Blaine sat awkwardly in a booth at Breadstix opposite Harriet. They were having dinner with Harriet’s boyfriend Josh and his little girl Olivia, who was eight. Blaine had met Josh before but this was his first time meeting Olivia. The little girl seemed to be enamoured with Blaine, looking up at him with wide eyes. Blaine shifted uncomfortably under her gaze, shoving a bit of garlic bread in his mouth and glaring at his Mom who was stifling a laugh behind her napkin.

“Blaine,” Olivia said, elongating the ‘a’ sound. “You’re really pretty, do you have a girlfriend?” she asked innocently. Blaine chocked on the bread in his mouth and shot a panicked look at the adults. This was Ohio after all. He swallowed.

“Not exactly,” he answered truthfully.

“He has a boyfriend, Livvie,” Josh added, smiling comfortingly at Blaine. Blaine really did like Josh.

“Oh,” Olivia pouted, sulking into her pasta. Blaine shot her a look then back too Josh, worried once more. He did not do well with children.

“What’s that look for Olivia?” Josh asked.

“I wanted Blaine to be my boyfriend,” she mumbled but the other three all heard her. Blaine’s eyes widened because what? She was eight, he was nine years older than her.

“Um, thank you? That’s sweet but I love my boyfriend,” he told her.

“Is he pretty too?” she asked innocently.

*

So what did you tell her? Kurt asked as Blaine told him about the meal. Blaine was sitting propped up against the pillows on Kurt’s bed, Kurt leaning back on his chest so Blaine could hook his chin over his shoulder and read the words on the pad on Kurt’s lap. Blaine’s arms were wrapped around Kurt’s stomach.

“The truth of course, that you are very pretty, much prettier than I am,” Blaine answered, pressing a light kiss to Kurt’s temple.

Flattery will get you everywhere. I guess in a way it’s true, you’re much more classically handsome than me.

“Screw the gender connotations of those words Kurt, pretty, handsome, beautiful it all means the same to me. Just different ways for me to tell you how very,” Blaine pressed another kiss the Kurt’s temple, “very,” his cheek, “attractive you are.” He nuzzled Kurt’s neck.

He hit a particularly sweet spot on Kurt’s neck that made him gasp, so he pressed his lips to the spot once more.

“Ah, B-.” They both froze. Kurt twisted his head away from Blaine’s. Blaine had to physically grip his chin to turn Kurt back to face him. Kurt was biting his lip, looking close to tears. Blaine tightened his grip around Kurt’s waist, hoping to prevent him from running away.

“Ssh, ssh, it’s ok,” Blaine mumbled. Kurt shook his head. “I will never, ever, push you too speak if you don’t want too Kurt. I promise, ok. I love you.” Kurt’s eyes widened more and it was at that moment Blaine realised exactly what he’d said. “Oh crap, I wanted that too be romantic and sweet and then I just blurt it out. I’m sorry Kurt and you don’t have to reply if you don’t want too and –“ Blaine didn’t even realise he was babbling until Kurt’s lips sealing over his, breaking off the stream of words.

Kurt pulled back and turned to his notebook.

I can’t reply. It’s so easy to write words you don’t mean, you’ll never know if they are true or not. Some things just need to be spoken.

“Kurt?”

I want to speak some day, I do but I am scared.

“Of what?”

I can’t tell you, not yet.

“Ok, whenever you are ready I’ll listen.”

Thank you.

*

Blaine got back from Kurt’s to find Harriet sitting at the table with her head in her hands.

“Mom, are you ok?” Blaine asked, moving quietly towards her and laying a hand on her shoulder. Harriet dropped her hands from her head, one moving to grip Blaine’s own.

“Sit down, sweetie,” she said quietly.

“What’s wrong?” Blaine panicked slightly.

“Not whatever you’re thinking,” Harriet comforted. “An old boyfriend turned up in the diner today. My first boyfriend.” She looked at Blaine meaningfully. It took his a second to work out what she was saying.

“But your first boyfriend was my father?” he said.

“He wants to meet you.”

“What did you tell him?”

“That’d I’d ask you.”

“Well the answers no,” Blaine snapped angrily. “He abandoned us; he doesn’t get to come back now.”

“Don’t be hasty Blaine, think on it for a few days.”

“Why are you defending him? He knocked you up and left you,” Blaine shouted.

“Calm down Blaine,” Harriet replied sharply. “He may have been older than me, yes, but he was still just a child too. He was scared, we all make mistakes and he’s trying to fix his. I won’t tell you what to do but I will ask you to please think on it for a bit.”

“Ok,” Blaine replied, mostly to keep his Mom happy, he had no intention of actually meeting the man who’d never even given him a chance.

*

I think you should meet him.

“You’re kidding me right?” Blaine asked. He was sitting in the cafeteria next too Kurt and had just told him about his conversation with his Mom.

He’s your Dad.

“No, he’s not. He just helped make me. I don’t have a Dad, I never have and I never will.”

Kurt looked down, Blaine sighed. “I know this is a hard subject for you Kurt, I do, I get that but your Dad loved you, he raised you, that’s what a Dad does, it’s different for me.”

Ok. I’m sorry, I’d do anything to see my Dad again but Blaine, I don’t want you to lose an opportunity because you were being stubborn. I understand it’ll be hard but one day you might change your mind about it and what if the opportunity is lost?

“Damn it, why do you have to be logical?” Blaine moaned, resting his forehead on the table. Kurt’s hand rubbed his back gently, soothing him. “If I meet him, will you be there when I do?” Blaine asked, shifting his head to look up at Kurt with his biggest puppy dog eyes. Kurt blinked in surprise, his mouth opening and closing a few times. He quickly scribbled down a reply.

I don’t think that’s a good idea Blaine, this is something you should do alone.

“No, I mean, if I meet him at the diner then you can be there and Mom and Eddie and I’ll know whatever happens, however it turns out you’ll all be there for me.”

Ok, if that’s what you want, I’ll be there. Blaine smiled down at the words written before him then up at Kurt. He leant in so there lips were just brushing and whispered, “you are the best boyfriend ever,” before kissing him lightly and moving back to a safer distance, glancing around the cafeteria in case any jocks had seen it and felt like picking a fight. No one was looking there way. When he looked back at the table a new note was waiting for him in Kurt’s notebook.

Second best maybe, the best is sitting beside me. Underneath was an arrow pointing at Blaine. Blaine laughed happily, he was so in love.

*

Blaine’s thoughts were buzzing late one Friday night as he cycled home from Kurt’s house. It was bitterly cold and his breath puffed out in a white cloud in front of him. He cycled harder, keen to get home and into the warm.

His life had changed a lot since he’d come to Mckinley. For the first time since he’d come out he didn’t feel so much like social pariah. Well he did but he wasn’t alone this time, he had friends that cared about him and a boyfriend who was, in Blaine’s eyes, completely perfect. His Mom was happy with Josh and Blaine sort of hoped maybe one day the two tiny families would become one. His Father had reappeared, wanting some form of relationship; Blaine couldn’t imagine how that’d turn out but maybe it would be good, once he let all his anger at the man out. His once rather barren and lonely existence was filling up with people he loved and who loved him.

All the thoughts and contemplations in Blaine’s head left him with little awareness of his surroundings. While he paid attention to vehicles near him, he wasn’t paying attention to the road surface. The cold had created black ice on the road and Blaine didn’t know it was there until he lost control of his bike.

He hit the road hard, skidding across the asphalt before coming to a stop, his legs tangled in the bike. Luckily no cars were on the stretch of road where he now lay, slightly dazed. There was no one about. Sitting up, Blaine took stock of any injuries he had, his right wrist hurt and both his legs, from being twisted in the frame of his bike. He pulled them free and stood up fine, using his left hand to push himself up. The right side if his face also hurt from sliding across the ground. He poked the skin slightly and hissed at the pain. He dreaded to see what he looked like.

Fortunately he wasn’t too far from home so Blaine wheeled his bike one handed and limped back to the trailer park, his right wrist cradled to his chest. Once back home he took a deep breath before entering but Harriet had already gone to bed, she probably had an earlier shift at the diner the next day. Blaine flopped onto his sofa bed, intending to rest for a second before cleaning himself up.

The next thing he knew he was being shaken awake by a very worried looking Harriet.

“Mom?” he groaned as every pain from last night hit him again.

“What happened to you?” she asked panicked.   

“Hit some ice, fell off my bike,” he answered her shortly. Gently Harriet took his chin so she could turn his head and study the scraps on his face.

“Blaine, there’s grit in this, did you clean it at all? And you’re wrist is completely swollen, you should have woken my up.”

“Meant to clean up, fell asleep. Ow,” Blaine moaned as he moved his wrist slightly.   

“You need to go to hospital,” Harriet told him, worry marring her face.

“Relax Mom, I’m a bit beat up but I’m not about to die. Let me go to the bathroom then I’ll go to hospital, I promise.” Blaine groaned as he pulled himself off of the bed, moving hurt, he’d really hit the ground with some force the previous night.

He dragged himself the bathroom and looked at his face in the mirror for the first time. Now he knew why his Mom had looked at him like that. His right cheek, jaw and temple were badly scraped and the wounds needed cleaning.

Once he’d finished he exited the bathroom too see his Mom with her phone clamped too her ear and his phone in her ear.

“No no, he’s ok, just a bit banged up,” Harriet said into the phone then paused listening to the reply as Blaine’s phone buzzed in her hand. “Ok, see you soon,” she said and put her phone down.

“What are you doing?” Blaine asked, leaning on the door frame of the bathroom.

“Just called too let Eddie know I wouldn’t be in today.”

“And why did you have my phone?”

“Blaine you can barely walk, we need a lift to the hospital.”

“Who did you ask?” Blaine asked dreading the answer.

“Kurt.”

“Why would you do that? He can’t see me like this, he’ll freak. Not to mention he’s clearly still messed up from losing his Dad and you’re making him go to the hospital again,” Blaine snapped angrily.

“Firstly, don’t take that tone with my young man. Secondly, he’s the closest person with a car who won’t be working. Thirdly, maybe you should give your boyfriend some more credit, Blaine. Unless you were planning on avoiding him, he was going to see your injuries anyway. He’s on his way.”

Blaine silently fumed, anxious as too what Kurt’s reaction would be. It didn’t seem long before a horn blasted outside and, with some help from Harriet, Blaine hobbled outside. Kurt had gotten out to car and was staring in shock at Kurt, tears welling up in his eyes.

“I’m fine,” Blaine said, reaching his left hand out too Kurt, who gently took it and squeezed his fingers lightly, eye’s scanning the visible damage on Blaine.

Between Kurt and Harriet, they got Blaine into the front seat of Kurt’s car and succeeded in making him feel like an invalid, which he didn’t appreciate. The entire ride to the hospital Blaine kept an eye on Kurt, looking for any sign of discomfort or impending break down. Kurt’s face remained set in worry.

Once at the hospital Kurt was forced to wait in the waiting area for Blaine while his wounds were checked and his wrist and leg were x-rayed. The wrist was broken but his leg was not, some swelling and bruising from impact was all. Most of the day was wasted in the hospital as Blaine was bumped around from nurses, who cleaned the grazes on his face, steri-stripping a couple of deeper cuts, x-rays and doctors. His wrist was eventually set in a cast and he was free to leave.

Harriet had mostly stayed with Blaine but on a few occasions she had been sent back to check on Kurt, who had refused to leave. They found him when they were ready to go. Kurt quickly stood up, looking like he wanted to Blaine but he wasn’t sure how without damaging the other boy. Kurt was making goldfish movements with his mouth, like he wanted to speak. Blaine rolled his eyes slightly and pulled him into a tight hug. He’s been given painkillers so he it didn’t really hurt. Kurt’s return hug was gentle even as he buried his face in Blaine’s neck and his shoulders began to shake with sobs.

“Hey, hey, come on, I’m ok,” Blaine soothed, rubbing his hands up and down Kurt’s back. “I’m fine, just a few bumps and bruises, I’m fine,” he whispered. The pair stood there in the waiting room of the hospital until Kurt’s tears dried up. He then took Blaine and Harriet home and proceeded to dote on Blaine for the rest of the weekend. Blaine couldn’t help but enjoy the attention and he noticed a new determination in Kurt’s eyes that weekend. Though didn’t know what it was about he didn’t pry. He had a feeling whatever had changed in Kurt would come to light soon enough.