The morning of the funeral, Kurt hears Blaine leave the bed at four. He lets him go, knowing he will work out hard and then sit in his office, alone, until he feels ready to face the world.

He emerges when Kurt is having breakfast. Still in his workout clothes, he strides toward the kitchen, ruffling Kurt's hair in greeting as he passes.

"Good morning," Kurt calls after him. "Sleep well?"

"What do you think?"

Kurt simply rolls his eyes, and pours more coffee while he waits for Blaine to yell at him again. There is no staff today, and it had been Kurt who had given them the day off, knowing that Blaine would not be pleasant to be around.

"Where the fuck is my food? Where's Carla and Rosa?"

"They're not here today."

"It's a funeral," he barks, slamming cupboard doors open and closed. "Not a goddamn public holiday."

"I'll make you some toast if you want."

"No, I do not want."

So Kurt sits tight, and reads the paper. He checks Blaine's column, touched to see yet another mention of the imminent Off-Broadway show that he's not allowed to talk about but which he knows will be awesome. It's the second time he's teased his readers about it, driving interest, so that when the show details are released, people will already be waiting to see it.

"It's so cute that you write about me," he calls.

"That's not about you. That's about someone else."

"Sure."

"I never write about you. You told me not to."

"Ha! Whatever. You're gonna review the show though, when it opens, right?"

"Nope."

He strides back into the room, setting a plate of blueberry pancakes on the table. "Yes, I made them, they probably taste awful but just eat them please, feign excitement."

"I've already had granola and fruit."

"Like I care. Eat them."

But Kurt doesn't need to feign excitement. The pancakes are surprisingly good, and though he protests, Blaine is secretly very pleased with himself and his culinary skills. "My brother taught me to make them."

"Were you two close, growing up?"

"Inseparable. I mean, he's six years older, but he never minded me tagging along. Yeah. He was... We were..." He stops abruptly. "I don't want to talk about it anymore."

"Okay."

"Stop being nice to me."

"Fine."

"And stop smiling!"

"I can't help it!" Kurt gives in, laughing loudly. "I think your little temper tantrums are hilarious."

"Ugh." Blaine stands, pushing back his chair angrily. He walks around the other side of the table, leans down, and kisses Kurt over and over until Kurt pulls him down into his lap and opens his mouth wider under his touch. His hands move to the back of his shorts, skimming over the swell of his ass as Blaine trails kisses down his neck. "We need to get ready."

"I know we do. But making out with you is something I can never refuse."

Momentarily satisfied, Blaine kisses under his jaw, then his cheek. "I love you, Kurt."

"Blaine, we need to get dressed!"

"I'm going to make out with you some more. Just to annoy you."

"You annoy me enough just by existing," Kurt teases. Tapping his thighs, he signals to Blaine to stand. "Come on. Let's get this over and done with and then you can stop being grumpy."

"That'll never happen."

"True, but at least we can move on."

The church is packed, and Blaine immediately reaches for Kurt's hand, gripping it tightly. People turn their heads to stare at the son who's been absent for so many years, openly discussing him and of course, who he is with.

"It's like being at a fucking republican convention," Kurt mutters.

"Did you just curse in a church?" Blaine asks in surprise.

"Yeah."

They catch each others eye and laugh, which of course only serves to add even more fuel to the gossip fire. They take their seats and are immediately set upon by an undertaker. "Excuse me sir, Mrs Anderson asked me to let you know there is seating for your...friend...at the back."

"Oh, he couldn't make it," Blaine says, flashing a smug grin. "But thanks."

"No sir, I mean for this gentleman here."

Suddenly, Cooper appears. "Kurt will be sitting with the family," he says, quietly.

"But Mrs Anderson said..."

"I'll deal with any fallout." His voice is firm, and very much like his brother's as his stern gaze follows the man to the back of the church.

"Thanks," Blaine begrudgingly mutters before the organ music starts.

Mrs Anderson doesn't glance their way as she takes her seat; in fact, she doesn't acknowledge them after the service either, or when they're back at the house for the wake. If Blaine is bothered, he doesn't let it show.

Cooper comes over to them though, with his wife, plus Lucy and a boy whom Kurt assumes is Brandon. "Blaine, you know Lucy. This is Brandon, and you've met Tammy before. And everyone, this is Kurt."

The boy, tall, awkward, and gangly, suddenly throws his arms around Blaine in a big hug and Blaine just stands there, not sure what to do.

"Don't touch me a whole lot," he complains. "I don't really..."

"Blaine," Kurt hisses. "Hug the boy. Hug him."

"Oh, fine." He pats him awkwardly on the shoulders, and then suddenly Lucy is upon him too. "Oh for... I hate hugs."

But Kurt, and Cooper, can both tell it's an utter lie, because for just a moment, he hugs them both hard, squeezing his eyes shut and when he steps back, he's blinking hard.

"I just wanted to say...about the will... Ignore what dad had written." Cooper clears his throat and stares hard at the floor. "It's your money, he gave it to you, and you need to spend it on whatever you want. He shouldn't have said all that stuff."

Blaine nods, finishes his drink and looks his brother in the eye. "Thank you," he says sincerely. "That means a lot. I'll see you tomorrow for brunch."

They are silent for most of the journey home, but there doesn't seem to be anything that needs to be said. After a time, Blaine lets go of Kurt's hand, and rests his head onto his shoulder, one arm across his waist and there he stays, perfectly content, until the car comes to a stop outside their building.

"There's a show on tonight. I wasn't going to go, but actually, I think I will. It's been awhile since I've reviewed anything. Will you come?"

"Sure."

"Can I be really old and take a nap right now?"

Kurt smiles, kissing his cheek. "Of course you can."

"Kurt? Just so you know, I don't think I'll see my mom again, really. I don't think I want to. Maybe if she's sick...I don't know. But for now, I think I just want to walk away."

"Then that's what we'll do. She doesn't seem to have anything to say to you anyway. But it might be nice to try a little with Cooper, if you feel able."

"Yeah." He gives a nod, pausing as he opens the bedroom door. "I think I can do that."

The next morning, Blaine is dressed and ready in his suit. Kurt knows it's a sure sign he's nervous about the brunch, but it actually goes surprisingly well. Brandon and Lucy drive the conversation, mainly, but that's okay. Blaine even offers to sort an internship for Lucy at the New York News. The only truly awkward moment comes when Brandon invites Blaine and Kurt to a Giants game with him and Cooper, and Blaine stiffens and says he doesn't follow football.

"Why not?" Cooper asks in confusion. "You always did."

"I don't anymore."

"Because you're gay?"

"No! Because it was the biggest and best thing that you, me and dad shared, and when you cut me out it hurt to even read about a game, much less watch it on TV or in person, that's why. Being gay isn't something that happened overnight, Cooper. I was always gay, it's just that I chose to tell you in the mistaken belief that it's better to be honest with those you love."

"I didn't know," Cooper says quietly. "About the football, I mean."

"Whatever. Kurt's dad likes football. If I ever go to a game again, I'll go with him."

"Maybe we could all go?" Kurt asks. He almost cowers under the withering glare both Blaine and Cooper give him, but the happiness on Brandon's face makes up for it. "Dad visits quite often. I'm sure we can arrange something."

"Tell us about your play," Tammy suggests, mercifully changing the subject. "I'm really intrigued."

Everyone parts on good terms, and though Kurt knows it will be him and Tammy who drive Cooper and Blaine to keep in contact, he feels far more hopeful than he ever did, that there will be some kind of relationship between the two. It might not be the devoted closeness they once shared; too much has been said and done to ever reclaim that, but Kurt hopes there can be an understanding and tolerance, at least.

"I've got things to do," Blaine announces the second they're back at the apartment. "I'll be back later."

He's gone before Kurt can question anything further, and, at a loss for anything to do, he takes himself downtown to spend the afternoon with Anna and Meredith.

"What do you think he's doing then?" Meredith asks over coffee. "Drinking whiskey in some seedy bar?"

"Working, probably," Kurt says with a shrug. "But he needs time out to decompress."

"You just got back from the Bahamas!"

"I know, but he's had a hard few days and right now he's shut off and remote. If he needs some time out then I'm down with that. He'll come around, he always does."

And Kurt is not wrong. When he returns that night, the lights are dimmed in the apartment, the large table is set for two, and there's the smell of something good coming from the kitchen. Kurt walks through quietly and can't help but smile at the sight of Blaine, his shirtsleeves rolled up, hair mussed, and a streak of flour across his forehead.

He is working dough on the countertop but he looks up when he becomes aware of Kurt's presence, and grins. "I think I've passed the point of being hopelessly smitten with you and am now firmly in the territory of being completely insanely in love. It's finally made me crazy."

"You're doing all this for me? Why?"

"I just told you. Plus I want to thank you for these last few weeks. You've been...not as annoying as usual."

"Ha!" Kurt hops up on the counter to watch him work. "You're really making your own bread?"

"Hmm, well, I'm trying. We'll see how it goes. I just wanted to make an effort, you know?"

"You could have just got caterers in."

Blaine throws the dough into a tin and glares at him. "Last time I did that you told me off for being too extravagant."

Kurt says nothing, just pops a tomato in his mouth and looks away.

"Do you remember that night, Kurt?"

"Yes I do, but I don't want to because it makes me sad. We had a fight."

"We always fight."

"A proper one. One that counted."

"You know, that evening, I was going to tell you that I was in love with you."

"What?"

"Yeah." Blaine gives a sad smile and puts the bread into the oven. "I had it all planned but it didn't go the way I wanted. Funny, I often plan little moments with you, play it all out in my head, and then it goes in a totally unexpected direction."

"Blaine..."

"That's not a bad thing," he says quickly. He steps between his legs and looks up at him. "Not at all. Except for when I did finally say it. I wasn't too proud of how that turned out."

"Aren't you? I am. You told everyone, loud and proud and I knew there and then that this was it for me."

"You did?"

"Yeah, I mean I'd hoped...but hearing you say you loved me, it just cemented everything. Hey, can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"It occurred to me today, when we were with your brother. When you and I first had dinner, you said relationships weren't for you, but I notice how much you seem to love seeing your brother happy with Tammy. Is that why? Because you thought he deserved happiness but you didn't? It wasn't that you didn't want to be with anyone, is it?"

"That's way off the mark" Blaine lies. "Alright, wash up, do what you gotta do. This will be about a half hour."

Kurt leaves the kitchen, calls his dad, and then Sally to check on the progress of the play, and then he returns to find Blaine more than a little stressed out. "Too many things!" he cries. "I don't know what order to do it all in."

"I'll help."

Between them they drain pasta, toss salad, slice bread and then finally, pour wine. "A toast," Blaine declares when they sit at the table. "To being in love."

"I'll drink to that. Hey, you wanna hear something?"

"You'll tell me anyway."

"When I spoke with Sally, she mentioned that Frank Fisher had been hounded out of the Chicago theatre scene, after some very ugly rumors surfaced about him."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. Apparently the same happened out in LA before that, and also in London."

"Wow."

"Hmm. You wouldn't know anything about that, would you, Blaine?"

Blaine leans back in his chair, looks Kurt right in the eye, and sips his wine. "And if I did?"

"Blaine! You don't even try and deny it."

He shrugs, entirely unbothered. "Have I told you how beautiful you are?"

"Flattery will not work. I'm appalled you could ruin another man's career out of spite."

"Your eyes are all sparkly. I like it when you're feisty."

"I'm not listening."

"Really, Kurt? Aren't you? I think you are. I think, though you'd deny it, you secretly love that I'll fight to defend your honor and I also know that you'd do exactly the same for me. I need to make damn sure he knows that no one messes with the man I love and gets away with it, because you're mine, and I am yours." He gets out of his seat and straddles Kurt, holding onto the back of the chair. "Kiss me."

Kurt breaks, leaning up and kissing him with a raw hunger and an immediate yearning for more. They haven't been intimate since they were in the Bahamas and now Kurt craves Blaine's touch, his lips trailing over his body, his hands on his skin.

"Slow down there," Blaine laughs when his shirt is pulled fiercely over his body.

"No. I want you," Kurt murmurs, his lips dancing across his chest. "Oh god, how I want you. I want you inside of me, I want..."

He is cut off abruptly when his own t-shirt is roughly pulled over his head and then Blaine claims his lips in a deep, burning kiss. He grinds down hard against him, and when Kurt scrapes his nails the length of his back, he growls low in his throat. He breaks the kiss, moving his lips to Kurt's neck instead, biting and sucking at his skin as he trails a line down to his chest.

"Blaine! Don't you dare leave me with a long line of hickeys!"

"Too late." He grins, pleased with himself, and stands, pulling Kurt to his feet. He tries to lift him, but Kurt ducks out of his reach and puts an arm around his waist instead.

"Let me."

"You're not carrying me anywhere."

"I am," Kurt declares. "I'm taking you to bed."

"No. I'm carrying you."

"No you're not."

"Then we'll stay right here," Blaine says, and tugs Kurt down until he's lying on the rug. He quickly finishes pulling off his clothes, and then his own, and their heated, intense love making continues. Blaine enters Kurt hard and fast and he's relentless, driving deep inside of him with a loud, satisfied shout.

Kurt moans, wrapping his legs around his waist and rising up to meet him. Blaine presses his forehead against his temple, his breathing already harsh in Kurt's ear. "I love you," he whispers. "You're... I just love you so much."

Sensing he is overcome with his emotions, Kurt turns his face, and kisses him over and over. They are fused together, moving as one, until suddenly Blaine pulls out, and instructs Kurt to kneel with his arms on the chair.

"What? Why? I liked that, what we were doing."

"So did I, but this is better." Once again Blaine drives in hard from behind him, and Kurt appreciates the solid weight of him on his lower back, and the feel of his fingers gripping his hips. "Kurt..."

"Go on, Blaine, go on. Feels so good."

"I can't see you."

Kurt turns his head to the side, looking over his shoulder as best he can, but Blaine isn't satisfied. He stops again, pulling Kurt over to the dining table. Pushing their half-eaten dinner roughly out of the way, he sits Kurt on the edge and encourages him to lie back. "Better."

"There will be other times, you know," Kurt moans. "We don't need to try every position in the Kama Sutra right now."

Blaine gives a laugh, pulling Kurt back until his legs are around him. "I know that, but I love looking at you, that's all."

"I'll shut up then," Kurt says, biting his lip. "Because that's kinda sweet."

"You make me complete," Blaine says as he enters him and picks up his pace once more. "Not just in moments like these, but always. Everything about being with you is so right. So not perfect, which makes it perfect. Do you get what I'm trying to say?"

Kurt looks up at him, into his deep brown eyes which seem to burn with love and sincerity. "Yes," he says, pushing up onto his elbows. "Yeah, I know exactly what you mean."

Blaine leans down to kiss him, but their position makes it difficult. The next thing Kurt knows, he's being pushed up the length of the table and Blaine is climbing onto it himself, with both of them back in the position they started in. "That's it!" Blaine cries happily. "Yes."

Finding Kurt's lips once more, Blaine goes at a frantic pace, hard, rough, and exactly what both of them want and need. His hand finds Kurt's cock, wrapping around him, encouraging him to let his orgasm tear through him, which it does.

Kurt rises up, moaning Blaine's name as they come together, and Blaine holds him close, almost crushing him as he bites down into his shoulder, stifling a yell. "Kurt...oh God...Kurt."

Exhausted, he falls onto his back next to Kurt, throwing an arm around his shoulders and pulling him close so he can kiss into his hair. "Love you."

"Hmm. Love you too." Completely blissed out, Kurt cuddles close, happy and content in the moment.

"Kurt?"

"Yeah?"

Blaine pushes up onto his elbow, looking down at him. He seems to think for a moment, then he smiles softly, brushes the hair from his forehead, and kisses there. "Can we have dessert now?"