And here we are.
Happy Wednesday, my darlings. This is the last chapter.
Please read the author's note at the end!
This chapter's song is New Golden Age.
Enjoy!
Well, we could walk so tall
Holding love as our shield
We had a simple plan
Started making it real
I am proud
It was rather unusual for Blaine to be alone since he and Kurt had gotten back together – on the days the kids were with Jack and Eddie, Kurt was at his place, taking advantage of having the apartment to themselves, although he had started staying over even when Blaine had the kids. And when Kurt wasn't there, because he had an apartment of his own and a cat that needed his attention, the kids kept him busy. But then one night, he was by himself – Kurt had to stay late at the office and had a very early meeting the following morning, so it made more sense to him to just go to his own place, and the kids were with their other father. Blaine sat in the living room, a random movie playing on the television that he wasn't really watching, a beer and a cold slice of leftover pizza on the coffee table.
He had no choice but to share his children, and he had come to terms with that when he and Jack had agreed to get divorced – he wanted to share them, because Jack was a good dad and Eddie loved them, and Theo and Lena deserved to spend time with them. But there was something else there, nagging him, making him feel uneasy, and he couldn't quite pinpoint what it was.
He didn't figure it out until two mornings later, when he was finishing getting the kids ready for school and Kurt was putting together their lunch boxes, and the apartment was the sort of mess it usually was on weekdays. Blaine finished doing Lena's hair and paused for a second, and realized that he liked this. He liked having the house full of noise and activity, and he liked hearing Kurt hum as he cut up the crust off Lena's peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, he liked seeing him lovingly button up Theo's coat. He liked having Kurt here, being part of their routine. He didn't like kissing him goodbye at the door and knowing he wasn't coming home tonight, because this actually wasn't Kurt's home.
But it should be, shouldn't it?
This was a huge step and Blaine knew it, but it didn't scare him. It just made sense, as soon as he realized what he was thinking about. He needed to ask Kurt to move in. He wanted Kurt to be a permanent part of his life, of the kids' life. He didn't want Kurt to just visit them – god, they were way past that, weren't they? Blaine knew what he wanted. Blaine was so sure.
But it wasn't only up to him.
The next time he was alone with the kids, they were having a snack at the kitchen table, and Blaine sat with them, watching them carefully, trying to figure out how they would react before he said the actual words. Because even if he loved Kurt with all his heart, he couldn't go through with this if they weren't okay with it.
"So, uh, guys, I really wanted to talk to you," he started, a little nervously. "About Kurt."
Lena looked at him, narrowing her eyes, suspicious. She put down her carrot sticks to focus entirely on her dad. "What about Kurt?" Then her face went livid. "Oh no. Are you divorcing him, too? Last time you wanted to talk to us you divorced papa."
Theo put down his snacks too, glancing at Blaine in alarm. "No, dad! Why?"
Blaine couldn't help but chuckle. "Calm down, guys. That's not what's going on. I can't even divorce Kurt. We're not married."
"You should be married," Lena replied. "If we have a wedding, I can be a flower girl again, like at Papa's and Eddie's wedding."
"I carry the rings!" Theo announced.
"Whoa, guys, hold on, please," Blaine said. He needed to stop this before they actually thought they were getting married and they ended blurting it out to Kurt… he wasn't against the idea – at all, god, he hadn't realized how much he wanted to marry Kurt until this very moment – but he hadn't discussed it with Kurt and he didn't want the kids to propose for him. Although that would have been really cute, wouldn't it? He could have Theo holding the ring and Lena could ask the question and…
He was getting sidetracked.
He took a deep breath. Now he was overwhelmed for a whole different reason.
"What I wanted to talk to you about…" He started again. "Well, actually, if you wouldn't have a problem with me marrying Kurt, I assume that means you guys really like him, huh?"
Theo nodded enthusiastically. "I like Kurt!"
"Me too," Lena agreed. "He's fun and sweet and he makes better pancakes than you."
Blaine was almost wounded by her statement but decided to just focus on the bigger picture. Plus, it was true. Kurt's pancakes were fluffier. "Alright, well… he's been staying over more often lately, and I've noticed you guys like that, too. We have fun together, don't we? And it's nice to be here, all four of us, spending time together."
"Maybe he should live with us," Lena said, beating him to the punch. "Like when Eddie moved in with Papa. Then he wouldn't have to go to his own apartment and we could always be together."
Well. Okay. So maybe this was going to be a lot easier than Blaine had expected.
"That was actually what I wanted to ask you," he said. "I've been thinking about asking Kurt to live with us, but I don't want to do that until I'm completely sure you two are okay with it."
Lena glanced at her brother and then nodded. "We're okay with it," she said without hesitation. "Plus, if he lives with us, he will bring his cat, right? I want to have a cat."
"I want a cat, too!" Theo said, bouncing a bit on his seat.
Blaine laughed and covered his face with his hand for a moment. "You guys realize this is not about the cat, though, right? I mean, of course Kurt will bring Petra if he lives with us, but… look," he got serious and watched them, willing them to understand. "I really love Kurt, and I want to spend more time with him, and I want him to be part of our family, but I don't ever want to do anything you aren't happy with. So…"
Lena looked at him and she suddenly seemed so much older. "Daddy, we love Kurt. We want him to live with us."
"Kurt is very good," Theo added, just as serious as his sister. "He reads, he plays, he makes mac and cheese. He kisses me here," he said, pointing at his forehead.
Blaine's heart melted a little bit. He had some trouble speaking, suddenly feeling like there was a lump in his throat. "Okay," he muttered. "Then I'll ask him. Just… don't tell him yet, okay? It's a surprise. Can you keep it secret for a few days?"
The kids nodded, looking excited, so Blaine wasn't exactly sure he could trust them to keep their mouths shut for too long. He would have to talk to Kurt soon.
But he was excited, too. He was looking forward to starting this new stage of his life with Kurt by his side.
All Kurt had to do was say yes.
(He had to fight very, very hard not to get ahead of himself and think of another occasion in which all Kurt had to do was say yes).
The music was a little bit too loud for Kurt's taste, who had been nursing a headache for about an hour now. It had been a long, difficult day, in a string of long, difficult days, but all the hard work had paid off, so he had agreed to join Isabelle at a bar to have a few celebratory drinks.
"To us!" She said, cheerfully. "I'm so glad we found each other again. I don't know what I would have done without you."
"You were doing just fine before I got here," he said modestly.
"Maybe, but you unlocked a lot of opportunities for me. I had to do my job and your job because I didn't trust anyone with it, and you took the burden off so I could focus on making the brand grow," she said. "I can't believe we'll actually get to take part in New York Fashion Week. That's a dream come true. And then we have that contract in Milan… I never thought we'd get that far."
"You deserve it," he said. "You worked really hard for a very long time, and you got a second chance because you're resilient and fabulous and never gave up."
"Well, if I'm heading for the top, I'm taking you with me," she laughed and clicked their glasses together.
They chatted about work for a little longer, figuring out details and writing ideas on small napkins, both too excited to feel the exhaustion of the past few days. The bottle of champagne was getting emptier and emptier, and Isabelle was considering asking for another when Kurt's phone buzzed with a message. He checked it quickly, smiling.
"Blaine says congratulations," he said.
"Is he waiting for you?" She asked.
"No, he just wants me to text him when I get home to let him know I made it safely," Kurt replied, as he typed a response.
"That's sweet and gentlemanly of him," Isabelle smiled. She waited until he had put his phone down again and said: "So how are things going between you?"
Kurt couldn't stop the grin that spread on his face. "Incredibly perfect, actually."
"Aw," Isabelle smiled back. "You're getting cheesy, Kurt. I've never thought I'd see the day."
"What are you talking about? I've always been a hopeless romantic," he said. At least he had been for most of the time she had known him. Ian had snuffed out the flame for a little while. "But I'm just… happy. I'm so happy, Isabelle. It feels like everything has fallen into place."
She took a sip of champagne and looked away without saying anything. Kurt watched her with narrowed eyes, because he knew her well enough now to notice when she wasn't saying something that was right on the tip of her tongue.
"What?" He said.
Isabelle bit her lip. "I'm just wondering… I mean, I like Blaine, and he's been good for you lately, but… your marriage failed because you wanted different things. And I'm not saying this with Blaine is going to fail, but I'm wondering if you took the time to talk to him about the things you want and whether or not you're on the same page."
He was about to say that of course they wanted the same things, but then Kurt sat back, like her words had physically pushed him. "I…" he started.
Isabelle cringed. "I'm sorry. I'm ruining the mood and I'm making you look miserable again and that's the last thing I want. I'm just… I'm worried about you. You were so, so sad after your divorce, and not just from losing Ian, but from losing everything else. And right before Blaine showed up again, you were talking about having a kid on your own, but you actually haven't talked about that again since. I just want to make sure that you don't push your dreams away for a man ever again. You know that doesn't end well, Kurt."
Kurt exhaled slowly. He felt a little dizzy. "God… you're right, aren't you? I found Blaine again and I gave everything up. Why am I like this? What's wrong with me?"
"Nothing's wrong with you," she said at once, reaching across the table for his hand and squeezing hard. "Hey. Nothing's wrong with you. You fell in love with him, hard and fast, and I can see why, because he's pretty dreamy. But I just want to make sure you put yourself first this time."
For the past few months, Kurt had thought the ground underneath his feet was finally steady, but now he wasn't so sure. Was he willing to give up his dream again? Did Blaine even want to have more kids? Or had he never even thought about it? Why hadn't Kurt talked to him about it at once, instead of letting himself fall harder and harder, deeper and deeper? Because he had been so relieved, probably, when he and Blaine found each other again and realized they could actually be together. Everything had been like a dream since then, but maybe Kurt should have been awake. Maybe he should have been more rooted in reality.
He never wanted to make the same mistakes again, never wanted to give himself up for others, no matter how much he loved Blaine.
"God, sorry," Isabelle said sadly. "I just totally ruined the night, didn't I? I'm sorry, Kurt."
"I'm fine," Kurt said. "You didn't ruin anything."
But maybe he would ruin his own happiness again, very soon.
But I'm afraid
But don't trust myself
There's no road, no map, no light guiding our way
Guiding our way
The kids were squealing with laughter as they played with Eddie and Kurt, who were tickling them mercilessly. Jack and Blaine were at the dining table, dirty plates with the vestiges of another weekly dinner between them, smiling – how could they not? – as they watched the men they loved play with their children.
Everything felt so… perfectly balanced.
"Kurt's been really quiet during dinner," Jack commented, turning towards Blaine. "Is everything alright?"
Blaine had noticed, too, in the past couple of days, that Kurt had been absentminded, but when he asked him about it, Kurt brushed his concern off. "It's been really busy at work lately."
"So you two are not…?" Jack asked, leaving the question open-ended like he didn't dare say the actual words.
"We're great," Blaine assured him at once. "Really great. I… I really love him, Jack. I mean, look at him, how could I not? Look how amazing he's with Lena and Theo."
"Plus, he's really easy on the eyes, too," Jack teased him.
Blaine laughed. "Tell me about it. He drives me crazy."
"I know," Jack said, voice going softer. "I can tell you really love him. You used to look at me like that, you know? A million years ago."
It really did feel like that had been a million years ago, like it had happened to someone else entirely.
"I've been thinking…" He started, carefully. "I want to ask Kurt to move in with us."
He waited for Jack's response with bated breath.
"Well," Jack said. "It's about time, don't you think?"
Blaine exhaled a little chuckle, mostly out of relief. "So you're okay with it?"
"Blaine, I married someone else. I think it's safe to say you can move in with your boyfriend," Jack laughed.
"I know. It's not like I'm asking for your permission or anything, but…" Blaine shrugged. "You asked me what I thought before Eddie moved in with you, and you still have a say in anything that affects the kids, so…"
"The kids adore him. I trust him with them," Jack said. "So stop worrying and do whatever makes you happy."
Blaine's heart skipped a few beats as he turned to look at Kurt. He was pressing kisses to Lena's face, making her laugh even harder. He had forgotten what it felt like, to have his heart this full, to feel like life was so entirely precious.
Jack was right. It was about time.
Working on the weekends was going to become more and more usual as they prepared for Fashion Week, so Kurt told himself not to be bitter, filled the coffee pot and got to work. They hadn't made it in time to be included in the September edition of Fashion Week, but they were already preparing everything for February. They had a few months, but it was still a colossal task and both Kurt and Isabelle wanted it to go as perfectly as it was possible.
They were interviewing models that afternoon, and Kurt wasn't expecting to make it to Blaine's until late that evening, but the truth was that he wasn't very upset about that. He was still trying to gather enough strength to have a conversation about the future and about what they both wanted – he knew they wanted each other, but did Blaine want anything else? Because Kurt did, he still did. And he wasn't going to give anything up this time, not even if Blaine was the love of his life.
And god, he was.
He knew that the conversation could actually have a positive outcome, but Kurt had somehow gotten used to things not going his way. Luck was usually not on his side when it came to stuff like this. And his heart was going to suffer, he knew, but it was still so tender, hadn't had a chance to harden itself after everything that had happened with Ian and Blaine…
He didn't want Blaine to break it again, but maybe he would have to let him.
He was signing a few reports when there was a gentle knock on the door. And maybe he had been thinking too much about Blaine that he had conjured him into reality, because there he was, standing at his office door, smiling at him.
"Surprise," he said softly.
"Hi, what are you doing here?" Kurt asked.
"Well, I know you have a lot of work today, but you still need to eat, right?" Blaine replied, lifting a take-out bag from Kurt's favorite restaurant.
Kurt smiled at him. "You're the best." He gestured for him to move past the door. "Come on in. Let me put away a few things and we can eat."
Blaine waited patiently until Kurt had cleared away all important papers, then placed the food on the desk and went around it, leaning closer as he put his hands on the armrests of Kurt's chair, to give him a kiss that left Kurt a little breathless.
"Hi," Kurt said again, blinking up at him.
Blaine laughed. "Hi," he echoed, and kissed him again.
God, if Kurt had to give this up…
"I promise I won't stay long," Blaine said as he pulled away. "I don't want to distract you. But I just missed you. Weekends are usually the only time we get to truly enjoy our time together, without having to rush for anything."
"I know, I'm sorry," Kurt said. "It's going to be crazy for a few months. But I have to pause for lunch anyway, so… it's definitely better to have you here for it."
Blaine started taking food out of the bag, passing containers to Kurt, before he took a seat. "I'm really proud of everything you and Isabelle have accomplished. So if we have to sacrifice a few weekends, I'm okay with that. Even if it means I need to sacrifice time with you."
Kurt opened the container. It was his favorite chicken parmigiana. He took a bite and had to stop himself from moaning.
"So, anyway, speaking of not spending enough time together…" Blaine started, and he seemed a little nervous now, shifting on his seat, moving his food around with his fork. "I feel like even when you sleep at the apartment with me two nights in a row it isn't enough. I really hate it when you don't stay over, or when I don't get to see you several days. I don't like that our lives aren't as intertwined as they could be…"
Kurt glanced at him, fork paused halfway to his mouth. "What are you saying?"
Blaine's hazel eyes were bright. "Kurt, I love you. I've been sure of what I want for a while now, even if it wasn't easy to get to this point. We wasted time on heartbreak, but I don't want to waste another second. So… I was wondering…" He paused and took a deep breath. "Kurt, would you like to move in with us?"
Kurt's heart skipped several beats. He gasped at Blaine, not having expected this at all. Everything in him was telling him to say yes at once, but a little voice in the back of his head that kept echoing his conversation with Isabelle from the other night stopped him.
"It's alright if you think it's too soon or if you aren't ready or…" Blaine hurried to say, when Kurt didn't reply. "And if you're worried about the kids, I already talked to them and they are so excited about it. We just want you to be part of the family, full time. We don't want you to come and go… but it's more than okay if that's how you want to keep things for now…"
It was clear that Blaine was starting to freak out the longer Kurt stayed silent.
It was now or never, then.
"I… I'm not sure," Kurt said at last.
Blaine's face fell slightly, but he smiled again at once, like he wanted to cover it up. "Okay… can I ask why? Do you think it's too soon?"
Kurt pushed his food away. He had suddenly lost his appetite. "I'm… I'm not sure whether it's a good idea until we figure out if this has an actual future."
Blaine blinked at him, looking as stunned as if he had just slapped him. "What?"
Kurt was frustrated with himself. This wasn't how he had wanted to bring it up. But Blaine had caught him off guard with his proposal to live together, and now he needed to rearrange all of his ideas while ignoring the way his heart kept pounding in his chest, trying to feel the joy that Blaine's question brought him, or would have brought him in normal circumstances.
He grabbed Blaine's hand, squeezing perhaps a bit tighter than he should have, but needing the touch to ground himself. "Look, I… I realize we should have had this conversation months ago, before we got carried away…"
"Kurt, what are you saying?" Blaine asked, urgently. He already looked halfway to heartbreak, and Kurt didn't like it.
"I love you," Kurt said, and that was the truest thing he could have said. "I love you, and I want a life with you, and I would absolutely be thrilled to move in with you and the kids, but I think we need to talk first, because… Blaine, I can't go into another relationship in which I might not get what I want. And giving this up would be the hardest thing I'd have to do, but if we're not heading in the same direction, then…"
"Kurt," Blaine cut him off. "Please, just tell me. I don't understand."
"I don't want to make the same mistakes I made with Ian. I loved him and not having a good communication and not having an actual balance killed our marriage, Blaine. And I don't want a repeat of that, not with anyone, but especially not with you, because I love you so much that sometimes I don't understand where all this love came from…" Kurt's eyes filled with tears, so he tried to wipe them away, but it was fruitless, because fresh ones replaced them. "And I love Lena and Theo like they were my own, I hope you know that. I would lay my life down for those kids. But they aren't mine. I didn't get to see them go through all their first milestones. I didn't get to hold them in my arms when they were born. I'm not their father, and I'm never going to be their father. They have two already, wonderful ones, the fathers they deserve. And I want…. I want to be a dad, Blaine, so badly. I don't want to miss out on it. So… if you don't want to have any more kids, I don't think we can actually stay together, even if it kills me."
Blaine blinked at him, stunned. Now it was him who was silent for longer than Kurt could take.
"I'm sorry," Kurt muttered. "I realize I should have said this a lot sooner. But I think I didn't even know I needed to say it until recently."
Blaine looked away and cleared his throat. When he turned back to Kurt, he was serious, almost fiercely so. "Okay. Okay, let me say a couple of things," he started. "First, even if Lena and Theo have two fathers already, I hope you know that you're as important to them as Jack and I are. They love you. They love Eddie. So in everything except title, you are their father, as far as I'm concerned, and I know Jack feels the same way with Eddie. This might be the most unusual family in the world, but we love each other, we stand together, and we make it work in our own way."
"Blaine…" Kurt started.
"I'm not finished," Blaine interrupted. "It's also really unfair of you to nearly give me a heart attack just now. Why didn't you talk to me, tell me you were dealing with these thoughts? Were you just going to break up with me, just like that?"
"If it was necessary, then I guess, yeah, I was," Kurt admitted.
"That's the stupidest thing you have ever done, Kurt," Blaine said. There was no hate or ill-intention behind his words, though, so Kurt wasn't offended. He understood why Blaine said it. "Because when we talked about wanting this, us, forever, about wanting everything together, I did mean everything. I've always known you wanted kids. Did you think I was going to be like Ian, to ignore those dreams and just do whatever I wanted because I already have kids of my own and I don't care what you want?"
"No, I…" Kurt muttered.
"I want to marry you. I want to have kids with you," Blaine said, plainly, so there would be no doubts. "But I thought maybe we could start by living together and go from there."
Kurt started crying and laughing at the same time. God, he felt like an idiot. "Really?"
"Well, I'm asking you, aren't I?" Blaine said, softly.
Kurt stood up and went around the desk, almost rushing to close the distance between them. He sat on Blaine's lap and wrapped his arms around his neck, holding him tightly, overwhelmed with gratitude and relief.
"And seriously," Blaine said, his arms going around him ever tighter, like he never wanted to let go. "Don't ever scare me like that again, Kurt."
"I'm sorry," Kurt whispered into his ear. He started peppering kisses all over Blaine's face. "I'm sorry. I was just scared and worried and I should have talked to you instead of freaking out by myself."
"You think?" Blaine teased him, and Kurt laughed and cried a little more. "It's alright. I guess this is all still fairly new and we're in the learning stages. We need to get better at navigating things together, though, because I really, really don't want to end up with another failed marriage…"
Kurt pulled away and looked at him intensely, trying to read in his eyes the reach of those words. "So… you really do want us to get married?"
"Of course, one day. When we're both ready," Blaine said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "I thought you wanted everything with me, too."
"I do," Kurt said vehemently, and they both glanced at each other with silly grins, the meaning of such a simple phrase making their hearts beat a little faster. "Everything, Blaine. Absolutely everything."
"Then we'll have it," Blaine said, and it sounded like a promise. He looked up at Kurt, expectantly. "Although you still haven't exactly answered my question…"
Kurt laughed again, and a few more tears came to his eyes. "Oh god, yes. I'm sorry. Yes. I'll live with you."
Blaine lit up, brighter than a Christmas tree. "Really?"
Kurt cupped his face, his thumb brushing Blaine's bottom lip lightly. "My love. You, and Theo, and Lena? You're my home. I want to be where you are."
Blaine laughed into the next kiss, like he couldn't contain his happiness. Food was forgotten and it grew cold as they kissed and held each other, basking in the warmth of a certain future together.
Kurt didn't get much more work done that day. He didn't care. All he wanted was to go home.
Through the new golden age, learning how to fly
Picking our way through a violent sky
Starting again, we are torn apart and yet we are alive
In the new golden age
In the new golden age
In the new golden age
They put Rachel in charge of watching the kids because whenever she tried to help in any other way, she only got in everyone else's way. So she sat in the living room, Robin on her lap, surrounded by boxes that Lena, Theo, Camden and Daisy were using as a fort, and kept an eye on them, making sure they didn't get hurt or wander out of the apartment, which was a constant coming and going of people.
Isabelle was there, too, but she had worn heels, so asking her to help was out of the question. Kurt didn't know if her choice of footwear had been on purpose – perhaps she wanted to provide moral support but not lift a finger – or if she honestly was incapable of wearing anything that didn't have ten inch heels. So she sat with Petra, who was in her carrier, too nervous to be let out, and she kept talking to her softly to try to calm her down.
Everyone else was being wonderful. Kurt had sold most of his furniture, because there was no point bringing it into Blaine's apartment when it was fully furnished, and very tastefully. He only kept a few things he really liked and that he was fond of. He wanted to go into this new stage of his life as free as possible. Maybe if he didn't bring all the baggage from his previous life – and mostly, his previous marriage – into this, he and Blaine would make it.
Though, if he had to be honest, he didn't exactly have any doubts. He knew they would make it just by looking at Blaine, by the way he always found him looking right back him, and how he smiled, calm and sure. His heart knew it, too. Its days of breaking into pieces were now behind them.
"I'm sorry, exactly how many boxes of clothes are we going to bring up?" Cooper asked breathlessly. "You're only one person, how many clothes do you actually need?"
"Don't ask him that," Blaine told his brother, nudging him with his elbow. "You really don't want to question Kurt when it comes to clothes."
"His taste is impeccable," Isabelle said from the living room.
"Still, I think I've already carried fifteen boxes labeled Sweaters," Cooper replied. "When will it be enough?"
"Why are you complaining?" Jack said, as he came into the apartment, followed by Eddie, both of them carrying big boxes. "These boxes are filled with books. Why don't you carry one of those next and we'll bring in some clothes?"
Cooper glared at him. "I think I liked you better when you were married to my brother."
Jack grinned at him, knowing he was full of shit. "No, you didn't."
Cooper sighed. "Fine, by the end I didn't like you at all."
Blaine went to Kurt, and they stood together in the mess of their living room (their living room) and he wrapped his arms around Kurt's waist from behind, letting his head rest for a moment on Kurt's shoulder.
"This is what you got yourself into," Blaine said. "This very weird, sort of dysfunctional, atypical family. You're not regretting it yet, are you?"
"How could I?" Kurt said and tilted his head so he could catch Blaine's lips in his.
"Why are they making out while we do all the work?" Santana said, as she came in with another box.
"Also, I brought the angry lesbian," Kurt told Blaine, making him laugh. "If you're not running for the hills with her, then we're fine."
"We're definitely fine," Blaine said, and kissed him once more, just because he could.
Santana and Cooper started making obnoxious kissing noises at them, so they stopped and got back to work.
But that night, when it was just the two of them in their bed, the kids deeply asleep in their own rooms, they kissed as much as they wanted, and they touched each other as much as they wanted, fingers grazing naked skin as reverently as they had that first time they were together, except now no one could stop them. Except now, nothing of what they were doing was wrong.
They tried to keep quiet and they gasped into each other's mouths, swallowing moans and groans in between kisses, Blaine's legs wrapped around Kurt's hips as Kurt thrust over and over again, arms a little sore from moving furniture and boxes all day, but still holding him up enough that he could look down at Blaine, at his face contorted with pleasure, and realize he was the luckiest man in the world.
No one was going to come between them now, Kurt thought.
Blaine arched his back, a low whine escaping past his lips, cock pulsing untouched, Kurt buried deep within him, pearly come painting their stomachs and chests.
And after Kurt's orgasm had washed away, leaving him spent and happy, he laughed, hiding his face in the crook of Blaine's neck.
Well, okay, Blaine was allowed to come between them.
Blaine asked him what was so funny, but Kurt silenced him with a kiss, and then they both forgot all about it.
In the new golden age
The temperature was dropping, the cold weather biting at the tips of their noses and their fingertips whenever they forgot to wear gloves. But New York was pretty in the winter, as the holiday spirit seemed to take over, so none of them really cared.
Christmas was still a month away, and Kurt, Blaine and the kids were spending the holidays in Ohio this year. But waiting until December had felt like too much – Kurt was more than ready to show off his new family to his parents, so they decided to invite them over for the overdue introductions for Thanksgiving.
It was their first big holiday together. This was a big deal, Kurt knew, and he wanted it all to go perfectly. He had promised to make the turkey, and Blaine had offered to make all the sides, but as soon as they heard about the plans, Jack and Eddie didn't want to leave all the work to them.
"I'll make the pies," Eddie had told Kurt. "And let us know if there's anything else we can bring. We're really looking forward to meeting your parents!"
Against all odds, Kurt really liked Eddie. He really liked Jack, too, even when he teased him and Blaine mercilessly. It was weird – if anyone had told Kurt in the beginning that the four of them would be this close, he wouldn't have believed it. But he was glad that they were, not only because the kids deserved that their fathers got along, but because everything was so much easier like this, when they understood that they needed to support and care for each other.
Burt and Carole's flight was delayed, so Kurt picked them up at the airport and took them straight to their apartment for Thanksgiving. Burt glanced around the city in slight distaste as they sat in traffic, the cab going slower than any of them wished it would.
"Still don't know how you got used to this," Burt commented, sighing as the cabbie blew his horn loudly.
"It's home," Kurt shrugged. "I'm happy here."
"I know you are," Burt replied, as he turned to look at his son, which wasn't easy in the reduced space of the backseat. "So," he added. "We're meeting Blaine and his kids and everyone else today. That's huge. And it must have been a huge change for you, too, going from being just you and Ian, to just you and now into this big family…"
"I love it." Kurt said, unable to stop the grin that appeared on his face. Not that he wanted to, anyway. "It's honestly so amazing. Theo's in this stage in which he still has trouble linking words together so he says the funniest things sometimes, he's so adorable. And Lena is quick like a whip, she's so smart for her age."
"You're happy, then," Burt said, and it wasn't a question. "I was worried there, for a moment, that after how complicated things were with Blaine in the beginning, the reality wouldn't live up to the fantasy."
"I'm the happiest I've ever been," Kurt reassured him.
Burt nodded slowly, and then finally smiled, like he had seen in his son's face absolutely everything he needed to see. "That's all that matters, then."
When they arrived, their place was a flurry of activity: Blaine was keeping an eye on the turkey, Eddie and Brianna were helping him with the rest of the food, and Cooper and Jack were keeping an eye on the kids. The moment of the introductions was messy and loud and Kurt noticed Blaine wiping his hands on a kitchen cloth over and over again, clearly nervous, standing behind everyone else, waiting for his turn.
Kurt reached for him, pulling him closer, and brought him forward in front of his father.
"Dad," he said, bubbles forming and popping in his stomach as if he had drunk too much soda too fast. "This is Blaine."
"Mr. Hummel, it's such a pleasure to finally meet you," Blaine said formally, offering his hand to Burt. "Kurt speaks very highly of you."
"And he never shuts up about you," Burt said with a chuckle, accepting Blaine's hand and patting his back with his free one. "It's nice to meet you, too."
Carole hugged him as soon as Burt released him. "Welcome to the family, Blaine. We're so happy to get to be here and meet you and the kids."
"Thank you," Blaine replied, clearly touched.
"Kurt told me you were a little worried about meeting us," Burt said, never one to beat around the bush. "But you don't have to be. I do understand you guys started seeing each other in circumstances less than ideal, but sometimes you can't choose when and how you fall in love. I'm glad you made it work. And the fact that your ex-husband is here for the holidays says you're an outstanding guy. Not many people would remain that close to the person they divorced."
Blaine seemed a bit overwhelmed by how candid Burt was being. "I appreciate you saying that," he muttered, stunned. "We just want the best for our children."
"See? Outstanding guy," Burt said, and with one more pat to his back, he turned to Kurt. "Can you show me where the restroom is? I'll wash my hands and help you guys."
"I'll show you," Cooper said, who had been watching the exchange with a grin of his own, looking so proud of his brother. "You know, you might say I'm the one who gave Blaine a kick in the butt and got these two together…"
"Oh, god," Blaine groaned as Burt and Carole followed Cooper. "We should get Cooper to stop saying whatever he's saying. He'll just embarrass us…"
Kurt laughed. "Don't worry so much. I told you my parents would like you right away. Now, how's dinner coming along? I'll go check on the turkey."
It wasn't long before they were all crammed around the dining table, too many people in a New York apartment, even one as comfortable as this one. Lena was sitting right next to Jack, leaning across the table to ask Carole and Burt a million questions, and Theo was on Kurt's lap, stealing food from his plate. There were several conversations going on at the same time, the cacophony of voices echoing against the walls, laugher bursting here and there.
Kurt paused and glanced around, suddenly quiet, the weight of Theo in his arms grounding him. Blaine was pressed right against his side, turned slightly to talk to Brianna, but he must have noticed Kurt's change of demeanor, because he faced him, a question in his eyes, his hand coming to rest on Kurt's knee under the table.
"I'm fine," Kurt reassured him at once, because they had come to understand each other without words lately.
"Are you sure?" Blaine wanted to know, eyebrows lowered slightly in concern.
"Yes, this is just…" Kurt looked around the table. It was a mess, but it was their mess. "This is just what I've always wanted."
Blaine smiled and leaned in to press a kiss to his cheek. "Me, too," he whispered.
They didn't need to think too hard about what they were grateful for this year. It was right there, right in front of them, loud and perfect, and more numerous than they could have expected.
When they first met, they could have never dreamed to have this. They had only envisioned heartbreak, and maybe just a smidge of hope. But not this. Never this.
Not even their wildest dreams had been this wonderful.
Kurt squeezed Blaine's hand underneath the table, and the fact that Blaine's fingers intertwined with his, so easily, like they had always been meant to hold on like this, was the thing he was most grateful for.
In Blaine's hands, Kurt finally saw the future he had always wanted.
He couldn't wait to see what it would bring.
In the new golden age.
Every now and then I get to work on a story that's a joy to write from beginning to end, with minor bumps on the road (the number of bumps is never zero, though). This was one of those stories – Cause and Effect had a slow start, mostly because it was named differently and it wasn't structured as an album fic and I was a little lost with that at first, but once I figured things out… oh man, it was fun.
I knew lots of people wouldn't like that Kurt and Blaine were cheaters in this one. I knew it wasn't going to be everyone's cup of tea. But hey – that's fine. Not everyone is going to love every story, and I've come to accept that. But I hope that you, who have come along for the ride, have enjoyed this one a lot. I like writing about life being messy and difficult and far from ideal – it just makes the happy ending a lot sweeter, I think.
My stories wouldn't be the same without Christine, who works very hard to spot every mistake and make me look good, even when I still mix "desert" and "dessert" over and over and over again. I'm sorry for being so thick-headed. I appreciate you to the moon and back and love you twice as much. Thanks for putting up with me all these years.
Thanks to Sofi for the beautiful cover art and the constant encouragement and the judgment free-zone. She helps me keep up with my ever-growing WIP list, which isn't an easy task. I know you're excited about the next one – let's just go crazy with it, right?
Because there will be a next one – there will be a next one for as long as you'll have me. It's in the works and I don't have any details to share with you yet, but if everything goes according to plan, I should start posting it in February/March. I'll keep you posted.
What I can tell you about it, though, is this: it will only be posted to AO3. After a long, long decade (over a decade, really), I've decided to stop using my Fanfiction . net account. The site is outdated and has been giving me more headaches than anything, and most of my readers have moved to AO3 anyway. I resisted leaving it because I have love for it, since it was with me for a long time, since I started taking my first steps into this fandom. But I think it's time to let it be just an archive of my old work, and keep posting my new stories to AO3 exclusively (you'll find me there as heartsmadeofbooks).
And in the meantime, if you want to talk or keep up with my writing process/fics news, go find me on Tumblr or Instagram (heartsmadeofbooks there as well!), or Twitter (refuse to call it X – I'm theficwhisperer on there).
See you guys soon.
Thank you for everything.
With all my love,
L.-