"Well Mr. Fiancé, how do I look?" Kurt asks, stepping into the living room, still in his socked feet but other than that, decked head to toe in the designer clothes Blaine bought him.
"Exceptionally dashing and handsome," Blaine replies as he slides his arms around his waist. "And what does my Mr. Fiancé think of me?"
"Dapper as always, distinguished, elegant... and mine," he smiles. "We have ten minutes until the guests arrive."
"I wouldn't even be able to tackle that brooch in ten minutes." Blaine moves to the kitchen, passing a tall champagne flute to him. "So I'll make a toast instead. To us, our future together and...wedding planning."
A beaming Kurt clinks his glass and sips. "You know, there was a time I didn't even like champagne. You've turned me into a lush."
"Not too much tonight please," Blaine says with a frown. "That sounded terrible, I apologize. It's just we have all the parents coming to lunch tomorrow..."
"Blaine, it's okay," Kurt reassures him. "I haven't gotten drunk since...well...yes."
"We could get a little tipsy I guess," Blaine muses. "But not so much that I begin to think loud, semi- public sex is a good idea."
"Okay, though you weren't drunk last time," he laughs as the intercom sounds. "Here we go. Kurt and Blaine's New Years Party is about to begin."
An hour later and everyone is gathered and loud chatter and music fills the apartment as Kurt and Blaine greet their friends warmly, Wes guards the liquor stash from Puck and Sebastian makes endless jokes about admiring Blaine's ring. Kurt flits between everyone, quite the social butterfly, whereas Blaine is happier with his usual crowd of ex-warblers and Santana, who he drags to the home made dance floor in the middle of the living room.
"Why do you always make me dance with you? This is ridiculous," she moans. "I'm around twelve foot taller than you."
"Be quiet and suffer. So... How's college?"
"It's good. I kick ass at dance, much to Berry's disgust, seeing as how I've never had any training other than cheerleading and Glee."
"You two are something else."
"She's like the worlds most irritating sister...whom I love more than life itself," she adds reluctantly. "I miss you," she tells him as she leans onto his shoulder.
"I know, and I miss you too."
"You have Kurt though. I have porn."
"You need the love of a good woman," he teases.
"I saw her, over Christmas," she whispers quietly.
"Brittany?"
"Yeah."
"Santana, you have to move on sweetie. I know how much you cared for her, loved her even but..."
"But she didn't feel the same."
"No. But you know what? That's just what she's like. Artie, Sam...they've all been through it. Some people are just made to fly through life solo, however caring and sweet they can be. Look at Sebastian."
"Ha!" she scoffs. "So... Do you think I'm destined to fly solo?"
"No, I think you'll find someone to love, adore and worship you just as you deserve," he says firmly.
"Do you know any hot lesbians?"
"Only one," he grins.
"Smooth."
"...And then I asked him," Kurt is telling a large group of McKinley High's finest as Blaine walks past and squeezes his shoulder on the way to the kitchen.
"Man...that's just the best," Puck exclaims happily.
"What were like your exact words?" Finn asks. "Could you maybe write them down? It's just I'll need to ask Rach one day, and I don't really know what to say."
"I'm sitting right here," she snaps, though her whole face lights up at the prospect.
"Finn, my words involved 'Blaine Devon Anderson' and something about wanting us to be the Hummel-Andersons. Neither of which will be applicable to Rachel."
"Why did you decide to do it so quietly though?" Tina asks. "You said you decided against even proposing in the restaurant, and you looked around before getting down on one knee to check there weren't too many people around."
"I agree. A most un-Kurt like proposal," Quinn nods.
"Because it wasn't my proposal," Kurt tells them, unaware of Blaine standing behind his chair, ostensibly talking with Wes. "It was Blaine's. The night- for me- was about Blaine and only Blaine. Yes, if I was being asked I'd want the whole fanfare, the grand gesture...but Blaine hates all that. The only time he's comfortable with attention is when he's performing, when he can adopt another persona. So... I kept it on the down low because I wanted it to be perfect for him."
"And it was," Blaine says, suddenly close to Kurt's neck and making him jump. "Everything I ever dreamed of. Dance with me, gorgeous boy."
He tugs him toward the large glass doors, away from the other people dancing and takes him in his arms. Kurt sighs happily at the familiar feel of Blaine's strong hands on his back, then smiles as 'Awake' by Josh Groban begins to play.
"I love this song."
"I know you do. Why do you think it's playing?"
"Sneaky," Kurt laughs.
"I prefer incredibly romantic. Are you having fun?"
"Yes, but as with all these social occasions, I never get enough time with you."
"True. But we do need to be sociable sometimes, otherwise we'd never appreciate those moments we have alone. Besides, we do have quite wonderful friends."
"We do. I'm so happy everyone could come. That they wanted to come."
"If I could make these moments endless
If I could stop the winds of change
If we just keep our eyes wide open
Then everything would stay the same"
Blaine sings softly into Kurt's ear as they sway together and Kurt pulls him closer, moving his hands to the soft curls he loves so much.
"So keep me awake for every moment
Give us more time to be this way
We can't stay like this forever
But I can have you next to me today
We'll let tomorrow wait, you're here, right now, with me
All my fears just fall away, when you are all I see"
Kissing Kurt's cheek tenderly, he stops the dance and turns him to look out at the lights of Chicago surrounding them and the soft snowfall which dances through the sky. Wordlessly, he takes his handkerchief from his breast pocket and offers it to him, smiling as Kurt wipes delicately at his eyes.
"Don't cry," he whispers as he feels the familiar weight of Kurt's head on his shoulder and he puts his arm around his waist. "No man is worth your tears."
"Tears of happiness, I assure you," Kurt sniffs. "And you're worth an ocean of those. Ah, you really need to find somewhere to perform, you know. I miss hearing you sing."
"I sing all the time around the apartment."
"Yes honey, and your Maria Von Trapp is second to none," he says as Blaine chuckles. "But I mean really sing."
"I know what you mean. I'll look into it. There's a cafe on Lincoln Avenue that has live music."
"I guess we should go be sociable again," Kurt sighs as he becomes aware of the party continuing behind their backs. "And those baby cupcakes aren't going to eat themselves."
"I love you, my darling," Blaine says, unable to resist drawing him in for a long, lingering kiss.
"Put him down!" Nick calls over to him. "You'll get yours later, Anderson." He winks then runs off, laughing toward where Puck, Jeff and Joe are playing beer pong on the kitchen table.
"You'll find me at midnight?" Kurt asks in a small voice, fingers dancing over the buttons of Blaine's shirt.
"Just try and stop me."
They part, Kurt to dance with his college friends, and Blaine to find Wes.
"Come into my bedroom," he says, tugging on his hand.
"Blaine! I've known you for a lot of years now and..."
"Be quiet," he laughs, flipping the light and falling back onto the bed, the door closing behind him and drowning out the rabble. "I love him, Wes."
"Really? I wasn't aware. Jeez. You're a complete sap." He sits on the bed next to Blaine, smiling down at the dopey grin he finds plastered on his friends face. "Is there a reason you wanted to entertain me in your boudoir? Or did you just want to make those college kids talk?"
"No real reason," Blaine confirms. "I just..."
"You're crying," Wes moans. "You always cry."
"I know," he sniffs as he rubs at his eyes. "I just get overwhelmed."
"Gay men always have Kleenex very handily placed on their nightstands," Wes comments as he passes Blaine a handful. "I wonder why that is?"
"It's because when we're having sex, one of us..."
"Lalalalala!" Wes sings loudly as he sticks his fingers in his ears. "I KNOW why it is, you imbecile. Dear god."
"Sorry." Blaine says as he starts to cry again.
"C'mere," Wes sighs and Blaine crawls across the bed gratefully to rest his head in Wes' lap. "If anyone comes in right now, they'll definitely talk," he chuckles as his arm falls over Blaine's shoulder. "I take it these tears are because you're deliriously happy?"
"Yes. I never thought I'd be this happy, Wes. Never. I thought I might end up with just a fairly decent job and then I'd spend the rest of my days watching everyone around me falling in love and getting married while I was just left on the shelf- damaged goods."
"I think you've just described me," Wes says quietly.
"What? No!" Blaine cries as he lifts his head. "Wes, you'll find someone. You will. And even if you don't, you have me."
"Yes, thank you for the offer, but I'm not sure you can provide exactly what I need," he laughs. "I am happy, don't get me wrong," he adds as he sees Blaine's face darken with worry. "I miss you an insane amount, but I love my job and I love being close to Seb, Nick and Jeff. I just feel like...like I'm ready for all that now. I'm ready for the wife and two kids. The idea of watching little league fills me with happiness as opposed to the abject horror it once did."
"If I get a kid before you do, you can totally borrow it."
"Ha! Okay, I'll hold you to that," he laughs.
"Seriously Wes, you are an amazing man. Someone, somewhere is perfect for you, and you will find them, I know you will. They'll come into your life at the most unexpected moment- look at Kurt and I."
"She has to be legal, Blaine."
"Touché."
They laugh together, sitting side by side on the bed and Blaine bumps him with his shoulder. "I'm gonna make it my life's mission to see you and Santana settled."
"Not with each other!" a horrified Wes cries.
"It's a shame she's a lesbian," Blaine thinks out loud.
"Not for her it isn't."
"Ha! You two would be good together."
"No Blaine, we would not. If you want to set me up with someone, fine. My rules are simple. They have to be female, breathing and of the non-lesbian variety."
"Would you consider Sebastian?"
"I'm not even going to answer you. C'mon, it's nearly midnight."
Returning to the party, Blaine recruits Mercedes, Tina and Finn to make sure everyone has a drink in their hand and he keeps Wes close by his side as he locates Rachel and Santana.
"Girls, I have a mission for you," he grins.
"Oh! Oh! I love missions!" Rachel claps her hands excitedly as Santana rolls her eyes. "Is it a secret one?"
"Sort of. I'm gonna slide those doors back in a moment," he says, gesturing to the closed off balcony behind them. It is your mission to keep anyone and everyone off the balcony, but to have everyone gather to watch."
"Watch?" Santana asks him. "Watch what?"
"Fireworks," Wes grins at her before he follows Blaine.
"Excuse me Ladies...and Joe," Blaine says with a small bow. "Could I just steal Kurt away?"
"But we were just...oh! Yes!" Joe says as he catches the small shake of Blaine's head. "Go for it!"
"What's going on?" Kurt asks, looking at Blaine as Wes thrusts a glass of champagne into his hand.
"Come with me," Blaine says, tugging Kurt across the room and out onto the balcony.
"Blaine? It's freezing out here."
"We won't be out here long." Taking a deep breath, he turns to face him, taking both Kurt's hands in his. He makes to speak, but ends up huffing out a laugh as he hears Rachel screeching at someone.
"Not another step!" she yells. "I'm warning you! I'll set my roommate on you, and it won't be pretty."
"What is going on in there?" Kurt asks in confusion.
"I tasked her and Santana with keeping everyone inside," Blaine smiles softly. "I want this to be just us."
"O-Kay."
"So...here's the thing. I um... The other...oh dear. I'm rambling. Um... Wow. Okay." He looks up, eyes sincere as he looks at him. "Kurt... I was planning to propose to you tonight."
A tiny, soft "Oh," escapes Kurt's mouth as he stares, and becomes keenly aware of everyone now gathered in the open doorway.
"I uh...I bought a ring...right before we moved. I had wanted to for ages, but I was waiting for you to graduate and then...well, we all know how that turned out," he laughs shyly. "But then we worked it out and I knew I wanted a ring for you. So I could look at it from time to time and know it was a promise to myself, as much as anything. Truth be told, I had no intention of proposing to you while you were still this young. But Thanksgiving...I just...it hit me Kurt. It makes no difference what age you are- or even how old I am, I guess. I look on an engagement as confirmation of a promise we made to each other long ago, a...a...a contract of our intentions, if you will."
He pauses a moment, reaching out to brush a stray tear from Kurt's cheek and smile at him softly. "I dragged Wes to the mall that day you were out allegedly fishing with my dad," he chuckles, more to himself than out loud. "We picked out a suit...which is still hanging in my closet. And that time you thought I had gone to Michigan for work? I drove to Lima to ask your dad's permission. I called all our closest friends and told them of my intention... I had everything set up."
"And I ruined it," a horrified Kurt whispers as his hand flies to cover his mouth.
"No you didn't, Kurt. Don't you see?" Encouraging Kurt's hands back into his own, he squeezes gently and offers a kind smile. "You made everything so much better- I don't even know where to begin. I know you've always dreamed of a big proposal," he says as Kurt laughs through his tears. "I assumed you would just sit tight and wait on that from me. I should know by now to never assume anything when it comes from you. I know you wanted the fanfare, the applause when you say yes...whereas I...I've dreamed of a proposal too. I had a dream that one day someone would love me enough to get down on one knee in the moonlight and ask me to marry them. And you did. You do. And yes, I bought a suit...but why would I ever want to wear that when I have this?" he asks as he gestures down at Kurt's masterpiece.
"You didn't ruin anything, gorgeous boy. You confirmed for me that my idea of us getting engaged now wasn't as crazy as I feared it may be, that you were ready for this and wanted it as much as I did. You gave me the most perfect, romantic night I have ever experienced...When we were on the pier and we kissed, I broke away to lean on the railings. I was seconds away from asking you there and then," he smiles.
"That's why I was so shocked to see you kneeling. I've nearly proposed so many times, Kurt. You have no idea. Not in Cooper's pool house, not in the school parking lot, your bedroom, or on the couch that day...but so many other moments have had me holding everything in, refraining from blurting those words because I wanted it to be perfect. And then you beat me to it in the most surprising, flawless, out of this world and sublime way possible."
Kurt sighs in happy relief, and makes to kiss him, but Blaine's finger meets his lips instead, silently asking him to hear him out.
"For me, that is," he adds as Kurt furrows his brow in confusion. "But Kurt...you deserve the perfect proposal too."
As he drops to one knee, there on the balcony with the snow falling into his eyes, a muted excited hubbub coming from all their friends now jostling in the doorway, Kurt lifts a shaking hand to his mouth and starts to cry, a hand which Blaine reaches for again and holds tight in his hand.
"I know this is real," Blaine tells him as he looks up with shining eyes. "I know...I hope...what your answer will be. But this is how I dreamed of this night happening, and I'm damned if I'm not going to see our dreams come true."
He smoothly produces a small box, lifting the lid and Kurt's eyes go wide as he takes in the sight of a white gold ring with a row of brilliant, sparkling diamonds.
"Kurt Elizabeth Hummel. I love and adore you. Would you please do me the very great honor of consenting to be my husband?"
"You words were better than mine," he whispers. "And I don't even want to know how much that ring cost."
"You know, most people just give a yes or no answer, Kurt," Blaine teases.
"I know, but we're not conventional about anything," he grins.
"So will you? Marry me?"
"Yes!" Kurt cries loudly. "A thousand times, yes!"
Blaine is on his feet in seconds, pushing the ring onto Kurt's left hand and then knocking the air from his lungs as he crushes him tight against his chest and kisses him fiercely. A huge cheer erupts as their friends push through the doorway at last, and they are swept apart on a tidal wave of hugs and kisses.
"Oh! Everyone! It's time!" Rachel cries as out on the street below the start of the countdown reaches their ears. Then suddenly Blaine is pushing through the crowd to gather his fiancé in his arms.
"Ready to start the new year as fiancés? he grins.
"More than ready," Kurt smiles back.
"Three... Two... One..." they all yell. "Happy New Year!"
The cheering continues, along with laughter and popping of champagne corks but Kurt and Blaine are oblivious as they stand there, wrapped in each others arms, still kissing long after everyone has gone back inside.
"Think we should call them back inside?" Sebastian asks as he watches Blaine's fingers run into Kurt's hair.
"Nah," Wes shakes his head. "They'll realize soon enough."
"They'll get sick if they stay out there much longer," Rachel worries.
"They'll get horny before they get sick," Santana says knowledgeably.
She is right of course, and a loud smack echoes through the room as Kurt stumbles into the glass door, and all anyone can see is his back pressed against it and Blaine's palms either side of his head as they finally break apart with embarrassed smiles and Kurt tugs them back inside.
"That was quite the show!" Sebastian calls across as Blaine stares at his shoes. "Don't stop on our account."
"Go," Wes tells them softly, putting an arm around both their shoulders. "Shut the door to your room and just...be together... Quietly," he adds as an afterthought. "We can all tidy up and sort ourselves out. I'll see you in the morning."
"Thank you Wes," Kurt says with a smile.
"No worries. Oh! And congratulations...again."
They lie together in the early hours, sated, happy and sleepy. Blaine rests his head on Kurt's chest as he smooths his hand over Blaine's back, staring at his left hand which he tilts this way and that, watching as the diamonds glint in the moonlight.
"You surprised me," he says quietly, smiling down as Blaine lifts his head slightly.
"Good. I guess now we're even- because I don't think I'm ever going to be over the shock of turning around and seeing you on one knee."
"Is funny, isn't it? We both knew marriage was on the cards for us...yet we still caught each other off guard."
"Sneaky ninjas," Blaine says and Kurt smiles as a rumble of laughter resonates through Blaine's chest before they fall silent once more.
"By the way... Rachel knew all along," Blaine says. "Turns out she can keep a secret."
"She knew? Really? Huh."
"You mad that she didn't tell you?"
"Of course not! I'm amazed, but not mad. I wouldn't have wanted to know. Tonight was...wonderful."
Blaine leans up and kisses Kurt's lips, pushing the hair from his eyes before rubbing their noses together. "Goodnight, gorgeous fiancé."
"I see what you did there," Kurt smiles into the dark. "Very smooth." He nuzzles briefly into Blaine's soft curls. "Goodnight um...old fiancé. No...wait. That doesn't work. Goodnight fiancé man...nope. Um..."
"Just a goodnight will do," Blaine laughs.
"Goodnight my beautiful old fiancé man whom I love so very much," Kurt settles on before they snuggle close once more to dream of their future together.