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Alex ended up pacing in his room for almost an hour, his fingernails bitten to the core with nervous energy as he waited for Kurt's arrival in the evening. He had already sent Kurt more than five texts, only to be reassured by him that he was surely coming and he would explain things to his father.

What happened next felt like the worst time of Alex's life other than his Papa's death. Kurt had arrived in the evening, and Blaine had refused to open the door. He just ignored the insistent knocking, the gentle coaxing and the persistent cajoling, just going about his work as if it were normal. But Alex could see him breaking with every passing minute, his hands shaking, his body tensing till Alex thought it would be positively painful and his throat bobbing as he kept swallowing hard. Alex had just gotten to wondering if he should get into the fray himself when Blaine walked out of the kitchen and went upstairs, shutting himself up inside his room.

And that's the situation they were in now. Kurt was still outside the house, and Alex was itching to open the door, but he didn't know how his father would react and that killed him. He hesitantly went down and opened the door, cursing the creak that it let out, the tell-tale noise that had led to many a grounding as his father had caught him trying to sneak out of the house after diner. Kurt was sitting on the stairs and he turned, looking hopeful as the door unlocked, but his face fell again when it was not the person he was expecting. He looked up at Alex, eyes shining as he bit his lip and shook his head. "He... He's never going to let me into his life if he's not letting me into his home, Alex."

Alex huffed, not willing to let this go, not when he knew that it made both men miserable if they weren't seeing each other. "Okay, hold on, you've got to fight for this!" he said fiercely to Blaine. "My father is worth it, okay? He's just... I'll talk to him. Give me half an hour, just a few minutes. I'll try to convince him, but you can't leave. Not now, he needs someone, Kurt, and he doesn't need to lose everybody he loves." He was begging and pleading with Kurt now, and he knew the exact moment when Kurt gave in, his whole stance softening as he nodded and buried his head under his arms, taking his place of waiting outside again.

Alex slipped back inside, slowly moving to his father's room and shamelessly jimmying the lock like Meredith had taught him to last summer and letting himself into the almost dark room, only to have his heart break into a thousand pieces. Blaine was lying on the ground next to the bed, curled into a ball, tears falling from his eyes. But there was a silence to his crying, like he was so tired of everything and just wanted it to end, like there was nothing left to react for, no passion left even in his grieving. And on the floor all around him were spread pictures, pictures of Matthew and Blaine over the years, some with Alex and some without him, all of them featuring two smiling men hopelessly in love.

Blaine jerked up when he realized that Alex was in the room, wiping his eyes hastily and trying to gather the pictures from the floor. "I'm sorry, Alex," he apologized nervously, quickly gathering the photos and pushing them into a box that he'd kept open on the side. "I... I didn't realize that I'd left the door open." Alex breathed a sigh of relief at his father's oversight; at least he didn't have to explain his criminal talents and his weirdo friends. Blaine flashed a small smile at Alex, becoming the father once again, putting up the front for his son and locking away all the grief and guilt. And it suddenly hit Alex that his father was always there for him when he grieved, but there was nobody to hold him in turn and comfort him. He'd lost the love of his life and he'd made it through every day with a teenage son and a lonely home without a word of complaint.

Alex nodded, a surge of strength taking him by surprise. "You know," he said, keeping his voice light and conversational, "It's not great manners to lock your guests out of the house and let them sit on the stairs, dad. You're not setting a great example here." He kept his voice low and deliberate, slightly teasing.

Blaine's eyebrows cocked up in surprise. "Umm... I... I'm sorry about that, Alex," he said softly, though his eyes were locked outside the window, looking in the general direction of where Kurt would be seated on the cold concrete step. "I did promise you he won't be back, and he is."

"Of course he's here. I invited him."

If the situation weren't so serious, Alex would have burst out laughing at the incredulous look on Blaine's face. "W-what?"

"Not cool, dad, locking my guest outside the house. What's he going to think about me?"

Blaine looked confused and hopeful for a second, but then Alex saw his shoulders fall, and to his surprise, dejection fall across his face. "The joke's over, Alex. I... I told you I won't be seeing him again, and we should leave it at that. Dangling... dangling this in front of me is just cruel. So... please. Please don't do this. Please tell him to go back home."

Alex was left speechless for a moment before he sat down on the floor next to Blaine. And it was a while before either of them uttered a word.

"What were you doing, Dad?" Alex said softly. "You were sitting with Dad's pictures around you, crying like he'd died again." He ignored the flinch from his father. "I... I can't bear to see you like this. He... he would have wanted you to be happy, Dad. He loved you so much, and you know that. You think this is what he would have wanted for you – sitting around the house crying over what once was?" He stopped Blaine's words quickly again. "I know. I know you love him, and I know he loves you. But he's not here. And Kurt is. Kurt's great, and if I have to approve of someone for my dad, he'd be my pick. And mind you, that's saying a lot because my Daddy Blaine deserves the best. Papa Matthew taught me that."

There was a rawness to Blaine's face that made Alex feel like he was sinking and floating all at once. "Dad..." he said softly. "I spoke to him. I spoke to Kurt and I understood it all. I was wrong, Dad. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. And Kurt... he understands me more than most people. I want that. I want this chance, for you and for me. Please."

Blaine reached forward and pulled Alex into a hug, and Alex gladly went, wrapping his arms around his father and squeezing tightly. Blaine's voice was rough and wet as he whispered to his son, "I love you. More than anything in the world, Alex. You're everything to me." He was hugging him tighter, fingers digging into his skin and Alex was far from caring if they were both going to leave physical bruises on each other. They were both crying now and desperately trying to stop as well, both mending and healing and curing each other with love and family and affection.

Alex pushed his father away after a bit, smiling a little. "Go get your man, Dad," he said, then frowned with disgust. "Eww... that sounds weird, old man. But appropriate. Go get your man."

Blaine let out a sound that sounded like a cross between a sob and a laugh, but nodded and turned, making his way to the front door and opening it. Alex watched as both men looked at each other for a long second and then Kurt just pulled Blaine to him, wrapping him up in his arms and hugging him close to his chest. He watched as his father started crying again, but they were tears of joy and relief and love. He smiled as his father lifted his tear streaked face to Kurt and smiled through the sadness. "Bingo," he whispered. "We did great, Papa Matthew. See that? He's smiling that smile you love, again."