"I still like Joey and Rachel as a couple," Rachel complained.

"But she belongs with Ross," Kurt pointed out and Rachel sighed across the line.
"Finn told me you met Blaine," Rachel said, promptly changing the subject.

"I did," Kurt confirmed.

"Did you think he was cute?" Rachel asked and Kurt could practically feel her smile through the phone.

"Really, Rachel? Are we going to gossip like we are still in high school?" Kurt sighed, rolling his eyes.

"Oh, come on," Rachel whined. "Give me something."

"Fine. He was handsome," Kurt allowed and Rachel squealed.

"Isn't he? And he totally plays for your team," she announced happily.

"How do you know?" Kurt asked, shocked.

"When he was partnered with Puck, he immediately let him know to see if there would be a problem, which of course there isn't, and Puck mentioned it to Finn," Rachel told Kurt. "You should ask him out."

Kurt choked on the wine he had been sipping and he coughed roughly, struggling to catch his breath. "Rachel!" He squawked.

"What? You said yourself he was handsome," Rachel reasoned. "So ask him out."

"I don't know him," Kurt reminded her, getting up to wipe the spilt wine.

"All the more reason to ask him out," Rachel grinned. "To get to know him."

"I can't, Rachel," Kurt sighed.

"Kurt," Rachel said, her voice softer. "It's been two years. I don't think John would mind you being happy again."

He sucked in a breath. "I have Paige to think about."

"Kurt, please," Rachel begged.

"I don't want to talk about it," Kurt cut her off sharply. "Please. Not tonight."

"Ok," Rachel conceded. "But we will be talking about this." Kurt made an indistinguishable noise in the back of his throat, dropping the cloth he had been wiping his shirt with. "Next episode?"

Kurt smiled and agreed, settling himself back down on the couch.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Auntie Rachel!" Paige cried as Rachel opened the door. Rachel hugged her tightly and Paige rushed passed her into the house. Rachel kissed Kurt and looked him up and down.

"You look good," she smirked and Kurt rolled his eyes.

"I always look good," he reminded her and strode into the house. In truth, he had spent a good part of the morning searching for a good outfit to wear. His talk with Rachel had rattled him. He knew it was time to move on. John wouldn't want him to be unhappy for the rest of his life but he wasn't sure he could move on so easily.

Rachel caught up to him and slipped her arm through his. They headed to the backyard and Kurt smiled as he watched Paige and Alex, Finn and Rachel's three-year-old son, chasing each other, weaving in and out of the group of people. Kurt took in the people who had come. Of course, there were Puck and Quinn, who was glowing beautifully. Mike and Tina were there too. Both of them were doctors and had, more often than not, stitched up Puck and Finn as they got wounds on the job. Santana and Brittany were present too. Both girls modelled for Kurt, wearing his design labels on the runways.

Also in the back yard were Rory, Finn's partner in the force, and Artie. He used to be on the force but had been badly injured and was now paralysed from the waist down. Blaine was standing with Puck and Finn and Kurt smiled at his outfit. He was wearing red jeans, a black shirt and a bowtie.

"Hey, Kurt!" Mercedes greeted brightly, pulling the boy into a hug. Mercedes was Kurt's best friend and had been since school.

"Hey girl," Kurt beamed, kissing her cheek. He greeted the rest of his friends, smiling brightly.

"Hey princess," Puck grinned, pulling Kurt into a hug. He rolled his eyes but smiled.

"Hi," Kurt smiled politely at Blaine. "Blaine, wasn't it?"

"Yeah, Nice to see you again, Kurt," Blaine grinned. "And Paige, of course." He looked down and winked at a giggling Paige who was hiding behind Kurt's legs, trying to avoid getting tagged by Alex. Paige giggled and beamed at Blaine, wiping a hand across her face to push her hair out of her face.

"Hi, Kurt," Quinn beamed, kissing Kurt's cheek.

"Hey. You look beautiful," Kurt smiled.

"Thank you," Quinn replied. "Can I steal you for a moment?"

Kurt nodded and she took his hand, dragging him away.

"Blaine's checking you out," Quinn smirked and Kurt paused, shocked. He glanced over his shoulder and Blaine grinned at him brightly. Kurt smiled back and quickly turned around again. Quinn laughed and nudged him forward, aware of the blush on his cheeks. "So here is what you are going to do," she told Kurt firmly. "You are going to take this drink," she shoved two drinks into his hand and he curled his fingers around them before they could fall to the ground, "and you're going to talk to him."

"Oh my god, you're setting me up," Kurt exclaimed.

Quinn shrugged her shoulders. She turned him around and shoved him forward. Kurt scowled at her over his shoulder but headed over to Blaine. Puck saw him coming and pulled Finn off to the side and Kurt rolled his eyes.

"Here," he said, holding out one of the drinks to Blaine. "This is for you."

"Thanks Kurt," Blaine grinned. "So, the guys were telling me that you are a designer."

Kurt eyes widened slightly but he smiled. "I am," he chuckled. "Brittany and Santana are my models." They glanced over at the two girls who were talking to Quinn. "You just transferred?"

"From Ohio," Blaine nodded.

"You're from Ohio?" Kurt gasped.

"Yeah – wait, are you?" Blaine asked, eyes wide.

"From Lima," Kurt nodded and Blaine let out a shocked laugh.

"I lived in Westerville."

"No way," Kurt gaped at him.

"I did," Blaine grinned.

"When did you move to New York?" Kurt asked, taking a sip of his drink.

"A few months ago," Blaine answered. "I took a month off to get settled in before I started work again."

Kurt nodded his understanding. "Do you like New York?" He asked.

"Yeah," Blaine grinned. "I always dreamed of coming here and I can't believe I finally made it."

"I couldn't wait to get out of Ohio," Kurt sighed. "I always wanted to come to New York. Nothing was going to stop me."

"Now look at you," Puck grinned, coming up behind Kurt and slinging his arm around his shoulder. "You're a big fashion designer and have a kid."

"Almost perfect," Kurt smiled bitterly and Puck shifted.

"FINN! HURRY UP AND START THE BARBEQUE!" Santana snapped and Finn hurried to comply, not wanting to get on Santana's bad side. It was not a desirable place to find yourself.

Kurt started the conversation up again, moving away from the awkwardness that had fallen over them. Eventually Finn got the meat cooked and they could start eating. Paige and Alex sat together, eating and talking while the adults laughed and swapped stories about work.

Rachel was pleased to see Blaine and Kurt hitting it off. They talked easily, the conversation just flowing between the two of them naturally. As the afternoon wore on and they ate more, the sun started to set. Paige walked sluggishly over to Kurt and tugged on his shirt. Kurt smiled down at her and easily lifted her into his lap. She snuggled into his chest, eyes dropping closed.

"Tired?" Kurt asked quietly.

"Nghh," Paige mumbled and Kurt chuckled.

"I think it's time for us to go home," he smiled. "Thanks for having us, Rachel."

"No problem," she smiled. "We'll have lunch next week."

"Sounds nice," Kurt agreed, standing up. He held Paige tightly in his arms and bade everyone goodbye.

"Oh, your jacket," Blaine piped up, standing up and draping Kurt's jacket over his shoulders. "Drive safe."

"I will," Kurt smiled, "You too."

"Bye," Blaine grinned. Mercedes walked with Kurt to the door and helped him with Paige.

"You and Blaine seemed to be hitting it off," Mercedes commented once Paige was settled in the back seat.

"Not now, Mercedes," Kurt sighed. "I had a lovely evening and I don't want to ruin my good mood."

"Alright," she relented. "But you and I are going to be talking soon, white boy."

"Bye Mercedes," Kurt grinned, slipping into his car. He drove home and carried a sleeping Paige into the house. He went straight to her room and undressed her, putting her into her pyjamas. Kurt smoothed her hair out of her face and tucked her in, kissing her forehead. He watched her sleep for a small while. She looked so peaceful.

Eventually he left her room and got ready for bed himself. It was early, but he knew Paige would be up soon and he needed enough energy to keep up with her.

Paige didn't remember John; she had been only two when he passed away. In some ways she was lucky because of that but on the other hand she would never get to know her other father. Kurt switched off the light and curled himself up into bed. He didn't want to think about it tonight. He just wanted to remember having a good time, seeing Paige enjoy herself and think of the new friend he had made.

Kurt smiled to himself and hugged the pillow tightly, drifting into unconsciousness.