They had tried to think of places in between their respective home towns where they could meet today, but since it was Christmas, everything would be closed, including their usual coffee shop. So, in the end it had been decided that Blaine would come over late in the afternoon and stay the night.

Kurt stretched, feeling rested and wide awake after the most peaceful sleep and the sweetest dreams (heavily featuring Blaine) he'd had in a long while. Texting his boyfriend (boyfriend!) a quick “good morning < 3” before heading for the shower, he thought he probably hadn't slept that well since he was about five years old.

His dad was already awake and sitting at the kitchen table when Kurt came downstairs half an hour later. “Merry Christmas, Kurt,” he greeted him. “You look happy today.”

“You too, Dad,” Kurt sighed happily, dropping into his chair, the smile on his face growing wider. “And that's because I am.”

Burt nodded. “So I take it things went well yesterday?”

They hadn't had a chance to talk the night before as everyone had been asleep by the time Kurt got home, and Kurt gave his father a surprised look. He hadn't even told him in detail where he was going before he had left, too impatient to waste time with explanations. “It did. How do you – ”

“Finn filled me in.” Burt shrugged. “I already kind of knew, though. Where else would you have been rushing off to that quickly and with that expression on your face? So, everything okay now?”

“Yes.” He couldn't stop smiling, thinking about just how okay everything was now. “Everything's perfect. Blaine and I – we talked and... Oh, I forgot to ask you, is it all right if he comes over later today? And sleeps on the couch? It's just... we wanted to meet up in the middle, but nothing’s open, and he would like to see all of you again too and – ”

“Does it have to be today?” Burt interrupted. “I know this is important to you, but it's Christmas. Family time. You know that, Kurt.”

Kurt gave his dad a pleading look. “Couldn't we make an exception just this once? It doesn't have to be for dinner. Just... after that, then. Please, dad, this would mean so much to me.”

Burt seemed to think about it for a minute before he let out a sigh and leaned back in his chair. “So this Blaine guy is the reason you're smiling again today?”

Kurt couldn't suppress the wide grin that immediately spread across his face as he nodded emphatically. “Yes. Yes, he is.”

“Well, in that case... Okay. I guess he can come over,” Burt gave in. “For dinner, if he wants to. I guess anyone who can put a smile that big on my kid's face is welcome in my house anytime.”

“Thank you, dad!” Kurt turned around upon hearing Carole enter the kitchen, the curious expression on her face as she saw him almost making him laugh out loud.

“It went well with Blaine,” Burt told her before Kurt even had a chance to even open his mouth. “He's coming over later today.”

“Oh, honey.” Carole bent down to Kurt, giving him a quick hug. “I could tell from the way you looked, but it's good to hear it. Are you feeling better now?”

Kurt nodded, torn between amusement and being deeply moved by the fact that everyone cared this much about his personal relationships. “Much better. Thank you.” Not for the first time, he was so entirely grateful for having a caring family like this. “Do you need any help with Christmas breakfast?”

“No, I got it covered,” Carole replied. “Maybe you could go and see if Finn is up yet, we'll eat in half an hour, and then presents.” It was tradition on Christmas – presents waited until everyone was up and fed and together. Presents were something to be enjoyed as a family.

Kurt got up, making his way back upstairs. He could as well quickly check his phone to see if Blaine was awake yet while he was up there anyway, he thought.

**

The day went by quickly, with too much food and family time, sitting together and talking, watching TV and playing board games. It had always been one of his favorite days of the year because no one needed to be anywhere, no work, no school, no obligations of any kind. Just time with the people he loved most. Kurt was actually surprised to look at his watch and see it was close to 6 p.m. already – Blaine should be here any minute now.

The one person he loved most of all was about to show up on his doorstep very soon, and suddenly he didn't feel ready – last night had been so wonderful, such a high of emotions and finally and nothing else matters. But all of a sudden, everything seemed to matter very much, like, oh god, what did his hair look like, and why he had opted for the green sweater when he really looked so much better in the blue shirt, and the outfit really needed shoes, but he was inside, wouldn't that look silly? And he knew it was only Blaine who had already seen him sleep-mussed and wearing not-his-best-pajamas, but that had been before. Now... it was different.

“I have to...” He got up quickly from the couch where he'd been sitting next to Carole while they were all watching some Christmas show on TV and raised a hand to his hair, checking if it was sticking up anywhere. “Blaine's going to be here soon, I just need to go upstairs for a minute, can you get the door when – ”

“Relax, Kurt,” his dad said, giving him an amused look that clearly said I know you way too well, son. “We're not going to make him wait out in the cold. Your hair looks fine, by the way.”

“Like you would tell me if it didn't,” Kurt said, sighing. “I'll be quick, just... call me when he gets here in case I don't hear?”

“Of course,” Carole said, smiling up at him.

“Dude, I should have invited Rachel over,” Finn spoke up from his place in the armchair. “It would have been like a triple date. Mom and Burt, you and Blaine, me and Rachel.” He shook his head, clearly upset that this hadn't occurred to him before.

“Call her,” Kurt suggested, seeing Carole nod at Finn encouragingly. “She doesn't live that far away, maybe she'll come over.”

Finn's face lit up. “I'll do that,” he announced, pulling his phone out before rising from his chair to make the call in the relative privacy of the doorway.

Kurt passed him on his way upstairs and was just about to open his bedroom door when he heard the doorbell ring downstairs. Debating for a second whether he still wanted to find a mirror first or just trust the fact that he looked at least close to presentable, the desire to see Blaine as quickly as possible eventually won.

“I'll get it,” he shouted, sprinting down the stairs again, cutting off Finn on his way to the door who was already stretching out a hand to open it. “It's okay, it's okay, I got it,” Kurt panted, pushing him out of the way before coming to a full stop in front of the door. Composing himself as fast as he could, he finally yanked it open, heart fluttering in his chest as he found himself face to face with Blaine. His boyfriend Blaine, whose wide smile was matching his own, the warmth in his eyes making Kurt tingle all over. He was here.

“Hi,” Kurt managed, still slightly breathless, both from the sprint down the stairs and the flood of emotions rushing over him.

“Hi,” Blaine said back, shifting where he was standing as if unsure whether to move forward or wait for Kurt to make the first move.

They just locked eyes, unable to look away from each other as the enormity of the change in their relationship finally started sinking in. Last night had been – so overwhelming, and with everything still so new, both of them swept up in their feelings for each other, they hadn't had time to really slow down and fully grasp what this meant. And talking on the phone later, they had still been so happy and lightheaded, they had just picked up where they left off.

Now, it was almost exactly a full day later and this was the first time they actually greeted each other as boyfriends. It was... Kurt laughed out loud, pure cheerfulness bubbling up in his chest. It was perfect, it was everything he had ever wanted.

Blaine laughed with him as they moved in together, wrapping each other into a tight hug. Once again Kurt was amazed at how good it felt to hold Blaine in his arms, to be held by him. It had felt like that from the beginning. Hugs had been their thing for so long – hugs hello and goodbye and I missed you and it's okay, I'm here until you stop being sad and you're wonderful. This kind of hug was new – only a part of their relationship since the night before. It was new because it wasn't just arms wrapped around each other, it was bodies connecting from legs to shoulders, heads buried into the other's neck. Kurt moved one hand up, tangling his finger into Blaine's curls, shivering when he heard him sigh contentedly. It was new because they were allowed to feel it all now.

“Hey, boyfriend,” Blaine mumbled into his sweater, and Kurt squeezed him a little tighter before drawing back to capture his lips in a sweet, almost chaste kiss that still had both of them shaking with an overwhelming feeling of tenderness.

“We should go inside,” Kurt suggested finally, starting to feel cold without his coat in the winter air.

“Okay,” Blaine agreed, sliding a hand down Kurt's arm until he found his hand, lacing their fingers together tightly before grabbing the overnight bag at his feet.

**

Once again, Kurt was completely amazed by Blaine's ability to charm practically everyone. Of course Blaine had met his family once before so he already knew they all liked him. But they had been friends back then, and he had never brought a boyfriend home before. This was an entirely new situation for all of them. It couldn't have gone any better.

Carole had been won over quickly enough when Blaine had offered to help her get their Christmas dinner ready – she had told him he was their guest and to just make himself at home, giving him a warm smile before getting up to disappear into the kitchen. Now Blaine was sitting on the couch next to him, their hands still clasped tightly between them, talking football with Finn and Burt. He had been here for only an hour and it already felt like he belonged. Like he was a part of their family. And, Kurt thought, in a way he was, being such a vital part of Kurt's life. It just warmed his heart to see how quickly his family, the people he cared about most next to Blaine, not only accepted this simple fact, but made Blaine feel it as well. It made him so, so happy.

“I'm going to see if Carole needs help,” he said. “Are you going to be okay here?”

“Sure,” Blaine answered, gently running his thumb over Kurt's knuckles. “Just call me if I can do anything to help.”

“Okay.” Kurt leaned in, giving Blaine a quick peck on the lips. “I won't be long.”

He got up, catching his father's eyes in the process. He looked proud of him, happy for him, giving him a silent, approving nod before turning his attention back to his conversation with Blaine.

Carole just stepped aside, making room for him at the counter as soon as he entered the kitchen. They worked together mostly in silence, a perfect team since the time Kurt had still lived in this house.

“I like him,” Carole said after a while. “He's cute.”

Kurt blushed a little, agreeing with Carole wholeheartedly. “He is. And I like him too.”

“I can tell.” Carole nudged him playfully with her shoulder, grinning. “And he really seems to like you back.” She watched him for a moment, her eyes gentle and caring and so full of motherly affection. “It's good to see you like this, Kurt.”

“Thank you.” Kurt smiled back at her, truly grateful. “It's good to feel like this.”

**

He and Blaine headed upstairs to Kurt's room after dinner, wanting to exchange their gifts in private. They had still been best friends instead of boyfriends when they had bought them, and Kurt almost regretted that because what he was giving Blaine was decidedly less romantic than he would have liked it to be, but on the other hand they were together, and that was already the greatest gift of all. He hoped Blaine felt the same way.

“So,” Kurt said, closing the bedroom door behind him and leaning against it.

“So,” Blaine repeated, smiling a little shyly. “Alone at last.”

Kurt nodded, the realization that this was the first time they were truly alone together since they had become boyfriends suddenly taking his breath away. They hadn't really had a moment to themselves yet except for their phone conversation last night.

They moved toward each other slowly, reaching for each other's hands, and Kurt led them over to the bed where he sat down beside Blaine who immediately pulled him close, resting their foreheads together.

“I'm so glad you're here,” Kurt whispered.

“Me too.” Blaine closed his eyes and Kurt could feel his breath on his face as he spoke. “I couldn't stop thinking about you all day. I think my parents started suspecting I'd broken into their liquor cabinet at some point because I was just staring into space grinning like an idiot.”

“Blaine.” It was all Kurt could say before Blaine's lips were on his again, the kiss deep and hungry as they tried pressing even closer together, every bit of space in between them too much to handle.

Kurt was sure he had never felt this kind of need for another person, this need to hold on so tight they were close to crawling right into each other's skin. He had Blaine right here in his arms, sharing the same space and the same air, lips and tongues moving together in a series of wet kisses, and still he longed for him, could never be close enough to him.

They only separated when breathing became an issue, hands still clutched in each other's sweaters and their faces only inches apart.

“We probably should...” Blaine started.

“Yes,” Kurt said, not even really knowing what Blaine was suggesting. “We should...”

“Presents,” Blaine said as if he'd just remembered. “I have a Christmas present for you.”

“Oh, right.” Kurt pulled back, letting go of Blaine. “I have one for you too. Of course.” He got up quickly, going to retrieve the neatly wrapped gift from his desk drawer. That's what they had come up here for, after all. Probably a good idea right now, before things progressed to a point he wasn't sure they were ready for just yet with everything being still so new and just a little fragile. Not that they... hadn't already, but seeing what had happened after he really didn't want to rush things right now. There was time for that. Later. After they had really settled into this new way of being together. And maybe when Kurt's entire family wasn't downstairs.

He sat down on his bed again, waiting for Blaine to finish rummaging through his overnight bag from where he pulled a flat, wrapped object. In an unspoken agreement they both settled down sitting cross-legged in the center of Kurt's bed, facing each other.

“You first,” Kurt decided, handing Blaine his present, trying not to shiver too obviously as their hands brushed when Blaine took it from his fingers.

Kurt watched him nervously while he unwrapped it – it had seemed like the perfect idea when he had bought it, but now he wasn't so sure anymore. Seeing Blaine's eyes light up when he uncovered it, however, convinced him that it wasn't horrible, at least.

It was a travel mug, and he'd had Blaine's name and a guitar printed on it. Knowing Blaine's love for coffee and how he always complained about how it got cold too quickly in the cheap paper cups they sold on campus, Kurt had this made for him a month ago.

“This is perfect,” Blaine said, leaning forward to kiss Kurt. “I love it, thank you.”

“I'm glad,” Kurt said. “I wish it was something more romantic, but when I got this for you we weren't... Well, you know.” He blushed a little, laughed it away quickly.

“I think you knowing how important coffee is to me is very romantic, in fact,” Blaine corrected him. “And now I'll be thinking of you every time I drink from it, which will be a lot.”

Kurt punched his arm lightly. “I'd like to think you wouldn't need a visual reminder to be thinking of me,” he teased, feeling bold all of a sudden. Being with Blaine was just so... easy. He almost had to laugh at the realization that he'd had a similar revelation after meeting Blaine for the first time over a year ago.

“Of course I don't need it,” Blaine replied so honestly Kurt was sure his legs would have given out under him if he hadn't been sitting down already. “I'm thinking of you all the time anyway. Here, open yours now,” he continued, handing Kurt his gift.

Kurt just smiled at him, carefully peeling away the wrapping paper. His breath hitched in his throat as he found what was underneath – it was a framed picture of him and Blaine taken a few months ago after one of Rachel's shows. There had been a small celebration in Rachel's honor back at Kurt and Rachel’s place, and in the picture they were sitting on the couch in the living room, arms around each other's shoulders, heads close enough together that their temples were touching, bright and happy smiles on their faces. It was a picture of two close friends celebrating the success of a mutual friend, but it was so much more than that too.

Kurt could see it now, looking at that photo, what he hadn't been able to see before. The way they were leaning into each other so comfortably, the closeness that had come so naturally to them from the very beginning. This was who they were, who they had always been and would hopefully be forever. KurtandBlaine. Inseparable, tuned into each other in a way he had never experienced with anyone else. Together.

“This is...” he broke off, unable to take his eyes off the picture, off their shining, smiling faces. “Blaine,” he said, his voice coming out low and breathy. “This is...”

“Do you like it?” Blaine asked, sounding a bit uncertain. “I wasn't sure at first if this was too... but then yesterday happened and I – ”

Kurt surged forward, cupping Blaine's face with one hand, silencing him with a kiss. “I love it,” he murmured against his lips. “Thank you, thank you so much. This is amazing. You're amazing.”

Blaine sighed happily into his mouth and Kurt could feel him smile through the kiss. “I love you.”

Kurt scooted closer to him, carefully placing the mug and the picture beside them on the bed so he could hug Blaine fully, pressing his face against his neck. “I love you too,” he said. “I love you so much, Blaine.”

He knew they would have to go downstairs again soon, Christmas wasn't over yet in the Hudson-Hummel household. There was still the traditional round of after-dinner Monopoly waiting for them. But the others could wait a few more minutes. Right now, all he was capable of doing was holding onto his wonderful, sweet best friend.

**

The rest of the evening went by with the most epic round of Monopoly Kurt remembered playing in years. And it was fun too – to everyone's surprise, it was Finn who won in the end. Blaine had had a good start too, but turned out to be way too nice in the end, his infuriating and endearing need to please soon leaving him far behind. Kurt didn't do too well either, mostly due to the fact that he found it hard to focus on anything other than the way Blaine's hand kept finding his and the way everyone talked to his boyfriend like they had known him for years.

Rachel had come over as well after dinner, seeming very proud of Finn when he won and only slightly bitter that she only came in a close second.

“All right, I'm going to bed,” Burt finally announced. “Good night, everyone. You'll be okay on the couch, Blaine?”

Blaine nodded. “Yes, thank you. And thanks for having me over, I had a great time.”

“Anytime,” Burt said, giving him a pat on the shoulder in passing.

Carole followed him, saying a quick goodnight to the boys and Rachel, and then they were amongst themselves.

“So, have you guys decided what you want to do for New Year's yet?” Rachel asked.

Kurt and Blaine exchanged a look. “We haven't even talked about it yet,” Kurt said.

“Well,” Rachel took Finn's hand. “I was thinking about throwing a party over at my place – I know that at least Mercedes and Quinn are in Ohio and Finn says he'll talk the guys into showing up as well. That would be... Mike, Puck, maybe Artie and Sam, if we can get a hold of him. You in?”

Kurt glanced at Blaine. He wanted to, but he honestly didn't know what Blaine had planned. Was he going to spend the night with old friends from Dalton? “Do you... What were your plans for New Year's?” he asked.

Blaine shrugged. “Don't really have any yet. I think most of my friends will actually be back in their college towns by that time.”

“Well, in that case...” Kurt reached for his hands, grinning brightly. “Blaine Anderson, will you go to Rachel's New Year's party with me?”

Blaine grinned back, holding a hand to his heart and rolling his eyes dramatically. “Oh, Kurt, I thought you'd never ask,” he exclaimed, leaning forward to place a lingering kiss to the corner of Kurt's mouth.

“You guys are giving me cavities,” Finn commented, shoving three Christmas cookies at once into his mouth. “Seriously.”

“I think they're adorable,” Rachel said, leaning her head on Finn's shoulder. “Remember when we used to be like that? Oh, to be young and in love again,” she sighed.

“Hey,” Finn protested. “We're still kind of like that, aren't we?”

“Don't worry sweetie, I still love you,” Rachel laughed, and Kurt separated from Blaine far enough to turn his head in their direction and give them an amused, half-stern look.

“Rest assured, you're still very much sickeningly sweet most of the time. It's annoying, and about time I got back at you for having to watch you be like that for years.”

“I knew you were just using me,” Blaine pouted, scooting away from him. “I knew it.”

“Aw, no. I didn't mean it, come back here.” Kurt chased after him, but Blaine was quicker, sliding off the couch when Kurt reached out to hug him and settled into the armchair instead, sticking his tongue out at Kurt.

“You have to do better than that.”

“Fine.” Kurt got up with an exasperated sigh, walking over to the chair and squeezing himself in next to Blaine, which proved rather difficult. They ended up in a tangle of limbs, Blaine half in Kurt's lap. “Does this prove how much I care?” Kurt asked, trying to free his foot from where Blaine was sitting on it. “I'm giving up the incredible comfort of the couch for you.”

Blaine laughed, snuggling closer to Kurt. “I actually find this to be rather comfortable,” he confessed. “You make a wonderful chair.”

“Now who's using who?” Kurt shot back, shifting a little so the armrest wasn't digging into his back.

“Um, guys?” Finn spoke up. “Do you want us to leave you alone?” He sounded like he could barely hold back the laughter and Kurt felt a sudden surge of fondness toward his stepbrother.

“You can stay for now,” he granted graciously. “We promise to behave.”

“For a while,” Blaine added, nuzzling Kurt's neck.

They talked for another hour, mostly planning their New Year's party, until Rachel announced she had to get home. Finn said goodnight to them then too, walking Rachel to the door while Kurt and Blaine moved back to the couch, stretching out next to each other, exhaustion finally taking over after a long day.

“Hi,” Blaine whispered after he'd settled into the tight space between Kurt's body and the couch cushions.

“Hi,” Kurt whispered back, feeling pleasantly tired and warm all over from the closeness of Blaine's body.

It was strange how familiar this felt – and yet it was all new at the same time. It was them. They had done this before, never quite as close, never quite as deliberate, but they had ended up in similar positions before. That one time they had fallen asleep on Kurt's couch after movie night. The night after Blaine had broken with Luke and Kurt had held him while he cried. The night after Kurt and Patrick had broken up and Blaine had been so sweet to him, letting him share his tiny single dorm bed to provide some kind of comfort.

And, of course, that one time that had changed everything. That one time they had let go and almost destroyed everything, only to find something even greater and more magnificent instead.

The memory of it still weighing heavily on his mind, he had no choice but to bring it up again. He had to be sure it wasn't still standing between them in some way. How blind he had been.

“Blaine,” he started. “I know you told me to stop apologizing, and I will, just let me say this now, okay?”

He waited for Blaine to nod before he continued. “That night, before I left for Ohio – I know now that this thing between us was at least partly responsible for your breakup with Luke. And that night, after seeing him with this other guy, you were so sad, you kept saying you didn't feel good enough. If I, in any way, ever contributed to that feeling, by not seeing what you truly meant to me or by running out that morning after I had started to suspect it – you need to believe me that I will never stop making it up to you. I can't bear the thought of hurting you. I never want that. And I want you to know that the only reason I ever hesitated, the only reason I tried not to feel the way I feel about you, was that I always thought you were too good for me. I think in a way I always knew how happy you could make me, and that scared me, because... what if it didn't work out. I can't stand the thought of losing you.”

Blaine closed his eyes for a second, and when he opened them again, they were shining with affection. “Okay,” he said. “In the spirit of complete honesty, yes. It hurt when you left that morning. And yes, I was feeling sad because of Luke that night, but part of it was also that I thought I'd never have you and I couldn't even hold on to the next best thing. But – ”

Kurt opened his mouth to tell Blaine again how sorry he was, but Blaine put a hand to Kurt's chest, quietly asking him to let him finish first. “Like I told you last night on the phone: you didn't know. Please don't put this all on yourself. I could have said something too, acted on my feelings for you somehow. I didn't. Until that night. You had every right to be confused by that. Besides, none of it matters anymore, because we're together now, and I'm planning to be with you for a long time, in case you had any doubts about that.”

Kurt just stared at him after he was done talking, trying very hard to remember how he could ever have thought his feelings for Blaine were anything other than love. “A long time sounds good,” he finally got out, voice sounding a little choked. “Really good.”

“You make me happy too, by the way,” Blaine said, smiling.

“Good.” Kurt found himself wondering how much he'd been holding back all this time, because now he couldn't resist just feeling Blaine, basking in his presence and the gentle thrum of deeply felt affection and utter joy that vibrated under his skin because of it. “Promise to tell me the minute I don't, so I can do something about it, all right?” Kurt asked.

“Only if you promise me the same thing,” Blaine answered.

“Fine.” Kurt gently brushed his fingers over the side of Blaine's face, unable to stop touching. “I promise.”

“In that case, I promise too. You don't have to go upstairs yet, do you?” Blaine asked, sounding almost pleading. “Because this is nice. Let's stay here for a while.”

“I'd like that,” Kurt said, pressing their lips together briefly, just because he could.

“Tonight was fun,” Blaine said. “I like your family.”

“Well, they like you too,” Kurt answered. “You won them over immediately.” He paused for a moment. “Did you know... I was actually nervous about this because I'd never brought anyone home before. They've never... seen me like this. With anyone. I wasn't sure how it would go.”

“It went well though, didn't it?” Blaine asked.

“Wonderfully,” Kurt answered. “Because it was you. I'm glad it was you.”

Blaine's answering smile was so bright, Kurt felt his heart skip a beat and he just had to kiss him again, he couldn't not.

In the end they both fell asleep like that – in their clothes and cuddled together on Kurt's parents' living room couch, the lights still on and the smell of left-over Christmas cookies in the air.

**

Kurt was the first to wake up the next morning – a little stiff from being unable to move all night, but feeling incredibly well-rested and content otherwise. Blaine was still sleeping peacefully, his legs tangled with Kurt's, drooling slightly onto his chest where his face was pressed into his sweater.

Kurt thought he should probably find it gross, but actually it was kind of... endearing. Carding his fingers through Blaine's hair, he pressed a light kiss to his forehead, freezing suddenly when he felt another presence in the room. He looked up, moving his head as well as he could from where he was still half-trapped under Blaine to find his dad leaning against the door frame, arms crossed in front of his chest and an amused smile on his face.

“Did you actually sleep like that?” he asked.

Kurt yawned, feeling a slight blush creep up into his cheeks. Weirdly, though, this was a lot less embarrassing than he'd always thought it would be. “Yes?”

“That can't be comfortable,” Burt commented.

“I didn't mean to,” Kurt answered. “We just sort of... fell asleep.”

“Relax,” Burt told him. “I know. Plus, you're an adult, I might even have agreed to let Blaine sleep in your room, especially since neither of you actually asked. I trust you. I was just going to make breakfast, though. Care to help me?”

“Sure. I'll be there in a second,” Kurt agreed, smiling at his dad.

“Okay.” Burt retreated into the kitchen where Kurt could hear him open the refrigerator door.

Pressing another kiss to Blaine's cheek, Kurt carefully disentangled his limbs, sliding off the couch without disturbing Blaine too much. He knew Blaine could sleep through most things, but he didn't want to take any chances. He looked so cute and peaceful in his sleep, Kurt simply didn't have the heart to wake him.

“Blaine still asleep?” Burt asked when Kurt wandered into the kitchen a minute later.

“Yes. I'll wake him once breakfast is ready.” He walked over to the counter in the direction of the coffee maker to get the coffee going, then start on the pancakes.

“Hey, Kurt?” His dad placed a hand on his shoulder and Kurt turned his head, meeting his father's eyes. “You're happy, right? You look happy.”

“I am, dad,” he said, smiling. “I really, really am.”

“Good.” Burt nodded. “Not that I couldn't tell, I just wanted to hear it.”

Kurt took a deep breath, realizing what he'd really always known – that he had never been the only one hoping for this kind of happiness for himself. His dad been right there with him, had always let him know it too. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

Kurt shrugged. “For being my dad. For letting Blaine come over and for making him feel so welcome here. It meant a lot to me.”

“I know that,” Burt answered. “It's not difficult with that kid, though. I meant what I said yesterday – he's welcome here anytime. Whenever the two of you are in Ohio. He seems like a decent guy. Still, if he ever breaks your heart I can't promise not to go after him and break his kneecaps.”

“Dad!” Kurt exclaimed, rolling his eyes fondly.

“Joking,” Burt said. “I'd be more subtle than that.”

“More subtle with what?” Blaine asked from the direction of the door, coming into the kitchen with sleep-mussed hair and wrinkled clothes.

“Hunting you down if you ever hurt my kid,” Burt explained.

Blaine's eyes widened as he took a step back, but Burt laughed, patting his shoulder as he passed him on the way to the sink. “Okay, that was a little mean of me. Welcome to the family, kid.”

Kurt smiled as Blaine met his eyes, relief mixing in with the confusion of the rather unusual morning greeting.

“You'll get used to it,” Kurt assured him. “It means he likes you.”

“Good to know,” Blaine said hesitantly. “Need help with the coffee?”

“Sure.” Kurt stepped aside, making room at the counter for Blaine. “Good morning, by the way. I love you.”

Blaine beamed at him, checking that Burt wasn't looking before giving Kurt a quick peck on the lips. “Good morning. I love you too.”