This episode is basically just one big fluffy moment for Kurt and Blaine... they're in SUCH a cute place. And gosh, the box scene! For those of you who don't know... there was supposed to be a scene near the end of the episode where Blaine gives Kurt a promise ring that he made out of gum wrappers – they filmed it and everything – but it was cut out of the episode. BUT, the fandom got a copy of the script for this episode from a charity auction, and the scene was there! So, when you get to that part of this chapter/story, it's the dialogue from the official script. I suggest reading the scene from the script (theboxscene DOT tumblr DOT com/post/24029350844/the-box-scene) before you read this chapter just so you know what's official and what I made up. :) I wish they hadn't cut it – what a sweet scene! And I would've loved to see how Chris and Darren changed it around/spoke the lines and all that. Oh well, just having the script will have to suffice!
It's Christmas in June! ;) Here we go...
(I do not own Glee or any of the characters, dialogue, or songs from the show. It's all just for fun!)
BLAINE
"A week and one day until we're free," Artie sighed happily.
"Got any big plans for the break?" Blaine asked, leaning on the row of lockers as Artie finished grabbing the books he needed.
"If by 'big plans' you mean sleeping by day and annihilating my adversaries in Call of Duty by night," Artie said, "then yes. You?"
"We," Kurt suddenly appeared, nudging Blaine's shoulder in greeting, "are going to Washington DC!"
"Mr. Hummel is taking us – me, Kurt, Finn, and Rachel – the weekend after Christmas," Blaine clarified. "We'll be there to ring in the New Year!"
"Well, that certainly makes me feel less than productive," Artie commented. "But that's awesome, guys."
The door to Sue's office opened just down the hall, and the three students looked up as the coach stepped out into the hallway.
"You three!" Sue gestured at Blaine, Kurt, and Artie. "In my office, now!"
Blaine looked at Kurt. He still hadn't been at McKinley long enough to determine when Sue was being serious and when he should just ignore her.
"Let's go," Kurt mumbled as Artie wheeled down the hall and into the office.
Blaine had never been inside Sue's office before, and he looked around at all the trophies as he followed Kurt into the small room. He was curious as to why they had been summoned.
"Wheels, Porcelain, Other Gay," Sue began as Kurt and Blaine settled into chairs in front of her desk, "The Yuletide is upon us. And everyone knows that Christmas is a time for forgiveness. So, I have decided to forgive you for having no talent and ruining the American songbook one mash-up at a time. I've also forgiven you for forcing me to run in, and promptly lose, a humiliating statewide election."
Blaine alternated between watching Sue and glancing at Kurt. Why were they here?
"We... accept your forgiveness?" Artie said uncertainly.
"Now, Christmas isn't just a time when Jewish kids get slightly uncomfortable and dwarves get jobs as Santa's helpers in demeaning, non-union commercials that make them quietly die inside," Sue continued. "No, Christmas is also a time to give back. Which is why, this Friday, I am volunteering at the Lima homeless shelter. And I thought maybe you and your fellow glee clubbers might want to pitch in by giving the gift of song."
Blaine was surprised. It was a great idea.
"Coach Sylvester," Kurt said, sounding much more skeptical than Blaine felt, "I've heard you say on several occasions that you don't believe in homelessness."
"You said you consider homeless people 'urban campers'," Artie added.
Oh. Blaine didn't know what to think or do, so he just continued to listen in silence.
"Can I be honest with you Stumbles, Gelfing, Young Burt Reynolds?"
Blaine was pleasantly taken aback by her second nickname for him. She thought he looked like Burt Reynolds? He wondered briefly what he would look like with a moustache.
"I lost my sister this past year and this will be my first Christmas without her," Sue explained. "And, honestly, I'm just trying to keep myself occupied. I made plans to shoot reindeer from a helicopter with Sarah Palin, but she canceled. Apparently Todd gets fussy when she misses his ballet recitals."
Kurt glanced at Blaine, and he nodded, urging Kurt to accept her offer.
"We'd be happy to help," Kurt told the coach.
"Aw, that's fantastic!" Sue said. "And now, in the spirit of Christmas... get the hell out of my office."
BLAINE
"Hey guys," Blaine greeted the band as he and Kurt walked into the choir room for glee club that afternoon.
"Wow," Kurt turned to him as they walked across the room, "look at that."
New Directions' Christmas tree was beautiful. Blaine felt incredibly content as he and Kurt found seats on the side of the room nearest to the tree. He loved the holiday season. The decorations, the music, the weather, and the way that everyone seemed to be just a bit nicer than usual.
"Okay everybody, listen up," Finn said as he and Rory came through the door, "My man Rory Flanagan here wants to say a few."
"Thanks, Finn Hudson," Rory said as he stayed at the front of the room while Finn sat down. "So guys, my mommy was gonna come visit for the holidays, but plane tickets are expensive, so... it's my first Christmas without any family. I'd like to cheer myself up by dedicating this song to them. And to the king."
"Jesus?" Kurt asked skeptically.
Blaine nudged Kurt's shoulder. "No," he mouthed.
"I'll have a blue Christmas without you..."
As Rory sang, Blaine sang background vocals with some of the other students and enjoyed teasing Kurt by acting as enthusiastic as possible without drawing attention to himself.
"Gosh," Santana said when Rory finished, "that song was so depressing. I may actually be dead right now."
"I–" Rachel countered, "I think what Santana means is, although that was mournfully beautiful, now that the whole glee club is back together I think that we should focus on the more joyous and the pageant aspect of this holiday season."
"Rachel's right," Tina said. "Last Christmas was super sad. Kurt was at another school, Coach Sylvester trashed everything, and Artie got a pair of magic legs that broke the next day. We were the island of misfit toys. This year is gonna be –"
"This year's a whole new sprig of mistletoe!" Mr. Schu exclaimed as he walked through the door. "Guess who's not getting coal in their stockings for once? Us."
He tapped Rory on the back. "Rory, have a seat. I just got off the phone with Don Barowski, the local station manager at Lima's PBS affiliate. Turns out that their annual broadcast of the Yule log burning has been canceled."
"The hell?" Puck exclaimed.
"Yeah," Mr. Schu confirmed. "they can't afford the licensing fees anymore. But thank you Scrooges who own that copyright because Don came to Sectionals. He loved what we did, and he's offering us –"
"A Christmas special featuring all of us?" Rachel interrupted frantically. "Okay, please say you said yes!"
"Not only did I say yes," Mr. Schu confirmed, "but when Don said that they were looking for a director for the special, I nominated you, Artie."
"Me?" Artie asked.
"Yeah," Mr. Schu replied. "He saw West Side Story, loved your work, and he wants to take your meeting."
"But I– I swore I would never sell out and do television," Artie responded. "I'm really going to have to think about this Mr. Schu."
Everyone exchanged confused glances, and after a moment of silence Mr. Schu seemed to remember that they were gathered for glee practice.
"So!" he said briskly, "To get into the holiday spirit... does anyone have a holiday song they'd like to share with the group?"
"Mr. Schu," Rachel's hand flew up, "Finn and I would love to sing the classic Baby, It's C –"
"No!" Kurt said sharply, turning a quick glare in her direction. "No..." he looked frantically at Blaine.
Blaine turned toward Rachel and shook his head. She made a little noise of unhappiness, but didn't press the issue.
"As I am directing this holiday special," Artie announced suddenly, "and will therefore be otherwise occupied while the cameras are rolling, perhaps I should take this opportunity to exercise my vocal abilities."
"Perfect!" Kurt exclaimed. Blaine reached out and put his hand on Kurt's knee, similarly relieved.
"Oh, and also?" Artie added as he rolled to the front of the room. "While I have not yet determined the exact parameters for the special, please consider all songs performed from now on as auditions."
KURT
"... and also, the whole thing will be in black and white."
Kurt flailed his arms briefly in approval, and Blaine tried unsuccessfully to hold back a laugh at his expense.
"That sounds wonderfully artistic," Rachel said primly from the stage, "but can we get to the matter at hand, please?"
Artie nodded reluctantly. "Okay, Rachel," he said. "Let's hear it."
"It's coming on Christmas. They're cutting down trees. They're putting up reindeer and singing songs of joy and peace. Well, I wish I had a river I could skate away on..."
As Rachel sang, Kurt daydreamed about future Christmases with Blaine and reminisced about last Christmas. When he had been hopelessly smitten but still just friends with the other boy.
"I thought Rachel wanted to focus on the happier aspects of Christmas," Blaine leaned over and whispered in Kurt's ear.
"Rachel is prone to saying one thing and then doing another," Kurt replied. "It's a curse."
As the song came to an end, the group applauded politely. "Rachel, could you come see me?" Artie asked.
"Yes, Artie, of course," Rachel said, moving to descend the stairs off the stage, "And if this is about my ears... I know that they're a little naked right now, but that's just because I'm waiting for something special. Something that's really gonna sparkle and, you know, to catch the light, so... what's up?"
"It's not about your ears," Artie explained. "It's about your song. It makes me want to kill myself."
"I'm sorry, Joni Mitchell is not depressing," Rachel argued. "She's emotional."
"It doesn't fit my vision for our Christmas spectacular," Artie explained.
"And what is that, exactly?" Rachel said sharply.
"We begin," Artie started dramatically, "in the Swiss Alps, in the village of Gstaad, in the perfectly-appointed living room of Kurt Hummel and Blaine Anderson's chic, swank chalet."
Kurt turned to look at Blaine as the other boy nudged his shoulder excitedly. This was a surprise. Artie wanted to use their house together as the setting for the special?
"The tree, towering and opulent," Artie continued his vision, "The fireplace draped in garlands. The stockings, bejeweled. Kurt and Blaine, the perfect hosts, have invited their friends to drop in for an evening of Noël Coward-esque banter and fun, happy, cheer-filled songs."
Kurt approved, and he could see that Blaine did too.
"Are you telling me I'm not invited to Kurt and Blaine's for Christmas?" Rachel whined.
"Not unless you pick a happier song," Artie confirmed.
"The evening's festivities conclude with Rory," Artie said, "dressed as the Christmas elf Itchy, reciting Frosty the Snowman. Start with fun, end with fun. That's how you do it, kids."
"The Frosty story isn't fun," Sam argued. "At the end he melts and dies."
"I'm rebooting Frosty," Artie said. "In my version, he doesn't melt. He... well, new pages forthcoming."
Sam stood up. "What's wrong with a story that's a little sad, or a song that's a little depressing?" he asked. "I mean, that's part of Christmas too, right? It's the sad things that make you remember what's really important."
"Sorry Sam," Artie said, "but the phrase is 'merry Christmas' not "morose Christmas'. That's the vision. That's what you have to buy into."
"Well, sorry Artie," Sam said briskly, "I'm not buying into it. I'm gonna go downtown; see if I can ring one of those Salvation Army bells. Come on, Rory, I'll give you a ride."
"I should memorize my part, Sam," Rory said apologetically.
Sam turned and left the auditorium without another word.
"Okay, then," Artie said after a moment of uncomfortable silence. "We have one more day for song ideas, so bring your best to glee club tomorrow! Okay? Okay..."
"Blaine!" Rachel rushed over to where Blaine and Kurt were sitting. "Kurt! I need your help."
"Who says we want to help you?" Kurt deadpanned. But as Rachel's face scrunched up with worry and confusion, he rolled his eyes. "What, Rachel?"
"We need to think of a song for me to sing for the special!" Rachel wailed. "I can't just sing nothing because Artie does not appreciate the drama of a good ballad!"
"Maybe," Blaine suggested, "we could try writing our own song?"
"Yes," Rachel dropped to her knees beside Blaine's chair on the end of the row and put her hands on his arm. "And that way we wouldn't even have to worry about copyright!"
Kurt frowned. "You two are magically going to write a song by tomorrow afternoon?"
"Is that doubt I detect in your voice?" Blaine teased, turning to look at him.
"I want no part in this," Kurt confirmed.
"You can come with me, then," Tina chimed in from the next row. "Artie put me in charge of sets and costumes, and if it's supposed to be your chalet..."
"I'm in!" Kurt said, jumping up and pulling Blaine to his feet so he wouldn't have to climb over the other boy to get out of the row of seats.
When he reached the aisle and turned around to speak to Blaine again, Rachel was already dragging him away.
"Bye!" Blaine called, and he blew a dramatic kiss as Rachel pulled him out the door.
KURT
"Underneath the mistletoe, hold me tight and kiss me slow..."
Kurt had to admit, the song Blaine and Rachel wrote overnight wasn't terrible. It was catchy and cheesy and everything that Artie wanted the Christmas special to be.
"I bow to you," Artie gushed when the song was over. "Gold, gold! That's what I'm talking about! I see Cheerios behind you, kind of a dancing Santa thing..."
"Well, just as long as they don't upstage us," Rachel said.
"Yeah, as long as they don't upstage us," Blaine echoed.
As Blaine moved to sit down, Kurt nudged him with his foot and gave him a thumbs-up. Blaine smiled and winked in return.
Sue came into the choir room then, interrupting whatever Artie was going to say next. As soon as he saw her, Kurt knew why she had come. In their excitement about the special, they had completely forgotten about the homeless shelter on Friday. And now they were scheduled to film the show that evening instead.
BLAINE
"I can't believe Artie trusts you enough to let you choreograph this without his input," Mercedes said as Blaine silently danced his way around the set, practicing the routine he had planned out for his duet with Kurt.
"I used to choreograph for the Warblers all the time," Blaine reminded her.
Mercedes just shook her head as she watched him, and he took the moment of silence as an opportunity to pause and examine the set.
"I can't believe we're allowed to be on this set all alone!" Blaine said excitedly as he twirled around and fell onto one of the couches. "This is magical."
Mercedes laughed. "Having fantasies of your future with Kurt?"
"Yes," Blaine sighed happily.
"What about me?" Kurt's asked as he and Rachel arrived with the music that they had accidentally left at school earlier in the afternoon.
"Just telling Mercedes how much I love you," Blaine said sweetly. Kurt walked over to sit in his lap, and Blaine grabbed his hand and kissed his knuckles.
"Wow, guys," Mercedes said. "it's a shame you don't like each other very much."
Kurt turned to glare at her, but he couldn't hold the stern expression for long and it morphed into a huge smile.
As Blaine watched Kurt smiling at Mercedes, he had a moment.
He imagined for a second that this was their real house together, and with that fantasy came a flood of possible futures and images that made his heart pound with the excitement of the possibility of a real future with Kurt.
He felt like he was standing outside of his body watching the scene as Kurt turned back to look at him, the remnants of his smile to Mercedes still on his face.
"I –" Blaine tried to speak, tried to explain to Kurt everything that he felt, but he couldn't think of words to express how much he wanted to spend every moment for the rest of his life with the other boy.
He could tell that Kurt saw at least some of the affection on his face, because Kurt reached out to brush his hand across Blaine's cheek. Blaine let his eyes flutter closed at the soft touch.
Rachel was saying something as she plugged her iPod into the small stereo they had brought with them, but Blaine didn't hear her through the roar of feelings thundering around in his mind.
"... Blaine? Kurt? Blaine!"
"What?" he finally managed, blinking a few times to re-focus his attention.
"You two go first," Rachel repeated.
"Shall we?" Kurt asked ceremoniously, standing up and pulling Blaine off the couch with him.
The reminder that they were going to get to sing and dance together on television snapped Blaine back to the present. They had chosen a song that was similar in theme to their private duet the year before, but one that was upbeat enough to fit Artie's "fun" requirement...
KURT
"Oh, the weather outside is frightful. But the fire is so delightful. And since we've no place to go, let it snow, let it snow let it snow..."
It was their first time putting the song and the choreography together, so it was a mess, but Kurt was having so much fun that he didn't really care. They twirled and danced around the room, singing and flirting and completely forgetting that Rachel and Mercedes were there at all.
But the two girls were watching closely, and they burst into squeals of delight and rapid applause as soon as the song ended.
Kurt bowed dramatically and Blaine blew kisses at the pair.
After Kurt and Blaine ran through a few sections of the song again to make sure they had the choreography memorized, they did the entire song once more. The second time was even more fun for Kurt, because he didn't have to concentrate quite as hard. As such, he could pay more attention to Blaine. The way Blaine moved. The way Blaine touched him at every opportunity and how Blaine looked at him as they sang. Kurt was surprised that he remembered how to sing at all as memories of singing with Blaine last Christmas melded with the present and he felt giddy with affection for the other boy.
When they finished for the second time, Kurt didn't feel fully in control of his body as he closed the small gap between them and pressed a soft kiss to Blaine's lips.
"That," he breathed, "is on behalf of my former self, who wanted to kiss you last Christmas but couldn't."
Blaine laughed and kissed him a few more times until Rachel broke them up.
"Okay!" she said loudly, "no time for that! We're here to rehearse!"
Kurt reluctantly released Blaine and allowed himself to become engrossed in the theatricality of their rendition of My Favorite Things.
They were supposed to finish before midnight, but they danced and sang and laughed around the set together until two o'clock in the morning.
"I've missed you guys," Mercedes said as they finally gathered their things to leave. "This was so fun."
Kurt looked at the three of them. Blaine, Rachel, and Mercedes. They were his closest friends.
"Tomorrow is going to be wonderful," he sighed.
The other three all turned to look at him before glancing at each other with huge smiles on their faces.
"What?" Kurt asked.
"You may pretend to be a Grinch," Rachel teased, "but inside you're just as sappy and delighted as your boyfriend." She nodded in Blaine's direction.
Kurt raised an eyebrow. "I most certainly am not."
"You are," Blaine pressed, stepping forward with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. "Admit it."
Kurt backed away a little. "Nobody loves this," he motioned around the room, "as much as you."
"Then at least say you like it," Blaine said, starting him down, "Say 'I like the holidays'."
Kurt shook his head, but he could feel his face betraying him with a smile.
"You know," Mercedes said, "since this is your house I think we're just gonna go. See you tomorrow!"
"But –" Rachel's protest was cut off as Mercedes grabbed her arm and dragged her away.
Kurt and Blaine stood still for a moment, staring at each other, and Kurt wasn't sure how much time had elapsed by the time Blaine spoke again with a playful glint in his eyes.
"What do you think they'd do if we –?"
"Blaine!" Kurt squeaked, waving his hands to stop Blaine from finishing the sentence. "There are probably cameras!"
Blaine tipped his head in defeat. "True," he allowed.
Kurt looked around at the set.
"This is supposed to be our house," he marveled.
"It certainly has your touch," Blaine said, glancing around and the decorations Tina and Kurt had chosen.
"You love my touch," Kurt teased, stepping forward to wrap his arms around Blaine's neck.
"Mmm," Blaine hummed in agreement. "I love everything about you, Kurt."
"I love the holidays," Kurt admitted with a smile.
Blaine smiled and pulled away to grab Kurt's hand and lead him over to grab their things. Kurt groaned in protest as Blaine's hand reached for the door, anticipating the cold blast of nighttime air that would greet them, but Blaine paused.
Before Kurt's mind could finish thinking about the frigid night that awaited them, Blaine reached out with his free hand and grabbed Kurt around the waist to pull him close and crush their lips together.
"Oh!" Kurt gasped in surprise when Blaine released him.
"Mistletoe," Blaine winked, jerking his head upward. Kurt glanced up and saw the little branch attached to the door frame.
Blaine leaned forward and kissed him again, slower and gentler, before he shoved the door open and they were forced to run across the parking lot to their respective cars to escape the frigid air.
KURT
The holiday special was a huge success.
"I can't believe they cut us off before the finale, though," Artie whined as they rode to the homeless shelter.
"Well," Finn said, clasping Artie on the shoulder, "at least this way we get to share the love."
"Awwwww," Rachel cooed, clutching his arm.
They arrived at the shelter in plenty of time to join the festivities, and Kurt was a little surprised at how much he enjoyed hanging out with the children and their parents. New Directions sang a few songs for the crowd, and Kurt was having an intense discussion about the proper way to wear a scarf with a second-grader when he noticed Blaine across the room and was suddenly completely distracted.
Blaine was sitting on the floor in the corner of the room, reading a book to a little girl. She was snuggled into Blaine's chest with her thumb in her mouth, and Kurt forgot that there was anything else in the world except Blaine and that little girl as he watched Blaine reading and occasionally tipping his head down to see if the little girl was still awake.
"Is that your brother?" one of the children at his table asked, following his gaze to Blaine.
Kurt hesitated, glancing at the two adults at the table. He saw nothing but casual curiosity in their eyes, but he decided to be vague.
"No," he said, tearing his eyes away from Blaine to focus on the boy who had asked the question, "he's my best friend."
BLAINE
On the last day of classes before winter break, Blaine arrived early and found Kurt at his locker. The other boy looked less-than-enthusiastic, despite the festive decorations and the impending freedom of Christmas break.
"Kurt, smile!" Blaine said as he walked up to lean on the wall beside Kurt's locker. "Christmas break is only hours away!"
Kurt sighed. "I know. And I feel really good about the special and what we did at the shelter. It's just... the holidays always make me a little melancholy."
"Really?" Blaine teased. "So it's not because the Liz Taylor jewelry auction ended at midnight last night..."
"...and I was outbid on everything?" Kurt finished with a little pout.
Blaine smiled. "Kurt, those things sold for, like, millions of dollars. I mean, how were you supposed to afford –"
"The Edith Head ivory disc necklace?" Kurt specified.
"Anyof that stuff?" Blaine corrected. "Granted, no one can figure out how you pay for your outfits..." he raked his eyes down Kurt's ensemble.
"I have an amazing eye for bargains," Kurt replied lightly. "And I'm a member of the online site Rue La La."
KURT
Blaine smiled at him, and Kurt sighed in defeat.
"I know," he admitted, "it was auction porn. Just a fantasy. But it was so hot!"
They both laughed.
"I think this year we should be thankful for what we have," Blaine said gently, "not what we don't have. Which is why..."
He produced a little box and held it out for Kurt to take it out of his hand.
"I know we've taken things to a new level recently," Blaine explained, "so..."
As Kurt stared down at the little box in his hands, every fantasy he had ever had about his future with Blaine rushed to the front of his mind.
"If this is an engagement ring, yes!" he gushed. "What's better than Christmas in New York? Eloping and getting married in Central Park, on Christmas!"
Blaine looked like he couldn't decide if he wanted to roll his eyes or pin Kurt against the wall and kiss him until he couldn't breathe.
"Just– open the box, Kurt," he said.
Kurt tipped open the hinged lid to reveal a colorful little ring.
"It's a promise ring," Blaine explained sweetly. "I made it out of gum-wrappers. Juicy Fruit."
"My favorite Wrigley's," Kurt commented. "And..."
He was only a little surprised to feel extra moisture in his eyes as he examined the ring more closely.
"...is that a little bow-tie?" he looked up at Blaine and decided that this was better than any of his fantasies.
"But what are you promising?" he asked softly.
"To always love you," Blaine replied. "To defend you even if I know you're wrong. To surprise you. To always pick up your call no matter what I'm doing. To bake you cookies at least twice a year and to kiss you whenever, and wherever, you want."
Kurt felt like his brain was simultaneously short-circuiting and hyper-aware of everything as Blaine reached out and put his hand on Kurt's upper arm.
"Mostly," Blaine finished, "to make sure that you always remember how perfectly imperfect you are."
Kurt mentally high-fived his former self, who was jumping up and down in Kurt's mind with unabashed joy, and he pulled the ring out of the box.
"I know it's not something Elizabeth Taylor would've worn..." Blaine trailed off.
"I love it," Kurt admitted. It was suddenly his most precious possession, and he was already trying to figure out how he could keep it from ripping or unfolding. He looked up to meet Blaine's gaze. "I love you."
"Merry Christmas, Kurt," Blaine smiled. "Our first Christmas together."
"First of many," Kurt amended.
He slipped the ring onto his finger, and reminded himself that this was really his life.
"May I confess something?" Kurt asked as they turned to walk down the hall and he studied the ring on his finger.
"Certainly," Blaine replied.
"The first time I ever voiced my love for you was almost exactly a year ago," Kurt admitted.
"What?" Blaine asked, turning his head to look at Kurt. "No way, I'd remember."
"Not to you," Kurt teased. "I told Mr. Schu. After we practiced Baby It's Cold Outside."
"You did not," Blaine said.
"I did," Kurt confirmed. "'But, on the upside, I'm in love with him and he's actually gay'," he did his best impression of himself from a year earlier.
Blaine laughed, but Kurt could see that he was touched.
"Um, also," Kurt felt himself blushing, "what I said about getting married..."
Blaine's smile was so wide that Kurt forgot what he was saying for a moment.
"I know," Blaine said. "I'm not interested in getting married so young, either. That's why it's a promise ring, not an engagement ring."
"Do boys give each other engagement rings?" Kurt mused. He had never really thought about it.
"What happened to 'fashion knows no gender'?" Blaine teased.
"Yeah," Kurt agreed. He glanced at Blaine. "My brain's a little overloaded."
The bell rang as they reached the end of the hallway where they had to separate to go to their respective classes, and Kurt turned to hug Blaine tightly.
"I love you, Kurt," Blaine mumbled into his shoulder.
"I promise to love you forever," Kurt replied, digging his fingers into Blaine's sweater and trying to absorb every detail of this moment so he could remember it for the rest of his life.
KURT
"Word on the street you got something to show me. Magical, colorful, Mr. Mystery. I'm intrigued for a peek, heard it's fascinating..."
Kurt resisted the urge to take his eyes off the road to watch his friends as Blaine, in the passenger's seat beside him, and Rachel, in the back seat, sang and danced along to Blaine's Katy Perry playlist. Finn had decided to ride with Burt and Carole rather than endure nine hours of Katy Perry and show tunes, so Kurt, Blaine, and Rachel had unleashed their favorite playlists as they drove to Washington DC.
"Are you sure you don't want a break from driving?" Blaine asked for what Kurt thought might be the millionth time as the song ended.
"I'm sure," Kurt confirmed. He glanced at Blaine briefly before refocusing on the road. "And anyway, I'm enjoying this little concert way too much to allow you to stop."
It was starting to get dark, and after a few more songs Kurt realized that Rachel was no longer singing along. A glance at her in the rearview mirror provided the reason; she was sound asleep.
"Turn that down a little," he said to Blaine. "Rachel's asleep."
Blaine turned the volume down a bit, but not so much that their talking would wake her.
"I can't believe we're going to Washington DC," Blaine said quietly. "I've never been before."
"Me neither," Kurt reminded him.
The playlist began a new song, and Kurt and Blaine both fell silent at the familiar opening notes.
"You think I'm pretty without any makeup on..."
Blaine sang along, and the sound of his voice singing the song that had started everything between them made Kurt's stomach flip with nostalgia.
When it was over and the next song started to play, Kurt glanced briefly at Blaine.
"I know," Blaine said quietly, and Kurt could see a whirlwind of emotions in his amber eyes. "I know."
KURT
"Hold still, Kurt!" Rachel scolded. "I can't do this with you squirming all over the room!"
"I can do it myself..." Kurt replied smoothly.
Rachel ignored him and as he tried to settle down to let her finish styling his hair, someone knocked on the door.
"We're not ready yet!" Rachel called.
"It's me," Burt said, pushing the door open and slipping into the room.
They were staying in the little apartment that Burt and Carole were renting so that they had a home in the city while Burt served in Congress. There were only two bedrooms, so Burt and Carole had decided that Finn and Blaine would sleep on air mattresses in the living room while Kurt and Rachel would sleep in the double bed in the spare bedroom.
"I don't want Blaine seeing me yet, Dad," Kurt reminded him.
Burt laughed. "Gettin' married or something?"
"No," Kurt said. "Am I not allowed to look nice for a fancy dinner with my boyfriend?"
"I'm teasing you, Kurt," Burt said, clasping a hand on Kurt's shoulder. "You look very handsome."
"Done!" Rachel said excitedly. "Here, just..." she put a hand over Kurt's eyes and gave his hair one more dusting of hairspray before stepping back to admire her work.
"You look like a movie star," she gushed.
"Oh, please," Kurt scolded, but he was pleased with the assessment.
"Have fun tonight, Kurt," Burt said as he left the room. "And remember, if you're going to be back after two o'clock I want to know."
"Thanks, Dad," Kurt said, waving to his father as he exited the room.
After Blaine had given him the handmade promise ring, Kurt had decided that he wanted to do something for Blaine for Christmas rather then get him something. They hadn't seen each other on Christmas – Blaine and his parents had gone to visit Blaine's grandparents for the few days surrounding the holiday – so Kurt had enlisted his father's help in finding the best fancy restaurant in Washington DC and had managed to secure a reservation. On the last night of the year.
Blaine had no idea. He thought they were preparing to attend a New Year's Eve party with the other Ohio Representatives and their families, and that Kurt had just "accidentally" forgotten his Christmas present at home in Ohio.
As Rachel made sure every detail of Kurt's outfit was perfect, her phone buzzed on the dresser.
"They're ready," she confirmed as she glanced at the screen. "They're out on the sidewalk."
Kurt had enlisted Finn to help him surprise Blaine – it had been his job to get dressed up too so Blaine wouldn't be suspicious, and then to lead him outside to wait for Kurt.
Kurt suddenly felt a rush of nervousness. He was going to love this, but Blaine? Maybe Blaine would've preferred something more casual...
"Blaine is going to die," Rachel said with a knowing look. "Now hurry up, he's waiting!"
Finn passed them on their way down the stairs. "He thinks I'm getting my wallet," he explained. "He's all yours."
"Have fun!" Rachel kissed Kurt on the cheek as they reached the door. "See you next year!"
"Thanks, Rachel," he hugged her, and she rushed away up the stairs after Finn. Probably to spy on him and Blaine from the upstairs window, Kurt thought.
Blaine turned around to look up at the door as Kurt emerged, and Kurt's heart fluttered wildly when Blaine's face lit up as he saw that it was Kurt at the top of the small brick staircase.
"You look incredible," Blaine complimented formally as Kurt rushed down the stairs to where Blaine was standing.
"Thanks," Kurt bounced on the balls of his feet for a moment, trying to release some of his energy. "You too."
BLAINE
"That was..." Blaine didn't know how to explain how much he had enjoyed dinner with Kurt as they sat on the crowded steps of the Jefferson Memorial waiting for the fireworks that would signify the New Year.
"You liked it?" Kurt smiled.
"Are you kidding?" Blaine laughed. "I've never even been inside a restaurant that nice."
"Not even with your snobby private schoolboy friends?" Kurt teased.
"Never," Blaine confirmed, and Kurt looked very pleased with himself.
"Plus," Blaine added, elbowing Kurt's ribs, "the company tonight was divine."
Kurt sighed happily and scooted down so that he could rest his head on Blaine's shoulder. Blaine reached out to play with the gum wrapper ring on Kurt's finger.
"I'm going to have to find a safe place for that," Kurt commented. "So it doesn't fall apart."
Blaine hummed in agreement. "One day I'll replace it with something sturdier," he said softly.
"One day," Kurt agreed, and Blaine loved the open-ended nature of the idea. They didn't need to rush. Things were perfect just like this.
"Hey," Kurt said, sitting up and producing his phone, "we need one final photograph of us this year, I think."
Blaine leaned in and pressed his cheek to Kurt's and Kurt took a self-portrait of them.
"The year we fell in love," Blaine said, turning his head to kiss Kurt's cheek.
The crowd suddenly murmured approvingly, and Blaine realized they had lost all track of the time as the fireworks began.
He reached out and turned Kurt's face, flushed pink from the cold, so he could kiss him properly.
"Happy New Year," Kurt smiled at him when he pulled away.
Blaine wrapped an arm around Kurt's waist and pulled him as close as possible so they could snuggle together to watch the fireworks.
"Happy New Year, Kurt."
Okay, I've never been in Washington DC to celebrate a new year, but I HAVE been there for the 4th of July (and we sat on the steps of the Jefferson Memorial to watch the fireworks)... so, assuming they do at least generally the same fireworks to celebrate a new year, Kurt and Blaine had a good spot!
And of COURSE they'd be allowed on the holiday special set all night without any supervision... it's Glee! ;)
Up next (on Monday!)... 'Yes/No'!