"Kurt, we're back!"

Blaine blanked for a moment—who else was home? Who else called their house home?

Who was Kurt?

Then, he remembered—Kurt was the troubled son of his dad's former roommate from college, come to stay with them for the summer. From the way his dad had talked on the way home, Kurt was happy to share a room with him, and he'd mentioned something about four bags' worth of clothes.

If the large amounts of clothes are anything to go on, then maybe, just maybe, he'll be...like me, Blaine hoped. Blaine had accepted his homosexuality at an early age, but kept it to himself; he was fully aware of the potential repercussions that could result from his coming out in such a rural community. People would talk, and not everyone would like it. As a result of Blaine's silence on the matter, his dad didn't know Blaine was gay; however, that wouldn't stop Blaine from pursuing any chance at love that came his way.

"Kurt?" Blaine's father called again.

"I'm coming, I'm sorry," Kurt called from upstairs before descending the staircase and...Oh. My. God.

Kurt was gorgeous.

Seriously. He had light brown hair that looked as if it would feel silky-soft. He had piercing blue eyes that grabbed Blaine immediately and refused to let him go. His lips were perfectly curved, perfectly full. His skin looked like flawless porcelain.

And his body...wow. Beneath the skinny jeans and button-down shirt, Blaine could tell Kurt's body was perfect and beautiful and sexy and perfect.

Before Blaine had time to finish processing the beauty that was Kurt, the real, live Kurt was standing in front of him, hand outstretched for Blaine to shake.
"It's fantastic to meet you, Blaine," Kurt said, smiling warmly. "Your father's already told me so much about you."

Blaine thrilled at the thought that Kurt already liked him. "You, as well, Kurt." He hoped that the bright, shiny smile on his face told Kurt that it was more than a pleasure to make his acquaintance.

"I'll let you two get acquainted," Buster announced, squeezing their shoulders and leaving in the direction of the kitchen.

Once Buster was gone, Blaine was back to business, smiling warmly at Kurt and leading him up the stairs. "Did you get yourself settled in my—in ourroom yet? I'll make your bed for you, if you want. Over the years, I've gotten pretty awesome at making the bed on the top bunk."

Kurt chuckled, genuine affection showing on his face. "I don't know, Blaine," he demurred. "I hate to impose."

"Kurt, it's no problem," Blaine insisted as they entered his room. "I'd be happy to do it for you. Just showing you a little Walla Walla County hospitality." He winked at Kurt. He couldn't help it. He wanted so badly to impress his guest.

"You're a true gentleman, Blaine Anderson," Kurt announced with a small chuckle. "Thank you so much."

"You're very welcome," Blaine replied, the words flowing easily off his tongue. He loved how easy it was to talk to Kurt, even though they'd just met. "Do you need to take a shower or anything? I'm sure there are towels in there. If there's not, I can get you some. I know you've been traveling most of the day—or—I didn't mean you needed one, I just thought—" Blaine cut himself off, saving himself from any further embarrassment, and Kurt laughed. So much for a good impression, Blaine thought.

"You're so sweet," Kurt told Blaine, touching his arm for emphasis. "I'd love a shower, if it's not too much to ask. I smell like airplane." Kurt rummaged around in one of his bags, emerging victorious with his toiletry case in hand. He turned to Blaine, who was just about to hop up onto the ladder and make Kurt's bed. "Where is the shower?"

"Down the hall, second door on your right," Blaine rattled off with ease. "The door doesn't always lock, but don't worry."

With one last beaming smile, Kurt was off to the bathroom, leaving Blaine alone with his thoughts. God, he's beautiful. And hot. And sweet. And I really, really hope he's single.

- - -

By the time a freshly showered Kurt came back, Blaine had made the bed, put a blanket there for the cold nights, tidied up his room a bit, and put Kurt's clothes in his drawer for him.

"I, um, I put your clothes in your drawer for you, if that's okay," Blaine stuttered nervously. When Kurt smiled, Blaine's heart skipped a beat—but at least it stopped beating in double-time.

"That's so sweet of you, Blaine," Kurt gushed, pulling Blaine in for a warm hug.

Blaine couldn't help but notice that Kurt smelled really good. "Thank you. Just, uh, let me know which drawer everything's in."

When Kurt broke their hug, Blaine was still reeling. He was sure he'd get over his instant crush soon—Kurt probably had someone gorgeous waiting for him back home, and it wouldn't do Blaine any good to get his hopes up.

"Blaine?"

Kurt's soft voice snapped Blaine out of his trance. "Yeah—yes?"

Kurt chuckled. "Can you tell me where my clothes are in the drawers? Like, where the shirts are, pants, et cetera."

Blaine blushed; he hated it when he blushed. "Oh...right." Blaine proceeded to take Kurt on a tour of his half of the drawer. "I put some of my clothes in the closet to make room. Some of yours are in there, too. I put anything that looked delicate—or said it on the label—and put it on a hanger in there."

"Blaine Anderson, I owe you one," Kurt sighed happily. "Your father raised you right. Thank you so much for doing all this for me."

"Kurt, I'm happy to," Blaine insisted. I want you to like me. "You're our guest, and I want to make you feel comfortable. Now, if you're up for it, I want to show you around. If you just wanna crash, that's fine, too. Whatever you want."

"I'd love a tour," Kurt said softly. Blaine didn't think he'd ever get tired of watching Kurt smile.

- - -

"And here's the second-to-last stop on our tour," Blaine announced as he and Kurt stood in front of the enormous barn at the far end of the sprawling property. "The barn. This is where all the animals are when they're sleeping, or when it's raining out. The goats are out right now, but some of the sheep are in here. If you're ever having a bad day, Kurt, I swear that petting a lamb will make everything better," Blaine snapped his fingers, "like that."

"I'll keep that in mind," Kurt mused, flashing Blaine that incredible smile. "Can I see them?"

"Of course," Blaine replied, as if it were a no-brainer. He dug around in his pocket for his keys, walked with Kurt to the side of the barn, and opened the side door. He held the door for Kurt, who gazed at the giant structure like he'd never seen the inside of a barn before. Who hasn't seen the inside of a barn before?

"I've never seen the inside of a barn before," Kurt confessed. Blaine had to stop himself from chuckling. "This is...large."

Blaine slung an arm around Kurt's shoulder—no easy feat, as Kurt was a good few inches taller—and directed him to the back, where some of the sheep and lambs were sleeping.

"You saw Humphrey, Lucy, and Joe outside earlier, but this is the rest of the gang. We have ten sheep right now. Six lambs, four full-grown sheep. The sheep are Humphrey, Lucy, Joe—she's actually a girl—and Dumbledore. The lambs are Benny Lava, Ron, Hermione, Bert, Fluffernutter, and Spike," Blaine explains, pointing to each one in succession. He looked over at Kurt after the introductions to find him leaning over Spike's pen with his hands pressed to his cheeks. He turned back to look at Blaine.

"Blaine, they're adorable," Kurt gushed softly, smiling down at Spike, who remained blissfully asleep. "The full-grown ones, too, although the babies melt my heart."

Blaine walked over and stood next to Kurt, taking in the look of awe on Kurt's face. "Sheep are the best," Blaine sighed. "I'm glad you like them, too."

"I'm low-key obsessed with them," Kurt corrected him, surveying all the sleeping balls of woolly fur.

"Sheep are my dad's first love, animal-wise," Blaine told Kurt. "He raises them because he loves them, plain and simple. We do make yarn out of the wool, though, since they have to be shorn every year." Blaine shrugged. "I'm pretty handy with a spinning wheel.

"That's so cool, Blaine. I can see why he loves them," Kurt replied, staring adoringly at the sleeping lambs. "Their sweet little faces..."

"I know what you mean," Blaine agreed. "So, the rest of the tour?"

Kurt nodded, locking arms with Blaine and waving goodbye to the sheep. Inside, Blaine was swooning; he'd expected Kurt to be some big-city boy, unimpressed with farm life and indifferent to cute animals—indifferent to Blaine, even. How wrong he'd been. Kurt was sweet and kind, witty and charming. He genuinely liked Blaine. He loved the animals. He was everything Blaine had ever hoped for.

Blaine stole a furtive glance at Kurt's striking silhouette as they walked to the goats' outside pens. Kurt was beautiful, and, yeah—Blaine definitely had a crush.

- - -

Kurt ended up falling in love with the goats, as well, which warmed Blaine's heart. Baby goats were quite possibly the most adorable things on the planet, although Blaine had never really been able to choose between baby goats and lambs. He just accepted the unreal levels of cuteness that surrounded him on an everyday basis.

"Blaine, they're adorable," Kurt cooed as they headed back to the main house for dinner.

Blaine couldn't help the laugh that tumbled out. "That's what you said about the sheep," he reminded Kurt, nudging him with his elbow.

"I can't decide! Don't tell me you've ever been able to choose." Kurt looked at Blaine knowingly.

"All right," Blaine conceded, "you caught me."

Kurt smirked triumphantly. "I thought so."

Blaine rolled his eyes. "How could I choose," he prepared to argue, "when I am utterly surrounded by ridiculous cuteness all day, every day?"

Kurt's eyes spelled concession as he slung an arm around Blaine. "Point taken," he grumbled, sharing a laugh with Blaine when his stomach mimicked him.

"What's for dinner?" Kurt asked through his chuckles.

As Blaine began to speak, he lost himself in the sea storm of Kurt's eyes: rocky sea-blue waters and cresting waves under a volatile gray sky.

He was pretty sure he'd told Kurt something about chicken...maybe.

- - -

Sure enough, Buster had cooked his semi-famous baked chicken, which Kurt ate with the zeal of someone underfed and overly exhausted--he probably is, Blaine sighed inwardly. It bothered him no end that he didn't know why Kurt was there, what his problem was.

"So, Kurt," Buster began, clasping his hands together on the table after they'd finished, "Blaine give you the tour?"

Kurt grinned, and Blaine's heart skipped a beat. "Yes, he did," Kurt gushed.

"Very fine tour guide. Very fine indeed." Out of Buster's line of sight--which was pretty limited, due to sustained, age-old injuries from boxing matches in his youth--Kurt winked at Blaine. "Even showed me the little lambs and goats."

"Oh, the goats," Buster sighed happily, slipping into a dreamy smile.

"He loves the goats," Blaine restated.

"I love the goats," Buster concurred, sighing again. "Sure do."

"They're excruciatingly cute," Kurt agreed. "Their little paws..."

"I know," Buster murmured dreamily, smiling at Kurt. "Though they're technically hooves."

Kurt covered his mouth with his hand and giggled almost daintily. "I apologize," he apologized. "I'm not super hip to the animal terminology."

"Blaine'll teach you, kid," Buster said, clapping Kurt on the back as he stood up to clear the plates from the table. A reassuring smile lit up his tanned, scruffy face.

Kurt turned and smiled at Blaine. "I'm sure he will."

Feeling bold, Blaine winked in response. "Anything you want to know, I'll teach you."

Kurt smiled wider, and Blaine knew he was done for. He had no idea what the summer with Kurt would bring, but suddenly, he knew what he wanted.