For about a week or so in September, every time Burt comes home, he immediately hears Kurt and Blaine doing the same thing: practicing for their West Side Story auditions. Kurt had decided to go out for Tony, the leading male role, to better his chances of getting into that school he likes. Blaine was going for Bernardo. They spent all their free time practicing together, discussing things Burt didn’t understand like phrasing, breath control and intricate choreography. Burt was happy to see them so excited, so driven. They were entirely united in their cause, switching evenly between each of their audition songs.

     When Kurt comes home the day of his big audition with a frown on his face, Burt is surprised.

      “What happened? How was the audition?” Burt asks.

     Blaine comes in the front door right after Kurt.

      “He was amazing! Just fantastic! He nailed all of his moves, he was pitch-perfect and they were totally blown away by the swords, of course!”

     Blaine’s nearly jumping up and down he’s so happy for Kurt. This only confuses Burt further.

      “Then what - ?” Burt trails off, looking at Kurt, who sighs.

      “Sit down, Blaine.” He says, angling his head towards the couch. Blaine sits down, an unsettled look on his face.

      “I nailed it, yeah. But I…” Kurt sighs again, looking away from his dad and his boyfriend. Both are becoming concerned. “I was listening in on the directors later.”

     Both Burt and Blaine wince.

      “You can scold me for that later, Dad, I don’t care.” Kurt adds. “They thought my performance was great, just not for Tony. They said I – “

     At this point, Kurt’s voice gets choked up, and he stops talking. Blaine immediately moves to pull Kurt towards him, comforting him best he can. Kurt sniffs, and finally says.

      “It’s the same thing it always is. I’m too effeminate.”

     Burt and Blaine both let out low noises of disappointment.

      “Did they say that?” Blaine asks. Burt thinks that the other boy is trying to find a loop-hole in whatever they said. Somehow make it nicer. It’s a sweet gesture, but it backfires.

      “No, they didn’t.” Kurt sobs suddenly. “It would have been better if they had. They said… They – “ Kurt hiccups. Blaine rubs his back consolingly.

      “They said I was ‘too delicate’ and ‘too much of a lady.’”

     Once the words are out, Kurt visibly deflates, his sobs increasing. Burt’s heart is breaking watching him, and judging by Blaine’s expression, he’s feeling about the same.

      “Why?” Kurt asks, beginning to ramble through his tears. “How could she say that? It was Coach Beiste! She’s grown up being called sir and things like that! She knows how much it hurts! I’ve never been so humiliated in my whole life. But look at me crying my eyes out, they must be right –“

      “Kurt. Stop.” Blaine interrupts. He shifts so that he can look into Kurt’s eyes. “You listen to me. They are wrong. They are completely wrong. You are not a girl and you are not delicate. You are so strong and so brave and so kind. You are a man. They are the ones that are wrong, not you. There is nothing wrong with you.”

     Burt is thoroughly impressed with Blaine right now. With all of Blaine’s challenges in life, Burt had forgotten that, when they first met, Blaine was more of a support for Kurt than the other way around. Burt had been entirely oblivious to such a core part of their relationship. It wasn’t just that Blaine needed Kurt. No. They needed each other. Desperately.

     Blaine looks up at Burt quickly, a very specific look on his face. Burt knows it’s a request for privacy. He grants it, leaving the room with a nod, but he stays just a few feet away from the door, still listening.

      “Kurt.” Blaine says softly, having pulled his still-crying boyfriend into his lap. “There’s something else, isn’t there?”

     Kurt starts crying harder, which is all the confirmation Blaine needs that he’s right.

      “Do you want to tell me, sweetie?” Blaine asks, his voice gentle. He’s started rocking Kurt slightly. Kurt’s got one hand fisted in Blaine’s shirt, clinging to him.

      “Whatever it is, Kurt, I really want to talk about it. I know you’re upset, but we both know you won’t feel better at all until you talk about it.”

     Kurt nods, almost imperceptibly.

      “Do you want me to ask you questions until you’re ready to talk?”

     Kurt nods again.

      “Okay then, let’s see. Is it – about Glee?”

     Kurt takes a moment, then shakes his head.

      “Is it about us?”

     Kurt starts crying harder again. Blaine suddenly has tears in his eyes, but he swallows quickly, forcing them away and forcing himself to stay composed.

      “Okay, thank you for telling me. Is it about… Hmm… Is it about what I was wearing today? Did I pick the wrong bow-tie?”

     Kurt lets out a little snort.

      “Blaine, I picked your outfit. There couldn’t be anything wrong with it.” Kurt whispers. Burt has to strain to hear it.

      “Are you ready to tell me now?” Blaine asks softly. He kisses Kurt on the forehead.

      “I just – “ Kurt frowns, biting his lip.

      “Go on.” Blaine encourages.

      “You do want me, right?” Kurt finally says, his voice barely more than a whisper.

      “WHAT?” Burt thinks.

      “What?” Blaine says, his face confused. “How can you -? Why do you - ? Yes, yes of course I do, Kurt! Why would you ever doubt that?”

      “Because you’re gay!” Kurt says, his voice growing stronger. “You like men, Blaine! And sure, yeah, technically I do count as a man, but you could have someone so much more manly, someone that’s strong and doesn’t have a high pitched voice…”

      “Kurt. That is absolutely ridiculous. I want you. I don’t want anyone else. You don’t think I don’t know what’s out there? I do. But I don’t want that. I don’t want some random body-builder whose junk is tiny because he takes so many steroids. I don’t want a guy who can bench press me. I don’t want a guy so strong that subconsciously I’d be connecting him to my bullies that beat me up. I don’t want a guy with a really deep voice or a guy that has to shave twice a day because he has so much facial hair. I don’t want that, Kurt! I just want you. You are perfect to me. Just like the Pink song. So what if you’re not perfect as other people would define it. You are perfect to me.”

      “You are the perfect height. I love that you are just a little bit taller than me so that I have to look up to kiss you. I love how broad your shoulders are because when you hug me, I feel so safe in your arms. Your arms are just strong enough. They help me feel safe and they help you be able to do all the acrobatics and stuff you love to do. If you were any stronger, your muscles wouldn’t be able to fit in all of those long-sleeve shirts you love so much. And even though you’re strong, I never have to worry about you hurting me. Remember that time that you were kissing me up against the wall? If you were any bigger that might have really triggered me, but it didn’t, because you’re perfect.”

      “I love that we’re pretty similar sizes, because I never have to worry about you crushing me or me crushing you when we’re making out or if one of us rolls over in bed. I love the colour of your eyes and the way they sparkle when you’re happy and darken when you’re kissing me. I love your stomach - you know that. There’s so much muscle there, but still feels really soft. It’s the perfect place for me to put my hand when we’re sleeping or my head when we’re watching a movie.”

      “And, finally, I love your voice, Kurt Hummel. I love it because it was the first voice I ever believed when hearing the words “I love you.” And it makes you so unique. I know unique is hard, oh I know that, but I promise you that someday it will be worth it. So worth it. And you know what? I bet that it will be the thing that gets you into NYADA. How many counter-tenors do you think audition every year? They are going to be so completely amazed by you. And your dad and I are going to be so proud of you.”

     Kurt had been silent through this entire speech. His eyes steadily drying and showing more and more adoration as Blaine spoke.

      “So just forget about all those stupid things that you think you should be, and just be you. Because I love you. So much.”

     Kurt leans up to catch Blaine’s lips in a kiss. They kiss slowly for quite some time, the kiss all tenderness and gratitude, both boys so incredibly thankful for having each other.

     Burt heads to the kitchen, deciding to give the boys the privacy that Blaine had asked for. Burt’s thinking about how glad he is that Blaine was there to take care of Kurt when, in a rush, Burt has a sudden realization. This was it. Kurt wasn’t really his anymore. He was Blaine’s. And that was that. Kurt and Blaine belonged to each other not, whether or not they fully understood it yet. Burt realized that he was no longer the one that Kurt would go to for reassurance or encouragement or help in hard times. Any decision Kurt made would be decided with Blaine in mind. Burt was losing his son – his son who was only eighteen. Still a child, really!

     He props himself up against the fridge to steady himself. This was how it should be. And this was, after all, everything he’d ever hoped that Kurt would have. Sure, it was sooner than he’d been thinking, but Blaine had arrived when Kurt needed him most. And really, as much he was losing Kurt, he was gaining Blaine, too. It didn’t balance out, but knowing that made the loss a little easier.

     There’s some sudden noise as the two boys hurry up the stairs, the door to Kurt’s bedroom slamming closed behind them. Burt sighs and grabs a beer, going back to the living room and sitting down on the couch to wait for Carole to get home. After all, Kurt’s not the only Hummel man who’s been feeling the need to cry into their partner’s shoulder.