It was Carole’s idea to surprise the kids by going to Regionals. Kurt had made it pretty clear that he didn’t want them there – his reasoning that he was under enough pressure with finally getting a solo that he couldn’t deal with them being in the audience too. Finn had seemed ambivalent about it all, so Burt had agreed to stay home, and wait to hear from the kids how it had gone. Then Carole had somehow talked him into it. She’d kept pushing, saying how nice it would be to see the kids perform and to support them, and yeah, Burt got that, so they went.

He figured even if Kurt was upset by his being there, all would be forgiven after the competition was over.

They found seats in the back, the ushers handing out programs and candles before showing them to empty seats. Burt glanced around, shocked at the large crowd. He hadn’t made it last year’s Regionals (neither had Carole, apparently), but it was clearly a big deal. He resolved right then to make a point of attending more things that Kurt was involved in – whether he ‘got’ them or not.

Burt actually cringed when the judges were announced – that annoying guy from the nightly news, a former tea party politician and a nun?

Who organized this crap?

“The kids are going to have a hell of a time competing with that.” Burt pointed to the stage where Aural Intensity had just launched into some Jesus song. “With judges like those.”

“We’ll take them out for dinner, win or lose,” Carole promised, smiling. He nodded, frowning as the Aural Intensity singers joined hands and made a Star of David. He clapped halfheartedly as the kids bowed and ran offstage.

“And now, from Westerville, Ohio, the Dalton Academy Warblers!” The announcer exclaimed. There was polite clapping as the boys took the stage.

“He looks nervous,” Burt said to Carole, reaching for her hand and holding it tightly.

“Kurt will do great,” she replied, squeezing his hand. “Aren’t you glad you didn’t miss this?” The boys began to sing and Kurt stepped forward. When he started to sing - sounding so, so good - all Burt could think was ‘yeah, I’m glad I didn’t miss this’.

And then that kid stepped forward, and joined Kurt at the middle of the stage, singing.

Burt wanted to like Blaine, he did. Kurt needed kids like Blaine in his life – gay and out and proud, for starters. His issues aren’t with Blaine’s sexuality – they start with Blaine being drunk and ending up in Kurt’s bed (no matter how innocent), and end with Blaine saying that Burt should give Kurt ‘the talk’.

Who did this kid think he was, anyway?

He watched as Kurt and Blaine sang to each other, something about ‘blowing out candles’ and ‘seeing the light’ and Blaine was looking at his son in a way that Burt didn’t like. Kurt had insisted all along they were just friends, and Burt was sure that if that had changed, Kurt would be shouting from the rooftops or singing about it, or something equally loud.

While Burt noticed Kurt had been happier this week (aside from his grief over the loss of his bird), Kurt hadn’t mentioned that anything had changed. He’d just chalked it up to Kurt getting his first competitive solo – though it seemed Kurt had left out a large detail, as his solo was actually a duet. Burt tried not to glare at Blaine (regardless of whether the kid could see him or not) as he moved around Kurt. Kurt, for the most part, just stood there and sang to Blaine.

The song finished and Burt clapped hard. Carole let out a holler, and Burt could see the kids from New Directions lead the crowd in a standing ovation. Blaine and Kurt took a bow, and then Blaine pulled Kurt into the spotlight and let him take a bow by himself.

And then the kid had to go and be nice to his son, and Burt had to force himself to remember why Blaine bothered him so much.

He glanced at the program and saw that the boys had one more song, and looked up to see Kurt and Blaine staring at each other again while Kurt stepped back into the group – just for a moment – before Blaine turned around launched them into the next song.

Burt really had to work to keep the glare off his face now. It was really hard to like Blaine when he was singing about ‘panty snatching’ and being a ‘dirty little freak’.

Seriously – who did this kid think he was? Mick Jagger?

The crowd really seemed into it, and he couldn’t help but give Blaine some credit – he was good. Really good.

Maybe too good.

The boys finished, and Burt watched as they gathered in the middle of the stage in a group hug, Kurt throwing himself at Blaine, the pair hugging in the middle of the chaos. He couldn’t help but smile for a moment – Kurt looked so damn happy, and Burt had never wanted anything less for him.

*

Burt and Carole made small talk, discussing the performance until the lights dimmed again and New Directions was announced. He tried to focus on Rachel singing, but found himself distracted by the Warblers sitting a few rows down, in the next section over.

Kurt and Blaine were sitting next to each other, but no matter how Burt shifted in his seat, he couldn’t tell if they were holding hands or not. Carole tapped his leg and scolded him to pay attention to Rachel, who was singing something about ‘getting it right’. He sighed, looking back to the stage. It only last for a moment thought, as he was unable to keep from staring at Kurt, turning his head just as his son leaned over and whispered in Blaine’s ear.

Rachel’s song finally ended (Thank God), and the rest of the group came out, launching into a catchy number about being losers – Burt realized as he watched Finn sing about being pushed into lockers, that this had to be an original song – the kids had written about the way things were at school for them.

It was no surprise that Kurt was first one out of his chair, waving around a foam ‘L” and dancing in the aisle.

At the end of the performance, New Directions got a standing ovation as well, and Burt sighed as he sat back down.

Now they had to wait.

*

It didn’t take as long as Burt thought it might. Carole had wanted to find Kurt and Finn during the intermission, but Burt had suggested they wait and see who won first.

When the Lieutenant Governor’s wife said that New Directions had won, and were going to Nationals, Carole let out a scream and hugged him tightly. He held onto her, saying how great it was, but all he could see was the sad expression on Kurt’s face and Blaine putting his hands on Kurt’s shoulders in comfort.

*

Burt and Carole made their way to the lobby, intent on waiting for the kids and catching them as they made their way out. They saw New Directions make their way out first, Mr. Schuester carrying the trophy. Carole was just about to make her way over to Finn when he heard Rachel shout Kurt’s name. Kurt and Blaine separated from the Warblers, and then Kurt was dashing across the lobby and catching first Mercedes and then Rachel into congratulatory hugs, Blaine doing the same.

Burt nudged Carole so they could move closer and hear what was going on.

“You guys were great,” Kurt gushed. “I can’t believe you did original songs.”

“The second verse of ‘Loser Like Me’ was for you,” Mercedes said to Kurt, with the rest of the group chiming in their agreement. “You should have been up there with us.” Kurt’s face looked pinched and Burt could tell he was upset at the loss. He wanted to kill that Karofsky hooligan for running his son out of school and taking this moment away from him. “You guys were amazing, though. You should have won.” Burt watched as Blaine shrugged off the loss, but Kurt still looked upset.

Suddenly the group was all chattering at once, and Burt couldn’t make out individual conversations anymore.

“Let’s get our boys,” Carole said, taking Burt’s arm. “Surprise!” She chirped, getting the kids’ attention.

“Mom!” Finn exclaimed at the same time Kurt saw them and said “Dad.”

“You boys were brilliant,” Carole said, hugging first Finn and then Kurt. “I can’t believe my baby is going to New York,” she continued, hugging Finn again.

“We wanted to take you kids out to dinner to celebrate,” Burt told Kurt. “Even though you didn’t win, you were fantastic, Kurt.” He hugged Kurt tightly, seeing Blaine staring at them over Kurt’s shoulder. The boy had longing in his eyes, and Burt remembered what Blaine had said about his own father.

He didn’t want to feel bad for Blaine – it made him feel guilty about not quite liking the kid.

“Can Blaine come too?” Kurt asked as Burt heard Carole tell Finn about dinner. Burt nodded, trying not to sigh again (the day was bittersweet enough), and watched as Kurt went over and touched Blaine on the arm, getting his attention. The two boys talked for a moment, Blaine’s eyes glancing towards Burt for a quick second and then back at Kurt, before smiling and nodding.

Kurt and Blaine joined them while they waited for Finn, making small talk. Carole told Blaine that he’d done a good job, and Blaine thanked her, before shooting Kurt a smile. If Burt wasn’t mistaken, Kurt might have been blushing. He was about to ask Kurt about his reaction – and then Finn walked up, arm in arm with Quinn Fabray.

*

Burt had the radio turned down low, shamelessly eavesdropping on the conversation in the backseat. It was a tight squeeze with the four kids back there, but they had managed to fit.

“When did this happen?” Kurt hissed, gesturing between Finn and Quinn. So far Carole had been mum on the subject, but judging by her expression she was wondering the same thing.

“A few weeks ago,” Finn answered quietly.

“And you didn’t tell me?” Kurt sounded almost hurt. “We have warm milk together every night, and you didn’t tell me?” Finn shrugged.

“You don’t tell me about your relationships,” Finn replied.

“You wouldn’t want to hear about it, even if I had something to tell.” Kurt’s voice went a little shrill. Burt was immediately transported back in time to last spring, to that night in the basement of the old house, when Finn had used that word, talking about Kurt. But Finn and Kurt were obviously past that, because Kurt let the comment slip by. “Does Rachel know?” he asked instead.

“Yes,” Quinn answered this time, all three boys turning to look at her in shock. She looked at Finn with an apology on her face. “She asked me point blank. I didn’t want to lie anymore.” The backseat fell silent, and Burt took advantage of a red stop light to glance in his rear view mirror to see what they’re doing.

He nearly rear ended the car in front of him when he saw that Kurt and Blaine were holding hands.

*

Burt’s suspicions are nearly confirmed for him when they were seated at the restaurant, and Blaine held Kurt’s chair for him. Kurt blushed, and then leaned over as Blaine sat down. “I’m not a girl,” he hissed.

“No, you’re not.” Blaine grinned, raising an eyebrow. Kurt turned an even darker shade of red, and Burt was pretty sure now. Maybe they weren’t together yet, or something, and that was why Kurt hadn’t said anything. It was pretty clear to him (and to Carole, who he could feel watching him) that something was going on between the two boys. Finn was oblivious, talking quietly with Quinn.

The boys must have felt his stare, because they both looked up at him at the same time. Kurt’s expression was an open book – realization that Burt had figured it out, uncomfortable for probably several reasons, and pleading for Burt not to bring it up. Blaine’s expression was just as open, but he didn’t look embarrassed or uncomfortable. He looked like he was promising Burt something with his gaze and then he deliberately covered Kurt’s hand with his own.

Burt just cleared his throat as the waitress came to take their order.

*

Small talk was made over dinner, Finn and Quinn excited for Nationals and prom.

“My mom was prom queen. Twice,” Quinn said, wiping her mouth with her napkin delicately.

“I’m sure you’ll get it, Quinn,” Kurt told her, his expression a little down. Now Burt was remembering back in the fall, when Kurt expressed his want to go to prom and dance with someone.

“Does Dalton have a prom?” Quinn asked.

“We do,” Blaine answered. “It’s an inter-school prom with our sister school, Crawford Country Day.”

“That sounds nice,” Carole said.

“Do you do the prom king and queen?” Quinn asked. Blaine shook his head.

“No, there’s no real way to judge that, with there being two different schools.” Quinn glanced at something on her cell phone, and then excused herself, looking upset. Finn followed after a moment, looking concerned, and for the life of him, Burt ccouldn't figure out what just happened.

“Is she okay?” he asked Kurt, who gave him a sad smile.

“I’m surprised she’s doing as well as she is,” Kurt paused. “Her daughter was born about this time last year.”

“Quinn had a baby?” Blaine interrupted.

“Yeah, with Puck.”

“Suddenly I’m incredibly glad I’m gay.” Blaine leaned back in his chair.

“Me too,” Kurt laughed, and Blaine joined in, though Burt wasn’t sure who Kurt meant, himself or Blaine.

“That poor girl,” Carole murmured, and then she excused herself to go find Finn and Quinn. That left Burt at the table with Kurt and Blaine. He gave them an appraising glance, watching as Kurt sank his teeth into his lower lip.

“So which one of you wants to tell me what’s going on here?”

*

Kurt looked incredibly uncomfortable, but Burt refused to withdraw the question.

“What do you mean?” Kurt asked softly.

“You know what I mean. You two,” Burt replied. “Something’s going on between you – anyone with eyes can see it. Are you dating now?” Kurt shot Blaine a look, uncertainty on his face. Blaine tightened his grip on Kurt’s hand.

“Yes.” Blaine was the one who answered. Burt watched a myriad of emotions cross his son’s face before he smiled.

Well.

“And when did this happen?”

“A couple of days ago,” Kurt mumbled. Burt nodded.

“Why don’t you go find Carole, Kurt, and see how things are going?” Kurt raised his eyebrow at him, and then glanced at Blaine with panic in his eyes.

“Dad -”

“Just go, Kurt,” Burt said. “Blaine will be in piece when you get back.”

Awkward silence fell over the table as Kurt got up and walked away.

“That whole ‘sex talk’ last week wasn’t so you could turn around and sleep with my son, was it?”

“God, no,” Blaine told him. “I -” He paused. “This is going to sound ridiculous.”

“Try me.”

“I didn’t know how I felt about Kurt until a couple of days ago. When I talked to you last week, I genuinely was concerned for him…as a friend.”

“What changed?”

“I woke up.” Blaine’s face flushed pink. “I’ve done a lot of stupid stuff over the last few months – and I think it’s because I was hiding from how I felt about Kurt.”

“And how’s that?”

“I love him, Mr. Hummel.” Burt stared at him for a long time.

“Call me Burt.” Blaine nodded after a moment.

Kurt, Carole, Finn and Quinn were making their way back to the table, effectively ending their conversation. Burt watched as Blaine caught sight of Kurt, and his whole face lit up.

Blaine loved his son.

Maybe…just maybe, the kid wasn’t so bad after all.