None of them wanted to leave for the airport until they were sure they looked their best, as Blaine was with them and everyone knew he’d be heading to New York to work on the pilot for the spin off (the official announcement had come last week, much to fan delight). They didn’t want to be caught on camera doing their best troll impersonations. Then they had to swing around and pick up Blaine’s mother from her condo nearby. She was quiet but sweet during the ride to the airport and Kurt wondered how things would be when they were in New York with Blaine’s father.

It was a good thing they had worried about their appearance, Kurt realized, when they got out of the limo to find a crowd of photographers waiting for them at the airport doors. Kurt gave them a wave when he got out, hearing them call his name. Blaine flashed them a smile and waved as well, heading for the trunk of the limo. Charles was already there, getting their bags out and setting them down on the sidewalk. Blaine helped his mother out, holding her hand as she stepped onto the sidewalk. Santana and Brittany climbed out of the car last and the photographers definitely took a few pictures of the five of them as they picked up their luggage and headed inside.

“Are they still back there?” Kurt muttered as they walked rapidly inside to check in. Blaine nodded. The line for security was long and Kurt sighed as they stood there waiting. He tried to ignore the constant camera flashes going off behind him. He hoped that it didn’t attract a bunch of fangirls – the last thing they needed was a mob of people on top of that.

“Excuse me?” a timid voice spoke up. The four of them turned to see a teenage girl standing beside them. “Could I bother you for a moment?”

Kurt watched as Blaine was all smiles with the girl, agreeing to a picture and an autograph as they talked about Dalton and some of the running plot lines. Kurt even let himself get talked into posing in one of the photos they took. He saw that Grace was pretty much having the same reaction – a look of adoration and pride on her face as she watched her son.

“You have no idea how much you’ve changed my life,” the girl, who introduced herself as Christine, said. “I came out because of you.”

Blaine looked moved, almost near tears as he hugged the girl tightly. She looked like she going to pass out, crying herself. “It takes a lot of courage to do that,” he told her. “You should be proud.”

“Thank you,” Christine sniffled before saying goodbye and disappearing into the crowd.

“Sometimes, Blainers, you’re alright,” Santana told him, leaning her head on his shoulder in what some might construe as a hug.

“No clever quips or cutting phrases today, Santana?” Kurt asked, teasing.

“Not today,” Santana said. “I’ve been that girl. I am that girl. I can’t give him crap for helping her.”

“Wow, Santana,” Blaine replied. “That was actually nice.”

“Yeah, well, don’t let it go to your head,” she stated. “And I mean the one three feet above your ass.”

“So close,” Kurt snarked at her. Santana shrugged, smiling as she pulled away from Blaine to hold hands with Brittany.

The line finally moved and they stepped through the metal detectors. “Step aside, sir,” one of the workers motioned to Kurt. He sighed. He really didn’t want to do this, but the photographers were still there, still snapping pictures. He groaned internally. He was about to be frisked by airport authorities and it would be all caught on film and God, Tumblr would probably have a riot and reblog it to death.

Great. Just what he wanted for his day.

He managed to make it through without losing his mind, saying goodbye to the girls as they made their way to their gate for their flight, while he, Blaine and Grace set out for their own flight to New York.

He didn’t fully relax until they were settled in on the plane, curled up under a blanket in adjoining seats. Grace was a few rows up, giving them plenty of privacy.

It wasn’t long before he was drifting off to sleep.

*

Blaine spent the flight watching Kurt sleep. It had been a crazy morning after a long (but thoroughly enjoyable) night, and he was glad that he had the time to relax. Kurt was nestled up against him, his head on Blaine’s shoulder, his breath brushing against Blaine’s neck with every exhale.

It was a most delicious kind of torture.

Unfortunately, taking time to relax also meant taking time to think. Blaine was a worried about how this week in New York would go. His family and Kurt’s family were complete opposites and he had no idea what his father would do or say.

Still, Blaine couldn’t wait for his father to meet Kurt. He knew Carl Anderson wouldn’t be able to make heads or tails of his boyfriend – a fashionable singer who cooked, who could probably reassemble a carburetor while blindfolded, and who didn’t believe in God. Kurt was pretty much the antithesis of everything his father had wanted for him.

Somehow, just knowing that made Blaine love Kurt more.

He just intended to make sure that Kurt didn’t spend a lot of time alone with the man – no sense in risking anything. The last thing he wanted was his father’s mask slipping away and for him to say something that would be hurtful to Kurt or his family.

“You’re thinking very loudly,” Kurt whispered, his voice heavy and thick with sleep. Blaine thought it was incredibly sexy.

“Did I wake you?” Blaine whispered back. Kurt shook his head, nestling closer to Blaine.

“No, I think I’ve just slept all I’m going to,” he said. “What are you thinking about?”

“My dad,” Blaine answered. “He should be at the condo waiting for us by the time we get there.”

“Oh,” Kurt replied. “So we’ll be meeting him that soon.”

“Yeah,” Blaine confirmed. “I don’t think he’ll say anything terrible because he wants to impress your dad – which is actually terrible by itself – but if he does, I’m sorry in advance.”

“Blaine, hush,” Kurt admonished. “You never need to apologize for your father. He’s his own person and you are not responsible for the words that come out of his mouth.”

“I love you,” Blaine said, kissing him lightly. “You are the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

“Better than an Emmy?” Kurt teased. Blaine pretended to debate it for a moment, making Kurt laugh and slap him playfully.

“Even better than that,” Blaine murmured.

“Good to know.” Kurt smiled, his hand coming up to stroke Blaine’s cheek lightly. “Don’t worry about your dad. He won’t know what hit him when he meets my family. We’ll get through this in one piece and it’s not like Dad, Carole and Finn don’t know what they’re getting into by coming with us.”

“You’re right,” Blaine breathed out. “You’re always right.”

“Words to live by, love,” Kurt’s voice dropped again. “I’m always, always right.”

The near shriek of laughter Kurt let out when Blaine tickled him under the blanket in retaliation was well worth the dirty looks and stares they got.

*

Kurt pushed through the crowds at JFK, Blaine and Grace on heels as they rushed to meet Kurt’s family at their gate. They’d been delayed at baggage claim because one of his bags had been last off the plane.

He saw Finn first, towering over everyone, and moved toward them. Hugs were exchanged when they saw each other, and they moved to the exit as a group.

“More?” Kurt muttered as they headed outside, only to see more paparazzi waiting on them. “Did someone tip off our flight information?”

Kurt watched as his father frowned, ushering them into a waiting car that had been prearranged and ignoring the photographers. The driver quickly loaded their luggage and they were off to the condo they’d be staying in.

“Well, here we are,” Blaine said when they finally pulled off the street. “Home sweet home for the next week.”

Kurt took a deep breath, glad they’d left the paparazzi behind at the airport. He was sure his nerves were showing on his face as he stared up at the building housing Blaine’s father.

It felt like he was preparing to run a gauntlet as they grabbed their things and headed inside.

Kurt just hoped it went well.