"So, how was your first day at Dad's shop?"

It was the second week of summer break, and the weather had turned; the sky was grey and despite the heath it had been drizzling all day. Kurt was reading a magazine when Finn walked into the living room and collapsed on the sofa.

"Fine, I guess, but I'm so tired! And there was this annoying customer who kept asking for things we don't sell and –" He was interrupted by the bell.

"I'll go, poor little stepbrother" Kurt smiled while getting up from his seat.

"I'm not too sure about 'little', but thanks man" Finn replied with a grin. Kurt shot a quick look at himself in the hallway mirror before opening the door to find Blaine.

"Blaine! I wasn't expecting you! Come in, quick, you're all wet!" The drizzle had turned into real rain now, and Blaine was indeed soaked. Kurt couldn't help appreciating what it had done to his boyfriends looks; the water seemed to have got rid of some of the ridiculous amount of gel Blaine put into his hair, and he looked amazing.

"Sorry for getting your floor wet - do you happen to have a towel or something?"

"I'll get you some dry clothes. You're leaving on holiday tomorrow, I can't let you catch a cold. Come on up." Kurt was halfway up the stairs when he noticed Blaine wasn't following him.

"When I said 'come on up', I sort of meant you had to follow me up the stairs."

"I know, I'm just - are you - I don't know, Kurt. Are your parents home? Won't they mind if we're in your bedroom together?"

"Unless your intentions are different from mine, I don't see how they could possibly object." Kurt rolled his eyes when he noticed Blaine still wasn't convinced.

"And no, they're not even at home so nobody will know." That seemed to do the trick. Kurt was not nervous about being in his bedroom with Blaine; they had slept together in his bed before, so what was the big deal about letting Blaine change into dry clothes? He had promised his dad he would ask permission before letting Blaine stay over again, but he was pretty sure it was fine for them to be iin the same room together without consulting him first.

"Get out of those wet things and put them in the basket in the corner, I'll wash them for you. Now let's see..." Kurt opened up his wardrobe and looked for something Blaine could wear. He knew he was a bit broader than himself and that this wasn't the moment for fashion statements, so he went for a simple t-shirt and a sweatpants he slept in sometimes, both if which should certainly fit.

When he turned around to show Blaine what he got for him he was taken by surprise; Blaine was wearing nothing but his boxers, and was drying his hair with the towel Kurt had thrown him when they walked in. Kurt realised this was the first time he had seen his boyfriend wear hardly any clothes, but he didn't really mind the view. Blaine clearly worked out a lot; he could definitely see some abs... And he was pretty tanned too. Just when he noticed the amount of chest hair Blaine looked up and smiled.

"So, what have you got for me then?"

"Oh, erm – well" Kurt desperately hoped he wasn't blushing, even though he felt decidedly warmer than he had a few minutes before.

"Just something simple, try it on." He turned around again - he could tell from the way Blaine grinned at him that he had indeed been blushing. By the time he finished putting his clothes back in order Blaine was dressed. Kurt couldn't help giggling when he noticed the sweatpants was too long for Blaine.

"Hey, what are you laughing at?"

"Nothing, shortie, you look amazing." Blaine gasped in fake surprise and shock before tackling Kurt and throwing him onto the bed.

"Take it back!" he shouted before he began tickling Kurt's sides. Kurt gasped and started screaming - he was incredibly ticklish.

"Please stop, don't! I didn't mean it, I promise, stop it, AAAAH!" Just when Blaine decided to show mercy Finn came bursting into the room.

"Kurt, are you okay, I heard you - oh." Finn got red and started backing out of the room as soon as he noticed who was attacking his brother. Blaine immediately got up from the bed and smiled at Finn.

"Sorry, it was just a tickle fight - he deserved it."

"Thank you for wanting to rescue me Finn, that's sweet." Kurt couldn't help grinning when he noticed how uncomfortable Finn looked, but decided to explain anyway.

"Blaine just got here and he needed some dry clothes."

"No no, it's fine, I shouldn't have - I just thought that –"

"I understand, that's why I said thanks for trying to rescue me," Kurt patted Finn on the shoulder. "I can deal with this Hobbit myself though." Blaine frowned when the two bigger boys laughed just a little too loudly at that new nickname.

When they were all downstairs Finn asked Kurt about his day.

"Fine, nothing special," Kurt replied while picking up the magazine he had put down to open the door.

"Weren't you going to look for a job today?" Blaine asked while sitting down next to him.

"I did, and I found one. I start next week."

"That's great dude!" Finn replied. "What is it?"

"Just at a clothing store."

"Sounds like just the thing for you" Blaine smiled. "Which shop?"

Kurt did not immediately reply - this was not going to be pleasant, but he realised Blaine would have to find out eventually.

"The Gap." Kurt kept his eyes on his magazine, trying to avoid having to look at Blaine, who was silent.

"I like the Gap," Finn said, not noticing the uncomfortable silence between his brother and his boyfriend. "Congrats bro!"

Kurt smiled at Finn before shooting a quick glance at Blaine, who had turned incredibly red.

"You okay man?" Finn was looking worriedly at Blaine. Kurt sighed - why couldn't Finn be a bit more tactful at times? Or realise when it was time to call Rachel or hang out with Puck - or whatever would get him out of the room?

"Yeah, I'm fine, sure!" Blaine quickly replied, but it was obvious he was not. Finn was about to say something again when they heard the door slam and Carole's voice announcing "I'm home!"

"Finn, why don't you go help Carole carry in the groceries?" Kurt asked, hoping that would be obvious enough.

"But I'm tired man, why can't you –" Kurt was shooting him such an obvious you-need-to-leave-right-now look that even Finn got the hint.

"Yeah, I'll go help, I'm – yeah." Kurt didn't immediately look at Blaine when Finn walked out, but when he did he noticed he had composed himself a bit.

Kurt sighed before he spoke. "I know that what happened was embarrassing for you, but he got fired, right?"

However, he could tell from the look on Blaine's face that this was more than just embarrassment. "What's wrong? Tell me."

"I know he got fired then, but he got the job back. His boss was shocked, but then he realised it was my fault, not Jeremiah's, and he gave him back his position."

"Oh." That was news. "Well, it doesn't matter - I'm sure he doesn't remember me, so why should it be a problem?" But as soon as he finished saying that, Kurt realised something wasn't quite right. "Wait a second - how do you know this?"

"I – I" Blaine was turning red again. This was not going to be a good.

"You - you?" Kurt knew Blaine was hiding something and couldn't help being sharp.

"We went for coffee a few weeks ago. Just to chat. That's when he told me." Kurt couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"And you didn't tell me about this earlier because...?"

"Because I know it would make you upset, and –"

"So I should be upset?"

"No, not at all, but I thought you would be, so I decided not to mention it. It wasn't a big deal, we just talked."

"If it wasn't a big deal, then why didn't you tell me earlier? This is the guy you were in love with, Blaine. And the fact that you've been hiding it for god knows how long makes it sound like it is a pretty big deal."

Kurt got up and started pacing the room - he was too anxious and angry to just sit there now. Blaine looked up at him with an apologetic look on his face.

"I know, I really should have told you before I went, but I didn't and then it felt weird to mention it afterwards. But I'm sorry, I know I made a mistake." Kurt had a reply ready, but Blaine's sincere apology made it impossible for him to rant now. He looked genuinely sad. Kurt wanted to say something else, let him know that this was a big deal no matter how good with words Blaine was, but - he looked Blaine in the eyes and could see he really was sorry.

"Damn you and your puppy eyes, Blaine Anderson" he sighed when he sunk back in the sofa next to Blaine. Blaine smiled, took Kurt's hand in his and leaned a little closer.

"I'm so sorry Kurt. I just didn't want to hurt you by reminding you of the whole thing. We were out of the Lima Bean ten minutes after arriving." Kurt looked at Blaine and softly squeezed his hand.

"It's fine, I know I can trust you. I just - let's just say that you singing in that Gap for another guy isn't exactly my fondest memory."

"I know. I don't think I ever made a bigger fool of myself."

"I sincerely hope you didn't. It was bad enough." Blaine smiled and leaned in to press a small kiss to Kurt's temple.

Blaine nuzzled his face to Kurt's, and softly whispered "Are we okay?" into his ear.

Kurt smiled, turned his head towards Blaine's and kissed him before he replied. A long, sweet, reassuring kiss that made his words unnecessary.

"We're always okay."