AN: Hallo again, and here we have the next chapter, which is a little bit different... I just wanted to say that it makes me really happy that people are actually reading this, it's amazing. So. Thank you so much! Enjoy!
Chapter 9. In a Forest in Ohio.
Santana Lopez: Group chat tonight. Be there.
…
Santana Lopez: What does Hummel mean by +1? Who's he bringing?
Tina Cohen-Chang: I was wondering the same thing. Is Kurt seeing someone?
Santana Lopez: it had better be that Curly haired hobbit from the wedding!
Tina Cohen-Chang: Oh yeah. I've never seen Kurt let loose like that! It was amazing!
Noah Puckerman: WHAT? What Hobbit? Why did I not know about this?
Brittany S. Pierce: Has my Kurt found someone?
Santana Lopez: That's what we're trying to find out, Britt. And Puck, man are you in for a surprise!
Santana Lopez: Hey, People! Where're you at? Rachel, Mercedes, what's up with Hummel?
Mercedes Jones Thompson: guys, he really wants it to be a surprise. Can we just wait another week, and you'll see
Tina Cohen-Chang: so there is someone?!
Rachel Berry: Maybe.
Quinn Fabray: I really think we should just wait and let Kurt tell us, girls. I mean, if he really has found someone, then it'll be a huge deal for him. He'll be wanting to tell us face to face, and he needs us to support whatever it is he has with this potential someone.
Santana Lopez: says the future Shrink.
Quinn Fabray: Yes, she does. Really guys. He needs this.
Tina Cohen-Chang: okay, I can respect that. But can you maybe tell us if he's happy?
Mercedes Jones Thompson: He is. Very.
Rachel Berry: You won't recognize him. He's completely changed, but in the best way. Like. He laughs. He actually laughs!
Santana Lopez: Wow
Brittany S. Pierce: my Kurtie's happy? Yay.
Quinn Fabray: yay, indeed.
Finn Hudson: Hi hi, I can't wait for you guys to find out! Wish I could be there! Have a great time!
Kurt looked briefly over at Blaine who was assuredly not sleeping in the passenger seat, head resting against the window, eyes closed against the mountainous scenery flying by. The sun was hanging low in the sky, just above the treetops, though there was a little over an hour till sundown. It was a Friday evening in mid July, and Kurt had brought his boyfriend of just 2 months with him to Ohio for the annual ND summer weekend. Rachel was sitting in the backseat speaking over the quiet radio, though neither he nor Blaine were paying any attention. - He couldn't speak for Christian, the boyfriend, who was staring absently out the window next to Rachel, occasionally nodding or humming along.
Blaine let out a little sound that sounded suspiciously like a soft snore, and sank further into his seat. Kurt smiled mildly, one of those strange surges of warmth spreading through his body. He had a boyfriend. He actually had a boyfriend, who cared for him; who smiled because of him, and made him smile. A boyfriend who gave him flowers and took him out on dates. It had only been two months and a few days since the amazing first date, and first kiss, but to Kurt it felt a little bit as if life had always been like this. It had only taken a few weeks getting used to texting Blaine at odd moments throughout the day, to seeing his boyfriend at least every other day for coffee or dinner. By now being with Blaine was like second nature.
"Honey, time to open your eyes. We'll be there in a moment," he spoke softly, gently placing a hand on Blaine's knee.
"I wasn't sleeping," Blaine mumbled, blinking his eyes and turning towards Kurt.
"I didn't say you were, sweetie."
As the GPS counted down the distance to their destination - a rented hut about an hours drive south of Columbus - Kurt started to feel his nerves stir. He had received quite a few messages from New Directioners wondering who he would be bringing, but he had refused to answer any of their questions. He wanted to introduce his first boyfriend to his friends all at once. Rachel, Mercedes and Quinn were the only ones knowing about him and Blaine. A warm, comforting hand slid onto his knee giving it a reassuring squeeze as he stared intently out the windshield.
They pulled up at a small parking area already filled with cars a few minutes later. A small pathway led the way into the forest, the house just visible from where they were parked.
"Ready to face the Spanish inquisition?" Kurt tried for a sarcasm, but his nerves shone through.
"No," Blaine replied with a smile, "but let's do this anyway."
"We're not that bad, Blaine," Rachel tried to reassure him, as she got out of the car. Kurt just shook his head and mouthed 'they are!' at a laughing Blaine.
Someone must have heard the car pull up, because when the foursome made it up to the cozy-looking wooden cabin, the rest of the ND was gathered on the porch in front of the door, nudging each other about as they tried to spy Kurt and his companion.
"Ha! It is the Hobbit," Santana exclaimed as they rounded the last turn and came into clear view. Kurt tried to keep his smile down as a look of shock and indignation swept over Blaine's face.
"Yay," Brittany cheered, as Puck inexplicably handed over a few bills to a smirking Santana.
"Kurt! You gonna introduce us?" Sam called over the usual hum of conversation among the group of people on the porch.
"Yes, Kurt! Who's the hunk?" Puck added, an arm slung around his wife's shoulder.
"Guys," Kurt started, only to add a pause of suspense, grabbing Blaine's hand and sending him a bright smile, "This is Blaine. My boyfriend," he introduced, though the last syllable was swallowed by a loud enthusiastic cheer. The next few minutes were a mess of hugs, greetings and congratulations. Through the ordeal Blaine didn't let go of his hand, even when Kurt was pulled in to hug after hug. Mercedes and David were the last in line, both of them hugging Kurt and Blaine tightly.
"Blaine! They have Double-bunk-beds! How cool is that?!" David exclaimed upon getting to hug his old friend. Stars immediately lit up in Blaine's clear eyes, making Kurt laugh affectionately. "And we're sharing! It'll be just like that time when we went on that camp with school!" Mercedes just shook her head, linking arms with Kurt and leading him into the house.
The rental house was made almost entirely out of wood. There were three planes in the building, bedrooms scattered around two large open plan kitchen/living areas (one in the basement, one on the first floor). It had a pleasant smell to it, of drying wood. The furnishings were non-remarkable, standard for rental homes in Kurt's experience, though the beds stood out with their heavy wooden posts. On one side of the house a large covered patio faced the tree-covered mountainside, furnished with wicker chairs and couches. It was on this patio the new Directioners and their partners gathered, as they had gotten settled in their rooms. The last rays of sun competed against the scented candles placed on the surrounding rails, insects buzzing and the forest steaming in the dusk.
"Blaine! As the newest member of our little gathering, you're up first." Santana announced as she got settled on Brittany's lap with her glass of wine.
"Okay?" Blaine almost managed to hide his nerves with a curious smile. Placing a supportive hand on his thigh, Kurt nestled up closer against his boyfriends side.
"How long have you guys been together?" Tina asked, cutting over any embarrassing question Santana was preparing to fire of.
"Since a few days after the wedding, I suppose," Blaine answered, sending Kurt a small smile. "We got together just after our first date about two months ago."
"The Wedding? Mercedes and David's wedding?" Mike, who hadn't been there, asked. A few people nodded yes to this, sending Kurt and Blaine sweet smiles. "Is that where you met?"
"Yeah. David and I went to school together. Kurt was my neighbour at dinner, and then we danced for a bit. I asked Kurt out at the end of the night."
"They danced for over an hour, not letting anyone cut in. It was really sweet," Tina cut in. Kurt blushed as all eyes turned towards them, hiding his head against Blaine's neck. Blaine pressed a kiss against his hair, as had become somewhat a habit for them, making the assembled group go 'aww', which only made Kurt's blush deepen.
A few hours of teasing and talking later found Kurt, Mercedes, Blaine and David cramped together on the bottom bunk. After some friendly discussion it had been decided that Kurt and Blaine would take the bottom bunk, leaving the top one for Mercedes and David. Despite countless of evenings spent cuddling on couches, Kurt and Blaine had yet to spend the night together in the same bed. So far the conversational aspect of their relationship had develop at a somewhat quick pace, and their lives had interwoven almost seamlessly. The physical aspect, though, seemed to have come to a halt right around the area of light, moving on heated, making out. Neither had done anything to actively move further and during the one conversation on the topic they had had, they had agreed that they were perfectly comfortable with where they were at, and that if this changed they would let the other know. Obviously no steps in that direction would be taken with Mercedes and David sleeping in the bed above, and Kurt was somewhat happy with this arrangement.
Kurt had lost track of the conversation, content listening to the ups and downs of the voices rather than concentrating on the words they were making. He snuggled further into Blaine's chest, enjoying the warmth of his arms around him. Closing his eyes seemed way too appealing to resist.
"Is he actually asleep?" Mercedes wondering voice broke through the peaceful haze surrounding Kurt.
"I think so. He's far away at least." Blaine replied.
"It is past our bedtime. Perhaps we should call it a night?" David's voice now, followed by an agreeing hum from the others.
"Kurt, Hun," Blaine whispered in his ear, "you need to wake up, my darling, just for a few moments, I promise." instead of replying Kurt nuzzled his head against Blaine's chest, blinking against the false light of the room. It took a bit of shuffling about, and Kurt felt as though he moved strikingly like a zombie, but they got settled in their beds, Kurt curled up against Blaine, head on his chest, and one arm wrapped securely around his torso.
"Goodnight, my darling," Blaine whispered into his hair.
"'Night, Bee," Kurt whispered back, closing his eyes and letting the sound of Blaine's steady breathing lull him asleep.
Waking up in Blaine's arms was just about the most amazing experience of Kurt's life. Blaine was still fast asleep, chest rising and falling slowly, Kurt's head moving with it. For some time Kurt stayed in the same position, just soaking up the feeling of being so very close to someone. After a while though, he started getting restless and decided to get out of bed and find out if anyone else was up yet. Voices were drifting down the stairs, as he was headed for the upstairs kitchen area.
"… so happy. It's amazing that one man can have such an impact." Tina was saying. Furrowing his brow, Kurt came to a halt, listening to the conversation.
"I know! I mean, they've been together for two months. Blaine must be an amazing guy." Sammy, Puck's wife, agreed.
"He is. He really is. Most of all he's amazing for Kurt," Mercedes' voice was further of, sounding slightly muffled. "When I found out about them, it was an accident, I think. I just skyped Kurt, after returning from our Honeymoon. I hadn't spoken to Kurt for about three weeks, and it was an ordinary work night - Kurt was wearing his reading glasses, so I know he had been working - He refuses to wear those things at all other times. And Blaine was there, in the apartment, doing the dishes." laughter floated down to Kurt, who was smiling with affectionate reminiscence. "three weeks! I hadn't seen him for three weeks, and suddenly he's being all domestic with a man I only knew through my husband!"
"Oh, Mercedes. That's so sweet. It's exactly what we've been hoping he would find!" Tina commented.
"It's great for him. It's about time he gets to be happy, from what i hear." Sammy said.
Just then footsteps interrupted the laddie's conversation.
"Morning, Girls. What's for breakfast?" Sam inquired. Kurt decided this was his cue to head up into the kitchen as well.
AN: And that's that. The hut in the story should exist somewhere near Logan, Ohio. Just a quick remark on the ND's: Puck is happily married to this feisty woman named Sammy. He was, surprisingly the first to get married, though they are still child less (not chosenly). Mercedes is happily married to David, and owns a shop in Chicago. Rachel is on Broadway in a smaller role (Though not the chorus) and goes through boyfriends. Finn has just had a baby girl with girlfriend Lisa (Hence why they are not in the hut with the others). Tina teaches dance in Rochester, NY and has just moved in with boyfriend Tom. Quinn is single and studies at Yale. Santana and Britney live together in Boston, where Santana works corporate, and Britney teaches Kindergarten. Mike moved to the west coast where he is in a dance troupe who moves around quite a bit. Sam is married to Helen, and lives in Kentucky where he works in real estate. And Artie is doing busy movie stuff in LA. Chapter 10... later today? Possibly? Where things turn a little darker and a little better... Please do let me know if there is anything at all you want to know...