Blaine is excited. Not only are he and Kurt right back on track, but after a wonderful Thanksgiving back home with Burt, he and Kurt are now preparing to host Christmas in their apartment for the very first time. Not only that, but they're hosting New Years too, when Angie will be coming to stay with them.

Their tree is already in, an ordeal which left Kurt screeching about the walls getting scratched, Blaine getting hit in the eye with a branch, and then an emergency trip to the hardware store for a bigger tree stand, but by the end of it, they were laughing and happy, and their larger than anticipated tree took over a good portion of the living room and was decorated beautifully.

That had been yesterday, and Kurt had gone off to work this morning instructing Blaine that he was not, under any circumstances, to continue decorating the place without him. That was fine while Blaine was in class, and for the first hour of his being home, but it was nearly seven now and Kurt still wasn't back, and knowing Kurt, he would insist on eating when he returned, even though tinsel and twinkle lights should clearly take precedence.

"Hey."

His voice is so quiet that Blaine only turns around because he thinks he's mistaken, but no, Kurt is there, shaking rain from his hair and unbuttoning his jacket.

"Hey tiger." Blaine saunters over to him, taking his coat and kissing his lips. "Okay, so I know you're gonna be hungry, but I was too impatient to cook, so it's kinda just...well, not kind of, it is, club sandwiches. But good club sandwiches," he rambles happily, hanging Kurt's coat on the laundry rack near the fire to dry. "And chips, which I totally didn't eat handfuls of as I was setting them out. No way." He laughs again, and takes Kurt's boots and bag, apparently not noticing that Kurt still stands there, motionless and seemingly stuck just inside the front door.

"So, beautiful," Blaine says brightly, as he offers his hand. "Let's eat."

"I need to talk to you."

It is then that Blaine stops, disturbed by the flat monotone of his voice, and he tugs Kurt into the kitchen and sits him down in a chair. "What's wrong? Did I do something?"

"What? No! Oh, Blaine, no. Really. You are just as wonderful as ever. It's um...work."

"Bad day?"

"No, no, good day, actually. I got called into Sarah's office and I was worried, y'know? But actually, it was just so she could tell me she's really happy with my work, and to introduce me to Kate."

"Oh, okay," Blaine says, confused. "Well that's good. Who's Kate?"

"She works in Runway."

"What's that? Like another magazine?"

"Another department," Kurt says with an indulgent smile. "Dealing with runway fashion, organizing shoots, attending shows, that sort of thing."

"Um...don't you work in fashion now?"

"I work in fashion news."

"And running is different?"

"Runway," Kurt corrects, unable to resist kissing the back of Blaine's hand. He loves that Blaine shows an interest in his work, even though he hasn't got the first clue. "It's more high end. The stuff you see in the stores is the stuff I write about, like I might write a piece about affordable shoes, or party fashion on a budget. There's like...no budget in high end fashion. It's the outrageous stuff you see on the catwalks, which then gets adapted for the stores. It's..."

"Oh!" Blaine cries as he remembers. "That's what you want to do! The fashion shoot stuff."

"Yeah I do," Kurt smiles. "Runway really interests me, and it would appear that I interest them. They want me to transfer, starting in the New Year."

"Really? That's fantastic!" Blaine cries, and Kurt can see how happy he genuinely is for him, as he leans across and kisses him soundly on the mouth. "You are awesome. Oh my god, you're like...the best. You're going to be this posh fashion journalist and..."

"Blaine, hold up, because I don't think I can take it," Kurt says sadly. "I want to, but they want me to go to London for fashion week and I'm not...I don't think...I can."

"Huh? Are you insane? A week in London? Clothes?"

"It would be three weeks," Kurt clarifies, "in February."

"And?"

"What do you mean, and?" Kurt cries. "And you wouldn't be able to come, Blaine! I'd be working, and you'd have class."

"So?"

"So that's not fair to you, is it? Neither of us have ever been to England, and then I'd have been there and you wouldn't, and..."

"Kurt." Blaine cuts him off firmly, taking his hands in his. "Listen. This is an amazing opportunity. Not just the trip, but the whole transfer. You should be so proud of all you've achieved, Kurt, because they're coming and asking you to transfer, you're not even having to apply for this. Okay, so I won't be in London with you, but given how fashion week goes here in New York, that's probably just as well."

He smiles when Kurt gives a self deprecating laugh, and he moves from his chair to straddle him, leaning down and kissing his lips. "I love you, Kurt. I will miss you insanely, but it's three weeks. We can do this, and you will do this. It's important that you do. Hell, if they're gonna pay, I'd take them up on all offers of travel. If you get a chance to see the world, Kurt, don't turn it down. One day, you and I will do it all. Paris, Rome, London, Tokyo...we have our entire lives to take trips places...and a honeymoon too," he adds with a grin. "Now turn that frown upside down, tiger, and eat your damn sandwich, because you and I have got some decorating to do."

"I am happy, I guess, I just...I'm going to miss you, and..."

"And I'll miss you, but there will be masses of welcome home kisses and cuddles, and endless sex," he says, joining in with Kurt's laughter, "Seriously though Kurt, I am so proud of you. So incredibly proud."

"It feels a little surreal, you know? That good stuff could happen to someone like me. Look at this," he says, gesturing to the tree with its lights twinkling, and the fire glowing in the hearth. "I'm about to host Christmas with my boyfriend. Dad's coming to stay for ten whole days, your mom's coming, we're holding a New Year's party, I'm getting promoted...when did I get this lucky?" He sighs contentedly when Blaine kisses gently along his jaw, and he lets his eyes close in pleasure. "I know the answer, of course," he murmurs happily. "When I met you...and keep doing that please," he gasps, when Blaine sucks on his pulse point. "That...that's good."

"But you said we could decorate," Blaine laughs, pulling back with a pout. "Let's make a deal. Tonight we eat club sandwiches and decorate the apartment, and then tomorrow I'll take you out somewhere super fancy for a date- my way of congratulating you for being so wonderfully awesome at your job."

Kurt flushes pink with pleasure, unable to stop grinning at Blaine's words. "Yeah, I'd like that. See? Kurt Hummel gets lucky again."

Two weeks later and a knock on the apartment door has Blaine tripping over his own feet in an effort to reach the door first, while Kurt deftly dives off the couch, leaps over Blaine who is sprawled on the floor, and pulls the door open to reveal Burt, standing there with a large suitcase and a whole stack of gifts. It is Blaine who flings himself into his arms first, with Kurt crushing in on top of him as Burt's arms come around them both.

"My boys!" he booms loudly, kissing both of them in turn. "Ah my boys."

"How did you get up here without ringing the bell?" Kurt asks into Blaine's neck.

"Some nice fella let me in, said he knows who you two are, because you're always making out in the doorway."

"Brian," Kurt and Blaine chorus in unison, then they start laughing, as they think of all the times they fail to make it upstairs and Brian has to sidestep past them.

"Really?" Burt raises an eyebrow as he hauls his suitcase inside. "You two live together now, can't you be a little more restrained?"

"Nope," Kurt beams, carrying a stack of gifts to set under the tree. "Look at him. Could you resist?"

"Not even gonna answer ya," Burt says, shaking his head. "So. You two behaving yourselves? You good for money?"

"Daaad, I'm thirty one years old," Kurt whines, sounding anything but. "And Blaine is nearly twenty. We know how to look after ourselves. Wanna know what we do when you're not here?"

"Honestly?" Burt asks, as he settles on the couch. "No, I absolutely do not."

"Well we don't do that," Kurt snaps, while Blaine tries to hide in the Christmas tree. "Not all the time anyway. We're humdrum and boring and it suits us just fine. Blaine studies, I work, we pay our bills, clean the apartment, go grocery shopping...seriously dad, we know how to do this."

"I know that, I just...it's a little weird for me, that's all, to think that you don't need me anymore."

"Oh I wouldn't say that," Kurt says, and he settles on the couch next to him, resting his head on his shoulder. Blaine emerges from the tree, happy to join in on the other side, and the three of them sit there happy and content.

"I wonder where Brian goes all the time?" Blaine wonders aloud.

"I told you, I think he works nights," Kurt replies.

"Yeah, but he's always coming and going at different times."

"So are we," Kurt points out. "So are lots of people, probably, it's just that we notice Brian because we know who he is."

"True."

"Anyway," Kurt stands, leaning down to kiss Blaine's cheek and then his dad's, and loving that he is able to do that. "I'm going to start making dinner."

"So," Burt says, as soon as he and Blaine are alone. "You two all okay now?"

"What do you mean, now?"

"You had a...I don't know, a moment of sorts, I guess."

"We did, yeah," Blaine says slowly. "But it's all good now. How do you know about that anyway?"

"Your mom mentioned she came to visit."

"My mom?" Blaine sits upright in alarm. "You talk to my mom?"

"Yeah, why not? Not all the time," Burt adds, sensing that Blaine is upset. "But occasionally. She just said you'd called her all upset, and she'd come to visit. She was pleased, y'know? That you'd called her."

"It's not...I wanted to call you, but I didn't think it was fair," Blaine explains. "To put you in the middle like that."

"Kid, I don't care, really. If you call me, I'll try and help you out where I can, but equally, if you call your mom to talk about something, I think that's great too, you know? That's a big step in the right direction. Was she helpful?"

"Yeah, she was," Blaine muses, as he thinks back. "But as usual I haven't heard from her since then, other than her text to say she will come for New Years. Clearly you have," he adds with a pointed look.

"Oh come on," Burt laughs. "Don't look at me like that."

"If you ever...with my mom...I'll disown both of you."

"Oh Jesus Blaine! I wouldn't! No...Blaine, son, you are seriously mistaken if you think I have any intentions like that about Angie, because I really don't. I just want you and her to get along, and I want her to feel welcomed by us, you know? Like she can be a part of our family if she wants to. The Hummels can be a formidable force, even though there's only three of us, and I don't want her to always feel like the outsider, so when she calls to ask me about you, I welcome that call, okay? Nothing more, I can assure you."

"She calls you to ask about me? Why doesn't she call me? Does everyone think I'm a child?"

"No! It's not like that. She's called me twice since Portland, and that was back in July. Once was to ask if you really were as happy as you sounded when she had spoken to you, and I reassured her that was the case, and then once a week or so back, because she wanted to make sure you and Kurt were all good. That's when she mentioned there had been a falling out."

"Well we've fallen back in," Blaine snaps angrily. "And if she'd bothered to call me, she would have known that."

Burt sighs, leaning forward to pat his back. "I've upset you. I'm sorry."

"You haven't upset me." Blaine pauses, running a hand through his hair. "It's just...I don't know. Yeah, I called her, I was upset and I didn't know who to turn to. She was great, you know? Like really great, and I was glad I called her, but then...nothing. And it hurts to know that she can call you, but she can't call me."

"I think there's a lot she wants to say to you, but doesn't know how," Burt says gently. "I also think that she would like to check on your welfare more often, but feels like that would be unwelcome, so she calls me."

"Either that or jerk won't let her call."

"Possibly," Burt concedes. "But maybe, and this is a radical thought I know, but maybe you could call her a little more often? During the day, when she's at work, or on the weekends, maybe."

"I do call her."

"Blaine."

"Sometimes."

"When she arrives next week, I want you to do something for me," Burt starts, and Blaine groans and holds his head in his hands. "I want you to be the one to go to her, and not wait for her to awkwardly come to you. Go give her the hug you want to, but are too stubborn to give."

"Am not stubborn."

"Blaine," Burt says firmly. "Do you want everyone to think you're a child? Because you're acting like one right now. Do as your dad says, please."

"And your boyfriend!" comes a voice from the kitchen, and Blaine gives in and laughs.

"Fine. For you two, I will."

And he does, when Angie arrives the day before New Years Eve. He pulls open the door and hugs her right away, and although she is clearly taken off guard, she laughs and hugs back tightly, even kissing his cheek, and Blaine thinks maybe his dad did have a point after all, because things are definitely easier right from the start.

There is nearly a stand up fight between all of them over who will take the couch, with Kurt loudly protesting that he is not giving up his bed for anyone, while Blaine declares they will. Still, it is Burt who wins out in the end, insisting that Angie has the guest room, and he will take the couch for the remainder of his stay.

While Blaine and Kurt are undeniably happy to have Angie and Burt visiting them, it does prove to be quite crowded, and by the time dinner is finished, Kurt is reaching his boiling point.

"You," he hisses at Blaine, as they clear the plates from the table. "Kitchen. Now."

Blaine follows, only to have his plates taken from his hands and dumped on the counter, before Kurt is in his arms. "Oh god," he whispers, while Blaine holds him tight. "This is driving me insane."

"What is?" Blaine asks, wholly distracted by the feel of Kurt's waist beneath his hands.

"You are, or rather, not being able to do anything with you."

"You want sex now?" Blaine asks in alarm. "Can't you wait until bedtime? We can be super quiet."

"Ooh, well that's progress, since you usually refuse when anyone's on the couch," Kurt teases. "But actually, I just meant not being able to kiss you properly, or hold you like I want to. I guess living together we've gotten used to being able to show a certain level of affection."

"I still kiss you," Blaine protests. "And I can't really hold you when we're eating or sitting at the table to play cards."

"I know, but when we're alone we do little things, like you walk past and kiss my neck, or I might kiss your tummy when we're watching TV, we can't do that with them here, and it's been steadily getting to me since dad arrived a week ago. Now it's reached its peak."

Blaine giggles like a kid, and Kurt smacks his backside in response. "Kiss me?" he asks, and Blaine needs no further invitation, cupping Kurt's cheek and leaning in.

"You're beautiful and I love you," he whispers, before closing the gap, letting his lips graze over Kurt's. He understands what Kurt means, as his touch becomes firmer and the kiss deepens. Having been distracted with Christmas, and now the arrival of his mom, Blaine hadn't really had time to miss the feel of Kurt's lips on his until now. They had still been making out in bed at night, but now, as Blaine lets his hands wander down to the back of Kurt's pants, he realizes they actually haven't had sex since Christmas eve, and yes, Kurt is totally right, their playful affection which is part of their everyday life, has been forgotten in favor of keeping their parents entertained.

He just about manages to stifle his moan when he feels Kurt's tongue brush against his, but he needs more, and without breaking the kiss, he lifts Kurt easily to sit him on the counter, slotting between his legs for his hands to massage over his thighs.

"Did you guys need any...oh!" Angie stops in her tracks, mortified at having walked in on her son and his boyfriend making out heavily. Spinning on her heel, she leaves immediately, and Blaine sighs and bows his head onto Kurt's chest.

"Wait for it," he says quietly.

"Any second now," Kurt murmurs into his hair.

Sure enough, Burt arrives, takes one look at their positions, and throws his hands up in the air. "Really?"

"Yes really," Kurt snaps. "I'm allowed to kiss him if I want to!"

"I know that, but we're sitting in there waiting for you two to load that dishwasher and come play poker. Blaine, your mom got quite the shock."

"We're not kids!" Blaine cries, loud enough that he knows Angie will hear too. "This is our house. We've been totally restrained for over a week now."

"Well, we're only here for three more nights, sunshine," Burt laughs. "You'll get your privacy back then."

"I know." Blaine meekly ducks his head with a small nod, as Kurt hops from the counter. "I'm sorry. We'll get these loaded and be right out."

"Sucks," Kurt mutters, as Burt leaves the room, but Blaine tugs on his hand, a finger to his lips as he glances out into the living room, then ushers Kurt silently to the front door.

"What are you...?" Kurt whispers in disbelief, as Blaine closes the front door softly behind them, but he shakes his head and takes Kurt's hand once more.

"Not here."

He runs with Kurt along the hall to the elevator, patiently standing still until it opens into the lobby, where he tugs him outside into the cold night.

"Blaine! It's freezing out here!" Kurt cries. "What..." But he doesn't get to finish, because Blaine kisses him hard. Standing there, in their usual make out spot, blocking the doorway, Kurt stumbles back against the wall, and just gives himself over to Blaine with pleasure.

Blaine tries, several times, to pull back and say something to Kurt, but each time he does, he sees Kurt standing there, his breath puffing out in front of him, his eyes shining in the dark, his cheeks rosy, and he just needs to kiss him again and again.

"Evening, you two," Brian says cheerfully. "Just coming by there..." He sidesteps them deftly, well used to arriving home and seeing them in that spot. "It's cold out, mind you, and you don't have jackets. Don't stay out too long."

Blaine stops kissing Kurt just then, turning to him and offering a dazzling grin. "Hey Brian. How are you?"

"Oh, good, good, you know," he says politely, as he enters the building. Kurt gives Blaine a shy grin, and they step inside after him. "Oh, coming in?"

"Yeah, we uh...we snuck out. We have family visiting, and..."

"Yes, you do remind me of my husband and I," Brian laughs. "We used to sneak off whenever we could. Most of our extended family just thought we were roommates anyhow, we didn't dare tell them."

"You're usually going out at this time," Kurt remarks, as they wait for the

elevator. "Not coming home."

"Ah, well, early tonight."

"Work?" Blaine asks, because suddenly, he really needs to know where Brian goes.

"Work? Oh, no," Brian smiles. "I work as a computer engineer from home. No, I um...I go to kiss my husband goodnight."

Both Blaine and Kurt stop dead, not really knowing what to say to that, and Blaine puts an arm around Kurt's shoulders, drawing him near, both sensing one another's need to be close.

"He uh...he has Alzheimers," Brian clarifies, as they step into the elevator. "I cared for him at home for a long time, but then...well, he became too sick to stay at home. He was uh...he would escape in the middle of the day and get lost, or do dangerous things, and it became impossible for me to cope with him, so... well," he stops, taking a deep sigh, as the elevator doors open to the third floor, and Kurt and Blaine step out with him, not even noticing they're in the wrong place. "Well," Brian carries on, "We sold our beautiful house, I bought this place, and Loic moved into a nursing home for people with dementia. He's older than me, and not technically my husband, since marriage wasn't legal, but... well, he's seventy five, and I'm almost sixty, and we've been together for forty years now."

"Loic," Kurt muses. "French?"

"Yes," Brian smiles. "We met on the banks of the Seine. He was a painter. It was all terribly romantic. I didn't even know I was gay until I met him. We embarked on a torrid and passionate three month affair, then I had to come back to the US to finish my studies. Six weeks later there was a knock on my front door, and there he was. We didn't look back."

"Blaine is totally crying," Kurt smiles, without even looking at his boyfriend.

"Hey! It's romantic!" Blaine protests, as he wipes at his eyes, and Brian laughs. "I'm sorry though," Blaine tells him sincerely. "That he's...that you both have to go through that."

"Oh it's nasty, I won't deny it," Brian sighs. "Sometimes, when I get there, he'll know who I am. I try and visit at the same times every day, in the morning for an hour, then I go after lunch and read to him, or take him out if he's up to it, then I go back each evening to kiss him goodnight. Sometimes he knows me," he says with a smile. "Sometimes he can remember me as the twenty year old boy I was, and he gets confused, unable to work out why I look so old, not realizing he's no spring chicken himself," he laughs. "But other times he doesn't recognize me at all. Unfortunately, that's becoming more common. I love him though, you know?" Brian asks sadly. "I love him so much and he's my everything. My soulmate. I would never give up on him."

"Um...if we can ever be of any help," Kurt offers. "Even if you just want some coffee, our apartment is..." He stops, turning around on the spot. "Oh. Not here, evidently. Next floor down. Two D."

"The biggest help you two can be, is to carry on exactly as you are," Brian says, resting a hand on Kurt's arm. "I come home and see you two huddled in the doorway together, and it warms my heart to see a young couple so caught up in their romance."

"Oh, he's young, I'm not," Kurt laughs. "Nineteen and thirty one. He's nearly twenty though!" he feels the need to add, but Brian laughs loudly and pats Kurt's arm again.

"Thirty one? That is stupidly young," he says, still laughing. "Now you boys better run back to your family, who probably think you're up to no good in the laundry room."

"Um, we're having a party," Blaine says quickly. He doesn't even look at Kurt, because he knows he's thinking the same. "Tomorrow. I say party, more a small gathering of people. Us, our dad, my mom, a few friends...would you like to join us?"

"Oh, well, I was going to see the New Year in with Loic, because I worry this will be his last one, so..."

"Come by first," Kurt suggests. "have a drink with us, and then go see Loic?"

"I could do that," Brian realizes. "Yes. Yes, I will. Thank you, both of you."

He looks...sadly elated, is the phrase Blaine comes up with, as they take the stairs down to their floor.

"Huh?"

"Brian," Blaine says to Kurt. "Sadly elated. Like he was happy we had asked, but sad that he has to go to these things alone."

"Yeah." Kurt stops outside their apartment door, to take Blaine in his arms and hold him tight. "I love you, puppy. I hope you know that."

Blaine bows his head onto Kurt's shoulder, reluctant to let go, but knowing that their moment will have to end soon. "I do, Tiger. I love you too."

They get teased endlessly, of course, by Burt and Angie, who knew they had snuck out after waiting five minutes and then invading the kitchen, but neither one of them cares. They play poker, and although they are placed adjacent to each other at the square table, Kurt keeps one hand on Blaine's thigh for the whole evening, letting him know he's there, though the feel of Blaine's leg under his hand brings just as much comfort to him.

They lie in bed late that night, facing each other, their hands joined between them. "You okay?" Blaine asks quietly, mindful of Burt on the couch just on the other side of the wall.

"Yeah," Kurt sighs, then he studies Blaine for a long time, trying to take in every feature, every little line, trying to remember the way his bottom lip seems to glisten in the dark, the way his fingernails are cut perfectly square, and his hands feel strong yet smooth in his own. His beautiful eyelashes, the way they fan down over his cheeks as he blinks, then lift to reveal those wondrous eyes, which Kurt likes to stare into as he's doing now. Will he always remember? When he's old and gray, will he know what it felt like to lie opposite the man he loved for so many years?

For Blaine, as he studies Kurt in return, a sudden realization of exactly what forever means washes over him, and he blinks and studies some more. The way he loves Kurt now, the way every day he falls for him more and more, the way he desires his body in a physical manner, craves his touch and to be able to touch him in return...one day that will give way to a deep rooted companionship, which is already beginning to blossom in their relationship now.

One day, they'll raise a family. They'll hold a child that is uniquely theirs. Maybe more than one, who knows? They'll attend play dates, and parent teacher meetings, graduations, and then they'll wave their babies off to college, and marvel that they're not babies anymore. And when all of that is done, when the dust has settled, and the babies have babies of their own, Kurt and Blaine will be there, together, forever.

"I'm always gonna take care of you, you know," Blaine whispers, hoarse with emotion. "If anything ever...like...or you got sick I'd...you know, I'd look after you, I'd never stop loving you."

Kurt moves closer, pressing his face into Blaine's neck and shifting his arms to his shoulders. "I know. I don't even have to ask, or wonder, because I know."

"Same. I know you'll always look after me."

"It's like...I can see it now," Kurt murmurs, wrapping a leg around Blaine's waist, in an effort to be closer still. "Exactly what forever means."

"And?"

Kurt lifts his head and finds Blaine's lips, in a soft kiss full of promise. "And there's nobody else I would want to share that with."