"Did you know Ashlee is a boys name, too?"

Those were the first words out of Devons mouth as he flung his bag into Blaines chest. Blaine huffed and caught it, but glared down at his son. It was his first day of middle school. Before today, hed always been given an excited rundown about subjects, teachers, and new friends. But for Devons first day of sixth grade all he got was a question about a name.

"Yeah," Blaine said. "Its mostly a boys name in England, I think."

"Well, my new best friend is a boy named Ashlee and he goes by Ash cause he thinks Ashlee is silly and he likes it better than Lee." Devon grinned up at him as Blaine forced him to take his bag again. He was a small boy of eleven, only reaching Blaines elbow, but with the same unruly curls that Blaine always kept tamed. "Can he sleepover on Friday? Please!"

"Well see," Blaine decided. "Come on, Im going to be late to meet the guy Im playing opposite."

"Aw, but Dad! I dont want to go to the theatre!"

"Thats too bad," Blaine told him as they hurried down the stairs at the closest subway stop. "Youre not going all the way to the apartment by yourself and I dont have the time to take you back and then get to the theatre."

"But Uncle Sam could–"

"Your Uncle Sam is out of town until the fifteenth," Blaine reminded him. He tugged Devon into a seat and soon enough they were hurtling along towards Broadway. Devon sulked beside him despite Blaines attempts to perk him up. Ever since his eleventh birthday in July, his son had gotten increasingly moody.

"This blows," Devon mumbled as they climbed the stairs onto the street and hurried towards the theatre. "Im eleven. I can totally ride the subway home by myself."

"Not as long as Im your father, you arent. Weve already talked about this. When you start high school, you can ride the subway home from school and practice."

Devon huffed and followed Blaine in the side door and down a short hallway to the stage.

"Sorry, Im late," Blaine called as they shuffled in. "I had to get Devon from school."

The director was there, along with a tall, beautiful man. Blaine stared.

"Ash? Is that you?"

"Hi Devon!"

Blaine watched his son vault off the stage and join another boy out in the third row.

"It looks like our sons know each other. Im Kurt Hummel," the man introduced. He smiled hopefully and Blaine tried not to blush or stare openly. Kurt was breathtaking up close, with perfectly styled hair, bright blue eyes, and a smile that was soft and sharp. It wasnt going to be difficult to be his romantic interest on stage. If he was lucky, he might get the chance in real life.

"Blaine Anderson. Your sons all he talked about from his first day," he added.

"Ash wouldnt shut up about Devon either," Kurt said, still smiling as his eyes glanced over Blaine. "Hes already demanding a sleepover this weekend."

The director called them over and started having them run lines together.

Down in the third row, Devon and Ash propped their feet up and started whispering.

"I think my dad likes your dad," Devon muttered. He had his math book propped open on his lap, but his pencil hadnt moved. "He always gets that moony eyed look when he sees a handsome guy."

Ash glanced around his feet and nodded. "Dads got his heart eyes going, too. See that? The way he just looked away with that big, dopey smile? Hes got a crush."

"Huh," Devon said, watching the man up on stage as his dad and him started mapping out one of their scenes again. "So do you like to scheme because if we do this right we could be brothers."

"Brothers?" Ash echoed. "Thats kind of jumping the gun a bit, isnt it? What if they, like, dont like the same movies or bedding or something?"

"It could happen," Devon insisted as he clapped his feet closed to block his view of the stage. "Ive always wanted a brother. My Uncle Cooper has three kids. And Uncle Sam has four. Being an only kid is lonely."

"Yeah," Ash said. "It kind of sucks sometimes. Its just me and Dad except when Aunt Rachel or Auntie Tana visited us in London. Or when we came back here for the holidays. My Uncle Finn has a couple kids, but I havent seen them since they were babies."

"You dont have an accent," Devon remarked, turning to look him over. "Did you live there long?"

"Oh, Daddys taught me lots of accents since hes an actor," Ash told him. He slipped smoothly into a London accent. "We were only in London for a few years. Now were back so we can see Grandpa more and so Daddy can do Broadway. He was on West End back in London."

"We should be brothers," Devon insisted. "They look cute together and then we wont be only kids and we can ride the subway home instead of sitting here all afternoon."

Ash eyed their dads up on stage. "Well, they certainly have chemistry. I can see why they cast them together. And my dad could use a new boyfriend."

"Really?" Devon squealed and his math book went flying. "What should we do first? Can we–"

"Devon Alexander, you better not be hopping on the seats again," Blaine called from the stage. "I dont need to spend the evening in the E.R. with you getting a cast put on your arm again."

"That was one time!"

"Stop hopping around down there," Blaine scolded. "Im sure you have homework."

Devon glowered at the stage as Ash handed him his math book. "Come on. Lets get this assignment done and then we can make lists of what they both like and dont like. Then pick a restaurant and a song– oh! We could have you and your dad over for dinner and then a sleepover."

Devon crinkled his nose. "I dunno if Dadll go for that. I mean, the dinner sure, but not him sleeping over. Besides, I dont know if I wanna risk listening to that."

"Ew Devon!"

"Devon Alexander Anderson, I swear if you are mooning someone again like Cooper taught you I will–"

"Dad! That was only twice!"

Up on stage, Kurt started laughing and the director dismissed them for the evening to get better acquainted. Devon and Ash stuffed their books back into their bags and climbed up onto the stage. Their dads were waiting, Kurt giving Blaine several coy looks and Blaine beaming bashfully.

"Can we take them to Marios?" Devon asked immediately. "Its right by the apartment and they live in the same building! Can you believe that, Dad? We can get it to go and go back and watch a movie."

"Please, Dad, please," Ash added. "We did all of our homework and Im starving!"

"Well," Kurt looked from his beaming son to Blaine. "We were talking about going to dinner anyway. But, like, out somewhere to talk about our roles."

"We can get Marios," Blaine said, making both boys cheer. "We can decide on location once we get there. Theyre usually pretty busy, but they have amazing cheese fries."

Ash tugged on his fathers arm and hopped around. "Come on, Dad, then me and Devon can have a sleepover!"

"I– if its all right with Blaine, then we can go back to their apartment."

"Im game. Especially if were in the same building."

"I cant believe they fell asleep."

"Give it another year," Kurt said. "Theyll be up half the night no matter how many times you tell them to go to sleep."

Blaine looked out into the living room at the pair of boys asleep in the big lounge chair. Theyd stuffed themselves full of a pizza each, popped in The Wizard of Oz, and promptly fallen asleep twenty minutes in. The movie was still playing, but Kurt and Blaine had moved to clean up the mess in the kitchen.

"You really dont have to help clean up," Blaine said for the fourth time.

"No, no, we helped make the mess, and at least one of us is helping clean it up." Kurt smiled at him as he dried the last cup and handed it to Blaine to put away. "I cant believe we live just downstairs from you."

"Small world, I guess," Blaine replied, finding Kurts eyes on him. He blushed and looked back towards the living room. "At least theyll have someone to keep them entertained while we rehearse."

"I guess Devon isnt a big theatre fan," Kurt deduced. "Ash loves it, but me and his mother are both huge theatre buffs, so he comes by it honestly."

Blaine wilted at his words. Ashs mother. Kurt wasnt only straight, but he was no doubt married.

"Oh, I didnt realize I was keeping you from your wife–"

Kurt started laughing so hard he had to grab hold of the counter. "Oh my– you think," he chuckled a few more times and shook his head. "No, no, Im not married–or straight. Ashlees mom… its a long, very drunken tale of best friends gone wrong. Very wrong. Like, we both threw up when we realized wed– well, yeah." Kurt cleared his throat and looked down at his twisted hands. "We love Ashlee to death, but it wasnt anything a gay man and a lesbian had planned. She visits a few times a year, but thats it."

"Yeah," Blaine nodded and tried not to let his delight at Kurts sexuality show. Kurt was gorgeous, easily the most attractive man Blaine had seen in his entire life. "Devon wasnt part of any plans of mine either. I was just a sperm donor for a few friends and, well, theyre gone and I decided to raise him myself."

"Im sorry," Kurt said. "Its– I lost my mom when I was a boy. Its not easy."

Whether he was referring to being a single parent or losing a loved one, Blaine didnt find out. Little Ash appeared in the doorway, rubbing his eyes and yawning.

"Dad, can we go home now? Devon kicks in his sleep."

"Yeah, sure, champ." Ash disappeared to find his bag. Kurt turned back to Blaine and smiled softly. "Its been a lot of fun. Ill see you for rehearsal tomorrow, fantasy lover. Dont forget your costume."

Blaine blushed. "Costume? Im spending half of the first act shirtless– oh."

"Dad! Come on!"

Kurt smiled shyly and waved as he left.

Burt was awoken a few days before Christmas by his phone ringing.

"Burt, would you just answer that already?" Carole rolled over and started snorting again.

With a grunt, Burt fumbled for his phone and answered the call.

"Grandpa? Grandpa! Its a FaceTime call. I dont wanna see your cheek."

He smiled and turned the phone away from his ear. His oldest grandson stared back at him, along with another, unfamiliar face. It was another boy around Ashlees age with wild curls and eyes like frost. "Hey, kiddo. Why are you calling so early?"

"Cause our dads are still asleep and theyre both so stupid! Has Dad always been like this? God, it shouldnt be this complicated to set two people up."

"Well, our only help was Uncle Sam and hes kind of dumb," the strange boy said. Then he waved at Burt. "Hi! Im Devon! Were trying to make me your grandson, too!"

"Youre–what? Ash, what are you two on about? Its–" he glanced at the clock on the night-stand. "Six in the morning?"

"Grandma Carole?" Ash called. "How do you set up two doofuses in love?"

"Hmm?" Carole hummed and rolled over towards Burt. "Is that Ashlee?"

"Its Ash! God, I dont know why Dad let her pick that name."

"I think its pretty cool," Devon said, looking at him. "We both have gender neutral names. Cause were going to be brothers. If we can get them to just kiss!"

Carole was wide awake now, and tugging the phone out of Burts hand. "Oh, this sounds so romantic. Are you sure they like each other? I dont want you boys interfering with their lives and feelings if you arent absolutely sure."

"They would have kissed yesterday if someone hadnt tripped over his big feet," Devon snarled at Ash.

"At least I dont wear kids sizes anymore," Ash snapped back. He glared at Devon and straightened his posture until he could look over the other boys head. Burt shook his head. At that age, Kurt had been pudgy and short, but Ash had always been built like a lamppost. "Ugh, just tell us how to make them boyfriends so we can work on making them husbands next."

Carole shook her head. "Boys, thats not how it works. You cant force them. Im sure your interfering is only making it take longer, if youre right."

"We are!"

"Theyre absolutely in love! Wait until you see them on stage tomorrow night!"

"And back stage where they smile and hug and stare into each others eyes–"

"Go back to bed, boys," Carole said. "Let your dads get there on their own."

"But–"

"Goodbye, Ashlee."

"Ugh!" The video cut out.

By the time Kurts parents arrived for the holidays, Blaine was beyond annoyed with the boys. Kurt wasnt much further behind. Theyd had multiple dinners together, spent evenings watching movies while they thought they were alone, but no. The boys were always lurking. The only romantic encounters they had were during their scenes on stage, and Blaine didnt think a passionate kiss between Levi and Jordan counted towards Kurt and Blaine.

"Oh, Dad, Im so glad you two are here," Kurt said when they all met outside the apartment building. Theyd taken a cab from the airport while Kurt and Blaine finished up another rehearsal. Kurt introduced Blaine to his parents as they hurried in out of the cold. "The boys have been driving us nuts. Last week they were trying to be Spidermen out on the fire escape to watch us. It was awful."

"Is that why theyre grounded then? Not giving you a moment alone," Burt said slyly as they headed upstairs. "Kids are like that. We can, uh, watch them for a while and give you two a break, if you want."

"Would you?" Kurt asked, as they stopped at his apartment and carried their bags inside. "God, I dont know if its just them being teenagers or something, but theyve both gotten insane."

Blaine nodded. "Id say its my brother rubbing off on them, but we havent seen him since Easter."

"We should go check on them," Kurt said, staring up at the ceiling. "Im sure theyre up to something else by now."

"Yeah, theyre probably planning another dinner fire or–"

"Weve got it," Carole said. "No, no, well go watch them and give you two a break. Twelve year olds are a handful in pairs."

After ten minutes of consistent convincing, Blaine found himself and Kurt alone.

"I give it ten minutes before theyre climbing all over us again," Kurt said. He dropped down onto the couch and closed his eyes. He patted the spot next to him. "Lets just sit here and pretend were young, single, twenty-somethings without sons."

Blaine dropped down, but kept his eyes on Kurt. The strong curve of his jaw, the sharp line of his cheekbones. He somehow managed to be beautiful in an entirely new way every day. "So does that mean twenty-something Kurt would be willing to kiss twenty-something Blaine under the mistletoe?"

Kurts eyes popped open as he sat up. "What?"

"Your son hung one right over every spot on this couch," Blaine reminded him with a hopeful smile. "So I guess we should technically kiss twice. One for mine," he nodded up at the mistletoe over his seat, "and another for yours."

A soft smile eased some of the sharpness out of Kurts face. "Well, I have been hoping to kiss you for a while," he admitted. "And I mean, Blaine, not Levi. Though Im guessing Blaine is as much of a divine kisser as Levi."

"Theres only one way to find out," Blaine agreed as Kurt leaned in.

The door slapped open.

"Did you two– damnit!"

Devon stomped his foot and yanked the door closed. "Pretend I wasnt here!" he hollered from the hall. "Just go back to what you were about to do!"

They listened to him thunder back upstairs, his voice carrying after him. "They were so close, Ash! Their faces were, like, this far apart!"

"I told you it was too soon!"

"And I told both of you to leave your fathers alone, did I not?" Caroles voice was sonorous as the door upstairs closed. "Theyll never get anywhere if you two keep barging in."

"But were just trying to help," Devon insisted. "We arent–"

"Youll leave them alone for the entire week were here or therell be hell to pay. Do you two understand?"

It fell silent after that, but Blaine could imagine his son and Ash nodding pitifully.

"Theyre quite the pair," Kurt remarked with a fond smile at the ceiling. "Theyre going to make wonderful brothers."

Blaine hummed and settled into Kurts side. He tugged fondly on the chain around Kurts neck until Kurt slipped it out of his shirt and twirled the ring on it. "Im going to miss messing with them about this," he mumbled as Kurt kissed his forehead. "Its not often I get one over on Devon."

"Im just surprised we managed it until Christmas," Kurt said as he unhooked the chain and slid his engagement ring onto his finger. "Its been fun pretending to be clueless just to annoy them."

"Still, its a good Christmas present for them. Well figure out some other way to get them," Blaine told him. He sat up a little and pressed his forehead against Kurts. "So about that mistletoe kiss…"