The highlight of Kurt’s day was definitely waking up next to Blaine.

However, this morning, when he arose, his partner was gone, leaving behind the faint smell of him and a cup of coffee. Downstairs, Kurt could hear the TV blasting, mingled with his favourite sounds in the entire world: Blaine and Colbie’s laughter. He pulled himself out of bed and wrapped himself in a dressing gown before stumbling downstairs, cup of coffee in hand.

Kurt paused in the hallway, spying the mail on the doorstep the Blaine had, typically, just left there. Sighing, he bent down and picked it up, flicking through it as he made his way into the kitchen, only pausing when he saw one thing. Depositing the rest of the letters on the kitchen island, Kurt studied the invitation closer, surprised at what it was.

Knowing Blaine would be too, he called out, ‘So… McKinley Glee club is having a reunion.’

Kurt wasn’t sure if Blaine could hear him, over the glare from the television in the next room, or if he was even listening. It was his day off and on those rare days, Blaine would spend his time lied in front of the TV and watching cartoons all day with Colbie, gorging out on gummy bears and red vines.

‘It’s in a few weeks,’ Kurt went on anyway, rolling his eyes as he glanced down at the invite and picked up the mixture Blaine had made but then forgotten about. ‘I think Rachel’s set it up – you remember Rachel, right?’

He heard Blaine snort as he entered the kitchen, still in his pyjamas, and made his way over to the coffee machine, declaring, ‘Of course I remember Rachel. She’s just finished a show on Broadway now, right?’

‘I think so,’ he agreed, checking for lumps, whisking it quickly. ‘I think, from what the invitation said, she’s in town for a few days – visiting her dads for Christmas, I think – and she just wants everyone to meet up.’

‘You going to go?’

Kurt pulled a face, moving over to the stove. ‘I guess. If I can get time off at Vogue – and if we can find someone to look after Bee-Bee.’

‘Hey,’ Blaine whined, offended, pouring his coffee before turning to look at his partner. ‘What about me? I can look after Colbie! I’m responsible!’

He rolled his eyes. ‘You’ll end up feeding her chocolate all weekend.’

‘What’s your point?’

‘Dada! Dada!’ came the shrill of their two year old daughter as she plodded into the kitchen, her curls bouncing in her pigtails, and tugged on Blaine’s pyjama bottoms. ‘Dada, can I have some more gummy bears? Please?’

‘Oh, I don’t know,’ Blaine told her, looking up and smirking at Kurt. ‘You’d better ask Daddy. Apparently, I’m incapable of being sensible about feeding you.’

The blonde girl turned and toddled over to Kurt, crying, ‘Daddy! Daddy!’

He picked her up, holding her against his hip as he glared at Blaine, telling her sweetly, ‘You can have some after you’ve eaten your pancakes, okay, Colbie? They’ll be ready in a bit. Go back and watch Spongebob in the lounge while you wait, okay?’

‘Okay!’ Colbie agreed happily as Kurt put her down.

They watched her waddle back into the next room before speaking again.

‘She can’t put those gummy bears on the pancakes,’ Kurt warned, knowing the child. ‘So, when she asks, you say no, Blaine. Even if she uses those puppy dog eyes.’

He sighed, putting down his cup. ‘You know I can’t resist those eyes.’

‘It takes practise,’ Kurt told him, smiling softly as Blaine made his way over to him. ‘I couldn’t resist your puppy dog eyes for years.’

‘Admit it: you still can’t,’ Blaine murmured, kissing him softly.

‘True,’ he agreed quietly as they broke apart. ‘But I still can’t trust you to look after Colbie for a whole weekend.’

‘Dammit,’ Blaine sighed as Kurt went back to making pancakes. ‘I thought that would have worked.’

‘If it didn’t work for the puppy, it’s not going to work for this.’

Blaine was quiet for a moment, the only noise in their cosy town house the TV and the sounds of their daughter’s twinkling laughter, before he mused, ‘Why don’t we all go to Lima?’

Kurt looked at him, blinking in surprise. ‘You want to go back?’

‘It’s not forever,’ Blaine pointed out. ‘A few days, perhaps a week. And Colbie’s never met her Grandparents. That’ll be nice for her – and I know how you hate leaving her in some stranger’s care, Kurt; Carole and Burt can look after her while we go to this reunion thing. It’ll be fun.’

‘But it’s at Christmas,’ Kurt reminded, sounding a little whiney. ‘You know how much I love New York at Christmas, Blaine.’

‘I know, but we’ll have plenty of Christmas’ here,’ he reminded. ‘It’s only a few days, Kurt, and think about Colbie; would you rather leave her here, or take her to meet her Grandparents?’

‘Take her with me,’ Kurt replied instantly.

‘So it’s decided. We’re all going to Lima this Christmas.’