The gala could have not gone better.  The trio had an amazing time socializing and networking.  At times Blaine felt a little out of his element, but both he and Kurt always gravitated towards the company of  the women.  With the presence of Bernadette, especially since she was modeling one of the upcoming dresses from a new children’s line, they were surrounded all night. 

Kurt ended up having Bernadette most of the night with Blaine closely at his side.  Kurt loved the fact that Bernadette was so willing to be held by him.  He loved even more the fact that he just uncovered part of the woman psyche.  Babies could turn the most evil of; let’s call the elephant pink and get it over with: bitches, into blubbering pools of goo.  He discovered that babies combined with puppies could possibly cause them to implode.  He now knew how to commit the perfect murder.  Joking, of course, (maybe).  Blaine could feel the butterflies in his stomach as he watched Kurt with his daughter; it was so natural.  Obviously dating someone who was a teenage father was not a situation common to young gay individuals, it didn’t seem to bother Kurt and that made his heart soar.

By the end of the night Maria de la Sol wanted Bernadette to model some of her designs for the upcoming Christmas spread and a few photographers were almost scrapping to be able to take the pictures of Bernadette of the spread.  The entire room had fallen in love with the toddler’s charm, her gorgeous eyes, and her infectious laughter.  Kurt could see that she was definitely more her father’s daughter than her mother’s.  The trio left the gala with promises that their people would be calling his people to make arrangements during the week.  Wait, did Blaine even have people?

Following the gala Kurt and Blaine dropped off Bee and home with her mother and the two went to dinner at a beautiful neighborhood restaurant.  The restaurant normally closed at nine, but being that Kurt had become quite close with the owner, he decided to keep it open for only the two of them and he would cook and serve their meals himself.  He owed Kurt one anyway.

Kurt and Blaine sat in the quiet dining room lit only by dimmed lights along the walls and candle light at their table.

“Did you have a good time tonight?  I know the gala wasn’t really a date-date, more of a work engagement, but I really enjoyed being there with you.”

“Yea I did.   You looked very dashing tonight.”

“So did you dapper Dan.  As amazing as you look in that suit, I think I prefer the bushy haired Blaine.  It is much more you.”

Blaine laughed.  “Yea that’s the New York me, the Lima Ohio me used to gel my hair like this all the time.  Well, that was until Bee was born.  I was too tired to care how my hair looked after that.”

“I could only imagine.”

“So Kurt, tell me more about yourself.  I don’t know much about your Ohio life.  Tell me a little bit about Kurt Hummel, Fashionista Extraordinaire.”

“Well I went to West Lima High, was in drama club, used to have dreams of being on Broadway. Hmmm, I came here with nothing more than a couple of thousand dollars from selling my beloved Navigator and the money I saved working at the Lima Bean.”

“You used to work at the Lima Bean?”

“Yea, for a couple of months.”

“How is it that I never saw you? I was there all the time.”

“We probably just always missed each other.”  Henry brought out their dinners and set them in front of the respective guest.

“Enjoy.”

“Thank you.” The duo said in unison.

“So, continue, I’m sorry I interrupted you.”

“Oh it’s no problem – oh this is heavenly, Henry is amazing.”  Kurt said taking a bite of his steak.  “But anyway, I came here with nothing but a couple of thousand dollars and a suitcase.  I came here with a hope and a dream.  You know, I hadn’t been accepted to the only school that I applied for, which was kind of stupid in hindsight, and was so desperate to be here.  I always felt like I belonged in New York….   It was my dad actually suggested I just go.  He told me to just pack up my things and go.  He said to me that if I wasn’t scared than I wasn’t doing it right as he dropped me off at the airport and let his only son fly away basically homeless.  He had faith in me.”

“Where did you live?”

“I stayed in a ratty Motel 8 for a few weeks while I desperately searched for a job.  It was complete dumb luck that I got the internship that I am at now.  I applied on a whim and I guess my charm won over Isabelle.  She hired me on the spot.  I have been with her since.  For the past year she has been my mentor and she is helping me network into the industry.  I have honestly loved every minute of it; even the stressful ones.”

“That is amazing.  I don’t think I would have ever been brave enough to do that.”

“Blaine, I don’t think you realize how brave you really are.”

“Thanks, that means a lot.”

“So, Blaine, tell me more about you.  I know that you are an amazing dad, an insanely talented musician, and you live with probably the craziest woman I have ever met in my life.  Is there anything else to you that I should know?”

“Well these days that is pretty much all there is to me.  For the most part I am an open book.  Obviously not about my sexuality to most, but that was more situational than anything else.  I wanted to study music and eventually compose my own music.  More than anything I wanted to be an entertainer.  But I had to put those dreams to rest because they are not a guarantee of income.  I always felt guilty over what happened so I put my dreams aside so that Rachel could see hers.  I also have an unnatural obsession with Katy Perry and disco.”

“Really Blaine?”

“Yea really.  Don’t judge me; you know you love it to.”

“You’re right, I do.”

The rest of the night continued on much the same note.  Both exchanging stories of times past along with many, many laughs.  The two talked about everything, but yet, nothing at all.  Finally the date came to an end far too quickly for their liking.  Kurt paid Henry and the two walked back to Blaine’s apartment. 

They stood outside Blaine’s building in silence just smiling at each other; both of them wanting to do the same thing, but both nervous to make the first move. 

“I had an amazing time Kurt, I really hope we can do this again.”

“Whenever you want.”

Nervously, Kurt opened his arms to invite Blaine for a hug.  Blaine quickly joined the embrace and before their bodies could completely touch went in for the kiss.  It wasn’t a chaste kiss, but it wasn’t over the top either.  It was perfect, with just enough passion for a first date, and left them both wanting more.

“I’ll call you tomorrow okay?”

“Okay, thanks for everything Kurt.”

“Anytime, Blaine.”  The boys broke their embrace and Kurt kissed Blaine on the forehead before he turned around to leave, waving as he started to walk away. 

Blaine was on cloud nine.  He felt happier than he had been in a long time.  Of course Bernadette made him happy, but this was a different kind of happy.  Blaine thinks he may have just found his missing puzzle piece.

Kurt walked home smiling.  He was ecstatic about how things went, but at the same time he was shocked at how quickly he was falling for the once beautiful stranger, he soulful musician who told his story with covers to songs. Kurt only had two reservations.  Neither of which were enough of a concern to make him not want to date Blaine, they were more of situations that he didn’t understand how to be in. 

Firstly was that, for all intents and purposes, Blaine was in the closet.  He would wait forever if he had to in order to shout their relationship from the roof tops, it was just different.  Secondly, was Bernadette.  Kurt had definitely never envisioned this.  He never thought that at age 20 he would be dating a man with a one year old child.  Again, it wasn’t a bad situation, just different. Things would take getting used to.  But Blaine was worth it. 

Yes, he was definitely worth it.