From the Archives of Blaine Anderson's Text Messages

Friday, November 6th, 2020

Sam: Bro, I gotta tell you something

Blaine: ok?

Sam: Don't be mad at me

Blaine: Me? Mad at you? Never.

Sam haha very funny. Just promise

Blaine: Fine. Promise.

Sam: Pinky promise

Blaine: Geeze, fine! are you in jail or something? Did you kill a man?

Sam: No… I invited Kurt to the wedding, and I just got his RSVP. He's coming. He ordered the chicken.

Blaine: Ok. Why would I be mad about that? And why do I need to know what he ordered?

Sam: I dunno, man. I just thought maybe you wouldn't want him there. And the meal makes it more real!

Blaine: Sam, it's your wedding! You can invite whoever you want. I know you still keep in touch with him.

Blaine: Plus, it's been nearly 8 years since we've broken up. I haven't even really talked to him in ages. If I'm not over it by now, I'd be living a sad life.

Sam: True. There's at least 10 other things that make your life sad though

Blaine: Wow. I accept the duty of best man and this is what I get?

Sam: You bet. And there's plenty more where that came from.

Sam: So you're not mad?

Blaine: No Sam, not even a little. It'll actually be nice to see him. It'll be nice to see everyone from High School.

Sam: Yeah. I figure what a better way to bring us all back together. And if anyone can get a party going it's the New Directions

Blaine: If they manage to get Brie's family to dance I'll give you $50

Sam: I'll take that bet.

Blaine: It's still beyond me how a girl like Brielle comes from such a stuck up and stuffy family.

Sam: It's one of the great mysteries of the universe. But at least I found the one in the bunch without a stick up her butt.

Blaine: By the way, I got dropped from my shift at the diner tonight, so I don't need you guys to take Kenzie.

Sam: Alright, cool. If anything changes, let me know!

Brielle: Can I steal Kenzie tomorrow for the last dress fittings?

Blaine: She has a doctor's appointment at 10 but after that, she's all yours

Brielle: YAY! Thanks! I want her to really feel like she's a part of all this. Can't have the poor thing getting scared on the big day.

Blaine: I just think you want to steal her in general. Abduct her, and keep her as your own.

Brielle: PSH. NO. NEVER. What gives you that idea?

Blaine: haha. I'll drop her off around noon?

Brielle: Perfect. Why the doctors anyway? Everything ok?

Blaine: Yeah she's fine. Just the normal routine.

Brielle: Ok good. Wouldn't want our little princess being sick.

Blaine: Yeah especially since you're taking care of her tomorrow :P

Brielle: Yeah, I really don't need your child puking on her flower girl dress.

Blaine: I'll make sure I lay down that ground rule ahead of time

Brielle: Thanks, B. Love ya.

Blaine set down his phone as both conversations ended, internally chuckling at how Sam and Brielle were probably both sitting down at the same table for breakfast. And both decided to spend that time texting him. The two were stupidly in love, and Blaine couldn't help but smile over the fact that he'd introduced them. He couldn't help but smile when it seemed he was as important to the relationship as either one of the actual participants. He was thrilled to have friends like Sam and Brielle, especially since he'd slowly lost touch with many of his other former peers.

There was good reason, however. Blaine had been particularly busy the past few years. Five years and 2 months to be exact. Everything he had planned for his life was suddenly put on hold for a special little lady. "Mackenzie! Are you ready for school?" Blaine called out into his apartment. It was a small place, just enough for him and his daughter. Just what they could afford. Their bedrooms were small, and there was not enough room for a table to eat meals, but they made due with the counter and a couple of high-seated chairs.

"Daddy, I'm stuck!" came a cry from the bedroom on the right side of the little hallway. From the doorway appeared a tiny figure, not quite 3 foot tall, wearing beat up pink converse with grey leggings and a denim jumper over a white long sleeved shirt. Big, slightly teary, hazel eyes glazed toward Blaine, and it took the man a moment to see what was wrong. The girl was topped by a head of thick, impossibly curly blonde hair. And in that hair, was a brush, hanging by the side of the five year old's face. Blaine chuckled at the sight, walking over and kneeling in front of his daughter. "It's NOT funny!" the child insisted, arms crossing in front of her chest.

"You're right. I'm sorry," Blaine said sweetly, as he began untangling the hair that had entrapped the brush. "I'm also sorry that you inherited my curls and then some," Blaine added, although Mackenzie didn't quite understand what that meant. She was too preoccupied with tensing up every time Blaine pulled at the brush to ask too many questions about the meaning of 'inherited'. It took quite a bit of tugging and untangling and quite a few 'ouch'es before the brush was free once more, and Blaine could help finish getting Mackenzie ready.

He lifted his little girl up onto the kitchen counter so he could tie her shoes. While Kenzie had the basic mechanics of shoe tying down, her work never seemed to last more than twenty minutes, so Blaine still made a habit of tying her laces before going out for the day. Mackenzie happily kicked her free foot slightly as Blaine tied the knots in her shoes. "Can we go to the pawk after school today?" Mackenzie asked hopefully, as her father tended to her second shoe.

"It's really cold out today, Kenz. We'll see. And you have a doctor's appointment tomorrow," Blaine started. Before he could even finish his statement, his daughter groaned in protest, the kicking of her feet becoming slightly more violent. "Kenzie, stop. You know it's something we have to do. And I don't want the cold hurting your knees any more than it already does." Blaine hated the look of disappointment on Mackenzie's face, but he knew he'd have to stand his ground on the issue. While he always encouraged fun and play, he couldn't sacrifice his daughter's health. The man was glad he had something to counter his daughter's disappointment, though.

"And if your knees hurt tomorrow, you won't be able to go get your dress with Auntie Brie," Blaine finally added, smiling as his daughter's face lit back up brighter than it had been all morning.

The little girl's hazel eyes gleamed the mention of her aunt, and of her dress. Mackenzie wasn't a girl who was typically thrilled by the prospect of shopping and dress up, but she understood that this trip meant getting her flower girl dress. And she was certainly excited to be a flower girl at her Uncle Sam and Aunt Brielle's wedding. "Really!? I can get my dwess!?" Mackenzie asked excitedly. "And bwing it home and pwactice for the wedding?" The little girl was practically bouncing off the counter with excitement now, her 'r' sounds becomming muddled the faster she talked.

"Only if you're good at your doctor's appointment… and if you're not hurting too much after," Blaine added, realizing Brie wouldn't want to spend her day carrying around a child when it was supposed to be about her. Though Mackenzie's appointment had been going fairly well lately, and Blaine didn't anticipate much of a problem.

"Ok. I'll be good! I'll be the BESTEST," Mackenzie promised, sticking out her pinky. Blaine locked his pinky with his daughters once he finished the last knot in her shoe laces. He leaned forward and kissed Mackenzie's forehead.

"Good. Now let's get you bundled up and off to school."