Kurt was that bad.

Derek and Ian headed out early, lying to Blaine about where, and why they were going. That's when Kurt starting taking over the entire apartment.

The first hour was spent in his room – putting together different outfits –and frequently interrupting Blaine to ask his opinion on one thing or another.

Blaine didn't really care – he was too amused by how much fuss Kurt was putting into his appearance for this one dinner.

Then, Kurt disappeared into the bathroom for an obscenely long time, emerging wrapped only in a towel as he mumbled to himself about outfits and scarves, moisturiser, and calling to Blaine that he'd clean the bathroom up later.

Blaine was almost too scared to go and look, choosing instead to remain safely on the couch as Kurt appeared out of him room in one outfit, looking in the mirror, shaking his head, and disappearing to change again.

Finally, he'd decided on something, and then changed into his everyday clothes to start cleaning the house.

"Okay, now I'm confused…"

Kurt was halfway through wiping the bench when Blaine spoke. "Yes?"

"I thought you were going out…but now you're cleaning the house. What's happening?"

Kurt snorted. "I didn't tell you?" he asked, spraying more cleaner onto the spotless bench.

Blaine shook his head and leant against the wall.

"My dad, step-mother, brother and his wife are all coming over for dinner."

"Whoa…parental problems?" Blaine asked gently, and Kurt laughed.

"If only. Dad's a senator, and if it was just him, that'd be okay, but my step-mom Carole absolutely loves it when I do stuff like this…I like to make her proud."

Blaine laughed. "Alright…do you want me to go, like Derek and Ian?"

Kurt grinned. "You can stay if you want. I don't mind…and company is always good…"

Blaine nodded. "Alright. Want help cleaning?"

"No." Kurt said firmly. "You need to go find something to wear. Try to avoid purple, okay?"

Blaine wrinkled his nose. "What?"

"Nothing. Suspenders are nice." He tried to pull it off as an off-hand comment, but it really didn't work.

Blaine just laughed at him. "How about I continue cleaning, and you go pick me out an outfit?"

Kurt's eyes lit up. "That's what I like about you Blaine – we've barely known each other a week, and you already trust my judgement…it took weeks before Derek and Ian would let me help…" he laughed as he headed into Blaine's room, and Blaine just shook his head, taking a cloth.

^.^

"I look really gay." Blaine said bluntly, standing in front of the mirror.

Kurt raised an eyebrow. "You are gay, aren't you? Or was that just an act at the strip club?"

Blaine laughed. "No, I'm definitely gay, but I didn't realise how much an outfit could really show that off…"

"Right…do you want to change?"

"No, no…this is fine…I was just surprised."

Kurt just laughed, adjusting one of Blaine's suspenders.

"So should I avoid the whole…strip club thing?"

Kurt laughed. "No, no…not at all. My father is the one who suggested the talent scouting. He funds it all."

Blaine's eyes widened. "Oh…"

"Don't worry, my dad is kind of awesome." Kurt grinned proudly. "He'll probably like you…"

"…probably?"

^.^

If Burt Hummel was about twenty years younger, Blaine's first thought would have to be; biker.

But right now, all this thoughts were; good impression, good impression, good impression!

Kurt gave him a warm smile, and Burt returned it. Blaine took this as a good sign. He seemed friendly. The woman behind him was…exuberant, and very lively as she greeted Kurt. Blaine stayed in the kitchen, peering around the corner.

He didn't usually get so nervous.

A lanky giant of a man entered the house next, and from the stiff handshake, Blaine could only assume it was Kurt's brother. The little woman on his arm, Blaine actually recognised. Rachel Berry - she had just finished her run on Broadway.

"Do you guys want dinner first, or would you rather sit and talk?"

"Kurt, you're hosting. Make a decision." Carole reprimanded him with a friendly wink.

"Right, well I think you should meet Blaine, so let's go into the lounge."

"Where are Derek and Ian tonight?" Rachel asked, bright eyes gleaming up at Kurt.

"They…couldn't make it…"

"More like they escaped…" Finn muttered, pulling at his own tie in disgust.

Kurt ushered them all into the lounge room, ignoring Finn and heading into the kitchen.

"They will interrogate you."

Blaine's eyes went wide. "What?"

"Okay, look…I've had some bad dating history, and they will most likely interrogate you to see if we're a good match. I'm going to try not to let you and Rachel get alone, and you should be fine. They'll talk to you about the play as well – I'll help you with that. Most likely they'll get you to sing…" Kurt thought for a moment. "I think that's all I need to prepare you for…"

"Gee…thanks…" Blaine muttered, a little anxious now.

Kurt grinned, and put on what Blaine could only call his 'host face', before pulling Blaine into the lounge.

"Family," he got their attention. "This is Blaine Anderson – the dancer I scouted."

Blaine blushed as all eyes fell on him. He should be at least a little used to all the attention, but this was different. This was Kurt's family – the people that were basically paying him to work with Kurt – paying him to have a better future.

It was scary as hell.

"Uh…thank you. Thank you so much for this opportunity." Blaine flashed them a charming grin, and Rachel beamed.

"Kurt, he's perfect!"

Blaine's eyes widened, and he figured that this was the start of his interrogation.

Carole was beaming, but Finn and Burt remained passive.

Blaine waited for them to say something – anything – but they broke eye contact and ended up asking Kurt a few questions about the musical.

Blaine took a seat, and immediately Rachel was next to him.

"So, Blaine…what do you-"

"Rachel. Can you come help me in the kitchen?" Kurt barked, and she pouted before giving Blaine a quick pat on the head.

Blaine swallowed hard. It was just him, Burt, Carole and Finn.

How pleasant.

"Blaine, tell us a little about yourself." Carole finally broke the uneasy silence.

"Uh, well…I grew up in Westerville…"

"Seriously?" Finn's mouth dropped open.

Blaine raised an eyebrow. "Yeah…"

"Where'd you go to school?" he asked.

"Dalton Academy…why?"

Finn frowned. "I swear we competed against them…were you apart of a show choir…?"

"The Dalton Academy Warblers?" Blaine grinned fondly, and Finn almost stood up with surprise.

"Yeah! Dude, we competed against you in high school! The New Directions from McKinley?"

Blaine took a moment, before he started nodding with a grin. "Yeah, I remember. What a coincidence."

Kurt and Rachel came back from the kitchen, glancing between them. "What's a coincidence?"

"Blaine was in one of the show choirs we competed against. The Warblers?"

Kurt snorted in disbelief. "You mean the ones we were going to sneak into?"

Finn nodded enthusiastically. Rachel's eyes had lit up. "You were a Warbler? Oh my god. Could you imagine if we had sent you in as a spy? You could've totally met up! It would've been like fate!"

Blaine laughed. "Well, as far as fate goes, I'm glad everything turned out the way it did. I wouldn't be here, otherwise."

Kurt grinned, shaking his head, secretly pleased that Blaine was getting on with his family so well. He couldn't help but think of the possibilities – if they had met at Dalton – but he couldn't dwell for too long.

"Alright, dinner is ready, if you'll follow me into the dining room." Kurt grinned, returning to his 'host' persona.

^.^

Talk over dinner turned to Kurt's play.

"So, you're playing one of the main roles?" Carole asked.

Blaine grinned. "I haven't been told yet, but Kurt seems to like me."

"Yeah he does." Rachel giggled, and Kurt shot her a dirty look.

Burt turned to Kurt, regarding him seriously. "I know you haven't really looked over the cast list properly."

Rachel snorted, interjecting once again. "Sure he hasn't. He's probably got the email saved as a draft."

Burt ignored her. "Just as a bit of a guideline, so I know where the money is going – give me a rough idea of where Blaine is going to fit in your play."

Kurt beamed a little, glancing at Blaine. "He'll be playing James."

Blaine was confused. He hadn't seen the script, nor a summary of the play…

A named character was at least a little good, right?

Rachel's eyes had lit up, and Burt grinned.

"Oh my god, congratulations Blaine!" Carole gushed, and even Finn was grinning.

"Wait, wait…who's James?"