"Blaine!"  Blaine nearly flies off the bed at Kurt's voice, loud and sharp coming in from the doorway.  He scoots back against the headboard of the bed and rubs at his eyes before turning to look at Kurt.

Kurt's stare is accusatory and Blaine instinctively feels the need to shield himself behind whatever he can.  So he slowly grabs a pillow, positioning it as much he can over his chest and lap and braces himself to listen about whatever he did or didn't do.

"Is... everything okay, babe?" Blaine knows he's throwing in the term of endearment to hopefully placate Kurt and there's a tense second where Kurt lets him believe it didn't work.  But his features soften just a little; his eyes stay suspicious.

"Is there a reason my girls are gone?"  Blaine takes a cursory glance at the clock and then lets his gaze slide back to Kurt, who now has his arms folded across his chest.

"Would it make it better or worse if I said ‘yes'?" Blaine asks, aiming for casual but he cannot stop the sarcasm from slipping out.

"That depends," Kurt says, moving toward Blaine and sitting on the edge of the bed, "How likely is there a chance of me embarrassing myself today?"

Blaine considers the question for a moment, well aware of Kurt's unwavering stare and trying to ignore it.  He looks back at Kurt and smiles, "Minimal.  Myself on the other hand..."  Blaine likes to think he will be able to hold his own.

"They left a note," Kurt says lightly.  He tosses a piece of paper onto Blaine's lap and Blaine picks it up to read it, Rachel's neat handwriting is immediately recognizable.

Kurt.  We were given explicit instructions to vacate the apartment today but don't worry!  You'll see us later tonight and will have us most of tomorrow.  Mercedes and I are taking this opportunity to catch a Broadway show and I think I can convince her to join me in karaoke... Have fun today! :D

Blaine's eyes move down to the bottom of the note where there's a post-script written in Mercedes' loopy scrawl.

You are lucky Rachel is a heavier sleeper than I am and that I brought my iPod with me.  I'm sorry I ever teased you two.  Glad to hear the fire is still burning...  You owe me.

Blaine cringes and looks sheepishly up at Kurt, whose mouth is set into a firm line.  Blaine can see the traces of amusement in his eyes, though.

"So... lesson learned?" Blaine ventures.

"I don't know, is it?" Kurt toys with the hem of the sheet, pointedly not looking at Blaine.

"Oh, come on, you think this is just as funny as I do," Kurt looks up and Blaine gives him his most charming smile.  Kurt's expression doesn't shift.  "Okay, in a few years, maybe, you'll find it as funny as I do now."

Kurt's expression cracks a little at that and the corners of his mouth pull up a little in a smirk.  Blaine tentatively leans in, hoping for a kiss.  Kurt proffers his cheek and Blaine figures that is better than nothing.  He gives Kurt a peck, "Hop in the shower and I'll go make breakfast.  Sound good?"

One nod from Kurt and Blaine knows he is forgiven.

By the time Kurt emerges from the bedroom, Blaine has finished making pancakes, made just the way Kurt likes them--with a splash of orange juice in the batter and fruit salsa; Blaine prefers classic syrup himself.  He is setting the table and looks up to see Kurt standing in the doorway, clad in what Blaine assumes to be his spoils from the day before.

Kurt gives him a twirl, stopping to look over his shoulder at Blaine, "The jeans.  Boyfriend-approved?"

Blaine presses a finger to his chin, taking his time in this opportunity to ogle Kurt's ass.  The dark-wash jeans hug his lithe frame deliciously.  Goodness, it's too early for this; Blaine hasn't even had his coffee yet.  Blaine distantly hears Kurt clear his throat.

"I'm going to take that as a ‘yes,'" Kurt walks up to the table, placing his hands on the back of a chair, to survey the layout.  Blaine watches his lips curve up into a soft smile and Kurt looks up at him, "Looks delicious, love."

Breakfast passes pretty quietly until Blaine starts chuckling into his mug of coffee.

Kurt doesn't even need to ask what he's laughing about.  He just rolls his eyes and continues chewing.  He catches Blaine glancing up at him quickly before looking back down and giggling again.  Kurt sighs loudly.  "You're terrible."

"You didn't seem to think so last night," the words are out before Blaine even thinks about it and he bites his lip in an attempt from actually snorting in laughter.

Kurt stands, his breakfast finished, and strides to the counter to rinse off his plate.  He isn't surprised in the slightest when Blaine's arms wrap around his waist and he hooks his chin over his shoulder, body pressing in close as he says, "I love you, you know that?"

"Yeah yeah, I know," Kurt says as he dries off his plate.  Blaine squeezes a little tighter but Kurt wriggles around until he's facing Blaine, pinned between his body and the counter.  "I love... your morning stubble."  Kurt smirks and rubs a thumb over the scratchy surface of Blaine's jaw.  Blaine scrunches his nose up at Kurt in a mock-pout as Kurt pushes gently at his shoulder.  "Go get cleaned up."

Blaine holds his ground though, keeping steady hands on Kurt's waist.  "What's the magic word?"

Kurt raises a brow at Blaine ever so slightly in amusement, "Morning breath."

Blaine glares up at him, "That's two words."

"Fine.  Halitosis."

Blaine pulls away with a pinch to Kurt's side and slumps into the bedroom.  Kurt busies himself cleaning up the rest of their breakfast and avoiding the temptation of checking Blaine's phone when it buzzes.  And then buzzes again five minutes later.  He's not one for snooping but Blaine's sneakiness has him on edge.  He's standing there, nibbling on his thumb and staring at Blaine's phone when his own starts ringing and he jumps at the sudden sound.

He's just finished answering Mercedes' text checking up on them when Blaine wanders out of the bedroom, hair still a little damp from the shower and smelling like a luscious combination of vanilla and lemon.

"You borrowed my body-wash again," Kurt comments, leaning in and nuzzling Blaine's neck to inhale as much as he can of Blaine's skin before the clean scent fades away from the natural toll the day takes.

"It makes my skin soft," Blaine says lamely.

"Your skin is always soft," Kurt comments, petting at the back of Blaine's neck as if to emphasize his words.

"Not like yours..."  Blaine's hand is sliding up and down Kurt's arm where the sleeve of his shirt is pushed up.  "Am I allowed to kiss you yet?"

Kurt rolls his eyes exaggeratedly, "Oh, fine."  A broad, warm hand curls around the back of Kurt's neck just as lips hinting vaguely of strawberries meet his.  There's stumbling and awkward laughing in an attempt to reach the couch while still attached at the mouth and somehow they manage it.  Blaine finds himself straddling Kurt, legs spread wide as they slip on the leather fabric of the couch.  They are both fully dressed and Blaine is very nearly forgetting what for just as Kurt's hands are sliding up his thighs when there's several hard knocks at the door.

Kurt breaks away, his cheek pressing against Blaine's as he mutters, "We need to move.  We need to move and not tell anyone where we live."

Blaine just laughs and places a kiss to a spot by his ear as he climbs off of Kurt.  "I think you should go see who it is."

Kurt eyes him suspiciously but gets up nonetheless, "I think you should change your belt because that color does not match the pattern in your shirt."

Blaine knows he should be offended but at this point he's just amused.  "Oh, Kurt, you wound me," he clutches at his heart dramatically.

Kurt just glares at him some more and swings the door open just as another round of knocking begins.  From his spot on the couch Blaine can't see his face but sees that immediately Kurt's entire body language shifts as he launches himself into the arms of the man standing in the doorway.

"Good to see you, too, kid," Burt says warmly but Kurt is already cutting him off with an Oh my god! and motioning for the other figure standing in the doorway, a very excited-looking Carole, to come in.

There's a lot of trading of hugs and exclamations as if they hadn't all just seen each other a few months prior.  Kurt goes through the routine of listening to "You're so thin!" and "Are you sure you're safe here?" with the same routine insistence that yes, he's perfectly fine.  Whereas Blaine is still taken aback by Burt's insistence at addressing him by his first name instead of Sir and Carole's first words of "Have you heard from your parents recently, sweetheart?"

The small apartment is buzzing with that family-reunion atmosphere, everyone settling onto the couch, and Burt in the chair, after refreshments are passed out.

There's easy conversation; the four of them quickly falling into the same familiarity that so many dinners together has created.  Kurt and Blaine listen as Burt and Carole explain that Finn stayed back to take care of the shop after his own classes but says Hi and that he wishes he could be there to go on one of those "sweet helicopter tours" that everyone failed to mention to him each time he was in the city.

The conversation flows from how their second year in the city is going to their classes and then as Kurt gets up to refill Carole's glass with water, the topic turns to the apartment.  Burt makes a joke saying he's glad to see the entire place hasn't been turned into a closet and Blaine cheekily adds on yet.  Of course Kurt interrupts in defense to say that he has improved his spending habits and ‘frugal' could be now his third middle name--after his given one, Alexander, and his much favored self-given one, Elizabeth.

Burt just says, "Sure, sure," and leans forward to ask Blaine about what he thought about the end of football season.

Which is Carole's cue to turn to Kurt as he sits back down next to her and say, "So how is your break going so far?" Her voice has gone up and Kurt knows that this means girl talk so he's all for it, especially now that he's lost Blaine to his dad.

He recounts their picnic and getting caught in the rain, and then the trip to the museum.  Of course, he leaves out all of the more... private times.  As close as he and Carole have become over the years he doesn't think he will ever divulge that much information.  And he wouldn't even dare with his father in the room--Kurt is pretty sure Burt is still in denial about the whole situation even after an encore of "the talk" when they had first moved in together at the beginning of the year.

"Of course, it's nice to be able to just relax and not have to worry about anything for a bit.  And then Blaine just had to go and make everything even better by bringing you and dad and Rachel and Mercedes to the city," Kurt is saying as Carole listens intently with a sweet smile on her face.  Kurt looks back at Blaine, where the conversation with Burt has obviously moved past football onto something else.  Blaine is gesturing emphatically with his hands and Kurt realizes he's telling his dad about the time they were trapped in the building elevator for over two hours with three other people.  Burt only looks mildly horrified, to Kurt's slight relief.

When he looks back at Carole, she's speaking, "Well, we had the time and the shop has been doing pretty well lately so we figured why not.  And between you and me," she leans in conspiratorially, "Your father wanted to check in on the two of you." She smirks and leans back, glancing at her husband as if to say, ‘I told him he didn't have anything to worry about.'

Kurt knows she is only saying this now because it is clear that they are doing pretty well for themselves at the moment.  Carole is as big of a worrier as Kurt is and it's one of the many things they discovered they have in common.  "How is he?" Kurt asks this now because he knows he probably won't get another chance.  His dad looks good but Kurt knows too well how much this could be a façade to make him feel better.

"He's fine," Carole says it with the same tone that she always does because it's the first question Kurt asks each time he calls home.  "He actually likes the recipes you recommended and the doctors say he's passing all of his tests with flying colors," she smiles reassuringly and reaches out to squeeze Kurt's hand.

"Hey, you two talking about me?" Kurt hadn't realized that the conversation behind them had stopped and when he turns around Burt is eyeing the two of them suspiciously while Blaine is just grinning.

Carole rolls her eyes and pats Kurt's hand before saying, "Of course not.  We have much more interesting things to talk about.  Like, Kurt was telling me about this beautiful pin he saw that Blaine wouldn't--"

"Kurt, you tattle-tell," Blaine chides while Burt just grunts and takes a drink of water.

Kurt just sticks his tongue out at Blaine, earning a laugh from Carole and even a Burt cracks a smiles before rubbing his palms over his knees and saying, "Well, as much as I enjoy hanging out," his tone implying air quotes around the last two words and Kurt tries not to roll his eyes, "I remember I was promised a day in the city."

Blaine claps his hands in front of him, "You're right!  What'd you have in mind?"

Kurt immediately perks up, his mind running through all the shows or art galleries open that he's been meaning to go with Blaine.  He could call up Mercedes and Rachel and see what they are planning on seeing or what about--

"I was thinking the zoo," Carole's voice cuts off Kurt's thoughts and he blinks at her, thoughts of Broadway and SoHo fading in his mind.

"You're in New York City for two days and you want to go to the zoo?  But Carole--"

"It's a great idea.  I could do for a walk," Burt interrupts before Kurt can appeal to Carole's more cultured, fashionable tastes.  Kurt shoots his father a glare and Burt just stares right back.  They're too evenly matched for this.

"Cute, baby animals Kurt," Blaine wheedles, reaching across to squeeze Kurt's knee.  Kurt pulls away but Blaine bats at him.  "Furry animals.  Penguins!"

"Oh my god, stop," Kurt begs, sliding his hands over his face as Carole continues to laugh while Burt makes a stalwart effort at ignoring Blaine's antics.  Some things never change.  "We'll go to the zoo.  Maybe I can convince them to let me leave you there with the monkeys."

Blaine just shoots him a look but as they all stand to gather their coats, Kurt finds himself stuck to the spot as an arm wraps around his waist from behind and Blaine crowds in close.  Kurt darts a nervous look at Burt and Carole, but Carole seems preoccupied with helping Burt with a faulty zipper on his jacket.

"You know I'd be much more comfortable," Blaine's voice is barely a whisper and he punctuates the last word by getting a handful of Kurt's ass and immediately Kurt's face heats up in the presence of his parents, "with the tigers."

But at that incredibly cheesy line, Kurt cannot stop the scoff that barks out of him.  "I'll push you into the pen," he threatens, attempting to pull out of Blaine's grip and trying to walk away.

"If you do, you're coming down with me," Blaine counters, releasing Kurt and nonchalantly circling him before throwing him a teasing wink.

"Oh, I'd like to see you try--"

"So am I going to be able to talk to my son or is this how it's going to be all day?" Burt interjects, eyes moving between Blaine and Kurt as they--somewhat sheepishly--gather their things at the door.

"Dad," Kurt scolds, but without any actual threat behind it.  He really has missed his father.

The ride to the zoo was spent in relative silence, Burt insisted on driving the rental so Kurt had to sit up front in order to help give directions and tried not to argue when attempting to maneuver through traffic into an available garage.  Blaine and Carole just sat in the back, both with smirks on their faces at how similar the father and son really are.

Now as they step out into the crisp air, with Burt mumbling something about how he has a newfound appreciation for cabs, Blaine immediately clutches to Kurt--glad to have the source of warmth and to be able to spend yet another day with him.

Burt and Carole walk ahead to collect a couple of maps, leaving Kurt and Blaine to mingle behind and take in the scenery.  The park is surprisingly not that crowded--here and there are families bustling about, a few couples hanging off of each other, and a group of students wandering around.  Kurt takes the opportunity to surreptitiously kiss Blaine squarely on the lips.  Blaine's nose is cold where it brushes up against his and Kurt pulls away to rub his own over it at a lame attempt of warming him up.

The look Blaine is giving him when he properly pulls back is that of such adoration it's almost comical.  Kurt can't help but laugh brightly, reaching up to swipe his thumb over the curve of Blaine's flushed cheekbone before trotting off after his parents, leaving Blaine skipping to catch up.

"Hey!"  Blaine calls out after him, grabbing onto the back of his coat.  "I'm not letting you out of my sight today."

But almost immediately after he says this, Blaine can feel himself being pulled in another direction.  He turns to find himself face-to-face with a beaming Carole.  He has time to shoot Kurt a forlorn sort of look before she loops her arm through his and drags him to walk ahead of Kurt and Burt.

Blaine isn't actually all that terribly disappointed; both he and Kurt enjoy Carole's motherly company.  And when she leans in to ask him how he is, he lets her familiar comforting scent invade his senses before he answers.

"I'm doing really well," he says sincerely, because he means it.  While things have been hectic, this week really has done wonders for helping him forget all the stress.  "And how are you?"

They begin to wander through the gardens, and Carole slows her steps a little to take it in.  "Oh no, we are not talking about me right now.  I haven't heard from you in a while."

"I know Kurt fills you in--"

"Not the same."  Blaine sighs, laughing a little at her persistence.  He knows it comes from a place of love.  Carole checks behind them to see that Kurt and Burt are still several feet away--Burt looking quizzically at a statue they are passing--before continuing, "Besides, Kurt can't tell me what you're up to this weekend."

This time Blaine laughs out loud.  "Well, now I know where Finn gets his amazing snooping skills from," he teases. 

As they turn a corner, Blaine stops just in time before nearly being bulldozed over an excited toddler running across their path.  The little boy stops in front of them, looking up to find Blaine and Carole staring amusedly down at him, and then grins impishly before darting off again toward his parents.  Blaine watches him, a fond smile on his face, until he's pulled back into the conversation by Carole.

"Just tell me, are you going to propose?"  She asks seriously, all business now but when Blaine looks at her he can still see that glint in her eyes.

Blaine laughs again, trailing his hands along the railing along the path toward the sea lion pool.  "You would know if I were," he says smoothly.

She persists, "Are you?"

Blaine shakes his head, smiling widely and blushing, "Carole, I--"

"What do you think those two are gossiping about?" Kurt asks his father as they walk several feet behind the conspiring figures of Carole and Blaine, watching in bitter amusement as Blaine nearly trips over another toddler wobbling across their path.  Kurt's arms are crossed and the look on his face clearly shows his distaste for being out of the loop.

Burt grunts.  "How should I know?"

"I don't like it.  They're probably plotting something."

"You don't like a lot of things," Burt takes a sip of the lemonade he had bought.  "It's probably harmless."

"Yeah.  Whatever."

They catch up to where Blaine and Carole have stopped to watch the sea lions where they are lazing around the exhibit.  When Kurt walks up to Blaine, bumping his shoulder against the shorter man's, Blaine's eyes turn to his and light up before turning his head again and pointing a finger out toward the water, directing Kurt's attention toward two snuggling sea lions on the other side of the exhibit.  Blaine's face is delighted like that of a 5-year-old child's.

"Yes, they're very cute, Blaine," Kurt teases.  He hears Carole laugh and looks past Blaine to find her wrapped in Burt's arms, watching them with a smirk before turning her attention to the zookeeper now coming out to feed the animals.

"She asked me how I've been and how our break is going, before you ask," Kurt hears Blaine say.  Kurt turns back to Blaine to find him trailing his fingers over the cold railing of the enclosure, watching as he makes swirly patterns in the condensation on the metal.

"I wasn't going to," Kurt says loftily, walking his own fingers after Blaine's.

Blaine just chuckles and captures Kurt's hand, "Of course not."  He throws Kurt a knowing look.

Kurt just tilts his chin up indignantly before clutching Blaine's hand and practically skipping off.  "Come on, I want to go see the penguins," Kurt drags Blaine behind him, his voice sing-song as he continues, "You promised me penguins!"

"I did, I did," Blaine laughs, checking behind them briefly to see Carole and Burt strolling behind them slowly.

As the group wanders through the Polar Circle exhibit, Kurt has to admit that the outing is turning out to be quite nice.  He cannot help but feel so adult--showing his parents around, telling them about his life on his own in the city; his and Blaine's life together.

Of course Blaine is quick to ruin this illusion by breaking away from Kurt's side to join the smaller kids by the partition, practically pressing his face against the cold glass.  Kurt can't stop his laugh as he steps up behind Blaine and watches as his boyfriend's breath fogs up the window as he looks in child-like wonder at the penguins zipping from one place to another.

Blaine's excitement over the penguins is only rivaled by his enthusiasm the moment their group reaches the River Otter enclosure.  It is Kurt's turn to be dragged through the crowd as Blaine tugs him along to perch himself along the railing, eyes searching the water.

"There!" Blaine points out ahead of them and Kurt follows his line of sight to find what Blaine is looking at.  Sure enough, a pair of otters are floating on their back in the freezing water, paws wrapped around each other, as if holding hands, to keep from parting as they drift asleep.  Otters are Blaine's favorite animal for this exact reason, but Kurt secretly suspects it's because they have so much in common--their playfulness, energy, and ease with which to draw crowds merely by being themselves.

Kurt grins at Blaine when he turns around to gauge Kurt's reaction, making sure he's properly enthused enough about the adorable otters.  Kurt is more than willing to humor him because he knows Blaine is playing it up a little for Kurt's entertainment--and if Carole's snickering is any indication, her entertainment as well.

"Come on, Blainey," Kurt teases, "We still have half the zoo to see."

Blaine promptly flounces up to Kurt's side.  "Having more fun than you thought you would?"

Kurt's lips curve up in a smile. "Yes," he admits.

"Good," Blaine reaches down to give Kurt's hand a brief squeeze before walking ahead to join Burt and Carole.  Kurt skips to catch up and Burt is already addressing Blaine in conversation.

"How's that brother of yours doing?" Burt is asking as they walk down the path toward the Tropical Zone.  "He still fighting the good fight?"

Blaine gets the same look on his face every time his brother is brought up--a small, proud, slightly nostalgic smile graces his features.  When Burt had first learned of Cooper's choice to switch from business and companies law to human and LGBT rights after Blaine's struggles as a kid, he was instantly welcomed into the Hudson-Hummel family.

"Yeah, and you know it was his and Molly's second anniversary a couple of weeks ago.  They just got back from a ‘second honeymoon,'" Blaine uses finger-quotes while rolling his eyes and Kurt chuckles, "in Paris."

"So jealous," Kurt says at the same time Burt whistles, "Wow, fancy," in an amused tone.  And then, "Good for them."

They've wandered into the Tropical Zone enclosure now and stopped to peer in at the snakes--Kurt shuddering as they pass a particularly large one pressed right against the glass.  Nobody bothers to ask the question Blaine had already deflected earlier in the day.  His parents aren't a taboo subject, they are just a non-subject.  After Cooper had officially moved to D.C. to work on his new projects, the Andersons had come to accept that things were not going to change; their attitude toward their sons is now of obligatory politeness.

Coop says their loss.  Kurt agrees.  Burt says maybe they'll come around.  Blaine just looks at the family he has now and considers himself lucky to have so much love in his life.

They have lunch in the zoo eatery, The Dancing Crane Café, in typical tourist fashion--despite Kurt's best efforts to make Sarabeth's sound as appetizing as possible.

"Maybe next time, love," Blaine squeezes his arm as they take their seats at a booth-Burt eyeing the turkey club sandwich with bacon Blaine has gotten then dutifully taking a bite out of his veggie wrap.

Conversation dwindles as they eat.  Occasionally one of them speak up, trying to catch up on things they haven't updated each other on over the phone for the past several months.

As Kurt is picking at his salad, he misses the surreptitious look Carole shoots Blaine, though Burt does catch it, his eyebrows raising in question.  Blaine waves them off, attempting to say that it's nothing but it's obvious that Burt interprets it as "Later" instead.

Blaine sighs in resignation, lightly amused at everyone's preoccupation with his weekend plans with Kurt, and this does catch Kurt's attention.

"Everything okay?"

Blaine looks up at him, a warm smile gracing his features and well aware Kurt's parents are watching him from across the table.  "Yeah." Beneath the table, Blaine presses his thigh against Kurt's and hooks their ankles together.  "Everything's great."

When they finally get home, it's just before dinner time.  After much debate over who should pick up Mercedes and Rachel, it is finally decided that Kurt and Carole will stay back to make dinner while Burt and Blaine make the trip.

"They could get a cab," Blaine answers, looking between everyone.  "I could help with dinner or I'm sure we could find a basketball game on." He turns toward Burt, trying to appeal to him but the man's face is unreadable.

"No," Carole drags out the vowel as she waves her hands at him, "why should they pay for a cab when you rented that nice car?  Go.  We've got this covered.  Besides, the bonding will be nice for you two."

Blaine doesn't miss that, and looks back at Kurt to send him a knowing glare as Carole practically pushes him and Burt out of the door.

As they climb into the car, Burt having let Blaine drive this time only with mild reluctance, he huffs and readjusts the baseball cap atop his head.

"This is just a formality, kid, you know that," he leans over the fiddle with the dial of the radio, turning it down while Blaine heads into traffic.

Blaine laughs lightly.  "I know.  It's just funny how everyone is obsessed."

"Don't worry about them," he leans back in his seat to get comfortable. "I gave you my blessing a long time ago.  But you know Carole..." he trails off, not having to explain any more as Blaine nods, smiling.

"I do," he adds, as they wait at a stoplight.

They settle into a comfortable silence for a few minutes until Burt speaks up again.  "Whenever you're both ready, we'll be there for ya.  I trust you."

Blaine glances at him and flexes his hands against the steering wheel.  "Thanks.  That... means a lot."

"No problem," Burt looks out the passenger window and they drive in comfortable silence until they pick up Rachel and Mercedes.  Then the car is filled with conversation as the girls recount their day.

That night--after everyone is exhausted from their long days, Burt and Carole had gone back to their hotel, and Mercedes finally stopped giving Kurt and Blaine warning glares as they got ready for bed--Blaine is wrapped around Kurt, listening to his boyfriend's steady breathing.

He nuzzles his face into Kurt's hair, breathing in deep his scent as his mind works over everything from the day.

It has not even been a week, and this short vacation is already turning into one of his favorites.  After today, he doesn't think he has ever felt more grateful in his life--and that is saying something.  Reflexively, his grip on Kurt tightens and Kurt squirms a little in his grasp.  Blaine can't help but think about what Burt said about being ready; about Carole's enthusiasm.  He's glad to have so much support in his life.  It isn't something he ever assumed for himself.

He thinks everyone is making a bigger deal than is merited--but that's partly his fault, what with keeping mum about it all.  Everyone has always been a little over-invested in his and Kurt's relationship.  Sometimes it can cause tension but sometimes it just feels like everyone cares, and today was one of those days.

Kurt breaks out of Blaine's hold to turn in his sleep, eyelashes fluttering a little as he settles on his other side.  Blaine stares unabashedly, because Kurt can't comment on how creepy it is when he doesn't know.  Blaine knows Kurt better than he knows himself, sometimes.  With their third anniversary coming up on Saturday and after spending time with the most supportive and loving people he knows, nearly all of his anxiety about the weekend has ebbed away and has been replaced with the reassurance that he's doing something right.