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(Deja Vu)

AN: So... I've gone back and forth and back and forth and I decided to keep Deja Vu as a one-shot AND release an extended (much extended) version as a short too. This is just a teaser in the end but can also be read alone. I just expanded this world in the story appropriately titled Deja Vu. See what I did there? Totally by accident, lol. It was just a world I felt needed expanding. To keep this one in limits, I did change a few minor details and cut out a lot of important stuff. For that stuff, read my up and coming story Deja Vu. ;) This is still incredibly long for a one-shot.

Kurt dutifully listened to his sister-in-law say what she's been saying for weeks now. He gave her the same sounds that he always gave her when she ventured onto this topic. Hmms and uh-huhs to show that he was listening and let her continue on with what she was saying. He wasn't listening, not really. He listened close enough to make sure he didn't agree, again, to something that he had no interest in doing.

He was walking down the aisles of a local fresh produce store, thankfully only a block and a half from the apartment that he shared with Rachel and Santana. After the initial few years of being on top of each other and driving each other nuts with their habits, they'd settled in to a routine and gave each other space and boundaries. Of course they still broke those on occasion.

He was usually the one to pick up the groceries because he was the one to cook for everyone. He was doing well for himself but he was not interested in grabbing a taxi to help him cart groceries across town. He bought enough for the three of them to eat for 24 hours and a little more to cover whoever may pop in or be invited over.

"Tiffany, honestly, I'm ok." Kurt really felt that way, he and Santana were having fun hitting the town together and Elliott was a great band mate who hung out with him often too.

"It's been too long." Tiffany argued. "At least come visit us."

"Honey, I love you, Finn and the wee one but I have no interest in returning to Ohio any time soon. If there's a big event, you know I'll be there, but it's not exactly where I prefer to spend my free time."

"Still practicing for that audition?" She asked with a little laugh and he made a sound of agreement. "It's just that we miss you."

"Yeah, I know, but with Dad and Carole living in Florida now, and Mercedes in California, there's just a lot of competition for my time and attention. If you three lived on the Eastern Seaboard, you know I'd be seeing you at least one weekend a month, more if you lived even closer."

Tiffany was originally from Pennsylvania and she auditioned for the band but she wasn't quite right for it. She didn't fit into the sound they already had. She was a lot more blues and jazz to their more upbeat rock/pop.

Still, she and Kurt hit it off right away and he pulled her in for some collaborations and guest spots, they adjusted their sound to make them sound good with her but not the same. Some of their songs together were audience favorites and whenever she visited NYC and they had a gig, Kurt pulled her onto the stage for at least a song.

They became good friends and Finn when visiting with the family, met and fell for her instantly. She was passionate when she sang and was gorgeous and fabulous at most of what she put her mind to. It was easy to see why Finn fell for her and more than that, Kurt was pleased that Finn finally had a good female influence in his life other than his mom. Why she fell for Finn was just something they all did, Kurt, Rachel, Quinn, even Santana in her own way to an extent.

There was still a little tension between Tiffany and Rachel but in general Rachel was a bigger person than any of them would have imagined her to be. She still admitted on occasion to Kurt when she was vulnerable and drunk, that she was still in love with Finn but conceded that Tiffany was good for him, they were good together.

That ship had sailed though and was compounded when they had Rose.

Rachel took a little while to grieve the loss of a relationship that she had thought was endgame but then was better for it. She gave Brody another chance and those two had been together for a year now and were still going strong. Brody was good for her too, able to support her, compete with her, correct her and they didn't have the big blow ups that she and Finn or she and Jesse used to have.

"I'm a little worried about you." She was too, this was not the first time they'd have this conversation.

"Why? I'm busy, happy and healthy."

"You've just shut yourself off though from possibilities."

"I haven't, I just haven't gone out looking for it. There's a difference. You weren't exactly looking yourself."

"That's not always how it works. Someone has to be the one doing the looking."

"Well, it's not going to be me." Kurt shook his head. "And sometimes neither is looking and you just run into each other and you just know."

She gave a soft sigh, not agreeing with him but not arguing anymore. "Best way to get over someone is to get under someone new." She pointed out. "Or over someone new, whichever, both."

Kurt laughed, a genuine and warm laugh and she knew he was right. He was doing well, was in a good place just then. "Honey, the best thing I can do for myself right now is to just let myself breath and be my own person, separate from another. I had been in a singular relationship for over a decade with a few other guys mixed in but nothing serious." He'd only been with one guy, got somewhat close with another but no where near it with the other.

Santana had given him similar advice but he didn't just jump into bed with people. He had never put it into words or thought about it because it was crazy, especially in this day and age. He was only ever going to be all in with one guy. Even though the one he thought would be that way for him had strayed twice, he'd still thought they would make it through the long haul together. He could forgive the history because he was the only one who thought that way but the betrayal was too hard to overcome for a third time.

There was no coming back from it this time. Kurt was resigned to the fact that either he would have to bend and find a second guy, the true one, or be alone the rest of his life, having only been with one guy. There was no in between or otherwise for him.

"There's nowhere in Ohio that I can go without running into them." He'd learned that the really, really hard way. "You run into them all the time, don't you?"

She couldn't argue with that, it was true enough.

They'd gone the opposite direction last time, headed to Toledo and they'd been there on the street, playing happy family. She sighed. "It's been 2 years, Kurt."

"And I've been having fun flirting with the population in NYC but my focus has been elsewhere. None of that flirting means anything to me." Kurt hadn't realized it'd been 2 years, time slipped by quickly. Every minute of every day could be accounted for when he was growing up, once he hit mid-twenties, time just passed without preamble, it just kept going, continuing without thought or markers.

She said something but he was a little distracted by the new options of peanut butter alternatives and making a new decision. Rachel liked almond and Santana liked sunflower. He leaned more in Santana's direction but now there were more brands. He looked at the shelves, he was just in here yesterday but hadn't needed peanut butter for a month, there were far more brands now than there had been just a short month ago.

"You know I love you." Kurt said with a small tease. "You're all I need."

"Yeah, yeah, you need more than me and the girls. Come on Kurt, you've surrounded yourself with people who you can't have that way, you're playing it safe."

"I don't just spend time with girls." Kurt countered, Finn, Elliott were both ready examples. Even he and Brody got on.

"Only one of three is even an option but you totally friend-zoned him."

"Don't be jealous." Kurt said silkily.

"What would I be jealous of?" She asked and he could just imagine her eyebrow lifted on her end of the line.

"Exactly, there's nothing to be jealous of." He said soothingly, totally putting her on and she was laughing on her end.

"Though sometimes I wish I was there living it up with you on that stage. Especially when Rose is crying at 2 AM and unable to be soothed."

"I do wish I could be with you more." Kurt was a little sad now and picked out the same brand they always went with. Changing it up would require a lot of testing and he didn't have the time to do so right now.

He turned to pick up the last of his list and nearly ran into a tall male waiting somewhat impatiently but not being overly rude about it until Kurt could move out of the way. Words stuck in his throat and he found he couldn't even move his mouth. Tiffany was saying something but he was locked in that gaze.

The eyes had been bored and flickered over Kurt as he turned and was getting more and more interested until they landed on Kurt's eyes and sage green eyes were arrested by glasz eyes.

It was a shame, it was really too bad that this fine specimen was straight, they both thought as one.

Kurt found his voice but it was strangled and scratchy and foreign to himself. "I'll... have to call you back Tiffany."

"We'll talk tomorrow." Tiffany sounded chipper as she clicked off.

Kurt shook his head, trying to pull himself back together. This man might be gorgeous but he was totally straight and Kurt was just in his way. He swallowed and those sage eyes watched the movement of his Adam's apple bouncing as he did so. "I'll just get out of your way."

"Is it a case of expectations?" The man breathed out hard and Kurt frowned at him. "Your wife and child- was it real love or was it because – oh God, I'm being totally inappropriate. I shouldn't be asking you that in the middle of a grocer, I just have such a hard time believing it."

Kurt frowned at him. "Wife and child?"

"Yeah, who you were on the phone with. Your wife, you were reassuring her that while you were away and surrounded by women, she shouldn't be worried." The guy was just beside himself with what he was saying to a complete stranger but he was obviously struggling.

Kurt thought about what it would sound like if you just heard his end and his eyes narrowed trying to recall everything that was said. Suddenly he laughed and the guy had to look away and breathe.

"Not my wife. It's my sister-in-law that I was talking with. We were friends first and are still really good friends. She moved away, I was just teasing her."

"Oh." The man slid a hand through his hair and just kind of held it there as he looked over Kurt again. "Please don't get offended by my asking this, but are you gay?"

Kurt rolled his eyes. "If what my high school classmates said is to be believed, I've never been able to pass a day in my life."

The man frowned lightly at that answer and Kurt nodded internally to himself, he was disgusted by that fact. Kurt took a step to go around this stranger. "I wouldn't say that's necessarily true, but there is something about you that makes me suspect that you are. I thought maybe you were one of those that had married due to family pressure and were denying your true self."

"Ah." Kurt didn't think that changed anything but then a hand was suddenly held out near his chest, open and waiting.

"Sebastian." He greeted and Kurt eyed the hand wearily. Sebastian didn't even look around to see if they were being overheard. "I am also gay."

"No way." Kurt shook his head and not the hand. "You totally read as straight."

"You haven't gotten to know me yet." Sebastian kept his hand there between them. "Which is something I'd like you to do and vice versa."

"Is that your way of asking me out?" Kurt held his gaze, not believing it at all.

"Yes."

Kurt thought maybe it needed work, but then again, he had to adjust with the situation and conversation. "No thanks." Kurt walked away from the gorgeous stranger that went by the name Sebastian. There was something about his smile that seemed so familiar and Kurt wasn't going to go down that path.

"Wait, what?" Came the voice behind him, obviously a man who wasn't used to being turned down. "Why?"

"I'm not available right now." Kurt answered, which was true, even if he wasn't seeing anyone, he just wasn't available for whatever this guy had planned and besides, he had to get back with the groceries.

"It doesn't have to be tonight. Obviously you have plans." Sebastian glanced at his full basket. "Friday?"

"No." Kurt walked a tiny bit faster away from him. He really was gorgeous and he was charming and his voice was drawing. Kurt had to get away before he was pulled into that web he was weaving; he could only be a man-eating spider underneath all of that. Kurt really wanted to turn his head and look his fill of the rest of the man.

"Saturday?" Sebastian tried, he really wasn't used to hearing no.

"No."

"Next week?" He came back instantly and Kurt paused.

Kurt turned back to this man who he'd never seen in here before. "You're really serious about going out with me, aren't you?"

"Yes."

"I'm not a date then shag type." Kurt internally winced, it rolled off the tongue but it was half Americanized and half not, he'd been hanging out with too many British people since arriving in New York. First Adam, then Elliott, who while not British, had spent a lot of time over there before returning to New York. He was picking up a lot of his language, especially while researching for the part he was auditioning for off-off-Broadway next week.

Sebastian's eyebrow lifted but he didn't seem confused, just amused. "Just jump to the shag then?" He teased and Kurt rolled his eyes again and spun around to finish his shopping. He only had one more item but it was across the store and Sebastian was hot on his heels. "Ok, sorry, bad joke. I just don't know how else it would go then. If you don't just jump into bed then you'd have to date first."

"Not on the first date." Kurt clarified. "Not even on the 10th. I'm not your usual conquest."

"How do you know what my usual conquest is? We've just met and you thought I was straight."

"You thought I was straight too." Kurt pointed out and took a hard turn, Sebastian followed. "I don't need to know what your gender preferences are to know that you are a player."

"Lacrosse player, yes, thank you, I pride myself on my physique and thank lacrosse for that."

"You know that's not what I meant."

"I do, but you're making awfully big assumptions about me. I just had to point out that things can be more than they appear."

"More?" Kurt turned and surprised Sebastian who didn't stop quite as quickly and so they were nearly chest to chest. Kurt tilted his head back slightly to look at Sebastian's face. The Santa from 'that time' was more attractive and even taller than this guy and had nearly been Kurt's one exception to the rule. Nothing had happened, the Santa had seen to that. Still, Sebastian had a draw to him that Kurt hadn't experienced before. It made him want to throw out all of his carefully constructed guidelines for who he would flirt with, date and potentially more than that. The Santa had been a conscious decision of a one-night stand. He knew it would never be more, so there was no risk and was a weak moment during 'that time' which he would have regretted more than he did had they done more. The Santa would have been a betrayal to who he was and for what?

Sebastian made him want... something else. He knew consciously that Sebastian would never be more than a one night stand. He would definitely regret thinking it could be anything else. He'd already gone down that path once and he wouldn't make the same mistake again. If Sebastian was true and wanted more than just a shag, it still wouldn't work out. There was something about him that reminded Kurt of someone else, someone who had nearly ended Kurt. It was sheer will and good friends and family that had pulled him through it more than once. It was sheer grit that he'd managed to do it on his own and not need the others this last time. He still fell apart and relied on them, just not to the extent as before. He was finally strong enough to walk away on his own. There was no going back.

There was something about that smile. It was too practiced, too familiar, too charming in a good boy with mystique. He'd seen that smile often enough on a few different faces, on one in particular that had worked on him far too well, no matter how many times he saw it and knew it wasn't genuine.

"I've seen your type before." Kurt tried again. "More than they appear is worse than different."

"Can't it be both?" Sebastian reached out a hand and slid a strand of Kurt's hair back into place. "It might not be the combination that you're thinking of. It might better than you ever dreamed."

"I am not interested in your type or empty offers. I am working on sorting it out but you are in a lot of ways a carbon copy of what I know I don't want, what's not good for me."

"There's no way you can just know that."

"You're giving me serious deja-vu vibes." Kurt shook his head and took a step back, far too long after he should have. He admitted as much to himself, he was weak but he would be strong; stronger from now on. If not for himself, then for everyone that would have to help him through this again. He owed it to them to be smarter about who he got in deep with, or at least attempt to get in deep with.

"It's just one date. I'm not pushing for more and don't expect anything afterward." Sebastian pointed out and Kurt swallowed. That was incredibly reasonable and he didn't know why he went into the deep end with his thoughts. There had been nothing to make him think that way, except that smile.

"Don't smile at me like that. It's not a real smile."

The smile dropped from the man's face. "What?"

"It's not a genuine smile, it's practiced and meant to disarm and charm. It won't work with me." Kurt wouldn't let it.

The man eyed Kurt considering and then gave a nod. "I'll try not to. Now, for that date?"

"If you can wait two weeks, I'll go out with you on that Sunday."

"Not this week or next?" Sebastian wondered if his calender was really that full or if he was just trying to put him off.

"I have plans." Kurt answered dismissively.

"Fine, let me get your phone number." Sebastian called Kurt to make sure it was a real number.

"Good start, not trusting me to give you my real number."

"I wanted to make sure you had mine." Sebastian responded silkily and instantly back. Kurt sighed, that was a good reason, and he'd been the one to not trust. He didn't trust Sebastian. Sebastian saved his number into his phone.

"Don't you want my name?" Kurt questioned, eying him oddly.

"I would love to learn your name." Sebastian agreed. "But you'll always be in my phone under that moniker."

"What moniker is that?" Kurt's curiosity was burning now.

"I'll tell you when I'm ready to share." Sebastian took Kurt's basket out of his hands. "Anything else you need, gorgeous?"

Kurt eyed him wearily. "It's Kurt." Then he looked down into his basket and then remembered to grab the last ingredient. "Nothing else."

"I'll walk with you to the checkout." Sebastian put his basket down first and then separated them with a divider. Sebastian would be done first and wait for Kurt to finish up. Had it been the other way around, Kurt probably would have just left before Sebastian could join him.

They chatted lightly as they waited and Sebastian's products were rung up. Sebastian explained that he knew how to make a few things well and this was one of his go-tos when he was having a hard day. "It's the best bad day though, you've instantly brightened it now that I've met you."

Kurt couldn't help but be flattered by his words. "Thank you and I'm sorry for giving you such a hard time before. Hard to believe I'd brightened your bad day with that kind of introduction. It's been very interesting meeting you too, totally changed how my day was going."

"Hopefully for the better?" Sebastian pressed. He didn't go into the rest of what Kurt said, taking it smoothly.

"Yeah." Kurt gave it to him, he couldn't be completely negative or pushing him off. He was intrigued by Sebastian and now that he agreed to a date, his frosty outside was thawing a little. He would be cautious but he'd agreed and he didn't want to be mean or harsh. Part of him wondered if this could go anywhere and if he would give it a real chance. If he did decide to in the end, then he didn't want to start on such a rocky foot, hurting Sebastian because of his own insecurities and issues.

He wasn't a mean person, just a bit rough edged and protective, especially of himself when feeling threatened. He was working on that, he'd been that way with Elliott too and he realized he'd been too defensive. Now Elliott was a really good friend. Elliott did appreciate the apology when Kurt caught and corrected his behavior. He could have lost out on a really good friend otherwise.

Kurt laughed at himself before he paid and shook his head. "What's so funny?" Sebastian checked.

"My sister-in-law, she and I were just talking about this type of situation. Were you looking or was it just happenstance?" Kurt questioned.

"Was I looking to meet someone to go on a date with?" Sebastian correctly inferred. "No, I was just thinking about getting a dog and giving up on a human companion when I saw your backside. I thought it was a gorgeous backside but then overheard you and thought you were straight. When you turned and looked at me... I couldn't believe it. You were gorgeous and I was cursing the universe for it's terrible joke, having someone as gorgeous as you in front of me but married with a child."

"I still could have been, with a man." Kurt pointed out but they both remembered him talking about being surrounded by females and jealousy.

"You're not though, right?" Sebastian hadn't asked about relationship status once he got confirmation that Kurt was gay.

Kurt's lips twisted and there was definitely a story there. "No."

"Great, we're both completely single." Sebastian tossed him another smile, this one just as practiced but not the same one that Kurt had problems with. He was a little suspicious of this smile for other reasons, it was definitely one of those bar smiles; ok with hookups smiles.

"This is going to be such a mistake." Kurt uttered as he picked up his bags. Sebastian had one of his own and led the way out, opening the door for Kurt. "At least for me."

"Why do you say that?" Sebastian was genuinely puzzled.

"You're going to get me in bed then leave me high and dry."

"Well, hopefully after I get you in bed you'll be wet and sweaty going from high to flat."

Kurt stared at him for a long moment and Sebastian worried about going too far. Then Kurt started laughing hard. He pushed his bags in Sebastian's arms as he bent over to laugh even harder. "Oh Gaga, I'm in so much trouble and I'm going to be the greatest idiot on the planet." He shook his head and pushed himself back upright. He took his bags from Sebastian and his eyes scanned over Sebastian's face. "Ok, I might have some time on Tuesday for dinner."

"Really?" A genuine, non-practiced smile crossed Sebastian's face and Kurt nodded to himself, thinking this was the right decision in the end. This smile was very charming without intending to be. Sebastian took the nod as an answer to his question. "Great! Do you have any food preferences?"

"Yeah, just not German or from the greater UK or Australian." Kurt shuddered as he thought about trying to gag down more Vegemite. Adam had gotten him good with that one. While he liked Fish and Chips at certain locations, he was not in the mood for it.

Sebastian nodded. "Got it, I think I have just the place."

"Oh yeah? Where are you thinking of?" Kurt would meet him there.

Sebastian grinned wider. "Au contraire mon ami, I will pick you up and bring you there. It is a surprise." When Kurt's eyebrows lifted far above their regular place on his forehead, Sebastian laughed. "Now what?"

"You speak French?"

"I am French." Sebastian countered with a soft smile. "But please don't find an excuse to use that against me."

"No, no, that's just a stereotype, I know." Kurt waved it off. "I love French." He startled a little and straightened up, he had not meant to share that. "I mean, the language."

"Have you ever been?"

"Yes, during fashion week." Kurt had been far too busy with Isabelle to go out and explore much of the cities they visited but she made sure to take him sight-seeing one day in each location. Each year they went to different places in each city.

"Hmm... prime time to go." Kurt wasn't sure if he was mocking or sincere with that comment. It teetered on the edge a bit too much for him to be sure one way or the other.

"I know, cliché, obvious gay guy into fashion." He gave a bit of a shrug. "In the place I grew up though, it was very out of the norm for the most part, even for the ones who were gay." He'd thought- but then no, it wasn't fashion but a very particular type of fashion from a certain era. It had taken him too long to figure that out. It would have been better to be straight forward and tell him he wasn't interested instead of playing along for as long as he had. That ended up being a very familiar story and pattern they'd fallen into.

"One stereotype is true about the French – we appreciate fashion too. It isn't just a gay thing." Sebastian purred, looking Kurt over again. "We also know how to dress for the situation. For Tuesday, wear something... comfortable."

"Ok then, Tuesday." Kurt spent a second longer just looking at Sebastian and trying to decide- but then he just turned and walked away. Sebastian's laughter followed him and he wondered what he'd gotten himself into.

A food truck, apparently.

Sebastian came to his apartment and Kurt met him down at the street. They took the subway to a stop and walked along the river to a small park where there were three food trucks along a circle and several picnic tables in the center. Kurt was glad he wore more sensible shoes and his most relaxed outfit that he would dare be seen outside in. Sebastian had been appreciative and his own clothing was still stylish but a tad more relaxed than Kurt's. It hadn't been a short walk and while Kurt's shoes were comfortable, they still looked nice.

Kurt was dubious and let Sebastian order their food as he waited at a table Sebastian picked out. It was his favorite table, his favorite food truck and favorite spot to do this in. Kurt sighed and glanced at his phone, Isabelle was texting him questions about Wednesday's presentation and he kept trying to reassure her that everything was fine in between giving her answers.

Sebastian placed his food in front of him with a large smile. "Bon appetite mon petit."

The French just rolled off of Sebastian so easily, he slid so many common phrases in there that he either had to be from France as he said or just really liked French or said things like that often enough.

Kurt knew only the basics, having wanted to pursue French in High School but his boyfriend begged him to share at least one class with him so he switched to Spanish. He was glad for his Spanish but missed out on expanding his French.

As they spoke in English more, he did start to notice the subtle French accent that skated along his words and expressions. Most people wouldn't catch it. It was easier to note when he was telling a story that he was very excited about or something that made him happy.

Sebastian was a very entertaining date. He made Kurt laugh often and as they continued through the night, Sebastian touched and moved closer and Kurt didn't flinch or move away. He found himself moving closer to Sebastian physically, mentally and emotionally as he shared his own history and funny moments.

They continued on like that for some time before he realized the food trucks had all shut down for the night and only when the lights started going out around them. "Wow, look at the time." The food had been fusion Indian and Spanish and was divine. He would have to try and recreate it some time, just to see if he could. It was very good and Kurt approved, his clean plate with portions larger than he'd normally agree to was further testament.

"Wow, look at the time." Kurt muttered to himself as he looked around at the empty area about them. Sebastian realized it for the first time himself and glanced at his watch. Sure enough, it was nearly 9 pm.

"We should get you home, you've got a busy day ahead of you." Sebastian stood and held out his hand. Kurt didn't hesitate to put his in Sebastian's and stood as well.

They walked back to the subways station in relative silence, Kurt moved in closer to link their arms and not just their hands. Kurt found himself resting his head against Sebastian's shoulder and when he realized it, he pulled his head away in shock.

"No don't, I liked it." Sebastian squeezed the arm still looped around his. "It was nice."

"It's really soon." Kurt said softly and Sebastian gave him a small shrug. Still his head went back to Sebastian's shoulder, both were feeling it, so why not?

They got back to Kurt's apartment and Kurt had been lost in thought about Sebastian's words. He didn't even want to look at his phone to see how correct he was about tomorrow's agenda. "Why am I the only one with a busy day tomorrow?"

"I don't need to go in until 10." Sebastian answered. "Not much is happening, we just finished one of our projects and aren't due to start the next for another week. Although I always like to start our next project even before we finish the last one. Always have something in motion, you know?"

"Yeah, it's why the summer line comes out in the winter and vice versa." Kurt did not adhere to fast fashion, he wore the same clothes just in different combinations for years with the occasional addition to his wardrobe. He had no problem pulling something out that he hadn't worn for 10 years just because it was sort of back in style now or he wanted to try pulling it off again or bring it back, or just because he wanted to wear it. Good fashion never went out of style.

There were some things he donated pretty much as soon as the fashion trend reached its peak and let others join in for a moment before it was gone for good. There were other things years later he donated just because he realized how terrible it was after the fact. Other things he just tossed because they were just too horrible to see the light of day.

He may not have subscribed to Fast-Fashion but his company pushed it in it's own ways. He just liked to design new clothes, what they did with his designs were less of his concern after the show. It was about taking his clothes and innovating them further, combining them in an unique and individual way. He was very happy when people did that, deconstructed his product, that was their choice and invention.

Sebastian stopped Kurt on the stoop of his apartment, he leaned in but paused and Kurt knew what he was doing and still went for it. He leaned the rest of the way and let his lips lightly touch Sebastian's. Sebastian pulled him in for a deeper kiss and Kurt let him. He didn't pull away and make excuses to go upstairs, he sank instead into the moment, into the kiss.

Then he did pull away with excuses to go upstairs without Sebastian. They were more for his own benefit as Sebastian let him with just a little retouching of his hair and outfit. There was absolutely no pressure from Sebastian, as promised. "I'll call you." Sebastian vowed. "We're still on for the Sunday after next? Any other time in the meantime that I can entice you away from your busy workload?"

Sebastian wanted to go out again. Kurt blinked at him, knowing with a kiss like that it would be true, but he still hadn't been absolutely confident in that end until now. "Yea-h, ok. We'll discuss the next outing when you call."

"Perfect. Sweet dreams."

Kurt knew Sebastian was going to call and Kurt wouldn't be the one to break first and reach out like he had in the past when more than a few days went by. Sebastian called him the next evening, and didn't even give Kurt a chance to panic that this was more on his end than Sebastian's. He'd played that game before and hated it.

In fact, Kurt nearly didn't answer the call, not because he was playing a game, but because he was swamped and barely reached the phone before it switched over to voicemail. "You've reached Kurt Hummel."

"Hummel, huh? Learning new things about you all the time." Sebastian's smooth tone slid over Kurt's spine and made him sit up a little straighter. It wasn't the only thing that wanted to do so. He worked on calming himself back down, the memory of the kiss had lingered in his brain all night and day.

Kurt looked around himself and all the stuff he still had to do. He stepped over it and walked out of the room and closed the door. It would keep, this was more important just then. Sebastian didn't call him for a booty call though it was late enough to be one if it had been his intentions.

No, they just chatted on the phone for awhile and when they agreed to meet up for dinner tomorrow night, Kurt realized how late it was and that they'd been talking for 2 hours. "Oh, I have to go." His phone was nearly dead, it died so much faster with phone calls than anything else. He had to charge it tonight otherwise he'd be useless to Isabelle tomorrow.

In a lot of ways she was still his boss and he still fulfilled a lot of the same roles he used to. Now though she had another PA and she took them both around town as he had transitioned into a new role too. They were now both opening doors for the other and for her newest PA. He even had a part-time PA for himself too. She'd offered to get him one full time but he declined, he wasn't so busy yet that he couldn't keep track of his life himself but he was relying on the PA more and more to do different types of tasks for him.

He set a timer for a text for his PA to get in the morning rather than in the middle of his sleep. Kurt wasn't ever going to be one of those bosses who called for the impossible in the middle of the night. It was just a request to get an extra coffee in the morning as Kurt was sure he would be panicking after oversleeping after staying up so late with Sebastian. He should have worked on his project for another hour and then gone to bed. He didn't regret it though.

Talking with Sebastian had been fun and enlightening and he felt like a giddy teenager experience a crush for the first time all over again. He still wanted to protect himself from getting in too deep too quickly while at the same time, knowing hurt would be inevitable, why not enjoy it while it lasted without tainting it with what-if he had given it a real chance?

There was enough that could taint this relationship. He wasn't going to go into it doing so on purpose. He would try to tamp down on his insecurities and worries, he would let Sebastian show his true colors on his own. Kurt wouldn't wheedle them out of him and he would do his best to present his best and realest self too.

Kurt laid on his back, breathing heavily and sweat covered among other things. He looked over to Sebastian who was in a similar pose. Sebastian looked back to him and smiled, Kurt felt an answering one on his lips. This was a smile that for now was all for him.

"Now what?" Kurt asked with a small laugh.

"Shower together and then change the sheets?" Sebastian suggested, only good notes in his voice and Kurt nodded, exhausted but having enough energy to do that with Sebastian.

"Come on Bas." Kurt held out hand after he got to his feet, Sebastian was taking his time and was being a bit lazy in getting out of the bed even though it had been his suggestion, he was quite content where he was looking Kurt over. "I can guarantee you that you'll want to get in the shower as soon as you can."

Kurt's words had him scrambling to his feet and he took Kurt's hand, tugging him into the bathroom now. Kurt's laughter lingered long after they disappeared into the other room. It became a sound they became quite familiar with in those rooms as sex with Sebastian was not only hot and sexy and exhausting but also fun and they made each other laugh and just enjoyable. They spent a lot of time in the bedroom doing other things too, just enjoying each other's company.

Laughter quickly became associated with them and those rooms.

"We have a reunion coming up." Sebastian mentioned as he cooked one of his 'few' meals that he knew how to do well. Kurt had quickly learned that Sebastian loved being in the kitchen more than he did and so he let Sebastian take lead there. They often worked together to prepare a meal or coffee or whatever but today Sebastian had wanted to cook for Kurt and so Kurt dutifully sat on the side and watched Sebastian move around the space. And boy could he move.

"Hmm?" Kurt was distracted by Sebastian's hips as he danced to the song that was playing softly in the background. It was all very romantic and Kurt had found himself squashing a bad old habit of wondering what the other wanted to be pulling out all the stops. Sebastian didn't have to work that hard, he just asked or explained the situation and Kurt volunteered. This was a romantic setup just because Sebastian wanted it to be romantic, because romance was so easy between the two of them.

"I have an upcoming high school reunion."

"Oh, is that happening already?" Kurt tried to think about when his reunion last was. Was in already a year ago? Not that they partook in the typical high school reunions, it was always the "Glee Reunion" which happened every year. Finn suggested next time they actually go to the real high school reunion, it'll have been 15 years, surely by then everyone could get over their previous grievances. If nothing else, many of the Glee kids were ridiculously successful and could rub it into the others' faces, though perhaps when they had one of the Glee Jocks around if it were Kurt, Artie or Rachel doing it.

Sebastian laughed. "Yes, it's October, you don't have any shows to prepare for... would you be my date?"

"Didn't you go to a prep school?" Kurt spun in his stool idly, going back and forth as he thought about what Sebastian was asking him. He didn't always just agree, he'd learned that lesson a few different ways, mostly from Tiffany catching him when distracted and getting him to agree to the most awful or embarrassing things. She did it just to make a point. Kurt would have to send all her calls through his now full time PA. The PA could tell her whether or not he had availability and would always ask if it was something he wanted to do before telling her even that much.

"An all-boys boarding school, yes."

"They're not going to take kindly to you showing up with a boyfriend." Kurt pointed out, there was only one all-boys school he could see being accepting of that, but they'd hate it if Kurt showed up with anyone other than Blaine.

Sebastian turned on his puppy dog eyes. Kurt winced, that expression had soured in his mouth and usually Sebastian didn't do things like that. He must have really wanted Kurt to go if he was going that route. Usually he just asked and gave his two cents and let Kurt make a decision without feeling pressured into it. "Please Kurt?"

Kurt didn't know... "Is it really that important to you?" He feared the retaliation of two men showing up together in a town away from unnecessary distractions. It would only heighten their prejudices.

"It's in your old neck of the woods actually, I only went for 2 years and it took me awhile to realize you grew up not far from where I went to school. I didn't exactly venture out far from the school grounds, being a foreigner in a small minded state without a car and not knowing how to drive it even if I did... I want to show you off to all my friends. You're always so busy you've barely met any of them. I have kept in contact with a lot of the guys I met there."

Kurt paled though, not hearing all that Sebastian said. "Where exactly did you go to school?" Kurt wasn't sure if they ever talked about it. Sebastian usually talked about his schooling in France when he talked about school, or his university days. Kurt hadn't thought Sebastian had a good time at the school where he'd finished out his high school years. His parents had wanted him to graduate from a US school so it would be easier for him to get into a US college which would be easier for him to get a job anywhere in the world, including the US. It was harder getting a job in the US if you went to school somewhere else.

"Dalton Academy in Columbus." Sebastian said proudly and Kurt jumped to his feet so quickly that it concerned Sebastian instantly. "Kurt?"

"Damn it, I knew I recognized something in you!" Kurt put space between them. "I can't believe I fell for it a second time. Those smiles were just too familiar, too practiced, too much what I had tried so hard to avoid. You happy to have done me in? Is there a camera somewhere in here so you all can have a laugh at the reunion?"

"Kurt? What the hell are you talking about?" Sebastian tried to stay calm but he thought Kurt was losing it and was trying to cut it off from getting worse.

Kurt was on the verge of sobbing and tears stung at his eyes. "Were you in on it together? Had you two slept together and had a good laugh at the idiot boy that used to go there? Did you concoct it as a backup if I ever wised up and broke things off with him?"

"Babe, you're making no sense to me. Please come here and talk to me." Sebastian opened up his arms and gestured to the space just in front of him.

Kurt hesitated and Sebastian didn't falter. Kurt found himself taking steps closer, his own arms across his body, holding him together and keeping him warm and as a defense against further attack.

He did end up just in front of Sebastian and Sebastian's arms wrapped loosely around him. "Now... what happened? Why did what I say set you off?"

Kurt felt the sob bubble up inside of him and he snaked his arms around Sebastian and held himself tightly against Sebastian's chest. Something about Sebastian took the wind out of his sails and he found himself wanting to work it out and confide in Sebastian. He had overreacted, Sebastian had never mentioned Blaine or Dalton before. There was a high probability they'd never met, and less likely they'd slept together. How was that even possible though? They'd both been in Glee at the same time, while Kurt had been in Ohio too.

"You... were in Glee, right?" Kurt checked. "Both years?"

"Yes, but I didn't get any type of spotlight time until my senior year." Sebastian ran a hand up and down Kurt's back soothingly, worried about the tears he could hear in his boyfriend's voice. He'd heard pieces of Kurt's life prior to New York and it was mostly about his family and those that came to New York too and Mercedes in LA. Even the story of Kurt's time in NYC wasn't a complete picture, he knew Kurt kept things out of his stories. That there were glaringly big gaps which Sebastian easily filled in with a bad relationship or at the very minimum, a relationship that ended badly. Sebastian had never pushed, knowing that it was this relationship which had put Kurt on edge, had made it hard for him to completely open up and share all of himself. He was guarded and waited for the stick whenever he got the carrot.

Sebastian had seen ghosts of that relationship in Kurt's eyes and behavior and had worked hard to rid his boyfriend of them. He sometimes pointed it out gently, that Kurt was behaving that way and sometimes he just adjusted his own behavior to show Kurt that it wasn't going to happen. He wasn't the old boyfriend and maybe it was time to talk honestly and bluntly about him. If nothing else, then Sebastian could try avoiding stepping where he did. Maybe they could even work on having Kurt actively dealing with the issue if it cropped up rather than try to push it away.

They had been together long enough for them to start talking about their pasts in earnest. Kurt may not like to hear everything Sebastian had to say. Sebastian knew how Kurt felt about sleeping with people and both knew that Kurt knew that Sebastian hadn't had quite as spotless of a record as Kurt. Neither judged the other for it, it was just the way they had been before and in Kurt's case, something he hoped wouldn't change again. Sebastian was right there with him in that regard.

Sebastian dropped a kiss onto Kurt's head. "Babe, please talk to me." He reached for the switch to turn the stove off and moved the pan to a cold ring while he kept one arm tightly around Kurt.

"I went to Dalton too once upon a time." Kurt took a deep shuddering breath. "It was for part of my junior year. I had a bad situation that I was removed from. Once it was dealt with, I went back to McKinley."

"Oh. What is wrong with any of that? Did they not treat you ok at Dalton?" It was inconceivable to him that it would be the case. They'd taken him in so easily and readily and he never felt uncomfortable with them. They had helped ease his homesickness for the months he was unable to return home. "Was it too expensive and you ended up having to go back earlier than you're making it out and something bad happened at McKinley?"

"I fell in love with a boy at Dalton." Kurt answered a little unexpectedly blunt and it took Sebastian a moment to catch up. Kurt wasn't talking about him. They had yet to share I love yous in English though Sebastian had told him in multiple ways and often in French without Kurt catching on.

"Did that end badly?" Sebastian didn't let Kurt move too far away and Kurt gave a small shrug. "When did it end? I don't recall anyone at Dalton dating someone from another school in the vicinity."

"No, I was scratched from their records. They liked to say once a Warbler, always a Warbler, except when it came to someone who was only there for a few months and with them for two competitions." Kurt rolled his eyes. "I think they were angrier that McKinley beat us at Sectionals after we tied at Regionals and then went on to win Nationals that year and that I had transferred back in time to join them. It wasn't planned, no matter what they thought. I hadn't sabotaged their team. They just were never going to win Sectionals, even if I hadn't been there. In fact, I'm pretty sure that's the only reason they got second place, was because I sang a duet with Blaine."

Sebastian blinked. "You sang with Blaine? You sang at Sectionals as something other than a chorus or backup?"

"Uh... yeah?" Kurt leaned back to look up at Sebastian. "So you did know him."

"He was lead singer of the Warblers, yeah you could say I knew him." Sebastian shook his head. "That's an incredibly difficult feat, having a solo part while Blaine was there." Sebastian let Kurt go with one hand to run through his hair. "I was used to being background so when I was lead singer the next year I shared the spotlight. We got to Nationals for the first time in 5 years. We didn't win, but we got pretty close."

"Blaine didn't sing lead senior year?" Kurt frowned, Blaine had talked about nothing else but getting his team to Nationals.

"He did for Regionals and Sectionals but he lost his voice afterward and it was a long time before he got it back. He overused it." Sebastian gave a small shrug. "Happens when you don't use your diaphragm and instead just kind of shout from your throat the whole time."

"Thank you! No one else would consider that Blaine wasn't doing it the right way, Blaine could do no wrong in their eyes. Blaine had to be using his diaphragm to get those sounds and and breath control and..."

"And." Sebastian nodded, sliding the hand still around Kurt up his back further. "Yet you somehow got in there."

"Only because Blaine put me forward twice before they agreed."

"Blaine put you forward?"

"Why are you so- oh, I didn't explain." Kurt blushed a little. "The boy at Dalton I fell in love with? That was Blaine. We dated." He didn't expand into how long or anything else.

"Oh." Sebastian cleared his throat. "I can see now why you don't want to go to a Dalton reunion. He probably was terrible to you after you left to go back to your school, or was it when you guys got second place at Sectionals? When did you two break up?"

"Neither." Kurt moved forward into Sebastian's space a bit more and put both hands on Sebastian's chest. "I suppose you deserve the full story now."

Sebastian wasn't sure he liked hearing those words but allowed Kurt to pull him into the other room and down onto the couch. Kurt sat close but didn't do much touching, unsure if Sebastian would want it while he told his story. Sebastian for once didn't just automatically reassure him, as if he wasn't sure himself if he wanted Kurt to touch him after what he would hear about Kurt dating Blaine.

Then again, maybe Sebastian had more to add to the story too. Kurt didn't know everything that happened at Dalton after he left. Maybe Blaine's infidelity started earlier than he thought. Sebastian did know Blaine after all. Had Blaine been part of that history that was only nodded at but never fully shared? Or maybe he had insider knowledge that Kurt wouldn't like to hear but should probably do so anyway.

So Kurt shared his life from the beginning of Junior year onward. There had to be some context of what his life had been like and the mindset he'd been in when he'd entered Dalton's halls for the first time as a student and when he left for good. Then he glossed over the subsequent years until he ended his story at the conversation Sebastian had overheard with Tiffany.

Sebastian sat there the whole time, taking it all in. There had been very little emotion displayed on his face throughout the story. There had been hints of what was going on underneath the calm facade at certain highlights of Kurt's story. Then Sebastian was pulling Kurt into his arms and held him on his lap and against his chest and buried his face into Kurt's hair. There were little shudders coming from his boyfriend and deep intakes of breath.

"Bas?" Kurt asked gently, not wanting to break the embrace but it was kind of an uncomfortable position Sebastian had pulled him into, not caring at all about how it looked or whether or not it was a tangled mess. Sebastian had just needed Kurt in his arms. "Bas?" He tried again, softly, unsure if being any louder would break his boyfriend.

Sebastian said something in French but Kurt couldn't even begin to put it together. When Kurt asked him to repeat that in English, he thankfully did. "What a fucking nightmare of a place. We'll never have to go back to Ohio." Sebastian promised him, squeezing him tightly.

Kurt put his hands on Sebastian's arms and moved back a little. "Bas..." He shook his head, talking carefully and slowly, he cared a great deal about this man going to pieces around him because of what happened to him in the past. "That's where I was born and raised. I still have friends there, Finn and his wife and child. My parents go back for Christmas since Finn took over the house we all moved into when we became a blended family. Ohio isn't the problem, just certain people there."

"I can't believe they married each other!" Sebastian groaned. "You don't have to go with me to Dalton's reunion. It's fine, really, I don't mind going stag."

"Hey, stag implies you can pick someone up while there." Kurt teased. "You're definitely not available."

"No... I'm not." Sebastian grinned widely in agreement, feeling the same way. Then he sobered up a little. "So, Dalton?"

"Oh, I'm coming." Kurt agreed. "I want to see a few of the guys again. Were you close with any of the Warblers?"

"Yeah, Hunter and Thad were my best friends there." Sebastian shrugged. "I see Hunter occasionally and Thad calls me every week."

"Thad does? Really?" Kurt's eyes danced. "I didn't think he liked people. Or rather anyone that wasn't a girl or could get him connections to improve his status."

Sebastian grinned mischievously. "Well I mean, he had to like me after I saved him from going to jail."

"Now that is a story I need to hear." Kurt snuggled into Sebastian's embrace more to settle in and hear it.

After really boring speeches and an incredibly awkward video of the Glee kids through the years this class would have been at Dalton, they were free to mingle. He'd met Hunter at the table they shared and talked a little when they were released from pre-planned dinner arrangements. He'd seen Thad from across the room sitting with Jeff and Nick and those two had surprised him; all three of them actually.

Hunter and Thad were more than enthusiastic about him being with Sebastian. Nick and Jeff had been resigned and had given Kurt huge hugs when they finally got to talk. Kurt gave them a piece of his mind about the video and what it'd revealed and how they could have just talked to him and showed him the video in full at a different time or showed the authorities, it didn't have to be in front of everyone. They could have had overtones but kept it to something benefiting the entire class's reunion. They'd probably put a huge damper on the Dalton boys' and their spouses night who hadn't been part of the Warblers.

"They had to know too, it affected them as well!" Nick protested. "We showed something like it last year too." Nick was not going to be moved.

"And what happened then?" Kurt asked dryly, he hadn't heard about the video.

"Not much..." Jeff admitted ruefully. "It just gave them some gossip for the night, I suppose."

"Right and you think I wanted to be part of that gossip two years running?" Especially as it hadn't made a single difference in anything. It could have ruined his life some more without him knowing about it.

"We had to try. If for nothing else then to make it up to you." Nick claimed.

"It would have been the most beneficial 10 years ago." Kurt pointed out.

"We didn't realize we had all this video until last year." Nick said dejectedly. "We'd watched through the videos before on fast forward and stopping on certain parts that were funny but we hadn't put everything together until we were putting it together. We're sorry." They had been high school students, they hadn't the time to rewatch so much video feed on top of everything else.

Kurt sighed, their hearts were in the right place and he opened his arms up so they could hug him again. They bounced in and squeezed him tightly. "I'll give you my number so we can keep in touch. I didn't think you guys liked me at all."

"We're sorry, we were just – high school boys." Jeff had had a crush on him, explained why he hadn't talked to him as much. Nick was probably a little jealous of the crush and so hadn't breached the divide either.

"And you went back to your old school and we hadn't seen or heard from you in so long. Watching all that footage back, we realized why. We were such idiots."

"A bit like sheep too." Jeff added sadly. "They said jump and we asked how high. They said we aren't going to talk about Kurt anymore and we didn't."

"And going off on Blaine during dinner?" He hadn't missed that interaction. His eyes slid to Trent who had been the one shouting at him and had joined up with them as they chatted.

Trent looked a bit bashful. "He'd filled my heads with all these rumors about you, all these lies. Then he came back to Dalton after you two split for good and his side of the story was so believable. I'm sorry I ever listened to a word he said."

"Me too." Kurt agreed and Sebastian squeezed his waist. Sebastian was the only one who hadn't been poisoned against him in some way, he was grateful for that. The timing had been perfect to keep Sebastian unaware of him. It would have been a very different meeting in the grocery store had Sebastian known of him or known him before.

After clearing the air and splitting apart from them, Sebastian introduced him to some of his other classmates and they somehow moved over to the drinks table while chatting. Blaine and his husband turned from the side table and the smile he gave Kurt this time wasn't that charming Dalton smile. No this one was hideous and cruel.

"Ah the 2nd choices." Blaine greeted with a raised cup.

Kurt put a steadying hand on Sebastian's chest, he had this. "If you mean second choice in Glee- well we've seen that wasn't entirely true, was it? Sebastian rocked the house when he got a chance to shine. The entire Glee team wanted me when I was here but your family made sure that you were at the forefront, whether or not you deserved it. They were just honoring Anderson tradition, even Cooper belonged there more than you. Poor second son of a wealthy family... it's hard, isn't it? If you mean second choice for husband-" Kurt laughed. "You and Karofsky both settled for each other when I no longer wanted anything to do with either of you. Who's second choice after all?"

"Kurt-" Karofsky started, his voice lower than the rest and tried to be the reasonable one. "I had no idea Blaine did those things. I was not part of that."

"No, you just had to have something of me, so you took my leftovers." Kurt shook his head. "This is ending tonight. No more glares sent my way, no more making me feel uncomfortable in my own hometown or state. I have just as much of a right to be here as you. I didn't do anything wrong. I am also going to start coming around to Dalton more. I expect you to stop spreading lies and rumors and for my picture to be returned to the hall. It was my school once upon a time too."

"For like, three months." Blaine spat. "Then tried to poach me for McKinley."

Kurt rolled his eyes. "You might have won a Nationals trophy then but nobody would have paid for you to be lead vocalist there."

"I probably would have gotten it anyway."

"Maybe." Kurt didn't deny it, Rachel liked shiny new things that praised her. His gelled down helmet hair would have been exactly her preference for partnering. Rachel had always gotten what she'd wanted in Glee Club but no one else caved in to her. Tolerated her at best in some clubs.

"Moot point though, he's now dating an alumni, so he and I will be going down these halls together." Sebastian raised their linked hands.

Blaine's eyes narrowed and then the eyebrows cleared and he looked at Kurt with a cocky grin. "Speaking of leftovers-."

"Don't even try." Kurt said tiredly. "I trust Sebastian and I never really trusted you. He and I already know what happened while you two knew each other here and since. Which is a big fat nothing, because Sebastian never would have dated someone he went to school with. He preferred older guys anyway, ones that were more... mature... in all ways."

Blaine looked furious but Karofsky thankfully guided him away with one last toss over his shoulder. "I am sorry, Kurt."

"Why is he sorry about taking Blaine's side and not sorry for his own actions?" Sebastian questioned, Kurt had forgotten something in his story.

"He called me up last year and yelled at me about all the horrible things I did to Blaine over the years, as his husband, he had to protect his honor."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah... I thought it was nuts too so I hung up on him and changed my phone number. I didn't want either of them to be able to reach me again."

"Wise."

"Is it really selfish of me that I hope that's the end of my deja vu?" Kurt squeezed Sebastian's hand as he looked up to his boyfriend.

"Not all deja vu is bad." Sebastian teased. "Some deja vu is really, really good. You just have to focus on that."

"Like that kiss we shared in the shower before coming?" Kurt whispered and Sebastian's lips curled up on the side, remembering it as well. Kurt never again saw that patent Dalton smile on Sebastian's face, he was too busy giving real ones.

And Sebastian was right, some deja vu was really very good.