“And hi to you too. What’s going on?” Blaine asked, bouncing as well, catching Kurt’s enthusiasm through the phone.

“We’re pregnant!” Kurt squealed.

Blaine went rigid.

“Blaine?” Kurt seemed worried. “You still there?”

“…What?”

Kurt chuckled. “We’re getting a baby!”

Blaine couldn’t even. His brain was just…what?

“Huh?”

Kurt laughed happily.

“A baby! We have to start thinking of names! What do you think? I mean…it has to be stylish and hip – it’d be awkward if it wasn’t. I personally like T-“

“Whoa!” Blaine cut him off, seeming to find his voice. “Go back. Way…way back.” Blaine cleared his throat. “Start from the beginning. Why are we getting a baby?”

Kurt giggled. “Okay, so in our home economics class, we rotate between cooking, design and early childhood studies.” He giggled excitedly again. “So this term is early childhood! We get babies!”

“Not real ones though…right?”

Kurt laughed again. “No. They’re plastic, but they cry and need changing and feeding – just like real babies.”

Blaine was still kind of stunned. But he was getting there.

“Wow.”

Kurt just laughed.

“We get to look after our baby for the whole week, starting Monday!”

Blaine chuckled. “Did you plan this or something?”

“Why?”

“Next week is professional development. I don’t need to be there at all until next Wednesday.”

“So you’ll come and look after little Toronto with me? The whole week?”

“Toronto?”

“You don’t like it? I mean, we can cha-“

“No, no…it’s a good name…I think…”

Kurt laughed again. Boy, he was in a great mood.

“So…do you think you could stay at my house the whole week?”

“What, even at night?”

“Yeah…”

“I wouldn’t mind.” Blaine grinned into the phone.

“Great! I’ll ask Dad!”

^.^

“Hi!” Blaine grinned, finding Kurt pacing outside the Home Economics staffroom.

“Ooh!” Kurt practically squealed. “You made it!” he grinned, pulling Blaine into a hug. “We can meet our baby together!”

At that moment, the Economics teacher stepped out, holding the bassinet that contained the plastic baby, placing it on the ground next to her.

Kurt’s eyes widened, his hands flying to his mouth with an excited squeal. Both Blaine and the teacher gave him a small smile.

“So, have you decided on a partner?” Mrs. Erikson asked, eyeing Blaine.

“Well, see…” Kurt started. “I was thinking Blaine could be my partner.”

“Does Blaine go to this school…?”

“I go to Dalton Academy.” Blaine responded coolly. “But Kurt and I are dating.” Mrs. Erikson barely batted an eyelash, which Kurt had to give her credit for. “Our grade at Dalton has professional development courses this week and I’ll be spending the whole week at Kurt’s house. We figured that would be easier and more practical than Kurt looking after this child with someone he’d barely spend time with, and might not even like.”

Kurt almost gaped at Blaine. He sure had a way with words. Mrs. Erikson seemed to consider this.

“How would this work while Kurt has classes?”

“I thought we could take turns, so Blaine had him in certain classes, and I had him in others – just like the other pairs are doing.” Kurt explained earnestly.

Mrs. Erikson looked thoughtful.

“I don’t know whether or not I’m allowed to let you partner with someone outside the school…at the very least he’d need to have a teacher to supervise him with the doll.” She explained.

Kurt’s face brightened.

“That’s okay! Mr. Schue knows Blaine and I’m sure if I asked he wouldn’t mind supervising Blaine with the baby.”

“Alright, but I’m going to put restrictions on that, because you only have to attend half your classes, so you can only leave the doll with Blaine when you have tests or assignment work. Deal?” she asked.

Kurt nodded, practically bouncing with excitement. Mrs. Erikson handed over the nappy bag.

“You know the drill.” She said, attaching the bracelets that Kurt had come to know as magic-magnetic-parent-recogniser-swipey-thingies to each of their wrists. “Don’t leave him out in the rain, he’ll turn on in three hours or so, and he’s due back before school on Monday. Good luck!” she summarised quickly, already heading back into her staffroom, the coffee machine calling her.

Smiling at each other, Kurt handed Blaine the nappy bag, stepping forward to pick up the bassinet. He cooed gently at the plastic baby, grinning wide; Blaine wearing a matching smile.

They headed back to the car, hand in hand.

“So what are we going to do until he wakes up? The Lima Bean?” Blaine asked.

“Shopping, Blaine. Little Toronto needs clothes.” Kurt said matter-of-factly.

“Didn’t Mrs. What’s-her-face just give us clothes?” Blaine asked, confusedly, pointing back over his shoulder at the school building.

“Blaine, look in the bag.” Kurt said gently, waiting patiently next to the car.

Impatiently, Blaine flipped the bag open. The first pocket held the usual bottles and nappies. Seeing nothing unusual, he looked in the next pocked, recoiling in disgust.

“Kurt, why is it all pink? Toronto is a boy, isn’t he?” he asked concernedly.

“Yes Blaine.” Kurt said. “That’s why we’re going shopping.”

^.^

Surprisingly, it hadn’t taken Kurt long to pick out two outfits. Blaine had trailed behind him, carrying Toronto in the bassinet while Kurt had the nappy bag slung over his shoulder.

They’d changed his outfit in the Parents room, Blaine hovering as they ignored the weird looks they were getting. Now they’d settled at a table in the food court, Kurt nursing Toronto easily as they ate, keeping an eye on the time. Even though Toronto wasn’t on yet, Kurt felt the need to hold him.

When it started getting close to three, he insisted they leave. They were halfway to the car when the baby gurgled happily. Blaine froze, wide-eyed.

“Blaine…?” Kurt sensed that Blaine wasn’t behind him anymore.

“It…” Blaine was staring at Toronto, before correcting himself. “He…made a noise.”

Kurt grinned, but raised an eyebrow. “Is he crying?”

Blaine and Kurt were both absolutely silent, listening carefully.

“No…” Blaine answered.

“Then Toronto is fine.” Kurt gazed fondly at him. “He probably just turned on.”

Blaine gave Toronto a wary look before continuing to the car, holding the bassinet way more gingerly then he’d been doing before.

“Do you want to sit in the back?” Kurt asked. “You drove last time so…” he explained, his voice trailing off.

Blaine nodded a little hesitantly, opening the back seat door and gently putting Toronto, bassinet and all in the seat next to him. Kurt settled himself in the driver’s seat, adjusting the chair so he was sitting further back.

“Why do you sit so close?”

“I have short legs Kurt, we’ve been over this.” Blaine grinned, buckling in and holding onto the bassinet protectively.

Kurt grinned at them from the rear-view mirror, starting the car and backing out of the car spot. From the mirror, Kurt stole glances at Blaine, who was staring down at Toronto with a fond smile, stroking his tiny plastic hand.

Suddenly, in the silence of the car, a small whimper made Blaine’s eyes widen.

“Blaine – swipe it with the swipey thingy!” Kurt was wide-eyed, trying to keep his eyes on the road and on Blaine and Toronto, who was steadily growing louder. Blaine was panicking, shaking his head and moving his arm everywhere except where it needed to go.

“Where?”

“Over his chest!”

“Kurt, it’s not working!”

Kurt stopped the car as Toronto’s cries grew to an almost unbearable volume. He leaned around the seat and gave a clean swipe over Toronto’s chest with the bracelet, earning a quieter sort of whimper. Blaine’s eyes were still wide, practically backed up against the door.

“Get the bottle.” Kurt ordered, and Blaine obediently reached for the nappy bag, retrieving the bottle for Kurt.

Kurt pressed it to Toronto’s lips, glancing at Blaine. “Hold.”

He hesitated slightly, before following Kurt’s advice and holding the bottle so Kurt could take his hand away. Toronto made a happy gurgling sound, his cries ceasing as he started drinking.

“There…” Kurt cooed. “Much better.”

Blaine stared down at Toronto, still holding the bottle to the infant’s mouth.

“When he makes the happy noise again, he’s finished drinking.” Kurt instructed, calmly turning back to the wheel. “And then we’ll have to burp him.”

^.^

Kurt was still patting Toronto’s back when they arrived at the Hudson-Hummel house. Blaine resembled a pack horse, carrying both the nappy bag and the bassinet, but he didn’t mind. It was a better alternative than to have to carry Toronto.

“Dad?” Kurt called, closing the door behind Blaine as he dumped the stuff in the front room.

“He’s not here Kurt – he’s still at-” Carole stepped into the front room, spotting Toronto. “Oh! You got him.”

Kurt grinned proudly, nodding.

“How has he been then?”

Kurt grinned. “He was hungry on the way home, and I’m burping him now. He’s so precious…”

Carole smiled fondly and nodded. “I talked to Burt this morning – he won’t be back until late, but he agreed to you boys sleeping in the same room…provided you keep the door open.”

Blaine managed to crack a grin. “Thanks Carole.”

Toronto let out a small, cute burp, and both Kurt and Carole let out simultaneous ‘awwhs’.

They talked to Carole for a little longer, showing her the clothes they’d bought for him, before Toronto started yawning. Carole laughed, excusing herself, telling them that she was off to work, and reminding Kurt that Finn was at football practice.

Blaine smirked, heading up the stairs as Carole slammed the front door behind her. Kurt followed him slowly, rocking Toronto gently.

In his room, Kurt went to hand Toronto to Blaine, sighing as he backed away with his hands behind his back, shaking his head almost frantically.

Kurt bit his lower lip, trying to decide where to put Toronto, not wanting to put him back in his bassinet. Finally making up his mind, he gently laid the baby in the middle of his bed, adjusting his beanie before turning his attention to making his bed up. He would have done it earlier, but had been too excited, instead focusing on tidying his room and bathroom, and even cooking breakfast for everyone when he still had too much extra time before school.

He’d decided that Toronto could sleep in a drawer of the dresser. He didn’t really have the space for a crib in his room, and he’d seen it in a movie once, so it must’ve been alright.

Emptying the chosen drawer (which sat at waist height), Kurt placed one of his pillows in the bottom as a mattress, making the bed with a couple of old baby blankets he’d found in the back of the linen closet.

His work complete, he turned back around, expecting to find Blaine with Toronto. Toronto sat alone.

“Blaine…?” he called, slightly concerned. He turned slightly; finding Blaine sitting at the vanity, nervously and almost sadly playing with callouses on his fingers. “Blaine…what’s wrong?” he sat next to him, gentling stilling his hands.

When he didn’t answer, Kurt started to get worried. “Blaine…why aren’t you talking to me?”

“Why…” Blaine started, but shook his head. How…No. Why? Why is it so easy for you? I feel like a failure as a parent. Everything you do with Toronto is so natural and easy looking…” Blaine admitted in a whisper, turning his hands over to hold Kurt’s.

“Blaine…he’s only cried once.” Kurt said with a small chuckle. “Besides, you weren’t really prepared. Mrs. Erikson made us practice all the needs last week – that’s the only reason I know where to swipe the swipey thing,” Blaine smiled at that. “And besides,” Kurt added, slapping Blaine’s leg. “You can’t chicken out on us now – Toronto needs his other daddy.” Kurt whispered, resting his head on Blaine’s shoulder for a moment.

Blaine smiled, using his fingers to tilt Kurt’s head towards him.

“You’re right.” He whispered, kissing him gently, his fingers threading themselves into Kurt’s hair.

Kurt sighed, melting into the kiss, before pulling away reluctantly, resting his forehead on Blaine’s shoulder again.

“Babe…what’s wrong?” Blaine asked, missing the warmth of Kurt’s lips.

Kurt groaned a little. “Not in front of Toronto.”

As if on cue, the infant whimpered.

Kurt stood, taking Blaine’s hand; using it to pull him up.

“Come on…” Kurt grinned. “It's time for Daddy Lessons.”