"I hate to say I told you so." Kurt rolled his eyes at her.

"I didn't come here for criticism Quinn."

"I know, but really what do you want me to say? The guy's a jerk, I tried telling you that, but you insisted there was something different about him." Her coffee coloured eyes roved over her friends face thoughtfully.

"I still think there is. Yeah he's pissed me off, but there's just something under all that macho crap. Maybe no-one's stuck around long enough to find out what." Quinn sighed; Kurt obviously wasn't ready to let this go, she had a feeling there was a reason no one stuck around in Blaine's life. She needed to take his mind off Blaine and everything associated with him.

**

Blaine was sat alone in the common room at the station, brooding. He'd been in a foul mood for a few days now and after snapping at most of the colleagues he could actually tolerate, he was left on his own. He kept replaying Kurt's reaction over in his head. He just didn't get what he had expected. Blaine wasn't the type to have anything more, sure, it had felt different with Kurt than anyone else, but Blaine wasn't about to change who he was for him. He had worked hard to keep himself from being hurt again, from being left by anyone close to him. And no-one tried to get close to him, which suited Blaine just fine. He would try talking to Kurt about it, but in all honesty he was scared. That meant opening himself up, something he hadn't done for years.

**

Kurt surveyed his living room through critical eyes, it wasn't messy per say, but there was a general debris left from his and Ava's adventure into the jungle earlier that day. He sighed and began to pick up the various soft toys and blankets used to build their 'den'.
There wwas a loud knock at the door, which Kurt went to answer still clutching a blanket and two toy giraffes. He swung the door open, a broad smile lighting up his face.

"Hiya Kiddo." Burt Hummel embraced his son, getting hit in the ear by a soft giraffe as he did so.

"Dad! I didn't know you were coming did I?"

"Do I have to check with you every time I want to visit?" They pulled away, Burt raising an eyebrow.

"No, of course not, come in. Where's Carol?" He shut the door behind them and went to move the toys off the chair his Dad frequented.

"Having a weekend at one of those spa's she keeps tellin' me about. Y'know a brew wouldn't go amiss, it's a long drive from Ohio." Kurt jumped up from the settee, scattering the toys he'd just picked up.

"Of course" Burt watched Kurt closely as he hastily picked up the toys again and went to make drinks. There was definitely something off about his son, he was surprised when he missed their weekly phone call, but since Ava he did miss the occasional one, no, something was obviously bugging Kurt. When Kurt returned with the drinks Burt decided to just ask him.

"How's things then kid?" Kurt smiled in a way that spoke more to his Dad than words could.

"Good Dad, Ava's doing really well, I think she'd like to see Rachel more, but she's good. The shop’s doing well, better than I thought actually." Burt frowned having noticed Kurt had left himself out of the answer.

"Good, and how about you Kurt?" Kurt seemed to pause before answering.

"Same as ever Dad, I'm fine."

"Come on kid, I know you better than that, I haven't seen you this jittery since Ava was born, somethin's got you rattled. What's up?" They looked at each other for a moment. Kurt knew he couldn't lie to his Dad, his Father usually knew what was bugging Kurt before even he did, he even clamed to know Kurt was gay even before Ava made an appearance.

"I just...I met this guy. He's a bit rough around the edges, but there's more to him. He seems to think he isn't worth much. I don't know much about him Dad, but I'd like to, if he'll let me in." Burt sat thoughtfully for a minute, watching his son. He knew when Kurt had got it bad and when he was just humoring people. By the looks of it Kurt had got it bad this time.

"Just playing Devil's Advocate here son, but..."

"I've thought this before and it ended badly? - Yeah I know Dad, but it's different this time, Blaine's different." Burt continued to look skeptically at Kurt.

"I've already had Quinn tell me the same and at the rate we're going now, nothing will happen. But I like him Dad, and he's good with Ava." Kurt sat back in the chair, holding one of Ava's monkey toys to his waistcoat covered chest.

"You say this kid's called Blaine?" Kurt nodded an affirmative.

"Well have you tried just talkin' to him? I'm guessing so far it's been less talkin' and more..."

"Okay Dad! I get it!" Kurt shook his head as if trying to rid his mind of the words his Dad had been about to say.

"I dunno, I was kind of upset last time we saw each other. He probably won't even want to talk to me again." Kurt pouted, still clutching the soft monkey.

"Don't be so dramatic Kid" He let out a sigh before adding "you won't know if you don't try." Kurt contemplated this, knowing with his Dad's words this part of the conversation was over and getting up to make them drinks. Thoughts whirled around his brain, he had no idea how he was going to talk to Blaine, he just knew he had to try.

**

Quinn waved Joe goodbye and started on her way home, a mental checklist running fluently in her mind as she went.

Her route home took her right past the Fire Station, her mind flicked to a dark headed man stepping off an engine, obviously just back from a call out. Anger flared in her chest and before she knew what she was doing she strode over to Blaine completely ready to give him a piece of her mind, however when she got closer she noticed how exhausted he looked, black smudges up his arms and a thick stripe of black across his neck stood out against the slightly tan skin. He turned, catching sight of her walking toward him. He raised an eyebrow and began the usual post fire routine, stepping out of the smoke infused protective clothing.

"Blaine." He ignored Quinn, he'd spent quite enough time thinking about Kurt without her input as well.

"Blaine, you can't ignore me."

"Watch me." He noted the way her dark eyes narrowed, a hand resting on her hip. Here was a girl obviously used to getting what she wants, he snorted lightly at the thought.

"You're an ass." Blaine stopped what he was doing, indicated to the rest of the crew to continue, he grabbed Quinn's wrist and directed her to an empty office, shutting the door behind them.

"Care to explain exactly why I'm an ass? And why you thought to interrogate me while I'm working?"

"You slept with Kurt, then made it seem like he was just another notch on your bed post, you act like you don't care about anyone, you're perpetually grumpy and heaven knows why, but people find that attractive so you take advantage of that, never letting anyone close enough to really know you. Kurt seems to think there's something about you worth knowing, personally I can't begin to fathom what he sees in you." She had moved closer to him as she ranted, an arm outstretched with a finger jabbing near his face threateningly. She had expected him to fight back, or else look smug. She didn't expect him to appear smaller, a look of guilt to spread across his face with every accusation. She took a step back, tucking a golden strand of hair daintily behind her ear as she waited for him to respond.

"I agree." Blaine didn't look up at her, so she stayed quiet until he spoke again.

"He scares me. I don't get close to people, ever. But I can't help feeling things when I'm with him. I can't feel things, it hurts too much. I'm an ass for a reason, and it's got nothing to do with you. I don't need you yelling at me, I know. So back off." he finally looked up at her, trying to glare, but the pain in his eyes was obvious. She could tell he thought he'd said too much. She looked him up and down for a minute.

"Just don't hurt him, I will make you pay if you do." With that she turned, her skirt swirling around her legs gracefully, and stalked out of the building. Blaine shook his head and returned to work.

**

Kurt had taken to visiting the market first thing in the morning in the hopes of catching Blaine there, for the last three weeks he'd left Ava with Quinn and gone to the market alone, to no avail. On the fourth week he'd pretty much given up on ever seeing Blaine again and made his solitary way around his favourite veggie stall in somewhat of a funk. His cell vibrated in his pocket, he paid for his groceries and fished the phone out, unlocking the screen before taking in the message.

Unknown Number
Kurt, it's Blaine. I think we need to talk. Swing by my apartment, I'm not working today.

Kurt blinked at the screen caught completely off guard. Well, he wasn't expecting that. Kurt made up his mind in a matter of seconds, he would not let this chance go. He typed an affirmative and sent it off, instantly receiving Blaine's address. He set off, his heart thumping nervously. In a matter of minutes Kurt was looking up at the modest apartment block, He stepped in, noting the elevator was still out of order.

He arrived at Blaine's door, slightly out of breath from three flights of stairs and not a little bit less nervous. Knocking gently, Kurt announced his presence; the door was almost immediately opened. There stood a tired looking Blaine, complete with disheveled hair.

"Hey." He attempted a smile, not quite reaching his eyes.

"Hi, th-thanks for coming." Kurt raised an eyebrow at the nerves in Blaine's voice. It was un-nerving. Blaine was always confident, brash- rude even. In a way it was reassuring to see another side of the man that enraptured him so. He stepped over the threshold, not knowing what to expect from a thoroughly unpredictable man.