Author's Note:
Well, this is it... The ending! Enjoy! I may add an epilogue if you'd like a glimpse into their lives years later. Let me know :-)
Chapter 21: The Wedding
After breakfast that Sunday, Kurt steered Blaine to the sofa for a much-needed conversation. It was all too easy to get lost in pleasure and just roll along with whatever Blaine had in mind, but Kurt knew that they needed to discuss their relationship and their future.
What Kurt hadn't counted on was the phrase "We need to talk" scaring Blaine, who had to be reassured they weren't breaking up.
Now where did you get that idea? I don't want to break up with you ever. I want you for keeps, honey.
Blaine told Kurt he was planning on proposing, and Kurt, remembering some of the more outlandish proposal ideas he'd read on the post-its in his scrapbook, warned Blaine not to go overboard, and to keep it private. As romantic as it seemed to be proposed to in a carriage in Central Park or at the top of the Empire State Building, Kurt didn't want an audience. He wanted the moment to be just about them.
Blaine agreed to that, and also to looking for a place together. Kurt was relieved. He knew Blaine owned his apartment, and he'd thought he'd want to stay there.
Blaine didn't put up any objections about waiting to have children, either, and went along with the plan to adopt a dog. So much so that later that afternoon, they found themselves at the local animal shelter, petting a mini dachshund and her four pups.
Kurt fell in love with them instantly, and had to tear himself away when it was time to go. Walking home, he pictured himself and Blaine each with a pup of their own on a leash. They'd be a family.
It filled Kurt's stomach with butterflies to realise how close he was now to all that he'd yearned for, and it made him smile like a loon.
Over the next few weeks, Kurt went back to the animal shelter whenever he could spare a moment, and each time, he came home more smitten, and happily anticipating taking two puppies home.
The weekends were filled with date after date. Blaine seemed to think that he needed to make up for all the missed opportunities by cramming in as much quality time with Kurt as he possibly could. Kurt happily went along with it, though he liked cuddling on the sofa watching reality TV just as much as all the outings Blaine came up with. He just enjoyed spending time with Blaine, period.
There was no denying Blaine had a good grasp on what Kurt liked, though.
For their second date, Blaine took him for brunch in a quaint tearoom with an Alice in Wonderland décor, a feast for both the eyes and the palate. Kurt soaked it all in greedily, and told Blaine about the tea parties he used to have on his lawn, with his dad and his stuffed animals. "Remind me to show you some pictures the next time we're in Lima."
Kurt laughed at Blaine's shifty eyes and scared expression at the mention of Burt. "I told my dad it was all a misunderstanding, and that we're together now. So he's not mad at you anymore. You can come home with me without fearing for your kneecaps."
That last comment made Blaine's eyes widen even further, and Kurt giggled some more.
After brunch, they visited the zoo, and Blaine showed Kurt the sights in Central Park. They sat down on the grass at the Gapstow Bridge for a while, enjoying the beauty of the scene before them.
"I feel like I'm in a storybook," Kurt said.
"Well, maybe you are," Blaine quipped. "And you're the hero of the story, breaking my curse."
"That would have been the ending already," Kurt pointed out. "So where are we now, in the epilogue? In the sequel?"
Blaine chuckled. "I guess."
"So there's more drama to come?"
Blaine sighed. "Nothing too major, I hope. But yes, every life has its ups and downs."
Kurt put his head on Blaine's shoulder. "Together, we can weather any storm, can't we?"
"We can."
The next day, they went to the Met. Blaine had bought tickets beforehand this time, so that they wouldn't have to queue. The exhibition was beautiful, but in his heart of hearts, Kurt preferred the Museum of Natural History.
The following weekend, Blaine took Kurt ice-skating, and laughed and cooed when Kurt proved to be an uncoordinated Bambi on the ice. After about an hour of flailing and falling, they called it quits and went for a luxurious high tea in a tearoom close to the rink, where Kurt moaned over the madeleines and financiers – "So good, Blaine!" – until Blaine slapped down a few bills and tugged a giggling Kurt out of the establishment and straight into a cab to get home asap.
Another week passed, and this time around, Blaine's weekend plans included a showing of a 1950s musical starring Gene Kelly and afterwards dinner at a restaurant with an amazing view.
"You spoil me," Kurt said to Blaine, taking out his phone to snap a picture of the artfully arranged amuse-bouches the waiter had set in front of him.
Blaine smiled. "I like spoiling the people I love."
Kurt felt himself beaming ear to ear. Maybe there would come a time when a love declaration from Blaine would not make his stomach flutter and his heart beat double-time and the corners of his mouth turn up, but he doubted it.
When Valentine's Day arrived, Blaine took the wooing up another notch. Kurt hadn't counted on them celebrating Valentine's, seeing as it was an ordinary Friday, scheduled chock-full from dawn till dusk. Blaine, however, had other ideas.
Kurt woke up that day to Blaine kissing him everywhere, a trail that led from his forehead all the way to his toes and left tingling awareness in its wake, but when Kurt wanted to grab Blaine and return the favour, he'd gone. He came back with a breakfast tray worthy of Instagram, but Kurt pouted at it and at Blaine. "You're such a tease!"
"We have no time, beautiful! We need to be at school in half an hour."
Kurt shot up from the bed. "What?! The dogs!"
"I walked them. Relax. They've had their walk, they have food and water. They're happy."
Kurt enjoyed the yummy breakfast Blaine had made him, and knew he'd have to think of something to surprise Blaine with, too. Between his two morning classes, he hurried to their favourite bakery and bought Blaine a brie and honey sandwich and two cronuts, which he then dropped off in Blaine's office with a sweet note, enlisting Professor Scher's help to unlock the door.
While he was walking the dogs during his lunch break, his phone chimed with a thank you, and he grinned, already looking forward to seeing Blaine at the animal shelter that evening.
Nothing, however, could have prepared him for what he saw at the shelter, in the room Eileen showed him to. Somehow, Blaine had managed to turn the place into a piece of paradise. It was like walking straight into a forest – trees and flowers and running water. And in the middle, there was a table that seemed to come from the penguin scene in Mary Poppins. It was beautiful, and Kurt gaped at it all, gobsmacked.
Then he saw Blaine, looking at him with so much love it took his breath away. Blaine had two of the puppies on his lap, and he was… Oh my goodness, he was on one knee… Was this…? "Blaine!"
And yes, it was the proposal Kurt had been waiting for, and it was so moving and so unbelievably perfect that Kurt cried buckets, laughing wetly when one of the pups tried to cheer him up by licking away his tears, because aww, that felt familiar.
Before Kurt knew it, he had a ring on his finger and was clutching the Devon key he'd given back to Blaine in January. As it warmed up in his hand, he thought, Mine, and it filled him with so much happiness that he just had to kiss Blaine, over, and over, and over.
Blaine had not only provided the perfect setting for the proposal, he'd brought food, too: some of Kurt's favourite dishes.
"I'm sorry it's all cold," Blaine apologised. "It's not really picnic season, I know, but I didn't know how to keep food warm here, so I chose cold dishes."
Kurt, his mouth already full, swallowed and hastened to say, "It's perfect. Seriously. I love this. All of this. Wow, Blaine. This is just… Perfect."
Blaine beamed at him and started eating too.
K&B
The next Friday, Kurt moved back into Blaine's apartment. They also went back to the animal shelter to officially adopt the two puppies they had chosen. They called them Margaret and Oliver, or Mollie and Ollie for short.
A few days earlier, Kurt had called the dog walking agency to tell that he would be unavailable for the next four weeks, as he was adopting two puppies of his own, and Sheila had squealed excitedly and asked for all the details. "So I take it you won't be dog-sitting anymore? Just dog-walking after these four weeks are over?"
"Yes. I think I've found my place."
"Aww, you sound so happy. Well, good luck with the pups, and send me a pic once they've settled in, will you?"
"I will."
"Oh, and give me your new address, to put it in the database, please?"
When he told her the address, there was a moment of silence. "That's Devon's address! Are you scamming our agency by dog-sitting for Devon's owner without going through us?"
Kurt's skin prickled uncomfortably. Uh-oh. Should have seen this coming.
"No, Devon isn't there anymore," Kurt said. "I'm marrying the guy who lives at that apartment. And we got ourselves two new dogs, to replace Devon."
"Devon died? Oh, poor dear!" Sheila commiserated. "So that's why Mr Anderson stopped calling on us. I did wonder. Okay, I'll make a note of that. And sorry for accusing you."
"'S all right," Kurt mumbled, feeling guilty, because he had done exactly what she'd accused him of.
"So Devon's owner fell for you, did he? How did that happen?" Sheila asked.
"Well, we got talking… And we have a lot in common. And ugh, he's so gorgeous, Sheila, and so sweet. I had a crush five minutes in."
Sheila giggled. "And he did, too?"
Kurt scoffed. "I wish. No, it took him a LOT longer. I pined for ages."
Sheila laughed. "Can't have been too long, 'cause you're getting married already and your first time looking after Devon was in… let me check… January 2012. That's only two years ago!"
"Well, it FELT like ages," Kurt amended, and then he laughed too.
"So when's the wedding?" Sheila wanted to know.
"July 14th. At the New York Public Library."
"Oh, wow, nice! Well, congrats to you both, and if you need a dog sitter for your honeymoon, you know who to call!"
"We do. Thank you, Sheila!"
K&B
Mollie and Ollie were happy playful pups, and Blaine and Kurt loved them beyond measure, even though they ruined more than a few shoes and pieces of clothing.
Kurt had to keep telling Blaine not to laugh when Mollie playfully bit his hand or Ollie tugged at his jeans. "Don't encourage them, Blaine! People and their clothes are NOT acceptable chew and tug toys. We BOUGHT them toys, give them those!"
Kurt and Blaine drove to Ohio to visit their family at Easter, and both Pam and Carole cooed over the pups, who took to them instantly.
Blaine was jumpy around Burt for days, until at last Burt sat him down and told Blaine to stop treating him like a bomb that could go off any minute.
Blaine's face shone when Burt added that he'd accepted him as his son-in-law. "Took you way too long to make your mind up, but I can tell you're making Kurt very happy now. You guys are good together. Just don't screw it up, okay?"
"I won't, Burt," Blaine vowed, taking Kurt's hand in his and squeezing it way too hard.
Kurt laughed and kissed Blaine on the cheek. "Don't stress him out, Dad. I want him to live long enough to actually marry me."
"I'm not!" Burt protested. "I just welcomed him to the family!"
Carole patted Burt on the arm. "Aww, that's nice, honey. Now can we get back to the wedding planning? Kurt was just saying he'd like you wear your black suit with the blue tie."
Pam was equally eager to discuss the wedding plans, and offered to look after Ollie and Mollie while Kurt and Blaine would be going on their honeymoon.
Slightly less welcome was her news about Cooper. "I told Cooper that you were getting married, and he's very disappointed he's not the best man. He said he's writing a speech anyway, 'cause nobody else knows you well enough to give a decent best man's speech."
Blaine blanched, and Kurt looked at him in alarm.
Pam laughed. "Oh, honey bee, it will be okay. Your brother loves you."
Blaine huffed, muttered something under his breath and changed the subject.
When they were in bed that evening, Kurt asked, "Are you really worried about Cooper's speech? How bad can it be?"
Blaine let out a deep sigh. "Let me just say that Coop lives to embarrass and belittle me. That's his favourite pastime."
Kurt rubbed soothing circles on his back. "If it gets too bad, I'll find a way to distract everyone. Did you know that I can sneeze about twenty times in a row?"
Blaine huffed out a laugh. "No, I didn't. That's good to know."
He sighed again. "Maybe I'm overreacting anyway. I really hope I am."
K&B
In May, Kurt graduated with two degrees: one in fashion design and one in graphic design.
As Blaine had predicted, R/GA hadn't even waited until Kurt's actual graduation to offer him a job as a junior designer.
"I've no doubt that you'll be a senior designer in five years max," Ellie had told him. "You're just that good. The work you've done so far has been a hit with our clients, and several of them have requested you as the main designer for their next campaigns. So… Will you stay with us?"
Kurt had signed the contract right then and there.
Now, at the ceremony, he was talking to Professor Scher, who'd given him a big hug and told him she'd miss him in her classes. She whooped in celebration when he told her about scoring a job at R/GA. "Now you're glad you took that minor in graphic design, aren't you?"
"I am," Kurt agreed. "I'm sure my fashion design degree will come in handy too, though."
Professor Scher smiled at him. "Oh, I've no doubt."
She lowered her voice and whispered, "Are you designing the tuxes for the wedding?"
Kurt nodded and grinned. "Yes, I've designed them, and I'm sewing them, too. Blaine's outfit is already done, bowtie and all, and now I'm working on mine."
He saw Blaine look at him from across the room and sent him a smile.
"I told him to stay away from you at the ceremony," Professor Scher continued in an undertone. "The whole board of governors is here today, and he's way too obvious around you. You're graduating today, but still. I don't want Kay Unger to suspect anything, and sack Blaine over it."
Kurt bit his lip.
"Go say goodbye to your friends and then go home to celebrate," Professor Scher advised. "I'll send your man after you. And I'll see you at the wedding. Congrats on your job!"
Kurt beamed. "Thank you, Professor."
He moved on to Maizie, who'd come to the ceremony with her parents and her big sister. It made him miss Burt and Carole, who had decided to stay at home. "We'll be travelling to New York already for your wedding. I can't go hopping on a plane every two months, I've got a business to run!"
Kurt understood that, but it stung a little anyway. Instead of his parents, he'd brought along Rachel, who was now chatting with Blaine. They'd met a few days after the proposal, when Kurt really couldn't keep the news to himself anymore and needed to squeal about it to Rachel and Mercedes. They'd both been very surprised, obviously, and miffed that Kurt had never said anything about Blaine before.
Rachel had insisted on meeting Blaine for brunch that Sunday. Kurt had been a bit apprehensive about it. He really wanted them to like each other, and what if they didn't? But he needn't have worried. Rachel and Blaine clicked from the very first moment and were soon chatting away a mile a minute. The Sunday brunch had become a staple of their lives, and Rachel and Blaine were now fast friends.
Kurt tore his eyes away from Rachel and Blaine and moved in to hug Maizie and her sister, and shake her parents' hands.
Then he went to the group that Elliott and Neil were standing in, and got pats on the back from everyone when he mentioned he already had a job lined up.
Elliott had scored a job at Elle Magazine, where he'd interned, but the others had had no luck so far in their job search.
"I guess I'll stick with dog walking for the time being," Neil said glumly, and Steve mentioned moving back in with his parents.
Kurt said his goodbyes to everyone and then slipped away home, where Mollie and Ollie greeted him with enthusiastic licks and wagging tails. "Time for your walk, sweeties?"
K&B
Two weeks later, he grinned when his phone rang and he saw that it was Elliott calling. "Hey Elliott! How's Elle Magazine treating you?"
"Oh, great! I really love it there. We did a photo shoot with Meryl Streep the other day, can you believe it? She was so nice, too."
"That's amazing!" Kurt said. "I'm working on an ad campaign for Nike at the moment, and it's all in black and white. Very classy."
"Nice! Hey, Kurt?"
"Yes?"
"I got something in the mail today, and I didn't really know what to make of it."
Kurt's grin grew wider. "Oh?"
"It's a wedding invitation."
"Uh-huh."
"To YOUR wedding!"
"Right."
"And it says you're getting married to Professor Anderson. Seriously, what gives, man? Is this payback for that April Fools prank?"
Kurt laughed. "I guess you'll just have to turn up and see."
"What?" Elliott spluttered. "Not cool, man!"
"Suit yourself," Kurt told him. "You don't have to come. If you're too chicken, you can stay at home and wonder for the rest of your life what that invitation was all about. If you come, though, make sure you're dressed up. The dress code is black tie."
"What? Kurt! Have you planned some kind of candid camera thing?"
"You'll see. Bye, Elliott!"
He ended the call, still with a huge grin on his face.
Blaine, who was sitting on the sofa next to him, shook his head, chuckling. "You have the poor guy thinking you're going to do something awful to him that makes him look like an idiot and put it on YouTube."
Kurt shrugged. "I can't help it that he's paranoid because he's got a bad conscience."
Just then, his phone chimed with a text message.
From: Elliott
I just got a text from Neil that he got a wedding invitation too. Seriously, Kurt, what is going on?
Kurt giggled and put his phone on the coffee table without texting back.
A hand crept to his side and started tickling him.
"No, no, not there," Kurt implored, but by then, Blaine had pinned him down and was torturing all of Kurt's sensitive spots.
"Stop! Please stop!" Kurt begged Blaine, tears of mirth in his eyes.
"Admit it, you're totally enjoying putting the wind up Elliott!"
Kurt let out a shout of laughter, and then shrieked, "Yes, yes, I am! Happy now?"
Blaine stopped tickling him and sat back on his haunches.
"You're evil!" Kurt complained.
"So are you, beautiful, to scare your friend this way."
Kurt grinned at Blaine. "I can't WAIT to see his face. It's gonna be priceless!"
K&B
The night before the actual wedding, Kurt met Cooper at the rehearsal dinner.
At first, Kurt stared, because wow, how had Blaine never mentioned that his brother was the most handsome man in all of North-America? But then Cooper opened his mouth, and admiration quickly turned into irritation. What a windbag!
Cooper didn't stop talking all evening, turning every possible subject into a soliloquy about himself. Even when he gave a speech that was supposed to be about Blaine, it turned out to be a comparison in which Cooper always came out on top.
By the time the dessert was served, Kurt was sick of Cooper's voice, and whispered into Blaine's ear, "Okay, I get it now. Your brother is insufferable. Ugh. Can we duct-tape his mouth shut tomorrow?"
Blaine, who'd just taken a sip of champagne, snorted it out again through his nose from laughing so hard. It took a full five minutes for him to compose himself again, and then he whispered, "I wish. Thanks for the laugh, beautiful, I needed that."
That night, Kurt slept at the loft again for one last time. Rachel and Jesse hadn't been able to attend the rehearsal dinner because they were both starring in a revival of My Fair Lady, but they would be there for the actual wedding.
Kurt told them all about Blaine's brother, and asked them to keep Cooper away from Blaine and from any and all microphones during the wedding. "Please. I don't want him to ruin our day. I'm sure the two of you can keep him… busy."
Jesse and Rachel looked at each other, and then turned to Kurt.
"On one condition," Jesse began, and Rachel added, "That you plan our wedding for us."
Rachel held out her left hand, and yes, a big diamond was sparkling there.
Kurt's mouth fell open. Then, he grabbed Rachel's hands and they both started jumping up and down, squealing so loud that Jesse clapped his hands over his ears and swore.
Kurt inspected the ring, and nodded approvingly. "It suits you. Now, tell me, how did it happen? Oh, and congrats to you both! This is AMAZING!"
Rachel's great news and the subsequent talk of dresses and venues and other details kept Kurt from stressing about his own wedding, and when he woke up, his mouth stretched into a wide smile of its own accord.
Humming Get Me to the Church On Time, he got up and made breakfast for all three of them. By the time the eggs and Rachel's vegan sausages and faux bacon were in the pan, the humming had turned into singing, and once the smell of the cooked breakfast spread, Rachel and Jesse appeared in the kitchen and chimed in too.
"Not bad," said Jesse as Kurt handed him a plate and silverware. "Not bad at all. You'd make a decent Alfred P. Doolittle."
Kurt rolled his eyes at the meagre praise. "Thank you."
K&B
Kurt, Rachel and Mercedes met up with Burt and Carole in their hotel room in the afternoon, and Kurt helped with the women's hair and make-up before doing his own hair and putting his tux on.
He'd chosen blue and burgundy for the wedding theme. The invitations, the decorations, even the cake were in those colours, and the tuxes he made were, too.
Kurt's outfit was deep blue, and the lapels of the jacket as well as his bow tie were made of a material with metallic thread in it, which shimmered in the light.
Blaine's jacket was made of a rich patterned burgundy velvet, that Kurt had paired with black lapels, black pants and a black bow tie. Kurt couldn't wait to see Blaine in it.
They'd decided that Kurt would be the one walking down the aisle, with his dad, so when they reached the venue, the women squeezed his hands, kissed his cheek and went inside, leaving Burt and Kurt alone on the steps.
The photographer they'd hired for the occasion made Kurt and his father pose for a few pictures and then hurried inside. Kurt watched him go, and his stomach turned into knots with sudden nerves.
Burt cleared his throat. "Well… This is it, son. Last chance to run if you wanna."
That startled a laugh out of Kurt. "Dad!"
Burt shrugged. "You looked so pinched there for a second, I thought maybe you were having second thoughts."
"Never. Blaine and I are forever."
Burt nodded and patted Kurt on the back. "All right, then. Time to go in and tell that to Blaine."
Kurt exhaled shakily. "Okay. Let's do this."
When he entered the Astor Hall on his father's arm, he spared only one look for Elliott's gobsmacked face, and then looked straight ahead, where Blaine was waiting for him with so much love in his eyes that it made Kurt feel like he'd just swallowed the sun.
Kurt put his hands in Blaine's, looked into his eyes, and everything else just fell away as they were in their own bubble.
Kurt didn't hear a word of Blaine's vows, and had to be gently reminded to say his own. When it was time for the rings, he held out the wrong hand for Blaine to put the ring on, but Blaine just tickled the hand for a second and reached for the other so fluidly that Kurt was pretty sure no-one else noticed his mistake.
And then, finally, it was time to kiss, and Kurt trembled in Blaine's arms and shed a tear or two.
Trent handed Kurt a handkerchief, and smiled when Kurt hiccupped, "They're… h-happy tears."
As soon as the ceremony was over, the photographer whisked Kurt and Blaine away for a photoshoot, first outside, on the steps, and then in all sorts of beautiful spots at the library. He clicked away happily while Kurt hugged Blaine from behind and wound his arms around Blaine's middle, while Blaine kissed Kurt on the mouth, on the cheek, behind the ear, while Kurt dipped Blaine playfully and then Blaine picked Kurt up bridal style.
"This is great, guys! Keep it up!" said the photographer, so they tried out some more poses: Blaine wrapping himself around Kurt and kissing his forehead, Blaine grabbing Kurt's tie and tugging him closer, the both of them running away and then towards the photographer, standing a few feet apart from each other and leaning in for a kiss.
Then it was time for their big entrance as a couple, and they did so to loud applause.
For their first dance, Kurt had picked another Céline Dion song, J'attendais, and he happily let her inimitable voice wash over him as he danced with his husband.
Burt had agreed to give the welcome speech, and he kept it short and sweet, saying he was hungry, which led to laughter and applause.
Kurt realised that he was hungry too, and as soon as the waiters served the first course, he tucked in. In between the different courses, Kurt and Blaine went to talk to the family and friends they'd invited. Kurt saw to his relief that Rachel and Jesse kept their word and monopolised Cooper to the point where he forgot all about giving a speech.
When they reached the table where Kurt's college friends were sitting, Elliott breathed, "Dude!"
Kurt quirked an eyebrow. "Yes?"
"You actually got married."
"Yes."
"How…? When…?"
Maizie interrupted Elliott's bumbling. "I bet they got together after that dance they shared. For Kurt's 21st birthday, remember? Or was it before that, Kurt?"
Kurt and Blaine looked at each other and shook their heads, smiling.
"I bet you're glad Santana dared you to dance with Professor Anderson," Maizie beamed.
Kurt inclined his head. "I am."
"Well, congratulations to you both," said Maizie. "I'm so glad it all worked out."
"Yeah, congrats," said Neil.
Elliott nodded, still speechless, and Kurt giggled, tugging Blaine to the next table.
Blaine chuckled, raised their entwined hands and kissed them. "You're a minx."
"You love it," Kurt countered.
"I do," Blaine admitted. "I love you."
"I love you too. For as long as we both shall live."
"Forever?"
"Forever."
