AN: OH MY GOD. Have I told you all that I love you? Because I really, really do. I'm glad you all liked the last chapter. This chapter is very short, but I wanted this to stand on it's own. It needed to be separate, not matter how short it is, they needed to have this discussion. Also - flirting. I got an anon on Tumblr asking me if she/he could ask me questions about the story or the characters back stories. PLEASE DO. If you want to ask in the reviews or on Tumblr...either is fine! Anything from favorite colors to what I picture the OCs to look like is fine. Please keep reviewing guys, you will never know how happy it made me today!

Chapter 14

When Kurt woke up the next day, it was as if a huge weigh had been lifted off his shoulders. He stretched out, feeling momentary sadness that Blaine still wasn't next to him, but couldn't stop the smile that formed on his face when he thought about the note Blaine sent him yesterday.

Blaine still loved him.

Blaine had called right before Kurt went to bed last night and said the diner had given him a week off for "bad behavior" also known as punching Bryce in the face.

Hayden suspiciously planned a trip to Lima Heights to meet Santana's family, and only bothered to call Kurt and tell him right after Blaine announced his week off.

It smelled fishy to Kurt, but he wasn't going to argue. Hayden was officially the fairy godmother of Blaine, and she would do anything to see him happy.

Kurt couldn't argue with a person like that.

He sat up and looked around the room, even though Blaine wasn't around, it was like he never left. His sweatpants were still littered around the laundry basket, his sunglasses still sat on the table by the door. The room even still smelled like him. That may or may not have been because Kurt doused the entire bed in his cologne two nights previous.

Abu started stirring on Blaine's pillow and Kurt picked the puppy up, "Good morning Abu!" Kurt kissed the dogs head and allowed him to lick his face a few times. "That's so gross but cute at the same time."

Abu popped his head up and looked around the room, whimpering when he didn't find what he was looking for. "I know, Abu. I miss Daddy Blaine too." Kurt padded into the kitchen and poured Abu some breakfast. "Eat up. We're going to find him."

Kurt took and shower and then stood in front of his closet. What was he supposed to wear? He wanted to woo Blaine again, to put the spark back into their relationship that had been missing for the past few weeks.

"Abu? Should I wear this shirt.." Kurt held up a black Henley. The dog didn't do anything. "Okay, not a fan. How about this one?" He held up a brown v-neck. The dog barked. "You would pick Blaine's shirt." Kurt knew it drove Blaine crazy when he wore is clothes. So Kurt paired the shirt with a pair of tight jeans, brown boots, a light tweed jacket, and a brown scarf. Even he had to admit that he liked the way the shirt looked.

In Kurt's mind, their ability to share clothes made them and even greater match.

Kurt was halfway out of the door with Abu when he realized something.

Surprising Blaine meant that he'd have to take the subway by himself. "Hold on Abu, this is going to be bad. I've only done this once before."

Kurt stood at the top of the steps and immediately felt the apprehension fill his body. "I can't do this," he breathed, "I cannot." Though he had gone on by himself once, he was used to Blaine always being there.

Blaine.

If anything could get him onto the subway by himself, it would be Blaine, and the fact that he was waiting at the other end.

"Come on, Abu." Kurt picked up the puppy and got down the steps in time to make the train. He sat down in the first seat he could find, curling his hand around the bar.

"You know, you aren't supposed to have that rodent on this," a Businessman reading a newspaper mentioned.

Kurt didn't say anything, he just stared at the man.

"Did you hear what I said? You can't have that dog on the subway." The man folded his newspaper and looked at Abu.

"Well what do you want me to do? We're on here now and we're getting off at the next stop." Kurt felt protective of Abu. It was like someone was talking about his child.

The man rolled his eyes and went back to his paper.

Kurt realized then and there that we would never like going on the subway – with Blaine or without him. But if Blaine had been there he would have handled the situation for Kurt.

But he got there. He got to the Anderson apartment. That's when he realized that showing up at 8:30 might not be the best of ideas. So he tottered down to the Starbucks and picked up Blaine's favorite coffee and a blueberry muffin.

He walked towards the Anderson apartment with a newfound attitude. Today wasn't the day he was going to try to get Blaine to move back into their apartment, today was the day he would get Blaine back into their apartment, back into their bed, and more importantly, back into Kurt's life.

He buzzed them, and Angela's voice rang through the speaker, "Anderson residence. Who is it?"

"It's Kurt," he waited for Abu to bark, "And Abu!"

Angela's laugh filled the foyer, "Come up, come up!"

Kurt took the elevator, eager to see Blaine.

But when he walked into the apartment, Blaine was nowhere to be seen. Kurt looked around, "Um. Where's my boy…Blaine?"

"Sleeping. The boy was not ready to take on the world yet today." Angela sighed, "He has more of his grandfather in him than I thought."

Kurt was stuck, he knew that because he wasn't technically with Blaine anymore, and that going back to his bedroom could appear inappropriate. "Do you….do you mind if I go back and get him?"

Angela grabbed her purse, "I'm actually going shopping right now, so you can do whatever you want." She gave Kurt a cheeky wink and left.

If only they could do that.

Kurt put Abu down in the other guest room, "I'm sorry buddy, but I have to wake him up alone." It broke Kurt's heart to see Abu sitting there alone, but he had an idea.

Kurt walked into Blaine's new room and saw his ex boyfriend hugging a body pillow. He was spooning against it, and Kurt suddenly grew very jealous of the pillow.

Kurt sat cross-legged on the bed and just stared at Blaine. He watched the tendril on Blaine's forehead blow up in the air from his breathing. Kurt reached forward and touched Blaine's leg, moving it from his ankle to his knee, attempting to wake him up, but also just feeling the warmth of Blaine.

"Blaine, wake up," Kurt whispered softly, "Blaine…"

Blaine opened one of his eyes and looked down at Kurt, a slow easy smile appearing on his face. "Good morning, handsome." He threw the pillow to the ground and pulled Kurt up to him. The were chest to chest and Blaine just looked into Kurt's eyes, "God. I missed this," he said softly, still half asleep.

"Missed what?"

"Waking up and seeing you. I can't tell you the last time I opened my eyes and you were the first thing I saw." Blaine smiled sadly then moved into a sitting position.

Kurt whined, "Lay back down. Please."

Blaine pulled his knees to his chest, suddenly more awake, "It's not that easy Kurt. We can't just act like a couple…when we aren't anymore."

The few stitches of Kurt's heart that were put together ripped open again. "We…we aren't?"

Blaine's eyes grew wide, "No…I mean, no. But yes. I mean. Not yet."

Kurt didn't understand, "Not yet?"

Blaine shook his head and rested his forehead on his knees, "Bab…Kurt. I don't want to fight. But what you said really hurt me. I think we should be friends for a few weeks." Blaine looked up and grabbed Kurt's hand, "But let me be perfectly clear, after a few weeks, we will be back together. But I feel like…we had a really big fight Kurt. Like, epic."

Kurt nodded, "I don't think we need a few weeks. I thought I lost you Blaine, that was enough to shock me into seeing that I want to spend the rest of my life with you. That was enough for me to quit the play because I want to spend time with you. Blaine, I'm in this for the long haul," he took a deep breath, "but. If you want a few weeks, I'll give you a few weeks. But…will you at least move back home?"

"If I move back home, that wouldn't be very friendly. Because Kurt, it is taking all the strength I have not to push you down on the bed right now, and if we actually slept in the same bed…" Blaine's eyes grew wide and he put his hands on the bed to steady himself.

"I can sleep on the couch…" Kurt offered.

"No. You cannot. Look, like you said I know you are the only person I want to spend the rest of my life with….but that doesn't mean I don't need time to heal. Because I do. But," Blaine bit his lip and then smiled, "I'll shorten it to a week."

"So next Monday we can be us again? We can be the happy couple?" Kurt smiled hopefully.

"There is a lot we have to talk about, but yes. I just…" Blaine stopped himself.

"You just…what?"

Blaine turned pink, "Kurt….if we get back together…I want to take the next step…soon. I know we're young. But I'm telling you this now and giving you a week so you can change your mind and leave."

"When you say next step…what do you mean?" Kurt's heart pounded deep in his chest, because he didn't want to get ahead of himself.

Blaine realized that he spoke far too much, "I meant…my grandparents are letting me stay in this apartment when they go to Florida until the summer. And, I wanted us to move here." He thought that was a pretty good cover. He glanced over at the duffle bag where he had a ring hidden. "There's another thing…"

Kurt leaned forward, Blaine's tone had shifted, "What?" he wasn't afraid, he was terrified. This tone from Blaine meant he was getting serious.

"I called Bryce last night."

Kurt didn't want to open this can of worms again, "Why would you do that?"

"Because," Blaine took a deep breath, "I want you to stay in the play. I would prefer you not be there at all hours, but that is your call. Kurt, this is your chance, and I want to be the man holding your hand and cheering you on." Blaine reached out and tucked a piece of Kurt's hair behind his ear, "if you quit now, this entire thing was a huge mistake. But if we twist this into something positive, if we become stronger, and you get your foot in the door, this whole thing will be a blip on our radar in fifty years."

Kurt felt a single tear fall down his cheek, "You really mean that? You trust me enough to let me do the play?"

Blaine surged forward and cupped Kurt's face with both of his hands, "Kurt…I trust you. I don't trust Bryce, but after what Hayden and Santana did, I don't think he'll try anything else." Kurt sniffled and more tears fell. Blaine couldn't stop himself and he leaned forward and kissed at the tears, "Kurt, please don't cry. You are making this friend thing really hard. Already."

Kurt smiled, "I would say I'm sorry…but I'm not."

"I have one other thing. I did something…somewhat stupid."

Kurt's mind raced. Did he sleep with someone else? Did he give up the lease on the apartment already?

Blaine rubbed Kurt's hand, "I quit Paparazzi."

"Oh thank god."

Blaine scrunched up his nose and laughed, "I felt like a hooker."

Kurt tried to smile, but he felt somewhat lost.

"What's wrong?"

Kurt sighed, "I never really got to enjoy the waxed chest…."

"You, Kurt Hummel, are just trying to seduce me." Blaine pulled away.

"Is it working?"

"I will keep it waxed for awhile. Just for you."

Kurt wagged his finger, "You would do that for just a friend?"

"Shut up."

Kurt unfolded himself from the bed, "Did you have anything you needed to do today? Because I can leave if you want me to."

"I'll repeat myself, shut up. I want to spend time with my best friend." Blaine stood, stretching, and this time Kurt didn't stop himself from watching the man in front of him stretching. Blaine's muscles pulled over his ribs as he stretched. He saw Kurt looking and he blushed and giggled, "Stop!"

"You are putting yourself on display in front of me. I am allowed to look." Kurt purposely followed Blaine with his eyes. "Actually, I enjoy looking."

Blaine bent over slowly, shaking his butt, slowly putting on socks.

"That would be sexy…if it weren't for the socks." Kurt said, still watching Blaine. "And you really do suck at this just friends thing."

Blaine turned, pulling a t-shirt over his chest, "Fine. Take this for just friends. I have to compile my lyrics in binders so I can give them to companies. I planned on doing that today, I know it's boring….but…yeah. You can help?"

"I mean, I could," Kurt pursed his lips and watched Blaine's eyes linger a little too long, "I mean, yeah. I guess I will. As your friend." He watched Blaine's eyes snap away from his lips.

"Right. Friends. Okay, well, the piles are in the living room." Blaine led Kurt into the living room, and Kurt gasped.

"When did you write so many songs?" He looked at the piles, there were at least fifty different songs.

"Oh, you know. I've been writing since I've been twelve I think…but I really wrote a lot in the past few weeks." Blaine grabbed a box full of binders. "So it begins.."

Jack came wheezing around the corner, "Actually, Blaine, can you do me a favor and run to the corner store and get me a mango?"

Blaine stood, "A mango?"

Jack nodded, "And take Abu with you, he needs a walk."

Blaine left quickly. Jack turned to Kurt, but Kurt beat him to speaking first, "I gather you wanted to talk to me."

"How could you tell?"

"A mango? You don't even like mangoes." Kurt laughed, "Blaine got his lying ability from you."

Jack settled on the edge of the sofa, "He got a lot from me, Kurt. He got his stubbornness, his work ethic, and his hair. But he also got my self esteem…meaning very little. What you said about him not believing in his dreams and being a loser…that hurt him. He literally hasn't stopped thinking about it. Now I don't know if I should hit you or shake your hand. He, like myself, has a desire to prove people wrong. The only reason he did that was because you said he couldn't. But Kurt, I'm not going to be around much longer, so I'm going to give you some tips on how to maneuver around Blaine. He tries to be perfect, but he lets that perfection fall around those he loves. Blaine is now trying to be someone else for you. He is trying to be more mature. Don't let him lose that childlike innocence, Kurt, because life has thrown a lot at him, and that's how he's survived. That fight you had with him took a lot of it away. Please don't take anymore. Please." Jack smiled down at Kurt, "I couldn't have picked a better person for my grandson to fall in love with…but don't prove me wrong. He won't say it to you, so I will." Jack's eyes, those that matched Blaine's so much, lingered on Kurt. "You two are going to have to take care of each other in this city. Listen to each other. And also, my grandson is not a loser."

Kurt tried to read what Blaine's grandfather wasn't saying, but couldn't. "I will never hurt him again. I hated myself these past few days. I hated everything I was and everything I said. I understand Blaine a lot more than I think even he knows. I said those things because I knew they would hurt him. I didn't believe them."

Jack stood and put his hand on Kurt's shoulder, "Sometimes when we get close to the end, we understand things more, Kurt. I know why you said them. I know why you tested him. But he passed those tests. Now is the time for love." With that, Jack shuffled back towards the bedroom.

Kurt and Blaine spent the day putting together Blaine's lyric books together. Kurt read some of the lyrics and wanted to cry. He could feel Blaine's hurt, Blaine's happiness, and most of all, Blaine's love.

Kurt was putting the last of the lyrics into a binder when he felt Blaine's eyes on him. He tried not to blush, but he could feel the heat rising in his cheeks. Kurt couldn't help himself, he turned and looked, "See something you like."

Blaine moved closer, "Uh huh."

Kurt felt his breath catch in his throat. "You really suck at this friend thing…" he rasped out.

Blaine cupped Kurt's face, "You can stop me," he breathed.

"You were the one who wanted to be friends for a week." Kurt's eyes never left Blaine's as the curly haired boy leaned even closer, their lips almost touching.

"Maybe a day," Blaine whispered against Kurt's lips, finally touching them with his own. Kurt whimpered and wrapped his arms around Blaine's neck.

Abu rounded the corner from Jack's bedroom and lunged at the boys, licking both of their faces. Kurt and Blaine laughed as the both held the puppy, "Can we go back to our little family now?" Kurt asked, still breathless from the kiss.

"Let's go home."

Were they smart to stop the "let's just be friends" crap? Why is Jack being so cryptic? Why was Bryce so nice to Blaine? Don't forget to ask any questions you may have! REVIEWS mean Blaine might use that ring soon. :)