The next morning, Blaine woke up on a leather couch with sunlight streaming through the window. For a moment, he was stunned. He had never really had the opportunity to spend the whole night with Kurt, so it was odd waking up in his apartment. Then the rush of memories from last night came, reminding him exactly what he had done. He rolled over and rubbed his eyes, surprised that they hurt as much as they did. Obviously an ocean of tears had been shed, but the pain in his eyes was excruciating. On instinct, he checked his phone to see if anyone had left him any messages, but found none.

He wandered into the kitchen, just trying to figure out where Kurt had gone. He wouldn't be able to handle this by himself, as he had obviously proven last night. The other man was there, already impeccably dressed of course, drumming his fingers on the granite countertop as he waited on the coffee. Even with all the events of last night, Blaine still felt a smile cross his lips as he looked upon the impatient man.

"Hey," he whispered. His throat was no doubt scratchy from crying, and he was beyond hoarse. "I thought making coffee here was the bane of your existence. Normally, you prefer to have it made by a barista." Kurt turned and shrugged, moving closer as did.

"Well, I wasn't sure what time you were going to wake up, and I didn't want to leave you here, just in case you did." They stood there for another minute, silently processing what had occurred the night before.

"So, what are we going to do?" Blaine finally asked, choosing to be the one to break the tension: Even though Kurt was impatient, he was even more stubborn. Kurt sighed and leaned towards him.

"I don't know, do you think we should talk about this?" He wrapped his arms around the shorter man's waist and leaned his head against his chest. "I mean, you don't know how horrible I feel about this whole mess. If it wasn't for me, your life wouldn't be a mess and you would probably be playing with Valerie." He heard Blaine's heartbeat speed up when he mentioned the little girl, and felt the deep, shuddering breath he took. Blaine looked down and pulled Kurt's face up so they could look at each other.

"Kurt, without you, I wouldn't be honest with myself about who I am, and I would be stuck in a marriage with a woman I didn't love. And now I know who she really is, funny how I didn't really see what a bitch she is until last night, so I certainly won't be missing her," he replied easily, though they both knew he was careful not to mention Valerie.

"But what about your daughter. How exactly did she react to this?" They hadn't really gone into detail last night. Well, Blaine tried, but he wasn't in any state to have a lengthy conversation. Tears sprung to his hazel eyes as he slipped out of Kurt's arms and sunk to the tile to lean back against the half-wall.

"It was horrible," he whispered into his hands. Kurt crouched down on his knees so he could hear. "She cried and screamed. And the worst part about the whole thing was that she bothered so much by the fact that I was leaving, but that I was leaving without her. I mean, even as Cassidy closed the door behind me, I could still hear her as she tried to get out of her mother's grasp. And then the whole time Cassidy and her sister are just glaring at me because their going to try to keep me from being able to see her." He told the whole story haltingly, stopping to take breaths or to let a few wayward tears out. After he finished, he looked up only to see a horrorstruck expression on Kurt's face, eyes wide and a pale hand pressed over his mouth.

"Oh my God, Blaine, I am so sorry. Shit, I never thought something like that would happen when you told me you were going to tell her! But she can't just keep her from you, it won't be allowed." Before he could finish, Blaine was shaking his head.

"She can if she gets my father on her side. He absolutely hates gays, so he'll be all for her having full custody and no visitation rights for me. He's always seen me as a disappointment, no matter how well I did. I think the only time I remember him being proud of me was my wedding day." He looked up, only to find Kurt's eyes brimming with tears as well. "Damn it," he sighed "you never should have gotten involved with someone like me. Someone with too much emotional baggage. Someone who couldn't even be out with you until now, a year later."

"I've asked myself a few times why I love you. I mean, we're different in so many ways. And yeah, a few times I've been frustrated because I couldn't show affection out in public with you. I honestly thought, and I'm telling you this now because I hope you won't be angry, about breaking things off with you and finding another guy who I could be with openly. Then I realized, that nothing really mattered, so long as I knew you loved me." Blaine reached up and cupped Kurt's cheek before leaning in and kissing him soundly on the mouth before the ring of his phone interrupted them. He smiled as he checked the message.

"That's my sister, telling me that I'm supposed to meet her for lunch at eleven so we can talk about what I'm -what' we're- going to do about this. Do you want to come with me? I'll feel so much better if you came with me. And it's about time you met her, don't you think?" Kurt smiled and nodded. "Okay, just let me go take a shower and get dressed, then we'll go." He smiled again and leaned in for another lingering kiss.

In the span of just thirty minutes -something Kurt thought was impossible- Blaine was finished with his shower, finished dressing, and was putting on his shoes. Kurt came in as he was zipping the bag up.

"So, are we ready to go?" Blaine nodded and shot him a half smile.

"Yeah, one second." Kurt couldn't be sure, but it looked as if Blaine was putting a small pill bottle back into his bag. He smiled and linked their hands, and together they walked out of the apartment.

~.~.~.~

The second the pair arrived at the restaurant, Rachel jumped and attacked her brother in a tight hug. Kurt stepped a few inches back, letting the siblings have their reunion. He smiled slightly, happy to see that Blaine obviously had someone other than himself to confide in. When they pulled apart, he immediately felt the other man's arm wrap tightly around his waist, practically gluing their sides together.

"So I take it this is the guy you told me about yesterday when you called?" she asked warmly, no hint of anger or judgment in her voice. Blaine nodded as they sat down. "Well," she continued "he certainly is handsome. I really can't blame you, especially if you love him." All of a sudden, Kurt felt a rush of affection towards her, although they had just met. She was a very pretty girl, with brown hair and brown eyes. As he looked between the two of them, it was easy to see the resemblance between the two siblings. They even shared the same air about them.

"Well Kurt, this is my sister, Rachel. Rachel, this is my boyfriend, Kurt." He almost fell out of his chair after hearing Blaine calling him his boyfriend. Rachel eyed him teasingly.

"You'd better be kind to him, Blaine. A pretty face like that won't deal with your shenanigans for long." The two exchanged more taunts, trying to delay actually talking about what they came here for.

"So," Rachel asked after the waiter brought their drinks "what are you going to do about all of this, Blaine?" The two men looked at each other, unsure of what their plan really was. They hadn't had a real discussion about this, so it had to be decided now.

"Well, I'm going to go back over to the house to get a few more things. Obviously I won't be able to get all of my stuff, but I want to get most of it." He looked over towards his boyfriend and squeezed his hand under the table. "I mean, as long as this plan is okay with you?" Kurt smiled.

"Of course it's okay. I want you to live with me, so why wouldn't you bring your stuff?" Abruptly, Rachel squealed, startling the pale man.

"Really, Rach?" Blaine asked dryly "do you have to be so melodramatic about every little thing?" He smiled wryly as she clapped both of her hands over her mouth.

"I'm sorry," she replied happily "you two are just so cute. Blaine, why didn't you find him sooner." Yes, Kurt decided, he really did like Rachel. "But, as much as I hate to ruin such a cute moment, Blaine what are you going to do about Valerie? Especially if dad gets involved?" Blaine's eyes tightened, imperceptible to the rest of the world, but Kurt knew the distressed look.

"I want to hope that she was only being cruel because of the shock of the situation and because her sister was there, but I know that's not the only reason. She was being completely serious about recruiting his power to her 'side'. I wish I knew that he would side with me because he is my father, but I know he won't once Cassidy tells him exactly why I left. If I go over there today, she should be there, so I'll see her today." Rachel smiled and put her hand overtop of her brother's clasped hands, running her thumb over his wrist.

"Kurt, have you met Valerie?" she asked as she turned towards him.

"I have, actually. I met her yesterday in the park. She's such a lovely girl. Actually, she looks a lot like Blaine," he replied truthfully. Blaine smiled at him.

"She actually took really well to him. Normally she's shy around new people, but she just opened right up around him. I mean, she literally wanted to stay and talk to him as she started to fall asleep," he exclaimed happily. Rachel clapped her hands together.

"See! You two really are meant to be if Valerie liked you that quick." Kurt flushed happily and Blaine kissed his cheek. He looked down at his watch and sighed.

"As much as I would love to stay here for the rest of the day, I need to get going so I can get a few of my things before Cassidy throws it all out into the street." The trio rose from their table.

"Do you want me to come with you?" Kurt asked. He really wanted to be their for Blaine, but not if it would somehow make everything worse.

"I would love for you to come, but if Cassidy sees you then she'll freak out and it won't be pretty. I'll see you when I'm done, okay?" Kurt nodded and smiled. They kissed, ignoring Rachel's squeals of happiness.

Within the next ten minutes, Blaine was on the subway headed to his 'old' house. The train was noisy and filled with people, which allowed him little time to dwell in his own thoughts. He would have to be calm and collected if he could ever face Cassidy, now that she was on a warpath.

The ride wasn't as long as he had hoped, and sooner than he expected, he was facing the brown door. The doorknob loomed like a fierce dragon, the door a wall of thorns. He knocked, a completely foreign action. Normally he would have just walked right in, but this was no longer his house, a fact that Cassidy had made all too clear. And speak of the devil, there she was opening the door while balancing Valerie in her arms. Despite her eyes, eyes that belonged to someone too young to have cried that many tears to turn her eyes that red, and tangled hair that evidenced she hadn't slept much, Valerie light up like a Christmas tree when she saw him.

"Daddy! I knew you'd come back. Put me down, Mommy, please?" She begged as she squirmed. Cassidy sighed and eyed Blaine with a baleful glare.

"Wow, perfect timing, Blaine. She just woke up. Now, could to tell me why the hell you're here? I told you last night you were no longer welcomed here and that you would never see your daughter again. And on that note-" she broke off when the girl writhing in her arms broke free so she could hang on to his jean-clad legs.

"Mommy, you're mean to Daddy now, and I don't like it. So what if he likes Kurt? You were always complaining to Aunt Monica about Daddy anyway, and I don't know why, 'cause he's the best ever," she flashed a smile up at him at her compliment, and he bent so he could hold her. "And yesterday, Kurt was nothing but nice to both of us. Why aren't you as nice as him? Maybe if you were, Daddy would be with you instead of Kurt," she concluded. Her harsh words didn't go along with her innocent lisp, which just made the whole situation funny to Blaine. He bit back a laugh at Cassidy's face, which managed to look angry, shocked, and a tiny bit hurt. She turned on him when she heard his escaped chuckle.

"Congratulations, you've turned my own daughter against me," she shot at him. He shook his head and sidestepped into the hall.

"No, sweetheart, that was all you. But let's face it, kids are mean, but at least they tell the truth. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a few things to get, then I'll be out of your hair for another couple of days." He set Valerie down on her feet, but she followed him back to his now old room. So did Cassidy, apparently set on making his experience as horrible as possible.

"So have you told anyone?" He had been packing clothes and some of his favorite albums into a bag for a few minutes, under the direct supervision of Valerie, so Cassidy's question startled him despite it's softness. He turned to look at her. She stood in the doorway, and it was like she had removed the hard mask that had evolved overnight.

"Yeah, just Rachel. I called her last night while I was in a cab, then I met with her at lunch today so she could meet Kurt. You?" She shook her head and sighed sadly.

"No. Well, unless you count Monica. And this mess is partly her fault. I mean, you wouldn't have had to come out about your, um, relationship with him if she didn't take the picture." Blaine looked from his now closed bag up to her.

"Actually, I was planning on telling you last night, anyway. Your sister just happened to be a catalyst in that. But you should know, I never meant to hurt you as much as I have. And I know that sounds fucking stupid seeing as how I've hurt you in so many ways, but it's the truth," he admitted as he stood up.

"So this guy really means more to you than I do, or our marriage. He means more than Valerie?" she accused harshly.

"Don't try to convince yourself that I'm leaving because I'm some selfish bastard who would leave his whole family over lust, because that's not the case. She means more to me than anyone else in this entire world. You using her like a weapon against me isn't going to help anyone, certainly not her." Cassidy shook her head and shadowed him out of the room.

"You might as well just get a lawyer while your out, because this is done.

You're still not getting her. I don't care what you say about me, I don't even care what you do. I care about her, and I know what's best. I've built her world carefully, and you are not going be a part of it any longer," she threatened as her voice rose. He scoffed and turned on her. Valerie looked between her two parents before going out of the room, already sensing a fight.

"That doesn't mean you can just…just shatter it whenever you feel like it! And you can't keep me from her, not unless it's decided in court, so I'll definitely be getting that lawyer. Oh and by the way, some judges are very generous whenever they take the child's opinion into consideration."

"Blaine, really? What battle do you think your father can't win? Especially when it's something as important as Valerie. Because I know he won't want her living with, or even seeing, you with him." They were both yelling at each other as they stood in the front hallway. "Now, get out," she yelled as she twisted the door open. Blaine gave one long look to Valerie, who stood, quivering, behind Cassidy.

"Mommy, I'm going with Daddy today," she said before her mother could shut the door. Cassidy whipped around.

"No, you aren't, Valerie. We had this discussion for a very, very long time last night. You need to just let your father go. He wants to be with that Kurt man more than he wants you or me," she said behind gritted teeth. The young girl shook her head.

"You're lying to me! He said he cared more about me than anyone else, and I'm going with him. You know you can't stop me if I want to. 'Cause I can call Aunt Rachel, the nice one, and she'll tell me the truth. Aunt Monica would just lie to me like you do." Cassidy sighed and stood up. She looked over at Blaine. He had tears in his eyes, both of pride in her stubbornness and pain at why she had to be so headstrong.

"Fine, go with him. Whatever. But you are coming back tomorrow, no fights." Valerie squealed and ran towards Blaine. Cassidy cast one last glare before slamming the door.

"Hey, sweet girl. Are you ready to go to Kurt's now?" She nodded enthusiastically.

"Yes! But Daddy," she added thoughtfully, "I don't have any clothes for tomorrow." He smiled down at her.

"Well, that's why I grabbed some of your clothes as well. You know, just in case your mommy said yes." She squealed and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck.

"You're the best, Daddy, you know that?" He smiled before kissing her softly on her forehead.

"I do now."

~.~.~.~

They arrived at Kurt's apartment a little later. The cab ride hadn't seemed so long, Blaine noted, now that he had his daughter to keep him company. She babbled the whole time about random little things, but never once did he find it annoying like other parents did. Instead, it was endearing; something that reminded him about how similar they were. It wasn't until they were standing in front of Kurt's door that Valerie's hand gripped his own tighter.

"What if Kurt doesn't want me here?" she asked mournfully. "He was nice in the park, but are you sure he'll want me here with the two of you?" Blaine squatted down so they looked each other in the eye.

"Val, of course he wants you here with us. Almost as much as I do. I wouldn't be with him if he couldn't love you as much as I do." She smiled before opening the door. They found Kurt sitting on the couch, going over the look book from his job. When he heard the door open, he looked up, only to see the two of them standing together, Blaine with the happiest smile he had ever seen, and Valerie clutching his hand like a life preserver.

"Oh my God!" He squealed with delight and almost fell over himself trying to get to them. "She let you bring her with you?" Blaine chuckled and wrapped an arm around the other man's waist.

"Well, it was more Valerie's work on getting her 'permission', no matter how grudging it was." Kurt looked down at the small girl and smiled.

"You must have worked some kind of magic then. I'm very happy to see you again," he said honestly.

"I know. I really wanted to see you again, 'cause you were so nice and you looked like you loved my Daddy a lot." And her words were completely true, as most children's answers are. She hugged him around a leg, and Kurt almost died with happiness before reaching down to return the embrace. As Valerie saw the two men kiss, lightly of course, and hug, she couldn't help but feel happy, and that this was really the place she was supposed to be.