Hi :D. This is my initial theory on how to keep writing this story but to move things along so they aren't so complicated. I came to notice the reason why I was doubting this story was that I did want to make it bigger than was necessary. I added new characters pretty much at the same time and gave them too much depth and I completely blame the OC, lol. My lack of writing that caused me to go into overdrive with this fic but I am hoping that this is the start of ITYNA getting back on track. Let me know how you like it because this is a tentative chapter to see how well this is received but I am fairly happy with where it went and the speed it went as well.

Review as always peoples; you opinion is very important to me.

Ryan and friends still own Glee despite my protests to let us fan-fic writers and lovers take over. :P

Chapter 17 – Changes

(KPOV)

Just before Thanksgiving. Let me bring you up to speed on what's been happening with Blaine and I, and our crazy friends over the last month or so.

The weeks passed quickly and there was a lot happening. I was running around NYU like a madman trying to get all of my school work in order, and Blaine had heard back from his audition saying that he as one of two men considered for a the lead in a lesser known Broadway production of "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying", that would be starting rehearsals just before Christmas. He was at least assured an understudy roll and I couldn't have been happier but this meant we were both insanely busy preparing for our respective projects.

Basically...I never saw Blaine. He spent the majority of his time either working at the coffee house or with Garrett. Garrett had sort of taken him under his wing as it were and it was refreshing to know that someone wanted to mentor Blaine instead of the other way around for a change.

Garrett had been offered the part of Billy Flynn which given Blaine's reaction to his audition wasn't surprising but Garrett said he saw something in my boyfriend that made him want to help him. Gar wasn't surprised at Blaine's job offer but thought it best to aid him in getting a real portfolio together and perfecting his image for future auditions saying that you can't just get in by talent alone but you need to perfect your calling card.

I had long ago sensed that I shouldn't be jealous around these two since I had met his very pregnant wife last week. Him and his wife had invited us over for dinner and I let my guard down knowing finally that there were people out there that really just wanted to genuinely help others and not just hog my boyfriend's time. They had become friends quickly and I could honestly say with absolute certainty that Garrett was a good person who really just wanted to help Blaine.

Garrett and Blaine had set up his head shots for his portfolio, as well as offer his sound equipment to record some audio tracks and Garrett made him cut his hair before the photos. This did make me whimper slightly at the loss of his longer curls, but I knew it was to make him appear more clean cut and mature.

Garrett was a real god send for Blaine and I think it made him realize that he could actually make it in this business with the right help.

The problem was though when Blaine did have free time, I didn't. I had loads of projects due most of the time simultaneously and my living space had turned into an array of fabric, sketches and textbooks.

Him coming over and spending the night with me had become a useless act of futility because of the amount of things I had scattered across the living room at any given time. For a very organized person the work load for this major was turning me into a clutter bug and it wasn't at all attractive in my world. I had only had a few stray nights with him, which I now of course spent with him at his house, but it was getting frustrating in more ways than one.

XXXX

On the other hand there was some other exciting news that came a few weeks back. Terri had taken my advice and asked Jay to meet him for a mini vacation in Japan while he was there on business. Good old Skype. We managed to talk about it in detail one night when he was still panicking about how to propose to his boyfriend. I had mentioned that maybe getting Jay to take a leave from work, even though he was only there at a minimal capacity anyway, and join him there. I told him that best way to make someone feel special is to include them in even the smallest of things and Ter took that idea to heart.

Terri had a few more business details to organize while he was there so he figured he would turn this into a vacation for them. Jay of course agreed and has been over there with Ter since. Last I heard was a squealing phone call that came at an obscene time in the morning from the two of them on Blaine's home line. I was there for the night and all we could hear was Jay giggling over the phone into the answering machine. After crawling out of bed and putting them on speaker Blaine and I managed to finally get a straight sentence out of them...they had gotten engaged.

Both Blaine and I had mouthed 'finally' at the declaration as we wished them our congrats and wanted all the details when they got back . We told them we wished we could be there to hug them but this phone call was costing Blaine a fortune and we wanted them to get back to their bliss. We asked them how long they were going to be staying and Terri interrupted saying that they would stay as long as Jay liked: Yep Terri was whipped, but we couldn't have been happier for our two friends.

XXXX

Rachel and Mercedes were doing great in their classes, equally so actually. Rachel was finding that she wasn't the only diva in New York and that prospect seemed to humble her somewhat and made her strive harder to perfect her voice and concentrate on the remainder of her education. Her and Finn were going strong and both Rachel and I were both kept in the loop with the things that Finn was up to at OSU. He had made second string quarterback which was pretty awesome for a freshman, and he was maintaining a C+ or higher average so far. I was insanely proud of my brother for working so hard and for keeping his word and being to true to Rachel. Finn and I had talked about a Thanksgiving get together once midterms were over and Finn had suggested that I bring Blaine; not something that I was expecting but I'm was glad that Finn was letting his guard down a little about my boyfriend. I think he got tired of me gushing about him in our almost nightly phone calls and had come to accept that he wasn't going anywhere.

Mercedes on the other hand despite doing quite well with her courses and the amount of work that came along with them was still pretty mad at me.

A few days after Blaine's audition I had invited Sam over thinking that Mercedes was out for the evening. Sam and I had talked pretty regularly since the day we re-connected and I had told him that I lived with her but I neglected to let Mercedes know that I had met rekindled with him. I wanted to ease her into Sam's and my friendship because I knew that he had hurt her even if it wasn't completely his fault and definitely not his intention.. I have never liked conflict and even if it wasn't the right choice I tried to make it an easy transition.

Well suffice it to say when Mercy came home early to see me and Sam laughing and working on our Bus. Mngmnt assignment I felt like I had been given an ice bath which reminded me oh so painfully of a McKinley slushie, from the glare I got.

Flashback

Mercedes had come inside and literally dropped the books that were in her hand as she closed the door seeing Sam and I on the couch.

"What the hell is he doing here? Sam..." Sam tried to smile but then looked back over at me realizing that I had left out the part where I hadn't told her about us finding one another again.

"Um hi Mercy..." She held up her hand and silenced us both. I kind of shrunk into the couch knowing the scolding that I was in for later.

"Hell to the nah...no no uh-uh...Sam you need to leave and I need to have a discussion with my boy Kurt here..."

Sam was a whirlwind of urgency as he grabbed his book and basically sprinted out the door. Months of dating Mercedes had obviously had him learn that tone and he was out of sight before she could say another word to him.

After letting her vent at me for lying to her, I wasn't going to correct her that I wasn't lying but merely omitting which I thought was best, I knew it was time to let the truth out. I sat down with her, and Rachel for that matter once she got in, and told them both about Sam and why he had disappeared without apparent reason. I begged, and Kurt Hummel doesn't beg, for Mercedes to listen to everything I had to tell her before passing judgement and I think it was only because she loved me that she gave me the time of day.

They nodded where applicable and let me get the entire story out including the events on Blaine's audition day where Sam had been there for me and thankfully Mercedes seemed to calm down...if only a little. Rachel although being a little upset that Sam had to go through so much seemed to understand why I hadn't said anything initially. We both tried to convince Mercy that this really wasn't our story to tell... but Sam's.

I implored her that Sam had been saying for days that he'd missed her and wanted nothing more than to talk to her but I warned him that this may not be right thing to do. So I gave Mercy his phone number and said it was up to her to contact him. I made sure she knew that I was going to continue to be friends with him but I would respect if she didn't want him around. She took his number with a small smile and nothing more was said on the topic before retiring to her room. I left the situation be for the time being and figured Mercy would come around even if she was still a little pissed at me for holding out on her.

XXXX

So that kind of brings us up to date. I had just walked out of my last mid-term feeling fairly comfortable that I did well. I had finished all my other exams this week and I was looking forward to a little time off until the next term began. Finally some time alone with Blaine, and I got to go home to Lima to see dad, Carol and Finn who would all be getting together for our Hudson-Hummel Thanksgiving very shortly.

I walked out of Business Management, shaking my head from the cobwebs that had collected there over the last few weeks of crazed activity to be met with a big smile and an overly excited expression.

"Kurt! How'd your exam go?" Sam was almost bouncing out of his shoes and I was having a hard time believing it was just because of our exam was over.

"It went ok. I think I got most of it right, how bout you? Excited much?"

"Oh you have no idea man. I think I passed the exam but that's not why I'm stupidly happy...here look at this."

He handed me his cell phone which he had obviously been bursting to give me and showed me a text message that was dated from first thing this morning.

I'm not saying I forgive you but I would like to talk with you about things that were left unsaid. Coffee? Time and place; let me know if you're interested. -Mercedes

I looked up from the message with a huge grin just in time to have Sam literally try and hug me to death.

"Thank you thank you thank you Kurt. I don't know what you said to her but it worked!".

I returned the hug contented but confused. "I really didn't say much that wasn't the truth Sam and that was a few weeks back. So I guess she just needed some time. This was all her Sam; not me."

He pulled away still grinning like an idiot, "Either way, thank you. You obviously said something right because I never thought she would even speak to me again and now she's willing to have coffee with just me? I mean this is the first message she's sent me and I didn't think she even kept my number!That's progress Kurt."

It was true. If I was a betting man I would have figured that Mercedes had thrown out the number and left it as that. She hadn't mentioned that she was thinking of talking to him again but I guess she was just trying to sort out what she wanted to do and I wasn't going to pry even though I was dying to find out where she stood with this. She would tell me in her own time.

"Well I'm happy for ya Sam. But if you hurt her again in any capacity I will hurt you. As a gay man I hath fury greater than a woman scorn so don't mess with me Evans." I gave him the toughest bitch glare I could imagine as I let him go completely.

"Yes sir." He saluted me and I rolled my eyes even though I tried my best not to. I left the school with him before we went separate ways; promising that we would talk while we were on break. He said he would keep me updated on how things went with Mercedes considering she was staying here for the holidays since her mom was down south visiting some relatives. We hugged goodbye like any other day as we both decided to head home. It had been a busy week , well month after all.

Upon getting home I felt a wave of sadness for some reason. I knew I was finally allowed time to relax and maybe even get some time with my boyfriend but it seemed empty somehow.

As I entered the apartment I found that I was alone for the first time in a long time since moving in. Mercedes was studying on campus probably since she had two more exams this week and Rachel was god knows where because I was quite sure that she had her last exam yesterday. So I sighed knowing that I probably should start cleaning up the apartment since we hadn't done much of that this week before I began to pack my bags for Lima. Flopping down on the couch with my book bag beside me I tried to remember a simpler time in high school when all I had was my family home and my friends.

With that thought I drifted to sleep on the couch not knowing how tired I really was.

XXXX

(BPOV)

"I'm telling you Blaine it's a great idea." Rachel was sitting there holding her coffee like it was the last thing on the planet as she spoke with unsurpassed enthusiasm. She was clad in an outfit that I know wasn't Kurt approved since she had miss matched stockings and shoes which was a definite unforgivable in the world of Hummel. I deduced that she had managed to slip out when Kurt was writing his last exam.

"I dunno Rach. I just hope it isn't too much for him to take. I want him and all of us to be happy but I feel like I'm doing all this behind his back and he might freak out."

"You aren't doing anything behind his back except planning. Besides Jess is completely on board right?" I knew she was right. This was Jess' idea as a matter of fact; she just helped me realize that it could work and now I wanted this more than anything right now.

"Well yeah Rach...but.."

"No buts Blaine Warbler! You asked me here to help you finalize details before we go back to Ohio to talk to Finn, Carol and Burt right?"

"Yeah.."

"Well then let's finalize." She added a very large and contented smile that I had come to know as the 'You know I'm right' Rachel Berry smile. I just sighed and admitted defeat because she knew that I wanted this with all my heart; and she knew it would make Kurt happy. Well we were both hoping it would in any case.

"Ok so you really think Kurt will want this? I mean is it too soon?"

"No I don't really think so Blaine. I mean he is very much his own person as you know but I know how much he misses you; I can see it on his face even if he doesn't say it out loud."

I smiled and blushed a little and for some reason it made me feel better about this decision.

"I miss him too..." I sat up trying to pull all of my composure into my posture, "I'm going to ask Kurt to move in with me!"

"Hehe yay! He's so going to say yes Blaine, and with Jess moving into the studio in 2A in your building that's vacant she can still save money! This is so exciting! When are you going to ask him though?"

My smile turned immediately upside down because I really had no idea when I should do that.

"Uh I'm not sure. Should I ask his dad first or something?"

"I don't think so...I mean you're just asking him to move in with you, its not like you're asking to marry him or anything Anderson." She kept talking but that was when my mind went elsewhere.

I had never really given too much thought to my wedding...who was I kidding I did think about it a little. When I was younger I would sit in my bed late at night and dream about what the big day would look like. I had always envisioned an evening ceremony to be honest, and usually outdoors. I would be standing at the alter excited and nervous as I looked down the aisle at the figure standing there awaiting to be my husband. Even from an early age I had always pictured a man beside me; even then I knew even subconsciously that I was gay but that person was always a blur. They seemed like a fuzzy apparition that seemed too far away to see clearly but as I sat here with Rachel it was the first time I gave my groom a face: Kurt. Even though I was hopelessly in love with the man I had never seen our relationship past just being together. All it took was Rachel mentioning me asking Kurt to marry him that this image now floated in my mind.

Kurt and Blaine Anderson Hummel ; it had a nice ring to it actually even if I knew I was way over my head. I was forced out of my thoughts by hearing my name with an all too familiar shrill quality to it.

"Blaine Anderson did you hear a word I just said?"

I blinked rapidly and my face turned red, not because I had been ignoring her but at the thought of all the images of Kurt's and my future that just passed through my head.

"Uh...no I'm sorry Rach..." I smiled remembering the daydream again, picturing Kurt in a vintage suit walking down the aisle towards me with bright smile mirroring my happy tears with his own. I smiled again as I continued.

"I just got lost in my own head space...about how happy Kurt makes me...sorry." I really wasn't but it was only polite.

"Hey it's ok Blaine. I was just saying that you should ask him before we go back to Ohio. Make sure he says yes before asking his dad? Or Finn?"

"Ok Rach...I will."

That was the last moment I paid attention to her for a while as I floated in and out of the rest of the conversation; happy to just continue thinking about the future with Kurt. I could only hope that Kurt wanted the same future with me.

XXXX

(KPOV)

I knew I was asleep but I couldn't bring myself to care considering the position I was in. Blaine and I were lying entwined with one another, naked and sweaty and so unbelievably aroused. The sweat from each other made for a nature lubricant as we thrust and moved against one another; our lips searching each others for a taste that we craved.

The heat between us had risen to an indescribably level. The world around us had become hazy and the only things keeping me grounded in my euphoric state was his mouth and the weight of his body as it slid over mine.

I couldn't take it anymore, I needed more of him; I thrust up into my lover with as much passion as I could muster relishing in the mixed groans between us.

"Blaaiine please..."

Before I knew it my lovers face came into view. I reached up to grasp his cheek when shock took over my system.

"Hello Kurt...miss me?"

"WILL..." I screamed and before I knew it he had grabbed my neck making any noise that came out of my throat fruitless. I thrashed against him as he molested my mouth with his own. I was scared for my life not knowing what else to do as he pinned me beneath him. I felt hopeless, helpless and dirty.

He started to force himself into me and I could have sworn I felt myself bleeding. It hurt more than anything I could describe and I began to cry helplessly as he tried to push into me completely. I looked at him, implored with him to stop but all I could do was hope and fight.

"Come on Kurt, I know you love this baby...you're such a slut for it I can taste it..."

...

I woke up screaming for the first time in almost two weeks. I don't know why today was any different or why I had that particular dream but all I could try and think about was calming myself down and washing those images out of my head. I was crying and sweating and the images in my head were making me feel sick to my stomach.

Blaine. I needed Blaine.

I got up, somewhat unsteadily grabbing my bag and all but ran out the door. For one of the only times in Kurt Hummel's history I went out in public with tears streaming down my face and my hair and clothes looking anything but immaculate. I knew that I probably looked terrible. I knew that I shouldn't run however many blocks to Blaine's in Gucci boots. I knew that he may not even be home and that calling him may have been easier but I need to see him and have him hold me.

I found the front door to the building left slightly ajar and I sprinted inside and up the stairs to the familiar hallway in front of Blaine's door. I pounded on the door only once before it opened in a hurry. Blaine had obviously just gotten back in because he was still wearing his coat and didn't have to unlock the door when he opened it.

"Kurt?" His voice was soft as he took in my appearance which I finally let him see all of as I raised my head to show him my teary and blotched face.

"Oh my god Kurt..." He pulled me inside and into his arms without another word, throwing the door closed behind him. I wrapped myself tightly around him and drowned myself into his arms fully as I started to cry again.

He said nothing for a long while but just kept rubbing my back, and neck while shushing me softly, letting my emotions take over and flow freely. After a few minutes I felt myself calm enough to try and speak into our embrace.

"Blaine I'm s-sorry." I sobbed in a voice that was barely my own.

"Don't be baby. What happened, please tell me."

"I-I had a dream, a really bad one j-just now a-and I needed you so much. I-I just can't tell you how much I n-needed you."

His grip tightened on me instantly and I felt a warmth spread through me as he spoke. "I love you. I'm here. Tell me what you need; anything."

I pulled away from him, my breathing slowly regulating again as I noticed the tears in his eyes as well.

"Don't cry Blaine please. Not over me."

"Always Kurt. If you're sad, I'm sad. I hate to see you hurt." Somehow I felt myself feeling stronger as I reached up and wiped his tears away instead.

"I can't see you hurt either Blaine. It makes me feel hollow inside. Y-you make me smile without even trying."

He released his arms from me completely but only so far as to grab my hand and bring me into his room. We didn't say anything for a bit but it was an unspoken idea that we take off our coats and shoes and climb into bed with one another.

Blaine offered to be the big spoon as he pulled me into bed beside him curling his one arm around my waist. As he placed a small kiss to the underside of my ear as he snuggled impossibly close. The feeling of Blaine's warm body against mine literally made me feel all of the bad dreams washing away as my mind focused solely on the man behind me. He literally had a gift for calming me down and I never felt loved like I did in this moment. We stayed there for quite a while as he calmed me down. slowly he would rub my stomach or place a soft kiss to my neck in an effort to keep me safe in this moment.

That's when Blaine began to sing in the slightest of whispers against my neck

Have I told you lately that I love you
Have I told you there's no one else above you
Fill my heart with gladness, take away all my sadness
Ease my troubles, that's what you do

I smiled even though it was incredibly cheesy. The lyrics should have been the other way around with me singing this to him but I sighed and enjoyed the moment; feeling my heart lift uncontrollably as his beautiful and quiet bari-tenor voice filled my ears.

For the morning sun and all its glory
Meets the day with hope and comfort too
You fill my life with laughter, somehow you make it better
Ease my troubles, that's... what you do.

He stopped there as I turned around in his arms to face him. He still had tears in his eyes but there was a smile on his face that matched my own. I leaned in and kissed him very gently; barely even letting our lips touch before pulling away again.

"Blaine, Rod Stewart really?"

He giggled lightly beside me but his eyes never faltered from my own.

"Kurt, I mean those words. Even though you may think that I'm the one that calms you down it is the other way around too. I need to take care of you like you need to take care of me. It goes both ways and I couldn't be happier knowing that you've given me the responsibility of caring for your heart. You know you have mine too right?"

I smiled at him, the biggest smile since I had gotten in the door, "I know that for sure now Blaine." He leaned in and reconnected our lips once again and I couldn't have imagined a more tender moment. Blaine pulled back again and as I looked into those beautiful hazel pools again I sensed a kind of excitement.

"Kurt?"

"Hmmm yeah?"

"I have something I want to ask you...because I can't even think of going another moment with out asking so here it goes..."

I raised my eyebrows slightly but rubbed my palm on his cheek as I tried to reassure him to continue. Whatever he had to ask me was making him glow.

"Will...will you move in with me?" It was whispered yet confident adn i was unsure for a minute if I had heard him correctly.

My eyes shot open immediately in shock, joy and confusion when it set in, "Blaine...I.."

Ok ok so kill me if you must but then there wouldn't be another chapter :P. Tee hee. Sorry this was getting long and I promise I will do my best to finish off the next one shortly...that is if you like where this has gone.

Review and let me know children! Loves ya...don't hate me

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