Kurt stood up from yet again re-adjusting the layers of an actresses skirt and stretched his hands up into the air, listening to his vertebrae crack. It had been a long week, one which he and Blaine had spent having to beg off TV watching nights in turn. Kurt had to finish up this set of costumes. Blaine had to get his classroom ready for Open House then actually hold the damn thing. But tonight? It was Friday. Blaine had arranged to have Miriam watch Julian. A date had been mentioned, with the distinct possibility of it turning into a picnic on Kurt's bed post 'tension relieving' activities.

Kurt would be lying if he said that he wasn't looking forward to those possibilities. He'd been content to wait until they were both ready. But now that they were ready? He was so looking forward to the thought of getting his boyfriend into bed with him for more than just cuddling.

Work wasn't going to let that happen easily though. Technical difficulties that morning had led to them being horribly behind schedule. As the low man on the wardrobe department totem pole, Kurt had been voted to stay and work until they finished shooting.

"I was just talking to the director. He said that we're pushing through tonight." Tina appeared beside him to impart that news with a scowl. "They want to make some lighting and backdrop changes after they shoot the next scene, so we're getting an hour or so off. Chipotle with me?"

"I was supposed to have a date with Blaine." Kurt let himself whine for just moment before he nodded. "Chipotle sounds good. I should text Blaine with the news."

"Invite him along? I know it's not the date you were planning, but he'd be welcome to crash our quick dinner before we shoot until two." Tina suggested.

Kurt nodded, flashing his friend a smile as he tried to hide his disappointment. He fished his phone out of his pocket.

Bad news. We're shooting until late. I'm going to have to cancel on the date. :(

Blaine must have had his phone nearby because it only took a few seconds before he replied.

Aw. Well, I'll stop getting Julian ready to go to Miriam's then.

Another time? Tina and I are going to the Chipotle near the studio in about 25-30 min. Want to come with?

I'll get Julian's stuff together for that instead. See you there.


Blaine was already seated with a burrito in front of him and Julian settled in a high chair by the time Kurt and Tina arrived 45 minutes later. Kurt leaned in to press a kiss to Blaine's cheek and then to the top of Julian's head when the baby started babbling excitedly at seeing him. "Sorry we're late. That last scene took more takes than I thought it ever would."

"James can't remember his lines for the life of him today." Tina grumbled leaning in to ruffle Julian's hair. "And we still have another four scenes on the scheduled. Thank goodness for a dinner break."

"You're fine. I have nothing better to do tonight. My plans canceled on me." Blaine said with a smile on his face to take the sting out of those words.

Kurt just wrinkled his nose at his boyfriend before he and Tina took a quick trip through the food line. Tina had taken the time to change out of the many layers of her period costume, but her makeup was still on, with her hair pulled into a complicated updo.

"We're going to have to allow time at the end of this for touch ups as well as for that bear from the wardrobe department to help you back into that getup." Kurt noted as he settled into the chair on the other side of Blaine from Julian at the round table.

"I know. He can be so demanding about getting his costumes just right." Tina joked right back, taking the last spot at the table.

"Your Uncle Kurt and Aunt Tina think they're so funny." Blaine leaned closer to the baby to stage whisper.

"Hilarious." Kurt agreed.

A pair of college students wearing the logo of a midwestern college approached their table with shy faces. Blaine just grinned leaning closer to Kurt to really whisper. "Watch this. Let's see if Tina gets a big head."

That was indeed who they were coming over to talk to, apologizing for interrupting, but asking if they could take a picture with Tina.

She obliged good naturedly, chatting with them for a moment about her show and signing their napkins before the two starstruck teens left.

Blaine and Kurt sat quietly letting their bemused expressions speak for themselves. "Oh shut up." Tina said after the pair of young women were too far away to hear. "I have to be good to my fans. I mean, it's crazy enough that I have fans."

"We didn't say anything." Kurt pointed out, poking his fork down into his taco salad.

"Tina, can I have your autograph?" Blaine begged with faked puppy dog eyes.

"See? See what I have to put up with? It was a pre-emptive shut up. He does this every time." Tina stuck her tongue out at Blaine, which got a loud laugh out of Julian.

"You can't blame me tonight. I had all my fun ruined by your show." Blaine whined before he shook his head as Julian stuck his own tongue out of his mouth, lolling it around. "Teaching him bad habits already."

"Oh. So it was that kind of date?" Tina reached out to nudge a suddenly bright red Kurt with her elbow.

"At least you're more gracious about it than Rachel." Kurt said, in an attempt to change the subject. He had no doubt that the topic of his sex life would come back up later, but it was a better topic for Tina's dressing room than this restaurant. "I swear she's more excited about it than her fans are."

"That sounds completely like Rachel." Tina said with a bemused grin, and then a little smirk to let Kurt know he was right about that. "Ooh. How about we start a little rumor?"

"What kind?" Blaine asked cautiously.

"The fun kind?" Tina joked, pulling out her phone. "I promised my publicist I'd tweet today. I apparently have been behind on it, and I'd rather not hand over control of my account. How about a picture of all of us? It would at least give Tumblr something to talk about, the whole five fans I have on there at least."

"Or of you holding the baby. That could start a different sort of rumor." Kurt joked.

"Or both! I bet we could get one of those college girls to snap one for us." Tina mused, pulling Julian up out of his high chair to sit on her lap. The baby immediately reached out to grab her fork. Tina pushed her plate back, grabbing a plastic spoon to pass to Julian to chew on instead.

"You get to go ask one of them." Kurt directed towards Blaine with a look that said this whole thing was completely silly. "I'll take this picture." He grabbed Tina's phone to snap a picture as Blaine followed directions with a role of the eyes.

Tina took her phone back to check out the picture of her with a content baby in her lap, after all, chewing on a spoon was a pretty cool pastime. "Perfect. Now a caption. Ooh: 'Can I keep him?' and I'll tag Mike."

"You might have to fight Blaine for that right." Kurt joked as the other man re-appeared with not one but both of the young women.

"Thank you much for doing this for us." Tina told them graciously, passing the baby to Blaine for the picture. Kurt sandwiched himself between them, all leaning together for the teenager to take a couple of shots.

When they got the phone back, after a few more words of thanks to the girls, who were likely off to tweet about the experience themselves, Blaine and Kurt peered over Tina's shoulder to check them out.

"Oh, you need to use that one." Kurt said with a laugh. In the second shot, Julian had dropped the spoon, intent on reaching out for something even more entertaining. The picture caught him with hand outstretched towards Tina's hair and an intent look on his face, while none of the adults seemed to notice, busy smiling for the camera.

Tina laughed even more. "Alright, alright. That one it is. We'll keep this simple: 'Dinner with some of my favorite men before a late night of shooting.'"

"Trying to start cheating rumors?" Blaine teased. "That might work better if you at least chose straight guys."

Tina laughed as she glanced at her phone. "Oh. Mike replied. He must be between classes." She tilted the screen so that the guys could see what he'd written: 'I think Blaine might have something to say about that.'

Blaine grabbed his own phone with a laugh, quickly adding something in return. "There." He tilted the screen toward Kurt. 'Keep? No, but we might be able to work out a short term rental agreement.'

"Wouldn't that be called babysitting?" Kurt piped up with amusement before he shook his head at Julian. "Poor kid, surrounded by all these crazy people, aren't you?"


The next week passed quickly. Blaine had stopped by Kurt's place with Julian after work on Tuesday so they could cook dinner together. Kurt had stopped by Blaine's on Thursday to catch up on bad reality TV while Blaine graded papers. Constant texts were exchanged (whenever Blaine didn't actually have 35 fourth graders dependent on him). Another attempt at a picnic in bed was scheduled for Saturday. It was all planned out. Kurt would stop by so that they could prep fingerfood together, in Blaine's kitchen this time. They'd nibble together all night, then retire for more interesting activities as soon as Julian was asleep.

It was a good plan, much as the one the weekend before had been.

Kurt knew this one was going to work just about as well when Blaine opened the door to let him in. His boyfriend's hair was left in loose curls, but they were sticking up at crazy angles from his head. He had a whimpering Julian held on his hip and his phone tucked in between his ear and his shoulder.

Blaine grabbed the phone as soon as he let go of the door, leaning in to press a quick kiss to Kurt's lips before he replied to whoever he was talking to on the phone. "It was 103 when I took it." Blaine paused to wait for a reply, stepping back to let Kurt walk in. "It's one of the kind that you stick in his little ear?"

Kurt half listened as he headed toward the kitchen, dropping a re-usable grocery bag on the kitchen table, and starting to unpack.

"Let me write down that address. They'd be open even on Saturday night?" Blaine followed Kurt into the kitchen grabbing a magnetic notepad off the fridge, jotting an address down below his grocery list. "Thanks, Miriam. I don't know what I'd do without you." Blaine listened a moment longer before he disconnected, setting the phone down on the calendar. "Julian's sick." He replied to the curious look from Kurt.

"Not just teething?" Kurt asked, giving the baby a wary look. A sick infant seemed like a good candidate for projectile vomiting.

"I don't think so. He's been just generally off today. Fussy. Extra sleepy. Then he started throwing up this afternoon. I can't get him to keep anything down. He's got a fever." Blaine ran his hand up through his hair, illustrating the cause of his crazy curls.

"Aw, poor guy." Kurt reached out to run a hand over the baby's downy head. "You called Miriam for advice?"

Blaine nodded. "I didn't want to overreact like a crazy first time dad. At least I know now that Miriam would overreact just as much. She said she'd take Ella to the doctor if she'd done the same thing, especially at this age. Even gave me the name of a twilight pediatric office that's open on Saturday evenings. She's taken Ella there. I could trust them, right?"

Kurt moved closer to wrap his arms around Blaine and Julian. "Take a few deep breaths. Kids get sick. You'll take him in to the doctor, and he'll be just fine. I, on the hand, might perish from sexual tension."

"Mmmhmm. Something tells me you'll survive. And that I will, too." Blaine made a face over at Kurt before he rested his forehead on Kurt's shoulder, pulling away when Julian started to fuss again. "Shh. You're alright."

"Why don't you go get his diaper bag, and I'll put the food in the fridge. Do you want me to come along?" Kurt asked. "I could head home or stay here and watch your TV."

Blaine considered that for a moment. "Would I sound weak if I say that I want you to come with me?"

"When have I cared if you sound weak?" Kurt pointed out. "This isn't a competition to see who is more macho. Go get Julian ready. I'll store the food until we get back."


Kurt cradled Julian to his chest, despite the possibility of baby barf getting on his clothes, while Blaine filled out insurance and health history paperwork and returned it to the counter. He passed the baby back, gathering up the rest of their things instead when they were called back a few minutes later.

He followed Blaine back into an exam room, sinking into a chair off to the side to fiddle with his phone while the nurse weighed the baby. Offering moral support without getting into the way was the goal of the night.

"Good evening." The doctor entered the room about five minutes after the nurse left. "I hear this little guy isn't feeling well?" The woman asked, walking over to Blaine to smile down at the baby.

Blaine shifted Julian in his arms so that the baby was facing the doctor instead of burrowing his head into Blaine's shoulder. Julian whimpered unhappily at this movement, blinking his blue eyes wearily. "Yeah. He's been pretty irritable all day. I thought it was just teething again, but then he started throwing up this afternoon, and he has a fever."

"Come lay him down on the table, let me take a look at him." The doctor glanced over his paperwork. "He's five months? He's quite a little guy."

Kurt tucked his phone away listening with a quick laugh. "He looks so much better than he did two months ago, that I forget he might still be small."

Blaine kept a hand rubbing over the wisps of Julian's hair after he laid the baby down, since Julian had objected to the loss of arms holding him with renewed fussing. "You're okay, little guy." He whispered down soothingly before he spoke up to the doctor. "Kurt's right. I, um, when I took custody of him two months ago, he was super tiny for his age, and he was refluxing up most of his formula. That's one of the reasons I was worried, actually. He doesn't have extra weight to lose. He's on the growth charts now, but his regular pediatrician is still monitoring him closely."

The doctor nodded, stepping closer to peek into the baby's ears and down his throat. "No sign of an ear infection. It's probably just a stomach virus, but with a baby this young, I understand wanting to check it out. Let me check him over, and you two should be able to get your son back home in no time."

Kurt exchanged a quick 'she really thinks we're both his dads?' look with Blaine, but he didn't speak up. Two months ago, that insinuation would have panicked him. Today, it was met with just amusement, and the realization that he really wouldn't mind that. It just felt natural to want to step up and help Blaine raise Julian, even if he was still a little bit unsure of what the heck you were even supposed to do with a baby.


After bottles of Pedialyte and more doses of baby Tylenol, Julian made a full recovery from what the doctor diagnosed as simply a stomach virus. Blaine took Monday off to spend the day snuggling the baby, but by Tuesday, Julian was right back in daycare.

By Friday, Blaine was confident enough again to leave Julian in Miriam and Kelly's care. "I made sure there was a pacifier in his bag. And his favorite toy right now is that toy platypus Kurt got him. He likes to chew on the rubbery feet. And-"

"Blaine." Kelly cut him off, unstrapping Julian from his car seat to lift the baby up into her arms. "Miriam and I have done this all before. Breathe. It will be okay. I promise."

Blaine took a deep breath, as ordered, then just laughed. "I'm being neurotic again, aren't I?"

Miriam stepped up to wrap an arm around her friend's waist and give him a squeeze. "You are. Julian will have a great time here getting spoiled and playing with Ella. Go have fun with your boyfriend. Do you have big plans for the night? Ones worthy of that bowtie?"

Blaine rested his head over on his friend's shoulder for a moment, accepting the contact. "I made reservations at a French restaurant for us. Kurt and I haven't had a lot of date time lately. We've seen each other, talked and texted all the time, but every time we try to do something date-like, something gets in the way."

Kelly laughed at that. "Oh, believe me, we can sympathize with that. Welcome to parenthood."

Blaine grinned over to her at that and broke away from Miriam to plant a quick kiss on the top of Julian's head. "Then I'll have to return this favor and watch Ella for you sometime soon. Give you two a chance to go out."


Blaine knocked at the door of Kurt's apartment, a grocery store bouquet of carnations in his hands. The smile on his face slipped off as he got a look at his boyfriend when the door opened. "Kurt? Are you alright?"

Kurt ran a hand up through his raggedy hair as he nodded. The usually impeccably dressed man was currently wearing a pair of baggy sweatpants and a Hummel Tire and Lube t-shirt. "I'm fine. I just think Julian shared whatever that crap was that he had."

Blaine stepped into the apartment to reach up and feel Kurt's forehead with the back of his hand. "You're burning up. Have you taken anything yet?"

Kurt shook his head. "Fever is good for you. Kills off the bad shit."

"And it makes you miserable. Let's get you into bed, and I'll get you something." Blaine set the flowers onto the end table, wrapping his arm instead around Kurt's waist. "Are you keeping anything down?"

"Haven't tried. I threw up lunch, and Marjorie sent me home. Said she didn't need me puking on her costumes." Kurt sank in against his boyfriend's side, letting Blaine support him. "I don't want to get you sick."

"I'm not worried about that. Julian actually threw up on me, and I didn't get it. My immune system is pretty hardy. I'm a teacher, I get exposed to something everyday." Blaine exaggerated, tugging back the covers on Kurt's bed with a mental sigh. This was absolutely not how he'd pictured getting Kurt into a bed tonight. Was the universe really against him getting some?

Kurt snuggled under the blankets as Blaine tugged them up around him. "You don't have to take care of me. I'll be fine." He mumbled into the comforter.

"Of course I don't have to. But I want to. Besides, how many times have you taken care of me? Let me have this one chance to return the favor." Blaine sank down beside Kurt running his hand through the other man's sweat damp hair for a minute before he stood. "Let me get you some water and Tylenol. We need to keep you from getting dehydrated."

The only reply was a muffled affirmative sound from the bed so Blaine made his way off into the kitchen, familiar enough with it at this point to find a glass and fill it up from the filter pitcher in the fridge. He glanced over the contents. He'd make a trip to the grocery store when he got Kurt settled. He didn't imagine that fish or salad was going to be the best thing to feed Kurt tonight.

He paused at the doorway to Kurt's bedroom to smile softly down at the man inside. Kurt had drifted off to sleep during in the short time Blaine had been in the kitchen. He took a moment to watch his boyfriend doze then grabbed a piece of paper. He scrawled out a message to let him know where Blaine was going, just in case Kurt woke up while Blaine was still at the store.


Blaine paused in the aisles for a second and then added a jug of Gatorade to the cart. The pediatrician had recommended giving Julian Pedialyte, and Gatorade was pretty much just the same thing for adults, right? He pulled his phone out as he moved down the next aisle snagging a loaf of wheat bread. The ability to make toast was definitely a necessity. He dialed Miriam's number, holding the phone up to his ear with the hand not steering the cart.

"Julian is fine." Miriam answered the phone with that comment, amusement in her voice. "I just finished feeding him a bottle, and he's playing on the floor, the platypus toy hanging out of his mouth like a dog."

Blaine laughed at that. It was easy to picture, since he'd seen Julian do the same thing several times. "Well, hello to you, too. Thank you for comparing my son to a puppy, but that's not actually the reason I called." Calling Julian his son rolled off of Blaine's tongue easier and easier everyday.

"Oh? What did you need? You know I'm not the best one to call for tips about men." Miriam noted lightly.

"Hah. No. Other than the fact that I think maybe God is trying to keep me from ever getting to actually get into Kurt's pants, that's all going well." Blaine winced at the look he'd gotten from the middle aged woman walking the other way down the aisle. He'd forgotten for a moment that he was standing in the middle of a grocery store. At least it hadn't been the parent of one of his students. "Kurt's sick. He thinks Julian gave him that stomach bug he has. I think the incubation period is all wrong, but I'm not about to say that to a man with a fever."

"I highly doubt that God would have a reason to keep you from, um, that. Not with someone you care so much about." Blaine could practically hear Miriam's blush in her tone. "But I'm sorry Kurt's not feeling well. Are you staying with him, or did you want to come get Julian early?"

"I'm at the store now, picking up a few things, but then I'm going to go back to take care of him. No fancy French food for us, but I was hoping you could send me the recipe for that homemade chicken noodle soup you make. That seemed to be a good substitute for the night." Blaine eyed the jams and jellies for a moment before reaching out for a jar of orange marmalade. It was always one of the first things he wanted on toast when he started to be able to handle flavor again. If nothing else, he'd eat it when he, hopefully, managed a real sleepover.

"Sure. I'll go email it to you now. Let Kurt know that we're hoping he'll feel better soon, alright?"


By the next Monday, Kurt was fully mended and back at work. Blaine claimed that it was the magic of Miriam's chicken noodle soup recipe, even though Kurt claimed it was just the virus running it's course.

Monday night, Kurt came over to Blaine's house to cook dinner for the two of them. Julian went to bed easily, that night at least, and the two of them curled up together on the couch, cuddling while Kurt watched the latest season of Top Chef and Blaine graded papers.

As the episode came to a close, Blaine tossed his papers down on the coffee table turning to pull Kurt into a hungry kiss.

Kurt pulled back after a moment, sucking in a breath before he tilted his head questioningly at the sudden change in atmosphere. "Blaine? What brought this on?"

"Time spent pressed up against my super hot boyfriend isn't enough?" Blaine asked.

"Flattery will get you everywhere." Kurt wrapped his arms up around Blaine's neck, kissing down along the end of the day stubble at the other man's jawline. "I'm not objecting, just surprised. And I know there's usually more going on up here," Kurt pressed a kiss next to Blaine's temple, "than I see."

"I was thinking about how stupid it's getting to be trying to find this romantic perfect time, when I really just want you naked and in my bed. It's going to be perfect, no matter what, because it's you." Blaine arched his head up, giving Kurt an open invitation as the other man started to trail kisses down his neck.

Kurt sucked for a moment at Blaine's pulse point before he pulled back, standing up quickly. "Well then, what are we waiting for?" He asked, offering a hand up to Blaine with a coy little smile on his face.


Kurt tossed the washrag he'd used to clean them up into the hamper before he sank bonelessly onto the bed beside Blaine. "God, that was good." He rubbed a hand up over his shoulder. "I still can't believe you bit me, though."

Blaine flushed, flinging a hand up over his eyes before he changed course, pulling Kurt in against him, reveling in the feeling of bare skin pressed together. "I'll keep apologizing if you want." He rolled onto his side as he flushed even deeper. "I did leave teeth marks, didn't I?"

"I'll take them as a compliment." Kurt assured, rubbing a hand down over the sex heated skin of Blaine's back. "And a reminder for tomorrow that this really happened."

"We'll both have a reason to be sore, in the best way possible?" Blaine suggested. At the look on Kurt's face he added, "You were wonderful. Don't apologize. It's just been awhile, and you aren't exactly small. Which believe me, you're not going to find me complaining about."

Kurt's tentative look turned into a smile, tossing a leg up over Blaine's to bring them close, chest to chest. "You know the best part about this?" Blaine raised his eyebrows in a response. A silent 'what?'. "This isn't the end of anything. We'll have many more nights to spent exploring every possibility we want. Hundreds of them. Thousands of them, if I have anything to say about it."

Blaine leaned forward the few inches needed to press a sweet kiss to Kurt's lips. His reply was cut short by the sound of whimpers coming through the baby monitor. Blaine knew from months of experience now that those just awake whimpers would turn to screams if he didn't get there quickly. He rolled away and off the bed, grabbing for his discarded boxer briefs to pull them back on. "I'd say that Julian has the worst timing in the word, but that's not really true. The worst timing would have been starting to cry in the middle of all of that. I suppose I can deal with him waiting until we were done."

A/N: I thought long and hard about whether to change the rating to an M for this chapter and include smut or write it this way. In the end, I decided to just imply it had happened. Honestly, I tend to worry a lot as a person. I decided that I didn't want to write anything that could get me fired as a teacher or camp professional if someone links it back to me. I may change my mind someday, but right now, that possibility freaks me out (even though it would be writing about consensual sex between adults.

Schedule wise, next week's update might be slightly delayed (like up on Monday). I'm scheduled for a camp event on Saturday and Sunday (that might get canceled).