His Perfect Partner (Epilogue/42 + Epilogue)
Title: His Perfect Partner (Epilogue/42 + Epilogue)
Rating: NC-17 overall (PG-13 this chapter)
Pairings: Kurt/Blaine, with appearances by Burt/Carole, Tina/Mike, Mercedes/Sam, Brittany/Santana, Rachel/Finn
Spoilers: None.
Word Count: 2962
Summary: After five disappointing seasons on the show, professional dancer Kurt Hummel finally has his chance at ballroom glory. With actress and fan favorite Kim Schrodinger as his partner, Kurt vows to channel all his focus into winning that mirrorball trophy - distractions, including men, be damned. Enter Blaine Anderson, a gorgeous, confusing pop star who may turn out to be the biggest distraction of them all
In This Chapter: Every dancing story deserves a happy ending.
Author's Note: This is a Dancing with the Stars/Glee crossover AU, in which Kurt grew up dancing and became a professional on the show in his mid-twenties, and Blaine is a pop star with a very private private life. I have a master glee post here if you'd like to read from the beginning, or follow me on tumblr! Thanks to
samzgurl
wintercreek, and
gypsyangel25 for the beta as well as for general cheer-leading and fun times.
It's taken me approximately a million years, but I finally finished and managed to upload the epilogue to lj! Thanks for being so patient and following this story to its (much delayed) conclusion. I hope the ending satisfies. As is my funny little tradition, this epilogue is written from another character's perspective. Clearly, there was only one woman for the job!
Kim managed the familiar twists and turns of the roads up into the hills with a skill born of long practice. She’d been tracing this particular road pretty regularly for the last two years, though to her mind it was never often enough. The kids - if the frenetic, random shouting coming from the back seat were any indication - agreed with her. Though the noise was a little overpowering, Kim was grateful they weren’t fighting. Now eleven and eight, her little angels had recently taken to practicing their sarcasm on one another, but neither of them had yet learned to take a joke. It was exhausting. She loved them, but she would be so grateful when Grant got home from his most recent tour.
“Time to tone it down, you two,” Kim called toward the back seat. “If you go in at that volume, I don’t think they’ll let you stay.”
“They will too,” Jake said, crossing his arms and pouting. He’d learned that particularly charming behavior from his sister. “Kurtsie loves me best!”
“Nuh-uh,” Molly said, and even in the rearview mirror, Kim could tell the gleam in her eye would lead nowhere good. “He loves Blaine best, not you.”
“OK, hooligans, that’s enough,” Kim said, chancing a quick glance into the backseat to give each of them a stern look. “Molly, no need to bait your brother. And you, Mr. Jake, do not need to start the afternoon pouting. We’re going to Kurt and Blaine’s to have fun, after all.”
Both kids grumbled a little, but settled down once the car rounded the final turn and the house came into view. The moment Kim stopped the car in the circular drive, the kids were off and running around the side of the house, aiming for the pool. Kim could tell from the chorus of greetings she heard that the kids were in good hands. At the very least, Tina and Mike would keep them from ending up in the water with their shoes still on. Which was why they were allowed to babysit, and Finn most definitely was not.
Kim took her time gathering her things and was saved from having to figure out how to balance the kids’ swim bags and a tray of cupcakes when Kurt came down the front steps to help.
“Hey, pretty lady,” he said, bending down to kiss her cheek. “Long time, no see.”
“And whose fault is that, world traveler?” Kim replied, swinging her free arm around his neck so she could leave a smacking kiss on his cheek in return.
“Really, you should be blaming Blaine. He’s the one who insisted that we go on an extended vacation up until I had to be back to start training with a new partner,” Kurt said as he extricated himself and picked up the cupcakes for her.
“Oh, yes, how terrible for you, vacationing in some Italian villa with your handsome beau. I really feel for you.” Kim walked past him into the house, dropping the kids’ bags in their usual spot by the back door.
“It’s a hard life, but somebody has to live it,” Kurt quipped, and then he rolled his eyes when they heard a shout and a massive splash out back. “That’ll be my handsome beau. First one in the pool, because he’s twelve.”
“Which is why my eleven-year-old has a massive crush on him,” Kim agreed.
“Well, you know how it is with older boys,” Kurt said, opening the back door for Kim. “They’re so very tempting.”
“And yours is particularly so,” Kim replied, admiring the way Blaine’s tank and swim trunks clung to him as he stood on the steps at the shallow end, throwing diving rings for Jake. When Kurt gave her a look, she grinned at him and shrugged. “What? I’m married, not dead!”
“True,” Kurt conceded. “And I can’t fault your taste. Or your daughter’s. But he is very, very mine.”
“Kurt?” Something about the smug, proprietary air with which he’d said that made her wonder. “Did I miss something significant, mister?”
“Not exactly,” he demurred. “Let’s just say that some of our more nebulous plans are beginning to get more solid.”
“But not so solid that you’re ready to draft another press release or tell one of your best friends in the whole wide world exactly what’s up?” Kim asked, pulling Kurt closer with a hand around his waist.
“You always were a quick study,” Kurt said, still smiling secretively. And then he had the gall to remove her arm and walk away.
Kim watched as Kurt sauntered around the pool toward Blaine, whose playful grin softened into the loving smile she knew was reserved for Kurt. Blaine took the time to wrap himself in a towel before sliding in under Kurt’s outstretched arm so Kurt could whisper to him. When Blaine glanced up at Kim, winking even as he blushed, she knew for sure that something was going on.
As the afternoon progressed, Kim kept an eye on Kurt and Blaine almost as much as she watched her kids splash and play in the pool. Over the course of the last three years, Molly and Jake had come to think of Kim’s former cast mates as aunts and uncles, none more so than Kurt and Blaine. They were always happy to babysit when they had a free night and spoiled the kids rotten far more often than that. Kim could only imagine what over-the-top gifts they’d brought back from their Italian vacation for her two little maniacs. If they ever decided they wanted to be parents themselves, she’d have to teach them to tone that particular behavior down.
Which brought her back to the suspicion that had caused her to watch Kurt and Blaine all afternoon. They were in one another’s immediate orbits almost the entire time, but that wasn’t unusual. After three years together, they still gravitated toward one another like they’d shared their first kiss the day before.
To be honest, Kim had been expecting an engagement announcement out of one or the other or both of them for the past couple of years. But they’d surprised her - the only leaping they’d done was into home ownership, when Blaine had found the house they now lived in a couple of months after the show had ended.
Kim had been there the day they moved in, helping Kurt unpack the kitchen while Blaine supervised the movers who were bringing his precious new baby grand into the living room. Blaine had gotten out of most of the unpacking that day, because he’d spent the afternoon serenading them and keeping the kids entertained with basic piano lessons. Kurt hadn’t seemed to mind the lack of help that much, in the end.
Kim had also been around for their first big fight a few weeks later, when Kurt landed in her guest room overnight. Blaine had shown up the next morning with two cups of coffee and the saddest kicked puppy expression she’d ever seen; she’d watched surreptitiously from the kitchen while they’d sat on her patio and talked it out. She never did find out the details of that particular argument, but that wasn’t important. They’d sorted it out like two grownups, and that was what mattered.
All told, both Kurt and Blaine had weathered the vagaries of celebrity coupledom amazingly well. Kim had been with them for their first round of interviews immediately following Blaine’s big press release, and though Kurt had felt terrible that her win had been overshadowed by their coming out as a couple, she hadn’t really minded. The show had turned out to be the fun sort of work, and she’d gained wonderful friends out of the deal. Supporting them as they navigated some particularly treacherous publicity waters was the least she could do.
She’d been so proud of them for their strength and kindness in the face of invasive questions from the media and an outpouring of interest from fans and detractors alike. It had been no hardship at all to tell people how wonderful they were, both together and separately, and to play a small part in shaping the public narrative of their love.
In private, she and Grant had helped as much as they could, answering questions from both Kurt and Blaine about how to manage the sudden interest in them and their relationship. And in return, she got to watch them grow into the sort of couple that the pressures of fame couldn’t touch. They made time for each other, even as Kurt booked more choreography gigs and Blaine toured in support of his new album, which was filled with the love songs Kurt had inspired. And they stayed connected to their family and friends - hence the pool party populated by some of her favorite people.
As the party wore on, Kim coaxed Molly and Jake out of the pool in favor of ice cream and lawn games with the “big kids.” Santana was swinging Jake around while he giggled, and Molly had convinced Finn to let her ride on his shoulders while he tossed a frisbee with Mike, so Kim took the opportunity to slip inside the house for a moment. Blaine and Kurt were nowhere to be seen.
Kim followed the soft sound of humming into the living room, where she found them swaying slowly together. Kurt led Blaine into a turn, and as he came back into Kurt’s arms, Blaine switched from humming to singing.
It was a song Kim knew well, her favorite from Blaine’s album. He’d written it about the little things that made the work of love so worthwhile. As someone in a long relationship, she had resonated strongly with the sentiment, and it had made her more confident than ever that her two favorite boys were in it for the long haul. Watching them now, wrapped up in one another, she could only smile. Love was a beautiful thing.
Being who she was, though, she couldn’t help but interrupt their sweet little moment by turning Blaine’s song into a sing-along as she burrowed into the scant space between them.
“Hi,” she said, leaning back against Blaine and smiling up at Kurt. “Pardon the interruption.”
“But of course,” Kurt said drily.
“So I know you denied it earlier,” Kim said, watching Kurt closely, “but I really think I’m missing something.”
“Doesn’t miss a beat, this one,” Blaine murmured from behind her, and Kurt snorted.
“Too nosy for her own good, you mean,” he said.
“You love me,” Kim replied. She pinched his cheek and grinned, then stepped back so she could look at both of them. “But seriously, time to spill.”
“Well…” Blaine began, tucking in next to Kurt again. He blushed and looked down, which was both adorable and one of his major tells.
“Blaine!” Kurt looked both scandalized and amused. “You’re a terrible secret keeper.”
“I knew it!” Kim said, pointing between them.
“Knew what, exactly?” Kurt said, shooting her a pointed look.
“Well, something!” She threw up her hands. “Just tell me. You know it’ll be easier.”
“She has a point,” Blaine said, and Kurt rolled his eyes.
“Fine. But no telling anyone but Grant. Definitely not the kids. Not yet, anyway,” Kurt said.
“I can’t tell anyone if you don’t tell me what you’re talking about, you goober,” Kim said. She was tempted to roll her eyes right back at him.
“We need you to reserve New Year’s Eve for us,” Kurt said. He was going for nonchalant, but Kim noticed the way he gripped Blaine’s hand more tightly at his side.
“Because?” Kim prompted. It was like pulling teeth.
“Because we want to start the new year off right,” Blaine said quietly. He had turned toward Kurt and was smiling at him like he was the eighth wonder of the world. When Kurt smiled back at him just as sweetly, Kim knew.
“You two idiots are finally getting married, aren’t you?” She said, but it was barely a question. She wiped away the tears that had come out of nowhere and rushed back up to hug them again. “Oh I hate you so much for not telling me. This is the best news!”
“It seemed like the right time,” Kurt said, once Kim had released him. His eyes were wet too, but he was smiling.
“We want to do something intimate, up here under the stars. We can throw a big party later.” Blaine said. “You’ll come, right?”
“Like you could keep me away!” Kim said, grinning stupidly as she watched them hold one another’s hands. “I’m so happy for you both. I’d hoped you’d get here eventually.”
“These things take time,” Kurt demurred, and Blaine laughed.
“I would have married you two years ago, and you know it,” he said.
“And to reach for another cliche,” Kurt countered, “good things come to those who wait.”
“The best things,” Blaine said, all sweetness. “And it turns out taking our time was a pretty great idea in the end.”
“You’ve had a busy couple of years,” Kim agreed.
“A wonderful couple of years,” Blaine said, and Kurt grinned.
“Ugh, you two are disgusting. I see how it’s going to be,” Kim said, and then she hugged them again. “I love you both, and my engagement gift to you is to leave you in here alone for a while while I go distract your guests. You’re welcome in advance.”
“Actually,” Kurt said, snagging her hand before she could get very far. “Before you go anywhere, there’s something else.”
“You didn’t adopt a spur-of-the-moment adorable Italian baby while you were gone, did you?” Kim asked. “Because I can only handle so many life transitions at once!”
They all laughed, which had mostly been her aim. There was also a small part of her that wanted to be extra sure - she wouldn’t put it past them to go all in once they decided to move forward.
“No. God, no,” Kurt said. “But we do have a bit of a project we could use your help with.”
“Absolutely,” Blaine added, picking up the thread of conversation. “You and Grant are still pretty directly involved in running his foundation, right?”
“Yep. We’re working on plans for the big annual fundraiser now,” Kim confirmed. “How on earth does that relate to a wedding?”
“It doesn’t,” Blaine said, and he and Kurt shared a smile. “But it relates directly to the joint project - well, the other joint project - we’re working on.”
“Which is?” Kim asked. They were being the opposite of forthcoming right now, and it was making her a little nuts.
“The details are still really up in the air,” Kurt cautioned, “But we’re developing a foundation that will help youth interested in the arts.”
“Kids like us, specifically,” Blaine said. “GLBTQ kids who might not have the kind of support in their lives that would allow them to follow their dreams otherwise.”
“That’s amazing, you guys!” Kim said, noting the way Kurt wrapped an arm around Blaine supportively. She’d learned enough about Blaine’s upbringing over the years to realize how close this cause was to his heart.
“We think it’ll be pretty good,” Blaine said modestly, but Kurt interrupted.
“She’s right; it’s an amazing idea. Your best yet. And with the help of our friends -” Kurt looked at Kim, who nodded, - “it’s going to be incredibly successful.”
“How could it not be, with the two of you behind it?” Kim asked, mostly rhetorically. She knew anything they threw their full weight behind was bound to thrive. Just like their marriage would. And speaking of… “Not to change the subject from doing awesome things for others, but can we go back to this whole ‘you two finally getting hitched’ thing?”
“I suppose,” Kurt said, smiling.
“All joking aside - which I know is rare for me - you know I’ll do whatever you need to make this the most awesome secret wedding ever, right? Just ask. Or don’t ask, because you know I’m going to do it anyway.” Kim gave them both another big hug followed by kisses to their cheeks for good measure.
“Of course,” Kurt said. “We wouldn’t expect anything less.”
“Just let us tell the kids, maybe in a few weeks?” Blaine asked. “We’d like them to be involved.”
“And we’d love to see their reactions,” Kurt added, grinning.
“I don’t blame you,” Kim said. She knew her kids, and they were both going to be thrilled. Hell, she was giddy, and she was supposed to be the grownup.
“You have to keep it a secret, Kim,” Kurt warned her knowingly. “An actual secret. Not an I-know-something-you-don’t-know secret.”
“Which is why we’re not telling Rachel or Finn,” Blaine said.
“Ooooh, not even family? I feel special,” Kim said.
“You are,” Kurt confirmed. “Now go away like you promised. I’m not done dancing with my fiancé.”
They both blushed and grinned at that, already falling back into one another’s arms. Kim took her leave as requested, but turned around for one last look before she turned the corner into the kitchen.
Blaine was humming again, while Kurt led the dance. A rumba, perhaps. A dance of love, regardless. Their eyes were closed, and they were perfectly in tune. Kim pressed a kiss to her fingertips and blew it in their direction, knowing they wouldn’t see it.
Kurt and Blaine were some of the very best men she knew. She couldn’t wait to celebrate them and their love - at the best damn wedding ever. It was just as well that they were busy being disgustingly in love. Because even if they swore they didn’t want the fuss, she had a top secret wedding party to plan.
Rating: NC-17 overall (PG-13 this chapter)
Pairings: Kurt/Blaine, with appearances by Burt/Carole, Tina/Mike, Mercedes/Sam, Brittany/Santana, Rachel/Finn
Spoilers: None.
Word Count: 2962
Summary: After five disappointing seasons on the show, professional dancer Kurt Hummel finally has his chance at ballroom glory. With actress and fan favorite Kim Schrodinger as his partner, Kurt vows to channel all his focus into winning that mirrorball trophy - distractions, including men, be damned. Enter Blaine Anderson, a gorgeous, confusing pop star who may turn out to be the biggest distraction of them all
In This Chapter: Every dancing story deserves a happy ending.
Author's Note: This is a Dancing with the Stars/Glee crossover AU, in which Kurt grew up dancing and became a professional on the show in his mid-twenties, and Blaine is a pop star with a very private private life. I have a master glee post here if you'd like to read from the beginning, or follow me on tumblr! Thanks to
samzgurl
wintercreek, and
gypsyangel25 for the beta as well as for general cheer-leading and fun times.
It's taken me approximately a million years, but I finally finished and managed to upload the epilogue to lj! Thanks for being so patient and following this story to its (much delayed) conclusion. I hope the ending satisfies. As is my funny little tradition, this epilogue is written from another character's perspective. Clearly, there was only one woman for the job!
Kim managed the familiar twists and turns of the roads up into the hills with a skill born of long practice. She’d been tracing this particular road pretty regularly for the last two years, though to her mind it was never often enough. The kids - if the frenetic, random shouting coming from the back seat were any indication - agreed with her. Though the noise was a little overpowering, Kim was grateful they weren’t fighting. Now eleven and eight, her little angels had recently taken to practicing their sarcasm on one another, but neither of them had yet learned to take a joke. It was exhausting. She loved them, but she would be so grateful when Grant got home from his most recent tour.
“Time to tone it down, you two,” Kim called toward the back seat. “If you go in at that volume, I don’t think they’ll let you stay.”
“They will too,” Jake said, crossing his arms and pouting. He’d learned that particularly charming behavior from his sister. “Kurtsie loves me best!”
“Nuh-uh,” Molly said, and even in the rearview mirror, Kim could tell the gleam in her eye would lead nowhere good. “He loves Blaine best, not you.”
“OK, hooligans, that’s enough,” Kim said, chancing a quick glance into the backseat to give each of them a stern look. “Molly, no need to bait your brother. And you, Mr. Jake, do not need to start the afternoon pouting. We’re going to Kurt and Blaine’s to have fun, after all.”
Both kids grumbled a little, but settled down once the car rounded the final turn and the house came into view. The moment Kim stopped the car in the circular drive, the kids were off and running around the side of the house, aiming for the pool. Kim could tell from the chorus of greetings she heard that the kids were in good hands. At the very least, Tina and Mike would keep them from ending up in the water with their shoes still on. Which was why they were allowed to babysit, and Finn most definitely was not.
Kim took her time gathering her things and was saved from having to figure out how to balance the kids’ swim bags and a tray of cupcakes when Kurt came down the front steps to help.
“Hey, pretty lady,” he said, bending down to kiss her cheek. “Long time, no see.”
“And whose fault is that, world traveler?” Kim replied, swinging her free arm around his neck so she could leave a smacking kiss on his cheek in return.
“Really, you should be blaming Blaine. He’s the one who insisted that we go on an extended vacation up until I had to be back to start training with a new partner,” Kurt said as he extricated himself and picked up the cupcakes for her.
“Oh, yes, how terrible for you, vacationing in some Italian villa with your handsome beau. I really feel for you.” Kim walked past him into the house, dropping the kids’ bags in their usual spot by the back door.
“It’s a hard life, but somebody has to live it,” Kurt quipped, and then he rolled his eyes when they heard a shout and a massive splash out back. “That’ll be my handsome beau. First one in the pool, because he’s twelve.”
“Which is why my eleven-year-old has a massive crush on him,” Kim agreed.
“Well, you know how it is with older boys,” Kurt said, opening the back door for Kim. “They’re so very tempting.”
“And yours is particularly so,” Kim replied, admiring the way Blaine’s tank and swim trunks clung to him as he stood on the steps at the shallow end, throwing diving rings for Jake. When Kurt gave her a look, she grinned at him and shrugged. “What? I’m married, not dead!”
“True,” Kurt conceded. “And I can’t fault your taste. Or your daughter’s. But he is very, very mine.”
“Kurt?” Something about the smug, proprietary air with which he’d said that made her wonder. “Did I miss something significant, mister?”
“Not exactly,” he demurred. “Let’s just say that some of our more nebulous plans are beginning to get more solid.”
“But not so solid that you’re ready to draft another press release or tell one of your best friends in the whole wide world exactly what’s up?” Kim asked, pulling Kurt closer with a hand around his waist.
“You always were a quick study,” Kurt said, still smiling secretively. And then he had the gall to remove her arm and walk away.
Kim watched as Kurt sauntered around the pool toward Blaine, whose playful grin softened into the loving smile she knew was reserved for Kurt. Blaine took the time to wrap himself in a towel before sliding in under Kurt’s outstretched arm so Kurt could whisper to him. When Blaine glanced up at Kim, winking even as he blushed, she knew for sure that something was going on.
As the afternoon progressed, Kim kept an eye on Kurt and Blaine almost as much as she watched her kids splash and play in the pool. Over the course of the last three years, Molly and Jake had come to think of Kim’s former cast mates as aunts and uncles, none more so than Kurt and Blaine. They were always happy to babysit when they had a free night and spoiled the kids rotten far more often than that. Kim could only imagine what over-the-top gifts they’d brought back from their Italian vacation for her two little maniacs. If they ever decided they wanted to be parents themselves, she’d have to teach them to tone that particular behavior down.
Which brought her back to the suspicion that had caused her to watch Kurt and Blaine all afternoon. They were in one another’s immediate orbits almost the entire time, but that wasn’t unusual. After three years together, they still gravitated toward one another like they’d shared their first kiss the day before.
To be honest, Kim had been expecting an engagement announcement out of one or the other or both of them for the past couple of years. But they’d surprised her - the only leaping they’d done was into home ownership, when Blaine had found the house they now lived in a couple of months after the show had ended.
Kim had been there the day they moved in, helping Kurt unpack the kitchen while Blaine supervised the movers who were bringing his precious new baby grand into the living room. Blaine had gotten out of most of the unpacking that day, because he’d spent the afternoon serenading them and keeping the kids entertained with basic piano lessons. Kurt hadn’t seemed to mind the lack of help that much, in the end.
Kim had also been around for their first big fight a few weeks later, when Kurt landed in her guest room overnight. Blaine had shown up the next morning with two cups of coffee and the saddest kicked puppy expression she’d ever seen; she’d watched surreptitiously from the kitchen while they’d sat on her patio and talked it out. She never did find out the details of that particular argument, but that wasn’t important. They’d sorted it out like two grownups, and that was what mattered.
All told, both Kurt and Blaine had weathered the vagaries of celebrity coupledom amazingly well. Kim had been with them for their first round of interviews immediately following Blaine’s big press release, and though Kurt had felt terrible that her win had been overshadowed by their coming out as a couple, she hadn’t really minded. The show had turned out to be the fun sort of work, and she’d gained wonderful friends out of the deal. Supporting them as they navigated some particularly treacherous publicity waters was the least she could do.
She’d been so proud of them for their strength and kindness in the face of invasive questions from the media and an outpouring of interest from fans and detractors alike. It had been no hardship at all to tell people how wonderful they were, both together and separately, and to play a small part in shaping the public narrative of their love.
In private, she and Grant had helped as much as they could, answering questions from both Kurt and Blaine about how to manage the sudden interest in them and their relationship. And in return, she got to watch them grow into the sort of couple that the pressures of fame couldn’t touch. They made time for each other, even as Kurt booked more choreography gigs and Blaine toured in support of his new album, which was filled with the love songs Kurt had inspired. And they stayed connected to their family and friends - hence the pool party populated by some of her favorite people.
As the party wore on, Kim coaxed Molly and Jake out of the pool in favor of ice cream and lawn games with the “big kids.” Santana was swinging Jake around while he giggled, and Molly had convinced Finn to let her ride on his shoulders while he tossed a frisbee with Mike, so Kim took the opportunity to slip inside the house for a moment. Blaine and Kurt were nowhere to be seen.
Kim followed the soft sound of humming into the living room, where she found them swaying slowly together. Kurt led Blaine into a turn, and as he came back into Kurt’s arms, Blaine switched from humming to singing.
It was a song Kim knew well, her favorite from Blaine’s album. He’d written it about the little things that made the work of love so worthwhile. As someone in a long relationship, she had resonated strongly with the sentiment, and it had made her more confident than ever that her two favorite boys were in it for the long haul. Watching them now, wrapped up in one another, she could only smile. Love was a beautiful thing.
Being who she was, though, she couldn’t help but interrupt their sweet little moment by turning Blaine’s song into a sing-along as she burrowed into the scant space between them.
“Hi,” she said, leaning back against Blaine and smiling up at Kurt. “Pardon the interruption.”
“But of course,” Kurt said drily.
“So I know you denied it earlier,” Kim said, watching Kurt closely, “but I really think I’m missing something.”
“Doesn’t miss a beat, this one,” Blaine murmured from behind her, and Kurt snorted.
“Too nosy for her own good, you mean,” he said.
“You love me,” Kim replied. She pinched his cheek and grinned, then stepped back so she could look at both of them. “But seriously, time to spill.”
“Well…” Blaine began, tucking in next to Kurt again. He blushed and looked down, which was both adorable and one of his major tells.
“Blaine!” Kurt looked both scandalized and amused. “You’re a terrible secret keeper.”
“I knew it!” Kim said, pointing between them.
“Knew what, exactly?” Kurt said, shooting her a pointed look.
“Well, something!” She threw up her hands. “Just tell me. You know it’ll be easier.”
“She has a point,” Blaine said, and Kurt rolled his eyes.
“Fine. But no telling anyone but Grant. Definitely not the kids. Not yet, anyway,” Kurt said.
“I can’t tell anyone if you don’t tell me what you’re talking about, you goober,” Kim said. She was tempted to roll her eyes right back at him.
“We need you to reserve New Year’s Eve for us,” Kurt said. He was going for nonchalant, but Kim noticed the way he gripped Blaine’s hand more tightly at his side.
“Because?” Kim prompted. It was like pulling teeth.
“Because we want to start the new year off right,” Blaine said quietly. He had turned toward Kurt and was smiling at him like he was the eighth wonder of the world. When Kurt smiled back at him just as sweetly, Kim knew.
“You two idiots are finally getting married, aren’t you?” She said, but it was barely a question. She wiped away the tears that had come out of nowhere and rushed back up to hug them again. “Oh I hate you so much for not telling me. This is the best news!”
“It seemed like the right time,” Kurt said, once Kim had released him. His eyes were wet too, but he was smiling.
“We want to do something intimate, up here under the stars. We can throw a big party later.” Blaine said. “You’ll come, right?”
“Like you could keep me away!” Kim said, grinning stupidly as she watched them hold one another’s hands. “I’m so happy for you both. I’d hoped you’d get here eventually.”
“These things take time,” Kurt demurred, and Blaine laughed.
“I would have married you two years ago, and you know it,” he said.
“And to reach for another cliche,” Kurt countered, “good things come to those who wait.”
“The best things,” Blaine said, all sweetness. “And it turns out taking our time was a pretty great idea in the end.”
“You’ve had a busy couple of years,” Kim agreed.
“A wonderful couple of years,” Blaine said, and Kurt grinned.
“Ugh, you two are disgusting. I see how it’s going to be,” Kim said, and then she hugged them again. “I love you both, and my engagement gift to you is to leave you in here alone for a while while I go distract your guests. You’re welcome in advance.”
“Actually,” Kurt said, snagging her hand before she could get very far. “Before you go anywhere, there’s something else.”
“You didn’t adopt a spur-of-the-moment adorable Italian baby while you were gone, did you?” Kim asked. “Because I can only handle so many life transitions at once!”
They all laughed, which had mostly been her aim. There was also a small part of her that wanted to be extra sure - she wouldn’t put it past them to go all in once they decided to move forward.
“No. God, no,” Kurt said. “But we do have a bit of a project we could use your help with.”
“Absolutely,” Blaine added, picking up the thread of conversation. “You and Grant are still pretty directly involved in running his foundation, right?”
“Yep. We’re working on plans for the big annual fundraiser now,” Kim confirmed. “How on earth does that relate to a wedding?”
“It doesn’t,” Blaine said, and he and Kurt shared a smile. “But it relates directly to the joint project - well, the other joint project - we’re working on.”
“Which is?” Kim asked. They were being the opposite of forthcoming right now, and it was making her a little nuts.
“The details are still really up in the air,” Kurt cautioned, “But we’re developing a foundation that will help youth interested in the arts.”
“Kids like us, specifically,” Blaine said. “GLBTQ kids who might not have the kind of support in their lives that would allow them to follow their dreams otherwise.”
“That’s amazing, you guys!” Kim said, noting the way Kurt wrapped an arm around Blaine supportively. She’d learned enough about Blaine’s upbringing over the years to realize how close this cause was to his heart.
“We think it’ll be pretty good,” Blaine said modestly, but Kurt interrupted.
“She’s right; it’s an amazing idea. Your best yet. And with the help of our friends -” Kurt looked at Kim, who nodded, - “it’s going to be incredibly successful.”
“How could it not be, with the two of you behind it?” Kim asked, mostly rhetorically. She knew anything they threw their full weight behind was bound to thrive. Just like their marriage would. And speaking of… “Not to change the subject from doing awesome things for others, but can we go back to this whole ‘you two finally getting hitched’ thing?”
“I suppose,” Kurt said, smiling.
“All joking aside - which I know is rare for me - you know I’ll do whatever you need to make this the most awesome secret wedding ever, right? Just ask. Or don’t ask, because you know I’m going to do it anyway.” Kim gave them both another big hug followed by kisses to their cheeks for good measure.
“Of course,” Kurt said. “We wouldn’t expect anything less.”
“Just let us tell the kids, maybe in a few weeks?” Blaine asked. “We’d like them to be involved.”
“And we’d love to see their reactions,” Kurt added, grinning.
“I don’t blame you,” Kim said. She knew her kids, and they were both going to be thrilled. Hell, she was giddy, and she was supposed to be the grownup.
“You have to keep it a secret, Kim,” Kurt warned her knowingly. “An actual secret. Not an I-know-something-you-don’t-know secret.”
“Which is why we’re not telling Rachel or Finn,” Blaine said.
“Ooooh, not even family? I feel special,” Kim said.
“You are,” Kurt confirmed. “Now go away like you promised. I’m not done dancing with my fiancé.”
They both blushed and grinned at that, already falling back into one another’s arms. Kim took her leave as requested, but turned around for one last look before she turned the corner into the kitchen.
Blaine was humming again, while Kurt led the dance. A rumba, perhaps. A dance of love, regardless. Their eyes were closed, and they were perfectly in tune. Kim pressed a kiss to her fingertips and blew it in their direction, knowing they wouldn’t see it.
Kurt and Blaine were some of the very best men she knew. She couldn’t wait to celebrate them and their love - at the best damn wedding ever. It was just as well that they were busy being disgustingly in love. Because even if they swore they didn’t want the fuss, she had a top secret wedding party to plan.