Mai was confused.

She’d never seen her father or Blaine so tearful. Even Kitty was about to cry, and she hadn’t been all sad for… ages. It didn’t make any sense. Today was supposed to be a happy day, but now she was surrounded by boxes, piled up so they were taller than her, and a bunch of cry-babies.

“Kitty, why can’t I stay with you?”

“Because, munchkin, these two would miss you too much. And they’re already heartbroken at the concept of losing me.”

“But college looks so cool-”

“Whatever,” said Zach with a sniff, “I’m gonna turn your bedroom into my X-Box room.”

“You just wanna use it to make out with your girlfriend-”

“She’s not my girlfriend!”

“Zachary, stop arguing and hug your sister. It’s okay, we all know you’re going to miss her.”

“Am not,” he said, but it was muffled by her shoulder, where his face was buried.

Kitty gave him a squeeze.

“I’m going to miss you, too, bro. Take care of these guys for me, okay?” He nodded into her sweater. “The same goes for you, sweetie. Come here,” she said, picking Mai up with a groan. “Woah, won’t be able to do this much longer. Be good, okay?”

Mai nodded, wrapping her arms around Kitty’s neck.

“If I’m big now, can I stay here?”

“’Fraid not. If I have to feed you, I’ll starve. I’m a poor student now with nobody to make me cupcakes anymore.”

Mai frowned for a moment before nodding again. Apparently that was enough to put her off. Kitty looked at Blaine.

“You know,” he mumbled through his tears, “I’ll never let you go without cupcakes. We’ve already planned your first care package. You need anything wheat-based, you come to me, okay?”

She laughed and nodded, throwing her arms around him.

“Thanks, Dad. Love you.”

It sounded so casual; they knew it was anything but.

“I love you so much, Kitty-cat. Never forget it.”

“I won’t,” she mumbled, her voice cracking.

She and Kurt glanced at each other, smiling awkwardly. Blaine gripped tightly to Kurt’s hand.

“Now, if there’s anything else you need, just call me, and I’ll give it to your mom so she can bring it next weekend when she and Mike come up. You’ve got your toothbrush, right? And enough towels? Are you sure you don’t need us to take you shopping for anything?”

“I’m sure. Come on, I’m gonna see you in a month. Get out of here before you start crying.”

Blaine laughed.

“What do you mean, ‘start’? I’ve been tearing up since last night.”

“I know, but still. There’s a tonne of orientation stuff to do. I don’t want you driving back in the dark.”

“Okay,” Blaine hugged her again, “Good luck with everything, honey. If there’s anything-”

“I know, Dad, I’ll call you. Now get out of here, loser.”

They both took deep breaths and Blaine forced himself to leave, bustling through the corridor with kids and partner in tow. They were all quiet as they got into the car. Blaine sat still for a moment, trying to get his breath back. Kurt held his hand, stroking over his knuckles with his thumb.

“God, I hope she’s alright up there. Her roommate seemed sweet, don’t you think?”

“Lovely. Blaine, she’s a great girl. She’s going to be just fine.”

“I know,” he sucked in a breath and heaved it out again, “I know. I just. Yeah. Hey, who wants takeout on the way home?”

Mai and Zach raised their hands.

“Oh, honey, I think I left my wallet at the front desk.”

“I don’t remember you taking it out-”

“I’ll just be a second, okay?”

He opened the glove compartment, grabbing a flat parcel wrapped in brown paper. He frowned, but decided not to ask any questions. They could talk about it on the drive back. He smiled, bemused, as Kurt ran back into the building.

Kitty spun around to see Kurt, breathless, standing in her doorway.

“Kurt, what are you- do you need to sit down?”

“No, I’m fine, it’s just- I wanted to give you this.” He handed her the parcel and nodded for her to open it. She pulled the paper off to reveal a framed photograph. “I thought maybe- I got one for your dad for his birthday, and I thought you could put this one up in here somewhere. Or keep it hidden if it’s too embarrassing. Up to you.”

She stared at the picture in front of her. It was almost exactly like the one she’d smashed at the bakery – they were all at some summer party (except this time it was in Brittany and Santana’s garden), none of them even looking at the camera. Mai’s dress was rumpled from trying to climb a tree, and she was sitting on the floor with Kitty and Puck playing pattycake. Mike and Zach were deep in conversation over burgers, Quinn absent-mindedly hugging Zach and kissing his hair while her hand was tangled with Mike’s, and Blaine was just leaning in to kiss Kurt’s cheek. All of them were smiling.

It didn’t look like most family pictures. It was kind of fragmented and confusing, but it was unmistakable. This was a family.

Kurt looked at his feet, nervously waiting for a response. Something along the lines of ‘thanks, I’ll keep it in a drawer so it won’t get broken’, but he was shocked to feel her arms thrown around his neck.

They didn’t hug a lot. It wasn’t because they didn’t like each other – there just weren’t a lot of guidelines on how to navigate this kind of relationship.

“I love it. Thank you, Kurt.”

He hugged her back, as hard as he could, stroking her hair and kissing her cheek.

“Don’t worry about it. I- I love you, Kitty.”

“Yeah, I- um. I love you too.” She cleared her throat. She’d managed to keep it together during the long, drawn-out goodbyes from before, but this was too much. She sniffed, feeling tears rolling down her cheeks. At least she had the comfort of knowing Kurt was having the same problem. “Look after him for me? Please?”

“Always. I promise.”

When Kurt got back to the car, they were well into a discussion on what food to get. Blaine took his hand when he got in.

“Find it?”

He was smiling, perfectly aware he’d never forgotten it. Kurt nodded, wiping tears from his cheek.

“Yep. Come on. Let’s go home.”

*

The apartment is silent when the phone rings. Kurt’s working from home again so he won’t miss it. He runs to the phone, almost falling over as he does it, but when he gets there he has to stop for a second. This is it. This is the call he’s been waiting almost a year for. He urges his stomach to settle, breathing deeply and slowly.

Come on, Kurt. You’ll miss it.

He picks up the phone with a trembling, ‘Hello?’

“Mr Hummel? Kurt Hummel?”

“Yes, yes this is Kurt.”

“I’m Nancy, from the agency. I believe you’ve been expecting our call?”

“Yes, I have,” now hurry up and tell me, “is there- is there news?”

“I can do better than news, Mr Hummel. How would like a baby?”

He has to clap his hand over his mouth to stop himself from screaming. A whimper still manages to escape between his fingers.

“Oh God, I- yes. I would like that very much.”

They discuss details and flights and times for what feels like hours, and he finally thanks Nancy profusely before hanging up. He glances around himself. He wants to shout and throw up and cry, pop open a bottle of champagne, but it just feels- weird. The apartment is still quiet. He knows all of his friends are busy, and he doesn’t want to make them drop anything for him. It would just be nice if there was someone to get excited with; someone to pick up and spin around until they were dizzy. One other voice beside his own. He reminds himself that in less than a month, there will be.

He goes into the nursery, decorated months ago but rarely opened as arrangements fell through and his heart was broken time and time again. This time it’s really happening. He looks at the crib, the hand-made quilt, the mobile, the bookcase full of his favourite stories from when he was little, and he cries.

He’s happy. He’s happier than he’s ever been, but he wishes he didn’t have to be so happy on his own.

-9 years later-

A lack of other voices definitely wasn’t a problem anymore.

“Dad, Dad, can you fix my hair? It came loose again.”

“Sure, sweetheart,” Blaine said to Mai, and Kurt knew his heart would always swell at Mai calling Blaine that. “Zach, have you got your lunch?”

“No, I didn’t have time. I was looking for my homework. I guess you’ll have to give me money so I can buy food at school.”

“Nice try, dude. There’s a whole loaf of delicious fresh bread in the kitchen; go make yourself a sandwich. And don’t forget to take some fruit.”

“Fine,” Zach groaned, grabbing a muffin. Blaine cleared his throat, braiding Mai’s hair while giving Zach a glare. Zach sighed and picked up a banana instead.

“That’s better.”

Kurt smiled listening to the noise as he looked at himself in the mirror upstairs. He’d changed a lot. There were new lines, new grey hairs, slightly less firm skin than when he got that phone call, no matter how many lotions he used. Life was definitely taking its toll, and it made him smile despite the risk of new wrinkles appearing. Then there was his favourite change of all – the silver band around his finger.

“Blaine, don’t forget to get gas. Dinner’s at Quinn’s tonight. Oh, and she asked if we could over at 8 instead of 7, so if you call Santana I’ll call Rachel,” he made his way downstairs as he spoke, and he looked at his watch. “Shit – I was meant to finish that presentation today. I’ll have to go into work.”

“Daddy, you swore-”

“No I didn’t. Get in the car.”

Blaine kissed her hair and let her go out, automatically passing her the blue backpack from the table.

“Everything okay, Kurt?”

He sighed, but he was smiling.

“Yeah, yeah, I just thought days off were supposed to be relaxing, but-” they both looked upstairs when they heard crying. Kurt rolled his eyes, but the smile didn’t fade. “But I guess that ship has sailed.”

Blaine grinned.

“Zach, get in the car. I’ll be out in a second.”

Zach did what he was told and Kurt and Blaine went upstairs to the baby’s room. Kurt reached into the crib and scooped her up, and she immediately calmed down. He held her close to his chest, stroking her back and shushing her, humming a little so she would feel at ease. He saw Blaine grinning at him.

“What?”

“You. This. Her.”

“You’re just saying that because you’re off duty today.”

“Hey, you know I’d rather be here.”

“I know. God, I feel like I haven’t had time to breathe since we got her. Why did we think another one was a good idea?”

Blaine sighed, puffing out his cheeks. They both knew the answer – all of this, the pigtails, the homework, the packed lunches, the lost sleep – it was exactly what they wanted. There was nothing they enjoyed more than being dads. Apart from maybe being dads together.

He smiled, kissing Kurt, then the little girl in his arms, then Kurt for a little longer.

“No idea. I’ll try and get off early, okay?”

“Okay. Have a good day. Love you.”

“Love you more.”

“Not possible.”