"Dad?" Hunter asked quietly as his father walked past where he was sitting at the bar.

"One second, bud" Blaine insisted as he took the crate of wine glasses he had in his hands out to the kitchen. A slow part of the day before the dinner shift, he was just trying to get organised. Returning to the bar he leant on the counter in front of his seven year old with a smile "What's up?"

"Never mind, you're busy"

"Hunter..."

"I just need help with a math problem but Nikita has been waving for you to help her for like 5 minutes"

Blaine peered back at one of his younger bar staff knowing she probably had a genuine problem being new to the hospitality business. Thankful that his bar manager and old friend, Sam caught his attention, Blaine asked him to deal with Nikita.

He got to spend such limited time with his son, Blaine wanted to help the bright eyed seven year old with his homework.

"Ok, so what's the first question?"

Blaine Anderson, 29, ran and owned a successful little restaurant and bar in Georgetown, Washington DC called 'Hunter's Kitchen'. Even though he originally went to college for music, Blaine's passion turned to cooking and hospitality after the arrival of his son. From then, his whole world was his son and that restaurant.

Blaine had been a single father since Hunter was 3 months old so it had been just the two of them for the last 7 years. Best friends, Blaine and Hunter were inseparable. Even when Blaine finally started dating again (after years of Sam's encouragement), nothing could separate the Anderson pair. Austin Jefferson-James figured that it was easier to join in then fight the bond that those two shared.

"Do you understand it a little better now bud?" Blaine asked as his son continued with his homework. He was a smart kid but sometimes numbers stumped him.

"Sort of, I guess"

"Do you think you could do the next few on your own?"

The seven year old looked around and saw the restaurant start to fill with hungry customers. That was his Dad's cue to get back to work. He nodded "Is Austin going to be here soon?"

"Good timing, he's walking through the door now" Blaine smiled as his boyfriend of 3 years walked into the restaurant. Still dressed in his scrubs, the surgical resident looked exhausted much like he did after a long shift. "Saved from homework for now but I want it done before bed ok?"

"Ok" Hunter giggled happy to get away from his worksheet for a while. The second grader loved school and usually enjoyed doing his homework but math just wasn't his strong subject. A determined little boy, he knew he would conquer it one day.

Austin made his way over to the bar and covered Hunter's eyes before leaning over to kiss his boyfriend. "Hi"

"Hi" Blaine repeated happily. On back to back shifts at the hospital, Austin hadn't been home for 2 days. Both were so happy to see each other that one syllable was enough.

"You don't have to cover my eyes, I know what you're doing" Hunter laughed as Austin pulled him into a gentle hug.

"You're just too clever aren't you?"

"Sometimes" he shrugged sadly thinking back to his homework. Confused, it only took a glance at Hunter's Superman backpack from Blaine for the young doctor to understand. A usually bright and cheerful kid, nothing brought Hunter down quite like math.

"Did you forget about the Yankees v Indians game tonight?" Austin smiled knowing baseball would cheer Hunter up almost instantly.

It didn't take long for the seven year old to crack a smile and start jabbering on about his favourite players and their statistics. Blaine ushered the pair to their usual booth and turned the TV over to the game.

XXXXX

"Excuse me bartender, can I get a Coke for me and a glass of water for my wingman" Austin chuckled as he sat down at the bar right in front of Blaine. Still watching the Yankees game, he and Hunter had finished their dinner Blaine had cooked himself and were almost ready to go back to their apartment. Living with Blaine for almost a year now, Austin wasn't unfamiliar with picking Hunter up from the restaurant and doing the bath and bed routine with the seven year old.

"You look like you could use something stronger. Bad day at the hospital?"

"No worse than usual" the young doctor sighed softly "I'm just tired and I don't think alcohol will really help especially with Hunter back in his funk over his homework. I shouldn't have suggested he finished it before we went home"

"You're amazing, you know that?" Blaine smiled leaning on the bar

"For upsetting your son about his math homework?"

"For how you are with him, the not drinking and trying to get him to finish that worksheet. You're passing 'Dad Training' with flying colours"

"Step-Dad Training. I don't want to replace... Hunter's other Dad" Austin shrugged catching himself before he said Blaine's ex-fiance's name. It was kind of like Voldemort in Harry Potter. Austin was almost scared to say his name fearing the reaction from Blaine.

"Hunter doesn't have another father" Blaine snapped quickly but softened as he looked up at his innocent boyfriend "I don't consider him that, not anymore"

"But he was there when you decided to have Hunter; he was there through the pregnancy..."

"And he walked out when my son was 3 months old. That's not the kind of role model I want for him" Blaine sighed softly. Reaching across the bar and taking Austin's hand gently, he rubbed his thumb over the doctors palm "Hunter is so lucky to have someone like you in his life... And so am I. I love you"

"I love you too" Austin smiled and pressed a soft kiss to Blaine's knuckles before letting out a soft yawn. He couldn't hold it back any more, he was exhausted. "I think it's time Hunter and I went home"

"Sounds like a good idea" the young restaurant owner chuckled softly "Text me when you get home so I know you're both ok"

"Yes dear"

"And don't worry about Hunter's homework; I'll finish it with him in the morning"

"Yes dear"

"And sleep without a shirt on please. It'll be something nice for me to come home to"

"Yes dear"

Austin gave Blaine one last tired smile before returning to the booth where Hunter was pretending to mull over a problem when someone was looking.

"You ready to head home, bud?"

"No more math?"

"You can finish it with your Dad in the morning"

Quickly stuffing his worksheet and pencil case into his backpack, Hunter jumped off his seat with a bright smile.

"I'll take that as a yes" Austin laughed and ruffled the seven year old's chocolate curls. The splitting image of his father, Hunter only possessed the slight Latina tan and dark eyes of his biological mother.

Blaine said goodbye to his two boys and watched them leave before heading back to work. Wishing he could go with them, the young restaurant owner did regret the time he spent away from both Hunter and Austin. Blaine had a good collection of staff though so he could spend time with his family without worrying the restaurant will crumble. Tonight sadly wasn't one of those lenient nights, maybe tomorrow.

"Another Congressman booked a table for Friday night" Nikita informed Blaine as he walked into the kitchen to help get the prepared meals out to the customers "Everyone must be stuck in town for the weekend"

"Poor things have to work the hard days like the rest of us" he laughed sarcastically. It wasn't rare to see one of the nation's politicians in his restaurant. Out of the centre of Washington, 'Hunter's Kitchen' wasn't quite as central and busy as places in DuPont Circle for example. It was a nice change for some people and word seemed to spread through Congress as more and more politicians became regular customers. Blaine never complained about any Congressman booking a table at his restaurant because they usually brought a small group and spent a lot. "What state is this one from?"

"Idaho, Ohio, Iowa... one of those"

"I'll give Steve a call and get him working the door. It can't hurt to have a little extra security no matter where they're from" he chuckled and picked up the two plates for table 12. Blaine had seen so many Congressmen and Senators come through his restaurant it didn't matter where they came from, they all ate and drank the same.

The rest of the night ran reasonably smoothly except for maybe when Nikita dropped a tray of drinks all over herself and a table of frat boys from Georgetown University. Admittedly one of the guys had grabbed her ass so the beer shower he suffered was deserved. That too wasn't a rare occurrence but Blaine took no shame in kicking their disrespectful asses out of his restaurant.

XXXXX

"Go home already" Sam laughed as he stacked another set of clean plates next to the one Blaine had just set down. Helping clean up now that the final customer had left, the young owner was struggling to keep his eyes open.

"In a minute" Blaine nodded as he tried but failed to hold back another yawn.

Blaine had always been the type of person that would help in every way through the restaurant at the end of the night just so all his staff could go home. He was usually the last one out and felt guilty when he wasn't.

"Blaine..."

"Only if you're in front of me heading home to your girls" he chuckled knowing Sam melted at the first mention of wife Mercedes and their 3 year old daughter Lauren. That little girl had her father wrapped around her little finger already but Sam didn't mind. Lauren was the best thing to happen to him after meeting and marrying the love of his life that was Mercedes Jones.

"I'm going home to an empty house all weekend actually. Mercedes took Lauren home to Ohio to see her Mom"

"Why didn't..." Blaine began before being cut off by a passing Nikita

"Ohio!" she gasped "That's where that Congressman I was telling you about is from. His name is Burt something"

"Hummel" Sam helped and immediately turned to Blaine. The young brunette's face went blank for a moment before morphing into the fake 'everything is ok' expression he was famous for. He wasn't going to let Burt's presence affect him or at least let it appear like that on the outside.

"You know what? I think I might head home. You've got keys right Sam?"

"Yeah" the blonde nodded "You ok?"

"Hunter needs me at home"

Shall I continue?

I'd love to hear your thoughts :)