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A/N: well, here we are. i really didn't mean for this thing to get so long, and i'm extremely grateful to everyone who's read this thing. i've loved writing it, and the delightful audience was a huge part of why it was so much fun, so THANK YOU!!! thank you to the lovely darren-naya for creating the graphic down below, and to my dear friendthestaticinhersmile for talking me out of things that didn't need to happen and helping me figure out the ones that did. ♥ okay, shutting up now. if you want me you can always find me on tumblr.
30. You.
What, you didn't think you'd get a turn?
It's only fair, isn't it? You watched them through the whole school year, and you knew they were in love before they did. You cheered them on, you ached for them, you listened to their songs and their words and their innermost thoughts. It's time you got your own point of view -- which just so happens to be third-person omniscient. Lucky you!
Let's look, shall we?
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The week after Nationals, Kurt is invited to dinner at Blaine's for the first time. It's awkward, but at least his parents are making an effort, and Blaine spends the whole meal smiling. Afterwards, when Kurt and Blaine leave to see a movie, Blaine's father sits in his study, pours himself a scotch, and looks down into his glass as if he'll find an answer there.
"He does seem like a nice young man," he says to no one, and takes a drink.
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The summer after their junior year is one of the hottest in Ohio's history. Neither of them mind, since it's a good excuse to be naked as often as possible. Which isn't as often as they'd really like, but they manage.
On the Fourth of July, they spend the day feeding each other chunks of vodka-soaked watermelon, and lay on the grass hand-in-hand to watch the fireworks. They ooh and ahh over every vibrant burst, and Blaine sings along to "O Beautiful" as it blares out from the PA system at the park.
Late that night, Kurt slides inside of Blaine for the first time, hot and sweet and tight, and the bright sparks between them make the City of Lima's Independence Day display seem no more impressive than the candles that flicker gently on Blaine's dresser.
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School is, well...it's school. New Directions is as ridiculous as ever, of course. Bullies are still bullies, but Kurt and Blaine hold their heads high and wash each other's hair in the locker room when they get hit with slushies. (The slushying sucks, sure, but they both really do enjoy the clean-up.) Blaine lands the role of Tony in the school production of West Side Story, to the surprise of no one -- and Kurt manages to get elected senior class president, to the surprise of everyone (except for his campaign manager; Blaine had insisted all along that Kurt would win). It's hard to enact real change at McKinley High, but when Santana and Brittany announce that they're dating -- the worst-kept secret in glee club history, everyone says afterwards -- they join with Kurt and Blaine to start a chapter of PFLAG, and that helps, a little, even if Brittany is confused about why their flag is rainbow-striped and not yellow.
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January 1, 2012, 12:33 a.m.
From Blaine
where'd you go???
From Kurt
Upstairs to use the bathroom. Back in a sec.
From Blaine
hurry up, Rachel is wasted and trying to make me karaoke w her to "afternoon delight" :/
From Kurt
Does nobody get what that song is about?!? Why doesn't she sing it with Finn?
From Blaine
idk but hurry and save me!!! wanna kiss you some more :)
From Kurt
Stop texting me so I can pee!
From Blaine
okay
From Blaine
pee fast
From Blaine
hey remember last NYE? you were my favorite part of 2011 too btw ♥
From Kurt
xo ;)
From Blaine
xoxo
From Blaine
xoxoxoxox
From Blaine
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
From Kurt
Oh my god okay I'm on my way!!!!
From Blaine
:D
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Valentine's Day is roses and candy and stuffed animals, and everything is pink and red and covered with hearts. Blaine gives Kurt a voucher for tickets to Wicked on Broadway that summer. (They're hoping they'll be living in New York by then -- they'd each applied to a handful of schools in the city, but Kurt's mostly waiting to hear from NYADA; Blaine's heart is set on Tisch.) Kurt buys Blaine a pocketwatch with their initials and the words "As Time Goes By" engraved on the back in tiny, elegant script. Blaine tries not to cry and fails sort of massively, but Kurt kisses him anyway, tears and snot and all, and Valentine's Day is still Blaine's favorite holiday.
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New Directions beats the Warblers at Regionals. It's weird for Blaine to compete against his old friends, but they're all so excited to meet the boy who's been plastered all over Blaine's Facebook for months that it isn't awkward at all.
Kurt impresses everyone, of course.
On the drive back to Dalton, Nick and Jeff argue, based on their meeting with Kurt, which one of them is more likely to be Blaine's type.
"I'm willowy," Jeff insists. "Like Kurt."
"You're too blond, my little surfer boy," Nick says, laughing. "Clearly he prefers brown hair."
"Maybe I should text him and ask," Jeff says teasingly, pulling out his phone. Nick grabs it from him and holds it out of reach.
"Fine, I concede," Nick says. He leans in close to whisper in Jeff's ear so he won't be heard over the chatter of the other boys. "You are totally the most fuckable."
"Prove it to me when we get back to school?"
"Bet on it."
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Everyone is shocked when Santana nominates Kurt and Blaine for dual Prom Kings. Blaine hugs her giddily and thanks her, but she just shrugs and takes Brittany's hand. Doesn't say no, thank you, watching you two made me want to be brave. She knows they know.
"Every ball needs fairy godfathers," she says instead, and Blaine laughs.
"Oh!" says Rachel, sitting up straight and beaming. "This is excellent -- if we have gay prom kings, it'll definitely make the news. I'll probably be interviewed about my first-dance performance. I may have to rethink my musical selection, however. 'Isn't She Lovely' wouldn't be appropriate for two boys!"
"Rachel," Kurt says, exasperated. "That song's about a baby. Does no one listen to lyrics, ever?"
On prom night, they take pictures beforehand at the Hummel-Hudson house with Finn and Rachel, and while Burt and Carole and Hiram and Leroy are fawning over all of them, Blaine's parents pull into the driveway.
"We're here for the photo op," Blaine's father says. The picture he takes of Blaine with Kurt's arms around his waist will look lovely in a frame, Blaine's mother says, and Blaine beams.
After being extensively photographed, the four of them have dinner at Breadstix. Even if Rachel's dress isn't as flawless as the one Kurt chose for her last year, he thinks she still looks beautiful. He hopes she gets into Tisch along with Blaine -- while Kurt's acceptance letter to NYADA arrived a month ago, Blaine and Rachel are still, inexplicably, waiting for news -- because Kurt really cannot imagine his life without Rachel Berry. (Or, of course, without Blaine, but he knows that no matter what, the two of them will figure things out.)
At prom, Kurt and Blaine dance and laugh and sip punch that Puck may or may not have spiked, but they're drunk enough on being young and in love that they can't tell the difference.
They don't get elected Prom Kings, but they're there, together, with tiger lilies in their lapels, and that's plenty good enough.
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Nationals takes place in Orlando, and this year they're prepared. Kurt and Blaine are going to kill with their duet of "Midnight Radio," Blaine is pretty sure. And although theydo kill, they don't win -- they come in second.
But that's not the important part.
What's important is that on their free day, they get to go to Disney World. They ride the Haunted Mansion four times, mostly because it's dark and good for making out. Blaine buys them both personalized mouse ears and sweet-talks Kurt into keeping them on; eventually they swap and wear each others' names, and Santana pretends to gag when she sees them. They take photos with every character they see, and they think Tigger is flirting with Kurt but it's hard to be sure, so they just smile for the camera. (The pictures all go on Blaine's Facebook, naturally, in an album titled "the happiest place on earth!!!") Kurt kicks Blaine's ass soundly on the Buzz Lightyear ride, and Blaine drags Kurt onto Splash Mountain despite his protests, and buys them each a copy of the picture of them screaming on their way down the big drop.
But none of that is really the important part, either.
The really important part comes during the fireworks display, when Blaine abruptly drops to one knee. He grabs Kurt's hand to get his attention, and when Kurt sees Blaine kneeling there, he yelps. A few people standing nearby glance over curiously, and Kurt is thankful it's dark, at least.
"What are you doing?" he hisses.
"I'm proposing, obviously."
"Oh my god, Blaine, we are eighteen, and I mean -- yes, of course, but don't you think..." Kurt's voice trails off as Blaine pulls a piece of paper from his pocket and carefully unfolds it, holding it up so that Kurt can see the letterhead.
"I got into Tisch," Blaine says, grinning. "I was waiting to tell you, but it's official. So I'm proposing...four more years?"
"Oh," Kurt says. He yanks Blaine to his feet so he can hug him tightly, and keeps talking while Blaine chuckles warmly in his ear. "Yes! Four more years. Yes. Good."
Blaine kisses Kurt softly on the cheek. "You said 'yes, of course,'" he whispers. "You thought..."
"I thought a little," Kurt confirms, hiding his face in Blaine's shoulder.
"Good," Blaine says. "I'm going to hold you to that. Eventually."
--------
Eventually comes four years later, but Kurt gets there first.
It's the morning of Blaine's graduation. Kurt's ceremony had been a week earlier, and he'd held his breath the whole day, hoping that Blaine hadn't had the same idea. Not that Kurt would've minded being the one asked, obviously, but he's been planning this for weeks.
Everyone is there at breakfast -- Blaine's parents and Cooper, Burt and Carole, Finn and his new girlfriend. Rachel is there, of course, since she's graduating as well, along with her dads and even Quinn, who'd taken the train in from New Haven for the occasion.
Kurt tries to hide his nerves while they eat. It's not like he really thinks Blaine would say no, but what if he thinks it's too soon? What if he hesitates? Oh God, what if Kurt forgot the ring? He pats at his pocket one more time, just to be sure, and feels the reassuring small, hard circle. It's there.
It's time.
Kurt taps his glass with his fork, then stands. Cooper gives him a small, encouraging nod, and with a quick discreet movement, turns on the camera he's had sitting casually on the table since they arrived.
"I'd like to make a toast," Kurt begins, and he tries to keep his mimosa steady. Burt smiles at him, proud and a little teary-eyed. Kurt smiles back quickly, then looks away before it sets him off, too.
"First of all, I want to congratulate Miss Rachel Berry on her graduation today," he says. "Rachel, I'm so proud of you, and I'm proud to call you my friend."
"Thank you," Rachel says, giving him a little wink.
Kurt turns to Blaine, who's looking up at him with a soft smile.
"I also want to congratulate Blaine," Kurt continues. "It's funny -- before Blaine transferred to McKinley, I always thought I'd meet a nice girl in college. I figured she'd be something like Rachel, only less crazy -- sorry, Rachel -- and we'd meet and fall in love and that would be my story. But then, on the first day of my junior year, Blaine stopped me to ask me a question, and my story changed forever. And so now" -- he pauses, sets down his drink, and reaches into his pocket for the ring, his heart pounding in his chest -- "I'd like to ask Blaine a question."
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Blaine practically skips down the hall with the ice bucket -- how had their suite had everything but ice? -- humming to himself. And when two lovers woo, they still say 'I love you, on that you can rely. He's had a few days before that he'd thought were the best of his life, but nothing came close to this one -- six years to the day after he and Kurt had danced at their junior prom. (Well, okay, their first trip to New York came a little close. Still, Blaine's pretty confident that it'll be a long time before a day can top this one.)
He slides his key card into the door and pushes it open. Kurt's fussing with the champagne, tall and graceful and gorgeous, even from behind.
"Excuse me," Blaine says, and Kurt turns around. "Have you seen my husband?"
"Why, I believe that would be me," Kurt answers softly, stepping close. Blaine lifts Kurt's hand so he can kiss the slim band on his finger, and Kurt smiles, the crinkly-nose smile that's Blaine's very favorite smile.
"Oh, there you are," Blaine says, grinning back at his husband, his love, his best friend. His Kurt. "I've been looking for you forever."
-the end-