Morning came too early for Kurt. It was seven am on a Saturday and he was awake. He was awake at seven am on a Saturday morning after he went out the night before. Why? Because he was still catching up with his job. The damn flu was still messing with him.

Hey quickly dressed -quickly being an hour rather than his normal hour and a half- and grabbed his satchel. He put on the coffee to brew for Santana before peeking into her room. He found her cocooned into her duvet, dead to the world. He smiled and quietly closed the door. He didn't want to wake her.

Ear buds in his ear, he put on his favorite playlist and quickly lost himself in the soulful sounds of old school R&B. There was a place that only the likes of Lenny Williams and Etta James could take him to. It was his happy place, a place that he never wanted to leave.

Before he knew it he was in Chelsea at a local magazine shop picking up a good stock of next month's fashion magazines. Truth be told, he could have done this in Brooklyn but Chelsea was one of his favorite neighborhoods. More than anything he wanted to be able to live there, or the Village, but he liked not having to live pay check to pay check in Brooklyn. He paid for his purchase with his company card and quickly walked the several blocks to Pret.

Pret was his go-to place to work. It wasn't too loud, and it was literally lined with chargers. It was perfect to hang out, work, or both. He took out his lap top and spread out the first few magazines. He was the merchandiser for the Macy's juniors department. He needed to make sure that his displays reflected the current "style" as dictated by the press. Mostly, he made sure he displayed the styles with his own signature flair; one that higher-ups loved it because the sales of the merchandise on display rose 68 percent when he took over the job. He tirelessly stalked fashion blogs, magazines, and the media to see what was the next up and coming fad. He then made sure that his section was full of whatever that may have been. It was a huge responsibility, and one that twenty-one year olds rarely had.

"Buy me a rose, call me from work, open the door for me, what would it hurt? Show me you love me by the look in your eyes. These are the little things I need the most in my life." Kurt sang softly as his iPod played. This was one of his favorite songs. Truth be told, it wasn't that his prior relationships bored him. It was that they were too self-centered. Kurt just wanted to be appreciated and loved. He was a hopeless romantic and looked for the little things, such as those, and if a man does not get that – he didn't want to waste his time with them.

His phone vibrating across the table stole his attention to the hideous mess of an outfit they had a poor model wearing. He quickly unlocked it and smiled at what he saw.

ONE NEW TEXT MESSAGE FROM Blaine

Kurt, I am so, so, so, so sorry for getting that drunk last night. I am terribly embarrassed. Will you ever forgive me? – Blaine

He waited a few minutes to text back, laughing as he remembered a book that he came across about the rules of dating and their ridiculous four hour rule. There was no way he would leave this beautiful man hanging for four hours. Those women were nuts.

There's nothing to forgive. It happens. I actually had a really good time last night. Even if you did joke about me 'putting it in' last night. ;) – Kurt

The reply was pretty much instantaneous.

No, I didn't... OMG I am soooo sorry. That was terribly inappropriate of me. – Blaine

Kurt closed his laptop and leaned back in the seat his was sitting in. After taking a sip of his coffee he replied.

No, no. Stop. I mean, when you're drunk you say things you mean. And hey, maybe one day... if you're really lucky... - Kurt

Oh my God, I can't believe I actually sent that. He is going to think I am crazy.

Well then, I will just have to be a really good boy so I can get that lucky. – Blaine

Kurt bit his lip and thought hard about his reply.

I like to play hard to get, you're really going to have to work hard at that. – Kurt

Well it's a good thing that I appreciate the fact that the best things in life aren't free. – Blaine

I really did have a good time last night. – Kurt

Well you will have to let me take you out, alcohol free this time. – Blaine

Absolutely, let me know when. I'd love to see you again – Kurt

I have to be honestly with you, that kiss was amazing last night, and it wasn't even real. – Kurt

Can I be honest with you? – Blaine

Kurt felt his heart sink and his breaths pick up pace.

Absolutely. – Kurt

I felt something when I kissed you then. I just did it to get that guy away from you, but in that moment I never wanted to stop. I haven't felt that way about a kiss in quite a long time. – Blaine

He let out a breath that he didn't even realize he was holding.

I have never felt that way about a kiss. – Kurt

Well, would you like you to go for coffee after work on Monday? – Blaine

I'd love to. The Coffee Break in Bay Ridge? – Kurt

5pm, I'll be there. – Blaine

I look forward to it. But I have to go; I really have to get some work done. I'll call you later xx – Kurt

Well I bid you adieu kind sir. – Blaine

Kurt internally flailed as he pocketed his phone and went back to his work. He spent the rest of the morning at that seat in the café, a smile permanently etched onto his face.

oXoXo

The next few two days flew by in a daze. Kurt and Blaine texted constantly and were becoming more and more flirtatious. The evening of their date, Blaine got to the coffee shop early, ordered their coffees and claimed the two overstuffed chairs in the quietest corner of the shop. He sent a quick message to Kurt to let him know that he was there and allowed himself to get lost in his thoughts.

Blaine was terrified. He felt this immense pull to Kurt. He wanted to know everything about the younger man that managed to steal his heart at hello. But he was so worried that once he knew everything about him, Kurt wouldn't want him anymore. Blaine came with baggage; baggage that the men that he has dated really want nothing to do with. There was also a nagging feeling that he knew Kurt from somewhere. His face was so familiar, so welcoming, it felt so safe. But why?

His train of thought was derailed by the sight of the tall beautiful man walking into the shop. Even with the bitterly cold wind that was blowing outside, his hair stayed styled to perfection. The oh-so-well-fitting pants, which hugged him in all the right places, were slightly covered by the, just as well fitting, pea coat. More than anything Blaine wanted to make him his. But, in order to do so, he had to tell him the truth. He had to tell him everything,

"Hey Blaine!" Kurt greeted him with a tight hug and a kiss on the cheek. "I can't tell you how nervous I've been."

"Why have you been nervous?" Blaine coyly smiled.

"I don't know. I guess it's been awhile for me with the whole 'dating' thing."

"Yea, me too. But, I'm glad you're here now. I've really been looking forward to spending some sober time with you." They both laughed and Blaine handed Kurt the cup of coffee.

"Oh you didn't have to do that!"

"I know, but I asked you to come, so I pay. I just hope I got something you like."

Kurt took a sip of his, now perfectly temperature, coffee and moaned softly. "Ohmigosh, it's perfect. How did you know my coffee order?"

"I dunno, you just seemed like a nonfat latte kind of guy."

"Oh, I think I'm going to marry you." Kurt teased and the two nervously laughed.

"I just might hold you up to that." And with that, the flirting began. The two shared playful banter for the next hour. They laughed so hard they cried and they both had the best time either man could remember in quite a while.

Blaine looked at his watch. Shit, I really have to get going. "Hey Kurt."

"Yea?"

"As disappointed as I am to say it, I have to get going soon. But before I do, there is something I want to talk to you about."

Kurt wasn't comfortable with the sudden change in his voice. He began to wait for the, 'I really like you, but', but that particular but didn't come. "Anything."

"Kurt, there is something about you, something completely mesmerizing. I really want to get to know you better, and I want you to know me better. More than anything I want to make you my boyfriend." Okay, never mind, here comes the but. Kurt stilled. "But, there is something you have to know first."

"You're not dying are you? Or a spy with the CIA?" Kurt tried to joke to lighten the mood. Right now, for him, it was one of those 'laugh so you don't cry' type of situations.

"No, no. Nothing like that, thankfully. But there is someone that is very important in my life, and unfortunately that means you have to share me."

"Oh my God! I am the other woman aren't I? Well, so to speak." Kurt was starting to get very angry. Of course he would be taken. Of course Kurt would fall for an unobtainable man. Damn, he really knew how to pick them.

"Kurt, no, no. Please look at me. There is no other man in my life." Kurt looked back up at Blaine as the lump in his throat start to disappear. "But there is however, another woman... my daughter."

Kurt stilled and just stared at Blaine for a little while. His daughter. His daughter. He has a daughter. The thought tugged on his heart strings a little as he tried to compose himself. After an awkward few minutes Kurt finally spoke. "Okay, you have a daughter. But, but why didn't you tell me before?"

"I don't know, well I do, and it's just, ugh. Let me start over. Dating ever since Tony died has been next to impossible." Oh my God, his boyfriend, partner, husband – whatever – died too. Shit. I just want to hold him right now. "I have been out with a few guys but they all take off as soon as they heard that I am a father, a single father at that. They never even gave me a chance. The second I saw you, even as sick as you were that first time, there was something about you. There was something about you that I had to have. It was like fate when we bumped into each other at the pharmacy and then again at the club. It's like the universe was trying to tell us something. I just wanted you to get a chance to know me and like me before I told you about her."

"Blaine, I am the last person to judge someone because they have a child. I would not have blown you off for that. I really like you; I'll like anything that is important to you."

A lone tear fell down Blaine's face as Kurt took his hand. "Kurt-"

"No, stop, I like you, and your daughter is a part of you so I look forward to getting to know both of you."

Blaine couldn't help but notice the sadness that he was trying to hide, but the eyes were the window to the soul and, to Blaine, Kurt was an open book. Why is he so sad?

"Okay. So, now I know. I want to see a picture of her."

"Okay." Blaine smiled and took out his phone. He unlocked it and showed the picture on his wallpaper to Kurt.

"Oh my goodness, she is so beau-" Before he finished his sentence his face dropped and looked Blaine in the eyes. The emotion that Blaine saw in those eyes and in his face was an emotion that he had never seen before, one that he couldn't even begin to describe. Kurt's eyes welled with tears and he jumped up. "I'm sorry. I-I can't. I have to go." He picked up his satchel and ran out of the café leaving Blaine in complete shock. What just happened?

Before he could even process what just transpired, he noticed that Kurt left his phone on his chair. He hoped it wasn't locked so he could at least find Santana's number and tell her that he left his phone. What he saw on his wallpaper left him stunned. Everything suddenly made sense.

oXoXo

Kurt ran all of the way home in hysterical sobs. He threw open the door to their apartment as was greeted by Santana.

"Hey, how was the hot date?" She was all smiles until she actually laid her eyes on her best friend. He was a mess. "What's wrong? What happened?"

"He-he has a daughter."

"Okay? What's the big deal?" She asked. Of all people, Kurt wasn't in a position to run from someone with a child.

"It's her, Tan. It's Liliana."