AN: Thanks to lilyvandersteen who pointed me to makemebabies dot com you can now see what Lexy looks like. You can find the pictures on my tumblr: www dot tumblr dot com slash blog slash alexacardew or embedded on Archive of our Own in Chapter 4 - Part 1 and Interlude 1

INTERLUDE 1

"Are you sure you want to come with us?"

Blaine shrugs. "Why not? Im bored and youre gonna need the help."

Kurt eyes Blaine skeptically, Lexy squirming in his arm.

"Have you ever been to IKEA on a Saturday? Ive heard that at least one couple an hour breaks up in the parking lot after shopping there."

Blaine laughs. "You did not hear that. That was in an episode of that old TV show you made me watch."

"30 Rock is cult even though Alec Baldwin and Tracy Morgan are homophobic jerks in real life," Kurt huffs because making fun of Kurts most beloved TV shows seems to be Blaines favorite pastime and it usually makes him feel like theyre more than the five years apart in age they actually are.

Always knowing when to quit, Blaine raises his hands in surrender.

"You win; you have the superior taste in TV shows," Blaine laughs. "And just to be safe, Ill keep it in mind for any future relationship. If IKEA really is cursed, arent you glad were just friends?" he nudges Kurt playfully, stabbing him in the heart in the process.

They are standing in the entryway to Kurts Upper West Side apartment, living room practically stripped bare after he and James divided their assets. Blaine had shown up out of the blue, just as Kurt was getting ready to head out, taking advantage of the free Saturday they were given to get ready for two weeks of previewing Ace of Spades on the east coast.

"And you are certain you want to spend an additional day with this one?" Kurt jiggles Lexy in his arms making her laugh. "You know I expect you to watch her when Im on stage."

Hes only half kidding because he doesnt have a choice but bring his daughter along to their out of town previews. Neither of his friends had been willing to keep her for two weeks and Burt and Carole sadly werent able to take the time off of work either.

Blaine bobs Lexy on the nose.

"You and I are going to have so much fun together, Miss Lexy," he tells Kurts daughter, making his voice high pitched and using his fingers to make funny faces.

Hed make such a good dad, Kurt thinks as he watches Blaine entertain Lexy.

An hour later, when they finally get to Brooklyn, Blaine looks more harried but surprisingly hasnt lost his good mood, while Kurt barely refrains from snapping at people for not getting out of the way fast enough. At least his daughter seemed to have the time of her life on the IKEA ferry shuttle, bouncing on his lap excitedly the whole time she wasnt trying to climb onto the railing.

"So what are we looking for?" Blaine asks cheerfully as he pulls Lexy out of the stroller Kurt had forced her into before getting off the ferry and puts her on his shoulders. It makes it easier for Kurt to navigate through the throng of people without having to worry about upending the stroller with Lexy in it.

"New living room furniture that matches the couch, a few posters and paintings and a new mattress for my bed. Feels kinda weird to keep sleeping in the bed I shared with James, " Kurt admits.

"I guess so," Blaine shrugs. "Ive never lived with a boyfriend before. I thought maybe with Cameron but that didnt work out either."

Its been over two months, so unsurprisingly, Blaine doesnt seem too sad about his latest break up. Kurt still smiles at him encouragingly.

"When you meet the right guy, I promise youll want to spend every minute with him. And if youre lucky he wont turn into a caveman once you move in together," he adds jokingly.

"Admit it, you want me to stay single forever," Blaine teases, not knowing how right he actually is.

So Kurt smiles, pushes his own feelings back down and focuses on finding the perfect throw pillows for the couch.

"I know nothing about this nefarious plan you speak of," he settles on, intent on keeping things easy and Blaine from discovering how Kurt feels before hes ready and his divorce is finalized, which wont be for months.

Before they enter the building, Kurt stands on tiptoes so he can look his daughter in the eye.

"Sweetie, when we go inside, I need you to stay with me and Blaine. No running away, okay? If you want to walk you need to hold my hand."

Like so often in the past few weeks, Lexy doesnt pay him any attention but starts pulling Blaines curly hair.

"Car, car," she babbles excitedly, pointing at a shopping cart in the form of a car.

Suddenly, Kurt is faced with two people using their puppy dog eyes on him and he just rolls his eyes as he gives Blaine the go ahead. Hell probably get more done faster knowing that Lexy is being taken care of.

After choosing decorative pillows, a new coffee table and DVD rack, they make it to the mattress area where all three of them start bouncing on the various mattresses reminding Kurt of a commercial he shot with his high school glee club in a mattress store.

"No way, you were part of that?" Blaine snorts. "One of the older Warblers told us the story once, about the glee club that nearly got disqualified for filming a mattress commercial." With a gleam in his eyes he adds. "You wouldnt know if this gem happens to be on YouTube?"

Kurt glares at Blaine while Lexy attempts a summersault across a king sized mattress.

"I hope not, but in my defense, I was young and thought a commercial would make me famous."

Blaine starts laughing so hard, he ends up clutching his stomach.

"You know," he wheezes, "my older brother kinda got famous with a commercial."

"I know," Kurt admits. "The credit one used to be my ring tone in high school."

Predictably, Kurts admission shuts Blaine up immediately.

"And I thought you were cool."

Blaine sounds actually disappointed and Kurt vows to keep his more embarrassing stories to himself from now on.

"Its been a long time," he tries to shrug it off, before grabbing Lexy and jumping on the next mattress.

Once theyve tested all mattresses he turns to his daughter.

"Which one do you like best?"

Lexy climbs onto the king sized mattress the three of them had played on the longest.

"Blay!" she reaches for Blaine, who flops down next to her.

"Shes right, Kurt. Were I in the market for a new mattress Id get this one as well."

"Alright," he agrees. "Ill check if they have it as queen size as well."

"You should just get the king size and buy a new bed frame. Its so fu … freaking comfortable," Blaine quickly corrects himself and Kurt shakes his head.

"What would I do with a king sized bed? Im single and Lexy cant sleep with me in my bed forever."

"Oh, come on, Kurt," Blaine rolls his eyes. "We both know you wont be single for long."

Kurt just stares at Blaine, begging the universe to give him telepathic powers. Because he would really like to know what Blaine means. Is he flirting or just being nice? Because if he could be certain that Blaine would share his bed one day, hed gladly buy the larger mattress.