Kurt launches directly into Got To Get You Into My Life, and Blaine just goes with it, singing and dancing with Kurt while his mind runs in circles. He almost forgets the lyrics of the second verse because he can't concentrate, but he saves it so probably no one has noticed. And if they have—well, Kurt can't just say things like this and expect Blaine to be all professional about it.

Blaine clutches Kurt's hand as they walk home. He has declined dinner in a restaurant, has declined an invitation to go to a club with a few members of the orchestra, he just wants to go home. Kurt's home, of course, although he likes it very much there.

Still, he had imagined them sitting down together, maybe have dinner and a glass of wine, and then talk. Instead, he only waits until the door closes behind them to blurt out,

"I love you. I have no idea how this would work, but I love-"

He is interrupted rudely but rather pleasantly when Kurt kisses him, short but hard enough his head bumps against the door behind him. He doesn't mind, though, because Kurt says, breathlessly,

"I love you too. And I might have-"

This time Kurt can't end his sentence, because Blaine just can't but kiss him, longer now and thoroughly, clutching him like he'll never let him go. For the moment, it's all he needs; he still doesn't have an idea how they'll make this work, but for the moment, he just revels in the knowledge that Kurt loves him. He had hoped, he had even believed when he dared...but to hear it from Kurt's lips, the same lips he is now kissing with everything he's got...

"As I was saying," Kurt says, grinning as Blaine pouts at the end of the kiss. He takes his hand and leads him to the couch.

"As I was saying, I might have an idea how this could work." He gestures between them at "this", and Blaine loves it. He loves that there is a "this" that would require that kind of gesture.

"You just have to listen, and have an open mind, okay?"

Blaine nods easily, but Kurt looks at him.

"It's been weeks since I've gone. As far as I know you, you have spent them finding a thousand reasons why we would never work. I'm asking you to...put these away. I'm not saying everything will be perfect, I'm just saying I might have found a way to give us a realistic chance."

At that, of course, all of these reasons pop into Blaine's head again. He doesn't particularly want a long-distance relationship, although now, if Kurt loves him, that might even be worth a try...but they would hardly have time for each other...but he can't give up the foundation and just be Kurt's plus-one...and neither does he want Kurt to give up his career. He simply has no idea. He sees them trying long-distance, and never being able to make time for each other, Blaine lost in projects as he knows he is wont to, Kurt's time and attention called away by his demanding career. He sees missed calls and visits that never happen, and. worst of all, one or both of them not even noticing because they'll be so used to being without each other.

But Kurt is still looking at him, and so he nods again, determined to listen. He wants this to work, after all, and if Kurt loves him...if Kurt loves him, now he knows that, it seems too much to give up.

"A few weeks ago," Kurt starts, "my dad and Carole came to see one of the shows. They could stay for a few days, and they stayed here with me, and I expected...I was afraid they would ask where you were, why you weren't here with me. But they...they did ask after you, how you were, if you had been able to see the show yet, but...they didn't seem to think anything about you being in Westerville and me being here. And it made me think...a lot of spouses aren't together all the time. I don't know why I didn't think of that before."

Blaine nods, hesitantly, with a slightly sinking heart. So it's to be long distance. He'll try, for Kurt, of course he will, but he's by no means certain it'll work. He couldn't even hold Sebastian when they were living together, how should he manage with Kurt when he's not even there?

"Now I know it's nod ideal," Kurt says. "And right after I had that thought, I found that I didn't particularly want to do that. I would, probably, if there was no other choice, but...I was miserable after I left. All these songs I sang..."

Blaine smiles. The songs are why he's here, after all. But there's another thing to consider. "I don't know if it would work. We're still not completely free from...'la famiglia'."

He had given Kurt the chocolates the Anderson mob left, with an explanation. Kurt had laughed, and found creative ways to eat the chocolates that Blaine enjoyed very much, but they hadn't really talked about it.

"I know," Kurt says. "I think we have won time, with you here and the concerts, but if you agree to what I thought of, it wouldn't even be an issue anymore. Not for the foreseeable future, anyway."

Blaine nods. Kurt shifts on the couch, takes his hands.

"I enjoy doing the concerts, you know that. But I can't do two concerts a week the whole year through, nobody would want to see them. And I figured I'd do concerts for a few months, and then plays the other time if I got roles, but...what if I didn't?"

"What do you mean?" Blaine asks. In his mind, he's holding his breath, though only figuratively because he doesn't want to turn all red and then suffocate.

"I miss teaching," Kurt admits. "I miss the kids, and everything that's going on, and I really, really want to see the play. I know I only was there a short time, but everyone has made me feel welcome, and...like I belong. I like feeling like I'm making a difference. So I thought -" he hesitates, and would have drawn back his hands if Blaine hadn't held on to them. "I thought maybe I'd do concerts a few months, and the rest of the year, I'd come back to the foundation? If—if you'd have me?"

Before Blaine can answer, Kurt rambles on. "It could be good for the foundation, too, I think, if the reviews for the concerts keep being as good as they are, It could be...I mean people might -"

Kurt nervous? Quickly. Blaine interrupts with a smile that feels as happy as he's going to get. "Kurt. I would love that."

Kurt turns to him, smiles. "You would?"

"Of course. It's way better than everything I came up with. I couldn't even imagine you'd be willing to do this, I could never ask you to -"

And apparently now it's his turn to ramble.

"You didn't ask," Kurt says. "And believe me, it's no sacrifice. This way, I get the best of both worlds. I get to perform, have the applause, the limelight, and then I get to...share my experience, make a difference." He grins. "Sleep in on weekends. And, best of all, I get to be with you."

Blaine doesn't know who starts kissing whom now, but they spend a good time making out on the couch before they talk again. Blaine thinks he would like skipping the talking part altogether, maybe take things to the bedroom so they can celebrate the end to pretending and the start of their real relationship. He doesn't smile, his mouth is too busy kissing, but inside, he is smiling so wide he is about to split. He aches with happiness, and he keeps kissing Kurt until other things ache as well.

Still. Blaine is the first to talk again. "I'm gonna miss you when you're back in New York," he says, pouting a little. He doesn't exactly know why he's saying this, it seems greedy and ungrateful somehow, but he can't help it: now that he's holding Kurt in his arms and knows it's real, he can't imagine not being able to do this, if only for a few months.

Kurt laughs. "Well, first, I'm coming back to Ohio with you. Assuming that's okay now we, you know, talked."

"Of course," Blaine says. "You should be there. Everyone will be so glad to see you."

"And then," Kurt says, "first of all, it's going to be some time until I'll be gone again, and if you really did miss me...well, you could come with me. Sing with me. Come here for a visit or for the whole time I'm here."

"What about the foundation?"

"You know Santana's just waiting for you to leave so she can take over."

Blaine laughs. "I'm not sure that's meant as an enticement or a warning."

"You are the foundation, Blaine. Nobody could ever take it away from you. But for a few weeks, even a few months for a time...I'm sure they'll manage."

Blaine nods, slightly reluctantly even though he knows Kurt is right.

"So now we've cleared that up," Kurt says, "would you like to come to the bedroom with me so we can consummate our marriage?"

Blaine nods again, more eagerly this time, laughing because he's pretty sure they've consummated their marriage a long time ago.

As Kurt takes his hand to lead him to the bedroom, though, Blaine holds him back. He needs to say it again, and he needs to hear it again.

"I love you."

Kurt smiles at him, all the love of the world shining from his eyes. "I love you too."

The End

Thank you so much to everyone who has read this story. Your comments mean the world to me.