"Dad? Papa? I'm home..." Claire called out as she walked through the door of her family's apartment and dropped her backpack on the stool. Santana, who worked in a law firm a block from Claire's school, loved walking the teenager home of an afternoon. If nothing else it gave her some time alone with the girl she'd grown so close to. Santana worried that she would never have children so in a way she lived vicariously through Claire. Walking into the kitchen, Claire grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl and looked through to the living room where her father was sitting.
"How was school?" Blaine asked from the couch as he slipped his earphones around his neck. Working on a new building design for a client, he liked to drown the rest of the world out with music to help him focus. Shifting on the couch, he turned to see his thirteen year old munching on an apple she used to refuse to eat.
"Pretty boring, where's Papa and Fletch?"
"They should be back in a little while. They were making a detour past the theatre on the way home from preschool. Have you got homework?"
"Math..."
"Want some help?"
"It's pretty easy, I should be ok" the teenager shrugged and made her way back to the kitchen to grab her math book. Opening her backpack, Claire pulled out the books she needed and noticed the information letter she'd been given a few days earlier. Stuffing the piece of paper back into the dark depths that was her backpack, Claire didn't want to address what it was about.
Disappearing to her bedroom, the teenager immersed herself in her homework like she did every afternoon. A smart girl, Claire liked doing her school work and prided herself in getting good marks. Her father busted his butt to get himself to college after taking a year off to care for her so Claire wanted to do well herself. She wanted to make Blaine proud and prove that all his hard work wasn't for nothing.
Kurt followed a bouncing Fletcher into the apartment twenty minutes later and hung both their coats up by the door before making his way through to the living room. Jumping up onto the couch beside his father, Fletcher scared Blaine who had put his earphones back over his ears.
"Hey buddy" he chuckled and set his laptop on the coffee table as Fletcher started rambling on about his day at preschool. A very lively three year old, Fletcher took a lot of energy to keep up with.
"No sugar was used in the making of his mood; I promise" Kurt laughed as he leant over the back of the couch and placed a soft kiss on his husband's forehead. Fletcher didn't need sugar to boost his energy levels "All the girls in the show officially adore him. I was lucky to pry him from their grasps"
"Of course they did. Rachel and all the girls were the same with Claire remember?" Blaine chuckled and ruffled Fletcher's hair as the three year old jumped onto his lap re-enacting the big Spiderman game he'd played with his best friend at lunch that day.
"Speaking of, did she get home ok?"
"Yeah she's in her bedroom doing her homework"
"How long do you think this doing her homework and studying thing will last?" Kurt chuckled. He was so proud of Claire for working so hard but she was a teenager now, it was bound to diminish eventually.
"Hopefully we got super lucky and she'll always be like this but if she's anything like me, she'll lose interest when a cute boy captures her attention" Blaine smirked even though he worked harder at school after he met Kurt.
Kurt laughed softly as he made his way back to the kitchen to make Blaine and himself a coffee. Noticing Claire's bag there on the stool, he opened it to get her lunchbox and drink bottle out to wash it. Finding the matching purple lunch box and bottle, Kurt set them on the counter as a letter caught his eye. He pulled it from the bag and started to read it. Resting back on the edge of the counter with a sigh, Kurt couldn't help but think of all the reasons why Claire didn't tell him or Blaine about this.
Blaine bundled a giggling Fletcher into his arms as the three year old asked for some apple juice. Making his way to the kitchen, Blaine was immediately concerned at the expression on his husband's face "Is everything ok?"
"Did you know anything about the Sadie Hawkins Day Father/Daughter Mother/Son Dance happening at Claire's school tomorrow night?"
"No..."
Kurt handed the letter over to his husband as Blaine sat Fletcher down on the counter. Getting the little boy a juice box while Blaine read, Kurt suggested the three old went and played with his cars for a little while.
"Claire? Could you come out here please?" Blaine called out once he finished the letter. He wanted to know why his daughter, who loved school dances and dressing up, didn't bother to tell them about this particular event.
The thirteen year old emerged from her bedroom and made her way through to the dining room where her fathers were waiting for her "I am almost finished my math homework, Mr Franklin doesn't know how to challenge us..." she began with a giggle until she noticed the looks on their faces "What's up?"
"What's this Claire?" Blaine asked as he slid the letter across the table toward her.
"An information letter from school...?"
"About..."
"What does it matter?" Claire snapped and shoved the piece of paper back at him "I'm not going"
"Why not?" Kurt asked softly as he reached for his daughter's hand only to have her pull away quickly "You love these sorts of things, the dress, the hair, the makeup I rarely let you wear. Plus it's a Father/Daughter, you've got it made, you've got twice the choice"
"That's the problem, I have a choice" she sighed "I have to choose between two men I love when every other kid just has one Mom or one Dad to go with. I can't choose one without hurting the other and there is no way I'm putting Dad through the hell of another Sadie Hawkins Day Dance"
"How do you know about that?"
"Uncle Andrew told me so before you two push the issue I am not going. Even though Ben Taylor asked me to save a dance for him and he's cute but I can't go. I won't go" Claire insisted as she ran back to her bedroom and slammed the door behind her.
"There's a boy involved and she still doesn't want to go?"
"Let me handle this one" Blaine sighed softly and pressed a soft kiss to his husband's lips before standing up "I don't think this has anything to do with a boy"
Blaine walked through the apartment toward his daughter's bedroom and knocked softly. Ignoring the angry 'go away' snap from his thirteen year old, Blaine walked into Claire's bedroom and saw her lying on her bed clutching one of her teddy bears. Still a little girl at heart, Claire wasn't quite ready to give up some of her comfort teddies.
"Hey" Blaine smiled weakly and sat down on the bed beside Claire "Talk to me"
"I don't want to" she snapped and rolled over to face away from her father "I'm not going to that stupid dance"
"Because you have two Father's? You know neither of us would be hurt with your decision. We just want you to be happy"
"It's sort of that but not really" the teenager sighed and rolled back to face Blaine "I don't want to choose between you guys because I love you both and even if you guys aren't hurt, I'll feel guilty"
"Whoever isn't at that dance with you gets to hang out with Fletcher so don't feel guilty. We love you both but it's always nice to have some one on one time. Ever since you were a baby I've loved just spending some alone time with my little girl" Blaine smiled and rubbed Claire's arm gently. Brushing a curl from her face, he couldn't help but smile at his beautiful little girl "This is about the Sadie Hawkins Dance I went to back when I was your age, isn't it?"
"I know you'll say you're fine but I don't want you to have to relive any bad memories"
Blaine shifted so he was sitting against the headboard and brought his daughter up to sit on his lap. Cuddling her close, he didn't notice Kurt standing just outside the door listening in "That Sadie Hawkins Day wasn't one I'd like to remember but it happened and I think I'm a stronger person because of it. I experienced true ignorance and prejudice that night and I think the scar just above my eye is proof of that" Blaine sighed softly "But I have moved past it and you want to know something?"
Claire nodded
"I'm a happily married man with two beautiful children. Those thugs beat me up for being gay but that didn't stop me from having a great life with an amazing family" he smiled and kissed Claire's forehead softly "It took me a little while after that night but I am proud of who I am now and everything I've achieved. They couldn't have punched the gay out of me as much as I could have knocked the ignoramus out of them"
Claire rested her head on her father's chest not really knowing what to say. She had always admired Blaine but now she did 1000 times more. She was so proud of his strength and determination when life has thrown so much crap at him for so long.
"We've got company" Blaine whispered as he noticed Kurt at the door smiling at them. Gesturing for him to come in, Blaine moved his legs so his husband could sit with them.
"I want you to take your Dad to the dance tomorrow night" Kurt smiled as he took Claire's hand gently "It's a Daddy/Daughter Dance so technically I can't go anyway. Call me when there's a Papa/Daughter one"
Claire giggled and climbed across onto Kurt's lap like she used to when she was little and hugged him tight whispering 'I love you' into his ear "Are you sure you don't want to come?"
"Positive, Fletcher and I have a date with a bowl of popcorn and the new Happy Feet Movie. I've got tap dancing penguins I can't disappoint" he laughed and ran his fingers through Claire's curls gently "Plus your Dad has always been a better dancer than me. I'd be stepping on your toes all night"
"Will you help me pick out a dress and do my hair and everything Papa? Dad may dance better but you're the best when it comes to getting all dressed up"
"Hey" Blaine laughed and nudged his daughter gently
"Do you know how to braid her hair?" Kurt questioned with a smirk as Claire looked at Blaine with the same expression. The pair loved to gang up on Blaine even back when Claire was younger. They usually got their way when they did that.
"No..."
"Do you how to use the curling iron? Or know which shoes go with my pink party dress?" Claire asked with a giggle
"Well, no..."
"We rest our case"
"Alright, alright you two win" Blaine laughed and pressed a soft kiss to his daughter's forehead before getting to his feet "I better go dust of my suit if I want to be ready for tomorrow night"
"Thank you Dad" Claire smiled as she remained on Kurt's lap "I love both of you"
"We love you too, Pretty Girl"

XXXXX

"Are you sure you're ok about tomorrow night?" Kurt asked as he lifted the covers and slid into bed beside Blaine. Checking on both Claire and Fletcher on his way past, Kurt made sure they were both sleeping soundly before going to bed himself.
"Why wouldn't I be?" Blaine shrugged as he shut his book and set it on his lap.
"Because a couple idiots gave you that scar above your eye all those years ago..."
"Y'know they hit me so hard that I lost consciousness. After getting hit above the eye, the next thing I remembered was waking up in the hospital"
"Oh Blaine" Kurt gasped softly and took his husband's hands gently "You never told me"
"I never told anyone but Emily who was sitting beside my bed when I woke up" Blaine sighed and turned to Kurt "I could dwell on the memories of what happened that night and I started to until I saw my daughter's eyes light up when you agreed to pick out her dress. She was just so excited to go especially if you would help her get ready. No memory of that night could ever stop me from going to that dance with Claire tomorrow night"
"You're an amazing father, you know that right?" Kurt smiled and leant closer to his husband and pressed a kiss to his lips. Nibbling on his husband's bottom lip gently, Blaine curled his hands into Kurt's pyjama shirt and deepened the kiss.

XXXXX

Fletcher padded across the living room with a defeated look on his face and climbed up onto the couch beside Blaine. Trying to help Kurt with Claire's hair, the three year old was only getting in the way so it was suggested he keep Blaine company for a little while.
"Is Papa making Claire look all pretty?" Blaine chuckled as he attempted to stop his knee from shaking. He was nervous for no real reason at all. He just wanted this night to be perfect for Claire which explained the corsage Blaine held in his hands. An idea of Kurt's, the white corsage matched Claire's dress perfectly and would make her feel a little more grown up.
"Uh-huh" Fletcher nodded and held his ragged old giraffe stuffed animal on his lap. The pair sat in silence for a little while as Kurt continued to get Claire ready for the dance. "They're taking a long, long time Daddy"
"I know" Blaine chuckled. A few moments later, the bathroom door opened and the sound of heels echoed down the hallway. Standing up, Blaine gasped softly as Claire emerged looking absolutely stunning. Kurt had picked Claire's favourite silver dress that fell to just above her knees, short silver heels (Blaine refused to let her wear anything higher than an inch until she was at least 17) with her hair curled and all pushed to one side. Blaine couldn't help but think how much Claire looked like his sister Emily at that moment. "You look beautiful, Claire"
"You think so?" she giggled and twirled around letting her dress flare out only slightly
"Stunning"
"You both look amazing" Kurt smiled and made his way over to Blaine. Nudging his husband gently, Kurt looked at Blaine as if to say 'Give her the corsage already'. Nodding, Blaine opened the box and took out the delicate white roses and tied the ribbon around his daughter's wrist.
"Thank you Dad" she gasped and admired the roses "Do you have a flower too?"
"He does"
"I do?" Blaine chuckled as Kurt raced to the refrigerator and pulled out his husband's boutonniere. Pinning the white rose to Blaine's suit jacket, Kurt stepped back and admired his handsome husband and gorgeous daughter.
"You two are going to make me cry" Kurt gasped "Oh let me go get my camera"
"Papa..." Claire sighed. He could be so embarrassing sometimes.
"Humour him"
"He's gonna take a million photos"
"Just let him, he's a Dad it's kinda built in to be a little crazy"
"You haven't gone all Dad crazy though..."
"Just wait til I get out on that dance floor..." Blaine laughed and nudged Claire gently. Sighing softly, Claire prayed her Dad wouldn't break out any embarrassing dance moves later that night "I promise to be the cool Dad tonight ok?"
"Promise?"
Blaine held his left hand out to his daughter with his picky finger extended. No matter how old Claire was, she would never be too old for a pinky promise. Blaine loved these moments with Claire and hoped they would never lose this connection. Claire although only 13, was Blaine's best friend. He couldn't be any more honoured to take her to this dance tonight.
"Oh Dad and Carol are going to love these photos" Kurt beamed as he returned to the living room with Blaine's camera in his hands "And I have to send some to Emily, oh and Rachel"
"Here we go..."
"Just shutup and smile, Dad"
Claire, Blaine and Fletcher suffered through 20 minutes of Kurt's photography before he let them go to the dance. As Fletcher watched Happy Feet that night, Kurt would be having fun going through the hundred or more photos he took. Blaine drove them to the school and linked his arm around Claire's as they walked through to the decorated gym.
The gym of Lincoln Middle School was lit up with hundreds of twinkling fairy lights with sheer navy fabric draped from the ceiling. The whole scene was beautiful and Blaine could tell Claire's artistic talents were used in the decorating
"May I have this dance?" Blaine smiled as he took a step toward the dance floor and held his hand out to his daughter. Taking his hand with a bright smile, Claire followed her father to the middle. Resting her other hand on Blaine's bicep, she danced with her father in amongst her friends and their parents.

XXXXX

"Ex...Ex, uh... Excuse me Mr Anderson?" a young boy asked nervously as he came up to the table where Blaine and Claire were sitting. After dancing together for most of the night, Blaine had to put his feet up.
The young boy looked over to Claire with a shy smile and waved slightly. From the reddening of his daughter's cheeks, Blaine knew this must have been Ben Taylor. From the nervous smile on his daughter's face, Blaine knew this was the boy she had a crush on. A little anxious himself, his little girl was growing up right in front of his eyes.
"Yes?"
"I uhm... I'm Ben and I was wondering if I could dance with Claire?"
"So you're the boy she told me about..." Blaine chuckled and crossed his arms trying to be intimidating.
"Dad..." Claire growled through her teeth softly as she kicked her father under the table wishing he would stop talking.
"Alright, alright" he laughed "You two go ahead"
"Thank you Mr Anderson"
Ben held his hand out to Claire and she took it with a giggle. Leading her out onto the dance floor, he wrapped his arms gently around her waist as she rested her around his neck. Standing half a foot apart, the swayed along in time with the music. Watching them with a smile, Blaine sat back in the chair and pulled out his cell phone.
To Kurt: Our little girl is dancing with a boy
As the music changed to a slower song, Claire and Ben instantly took a step closer to one another. Claire looked over at her father just to see his reaction and let out the breath she didn't realise she was holding when he was smiling back at her.
Blaine couldn't stop her from growing up and this Ben kid seemed harmless for a thirteen year old boy. He was so happy he encouraged Claire to come to this dance because she would remember a moment like this for years to come. Blaine didn't want to deprive his daughter of anything especially special moments like this.
"You look really pretty tonight, Claire" Ben smiled as they swayed slowly along with the song
"Thanks" Claire blushed "You look very handsome too; I like your checkerboard tie"
"Thanks and I'm really glad your Dad let me dance with you. I've been waiting all night to ask you"
"Don't worry about my Dad. He tries to be scary but it doesn't really work, he's a total teddy bear"
Ben looked over to Blaine who was now talking to a few other fathers and bit his lip as the teenager turned back to Claire "Would your Dad be a teddy bear if I asked you if I could kiss you?"
"You... You want to kiss me?" Claire smiled as the heat rose in her cheeks.
"Yeah"
To Kurt: Our little girl just had her first kiss