It is a laughing, happy couple who return from Barbados a week later, holding hands and grinning inanely at one another, dissolving into fits of uncontrollable laughter when Blaine walks headlong into a signpost.

"Are you...are you okay?" Kurt laughs, doubled over helplessly.

"Just about," Blaine grumbles as he rubs his head, but it's all good natured as he gives Kurt a playful shove. "It's your fault," he grins. "I was too busy looking at you instead of where I was going."

Their week away has consisted solely of sun, sea and sex- with lots of food for sustenance thrown in for good measure. They are re-energized, refocused and back on track, with both now confident about a very bright future together. Their vacation has given them time to formulate a plan for Kurt- that being that he will take time out to decide what he would like to try, and he decides to look into college courses after Blaine assures him there is no rush for him to start earning again.

He wakes the next morning to find an enormous bouquet of flowers on the kitchen table with a note from Blaine telling him he's gone for a meeting but will be back for dinner, and reminding him as ever, that he is loved. Grinning like a lovesick fool, he reaches for the cereal when the phone starts to ring.

"Kurt?"

"Oh hey Kathy," he says cheerily. "How are you?"

"Is Blaine there?" she asks, ignoring his question completely.

"No, he's out all day. Is everything okay?"

"No," she says tearfully. "I just went to the dress shop to check on something and it's gone."

"The dress?"

"The shop!" she wails. "The whole place is boarded up and there's no sign of anyone. I tried the owners cell but the number is no longer active...Kurt they have my money and my dress and I have no money and no dress and four weeks to the wedding! What the hell am I going to do?"

"What do you expect Blaine to do?" he asks curiously.

"Tell Wes, cause he'll get mad at me!"

"No he won't," Kurt chuckles. "He'll be mad, but it won't be at you. Okay. We need a plan." Setting down his cereal he grabs his iPad and starts to look for wedding shops in Chicago. "Drive here and I'll take you shopping."

"I can't," she says through her tears. "I have Mike with me."

"As in Blaine's dad?"

"Yes. I care for him every Monday so Sara can go to bridge and...well...have a break really. I know he's doing so much better but it's still incredibly hard work. So I take him to physio and then out for lunch...it's nice. We have fun."

"Where is he now?"

"In the car, waiting for me. I'm still standing outside the dress shop."

"You are incredibly sweet," Kurt says, in awe of her compassion. "Okay." Grabbing a sketchbook and pencils, he leaves his cereal untouched as he runs into the bedroom and starts to gather his clothes. "Carry on with your day, get Mike to his appointment and then take him for lunch. I'll meet you at your place this afternoon."

"To go shopping?"

"No. To design your dress."

Blaine- A really long story but Kathy had a crisis with her dress. As a result I am now on my way to Westerville to design one for her. I'll stay with dad overnight and come home tomorrow.
I love you xxxx

Ps- Santana will be arriving at eight with takeout.

"So that's all you got?" Santana asks, handing the note back to Blaine and helping herself to more food.

"Yep," Blaine shrugs. "Though I have spoken with him since. They've come up with a design, and they're going to source material tomorrow, then Kurt will come home to start work on it right away."

"How long until the wedding?"

"Four weeks."

"Haha," Santana laughs. "Your life is gonna be hell."

"No it won't," Blaine bristles. "Kurt and I are back on track...stronger than ever in fact. I can hold my tongue for a few weeks."

"Kurt is a control freak and a perfectionist," she points out, making Blaine swallow nervously. "And he's attempting to design and make a wedding dress in four weeks... Yeah. You'll be lucky to make it to England with your balls still in tact."

But to everyone's surprise- not least Kurt himself- Santana is wrong. Every day Blaine comes home bracing himself for pandemonium and a tetchy, snappy husband...but that side of Kurt never appears. He works solidly from nine to five, stopping at one for a quick lunch break. When Blaine walks through the front door he downs tools and greets him warmly, both sharing the details of their day over dinner before spending the evening together happily doing whatever they please- usually singing together or playing board games. Wes rings at least twice a day, fearful that at some point he will be answered by a very tearful Blaine who will blame him and his fiancée for ruining his marriage...but it just never happens.

"He's really okay?"

"Better than okay," Blaine says, still baffled. "In fact I'd say he's happier than ever. There's no stress, no worry...he's just...Kurt. Laughing, being witty and completely and utterly loving every aspect of this dress making thing."

"Yeah, about that. I need to pay Kurt for the material and his time, if you can let me know what I owe..."

"Nope. No way. Kurt wants this to be his gift to Kathy."

"Blaine, she won't let me do that."

"She hasn't got a choice. He doesn't want payment for doing this and we neither of us want payment for the materials. Honestly, you and Kathy have given us and our family so much...please accept this as our gift to you."

"I can never thank you enough," Wes says softly.

"Yeah you can, you can marry her and have cute little babies that call us uncle Blaine and uncle Kurt," he laughs.

"Okay," Wes grins. "What's it like? The dress?"

"I don't know. I'm not allowed to see it."

"What?"

"Kurt says I'll get drunk at your bachelor party and tell you every detail."

"Oh." Wes pauses. "He's probably right. Has Santana been to visit at all?"

"Nice try, Wes, but she's barred too. Same reason."

"I hear your parents are in town this weekend..."

"Wesley! Ten days. That's all you've gotta wait. And I don't know what it's like, but I can assure you of this; Kathy will look radiantly beautiful."

"I've never been so nervous in my whole entire life," Wes whispers as he stares resolutely ahead at the large crucifix on the church wall.

"Relax," Blaine murmurs with a brief squeeze of his hand as he glances quickly over his shoulder. "Okay. I can see Alice at the back of the church and I can hear Jonathan's camera...so I'd say she's arrived."

The traditional wedding march starts up and Blaine sees a quick glimpse of the bride before catching his husbands eye and grinning broadly. The dress is quite simply stunning. Alice leads the way in her emerald green bridesmaids dress, the color of which Kurt had picked purposely to match Kathy's eyes. The bride herself is in an elegant, traditional gown with a train. Strapless and made from a delicate creamy satin, Kurt has hand stitched hundreds of tiny crystal beads all over in intricate patterns, making Kathy glow radiantly as she walks smiling down the aisle on the arm of her father. Blaine hears the murmurs that follow her, sees the phones held up to capture the moment and beams with pride at his husbands work.

"You're gonna cry," he whispers to Wes as he turns to the front once more. "Santana is in floods already so this doesn't bode well for either you or I."

"Oh crap."

"I don't think you can say crap in a church."

"Fuck."

"I have been waiting for this moment all day," Blaine whispers to Kurt as they waltz together. "Holding you, dancing with you."

"People are watching us," a suddenly shy Kurt says, stiffening in his husbands hold.

"Probably in awe of the amazing dress designer."

"No...I think it's because we're two guys. Kathy's family look remarkably put out."

"So?" Blaine smiles softly at him as they continue to dance together. "We're here for Kathy and Wes, not them. Besides, they must have known already. Only a gay man could design a dress as fabulous as that."

"I keep wanting to be all self deprecating and say something like ah no, it wasn't that great but..."

"But you can't, because you know how good it was, don't you?"

"I do," he nods, letting a small laugh escape. "And I know how wonderful it felt to make it. To see it all come together like that...it felt so good, Blaine. So damn good."

"Maybe you should think about designing wedding dresses for a living?" Blaine offers. "I know you are amazing at regular clothes...but you have this inherent flamboyance that would suit designing gowns of that nature."

"Hmm," Kurt wrinkles his nose as he thinks. "I'm not sure. I enjoyed it, and I'll admit it's crossed my mind...but I don't know if it's me. Flamboyance, yes. But I'm not sure how many brides would appreciate sequins being incorporated into their designs."

"Ha! Good point."

"Besides which, designing it as a one off it stayed fresh, but I can see that it would become stale. The bridal fashion world moves very slowly in comparison to regular fashion. I can envisage getting six brides all wanting the same type of dress design and I'd just get bored."

"Well anyway... At least you can say you've done this. And she looked wonderful."

"It was a beautiful wedding," Kurt agrees. "Not as beautiful as ours..."

"Of course," Blaine smiles, then his face turns serious as he studies him. "Can I kiss you?"

"Now?" Kurt glances around quickly. "I don't know. I mean, I don't think people would really approve."

"That's okay," Blaine says evenly. "I don't want to make you uncomfortable. I just wanted to try and convey how proud I am, that's all."

"Kiss me," Kurt grins, and Blaine happily obliges, stopping their dance to pull him close, teasing him with a featherlight touch until Kurt chuckles and fists the front of his jacket, claiming his mouth in a deeply passionate kiss that leaves them both breathless.

"Looks like Kurt and Blaine will be leaving soon," Wes observes as he dances with his new wife.

"Oh my goodness," Kathy says, eyes wide as she watches them kiss again. "My Grandma will be having a fit."

"You want me to stop them?"

"No," she says, resting her head on his shoulder once more. "They're too darn cute."

After a few more days in England with Jonathan and Teresa, Kurt and Blaine return home. Blaine knows it isn't easy for Kurt to go back to unemployment once more, and he attempts to distract him by claiming he needs a couple of suits made, but Kurt's heart isn't in it and he just smiles tightly and says he'll do it at some point.

"Do you want to meet me for lunch?" Blaine asks on his first day back at work. He is spooned behind Kurt as they lie together in the early morning, and Blaine knows Kurt has been awake for hours.

"Can I politely decline?" he asks as he plays with his husband's wedding ring.

"You can decline, and you don't have to be polite about it at all " Blaine says sweetly. "I understand."

"I'll be okay," Kurt says with a small nod of self assurance.

"I know you will. And you're entitled to feel this way, Kurt. Why don't we sit down tonight and take a look at college courses? You might find something you want to try."

"All that work for a degree I'm not gonna use," he says sadly.

"Oh Kurt," Blaine sighs. "We'll figure it out, I promise."

Kurt stays in bed that day, giving himself over to his self pity and making a silent promise that he will get back on track tomorrow. At some point between aimlessly browsing Amazon for things he doesn't need and watching animal clips on youtube, he drifts to sleep, waking to his cell phone ringing on the nightstand. Assuming it is Blaine, he rolls over and accepts the call without even opening his eyes.

"I'm wallowing," he says morosely.

"Um...that's...nice?" an unfamiliar voice says, making Kurt sit up sharply. "Uh...I was trying to reach Kurt Hummel."

"Yes, yes that's me," he says hastily. "Well, Hummel-Anderson now. Sorry, I thought the call would be my husband."

"Oh, well...no. This is Anna Farris. We met at your showcase?"

"Oh!" Kurt says in surprise. "Yes...costume designer. Yes, I remember."

"Thank goodness," she laughs. "I've been trying to track you down for so long. I remembered that you were in the same class as Joe Mackenzie."

"Yes," Kurt laughs. "He's my best friend."

"Really? Well I managed to get hold of his manager who would only tell me that he knew of you, and that you were married to someone in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, so then I contacted the conductor. Some Italian guy. A complete nutcase."

"Riccardo," Kurt says, laughing loudly, "and yes, he is."

"Did you know he calls your husband spectacular gay Blaine?"

"Yes," Kurt sighs.

"And you, boy husband?"

"Yes."

"Oh," she pauses. "Well anyway, he gave me your number, I hope you don't mind."

"Not at all," he says politely. "But uh...does this call have a point?"

"Oh! Yes, yes," she laughs and Kurt hears papers rustling in the background. "I'm um...I'm well...oh dear." She sighs, huffing a nervous laugh down the line. "Okay. Honesty hour. The Wind in the Willows is going into production at the Cadillac in January and they're looking for a costume designer. It's my favorite story book, Kurt. I've read it so many times both as an adult and a child and when I was small I used to draw the characters for hours on end. I need this contract. It simply cannot belong to anyone else. But the thing is...for me, on my own, it's too much. I need someone who can work alongside me, who can think like I do, see things the way I see them...and bring their own imagination, passion and dedication to the work too. You've been on my mind almost daily for the last eighteen months, and I know it's a long shot but I wondered if there was any way you would consider..."

"Yes." Kurt's answer is firm, resolute and he hears a hopeful gasp from Anna.

"What? Yes, what?"

"Yes I'll design them with you, make them with you...yes...I'll do whatever you want."

"Are you serious? You'll put the acting on hold to help me out?" she asks incredulously.

"I'm not acting anymore," he says as slowly a smile starts to form. "I've been floundering for the last two months trying to decide exactly what it is I want to do...but you know what? My husband has known all along, because he knows me better than I know myself, and I think you've just come up with the solution."

"Sounds like a rather wonderful husband to have. So...if you're not acting anymore..." she starts, beaming away on the other end of the line. "Would you consider not only helping me on this project but with all my work? We could be Farris and Hummel-Anderson, costume designers, or something."

"Anderson," Kurt says, now grinning broadly. "My working name is Kurt Anderson."

BLAAAAAAAINEEEEE!

Rachel?

NO! ME! WHERE ARE YOU?!

At the deli. Why are you shouting?

I'M NOT SHOUTING!

I beg to differ.

GET HOME! NOW!

I'm in line.

OKAY, NOW I'M SHOUTING. GET HOME!

But the cheese...

I CAN'T MAKE THESE CAPITALS ANY BIGGER, BLAINE! JUST GET HOME! I HAVE NEWS! WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL NEWS!

"I got cheesecake!" an extremely out of breath Blaine pants when he bursts through the door twenty minutes later. "What's the news? Did you find a college course?"

"No...even better!" Kurt squeals, not giving a damn about maturity or propriety as he jumps up and down on the spot, clapping his hands in excitement. "You are now looking at Kurt Anderson, theatrical costume designer."

"I'm sorry, you've lost me," Blaine says, setting the cheesecake on the counter. "Start at the very beginning... It's a very good place to start."

"Thank you Maria," Kurt says dryly, and then he explains, leaving Blaine standing in the kitchen, jaw slack as he works around nothing for a moment before coming to life.

"This is...this is incredible."

"I know!" Kurt cries happily. "And I just knew, Blaine, as soon as she started to ask, I just knew this was right for me, right for us. This is what I was made to do, born to do...but I don't need to tell you that, do I? And you know, I'm still going to be using my degree to some extent, because as an actor I know how to move, what's required from a costume to make the actors comfortable on stage, and I can put all that into my design."

"And you're sure you're going to work under that name? Because you don't have to, I won't be offended."

"I want to." Kurt moves to him, taking both his hands in his. "I want to because you knew this was my path a long, long time before I did. Because you've stood by, gently guiding me and allowing me to discover it all for myself, and I can never thank you enough, and because you've been wearing that worlds most supportive husband hat since day one. I want to do this in your name."

"So can I tell you I told you so now?"

"Only if you kiss me right after."

"I told you so," Blaine whispers, before grabbing him and kissing him hard. "And I'm proud of you," he says, kissing him once more. "And I love you," he says before kissing him again. "And we're celebrating however you want. We can go out for dinner if you'd like."

"No." Kurt shakes his head and leans forward to kiss him lightly on the lips. "I want to call my dad and then celebrate by eating cheesecake and having loud, raucous sex."

"Yes," Blaine says with a fist pump. "I was kinda hoping. And champagne, maybe?"

"Maybe," Kurt says, bopping his nose. "But not too much. Anna is arriving at nine to discuss ideas."

"Oh. It's my day off. Okay, I'll make myself scarce,"

"No you won't," Kurt laughs. "I know it's your day off. I want you to be here to meet her. If we're going to work together she's going to become an important part of my life, and by default, yours too."

"You want me to meet her?" Blaine asks, his whole face lighting up with delight.

"Yes. I want her to see what a wonderful husband I have," Kurt smiles. "Can you do one thing for me?"

"Anything for you."

"Run a bath while I call dad?"

"Want me to scrub your back?"

"No, I want you to get naked and wait in there for me."

"I'm on it!"

Anna arrives the next morning at nine o'clock sharp, and her and Kurt set to work right away. "Obviously these are just initial designs," she says to Kurt as they spread out at the kitchen table. "If we get the contract we will be working with the director as well, who will certainly want some input. It's knowing when to listen and when to ignore that's key. A lot of directors forget what they've said anyway, so you can tell them anything was their idea and they'll be happy. Now, rehearsals start in January, the show runs from march second for six weeks. The company will have costume makers, but I like to oversee a lot of it myself, and I would suggest we certainly make Toad, Ratty, Badger and Mole ourselves," she carries on, nodding her thanks to Blaine who wordlessly sets two cups of coffee on the table and retreats. "Once the run starts you'll be expected to be there for opening night, but after that you're free. Is that okay? Am I talking a lot? I do talk a lot. Please tell me to be quiet."

Kurt laughs, and warmth flares in the pit of Blaine's stomach to hear him sounding so happy. "I talk a lot too, so that's fine," he says. "And the schedule sounds achievable. Blaine is on tour starting March twenty fifth for three weeks, and I accompany him on all tours, but once I return we could look to starting something new... But you're talking like we have the contract already."

"We need it Kurt. We really do."

Two weeks later they present to the director and producer, and are both able to talk through their designs. They are hired on the spot, and that night Kurt, Blaine, Anna and her husband Marcus go out for dinner to celebrate. Despite being thirty years his senior, Anna and Kurt quickly become firm friends, and Blaine is struck with how similar they are to one another as they laugh and joke their way through the meal. When they return home, Blaine takes him in his arms, nuzzling in close against his neck, kissing behind his ear and making him shiver.

"You are magnificent," he whispers as Kurt closes his eyes. "Happy Kurt is the best kind of Kurt there is."

"I have a gift for you," Kurt says suddenly. "Wait right there."

He returns and hands a bag to Blaine, who looks inside and laughs loudly. "Kurt Hummel-Anderson!"

"I'm expecting you to wear it," Kurt says, making Blaine laugh loudly. "It may not be a Kurt Anderson original, but the idea was mine...and oh my goodness I can see why you never wear baseball caps."

Blaine stands there in a bright red cap, with 'Worlds most supportive husband' emblazoned in yellow, hands on hips and trying to remain straight faced as Kurt laughs.

"I like my hat," he says. "I'm going to wear it at all times."

"You're not," Kurt laughs, taking it from his head and tossing it onto the couch. "You can keep wearing the metaphorical one though. That one's allowed."

"And I'll wear you," Blaine whispers, voice sultry again as he sidles up to Kurt, making his intentions clear.

"Into the ground?"

"Rude," he smiles with a playful nudge. "No, like a badge of honor."

"Wear me naked and wrapped around you," Kurt says, arching his neck for Blaine to kiss there.

"That could work."

As with the wedding dress making, Kurt remains calm, happy and upbeat throughout the costume designing process. Blaine and Kurt's birthdays come and go, followed by Thanksgiving and Christmas and although Kurt works harder than ever, he and Blaine remain totally in love and dedicated to one another.

It is a lazy, snowy Sunday afternoon in February, two weeks before the show opening and Kurt sits quietly at the kitchen table sketching final alterations to mole's costume, humming a little tune occasionally which breaks off when he enters into a period of deep concentration, with the tip of his tongue poking out the side of his mouth as he draws. He becomes aware of Blaine's eyes on him and looks up to see him lying the length of the couch, arms folded behind his head, watching.

Blaine smiles slowly, eyes sparkling. "I love you."

"I love you too." Kurt grins, shakes his head, sets his pencil down and walks over to the couch. "Shift over."

Blaine does so happily, snuggling down and letting Kurt's arms wrap around him, his fingers coming up to play lazily with the curls at the back of his neck. Sighing contentedly, Blaine kisses at his collar bone then closes his eyes, hoping that a nap might be on the cards.

"Happy little chappy, aren't you?" Kurt says, smiling into his soft hair.

"Totally."

"Content?"

"Completely."

"Nothing...missing? Nothing you would change, if you could?"

"No..." Blaine says slowly, lifting his head to look at him. "Why? Where's this going?"

"Nowhere," Kurt says airily. "Just checking on my husbands welfare," he says, pushing his head back onto his chest. "That's all."

"Well it's all good from where I'm standing...or lying," Blaine says with a yawn.

"I'm looking forward to Russia."

"Me too. It'll be amazing."

"Maybe when we get back we could..." Kurt starts, but he trails off once he realizes Blaine is sleeping soundly, kissing the top of his head instead and smiling to himself. "Oh Blaine. How I love you."