"I feel like I messed up," Kurt said, chewing his lip and watching the door anxiously as he sorted through his kit. "What just happened?"

"No," Finn sighed. "It was my deal. I should have made him go to bed a long time ago, but Sarah was here, and I wasn't sure what she was going to need from him."

"Finn, it's our deal, right?" Kurt set an assortment of products out on the table and closed the case with a snap. "This was exactly what I was talking to him about this afternoon. He barely got any sleep last night, and he hasn't had anything to eat all day."

"God." He rubbed his forehead. "I'm glad he's got you looking out for him." His hand on Kurt's neck was heavy. "How are you holding up?"

"I'm -" He resisted the urge to say fine, as he felt the pressure from Finn's hand. "A little overwhelmed," he admitted. The hand squeezed gently and was joined by the other hand, and Kurt relaxed into Finn's thumbs kneading his neck. "That's... very nice."

"I'm going to get to you later," Finn said, right in his ear, and he shivered. "But I need to take care of Puck first. I just want him to know we're here, that we care about him. No pressure; no blame. This wasn't his fault, and your dad said all that needed saying about it."

"I think my dad saw something," Kurt murmured. "When you spoke to Puck that way. I think he noticed. I... I just wonder what he thinks is going on."

"I know you're worried about that," Finn said. "It's not your job. I'll take care of it."

Kurt nodded, hesitantly. "I worry about you, taking on too much," he said, but he was cut off by Finn's voice, speaking with authority and direction.

"No. That's not your place. You need to drop that, now. I'm in charge here."

Kurt shuddered, closing his eyes. "Yes, sir," he whispered.

"That's my baby," he heard, and Finn kissed him gently on his cheek, his neck. Kurt felt echoes of Noah's lips on his, just minutes before, and he responded, turning his head to meet Finn's mouth with his own. Finn stayed behind him, enclosing him in his arms, holding him tightly. He spoke calmly, quietly, with a degree of wonder.

"I... can't exactly explain it, but... I get so much out of being that for you. It's like it feeds me, as much as that awesome dinner did tonight. And you, and Puck, letting me lead. You've both taken so much shit for so long. It feels good that you let me be the one to handle it for you. It's what I want, for you to let go, to let me have control. I feel like I should be the one, thanking you."

"It's a huge relief," Kurt said, trembling. "I feel guilty, it feels so good."

"Well, I guess that's my job, to make you put down that guilt," Finn said. He hooked his chin over Kurt's shoulder. "Tell me again what all this stuff is for?"

Kurt pointed in turn. "Facial mask, scrub, cleanser, toner, overnight moisturizer." He held up a little tube. "This one's just for eyes."

"You do have incredible skin," Finn said, kissing his cheek once more before straightening up. "I think you should take care of this while I handle Puck."

"If that's what you think," Kurt said, uncertainly.

"I do. You had your turn with him earlier. Let me take my turn."

"Okay. Um." He looked up at Finn. "Yes, sir."

"And remember, I'm not done with you," Finn said, holding his gaze. "You're mine."

Kurt felt his words penetrate like a blast of heat to his skin, and he let out a gentle gasp. Finn's even, direct voice touched places in him that no one else had ever touched. Then Finn smiled at him, his sweet, crooked smile, and Kurt laughed breathlessly. "Yeah," he said, "I am."

He resisted the urge to reach for Finn, smiling back as he left the room to take care of Puck.

"You know what? Make it pepperoni and mushroom, please," said Finn, pacing the hallway slowly. "We're on Cortlandt, off Baxter. Yeah. Thanks." Finn hung up his phone and realized he could hear low voices in his room. No, there was just one voice, he thought, listening more carefully. Puck was talking, and he sounded anxious.

"Everything was going so well," he said. "We were talking, just hanging out, and then... I fucked up. I mouthed off to Kurt's dad. It just came out. I don't know, he found us making out and I did what I fucking always do and made it a joke."

There was a silence. "No, that wasn't the problem," he said, aggravated. "He... Kurt brought up my brother. I can't talk about him." He sighed. "No, I just... it makes me remember stuff. About my dad."

Finn felt an icy pinch of fear. No more secrets, he thought, and he stepped into the dark room. Puck saw him and froze, then glared at him.

"Go ahead and finish your call," Finn said quietly. He sat in his desk chair and deliberately looked away from Puck, watching Sarah sleeping in his bed. He remembered what had happened there earlier, and he wished he'd had a chance to change the sheets.

"Finn's here," he said, and he sounded pissed. "He heard me talking." He paced the room, then stopped. "No. I didn't - that's not part of... Why?" A longer silence. "Oh," he said, soberly. "I didn't think of that."

Finn stood and went to him, holding him from behind, much the way he'd just held Kurt, with his arms around his biceps, restricting his movement. He'd noticed it made Puck still and calm to be held like that. He matched his breathing to Puck's and felt him settle.

"Alex?" he asked.

"Nicole," Puck replied, shifting and leaning back. Finn felt the muscles of Puck's shoulders, his arms flexing, his ass brushing against the zipper of Finn's pants, and Finn gathered him into a firmer hold. Puck sighed.

"Okay," he said to Nicole. "I will."

"Can I talk to her?" Finn asked. "I'm just asking. You can say no."

"Yeah... sure," Puck said, hesitating only for a moment before handing the phone over.

"Hey," he said. "This is Finn."

"Well, hey there," he heard, and Nicole's voice was low and rich and a little bit scratchy, like she'd smoked too many cigarettes. "You're the one we've heard so much about."

"I can't say I've heard too much about you," he said. Puck's head rested back on his chest, and Finn placed a kiss on his temple.

"I'm guessing you've all been too busy doing wonderful things to each other to talk about Puck's summer fling," Nicole said, and he could hear the smile in her voice. "You, on the other hand, came up in every other sentence when he was here. You're clearly important to him."

"Yeah," Finn said, "he's important to me, too." He nudged his cock against Puck's ass, feeling him through the thin fabric of his tuxedo pants. Puck moaned, and Sarah shifted in the bed. Finn put a brief warning hand over Puck's lips.

"I'm saying you don't have to worry about us," Nicole said. "You sound a little defensive. We love Puck like crazy, but we're no threat to you."

"I'm just taking care of what's mine," he said, and felt Puck's breathing speed up in response. "I know he cares about you too. It's... it's okay."

"I'm glad you see it that way." He heard her say, "It's Finn," to someone else. "Do you want to say hi?"

"Yeah!" said another girl's voice, drawing closer to the phone. "Hello, Finn, this is Daphne." Her tone was sweet, almost singing. It reminded him of Kurt's, a little. "We're so happy to hear things are working out between you and Puck. He's so in love with you."

"God," groaned Puck, covering his face.

"He heard you say that," Finn said, grinning. "Hi, Daphne. I wanted to thank you for your help with the flowers and candles and stuff for me and Kurt. It was really... romantic."

"It was my pleasure, honey," she said, and he felt like he'd been snuggled over the phone. "Everybody deserves a little romance, especially when things are new like this. It sounds like Kurt appreciates it in particular, hmmm?"

"Yeah, I guess he does," he said. I'll remember that.

"Alex is at work," she said. "You'll have to meet him another time. But he's been wanting to talk to you."

"I'm a little nervous about it, to tell you the truth." Puck stiffened, and Finn tightened his arm around him. "What does he do, anyway?"

"For work, you mean?" Daphne giggled. "Don't laugh. He gives psychic readings."

"Really?" Finn said, a little too loudly, and Puck shushed him. "Like, on the phone?" he whispered.

"Yes, and in person. There's a big new age community around here. Lots of people come to Santa Fe wanting intuitive advice about their job, their love life, their future."

"Do you do that, too?" Finn was intrigued.

"Not for money," she said. "Though I read Tarot for my friends and lovers. I'm an office manager. Nicole's a bartender and waits tables."

Lovers. These are Puck's lovers. Finn waited to feel anxious or jealous, but, at least for the moment, he didn't. "I'm... really glad you and Puck met this summer. I get the feeling he learned a lot from you about how this all works, with... more than two. And other stuff."

"I'm glad, too, honey," said Daphne. "You'll all have to come visit, as soon as you can."

"I'd like that," said Finn. "Well, Puck's had a long day. I need to take care of him now."

"Please let him know we'll talk to him on Tuesday," she said. "It's so nice to hear your voice, Finn."

"Yours, too," he said. "Good night." He hung up the phone and set it on the dresser, and put both arms around Puck. "They said they'd talk to you on Tuesday."

Puck grunted acknowledgement.

"Do you want to tell me what all that was about?"

"Not really," Puck admitted. "Not tonight."

"All right," said Finn. "Let's go downstairs. You need to eat something."

"I'm really not hungry," Puck protested, but Finn gave him a gentle nudge into the hallway and closed the door behind him.

"You didn't eat all day," he said. "I'm not as smart about food as you and Kurt, but I know you need something. Go on, downstairs."

Puck stumbled a little as he walked down the steps to the family room. "Puck?" he heard his mom say. "Do you need anything?"

"We're getting a snack, Mom," said Finn. He saw Burt sitting with her on the couch, and it occurred to him suddenly that they were being awfully friendly for two people who'd only just met. He looked at them with speculative eyes.

"Do you want me to make you something?" she offered, but she didn't get up from the couch.

The doorbell rang. "It's okay," he said. "I ordered pizza."

"Pizza," Puck breathed, like it was a new concept, and he headed for the door.

Burt chuckled. "He didn't eat any dinner, did he?"

"No," said Finn. "Or lunch, or breakfast. You guys want some?"

"I'm all set, honey," Carole said, and Burt shook his head. "Is Kurt still awake?"

"He's moisturizing," Finn said, grinning at Burt's knowing look. "He'll be busy with that a while."

The front door slammed. "Here," said Puck, handing him the pizza box and making a beeline for the kitchen. "I forged the signature on the credit card receipt. What are you waiting for, man? I'm starving."