"And you're on Broadway now!"
Rachel grinned, hugging her knees to her chest, sat on the sofa in the loft.
"Yeah, I mean I'm still kind of like 'Is this real?' but I just – I really, really love it." said Rachel, her phone pressed against her ear.
"Just one more thing I'm missing out on by not visiting you in New York!" said Quinn, on the other end of the phone.
"You should come!" Rachel half-begged, "I've been told it's the best show in town!"
"Wow, who said that?" asked Quinn.
"My husband." said Rachel, and heard Quinn laughing on the other end.
"How's married life treating you? You sound really happy." said Quinn. Rachel could hear the smile in her voice.
"I am. I'm really, really happy."
"And how about Kurt and Blaine? Have they set a date yet? You all live together, right?"
Rachel faltered.
"Quinn... Kurt and Blaine broke up."
Kurt pressed his fingers into his temples and took a deep breath, pacing back and forth across the kitchen.
"Look-" he started.
"No, we need to book it now or we won't be able to get it for another four months!"
"Blaine, stop."
"Kurt, we've been putting this off for so long and getting nowhere! How long have we been engaged now? We need to get this sorted-"
"Oh, so you'd rather just get it out the way and have a sub-standard wedding than actually put time and effort into making sure everything is right?" Kurt snapped.
"No, that's not what I'm saying! I just feel like I'm the only one taking any interest -"
"You think I don't care about planning our wedding?" said Kurt, incredulously.
"Right now – yeah!" said Blaine indignantly, "I've been searching for venues for ages and I found one that would be really good and I think we should book it and you won't even look at it and if we don't book it soon it will be gone!" he said in one long breath. "You won't look at any of my ideas! And then you won't even come up with any ideas yourself! I feel like it's all resting on me, Kurt, and I just want to get married and I feel like you don't."
"Wait, what?"
"Yeah... they broke up. It's been about a month." said Rachel, sadly.
"Oh my God." said Quinn, "I had no idea."
"The worst part is they didn't even drift apart. They just had this massive fight one night and... split."
"Ok, let me get this straight." said Kurt, coldly. "You think that because I haven't planned the whole wedding all by myself that I don't want to marry you?"
"You've hardly helped at all!"
"Blaine -" Kurt glared at him, "I have a ton of school work, the most stressful exams of the whole year coming up, I have to keep up with everything Isabelle Wright throws at me and I'm working extra shifts at the diner to pay for this stupid wedding!"
"... You think the wedding is stupid?" asked Blaine angrily.
"I have so much going on right now, don't be concerned when I don't have a lot of free time to spend on something that can wait!" Kurt said, raising his voice.
"But don't you want to get married as soon as possible? So we can be married?" said Blaine, frustratedly.
"We're young, we have all the time in the world to be together and plan this properly." said Kurt – exasperated and close to tearing his hair out. He turned his back on Blaine. "Maybe I don't want to get married yet -"
Kurt stopped when he realised what he had said. He turned round and saw Blaine standing still, his face shattered. There was silence for a few seconds.
"... really?" Blaine asked quietly.
Kurt didn't know why, but he was still shouting.
"Maybe I don't want to rush into things! Maybe I wanted the perfect day and didn't mind how long I had to wait for it! Maybe I don't want to marry someone who doesn't want to accommodate my feelings!"
He looked at Blaine and saw the tears spilling from his eyes. He really had crushed him, but he couldn't stop himself.
"Kurt, I -"
Kurt slammed his hands on the table.
"You know what?" he said, "I'm going out."
Kurt grabbed his coat and his keys and left.
Blaine stayed where he was and wept.
When Kurt returned several hours later, he went straight into the bathroom to splash some cold water over his face after what had been an emotional evening. He looked down at the sink and noticed that one of the toothbrushes was missing. Blaine's toothbrush had gone. Kurt went out into the kitchen.
"Blaine?"
Kurt went into the bedroom and wrenched open the drawers. Blaine's clothes had gone.
He spun round and saw Blaine's hair gel was gone from the bedside table, his shoes weren't under the bed and his phone wasn't charging on the table. He went back into the kitchen and found a note on the table.
Gone to stay with Cooper – B
Kurt sank down onto the sofa, clutching a cushion to his chest, and cried.
"Just like that?"
"Mmm-hmm." said Rachel, gravely.
"Wow. I feel so bad for them. I really thought they were meant for each other." said Quinn.
"It was Finn who found out first."
Kurt didn't know how long he had stayed curled up on the sofa, but eventually he heard the sliding door open and in came Finn.
"Hi, Kurt," he said, dumping his bag on the kitchen table, then doing a double-take, "A-are you okay?"
Kurt didn't move. Finn walked over and saw his brother's tear-stained face.
"What's wrong?" asked Finn, "Where's Blaine?"
Kurt just shook his head.
"Kurt, tell me."
Kurt let out a breath and started to sit up.
"We had a fight." he said, groggily, "He's gone."
"Oh."
Finn pulled Kurt into a tight hug. They stayed there for a few seconds. Then, softly, Finn started to sing.
Oh
Why you look so sad?
Tears are in your eyes
Come on and come to me now
Don't be ashamed to cry
Let me see you through
'Cause I've seen the dark side too
When the night falls on you
You don't know what to do
Nothing you confess
Could make me love you less
I'll stand by you
This brought on a fresh bout of tears, this time a mixture of sadness and gratitude.
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
Finn looked Kurt straight in the eyes.
So
If you're mad, get mad
Don't hold it all inside
Come on and talk to me now
Kurt shook his head, wiping his eyes.
Hey, what you got to hide?
I get angry too
Well I'm a lot like you
Finn got up and went into the kitchen. He started making Kurt some coffee and searching for some cake – still singing.
When you're standing at the crossroads
Don't know which path to choose
Let me come along
'Cause even if you're wrong
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
Take me in, into your darkest hour
And I'll never desert you
I'll stand by you
Finn came over with Kurt's drink and sat down next to him again. Kurt laughed through his tears at Finn's kindness.
And when
When the night falls on you, baby
You're feeling all alone
You won't be on your own
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
Take me in, into your darkest hour
And I'll never desert you
I'll stand by you
Kurt sipped his drink. He was starting to feel slightly better. Now that he knew he had someone who would be there for him.
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
Kurt gave a shaky smile as Finn finished the song.
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
"Thank you." Kurt breathed. Whatever happened next, he had Finn.