He was early, by about fifteen minutes. The black Navigator of the boy who baby-sat for his Aunt Shelby (the name of who had currently evaded Blaine’s memory, it started with a K) was still parked across the street, he wasn’t even sure if his aunt would be home yet.

Blaine considered waiting out the fifteen minutes in his car. But after the Bruno Mars track finished and a Katy Perry song came on his iPod (he wondered what an A Capella version of Teenage Dream would sound like… it would be something to subtly suggest to Wes, so he’d bring it up to the rest of the council) he decided he should just go in. It wasn’t like he should feel strange. It was his Aunt’s house, and in the past he’d spent a lot of time there, it was sort of his third home (his real home being his first, and Dalton Academy being his second), so why should he be afraid to go in there?

Resolved, he quickly turned off the ignition and walked up the small path to the front door, where he knocked politely.

“Can I help you?” The door swung open and Blaine forgot himself for a moment.

Last week, he’d only seen the boy (and for the love of God he could not remember his name) at a distance. He was taller than Blaine, only by a couple of inches though. His had light brown hair, done in a coiffed style that suited him (and Blaine could appreciate anyone who took time with their hair, considering his own gelled locks). He wore red jeans, and Blaine hadn’t previously been aware they made jeans that tight, and a light grey knitted lose-fitting jumper. His skin was pale and an irritated look was planted on his face.

Blaine cleared his throat awkwardly, when the boys arched eyebrow made him realise he’d been staring for longer than socially acceptable, quite openly and obviously. He just hoped his sudden flush went unnoticed.

“Uh, I’m Blaine.” He said, feeling a little stupid.

“Ok.” He nodded. “If you’re hear to sell me something or, preach, at me or whatever, I’d rather save us both the time and shut the door on you now.”

“No.” Blaine quickly shook his head. “Sorry, I should have clarified. I’m Shelby’s nephew.”

“Oh.” Recognition lit up in the boy’s eyes. “So you’re the reason I have a screaming child right now?”

“What?” Blaine frowned.

“She’s over tired and restless. But apparently, you want to meet her and so I haven’t gotten her settled for bed yet. Why couldn’t you come during the day on the weekend?”

“Uh… I’m busy.” He said.

“Right.” The boy’s eyes flickered to Blaine’s uniform. “Bet they load you up with homework at a school like that.”

“Actually…” Blaine started, then realised how lame ‘I’ve had Glee practise all weekend’ actually sounded and instead shrugged. “Yeah, massive paper. Anyway, is Shelby home?”

The boy rolled his eyes. “Does it look like she’s home yet? You’re early.”

“I know.” Blaine shrugged. “I got out of school early.”

“It’s quarter to seven in the evening?”

“My school’s in Westerville, and I had stuff on after class finished. Look, do you want me to go back and sit in my car for the next ten minutes, you’re obviously in a bad mood.”

The boy winced and brought a hand to his forehead, rubbing it gently. “Sorry. It’s just been one of those days. And now she won’t stop screaming and it’s driving me insane and I just… sorry.”

Blaine offered the boy a friendly smile. “Do you want me to take it from here? You can go home if you’d like.”

There was that arched eyebrow again. “Do you know what to do with a four month old child?”

“Uh…”

The boy sighed. “You might as well come on in.”

Blaine nodded and awkwardly stepped into the house, while the boy shut the door behind him.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name.”

“It’s Kurt.” He said bluntly.

Blaine didn’t know what else to do so he followed Kurt into the kitchen. At the table, in a highchair sat the four-month-old child, sucking happily on a pacifier. Blaine had no idea what Kurt had been talking about when he mentioned an overtired screaming child. She looked perfectly happy to him.

On the kitchen counter Kurt seemed to be preparing something. There were various vegetables chopped up in bowls and bottles of ingredients out everywhere.

Blaine gingerly took a seat on one of the stools (he would have rather headed straight over to Beth and pick her up and play with her, but he felt uncertain about doing so) at the kitchen counter.

“Would you like a drink?” Kurt offered.

“No thank you.”

Kurt shrugged and picked up a knife and resumed slicing a carrot. Blaine watched in fascination as he expectedly manoeuvred the knife. The kitchen was quiet except for the knife hitting the chopping board repeatedly, and Blaine unconsciously drummed his fingers on the bench in time.

“So…” He said, breaking the silence. “Are you… one of the Vocal Adrenaline kids?”

Kurt scoffed. “Please, do I look like an emotionless robot?”

“Just trying to make conversation.”

Kurt made a non-committal sound and moved onto the broccoli.

“I’m in New Directions, actually.” He said finally. “The McKinley High Glee club.”

Blaine found himself grinning at that, at least he’d found some sort of common ground with this boy. “Oh really?” He asked. “That’s awesome.”

“Really?” Kurt gave him a sceptical look. “I’d have pegged you for the ‘glee is lame’ type.”

Blaine shook his head. “Not at all. I’m part of my school’s club actually.”

For the first time since he’d opened the door, Kurt actually looked interested in something Blaine was saying. “Really?” he asked. “You’re not just pulling my leg?”

“Of course not, the Dalton Academy Warblers. Do you guys compete?”

Kurt nodded. “We only got to regionals last year. Lost to Vocal Adrenaline.”

“And now you’re Shelby Corcoran’s baby sitter? That seems like an unlikely outcome.”

An undefined emotion flashed through Kurt’s eyes and he faltered his chopping for a moment. “She needed a baby sitter, I needed a job.” He said finally.

Blaine couldn’t shake the feeling there might have been more to it. But decided not to push it, he already got the feeling he wasn’t Kurt’s favourite person in the world and wanted to try and rectify that. Whatever reasons he had for babysitting for his aunt were his own (as long as they weren’t cruel intentions, but Kurt seemed fairly harmless).

“Hey, don’t worry. She’s my aunt, and we lost to them at sectionals. That was embarrassing. And made for awkward family conversation.” He said with a bit of a laugh

“Right.”

There was a whimper, and then an out right, ear piercing scream. Blaine jumped in shocked, while Kurt just groaned.

Beth’s pacifier had fallen to the ground and now her face was red and scrunched up as she screamed. Blaine thought back to the peaceful, happy looking baby he’d met the previous week and was startled at the contrast. Her fist hit against the high chair she was in and her legs flailed about as she squirmed, clearly wanting to be anywhere else.

Kurt set the knife down and wiped his hands on a tea towel before heading over to her. He picked the pacifier up and tossed it to Blaine, who barely caught it.

“Rinse it off.” He said.

Blaine stared completely dumbfounded as Kurt expertly undid the confines of the high chair and lifted Beth up out of it.

“Shh,” he crooned to the baby. “It’s ok. It’s ok.” He glanced over to Blaine. “With water.”

“Right!” Blaine suddenly jumped into action and headed to the sink. However, he could barely take his eyes off Kurt and his cousin.

She continued to scream and wail, and squirm around in Kurt’s arms, but Kurt didn’t let go of her. He simply held onto her and rocked her gently back and forth, muttering to her. He paced back and forth a little, trying to get her to calm down. It wasn’t until he started singing softly to her that she began to settle down at all. The crying continued, but she stopped wriggling around as if trying to get away from him. Encouraged, Kurt sang a little louder and suddenly Beth stopped altogether and simply stared at him with wide eyes.

The silence snapped Blaine back to reality. He shut off the water and brought the pacifier over. However Kurt didn’t notice, he continued singing to the girl.

Blaine couldn’t help but notice that Kurt had a beautiful falsetto, he was reaching notes Blaine couldn’t dream of and it sounded effortless. He was still singing softly, but there was something almost, otherworldly about his voice. It seemed to enchant the small child in his arms, who looked up at him in wonder.

Kurt went on until he reached the end of the song.

Blaine cleared his throat, and held out the pacifier to him. He could only hope Kurt didn’t notice the way his hands were shaking a little as he took it.

“Thank you.” Kurt said softly and gave it to Beth, who started sucking on it immediately.

“You’re amazing with her.” Blaine’s voice was barely above a whisper. “Really.”

Kurt looked at the tiny child in his arms with an expression Blaine could only describe as love. And for the life of him Blaine couldn’t work out why this boy would care so much about a child he baby sat once a week for a bit of spare change.

“You do what you have to.” He said with a soft voice. Kurt then looked away from Beth and back to Blaine. “Do you want to hold her for a while?”

“I uh… I don’t…”

“It’s ok.” Kurt smiled at him. “You won’t drop her.”

“Alright.” Blaine took a hesitant step towards Kurt. “Um… I don’t know what to do.”

“Ok, just hold your arms out.” Kurt directed Blaine, telling him where to put his hands and where to support her. There was an occasional whimper from Beth, but mostly she was quiet. Finally Blaine had the girl safely in his arms, she was upright, but leaned heavily against his shoulder as her eyelids started to droop sleepily. When Kurt was convinced Blaine had a properly hold of her he stepped back and observed the teenage boy with his cousin.

Blaine looked away from Beth and over to Kurt who simply stared. His eyes were a little wide, and his expression wasn’t something Blaine could easily read. Blaine gave him a hesitant smile, but Kurt’s eyes were glued to the baby girl.

“Well, isn’t this a sight for sore eyes.” A voice came from the door way and Shelby stepped into the kitchen.

Blaine gave his aunt a smile, and she smiled back.

“I think she likes you.”

Blaine would have shrugged if he could. “I don’t think it would matter who I was, she’s nearly asleep.”

“I see the two of you have met already.” She glanced between Blaine and Kurt briefly, then her eyes fell on the food over the kitchen counter. “Oh, Kurt, you didn’t have to do that.”

The teenager shrugged. “I don’t mind, honestly. It gave me something to do.”

“Would you like to stay for dinner? Seems only fair to repay you.”

“Oh…” Kurt glanced to Blaine. “I wouldn’t want to intrude or anything.”

“You wouldn’t be, would he Blaine?”

“No, not at all.” Blaine said earnestly. “You should stay.”

“Alright. I’ll just let my dad know.” Kurt gave them a small smile and pulled out his phone.

“I’ll get all this cooking.” Shelby said. “How about you boys go put Beth to bed. I think she’s already asleep on Blaine’s shoulder as it is.”

Blaine followed Kurt down the hallway to Beth’s room. He once again was in awe, particularly at the mural painting covering the wall, because it was a breathtakingly beautiful scene. Kurt caught him looking at it.

“I helped paint it.” He said, looking a little proud of himself.

Blaine’s mouth fell open. “Really?”

Kurt just nodded and moved towards him, holding his hands out. “Do you mind if I just…”

“Oh, yeah, here.” Blaine turned so that Kurt could take Beth from him at an easier angle. She was fast asleep, and didn’t so much as stir. Once Kurt had a firm grip on her, Blaine stepped back and watched as the boy gently lay her down in the cot. He mumbled softly under his breath to her as he tucked the blankets around her. Something stirred in the pit of Blaine’s stomach, there was something about the way Kurt handled the child that was not only impressive, but so… loving… and Blaine couldn’t help the way it made him smile.

Kurt stared at her for a moment longer and then turned back to Blaine, trying to clear the sad expression off his face, but Blaine caught it anyway.

“I’ve said it before, but really Kurt, you’re amazing with her.”

He gave a half smile. “Thank you. Really, you don’t… that means a lot.”

“You’re welcome.” Blaine said softly. “We should go back, help Shelbs with dinner or something.” Before he could think about what he was doing, he’d grabbed Kurt’s hand and started pulling him down the hall.