Blaine's jaw dropped and his throat ran dry.  He blinked, as if to reassure himself that Kurt was really standing in his hall.  He needed to speak.  Anything would be better than just standing there and starting at Kurt.  Yet he didn't know what to say.  Didn't know what to even think.  So he stood there, feeling like an idiot, until Kurt finally broke the silence.

“So you going to let me in?  You did invite me after all,” he laughed, rubbing at the back of his neck with the hand not holding a present.

“Huh?” Blaine muttered in shock.

“Can I come in?” Kurt asked again, this time sounding more skeptical. 

“Oh, um, yeah,” Blaine stuttered.  He stepped aside and let Kurt into the entranceway. 

“Thanks.  I was beginning to think you had reconsidered your invitation.” 

“Invitation?  I—”

“Hey Kurt!” Sam greeted on his way to the kitchen.  “Good to see you could come after all.”

“Yeah,” Kurt responded.  “Was scared I would have to go into the office today but things worked out in the end.”

“But—” Blaine started, only to be interrupted again by Cooper this time.

“Blaine, I think someone is ready for presents and cake now,” Cooper stated, walking towards the hallway with Luke in his arms.  As soon as Luke laid eyes on Kurt, he let out a bit of a squeal and tried to propel himself out of Cooper's arms.  “Woah, buddy!  Where do you think you're going?  Trying to make an escape from your Uncle Cooper?”

Luke grumbled out something that soundly vaguely like a K sound.  He continued to reach towards Kurt until Cooper finally relented and handed his nephew over. 

“Hey, Luke,” Kurt cooed, bouncing the boy in his arms.  Luke babbled excitedly back and toyed with the edges of the scarf Kurt wore around his neck. 

While Kurt talked to Luke, Cooper sidled up to Blaine.  “Liar,” he whispered.

Blaine knit his brow in confusion.  “Huh?”

“You said there was no boyfriend yet by all accounts this looks like a boyfriend.”

“I—it's—well—”

“No need to explain, tiger,” Cooper said softly with a wink.    

Blaine groaned to himself but was saved by Kurt coming back over.  “Sorry, I'm probably hogging him.”

“Oh, it's fine,” Blaine replied, and strangely enough it was.  Luke was a happy baby and rarely complained about being around people, but that didn't mean he wouldn't squirm and huff until he got to the people he preferred.  There were no signs of that now.  He was fine in Kurt's arms, happy even.  “He likes you.” 

Kurt laughed.  “Well he's about the only child at daycare that does.” 

Blaine smiled at that, watching as Kurt continued to bounce and make faces at Luke.  The child just giggled and tried to grab at Kurt's hair and clothes, obviously content and enjoying his new friend. 

“So—I just realized I didn't catch your name?” Cooper asked with a small smirk. 

“Oh, I'm Kurt,” he replied, shifting Luke so he could shake Cooper's hand. 

“Cooper, Blaine's big brother and Luke's favorite uncle.”

Blaine rolled his eyes.  “You're his only uncle.”

“Hey!” Sam chimed in, still standing off to the side.  “I'm his uncle too.”   

Blaine groaned but couldn't get another word in thanks to Cooper.   “So this is the boyfriend I haven't heard anything about huh?”

Kurt's eyes widened and Blaine felt his face turn bright red. 

“Ok, I think it's time for presents,” Sam said, saving Blaine from any more Cooper's questioning.  “Come on Kurt.”  Sam clapped Kurt on the shoulder and guided him towards the living room.

Once Blaine recovered a bit from his embarrassment, he punched Cooper hard in the arm.

“Hey!  Ouch!  What was that for?  Don't you know I need that arm unblemished?  I'm shooting a beach scene next week and can't have any bruises showing!”

“Then you should probably learn to keep your mouth shut!  Stop calling Kurt my boyfriend.  You're going to make him uncomfortable and then he will want to leave and Luke will get upset and—”

“And you will get upset too.”

Blaine bit his lip and looked towards his feet.

“Ok squirt,” Cooper sighed, throwing his arm around his brother's shoulders.  “I'll lay off of him.  I'm just messing around because I could tell you like him.”

“That doesn't mean he likes me back or wants anything to do with me,” Blaine replied softly. 

Cooper nudged Blaine towards the living room so that he could see Kurt once again.  He was sitting in the floor with Luke on his lap.  His son was still babbling and tugging at Kurt, smiling all the while.  Kurt looked pretty happy himself. 

“Does that look like he wants nothing to do with you?” 

Blaine didn't say anything.  He didn't know what to even say.  So instead, he walked into the living room and tried to just lose himself in taking care of Luke on his birthday.  That was always easier, focusing on Luke and his needs. 

Only Luke didn't seem to need much while Kurt had him. 

“Time for presents!” Cooper yelled, breaking Blaine from his reverie.  The party launched back into full chaos, with all the kids grabbing for the discarded boxes and wrapping paper while the adults tried to make sure they didn't hurt themselves.  Luke alternated between Blaine and Kurt's lap, only getting up long enough to snatch up a discarded bow to decorate Kurt's forehead.     

The afternoon passed in a similar fashion.  Everyone joined in the chaos of presents, kids, and cake.  Little superhero capes were whizzing by in various directions.  Luke took it all in stride.  He played with the new toys for a bit, smushed cake all over his face with enthusiasm, and giggled every time Blaine and Kurt picked him up.   

Needless to say Luke was exhausted by the time it was all over.  He had managed to crawl onto Kurt and burrow into his chest.  By the time the other guests had left, Luke had practically pinned Kurt to the couch.

Blaine returned from saying goodbye to Cooper, Sam, and Artie who suddenly all claimed they had plans.  Blaine peeked around the corner to see Luke still fast asleep on top of Kurt, who was now the only guest left from the party.  Blaine took a deep breath and joined them on the couch. 

“You know, I can probably take him.  He's a pretty sound sleeper.  Shouldn't be too hard.”

“He's fine,” Kurt waved him off.  “I've heard him cry at the daycare.  Don't feel like bursting my ear drums tonight.”

Blaine laughed a little.  “Yeah, he's got my lungs for sure.  Would you believe me if I said he's gotten quieter?”

“Oh god!  It used to be worse?”

Blaine nodded.  “Not when I first brought him home but as he got a little older.  I swore up and down Sam and Artie would kick us out if when we first moved in.”

“Nah, they're good guys.  Meddling guys, but good nonetheless.”  Blaine sent Kurt a puzzled look.  “Oh come on, I know one of them texted me to come over for the party and not you.  No offense, but your face when you opened the door gave it away.”

Blaine rubbed at the back of his neck as his face flushed with embarrassment.  “It wasn't that I didn't want you here.”

“I know.  But,” Kurt shifted slightly, careful not to wake Luke, “can you explain why you didn't?”

“After that disastrous date?  I was pretty sure you never wanted to see me again.”

“It wasn't disastrous.”  Blaine scoffed.  “Believe it or not, I've had worse.”

“But you don't deserve that,” Blaine said softly, almost hoping that Kurt wouldn't hear him.

“Well, maybe you don't either.” 

Blaine stayed quiet for a few minutes, his leg bouncing nervously and his arms crossed to prevent his hands from shaking.  “I haven't done this in a long time.  Not since Luke came along.  I didn't really expect to.  And now that I am…”

“It's rough.  I know.  I've been there.”  Kurt looked down at look.  “Well not literally where you are but close.  I know what it's like to think you are out of the dating game only to be thrown back in.  It sucks.  But, that doesn't make it impossible.”  Kurt shifted Luke so that he could free up a hand.  He slid it across the couch and took Blaine's in his own.  “Doesn't mean we can't try.”

“I'd like that,” Blaine admitted softly. 

“Me too.”  Kurt smiled broadly.  “So how about we have a second date?  Try again?”

Blaine nodded.  “Um…I saw a flyer at school for an off Broadway production of Rent next weekend.  Sam's off from work that night.  I could get him to watch Luke.  We could do dinner and the show?” 

“It's a date.” 

xxxxxx

After the first disastrous date, Blaine was nervous about their second.  He took even longer than before to get ready, changing multiple times and annoying the hell out of his roommates.  Even Luke seemed to get frustrated if his fussing was any indication.  In the end, it was well worth it. The second date was well worth the fuss.  It was even worth the first date from hell.

They talked almost nonstop through dinner this time, learning the other's likes and dislikes.  Blaine still checked his phone every now and then, but there were no disasters on the Luke front thankfully.  It was easy going and both boys seemed to relax the more they talked. 

Come time for the musical, they were both nearly giddy with excitement.  They took their seats and settled in for the show.  Kurt pointed out people he recognized in the cast, a few recent NYADA grads in the chorus here and there.  When the lights dimmed, both turned their full attention to the stage, their shoulders touching.  They remained that way until the end of the show, when they both jumped up to applaud and whistle with the rest of the audience.  Blaine couldn't remember the last time he was able to truly enjoy a show that much.  So much so that he really hated to leave… 

Kurt turned and looked up at the theater marquee one last time before sighing and walking away with Blaine.  Their hands brushed against each other awkwardly, neither apparently knowing what to do now that the show was over.  Blaine's nerves had kicked back in, making him scared of doing anything he wanted to do.  He wanted to take Kurt's hand.  He wanted to pull him along to somewhere nicer than the sidewalk.  And he wanted finally get up the courage to give him a kiss. 

Before Blaine could say anything, Kurt spoke up.  “So that was great.”  His eyes were still wide and his voice held a tone of amazement, both making Blaine smile.  “I've always wanted to see it on stage.  There was a production in Columbus when I was high school but no one could go with me.” 

Blaine remembered that production.  He had wanted to see it as well.  But Eric had made other plans for them and wouldn't agree to change them.  Blaine didn't feel like going into all those details yet, so he simply nodded.  “Well, I'm glad you finally got to see it then.” 

“Yes, thank you again for this.  I know Fridays are normally your coffee shop performance night.  You didn't have to cancel for me.”

They stopped at the crosswalk and checked for cars.  Once across the street and safely on their way to the park, Blaine smiled softly.  “It wasn't a problem.  This is one of my favorite shows.  I was happy to go.  Was happy to be able to take you to it.”  He blushed and had to look away, afraid Kurt would notice. 

“Well, thank you again,” Kurt continued.  He bumped shoulders with Blaine.  “Though I think you should carry on your Friday night tradition and perform for me.” 

“Hmm?”  Blaine turned towards Kurt, his feet shuffling against the dirt along the path.  The two of them had entered the park.  It was just dark enough that most people had already left for the day, but not too late for a walk.

“I want to hear you sing,” Kurt answered.  “I mean, Sam had Rachel show me a video of you singing, but you know how those things are.  Phones are great but it's never as good as in person.”

“You want to hear me sing?” 

“Yeah,” Kurt replied with a smile and a slight blush.  “I mean, I could hear you singing under your breath during most of the songs tonight but I'd love to not have to strain my ears this time to hear you sing this time.”

Blaine groaned, “You noticed that, huh?”

“Oh yes.” 

Blaine shook his head.  “I'm really not that good.”

“I beg to differ from what I heard on that video.”

“The one you said was bad?”

This time Kurt shook his head.  “No, never said you were bad, just the quality.”

Blaine bit his lip.  “Only if you sing too.”  Kurt fixed him with a look.  “Oh don't look at me that way.  I know you can sing.  Probably better than I can since you are a NYADA student afterall.  And I totally noticed you singing along with Angel on ‘I'll Cover You' earlier.”

Kurt laughed.  “Guilty.  Pretty sure I know all the lyrics to this show though.  I used to listen to it so much growing up and I just taught myself all the parts.”  Kurt paused to sit down on the nearby bench, smiling to himself as he talked.  “I mean, I would put on one man shows in my house when I was alone.”

“That sounds like fun.”  Blaine took a seat next to him, his hands still shaking slightly from his nerves.

“Yeah it was.”  Kurt rubbed at the back of his neck.  “Though this one time my dad came home early and I was right in the middle of a one man show of ‘La Vie Boheme'.”

“Oh god!  That had to be awkward,” Blaine laughed. 

“Could have been worse,” Kurt shrugged.  “At least I wasn't at Mark's ‘mucho masturbation' line.” 

Both boys dissolved into a fit of laughter that took a few moments to subside. 

“Ok,” Kurt sighed, still smiling, “now that I've told you that embarrassing story, you have to sing.”

“Fine,” Blaine relented, standing up and holding his hands out in front of himself.  “But you have to sing with me.”

“But—”

“Only fair.  After this you will have heard me sing twice technically—three times if you count Luke's birthday when I started the round of ‘Happy Birthday.'”

“I guess we could sing ‘I'll Cover You' since it was pretty obvious in there that we both knew it.”

“I'll take Collins part while you take Angel's.”

“That means I have to sing first!”

Blaine faked a gasp and held a hand to his chest.  “It does, doesn't it?”

Kurt stood up and shoved gently at his shoulder.  “Don't even act surprised.”

Blaine chuckled.  “Alright.  Shall we then?”

Kurt rolled his eyes a little and started walking.  After a few steps he started singing Angel's opening lines.  “Live in my house, I'll be your shelter...”

Blaine couldn't help but stare at Kurt as they walked and he sang.  His voice—Blaine had never quite heard anything like it.  Kurt had told him he was a countertenor in the past, but to actually see and hear him…Blaine didn't know what to say. 

Blaine was so caught up in listening to Kurt's voice that he nearly missed his own cue.  He recovered as quickly as he could and started his part. “Open your door, I'll be your tenant.  Don't got much baggage to lay at your feet.”  In truth, he felt like he had a lot of baggage that would be piling up on Kurt; that would burry Kurt and make him never want to see him again.  But for now, for one night, he could try to forget.  He could lose himself in the song, in the moment. 

The sang together during the parts Angel and Collins joined in together on, Kurt grabbing him and making him dance around the park.  The more they sang and moved around together, the more relaxed Blaine became.  He hadn't felt this comfortable and at ease with anyone new in a long time.  Maybe ever. 

“You'll be my king, and I'll be your castle,” Kurt sang.

Blaine broke away from Kurt and jumped up on an empty bench.  “No, you'll be my queen and I'll be your moat.”  He tried to jump back down but lost his balance just as Kurt started singing the next line.  He all but fell into Kurt, and was amazed they didn't both end up sprawled out in the dirt.  Kurt just barely managed to catch him and keep them both upright, with Blaine grabbing at his shoulders tightly. 

Their faces were just inches apart, both trying to catch their breath.  Blaine's eyes flickered up to meet Kurt's after a few seconds. 

“Are you ok?” Kurt asked, obviously concerned.

Blaine bit his lip and let his eyes gaze down to Kurt's mouth.  He took a deep breath a leaned in for a kiss before he could second guess himself.  Kurt gasped against his mouth at first but then started to return the kiss.  It lasted for a few moments before they broke apart.  Blaine chuckled to himself.  “Yeah, I'm ok.”

“Think you were more than ok,” Kurt laughed before going in for another kiss. 

They stayed that way in the park for a little while longer, but the wind started to pick up and the air turned too cold.  They reluctantly broke apart and started to walk back towards their apartments.  This time, their hands were entangled together at their sides, Blaine's no longer shaking.