Throughout that night, even during the mind-blowing, body-numbing, best-sex-ever orgasm that Kurt gave him after their conversation once they'd both awakened with a need for each other, Blaine couldn't get the idea of circles and infinites out of his head. There was something so familiar to him about that language, that phrasing, as if he'd heard it somewhere before; he just couldn't place where. He continued to think about it the next morning as well as he packed up for the drive to the airport. The band had a short break now, and they were all flying back to LA for some well-earned R&R.
Kurt came out of the bathroom in a pair of black boxers, freshly showered, his hair still damp. He smiled at Blaine as he padded over to the bed, sitting down on the edge and reaching for his suitcase.
Blaine subconsciously licked his lips, his body definitely appreciating what he was seeing, if the instant stiffening of his cock was anything to go by.
Grinning, Kurt asked, "Can I help you?"
"You're just… I mean, I… Kurt, you're…"
"...wearing your boxers?" Kurt smirked. "Why, yes. Yes, I am."
Choking on his own breath, Blaine's eyes grew wide. "You're what?" he gasped out.
Nodding, Kurt whispered, "Is that okay?"
All Blaine could do was nod in return.
The room was quiet for a bit as the boys switched places, Blaine reluctantly heading for the bathroom as Kurt was hot in his boxers. Like, really hot. He didn't want to look away. It didn't matter, however, because the image of him so innocently standing there was burned in his mind. He definitely had to take care of himself in the shower.
When he came back out of the bathroom, momentarily sated yet still wanting more, Blaine found Kurt dressed and mostly packed, standing beside the bed with his phone in his hand. Blaine had a towel hung low on his hips, and he watched as Kurt's eyes travelled over his body appreciatively. He raised an eyebrow questioningly at Blaine, and all Blaine replied with was a smile. Well, it may have been more of a smirk than a smile, honestly.
"So…" Kurt said slowly, his eyes tracing the edge of the towel wrapped around Blaine's body, so tantalizingly close to that part of him. He had to stop himself from licking his lips. "Should I call my mom and have her pick me up at the airport? You did get my ticket to Columbus, right? Will you email me when we need to get back on the road?"
"I didn't get you a ticket to Columbus. I got you a ticket to LA."
"What? Why?"
"Because that's where we live?" Blaine replied casually as he let his towel slip gracefully to the floor. He didn't reach for his boxers right away, waiting instead for Kurt to reply. Or rather, not to reply because he didn't feel much like talking right then.
Kurt found he couldn't reply because he was too busy not being able to breathe as he was overwhelmed with the urge to touch Blaine. He suddenly wanted nothing more than to fall to his knees beside his soulmate, take him into his mouth, and give him the best blowjob of his life. And you know what? he thought. Why not? Life is too short not to give your soulmate a blowie before an indefinite period of separation. So, he did exactly what he wanted to do.
Without saying another word, Kurt crossed the room in a few long strides, falling to the floor beside Blaine, and running a hand up the back of his leg, over his firm, perfect ass, and up to the dimple at the top. His other hand came to stroke up Blaine's inner thigh and over his hip, dancing around his already hardening cock. Not that he was particularly soft when he dropped that towel, Kurt reminded himself.
He leaned in close to Blaine, letting his breath ghost across Blaine's cock, breathing in the scent that he could already read as pure, unadulterated Blaine, hungry and wanting for him, for Kurt, a fact that Kurt still couldn't quite wrap his head around. How could this beautiful, perfect man whom he'd swooned over in magazines want him? That didn't matter, however, because what was far more important was the tiny little whine and whimper coming out of Blaine's mouth.
"Kurt, I—I nee—Please…" Blaine could hear how desperate he sounded, how absolutely needy and wrecked he was after just a few gentle touches to his skin, but he didn't care. Kurt should know how much he wanted him, how much he needed him, how much his very presence assaulted his senses and made him feel like begging for touch and release.
"What was that?" Kurt asked, leaning in closer to press a kiss to the skin above Blaine's cock. "What do you need?" He was surprised at the seductive tone he was using, how he felt like he was in charge, leading their little dance as he waited to see how long he could tease his soulmate. He'd never done anything like this before, never been with anyone besides Blaine. Yet these words and actions seem to come naturally to him as if they were second nature, as normal as breathing.
"I-I nee—"" Now, he couldn't think because Kurt was kissing him, tiny little kisses around his cock and never on it. Kurt kissed his hips, down his thighs, and back up, narrowly missing his balls before brushing his lips just under his cock and all the way around, ignoring where Blaine was most eager for his soulmate's lips to be.
If he hadn't been so strung out with want and his blood was in his brain instead of his cock, Blaine probably would have been surprised by Kurt's flirty and seductive mannerisms. It was a new side of his soulmate he'd yet to encounter, and he definitely liked it. All he could think about was the perfect blowjob Kurt was teasing him with, and a small whine followed by a whimper escaped his lips again.
Kurt grinned. Something in his gut told him that's what he'd been waiting for, though he didn't feel like he'd actually known. Lifting his head to see Blaine's face—eyes closed, mouth open, gasping, muscles wavering on that line between too tense and relaxed, eyelids fluttering each time Kurt moved a hand or gave him another kiss—Kurt gently tapped his own lips. "Shhh," he breathed. "I know what you want." Then, with nothing further, he sunk down around Blaine's cock.
He discovered almost immediately as he bobbed down that there was no way he was going to be able to take his soulmate's entire cock into his mouth. He was a little over halfway, and already his gag reflex was starting to protest. So, he pushed himself to go just a bit further before coming back up and surging down again.
It was in that second or third swallow that Kurt remembered he'd never given a blowjob before. Everything he did with Blaine, sexually at least, was new for him. He'd done nearly nothing before meeting Blaine unless it was to himself, and Blaine was showing him just how many possibilities there were in the world of sex and intimacy. Their first time trying anything was always full of blushing and hesitancy, but they made it through together; Kurt felt immeasurably better knowing Blaine could and would guide him with any questions he had. They hadn't tried penetration yet. They were waiting. Not for anything special, however. Waiting just felt right. There had been many handjobs, tons of kisses, and ample doses of body exploration, and Blaine had even given him a few blowjobs before. Kurt had just never given one himself.
For a moment, he felt frozen, wondering what in the world he was doing down here on his knees in front of his soulmate. He'd just teased him as if he'd known what he was doing, yet he really didn't. He stopped, pulling off of Blaine completely, his mouth hovering just above Blaine's cock, not sure what to do next. Should I just stop, tell Blaine I don't know what I'm doing?
The thought took root for a few moments, and Kurt seriously considered getting up, apologizing profusely for not being able to follow through, and hoping that Blaine would forgive him. That seemed like the only logical thing to do, because he had no idea what he was doing. How was he supposed to make this feel good for Blaine, as amazing as the blowjobs he'd received had been? He was about to get up when a small sound cut through the fog of confusion and embarrassment, slicing at his heart and sending a jolt to his cock as well.
"Nnng... Kurt…"
Your soulmate needs you, Kurt's brain helpfully supplied to him. He is waiting for you to take control, to give him what he needs, what he's begging for.
That was all the encouragement Kurt needed. He could do this. He would do this. All he needed to do was try to remember some of the things Blaine had done to him—a challenging feat considering Kurt had been pretty lost to his own pleasure both times. Still, he would give it his most valiant effort. Blaine deserved this.
So, before he could change his mind or psych himself out again, Kurt took Blaine into his mouth once more, going down as far as he could manage. It seemed strange to have a tongue in his mouth and not use it, so he cupped the underside of Blaine's cock with his tongue as he trailed back up, a tooth grazing over the soft skin of Blaine's hard cock. That elicited a reaction—"Kuuurrrt!—and some panting, so Kurt repeated the process a few times, using his teeth intentionally.
It felt heavenly. Blaine was on the verge of tossing his head back, allowing himself to be completely open and relaxed for a few minutes. His brain told him that would be a better move if they were actually laying on the bed instead of standing beside it; he didn't care, though. Not really. This was… Kurt's mouth felt like nothing else he'd ever experienced before, and each time his lips enveloped Blaine's cock, he was overcome with a strong desire to cum. They'd just gone three rounds the night before. That was true. This was new, however. This was different. This felt better than anything else so far, and he had to struggle to keep from letting go, letting out small gasps and moans. The problem was that, with each sound, Kurt did more and more things that were making him feel like he was about to lose control.
Blaine is loving this, Kurt thought. With nearly every stroke, he was eliciting whimpers and whines of want that were sending jolt after jolt of electricity to his own cock. His body, which normally nestled tightly against his clothes anyway—in ways he loved to be sure—was now threatening to break out of his pants, almost painfully as it pressed and strained against the zipper, the angle changing with each move he made. He didn't stop.
Kurt loved the way Blaine's body was responding to him, could feel each move as he held onto him—one hand on a hip, one hugging Blaine's thigh just below his butt—a light layer of sweat glossing over Blaine's skin, a testament to the energy he was exerting to stay on his feet. He loved how, if he was a bit too slow with his next bob, Blaine's hips would stutter forward, seeking and searching for his mouth. He loved every noise Blaine made, how his name was a constant word on Blaine's lips, how it became more syllables than it had ever been in his life, how more often than not it became a wordless, nearly soundless moan. He loved how Blaine's head was now tossed back, letting his curls bounce and sway as Kurt worked his soulmate up. He loved how Blaine's hands had come to rest on his head, not forcing or urging Kurt forward, merely grounding himself in his soulmate. He loved the way Blaine tasted, all salt and sweat, the way he smelled of pure man, of purely Kurt's man as he moved closer and closer to the edge of his release.
After only a few more minutes, Blaine's hands weaved into his hair, gently tugging. He tried to say something, his words cut off by a moan in the back of his throat. He swallowed hard and tried again. "Ku-mmm-Kuu-nng-Kuuurr-Kuurrt?"
Kurt pulled off of Blaine's cock, sliding his tongue slowly over the head and through the slit, which was somehow still pooling with pre-cum. "Yes?" he asked, looking up at Blaine, delighted with the need and want beaming from his features like a lighthouse beacon.
"I-I-I'm gonna cum," Blaine stuttered, fighting to open his eyes. What Kurt had done just then with his tongue had been enough that he was already teetering on the edge, ready to explode. His body quivered slightly with the effort to ward off the impending orgasm as he tried to speak. "I di-didn't know if you w-were ready for tha-that."
"Ready for what?"
"To s-swa-swallow." Damn, I miss Kurt's mouth… Blaine thought as he stuttered.
"Oh." He wasn't ready. Not yet. So, instead of replying, he sank down on Blaine's cock once more, giving him three quick sucks before pulling off again and starting with his hand. The pumping was easy and apparently felt good after the blowjob. In a few moments, Blaine was arching up on his tiptoes, his breath becoming even more ragged, and his hand lacing tighter in Kurt's hair. It only took a few pumps after that, and Blaine was splashing Kurt's chest—and his last clean t-shirt—with his cum.
Kurt waited on the floor until he was sure Blaine was finished and stable enough that he wasn't going to fall. Then he stood, quickly removing the cum-soaked t-shirt. Really, he knew, they should get it into the wash ASAP so no stain formed. He didn't think there was time for that, though. They had flights to catch, after all.
When Blaine opened his eyes, it was to the sight of a half-naked Kurt with an enormous bulge in his pants and a bit of a deer-in-the-headlights look on his face. Immediately, Blaine crossed to his soulmate, pulling him tightly against his body and pressing his lips against Kurt's, taking the kiss deeper as he tasted the musky undertones of himself on Kurt's breath.
Feeling Blaine's lips on his, his firm body pressed against his, hitting his aching, hard cock in the most tantalizing way, Kurt melted into the kiss, the cum shirt falling to the floor as their tongues tangled and explored. After a while, Kurt felt Blaine's hands, which had been caressing the base of his neck, traveling down to his lower back, across to his hips, and finally around to the button of his pants.
Blaine pulled back for just a moment, an unspoken question in his eyes. When he got a nod, he returned his mouth to Kurt's, continuing their make-out session as he freed Kurt's erection and slid a hand over the silky-smooth skin, the guttural groan Kurt let out causing his own cock to stir again.
It wasn't often that Kurt cursed his sexual naivety and lack of experience, but this was one of those times. Blaine's hand felt amazing, far more wonderful than it should have. Kurt had been hard for so long, his cock aching as he spent time loving his soulmate, that the simple slide of Blaine's hand over his shaft—no lube needed—made him feel like he was going to cum right then and there. Blaine's fingertips felt like fire, the best kind of fire, and Kurt's body was ready to let go. He just didn't want to yet.
Reading his soulmate like a book, Blaine gave them just a bit more time before he moved his mouth from Kurt's and kissed across his cheek and down his neck, making an obvious trail as he went. He didn't take time to explore, lavish any extra attention on any of Kurt's body parts or his favorite patches of porcelain skin. Instead, he made a beeline for Kurt's cock, sensing that his soulmate needed release, and he needed it now. When he reached his destination, Blaine sank down, taking Kurt's cock all the way into his mouth. He sucked once, twice, then pulled back, almost completely off, before sliding down again. He sucked once more and was about to do it again when he felt Kurt's body stiffen under his hands. Then, hot cum shot into the back of his throat, and he swallowed it down. Every last drop.
"Well, that's not how I envisioned my morning going," Kurt said when he'd gained relative control of his brain again. "Not after last night."
Blaine rose from his spot on the floor, swiping the back of his hand across his swollen lips. "Well, I'm glad it happened like it did."
"Me, too." Kurt ran his eyes over his soulmate's naked body, taking a moment to memorize every curve, every swell of muscle. When his eyes reached Blaine's cock, they grew wide, surprised to find that Blaine was hard again. "Do you want me to…?" He whispered, gesturing vaguely in Blaine's direction.
"As much as I want to say yes, no. We've got a plane to catch soon, and we've got to get to the airport."
That reminded Kurt…"So, about my ticket. Can we get it changed to Columbus?"
"Why would we do that?" Blaine scrounged through his bag for a pair of underwear.
"Because that's where I live?"
Blaine shook his head. "No. Not any more."
"What do you mean?"
Dressed in only his underwear, Blaine dropped to one knee in front of his soulmate, took one of Kurt's hands in his, and looked into his eyes. He studied his face for a moment, reading every emotion that flickered in his bright blues. Blaine chuckled inwardly, happy to be giving his soulmate such a lovely shock. "Kurt Hummel, my most amazing bandmate, my soulmate, the man who knows me better than anyone else, will you…" He paused dramatically for a moment, enjoying the cinematic suspense. "...move in with me?"
For a moment, Kurt just blinked at him. Then, he stuttered out, "Are-are-are you sure, Blaine?"
He nodded confidently, not rising. "Of course, I'm sure!"
"We-we've only known one another for...not even three weeks yet! There are so many things that living together can reveal, and what if… What if we're not strong enough for that?"
In response, Blaine turned over Kurt's wrist to reveal his soulmark, bringing his own up to rest beside Kurt's. "These marks prove we're strong enough," he whispered, his voice deep.
Kurt stared at the marks, wondering, curious, scared yet relieved that Blaine didn't want to be apart as much as Kurt didn't want to leave him. The thought had been tumbling around in his head ever since they'd become certain of their soulmate status, despite Blaine's earlier suggestion that they should live together. He'd been sure they'd have to separate. Now… He looked down at his soulmate, who was still staring up at him with large, hopeful eyes. "Yeah. I'll move in with you," he finally breathed out, nodding.
Blaine leapt to his feet, pulling Kurt to him once more and kissing him deeply until they were both panting and needy again. Unfortunately, there wasn't time for that. They had a plane to catch, and they still needed to finish packing. And getting dressed.
"You know," Kurt said as he finished tying the cum shirt into a plastic bag, "we really do need to go to my mom's. As much as I'm sure you have very lovely stuff, I would like a few things of my own to have in our house." He smiled at Blaine, the warm, fuzzy feeling of saying "our house" washing over him.
"Should we switch our tickets to Ohio then?" Blaine asked. "We could spend a day or two with your mom and Kai, then head out to California until it's time to start touring again."
"Would that be okay?" Kurt asked hopefully. "I know that's not what you'd planned."
"Perfectly okay. You should have some of your stuff in our house, too. We'll make the change at the airport."
"Thanks," Kurt replied softly. How is Blaine so perfect? he wondered to himself. Grabbing his phone off of the bed, he checked the time. "Um, we need to hurry, though. The guys are planning to leave soon, and the car will take off without us."
Blaine saluted, and the two of them bustled into action.
The boys were able to catch an evening flight to Columbus, and on the way, Blaine fell asleep. His mind, despite not having thought about the words "circles" and "infinites" for hours, helpfully provided the words for him, causing him to have a full-fledged dream about his grandmother and a letter. It was odd, yet it felt strangely real, and when Kurt woke him up as they were beginning their descent, he couldn't shake the feeling that there were pieces of truth to what he'd dreamed about. So he texted his mother.
8:42 p.m., To Mom: Did Grandma Jan write me a note? Or write a possibly strange letter?
He didn't have to wait long for a reply.
8:44 p.m., To Blaine: Yeah. When she passed, she left you a note and me a nonsense letter. Why?
8:45 p.m., To Mom: Do you still have them? The note and the letter?
8:47 p.m., To Blaine: Yeah. In a file folder upstairs. Again, why?
8:47 p.m., To Mom: Can you scan them and email them to me? I just had a dream about them, and I want to read them.
8:49 p.m., To Blaine: Sure, hon. Give me a few days?
8:50 p.m., To Mom: That's fine. Kurt and I are going to Lima to pick up a few things. Maybe you could just give me the papers instead of scanning?
8:50 p.m., To Blaine: That works. I'm going to Pennsylvania in a few days for a brief vacation. I'll meet you somewhere and hand them off before I go.
8:52 p.m., To Mom: Thanks. Can't wait to see you again! And congrats on deciding to go to Pennsylvania! I don't think you'll regret it. Having my soulmate is so worth it.
8:54 p.m., To Blaine: I'm so glad you're happy, baby. Maybe I can be, too. Hugs and kisses from afar until I see you. Love you!
8:55 p.m., To Mom: Love you, too!
Their visit to Ohio was pleasant. Too short for both of them, but pleasant. They hung out with Elizabeth and Kai for a few days, Kurt packing a few boxes of stuff he wanted and more than a few suitcases of clothes that he "had to have."
Blaine tried to convince him they could purchase him a large, nice wardrobe in California, yet he just smiled in response when Kurt went off on a long monologue about how he needed the clothes he had now. Blaine wasn't going to touch the man's wardrobe with a 10-foot pole without permission, of course. If Kurt said they were important to him, then they were. No more questions asked.
When it was time to meet up with Bella, Blaine insisted he should go by himself. "You should really stay here and catch up with your mom. It might be awhile before you get to see her again, and separation is hard. I know from experience. Soak up the family time while you can."
"You don't want me to see your mom?" Kurt asked, confused.
"That's not it. It's just that we're not really gonna have any time to hang out. Mom's taking off on a trip, so we're just meeting up really quick. I won't be gone long, and you're not missing anything. Promise."
Something about it didn't feel quite right, like Blaine wasn't being completely honest or there was a piece of the puzzle missing. Kurt really wanted to stay and chat with his mom a bit, so he didn't say anything else. He just kissed his soulmate goodbye, watching as he walked out of the Hummel's front door.
Blaine met up with Bella at a quiet rest stop along the highway between Lima and Westerville. There were no other cars there, and the wind was blowing gently as the sun shone down. The rest stop was actually very nice; large trees framed the building, and there were park benches conveniently placed beneath them. The stop was far enough from the highway that the car noise was muted, and it was the perfect setting for the two of them to chat.
"Kurt didn't want to come along with you?" Bella asked curiously, looking over her son's shoulder as the two of them embraced after climbing out of their cars. "I was hoping he'd bring his photos of you along."
"I told him he should stay and soak up time with his mom since it might be awhile before we can get back to Ohio. Plus, I knew the two of us didn't have very long since you're heading off to Pennsylvania." He wriggled an eyebrow at his mother.
"I suppose that's true."
The pair made their way over to one of the park benches beneath a tall, full oak.
Once they were settled, Bella handed her son a manila envelope. "What do you want with this old stuff from Grandma Jan?"
"Something Kurt said," Blaine confessed. "The other night he wanted to talk about circles and infinites, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about those words since. I knew I'd heard them somewhere before, and it wasn't until I had a dream on the plane ride to Ohio that I knew where."
"Grandma's note?" Bella guessed. "I never read it, and I barely skimmed the letter. It's only a few pages. It doesn't really make any sense."
Blaine nodded. "The letter was in my dream, too, though I've never seen it. So, it must mean something."
Bella shrugged. "Probably. With you, dreams have always meant something."
"What do you mean?"
"You always just had dreams that somehow pertained to your life. When you were little, you told me all the time that you'd dreamed about singing on stage with a brown-haired boy. I used to think that you meant Eli. Until the first time I saw Kurt, that is. Now, I know it was him. You dreamed about your soulmate."
"Wow… I-I hadn't thought about that in…forever. I'd kinda forgotten. I remember that now that you've said something. And, I think you're right. It was Kurt…"
Bella reached out and squeezed his knee gently. "You and Kurt were destined from day one, and I think you'll find instances and evidence that you were created for one another for the rest of your lives."
"I hope so," Blaine breathed, suddenly feeling a little emotional as moments from his childhood dreams flashed through his head. "I love him so much, Mom. So much. I can't imagine life without him now."
"You don't have to," Bella assured him. "I know I don't have a soulmate to back up what I'm about to say, but I believe that soulmates are forever. Come what may in your lives, the two of you are stuck. Not in a bad way. I get the feeling that you want to be. And that means that you'll get through everything that comes up, even the bad and icky things you don't want to think about."
"Thanks," Blaine replied. "I should let you get on the road to Pennsylvania. You'll let me know what happens and how everything works out, right?"
"Of course," Bella reassured her son. "I won't leave you worrying and wondering."
"I really appreciate that."
They stood, hugging again and sending each other off with well-wishes and hopes for the near future.
Then Bella climbed into her car. Blaine stood outside of his car, waving and smiling until he could no longer see his mother or her vehicle.
Once he climbed into his car, Blaine cracked the envelope open, taking out the note he remembered getting shortly after his grandmother's funeral. In her shaky, loopy handwriting, it said,
"Blaine,
You are a special boy, picked for special things. You don't know it yet, but life is a series of circles and repetitions that only infinites will get to truly enjoy. I know you don't know what this means yet; there will come a day, though, when you will.
Love,
Grandma Jan"
Smiling to himself, Blaine tucked the note back into the envelope and put the whole packet into his carry-on. A plan was forming in his head, and he thought about it, grinning like a fool, the entire way back to the Hummel's.
Blaine's house was beautiful. Kurt was in love with it from the moment that he walked in the front door, and that was before Blaine gave him the full tour, showing him the oversized master bedroom that overlooked a small waterfall in the garden, the large master bath with the rain showerhead and misters on the walls, the spare room that doubled as an office, the guest room where Bella and Coop usually slept and would also now be offered to Elizabeth and Kai when they came to visit. Blaine showed him the modest kitchen, painted in pretty charcoal gray with gold accented handles on the cabinets and all stainless steel appliances. The living room had two overstuffed chairs, a large leather sectional facing a giant flat screen, and a cute mahogany bookcase and matching desk, completing the look.
If Kurt was being honest, the house was nothing like what he'd imagined Blaine's house would look like. He'd figured it would be stuffy and look like no one lived there, however, it actually was quite homey and "lived in." Sure, Kurt wanted to decorate and add his own flare to really make the place feel like theirs and not just Blaine's; that would come with time. For now, he was sure he could settle in there and feel at home in no time.
Their first night alone in the house was full of kisses, whispers, and making love, and they both slept like rocks when they finally fell asleep for the night, cuddled up together. The next morning, Blaine surprised Kurt with breakfast in bed, and they talked and giggled and shared Eskimo kisses as they enjoyed their chocolate chip pancakes with whipped topping and strawberries. Just as they were finishing up, Kurt's boxes of stuff arrived, as well as a few of the suitcases that he just couldn't bring on the plane ride. With one last kiss to the lips, Blaine swooped away the dishes, telling Kurt he was going to load the dishwasher and take a shower. "You can start unpacking if you want or just laze around. It's completely up to you. Just don't forget, if you do start to unpack, then put your things wherever you'd like. What's mine is yours now, and I want you to feel you can use this space, make it feel like home."
Kurt grinned at him appreciatively. "Thanks. You're the best." He blew Blaine another kiss as he walked away.
After Blaine's shower, Kurt expected that his soulmate would help him unpack, maybe get him a little distracted, and show him just how many places he could envision them "getting it on." That's not what Blaine did.
Instead, he walked over to where Kurt was unpacking his first suitcase, organizing his shirts by color, and pressed a kiss to his cheek. "I'm going to go to the library for a few minutes."
"Oh! That sounds nice. Want me to come?"
"No. You should stay here and keep unpacking. I won't be gone long. Promise."
Kurt nodded, feeling a bit sad. He couldn't say that he blamed his soulmate. After all, he wouldn't want to come home to a house full of boxes either. He vowed to do his best to get them all unpacked before Blaine got back. So he just nodded. "Oh. Okay. Well, have fun." He leaned over a box to press a kiss to Blaine's lips. Then, as he left, Kurt called after him, "I'll miss you!"
Blaine waved, not turning around. "Bye!"
"Bye," Kurt replied, his heart aching as he watched Blaine walk out the door. He wondered if this was a sign, an example of what it would always be like between them now that they were soulmates and living together. Was there something new that could happen between them to keep that spark alive? Because right now, it felt like the spark was gone. And they hadn't even been together for a full month. "Love you," Kurt mumbled under his breath, turning back to what he'd been doing with an ache in his chest.
The library was one of Blaine's favorite places to go when he couldn't be at home. It wasn't far from his house, the librarians there knew him well, and they always made sure he could get into the private study room without windows. It felt like a secret cave, like he was a superhero in his lair, just waiting for someone to need him again. He'd done some of his best writing for the album in that room, escaping from his house when the rest of his bandmates came over to write and all Eli wanted to do was flirt. He didn't need to escape Kurt. In fact, he felt bad for leaving him at home alone, unpacking. Still, he didn't want him to find out what was in the letter until Blaine had read it for himself. He really wanted to surprise his soulmate once again. It was so much fun to see the look of shock on Kurt's face when he presented him with something wonderful.
"Mr. Anderson," one librarian, a young woman named Marley, greeted him as he strode in. "Your usual room, I suppose?"
"As long as it's available. Please."
"Just a moment." She was back in a jiffy, and she led him—though he already knew the way—back to the small room. She unlocked the door for him and smiled as she held it open so he could enter. "I hope you can get a lot of work done," she told him.
"Thanks," he replied. "I shouldn't be long. I really want to get back home." An image of Kurt's smiling face popped up in his mind, and Blaine felt a twang of sadness in his heart. He missed that face, those hands, Kurt's eyes, his body. He wished he could be at home, helping his soulmate unpack and making memories they'd always remember. This was important, too, though. And he really, really wanted to surprise Kurt, so there was no way he could find out what he was up to. Blaine couldn't even show him the note and the letter he'd gotten from his mom or the surprise might be totally ruined. He just couldn't have that. So he scurried into the room, eager to get done reading the letter so he could go back home. He wanted nothing more than to pull Kurt into his arms, press kisses all over his perfect face, and tell him how much he loved him a million times. He wanted to make Kurt happy, he realized as he sat down in a chair. And he couldn't make him happy isolated in a library study room. He had to hurry.
Pulling out the pages from the manilla envelope, he read over the note one more time, smiling at the familiar words, still confused as to what it could mean. Then he grabbed the pages of the letter. His mother had been right. There were only a few pages, and the lines were typed so close together, it probably could have been a few more. By now, the paper was old and wrinkled in some places, yellowing. It looked like it had been tucked away for years, not really useful or meaningful to anyone. Still, he dived right in, eager to see what Grandma Jan had written there that had been so important, it had appeared in his dream.
Bella,
Have you ever been asleep, dreaming peacefully of nothing, only to come rudely into a well-lit dream and have it make no sense? Well, Liz—my best friend—and I recently had this happen. Only once, though. It's the only time we ever shared a dream that either of us can remember. Normally, I'd think my brain was just making up nonsense. Because my sweet grandbaby, Blaine, appeared, however, I think this is all worth noting, just like he said.
Last night started like any other. I was asleep next to Liz in our bed, and we were both sleeping peacefully. Suddenly, I awoke in a strange, gray place, and right next to me stood Liz, confusion all over her face. I knew immediately that I couldn't actually be "awake" because there was no place in our house that looked like this.
After taking in my immediate surroundings, I looked out further, and in the distance, I could see a tall podium with a man standing behind it. Like the rest of the place, the man was dressed in gray, and though I couldn't see his face, he seemed to have a friendly air about him. He raised a hand and beckoned us closer. Without even thinking, I grabbed Liz's hand and walked closer to him.
As we approached, I could see that he was smiling, and there was a golden band surrounding his entire body. My initial reaction had been fear. Walking closer, though, made all that fear and trepidation begin to melt away, and I squeezed Liz's hand in mine. I had a feeling deep in my gut that we were about to find out why we were here and who the man was.
"Welcome, Liz and Jan," the man greeted as we stepped closer. "Welcome to The Unknown. My name is Caphriel. There is no need to be afraid. You are safe here, and you will soon understand why you've been brought here."
"How do you know our names?" I asked.
"I know all that is required for meetings like this," Caphriel explained. "The All-Knowing tells me what I need to know."
"The All-Knowing?"
Caphriel didn't answer. Instead, he said, "Can I get you two lovely ladies a seat? All of this will be much easier to explain if you're sitting down." Out of nowhere, two plush armchairs appeared behind us. "Sit. Sit," he urged. "There is much to talk about."
So we sat, collapsing into the chairs behind us. Immediately, we were comfortable, as if someone had made the chairs specifically for us. Our old bones could relax, and Liz and I sank back into them with a sigh.
"Comfortable?"
We nodded.
"Wonderful. Let's begin. This…" He gestured around himself. "This is The Unknown, the place where soulmates pass through on their way to their next destination." He gestured toward a book on the stand in front of him. "This book is for the Infinite Soulmates. This place is where they go to choose their next life, the next adventure they want to go on to find one another. Their love is like a circle, never ending or starting over, simply merging into a new lifetime. Infinite Soulmates are rare, and it just so happens that your family has been blessed with one half of an amazing Infinite Soulmate pair."
I was confused. "Who? Bella? She doesn't want to find her soulmate." (Bless your heart, Bella. I know it always bothered you that your dad passed away shortly after getting me pregnant; you can't stop trying to find your true love, your soulmate, though, honey. I know I found my second chance in a person I never would have suspected.)
"No. Not Bella."
"Cooper?"
Caphriel shook his head at us. "No. Blaine."
I glanced over at Liz to see how she was taking the news and saw that she wore a soft smile on her face. I knew she had a tender spot in her heart for my little chubby, curly-haired grandson. At only two, he'd stolen her heart. (And it makes sense that Blaine will become something special. He has a light about him, a charm that I don't see in other young children. It isn't just an innate desire to be suave, either. It is a genuine gift.) Everything being revealed to me surprised me, at least at first.
I turned back to Caphriel. "So, what does that mean?"
"Blaine and his soulmate, Kurt, have lived several lives already, and as long as they want to continue, they'll live many more. Their lives have had an amazing impact on each world and timeline they've lived in, sometimes going so far as to change the entire course of human history. What they've been able to accomplish is breathtaking. Many of us here are impressed by them and completely invested in their love story continuing." He paused. "So, I'm sure you're wondering why I'm telling you all of this."
I nodded. "You woke us from a very peaceful sleep."
At that, Caphriel cracked a smile. "That I did," he confirmed. "As I'm sure you may have guessed, no pair of soulmates remembers their time spent here in The Unknown while they live their life on Earth. It's important that it stay this way to preserve the sacredness of the place and what goes on here. Knowing about one another before their time could ruin their story and actually prevent them from falling in love. So, we find ways to tell them after they've found one another.
"Occasionally, The All-Knowing makes a few exceptions, however temporary, though. So, in your case, Jan and Liz, you'll remember this for just a few hours after waking. Your job, while you remember, is to write down everything I told you here and preserve it for Blaine."
"Why?"
"In every lifetime, these boys face challenges. They're actively kept apart, have experienced hurt and trouble in their lives, and even after they find one another, they experience doubts and moments where they wonder if they've made the right choice." Caphriel paused, smiling softly, gazing fondly at something or someone in the distance. "The All-Knowing has a tender heart for the two of them and has decided that, in this lifetime, they should know, without a doubt, that they are soulmates, infinitely so. They should know that they're going round and round in a circle of love with no beginning and no ending, an eternal dance of finding and keeping one another if you will. It is The All-Knowing's desire that someone tell them who and what they are in this lifetime as they will be confused and unsure about the depth of their bond when they finally find each other. You, it would seem, have been tasked with this very important job."
I could feel somewhere deep in my chest that what he was saying was more than just important. It carried a load on it so heavy that to not do as I'd been asked would negatively impact more than just the life of my precious grandson. (Not that I'd planned to shirk my responsibilities anyway, mind you.) "I can do it," I said confidently, feeling Liz squeeze my hand tightly. "I will do it."
"Thank you, Jan."
Before I could ask him anything else, the gray expanse began to fade. Caphriel gave us another pleasant smile. "Don't forget to write it down," he reminded gently.
"I won't."
Then, the room was gone, and I was waking up in bed beside Liz. We gave each other a knowing look and jumped out of bed. Liz put on coffee, and I set up the typewriter. And here we are.
Blaine, you're only little right now. When you grow older, whether or not I'm there to see it, when you find Kurt, hold on to him tightly. Love him as he is meant to be loved. The two of you are something special, something incredibly special, and your love will continue to spin on and on in a wonderful, inspiring circle of holding one another close. So, my dear boy, never fear. Kurt is the one for you. He's always been the one for you, created from the beginning of time. Hold him close. Love him always.
Love,
Grandma Jan and Liz
Tears were running down Blaine's cheeks as he read through the document again. Was it true? How could it not be true? It did seem a little far-fetched, as his mother had implied, and yet…
It made sense. It all made so much sense. It made sense that they were something more than just soulmates. It certainly felt like they were more. There were things swimming under the surface with them, so big that their moms had picked up on their connection before they were even ready to come clean.
The whole thing was a lot to process on his own, and Blaine had the overwhelming urge to call Kurt and tell him what he knew. However, a desire to surprise Kurt, to do something meaningful and beautiful for him kept him from picking up his cell. So, he tried to process it as best as he could. He read the document again, the wheels in his head spinning with ideas.
While Kurt unpacked, he wondered what Blaine was doing. He'd been gone for quite a while, much longer than he'd thought his soulmate would be when he'd said, "I won't be gone long."
If he was being honest, Kurt felt a bit abandoned. He'd just arrived in California for the first time, had just been ushered around the house, had just been told to unpack wherever. Then he'd been left alone. Did Blaine not want him there? Was he not comfortable with him in his house? Had Kurt made a mistake by agreeing to move in with him?
He thought about it, trying to puzzle out his soulmate's motives as he unpacked his five suitcases, making space in Blaine's slightly messy closet and claiming two drawers in the dresser for himself. It wasn't quite enough room; somehow, he'd make it work. Especially if I might not be staying that long… he thought morosely.
Kurt put his favorite blanket on the bed, the one that made him feel like he was home anywhere he went. It was a soft blue and had been well-loved. It had been on his dad's bed until the day he'd passed away. Kurt also left his stuffed bear on the bed, the one with the gray plaid shirt, the heartbeat, and the recording that said, "Dad loves you, Kurtie." It always made him smile, and he rubbed a hand lovingly over it before he left the room.
Next, he went to the living room and unpacked a few books and other odds and ends. Then he wandered around for a bit, wondering when Blaine was coming home. Finally, he gave in and made himself a cup of hot tea from the kitchen, then sat down on the couch with one of his many lyric notebooks. It had been too long since he'd written, and he felt like he might have some words to say.
That's where Blaine found him when he got home. "Hey," he greeted, coming over to plop on the couch next to Kurt and press a kiss to his cheek. "Whatcha doin'?"
"Just working on some lyrics," Kurt murmured, finishing up a word before closing the notebook. "They're not ready to show anyone yet." He wondered if he looked as melancholy as he felt. Glancing down at Blaine's hands folded in his lap, he realized that he really just wanted Blaine to hold him and tell him everything was right between them. "How was the library? You were gone a while."
"Yeah. Sorry about that. I got caught up in what I was reading and lost track of time."
"Good book?"
"The best."
Kurt waited to see if Blaine would elaborate. He didn't. Instead, he just cuddled closer to Kurt, resting his head on his shoulder and nuzzling his nose into Kurt's neck for a moment. The feeling of his soulmate's solid, warm presence helped a bit of Kurt's fear and anxiety to melt away. Just not quite all of it. It still niggled at the back of his mind, making him wonder what Blaine had been doing at the library and why he wouldn't tell him about it. Maybe that's just his life in California? he wondered. Something about it just didn't feel right, though.
"Chinese for dinner?" Blaine asked, interrupting Kurt's thoughts. "I know this great takeout place, and there are a few cool things I could show you along the way. You wanna go?" His eyes were bright, and he wore that signature wide, excited smile on his face.
"Sure," Kurt replied softly, smiling back. "Sounds yummy."
Blaine responded with a small whoop, leaning in and putting a hand on each of Kurt's cheeks, framing his face. He looked deeply into Kurt's eyes as if he were looking for something or reading something unspoken there. Kurt didn't know which. Then he whispered, "I love you. So very much."
"I love you, too," he answered back, just as softly.
Blaine pressed a gentle kiss against Kurt's lips, holding them there for a few beats longer than Kurt would have thought. There was something there in that moment that passed between them, a feeling almost yet something else, too, that neither of them could name. It felt intimate and sacred, something for just the two of them. They both pulled back with a tiny gasp, staring at each other for a moment. Had the other felt it, too?
"Ready?" Blaine asked, a tiny smile playing at the edges of his mouth.
Kurt nodded, rising and following his soulmate out to Blaine's car. It relieved him that Blaine didn't seem to act any differently following his secret library rendezvous. Maybe it was really no big deal. As long as it doesn't happen again, he thought to himself.
It happened again. Twice more. And each time it happened, Kurt worked on his lyrics. As he wrote, he realized his words were more and more a plea for his soulmate to come home and love him, to stop keeping secrets, and less just lyrics that were coming to his head.
Kurt knew he should say something. If he didn't, how would Blaine know his actions were bothering him? Sure, he could hope that Blaine could read it on his face or in his body language; that wasn't entirely fair, though. The man wasn't a mind reader. Still, Kurt was nervous to say anything. It would be their first big disagreement in the six weeks they'd been together, and even more… What if he found out something he didn't want to know?
He was kidding himself, he'd realized during Blaine's second "library" trip, if he thought he knew anything about what it was like to live in Hollywood—because that's basically where they were—or what the expectations and pressures were like there. Maybe it was expected that Blaine be seen out and about without him. Maybe he was fulfilling contractual obligations that Kurt wasn't privy to. Maybe he was…
Kurt couldn't let himself think like that, yet he had to admit that he was out of his element. It made him nervous and quiet, even when Blaine was home and they were spending time together. His only outlet for his feelings was to write the lyrics, and when he finished those, he turned to arranging the song. It was bringing him comfort, yet it also made him sad. He'd never imagined, after the whirlwind romance he and Blaine had shared on the first leg of the tour, that he'd be sitting alone in his soulmate's house, writing about how he didn't want to be alone. And yet, there he was.
When Blaine came home from his third outing to the library, there was a skip in his step. Today was the day he was going to surprise Kurt with what he'd learned. He hoped—No. Scratch that. He knew Kurt was going to find it all as exciting and mystical as he did. Definitely romantic. Maybe even a little hot. So, it confused him when he walked in the front door and heard Kurt in the living room with his guitar, singing a song he didn't recognize and fighting back tears that were clearly evident in his voice.
"Don't make me close one more door
I don't wanna hurt anymore
Stay in my arms if you dare
Or must I imagine you there
Don't walk away from me
I have nothing, nothing, nothing"
There was pain in Kurt's voice. Blaine could read that much. It came out clearly all the way across the house, and Blaine's stomach dropped, slamming into the floor. Something was wrong. Something was very, very wrong. He needed to see Kurt.
"Don't make me close one more door
I don't wanna hurt anymore
Stay in my arms if you dare
Or must I imagine you there
Don't walk away from me, no
Don't walk away from me"
Walking as quietly as he could, Blaine tiptoed across the floor, around the dining room table, and to the small wall that helped mark the boundaries of the rooms in this very wide-open floor plan. Kurt's back was turned toward the front door, and he was playing as if no one was watching. It tore Blaine's heart out to hear how much sadness rang out with each note. Still, Kurt's voice was mesmerizing, and Blaine waited for him to finish up, sensing that this was somehow cathartic for his soulmate.
"Don't you dare walk away from me
I have nothing, nothing, nothing
If I don't have you, you, you, you
If I don't have you, oh oh"
For a moment, after the end of the song, there was silence, a moment frozen in time. Kurt didn't move to set his guitar down or pick up the sheet music from the couch cushion. He stayed completely motionless, save for the soft movements of his shoulders as he continued to cry.
Blaine didn't move either. A part of him wanted to run to Kurt, grab him up in his arms, and shield him from the world. Another part of him told him that he didn't know what was going on yet, and to go charging in would be reckless. It was hard, but Blaine listened to that part of him that said to stay calm and go slow. After a few moments, he cautiously took a step closer to the couch, calling softly, "Kurt?"
Despite how quiet the call had been, Kurt jumped, whipping his head around to face Blaine. A moment of shock and concern swept over his red face, and the emotions didn't stay long. The sadness returned a moment later, settling into his red-rimmed eyes again. He turned back to his sheet music, gathering it up. "Hi," was all he said, his tone flat and despondent.
Taking that as an invitation to come closer, Blaine rounded the wall and came to sit on the couch beside Kurt. He was close enough to touch him, to reach out and pull him into that hug he longed to give him. He didn't, though. It seemed like Kurt might need some space. Still, not touching him was hard, and Blaine's hand hovered over his soulmate's upper back. "What's wrong?" he breathed.
Kurt let out a sigh. He wanted to say, "Nothing." Or, "Don't worry about it." Those were lies, though, and he wouldn't do that to his soulmate. So, instead, he shrugged, trying to get himself out of that place where it felt like if he opened his mouth, he'd sob instead of speak.
"I know it's not nothing," Blaine said gently. "Take your time, though. I'm not going anywhere."
That simple sentence sent Kurt into another round of crying, and he hung his head, not sure what else to do. Tears dripped down his nose and off of his chin, splashing onto the guitar still cradled in his arms. His sheet music lay beside him, forgotten.
With sure fingers, Blaine undid one end of the strap that secured the guitar to Kurt's body, and he pulled it away, setting it aside. He reached around Kurt and picked up the sheet music, setting it aside as well without even looking at it. Then, against the little voice screaming at him, Blaine pulled Kurt into his side, a protective yet comforting arm coming around him. He didn't know what was going on, and he was trying not to dwell on that fact. Kurt would tell him when he was ready.
At first, Kurt wanted to resist. He didn't want to be cuddled against Blaine when he was mad at him, when the man had broken his heart, abandoned him with no explanation, and left him to fend for himself in a house in an unfamiliar state. Just as quickly as those thoughts filled his head, an even bigger thought replaced them: That's not fair to him.
That was true. It wasn't entirely fair. Kurt hadn't talked to him about how hurt he'd been feeling, about his concerns. He hadn't breathed a word, hoping to just survive it, that maybe Blaine would stop going to the library and things would get better. And while he was allowed to feel mad, sad, and abandoned, he knew he couldn't overreact and shun Blaine when he was trying to comfort him through his tears. Especially not when Kurt felt a little niggle at the back of his head, reminding him of something he'd thought about before: I don't think he did it on purpose. Blaine wasn't the kind to do something intentional that he knew was hurting someone else. Kurt had to give him that. He'd seen it time and time again on tour with their bandmates.
So Kurt let himself be pulled into the warm, comforting side of his soulmate, burying his face in Blaine's belly as he continued to cry. He wished his nose wasn't running so he could breathe in his soulmate's perfect scent. He knew that would have made him feel better.
Once his tears seemed to dry up and he was just sniffling, Kurt moved so he could look into Blaine's eyes. "I know this might seem silly..." he said. "I need you to stop going to the library alone. At least for a little while."
Blaine nodded slowly, searching for a deeper meaning to the statement. "I will," he reassured him softly. "Today was my last day, anyway."
"And-and I don't want to sound controlling or anything," Kurt went on. "I think I just need you to stay home for a while. Or take me with you when you leave. Because…" He trailed off as he felt tears threatening again. He desperately tried to push them back, needing to get the next words out. They were so important.
Moving his free hand down to take one of Kurt's in his, Blaine squeezed it tight. "I'm here, Kurt. You're not going to push me away, no matter how long or difficult this conversation is. I'm listening. Tell me when you're ready."
Kurt nodded against Blaine's side, taking a few deep breaths and swallowing before he finally said, "I don't know how this lifestyle works, being famous and living so close to Hollywood. I don't know what's expected of us, of you. When you left me like that... I felt—" He swallowed again, forcing the word out around the lump in his throat. "Abandoned."
"Oh, Kurt…"
"I felt like maybe you didn't want me here, didn't want me moving into your house. At first, I was worried that I wasn't enough for you, that you were running off to someone else." Finally, he worked up enough courage to glance up at his soulmate's face, finding his eyes brimming with unshed tears, his lower lip trembling ever so slightly.
"Kurt, I would never… I could never… I wouldn't…" The tears were tumbling out now, rolling down Blaine's cheeks in huge, hot drops, and his eyes were stinging so badly he had to close them tightly. "I would never cheat on you," he said finally, voice tiny and hurt. "And I definitely want you here. I've never been happier to come home than I am walking in, seeing you sitting on the couch or in the kitchen. I love having you here. From now on, I'm going to prove that to you, no matter what it takes."
At that, Kurt snuggled in closer, hoping that would give Blaine a sign that he believed him as well as bring him some comfort. "Why did you go then?" he asked, still needing answers. "Didn't you want to stay here and help me unpack, make this house our home, not just yours?"
Pulling a hand away for just a moment, Blaine swiped the back of it across his face. "I guess I was just distracted," he admitted quietly. "I had just found out something, and I was too focused on it to think about what you would feel."
Concern immediately swept over Kurt's face. "Are you okay?" he asked. "Are you sick? Have you actually been going to the hospital all this time?"
"No. No." Blaine chuckled dryly. "I wanted to surprise you, and this was definitely not how I thought this was going to happen. I guess you should know now, though…"
"Know what?"
"Hold on. I have to grab something I left on the kitchen counter. I'll be right back." Blaine slowly extracted himself from Kurt, hurrying back from the kitchen as quickly as he could. He plopped down on the couch and thrust a small box toward Kurt. "Here. Open it. I had a song and big fanfare planned, too; I think we both need this more right now. Something quiet and intimate."
Kurt looked at his soulmate with confusion before glancing back down at the box in his hand. "Are you sure?" he asked softly.
"Please. Open it."
So Kurt did. Inside was a simple silver band with an infinity symbol etched into the top. Kurt's breath caught as he stared at the ring for a moment, then looked back up at Blaine. "Is this…?"
"No. I'm not proposing. Not yet. I want to, but not yet. This is… Well, it's a promise ring."
Kurt frowned. "A promise ring? But what are you promising?"
Instead of answering directly, Blaine asked, "Do you remember that night you told me about circles, how our love was like that, no beginning or end? How it was infinite?"
"Yeah," Kurt said, nodding.
"Well, for some reason, I couldn't get that idea out of my head. It sounded familiar, like I'd heard it somewhere before; I just couldn't place it. Then, on the plane to Ohio, I had a dream about my grandmother, the one who gave me the money to start Warbler Attack when she passed. So, I texted my mom for more information. That's why we had to meet. Mom gave me this letter, and now, everything makes sense."
"Letter? What letter?"
In response, from behind his back, Blaine produced the manila envelope his mother had given him, pulling out the packet of pages. "Let me read you a story."
When he was finished, Kurt still wasn't sure that he understood completely. Maybe he was tired. Maybe he was relieved that all his hurt and anguish were out in the open. Maybe he was just glad to have Blaine home again. Regardless of what it was, he couldn't wrap his head around everything they'd just read. He asked, "What does all of that mean?"
"It means that the dream we had—the one with all the posters and the movie theater—was showing us our previous lives, Kurt. It means that we are infinitely tied, destined to find each other and fall in love over and over again."
"And… You're sure we can trust your grandmother's account? You don't think it was just a dream she had?" He knew it sounded mean; he had to be sure before he could let his heart believe in something so big and life-changing, though. He wanted to be tied to Blaine forever, and the fear of all of this being an elaborate prank filled him with anxiety.
Blaine nodded. "Grandma Jan was a little eccentric, yet I never knew her to lie. She told everything as she saw it. Mom thought the dream and her letter were odd, maybe a side-effect of a medication she was on, so she thought nothing of it. Considering our shared dream and my dream about Grandma's letter I'd never read, I'm inclined to think it's all real. And," he swallowed hard, taking both of Kurt's hands in his, watching as the ring box landed gently in Kurt's lap, "it explains so much of what I feel about you."
"Wha-what you feel about me?"
"How much I love you, how I feel like we must have met before because we were in sync from the moment we locked eyes in the bathroom, how you feel like coming home every time I see you, not like someone I'm trying to get to know." He paused. "Kurt, it's all so cliché. I don't have any new words or phrases to say what's on my heart. It just… It just is, and I hope you know I mean every word sincerely. It seemed like you were my best friend from that very first moment, like we were made to fit together, and every moment we spend with one another solidifies that feeling for me. We're perfect for each other, and I love you more today than I ever thought I could love another person. Each day it grows, and that should scare me, yet… It doesn't."
"I know," Kurt breathed. "I know. I feel the same way."
"So, you'll wear my ring?" Blaine asked hopefully. "My promise of eternity? Infinity? I want to get married someday. Of course, I do. And I will propose to you. We just need a little more time to learn and love first. Not that we don't love each other now. We do. We just haven't been together long. We need to get to know one another better, just like any couple. Even though we're not like any other couple. We're just us. So, if you'll just-" He was rambling, and he didn't know where to stop.
Thankfully, Kurt did. He surged up from the spot he'd been occupying against Blaine's side to claim his lips in his in a kiss full of passion, heat, and love that had been growing and flaming for eternity. "I'll wear it," he whispered when they pulled back. "Happily."
Taking the ring from the box, Blaine carefully slipped it onto Kurt's right ring finger, grinning at the way the light glinted off of it, reflecting his soulmate's smiling face back at him. That was all he'd ever wanted to see.
They read Jan's letter again together, digesting each piece of information and wondering what it could all mean for them in that life and whatever came after. Blaine told Kurt about his suspicion that Jan and Liz had been lovers, that his grandmother had been bi. They agreed that seemed like the most likely possibility and decided to ask Bella about it the next time they had a few minutes.
After a while, feeling content in themselves and who they were together, Kurt said, "You know, you don't have to surprise me all the time. Sometimes, we can share discoveries like this together. I enjoy a few surprises here and there; don't get me wrong. Mostly, I just like spending time with you, chatting and planning for our future and just being." He looked up at Blaine's face, hoping not to read disappointment or sadness there.
Blaine said nothing for a moment, trying to find the best words to say what was on his mind. "I once read a theory about how people say 'I love you' in different ways, how they feel loved in different ways. I didn't really give the theory too much credit because I didn't really have anything to compare it to. I thought everyone was mostly the same. I've always loved surprises. And this." He held up their joined hands. "Touch. So, I guess I just assumed that you would be like that, too. Now, though, I'm thinking that maybe there was something to that."
"I think so," Kurt agreed. "I see it in my mom and Kai. Mom loves getting compliments, and Kai prefers just to sit and soak up time together. It makes sense that everyone would have their own little thing that makes them feel like they're loved and taken care of. Kinda like their own little song and dance that they do with their partner. Unique only to them."
"I like that," Blaine mused. "Our own little song and dance." He smiled at Kurt. "I'll try to keep in mind that you just like to spend time with me. And speaking of song…" He grabbed up Kurt's sheet music that he'd moved earlier in the afternoon, bringing it in front of them. "Tell me about this."
Kurt blushed. "Oh, it's nothing. Just a little something I wrote when I was feeling lonely."
Pressing a kiss to Kurt's temple, Blaine said, "I'm sorry I made you feel so lonely. I promise to be more honest and transparent with what I'm doing. Fewer surprises."
"I love you," Kurt answered. "So much."
"Love you, too. And, your song isn't nothing. It's amazing. Powerful." He thumbed through the sheets, stopping to hum a few runs and read some of the lyrics aloud. "This is amazing, Kurt. How would you feel about including it on our next record?"
"Really?" Kurt was surprised, though he really didn't know why. This was so like his soulmate, always doing his best to build him and his work up. "You think the other guys would go for it?"
"I don't see why not. The song is wonderful."
"I-I guess we can ask them?" Kurt replied. "I mean, if they don't like it, that's okay, too. We-we don't-"
It was Blaine's turn to stop him with a gentle kiss. "We'll show it to them and see what they say," he whispered against Kurt's lips when he'd pulled away the tiniest bit.
"Okay," Kurt whispered back, tugging Blaine back into their next by the collar of his shirt. He needed to feel that connection once again, like they were truly one, living out their eternity together. His new ring rubbed against his middle finger as he moved his hands to lace them behind Blaine's neck. Blaine had promised that he would be the one to propose. Kurt thought it might be time for him to give his soulmate a surprise of his own, however. We'll just see who proposes to who, he thought as they kissed. I might have to beat him to the punch.
