Blaine finished up his meeting with a potential client and walked across the hall. He was well known everywhere, but especially at Vogue. Because they were so close together and Blaine had a public profile, photographers would call on Blaine for photo shoots when in a pinch. Blaine had appeared in countless fashion shoots in the magazine.

“Hello Isabelle,” he greeted the thin girl.

“Blaine,” she squealed. Running around her desk she gave him a hug. “It has been forever!” Blaine chuckled but reciprocated the hug. “What brings you over here?”

“I am here to take a certain intern to lunch,” he answered.

“Really? Who would that be?” she teased. Earlier she had seen Kurt walk in with an extra bounce to his step.

Blaine blushed slightly. “Kurt Hummel.”

“Mm, thought so,” she hummed. “His desk is down the third hallway to the left. Fourth cubicle.

Blaine nodded his thanks and headed in the direction which she pointed. He didn’t notice that as he walked by many turned their heads to watch him. Finally Blaine came to the desk which he was directed to and saw Kurt. The boy had his back to Blaine, sitting straight up with the best posture Blaine had ever seen. His hair was swept high and he was working meticulously.

Quietly Blaine stepped into his cubicle and wrapped his arm around the boy’s shoulder. He kissed his cheek and whispered, “ready to play the part?”

Kurt jumped, then blushed and nodded. He turned around hugged Blaine properly. Then he grabbed his bag and led Blaine out, their hands clutched tightly. Almost everyone was staring, which caused Kurt to blush harder, but Blaine walked confidently. “Where to for lunch?”

“You said you like Broadway yeah?”

“Yes,” Kurt replied, and walked through the door which Blaine held open for him. Ever the gentleman he thought.

“How does Sardi’s sound?” Blaine said and Kurt’s smile widened.

“You spoil me Blaine Anderson,” he replied. They hitched a cab to the restaurant and paparazzi caught photos of Blaine opening the door for Kurt and the two walking with clasped hands.

Lunch was nice. They discussed different things, but kept in mind that they were in public and had to keep up the charade. Kurt was actually falling for the dreamy man who sat across from him so it shouldn’t be hard to sell to the public. “So, can you take the next week off of work?” Blaine asked, eyes locking with Kurt’s.

“Yes. Where are we going?” Kurt asked excitedly. This would be the first of many trips he hoped. He loved to travel.

“Lima, Ohio. I want to meet your family,” Blaine answered. Kurt’s face fell. Blaine saw and reached across the table, taking the taller boy’s hand in his own. “You don’t want to go?”

“Of course I don’t want to go!” Kurt said exasperatedly. Blaine looked hurt and Kurt quickly explained. “I don’t want to tell my dad about any of this.”

“Well then it is a good thing you can’t tell him, Kurt,” Blaine said. Now he was frustrated. Meeting Kurt’s family was a vital piece of their plan, and Kurt had agreed to it.

“I know Blaine. I know that, I do. My father is not an idiot though. His son wouldn’t just fly  home from New York and introduce his fiance for the first time!”

The waitress chose that moment to come by. Kurt wrapped his arms around himself and looked upset. “Can we get the check please?” Blaine asked politely. She smiled and nodded. Then Blaine turned to Kurt. “I am going to propose to you while we’re in Ohio. You can introduce me to your father as your boyfriend.”

Kurt’s eyes widened. “In Ohio?”

“Yes. I thought it might be romantic in a more peaceful place than New York.” Kurt nodded. His eyes filled with tears but he quickly blinked them back. “Are you having second thoughts?” Blaine whispered.

Kurt looked up and met Blaine’s eyes. The boy looked miserable. “I made a deal, I will keep it.” Blaine went to say something but Kurt narrowed his eyes at him. Blaine closed his mouth and payed the check. He got up and walked over to the other side of the table. He pulled Kurt’s chair out and helped him up, putting his coat back on him. Kurt looked up at Blaine and due to the angle, he was looking up through his eyelashes. “Kiss me.”

Blaine’s eyes widened and he shook his head. “We can’t get involved Kurt. It could screw everything up.”

“I know that. There is a reporter over there who has been taking pictures of us. You want to make it look like we’re a couple? Kiss me.”

Blaine looked hesitant and Kurt wondered if Blaine was that repulsed by him. Then he felt a pair of warm lips against his own. The kiss was soft, but Kurt turned and cupped Blaine’s cheek. Blaine broke away, a soft smile taking over his features. Kurt smiled back and the two walked out of the restaurant. They went back to work and Blaine announce that he would pick Kurt up outside of his apartment the following morning.

XX

Both boys enjoyed flying. There was something about giving up all control and just letting whatever may happen, happen. The flight was just a couple hours but Blaine had bought first class tickets. Kurt was still nervous so he excused himself and went to the bathroom. He splashed some water on his face and looked at his reflection.

“You can do this Kurt. Yes, you’re lying to the one man in your life who has supported you through everything, but it’ll be worth it. Debt free, dream job.” A knock came on the door and Kurt wiped his face dry before opening the door. He saw Blaine standing there. Blaine cocked his head to the side- his way of asking if Kurt was okay. Kurt nodded and the two walked back to their seats. Upon sitting down, Kurt was suddenly overwhelmed and he felt a tear slip out.

He tried to wipe it away but Blaine saw. Blaine lifted the armrest up and pulled Kurt towards him. Kurt couldn’t hold it in anymore. He knew he shouldn’t let Blaine comfort him because he was already having a hard time separating his feelings for the boy, but he was too tired to fight right now. He rested on Blaine’s chest and cried silently until he couldn’t any longer. Then he fell asleep to the soothing feel of Blaine’s fingers in his hair.

XX

Blaine drove the two of them to Burt’s house in a rental car. Kurt stared out the window for the ride, remembering all of the memories of he had of this town. “I hate this place,” he muttered.

Blaine glanced over at him before turning his eyes back to the road. “Why?”

“It’s small. It’s homophobic. It has all my childhood nightmares, bullies, memories of my mother.”

“Did you not get along with your mom?”

“I got along with her wonderfully, but she died when I was eight. This place reminds me of her and it makes me depressed.”

“I’m sorry Kurt.”

“We should get to know each other better.” Blaine raised an eyebrow but Kurt continued. “I mean the state is going to try and validate our marriage. We need to know everything about each other.”

“Alright, what do you want to know?”

“Why didn’t you go back to Italy with your parents?”

“I came out to them when I was ten. Ever since then my father abused me verbally and mother stayed silent. I turned eighteen just before they left and knew I didn’t have to be with them anymore. How did your father react when came out?”

Kurt smiled. “He told me he already knew. He said he didn’t love it, but that he wanted me to be happy.” Blaine smiled, eyes still on the road. “Do you have any siblings?”

“One. Older brother. He moved to Los Angeles when I was ten. You?”

“No. Just a half brother, but he passed away.”

Both were silent for a moment. The conversation held heavy revelations and took time to comprehend them. “Let’s move on to lighter subjects. Any tattoos?”

“No. You?”

“Yes. I have one on my shoulder. It says ‘It’s got Bette Middler’.”

“Ooo, rebellious.”

“Mmm,” Kurt hummed. “You should have seen me a couple years ago, I had a tongue ring too.”

Blaine let out a hearty laugh and Kurt smiled at the sound. “I think we have arrived.” Kurt moved his sight from the curly headed boy to the window. Yes, there was the house he grew up in. “Does your father know we’re coming?”

“I wanted to surprise him. I hope that’s alright?”

“Of course, but I take it he doesn’t know about me yet?”

“No, he doesn’t. Hey Blaine?”

“Yeah, Kurt?” Blaine replied. He saw Kurt looking nervous so he grabbed his hand and rubbed it soothingly.

“Could you not propose to me here? I know you wanted it to be romantic, so rent out the 82nd floor of the Empire State Building and do it there, or something. Please, I hate this place.”

“Okay. Could I ask your father permission to propose?” Kurt nodded. The two shared a smile and got out of the car. Before they even made it to the porch, the door swung open and Burt came running out.

“Kurt?” he asked.

Kurt nodded and went over to hug his father. The two shared a long embrace and Blaine got their bags out of the car in the meantime. An older woman came outside and waved. “Are you a friend of Kurt’s?” That seemed to get Burt’s attention. He looked up at the stranger who had come with his son.

“Dad, Carole, this my boyfriend, Blaine. Blaine, this is my dad Burt, and my step mom, Carole.”

“It’s very nice to meet you both,” Blaine said politely. He shook Burt’s hand as the older man continued to stare him down. He went to shake Carole’s hand but she engulfed him in a hug. Blaine was surprised and Kurt chuckled. He grabbed the smaller boy’s hand and pulled him by his side.

“How long has this been going on?” Burt asked. “And why didn’t I notice it?”

“Burt Hummel. Your son, whom you haven’t seen in three years, is here. Enjoy it before you start questioning him,” Carole chided. “Let’s go inside.”

They went inside and Kurt helped Blaine move their bags to his old room. Blaine noticed that there was only one bed but he decided not to mention it right now. He could tell Kurt wanted to get back up to his family. He was a little surprised when Kurt retook his hand and dragged him back up the stairs.

The two sat on the couch and talked with Burt and Carole. Blaine could feel Burt’s gaze fixed on him but tried to ignore it and engage in conversation. “So when did you two meet?” Carole asked. She was just curious but Burt seemed to be listening intently.

Blaine and Kurt looked at each other. Kurt blushed but answered, “we met right after I moved to New York. Blaine’s studio is right next to Vogue and we bumped into each other in the hallway on day. The rest is history.”

“So, you’re a music producer Blaine?” Burt questioned.

“Yes, Sir. My friends from high school were in an acapella group and we uploaded some videos to Youtube. Someone found them and then they went viral. Before we knew it we flown to LA to talk record deals in our senior year of high school. We never made a CD though, we wanted to go more into management. My friends are my team and I write songs for stars to sing.”

“That’s amazing!” Carole gushed. “Any songs I’d know?”

“Maybe,” Blaine answered. “Have you heard Thinking Out Loud?”

“I love that song. It is my ringtone. You wrote that?”

“I did,” Blaine answered, but blushed at Carole’s praise.

“Well, this one's a keeper,” Carole said to Kurt.

“So you met three years ago, but how long have you been together?” Burt probed.

Carole rolled her eyes but Blaine answered, “two and a half years.”

Burt nodded thoughtfully. They all chatted for awhile. Burt liked Blaine but he felt like something was off. He didn’t know what it was though. Maybe he hadn’t seen his son for three years, but they still talked on the phone, and Burt had never even heard Blaine’s name. He also recognized pictures of him from Kurt’s old school books.

Around midnight Kurt announced that he was jet lagged and utterly exhausted. He excuse himself and Blaine to go downstairs. He kissed his father’s cheek goodnight and started towards his room. “Know anything about cars, Blaine?” his dad called after them.

“A little sir. My father and I worked on restoring one when were back in Italy.”

“Why don’t you join me at the shop tomorrow?”

“Sounds great. Good night Sir.”

Italy Burt thought. The kid did have little bit of an accent. Something to research.

XX

“Do you want the bed or the couch?” Kurt asked Blaine when he came down the stairs.

“What?”

“To sleep on. Do you want the bed,” Kurt said gesturing to the large king in the middle of the room. “Or the couch?” Then Blaine saw a ratty looking couch over in the corner,

“I think the bed is big enough for the both of us,” Blaine said.

“We’re not sleeping together,” Kurt said flatly.

“Why not?” Blaine asked.

“Because…” Kurt tried to think of a reason but he couldn’t come up with one.

“Is it because you’re attracted to me?” Blaine said teasingly.

“I am not!” Kurt exclaimed, a flat out lie.

Blaine smirked, “then I don’t see what the big deal is.”

Kurt looked from the bed, to the couch, and back at the bed. “Okay but no funny business Mr.” Kurt said wagging his finger at Blaine. Blaine chuckled and nodded. Kurt went into the bathroom and changed into his pajamas. When he came out he saw Blaine had already put his bottoms on, but no shirt. “You’re sleeping in that?” Kurt asked, breathing a little heavier.

“”Is that alright?” Blaine asked. Kurt’s eyes were glued to Blaine’s chest, but he nodded, finally tearing his eyes away. Blaine climbed into bed, pretending not to have noticed Kurt’s gaze.

Kurt turned on the lamp on his nightstand and climbed into the bed next to Blaine. He rolled over to face Blaine. “Thank you,” he whispered.

“For what?” Blaine asked, honestly having no idea why Kurt would be thanking him. Blaine had gotten them into this mess after all.

“For bringing me to see my Dad. I haven’t seen him since I left. I didn’t have the money.”

“I’m glad something good came of this,” Blaine whispered back. There was so much sincerity in his eyes that Kurt had to look away for a moment. Then he looked at Blaine again and offered an awkward smile. Blaine smiled back and leaned closer. Kurt closed his eyes. He is going to kiss me! But he didn’t feel the warm pressure he craved. Instead he opened his eyes and saw Blaine leaning over him, turning off the lamp. “Good night, Kurt,” Blaine whispered as he plunged them into darkness.

“Good night,” Blaine.