While Blaine would have happily jetted straight to New York the minute high school was over, his family had other ideas. First there was a flurry of family events and a meeting with a financial advisor his father made him attend. Then there was a two week vacation on Cape Cod, which normally Blaine would have loved. He tried to placate his parents' desire for last-minute together time but, come on. He spent most of the vacation buzzing, his mind constantly wandering back to just how close he was to being in his fiancés bed every single night. There was a lot about New York he was looking forward to, but the prospect of sex on demand after so much time apart was almost overwhelming. Sure, Rachel would be his roommate too, but she would be staying in actor housing at her out-of-town Funny Girl tryout a good part of the summer—and Blaine was definitely ready to take advantage of that. And when he wasn't indulging in explicit fantasies, he was thinking of sights he wanted to see in New York, wondering about his class schedule for the fall, re-writing his packing list… his mother had to laugh at how often she just caught him daydreaming.

It was good, Blaine felt, that Rachel was still in the apartment when he finally moved in. His parents were old fashioned and didn't live together before they were married, but somehow the inclusion of Rachel made it seem less like his plan was just living in sin as his grandmother probably would put it. He drove a hard bargain pointing out the astronomical amount of money he would save living in Bushwick with roommates over a NYADA dorm. Privately, they had concerns about Blaine being in New York in the first place, though, and knowing he'd be with friends who clearly cared deeply for his well-being went a long way to making them feel better about it. They were unsure about his choice to get engaged this young, despite Blaine's assurances that they wouldn't be setting a wedding date for some time with all the other transitions he was dealing with. But they figured if nothing else living together would at least help Blaine understand what married life might be like before he jumped through yet another major milestone. His mom cried the day he moved in and made Blaine promise to Skype them almost daily for several weeks after, which Blaine indulged more than many his age would have.

Once Blaine's parents had left that first day, Kurt sat Rachel and Blaine down and suggested they have a house meeting.

"Ooh. That sounds very official." Blaine said eagerly.

Rachel rolled her eyes. "Usually it means talk about chores…" she muttered quietly.

Kurt nodded pointedly at Rachel. "With you, young lady, I'd have to agree. It does too often become time to discuss chores, especially chores undone I'd say…"

Rachel squirmed and looked away a bit.

Blaine straightened hearing the words "young lady." He hadn't been thinking about rules and discipline on his special first day in the city. He wanted to make sure he didn't mar the mood by screwing anything up too soon. "You have… expectations, I imagine?" he asked.

"Yes." Kurt said authoritatively. He opened a folder and took out a typed sheet of paper. "Rachel and I made a list of things that need to be done regularly when we first got here, and agreed on a rotating schedule of responsibilities for the most part. We try to have a house meeting once a month or so—or more often if there's some problem going on. I guess it does sound sort of formal and official, but we both have busy schedules and we didn't want to let stuff around here slide, so this all helps make sure it doesn't. And with three of us sharing space here I think it's going to be even more important."

Blaine nodded, looking over the spreadsheets Kurt had made. Of course he would agree to whatever chores they said he needed to do. He was in New York City now! Vacuuming a couple rugs here and there wasn't going to bring him down.

"Well this sounds great!"

Kurt smiled. "I think you're going to be more into this stuff than either Rachel and I ever were."

Rachel looked at Blaine. "Heh. If you like having chores so much you're welcome to pick up some of mine," she teased.

Blaine blushed and hung his head. "I'm just excited to be here is all."

"We know, we're just teasing you. I remember what it was like being on my own for the first time." Kurt paused, nostalgic.

"So basically I just do what it says on the schedule?" Blaine asked.

"Yes. Some of the items are time-sensitive like loading breakfast dishes and such. And we have a rule that we always bring the garbage down before dark because the back of the building where the dumpster is can be really sketchy. But for the most part as long as you meet whatever responsibility is listed before you go to bed you're good."

"Seems fair."

"Great. So if there are no objections, we'll post this on the refrigerator for everyone's reference? We'll try it out while Rachel's still in town. With everyone doing a little bit every day there shouldn't be any issues, but of course, if there are we'll have to talk."

Rachel grunted. "Talk."

Kurt sighed. "You have something to say?"

Rachel chewed her lip. "Not to be- rude or anything but… Blaine's going to have the same rules as me, right?"
Kurt nodded. "You mean about what happens if they're not done?"

Rachel and Blaine blushed. Rachel nodded.

"Yes. Depending on the situation, and your explanation for not doing your assignment on a particular day, you might get a warning, maybe two. But this chart is to help keep our home running smoothly, so if you're having trouble meeting those responsibilities regularly, you can expect to spend some time over my knee."

Rachel swallowed. "Okay. I just—" she sputtered, struggling to make eye contact with Blaine. "This is something I've kinda been in trouble over before and… no offense but I'd be kinda pissed if you got a free pass on this stuff."

Blaine put a hand on Rachel's shoulder. "I get it honey. You don't have to… feel awkward. You know I mess up sometimes too. I mean, you've actually seen it before," he added, shyly, remembering.

Rachel smiled slightly. "That was back before I… had an arrangement with Kurt like this too. I guess now that you're here this is all feeling so real."

"Everything with you and me is going to be the same, Rachel." Kurt assured. "And while he may be my fiancé, when it comes to this stuff you don't need to worry about me playing favorites. That's why we're having a meeting, if the expectations are clear you don't need to worry about being surprised by consequences."

Rachel nodded, accepting this. Satisfied that her concerns were resolved, he handed the top spreadsheet to her to look over further. Kurt turned to Blaine.

"Now I made a second spreadsheet for you and me for when she's out, which of course means some more work for both of us for a little bit—but at least while she's here we can see if this schedule works for everyone so we'll be all set in the fall."

Rachel looked up from her spreadsheet. "Hey. How come I have to take out the garbage three days a week and you two only take it out twice?"

Kurt's brow furrowed, confused for a moment. He hadn't even noticed. "Oh. Because there's seven days in a week and there's three of us. There's no way to make it completely even." Kurt explained. "Blaine ends up cleaning the bathtub more often, it all evens out."

Rachel pouted. Blaine looked at her, surprised she was making an issue of one little chore. Kurt rolled his eyes. "You're not even going to be here half the summer, Rachel," he reminded her.

"I know, but you said we'd keep the schedule for the fall!"

"Well, yes, as long as it works for everyone—"

"Well taking the garbage out is a lot harder for me!"

"What? Why?"

"You two don't wear heels. It's a pain to carry a bag of smelly garbage down several flights in heels. Especially when it gets colder out—it gets slippery!"

Kurt raised an eyebrow. "You could wear snow boots when it's icy like a normal person. Or just change to tennis shoes when you get home. No one says you need to be high fashion for household chores."

Rachel scowled. "When I get home I just want to be home and relax. I don't want to have to change clothes and go back outside with the garbage. And I have a bad back-"

"Rachel. You're not infirm. Everyone is going to have to do it sometimes. It's part of—"

" I know! I'm just saying I don't like that I have to do it more than you two, and-"

"I'll switch with you." Blaine interrupted. "I don't mind. You can do the bathtub more days and I'll do the garbage. What are roommates for?"

Rachel smiled. Kurt's eyes narrowed for a moment, thinking that she was being manipulative, but if Blaine didn't mind it wasn't worth pushing the issue. He penciled in the change on the master schedule and posted it on the refrigerator. She really was only going to be around for another two weeks before taking most of her stuff and performing in some obscure New England playhouse the rest of the summer. There was no point in fighting over nothing.