Blaine folded his letter and sealed it, intending to take it to the postal office first thing tomorrow while Kurt was still warming up for their lesson. Lately, Blaine had been letting Kurt do that on his own. 

After finishing with his letter, Blaine went downstairs to eat dinner with the Hummel family. Mercedes brought out the plates just as Blaine was sitting down and Carol was already in the middle of a story she had heard from one of her friends this afternoon. 

“Hattie says Ms.Fabray and Mr.Puckerman are rushing their way down the aisle. Apparently they were in to  see her husband this afternoon and they asked him when the next date was available for a wedding.”

“I know.” Finn smiled. “Puck has already asked me to be his best man.”

“What did you tell him about that?” Carol’s voice was tight. She did not seem as excited over the prospect as Finn did. 

“I told him I would have to think it over.” Finn mumbled into the plate. 

“Good.” Carol looked at Burt, who shrugged and looked at Finn and shrugged again. “But I guess that you could tell Noah yes.” Finn beamed up as his mother at the news. 

“I told you she was pregnant.” Kurt muttered into his food. Carol shot him a look that told Blaine that she had heard him. Blaine smothered a smile behind his napkin. “At least they’re getting married before she’s showing, and hopefully the baby will be small.” 

“Kurt!” Carol’s voice was firm. “That’s a terrible thing to hope. You put it in your prayers that that baby is born healthy.”

“I was just saying if the baby was born small they could tell everyone that he came early.” Kurt shrugged. “And he wouldn’t have to be too little.”

“That is enough, Kurt.” Burt said from the head of the table. 

Carol quickly changed the subject to more neutral ground  and the rest of dinner passed smoothly. 

The next morning, Blaine mailed his letter and then sat down at the piano bench to practice with Kurt like he did everyday. Writing to his sister alone was not going to help him get over his feelings for Kurt. All he could do was wait for his sister’s letter and hopefully her advice on the matter.

Blaine waited for three weeks for his sister’s reply, hoping that she would give him some sort of advice on how to nip his feelings in the bud. If he was hoping for some sort of magical cure for his interest in his pupil, he was going to be disappointed. 

Blaine,

You have terrible handwriting. Mama told you to work on that. I hope your letters to her are in your good handwriting and not the chicken scratch that you wrote to me in. 

Everyone in New York is doing well. Johnny asked me to tell you that he says hello, and you should write to him as well. I was not sure if I should give him the Hummel’s address so I told him I would let you sort it out. 

Thomas is doing well in school. So well that he has not had time to write you, so I am doing it for him. He would tell you that he is practicing piano every day and his violin when he has time. Mama makes sure it is at least three times a week. Thomas complains about it, I think because he is not as talented as you, but Mama really does like when we all sit down and play together. Thomas is struggling with his math, which is why he is not writing. Mama and he are sitting at the kitchen table working on his sums. 

I am doing well as well, thank you for asking. Johnny has asked Papa for permission to court me. I think he was going to say no, but Mama gave him one of her looks. So, he has started taking me out Saturday evenings, though I have to be home long before anyone else does. Even Jenny’s father lets her stay out later with her beau later that Papa lets me stay out. 

About Kurt. Blaine, I am shocked that you would even write me about that. Usually you prefer to pretend that you are not attracted to men even though you know I love you all the same. My advice, which is what you wrote me for, would to find out if Kurt perhaps shares your inclinations. Do not push away love because you are scared, Blaine. The entire country is falling apart and you are acting like you have the biggest problem in the world. Courage, dear brother, courage. 

Love, 

Ophelia 

Blaine held the letter in his hands in disbelief. That had to be the worst advice Blaine had ever heard in his life. Courage? That is what Ophelia thought would be the solution to his problem? He flopped into his desk chair and pulled out a piece of paper.

That is the worst advice I have ever heard. 

He didn’t even bother to sign his name, he jammed it the letter he was sending to his parents and sealed everything together. Blaine left the letter on his desk as he went down to have lunch with Kurt. 

The two sat quietly around the table and Blaine picked at his food. Kurt noticed something was wrong with his friend. 

“Blaine?” He asked softly. “Is something wrong? Was there something in your sister’s letter?”

“Nothing is wrong.” Blaine sighed. “Ophelia wrote that she’s being courted and my father is making sure she does not spent too much time alone with him. She hinted that she believes that it is my fault.”

Kurt laughed. “How could it be your fault? You are all the way in Ohio.” He leaned forward and lowered his voice. “Did you give your father a reason not to trust young men?”

Blaine blushed. “No. I did not go out very much.” 

Kurt leaned back, shocked. “I do not believe that.”

“It is true. Most young women were not interested in me.”

“I will not believe that.” Kurt crossed his arms stubbornly. 

“It is true.” Blaine laughed. “My mother is Irish.”

“That seems a shallow reason.”

“People do not like the Irish.” Blaine shrugged. “It was enough reason to keep my dance card empty.”

“Your sister seems to have someone asking to be on her dance card.” Kurt knew it was rude. He really did, but he was curious. Why were boys chasing after Blaine’s sister, who he was told looked very similar to Blaine, but the young women deemed Blaine not good enough. 

“He is Irish. In fact, he is my best friend.” Blaine leaned back in his chair.

“Johnny and I have been since we were little.”

“Your sister is being courted by your best friend?!” Kurt’s eyes widened. “How do you feel about this?”

Blaine laughed. “I do not mind. Mama told me when I was ten that they would end up married. I like to think that I have already put the fear of God into him if he ever hurts my sister.” 

Kurt laughed. “I cannot imagine you roughhousing.” Kurt looked at Blaine, short and compact. He was well muscled, Kurt had noticed how his shirts outlined his frame, but he seemed more at home on a piano bench than in a boxing ring. 

“I will have you know that I can hold my own.” Blaine puffed out his chest. Kurt struggled to keep the smile off of his face. “Do not give me that look, Mr. Hummel.” Blaine huffed. “You sound like my sister.” He grumbled. 

“I think I would like to meet your sister.” Kurt smiled. “Perhaps she would be better suited to putting the fear of God into people.”

“And who,” Blaine leaned forward to catch Kurt’s eyes. “Would you need to have the fear of God in them?”

Kurt hung his head and avoided Blaine’s eyes. He did not need to know what people said about Kurt, though Kurt was surprised that Blaine had not guess. He did know that Kurt had helped Carol decorate the house and he must have noticed the way that Kurt dressed. “There are people who think I am not enough of a man.” Kurt muttered. 

Blaine’s sight went red with rage. He might not have been a fighter, but he did want to hurt the people who had been speaking ill about Kurt. He wondered how anyone could think anything negative about Kurt? Kurt speaking pulled Blaine out of his thoughts. 

“Do you think she would mind?”

“Would who mind?” 

“Your sister.” Kurt gave him a look but did not mention the fact the Blaine had not been listening. “Do you think she would mind if I wrote her? I think I would like her very much.”

“No, I do not think Ophelia would mind. I will put it in my next letter that you would like to write her.” Kurt smiled. Blaine kept a frown from his face. Was it possible that Kurt was interested in his sister from his description of her? Even though Blaine had talked about Johnny? A thought lit in Blaine’s mind. When he had first described his sister to Kurt, he had mentioned that Ophelia and he both took after their mother. If Kurt thought that he would find his sister attractive, there was a possibility that he could find Blaine attractive. 

After their afternoon lesson, Blaine went back to his desk and reopened the letter he had written to his parents and pulled out the letter he had written to Ophelia. He crumpled it up and tossed it aside and began a new letter to Ophelia. 

Sister,

I think perhaps your advice is not so bad. If I just wait it out, maybe Kurt will share my inclinations. I was going to tell you that you had given me the worst advice I had ever read, and that it was not worth the three weeks wait I had. 

Kurt asked if he could write to you. He thinks that you two would get along. I told him that I would ask you in my next letter. You should not feel like you have to write him because I have feelings for him, or feel like I do not want you to write him because I have feelings for him. I do not know how I feel about him writing you. You should ask how Johnny feels though, not that you are going to start courting Kurt Hummel long distance while you have Johnny at home. But he should know that you are writing another man. 

Is it silly that I am worried that Kurt will like you more than he likes me? I feel like it is, because he does not know you. But I also know that you are very charming and could win him over through letters even though you are all the way in New York. Also, I know you would never decide to pursue someone that I am interested in. 

I am sorry that this letter is just as bad as my last one. Kurt seems to have taken all of the eloquence out of me. It does seem to be getting worse as well. Today Kurt told me that there are people in Lima that do not think that he is ‘enough of a man’ and I saw red. I was literally so angry that I stopped listening to what Kurt said and thought of ways I could hurt these people and I do not even know who they are. 

Also, I am sorry that all of my letters to you seem to be centered around Kurt, but you are the only one I can tell. You are a good sister for putting up with me. I have to go take this letter down to the post office so that in a few weeks time I can read your newest piece of advice. Perhaps you could also advise me on my thoughts of buying a house in Lima as well. 

Love, 

Blaine. 

Blaine waited patiently for his sister’s next letter. He spent his time with Kurt at the piano and going out into town. The Hummels had offered to have Mercedes do his personal shopping, but Blaine had declined. He would never get out of the house if he did not do his own shopping. 

At the market, Blaine had been taken under the wings of a few of the older women who did their shopping at the general store. They thought that it was their job to inform the young man on the running of the town and all of the town gossip that he would not know having not lived in Lima most of his life. Blaine was too polite to tell them that he was not much interested in their gossip and he did enjoy talking to someone outside of the Hummel household, not that he did not enjoy their company, but he was going to have to make more friends if he was going to make his life here. 

The more Blaine considered it, the more and more he was thinking about putting roots down in Lima. He could move out of the Hummel house and teach music to support himself. He could always ask his father for a loan if he really needed it, and if he needed to Ophelia could always persuade him. He did not want to consider the greatest factor in his decision being this is where Kurt was. 

When Blaine finally convinced Mrs.Reed and Mrs.Parker that he really did need to get back he walked back to the Hummel house. When he walked into the house, Blaine could hear Kurt and Mercedes speaking in the parlor. Kurt sounded embarrassed and he protested to whatever Mercedes had just told him. 

He did not mean to make so much noise as he made his way to the stairs, but his parcels knocked against the banister and Kurt poked his head out of the parlor.

“Blaine!” He seemed surprised to see the man. “I did not think you would be back so soon.” Kurt’s face was flushed. 

“Would you like me to leave?” Blaine asked as Mercedes hurried from the parlor and into the kitchen.

“No!” Kurt shook his head. “But usually Mrs.Reed will not let you leave until she has told you ever bit of gossip she has ever head in her life.”

“Are you feeling well, Kurt?” Blaine made a step towards the younger man. “You look like you are running a fever.” 

Kurt’s hand flew to his cheek. “I feel fine.” His voice climbed in pitch. 

“Alright then.” Blaine gave the man one last look and then went up to his room to put his things away. 

Soon a letter from Ophelia came in the mail. Blaine tucked it into his jacket as he sat down at the piano with Kurt. 

“A letter from your sister?” Kurt asked as he opened the book of hymns that they had been playing from.

“Yes, and you can call her Ophelia.” Blaine smiled. “I am sure she would give you permission.”

“You can read your letter before we begin if you want.” Kurt knew how much Blaine missed his family. 

“It will only take a minute.” Blaine said as he got up from the piano bench and went into the dinning room to read his letter.

Blaine,

This is going to be a short letter, I have to rush so Mama can send it with Thomas as he is headed down that way. I have been struggling with what to tell you about Kurt. I do not want you to get your hopes up, but I do not want you to count yourself out either. My advice is to let things play out as God meant them to. Kurt seems like a very nice young man.

And of course he can write me. Johnny has no problem with me writing either. I did ask as you instructed and I was told that you were being over cautious and that you should expect a letter from him soon. 

You will have to ask Papa and Mama about the house, I am not so wise on property as I am wise on the ways of the heart. 

Your sister,

Ophelia. 

Blaine tucked the letter back into his jacket and went back into the parlor with Kurt. Kurt had stopped playing and was looking at him expectedly. “I know you want to tell me what Ophelia said in your letter so do not make me pry about it.” Kurt said as he twisted to face Blaine on the bench. 

“She says you can write her, though you should probably address the letters to Ms.Ophelia Anderson. Mama does have a bad habit of sometimes opening the family mail without looking to see who it is addressed to and she does think that there should be some decorum.”

“Your mother reads your letters?” Kurt seemed shocked.

“She does not mean to, and she usually does not read them all the way through. She just...forgets that her children are now old enough to receive their own letters.”

“Oh.” Kurt seemed amused by Blaine’s mother. 

“Perhaps I should ask for her to write you too. She would love you.”

“Perhaps I should just set up correspondence with your entire family.” Kurt laughed. 

“Only my mother and sister, my father and brother would not share many of your interests.”

“And what interests would I share with your mother?” 

Blaine blushed. He had been trying to keep his observations of the younger man to himself, but now he had cornered himself into telling Kurt. “I have seen you reading Godey’s Lady’s book. My mother is an accomplished seamstress” Both men were quiet for a minute and then Blaine suggested that they begin their lesson.