The weeks flowed by. Blaine and Addy adjusted to their new life almost seamlessly. The two children had their occasional squabbles over a toy or which cartoon would be watched, but it just made them seem more like siblings. Kurt or Blaine would reprimand and guide them as a parenting team, to which the kids responded fabulously. Elliott had only ever had one parent and absolutely thrived under the addition of Blaine's love and care. Addy had, of course, known what it was like to have a second parent, but only in theory. She quickly fell in love with Kurt as a father figure. His extreme accessibility and quietly loving ways made her feel more at home than ever.

The two men fell into an easy routine of working, parenting and loving. They felt like they had done this for forever. They wanted to keep doing it for forever. The more time that passed, the more eager they were to be married. Nick and Sam worked hard on the divorce case and things were actually looking promising for Blaine. Alex was awake now and apparently healing well, therefore the process had started to move forward. His criminal charges and severe instability went a long way in helping things to move along. Nick, without promising anything, gave Blaine the hope that things could be finalized within the next three or four months. At this news, Blaine started to plan out his official proposal. It was going to take some work... but it would be worth it. Every spare minute he had that didn't involve Kurt, which were few, was spent in preparation of that moment.

Another change to their lives was the addition of Paul Karofsky. Kurt and Blaine genuinely enjoyed the man's company, as did the two children. He quickly became known as 'Grandpa Paul', and he took to the role with great pleasure.

It didn't take a genius to see how lonely the man was. He had a strained relationship with his wife at best, and had shared with the boys after a couple of visits how much he missed his own son-in-law and grandson. Jon was an incredibly sweet man and had gotten along with Paul fabulously, despite the tension in the Karofsky family. Jon had lost both of his parents at the age of eighteen to a car accident, and had been thrilled to have a father figure in Paul. Dave's dad had visited the two in New York as often as his job had allowed, doubling his efforts once a grandchild was in the picture. After Dave's death, a grieving Jon had actually come back to Lima briefly, at Paul's insistence. Paul was sure that after the pain of losing her son, his wife would have a change of heart and welcome the presence of her grandson in their home. He had been wrong. If anything she had turned even more bitter, resenting Jon and baby Marcus, saying it was their fault her son was dead. Jon lasted three days. Paul woke up on the fourth morning to find an empty guest room and a note from his son-in-law. The younger man had explained that he loved Paul dearly and hated to take Marcus away, but couldn't possibly subject his son to such a poisonous environment. Paul had confessed to calling the boy immediately, intent on coming up with some type of compromise so that he could still see the two. His number had been disconnected. Jon had left no forwarding number or address.

The pain that the older man lived with was obvious in his eyes, but it lessened ever day that he had contact with the young family. At one point he even joined the Hudmel's for a Friday night family dinner, something they had managed to keep up for the most part since Kurt had been young. The doctor had been sure that getting his father together with Paul would be a good idea. Both men were very blue-collar and had the experience of having a gay son. It had been a good connection indeed. Gone were the days of Burt being furious at Paul for how Kurt had been bullied. He had long since forgiven that and was devastated for the man when he learned of David's death, not able to stop himself from imagining life in those shoes. He and Paul had gotten along well that evening and made plans to watch football together on the following Sunday. No one could blame Burt for holding his son in an extra-long embrace when it was time for everyone to go home that night.

Things at the hospital were going well too. Sarah had finally wised up and stopped her complaining and hateful attitude toward the two. Though sometimes Kurt swore that he could feel someone's glare burning into the back of his head, only to turn around and find her smiling pleasantly or pointedly looking the other way.

Darla was the one emotional part of their workday. The little girl was in constantly for treatment and check-ups and either Kurt or Blaine, if not both, were present for every single session. Treatments were going well, but the chemo was making her very ill. Every time they saw her she was paler and shakier, her beautiful blonde curls continually thinner. On the days that they spent time with Darla and Karen, the two men would go home and just be with their children. They would play whatever the kids wanted, hold them and just be thankful for their health.

All in all they were incredibly happy. Life was good.

"You two, tonight, Chuck's bar on Center street."

Kurt and Blaine looked up from the patient records they were going over.

"What about it?" Kurt feigned ignorance as he hid a smile from Puck.

"Listen fairy doc and nurse fancy-pants, you guys are seriously becoming a boring old married couple." Puck crossed his arms and gave them a stubborn, no-nonsense look. "All you do is work and go home to be fathers... not that there is anything wrong with being a dad," he threw in at a look from Blaine. "I just think that you could benefit from a night out is all. You know that whole 'all work and no gay play' thing. It's supposed to be bad for you." Kurt rolled his eyes but couldn't help his laughter. Blaine hid a snicker behind his hand.

"Besides, I miss my best friend, you know?" He said the last part quietly while looking at the floor, kicking a little at the wall.

Kurt felt more than a little guilt. He had indeed been ignoring his friend in the last weeks. He had been concentrating so much on his new family, forgetting momentarily about the family he already had. He glanced at Blaine and saw that his fiancé had already read his mind and was giving him a small nod with an understanding smile.

"Definitely." Puck's face lit up immensely. "We have to find a sitter of course, but even if we can't, the two of us will at least go out." He glanced again at Blaine, double checking that this was okay and got another smile with a supportive pat on the back.

"Already taken care of. Finn is going to come over with Hailey at seven. Be ready." He turned on his heel with a grin.

"What about Rachel?" Kurt called out in question. Not that he didn't trust his brother, taking care of kids was what he did for a living. He was just confused as to why Rachel wasn't included.

"Woman is eight and a half months pregnant with twins, doc. You put it together and figure out why she wouldn't want to be on her feet all night chasing after two more kids."

Holy fucking shit this man is hot!

Blaine could not help but stare at the man next to him, gripping his hand tightly. For the first time since they had been together, Kurt had forgone his fairly conservative wardrobe and hairstyle. He was wearing skin tight, dark wash jeans paired with a very fitted powder blue v-neck tee that showed off sculpted arms and shoulders. Knee high leather boots that laced up the sides and contacts had finished his outfit. What really killed Blaine though was his hair. Gone was the normal coiffure, and in it's place was a spiky and purposely messy style that practically had the nurse on his knees. What he didn't know was that Kurt was thinking the same thing about him.

Normally Blaine had a very casual look. Scrubs at work, jeans and t-shirts at home. Tonight he was wearing black, slim fitting dress pants paired with a dark red button down and an extremely fitted black vest. He had completed the outfit with his dark framed glasses that were normally saved for nighttime reading. It was very sexy professor. Kurt couldn't help but picture naughty scenarios where they could play teacher and student. His pants, already ridiculously tight were almost unbearable by the time they reached the bar. He was so going to tap that tonight... or be tapped. He really wasn't picky.

"Over here guys!" Puck waved to them from across the crowded bar. Blaine hesitated when he saw that Detective Jones was at his side.

"What is he doing here?" He whispered to Kurt, suddenly agitated. "I told them I don't want anything to do with Alex anymore. I don't even want to hear about him!"

"I know, sweetie, I know." Kurt soothed. "Trust me, no one will bring him up. I guess Silas was pretty star-struck with Puck and kind of looks to him as a mentor. You know Puck, he's not about to turn down a little hero worship. He's just here as another friend." At Blaine's still distrustful look, Kurt stopped and put hands on both of the other man's shoulders. "Do you want to go? If you're that uncomfortable, I wouldn't ask you to stay." Blaine let out a sigh and shot Kurt an appreciate smile.

"No, I'm totally fine honey. I'm sorry. I'm being ridiculous. It's just that I think of him as ONLY being a connection to Alex. I'm good. Let's go." With another smile and a tug on the doctor's hand, he led them to the table where the other two men were waiting.

Three beers later, light beer in Kurt's case, they were all laughing and enjoying themselves.

"Okay, I really need to hear the full story. This is too good." Blaine grinned, looking between Kurt and Puck. Kurt threw his head back and laughed, offering a hand in the air to show his friend to go ahead with the telling.

"Well, I kind of accidentally blew my cover and I had been working for months on busting this particular drug ring. I only had one more night of undercover work left to get the information I needed and I wasn't about to give up." He looked back to Kurt, offering him the next segment of the story.

"So, he shows up at my door one night. Elliott was a newborn and I had just gotten him down. All of a sudden there Puck is, thrusting a back of slutty hooker clothes into my hands, telling me to turn him into a woman. In my sleep deprived state, I seriously thought for a second that he was making a very life-altering decision."

Blaine and Silas were nearly doubled over in laughter at this, the latter wiping tears of mirth from his eyes.

"Seriously though," Blaine sat forward and peered into Puck's face. "How did you pull it off, cuz dude? You have no feminie features at all."

"I think I'm going to take that as a compliment." Puck snorted into his drink.

"Stipper hose, tons of stage makeup and very bad street corner lighting." Kurt quipped with a smile.

After a mental picture the other two men burst out into laughter again. Puck and Kurt shared a grin. That was seriously one of their better stories.

"Excuse me? Dr. Dummel?" Kurt looked up at the timid voice.

"Ryan!" Kurt stood quickly and shook the young man's hand. "Everyone, this is Ryan. He was a med student I worked with last year at the hospital. I thought you'd moved to Cincinnati though?"

"I did, I'm just here visiting some friends actually."

Kurt smiled and nodded.

"Listen, I don't want to interrupt your night, but I'm actually writing a paper on the effects of that new Alzheimer's drug that is coming out and I was wondering if I could pick your brain for a minute before I have to leave town?"

"Absolutely! How long are you here for?"

"I leave tomorrow evening actually. Can I come by the hospital tomorrow and see you?"

"Oh, I'm not going to be there actually," Kurt voiced with real regret. "It's my day off and we're taking the kids to the zoo. Oh, this is my boyfriend, Blaine." Blaine stood silently and shook the man's hand. Ryan took it happily telling him it was a pleasure.

"Well, that's a shame. I'm sorry I'll miss you. Maybe we can talk on the phone then after I get back to Cincinnati."

Kurt sighed and nodded, looking rather put-out. Blaine rolled his eyes and laughed.

"Oh my god, baby. Just take a few minutes right now and go talk. I promise we won't whither away and die without you."

Kurt looked at him excitedly and glanced to Puck for confirmation.

"Whatever, Princess. Just don't abandon me the whole night."

"Seriously, you need to stop calling me that in front of my med students." Kurk gave him an exasperated look and quickly guided Ryan to a booth across the room.

Puck and Silas exchanged cop stories for a few minutes while Blaine wistfully watched his hot fiance from afar. Looking at Kurt sip his drink and run fingers through his spiky hair was seriously turning him on. He shifted slightly in his chair to hide the problem he had created with his leering. Puck broke him out of his reverie.

"So man, when's the official proposal coming?" Puck grinned at Blaine over the top of his beer.

"He told you? We weren't supposed to tell anyone!" Blaine didn't know why he was shocked. He had told Jeff.

"Dude. Come on. It's me." Puck threw him a look that said 'Of course I know. I always know everything there is to know.'

Blaine grinned back. "Well, I actually was going to talk to you about it. I'm hoping you can help me out..."

"Where's your boyfriend, Puckerman? Oh, he's over there with another guy I see. Too bad. Trouble in paradise?" A man had come over to the table and leaned in toward Puck, obviously drunk. He sent a sneering look across the room to Kurt as he spoke.

Blaine was feeling pretty confused. Excuse me? Puck's boyfriend? He opened his mouth to say something but Puck quickly shook his head with a roll of his eyes, indicating that it wasn't worth it. Blaine struggled for a moment but then complied.

"Detective Jordan, what an unpleasant surprise. Do me a favor and go fuck yourself." Puck stood to go get another beer from the bar and was stopped by the man with a hand to his chest. He took a deep breath to steady himself and turned a steady look at the drunk man. "Can I help you with something? Because if you don't need anything then I suggest you remove your hand before I rip your arm out of it's goddamn socket. My 'boyfriend' may be a doctor but I doubt even he'll be able to fix that."

"Go ahead and try it." The detective gave a light push with a daring raise of his eyebrows. Puck leaned in with the most menacing look Blaine had ever seen. Silas was slowly rising out of his chair to intervene if necessary.

"Puck, he's not worth it. Let's just go okay?" Kurt had seen the commotion from the other side of the bar and quickly made his way over. He remembered this douchebag well.

"Better listen to your boyfriend there Puckerman. Wouldn't want to make him mad. You lost your place on the force for him after all. Be a shame to mess things up now." He gave a victorious smile. Puck looked ready to murder him.

"What is he talking about, Noah?" Kurt looked like he might be sick.

"It's nothing. He's just lying to get me pissed. You're right. He's not worth it. Let's just go." Puck went to grab Kurt's arm and lead him out. Kurt jerked his arm away.

"That's only partly true. He's trying to piss you off but he's telling the truth. What happened that I don't know about, Noah?" Kurt looked angry and betrayed... but most of all guilty.

"Kurt it's noth... Okay, can we just talk about this someplace that's not... here?" Puck was giving Kurt a look that was half angry and half guilty himself.

Kurt stood still for a moment before nodding. He looked over to Blaine and Silas and they all moved from the table without a word.

"That's right. Go home now. Go home with your precious fairy of a boyfriend. Go home and shove your dick up his tight little ass. Go home and..."

Ka-thunk

He fell flat on the floor, knocked out cold.

Blaine stood next to him, wincing as he shook out his hand.

Kurt sat in the driver's seat of his car, shaking his head in disbelief. He was stuck somewhere between anger, frustration and seriously wanting Blaine to just rip his clothes off and fuck him right then and there. Blaine's actions had been immature and completely lacking in the self-control he normally respected so much, but damn... it had been hot too.

He didn't even want to think about what was going on with Puck yet. He felt absolutely sick when he thought of the drunk man's words, 'You lost your place on the force for him after all...'

That was most certainly not how Puck had told the story. He had told Kurt, and everyone else as far as the doctor knew, that he had been let go for 'conduct unbecoming of a police officer'. Puck hadn't ever seemed to want to go into the details so Kurt had never pushed. The thought that he was somehow the reason Puck had lost his job was like a knife in his heart.

Blaine sat next to him, an ice pack on his left hand, sending nervous glances Kurt's way. He had no idea what was going on in Kurt's head. The doctor had stared at him in shock when it had happened. Everyone had. The man's friends had unceremoniously hauled him out just seconds after he had hit the floor, leaving the other three men to stand there, mouths still hanging open. The bartender had come up to Puck and said that they should probably go now. The other man was always in fights and on the line as far as his job. He wouldn't be pressing charges, but still... it would behoove them to get their asses out of there now.

So they had left, Puck saying he would meet the couple back at Kurt's. Silas had left solemnly with a small wave to the other men.

Blaine knew it was one of the worse things he could have done. He was a nurse for goodness sake. His very job description was to care for and heal people. Seriously though... who could just stand there and listen to someone talk that way about the person they loved. He would do the same thing again. He opened his mouth to speak. Kurt held up a hand when he heard the intake of breath.

"Can we... not. Just not right now. I'm reeling from whatever I'm going to hear from Puck and I just... can we please discuss this later?"

"Sure." Blaine's response was quiet. Great, he's definitely pissed. He felt Kurt reach over and gently take his injured hand. He winced but didn't pull away, and dared a look at the man he had thrown a punch for.

"Thank you, Blaine."

"You're welcome, baby."

Finn looked up with a smile as the three men entered the house. It faded quickly when he saw their expressions and Blaine's ice-packed hand.

"I see how it is. Leave the social worker at home when you're planning on getting into a bar fight, huh?" He attempted humor. Only Blaine offered a small tight smile. Finn cleared his throat, "So, care to fill me in?"

Nobody responded right away. Puck just sat down on the couch and propped his chin on his clasped hands. Kurt patted his brother on the arm but walked right past without a word and into the kitchen. Blaine just asked other questions in response.

"Did the kids do alright for you? Where's Hailey?"

"Um, yeah, dude. They were just great. Ate dinner, had fun playing. Elly talked my ear off. I gotta admit, I'm still not used to that." He smiled weakly and Blaine gave a small laugh and a much more genuine smile this time. "All three are asleep in Elliott's bed actually." At Blaine's look of surprise he went on. "I know. I thought it was ridiculous too. They're all crammed in there. Addy told me how much she misses sleeping with El now that she has her own room though and Hailey was tired and they all begged to lie down together. You know I'm not good at saying no when they beg..." Finn shrugged in resignation. Blaine really laughed then.

"How do you deal with it at work? I'm guessing you have to say no to kids on occassion then."

"Totally different. First of all, they aren't my own family so there's a little disconnect. Secondly, I'm doing things to save those kid's lives. This is just letting them wake up with criks in their necks in the morning because they insisted on sharing a bed."

Blaine nodded in understanding as Kurt walked back into the room, fresh ice pack in hand. The doctor walked over to his fiance and replaced the warming ice pack with the cold one, then sat down next to Puck. Blaine looked on in silence and sank back into a chair. Finn stood uncertainly for a moment before sinking back into his own chair, eyes darting between the other men in anxious anticipation.

"What really happened and why did you lie to me?" Kurt's words were quiet, and full of hurt... but not accusatory. Puck sighed with relief when he heard his friend's tone. He should have known Kurt wouldn't actually be mad at him. The doctor was both perceptive and knew the former officer better than anyone. He would realize that with a lie this big, there would be good reason behind it.

"Look, you know what Lima is like as well as I do. Full of homophobic assholes, no matter how far we seem to advance as a civilization." Kurt looked at him warily, feeling very afraid of what would come out of his friend's mouth next. "They never liked that I was friends with you. None of them. That part is no secret to you. It would come out in little ways, but I just ignored it." At a look from Kurt he shrugged, "Okay, I mostly ignored it with the occasional fist to the jawbone." Finn snorted but quickly silenced himself at a look from his brother. "It's no big deal, okay? They just kept making things more and more difficult until I had enough and walked away." Kurt just looked at him. There was more. He knew there was more. Puck avoided eye contact and picked at a thread on his jacket, but finally broke under the pressure. "God, you won't let this go will you?" Kurt still just looked. "Fine. They were taking assignments away from me. My partner refused to work with me and I finally found out that my chief was planning a transfer. According to him 'It would be better for all involved parties if my presence was no longer a distraction at this precinct.'" He finished in a yell of frustration and tossed the throw pillow he was gripping across the room. "I quit. End of story."

Finn and Blaine glanced at each other with pained expressions before both turning to watch Kurt cautiously.

"I don't get it? Why did they care so much?" Finn asked the obvious question. Puck let out a humorless laugh.

"Didn't you know? Apparently gay is contagious." They all just sat there, letting the ridiculousness sink in.

The doctor's mouth was open slightly. His lips moved on occassion as he searched for words but none came. Puck sighed after looking at his friend and turned to him, taking Kurt's hand in an uncharacteristic move.

"I'm not mad right now about what happened. I'm mad that I had to tell you. You didn't need to know." Kurt made a noise of disbelief but Puck kept talking. "It was MY choice, okay? They didn't fire me for anything. I just told you all that to make things easier. I could have fought, I could have sued even... I could have just taken the transfer... but no one controls my life like that." Kurt just shook his head, eyes misting slightly. "I'm gonna say one thing and then I never want to talk about this again. Alright?" Kurt hesitated, but then nodded slowly. "You're worth it, okay? I don't care what they said or what they did. You are the best fucking friend I have ever had in my life. No way is someone going to dictate whether I can hang with you. I could have been a good little boy and tried to live my life around what made everyone there comfortable. That's not me though. I took a page from Blaine's book, punched my partner in the face and walked out. They were too afraid to try and charge me with assault because they knew the damage I could do if I told them what had set me off." Finn glanced at Blaine in confusion at this and Blaine just shook his head with a look that said, 'later.'

"I mean, it Kurt. It's done. I regret nothing. We're not going to talk about it anymore."

Kurt still just stared at his friend. It seemed that was all he was capable of tonight. One thought came to him though as he glanced down at the hand Puck was still holding.

"Um, you do realize that we're still not dating, right?"

"Lord, this night was supposed to be our big, fun night out." Kurt sighed as he slipped into his pajama pants and climbed into their bed. "Instead I find out that I'm the reason my best friend lost his job and you commit assault and battery." Blaine pulled on his own sweats and climbed in next to his fiance.

"Honey, you know that you're not the reason that..." Kurt nodded his head and placed a finger over Blaine's lips.

"I know. Just let me get it out of my system. I'm pissed." Blaine smiled sadly and pulled the doctor over and into his arms.

"You're allowed to be. It's pretty shitty."

They lay together quietly for a bit before Blaine spoke again.

"Do you want to talk about what happened with me and that guy?"

Much to Blaine's surprise, Kurt shook his head no.

"Part of me knows that, while understandable, it was a reckless move on your part. Wrong or not, he's a police officer. You could've gotten into so much trouble if they had decided to push the issue." Blaine stiffened a little, hating being reprimanded for standing up for the one he loved. Kurt wasn't finished. "I don't care though. It was amazing and chivalrous and so fucking hot." Blaine's eyes opened wide. He hadn't expected that. Kurt slowly turned in his arms and climbed into his lap, kissing him deeply.

"Fuck me. Fuck me right now. I want you to fuck me so hard that I can feel you for days, because god baby... that was so... fucking... hot."

Blaine didn't need to be told twice.