Disclaimer: I do not own Glee, any of their characters or anything that can be related to something that exists in the real world.

Warnings: None, I think.

Author's notes: Um... hi. There are no apologies great enough to make up for the length of this hiatus. I'm sorry. I hope you don't hate me or the chapter. I love all of you, if there are any left reading this by now. I'm posting this un-edited for now. I just couldn't keep you waiting another day! If you're interested I'll tell you a little about what has happened in my life, that led to this hiatus. If you're not interested, do go on and read the chapter. I hope you'll like it! ^^ I will NOT be giving up on this story, I promise.

So. I moved in with my boyfriend, and it's been great. I got a baby brother in July (2013). I started university in the fall but stopped again in March because I hated it. So now I'm working full time as a gardener at the cemetery again. This has given me some time to write, luckily! Also I went on a vacation to Paris.
So yeah, doesn't sound like much when I write it out like that. But it's felt like a lot. Anyway. Hope you're all doing good. Enough rambling. I really hope you can forgive me, and that the chapter isn't bad. Enjoy! :*

Nailed Shut

Chapter 18:

Wednesday the 1st of June 2012

"Are you ready?" Kurt asked giddily, smoothing the shoulder-fabric of Blaine's graduation gown.

"I'm nervous." Blaine replied, trying for the seventh time to get that darned lock of hair to lie flat on his head.

Kurt grabbed his boyfriend's shoulders and gently spun him around to face Kurt instead of the mirror. "You look great, you're done with the school-work and your room is all packed. Now you just have to walk across that stage, shake hands with the principal and get that piece of paper from him. That's all; you're already done. And I'm so proud of you!" Kurt gently lifted Blaine's chin so he would meet Kurt's eyes instead of looking at his fidgeting hands.

Blaine gazed from one of Kurt's eyes to the other and back a couple of times, taking a breath. "Thank you, Kurt."

"I love you. Now, let's go, so you're not late." Kurt grabbed Blaine's hand as they headed out the door.

Blaine refused to let go of Kurt's hand as he stood and waited for his name to be called during the ceremony, not caring if people found it odd that ha was seemingly gripping onto thin air.

"Do you want me to come with you on stage?" Kurt asked carefully, watching the side of Blaine's head as the latter stared at the place where he'd walk onto the stage.

"I do, but I need to do this alone; for myself." Blaine replied in a whisper, turning his head to look at Kurt.

"Alright, then I'll just-"

Kurt was cut off by the call of Blaine's name on the stage. Blaine's eyes looked terrified, but he let go of Kurt's hand and started ascending the stairs.

"I love you!" Kurt called after him, before teleporting to the space right below the stage. He watched as Blaine walked up to the principal with a huge grin on his face. Just like when Blaine had performed at the Christmas-concert, the nerves he had before had been left backstage. Blaine shook the principal's hand and received his diploma before walking off the stage on the other side. Kurt teleported there in a moment and grinned at Blaine as he walked over to him.

"Congratulations!" Kurt exclaimed and hugged Blaine, who stood still, simply angling his nose into Kurt's neck as he was embraced. He let go again and they both just grinned at each other for a moment, until a high-pitched squeal cut through the chatter around them.

"BLAINEY!"

Kurt turned around as Blaine leaned to the side to catch a glimpse of Aimee running toward them through the crowd; Charles following closely behind and apologizing to the people Aimee had bumped into on her way. Kurt stepped to the side right in time before Aimee threw herself at Blaine's legs. Blaine laughed, picked his little sister up and settled her onto his hip, wrinkling his graduation robe in the process. "Hi Aimee! You came!"

"Of course!" the little girl grinned and kissed her brother's cheek. "You gratutated!"

"Graduated, lady Aimee." Charles pointed out as he reached them. He shook Blaine's hand. "Congratulations, sir."

Kurt became un-solid and stepped back into the crowd, to the point where he could barely see Blaine behind all the graduates and their loved ones, but could hear him clearly.

"Thank you, Charles." Blaine replied and smiled politely. "I'm glad you could make it."

"We wouldn't miss it for the world, sir." Charles put a hand on Blaine's shoulder for a moment, before retracting it and reaching into his pocket. "I've got something for you." He pulled out an envelope and held it out toward Blaine.

Blaine took it and stared at the message on it for a moment.

"What is it?" Aimee asked from where her head was resting on Blaine's shoulder.

"Grown-up stuff." Charles stated but smiled at the little girl.

"It's from mommy and daddy." Blaine said. "It's mommy's handwriting."

"It's the papers for the house." Charles explained. "They are all filled in. You just need to sign them on your birthday and post them to the stated address. Then the house is yours." He tried to smile, but it was more apologetic than happy.

"I want a house too!" Aimee whined. "Just as pretty as yours, Blainey!"

"I'm sure you will have a beautiful, big house when you grow up, honey." Blaine smiled and kissed the top of his sister's head.

"I'm afraid we have to go now, lady Aimee." Charles sighed. "We mustn't be late for your mother's dinner."

Aimee pouted as Blaine put her down. "I will see you soon, baby." he said and stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. "You can come visit on my birthday!"

Aimee turned toward Charles. "Can I? Pretty please?" she pleaded.

"I'll see what I can do." Charles promised and took the little girl's hand, nodding to Blaine before the two disappeared into the crowd.

Blaine had barely started looking around for Kurt when suddenly a crowd of Warblers in graduation gowns surrounded him.

"Hey Blaine! Was that your little sister? She's gotten so big!" Trent grinned before giving Blaine a hug. "Happy graduation!"

"You too." Blaine grinned as Trent pulled away.

"GRADUATIOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!" Jeff squealed, jumping up and down.

Nick put a hand on Jeff's shoulder to calm him down. It didn't do much.

"Hey there, Wes. Almost didn't recognize you without the blazer." Blaine teased.

"Hilarious." Wes mumbled. "I can't wait to get out of this hideous thing."

"So where are you all going off to now?" Blaine asked.

"Harvard." Wes smiled slightly, seeming to forget about the gown.

"I'm taking a year to decide what I want to do with my life." David smiled as well.

Thad sighed. "Community college. Didn't get into the school I originally wanted."

"I've gotten a job at a thrift store, actually. Through someone my mother knows. I think I'll like it." Trent grinned widely.

"I'll go wherever Nick goes." Jeff stated and stopped bouncing, looping his arm through his boyfriend's.

"And I have no clue, yet. Hopefully California." Nick said.

"I'm gonna be famous!" Jeff chirped.

"That's all great!" Blaine said before they all hugged each other. "I'm moving into my house and I have a couple of job-offers locally that I'm choosing between."

"That's great!" a few of his friends exclaimed.

"Well, I guess we all should get going. Family dinners and stuff to attend." David smiled.

"Don't be a stranger!" Wes called as Blaine's friends all scattered into the crowd where they had come from.

"I'm sorry that I can't help." Kurt sighed as Blaine returned into his dorm room to pick up another box.

Kurt had watched for almost thirty minutes now, while Blaine carried box after box to his car outside. There weren't that many boxes, but the distance from Blaine's room at the end of the corridor, down all the stairs, through the halls and out into the parking lot was very long. Also, Blaine had more stuff than one would think could fit inside such a small dorm.

"It's fine. Really! I just wish I could carry more boxes at once, so I didn't have to walk all the way as many times." He bent down and put his hands through the handle-holes in a box labeled "bedding". As he tugged it, he almost fell forward over the box. "WHAT?!" Blaine shouted at the box. He ripped the top flaps of the box open to reveal that the contents were all books.

Kurt tried to hold his giggle in, but failed miserably.

"I should have read the labels on the boxes before I packed the wrong stuff in them." Blaine sighed.

"You should have." Kurt smirked. "I love you!" he chirped as Blaine forcefully yanked the box off of the floor.

That evening Kurt helped Blaine unpack the boxes. Here, where no one would see the items flying about. This time it was actually Kurt who moved stuff around while Blaine looked around and pointed to where he wanted every item. They decided to give up for the day when Blaine's stomach alerted them that it was time for dinner.

"It's so strange to have all of my things here. This is home now." Blaine quipped between bites of the Thai-food he had ordered.

"I think that home is where the heart is." Kurt said thoughtfully. "Not where all your things are."

"Then my home is wherever you are." Blaine smiled softly as the blush spread across Kurt's cheeks.

They sat on the couch in Blaine's living room and mindlessly watched TV while they cuddled. Kurt stroked Blaine's shoulder with his thumb. "So, what now?"

"I assume you don't mean going to sleep?" Blaine teased.

"No. What are you going to do every day now that you've graduated? What are you going to do for money? Or will you study more? Move? We haven't really talked about it." Kurt stilled his thumb and looked at Blaine, who couldn't place the emotion he saw in his boyfriend's eyes.

"Well, actually…" Blaine scratched the back of his neck with the hand that wasn't on Kurt's arm. "I haven't just been studying these past few weeks. I've been applying for jobs and such. I had two offers actually, but I have now decided on one."

"What is it?" Kurt sat up a little and smiled proudly.

"It's nothing fancy. I'm going to be a barista at this coffee shop called "The Lima Bean".

"That sounds nice." Kurt restarted rubbing his thumb on Blaine's shoulder. "When do you start?"

"On Monday."

"That's great! But will it be enough for bills and such?" Kurt frowned slightly.

"Money isn't an issue." Blaine admitted and looked back at the TV, slightly ashamed.

Kurt knew that however it had happened, Blaine had gotten some money - how much he didn't know, but from what he understood it was quite a lot - from his parents. Kurt thought that it seemed like they gave Blaine the house and a bunch of money, so they wouldn't have to deal with him. Kurt hadn't understood how parents could ever care so little for their own child. But at least, he thought, they hadn't just thrown him out WITHOUT a house or a bunch of money…

Monday the 6th of June 2012

"You look dashing!" Kurt insisted, as Blaine frowned at his reflection in the mirror. "You're probably going to have to wear an apron on top of your outfit anyway, and nothing really matches that." Kurt frowned now as well, before spinning Blaine around by the shoulders and ushering him toward the front door. "Good luck! I love you."

"I love you too." Blaine said before shutting the door between his worried face and Kurt.

While Blaine was at work Kurt sat in the kitchen contemplating what he could manage to arrange for Blaine's birthday. It was hard to think of something, what with Kurt being dead and all.

A little before five in the afternoon Kurt heard the door being unlocked, and promptly teleported to the hallway.

"Hi! How was your first day?" he asked giddily as Blaine's face came into view.

"Hi!" Blaine responded and started removing his shoes. "My feet are sore! I'm not used to standing around that much, but I guess it'll pass soon. Other than that it was fun! I talked to a bunch of people, the other baristas are really nice and I got free biscotti!"

Kurt laughs. "That sounds wonderful." He kissed Blaine's cheek lightly.

"How was your day?"

"Hard." Kurt admits.

Blaine's face falls and he talks carefully. "Did you cry? Should I have stayed home?"

"No. No no!" Kurt assures him. "Not that kind of hard. I was trying to come up with something fun for your birthday. But it's hard to arrange anything when you're dead."

"Oh." Blaine smiles again. "We're picking up Pavarotti that day, and I'm fine just staying home and make sure he adjust to his new home. And maybe we'll watch a good movie or something. I haven't celebrated my birthday in years, really."

Now it's Kurt's face that falls.

"And Charles said he would bring Aimee over. It'll be a cozy and laid back birthday. I'll have my sister, a fluffy puppy, and… you." Blaine smiles wide. "It'll be great."

"Are you sure?" Kurt asks, unsure.

"Of course!" Blaine walks toward the kitchen, Kurt just half a step behind him. "I'm starving!"

Kurt smiles at that. "Why am I not surprised?"

Friday the 10th of June 2012

Blaine gets off of work early on Friday and arrives home at about three.

"How was your day?" Kurt asks as Blaine enters the bedroom, just like he had every day this week when Blaine had gotten home.

Kurt puts the poetry-book he was reading back on the shelf.

"Great! I got a cupcake with a candle in it. One of the girls, Jessica, remembered that I told her about my birthday at lunch on Monday, so she made it for me."

"That was nice of her."

"Shh, Pavarotti. You're safe." Kurt murmurs to the puppy as Blaine carries it in a travel cage from the car. "He doesn't seem to like the car."

"It was his first time, so I'm sure he's scared." Blaine says as he struggles to pull the house key out of the pocket of his tight jeans.

The puppy whines in the cage as Blaine unlocks the door, and Kurt bends down to coo at him. "I know you're scared, but it's okay."

The puppy adjusts fast to Blaine's house. He wiggles around through all the rooms while sniffing the air. Kurt follows him around, taking pictures of him with Blaine's phone and doing a small house tour. "This is the bedroom. Don't pee in here." Kurt instructs the puppy, who just wags his tail. Blaine can't help but laugh from where he's standing in the doorway, watching them.

"PUPPY!" Aimee shrieks when her eyes fall on Pavarotti at Blaine's feet. She lets go of Charles' hand and throws herself at the puppy. "Hi puppy!" She holds her hand out and Pavarotti sniffs it carefully before he starts to lick it. "I like him." Aimee beams up at her brother.

"Thank you for bringing her over, Char."

"You're welcome, sir. I'll be back in a couple of hours."

When Charles leaves they move into the living room, Aimee crawling on the floor beside the dog.

"His name is Pavarotti." Kurt informs the little girl.

"I love him." Aimee says as she sits down on the couch.

"He's Kurt's puppy. Kurt got him for his birthday." Blaine says, lifting the puppy from the floor and setting him on his little sister's lap.

When Charles comes to pick Aimee up she's asleep on the couch, the puppy curled up beside her. Kurt takes another picture before reluctantly lifting the puppy away from the sleeping girl and putting him down on his bed on the bedroom floor. When Kurt comes back into the hallway he stops and smiles fondly.

Blaine is carrying his sleeping little sister to the door on his hip, her face nestled against his neck and her dark curls falling over Blaine's shoulder. He has one arm supporting her weight and the other tightly across her upper body, a hand that looks large and strong on the back of her head, his fingertips buried in her hair.

Blaine looks through the peep-hole in the door, careful not to squish his sister. When he sees Charles waiting on the doorstep he lowers his face toward Aimee's head, drawing a deep breath. The smell of strawberry shampoo fills his nostrils and he sighs contently. He kisses her forehead and whispers quietly to her, ever though he knows she's deep in dream land. "I love you."

Just as he is about to open the door, he feels a hand on his free shoulder. "Turn around."

Blaine does as Kurt says and finds that his boyfriend is holding the phone up toward him.

"You two are so cute." Kurt says and Blaine places another kiss on Aimee's head as Kurt takes a picture.

Kurt walks into the living room and Blaine turns around again to open the door where Charles is waiting to take the little girl home.

Kurt has fallen asleep against Blaine's side on the couch. Blaine picks his phone off of the coffee table, careful not to rustle Kurt awake. He makes the picture of himself and Aimee his background, smiling fondly at it for a moment. He puts the phone back and turns his head toward Kurt. He kisses his forehead, and even though he too is deep in dream land Blaine whispers: "I love you.".

Friday the 17th of June 2012

Blaine got off of work early this Friday as well. Kurt was waiting for him in the hallway when he entered the house. "Hi. How was your day?" Kurt is kind of sick of hearing his voice say that, but he loves to hear Blaine's response every day.

"It was… eventful." Blaine trailed off, not looking at Kurt as he locked the door behind him and took his shoes off.

"Good eventful or bad eventful?"

"I don't know."

"Tell me about it." Kurt walks toward the couch in the living room but stops when he notices that Blaine isn't following. He turns around to find Blaine fiddling with his hands, looking down at the floor by his feet.

"Blaine?" Kurt tries carefully, stepping toward his boyfriend.

"A bunch of college guys came in after lunch." Blaine mumbles quietly. "They were a handful."

"That's okay. I'm sure you did great." Kurt smiles and tries to still Blaine's twisting hands, but Blaine takes a step back.

"Kurt."

Kurt is worried now. A thousand scenarios reel through his mind. Did someone get Blaine fired? Did they make fun of him? Did they hurt him?

"Kurt, I… One of them asked me out. His name is Sebastian."

To be continued!

Author's note: There you go! I really hope I didn't give you a crappy chapter after this horrifyingly long hiatus. In the next chapter you'll find out what is going on with Sebastian!

Please leave a review to let me know what you thought of the chapter! I love you all. ^^