24

My Focus

Isabelle came over the next week. Kurt had gasped when he walked into the room after Sebastian called out to him that they had a visitor. "Isabelle!" He was breathless and came toward her with both hands held out. "I'm so honored that you came here to see me and check in on me."

"I'm actually very annoyed at you mister." Isabelle said in return in greeting even as she took Kurt's hands and pulled him closer for a hug.

He winced and looked at her apologetically. "I'm sorry, I'm not entirely sure why but I am sorry."

"I was going to let it slide that you were awake and hadn't reached out to me. Then I find out from Birdie himself when he let it slip that you've been to see him not once but several times since waking up. I'm kind of offended."

Kurt's eyes lit up, he knew how to apologize properly now. "I am sorry. Sebastian and I had discussed it, I was worried about coming back to Vogue and being so far out of the loop. I looked up to you and held you in great respect and I was fearful of you finding me lacking and firing me. I thought it best to not show up for awhile longer rather than prove my incompetence. I only really know you as this great but intimidating boss that I wanted to impress during my internship. It's a little daunting to know that I became your right hand somehow. I didn't want to disappoint you."

"Kurt, honey, we're friends and colleagues and peers." Isabelle hugged him to her once more and Kurt never seemed to have the reluctance around females that he did with men. He just let her hug him and tentatively hugged her back. "I'm more worried about you than anything else. I don't care when you come back to work, you're someone I really care about, ok?"

"Sebastian's been filling me in. I can't believe you came to visit me in Ohio or have taken me to all those places."

"You're a sheer talent and brilliant and above all an amazing guy with a huge heart and a lot of dedication. It's easy to see how we became friends and how you snagged Birdie as a partner at your fashion house. You would have been unstoppable on your own but there was no way you could have done both then and I'm glad you listened to my advice about him."

Kurt had slowly gotten over his fan-boying with Birdie, the more he saw him, the more he treated him as a peer. At first Birdie had been soaking it up but he got tired of it too and put Kurt right. He missed his partner, not another Stan but Kurt had been getting there anyway. He was never one to over-gush.

"I don't really know what Sebastian has done to snag you though." Isabelle shook her head and shot Sebastian a mischievous look. "There have been so many more impressive suitors."

Kurt looked over at Sebastian now too, his eyes roaming over Sebastian slowly and a bit lazily, a glint in his eyes too. Sebastian puffed up, knowing Kurt liked what he saw, no matter what he was going to say. It was nice to see that look again, it was always nice to see that look. "He must have had something that set him apart from the others."

"Let's see, he's foreign, that's a dime a dozen in our line of work." Isabelle listed off and dismissed each item she brought up. "Same thing with being attractive, pish, so many attractive men in the world. He's rich, boo, boring. Creative- that's always appreciated but also very common when surrounded by creative types. He's smart- that's a bit less common." She glanced over at Kurt. "Is that what set him apart? He was able to keep up with you in the intelligence department."

"Maybe." Kurt tapped a finger on his lips, thinking about it.

"He's cocky and has an attitude for days." Isabelle rolled her eyes. "So last season."

"I kind of like the snark, it makes bantering fun." Kurt pointed out and Isabelle shrugged, not concerned in the least by that trait being something overly desired.

"Could it be the fact that he's utterly devoted to you with a huge heart that's all yours?" Isabelle checked in with Kurt.

"That doesn't hurt." Kurt agreed. "Though someone told me Adam was that way too."

"And yet you let him go, encouraged him to leave, actually." Isabelle frowned. "Then I just don't know what it is that has set him apart."

"It's fun with Sebastian." Kurt explained, holding out a hand for Sebastian. "He's everything we've said and more, it's fun and easy and comfortable and exciting and it just clicks."

"It certainly does." Isabelle agreed. "And having hot, hot sex all the time doesn't hurt either." Both the guys just stared at her and she laughed. "Oh, haven't experienced that then since waking up? My bad."

"Did I-... Did I tell you that?" Kurt wasn't the type to share that, hadn't shared that with Rachel and Sebastian wondered if Kurt and Isabelle had a closer relationship than the one he shared with Rachel and Sebastian just never caught on. He certainly couldn't have warned Kurt about that then.

"No, no, you're private when it comes to your relationships." She reassured. "I just assumed, you're always humming and looking well sated when you've been home recently and irritable when you've been gone for awhile. You also don't do good enough of a job covering up all the hickeys and when he comes to parties, you're always disappearing for awhile or early. I had to start stating which ones he could come to because I needed your full attention at the other ones. Also, have you seen the two of you in a mirror together? Damn hot. It's unfair that you're not only hot together but have such a deep emotional connection too. I bet the sex is just utterly unbelievably mindbogglingly, out of this world good."

"Way to not set the bar out of reach." Sebastian grumbled and Kurt squeezed Sebastian's hand before letting go so he could wrap his arm around Sebastian's waist instead. Sebastian wrapped his arm around Kurt's shoulders in return.

Isabelle shrugged, not at all repentant. "I'm sure you'll achieve those heights and more." She put a finger in Kurt's face. "Especially if you get him pink just thinking about it days later."

"Hey!" Kurt protested. "I blush easily."

"Not as easily as you used to." Isabelle said in response. "Sebastian has been both good and bad in that respect. It was kind of cute but also a little embarrassing for you when guys flirted and you didn't always know what to say, especially when they spoke outside of your comfort zone. Sebastian definitely opened your world up to more lewd words and thoughts and actions than anyone before him had. That kind of language stopped surprising you as much, though sometimes the timing and place could still cause you to blush, especially when directed toward you."

"People flirt that way with Kurt?" Sebastian asked, having not known that. Kurt was definitely hot and had spent time in circles that weren't known for always having a filter or feeling embarrassed by saying things, he just hadn't known Kurt had fended off such advances.

"Yeah, though I usually don't tolerate that kind of behavior or talk toward my employees. We try to create a safe space for art, not make it debauched or uncomfortable. It's art, not sex we're selling. I had to actually kick one guy out that just wouldn't leave Kurt alone. He kept saying wholly inappropriate things and trying to cop a feel. He was a decently high roller and so I had to give several warnings before I could kick him out but when he made a very graphic claim in the middle of the party and fairly loudly, I was finally granted permission to remove him from the premise."

Sebastian swallowed. Kurt had never told him about that. "He really shouldn't be talked to that way, even by high rollers, especially more than once."

"Now that Kurt's a high roller himself, men like that are kept firmly away." Isabelle waved off. "I keep a close eye on my girls and boys though, so don't worry about it. Nobody like that would have been able to gain access to their personal space outside of the party with hundreds of eyes on them at all times. If Kurt hadn't been so good at avoiding hands, I would have been able to kick the guy out a long time before that on more solid grounds." Isabelle scowled at Kurt. "You take too much onto yourself."

Kurt was listening, trying to see if he could remember this occasion, if it was before his blank time or during. "Sorry." Kurt said but he didn't look too apologetic. "I guess I was just used to being the object that received all the bad, free others from it. Hearing you talk about it now, I realize that we shouldn't have stood for any of it, even the smallest slight, but where I came from it wasn't really an option and had to fend for myself." Sebastian realized he'd probably have been kicked out of one of her parties with the way he talked and hit on guys, especially Kurt before he got to know him better. It would have been hypocritical but he would have respected Isabelle for kicking him out, she should have kicked that Sebastian out.

Kurt wasn't ready to try anything with Sebastian until Sebastian changed and stopped being such a lecherous ass. Sebastian had to go through a lot to be ready for Kurt, for Kurt to take him on. He had to grow quite a bit and consciously make the changes.

Isabelle made a soft sound. "I have to go, I'm doing the job of three people right now." She pressed a kiss to Kurt's cheek. "Come back when you're ready, the position will always be yours. We'll work on getting you up to speed too, so don't worry about that."

"I'll come into the office sometime soon." Kurt agreed. "Though I might not be ready to take much on. I'm working on a few looks for Hum and Sing and am almost through with sorting out our books." Kurt couldn't believe how much Bridie had messed up the books in such a short amount of time. It had taken awhile to sort them out and correct them. Several of the employees were getting a sizable bonus this paycheck. "It'll probably be a look around and getting to know the space and the people again first."

"Sounds perfect." Isabelle squeezed his hands and kissed his cheek once more before she was back out the door to the waiting car.

Kurt turned to Sebastian afterward. "She's really going to let me come back at my own pace, isn't she?"

"We have some pretty fantastic bosses." Sebastian agreed, knowing he owed his own an update sometime this week. He'd get on that the next time Kurt took a shower. "And you're a pretty fantastic boss yourself." Sebastian gently reminded him.

"Right, that just seems like the most surreal thing out of all of this. I should go back to Lima and rub it into the boys' face that threw me into the dumpster, tell them I was right, that one day I did become the boss." Kurt frowned a little. "Although none of them technically work for me."

"You've never told me about that." Sebastian frowned, how had Burt let Kurt attend that school for as long as he had?

"It's not exactly something I generally just share, you know? After awhile it probably just didn't matter anymore, wasn't part of my life here and you'd probably have laughed."

"I don't think I would have done that." Sebastian looked upset. "Was it because you were gay?"

"They never made the mistake of admitting it out loud." Kurt wanted to move beyond that now. "That was a nice visit from Isabelle."

"Yeah, it was." Sebastian agreed, heading back toward the kitchen to finish cooking. "She's good about things like that."

"Are you really making the meal?" Kurt followed him in rather than go back to his studio. "I thought Santana and Brittany invited us over. Doesn't that imply they're either making the meal or ordering it in?"

It used to be Kurt cooking the meal but Sebastian shrugged. "Trust me, you don't want either of them to cook and the food close to them isn't the best."

"It's New York, how back could the food around their place be that bad?"

"Just... let it go, ok? You like my cooking." Sebastian winked at Kurt who had no way to know if that was true or not.

"Ok." Kurt rolled his eyes and headed back to his office. "Let me know if you need help." He sounded a little testy now and so Sebastian didn't urge him to come 'help'.

Kurt wasn't as annoyed by unexpected details from the past being shoved into his face anymore. That was mostly because they tried to live in the present, but once it awhile it still came up and slapped him hard.

Sebastian was getting better about asking questions too. This way it not only made Kurt feel like he wasn't the only one asking but because Sebastian genuinely hadn't know the first time around.

When the food was done and packed in reheatable containers- food that could be reheated and still enjoyed as much as the first time around- Sebastian went in search of Kurt. Kurt still hadn't come back from the office/studio area that he'd disappeared in and Sebastian poked his head in, not wanting to interrupt any genius moment but also wanting to check on him. Kurt was sitting in the chaise, looking out over the city with a faint frown on his face. "Hey." Sebastian greeted, gently breaking into his reverie and Kurt glanced at him, eyes brightening at the sight of Sebastian. Sebastian's heart swelled and lightened and knew Kurt wasn't angry at him. "Ready to go?" Sebastian asked softly.

"I hate this." Kurt answered but started to swing his legs over the side of the chair. "I can't imagine this is your favorite thing either."

"Going to Britana's? No, not really." Sebastian replied cheekily. "Though their place is pretty neat." Having to pack up all the food to go over there with was a nuisance though.

"No, and come off it Sebastian, you know that's not what I meant." He tapped his forehead for further emphasis though they both knew Sebastian didn't need it spelled out like that, both knew Sebastian understood.

Sebastian sighed and came over to sit next to Kurt. The outer edge of his thigh pressing lightly against Kurt's as they both faced the same direction. He leaned forward until his elbows were on his knees and he looked down between his feet. He was strangely fascinated by the brown leather wingtips while he thought about what to say. Eventually he cleared his throat and turned his head to look at Kurt. "It's not as hard as you think it is for me. I already went through the hard stuff, the worst days of my life. In comparison, this is a breeze."

"It can't be." Kurt was a bit mullish now and Sebastian sat upright again and reached out for Kurt's hand, not taking his eyes from Kurt's face.

"I know this has been hard for you. I thought we were making progress." It hurt that Kurt still viewed this so differently than Sebastian did.

"We were but then it slapped me in the face again, something I was supposed to know but didn't and instead of being able to pull on a shared memory to remind me, I have to just take it on faith. I believe and trust you, that's not a problem, but this big black void just stares me in the face every time I try to access nearly 10 years of my life." Kurt let out a huff. "Ten years consequentially that you have and no longer have someone to share those memories with. This has to be so hard for you, wanting to reach out and laugh about a shared experience or memory and being met with a blank stare."

"God Kurt." Sebastian said with a rough huff and shook his head. "You and I are both suffering on different ends." Sebastian squeezed Kurt's hand tightly. "I would have killed for a blank stare for months now. I don't mind it, honestly. I get to see everything again with brand new eyes, I have a fresh start to do this right. I get to put right the wrongs I didn't know I was committing. Any time you don't know something, I get to be the one to share it with you. So often you were the one teaching me- how to be a better man, how to be a boyfriend, a better friend, a child, an adult. You've schooled me on a lot, taught me things I didn't know or didn't know I didn't know. So many times when I was learning something you already knew it or increased my understanding. I don't mind guiding you this time."

"I'm just used to being the one in the know." Kurt grumbled and Sebastian felt a smirk cross his lips when he spotted the smallest of pouts forming.

"The other benefit to this is that I get to shock you into all sorts of blushes again. I kind of missed them, they've been less frequent than they had been in the past." An answering blush formed right then and there, just trying to think of the reasons he might have before. Sebastian grinned broadly and 8 months ago, he'd have text Santana that there was a change of plans and he would had started undressing Kurt to find all the spots that blood had rushed to. Kurt would have been more than happy to help him.

They weren't there yet, and that was ok. The blush was enough for Sebastian for now. He could live off of his memory. Isabelle had been right, the pink hue was just so adorable and missed but he hadn't realized how much he'd missed it until now. Even if he never saw it again though, it didn't compare to just having Kurt here with him.

"Has that helped at all?" Sebastian wasn't even really sure anymore if he was right, Kurt was still constantly teaching him.

"Strangely, it has." Kurt reassured and started to stand up. "Ok, let's go see the girls." He reached for Sebastian's hand once more and when Sebastian stood, Kurt looked up at him, their chests were nearly touching. "I'm going to have doubts, moments of craziness, but I'm glad you're there to help pull me through."

"Of course I am."

Kurt breathed in deeply and then out again. "I'd like you to tell me about us, that's ok, if you feel up to it when you feel up to it. You don't have to hold it back, don't have to stop the sharing of a memory just because I won't know the background, you can tell me that too if you'd like. It won't bother me."

Sebastian held Kurt's shoulders under his hands and nodded. "I will if the moment is right. I like making new memories with you too. I feel like all I've done is share memories of the past. I am looking forward now, not back."

Kurt hesitantly put his hands on Sebastian's hips. "I like that."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

Sebastian bent down, giving Kurt ample opportunity to move away but Kurt only tilted his head back further, welcoming what was to come. Sebastian's lips grazed politely over Kurt's and then made another pass, but still kept it chaste. Kurt didn't push for more but Sebastian could tell from his body language that he was open to it. Sebastian kept it chaste for both of them, more could come, later. For now they had to get to Britana's and he was ok going the slower route this time.

He was still Sebastian and was the guy Kurt wanted but it didn't hurt to channel Adam for a little while, show he could be more than just the Sebastian of the past.

Even this much though was heavenly and Sebastian relished in the feel of Kurt's lips against his. The warmth of his body so close but not pressing against him. The smell of Kurt, feel Kurt's hands on his body, feel the desire reflected both ways. Sebastian was in paradise.

A phone chimed and Sebastian realized it was his, probably the guards letting him know the food was all packed and ready to go. Sebastian sighed and slowly stepped away from Kurt but his hand slid down Kurt's arm and wrapped around Kurt's hand."Come on, you're in for a real treat."

Kurt gave him an amused look. "What kind of treat?"

Sebastian didn't answer and it was only when they arrived that Kurt realized why Sebastian wouldn't ruin the surprise. It was definitely something that had to be seen in person to fully appreciate. "Wow." Kurt whispered. "Why don't we live here?"

Sebastian laughed and wrapped an arm around Kurt's shoulders. "This is a one of a kind find that didn't come on the market until after we'd already moved into our fantastic condo."

An answering chuckle came from Kurt. "Ok, fair point."

It really was perfect for the two of them, a wonderful blend of both of them and ideally located and Kurt had been the one to pick it out. There was no complaints from either of them. Still, it was nice to visit Santana and Brittany here, it was such a gorgeous dwelling. Sebastian was glad that Kurt hadn't been awake for that time period when they were broken up. It was sad for Sebastian but didn't really affect him since he had no desire to go anywhere but Kurt's side. It would have been far worse had they actually had to live it. He didn't know how Santana had fared but she'd been focused on Kurt too at least, it gave her a little bit of an outlet. He'd been saved the drama and Kurt would have been crushed. Though they probably wouldn't have broken up had Kurt not been in the coma... Sebastian pulled himself from that train of thought.

He understood that Brittany had been the one to move out. It was under Santana's name and she had purchased it. Maybe he should have offered the condo to Brittany while they'd been at the hospital? He hadn't even thought about it. After how genuine of a friend she'd proven to be to both Kurt and himself, he wouldn't make that mistake ever again if it came down to it. He would be her friend through everything too. Not that he thought these two would ever be on the rocks again.

"What does Santana do for a living again?"

"She's in sales." Sebastian shrugged, knowing exactly what Kurt was getting at but having a bit of fun in the meantime.

"There's no way Santana could afford this by being in sales. What aren't you telling me?"

"Your dad already told you, don't you remember? You have amazing people all around you." Only possibly by being such an amazing person himself, but Sebastian didn't want to inflate his head too much, Kurt was already getting a lot of love pouring over him from all sectors, including Sebastian.

"Seb..." Kurt looked up at him, clearly wondering what Sebastian wasn't saying.

"Ask her, she loves to tell it herself." Sebastian let himself into their home with one of the few keys in existence, he and Kurt both had one in addition to the two residents and one with the building manager. Regrettably more existed for their own condo.

Kurt was sidetracked by what greeted him so he didn't push for more. "I- oh my." In many ways it was very 1950s retro-chic, lots of lime green and mint green. Actually, just a lot of different greens, period and that included a tint to the glass tables in the different rooms. Greens and off-whites were the primary colors in the home, and lots and lots of glass. "I was not expecting this."

"Nobody does." Sebastian laughed in agreement. It was so different from the look of their apartment when they shared the space. It wasn't totally 1950s, of course, they did away with the burnt oranges and browns, keeping it lighter and fresh compared to the time period they were pulling from. It fit the bones of the pace well though. "This is all you, again."

"Wait? What?" Kurt looked around the place again, taking in all the curved chairs and interesting shapes. "What do you mean?"

"They came to you for help designing this place."

"We gave you the vibe we were looking for and the color scheme and this is what you brought together." Santana waved at the cozy yet spacious apartment that had even more nods towards the loft that Kurt had once shared with Rachel. "We love it."

Brittany appeared next to her with a glass in her hand and a broad smile. "Hi Kurtie." She gave a small wave and then looked around the space too. "It's perfect."

Kurt's eyes softened as he took them in and their obvious love of the place, each other and affection for the two males that just walked in. "It is really cool."

"Want to see the one area only a few people know about?" Santana's eyes glittered with mischief but when Sebastian nudged him to go on, he followed Santana into the bathroom. Sebastian followed after them, watching Kurt's body language and face, not wanting to miss a moment of this. There was already a lot of glass, it took up the entire side wall and curved over into the roof but this was even better. Santana took down the mirror and pushed open the door between the sink and the toilet that nobody would have known about otherwise.

"You have to take that down every time?" Kurt questioned, looking over the large mirror.

"No, but it's safer to do so and with Sebastian here, I'm taking all the safe actions with you." Santana tossed Sebastian a look but he already had a scowl on his face ready for her. She laughed, not taking it seriously and Sebastian felt an echoing one as well. Kurt reached behind him and grabbed for Sebastian's hand as he followed Santana and Brittany through the door. The door hadn't thrown him, there were a lot of secret passageways throughout New York that he'd already rediscovered when they explored the city together over the last few weeks.

Two separate things vied for your attention when you stepped through, both were unique but worked so well together if you gave it a second to adjust in your mind. There was a thirty foot long sky blue couch that greeted you pressed up against an even longer wall of windows. The windows didn't end there, they towered over you and then curved over and connected to the wall they just walked through. To a viewer outside, if you could see it, you'd think it was just part of the architecture of the bigger space instead. Once inside you forgot about all the windows because there were quite a few inside and thought maybe it was part of a different unit. Those really in the know would know that this was a secret space beyond a solid wall and if it wasn't there, would have been windows on three sides. There was another unit across the hall, but only two units existed on this floor. It was a long thin space but utilized well with a wall of books and a door opening at the end to a patio and a fountain. There was greenery placed carefully along the long windowed hall and outside.

Brittany had a table and chairs at the end of the room, capitalizing on all the windows for the best light to draw and paint. They would also play games down there. It was evening and they were greeted with a spectacular sunset that lit up the entire space. In the day time in the summer the couch would blend seamlessly with the sky. The architecture was all white, white floors, white window sills, white bookshelves and white and blue table and chairs. At night it would be juxtaposed with the dark and city lights.

Kurt sank down into the couch with an awed breath in his throat and Sebastian took a moment to join him, loving the splay of colors from the sunset practically floating in the air in front of them. He felt like he could breath in the sunset. How many of these had be been blind to because his own personal sun had been eclipsed? He sank into the couch behind Kurt and just wrapped his arms around him, taking this all in together. Santana and Brittany had their arms around each other as well, they had timed it perfectly.

Kurt continued to watch as the lights started to flicker on to fight against the night. Some places had always had lights on but were now more noticeable in the dark. Sebastian watched Kurt fall in love with his city all over again. It was a common image over the years, all the time Kurt realized just how magical the city could be, but this was something that was still pretty fresh for this Kurt. Where it went from an fantasy in his head to a reality to circle back around again to an idealized image with the knowledge of reality behind it. It was true love, knowing the bad and still seeing the good.

Sebastian could live anywhere as long as it was with Kurt. He liked New York, he'd moved here because of Santana and the city itself had offered something. In his head he'd always move back to Paris eventually, but for the first time, he also fell in love with this city on it's own merits. Kurt opened his eyes to it but it finally worked its magic on Sebastian.

"Wine?" Brittany asked eventually, having disappeared and reappeared with a bottle and a few more glasses. Hers sat perched on the bookshelf on a coaster.

Kurt wiped at his eyes and turned a smile onto them. "It really is magical here." He accepted the offer of red wine and sipped at it, forgetting that he was of age on a fundamental level but knowing he was always an old soul with a respect for the beverage. It made it a wash and he drank it before remembering that his license stated he was well into his rights to do so. Then he shook his head with a soft laugh at himself and took another sip. Sebastian watched absolutely fascinated.

Santana nudged him and he took his own glass from her fingers with a small thanks.

Kurt shook his head again, pulling his gaze from the city lights around them. "Sebastian said you enjoyed telling the story of how you found and then were able to afford this place?"

"Oh, um..." Santana glanced at Sebastian with a question in her eyes and Sebastian shrugged back. "Well, my parents are rich, mom's a lawyer, dad's... in sales. I followed his footsteps. I also dated a relator for awhile who knew what I was looking for and when this place became available, she put aside grudges and contacted me. It's really not that exciting."

"Oh." Kurt also sent Sebastian a look which he shrugged off again, knowing there was more that Santana wasn't saying and he wanted them to get there on their own. "I didn't realize sales paid so much."

Santana laughed, understanding Sebastian's game now. "Oh, right, you're so out of the loop. Beginners have a decent salary, when you own the company, it pays a bit more." Santana sank down next to Kurt and put her glass on the floor. He quickly picked it up so nobody accidentally kicked it over and into the couch. "Doesn't hurt that I spearheaded the Kurt Hummel website before he got big and get all the perks."

"What?" Kurt shook his head. "What are you talking about?"

"Ooh, you were so mad at me when I first started the website but when you blew up, I already had the bones in place. Then when it became Hum and Tweet, whoosh, my numbers just exploded. I still have the original site up too. Here." Santana showed Kurt all the designs through the years and the people taking pictures of his work and uploading them onto the site. There was still an active chat. Then she brought up the Hum and Tweet site and there was a different vibe but still totally influenced by Kurt and his looks.

"You made your money off of my popularity?" Kurt asked skeptically and Santana shook her head.

"I could have had a very nice place off of what I earned from marketing you, but no, you're just one of my clients. I worked my way up a famous company but I was always going to have a figurative glass ceiling over my head so I branched out and created my own company and now I can take time off and enjoy the literal glass ceiling over my head that not many get to enjoy in this city." Santana reached out and brushed her fingers across Kurt's cheek. "And spend time necessary with you and Sebastian over the last few months." She shook her head and sniffed before forcing a smile onto her face. "Now, I'm hungry, what did you bring me?"

"Sebastian cooked." Kurt gave a small helpless shrug. "Can't guarantee quality."

"You have no idea!" Santana pulled Kurt up to his feet and Sebastian led them all back into the main space. Santana put the bathroom back into order. They probably wouldn't go back out there tonight, it was still a little more chilly out there than in here for this time of year.

The food was reheated and served. Sebastian watched Kurt's face as he took his first bite. Kurt mulled it over and then it hit him and his eyes closed with pleasure. He refrained from outright moaning but it did things to Sebastian, stirred to life a part of him that had been poking its head out cautiously since Kurt woke up again. It hadn't come right out yet though, a little bashful and respectful for the trauma both had gone through.

The night was lovely and it was only after Kurt settled into the couch with Brittany, discussing something intently, that Santana opened her big mouth. "As much as I love you, Kurt, and I'm so very glad you're awake, more than you'll ever realize, I've missed my best friend too. Do you mind if I steal him back for at least one day?"

"Oh, uh..." Kurt looked to Sebastian for help. Kurt had gotten close with Britana again since waking up and had spent a fair amount of time with them at the Kurtbastian condo, but wasn't sure how to handle this current question. Wasn't entirely sure where it was coming from and how to view it.

"Kurt hasn't been the holdout." Sebastian explained for Santana, loud enough for Kurt to hear. "I'm the one who's been weary of leaving his side. I'm sure Kurt has felt a little stifled by me. Knowing him, he'd be running around on his own without any concern."

"That's not- Sebastian- no." Kurt tried to make it better, reassure him that he needed Sebastian as much as Sebastian had needed him, but it wasn't the same. Kurt had memory loss, not a loss of his faculties. They were all treating him as if he were wrapped in bubble wrap and had put him in it themselves. He was just being polite and letting them do it, though he was obviously itching to go out and do things once more.

Nothing terrified Sebastian more.

"Bas, Kurt's working again, but you're not?" Santana looked at him as if he'd lost his head.

"Only on the books and in the condo." Kurt defended. "I needed something to do."

"Bas, this isn't healthy for either of you." She hissed in his ear. "You can't be occupied by Kurt alone."

"Why not?" Sebastian asked grumpily, no longer including Kurt in this, and Brittany had picked up on it and tried to pull Kurt's attention back to her. That was a particularly difficult task. "I have been for the greater part of a year already."

"Yeah and it wasn't good for you." Santana sent him a disapproving look.

"That's when he was out, now he's awake and moving and vibrant once more. We go out and do things together, it's not like I'm neglecting my health sitting at his bedside."

"He's going to want to go back to his life soon. You know he will. He has never wanted someone so totally dependent on him. That isn't a healthy relationship and you're going to suffocate him out of it."

Sebastian wanted to roast her into a pile of ash where she stood with just his eyes but he knew she was right too. He'd been uninterested in fully committing to Adam because Adam was too into him, too intune and willing to give up everything for him. Nobody had come right out and said it but if Kurt had given an inch, Adam would have moved a mile. Kurt was just too polite to break up with him and had fallen into a holding pattern. Was Kurt being too polite to break up with Sebastian? Kurt had wanted a partnership, flaws and all. He didn't want to be put on a pedestal and worshiped, he liked working on the relationship, for a relationship.

Sebastian had given him an out, several times, but had Kurt viewed Sebastian as too hopeless to leave like that? Sebastian ran a hand through his hair and wondered if Kurt had or ever would break up with someone if it didn't come to a move out of town first. No, he'd broken up with Chandler a few times, but had fallen back in with him nearly as many times. Though once they were done, they were done, just being friends after.

Kurt shifted a little and put a hand on Brittany's but he was coming back to the conversation between Sebastian and Santana. "You know, after Isabelle's visit, I realized I've been neglecting quite a few people in my life, people I kind of forgot existed. I was thinking about maybe going to Vogue and reintroducing myself to everyone, get a feel for the place and finding out what I can pick up and take off their plates? There's no reason why I can't work and I feel kind of useless just existing and not contributing."

"See?" Santana hissed nearly gleefully in Sebastian ear and Sebastian's heart sunk.

Kurt must have read something like that in Sebastian's face. "I mean, only if you're ok with it?"

Sebastian tried to muster up a look of courage. "Of course, you worked hard to get there and I will never want to hold you back. You've been out of the hospital for a few weeks now. They've given you the all clear."

"Sebastian..." Kurt looked super unsure about this turn of events.

"It's fine." Sebastian tried for an even more positive look and Kurt eyed him wearily. "We can discuss the details at home." That finally convinced Kurt enough to let it drop and Brittany quickly pulled his head back around, literally, to tell him something else that had gone on while he'd been away. That was literally how she saw it, he was sleeping and away for a time. Not that he nearly died in a car crash and had been in a coma.

Sebastian's jaw worked and felt Santana's hand on his upper arm. He looked down to her. She was frowning up at him with narrowed eyes. "Bas, you need to go back to work too." He sniffed sharply but the sound didn't reach across the room and he looked away from his best friend's imploring face. She was right but he didn't want her to be. "You have so much to offer the world too." She said softly before leaving his side and joining Brittany on the couch.

Sebastian followed and sat behind Kurt who laid his hand reassuringly on Sebastian's thigh near his knee. It was a light touch but it did it's job.

"I hate to tell you this, but you missed out on so much of the fashion world." Santana shook her head. "Lucky for you, I've kept up with it. Before you go back to Vogue, you will need to purchase this season's latest trend – corduroy."

"Nope." Kurt shook his head with a laugh, cutting her off. "You can't pull that one over on me. That will never become fashionable, even if it's popular, it's not fashion and I will not be caught dead in it. It has absolutely no purpose, at least jeans and overalls have a use, even if they don't look that great most of the time. I will skip that trend, thank you very much."

The girls laughed. "Damn, I thought I would have you with that, how often does a fashion expert lose ten years of fashion history?"

"Probably more than that. I distinctly remember having my eyes opened to the fact that I only scratched the surface of fashion styles throughout history, there's a whole wealth of knowledge out there over the decades that I hadn't known about until I dove deeper than ever. I did deep research before, but nothing like my classes were having me do."

"Ok, ok, honestly I didn't set that one up right. But you can't be seen in a fashion titan like vogue out of style, I can get you a pair of pleated-."

"Stop, stop!" Kurt laughed, leaning back into Sebastian in humor over Santana's antics. "I will never believe a word out of your mouth again if you don't stop trying to convince me of the most ridiculous things."

"So you wouldn't believe me when I say plastic was all of the rage for a couple of months?"

"Eh... maybe." Kurt looked unsure about that one and with good reason. He had a jacket in his closet, not of his own design, but with a famous label that had a band of plastic around each arm. Sebastian personally thought it was a hideous jacket and didn't suit Kurt at all, but could appreciate that it was 'fashion' and didn't necessarily have to look 'good', just 'right'. Besides, most fabrics these days were partly plastic if not fully.

Sebastian wrapped his arms around Kurt and rested his chin on Kurt's shoulder. The girls didn't miss the advancement of the relationship nor the new affection between them. They shared a look and a smile but didn't point it out, thankfully. They were probably just glad to see it once more.

The rest of the evening went well, with no arguments or pointing out of flaws. Sebastian saw Kurt starting to droop though well before they would normally leave. The girls spotted it first and sent startled looks to Sebastian. There was one thing they really hadn't discussed with anyone outside of Burt and Carole, and that was the fact that Kurt didn't have the same stamina as he used to. He was still full of energy and brimming with life, but that sapped out of him a lot sooner than it used to. It was partly why Sebastian was so worried about Kurt going back to work in any fashion. At least with the books, he could take breaks. He didn't know what would happen if they pushed Kurt too far too quickly.

The girls had only seen him after he'd been fully rested and only for shorter periods of time. "There's not something more wrong with him, is there?" Santana asked as she helped Sebastian clean up the kitchen. Kurt and Brittany had wanted to help but they were asked to clean the dining room instead and put away the clean dishes. Santana had worried about that task tiring Kurt out too.

"No, not as far as the doctors know. Then again, nothing has been textbook medicine with him." Sebastian sighed. "They think it's just because he's been out of commission for so long and he's building up his endurance again."

"You think it's something else."

"No, I buy that." Sebastian gave a small shrug and looked out onto the progress the other two were making. They'd probably finish their task faster than he and Santana. "If I didn't do anything for months, my muscles would be unsure how to operate for long periods of time too. I already felt it when I let myself go. I just fear that we haven't seen the last of the seizures. They don't know what caused them and he hasn't had them for weeks, but... I still worry."

"I'm sorry for pushing so hard. I hadn't realized Kurt was still in recovery. You look at him and he seems normal, like he was before."

"Before?" Sebastian scoffed. "He was burning the candle at both ends and when he wasn't faking the endless supply of energy he naturally had a deep well of, he was scraping by. He would pass out in so many random places around our condo. I'm actually shocked in retrospect that he didn't fall asleep on the subway or standing upright on a bus or passing out onto the middle of the street or sidewalk. He doesn't know how to stop and take it easy. Even just 'chilling at home' he had three projects going."

"He's been better about it though since waking up, right?" Santana looked over Sebastian's face in concern.

"Yes, but you can tell he's itching inside. I try to keep him occupied. I think he might have come to resent me if he did stay home more prior to the accident like he'd planned. He needs to be going, all the time, even if it's just mentally."

"So don't get him a yoga retreat in India, right." Where Kurt had to release all things from his mind and thoughts and just sit in one spot for hours without a twitch – oh that would kill Kurt.

"I doubt he needs that, he just had several months of that."

"Have you asked him if he remembers anything of that time?"

"He'd have told me or his dad. He really views it as going to bed one night 10 years ago and waking up here in the hospital with no recollection of anything in between."

"Hmm." Santana went quiet for a little while before she looked over to him again. "I was serious, I've missed you just as much if not more. I want to spend time with you, like we used to, just the two of us." They'd spent time together since he got together with Kurt and her with Brittany, it was different than before that though, and their 18 year old selves would find their hang outs super lame, but they had spent time not oggling bodies or making fun of people too. Well, at least not on the dance floor but over a cup of coffee on a walk to some place. They'd been able to hang and do other stuff, no matter what their critics might have thought. They were best friends, if their relationship was just based on bitching about people and talking about sex, they could have found that anywhere.

"I know and now that I can let my thoughts be occupied with things that aren't solely Kurt, I realized that I've missed you too. Even if I don't, Kurt's going to hold us to the plan, but I do want to spend time with you again."

Santana nodded and pressed a kiss to Sebastian's cheek before going over and pressing one to Kurt's. Brittany did the same for both of them and then they were off and heading back to their condo. Kurt was fairly quiet on the journey, lost in thoughts and Sebastian wondered how that would bode for him when Kurt put voice to them. In this one occasion, Sebastian did not want to be the one to break the silence and ask.