The outfit didn’t help matters. Kurt was wearing tight grey slacks, a slim-fitting, short -sleeved cream shirt and a dark grey waistcoat. Everything was accentuated in all the right places, and the lack of sleeves meant that Kurt’s toned, muscular arms were flexing right under Blaine’s nose as he shifted files from Gina’s desk. Blaine couldn’t help but look up and smile every time he approached them.

Gina couldn’t be mad at Blaine for taking almost no notice of what she was saying either – she was too busy imagining just how hot these two boys must’ve been for each other when they were together, and her rampant pregnancy hormones were conjuring up some seriously sexy scenarios in her head. She was also completely sure that Kurt was taking his time moving the files purely because of how good he looked doing it, because Blaine really wasn’t hiding his reverence very well. So between the three of them, there was very little actual work going on this morning.

This was Blaine’s third day, and the last one in which Gina would be showing him the ropes. He already felt as though he was going to miss her when she was no longer around – she was a sweet, funny and genuine girl, and she was so organised and good at her job that Blaine was completely sure that he wouldn’t have any problems filling her shoes for the next few months. He’d promised to keep in touch with her on a regular basis though, as it was clear that she was going to feel pretty lost without all of this to keep her mind occupied. In between work talk, they’d discussed baby names, daring one another to come up with the most ridiculous combinations possible … Gina had inevitably won, but Blaine had just called it a fluke, as she’d had way longer than him to think up such things. They were a good team, and Blaine already felt close enough to her to give her a huge hug whenever he felt like she might need one – and Gina often asked for them even when she didn’t.

So as she stifled a yawn at the end of her explanation of the company’s intranet system, Blaine wrapped his arm around her shoulder and gave her a warm squeeze. “OK, think I’ve got that.”

Gina returned a grateful smile. “You’re gonna do fine honey, for sure. Just don’t do my job too well, OK? Cos Kurt doesn’t need any more reasons to want to keep you around here forever.”

Blaine looked down at his hands on the desk. “I’m sure he doesn’t want to do that.”

“Oh, you wanna bet?!” Gina laughed. “Come on, Blaine. Please tell me you’re not so na�ve that you haven’t seen the way he looks at you?”

A blush grew in his cheeks, and he opened his mouth but nothing came out.

“It’s pretty much the same way you look at him, if that’s any help.” Gina smirked, trying to catch his eye.

“I do not.” Blaine protested, having finally found his voice.

“Yeah, yeah … and the other one has bells on.”

“Gina, I can’t do this.” Blaine whined, his eyebrows knitting together in a worried frown. “I can’t fall for him again. The pain I felt when we parted last time was so excruciating, I actually thought I might die. Seriously.”

“Oh, I don’t doubt it.” Gina said reassuringly. “It’s pretty obvious that you guys had something amazing going on for a while there. But you know what? I happen to believe that the break-ups that hurt the most feel that way for a reason … namely because they’re not actually supposed to happen. And I also believe that you guys were meant to meet again.”

Blaine rolled his eyes.

"And don't do that." She added. "He did that, and I put him in his place." She said, pointing towards Kurt's office door.

"You guys have talked about this? About ... me?"

"Yes, sweetie." Gina nodded gently. "But I promise you came out of it very well."

Blaine laughed and rubbed circles into his temples for a moment. "Gina ... I have a boyfriend."

"Mmm-hmm." Gina said, seemingly unfazed by this new piece of information. "How long for?"

"Just over six months." Blaine replied. "He's the reason I came to New York."

"Well, that's debatable ..." Gina said quietly. "... sorry, please continue."

Blaine cleared his throat and carried on. "We live together. Well, us and one of his friends. It's his apartment."

"OK." Gina nodded. "So do you love him?"

"Who?" Blaine asked, raising his eyebrows. "Michael?"

"Who else could I possibly mean, Blaine?" Gina asked with a knowing smile.

"I ... uh ..." Blaine stammered. "Michael - of course. And sure, there are tons of things I love about him."

"I didn't ask what you love about him, Blaine ... I asked if you love him. Like, the whole package ... warts and all."

"He's a good guy Gee, and we've been through a lot together ... and he's pretty hot."

"Is he 'Kurt' hot?"

Blaine flushed again and avoided Gina's eye-line. "Why are you doing this to me?"

"Because it's fun." Gina answered, taking Blaine's hand and squeezing it when his face filled with a mixture of confusion and anguish. "Oh honey, I'm just kidding. It's not fun to see you like this ... or Kurt, for that matter. I happen to think he's one of the sweetest guys on the planet, and I want him to be happy."

"So do I." Blaine said. "It's all I've ever wanted since the day I met him. But even then, and probably even more-so nowadays, I'm not so sure I could ever make him as happy as he deserves to be."

"And what makes you think that?" Gina urged.

"I ... we ... god, I don't know. I thought I'd lost him forever, y'know - and I'd come to terms with that. Made peace with the fact that I had this perfect thing with this amazing guy for a while, but I lost it because I didn't fight hard enough for him. And now I guess I'm in the kind of relationship I feel that I deserve."

"One where you're making do? Even though the love of your life is suddenly back and tantalisingly close?"

"Were you a shrink in a past life?" Blaine asked with a bemused grin.

Gina shrugged. "Anything's possible. I personally would like to think that I was Marilyn Monroe."

Blaine chuckled, and both he and Gina jumped as they were interrupted by the buzzing of the intercom from the next room.

"Yes, Mr. Hummel?" Gina pressed a button on the phone console and leaned over it.

"Ha ha, very funny. Is Blaine there, Gee?" Kurt's voice trilled, and Blaine swore he could hear the faint echo of Kurt's voice coming through the door as well as through the phone. He just hoped his and Gina's conversation hadn't been loud enough for Kurt to overhear.

"He sure is. Would you like me to convey a message to him?" She grinned.

"I'd like you to ask him to step into my office for a moment, if he's not tied up with other things."

"No, no ... I'll leave the tying up to you." Gina sang into the intercom, shooing Blaine away as he gave her a playful slap on the arm. "He's on his way.' She added with a giggle.

Blaine stood up and straightened his clothes, walking to the door and taking a deep breath before knocking gently. A moment later he was called into the room, poking his tongue out at Gina as he closed the door behind him. He turned around and was met by a big smile from his boss, perched on the edge of his desk and looking very proud of himself.

“Hi!” Kurt trilled.

“Uh … hey.” Blaine replied, slightly nervous all of a sudden.

“How’s it going?” Kurt smiled again.

“Good … I think. I’m gonna miss Gina not being around though.”

“Are you two friends already?” Kurt asked.

Blaine nodded. “She’s a really cool lady.”

Kurt smiled again – Blaine had always been such a good judge of character. “Well, I’m pleased you’re getting along so well. She means a lot to me.”

“I know.” Blaine replied, looking down at his feet and shuffling on the spot. He still found it difficult to maintain eye contact with Kurt for too long. “So, uh … did you just want to check how I was doing, or …?”

“Haha – not quite.” Kurt laughed, wandering around his desk and bending over to pick something up from the floor. Blaine swallowed back a gulp as Kurt’s tight trousers stretched across the curves of his pert little butt. “I was hoping you might be able to help me with this.” Kurt placed a large bag on his desk.

“Oooh – what’s in there?!” Blaine exclaimed, all nerves suddenly forgotten. He bounced over to the bag to peer inside.

“Shhh … keep your voice down. I don’t want Gina to hear us.” Kurt hissed.

“You do realise that she’s probably out there with her ear pressed against the door as we speak.” Blaine chuckled quietly.

“Yeah, but that’s because she thinks she’ll hear us making out or something.” Kurt mused with a smirk. Blaine rubbed at one of his biceps and leaned back over the bag distractedly.

“Oh god Blaine, I’m sorry.” Kurt sighed.

“Huh? What for?”

“Saying stuff like that … making you feel uncomfortable.”

Blaine turned and slumped down into the chair in front of Kurt’s desk. “You didn’t, really … please don’t worry, Kurt.” He said with a heavy sigh. “Oh, can I sit down, by the way?”

Kurt sat in his own chair and laughed, clearly touched by Blaine’s awkwardness.

“What’s funny?” Blaine asked, furrowing his brow.

“Well, forgive me for being all embarrassing again, but you’re still just as adorable as you always were.” He said, smiling gently.

Blaine looked away with a shy giggle. “OK, now I feel uncomfortable.” He grinned.

“Seriously though … we’re OK here, right?” Kurt asked. “Feel free to just tell me to shut up if I say something stupid.”

“Wow … don’t think I’ve ever had a boss give me permission to do that before.”

“OK, I’ll rephrase that – if I say something stupid regarding us, then you can tell me to shut up. Any other time may get you fired.” Kurt laughed.

“Noted.” Blaine said. “Same goes for me … although as my boss, you can probably tell me to shut up any time you like.”

“I wouldn’t though.”

“I know.”

The two men held one another’s gaze for a while before Blaine looked away again. “So … uh … the stuff in the bag …?”

“Oh god, yes!” Kurt said, jumping up and plunging his hands into the bag. “Party supplies!”

Blaine made some room on the desk for the items Kurt was pulling from the bag. There were packets of balloons, streamers, novelty hats, paper plates and cups, a couple of banners, gummy bears, cheetos, cookies, doritos, mini cupcakes and a bottle of diet coke. Blaine raised his eyebrows, knowing that this wasn’t Kurt’s usual choice of buffet food.

“They’re all Gee’s favourites. Well, in pregnancy mode, anyway.” He beamed.

“I thought you guys already threw a party for her last week?” Blaine asked, brushing fingers with Kurt as he took a bag of chips from his hands. Both men felt a tiny thrill but chose not to make a big thing of it.

“We did,” Kurt nodded. “But that was a Company thing. This is just for us.”

“Aww … she’ll really appreciate that. She thinks the world of you.”

“Me too.” Kurt smiled. “But you’ll join us, won’t you? I hate the thought of you sitting out there while we’re stuffing our faces in here. And you’re one of the team now.”

Blaine tilted his head to one side. “You sure?”

“Never more-so. And besides, there’s enough here to feed a small army.” Kurt said. “Now grab a balloon and start blowing!”

Blaine choked out a laugh, opening one of the packages and stretching one of the long purple balloons. Kurt scooted over to the mini-fridge secreted in the corner of the room and produced a large plastic container. Blaine’s eyes widened as Kurt opened the tub.

“Oh my god, Kurt … is that what I think it is?”

“My world-famous lemon drizzle cake? Why yes, Blaine … yes it is.” Kurt grinned.

“Yum!” Blaine almost drooled into his lap.

“I’d forgotten how much you loved it too.” Kurt smiled warmly.

“Is it possible to miss baked goods?”

“Absolutely.” Kurt nodded. “I’ve never found a white chocolate chip cookie to match the ones you used to make for me.”

“Kurt …”

“I know – shutting up.”

Blaine smiled and set about blowing up several balloons, all the while trying to recall the recipe for those cookies.

***