Summary: The play is over but getting out of McKinley is a bigger problem than Sebastian and Blaine anticipated.

Notes: Canon dialogue used. Please see Chapter 1 for disclaimer.

Soul Mates Handbook: Yearly Update 2011

As of this yearly update, the last found soul mark match was 30 years ago. We've done our best to advise potential new matches but let's be realistic, none of us know how this news would be handled in today's 24hr news cycles.

*Wolf Whistle*

"Sebastian…"

"Bravo! Bravo!"

Jeff took his life into his hands and clasped Sebastian's to stop his clapping. "Sebastian, you have to stop."

"Why? My B was amazing!" He freed his hands and grabbed Jeff's blazer lapels "He thinks he won't be able to be an actor when people find out, you know, but that can't happen because he's like the greatest actor ever and the best singer ever and he loves doing it so much and…"

"Woah, take a breath." Jeff tried not to laugh and then not to groan as he realized this would probably be an everyday occurrence when Blaine returned to Dalton next week. "I agree Blaine shouldn't have to give up his dream because of…you know, but maybe we concentrate on Sectionals before we help him win a Tony."

"Tony-s" Sebastian corrected. He looked around and saw the auditorium was half empty…probably the reason Jeff stopped his applause. "Where are the guys?"

"Headed to their cars. I was going to leave too, unless you need me. The drive back to Westerville is a bitch at night."

"Go, B and I have Britt and San, plus Artie and Mike if necessary. But Jeff, thanks. There's no way Blaine would have been able to do this without you." Once Jeff was gone Sebastian checked his messages and saw his dad's flight had been delayed an hour. It was actually a good thing because it gave him and Blaine a chance to get to his house first…if they could leave within the next 20 minutes.

"What's really going on with you and Blaine?"

Shit! Hudson. "I'm just here to make sure Blaine isn't accosted…sorry, I used a big word…make sure Blaine isn't messed with as he tries to leave. There's no ulterior motive as your step-brother has insinuated. Silly me, there I go using big words again. Do you need me to translate?"

"You're a son-of-a…"

"Sorry to interrupt…"

"This isn't a good time Mercedes."

Sebastian had questioned Finn's intelligence but now believed his problem was lack of common sense. Why else would he snap at Mercedes when her mountain of a boyfriend was standing behind her? "Oh, I think it's a perfect time for me to finally be introduced to the enchanting Miss Jones." He took Mercedes' hand and lifted it toward his lips but stopped and looked at Shane "May I?"

"Of course." Shane smiled as Mercedes giggled when Sebastian kissed the back of her hand. "It's good to see my girl being treated like the queen she is." Finn went to protest but Shane ignored him. "Baby, I've got to check on Azi. He's always hyped after a big game and I don't need him chest bumping the wrong person."

"Take care of your cousin. I'll be fine with Sebastian."

Finn was insulted by the slight but waited until Shane was gone to say something. "Mercedes whatever you've heard isn't true. This guy is a Warbler who came to break-up Kurt and Blaine so Blaine will go back to Dalton."

Every fiber of his being was screaming for Sebastian to get Blaine and leave but this was his one opportunity to ask "Why do you care?"

"That's a good question." Mercedes moved to where she was standing next to Sebastian, making it obvious whose side she was on. "I was a founding member of the New Directions but Blaine, who has been here 2 months, decides to leave and everyone loses their shit. I so feel loved."

"Mercedes, that's not true. We love you."

"You love her so much you're making plans to bring back her ex without telling her?" And there it was…the thing he shouldn't know but did. No one in the New Directions but Hummel (and thus Blaine) knew Mercedes and Sam were dating when he moved away.

He needed to think fast. Fortunately, Sebastian noticed something was missing. "Shouldn't you be taking Berry whatever flowers she told you to buy her?"

"Shit! The Flowers!"

Once Finn ran out of earshot, Sebastian whispered "I can explain but not here."

"I know a place."

Blaine was putting the last of his things into his messenger bag when he received the text from Sebastian saying he had to take care of something but would meet him in the auditorium in 10 minutes. That was fine with him. He wanted to go over that one dance move again. No matter what Mike said, Blaine was sure he had screwed it up.

It was on the third pass-thru he heard "Shouldn't you be celebrating?"

Kurt

Blaine looked around for somebody…anybody but he was on his own. "I'm going over this move. I messed it up tonight. I know I can do it better."

"Beauty of the stage we get to do it all over again tomorrow." Kurt stepped closer, but Blaine stepped back. Kurt seemed to take the hint. "Personally, I thought you were perfect. The perfect Tony."

Well, that was surprising. "Thank you. Your Officer Krupke was good, too." Actually, his performance had been full of errors but he'd let Artie handle that.

"I saw all your friends were here tonight. The Warblers…Sebastian. They were all loving it." Blaine smiled, thinking back to all the times he heard Sebastian cheering for him. The next thing he knew, Kurt had his arms around his shoulders and their foreheads pressed together. "You take my breath away and not just tonight on that stage. I was so proud to be with you."

"I'm not with you."

Blaine pulled away and went to get his bag but Kurt grabbed his arm. "Blaine, don't do this. Let's go back to your house. We can work this out."

"Let go of him!" Santana practically tackled Kurt, freeing Blaine. "Get it through your head, Blaine wants nothing to do with you!"

"Stay out of this, Lopez!"

"How about if I say it?" Blaine had finally had enough. All he wanted to do was find Sebastian and get out of there. "Leave me alone! I never want to see you again!"

"So, you're quitting the play?"

Evidently the commotion had been heard backstage because Artie and the majority of the cast were now there. Seeing them broke Blaine's heart. "Artie, everyone, I'm so sorry." As if on cue, Sebastian ran into the auditorium. Blaine didn't care what anyone else thought, he jumped off the stage and straight into his soul mate's arms. "Take me home."

"I knew you were cheating on me with that Warbler!" Kurt screamed after them. He tried to leave but Coach Beiste was there to stop him.

Miss Pillsbury and Mr. Schue had arrived as well, none of the adults knowing the full story. They had just been told to get down to the auditorium right away. "Ok, everyone let's call it a night" Miss Pillsbury said in that calming tone she had. "Tomorrow's matinee is at 2PM, why don't we all meet back here at noon?"

"Why?" Tina asked. "We don't have a Tony."

Knowing Kurt would say something, Azimio corrected her "We don't have Our Tony."

"Oh" Miss Pillsbury looked to her boyfriend and her co-advisor, both appearing as stunned as she was. "I'll call Blaine in the morning. I'm sure everything will seem different after a good night's sleep."

"That's what the rest of you should do too" Coach Beiste added. "And in case you didn't hear everyone else saying it, that was one heck of a show you all put on."

It took nearly 20 minutes to clear the stage but eventually only Kurt and Rachel were the only people in the auditorium. "I can't believe how rude those people were to me when it's clear I am the wronged party in this relationship."

"Really, Kurt? You can't believe all of Blaine's friends chose his side?"

"How did this happen, Rachel? Blaine coming to McKinley was supposed to make my senior year perfect but it turned into a nightmare. Did you find out what he was hiding? Maybe if I had an idea, I could fix things."

Rachel had one of two ways to go with this. She chose Plan A. "No, but I think I have something better. We don't know what Blaine's secret is but Santana definitely does. Why else would they suddenly be BFFs? Did you see the (air quotes) dressing room she made him with the ridiculous star on the door?"

"Santana did that?"

"Yes, and I'm pretty sure she'll do anything to protect him."

Kurt rubbed his arm and the bruise he would probably have from where she pushed him earlier. "What are you thinking?"

"Blackmail."

"Why Miss Berry, I'm intrigued. Go on."

"We don't have to know Blaine's secret, Santana just has to think we know. If she wants to make sure we don't say anything then she, Brittany, Mercedes and unfortunately Sugar have to come back to the New Directions. That will give us 12. Also, she has to convince Brittany to drop out of the race so you will get elected President. See, we don't need Blaine. It will be that much sweeter when we kick Warbler ass at Regionals."

"So, I'm suppose to let Blaine go and let him ride off into the sunset with Sebastian? Not happening!"

"Kurt, with my plan we get everything we want."

"Except Blaine. Rachel, loosing him made me realize how much I love him. He's the love of my life. My soul mate without the mark. My…"

"Kurt, stop. You've lost Blaine and he's never coming back. Be sad, eat ice cream and watch the Notebook, but Blaine is gone."

"No! I can…"

"They're soul mates!" Rachel slapped her hand over her mouth but it was too late. The only thing she could do was wait for the fall-out.

But Kurt was quiet, maybe too quiet. He studied her face, searching for the answers she wouldn't say aloud. What did he know? Blaine had never mentioned Sebastian before today. Sebastian knew about his entire time at Dalton. Blaine had the fake brace on his wrist…oh, his right wrist. "How do you know? Was it the brace?"

"Blaine didn't see me and took it off. He was running his thumb over the mark."

"So, you saw it?"

Rachel wrapped her arms around. This next part would hurt. "I did. Only for a second so he wouldn't see me, but it was beautiful. It's true, Kurt. I'm sorry I lied about knowing Blaine's secret but I didn't want to be the one that had to hurt you like this."

"I understand" Kurt said as he pulled away, wiping the tears on his cheeks. "I wouldn't want to be the one to have to tell you Finn found his soul mate. Speaking of the big lug, don't the two of you have a special night planned…like Blaine and I were supposed to."

"Yes, but I can stay…"

"Rachel, go be with Finn. Please. I need to be alone for a while."

She knew it was the wrong decision but…"Ok, but I am leaving my phone on. Call me if you need me. I'm sure Finn will understand." She brought him back into an embrace. "Remember we have a plan. We can still get everything we ever wanted."

Not much later, Kurt stood on the stage, alone, repeating Rachel's last line on a loop in his head. After what was probably the 100th time he made it stop. "Sorry, Rachel. I want more."

Yes, 2 chapters in 2 days but I wanted to post Chapter 8 on November 8th (it still is where I am) in celebration of the Seblainiversary. Happy 7 years everyone.