A/N: Hi, kids!I'm back.I've been wanting to extend this fic but couldn't really get an idea to gel.Then I heard this song and snap!Story idea.Love it when that happens.If you aren't familiar with the song "Loving You Is Easy" by Sarah McLachlan, please check it out.It's a beautiful love song and I truly think it could have been on Gleeback in the day. So, without further ado:

Chapter 5: Loving You Is Easy

Blaine plodded through the door to his apartment with the last of his strength. He leaned heavily on the door once he closed it behind him and let out a tired sigh. He dropped his bag to the floor and took a few steps toward the bedroom before he noticed something was different.

The small dining table had been set for two – the "nice" plates and glasses were out, and a single taper candle looked to have been burned about halfway down. A piece of paper was folded in half and was lying on one of the plates. As Blaine approached the table, he saw his name written in a familiar hand. Opening the note, he read:

My dear B – I'm sorry that I missed you tonight. I know that we didn't have plans.I thought I would surprise you with dinner since we haven't seen each other much lately.I guess I should have known better.I packaged dinner up and put it in the fridge for you.There are heating instructions on the packages.Text me when you get home, regardless of the time.Talk soon.Love, K.

Blaine sighed again and smiled sadly at the note. His heart broke a little thinking of Kurt taking the time to make him dinner and then waiting in vain for Blaine to come home. He couldn't believe he'd missed him. He wasn't even supposed to be late tonight, but the simple convenience store robbery had gotten complicated when a hostage had been taken. The arrival of the local police had driven him back into the shadows, and it had taken some quick thinking and planning to help free the hostage and elude the police himself. He'd finally managed to do it and to make his exit by climbing up a fire escape of a neighboring building and crossing the rooftop to the building behind it. It had been a thrilling and rewarding experience, but had led him to walking in the door well past midnight – a fact which he would regret when he had to get up early for class tomorrow.

None of that mattered now, however. All Blaine could think about was how he'd disappointed Kurt, the one person he never wanted to let down. He peeked in the fridge at the food Kurt had left for him, but he was in no mood to eat. He closed the refrigerator door, darkening the room once again, and made his way across the apartment to his bedroom.

He sat on the edge of his bed and pulled his phone out of his pocket to send Kurt a text like he'd requested. He stared at the phone for a moment wondering what in the world to say. He started the message no fewer than five times, each with varying degrees of detail and apologies. Finally, he realized that Kurt was probably asleep and wouldn't want to read a long message anyway. He settled on something simple: Hi, baby. I'm home.I'm so sorry I wasn't here for your surprise.We'll talk tomorrow.Love you – B.

He set the phone aside and headed for the bathroom to take a quick shower. He was surprised to hear his phone ping so quickly. Rushing back to the phone, he read Kurt's response: Glad u r home. Call me tomorrow when you can.Night, B.

Blaine managed a small smile, then headed back to take his shower. Ten minutes later, he emerged and practically crawled under the covers. He still felt horrible for what happened to Kurt, and those thoughts dominated his mind as the physical exhaustion took over and he drifted into a fitful sleep.

xoxoxo

The morning light didn't do much to lift Blaine's mood. It wasn't just that he'd missed one dinner with Kurt. It seemed like more and more his work as Nightbird was getting in the way of his life, especially his relationship. Between school, his job at the hospital, and his duties as Nightbird, he felt like he was constantly running just to keep up, fitting in time with Kurt where he could, but that wasn't good enough. Not for him, and certainly not for Kurt.

He was in this frame of mind when he rang Kurt after his first class, only to get voicemail. As is often the case when people are caught up in their emotions, Blaine found himself pouring his heart out into the digital void.

"Hey, Kurt, it's me. I'm sorry again about last night. I wish I'd been there to have dinner with you. It seems I have been apologizing a lot lately, missing one thing after another. I wish…" he let out a heavy sigh and ran his hand through his hair in frustration. "Oh, I don't know. I guess I just wonder sometimes why you bother putting up with me. I know this relationship can't be easy for you. I just wish I could be more of a normal boyfriend to you – the kind of boyfriend you deserve. Ugh, I'm sorry, I'm rambling into your voicemail here and you don't really want to hear any of this. But, since there's no way to delete this and keep you from hearing it, I'll just apologize…again. I'll talk to you later, okay. I love you."

He disconnected the call and dropped his head to the table where he was sitting, banging his forehead against the hard surface a couple of times. If someone had passed him at that moment, they may or may not have heard him softly repeating the word "idiot" each time his head made contact with the table.

xoxoxo

Kurt rushed out of his class, his phone already in hand as he dialed in to listen to the message Blaine had left for him. He cursed his long-winded professor who had kept them a few minutes late, making him miss the call. He frowned as he listened, not liking the dejected tone in his boyfriend's voice as he spoke. While he'd been disappointed at not being able to see Blaine the night before, he certainly wasn't angry or as hurt as Blaine seemed to think he was. He knew Blaine had been under a lot of stress lately, and it sounded like that stress was getting to him.

He was about to call him back when an idea struck him. He sent a text message instead: B, I got your message. Please don't be upset.I want to talk to you, but not over the phone.I'm working at the diner tonight.Come see me there.We're ok.I promise.Love, K.

With a satisfied smile, he headed for his next class, sending a quick text to Rachel along the way.

xoxoxo

"Can't the two of you solve any of your problems without my help?" Rachel asked teasingly as she and Kurt worked side-by-side refilling salt shakers at the Spotlight Diner.

"Oh, shut up," he teased back, nudging her with his elbow. "You don't have to do much. Are you going to help me, or not?"

She looked up and off to the side, as if pondering her answer. "Well, I suppose so," she replied in an exaggeratedly dramatic tone. "I can't have you two lovebirds on the outs, now can I? Oh!" she exclaimed in surprise when Kurt hugged her and gave her a peck on the cheek.

"Thanks, bestie," he whispered.

A short time later, Blaine entered the diner. He looked around for Kurt, and saw him taking care of customers at a table. Before he could catch Kurt's eye, he felt an arm slip through his. He turned to see Rachel smiling up at him. "Good evening, sir," she said, her voice quite formal. "We've been expecting you. May I lead you to your table?" She was already walking him across the room to a table near one corner of the stage that had a small, handwritten "Reserved" sign on it.

"Um, okay," Blaine answered, a tone of confusion in his voice. "Rachel, what's going on?"

"All in good time," she said mysteriously as she guided him into his chair. Placing a hand on his shoulder, she leaned in a bit. "All in good time," she repeated, but this time the tone of her voice was soft and sincere, not teasing. She patted his shoulder and then flounced off to take care of customers at a nearby table. Blaine noticed that his favorite drink was already on the table, so he took a sip and looked around the room to try to find Kurt once more, but he was nowhere to be seen. Suddenly, a voice from the stage caught his attention, and the attention of the other patrons at the diner.

"Hi, all," Rachel's perky voice rang out. "Welcome to the Spotlight Diner. We have a saying here – why say it when you can sing it? So, without further ado, here to share a little something with someone special is our own waiter and vocalist extraordinaire, Mr. Kurt Hummel!"

The diners all applauded as Kurt took the stage. Kurt thanked the crowd and gave a special smile to Blaine as he took his place center stage. The intro music began to play and Kurt stepped to the mic. He looked straight at Blaine and mouthed, "For you," then started to sing.

Loving you is easy
Loving you is wondrous and pure
I shout it from the rooftops
How long must I wait 'til I see your smile?

Kurt smiled and pulled the mic from its stand, setting the stand aside and starting to work the stage a bit.

Might have been the moonlight
Caught up in the sparkle in your eyes (he winked at Blaine)
So wicked and I know I should go slow
But it's not in me to wait

'Cause I'm alive and I'm on fire
Shot like a star burst into the sky
Oh, the fury of desire it burns so bright, electrifies
You light me up, you take me higher

Kurt stepped off the stage at the far end and started to weave among the tables, slowly making his way towards Blaine.

I've been down a long road
I've become a stranger to myself
Digging in my heels and hoping time
Might be kinder if I wait it out

Nothing came from wanting
And I became so small and insecure
Didn't know the cost of all I'd lost
'Til I found it fresh and new again with you

He reached Blaine's table and stood in front of him as he headed into the next chorus.

And I'm on fire
Shot like a star burst into the sky
Oh, the fury of desire, it burns so bright, electrifies
You light me up, you take me higher

He finally sat down next to Blaine, taking his hand and looking into his eyes. The music dropped and Kurt finished the song softly, seeming to forget the other people in the room.

Loving you is easy
Loving you is wondrous and pure
I shout it from the rooftops
How long must I wait 'til I see your smile?

It turned out that he wouldn't have to wait at all – there Blaine was, right in front of him, smiling brilliantly as his eyes shone with unshed tears. Kurt was just about to kiss him when the sound of applause from the diners reminded him that they were not alone. He quickly leaned in, holding the microphone behind his back so the sound wouldn't be caught, and whispered, "I'll be off soon and we'll talk, okay?" before dropping a quick kiss to Blaine's cheek and rising to thank the audience and go back to the customers at his tables.

xoxoxo

It was about half an hour before Kurt was able to call it a night at the diner, but as quickly as he could, he returned to Blaine's table. He found him sitting with Rachel, who was keeping him company while on her break. They were eating cheesecake and laughing. "Stealing my boyfriend already?" Kurt teased, sliding a hand protectively across Blaine's shoulders and noting how Blaine automatically leaned into his side.

Rachel laughed as she stood to return to her shift. "No, no, he's all yours, Kurt. Just keeping him warm for you." She gave Blaine a quick hug goodbye and headed back toward the kitchen to return to work. Blaine looked up at Kurt, who was smiling down on him. "Let's walk, huh?" he said, nodding toward the door. They walked out arm in arm into the cool night air.

A few moments of quiet ensued before Blaine spoke first. "Thank you for the song, Kurt. It was beautiful," he said with a smile that somehow didn't reach his eyes.

Kurt pulled Blaine a little closer and replied, "You're welcome. I immediately thought of you the first time I heard it, and tonight seemed like the right time to share it with you."

They were quiet again, and then Kurt slipped his arm from Blaine's and took his hand. He walked to a bench and sat down, pulling Blaine down close beside him, but not releasing his hand. "So," he said simply.

"So," Blaine said with a sigh, breaking eye contact and staring at the ground.

"Blaine?" Kurt asked and paused, waiting for Blaine to look up. When he didn't, Kurt reached out and carefully turned Blaine's head towards him using two fingers under his chin. The look in Blaine's eyes nearly broke Kurt's heart. He looked so miserable and sad. "Oh, B, don't look at me like that," Kurt chided softly, cupping Blaine's cheek with his hand and stroking it lightly.

He paused, but Blaine remained silent, apparently unable to find his words. Kurt let his hand slip from Blaine's cheek but immediately returned to holding his hand. Somehow, it felt vital to maintain physical contact at the moment.

"B, when I heard your message this afternoon it made me so sad. I had no idea you were feeling that way. Why didn't you tell me?"

Blaine took a moment, but Kurt waited patiently. Finally, with a sigh, he responded, "I didn't really know I felt that way myself until I started to leave the message," he said. "I guess it's been building slowly. Every time I missed a date or showed up late or couldn't take your call – the dinner last night just sort of brought everything to a head, you know? I just felt like the worst boyfr…"

Kurt cut him off abruptly. "No, B. No. I will not allow you to say that about yourself again," he said adamantly. Blaine smiled a little, which drew a much larger smile from Kurt. "Look," he continued, "did you listen to the song I sang to you in there?" he asked. Blaine nodded. "I meant it. Every word. You are the best thing in my life, B. You are not a bad boyfriend, or person, and being with you is not difficult in the slightest. My feelings for you are as easy and natural as breathing. I don't 'deserve better' (he even made air quotes with his fingers, which made Blaine giggle) than you, because there is no one better for me than you. Simple as that."

Blaine moved closer to Kurt and wrapped his arms around him in a warm embrace. "I don't know how you do it," he said lowly, his voice near Kurt's ear.

Kurt pulled back to reply, furrowing his brow at Blaine's question. "You don't know how I do what?" he asked, sliding his hands down Blaine's arms and reconnecting their hands.

Blaine smiled at him and tilted his head to the side. "How you always manage to make me feel better. You always know what to say or do to make things right for me. It's amazing."

Kurt chuckled as he ran his thumb over the back of Blaine's hand. "Well," he said, looking down at their intertwined fingers as he spoke, "you once told me that I was your hero," he said, thinking back to the night they first met and all that had happened since then. He went on, "So, I guess it's my job to save you," he paused and raised his eyes to meet Blaine's before finishing, "even if it's from yourself."

He felt Blaine release his hands to raise one warm palm to his cheek before swiftly leaning forward to capture his lips in a kiss. "God, I love you," Blaine whispered when their lips parted, leaning his forehead against his boyfriend's.

Kurt chuckled as he whispered back, "Eh, it's just hero worship," he said, trying to dispel the last bits of angst in the moment. Blaine stood, bringing Kurt with him and hugging him briefly.

"Oh, honey, I haven't even begun the worship part yet," he murmured seductively before pulling away and taking Kurt by the arm. They shared a look that was a wordless conversation, and began making their way in the general direction of Blaine's apartment.

A/N: There you have it.Hope you enjoyed it.It's probably the last chapter I'll do for this fic, but I've said that before, so even I don't believe me at this point.Drop me a line and let me know what you think – like everyone else, I love getting reviews.Thanks!