“Kurt?” Blaine called out, “We’ve come to steal all your stuff and run away, I hope that’s okay.”

Zach giggled. They wandered through the hall to find Kurt in Mai’s room, a splotch of green paint on his cheek, putting the finishing touches on the tail of an exotic-looking, purple bird. He was singing along loudly to whatever was on the radio.

Blaine raised his eyebrows at Zach, who covered his mouth so Kurt wouldn’t hear him laugh. Blaine cleared his throat loudly. Kurt flinched and spun around.

“Blaine! You scared me – I didn’t hear you come in-”

“Sorry, the door was open.”

“Yeah, trying to air the place out. I’m an idiot.”

“Doesn’t look that way to me,” he looked around the room, “this is amazing.”

“It’s awesome! I wish my room was this cool!”

Blaine felt Zach tugging on his hand.

“You asked for outer space, mister, that’s what you’ve got.”

“Is that the cake?”

“No, it’s a bomb.” Kurt stared at him, wide-eyed. “Wow. I was kidding. Sorry. Zach, do you wanna go put this in the kitchen?” Zach nodded and scampered out. “Kurt. Why are you an idiot?”

“Because one night isn’t enough time. It won’t dry for when they get here. It’s not good enough. Don’t I get to see the cake?”

“No, it’s a surprise. And this looks fantastic.”

It was eerily like the cake: a monkey swinging from a branch, a mischievous looking snake slithering across the ground, trees, flowers, and a majestic-looking zebra next to the grey wardrobe – blending in as part of an elephant. Kurt had built a canopy over the bed, lined with fairy lights and delicate paper leaves. The ceiling fanned out from the centre, the light acting as the sun with golden and yellow rays spreading toward the walls. Blaine was stunned.

“But I still have to do the lion over there, because they’re her second favourite after zebras, and I wanted more plants and another snake and do you think there are too many animals on that side? Or not enough on that side? Are the colours even right?”

“Woah, woah, Kurt, stop panicking. She’s going to love it. Zach, you better not be eyeing that cake!” Zach slunk back in. “Hey, buddy, you know how you did the lion’s mane for me this morning?”

“Yeah. That’s why I was checking the cake. To make sure it was still there.”

“Sure. Well, how about you and me paint another lion? A bigger one?”

“Blaine, you’ve done plenty-”

“Are you insulting our lion-painting skills? Do I have to show you the cake?”

Kurt frowned. He knew Blaine was manipulating him, and not very well, but he really needed help.

“Hmm. Zach, do you think I can trust your dad to do this for me?”

Zach nodded.

“I’ll supervise.”

Kurt and Blaine grinned.

*

“Okay, sweetie, let’s go find Daddy!”

Even in her thirties, Rachel Berry-Hudson (‘No, Finn, it’s alphabetical, it’s traditional’) still had a knack for over-acting. The others waited silently while Kurt went out to meet her. Between them they’d managed to get everything finished, and now the only one who wasn’t at the party was the guest of honour. They smiled at each other while they listened to Kurt talking to Mai, trying to keep the excitement out of his voice as he walked her to her room.

“Okay, honey, be careful – mind the step. Alright… open them.”

Mai took her hands from her eyes and stood in awe, her arms falling to her sides. She stared at the bed, the walls, the ceiling, the zebra, her mouth wide open.

“We did the lion! My dad and me, we did it. Do you like it?”

She nodded. She felt the pairs of eyes on her and squeezed on her father’s hand, hiding her face in his paint-splotched sweater. He picked her up and spun her around so she could see every wall. She snuggled into his shoulder.

“Happy birthday, sweetheart,” Kurt whispered. “What do you think?”

She tried to hide from everyone else, but couldn’t stop gazing around her. She leaned in and whispered to Kurt so nobody else could hear. He wrapped his arms tightly around her and kissed her cheek, squeezing her until she squealed with laughter.

“Now, before this little monkey is let loose in here,” he tickled her side and she kept giggling, “how about some cake?”

*

Kurt’s coffee went cold as he watched Blaine and Brittany playing with the kids. Despite the bump, she had more energy than most of them, and they all loved having a brand new adult to pester, although Blaine held his own. Brittany painted faces and Blaine gave piggyback rides and the house was full of sugar-induced screams. A few years ago this would have been Kurt’s idea of hell, but he found himself sighing contentedly as his daughter and her friends laughed and sang songs and played games none of the adults could understand.

He jumped when he heard Rachel clear her throat next to him, and Santana did the same on his other side.

“How long have you two been standing there?”

“Long enough. You like him.”

“He’s great with the kids. I assume that’s what you mean.”

Rachel glared at Santana.

“Of course it’s what she means. Because anything else would be inappropriate.”

“What’s inappropriate is how good his ass looks in those jeans. Kurt, tell me you haven’t thought about it.” Kurt said nothing, and Santana gave Rachel’s arm a shove. “I told you.”

“And I told you, it’s a huge responsibility. He’s still going through a divorce, he’s barely out of the closet – he’s never even been with a guy before.”

“So he must be dying to try it out. Who better than Kurt?”

Kurt didn’t even try to get a word in. He knew it was futile.

“Santana, the man has children.”

“Rachel,” she mimicked her condescending tone, “do you know whose birthday party this is?”

“But the girl sounds like a nightmare. Do you really want to take that on?”

“Of course he does! He can handle anything that little bitchlet can dish out. Unless you don’t think he’s interested?”

They both stared at him. He feigned surprise.

“Oh, do I actually get to participate in this argument now?” They both stared at him with raised eyebrows. “God, you’re like a cartoon. Shouldn’t you have a harp and a pitchfork or something?”

“Kurt.”

“Hummel, any idiot can tell he likes you.”

Kurt couldn’t keep the satisfied smile from his face. He knew for a fact Blaine liked him. He’d memorised his message.

“Is there something you’re not telling us?”

“No. It doesn’t matter. Look, Rachel’s right. He’s going through a lot right now. He just needs a friend.”

“Mm-hmm. I’ve used the friend excuse before. What’s more friendly than, I don’t know, putting his penis in your mouth?”

“Santana! The kids!”

“Rachel, I could turn into a jellyfish right now and they wouldn’t notice. Look.”

She had a point. They were all too busy clamouring for Blaine’s attention, only to be disappointed when he turned to smile at Kurt instead. Kurt wanted to disappear as he felt a blush creeping up his neck and a nervous twist in his stomach. Santana bit her lip to stop herself grinning with satisfaction. Rachel gave Kurt’s elbow a squeeze, dragging him back down to Earth.

“Just be careful, Kurt. For Mai’s sake. She needs stability.”

Kurt resented the suggestion that he would do anything to risk Mai’s safety or happiness, but she had a point. It was so fast. He couldn’t bear the idea of bringing another man into Mai’s life only to face the possibility of her losing him. It wasn’t fair on her.

“He’s always careful. For once, being a stable, sensible grownup might actually be a plus. I know she needs stability, but he needs to have some fun – with someone who isn’t us.”

He looked from one woman to the other, then back at the party.

“Screw it. You can keep arguing if you want; I’m gonna go play with my daughter.”

*

Of course Blaine stayed behind to help clear up, while Zach sat with Mai drawing all the animals they could think of.

“You didn’t have to.”

“I don’t mind. I’m just glad she had a good time.”

“I can’t believe you had them all eating out of your hand like that.”

“I’m kind of an old pro when it comes to birthday parties. I’ve done cowboys, pirates, under-the-sea, but jungle’s new. It was pretty great.”

“High praise, coming from you.”

Blaine grinned, wiping a splodge of frosting off the counter.

“Listen, Kurt, I just- I really appreciate everything you’re doing. Letting me in on all this, taking care of Zach before… not mentioning our… initial contact. It could have been so awkward, but you’ve made it all really easy.”

Kurt stopped drying up. He smiled as he watched Blaine cover the rest of the cake, wrapping up a piece to take home for Kitty. Chocolate was her favourite too. Blaine felt Kurt’s eyes on him and stopped to look up. They stood for a second, eyes locked.

“Is there something on my face?”

“So you’d rather that never came up?”

“What?”

“The whole… ‘initial contact’ thing, if that’s what you want to call it.”

“Oh- yeah, I guess. I mean, I was just, but you’re obviously not- and I don’t want to screw this up or make it weird.”

“Shame.”

Blaine frowned.

“What?”

“It’s just that you’ve kind of ruined my line.”

“What line?”

“It doesn’t matter. I’m not allowed to mention it, so I’ll have to think of something else.”

“No, no, Kurt, you can- what were you going to say?”

“Oh, just that I never replied. And I figured I owed you a coffee some time. But forget it, I’ll try again next time I see you.”

“Wait, I- Kurt, are you-”

“No, not any more.”

“Oh. Okay, um. Never mind. I guess we should go home.”

As Blaine turned to the door to go and get Zach, Kurt reached for his arm.

“Stop, Blaine, I’m messing with you. Sorry. Would you like to go for a coffee next week?” He found himself speaking slowly just in case Blaine spooked. “No kids, no lesbians, just us.”

“So, you’re-”

“Yes. I’m asking you out.”

“Okay. Then I’m saying yes. Please. That would be great.”

“Great.”

“Great.”

Compared to Blaine he was supposed to be some kind of expert at this, but he realised how pathetically out of practise he was.

“So, I’ll, um – I’ll call you tomorrow?”

Blaine let out a nervous giggle and winced at how high it was.

“Sorry. That would be good. Yeah. Sorry.”

“So. You two probably need to get going?”

“So as soon as I clean up, you kick me out?”

“God, no, I meant- didn’t you say Quinn was dropping Kitty off-”

“Kurt. Kidding. Sorry.”

“Oh! Yeah. Haha.”

“You’re right though.” He picked up the slice of cake and started making his way into the living room. “Come on Zach, we’d better go home.”

Zach nodded.

“Okay. Mai, give him the thing.”

“No.”

“But you drew it for him.”

“Shut up.”

“Dad, Mai drew you a monkey.”

Mai blushed and pushed the picture across the coffee table. Blaine smiled and picked it up. She’d scrawled ‘Blaine’ across the bottom with three big kisses.

“Mai, it’s perfect. You know, most people can’t spell my name, but you got it right first time.”

“Only because I told her.”

“Then I guess that makes you both super smart. Come on, we don’t want to be late for Kitty.”

“But Kitty’s always late.”

“Well, your mom’s driving her, so she’ll be bang on time. She’ll be really excited to see you.”

“Okay. Bye, Mai. Bye Kurt. Thanks for having me.”

“It was our pleasure.”

Kurt and Blaine glanced at each other awkwardly. Talking to kids was so much easier. Blaine thanked Mai for the picture and she thanked him for the cake and the lion on her wall, and Zach reminded her that he’d done the mane so she thanked him as well. As Zach climbed into the car and Mai was distracted by a cat in the street, Kurt took Blaine’s arm again.

“Thanks for helping today. I’ll speak to you tomorrow.”

He hesitated for a second, making sure the kids weren’t looking, before leaning in and kissing him on the cheek. Blaine sucked in a breath and his whole body stiffened for a second as he swallowed and tried not to blush too hard. He realised he was grinning like an idiot when Kurt reached to grab Mai’s hand before she could stray into the road to follow the cat, and he turned to check Zach had his seatbelt on.

“Yeah. Tomorrow. Great.”

He tried to ignore his heart thumping in his chest all the way home.

Zach leapt up when he heard Quinn pull into the driveway. He ran out to meet them and jumped into Quinn’s arms as soon as she got out of the car.

“Hi Mom!”

“Woah, there, you only saw me this morning!”

She clung to him anyway, barely keeping it together. Blaine came outside and she smiled at him over Zach’s shoulder before closing her eyes and burying her face in his dark mop of hair. Blaine tried to smile at Kitty, but she ignored him.

“Bye, Mom. See you next week,” she said sweetly before pushing past Blaine into the house.

“Mom, we went to Mai’s birthday party, and her dad had painted her room to look like a jungle, and we did the lion, and-”

“And someone had a lot of sugar, by the sounds of it. Did your dad make a nice cake?”

“Yeah, it was really good. We brought some back for Kitty, do you want some?”

“No need. I know how good it is.”

“Okay. I drew an elephant, do you want to see it?”

“You bet I do! Why don’t you go get it for me?”

She put Zach down and he ran inside. She walked towards Blaine, trying her hardest to keep smiling.

“I hope he never turns into a teenager.”

“Same. Do you want to come in for coffee? I’ve got that fancy stuff you like.”

Quinn paused.

“No. I’m not- not yet. Sorry.”

“It’s okay, you don’t have to- I know it’s weird.”

“It is what it is. So, everything’s okay with you? The party was good? And… Kurt?”

“It was nice. The kids had a great time.”

“What about you?”

“Quinn, you don’t have to-”

“I need to get used to it. He seems really nice.”

Blaine took a deep breath. He could see how hard Quinn was trying not to cry. He owed her honesty at the very least.

“He is. He can’t throw a birthday party quite like us, but he tried his best.”

She laughed.

“Remember Kitty’s… was it ninth or tenth?”

“The Italian party? God, that was a lot of pizza. And ice cream. It was a good one.”

“Until that Sophie kid puked ice cream all over the floor.”

“Oh, I’d totally forgotten!”

“Trust me, if you’d been the one cleaning it up you’d remember. I haven’t touched mint chocolate chip since.”

They both had a flashback of when she’d been pregnant with Kitty, eating every drop of mint chocolate chip she could get her hands on, and Blaine trying to keep the freezer stocked in spite of how little money they had. They decided not to say anything. There were some memories that they didn’t want to tarnish. Those first couple of years were sacred somehow, when they were broke and young and scared, when all they had was each other. If they brought it up they’d have to face up to how trapped Blaine must have felt, how he’d been lying the whole time, how it wasn’t as innocent and quaintly romantic as she’d thought. She’d always known it was na�ve to see it the way she did, like it was them against the world, just trying to survive, but she just needed the young couple in her head to stay the way it was for now.

Zach came flying out again, shoving the drawing into her hand.

“See, Mom? There’s his trunk, and that’s his tail.”

“Oh, honey, I love it! Does he have a name?”

“Kurt.”

She and Blaine glanced at each other.

“Like Dad’s friend?”

“Yup. He can draw elephants too.”

“I’m sure he knows his way around a trunk.”

Blaine’s mouth fell open. She held in a smirk.

“Yeah. He decorates people’s houses. Isn’t that a cool job?”

“The coolest. Listen, sweetie, I’ve got to go, but can I stick this on my fridge? You can see it next time you’re at my house.”

“Sure. Dad, is that okay? Because Mai gave you her picture?”

Blaine was still in shock.

“Um, yeah. Okay.”

“Zach, maybe you better go and do your homework, since you didn’t do any last night?”

“Fine,” he sighed, “I’ll see you next Friday. Love you.”

“Love you, too,” she whispered as she bent down to hug him again, kissing his cheek. “Miss you already.” He grinned and went inside. She sighed. “I guess we should be glad he’s coping so well.”

“He does miss you. I swear.”

“I know. It’s just-” she shrugged. She knew he would understand.

“But ‘he knows his way around a trunk’? Seriously, Quinn? You can’t come in for coffee but you have no problem making dick jokes?”

She laughed, blinking a tear away.

“After all we’ve been through, are you really going to deny me a dick joke? You’ve got to give me this.”

Blaine opened his mouth to argue, but came up short.

“Fair enough. Can I request that you limit it to laughing at me and not him?”

Quinn gave him a knowing smile. It felt like a grownup was laughing at him for letting his hormones take over. It made sense; his first ever romance became a lifelong responsibility. He’d skipped the lovesick teenager stage.

“I can’t make fun of him? But we make fun of everyone.” Blaine smiled. It was nice still being a ‘we’ with her. “You must really like him.”

Blaine ran a hand through his hair and looked at his shoes before eventually returning his gaze to her eyes. It was terrifying how well she knew him. It made him wonder if she knew about him all along.

“Yeah. I think I do. I just don’t want to rush into anything. With the kids, especially the way Kitty’s been acting-”

“And last time you rushed into something you got stuck with me for eighteen years.”

He laughed. He shouldn’t have laughed, but that was how they worked.

“Yeah. Gross.”

“Look, I’ve got to go, but I’ll be here at four on Friday. And Blaine?”

“Yeah?”

“I really am glad you like him. You deserve to like somebody.”

“You deserve to have somebody like you. Boobs and all.”

They finally managed a hug. It wasn’t as awkward as it could have been. It was all they really could have hoped for. He waved her off and leaned back against the door after he closed it, breathing a sigh of relief.

He spotted Kitty staring at the fridge.

“You have a good time at your mom’s?”

“Mmm. How was the party?”

“It was great. All the kids had a really good time. We brought you back some cake, if your brother hasn’t already eaten it-”

He jogged into the kitchen to unwrap her slice.

“Oh. Thanks.”

She was less aggressive than usual. She seemed distracted. He handed her a plate with a huge slice of cake on it and smiled hopefully. She half smiled back, taking a bite. As soon as she tasted it, her face fell. Her stomach lurched. She felt stupid for getting emotional about a kid’s birthday cake, but it was the cake her dad had made just for her every year since she could remember. It tasted like her childhood and her home and her family and he’d made it for someone else’s little girl. Blaine tried to take her hand.

“Are you okay?”

She snatched her hand away, shook her head and ran to the sink, spitting out the mouthful and slamming her plate on the counter.

“I’m fine. Just- forget it. I’m glad she liked it. I’ve got to go change. I’m going out soon.”

“Wait, Kitty, what’s wrong? And where are you going? Do you need a ride?”

“Just out. And someone’s picking me up.”

She glanced at the fridge again before disappearing upstairs. Blaine started to run after her, but gave up. Was she really taking her anger out on the cake? This was the weirdest form of rebellion yet. He walked back into the kitchen, catching sight of the drawing stuck to the fridge. He smiled for a second, remembering when Kitty’s drawings were on there, when things were simpler. He looked to the staircase again as Kitty’s music started blaring from her room.

Thirty minutes later, he and Zach were practising long division in the living room when Kitty ran down the stairs, tight jeans, hair down, in a leather jacket he’d never seen before.

“Don’t wait up.”

“Wait, Kitty, who’s picking you up?”

“Just… a guy.”

“Kitty’s got a boyfriend!”

“Pipe down. He’s not my boyfriend. He’s nobody.”

They heard a roar from the driveway. Blaine looked out to see a motorbike.

“No. No way are you getting on that thing.”

“Good luck stopping me. He’s got a spare helmet. It’s fine.”

Blaine frowned, but remembered the dozens of people who’d said ‘the more you pull them back, the more they push away’. It drove him insane, but at least she’d be protected.

“Then at least let me meet him.”

“Jesus, I told you, he’s not my boyfriend. He’s just a guy. I don’t want to keep him waiting. Bye.”

Blaine watched, helpless, as she ran outside to meet the boy on the bike. He didn’t look like a boy, even with his head covered by the helmet. He looked at the house, but she turned his head back to her and gave his bicep a squeeze. He put a hand on her waist and Blaine could’ve sworn he was about to try to kiss her through the helmet, but she knocked on his head with a laugh and stopped him. He produced an extra helmet from his bag, and apparently insisted she put it on despite her eye-rolling. Blaine didn’t smile, but his shoulders sagged with relief. At least she was safe. He hated not meeting him. He hated the thought of him refusing to define their relationship. Maybe he just hated the idea of Kitty dating at all. He’d been almost giddy at the thought of the kids bringing dates home at some point, but it wasn’t cute and nervous like he thought it would be. It was a faceless guy who looked too old and who wouldn’t even come in.

“That’s not fair. I can’t make fun of her if we don’t even get to meet him. Do you think he’s got a really big nose? Or a stupid haircut?”

“I don’t know, buddy. I’m sure she’ll introduce us when she’s ready. Now, don’t think you’ve got out of doing question four. Let’s try again.”