Blaine hobbled off of the chilly ice, his heavy skates thudding against the padded floor. He rocked from one side of his foot to the other, throwing himself down on a bench so he could untie the tight strings that had been the only things holding him up, beside his husbands supportive hand. He slid his sweaty feet out of the boots, and then stuck them back into his loafers. Remaining on the bench for a second too long, Blaine frowned down at his legs, which were shaking from the brisk air blowing into the room. He glanced up as he heard the metal door swing open and clang shut, and he realized that another family with small children was galloping into the room. He stood, giving them a place to change their shoes. He passed by the glass wall, going over to the empty bleachers and sitting down on the bottom one.

Theyd gotten there early enough that not many others frequented the place, and those who were there had gathered on the other rink, where a hockey game had been going on for about an hour. As soon as the next buzzer went off, that rink would also empty out. Facing the smudged glass that separated him from his family members, he idly watched his in-laws creep around the walls, Carole clutching Burts arm so the older man didnt slip. The kids raced around the middle of the rink, Dillon chasing after his screeching sister like a wild man, while Hunter and Archer held onto each other. His son guided the taller boy carefully, pulling his wobbly body along. Every so often, Hunters foot would slide out from under him, so Archer would draw him closer, and nearly end up toppling the both of them. Archer, with his frizzy hair tucked into his hat and his cheeks flushed, laughed more than Blaine had seen in a very long time. He smiled, but his expression became dejected as his eyes flitted back to Hunter.

Sniffling through a drippy nose, Blaine lowered his eyes once more, patting his gloved hands together. He folded his arms around his stomach, feeling empty, even though hed eaten plenty for breakfast. Suddenly, a bell-like giggle rang around the open room, a noise so familiar to Blaine, but still so strikingly beautiful. He turned his head, seeing his husband return to the rink with Laurice and Keegan in tow. No more than a few minutes ago, the group of them had retreated from the bitter room to refresh themselves with hot drinks. Blaines eyes warmed at the sight of Kurt, who took his breath away in his whitish pink dress and white stockings. White, fuzzy earmuffs covered his red ears, which matched his flushed cheeks and puffy lips. His husband never failed to become more charming with each day that went by. While Kurt had been enthralling to him at eighteen years old, there was no feeling that could match seeing him now, at thirty five years old, and having gone through wiping baby slobber with him, and singing lullabies to mewling children, and knowing that his husband would always be there for their teenaged son.

Laurice pitched her emptied cup into the trash, and then grabbed Keegans hands, yanking him back out onto the rink. When Keegan stumbled as he first stepped onto the sheet of slippery flooring, Kurt tittered after them, and then glimpsed over at Blaine. Blaine sat up, feeling his skin prickle as Kurt swished over to him, eyes glittering with adornment. "Why are you such a stranger?" He teased, making a weary smile tug at Blaines lips as he helped him sit down. Kurt snuggled into his side, his soft coat taking away the last of Blaines shivers. "I brought you a hot chocolate, with extra whipped cream. Just how you like it."

Blaine peeled off one of his gloves, wrapping his hand around the warm cup, while his other arm bundled Kurt closer to him. "Thank you, sweetheart." He sipped the sweet drink, licking the foam off of his top lip before he carelessly shrugged a shoulder. "I dont know... Im just not feeling like myself right now. Im just... tired."

Kurt frowned, raising his head an inch so his big, blue eyes could search Blaines. With one look, he could usually understand perfectly what was the matter. He read many books, but there was never one that he read more than Blaine. "Well... what do you feel like?" Kurt pried gently, his concerned eyes flashing back to the rink, where Hunter was playfully spinning Archer around in a circle. "Blaine... is it Hunter again?" His lips pursed into a white line. "What is it about him that makes you so uneasy? Is it that hes with our son? I get the feeling that you wouldnt be like this with other boys that Archer brought home."

"No... I wouldnt." Blaine admitted, taking another long drink as Kurt smoothed the folds of his coat. "I knew all along that I would be strict with Archer about boys. I would want to meet them, affirm for myself that they were polite with my son. I would want to know their parents. I would ask them about their plans for the future. But I would... deal with it, for as long as Archer needed me to. Before he and Archer even expressed interest in each other... there was something about him that made me... think too much."

"About?" Kurt urged.

Blaine figured that Kurt didnt, or couldnt bring himself to, understand. His mouth became a hard line. He wondered if he should bring this up to Kurt, or if it would just upset him. When Kurt rubbed his shoulder, he realized that only when they blocked each other out had they had a rocky time in their relationship. No matter how hard of a pill it was to swallow, he felt the urge to bring it up to Kurt, the only person who could know what he was feeling inside, since he was the only one who had gone through it with him. "Sweetheart... look at him. Think about the things that he says-"

Kurt quickly blurted, "Blaine, please dont-"

It was in that second that Blaines eyes swelled up with tears, because it was clearly a thought that had crossed his husbands mind, even if he didnt want to dwell on it. "Kurt, look. With the blond hair and the yellow eyes, there were dissimilarities... but when he walked through the door yesterday, with brown hair and brown eyes, it could have been my baby." Kurt opened his mouth to interrupt him, but Blaine continued sharply, "Honey, he knew that lullaby, even before Archer sang it to him. He paints." Hearing a muffled sob from Kurts lips, Blaine twisted around to his husband and saw him covering his face with his hands. He grabbed his shoulders, quieting his voice, "Baby, listen to me... I know you dont want to. K-Karofsky had sex with Brittany at homecoming... and he didnt g-graduate. Dont you think theres something to a boy, exactly the same as our Hunter, still living in Lima with a drunkard dad whom hes too ashamed to admit much about, and who had a mom who was sick for a long time? Kurt, precious... dont cry. But listen to me. Archers never let anyone in easily after Hunters death... and this boy comes along, and he becomes closer to our son that anyone else ever has? They bicker the same way that Archer used to with-"

"Stop." Kurt said shrilly, pushing away from Blaine as his body melted into quivers. He curled his tiny hands into fists when Blaine reached out for him. "Blaine, I think youre making things up in your head because you want them to be that way. But Hunters been dead for thirteen years-"

Blaine swallowed, "Santana never saw a body. What if he lied? What if Karofsky lied?"

Kurt shook his head, unable to meet his husbands gaze, "Blaine... no. A baby wouldnt have survived in Karofskys hands. Hunters gone, darling. This is an entirely new boy-"

"Look at him."

Hesitating, Kurt flicked his wet eyes over to the rink, gazing steadily at Hunter as he slowly gained confidence on his skates and started pushing Archer around. He took a shaky breath, his voice lifting two octaves, "I dont want to think that we might have left him with that..." his nose scrunched up, "that horrible man for all of those years, Blaine. I wouldnt be able to live with myself." He returned his hands to Blaines grip, slowly leaning closer to him, "I love you, darling... and you know that Ill listen to everything you have to say. But please dont ever bring this up again."

Blaine clenched his jaw, trying to bite down his groan of despair, before he lowered his mouth to his husbands pale forehead. "I promise, Kurt. I promise. Youre right... its probably just stupid hopefulness." Blaine closed his mouth, blocking out the words in his head, but behind his eyes the images kept reeling. He suddenly remembered his babys face, Hunters determined, little smirk, as he got into something devious, and when he opened his eyes, he saw that same face, that same smirk, as Hunter tried to steal a kiss from a defiant Archer, who wouldnt give his lips as easily as Hunter wanted him to, just like it had been when they were young.

Archer squealed so loudly that his entire body vibrated as his boyfriends powerful arms slung around him and shook him from side to side, making his ankles go weak. "Hunter!" He elbowed him in his ribs, laughing maniacally as Hunter choked and doubled over, instantly releasing him. "I shouldnt have taught you a thing about skating!" Taking a cheap shot, Archer grabbed his broad shoulders and pushed him the rest of the way down, making him drop onto his knees. "I like you best this way... kissing my feet!"

Hunter heaved to get his breath back, chuckles burbling out of his tight throat. Placing one hand on the ice, he lifted it again when his skin stuck to the slick surface, the scratches dug through it cutting thin slices into his fingers. "I can kiss something else from down here." He clumsily hauled himself up, staggering forward as his skates dragged him back down, and he snatched Archers shoulders. Before he could whirl away, he bent over and smacked his lips with a kiss. A huge smile broke onto his face when Archer chortled throatily. Feeling Archers hand touch his cheek, he enclosed it in his own, and he awkwardly shuffled his feet after him.

His back bumped into a wall, so Hunter let go of Archer with one hand and grabbed the ridge. Archer pressed the front of his body to Hunters, kissing him quickly. Hunter grinned against his soft lips, leaning against the hard surface that steadied his shaky body. As his arms slid around Archers waist, he suddenly pushed away from him, leaving him grasping for nothing but air. Because he couldnt see where he went, he turned his head this way and that, trying to make out his gray silhouette. "You brat." He muttered, his smirk widening as Archer grabbed his face. "Youre insane, little one."

"I wasnt before I met you." Archer pointed out, drawing nearer to him when his cousins skidded past them. His eyes widened to the size of saucers as Dillon turned to the side, using the edge of his skate to slow him down until he banged into a wall. "Dillon?" He placed a hand on Hunters shoulder, making sure he stayed upright while he turned around, facing his beaming cousin, who was waving his phone around. "What is it?"

Dillon held his hand out to stop his sister from gliding into him, and he fumbled to pocket his phone, "I just got a text from one of my friends in glee club." Shaking his head as if he found himself at a loss for words, his cousin tore away from them, and he flung himself at the square door. "Dad!" He heard him shout, the raucous coming out of his mouth swiveling Noah and Finns heads around as they came back into the room after their stop at the gift shop. "Dad! Schuester announced the spring musical!"

Furrowing his brows, Archer glanced over at his dads, who straightened up and wiped their faces as the rest of the family flocked around them to hear Dillons news. Archer wondered what the two of them had been talking about, as their eyes were rimmed with red and their lips were turned down. "Something is going on." He mumbled, pulling Hunter along behind him. He paused at the ledge at the bottom of the gate, and he pointed it out to Hunter, carefully easing him over it. They limped over to the group, and he sat down hard beside of his parents, who automatically turned their bodies in his direction. His pére laid a hand over his knee. After Hunter lowered beside of him, they stretched their legs out, since the extra inches that the blades gave to their feet raised their knees uncomfortably high.

Dillon was chattering through half of a sentence by the time Archer caught anything, and he made out, "...Schuester sent out an email that he was holding auditions as soon as we get back from break. I want to audition for Tony. He has big shoes to fill, but I think that I can handle it."

Finn gave his son an approving look, "Me and your dad, and your uncles, were in that play when we were your age. Are you sure that you can take on Tony? Dillon, I told you once that if you couldnt take on a big character, you had to make your small character big." He glanced at his brother-in-law with a pair of humored eyes, "Your uncle, Blaine, is a hard act to follow, kiddo."

"I know that, Dad." Dillon bobbed his chin up and down, whipping around to Archer, who raised his eyebrows. "Archer, you have to try out with me. You dont have to sing. You can be a backup dancer."

Archers lips creased downward, "I dont think so, Dillon. Id rather get through the rest of my senior year without people knowing my name." Feeling Hunters hand tighten on his waist, he reclined against him, "And I can sing... but I dont like to."

Dillons mouth twitched as his eyes switched to Hunters face, "What about you, Hunter? You could make a really good Chino. Hes not on stage much."

Hunter scoffed at that, twisting his arms over his chest, "Im a writer and painter, Dillon. You know that. Im not an actor. I cant sing a note on tune."

"Hey." Noah pulled his eager son back to his side, slapping him on the back, "Dont pester anyone if you know they dont want to be in the musical. You can round up your friends in glee club and get them to audition with you. Your sisters willing, and you know that Schuester will have to take her as one of the younger girls... maybe Anybodys."

Grumbling to himself, Dillon twisted around, but caught the toe of his boot on the floor and tripped as he went back into the rink. Archer remained planted beside of his parents, and once the gathering of people ventured their own ways again, he turned to his pére and said quietly, "You didnt tell me that Daddy was Tony. I figured that... because of his stage fright... he wouldnt have had a very large part-"

His pére squeezed his husbands hand, since his daddys attention was divided by watching their family members skate in circles around the rink. "I helped him overcome his shyness. I encouraged him to take the role. You should have seen him on stage... He had never performed better."

"Who were you, Pére?"

His blue eyes softened, "I was Maria. It happened by mistake. The girl that was supposed to take her role... her voice gave out. They didnt have a back up prepared, and I was the only one who knew the musical better than I knew my own hand. You know that your mémé played Maria before I did." He touched the back of Archers hand, "Sweetheart, I know that you dont want to stand out at your new school... but I think you would do a wonderful job at whichever character you were given. I think that you would make a beautiful Maria. You have her looks... except for her dark skin... and you dont talk nearly as much as she does." He reached over for Hunter, laying a hand on his shoulder and making his brown eyes flash to his face. "And I think that you would make a great Tony. I wont go against my nephew, but I think that the only one who can play a reformed brute is one himself."

Hunter quirked a corner of his mouth at him, "Not quite... but I want to be."

His eyes wrinkled with amusement, and his pearly teeth nipped his bottom lip, "That sounds like something Tony would say... and certainly something my husband has said." He rubbed his husbands cheek with the backs of his fingers, drawing his attention over to him, and he smiled as he pressed a kiss to his knuckles. "Yes... you would follow in Blaines footsteps very well."

"Maybe someday." Hunter scooted Archer off of the cold bench, and he draped him over his thighs, feeling his arms loop around his wide neck. "But not right now." His brown eyes searched for Blaines face, which was directed toward his. "Ill never stop trying to not be like my dad, though." He couldnt see the small smile that tipped his lips upward, but he could somehow tell that it was there, and he returned it cordially.

The sun was falling from an orange sky, swirled with pinkish red streaks, by the time the car rolled into the icy parking lot of a tree lot, emptied out just before the hour that it closed. Archer had described sunsets to him before, using the fact that Hunter vaguely remembered the sun to be a yellow ball that hung from an invisible string to his advantage, as he struggled to find the right words. Hunter liked to imagine that a sunset was like a flash of lightning, but slowed down, so that every bright color that burst into the sky could be identified. Hunter had seen lightning before. He knew that it was just a ray striking the ground, but, to him, it was an explosion of light, spanning from one corner of his eye to the other. Hunter could tell that, with the calm, nippy air that made trees shudder, and most of the sky already smudged black, with only illuminated, silvery shadows of clouds left sparingly above their heads, it was probably peaceful to look at, another beautiful portrait in the world that he would never get to see.

They had spent another hour at the skating rink, one that Archer and Hunter had remained snuggled into each other on the bench, Kurt and Blaine lovingly cuddled up beside of them. There had been quiet between the two couples, other than Kurt occasionally peeping a sweet word to Blaine, and Archer commenting on how much he enjoyed the scent of Hunters heady cologne. The more athletic, or energized of the family, had swept around the ice like mops gliding over hard floors, and then complained all the way out to the car about how they had swollen heels and blue toes, and how much their knees hurt from crashing to the ground. They were shown no sympathy.

They had had a long and filling meal at a French restaurant that served the kind of food that Hunter could have eaten ten times over-especially from Archers hand, which had spent most of the meal flirtatiously playing at Hunters lazy lips as they fed each other light, finger foods. The conversation had been easy, with only a brief hiccup as Laurice brought up her twin sister, who had been killed around this time of year a long time ago. Kurt had sadly wiped at the corners of his eyes, but then smiled, mentioning all of the things that his mom had made special about Christmastime. Hunter had smiled with him, tightening his arm around Archer, before they stood from the table to go tree hunting, a tradition that Elizabeth had had a hand in making up.

Bringing himself back to the present, Hunter felt Archer lift from his side, following his aunt and pére out of the car. He would be staying with them, since he would be one of the three with a say in what tree they were getting. They hadnt made that a rule when it came to picking out the tree, and they welcomed the opinions of the others, but, out of respect for Elizabeth, and the closest relatives that she had had, the rest of the family tried to stay quiet and just tag along. They piled out of the car, a small amount of heads ducking through the doors after Burt and Carole had retired to bed, claiming that they were too old to stay out all night, and Finn and Noah had taken their children home, understanding that this was a very private moment for those who had been nearest to Elizabeth. Apparently, this had always been Elizabeths favorite part of Christmas.

Hunter felt uneasy as Archer went to Laurice and Kurt, who kindly wrapped their arms around him and gave him weak smiles, their eyes wet and their cheeks frozen from the cold. He hadnt been aware of the other person who was still sitting in the car until Blaine muttered, "You can go with them, you know."

He glanced up in the direction of Blaines voice, staring blankly, "No... I want to give them their space. I know what this means to them... especially to Kurt and Laurice. Youre not going with them?"

Blaine sounded like he was smiling, "No. I havent in a long time. I just wait for Kurt to come back and tell me which one he wants. I think that Kurt just needs these few minutes to be with his mom again, and Laurice with her sister. Kurt talks about Archers grandma with him when they go out to look for the trees. I dont know what they say, but I know that this is meaningful time for Kurt to teach our son about what life was like... before."

Hunter kept a steady gaze on where his deep voice was muttering from. Now that he knew him better, he realized what a good dad he actually was. Even without the alcohol, Hunter knew that some dads-like Finn and Noah-could rush through their lives, and miss all of these precious moments that Blaine waited for. There was always a football game to get back to, always a bag of chips to grab, always a place of work to drive to. But Blaine seemed to devote all of his attention and care to his husband and son, never hurrying them along, even when they took hours to get ready, and never ignoring the fact that they both had needs. He was a surprisingly gentle man, soft spoken and responsible, if not a little overprotective. Hunter, who had been thinking more than he should have, scraped his knuckle over the frosty glass of the window, making a bead of water roll down where he had melted the ice. "Hey, Blaine?" Hunter creased a brow when Blaine grunted, settling back into his cushioned seat. He thumbed at his pocket, feeling the outline of a hard box. He had never bitten down on risks before, but now he was grinding his teeth on them, weighing his options. Despite his acknowledgment that his next words could be his last, he recognized that, no matter what happened to him, he couldnt leave Blaine out of his own sons life. Elopement didnt stand a chance in what he wanted for Archers life. "Blaine... can I talk to you?"

"I was hoping that you would." Blaine said, as if he was suspecting what Hunter had up his sleeve. But the offhandedness of his next words made Hunter realize that he was just being paranoid. "Do you want to take a walk? We can see the trees. Well just avoid the three of them." Blaine undid his seatbelt, clambering from the car before the reality of it sank in. Blaine was speaking to him as if they were old friends. Hunter launched himself out of his seat, stumbling after Blaine and crushing a pile of pristine snow when he threw his feet out of the car. Blaine instantly came around to his side, leisurely walking toward the trees, thumbs hooked in his belt loops. Hunter clung to his side, hoping that with the close proximity to Blaine, there was less of a chance of him smacking his face on a tree or tripping over a root. "Weve always had perfect weather on the nights that we go to get the tree..." When he breathed out a plume of smoke, he chuckled lowly, "As perfect as cold weather can be."

Hunter didnt add comment to the idle chat, knowing that if he involved himself in it, he would never get out of it, and then it would be too late. He didnt know if he would ever get Blaine alone again. He just needed to puff up his chest and blurt it out. He might never get the courage again if he didnt. He didnt know what it was about this day, if the cold air had frozen part of his brain, or if the fact that he was being included in a part of their lives that could never be changed had warmed him up to the idea of trying to cozy up to Blaine. Whatever the case, Hunter cut straight to the point, and he mumbled, "Blaine... Ive thought about Archers life nearly as much as you have." Blaine made a low sound, one that Hunter couldnt tell was believing of him or not. "I-I know that... rationally, Archer would be better off with someone else. Im not financially stable. As far as I can tell right now, I wont be going to college. Im an artist and a writer... and not a known one, either. Im not going to be paid the salary of a brain surgeon. I wish I was. I want to be able to provide everything your son wants. But... Archers made it clear to me that he doesnt want material possessions." As his sleeve brushed the prickly needles of a tree, Hunter considered that he could have brought up what Archer had to him when they were alone. He could have told Blaine about his sons resentment that he was the first generation of a family of successful artists who wanted to live a small life. But he bit his tongue, because he knew that was something for Archer to discuss with his parents when he felt he was ready to take on that task. Instead, Hunter stopped walking, drawing Blaine to a halt beside of him, and he finished carefully, "But... I promise you that no one will ever love your son more than I will. I need you to understand that, Blaine. Archer and I... we had a rocky beginning, and were just about as opposite to each other as oil and water are. We bicker about everything... but I could never draw tears to his eyes by screaming at him." He couldnt see the face that Blaine was making, but he assumed that he looked incredulous. He said slowly, "You cant trust my word, I know... but all I can tell you is that Im a writer. I never say anything in vain." Blaine still didnt say anything, so Hunter filled the silence once more, after what felt like a long pause that he had taken to glimpse off to the side, following the sound of Archers voice. "Im asking you... as another man who would do anything for the one he loves... if I could take your sons hand in marriage."

As soon as the words were out, Hunter listened to Blaine carefully, since he couldnt watch him for a reaction. No matter what Blaine thought, Hunter wouldnt have taken back what he said. Although he felt more vulnerable than he had since hed admitted to Archer that he loved him, there was a sense of empowerment that came from talking to Blaine as if he had some sense in how to be a married man. He wet his dry mouth, thinking about how good taking a drag on a cigarette would feel on his tongue right now. But he ignored those urges, reminding himself that he hadnt smoked a cig in weeks. Luckily, he hadnt collapsed that deeply into the habit that it became an addiction. Hed easily broken it, only thinking about how much he longed for one when his emotions were high. Blaine, who had been silent for several minutes, breathed in deeply, and then released the air as if he was dropping a heavy weight. His voice was as cool as the breeze that ruffled their clothes. To Hunters surprise, he didnt give him a long lecture, reasoning with him about all that could go wrong, and instead muttered very short words. "Why so soon? Youre sixteen years old... at least, I think you are. I know what you were like before. Why would you want to pin yourself down with my son?" Hunter swallowed after that last statement, which was more clipped than the others, obviously because Blaine was implying that he would have to stay loyal to his son, and might think of being with Archer as a burden he couldnt bear.

Hunter answered Blaine with a question, "Archer told me that you were young when you got engaged to Kurt... werent you?"

"Nineteen." Blaine responded through a muffled voice, so Hunter assumed that he had turned away. "But I was done with all of the negligence that nearly made me lose Kurt. I didnt want that for myself anymore. I loved someone more than I did the euphoria that came from being drunk off of my heels. I loved Kurt more than I did all of the sex... not that I really favored that, anyway. You still have a lot of energy left in you, Hunter... youre still flighty. How can I trust you to not stray from my baby?"

Hunter stared at the cautious man, hearing the hurt in his words as if Blaine was speaking around a thick bubble in his throat. It was then that he felt his own closeness to Blaine, who was more similar to him than he cared to admit. Hunter wondered if he could ever become the man that Blaine was. He carefully reached out for Blaines arm, fingering the folds of his jacket, "Blaine... please. Hear me out. Ever since your son came to Ohio... hes been nothing but a nuisance to me. Hes bothered me since the day I met him. At first I thought that I just didnt like him. But... he drives me to distraction. I quickly lost interest in my girlfriend. I had never been too invested in her, anyway... but, knowing that Archer always needed me when I was with her... I felt repulsed by the thought of touching her. Everythings become about Archer. When hes upset, I am. When he calls me just to hear my voice, I pick up. I know I dont have much... but all that I have is his. I love him so much that... without him, I dont think Id be able to paint or write again. Hes the reason that I can do things to make myself happy." When Blaine shuffled backwards, Hunter gripped him tighter, "Blaine... I know that Ive been stupid. But Ive given up on my bad habits. I k-know that people can change. I have. I know that Im young... but that doesnt mean that all I can feel is infatuation. Archers my entire world. I realize that he deserves someone better... a nice man he might meet in one of his dance classes when he goes off to college. A man whose family you can meet and have dinner with. But... Im selfish. And the only reason Im willing to take Archer as my own is because I know that hes happy with me. I cant deny him anything if it means hell be happy. Let me love your son... please."

Blaine took several minutes to respond, and Hunter heard the others voices drawing nearer. Kurt was squealing giddily about something, a sound that briefly drew Blaines attention over to him before he returned his simmering gaze to Hunter. Hunter couldnt see Blaine, but he could imagine that he looked quite a sight, stuck between shaking his head in exasperation and waving him off to go propose. Hunter held his tongue, even though he was ready to rattle off another speech declaring his love for the spoiled, sarcastic boy with the frizzy curls. Suddenly, Blaines voice rumbled from deep within his chest, "Hunter... I need to be very clear about something. My baby has never done anything in half measures. Youd need to give him your all. Hes like his pére. He feels thing deeper than anyone else does. Sometimes hell be so clingy that you cant walk two steps without his arms around your shoulders... and sometimes hell want to be by himself. You cant demand things from him that he doesnt want to give you. Hes very independent. Hes also motivated to do things exactly his own way. With getting engaged so young... you wont be able to have him the way that you want to after hes settled into a steady lifestyle. Youll have to work around whatever he chooses to do."

Hunters eyes flickered at Blaines face, "Chooses? You mean... he still has a choice about what he wants to do? I thought you had your heads set on him going to college to take dance classes. I thought that you wanted him to end up on Broadway."

The sound of Blaines voice was similar to a shrug, "Well... no. That hasnt been his only option. Kurt and I never wanted to set limits on our son. We always agreed that he could be whoever he wanted to be. Its just... hes never told us otherwise, so we figured that we would send him away to college when it came time. Why do you ask that?"

Hunters mouth stiffened, and no words came out of him. It would be easy for him to turn around and relay this information to Archer, who would take it with a sigh of relief. But that wouldnt make things easy for Archer, who needed to come to the awareness that he could open up to his parents about anything on his own. When a beat skipped that Hunter didnt fill with his answer, Blaine moved on to the subject that they had been discussing prior. "Hunter." Hunters brown eyes flashed back up to Blaines face, or where he hoped Blaines face was. "What I want is for you to wait. Archers still sixteen years old, and youre somewhere around that age. Give him all the time that he needs to figure himself out before you add a husband into the picture. But... if it will please my son, Ill... Ill let you propose to him." Hunters body shifted from the jolt of shock, but Blaine reached out to steady him. "Hunter, listen to me. Youre going to be someones-my babys-companion... his best friend... his protector. Im trusting you to hold those titles to you as if you treasure them. When youre married to him... there wont be much I can do to care for him anymore. Hes going to belong to you." Blaine swallowed as if those words were difficult to get out. "Please... promise me that youll make him as happy as he can be."

He could tell that Blaines eyes had filled, and, to Hunters surprise, a bead of wetness rolled from the corner of his eye. He immediately reached up to grab his face, feeling the outline of his high cheekbones, which were moist, but cold. "What?" He whispered to himself, clawing at the corners of his eyes, which had scabbed over after the fire had singed them. He had to blink often to moisten his eyes, which easily dried out, and hadnt cried since he was just a baby. Cringing when a flakey piece of what felt like sawdust peeled off of the raw flesh underneath it, Hunter closed his eyes, submerging himself in absolute blackness. He suddenly felt Blaines hands, holding his unsteady body. His eyes snapped open, and he gasped at the burst of light that showered speckles all over his pupils. Groaning, he rubbed his eyes, pulling his hands away only when the pain dulled to a quiet, crackling roar. His eyes swayed back and forth, pausing on the dark figure that was mere inches away from him. He gazed at Blaines black silhouette, which wasnt entirely blended in with the background. Blaine cocked his head at him, and Hunter followed the swarthy tan of his hollow cheeks, his cheekbones protruding as sharply as Hunters were. Hunter traced the outline of his square face, the hard edges of a defined jaw. His eyes, although blurry, glowed like embers in a fire. A raven black piece of hair dangled over his forehead.

When Hunter blinked, the figure expanded into a puddle of blurred lines and blended colors, and then darkened, retreating into the blackness that hed known for his whole life. Panting, Hunter wrapped his arms around himself, as his head pounded like a thousand hammers were cracking his skull. He leaned over, silently questioning what he had just witnessed, before Blaines fatherly hands touched his shoulders. "Hunter... stand up. You dont have to kiss my feet to thank me."

"Youre so handsome." was all Hunter could breathe, making Blaine chortle from between his teeth. "You look like I imagined you would. Archer looks like you."

Although the statements didnt make sense to Blaine, he went along with them, anyway. "Yes... he does. In some ways, at least. Lets just say that hes the better half of me." Hunter chuckled, grabbing Blaines arms as he hauled him upright. "Hunter... go on. Hes right around those trees. Im not the one you need to be flattering."

Hunter smiled weakly, folding his arms around his queasy stomach as he followed the sound of Kurts chattering. He didnt even seem to be speaking to anyone in particular. He just wanted to talk to make idle conversation. When he rounded the corner, the quiet murmurs suddenly hushed. It was like they all knew what he was about to do. He couldnt see Archers face, but he knew that he was gazing steadily at him, waiting for his next action. "Hunter?" He heard Laurices low voice, "Would you like to say something, dear?"

Hunters voice caught, and he closed his mouth, but then he opened it again. Had he not looked so serious, he was sure that Archer would have laughed because he looked like a fish. Lifting his brows, Hunter held his hand out, hoping Archer would realize what it was that he desired. Almost instantly, a soft, pudgy hand laid in his palm, quivering from nerves and the chill. Hunter closed his fingers around it. "If you wouldnt mind... I would like a word alone with Archer."

"H-Hunter." Archer pleaded as Hunter took him away from his gaping family. Hunter heard Kurt and Laurices frantic whispers behind them, while Blaine remained silent, letting the two gossip and prod. Although he knew it was useless because they would undoubtedly follow and peer between the limbs of trees, Hunter whisked Archer several rows of trees away, and he stopped when he felt they were at a safe distance for some privacy. "Hunter, you will not get my daddys favor if you are yanking me off like that-"

"Close your mouth." Hunter demanded, pressing both of Archers hands in his. "And let me talk. I was just discussing you with Blaine-"

Archer ruffled, obviously offended, "You dont have the right to be talking about me behind my back! Especially not with my daddy-!"

Hunter raised his brows in warning, instantly silencing his squabbles, "Honey, keep your lips puckered or Ill have to pucker them for you. Archer, youve annoyed me since you stepped off of your plane." Archer made an agitated sound at that, but he had the mind not to speak up. "You and your sharp tongue, and your frizzy hair that always gets in my mouth, and your sweet perfume that you know I can smell better than the average man. I should have told you to shove off as soon as you made me aware of my humanness... my craving for you. Thats something I didnt demean myself to before. Ive always been a man who wasnt quite a man. But I want to be a man for you... and a good one, at that-"

He knew that Archer couldnt have lasted two minutes before he had to put something into the conversation, "What are you getting at, Hunter? Why were you talking to my daddy?"

Hunter snorted, shaking his head at his pretty boys inability to purse his lips. "Youre making this very hard on me. I bet your daddy didnt have quite so difficult a time doing this." At this point, Archer couldnt have been clueless about his intentions, but when he dropped to one knee, a noisy gasp filtered through the air. His small hand came to Hunters shoulder, holding him so he didnt fall off his feet. From somewhere nearby, two other voices piped up, whispering rapidly and turning interrogating questions towards Blaine, who merely chuckled and pulled the two nosy family members away from the scene. Hunter rolled his eyes. He would have rather been in no other family. Reaching into his back pocket, Hunter held up a small box. He heard no reaction from Archer. With a slightly shaky hand, Hunter flipped open the box, revealing what the store owner had described to him as a brilliant jewel, with tiny, square diamonds wrapped around the band of the thin ring, and a large, rectangular diamond with rounded corners and smaller diamonds encrusted around the edges of that, set in the center.

"Oh-" was all Archer could breathe, as Hunter grasped his delicate hand and placed the ring at the tip of his finger, waiting to slide it into place. Hunter wished he could have seen his face, if he was silently weeping, or if he was smiling.

"Archer Elizabeth Hummel-Anderson." Hunter rubbed the center of his palm with his finger. An inarticulate sound burst from Archers lips, making a crooked smile pull at the corners of his mouth. "Would you make me the happiest man... and marry me?" Bringing Archers soft hand to his mouth, he kissed his knuckles, breathing hot air onto his trembling fingers.

"Y-You asked my daddy." Archer said more as a question than a statement, and when Hunter nodded, he finished quickly. "He said yes."

"He did." Hunter said sardonically. "But now hes not the one I want to hear that from. Hurry up and answer me. The ground is cold down here."

Archer giggled at the most unorthodox proposal hed ever heard of, and he bent down, showering Hunter in a pile of thick, black curls. He kissed his mouth, his nose, and his eyelids, "Y-Yes. Yes! Ill marry you." Pulling Hunter back up, Archer leapt into his arms before he could catch his balance, and he felt him wrap him up tightly. He picked him up from the ground, hoisting him so his head was at Hunters level. They kissed once more, a gentle peck that was broken by their laughter and Archers choking, because Hunter was squeezing him too tightly. When he set him back down, Archer darted over to his family members, screeching with Kurt, who instantly plucked his hand up to his nose and gazed admiringly at the bright diamonds that shimmered on his finger. As they went about discussing whom they had to call first, and how they didnt care whom they woke up with their celebrations, Hunter stood still, reveling silently.

Suddenly, another figure appeared at his side, and he knew that it was Blaine before his hairy, muscular arm slid around his shoulders. Without saying a word, Blaine kissed his temple, making him scrunch his eye from the way his stubble had scratched the sensitive place under his eyebrow. Hunter smiled, leaning into him. "He looked beautiful without his ring, but now that he has it on, I dont think I could bear him taking it off."

Blaine squeezed him tighter, "Neither could I, Hunter." Hunter looked up at the man beside of him, remembering how handsome he had been under the twinkling lights that had been draped over the trees. After another fifteen minutes of discussing the engagement, they finally refocused their efforts, and picked out a small, prickly tree, hauling it on top of the car as they thought about Elizabeth, and Archer and Hunter.