Wow. This was the hardest chapter yet. Can I just say a huge thank you to the guys and girls who decided to let me know they talk about Lullaby Lane on Twitter? To this moment, I am completely floored! So a shout out to Marth1112, ammysin, janemgonz, jedwards27, jocy333, belindaeverman, and everyone else that I may have missed in that little group!

As always, I don't own glee. As much as I can pray and hope and wish, it'll never happen. Oh Well. XD

Kurt smiled at the man sitting across the table from him. They were in an expensive, little restaurant on the upper east side, and he was enjoying his Chicken Picatta across from the man he had been dating now for almost three weeks.

Vaughn was perfect. He was kind, he opened doors for Kurt, had a great job and made a decent wage. His smile was gorgeous, his hair fell perfectly against his head, and he was almost as good at fashion as Kurt was.

Bu there was something wrong. Not with Vaughn; with Kurt.

Kurt couldn't help feeling guilty every time he went out to dinner, or to the movies, or to an art gallery with Vaughn. He could barely eat around the lump that had formed in his stomach, and his heart raced in trepidation when Vaughn leaned over to try and kiss him.

He'd only pulled back once, and Vaughn had been very kind, and understanding. He hadn't tried again for almost a week, and when Vaughn had attempted it again the following Saturday, Kurt had allowed a small peck on the lips.

Their entire relationship could have been summed up the same way; a small peck.

For Kurt, there were no fireworks. He was more worried about what to make the kids and Blaine for lunch tomorrow, than what the dinner conversation would be tonight. And that wasn't fair to Vaughn.

Tonight, he would end it. Vaughn was a wonderful guy, and he really was perfect. But Kurt wasn't interested in Vaughn. He didn't make his heart go light.

The way Blaine did.

He smiled across the table again, his smile never quite reaching his eyes. The other man watched him quietly, and a guilty feeling swept over Kurt. He cleared his throat.

"Kurt, I'm sorry," Vaughn murmured softly his eyes looking down at his food as he concentrated on what to say. "I don't know why you don't seem interested in me, but I can tell your mind isn't here. I've done everything I can possibly think of to make you like me; I mean really like me. And now I'm floundering, trying to find a way to keep you with me. I really like you, Kurt." Vaughn's eyes rose, misty and red, and Kurt's heart plummeted to the floor in shock. "I don't want to lose you."

"Oh God," Kurt murmured, his eyes on Vaughn's face, and his own face a shade of red he wasn't sure was healthy. "Vaughn, I think we need to leave. I have something I need to discuss with you, and I'd rather do it somewhere private." The other man nodded, throwing his napkin on the plate, and paying the bill in silence.

Together they left the restaurant, and traveled across the parking lot. As they stopped in front of Vaughn's car, Kurt hesitated. Did he really want to do this? Not really. But it wasn't fair to Vaughn to keep stringing him along. He took a deep breath.

"Vaughn, you're perfect." The other man looked up, hope in his eyes as he smiled tremulously. "You're too perfect." The face fell again. Kurt rubbed his hand over the bridge of his nose.

"You are a complete gentleman. You never push for anything, you hold doors for me, I've never felt so wanted in all my life," Kurt continued, his voice breaking on the last word. He was close to tears, but he didn't want Vaughn to see it.

"I care about you, I really do. But I don't love you, Vaughn. I promise you will make some guy amazingly happy someday. But that won't be me," A soft sob ripped the air, and Kurt was stunned to see the other man consumed by tears. Giving up all propriety, he pulled Vaughn into a tight hug, ignoring the way the tears soaked into his Armani shirt.

After a few moments, Vaughn pulled away. He wiped his face with a handkerchief, and stepped back from Kurt's arms. He opened the door to the passenger side in silence, and Kurt stepped in.

Blaine refused to ask Kurt about his date. He didn't want the details. He really didn't. And yet, the subdued Kurt that had come in to work that day was so unlike the regular Kurt that Blaine was having trouble focussing on getting ready for the day.

He had managed to find work two weeks ago, and had been spending long, difficult hours trying to build up credentials and a decent paycheck. His first pay was coming this Friday, and he was obstinately not thinking about taking Kurt and the children out to celebrate.

He pulled his tie on, and not even thinking about it, he walked up to Kurt with a pleading look on his face.

"How is it, that after twenty eight years on this planet, you still can't tie a tie?" Kurt remarked, the same thing he had said every day since Blaine had found a job. It held none of the usual snarkiness that Blaine had come to appreciate, however, and Blaine had to ask or die of curiosity.

"How did your date with Vaughn go last night?" Blaine asked quietly, and felt a sharp tug on his neck as Kurt tightened the noose a bit too much.

"Ooops," Kurt looked a bit panicked, and Blaine knew that look. Something had happened. Was Kurt okay? He started watching Kurt's every move like a hawk, trying to spot any bruises or soreness on the other man. "Sorry."

"Hey," Blaine couldn't let Kurt deal with this on his own. It was affecting his mood, which in turn would affect his nanny skills. Or so Blaine tried to convince himself. "You're okay, you're safe, I won't let anyone hurt you," He murmured, trying to get the other man to open up to him.

Kurt quirked his eyebrows in his best "Bitch, Please" face, and stared down his nose at Blaine, who slowly started to turn bright red as he realized his error.

"I was not hurt. Vaughn wouldn't do that," Blaine sighed a bit in relief, knowing he wouldn't have to punch the guy's lights out, even though he secretly really wanted to. "He's never been anything but kind and gentlemanly towards me, Blaine. I broke up with him last night." Kurt turned and made his way down the hall to the baby's room, leaving Blaine standing in the living room, stunned.

"Wait, what?" Blaine jogged down the hall, stopping at the door to Jessica's room. Kurt was inside, peering down at the sleeping baby, a look of love and regret on his face. Blaine wandered over to stand quietly behind Kurt, placing a hand on his shoulder. Kurt turned, and Blaine saw that Kurt was crying.

"I tried, Blaine. I tried so hard to love him." Blaine felt a jealous knot ball up in his stomach, and he tamped it down, his hand squeezing Kurt's shoulder in sympathy. "But I can't," And Kurt turned away from Blaine, looking back to the baby sleeping in the crib.

It nearly killed him to ask, but Blaine had to:

"Why not?"

"Because I'm in love with someone else," Kurt hiccuped softly, and moved away from Blaine's reach. He walked quickly out of the room and into the room occupied by the two little girls, also still sleeping.

Blaine remained where he was, stunned. He watched the rise and fall of his daughter's chest, as he contemplated this new development. Kurt was in love? With who? Did Blaine know him? Was it someone Kurt had known from before he had met Blaine? Where was this deep-seated jealousy coming from?

The last question threw him off, his mind whirling around and around and he made his way from the bedroom to the living room, plopping himself down on the couch in frustration.

Blaine took a minute to force himself to look at the situation he currently shared with Kurt.

He was a single father of three. Kurt was just single. He was working a job he didn't care much for, in order to make money to support his daughters. Kurt was working a job he enjoyed in order to take care of three little girls he loved. Blaine envied Kurt the ability to stay home with the girls, and take care of them. He wished he could spend more time with them. All of them. Including Kurt.

Blaine blinked his eyes, and began to focus more on the relationship he had with Kurt. Kurt was kind. Gentle. He obviously loved Blaine's girls with his whole heart. He was totally the type of person Blaine would fall in love with if he were gay.

The world stopped.

Blaine's eyes widened, as he realised what he had just thought. He would be in love with Kurt. He was in love with Kurt.

Holy Shit.

Blaine felt the floor drop out from underneath him, and the entire world tilted on its ear. His mind swam with the implications, his heart raced with his new-found freedom, and his body quaked in terror at the thought that Kurt didn't care for him the way Blaine did.

Kurt walked out of the girls' room, his eyes lowered as he carried Penny to the table. His eyes flickered up, and he registered surprise as he saw Blaine on the couch, looking as though he'd been hit by a train.

"Don't you have work today?" Kurt asked softly, no trace of his earlier outburst showing on his face. Blaine heaved himself to his feet, and he shook his head softly.

"I'm calling in sick today," He answered, a silly grin covering his face. I love Kurt Hummel. I LOVE KURT HUMMEL! He picked up Katherine and twirled her around the living room, while she squealed happily and clung to his lapels.

Kurt quirked his eyebrows at Blaine, a frown gracing the face that Blaine loved so much. I love Kurt Hummel! He couldn't have Kurt frowning, his smile was one of the nicest features on his face!

"Can I ask you something, Kurt?" Blaine asked, his smile still firmly plastered on his face, hoping that Kurt would be amenable.

"Um, yeah, all right," Kurt replied, his voice wary at the sudden change in his employer.

"Would you like to go out with me and the girls to a movie tonight?" Blaine asked the first date-type thing that had come to his mind. He made sure to include the girls, since he knew he wouldn't be able to get a babysitter in time.

Kurt looked amused, rather than the stunned that Blaine had anticipated.

"No thanks," Kurt replied, his hand carding through his hair like he always did when he was nervous or feeling awkward.

"Wait, what?" Blaine was stumped. Why would Kurt turn down going to a movie with him? Wait, was it because he already had plans? Damn it! He should have figured this out sooner!

Kurt took in the panicked look on Blaine's face, realising he probably had only asked him because he needed a hand with the girls. Sighing softly, Kurt capitulated.

"All right, if it means that much, I'll go with you," He was suddenly surrounded by two adorable girls who jumped up and down and were yelling happily about which movie hey wanted to see.

"LION KING! LION KING!" Penny screamed, her foot landing on Kurt's toes and squishing them. He sat down on the couch with a whomp, clutching the bruised toes of his left foot. Groaning, he massaged them slowly, trying to regain the feeling in his foot.

Blaine sat back down beside him, his arm and thigh brushing against Kurt subtly. Katherine jumped in his lap, and he laughed at the antics of his four-year old. Penny jumped in Kurt's lap, and threw her hands around Kurt's neck in a huge hug.

"Love, Kurt," She murmured, her little green eyes focussed on his bright blue ones.

"Yeah, I love you too, Kurt," Katherine exclaimed, as she reached over to Kurt and planted a kiss on his cheek. He smiled softly at them, the love in his eyes showing Blaine just how much he cared for Blaine's daughters.

Blaine looked at Kurt, and tried to control himself. It simply wouldn't do for him to blurt out the first thing that came to his mind.

I love you, Kurt Hummel.

Since Blaine had called in sick, they had a whole day to themselves to do whatever they wanted, as long as they stayed away from the area that Blaine worked in. It wouldn't do to get caught playing hookey from work.

They decided to visit the shopping area downtown, and buy a few things for the girls. Katherine held Kurt's hand on one side, and Penny held his hand on the other, while Blaine pushed the stroller holding Jessica. Kurt skipped down the street with the girls, swinging them along and watching Blaine to make sure they didn't get to far ahead. The smile that had graced Blaine's face earlier had been replaced with a quiet, more contemplative one. Kurt couldn't figure out what was going on in that curly head of his, so he stopped trying. He concentrated more on the girls and having a good time with them, and his day became significantly brighter.

It always seemed to happen that way. If he was in a particularly bad mood, all he'd had to do was get a hug from one of the three girls he loved so much, and his day was bright and sunny again. It didn't take an expert to tell him that he had fallen in love with the three little girls in his care.

A woman stopped in front of him, smiling expectantly while looking to little Katherine. He attempted to go around her, but she moved in his way, and he was getting frustrated.

"Excuse us, please," He muttered through gritted teeth, as he once again tried to go around. He woman seemed familiar, somehow, and yet, he was certain he'd never met her before. She had soft brown hair, green eyes and was tall, for a woman; at least five-nine. Her slender build was lovely, if you were in to that, and the way her hair was captured up in a French knot said something about the style she tried to pull off.

Blaine had finally caught up to Kurt, and he watched the woman warily, his body language defensive. Kurt looked between he two; they obviously knew each other.

"Andrea," Blaine growled out, handing Jessica's stroller off to Kurt while he positioned himself between Kurt with the girls and the woman Kurt now identified as his ex-wife.

"Oh, Blaine," Andrea's voice was clear, quite unlike the nasally voice Kurt had imagined coming from the woman. "The girls, are they all right?" She simpered, her voice taking on a quality that grated on Kurt's nerves; if he hadn't already been unimpressed with the woman, he would be now.

"They're fine, as you can see," Blaine gestured fiercely to the girls, and Kurt could see the fire in his eyes as he tried very hard not to lose his cool on the street, in front of his children. "Now, if you'll excuse me; we have shopping to do,"

"Oh, hi," Andrea stopped talking to Blaine; she was now concentrating her efforts on Kurt. Kurt managed to stop himself from rolling his eyes at her, as she plucked at his sleeve in a timid way. He had her number, and this false modesty would never fly with him.

"So are you one of Blaine's new friends?" She purred, and Kurt's eyebrows raised almost to his hairline. Maybe he wasn't as flamboyant as he'd always thought, if she was actually hitting on him. Blaine erupted into cackling laughter, as he placed his arm across Kurt's shoulder.

"Hitting on Kurt's probably a bad idea, Andrea," Blaine guffawed, his head shaking with mirth. "He's totally not your type. But nice try!" And he led Kurt away from the offended woman.

"Blaine," Kurt murmured once they were out of earshot of the woman. Blaine smiled at Kurt, who was still wrapped up under Blaine's arm. "Blaine, your arm," and Kurt's face was so close… so very close.

Blaine blinked softly, looking up slightly into Kurt's eyes, and their lips were nearly touching, just a small movement forward and their lips would touch…

Katherine bumped into her daddy's legs, and the distance closed. Blaine felt his lips touch Kurt's and the world faded away. There were no kids, no people looking at them, no woman standing there looking at them in shock and horror as she discovered something new about her ex-husband.

There was just Kurt. And he tasted amazing. His lips were soft, sweet, firm but yielding. As they moved together Kurt brought his hand up to Blaine's face, touching, caressing, running his fingertips over the soft stubble of Blaine's five-o'clock shadow.

A squeal of fear brought them back to the present, and they broke apart, breathing heavily. Andrea had picked up Katherine, and was attempting to walk away with her.

"Andrea, NO!" Blaine was after her like a rocket, his arms outstretched to grasp his daughter back, and he pulled Katherine from his ex-wife's arms. Andrea scowled, her face contorted in rage as she flung her hands in the hair in defeat.

"Whatever! WHATEVER! You can have the brats, they hate me anyway! And go be with your little boyfriend! I knew you were a fag, Blaine. I've always known you were weird, and different, and totally disgusting. Why I ever thought marrying you was a good idea, I'll never know!" She stood there, breathing heavily, and Blaine tried to comfort his sobbing daughter. Kurt had picked up Penny, and was cuddling her, as Blaine returned to where Kurt was standing with the youngest two girls. Kurt quirked an eyebrow back at the woman, his sharp wit never failing him, least of all now.

"Perhaps they hate you because you're a bitch, Andrea?" Kurt replied, his voice hard and cold where he stood beside Blaine. "After all, it's not every day that they get called little brats. And for the record, they aren't. Not even a little bit. They are amazing, wonderful children, and I, for one, love them dearly." He cuddled Penny against him, and turned to Blaine, dismissing the woman as though she wasn't there.

"I think, maybe, we should skip shopping for today," Kurt advised wearily, his mind being pulled in thirty different ways at once. Blaine had kissed him. And he hadn't been sleeping! What was he supposed to think about that?

Blaine nodded gently, and together they made their way home.

They put the girls down for their afternoon nap, and Kurt plonked himself down on the couch. His hands fidgeted, his heart raced, and his eyelids fluttered softly as Blaine sat next to him. Their thighs touched, and the heat from Blaine's leg threatened to consume Kurt. Looking over, he saw a look of fear cross Blaine's face.

"I-I'm sorry," Blaine began, his stuttering evidence of his nervousness. He wasn't looking at Kurt, he was studying his hands as he held them in his lap.

"For what?" Kurt asked nonchalantly, knowing the answer but needing to hear it from Blaine's lips.

"I'm sorry I kissed you today," Blaine breathed, and Kurt jerked, his heart breaking. He'd known it was coming, but that didn't lessen the pain any. "I'm sorry I didn't do it earlier," Blaine continued, and Kurt's heart really did stop beating. "I'm sorry I haven't been honest with you, or with myself. I've been lying to myself for so long I never really thought I would be able to tell the truth. Not to you, not to anyone." Blaine paused, trying to come up with the right words to tell Kurt; his heart was racing, and he placed his hand over Kurt's, trying to hide the trembling in his limbs.

"Kurt, there is a moment, when you say to yourself, oh, there you are," Blaine looked into Kurt's eyes, trying to share all the emotion and love that he had inside. His lips turned up in a small smile, and he slipped his fingers between Kurts'.

"I've been looking for you forever," Kurt was stunned. Never in his wildest dreams had he ever imagined Blaine saying something like this, not to him.

"Watching you stand up to Andrea, that was a moment for me, Kurt," Blaine looked down, a blush slowly spreading over his cheeks as he studied his lap intently. "About you," And Blaine looked back up, his eyes focussed on Kurt's intently.

"I need you, Kurt. We need you. And you being here has given me the opportunity to spend more time with you. I care for you, Kurt. I've never cared for anyone like this before, and it's kind of freaking me out a little right now," Blaine's head turned, and he focussed his unseeing eyes on the television screen, which was currently off.

"Blaine," Kurt murmured softly, reaching up and taking a gentle hold of Blaine's cheek, turning his face back to him. "I care about you too. I have for a while now, I just didn't have the nerve to say anything. Besides, you've been so adamant in your professing your straightness." Kurt chuckled nervously, as he pulled his hand back down, and stared in his lap. Blaine couldn't believe Kurt was actually accepting him. Wait, he was, right?

"Kurt, will you go out with me?" Blaine asked, his voice trembling in anticipation. "Not with the children, just us, as two mature adults, who care deeply about one another?"

Kurt's breath hitched, and his eyes shot straight up to Blaine's, and his little smile grew until it threatened to overwhelm his face.

"I will."