I do not own these people or glee or starkid.

Monday (after the interview)

Darren's POV

The interview was great. Catie was nervous in the beginning, but after answering the first question she calmed right down and opened up, showing everyone the woman that I had fallen in love with. And I had, I was in love with her. I just had to find the right time to tell her. I was afraid that 6 days would be much too quickly to tell her that I loved her, but we had gone on one date and she agreed to be my girlfriend so I wasn't really worried about the timeline of things. The whole interview I was worried that I would just come out and say it and that things would go crazy, but I didn't shy away from losing the word love anymore and it seemed that neither did she.

Ryan came up to my room a little while later. "Hello lovebirds, great interview, you showed the fans how you really act around each other and how you really feel about each other. I am very proud of you both, and Catie you especially! You opened up so easily and you did amazing answering the questions!"

"Thank you, Ryan. That means a lot and I don't know how I did it, I was really nervous, but Darren was holding my hand the whole time and I knew that he was supporting me and that was all that mattered. And what I said about Darren's fans was true. I am so glad they support him so much! And I am so happy that they seem to like me now too. I care about Darren so much and to see that others care about him too makes me so happy for him. And if what you said about your parents is true Darren I can't wait to meet them. We should Skype them later! If they have Skype that is! I am just so happy that all of this is working out for you, I felt so bad about you giving up your privacy for me and it seems that everything is just falling right into place."

That was the most amazing thing I had ever heard and I loved her so much for everything she said and felt. I couldn't hold it in any longer, "I love you, SO much. And they would love that," I said.

She just looked at me, there was so much surprise and love in her eyes that I thought she might cry, "You, you do?" she whispered.

"Yes, I really, really do Catie. I love you so much and I keep falling more in love with you every minute. It was all I could do not to scream it out during the interview."

"I felt the same way Darren. I love you too. I have never felt this way about anyone before. I have never been in love before, but I know how it's supposed to feel and I feel that with you, Darren. I love you so, so much and if this is how love feels with you I never want to lose you!"

Ryan looked at us both affectionately and said "Well, I guess that's my cue to leave. See you two later. Try not to get into any trouble; also it might be a good idea to take Catie back to her dorm so she can pick up some clothes. I'd rather her stay with someone here while this all blows over a little." He winked and walked out.

I just laughed and when he walked out I gave in to what I'd wanted to do all day. I kissed her and she kissed me back. I didn't have words to describe what I felt but I showed her the best way I could. After a while she pulled away and said, "I love you so much! I can't believe you picked me and that I can call you mine. But Ryan is right, if I am going to be sticking with you all and staying here I probably need to get some more clothes and I'd love to introduce you to my friends as my boyfriend."

"I love you too. And when you put it that way, I'll take you to your dorm right now. Promise you'll stay with me again tonight? I don't think I've slept that well in a very long time. Let's go, the sooner we go the sooner we get back and the sooner I can snuggle up with my katydid. I can't believe that YOU picked ME! And I will never stop being grateful for that."

Catie's POV

We parked Darren's car and walked into my dorm. I went to my room first, but my roommate, Sara, wasn't there. I had texted her and Alyssa to tell them that I'd be staying at the hotel and that I'd be back today, but I hadn't told them when.

We checked Alyssa's room next. I knocked on the door and she took a moment but called "Come in!" so I opened the door and Darren and I walked in. I carefully shut the door behind me so that it wouldn't slam and when I turned around I was only partially surprised to see Joe Walker sitting there next to her with a laptop open between them.

"Hey, Lyss, how's your day been so far?" I asked suggestively. She just laughed and got up to give me a hug and said congrats to both of us. Explaining that Joe follows Darren on twitter and so they both already knew the news, but were glad we told them in person.

Darren gave Joe a look and asked if he would show him the bathroom so that the two of us could talk. He gave me a kiss and the two of them walked out.

"Ok, they're gone. Talk! Quickly, before they get back! I knew you liked him, but you're absolutely smitten, both of you. I can see it all over his face and yours."

"Ok," she said, "yeah, I am like in love with him now. We've been talking since Saturday at your meet. He asked if I'd help them get Lea's note to you and then we kinda kept talking. He'd asked me for my number so he could text me when they needed to get in to drop off the note and I expected it to end after he'd done that, but it didn't! He's been texting me almost non-stop since then and I don't even initiate it all."

"Ohh! YAY! That's great Alyssa, I am so happy that you are hitting it off well with Joe. Who knows, maybe the four of us could double date sometime in the near future."

"Well that sounds like a great plan to me! Who's up for a bowling date when Darren and I get back from our two week trip back to L.A. and Chicago, respectively, from getting our stuff?" asked a male's voice behind us, it was Joe's. We whipped around and saw Joe and Darren standing in the doorway. Joe winked at Alyssa and Darren and I grinned at each other.

"That sounds PERFECT! Alyssa you were just talking about wanting to go back to the Madison bowling lanes," I said, then I looked at Joe and continued, "And I know he won't treat you badly because then I'd be mad at him and that would make things really awkward. I hate awkward." I smiled and winked at him and he and Darren and Alyssa all laughed with me at how dramatic I was just being. I could joke about this though, they really were smitten and Joe just wasn't that kind of guy.

"Well," Darren said, "we are leaving soon to go back to Chicago and LA so we can finish up everything and get what we need to stay here for an extended period of time. But as soon as we get back we'll set something up. I can't wait to go out on a regular basis with you. And I'm sure Joe feels the same, huh buddy." He nudged Joe in the ribs and Joe swatted him in the arm and blushed a little. Alyssa looked at me, blushing violently, and sat back on her bed picking up her cell phone. To the boys it probably just looked like she was answering a text, but I knew that she was hiding her face because she was embarrassed at the comment.

I decided in that moment that it was time to find my roommate and asked Alyssa if she knew where Sara was; she said to check our friend Peter's room so Darren and I said our goodbyes, promising to come say bye again before we left. On the way Darren got a text from Ryan saying that the interview was ready for us to watch and ok it before it was posted. "Oh god I don't wanna see it. I will think everything I say is stupid and that I look bad and that I gave such stupid answers and made you look bad. Just, why don't you watch it and tell me if you think its ok. I'd rather not watch myself make a fool out of myself and look ugly and stupid while doing it. Oh my god, people are gonna see that and think horribly of me and then all that nice stuff we just read will mean nothing and they'll write what they actually think and it's gonna be so horrible. Darren they are gonna ask why you are dating ME and you know sometimes I'm still not sure why. I am just some random girl and you are such an amazing person. I feel like such a bad person when I say this to you. I am really not looking for compliments, I honestly do feel that way, Darren, and you are so amazing and patient with it, but it's going to start annoying you and you'll hate me and – "

I would have said more and just kept rambling, but his lips were suddenly on mine and I couldn't really think about much else while that was happening. Then he looked straight into my eyes and said, "Catie. I. Fucking. Love. You. So. Much. It doesn't bother me when you say that, except that I know that you actually feel that way. I could never, ever hate you. I am dating you because you are the most amazing, beautiful, humble young woman I have ever met. You are kind, and caring, and gorgeous, and perfectly imperfect, and most importantly, you are mine. And I will never stop telling you that, even when you are convinced I will keep reminding you; every day of my life and yours. I have NEVER felt the way I feel about you about anyone else. I thought I knew what it felt like to be in love, but then I met you and that flew right out the window. You are so special and everyone will see that. We are going to watch that interview with every Starkid and Gleek that is at the hotel and they are going to tell you that you KILLED that interview, fucking knocked it out of the park! And then I was hoping we could Skype my parents and Chuck because I REALLY want you to meet them."

I was crying a little bit at his words and how wonderful they made me feel. I couldnt help the way I was feeling; I'd been a people pleaser all my life and I always was worried about what others thought of me as a person. I really did feel like I didn't deserve Darren, but as long as he wanted to be a part of my life I would do my best to try to believe him and show him how much I loved him. I'd make sure I told him every day what he meant to me, just like he promised me he'd do. "Ok," I said. "Should we go try to find Sara now? I'd introduce you to Victoria, but I think she is still home because of the whole no class thing."

"Sure, babe. Don't cry, I hate it when you cry, I feel so bad. Before you say it, I know it's 'not my fault,' but it doesn't matter. When you feel sad I do too and you look so pretty and happy when you smile and laugh that it kills me when you don't. I love you. Let's go meet your friends so we can watch the interview and then cuddle and stuff before we talk to my parents."

" 'And stuff?' Well then, Mr. Criss, I guess we'd better get this show on the road then so we can get to getting." He blushed when I said that and I winked and we walked down the hall with his arm around my shoulders and mine around his waist.

We got to Peter's room and I was surprised to find it really crowded. Sara was there and Peter and his roommate and Alyssa's roommate, Cassandra. I introduced everyone and Cassandra told me I did a great job and that he was so perfect for me. Peter seemed to like Darren and vice versa so I could see a friendship in the making there. He looked at his watch and said we had to jet because everyone was going to Ryan's room soon and that we still had to get dinner. I told him we should go to Romanelli's Pizza place and he said that sounded perfect.

Darren's POV

We headed back to the hotel and went to Ryan's room, a TV was hooked up to his computer and they were all ready to start watching; Catie and I were the last to arrive. It was not because we had been making out in the car of course, no way. They teased us about that, but were too excited to see the interview. I noticed that not much was cut out and that they all awwwed and laughed when I hoped people would. This was a test run and so far we were getting perfect marks. Catie seemed to relax at this, but I could tell she was uncomfortable. I whispered to her that it was a perfect interview, that if anyone else had said what she did she would think it was great and not to worry because people would know right away what an amazing catch she was. And boy was she, sure she was self-conscious, everyone is, and when you are very suddenly thrown into the public eye it brings that out in a person. I didn't want to think about what I'd have to do for the next two weeks to keep from going crazy without her.

The video ended and it was given the stamp of approval. Ryan called Clarice and told her it was great and she uploaded it to youtube and the magazine website straight away. We sent it to our families and I asked mine if it would be alright to Skype them later. They replied with an enthusiastic yes and said they were going to start watching the interview momentarily. Catie's friends were astounded and congratulations were pouring in. We refreshed the page five minutes later and there were already over a thousand views. My twitter followers must have been waiting all day.

We went back to my room and snuggled and kissed lazily for a while with "Tangled" playing in the background. We sang along with our favorite songs then went right back to what we had been doing. A little while after the movie ended I got a Skype call from my brother. I answered and I saw my parents sitting in front of the screen. Catie had been in the bathroom so I talked to them for a little bit until she came back and I introduced them to each other. They LOVED her! And she seemed to like them too. Then they gave the computer to Chuck and I introduced Catie to him and his wife too. They hit it off amazingly well and I couldn't wait for them to meet in person.

That took about an hour and a half, and we were both pretty tired. She asked if we could cuddle up on the bed and watch a movie so that if she fell asleep she could just stay there and I laughed and said of course. She was so cute when she was tired. We talked for a little while about how we would stay in contact while I was in LA. It was horrible to think that we'd just gotten together and now I'd be without her for so long. We decided to text as much as possible and call every night. Skyping on weekends would have to do for me because Catie had homework other nights and it was only two weeks. I just had to keep telling myself that. Just two weeks.

We turned the movie on and she was dozing off in about a half hour. I pulled her closer to me and whispered, "Sleep love, I'll be here in the morning. Goodnight beautiful, I love you with all my heart." and kissed her lips softly.

She smiled and whispered, "I love you more, mi amor, see you in the morning. Goodnight Darebear." yawn "I love you, so much. I really," another yawn, "really do." And she snuggled closer into my chest and side and was asleep in minutes.

I fell asleep with her in my arms for a second time in two days and I didn't think I could be more peaceful and blissed out if I tried.