Long Time Coming

by CrazedLunatic

When Blaine gets accepted into Harvard, Kurt and Blaine find out exactly how hard it can be to maintain a relationship when they discover how much their dreams conflict. Sequel to What Brings Us Closer Together. AU.

40. Chapter 31

"I am going to kick you in the face."

"No, you won't."

"I am literally going to kick you in the face."

"You played college basketball, not soccer. Plus, you can't reach your leg up that high anymore because you're catching up to the rest of us."

"Want to bet?"

"Could it ever?"

"Mallory, go away!"

Adrian, who was sitting in Blaine's office and 'studying' with him, looked up at Blaine. "Are they serious?"

"Pfft. You ask me like I know." Blaine shrugged, looking up from his book—actually, his phone which was in his book. "She does annoy the crap out of him, though. I'm surprised he ever let her work in the office actually… I bet his mom made him."

"Wait, did she just say he played college basketball?!"

"I mean, he is pretty tall." Blaine said.

"Most people are compared to you, Blaine.

"Hey I got an extra inch and a half when I turned 22… I don't know where that came from, but I am not complaining." Blaine scoffed.

Adrian chose to ignore Blaine's comment and then said "Well if anyone knew it would be you. You and he talk a lot."

"Yeah, but I usually ask about law, his family, or life?"

"You need to be asking important things, Blaine." Adrian mock sighed.

"You can ask him since I don't ask important enough questions."

"He's intimidating. I'm going to ask Ryan." Adrian stood and walked out, literally walking past Bob.

"He's going to ask Ryan if you played in the NCAA." Blaine said as Bob passed his office.

"Ugh, Mallory needs to quit blabbing." Bob groaned, stopping in the doorway. "Also, I know your phone is behind that book."

"So you did?" Blaine tilted his head as Adrian came in, putting his phone on his desk. He didn't even look guilty.

"Yes, I did. Black Bears. Shooting guard. No, I did not get a scholarship. 812 points my senior year and I don't remember the rest of my stats. Does that cover the questions, Adrian?"

"How did you know?" Adrian's jaw dropped.

"I was in Jake's office and heard you asking Ryan. By the way, he knows nothing about sports. Any of them."

"Yeah, I figured that one out when he laughed loudly at me and went back to his paperwork." Adrian shrugged.

"Great. Now if you two don't actually study, I'm going to pull a Tammy Jo and separate you."

Adrian looked at Blaine as Bob left his office. "How…?"

"Bob knows all?"

"Okay, sure." Adrian nodded. "Soooo… I have something to tell you if you promise to not tell AJ. She'll be devastated."

"Oh God. Did Matt actually sell his SI for that stupid thing?"

"He acts like he wants to trade that car in once a year but it's his baby. He likes it more than me." Adrian sat in the seat he had pulled up behind Blaine's desk earlier. "It's not going anywhere."

"Well good. The not getting rid of the car, not liking you more. What is this secret?"

"That doesn't sound like studying!" Bob called when he walked back by.

"On my lunch break Matt and I getting married?" Adrian asked once they no longer heard his footsteps.

Blaine nearly spit out the water he had just put in his mouth. He swallowed it, coughed a bit, and then said, "What?"

"Don't jump on the crazy train, okay? They're finally moving him from worker's comp to medical retirement which means he's going to get a lump sum of 75% of what he would have made if he worked there 25 years." Adrian said calmly.

"So, he's going to get a check and you just jump ship on your wedding?"

"Don't be dramatic." Adrian kept his voice calm. "With that also comes free health insurance for life… for Matt and his spouse or any dependents for life. Matt's dad is all over both of us getting that, so we're doing it legally today but we're still going to have a wedding in March."

"Oh my God."

"I know!" Adrian said. "If you look long term, it's not as good as the workers comp pay but they kept him on it as long as they can. He was making $144,00 a year without the overtime so he's getting a check for $108,000. It'll come over a period of time, though, so he'll get 5 checks for like $22,000 spread out over a year."

"Seriously? He's losing out on that much money?" Blaine frowned.

"I know. The important thing is he is healthy and now he has a lot longer to figure out what he wants to do… although he's pretty excited to keep Scarlett when AJ goes back to work." Adrian nodded. "Plus, he made all that money when he was working but he really only spent it on a house and car, so his savings account is sitting pretty well. That doesn't even count what he got back on his house in Cambridge... He has a lot more money than me…"

"That's good, but still… that also really sucks."

"He's honestly surprised he's getting that much. A lot of people only get 50%. I think his dad got Bob to write a, uhm, convincing letter for Matt and the other guy that can't work again. You see that attorney office return address on an envelope and you get a bit antsy. Go figure." Adrian shrugged. "So, yeah. I'm getting married in an hour."

"Are you coming back after? Are you all going to do anything?" Blaine asked. "Does anyone know?"

"Well, Bob knows… by proxy, Ryan and Tammy Jo probably know too. But I'm only changing my last name now for the paperwork and it saves me time because I won't have to request a name change on the law certificate after we take the bar. Bob said it'd look pretty bad if I didn't change it now and waited until March, so I don't want to risk that money because he deserves it."

"What about rings?"

"We haven't decided yet. We have them but I don't know if we should wear them yet because of the actual wedding… at the same time, we're going to be married and I really don't want to have to walk around married without a wedding band. We both keep going back and forth." Adrian sighed.

"You should totally wear them… but AJ's going to be so pissed at you. She literally doesn't go back to work until January. She's sitting at home. She will be watching Dora the Explorer when you get married!"

"I know. But honestly, it's not the wedding. We're just rushing it for paperwork. Matt really wants me covered by the insurance. I would feel worse about doing it if they didn't short him so much money." Adrian shrugged. "Plus, the Chief of Police is telling us to, sooo…."

"But you're coming back after your lunch? To watch Brian doing civil law stuff?"

"Yeah. He's heading back to the Cambridge one next week and Bob wants me to watch him when he's in the New York office." Adrian nodded.

"You're getting married and coming back to shadow someone on a civil law case?" Blaine asked. "Are you crazy?"

"Oh my God, I know. It's okay. We're going to do all the usual stuff in March, though! We want the wedding to be special because it's the day we picked, you know? That's when we'll celebrate anniversaries and stuff. Today is just for paperwork."

"You better at least have sex before you come back to work." Blaine gave him a look.

"Well yeah. Like Matt would let me get out of that." Adrian grinned. "I don't believe this. We literally just talked to his dad last night and we're about to do it."

"I'm so happy for you. I hate that this part is under not great circumstances, though… but I think Matt's dad was right to suggest it. People usually take really good care of wounded officers and their families." Blaine smiled.

"You're next." Adrian pointed at him.

"Can I not go a month without someone saying that or asking me when it's going to happen?" Blaine exclaimed.

"Oh, you know every time someone mentions it, you get just a little more excited than the time before that."

"It's not that I wasn't or haven't been excited about the idea of getting married but, honestly, we haven't had the talk. I'm assuming we'll have the talk soon but I did tell him to wait until after I pass the Bar."

"You would." Adrian laughed. "But I can't talk. That's why I wanted a spring wedding—to get through the Bar first and no have anything else to worry about."

"How did I know you'd be here and not where you specifically told me you'd be?" Matt grinned. "Hi, Blaine."

"Hey! Congrats. Well, kind of congrats?" Blaine smiled.

"Thanks."

"How are you?"

"I'd be better if Bob hadn't just asked me about when I lost my virginity."

"What?"

"In public. On a carousel. Against a rooster seat. Literally, on a cock. Trust me, I know the irony." Matt held his hands up defensively.

"I'm more concerned with Bob asking you how you lost it?" Blaine tilted his head.

"My dad told him." Matt looked embarrassed. "Obviously not knowing I would end up marrying someone that works for him."

"How does your dad know?"

"Because the carousel was moving… when the site was closed? Some worker got nervous and called the police and… you can fill in the rest yourself. Ever since Bob got me out of trouble at school, they're friends and Bob loves to give me a hard time." Matt rolled his eyes. "And he still calls me Matthew. I should call him Robert."

"I'm sorry. I'm still stuck on the fact that you lost your virginity… on a carousel… against a cock… with two cocks." Adrian laughed.

Matt covered his face and groaned. "I should never mention anything to do with sex with you people."

"Isn't it cute how he's still embarrassed talking about sex?" Adrian asked Blaine, grinning.

"It's not cute. I'm traumatized by my dad walking up on somebody literally fucking me in the ass when I lost my virginity, okay? You would be too." Matt whined. "Oh my God."

"Oh my God. Your dad was the police officer that came?" Blaine gasped.

"So, uh, how long did that last?" Adrian asked.

"The sex or the relationship?" Matt asked. "Because both got uncomfortable very quickly."

Blaine covered his face with his book, shaking with silent laughter. He then lowered the book and, after wiping his eyes, said, "If it makes you feel better, I don't even really remember losing mine. I was the literal guy version of white girl wasted."

"White boy wasted?" Adrian asked.

"Half white. Whatever." Blaine shrugged.

"Well mine was vanilla compared to that. In a bed, under the covers, at night when I was sleeping over at my best friend's house."

"Oh, that's cute." Blaine said.

"Yeah. It was best friend's older brother." Adrian sighed.

"Oh God. AJ's?" Blaine gasped.

"Yeah… she doesn't know, though, so…" Adrian trailed off. "Plus, he's married now and has, like, three kids so I guess it wasn't good for him… That or he is waaaay in the closet. He's so cute, though. He's still cute."

"If you let out a little sigh, I'm going home and we are not getting married." Matt pointed at him, although he was clearly joking.

"When you two meet him, you'll understand. You're also both sworn to secrecy."

"So you still see him? This is getting better and better." Blaine asked.

"I really hate you. Yes, I do. He went to undergrad in Boulder so before I was with Chad we'd mess around occasionally in his apartment… and maybe a couple of times in Cambridge when her family visited her. I'm going to hell. I mean I had a crush on him when I was thirteen but past that it never meant anything… it was just sex."

"Bro is not straight." Matt snorted. "I can tell you that for sure."

"In all honesty, AJ is smart. She probably knows." Blaine said.

"No, trust me. She has no clue. She thinks Chad was my first." Adrian tilted his head. "She probably knew about the times in Cambridge, though… but she didn't say anything, so… yeah. I'm done talking about this. Sworn to secrecy, yes?"

"Your secret is safe with me." Blaine promised.

"I'll keep it safe if you don't let your friends embarrass me over sex."

"It's just so cute when you blush." Adrian said. "I'm sorry. It is because you will literally say anything without being embarrassed, but when it comes to sex…"

"I hate you all. Bye, Blaine." Matt waved.

"Bye. Good luck!" Blaine waved and then picked his book up again, scowling at it.

"You know the book only helps if you open it and read it, right?"

Blaine looked up, seeing Bob in the doorway. "Sorry. I was just scarred by Matt's carnival story. Specifically, him saying he lost his… yeah, you know."

"I think I cried from laughing so hard when his dad told me. I couldn't say a word to Matthew for, like, a month. He was so cute. Now he's just silly. He is still kind of adorable, though, honestly. I think it's the blond hair and blue eyes." Bob plopped in one of the two seats in front of Blaine's desk.

"Okay, this is really weird." Blaine blinked at him.

"Yeah." Bob said. "I don't like this at all."

"Does it make you feel inferior?" Blaine grinned.

"To you?" Bob laughed. "Even if you were to completely crush my entire career by being more awesome than me, I would never feel inferior."

"That's rude." Blaine scoffed. "Why?"

"Those curls. I had no idea your hair was that curly."

"I am never coming to your house again." Blaine sighed.

"Yes, you will." Bob grinned. "Because there's free food. It's how you kids work."

"How do you like Mallory transferring here to be closer to family?" Blaine grinned right back.

"That was wrong, Blaine." Bob shook his head. "What am I paying you to do right now?"

"Literally or figuratively?" Blaine's grin didn't leave his face.

Bob rolled his eyes. "You come over to my house every other weekend for a month or two and you think you can say what you want?"

"Well you told me I could come over and walk in whenever I wanted." Blaine pointed out.

"I did. And you always can." Bob said, smiling. "How is Kurt?"

"Working like crazy but he's loving it. We're both exhausted by the time we're both together, though. I'll be glad when we can have a routine."

"I've been married 27 years and we still don't have a set routine, so good luck with figuring that one out." Bob laughed. "Let me know how that goes."

"I can't believe Adrian and Matt are getting married right now. And he's coming back to work after." Blaine said.

"Oh, I told him not to. I won't be surprised if he texts Ryan and asks to take a half personal day. I know they're not having a wedding yet but they should have some time together. It's still super exciting even to get that paper."

"I think he still feels bad missing so much during the summer." Blaine admitted.

"Family comes first. I've told him that a million times."

"Even if you want to kick them in the face?"

"Am I really that loud?" Bob asked.

"I think the sound just travels better on this end. I hear all kinds of weird things. Jake spends a lot of time watching Hulu. Ryan is no longer the only one who tries to watch TV."

"Yep, he's probably watching Grey's Anatomy or This Is Us. He always gets too invested in the shows his wife makes him watch and doesn't wait for her… then he'll watch the stuff with her later and act like he hasn't seen it before." Bob snorted and then added, "Or it could be Futurama if that's on there. That has been his favorite show since we were 24 or 25 years old. He'll binge rewatch it every, like, four years."

"Do you binge watch shows? I can't picture that."

"I binge watched the Walking Dead, Lost, Dexter, and 24. I really wanted to make it through Six Feet Under but I couldn't take the back and forth between David and Keith. And then he slept with that paintball guy the second time and I was like 'Nope. It's ruined.' Ugh. That was so upsetting." Bob sighed and then added, "I've also suffered through binge watching Gilmore Girls, ER, and Scrubs because of Sarah. I don't know why she doesn't get enough of hospitals at work. The last thing I would want to do is binge watch Law and Order. She actually watches SVU but never when I'm home... Thankfully."

"I've never seen Six Feet Under."

"Spoiler alert. They all die."

"Well it is called Six Feet Under. Wait. How do you know if you didn't finish it?"

"Google." Bob shrugged. "I ruin shows for myself a lot with Google. It drives Sarah crazy but I just want to know but I don't have time to watch TV every night."

"So, when are you going to announce that Jake is partner?" Blaine tilted his head.

"Never because he's not? He's just an associate." Bob looked confused. "I tried to get him to be partner but he doesn't want the responsibility… which I get. It's a lot. Being a lawyer is a lot and then being over, what, 40-something people… it's a lot of things to remember to do… Shit and that number is going to double… and the email addresses I have to type when I send out memos."

"You do know there's a way on Outlook so you could click a button and have a blank email come up with the emails already there, right?"

"Excuse me?" Bob scoffed.

"Yeah. I'll show you when I'm in your office next." Blaine nodded.

"I'm not going to say you're my favorite trainee, but…"

Blaine shrugged his shoulders and then asked, "How was it this weekend with Brady? Had he settled down?"

"No. He's being such an ass. He made Sarah cry three times on Saturday… which upset Emily, so then I've got two upset girls and Sam is obliviously playing Fortnite in his room while all this mayhem is going on… as usual. He comes down for dinner and is like, 'Oh, why's Mom crying?' Preteens."

"Would Sarah have cried if she wasn't pregnant?"

"I don't know what Brady even said to her because she wouldn't tell me… I heard them arguing and came downstairs. Of course, me coming down ended it because he's not going to talk crap to her in front of me… Even if she got overemotional, it doesn't matter. Nobody, especially an 'adult,' should make their mother cry. Pregnant and hormonal or not."

"Did you go off on him?" Blaine asked.

"I was going to try to just talk to him and he brought up something about us having another baby and how I was a shitty dad and have already messed up four kids' lives, so I had no business having another one… What in the hell is he talking about? I kind of lost it. I was so angry I don't even remember what I said so… it probably wasn't anything I should have said out loud." Bob groaned and looked up at the ceiling. "He's killing me. I hate when people go after the one person they know will always forgive them. It really pisses me off. Part of me thinks he upset her so I would get involved and he would have an excuse go off on me… that way it's 'my fault' because I'm the 'shitty dad' who started it. He's been such as ass."

"What does he think you did?"

"Hell if I know. I mean stuff hadn't been great before he totaled my car but ever since he got that diploma but it was normal arguing with your dad because you think you're old enough but you've got a curfew. After the car, though, it's like he hates me. If it wasn't for me and Matthew's dad being friends, he would have been in jail that night. And he is not depressed or anything like that either because we made him go talk to someone after the car thing. He's just an asshole who apparently has a horrible, shitty dad." Bob shrugged.

"You aren't a shitty dad. That's crazy. If he wants to see a real shitty dad he can come to Westerville and meet mine. I'm sorry he said that."

"You don't have to apologize." Bob sighed. "Hopefully Charlie talks to him about whatever crawled up his ass and died because I am officially Brady-ed out for two weeks. If he shows up when I'm home, I will kill him and he knows it. Honestly, though, I doubt he would come. He knows what he did was wrong. That's why he's not called Sarah to apologize yet."

"You wouldn't kill him." Blaine said reasonably.

"That doesn't mean I can't plot it inwardly when I'm mad. I've seen Dexter. I'm sure I could pull it off."

"Yes. Until the police hear you on a surveillance camera cursing." Blaine laughed

"Good point. Hey, do you and Kurt have anywhere to go for Thanksgiving? Are you two going to Ohio?"

"Yeah. I think if either one of us didn't show up, we'd both be disowned. His grandmother has called me four times making sure I make him take a few PTO days." Blaine nodded. "Not for me to ask off, to remind him to ask off."

"Well they know you'll take any excuse to sit around, eat, and do nothing. They don't need to harass you to come." Bob joked.

"They love me. They think I am adorable." Blaine scoffed. "Oh, yeah. Speaking of, can I have that Monday and Tuesday off?"

"Have they even met you then?"

"That's rude."

"Listen, you two should come over this weekend for dinner. Jake's taking Emily and his nine-year-old to the Children's Museum of the Arts. Sam will be the only one home…" Bob paused and then added, "If Brady knows what's good for him."

"I'm sure he'll love that. He's only met you for like two minutes at a time. He—" Blaine stopped talking when Ryan walked into his office, looking mad.

"Bob, if you don't simmer down this hyped up second year lawyer that your BFF brought with him, I am going to. Go. Off. And it won't be on you. It will be on her. And then him. And maybe you if I'm still angry after. Also, your BFF is kind of an asshole… and not in the good way like you."

"You know Sarah is watching your Glee club show? Can you not say 'BFF' like it's an actual word?" Bob asked him. "Wait, did you just call me an asshole?"

"No changing the subject. I'm serious. I am about to go off and nobody wants that unless you would like to handle this Verizon fuckshow because it's not even a shitshow anymore. It has been upgraded to fuckshow even if I just made that word up. I have kids I would like to see too, you know?" Ryan's face was, indeed, very serious. "Can we please talk in the conference room?"

"Okay, calm down." Bob stood up.

"You weren't here until 10:00 last night. I was and it barely made a dent. So, if this little bratty twenty-five year old bitch doesn't shut the fuck up, I'm going to do something illegal and you better give me an alibi because you wanted me to get the money but I'd rather run off to Mexico right now."

Bob put his hands on Ryan's shoulders, physically turned him around, and made him walk out the door.

Blaine heard Bob go, "You can't do that. Murder is illegal and I cost too much to defend you."

He then heard Ryan snap, "I hate you, Robert."

Blaine rolled his eyes and looked back at this book.

…

"I know they really want me to take off Monday and Tuesday but our project is running behind."

Blaine, who was sitting at the table with his laptop while Kurt cooked, looked up. "So? They can live without you for two extra days."

"I mean, I'll ask them off. I just feel bad." Kurt sighed and looked at him.

"If I can get off with this high profile case that Ryan's got going on with the Verizon lawsuit, you should be able to. Isn't it like another three months?"

"Wrong. It's almost the end of November. It has to be done by January 3rd for the Vogue show. Then it has to go to production. Then it's released and a month later we start slaving for fall." Kurt groaned. "Everyone is tired and grumpy."

"You are too." Blaine gave him an adorable smile.

"Sorry." Kurt stepped away from the stove and kneeled a bit, wrapping his arms around Blaine.

"Don't apologize. I can take it." Blaine promised. "Plus after my hangry breakdown last week, I have no room to talk."

"Yeah, you need to start eating protein bars or something. I wanted to kill you for a couple of minutes." Kurt laughed and kissed the top of his head. "I love you."

"I love you too." Blaine smiled brightly. "What were you wanting to talk about tonight?"

"Let's eat and then we'll talk about it." Kurt went back to the stove and moved the skillet to a different burner so it could cool.

"Is anything wrong?" Blaine asked worriedly.

"No, no, no. It's a good talk. Well, I hope you think it's a good talk." Kurt reassured him, going and wrapping his arms around Blaine from behind again. "You smell good."

"Yeah. My hair felt too hard so I took a shower early." Blaine admitted. "Everything is okay with everyone, though, right?"

"Yes." Kurt laughed. "Everything is okay with everyone. I just want to make sure you eat first because I'm worried you won't want to after."

Blaine hopped up, put some of the skillet dinner on his plate, and took a bite. "Oh my God. Still too hot."

Kurt rolled his eyes and made his own plate. "It's like you're trying to eat before sex or something."

"Well now I'm anxious." Blaine whined, sitting at the table and taking a much smaller bite. When figuring it had cooled down enough, he ate a full spoonful. "You know you can't say stuff like that to me."

"You're the one that kept asking questions." Kurt laughed again.

"Practicing for court I guess?" Blaine shrugged and took his empty plate to the sink. "Okay, I'm ready."

"I'm still eating! I just sat down!" Kurt exclaimed. "Oh my God, Blaine."

"Ugh." Blaine sat at the kitchen table again.

"Just give me two minutes."

"Fine." Blaine said, jiggling his foot under the table.

"Oh my God, Blaine." Kurt repeated before washing his own plate. "Let's go talk."

"If you're leaving me, you aren't taking Winnie. She's mine."

"Okay, drama queen." Kurt sat on their couch.

"Okay." Blaine sat on the other side and turned to face him, sitting Indian style.

"So… it's the end of November and the Bar exam is on February 26th and 27th."

"I'm definitely aware. Bob reminds me every time he comes in and I'm not studying."

"That means you'll get the results soon after and I wanted to… kind of touch base with you?" Kurt more asked than told Blaine.

"Okay. Is everything okay?"

"Yeah… but I know that you said you wanted to wait until after you pass the Bar exam… and that's coming soon."

Blaine's eyes widened.

"I guess I'm wanting to know where you stand on… getting engaged?"

"Holy shit."

Kurt rolled his eyes and smiled.

"That came up a lot sooner than I thought it would. It feels like I said that forever ago."

"It has been a while." Kurt agreed. "I want to make sure that's something you… still want? Or know if you're not ready yet and we should push it back more? I know stuff has been kind of crazy for both of us."

"No. I do." Blaine blurted. "I really do."

"Really?!" Kurt asked.

Any other time Blaine had seemed super hesitant and almost scared to talk about getting married. This was a completely different tune.

"Yes. Yes, really." Blaine nodded quickly.

Kurt wrapped his arms around Blaine, giving him probably the biggest hug he'd ever given.

Blaine pulled back and kissed Kurt. "Are you sure?"

"Are you seriously going to ask me that question?" Kurt smiled.

"Well you're asking if I'm ready so it felt like the right thing to ask. I don't know." Blaine shrugged and then grinned.

"So then… you're 100% okay if I were to do it as long as it's after April when you get your results?"

"Yeah, I think so. Yeah. Definitely." Blaine nodded. "Oh my God. Are you serious? Really?"

"I've been waiting to ask you but I just couldn't wait anymore. I literally can't stop thinking about proposing to you." Kurt admitted. "And getting married to you and having babies with you."

"Oh my God, I love you." Blaine kissed Kurt on the mouth, almost roughly.

Kurt kissed back but then pulled back, laughing. "I love you too."

"Did we really… just have that conversation? Am I hallucinating?"

"No. You aren't." Kurt smiled.

"I'm so excited but I have to now tell you something you can't tell anyone because I was sworn to secrecy."

Kurt looked confused.

"Adrian and Matt got married today!"

"What? What about their wedding in March?"

"They're still having it. They're about to give Matt his… I think he said medical retirement? They're basically giving him a lot of money to make up for ¾ of what he would have earned if he'd been an office for 25 years… but he's also guaranteed free health insurance for being an injured officer… and his spouse and dependents would also. It sounds like Matt's dad is pushing them to do it before the retirement paper is submitted… and they got engaged before the accident so it's not like they're just doing it for money… They just got the certificate a little early." Blaine explained.

"They're married?! Oh my God. I love them together so much." Kurt smiled. "That's really good that Matt's dad is looking out for Adrian too, though."

"Yeah. They all love him. They loved him before Matt got hurt but Adrian pretty much took care of him on his own for, like, three months? Mostly on his own with a bit of help, at least." Blaine nodded. "Every time I see Matt, he's a little louder and a little funnier. He seems like he's doing really well."

"Does he visit Adrian a lot?"

"I mean, sometimes he'll bring him lunch and eat with him in his office… Plus, he has nothing to do until January when he starts watching Scarlett."

"Yeah and he doesn't seem like the person who would just sit at home and watch TV or sit on Instagram." Kurt agreed. "It's so cute that he was terrified of holding her and now he loves her so much."

"Yeah. Well, AJ was over a lot in the beginning of his recovery so I think Matt just got used to her. AJ said he's obsessed. We need to go over there soon. Adrian said she's getting bigger."

"It's only been a week." Kurt laughed. "But that's so sweet that they got married-but-not-married today."

"It just reminded me because we were talking about us getting engaged. Oh my God." Blaine got a big smile on his face again.

"We obviously don't have to get married as quick as Adrian and Matt, though. I think we should both get settled into our jobs a bit and then pick a date."

"Burt is going to hate that." Blaine laughed.

"He'll be so excited he won't care… at least for a while. Then he might." Kurt laughed too.

"You're really ready? You're sure?" Blaine asked, looking at him.

"Yes." Kurt gave him a smile. "I have never been surer about anything in my life than wanting to spend the rest of it with you."

Tears filled Blaine's eyes and he moved, hugging Kurt. "I love you so much, Kurt."

"I love you too." Kurt pulled back. "So much. I can't wait to marry you and have little Kurt and Blaines with you."

"Oh my God. Kids." Blaine sniffed. "I want kids."

"I know. Me too." Kurt nodded, his own eyes tearing up. "And I want you to be happy and feel loved forever… because you are so loved and when we have a family, they'll be so loved. I want you to have your perfect family."

"I want that for you too. I just love you so much. You'll be such a good dad, Kurt."

"You too. You've got such a big heart." Kurt nodded and sniffled a bit.

"So, uhm… when?"

"After you get the Bar results. That's as much as I'm telling you." Kurt said.

"Who knows that it's going to happen?"

"I've only spoken to David and Wes about it… well, I mean Alec and I have been talking about it for a while but last weekend when we were at the restaurant waiting for you to make it from work, I told them I wanted to and asked if they were okay with it."

"You asked David and Wes for permission? That is so sweet but also hilarious." Blaine laughed.

"Yeah, I did. They were floored… but they're your family and their opinion matters more than anyone else's."

"God, I love you so much." Blaine grinned, his eyes bright. "Kurt, I love you."

"I love you too. So very much." Kurt kissed him.

"So after the Bar results?" Blaine asked.

"Yes. After the bar results." Kurt nodded.

"I feel like I need to tell David and Wes but they already know… Speaking of David, he is like three weeks away from graduating and being able to openly be with Marcy." Blaine looked excited. "And he gets to start working at the doctor's office as a real doctor without supervision."

"He'll have supervision. He'll have to go through regular training and stuff. They won't just let him run out there and start throwing medicine at people."

"He can prescribe medicine with his own name soon! I am so excited for him to graduate… The hospital was really rough for him. I think he's going to be so much happier." Blaine sighed. "I want that for him. To be able to date Marcy and not have a mental breakdown every couple of months."

"Well he's only got a bit longer to go." Kurt smiled. "I'm happy for him too. I wonder if he and Marcy will move in together."

"I'm positive they will. It sounds like they're trying to decide where to live. David will go wherever. His apartment is half way between both of their jobs. Hers is right by the hospital but he would move there and travel longer, though. He really likes her." Blaine looked thoughtful. "I wonder when they will get engaged. Everyone is either knocked up or getting engaged… or both."

"Wouldn't it be funny if Wes' vasectomy didn't work? He's just so cute with a baby. It makes me sad that they'll only have one."

"Oh, it worked. You have to go and… you probably don't really want the details but there are no little fishies in the pond. David and I didn't even want the details… Well, David probably knew all of the details already." Blaine tilted his head.

Kurt sighed. "Oh well I guess."

"Don't worry. Maybe Marcy will get knocked up. David would be a cute daddy too."

"I highly doubt they would forget to use protection."

"Well sometimes condoms break?"

"Maybe I should just get my own kid instead." Kurt shrugged.

"Okay, we have to get married and make more money before that happens."

"Eight. Million. Dollars."

"Aaaargh stop saying that! I don't want to use that. I wish it wasn't even there."

"So you never want to use that money?" Kurt asked him.

"I mean, just not for stupid stuff. I don't know. I just feel weird about it after everything with my parents."

"It was from your grandfather."

"Yeah, I know… and my grandfather was great. I just… I feel like when I'm meant to use it, I'll know. Honestly, I'd rather pay my own earned money to adopt or have a kid myself and not just use hand-me-down money. I want to be self-sustaining. You know?"

"I do. It's just funny when you complain about not having much money in your account is all." Kurt shrugged and then smiled.

"Yeah… I mean, I guess it's funny. If I didn't think we were going to have kids one day, though, I would probably just donate most of it to the HRC and women's shelters." Blaine admitted.

"While I don't think you should do that, we are pretty financially set as long as neither of us loses our jobs… You'd have to murder someone before Bob would ever get rid of you… and I also don't think you'd leave that firm as long as he's there."

"I mean almost everyone is great but you're right. As long as Bob is practicing law, I'm going to work for him… unless he leaves for somewhere else and doesn't take me… but that would be super rude."

Kurt rolled his eyes. "Well we all know that isn't going to happen. He loves you."

"He was checking to make sure we had somewhere to go for Thanksgiving today."

"He is so sweet." Kurt smiled. "And he is so cute with Emily."

"He's going to be horrible when she starts dating. Sarah and I were joking about it the Saturday before last… I went over there when you were at work."

Blaine stopped talking and got an adorable grin on his face. "We had the engagement talk. Aaaahhh."

"It's about time too." Kurt laughed. "Are you going to tell Bob tomorrow morning?"

"If he's there. The last couple of days, he's been at court in the mornings."

"Trials?"

"I mean he had 2 last week. I think it's mostly been paperwork, talking to the ADA, and talking to the judges?" Blaine tilted his head. "Ooh, we're going to start going and watching trials when he isn't busy!"

"People can just do that?"

"For the most part, yeah. He's a lawyer, though, so he can just pop into the rooms whenever he wants. I bet that's what he's doing when he's there for four hours. I am super excited to watch some trials, though. Like, real ones."

"I feel like that would be super boring… but I'm excited that you are excited!"

"Yeah, he said it was nothing to get excited over too… but apparently he watches them so…" Blaine shrugged. "Then again when he's at the office he can barely have fifteen minutes to himself. Oooh, have you all talked to Marc yet?"

"Talking to is a loose way of putting it. Everything is so busy so it's pretty much him looking at sketches, saying stuff to change, and then running off to a meeting or do Project Runway or something." Kurt shrugged. "He's a lot more involved on my level during the lull after fashion weeks."

"That's still so cool. We used to watch Project Runway and now you work for him!"

"I know! Sometimes I forget I work for him until he comes through our department to be honest. It's like he's the fashion God just popping up around holidays to remind us to keep at it." Kurt laughed a bit.

"Speaking of, you're going to ask off for the holidays, right?" Blaine asked.

"Yeah. I'll put in the request tomorrow." Kurt promised. "What about Christmas?"

"Bob's taking the whole week between Christmas and New Years off so he said I could just go in whenever… Or also not go in." Blaine shrugged.

"Enjoy that while you can. Soon you'll be just as overworked like all of the official lawyers you work with." Kurt smiled.

"Well honestly I think a lot of them don't work during the holidays if they can help it. Technically nobody is supposed to be there if Bob or Jake isn't there but that never really held up in Cambridge so I doubt it will here."

"Do you like Jake?"

"I don't know him that well. He seems alright. I mean, he's Bob's best friend so he can't be that bad… but I wouldn't sit and have a personal conversation with him. I was a lot more comfortable with Tammy Jo than him." Blaine admitted. "I don't know. Maybe it's because he doesn't try to get to know anyone. Tammy Jo talks to everyone that comes through the Cambridge office. Bob talks to everyone that works in his immediate area and he's always friendly when you see him… plus he always introduces himself to everyone that starts even if they aren't in his area. Jake just kinda… doesn't seem like he cares to get to know people… It's weird. I would never say anything to Bob, though."

"Honestly, I doubt he'd care if you did." Kurt shrugged. "He could just be super busy or something… Or just really quiet?"

"I have a feeling the office is going to blow up… there's so much space. They wouldn't have bought something so big if they weren't planning on using the space."

"I don't know. In our building there are tons of places with just crap. The seventh and eighth floor literally just has crap. They could actually probably use that space."

"Maybe there is a secret portal on those floors?"

Kurt laughed. "I don't think anyone has time to make a secret portal, Blaine."

"If Ryan can find time to watch Daredevil on Netflix during work, they can find time to make a portal."

"The more I hear about Ryan, the more I can't believe you aren't friends with him." Kurt admitted.

"Oh, he's great. When Bob doesn't have anything for me to do, I try to go in there with him and Adrian and help out. He's hilarious and tells these stories about he and his husband in undergrad and stories about his six year old son who sounds like a ball of energy." Blaine said. "We just don't seem to have free time at the same time… Plus, there is this huge thing going on with Verizon and he's pretty much pushed off all of his other cases and isn't taking any until it's done."

"The phone company?"

"Yeah. I'm not sure what exactly is going on but they're in hot water over something with their phones. It's been a nightmare."

"Wow."

"Yeah. Bob said even after the court date, it will probably take a year to get all of the stuff for the new law, to rewrite or fix their contracts so they have an obligation to not do that again, and also to essentially save face… although right now I'm pretty sure he'd like to see them go under so he could move on with his life." Blaine nodded.

"Will that at least bring in a lot of money?"

"I'm sure it will." Blaine nodded. "Also, I don't feel bad talking about it because it's all over the news and stuff…"

"Is Ryan?"

"No. I don't think that happens much with business lawyers. They're just saying his name. There won't even be cameras in the court room either when they go in. All of the madness is literally just contained behind closed doors." Blaine shrugged.

"That whole thing sounded really boring."

"It did." Blaine agreed. "You'll probably hear a lot of boring stories from work. Sorry."

"My stories would be boring too… except for meltdowns every once in a while, but that happens in the rank below us. I don't know why they're freaking out. Marc doesn't even look at the stuff they do." Kurt made a face.

"I've been waiting for this." Blaine grinned.

"What?"

"You to start complaining about people under you. It happens with school, internships, and really everything."

"I do not do that."

"You do… it's always after you've gotten confident in your work… which means it's not even been a year and you're one of the top people."

"I… did not say that." Kurt said slowly.

"You don't have to. I know you."

"Okay, so… he doesn't really critique anything I do. Maybe it's subpar compared to the others' work."

"You are trying really hard not to smirk, Kurt. How often does she critique your supervisor?"

"I don't want to answer that." Kurt said, trying is hardest not to keep a straight face.

Blaine beamed. "I bet you'll have her job within two years."

"Pfffft. I don't know that I would want her job… Okay, yeah, I would."

Blaine laughed. "I'm proud of you."

"Thanks." Kurt smiled at him. "I'm proud of you too."

"I can't believe you asked David and Wes for permission. That is so sweet… and hilarious… but mostly sweet." Blaine gave him a sweet smile.

"They're your family… besides mine. You know what I mean."

"I do." Blaine nodded, his smile growing. "You know… I've always been worried this would be an 'oh shit' moment but… it's not. I'm calm… especially compared to before we split up. It feels rightthis time. I feel… kind of… settled?"

"I'm really calm about it too." Kurt admitted, laying down against the back of the couch and opening his arms.

Blaine laid in front of him and scooted back—he knew what that meant. They had both done it enough.

Kurt let out a content sigh, running his fingers through Blaine's curls. "I'm glad you took a shower before I got home."

Blaine grinned. "I know you like the curls."

Kurt leaned up a bit and kissed his cheek before moving back down behind him.

"Hey, Bob invited us to their house this weekend for dinner if you want to go?"

"Yes." Kurt said without hesitation. "I would like to get past hello's and how are you's with him."

"I know. He's always being pulled away in the middle of conversations. It happens to me too." Blaine sighed. "I think he wants to really meet you too. He's heard a lot about you."

"Better be good things." Kurt tickled his side.

"Mostly." Blaine teased.

Long Time Coming

"I… guess Jake is still here." Blaine said as they got out of their car, which was parked on the side of Bob's street.

Kurt followed him up to the door.

"You can't just open— it. Well, I guess you can."

"You have to go, Emily."

"NO."

A very pretty woman gasped and said, "Look! Blaine's here! He's your favorite!"

"No, he's not! Daddy is and I'm not going!"

"You are going because Daddy already paid for your ticket." Bob said, not even having looked up.

"No, you didn't." A guy who must have been Jake said.

"You're not helping, Jake." Sarah said. "Emily, come on."

Emily wrapped both of her arms around Bob's leg.

"Oh my God. I am not doing this right now, Emily." Bob groaned, looking up at the ceiling.

"Yes, you are, Daddy."

"No. You are going. You asked Jake to take you. Jake came here to pick you up. Jake is on his way to take you. That means you have to go with him since you're the one who asked to go. Don't argue with me. I've been professionally arguing with people for twenty-one years and I'm really good at it." Bob said.

"Well you're not doing great right now…" Sarah said sweetly.

"Don't be a hoarder, Daddy!"

"I think you mean lawyer and I can't help it. I paid too much for the degrees." Bob heaved her up and walked past Kurt and Blaine, saying an excuse me.

"Are you coming with me, Daddy?" Emily sounded much happier.

"No but I'm going to put you in the car so you can go to the Children's Museum of the Arts."

"No! You're mean!"

"This is ridiculous, Emily." Sarah followed Bob out, saying, "You're almost eight years old and you're making Daddy carry you to a car."

"Hi, I'm Jake." Jake smiled.

"Hi, I'm Kurt." Kurt shook his hand.

"Great, so, she's in the car." Bob walked back in.

"You didn't give her your cell phone to watch Taylor Swift, did you? I will kill you." Jake said.

"No, I didn't... I wish I'd thought of giving her my work phone, though. Maybe she could lose it."

"Then what did you do?"

Sarah came in behind Bob. "Promised her a trip to Disney World. I'm seven and a half months pregnant, Robbie. Are you actually serious? Disney World?"

"It's okay. I'll show her the YouTube video of that creepy ride you hate and she'll never want to go."

"Which one? There are, like, 8 creepy rides."

"It's A Small World."

Sarah looked at him for several seconds and then said, "That was really smart. Good for you and your ten years of hoarder school."

Kurt couldn't help but let out a loud laugh.

"Oh my God. You are adorable!"

"Oh God. Don't harass him, Sarah." Bob covered his face. "Kurt, this is my very pregnant wife who is feeling all of her emotions five times more than usual."

"Hi." Kurt smiled and waved.

"Oh God. They're cute apart and together. I can't handle this." She turned towards Bob. "Robbie, quit rolling your eyes at me."

"How did you fucking see that?!" Bob exclaimed.

"I don't have to see it to know it. It's been 27 years."

"You all have been together 27 years?" Kurt asked, smiling.

"We've been married 27 years. We've been together for 34. We started dating when we were 11. He wouldn't leave me alone so I eventually just married him."

"That is so rude." Bob scoffed.

"No working at the house." Sarah took his phone.

"It was Ryan asking about taking off for his baby's birthday party and inviting us, thank you." Bob took it right back.

"Why didn't he text your personal number?" Sarah looked suspicious.

"Why don't you ask him?"

"You guys are both so young. 34 years?" Kurt asked.

"Yes." Sarah nodded eagerly. "I've had to deal with him for 34 years."

"Deal with me?" Bob scoffed again. "Well it got you five kids and this 'perfect green house' so I think you fared pretty well."

"Four and three quarters of a kid, actually." Sarah said. "So… Jake was supposed to pick Emily up two hours ago but he can't be on time to save his life unless it's for a trial… and Emily was throwing a fit the half hour he was here trying to get her… and I have no food for you. Should we go out to eat?"

"Can't we just pay someone to bring food to us?" Bob asked. "I hate driving in the city."

"It's pretty horrible." Kurt agreed. "Blaine won't even do it except to go to work."

"Pizza?" Blaine suggested.

"Are you sure he isn't actually yours, Robbie?" Sarah looked between Blaine and Bob.

"I'm pretty sure I was still at Harvard when he was born… nowhere near BFE Ohio." Bob, who was looking at his phone again, did not miss a beat.

"What does that mean?"

"You know what that means. Are you really going to make me say it out loud in front of them?" Bob looked at her. When she didn't protest he said and said, "Bumfuck Egypt, okay?"

"I just wanted to see if you'd actually say it in front of them. You have no shame."

Blaine shrugged.

"Can I just buy eight so we don't have to make dinner for a couple of days?" Bob asked, facial expression very serious.

"If you order eight pizzas, good luck fitting that into the fridge." Blaine snorted.

"You know how big their fridge is?" Kurt looked at Blaine, amused.

Bob snorted. "Of course he does."

"Are you on your work phone?"

"I'm ordering the pizza because I haven't set up the computer yet." Bob said.

"I'm sorry that my husband has basically stolen and adopted your partner from you." Sarah told Kurt.

"As long as I get to see him a couple of hours a day, I'm good." Kurt smiled. "Have you two really been together for thirty-four years?"

"That's longer than they've been alive." Bob pocketed his phone. "They're grown adults and we've been together longer than their age."

"Did you find those pictures?" Blaine asked sweetly.

"Hey, I can disown you." Bob pointed a finger at him.

"I honestly don't know where they are." Sarah frowned. "But I will save them for you when I find them. Just skip work one day and come over. I'll show you allll the embarrassing stuff."

"I will actually fire you if you come over when I'm not here and look at pictures." Bob's facial expression was very serious.

"Are you all engaged yet?" Sarah asked eagerly.

"No. Not yet. Apparently it's off of the table until he gets his bar exam results."

"That's stupid, Blaine." Bob said, sitting at their table.

Kurt grinned at Blaine.

"I'm easily stressed. Leave me alone." Blaine responded, going to sit at the table with him. "I can only have one major thing going on or I have meltdowns. Sometimes I have them with one thing going on..."

"And sometimes with none?" Sarah asked eagerly. "Because that's me right now. He's been to Dairy Queen twice today and it's not even four."

"She's not kidding." Bob sighed.

"How did you all meet?" Sarah asked, motioning for Kurt to sit next to Blaine at the table.

"You'll regret it if you answer that." Bob looked at Kurt.

"Glee club. Well, sort of. I went to spy on his group and he serenaded me with Teenage Dream." Kurt said.

"Ohmygod. Do you watch the glee show?" Sarah asked as Bob began to laugh.

"Bob, shut up. That's cute."

"I'm laughing at you and that stupid show. You won't think it's as cute when you find out they kissed over a dead bird." Bob snorted.

"Blaine, you're supposed to leave that part out." Kurt laughed.

"Well, I mean…" Blaine shrugged. "It was kind of a big detail?"

Sarah left the room quickly.

"Is she okay?" Kurt asked.

"She's fine. The baby's foot is right over her bladder. She's tried to get him to move but he won't budge." Bob laughed and looked over when his youngest son walked through. "He's been there for four days."

"I'm hungry, Dad."

"There's a fridge there and a pantry there." Bob pointed before Sarah came back in.

"I'm hungry, Mom." Sam said as Sarah walked back in.

"There's a fridge there and a pantry there." Sarah pointed to the rooms, exactly like Bob had. "Robbie, why are you looking at me like that?"

"No reason." Bob said quickly. "I think we've been together too long."

"That was creepy. Hi, Blaine. Bye, Blaine." Sam grabbed an unopened box of snack cakes and went off.

"But those are my—"

"It will be okay, Robbie."

"Zebra cakes. I told you to hide them. He eats them all at once. Like the whole box. At one time."

"He gets that from you. Freshman year at Maine. Don't worry. There are two boxes in the bedroom on the bookshelf… the one place he'll never look."

"He's going to eat that whole box and then a whole pizza and then whine that he doesn't feel good." Bob sighed. "And then you will coddle him."

"I'm seven and a half months pregnant. They basically tell me what to do at this point." Sarah shrugged and sat next to Bob, across from Kurt. "When will the pizza be here?"

Bob slid his phone to her.

"Oh my God. You can track pizza now?" Sarah gasped. "Okay, I'll be back again."

Bob covered his mouth and nodded.

"It's not funny." Sarah whined as she walked out.

"This is my life outside of work. We just go back and forth on some new thing with her taking a million bathroom breaks." Bob laughed once she was out of earshot.

"When is she due?" Kurt asked.

"Well the doctor says said the middle to the end of January but she's convinced they're wrong. Every time they've been three or four weeks off so she probably is right… I think it's because she's so tiny."

"Are you excited?" Kurt asked.

"Yeah, I am. He's going to be our fourth son and fifth child. Soon we're going to run out of boy names to choose from… I hope we don't have to pick another name after this one though."

"Do you all have a name yet?"

"Pfft no. I mean she's saying Aaron but she always changes her mind right before we sign the birth certificate so it'll probably end up something horrible like George… not that it gets much worse than Robert." Bob shrugged.

"You were really texting him about the Verizon thing, weren't you?" Blaine asked.

"Yeah. I guess Tammy Jo is coming up tomorrow and we're going to try to help Ryan get all this crap sorted out. I'm pretty sure Ryan wants to quit law right now."

"Verizon the phone company?" Kurt asked.

"Yeah. It sounds like they've got some tracking thing on their phones that make them lock up if you try to use them with another carrier—like if you swap or something. So, your phone is useless… They're already working on laws to combat it, but the federal court has gotten involved so it's apparently fifty times worse than it would have been if he was trying to contain and fix the situation. He's not only having to negotiate for them in federal court but he's going to also have to submit all of this stuff to work on other stuff to help get the new law created and he has to go through and redo all of the contracts to make sure they are all updated and legally correct."

"Wow."

"It's a big shitshow." Bob sighed.

"Kurt, there's a conference room big U shaped table with boxes of papers." Blaine said. "It's ridiculous."

"Honestly I haven't seen a business law case this bad since I was an intern. Verizon really fucked themselves over, though. It will probably take a year to get all of the stuff for the new law, to rewrite or fix their contracts so they have an obligation to not do that again, and also to essentially save face… although right now I'm pretty sure he'd like to see them go under so he could move on with his life. We've both left after eight at night every day this week." Bob nodded.

"You too?" Blaine looked surprised.

"Oooh yeah. This may be Ryan's case but he's doing it for the firm. There's no way he can sort all of this out by himself. We're debating having Brian decline more cases so he can come up here and help too. It's just too much stuff to go through for two or three people. The only way we'd get real progress is if we had six or seven at this point. I actually may try to sneak out of here tonight when Jake brings Emily back if I can talk him into coming too."

A couple of seconds later, Sam came down and said, "Mom fell asleep in my bed again."

"Well… I guess it's a good thing all you do is play Fortnite on your TV then?" Bob asked.

"Yeah but that means I can't get mad and cuss out my friends through the headset. Will you move her?"

"No. She didn't sleep much last night, so leave her alone."

Sam groaned. "Really? You could probably just pick her up and move her to your bed in, like, twenty seconds."

Bob gave him a look.

"Fine but you owe me Fortnite bucks."

"What the hell is a Fortnite buck?"

"You know. Money for things in the game." Sam said slowly. "Mom already gives me like $40 a month for it. It's a subscription."

Bob opened and closed his mouth a few times. He then said, "She gives you $40 a month for your computer game and you want to kick her out of your bed?"

"You don't have to make it sound like I'm mean or something."

"I don't even know what to say to you right now… but no, I'm not moving your mom."

"What if she pees on my bed? Or her water breaks on my bed?"

"If her water breaks on your bed, your mattress will be the least of all of our worries. Trust me."

"So you are not going to move Mom? 100% not going to move your wife, my mother, who is asleep in my bed?"

"Nope."

Sarah walked in with four boxes of pizza. "The kid was cute so I gave him a $15 tip."

Kurt covered his mouth, trying hard not to laugh at Bob's facial expression.

"So… when it's a girl delivery person, do you give her more money if she's cute?" Sam asked.

"No because that wouldn't annoy your father. Also, I heard what you said about me peeing in your bed and I am highly offended." Sarah gave him a look. "I have only peed in the bed once and that was with Charlie."

"Oh God. I forgot about that." Bob's eyes widened.

"Did you know she was up?" Sam gave Bob a look.

Bob shrugged.

"Your dad knows all." Blaine said, going to help Sarah with the boxes.

Sarah looked at Blaine. "Have you ever asked him a question about math or science? Or anything that isn't about arguing, basketball, or politics?"

"Sarah, I frequently get asked about math and science as a lawyer. I answer those questions all day. Even from clients."

"Ugh, I hate you." Sarah sighed.

…

Kurt sat quietly on the back porch with Bob. Blaine had been there too but had gone to use the restroom.

"Thank you."

Bob looked up from his phone. "Thank you?"

"Blaine. Thank you so much." Kurt took a deep breath.

"Don't even." Bob shook his head.

"No. You don't understand. The only real men he's had in his life have been my dad and his best friends' dads. It's not the same." Kurt shook his too. "Because you aren't tied to him by someone else he knows."

"He's really special and I hate that his family treated that way." Bob sighed. "I think about him just as much as I think about my own kids and I'm very happy he got the internship at CMJ because he is a wonderful addition to my life. I am happy to have him in my life. I wasn't saying it lightly when I told him I loved him. I don't need a thank you."

"I do need to thank you because now he has a support system that isn't linked to somebody else he knows… and since that day where he told you everything… he's been so calm." Kurt took a deep breath, trying very hard not to tear up. "He's never been this calm before… it's something different. Like he feels settled."

Bob watched him carefully.

"It's just so much better. He feels so much happier with you in his life." Kurt took a deep breath. "Now you probably think we're both crazy."

"No." Bob scooted down so he was sitting directly across from Kurt. "I think that you love him very much and that you feel what he feels… but listen. Blaine kept telling me thank you too, but I don't need it. I honestly love him like he is one of my kids."

"He's needed this for a long time and he didn't even know it." Kurt wiped his eyes. "Now you're here. You've been here but now… you're here. If that make sense. I don't know."

"I love Blaine. I love that I have gotten to watch him grow these last three years… that I've gotten to see him from a nervous law school freshman to someone who is about to be an amazing lawyer. I love that I get to work with him and teach him things and talk about things. I want to be here for him. I'm not doing this because I feel sorry for him. I am doing it because I genuinely want to be there for him." Bob kept eye contact with Kurt.

"I know. That's why I need you to know that you're making a huge difference in his life. You have been for three years in several ways but… you really changed his life in July. You've made him feel settled with you, but everything else is settled too. You've made such a difference. I just wanted you to know that… I am so thankful to you for that."

"He's made a difference in mine too. He's great. I can't believe a father would do that. It makes me sick to my stomach to think about how bad it must have been for Blaine to want to..." Bob frowned and trailed off.

"The thing is, he had never even talked about that with me until the night he talked to you. I knew of it but not what happened… But he told you. He didn't make something up or try to leave or change the subject. He felt so comfortable with you that he openly talked about the worst night of his life." Kurt took in a deep breath and let it out. "Thank you for being his person. He's needed you."

"I'm not going anywhere. I promise you that." Bob said.

Kurt could tell Bob meant it by looking him in the eyes.

"You've made a huge difference in his life too which I'm sure you know. He always talks about how supportive you are and how much he loves you. He even tells me how proud he is of your work accomplishments. It's really sweet how much you two care for each other." Bob said.

"Yeah but it's not the same as having a parental figure." Kurt bit his lip.

"I'm serious, though. I'm not going anywhere… and you aren't, so I'm glad I got to say more than just hello and run off. Sorry I've always been too busy to really talk to you when you've visited him in the office… and thank you for coming here even if this house is kind of chaotic."

"It's great. You and Sarah seem perfect for each other and both of your kids that I saw today are beautiful." Kurt smiled.

"Thank you." Bob smiled back. "He really told you to not propose until after he passed the bar?"

"Yes." Kurt rolled his eyes but didn't look upset. "I mean, we did have a nine month split and things have been chaotic since we've been back together, so I do understand. Plus… sometimes he needs extra time. He always gets there eventually, though."

"Yeah. I can see that… but the joke's on him because when he gets that certificate he'll never get a break." Bob laughed.

"Is it that bad?"

"It's not bad but he's going to be busy. He'll have a few flop cases until he gets the hang of things but once he's past that, I would bet serious money he is going to go very far in law. He's assertive, determined, and compassionate. Even having one or two of those traits will make you a good lawyer but you get all three of them and you're a force to be reckoned with." Bob said very seriously. "He'll get people from other states wanting him on their cases. He'll have people from firms in other states trying to hire him. I know he's going to be that good."

Kurt smiled and nodded. "Your house is really nice."

"Thank you. Sarah was five months pregnant so there was no talking her out of it… not that I would have tried." Bob laughed a bit. "Hopefully we'll be in it for a long time."

"Do you all move a lot?"

"We have five or six times since I graduated law school but that was mainly for better cases and pay. CMJ is doing great, though. I'm sure the New York one will too once we get more people in. I think that farthest I'd ever move is back to Cambridge." Bob shrugged. "But my two oldest sons are in college and medical school here and Riverdale is a really good school so Sarah talked me into it. She wants to be close to her babies. We'll be here a while."

"That's understandable." Kurt nodded.

"I am closer to my granddaughter, though, which is the biggest perk for me. Is it weird to have a granddaughter older than my youngest son?"

"I don't think so." Kurt shook his head as Blaine came out.

"What?" Bob asked, eyes widening.

"Nothing." Blaine said quickly, sitting by Kurt.

"She found the box of photo albums, didn't she?" Bob groaned. "Damnit."

"Yes." Blaine grinned. "You two are so cute."

"Yeah. We get that a lot." Bob sighed.

"What?" Blaine asked.

"I think I'm going to go to CMJ later and try to get through some of that paperwork. I don't want to but it's a fucking mountain. More than one, actually."

"I'm really glad I don't know what I'm doing so I would be of no help to you." Blaine laughed.

Bob shot him a look. "Your time is coming, my friend. Just you wait and see. You better enjoy the lull while you can."

"Brian was saying that to Adrian and I last week." Blaine nodded.

Bob groaned again.

"Oh my God, Bob."

"What?" Bob looked alarmed.

"Your phone hasn't rang. Either of them."

"Don't get too excited. They're on silent." Bob laughed. "I've had seven calls on my work phone. It was ringing all morning. That's why Sarah tried to take it away."

"Even on Sunday?" Kurt asked.

"Oh yeah. After hours, weekends… Once I even got a call on Christmas. Sarah was so pissed." Bob nodded.

"Christmas?" Blaine echoed.

"Yeah. It was a pretty important call, though, so it is what it is." Bob shrugged as Sarah walked out.

"No. I know that face. No." She said, sitting by him. "I knew Ryan was texting you about Verizon."

"I think I kind of have to. I'm afraid Ryan is going to quit."

"Ryan wouldn't leave you." Sarah sighed.

"I don't know. I'm pretty sure he was about to cry on Friday. He's been getting back so late that the baby has been asleep by the time he's made it home every night."

"Well Tammy is already there so…" Sarah shrugged.

"What?"

"I didn't want to tell you because I knew you'd try to run off. She's only been there five hours."

"Five hours by herself?"

"She locked the doors. She's fine." Sarah shrugged again. "She's staying the night."

"Oh happy happy joy joy."

"Did you just quote Ren and Stimpy?" Blaine tilted his head.

"Yep. He did because he's old." Sarah grinned.

Blaine laughed, not stopping when Bob gave him a look. "Are you sure I can't help?"

"We're good… don't ask me again, though, because the third time I might cave." Bob stood. "I hate to cut this short, boys, but I have to go spend a lot of time alone with Tammy Jo. If I don't get out of here before Jake brings Emily back I'll be stuck until she goes to bed."

Sarah rolled her eyes. "Tammy would be fine. She doesn't need a body guard."

"I wouldn't want you alone in that building by yourself after dark, so I'm not going to do that to her husband."

"You two can stay and look at pictures if you want." Sarah smiled brightly and Kurt and Blaine when Bob kissed the top of her had.

"It was really good to see you, Kurt! We'll do this again!" Bob squeezed Blaine's shoulder and then went into the house.

"So… pictures?" Blaine asked eagerly.

"Yes. Pictures. Come back inside, friends."

Long Time Coming

"Oh my God. What are you doing here?" Kurt asked the following weekend.

"KUUUUUURT!" Melody practically threw herself on Kurt's legs.

"Hi, hon!" Carole beamed.

"Well, you'll have to ask your aunts why we're here." Burt came up to him and hugged him.

"Thanksgiving is, like, this week. You know that, right? Blaine and I are leaving on Tuesday." Kurt hugged his father back slowly— and very confused. "What about Paige and Taylor?"

"They're getting married today!" Melody squealed.

"How many people do I know getting married this month? Really?" Kurt exclaimed. "And both of them are basically surprise weddings? What?"

Blaine, still in his pajamas, walked to the kitchen.

"He hasn't even realized we're here." Burt chuckled.

"BLAAAAAAINE!"

Blaine dropped the container of coffee and turned around as Melody wrapped her arms around his legs.

"What are you doing here?! Are you going to live with me now, BFF?!" Blaine scooped her up.

"No, silly." Melody ran both of her hands through his curls. "I live with Mommy and Daddy. I'm visiting."

"Oh, drats." Blaine pouted and kissed her cheek.

"Paige and Taylor are apparently getting married today." Kurt said, closing the door once Burt and Carole were all the way in the apartment.

"How many gay people do I know that are getting married? It's literally almost one per week." Blaine looked confused.

"For two weeks." Kurt snorted.

"It's in the air." Burt gave Blaine a pointed look. "We could make it six people."

"Dad, stop." Kurt sighed.

"Just saying there will already be an officiant… Throwing it out there, okay?" Burt shrugged.

"No. I am exactly three months away from taking the bar. Death Day is soon and that's all of the stress I can handle right now." Blaine shook his head, moving Melody's arms with it. "Nope, nope, nope."

"Daddy, they can't get married until someone gets a surprise ring." Melody said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Mel, we don't know. Maybe they do have rings."

"Oh my God. It's too early for this." Kurt yawned, hugging Carole.

"Hon, he talked about your future wedding on the entire plane ride. You'd think we were on our way to yours and not your aunts'." Carole smiled.

"Bar, bar, bar." Blaine gave Burt a pointed look. "I need everything big or stressful to wait until after the Bar. I'm supposed to go into work. When is their wedding?"

"This kid thinks he graduates from Harvard and he gets to fit us into his schedule?" Burt chuckled. "It's like he's a real adult."

"Real adult who eats Fruity Pebbles for breakfast." Kurt laughed.

"It's this evening at 6:00." Carole laughed as well. "Be nice to him. He's busy."

"Do you really have to work?" Burt looked disappointed.

"Kind of. I usually don't on weekends, though." Blaine cringed. "Big case, a lot of paperwork, and not a lot of time. My boss' wife will be having a baby in this next four to six weeks and if we don't make headway, he won't be able to take off when he's born. There's going to be ten of us going through crap… not that Adrian and I know what we're doing, but Bob's buying lunch so that's $10 in my pockets."

"The cute one? He's going to be a dad?" Carole asked.

"It will be his fifth." Kurt said.

"What?" Burt asked. "How does he not have gray hair?"

"I need people to stop calling him cute around me because he needs to just be Boss Bob. Not Cute Boss Bob." Blaine sighed. "I can definitely be out by six, though. He probably won't even keep Adrian and I there the whole time, honestly. Adrian got married last week too… although not a lot of people know."

"To the police officer?" Carole asked eagerly.

"Yeah!" Blaine nodded. "Their wedding isn't until March, though. Matt is getting medical retirement and Adrian is covered if they're married before it kicks in… which is in five days. They already had been planning the March wedding, though, so it's not like they're abusing the system or anything."

"Oh no. He couldn't go back to work?" Burt asked.

"No but he's feeling a bit better about it. They were actually coming for dinner tonight so you can probably meet him! He's really funny… sometimes not even on purpose, but usually on purpose."

"He's a year younger than me." Kurt said.

"Yeah. Adrian started undergrad a year late. I always forget he's a year older than me." Blaine tilted his head.

"Wait. Adrian is older than you? When did we invite them to dinner?" Kurt looked confused.

"Well they haven't been over to see the apartment yet and… I forgot to tell you? Sorry."

"That's okay." Kurt laughed.

"Go get ready for work, sweetie." Carole laughed.

"Can I go to your work, Blaine?" Melody asked sweetly.

"No, I'm sorry. There's a lot of papers… like stacks of books in a library. It's kind of ridiculous." Blaine kneeled by her. "But next time you're here I'll show you my office. I have my own chair and computer and everything. I even have two computer screens."

"Ooooh!" Melody's eyes lit up. "I want to see!"

"Next time. I promise!" Blaine said.

"Hon, let him go get ready." Carole came over and ruffled her hair.

"Okay, Momma." Melody went and wrapped her arms around Kurt's leg.

"She still changes her alliances quickly, I see." Kurt joked, picking her up.

"No. I just like everybody." Melody chirped. "Kurt, did you just wake up?"

"I hadn't got out of bed when you got here but I was awake… trying to get Blaine up for work, actually." Kurt rolled his eyes but he was smiling. "He doesn't like to get up early."

"Me neither." Melody wrapped her arms around his neck. "I love you, Kurt."

"I love you too." Kurt kissed her cheek. "But you are getting heavy."

…

"I never thought I would see the day those two would actually get married." Kurt's grandmother, Annie, said later that evening.

They were in Paige and Taylor's house—although they had left for a three day get away before Thanksgiving.

"Taylor only asked her eight times." Kurt's grandfather, Andy, laughed.

"Taylor's sister said Paige actually asked her a few months ago." Carole smiled.

"Paige never tells us anything." Annie sighed. "Kurt, does she tell you anything?"

"Not like that." Kurt shrugged, smiling when Blaine came into the living room. "Were Adrian and Matt okay to reschedule for tomorrow?"

"Matt's actually going to Cambridge tomorrow but we may reschedule for Friday. It's fine. It sounded like Matt's not feeling too well anyway." Blaine smiled, sitting on the loveseat by Kurt.

"You two look so grown up." Annie sighed again. "And cute."

Kurt beamed.

Andy gasped. "Do you think they'll adopt a kid?"

"Kurt and Blaine?" Burt asked, coming in.

"No. Paige and Taylor."

"No. They're 45 years old." Annie shook her head.

"My boss is 45 and is about to have his fifth child." Blaine said. "They could still adopt."

"There is hope!" Andy's eyes lit up. "And next you and Kurt can adopt."

"Well, we wouldn't adopt. We want our own kids so when we are ready, we'll find a surrogate." Kurt said, squeezing Blaine's thigh.

"That's even better!" Annie said. "How are you two? How's work?"

"We're doing good… getting used to living together again a bit still, though." Blaine admitted.

Kurt rolled his eyes. "We are used to living together. We just don't necessarily see eye to eye on laundry rules."

"Who has laundry rules, Kurt? You wash yours and I'll wash mine." Blaine sighed.

"You can't have trouble in paradise already." Burt pointed at them. "We want him official."

"Official?" Blaine tilted his head.

"Maybe the word I'm looking for is legal. We want you legally in the family." Burt said.

Blaine grinned and bumped shoulders with Kurt.

"Their wedding will be so perfect." Annie sighed, looking at Carole.

"It will." Carole nodded, smiling at them.

"Well you've got a while to wait. We've already decided we aren't getting married until we're established in our careers." Kurt said before they could get too excited.

"You two are literally killing me." Burt covered his face. "Oh my God. You must not want kids by 30."

"I'm almost 25!" Blaine exclaimed.

"Plus, tons of people have long engagements. I feel like Alec and Eric were engaged forever before they actually got married."

"No… wait. It was your last year at CCAD… so it was like three years, wasn't it?" Blaine looked like he was trying to work out the math. "Almost three years. Damn."

"Yeah. Eric got really sick, though." Kurt pointed out.

"Three year engagement? You two cannot do that to me." Burt looked between the two of them.

"Daddy, isn't that their choice?" Melody asked sweetly from her spot on her grandfather's lap.

"Technically yes." Burt sighed. "That isn't the point, Melody."

"That is exactly the point, Dad." Kurt sighed this time. "I choose when we get engaged, we choose when we get married."

"You choose? You do know I can say no, right?" Blaine teased Kurt.

"Oh, you better not, Blaine." Burt threatened.

"Oh my God." Kurt covered his face with both of his hands.

"These two kill me. They've already got mapped out how long after being established at work before they do the kid thing, who is going to be the donor first, how far apart they'll do the two kids. But they won't get engaged." Burt groaned. "They are giving me anxiety."

"Leave them be." Carole said to everyone else. "We just know that when it happens, they've already got a timeline of their big life events after marriage… which really is weird since you two aren't engaged. But that's not our business… We are all waiting, though. Some of us not as patiently as others."

"I think you should mind your own business." Melody chirped. She then giggled, "I want to be the first to know."

"I'm okay with that." Blaine shrugged. "You can be our announcer."

Melody clapped her hands together excitedly. "Yay. I get to announce Finn's baby t—… whoops."

"What?" Carole literally stood.

"I was just… kidding?" Melody looked at Carole guiltily.

"She left the dinner table three times to go to the bathroom, Carole." Burt deadpanned. "Did you really not figure that out?"

"Well I thought she wasn't feeling well." Carole sighed.

"Finn is really adorable." Annie smiled at Carole.

"He is cute but he can be pretty clueless." She sighed again and then smiled. "But thank you."

"You did good raising him on your own! He is sweet too!" Annie smiled. "Burt did good too and now you have a perfect blended family."

"And a me!" Melody chirped.

"And a Melody." Carole laughed. "The voice of reason in the family… and she's seven years old."

"My teacher says I talk too much." Melody tilted her head. "Maybe I do."

"No." Blaine pointed at her. "You are the perfect little sister just the way you are. Don't let her make your sunshine cloudy."

Melody giggled and then grinned, hopping down from her grandfather's lap and going to sit by Blaine.

Blaine wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head several times, prompting more giggles.

"Well she does talk out in class…" Carole said.

"Doesn't matter. She's still the perfect little sister." Blaine snuggled her.

"I wish you two lived at home with Momma, Daddy, and me again." Melody pouted. "That darkens my sunshine."

"Awww." Kurt reached over and ruffled her hair.

"Maybe you can live here with us?" Blaine asked.

"Momma would be sad and I can't do that." Melody sighed. "But thanks."

"She is too pure for this cruel world." Blaine squeezed her again.

Melody giggled and made herself comfortable on his lap, leaning back against his chest.

"She definitely misses her three brothers." Burt said.

"Yes but they're all three only a call away." Carole added.

Melody nodded, giggling when Kurt made a face at her.

Blaine covered his mouth, yawning. "We have to let the dogs out, Kurt."

"Yeah." Kurt frowned and kissed the top of Melody's head.

"Can I stay the night?" She asked.

"Hon, we have to get up really early to catch our flight." Carole looked apologetic.

"Okay." Melody sighed.

"Don't make the sunshine cloudy." Blaine kissed her cheek. "Plus you get to see us in, like, two and a half days."

"WHAT?!" Melody squealed.

"It's Thanksgiving, silly." Kurt laughed and stood.

"Momma, can I just come back with them?"

"Hon, they have to work the next two days." Carole said.

Melody sighed and then nodded. "Okay… "

"We will see you sooooo soon." Blaine reassured her, standing and holding his hand out for her to grab.

She took it, still not looking pleased, and stood.

"Two and a half days. That's only 60 hours, Mellie." Kurt said.

"Yeah." Melody sighed as they went to hug everyone else. "You better bring me some books!"

"Nothing would make me happier! Send me a list!" Blaine said excitedly.

"Okay!" Melody perked up. "Bye, boys."

Kurt pulled Blaine out before Melody could get sad or distract him again.

"She is the best little sister in the world." Blaine sighed, getting into the passenger seat of Kurt's car.

"She really is… even if she can't keep a secret to save her life."

Long Time Coming

"You should never come in two hours late again."

Blaine, who had barely sat down, looked up. "What?"

"Explosion. Like, a big one." Adrian closed the door. "I'm talking Bob, Jake, Ryan, Tammy Jo, and Brian."

"What?"

"Oh yeah. I guess Ryan finally went off on that second year law student this morning. Jake got really pissed, cornered Ryan in the conference room, and started going off on him. Brian was in there helping Ryan sort through stuff, so Brian went off on Jake. I've never seen him anything but smiles but he was so fucking pissed. Then Tammy Jo comes in and is just yelling. Brian was going to punch Jake—I don't even know what Jake said but Ryan had to forcefully pull Brian back. Bob hears Tammy Jo yelling so he comes in and basically screams at everybody. It was quiet for like two minutes and then Jake and Bob just left."

"Wait, what?" Blaine repeated.

"Yeah. After they left Brian was talking about sexual harassment to Tammy Jo, so I have a feeling…" Adrian cringed a bit. "Jake said something about him being gay."

"I don't think Jake would have said something about Ryan being gay. I mean I know he's a bit standoffish, but he doesn't really seem like the type of person that would do that… and I really doubt Bob would be best friends with somebody like that."

"I mean you could be right… That's just as much as I could really get from the bits and pieces I heard."

"Is Ryan okay, though?"

"No. He was crying. Ryan's been in Bob's office with Tammy Jo for like an hour and he's really upset… I mean, come on. Everyone knows that girl has been getting on Ryan's nerves and apparently Bob told Jake he had to talk to the girl or Ryan was going to lose his cool… and Bob was obviously right. Ryan totally lost it this morning. I don't even think its Ryan's fault, though. He worked 70 hours last week. He worked on Thanksgiving and every day through the weekend. He needs a break. Bob needs to make him take a break."

"Did Bob know he was working through the holiday weekend?"

"Probably not how many hours he put in. It's not like Bob's not helping, you know? I mean he's been getting people from Cambridge to come in and help. He usually doesn't leave work until Ryan does… I am pretty sure Tammy Jo's pissed at Bob for not getting more involved in the whole Ryan and that second year girl thing than he did, though."

"He was involved. He seriously talked to the girl himself twice." Blaine said defensively.

"Well Tammy Jo isn't here to know that."

Blaine heard Bob's voice in the hallway.

"Shit. I hope he didn't hear me talking." Adrian groaned.

"There's less than ten people regularly working in this office. Everyone probably knows by now anyway." Blaine shrugged. "Most of them were involved."

"Yeah. That's true."

"Ryan just walked by."

"I'm going to check on him." Adrian hopped up and immediately went down the hallway after him.

Blaine hopped up and went towards Bob's office.

"So, what, you want to write up Ryan who has been working almost double time for a case you told him he needed to take?"

"If Ryan hadn't gone off on the girl, this never would have happened."

"I don't care what in the hell Ryan did. She called him a faggot. I want her gone."

"Robert, come on."

"Sexual harassment is sexual harassment is sexual harassment. We have at least four people in this office that are not straight out of the ten in here. Is that a high percentage rate? Yes. But I don't want them to feel uncomfortable or like I don't have their backs when they've been with us for years."

"If you fire her, Jake will probably quit. He's more pissed at her than you are."

"Jake's daughter died from cancer three years ago today. His reaction is more from that than anything. Honestly dropping a pen probably would have set him off today. I talked to him. He didn't know she said that when he went off on Ryan. He's pissed the girl said it too."

"What? His daughter?"

"Yes. She was eight. That's why I got him away from the situation and the building. If he had known that word was used, he probably would have gone off on her himself. He's been a ticking timebomb for two weeks— just like Ryan— and he really hates when people pull that shit at work."

"This is the literal day from hell. Wait, who is the fourth? Do all of the gay people just flock to you or something?"

"I'm not going to tell you who it is. If they want you to know, they'll tell you."

"Is that why Brian got so pissed? Is it Brian? I knew he was too cute to be straight and not married at 30!"

"Seriously, Tammy?"

Blaine sighed when Bob closed the office door, and walk towards his own office. He peeked into Ryan's, saw he was alone, and went in.

"I'm fine." Ryan said, looking up from his phone.

Blaine sat in front of his desk anyway. "Are you sure?"

"I am. Did Bob send you in here?"

"No. I actually haven't even talked to him yet. I was going to but he and Tammy Jo are talking."

"About writing me up?" Ryan laughed a bit and sniffled. "They'll go back and forth about it for a couple of hours and Tammy Jo will give in."

"What happened?" Blaine asked.

"She called me a faggot. I don't know why it even bothered me. Usually stuff like that doesn't but I'm just so tired and I miss my family." Ryan took a deep breath and wiped his eyes.

"I'm sorry."

"No. It's fine. Thank you for checking on me, though. I'm fine." Ryan forced a smile. "Did Jake come back with Bob?"

"I think Bob made him go home… It sounds like he's got some personal stuff going on today." Blaine admitted.

"Yeah. I'm just waiting like a good boy for Bob to tell me to go home." Ryan sniffled again. "He will fire that girl."

"He should." Blaine sighed.

"Yeah, I guess." Ryan's lip trembled and he covered his face. "Oh my God. Ugh. I should have stayed in Cambridge. I moved my family down here and now it's going to be a hostile work environment because of Jake. Shit."

There was a knock on the doorframe.

Ryan lowered his hands and then shook his head. "No."

"Come on. Let's go talk." Bob said gently.

"I just want to go home." Ryan shook his head, eyes teary. "Can I go home?"

"You can go home. I just want to talk first." Bob watched him carefully, looking upset.

"Alone?" Ryan asked hesitantly.

"Yes. Alone." Bob promised. "Come on."

"Thank you, Blaine." Ryan sniffed before following Bob out.

Blaine left Ryan's office, seeing the second year lawyer at her desk acting like nothing had even happened.

"You're gone. Go." Jake came into the hallway. Apparently, he had come back.

"Excuse me?" The girl asked.

"I brought you here and I am telling you to leave. I'm also calling Paul and letting him know what happened so I wouldn't recommend you trying to get your old job back."

"You can't fire me. You're not even a partner here."

"Watch me, kid."

The girl looked at Jake like he was stupid.

"If you really want Bob to do it in about twenty minutes, please be my guest. You manipulated me into thinking that he went off on you for no reason. Fuck you for using that language period but especially in a work environment. And fuck you again for making me think he was the one who did something! I'm having you blackballed. Nobody else wants you as a liability either. It's 2017 not 1940. Aren't you young people supposed to be up with the times?"

"You can't blackball me."

"Honey, I've worked in five of the largest firms in the city for more than twenty years. I've been partner in three of those five. I could do a lot worse than that. You're fired. Go."

"You've been as asshole for three years since your kid died and you sold your share in the old firm anyway. Fuck you." The girl grabbed her purse and stormed off.

"Did you really just do that?" Tammy Jo walked up behind him.

"Yep. Saved Robbie the trouble. I'm going back home." Jake shrugged, pulling his sunglasses out of his back pocket. "See you all back in hell tomorrow."

"I'm sorry, Jake. For yelling at you and about your daughter."

"No worries." Jake left without another word.

"You need to be studying if you don't have a task, Blaine." Tammy Jo turned to face him. "Everything is fine."

…

"So… I heard you've had a day." Blaine came into Bob's office a couple of hours later.

"Yeah. Thank you for talking to Ryan." Bob looked up from his computer.

"All I did was sit with him." Blaine shrugged and sat in front of his desk.

"Still." Bob sighed. "I think he really appreciated you and Adrian checking on him."

"Are you okay?"

"I'm pissed off. Ryan is literally the nicest person in this office—maybe one of the nicest people I've ever met, like you— and this is the second time he's been treated like this. I don't like when people mess with my lawyers. Especially Ryan." Bob sighed again.

"Is $400,000 enough?" Jake walked in.

"I thought you went home twice." Bob looked at him, confused.

"Third time is a charm, right? Is it enough to be partner? How much?"

"What are you talking about?"

"How much would it cost for Ryan to become a partner at CMJ right now?" Jake asked slowly, pulling out his checkbook.

"$200,000 but that's over 5 years."

"Here is $300,000 to cover all of the taxes and shit. That's enough you think, right?"

"Are you fucking serious?"

"I am fucking serious. You all need another partner and he needs another fucking pay raise. I can't do it because it's too much and I bailed on you— Sorry. If Ryan could pay it, you would have offered it to him ten years ago. You've literally said that. It's done. It is a win-win-win for everyone." Jake handed Bob a check.

"You need to take this home and think about it. I know you feel bad for yelling at him but—"

"I thought about it, I talked it over with Liz, and it's done."

"You talked to Liz?"

"Yes. Take the check. He would do twice as good as me anyway." Jake shrugged.

"You can't just write a check for someone and not tell them." Bob deadpanned. "What am I supposed to tell him? He knows Tammy and I don't have this kind of money laying around."

"Tell him it's an investment in his future. I don't fucking care. Tell him it was me if you want. I'm not coming in until Monday, though, and I am not taking that check back."

Bob opened his mouth but Jake was already out the door.

"Jake, are you sure?" Bob called after him.

"Triple sure and positive. Bye!"

"Did he… just…?" Blaine asked.

"Woah. I wish someone would just walk in and give me a check for $300,000. That's more than my four kids' tuition." Bob stood. "I have to go deal with this. Sorry. If I don't see you before you leave, text me tonight."

"Alright." Blaine nodded.

"Don't tell anyone about this please." Bob looked him in the eyes.

"I won't" Blaine promised.

Bob walked by, squeezing Blaine's shoulder, and left the office.

"What the fuck just happened?"

…

"Kurt, what's wrong?" Blaine rushed into their apartment at 4:30 after getting a very alarming text from Kurt without any response after.

"I have to go home." Kurt, who was putting clothes into a bag, did not look up.

"Wait, what?" Blaine asked. "You are home."

"No. Home. I have to go to Lima."

"Kurt, look at me!" Blaine went all the way over to him. "Why do you look like you've been crying? What happened?"

Kurt opened and closed his mouth a few times.

"What is going on?!"

"Dad has cancer." Kurt covered his mouth, his eyes filling with tears again. "Oh my God."

"What?" Blaine asked, his eye widening.

"He has Hodgkin lymphoma. He's known for three months and never said anything. I thought he just lost weight." Kurt let out a choked sob.

"Oh my God." Blaine wrapped his arms around Kurt, not knowing what to say or do. He felt his own eyes tearing up.

"He has been getting treatments for two months and he never said anything to me. He knew at Thanksgiving. He knew this whole time." Kurt buried his face in Blaine's chest, letting out heart-wrenching sobs.

"Shh, shh, shh." Blaine ran his hand up and down Kurt's back, his own stomach in knots.

"He asked me to stay home for a couple of weeks after Christmas and I told him I couldn't and he g-got weird. I pushed until he told me." Kurt pulled back. "I have to go to right now."

"Shh." Blaine touched his cheek. "We're going. Okay? We're going."

"I can't do this again. I can't do this again. I can't have two parents die from cancer. I can't watch someone else leave me." Kurt choked out.

"Oh my God, Kurt. No." Blaine pulled him close again. "Hodgkin lymphoma is supposed to be one of the most treatable ones, Kurt. Even in Stage 4. He's had so much blood work done since the heart attack. He's seen so many doctors. They had to have caught this really early."

"I can't do this." Kurt shook his head.

"I'm so, so, so sorry… but you're going to have to, Kurt. He wants you there." Blaine said gently.

"You have to talk to Bob. You have to stay with me. I can't. I can't." Kurt gasped for breath.

"I'm staying." Blaine promised. "I'm not going anywhere. I wouldn't be anywhere else, Kurt. Okay? I'm right here. I've got you. Okay?"

Kurt nodded, face red and eyes puffy.

"What about your work?"

"I talked to him. He said my job is safe." Kurt's lip trembled.

"To Marc?"

"Yeah." Kurt nodded.

"Then we're fine, honey. Bob will be more than understanding. I'll call him tonight once we get there and everything settles down."

Kurt nodded again before burying his face in Blaine's chest again and starting to cry. "Thank you so much. Oh my God. Thank you."

"It's going to be okay, Kurt." Blaine rubbed his hand up and down his back, trying to make himself believe that. "It's all going to be okay."