Blaine stared down at his checklist anxiously, tapping his foot and chewing on his lower lip. He was leaving for Boston the next morning and soon everyone would be having a big going away dinner for Blaine—everyone being Blaine, Kurt, Burt, Carole, Finn, and little Melody.

Although the last several months had been spent excitedly planning adventures they would have over Blaine's school breaks and reassuring one another that everything would be okay, it didn't keep Kurt from getting sad as moving day got closer. For the past few days Kurt had been considerably quieter than normal although he had stayed by Blaine's side through switching over his individual bank account (they kept the shared one open for emergencies), through packing and repacking, through buying last minute things he and Wes came up needing, and through the few times that Blaine had freaked out while declaring he needed to withdraw and find a desk job.

Blaine was thankful, too, because even if Kurt had been quieter than normal, he was still there. He understood that Kurt was sad Blaine was leaving, but Kurt hadn't once left his side. Hadn't once tried to talk him out of it, guilt him. Kurt had been nothing but supportive despite how much he had to be hurting. Blaine didn't know if he would have handled it so well if the roles had been reversed.

Regardless of anything else, though, it had been nice to spend their last several days together with Kurt by his side at almost every moment. It didn't allow him much time to rethink or second guess himself. Kurt was deadest on Blaine going to Harvard and had been since the day after he found out. There was no way Kurt would let Blaine back out and Blaine was eternally thankful for that.

He felt a kiss on the top of his head and twisted around, smiling at Kurt who was still bent down. "Hey."

"Hi." Kurt smiled, sitting himself comfortably on Blaine's lap—hoping the desk chair would support their weight. "Is my Harvard Law boyfriend getting excited?"

"Yeah." Blaine took a deep breath. "But the nerves are starting to set in."

"Don't let them. You're going to be great. Better than great, in fact. It is going to be everything you've ever wanted and more." Kurt smiled again, blue eyes bright. "Even if it's taking you away from me."

"It's not taking me away." Blaine laughed, giving him a squeeze.

"I know, I know." Kurt nodded. "I was kidding. How do you feel?"

"Mostly just nervous." Blaine admitted. "I don't think it's sunk in yet. I thought it would after I graduated UK but… obviously it didn't."

Kurt ruffled Blaine's hair. "You know I'm going to miss you, right?"

Blaine gave Kurt a sad smile. "I'll miss you too… but we'll talk every single day. I can't wait to hear all about the senior fashion show. I wouldn't miss it for the world."

Kurt smiled at him. "You don't have to come home for that. It won't be too terribly exciting. It's not a real runway."

"Blaine Anderson miss Kurt Hummel's first unofficial fashion show?" Blaine gasped, putting his hand to his chest. "Only a final could keep me away."

Kurt laughed. "Alright. I can handle that, I suppose…"

"Of course I'll want a sneak peak seeing as I'm your better half."

"Who says you're the better half?" Kurt teased.

"The handbook." Blame grinned adorably.

"What handbook?" Kurt scoffed.

"The handbook, Kurt. I can't believe you don't just know these things." Blaine shook his head in mock shame.

"I can't believe that we've dated over four and a half years and you are still coming up with this stuff… I'm going to miss it."

"Oh, don't worry. I'll still be making up this crazy stuff for you." Blaine promised. "You're going to get countless texts of completely random stuff. And you'll roll your eyes every single time even if you're really smiling inside."

Kurt sighed a bit, leaning so that his head was on Blaine's shoulder. "I'm worried about you. You're cooking is still severely limited."

"I can make breakfast, pasta, pork chops, and brownies." Blaine protested. "You have no reason to worry."

Kurt stood and pulled Blaine up, sliding his arms around his boyfriend's waist and tugging him close. "I hope you know what you're getting into being roommates with Wes and some stranger. But I'm mostly worried about you living with Wes. He's a bad influence."

"I wish Wes and I were living alone." Blaine sighed a bit. "Then I could take Oreo. I can't believe the only person we both liked enough to live with is allergic to cats and dogs."

"Yes, but you know how excited Melody is." Kurt pointed out.

Blaine smiled. "She's going to take good care of Oreo."

"No. Carole and I will take good care of Oreo. Melody will carry her around and pretend to be a cat."

Blaine giggled a bit. "She just keeps getting cuter and cuter."

"Of course she does." Kurt said, nuzzling Blaine's shoulder. "How are we going to do this? How do we sleep without each other? How will I ever get out of bed on the weekends without you to annoy me out of my coma? How will you ever maintain any semblance of a healthy diet without me there to make you dinner and pack you lunches? What happens when you get… when you get sad about stuff and I can't hug you? Or when I get bogged down with work and no one is there to remind me that it's okay to just breathe?"

Blaine's smile faded and he pursed his lips together. "I… I don't know, Kurt, but we'll be okay."

Kurt took a deep and shuddery breath, moving to sit on the bed. He was happy for Blaine. He really was. But he was still sad that Blaine would be so far away. Blaine was such an intricate part of his life by now. It was going to be hard to adjust. Then again, he reminded himself, it would be harder for Blaine. At least Kurt would be in a familiar environment with his family. Blaine would be in a whole new state.

"Kurt… babe…" Blaine said, sitting down by him.

Kurt sat up straight, placing his hand over Blaine's heart and staring at him intensely.

"I'm not saying it's going to be easy, but we'll figure out how to live apart from each other." Blaine said gently. "It's only a few years."

"I don't want to have to figure it out. I wish I could just fast forward to when it's routine and it doesn't hurt anymore." Kurt took another deep breath. "I'm really happy for you."

"I know that. It doesn't mean that you can't be sad that I'll be leaving." Blaine said gently. "It doesn't make you unsupportive or a bad boyfriend. I'm sad I'll be leaving you too."

"You are?" Kurt asked, looking unsure.

"How could I not be sad to be living thirteen hours away from you?" Blaine asked, staring at him in shock. "Yes, I'm going away to a school I want to attend. That does not, however, mean that I'm not going to miss you. Wouldn't you be sad if you were the one leaving first?"

"Yes." Kurt admitted. "I would."

"This is happening to both of us whether we like it or not." Blaine said slowly. "But remember what we discussed."

"We're going to openly talk about our feelings." Kurt said softly.

"We're going to still always be there for each other." Blaine added.

"And we're going to get through this." Kurt finished. "Because we love each other and nothing can touch us or what we have."

Blaine touched Kurt's cheek, gently stroking his soft skin with the back of his hand. "We're going to openly talk about our feelings, always be there for each other, and get through this."

"I feel better." Kurt gave him a weak smile. Sadness was not an option. At least not yet. He could be sad on the plane back to Lima. Now, he had less than 24 hours left with Blaine. They had to make their last day together count. "I was thinking that after the dinner maybe we could go and get some cheesecake? And go to the Lima Bean for old times sake?"

"I would love that." Blaine said, smiling widely.

They both looked up as the door to the bedroom very slowly opened.

"Who is theeeeeere?" Blaine called in a sing song voice.

They heard a little giggle before Melody tip toed in, a silly smile plastered on her face.

"Hi Kuuuuuuurt and Blaaaaaaine."

"Hey, Mellie Boo!" Kurt smiled and ran to scoop her up, carrying her over. "What are you doing, beautiful?"

"Good question." Blaine gasped. "I thought Mommy put you down for a nap."

Melody rubbed her eyes and blinked at him before holding her tiny finger to her lips. "'M not sleepy."

"Are you trying to shush me?" Kurt gasped as he sat down, placing Melody neatly on his lap. "You mean I can't shout that you're not asleep?"

"Noooo!" Melody giggled loudly.

"Are you sure?" Blaine asked, tickling her leg.

"Blaine!" She giggled even louder and kicked at him.

"Ah ah ah. No kicking." Kurt said firmly.

Melody giggled, kicking her leg in Blaine's direction again.

"Ow!" Blaine whined, although her tiny foot had come nowhere near his leg.

Melody tilted her head before looking down at his leg, clearly confused.

"You kicked me!" Blaine gasped, pointing at his leg.

Melody crawled off of Kurt's lap and bent down, rubbing the exact spot Blaine had pointed to. "All better?"

"Awww, did you hurt Blaine's leg?" Kurt asked, looking at Melody and letting his jaw drop in mock shock.

"Nooooo." Melody giggled and shook her head.

"But you tried to make it better." Kurt said.

Melody tilted her to the side again before Blaine began to giggle.

"You boys are mean." Melody said, clambering off of the bed. "Finn is my favorite."

This time both Kurt and Blaine laughed loudly.

"I'm going byebye." Melody huffed as they laughed, stomping out of the room.

Kurt's laugh quieted as Melody left the room and he smiled. "She's so funny, isn't she?"

"I love making her mad." Blaine giggled. "I think she hates me, though."

"You do know that she calls you her brother, right? Everyone at daycare thinks she has three brothers." Kurt said.

"No, I didn't know that." Blaine said, feeling his heart flutter. "Aww, really?"

"Ask Carole." Kurt nodded eagerly. "I promise."

"Hey, Kurt?" Blaine asked, looking at Kurt. "Do you think we could just lie down together until dinner is done?"

Kurt moved into a laying position and opened his arms. "I think that's a very good idea."

Blaine lay down, pressing himself against Kurt and closing his eyes. Of everything, he was pretty sure he would miss laying with Kurt the most. No matter who held who or what position they were in, their bodies fit perfectly together. Blaine loved to cuddle and Kurt was always more than willing to cuddle right up with Blaine, fingers linked together or gripping one another's shirt or running through the other's hair. He and Kurt had literally slept in the same bed almost every night for four years and that would be the hardest… not sleeping in the same bed with Kurt Hummel. How would he do that?

What if he was making the wrong decision?

…

"We just want you to know that we are so proud of you, Blaine. I know you're probably nervous going off to Boston and all, but you deserve this opportunity more than anyone else at that damn school." Burt said gruffly late that night after the dishes had been cleared and Melody put to bed.

"Thanks." Blaine said, sitting on the couch next to Kurt.

"So proud." Carole repeated. "And this time next year we'll be sending Kurt off to New York. We're so proud of both of you."

Kurt rested his hand on Blaine's thigh, nudging his foot with his own as he smiled a bit. He tried to not think of how this time tomorrow night he would be on his way back to Lima on an airplane. Early in the morning he was driving to Boston with Blaine. Early, early because they intended to make it there by five in the afternoon. He had a flight back to Ohio starting at eight, nine, he couldn't remember. It wasn't important. After all, he wasn't thinking about it. Right? There was time for that later.

He felt Blaine's fingers lacing through his and he squeezed Blaine's hand tightly, letting his head fall onto Blaine's shoulder. He smiled when Blaine's lips brushed the side of his head.

As much as the idea of Blaine being thirteen hours away hurt, this was such a good opportunity for him. One that Blaine could not let go away. He had made it to Harvard. There was no exaggeration when Kurt gushed about how proud he was of Blaine. His boyfriend was so, so smart. Smarter than he gave himself credit for. Blaine deserved this more than anyone at Harvard Law. This was his dream. Despite all of the stuff with Blaine's parents, his dream was coming true.

"We're all going to miss you so much." Carole said again, pulling Kurt away from his thoughts. "No one more than Kurt, of course."

"We'll still see each other a lot." Kurt said as cheerfully as he could, just as he said to himself every single time he thought of exactly how far away Blaine was going to be. "It's Harvard after all. It's where he's meant to be for right now."

"Thank you for everything." Blaine said quietly, looking at Burt and Carole. "For letting me stay here with you all, for helping me get through UK, for giving me a family. I…" he trailed off, swallowing a lump in his throat. "I guess this is what it would have felt like to leave for UK if I had a real family. It's sad."

Carole wrapped her arms around him. "If you start to cry, Kurt will, and then I will. Don't you do that!"

"I won't, I won't, I promise!" Blaine laughed. "It's just… I really want you two to know that I… I've always appreciated everything and I think you two are a-amazing people."

Kurt grabbed Blaine's hand and squeezed it tightly. His heart skipped a beat when Blaine squeezed back tightly. Kurt had wondered if Blaine was sadder than he'd been acting the past few days and he was beginning to see that he was right.

"So, thank you. Just… just thank you very much." Blaine finished somewhat lamely. "You saw me as more than just Kurt's boyfriend and it… it means a lot to me. It really does."

"You don't have to thank us, kid. We have been more than happy to be there for you." Burt said. "You know you're family."

"They love you." Kurt leaned over, pressing his lips to Blaine's shoulder.

"We do." Both Carole and Burt said together.

Blaine leaned against Kurt and smiled a bit, feeling several emotions sweep over him at once and not knowing what to say. It was possible he wouldn't have been able to speak even if he'd found words.

"Don't you worry about anything. I'll be sending both you and your friend Wes care packages." Carole said. "Does that sound nice?"

Blaine stood, going over and hugging her tightly.

"We love you, sweetie." Carole whispered, hugging him back. "And we're very, very happy for you."

Blaine pulled away and took a deep breath, tears swimming in his eyes. It was going to be harder to say goodbye to Carole than it had been so say goodbye to his mom four years ago. That wasn't a big surprise though. His mother had been glad that Blaine was going off to Dalton and UK. Carole was happy, of course. In fact, she'd started crying the second Blaine handed her his acceptance letter—without even opening it. She had been more of a mother to Blaine in the last few years than his own mother had ever been.

"You boys go on and get out of here." Carole patted his arm and then went to Kurt, smoothing his hair down before kissing his cheek.

Kurt hugged her and stood, holding out his hand for Blaine.

"Be careful." Burt said gruffly, patting Kurt's back.

"We will." Kurt promised before leading Blaine out of the house. He tried not to think about the fact that the next time they left would be to drive to Boston.

...

"Medium Drip and a Nonfat Mocha." The barista at the Lima Bean said, pushing two cups across the counter.

"Thanks." Blaine said, flashing the barista a smile and picking up his and Kurt's drink. He then made his way over, sitting at their old usual table.

"They're pretty busy for it being so late." Kurt said thoughtfully, taking a sip of his drink.

"Yeah." Blaine said, resting his foot against Kurt's under the table.

"So it all starts tomorrow. You'll be at Harvard." Kurt said, leaning forward over the table.

"I know." Blaine nodded. "It's kind of scary."

"You're excited." Kurt nudged Blaine's foot with his own.

"I am excited." Blaine said, leaning back against his chair. "I'm scared too, but I am so excited. I just feel like my entire life is about to change. I did it, Kurt. I wish I had been there to see Dad's face when he found out I'm going to Harvard. I bet it was amazing."

Kurt smiled. Blaine's excitement was getting to the point where it was almost infectious. It was good to see Blaine so happy. "I told you that you would prove them all wrong, didn't I?"

"It's just happening. It's a big 'fuck you' to him, to my mom, and to my horrible grandmother. I did all of this without anything from them. I did it. He said I'd never be anything and I'm—I'm going to Harvard tomorrow. I am going to be someone, Kurt."

"You've always been someone, Blaine." Kurt looked into his eyes. "And you'll always be someone. It doesn't take getting into Harvard to prove that. All someone needs to do is talk to you to know you're someone."

"I think your goal is to make me cry before I leave." Blaine said, laughing a bit and then taking a deep breath.

"No. It's just the truth. Just ask David. He's like your proud papa." Kurt laughed a bit as well. "It's the truth."

"I'm glad we came here. Melody free. I was afraid she would force us to take her." Blaine snorted. "She gets what she wants."

"What can I say? Dad likes to spoil his babies." Kurt smirked. "What is the first thing you want to do once you're in Boston on your own? Hopefully it doesn't concern getting drunk with Wes. That might be a bad first impression if you show up to your first class drunk or hung over."

"As I have promised every single person a million times, Wes and I will not spend all of our free time drinking." Blaine promised, laughing. "Don't worry about it."

"So what do you want to do?" Kurt prompted.

"I don't think I want to tell you. It doesn't include alcohol though."

"Find the best restaurants?" Kurt shook his head.

"Well, I didn't want to come out and say that. You just know me too well." Blaine laughed. "Wes and I are going to restaurant hop, yep. He's already got a list of the order in which we'll go."

"Full meals?"

"Nope. Just one thing per place." Blaine shrugged. "Pretty boring, huh?"

"I expected no less." Kurt snorted.

"I have a feeling you and Alec will be bonding." Blaine laughed. "That or basically living at CCAD."

"I don't think he'll let me live at CCAD." Kurt sighed. "Ever since the whole being barely conscious in his house, he's almost been as bad as you."

"I don't know why you didn't consider living with him on campus."

Kurt shrugged a bit. "We're good friends, but I don't think we know each other well enough to live together… He suggested it, but I turned it down. Besides, I figured if I really am going to go to Parsons next year that I should try to spend as much time with Dad as possible. You know how he got when I moved less than two hours away. I dread the repercussions of this move."

"Luckily Burt has a year to come to terms with it, I guess." Blaine said in an attempt to reassure him. He looked around the shop. "You know, this is kind of where it all began. Coffee dates that were coffee dates but not really coffee dates."

"Yeah. It kind of was, wasn't it?" Kurt looked around also.

"I'm glad we got the chance to come back tonight." Blaine smiled. "It's nice to come back here. Everything is so different now, but this place really reminds me of… us."

"I thought you might appreciate coming back here." Kurt smiled back. "It just felt like a place to go before you go away."

Blaine leaned over the table, pressing his lips to Kurt's. "I love you."

"I love you too." Kurt said, reaching up and pulling Blaine back for another kiss. "So much."

"Don't be sad, Kurt." Blaine whispered the next day, lacing his fingers through Kurt's. "It's not forever. We'll see each other. It will be okay."

"I don't know how you expect me to not be sad that you're going to be thirteen hours away. Thirteen." Kurt said, feeling a lump in his throat. He refused to let it surface. Not until the plane. No. He wouldn't.

He had not outright cried. Not in four weeks and never in front of Blaine. Sure, he had come very close before putting a stopper in it. If he had held off for four weeks, he wasn't about to start now. Not in front of Blaine. He was a horrible person, he really was. Who was he to be upset and selfish on Blaine's big day? Yes, he was going to miss Blaine terribly. But acting sad was only going to make Blaine sad. Blaine didn't need to be upset his first day in Boston. He was sure Blaine was anxious enough already without having to worry about Kurt too.

"Distance doesn't matter." Blaine said gently. "You matter. You and I."

Kurt swallowed hard, burying his hands in his jeans pockets and staring around Blaine's room in the apartment he was sharing with Wes and some other guy that wouldn't be showing up for a while. He and Blaine had shared a room together for… for nearly four years. Now Blaine had his own room, right next to Wes'. His own little house that was rented—despite the fact that Kurt had tried talking Blaine into renting an actual house as opposed to their apartment for months before Blaine's big Harvard announcement.

Kurt wouldn't be in that bed with Blaine every single night.

How was Kurt supposed to get to sleep without Blaine snuggling up, burying his face in the crook of Kurt's neck and shoulder? Without Blaine's soft breathing in his ear, even without the (more than) occasional quiet snores? How was he supposed to just change his entire life style?

How was he supposed to live without Blaine?

Tears filled his eyes involuntarily and he took in a shaky breath. Control. He had to control this. He wasn't going to cry. Not in front of Blaine.

"Oh, Kurt, honey…" Blaine stepped forward, arms going around his younger boyfriend. "Kurt, it's okay… Shh… It's okay. Please don't cry."

"I'm trying really hard not to." Kurt said trying to wipe away the tears that spilled over. "I'm s-sorry, Blaine. I'm not crying."

"You are." Blaine said gently, kissing the top of his head. "Shh. Shh."

"I d-don't want you to think I'm not happy f-for you. Because I am." Kurt cried.

"I know. I know you are." Blaine whispered.

"Y-You're just going to be so f-far away and I'm going to miss you so much." Kurt cried into his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Blaine. I am. I promise."

"Don't apologize." Blaine whispered, glancing at the hallway through his open door. He heard Wes on the phone, loudly laughing at something that the person had said. "You're allowed to be sad. I am too. But it's going to be okay."

"How is it going to be okay when we have to drive half a day to see each other?" Kurt questioned, sniffling and wiping his eyes. He stepped back. "How is it?"

"Because we're going to make it work." Blaine said, just as he always said. "We are going to work hard at it and we're going to make it work. Next year you'll go to Parsons and we'll be much closer—a two hour drive each for us to meet in the middle. We'll still see each other. We'll have the phone, Skype, whatever form of communication you want. We'll talk every day. I can send you a handwritten letter a day even if you want."

Kurt let out a watery laugh, grip on Blaine's shirt loosening. "Texts will suffice."

"I'll send a few love letters anyway." Blaine stroked his cheek.

Kurt glanced down at his watch from Blaine—which he always wore unless he was somewhere he was afraid he might lose it— and then looked back up at him. "You should take me now so I can catch the plane back to Ohio."

Blaine frowned and gave a small nod, putting his hand on the small of Kurt's back and walking out to his car with his boyfriend. Seeing Kurt finally cry was like a knife to his heart. On top of that, it was made worse because Blaine had caused the tears.

He really, really hoped he was making the right decision.

…

"Thanks for… you know… riding up here with me." Blaine said, holding both of Kurt's hands with his own an hour later. They didn't have long, but he had gone as far into the airport as he was allowed and he didn't plan to leave until Kurt absolutely had to. "I know it was hard for you to do that and I really appreciate it…"

Kurt pulled his hands away and threw his arms around Blaine's neck, holding on tightly. The last time he'd said goodbye Blaine was four hours away, going to UK, and Kurt had helped him move because his parents "were busy." For as sad as he'd been that day, he was realizing that it had been nothing compared to what he felt right now. He squeezed his eyes shut when Blaine's arms went around him, holding him close. He didn't want to move from this position ever. How long would it be before he got another hug?

"I'm going to miss you so much, Blaine." Kurt choked out, beginning to cry again.

"Not near as much as I'll miss you, Kurt." Blaine said, voice muffled by Kurt's shoulder.

"I don't know how to be without you." Kurt whispered pathetically, pulling away and looking at Blaine with big blue eyes. "I haven't spent more than two nights away from you in nearly four years."

"You aren't without me." Blaine said, touching his cheek. "I'm not dying. We're not breaking up. I'm just going to school."

"I am trying to handle this the adult way but it's really hard." Kurt said. "Part of me wants to throw my arms around you and beg you to not leave."

"Please don't." Blaine whispered. "You know I can't say no to you, Kurt."

"That's why I'm not." Kurt said, voice hitching. This was harder than he thought it would be. Why hadn't he at least spent the night and got a morning flight? Why hadn't Kurt originally gone to Parsons so he could be closer to him now? Why hadn't he transferred for his last year? Why, why, why? "Because t-this is amazing. What you're about to do. B-But it hurts."

"I'm sad too." Blaine said, kissing his forehead.

"I'm so proud of you. I r-really am." Kurt said, kissing the side of his face repeatedly. "Y-you did it, Blaine. And I'm s-so proud. We're all so proud."

"Don't." Blaine said, his own voice hitching now.

"You're going to be amazing." Kurt said, still crying. "I know it. You're going to do amazing and you'll become a lawyer and y-you'll show everyone just h-how amazing I a-already know you are."

Blaine gripped him tighter, tears filling his eyes. "T-Thank you. T-That means a lot t-to me."

"I l-love you so much, Blaine."

"I love you too, Kurt." Blaine whispered, hearing an announcement that Kurt's flight was preparing to board. An announcement that meant he had to leave. "C-Call me when you make it?"

"Y-Yes." Kurt nodded, more tears spilling over.

"As soon as you land?" Blaine asked, lips brushing against Kurt's ear.

"I don't k-know how to leave you." Kurt said, shoulders shaking. "I c-can't do this."

"I w-wish you could stay but y-you've got school." Blaine said, running his hand up and down Kurt's back as his heart shattered into a million tiny pieces. "It will only be a y-year. Less, really."

"I don't know how to be happy without you." Kurt pulled away, roughly wiping his eyes with the back of his hand.

"Oh, Kurt…" Blaine whispered, sniffling. "I'm going to see you in four weeks. Remember?"

"I-I know. I… I have to go or I won't be able to." Kurt said shakily, stepping forward and kissing him—kissing him passionately, hungrily, desperately and in a way that left Blaine wanting more. "I love you so much… I really and truly do."

"I love you too, Kurt. Call me when you make it back. That second."

"I will." Kurt promised, kissing the corner of his mouth. "Bye."

Blaine kissed back, heart shattering even more as Kurt took off, not looking back. Blaine was grateful he didn't. He didn't know if he would have stayed in Boston if he had.