"BLAAAAAINE!"

Blaine's eyes go wide, and he just about manages to catch the blur that is Danny Hummel in his arms as he charges down the hallway.

"Oh my God, I am so sorry," Kurt says quickly, as he closes the door, but Blaine is hugging the life out of the little boy, his eyes screwed shut in happiness.

"I missed you," Danny says over his shoulder.

"Hmm, I missed you too. How have you been?"

"Good! Guess what? On Thanksgiving, Daddy eated so much food that he was sick."

"Oh really?" Blaine turns to look at Kurt, who is suddenly interested in the floor. "He didn't tell me that."

"No, cause it was after we speaked on the phone," Danny says offhand, and then he points down the hallway. "Take me to grandpa."

"Danny! Don't order Blaine around like that."

"Please," he adds, and Blaine laughs and carries him down the hall.

"Hi Blaine."

"Burt."

"Good Thanksgiving?"

"Very, thank you. I went to visit my brother in Denver. My youngest niece started to walk while I was there, so that was pretty cool."

"What's a meece?"

Blaine sits on a stool by the counter, and pulls Danny onto his lap. "Niece," he corrects gently. "My brother's little girl. He has two. Wanna see?"

"Yes I do."

Blaine pulls out his phone, and Kurt's insides do a funny little flip when he sees his lock screen is a selfie of the three of them at the zoo. "I like that."

"I'll send it to you," Blaine says. He gives the phone to Danny, who is entirely competent in scrolling through photos, and with one hand holding the little boy, he reaches out with the other, pulling Kurt close.

Burt carries on cooking, pretending like he hasn't noticed Blaine's arm around his son's waist, but secretly, he is nearly as thrilled as Kurt is about the whole thing.

"Hey Danny? Think you can come help me here? Maybe Daddy and Blaine could make sure the dining room is all set."

"Yep." He hops down and goes over, and Kurt tugs Blaine into the next room with him.

"Because that wasn't a set up at all," Kurt laughs, but he is also very grateful, and drapes his arms over Blaine's shoulders. "You're so irresistible."

"So are you, but they're just next door, and..."

He is cut of by Kurt's lips moving over his, slowly, sensuously, and then his tongue, tasting, seeking more, and Blaine gladly gives it to him, pulling him close, his hands splayed firmly over his back.

"Danny has the mashed potatoes!" Burt booms, guessing they will need prior warning, and they pull apart, both blushing, and with Blaine unable to look anyone in the eye for quite some time.

Dinner goes well. Yet again, Kurt is struck by the ease with which Blaine fits into his little family. He chats easily with his dad, teases Danny and laughs with him, and of course, looks across the table several times at Kurt, and gives the softest of smiles. He even helps load the dishwasher after dinner, which by Burt's standards, definitely means he's a keeper.

"Bath time, Danny," Kurt orders, and takes the boy by the hand, leading him up the stairs. It is then that Blaine becomes nervous, left sitting in the den alone with Burt.

"So," he starts, the second he hears the water running. "I'm sure you know what I'm about to say."

"Uh no, I don't," Blaine admits. "Maybe you want to grill me about my intentions with your son? I don't know."

"Well I'd like to," he says, laughing, "But you're both adults. It's more Danny I'm concerned about."

"Oh."

"I don't know how much Kurt's told you, but you know there was a bad breakup."

"He's told me all of it, actually," Blaine says quietly. "So I know what you're referring to."

"Okay. Good." Burt clears his throat, thinking over how much Blaine must really mean to Kurt already, for him to have opened up like that. "Well, it was awful for me, watching them go through that. Tell you the truth, I'm not sure Danny was ever that into Marcus, not like he is with you, but that's my worry. I've seen how upset and disturbed he was when Marcus left. He was unsettled when Trent left too, but he was a baby, and he doesn't remember. Still, I don't want him going through all that again, and the fallout will be harder still given how much he adores you."

"Um look, Burt. I uh... I talked this through with Kurt last night. So far Danny doesn't realize that I have any kind of romantic involvement with his dad at all, and we're both happy to keep it that way, until we're more sure of this ourselves. I've promised Kurt that I won't hurt Danny, and I mean to keep that promise, whatever the future holds. We've both been burned, we're both wary, so for now we've decided just to see how things go, and to enjoy spending time together."

"So you're not together, together?"

"We're seeing how things go," Blaine repeats. "Though I have no intentions of dating anyone else while Kurt is in the picture."

"Good."

He seems satisfied, and Blaine sits back, looking around the room and wishing Danny would hurry up in his bath.

"Why were you burned?"

"Excuse me?"

"You said you and Kurt were both burned. What happened?"

"Oh. Uh, my boyfriend had an affair, and subsequently a baby, with the woman across the hall."

"Ouch."

"Yeah."

"So how long were you with him?"

"Dad!" Kurt rushes in with a glare, and pulls Blaine to his feet. "I am so sorry. Dad, really! I am capable of deciding who I want to be involved with, I don't need you to interrogate them on my behalf."

"Whatever. Stuff needed to be said."

"You are such an embarrassment," he groans, then turns to Blaine. "Danny would like you to read to him? You don't have to."

"I don't mind," Blaine says meekly, and gratefully follows Kurt up the stairs.

"Did he give you the 'hurt my son and I'll hurt you' routine?"

"No, more like the 'ever hurt my grandson and I'll hunt you down and see that you'll never live another day' speech."

"Oh crap. Please ignore him. He likes to think he's tough."

"He is."

Kurt laughs, pushing open the door to Danny's room. "He's really not."

Danny giggles, and quickly dives under his duvet, and Blaine just has to smile at the shaking mound. "Oh no," he says loudly. "I came to read to Danny, but he disappeared."

"Where's he gone?" Kurt asks, making Danny giggle louder.

"Hmm I don't know. I guess I'll just have to sit down here and maybe go to sleep on this squishy pillow," Blaine says, falling onto the bed and resting his head on top of Danny.

"I'm here!" he screams delightedly. There is much flailing around under the covers, and then he emerges, his blond hair sticking up in all different directions, his blue eyes sparkling. "I was hiding and you didn't know!"

"I had no idea!" Blaine cries, pulling Danny into his arms and tickling his tummy. "You silly boy, you tricked me. Kurt, did you know Danny was hiding all along?"

"I'm as shocked as you are," Kurt declares, hiding his laughter. He climbs onto the bed behind Blaine, draping his arms over his shoulders, so he can reach down to tickle Danny too. Everything feels so right and so natural that he suddenly becomes overwhelmed, pulling back and going to take a book from the shelf instead.

"Come on. School tomorrow, remember?"

"School," Danny says, pulling a face. "Oh. But my teacher is nice."

Blaine laughs, takes the book from Kurt, and pats the bed next to him. "Come on, cuddle in."

"Actually, I'm just going to say goodnight and leave you to tuck Danny in, if that's okay." It's not a question, and he leans over, kissing Danny on the lips and hugging him tightly. "Love you, Danny. Sweet dreams."

"Love you too, daddy."

He is gone, and Blaine feels distinctly uneasy as he reads to Danny, and tries not to let his worry show. He tucks him under his duvet, and hugs him tight, dropping a little kiss into his hair. "Goodnight, little man. I'll see you at school, huh?"

"Yep. Night, Blaine."

Stepping out onto the landing, Blaine can see a door across the hall slightly ajar, and a low light coming from the room. Hoping this is Kurt's room, and he's not about to stumble across Burt, he knocks quietly, relieved when Kurt calls for him to come in.

He sits in the middle of his bed, having obviously been crying, and he looks up, offering a sad smile. "Sorry."

"What happened?" Blaine asks, confused. He walks over to sit on the edge of the bed, taking Kurt's hand in his. "I thought we were having fun, and then you kinda went all weird on me."

"We were. I don't know. Maybe it is this easy. Maybe all I have to do is let you in, I don't know, but it's so easy that it scares me."

"I think it could be that easy, if you'll let it."

"I want to, and I am trying."

"Is it Danny?" Blaine asks gently. "I'm not trying to take over, Kurt, or be a father to him. I just like spending time with him, that's all."

"I think that's my hang up," he admits, wiping at his eyes. "Not that you're taking over, it's not that at all. It's more like I can't believe that you like me, and my dad, and Danny too, you know? Like, I had Marcus but he didn't like Danny. Trent and my dad hated each other, and I look at you, and I have a hard time reconciling the fact that I can date someone who actually likes my family, not because they feel like they have to tolerate them, but because they genuinely enjoy spending time with them. And now that I've said all that out loud, it sounds really dumb."

"It doesn't sound dumb, not at all. Can I hold you? Just a little bit?"

"You can do whatever you want to me," Kurt mutters, shifting over for Blaine to sit on the bed.

Blaine settles back against the headboard, more than a little surprised when Kurt straddles him instead of cuddling next to him like he'd thought.

"I'm sorry," Kurt whispers, pressing their foreheads together. "I'm a dumbass."

"Actually, you have a really, really, really nice ass," Blaine says, smiling up at him. "Please don't worry, Kurt. I'm not going anywhere." His hands come to settle on Kurt's waist, and he cuddles momentarily against his chest.

Surprised, Kurt lets his fingers run into his hair, something he has been wanting to do ever since the first day they met. Although slightly sticky with gel, it feels good, and even better is the way in which Blaine sighs happily and tilts his head up, his eyes closed, seeking Kurt's lips.

Kurt holds his face in his hands, directing the kiss. He can't help but moan at the subconscious way in which Blaine thrusts up under him, his hands sliding up until they're under Kurt's sweater, and his thumbs can rub gently just along the top of his waistband. He grinds down in response, and suddenly it's like a dam breaks for both of them.

Kurt pulls his sweater quickly over his head, throwing it into the corner of the room, before attaching his lips back to Blaine's once more. He lets Blaine's hands explore, while he starts on his bow tie and then the buttons of his shirt, finally spreading it wide and tugging it from his shoulders.

The kiss breaks a moment, and they pull back, panting hard. Kurt's eyes travel downward, raking over Blaine's chest. He had no idea he would have a trail of dark hair over his chest, that then ran into a line down his stomach and beyond, but it is hot, and Kurt knows he needs to follow that line with his tongue.

Blaine is also staring, wondering how in the hell he hadn't realized that Kurt would be so well defined, so smooth, so sculpted and utterly flawless under his clothes.

"Perfect," he declares, and then flips them so Kurt is lying under him, crashing their lips together fiercely.

Kurt's leg comes up, wrapping around his waist, and he lets out what Blaine thinks is the best stuttered moan he's ever heard, when he kisses into the hollow of his throat. He moves down, kissing his way over to one nipple, which he teases with his tongue. Looking up, he catches Kurt watching him, his cheeks flushed, his eyes dark, and his hair askew, and he can't help but smile, before sucking a hickey just above his other nipple, making Kurt whine.

"I need your head to move lower," Kurt gasps, and he's happy when Blaine's hands set to work on his very intricate belt.

"Seriously, Kurt, what the hell?"

"It's just... you kinda... and then..."

"Boys? Either of you two want coffee? Blaine? You want a beer?"

"Oh fuck off," Kurt whispers, falling back against the pillow, but to his dad he calls: "We're good, thanks. Down in a minute!"

"Well that's kind of a mood killer."

"Isn't it?" Kurt throws a despairing hand over his eyes, not wanting to look at Blaine right now. "It's supposed to be having a kid that ruins your sex life, not having a father. I'm past all that now."

Blaine lies next to him, happy to let his fingers trail gently over Kurt's chest. "I don't think he realized."

"Oh I think he knew exactly what we were doing," Kurt grumbles.

"You have the most beautiful body," Blaine says softly. "Just so you know."

"Shut up," Kurt teases, masking his thrill at Blaine's words. "You like Mexicans."

"Haha! Well, maybe I don't anymore. Maybe you're my newfound 'thing'."

They kiss again, but it is chaste and lazy. "Think you could escape for another adult date soon?" Blaine asks, his voice low. "One night this week?"

"Friday?"

"That works. Come to my place. We can order in, watch a movie or something."

"That is totally a euphemism for getting laid."

Blaine opens his mouth to deny it, but gives a breathy laugh instead. "I wish I could deny that statement, but you have a point."

They head down to the den for Blaine to say his goodbyes, and then he's out on the porch, pulling a shivering Kurt into his arms. "I'll see you Friday, though that seems like so long to wait."

"Blame my crappy shifts," Kurt says with a sigh. "I could call you?"

"I'd love that. Well, goodnight, Kurt." They kiss softly, then head their separate ways, but both lie in their respective beds, grinning at the ceiling until the early hours.

As soon as Danny is in bed on Friday night, Kurt takes off, driving quickly across town, and grinning to himself when he pulls into the parking spot next to Blaine's car. He takes the stairs two at a time, arriving out of breath with exhilaration.

He really does appreciate that Blaine has still dressed up for their date, even though he's not leaving his apartment, but what he appreciates more is the feeling of being in his arms once more, and his lips on his.

They kiss softly, and then fall into a hug, and Kurt is thrilled at the way in which he can feel Blaine totally relaxing. "Have you had a tough week?"

"Hmm, yes, but nothing you need to worry about. So..."

"Blaine!"

"Yes?"

"Tell me. I wanna hear. You didn't say anything when we talked on Wednesday."

"No, no, it's pathetic stuff, really. How's Danny?"

"You'd know better than me. I feel like I've hardly seen him all week."

"You should quit Target, get a better job."

Kurt is immediately on guard, pulling out of his arms, and breaking away to go sit on the couch. "I'm just grateful to have a job, Target or not. They're not so bad, really, in fact they're good employers. It's just mind numbing when you've spent all those years training to do something specific."

"That's what I mean, you should get back into teaching."

"That's not gonna happen."

Blaine sits next to him, reaching for his hand, and annoyed when Kurt snatches it back. "Why not? Ohio University has a really good theatre program."

"Yeah, and if they had any openings, which is unlikely, they'd contact NYU for a reference, and bam, no interview for me. Now just drop it. Tell me about your week."

"No."

"Well this is going great, isn't it?"

"You started it."

"I did not! Look, Blaine, I appreciate that you're trying to help, really, but right now my priority is earning a decent paycheck, so I can support Danny and save for our future."

"And you're earning a good paycheck at Target, right? They're probably not even paying you a third of what you were getting at NYU."

"Okay. I'm going home," Kurt snaps, getting to his feet. "This is none of your business Blaine, so stay out of it."

"No, come on, Kurt. Hey!" He runs out into the hallway, stopping his hand on the door. "Please. I'm sorry. I was just trying to give you a little push, because all that you told me? It made me feel so sad. I hate that you've been forced out of a career that you loved, because you're worth so much more than that. What I do admire, though, is that you haven't given up. You could've sunk, but you chose to swim, because of Danny, and that's amazing. So I'm sorry. Please don't walk out on me."

Kurt looks down, giving a small, reluctant nod, before he looks up again. "Only if you promise to tell me about your week."

"But it's..."

"It's not pathetic, or nothing to worry about. Not to me. Please? You're really important to me, Blaine. You don't have to be this strong knight in shining armor all the time. If you've had a crappy week, whatever the reason, just tell me, please."

"Okay, but kiss me first."

Kurt obliges, one hand on the back of Blaine's neck, drawing him close. It is not so chaste this time, building until their tongues touch, and then passion clouds them once more. They only pull apart when Blaine collides with the hall table, and he gives an embarrassed little laugh into Kurt's neck.

"Uh….okay. Tell me what you want to eat."

Kurt looks down at their bodies pressed together, and back up, raising one eyebrow. "What kind of question is that?"

"A perfectly innocent one! Jeez! Come on."

Laughing, he tugs Kurt through to the kitchen, handing him a bunch of takeout menus, their momentary argument forgotten.

"So, I wanted to organize a bake sale," Blaine tells Kurt over Chinese. "Not really for any other reason than to make you smile."

"That's- that's adorable."

"Hmm, well, I wasn't going to say anything, just send the letter home and wait for you to call. Anyway, I asked the principal, and she said it's a little too gay."

Kurt stops, his chopsticks halfway to his mouth. "She said what now?"

"The worst part of it, was that she said it perfectly nicely. I honestly don't think she meant it unkindly. I mean, I've been there, done that, you know, hearing all the insults, the slurs and stuff, and honestly? She is always really nice to me. It's just that she said it."

"Does she know you're gay?"

"Yes she knows, I told her when I came to look around the school. She said it didn't bother her, but she advised me not to mention it in my interview. She also said, after I had accepted the job, that she didn't want me to mention it in class without her prior consent, which I understand."

"I understand too, given the area that we're in, but what pisses me off, is that if you were straight, with a wife, she wouldn't need to ask you not to mention that."

"I know, but it's the way of the world," Blaine says evenly.

"The world needs to change."

"I agree, but it is what it is. Even so, Sandra Barnes has been nothing but kind and supportive to me so far, so this shocked me."

"What did you say?"

"I asked her to clarify, and she said there's a lot of talk among parents about whether or not I'm single, since I never discuss my private life. Aparently there's a Kindergarten parents facebook group. She somehow knows what's posted there, and I am a subject of discussion quite a lot."

"There is? Hmm. Well, let's take a look." Kurt pulls his phone out, quickly finds the group, and sends a request to join. "Looks like a Maggie Stevens runs it?"

"Jacob's mom, yeah, that would figure."

"Danny likes him."

"He's a nice kid. It's just his mom is a bit insufferable."

"She probably has a crush on you. Let's face it, Blaine, to all these bored, sexually repressed, middle aged housewives, having you teaching their kids is a wet dream come true."

"Kurt! There are so many insults in that I don't even know where to begin! They're not all like that, and you're certainly not."

"True, and you're right, they're not all like that. But I'll bet some of them are at home right now, creaming their panties, thinking of you doing things to them."

"You are... that is vulgar!"

Blaine still can't help but laugh, in shocked disbelief.

"Doesn't matter," Kurt says lightly, straddling Blaine and picking up the carton of chow mein. "Because you're taken."

"I am?"

"Would you like to be taken?"

"By you? Oh God yes."

"Now who's being vulgar?"

"I'm sorry." Blaine stops laughing, but keeps his smile, completely elated at Kurt's words. "This is a thing then? Us? This is an exclusive thing?"

"I'd like it to be, would you?"

"Very much so."

"Good." Kurt leans down, kissing Blaine's lips lightly. "Now continue telling me what happened."

It really is as easy as all that, they both think to themselves. It's as easy as agreeing they want to be together, and then moving on.

"She suggested I try for something else, despite me pointing out that there are a huge number of famous chefs on TV who are straight. That pisses me off, that she thinks that me organizing a bake sale will alert people to the fact I might be gay, but also? What message does it send out to the kids? Hey, boys, don't ever have a love for cooking or baking, it might make you seem like less of a man. Girls, get back in the kitchen. It's so wrong."

"You know what I would do?"

"I probably don't wanna know."

"Shut it, Anderson. I'd go back to her, and say you've been thinking of other ideas, but you've decided to put it to a class vote. Say you'd like to do something holiday themed, then think of the most fabulously gay options you can. Ask the kids if they want to do a bake sale, a craft fair, or, I don't know, a dance-a-thon or something. See which one wins."

"I really couldn't hold a dance-a-thon," Blaine says fearfully. "That's not my area of expertise. I just make good brownies."

"If that option wins, I'll help you out," Kurt declares. "In fact, I'll help you out with whatever the kids decide on. I make killer cookies too, you know, and I don't mind doing some kind of craft with Danny for him to sell."

"You would?"

"Sure?"

"Thank you."

"As for the principal? You're right, it doesn't sound like she meant any malice, and the fact that she knew you were gay prior to your interview and still hired you gives me hope, but you need to tell her how her comments made you feel, otherwise she will keep making unintentional slip ups."

"Yeah, you're right, I guess. It's just a pain in the ass."

"Did you have any trouble at any of your other schools?"

"A little. At my first one, I was seen in a bar by a parent. I was holding hands with Tom, and she complained to the school. They told me to keep my private life private."

"That is private! You weren't in school. You weren't even in an establishment for children!"

"I know. I left soon after. At my second school, I decided not to say anything, but it was similar to Parkside, I was talked about a lot. A single man in his twenties wanting to teach Kindergarten? People assume the worst."

"People suck," Kurt decides. He sets his carton on the coffee table, and turns back to Blaine, playing with his hair. "Do you feel better after sharing?"

"Yes," Blaine says meekly. He suddenly grins, grabbing Kurt around the waist, and sliding down the couch with him on top. "I have a boyfriend," he says happily. "And his name is Kurt."

"Yeah you do," Kurt says with a smile, and he leans in, kissing him slowly. "And, Blaine Anderson, I'd like my boyfriend to take me to bed, please."