"Stop fidgeting, please, Blaine, or your hems will be crooked."
"Sorry, love. I'm just so excited."
"Yes, yes, I know. Now stand STILL."
Blaine obediently didn't move a muscle for the next five minutes, while Kurt hemmed in the pants of his new suit. He'd be wearing it that night for the Broadway Backwards concert, and for the first time ever, Kurt would be up there on the stage with him, singing Take Me or Leave Me. Originally, Blaine's singing partner had been Alan Cumming, but he'd unfortunately come down with strep throat at the last moment, and Blaine had suggested his husband as a replacement.
Kurt was well-known in Broadway circles, obviously. His costumes won him Tony awards year after year, and he'd sung at several charity concerts. But this would be the first time Blaine and Kurt would be performing together in public since the National Showchoir Championship in Kurt's senior year, and Blaine was over the moon with happiness.
"Ouch!"
"You wouldn't get pricked by needles if you'd just STAND STILL."
"Yes, love."
In spite of Blaine's fidgeting, the pants got adjusted in time and perfectly, and the applause was warm when Kurt and Blaine stepped onto the stage.
Blaine grinned at Kurt cheekily while singing, and Kurt gave back as good as he got. The crowd lapped it up, cheering them on and clapping long and hard when the song ended.
When they'd bowed twice, Kurt's hand slipped out of Blaine's and he turned to go backstage, but Blaine stopped him.
"What?" Kurt hissed, shooting a panicky look at the stage director, who winked at him and motioned for him to stay on the stage.
Blaine took Kurt's hand in his again, squeezed it, and turned to the audience. "You may not know this, but today, Kurt and I are celebrating ten years of marriage."
The crowd aww'ed and clapped again.
"We were high school sweethearts, and it seems like we've known each other forever, but I still remember the dark and difficult period I was going through before we met. Kurt was just the catalyst I needed to turn that all around, and I can state without exaggerating that meeting this wonderful, amazing man brought me back to life and shaped me into the person you see before you now. I would be nowhere without him. So as a little encore, in celebration of our tin wedding anniversary, here's our daughter and her godmother singing the Tin Man's song from The Wiz: What Would I Do If I Could Feel? Ladies and gentlemen, I give you… Elizabeth Anderson-Hummel and Rachel Berry!"
Rachel came on stage with little Lizzy, both in beautiful dresses designed by Kurt. Lizzy tore away from Rachel and ran straight at Kurt and Blaine for a hug. That led to more aww'ing and clapping. Lizzy's eyes widened as she noticed so many people watching her, and she looked at Blaine with a trembling lip. He quickly crouched, put his arms around her and whispered, "Don't look at them. Look at daddy. Doesn't he look handsome?"
She nodded.
"I'm sure he'd love to hear you sing the song we practised."
Kurt smiled at Lizzy, a tear rolling down his cheek. "Yes, I would."
"Can you sing it to him? With Auntie Rachel?"
Lizzy nodded again and skipped off to her godmother, slipping her hand in Rachel's. Then, without even waiting for the orchestra, she started to sing, her clear, high voice silencing everyone in the room at once.
"What would I do
If I could suddenly feel
And know once again
That what I feel is real?"
The orchestra joined in, as did Rachel, and Lizzy sang on as if she'd been born to be on stage.
Next to Blaine, Kurt was crying silently, and Blaine took his handkerchief and gently wiped the wetness from Kurt's cheeks before cupping his face and kissing him, right then and there.
That didn't stop the tears from flowing, but it did make Kurt beam through them.
"I thought… you'd for-… forgotten," Kurt hiccupped.
Blaine shook his head. "I would never. It's fourteen years to the day you found my bow tie and woke me up. And you've been front and centre in my thoughts and dreams ever since."
"That's why I had been making you a new suit, you know. Not for this concert. For our anniversary. I wanted to take you out for dinner, both of us wearing matching suits, and then I was going to take you…"
"To the Gapstow Bridge in Central Park just in time to see the sun set?" Blaine supplied. "And then coax me into singing Come What May together and slow dance on the grass?"
Kurt pouted. "Am I that predictable?"
Blaine's cheeks dimpled. "Only to me, because I know you inside and out. And because Rachel can't keep a secret to save her life."
"She didn't tell me about this!"
"Because I had her rehearsing non-stop," Blaine explained. "Her work ethic trumps her love for gossip."
Kurt looked suitably impressed with Blaine's cunning, and Blaine grinned.
The song ended, and instead of curtseying to the crowd with Rachel, Lizzy made a beeline for Kurt, jumping into his arms. "Did you like it? Did you like it, Daddy? Was it a good surprise?"
Kurt kissed her button nose. "The best, sweetie. You did so well. I'm very very proud of you."
"I'm having a sleep-over with Auntie Rachel, and she says I can have cronuts and ice cream for breakfast tomorrow. Anything I want, Daddy!"
Kurt wrinkled his nose. "That sounds…"
"Absolutely yummy," Blaine cut in. "I love cronuts. I've never eaten them with ice cream, though. You'll have to tell me how it tasted together."
Lizzy jumped up and down happily. "I will, Papa."
Rachel came to fetch Lizzy, winking at Blaine and laughing out loud when Kurt sent her a disgruntled glare. "Come, princess, time for our slumber party!"
Lizzy waved at her dads and then skipped away with Rachel without even looking back.
"Well, that's our cue to leave as well," Blaine said.
"What? Don't you have to stay and mingle?"
Blaine took Kurt by the hand and led him off the stage. "Not tonight, love."
K&B
The town car weaved through traffic smoothly, and the only sounds that could be heard in the car were the classical background music and the tinkling of the champagne bottle and glasses.
"Where are you taking us?" Kurt asked, picking a piece of strawberry off his cheesecake slice and putting it into his mouth with a pleased hum.
"You'll see."
When they got out of the car, Kurt let out a surprised huff. "The Hamptons? It's barely even spring yet!"
But Blaine led him to the back of the beach house they shared with the St Berry's. There, a candle-lit path led to a large picnic blanket with a pile of blankets on top, a picnic basket and a champagne bucket.
"I thought we could do some star-gazing. It's on our bucket list, but somehow, we haven't gotten round to it yet."
Kurt chuckled in disbelief. "We'll freeze."
"No, we won't. It's balmy for March, and we've got tons of blankets."
"What's in the picnic basket?" Kurt wanted to know.
"Snacks. If we just drink without eating, we'll be too hammered to get inside the beach house once we're done star-gazing."
"True."
They lay down on the toasty warm picnic blanket and covered themselves with the spares, all of which felt pleasantly warm. Blaine sent silent thanks to their wonderful housekeeper Amy, who'd agreed to set everything up at the last moment, so that the candles would still be burning, the blankets would be warm and the food would be fresh. She'd be staying over at the beach house, too, and she'd make them a gourmet breakfast tomorrow morning, just the way Kurt liked it.
For now, though, it was just the two of them. Blaine smiled at his husband, who looked even more enchanting than usual in the silvery light of the moon.
Kurt, who was lying on his back, staring at the sky, drawled, "Stop watching me and look up. I thought we were supposed to be star-gazing?"
"I am."
Kurt rolled his eyes. "Sap. Well, if you keep looking at me instead of at the sky, you might as well feed me."
Blaine chuckled and started unpacking the food.
"Oooh, Amy made those sweet pepper mini quiches? I love those!".
Kurt's eyes shone, and he wasted no time grabbing one of the little treats and shoving it into his mouth.
Blaine tutted. "We've got silverware and plates!"
"Yeah, yeah, Mr Country Club. Feel free to eat all prim and proper with your pinky fingers in the air, but I'm gonna use my hands!"
Blaine looked at the food Kurt was happily devouring already, then at the plates and silverware and napkins Amy had packed, and sighed.
Kurt's eyes twinkled mischievously. "Worried about your hands getting all greasy? Did Amy forget to pack moist towelettes?"
Blaine threw one of the napkins at Kurt, and then they both cracked up.
When their laughter died down, Kurt took another of the mini quiches. "Open up now."
Blaine obediently opened his mouth and closed his eyes in delight as the delicious flavours of the quiche hit his palate.
When all the food had gone, and they'd each drunk another glass of champagne, Blaine contentedly cuddled up to Kurt, nuzzling his neck.
"We ate dessert before dinner tonight," Kurt giggled. "The cheesecake, in the car."
"Yep," Blaine said. "We're such rebels."
That made Kurt giggle even more. "I liked this. It was a lovely idea. Even though you haven't done any star-gazing yet."
Blaine tilted his head up to look. Just at that moment, a star fell and streaked through the sky.
"Oh…" Kurt said, pointing.
"Let's make a wish," Blaine whispered.
They were silent for a good while. Then…
"You haven't fallen asleep, have you?" Kurt inquired.
"No. It's just… nice. Looking at the stars and listening to the waves."
"Mmm…"
Blaine turned to face Kurt. "Are you falling asleep on me?"
Kurt turned on his side as well. "Maybe… Let's go inside where I can sleep in a comfy bed."
"Let's."
They packed everything up and walked back to the beach house, hand in hand.
Kurt giggled again.
"What?"
"You really pulled out all the stops. Good luck topping that for all the anniversaries to come!"
Blaine smirked. "You know I'll take that as a challenge, right?"
Kurt kissed him sloppily. "I know. Can't wait to see what you come up with next. If I don't surprise you first, that is…"
Blaine couldn't keep the smugness out of his voice. "You can try."
"I've learnt my lesson, hubby. Next time, I'll confide in Amy, not Rachel. And there are plenty more activities on our bucket list."
"There are," Blaine agreed. "And I look forward to crossing them off our list. But, you know, the best thing…
Blaine nuzzled Kurt's neck, sighing happily. "The best thing is getting to spend every day with you."
"And every night," Kurt added.
Blaine beamed at him. "That too. Let's get to bed."
They left the picnic stuff in the kitchen and hurried to the master bedroom.
Later that night, Kurt was spooning Blaine and leaving a trail of kisses from his ear to his shoulder, humming under his breath. Blaine, feeling warm and drowsy and secure in Kurt's arms, his favourite place to be, sighed happily. "I love you."
Kurt stroked his arm with a feather-light touch. "I love you too. Always have, always will."
THE END