Kurt and Blaine were happily married. Keyword: were. Now, they were somewhat less happily split. Not divorced, just split. But their split is different than most because they still live together. For the sake of their young children, they didn't want to really go their separate ways. Both of them feared that a divorce at such a young age would do harm later on, so they decided to pretend around their kids.
The kids came three years after marriage via surrogate. Kurt and Blaine mixed sperms both times so it would be a mystery as to who's kid it really was, but when Maddi came out with a head of dark black hair and later, Mitch revealed to have blue-green eyes, it was pretty obvious.
The marriage didn't work out for many reasons. Blaine seemed to put less effort into raising the kids. He was raised with more freedom than discipline and with some pro life lessons from Cooper. Growing up, Kurt had a great relationship with his father, and, at the time, his mother, and therefore cared wholly for his kids.
Blaine and Kurt also argued a lot. Even the littlest things sparked a discussion. And they'd never have time to talk about it or make up because the kids were a handful when they were younger and took a lot of time to deal with. Long story short, they decided to call it quits and tell the kids when they were older. They still got along most of the time and they both agreed that they still wanted to be friends, because somethings never change, so living together was a good idea.
Maddi, age four and a half, thumped loudly down the hall to her bedroom. But she purposely jumped into her brother's unmade bed. Kurt sighed and ran a hand through his hair as he followed the girl into the room.
"Maddi, it's too late for this" Kurt said firmly. "Get into your own bed."
"No, me and Mitch decided to switch beds" Maddi said from under the covers.
"I don't care" Kurt said. He took a step towards the bed. "Come on, get into your bed and you can pick the story."
Maddi's head popped up. Her brown eyes were wide. "Really?"
Kurt nodded.
Maddi hopped off Mitch's bed and into her own bed. She crawled under the big pink conformer.
"You stay here and I'll be back with your brother" Kurt said, tucking her in.
He walked back to the kitchen. There was only light on. Sitting at the long kitchen table was a boy, three years of age. He had a cup in his hand.
"Mitchy, it doesn't take ten minutes to drink one cup of water" Kurt said.
"I'm done" Mitch grinned up at him. Kurt rolled his eyes and picked up the boy.
"Oof, you're heavy" Kurt said, taking the cup from him and setting it down by the kitchen sink. He walked out of the kitchen, holding out Mitch so he could turn off the light.
"Where's Daddy?" Mitch asked, yawning.
"Out" Kurt said simply.
"Out where?"
"Out with his friend" Kurt replied. He walked into the kids' room. Maddi was still in her bed, arranging her stuffed animals.
"I wanna pick the story!" Mitch shouted, as if the volume of his voice determined it.
"Ha! I already am!" Maddi said. She was a bit of a brat and liked to pick on her brother.
It worked too, because Mitch looked like he was going to cry. Kurt saw this coming and quickly said, "You can sit with me, Mitchy."
This seemed to be okay and he stopped tearing up.
"Read the fish one!" Maddi said, bouncing up and down.
"One Fish Two Fish?" Kurt asked her, going to the book shelf. He pulled the book out and sat down on Mitch's bed with Mitch in his lap.
"Okay, here we go" Kurt said, opening the book. "One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish" he read.
Almost fifteen minutes later, Kurt was almost done the book. Mitch wasn't fidgeting anymore and his breathing was loud, so Kurt knew he was asleep. Maddi, however was still wide awake and actively listening. Last time I let her have a pudding cup at seven o'clock, Kurt thought. As he turned another page. He heard movement in the front hall. Kurt silently begged Blaine not to come in. But Blaine can't read minds and sure enough, the door cracked open, just enough for Blaine's head to pop in. Seeing that Maddi was awake, he came all the way in.
"Daddy!" Maddi screeched. That screech woke up Mitch and in Kurt's lap, he started crying.
"Blaine!" Kurt said, annoyed. He put the book down and tried to comfort Mitch.
"Sorry" Blaine said, but didn't seem that remorseful. Maddi jumped up from bed and Blaine picked her up and hugged her.
"They were just getting to sleep!" Kurt said angrily.
"It's okay, I can deal with it. Here, say goodnight to Dad" Blaine said first to Kurt then the last part to Maddi. Kurt pressed a kiss to Maddi's forehead and then kissed Mitch, who had stopped crying and was now happy to see his other father.
"Goodnight" Kurt said and slipped out of the room.
He went to the family room, stepping over a mess of dolls, and plopped down on the couch. He turned on the TV, making sure to keep the volume low. Fifteen minutes later Blaine came over and sat in the arm chair next to the couch.
"I am sorry, Kurt" Blaine said. "I didn't know you were trying to get them to sleep."
"S'okay" Kurt said. He looked at Blaine. "How was your date?"
"Awful" Blaine said. "Why do you think I came home so early?"
Kurt couldn't help but smile. "Details, please."
"He's really into WWE" Blaine began.
"The fighting thing?" Kurt asked.
Blaine nodded. "It's wrestling. That was basically all he talked about."
"Was he good looking at least?"
"Yeah, I suppose. He had really nice arms and nice hair, but I couldn't focus on that because all I wanted to do was stab myself with a spoon."
Kurt laughed.
"Last time Harry sets me up on a blind date" Blaine said, taking about his friend from work. He glanced at the TV. "What're we watching?"
"What Not To Wear" Kurt said, focusing back on the TV too.
"Sweet."
They watched for a while in silence. Then Blaine got up, left and returned with a bowl of plain ruffled chips. Knowing Kurt would want some too, Blaine moved from the chair to the other end of the couch.
"That is hideous" Kurt said, more to the TV. The woman, a frumpy middle aged lady, was trying on a dress with the ugliest pattern.
"Doesn't my mom have the same pattern but in curtains?" Blaine asked.
"She used to. I had convinced her to get new ones" Kurt replied.
"Right. Good job."
Kurt ate a chip. As much as they were still close friends, there was still awkward silences. Had they been in a relationship, that silence wouldn't be so awkward.
"That's not a good colour for her" Kurt commented, as the frumpy lady put on a bright yellow blouse.
"Agreed" Blaine said. "Maybe a darker colour like navy or burgundy."
"No burgundy. That'll make her look like a tomato" Kurt said.
"I was thinking more of a large strawberry" Blaine said.
Kurt laughed. Then he looked over at Blaine. "This is nice."
"Sure" Blaine nodded, staring at the TV.
"Remember how we used to record this show and watch it on Friday nights?" Kurt asked.
"I do" Blaine said, stiffening a bit.
"That was nice" Kurt said. "Don't you think?"
Blaine sighed. "Kurt, please don't do this tonight."
Kurt frowned at this. "Do what?"
"The whole 'remember this' and 'remember that' thing as if you want to rekindle something. You do it all the time. Can't we just watch a show in peace?"
"Sorry" Kurt said simply. A moment later he set down the remote that he had been playing with and stood up. "I'm going to bed."
"Goodnight" Blaine said and Kurt mumbled something in reply as he stalked off to his room.
"So...how are you doing?"
Blaine sighed and looked at Sam, who sat at the other end of the small coffee shop table. He and Sam stayed friends since high school and Sam was in town for a week.
"I'm doing okay" Blaine said. "I'm tired, hence the extra large cup I have going on here." He held up his coffee cup.
"Why, are the kids at that age where they don't do anything you say?" Sam asked with a chuckle.
"Nah, they're okay. Maddi is a bit of a diva, gets that from Kurt and the talk shows he lets her watch" Blaine said. "And Mitch is okay. Sometimes he'll listen to Maddi more than us, which we're trying to stop him from that. Saying he's his own person and all that jazz" Blaine said.
Sam laughed. "And how's Kurt?"
"He's good."
Sam paused, sipping his hot chocolate before asking quietly, "And nothing's going on with you two?"
Blaine's eyes flashed a bit, before looking down at the table. "No."
"You sound sad" Sam observed.
"I-I'm not" Blaine said. "It's just...there are days."
"What do you mean?"
"There are days where he'd come home from work all tired or upset and my first instinct is to kiss him. Or I'd walk in and see him and Maddi and Mitch all reading or playing or something and I'm like that's my family, but...not. We wanted to tear that apart. And then there'd be times where we'd get a quiet moment, the kids are asleep or something, and we'd be watching TV or talking and it'd be really nice and I just want us to be together again just like it used to be, when we were okay. But now we're on opposite ends of the couch and it's just cold."
"Have you said this to him?" Sam asked.
"No. And I don't plan on it" Blaine said. "Because with those days come other days. Days where I want to pack all my things and just leave. Or I want to just give Mitch a stupid lollypop because no matter what Kurt thinks, a bit of sugar isn't always a bad thing."
"Are you willing to work through it, though?"
Blaine shrugged. "I dunno. Sometimes I doubt that he even wants to. I'll do something like accidentally put pepper on Maddi's pasta and he'll get mad at me as if I'm such an awful parent and he's fed up with me."
"You're not, though" Sam said.
"Sometimes I think so, though" Blaine said. "Kurt's way more dedicated to the kids."
"You're a great dad" Sam said with a soothing smile.
"Thanks" Blaine mumbled. "Anyways, we've both been dating other people."
"But have either of you found anyone meaningful?" Sam asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"No."
"Ever think that there's a reason for that?"
Blaine rolled his eyes. "You should be a talk show guy like Dr. Phil."
"You think?" Sam grinned and adjusted his tie.
Blaine laughed and sipped the last of his coffee.
"Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!" Maddi said, running into the kitchen.
"Yes?" Blaine asked, setting a plate at the table.
"Ms. Rooney is getting married" Maddi said. Ms. Rooney was her preschool teacher who Maddi adored.
"Really?" Kurt joined in. Weddings were his favourite. All the decor, the dresses, the romance, it was all awesome.
"Is she now?" Blaine asked.
"Yup. And then she told us all about marriage and how she's gonna kiss a boy!" Maddi went on.
"Oh?" Blaine asked, only half listening.
"And then I said that kissing boys is gross" Maddi said excitedly.
"And why is that? You kiss me, and Daddy and Mitchy" Kurt said.
"You're not boys" Maddi said nonchalantly. She turned to Blaine. "Daddy, did you have a marriage?"
"I did" Blaine said.
"Did you kiss a boy too?" Maddi asked.
"Several times" Blaine answered, glancing over at Kurt. He noticed how Kurt was less involved in the conversation now and stared fiercely at the carrots he was chopping.
"Who'd you kiss?" Maddi asked.
"I kissed your Dad" Blaine said.
"Oh. Why?"
"Because that's what happens at weddings" Blaine said. "One day you'll grow up and marry someone you love too."
"Do you love Dad?" Maddi asked casually.
Blaine paused. "Of course."
Maddi looked past Blaine to Kurt. "Dad! Do you love Daddy?"
Kurt looked up at her and only her. "Sure. Go wash you hands, honey. Dinner is ready."
Maddi ran off to the bathroom.
"Blaine, can you get Mitch from the playroom?" Kurt asked, looking back at the carrots.
Blaine opened his mouth as if too say something, but then closed it and left to room to get his son.
Kurt opened the door quietly and slipped inside, tossing his keys on the table. It was good to be home.
Blaine lay on the couch, watching TV. Kurt almost smiled, seeing Blaine look so casual and calm, his features outlined by the TV's glow.
Blaine looked over and sat up as Kurt walked into the room.
"Are the kids asleep?" Kurt asked quietly, hiding in the shadows.
"Yeah" Blaine said, muting the TV. "How was your date?"
That's when Kurt lost it. He sniffed and wiped his eyes. "Not good."
Blaine was in shock. Why was Kurt crying? He had dated this guy, Pat, a few times before and Kurt said it had been going pretty well. Blaine sat on his hands. He wanted so badly to run over to Kurt and hug the sadness out of him but he knew better.
"What happened?" Blaine asked.
Kurt took off his coat and sat on the couch next to Blaine with a huff. He drew his knees to his chest
"I was on that double date, right? Me, Pat, and Pat's friends Luke and Cameron. It was going okay...until your name came up. Luke said he works in your building, and he started insulting you. He said that he had heard that you were rude and stuck up and a big flirt and stuff. So I started defending you, saying that you weren't. I guess they thought that since we're split that I'd be able to laugh at stuff like that. So Luke started saying that I'm only defending you because I'm not over you and basically it was them two against me. Pat just sat there, not saying anything. After dinner when Pat and I were driving home, I asked him why he didn't stick up for me. Then he said that he didn't because he agreed with them. He thinks that I'm not over you either and he just didn't want to say anything. So I got kinda mad at him. We started arguing, him saying that I was foolish to hang on to something that I had ended, and me saying that he's wrong and should have defended me. Then he said it was actually for the best that Luke and Cameron brought it up because he had been afraid to say it before. Anyways, the last thing he said was that he doesn't believe I'm doing what we're doing for the kids. Then he got out of the car and said to call him when I knew deep in my heart that I really wasn't fooling myself."
Blaine bit his lip and didn't say anything. He knew Kurt had more to say. Kurt always had more to say.
Kurt sniffled and fisted his hands. "It's not fair. I didn't do anything wrong. He was the first guy in a while who was okay with my situation."
Kurt put his face in his hands and couldn't help but cry.
That's when Blaine broke. He slid over and hugged Kurt, who allowed himself to uncurl from his ball and lean onto Blaine. Kurt's face was pressed into his shoulder, slowly getting tears into his sweater.
"What're you doing?" Kurt finally asked after he was able to speak. He and Blaine hadn't been this physically close since they split up. As much as his embrace was sweetly familiar, it wasn't normal.
"We're friends" Blaine said simply. "And friends hug."
"Oh..." Kurt closed his eyes and sighed. "Just so you know, I don't regret standing up for you. Don't think this is your fault."
Blaine smiled and rested his head on Kurt's. "Thanks" he whispered.
Kurt knew that he'd never be able to call Pat. Because as much as Pat was right in saying he was foolish, Kurt simply couldn't stop secretly hoping that he and Blaine may one day rekindle their love. And it's moments like this that fuelled that hope, although Kurt knew it was probably nothing more than platonic friend kindness.
When Kurt awoke, he didn't even register the position he was it. It just felt so natural. But when he opened his eyes and actually saw his surroundings, his memories came flooding back and suddenly the natural feel was gone. But still he couldn't bring himself to move out of Blaine's steady embrace. They had fallen asleep on the couch together, something that shouldn't have happened.
Kurt glanced at the clock. It was almost seven, the kids would be up soon.
"Blaine. Blaine. Blaine!" Kurt said, shaking Blaine a bit.
Blaine slowly woke up. "Morning." He blinked a bit before shifting his body and realizing Kurt was practically on top of him.
Blaine's eyes shot open and he sort of scooted away from Kurt.
"Uh...did we?" Blaine looked scared and his face was turning red.
"What? No, we just fell asleep" Kurt said, sitting up and smoothing out his shirt.
"Oh..." Blaine said.
"Don't sound disappointed" Kurt said with a smirk.
Blaine smiled. "Are the kids up?"
"Not yet" Kurt said. Suddenly he jumped a bit. "Oh, shoot, Mitchy has a dentist appointment today!" He jumped up and was about to run out of the room.
Blaine reached out and grabbed his hand, stopping him.
"Kurt...are you okay?" Blaine asked softly. They both knew he was talking about Kurt's horrific date the night before.
Kurt didn't pull his hand away and he let himself stare into Blaine's eyes. They were wide and kind and worried. They were just so...Blaine, and Kurt almost forgot to answer.
"I'll be fine" Kurt said with a single nod. Blaine let go of his hand.
Maddi came running into the room. In her hand, she had three pieces of construction paper.
"Hello, Princes" Blaine greeted her. "What do you have there?"
"They are cards to my party" Maddi said.
"Invitations?" Blaine asked. "Say it with me: in-vi-tay-shions."
"In-bi-tate-tons" Maddi said, not really focusing on it.
"Who are the invitations for?" Blaine asked.
"You! And Dad and Mitch" Maddi said.
"Really?" Blaine asked, smiling at the girl.
"Yup" Maddi said, thrusting one of the papers into his hand. It was scribbled on in crayon, as makeshift writing.
"I can't wait to come" Blaine said. "Err...when is it?"
"In five minutes" Maddi said. "Where's Mitch?"
"In the kitchen with Dad. But Dad's on the phone, so be quiet, okay?"
"Okay" Maddi said, already running off.
Five minutes later, the party, which ended up being a tea party with a plastic tea set and invisible tea, began. Blaine sat down on the floor, cross-legged. Mitch was in his lap. Maddi, wearing her best tutu, handed them each a teacup.
"There's nothing in here" Mitch said sadly, turning his cup upside down.
"Yes there is" Maddi said firmly.
"You have to use your imagination, buddy" Blaine said to Mitch. "You have
to just use your mind and think about it."
Mitch stared at the cup.
"Maddi, the is delicious" Blaine said, taking a sip and making loud slurping sounds that made Mitch laugh.
"Thanks" Maddi beamed. She sat down across from Blaine. In the middle was a matching teapot and four little matching plates.
"So are you gonna teach us the proper way to hold the cup?" Blaine asked.
Maddi stared at him with her wide eyes.
Blaine held his teacup with his pinky sticking out.
"All the elegant people drink tea with pinkies out" Blaine said in a British accent.
Maddi and Mitch roared with laughter.
At that moment, Kurt came into the room.
"Sorry I'm late, I was on the phone with Aunty Mercedes" he said with a smile. On the floor, faces red from laughing, were his kids. Blaine sat with them, laughing too, but mostly looking so proud to have made them laugh so much. That was a moment that Kurt just couldn't let slip away. He pulled out his phone and put it on camera mode.
"Guys, look over here" he said to them. They all turned and look at him.
"What's the word?" Mitch asked. They had this thing where whenever they take a picture, Kurt would give them a silly word to say like 'watermelon' or 'honeybee' or 'apple sauce'.
"Say...family" Kurt said.
"Family!" Maddi and Mitch shouted, grinning widely at the camera.
"...Family" Blaine said slowly as if he just learned a new word. He stared at the small camera lens long enough for the picture to be taken, but then he looked up so his eyes met Kurt's. Kurt smiled at him warmly before sitting down.
"Is this my cup?" Kurt asked, picking up a lone teacup.
"Yes" Maddi said.
Kurt took a sip of air. "Mmm, Maddi, this is so yummy, what is it?"
"Tea" Maddi said as if it was obvious.
"I assumed as much. What kind though? Honey, mint, orange, chamomile?"
"Iced?" Blaine offered with a giggle.
"Camomomomly" Maddi said.
"Chamomile?" Kurt asked.
Maddi nodded.
"Oh, good, that's my favourite" Kurt said. He took another sip.
"Maddi, what's wrong with Dad's hand?" Blaine asked.
"Finger!" Mitch yelled.
"He asked me!" Maddi frowned at him.
"Don't be mean, Maddi" Kurt said.
"You're right, though" Blaine said to the small boy in his lap. The boy was beaming.
"Your pinky has to be out" Maddi told Kurt, scooting over to fix it for him.
"Oh, my bad" Kurt said, taking another sip with his pinky stretched way out. "Better?"
"Perfect to a T" Blaine said, laughing. He tickled Mitch. "Get it? T? Because we're drinking tea?"
Kurt laughed. "That was clever."
Blaine smiled, staring into his eyes again. They seemed simply happy and bright. Those were the eyes that Blaine had fallen in love with so many years ago.
"What's for dinner?" Blaine asked, spinning in his desk chair as he balanced his phone between his ear and his shoulder.
"I dunno" Kurt said through the phone.
"So you haven't planned anything yet?" Blaine asked, stopping his chair before he got dizzy.
"No, why?" Kurt asked.
"I know it's your week, but how about I take care of it today?" Blaine offered.
"Hey, no complaints here" Kurt smiled into the phone.
"Great. See you later then" Blaine said.
"Cool. Bye, Blaine."
"Bye, Kurt."
Three hours later, the front door was thrown open and Blaine came bounding in.
"Oh! Blaine, you're home" Kurt said, strolling into the hall as Blaine came hurrying in.
"Yeah, hi" Blaine said. "Keep an ear open for knocks on the door."
"The door? Who are you expecting?" Kurt asked as Blaine rushed by to his room. They had made a rule that one of their dates never come to the door. But Blaine hadn't even mentioned that he had a date.
"Rachel!" Blaine answered loudly from behind the closed door.
"Rachel? Why?" Kurt asked, mostly to himself, as he walked away. He smelled something odd and walking into the kitchen, he found the source of the smell. Sitting on the kitchen table were three bags of McDonalds.
"Oh, gross" Kurt frowned. "I would have never let him take dinner if I knew he was going to do this" he said out loud although no one was there to hear.
He heard dress shoes walking towards the kitchen.
"Blaine, why is Rachel coming?" Kurt asked, his back to he kitchen's entrance.
"I asked her to babysit. The McDonalds is for the kids."
"What? Why?" Kurt asked, turning around to face Blaine. Blaine came into the kitchen wearing a burgundy cardigan with a beige bowtie to match his pants. This was dressed up for Blaine and Kurt was almost shocked at how attractive he looked, but he didn't dare say anything. His blushing probably gave it away, anyways. "Wait...are you going on a date?"
"I am...Kurt?"
"What?"
"Will you be my date?"
Kurt's eyes widened and his heart started gently pounding. "Yes."
A/N
Okay let me explain: a few weeks ago, I was watching Toddlers And Tiaras (it's my guilty pleasure!) and one of the little girls had this weird family. Her parents were split but didn't tell her or her brother. At first I thought it was weird. But then I thought about it and I thought it was kinda neat. They were doing it for a good reason. And from that came what you just read...I'm sorry, it's weird, I know. :S
I hope you liked it!
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