Saturday morning, Kurt headed to work thinking of nothing but the dinner they were hosting that evening. Santana had been up long before he was, cleaning the kitchen and she had even yelled at him for taking too long in the bathroom because she needed to clean the toilet. Kurt was sure that he'd never seen Santana do so much manual work in his life. But that was how he could tell that Brittany was special. Because Santana didn't risk breaking a nail for anyone, including Kurt. And he couldn't be anything less than thrilled for his best friend for finding someone that made her feel the way Brittany did.

He was working the lunch shift again, and it was just after noon when he came barreling out of the kitchen with an entire tray of lunches for a family that he almost stopped dead in his tracks when he spotted Blaine sitting with a man, one closer to their age, in a suit at a table across the restaurant. Because really it was getting ridiculous. Who came to the same restaurant where the guy who wouldn't sleep with you worked more often after your date than you did before? Kurt was certain that he'd never seen Blaine in the restaurant before the night they'd met (he wouldn't have forgotten that face). Thankfully the hostess set them at one of the other server's tables and the only challenge Kurt had to overcome was keeping his mind and his eyes away from Blaine while they were in the same place.

And for the most part he'd managed to succeed for the hour and a half that Blaine and his client had been there. But there were times when Kurt felt like someone was watching him; like eyes were trying to burn holes into his skin. But when his eyes flickered towards Blaine, those hazel eyes were always focused on his plate or the man in front of him.

Kurt was happy to breathe freely when Blaine paid the bill and they both men were leaving the restaurant. He powered through the rest of his shift, keeping his thoughts away from Blaine, until it was time to head home. He said goodbye to the hostess, a bag full of things that Santana had asked him to grab for dinner in his hand as he walked out onto MacDougal, letting the sun hit his face as he began the journey home.

"Kurt," someone called behind him causing Kurt to spin around, his eyes wide as he spotted Blaine jogging to catch up with him.

"Hey," was all that Blaine said once he was standing in front of Kurt.

"Blaine," Kurt said shocked. Blaine had left the restaurant over an hour ago. How long had he been waiting outside?

"How are you?" Blaine asked timidly.

"I'm good," Kurt responded courteously, "How are you?"

"Great."

A silence grew between the two boys, Blaine looking everywhere but in Kurt's eyes.

"Is that all?" Kurt asked.

Blaine shot Kurt a bewildered look.

"Blaine, you've been to the restaurant almost every day for the last week," Kurt explained, "And were you waiting out here for me? You left like an hour ago."

"Oh, wow. I sound like a total creep when you put it that way," Blaine said, "I just—I just. I-I wanted to talk to you."

"About what?"

"I," Blaine started, "I'd like to take you out again."

"I thought you didn't date? More than once I mean."

"I don't. I mean, I never have before" Blaine said, "I just—I'd just like to go out with you again."

"I don't understand, Blaine," Kurt said, "You made it clear that night that you weren't interested."

Blaine wrapped his arms around himself, a bit of fear and embarrassment flickering in his eyes. He opened his mouth a couple of times, pressing his lips together as if he was deciding if he should say whatever it was he wanted to say to Kurt. But Kurt had never expected what ended up coming from Blaine's lips, "I can't stop thinking about you okay? I don't know what else I can say. I can't stop thinking about our date, and you, and I'd like to take you out again."

"Really?"

"I've never done the whole boyfriend thing. Not seriously at least. And I don't know if I want to do it—"

"I'm not some experiment," said Kurt cutting Blaine off, sharp tongue ready to strike.

"What? No, Kurt, it's not like that; not at all," Blaine said scrambling to get the right words from his mouth, "I just—I just want to take you out again, please. You said you wanted another date, and now so do I. How about tonight? We can go dancing again."

There was something about the way Blaine spoke, his words rambling and drenched in desperation that Kurt found so endearing that it made Kurt's heart flutter slightly.

"I have plans tonight," Kurt said.

"Oh."

Is that a good or a bad oh?

"My roommate Santana is bringing her girlfriend over," Kurt said deflating, "Would you like to join us?"

"I wouldn't want to intrude," Blaine said shaking his head.

"You won't be," Kurt said, "If anything you'll be saving me from being the awful third wheel."

"Okay," Blaine said with a soft smile, "What time?"

"Seven-thirty?

"Yeah, that's perfect."

"Great," Kurt said flashing a smile, "Do you need the address again?"

"No," Blaine said raising his hand to show Kurt his phone, "I've still got the text."

"Great," Kurt said, "it's, uh, casual, but I wouldn't wear jeans because I'm pretty sure Santana will kill both of us if you do. She's kind of been going nuts try to make everything perfect for tonight."

"And she's not going to care that I'm crashing?"

"No," Kurt said, "And if she does I'll tell her new girlfriend about the time she got drunk and sang Hootie and the Blowfish to her girlfriend in high school."

Blaine chuckled, "Then I'll see you at seven-thirty."

Blaine gave a little wave, that Kurt returned with his free hand, and took off in the direction that he'd come running from before. Kurt watched until Blaine had rounded the corner before he pulled his phone out of the pocket of his jeans, calling Santana, before continuing his trip home.

"Hey, do you have enough food for another person at dinner tonight or do I need to stop at the store," Kurt said while he crossed the street.

"That depends. Are you bringing over a hot guy or your brother?"

"Hot guy."

"Name please."

"Blaine Anderson."

"How the hell did that happen?" Santana shouted into the phone

"I'll tell you about it when I get home. Do I need to stop and get anything?"

"No, I've got enough. But hurry home. I need to figure out how much I hate this guy."

Twenty minutes later, Kurt walked through the door, Santana standing in the kitchen chopping up vegetable, singing along to the radio. Her voice was amazing, and always had been. Kurt didn't understand why she didn't want to pursue something that had to do with music. It didn't have to be musical theater like he dreamed of, but it could be her voice coming through the radio, not accompanying it. But after high school, she never showed any interest.

"You're going to be nice tonight," Kurt said sitting down at one of the chairs around the table.

"Kurt, the guy basically ditched you because you wouldn't sleep with him, and then stalked you, and then suddenly he's coming to dinner. I have a right to be worried this guy is going to steal our shit while he's here."

"That's not what happened," Kurt corrected, "And he's not going to steal our stuff."

"Then tell me how it happened because Kurt," Santana said sitting down in the chair across the table from Kurt, "I just want to make sure that you're happy."

"I'm happy Santana. With or without Blaine," Kurt said, "Plus, I invited him to dinner, I didn't propose."

"So tell me how he ended up getting invited to dinner?"

"He had lunch with a client at the restaurant—"

"Stalking."

"—and then he was waiting for me outside when my shift ended."

"Do I need to throw up the red flags here or are you doing that but proceeding anyway?"

Kurt rolled his eyes, "We started off on the wrong foot. But there's always opportunity for second chances right. Look at you and me."

"Fine," Santana huffed sitting back in her chair, folding her arms across her chest, "I'll be nice until I decide I hate him. After that all bets are off."

Kurt stood up and walked over to Santana planting a kiss on her cheek, "I would expect nothing less."

"Now go change so you can help me or we won't have any dinner at all."

Kurt laughed as he turned to head into his bedroom. He really loved Santana.

�

"What are you doing tonight?" Wes said into the phone before Blaine could even say hello.

"I have a date."

"Ditch the poor sap. Come with us to Mimi's tonight."

"No can do, Wes. I told you I've got a date."

"Whose name you won't remember tomorrow," Wes said pointedly, "But, we, your friends, are stuck with you forever."

"His name is Kurt."

"Wait, what?"

"His name is Kurt," Blaine repeated.

"No, I heard you just fine, "Wes said, "What you can't see is my jaw on the floor because I don't think you've ever told me a guy's name since college. And I'm pretty sure it took you three tries to get it right."

"I'm not a floosy."

"But you're not the dating kind either," Wes said, "This must be serious."

"It's nothing," Blaine said, "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to finish getting ready."

"Fine," Wes said, "But I'll be expecting a report when you get the office on Monday."

"Goodbye Wes," Blaine said hanging up the phone and tossing it onto his bed that was currently covered in most of the clothes that had once been in his closet. He sighed loudly and went back to trying to figure out what to wear.

�

Brittany arrived around a quarter after seven, accompanied by a cheesecake from Kurt's favorite bakery. Kurt wasn't sure exactly what he was expecting, but Brittany wasn't it. Brittany was tall, beautiful and her long hair was pulled back into an elegant ponytail. Santana introduced Brittany as her girlfriend, beaming with pride because this was new for her and he knew she was so happy about it. When Brittany handed off the cheesecake to Santana and wrapped her arms around Kurt in a warm hug, Kurt didn't care about expectations, because between the great hug, the cheesecake, and the smile on Santana's face, he already liked her a lot.

Kurt disappeared into the kitchen to put the finishing touches on dinner, leaving Santana and Brittany along in the living room while he began dreaming of the day that he could feel like they did. He was already beginning to get the butterflies when Blaine was next to him, but they'd started out on shaky ground, and Kurt still wasn't sure where Blaine stood with everything. It was very possible that Blaine would leave tonight, the guy Kurt went out with twice. The very thought of it immediately put out the tiny fire that was building inside of him. The tiny flame of hope was extinguished. But when there was a knock on the door promptly at 7:30, Kurt shook himself for the state of pessimism until he felt the flame begin to ignite inside of him, weak, but still holding on.

"I'll get it," Santana called as Kurt put the finishing touches on the salad and turned the heat off of the stove.

From the kitchen, Kurt heard Blaine's voice and Santana politely (thank god!) inviting him in. At least she was behaving so far. Kurt wiped his hands on a towel and went to greet him.

"Kurt, your boy brought expensive booze," Santana shouted as Kurt walked back into the living room.

Kurt walked over to Blaine, ignoring Santana's comments as she showed the bottle of wine that Blaine had brought to Brittany. He wasn't sure how they should greet each other, a handshake? A hug? Still unsure, Kurt settled for a kiss on the cheek, smiling when he felt Blaine's cheeks move beneath his lips as he smiled and reached down to take Kurt's hand. Kurt's heart took off at full speed.

"I don't think you've officially met despite the excitement about the wine," Kurt said, "Blaine, this is Santana and her girlfriend Brittany. This is Blaine."

Blaine waved at the girls and Kurt was happy when Brittany waved back enthusiastically. Santana, however, just looked at him and nodded slightly. Kurt knew that was the best he was going to get from his best friend; at least until Blaine managed to charm her into submission and she cut back on the bitch. But until then, Kurt ushered everyone into the kitchen for dinner.

Dinner was cordial. They drank the wine that Blaine had brought, and most of the conversation centered on Brittany and her job as a dance instructor, her insane love for her cat, and how she and Santana met at the art museum. Kurt shot Santana a questioning glance, because the last place Kurt expected Santana to be, let alone meet girls at, was the art museum. But Santana just rolled her eyes and shrugged. There would be another conversation about that later. Kurt tried his best to get Blaine involved in the conversation, but for the most part found him quiet. So he told stories about Santana in high school. About how they were in show choir together, she the popular cheerleader, he the social outcast, and how through their own struggles, realized how similar they were and reached an understand and a deeper friendship that lead to Santana following Kurt to New York with no real plan of her own, while he pursued his dreams of Broadway.

Blaine only commented when Kurt addressed him personally. He'd never expected someone who met with strangers for a living would be so bashful, but Blaine was definitely closed off. Kurt noticed that when he was speaking, he had Blaine's full attention. It was then that Kurt could get him to respond to the conversation. But when Santana or Brittany, spoke he would only slightly nod when it seemed appropriate. Blaine didn't appear to be uncomfortable, but Kurt couldn't imagine why he wouldn't be. Even after knowing Santana for so long, he could still get taken aback occasionally at how intense she could be. And Kurt knew that she'd been biting her tongue as they'd been introduced. He what she wanted to do was insult his hair or his clothes or something, because that's was the way Santana knew how to protect; by immediately attack those she thought might be dangerous.

After dinner, the foursome moved from the kitchen to the living room. Kurt walked over to the stereo and put some music on and then sat down next to Blaine, happy when Blaine's hand reached for his, holding it tightly between them as Brittany began asking Kurt about his dreams of Broadway. And that was when things went from bad to absolutely terrible.

It wasn't that Kurt didn't absolutely love when people spoke highly of him, because really, he did; but Santana was going a little overboard. Once Kurt mentioned that he and one his friends in high school once snuck into the Gershwin and he got to sing on a real Broadway stage and from that moment he was lost, Santana began rattling off every accomplishment Kurt had had since he was sixteen. But was most unsettling was that Santana seemed to be making sure each and every thing that she was explaining made Kurt great, was directed at Blaine. Blaine did you know Kurt was the lead soloist in our show choir? Blaine, did you know that Kurt Hummel beat out the most obnoxious girl in school to get into NYADA? Blaine, did you know that Kurt was not only on the football team, but was also a cheerleader? Blaine, did you know that Kurt is hung like a horse? Blaine, did you know one time Kurt climbed a magical beanstalk?

And all Blaine could do was nod until Santana got really ridiculous and all he could do was stare. If Blaine wasn't uncomfortable by now, Kurt most definitely was.

"Santana," Kurt warned.

"What? I'm just making sure Bruce knows how freakin' amazing you are."

"Could you at least call him by his name when he's right in front of you?"

"Why? All he wants to do is getting into those tight pants of yours and then not return your phone calls."

"Santana," Kurt spit, "That's enough."

"I should go," Blaine said letting go of Kurt's hand and standing up, looking only at Kurt and not Santana who was staring daggers into Blaine's head.

"You don't have to," Kurt said standing up, reaching for Blaine's hand, happy when Blaine let him take it.

"No, it's getting late," Blaine said his voice just above a whisper. As if the moment was more intimate than Blaine leaving an uncomfortable situation.

"Fine," Kurt huffed, "I'll walk you down."

"It was nice meeting you both," Blaine said only glancing at Santana and Brittany for a second while he let Kurt pull him towards the door.

Kurt shot Santana a glare, hopefully making it clear that he was angry with her and that she wasn't getting off the hook for this easily, before he lead Blaine out into the hallway.

�

It was chilly outside. The night air of early spring was cold against Kurt's skin, but it helped cool himself down from everything that had just happened in his apartment. Santana had always had a venomous tongue, but it had been a while since Kurt had seen her use it so skillfully. But that didn't excuse the way she'd attacked Blaine, a guest in their home, Kurt's date for the evening, until he'd gotten too uncomfortable and left.

"I'm sorry about Santana," Kurt said pulling his sweater tighter around him, "She can be a little intense."

"Don't apologize. I like that she's protective of you," Blaine said walking around slowly, looking only at the sidewalk in front of him, "Plus, she's right. If you were anyone else I would have pushed you from my mind by now, sooner actually."

"What makes me different?"

"I don't even know if I can explain it properly. You're just this presence, you've got this aura about you that seems to have a hold on me that I can't seem to shake, no matter how hard I try. And believe me I've tried. But you may be the single most captivating person I've ever met. And I just want to be...close to you. Even if that means I have to get used to your best friend hating me."

"She doesn't hate you," Kurt said, "She's like that to most people."

"Still."

"But will you?" Kurt asked, "I mean you want to? Get used to her?"

"Kurt, I-I don't know if I can," Blaine said, "I don't know how to do this. I've never wanted to put the effort or the emotions into a relationship for longer than few hours. "

"And now?" Kurt questioned, "Because Blaine, I'm not asking for anything big here. I'm just looking for some kind of sign that you feel the same. That you're in this too. Because, I like you. A lot."

"You don't even know me, not really."

"But I know me. And I know that we had one date and I like you. And I know that, I can't stop thinking about you either. And what I'm feeling right now, is different than anything I've ever felt before. I know it's stilly because we did only go out on one date, and then tonight. But I feel it and it scares the crap out of me."

"I feel it," Blaine said reaching out and taking Kurt's hand, "And I'm in this. I just don't know if I'll be any good at it, the romance, I mean. If it isn't terribly obvious yet, I've never been anyone's boyfriend before."

"Then we'll take it slow," Kurt said, "I'll show you everything it means to have a boyfriend."

The flirty tone in Kurt's voice made Blaine smile. Kurt could still see the hint of fear in Blaine's eyes. One day, when he wasn't so afraid that Blaine would go running, he'd ask him what he was so afraid of. Was it the commitment? Was it being obligated to be with only one person? Or was it something more? Something emotional, that put the fear in Blaine's eyes. What made it dance beneath the wonder of a budding romance?

"Really?" Blaine said taking a step closer to Kurt until he was standing right in front of him, their joined hands held tight between them, only a breath between their lips.

"Really," Kurt said taking advantage of their closeness and removing the distance between their lips. The electricity that he'd felt that first night still running hot as ever and Blaine responded to his lips, kissing him for the first time in two weeks, feeling like they'd done this a hundred times. Like they could to it a million more.

When Blaine pulled back, he rested his forehead against Kurt's and whispered, "I'm in this."

"You're sure?"

"Yeah, I'm sure," Blaine said the grin on his face the widest Kurt had ever seen it, "I don't think I've ever been more sure of anything in my life."