"So I hear you're having a sleepover with your ex?" Adrian bent down next to Blaine several days later.
Blaine, who was looking down at his notes and attempting to study, cringed.
"Oh? Is he not your ex anymore?"
"God, not you too." Blaine groaned.
Adrian grinned. "I was put up to it. I apologize."
"Yeah, yeah." Blaine moved his bag to the floor so Adrian could join him. "How was your day?"
"Good. Matt and I got lunch and ice cream. I haven't opened a textbook all day. It's kind of nice." Adrian sat down next to Blaine. "I'll regret it tonight when I'm up until three in the morning finishing up torts reading."
"I forgot the torts reading. Ugh!" Blaine shut his notebook and scowled.
"I'm bringing so much joy into your life, aren't I?" Adrian laughed.
"It's not you. I'm stressed out about leaving tomorrow." Blaine admitted.
"Ah." Adrian nodded. "Heading to New York tomorrow?"
"No. I'm heading to New York tonight to stay with my friend David—who is not very happy with me right now—and then tomorrow I'm leaving for Ohio with Kurt and his brother Finn." Blaine explained.
"Why are you stressing?" Adrian asked. "You've been doing really well, right?"
"That's why I'm stressing." Blaine admitted. "I think... Well, I'm debating... getting back together."
"This weekend?" Adrian' eyes widened.
"Maybe. Yes, well, no. I don't know. I'm ready but I'm not... ready."
"Okay, okay, okay." Adrian looked confused. "Why don't you word this in a way that would hold up in court? Or, you know, a non-confusing conversation?"
"I'm ready to get together but I'm nervous about doing it." Blaine spoke much slower and much more clearly this time.
"Of course you are." Adrian laughed a bit. "But you just have to do it, you know? If you put it off because you're nervous to have the conversation, you'll never get back together."
"Which is my problem." Blaine shook his head and then took a deep breath. "I'm not stressing because of wanting to ask him to get back together. I'm stressing about spending time with him knowing I'm ready and not being back together. Does that make sense? I mean, I don't really want to get back together on Carole's birthday. I want to make it be special for... us. But it's going to be nerve wracking to spend so much time together and not... have him."
"Well if we're being completely honest here, from what you've said you all may as well be back together. You're just not screwing each other. If that makes you feel any better."
Blaine shot Adrian a look as he grinned. "I think I tell you too much."
"Well you have spent a week pretty much only talking about Kurt." Adrian teased.
"Have I really?" Blaine looked surprised. He had definitely talked to Adrian more about Kurt. Honestly, it was hard to not talk to him about Kurt because he, unlike Wes and David, didn't have any formed opinions. Still, though, he didn't think he'd talked about Kurt that much.
"Yep." Adrian nodded. "It's okay. I'm used to it. That's how AJ is when she's dating guys. Only she's about ten times worse."
Blaine cringed for the second time that night. "Sorry."
"It's okay!" Adrian reassured him. "I'm only teasing you. Don't stress about this weekend or anything. You and Kurt will get your stuff figured out when the time is right."
"Thanks." Blaine gave Adrian a half-smile. "So, are you stalking me or what? I thought we weren't studying until Monday."
"I couldn't bear to not see your face any longer." Adrian let out a dramatic sigh. "It's just so adorable. It does things to me."
"What do you need?" Blaine laughed and shook his head.
"Your real property notes? Oh, and trust and estates notes too? I stopped by your house but Wes said you were here."
"Where are yours?"
"They may or may not be in the back seat of Matt's police car which he can't get to until tomorrow night..."
"Do I want to know...?" Blaine asked, pulling two folders out of his messenger bag.
"Even if you wanted to, I wouldn't tell." Adrian took the folders and pulled out his cellphone.
"You can take them home and scan them if you want. I've already studied them tonight."
"Nah. I'll just take a picture on my phone and then type them up." Adrian began snapping pictures. "Thanks. You're a life saver."
"You're welcome." Blaine smiled, putting his notes up when Adrian passed the folders back to him. "Sorry I've been talking about Kurt a lot."
"We all get excited when boys do things to our hearts." Adrian offered a big smile. "Don't apologize. Good luck this weekend. Don't over think things, alright?"
"Do you know who you're talking to?" Blaine laughed.
"Relax. It'll be great!" Adrian stood, pocketing his phone and then grabbing his car keys off of the table.
"Thanks." Blaine waved, watching Adrian leave the library with a skip in his step.
At least someone's love life was working out.
***LTC***
"Dude, airport food is the best. I love their hot dogs and those peanuts are, like, awesome."
"Finn, you are aware that /nobody/ loves airport food, right?" Kurt raised his eyebrow at his stepbrother. The next afternoon.
"Just because you don't like it doesn't mean body likes it." Finn argued.
"I'm not the only one that doesn't like it. Nobody likes it... nobody but you, apparently." Kurt countered. "But I can't say I'm surprised. You like Rachel meaning you must like weird things."
"Hey, little bro. Not cool. Besides, you liked Rachel before I was even with her." Finn raised his eyebrow right back at Kurt.
"That's true, I guess." Kurt shrugged and looked around the crowded airport. Maybe David was holding Blaine hostage. Or maybe Blaine decided not to come, that he couldn't put up with Kurt anymore.
No, Kurt told himself. That was ridiculous. Things hadn't been better than they were now in nearly two years.
Still, Kurt found himself kind of worried. Things were good and yet they still weren't back together. He got that Blaine wanted to give him time to 'fix himself' or whatever but it wasn't really Blaine's decision to make and, knowing Blaine, it very well could have just been his excuse. Kind of like how Blaine had put off asking Kurt out for so long because Kurt 'needed a friend.' Blaine tended to deny himself things in lieu of other's needs even though, really, it was Blaine being... well, Blaine.
Kurt would wait, of course. But he felt as though he was always shifting weight between his feet, waiting waiting waiting for something that wasn't coming. He knew it would come eventually but Kurt had never exactly been patient. Blaine was the patient one; Kurt was the one to not give as much of a tip because someone took too long bringing refills. He had even been known to 'buy something online' because cashiers were taking too long to ring people up.
Blaine wasn't a waitress or cashier, though.
Blaine was Blaine and Kurt would wait forever.
He just hoped he didn't have to.
"Dude, are you alive in there?"
Kurt blinked at Finn, head tilting. "What?"
"Your 'not boyfriend' just came in." Finn nodded his head towards the entrance. "Are you two gonna do that run and kiss thing? Because, if you are, I'm going to look the other way. I support you two and all, but he's my friend and that'd be like watching Puck make out with you."
Kurt screwed his face up as Blaine approached. "That's disgusting and I would never kiss him. He smells."
Blaine paused and smelled his shirt sleeve, looking confused.
"Not you. Puck." Finn answered before Blaine could even ask.
Kurt, who had his back to Blaine, turned and perked up. "Hey! Ooh, Harvard sweatshirt that was actually purchased from the school. How exciting!"
"Gonna steal it from him?" Finn snickered.
Blaine laughed. "I brought an extra one in case he does."
"You really do know me too well." Kurt stood and wrapped his arms around Blaine to hug him. "David drop you off?"
"Yep." Blaine answered, voice a little too cheerful.
Clearly David had given him a hard time, but Kurt didn't care enough to let it bother him. He was working on his relationship with Blaine and not David, after all. Besides, Kurt was learning-or trying to learn- to not let what other people thought bother him. After all, if he was going to make it as a designer there would always be people who didn't like him or his designs. He was better off getting used to the negativity now.
"I was beginning to worry you wouldn't make the flight." Kurt teased, allowing himself to briefly close his eyes when Blaine's arms wrapped around him as well.
"You and me both. I had no idea traffic was this chaotic in New York City. I thought everyone walked." Blaine gave him a squeeze before pulling away.
"Why do you think everyone walks?" Finn snorted. "How're you doing, Blaine?"
"Great. How's married, pregnant life?"
"People weren't joking about weird cravings but I've gained more weight than Rach has. I was watching this TLC special, though, and apparently I may have a fake pregnancy syndrome."
"Couvade Syndrome." Blaine nodded.
"How do you know its proper name?" Kurt arched his eyebrow.
"I don't remember. I think there was an article in Discover magazine or something." Blaine shrugged.
"You read Discover Magazine?" Finn asked.
"Wes reads it obsessively. I think I was waiting for AJ to get ready or something, before we were getting ice cream. I made the mistake of promising to buy her ice cream for a year if she moved in and I'm a man of my word." Blaine explained, laughing.
"Now I want ice cream..." Finn said.
"Nope. Gotta catch the plane." Kurt pulled three airplane tickets out of his bag, passing both of them their tickets. "Maybe when we get to Ohio."
"Is Burt picking us up?" Blaine asked. "Or Carole?"
"Dad is. Carole doesn't know we're coming." Kurt said, leading everyone out of the cafeteria.
"Aw, damn. I'm in the middle seat. Will one of you switch me?" Finn whined suddenly, looking down at his ticket.
"Yes, Finn." Both Kurt and Blaine said together.
"Well, I mean, if you both want the seat..."
"Finn." Kurt sighed.
"Just trying to help a brother out." Finn winked.
"You don't want us to kiss in front of you but you don't mind if we join the mile high club in front of you?" Blaine questioned, tilting his head.
"Right, well, maybe you all can do that in the bathroom. They're bigger than they look, you know."
"Oh my God. You didn't just say that." Kurt shuddered and walked ahead of them.
"Well, Kurt's still a prude." Finn snickered. "You'd figure after having had sex for this many years..."
"I'm pretty sure he'll never not be embarrassed by sex." Blaine laughed.
"I'm kind of surprised he even has sex." Finn admitted.
"I can hear everything you two are saying." Kurt shot them both an annoyed look.
"Hey, you can't give him the bossy looks. You two aren't dating anymore." Finn teased.
Kurt's expression softened and then he turned around, walking ahead of him once more.
"Whoops. Guess it's too soon?" Finn asked. "You guys are confusing."
"Tell me about it." Blaine jogged a few steps to catch up with Kurt. "You know, I'm surprised you haven't made a comment about my hair. It's short. You hate my hair short."
"Well we aren't dating anymore so I don't need to voice my opinion." Kurt retorted, voice soft. He looked straight ahead, not sure how to feel after Finn's comment. Finn did have a point, Kurt supposed. And he knew Finn was joking. Still, though, it stung.
"You're an opinionated person. You can't help it." Blaine nudged Kurt's arm with his own shoulder. "I missed you."
"I missed you too, Blaine." Kurt finally made eye contact.
Blaine stopped, pulling Kurt in for a hug.
"Damn. I thought I'd gotten lucky and there wasn't going to be any PDA." Finn grumbled, reaching them. "Hurry up and get it over with before I toss my cookies."
Kurt rolled his eyes, his own arms sliding around Blaine's waist.
"I've wanted a hug for days now." Blaine mumbled into Kurt's shoulder, squeezing Kurt.
"Me too." Kurt smiled, hand going up and ruffling Blaine's shorter hair. "You cut it this short just to get a reaction out of me, didn't you?"
"I knew you'd say that." Blaine raised his head, pressing his lips very quickly and almost shyly to Kurt's lips. "No."
"Okay." Kurt kissed him back, just as quickly, before pulling away. He surveyed Blaine-he'd been right, Blaine looked almost nervous. But why? Kurt didn't know how many more setbacks he could take in their relationship. Or was it something good, maybe? Or maybe Blaine was just in a funny mood, or something?
Really, though, it was Blaine. When wasn't he in a funny mood in one way or another?
"Dudes, we should probably go before we miss the flight." Finn said, pointing to a sign reading that their flight was now boarding. "Share the loving, longing gazes on the plane?"
"Finn!" Kurt snapped. "We aren't sharing loving, longing gazes."
"If you say so." Finn shrugged. "Can we go now?"
…
"Oh my God! You three!" Carole exclaimed when Kurt, Finn, and Blaine followed Burt into the house later that evening. "You didn't go into work for an emergency! Burt!"
Finn grinned, rushing to hug his mom. "Happy Early Birthday, Mom!"
Carole hugged him, looking so happy she was near tears. "I can't believe this! I just talked to you his morning on the phone!"
Finn's grin grew. "Kurt and I were in the car at the airport parking lot."
Carole shook her head and then moved forward, pulling Kurt in for a hug. "Hey, hon!"
"Hey!" Kurt smiled, hugging her back. "Happy Early Birthday!"
"Thank you, sweetie." Carole smiled and pulled back, touching his face. "How are you doing?"
"I'm fine." Kurt reassured her as Finn wandered off.
"Burt talked to me about everything. Are you-?"
"Eating enough, sleeping enough, resting enough, exercising enough, and socializing enough." Kurt interrupted.
"Well I guess that covers anything I could ask." Carole laughed and pulled him in for another hug. "Although you're very thin, you know?"
"He's always been skin and bones." Burt chuckled. "God knows he gets it from his mother and not me."
"You'd be thin too if you didn't eat the whole junk food aisle in a two week period, Dad." Kurt remarked, pulling back from Carole.
"And you! You have been up to your eyeballs in school work!" Carole pointed at Blaine. "Why are you here, mister?"
"They made me come. They said they'd take my dog captive." Blaine lied.
"Get over here!" Carole pulled him into a hug. "You're too sweet. All three of you are too sweet. It's at the end of your school semesters, boys. Where did Finn even get off too?"
"Momma, Finn is home. Does this mean I have to get my art stuff out of his room?" Melody whined, coming into the kitchen. "I just got it all set u-oh, darn. Does this mean I gotta get my dolls out of Kurt's room too?"
"Honey, I told you to not put that stuff in your brothers' rooms in the first place. It's their space."
"Momma, they have their own houses and I don't have enough room for my toys." Melody pouted.
"You would have enough if you cleaned your room, Mel." Burt sighed.
"But my room is clean right now. There's nothing in it but my clothes and my bed, Daddy!" Melody scowled.
"Because everything else is in your brothers' rooms." Carole laughed. "Please be a good girl and put your stuff where it belongs-in your own room."
Burt massaged his forehead as Melody stomped off.
"Well someone wasn't happy to see us." Kurt remarked. "I can't believe she didn't even run to you, Blaine. You're like her best friend."
"Best friends five ever." Blaine laughed. "Maybe I should go help her."
"No you will not. She shouldn't have put the stuff in there in the first place." Carole shook her head. "You two sit down, I'll find Finn, and start dinner."
"No, no, no." Kurt said quickly. "I will."
"I can help?" Blaine suggested.
"Okay." Carole beamed. "Come on, Burt. Let's leave these two to it, then. I'm sure they'd like some alone time."
"Hey, you kids back together yet?" Burt asked.
Carole forcefully pulled him out of the room, saying, "You know that the people in the relationship are always the last to know they're in it. Give it time."
...
"I was beginning to think it would take Melody so long to clean this out, that we wouldn't have anywhere to sleep." Kurt said, finally placing his bag inside his bedroom. "You know, I can sleep on the couch and you can stay in here."
"No, no, it's fine. I'll sleep on the couch." Blaine reassured him, sitting on the edge of Kurt's bed. "I was beginning to think we'd never get any time alone without your parents a doorway away."
"You and me both." Kurt sat on the edge of the bed next to him, taking a deep breath.
"Why are you nervous?"
"I'm not nervous." Kurt lied.
"Liar." Blaine smiled, leaning in.
"I'm not lying, Blaine."
"Liar."
"Blaine-"
"Pants on fire." Blaine pressed their lips together, hands cupping Kurt's face.
Kurt stiffened in shock, but immediately relaxed, kissing Blaine back eagerly.
Blaine pulled back, gasping. "Sorry. I've wanted to do that since I saw you but Finn and-"
"Shut up." Kurt pulled Blaine back down, sliding his tongue into Blaine's mouth.
Blaine pulled back once more, scooting up on the bed. Kurt followed him, pushing Blaine into a laying position and crawling on top of him.
"Okay, so, uhm, okay." Blaine nodded.
"What are you rambling about?" Kurt laughed breathily.
"I don't know. I want you to kiss me again." Blaine groaned, arms sliding around Kurt's waist and pulling him closer. He whimpered a bit when they were pressed together because he missed their closeness, he really did. Not to mention Kurt's body felt amazing against his-and it also fit perfectly. He had always thought that sounded stupid and cliché before he met Kurt and then he knew that it was real-at least for he and Kurt, it was real.
Kurt slid his tongue into Blaine's mouth once more, relaxing against Blaine and reveling in the feeling of being so close to Blaine again. It was more than physical, it was emotional, and that was something he loved about being so close to Blaine. The connection was everything. Everything.
"Hey boys, we're going to go and get some ice crea-Oh."
Kurt scrambled away from Blaine, straightening his shirt and praying to God that his father hadn't seen Blaine's hand sneaking in the back of his jeans.
"Oh, well, sorry. Nevermind."
"Wait, what?" Kurt panted, sitting up straight.
Burt cleared his throat, looking embarrassed, and repeated his first statement. "Everyone is going to get ice cream if you want to go. A new parlor opened a week or so ago." He paused. "Are you two-"
"Dad, we're not together." Kurt grumbled impatiently.
"I was going to ask if you were going to come for ice cream."
Blaine pulled Kurt's pillow over his head, shaking with laughter.
Burt grinned, looking rather pleased with himself. "And, son, I'd look up the definition of being in a relationship and re-evaluate your answer if I were you."
Kurt scowled. "We will decline your offer for ice cream."
"Okay. You boys have fun. I'll be sure to close the door but next time, you might want to lock it."
"Or next time, you may want to knock first."
Burt backed out, closing the door behind him.
Blaine waited long enough for the front door to close before bursting into laughter.
"Why are you laughing?"
"Your dad just walked in on us making out with my hands down the back of your pants and you grinding against me but he still asked us if we wanted to go for ice cream." Blaine gasped through laughs. "I-I'm sorry but this is just... I have the w-weirdest life and it's just g-great."
Kurt smiled a bit, watching Blaine. "That is pretty funny."
"The best part is he wasn't even mad. Five years ago he would've made some offhand comment about the couch tonight or a blow torch and he just i-invites us-me included-for ice cream." Blaine actually clapped his hands. "Your dad freaking loves me, alright?"
"It's true. I've never denied it. The only one who has is you." Kurt pointed at him. "He's not perfect but he really does love you like you were his son."
Blaine sat up, not sure what to say but actually believing Kurt's words. And that was a nice feeling, to feel—to know—that you had an adult in your corner. Not that Blaine wasn't an adult himself, of course, but that was beside the point.
"Why did you do that?" Kurt asked, tilting his head.
"What?" Blaine looked at him, confused.
"Sit up." Kurt scooted closer. "Aren't we going to pick back up where we left off?"
"Well, you know, we've both got homework." Blaine innocently looked to the ceiling. "And I'm really feeling a bit parched and—mmh!"
…
Blaine bit his lip, pausing outside of Kurt's bedroom door. The door wasn't even closed all of the way and the light was still on, but his stomach was tied up in knots. He could hear Kurt quietly moving around, probably not wanting to wake Melody who had gone to bed an hour or so ago.
All he had to do was get his pajamas to change into. Was it really that big of a deal, especially considering they'd made out to the point of humping not four hours ago?
Which, really, probably wasn't their brightest idea but one thing led to another and they were human, okay?
Blaine took another deep breath and inched the door open. "Hey, Kurt?"
Kurt, who was already in his pajama pants, looked up. He was at his desk and had a sketchbook open. "Hey."
"I needed to get my clothes. I'm going to go to bed soon." Blaine smiled and then wandered over to the desk, peering at the open sketchbook. "What's that?"
"Oh, I'm not even using it." Kurt closed it and then pointed to his computer.
"Oh wow." Blaine said. "Did you just make that outfit on the computer?"
"Yeah. There is really awesome, advanced software. I'm still partial to my sketchbook, though. Alec, however, can crank out a flawless piece on this in two hours." Kurt said.
"That is so cool." Blaine looked over Kurt's shoulder. "You can really just do everything?"
"Yeah. You can do any gender or age model. You can do any measurement. It really is cool. CCAD had a program kind of like this but nowhere near this advanced." Kurt smiled.
"Well yours looks really good. It looks professional."
Kurt beamed. "Thanks."
Blaine smiled back. "That's so amazing. I'm proud of you."
Kurt's smile grew and he sat up straight, changing the measurements of his model on the screen. "Thanks."
Blaine stood behind him, watching him. "How long does it take?"
"It depends on how detailed you want it… and how many classes you've had." Kurt shrugged. "Then again, Alec dropped a few classes and I think all he does it sit at home fooling around with it."
Blaine laughed. "The extra time probably helps too."
"Yeah." Kurt spoke softly, nodding. "You don't have to sleep downstairs… You can have the bed."
The bed, not my bed. Kurt still couldn't get past it being their bed. It had, after all, been their bed for a very, very long time.
"I don't want you to give up the bed." Blaine hesitated. "Maybe we could both have the bed? I mean, we're both adults here. We have enough self-control to not go at it like rabbits…"
"Do you want to? Not go at it, but, uhm… sleep together? Without sleeping together?" Kurt's eyes widened.
"I mean, sure."
"You mean sure?" Kurt echoed.
"Yes." Blaine cleared his throat and nodded. "Yes, I do."
"Uhm… okay. Great. That's… okay." Kurt nodded, stomach doing excited flips. He was going to get to sleep in a bed with Blaine again. The one thing he'd missed most since Blaine had left for Harvard the year before and now it would be happening and he hadn't even expected it.
Blaine gave a somewhat nervous smile and pointed to the bathroom. "Can I change into my pajamas?
"You don't have to ask." Kurt smiled a bit and returned his attention back to his computer.
Blaine went into the bathroom with his clothes and quietly closed the door, excitement pulsing through his veins. Every time they saw each other things were a little bit more like they used to me, a little better, and he had more hope for them in the future. That things would be okay.
And they were going to sleep together—just sleep, he reminded himself—tonight.
Truthfully, it would probably be the best sleep Blaine had gotten since the breakup.
He changed slowly, just trying to wrap his head around how well things were going after they'd been so hard for so long.
After brushing his teeth he emerged, laying on his side—his side?— of the bed and watching Kurt work on his project.
"I'll quit if you can't sleep with the light." Kurt said without turning around.
"No, don't worry." Blaine said, relaxing against Kurt's pillow and taking in his scent. "Kurt?"
"Yeah?" Kurt spun around in the chair, watching him.
"Will you come to bed?" Blaine lifted his head just a tad, blinking at Kurt.
"Yeah. Yeah, yeah." Kurt nodded, saving his work and then shutting his laptop. Like he would say no to that, anyway.
Blaine smiled when Kurt lay next to him. He watched Kurt lean over to turn the bedside lamp off and then the room filled with darkness—no light apart from the street light outside and no sound except for their breathing. Well, that was if you didn't count the television going downstairs but they would take what they could get.
"Your hair looks good, you know? Even when it's short. I like the curls."
Blaine's smile widened and he laid flat on his back. "You don't like the curls. You love the curls."
Kurt rolled his eyes.
"How did your appointment with the therapist go yesterday?"
"It was alright. We talked about the attack some but we mostly talked about stressful things that are going on now, in the present, that are contributing to how I feel." Kurt whispered. "I kind of like how he doesn't make me just talk about only that… I don't know if I could only talk about that for an hour. I know the more I go, the more we'll talk about it… but dealing with the here and now is okay."
"What's going on here and now?" Blaine asked, looking concerned. He rolled onto his side to face Kurt again.
"It's near the end of the semester and I'm kind of stressed out. I still haven't found an internship for the summer and I really wanted to work the whole way through to make up for lost time. Dad wants me to come home for the summer and I don't want to do that either. Quinn's boyfriend is getting on my nerves but she's happy, so I hate to bring up the fact that he gets pee under the toilet seat and how hard is it to wipe it off? I mean, really? We're all grown adults here." Kurt sighed a bit.
"You talk about Quinn's boyfriend in your sessions?" Blaine laughed a bit.
"No… We talk about you, though."
"Am I stressing you out?" Blaine blinked at him.
"No. Quite the opposite, really. I know you want to take this slow and I respect that, but I… I really miss us, Blaine." Kurt pushed himself back into a sitting position.
"I miss us too, Kurt." Blaine sat up as well. "I've thought a lot about it and…"
"But there's no point in stressing about it, honestly, because it's not in my control. The time isn't right, so, whatever." Kurt continued, lying back down once again. "Not whatever, but… I need to focus on things I can change… on my own, that is."
Blaine remained sitting up, looking out the window and not quite sure what to say.
After all, it wasn't like he'd come down here intending to get back together with Kurt. Still, he didn't like the fact that taking things so slow was negatively affecting Kurt—especially to the point of talking about it in counseling. For however much Kurt may have just shrugged it off as nothing, it was clearly a big something.
"Kurt?"
"Yeah?" Kurt asked, on his back and staring up at the ceiling.
"It's going to be okay." Blaine moved back into a laying position. "Everything, but especially us. We are okay."
"We're not okay now, though. Not completely."
Blaine took a deep breath. This could be it. He could open his mouth, say a few words, and he and Kurt could be back together… forever.
He was sure it would be forever.
"We…are."
"Not until we're back together, we're not."
"We could be."
Kurt turned his head to face Blaine so quickly he was sure he'd have whiplash.
"We could be back together forever." Blaine repeated. "I mean, we could… Now…"
Kurt stared at him, unblinking.
Blaine trailed off and looked to the side as the bedroom door slowly opened. Light from the hallway filled the room and then the door closed before Melody hopped into bed. Kurt sat up and she immediately curled up in his lap, thumb going to her mouth.
"Ah ah. Big girl now." Kurt said, gently pulling her little fist away from her face.
"Wanna sleep with the boys." Melody whined, nuzzling his shoulder.
"Okay." Kurt eased back into a laying position, arms around her. "But you've got to go to sleep. It's late and Mommy's birthday is tomorrow so we've gotta get up really early and bake her cake."
Melody nodded, fist making its way to her mouth again.
"Nope. We both know that you can't do that anymore. You're a big girl." Kurt repeated, gently pulling her hand away again and this time keeping a hold of it.
Melody scowled and then yawned, snuggling closer.
"Night, Mellie." Blaine whispered, leaning over and ruffling her messy hair.
"Night night." Melody closed her eyes. "No kissing."
"No kissing." Kurt laughed, giving her hand a squeeze.
Seconds later, Melody let out a soft snore.
Blaine watched Kurt rub her little back, stomach knotted up. He'd already started talking about it… About getting together now. Should he continue? Should he wait?
He was so tired of waiting.
"Goodnight, Blaine." Kurt whispered, moving so Melody was laying in-between them but still snuggled up to him.
"Goodnight, Kurt." Blaine responded, looking up at the ceiling and chewing on his bottom lip.
Looked like he'd be waiting.
***LTC***
They'd eaten lunch, had cake, opened presents, played outside with Melody, and talked with the family for hours. But, in all that time, they hadn't talked about what had happened the night before. It had sure felt like Blaine was about to ask Kurt if he wanted to get back together but then Melody had come in (damn her) and everything had been thrown off.
Not that Kurt could blame Blaine, really. That would have thrown Kurt off too.
What if Kurt was looking too much into what Blaine had said?
No.
Those words… well, they couldn't really be taken the wrong way.
Kurt took a seat on the couch with his tablet in hand and looked down at the tablet but didn't really see it. He wasn't ashamed to admit that he was waiting for Blaine to come into the living room however he didn't want to look like he was waiting. In his defense, he'd spent over an hour legitimately working.
So far Kurt had heard an entire conversation between Blaine and his father about sports (surprise, right?), Michigan, Blaine's trip to Italy the coming summer, and the law firm Blaine was working at. Needless to say, they'd been in there well over two hours.
Kurt didn't mind that, though. He loved that Blaine was so close to his family and, moreover, he loved that Blaine felt comfortable enough to talk to his dad for hours on end. After all, didn't everyone want their significant other (it was going to happen, alright?) to get along with their parents and vice versa?
He looked up when Blaine plopped next to him on the couch. "What's that?"
"Homework." Kurt shut the tablet off and gave Blaine a bright smile. "Have fun with my dad?"
"Yeah. I'm distracting you so he can get ice cream."
"HEY, KID!"
"Sorry! You know he was going to get it out of me anyway! I can't lie to him!" Blaine called to Burt.
Kurt rolled his eyes but did not reprimand his dad. It got exhausting doing it every single time. He was learning to pick his battles.
"Anyway," Blaine continued. "Hi."
"Hi." Kurt laughed and tucked his legs under him, turning so he could see Blaine.
"I'm surprised you didn't go to the park with Carole, Finn, and Melody." Blaine admitted, shivering a bit and then reaching behind him for his Harvard hoodie—which he had, of course, left on the back of the couch. Not that he and Kurt didn't used to bicker over that or anything… "Hey, don't give me that look!"
"I don't think some things will ever change." Kurt laughed again and shook his head.
"Me being cold?"
"No. You never put jackets or sweaters up."
"Ah but, Kurt, this is a hoodie."
Kurt rolled his eyes, smile growing when Blaine scooted closer.
"Quit working on school work. Starting tomorrow, we won't see each other until after Christmas." Blaine took the tablet and placed it on the coffee table.
"Christmas plans?" Kurt asked, trying not to feel too disappointed.
He knew there were no plans, but he'd been hoping that they would spend Christmas together. Not that Blaine was obligated too, of course. It would be… sad without him there.
"Well since I stayed at Wes' on Thanksgiving, Dana is insisting I stay with them for Christmas." Blaine explained, looking apologetic.
And that, of course, meant that he wouldn't see Blaine. He doubted Blaine would risk an argument if he was staying with David.
"That sounds fun." Kurt forced a smile.
"Oh, I'm sure. It'll be different, though. I'm used to Christmases with you." Blaine frowned. "It's uhm… David and Wes' families are like my family but here it's… different. I don't know how to put it into words but, uhm… it's different."
"It makes sense." Kurt reassured him, grabbing his hand and briefly squeezing it. "It'll be different for us without you here too. I'll miss you. I guess I should have brought your present here."
"You didn't have to get me anything." Blaine whispered, slouching down and resting his head on Kurt's shoulder.
Kurt slid an arm around his waist and kissed the top of his head. "I know."
Blaine relaxed against Kurt and closed his eyes, never wanting to leave Kurt.
"Hey, Blaine?" Kurt asked.
"Yeah?"
"Last night before Melody came in… you were saying… well, what were you saying?" Kurt bit the inside of his cheek, thankful Blaine wasn't look at him to see his hesitation.
That one question could change everything, really.
Blaine bit his lip and shuffled a bit. "I don't know. I was really tired."
"How about the truth?" Kurt asked patiently.
"Kurt, I've been... thinking that us not being together was what you needed with everyone going on… so that you could have some time for yourself. And yesterday I decided that was dumb and I wanted to get back together but…"
"But?" Kurt's stomach knotted up.
"But today I think I was just using that as an excuse. I'm… I'm so close to ready but it's like… I don't know. I'm sorry."
Kurt nudged Blaine until they were both sitting up. He then looked him in the eye. "It's like what?"
"I don't want to mess this up again."
"You didn't, we did." Kurt responded, watching him carefully.
"I'm afraid if things get bad between us that I'll lose you." Blaine looked down. "And you've already got so much going on that I don't want to…"
"Don't worry about me." Kurt actually laughed. "I'm okay. If I'm not okay, you'll be the first to know. Also, for the record, I don't think things will get bad again."
"How do you know?"
"Because right now we're here talking about how we really feel. You're telling me why you're afraid instead of shutting down or pretending you're not. That's something that wouldn't have happened before. I think we still have work to do, sure, but… but I think when the time comes… that we'll be okay. And you don't ever have to worry about adding to the stuff that I have going on because, Blaine, you're the one thing that makes it better and not worse." Kurt touched his cheek. "You get it and you're supportive and even though you worry, you don't hound me about every little thing. So please don't worry about it."
"Last night you said that you talk about me in counseling. You're stressing."
"It's not that way. I don't want you to feel rushed because I miss us, okay? You miss us too, right?"
"Yes."
"Do you want me to feel bad that you miss us?"
"Of course not, but…"
"So don't." Kurt interrupted.
"I wish I was spending Christmas here with you all." Blaine whispered, looking down again.
"Me too." Kurt bent down and kissed him. "Me too, but maybe we'll still see each other. Maybe I can drive to Westerville? Taylor and Paige can come with. It'll be a family adventure… providing David doesn't shoot me."
Blaine huffed a bit and then sighed. "You okay?"
"Yeah." Kurt nodded and smiled. "You?"
"You're here, so never better." Blaine smiled back at him. "So, want to head on up to bed and not make out until we fall asleep?"
"Considering tomorrow we'll be back home, yeah." Kurt hopped up and held out his hand, tugging him up. "C'mon, lawyer boy."
"Lawyer boy? That's the best you can come up with?" Blaine scoffed as Kurt dragged him up the stairs.
"Is 'lover boy' better?" Kurt asked.
"Seeing as Dirty Dancing is one of my favorite movies, yes."
Kurt playfully shoved Blaine into his bedroom and closed the door behind him. "Can you ever forgive me for passing up the opportunity to call you lover boy?"
"I might be persuaded with a kiss or two…" Blaine said, leaning against the door.
"We might be a little more comfortable on the bed…" Kurt gave an impish smile.
"Have I mentioned I love you lately?" Blaine asked, moving towards the bed.
After all, would you have to be asked twice?
***LTC***
"This weekend went by too quick." Kurt sighed, sitting in the airport with Blaine. Blaine was waiting for David and Wes—who had spent the weekend with David since Blaine wasn't at their house—to get to the airport and Kurt, of course, was going to spend every second with Blaine that he could.
"I know. Time always flies by when I'm with you. I wish my Torts lectures went by so quickly." Blaine laughed. "You know, this chicken salad wrap is to die for."
"You would have thought Kurt could go out of his way for once. He get off in Massachusetts and drive here."
Blaine, who had his back to the entrance, stiffened. Kurt, who had laughed about Blaine's love of food, glared as David sat down across from him. He looked at Wes who was in the process of sitting next to him. He looked annoyed but, nonetheless, still smiled. "Hey, Kurt."
"Hey." Kurt said, eyes still on David.
"But, then again, I guess I'm not surprised. After all, why put forth extra effort when you can have all the fun without being committed to him? He's nice and you know he'll go out of his way so we're back to taking advantage of him. Sound about right?" David continued as he stared Kurt down.
"David…" Blaine hissed.
"He broke up with you, Blaine. Why are you letting him do this to you again?"
"David, you said you were going to be nice." Wes sighed.
"The fact that he's still alive and breathing after what he's put Blaine through is me being nice." David retorted, glaring at Kurt.
"I'm not doing anything to him." Kurt spoke in a quiet, but firm (and very annoyed) tone. "We're working on things and, frankly, it's not your place to get involved."
"Guys, come on." Wes said, watching Blaine massaging his temples with both hands.
David sneered. "Oh, I hope you're not jealous I'm talking to one of my best friends. I know you don't like when he has contact with others. Kind of reminds me of his dad."
Kurt stood, not even realizing his fists were balled at his side.
"Go on and try." David said.
"Enough!" Wes rose his voice this time. "Can't we just pretend to act our age?"
"Stop!" Blaine snapped, looking between Kurt and David. "Stop it, both of you!"
Kurt sat back down, fists still clenched.
Blaine took a deep breath and resumed glaring at David.
"What? I'm trying to protect you." David said. "I can't believe you actually stayed a weekend with him in his house around his family when you know he's going to end up ending it all over again and you'll be right back where you were. I won't let it happen to you again. I won't take care of you again, Blaine."
"David, nobody asked you to take care of him in the first place." Wes said calmly. "That's an empty threat, anyway. What you're doing right now isn't taking care of him, is it? Back off."
"I'll back off when he backs off."
"The world doesn't revolve around you and your opinions of me or of anyone for that matter! Blaine's an adult. He can do what he wants!" Kurt exclaimed.
"Right. Like go to Harvard?" David smirked. "He wanted that but you took that and turned it all upside down. He can only do it if it's Kurt Approved. That's not having the ability to do what he wants. It's the ability to do the things he wants that you guess are okay. That's not a healthy relationship."
"David, Kurt, please stop." Wes pleaded, glancing at Blaine who had his face covered by both hands.
"No. I won't stop." David looked right at Kurt. "You should have left well enough alone. If you care about him at all, let him move on. He deserves better than you. You couldn't handle him being away at law school. Newsflash, he's still got 2 years left. Newsflash, he doesn't want to live in New York. It won't work and the sooner you two realize that, the better for everyone!"
Blaine lowered his hands and bit his tongue. This was not the place, was not the place at all. He shouldn't have asked Kurt to get lunch before David and Wes picked him up. He knew there was a slight chance they'd see each other. He'd never expected David to go off for no reason, though. Especially with Wes there. That wasn't David at all.
"We don't need your approval." Kurt said. "And Blaine doesn't have to answer to you. He's an adult and he can make his own decisions."
"That's gold coming from you, who broke up with him for going to law school. Absolute gold." David laughed.
"You're not in the relationship so you don't know what it was like or what happened." Kurt argued.
"You're not in the relationship either, Kurt." David stood. "I'll be waiting outside, Blaine."
Blaine didn't speak but instead watching David leave the restaurant and head for the parking lot.
"You okay, Blainers?" Wes asked, moving so he was next to Blaine.
"Not really, no."
"Don't shut down. Don't do that." Kurt whispered.
Blaine shook his head. "I'm not shutting down."
Kurt grabbed his hand and squeezed, falling silent.
"I didn't think he'd do that or I wouldn't have… He just…" Wes said, looking angry. "I should have come in here by myself and let him wait in the car or something. I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault. He's trying to protect Blaine." Kurt sighed. "As frustrating as it is, I'm not trying to be in a relationship with him. He can say what he wants about me or about us. I'm not going to put my tail between my legs and run off like a dog. I'm in this… as long as you want me to be, Blaine."
Blaine covered his mouth, expression still blank.
Kurt let go of his hand and, instead, ran his hand up and down Blaine's back, trying to comfort him. "Thank you for spending the weekend with us. It meant a lot to everyone… especially me."
"Thank you for inviting me to go." Blaine smiled a bit. "I love spending time with you all. I don't even have to explain how I feel about them because you already know."
"They're your family too." Kurt ruffled his hair and sighed a bit, leaning his head on Blaine's shoulder.
"Bye, Kurt. I'll see you in minute, Blainers. I'm going to wait in the car with Grumpy Butt." Wes stood up and waved.
"We go home, finish our semesters, and then we try to find some way to meet when we're both in Ohio." Kurt answered.
Blaine kissed Kurt's cheek. "Okay. I'm going to go, I guess. I need to get back to his place so I can get my car and drive home.
"Yeah. I promised to stop by Alec's house. Eric's been watching old seasons of some show called Big Brother and apparently he's borderline obsessed and its drive Alec crazy." Kurt shrugged. "I mostly think Eric's tired of being cooped up and Alec is tired of Eric being cooped up."
"Ah. That would be pretty hard."
"Yeah, I guess. And now that he's feeling better Alec wants them to get married, like, tomorrow. So I'm pretty sure that's not helping poor Eric either." Kurt laughed a bit as he stood, holding his hand out to help Blaine up as well. "But I'll let you go. Be careful driving back home, okay?"
"Always am." Blaine smiled and kissed him. "I love you, Kurt."
Kurt smiled and kissed him back. "I love you, Blaine. And I'll miss you a lot."
Blaine touched his cheek and then pressed their foreheads together. "I'm sorry about David."
"It's okay. Like I said, I'm fixing things with you and not him. He can think what he wants about me. As long as you want me here, I'm going to be here… Which is something your father would never say."
Blaine shook his head, unable to even comment on that because David's statement had been so outlandish. "I'll call you when I make it home… if it's too late, I'll text you."
"Alright. Good luck with David in the car."
"He's the one that needs the luck. Not me." Blaine sighed, grabbing his stuff. "See you, Kurt. Love you."
"Love you too, Blaine." Kurt kissed him one last time before watching him walk out the door. Funnily enough, he already started missing him the second he'd turned his back to Kurt as he walked away.
Soon, Kurt thought to himself, they wouldn't have to say goodbye as much as they were now.