Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Sebastian: Want to hang out?

Blaine: Aren’t you at Dalton?

Sebastian: Not this weekend

Sebastian: Father dearest made me come to

his place for the weekend, to then fuck off somewhere else

Blaine worries his bottom lip, watching his screen displaying his conversation with Sebastian for a long moment, before he goes to type an answer. But then another text comes.

Sebastian: Honestly, I’m bored AF and on my own

Sebastian: And I also like to spend time with you, so…

Blaine cannot help but smile at those words, blush slowly creeping up his face even when he knows it shouldn't be there; whilst not unwelcome, that blush doesn’t exactly belong to Blaine. Not in his circumstances. But right now he’s alone, and nothing else is happening. So, he allows the blush to tint his cheeks pink, and finally texts back.

Blaine: Mall, in like, twenty?

Sebastian: You’re on, Killer

The mall they meet up at is sort of close to Blaine’s house. He believes Sebastian doesn’t live too far away from it, but he’s not too sure about that one. They haven’t been to each other’s houses yet, and he knows Sebastian lives in the same area as he does, Bexley, only because Nick had commented on it - how now Blaine finally had someone from Dalton close to him, joining him in his rich kid culture and country clubs. Blaine had kept himself from reminding Nick they had initially met at a country club during the Summer before they’d started at Dalton (even when, technically, Blaine did so months after Nick did), and that he lived in Harrison West, but he knew whenever Nick got into his teasing moods it was better to tackle him to the ground, words be damned. Besides - he likes knowing Sebastian is that close to him. Despite only knowing him for a little while…. There is something about Sebastian. Something about his presence makes Blaine feel calm, even if Sebastian is the opposite of calm, cool exterior aside.

There is also the fact that Blaine had been bored as hell, too. McKinley is going slightly better than he’d expected, yet worse in a way he had not imagined. Because, somehow, he’d believed the New Directions would welcome him with open arms; he’d prepared himself for the bullying to come from the jocks, he’d prepared himself to be shunned out and feel like a loser once more. Yet - some jocks had known him from Dalton’s Fight Club, so there had been some immediate and silent respect there. Blaine also knows it’s because they know how well he can fight, but - semantics. He finds himself sharing classes with a lot of new people, and Blaine’s always been a friendly person, so soon enough he’s pretty well-known in the school. Shockingly, in a good way. The rehearsals for West Side Story had gone well, too, and he’s been working with a lot of jocks. They’re nice, close minds aside, so it is better than he was expecting.

New Directions, on the other hand… Blaine is still trying to decide what exactly he did wrong with them. If he did anything, other than just - what? Exist in the same space? Breathe the same air? He doesn’t get it. Especially because things had not been bad the year before - that had made him believe they were all going to be okay if he transferred. But now… Santana has something against him all of a sudden, although Blaine does suspect it is not entirely personal, and Finn cannot stand his presence. Half of the club is suspicious of him being there, and thanks everything for Tina, because she at least gives him the time of the day and sits with him in class. Mike too, in the few they share.

And God, Kurt - his own boyfriend. The one who had been begging him to transfer for months, to the point Blaine had believed their relationship was doomed if he didn’t transfer. That same boy, now he seems to be annoyed by almost everything Blaine does. The hazel-eyed wonder is willing to give him some grace, knowing Kurt is maybe still hurt about the casting for West Side Story. But there is so much Blaine can take before he over-worries and starts spiraling.

Somehow, Sebastian has made it so he doesn’t completely break down. In some bizarre way it is Sebastian keeping his head above water, even if the taller boy isn’t aware he’s doing so. Not like Blaine is telling him any time soon - he doesn’t want to scare Sebastian away. And also - he’s a bit scared about it.

For the moment, however, he’s forgetting about it. He’s going to have a good time with Sebastian in the mall, and he’s going to focus on that, not on stupid feelings and absent boyfriends.

Sebastian is already in front of a store they’ve met a few times in front of, which makes Blaine smile. He knows it is because he’d made a comment about the store the first time they’d been there, that Sebastian now connects it with him. It doesn’t make him feel bad, honestly.

“Hey, Killer” Sebastian says the second he sees him, smiling. He goes in for a short hug, which Blaine happily gives him, squeezing the taller’s middle for a moment before he lets go “. Took you less than we said”

“Right back at you” Blaine replies, winking at Sebastian. The evergreen-eyed laughs, knocking their shoulders together.

“Yeah, yeah. I was dying to get out of that house, if I’m honest. It looks like a fucking catalog, B, it is… creepy”

“Yeah” Blaine sighs, because he can sort of get it. Whilst he knows his family situation is not half as bad as Sebastian’s, he also can understand feeling like an outsider in your own home. And before he had his room at Dalton to feel like home, and like his… he does miss it. And he can understand why Sebastian prefers to spend time there, instead of at his house.

“C’mon, let’s get coffee” Sebastian urges him “. Maybe if you flirt with the barista she can spike it”

“Not a chance, Smythe” Blaine laughs, but he still follows Sebastian to their favorite coffee place in the mall (a place Blaine shared with Sebastian, so he’s proud his friend loves it just as much). They don’t spike their coffees, but Blaine does flirt with the barista, a redhead that looks like she’s a freshman at college, and gets them a free sweet. They split it in the middle and share it before they start mindlessly walking around the mall, talking mostly nonsense, and yet - Blaine has never felt more at peace. Which is a weird feeling, but one he wants to embrace.

He cannot help but listen intently to every word Sebastian says, hanging onto them like they’re the one thing keeping him uptight. It is almost intoxicating, the way he speaks and how the vowels just wrap around his tongue, his lips. There is something else, too, something about how his eyes go so soft, how he shrugs whenever he says something that may be a bit more open than he’s used to. Blaine can only ask himself for a moment if Sebastian is this way with other people, too, but - he knows enough about not opening up to people. And he can see this is not something Sebastian usually does.

The idea of being the only one that gets this Sebastian is thrilling. Even when he doesn’t know what to do about it yet.

But. Thing is. Sebastian and he are friends - just friends. He’s told him he’s dating someone else, that he wants to be faithful, and Blaine wants to be true to his word. But… he cannot go and lie to himself and say he’s not attracted to the taller boy. Incredibly so.

How could he not? Sebastian is gorgeous, and hot, and… there is something about him. As attractive as Blaine finds him, as he knows Sebastian is… he knows the attraction he feels for Sebastian is not only physical. There is a connection between them, Blaine can feel it. Something that keeps drawing him to Sebastian. And honestly, he wants to listen to it. Even if it’s just friendship - Blaine feels at peace when he doesn’t pretend that connection isn’t there.

“Is that a new store? I’d swear that was not there the last time we came here” Sebastian says then, interrupting himself in the middle of a story involving the Terror Twins (aka, Nick and Jeff) and way too much caffeine. Blaine follows his line of sight and sees a music store, fit in a corner and looking way too small for fitting any instruments inside.

“It looks a bit old to be new” he notes, tilting his head “, but I’ve never seen it either. Although… with how small it is, I wouldn’t be surprised if we just overlooked it”

“I guess” Sebastian murmurs, and then he grabs Blaine’s elbow, startling him. He’s happy their coffees were finished and cups thrown in the trash five minutes prior, or else he would’ve dropped his on the ground “. Let’s check it out, maybe it’s cursed or some shit”

“We are already in Ohio, Bas, we don’t need any more curses” Blaine points out, making Sebastian laugh out loud. He still drags Blaine there, and the shorter boy lets him do, happy that Sebastian loves adventure as much as him. It is no surprise he’s becoming his best friend rapidly.

Both Dalton boys are surprised when they get to the store; only the storefront is small, as when they get inside they discover the place is rather huge. Blaine cannot help but smile when he sees all the instruments filling up the space, lining up in the walls and everywhere he can look. The place is cramped, even with its size, but so strategically positioned it doesn’t feel oppressive or overwhelming.

Sebastian whistles lowly next to him, starting to walk inside the store, and Blaine is quick to follow him, looking around them with a look of awe on his face “. This place is incredible” Sebastian says after a moment in silence, getting Blaine to nod in agreement “. Pretty empty as well”

“We barely could see it” Blaine points out “. But you’re right. Not even someone behind the counter”

“Maybe they’re in the back” Sebastian suggests, shrugging. Blaine nods at that, and follows Sebastian when he goes a bit more in, trying to explore the store. As they get to the back of it, the instruments get a bit more exotic “. Wow, they have everything in here… some of these instruments are… exotic”

“That’s a way to say it,” Blaine says, almost snorting a laugh. It gets him Sebastian bumping their hips together, but he keeps exploring. Soon enough, something calls his attention “. Oh wow, look at this”

“What is it?” Sebastian asks, curious, before he follows Blaine to the instrument he’s seen.

“A steel drum” Blaine informs him “. I think the last time I saw one was during a trip with my family when we went to Trinidad a couple of years ago”

“Cool” Sebastian smiles “. I wonder if we can play with it…”

Before Blaine can point out they probably can’t, as most stores don’t want people messing with their instruments in case they break them and don’t pay them, an old man appears out of nowhere, with a name tag on his old flannel that reads Felix. He has a kind smile and wise eyes, and nods towards the steel drum before speaking.

“You’re free to play any instruments in this store, as long as you are respectful,” he says, winking at them before he’s disappearing again. Blaine and Sebastian exchange a look and a shrug before getting closer to the steel drum. Sebastian only hovers around it, curious, but Blaine cannot help himself. He’d been taught some basics on how to play it, and he’s played drums since he was ten, so - he can do it.

And, granted - it’s not like he actually plays instruments around a lot of people. Well, he does play the violin around them, as he does have lessons and is still in an orchestra, and he usually lets himself play the piano with people around. He’s pretty sure most people think he only plays piano. But, for the other instruments - well, it’s not as usual in him. He’s pretty sure not even his family is aware of how many instruments he plays.

But with Sebastian, again, it is different. A lot is different with him. So he gets closer to the drum, and then, after sharing a smile with Sebastian, plays it for a little bit. He lets himself enjoy it, focusing on the music and the sounds he can create. He feels a bit better after he does, when he plays and lets music just take control for a little bit.

After he’s done, he remembers Sebastian is still there, so he blushes softly and raises his eyes. The taller boy is smiling brightly at him, eyes shining with admiration. He seems impressed with Blaine’s show and play, and when he gets a bit closer, Blaine cannot help but smile.

“That was amazing, Killer” he compliments him, making Blaine’s blush get darker “. I didn’t know you knew how to play drums… I heard from Nick you play piano”

“I also do” Blaine shrugs, but that only makes Sebastian’s eyes shine brighter “. What?”

“You have to play me something,” he says, and Blaine is a bit taken aback by how surprised he is. It’s a good feeling, but surprising nonetheless “. C’mon, B, you cannot drop this bomb on me and not do it”

“You already knew” Blaine laughs softly, but he cannot tell himself Sebastian’s words don’t make him feel better. It is refreshing to have someone be that excited about something he can do, about something his. He does feel a bit guilty about his thoughts, but then again - he knows there is a lot of stuff Kurt would rather do before hearing him play piano. Especially if he is not singing along.

“But I haven’t heard you play” Sebastian argues “. C’mon, the old guy told us we can play any instruments as long as we’re respectful, which we know you will be”

Blaine smiles sweetly at him, the taller’s words managing to convince him of playing in less than a second. It is nice to have someone be that enthusiastic about what you may do, after all. So he nods, and they’re quick to find a nice piano, this time closer to the front of the store. Felix is nowhere to be seen, but, taking his earlier words as permission, Blaine sits down and opens the lid, softly playing a scale to make sure the piano is tuned (fortunately, it is) and marveling at how nice it sounds. Sebastian is now next to him, sitting on the bench, and although his presence is a bit intoxicating, Blaine smiles and lets himself breathe.

He plays one of his favorite songs, Nuvole Bianche, a song his mother loves, too. He’s not exactly sure if Sebastian wanted him to actually sing, but this feels… more real. Because, even when he does play piano around his friends, he usually chooses to sing, too, to use it as a tool. But Blaine also loves to just play piano, and necessarily sing while he does it, and doing it in front of someone - of Sebastian, feels good. Liberating, in a way. Like he’s confessing who he truly is, deep down.

For when he’s done, it takes him a long moment to gather the courage to look up at Sebastian, now a bit nervous about his reaction. It is a silly thought, however, because Sebastian is downright beaming at him, eyes shining more than Blaine has seen so far (he keeps the thought of how breathtaking that sight is to himself - and does so for a long time).

“Liked it?” He murmurs after a comfortable moment in silence. Sebastian huffs out a laugh, getting impossibly closer to him on the bench.

“Liked it?” He asks back, almost breathless “. Killer, that was incredible. You not only play the piano, you - you master it”

“You’re just saying that”

“Like hell I am” Sebastian disagrees, shaking his head “. B, I’m serious. Do you know how many snob kids I’m forced to interact with because of my parents say they play piano? And they always talk about all the lessons they received and how they would be offered a spot on the spot in Juilliard if they ever wanted so”

“I’m sure they’re fantastic”

“They know how to press keys” Sebastian insists, shaking his head “. But you cannot feel a thing with that. If anything, boredom. But this, B? This is amazing. This is… you are music. That’s it”

Blaine blushes furiously at that, but he cannot hate the compliment. Instead, of not saying something stupid, like I am glad someone sees me finally, he plays some notes on the piano, making a short melody on the spot “. Thanks” he whispers after a long moment of comfortable silence. Sebastian nudges his shoulder, and Blaine hears his smile more than sees it.

“Don’t thank me when I’m just telling the truth, Killer. But, if I may ask… how many instruments do you play, exactly?”

“A few” Blaine mumbles, still not looking at Sebastian.

“A few” Sebastian repeats, huffing a laugh “. Alright, Anderson, we are going to put a stop to the humble shit for a second. Before arguing against that, I know you are genuinely humble, which is weirdly hot, but listen here - you are talented. And hard working. And I know you are keeping some talents to yourself”

“I am not” Blaine weakly protests, but it sounds fake to his own ears. And judging by Sebastian’s look, he is not fooling him either.

“Sure. That’s why Nick told me you play piano, but didn’t tell me you also play drums. Or who knows what else”

“He doesn’t have to give you a run down” Blaine protests again “. He does know I play violin and he didn’t say, did he?”

“You play-? Now c’mon. Blaine, please? For a moment, let’s just - pretend you can talk about this. Stop being humble and tell me”

Blaine groans, throwing his head back. He is aware Sebastian is following his every move, which shouldn’t be as hot as it is, but alas, Blaine is only human. And this argument they’re having is stupid, and Blaine knows. And… it’s felt amazing to trust Sebastian. So what is one more thing?

“I play- a lot of instruments” Blaine starts. Sebastian rolls his eyes at the vague answer, and the shorter boy laughs and nudges his shoulder before he continues “. I started playing violin when I was barely four. Had had a year of music lessons before that, too”

“Wow, so you started really young” Sebastian notes, looking impressed “. I started dancing around that age, too. Couldn’t stop moving”

“And I couldn’t stop asking my parents for a violin, once I saw one in a concert we went to” Blaine laughs, still playing some melodies on the piano. It doesn’t seem like Sebastian minds the background music, so he keeps it going “. A couple of years after, when I was six or so, I started to play piano. My Mom had bought one for our living room, but like - no one played it, it was for decoration”

“Yeah, I have one of those, too” Sebastian murmurs, eyes going to Blaine’s fingers on the piano keys.

“Yeah. But one day, I started to play”

“Wait, so you didn’t receive lessons?” Sebastian asks, turning his head to look at Blaine.

“For violin, yes. But for piano, I just went with it. I mostly did it when I was bored, so by the time my parents found out, I was… pretty advanced”

“Holy shit”

“And then, I just - kept gravitating towards other instruments. Guitar followed piano, because once you understand how the violin works, it’s easy to understand how other instruments do”

“Right” Sebastian snorts “. Killer, it may be easier, but - you have a gift. You are aware of that, right? You’re gifted, you’re like - a musical prodigy. How many instruments?”

“A few” Blaine shrugs “. I picked up drums when I was about ten. Cello a year after, because my teacher recommended it. Flute, too. Stopped for a while because of some… bad jokes, but I took it back a few months ago. Bass. Keyboard, which is different than piano, I think. Mandolin. Ukulele, too. I would love to learn trumpet”

“Holy fucking shit” Sebastian laughs “. Blaine, you’re sixteen”

“And a half”

“Fuck you. B, you’re sixteen and already play that many instruments? Not to mention, I am sure you play all amazing”

“Not all, I mean-“

“Blaine” Sebastian interrupts him, not rudely “. Please. I’m serious, you - do you know how amazing this is? And how talented you are?”

“I’ve just had a lot of privilege” Blaine shrugs, dismissing Sebastian’s words “. And luck. And-“

“And insane talent, Anderson, stop with that bullshit. Are we privileged? Yeah, I guess. That doesn’t take away how incredible this is. Those snob kids? They don’t even come close to you. And they also have privilege”

“I guess…”

“B” Sebastian sighs, turning a bit on the bench so he’s looking at Blaine better “. You are talented. Insanely so. And deep down I know you know. So… why do you do this? Pretend you aren’t? Bring yourself down?”

“I…”

“You should feel proud of who you are” Sebastian insists “. Of everything you’ve accomplished”

“I am proud” Blaine shrugs “. It’s just… look, it’s easier. To do this”

“Easier” Sebastian repeats, frowning “. How is it easier? In what way?”

Blaine sighs, changing the melody so it’s a bit heavier, drawing the notes longer “. I don’t know” he murmurs “. It’s just… easier, to not say out loud what I can do. The instruments I play, how fast I can read music, or memorize something… it’s easier to tone it down, to pretend I don’t have as much talent. It’s easier to keep things in, you know?”

“Yeah” Sebastian almost whispers, in a way Blaine knows he was not meant to hear. Or, rather, in a way no one but him is meant to hear, anyway “. I get that, B. But…” he murmurs, and Blaine looks up at him, hazel facing evergreen “, what else do you keep in, Killer?”

Blaine blinks at that question, blush softly creeping in. Sebastian’s eyes show curiosity, and some concern, too, but they also tell Blaine he can find a safe place there. And again, it’s- it’s that feeling. It’s what he feels around his newly acquired best friend, a feeling of comfiness and sort of belonging. He feels like he can tell Sebastian everything, and not regret it. And whilst is scary to feel so when they’ve known each other for only a short period of time, there are few times Blaine has felt better.

“I’m not sure I am who everyone thinks I am” he whispers. If Sebastian is surprised, he doesn’t show it. He blinks rapidly for a moment, but lets Blaine take his time and continue “. I don’t… want to do what everyone thinks I should do”

“Like?” Sebastian asks, showing Blaine he’s listening.

“Like… people think I am this guy. They want me to be this guy, and… I don’t know if I can be him”

“Right” Sebastian nods. It’s stupid to think Blaine is talking about the Warblers, and the shorter boy knows Sebastian must be aware of that, too. He has to be aware of who is Blaine talking about, and how it doesn’t apply to any of their friends “. What do you mean, exactly?”

“I…” Blaine murmurs, and takes a deep breath, as if he has to get ready for what he’s about to say “. I don’t want to just be a Broadway actor. I don’t want to dedicate myself to musicals. I mean, I… I find it something really incredible. Intriguing, too. But it is not what I truly want”

“That’s fine” Sebastian nods “. So… what do you want?”

Blaine blinks at Sebastian, a bit taken back after that question. He cannot remember the last time he was asked something like this “. What  do I want?”

“That was the question, Anderson” Sebastian laughs, getting a playful roll of his eyes from Blaine.

“I really would like to be a music producer” Blaine finally confesses “. I don’t know, I… I love writing songs. The instrumental, but I also love to write lyrics, to work both things together. Writing songs is… something I really enjoy. Something I love, and… being a music producer would be a dream come true”

“Then be one,” Sebastian says, so simple Blaine wants to cry.

“It’s not that easy” he protests, stopping himself from whining, if barely.

“How is it not?” Sebastian asks, truly curious “. Seriously, how?”

“Because - I don’t know” Blaine shrugs “. I guess I just - I am afraid people won’t agree with my decision. That they will be disappointed by it”

“Fuck them” Sebastian replies, rather immediately “. Seriously” he insists when Blaine laughs “. Fuck them, B. This is your life, not theirs, so who cares if they got their dreams about you broken? Not your business. And… I wouldn’t be disappointed. In fact, I would be disappointed if you chose to be something you do not wish to be, or become. If you forget about your insane talent - then I would be disappointed”

“Right” Blaine murmurs, going back to playing. Sebastian lets him do for a few moments, but then nudges their shoulders together, speaking with a much softer voice now.

“Life’s too short to give up on what we want, B. To pretend we’re someone else”

Blaine stops playing then, eyes locking into Sebastian’s and breath getting caught in his throat. He knows Sebastian is right. He knows. He doesn’t know how to apply everything he’s said to his life just yet, but - hopefully he can do so. One day maybe he can.

“Okay,” he murmurs after a while. He can tell Sebastian doesn’t fully believe him, but he lets it go, and only smiles at him.

“You have talent, kid,” Felix says then, appearing out of nowhere once more and finally going behind the counter. Blaine smiles and stands up, urging Sebastian to do the same and going up to the store owner “. Been playing for long?”

“Music for twelve years, but piano for a decade” Blaine notes, and he can hear Sebastian’s proud smile at how he admits of his talent. Felix whistles in admiration, smiling gently at Blaine and Sebastian.

“A decade is a long time, kid, but I’ve known folks who were playing their whole lives and did not come close to what I’ve heard”

“Thank you, sir,” Blaine says, smiling gently.

“Don’t ever forget about your gift, kiddo” Felix says, still smiling at them. Blaine smiles back, and lets Sebastian say their greetings before they’re leaving the store, now close to closing time.

“Told you,” the taller says in his ear, smiling smugly at him. Blaine huffs a laugh, but doesn’t protest.

Maybe Sebastian is right. Maybe he can start listening to him… Sebastian is the person Blaine trusts the most. The only one who’s ever seen him for who he is, who he truly is. And if Sebastian says all of those things about him… it is scary to accept.

But Blaine believes he can do so. Eventually.

Chapter Text

Sebastian has always believed he needs no one. Ever since he could realize he is more of an accessory to his parents than their actual child he’s known the only person he needs, it’s him. He’s been aware of how people will fail you, and break you, and play with you. He’s learned people won’t care about your feelings, or wishes - doesn’t matter if they’re your parents.

Sebastian had accepted he was good on his own. He’d build walls high enough to know he was okay with being alone. He hadn’t needed anyone.

And then. Then.

Then he had met Blaine Anderson.

Before meeting in person, Sebastian had thought of him as almost a legend. Well, actually - a legend. Someone talked about as if he was a God, untouchable. Borderline perfect.

When he had met him he had realized all of those things were completely right.

And when he had truly met him, well - Sebastian had realized that maybe he did need someone. If that someone was Blaine, that is.

It was hard not to feel so. Because Blaine, he just - he listens. He is there in a way no one else has been in his life, sees Sebastian in a way no one has done before. He is the safe space the taller boy has always been craving, he was… is, Sebastian’s best friend. The best he’s ever had, too.

Blaine has changed his life for the better, ever since he met him. He’s made Sebastian believe trusting someone, talking to someone, is not a bad thing. He’s been the one person he’d called every day, multiple times a day even; the person he talked about his day with because he knew Blaine would listen.

Blaine Anderson is the best thing that has ever happened to him. And now Sebastian has screwed it up. Royally. All because he couldn’t accept or understand his emotions. So, even when a nameless Warbler (Carter, Trent later tells him, but Sebastian cannot give a single fuck) suggests putting rock salt in the ice, to make the slushy last longer and to stain Hummel’s clothes, Sebastian hadn’t cared. Had agreed without thinking too much about it. He hadn’t known of the damage it would later on cause.

When he hears about Blaine’s surgery he tries to keep it cool. He tells Santana it’s not their problem, sings a stupid duet with her (he’s so won that duel) and tries to pretend nothing’s wrong while unsuccessfully calming the Warblers down. And then he drives to the hospital he knows Blaine is, because Jeff had been able to figure that much.

He parks as well as he can and goes inside the place, figuring his way in before he sits in a corner of the waiting room, trying to make himself as small as he can. He is going to be in that room, because he doesn’t know where to be if it’s not there. He doesn’t know how he could be anywhere else, either.

Blaine had told him, months before, how he’s terrified of surgical tools, how he has been so ever since Cooper was rehearsing for a high school play and had terrified six-year-old Blaine with them - another trauma for the books, Blaine had told him. Apparently he had several of them filled to the brim thanks to his brother - with all he’s heard about the older Anderson sibling, Sebastian believes him to be too obnoxious for his liking. Too mean to Blaine.

The feeling of guilt has been present since the moment he saw Blaine on the ground, but it starts to be unbearable a few minutes in, when he feels as if there is a weight on his chest, pressing him down to the floor and squeezing his lungs. He didn’t want things to escalate this much, he didn’t want to cause Blaine any pain. And now he’s terrified of losing Blaine as a friend, as his best friend. And the person he knows he’s fallen in love with.

He stays there for what has to be hours, just tense, waiting for any news. He wants to search for the Andersons, apologize to them and beg for their forgiveness. He wants to tell Blaine how sorry he is, wants to tell him he doesn’t know what he’ll do if he’s never forgiven.

He doesn’t. He knows it’s something he’s not allowed to do, so he stays in that uncomfortable chair, watching as people come and go from the waiting room. No one really bothers him, and he avoids the eyes of the nurses that have realized he’s there, wanting nothing but to be left alone. And then, when he’s about to just, lose his shit - Jeff texts him.

Eleanor, Blaine’s mother, has apparently been way too kind, and she has texted Jeff and Nick with some updates. The latter had gone in search of the Warblers, and the former had decided to stay behind and text Sebastian. The evergreen-eyed man can tell Jeff knows exactly where he is, but thankfully the blond doesn’t comment on it, not for a second, for which he is thankful. Instead, he focuses on the message - the surgery went well. It’ll take a few weeks for Blaine to be completely okay, but his eye will recover from this. He’s going to be okay. There will be no long-term effect - hopefully, at least. But the doctors are really positive.

The second the information dawns in, Sebastian leaves. There is no reason for him to stay there, and he knows better than to do so. He doesn’t know if someone will go to visit Blaine (he doubts someone will go so close to the surgery, but he doesn’t know), and he doesn’t know if he’ll run into any Andersons, who surely won’t be too happy with him, so - he has to leave.

And then, well - he lets himself lose it.

If someone was to ask Sebastian, he would’ve said was doing well. After Blaine’s surgery he’d gone back to Dalton. But only to change, and go to Scandals to try and lose himself. He’d done good that night… and the following one. Several next ones, too. He goes and finds the closest thing he can find to acceptable, and refuses to think on how acceptable equals someone who resembles Blaine at least a little bit.

He lashes out. Turns meaner. Says things he doesn’t mean. And there is no one to stop him - no one to help. His family is still not there for him - not a surprise in the slightest, but oh well -, and the Warblers do try to help, but… Sebastian does not let them. Because, as it is, the only person who’s gotten through to him, who’s gotten Sebastian to actually listen, is Blaine. But now Sebastian has screwed that up.

So Sebastian is meaner, and more ruthless, and he doesn’t think about how words can affect people - even when Dave Karosfky tries to poorly flirt with him, on a night when Sebastian is too sad and too drunk and too into pretending he’s neither to really measure his words.

A week later, the news broke at Dalton - a kid has tried to take his own life. Because his classmates had discovered he’s gay, and somehow that had made it okay to push the kid to the brink of death.

Sebastian knows it is not entirely his fault. A rejection was not the main issue here. But he still contributed to those bad feelings, and he feels like the weight on his shoulders is going to crush him any second now.

So he tries to get better. Be better. He makes apologies, tries to make right of his wrongs. He texts Dave Karosfky after getting his number from Blaine, and although the guy is a bit shocked to hear from Sebastian, he’s grateful to have his apologies. He calms Sebastian down, tells him it was not his fault, even when hearing the Dalton boy’s words had not felt great. Still, he assures Sebastian he’s fine. And thanks him for the charity thing Sebastian tells him about.

Regionals come and go, and even when he doesn’t feel as awful as he’d done just a couple of weeks prior, Sebastian still feels like he wonders mindlessly. Like he’s not truly aware of his surroundings, or situation. He feels as if he’s walking on a cloud, and never in a good way.

The Warblers aren’t too sad about their loss, all knowing the New Directions had been deserving of their victory - it sucks, but. Nothing they can do, and nothing to be mad over. They ask Sebastian to join them in the common room, back in the junior dorms building, but Sebastian declines the invitation. He knows he should go - he knows he wouldn’t have a bad time if he did. But he also knows there is one other place he’d rather be at. And he knows he can be there, too. That maybe, just maybe - he’s needed there, in some way.

So, after returning to Dalton, he goes to his room and changes into casual clothes. And then he leaves again, hopping into his car. It is almost mindless, the drive - almost like he can do it whilst sleeping, like it’s engraved in his brain. And before he’s realized so, there he is - the Anderson’s house, not too far away from his own. Sebastian has not been there in weeks, and there is something comforting when he sees the house has not changed - a stupid thought, but one that helps with how nervous he’s been feeling lately.

Gathering courage out of nowhere, Sebastian gets out of his car and walks the small distance between his parking spot and the door to the Anderson’s house. He’d believed it to be big and imposing before, and that is only more prominent now, when he’s so… nervous still.

Sebastian only has to nervously wait for a few moments, anyway, because soon enough Blaine is opening his front door, not looking too surprised at seeing Sebastian there. The sight of him, however, takes Sebastian’s breath away for a second.

It’s been a while since the both of them have been alone, and they haven’t been so since Blaine’s surgery. Sebastian had tried, back when he had asked Blaine to meet him at the Lima Bean, but Blaine had shown up with Kurt, Santana, and Brittany. But now - now Blaine is right there, real and so close, and he looks as down as Sebastian knows he looks as well.

“Hi” the shorter man murmurs, getting a timid smile from Sebastian back.

“Hi, B”

Blaine smiles back, and then turns around and goes into his house. Sebastian can see the silent invitation immediately, so he follows suit and closes the door behind him, shutting it with barely any sound. The Anderson household feels empty (save them both), and there is only the sound of the clock filling the space. The Dalton boy ignores that, following Blaine up to his bedroom in silence.

When Blaine sits on his bed, back against the headboard, Sebastian follows him again, sitting next to him after he’s taken his shoes off. They’ve sat like this countless of times, have been talking about nonsense or watching movies, or just studying, but now the air feels heavier. Now things have changed, and Sebastian is still wishing he could go back and change it, as much as he knows he can’t.

“No one is home?” He asks after a few minutes in silence. It’s been as comfortable as ever, to Sebastian’s relief, and he knows he was right to come here. He knows Blaine had needed someone to just be there and understand, and something in him had told him Kurt was not going to be that person.

“My parents wanted to stay, but I almost begged them to go to a dinner party for Dad’s job” Blaine replies, shrugging. His voice is low, almost too quiet to hear, but Sebastian nods at his words and hums “. How did you know I was going to be home, and not celebrating with the New Directions?”

“I still know you better than I know myself” Sebastian replies, taking some small pleasure in how Blaine’s breath hitches ever so slightly “. I knew you wouldn’t go. Just like you know I wouldn’t have gone to any party thrown by the Warblers, had we won”

“Isn’t there a party tonight, regardless of the result?”

“I’m pretty sure there is” Sebastian nods “. A few Warblers told me about it, but…”

“Yeah” Blaine sighs “. I was not feeling like celebrating, either. Still… thank you for coming, Bas”

The use of the nickname goes straight to Sebastian’s heart, making it stop for a hot second “. No need to thank me” he says after a moment “. I just… I knew you were going to be home. And I knew you couldn’t join any parties, not after everything that’s happened this week. I know how the whole thing might’ve affected you”

“Right” Blaine whispers, drawing his knees close to his chest in an attempt to make himself smaller.

“I know you’ve struggled with mental health, B,” Sebastian says, gentle as he can be “. And I do worry about you because of that, because… this whole thing, I know… I know it must be especially hard for you. Given your past, and… tell me, does anyone else know? Other than your parents”

Blaine sniffs at his question, staying silent for a long moment before he softly shakes his head “. No” he whispers, clearing his throat after a moment to speak a bit louder “. No one else knows”

“B…”

“I thought about telling Kurt. Multiple times, too” Blaine half-confesses “. I thought it maybe was unfair to keep something like this from him. But he has enough on his plate already, you know?”

“Right… and what else?” Sebastian presses on, gently “. Because I know there is something else bothering you and making you keep this in”

Blaine sighs, now looking more upset than before, and hugs his knees tighter to himself. Sebastian hesitates for a moment, but then he rests a hand on Blaine’s knee, and squeezes it softly “. I am really scared he won’t understand” Blaine confesses. He must’ve been thinking that for a long time, because his shoulders lose a lot of the tension Sebastian had noticed, like the weight of the world has been lifted off his shoulders “, and he will tell me I’m just… being dramatic”

“But that is not fair” Sebastian protests. Blaine shakes his head at that, some tears of frustration escaping his eyes. If he were a braver man, Sebastian would’ve cleaned them off.

“No one wants… this, Bastian. No one wants to realize their boyfriend is… fucked in the head. Kurt wants… he… he doesn’t deserve a boyfriend who will give him another reason to worry”

“To hell with that, Killer” Sebastian disagrees “. You’re not fucked in the head, and you will never be a burden to anyone. Blaine, listen to me - you’ve been through so fucking much. And you are incredible. And you dealing with mental health issues the way you do does not make you less desirable, or valuable. It makes you stronger, you hear me?”

“Sebastian…”

“I’m fucking serious right now, Blaine. You are an insanely strong guy. And even those have issues. And they’re not weaker ‘cause of them”

“Thank you” Blaine whispers, and this time Sebastian lets himself clean his tears, leaning in to kiss Blaine’s forehead once, twice, until he feels he’s a bit calmer, too. The relief in Blaine’s voice has broken his heart once more, and he wonders for just how long had his best friend been keeping that in.

“No need to thank me, B,” he says once they’re looking at each other again “. Now tell me, please - how have you been doing with all of this?”

“I’ve been… keeping it together” Blaine shrugs “. Which is something, I guess”

“It is” Sebastian nods.

“And you?” Blaine asks, worry tinting his voice “. Are you okay?”

“I am, I think” Sebastian murmurs “. I just - what happened is awful, and people won’t make it easy for us to stop thinking about it”

“I know” Blaine sighs “. That’s why I begged my parents to go, they’re just- constantly trying to see if I… I will follow in Dave’s footsteps. It’s like - hey, we knew you were gay and dealing with mental stuff already, but now we realize you’re an actual issue”

“You’re not an issue”

“Sometimes it feels like I am” Blaine confesses. And it does hurt Sebastian; hurts to see someone like Blaine, someone so kind, and sweet, and someone who will do everything for anyone, feel this way.

“You never have been. And you’ll never be an issue, B. But… have you… have you ever thought about it? For your parents to be concerned, have you?”

“I… “ Blaine stutters, blushing faintly at the question “. Does it matter?”

“It matters to me”

Blaine looks at him with something in his eyes Sebastian cannot identify. But then, after some long seconds… he nods, and breaks Sebastian once again “. A few times” he confesses “. Not recently, but… when I realized I was gay, before I accepted myself. After the attack, too. And I don’t know if my parents know, I’ve never told them, but… maybe they suspect I did consider… doing what Dave did”

“But you don’t want to now, right?” Sebastian asks, unable to pretend there is no urgency in his voice.

“I don’t” Blaine assures him “. This… has been hard on my mental health, but I wouldn’t do it now. Have you ever…”

“Not really” Sebastian murmurs “. Thought about it… once or twice. But never actually considered, just… wondered what would happen, you know?”

“Yeah, I get that” Blaine nods, and after a moment he rests his head on Sebastian’s shoulder. It’s silly, the way that makes Sebastian feel like he can breathe again. But he decides to embrace it, and rests his head against Blaine’s “. We’ll be okay though, right?”

“We will be” Sebastian half-promises “. There is nothing wrong with us, B. And what happened to Dave… it fucking sucks. Because no one should be pushed to the limit the way he was. But he’ll get better, and will grow stronger. And we’ll do so, too. You know I will be here the second you need someone to talk to, right?”

“I know” Blaine replies, almost immediately “. And it’s the same for you”

“I know” Sebastian nods “. B…” he murmurs after a long moment in silence “ I am so sorry. For everything”

“Bas, I told you I forgive you,” Blaine says, coming closer to Sebastian as if that can help him convince the taller guy “. I know you regret what you did, and I know it was a prank gone wrong… truly, there is nothing to be sorry for”

“There are a lot of things to be sorry for here, Killer” Sebastian protests “. And I… I was terrified to lose you. I was terrified you would hate me”

Blaine stays silent for a long time after his words, but then he’s getting a bit away from him, looking right into his eyes “. I don’t hate you, Sebastian” he says “. I could never do, I don’t think. I was just… deeply hurt”

“B…” Sebastian whispers, frowning slightly at his best friend’s words.

“You are the person I trust the most. The person I’ve trusted most in my whole life, too. So… all that happened, it hurt a lot coming from you”

“I am so sorry, Blaine”

“I know you are” Blaine smiles “. And that’s why we’re okay now, Bas. Okay?”

“Okay” Sebastian whispers, but it is not enough for Blaine.

“I am serious. I want to put this past us, alright? I don’t want to keep holding onto the past, and I don’t want to feel angry anymore. I’m tired of feeling angry, and sad, and I think we should stop feeling this way. So there is nothing to apologize anymore, and we are okay”

“Okay” Sebastian finally agrees, smiling back at Blaine “. We’re moving past it”

“We are” Blaine nods “. And we’re going to keep checking on each other if things of wrong”

“Of course we will, Blaine”

Blaine and he talk for a while longer, moving from Karosfky to how Cooper Anderson is supposed to visit soon, to the crazy impromptu wedding between Rachel and Finn, which is going to take place the following day.

They talk for what has to be hours, and by the time Sebastian has to go back to Dalton, if he ever wants to get back before the curfew, he feels lighter, and infinitely better. And he also has that comforting feeling Blaine always gives him. It is amazing to know he is not going to lose Blaine after all, too.

Blaine walks with him to Sebastian’s car, and then he hugs him, arms going around Sebastian’s body and hugging him tight to his body. Sebastian hugs back, feeling as if he can breathe now that he has Blaine in his arms. They draw the hug long, maybe longer than they should but neither cares, and for when they are breaking it, Blaine gently cups Sebastian’s face, looking deep into his eyes.

“Take care of yourself. Please” he whispers, drawing a thumb over Sebastian’s cheekbone. The taller feels himself almost falling asleep at the calming touch, and he ignores the tears that want to come out at being this cared for. He forces himself to nod, managing to do so after only a few moments.

“You too, Killer. And you know I am here if you need something”

“Of course. You, too” Blaine nods, breaking their hold and letting Sebastian go back to his car and start his way back to Dalton.

Things are getting better. And he’s not losing Blaine. Sebastian just has to remember that to forget about any stupid surgeries and mistakes. At least, for now.

Chapter Text

If there is something Sebastian really wants to do right now, that is relax. Have a quiet night and watch an episode of the series he’s currently watching - Nick had convinced him to give it a go, and now Sebastian is hooked. Which he is not telling Nick, the dark-haired guy has enough ego as it is.

It’s been a long day, too. Sebastian loves his classes at Columbia, but they are hard, no matter how well Dalton has prepared him for them. And he had had two that day, as well as a meeting that had felt endless about an important project he has due for one of his classes. All in all, it’s been a long day for the Columbia student, so right now, he wants to relax.

Going back to his place helps. His parents’ place, back in Ohio, had never felt… his. Not really. It had felt like a fancy hotel, a place where he had to pretend he was someone he was not, the person his parents wanted him to be and the person he refused to be, except during stupid business dinners. His home in Ohio had been Dalton, not that home, so leaving it had done wonders for him. And finding a place in New York that now feels his… it’s the first time Sebastian feels happy to come home. Especially after a long day, like the one he’s just had.

Sebastian had bought himself dinner before hopping into the subway, and now that it is a bit lukewarm, he decides to change into comfier clothes before heating it up, hungrier now than he’d realized.

However, as he takes his phone out of his jeans before taking them off, Sebastian sees he has a message from John - not that weird, he’s still one of his closest friends and they do talk fairly often. The surprising part comes when Sebastian reads it.

Beat: Hey Seb, have you heard anything from Blaine?

Sebastian frowns at the message, briefly considering he’s being pranked - only, they’re still months away from April, so that’s maybe a no. He forgets about changing out of his jeans and goes to sit on his bed, still frowning at the screen whilst he’s typing his answer.

Seb: No

Seb: In fact, I’ve barely done it since he got engaged to Lady Hummel

Seb: Which you know, by the way

Seb: So I don’t understand why you’re asking me this right now

John takes barely a few seconds to answer, so fast Sebastian has not had the time to stand up and finally change out of his clothes. But it’s better he’s sitting down, especially after John drops the bomb.

Beat: Yeah, I know

Beat: But B’s not engaged anymore

Beat: Nor is he with Hummel

Sebastian drops his phone at that, hearing the thud but eyes not moving from his lap in what has to be a solid minute. And then the information processes, and he mouths a what the fuck before he grabs his phone from the floor (fortunately, it has not cracked) and goes to text John back.

Seb: What?

Beat: Okay, so you didn’t know

Seb: Of fucking course I didn’t. Why did nobody tell me?

Beat: I honestly thought you knew

Beat: I thought you were trying to be cool about it and pretend

you’re not ecstatic ‘bout this news

Seb: Fuck off

Seb: Also, as if you’re not happy about this

Beat: Didn’t say I wasn’t

Sebastian worries his lip after Beat’s last message. Yes, he knows no one in the Warblers had liked their ex-leaders engagement, as much as they had helped Blaine propose - if anything, they had helped him out of guilt, because they all had felt as if they owed Blaine something.

Of course, they should have all known being back with Hummel was only going to drive Blaine away from them. They should have, but it hurt all the same, and even when both of them were in New York for college, Sebastian had not seen his ex-best friend in months. It hurt. But Sebastian was accustomed to disappointment.

And now John is telling him Blaine is no longer engaged. No longer with someone else… and still, the shorter man is, seemingly, not in contact with whom he’d considered his closest friends, sometime before. A buzz from his phone breaks him out of his thoughts, and he looks at a new message from John.

Beat: Thing is, B’s apparently not doing well

Beat: Wes told me ‘bout the break-up and also

Beat: He told me B is not in a good place

Beat: He moved out of his place with Kurt and  back at the NYADA

dorms… but Wes told me he’s really close to being expelled

Sebastian opens his mouth in shock at Beat’s texts, taking a minute to collect his thoughts and put them into a coherent sentence.

Seb: Blaine?? Almost expelled??

Beat: It’s really bad, Seb… he barely texted Wes back

Beat: And you know he will always text Wes back

Seb: That is true

Seb: He’s at the dorms you said?

Beat: I think

Beat: He didn’t tell Wes but Jeff heard it from his Mom

Beat: It’s just - we are all really worried

Beat: And we know you’re the only one who can really help

Seb: I’m on it

He ignores Beat’s consequential texts in order to put a sweater on and his shoes back on, dinner forgotten on top of his counter in the kitchen. He’s nervous, Sebastian can’t lie on that one - he hasn’t seen Blaine in a long time, and whilst before he had known Blaine was comforted by his presence… now he doesn’t quite know. It’s been too long, and both have started their adult lives, have started college and met new people, and grown up.

But still. They had promised to check on each other if things went wrong, and Sebastian doesn’t want to fail that promise. Granted, it’s not like Blaine told him himself, but still - Sebastian cannot bring himself to ignore what’s happening and not help Blaine.

Sebastian has to look up where the NYADA dorms are, but once he knows he’s calling for a cab, and on his way to NYADA. It lowkey hurts him to go to the school, and he has to keep himself from grimacing when he sees the third person with fake glasses on (without lenses, just the frame. And just. Why). It doesn’t take him that long to find Blaine’s exact room, and he knocks on the door while he’s trying not to be nervous.

It takes a long minute, and for Sebastian to knock again, but then the door opens, and Blaine is at the other sight. And Sebastian finds the air inside his lungs knocked out, stomach turning out.

Blaine has always been devastatingly pretty, in Sebastian’s opinion. Handsome in a way he found entrancing, in a way he knew everyone did. Blaine had this way of putting himself together, of making himself look good no matter the state he was in. He is still pretty right now, Sebastian reckons. There is no world where he won’t be pretty.

But right now he looks… devastated. He’s skinny in a way that is not healthy whatsoever, and he looks insanely pale. There are bags under his eyes and his curls, whilst thankfully not drowning in gel, are wild and unkempt. Not to mention the look in his eyes… those hazel eyes Sebastian had found himself falling for a long time ago are now puffy and red, and dull. And right now, showing a look of surprise at the sigh of Sebastian right in front of him.

“Sebastian?” He asks, not trying to mask the surprise in his voice “. What are you doing here?”

“We promised to check on each other if things went wrong, didn’t we?” Sebastian asks back. And it does tell Sebastian a lot about the situation the way Blaine immediately crumbles, closing the distance between them and hugging Sebastian incredibly tight. Sebastian hugs Blaine back immediately, and lets his former best friend break down in his arms, only walking into the shorter’s room and closing the door behind them - those theatre nerds will have a field day if they see a scene like this one, and Sebastian’s half sure Hummel will find a way to know about this. And whilst Sebastian knows Kurt would get mad about Sebastian being there (which he doesn’t hate), he also knows he would get a kick on making Blaine be that miserable because of him.

He keeps Blaine close to him, hugging him tight and rocking their bodies gently, until Blaine’s breathing gets better and he’s not sobbing anymore. Still, he keeps their hold for a long time, until Blaine’s cries gets a bit weaker, and he’s sniffing.

Then he breaks the hug and cups Blaine’s face, cleaning his face from tears. He’s devastatingly beautiful like this, but it does break Sebastian’s heart to see the sadness in the shorter boy’s eyes.

“Sorry,” Blaine says after a minute, sniffing and breaking their hug completely. He goes to his bed and sits on it, breathing shakily and hiccuping after all his crying. Sebastian frowns lightly, and goes to sit next to him.

“Nothing to be sorry for” he says, cleaning another stray tear that has fallen from Blaine’s eye.

“You… didn’t have to come”

“But I wanted to, B”

Blaine smiles weakly at that, hiccuping again “. How did you know?”

“Beat told me” Sebastian shrugs “. He heard it from Wes… wanted to know if I knew something about you, they’re really worried. And now I am, too… Killer, what happened?”

“Kurt left me” Blaine replies “. Isn’t it obvious?”

“A good guess” Sebastian says, and it feels like victory when Blaine smiles for a second at that “. But I don’t know anything else, and I am worried about you. What happened?”

“What didn’t” Blaine sighs, sniffing “. It’s a… long story”

“And I am not in a hurry, Killer. Tell me”

Blaine sighs and nods. He slides off the bed and sits on the floor, back against the bed, and Sebastian is quick to copy him, sitting so close their thighs are pressed together “. I… things had been bad for a long time” he starts, and Sebastian wills himself to not react too badly.

He listens as Blaine explains - how things had started to turn sour after he’d moved to New York, how Kurt seemed to be annoyed just by Blaine’s presence. How moving out of the shared loft (for the first time) had helped, but not that much. How Blaine’s insecurities had not been listened to, but rather ignored, avoided. How it had always been about Kurt’s problems and needs, how Blaine had felt like he needed to forget about himself in order to make Kurt happy. How things had gotten worse once he had gotten an opportunity for himself, and much worse when every one of their friends had left the city, and it had been just the two of them. He tells Sebastian how the fights had just grown after Blaine had moved back to the loft, to the point where they had been fighting multiple times on the daily. He tells Sebastian how he had been trying to ignore all of their issues, until one day, when Kurt had just - broken up their engagement. Had broken up with Blaine, too. And in a public space, and not letting Blaine process it, or talk it through. Blaine had had to move his stuff out of the loft in forty-eight hours, and Kurt had not talked to him ever since he had given back his keys. Blaine tells Sebastian how he’s been so depressed ever since that he knows he’s going to be kicked out of the school… how no one from McKinley has helped him with that. How Kurt knows, because they go to the same school and share some classes (as Blaine had been put in some advanced ones), and yet has done nothing - not reaching out, not asking Blaine to get help, not sending one of their friends. Nothing.

After he’s done, there is a heavy silence filling the room for some long minutes. Sebastian wants to speak, to calm Blaine down, but first he has to calm down himself, because he is boiling with rage. He had always known Blaine was way too good for Kurt, but this? Oh, not even he could’ve imagined this.

“I am sorry you’ve been through this, B” he finally says. Blaine just sniffs for an answer “. You don’t deserve this. In the slightest”

“I just - I don’t know what to do. And I don’t know what I did wrong, I…”

“You did nothing wrong, Blaine,” Sebastian tells him, gently “. Some people are just… selfish. And mean. And the way Kurt behaved is… disgusting. Nothing that was justified by something you could’ve done”

“He doesn’t trust me. I think he never did again, after I cheated that one time”

“He also did, emotionally at that, but you trusted him plenty” Sebastian argues “. And if he didn’t trust you, then he shouldn’t have said yes to the marriage proposal. Nor to getting back with you. He just did it because he knew he wouldn’t get anything better”

“Well, I guess now he knows he can”

“The hell he can” Sebastian huffs “. He won’t find someone that is even the tiniest bit better than you. Hell, he won’t find someone who comes close to you, ever. But I guess I should’ve seen this coming - Hummel gets told he’s not the less talented person in New York and it goes to his head, making him think he can be okay without you by his side. You know what? It’s his fucking loss”

“Sebastian…”

“I’m right, Killer. And… hell, seeing you struggling and not doing anything? That’s deplorable. There is literally no excuse”

“I know” Blaine whispers “. And that hurts the worst. It’s not like I… had a serious talk about my mental health with him, but you’d be blind to not see I am not doing okay. And it hurts to see someone I gave so much of myself to do this to me. To see him not care”

“To hell with him, Killer, okay? You are forgetting about him. And you are moving on”

“I don’t know if I can” Blaine shrugs, which makes Sebastian frown and nudge his shoulder “. Carmen Tibideaux, the den in this college, she… has pretty much told me I’m done at NYADA”

“Seriously? They see one of their students deal with a mental health crisis and their response is to… expel them?” Sebastian asks, flabbergasted.

“I’ve seen people being expelled for breathing at the wrong time during a song” Blaine shrugs, ignoring Sebastian’s look of pure shock in his eyes “. Thing is… I’m not too mad. I don’t like NYADA as much as I thought I would, so… it’s okay. I’ve been thinking about going back to Ohio”

“What? No. No way you’re going back to that hole, Anderson” Sebastian immediately protests. Blaine sighs, exhausted, and rests his head on the back of the bed.

“Then what do I do? What other option do I have?”

“We can think of one… but Ohio? No, B. I agree, it’s not a bad thing to leave NYADA. They don’t deserve a talent like you, and you’re too ambitious for them, anyway. They focus too much on Broadway, and you didn’t even want that”

Blaine opens his mouth in surprise at those words, some blush creeping on his cheeks “. I didn’t know you remembered that”

“Of course I do”

“Right” Blaine murmurs, worrying his bottom lip “. You know? This is one of the reasons why I didn’t tell you about the break up”

“Because you thought I didn’t remember you don’t want just Broadway?” The taller boy asks, confused.

“No, because… I was scared you did remember. And I hated the idea that I had disappointed you” Blaine confesses “. You made me realize how talented I can be, and you did tell me you’d be disappointed if I forgot about it”

“And you did” Sebastian completes for him. When Blaine nods, they stay in silence for a long moment, until the Columbia student is nudging Blaine’s shoulder again “. You know, Killer… I know all about making mistakes”

“Bastian, we’ve talked about this, I-“

“And I know all about how they don’t define who we are” Sebastian interrupts him, not ungently “. So you chose NYADA first. So what. They showed you they’re a joke of a school that wouldn’t recognize talent if it slapped them in the face - okay. Their loss. But this city has plenty of good universities to study music… to become a music producer. If you still want that”

“I do” Blaine confesses, smiling at that with some more sincerity “. And… I have been looking up some programs. NYU is amazing, but I don’t know… Cooper made me send an application, but I don’t think-“

“I do” Sebastian interrupts him again, and Blaine huffs a laugh at that “. You will get in, B. And you’ll realize this was just… a step on your way to stardom. Just another chapter in your life… not a good one, but. One that you got through”

“You think so?” Blaine asks, smiling timidly at him.

“I know so. And I will help you get back on your feet, alright? I will be here every step of the way”

“Are you sure?” The musician asks, still a bit unsure about it all.

“Much more than sure, Killer. I will be here, and you will come out on top. I have no doubts in my mind about it”

“Thank you,” Blaine says, closing the distance between them to hug Sebastian tight to his body. Sebastian hugs back, and he cannot lie and say he doesn’t feel better, because he does. At having Blaine back with him, happy with the fact that he did make Blaine feel better “. Bas?” Blaine suddenly asks, and the voice in his ear together with the nickname makes Sebastian feel funny.

“Yes, B?” He asks back. Blaine doesn’t break their hug, instead just hugging him tighter, and Sebastian cannot find it in himself to complain, really.

“Does this mean… we’re friends again? Because I am really sorry I distanced myself from you, but Kurt kept punishing me silently when he found out we still talked, and I was so desperate to make things right between us that I just did what he wanted, but… I miss you. So bad. And I want you to be in my life, and I want you to be my best friend again. So… are we friends?”

Sebastian is a bit taken aback by Blaine’s rant, so it takes him a moment to actually react. When he does it, he breaks the hug and cups Blaine’s face, observing how nervous Blaine actually looks. He smiles at him, which calms the shorter boy down a bit, and draws his thumbs over Blaine’s cheekbones.

“Of course, we are friends, B. The best ones, if you want us to be… honestly, I thought it was a given”

The hug Blaine gives him now is somehow stronger than the last, and Sebastian drinks in the happiness of it. Because Blaine is very much not okay, but at least now they have one another. At least now Sebastian can help, and have Blaine back in his life… and they will be okay. He knows they will.

A few weeks after, and it has pretty much come true. Which to Sebastian is telling - tells him no one has been showing support to Blaine. Because, after the night Sebastian spends in Blaine’s dorm, talking through everything that has gone on during the past year and about their lives, Blaine has just been improving daily. He had talked to his parents and they had agreed to find a place for the musician in the city - Sebastian had gone with him to visit apartments, had done so until they had found the perfect one. It was been close to NYU, and although by that point Blaine hadn’t received news about his transfer yet, Sebastian had insisted he had to take that apartment. To manifest everything else, maybe.

It’s not like he believes in any of that. But it had made Blaine smile, which is already pretty worth any cheesiness. And then he had been accepted into NYU (not like Sebastian’s the least bit surprised), so it had all worked pretty well.

Now Blaine is fully moved into his new place, and he knows his next semester will be at a school that actually values his talent. He still has his hard days, but Sebastian can already see a positive difference in him, and that is just fantastic. Sebastian is insanely proud of him, and of all the progress he’s made in such a short amount of time.

So, he figures he should do something to celebrate it. And what’s better than something for Blaine, as a housewarming gift. He knows exactly what to buy, anyway, knowing Blaine had been wanting one of those, so Sebastian buys it, wraps it, and is knocking on Blaine’s door on a bright Saturday morning.

Blaine opens the door fairly fast, a brilliant smile on his face that takes Sebastian’s breath away for a good minute. He smiles back and makes a small mental note on how well Blaine is looking right now - he’s starting to gain the weight he had unhealthily lost, and now his skin is not pale, but vibrant with life. He looks good, and happy, and Sebastian has never seen anything better.

“Bas, hi” Blaine exclaims when he sees him, bringing him in for a hug that Sebastian happily returns.

“Hey, hot stuff. Heading somewhere?” Sebastian replies, noticing Blaine’s dressed as if he’s going out.

“Yeah, I wanted to have some coffee… want to join me? I tried the café that is right around the corner, it’s good”

“I have a better idea” Sebastian smiles, letting himself into Blaine’s place. It’s a good place, close to NYU and big enough for Blaine, even if he wants to have some friends over. The views are incredibly nice, and the whole place just… screams Blaine. In a way that is extremely comforting. It had felt like so the first time they’d seen the place, when it was void of any furniture, and now that Blaine has bought furniture and moved in, it’s just more obvious. Of course, this is not Sebastian’s first time there, visit aside, as he had helped Blaine move (together with some Warblers), so he knows where the kitchen is and goes there, knowing Blaine is curious enough to follow him.

“Colour me curious. And worried” Blaine says from behind him, watching as Sebastian puts the wrapped box on top of his kitchen aisle “. Bas?”

“This is for you” Sebastian smiles, not the littlest bit surprised when Blaine starts to shake his head.

“Oh, no, no, no, Bas, I can’t accept it. You’ve helped me enough as it is, this is-“

“A housewarming gift” Sebastian gently interrupts him “. Accept it, Killer. I literally burned the receipt, so you have no other option”

“Oh my God” Blaine laughs, but he obliges, going to stand next to Sebastian and eyeing the present with curious hazel eyes. After the taller boy bumps their hips together, Blaine tears the wrapping paper off and opens his mouth in surprise at the sight of the gift.

“Do you like it?” The evergreen-eyed of the two asks, unable to be patient. Blaine turns to look at him, with that look of surprise still on his face.

“Like it? Bas, this is - are you sure?”

“B, it’s just a coffee machine”

“That looks really expensive” Blaine points out, looking at his gift again. Sebastian just shrugs, watching as the shorter guy carefully looks at the box, and all the info it gives.

“Ignoring the fact that you and I both know we’re trust funds babies, take it as a late gift, for all the important stuff I’ve missed in your life. And again, as a housewarming gift”

“Bas…”

“I know you love coffee” Sebastian shrugs, trying desperately to be casual “. So like, it is going to be used like, all the time. And it’s a good one, made of steel and all, so it’ll last for a long time. So… do you like it?”

Blaine stays silent for a long moment after that, huffing a laugh before he’s turning around and hugging Sebastian tight to his body. Sebastian immediately returns the hug, as strong as he can, and lets the shorter decide when to break it.

“Thank you” Blaine whispers over his shoulder “. Still need to buy coffee though”

Sebastian laughs at that, dropping a kiss to the top of Blaine’s curls, and feeling one on his shoulder. He breaks the hug and goes to the discarded bag he’d used to carry the box around, and brings out Blaine’s favorite coffee brand.

“Got that covered”

“You’re the best” Blaine immediately responds, so earnestly it warms the other boy from the inside out “. Thank you, Bas. Seriously, you just… this. All of this, not just this gift. I can’t thank you enough for all of it”

“Good, because you don’t need to do it anyway” Sebastian points out, getting a playful frown from Blaine “. And this” he says, patting the box “, is just a gift to remind you something, B. That you are starting anew, that you came out on top after all you’ve been through, just like I knew you would”

Blaine smiles at him again, and when he cups one side of Sebastian’s face and caresses it for a moment, the aspiring lawyer swears his heart stops “. I can never be grateful enough to have someone like you” he murmurs “. Never will be able to show you how much it means to me, all of this”

“You can start by making me a cup of coffee” Sebastian suggests, making Blaine laugh out loud - it is a gorgeous sound.

“Deal” he winks at Sebastian “. I don’t have that creamer that you like, but I am definitely buying some later. Now tell me, how was that project you had to prepare going?”

Sebastian smiles and helps Blaine unpack the coffee machine and to install it while telling him about his project, and then his day. Blaine listens to all with a smile, and when he’s able to make his first cup of coffee, which he refuses to have for himself and instead gives to Sebastian, the smile he gives the brunet makes his heart soar.

There is a good feeling in the air as the second coffee (this time, for Blaine) is done and they go to have them on Blaine’s small balcony, talking about their weeks and whatever else that comes to mind. Sebastian cannot help but feel as if something good is starting. And he cannot wait.

Chapter Text

Bas: B, I’m dying

Blaine laughs out loud at his best friend’s text, throwing his head back for a moment when he does it. He can picture Sebastian as he texts him that, slouched on top of his books and definitely pouting. He goes to answer, but Sebastian is quicker.

Bas: Stop laughing at me

Blaine laughs harder at that, some pleasure at Sebastian knowing him so well filling his heart.

Killer: I definitely was not

Bas: Stop lying, too

Bas: This is serious, Killer

Killer: You’re studying for a test, not going to Vietnam, Bas

Killer: And you’re crazy smart, you’re going to be fine

Bas: No, I will die. This will kill me

Blaine rolls his eyes at that, although Sebastian’s dramatics are amusing. He is going to be fine though, and Blaine is more than sure about that one. Sebastian is an extremely smart guy, and Blaine is aware Columbia is extremely exigent, but he also knows his best friend is amazing and able to be at the top of his class without much stress.

Killer: It won’t kill you, Bas, and you will be fine

Killer: I trust you, and I know you will kill it in that test

Bas: Thank you, Killer

Bas: Knew you admired me

Killer: Of course

Killer: Now, let’s do this - you study for that test

Killer: And after you’re done, we do something fun

Bas: Alright, sounds like a plan

Bas: If I’m still alive for that, granted

Blaine laughs again at his best friend’s words, and he reminds Sebastian he is going to be fine before the taller is telling him his five-minute break for texting him is up, so he has to go back to his books. Blaine half-makes him promise he won’t overdo it and won’t stay the whole night up with his books, but he suspects Sebastian has not really listened to him. For someone who’s always liked to be cocky, like Sebastian, he also takes his studies extremely seriously. But Blaine will lie if he was to say he doesn’t like it - Sebastian’s tenacity is one of the things he likes the most about him.

It had been that, among other things, what had helped Blaine during those first weeks they were friends again, when Sebastian had been trying, almost desperately, to help Blaine out. To get him back to his feet. Blaine had not made it easy for him at times, but Sebastian had still tried, had still believed in him, and in the end, it had made Blaine snap out of it. He had managed to land on his feet after jumping into his new life, head first. He had come out on top, finally, and Sebastian had been there to see it, brilliant smile on his face and a proud look in his eyes, and Blaine knows with utmost confidence, he would’ve been unable to make it without his best friend by his side.

He loves his new life - his new apartment, his new neighbourhood. He absolutely loves NYU; thrives there, reunites with his love of music and writing songs, and he meets people who truly inspire him and who actually want to be his friends. Blaine knows he’s found his true self during the past few months, a self that had been lost during his failed stunt at NYADA, and he cannot be grateful enough he found it. He tries to look at what his life was before, but realises he can’t recognise himself, not in a way he likes. He knows it was him; but he can also see that, after his friends had left the city, Blaine had let himself go. Had let himself be quiet and do as Kurt wanted, terrified to lose him now that it was just the two of them.

And it had been for nothing, because Kurt had regardless gotten bored of him, had broken their engagement without any guilt whatsoever. Now Blaine is thankful that happened, but - he will never be grateful to Kurt for what he did.

That is not important, anyway. Not when things are so good, not when Blaine knows they can only get even better. Especially if he has Sebastian there for him…

He kind of misses his best friend. Sebastian has been studying for a really hard test he has for one of his classes, so it’s been days since Blaine last saw him and, whilst maybe a bit clingy, hey - he misses his best friend. He thinks about him and knows, without a doubt, Sebastian won’t even eat an acceptable dinner, as worried as he’s been with the midterm - which is silly in itself, Blaine and Sebastian both know he has it down already.

So, maybe… Blaine can bring him dinner. Again, he’s sure Sebastian has not eaten anything for dinner - and possibly, in the whole day. So if Blaine goes it’s like, a friend helping a friend. His best friend. Yeah.

Blaine is quick - he goes to Sebastian’s favourite take-out place and then to a grocery store that is halfway through their apartments but that Sebastian seems to love, and buys all of his best friend’s favourite things, not only for dinner but simply to cheer him up. Blaine has a brilliant smile on his face as he goes to Sebastian’s apartment and gets inside the building, exchanging a warm greeting with the Columbia student’s doorman. The man has seen Blaine enough times to know his face and even some things about him already, so he lets him go up and Blaine thanks him with a smile, riding the elevator in silence and knocking on Sebastian’s door not even an hour after the phone call with the taller guy had ended.

Sebastian takes a long moment to answer the door, and when he does it there is a look of surprise on his face, before a smile overtakes it and makes his eye sparkle. Blaine finds himself returning the smile, unable not to. But, just - Sebastian looks so pretty like this, wearing some old sweater Blaine’s pretty sure he has stolen a few times, and joggers, hair a bit of a mess after running his hands through it the whole day. It’s getting long, Blaine notices, enough that it covers some of Sebastian’s gorgeous evergreen eyes, but it makes him look cuter. A bit younger, even.

“Killer, hi,” Sebastian says, still smiling at him and closing the distance to hug Blaine tightly to his body “. Wasn’t expecting you”

“I hope I don’t come at a bad time,” Blaine says, still a bit unsure about his decision. Sebastian breaks the hug and shakes his head, pulling Blaine inside his place before he’s closing the door of the apartment.

“You could never, B. In fact, I am really happy to see you. I’m just wondering why”

“Well… brought you dinner” Blaine replies, smiling blindly at Sebastian. The taller’s eyes sparkle even more at that, and he looks touched by Blaine’s words and actions “. I figured you wouldn’t eat a normal dinner, and I won’t be surprised if you hadn’t had a decent meal today yet, so… I also brought some of your favourite stuff from that shop you like”

“You’re the absolute best,” Sebastian tells him, so matter of factly Blaine can’t help but laugh and blush. He follows Sebastian as the taller goes into his kitchen, and both do a quick work of putting the take-out out of the bag and putting away everything else Blaine had brought with him”. Killer, you didn’t have to”

“I absolutely had to though” Blaine protests “. I could tell you were stressed, and personally, I don’t see why”

“This midterm…”

“Is important” Blaine finishes for Sebastian, smiling gently at him “. Yeah, you told me. And I get it, Bas. But you need to have a break from it”

“But…”

“I promise, you know it all already” Blaine insists, patiently “. You’re just worrying, which for you is sort of new, so I get why it may be confusing. But take it from someone who over-worries on the daily… it’ll be fine. You’ll crush that test”

Sebastian worries his lip, finally showing how nervous he truly is to Blaine. The musician cannot help but love those small things; the few times he can see a more vulnerable Sebastian, can see him without the proverbial walls Sebastian puts around everyone else.

“You think so?” Sebastian still asks. Blaine smiles more assuringly to him and nods, resting a calming hand on Sebastian’s arm.

“I know so, Bas” he half-promises “. You know the material already, and you will ace this test”

“Thank you, B” Sebastian smiles “. I guess I was more nervous than I first realised”

“It’s okay” Blaine shrugs “. You’re a bit of a professional… and I can sorta relate to that”

“Don’t I know” Sebastian laughs, which gets him a playful shove from Blaine.

“I promise once you’re done we will be doing something fun” Blaine proposes again, and it makes Sebastian smile even brighter, which is a marvellous sight to see.

They sit on Sebastian’s couch and share dinner, and Blaine manages to distract Sebastian from his final by talking about nonsense, and the plans they have for the following week. Wes is visiting from Yale, so some Warblers are planning some get together to be with their old leader. Even though Sebastian had not been in the singing group at the same time as Wes, he still knows him and is fond of him. And well, a Warbler is always a Warbler.

By the end of the night Blaine can tell Sebastian is feeling way better. He looks better, more relaxed, and not as stressed as he was when Blaine first got there. Watching him intently, Blaine smiles sweetly at him and plays with a brunet lock that is falling in front of Sebastian’s eye.

“What?” Sebastian asks softly, letting Blaine play with his hair.

“Just wondering if you’ve done something other than holing yourself in this apartment and studying,” Blaine says, amusedly. Sebastian rolls his eyes, but it is in the same fashion, and lets Blaine continue with his touches“. Just wondering! We saw each other last like, five days ago? Have you even done something other than studying since then?”

Sebastian blushes at that, but he softly shakes his head, making his hair even messier. It is unfairly sexy, and Blaine has to blink a couple of times to actually focus on his best friend’s words.

“Not really” the taller of the two admits “. You’re all the social interaction I’ve had. All the social interaction I’ve needed, too”

Sebastian’s words make Blaine feel incredible, and he decides to embrace the feeling, smile at Sebastian and let the blush coat his cheeks. Blaine, however, also decides to still tease his best friend, and reaches to play with his hair again.

“I can tell, Bastian… your hair is ridiculously long right now, I barely can see your eyes”

“Ha, ha,” Sebastian says in a deadpan voice, but he still lets Blaine play with his hair “. You know, if you think it’s too long you can always change it up”

“What, like cut it to my liking?” Blaine asks, arching an eyebrow. But then Sebastian nods with a smile.

“Yeah, why not?” He shrugs “. Cut my hair, B”

“Wait, for real?” Blaine asks, blinking surprisingly “. Bas, I’ve never done it before, it’s not like I would do a good job of cutting someone’s hair”

“Bullshit, B. We both know you’ll be amazing at it, you’re always good at everything” Sebastian softly argues “. I trust you to do this… and hey, if we hate the haircut, I can always go to get it done professionally”

“I don’t know…” Blaine murmurs, not wanting to disappoint Sebastian. But the taller boy smiles softly at him, and he grabs the hand that was still playing with Sebastian’s hair to squeeze it softly in his.

“C’mon. You’ll make me look even hotter” he still insists. And Blaine cannot help but finally agree, nodding to Sebastian’s pleading words. They are quick to clean up the space and then they move to Sebastian’s bathroom, finding some scissors that can work to cut Sebastian’s hair.

Blaine is quick to look up online how to exactly do it, and he makes Sebastian sit down and put a towel over his shoulders before he’s softly wetting his long brown locks, and combing through them. Sebastian lets him do with a soft look on his face, and the moment makes Blaine feel like he belongs right then and there. He starts to cut Sebastian’s hair, following his indication that he wants his hair to look like the one he had when they had first met. Blaine finds a picture of the Columbia student from that time, and gets to work. He does in silence for some minutes, until he has to still Sebastian for the third time, he’s moving way too much “. Be still. Also, why are you smiling like that?”

“Nothing, just… you seem so focused” he murmurs, smiling amusedly at Blaine.

“Hey” Blaine protests, tapping Sebastian’s nose with the comb, softly “. I just want to do a good job, Smythe. But if you want me to do it carelessly…”

“No, focus by all means,” Sebastian says, making Blaine huff a laugh. He still keeps his focus, and slowly he gets Sebastian to look like the one in the picture. It’s hard to focus, though, when Sebastian is so close to him, when he can feel his intense gaze on him, unmoving. It’s hard to ignore the feelings he’s been harbouring for what have to be months now.

“You know” he murmurs, before he can realise “, what you said is… wrong, I think”

“What did I say?” Sebastian asks, lowly.

“That I can make you look hotter” Blaine replies, biting his inner cheek when he hears Sebastian’s breath hitch “. I don’t think that’s possible”

Sebastian stays silent for a long time after that, but Blaine can feel the tension between them just growing. He tries not to jump when he feels the taller’s hands on his hips, warm and possessive. Instead, Blaine tries to keep cutting Sebastian’s hair, but he’s having to get really close now.

“It maybe is better if… you come closer” Sebastian murmurs. Blaine swallows heavily.

“How?” He asks in barely a whisper.

“Sit on my lap,” Sebastian says, and it almost stops Blaine’s heart in his chest. He locks eyes with Sebastian, but the guy seems serious, evergreen eyes darker than usual but honest as ever. And after thinking about it just for a moment, Blaine realises… it’s not the worst idea. He’s had worse, that’s for sure. So, after worrying his bottom lip for a moment, he moves.

Sebastian gently guides him, sitting better so Blaine can sit on his lap comfortably. They’re both barely breathing, and Blaine can hear his heartbeat in his ears; he’s pretty sure Sebastian will be able to hear it, too, with how loud it’s being. He decides to embrace it though, because there have been extremely few times where he’s felt… more alive, than right then.

Eventually, he starts cutting Sebastian’s hair again, although it is pretty much done now, he’s just making sure it looks as good as possible. Sebastian’s hands are still firmly resting on his hips, warm, grounding, and driving Blaine crazy, and eventually he uses the hand not grabbing the scissors to still Sebastian’s face.

“I told you to be still” he murmurs, getting a huff of laughter from Sebastian.

“Pretty hard to do so when you’re sitting on my lap, Killer… this is almost torture”

“I can always get up” Blaine teases him, but Sebastian only grabs his hips more firmly, silently telling him no way “. I am done, anyway”

“And?” Sebastian asks. Blaine tilts his head at that, letting the scissors next to the sink but otherwise not moving from his spot on Sebastian’s lap.

“And, what?”

“Did you make me look hotter?” Sebastian asks in a breath. Blaine finds himself almost losing his own, air quickly escaping his lungs at his best friend’s question.

Looking into his evergreen eyes, for a moment Blaine is filled with fear. Fear, because Sebastian has been the most important person in his life and for him for a long while now, and fear because Blaine doesn’t know what he’ll do without him in his life. But then again… he does feel attracted to the taller man. He’s always done it. And he’s had strong feelings for him for a long time now, and feelings Blaine more than knows are not going away any time soon, if ever.

And Sebastian cares about him. No one can deny that, much less Blaine - especially if he looks into Sebastian’s eyes just at that moment, when they’re as honest as they’ve ever been. He knows Sebastian cares, so maybe… maybe he can give in. And try to be happy once and for all.

So, Blaine gently draws his thumb over Sebastian’s high cheekbone, smiling softly when his best friend softly gasps at his actions “. I told you, Bastian” Blaine whispers “. It’s impossible for you to look any hotter than you already are”

Sebastian gives him a slow smirk, which shouldn’t be as hot as it ultimately is, and walks his hands so they’re resting on Blaine’s back, pulling him closer to the taller man. Blaine goes willingly, and he cannot help but smile and let a shaky sigh when his nose gently grazes Sebastian’s, the taller softly nudging them in a gesture that travels straight to Blaine’s low stomach.

“Is this okay?” Sebastian asks, so low Blaine only hears him because, otherwise, the apartment is dead silent. The musician nods with a smile on his face, and in the next second, well - he doesn’t know who leans in first. But, if he has to be honest, Blaine doesn’t care that much. He only cares about Sebastian’s lips on his, and the kiss they’re sharing.

He’d be lying if he was to say kissing Sebastian had never crossed his mind, for as it had done - multiple times. More than Blaine has counted for, truly. Even when he was with Kurt… even then. He couldn’t help but imagine Sebastian kissing him, touching him the way he’s doing now. And, if he has to be honest… reality is turning out to be much better than what he’d imagined.

Sebastian kisses him like there is no other thing in this world he’d rather be doing right now, like Blaine is the thing he wants the most, and Blaine kisses back like he means all of those things, too. He does. Kissing Sebastian is making things feel right in a way he’s never felt before, so… taking off his shirt is just the next logical thing to do.

“This okay?” He still asks, getting a smirk from Sebastian and for the taller to nip his bottom lip. He gets more of an answer when Sebastian stands, still holding him to his body and making Blaine put his legs around his waist, in order to go directly to his bedroom, getting rid of Blaine’s own shirt as they go. And, figuring that is enough answer as it is, Blaine decides to let go.

There are few times when Blaine has felt more peaceful. Or more like he just… belongs. In the moment, in the space. With Sebastian. Sebastian, who is still hugging him to his body, sweaty bodies not even bothering him. It’s been like this since the taller had cleaned them up and crawled back to bed, pulling Blaine into his arms, and the musician cannot find it in himself to change a thing, it feels too perfect to do so. He’s almost lulled to sleep by Sebastian cradling his fingers through his curls, gently massaging his scalp, when his lover softly scratches his head, getting Blaine to look up at him with a curious look in his eyes.

“Are you okay?” Sebastian asks, softly. Blaine smiles in a similar fashion and leans up to give Sebastian a sweet kiss on his lips.

“More than. You?”

“More than” Sebastian echoes, hugging Blaine even tighter “. Although… I can see your tactic now, you know”

“My tactic?” Blaine half-asks, laughing softly at Sebastian. He goes to rest on his elbows, framing the taller’s body “. And what is that, huh?”

“Coming over with food and goodies” Sebastian teases him, a mischievous look in his eyes “, bringing me lunch as a secret weapon to seduce me…”

He kisses Blaine deeply then, to the point the musician loses train of thought for a long moment “. Hmm” he nods against Sebastian’s forehead, feeling the taller’s smile more than he sees it “. That was my plan, yes. However… you got one thing wrong”

“Yeah? And what is that?”

“My secret weapon was the scissors, actually” Blaine points out, making Sebastian laugh “. Cutting your hair - super hot”

“Hmm, getting super close” Sebastian nods “. Sitting on my lap…”

“You told me to sit on your lap” Blaine laughs “. That’s entirely on you, Bastian”

“Hmm, may be true” Sebastian laughs softly “. Honestly… I may have been waiting for any moment to get closer to you. Have been for a long while”

“Yeah” Blaine admits, feeling better than he knows how to express “. I’ve been wanting that, too. I just… was scared I was putting our friendship at risk”

“Gotta say… me too” Sebastian nods, a hand on Blaine’s back and the other one cupping his face “. But… I’ve had feelings for you for the longest time”

“I’ve had feelings for you for… longer than I realised at first” Blaine confesses, and the smile Sebastian gives is enough to light up the whole room.

“Glad you can recognise that now, Baby” the evergreen-eyed man smiles “. Honestly… I was just waiting for you to be ready for this. I didn’t want to pressure you into anything”

Blaine feels warmth at those words, leaning down to kiss Sebastian again. More than before, he knows Sebastian is the right one for him “. Thank you” he whispers over the other boy’s lips “. Truly, thank you for… being there. And being you. And for seeing me”

“Trust me, Killer… is a pleasure to do so. Just to make sure though… you are okay with this, right?”

“I think everything that happened in the last hour showed you how okay I am with it” Blaine purrs, kissing Sebastian again “. But yes… I am okay. In fact, I’ve never been better. And, if I have to be honest…”

“Yeah?”

“I can’t be happy enough Kurt broke up with me. That he broke it all off” Blaine confesses, a bit timidly until he sees the brilliant smile Sebastian gives him at that “. Because… I was so unhappy back then. With him, with myself and with my life. And I love my life now, and how it all turned out. I gained you… so” he shrugs “, having that bad of a situation and relationship made me appreciate what I do have now, I guess”

“That sounds really nice”

“It is extremely nice, yeah”

“So… that being said” Sebastian starts to say, actually sounding a bit nervous “. This, us - where do you want to take it, B?”

“Where do you want this to go?” Blaine asks, moving one hand so it’s caressing Sebastian’s face.

“I… look, B” Sebastian sighs, sitting up in bed and making Blaine do the same in front of him “. You know I’ve never been the relationship type of guy. It’s not like I hate them, I just - I found them not for me. I didn’t think I’d ever find someone who I would like to be with, not in that way… but then I met you”

“And?” Blaine asks, hopeful.

“And you are my perfect and dreamed man, Killer,” Sebastian tells him, softly tickling him “. As if you don’t know already, I’ve been hitting on you for years”

“Oh, hush” Blaine laughs, throwing himself on top of Sebastian and kissing his lips “. Does that mean you want a relationship with me?”

“Of course I do” Sebastian replies almost immediately “. So… if we both want to be with each other, then I guess we should just make it official, right?”

“It would make sense, yes… then, you’re my boyfriend now, Bastian,” Blaine says, and he has to stop himself from laughing in giddiness at that. It’s impossible once Sebastian actually giggles and kisses him, open mouth and open heart and all.

“And you’re mine, B” Sebastian whispers over his lips “. Let me show you just how happy I am about this now…”

Blaine laughs, and lets him do, more than willing to lose himself in Sebastian and the sheets. It’s unlikely he’ll ever cut anyone’s hair ever again, but… isn’t he glad he grabbed those scissors and cut Sebastian’s.

Chapter Text

“Baby, I believed I was extra but I am afraid you take the cake with this one”

“Thanks” Sebastian smiles, fully ignoring Blaine rolling his eyes at him in order to put the last of their things in the trunk “. Also, do not look at me like that, B, I take what you said as a compliment. Makes me feel proud”

“Of course it does” Blaine laughs, with no malice behind his voice. Sebastian winks an eye at him and closes the trunk, going to sit in the front to start their road trip. After smiling like an idiot at his boyfriend, Blaine copies him, sighing happily when he sits down.

“Also,” Sebastian says suddenly, just as he’s turning the car on “, you are happy I am this extra”

“Oh yes. By all means, be this extra all the time” Blaine nods, making Sebastian laugh “. It’s just - when you mentioned the idea of a road trip, I didn’t think it’d be in Italy, of all places. Someone else would just keep it in the States”

“Ah, but you’re not dating someone else, Killer” Sebastian playfully reminds him, and Blaine cannot help but think thank everything for that one “. Plus… it technically started in France”

“Semantics” Blaine shrugs, which makes Sebastian laugh again.

“Look, my parents may suck ass at the whole… caring and parenting thing, but you know what? Having family in Europe means I can have a car here without needing to rent one. They have so many stupid laws about it that I don’t mind using my parents for this one”

Blaine worries his bottom lip at that, watching as Sebastian pulls out of their parking stop and goes into the road. He knows there is no fire behind Sebastian’s words, but barely… because, sure. Both are grateful Sebastian’s parents have a car they can borrow for their trip, but also… Blaine knows that, deep down, Sebastian had been hopeful they could meet with his parents. He had asked to see them casually, kind of trying to make it seem as if he didn’t care, even when Blaine had totally seen through his boyfriend’s intentions. Still, it had been for nothing, because the Smythes had given a poor excuse on how they were not going to be in France for when Blaine and Sebastian were. Both boyfriends had ignored how Sebastian had not said a date yet.

Blaine had been aware he’d known Sebastian before becoming a couple, but, ever since becoming one, he’d gotten to know parts of the taller man that had been locked tight and strong. And so, Blaine knows that, whilst Sebastian tries to convince himself he is okay with his parents’ poor parenting skills, he is not completely so. Blaine himself knows all about having complicated relationships with his parents, but, after moving out for college and falling into depression, his own parents had been making an active effort to be in his life and be a good Mom and Dad.

And Blaine knows that, deep down, Sebastian had wanted the same to happen with him and his parents, even if in some small way. And it hadn’t happened, not even when Sebastian had off-handedly mentioned he was going there with his boyfriend, so maybe they could all see each other.

And Sebastian doesn’t deserve it. He deserves to have a supportive family, supportive friends, and partner, and… everything. Blaine knows his boyfriend deserves the world and, well - if his parents cannot give it to him, then he will.

“We can always put things in their tab as well,” he says, making Sebastian snort “. What happens in Europe, stays in Europe - didn’t they give you an emergency card?”

“Forever ago” Sebastian confirms “. I don’t use it though”

“Then I think it’s not a bad time for a first use, huh,” Blaine says, smirking. If Sebastian sees through his plan, he doesn’t say, instead grabbing Blaine’s hand and kissing the back of it “. We can have the fanciest dinners… buy some expensive gifts to remember this…”

“Drink the best wine… not gonna lie, Baby, I like the way you think”

“Of course you do” Blaine smiles mischievously “. Actually, you love it”

“Oh my God”

“Because you love me” Blaine continues, ignoring Sebastian and prolonging the o obnoxiously long.

“You know, I am gonna take my words back if you keep teasing me like this” Sebastian fake-threatens him, feigning indignation when Blaine gasps dramatically at his words.

“As if, Bastian” he scoffs “. No way you can do that - you said them, it’s done”

Sebastian glares at him then, playfully, but Blaine can tell there is no heat to his look, just fondness, and playfulness. It’s a nice thing to have, he thinks, especially after not being able to joke like that with Kurt, scared he was going to upset him, or annoy him.

Sebastian, on the other hand, knows he won’t ever take those words back. That still doesn’t take away he was the first to confess his feelings. The words had just slipped out, really, saying them so naturally he had not realized he’d said them… to be completely fair, he did say them a lot.

He had just said it so casually that Sebastian had not realized he’d confessed his feelings until Blaine’s eyes had started to sparkle, beautifully, and he had said I love you back. But all in all… the moment had been perfect. And Sebastian cannot bring it in himself to regret it in the slightest, but - he knows Blaine will forever tease him about him being the first one to give in.

“May I remind you, Anderson, you said the words right back. Your favorite pet name is love”

“It is a nice one!” Blaine defends himself, to his boyfriend’s giggles “. As if you don’t say too”

“Ah, didn’t say I didn’t” Sebastian tsks, getting Blaine to hum “. And yes. I may love your idea, too”

“Good” Blaine nods “. You know, I’m starting to see what you intended with all of this”

“Oh yeah?” Sebastian asks, teasingly “. And what is that, Killer?”

“Get me as far away as possible from New York,” Blaine tells him, trying to put on a mysterious voice “. Try to have me all for yourself… because again, you love me”

“Ah” Sebastian nods, grabbing Blaine’s hand while controlling the car with his free one “. You got me in that one, B… I want you all for myself”

“Knew it” Blaine nods, looking so serious Sebastian cannot help but laugh. He brings Blaine’s hand to his mouth and kisses the back of it, winking at his boyfriend for a moment before he lets Blaine’s hand rest on his thigh.

“We got this, babe. This will be the best road trip ever”

Not even two hours later… they do not get this. And it is looking like this won’t be the best road trip ever, try as Sebastian might. Because, as it is, now they’re stranded on a road in the middle of nowhere, because the stupid car had had a problem and had just stopped functioning.

Blaine had taken it better than him, calling for road trip attendance before Sebastian could and try to fix it himself, and then telling Sebastian it could’ve been worse - they had been able to stop without getting themselves into an accident, the road trip was so desert from people they had not caused any trouble for anyone else and they’ve been told help will come pretty soon.  And all of those are good points, but…

Sebastian cannot help but feel frustrated. Because he wanted this holiday to be perfect for Blaine, especially when Blaine had had a hell of a year. Of course, Blaine notices how grumpy Sebastian is, especially when the taller leaves the car to wait for the help on the edge of the road. The taller of the two can hear the shorter one leave the car as well, and go to stand behind him.

“Bas… c’mon, it’s okay”

“It is not okay, Killer,” Sebastian says, crossing his arms across his chest. He can almost see Blaine worrying his bottom lip at his answer, and he sighs and turns around, looking as Blaine does exactly that “. I wanted this holiday to be perfect for you” he confesses, softly blushing after doing so. Blaine smiles softly at his words, stepping closer to him and hugging Sebastian’s waist.

“Love” he sighs “, our holiday is perfect as long as we are together. That is what matters to me”

“Still” Sebastian insists, still frowning “. I… I wanted it to be as perfect as possible. And I… I want to be an amazing boyfriend for you, and look at this, B. I failed at our first vacation as a couple. And it does suck, because you deserve the world. You deserve the best after the year you’ve had”

Blaine’s smile turns sweeter at that, and he goes onto his tiptoes to kiss Sebastian softly, calming him in a way Sebastian knows no one else can. He gives in then, uncrossing the arms across his chest and hugging Blaine sweetly to his body, feeling Blaine smile against his mouth when he does it. When they break the kiss they stay in silence for a long moment, looking into each other’s eyes with sweet smiles.

That is, until Blaine breaks the silence, walking his hands up so they’re tracing mindless patterns onto Sebastian’s back. The taller doesn’t know if his boyfriend is aware of how much that calms him down, but… he probably is. Blaine has this way of knowing him no one else has. Or has come close to.

“You know,” he says, voice low in a way it drives Sebastian crazy “, Kurt never planned a holiday” he reveals, continuing before Sebastian can intervene “. The most he did was expect me to go to Ohio with him when he went back. And even then, towards the end… it felt as if he was annoyed at the idea of going anywhere together”

“B…”

“He never planned dates” Blaine keeps going “. Not like you do. He always left the big romantic gestures to me, not like you do. And, hell, he wouldn’t ever get this upset at the idea of not being enough for me… actually, I think towards the end Kurt thought he was too good for me”

“Like hell he is” Sebastian scoffs, getting an amused smile from Blaine and a kiss on his lips.

“You are not like Kurt, Love,” Blaine tells him, gentle as he’s ever been “. And I cannot be happy enough you are not like him, you hear me?”

“B…”

“You are an amazing boyfriend, Sebastian” Blaine insists “. The kind of one I’ve been dreaming about all of my life. So what if the car failed? That is not your fault in the slightest, and it’d be silly to think otherwise”

“But…”

“Bastian” Blaine presses on “. Stop it. I see all the effort you put into this, and how much you care, and trust me, I love you endlessly for that. Okay?”

Sebastian worries his bottom lip for a moment, but, after Blaine’s insistent gaze, he finally nods, giving in. Blaine smiles in victory then, going on his tiptoes to kiss Sebastian deeply; not like the taller is ever going to complain about that, exactly.

“Okay” Sebastian eventually whispers against his mouth “. Love you too”

“Love you more” Blaine playfully replies “. Also, the car will get fixed in no time, Baby. And even if it doesn’t… it doesn’t matter. Not really. What matters is that we are together. That is more than enough for me”

Sebastian smiles with devotion at that, leaning in for a much longer kiss, drawing it long and deep. He can feel Blaine coming closer to him, gripping the sides of his body, and it is something so good Sebastian cannot believe it is real life.

“I love you so much, Killer” Sebastian says, watching as Blaine’s eyes start to sparkle in the way they do whenever Sebastian tells him he loves him. In the back of his mind, Sebastian is aware that has a reason, that never has Blaine had a partner who took to remind him how much they loved him, but. That is something Sebastian can change, and improve upon “. And… I’ve never had someone like you. Not really. Not someone I know will be at my corner, no matter what”

“I’ll always be there,” Blaine tells him, smiling gently at him and leaning up for another kiss. Just then, they can hear a car approaching and, after looking at the vehicle, Blaine smiles triumphal at Sebastian “. Told you they’d come fast”

“Shut it, Anderson” Sebastian shoots at him, making Blaine laugh. Their playful banter is cut short by the mechanic parking and going up to them with a friendly smile. Because they are already in Italy, Blaine is the one to make use of his knowledge in another language, and they start to talk about the issue.

As Blaine had predicted, the issue with the car had been minimal, and the mechanic had been able to fix it then and there, without needing much. Sebastian and Blaine had used the Smythe’s credit card to pay for it, sharing a cheeky smile before doing so, and not even two hours after the car had failed them, the boyfriends were back on the road.

Sebastian had asked for the first turn to drive, so when Blaine hears his phone go off he checks it, and cannot help the gasp that leaves his mouth.

“No fucking way” he murmurs, getting a curious look from Sebastian before he’s looking back to the road.

“What?”

Blaine smiles, reading the text message again before he looks back at his boyfriend “. Cooper’s engaged. He’s getting married”

“What?” Sebastian exclaims, laughing “. Cooper is… oh my God. Sage and he have not been dating for long, either”

“I know” Blaine nods “. But I guess when it’s right it’s right… and Coop had this I am thirty now crisis, which makes this make sense, I guess”

“I guess” Sebastian agrees, nodding “. Sage is extremely good for him, too… makes him a better person”

“More tolerable” Blaine nods, getting a huff from Sebastian and a soft slap to his chest.

“What did he say?” Sebastian asks, resting a hand on Blaine’s thigh for a moment and squeezing it.

“He says… I wanted to call you, or better yet see you, but you’re in Italy with your love and I couldn’t wait” Blaine reads out “. Aw, that is sweet. Then… he tells me he asked Sage to marry him yesterday night, and that they are already planning the engagement party. Asked me to tell him when we’re available for that, they want us there”

“Okay” Sebastian nods, smiling sweetly at those words.

“They also say they know they want a Spring wedding, so they have a date already. Or, like, a few possible dates”

“That’s nice,” Sebastian says, smiling again “. Please send them my congratulations when you say yours”

“Of course” Blaine nods “. He told me to tell you, too. This… will be a good experience I think”

“Coop’s wedding?”

“Yeah. And his party, and all… I think this is good for him. And it will be fun for us… honestly, I am kinda curious”

“Curious?” Sebastian asks, laughing a bit.

“Yeah” the musician exclaims, smiling amusedly “. C’mon Love, it’s Cooper we’re talking about. You are going to have a field day with this one”

“Oh, for sure” Sebastian smirks “. Cannot wait”

“Cannot wait” Blaine throws back, smirking back at his boyfriend. Sebastian cannot help but feel almost irrationally happy at the silent acknowledgment that is there, how they both know, without any trace of doubt, that they will be together in the future. For Cooper and Sage’s wedding, sure, but beyond that, too. Both know they are together for the long run and, whilst not saying it out loud, there is some silent agreement there. One Sebastian is immensely happy about.

First though - their road trip. Let’s hope the car doesn’t break again - and the roads are safe. The rest, Sebastian has it under control.

Chapter Text

In all the years he’s been with Sebastian (close to three now), Blaine has met his parents a number of two times. Twice, and not for very long either time, just for as long as his boyfriend could take it. Meanwhile, Sebastian has met Blaine’s multiple times - so many, in fact, Blaine lost count after a little bit. He’s always been treated like family, like another son to Eleanor and Michael. They had become especially closer after Cooper and Sage’s wedding, ever since Sebastian had been introduced to basically everyone in Blaine’s family. It works, and it does feel like Sebastian belongs with them.

And, whilst Blaine absolutely loves it, and he is glad Sebastian feels his family as his own, he also wants Sebastian to feel better. And he knows his boyfriend still has some issues related to his parents, and he knows a part of him would like to have a better relationship with them. That’s why, when Sebastian had received an invitation to attend a Smythe family reunion, he had convinced the lawyer in training to go.

After all, it was just for a day, not even so, and in the Hamptons. They could be there and come back that same day. And even if things went bad, they could go back in no time to New York. It had taken Blaine a long while, but he had managed to finally convince Sebastian of going.

Almost immediately after arriving, Blaine can see it is going to be a disaster. Sebastian’s parents are not nearly as happy to see them as Blaine had believed they would be, although he still tries to make it better, somehow. The rest of Sebastian’s family who are there are just as uninterested as Sebastian’s parents and, all in all, it is awkward. Blaine can feel the tension between Sebastian and his parents, and it is painful to see his boyfriend still trying, to then not receive anything. Blaine and Sebastian have been dating for almost three years, yet Xavier and Colette barely remember Blaine. Colette a bit more than her partner, but not that much at that.

“Nice for you to join us” she smiles, sipping some of her wine elegantly. Sebastian hides his huff into his drink, and Blaine squeezes his side after putting his arm around his boyfriend’s waist. Xavier looks at them and raises an eyebrow, only a bit unimpressed, whilst the rest of the relatives hang around the room, waiting for lunch to start “. It is about time you brought Blaine along to one of these, Sebastian. How long have you been together, a year?”

“More like three” Sebastian points out, not even trying to not look annoyed.

“Three? Surprising to hear” Xavier points out, and Blaine cannot help but gape at that, barely believing his ears.

“And why is that?” He asks, unable not to do it. He feels Sebastian step a bit closer to him, if anything in silent support, or to tell him, maybe, to not take Xavier’s words seriously.

“Well, my son never looked like the one to maintain a relationship for long” Xavier points out, almost amused “. Not to mention… I thought he’d go for someone with higher expectations”

“Higher expectations” Blaine repeats, trying hard to keep being polite.

“Dad” Sebastian intervenes, his voice hard and trying to tell his father to stop.

“I’m just stating the facts, Sebastian” Xavier shrugs “. Your… boyfriend has a volatile career, if you can call it that. In no way comparable to what you are working towards, which makes me believe you are not on the same path in life”

“Well, how fortunate then we don’t care about what you believe,” Sebastian says, smirking sarcastically at his father. Blaine squeezes his side again, not to make him stop but to remind Sebastian he’s there for him “. You know, Father, you love to criticize things when you don’t know shit about them. Blaine’s career is ambitious, and highly demanding. And Blaine is brilliant and incredibly talented. He’s already working with important people and making a name for himself so, if anything, he is above me”

“Bas” Blaine murmurs, but Sebastian insists.

“So if you want to act all superior because that gives you a high, sure” Sebastian shrugs “. But just so you know - he’s earning more than me. Way more, actually. And with how successful he’s starting to be, he will always do it”

“Now, Sebastian, that is not something to discuss” Xavier argues, frowning deeply “. Have some class”

“I’m having as much as you, Father” Sebastian argues back “. Do not mess with my boyfriend. He is the only reason I came to this joke, and you can be damn sure if you disrespect him like that again, I am gone”

“Okay, let’s stop” Colette intervenes, putting a hand on Xavier’s forearm and shooting her kid a warning look “. This is a family reunion, not a battlefield”

“Tell that to him, he started attacking Blaine first”

“Okay, Darling, let’s move it along” Blaine intervenes, smiling sweetly at Sebastian. His boyfriend takes a moment, but finally he nods and grabs Blaine’s hand. Before they can leave, however, Blaine steps closer to his boyfriend’s parents, and lowers his voice “. Sebastian did nothing wrong here. He was protecting me, as any good boyfriend would do”

“Still, Blaine-“ Colette tries, but Blaine doesn’t let it go on.

“Stop pretending like you’re on a high horse here,” he says “. You didn’t even remember for how long your son has had a partner, or that he’s had one for way longer than a year. And you cannot and pretend you can dictate who Sebastian chooses to be with when you ignore him the way you do. We came here to try to become closer to you, like Sebastian is with my family, but all in all, I think we’re better off”

He is the one dragging Sebastian away now, and it is quite easy to do so when the taller man looks so baffled. Blaine is a bit afraid of having overstepped for a long moment, until his boyfriend reacts and pulls him to one deserted hallway and brings him to his body, kissing him.

“That was so fucking hot” he murmurs over his lips “. And I love you more than I can express right now, Baby”

“I love you too” Blaine smiles “. So… I didn’t overstep?”

“Of course you didn’t” Sebastian huffs “. Fuck them and their judgemental minds”

“I agree” the shorter nods, not losing his smile “. So much so for becoming closer, huh? I think I ruined this whole thing”

“They did, not you” Sebastian disagrees “. If they cannot respect you, then I don’t care if this never works out. You are the most important person to me, I only care to be on good terms with you”

Blaine smiles even sweeter at that, leaning up for a shorter kiss “. Same for me. C’mon, we should at least try to not make the rest of your family hate us… one last try”

“One last try” Sebastian agrees, reluctantly “. Only because I am hungry”

Blaine snorts a laugh at that, but he agrees with his boyfriend, and they go to join some other relatives of the taller man. The musician can see his boyfriend wincing before whispering to him the guy coming up to them is his cousin, very much a frat boy who can barely add two and two, but at least it is better than his parents. Slightly.

Sebastian’s cousin is only casually homophobic, and they last about six comments on how crazy it is they are together and actually planning a life together, like a straight couple would, before they move to Sebastian’s eccentric Aunt. She’s nice, if anything a bit too much at times, but they make sure to stick by her for as long as they can.

Overall, however, the whole thing is a bit of a disaster, which makes Blaine feel a bit guilty for dragging his boyfriend there. They leave the second they can do so, when they decide they are definitely not staying over. Blaine’s place is a more than two-hour drive, which after the tiring day they’ve had sounds like a nightmare, and it is kind of late, but neither truly minds. Blaine, especially, knows Sebastian really needs to get away from there.

And he also knows Sebastian’s own place won’t make it better, either, because he always says it reminds him way too much of his parents. So much so at this point they spend nearly ninety-nine percent of their time at Blaine’s place. And the shorter one won’t ever complain, because he loves to have his boyfriend around.

They make the two-hour drive (which with traffic gets way too close to three) in almost complete silence, which mildly worries Blaine. He lets his boyfriend have his time, though, knowing Sebastian needs it and works better with it, and stays as a calming and supporting presence.

When they make it to Blaine’s place, the musician is growing only more worried about his boyfriend, because even for him he’s been weirdly silent. He still lets him do, and goes to make them some warm tea they can have before bed to calm down after the day they’ve had. He goes to sit next to Sebastian once it’s ready, and his boyfriend thanks him with a smile.

They stay like that for a bit, in silence and waiting for the tea to cool down a bit. And then, Sebastian is sighing and leaves his mug on the coffee table, clapping his hands together and looking down at the ground.

“I don’t think I belong in that family,” he says, breaking the silence and almost startling Blaine. The shorter man hums, letting his boyfriend go on “. In my supposed family, I mean… I never really did, never felt at home with them, but now…”

He trails off after that, and Blaine hums and grabs his hand, squeezing it softly “. Now what, Bas?”

“Now… now that I’ve been with you for so long, now that your family has made me feel so accepted and welcomed… I feel like an outsider with my family”

“Baby…”

“I feel like I don’t belong with them,” Sebastian says, sniffing “. And if I don’t belong with them… with who then?”

Blaine is quickly to grab Sebastian’s chin then, bringing him close for a kiss that calms his boyfriend down instantly, his body relaxing against Blaine’s. After the kiss is broken, the musician kisses Sebastian’s cheeks, first the right one then the left, and then peppers kisses all over his face.

“You belong to me” he whispers over Sebastian’s lips “. With me. We belong together, Sebastian”

“We do” Sebastian whispers, smiling at him. Blaine smiles back and nuzzles their noses together.

“And you belong with the Andersons, to our family, if you as much as desire to… because, to me, you are the missing puzzle in our family, like Sage is for Cooper. Tell me… are you happy with the Andersons?”

“Of course I am” Sebastian answers, almost immediately “. I am, Love. I feel welcomed and accepted by them, in a way I’ve never felt before… I feel loved”

“Because you are loved. You are so loved, Baby. More than you even know, but I will spend every day of my life showing you just how much… wait a minute here, okay?”

Sebastian nods with a smile that is a mix between confused and enamoured, but lets Blaine do and leave the living room for a moment. The shorter of the two goes fast to his (their) bedroom, and opens his nightstand drawer in search of a particular box. When he finds it Blaine smiles brightly and goes back to the living room, where Sebastian is still looking a bit confused.

“What is this about, Killer?” He asks, and then gapes when he sees Blaine with a ring-shaped box in his hand “. Blaine?”

“I was planning on giving you this on your anniversary in a couple of weeks, but… I figured this is an even better time to do so”

“Blaine, I don’t get it” Sebastian stutters, eyes shinning but still more than confused “. What…?”

“Don’t panic just yet” Blaine says, laughing softly at his boyfriend “. I am not proposing to you right now… trust me, I’ll make that epic”

“Shut up” Sebastian laughs, nudging his shoulder “. Then?”

“Then…” Blaine says, opening the box to reveal a steel ring to his boyfriend “, this is a promise. To our future and everything that will come from it, and everything we can be. A promise that these last three years have been just the beginning for you and me. But also… this is to tell you, you belong with me”

“Killer…”

“You are a member of my family” Blaine continues, voice laced with determination and passion “. You are my family, Bastian. And this is where you belong… not with people who don’t accept you for who you are, or who have never been able to completely be there for you. Screw them. You are incredible, and so strong, and deserving of love, and support, and everything good that can happen to you”

Sebastian smiles tearfully at him when he hears those words, leaning in for a deep kiss that Blaine happily returns “. I love you more than anything” he murmurs over Blaine’s lips.

“Right back at you, my Love. And… every time you look at this ring, you can remember that. You can remember everything I’ve told you, and you can remember you will always have the Andersons there for you. No matter what - we are family. And family supports each other, and is there for each other… and that’s what we’ll do”

Sebastian is silent for a long moment, apparently trying to register everything that Blaine has said; not like the musician can blame him, exactly, because he has said a lot. And Sebastian has always had a hard time with deep feelings. It’s something he’s been working on, and he’s grown so much in that aspect in the three years they’ve been together, Blaine is immensely proud of him. He still knows his boyfriend needs time sometimes, so he gives it to him now.

After a couple of minutes, however, he delicately grabs the ring from the box, inspecting it up close and letting out a shaky sigh “. It’s beautiful, Love” he whispers, looking at Blaine with a brilliant smile on his face and his eyes starting to water “. I love it. And I love you, and everything you’ve told me”

“And you know it is true, right?” Blaine asks, just to be sure. But Sebastian nods almost immediately, calming him down. He looks so peaceful doing so, Blaine cannot help but believe his words.

“I know it is” Sebastian says, smiling almost timidly “. Can you put this on my finger?”

“It’d be my honour” Blaine smiles, adoringly at that, and grabs the ring delicately before he’s putting it on Sebastian’s finger. He kisses it afterwards, hearing his boyfriend’s smile more than he sees it, but it is perfect either way “. There. Looks beautiful”

“Not more than you are” Sebastian points out, cupping Blaine’s face and bringing him close to him to kiss him deeply “. Thank you” he whispers over his lips, before he kisses them again “. Thank you, thank you, thank you” he repeats, between kisses “. You don’t even imagine how much this matters to me”

“I may have an idea” Blaine tells him, smiling gently at Sebastian. Maybe he doesn’t fully know, but he knows he is pretty aware of how much Sebastian had needed something like this.

“Yeah, you may have” Sebastian admits, a soft smile on his face. It is such a contrast to the one he had had before, when it’d looked like he was in deep pain… now, he looks relaxed, content. At home. Blaine feels the most fortunate man in the world when he realises he’s the one who put it in there “. Love?”

“Yes?”

“You are my family” Sebastian says, and in a way (in the best way) it does feel like a promise “. You and I, we are a family. And with your parents, and with Cooper and Sage, too. But you… you are my home. And my family. And that is way more than enough for me”

“Is it?” Blaine asks, smiling softly.

“For now” Sebastian replies, smirking “. Because you can be damn sure one day I will replace this ring with an engagement one… one for you, one for me”

“That doesn’t sound too bad” Blaine smirks as well, humming when Sebastian sits on his lap. He can feel the cold of the ring when Sebastian rests his hands on his nape, and it is incredibly pleasant “. Wedding rings, too, then. We cannot be fiancés our whole lives”

“I would say I don’t care, as long as I get to be with you” Sebastian says, shrugging “. And in a way, I don’t. But also… of course, Killer. It is my life mission to one day make you my husband”

Blaine huffs a laugh at that, feeling warmth spread all over, but not wanting it to stop. It feels right - the moment, Sebastian’s words. They’re barely twenty-two, and Blaine knows they have a lot left to live, but… they both have this quiet knowledge that this is it. For both of them, this is the end of the road - no need to search for true love, for passion and adventure, because they’ve already found it. And, whilst both know right now is too soon for marriage… they know it is coming. In the not-so-distant future, they can see it coming.

But that is in the future. And right now, Blaine has other priorities. So, he cups Sebastian’s face with reverent hands, and kisses him softly, knowing what his boyfriend needs right now is to cuddle on their bed and forget about any awful reunions.

“Want to go to sleep now?” He asks, nuzzling their noses together. Sebastian nods with a timid smile, now looking tired again, and Blaine cannot help but feel guilty, once more “. I’m sorry, by the way”

“Sorry?” Sebastian asks, confused, before a frown makes presence on his face “. What for?”

“I was the one to convince you to go to that stupid reunion” Blaine explains “. You didn’t want to go, and you had your very valid reasons, but I…”

“You wanted the best for me” Sebastian points out, gently “. Like you always do. And you thought this was it”

“But, Love…”

“This is not your fault, B” Sebastian insists “. In any way whatsoever, alright?”

“I guess…”

“Blaine” Sebastian insists, eyes hard and not letting Blaine refute his words.

“Alright” the shorter man finally nods, getting a satisfied smile from Sebastian “. Bed and cuddles now?”

“Bed and cuddles now” Sebastian confirms, standing up from his seat on Blaine’s lap and helping his boyfriend up “. Naked ones though, right?”

“As if you have to ask” Blaine huffs, making Sebastian laugh before he’s dragging them to his (their) bedroom.

Their forever can wait. It will come, eventually. Now, however - Blaine has other priorities.

Chapter Text

If Blaine Anderson knows one thing right now, is that he’s had it up to here with his apartment.

Does he love it? Yes. Well, he did. He really did. Very much so. It had felt, back when he’d moved there after living at the NYADA dorms, like his safe space in the city, a place to find himself in and to rediscover who he was and what he wanted. It is the place that had seen his relationship with Sebastian blossom and, whilst they didn’t become a couple in it, they did grow up as a couple within the four walls.

But now. Now Blaine has lost count of the number of weeks his street is under construction. And that is not even the worst part - the worst part is that it is right next to his apartment, and more specifically, his bedroom, so there is no escaping. And no sleeping, either.

So Blaine cannot sleep. Nor work, if he’s honest. Much less do something actually productive. And there is so much time he can stay at Sebastian’s, especially because his boyfriend doesn’t like his own place (had done it at first, but that had changed with the years, with Xavier reminding him it was his place. It had gotten worse after the family reunion, a couple of months before). Sebastian spends close to ninety-nine percent of his free time at Blaine’s, and even when they do spend some nights at Sebastian’s, to escape the sound, they’re back at Blaine’s in a day or two. Which means they don’t escape the sound anymore. Which means Blaine cannot sleep. And he cannot work. And he has to work.

The idea of moving, then, grows naturally and extremely fast in his head. His lease is ending really soon, and as it is, Blaine doesn’t want to renew it, not if it means living in these conditions for who knows how long, because no one has been able to tell him how long the construction is going to be. Moving is a good idea, yes, especially because now he needs things he didn’t need when he was nineteen, so maybe his apartment should show that, too.

But, the thing is… he doesn’t know how to bring it up to Sebastian. And Blaine supposes he should talk about it with him, right? After all, they’ve been together for three years, and it would be weird if Blaine decided to move, and not talk about it with Sebastian.

“Blaine, this is stupid”

“It is not!” Blaine exclaims, indignant. Cooper only huffs at him, rolling his eyes very dramatically. Sage, his wife, sees it, and goes to clap him upside the head, reprimanding her husband with her eyes, brown and unforgiving. There is a reason she is his favorite sibling, Blaine thinks.

“Don’t listen to him, B, it is not stupid” she says, smiling gently at him before she glares at her husband again “. And you could be more understanding of your brother”

“I am being understanding” Cooper protests, but he is at the receiving end of two unimpressed stares a mere second later “. Ugh, fine. Why am I not being understanding?”

“You are not taking into consideration Sebastian and Blaine’s circumstances, honey” Sage points out, not rudely “. They are young, and they are the first adult and serious relationship of each other. That’s bound to be confusing and stressful at times”

“Uh, may I point out” Cooper half-stutters, looking unsure about his words but still saying them “, Blaine over here was engaged before?”

Sage is the one to roll her eyes now, making Blaine laugh softly, and he shakes his head before answering his brother “. That was a disaster, Coop. And also… I don’t think it was a very adult relationship, even with the engagement. More like… kids pretending to be adults. This, this thing with Sebastian… it is different”

“Okay, you have a point” Cooper finally agrees, nodding “. If I think about it, your relationship with Seb is way different than the one you had with Kurt. Feels real, in a way. Or, more real”

“Exactly” Blaine exclaims, happy his brother can see his point. Sage smiles at the two brothers and moves closer to the camera, putting her red hair over her left shoulder.

“Listen, my sweet B, Seb and you are basically always together. Am I wrong?”

“No, you’re not”

“Okay. I understand this is a big move and step. And decision, too. For you, and for your future, both separately and as a couple… but honestly? I believe in this case is the right one to take”

“Really?” Blaine asks, just to be sure. Even if he agrees with his sister, some reassurance is not bad. Back when he had proposed to Kurt, no one had been truly on board with it, mostly going with the flow because Blaine had asked them. It feels nice to see someone so close to him being on board with this idea now.

“Really” Sage nods. Cooper nods next to her, silently agreeing with his wife “. You guys are graduating college soon, and it’s not like you’re kids, you know? You’re both twenty-two, and you’ve been together for three years now. That’s a long time”

“I guess”

“Not to mention” Sage continues “, you want to build a life together, and that’s something you’ve both talked about and discussed. So… maybe moving together is not a crazy idea. Maybe it’s just the next natural step to take”

Blaine sighs at that, knowing Sage is right. And, if he’s honest… he does want to take that next step. He’s just a bit afraid things will go wrong, like when he had moved in with Kurt. He knows his boyfriend and his ex are not the same people in the slightest, and that Sebastian and he know what it’s like living with each other, as they’ve been essentially doing so for what has to be years now. Moving in together is something official, and it is a big step, but as Sage has said… the natural one to take now.

“So, I talk with him,” he says after a moment. His sister nods and hums, looking pleased with herself.

“Exactly, my sweet B. You talk with your man, and you both figure this out. I bet in no time you’re calling us to tell us you’ve found the perfect place to move into”

“And without construction going on” Cooper points out, making Sage and Blaine laugh.

“Amen to that” Blaine nods “. Okay, I will. Thank you both, this has helped me a lot”

Sage and Cooper smile sweetly at him, and they talk for another five minutes about the impending birthday of Michael, their Dad (and Dad-in-law) before Blaine says his goodbyes, and hangs up. He knows he has to talk to Sebastian now, so… time to figure it out how he brings the topic up.

He is still thinking about it that same night, while making dinner for Sebastian and him.  With music as a background (because, as his boyfriend tells him pretty much all the time, Blaine does not know how to live without music), the hazel-eyed wonder is distracted, humming the song he’s listening to whilst he chops some veggies for the dish he’s preparing. He doesn’t hear the keys turning, and only realizes Sebastian has arrived when the taller man hugs him from behind, kissing the top of his head.

“I thought we were cooking dinner together” he murmurs, gently swaying them to the rhythm of the music. Blaine hums and leans back on his chest, letting Sebastian kiss the side of his face over and over. He turns around after a moment, kissing his boyfriend’s lips and smiling against them before he pecks them “. And that you were gonna work on a song” Sebastian adds.

“I know, but-“ Blaine starts to say, but just then the sound of construction still going on interrupts him in the rudest way, making him exhale a desperate huff that makes Sebastian laugh (at him. How rude), and even louder when Blaine just points towards the sound.

“I am assuming you couldn’t work anymore because of the sound” Sebastian deduces, once the sound has died down some. Blaine nods, turning around to still chop veggies - if he’s lucky, he’ll leave his frustration with that, so he can enjoy a peaceful night with his love.

“I tried, you know” he says, knowing he very much sounds like a petulant child and yet not caring he does “. I really did. But it's so annoying” he whines, hearing his boyfriend softly laughing at that “. Yes, laugh at me”

“I’m sorry, Love,” Sebastian says, smiling sympathetically at him and hugging him from behind again, kissing his curls “. I know it is annoying”

“Yep” Blaine nods “. So I started to cook dinner, if anything to leave my anger in chopping veggies. This shit is almost therapeutic”

“Please, tell that to Trent next time we see him,” Sebastian says, narrowly avoiding Blaine’s elbow “. Rude”

“You are” Blaine nods. Sebastian huffs again, but he still kisses the top of Blaine’s head, and then his cheek, pressing their cheeks after he’s done so.

“Again, I’m sorry Love. I know you’re fed with the whole construction thing”

“It’s the worst” Blaine murmurs, getting a hum in agreement.

“And it does look like it’s still going to take a long time” Sebastian points out, which is not helpful in the slightest “. They changed the date again, just saw it on my way here. Two months more at least”

“Oh my God” Blaine groans, throwing his head back “. Please, Darling, do not come home to say these things to me”

“Should I sing your praises instead?” Sebastian asks, smirking.

“You’re very much welcome to do so” Blaine nods, feigning seriousness but also half-meaning it. Sebastian snorts a laugh and squeezes his sides before dropping another kiss on his cheek.

“Okay, love of my life, man of my dreams, I will go and change into comfortable clothes now and then I will help you with this. Deal?” He asks, smiling playfully at Blaine. The shorter man smiles, a mix of amusement and deep love for his boyfriend, and nods, letting Sebastian kiss his lips before he’s leaving for the bedroom.

Sebastian is quick to return, and they make quick work of their dinner-making. Soon enough they’re sharing it in the living room, sitting sideways on the couch while sharing wine and stories of their days. Even with the (annoying) background, Blaine loves those moments with Sebastian. When it is the two of them in their own little world, their space, their home. When it’s just them, and their love, and their friendship. After a long day, this is the kind of thing he always needs.

After dinner they are quick to clean up, first the living room then the kitchen, and it is when Blaine is considering making tea for them that Sebastian clears his throat, making him turn around. For some reason, his boyfriend actually looks nervous, a timid smile present on his face making him look a bit younger.

“I kinda have a gift for you,” he tells Blaine, managing to surprise the curly-haired man. He quirks an eyebrow, not trying to mask his surprise either, and gets closer to his man.

“Is that so? What is it?” He asks, curious. And then he gets a bit confused “. I have not missed any special date, have I? Because I have never done that, and if this stupid construction is making me go crazy I will lose it”

Sebastian laughs fondly at that, shaking his head “. Not a special date, no” he tells him, making Blaine breathe easier but not helping the confusing part in the slightest “. I just have a gift for you”

“Okay…”

“So” he smiles “, can I give it to you?”

“Of course” Blaine smiles, still confused a bit but happy about a present nonetheless. Sebastian smiles even wider at that, and disappears for a moment into the bedroom, coming back with a somewhat big box in his hands. It doesn’t help Blaine’s curiosity, much less when Sebastian leaves the gift on the kitchen table and it sounds like it’s heavy.

“C’mon, open it” Sebastian urges him, now looking impatient. Blaine snickers under his breath but obeys, going to the gift and carefully unwrapping it. And when he does… he is still a bit confused. Because Blaine sees cutlery.

“Er… cutlery?” He asks, a bit confused. The one he has is just fine, and he’s never mentioned anything about needing a new set to Sebastian. Nor has Sebastian ever said he doesn’t like the set Blaine already has “. I… am a bit lost, Love. Also, why didn’t we use it for dinner?”

Sebastian laughs warmly at that, getting closer to him and grabbing Blaine’s hand into both of his “. This… is not for now” the taller man tells him, smiling nervously at him “. Not really”

“No? Then… what are they for?” Blaine asks, a bit confused still but kind of guessing Sebastian’s train of thought. And hoping he’s right, too. 

“Well…” Sebastian smiles, still timidly, which Blaine can’t help but think is insanely cute “. I figured… we could use them at our place,” he says, and Blaine opens his mouth in surprise, shocked his suspicions were actually right. After seeing Blaine’s expression, Sebastian is quick to explain “. I know your lease is ending soon” he says, looking sure of his words “. Really soon, actually. And I also know that, as much as you love this apartment you are a bit done with this place as well. Especially with all the construction going on. So, I was thinking…”

“We could move in together” Blaine completes for him, breathlessly.

“We could move in together, yeah” Sebastian nods, his smile now breathtaking “. I thought we could find something for ourselves. Our home - a home we can start to grow our life and our little family in, even if it is just the two of us for now. But a place that is ours, something we can pick together and make it… ours. So, what do you think? It’s okay if you need a bit more time, but…”

Blaine interrupts him at that, leaning forward and putting his arms around Sebastian’s neck before he leans up and kisses him senselessly. Sebastian kisses back immediately and puts his arms around his waist, smiling against Blaine’s lips before he kisses him back, and it is a long while before they can actually break their kiss and breathe again.

“I wanted to ask you the same thing” Blaine confesses in a whisper, watching as Sebastian’s eyes start to sparkle beautifully at that “. But… considering how my first attempt to live with someone went, I was a bit scared you wouldn’t want to do it”

“Are you kidding, Love?” Sebastian asks, smiling “. Look, I understand your fear, Hummel messed you up well, but… it is my dream to live with you. To share a home with you… officially, anyway”

“Mine, too” Blaine admits, welcoming Sebastian’s kiss.

“Besides,” the taller man says over his lips “. We have plenty of experience living with each other, anyway. I’m barely at my apartment”

“True” Blaine admits, laughing softly.

“And” Sebastian adds “, we know we like it. Love it, even”

“That is true, too” Blaine admits once more “. I know it’s not the same thing, Bas, and that is why I was trying to figure out how to bring it up to you… Sage said I had to do it soon, she thinks this is the next step for us”

“Sage is extremely wise” Sebastian nods “. And Coop? Because I’m guessing you asked him, too”

“He said me doubting this was stupid” Blaine laughs “, and that of course we should live together. He was a bit confused about me asking you, thought it was a given we were living together”

“Only your brother, Killer” Sebastian snorts “. Still… I’m glad he thinks this”

“Yeah, me too” Blaine smiles “. Now we only have to find a place that doesn’t have a construction plan close to it”

“I promise we will” Sebastian laughs, leaning down for a sweet kiss “. A place closer to our jobs and my school, maybe… something that is more us than this is right now. Our home”

“Our home” Blaine nods, and welcomes Sebastian’s kiss again, figuring that, sure. They have time to find an apartment. But now he wants to celebrate they’re going to move together. Finally.

“This is monumental”

“We don’t have a table yet”

“Doesn’t matter” Blaine refutes, making his boyfriend laugh and nod, agreeing. He watches with a smile as Sebastian pulls out the last of their takeout from a nice Thai restaurant they really like and that, to their luck, is close to their new place.

Oh, their new place. The perfect one, too, Blaine more than knows so. It is so perfect for Sebastian and him, for what they are and want to be and become. Close to Central Park, with a couple of guest rooms (although one has turned into sort of an office/music room), and a beautiful kitchen and living room. They have a balcony, and their room is big and bright, with another balcony just for them.

Blaine knows this is not their forever home, and he knows they will probably be there for only a few years, when they’ll want to actually grow their family - it’d be ideal if they could find a good townhouse to raise their kids in. Maybe have a couple of pets. For now though? For now this is perfect. Way more than perfect.

Even when a lot of their furniture still has to come, it is more than perfect. Sitting on the floor of their new living room, a lamp illuminating it and the soft lights of New York coming through their big windows - Blaine knows he’s never been happier.

And maybe he’s being too sentimental with the whole thing, but - as he grabs the cutlery Sebastian had gifted them with, barely a month prior (things had moved fast, but. It’s not like Blaine is complaining), he knows they couldn’t eat dinner at their new place for the first time without this cutlery, without making it something big.

“You’re ridiculous” Sebastian smiles, going to grab the cutlery from Blaine and leaning down to kiss his cheek “. But I adore you”

“I adore you, too” Blaine murmurs, leaning in for a kiss before Sebastian smiles and goes back to their living room. Grabbing some wine to share with his boyfriend, Blaine breathes in, happy beyond words.

They’re home.

And they have nice cutlery, too.

Chapter Text

If Sebastian is feeling one thing right now, then that is stress. He is more stressed than he’s been in all of his life, probably, but… he is, also, really excited. Oh, is he excited. He’s finally graduating from Law School, after three years of insanely hard work. It’s been a long and hard road, never easy in the slightest, and extremely challenging ninety-nine percent of the time, even for someone as intelligent and loving of a challenge as he is. But that doesn’t matter now - the endless nights of no sleep, the interminable hours of studying, the worry, the sacrificing plans to be able to get everything done… it’s done. He’s  graduating from Law School. He’s made it. And he has a job lined up already, which, you know. Not to brag, but Sebastian is proud of that one. Especially when his job is in the best firm in New York City.

(Of course, he’s proud of it because he knows he got it thanks to his hard work. But he’s also proud because Blaine is proud, immensely so at that, and because his Dad had told him that, by not studying Law and Princetown and doing so in Columbia, he was not going to achieve a thing. Take that now, Father)

As proud as he feels, however, it doesn’t take away that he’s had to run from one place to another in the last few days, and that his work has been a pain in the ass. Getting back to his home, Sebastian feels exhaustion just nagging at him, wanting him to just rest for once. But also, he feels the sense of belonging he always gets whenever he goes into Blaine and his’ place - like it is the one place in the world he’d ever need to be.

Right now, however, it could be better. Sebastian cannot help but sigh at how silent the place is. Blaine had had to travel for work, and without him their place just feels… a bit too empty. Of course, not like Sebastian is not proud of the musician for killing it as much as he’s doing, but still. He misses him.

Sebastian also thinks he may just be missing his fiancé a bit too much - Blaine has been away for too long, after all. But a meeting had linked to another one and, even when Blaine is incredibly successful for someone so young, he’s also aware the job opportunities don’t fall off the sky; he has to work for them, even if that means sacrificing his time sometimes. Sebastian agrees with that, deeply so, so his boyfriend had taken to agree to the meetings, but - that doesn’t take away how much Sebastian misses him.

Sighing, he grabs his phone, smiling at the background picture - not like he’d ever thought he’d have a partner as his lock screen picture, but how could he not put a picture of his fiancé when he’s engaged to Blaine Anderson? Well, technically it is a couple picture, but still. It always brings a smile to his face.

Bas: I miss you. Really bad. Cannot wait for you to be home already

Before Blaine has had the time to answer, Sebastian sees he has a text from his mother, and he stops himself from sighing. He has love for his mother, but her actions have not made it so they have a good relationship - not like Blaine with his parents. Or, hell, not like Sebastian with his boyfriend’s parents, who pretty much feel like their own by now, the almost five years he’s been with his fiancé.

He especially doesn’t want to answer his mother because, as of now, his parents are in one of their messy stages. Meaning, they say they are spending time separately to be able to spend time together, in the future. It’s not like they officially break up, but Sebastian sometimes wonders just why don’t they do it, when at times they cannot stand the sight of each other or be in the same room.

That concept of ‘love’ had messed with his perception of it for years, and he had truly believed something similar would happen to his boyfriend and him. Blaine had managed to show him otherwise with time and a lot of patience, had managed to show him what love actually was and felt like, but that had only made his parents’ decisions more confusing for Sebastian. Why? Why were they acting this way, when having healthy love was so fantastic? Truth to be told, he didn’t care anymore. He had Blaine, and they had something beautiful and amazing. He is choosing to not give a second thought to whatever issues his parents were having at that moment in time. But. He still has to check his Mother’s text.

Maman: Is your Father going to be at your graduation?

Sebastian sighs, big and maybe a tad bit dramatic - which he is entirely blaming on spending too much time with his soon-to-be brother-in-law. And some Warblers, too.

Sebastian: I am not too sure, but I think he is

His mother is quick to answer, which Sebastian thinks is funny. Colette Smythe has a tendency to answer quickly whenever it interests her, but rarely when Sebastian needs her to, or needs to know something quickly.

Maman: Is he really? My God, what an inconvenience

Sebastian: He is my Father, Maman, it is not an inconvenience

Sebastian: Are you fake-arguing once again?

He waits for his mother’s text for a minute, then two, then five, but he more than knows he is not getting a response. He knows his mother - once she has gotten the information she wanted out of him, he is no longer useful. He sighs and leaves his phone be, knowing what his mother’s silence means - most likely, she is not going to his graduation, just in case she runs into Xavier.

It is fucking hilarious, in Sebastian’s opinion. How his mother is willing to not go to his graduation, something that will happen once, just so she can avoid her partner (or whatever they are now), which is something that will get resolved (or whatever their version of that is) and then will inevitably happen again. It’s fine, Sebastian tells himself. He only needs Blaine to be there. He doesn’t care that much if his parents are.

His phone buzzes again, but this time when he looks at his phone, he smiles, because his fiancé has finally texted back.

Killer: I miss you more, my Love

Before Sebastian can answer that text, Blaine is calling him, and the brunet picks the call up with a smile, dying to hear his lover’s voice. After his mother’s texts, a call from Blaine is just what he needs.

“Ugh, I needed to hear your voice so bad,” he says the instant the call is picked up. He can hear Blaine’s smile at that, and in turn he smiles as well.

“Bad day, then?” Blaine says, softly. Sebastian shrugs, even if Blaine cannot see him really. He goes to sit on their couch, faintly remembering the entire weekend they had spent searching for the perfect couch (couches, really. And who knew they needed so many for that space).

“Bad last five minutes more like it” Sebastian sighs “. My mother asked me if my father is coming to the graduation”

“And when you told her that he’s possibly coming, she stopped answering back. Which means she’s most likely not coming” Blaine perfectly deduces, getting a positive hum from Sebastian “. I’m sorry, Love”

“Don’t be” Sebastian immediately says “. It is not your fault, B. You’re busy enough as it is”

“I am” Blaine sighs, and he does sound exhausted. Sebastian hums again, wanting nothing but to cuddle Blaine, something he knows helps his fiancé whenever he feels overwhelmed.

“Tell me about your day then,” he asks, needing desperately to distract himself and his mind. Blaine smiles at the other side of the call and tells him the crazy day he’s had - right now he’s currently in Dubai, of all places, working with a crazy artist that is very talented… and nice enough for Sebastian to say he likes him as a person. Blaine asks him about his day after he’s done, avoiding the topic of Sebastian’s parents again, and by the time Sebastian’s done with his tale, the brunet is feeling way better.

“Are you excited about graduation, then?” Blaine asks, and there is something in his voice Sebastian cannot completely decipher, which is weird with them.

“Excited to be done and have all my work come to conclusion, I guess” Sebastian shrugs “. I am more excited to know you will be there, cheering me on”

Blaine stays in silence for a long time; long enough to get Sebastian to worry. And then he’s sighing, and worrying him even more “. I am trying by all means to be home for your graduation, Love,” he says, and the way he says it, something sinks in Sebastian’s stomach “, I just… I am not completely sure I will able to make it”

“Oh,” Sebastian murmurs, not knowing what else to say.

“I swear I am going to try” Blaine promises “. With everything I am and with everything I have at my disposition, Bas. It’s just, things have been pilling up one on top of another, and I - I'm sorry”

“Hey, no, it’s fine” Sebastian forces out. And as hard as it is, he knows it is (kind of) fine… he knows Blaine wants desperately to be there, and if he cannot be it is not something he’s happy about.

“Bastian-“

“Love, I promise it’s fine” Sebastian insists “. I understand, okay? You’re there working, not because you absolutely want to. Graduation is just a day, and we can have a celebration later on, okay?”

Blaine stays silent for a long while after that, and then he whispers, charged with emotion “. I love you with all I am” he says “. You know that, right?”

“Of course I do” Sebastian replies, smiling softly “. You know it’s the same for me, right? I love you more than anything”

“I know” Blaine sighs, and he sounds so guilty, it makes Sebastian actually feel bad for him. There is background noise behind Blaine then, a lot at that, and then Blaine is apologising and telling Sebastian he has to go, and work some more. And whilst the taller doesn’t feel like saying goodbye to him yet, he lets his fiancé go, knowing Blaine has to work.

The moment he hangs up, Sebastian just wants to make himself some dinner and then go straight to sleep, but then, to his dismay, he sees he has a text from his father.

Dad: Is your Maman going to be at your graduation?

Sebastian sighs, throwing his head back for a moment and letting out a groan. He cannot do this a second time, especially when now he cannot call Blaine again and get him to distract him. So, maybe a bit frustrated, he goes to answer to his father.

Sebastian: I am not too sure, but I think she is

Sebastian: Why, Father, are you and Maman fake-arguing again, like children?

Sebastian watches as his father’s next messages start to pout in, some half-threat about him not going to Sebastian’s graduation if his mother is going or if Sebastian dares to speak to him like that again. The new lawyer refuses to reply, knowing his Dad would love if he was to reply and they could fight it off. But he’s too tired, and now he’s sad, and he refuses to fight for any longer. Another thing Blaine has taught him in all the years they’ve been together is to not engage in toxic behaviour, and this is it.

Besides, it’s not like Sebastian can bring himself to actually care about his father possibly not being at his graduation. Xavier has always been a mediocre father at best, the kind of father Sebastian has promised himself a thousand times already he won’t be with his and Blaine’s children. He’s never shown his support, so what’s one more thing? Also - the only person Sebastian wants to be there for him is his future husband. And maybe he’s not even there.

He really needs to go to sleep.

The days between his call with Blaine (and the annoying texts from his parents) and his graduation go by fast, filled with some preparations for the graduation and his new work at the firm. It helps Sebastian distract himself, because now he is missing his boyfriend even more.

Especially because Blaine had texted him, early that same morning, only to tell him that it really does look like he is not going to make it. And taking into account how he was still in Dubai when he had texted Sebastian (had sent a selfie of him in the studio, fully-on pouting), there is no way he can make it in time back to New York.

And again - he understands his boyfriend has to work. And he is supportive. But Sebastian cannot help but feel sad about it all.

Of course, Blaine is feeling sad about it all, too. And sorry. And he had told him how sorry he was before, and how he will make it up to him, somehow. And Sebastian had told him it was fine, that he understood - but he’s sad. Because he wanted his future husband to be there for him. For once he had someone, and now he’s not coming.

Sighing, Sebastian opens the door to his apartment, wanting nothing but to change into something comfier and go to sleep, maybe not even have dinner. His graduation is the next day, and even when the brunet would rather not go, actually, he knows he has to. So maybe it’s better if he goes to sleep and lets all go fast.

The apartment is silent, and in a way it is deafening, but Sebastian ignores it in order to go to the bedroom, starting to take his the jacket of his suit off, and then his tie, throwing it on top of Blaine and his’ bed. He’s just taking his shirt off, figuring he can steal one of his fiancé’s t-shirts, when-

“What a sight for sore eyes”

Sebastian turns around at that, shocked beyond words, and then - Blaine is there. He sees his fiancé there, leaning against the door and with a brilliant smile on his face. He doesn’t look like he’s just come home, rather like he’s been waiting for Sebastian for a long moment, wearing jeans and a t-shirt Sebastian can recognise as his.

“Is this real?” he murmurs “. Are you real? Are you here?” He asks, breathless. Blaine smiles, soft and real and there, and nods.

“I am here, my Love,” he says, and it makes Sebastian break out of his shock. He drops his shirt to the floor and eliminates the distance between Blaine and him in a matter of seconds, bringing him close and kissing him senselessly.

Blaine kisses back in a millisecond, smiling against his mouth before he’s deepening their kiss, hands going up and down on Sebastian’s back. Now that he’s back in his fiancé’s arms, Sebastian feels truly home, like he can breathe easier and feel happy about things.

Once they can break the kiss, Sebastian cups Blaine’s face, reverently, and takes a long moment to look deep into his love’s eyes, feeling his smile almost break his face “. What are you doing here?” He asks, barely believing his own eyes. Blaine smiles, amused, and kisses his nose for a second.

“Like I was not going to make it” he laughs, making Sebastian feel incredibly warm. And a bit silly, too, because of course Blaine had planned something like this. Of course Blaine would make sure of being there for him, or being supportive and attending Sebastian’s graduation - because he had known how important it was for Sebastian, and how important it was for him to finally have someone there for him in the audience. Of fucking course.

“But you told me you were not going to make it” Sebastian softly protests still, unable to erase the smile from his face.

“I… kinda lied” Blaine admits, blushing softly “. I scheduled to be here for your graduation months ago. Planned this months in advance, so there was no way I was not going to make it. Even if my artist went crazy”

“But… the selfie in the studio…” Sebastian still tries, trying to process it all.

“Took that one days ago” Blaine admits “. Helped with the whole charade… actually, I slept at Nick’s last night, came yesterday just in case the plane failed me today”

“I love you,” Sebastian says for an answer, kissing him for a long moment “. So fucking much right now, there are no words”

“For me neither, Bas,” Blaine says, smiling softly at him “. And… you’re always giving me amazing surprises, the kind of ones that sweep me off my feet constantly. And I wanted to do the same”

“Oh, I do love you so freaking much, Killer,” Sebastian says, kissing him “. I adore you”

“I adore you more” Blaine smirks, and it is kind of the last thing Sebastian remembers before his fiancé and he completely give in. It is easier when he’s not wearing a shirt already.

And it is really fun to get rid of Blaine’s.

One of Sebastian’s absolute favourite things to do in the whole world (and something that is never changing) is basking with Blaine in the afterglow. There is something about it, something he won’t try to decipher or analyse, as just feeling it is enough… but something about how soft Blaine feels, how soft he looks… the quiet calm, the silent but ever-present love that Sebastian can feel. He knows there is some type-level science that has something to do with it, but also - he knows those feelings come because it is Blaine.

“I got you a present,” Blaine tells him, grabbing his hand and resting it on his chest. Sebastian smiles at that, dopily he’s more than aware, and draws his thumb over Blaine’s knuckles, getting closer to nuzzle their noses together.

“Yeah?” He asks in a low voice.

“Mmhm” Blaine nods “. To celebrate you and all”

“Killer…” Sebastian smiles “. Love, you didn’t have to. Having you here is more than enough”

“Shut it” Blaine replies, making him laugh “. Let me pamper you, alright? I’m happy this way”

“Well, then if it makes you happy…”

“That’s right” Blaine nods, looking content with himself. He kisses Sebastian one more time and leaves their bed for a moment, going to check his suitcase (which he had left in the guest bedroom, just so Sebastian didn’t see it and he could surprise him). The musician is back in a minute, with a small box wrapped in his hands. Sebastian arches an eyebrow in curiosity, and accepts the box and the kiss Blaine gives him after that with a smile. He unwraps the present fast and, when Sebastian opens the box, he sees a beautiful watch there. From his favourite brand, too.

“Love…” he whispers, marvelled “. This is too much”

“It’s not” Blaine immediately argues “. This is to celebrate you, so it’ll never be enough, alright? I am immensely proud of you and all that you’ve accomplished, and I want to give this to you to celebrate you, so let me. Besides, maybe you can wear it for tomorrow’s ceremony, right?”

“It’d be my honour, Love” Sebastian smiles, taking the watch off the box and letting Blaine put it on. He marvels at the sight of it, winking at his fiancé and making him laugh “. Looks perfect”

“You are perfect” Blaine smiles “. Also… just so you know, it won’t be only me tomorrow. After my parents heard about your parents maybe not going to the graduation, they immediately bought plane tickets and got a hotel room. And so did Cooper and Sage”

“Wait, what?” Sebastian asks, barely knowing what to feel.

“This is important for you” Blaine shrugs “. They wanted to come since forever, but thought maybe they were imposing”

“They are my family, of course they’re not” Sebastian smiles “. I didn’t tell them because I thought I would be imposing”

“Are you kidding?” Blaine laughs “. My Dad has been telling his country club friends his son is a lawyer now for weeks… he adds the in-law when they show confusion, but the sentiment is there”

“Of course there is” Sebastian smiles, touched beyond words.

“And Mom has told her friends, too” Blaine keeps saying “. And how damn proud she is of you, and how you already have an amazing job. And Sage and Cooper never stop talking about it whenever I call”

“They are the best” Sebastian murmurs “. Is Charlie coming?” He asks, curious about it. Their nephew is still kind of young, barely eighteen months, so maybe…

“He is” Blaine nods “. They are going to drop him off with a friend of Sage’s for the ceremony, as it is too long for a baby, and they asked me if it’s okay if he comes to dinner, they can leave him with Sage’s friend for the whole night if you would rather not”

“Are you kidding, Baby? Of course I want our nephew there” Sebastian replies. The way Blaine smiles, it tells him it was a good answer “. This is a family celebration. Last time I checked, Charlie is an Anderson”

“And you are, too” Blaine winks, kissing him “. Honorary for now, but you just wait a few months and it’ll be official”

“Mhmm, can’t wait” Sebastian responds, kissing his fiancé, too. Blaine smiles against his lips, nuzzling their noses, and the lawyer can barely believe a couple of hours before he’d been feeling that low.

“Just so you know, though,” Blaine says, interrupting their kiss before they get carried away “. This is supposed to be a surprise, and my Mom will kill me if she finds out I told you about this”

“Noted” Sebastian laughs “. Thank you for telling me first, though”

“Of course” Blaine nods. It is something wonderful, Sebastian thinks, the way his boyfriend knows him. Because as much as Sebastian is happy about this, he knows, and Blaine knows, that sometimes surprises this nice overwhelm him. It will still be shocking to see them all there, but now Sebastian can control his emotions in time “. Just act surprised tomorrow, and we’re good to go”

Sebastian laughs again, impossibly happy, and kisses Blaine again, figuring they can lose themselves at least one more time before they’re calling for a late-night delivery.

The next day, Sebastian graduates from Law School. His parents are not there, as both are still too proud and too goddamn stubborn to get over themselves even when this is happening, but it is not something the new lawyer thinks about the whole day.

He walks onto the stage and receives the diploma with a beaming smile on his face, knowing that as much sacrifice as it took, now he’s graduating top of his class and he has an amazing job for him. He hears his peers and friends cheering for him but, most importantly… he hears and sees his family. And that’s all that matters. The Andersons are all there, on their feet, clapping and cheering loudly, and Sebastian wants to cry with how happy he feels right then and there.

Blaine kisses him senselessly when the ceremony is done, and Sage snaps a picture of the moment that immediately becomes one of Sebastian’s favourites. His fiancé, the simp he is, immediately uploads it to his Instagram, celebrating and congratulating Sebastian - he also adds a selfie of the whole family once Charlie is there, and Sebastian can see Blaine is being a bit petty with it all, showing who is Sebastian’s true family. He cannot love his fiancé more for it. Because Sebastian is also a simp, he uploads the same two pictures to his own Instagram, feeling warm at the messages of support he receives at that.

They go to have lunch after, and Michael insists on paying for the whole meal as a celebration of his son-in-law’s achievement, which Sebastian cannot bring himself to deny. He even accepts the few gifts Michael and Eleanor, and then Cooper and Sage, give him. Even Charlie gives him a drawing of mostly lines and with an ‘Uncle Seb’ at the bottom that has been clearly written by Sage, but that is equally as nice as everything else for the brunet.

And of course, when his sister-in-law mentions how nice Sebastian’s new watch is, he smiles and says thank you. And then he grabs Blaine’s hand, which had been resting on his thigh, and when his fiancé looks at him (briefly interrupting a conversation he was having with his father), Sebastian winks at him and kisses his cheek.

Of course Blaine was going to come.

Chapter Text

“Are you one hundred percent sure you can do this?”

“Love” Sebastian huffs, a fake look of indignation that only makes Blaine want to laugh “. Of course I can. Can you?”

Blaine rolls his eyes at his husband, putting his hands on his hips to also fake indignation “. Let me remind you, Bas, I had a good grade when I took workshop in high school”

“Well, your woodwork is excellent”

“Shut up” Blaine laughs “. Let me finish”

“Do it, please, by all means”

“Thank you” Blaine nods “. I know I can do it. Meanwhile, in all the years we’ve been together I’ve only seen you build something a handful of times. All the furniture we’ve bought has either come already built, or we’ve called in someone to do it for us”

“That’s not true. There was that coffee table in our first apartment, and our dresser in the new townhouse”

“Oh yeah, true” Blaine nods, smiling amusedly “. Both things I built”

“Shut it” Sebastian orders him, pointing at him with a screwdriver. When he realizes how much that looks like a Cooper Anderson action, he looks horrified, and immediately stops doing it, which makes Blaine snort a laugh “. You’re lucky I love you this much”

“Mmhm” Blaine nods “. Question still stands”

“I can build this, Love” Sebastian nods “. I’ve built stuff before. Besides, this is different. This is our daughter’s crib, so there is no way I’m ever messing it up”

“That is true” Blaine smiles, enamored and loving. He goes to hug his husband, arms around his middle, and receives the sweet kiss Sebastian gives him “. I know you won’t mess it up. But I am going to help”

“Okay,” Sebastian laughs, receiving this time the kiss.

“And I’m going to supervise, too” Blaine finishes, decidedly “. Now, where did you put the nails, Love?”

Once they’ve started to build the crib… Sebastian and Blaine realize it is way more complicated than they thought it would ever be. There are just way too many parts, and nails, and the instructions seem written in a language no one will ever understand.

“I’m just trying to remember why didn’t we get someone to build this” Blaine murmurs, close to an hour and a half in, sitting next to Sebastian on the floor and surrounded by all the pieces. So far, only two have come together… and there must be two dozen more of them. And just. Why. “It’s like, part of becoming parents” Sebastian shrugs “. One of the acceptance rituals”

“Right” Blaine snorts “. One of the passages, right?”

“Precisely” Sebastian nods “. And this is our first baby, Love. Who knows if for when we have our second we’ll be able to do this. Maybe taking care of our daughter won’t give us the time to build a crib for her sibling”

“Oh, no, no, no” Blaine protests, scrunching his nose “. I am the second born, and I am telling you now, Bas, there is no way I will ever let our second child go through all those second child experiences”

“Killer, you can’t stop that” Sebastian laughs “. Even if we try to give them all new experiences, it’s not the same, you know? We’ll know more stuff once we have our second. Hopefully”

“Yes, but - we are doing things with them. The same we are doing with our first baby. Deal?”

“Deal” Sebastian smiles, leaning in for a sweet kiss “. I promise, our second child won’t feel like a forgotten one. And we are building their crib, too”

“Of course we are”

“If we ever can manage to finish this one though” Sebastian points out, which gets him a laugh and a slap to his chest “. I’m serious, B”

“I know you are, Darling. But hey, maybe for the second time around our kid can help us out”

“Maybe this gibberish is something that babies are able to understand” Sebastian nods, so seriously Blaine cannot help but burst out laughing.

“Or maybe she can find those damn nails by crawling around” Blaine adds, and this time Sebastian is the one that laughs and nods “. Either way - we are building a crib for her sibling”

“Yes, Love, we are” Sebastian reassures him, kissing his temple “. We will build a crib for every kid we have”

“Good” Blaine smiles, and goes back into trying to assemble the crib. It’s getting close to the due date, and their surrogate has already told them she’s starting to feel like the baby is coming soon, so they are in a rush to get everything ready for their daughter. And, while she is going to sleep in their room at night, she still is going to be in her nursery at some points during the day, so they have to build her crib.

“You know,” Sebastian says nearly thirty minutes after “. Maybe we could’ve listened to your mother and bought a simpler crib”

“Mmhm, I don’t know” Blaine murmurs, trying to see on which side the piece he’s holding is supposed to be.

“The one she sent pics of was pretty nice” Sebastian adds, absently “. And white, too, which is what we wanted”

“This is why this one’s white, and also, even better” Blaine disagrees “. And we love this one, which is the important thing”

“The other one looked simpler though…”

“Which is why this one looks cooler” Blaine disagrees once more, making his husband laugh softly “. Besides, Sage told us this is the best one for babies, and I trust her. She’s raised two stubborn Andersons already”

“Devon is not even one” Sebastian laughs “. But I see your point, those two boys are something else. Cooper’s sons for sure”

Blaine snorts at that, but nods, silently wishing his daughter with Sebastian is a bit more chill than their nephews. He loves them, but dear God… Cooper’s children indeed. That’s why he had trusted his sister-in-law when she had told them that crib they had seen was perfect. As much as he loves his mother, Blaine knows one other thing.

“My Mom loved that crib for our baby because she saw it on a Morning Show, by the way” he points out, making his husband smile amusedly.

“That is true” he nods “. She told me about it, and all the different testimonies of the parents… I think she sent me some links, too”

“By email, yeah, she also put my email in there” Blaine nods. Sebastian snorts at that, but he doesn’t say anything else, instead asking for the piece Blaine is holding silently. The musician gives it to him and watches as his husband slowly tries to figure out the crib, helping every once in a while - and truly, for a crib it is so damn complicated. The silence is on for long enough Blaine finds himself thinking about one particular thing, especially since they just mentioned his mother “. Bas?”

“Hmm?” The lawyer asks, absently.

“Have you heard about your parents?” He asks, worrying his bottom lip after he asks the question. Sebastian sighs and then stays in silence for a long moment, before he’s shaking his head.

“No, I haven’t,” he tells him, which, if Blaine has to admit, is not that surprising “. Haven’t heard much of them in months, you know that”

“I do” he murmurs “. But I don’t know… thought they could make an appearance soon. We haven’t heard from them since my birthday. And even then, only Colette sent a message for the both of them”

“And that was almost two months ago, I know” Sebastian nods “. It’s almost the end of March, Love. We told them our baby would be coming by the end of this month, and there has not been a single text to ask us about it”

“Love…”

“It’s not like I was expecting to hear about them, anyway” Sebastian shrugs “. They’ve barely been there for me. For us”

“Yeah” Blaine murmurs.

“And they were not mad about the pregnancy when we told them, but” the brunet shrugs “ they also were not even close to how excited your parents were, B. In fact, they didn’t look excited at the idea of becoming grandparents, not really. A bit happy, maybe. But not too excited”

“Love, you know they can be stoic”

“I know” Sebastian nods “. But I also know they are not going to be the world’s best grandparents to our daughter. Your parents will though. And that to me is perfect, Killer, because you know they’ve been more my parents than my biological ones have been for so many years I lost count now”

“I know” Blaine sighs.

“So it’s not like them not giving a shit makes me mad” the brunet shrugs “. I told you, Love. At this point your parents are way more my parents than Xavier and Colette are. And if our daughter has Michael and Eleanor, she’ll be more than fine”

Blaine lets his husband be in silence for a long moment, knowing Sebastian needs it. Truthfully, he is not surprised by what is happening - Xavier and Colette had never been incredibly supportive. Even at their wedding, they had barely been there.

The day had been perfect, and Blaine knows there is nothing they would change, but the Smythes had not been near as involved as the Andersons, not in the planning nor in the day, and it looks like it was going to be like so for their first child as well. And possibly for the rest, too.

“I just,” Sebastian says, a bit suddenly “, I want to be a good father for our kid. I want to be there for her, and for everything she needs. I want her to know I care, so much. That I’d do anything for her. I want to be there for the important stuff, for all of it, and… I don’t want her to feel the way I have felt because of my parents. The way I sometimes still feel”

Blaine smiles at his love, leaving the piece he was holding now and scooting over so he’s sitting crisscrossed in front of his husband. He gently grabs the pieces Sebastian is holding and leaves them aside, cupping his husband’s face when he’s free from holding something. He kisses the brunet for a long moment, feeling as Sebastian slowly calms down, and rests their foreheads together once air is needed.

“You are going to be the best father to our daughter,” he says, not letting Sebastian protest before he continues “. You are going to be that, Love, because you already adore our daughter and would absolutely give the world for her. So I have zero doubts you’ll be the best Dad ever. I know”

“Baby…”

“You don’t want to be like your parents, Bastian” Blaine insists “. And that is enough for you not to be and be an amazing father. And our little girl is extremely lucky to have you. And guess what? So am I”

“Love…” Sebastian sighs, smiling enamored at Blaine. The shorter man draws his thumbs over the taller’s cheeks, leaning in to peck his lips.

“It is sad Xavier and Colette are not that involved in all of this,” he says “. Because this is an amazing thing to happen, and this is something happy, and exciting. And we just want to share the happiness and the love with our family, so I understand it’s sad they don’t want to be there for that”

“Right”

“But we will be okay, my Love. We are a family, no matter what, okay? We’ve been one for years, you and me. And now there are going to be three of us in this family, and we will make sure our baby girl has the best life, and the best family. And we will make sure to protect her, and to make her the happiest little girl ever. I promise”

“That is a good promise” Sebastian smiles “. Thank you, Love”

Blaine receives his husband’s kiss, smiling against his mouth before he kisses back “. No need to thank me, Baby”

“No, really” Sebastian insists “. I am extremely lucky, too. And you’re right… I am nervous still. I think every parent-to-be is”

“Only natural” Blaine smiles “. This is a big step. Probably the biggest we’ll ever take”

“Hmm” Sebastian nods “. But… I know that, as long as we keep being a team, we’ll be okay”

“We will” Blaine agrees, kissing the brunet once more “. Now come on. Let’s finish building this crib”

Eventually, they do manage to finish the crib for their baby, even when it takes them nearly four hours. It’s fine, both think, has given them the time to talk through their nerves, and slowly feel more ready to welcome their daughter into their lives. They are nervous still, as they do believe there won’t be a time when they aren’t nervous about bringing a new life into the world, but now they also feel more ready than ever.

Blaine hugs himself to his husband, both now standing in front of the crib, observing their work proudly. Sebastian had managed to build it, albeit with lots of help from Blaine (collaboration, he had called it), and the musician cannot help but smile when he imagines them leaving their daughter there to rest. In no time, they will be standing in front of the crib, observing her and how perfect she is.

It is a bit wild to be in that moment. In the arms of his husband, observing the crib that their daughter is going to occupy in not even weeks. Hell, it could be days. Probably is days. It’s wild to think of himself as a married man, as an expecting father, and all before thirty.

Back when he was a teenager, back when he was still denying the feelings he had for his now husband, Blaine had imagined his life to be different. He had pictured a life with someone else, had believed that, maybe, one day they could have a child. Two, perhaps, if Kurt was able to handle it. He’d given in, had accepted he was going to be a Broadway performer and that was it.

But now, closer to thirty than he is to twenty (even when he still has two years to go for that), he can’t help but be insanely happy that vision didn’t come true. Because now he is married to the actual love of his life, now they are expecting their first baby together, now they’ve agreed they won’t stop at just one. Now he has a successful career in music, which has always been Blaine’s true passion. Now, he is insanely glad they managed to figure out all the nails and different pieces, and he’s standing in front of his soon-to-be-born daughter’s crib.

“I’m proud of you, Love” he whispers, getting Sebastian to huff a laugh and drop a kiss on top of Blaine’s head.

“Told you I could do it”

“Yeah, yeah… although, and do not get offended by this, but-“

“We can test the crib by putting the heaviest book we own” Sebastian completes for him, already nodding to his own words “. Yes. We are not putting our daughter in that crib unless we know it’s completely safe”

“Okay” Blaine laughs, glad his partner is on the same page as he is.

“Actually, let me find my Law School books,” Sebastian says, already leaving their embrace and going to the office he has at their townhouse “. I’m pretty sure only one of them will already weigh more than our baby, but we can put multiple on top on it, just to be sure”

“Good idea” Blaine nods “. Let me help you out”

The crib holds out just fine, even when they leave the books there for a couple of days, just to make sure. Cooper calls them ridiculous, but Sage does agree it was a good idea, which for Blaine is the good opinion they needed to receive, anyway.

The day they take the books out and actually put the bedding on the crib, is the day their surrogate calls them to tell them she’s in labor. Blaine is out in the city, grabbing coffee with Rachel - because, ever since they had reunited in a project they were working on for charity, a year or so before his wedding to Sebastian, they had grown really close. The diva had apologized for taking Kurt’s side, and since then their friendship had been sincere and supportive - she had been one of the happiest to hear about her future niece, after all. She tells Blaine to go now, she will cover their bill, and so the musician does, feeling like his heart wants to get out of his chest.

Sebastian is at the firm, his last day actually before he takes a paternal leave, and he almost has a heart attack when Blaine calls him, telling him he’s close to his office so they can go to the hospital their surrogate is together. It is hectic, and chaotic, but soon enough they are with her, and from that moment on everything kind of happens very fast. Their surrogate, an angel on earth they have been close friends with for years now, shows to be the strongest woman, and hours after she gives them the greatest gift of all.

Poppy Marie Anderson-Smythe is born on the 22nd of March, at two-forty a.m. And, immediately, Sebastian and Blaine fall in love with her and know there is nothing they wouldn’t do for their daughter. So tiny, and so precious, and the most beautiful thing either has seen. They hold her close and don’t get any sleep that first night, but they don’t care. They take the first hours for themselves, for their little family, and then they text and call their closest friends and family when it is a more decent hour, letting them know their daughter has come into the world.

And a couple of days later, with their house is filled with balloons, and flowers, and other gifts to welcome Poppy into the world (all Blaine knows has been put into their home thanks to the Warblers and Sam, Tina, and Rachel, and he’s thankful), they bring her home for the first time, after the doctors have told them she’s perfect in every way. Maybe not with those exact words, but Sebastian and Blaine have taken it as that.

Poppy is an angel on their way back from the hospital, keeping quiet most of the way and not as fuzzy as they had feared she’d be - after their nephews, they had been a bit scared. Sebastian watches with a smile as Blaine leaves the carrycot on their couch, to then crouch down and take Poppy out of it, nestling her into his arms. The baby shows how much of a Daddy’s girl she is already (and really, it’s not like Sebastian cannot understand her), because she doesn't fuzz too much, and once she’s in her father’s arms, she calms down.

The blinding smile Blaine gives him at that makes him fall in love all over again, and Sebastian is quick to go to his family, kissing Poppy’s tiny head and then Blaine’s lips, feeling content and warm and just… at peace. In a way he’s never felt. Blaine kisses back and nuzzles their noses together, before he’s looking down at their daughter.

“I think she’s tired” he murmurs once Poppy yawns twice in thirty seconds. Sebastian laughs lowly, hand over his daughter’s head.

“It’s been a big day for her” he points out “. Coming home and being alive for almost two days must be exhausting”

“Mhmm” Blaine nods “. Reckon is time to try her crib? For real this time”

“Okay” Sebastian nods “. She is way less heavy than my books, I think the crib will hold up”

“Of course it will, Bastian” Blaine laughs, kissing his cheek before he goes to the stairs. He climbs them incredibly slow, but Sebastian is with him on that one, because like hell are they not being the most careful when Poppy is with them.

They are in the nursery in no time, and Blaine puts her down in her crib as carefully as one can be and tucks her in, caressing her tiny cheek delicately before he kisses her tiny forehead. Sebastian copies his actions, and then hugs the shorter man to his body, tightly, observing as Poppy quickly falls asleep, cheeks tinted slightly pink and chest going up and down with her breathing.

“She’s perfect, isn’t she” he murmurs, hearing Blaine’s smile more than he sees it.

“She’s more than perfect” his husband agrees, hugging him tighter “. Our perfect little girl… our perfect little miracle”

“We made it, my Love… we really made it. We built a life together”

“And we will keep doing it” Blaine says, kissing his collarbone “. And now Poppy will be there with us”

“Sounds like a dream”

“It is” Blaine smiles “. At least for me… a dream come true”

“It is for me, too” Sebastian admits. A dream he had never thought he’d have, not with the childhood he’d had, but a dream he can’t be happy enough came true. Blaine kisses his collarbone again, and Sebastian knows his husband had been aware of that secret dream. It doesn’t surprise him… after so long together, Blaine seems to know him way better than he knows himself “. And it came true”

“It did” Blaine nods “. And look, we even managed to build her the crib. That was another dream come true”

“Oh my God, shut it” Sebastian laughs softly, trying hard to not wake Poppy up now that she’s fallen asleep. Blaine laughs in the same fashion and lets it be, and they just keep observing their little girl.

She’s perfect. And the crib, thank everything, holds up.

Chapter Text

If there is one thing Sebastian Anderson-Smythe wants to do right now, then that is getting home already. The day has been long, not quite draining but boring in a way, so he just wants to get home to his family, play with his babies before putting them to bed and then spend some time with his gorgeous husband. Nothing too fancy, but some time with Blaine sounds heavenly right now.

His home welcomes him with its warmth the second he crosses the door and soon enough he hears some tiny steps. A second later he sees his daughter, cutely running up to him with her blonde waves barely kept in a bun Sebastian is sure Blaine has re-did at least five times. Poppy is way too hyperactive sometimes.

“Oh my, it’s a Koala” Sebastian exclaims, crouching down to receive his daughter’s hug. Poppy laughs in his ear, loud but the best sound Sebastian has ever heard, and kisses his cheek sloppily, tiny body all around him and making good sense of her nickname, one Blaine had given her when she had been months old “. Hello Little Love”

“Hi Dada” the almost three-year-old replies, giggling and now playing with Sebastian’s tie.

“Where are Daddy and Moo?” Sebastian asks, curious about it. Poppy takes a moment to reply, still playing with his tie, but eventually, she lets it be.

“Daddy’s with Moo in the kitchen,” she says with her cute baby accent, still smiling and giggling when Sebastian kisses her cheek multiple times. He leaves his briefcase next to the stairs, figuring he can take it up to the office once he greets his husband and their son, and walks with Poppy still in his arms to the kitchen, where Blaine is cooking dinner. Oliver is sitting on his high chair, giggling at something Blaine is doing to keep him entertained - possibly funny faces, Sebastian thinks, as his husband is giving his back to him. Before he can hug him from behind and surprise him, Oliver spots him and beams at him.

“Dada!” He exclaims, bouncing on his high chair. So far, he can only call Blaine and him, which in itself is impressive considering he’s not even one year old yet. But the little guy is a lot like Blaine, so Sebastian had not been too surprised when he had shown signs of being really smart. Poppy herself had said her first words around the same age as her brother.

“Well, hi Mister Moo” he smiles, letting Poppy down when she wants to go to Blaine and going to greet his son, who demands to be picked up now. He obliges, grabbing Oliver and resting him against his hip, and goes to kiss Blaine hello. His husband has Poppy perched on his hip as well, but he welcomes Sebastian’s kiss lovingly “. Hello to you too, my Love”

“Hello, Darling” Blaine greets back, kissing him once more before he tickles Oliver “. These two were helping me with dinner”

“I can see that” Sebastian nods, watching as Blaine kisses Poppy’s forehead, and then leaves her sitting on the aisle so she can watch and help if she wants to, but also in a place where he can control her. However, as he sees the musician do so, Sebastian can immediately tell his husband is upset “. B, everything okay?” He asks, leaving Oliver back on his high chair and smoothing his curls down when the baby softly protests against it.

“Of course” Blaine smiles, but Sebastian can see it doesn’t completely reach his eyes.

“Everything okay at work?” He asks, receiving a nod for an answer “. And with the kids?”

“Everything okay, Love” Blaine insists, giving a piece of tomato for Poppy to munch over “. Can you help me with the kids’ dinners?”

“Sure” Sebastian agrees. He can see his husband is not being completely honest, that something is wrong, Blaine just doesn’t want to tell him what is that. But Sebastian also knows there is no way Blaine is telling him with the kids there, present. He will never bring an issue up when they are there, which Sebastian can honestly understand, he won’t do that either.

So, he obliges and goes to help Blaine prepare the dinner for their kids, and then for them. They give the babies dinner first and, whilst their food is still being cooked in the oven, they go to put them down to bed, as Blaine had given them their bath before Sebastian had gotten home.

Seeing his husband now feeling much better, the lawyer gives him a bit of time, and they share dinner while Sebastian tells Blaine about his day at the firm. Blaine seems better than before, but there is still something in his mind, he cannot convince Sebastian otherwise. So once they have put all the dishes in the dishwasher and Blaine is brewing them some warm tea to fight the cold weather New York is suffering from, Sebastian makes a decision. He hugs the shorter man to his body from behind, kissing his neck and then his cheek, before he rests his own against it.

“What happened?” He asks in a low voice. Blaine stays frozen for a second before surely realising there is no way he can fool Sebastian, not after all the years they’ve been together and not after all the years Sebastian has known him as well as he does (for far longer than they’ve been together, that one). He sighs, and leaves their teas for a moment when he turns around in Sebastian’s arms.

“It’s stupid” he murmurs, looking down. Sebastian tsks, hooking a finger under Blaine’s chin and tilting his head up.

“Not stupid” he disagrees. Blaine tries to look down again, and when Sebastian goes to stop that, then he notices something “. Your necklace” he says, and the way Blaine tenses slightly, it tells him he’s right about this one “. Your necklace is gone, Love. Where is it?”

“You said it” Blaine shrugs, turning back around to their tea. Sebastian worries his bottom lip, seeing the tense line the musician’s shoulders draw. He knows Blaine always wears that necklace, so if he is not… “. It’s gone”

“Is that why you’re this upset?” Sebastian asks, softly.

“Maybe” Blaine sighs, giving the mug of tea to Sebastian and going to sit on the couch. Sebastian follows him, sitting close and leaving the mug on the coffee table. He hugs his husband when Blaine leaves his on the coffee table as well “. It’s just - it’s broken” Blaine admits “. And I guess that makes me feel sad”

“I’m so sorry, Love” Sebastian murmurs, kissing his temple “. How did it happen?”

Blaine sighs, snuggling closer into his arms “. I was with the kids” he starts explaining “. We were playing in their playroom before their bath time, and Pops was showing me something. And then Oli wanted to get my attention, so he grabbed the necklace to do so… and he did it with enough force it broke”

“Oh, B…”

“Once they were a bit quieter, after their bath, I tried to fix it” Blaine keeps explaining “. But I couldn’t do it. I gave up like fifteen minutes before you got home… it’s useless to try. The necklace is ruined”

“I’m so sorry, Killer” Sebastian murmurs, kissing his temple again. And he does feel really bad for his husband, but, before he can say that, Blaine is shaking his head, breaking their hold to drink some of his tea.

“It’s fine” he shrugs “. It was an accident, and Moo didn’t mean to do it”

“Of course, he didn’t” Sebastian nods “. He’s not even one. But that doesn’t mean you don’t have a right to feel upset, Love. And it doesn’t mean if you’re upset is with our son, you know. You can feel upset about this”

“It’s fine, Bastian” Blaine insists “. It’s just a necklace, alright?”

“Darling, seriously-“

“It’s fine” Blaine insists, silently begging Sebastian to drop it. And there have been very few times where the lawyer has been able to deny his husband of something, so he sighs and nods, and figures he can let Blaine be. At least for now. He kisses his cheek, and then his neck, and grabs his tea “. I’m fine” Blaine murmurs after a while, making Sebastian snort.

“No, yeah, I totally see that, Love”

“I am” Blaine insists “. Actually, I do think we should go to bed already. It’s late”

“It’s not that late” Sebastian protests, knowing his husband wants to go to sleep to not have to talk about this. Blaine hums in disagreement, and then he moves so fast that Sebastian is almost dizzy. He still welcomes the familiar weight of his husband’s body on his lap, smirking up at Blaine and receiving his lips with eager ones “. This” he says between kisses “, is cheating, Love”

“This is merely playing my cards right” Blaine argues, kissing him senselessly. And if he lets the musician drag him into their bedroom, then - none’s the wiser.

Blaine had fallen asleep not even thirty minutes after they had had their fun in the bedroom, but Sebastian can’t copy his husband. He keeps watching Blaine sleep, head on the shorter’s chest, and he cannot help but notice the absence of his husband’s necklace, which normally rests between his pectorals. Sebastian has lost count of the amount of times he’s played with that necklace in that same position, and on a myriad of different occasions, too.

He’s been doing it for years, ever since Blaine had gotten it during one stop of their honeymoon, when they had spent a few days in Greece before going to the Philippines. That necklace still holds a special meaning for his husband, Sebastian knows, and even for himself, and there has only been a few times where he has seen Blaine not wearing it.

Of course, it does make sense this happened. Back when the musician had bought the necklace both were in their mid-twenties, and had no other worry than building their careers and spending time with each other. But they’re fathers now, and raising two kids is not easy. Especially when it’s the kids and only one of them with them - then it is chaos. Poppy and Oliver are well behaved kids, but - they are still kids, regardless. So, if Sebastian thinks about it, something like this happening was just a matter of time.

Still. He’s doing something about that necklace. Even if it’s just to see his husband smile.

Blaine seems to be in a better mood by the next morning, stepping into the shower with him for some quick fun before they’re getting ready for the day. It’s finally a Saturday, so Blaine and he have some time to make breakfast before they’re picking up the kids from their rooms. Poppy is just waking up when Blaine goes in, and Oliver needs a bit of waking up, the sleepy boy he is. By the time Sebastian has changed him and dressed him for the day, his husband is with their daughter (already ready as well) in the kitchen, making pancakes for breakfast and singing a song at the top of their lungs.

Still, Sebastian can tell Blaine is still a bit upset about it all. He masks it well when he’s with their children, but the lawyer has known his husband too well for a long time, so there is no way he is fooling him. That’s when he has a good idea, and puts it in motion.

“So,” he says once they’re cleaning up breakfast. Poppy is now colouring on the table, and Oliver is content with just observing her, bouncing on the high chair - Sebastian can tell they have around two minutes before the kid is demanding to be let free. Blaine looks at him and raises an eyebrow, curious “, I was thinking…”

“Uh oh” Blaine smiles “, should I be worried, Darling?”

“So funny” Sebastian deadpans “. But, no, do not be worried. I just thought I could take Moo to run some errands with me, I was thinking about getting them done this morning, anyway. You and Koko can have a Daddy-Daughter day”

Blaine stops cleaning, looking at him and sighing, and that immediately tells Sebastian his husband has seen right through him - not like that is the littlest bit surprising “. I know what you are doing right now, Bas”

“I do not know what you’re talking about” Sebastian protests, being at the receiving end of an unimpressed look a second later. And yeah, fair.

“Baby, I am fine” Blaine insists, going back to cleaning “. Seriously. Yesterday I was a bit upset, but it was just the moment, alright? Today I feel much better”

“I can see that” Sebastian half-admits “. And I know you are better, but I can also see you’re a bit upset still. And a bit overwhelmed. Which is fine, Love. I get it”

Blaine sighs again, wiping the counter one last time dejectedly “. This is stupid, you know. It’s just a necklace”

“That is extremely important to you” Sebastian reminds him, gently “. Really special, too. So it’s okay if you feel upset by losing it, alright?”

“I don’t know…”

“Love, we all have our bad days, and those don’t go away when you become a father, I’ve told you before” Sebastian gently reminds him “. Besides, I’ve missed spending time with Oli. The last few days I’ve been so busy I got home too close to his bedtime”

Blaine looks at him and arches an eyebrow, still very much seeing right through him “. So we can all go together to run the errands”

“But it’s more difficult if we do that, it’ll take us forever” Sebastian protests. And then he decides on playing a bit dirty, and goes to Poppy, softly brushing some baby hairs off her forehead, not daring to mess with the half-up Blaine had made before “. Do tell Po, won’t you love to have a day just you and Daddy?”

He can feel his husband’s glare at his back, and he tries hard not to smirk at that. He knows he’s playing dirty by using the obsession Poppy has with Blaine; the one she’s always had, really. That girl had been a Daddy’s girl since the moment she’d been born, and Sebastian cannot blame her. He understands, really. Oliver seems to be obsessed with him, so that’s also a win for Sebastian.

And his tactic doesn’t fail. Poppy leaves her crayons immediately and turns around to look at Blaine, eyes shining more than the stars “. Yes!” She exclaims, hopping off her chair with the help of her father and running up to her other one. Blaine picks her up, using his arms as a chair, and the blonde girl rests her tiny hands on her Dad’s face, softly petting it. The sight immediately melts Sebastian’s heart “. Can we, Daddy?”

Blaine melts also at their daughter’s actions, looking at Sebastian for a moment with a look that tells him he finally won, and he nods, kissing Poppy’s forehead “. We totally can, Little Love. What do you want to do?”

“Park!” She exclaims “. And movie!” She adds.

“That sounds like a plan” Blaine smiles, kissing her forehead again “. We can play in the snow, and have hot chocolate… and then we come home and see our favourite Disney movie”

“Yes,” Poppy celebrates, hugging herself to Blaine. It is not helping the favouritism towards him, Sebastian is more than aware, but he’s always more in love with his husband when he sees him with their daughter “. We can match!”

“Yes, Honey” Blaine laughs, rocking her “. We can match our clothes, we’ll put on those coats Auntie Rachel gave us”

“That was so extra” Sebastian intervenes, going to smooth Oliver’s curls down “. She really didn’t need to get a coat for every single one of us”

“She goes overboard sometimes, you know how it is” Blaine shrugs “. She was also preparing for a role that had her as Mama Claus, so I think she was just… method acting. She definitely talked to Coop too much during his last visit”

“God bless Jesse and their poor kid” Sebastian murmurs, ignoring his husband’s glare once again “. Yes, yes, I will be nice. What do you say, Oli? Want to come with me?”

The curly-haired baby just beams at him, which Sebastian understands it as yes anyway, and he picks him up when Oliver makes grabby hands at him, snuggling close once Sebastian has him in his arms.

“You sure you want to take him?” Blaine asks, still with Poppy in his arms because the girl really is like her namesake “. It’s okay if it’s too much trouble, I can take him”

“I want to, don’t worry” Sebastian dismisses him “. We can be matching too. Right Mister Moo?” Oliver just plants a sloppy kiss on his cheek, giggling “. I take that as a strong yes”

“Okay, fine” Blaine laughs “. This little missy and I will go get ready, can you turn the dishwasher on?”

“Will do” Sebastian nods, letting his husband and daughter go to get ready. They are out of their place less than five minutes later, and then it’s go time for the lawyer, who goes to dress Oliver in warmer clothes. And, of course, grabs the matching coats Rachel had given them - still extra, but. They’re nice “. Okay, Oli. Time to get the show on the road”

Before leaving, Sebastian has managed to find the necklace. Luckily for him, only the chain is broken, but the pendant in the necklace is okay, and perfectly fine, so the solution is easy. He can get a new chain for his husband, and he can put the pendant there. Maybe Sebastian can get him a pendant to add, for the significance and all.

He knows it won’t be like Blaine’s old necklace, and it will still be bittersweet, but the important part of the necklace had been the pendant, really, so not everything is lost. Besides, the brunet thinks, maybe this can be something meaningful. Like life evolving and changing or something. Truly, his husband is better at describing this stuff than he is, but it is fine, because it is part of Blaine’s job, anyway. And given where they live, Blaine is damn good at it. 

Going back to the main point - Sebastian is sure this is a good idea. So he puts Oliver in his stroller and starts his way to one jewellery store Blaine and he have been buying things from for nearly a decade now. Where they got their engagement and wedding rings from, actually, so a place Sebastian really trusts. It is close to their home, too, which means he can make the walk with Oliver without having to get into the subway, or having to call a cab.

His son likes the walk, too, hazel eyes looking up in wonder and curiosity. He looks so much like Blaine when he does that, Sebastian kind of loves it more than anything “. You’ll see, Little Love, we’ll get Daddy a new chain and we’ll give him a surprise, okay?” He asks, not managing to grab Oliver’s attention when there is so much stuff going around him. The curly-haired baby still giggles, which is some sort of acknowledgement, and sometimes with Oliver that is all he’s going to get. When he’s focused, he’s focused.

(Blaine says that’s something their kid has gotten from Sebastian, but the lawyer has spent entire minutes trying to get his husband attention when he’s working on something)

When they get to the jewellery store it is pretty empty, so they have the usual salesperson going up to them with a brilliant smile on her face “. Sebastian, hi” she greets him, smiling to the hello, Violet Sebastian says before she’s leaning down to wave to Oliver “. And you brought the little man with you! Oh, Oliver is getting so big!”

“Don’t we know” Sebastian smiles “. In no time he’ll be one already”

“Time moves so fast” she nods, tickling the baby’s belly, which makes him laugh “. Aw, he looks just like Blaine when he does that”

“And it’s the cutest thing” Sebastian agrees. She nods with a smile, and then straightens up, smiling back at the oldest Anderson-Smythe.

“So, what can I do for you today?”

“Well… Blaine has had this necklace for the longest time. He got it during our honeymoon, actually”

“Oh yeah, with the pretty pendant” Violet nods “. He told me about it once, when I noticed how beautiful it is”

“Was” Sebastian gently corrects her, and keeps explaining when Violet shows surprise at his words “. Yesterday Blaine was playing with the kids and Oliver grabbed the necklace too strongly, and it broke”

“Oh no” Violet exclaims “. Such a shame, it was so pretty!”

“Yeah, and now Blaine’s a bit upset by it” Sebastian shrugs “. But only the chain broke, and I have the pendant right here. So, I was thinking of buying a new chain, as a surprise. Maybe add another pendant that can signify our little family”

“Oh, that’s a wonderful idea, Sebastian” Violet smiles “. Okay, let’s search for something resilient, alright? Steel, maybe?”

“Steel sounds nice” Sebastian nods “. Life with two kids under five is hectic, so… we need something strong”

“That is true” Violet laughs “. Alright, follow me. We will have your approval, and that of Mister Oliver as well”

“I’m sure he’ll be very vocal” Sebastian smiles, following Violet into the store. Oliver lasts a whole minute without wanting to get out of his stroller, so Sebastian picks him up and holds him against his body with one arm, and with the other he pushes the stroller.

Violet shows him a myriad of different options, but Sebastian is as picky as ever, as he wants only the best for Blaine. Oliver seems invested as well, resting his head on Sebastian’s shoulder when the chain is not that interesting, and perking up when it is more to his liking. The lawyer laughs along at that, but listens to his son’s opinions.

Finally, after nearly twenty minutes of different chains, they have the perfect one. Then they move to the pendants, which takes them nearly thirty more minutes. But in the end they have it with them, and after paying for it, Violet puts Blaine’s old pendant in the chain with the new one, and wraps it prettily for Blaine.

Because it didn’t take Oliver and he as much time as Sebastian had feared, he decides they can go on a stroll around the city. He does want to give Blaine some time with Poppy, and if he goes back home now it won’t be enough. So, with the gift bag secured, Sebastian puts Oliver back in his stroller and leaves for their favourite café, not that far away from the store.

Once in there he has a coffee and gives Oliver some juice and a bit of a muffin he buys for himself, watching as the baby takes in everything that happens around him. Once they’re done, Sebastian decides to walk around with his son in his arms, so back to the city they go, pushing the stroller with one hand and controlling Oliver not escaping with the other.

By the time they make it back home, it’s been long enough it’s close to lunchtime. This means Blaine will have had a nice morning with Poppy, which is what Sebastian wanted. And now, they just have to give him his present.

He leaves the stroller in its place and gets his coat off, and then Oliver off his own, taking him into his arms before he takes off his shoes and goes to search for his husband and daughter. He finds them quick, as Blaine and Poppy are in their second living room, snuggling under one of their cosiest blankets and with their favourite Disney movie on the TV.

“We’re back” Sebastian announces, smiling at his two other loves, still holding the third one in his arms. Blaine smiles at him and makes grabby hands, and Sebastian kisses him first and then lets his husband grab Oliver from his hands. Their son celebrates it, giggling when Blaine kisses all over his face and snuggles closer to his father.

“Dad” Poppy exclaims, standing up on the couch and crawling on top of Sebastian when he sits down “. Daddy and I went to the snow”

“Yeah?” Sebastian asks with a soft smile “. And you went to the park?”

“And we drank hot chocolate, too” Blaine adds, smoothing their daughter’s hair down before he does the same with their son’s “. Didn’t we?”

“Yes!”

“How about you boys?” Blaine asks, smiling softly “. What did you do with Mister Moo?”

“Well, we went on a stroll around the city, and went to our favourite café for a while” Sebastian shrugs “. And actually, Oli and I were walking and passed in front of our favourite jewellery store”

Blaine raises an eyebrow at that, curious at his husband’s words, and kisses his son’s head before he tilts his own “. Is that so?”

“Hmm” Sebastian nods “. And you know, we thought you might actually like something we saw”

“Bastian…” Blaine whispers, seeing his intentions and beaming at him. Sebastian smiles back, and then gives his husband the bag he had still been holding.

“Mister Moo really thought you will like it” Sebastian smiles “. So did I, by the way”

Blaine smiles even bigger at that, accepting Sebastian’s bag and opening it with the help of Poppy and cheered on by Oliver. When he unwraps his new necklace, his eyes light up, and a beautiful smile makes presence on his face.

“Love…”

“We hope you like it,” Sebastian tells him, smiling “. We thought not everything was lost, you know? That we could get a new chain, but conserve the pendant of your old necklace… and add a new one. To honour our family. Do you like it?”

“I love it” Blaine breathes, blinking fast to not cry at the sight of it “. It’s beautiful, Darling, this… this is so special. I love you so much”

“I love you more” Sebastian replies immediately.

“And I love you a whole lot too” Blaine tells Oliver, kissing his head and then his cheek “. This is the nicest gift”

“We’re glad you like it. Pops, do you like Daddy’s new necklace?”

“Yes!” The toddler exclaims, leaning towards to look at it better “. Daddy, it’s so pretty”

“I happen to agree, Koko,” Blaine says, tickling his daughter’s tummy “. Love, can you help me put it on? I just got one hand”

“Sure” Sebastian smiles, grabbing the necklace and putting it around Blaine’s neck. It looks right, better than before, even, with his new pendant next to the old one “. Perfect”

“Thank you” Blaine whispers, kissing him for a long moment, until Oliver grabs a hold of his necklace “. You and Dad made an excellent choice, Oli,” he tells his son, kissing his temple “. And… I am the luckiest man on Earth. And I have the best family”

“Ah, I think we share that honour,” Sebastian says, winking at his husband. Blaine hums, smiling softly at him, but before he can say something else Poppy gently pats his face, and then Sebastian’s.

“Can we see the movie?” She asks, smiling innocently at them “. With Dad and Moo, too?”

“Of course we can, Little Love” Blaine smiles, smoothing her hair down and caressing her cheek “. C’mon, back into the blanket”

Poppy giggles and grabs the blanket, messily throwing it over Sebastian and her. The oldest Anderson-Smythes arrange it so they’re both covered by it, as well as their kids on top of them, and play the movie again.

When Sebastian sees Blaine absently playing with his necklace from the corner of his eye, like he’s been doing for years now, he cannot help but smile, more in love than ever. There, with the love of his life and with their kids all sharing a blanket and seeing a Disney movie… Sebastian has to agree with Blaine.

He is the luckiest man in the world.

And he has the best family.

Chapter Text

It is a quiet night in the neighborhood of Greenwich Village, New York City. Now closer to the end of June rather than the beginning of it, there is a quiet calm bathing the streets, mixed with celebrations still going on for pride month. It is something Blaine and Sebastian had loved about their neighborhood when they had first moved in, how their place was quiet enough for their family, yet their neighborhood was full of life.

This particular peace, however, is soon broken by a loud cry, which immediately wakes up the husbands. Not like it would’ve been difficult, as their sleep was already light, but less than a second after the first cry, Blaine and Sebastian are awake.

“I got it,” Blaine says before Sebastian can register what’s happening. He hums in agreement and watches as his husband leaves their bed and goes to one of the two cribs they now have in their bedroom. They had thought of putting one on each side of their bed, but the twins had cried the second they had been separated, so in the end they had kept their cribs next to each other.

The musician is fast to scoop Everett up, trying to calm him down before his twin, Grace, wakes up as well and starts crying. It is to no avail, however, because the moment he picks him up, Grace starts crying, too. Sebastian sighs, leaving the bed and going to get the newborn. He scoops her up, imitating Blaine’s actions, and softly starts to rock their baby daughter, kissing her forehead.

Blaine and he manage to calm their twins down in no time, and soon enough they’re falling asleep in their arms. In the two weeks since they’ve been born the husbands have learned that, like their oldest children, their twins usually wake up if they’re left at the crib right after falling asleep. It’s better if they keep them in their arms for a few minutes, until they’re really sure they’re deeply asleep.

So, carefully, they go back to their bed and sit on it, with their back against their headboard. They keep silent for a long moment, trying to hear any noises, but it doesn’t look like the babies woke up their oldest, thankfully. Blaine smiles when he realizes, and rests his head on Sebastian’s shoulder, looking down at their youngest children. Sebastian copies his actions, resting his head against Blaine’s own and looking down at their babies as well.

“I think I’ve never been happier” Blaine mumbles after a while, making Sebastian’s smile grow “ while at the same time more exhausted”

That part makes the lawyer laugh, softly so as to not wake Grace up, and he kisses his husband’s head before resting his against soft curls once more “. Yeah, same here” he whispers, eyes observing their twins’ sleeping faces “. Haven’t felt more at peace either. Even if I want to fall asleep constantly”

“Yes,” Blaine laughs softly, snuggling close to him carefully, so as to not wake up Everett. Sebastian can also think he’s never felt so complete, so in charge. So content, too.

Granted, having twins is a challenge. Especially when they already have two kids, who are already much older than their siblings and take after their parents - meaning, they are constantly doing something. So Sebastian and Blaine’s life is full, and busy. With kids, with work, with life in general…

But Grace and Everett are the ones that truly complete their family, and Sebastian knows that more than anything. And he knows Blaine knows, too. Even after having Oliver, they had agreed they were not done with two kids, so having more had been a constant presence in their minds. Once the kids were a bit older, they had agreed to have more, as they had felt it would be more manageable. Having twins had come as a bit of a shock - not entirely, because they had used both of their embryos with their surrogate. However, after having done the same for Poppy and Oliver and not having twins then, this had come as a shock. And kind of like the sign that this was right. Even if going from two kids to four had been a major change, it had felt right. Sort of like fate.

But his husband is right - it is exhausting. Now that Oliver is six and Poppy eight, they had almost forgotten how it was to have newborns. And before they had had one. And then one with a toddler that didn’t need as much care as the newborn did. Now they’re doing two at a time, which is the very definition of challenging. But Sebastian believes in his husband and him, and he knows Blaine and he will be awesome at it, like they’ve been with their oldest kids.

“We are gonna kill it” Sebastian murmurs, kissing Blaine’s head again. The musician smiles, kissing his shoulder.

“Of course we will” he murmurs back “. We are the best team”

“The best team ever. Even when we are as sleep deprived as we are” Sebastian adds, making his husband laugh softly “. Do you think they’re asleep now?”

“I think. Gracie is making those cute little snores and Ever is scrunching his nose, which always means he’s kind of dreaming”

“That’s the cutest thing you’ve said in a long, long time, Killer”

“Shut it” Blaine laughs “. I think they’re asleep now… so move slowly, and if we’re lucky they don’t wake up when we leave them in their cribs”

“Fingers crossed” Sebastian murmurs, doing as his husband has told him to. Grace is deeply asleep, thankfully, and so is Everett, so after they’ve left them in their cribs they still are sleeping, and do not wake up. The exhausted new parents breathe in, relieved, and go back to sleep. They have a big day ahead, so better if they can rest some.

“Daddy, can I please have another pancake?”

“Sure, Koko” Blaine smiles, flipping the now-done pancake onto his daughter’s plate, and kissing the top of her head “. You want one too, Moo?”

“Yes, please” the six-year-old nods, making faces at Everett.

“Do not make him fuzzy” Poppy says, although she is making faces at Grace, so Blaine can only bite his bottom lip to not smile.

“Am not” Oliver immediately argues “. Daddy, tell her I’m not please”

“He’s not, and you’re doing the same thing, Honey” Blaine points out, amused “. But also, you two - let your siblings rest if they want to”

“He’s right” Sebastian points out, walking into the kitchen now dressed for the day. He kisses the top of his oldest kids’ heads before tickling the youngest’ tummies, and moves to get some breakfast after kissing Blaine’s cheek “. They’re newborns, they sleep a lot”

“We saw” Oliver nods, getting his older sister to nod along.

“I don’t remember Oli sleeping that much” the eight-year-old pouts, getting her parents to laugh.

“Honey, you were two when he was born” Blaine gently points out “. I’d be surprised if you actually remembered when your brother was a newborn”

“She does have your memory though” Sebastian points out, getting himself some coffee “. So don’t rule that out”

Blaine smiles amusedly at his husband, but doesn’t deny his words. Poppy has a frighteningly good memory more often than not… which has not always worked in their favor, but oh well. It can help her in the future at least.

“Daddies,” Oliver says around a mouthful of pancakes. After his parents’ look, he swallows and smiles innocently “. Daddies”

“Yes, Oli?” Blaine answers for his husband and him.

“When are Papa and Lola coming?” The curly-haired kid asks, putting more pancakes into his mouth. At her brother’s question, Poppy’s eyes start to sparkle and she looks at her parents, curious now as well.

“In a bit less than an hour” Sebastian answers “. Uncle Coop, Auntie Sage and your cousins will be coming around half an hour after Papa and Lola do”

“Also, some of your Uncles are coming later, after lunch” Blaine adds, which makes the kids cheer “. Kids, the twins”

“Sorry,” both say at the same time “. Who is coming?” Poppy still asks, bouncing on the spot with how excited she is.

“Uncle Nick,” Sebastian says “. Uncle Jeff, too. Uncle Wes will come, and I do think Uncle David will be with him as well”

“Uncle Trent and Uncle John will visit tomorrow morning” Blaine adds “. Uncle Thad may be coming with them, if he’s not then he’ll come after lunch. Also, Uncle Sammy will be here for dinner tomorrow”

“And Auntie Tina and Auntie Rachel, together with Uncle Mike and Uncle Jesse will be here on the weekend” Sebastian adds. After a small pause, he looks at his husband, raising an eyebrow at him “. You know, our kids have an absurd amount of Uncles”

“I blame it on us having the first kid out of our friend group,” Blaine says, nodding in agreement with his husband “. We went a bit overboard… All of us, really”

“I guess” Sebastian shrugs, going to refill his mug of coffee “. But their birthday parties are always a lot of fun. And better than your brother’s” he whispers into Blaine’s ear.

“Be nice” Blaine admonishes him, but he’s smiling amusedly at him, so it counts as a victory for Sebastian. He winks an eye at the musician and, after getting his coffee, goes back to his children, checking that the twins are fine.

Blaine and he had wanted to have some privacy during the first weeks of the twins. It was something they had already done with Poppy, advised by Sage, and they had loved it so much they had also done it with Oliver. Now that they had two newborns, and two kids that were getting used to having new siblings, it had been a no-brainer. They wanted them to have time to get used to being a family of six, wanted Poppy and Oliver to bond with their siblings calmly, and they wanted to do so themselves with their kids, at least for a little while.

But now that the twins are two weeks old, getting closer to three, some family is coming over. Not too many just yet - the Andersons, for instance, are the first visitors. First the grandparents, and then the Uncle, Aunt, and cousins. After them, Sebastian and Blaine had decided to have their closest Warbler friends over, as they are also the kids’ Godparents, together with Sam. The rest of their friends were coming on a later day, but for now, this is good. And it is going to make it so the twins don’t get overwhelmed with new people, which is also good.

“When Papa and Lola come I’m gonna tell them all about the twins” Poppy smiles, so big her dimples show. Oliver nods enthusiastically next to her, wild curls going a bit all over the place. Sebastian makes a mental note they should take Oliver to get his hair cut soon, and judging the look on Blaine’s face, he’s thinking the same thing.

“We can show them their bedrooms” he adds, getting a nod of approval from his sister.

“And Daddies can show them all the pictures and videos, and we can show them their favorite songs” she adds. Blaine and Sebastian share an amused smile at that; after all, Poppy and Oliver are nothing but sweet. And they are excited to see their family, and to introduce them to the twins. Both kids are borderline obsessed with their new siblings, to their parents' amusement. And a bit of relief, too, because they had been a bit scared at introducing the babies to their oldest children, scared they would feel jealous. Granted, neither Poppy nor Oliver has ever been particularly jealous kids (other than the occasional episode), but still, it is something big. Luckily for them, though, they love being big siblings. At least, they do now, Sebastian reckons. They still have to see what will happen once Everett and Grace learn how to talk. And walk. Oh Lord help Blaine and he, they’re in for a ride.

“All of that sounds great, kiddos” Sebastian smiles “. But first you have to finish your breakfast and get ready for when Papa and Lola come”

“Listen to your Dad” Blaine adds when he sees Poppy and Oliver a second away from insisting they can greet their grandparents in their pajamas “. Pops, you have that nice dress you wanted to wear, and Oli, remember Pops helped you pick out a shirt? You can wear that”

At that, both kids nod to his words and go back to their breakfast, now on a mission to finish it and get ready. Sebastian smiles at his husband’s tactics and kisses Blaine’s head when he goes to leave his mug.

“You take care of the little monsters, and I take care of the twins?” He asks, because Blaine has an uncanny ability to get their oldest kids to just obey whatever leaves his mouth. Blaine smiles amusedly, clearly deducing Sebastian’s reasoning, but nods, pecking his lips before he’s finishing his own coffee.

“I will go and approve their outfits after you’re done though,” he says, not surprising the lawyer but still making him laugh “. I’m sure Koko and Moo can help me with that one”

“Yes!” Both kids exclaim, making their parents laugh. Sebastian then lets his husband handle those two, and goes to move the twins to their nurseries. Time to get ready for the day.

The Andersons have been punctual - although, Sebastian is not surprised in the slightest. He’d known his mother-in-law was dying to meet the twins already, and it is proved when Eleanor walks in already headed to the bathroom, in order to wash her hands to be able to hold her grandkids. Michael follows after her, amused beyond words but equally as excited to meet his grandchildren, greeting the oldest first and going to wash his hands second.

Poppy and Oliver hang onto Eleanor for a minute, explaining to her everything about their new siblings, but soon enough they let their Lola hold the one that is started to be awake after a short nap, Everett. When Michael joins her, he holds Grace close to him, and Sebastian cannot help but get a bit emotional at the sight. Michael and Eleanor have been like his parents for such a long time now, seeing them with his kids (with Blaine and his’ kids, which is even more magical), never gets old.

“Oh, they’re so beautiful” Michael smiles “. Well done, sons”

“They are such little dolls” Eleanor adds, smiling blindly “. Oh, they remind me so much of Poppy and Oliver… such little darlings”

“And so calm, too” Michael adds as well, making his sons laugh.

“Give them two minutes,” Blaine tells his father “. They’re not fuzzy babies, but… I don’t know if I’d say they’re completely calm”

“Poppy was much more calm than them, that’s for sure” Sebastian nods, twirling his daughter around when she asks to at the mention of her name.

“Oh, but now it’s two, honey, it’s not the same” Eleanor gently tells him “. I’m sure you wouldn’t have thought Poppy to be calm had she been a twin as well”

“I guess that’s true” Sebastian concedes “. All in all, I think we’ve been really lucky with our babies. None has been too fuzzy”

“Blaine was a really calm baby” Michael points out “. And from what I could learn about you, so were you, son. That kinda thing goes down onto your kids, I believe”

Sebastian and Blaine nod at that, and the former smiles at his husband when he looks at him with a soft look in his eyes. Michael has always had a fondness for Sebastian (which, Blaine had told him, had been one of the things that had told him this relationship was the definite one for him), contrary to Kurt, or any other boy Blaine had mentioned before. He had been a good almost-father-in-law for all the years Sebastian and Blaine had been dating, and during their engagement as well.

But it was after the wedding that Sebastian started to notice a shift. Well, a more drastic one, maybe, because he had felt things starting to change ever since he had graduated from Law School. Granted, Michael had treated him like a son even before that, but after the graduation, he started to be even more involved in Sebastian’s life. And during his wedding to Blaine, the lawyer had seen his father-in-law going up to his relatives to ask stories about Sebastian as a kid. It had been mildly hilarious, and actually terrifying, when the Anderson patriarch had gone up to Sebastian’s parents to ask for any information. But it had also meant the world to Sebastian.

And since then, Michael has been making an active effort to make Sebastian feel like another Anderson. To make him feel like he’s not completely alone in the parents department. Both Eleanor and he make references to when he was a kid; hell, they have some of his kid pictures at their house, next to Blaine and Cooper’s (and Sage’s. Because apparently, his sister-in-law and he have managed to hit the jackpot of the parents-in-law), and they always make Sebastian feel warm whenever they treat him like theirs.

Something else Michael has been doing has been trying to make Sebastian work through his feelings regarding his biological parents. It hasn’t always worked, and Blaine is usually more successful in making him talk and making Sebastian process things, but Michael isn’t that bad at it either.

Which means, Sebastian shouldn’t be surprised when his father-in-law goes to him. Everett had started to cry, and not even his Lola has managed to calm him down - which means Blaine has to step in, because that little boy (Sebastian reckons) is a Daddy’s boy through and through. But this time around he gets Grace to favor him, so hey - two each is not a bad deal. Either way, Eleanor had grabbed her granddaughter from her husband’s arms, to his exasperation, and Sebastian had taken that as the moment to brew them all some coffee and let Poppy and Oliver have some juice.

Michael approaches him then. Sebastian knows he’ll say it’s just to help him out, but, after so many years of knowing the man, he knows better. It also doesn’t help how Michael and Blaine act alike really a lot of times. He’s ignored Cooper when he’s told him it’s creepy, and he still doesn’t think he is. But sometimes is a bit… much. Not in a bad way, but. A bit overwhelming.

“You need help there, son?” Michael asks, and ah, there it is. Sebastian turns around and smiles at the older man, telling him silently he’s not fooling him.

“Coffee is already brewing, don’t worry” he smiles “. Do you want something with it? Last time you were trying the not creamer thing”

“Yeah, got kinda used to that now” Michael nods “. But definitely bring in the creamer, Eleanor will want some in her coffee. Maybe Blaine, too”

“Oh, since having the twins we’ve ditched the cream, too,” Sebastian tells the man, making him laugh “. We need as much coffee as we can get”

“That is true, yes… so, no help?”

“Maybe once the coffee is ready” Sebastian gives in, observing as Michael nods. He decides to let the man speak whenever he’s ready, and that is so after only a couple of minutes.

“So… I was wondering” he starts, and only continues when his son-in-law has made a hum, acknowledging it “, are Xavier and Colette coming to see the twins?”

And there it is. And if he’s completely honest, Sebastian should’ve expected that question. Is not a weird one to ask, either… he just became a father again, to twins at that, so. Why shouldn’t they come? Michael and Eleanor were counting down the hours to visit them, just as the brunet knows Cooper and Sage are, or their friends. But…

“Maybe later on” he shrugs, resting against the countertop “. I don’t know. We haven’t told them an official day, and it’s not like they’ve been asking for one the way you were doing”

“Right”

“Besides” he shrugs again “, for now B and I just want our close family to see the kids. So, you guys. Coop and Sage and our nephews. Our best friends… the kids’ Godparents. But not too many people just yet” he finishes. Michael stays silent for a long moment after that, and Sebastian can tell he’s swallowing some words “. Okay, come on. Talk”

“Do you want me to?” Michael asks, raising an eyebrow at him “. Because I do know you hate this topic”

“But you need to talk, or else you’ll choke with your words” Sebastian half-jokes “. I’m fine, Michael”

“But I am not” Michael softly disagrees, looking more upset than his son-in-law “. Sebastian, I cannot be fine right now. This is such a fantastic occasion, and for your parents to not be almost begging to see the kids already…”

“They were a bit upset we had the two-week rule” Sebastian admits “. Told us it was something extra and unnecessary”

“You and Blaine are the twins’ Dads” Michael argues “. Whatever decision you take regarding them is not unnecessary, or extra. And I reckon you took a good one here… you did what works best for your family. Besides, it’s not like this is new. This has happened with every kid”

“I know. And maybe they know” Sebastian shrugs “. I don’t know. They didn’t even try to meet Pops until she was almost a month. They met Oli when he was a month and a half because he so happened to be born during one of their trips. Neither B nor I were expecting them to be dying to meet the twins… they don’t care, that’s it”

“Seb…”

“They’ve never done it” Sebastian argues, low so the rest of their family doesn’t hear them “. And I’m used to it, and I don’t care anymore. They… they’ve never been at one of the birthday parties for the kids’, never went to anything that they were in. I’m not expecting them to be involved grandparents now, nor is my husband. And we’re okay with it. Our kids have amazing grandparents having Eleanor and you”

“Still” Michael argues, as stubborn as his youngest son (and the grandkids he’s given him) are “. Sebastian, you know I love you like my own son, like I love my other sons”

“I know” Sebastian smiles, embracing the warmth that spreads through his body “. You know you are whom I consider my father, too. Like I consider Eleanor my mother, way more than my biological parents are”

“I know, son” Michael nods “. But because I love you this much, you know I’ve never liked to see how your parents behave. Those kids you have are a gift. And so special”

“I know” Sebastian nods “. And it is sad they don’t get to know them… but it’s their loss”

“Right… but?” Michael presses on “. You seem fine with this, truly, but there is something else”

“But, as much as I consider you my parents, you’re not biologically” Sebastian finally says “. And my kids are starting to realize that, hey, Daddy has parents. And we see them as much as possible.  And we’ve seen Dad’s a few times. So. Why?”

“Have they started asking about them?” Michael asks, worrying his bottom lip. Sebastian shrugs and sniffs, going to check the now-brewed coffee.

“Poppy, mainly,” he tells his father-in-law “. Oliver follows her into whatever she does, so he’s asked some questions, but not that many. But it’s just… they do have Smythe as a last name. So they wonder why they don’t see that side of the family as often. Honestly, I should’ve just changed it to Anderson entirely, to hell with the hyphen”

“It is who you are though” Michael gently reminds him “. You are an Anderson, son, but you also are a Smythe. Like Blaine is - like your kids are. Be proud”

“I try to” Sebastian shrugs “. B and our kids surely make me proud to be one, when I see how amazing they are and they also are Smythes. But I cannot help but think sometimes it’d be easier if I just forgot about the Smythe side of it all”

Michael nods, observing as Sebastian goes to find the creamer “. For once, I am glad I have my sons sharing their last names” he tells him, gently “. It is a picture of unity, and it is your family… but, that reminds me… what are you doing to celebrate it?”

“Celebrate… what?” Sebastian asks, confused. Michael seems confused by his answer, too, but goes to answer.

“Your anniversary. You know, the day when you decided to hyphenate those two names… your wedding day, son” he clarifies, once he sees Sebastian still looking lost.

And the brunet is, for a long, long moment, until he grabs his phone and looks at the time and… “. Oh my God. It is today” he murmurs, making his father-in-law laugh lowly “. Our wedding anniversary”

“Yep,” Michael nods.

“B and I have been married for eleven years today” Sebastian keeps saying, not even hearing Michael’s words “. And I totally forgot”

Michael seems amused by his words, going up to him to clap his shoulder, gently, and laughing “. It’s okay, son. You’ve been so busy with your newborns, it would’ve been a miracle had you remembered”

“I guess” Sebastian murmurs, worrying his bottom lip. Michael is right, and he knows it. Their lives have been crazy the past two weeks; heck, the past month, ever since they had known the birth of their twins was imminent. They had had to take care of two newborn babies, and of their oldest ones. Most days it’s a miracle if they remember to function like a normal human, as tired and yet as happy as they are, but… it’s still their anniversary.

Michael smiles kindly at him and goes to bring the mugs of coffee to their family, encouraging Sebastian to grab the juices for the kids. Sebastian nods, a bit absently, and briefly considers asking his father-in-law to take the kids. At least Poppy and Oliver. Just for the night - just so he can celebrate with Blaine they’ve been married for eleven years.

However, immediately Sebastian knows this is not his best idea. After all, the kids have to settle into their new routine, and this is not the way to do it. And either way, they are still going to be pretty busy with the twins… if anything, they’d worry about how their oldest are doing. So this is not a solution, and the lawyer knows it.

On a brighter note, however, Sebastian does have a gift for Blaine. One he had bought before the twins were even born, because deep down he had known he wouldn’t have time to buy something once they arrived into their lives. So he is not a completely useless husband - that is a victory he’s gonna take for himself.

Just as Sebastian decides he can wait until the family is gone to give Blaine his present, the doorbell disrupts their peace, making Grace cry now. Eleanor tries for a moment, until she looks at her son-in-law with a sweet smile on her face. Michael laughs at the situation and, observing Sebastian grabbing Grace, Blaine rocking Everett so he doesn’t cry again, Eleanor completely enamored by it, and the two oldest Anderson-Smythe kids trying to help their Dads calm down their siblings, he decides he can answer the door.

“Ah, I figured you couldn’t wait one more second to meet the twins. It’s normal, they’re sweet little angels” he says the second he opens the door, smiling at Cooper, Sage, and their two kids, who all look as excited as Michael had expected them to be. He laughs warmly at them and steps aside “. Come on in. I think the boys managed to stop them from crying”

It’s been as exhausting as they had imagined, but - Sebastian cannot help but be insanely happy their family and close ones (family too, really) have finally met the newest additions to the Anderson-Smythe family. Not everyone had come yet, and they are going to have more visitors in the upcoming days, but. At least they have had their closest people with them, and Sebastian is aware of how much of a privilege that is - especially after not having something like that for years, until he had started dating his husband.

Regardless, it’s been a long day. By the end of it, and just as their family leaves, the twins are so exhausted they go pretty easy to sleep. With the routine they have going on they know they have a few hours until they wake up to eat (unless something is bothering them, although hopefully it doesn’t happen), and with how tired they are, it looks like they are going to sleep, indeed.

Because Blaine and Sebastian don’t want to make their oldest kids feel left out in any way, once the twins are asleep the couple decides to do something special with them. They make dinner for them all and have it while talking about the day, the kids excited after their family’s visit. After, and because it is a bit early still, they put a movie on and snuggle with the kids on the couch, enjoying their time as a family.

Eventually, however, they do put those two to bed as well, when it’s close to their bedtime and when both kids are exhausted after the long and exciting day they’ve had. Poppy takes a bit longer than Oliver does to fall asleep, so by the time Sebastian leaves her room his husband has already left Oliver’s and is back in the living room, tidying it up a bit before going to sleep.

Sebastian takes that as the perfect moment, and quickly he goes to search and find the gift he had bought for Blaine, a beautiful bracelet from their favorite jewelry shop. Luckily for him, his secret spot is easy to find this time (not like during their eighth anniversary, when he had had to ask for Blaine’s help to find it, his husband knowing how his mind worked better than him sometimes).

He finds Blaine in the living room, where he had known he was going to be, and, after leaning on the doorframe, he smiles and opens his mouth “. Happy anniversary, Killer”

Blaine turns around immediately at his words, paling for a second “. What?” He asks in a high-pitched voice, making Sebastian laugh at him. He clears his throat then, blushing some, and tries again “. What?”

“Happy anniversary, my Love”

“No,” Blaine says, shaking his head and trying to find his phone to check the calendar “. No, it’s not until…” he says, but then he sees the day it is, and he freezes “. Oh. Shit”

Sebastian laughs at his husband’s distress, not maliciously, and goes to him, hugging him to his body and kissing the top of his head “. It’s fine, my B” he says “. Your Dad was the one who actually reminded me what today is”

“Really?” Blaine asks, a mix of amused and relieved. Sebastian nods, leaning in to kiss his lips sweetly and for a moment.

“Really. And it’s fine… we have newborn twins, my Love. It’d be a miracle if we were on top of everything… we’re busy enough keeping our children and ourselves alive”

Blaine laughs softly at his words, resting his head on Sebastian’s chest for a moment before he’s kissing it first, and kissing his lips second “. Yeah, I have to agree with that one”

“Good” Sebastian nods. Blaine has grown a lot since their younger days, but something his husband still does to this day feels guilty for things that are not even his fault “. So… let me give you my gift. I got it before the twins came, because I knew we’d be too busy when that happened”

“No, wait” Blaine immediately disagrees, stepping out of his husband’s hold “. Wait a second here, Bas”

Sebastian blinks in confusion at that, but lets his husband do and watches as Blaine disappears in the direction of the stairs. He doesn’t take long, and in barely two minutes he’s going back to him, a small box held in his hands now.

“Oh,” Sebastian laughs, pulling from his back pocket his own small box, and making Blaine laugh as well.

“Looks like we thought alike” Blaine smirks “. I knew our anniversary was coming, so I prepared something small before the chaos erupted… that being said, we are celebrating properly in the near future”

“You won’t find me disagreeing with that, Killer”

Blaine smiles at that, and then he grabs his hand and drags him to the couch, sitting on their sides to look at each other. Sebastian laughs fondly at his husband’s enthusiasm, loving how the moment is just them, in their house, with their family surrounding them. The lawyer accepts the box his husband gifts him with a soft smile and, when he opens it and sees what is inside, he cannot help but burst out laughing, like Blaine is doing now.

“Steel bracelets, huh,” Blaine says, smiling amusedly at him “. Darling, we have been together for a long time now, this is ridiculous”

“Ah, but it’s us” Sebastian smirks, getting a soft kiss from Blaine in response.

“Ain't that true” the musician smirks back “. This is gorgeous”

“Mine is too, Love” Sebastian smiles, admiring the steel bracelet Blaine has gifted him. It truly is gorgeous, and very much his style, just like the one he’s given Blaine is “. Just, you know - I read for eleven years, is steel. I figured this was appropriate”

“Same here” Blaine admits, smiling bashfully. Sebastian nods, and, after a second in silence, he adds.

“You know… I reckon steel suits us. It fit us, and our story”

“I would happen to agree” Blaine smiles, sweet and private, and just for Sebastian. The sight of it is still one of the brunet’s favorite things in the world, even after all the years they’ve been together for. Then he smirks playfully “. Do you think we should change Ever’s name to Steel? Maybe not Everett, but… his middle name… he doesn’t know his names completely yet, I think it could work. Legally speaking we’re still on time”

“No” Sebastian laughs, even when he knows his husband is joking “. Myles is perfect, and we both know it. And we like the meaning”

“That is true” Blaine concedes “. It would also break our thing with the middle name of our babies starting with M”

“Mhmm” Sebastian nods “. And it’s too cute to change it. Even if I haven’t ever said this”

Blaine laughs, amused at his husband’s words, but doesn’t disagree. Honestly, they had not even noticed with their oldest. They had decided on Marie as Poppy’s middle name to honor Sebastian’s late grandmother, and they had gone for Michael for Oliver to honor Blaine’s father. When having the twins, they had decided it would be fun to stick with the letter M, and so they had gone with Myles for Everett (because they loved the name but also, because no matter the miles that had separated them at points in their relationship, romantically and not, they had always belonged to each other) and they had gone with Mavise for Grace (because it had French roots and because it meant songbird. It felt nice to have a subtle reference to the singing group that had made it possible for them to meet).

“Steel fits us though” Blaine murmurs after a short moment in silence “. And if anything… it reminds me of everything we’ve been through. It’s been… eleven years since we got married. Eleven, Darling”

“I know” Sebastian nods, smiling softly “. Wow, huh?” He asks rhetorically, making his husband laugh and nod “. We’ve been through so much together since then, and before that… it’s kind of wild to think about”

“It is” Blaine nods “. We became Dads… had Poppy and learned what it means to be fathers, to be responsible for someone’s life… we moved”

“And it was a good move” Sebastian nods “. I love our house”

“Me too, Bas” Blaine smiles “. And then we welcomed Oli… and the twins, not even two weeks ago. God, it’s wild to see how much we’ve changed in eleven years. Or hell, how much we’ve changed since we met each other”

“Could you have imagined it?” Sebastian asks, bringing Blaine into his arms “. Back when we were sixteen, when we met. Could you have imagined you would have this life with me?”

“Married to you, sharing four kids?” Blaine asks, raising an eyebrow. Sebastian nods with an amused smile on his face, kissing his husband’s temple afterward “. Would be crazy if I did. If I met you and went - hey, in less than ten years we are getting married. And in twelve we are welcoming our first daughter into the world. By the way, your voice gave me chills”

“I knew it did” Sebastian smirks, getting a soft peck from his lover “. But also, fair”

“I knew you were going to be important though” Blaine points out, because it’s been years since he stopped denying he started falling for Sebastian the second they had met, even if that had been unbeknownst to him “. I just didn’t know straight away I was meeting the love of my life. Don’t lie and say you did”

“Probably not” Sebastian laughs “. But like you, I knew you were going to be important for me. Didn’t quite imagine marriage, a townhouse in Manhattan and four kids just at that second, but. I know this is the place I am meant to be at. That we are meant to be at”

“This is the life we were meant to live” Blaine agrees “. We are the persons we were meant to be, all along”

“Yes, my Love” the lawyer nods, smiling amusedly after a moment “. Can you even imagine if things had been different? Like, what you would be doing right now?”

Blaine scrunches his nose at that, not looking completely happy with whatever is on his mind “. Not really” he says after a moment “. I cannot imagine a life without you, or without our children… doesn’t seem right”

“Yeah” Sebastian softly agrees. Because for him it’s also been years since he stopped questioning things. He had done at times, during his weakest and most insecure moments. Had wondered if things had been different, would have Blaine chosen him… chosen their life. If things with Kurt had worked out… he knew Blaine loved him and their life, but. He had had his doubts. Even after getting engaged.

But then Blaine had shown him, time after time, how much he loved him. How he chose him, no matter what. He’d done it when Kurt had called him, wanting to have dinner and see how the other was doing, and Blaine had not agreed to it the second he saw Sebastian looking uncomfortable at it. He had agreed to a coffee, even when Sebastian knew Hummel didn’t deserve things like that. It had been okay, though, because Blaine had used that coffee to tell Kurt how happy he was with this life he had now, with Sebastian. To tell him he didn’t think it was a good idea to be friends, or in contact with each other. That he loved Sebastian and wanted to choose him. Sebastian and Blaine had been engaged not one month after that.

And if there had been any type of doubt remaining after that, then it had been gone a few years after. By then, they had Poppy already, and Oliver had been a newborn. They had taken the kids out on a walk in Central Park, wanting to tire their daughter out before bed and have some fresh air for Oliver (who had looked like a burrito with all the lawyers he’d been dressed in to fight the cold weather of the beginning of April in New York), and they had run into Kurt, who had been positively surprised to see them married and with two small children. Poppy had been in Blaine’s arms then, a bit tired already and almost asleep, and Sebastian had been the one pushing Oliver along in his stroller. And Kurt had had the audacity to tell Blaine they could have been that, perhaps. Blaine had shut him down immediately, disagreeing in an instant and telling Kurt they would have never worked out, as they were not meant for each other. Not in the way Sebastian and he were. The doubts had completely disappeared once Blaine had told Kurt he would have ended with Sebastian, no matter what. It was just about time.

“This is our dream life” Blaine whispers, kissing his jaw. And Sebastian cannot help but nod in agreement, kissing his husband’s temple and then his lips, long, sweet and gentle.

“This is our dream life” he repeats over his lips, before he kisses them again “. And it’s been eleven years… but we have many, many left”

“‘Till death do us part” Blaine nods “. And even then. And even after”

“Yes, my cheesy Love” Sebastian teases him, getting a soft slap to his upper arm. He responds to it by kissing Blaine, enjoying how peaceful everything is, and everything feels “. I love you”

“I love you more” Blaine responds, like he always does “. C’mon… time to go to bed now. We can still say sweet nothings to each other when we’re there, and we need the sleep”

“Ugh, that’s true” Sebastian groans, letting his husband pull him up and grabbing the bracelet when he does. It truly is beautiful, and he can see Blaine inspecting his with a smile before he puts it back in the box, the bracelet too precious to wear when they are just going to sleep “. Hopefully the twins are tired enough they will sleep”

“Hopefully” Blaine echoes “. Still… I won’t mind waking up. Not if it’s for them”

“Yes,” Sebastian smiles, enamored. Letting his husband drag him upstairs to their bedroom, Sebastian cannot help but smile, still observing his bracelet. They have their dreamed life.

And it is perfect.

Here is to eleven more years. And many more after those.