Hi guys,

This is a longer chapter. Klaine should be in more chapters from now on. I am going to try and keep Klaine/Seblaine balanced from now on. I was wondering if anyone thinks I should put in the 'story description' section the ultimate pairing will be? Would it spoil the surprise? Perhaps if you want to know you can private message me? I don't want to disappoint anyone.

Thanks,

Helen


The day at the zoo had been great. Mel had seen all the animals. Sebastian had brought her ice cream. Blaine had chosen not to ask Mel any further questions about Kurt as she seemed so happy. They had posed for cheesy pictures. Their was a lovely shot of Mel riding on Sebastian's shoulders. When they had finished they got dinner at the animal café before heading home. Mel fell asleep on route home. Sebastian carried her in and gently placed her in bed. He smiled as Blaine followed him in and kissed her.

"Well that was a success" Blaine said before collapsing on the sofa while Sebastian prepared them some hot chocolate.

"Yeah. Mel seems to be accepting me which is nice" Sebastian had never admitted it but he was always afraid if Mel didn't like him, Blaine would stay with him.
"She knows she's safe with you, especially as she doesn't even let Kurt or Me put her on our shoulders. That's going to be your new thing." Blaine said

Sebastian smiled. Knowing that had made him feel good. It felt like Sebastian had been worrying for no reason. It was only when Blaine checked his phone he noticed a message from Kurt

From Kurt: Are you free tonight? We can meet at our Diner. K

To Kurt: I will see you at 7. B

"Sebastian I am going to need you to watch Mel tonight if that's OK. Kurt wants to talk and I need to give him all this information while it's still reasonably fresh?" Blaine said looking at him through long eye lashes
"Why the change of heart? I thought he wasn't interested until after half term?" Sebastian answered puzzled and slightly deflating at the mention of Kurt.
"Maybe I will get some answers. Maybe he didn't want to talk in front of Mario?" Blaine suggested

"I wish I could come. I don't like you going on your own." Sebastian said

"I am going to a diner, not his house and I can..." Blaine attempted to finish
"I know you can take care of yourself but...I feel...uncomfortable at the moment with the little I have heard about Mario"
"I know but I can't leave Mel unattended, and you still put Kurt on the defensive" Blaine said with sad smile

"True..." Sebastian agreed

"I should be back in a few hours. Any delays I will message you. Love you" Blaine said and kissed Sebastian on the lips before darting out the door.

Sebastian watched him go with a small sigh. He knew Blaine was over Kurt, or as over as you could be with an ex husband who was your first love. He trusted Blaine. He just didn't trust Kurt. And he knew Kurt didn't trust him.

At the Diner...

Blaine sat down at a table and sent Sebastian a message that he had arrived. He knew he was a little early, but he preferred it as Kurt hated to be kept waiting. Blaine was too polite to be bothered. Kurt arrived half an hour later ad sat down. A waitress came and took their order.

"Blaine. Thanks for meeting now" Kurt said

Blaine took that moment to look at Kurt, Kurt appeared tired, and seemed quite formal.
"I can't stay too long as I need to get back to Mel" Blaine said turning his phone on silent after texting Sebastian
"Is he with her?" Kurt asked

"Bas is looking after her." Blaine answered

"I still can't believe you trust her with him!" Kurt exclaimed looking on edge
"Bas can be trusted. So how are you? Why were you so funny last night?" Blaine jumped straight into main question on his mind.
"Mario may be with me but he is not her father. He has no business knowing anything about her. I am lucky he even accepts me having her. You know how hard it is to find someone willing to take you on with a daughter? His showed no interest in her, so he doesn't deserve to know anything about her." Kurt asked immediately on the defensive
"Why are you dating him then? If he wants nothing to do with her?"
"Because he accepts she's there. As long as she stays out of his way, he's fine with her being in the house. So during the week I don't see him until after she has gone to bed, then only the weekends when I don't have her. I have needs. He fulfils them."
"I am just surprised that's all. I mean you used to be the forever kinda guy?"
"I was forever with my childhood sweetheart until he decided to divorce me!"
"Kurt, that's not what happened. We both agreed it was for the best. We just...changed too much."
"Yeah, well after that, I don't want another 'forever' as it obviously doesn't mean forever. Why bother?"
"Kurt. I loved you, I really did but a relationship needs more than just love. We didn't understand each other any more, we never agreed on anything in the end, the smallest things annoyed us and be honest Kurt, you never completely trusted me again, those late nights at the music store..."
"I still can't believe you pushed for divorce though. We had Mel!"
"In the end, she was the only keeping us together and do you really think that was fair? She deserves to have two happy parents, not 2 parents who were unhappy just for her. She seems happy and settled despite everything." Blaine answered "and you can't say you are not happier arguing with me all the time?"
"Hmm...so what did you need to discuss about Mel?"
Blaine accepted the change in conversation, knowing if they continued this argument Kurt would get even more defensive

"OK she's doing well in school, excels in music and art. Miss Story is a little concerned about her day dreaming..." Blaine began

"She's 6!"
"I know but she seems to be slipping in and out of it, and missing important information. The teacher has asked that we monitor it at home, to see if it's day dreaming or another underlying issue"
"Issue?! What issue?" Kurt exclaimed trying to remain calm
"If you see her staring into space, record how long, what she's doing and ask her if she can remember what she was thinking about" Blaine answered

"OK...I don't see why but I will so that else?"
"Well at school she's playing this game were she has 5 stones and gives them to friends. If friends talk, she takes away the stone and they are 'out' of the game and will miss the next game."
"Oh it's a behaviour management method Blaine, surely you should know that?! She has 5 stones, as long as she's quiet, she gets her 5 things, if not she loses things. The first is desert. The second is her night time snack and drink, the third is an extra 2 hours in bed, the fourth is no TV for 24 hours and the fifth is no treats at the weekend. She is too noisy especially what I am trying to work. It's harmless" Kurt said dismissively but Blaine noticed the slight loss of eye contact which told Blaine their was more to the story than he thought.

"OK. Oh is she having school dinners, as the office need to know in advance to make sure they have the same amount of meals"
"No that was just when I was busy. She's still having packed lunches, you really think I want her to continue with those meals when they really aren't good for her at all."

Blaine was reassured for that moment, that at least Kurt was still being sensible. He was still keeping on top of things. Everything sounded fine, so why did he have an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach.

"That's good. So how are you anyhow? You look exhausted" Blaine asked concerned
"Well thanks!" Kurt answered though was comforted Blaine still knew him if slightly annoyed.
"No I mean your concealer is flawless but I know you well enough to know when you are not getting enough sleep."
"Yeah well I should this week without Mel. She is so noisy. She wakes up early on my days off and she goes all day!She has so much energy"
"She's 6 Kurt. That's how they are" Blaine answered

"I know, but when I have to get work done, around spending time with Mario, my daughter and friends..."
"It can be a lot." Blaine didn't mention that he managed just fine. He got Mel off at a reasonable bed time, spent time with Sebastian and still managed to get recording done around it and write his music. Blaine liked being kept busy, he managed time well. Kurt struggled more and as the market he was in, fashion was competitive, he had to move with the times, meet deadlines by editors, arrange schedules. The list seemed endless and Blaine was still amazed how Kurt managed to do it all.

"If Mario spent time with Mel, you could do both things which means rather than him coming over every night. You would also spend more time with him? He might like Mel. I mean Bas was unsure at first, now he likes spending time with her"
"Like I said his not used to kids. He doesn't handle noise very well. It's nothing serious. Why does Sebastian bother to spend time with you and Mel together...I would imagine he'd just want to sneak in after her bedtime for some 'adult' time"
"Sebastian likes Mel, Kurt. Mel is growing to like him. He went to the zoo with us today. He...plans on staying in my life. He knows Mel comes first, he respects that, his willing to work around her. His changed so much Kurt. It would be really great if you met him again at some point and see what I am talking about"

"I doubt that will willingly happen. I just can't believe his changed."
Blaine didn't comment knowing a lost argument when he saw once. He sat quietly for a minute drinking his drink, as did Kurt. They stared at each other over the table until Kurt started speaking

"How is Mel anyway?"
"She's great. Like I said we have been to the zoo, tomorrow it's movie marathon Disney themed of course. We will be doing some shopping. She's coming to the studio with me one day this week It's going to be good."
"Sounds fun. I have work! New season, new ideas! I am in demand at work." Kurt said dramatically
"That's great Kurt. I read your vogue column every week and anything you comment on" Blaine reassured him
"You still do that?" Kurt asked surprised

"Of course. It's a master piece." Blaine reassured him

"That's good to hear. I haven't heard any of your work recently?"
"I am working on a Broadway composition and finishing my own album" Blaine said proudly
"It's taken yo so long to do that" Kurt said "How come? You used to live, breathe and love music when we were together"

"You know I used to write songs..."
"Yeah you never finished any of them..." Kurt answered fondly

"I suddenly felt inspired to complete a few, and write a few more."
"I miss listening to you play the piano. That used to be very calming...you wrote me a song. Has that made it onto the album?" Kurt asked
"That song will never go on the album Kurt, that is and always will be your song"
"Well then I am honoured to have the original one of a kind song from the infamous Blaine Anderson. I still think you should go back on stage" Kurt said with a small smile

"I've changed too much Kurt. The stage doesn't have the same magic it once had. It's why I am glad in a way that NYADA ditched me. The competitive side to me doesn't really exist any more.."
"You've mellowed in your old age" Kurt smiled

"Not really. I have just learnt there are more important things to me than competing"
"You can have both! I do" Kurt answers
"I don't know how you manage it though! Your world isn't exactly easy"
"I just have a strict schedule for everything, everyone has scheduled time. Work is between 8.30-6.30, 7-8 is for Mel, 8 onwards is me and Mario. At weekends when I have her Mel gets half the day and Mario and I get the evening"
"So what about weekend evenings or holidays..."

"I get a baby sitter if I have to work or get you to look after her. My holiday and work isn't flexible like yours"
"I know but I think as Mel gets older she's going to need more time with us" Blaine didn't like how serious this conversation seemed to have suddenly got
"As she gets older she can entertain herself..." Kurt answered
"Why don't you and Mario include her in plans at the weekend like Bas and I do, then spend the next weekend on your own as a couple?" Blaine knew he had tried this before but he couldn't believe someone wouldn't want time with his daughter and Kurt would be OK with it.
"Because his not a part of her life, I don't want him to be a part of her life."
"Everyone to their own I guess. I just don't want Mel to suffer" Blaine said quietly
"So tell me your day then?" Kurt wanted to know
"It varies. I guess I am lucky I can arrange myself around Mel, as I am making my own album and with the composition for Broadway, a lot of the performers have families as long as I make meetings which are all done at convenient times as over half the team have families."
"Really?" Kurt asked surprised
"Yeah they are done when she's at school. So when she finishes, I pick her up or if I know I am running late she stays at after school club till 5. Then I spend the evening with her, before getting her dinner, settling her to bed by 8. Then Bas and I spend the evening together, as he often doesn't leave the office till at least 6pm anyway."
"So what about weekends?" Kurt asked

He remembered when they lived together, once they had Mel, Blaine had reduced his hours so she only went into day care 3 days a week and Blaine would work around her the rest of the week while Kurt worked until the weekend, then they would send the time together. They had worked together as a team, even when Blaine worked late at the record store as he did Monday and Tuesday. Isabelle had allowed Kurt to work late Wednesday and Thursday. Blaine was insistent she not be sent to various babysitters or have Nanny's/ He wanted to be a part of his daughter's life as much as possible. His parents had spent most of his childhood on business trips.
"If I have her, Bas and I do something with her one day, then the second day she has me to herself"
"So when do you and Bas get alone time?"
"Every other weekend, plus once she's gone to bed. Bas is very understanding, I tried to tell you Kurt, his grown up so much"
"I would rather not hear about him. I need to get going anyway as I want to see Mario tonight. Thanks for the update and I will keep a note of anything strange"

They paid the check and got up to leave, Blaine smiled softly at Kurt

"I will see you Sunday lunch time" He said

Kurt and Blaine briefly hugged before heading their own way. Blaine was happy to see 'his' Kurt back. The one at the door had scared him. Maybe he was worrying about nothing at all. He still wanted to speak to Mel but would wait till he was alone with her, as while she was starting to accept Sebastian, she didn't always feel comfy talking to him. So caught up in his own world, he hadn't seen the man in the small black car that followed Kurt's car.

So slightly longer. A civilized conversation between Blaine and Kurt. A little more information about their history. Whose driving the discreet car trailing Kurt's. Who could it be?

Please Note: In this chapter I am not criticizing any parents style. Blaine and Kurt have very different jobs so they do things differently and with the limited knowledge I have about these carers, this is how I would imagine work. I am not saying one style is better than the other. It's what works for you.