~ One Year Later ~

The warm June sun streamed through the stained-glass windows, throwing multicolored shapes around the large room and splashing color over the white rose petals that were scattered down the aisle between the rows of seats. A warm breeze flitted through the room up the aisle, swirling the delicate petals and wafting the smell of roses through the room, tickling the sniffling noses of the audience.

There wasn't a dry eye in the room, the sun shining off the tear tracks on each person's face as they feverishly dabbed their cheeks without tearing their eyes from the front of the room. Old friends, new friends, and two sets of families sat together watching with tearful smiles spread across their faces. The room was silent, save for the occasional sniffle and the deep tenor voice of the reverend as he read aloud to the room and, more importantly, to the center of everyone's attention.

Kurt and Blaine stood together in front of the reverend, hands clasped and warm smiles dancing about their corners of their lips. Their shining eyes were locked in a silent conversation as the minister spoke beautifully about the future and the love shared by these two men. The rest of the room was hanging on every word uttered by the reverend, but the only thing running through the minds of the couple were thoughts of each other. Their palms were clammy and their knees were trembling as the reverend withdrew two gold bands from his breast pocket, handing one to each man.

With trembling fingers, Blaine took Kurt's left hand and gently slid the ring into place on the third finger of his hand. "With this ring, I thee wed," he murmured, looking deeply into the crystal blue eyes before him. The corners of Kurt's lips twitched up and his cream-colored cheeks bloomed with a flush of pink.

Kurt took Blaine by the left hand and slid the ring on the third finger, setting it snugly at the base of the finger whilst he murmured, "with this ring, I thee wed." Blaine's lips curled up, dimpling his cheeks as a tear escaped Kurt's lashes.

He reached up and tenderly wiped the tear away with the pad of his thumb, letting his palm gently linger a moment on his cheek, eliciting a collective sigh and an "awwww" from the audience, before dropping his arm and taking Kurt's hands in both of his own.

"Do you, Blaine Anderson, take Kurt Hummel to be your lawfully wedded husband? For better or for worse, for rich or for poor, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish for as long as you both shall live?"

He nodded and looked straight into Kurt's eyes, "I do," he declared, lightly squeezing Kurt's hands.

Kurt grinned wide as the reverend began again. "Do you, Kurt Hummel, take Blaine Anderson to be your lawfully wedded husband? For better or for worse, for rich or for poor, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish for as long as you both shall live?"

"I do," Kurt decreed warmly, sending Blaine's heart aflutter beneath his ribs.

"It is my pleasure," the reverend began, gently closing the volume in his hands, "to now pronounce you, Mr. and Mr. Hummel-Anderson. You may now seal this union with a kiss." The room was silent as the two men's eyes traveled from the reverend and fixed on each other, the edges of their mouths curving up in unison.

Time and space seemed to slow as they reached for each other, everyone in the room on the edge of their seats and holding their breath. They enveloped each other in the circle of their arms and leaned in slowly, the world around them dissolving.

Their lips met, warm and sweet on that summer day, and sparks flew just as they had the first time they kissed almost ten years ago. The butterflies erupted in a flurry in their stomachs as their lips came together, their eyelids fluttering closed. Their hearts beat as one, standing there at the alter in front of the reverend, everything else melting away, leaving just them. No one else. Just Kurt and Blaine.

Blaine wrapped Kurt tighter in his arms and leaned him back, dipping his shoulders down as if they were in a dance, their lips never parting. Kurt smiled against his lips and let himself lean, knowing Blaine would never let him fall. Their lips moved slowly, savoring the moment, a memory they both would share for the rest of their lives, surrounded by tearful loved ones and sharing their first kiss as husbands.

As they came down from cloud nine, they became aware of the cheers from their family and friends and the camera flashes bursting around them. Blaine slowly brought Kurt upright and let their lips linger together for a heartbeat before parting and resting their foreheads together. They gazed at each other, eyes shining and smiling from ear to ear.

Blaine brought a hand up and lightly caressed Kurt's flushed cheek, "I love you, so much," he murmured over the sound of applause.

Kurt's eyes warmed even more, "and I love you." Kurt leaned in and pressed his lips chastely against Blaine's once more.

"Ladies and Gentlemen," the reverend called, "Mr. and Mr. Hummel-Anderson!"

Everyone erupted in a fresh wave of applause and dabbed fresh tears from their eyes as Kurt and Blaine turned to face the crowd of smiling faces before them. The string quartet struck up their instruments the violins, viola, and cello humming together in a harmonious melody for the grooms' procession down the aisle.

Blaine offered his arm to Kurt, who looped his arm through and placed a kiss on Blaine's cheek. They lingered a moment, smiling at each other before turning back toward the aisle cutting through the rows of seats. They stepped off together, taking their first steps as newlyweds, grinning at all of the tear streaked faces of the crowd around them. White rose petals rained down upon them as their friends and families tossed handfuls of them into the air.

Everyone's eyes were alight as they tossed rose petals and let them shower down on the couple's procession. Their families smiled tearfully at them, Burt wiping his eyes before reaching out and clapping Kurt and his newest son on the back as they made their way past him. Their old friends had flown in from all over the country to attend their long awaited wedding, and more recently made friends came as well.

Elise hadn't stopped crying since she woke up that morning and Blaine caught sight of her tear stained face among the crowd as he made his way past. Nathanial, his fiancé, and their newly adopted 3-year-old son tossed petals over the newlyweds, the toddler's delighted laughter adding to the cheers of the audience. The petals swirled to the ground as the cameras flashed and Kurt and Blaine made their way through the elegant double doors, and out of the building.

A pearly white limousine awaited them against the curb, Blaine opening the door for his husband. Kurt bowed in and pulled Blaine in after him, clutching the lapel of Blaine's tuxedo and bringing their mouths together. The limousine pulled away from the curb and drove toward central park, where the newlyweds would take their wedding photos before joining the scores of loved ones at the reception. Blaine laughed against Kurt's lips and circled him in his arms. He deepened the kiss briefly before pulling back and gazing into the piercing blue eyes before him, the ghost of a warm smile playing about his lips. He brushed his fingers tenderly along the blushed skin of Kurt's cheekbone, Kurt's lips twitching up and dimpling his cheeks.

"Mr. Hummel-Anderson," Blaine cooed, smiling at the sound of the name.

"Mr. Anderson-Hummel," Kurt replied, running a hand through Blaine's dark curls. He picked out a rose petal and giggled, flicking it at Blaine. Blaine smiled and wrinkled his nose, pressing his mouth against Kurt's for an instant.

They rested together in each other's arms, their noses only a few inches apart, each man staring into the eyes of his husband. Kurt sighed in contentment, his body sinking comfortably into Blaine's arms, "I can't believe it's finally happened," he murmured, tracing Blaine's jawline with the tips of his fingers.

"It's happened," Blaine confirmed. "There's no escaping me this time, Kurt Hummel-Anderson."

"Wouldn't dream of it. I'm yours," Kurt smiled, laughing lightly, and gingerly pressed his lips to Blaine's.

Their hearts flitting against their ribs, and their lips moved with a slow and tender intensity. They melted together, surrendering to bliss and losing themselves in each other. They floated in a tranquil dream like haze, a lovely warmth spreading through them and serenity enveloping them. Their future was bright, they had the best friends and family anyone could ever ask for. They had each other. Finally, and forever.

"I love you, Blaine" Kurt hummed, cupping Blaine's blushing cheeks in his hands.

Blaine sighed and another smile graced his lips for the thousandth time that day. He pulled his husband closer to his chest, the delicate scent of roses tickling his nose, and murmured, "I am forever yours."