Hi, I'm sorry it's so late, I'm sure it's still Sunday in a lot of places.

Busy, busy week, so no review replies, and I'm afraid I won't be able to do them next week either. I'll do my very best to get a chapter out next week Sunday, but I can't make any promises. I've got a few days off of work and I've got a ton of stuff planned, but I'll try my best, I promise!

Enjoy!

SB CH 9

"Thanks, again, Dad," Kurt said as he slumped down onto the couch. He had just returned from his trip in New York. He had hoped to see Emma when he came home, but thanks to delays and heavy traffic it was nearing midnight, so his daughter was already fast asleep in her own bed. He had thrown a look into Emma's room, but the girl was dead to the world, and he didn't have the heart wake her up.

"You're welcome. You deserved a break. Did you have fun?"

"Not counting the delays… I… Yeah, I did," Kurt said, smiling to himself. "I ran into Chandler."

Burt raised his eyebrows, curious. "Oh?"

"Hmm, yeah, I… Uhm, I kinda panicked." Kurt didn't look his father in the eye. "I might have told him Blaine and I were there on a romantic getaway."

"You did what?"

Kurt shrugged, playing with the hem of his shirt. "I don't know, I just… I didn't want him to think I was alone and desperate and… ugh, I don't know, Dad. I don't know why I did it." He frowned. Why did he do it? He could have easily told Chandler he was visiting a friend, which he was. Why did he have to make things unnecessarily complicated?

"I think I do," Burt said. Kurt turned his head and looked intrigued. "I think you didn't want him to think you need him. You want to show him you're doing okay on your own, that you're utterly and completely over him."

"I… Yeah, that might be it." Kurt nodded slowly, mulling over his father's theory. "I am. Over him, I mean. He was an ass, leaving me like he did."

"He was," Burt agreed.

"I can't believe… I never thought…" Kurt shook his head. "He wasn't the man I fell in love with when he left me. Or maybe he was, and I was just in love with this picture of him I created in my head. I don't know."

"I think he didn't want the same things as you," Burt answered. "You wanted a family; he wanted a career."

"But I thought he wanted a family too. I can't believe he blamed our failing marriage on Emma. She was two! How could she have anything to do with it?" Kurt asked.

"Maybe he did want a family, but not the responsibility that came with it. He wanted everything to be easy. It's not Emma's fault. Children are never easy, no matter how healthy or sick they are."

Kurt nodded. His dad always made sense.

"Does Blaine want a family?" Burt asked, trying to sound indifferent.

"Dad!" Kurt looked scandalized.

"What?" Burt grinned. "Come on, Kurt. I'm curious. Did you figure out your feelings for Blaine?"

"I…" Kurt was silent for a moment. Blaine had told him he wanted a family. He had told him he'd give it all up, his career, New York, just for the right guy. And Kurt did figure out his feelings. He was falling in love with Blaine, but he was pretty sure he wasn't that right guy for Blaine. "It's complicated."

"It's not," Burt contradicted. "Either you like him in more than a friendly way, or you don't."

"Dad," Kurt protested. "It's not that simple. It's Emma; it's the situation; it's the fact that we live hours apart."

"So you like him," Burt stated.

Kurt sighed, resting his head against the back of the couch. "I do. He's… he's amazing. He's sweet; he's great with Emma; he makes me feel things I haven't felt in years. He took me to Wicked, Dad!"

"Ah, finding the way to my son's heart through musicals. I think this man knows what he's doing."

Kurt smile faltered. "I don't think he feels the same way, though. There were some moments… where I- slipped up, but he never mentioned any of them."

"Maybe he's just afraid. It's quite an unusual situation you've got here. He's the biological father of your daughter, to whom he doesn't have any legal claim at all. Maybe he thinks you're just nice to him because you need him."

"But he's so, he's so lovable," Kurt said mindlessly. "He does these little things, and I just, I don't see him as Emma's biological father who gave up all his rights. I see him as Blaine, my friend, potentially more, who has a great connection with my daughter already. Who she loves, and who I could possibly love." Kurt sighed and shook his head. "I shouldn't get ahead of myself. Maybe it's for the best if nothing happens. It is already a complicated situation. A relationship would only complicate it further."

"The heart wants what the heart wants, Kurt. Don't think too much about it, just feel, okay?"

…

"Blaine is coming tomorrow; Blaine is coming tomooo-ooorroo-oow!" Emma was yelling from the top of her lunges.

"I knoo-oow," Kurt replied, laughing. "I didn't think you'd be this exited. It means you have surgery soon."

Emma frowned as she looked up at Kurt. "I… yeah, that's not so much fun."

"It's gonna be okay, you know that, right?" Kurt asked, as he sat down on the couch next to her. "You know what's going to happen?"

Emma nodded. "They're going to make a little cut here." She pointed at her stomach. "And put one of Blaine's kidneys, one that's working, in my belly." She held up her stuffed kidney she had gotten from the doctor a few weeks prior. When her doctor had explained the surgery to her, she had given Emma the toy so she would know what was actually happening within her body. "But it's not as this one. It's actually very small!"

"That's right, and after the surgery you need to stay a few days in the hospital, but you won't be alone because Blaine's gonna be there with you."

She nodded. "And you'll be there during the day!"

"I will," Kurt agreed. "And Grandma and Grandpa will come to visit and Uncle Finn."

"And I'll get presents! Tons and tons of presents!"

Kurt chuckled. "Probably."

"Papa…"

"Yes?" Kurt cocked his head as his daughter was frowning. She was sucking on her bottom lip and staring at her lap, deep in thought. Sometimes he wished he could read her mind, so he would always know what was bothering her. "Are you afraid?"

"No." She shook her head, making her curls bounce wildly.

"Then what's wrong?"

"Why is Blaine giving me his kidney? Why not you?"

Kurt sucked in a breath. He should have been expecting this question, really. Why would a stranger suddenly come in the picture and donate a kidney? It was a reasonable question, even for an eight-year-old. His daughter wasn't dumb. On the contrary. "Well, it's a bit complicated. If I could give you my kidney, I would." Kurt ran a hand trough her curls, twisting some between his fingers. "You see, people have different types of blood."

"How?" Emma asked as she looked up at her father curiously.

"I'm not a scientist, Sweetheart, but, some people have type A, others type B. You're a B, so that means you can only get another kidney from people that are a B. Does that make sense?"

She nodded. "And you're not a B?"

"No, I'm an A. If I was a B I'd give you one of my kidneys in a heartbeat."

"How come Blaine's a B, like me?"

What now? He could say it was just a coincidence. That Blaine happened to have the same blood type as her, after all there were only four blood types; it would be a logical explanation. Or he could tell her the truth.

"You know how Blaine has thick black curls?"

"Like mine!" Emma smiled. "I like his hair."

"Yeah, like yours. There's a reason you two have the same hair," Kurt continued, still playing with Emma's curls. "He… uhm… You remember how I told you your biological parents were very young when you were born and they couldn't take care of you? So they gave you to me to take care of you?"

"Yeah, you said they put me on this world to send me to the man that was supposed to my Papa, you!" Emma smiled brightly at him.

"That's right." Kurt paused for a moment, and helped Emma sit on his lap so she could hug him. Her head rested on his chest and he held her close. "And I'm so happy you're with me. I love you so much." His voice was quivering.

"I love you, too," Emma replied. "You're the best papa in the whole world."

"Oh, Sweetheart." Kurt shook his head and cuddled her even closer.

"He's my biological daddy, isn't he?" Emma asked, her voice very quiet.

Closing his eyes to stop the tears from staining his cheeks, Kurt nodded. "Yeah." They sat in silence for a few minutes. Kurt held Emma tight against him, as if she would disappear if he loosened his grip even a little bit. "It's not… it doesn't mean anything, really," he continued. "You're still my daughter."

"I know," Emma replied. "Is my biological mommy here as well?"

"No, she's somewhere in New York." Kurt didn't want to talk about Rachel; it would only make things more complicated. "She's not going to be here. Blaine's here because he wants to help you."

"Okay." Emma nodded against Kurt's chest.

…

Blaine was nervous. No, scratch that, Blaine was borderline hysterical. He was standing in front of Kurt's door, and he just hadn't the guts to lift his hand and ring the bell. Lady was sitting at his feet, her head cocked to the side and her tongue lolled out. She was looking up at Blaine with her wide black eyes and he sighed. "I'm pathetic, Girl." He shook his head and tried to gather some courage. It was just Kurt. Beautiful, compassionate, near-perfect Kurt, and his daughter, who now knew he was her biological father. Kurt had called him a few days prior, informing him he had told Emma.

"Blaine?"

The door suddenly opened and Blaine looked up with wide eyes.

"How long have you been standing there? Emma said she'd heard a car pull up, but that was almost 10 minutes ago."

"I…" Not knowing what to say, Blaine shrugged. He had taken a cab from the airport. Kurt had offered to pick him up, but Blaine honestly hadn't minded the silent ride here to gather his thoughts.

"Blaine, are you okay?"

He should say something. Kurt sounded really concerned. "I'm okay. Hi, sorry." He shook himself from his daze.

"O-okay…" Kurt raised an eyebrow. "Well, don't just stand there, come in."

Blaine nodded and followed Kurt into the house. He looked surprised as the living room had been rearranged. A bed was installed in a corner, a wardrobe was strategically placed next to it, and a privacy screen was at the foot of the bed, creating a little sheltered corner.

"I know you refuse to take my room," Kurt said with his signature eye roll, "so I got my dad to bring my old bed here and tried to make a little private place for you. I know it's not much, but we don't have an extra room, so this was the best I could come up with."

"Kurt," Blaine's voice quivered. "You didn't have to."

"I couldn't let you sleep on the couch the whole summer, now could I? It was nothing."

Blaine's head was all over the place. Kurt was standing there, smiling at him with this weird look in his eyes, and all he wanted to do was grab Kurt and kiss him senseless. He had almost done it a few weeks ago, when Kurt was in New York, but something came up every time he was gathering the courage to do so. Blaine loved Kurt. He was in love with Kurt. He was in love with his daughter's father, how messed up and utterly right sounded that at the same time? "Kurt…"

"Now, I wasn't sure what to do about Lady, so I got a dog blanket at the pet store and put it next to your bed. I also got some bowls and food. They're in the kitchen," Kurt said as he leaned down to scratch Lady behind her ears. He looked up at Blaine with a wide smile. "Emma's been looking forward to seeing you again."

"How… uhm… you told her..."

"I did," Kurt said, as he stood back up. "Is that why you're so nervous?"

Blaine nodded shortly.

"Oh, don't be. She hasn't mentioned it since I told her. I don't think she really cares."

"I don't want her to hate me," Blaine confessed, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Why would she hate you?" Kurt frowned. "Oh, because of the adoption? Blaine…" Kurt stepped closer and wound his arms around Blaine's shoulders, pulling him close. "Don't. She doesn't hate you. I always told her you and Rachel brought her into the world to bring her to her Papa." He could feel Blaine relax in his embrace, and his stomach swooped as Blaine put his hands around his waist and buried his face in Kurt's neck. "She was asking questions; I wanted her to know the truth. It'll be okay, you'll see." He could feel Blaine nod. With some disappointment he pulled back. "Emma, look who's here, Sweetie."

"Blaine?!" Emma came wheeling out of her room and into the living room in an instant. She looked like she was about to hug him before stopping a few feet from the man. She looked thoughtful for a moment. "Hi."

"Hey, Ems," Blaine said, still nervous. "I've missed you."

Emma nodded and looked anxiously at Kurt.

"Emma, what's wrong?" Kurt looked puzzled. "You were so excited to see Blaine."

She looked from her father to Blaine and sucked her bottom lip in her mouth, chewing on it, a nervous habit she had developed. "You're not going to take me away, right?"

"What?" Blaine asked.

"Emma, what are you talking about," Kurt sunk down so he was on eye-level with her. "Why would you think that?"

"Because he's my daddy, but I don't want to leave you Papa, I don't!" She shook her head fervently.

"Oh, Emma," Kurt sighed as he pulled her in a hug. "Have you been thinking that?" He closed his eyes as he felt her nod against his chest. "Sweetheart, of course not. You're staying here with me for the rest of your life, I promise."

Blaine bit his lip as he knelt down to look at her. "Emma, I'm not… I love you, okay, and I might be your biological father, but your papa raised you. He's your father. I'm just happy to know you. I'll never take you away from your papa, okay?"

She looked at him and nodded slowly.

"But you need to tell me something, little girl. If you're not comfortable with me staying at you and your papa's home, you need to tell me, and I'll find someplace else to stay." Blaine shook his head as Kurt started to protest. "I get that this is very confusing for you, but I just want what's best for you. That's why I gave you to your papa, because he's what's best for you."

"No, you can stay. Papa put a lot of work in your room."

"Well, he's pretty amazing like that, isn't he? He even lied and said it was no work at all."

Just like that, the ice was broken as Emma laughed. She held out her little arms so Blaine could give her a quick hug and a kiss against her cheek. "I brought an extra guest," Blaine told her, as he turned around to pick Lady up from the couch where she was already settled, making herself comfortable.

Emma's jaw dropped and her eyes widened as Blaine placed the small dog on her lap. "You have a dog?"

"I have," Blaine said. "Meet Lady. Lady, this is Emma."

"Papa didn't tell me you have a dog. What kind is she? Is she nice? Will she like me? Can I play with her? I always wanted a dog, but Papa never let me have one!" Emma exclaimed delightedly, hardly able to contain her excitement.

"And now you'll see exactly why. A dog is a lot of work," Kurt told her, but his words were ignored, as Lady was already enthusiastically licking at Emma's face, making the girl giggle with delight. He shook his head as he exchanged a look with Blaine. For a moment there, he had been afraid, but he was pretty sure everything would turn out fine.