Burts first step was talking to Joan. He wanted to make sure it was even a possibility; that no relatives would pop up, that Peter would not be able to get his parental rights back, and that the state would allow it.

Once he got the (enthusiastic) YES! from Joan, Burt knew that his next conversation would have to be with Blaine. He had thought, briefly, about he and Carole telling Kurt and Finn first and then making a big production of asking Blaine, however Carole had set him straight.

"I dont understand! Hes going to be thrilled, I just know it!" Burt said exasperated.

Carole smiled at him and placed her hand on top of his, "Im sure he will be, honey, but that doesnt mean you should ask him in a high pressure situation where there are four people expecting him to say yes."

"You dont think hell say yes?" He looked concerned.

"Im sure he will, but its still a big deal. He might have questions, he might need time to think about the implications of saying yes."

"What implications?"

"Burt, if we adopt Blaine, that means he no longer has anyone trying to get him back. The realization that he can even be adopted is something that Im sure he knows in theory, but to actually have it be out there…its something that might hit him hard."

Burt thought for a minute and then turned his hand around and squeezed Caroles, "Youre right, I hadnt even thought about that. Its something that Ive wanted for a long time, for him to be here, safe and where he belongs, that I didnt even think about what it would really mean for him. Ok…how about you take Kurt and Finn out tomorrow for a few hours and I can talk to Blaine?"

She smiled and then leaned over and kissed him, "Thats a great idea. We can still celebrate when he says yes."

"If he says yes."

She squeezed his hand, "When."

After Carole, Finn, and Kurt left the house early to get some things to redecorate Blaines room, (when Carole made the suggestion to Kurt, he jumped right on the bandwagon and even wanted it to be a surprise for his boyfriend. Finn was going for heavy lifting) Burt sat in the living room and watched the morning news, waiting for Blaine to wake up.

About twenty minutes or so after Burt had sat down, Blaine came stumbling into the room and plopped down on the couch. He leaned back and closed his eyes, it was obvious that he had literally woken up and just walked right down stairs. His hair was sticking up at different angles, the right side of his face had marks left from the pillow, and his pajamas were crinkled.

Burt laughed a little, "Morning, kid."

Blaine opened his eyes to slits, apparently as far as they would go, "Morning," His voice was raspy with sleep, he looked around a bit, "Where is everyone?"

"Oh, Carole took Kurt and Finn out for some shopping, you werent awake yet so they said theyd let you sleep."

He was relieved when Blaine just nodded and closed his eyes again.

After that, they sat in silence, watching the TV together until the news turned into Saturday morning cartoons.

"The Ohio game starts at 12, the coverage should be beginning in about a half hour." Burt said, looking at his watch.

Blaine, who was much more awake, nodded and finished eating the toast he had made for himself.

"Im just going to jump in the shower then Ill come watch with you."

Burt nodded and when Blaine left the room he grew nervous. He knew that he had to talk about the possibility of adoption soon, before Carole and the boys got home, or he would lose his chance. Now that Kurt and Blaine were dating, he rarely caught a moment with just Blaine.

Burt contemplated what he would say and how he would say it, and before long Blaine was back.

"You look deep in thought."

Burt startled at Blaines presence. He was now in jeans and a sweater, his hair still damp and beginning to curl on his head.

"Yea I, uh…I wanted to talk to you about something, actually."

Blaine eyed him, "Ok." He walked over to the couch he had been on before and sat down, his back straight, "Whats up?"

"Look, Blaine, I spoke to Carole already about this and I want…well we want…um, we…" His words were getting jumbled in his head now that Blaine was looking at him so expectantly, anxiety clear in his hazel eyes.

"Just tell me." His voice came out a little bit louder than a whisper.

"We want you to officially live with us…we want to adopt you."

Blaine released a long breath he had been holding; he closed his eyes and put his head down in his hands, his elbows resting on knees.

"Kid? Are you alright?" The nerves in his voice were evident.

"Yea," Blaines voice was muffled, "Just gimme a moment."

"Ok." Burt nodded and sat back a little.

He took a few more breaths and then looked back up, his eyes a little red.

"Burt, I—"

"You can say no!" He blurted out and Blaines mouth snapped shut, surprised, "Its just…I dont want you to feel pressured to say yes. Thats why Carole took Kurt and Finn out, so I could ask you alone. If you need time to think…thats fine too, ok?"

The corners of Blaines mouth turned up a little and he shook his head, "Im not saying no, you just surprised me…I thought, uh..I thought you were sending me away, actually."

It was Burts turn to look completely lost, "What? Why would we send you away?"

He laughed a little, "I dont know! You just looked so serious and nervous, and…its just the first thing that popped into my head."

"Sorry to say, kid, but youre not getting rid of us that easily."

"Good." He nodded then looked away, biting his lip for a moment before looking back, uncertainty in his eyes, "I just…" He cut himself off, "Nevermind."

Burt shook his head, "Common, tell me, Blaine. I want you to be comfortable with this and you can be open with me about what youre thinking."

"I want you and Carole to adopt me more than anything, its pretty much all Ive wanted since I can remember coming to live with you. I…" He paused for a moment, "I dont want you to take this the wrong way, or make you think that I dont want to be here any less, but I…I want… Can I keep my last name? Its not that I dont want to take your last name, or that I am ungrateful, or that, like-"

Burt laughed, holding his hand up to stop Blaines rambling, "Jeeze, kid, you sure know how to keep a guy on the edge of his seat!" Blaine dropped his head a little, a pink blush spreading on his cheeks, "Of course you can keep your last name. Finn is still a Hudson, isnt he?"

Blaine smiled, "Yea…I guess I didnt think of that. Ok, yes, when can we do this?" The light in Blaines eyes, the one that had been dimmed since his mothers death, seemed to light back up.

"Well, Carole and I already spoke to Joan, and she said she could get us the paperwork by Monday if you agreed. Once we submit everything, we just wait to be assigned a date at family court and then…well then youre ours!"

Blaines smile grew large and Burt could do nothing but smile back at him. They were quickly drawn to the television as the Buckeyes ran onto the field, but Burt could see, out of the corner of his eyes, Blaine glancing at him and smiling every so often. His heart felt lighter knowing that he would be able to take care of this boy for good.

It was during the second quarter that Carole and the boys got home and Kurt demanded that Blaine keep his eyes closed as they brought some stuff up to Finns room, it would have been brought to Kurts, but Blaine was in there far too much.

Blaine obediently kept his eyes closed until Kurt plopped down next to him and told him he could open them.

Blaine smiled as Kurt pulled away from a kiss, "Whats going on?"

"I have no idea what youre talking about." Kurt turned with mock puzzlement.

"Surprises from my boyfriend, being adopted, its a big day for Blaine Anderson." He smiled a little.

"Like I said, I have—" He cut himself off and looked at Blaine, then Burt, then back to Blaine, "Being adopted?"

Blaine took his hand, still smiling, "Yea…it turns out theres this really awesome family that wants to adopt me."

Kurts eyebrows shot up, but he quickly recovered and plastered a fake smile on his face, though his hand fell limp in Blaines, "Wow! Blaine thats…" He smiled a little harder, it looking more like a grimace, "Thats wonderful!"

"Oh, for crying out loud, Blaine, youre going to give him a heart attack, just tell him already." Burt sounded exasperated, but his smile gave away how happy he was.

Kurt looked at his father in confusion, then snapped his head back to Blaine, "You mean?"

Blaine just nodded, his smiled growing as Kurt came to the realization.

A real smile, one that gave way to his dimples, found its way onto Kurts face as he threw himself at Blaine, hugging him tightly, "Im so happy!"

"Me too!" Blaine said into his ear.

They stayed hugging for a few moments, until Kurt pulled back suddenly, "We have to pick out your outfit for when it becomes official!" He grabbed Blaines hand and pulled him from the couch and up the stairs, leaving an amused Burt and Carole, and a confused Finn in the living room.

Everything seemed to take longer than any of them had expected it to. Filing the paperwork, getting the correct signatures, setting a court hearing, it all had its own timelines and processes. The family waited, as patiently as possible, but thirteen days after Blaines sixteenth birthday, the three Hummels, one Hudson, and one Anderson found themselves standing in front of Judge Rhinestein.

"It appears that all of the paperwork is in order."

"Yes, your Honor." Joan spoke.

"And the minor, is he here?" She looked at the boy who walked up to the podium, looking scared out of his mind, "Dont look so nervous, Blaine, this is a great day!" She smiled a little, happy for these cases that she wished she had more of.

"Youve given this serious thought?" She asked, turning serious for the moment.

"Yes, your Honor." He nodded quickly.

"And you understand that if you are adopted by the Hummels, that they are legally responsible for you, and that you would no longer receive services through child welfare?"

"Yes, your Honor."

"And youve come to this conclusion on your own, with no coercion to make this decision?"

"Yes, your Honor."

She nodded and smiled once more, "You may step back. Mr. and Mrs. Hummel?"

They stepped forward, looking equally as anxious as Blaine.

"You have both given this decision serious thought, taking into account the seriousness of the commitment that you are both undertaking in adopting this minor, I presume?"

"Yes, your Honor." They both answered.

She nodded, "Are there any final questions or concerns I should be aware of?"

They all shook their heads no and she nodded, looking down at the paper.

She handed the bailiff a piece of paper that he brought to the podium and Joan instructed Carole and Burt where to sign. The butterflies in Blaines stomach began to pick up speed when he realized it was his new birth certificate. His hand squeezed Kurts tightly.

When both had signed, the birth certificate was returned to the judge. Everyone in the room seemed to have huge, bright smiles. Judge Rhinestein grabbed a pen and quickly signed her name and looked up smiling.

"Well…Its now official!" She stood up with the birth certificate and quickly made her way to the family, holding the paper out to Blaine, "Blaine Devon Anderson, you are now the legally adopted son of Burt and Carole Hummel! Congratulations to you all!"

Blaine took the paper and stared down at it. In the space of father was Burt Hummel and in the space of mother was Carole Hummel. His vision grew blurry and his chin was quivering as he looked up to the judge.

"Thank you! Thank you so much!" He laughed and sobbed at the same time and was quickly pulling into the center of a family hug.

Happy tears fell for everyone in the family, and Joan also found herself needing a tissue, happy her client finally found a forever family. After the tears dried up, and Kurt made sure that everyones faces were less blotchy, they took what felt like thousands of pictures.

Blaine and the judge, Blaine and Joan, Blaine and the bailiff, Blaine and his new parents, Blaine and his new brothers, Blaine and his boyfriend (who was now technically his brother but they were really not going to ever label it as that ever again after today), and Blaine and his new family.

After the photos were taken and handshakes given, the family walked out of the courthouse.

"So where to? We need to celebrate!" Burt smiled, clapping his hand on Blaines back as they walked.

"Anywhere you want to go, Blaine." Carole smiled at him.

Blaine looked around at them, squeezed Kurts hand in his, and just smiled, "Home…lets go home."