"I'm not quite sure where everyone is going to sleep," Blaine admitted to Santana as they prepared the guest rooms in his house. Sure, the house was large, but he had converted the rooms into things like a music room, a rec room, a library, an office, and some were even purely storage. "Maybe this was a mistake."

Santana smoothed the navy sheets over the bed in the room Burt was staying in, "Blaine, this wasn't a bad idea. You can't let him go again."

Blaine raised an eyebrow as he tried his hardest to match Santana's hospital corners, "You mean my daughter, correct?"

Santana pushed his hands out of the way to work on the fold herself, "Right. What did I say?"

Blaine started running a few cleaning wipes over the nightstand and the television, "I'm serious, Santana. Burt will sleep here, and then we only have one more bedroom. Natalie can sleep in Haley's room on the daybed, but that still leaves Brittany and Kurt, and I'm not sure they want to share a bedroom."

"You and Kurt could always have a sleepover."

Blaine glared at Santana, "No."

She shrugged, "I have a futon…"

Blaine nodded slowly, "Do you think Brittany would mind sleeping on the futon? I mean, is it comfortable?"

Santana nodded, "It is. Plus, it would be nice having some estrogen in my life."

Blaine stopped wiping the dresser off, "Oh my god. You like her!"

Santana couldn't help the coloring that rushed to her cheeks, "Blaine! This is not a very good professional-worker conversation."

"Bullshit," Blaine jumped in front of the door so Santana couldn't scurry off, "Does she like you? Are you in lovvveeee?" The singsong quality in Blaine's voice made Santana laugh, but she just shook her head. "Santana, you deserve to have someone special in your life!"

Santana put her hands on her hips, "Look who's talking, Blaine! I just met Brittany, and yes, I do like her, so I'd appreciate it if you kept her around for a little bit."

Blaine sobered immediately, "You really do like her? Does she like you?"

Santana shrugged, "I'm not sure. She seems like it, but it has been so long since I've even met someone that I don't really know."

Blaine leaned against the door, appraising the woman in front of him. "Have I kept you from finding someone?"

"You are very needy," Santana started, a serious look on her face, "but no. I've just never met someone I connected with. I don't even know if I connect like that with her."

"You should come camping with us;" Blaine said suddenly, "Camping would be great! You can get to know Brittany better! I know I said it was only going to be Kurt, the girls, and myself, but it would be great if you could both come."

Santana shook her head, "I don't do camping."

Blaine shrugged, "I can't really make you do anything, but it would be fun."

Santana threw a pair of yellow sheets at Blaine, "You can go put the sheets on Kurt's bed. That's who you should be thinking about, Kurt, not Brittany. You worry about your love life."

"I have none," Blaine said sadly, placing his hand over his heart.

"Exactly, get to work," Santana pointed a finger at him before hauling the laundry down the hallway, "and make sure those corners are perfect, you know how particular Kurt is!"

"You are giving me a mission I will fail at," Blaine called to the retreating woman.

She simply kept walking, but Blaine could hear her laughing.

Walking into the bigger guest bedroom, Blaine could not help but feel a little weird. Having Kurt sleeping in his house, but not in his bed seemed so foreign, so wrong, to him. He'd always hoped that if Kurt would ever come back into his life, it wouldn't be this way. He had hoped they would have a romantic bedroom with candles, champagne, and music. Instead, drywall, insulation, and stubbornness would be between them.

Blaine quickly went to work, placing the new mattress pad onto the bed. He made sure the sheets were then tucked in tight and the pillows were as fluffy as they could be.

Kurt would actually be the first person using this guest room.

Santana had offered to do the job originally, but for some reason Blaine felt like he needed to set up the room for his ex husband. He needed to know that Kurt would be comfortable and that everything was taken care of.

Blaine pulled the extra blanket out of the wardrobe and unfolded it to lay lengthwise across the bottom of the bed. He remembered that Kurt was always freezing, and even though it was still mid-summer, he might need something in the air conditioning.

Blaine walked around the room to make sure the lights worked, everything was dust free, and that the drawers were empty. Blaine wondered if Kurt would need toiletries, but figured that man was old enough to bring his own. Still, Blaine made sure there was an extra bottle of everything under the sink in the guest bathroom that was attached.

Blaine surveyed the room again. It was the simplest room in the house, but Blaine had put away all of the pictures that had once been there. He did not really know why, they were just pictures of Haley growing up and a few of them together. Blaine did not want Kurt's feelings to be hurt, so he hid them in the bottom drawer far away from Kurt's eyes.

He took a deep breath and lit a candle, vanilla which was Kurt's favorite, and smiled into the room. It was the best he could do.

Blaine walked the few steps to Haley's room and knocked loudly, knowing she was probably listening to her music. "Hales?"

The door opened quickly and Haley stood in front of him, "Are they here?"

"No," Blaine laughed, "I'm just checking to make sure your room is actually clean," even though they had Santana, Blaine still made Haley clean her own room and do a lot of the cosmetic cleaning of the bathroom.

He couldn't have a spoiled daughter.

"It's clean! I even vacuumed!" Haley smiled widely and rocked forward on her toes. Blaine was happy to see she was excited about everything.

Blaine walked in and flopped backwards on the bed, "So what do you think we should do with them while they stay for a little while longer?"

Haley jumped into his lap and put her head on his shoulder, "Well we can go in the pool, ride the horses, go for walks, play basketball, sing karaoke, watch movies, make cookies, toast marshmallows, did you know that Grandpa never rode a horse? I can't believe that!"

Blaine laughed, "Your grandfather isn't the fondest of cowboys."

Haley rolled her eyes, "Whatever. I think that's the first thing we should do."

Blaine nodded, "Maybe. But we don't have enough for everyone, we only have two."

"So Natalie and I can sit on one, and then Grandpa can go on another!" Her eyes were huge as they looked up at him, "He has to ride a horse!"

Blaine feigned hurt, "But what about you father and I? What are we going to do?"

Haley shrugged, "Talk? That's all you two ever do!"

Blaine could not help but laugh, "I think we're done having serious talks."

She smiled again, "Good, because they are boring."

Blaine was about to argue back, but the doorbell ringing made his heart jump.

They were there.

"Last one there is a rotten egg!" Haley cackled before she took off out the door of her room.

Blaine had the height advantage for once, but he was also wearing only socks and did not want to fall down the steps.

Haley and Blaine raced each other down the stairs and to the front door, which they both nearly crashed into laughing.

They opened the door, both laughing and red from their quick sprint.

"We could have waited," Burt joked as he set the suitcases down in the foyer.

"Daddy is a rotten egg," Haley said to Natalie, who laughed and hugged her sister tightly.

Kurt smiled but it did not meet his eyes. He was freaking out. He wanted to be around Blaine, but to be around Blaine all the time was not going to be good for him. Seeing Blaine as he was now, hair messy, a t-shirt and lazy jeans, and just a pair of socks made his heart beat. It was so domestic and so unlike Kurt had seen Blaine in many years.

"Welcome," Blaine said quietly, wrapping everyone in a quick hug. "I'll show you to your rooms and then Santana is preparing us a light lunch we can have outside."

Burt nodded, "Thanks kid, I hope you didn't make her go through much trouble."

"He didn't," Santana said, emerging from the western wing of the house, "Just the basics. Come on, Britt, I'll show you to our room."

"We're going to be roomies?" the blonde girl asked, a huge smile on her face, "that's awesome, just like college!"

"You went to college?" Santana glanced at Kurt before turning back to Brittany.

"Well no…" Brittany bit her lip and shrugged, "but it will still be like it!"

The group laughed as they watched the two girls walk toward Santana's room, laughing and chit chatting about something they couldn't hear.

"Am I missing something?" Burt asked, still struggling under the weight of suitcases.

"Here let me help you," Blaine reached out and easily took every suitcase but one. Kurt couldn't help but watch the way the muscles in his arms worked to lift the heavy bags. "And I think they are just very fond of each other."

Kurt couldn't help the bemused smile that broke through his nerves, "Brittany won't stop talking about her."

"Good," Blaine sent Kurt a relieved smile, "because I think Santana is head over heels."

"Great," Burt said quietly, "more love drama I'm going to have to deal with."

Kurt's reply was cut off by Natalie and Haley's screeching as they ran up the steps quickly, talking about manicures, late nights, and sing-a-longs. "They aren't going to get a good night's sleep at all, are they?"

"The fun will wear off eventually," Blaine remarked, "remember college?"

Kurt blushed, "I do. It only took us what, a month, to start sleeping at a normal time?"

Burt coughed loudly, "As much as I enjoy these walks down memory lane, I'd really like to get settled in and eat some of Santana's cooking if you wouldn't mind."

Blaine and Kurt shared a glance that held questions that neither of them had the courage to ask, but Blaine simply led the group up the stairs. "If you need anything, either of you, let me know," Blaine motioned them both to their rooms. "I think you'll have like an hour to get unpacked. I don't think the twenty minute drive means you'll need to freshen up, but be my guest."

Burt nodded, but Kurt looked stricken. "You think I won't need to at least fix my clothing? It is wrinkled!"

"Trying to impress someone?" Blaine asked with a grin, leaning against the doorframe.

"No," Kurt laughed a little when he realized he was caught, "I just don't like to look like a slob in someone else's home."

"Please," Blaine's cocky smile was replaced with one of real hope, "this is your home…for the week. If you want to come to dinner in sweatpants and a tank top, I'm not going to stop you."

Burt nodded, "Now that is my kind of dinner."

"Father, you will keep your jeans on," Kurt said through gritted teeth.

Burt laughed, "I'll leave you two to talk."

Blaine watched at the door closed, "Can I get you anything? A drink?"

Kurt wanted to swallow his reply, but it came out anyway, "I think we're both going to need quite a few drinks to get us through the week."

"Nah," Blaine shrugged, "I want you to be here, Kurt."

Kurt nodded before turning back to the bedroom.

0o0o0o0o0o

"Oh my god, I'm so full," Burt leaned back in his chair, "Since you said to make this like my own home would it be inappropriate to unbutton my pants?"

Blaine shrugged and tipped his glass toward Burt, "Whatever you want to do."

"I swear Dad…" Kurt started, an evil glint in his eye, "I will make you board a plane to New York tonight."

Burt laughed, "I know, I know."

Blaine stood and started carrying the dishes toward the kitchen.

"I'll do it!" Santana said quickly, "Brittany can help, right Britt?"

Blaine looked at the massive pile of dishes, "Santana…"

"No, I know you can't sit still. Why don't you go for a walk or something?" Santana's eyes bore into Blaine's; she just really wanted time alone with Brittany.

"Okay, do you all want to come with me?" Blaine turned to the remaining people at the table.

"No," Burt shook his head, "I'm going to go take a nap."

Natalie and Haley glanced at each other, "I want to show Buttercup to Natalie," Haley said, a question in her voice.

"Okay," Blaine sighed and looked at Kurt, his eyes slightly pleading, "Would you like to go on a walk with me?"

Kurt fought himself. He really didn't have anything he could go for a walk in, but he wanted to be with Blaine. Distancing himself wouldn't help now.

"Sure," he said eventually, "as long as we don't go anywhere muddy."

Blaine nodded, "Okay. I know you don't want to get your shoes dirty," he shot a wink at Kurt, hating himself the instant it happened.

Kurt stuck his tongue out quickly, hoping the girls didn't see it.

"Well come on," Blaine said with a smile and led Kurt out the back of the house and down the stone path that wound around the property.

They walked in silence for a few minutes before Kurt cleared his throat and look at Blaine "Who's Buttercup?"

Blaine laughed, "Haley's horse. He's really old and sweet, you have nothing to worry about."

"I wasn't," Kurt clarified, "I just wanted to make sure it wasn't some weird California hippie or something."

Blaine shook his head, "You really haven't changed."

Kurt shrugged, "In some ways I think I have. You, however, are still five."

"Five and a half," Blaine joked.

They walked some more, but the silence wasn't nearly as awkward. They were enjoying being near each other, both wanting to approach topics that needed to be discussed, but neither having any idea how to go about doing it.

"What are we going to do about the girls?" Kurt asked finally, gathering the courage to at least start discussion. "We can't keep them apart."

Blaine stopped and sat on a mossy rock by the side of the path, "Come on. I don't want to talk about this without looking at each other."

Kurt glanced at the rock, "Can I stand?"

Blaine glared at him before quickly stripping off his sweatshirt and pressing it down onto the rock. Kurt tried not to watch the way his t-shirt stuck to the sweater a little, revealing the muscles beneath.

Some things did not change.

"Sit," Blaine pointed to the sweatshirt.

Kurt moved and sat down heavily on the rock, his arm brushing Blaine's. "I have no idea what we're going to do."

Blaine nodded, "Good that makes two of us. I don't know what is fair, what makes things easier for…for everyone."

Kurt sat in silence. His heart was telling him there was one way to make things easier on everyone, but they couldn't allow that to happen. "Why don't we just see how this week goes," Kurt says quietly.

Blaine leaned back against the rock and Kurt could hear him working his jaw. He wondered what Blaine was holding in, why he was hiding something from Kurt.

Kurt looked back to question Blaine but was taken aback because Blaine's hazel eyes were already on him. Kurt's breath caught in his throat and he couldn't even crack a joke. Blaine parted his lips a little and his eyes darted down to Kurt's.

"Daddy!" the shrieking came quickly and they heard the slow galloping of a horse.

Blaine laughed and stood up, pulling Kurt up with him. They watched as Haley and Natalie came by, both laughing on Buttercup.

"Who helped you?" Blaine asked, quickly moving forward to make sure that everything was in place.

"Santana," Haley rolled her eyes, "She did it fine."

"Kurt!" Burt's terrified voice came from the path, and two minutes later, Burt emerged on Blaine's horse.

"Dad!" Kurt was laughing because Burt was leaning forward and nearly hugging the horse's neck.

"Kurt, this thing is murderous!"

Blaine walked up and allowed the horse to nuzzle him, "Burt, Darcy isn't going to hurt you."

Kurt admired the way Blaine was treating the horse. He was almost pure black, and Blaine rubbed along his neck affectionately. "Dad, are you going to be okay?"

Burt seemed to calm down knowing that Blaine trusted the horse.

"I thought you were sleeping, Dad?" Kurt inched forward, wanting to touch the horse.

"They tricked me," Burt glared at the girls who were now walking back and forth on the grass.

Blaine just laughed, "I'm sure it didn't take too much."

Kurt bit his lip and looked at Blaine, waiting to catch his eye. When he did, he suddenly became very bashful, "Can I pet him?"

Blaine nodded and moved over, "Just be gentle. He gets a little afraid when there are a lot of people around."

"Fantastic," Burt said, "You know, I can just get off."

Blaine shrugged, "If you aren't comfortable, I can ride him back. We need you safe to go camping tomorrow."

Burt sighed, already throwing a leg over the tall horse, "Thank god."

Blaine handed the bridle to Kurt, "Can you just hold this while I get on?"

Kurt nodded mutely, trying to figure out how he would watch Blaine get on the horse without being obvious.

Blaine grabbed the saddle and pulled himself up swiftly, the horse seeming to know his every move. "Kurt, want to come up?" Blaine asked, flashing him a grin.

"No, I think I'm going to walk and talk with my Dad, but thanks," Kurt flashed a huge grin up at Blaine.

Blaine nodded and quickly turned Darcy and galloped away at a much quicker speed.

"Be a little more obvious," Burt said as he watched Kurt watch Blaine ride away.

Kurt laughed, "I still think it will happen, Dad."

Burt nodded, "I do too. Even if you both need a push."

"Please don't," Kurt started walking toward the house.

"I make no promises."

O0o0o0o0o

"This is going to suck," Kurt breathed to Brittany as they unpacked the jeep, "Suck so bad."

Brittany laughed as she pulled a cooler out, "It will be fine. You'll get to spend time with Blaine."

Kurt rolled his eyes, "That wasn't the point of this. The point is the girls, who are sleeping in the back of the jeep."

"That's the last of it," Blaine announced, "Burt, are you sure you're going to be okay?"

Burt, who had insisted his horse riding injury wouldn't allow him to unpack the jeep, had sat in the driver's seat watching the entire time.

Burt looked down at his former son-in-law with a smile, "You know, I'm not sure I will be." With that, he started the jeep.

"Burt?" Blaine's eyes widened as he caught on.

"Dad!" Kurt's voice held warning, and he started walking quickly to the jeep.

Burt laughed as Santana and Brittany jumped into the jeep. "Have fun boys!"

Blaine and Kurt stood and watched as the jeep drove away, leaving only the two of them in the clearing.