Blaine walked down the partially empty streets of New York City with his guitar in the early morning hours on his way to work. He had been living in The Big Apple for two months now and has been loving every minute of it. The young man came to a stop in front of the small coffee shop he worked at and unlocked the doors. Normally getting up early to work for just above minimum wage would be the bane of one's existence, but to Blaine, it was simply magical. Seeing the city taking a nap (because New York never settles down for a full night's sleep) is mystifying and being in the day time hustle and bustle of the city is just what Blaine's life was missing. He was finally on his own in a small apartment with a job to help pay the bills as he started this new life. For once in his life, he was a morning person. He woke up every morning ready and excited to start the day, and opening the shop was one of his favorite things to do.

Once the store's front door was unlocked, Blaine dropped his guitar case off behind the front counter and donned an apron, tying the strings loosely around his back. He grabbed the doorstop and wedged it under the front door, propping it open and welcoming passersby into the shop and letting the smell of fresh coffee waft out onto the sidewalk. He set the coffee brewing and went about readying the tables inside and outside the shop by turning down chairs and unfolding the rich green umbrellas. Once the shop was set up, Blaine grabbed the mop and swung it around the floor humming a swing number to himself and treating the mop handle as his dance partner. He danced around the coffee shop floor with his partner and finished with a dip in front of the counter. Blaine was smiling to himself as he returned the mop to the back room. Normal mundane tasks turned into well-choreographed performances whenever he opened. Blaine whipped up a batch of cranberry scones and popped them into the oven and ran a hand through his hair, dusting the dark curls atop his head with a fine layer of flour. He then wiped his hands off on the front of his apron and snatched up his guitar from behind the counter.

Outside the shop, Blaine sat on one of the umbrella shaded tables and thoughtfully strummed his guitar. Soft notes reflecting the serenity of the morning sang from his fingertips and before long, the music grew and filled the street around him. The morning commuters stuck in traffic listened to his guitar and business people walking to work stopped and listened to him on the not-too-crowded sidewalk. Blaine drowned out the entire outside world and just let himself get carried away with his music.

"Jam session?" came a female voice.

Blaine knew that voice without looking up. "Of course," he replied simply, lifting his gaze and smiling at his boss and best friend, Elise. "Scones are in the oven."

She let her hand brush against Blaine's shoulder as she entered her coffee shop. Elise was such a blessing in Blaine's life. She gave him his job and helped him find an apartment and she was just always there for him. When he was down (which was not often) she was there and she would do anything to make him laugh. He confided his secrets to her and told her he was gay hoping desperately she would still accept him. She didn't miss a beat. Once Blaine came out to her, she immediately began trying to set him up on dates with friends of hers and she stayed up late giggling with Blaine into the night as he recounted his dates to her. He even told her about Kurt, which is something he never told anyone, he only barely told his parents. She accepted him just the way he was and took him under her wing while he got his feet under him. She supported his dreams of becoming a musician and went to both of the shows he put on in the bar down the street from the coffee shop. She was one of the best friends he has ever had.

"So, I'm thinking double date tonight," Elise said appearing over his shoulder. She lit up a cigarette and puffed as he quietly plucked the strings of his guitar.

"Are you talking to me?" Blaine asked innocently looking up at her through his luscious black eyelashes.

"No, I'm talking to the guitar. Dudes dig chicks who play a good guit-fiddle."

"Clever," Blaine smiled, "where are we going and who am I dating tonight?"

"I was thinking Nathanial?"

Blaine shrugged. He went out to dinner with Nathanial last week and they really hit it off. Nathaniel was a writer, composer, and musician; he was also an amazing classical pianist, so he and Blaine bonded over their love of music. Nathanial was also interested in fashion and his love of clothes reminded Blaine of Kurt. As Nate talked about hems and pockets all Blaine could do was sit through a wave of memories of him and Kurt sitting in the park and flipping through the latest issue of Vogue magazine. He was a nice enough guy, and he gave Blaine a very gentlemanly kiss on the cheek after he walked Blaine home… But Blaine just did not feel ready for another relationship even though he had only ever been in one and it ended five years ago.

"I don't know, Elise."

"Oh come on! You had such a nice time with Nate last week!" she objected taking a dramatic pull from her cigarette. She blew the puff of smoke out in one frustrated huff, "what's wrong with the man?"

Blaine hesitated, his eyes roaming the neck of his guitar so he didn't have to look at Elise's scathing gaze. "He's nice and everything. He paid for dinner and walked me home and stuff…"

"I don't see a problem with that," his friend said around the cigarette in her mouth.

"He is a nice guy and I like him a lot. It's just… He reminds me of…" Blaine couldn't finish the thought.

"Kurt?"

Blaine nodded.

Elise snuffed out her cigarette in the basin next to the coffee shop entrance and sat on the table top next to her friend. She slid an arm around Blaine's shoulders and let him lean his head against her shoulder.

"You gotta move on, baby. You're a great guy and you can't let Kurt drag you down. I know it's rough. I've been there with my ex-husband. But Kurt moved on and now it's time for you do so too," Elise ran her fingers through Blaine's flour-dusted locks.

"I know. You're right, as always," Blaine muttered.

"Yup! So you and Nathanial will be joining John and I for an evening of dancing at the swing club down the street," she said decisively.

"Sounds fun. Hopefully our friend Nate can dance," Blaine smiled nudging Elise with his elbow.

"I guess we will find out tonight! Come on, people will start coming in and you need to make more of those famous Anderson scones of yours!" Elise hopped down and went back into the shop with Blaine and his guitar following after her.

Blaine nervously shifted from foot to foot in the abnormally cold, late April night in front of the coffee shop. He wished he had worn another jacket but he didn't want the full effect of his ensemble to be lost by being covered up by a jacket. Blaine pulled out all the stops. He was dressed in all black from head to toe. Black shoes and trousers accompanied by a simple black jacket over a black button-down shirt and vest. The only pops of color were the white tie tucked into his vest and the white ribbon circling his black fedora. He wanted to impress Nate, and he took Elise's advice to really give this guy a shot. He even gelled his hair into place, carefully smoothing down the curls, which is something he hadn't done since his days in high school. He wore his expensive cologne and looked sharp as a tack. Nate wouldn't know what hit him because even Blaine felt handsome. His physical hotness didn't translate to actual temperature as he stood alone and freezing in front of the coffee shop waiting for the rest of this date to arrive.

Just as he felt like his fingers were going to fall off, two men and a woman rounded the corner. Blaine covered his mouth with his hand to suppress a giddy grin. He looked over his date with appreciation that he was not the only one to get into costume for the event. Where Blaine was dressed in black, Nate was his negative and dressed in white. His shoes were black and white and very 40's in style. He wore an entire white three piece suit with a black tie, complete with a white, flat-brimmed fedora embellished with a flaming orange feather. He looked very, very handsome. Blaine could feel a blush warm his frozen cheeks as Nate approached and for the first time since he was a teenager, he felt butterflies stir to life in his stomach.

"Hey Blaine," Nate said in his baritone voice scooping the shorter man into a hug. "You look fantastic!"

Blaine scratched the back of his neck nervously, "thanks Nate, as do you," he replied his hand gesturing to his date's outfit in a wide swoop.

"I wanted to get into character," he shrugged and spun in a circle, letting the long tail of his zoot suit jacket fan out around him.

"Mission accomplished," Blaine said as the corners of his mouth turned up.

"You're too sweet," Nate cooed taking Blaine's hand in his, letting his long piano fingers entwine with Blaine's shorter, callused ones.

"You two make me want to vomit!" Elise cried putting her hands on her hips. Blaine smiled and untangled his hand from Nate's as another blush tickled his cheeks. "I mean really guys? Fedoras? Ugh! Meanwhile I'm standing here dressed in a plain-Jane black dress with Mr. tee-shirt and jeans!" Blaine and Nate chuckled.

"Well excuuuuuuuuse me!" John blurted mimicking Elise and resting his hands on hips.

Nate butt into Elise and John's glaring match. "Are we going to stand here freezing all night being jealous of mine and Blaine's good looks? I don't know about you two, but I am a popsicle and I think dancing is the perfect way to warm up!" After another intense moment of staring Elise took John by the hand and pulled him along beside her.

She called over her shoulder, "you two love birds coming?"

Nathanial offered his arm to Blaine who blushed (again) and looped his arm through his date's and they followed Elise and John down the street.