you!" Kurt rambled, not letting Burt get a word in edgewise.

"Yeah? And what's that, dare I ask?" Burt ask, not unkindly but he wasn't himself and Kurt caught it right away.

"I…well, I asked…well, Blaine asked, too and….Dad, we're engaged. We're getting married!" Kurt squealed excitedly squeezing Blaine's hand as he did so.

"Is that so, well, I'm…I'm real glad to hear that, Kurt. You tell Blaine I said…uh…that it was the right thing to do, ok?" Burt replied, his voice flat. Kurt was a bit crestfallen, having expected a little more excitement from Burt, after all.

"Aren't you even going to tell Carole, Dad? I thought…I mean, I guess I thought you'd be a little um…happier or…"

"You know, I think I'll let you go over that with her later on when we get there, ok?"

"Dad, is everything ok?" Kurt finally asked, his face having lost every trace of excitement now. For some reason Burt wasn't happy about things and Kurt couldn't understand why. Was it because maybe he thought they'd rushed into it? Maybe he was at the airport already and didn't want to make a scene? But no, that wasn't Burt. He didn't really care what people thought and if he was excited, he was going to show it. Clearly something was off.

"All's well, Kurt. We'll see you later on, ok? I love you, Bud. Talk to you soon." Burt said, then disconnected the call.

"Kurt?" Blaine asked, eyes on Kurt's and it was so clear that whatever Burt said was totally underwhelming.

"He's uh…I'm sure he's happy for us. He said he'd see us tonight," Kurt said, forcing a smile. Blaine knew better, though, having heard the majority of the conversation from both ends in the backseat of the car. Both Jeff and Rachel were giving him concerned looks now as well. "Well, where are we going to lunch?" Kurt asked, his smile finally brightening up a bit. He was determined not to let this get him down. This was one of the most fantastic days of his life and he wanted to remember it fondly.

"You'll see…." Rachel smiled, her bright grin infectious.

"Blaine, did you want to call your mom, maybe, or…?"

"Right now? I just want to hold you, if I may?" He said, slipping his arm further around Kurt and squeezing him tightly. "We'll see her tomorrow morning, if nothing else. Right now I just want you, love."

Kurt nodded, laying his head on Blaine's shoulder as they rode through the streets of New York, their best friends with them on the way to lunch on Christmas Eve. Whatever was eating Burt would come to light that evening when he and Carole arrived, Kurt was sure. He couldn't wait to tell Carole, certain that she'd be more excited than Burt was.

As the car pulled up to the curb, Ethan hopped out nearly before the vehicle actually stopped. He rushed to grab the door even though Jeff had already slipped out and was helping Rachel out. The doorman at the restaurant grinned at Ethan's obvious frustration and nodded to them as they approached, tugging the door open.

"I'll wait for your call, Mr. Ster—"

"Just Jeff, Ethan…" Jeff laughed, seeing Ethan take a deep breath and blow it out slowly. He was probably counting, too. "Oh, what do you want for lunch, man?" Jeff asked, surprising his driver who gave him a look like he was crazy.

"From…from here? Sir?" He asked, incredulous. He was well aware that this was one of the pricier restaurants in town. Jeff just gave him his best "I'm waiting?" look in return.

"I…I'll leave that up to you, Sir, thank you. I appreciate the thought…Jeff."

Jeff grinned and nodded, glad that Ethan might actually be coming around.

"Aria's? For lunch?" Kurt asked, surprised. "I didn't even know they opened for lunch!" Blaine nodded, brows furrowed as well.

"They don't. We sincerely hoped this might be a celebratory lunch, though, so I called Zayne and asked for a favor," Jeff laughed. It only took one step through the door before Blaine knew what was going on, though.

"Oh…OH they're here!" Kurt laughed, nearly shoving everyone to the side to get to Burt, who was grinning at him like a crazy person. "DAD!" Kurt said, throwing his arms around Burt and hugging him tightly. "I thought…but you…you weren't supposed to be here until tonight!" Kurt said excitedly.

"Well, seems Ms. Caroline and Gram were coming up for the weekend in style, and Jeff called…said there was plenty of room and would we wanna hitch a ride," Burt grinned. He leaned in and said softly in Kurt's ear, "and he also hinted there may be a reason to get here early to celebrate, too. I haven't said anything yet," Burt told him.

"Oh, Dad, I'm so glad you're here," Kurt repeated, so excited to see Burt even though it hadn't even been two months since he saw them at Halloween. "So…you didn't seem very…happy…" Kurt began.

"I was sitting here with everyone, Kurt. I didn't want to give your surprise away. It's for you two to tell them, after all," Burt replied quietly. "But between you and me, Kurt, I'm over the moon about it as long as you're happy. And I can see that you are…" Burt laughed as Kurt grabbed him in a tight hug again.

"Oh, well, yeah….I should…oh, Blaine…." Kurt said, finally letting go with a silly grin.

Blaine spied his mother sitting with Bill, as well as Cooper and Maggie with the kids and his smile grew. It was just as he'd always wanted things…their families together and around the table for a holiday meal. Finn stood up and met Rachel halfway across the floor, enveloping her in a hug and lifting her off her feet as she laughed. He met eyes with her, questioning, and she gave him the slightest of nods. His grin was even wider then, glancing fondly at his brother and Blaine.

"Hello, Little One," Cris greeted her son, patting him on the cheek as he bent to kiss her hello. "It's not every day that one is invited to such a lovely place for Christmas Eve lunch, is it now?"

"I suppose not," Blaine replied, his heart swelling with happiness. He was nearly giddy and cast a glance toward Kurt wondering how they'd tell everyone. He nodded hello to Cooper and his family then held up a finger as if to say "one second…" then walked toward Kurt.

"May I borrow this one for a minute, Mr. Hummel?" he asked, leaning in to clap Burt on the back when Burt tugged him in for a hug. He kept his left hand neatly tucked to his side the whole time, well aware that Burt knew, but unsure how Kurt wanted to proceed.

"Absolutely, it's good to see you, Son," Burt replied, then winked at Blaine who nearly teared up again at Burt's words.

He leaned into Kurt's space, noting that Kurt had his left hand in his pocket.

"Do you want to tell everyone while we're here or…I mean…we'll do this your way, ok? If you're not comfortable doing that yet we'll just slip these off until you are, alright?" Blaine said.

"I want to tell the whole world. I want to go outside and stand on the corner and yell to the passing cars, Blaine. Yes, we need to tell them. Will you tell them with me?" Kurt asked, the twinkle back in his beautiful eyes.

"I'd be honored, fiancé," Blaine grinned, leaning in to kiss the corner of Kurt's mouth.

"Ok, I'm here, the party can start now!" Nick said loudly as he strode through the front doors, laughing as he did so. He seated himself next to Jeff and pulled their joined hands up to kiss Jeff's fingers.

"Ok, Mr. Hummel…" Blaine said softly, "it's your stage. Go for it, love." With a nod, Kurt turned toward their guests, who all chatted away happily with each other, most of them having no idea what was to come.

"I um…" Kurt began, a little louder than everyone else. "I want to thank you all for coming to lunch for Christmas Eve today. I know you all have a hundred things to do, as do I…oh goodness…" Kurt said, finally realizing what day it was. "But it seems that instead of giving gifts this evening, or tomorrow, Blaine and I…well, actually, Rachel and Jeff…" he went on, as everyone looked around the table at everyone else. "Oh, I'm doing this wrong…" Kurt giggled, uncertain now.

"You're doing just fine, baby," Blaine whispered in his ear, leaning into Kurt's side and grasping his hand.

"Blaine and I have apparently both been on a quest to change some things, neither of us knowing that we were both…headed in the same direction. As it turns out, we have impatient friends, who stepped in to make it all a reality….thank goodness…so about an hour ago…." Kurt paused, his smile so wide it hurt, "we made it official," He finished, holding up his left hand as Blaine did the same.

The shouts and cheers were deafening as everyone stood from their chairs to congratulate them and offer hugs and slaps on the back.

Cris pulled Blaine into a hug and actually started jumping up and down a bit, as much as she could, while holding Blaine in her arms. Cooper gripped them both in a hug and told Blaine he loved him and how he couldn't be more proud of him. The kids cheered loudly, causing both Zayne and Aria, as well as half the staff present, to stick their heads around to see what the fuss was.

As predicted, Carole was absolutely beside herself and couldn't stop her tears. Burt held her tightly, his arms around her from behind as he watched his son accept well wishes from his brother as well as his new 'to-be" family and closest friends. His heart was full to bursting and as he caught eyes with Blaine, he hoped that every ounce of gratitude he felt for the man showed.

"So no, you don't even know, Blaine," Kurt began, laughing as he told the story around the table. "The day we went for donuts and I felt sick? I wasn't sick, I'd stuck your ring in a donut, YOUR donut, which got mixed up when—"

"That little heathen almost knocked you over?!"

"YES! And I bit into the donut and chipped a tooth on the ring! That's why I had to go home!"

"You didn't say anything about a chipped tooth!" Blaine laughed, as did everyone around them.

"What could I say!? 'Wow, these sure are hard donuts!?'" Kurt laughed out loud. "I made an appointment for a couple days later and had it fixed. Thankfully it was in the back so it wasn't noticeable."

"OH! And the day I spilled the coffee in my lap? I was gonna ask you on the way home! AND…" Blaine went on, "The night I ended up in jail, I had your ring in my pocket!" He said, nearly doubled over with laughter at the looks on some of the faces around the table at the mention of being in jail. That started another conversation where Blaine had to explain it all. Zayne stepped in halfway through and asked him to, please, not set the tablecloth on fire or punch anyone, which caused Kurt to beg everyone at the table not to shove their butts in his face to look for panty lines.

"I can't believe how many near misses we had," Kurt sighed, picking up his wine glass.

"OH, and then after that, I came out of the bathroom the following morning and stepped on your ring, which was laying there on the floor. It had to have fallen out of my pants pocket that night when you nearly ripped them off when we—" Blaine stopped dead, the looks from everyone around the table a mix of hilarity, anticipation and apprehension, the latter from Burt. His face said 'absolutely enough, not another word', which made Blaine blush and end the story there. "Yes, well….it was a fun night in the end. That's all I have to say about that," Blaine finished rather quickly, earning a snicker and a shoulder nudge from Kurt.

"Thank goodness…" Burt mumbled, causing everyone to burst into laughter again and Kurt and Blaine to turn bright red.

"So tell us what finally DID happen, then?" Ms. Caroline asked. Kurt turned to Blaine who was looking back at him, both wondering where to begin, when it dawned on them that there were clearly parts of the story that they didn't even know. They both turned to look at Jeff and Rachel who, with a mix of uncertainty and humor, began to tell the story of how the two of them had misunderstood who was buying a ring and how they'd decided they needed to step in at the end to make it happen.

By the time lunch was over and everyone was ready to head home, Blaine was exhausted and so was Kurt.

"So what's the plan, Dad," Kurt asked. "Are you guys coming home with us tonight or what?"

"Oh, well…we thought we might stay a couple of nights with Rachel and Finn and then spend a couple of nights with the two of you if that's ok?" Carole answered and Burt nodded in agreement.

"Ok, well, that's ok. That's good…we'll uh…let me get you a cab, then?" Kurt offered.

"No need, Kurt. It's taken care of!" Nick yelled, dragging Burt and Carole's luggage out the door into a waiting car at the curb. "I'm headed home with this guy after we drop you two off, so they can take my car."

"Oh! Well, aren't you a sweetheart, Nicholas!" Carole beamed, then went outside to make sure they had everything.

"I'm sorry I didn't sound more enthusiastic earlier, Kurt. I didn't want to spoil your surprise before you got here," Burt said again.

"It's ok, Dad, I totally understand now. I'm glad…thank you. You're happy for us, though, right?" Kurt asked, needing to be sure.

"I'm absolutely beside myself, Kurt. I couldn't be more excited for you if I tried. I think the two of you will be real happy together. It's plain as the nose on my face how much you love each other."

"I do, Dad. I'm so in love with him," Kurt said, his voice a little dreamy as Blaine approached behind him.

"Who are you so in love with? Do I need to kick someone's butt, here, Kurt?" He grinned.

"You, you fool!" Kurt laughed, turning to kiss Blaine soundly. "Now take me home. I still have gifts to wrap and cookies to ice!" Kurt demanded, wrapping his body around Blaine's the best he could.

"We'll see you tomorrow for lunch, then?" Blaine asked as Burt and Carole climbed into Nick's car, Finn and Rachel already waiting for them inside.

"You will…we'll call first!" Carole yelled back with a sly wink. "Love you, boys!" They waved the parents off, everyone going their separate ways before thanking Zayne and Aria profusely, collecting Jeff's carry-out box for Ethan and climbing into the limo to head home. The ride was quiet, all of them worn out and needing rest from their crazy morning and afternoon.

After a million thanks and hugs, Blaine and Kurt headed up the stairs to their apartment, stepped inside and turned to each other, both with little secret grins on their faces.

"I can't believe how this all played out," Kurt said.

"I can't either, but I'm so glad it did, Kurt. I feel like telling you I love you isn't enough tonight. I need for you to know just how much you mean to me and how ecstatic I am that you said yes. You're my whole world, Kurt Hummel, and I adore you," Blaine finished, slipping his arms around Kurt's waist.

"Well, I can't say it any better than that, now can I?" Kurt huffed, leaning in to hug his new fiancé. "You know…the cookies can wait and I only have two things left to wrap. I think I'd rather snuggle up on the sofa, light the fireplace and hold you for a little while, if you're amenable, Mr. Anderson?"

"I'm so down with that plan…yes! Please, yes," Blaine smiled at him then tugged Kurt to the sofa to rest up before the craziness of Christmas Day was upon them.

---

A/N : Well, freaking FINALLY, right? But, it was Christmas time, the season for giving, and also...well, today's January 10th...exactly three years from the day I posted chapter one of this monster! Some of you have been here with me since that first chapter three years back, and some just started reading this week. But please know this: each and every one of you, each person who's read a chapter or the whole shebang, you all mean a whole helluva lot to lil' ol' me. Thank you, all of you, for your kind words, your reviews, your pm's, your messages on facebook, all of it. I'm still thrilled every time I get a notice or a note. I've made some really good friends on this journey, and I thank my lucky stars for that!

A HUGE thanks to Suzanne who always seems to make time for me when I send her bazillion word chapters and ask for her eagle eye on it. Also, to Kristine and Robyn who listen to me whine and carry on when I get stuck. You ladies make it all easier for me and for that I'm grateful! To my SSGS girls, YOU ROCK! Just...a big thanks if you've been a tiny little part or a big part of this story in any way over the past three years. Really...thank you. Love ya'll. :)