30

Come What May

"So," Kurt said softly, "big day." He chewed his lips, standing in the unfamiliar room. Blaine nodded, wringing his hands. He looked around his new room in Cooper's apartment, swallowing.

"Yeah," he nodded. The boxes were unpacked, pizza eaten and Cooper was on a conference call in his office, one he'd been on for the last hour and a half now. "I mean, it's just on the other side of town," he offered, scratching the back of his neck.

"I know," Kurt smiled, nodding through it. "It just kinda sucks that I can't run down the hall and hold you if I feel like it anymore." Blaine wilted, stepping closer to take his hand.

"If you ever need me you just pick up the phone and I'll be there in a second," he swore. Kurt smiled, pulling him into his arms, hugging him close.

"I know I can. And you're crazy enough to rush on over there if I asked you to," he chuckled. He kissed his cheek, clinging to him for a bit. He sighed when his father honked outside. "I'll see you at school tomorrow."

Blaine kissed him deeply. "I'll miss you," he breathed, squeezing his hips. Kurt stroked his cheek, remembering the feel of his face.

"I'll miss you too," he nodded. "Oh! Fuck, I almost forgot. Hang on just a second." He bolted out of the room, leaving Kurt confused and anticipating. Blaine came back a moment later, beaming, and pressed a bouquet into his hands. Kurt beamed, the soft scent of the roses filling his senses. He buried his face in them, incredibly giddy.

Outside, Burt honked again.

"What are these for?" He asked, coy. Blaine grinned and kissed him again.

"Happy Valentine's Day."

Kurt spent the car ride with his face in the bouquet, grinning wildly. Across from him, Burt smiled.

Blaine looked around his new room, sighing.

He was completely safe here. There was no threat of injury, of being jerked out of bed in the middle of the night, of being afraid to shower in case Dad got the idea to try and drown him. He didn't have to avoid the stairs when someone was home or eat elsewhere just in case his plate got chucked across the room. He didn't have to be scared of a bottle of alcohol or coming home to a drunk after school.

Cooper was going to keep him safe and make everything okay. It was a long time coming, but it's always better late than never.

"So what do you think?" Cooper asked from the doorway, smiling nervously. Blaine turned to him, smiling.

"It's great," he nodded. "Gonna take some getting used to, but…" He grinned at him, sitting him down on his bed. His bed, no chains in sight. Cooper smiled back stepped in and leaning against the dresser.

"Okay, we're gonna have to set up some ground rules," he said. Blaine nodded in agreement. "Alright, in by one on school nights, and on weekends you gotta tell me where you're at every few hours or so. Kurt is welcome any time but please no monkey business with me in the house." Blaine opened his mouth to speak but Cooper cut him off. "Don't act like you two haven't…ya know." He waggled his eyebrows at him. "On that same note, if I have a lady friend coming I will give you at least two hours' notice before bringing said lady friend home. If I do not, feel free to prank me anyway you see fit. And that goes two ways, bud," he warned. Blaine nodded with a laugh.

"I think I can manage that," he assured. The elder Anderson came over and sat beside him, wrapping his arm around his shoulders.

"Now, as far as getting in trouble at school or elsewhere…" He ventured.

"I behave! For the most part," he amended, glancing up at him. "I haven't gotten into serious trouble since Kurt got hurt. But I think that was justified."

"I agree," Cooper said immediately. "But, just so you know, you get in trouble out there, you're in trouble here, okay? And I will not hesitate to ground you from your boyfriend."

Blaine was grinning. Structure without the threat of violence, this had to be a dream.

"So, you think you're gonna be okay here?" Cooper asked, wringing his hands as if he were nervous. Blaine nodded, giving the place another once over.

"I think I can live with this," he smiled, teasing. "'Least there's no chains on my bed." Cooper winced, looking away from him for a moment. Blaine looked at his hands. "Sorry, it was just a joke."

"I know," he nodded, trying to smile. "Just not something I particularly like thinking about, sport."

"But it's okay now," Blaine assured. "I'm fine. I'm so much better than I was since it happened." Cooper patted his shoulder, smiling a little.

"You're safe here, okay? You're completely and totally safe here, you know that right?" He assured, brows knitted. Blaine nodded.

"Yeah," he agreed, eyes holding doubt. "It's just, uh, gonna take me a minute to get used to it. New place and everything." Cooper nodded again.

"Alright, but you do know that if…if you ever get scared or anything I'm right down the hall," he assured, trying not to baby him or sound like too much of a goon.

"Yeah, I know," he grinned. "I know I'm safe. For the next twenty four years and thirty seven days, anyway." Cooper laughed with his younger brother, clapping him on the shoulder.

"Alright, now, onto the big question," he said in earnest. "When are you asking Kurt to prom?"

Blaine chucked a pillow at him.

"I'm just saying, Finn asked me months ago."

"Yeah, well, Blaine isn't Finn, thank god," Kurt sighed, holding her arm while they made their way down the hall toward Glee club.

"What's wrong with Finn?"

"Other than him feeding you real meat and you being out sick for three days vomiting? A lot," he remarked. "I love the guy and everything but come on." Rachel scowled.

"Oh whatever, this isn't about Finn and I. This is about your boyfriend not asking you to the prom yet."

"Well maybe I'll ask him. Not against the law, you know," he said pointedly.

He thought about the boutonnieres they'd pin to each other, feeling Blaine wrapped in a suit holding him and dancing with him without a care, prying eyes be damned. He couldn't see them anyway, and if anyone tried to mess with them Blaine would break their jaw rather. The warm lights on his face, the stupid music they'd sing to each other. They'd end up sweaty and breathless, holding each other and rocking back and forth on a dance floor. They'd be in their own world with each other. It'd be wonderful. It'd be perfect, even if Blaine got into a fight or if people made comments. It'd be worth the end of the night when they got those suits off each other and… Oh yes, it'd be perfect.

Rachel rolled her eyes.

"I'm just saying," she huffed.

"And I'm just saying Blaine-"

"Blaine what?" He said, popping from around the corner. Kurt grinned, elbowing Rachel when she made a move to speak.

"Nothin'," he assured, beaming. He let go of Rachel's arms and transferred to his. "So, how's Cooper's place been?"

"Great," he nodded, smiling at him. "I think everything's kind of settled down."

"So we can be relatively normal teenagers that do normal teenage things?" Kurt smiled. Blaine chuckled.

"Yes, I think we can," he nodded. Kurt beamed.

"Good."

Blaine looked at him for a moment, watching him carefully, pupils dilating a little. He was wearing those jeans he liked, his shirt dipping around his neckline to reveal his collarbone and nearly tugged over his shoulder. His neck was so open, slender and beautiful. More than anything at this moment he wanted to sink his lips right into his flesh. He swallowed, stopping in the hall with a wry smile, tugging him into a nearby crevice in front of a custodial closet.

He put his hands on his waist, gripping him tight and holding him close. Kurt responded immediately, fingers in his curls, humming in his throat before realizing what they were doing. He pulled away, hand on Blaine's chest to keep him back.

"Blaine, what are you doing? We need to get to Glee club!" He exclaimed, flushed. Blaine whined, slightly breathless, pecking his neck.

"But you're so hot. Glee club isn't going anywhere…" He grinned. Kurt nodded, eyes fluttering shut at the sensations. He shook his head again, clearing it.

"Blaine Devon Anderson, we can't have a hot make-out session right here!" He hissed. Blaine brushed their noses together and pouted.

"Why not?"

"We're gonna get caught!" He breathed, ignoring the rush he got when he said it. Blaine, however, didn't.

"Fine, you keep watch," he teased. Kurt laughed, breaking off into a quiet coo when he kissed his neck again.

"You're so funny. I'm serious!" He exclaimed, but his smile and his body language saying much different.

"No, you just like playing hard to get," Blaine giggled, putting a swift kiss on his lips.

"I'll make you a deal, then."

"Ooh, blackmail. I've made you so devious, baby," he grinned. Kurt rolled his eyes.

"I'll blow off Glee club so you can blow me, if you go to prom with me," he winked. Blaine groaned.

"Prom? It's so lame!" He whined. Kurt pursed his lips.

"Oh come on, it's not that bad. It'll be fun," he reasoned. "I was so afraid for the longest time that I'd never find someone to go with and now I have you." Blaine smiled, watching him, seeing the passion in his expression that he didn't let spill into his words.

"I am crazy about you," he said, gently cradling his face.

"So…Is that a yes?" Kurt ventured, coy.

"Yes, I'll go to prom with you," he agreed, humming when Kurt kissed him.

Everything may not have been completely perfect. They still had school and Blaine still got into trouble every now and again. But he was his boy. His soon-to-be tattooed, pierced, brawling boy that smelled like bubblegum and leather. His Blaine.

And that was perfect.

Epilogue

An old man sits beside another on a park bench. The pale sun dances off his wrinkled skin, hair fluttering a little in the breeze. Clouded cerulean eyes seemed to look at the park before him but it went unseen.

A hand clasps over his and he smiles. He's never laid eyes on this man seated next to him, not in the forty-two years they've been married.

But he loves him just as fiercely as the day he told him so.

He takes a deep breath and smiles at the kiss placed on his cheek.

It was such a nice day.

A/N: Thank you all so, so much for being so supportive and patient throughout this whole thing. You are all wonderful, beautiful people and I love each and every one of you. The readers, the reviewers, the followers, the favorite-ers, every single one of you are important to me. Thank you, thank you, thank you for this experience and God bless! 3