Blaine dipped the spoon back into the bowl of applesauce, and he held it up to Archers pudgy face. Archers jaw swung open and he put the spoon on his tongue, waiting until he sucked it off to pull it out. A little bit splashed on his chin so Blaine quickly wiped it away. Hunter scooted across the table and held his mouth open, and Blaine let him take a bite of the applesauce. "Eat slower, Hunter," Blaine patted his back when he made a face and swallowed thickly. "Do you want another bite? I think Archers full."

Hunter reached for the bowl and he stuck his tongue out. Feeding him another bite, Blaine hushed Archer when he cooed and batted at Hunter. "H-Hunner..." he babbled, patting Hunters chin. Hunter babbled back at him and grabbed his cheeks. "Hunner."

"Shh..." Blaine tugged Hunter to his chest and rubbed both of their backs. "Youre both my good babies."

Hunter struggled to climb back onto the table, so Blaine set him down and watched him crawl to the other end. "Come here, Hunter." Blaine reached out for him when he turned around and started heading back his way. "Do you want to go play?"

He grabbed Hunter and tucked him against his chest, getting to his feet. Before he moved an inch, Quinn walked through the door with a box in her hand. "Dont go anywhere. I need to talk to you." Setting the box on the table, she pointed at it, "You got a package today. I dont know from who... its not like you talk to anyone."

Hunter grabbed at the box and stuck his mouth on the corner of it, drooling on it. Blaine pulled him off of it, "Dont bite the box. Youll hurt your mouth." Looking up at Blaine, Hunter stuck his bottom lip out, clearly disappointed by the discipline. Blaine kissed his forehead and looked back up at Quinn, "What do you want?"

Quinn crossed her arms and scuffed the floor with her shoe, "I want to know why were living off your brothers money. I told you to get a job. Have you even started looking?"

Blaine patted Archers back when he hiccupped, his wide eyes on Hunter who was still chewing on the edge of the box. Before he answered Quinn, Blaine pulled him off the box again and stroked his hair, "Shh... Hunter, I told you not to do that." He glanced at Quinn again, who looked frustrated, "Quinn, there are no jobs I could get that would pay for a house and food and the babies. I have no college degree and no experience."

"Thats not my problem." Glaring at the floor when Pavarotti and Everett waddled in and chirped, Quinn snapped, "Just do something about this issue. I swore to myself I wouldnt marry a man who couldnt take care of me." Her eyes widened to the size of saucers when Pavarotti hopped onto Blaines knee and playfully nibbled Hunters elbow. "Fuck it, Blaine, sell those damned birds for money! Theyll give diseases to the babies!" She snatched Pavarotti off of Blaine, causing both of the babies to scrunch their faces and start crying.

"Dammit, Quinn!" Blaine shouted, reaching for Pavarotti and taking the flapping bird from her. "Dont touch my birds again! Just get out!"

She clenched her fists, "Get a job by the end of the day or I wont be happy with you."

Blaine raised his brows at her, wondering how she could get any less happy with him than she already was. Putting his chin on his fist, Blaine muttered, "Ill look." He covered his face with his hand, blowing out heavily, "Its my birthday, Quinn."

She didnt say a word about that, "Im going to the store with Beth. Get your shit together and spend time outside today. Not everybody wants to kill you, Blaine. Itll be good if you talk to people... youll actually look like a normal person who doesnt have deranged outbursts. Ill tell you what, if you make at least five friends today you can buy yourself a birthday cake as a treat. Other than that, you need to be looking at jobs. I cant be married to someone lazy and antisocial... everyone will think Im a joke and I dont want that." Whipping around, she strode out of the room, "Come here, Beth! Want to go to the store?"

He heard her open the door and walk outside, then shut it behind her. After the car drove away, Blaine sighed and put his babies on the table. He scrubbed his face and opened his eyes, seeing Hunter tugging at the box again. "Okay, okay, Ill open it. Do you have a thing for boxes?"

Tearing the tape off, Blaine unfolded the flaps and pulled out a letter and a tiny box. He watched Hunter boost himself inside of the box, and then he poked his nose above the edge, staring at Archer. Archer giggled and clapped his hands, and the two babies started pawing at each other. Grinning at his babies, Blaine grabbed the piece of paper and looked at it, startled at the handwriting. My Blaine, this would have been your wedding ring from me. I love you so much. Happy birthday. Your Kurt.

With shaking hands, Blaine grabbed the tiny box and opened it, and inside was a cyan ring with golden letters engraved on it, Blaine + Kurt, with a little heart and an arrow poking through the heart wrapped around the letters. Blaine swallowed and pulled the ring from the box, curiously slipping it onto his ring finger. "This feels so right." He whispered, rubbing the engraving.

Blaine looked up when he heard the phone ring, and he quickly got to his feet and grabbed it. He held it up to his ear, "Hello?"

"Hey, kid." came Burts gruff voice, "Happy twentieth. How are things in California? I bet the weather and the ocean are great there."

Blaine smiled, leaning against the wall, "I dont know... Ive been keeping the babies inside. Hunter likes exploring, but Archer stays put and he doesnt like the sand or water."

"Sounds like Kurt," Burt laughed. "Carole says happy birthday, too. Shes listening to us." He cleared his throat, "So, how have you been? Have you made friends? Do you like it there? I know Quinn was pretty determined about you getting a job."

Blaine hesitated, looking down at the floor. He glanced up at the babies when Hunter started crawling in the box and scooting it around the table. "I... dont have friends or a job. I dont mind being by myself. She wants me to look for a job today... but I dont have the qualifications for anything."

"What about those guys you met back in New York?" Burt grunted as he tried to remember something, "Didnt they say they were headed out to California? Man, Kurt told me all about them... What was their name?"

"The Warblers." Blaine put in for him. "I dont know, Burt."

"You were happy there, Blaine." Burt said as if it should have been obvious, "Kurt said you were. He said you didnt say much but you smiled and with you thats pretty damned happy. I know youre nervous and confused... and Im sure singing brings up a lot of bad memories for you... considering Kurt-" he immediately stopped talking. "Never mind that. Blaine, those guys treated you right, and not a lot of people do. They dont understand you. I want you to give it a try. I cant make you... but I want you to."

Blaine closed his eyes, then opened them again when he heard the box moving around. He looked over at his babies, and Hunter was spilled out of the box that was on its side now. It fell over on top of him, and he was trapped underneath. It didnt seem to bother him because he started crawling again, pushing the box around with him. Archer stared at the box as if he was completely fascinated. "What if things go wrong?" He asked Burt.

"Then things go wrong." Burt said flatly, "Blaine, you worry too much. But its no big deal... so what if one person doesnt want you working for them? But theyre going to let you get a job there. Youre too good of a singer to say no to. Listen, Blaine, Ive got to go... Ive got a car to work on. But you get up the courage to head down there and talk to those guys. I love you."

"I love you, too." He whispered, clicking the call off. Peeling off the wall, Blaine walked over to the babies and lifted Hunters box. He looked up at him with big, brown eyes. "Do you think Im good enough?"

Hunter grinned, and Archer batted at him. "Ba-ba."

Gathering up his babies, Blaine carried them out of the kitchen and found their baby carrier. He took their teddy bear out of it and laid them down, then handed it to Archer when he grabbed at it. Hunter snuggled into Archer and batted at the teddy bear. "Arch..." he cooed, nuzzling Archers face, "Arch."

Blaine hung the baby carrier off his arm and felt his little birds climbing his pant leg. He looked down at them and stood still until they got to his shoulder, then he blew out heavily and walked out the door. "Okay... where is that recording studio?"

He opened the back door of his car and set the babies inside, strapping them down to the seat. Getting in front, Blaine pulled out of his driveway and drove into the city. When he got deep enough into the city, Blaine stopped near a popular area where many of the big named stores were and he got out. After taking his babies out of the backseat, Blaine searched the area for the recording studio. He didnt know what he was doing or thinking, but he wanted to trust Burt. Hed never done him wrong.

He walked about a block before he came across a towering building with posters of pop stars on it. Blowing out heavily, Blaine tightened his grip on the baby carrier and strode up to the building. He walked inside and was instantly greeted by a few guys he didnt know, each of them bickering over whether Britney Spears or Katy Perry was better.

Pressing his lips together, Blaine kept going and eventually found the front desk, seeing another man he didnt know. The man looked up at him and tilted his head, "Can I help you?"

Blaine didnt know what to say, "A-Are... the Warblers here?"

"If by Warbler you mean the recording company and not the bird..." he looked at the little birds on Blaines shoulder, "then yes. Do you need something?"

"Blaine Anderson?" Someone else said, and Blaine whipped around. He spotted Wes walking out of another hallway, and he uncomfortably cleared his throat. "You have to be kidding. Its so good to see you! Come over here." Waving at the man behind the desk, Wes winked, "Ive got this one."

Blaine hesitantly walked up to Wes, as if he was a small child about to be scolded. "Wes." He said.

Wes suddenly pulled him into a tight hug, "How have you been? What are you doing here?" He looked at the little babies in the carrier and raised his brows, "Little ones?"

"Oh, no..." Blaine shook his head, wincing when Wes leaned down and rubbed Archers belly. "Theyre my brothers and my friends. Im just watching them."

"Theyre great, Blaine." Standing upright again, Wes smiled wider, "And you got another warbler! Ive missed your little bird." He grabbed Blaines arm, "You have to come back and see the guys. We all pretty much stay together now. We had to hire a lot more people after expanding and were still getting used to each other... weve sort of formed cliques."

"Oh." Blaine quietly followed Wes back into a recording room where a group of guys were hanging out on a circle of chairs, most of them with their feet kicked up and their heads leaned back. Blaine recognized almost the entire group, Jeff sitting on Nicks lap, and Trent and a new guy in the corner, throwing handfuls of popcorn at each other and noisily snorting. The only one who was missing from the group was David.

All of them looked up at the sight of Blaine, and Jeff was the first one to speak up, "Hey, its Blaine!"

Trent followed his eyes and grinned at Blaine, "Whats up, Blaine? Long time, no speak... like, at all. Whered you disappear to?"

"Are those babies?" Nick stared at the carrier hanging off of Blaines arm. "I want to hold one!" Pushing Jeff off his lap, Nick scrambled over to Blaine and looked between the babies. He picked Archer from the two of them and lifted him, "Look, I have a baby!"

"Oh, shut up, you dimwits." Wes waved them off, "He hasnt said three words since hes been here. Want to sit down?" Offering Blaine another seat, Wes pressed himself against the wall and gestured at the dark haired boy who Blaine didnt recognize. "This is Thad. He was off in Florida when you showed up last time. Thad, this is Blaine, a really good friend of ours."

Thad waved at him, but was interrupted when Nick spoke up again, "Yeah, and Davids gone right now. He was on the phone with his girlfriend all last night so hes sleeping today."

"Apparently they had another falling out." Trent rolled his eyes, "She went to some party with her best friend and made out with another guy."

"Oh." Blaine said again, unsure if he should say anything else based on their guy code.

Wes focused on Blaine again, "So what are you doing here? I mean... in California and here? What happened to you being stuck in Ohio?"

Blaine closed his eyes, "I just couldnt stay in Ohio anymore. I dont want to talk about it." He opened his eyes again, crossing his arms, "I want to know if there are any jobs I could do here."

"Sure." Wes shrugged his shoulders, almost too simply, "Like I said last time, we always need someone to manage us. I would... I love being in charge... but those idiots-" he glared at the entire group of boys, "-have absolutely no respect for a true leader."

"You could just tell us what stars to highlight in the media." Trent put in, "And you could tell them what songs to sing. You know... be a producer or something."

"I dont have the qualification." Blaine quickly said, "Can I do something else? Something... out of the way?"

Nick curled his lip, "You mean a... janitor?"

"No." Wes held up his hand, "Youll do fine being in charge. Its settled, you can do that. And what about your singing? We could give you a few songs to sing and make you big."

"No," Blaine shook his head, his nails curling into his palm. He started to dig in. "I dont want to sing."

Wes tilted his head, but Trent said, "Still got stage fright?"

"Shut up, Trent." Wes snapped, then nodded his head, "Okay... but I want you to think about it. You are good, Blaine." Crossing and uncrossing his arms, Wes muttered, "Were about done here today but do you want to come in tomorrow morning at eight? We have to think about who the next big thing will be and how we can improve our promotions. Any preferences on stars, Blaine?"

Blaine looked up, surprised that he was getting thrown into work so quickly. He rubbed the nape of his neck, "Kurt." He whispered, "Hes talented."

"Okay," Wes turned away and started walking out of the room. "Guys, get me every musical performance you can find by Kurt. Discuss ways we can promote him... probably through his fashion or voice. Blaine, come with me."

Blaine took Archer back from Nick and hurried after Wes, who suddenly stopped and whipped around. He raised his brows at Blaine, "Youre not in Ohio anymore." was the only thing he said, and he smiled at Blaine. He turned around again and walked away, greeting someone who was just coming in.

Staying behind, Blaine glanced at the room around him. Pictures of birds still decorated the inside, and the room was still just as cozy despite how spacious it was. He felt comfortable here... like he didnt have to worry about not being safe or judged. He sat down on one of the couches and not a single person noticed him or glared at him.

He started rubbing his wedding ring again. He felt somehow fine.

Kurt slipped under his blankets and he pulled them up to his chin, his head falling to the pillow. He reached for his phone and dialed a very familiar number, and within seconds there was a click. Blaine didnt say anything, but Kurt didnt mind. He was just happy he answered. "Blaine... happy birthday." He whispered into the phone, hearing a little chirp from the other side.

Blaine said absolutely nothing, so Kurt continued, "Can you keep your phone on tonight?" There was no answer, but Kurt expected that he would again. "I love you." He kissed the phone and laid it down on his pillow, curling up in a tiny ball.

It took several minutes of listening to babies cooing and birds chirping, but he finally heard that one voice he hadnt heard for months. "I love you, too."

Kurt smiled, "Blaine..."