About an hour after Blaine left for the evening, Kurt still sat, curled into the corner of the couch, staring at the picture in his hands. The only difference between then and only three hours prior was that now he was smiling. His heart was still conflicted and torn in a million pieces but he was looking at his daughter. She was three in the picture he was holding, and she was happy. It was one heavy weight off of his chest. She was healthy and happy. He sighed heavily just as he heard keys in the door.

He quickly put the picture between the cushions of the couch and waited for Santana to come in.

"You look like shit." She said as she took off her insanely high heels and sat next to him on the couch.

"Well thanks, asshole."

"You love me."

"I do." He replied rolling his bloodshot eyes.

"What's got your panties in a twist? You were okay when you left this morning. And wait, why are you even home? You get out after me."

"I left early – and I uh, went to go get my phone from Blaine."

"Oh." She whispered as she looked down and twiddled her thumbs.

"Yea, he came over. We talked for a while about us," he waved his hands between the two of them "and a little bit about Liliana."

Santana glanced up, silently pleading with Kurt for more. She wasn't sure if she was completely ready for more, but God did she want it. She wanted it more than anything.

"We didn't talk much about her, baby steps I guess. Most of our conversation was me explaining how she even got here. Needless to say he was rather confused before I did." That last tidbit caused Santana to laugh.

"Oh my gayby, of course he would be. I mean shit, the man whom, a couple of weeks ago, he was trying to get to bend him over in the club is the father of his daughter." Ah, Snixx is back. He kind of missed his Snixx during these past few days.

"He- He told me her name." Kurt paused as Snixx disappeared and back came vulnerable Santana.

"What is it?"

"He said that he and Tony couldn't agree on a name. Tony wanted to name her Eliza," with that Santana pretended to gag. "-exactly, which is why that didn't happen." He paused to take a deep breath. "Well, when they went to pick her up, they figured that as soon as they saw her a name would come to them."

"Oh like it happens in the movies."

"Pretty much, but that didn't happen either. They decided- they decided to ask the social worker if we had named her." Santana's breath hitched. She immediately knew what was coming next. "She told them that we were calling her Liliana. They wanted her to keep something from us, so they kept her name."

Santana's face fell into her hands and started to sob. Kurt reached over and pulled his best friend to his lap and held her tightly. He was all cried out, but he was going to hold Santana as long as she needed to be held.

"That's not even the crazy part." He breathed into Santana's hair. "Her middle name... is Elizabeth." Santana sat up and looked at Kurt with wide eyes.

"But- what?"

"He said that it just came to him. It just felt right."

"Oh my God. And I honestly was one who didn't believe in fate. You- you were right when you told me what was meant to be will be. Who knew you'd be right." She pulled herself off of Kurt's chest and sat in silence for a minute. "Liliana Elizabeth. My baby." She said so silently, Kurt barely heard it.

"I have a picture. It's kinda old, it was from last summer. Do you want to see it?" Santana nodded eagerly as Kurt pulled it out from its hiding place.

"Why were you hiding it?"

"I wanted to make sure that you were ready to see it before I gave it to you." He handed the picture to Santana and smiled when he saw her smile grow ear to ear. He hadn't seen her smile like that in quite a while.

"She's so beautiful. Mija."

"She looks just like you."

"But she looks a lot like you too. Look at those eyes; they aren't the same color, but they have that same shape and your fire."

The two sat in silence on the couch for quite a long time after that. The looked at the picture together, trying to imagine her personality and envision who she was. They wondered everything from if she had scars or nightmares to can she sing or dance? Is she full of sass like both of her birth parents were? Mostly they wondered if she would like them.

oXoXo

Blaine sat in his Clinton Hill town home that Friday morning, taking a break from the hustle and bustle of their morning routine; a routine that has become much more intensive since he lost Tony. He looked around their home. It looked like a hurricane hit it. There were toys everywhere and the laundry was sitting in hampers in the living room practically begging to be washed. He could say that he had just been really busy, but truth be told he was just stressed out. The events of the past week took a heavy emotional toll on him. He desperately wanted to go see Kurt, he wanted to be with him, and hold him tight. But he knew, with the position he was in, he couldn't always do that. He had to worry about Michi first and help Kurt help himself. A shout from the other room broke him free of his thoughts.

"Daddy! Daddy!" Blaine quickly stood and went to his daughter's room.

"Yes Princess, what's wrong?"

"Oh Daddy, this outfit that you laid out for me is dreadful! Leggings are not pants Daddy and" she ranted with emphasis on the 'and' "these shoes just won't do."

Blaine rolled his eyes at the four year old. Where does she even get this from? "Okay then put those away and pick your own outfit Miss Know-It-All. And hurry up; I still have to brush your hair."

"Okay Daddy." She replied sweet as pie. Her and those mood swings, she's lucky I love her.

Blaine turned to leave, picking up toys as he made his way to the kitchen. He might as well try to make the place somewhat presentable. Not like he would have company anyway. The only people who come over are Brittany and his brother, neither of whom particularly care about the disorder in his home.

He reached sat back down on the couch, brush and hair bow box in hand waiting for the prima donna to finish and come out of the bedroom. He glanced over at his phone and saw that he had a new text message.

From Kurt: Hey, morning

Blaine smiled, he had talked to Kurt pretty much constantly since their talk at his apartment earlier in the week. They talked about anything and everything, only bringing up Michi if he initiated it.

To Kurt: Hey you ;)

From Kurt: I know you're probably busy but I was wondering if we could maybe do something this weekend.

Blaine internally flailed. He really wanted to take Kurt out on a date, he just wasn't sure if Kurt wanted that.

To Kurt: Like a date?

From Kurt: Yea, like a date.
You know we had a good thing going there for a while.
And I really want to see where that can lead us.

To Kurt: Are you sure you are ready for that? I don't want to push you into something you aren't ready for.

From Kurt: More than anything.
This lady named Fate keeps pushing us together, so I figure, why not.

To Kurt: Okay, I'll see if my brother can watch Michi for the day and we'll go out.

From Kurt: Okay great. Just let me know.

"Hey Daddy, why are you smiling like that? You don't ever smile like that, well not since Papa."

"Because I'm happy baby girl. I met this really great guy."

"When can I meet him? I like great people. Besides, if he's no good for you I have to show him the door before you fall in loooovvee." Blaine just laughed at the little girl in front of him. He thought he is finally starting to understand this girl's personality and he thought it was nothing short of amazing.

oXoXo

"Hey Tan, I'm going out with Blaine for the afternoon, you okay by yourself?" Santana looked up at him worryingly.

"Don't worry San; she's not going to be there. He is going to have his brother watch her. I won't see her without you."

"Oh-okay." Kurt couldn't help but notice how disappointed she still looked.

"Hey, what's wrong?"

"Nothing. Well, it's just, you are going to go out with Blaine and get to know all about her and I am going to have to learn everything after the fact. I know you really like him, but it's just not fair I want to know her too."

"Blaine would be happy to tell you everything about her. When you're ready just ask." Santana nodded with a sad smile. "Hey, I got an idea. You like Brittany right?"

"Yea, what does she have to do with this?"

"She's Blaine's best friend." Santana eyes widened at the thought. That never even occurred to her. "Why don't you call her over here and talk to her. I bet she'd be happy to talk about everything with you. That way, you get your own special peak into her world."

"That's a great idea; I'm going to go call her now." Santana quickly kissed Kurt on the cheek before running to get her phone. Kurt smiled before quietly stepping out of the door.

Santana's heart was racing as she pressed the call button, and the agonizing wait for the rings to stop.

"Hey San!" She heard a cheerful voice respond when the call connected.

"Hey Britt."

"I missed you this past week. How are you?"

"I've been better, but I can tell I'm going to be better."

"That's good. Hey, you know Blaine told me about everything."

"He did?"

"Yea, and you should know that I am here for you, if you, you know, wanna talk."

"I really do. Well I want to see you. What are you doing today?"

"Nothing, I have to work tonight, but until then I am free."

"Can you come over?"

"Yea, absolutely."

"Great I'll text you my address."

"Hey Santana, do you want to talk about her?"

"Liliana?"

"Yea, I mean she's like my best bud, I know, like, everything about her."

"That would be great. Thanks Brit."

"No problem, I'll be over in like an hour."

"K, see you then." After the call disconnected Santana couldn't help but squeal with happiness. Not only was she going to learn more about her daughter that afternoon, she was going to learn the details from the most beautiful woman she had ever met. Her pleads to Kurt sudden popped back into her head. 'I hope this is it for us, we deserve to be happy.' Maybe this was the start of them, finally, being happy.

oXoXo

Kurt met Blaine at a tiny Italian bistro on the outskirts of Forte Greene. He got there ten minutes early, expecting Blaine to not be there yet. Needless to say, he was pleasantly surprised when he saw Blaine leaning against the front of the building waiting for him.

"Kurt!" He heard Blaine shout of the hustle and bustle of the popular neighborhood's weekend crowd. Kurt quickly walked over to meet Blaine and quickly threw his arms around Blaine's neck.

"Hi." He smiled as Blaine pulled him in, from around his waist, for a hug.

"I must say, I missed you this week."

"Really? You did?"

"Yea, I'm really happy we get to see each other today Blaine."

"I'm glad." Blaine whispered into Kurt's ears as he loosened the hold on the younger man's waist. Sensing a loss when he broke their connection, he quickly offered his arm for Kurt to link around prior to walking into the bistro.

They quickly found their way to a corner booth and got comfortable. Neither Kurt nor Blaine wanted today to be entirely about Liliana, they wanted to get to know each other better. As men, not as fathers; that would be all in due time.

They ordered their lunches and sat back to talk. "So Kurt, what brought you to New York? I still think it's amazing that we have never been more than two hours away from each other pretty much our whole lives."

Kurt sipped on his water and rested his elbows on the table. "Well, I always knew that I wanted to be in New York. Only I wanted to be here on different circumstances. I wanted to be an entertainer. I wanted to be a star on Broadway. Unfortunately for me, Broadway doesn't have many opportunities for counter tenors. So when I got rejected from NYADA, it was kind of like another slap in the face from the universe. I felt it was some kind of punishment."

"Oh Kurt-"

"No, no none of that. I don't feel that way anymore. Anyway, Santana and I just had to get out of Lima, it held too many memories and we wanted to start fresh. So we came here with pretty much nothing but the money we have saved from doing odd jobs, barista-ing, and selling my car. We had enough to get a hotel room for a couple of weeks if we ate nothing by Roman Noodles. It was okay though, because it was the first time in a few years that we felt – right. You know?"

Blaine nods and motions for him to continue. "So Santana found a job singing for tips at a local piano bar and started taking classes to become a paralegal. So that's what she does now and makes a decent wage at it. Me? My story is one of pure dumb luck."

"Oh, how so?"

"Well you know I merchandise for Marcy's – I head the juniors department – well my boss actually came to me. It just so happened that we stopped in the same Starbucks every day for coffee at the same time. She said she 'admired me from afar'. She was captivated by my outfits and accessories, and said I was extremely fashion forward when she stopped me one day. She said she was looking for an assistant to the merchandiser and she felt that I would like a great candidate. So, she called in for an interview with management and I got hired on the spot. I've been there ever since and just worked my way up."

Blaine's chin rested in his hand as he leaned on the table. Coffee in clutched in other hand, he leaned in closer to Kurt. "That's absolutely amazing. That's quite an accomplishment, especially here. You should be very proud."

"Oh I am, it's one of my best accomplishments." He momentarily looked down and back up at Blaine. He quickly regained his composure, which he was sure he was rapidly losing when something caught his attention out of the corner of his eye. "Oh my God Blaine!" He harshly whispered across the table.

"What?" Blaine asked confused.

"That girl over there. Seriously, when will this girls learn that leggings are not pants – especially when you can see the pattern of her panty – ill-fitting I might add – through them?!" Kurt replied, actually offended by the common occurrence. Blaine just laughed harder than he had in. well, as long as he could remember.

"What's so funny?" Kurt replied glaring at Blaine.

"Nothing, it's just that I had a very similar conversation with Mich yesterday."

"Oh? Do tell." Kurt smiled genuinely before taking another sip of his water.

"Well yesterday she called me into her room to give me a stern talking to about the outfit that I had picked out for her. If I remember corrected she told me that outfit was 'dreadful' that 'leggings were not pants' and that her shoes would 'just not do.'" He made sure to emphasize the quotations with air quotes for Kurt's amusement. Kurt just smiled ear to hear and let out a hearty laugh. It was the happiest that Blaine had ever seen him. Blaine knew right then he had to do everything in his power to never let that smile fade.

"Okay, so enough about me; tell me about yourself Mr. Warbler."

"Well what do you want to know?"

"Same."

"Well okay, as you know I grew up in Westerville. I met Tony just after I graduated high school; he was a junior in college. It was like love at first sight. It was a whirlwind romance; we were engaged two years later. We were in no particular rush to get married, so we just enjoyed each other. I was going to Ohio State for business and he had already started working in marketing. One day he just looked at me and said, 'I want a baby.' I swear, in that moment, I thought I was going to explode. Being a dad is something I always wanted but never thought I would be able to have. Of course, it was Ohio, and gay marriage is still very much illegal and it was extremely hard for gay men to adopt a baby. We went to an agency, which was very open to our circumstances and we came to the conclusion that Tony would adopt the baby as a single man." Kurt sighed at this. He knew how hard it was now in Ohio and it was 2012, he could only imagine 5-6 years ago.

"Tony made a good salary, so my income wasn't an issue. Two years later we got a call stating that they had a baby for us, if we wanted her. It was a newborn baby girl, not even a whole day old yet. We were in the car before we even hung up from the call. Shortly thereafter, Tony got a transfer to New York. I had graduated and found a job as an office manager where I am now."

"So, what happened to Tony?"

"Well when Michi was one, he wasn't feeling well. After a battery of tests they determined that he had cancer," Blaine paused and heavily sighed. "and it was terminal. He was given six months to live from that point. But he fought; he wanted to see Michi grow up more than anything. He loved her with his entire being. His battle lasted a little over a year. He died when Mich was about two and a half. It's been us two ever since."

"I am so sorry; I can't imagine how horrible that must have been."

"It was tough, it still is touch, but we are okay. We are trying to be happy; it's what he would have wanted. But enough about sad stuff, I want to talk about something else."

"Yea? Like what?"

"Like how I can't figure out what color those amazing eyes of yours are." Kurt smiled and flirted back. Both men were relieved. This was a step in the right direction for the both of them.

About an hour later they were standing up to leave when Blaine turned Kurt to look at him. Let's go for a walk there's a really nice park down the street."

"Blaine, its February. It's freezing."

"I know, I guess I'll just have to keep you warm."

"Don't make promises you can't keep Anderson."

"I never do."

oXoXo

By the end of their walk both men were chilled to the bone. "Hey Kurt, I will completely understand if you say no, but I was wondering if you wanted to come back to my place." Kurt winced and took a step back; he was quickly becoming overwhelmed again. "If you're not comfortable I completely understand, but Michi is still with my brother, and I promised I would keep you warm. My brownstone has a fireplace, and I thought, maybe you'd like to look through some albums or something?"

Kurt thought about it for a few minutes. More than anything he wanted to meet the little girl, eventually, and he desperately wanted to know more about her – and spend time with Blaine – but he was still a cluster of emotions and still rather lost.

"I guess, okay, as long as she doesn't sneak up on us. I couldn't see her without Santana there."

"I completely understand. Come on let's go I just live over there in Clinton Hill."

"Clinton Hill? Nice."

"It's alright, come on." They linked arms and started the walk to Blaine's brownstone.

Well, welcome to mi casa." Kurt looked around his apartment. It was amazing. Obviously a two story, two (maybe three) bedrooms with an amazing open layout. It had a huge kitchen, with a lovely dining area. The living room was huge, completely with the aforementioned fire place and an amazing entertainment center.

"So this is how the other half lives. My basement apartment pales in comparison."

"Your place is charming. It's very you."

"Why thank you." Kurt made his way over to the couch and sat down apprehensively.

"I'll be right back." Blaine said running up his stairs two at a time. He wasn't lying when he said he would be right back, within minutes he was coming back down the stairs with an arm full of albums.

"Well, I promised you heat and pictures, shall we start?

"Absolutely."

It took the two a couple of hours to get through all of the pictures. They stopped quite a few times for Kurt could study the little girl as she grew. They stopped even more times so Blaine could hold him when he cried.

"Hey Blaine."

"Mmmm." He hummed putting his arm around Kurt and pulling him close.

"Would it be okay if- if, um, I saw her room?"

"Are you sure?" He looked at the younger man with nothing but compassion in his eyes.

"Yes."

"Okay, follow me." He picked himself up to his feet and reached out his hand for Kurt to grab. The two slowly ascended the stairs and walked to the second door on the right. Definitely a three bedroom. The arrived at a closed white door adorned with butterflies and flowers. In the middle, obviously in a child's handwriting, was a plaque that read 'Liliana'. Blaine opened the door and motioned for Kurt to go ahead of him.

"I'll just give you some time by yourself, okay?" Kurt just nodded as he took in his surroundings. She had a white twin size sleigh bed which was placed precisely in the middle of the room. She had drawings coating the walls, so much so that you could barely see the paint color. Her bed set matched the flowers and the butterflies on the door, and her bed was perfectly made. What four year old has a perfectly made bed?

He walked over to the bed and ran his fingers along the bedspread before reaching for the baby doll sitting right in the middle against her pillows. He picked the doll up and carefully stroked its hair.

It was like some sort of alternate universe. This was never supposed to happen. He was never supposed to see her again, to know where she lived, to know how she was doing. But here he was and he couldn't be happier.

Doll still in hand a picture atop her vanity – yes her vanity – caught his attention. He walked over and picked up the jewel covered frame and took in the sight he saw. It was of Blaine and Liliana, had to be rather recently, from the other pictures that he had seen. She was in her unitard, tutu, footless tights, and her ballet slippers, hair tied back in a bun. Blaine was holding her hands as she attempted a pli�. Her bright smile brought tears to his eyes. He brought the picture back to the bed and sat on the end and just took in his surroundings. Now, more than ever he really wanted to meet her.

oXoXo

Blaine gave Kurt about twenty minutes alone, while he sat in the next room, trying to give him some semblance of privacy. He made his way back when he heard singing through the walls. He walked to the door to his daughter's room and leaned against the door frame in silence and listen to the lyrics come from that perfect voice.

"I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance
I hope you dance"

Blaine chose that moment to go in and hold Kurt. He walked behind the taller man, who was now standing by the vanity again' and wrapped his arms around his waist, causing Kurt to jump. He kissed his cheek and began to sing the next verse with Kurt.

"I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin' might mean takin' chances, but they're worth takin'
Lovin' might be a mistake, but it's worth makin'
Don't let some Hellbent heart leave you bitter
When you come close to sellin' out, reconsider
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance
I hope you dance

(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along)
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
(Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder, where those years have gone?)

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

Dance
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along)
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
(Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder, where those years have gone?)"

The two men just stood wrapped in each other's embrace, Kurt trying to grasp his head around the moment, and Blaine trying to help Kurt in this emotionally draining experience.

Kurt leaned into Blaine's neck and whispered through his silent tears, "Thank you."