Kurt felt Blaine tugging on his arm, pulling him away from their friends who were busy congratulating Mr. Shue on winning 'Teacher of the Year'. In Kurt's opinion, no one deserved that award more, especially after all Mr. Shue had done for them.
"What is it, Blaine?" he asked when they had reached a secluded corner of the stage and were hidden from sight.
"I wanted to give you an early graduation present," he said with a slight smirk, though Kurt caught a tremor in his voice, "And to congratulate you on having won Nationals."
"We both did," Kurt protested, wondering where all of this was going.
"Maybe so, but this is your senior year. That makes this win your victory, Kurt."
"So where's my present?" Kurt demanded with a hint of the diva-ness that he knew Blaine thought was adorable.
"This is your present, Kurt," Blaine whispered, before swiftly attaching their lips and kissing Kurt with everything that he had in him. Kurt willingly reciprocated, letting Blaine guide the kiss where he would, until he felt something wet brush up against his skin and he realized that Blaine was crying. He pulled away, though gently, so that Blaine wouldn't think he was being rejected.
"What's wrong, babe?" he asked, daring to use one of their pet names in the hope that it would encourage Blaine to talk to him and share whatever was bothering him.
"I don't want to lose you, Kurt," Blaine whispered in a choked-up voice, clearing trying to suppress the tears that so desperately wanted to fall.
"Lose me?" Kurt couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You aren't going to lose me, Blaine. You and I are going to grow old and wrinkled together. You're the love of my life, or haven't you heard?"
Instead of making Blaine laugh as Kurt had hoped, the tears just fell faster.
"You're graduating in a week," Blaine continued to blubber. "And then you'll go off to New York and forget all about me. Chandler was just the beginning—"
"Now, stop right there," Kurt said sternly. "We've discussed this. I'm not giving you up for anything, Blaine. Anything, do you hear me? I love you so much that it physically pains me to think of life without you."
By now, tears were streaming down Kurt's face as well. Blaine reached up to wipe them away with the pads of his thumbs. He hadn't wanted to hurt Kurt. Too many relationships failed when put to the test, though and the distance from Ohio to New York was enough of a test to considerably worry Blaine.
"I'm sorry," Blaine whispered, lowering his eyes to the ground, ashamed by his reaction.
"No, honey, look at me," Kurt directed him, raising his head again with a well-placed hand under his chin. "Never apologize for coming to me with what you're feeling. No secrets, remember? I want to share everything with you, including New York. We're going to be there together someday, I just know it."
"I'm sorry," Blaine said again. "I just had a moment of weakness. Forget I ever said anything."
"Forget? Never!" Kurt exclaimed. "We're boyfriends, Blaine. That means coming to each other when we have a problem, or knowing when give each other space. This is not one of those times, Blaine. You were right to tell me that you were worried. But remember what I said after the whole Chandler debacle? I'm leaving my heart here with you. That hasn't changed, and it never will."
"I love you," Blaine whispered, nuzzling his face into the crook of Kurt's neck, kissing the bare patch of skin there, and feeling content for the first time since their win in Chicago.
"I love you, too," Kurt replied, lowering his head to kiss the top of Blaine's hair and tightening his arms around the shorter boy, holding him close to his chest in an attempt to shelter him from the future that was hurdling ever faster towards them.