Kurt didn't know where the time went. One minute they were students with a baby, and now they were graduating with a child somewhere between a toddler and preschooler. Blaine had taken spring and summer courses in order to graduate at the same time as Kurt. Somehow they had also managed to obtain academic distinction in the process, and their families had all made the trek in order to watch them walk across the stage and get their degrees.

Though, because they were in a performing arts school, they wouldn't be walking. Every graduate would sing, dance, or act their way to their degree. Most would do all three to some extent. It was such a production that Kurt was sure tickets would be scalped outside the hall for this "off-broadway" performance full of broadway hopefuls and those who already had wet their feet in various productions already, Rachel, Blaine, and Kurt included.

"Oh my gosh Kurt... my dads are already out there with my aunts and uncles and Finn. How do I look?" Rachel demanded of him. No matter how much she was on stage, she was still always nervous when performing in front of family. He understood it well. What his dad said always carried more weight than any critic or fan ever could.

Kurt scanned his friend up and down, taking note of her excellent choice in attire - a golden gown that showed enough without being scandalous. "You look fine Rachel. Relax."

She fluttered around a bit more before disappearing to find some other friends she would be performing with. No one could perform alone or else the graduation would take forever. Naturally, Kurt and Blaine would be going on together.

"You're always taking my breath away...." Blaine said, walking up to him, hands in the pockets of his suit pants. Kurt tsked on seeing that Blaine hadn't done his tie and went about tying it into a bowtie without being asked or asking permission.

"And you always take advantage of my nimble fingers."

Blaine chuckled and leaned in for a kiss, which Kurt returned, though kept it brief since there was far too much activity backstage and too many people around for him to be totally comfortable with prolonged public affection.

"Are you ready for this?" Blaine asked of Kurt, looking over his face to check for signs of nerves or excitement.

Kurt shrugged a little, "I am. I thought I'd be more excited somehow... or even scared... but it just seems like something to get done before we move onto the next step in our lives... and we already both have jobs lined up, so we don't even have to worry about that really."

It was true. Blaine had found niche success in composing music for new productions and had several contracts on the go already. It allowed him a flexible work schedule which helped since most of Kurt's nights were spent preparing for his role in Boytoys, a new Broadway musical about the changing role of men in society. Rachel meanwhile had been in productions every summer since Funny Girl.

Blaine nodded to Kurt, "I know what you mean. Everyone else is now talking about how they can now get their careers going and then find love and maybe family. We did everything in sort of a reverse order and it's like everything is now sorted into place and not as climatic for us as it must be for the other grads."

Kurt grinned at Blaine, "Does that make us boring?"

It was Blaine's turn to tsk at Kurt. "Us? Never. We're fabulous."

They laughed and the lights flashed, indicating that people needed to take their places. Kurt was happy they had gone with Hummel-Anderson instead of Anderson-Hummel since they would go on halfway through the graduation ceremony instead of right at the beginning. They moved to their place in line in the hallway, among their over caffeinated peers, some of whom looked like they were about to cry, while others looked like they were about to freak out on their peers.

"Oh! Almost forgot!" Blaine said beside Kurt, and searched his pockets, procuring a small box which he held out to Kurt, "Happy Graduation hon!"

Kurt arched an eyebrow and took the box, hesitant to open it, "You know if this is an engagement ring Blaine, I already said yes...."

"Just open it!" Blaine coaxed, grinning from ear to ear in the telltale way that he was proud of whatever was in the box.

Kurt popped open the box and smiled wide, "Oh sweetheart...." Inside was a gold pocket watch that doubled as a locket, a picture of Blaine and Julie already inserted in the locket side. "This is wonderful..."

"I'm glad. You're notoriously difficult to shop for." Blaine leaned over to give him a peck on the cheek.

"You have to wait until we get home for yours. Not something I could fit into a pocket." Kurt explained, clipping the watch to his breast pocket and tucking it inside.

"Oh really?!" Blaine waggled his eyebrows suggestively and Kurt groaned.

"Not that! Well... yes... that too... but I actually did buy something for you as well."

Blaine chuckled. "I'm sure I'll love it."

They waited, hearing the speeches and tunes and acts as they moved closer to the stage. The order was set such that if you were in a group or pair, you went according to the person with the earliest last name. Rachel had gone a long time ago at the point they got to stage. Kurt tensed a little and looked back at Blaine "This song isn't too cliche for us is it?"

Blaine gave Kurt the customary shoulder rub, "Doesn't matter if it is or isn't. We're not being judged and we promised Julie to do one of her favorites and you didn't think I Must Have Done Something Good from The Sound of Music was peppy enough."

Kurt took in a breath and nodded.

The announcers voice then called over them. "Blaine Hummel-Anderson and Kurt Hummel-Anderson."

Kurt smiled to Blaine and walked onto the stage, Blaine following him as Kurt sang and danced around him.

Live in my house,

I'll be your shelter,

Just pay me back

WIth one thousand kisses

Be my lover

and I'll cover you

Blaine joined in then, dancing along with Kurt.

Open your door,

I'll be your tenant

Don't got much baggage to lay at your feet

But sweet kisses I've got to spare

I'll be there and I'll cover you

They sang together.

I think they meant it when they said you can't buy love

Now I know you can rent it

A new lease you are my love, on life

Be my life

Just slip me on,

I'll be your blanket

Wherever,whatever, I'll be your coat

..........

They continued the song and dance routine and as they finished, they bowed and went to Carmen at the side of the stage to collect their certificates and get their pictures taken, listening to the applause, from which Kurt could distinctly hear whoops from their families and Julie's sweet little voice squealing in delight and announcing to everyone that they were her Dad and Daddy.

Once the next act was announced they walked off stage hand in hand and to their table where Julie was standing on a chair, grinning brightly. "I saw you singing!"

Kurt beamed and took Julie in his arms, sitting down with her in his lap. It seemed like she got heavier each day, despite having a lithe little frame. Blaine looked to the little girl with wavy brown hair, that Kurt always had tied into a French braid, since it made it easier when she had one of several dance classes. "Did you like it?"

Julie beamed and nodded, "You are my favorites!"

"Oh god Blaine.. yes... OH!" Kurt moaned and gasped for air as Blaine rubbed the base of his cock while his mouth sucked around the top, tongue rolling up and down Kurt's frenulum.

They had returned home for the night, parents staying with friends or in hotels. Julie was long tucked into bed and Blaine was now showing Kurt how much he appreciated the piano that was taking up way too much space in the living room. Kurt was only going to give him a picture of the piano, but since they would be moving into a larger apartment in a week, he decided that Blaine could start enjoying it now, having had to live off a simple keyboard for the past few years.

Kurt was nearing orgasm and his whole body was tensed up, shuddering under Blaine who was working on him with energy he wasn't sure he would be able to reciprocate after this when the fire alarm went off and Blaine shot up from where he had been fellating Kurt and went wide eyed.

"Fu.....!" Kurt went from excited to panicked in an instant, grabbing his boxers which were discarded to the side and heaving them on in what had to be the quickest he had ever moved.

Blaine had run into the main room and cried for Julie, and then for Kurt. Kurt joined him and saw that there was a plume of smoke over the toaster in the kitchen. The toaster had an oven mitt shoved into it, which was on fire. As Blaine moved to deal with the toaster, Kurt looked towards the crib-turned-toddler bed to check on Julie, and quickly noticed she wasn't in her bed.

"Julie!" Kurt cried out, his eyes watching as Blaine pushed open the sliding door, and ran onto the balcony with the smoking toaster in his hands where it was tossed into Julie's little pool which Blaine had, thankfully, forgotten to drain despite Kurt having asked him to earlier. Blaine was clothed only in his boxer briefs and the whole thing might have been a lot more comical if their daughter wasn't missing in all this.

Blaine returned to the living room, looking rather frazzled and confused and joined Kurt in calling for Julie. After a minute of absolute fear and terror, they heard a little giggle coming from the bathroom and discovered that Julie was in the cupboard, under the sink, with the milk jug which she had clearly been drinking straight from given the milk moustache she was sporting.

In lieu of being upset, Kurt grabbed her and held her close until his heart returned to a steady rhythm. She seemed to think the whole thing was hilarious and Kurt could see in Blaine's eyes that he wasn't sure if he should be laughing or yelling.

"I made special toasts!" Julie announced after a minute and pointed to the kitchen.

"Oh really?" Was all Kurt could muster, rubbing her back gently and wondering how she managed to get out of bed, destroy the toaster, and swipe the milk without being heard when he remembered how noisy he was being during when it must have occurred.

"Yah. It special for me. An' I gots milk all by myselfs!"

Blaine at this point had answered the apartment door as the landlord had come over to see if everything was alright. The landlord seemed to be having a good chuckle out of the situation, especially when Blaine showed him the toaster in the kiddie pool on the balcony.

"Julie... sweetie... why were you hiding with the milk?" Kurt asked, taking her into their bedroom where he wouldn't have to worry about being almost naked in front of their landlord.

"I wanted milks... but it was after bedtimes.... but I gotted it by myself!" She announced proudly.

"So you were thirsty but thought you wouldn't be allowed since it was after bedtime?" he confirmed.

She nodded, looking at him with wide, guilty eyes. "Sorry daddy...."

He shook his head and just chuckled, "Oh honey...." Kurt kissed the top of her head. "It's okay. Just don't hide okay? Me and dad were worried about you when we couldn't find you. It made our hearts hurt."

She frowned and reached up to hug him. "I sorry daddy! I no want you to hurt!"

He hugged her back and kissed her cheek, setting her down in the centre of the bed, "How come you put the oven mitt in the toaster?"

"To makes toasts. I was 'ungry."

Kurt furrowed up his brow, "Sweetie... you need to put bread in to make toast...."

"Oh... I tot you can puts in anyting and it popses out toasts." She explained and Kurt chuckled at the simplistic thinking of the little girl.

"No... only bread sweetie. How about when you get back from your visits with your grandparents that we do a little learning around the kitchen so you know how to get yourself things when you're hungry?"

She nodded eagerly and Kurt rubbed her little stomach until she dozed off. Tomorrow she would be going home with his parents, and in a week she would then go spend a week with Blaine's parents. It would allow them the freedom to move, and now that she was older, he felt like she could handle the separation. She was definitely daddy's girl - insomuch his girl. Kurt on the other hand wasn't sure he would be able to handle being away from her so long, but it would allow him to catch up on some things aside from packing, moving, and unpacking, namely - her baby book, which he kept putting off because she always wanted to help and it ended up turning into a messy, sticky, completely unrelated craft time.

Blaine came in and looked at Kurt, eyes requiring answers, so Kurt explained what had happened according to Julie, and instead of being upset, Blaine laughed too. "Well... it'll make a good story for her wedding anyhow...."

"Blaine Hummel-Anderson... don't you dare swear like that...." Kurt tossed a pillow at him, which Blaine caught and laughed, crawling over Julie to his side of the bed.

"She'll grow up and you'll have to compete for her attention with someone that isn't me. Better start getting used to the idea."

Kurt stuck his tongue out at Blaine who chuckled once again. "I'm serious...."

"I won't stand for it." Kurt said, laying down and pulling the blankets up over him.

"Well honey..." Blaine started and Kurt turned himself onto his side to face Blaine, looking over Julie cuddled between them. "We could always investigate... getting her a sibling now that we've graduated..."

Kurt's eyebrows went straight up and he scanned Blaine's face to see if it was a joke. It wasn't. They hadn't broached that topic at all, though both knew that they wanted more, it wasn't something they were in a position to think about. Blaine was taking no time in bringing it up.

"I mean... I don't know how much of a gap we want between Julie and any brother or sister she could have..." Blaine continued, seemingly trying to judge Kurt's reaction.

"Oh Blaine..." was all that Kurt could get out before leaning over Julie and giving him a kiss, which was returned, though tentatively.

"Uh... Kurt honey... I love kissing you... but I need to know your take on what I'm saying..." Blaine said once they pulled apart. Kurt realized just how much it meant to Blaine as he spoke.

"I kissed you because I think it's a good idea." Kurt replied, smiling broadly at Blaine who smiled back in return.

"Well... do you think we should look into surrogacy or...." Blaine started and Kurt pressed a finger to his lips to interrupt.

"Remember when we were doing all the prep work to get Julie? Remember seeing all those other kids there? I know Julie is probably an anomaly based on things I've read about orphaned children, but I don't think I'd feel alright about bringing a kid into the world, even if it was biologically one of ours, when there's lots of kids already in the world that need parents."

Blaine kissed Kurt's finger pressed to his lips and nodded, "You're the most moral... wonderful man..."

"So I take it you're alright with that?" Kurt asked, grinning playfully.

"Of course I am. I just wanted to make sure you were. Can I call Daniel in the morning?"

Kurt nodded, happy that he wasn't the only one who remembered the lawyer who started this all for them, looking at the little girl between them.

"You also know, that none of the kids will come with trust funds and bank accounts...." Blaine noted, watching Kurt as he watched Julie sleeping.

Kurt gave a small shrug. "We still haven't touched her account, though we may have to pay for childcare if we ever end up unable to work our scheduled around one another. If we have siblings for her, we'll definitely need to think about using her account to help pay for things unless our jobs become a little more stable."

Blaine nodded, laying his head back on his pillow and looking up at the ceiling. "I knew there was a reason we got the four bedroom apartment..."

Kurt laughed at that. "I suppose I may have been thinking about it a little... I just didn't realise you were."

"Once I realized how much I enjoyed being a dad I've thought about it. Though I get dibs on being the favourite dad of the next one." Blaine teased, though there was a morsel of truth to the statement.

"We should have Julie help us with the process...." Kurt murmured, thinking as he spoke.

"It's not a puppy or kitten Kurt... she just can't pick which one she likes through the window."

Kurt huffed at the accusation. "I didn't mean like that. I mean... coming to meet him or her, getting to know them, being asked her thoughts about things... even if she doesn't fully understand, it would make her feel important and help her transition to the big sister role..."

"You have been thinking about this already!" Blaine snapped, looking over at Kurt with a goofy grin.

Kurt smiled sweetly back, "I may have already started investigating the newest trends in infant fashion..."