Hello everyone! I'm going to be really honest with you guys, a lot of the fics I'm reading are so angsty that they are literally making me feel badly...so there won't be any angst in this fic for awhile. I know some of you are looking for it, and there will be some in a few chapters. But for now, ENJOY THE FLUFF.
Also, as some of you have already found, I turned on anon reviews for those of you without fanfic accounts to review. Please don't make me regret it!
For reference: when Kurt sings, it will be in italics, when Blaine sings it will be bolded, and when they sing together - bold italics. :)
Chapter 20
Kurt leaned back on the sofa and picked up the copy of the New York Times that Jack Sr. had subscribed to, Kurt figured if they were going to get it every day until January, he might as well read it. He quickly turned to the entertainment section and found exactly what he had been looking for – the review of the play's opening night on Broadway. He quickly glanced at the picture, it showed the director and the show's male lead – Daniel Radcliffe. Deciding not to read the entire article, he looks for the shortened review.
The play Harvest to Harvest is the story of a man and woman's journey through the Great Depression. The sets and costume highlight the somber tone without diverting attention from the actual storyline. Daniel Radcliffe shines in his performance as Robert Smith, a farmer in Illinois. His portrayal is both haunting and hilarious. He makes jokes work where they should not, and gives life to a character that could quickly become stagnant.
Rachel Berry gives an outstanding Broadway-debut as his wife, Eloise. The play could focus less on "Eloise from Illinois" jokes, but Berry gives such an earnest portrayal that they never grow tired. The chemistry between the pair is electric and seems to radiate off the stage. The audience feels their struggles and roots for them to become stronger throughout the trying times.
The only weak spot in the production is the casting of Bryce Garfield as the younger brother Matthew. Garfield's portrayal is forced, wooden, and clumsy. He has virtually no chemistry with anyone on the cast, and Berry especially seems to be distant and cold to the actor. Garfield has a somewhat comical soft-shoe number (the play's only musical number – allowing it to be billed as a play) that I learned was added during workshops when it was still off-Broadway – and the role still belonged to someone else. I recommend the casting director finds that man and offers him the job, because Garfield certainly needs to remediate his role.
Overall, the play is definitely worth a visit for any theater lover, though we would wait until the imminent replacement of Garfield. Four stars.
Kurt could sing, literally. He knew that reviews like this hurt actors and performers deep to the core, but he didn't even care. If anyone deserved a horrible review, it was Bryce. He glanced at the clock and decided that even though it was only 5:45 in the morning, he could wake Blaine up to tell him the good news.
Kurt folded the paper and placed in on the coffee table, navigating the hallways somewhat clumsily until he approached the bedroom. Kurt still marveled at the fact this was their apartment. Sure, they were still as poor as ever, but they didn't look it, which meant something. The bedroom in this apartment was twice the size of their old one, had a huge walk-in closet that Kurt instantly fell in love with, and a master-bathroom with a Jacuzzi tub that looked like it would be heaven.
Kurt took a running start and jumped on the high bed, "Blaiiiinneeeee!"
Blaine groaned and rolled over, "Please tell me there's a fire because if you woke me up this early for no reason, I will surely kill you."
"Blaine the reviews for the play are out…and they are WONDERFUL," Kurt put his upper half on Blaine's back, "Read them!" He pushed the paper into Blaine's face.
"If they are wonderful, I don't want to read them. I want the play to suck because you're not in it," Blaine said, sleep still hanging onto his voice.
Kurt started reading the reviews aloud, and Blaine's eyebrows went up at the mention of Rachel's name, "Why didn't you tell me she was in it?"
"I obviously wasn't looking at who got the role of Eloise!" Kurt laughed, "But it gets so much better!" He continued reading until he got to Bryce's part, and then he paused and cleared his throat. He then began a dramatic reading of the review.
When he looked up as he finished, Blaine was sitting there with a grin on his face, "That's fantastic. Amazing. Beautiful. HE SUCKS." Blaine started dancing the cabbage patch, "He sucks. He sucks. He sucks. Maybe that means you can try out for the part…."
"Oh no," Kurt laughed, "I'm working at the diner with my fiancé, where I belong." Kurt rolled off the bed and found his black skinny jeans, "speaking of which, I'm shadowing you today."
"I know, you've mentioned it once or twice," Blaine winked, grabbing a towel and heading for the shower, "thank god I only work today and not tomorrow too."
"Do you not want me to follow you?" Kurt pouted and followed Blaine through to the bathroom, watching as Blaine turned on the water in the shower and adjusted it.
"No! But tomorrow is December first and you know what that means…we can decorate for Christmas!" Blaine gave Kurt a huge, open-mouthed smile.
"Do we have to buy things…or what? Because I didn't see any Christmas ornaments.." Kurt started calculating costs of ornaments in his head. They'd decided to buy a tree the day before, so the branches had settled overnight.
Blaine stepped into the shower, "My grandmother has a bunch of stuff in the second guest room. We'll need to buy supplies to make cookies, but she has a cookie press." He was yelling over the sound of the water.
Kurt sat between the two sinks, "Okay. I was hoping we could save money so we could redo the apartment though," he was nervous about asking Blaine to do so, because even though it was technically their apartment, he didn't want to remove all traces of the Anderson family.
"We'll probably have to do it room by room. Starting with the bedroom, I hope. My grandmother has great taste, but even I don't want to sleep in a pink room for much longer." Kurt saw Blaine give himself a mohawk. Sometimes, he wondered if Blaine ever grew up.
By the time Blaine was done playing rock star, they had just enough time to get to the diner. Kurt was nervous and Blaine could tell. "You'll be fine, baby, just…don't try too hard. That's what I do. Remember, I'm the only person that works during the week that also works on the weekends. So I'm top dog right now," he gave Kurt a wink.
Blaine pushed into the diner and a few of the waitresses ran over and hugged him, and when the saw Kurt, then immediately grabbed for his hand to see the ring.
"Ayy! I hope you know how lucky you are!" One of the girls exclaimed.
"Hmm. You know, I can't tell who's the lucky one though. You're pretty cute," a bigger girl said, smiling shyly at Kurt.
"That ring means he's taken Vanessa," Blaine warned, "and table 54 needs ketchup." He turned to Blaine once both girls left, "I swear to god, no one knows what they're doing on the weekends. Thank god I only work today."
Kurt followed Blaine around all morning, and couldn't help but get a little angry every time he flirted with his customers or got to sing a duet with one of the girls. But Kurt also loved seeing him perform again, because it was like Blaine let go of everything when he performed.
Blaine just finished singing "Summer Nights" from Grease with Sofia, when he noticed the look on Kurt's face, "Babe, what's wrong?"
Kurt sighed, "It's just going to be hard to see you flirting and dancing around with other people that aren't me. But I'm sure I'll get used to it."
Blaine laughed, looking through Kurt's portfolio, "You don't have "Defying Gravity" on here, I'm going to add it for you. Also, I'm adding a few duets. You have to do some." Blaine thought for a moment, "Actually, I'm not adding duets. I don't want to see you do any."
"Well then you have to get rid of yours!" Kurt remarked, only half joking.
Sofia burst out of the kitchen, "Blaine, can you take my song? I'm swamped and these people keep ordering more milkshakes!"
Blaine looked at the clock, and technically, they were on lunch break, but then he got an idea, "Only if I can duet with Kurt."
"Blaine! I don't know the words to any duets!" Kurt started panicking.
"You'll know the words to this," Blaine hopped up on the counter and held out his hand for Kurt, "Come on, I won't embarrass you." Blaine turned on the microphone and waited until the people stopped talking, "Hey everyone! This is our newest employee here at Ellen's – Kurt Hummel!" Blaine waited again while everyone clapped, "And also, he's someone really important to me," Blaine grabbed Kurt's hand again and held it up, "He's my fiancé!" Everyone in the diner started clapping and some of the regulars catcalled. "So we're going to perform a little number I think MANY of you will know," Blaine motioned for Kurt to turn on his microphone and the music started.
Kurt instantly knew the song and the words, though he was going to kill Blaine for making him sing first.
Live in my house,
I'll be your shelter,
Just pay me back
With one thousand kisses
Be my lover
and I'll cover you
Kurt danced around Blaine, holding one hand the entire time.
Open your door,
I'll be your tenant
Don't got much baggage to lay at your feet
But sweet kisses I've got to spare
I'll be there and I'll cover you
Blaine got on his knees in front of Kurt, then quickly jumped up to kiss his cheek on the "sweet kisses" line.
I think they meant it when they said you can't buy love
Now I know you can rent it
A new lease you are my love, on life
Be my life
Blaine and Kurt circled each other on the counter, making sure to avoid stepping on plates.
Just slip me on,
I'll be your blanket
Wherever,whatever, I'll be your coat
Blaine walked behind Kurt, wrapping his arms around Kurt like a coat, tickling Kurt's neck as they sang.
You'll be my King, and I'll be your castle
No, you'll be my Queen, and I'll be your moat
I think they meant it when they said you can't buy love
Now I know you can rent it
A new lease you are my love, on life
All my life
I've longed to discover
Something as true as this is
Blaine pulled Kurt back and swung them together quickly again, speeding up their dancing as the diners started clapping.
So with a thousand sweet kisses, I'll cover you
If you're cold and you're lonely
With a thousand sweet kisses, I'll cover you,
You've got one nickel only
When you're worn out and tired,
With a thousand sweet kisses, I'll cover you,
When your heart has expired
With a thousand sweet kisses, I'll cover you
They were standing face to face now, forgetting that they were both at work, and that they weren't alone.
Oh, lover,
I'll cover you,
Yeah,
Oh, lover,
I'll cover you...
Blaine leaned in quickly and kissed Kurt, wrapping an arm around his waist as everyone in the diner cheered. "I think they liked it," he said thickly once they pulled apart.
"Write that one down as a song we can sing," Kurt said with a wink.
"Already did."
The rest of the shift went well, and Kurt truly believed he could actually have fun at this job. Blaine even let him take a few tables by himself, and though he didn't flirt with the women, he did charm them, and made a few tips.
Blaine woke up on Sunday morning when he heard his phone going off, it was a text message from Sophia.
Blaine, we have a three hour shift today that no one is filling, can you please come in and save us?
Blaine groaned, "No! No! No!" he started lightly punching his pillow.
"The apartment better be on fire, or I will surely kill you," Kurt mumbled, opening one eye. "No fire. You die."
"You would never kill me, you love me too much," Blaine sat up, "Honey, I have to go to work today. I don't know if we'll have time to decorate and bake cookies."
Kurt jumped out of bed, "No. We will just start now." He grabbed Blaine's hand and pulled on it, barely moving Blaine.
"No! Bed. Sleep. Good. Bed sleep good." Blaine tried to lay down but Kurt leered over him, "I will tickle you until you get up."
Blaine rolled out of the bed, "Can we decorate in our pajamas?" Blaine was wearing Grinch pajama pants and a faded red t-shirt. "Well. I can." He decided for himself, "But you need to put on Christmas pajamas."
Kurt fake winced, "Sorry. Don't have any."
"I know, that's why I bought you some!" Blaine ran towards the closet that was still full of Angela's clothes.
"Blaine, they better not have any characters on them," Kurt warned.
"Nope. Really classy," he held up a pair of green and red plaid pajama pants and a faded green t-shirt. "Do you approve?"
"I love them," Kurt immediately went to the bathroom and dressed, feeling his mood change. "Okay. Where in the world did your grandmother store the decorations?"
Blaine led them to the guest bedroom where Kurt saw totes and totes of decorations for every single holiday. "Did your grandmother decorate a lot?"
"Most of these are actually from my house," Blaine sat on the ground looking through the decorations, a small smile playing on his lips. "I remember this," he held up a small ornament that was decorated with painted macaroni, mounds of glitter, and a picture of Blaine, "I made it at Sunday School."
"You went to Sunday School when you were little?" Kurt took the ornament in his hands, and looked closely at the picture, "And why do you look so old?"
"I made that when I was sixteen, actually," Blaine held out his hand, "Don't make fun of it."
They looked through the decorations until nine, when Kurt realized that he really couldn't decorate the house with anything in these totes. "Blaine, these are really nice ornaments," he paused, no knowing how to finish.
"But they aren't our style," Blaine finished, holding up a stuffed teddy bear wearing a Santa Claus hat.
"Exactly!" Kurt was relieved that Blaine understood what he was trying to say.
Blaine tucked the bear into the tote, "I mean, if we ever decide to have kids, this stuff is perfect. But for now, why don't we go pick up some decorations that are more our style."
Kurt bit his lip, "That means spending some of the money we saved…"
"Think of it as an investment," Blaine reasoned, "We will use these decorations for the next few years…"
Kurt nodded, "What's your angle, Blaine? What do you want?"
"We have to go shopping in our pajamas."
"No. Not a chance. I will decorate with these popcorn strings before I go shopping in pajamas. Well, actually just yours, mine are okay." Kurt sighed when he saw Blaine's puppy dog eyes, "Fine. But seriously, if we see anyone we know, I will shred those pants."
By noon, they had more than enough Christmas decorations to outfit Macy's and enough baking supplies for a small village. Blaine groaned and flopped on the couch, "Remind me again why I decided to go shopping with you?"
Kurt started looking through the bags, "I'm more worried about what you bought that you wouldn't show me."
"Hey! You were the one who started that whole 'let's not show each other what we bought' idea." Blaine grabbed his bags, "Besides, whether you like it or not, I'm using everything I bought. Even if you don't like it."
Kurt pouted but relented, "Fine. Do you want to decorate first or make cookies?"
Blaine's mouth turned down in disgust at the mention of baking, "How about we decorate, and while I'm at work you can bake the cookies, and since it's only a three hour shift, I can come back and decorate them with you!" Kurt and Blaine had decided to bake and decorate gingerbread cookies to start. It was a tradition in Kurt's family that Blaine didn't want to break, even if he didn't like gingerbread.
Kurt nodded, "That actually works. Molasses is expensive and we'll go through twice as much if you try to bake them. Shall we start with the dining room?"
"You bought things according to room?"
Kurt looked horrified, "Of course I did!" He pulled out a bag, "This has the table decorations and candles."
"Table decorations?"
Kurt pulled out what Blaine thought were paper covered cones, "Christmas trees. You put four of these in the middle of that table and it brightens it up." Kurt thought for a moment, "Actually, we should have thought about this. I mean, once we redo the rooms we'll need new decorations." He started walking towards the dining room when he suddenly turned, "Wait! Christmas music!" Kurt popped is Ipod onto the Ihome and flipped through playlists.
"You still have a Christmas playlist?"
Kurt looked offended, "Of course. Don't you? 500 songs."
"I have like…20 Christmas songs on my Itunes. I don't have any on my Ipod currently," Blaine watched Kurt's face settle into a calm smile when the music started.
"Christmas is my favorite holiday, okay? At least it isn't Valentine's Day, like yours, Romeo." Kurt kissed Blaine's cheek to show that he was joking.
"Valentine's Day is an amazing holiday. Don't diss it for something that happened years ago!" Blaine pulled out a can of fake snow, "And can I spray the windows?"
Kurt looked horrified, "Blaine…" he didn't quite know how to tell him that fake snow was really, really tacky. The look on Blaine's face was one of pure excitement, and when he shifted Kurt could hear more can clinking together, "…use is sparingly."
Blaine took off for the window in the dining room, spraying each one with half a can. Kurt wondered to himself if there was any way to get some of the snow off without getting all of it off.
Kurt adjusted the Christmas table runner, cursing to himself that he even needs to use one, but the thick, wooden table was not his style at all.
Blaine had finished whiting out the windows, so he turned to Kurt, "What next?" He watched as Kurt placed the red candles among the cones. "Decorating the tree?"
Kurt glanced at the clock, if they decorated the tree, which was all they would be able to finish by the time Blaine had to go to work. It was perfect, Kurt could decorate the rest while the cookies baked.
"Tree. Now, I was thinking we could go with a silver and teal theme!" Kurt pulled out the ornaments he bought.
Blaine went into the guest room and carried a tote out, "Of course, but can we put some of these up too?" He held out random ornaments that looked like Disney figures, handmade ornaments, and then he walked over and grabbed his bag, "Plus these." He pulled out candy canes and tinsel.
Kurt looked at the mess of things in front of him, "Well…I bought enough for the whole tree…I hadn't really intended on using anything other than the balls…" he looked at Blaine's crestfallen face, "Oh. Okay fine. Here's what we'll do. I'll decorate half of the tree, and you can decorate the other half?" Compromising, that's how adults worked a relationship.
Blaine nodded enthusiastically, "Yeah, sure!" He heard a chewing noise and looked down, "Abu! No, don't eat the popcorn chain! I'm going to need that!"
Kurt decided that the wall would be the only thing seeing Blaine's side of the tree.
Kurt debated whether to put the silver balls on the tree first, and then use the blue ones to accent. Or put the blue ornaments on and then use the silver to accent. "Blaine, what do you think I should do with the color arrangement?"
"I'm a little busy," Blaine grunted, attempting to untangle lights, "Don't you want lights?"
Kurt appraised the tangled strings of lights, "Actually…that's a good idea." He watched Blaine struggle with the lights for another ten minutes until Blaine noticed him laughing.
"Are you going to help me, or are you going to stand here and watch me suffer?" Blaine stopped untangling. He had lights wrapped around his entire body, and Abu was chewing on the popcorn string again. "Abu!" He tried to walk over to the dog, but ended up tripping and falling. "Kurt! Help me! I've fallen!" he shouted, laughing.
Kurt walked over and pulled the lights off of Blaine, laughing. "Blaine. Sometimes I just wonder why I ended up with a toddler."
Blaine pouted and sat up, "I'm not a toddler. I'm this many…" he held up four fingers.
Kurt smacked his shoulder, "I bought lights, dummy."
Blaine helped Kurt string the lights on the tree, and Kurt measured to make sure they were equal distance apart. "Okay…now, we decorate."
Blaine looked at Kurt's ornaments, "I'd go with silver and accent with teal."
"I knew there was a gay man in there somewhere," Kurt joked.
"Stereotyping…." Blaine warned, throwing tinsel on his side of the tree.
Kurt stepped back and looked at his side of the tree, appreciating the way the lights shone off of the silver ornaments. Then he looked at Blaine's side of the tree. He was currently putting fake snow on the branches. "Isn't that stuff flammable?" Kurt mused.
Blaine's eyes went wide as he read the side of the can, "Shit….no. Nope. It says right here it is non-flammable."
Kurt continued hanging teal balls among the silver ones, moving them around every so often to get the color mixture perfect.
When he stepped back again, he noticed that Blaine's side of the tree was sagging. "Blaine…do you think there's enough on the tree?"
Blaine stepped back, "Yeah..Except we need an angel for the top of the tree." He reached into the tote and pulled out the most hideous angel Kurt had ever seen. It was decorated with multicolor rhinestones and glitter.
"Did you make that?" Kurt swallowed, trying not to laugh.
"Of course not!" Blaine tried to reach the top of the tree but had no hope of getting it on the top, "It was my grandmother's."
"I don't believe Angela would pick that," Kurt gasped, taking the angel and looking at it. There were purple rhinestones where her eyes should be. "It's…not very pretty."
"It was my grandmothers, my DEAD grandmothers."
"Oh, Blaine, I'm sorry…I didn't mean…" Kurt looked back at the angel, "But no. I bought a silver star at is simple. We can find a more appropriate place for this."
"Like back in the tote?" Blaine tried, scrunching his nose in the way that Kurt loved.
"That's a start," Kurt leaned forward and kissed Blaine, "I love you."
Blaine smiled, "I love you too."
Kurt walked over and grabbed the ottoman, "Why don't you stand on this so we both can put the star up?"
Blaine laughed and jumped on the ottoman, holding onto Kurt's hand as they both positioned the star on top. "It's beautiful," Blaine whispered.
Kurt laughed, but realized how much the tree really did look like them. Kurt's side was neat and organized, but Blaine's ornaments reflected in the glass. Blaine's side was a hodgepodge of everything good about the holiday season – family memories, things from childhood, candy, and if was even arranged in a way that allowed certain pieces to shine. Except the popcorn chain, that had to go.
Blaine kissed Kurt right under his ear, "I have to go to work baby. But get baking, so when I get back, we can decorate gingerbread men."
While Blaine was gone, Kurt made gingerbread cookie, hung the stockings for himself, Blaine, and Abu. He also hung up mistletoe…and a few other decorations.
"Abu! I have a present for you!" Kurt said in a singsong voice, holding up a puppy sweater. "It has a snowman and everything!" He turned the Christmas music up and wrestled Abu into his sweater.
Walking into the bedroom, he found his Christmas sweater with snowflakes on it, and the one who bought for Blaine – it had reindeer on it, but cute reindeer, not like those sweaters Rachel Berry used to wear.
When Blaine walked in, he saw the mistletoe everywhere. "Kurt, you do realize I'm going to have to kiss you ever step we take together into this apartment?"
Kurt ran to him, wearing a very un-Kurt sweater. "Kurt…what is that?"
Kurt put his hands on his hips, "Look. This is my Christmas sweater, and it has some rules. We don't talk about the sweater outside of the house, much less wear it. If anyone comes into the apartment, I will run and you will answer the door. When we take our Christmas card pictures, we will act like the sweaters are purposely cheesy. Also, I have one for you to wear."
Blaine appraised his sweater, "I seriously hate this holiday." But he slipped it over his head.
"Picture first! The cookies are still cooling." Kurt had moved the tree into the corner, "I put my side out for the picture because it matches our sweaters better…"
"And because you're biased," Blaine commented, "But okay."
"And you will wear this," Kurt put an elf hat on Blaine's head.
"Can't I at least be Santa?" Blaine whined.
"No. I'm a reindeer, Abu is Santa, and you are an elf." Kurt grabbed Abu and moved to the ground "Set the time for thirty seconds, then get down here! We need to get this done."
"I'm still greasy from work," Blaine whined, setting the time of the camera and running, still sitting down while the flash went. "Shit."
It took seven tries, but finally Blaine got into the shot, wasn't grimacing, was actually smiling, and didn't have a shiny spot on his forehead.
"Are we done?" Blaine fell to the floor, "because I want to nap."
"Decorating! It's the holiday season!" Kurt grabbed Blaine's leg and attempted to pull him into the dining room. "We each get to decorate twenty cookies."
"TWENTY? That will take forever!" Blaine flopped into the chair and grabbed the pink icing, tracing a horrible dress on the first cookie.
"You can do ten, I'll do thirty." Kurt grabbed the men, feeling bad for the ones he couldn't save from an untimely death.
Blaine rushed through four or five cookies, before sniggering into his hands.
Kurt glanced at the cookie in Blaine's hand, "BLAINE. That is obscene and definitely not Santa approved!"
Blaine giggled, "He's a naked gingerbread man."
"Naughty list. You. Coal." Kurt put extra curls on his cookie.
"Oh yeah. If you're so good at this, let me see you master…" Blaine stopped when he saw Kurt's gingerbread cookie, "Is that me?"
Kurt blushed, "Yeah..I wanted to make gingerbread cookies of us…" he trailed off.
"Honey, he's beautiful," Blaine stopped, "Wait..that was…whatever. It looks really good."
He looked at the other cookie Kurt finished, one of himself. "That's me….yeah."
"That is the most beautiful gingerbread cookie I've ever seen in my entire life." He picked it up and cradled it gently, "but how are we going to eat it?"
"I feel like coffee is the only appropriate way to eat us." Kurt grimaced , "This was a better idea in my head."
Blaine was about to comment when they heard a huge crash and Abu streaked through the dining room with a popcorn string in his mouth. He groaned instead, "This is going to be a very long holiday season."
He was about to go pick up the tree when his cell phone rang, "Hello, Blaine Anderson?" he was confused when the number came up as blocked.
"Mr. Anderson, this Sony Music Group, we were wondering if we could set up a meeting to discuss your songs. We're very interested in buying some of them for our artists."
Blaine nearly dropped the phone. No, this would be an amazing holiday season.
Reviews please. :)