Burt barged through the door, the scent of New York trailing after him as he threw his snow soaked jacket messy on the couch and kicked off his boots randomly, not caring where they landed. Kurt followed in his tracks like it was second nature (and it was), picking up the jacket and placing it neatly on the heater for it to dry faster, then scooping up the boots before placing them properly on the doormat by the door, so the snow wouldn't damage the wooden floors.

He is such a housewife, Blaine thought. It's cute.

"Did I hear something about blood and a murder taking place?" Burt smirked.

"Don't be silly dad. I just cut myself on a piece of glass, no big deal." Kurt said giving him a hug.

"Oh good, because you know what they do to pretty boys like you in jail." Burt teased. "Oh wait, I guess that would be right up your alley." Burt winked at Blaine behind Kurt's back waiting for the shit to hit the fan.

"DAD! I can not believe you just said that!" Kurt turned red in the face while Burt laughed slapping his knees and Blaine collapsed on the bed giggling like a child, holding his stomach as the loud guffaws escaped his lips.

"And you!" He pointed to Blaine. "You should not think this is funny."

Blaine sat on the bed trying to look innocent. "Sorry Kurt, but..." He turned to Burt before continuing. "Your dad is just the coolest dad on the planet".

"Thank you, Blaine." Burt patted him on the back and Kurt rolled his eyes at the obvious camaraderie. How did they become such good buddies? Sports. Kurt sighed. The fastest and easiest way for two men to bond. And apparently his dad and his ex seemed to have formed some sort of relationship built entirely on their shared love of the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Cavaliers. He had no idea what kinds of sport teams they were, nor did he care. All he knew was that they were both resident Ohio teams.

"So boys." Burt said. "Isn't it about time we exchanged presents?"

"Totally." Blaine agreed.

Kurt looked at Blaine, excitement brewing in the eyes under the curls. Obviously, with all the drama unfolding this morning Blaine hadn't had time to gel and Kurt liked it. He liked how Blaine's hair somehow became longer when it wasn't on lock down on his head. Liked how one could really grab it when it was like that.

Pull it and play with it and..., he trailed off in his own head before stopping himself. Then without knowing why he smiled at Blaine and Blaine smiled back, teeth shining bright. Then it suddenly hit him. He hadn't done his moisterizing routine this morning and his skin was so sensitive.

"Hold on to that thought and I will be right back." Kurt said apologetically and vanished into the bathroom. "Why don't you set up the presents around the tree?" Was the last thing they heard before the door slammed shut.

"What was that about?" Burt frowned.

"Skin care." Blaine simply smiled, knowingly. "He will be exactly 10 minutes and 30 seconds...45, if he decides to apply the tonic too. But I doubt it."

"You sure seem to know my son really well." Burt raised an eyebrow and Blaine blushed a little.

"Yeah...yeah, I do." Blaine didn't look directly at Burt when he said it, afraid the depths of his affection for Kurt would show. But it was all in the tone of his voice and Burt knew. He didn't say anything though. Instead he just observed as Blaine went to his bag and started going through it, clearly searching for something. Presents, probably.

That boy really loves my son. Burt thought. And he's a good kid.

Burt went to find his own presents all the while watching Blaine, trying to figure him out. Where did he come from? Westerville in Ohio, sure. He knew that much. But what was his back story? He knew that Kurt had never met Blaine's parents, which was weird since Blaine was hanging out with him and Carol all the time. Now he came to think of it, Blaine was around the house too much sometimes, like he didn't want to go home, like he didn't have a home, not that he minded having Blaine around, since he was always nice company, so polite and sweet, Carol adored him and Burt had to admit that he really liked him too. Blaine was a likeable guy. But he suddenly realized that he knew almost nothing about him, which meant that Kurt didn't either. Except for letting Kurt meet his brother Cooper, Blaine obviously hadn't shared much about his past with him, except for the bullying and the...bashing. Burt shuddered at the thought, especially knowing that it could also happen to Kurt one day. But other than that, Blaine was a mystery.

Burt placed a few presents under the tree and sat down in a chair beside it, waiting for Blaine to find his and for his son to come out from the bathroom. A few moments later Blaine joined him, placing a single tiny package under the tree with some hesitation. Blaine looked at it for just a little too long like he was debating whether to remove it again. But in his mind he obviously decided to leave it as he sat down leaning back into the couch, then he looked at his watch, smiling that knowing smile of his again. And Burt just knew that smile had something to do with Kurt. Blaine let his head fall back so he could stare at the ceiling. Burt decided to solve the mystery.

"So Blaine." He started.

"Yeah?" Blaine looked at him right away.

"What did you parents say to you spending Christmas with us?" Burt asked curiously. He had never really thought about that question before he had asked Blaine to come to New York for the holidays. Maybe because it had always seemed like Blaine was some sort of orphan. Burt had completely forgotten Blaine actually had a family of his own. And with that in mind, it occurred to him that his request had been really selfish.

"Oh...they are fine with it." Blaine said but he'd tensed up, looking slightly uncomfortable.

"Really? I don't get that?" Burt said. "If Kurt didn't want to spend Christmas with me, I would be upset. I mean, he is my kid and I love him and Christmas is about family."

"Yeah well...my parents are not like that." A look of sadness washed over Blaine and Burt suddenly knew why Kurt sometimes referred to Blaine as "the puppy".

"Hey Blaine. Sorry, I didn't mean to upset you. Just making conversation."

"It's alright Burt, you didn't upset me." That was a lie. "I'm used to it being this way, them being this way..." Blaine tried to reassure Burt.

"And what way is that?" Burt pressed on wondering if Blaine would answer. He did.

"Them not being there for me...being too busy with their own lives to take care of their kids, of my brother and me. I don't even think they wanted kids to be honest. I was pretty much raised by babysitters. Work, fundraisers and travelling always came first." Blaine sighed deeply. "I see them, maybe...six times a year. They are actually in Paris at the moment, have been for about three weeks, so I was gonna spend Christmas alone anyway, if you hadn't invited me here."

Burt listened, shocked. He couldn't believe there were parents like that, it angered him. But it sure did explain a lot about Blaine and why he was the way he was.

"What about your brother?" Burt stammered, not sure what to say. "Cooper, was it?"

"Yeah...Cooper. He is living in LA, but he's got his own life to attend to. He stops by now and then but he doesn't really have time for me either."

"I am so sorry to hear that, Blaine." Burt said feeling as sad as Blaine looked.

"Oh, don't be...it's okay, it just how things are".

"It's not okay Blaine, no kid should be left alone to fend for himself, without any support...or guidance...or...love." Burt insisted and Blaine's eyes turned misty at the last word, but he didn't agree or disagree. Instead he just continued talking, almost randomly lost in his own thoughts.

"You know. They never came to see any of my performances. Not once. Not when I was little in school plays, not when I was with the Warblers or The New Directions. Not even when I was the lead in the school musical."

Burt could tell that Blaine had clearly been hurt by that the most. His family not being there for those special moments. Especially with performing being so important to him. The kid suddenly looked at him.

"You have actually been there to see me more than my own flesh and blood. They don't like that I am gay, I am such a disappointment to them." Blaine laughed sadly at the tragedy of it all. "I don't even think they are gonna show up at my graduation." He buried his face in his hands and Burt moved over on the couch next to him.

"Now you look at me, kid." Burt said sternly and Blaine looked up. "I don't care what your parents say or do, I will be there to cheer you on when you graduate. And so will Carol. And Kurt. I can promise you that."

"Thanks. But you don't have to do that, Burt. I don't wanna be a burden, I am not even dating Kurt anymore."

"Don't be stupid, Blaine. Carol and I love you, so does Kurt. You mean a lot to all of us, especially after all you have done for my boy. The whole Hummel-Hudson family will be there because you are a part of this family now. Whether you're with Kurt or not. You hear me? We will be there."

"Thanks. I don't even know what to say." Blaine smiled thankfully and Burt gave him a hug. "You are a pretty amazing guy Burt, it's no wonder Kurt turned out so well."

"Don't mention it." Burt said as he went back to the chair and just like that the moment was over. "Speaking of Kurt, where is that boy of mine?"

Blaine chuckled and looked at his watch. "According to my calculations he should be walking through that door in...5...4...3...2...1." Blaine counted and right on the 1 the door pushed open, with no sound, which Blaine thought was weird but he didn't think much about it, because Kurt had now joined them looking as gorgeous as ever.

Skin glowing, eyes sparkling, hair perfection. Kurt strolled though the room, graceful as ever, smelling like a rainforest. He was wearing a pair of tight blue jeans and a black long-sleeved shirt with a white tie. Blaine couldn't help but stare as he followed Kurt move to a desk where he pulled a few wrapped presents of his own and placed them under the tree.

"Okay, I am ready." He beamed as he sat down next to Blaine on the couch. Very close. Blaine was too aware of their knees touching.

"Who's first?" Burt asked.

"I am." Kurt said and placed a present in Burt's lap. "This is for you dad."

Burt smiled and quickly opened the present, finding a glass case with a baseball inside of it. But not just any baseball. It had a map of New York printed all over it.

"Holy shit, Kurt." Burt blurted out.

"It's a City Map Baseball, dad. I am told it's the collector item to own, for the diehard baseball fan."

"I know what it is." He took the baseball out. "This is so neat, Kurt. Thank you."

"I'm glad you like it." Kurt smiled as he watched his dad play with his new toy and could feel Blaine looking at him from out the corner of his eye.

"My turn." Burt suddenly said after putting the baseball back in it's case. "This is for you, Kurt."

He handed his son a present and watched with delight as Kurt turned into a five-year old. A very controlled five-year old. As always Kurt was gentle with his present, careful not to tear the paper off. The wrapping came off painfully slow but eventually revealed a framed photo of the entire Hummel-Hudson family. Kurt recognized it as being from last summer, a barbecue in the backyard, for the whole neighbourhood and vaguely remembered Burt gathering all of them in the same place and asking a neighbour to take the picture. It showed Burt and Carol in the middle with Finn and Rachel to the left of them and him and...Blaine...to the right. He looked at all the smiling faces wishing he could go back to that moment. Back before...everything.

"It's so you'll always remember where you came from even when you're so far away from us and know that you will always have a family to come home to." Burt said, tearing up.

"Wow, thank you dad." He stood up to hug him. "I really love it."

Blaine looked on with wet eyes, obviously touched by the scene unfolding and then he stood and picked up the tiny package he had been unsure about earlier. He placed it in Kurt's hands.

"This is something I bought back when we were together." Blaine said. "I wasn't sure if it was appropriate to gift it to you now, but I didn't want it to go to waste and it's a kinda personal present that I can re-gift to someone else." Kurt looked at him confused. "You will see why."

"Okay." Kurt unwrapped the tiny present nervously and discovered it was a jewelry box. Oh my God, he thought. Please don't be a ring...please be a ring...please don't be a ring...please be a ring...please don't be a ring...pl..., Kurt's mind was in the middle of a total bi-polar meltdown when it was interrupted by Blaine's voice.

"You are not gonna open it?"

"Um...of course I am." Kurt tried to sound completely normal but his voice was way too high to fool anyone. Slowly he opened the box revealing a pair of very expensive looking steel cufflinks and Kurt was both relieved and disappointed at the same time. Why am I disappointed?

"They are...um...special order, I have an identical pair." Blaine said. "I..um...had them engraved."

Kurt picked up one of the cufflinks and studied the engraving. B&K. He looked at Blaine who was now blushing all the way down to his feet and looked back at the cufflinks.

B&K? B&K...? Then it hit him. Blaine & Kurt...oh. He realized he should probably say something, but he didn't know what and Blaine beat him too it, voice shaking.

"Look...it's okay if you don't want them, Kurt. I won't blame you, I'll just take them back." Blaine stared at him sheepishly and Kurt made a decision.

"Of course I want them. Don't be silly. They are beautiful Blaine." Kurt smiled. And he meant it. They really were. The thought behind them too, even if it could not mean the same now.

"Really?" Blaine looked taken aback.

"Yeah, they are perfect for the stylish New Yorker and I am nothing if not stylish." Kurt winked and Blaine just sat there, eyes wide in surprise. And then Kurt decided to give him a hug. As he wrapped his arms around him, he smelled in his scent and even though it was a short hug, it still gave him butterflies. Burt looked on with contentment.

"I have something for you too." He handed Blaine a bag. "It's nothing as fancy as what you got me, but..." Kurt said but Blaine stopped him.

"I am sure I am gonna love it."

Blaine looked in the bag and laughed as he pulled out a bow tie. But not just any bow tie. This was a sleek black leather bow tie, he didn't have anything like this one in his ever-growing collection.

"This is awesome Kurt, thank you!" He jumped on his feet eagerly and ran to the mirror to try it out right away. "So cool, I can wear it with anything."

Kurt smiled, seeing Blaine so excited over a bow tie. Adorable.

"Alright boys!" Burt suddenly said. "Blaine get over here. I have something for the both of you." Blaine returned wearing the bow tie and looked at Burt perplexed. Kurt had the same look on his face. "This is what I went to get earlier."

"Dad? What did you..." Kurt asked as Burt pulled out an envelope.

"Oh dad, no...we don't need any money." Kurt starting and Blaine followed suit.

"I am with him. I can't take your money..." Blaine said very matter of factly.

Burt just laughed. "It's not money, you idiots."

"Oh...then what?" Kurt asked and Blaine sighed with relief. He was not comfortable taking money from Burt. He didn't need them either.

Burt pulled out two tickets and both Kurt and Blaine leaned in. They were Broadway tickets.

"Evita! OMG dad!" Kurt squealed and jumped up and down on the spot as he snapped the tickets from Burt's hands. "Look Blaine, look! Evita!"

"That was very nice of you, Burt." Blaine smiled and took the tickets from Kurt before he could rip them apart in his excitement. "I'll just put these in a safe place, alright Kurt?"

Kurt just nodded, eyes glazed over. He was going to a Broadway show. A Broadway show. And not just any Broadway show. Evita.

"I love Evita!" Kurt screamed and Blaine laughed.

"I know. I still remember your rendition of "Don't cry for me Argentina" when you auditioned for The Warblers. And it's still one of the most amazing performances I have ever seen."

Kurt blushed and smiled shyly. "Thanks." He then turned to his dad and engulfed him in a hug. "And thank you dad!"

"You're welcome, son." Then he gestured to Blaine. "You too Blaine. Group hug." Burt pulled Blaine in and all three of them stood there for a while, just hugging.

As they finally pulled apart, Burt turned to them. "Now I will like to relax in front of the tv with some basketball and popcorn...and you are making them." He smirked as both boys nodded. "And then I believe you two have a big night to get ready for. The show starts at eight pm."

"Yes dad."

"Yes, Burt."

The boys echoed, before running off and Burt felt rather satisfied with himself as he settled down on the couch.