Author's Note: Most of this is from Kurt's point of view again. The candle helps: he sleeps like a rock and wakes up more refreshed than he's felt in years (because this is fiction and I can project my wishful thinking onto it), and he's so happy about that he goes to thank Blaine. The chapter also features a short fragment from Rachel's point of view at the end.

Chapter 5: Another Remedy to Try

Kurt hardly slept again that night, and woke up feeling miserable and convinced Blaine had only been humouring him since he was a customer.

Ugh, why do I always imagine interest where there's none? I thought I had gotten better at this since high school, but no. Clearly not. This is so embarrassing.

He thought about not going to the candle store – the odds of that candle having any effect on his insomnia were low – but told himself to stop being silly. Kurt Hummel was many things, but NOT a coward.

He was determined not to make a fool of himself again, though, and did not chatter to Blaine at all, leaving as soon as he'd paid for his candle.

Blaine seemed to sense Kurt's discomfort, though, and kindly told him he was always welcome back at the store, since apparently, he loved talking to Kurt.

It was really nice of him to say so, and Kurt mustered up a big smile in thanks.

When he unpacked the candle at home, Rachel was in raptures over how pretty it was, and wanted to know if he'd scored a date with yummy Blaine yet.

Kurt sighed. "Leave it, Rach, okay?"

He disappeared behind the privacy curtain of his bedroom, putting the candle on his nightstand and admiring it from all sides. Rachel was right, it was very pretty.

He sank down on his bed and passed a hand over his forehead and eyes. His head was killing him, and his eyes were dry and itchy.

I could lie down right now and sleep for a week. But I mustn't nap in the middle of the day or I won't get any sleep during the night. Better get the chores out of the way.

The rest of the day passed in a tired haze, and by ten p.m., Kurt wished Rachel good night, lit the candle on his nightstand and started his nightly moisturising routine.

Soon, the perfume the candle gave off started to spread, and Kurt sniffed appreciatively. It was a nice smell, the sort that made you feel happy and relaxed. No wonder it helped people sleep. Would it help him too, though?

He blew out the candle and got under the covers, expecting to lie awake again for hours, but seconds after his head hit his pillow, he drifted off into a dreamless sleep.

The next morning, he didn't wake up until nine.

When he ambled into the kitchen, still yawning hugely, Rachel remarked, "Well, well, look who's returned to the land of the living. I thought you'd sleep the whole day through!"

Kurt, stung by her accusatory tone, defended himself. "I was exhausted. Anyway, it's Sunday. And all the chores are already done, no thanks to you!"

Rachel quickly changed the subject. "I bet you're glad I made you buy that candle now, aren't you? It certainly helped!"

Kurt shrugged. "Or maybe I was just tired out from all the cooking and cleaning and laundry and dishes."

Rachel cocked her head to the side. "You don't think it helped?"

"Well, I'll give it the benefit of the doubt. Let's see how well I sleep tonight. I've never slept well two nights in a row."

That night, though, after lighting the candle for the prescribed amount of time, he slept like a log, and woke up five minutes before his alarm clock would go off, feeling full of energy and raring to go.

He breezed through the day, acing his new stage combat assignment at school and getting more work done at Vogue than he'd managed the entire previous week.

When he left the Condé Nast building that evening, he was in such good spirits that he decided to go see Blaine and thank him for the candle. That was the least he could do after how sullen and taciturn he'd been last time he saw him.

He hurried towards the store to catch Blaine before he closed up and went home. While rounding the last corner, he bumped into someone, mumbling "Sorry" and stepping around that person swiftly. He was stopped by a hand on his arm and a soft "Hey".

He would have known that voice anywhere, and yes, when he looked up, it proved to be Blaine, frowning at him with worry in his eyes.

"Hey, are you okay? Late for another shift?"

Kurt shook his head. "No, I was coming to see you, actually. To say thank you. I haven't slept so well in years. I'm feeling great, and I've got so much energy now that I'm not half asleep all the time. So thank you. Thank you so much. You're a lifesaver. Nothing I've ever tried to sleep better works, but your candle does. I don't know what you've put in it, but it's pure magic. Really, it is."

Kurt beamed at Blaine, but saw that the man looked ill at ease.

Uh-oh. Was that a bit too much gushing? I probably sound like all those girls going to the store to hit on him.

In a moment, though, any trace of uneasiness vanished from Blaine's face as a sunny smile replaced it.

"I'm so glad to hear that! Getting a good night's sleep is so important."

"It so is," Kurt nodded. "I should have come to your store way earlier. I've been battling insomnia for years. You must have suffered from it too, to be able to find such a good cure for it. Haven't you?"

"No. Not really."

"You never lie awake at night?"

Blaine shrugged. "Well, sometimes. But that's why they invented masturbation."

Kurt's mouth fell open, and he was struck numb as his brain supplied him with images that were very alluring.

As soon as he could string words together again, he giggled, "I can't believe you just said that!"

Blaine ducked his head. "Uhm. I'm a bit of a blurter, sometimes. Hence the TMI. It's true, though. An orgasm helps you sleep."

"So I should just have taken you home instead of your candle?" Kurt quipped, and then wanted to zip his mouth shut because if a bit of praise made Blaine uncomfortable, this certainly would.

But Blaine threw his head back and laughed. "Yes, that would have worked too."

He looked at Kurt from under his eyelashes. "Any time you want to try that remedy, let me know."

Again, Kurt was speechless. Then he stammered, "You… You want… Me?"

"Oh yes, I want you. I've wanted you since the moment you stepped into my store."

Blaine's voice sounded low and fervent, and it sent shivers down Kurt's spine, who couldn't manage more in reply than a weak "Oh".

And then Blaine's lips found his, and any thoughts Kurt might have had all flew away and were replaced by enjoyment and a feeling of rightness and belonging.

Blaine kissed like he meant it, and like he'd never stop. Kurt happily went along with that until his phone chimed with the reminder he had to get to the diner.

"Your shift?" Blaine murmured, and Kurt nodded.

"Excuse me for a sec," he said, and he scrolled through his contacts until he found Dani's number.

"Dani? I know this is REALLY late notice, but could you please take over my shift at the diner? Please pretty please?"

"Migraine again, honey?" he heard her say commiseratingly. "Okay, no worries, I'll be there and I'll make your excuses. Take care!"

And she rang off before he could explain he had an entirely different reason this time.

Kurt decided he could always explain it to her later, and that he needed to take advantage of the empty loft NOW.

So he took Blaine's hand and said, "Come on, this way!"

K&B

That night, when Rachel came home from her shift, she decided to check on Kurt, whom according to Dani had been too ill to work. "He's in bed with a horrid migraine!"

When she quietly peeked behind his curtain, though, she didn't see Kurt with a wet compress on his forehead and a grimace of pain.

Kurt was lying in bed, that much was true. Far from being in pain, he was sleeping soundly, with a smile on his face and Rachel's cute customer from the other night wrapped around him like a koala, sleeping too.

Though she was happy for Kurt and so glad her matchmaking had worked, Rachel couldn't help but feel indignant that he'd lied and made her worry.

In revenge, she snapped a picture of the two boys in bed, and sent it to Dani with the message "Migraine, huh?"

Seconds later, her phone buzzed with a call from Dani.

"Hey Rach," Dani said. "Wow, I wasn't expecting that! Well, to be fair, Kurt never actually mentioned a migraine. I just assumed that was the reason, because it usually is, right?"

"Right. When he's had a few sleepless nights in a row."

"Uh-huh. So I thought it was as usual. All he did was ask me to take over his shift. He even said pretty please."

"No wonder."

They both giggled.

"He looks cute," said Dani.

"He is cute," Rachel assured her. "And friendly, and polite, and a good tipper. He came to the diner the other day and kept staring at Kurt as if he was an angel descended from heaven."

"Well, he sounds like one."

They giggled some more.

"I'm happy for him," Dani said. "He's been on his own for far too long. Only ever working, working, working."

"I know. I'm still going to tease him about this, though."

"Oh, me too. That's for sure. Good night, Rach."

"Night, Dani."