"Maybe we needed to break a little, so we could put ourselves back together more beautifully than before." ― Leah Raeder, Cam

April

Kurt wakes up with the late afternoon sunlight streaming across his face. He remembers that he's in Antoine's studio, but can't for the life of him think why he's in Antoine's bed. He quickly sits up to assess the situation.

"Non, non, mon chouchou. Don't move!"

Antoine is standing at the foot of the bed… behind an easel… with a paintbrush in his hand. Kurt quickly pulls the sheet from his waist to the top of his neck. Kurt now remembers that he finally agreed to pose for Antoine for a painting. He must have dozed off during the sitting. Life has been so busy working full-time at Bellerose, taking two fashion courses in the evening and spending time with Antoine on the weekends.

"Why do you cover yourself? All that pale skin is parfait. Those rosy lips and cheeks, mmmm…"

Kurt smiles and slowly lowers the sheets to his bellybutton. Kurt isn't quite ready to allow Antoine to paint a full nude portrait of him. They've become closer over the past month, with a few hot make-out sessions, but Kurt isn't willing to go further unless he's in a committed relationship. Kurt doesn't know what their relationship means to Antoine, and it's starting to bug him.

When they go out with Antoine's friends, everyone assumes that they are together in an exclusive relationship. Antoine is attentive, warm and caring, and has eyes for no-one but Kurt. It's casual and nothing that's overly complicated – after the situation with Blaine, it had initially seemed ideal. However, Kurt is getting to the point where he wants some sort of commitment. They have never discussed it, and sometimes words speak louder than actions.

"The afternoon sunlight… C'est idéal. T'es si beau comme ça. Je t'aime (It's ideal. You're beautiful like that. I love you)."

Kurt freezes for a few moments, hardly believing what he's just heard. Did Antoine say that he loves him? Did he mean it or was he just caught up in the moment with his painting? One thing Kurt knows for sure is that he has to find out the answer.

"Y-you love me, Antoine?"

"Oui, mon amour. You are perfection on my canvas. You inspire me."

"So you love me as a model?"

"Bien sûr (Of course). I also love spending time with you. Seeing Paris through your eyes is magical and like a breath of fresh air. It's like viewing Paris from a new perspective, and that makes me more creative."

"D-does this mean we're boyfriends?"

"Oh, mon chouchou, I'm not into labels. I cannot do relationships."

"What do you mean by that, exactly? What are you looking for, then?" Kurt asks, sitting up and covering his chest.

"Boyfriends, marriage and children. Pha! So bourgeois. I'm a free spirit and my art is the most important thing in my life. I can't be creative if I have to worry about a husband and children. I've seen it with other artists. They worry about the mortgage, the schools, and other unimportant things in life. Soon their art is nothing but a hobby and they settle for some boring desk job. Non, that is not the life for me."

"That sounds a little lonely to me," Kurt replies. He can't imagine a life without a husband and family, and establishing roots in a community. Kurt is a little nervous asking the next question.

"Where does that leave us, Antoine?"

"I may be a free spirit, but I'm not a philanderer. I enjoy the company of only one man… at a time. However, my art is my mistress and her call is more powerful than any man can be."

Kurt has had enough of the modeling session. He wraps a bathrobe around himself before getting out of bed to use the bathroom. While Kurt is in the shower, he thinks about Antoine's philosophy of life. On paper, it sounds ideal – being caught up in the moment with one man without society's labels. But Kurt's heart is telling him something different. It's not something he really wants in the long-term, but can he settle for this type of relationship as long as he's in Paris?


Kurt adjusts his tablet so that his image fills the little window in Skype. "Blaine, can you see me?"

"I certainly can. You look amazing, Kurt. Can you see me okay?"

Kurt smiles because he has spent a lot of time making sure his hair is perfect before their prearranged Skype call. It's one thing to tweet, e-mail and talk on the phone, but another thing altogether to see each other on Skype. Kurt's heart flutters when he sees Blaine fill the screen. He can tell Blaine has taken some time with his hair as well, because the loose curls have a luxurious shine. Blaine is wearing a simple T-shirt, but its snug fit accentuates his biceps, and those distressed jeans he loves so much. However, it's Blaine's warm sparkling eyes and smile that capture Kurt's attention. Blaine looks at him as if he's the single most important person in his life. After minutes of silence have gone by with nothing more than them staring at each other, Kurt clears his throat.

"Who's your buddy? I didn't know that you now have a dog."

"Oh, Sundance isn't mine - he's Bentley's. I agreed to dog sit for him this week. It's Bentley and Marge's 20th wedding anniversary and they went to La Jolla. Marge has a cousin living there and they've always wanted to visit California."

A vision of a house surrounded by a white picket fence, two children and a dog flashes through Kurt's head. He'll have to convince Blaine that cats are better than dogs… Kurt quickly shakes these thoughts out of his mind and continues the conversation.

"I read the editorial you did on accessories you sent me, Blaine. It's really good… Exceptional even. You know my views on fashion having no gender."

"Yeah, you've proved that time and again. Your views certainly influenced the editorial. What do you think? Did I go too far with my examples?"

"No, you didn't. If your readers take on your ideas, the jewelry industry will have a lot to thank you for. Have you picked the photo to go with your editorial?"

"Umm… We're using the usual headshot of me. Why?"

"As cute as that photo is, it doesn't push any boundaries. Why don't you get a special photo taken, wearing some of the accessories you describe in the editorial? I don't think scarves really suit you, but I bet you could really pull off wearing some bracelets and rings."

"You think I look cute in that photo?" Blaine asks with a twinkle in his eye.

"Is that all you got from what I said, Mr. Anderson?" Kurt huffs, embarrassed that he let that slip.

"No, of course not. You don't think I'd look silly? I'm not a model," Blaine giggles nervously.

"That's exactly the point! If you really believe that accessories can be worn by everybody, you have to lead by example. Show people that they're not just meant for supermodels to adorn a magazine spread. It's a look that a successful businessman can pull off as well.

"You know, Kurt, I think you're onto something. I will get a new photo taken. I knew you would have a good idea to make the editorial come to life. Thank you."

"You're most welcome. Now tell me about the Monarch House. My dad sent me some photos of the after-party. I loved your T-shirt, by the way. I wonder where you got that idea? Snooping around Rachel's YouTube channel?"

Blaine throws his head back in laughter and describes his evening of watching New Direction videos on YouTube. He then relates a few stories about the Monarch House opening day and its activities since. The conversation is light and easy, and for the first time, Kurt feels like maybe their friendship survived Klainegate…. Maybe there's even hope for more… Someday…


May

Kurt enters the Bellerose Boutique early on Monday morning, with a café au lait and un pain au chocolat from the Petite Patisserie, below where he lives. He limits himself to one chocolate croissant on work days, and brings two chocolate éclairs to Emmeline's every Friday night. He climbs up the stairs instead of using the elevator, hoping that he's working off some of the calories.

Kurt's workstation is in front of Christophe's office, and he starts up the computer before taking off his jacket. Springtime has come to Paris and Kurt is thankful for the warmer weather, and the tulips and daffodils in bloom. It looks like the cherry trees will be blossoming by the weekend.

Kurt loves his new job at the Bellerose Boutique – it's everything he could possibly want. Sure, there are boring administrative duties – answering the phone and organizing Christophe's diary – but the other aspects of the job more than make up for it. He loves seeing the new designs come together, and he's even made a few suggestions that have been used. His nighttime courses in fashion design are also helping to formalize his knowledge of good design structure. Christophe reviews all his design coursework and makes useful suggestions. He has even hinted that a couple of Kurt's designs might be used in the next winter's collection.

One thing that has surprised Kurt in his new job is how much more he prefers working behind the scenes. He doesn't miss the spotlight, both on and off the set. He can see how this type of career could blend in so much better with raising a family. While Fashion Weeks and new line debuts are busy times, requiring every waking moment of the day, they are predictable. With good planning, the Hummel family could still work smoothly.

When the computer is ready, Kurt opens Christophe's diary. The morning is relatively light, but Christophe will be out of the office after lunchtime. Kurt then opens Christophe's business e-mail, flagging messages that require his boss' immediate attention. There is one from the fabric supplier in Thailand and one from the ad agency in Paris. Kurt takes a sip of his coffee and nibbles on his chocolate croissant, and continues browsing through the new messages. Kurt's eyes pop when he reads the subject line 'Opening of the LA Boutique next month'.

Kurt knows that Christophe plans to open a boutique in LA, the first shop in the US. However, Kurt didn't realize that it's happening so soon. He opens the message and reads about the LA Boutique, and the detailed plans for the opening day and its fashion show. Kurt raises an eyebrow when he reads that Sam Evans has been confirmed to be a model on the runway.

"Bonjour, Kurt. I see that you're up with the birds this morning. Any interesting e-mails today?' Christophe asks as he walks past Kurt into his office.

Kurt makes Christophe a coffee with the shiny new Nespresso machine by his desk. He grabs his tablet and rushes into Christophe's office.

"I flagged the e-mails that require your attention this morning. The Thai supplier wishes to confirm the amount of silk material you're ordering. The ad agency wants a meeting to go over the budget for the next collection. And…umm… Jayden Robinson has confirmed the details of the LA boutique opening."

"Fantastique! I need you to book four first class air tickets to LA for next month. There will be myself, my wife, Mademoiselle Monette, and yourself."

"Me?! I'm going to LA with you?"

"Of course I want you there. I'll need you more than ever in the days leading up to the opening. When you make the travel arrangements, make sure you book your own flight back to Paris a week or so later."

"Why is that?"

"You want to see your father, non? Perhaps some other family and friends? I know how difficult it can be sometimes to live so far away from your home. So, book yourself the long way back through Ohio and New York City. Consider it a birthday present from me."

Kurt practically skips out of Christophe's office. He can't wait to tell his dad the news that he'll be home for a visit. And yes, he'll go to New York City and surprise Blaine. Christophe was amazingly kind with the extra time off work.

Best. Boss. Ever.


"That's fantastic news, kiddo. I can't wait to see you. Do you want me to come to LA for the boutique opening?"

"Maybe it's best if you don't, Dad. I'm going to be super busy and I won't have any time to spend with you. Why don't we wait to see each other the following week in Lima? I'll be home for my birthday. I'll then spend a few days in New York City before I return to Paris."

"Anyone in particular you wish to see there? I hope it's not that Sebastian fellow from Elle magazine. You've got your life sorted out now and you don't need to be partying with him all night."

Kurt rolls his eyes at his dad through the computer camera and hopes that Skype picks up his expression.

"No, Dad. I won't see Sebastian. We haven't talked since I moved to Paris. I want to meet up with Blaine."

Kurt can see his father's lips turn into a huge grin and look up as if he's thanking the gods.

"I know you are Team Blaine's biggest cheerleader, but I'm not sure what's going to happen when I see him. I'm hoping that we can be friends. Blaine has a new man in his life now."

"Come off it, son. I'm Team Kurt all the way. Every. Single. Time. My respect for Blaine has nothing to do with you. He's a decent young man and is doing a lot of good for Ohio. The Monarch House in Westerville is a huge success. I've been making noises about how the next house should be in Lima, and Blaine is listening."

"And that's the only reason you like Blaine?"

"Look, buddy, I'm not going to lie. I liked how happy you were when you and Blaine were friends. He really cares about you. I don't know anything about a new man in Blaine's life, but he certainly doesn't come with Blaine to Ohio. All I know is that man is still in love with you. He always asks me about how you're doing."

"I miss him a lot, Dad. I know I still want him in my life. We need to meet up and see how that could or might work. This boutique opening is giving me the perfect opportunity to see him."

"You've got a hell of a jet-setting lifestyle, bud - Paris, LA, New York City. I'm glad you can squeeze in Lima, Ohio to see your old man."

When the Skype call finishes, Kurt makes a list of things he needs to do before flying to LA. There are presents to buy, school to notify of his absence, a wardrobe to be planned, and he needs to contact Rachel so they can meet up in Lima. Kurt looks over his list, wondering what it's missing. It's only after dinner that he figures it out – Antoine.

Of course, Kurt needs to tell Antoine that he's going to the US for a couple of weeks, but Kurt knows that he needs to tell him more than that. Their conversation last Sunday had been a real eye-opener. Kurt had thought they were heading to some sort of commitment, only to find out that Antoine doesn't 'do' relationships.

As much as Kurt enjoys spending time with Antoine, he knows that the relationship will go nowhere. Sooner, rather than later, Kurt will get frustrated with Antoine's casual and free-spirited philosophy. Kurt really wants to matter in someone's life. He wants his partner to be so much more than just a friend and a willing body to pass the time with – boyfriends, then husbands, and then fathers. There's no way that he and Antoine will have a happy ending. If Kurt ends things now, there's a chance that they can remain friends.

And then of course, there's Blaine.

Kurt's thoughts have revolved around Blaine since he heard the news of the trip that morning. His heart flutters in a way that it never has for Antoine. It might be seven months since he's last seen Blaine, but Kurt knows he's still deeply in love.

Kurt arranges to see Antoine the following evening for dinner, ensuring that they will be alone to speak. There's no easy way of doing this, but he's got to break up with Antoine before he leaves for LA.


"This beef bourguignon is simply delicious. One Friday night, you'll need to teach me how to make it."

"Oui, I can do this for you. The way to a man's heart is through his stomach," Emmeline cackles.

"Don't forget that I won't be here for the next three Friday nights, because I'll be in LA."

"Mon petit, you leave so suddenly! Does this have anything to do with Antoine? He told me you agreed to be friends only. I was hoping that your love would blossom, but it wasn't meant to be."

"I like Antoine very much and enjoy spending time with him. However, we both have different views about what love is, so what might have blossomed would have died at the first frost."

"The heart knows what the heart wants. And I think that you know who you want. That homme américain (American man)?

"I'm not sure, but I haven't seen him in seven months and I miss him so much. I'm hoping that we can meet up during my visit and then we'll see what happens."

"Ack, the affairs of the heart. Si compliqué (So complicated)! If you love him, go after him! And I want to know every single little detail when you get back."


"I thought you didn't want to model any more. What made you change your mind, Sam?" Blaine asks. He makes a point to touch base with Sam each week to not only catch up with his news, but to find out how Mercedes and his future godchild are doing.

"Dude, do you know how expensive baby stuff is? Mercedes took me to Babies-R-Us a couple of weekends ago. I can't believe how much a newborn baby needs. I thought they just slept, ate and pooped. Mercedes says I have a lot to learn. I'm doing just the one modeling job so that we can buy all the crap for the nursery."

"So tell me more about this modeling gig? Is it for a designer that I know?"

"I'm not sure. It's some fancy French boutique called Bellerose."

Blaine has heard rumors through the fashion industry grapevine that Christophe Bellerose plans to open a boutique in LA, however he didn't realize that a firm date has been set. Blaine isn't sure whether Kurt will be attending, but if there is any chance, he's determined to be there.

"Kurt works at Bellerose in Paris. What's the date of the opening?"

"May 23rd. I know what you're thinking, Blaine..."

Blaine quickly looks at his calendar and there's nothing in it than can't be moved around those dates.

"I'll be at the opening. I'm going to clear my diary for the next week as well."

"Yessss! Let's hope that Kurt will be there as well. Can I ask you a favor, bro?"

"Anything, Sam."

"Would you mind taking Mercedes to the opening? She'll be seven months pregnant, and I'd feel a whole lot better if you were looking after her."

"Absolutely. I haven't seen Mercedes since you two got married. Besides, it will be a good time for her to whisper the baby wish list to me. Godfathers always give awesome presents."

Blaine is secretly grateful that he'll be going to the boutique's opening with Mercedes. She'll give him the support he'll need if Kurt is there.

"So, did you see the amazing reaction to the newest comics in the Surfs Up! series? I now have over 140,000 followers."

"That's so cool, Sam. I can't believe all the fanart that people are making to go with the webcomic as well."

"It's not only the fanart, Blaine. There is even fanfic about them. Most of it is the fluffy stuff about making cupcakes together, but there's one author that's different. His name is JiffyFeels. You don't think that it's KrianFeels writing by another name?"

"Well, tell me something about the story, Sam."

"It starts like the rest of them, with Biffy and Jamie making cupcakes. But then the whipped cream, cherries and sprinkles don't end up on the cupcake. Instead, they're spread along Biffy's body and Jamie takes his time licking and getting Biffy off. Not sure what's going to happen in the next update."

"That sounds like KrianFeels alright. We do know what's going to go down in the next chapter. Sex on a surfboard? Fucking in the kitchen while the cupcakes are baking? Is Mercedes letting you read this stuff?"

"She only banned KrianFeels. She didn't specifically mention JiffyFeels. Promise me that you won't tell her."

"Your secret's safe with me. Just don't go too crazy in the bedroom," Blaine chuckles.


"So how are the circulation numbers for the 'pushing boundaries' issue?" Blaine asks Tina when he enters Vogue's executive suite.

"They are higher than we expected. I e-mailed you the stats. I think you have a few days before you need to decide if we need another print run. I've also sent you links to fashion blogs that have reviewed the 'pushing boundaries' issue. Most bloggers are positive about it. Donald Trump of course thinks it's perverse and things like this shouldn't be published."

"If Trump isn't happy, then I'm ecstatic. Even Trump and his cronies couldn't possibly change the freedom of speech. Thank god the Supreme Court is there as a check and balance."

Blaine taps on Tina's desk nervously and then says, "I'm going to LA in a couple of weeks. I'll let you know the dates. When you book the flight, can you make sure that the return journey is flexible? I'm not exactly sure when I'll return."

"Is this trip business or pleasure?" Tina asks, annoyed that she hasn't heard about this before.

"A mix. I'll be going to the opening of the first Bellerose Boutique in the USA. Sam will be working as one of the models."

"Hey, isn't that the same fashion house that Kurt works for in Paris?"

"Yeah, it is."

"Is Kurt going to be in LA? Is that why you don't know when you're returning?"

"I don't know if Kurt will be there, but if he is, I want to see if we can be friends again."

"I knew that you weren't over him. Wake up, Blaine! You were never ever just friends. If you do meet again, don't let him escape. Tell Kurt exactly how you feel. I never, ever want to go through your lovesick pining again. None of your friends do, for that matter."

"Frankly, I don't want to go through that again either. However, Kurt is very independent and knows his own mind. There's no way I can force him to love me."

"I don't think you're going to need to force Kurt - at the least the Kurt that I once knew before he abandoned ship and made your life a living hell. I'm not sure I can forgive him as easily as you do."

"Then it's a good thing that you're not the one after Kurt."

"Where do you plan to stay in LA? With Cooper or Sam?" Tina asks.

"Neither. I think I'll stay at a hotel. Can you book one close to the Bellerose Boutique? Sam and Mercedes have a lot going on at the moment, with the baby coming. And as much as I love Cooper, I think I'll be better off staying by myself."

Blaine hums as he enters the office. He carefully looks over the stats for this month's issue, then the links to the influential fashion blogs. Most reviewers like the 'pushing boundaries' issue and applaud Vogue for its cutting-edge reporting.

Blaine thinks back to the phone conversation he had with Michael Saiger, the founder and creative director of Miansai, on the way to work. Saiger called to thank him for wearing one of their signature bracelets for the editorial photo. Internet orders have soared as a result, and Saiger offered him a lot of money to model for their next ad campaign. Blaine had politely turned the job down, reciting conflict-of-interest rules, but suggested that he book Kurt for the ad campaign. Although Kurt is now working behind the scenes at Bellerose, he might like the money on offer for this one-off photo shoot. Blaine returns to the issue's stats, but his concentration is broken when his cell phone starts to ring.

Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl… With yellow feathers in her hair and a dress cut down to there…

"Sam! You're up pretty early given that it's 9 a.m. in New York."

"I'm going surfing this morning, dude. When I woke up, I checked my e-mails, and I received one from the Boutique Bellerose."

"And?"

"Kurt is coming to LA! He's going to be here a week before the opening to help set up the boutique and fit the clothes on the models before the show. What do I say when I see him? Does he know you're coming to LA?"

"Sam, that is fantastic news! I wasn't sure whether Kurt would be in LA or not. No, don't tell Kurt that I'll be there. I want to surprise him."


"So let me get this straight. You're going to LA for the opening of the Bellerose Boutique, the exact same fashion house that your ex - but not really ex – works in Paris. You don't want me to join you because you'll be spending your free time with Sam, and you'll be too busy taking care of Mercedes at the opening. Kurt will be there and you don't know when you're coming back to New York City. You're going to decide after the opening… After seeing Kurt, I presume."

Blaine meekly nods and bows his head. It sounds even worse when Connor puts it like that. Blaine isn't sure what to say. Fortunately, the coffee house is pretty busy and no-one notices them tucked away into the corner.

"Do I factor into any of that? Or your life for that matter?"

Blaine doesn't dare look up at Connor and see the expression on his face. Blaine can tell by the bitterness in Connor's tone that he's not happy.

"Don't answer that, Blaine. I'm not sure I could handle it. Look, you were honest with me from the start about Kurt. I thought that you were getting over him, but obviously, you're not."

"I'm sorry, Connor. It's not quite like that. Kurt and I were never boyfriends, but he's very special to me. I haven't seen him in seven months and I would like to think that we can become friends again."

Connor picks up his coffee stirrer and starts playing with it.

"Are you really that deep in denial, Blaine? You're in love with Kurt. Always have been - ever since you first met him - and always will be. Do yourself a favor and admit it to yourself."

"B-but…"

"But nothing, Blaine. I think we're done here. We could have been something great, you know?"

"I know, Connor. You're a pretty terrific guy. I thought I could do this – do us – but I can't. And you're right - I'm still in love with Kurt. I need to see if I can make things right between us. I never meant to do this to you. I really, really care about you and I wanted it to work out. The truth is, I don't know what I'm doing. I'm so sorry. I…"

Connor places his hand over Blaine's to get his attention.

"Stop rambling, Blaine. It's adorable but I don't think I can listen to any more. You go off to LA and see what happens. But don't call me unless you're sure you want me. I can't keep sharing you with Kurt."

Connor abruptly gets up and gives Blaine a kiss on the cheek, before quickly leaving the coffee house. Blaine feels horrible that things ended like this, that he hurt someone so nice. However, Blaine is relieved that it's over and that he can concentrate on getting Kurt back.


"Blaine, I can see your body practically humming with excitement. You spent all yesterday planning your LA wardrobe. I've never seen you fully packed a week before a trip."

"I can't help it, Amy. I'm going to see Kurt again. I'm finding it hard to concentrate on anything else. Friday can't come soon enough."

"Why don't you do something with all that energy? I haven't heard you play the piano since you found out that Kurt will be in LA."

Blaine nods and quickly goes to the piano. After doing his warm-up exercises and playing Debussy's Clair de Lune, he walks over to the floor-to-ceiling windows and looks down onto Central Park. A few raindrops start to fall, but it doesn't dampen Blaine's mood. All he can think about is that rainy weekend when he was he was lying on the couch with Kurt and watching James Bond movies.

He starts humming, and soon the tune becomes a chorus. He rushes back to the piano and plays around with music. He then starts to sing about spring days, falling in love and dreams… And, of course, butterflies. He sets up his mic, and when he's satisfied with the song, he records it. Records the first song of hope about Kurt.


"I had to call with you with the news. Meagan gave me the forecasted figures for the Monarch House, and it will start breaking even next month."

"I wasn't expecting that to happen so fast, Dad. I had put away cash to support it for the first twelve months. How did that happen?"

"Meagan and I met with the Social Work Department chairperson from Ohio State University. She applauded our efforts and is 100% behind the Foundation. Starting next month, there will be seniors doing their field placement at the Monarch House. Since they will be given course credits for working, the staffing is easier, and they don't need to be paid. The chairwoman also said that starting next semester, they'll include a case study of the Monarch House in the junior year coursework to get ideas on how to fundraise and support the community further."

"But how will we cover other costs like electricity, the Internet and stuff?"

"The grant from the Legacy Fund came through to cover most of the running costs. We also have donations from people and businesses in Westerville. There's a lot more support for the Monarch House than we had thought there would be. Meagan is looking into what other grants might be available."

"Wow. I guess we better start thinking about what happens next. I wasn't expecting to open another Monarch House until I got my next bonus in January. We can use this time to put together a blueprint for future Monarch Houses and do some fundraising."

"I have news on this front as well. Burt Hummel has contacted me and he is very keen to have a Monarch House open in Lima – something about wishing it had been there for Kurt when he was in high school. Anyways, he's lined up some donations from local businesses and is making a lot of noise with the Lima City Council."

"I hope Burt realizes how much money is needed to open a Monarch House," Blaine comments.

"Burt does know, and the donations so far don't cover the property purchase. However, I can help as well."

"What do you mean?"

"I checked with HR at work and the company will match my charitable donations. I'm selling the fund I set up for Cooper's college education. He's now in his late 30s and I think we both know he won't be going to college. With the matching donation, I think we'll have enough money for a couple of Monarch Houses."

"You would do that for me?" Blaine whispers, desperately trying to hold back his tears.

"Yes, I would. But it's not only for you. I can already see how the Monarch House is helping people in Westerville. Besides, I like working with you on the project. It's a whole lot better than fixing up a car, don't you think?"

"Yeah, that it is."

"Great. I'll fix a time with Burt when we can look at properties for a potential Monarch House in Lima."


"Don't just stand there. Come in," Sebastian barks, after his assistant knocks on his office door.

"I thought you would be interested in this newsfeed. Bellerose Boutique is opening its first store in LA. They are having a high-profile event next Saturday."

"And why would this interest me? French boutiques are a dime a dozen in the US," Sebastian retorts.

"Kurt Hummel works at Bellerose Boutique. I phoned the boutique manager in LA, and Kurt will be there. When I asked about the guest list, the manager confirmed that Blaine Anderson will be attending as well."

"Why didn't you say so earlier? This reunion looks like it could be interesting. Get me a ticket to the Bellerose Boutique opening."

Author's notes

Sam's ringtone – Copacabana by Barry Manilow

Cassie (cc-graphics on Tumblr) created the most amazing art of the Skype conversation. A link to it is in the Butterfly Wings Master Post, easily accessible on my homepage (HKVoyage dot tumblr dot com). There's also a link to the story art that Cassie created.

Thank you to Lilyvandersteen, the most fabulous beta ever, although all mistakes are mine.

I'm now safely back in Bangkok, although tired and jet lagged. The next chapter will be posted on Saturday, roughly 12 hours earlier than the past couple of months. This will be the posting time for the rest of the story.

Next up: The Bellerose Boutique opening in LA. Blaine and Kurt see each other for the first time in eight months! It will be posted on Saturday. I think you will like this chapter :) :)