Glee Fic : Collision | Kurt/Blaine | 1/1 PG-13 ~ ReverseBang fic
<< back to part 2
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Shock
It wasn't until after dinner that Blaine sighed and gave in to Kurt's silent request. Since the car he'd not said anything, first out of shock and then out of respect. Kurt had waited, let Blaine take his time, gather himself.
"It was a car crash," Blaine said as Kurt cleared away the plates. "I'd just graduated college and-"
"That was only a few years ago!" Kurt interrupted. "Sorry, I... I'm sorry."
"Coop and I got on a plane, we were there at the end. She never woke up but at least we got to say goodbye. Dad couldn't cope, as you'd expect, and he would just spend days sitting in a chair, staring into space. Coop had to do everything, arrange the funeral, and he never got a chance to properly grieve.
"At the wake everyone was coming up to Dad, saying how he'd done Mom proud with the service and I could see that Coop was... I got him out of there, stopped him making a scene and got him to calm down. He was breaking down and I couldn't leave him, I couldn't let him come back here by himself. It was only supposed to be for a few months but we... we bonded. Properly bonded for the first time since we were little kids.
"Since then it's been the two of us. You know Dad and I... We're perfectly civil, even manage to survive Christmases and Thanksgivings, but I think I have more meaningful contact with Quinn each year."
Blaine caught Kurt's look as he returned to the table and smiled wryly. "She found out, about Mom. Her mom used to go to the same country club or something, I forget. Anyway, Quinn came to the funeral, not sure I'd have made it through it without her."
"Quinn's known, all this time? She never said anything!" Kurt snapped.
"I asked her not to. I... I didn't want you to know."
"Why not?"
"You really need to ask? We weren't talking, Kurt. We weren't friends. I wasn't going to make the first bit of contact we'd had in four years a 'hey, my Mom died, I need you' call."
"I need you?" Kurt repeated.
"What?"
"You said... I need you. You needed me?"
"Who else would understand what it meant? What I was going through? And I still... Well. Coop talked me out of it. Said that after four years things would be different now, that you would have moved on, and all I could think of was you and Alistair and... So I didn't call. Obviously. And Coop and I grew closer. We were like brothers again, actual brothers."
"I wish I'd known," Kurt said, reaching across and taking Blaine's hand in his. "I'm so, so sorry, Blaine. Your mom... She was a wonderful person."
"I know," he smiled sadly and Kurt could see the tears brimming in his eyes.
How long has it been since he has talked about her? "Next time I'm in Ohio I'll..." Kurt started. "If that's OK?"
Blaine sniffed and blinked hard, sending the first tear down his cheek. "Of course it's OK."
"Hey, hey," Kurt said softly, getting up and moving around the table. He slid into the seat next to Blaine and reached out immediately, pulling him into a hug. "I wish you'd told me. I wish someone had. It wouldn't have mattered, I'd have been there."
"Really?" Blaine asked into Kurt's shoulder.
"Of course," Kurt said, his hand rubbing soothing patterns across Blaine's back. "I get why you didn't, but please... Don't you ever think that I won't be there for you, Blaine. No matter what happens or where we are..." He pulled back to look at him. "I will be here for you. I promise."
"...Why?" Blaine asked eventually.
He got his answer in a kiss.
Of all the mistakes Kurt could make this ranked up there. His ex-boyfriend had just poured his heart out over his mother's death and so what does he do? Kiss him. For a second time.
He should stop this. He should pull back and apologise and he should...
Blaine kissed him back. Hard.
Reasoned thought disappeared and Kurt's hand flew to Blaine's head, threading his fingers through the soft curls and pulling him closer. The kiss deepened naturally and ended naturally.
"Blaine..."
"If you're about to apologise for that then I will hit you with my crutch," Blaine laughed.
"I shouldn't have done that."
"We shouldn't have done that you mean," Blaine said. "If you're playing the 'significant other' card."
"I didn't think Charlie was a significant other," Kurt asked.
"No, but I am aware of yours. Which makes me as bad as..."
"Don't," Kurt sighed, sitting back on the chair. "I shouldn't have done that. You were..."
"Not pushing you away, notice that?" Blaine asked. "Sometimes a kiss is... just a kiss."
"What if it's not?"
"What?"
"Nothing," Kurt dismissed. "Ignore me."
"Hey, this whole talking thing works both ways."
"Can we... take a rain check? Until I get back?"
For a moment Blaine was confused until he remembered. "New York?"
"Yeah. When I get back... things are... probably going to be different."
"Good different?"
"I hope so," Kurt said, his mouth curling up into an involuntary smile. "I've been... trying to work out what..." He stopped and gave a small, soft laugh. "Sorry, I'm not making much sense, am I?"
"You forget," Blaine said, his voice low and soft, "that I know you. I got very good at working out what you meant."
"Really?" Kurt asked, lifting his eyes to meet Blaine's.
For a long moment they held the other's gaze, Kurt almost willing Blaine to work it out.
"You've made your mind up," Blaine said eventually.
"Yeah," Kurt breathed. "I think I have."
"You excited?"
"Nervous," Kurt laughed. "But the good kind of nerves, if that makes any sense?"
"Yeah," Blaine smiled. "See? Told you that I knew you."
"Do you... Am I doing the right thing?"
"Going to New York?" Blaine asked. "It's not my place..."
"Please, Blaine. I want to know. Your opinion... matters. It always mattered to me."
"I think... I think you need to do what's right for you, for your relationship. For your life. That's why we split up, isn't it?"
"Blaine..."
"It's OK," Blaine said gently, lifting a hand to Kurt's cheek. "I don't... hate you. Not anymore."
"I really am sorry. For... how I did it. I should have talked to you, talked it through. You deserved that."
"Maybe," Blaine shrugged, dropping his hand. "But it's done now. It's in the past and all we can do now is move on."
"To bigger and better things?"
"To things that are meant to be," Blaine smiled. "Hope the trip is everything you want it to be."
~~
It wouldn't be until he was on the plane to New York the next day that Kurt would finally figure out what was wrong with Blaine's smile.
It hadn't been genuine.
~~
As soon as he was into the arrivals hall at JFK he spotted Stephen in the crowd. He couldn't help but return the smile - and the hug - and allowed his hand to be grabbed, pulled through the crowd to the taxi waiting area.
"Stephen!" Kurt protested with a soft laugh.
"Hang the expense," he replied, passing Kurt's bag to the driver and all but shoving him into the back seat. "I've missed you and I'm not sharing you with the rest of New York City on the shuttle bus."
"But traffic..." Kurt said, stopping when he saw the look on Stephen's face. "What?"
"Just shut up and enjoy the surprise," Stephen said. "I've missed you."
"Missed you too," Kurt found himself replying, just as he found himself returning the kiss.
The ride was short and uneventful, full of gentle touches and small kisses and Kurt was happy to let Stephen lead. He tried to push thoughts and concerns about Blaine from his mind (what if he falls? what if he's stubborn and tries to cook? has he got enough pain medication for the next few days? is he going to be lonely?) and let Stephen have this time, have him.
When they pulled up outside the hotel he couldn't stop the noise that left his mouth. "Stephen, no, we can't-"
"Yes, we can," Stephen said, his voice soft in Kurt's ear. "This is to celebrate. You. You've done so well with the play here and then taking it to Los Angeles and now... We can do this and we should do this."
"I..." Kurt said, his mind racing along with his heart. He turned to face his boyfriend and he smiled. "Thank you."
"Any time," Stephen grinned, kissing him gently then grabbing his hand. "Come on. Let's check in. You're going to love the room."
~~
He did. It was tasteful in its luxury; a queen sized bed with a soft mattress and thick covers, an en-suite which held a double tub and an open shower behind a glass pane. A small kitchen unit held a full sized fridge unit (and two bottles of champagne Kurt would later discover) as well as the usual miniature kettle with the little packets of tea and coffee.
"We're hardly rich yet," Kurt teased as he looked out of the window at the city lights glowing in the dark.
"We are," Stephen said. "In ways that matter."
"Oh?" Kurt asked as he felt two hands on his waist. He turned in Stephen's arms and raised his arms to drape over his shoulders. "And what might that be?" he smiled up coyly.
"Love," Stephen said. He dipped his head to kiss the tip of Kurt's nose. "Makes us the richest people on the planet."
"Since when did you get soppy?" Kurt laughed. "The man I met never used to go for that stuff."
"I never did until you," Stephen said. "You're the first person I ever, truly loved. The first person who made all that song nonsense make sense. And I know I'm not that for you..."
"Please don't," Kurt sighed.
"No, I'm not. I'm not bringing this up for a fight. I just... I wanted you to know that you're that for me. And I hope that you-"
"I do love you, Stephen," Kurt said. He pushed up and pressed his mouth to Stephen's, forcing his mouth open. He pulled their bodies flush against each other and held on tight. "I love you, I love you, I love you," Kurt repeated over and over as Stephen's hands moved over and under his clothes.
If you'd asked him later who he was saying 'I love you' to he'd have struggled to answer.
~~
"I could get used to this," Kurt sighed as he lay back in the bath, letting the warm water rush over every part of his body. "I need to get one of these tubs."
"We'd never fit it in our apartment," Stephen laughed as he walked into the bathroom, carrying two glasses of champagne.
"I suppose it would lose some of its appeal if I could have a bath like this every day."
"So maybe it's this we should do more often."
"Hmmm?" Kurt asked, letting his eyes drift shut.
"This. Indulgence."
"Not exactly my style."
"Why not?" Stephen asked, setting the glasses down on the side. "Kurt?"
"What?" he asked sleepily, opening his eyes to look up at him.
"Why isn't this your style?"
"I don't-"
"Do you hate this?" Stephen asked, kneeling beside the bathtub and resting his chin on the edge. "I just wanted to do something special."
"I don't hate it," Kurt said reassuringly, lifting a wet and bubble covered hand to Stephen's face. "Really. This is special."
"Good," Stephen grinned.
"What?" Kurt asked, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.
"You'll see," Stephen smiled, leaning in for a quick kiss. "Take your time. Enjoy this because we can't get a double bath into our apartment and it may be a while before we're in a suite like this again."
Kurt smiled and let his eyes drift shut. It lasted a minute before he opened them again, looking at the now-closed door leading back to the main suite. The suspicion was heavy in his stomach and he hoped he was wrong.
He wasn't.
When he emerged from the bathroom, swathed in an oversized fluffy robe, Stephen was waiting for him with a spread of food and a look of nervous hope and expectation.
"Stephen..."
"Come, sit down," he said.
"I can't," Kurt replied. "Please don't do this."
"What?"
"Don't do this. Not now. Please."
"You don't-"
"I do," he said softly. "I know you."
"Yeah," Stephen said, taking the box from his pocket and setting it on the table. "And I know you."
"I'm... going to get dressed. Then I think we should talk."
"Yeah," Stephen said. "I think we should."
~~
They sat on the bed and ate while they talked. The first thing they did was promise to be honest with the other, no matter what the consequences, outcome or cost.
"Are you in love with Blaine?" was Stephen's first question.
"I have been since I was sixteen," was Kurt's first reply. "But you knew that already."
"You broke up with him."
"And you know why I did that. It wasn't because I didn't love him."
"Did you ever love me?"
"Of course," Kurt said, his hand clasping over Stephen's. "I still do. It's just..."
"Not enough?"
"I wish it was."
"Really?"
"Of course. I wasn't settling and you weren't second choice. It's just... when I saw him... spending time with him..."
"Right," Stephen said, pulling his hand free. "Have you slept with him?"
"No," Kurt said firmly. "But... we kissed. Twice. The first time we were drinking and... No, that's not fair. It wasn't the drink. But we were caught up in the excitement of me signing the contract and he stopped us and-"
"Blaine stopped?" Stephen asked. "Not you?"
"I wasn't thinking straight. My mind was still racing from that afternoon and I just got caught up in everything."
"What about the second time?"
"That was last night," Kurt said. "And... neither of us stopped it. We were talking about Blaine's mom and it happened and that's when I knew."
"That you were going to come here to break up with me?"
"That I was coming here to talk to you, to explain face to face, because you deserve better. And because I do love you."
"I wish that meant something now."
"Stephen-"
"You can't tell me that you love me in one breath and then tell me that's we're done because you're still in love with your ex with the next. Still, Kurt. You're still in love with him. You never stopped and I'm sorry, that does make me second choice, second best."
"I never wanted you to be."
"But I am," Stephen said quietly. "And I think I knew that."
"I'm sorry."
"At first it didn't matter because he was just a ghost from your past. Then someone sends me a link to the YouTube video of the accident and then he's there, with you, in LA."
"I never meant to hurt you, I never wanted to be this guy. And I asked you for this trip, this night, before Blaine and I... I didn't start off planning to come here and break up with you."
"So what made up your mind?"
"Stephen-"
"I have a right to know."
"Blaine's mom."
"Why? What did she say?"
"Nothing. She died a few years ago in an accident. Blaine was talking about it last night and I asked him why he didn't call me. He said he didn't want me to feel obligated to be there and I realised that I wouldn't have felt obligated. I would have been there because I wanted - no, needed to be there for him. And with you-"
"When Sophie was taken ill your instinct wasn't to jump on the first plane home," Stephen said quietly.
"I'm-"
"Please don't apologise again," he said quietly. "I think we've established that you're sorry. Now what we need to do is work out what happens next."
"I'll... I'll move out. Stay with Rachel and Finn until I can get sorted. I'll keep paying my share of the rent of course."
"I don't need your charity."
"It's not charity, Stephen, it's the right thing to do. I'm ending this, I'm leaving you, I'm not going to bankrupt you into the bargain. Will you... just not be stubborn? This once?"
Stephen smiled and shook his head a little. "You're right, I'm sorry."
"What do you want to do about the stuff we bought?"
"Oh, I... I don't know. Do you... do you want anything?"
"Mom's dresser."
"Oh, of course. I mean, if you want me to hang onto it until you get a new place, but yeah. That's yours. Always. I'd never..."
"Keep the rest," Kurt shrugged. "It was bought for that apartment, it all goes together."
"Says you," Stephen said. "They look random to me."
"You never let me explain it, that's why."
"It was always your thing."
"You sure you want to keep any of it then?" Kurt laughed.
"It doesn't seem right, you paid for half of it. And don't you dare say compensation or dues or recompense. I wouldn't give up a single day of... us, not for anything."
"Really?"
"I love you, Kurt. You think this changes everything?"
"But... why? Why aren't you... angry? Yelling at me?"
"Is it going to change anything?" Stephen asked. When Kurt said nothing he shrugged. "So what's the point? This is what you want, what's right for you. And I'm trying really hard to remember that because I love you I just want what's best for you."
"Do you want me to go? I can-"
"No," Stephen said, reaching out quickly.
When Kurt looked up and met Stephen's eyes he could see them already brimming with tears. He looked so lost, scared, hurting, a million emotions swimming in eyes that had always been just the wrong shade of brown.
"If... I would have been so happy to spend the rest of my life with you," Kurt said. "I really would have."
"Does he...? I mean, is he...?"
"I don't know," Kurt admitted.
"So you're breaking up with me in what? Hope?" Stephen asked, his tone almost teasing.
"I'm... I don't know. I think he might still care..."
"No, you think he still loves you," Stephen said. "You wouldn't be doing this if you didn't. Not that you hope... You don't expect anything from him, but if you didn't think that there was a chance would you be doing this?"
"Yes," Kurt said quickly. "I'm sorry, I just... I'm just being honest. As soon as I knew I was still in love with him, still... his. I would have dropped everything for him had I known about his mom. I worked it out, I'd just started a new play. My big break, my opening week, and I'd have jumped on a plane to Ohio, no second thoughts, no questions, no hesitation. I'd have thrown everything away for him.
"He told me, once, when we were in high school that I was the love of his life. Yesterday I realised he's mine. Well, realised that I knew he is mine. And I'm sorry that I can't be that for you."
"Why?"
"What?"
"Why are you sorry?"
"Because... you don't deserve to be hurt."
"But not like this. It shouldn't be like this."
"Can I ask you something?"
"Anything."
"How did Blaine hurt you?"
"What? Stephen, I broke up with him-"
"So how did he hurt you?"
"He..." Kurt started, but the words stuck in his throat. He coughed and swallowed past the lump in his throat. "He didn't fight," he said quietly. "I panicked and I was scared and I took the coward's way out and wrote him a letter and I dumped him and he didn't call me, he didn't fight and he just... let me walk away."
"But I'm doing that," Stephen pointed out. "I don't want to and I am fighting every urge to scream and shout and try and get you to stay."
"Why?"
"Because I love you," Stephen said quietly. "Because I am so in love with you that this? This is killing me. I'm sitting here, with you, and I can just reach out and... take your hand," he said, doing just that. "I can touch your face," he continued, acting it out. "I could kiss you and be with you tonight just like we have been so many times over the last few years. I could stay and fight, tell you that I know I will love you and be here for you and be true to you for the rest of my life. I will do everything in my power to make you happy. But I know I can't do that. I can't be who you want me to be because... Because I'm not him.
"So I do the only thing I can do, I start to protect myself. I start to put distance between us and that starts now while I can talk to you and try and give myself something good to end this on. Something that, when things get bad and I miss you and I want to pick up the phone and call you so badly that my chest hurts, I can look back and tell myself that I did the right thing here, now. Because you told me what you wanted, what you needed, what was best for you and that you are sorry, so sorry, but that doesn't include me and because I love you... I walk away."
"Blaine didn't fight-"
"Because he couldn't. Because looking back and thinking you made an idiot of yourself? Not the best way to help you deal with it."
"Still. I wish-"
"Me too," Stephen interrupted.
"I don't have to stay. We don't have to."
"Can we? I mean, unless you think it's too weird? Just... one last night?"
"I..." Kurt said, his eyes widening a little.
"No, I don't mean... that. Although I'd have no objections," he laughed. "But just... talk? Watch movies? Curl up together the way we did when we were friends? Before?"
"Yeah, that I can do."
"What?"
"The friends bit. If you want? I'll follow your lead on this."
"Maybe," Stephen said. "After time? I don't know."
"It's fine. No rush."
"Just don't go changing your cell number," Stephen said. "Who knows what might have happened if he'd been able to call you?"
"OK," Kurt laughed softly. "Deal."
"Just... one last thing?"
"Sure."
"I don't... You and Blaine... I don't want to know..."
"I won't, I promise. I don't even know what's going to happen. His life is in LA so... Right, stopping now," he said when he caught the look on Stephen's face.
"Just for that, I'm choosing the first movie."
"Only fair," Kurt laughed as Stephen reached for the remote.
====================================
Jolt
It was late when Kurt returned to the condo, dropping his bag in the hallway. "Blaine?" he called. "Have you eaten? I was thinking that we could get take out and... Blaine?"
It was soon evident that Blaine wasn't home and so Kurt reached for his cell to call or ext, see where he was. As far as Kurt knew Blaine didn't have a therapy session so...
His gaze fell on the table, suddenly seeing the envelope which had slid down from where it had evidently been propped up against the bowl.
Sometimes, Kurt thought, karma payback was a total bitch.
~~
"Should you be walking on that thing?"
"You mean my leg? Yeah. Been doing it for the best part of thirty years."
"You know what I mean, squirt."
"And you have been trying to call me that for the best part of thirty years and it hasn't worked. Don't start now, Coop."
"Hey, you text me to say you're jumping on a plane less than a day after your ankle is released from captivity, you've actively avoided talking about Kurt-"
"It's nothing," Blaine said, going back to staring out of the window.
"You just wanted to see me?"
"Can't I want to spend some time with my brother? I missed you."
"And I missed you too, kid," Cooper said, indicating as he pulled up outside his apartment block. "Almost as much as you're missing Kurt right now."
"Shut up," Blaine muttered, undoing the seatbelt and opening the car door.
"You know you're going to tell me," Cooper called after him. "Sooner or later!"
"Not going to happen!"
"Yeah it is."
~~
It did.
Later that night after several beers the pair of them were on the couch, Cooper was once again holding Blaine as he once again broke down over Kurt. Sobbed that he loved a boy who didn't want to love him back. Talked about another man having Kurt's heart - and in this case probably a ring and the wedding of the century. How excited he'd been about the trip to New York, how he'd been looking forward to it.
How he'd kissed Blaine and realised, without a doubt, where his heart lay and had run off to New York to get engaged.
"How do you know he's getting engaged?" Cooper asked.
"Finn," Blaine said, taking his last swig from the beer bottle. "He called for Kurt, just missed him. He wanted to warn Kurt, knowing how much he hates surprises, that Stephen had booked a hotel, that he'd asked Rachel's advice on rings..."
"Blaine," Cooper sighed, reaching out and patting his brother on the back.
"Thanks for the support," Blaine droned. "Want another beer?"
"No, and neither do you," he replied. "You are not a good drunk."
"I'm celebrating."
"What?"
"Finally moving on," Blaine declared. "I'm done with Kurt Hummel. I'm done pining over him or putting my life on hold. I'm... actually going to move on."
"B, you know I love you..."
"No, I mean it this time. This was exactly what I needed. Kurt is moving on with his life. He loves Stephen, they'll get married and adopt beautiful babies..."
"You don't know he said yes."
"You didn't see him, Coop. We... He... I thought it meant something but it wasn't the something I thought... I mean..."
"Take a deep breath and start again," Cooper said.
"We kissed. We kissed and it felt right and good and all the things that it felt like when were together. So I let myself think that everything, all those weeks, they meant something. Us being in LA together, the accident, everything. It was a way of bringing us back together. That we should never have split up in the first place.
"And I thought it meant something to him too but then he goes on about knowing what he wants and he goes back to New York. To him."
"Maybe he realised he wants you," Cooper suggested. "Maybe he went back to break up with this Stephen guy."
"A guy who was planning on proposing?"
"Why not?" Cooper offered.
"Those things don't tend to happen."
"It did."
"What?"
"It did. Before. To you. Kurt dumped you..."
"I wasn't going to propose," Blaine said. Then he looked away. "How did you...?"
"Because I know you, little brother. I knew you well enough then to know what you wanted, what you had planned. And when you came to me and the way you were? Only confirmed it."
"I don't think Kurt broke up with him. Not for me."
"Why not?"
"Because he doesn't love me."
"Yes he does," Cooper said. "I'd bet my job on it."
"What? Why?"
"Because you didn't see him in the hospital that day. At first I thought he was worried about being sued or maybe he was just scared of me."
At that Blaine couldn't help but give a snort of laughter.
"Hey! I can do the whole scary big brother routine when I want."
"What makes you think he-?"
"Because he didn't fight me. I told him simply that he was looking after you and all he said was 'OK'. He didn't ask why I wasn't doing it, he didn't launch into a speech about it being an accident. You were hurt, he was looking after you. And that was the end of the matter for him."
"But not for you," Blaine pointed out. "You pretty much terrified him."
"Because he was still the guy who hurt you. And he's still that guy now only I'm not so sure you've not done some of this yourself."
"Coop..."
"Did you even talk to him? Ask him how he felt?"
"I left a note..."
"Nice," Cooper smiled, appreciating the irony a little before remembering that he was supposed to be convincing Blaine to talk to Kurt this time. "But did you talk about that kiss?"
"...No..."
"Then how do you know how he felt?"
"Because if he felt something, if I meant anything to him, then why did he get on that plane?"
"To dump-"
"He broke up with me by letter, Coop. A letter, mailed home. I thought it was one of our little exchanges, I thought that he'd... He wrote me a letter but he'll get on a plane to break up with Stephen person? How does that work?"
"I know that I'd never be able to do this in person," Cooper quoted. "I know that as soon as I saw you my resolve would waiver and I would be that boy on the staircase so utterly transfixed by the boy in front of me. I'll be that person standing in the wings of the stage watching you win over everyone in sight. I won't be able to-"
"I can't believe you remember it," Blaine said.
"What, and you don't?" Cooper replied. "You read it so often you could quote it, I just... picked it up. He couldn't face you, he loved you that much. But Stephen? That he can do. It's hard, breaking up with someone face to face. You get to see the moment they realise, the moment their heart breaks. You need to made of strong stuff to get through that."
"So Kurt-"
"He can deal with breaking Stephen's heart. But seeing you hurt? We know he doesn't do well with that."
"But he never said-"
"Neither did you."
Blaine said nothing, just thinking it over for a moment.
"When's he due back?"
"In LA? Tonight. Now, I think."
"You could call him, talk about it-"
"But what if he doesn't-?"
"Then you've lost nothing, you know for certain, and you can make good on that promise to move on."
Blaine eyed him cautiously. "When did you get so smart?"
"After Mom's funeral, Dad gave a speech, do you remember it?"
"A little."
"He said that love wasn't just about wanting to be with someone, it was also about wanting the best for someone?"
"Something about Mom bringing out the best in him?"
"Yeah, that's it. And there was this one bit which stuck out. He said that 'love is about making sure the people you love are happy'. Well, I kinda love you, little brother. Quite a bit actually. And I want you to be happy."
"You think Kurt will make me happy?"
"No, I think you will make you happy. I think you're smarter than the rest of us and you don't need someone to make you happy. But I think that you love him enough to want to make him happy. And I bet he's the same for you, and what will make you both happy is being with each other and so the circle of life is complete and one of you becomes the grass, I'm not entirely sure who."
"You're insane," Blaine laughed.
"I'm not the one who snuck out of LA while the love of his life was away."
"You think I should go back?"
"I think... you should think about what you want to do next."
"Coop?" Blaine said as his brother got up from the couch. "Thanks."
"Any time."
~~
The couch was empty when Cooper got up the next morning. The blankets were folded neatly over the back and the pillow covers had been stripped. But the only real surprise for him was when he read Blaine's note and found out where he had gone.
~~
Blaine scanned the arrivals hall, looking for that one familiar face. His heart pounded nervously in his chest. All he'd done was text his flight number and arrival time before the very nice flight attendant had reminded him one last time to turn off his cell phone. When he'd turned it on after arriving there hadn't been a reply so what if...?
The fear dissolved in his chest as a hand shot up and waved frantically at him. "Blaine! Blaine! Over here!"
He moved through the crowds until he was free of them. "Thank you so much for picking me up."
"It's fine. Although you do know Kurt's back in LA, right?"
"I wasn't sure, but I didn't come to see him."
"While I'm flattered, I'm married and you're hung up on my brother-in-law so..."
"Rachel-"
"Oh shush," she dismissed. "I know you still love him. Why else would you be here? Why else would you ask me to come and meet you?"
"Maybe I just wanted to catch up?" Blaine smiled as she ushered him out of the terminal.
"Sure you do. Now - what do you want to know?"
"Everything," he said after a moment.
"You sure about that?"
"I think I need to know."
"OK. But first I need to make a call-"
"I don't want Kurt to know."
"I do know other people," she scowled.
"Or Finn."
"And I am capable of doing things without my husband."
"As always."
"So just shut up, hail us a cab, and let me make this call," she said, waving him away with her hand As he moved away towards the taxi rank the call connected. "Oh, hi, this is Rachel Berry? Yes, I need two tickets for tonight... Yes, I know you're officially sold out but we both know what that means... Listen, Bobby, you owe me a favour. I'm not even asking for the best seats, just decent ones. I need to bring someone to the show... Yes, it's important! Please. Do this and I will not only consider your debt repaid but I will owe you a favour..."
She smiled and nodded at Blaine as on the other end of the line Bobby managed to "find" two seats for tonight's show.
In the cab she gave the driver an intersection and sat back, just looking at Blaine. "You've not changed all that much. Little less gel maybe, but... still you."
"OK," Blaine said as he was unsure about what else he could say. "You on the other hand... New York and married life clearly suit you."
"That they do," she smiled.
"Any plans on the family front?" Blaine asked but when he saw the look on Rachel's face he wished he hadn't. "Sorry, I didn't mean to..."
"No, it's fine, it's just... Not through lack of trying, put it that way."
"Right."
"Been almost a year now."
"That's really not that long, Rach. Some people try for years."
"Is that supposed to make me feel better?"
"It will happen."
"And how do you know that? I'm starting to think that it's not meant to be."
"Rach?"
"Hmmm?"
"There's a ten-year gap between me and Cooper. He wasn't planned, they tried for me. I know it will happen."
"I've missed you," Rachel laughed, shuffling over so she could rest her head on his shoulder. "You were always so... supportive."
"You make me sound like scaffolding."
Rachel laughed again. "You know what I mean. Whenever something went wrong, when Kurt was upset? You were there. NYADA, the play, everything."
"Of course I supported him. He was... I loved him."
"You still love him."
"I... don't know."
"I do," Rachel said. "Why else would you be here? You want to know everything because... Because you want to know if Kurt still loves you. And trust me when I say that he does."
"I just want to understand why he ended things. How he feels now-"
"Stephen proposed," Rachel said quickly.
"I know."
"Kurt said no."
Blaine wasn't quick enough to hide the hope flash across his face.
"They broke up."
"Because..."
"Because he's still in love with you."
"Did he tell you that?"
"He doesn't need to, Blaine."
"Then you don't-"
"I do," she said. "Come on," she smiled as the cab pulled up at their destination. "You want to know everything? Starts here."
Part 4 >>