Chapter 5: You got those new eyes honey

Warnings: References to abuse. Not detailed or explicit, but just wanted to give heads up.

Iris7124: Yeah, you know Burt would be obsessed with a grandkid lol. Glad you love Cooper because there is a whole lot more of his foolishness coming. So glad you are enjoying! Your reviews always make us smile!

MarciaChapter2: Aw thank you! We try to make ourselves laugh at least so we are glad you think so too lol. Cooper is definitely going to meddle. I mean, come one, we know he can't help himself. Thank you so much for your review! They brighten our day!

Y'all are the best!

A week later-Tuesday-April

Stepping into the busy restaurant during their lunch rush, Kurt finally located his friends and hurried to their table.

Santana and Mercedes already had orange juice and they had ordered him a glass as well.

"Hey, guys. Sorry I'm late. Traffic here is a bitch." He gulped the juice and then choked. "Is this champagne?"

Santana snickered as she sipped from her own. "You're welcome." Her finger was still bandaged where it had been cut. She had only needed one stitch and was more embarrassed than anything.

"So what's good here?" Kurt asked as he browsed the menu.

"Pancakes," said Mercedes.

"Mimosas," said Santana as she held up her glass.

Kurt smiled at them both. "I think I'll go with the pancakes. I have to go back to work after this." He scooted his drink over to Santana who shrugged and took it. He watched her suck it down. "Everything okay? I thought the album was going well."

"She ran into her ex," Mercedes supplied. "It's still fresh. But yeah, the album is going great!"

Kurt placed his order with their server and folded his fingers together, resting his chin on them. "Well, good. I can't wait for it to come out."

Santana continued to make love to her drink while Mercedes mirrored Kurt's stance. "Why don't you tell us about your first week at your new job? Is it everything you hoped it would be?"

"I really love it." He grinned. "It's been a challenge for sure, but I'm enjoying it. I've been so busy though I barely have time for myself between work and Kit."

"Oh, so you've been too busy to go home with any STRANGERS?" Mercedes arched a brow at him. She had berated him for putting himself in the position he did with Blaine the day after it happened. She wasn't thrilled when he informed her he was going on a date with the same guy, but she had wished him the best.

"Oh, relax." Santana got close to Mercedes' face and she pushed her away. "Not everyone is a prude like you."

"It's not being a prude when you have standards," Mercedes shot back. "He was drunk and anything could have happened to him."

Santana's eyes glittered. "Oh, I'm sure he wanted something to happen to him. Did it, Porcelain?"

Kurt's eyes skittered between the two of them. "Want to see pictures of Kit?"

"Uh, not falling for that. How did the date go?" Mercedes asked.

"Tell us!" Santana demanded.

Kurt sighed and pressed on the tines of his fork, making it thump on the tablecloth. "Wonderful. I really liked him. But before things got too fun, he found out about Kit and practically ran away."

"Why the hell would you talk about the little cockblock when you're trying to get your dick sucked?" Santana asked. "I know you're out of practice, but talking about your kid isn't exactly foreplay."

"What Santana is trying to say," Mercedes interjected. "Is that we're sorry it didn't work out."

Kurt shrugged and thanked the server when his food was placed in front of him. "It is what it is. I… I actually have another date."

Mercedes squealed. "What? You didn't tell me!"

"It just happened yesterday and I wanted to figure out what I thought first. I think I'm going to go for it though."

"Tell us everything."

"Okay. His name is Adam and we work together—"

"Mistaaaake," Santana sang.

"I know it's not exactly the best idea, but he's really nice, he loves kids, and he's cute. He gave me his number last week, but I wasn't sure. Yesterday he came to my office and asked me out and I said yes." He popped a bite in his mouth and waited for their verdict.

Mercedes was practically hopping up and down as she ate her own food. "Kurt, that's so great! I'm happy for you!"

Santana swirled her glass and eyed him. "Nope."

"What?"

"He's nice and likes kids? You basically just described a throw pillow."

Kurt rolled his eyes. "Sorry for not agreeing with you, the lesbian, in what I like in a man."

"Your loss."

"Well, I for one think this has potential and can't wait to hear about how the date goes." Mercedes gave Santana a warning look.

"Thank you, Mercedes." He jabbed at his food. "Anyway, I have no idea when we're going out with how busy work is. He might lose interest in me before we even have a date."

"Then he's dumber than he sounds," Santana said. "If he doesn't wait, I say fuck off."

Kurt gave her a soft look. "Wow, that's really nice, Santana. Thanks."

"I'm not nice. I'm just tired of listening to you whine because you need to get laid."

"Having sex doesn't solve your problems." Mercedes glared at her.

"You haven't ever tried so how do you know?"

As they dissolved into an argument, Kurt enjoyed his food in peace. He kind of agreed with both of them, but unfortunately he was too busy to stay and debate about it all day.

Wednesday

"Brittany."

"Yes, Kurt?"

"Please explain to me once again why you have rearranged my color samples after I spent an HOUR organizing them?" Kurt was seated at his desk holding his glasses in one hand and rubbing the bridge of his nose with another.

She gave him a winning grin, her hands clasped behind her back. "I noticed you didn't have them in alphabetical order and I thought I would help!"

He blinked aggressively. "They're colors."

She nodded like that was obvious.

"They're… It's not the alphabet."

"Uh, the names of the colors are. Like B for blue, R for red…" She made a circular motion with her hand. "Now you can find them easily!"

"If I want to find them easily," Kurt ground out. "I can just look at them. Please don't touch my samples!"

"Do you want some coffee?" She tilted her head to the side.

"Coffee?" He looked up in exasperation.

"You just seem like you're stressed and when I bring you coffee, you calm down."

He took a deep breath and released it. "Sure. Bring me coffee."

"Make that two please?" Adam said from the doorway.

Kurt's heart sped up at sight of the man and he straightened up immediately. "Adam! Hi!"

Adam smiled brilliantly and nodded at Brittany as she passed him. He sat in the same chair as before and waited until she had left room. "How's it going?"

"Oh, it's been a busy week. But it's great!"

"I guess that's why we haven't gone out yet?" He said it with a joking air, but his eyes were a little sad.

Kurt truly did feel bad about that. When he agreed to a date with Adam, he hadn't realized just how busy work and Kit would keep him. Every time Adam mentioned doing something, it just hadn't worked out.

"I am so sorry! Everything had just been crazy!"

Brittany came back in before Adam could reply and set a cup down for each of them. They both looked like a cat's paw. The men shared a look as she stepped back.

"Anything else?"

"No. Thank you, Brittany." His eyelids fluttered at he sipped the delicious drink. "Amazing as always."

"Thanks. I'm going back to my desk!"

She closed the door behind her and Kurt took another taste. "She makes the best mocha latte I've ever had."

"She is a bit daft, but she does make good coffee. My best friend calls her the crazy cat lady," Adam laughed.

"Well, that's a little mean." Kurt felt a little bad talking about Brittany. She got on his last nerve sometimes with her bizarre ways, but she was very sweet and meant well.

Adam stopped laughing and looked down at the foot-shaped cup in his hand. "It is. You'd just have to know him." He looked back up to Kurt. "How about Saturday?"

"Saturday?"

"A date?" he replied hopefully.

"I don't know…"

"Look, I know you want to spend time with Kit, but you need to take time for yourself too. Right?"

Kurt heard Santana and Mercedes scream, YES! in his mind. "You're right. Let me see what I can do, okay?"

Adam's smile broke free and he stood. "Great. I'll let you know what time. You won't be disappointed!" He ran out.

Kurt let out a deep breath. It was time to see how serious the girls were about helping him out.

Saturday

Mercedes and Santana agreed to watch Kit. He somehow got his work finished. Everything was falling into place so that he could go on his date with Adam. So why was he standing in his closet staring at his shirt? This was his first date shirt. It was nice without being too extra and causal enough to be comfortable. It fit him perfectly and accentuated his arms and chest. It was the perfect first date shirt. Which is why he wore it when he went out with Blaine.

He didn't want to put it on. It was silly. This was his first date shirt. He was going on a first date, so he should wear it tonight. But all he saw when he looked at it was the ocean and hazel eyes. He shook his head. He should just wear the shirt. It was one date. He was a little worried about himself.

Later, he walked down wearing a different shirt and kissed Kit goodbye. Mercedes was preparing his dinner and Santana was laying in the floor with him playing peekaboo. She looked to be having a great time that she would surely deny later. He unbuttoned his sleeves and rolled them up before shaking his head and rolling them back down.

"So the emergency numbers are on the fridge and of course you know to call me if anything happens. He won't eat his green beans unless you squish them just a little bit. And make sure when you give him a bath you use the organic oatmeal soap so his skin doesn't dry out. Oh! And he will want his little stuffed bear when he goes to bed! He says he wants, 'baa' which makes it sound like he's talking about the little stuffed sheep, but it's not. He wants the bear and he will cry if he doesn't get it—"

"We have got this!" Mercedes said and pointed a spatula at the door. "Get your cute little butt out of here!"

"Yeah, go get laid, Lady Hummel," Santana said in a baby voice at Kit, who giggled.

"Don't talk like that around my kid," Kurt grumbled as he gathered his keys and wallet. "Okay. I'm leaving. I love you, sweetie." He blew a kiss to the boy. "And I love you girls too. Thank you again."

"Yeah, yeah. Go before you're late!" Mercedes made a shooing motion and Kurt allowed himself to be shooed.

He took a cleansing breath as he slid into his seat. He could do this. It would be fine.

Saturday night

"Thank you, everyone!" Blaine waved at the sparsely crowded bar and stepped from the stage. There came a smattering of applause which normally would annoy him, but tonight he didn't care. He took a seat at the bar and asked for some water. During his set, Blaine figured out how to fix a problem he was having with one of his songs. He grinned and pulled out his notebook, thrilled that he had broken through his wall finally. He was beginning to think that his talent had left him.

"Whatcha writing?" A voice buzzed in his ear and he nearly fell off of his barstool.

"Jesus, Cooper! What the hell is wrong with you?" Blaine rubbed at his ear and glared at his brother who was leaning smugly on the bar.

He tried to peek into Blaine's notebook, but he slapped it closed. Cooper pouted, his bottom lip poking out.

"Come on, Squirt! It's been a month since you started writing music again—"

"It's been like a week, you drama queen."

"—and I wanted to see some!"

Blaine rolled his eyes away from Cooper's shameless begging. "And why are you here?"

"You've been avoiding me," Cooper sniffed, rubbing his arms like a Victorian child left in the snow. "Your only family, your flesh and blood! I've had to resort to seeking you out in your night work. While you're here, prostituting your talent, I've been scouring the streets for you—"

He was really getting worked up when a few women tapped him on the shoulder and shyly asked for autographs and pictures. Magically, his tearful demeanor disappeared and he turned into the dazzling TV show host they welcomed into their lives every morning.

He watched his brother charm the women and his mouth quirked up a little. Cooper could be annoying sometimes, but he couldn't help but love him. Soon enough, he slung an arm around Blaine's shoulders and sat next to him.

"It's hard being so famous all the time."

Blaine wiggled out from underneath Cooper's arm and gathered his things. "It's such a burden, I'm sure. I think I'm going to head home."

Cooper hopped off of the stool and hurried after his little brother into the parking lot. "Blaine! Wait! Talk to me!"

"About what?" Blaine stuffed his notebook into his little compartment and slung his guitar onto his back. "I'm not avoiding you. I've been busy."

"Blaine!"

He stopped short right as he was about to throw his leg over his bike and looked up at Cooper.

He was staring Blaine down, hands on his hips and a stern frown making him look older than his thirty years. Memories sprang to his mind unbidden: Cooper teaching him how to tie his shoes.

Cooper clapping and whooping when he finally rode his bike without falling down.

Cooper pulling him into the closet and slipping headphones over his ears so he couldn't hear their parents screaming at each other and throwing things at the walls.

Cooper nose to nose with his dad, telling him to fuck off and no, he wouldn't ever come back home.

The way he laughed when they had a food fight the first night he brought him back to their apartment they shared here in LA.

The way he had cried, begging on his knees for Blaine to come hang out with him after he had stayed in bed for a whole week last year.

Blaine turned and sat sideways on his bike's seat. Cooper only cared. He was worried. They were all each other had and he was hurting his brother.

"Cooper… I promise I'm fine—"

"Well, I'm not!" His sharp tone made Blaine look up at him. His face was wet with tears and his face was pinched. "You can deny it all you want, but you've been avoiding me! Don't shut me out!"

Settling his helmet on top of his seat, Blaine strode over to his brother and immediately wrapped his arms around him. Cooper just stood there for a few beats before hugging Blaine back.

"I told you before, I'm fine. I'm not depressed right now. I've just been so caught up with writing songs, I haven't really been paying attention to anything else, including you. And I'm sorry. I should have spent more time with you.

"You're damn right you should have," Cooper mumbled into Blaine's hair. "So you agree you need to take a break and do something fun?"

Blaine squeezed him. "Sure. We will do something. How about a movie? Or we can go get dinner right now?"

"Or a date?"

Blaine pulled back and gave Cooper a quizzical frown. "Uh, I love you, but not that way."

Cooper's smile showed off all his teeth. It was so annoying how fast he went from terribly upset to childlike excitement. "No, I've got the perfect guy for you!" He wiped his face off with the back of his wrist.

"Cooper…" Blaine warned.

"No, listen! I've been emailing this guy's assistant—"

Blaine shoved Cooper away lightly. "No, you listen. I told you I didn't want you to 'help' me with my dating life. I'm fine."

"Blaine, he sounds perfect for you!"

The younger Anderson went back to his motorcycle and grabbed his helmet. "I'll see you at work tomorrow and then we can do something after work. Just us! Not your boyfriend."

Cooper hurried after him. "He's going to be your boyfriend! Just you wait!"

Blaine shook his head and slipped on his helmet. "Coop, worry about you and delete Grindr from your phone. Even if I did want to date the guy, I'm pretty sure I screwed up any chance I had with him. How long has it been since you have a date?"

"Yesterday," he said instantly. "Can I have a ride?"

Blaine sighed and dismounted, dug out Cooper's helmet and wordlessly handed it to him. Cooper put it on and tried to get in the driver's seat. "Can I drive?" He rubbed his hands together.

Blaine pushed him back and gave him his guitar. "You absolutely cannot drive. You almost wrecked it before. And be careful with my guitar too."

"Okie dokie." He cuddled up to his brother and wrapped his arms around him. Blaine swatted his hand away when he tried to poke his finger through his gauge. "I bet this is such a dude magnet! Maybe I should get one!"

"That would be a disaster," Blaine said as he revved the engine.

"What?"

"Nothing!"

Monday morning

Kurt dropped the reports he had been skimming through and pulled his glasses off. Rubbing his eyes, he thought very hard about taking an early lunch. He had so much to do though, with planning the annual summer gala and the newest shoot he was heading up all on top of his regular work. He would need to plan carefully so that he could spend time with Kit and then maybe the girls if he was lucky. They said they wanted him to come to one of their performances. Forget another date with Adam.

The date had gone well. They had gone to eat and then to see a movie, a comedy that was actually better than he had thought it would be. They had a great time, having their fashion career experience and stories of Kit and his nieces in common. They didn't have any awkward silences or weirdness that Kurt thought might accompany them on their date being that they worked together. At the end of the date, they walked back to their cars very civilized and Adam kissed him chastely goodbye. It was nice.

But there was something missing. The spark. The passion.

Kurt twirled his pen in his fingers in a slow circle. He needed to give himself a break. Not everything was a wild romance. Adam was a good guy and a safe choice. He needed to give him a chance and he would. He needed time to develop those types of feelings. He was being smart.

He had told Adam he was still figuring things out and wasn't ready to be exclusive, but Adam said that was completely fine. He would just keep taking him out until he was ready. It was sweet.

The problem was his very… detailed dream he had the previous night. It involved a certain tattooed biker and his tongue. He had woken up in a cold sweat, hard as a rock. Kurt shook his head. He wasn't doing this. He needed desperately to stop thinking about—

"Hey, Kurt!" Brittany's voice chirped over his intercom and Kurt jumped at the sound.

He cleared his throat. "Yes? What is it?"

"There's someone here to see you. Mr. Anderson?"

Kurt nearly fell out of his seat. He had conjured the man out of thin air! Quickly, he grabbed his small mirror out of his drawer and checked his hair and teeth. "Uh, okay. Just give me one second!" He adjusted his bow tie and the delicate little chain that dangled from it and then sat up straight in his chair. "He can come in now!"

As he tried to slow down his rising heart rate, the door opened and he scrambled for what to say. What was Blaine doing here anyway?

"Heya, Kurt!" Cooper Anderson boomed at him and immediately strode around his desk to give him a hug.

Completely taken aback, Kurt allowed himself to be hugged. "Oh! Wow! Uh, hello."

Cooper beamed and flopped into one of his chairs. "How's it going?"

Kurt pulled his jacket back into place and tried to regain his composure. "Well, thank you. I'm well. How are you?"

"Oh, great, fine." He glanced all around Kurt's office appreciatively. "This is super nice. Great office."

Kurt acquiesced with the tilt of his head and folded his hands in his lap. "Thank you. So, what brings you by today?"

Cooper picked at his cuticles in what Kurt could only imagine was a nervous tic. He seemed to think for a few seconds before landing on something. "My show! You should come on!"

"Uh, I did? Remember?" he said, confused.

"Again! You should come on again! And then afterwards, we can go out to eat and go back to my place!"

Was he…? Kurt raised his eyebrow. "Are you… Are you asking me out? Forgive me, but I was under the impression you were straight?"

He blinked and then burst into laughter. "Oh no! I mean, I'm straight, yes, I just meant I'd like to get to know you more! You seem cool and you need someone to show you around LA who knows where to go." He winked and Kurt saw the family resemblance between him and Blaine when they flirted. "Although I'm flattered."

"Well, that's very kind. I'd like to take you up on that offer if I get the chance, but I'm afraid I don't have anything to promote—"

"That's not necessary," Cooper replied quickly with a discounting wave of his hand. "If anything, just come hang out with me. I have a hot tub." He winked again.

Kurt regarded him for a few seconds, still unsure if he was hitting on him before motioning to his paper strewn desk. "That sounds nice, but I'm awfully busy. We have a few events coming up that I need to hire staff for and a project I'm still looking for models and a photographer for—"

"I know a photographer!" Cooper said, nearly leaping from his seat in excitement. "My brother, Blaine? You remember him, of course you do. He's was the one you kept flirting with during the taping the other day—"

"I wasn't flirting!"

"I can invite him on our not-a-date by the way! Anyway, he's a photographer! He's really great too! He doesn't just operate the camera on my show! You should totally hire him!"

Flabbergasted, Kurt just sat back in his chair and gaped like a fish out of water.

"I don't think he—"

"Here's his number! Call him!" Cooper's pleased smile was wide and he glanced at his bare wrist. "Well, look at the time! Gotta go! Call my brother! Maybe take him on a date? He's single! Bye!"

With that, the storm know as Cooper Anderson bustled out and the office was quiet again.

Kurt was unsure of what just happened. He looked down at the little scrap of paper bearing a number he already had stored in his phone. Apparently, Blaine hadn't mentioned him to Cooper. Kurt sighed. He must have really hated their date then. He gathered they were close and if he hadn't even mentioned him… Kurt frowned. No. He wasn't going to feel bad about this. It wasn't his fault Blaine had issues.

He put a finger on the scrap of paper and skated it around his desk.

Blaine was a good photographer… He had seen that first hand. And they didn't really part on bad terms.

Impulsively, Kurt grabbed his personal phone and found Blaine's number. Maybe this could be the start of a friendship or work relationship at least.

Wednesday night

It was 6:50. Blaine was performing Scars by James Bay at the bar and he was nervous as hell. He didn't get nervous as hell. Kurt would walk in any minute now and he would show him his work. He scanned the bar for the thousandth time that night and recalled the phone conversation Monday.

Blaine was just about to bite into his sandwich when his phone rang.

He was a little irritated because Cooper had begged him to eat lunch with him and then disappeared before they could eat together. So there he sat, eating his sandwich in his brother's dressing room, alone. Then his phone rang and he grumbled that it better be Cooper ready to grovel.

Except it wasn't Cooper. It was Kurt.

The shock at seeing the man's name caused him to just stare at the screen for so long that his ringtone almost ran out. He scrambled to answer at the last second, his heart hammering and shooting into his throat.

"Hello?"

"Hey. Uh, it's Kurt. Are you busy?"

"Hang on, let me check. Actually, yes. This sandwich I'm about to eat is giving me bedroom eyes."

Kurt laughed. He sounded really fucking sexy over the phone. Blaine bit his tongue so he wouldn't say just that. What happened to his self-control?

"Well, I'll keep this short and you can get back to your scandalous lunch. So, as you know, I work at Vogue."

"I remember."

"And we are having this shoot this weekend. And we had a job opening."

"As a model? I'm in."

Kurt laughed again. It made Blaine's stomach swoop.

"Actually, as a photographer…"

Blaine dropped his sandwich. "What? You're serious?"

"I am. I need to see your portfolio, of course, but I think you have the right style for this. What do you say?"

Digging his fingers into his hair, Blaine stood and began to pace. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm in. How about Wednesday? Seven, at the bar?" He bit his lip. "Shit, is that too late? I know you have a kid…"

"No, that's fine." Kurt's voice held a smile. "I have friends who can stay with him. I'll see you then."

"Definitely."

6:54. Kurt still wasn't there. He was eagerly awaiting and dreading seeing Kurt simultaneously. He hadn't been able to get the guy off of his mind since their date, as hard as he'd tried. But he'd pushed Kurt away. And for good reason, he reminded himself as the bartender set a glass in front of him and pointed at the bar.

Kurt smiled at him from where he had sent the drink and waved a little shyly. All his good reasons started to sound silly at this very moment. Blaine's pulse quickened and he leaned into the microphone.

"Thanks. So, before my break, here's an original song. Aren't you all lucky?"

He didn't give himself a chance to chicken out before launching into the song he had been practicing over and over again in his room. Maybe it wasn't finished yet, but this was a good way to see the reaction. So what if the person he kind-of-sort-of-not-really-but-yeah-really wrote the song about was sitting there at the bar looking like Blaine had made a mistake?

Say

Wasn't that a funny day

Gee, you had a funny way, a way about you

A kind of glow of something new

Sure

I'll admit that I'm the same

Another sucker for a game kids like to play

And the rules they like to use

Don't you want the way I feel

Don't you want the way I feel

Don't you want the way I feel for you

Blaine finally dared to glance over at Kurt. Then he was sorry because the guy was staring at him proudly and it was so damn heartwarming he nearly faltered.

Cooper, Tina, Mike, and Sam were already insufferable when he showed them the song, Cooper especially. He had sobbed and kissed Blaine's face until Blaine threatened him. He was secretly pleased, but he hated them making a fuss over him like he was a baby.

He finished his song and most of the patrons clapped, none harder than Kurt who looked a little star struck. Blaine ducked his head in thanks and jumped off the little stage. Music began to filter in through the speakers from the radio, starting with Gorgeous by Taylor Swift. Appropriate for Kurt. He carried the drink Kurt had bought him over to the seat next to Kurt along with a binder.

"You're brave coming back here after those guys gave you shit." He took a sip to try a calm his heart rate back down.

Kurt opened his jacket pocket, displaying a taser inside. "I'm prepared. And I'm not drinking this time." He glanced around cautiously nonetheless.

Blaine snorted into his glass. "Such a badass." He had to look away because he was at risk of drowning in Kurt's eyes.

Kurt lifted his chin and closed his jacket. "No one pushes the Hummel's around. Unless we are drunk and have to be saved by tattooed bikers with a conscience.

"Call me Jiminy Cricket," Blaine quipped and tossed the rest back.

Kurt grinned and indicated the binder. "Are these the photos?"

Blaine nodded. "Go ahead." Kurt cracked open the book and turned page after page. He watched the man's face with a little smile of his own. He didn't bother looking at the pictures; he had seen them. Instead he soaked up every little gasp of wonder and appreciative raise of his eyebrows. Kurt glanced up at him, then looked back down before doing a double take.

"What?"

"Appreciating the art." He nodded to the book. "What do you think? Am I ready to take Vogue by storm?"

He laughed and looked down as he turned the page to a completely nude man spread out on his couch. It was giving, paint me like one of your French girls. They had a lot of fun that night taking pictures then had more fun in the guy's bedroom. Blaine smirked at Kurt's answering blush as he quickly turned the page.

"Uh, yeah. These are really great. I think you're great." They locked eyes and both of their smiles disappeared as something more intense grew between them. But just as quickly as it came, it went and Kurt put the closed binder in between them like a shield. "Anyway, I'm impressed. If you want the job, it's yours. It will be on Friday…" He pulled out his phone and tapped through some emails. "At nine? Sound good?"

Blaine's brain that loved sleep screamed, "No fucking way we are working that early if we don't have to!" But he just smiled and said, "Sure. You're in luck we don't film that day."

Kurt set his phone down. "Yeah, your brother emailed me your filming schedule."

"He—" Blaine narrowed his eyes at Kurt and made a mental note to kick Cooper's ass later. He took a deep breath. Then he caught sight of Kurt's wallpaper on his phone of him and a smiling little boy. "Wow, he's a cutie."

By the proud smile that broke out on Kurt's face, he had said the right thing. "Thank you. I think he's pretty amazing."

"You seem like you know what you're doing. He's lucky to have you."

Kurt looked down at the bar and circled some water drops along the surface. "Thanks. I try to do what I feel like Finn would have wanted, but it's hard sometimes." His eyes turned sad for a moment, but then he grabbed his phone. "Want to see pictures?"

Blaine nodded.

He went to his photos and started flipping through picture after picture of the child, gushing about him. Blaine leaned on his elbow and listened, enjoying how excited Kurt got talking about his son. His hands were waving and he was so animated it was pretty much adorable. He was in the middle of a story about how he had to sing him to sleep again the previous night when he stopped and rubbed his forearm.

"Wow, sorry. We are supposed to be talking about a job and here I am annoying you about my kid. And you don't even like kids—"

"Hey, I like kids, I just think I'd be a shitty parent. Don't really know how, to be honest."

Kurt gave him a sympathetic smile. "Well, if you are half as good with your parenting skills as your songwriting skills, I think one day you'll be a great daddy."

Blaine bit back a dirty reply to that and instead nodded gratefully. "Thanks. I've had a lot more inspiration lately."

"It was great." He seemed like he wanted to say something more and then his eyes drifted to Blaine's lips, but shot back up quickly. "Anyway, I better go. I'll see you Friday?" He began to gather his things and Blaine scrambled for something to try and keep him there longer.

"Hey, you don't have to leave so soon! I go back up in a minute. We could duet something?"

Kurt eyed the stage longingly. "I wish I could, but I have Kit and work. Next time?"

Begrudgingly, Blaine let him go. "Fine, but there better be a next time!"

Kurt tossed a heart-breaking smile over his shoulder as he headed towards the door. "There will be! See you Friday!"

Licking his lips, Blaine watched him go and wondered if he should follow him outside. He could bend him over his bike. A low whine sounded in his throat at the idea. Kurt probably brought his car with him. They could totally have sex in his back seat… except his back seat had a car seat in it. Which was why he told Kurt he couldn't be with him before.

"Get a fucking grip, Blaine." He scratched at his head and prepared to finish his set.

"Okay, let me make sure I've got this." Sam sat on a barstool in their kitchen that night, hair disheveled as he had fallen asleep on the couch. Blaine paced back and forth in front of him, fluffing his hair. "You went on a date with this Kurt guy that you rescued drunk from the bar when those weirdos who told me my Matthew McConaughay impression was dumb— This is the date when you came home from all weird?"

"Mhm."

"And it was candy canes and rainbows and gave you all the feelings."

"Yup."

"But you found out he has a kid that's not his kid, but it is and you were like, peace out."

"Pretty much."

"So you were all angsty and decided to write a bunch of new songs about it instead of going to therapy—"

"Sam."

Sam sighed. "So now the guy has asked you to come to his job and 'take pictures,'" Sam did bunny quotes. "Which you agreed to do before coming home and telling me all this stuff and freaking out? Have I got it?" He yawned.

Blaine crossed his arms. "Sam, what do I do? I thought it was just a little crush or like a fuck and be done type situation, but after talking to him tonight…" He whined and rubbed at his eyes. "I really like him. I can't stop thinking about him!"

"Uh, date him?"

"I can't!"

"Dude, I don't know what to tell you. Date him or don't but you can't ignore the fact he has a kid." Sam squinted. "I thought you liked kids?"

Sliding his fingers down his face until his eyes poked out, Blaine growled at Sam. "I don't dislike kids, but I don't think I'd be a good person to have around kids."

"I think as long as you don't say anything inappropriate and give them food you're good."

"Sam!" Blaine flopped onto the couch. "It's… Okay, when you're a kid, you learn your letters. But what if you went to a school where no one taught you your letters and instead yelled at you all the time and told you that you were worthless?"

Sam frowned. "You can't read?"

"It was an example. Of course I can read."

Sam joined Blaine on the couch and threw an arm over his shoulders. "So I don't really get your example, but all I know is you are one of the nicest, coolest people ever who would never intentionally hurt someone. I think you're not giving yourself enough credit here."

Blaine turned his head to look at Sam. "That's the thing. What if I unintentionally hurt people? I can't even take care of myself, how the hell could I take care of another human being?"

"Did I ever tell you I dated a girl who had a kid?" Sam asked quietly.

"No."

"Well, I did. You know I didn't even meet her until we had dated for awhile. It didn't work out with us, which was sad because I actually thought her daughter was the sweetest. The thing is, I think you're overthinking this. Who's to say Kurt will even want you to meet the kid until later? And I don't think he's asking you to help raise him considering you've been on one date." He shrugged. "Do what you want but it would really suck if this guy was your soulmate or something and you didn't even give it a chance."

Blaine closed his eyes and let his head fall against Sam's. "Between you and Cooper, I'm beginning to think I'm being dramatic."

"Tina will probably say that too. And you're not worthless, Blaine. Don't you dare believe that."

He cracked open an eye and poked Sam in the nose. "I doubt I'm what he has in mind for boyfriend material anyway. I don't know. Maybe I just need a good fuck."

"Can't help you with that, sorry."

Blaine playfully smacked Sam's face away and stood. "Yeah, you just know we wouldn't be friends after I was done with you. I would ruin you forever."

Sam swatted at Blaine in return, but he ducked away. "Yeah, you would. I'm still scarred after you showed me what that pokey thing in your closet does." He shuddered.

"Such a baby," Blaine laughed and headed for his door. He stopped and turned back towards Sam, a hand on his neck. "Thanks for the pep talk. I'll think about what you said."

"Sure thing partner," Sam drawled as he tipped an invisible cowboy hat. "You can thank me when I'm best man at your wedding."

"Hah. Enjoy fighting Cooper to the death for that." Blaine peeled off his shirt to reveal a few more tattoos. "No one will ever want to marry me anyway."

He smiled in a knowing way that broke Sam's heart a little. He wasn't even joking either, Blaine truly believed that. Sam said a little prayer that Blaine would make his mind up at this photo shoot.

*songs used:

Scars-Jamies Bay

Don't You- Darren Criss

Gorgeous- Taylor Swift