It's Valentine's Day in the Glee universe! And sweet Blaine is getting ready to make a comeback...
(I do not own Glee or any of the characters, dialogue, or songs from the show. It's all just for fun!)
KURT
Kurt was having a terrible day.
Blaine had gone to the doctor earlier in the morning, and it wasn't good news. The doctor says my eye is healing slower than expected. :(
That meant Blaine wouldn't be back to school until the day after Valentine's Day.
And Valentine's Day was everywhere. The school was all decorated in red and pink, and it was all everyone was talking about. As Kurt sat at the piano in the choir room with his chin resting on his folded arms, he watched the couples of New Directions goofing off and flirting and being generally adorable and he felt lonely and frustrated.
Even a card from Blaine that he had found in his locker that morning – a cheesy card with a bee on the front ("bee mine") and "love, your secret admirer" printed on the inside – couldn't cheer Kurt up. It only reminded him what he was missing with Blaine stuck at home on what was supposed to be the sappiest, most romantic week of the year.
It also didn't help that Rachel and Finn's engagement was all he could think about when he looked at his friend or his step-brother. Or that Kurt had decided to tell his father and Carole about the secret engagement the night before...
"I'm sorry, engaged?" Burt asked as soon as the words were out of Kurt's mouth.
Kurt nodded.
Carole and Burt exchanged a worried glance.
"How do you know about this, Kurt?" Carole asked gently.
"Rachel told me," Kurt explained. "She told me not to tell anyone... but I can handle her tantrum over me telling if it means we can somehow stop them from making this mistake."
"What are they thinking?" Carole moaned, rubbing her face with her hands in frustration.
"We've gotta be careful," Burt said. "If we storm in and tell them they're not thinking clearly, they'll push back and we'll lose any chance to get through to them."
Kurt opened his mouth to offer his advice on the matter, but Burt cut him off with a wave of his arm.
"It's okay, kiddo," Burt said. "I know you want to help and, for the record, I think you did the right thing by telling us. But I think Carole and I need to talk about this alone now, okay?"
Kurt nodded. He understood. They were Finn's parents, and it really wasn't fair to conspire with one son behind the other son's back. He turned and left the room, retreating to his bedroom for a restless night of sleep.
"Okay everybody, let's hear it for love!" Mr. Schu's voice interrupted Kurt's thoughts. "Your assignment for Valentine's week is to find and perform the world's greatest love songs."
Kurt wasn't really looking forward to spending every afternoon of the week watching his friends serenading each other, but he tried to remind himself that Blaine would be back soon enough.
"Now, Regionals is next week and we still need to raise $250 for costumes and hairspray," Mr. Schu reminded them.
"Oh god, not another bake sale," Kurt mumbled.
"If any student gives $10, we will sing these world's greatest love songs to their Valentine," Mr. Schu explained. "We will serenade each classroom –"
"No!" everyone chorused. They all ignored Rachel's "yes!".
"Two years ago, we went room-to-room Christmas caroling," Tina reminded him. "They threw food."
"And shoes," Mike added.
Sugar raised her hand.
"Yes, Sugar?" Mr. Schu called on her.
"Here's a spoonful of sugar for you all," Sugar said. "Don't sweat the small stuff. And it's all small stuff when you're rich."
She stood up and walked up to Mr. Schu at the front of the room.
"So," she said, pulling a bunch of cash out of her purse, "here you go!"
"Uh, Sugar, I can't take that," Mr. Schu protested.
"Take it!" Kurt snapped, not in the mood to deal with any more ideas about how they could raise the money.
"Okay," Mr. Schu acquiesced. "Everyone give it up for Sugar for paying for our Final Net and cummerbunds!"
"I love the sound of applause," Sugar said happily to Mr. Schu as everyone cheered, "even if I have to buy it."
For once, Kurt was glad that she was such an attention-seeker.
"Okay everyone," Sugar turned to the other students in the room, "look under your chairs! Except you, Artie... your chair kept moving so I hid your surprise in the wastebasket."
"V-Day is my fav day ever," Sugar explained as everyone discovered the little heart-shaped boxes of chocolates under their chairs, "and, to help me celebrate, my daddy is throwing me a huge re-dec party at Breadstix. And I'm naming it the Sugar Shack. And... drum roll, Rachel... you're all invited!"
"Oh," Sugar added, "but you have to bring a date. No single people allowed. They're sad and boring and they don't exist in my world."
"Um, but you're single," Mercedes reminded her.
"Not for long," Sugar countered.
Kurt sighed heavily, and Sugar noticed.
"You can come, though, Kurt!" she cried, rushing over to wrap her arms around his shoulders for an excited hug. "Even if your sweetheart can't be there, you're still not a single person!"
"Thanks..." Kurt said dully.
"You're welcome!" Sugar replied cheerfully, patting his head briefly before skipping off to return to her seat.
Kurt resisted the urge to roll his eyes, and reminded himself that he wasn't single this year. Not only was he in a relationship, but he was in a healthy relationship with the sweetest boy he had ever known. Kurt knew he was overreacting, but he hated how not having Blaine around reminded him of all the years he had spent alone on Valentine's Day while his friends cuddled with their partners all around him.
"Everything alright, Kurt?" Mr. Schu asked as the other students started chatting about what songs they would sing.
Kurt nodded, although not enthusiastically.
"I'm alright, Mr. Schu," he said. "I'm just really ready for Blaine to come back."
BLAINE
Blaine's phone woke him from a nap, and he nearly knocked his can of soda off his bedside table as he grabbed his phone and answered without looking at the name on the screen.
"Hello?"
"Hi Blaine!" Sugar's voice squealed into his ear. "Can I come in, please?"
"What?" Blaine asked, rubbing his uninjured eye as he sat up.
"I'm outside!" she said brightly. "I was going to just knock on the door, but this is more fun!"
"You're–" Blaine shook his head. How did she know his address? "Yeah, hold on."
He quickly checked to make sure he didn't look too much like someone who had spent the past two weeks lying in bed all day before rushing down the stairs to let her into the house.
"Hi!" she said as he opened the door, and she threw herself into his arms for a hug. Blaine smiled. Her enthusiasm was infectious.
"Hey," he replied.
"You look so cute!" Sugar complimented as she stepped back from the hug.
Blaine laughed. "Thanks, Sugar," he said as they walked into the house and Blaine closed the door behind them.
"Your parents have nice taste," Sugar assessed as she examined the house's décor as they walked to Blaine's room. "But where are all the pictures?"
Blaine shrugged. "My parents aren't particularly sentimental," he explained with a shrug.
"Awwwww, but you have a photo of Kurt!" Sugar noticed as soon as she entered Blaine's room. "He misses you a lot, you know. I can tell."
Blaine sighed. "I miss him too."
"I'm here to rescue you!" Sugar said, hopping onto Blaine's bed.
Blaine wasn't sure what she was talking about.
"Valentine's Day is the most important day of any couple's life," Sugar said seriously. "You cannot miss it."
"Kurt's going to come here after your party," Blaine explained.
"What kind of romance is that?" Sugar scolded. "No, you're going to come to my party and you're going to surprise him..."
KURT
The next day was a significant improvement for Kurt. He had found another card in his locker that morning, and Kurt's general mood was positive enough that it made him feel good and wanted rather than lonely. He and Blaine had chatted on the phone for three hours the evening before, and just hearing Blaine's voice had brightened Kurt's outlook on the whole situation.
As Kurt carried his tray of food to the table where his friends were already sitting, he felt like maybe this whole Valentine's week wouldn't be such a disaster after all.
"Wait, which one are you going to take to Sugar's V-Day party?" Tina was saying to Puck as Kurt sat down.
"All of them," Puck answered.
"The entire sorority?" Artie asked.
"They don't call them the 'easy d-easies' for nothing," Puck explained. "I got the gig cleaning the sorority house swimming pool, then I sawed through those chicks like a freakin' sex tornado. Room to room."
"You're amazing," Rory said.
"I'm a professional," Puck corrected. "Tried the true love thing –"
"With a teacher," Mike interrupted.
"– it wasn't for me," Puck finished.
"Well," Kurt said, "it is for me. And apparently it's for Blaine too." He pulled the card he had discovered in his locker out from under his tray. "Look, even from his sick bed he's managed to send me a new Valentine's card every single day this week."
"It says 'from your secret admirer," Artie pointed out as he leaned over to look at the card.
"So romantic," Kurt sighed.
The rest of the table didn't respond, and Kurt turned to find a man in a gorilla suit standing beside him. He jumped briefly, but quickly remembered that it was McKinley's strange way of allowing students to send Valentine's Day messages to each other for a few dollars.
"A gorilla gram? Pour moi?" Kurt asked. He took the paper from the man in the gorilla suit.
"'To Kurt, from your secret admirer'... again! Well, I wonder who it could be!" Kurt laughed. He turned to the man in the gorilla suit. "Will you tell me who it is, Valentine gorilla?"
The gorilla shook his head no, and handed Kurt a bunch of balloons attached to a little stuffed gorilla before walking away.
"You see, Puckerman," Kurt said as he turned his attention back to the table, "that's what you're missing out on. True love."
KURT
"Rachel, you had an announcement?" Mr. Schu asked.
"Yeah," Rachel confirmed. "Actually, Finn and I have an announcement we'd like to make."
Finn and Rachel got up and walked to the front of the room, and Kurt knew what was coming.
"Finn and I are proud to announce... that we're finally getting married!" Rachel exclaimed, flashing her engagement ring, which was now on her finger.
The reaction was much as Kurt had anticipated. Mostly negative. And confused.
"When's the baby's due date?" Puck asked.
"Wait, guys," Mr. Schu said, "have you both carefully thought this through?"
"Yes," Rachel said, "and our parents are totally behind us. And your plan to stop us by telling them totally backfired, Mr. Schu."
"Actually," Kurt corrected, "I'm the one who told them. Because I think you guys are making a mistake. A huge mistake."
He and Blaine had talked about it over the weekend. Blaine didn't feel as strongly that the engagement was a mistake as Kurt did, but they both agreed that Rachel and Finn were making this drastic step for the wrong reasons. Blaine had been the one to suggest that Kurt tell his father and Carole, and Kurt had quickly agreed that someone more mature than any of them needed to get involved before things got too out of hand.
But clearly whatever his father and Carole – and LeRoy and Hiram Berry, who Kurt knew would not approve – were planning had not taken shape yet. Or whatever they had tried hadn't worked. Because Rachel and Finn seemed more confident than ever in their decision.
"When's the wedding?" Quinn asked.
"The date is TBD," Rachel explained, "but I can assure all of you that we're going to have a very simple and elegant ceremony at the Justice of the Peace, which all of you are invited to, and we're registered at Samuel French."
"You guys aren't mature enough or old enough to properly face this type of commitment," Quinn argued.
"If you don't support us, then I feel sorry for you and you're not invited to the wedding..." Rachel said quickly. Finn glanced down at her, and she amended with "...which makes me really sad, because I would've loved to have seen you in a bridesmaid's dress, Quinn. And you as well, Kurt."
Kurt had never imagined that he would be so disinterested in a wedding. His best friend's wedding, at that. But he just wanted it all to go away.
"I'd be happy to be a bridesmaid, Rachel," Tina said. "I'm not sure I'm ready to get married, but I do know what being in love feels like."
"We'll be there," Mike confirmed.
"Thanks guys," Finn said, "and we hope the rest of you all change your minds because it would mean a lot to us if you were all there."
Kurt had a feeling that he would have to go to the wedding in some capacity or risk losing Rachel as a friend all together, but he wasn't looking forward to it.
"Well, add me to the list of people who are wishing you the best in your married," Artie said, rolling to the front of the room. "However, let's– let's stop the fighting and remind ourselves that Valentine's Day is rapidly approaching. So, if you'll excuse me..."
Finn and Rachel didn't move.
"If you'll excuse me..." Artie repeated quietly, motioning with his hands. Finn and Rachel quickly moved to return to their seats.
As Kurt helped Artie serenade Sugar, he was happy for the distraction. He knew Rachel was going to be unhappy with him for telling Burt and Carole about the engagement.
He was right.
"Kurt!" Rachel called after him as he left the choir room after glee practice. He sighed, knowing that they would have to have this conversation eventually.
"Yes?" he asked, turning to face her.
To his surprise, she didn't look particularly angry.
"Look," Rachel said formally. "I understand. I do. We're young. And you're worried because you love me. I can appreciate that."
"You're making a mistake," Kurt said.
It wasn't the response she was looking for.
"What mistake?" Rachel said sharply. "Choosing to make our love official?"
"Why do you need a piece of paper from the government to reassure you that you're in love?" Kurt replied coolly.
"We don't!" she huffed.
"Well then, what's the rush?" Kurt asked. "If you're still going to be in love five years from now, why not wait?"
He knew the answer. Because both Rachel and Finn were scared that once they got out of Lima, they might find that they weren't as perfect for each other as they thought.
Rachel made a frustrated noise and looked like she had no idea what to say.
"We're still friends, Rachel," Kurt reassured her.
She nodded, and Kurt could see in her eyes that she was glad to hear him say it. He gave her a small smile before he turned to walk away.
KURT
Kurt found another card in his locker before glee practice the next day. Be mine forever. From, your secret honey.
He bounced happily, clutching the card to his chest briefly. Blaine hadn't mentioned the cards at all, and Kurt thought it was all very romantic and exciting. Blaine was pretending to be a secret admirer, so Kurt would pretend that nothing was going on.
There was also a second note in his locker. It was more direct, asking him to meet his "secret admirer" at Breadstix before Sugar's party on Valentine's Day.
Kurt couldn't wait. Their plan had been for Kurt to drive to Blaine's house after spending a little time at Sugar's party, but Kurt was secretly pleased that the plan had changed to Blaine coming to Lima for the party. He would get to show off his boyfriend on the most romantic day of the year.
As he strolled into glee club, Kurt was sure that this Valentine's Day was going to be a hundred times better than any he had experienced before.
KURT
As Kurt got ready for Sugar's party on Valentine's Day evening, he put on some music and sang happily along to his favorite Broadway playlist.
He was home alone – Rachel, Finn, Burt, and Carole had gone to the Berrys for dinner, and Sam had decided to hang out with the God Squad before the party – and Kurt felt amazing.
He had a wonderful boyfriend. He was a finalist at one of New York's top performing arts schools. He was so much more confident and sure of himself than he had been a year ago.
Everything was perfect.
He had spent two hours the night before picking out the perfect outfit. Something that included red for Valentine's Day but that also didn't look too gaudy. He was especially excited about his tie, which was patterned with hearts and skulls and crossbones.
As he checked his appearance one final time in the mirror, he admitted to himself that part of his nervous energy had to do with the fact that this was his first time out with Blaine in more than two weeks. He wanted to look good.
He didn't see Blaine's car in the parking lot when he arrived at Breadstix, but it didn't seem like a big deal. Maybe Blaine had parked somewhere else to give the surprise extra impact.
"FYI, we've got a private party here tonight, hon" a Breadstix waitress told him as he walked into the restaurant, scanning the room for Blaine.
"Oh, I know, I know," Kurt replied. "I'm early." He motioned to his invitation. "Well, according to this, I'm early. I'm supposed to be meeting my cutie here for a long overdue reunion," he explained, "but, uh... I guess he didn't make it."
Kurt wasn't sure what to make of Blaine not being at the restaurant at the specified time. Was he stuck in traffic?
"Wouldn't be too sure about that," the waitress said, glancing toward the door.
Kurt turned to see the man in the gorilla suit. He had imagined that a stranger had been inside the suit – a co-conspirator – but maybe Blaine had decided to put it on tonight to make sure that Kurt would make the connection with the secret admirer cards.
"I knew it," Kurt smiled. He took the offered heart-shaped box of candies and read the message written on the outside.
Dear Kurt, happy Valentine's Day. I think I love you.
"Wait," Kurt wondered, "you think you love me?"
He looked up – wait, this person was taller than him so it couldn't be Blaine – as the gorilla mask slid off and revealed David Karofsky.
Kurt felt as if someone had injected an anesthetic into his veins.
"Karfosky," he said, not sure how he should react. Or even how he wanted to react.
He had spent the entire week excited about something that wasn't even real.
Where was Blaine?
"Hey," Karofsky said shyly.
"I– do you– what–" Kurt stammered, taken aback by the kindness in Karofsky's face. Sure, he and Karofsky had shared a nice, if brief, conversation at Scandals a few months earlier, and Kurt was no longer afraid of the other boy, but he hadn't forgotten all the torment of the year before.
"Let's sit down," Karofsky offered. He removed the gorilla suit and put it in the booth beside him as they sat down.
They were both silent for a moment, and Kurt knew he was going to have to say something before his brain shut down entirely.
"So... you tormented me, shoved me into lockers, called me horrible names, and hate-kissed me," Kurt recalled. "Now, after one conversation in a bar, you want us to be together?"
"When I was at McKinley, I hated who I was," Karfosky explained. "I took that out on you because... there you were. So proud. I've wanted to call you since that night at Scandals."
He glanced around nervously before extending his hand across the table and gently grasping Kurt's hand.
"It's taken me a while," Karfosky said, "but, for the first time in my life, I'm trying to be honest about what I feel."
Kurt knew this was an important moment. Karfosky was so unsure. Kurt needed to react as gently as possible.
He slowly pulled his hands away, proud of himself for not yanking out of the other boy's grasp immediately.
"And I'm flattered," Kurt said, "I– I really am. But David, you just think that you love me. You don't really love me."
"No," Karofsky disagreed. "You've helped me so much, Kurt. You don't know."
Kurt did know.
By the time Kurt had known Blaine for a week, he had been hopelessly smitten with the dapper young man from Dalton. Blaine had been everything that Kurt wanted to be. Handsome, talented, smart, kind, confident, out and proud. He had seemed like a hero, swooping in to save Kurt from himself and from anyone who was shoving him around, literally and figuratively.
But, over time, Kurt had transitioned from loving the idea of Blaine to loving Blaine the person. Blaine had flaws just like everyone else. He was quick to trust. He could be completely oblivious to things going on around him. He had a tendency to interfere in things that weren't really his business. But Blaine was also sweet, thoughtful, and competent. And Kurt loved him more than he had ever thought he would ever love another person.
Karofsky didn't really know Kurt. The person Karofsky was in love with wasn't even real.
"I haven't come out at school yet," Karofsky continued, "but maybe I will next year..."
Kurt knew that he had to be direct. He wanted to just say something vague and hope that Karofsky would get the point, but that wasn't fair. To either of them.
"David, look," Kurt said, "I am so proud of you for– for coming so far. And I want you to be happy. And you will be happy. But... I'm with Blaine. And I like you, but just as friends."
That upset Karofsky, which made sense to Kurt. This was probably the first time David had ever admitted his feelings to another man, and he was being rejected.
"I should go," Karofsky said quickly, standing up from his seat in the booth.
"Wait, no, you don't have to go," Kurt said, standing up too.
"I hope you like the candies," Karofsky said, pausing briefly to turn back around to look at Kurt. "The butterscotch ones are my favorite."
Kurt didn't know what to say, and Karofsky turned to leave.
"Mine too," an unknown male voice said. "Hey, Karofsky."
As Karofsky stopped walking and Kurt saw a boy sitting at a table with a girl who Kurt assumed was his girlfriend, Kurt realized that this must be one of Karofsky's new classmates. Memories of how desperate he had once felt as he tried to stay in the closet washed over Kurt like a flood.
"Nick," Karofsky greeted.
"You guys hanging out for Valentine's Day?" Nick asked.
"No, no," Kurt said, trying to act as casual as possible. "We used to go to the same school. We just bumped into each other."
"That's exactly what it looked like," Nick said skeptically.
"I've gotta go," Karofsky said.
"David," Kurt tried to stop him, but he knew that Karofsky was panicking.
"I'll talk to you later," Karofsky said, and he was gone.
Kurt didn't want to follow him out, but he didn't want to have a meltdown in the middle of the restaurant, either.
He needed to talk to Blaine. He needed to hear Blaine's voice. He needed to remember that Blaine was a real person – his real boyfriend – and not some person Kurt had made up in his mind to get him through the darkness.
Hoping that Karofsky would have gone immediately to his car, Kurt hurried outside. There was nobody around, and Kurt fumbled with his phone as he dialed Blaine's number.
"Hey, you," Blaine answered cheerfully.
Kurt felt tears flooding into his eyes, but he blinked rapidly to hold them back. He was not going to cry about this. This was supposed to be his perfect night. With Blaine.
"Kurt?" Blaine asked.
"Uh, s–sorry," Kurt stammered. "Never mind..."
"No, no, no!" Blaine said quickly, his voice suddenly concerned. "Don't hang up! What's going on?"
"Karofsky was here," he said.
"Karofksy?" Blaine repeated. "Kurt, did he hurt you? Are you –"
"No!" Kurt corrected loudly. "No. No. Nothing like that."
He heard Blaine exhale loudly in relief.
"He told me he loves me," Kurt admitted quietly.
Blaine was silent for a moment, and Kurt was glad that, at least, it was a surprise to Blaine too.
"He's been sending me cards all week," Kurt elaborated, and he could feel his voice rising in pitch and his words increasing in speed as he poured his nervous energy into the phone. "I thought they were from you! I thought it was all one big surprise, so I didn't mention it, but it was him. And I know that he can't really love me but he thinks he does and he was so upset when I told him that I wasn't interested... I wasn't nice enough. I should've been –"
"Kurt," Blaine interrupted. "Kurt."
Kurt fell silent.
"You did great, Kurt," Blaine said confidently. "I know you did. It's okay."
"It's not okay!" Kurt replied. He couldn't figure out how to put into words why it felt so terrible, so he settled for a groan of frustration.
"I just needed to hear your voice," Kurt admitted. "I miss you so much."
"I love you," Blaine said intensely. "I know this feels overwhelming, but it's going to be okay. Say that out loud, Kurt."
"It's going to be okay," Kurt repeated.
"Good," Blaine said.
"I'm coming to your house now," Kurt said suddenly. "I don't care about this stupid party or about Karofsky or about anything. I just want to be where you are."
"No," Blaine said gently. "That's not true. You do care about those things. And you should."
"But I care about you more," Kurt said.
"I know," Blaine said, and the tiny bit of teasing in his voice made Kurt smile.
Kurt glanced up as he heard a car door slamming closed, and the sight of Quinn walking across the parking lot toward him made him feel a lot better. This hadn't been a huge, life-altering moment. It was still Valentine's Day. Blaine still loved him. He still loved Blaine. And they could just revert to what had been their plan all along – for Kurt to spend about an hour at Sugar's party before coming to Blaine's house to spend most of the evening there.
"Okay," Kurt said. "Yeah. It's okay."
"I'll see you tonight, Kurt," Blaine said.
"I love you," Kurt replied. "Thanks for always knowing what to say to me when I'm freaking out."
Blaine laughed. "I love you, too. See you soon."
BLAINE
"Okay!" Sugar grabbed Blaine's face in both of her hands and giggled excitedly, "Remember, wait for me to introduce you!"
Blaine laughed. "I'll wait, I promise."
Sugar released his face and squealed with delight as she rushed back inside to keep the party going. When he was alone outside the restaurant, Blaine leaned against the wall near the door. His stomach knotted with nerves as he thought about Kurt, just on the other side of the wall, missing him and dealing with Karofsky's confession. He hoped that his surprise appearance would cheer Kurt up. He wanted to rush in and find Kurt and make sure he was okay, but he was excited about the plan that he and Sugar had put together. The surprise would take Kurt's mind off of what had happened.
He heard the God Squad start their song, and he stepped away from the wall to check his reflection in the glass of one of the shuttered windows. He smiled at the sight of his heart-shaped eye patch, straightened his hat, and slipped through the door into the restaurant.
He saw Kurt immediately. He was sitting near the front of the room, smiling dully as he watched the performance. Blaine snuck away from the door and ducked behind a bunch of large heart-shaped balloons with his back to the room so he wouldn't be spotted before Sugar's big reveal. He knelt down briefly to grab the microphone that Sugar had strategically hidden on the ground in a heart-shaped chocolate box.
The room applauded loudly as the song finished, and Blaine felt his heart rate increase as he moved back to stand near the door. He couldn't wait to see the look on Kurt's face. Kurt, who had been so patient with him as he recovered and who hadn't complained even once that he wasn't going to get to spend Valentine's Day with his boyfriend.
"Okay, everyone!" Sugar's voice rang out. "It's time for my extra special guest!"
Blaine switched on his microphone.
"Back from the dead," Sugar continued, "and cute and compact as ever..."
Blaine waited for a moment to be sure that she was finished, and he twirled around as the spotlight fell on him.
"Happy Valentine's Day, everybody!" he smiled, catching Kurt's gaze for a moment. Kurt looked completely shocked, and Blaine was happy that the surprise had been successful.
"This song is dedicated to all the lovers in the room," Blaine grinned, and he rushed up to the front of the room where Rachel, Mercedes, and Brittany were waiting to sing with him.
"If you see a faded sign at the side of the road that says fifteen miles to the Love Shack... Love Shack, yeah."
As Blaine sang and danced, he felt so good. He had hardly been out of his house for more than two weeks, and he had missed his friends. And singing. And dancing.
But mostly he had missed being with Kurt.
He danced over to the other boy and shimmied down to his level, and Kurt looked so happy that Blaine knew he had made the right decision to come and surprise him. When Blaine offered Kurt his microphone and Kurt refused, only to produce a microphone of his own, Blaine grabbed Kurt's tie and playfully pulled him up from his chair.
As they sang and danced together, Blaine was sure that he had never loved Kurt more. Kurt had taken such good care of him while he had been stuck at home. But it felt wonderful to be an equal again. Things were back to normal.
And Kurt looked happier than he had looked in weeks, which made Blaine's heart ache with joy. He was glad that Kurt wasn't letting Karofsky's ill-timed confession ruin his evening.
When the song ended, Kurt was standing right in front of him and Blaine had a million things he wanted to say. But, before either he or Kurt could say anything, they were suddenly crushed together as Sugar threw her arms around both of them and squeezed them tightly.
"Happy Valentine's Day!" she exclaimed happily. "Are you surprised, Kurt?"
"Yes," Kurt pulled out of her grasp, smiling broadly and not taking his eyes off of Blaine, "yes, I am."
Sugar hung on Blaine's arm, incredibly excited. "Did you see the heart eye patch?"
Kurt nodded, finally turning an amused smile in her direction as her voice rose with enthusiasm. She released Blaine's arm only to throw a finger up to point at his eye. "It's because he always gives you heart eyes!" she squealed, "It was my idea!"
Without waiting for a response, she clapped her hands rapidly and rushed away.
Blaine turned to watch her leave, and when he turned back around Kurt was right in front of him.
"Heart eyes?" Kurt teased.
Blaine wobbled his head playfully and leaned forward so that all he could see were Kurt's eyes.
"Happy Valentine's Day," Blaine whispered.
Kurt reached out and grabbed his face to pull him in for a gentle kiss. Blaine could feel Kurt smiling against his lips, and, when Kurt pulled away, Blaine felt a happy, and slightly embarrassed, blush spreading across his face.
Kurt didn't say anything right away, but he reached up and Blaine closed his eyes to let Kurt brush his thumb across Blaine's right eyelid. "Good as new?" Kurt asked hopefully.
"Good as new," Blaine confirmed with a gentle smile.
Kurt opened his mouth to say something else, but a hand on Blaine's arm interrupted them.
"Welcome back," Santana's happy voice was suddenly in his ear, and he was surprised to feel her peck a quick kiss on his cheek. He turned to smile at her as the other members of New Directions followed Santana's lead and came over to crush him in a big group hug.
"Thanks, guys," Blaine gushed contentedly as they released him. "I've missed you."
There was a chorus of "awwwww"s from the girls, and Brittany leaned over to look intently into Blaine's eyes.
"How did they get your new eye to match your old eye so well?" she asked seriously.
"They just fixed his old eye, babe," Santana said, grabbing her arm to pull her away.
As the group dispersed, Kurt smiled and wrapped his arms around Blaine in a tight hug.
"Thanks for coming," he said. "I needed this."
Blaine kissed his neck a few times until Kurt pulled away.
"Let's go outside," he suggested.
Blaine just nodded, and he allowed Kurt to lead him out into the cool nighttime air.
Their hopes of finding some privacy outside were quickly dashed as they noticed that there were people hanging out outside too. It was cold, but not so cold that it was unbearable to be outdoors.
Kurt sighed unhappily.
"Well, come on, then," Blaine said lightheartedly, motioning to the parking lot. "I've got something for you."
"Me first," Kurt giggled, tightening his grip on Blaine's arm and pulling him across the parking lot to where his car was parked. He had to release Blaine to open the trunk and lift out a small vintage suitcase with a big red bow tied around the handle on top.
"Kurt!" Blaine dropped into a crouch beside the suitcase to examine it. "This is gorgeous!"
"Aren't you going to ask why I'm giving this to you for Valentine's Day?" Kurt asked coyly. Blaine stood up and stepped close to Kurt to bat his eyelashes at the other boy.
"Why are you giving me this for Valentine's Day?" he asked sweetly. He was curious.
"Well," Kurt said, clearly very pleased with himself, "I did a little testing and exactly four days worth of your clothes will fit in this bag."
Blaine felt a wave of confusion. He couldn't remember agreeing to go anywhere with Kurt. Had he agreed to something when he was under the influence of his pain medication that he couldn't remember?
His confusion must have been written all over his face, because Kurt rolled his eyes affectionately. "For when you come for long weekends to New York, of course! And you won't need toiletries because I'll just keep some for you. So this will be everything you need."
Blaine's heart stammered in his chest as he looked at the warmth and certainty on the other boy's face. This was Kurt's ultimate romantic gesture; an invitation to share his life in New York.
Kurt raised an eyebrow at Blaine's silence. "And I thought it would match your room so it won't annoy you when you're at home."
"You," Blaine grabbed Kurt's shoulders and shook him gently, "are the most thoughtful, sweet, perfect person on this planet. I love you so much. Thank you."
KURT
Kurt shrugged noncommittally, but he couldn't keep the corners of his mouth from turning up as he looked at Blaine's joyful face. "I love you," Kurt echoed.
"No lonely hearts club dinner this year?" Blaine teased.
"Just as long as there's not a GAP in sight," Kurt quipped, reaching out to straighten Blaine's hat.
Blaine laughed and moved to pick up his new suitcase. "Come on," he said excitedly, reaching out with to grasp Kurt's hand and lead him across the parking lot to where his car was parked. He pushed Kurt gently against the side of the car with a quick kiss and told him to stay there before he disappeared into the car to grab something off the front passenger seat.
He reappeared with a huge heart-shaped box of chocolates. "To start," he winked as he handed the giant box to Kurt and disappeared into the car again.
Kurt laughed, but before he could say anything Blaine had reappeared with a substantial bouquet of red roses. Kurt tried to stop giggling but couldn't control himself. Blaine looked delighted at Kurt's reaction.
"Classic Valentine's Day things," he confirmed. "And there's one more thing."
Kurt nodded, pressing his face into the roses to smell the sweet scent and remembering briefly how badly he had wanted this the year before. Roses and chocolate for Valentine's Day from Blaine.
"But we have to go back inside," Blaine added, grasping Kurt's elbow and tugging him in the direction of the restaurant.
"What?" Kurt asked.
Blaine didn't elaborate. Kurt allowed himself to be led back to the door, which Blaine held open so he could reenter the restaurant with the flowers and box of chocolates still in his arms.
The atmosphere of the room had changed. The "Sugar Shack" letters behind the stage had been covered with a deep red curtain, and nearly everyone was seated and chatting quietly. The rowdy atmosphere of earlier in the evening had transformed into a more subdued ambiance.
Blaine led Kurt to the front of the room and a vacant seat directly in front of the stage. Kurt dropped into the chair and set the flowers and chocolates on the table next to him. He looked at Rachel, who was sitting with Finn at the same table, and she shrugged. She didn't know what Blaine was going to do, but Kurt knew. The details weren't clear yet, but Kurt knew that Blaine was about to sing for him.
Blaine jumped back up onto the little stage and stepped up to the microphone.
"This week's assignment was 'world's greatest love songs'," Blaine explained, looking at Kurt like there was nobody else in the room. "And I wasn't there to sing to you in class, so I want to sing for you now."
Blaine smiled. "I'm not sure if this is one of the world's greatest love songs, but I know it's one of your favorites. Happy Valentine's Day, Kurt."
The band began the song, and Kurt forgot about everything else that had happened that day as he recognized the tune.
Never knew I could feel like this
Like I've never seen the sky before
Kurt flung one of his hands out on the table beside him and Rachel immediately grasped it. A wave of excited giggles swept around the room as Blaine pulled the microphone out of its stand and stepped off the stage to stand in front of Kurt.
Want to vanish inside your kiss
Every day I love you more and more
Kurt squirmed happily. They had watched Moulin Rouge together one afternoon while Blaine was recovering from his surgery, and Kurt wondered if Blaine had gotten this idea then or if he had already decided before that day.
Listen to my heart, can you hear it sing?
Telling me to give you everything
Seasons may change, winter to spring
But I love you until the end of time
Come what may
Come what may
I will love you until my dying day
Blaine reached out to brush his hand across Kurt's cheek before offering him a microphone. Kurt took it, and Blaine grabbed Kurt's hand to lead him to the stage so Kurt could sing his part of the song.
Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place
Suddenly it moves with such a perfect grace
Suddenly my life doesn't seem such a waste
It all revolves around you
As they sang, Kurt could tell that everyone was watching intently. But all he wanted to look at was Blaine. The other boy hadn't released his hand, and Kurt didn't mind. They were among friends here. They could be themselves.
And there's no mountain too high
No river too wide
Sing out this song and I'll be there by your side
Storm clouds may gather
And stars may collide
Blaine's eyes were sparkling with happiness, and Kurt felt more content than he could remember ever feeling. Blaine was back. Everything was as perfect as the romantic part of Kurt had always wished that Valentine's Day could be.
But I love you (I love you)
Until the end of time (until the end of time)
Come what may
Come what may
I will love you until my dying day
As the song neared the end, Kurt imagined them on stage at Regionals. Singing this song for the judges and anyone else who wanted to watch and listen. He could see the whole thing. Their costumes. The lighting. And just the two of them on the stage together.
Come what may
Come what may
I will love you (I will love you)
Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place
Come what may
Come what may
I will love you until my dying day
As the song ended, Blaine stuck his microphone back into its stand and stepped toward Kurt. Kurt saw the flash of a question in Blaine's eyes, and he nodded, laughing as Blaine scooped him into his arms and kissed him.
They had never kissed this way in public before. It was relaxed and passionate, like they were in one of their bedrooms instead of a restaurant full of people, and Kurt felt lightheaded when Blaine finally released him. Their friends were cheering and applauding, but Kurt could barely hear them.
"Welcome back," he said, smiling widely at the dark-haired boy.
Blaine returned the smile, and he offered Kurt his arm so they could step down from the stage. "Happy Valentine's Day, Kurt."
BLAINE RETURNS! Cue the hallelujah chorus!
Wow, I was not happy at all with the Karofsky storyline in this episode. Too stalker-ish for my taste. But oh well. That's how it went. I think Kurt handled himself VERY well after the reveal, all things considered.
Gosh, I debated so hard with myself about whether or not I wanted to include Come What May... but I just really like the mental image of Kurt and Blaine watching Moulin Rouge together and getting all giggly about how handsome Ewan McGregor is and all that. And the week's lesson WAS about epic love songs, right? So yeah. Maybe a little cliché, but I couldn't resist. ;)
Kurt got to spend Valentine's Day with his boyfriend. Sigh. That makes me happy.
Up next... 'On My Way'!