“Clean lines,” Blaine made a show of pointing out examples as he spoke, “symmetry throughout, and small accents like those lamps and the blanket that add a softness to keep it from seeming cold.”

“Yeah.” Burt smiled, now that he thought about it, Blaine was right, it was exactly Kurt’s style, and Burt wondered for a moment if Blaine was talking about more than just the room. “It is very him.”

“Let me guess, no one’s supposed to move the blanket so he’s taught you all how to put it back exactly the way he wants it.” Blaine gazed fondly at the blanket as he spoke. Burt let out a loud chuckle.

“You know my son well.”

“Yes, well, he took it upon himself to reorganize my room a while back. I uh, I actually took pictures to make sure I put everything in its proper place anytime he comes over,” Blaine confessed, blushing.

“That is a very good idea,” Burt admitted, “and a great way to avoid his wrath. I swear, he’s worse than his mother was. Kurt definitely takes after her in that department.”

Blaine’s head snapped up at the mention of Samantha, meeting Burt’s gaze with a questioning glance. Burt stepped toward the fireplace and plucked a large silver frame off mantle handing it to Blaine.

Samantha and a toddler Kurt were on a park swing, hair blowing in the wind, a smile frozen on her lips, beautiful as ever.

“This is Kurt’s mom?”

“Sam,” Burt stated, a swell of emotion surging through him.

“She’s beautiful,” Blaine breathed. Burt nodded in agreement, not checking to see if Blaine noticed. “Kurt has her eyes.”

Burt looked over at Blaine; registering his soft expression and the delicate way he held the picture frame, as though terrified that if he gripped it any harder the image would shatter.

He needed to ask Blaine. He had to know what was going on between them.

“Would she have cared?” Blaine’s voice broke through Burt’s thoughts, though the teen’s eyes stayed on the picture. “That Kurt’s gay, would she have cared?”

“She knew and she didn’t care. I had a harder time with it, but, he’s my son, I wouldn’t have him any other way.”

“Thank you,” Blaine practically whispered, Burt almost didn’t catch it.

“For what?” Burt asked and Blaine tore his eyes from the picture, meeting Burt’s glance.

“For loving him anyway.”

Ten minutes later, Burt was still holding on tightly as Blaine’s hands clutched at the back of his shirt, his face buried against Burt’s shoulder when Carole arrived in the living room to announce that dinner was ready.

It took another few minutes to get Blaine calmed down enough to eat and dinner passed without incident. Blaine was unfailingly polite throughout the meal despite having spent part of the evening sobbing into the shoulder of his friend's dad.

After dinner, Blaine insisted on helping clean up the kitchen while Burt took a shower to wash the shop off.

Burt contemplated the situation as he let the hot water wash over him. He really did need to have a discussion with Blaine about what was going on between him and Kurt, but the more he got to know Blaine, the more he realized needed to talk to Blaine about his father. Potentially have a chat with Blaine's father.

He didn't particularly like getting involved with how other people raised their kids, heaven knew he hated it when anyone tried to tell him how Kurt should be handled. He was Kurt's father, thank you very much, and he was the one that got to decide those things, but it bothered him.

Blaine shouldn't have to look for acceptance from other people's parents. A parent's job was to love their kid and do whatever they can to make sure they stay relatively safe and happy—not to make them feel inadequate.

Sure, there were some aspects of Kurt's personality that Burt didn't really understand. Okay, more than some, like Kurt's interest in fashion, musicals, and men. He tried though. Like he told Kurt, it was his job to make it okay with himself, not Kurt's. Kurt just needed to keep being the beautiful, intelligent, and oh so talented boy that he was.

Burt knew that there were people who thought Kurt was lucky to have a dad as accepting as him, but the truth was, Burt was the lucky one. He raised a good kid. Sure, sometimes he chose slumber parties over family dinners, but he wasn't knocking people up, or stealing ATMs, or any number of the idiotic things he got up to at Kurt's age. He was a good kid, and so was Blaine.

It was those thoughts that carried him downstairs, toward the young man that had filled his thoughts so much recently. Burt paused on the second to last stair as he heard Carole's clear voice asking the question Burt hadn't been able to.

“So, Blaine, is there something going on between you and Kurt?”

“Uhh,” Blaine stammered, Burt could practically hear the blush in the boy's voice, “N-no, we're just friends. Just, just friends.”

“Is that all you want to be?” Carole was much better at this type of discussion than Burt ever would be. Blaine didn't answer immediately, letting the silence grow after Carole's question. Burt leaned forward a little on the staircase, wanting to get closer without giving away his presence.

“Kurt needs a mentor right now,” Blaine managed to say. Burt mentally scoffed, from what he could tell Blaine would probably benefit more from Kurt's mentorship than the other way around.

“I didn't ask what Kurt needed,” Burt could hear the softness of Carole's words, a talent that came with motherhood it seemed, “I asked what you wanted.”

The silence grew thick once more, before Blaine's unsteady voice cut through it.

“I don't know. I haven't, I mean, he's my friend, my best friend. I guess I haven't let myself think about it...” he trailed off.

“Perhaps you should.” She paused, “it may not be my place to say this, but the strongest relationships are often built on a sturdy foundation of friendship.”

Blaine hummed in response and Burt crept back up the stairs as quietly as possible before stomping back down them, creating as much noise as possible.

Blaine left shortly thereafter, needing to finish up some studying and get some rest before a day of testing. Carole, somehow, wasn't surprised in the least when Burt admitted to overhearing their conversation.

Friday passed by slowly. He was very, very much looking forward to this weekend and Kurt would be coming home in the afternoon. It was nice to have the kids out of the house for a little bit, good for a marriage too, but at the core of it he and Carole were both parents and they wanted their kids back.

Too soon they would really be gone, coming home for holiday visits, and spending the summer months lounging around the house. Too soon after that, they'd be on their own, empty-nesters. Kids grown up into adults, adults living their own lives, starting their own families.

Burt tried not to go too far with that thought. A week of separation was more than enough for him right now.
He couldn't help the broad smile that lifted him from his not so pleasant thoughts when Blaine entered the
shop, donning the usual two cups of coffee.

“We've got to stop meeting like this or else my son will get jealous,” Burt joked. Blaine laughed, loud and carefree, nearly spilling his coffee.

“Don't worry about that, sir. Today's the last day I'll be dropping by here.”

“Burt,” he corrected.

“What?”

“Call me Burt. You've earned it kid.” Burt smiled softly at the teen. Blaine, for his part, scrunched up his eyes, his mouth tightening a little.

“Is Mr. Hummel okay? I'm not sure if...” Blaine trailed off.

“We can work up to it,” Burt agreed with a wink. Blaine shifted, pulling out an envelope from the bag slung across his shoulder.

“I really just came by to give you these,” Blaine stated as he handed over the envelope. Burt pulled it open, revealing two tickets, two expensive tickets, to an upcoming show of Wicked. “I got those as a surprise for Kurt a few weeks ago, but I...I think it'd be better if you went with him, put that musical knowledge to good use.”

“Blaine, I can't accept—,”

“Yes, you can.” Blaine's voice was firm.”Kurt deserves to have this with you.” Burt wasn't going to argue with that, but it made him wonder what conclusion, if any, Blaine might have come to in the hours since he last saw him.

“Thank you.” It wasn't everything he wanted to say, but he'd found himself not saying a lot of things recently. Blaine made a half turn to leave before glancing back at Burt.

“It's not all from his mom. Kurt's morality, his compassion. W-when I came to talk to you before, you said that he got that from his mom. He also got it from you.” Blaine was moving away before Burt had time to process what he said.

It was now or never. Do or die. This was it.

“Blaine wait,” Burt called after him. Blaine halted and took the few steps back to Burt. “Kurt's coming home tonight. I think it'd be a nice surprise for him if you came over. Y'know, if you want.”

A small smile crept up Blaine's face.

“I'd like that.”

“Come by 'round eight.”

“Thank you si—Mr. Hummel.” Blaine grinned, his infectious smile spreading to Burt as Blaine left the shop.

When the doorbell rang at eight, Burt insisted that Kurt get the door, much to Kurt's chagrin, but the excited squeal and the burst of laughter that followed was more than worth dealing with Kurt's sullen attitude about the task.

Burt let Kurt lead Blaine up to his room - Kurt knew the rules. The door stays open. After a few minutes, Burt stealthily climbed halfway up the stairs, far enough to hear and not be seen.

I know it's not much, but I saw it and thought of you,” Kurt admitted.

“Don't be silly, I love it. I love—,” Blaine cut himself off. “Kurt,” Blaine's voice rang through the air, softer than he'd ever heard it, “do you remember what you told me on Valentine's Day?”

“Of course,” Kurt's voice was just as soft as Blaine and Burt recognized a hint of fear in his words.

“I...I did a lot of thinking while you were gone and,” Blaine paused, taking in a shaky inhale of breath, “I'm ready for the rest of my life to start.”

Burt didn't understand what that meant, but in the next moment he heard the unmistakable sound of a kiss and that was something he most definitely did not want to listen to.

Burt may not have understood the words that were said, but he understood the meaning behind them. Kurt loved Blaine, he'd known that for months now, but now. Now, Blaine loved Kurt too, and Burt thought that he might just be okay with that.

Love, after all, was love, and who was he to stand in the way of that.