A/N: I sincerely hope that this story hasn't been done before. I can only claim ignorance if it has. Right from the off I should mention that it will be quite AU. It won't be quite the same as the film, not quite the same as Glee. I'll make my own changes to make things fit better, so please don't hate me for them. Hopefully it'll make sense as the story progresses.

Please drop me a review and any suggestions you might have, they make me very happy indeed. I welcome constructive criticism, I'm always ready to improve and learn. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own neither Maid in Manhattan, nor Glee.

Chapter 1

Crisp autumn air was making its way through Manhattan, a slight wind caressing the steadily falling leaves that covered the ground. After the heat of the summer, coats were now finally being brought out again for good measure. A small friendly window looked out onto this scene from a second floor apartment. Kurt Hummel watched the people pass by below contentedly, tucking a stray strand of hair back from his face. He hummed under his breath before checking his watch for the third time in ten minutes.

'Ty! Come on buddy, we need to leave now!'

Kurt's soft lilting voice called out through the small but well decorated apartment. He had done the best with the money available to him. And although it wasn't what he had imagined when he was an idealistic dreamy-eyed teenager, it was home nonetheless.

He could hear a rustling from his son's room, but he still didn't emerge.

'We haven't got time for this if you want to get to school on time,' Kurt continued in a singsong voice.

Kurt could have sworn that he heard a muffled voice saying, 'I don't wanna go.' He chuckled softly but pretended he heard nothing, instead putting on his coat and scarf, which were lying over the back of an armchair.

A few moments later a seemingly miniature version of Kurt opened the bedroom door and walked out into the hall, head stuck in his jumper.

'Oh honey, what are we going to do with you?' Kurt gently pulled the jumper down over the boy's head, carefully trying not to ruffle his hair. When it was finally adjusted he could see piercing eyes staring up at him. Kurt kissed the top of his son's head, which was adorned with chestnut coloured hair, just like his own. He handed Ty his coat.

'Let's go,' he said with a smile, taking a hold of Ty's hand.

Ten minutes later, they were seated together on the bus on the way to Ty's school. Kurt held onto their bags, and noticed that his son was unusually quiet this morning. 'Are you excited about your speech?' Kurt asked.

Ty shook his head. Kurt frowned. 'Why not?'

'I don't want do it Daddy. Do you think I can just tell them that I can't do it?'

'Ty, you worked so hard on it, don't give up! You'll do a great job. Just remember how we practiced it and you'll be fine. And I'll be right there in the audience cheering for you.'

Ty mumbled something that Kurt didn't catch.

'You'll have to speak louder than that if you want people to hear you today.'

'I said that it's boring. I'm boring. No one will care.'

'Look at me,' said Kurt in a firm but gentle tone. Ty looked up at him, fear evident in his eyes. Kurt felt a pang of pain seeing it. He hated when his son was scared. It was his job to protect him.

'I care. We are Hummels, and do you know what that means? It means that we have confidence, and nobody pushes us around. We stand up for ourselves and we are proud of who we are. You're going to go up there today and ace it. I just know you will, okay? And when am I ever wrong?'

Ty gave him a smile small. It soon faltered as he thought of something else. 'Dad won't be there will he?'

Kurt put a protective arm around the young boy and pulled him close. He tried to show a reassuring expression as he spoke. Ty was so good at picking up things like that. Kurt sometimes wished he wasn't so observant. 'No he won't. You don't need to worry about that, it'll just be you and me, okay?'

Ty visibly relaxed at this news.

The rest of the journey went by quickly, as Kurt tried to take his son's mind off of the speech. The other passengers sitting near them had grown accustomed to their laughter every morning. The bond between them was evident. Kurt couldn't help but smile as he looked down at his son. What had he done to deserve something that made him so uncontrollably happy, someone that filled him with so much love?

They got off the bus and walked the last part of the way to the school. As soon as they drew close to the school gates, Kurt rummaged in his pocket and removed his old battered I-pod and gave it to his son. 'You can listen to this until school starts okay? Just make sure you don't lose it and put it away when teacher tells you to. And don't be nervous.'

Ty nodded, fumbling awkwardly with the earphones and looking resolutely at the ground. 'You'll be here later?'

Kurt crouched down and pulled him into a hug. 'Of course I will. I love you.'

'Love you too,' replied Ty shyly, and he kissed his father on the cheek before disappearing into the school.

Kurt began to quickly make his way to work. After another twenty minutes of commuting he found himself outside The Warbler, a long running hotel chain, and one of the most successful hotels in New York. This was where Kurt came to work everyday. He winced slightly as he approached. Back in school when he told people that they would one day work for him, he had honestly believed it. If only they could see him now.

He walked around to the back entrance, where he saw his fellow staff members. 'Just made it on time Hummel,' called out one of them. He waved his hand at him with a smirk. 'Always, Evans. Always.' He walked through the series of familiar corridors, before arriving outside the changing rooms.

Although he wasn't the only male member of the cleaning staff, he was the only one who availed of the ladies changing room. He was used to it by now. New York was obviously more accepting than Ohio but somehow the habit had stuck with him after all these years. And the other female cleaners didn't really seem to mind.

As he walked in, he saw his best friend. She was sitting on a bench tying her shoes. 'Hey Mercedes, any news this fine day?'

She grinned up at him. 'I do actually. You know Terri Shuester, the Assistant Manager? She's been promoted. You know what that means?'

Kurt cocked an eyebrow while he opened his locker and started changing into his uniform. 'Please enlighten me.'

'It means that someone could take over her old position. You get what I'm saying white boy?'

'Mercedes please, don't be ridiculous.'

'What's ridiculous about it? It could be a real chance for you!'

'They don't make people like us managers, honey. It just doesn't happen when you don't have the experience.'

'You never know Kurt. You're the one who always talks about wanting to get a better paying job with better hours. This is the perfect opportunity!'

Kurt rolled his eyes, and continued to dress himself while Mercedes turned their conversation to other matters.

They were soon called into their morning meeting to discuss the schedule for the day. Kurt eyed the room curiously when he saw that Mr. Figgins, the head of the hotel, was also present. When everyone had arrived, he announced what Mercedes has already informed half of the ladies' locker room about. He explained that they were looking for someone to fill the job of assistant manager.

Mercedes quickly interrupted. 'Sir? Could anyone, like a member of the cleaning staff, apply for this job?'

Mr. Figgins nodded. 'As long as you have spent at least a year working here and have worked and conducted yourself in a satisfactory manner, you may apply. We want to make The Warbler accommodating for everyone, including our staff. I'll leave application forms in here later in the day.'

Mercedes nudged Kurt playfully, but Kurt was lost in thought. Getting a promotion would make life much easier for him and Ty. And maybe he could start auditioning again in his free time…

He shook his head. No. The time for show tunes was over. Maybe if he didn't have a child to support… But he did. And now things were different. He was being selfish. It was his responsibility to take care of Ty. God knows that his ex-partner couldn't do it. And if taking care of Ty meant that he would take a managerial position and sacrifice his Broadway dream, then so be it. Ty would come first for him now. Always.

Of course this was never how he imagined his life would turn out. He had expected to be living the highlife as a Broadway star, or the owner of a style magazine, or the designer of his own clothing line. Life, it seemed, had gotten in the way. He was now a twenty-six year old single parent, living in New York and working as a hotel cleaner. But he had Ty. And that one constant was enough to keep him going when he otherwise might have crumbled. He had never seriously planned on having children when he was younger. Hell, he had never planned on having such a broken relationship with his ex-partner. But he wouldn't change it for all the Broadway roles in the world now, because Ty was easily the best thing that had ever happened to him.

Kurt realized that he had zoned out for the rest of the meeting. As he left the room, he had to discreetly ask Mercedes what exactly they were expected to do for the rest of the day.

Mercedes counted out their duties for the day on her fingers. 'We have to clean out Mr. Puckerman's mini bar, apparently he's abstaining from having alcohol again. Then you-know-who is coming, he's moving from the Four Seasons. Apparently all is forgiven from the last time. But he'll be a royal pain in the ass I can tell you.'

Kurt winced at the memories, and the torture that that particular guest would undoubtedly inflict upon them.

Mercedes looked thoughtful for a moment. 'There was someone else too. Oh, how did I forget! That new assembly man, Blaine Anderson is arriving soon and his suite needs to have a mini conference area.'

'Blaine Anderson?' Kurt questioned excitedly. 'The Blaine Anderson?'

Mercedes chuckled loudly. 'I don't know how you missed that the first time round honey. Big fan?'

'Fan? Try hero, Mercedes! He's the most influential gay politician since Harvey Milk! If he gets elected he'll make a huge difference for people like me and not just in New York!'

'Are you sure it's just his policies that have got you so excited?' Mercedes fell into a fit of giggles, while Kurt shoved her lightheartedly.

'Come on. I have to leave early for Ty's speech at school, so let's get this work over with.'

'But seriously, Kurt. I know that he's gay and even I can't help fancying him. You can't seriously pretend that he isn't gorgeous.'

Kurt said nothing but the tinge of pink now covering his cheeks gave Mercedes the answer she wanted.