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"One final question, Mr Anderson, and then you can go. Why do you want to leave Parkside?"

Blaine swallows hard, and tries to think of a decent answer. He knows he's given a good interview. He knows he's answered all the questions thoroughly, and he hopes the panel now think he's a good teacher with strong leadership skills and a good heart...so now what?

"Uh..." He clears his throat and tries to collect himself. "I'm gay," he says in a steady, level voice. He knows the principal knows this already, but he's unsure if the rest of the panel are aware. "This past year has been hard for me at Parkside. I've enjoyed my job, but the reaction of parents and staff to my relationship has made it almost impossible to stay."

"Explain from the beginning, Blaine," the principal suggests gently. "Let the panel get the whole picture."

"Okay. I uh, I moved from New York to take the position. I was single. Even so, I was honest in my interview and mentioned my sexuality to the principal. She advised me not to mention it in my second interview, so I didn't. Shortly after starting there, I met Kurt. Danny, his son, is in my class. Kurt and I started to date, and we're about to get married in August. Danny is...well, I've come to think of Danny as my son too, and we're in the process of me adopting him. The parents at Parkside, and some of the staff, are kind of um...very against it all."

"So you're running away?"

The question from the school board director takes Blaine off guard, and he blinks like an owl, taking a while to recover. Suddenly, he remembers the night Kurt had told him why he left New York, and his words come back to him.

"I have a duty," he says solemnly. "When I accepted Kurt's proposal, I didn't just commit to becoming his husband. I also promised to be a father, and I have a duty to be the best father I can be, and to keep my boy safe. I can't do that at Parkside. Is it running away? Yes, if you want to look at it like that. Maybe, if it was just me, I'd tough it out. I'd try to change people's opinions and perceptions. It's not just me though. It's Kurt and it's Danny too. Whatever happens here, today, Danny still needs to be in a school that will be tolerant and understanding, because he's always gonna be the kid with two dads. I don't mind that, and he doesn't mind it either, but none of us want him to be the kid who's bullied because of it. As for me, and this job, when I was told about this school it was like a dream come true. I was sure it couldn't really be as amazing as it all seemed, but then we visited unexpectedly. The words over the door to the kindergarten? They reignited all the passion I ever had for teaching. It felt like coming home. I strongly feel that this is where me and my family belong. I don't see it as running away, I see it as moving on to a happier, better, and brighter future as a family."

"So it went well?"

"I think so," Blaine says, as he drives home. "I find out on Monday."

"Ugh. Sucks, having to wait the whole weekend."

"I know. Hey, they asked why I was leaving Parkside, and one of the guys said I was running away."

"He said what? Don't tell me we're gonna come up against the same old..." Kurt stops himself, remembering just in time that Danny is sitting in the back. "You're not running away."

"I know that. So does he, now. He's not gonna be homophobic, is he? On the board of a school like that. I think he was just trying to challenge me. It made me give a better answer, I think. More comprehensive."

"What did you say?"

"What you told me when you left New York. It's not running away, it's wanting to be the best father I can be, and I can't do that while I work at Parkside."

"I'm proud of you," Kurt says, taking his hand. "Hey, shall we go by and look at our house?"

"It's not our house, Kurt," Blaine says with a laugh. "We haven't even applied for a mortgage, or tried to sell the apartment."

"It's our house."

"Kurt, I admire your enthusiasm and optimism, but if I don't get this job I'm gonna hate myself forever."

"It's meant to be, Blaine, I'm telling you. Now take a left."

They pull up outside the house, Kurt takes Danny from the car, and together they walk into the yard to take a closer look. Blaine sighs and leans back in his seat, wishing Kurt didn't look so utterly happy and beautiful, as he lifts Danny onto his hip and starts pointing things out. He had gone from being the reluctant one, to being the one who was most excited of all, and despite his reassurances that he would support Blaine no matter what happens, Blaine still feels sick with nerves. He jumps about a foot when his phone rings, and snatches it up right away.

"Hello?"

"Blaine? Rachel Price here, principal of Ottawa Hills Academy."

"Yes?"

"Blaine, we were going to deliberate over this on Monday, but as it is, the board has come to a unanimous decision already. We'd like to offer you the job of Kindergarten teacher, and we would also welcome the opportunity to have Danny in our school. Your son is a credit to you and Mr Hummel, and we think you will be a valuable asset to the teaching staff here."

"I got it?"

Rachel smiles over the phone, when she hears the excited, almost hysterical, edge to his voice. "You got it."

"Yes! I mean, yes, please, thank you. I accept. And for Danny too, I mean, he loves the school already and...oh gosh. Thank you. Just...thank you."

"It's my pleasure. We were very impressed with both you and Danny, and I'm so happy you'll accept. I'll let you go and enjoy your weekend, and I'll send you all the information in an email on Monday. We'll be seeing you soon, Blaine."

He tries to play it cool, he really does, as he steps from the car and walks slowly towards Kurt and Danny, but then Kurt turns, catching his eye, and he can't help but grin, throwing his arms up in the air. "I got it!" he yells, his shout echoing off the houses. "I got the job!"

Blaine arrives on Monday for his final week of work at Parkside. He feels like a new man already, and happily swings Danny's hand as they walk down the hallway together.

"Excited?"

"Yes!" Danny squeaks, as he skips alongside. "I hope we can buy that house."

"We can. We will. The apartment is up for sale already, and the bank should let us know today if we can get the money needed to buy the house and restore it. It's gonna cost a lot of money, but it'll be worth it in the end."

"And I will get my room to be yellow, if I want?"

"Of course."

"And we will go to school together just like we do now, only it's that school in the Ottawa that's not in Canada?"

"You know that," Blaine says, laughing. "You've asked me that at least five times already this morning."

"I know, I just like hearing you say it. Dylan will be close?"

"Dylan will be very close. I'm not sure which school he'll be in, but we'll see him all the time, I promise."

"Cool. Papa?"

"Yes?"

"What will daddy do? If you and me are busy in our new school, where will daddy go? Will he still go to Target?"

"No he won't," Blaine says, as he unlocks the classroom and shows Danny inside. "I'm not sure what he's going to do yet, but he'll figure something out, I'm sure."

Kurt knows it's lax to call off the rest of his shift with a migraine, especially when he's only got one week of work left, and especially when he doesn't even have a migraine anyway, but he does feel stressed as hell, and he needs comfort and support from one person in particular.

"Dad?"

"Hey!" Burt rolls out from under a Ford, looking up in surprise. "No work?"

"I left early. I wondered if we could talk before Blaine and Danny finish school?"

"Of course! Gimme ten minutes and I'll knock off too. We can go home."

Kurt likes that his dad still calls it his home too. He likes that Burt guides him to the couch and forces him to sit while he makes coffee, and he likes that when he does sit down next to him, it's with an arm around Kurt's shoulders, and a reassuring kiss to the top of his head.

"Out with it then."

"I am...thrilled with everything right now," Kurt starts, sounding anything but. "Blaine has an amazing new job, Danny is in the most perfect school we could have imagined for him, and it looks likely we'll get this house for a knock down rate. It's all going to be amazing."

"I agree," Burt says, sipping at his coffee. "From a purely selfish point of view I'm absolutely delighted you're staying so close by."

"I just don't know where I'm gonna fit in it all. It's like... like I get really excited about it all, you know? And I'm rolling along in this happy bubble of celebrations and successes, and feeling like yes, this is all meant to be, and where we belong, and then...then suddenly I realize I don't even know what I want to do anymore. For my job, I mean. I know I don't want to stay at Target. I know I don't want to teach at any university anymore, and I just...don't know what I do want to do."

"Kurt, you've been this way since you were a little boy. I see the same hesitance in Danny sometimes. I gotta say, you've gotten better at taking risks since Blaine came along, but I do understand why you keep feeling this way. It's not easy, to just hope something will come along. I get that. Tell me why you don't want to teach anymore."

"I think, since that incident at NYU, I just feel tired of teaching these talented kids who give no effort, you know? That was why I lost it with that boy. He had so much there, he's at one of the best colleges for theatre in the world, with all the education, equipment and support he could need, and he's just pissing it all away. I'm fed up with seeing it. There are kids out there who would give anything to have that level of education, to be able to afford to go to college out of state... I just don't feel like they appreciate it."

"Okay. I get that. Having worked hard for everything I have, I know where you're coming from."

"So what do I do?"

"Well, I know what I think you should do. You might not agree with me of course. You usually don't."

Kurt gives a laugh and rests his head on his dad's shoulder again. "Go on, tell me."

"I think you should teach at a community college."

"What?!"

"Calm down, I'm not suggesting you go work in some foreign country. Think about it, Kurt. You're super qualified and extremely good at your job. You have a natural talent for musical theatre, and you could pass that along to students who would never otherwise get the chance to have that standard of teaching."

Kurt hides his face behind his hands and gives a groan, while his dad gives a laugh. "Yeah, okay, I knew it. You hate the idea. Well, it was just a thought."

"I hate that."

"I know. I said I thought you would. It's just that you're so good, and I still see that same enthusiasm for theatre. I hear you, watching movies with Danny, and telling him how you would stage it, or picking up a book and telling Blaine it should be a musical."

"I hate it."

"No you don't, you hate my suggestion."

"How do you do this?"

"Do what?"

"Get it so right?" Pulling his hands away from his face, Kurt turns to look at his dad. "I don't hate your suggestion, I hate that you're right about it all. I hate that you know me better than I know myself. Well, I don't hate that, I'm very grateful. It's just annoying, you know? I like to be right."

"I know you do, but I'm your dad. You and Blaine will be the same with Danny when he's older, trust me."

"Somehow I don't think anyone will ever be as great a dad as Burt Hummel."

"Oh hush. So you'll consider it?"

"Consider it?" Kurt cries. He smiles widely and kisses his dad's cheek. "I don't need to consider it, it's perfect! It fits me like a glove, doesn't it?"

"I think so, yeah. You just need to see if there are any jobs available."

"Will you help me?"

"I'll sit next to you while you look on the computer, if that's what you're asking."

"Thank you," Kurt says, hugging him hard, and somehow, Burt knows he's thanking him for a whole lot more.

Blaine bends over to pick up the last remnants of tissue paper from the floor, and straightens up sharply when someone whistles from behind him. "You..." he says, blushing when he sees Kurt lounging in the doorway. "I was panicked for a moment there."

"I came to invite my boys out for dinner."

"Hmm, well one of your boys is down the hall annoying the janitor while I clean up here."

"In that case, I came to kiss my big boy, and then when the other one arrives I'll reissue the invite."

He grins, coming closer until he can wrap his arms around Blaine's neck and kiss him slowly. "Hmm, that feels good."

"We're in my classroom."

"I know, believe me. If it were anywhere slightly less wholesome I'd be tempted to do a lot more."

"Kurt! Why aren't you at work, anyway?"

"I left early. I needed to figure some stuff out, so I went to see dad."

"Am I gonna like this?"

"Yes! Oh gosh, Blaine, no second thoughts, trust me on that. I'm um... I'm going to try going back to teaching, but at community college instead."

Blaine pulls back, looking him in the eye to check he's not being pranked. "You're serious," he says softly. "You found it. You found your place."

"I did. There's a part time position at a college on the other side of town. It's only three days, but I've also emailed every other community college in the area, and asked them to please keep me on file."

"You're amazing."

"I'm scared."

"Don't be," Blaine says, kissing his lips. "Oh Kurt, don't be, please. You are such a wonderful person. They'll know, as soon as they meet you, that you're the best person for the job."

"I hope so."

"We got our mortgage approved." Blaine says it so quietly, that Kurt almost misses it, but then he catches on, and his eyes go wide as he grips Blaine's forearms.

"We did?"

"We did. So first thing tomorrow, we're good to make an offer."

"Oh Jesus. Now I'm even more scared."

"Why? This is where you want to be, isn't it? What you want to do?"

"Absolutely. I think that's the problem. I want it so bad."

"I've told you before, you deserve nothing but good things, and I think those good things are starting to happen."

"We'll be getting married before we know it."

"We will." Blaine smiles and kisses Kurt's cheek, and then his lips, lingering and opening his mouth wider. The first brush of their tongues has Kurt giving a small whimper, prompting Blaine to start walking him backwards.

"Where are you...?"

"Supplies closet."

"Blaine!"

He backs them inside and closes the door, plunging them into blackness. "Just kisses I swear, nothing more. I just can't do that out there." Then his mouth is on Kurt's again, hot and demanding. Kurt doesn't know what he stumbles into, but he then finds himself backed against some kind of shelving unit, as Blaine kisses him over and over, his tongue teasing and making Kurt's heart race.

"Papa? Where are you?"

"Damnit," Blaine mutters. He pulls back immediately, but Kurt moans and tries to chase his lips again.

"One more."

"We can't."

"Papa?"

"I promise you my total and utter devotion later tonight."

"I can work with that."

"Are you in the closet?"

"No," Blaine says, throwing open the door and stepping into the classroom. "I came out of there years ago."

"Mr Anderson."

"Oh. Principal Barnes. Hi." He knows he blushes immediately, and he knows Kurt is currently dying behind him. While Danny clearly has no clue why they've both been in the closet, she does, and the disgust is written all over her face.

"You're very lucky it's your last week," she snaps, then spins on her heel and walks away without another word.

"Daddy!" Danny cries happily. "You're home! Not home. Here. But with us. That's what I mean."

"I am." Kurt kisses his son and takes his hand in his. "I was wondering if I could take you and Blaine on a date, what do you say?"

"I say yes!" Danny cries, jumping on the spot. "I love dates, remember? Let's go!"

Blaine takes Danny's hand on the other side, and together they walk their son from the class, sharing a knowing smirk all the way.