Later that week, Burt was sitting in the living room, watching the game and drinking a beer, when he heard a shriek from upstairs. He took the stairs two at a time to get to the source of the noise. He wasn’t surprised to find out that it had been Kurt but was surprised by the cause: Pavarotti had died. Kurt had been taking care of the canary since he started at Dalton. He had a really strong connection to the bird but then again, Kurt had always had a strong emotional bond with animals. Burt blamed all the Disney movies Kurt watched as a kid.

     Burt managed to calm Kurt down, getting him some of the chamomile tea he liked so much, and he thought that the whole sad experience was finished. He was wrong.

Burt’s phone rings the next day in the early afternoon. He sees that it’s Blaine, and can’t help but laugh.

“Let me guess,” he says, without even a hello, “Kurt’s crying over a dead bird and you’re worried about him.”

     Blaine lets out a bit of a laugh.

      “Oh, so you knew about Pavarotti?”

      “Yeah,” Burt replies, “Happened last night. I had to get Kurt that flowery tea and everything to calm him down. He doing alright?”

      “I guess so.” Blaine answers. “He came into the Warbler meeting wearing all black, announcing that he was going to sing a song in Pavarotti’s memory.”

      “He’s one dramatic kid, I’ll give him that. Kid gets emotional about the weirdest things.”

      “That’s actually what I wanted to talk to you about.” Blaine says hesitantly.

     Burt’s not sure he likes that transition.

      “Sure, what’s up?” Burt asks, trying to not let his concern show in his voice.

      “Watching Kurt singing was… very emotional for me. I, um, I realized how much he means to me and how bad of a job I’ve done showing him that. He’s just so incredible, and I – I really like him, sir.”

     Blaine’s voice is different that Burt’s ever heard it before. Softer.

      “What are you getting at, kid?” Burt asks.

      “Well, Burt, I, uh, I think I’m going to ask Kurt out. But I just wanted to mention it to you first. Just in case you’d have a problem with it. I know that he’s really going to care what you think about it. I care about it, too. And I know I’ve done some stuff that might not make you feel comfortable letting me go out with your son, but I promise –“

      “Blaine.” Burt interrupts. “Go ahead.”

      “I promise that I will do my very best – what?”

     Burt laughs.

      “Go ahead and ask him out.”

     Burt can hear Blaine pause for a moment to take a few deep breaths.

      “Are you, are you going to threaten me at all, sir?”

     Burt laughs really hard at that.

      “No, I’m not kid. Go ask Kurt out. I’ll see you at Regionals and then both of you can come home for the weekend. We’ll talk about stuff then.”

      “Okay,” Blaine says, sounding relieved. “Thank you, Burt. I’ll see you on Friday.”

      “No problem, kid.” Burt replies. “Go get him.”

      “I will! Thanks again! I’m so glad -”

      “Shut up and go find Kurt!”

     Burt can hear Blaine laughing as he hangs up. He crosses his fingers for the boys.

     Burt is surprised that Kurt doesn’t call him to give him the good news. He wonders briefly if something had gone wrong, but he figures that Blaine would probably have called him crying if it did. He’s excited for Regionals, but nervous in a way he’d never been before. It was simple going to go to the competitions before. He’d cheer for the New Directions and either celebrate with them in their victory, or join them in insulting the other teams if they lost. But now? Now it isn’t as easy. He has Kurt and Blaine in the Warblers and Finn in the New Directions. He isn’t really sure what to hope for.

     When he sits down in the auditorium, he still hasn’t figured it out. He pulls out the programme, just for something to do while waiting for the performances to start. He skims it, but something catches his eye. Under Dalton Academy Warblers it mentions two students performing a duet: Blaine Anderson and Kurt Hummel. Huh. Burt figures that answers his question as to how Blaine’s confession had gone.

     Their performance is beautiful. Burt doesn’t know much about music but even he can tell that the boys’ voices blend perfectly together. When the song is over, Blaine drags Kurt into the centre of the stage, so that he can get the full applause. And then they launch straight into another number, with Blaine on lead vocals. The kid is in his element, performing in a flawless display of confidence and charisma. Burt finds it strange how different that Blaine is from the one that he saw crying in his shop last week.

     The New Directions perform and Burt tries to pay attention. Rachel Berry sings a song about trying to figure stuff out or something like that. The song is Rachel all over. Dramatic and full of self-pity. Burt feels himself getting impatient. The next song is not much better. It’s about feeling like an outcast, about being bullied. It actually makes Burt quite annoyed. He knows that the Glee kids aren’t all that popular, but whatever they’ve had to deal with can’t even compare with the crap Kurt’s had to put up with. What right do they have to be singing about this stuff? Burt sighs. So much for staying impartial. He’s being too hard on the kids. He decides to distract himself, thinking instead about what he’s going to say to Kurt and Blaine tonight.

     He’s happy they’re together now (they are, right?) but it is going to make for some changes in how they do things. Burt thinks through the conversation in his mind. He can see Kurt getting hostile. Kurt’s still learning that people that disagree with him aren’t always attacking him. Burt decides to make sure to monitor Kurt as he talks, hopefully to be able to diffuse any problems before they explode. Burt’s not really sure how Blaine will be during the conversation. He’s just starting to consider that when Carole nudges him.

     All three clubs have now taken the stage. Burt’s eyes naturally find Kurt first. He’s standing right next to Blaine, the other boy’s arm around his waist. Blaine whispers something into Kurt’s ear, and Kurt turns his head, pressing his face into Blaine’s neck. It’s amazing how intimate the display is. After several long moments of suspense, it is announced that the New Directions have won. Burt tries to suppress the disappointment he feels. He barely notices Sue Sylvester punching out the judge, having returned to watching Blaine and Kurt. Blaine’s pulled Kurt to him, wrapping his arms protectively around the taller boy. Burt watches as Blaine moves one hand up to smooth at Kurt’s hair and is amazed that Kurt lets him.

     He can see that Blaine is whispering to Kurt, presumably something comforting, and Burt would love to know what he is saying. Kurt’s never really been one to accept comforting, preferring to always appear stoic and controlled, before breaking down in private. Burt decides that it says a lot about the relationship the boys have if Blaine is already able to connect so well with Kurt. Burt is a bit jealous, if he’s honest.

     The auditorium begins to empty out and Carole grabs Burt’s hand and drags him towards the backstage area. He congratulates the few kids he recognizes from New Directions and gives Finn a hug. After a few moments, he spots Kurt and Blaine walking in their direction, hand in hand. He crosses his arms over his chest and puts on a stern face.

      “You got somethin’ you want to tell me, kid?” he asks Kurt, trying hard not to laugh at the concern that’s appeared on his face.

     Kurt looks at Blaine, who Burt can tell is also holding back laughter, and then back to Burt. He looks down at their joined hands.

      “We’re together now?” Kurt squeaks, more of a question than an answer.

      “I can see that.” Burt replies.

     Carole ruins the moment by squealing and hurrying over to hug both boys at once.

      “Boys! I am just so happy for you! Congratulations! You have to tell us everything! You two are just so cute together! Let me get my camera!”

     Carole takes a few pictures and when she’s finished, Burt walks over and pulls Kurt into a hug.

      “Any reason why you didn’t tell me sooner?” he asks.

     Kurt doesn’t reply, merely watching in surprise as Burt hugs Blaine, too.

      “I thought I should tell you in person? In case you weren’t okay with it. But I guess that’s not a problem?” Kurt’s rambling now.

     Burt and Blaine both laugh.

      “Go out to dinner. Go have a good time with your friends. Make sure you’re home by ten, and then we’ll sit down, the three of us, and talk about this.” Burt tells his son.

     Kurt nods, still confused, but allows Blaine to pull him over to the Warblers.

      “What did you do?” Carole asks, looking over at Burt.

     Burt laughs and promises to tell her everything on the way home.

     The boys are in the door at 9:55, both with content smiles on their faces. They sit down side-by-side at the kitchen table where Burt is already waiting for them. Burt smiles back at them, hoping to not freak them out too much.

      “How was dinner?” he asks graciously.

      “It was lovely.” Kurt replies, in one of the dreamiest voices that Burt has ever heard.

      “Good to hear.” Burt says, trying not to laugh. “So there’re just a few things I wanna talk about. Things have changed between the two of you so a few things gotta change around here, too.”

     Kurt opens his mouth to protest but Burt cuts him off.

      “Just let me talk, Kurt, and then you can say whatever you want.”

     Kurt looks annoyed but leans back in his chair and nods.

      “Thank you.” Burt says. “So first of all, Blaine needs to follow all the rules of this house, especially the big one: honesty. I don’t want either one of you to ever lie to me. Kurt, I don’t want you to tell me you’re having a sleepover with the girls when you’re actually going to Blaine’s. No matter what, you’re gonna be honest with me, and I promise I’ll do my best to be cool about whatever’s going on.”

     Blaine nods and Kurt, as Burt expected, has a decisively hostile look on his face.

      “Next,” Burt continued, ignoring Kurt’s expression. “You two are going to respect each other. Any arguments are gonna be settled like the intelligent and kind people I know both of you are. You’re gonna talk stuff through. And most importantly, you’re gonna talk about your boundaries. Neither one of you is gonna push the other in to stuff you’re not ready for. If you’re gonna do stuff, you’re gonna talk about it first, and you’re gonna be safe.”

     Both boys have comically wide eyes, and Burt knows exactly what’s in Kurt’s mind. Kurt’s thinking that he just made it through The Talk, and should by no means have to be subjected to another so soon.

“If you two decide to become intimate, I want you to both get tested first and come and talk to me. I’m not accusing either of you of having anything, but it’s just the smart thing to do.”

     Blaine nods appreciatively at this, and Kurt’s hard expression is softening. Although embarrassed, Kurt seems to appreciate that his dad is willing to talk about sex with him and his boyfriend without sounding grossed out. It’s uncomfortable for all of them, but they’re all better men for it.

      “Finally, we’re gonna keep making up the guest room for Blaine. If you guys decide that you want to share a bed at some point in the future, well, that’ll be okay, but stay respectful of everyone else here. No one wants to hear if you’re doing anything. Oh, and if you’re home alone together, remember that anyone could come home at any time. Any comments or questions?”

     The boys looked at each other. Blaine speaks first.

      “That sounds fine to me, sir. It’s all very kind of you.”

     Burt looks to Kurt, who now looks slightly confused.

      “So you’re okay with us being together?” he asks.

      “I am.” Burt says. “Really, I’ve been expecting it for months now.”

     Both boys seem so surprised by this that Burt can’t help but laugh.

      “Now go on upstairs. You’ve had a busy day. A busy week, really. I’ll see you in the morning.”

     The boys laugh awkwardly, but ultimately take Burt’s advice. They say good night and head up the stairs.

     Burt hopes that things will be easier for the two boys now that they have each other.