Kurt and Blaine sneaked back into the auditorium where the rest of the New Directions were watching Mercedes sing on the stage.

At the end of her song they stood up and clapped with everyone else.

"Where did you two disappear off to?" Finn frowned.

"I was just showing Blaine around the school," Kurt replied innocently. He looked over to Mercedes who was still on the stage making the 'call me' sign with her hands. Kurt discretely nodded at her.

"I'd better go," Blaine said, shrinking a little under Finn's gaze. "The show was really great though thank you for inviting me. I'll see you Friday, Kurt"

"What's Friday?" Finn asked once they had left the school and were driving home.

"Not that it's any of your business but we're going out on a date." Kurt replied.

"You and Blaine?" Finn asked incredulously.

"Me and Blaine," Kurt repeated.

"But... he's our competition."

"Didn't you listen to what Quinn said? He's not our competition anymore, and so what if he was? Would it kill you to be nice to him?"

"He'll be our competition next year, Kurt. Did you think about that?"

"You really think that he's going to ask me out on a date so he can spy on us a year in advance?"

"Hey Jessie transferred schools for almost a whole semester just to try and win regionals."

By they time they arrived home they were still bickering.

"I just think it's weird that the lead vocalist of an opposing teams wants to date you," Finn said.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Kurt snapped. "Why is it so weird that someone would want to date me?"

"Because he only just met you at regionals!" Finn yelled.

"He didn't!" Kurt yelled back. "We've been friends for ages, which you'd know if you had bothered to ask!"

"Whoa what's going on here?" Burt said, entering the hallway. "What are you two fighting about?"

"Nothing," Kurt said quickly.

"Kurt has a date." Finn added, earning himself an angry glare from Kurt.

"Finn, why don't you go upstairs," Burt suggested. Finn took one last glance at Kurt before departing up the stairs.

"This date. Is it with a guy?" Burt asked once they heard Finn's bedroom door close.

"No, it's with a Llama," Kurt said sarcastically.

"Hey! I just asked a question don't get snarky," Burt said sternly.

"I'm sorry," Kurt said quietly. "But I've just spent the last 10 minutes listening to Finn go on at me about it, I don't want to hear it from you too!"

"He's your brother now," Burt reasoned. "He's just looking out for you."

"I'm his brother too but you don't see me butting into his business and telling him what a humungous mistake I think he's making by going back out with Quinn," Kurt argued.

"I'm not saying he's right, I'm just saying his heart's in the right place."

Kurt grumbled but he didn't say anything.

"So were you planning on telling me about this date?"

"Yes," Kurt said defensively. "But he asked me out literally an hour ago. I've not even told Mercedes yet!"

"Okay. Kurt, you know I trust you to make good decisions." Kurt smiled at his father's words. "But I want to meet this guy first."

"Fine. He's going to pick me up so you can meet him then."

Burt nodded. "Good. Now don't you have to call Mercedes or something?"

Kurt grinned and ran upstairs, a three-way conference call with Mercedes and Rachel was in order.

Friday night soon came around and he spent the early evening trying on different outfits and texting photos to Mercedes. It was their first date and he wanted to look nice, but it was Breadstixs so he didn't want to look over the top either. Plus, he wasn't sure what Blaine would be wearing. He assumed it wouldn't be too dissimilar to what he'd worn at the night of neglect. In the end he settled on a silver shirt and black trousers with a dark waistcoat and texted Mercedes. Her reply came instantly: "Perfect!".

He heard a knock at his door. "Come in."

"What do you want?" he said snippily as Finn walked into the room.

"I wanted to talk to you," Finn said.

"I think you've talked enough," Kurt replied dismissively.

"Look, I'm sorry if I upset you, Kurt."

Kurt looked at his stepbrother. "Well you did."

"I just remember... how crushed Rachel was after what she went through with Jessie. I really cared about Rachel, I still do, and it sucked seeing her like that." Finn shifted on the spot. "I care about you too now and I was just worried that the same thing might happen again."

"It won't," Kurt said softly. "Blaine isn't like that. You'll see for yourself when you get to know him."

"Yeah, maybe..."

They both heard the doorbell ring. "That'll be him," Kurt said, suddenly feeling nervous.

"You'd better get it then," Finn said when Kurt hadn't moved. "Before Burt does."

Kurt bolted down the stairs and reached the door just before his dad.

"Hi Blaine," he smiled.

"Hey," Blaine replied, looking at the man standing behind Kurt's shoulder.

"Oh, this is my father, Burt Hummel. Dad, this is Blaine."

"It's nice to meet you, sir," Blaine said reaching to shake his hand.

"Call me Burt," he replied. "And I expect my son home by midnight."

"Of course," Blaine said. "That's when my car turns back into a pumpkin anyway."

Kurt bit his lip to stop himself laughing. "What?" came his dad's confused response.

"Uh... nothing it's just a bad Joke." Blaine mumbled.

"Ok, See you later!" Kurt called as he grabbed Blaine's arm to drag him away from the house.

"I bet your dad thinks I'm a moron," Blaine sighed as they walked down the path towards his car.

"I'm sure he just thinks that you're nervous," Kurt reassured him. "And he'll like you for actually caring enough to be nervous."

"I hope so... so let's go to Breadstix!"

At breadstix the conversation flowed easily while they ate. Once their plates had been taken away and they were left sipping diet cokes, the conversation turned more serious.

"This has been really nice," Kurt smiled. "I have to say... I was a little surprised when you asked me out."

"I wanted to ask you out at regionals but I guess I had to pluck up the courage first," Blaine said sheepishly.

"Well I'm glad you did."

"I do have a question for you though. Two questions actually."

"Go on..."

Blaine took a deep breath. "Ever since we started talking... overtime we just seemed to get closer and closer. I cared about you so much, even before I ever saw your face."

He laughed a little. "And then Rachel sent me that video and... I thought you were just about the most adorable thing I've ever seen. I knew I wanted more than friendship from you but there was the distance... and then I saw you at regionals."

Blaine reached over the table to hold Kurt's hand.

"You're witty and funny. You're brave and determined and... I'm so glad that I met you. I don't know if this is too soon. I mean, it doesn't feel too soon... it feels like I've been looking for you forever. Kurt, will you be my boyfriend?"

Kurt stared back at Blaine, his eyes felt slightly watery. "Well, after that speech how could I say no?"

He felt Blaine's hand on his tighten and cursed the table between them for preventing him from being able to lean over and kiss him.

"Wait," Kurt said suddenly.

"What?" Blaine said letting go of Kurt's hand.

"You said there were two questions!"

"Ah yes! How do you feel about cheesy over-the-top romantic gestures?" Blaine asked, eyebrows raised.

"I get the feeling that I should be saying they're good?" Kurt replied, hesitantly.

Blaine nodded to someone Kurt couldn't see. He turned in his chair to see a dozen Warblers march into the restaurant and towards the stage. He turned back to ask what was going on but Blaine had already gotten up to stand on the stage with them.

"Hello Breadstix patrons," he spoke into the mic. "I hope you don't mind me and my group giving a short performance for my date over there."

A few of the girls who we're nearby were 'aw'ing while their dates were glaring at Blaine as if to say "Gee, thanks for showing us up, Buddy."

"This is for you, Kurt."

Drinking in the morning sun
Blinking in the morning sun
Shaking off a heavy one
Yeah, heavy like a loaded gun

What made me behave that way?
Using words I never say
I can only think it must be love
Oh anyway, it's looking like a beautiful day

Someone tell me how I feel
It's silly wrong, but vivid right
Oh, kiss me like a final meal
Yeah, kiss me like we die tonight

'Cause holy cow, I love your eyes
And only now I see the light
Yeah, lying with you half awake
Stumbling over what to say
Oh, anyway, it's looking like a beautiful day

Blaine twisted the mic off the stand and walked towards their table, staring at Kurt who was blushing and shrinking back into his seat.

When my face is chamois creased
If you think I wink, I did
Laugh politely at repeats
Yeah, kiss me when my lips are thin

He felt Blaine grab his hand and pull him towards the stage, walking backwards and singing directly at Kurt the whole time.

'Cause holy cow, I love your eyes
And only now I see the light
Yeah, lying with you half awake
Stumbling over what to say
Well, anyway, it's looking like a beautiful day

As he stepped on the stage a mic was pushed into his hand. Well Kurt wasn't one to pass up an opportunity to sing and he joined in with the Warblers to sing the rest of the song.

So throw those curtains wide
One day like this a year would see me right
Throw those curtains wide
One day like this a year would see me right

Throw those curtains wide
One day like this a year would see me right
Throw those curtains wide
One day like this a year would see me right for life

'Cause holy cow, I love your eyes
And only now I see the light

Singing with Blaine on the small stage he realised that this was the first time they had ever sang together. Hopefully the first of many. The first of many songs they would sing and also the first of many firsts they still had to look forward to. All the anguish and misery of the past year melted away as if they had been erased by this perfect moment that he was sharing with Blaine, and the knowledge of all the perfect moments yet to come.