A/N: Hello, it's been a long while since the last upload and for that, I am honestly sorry. I don't know if anyone still reads this, but to those of you who alerted and reviewd and favourited, thank you. It's harder to upload constantly, and Uni is starting up again, so I don't know how long it will be to the next upload, but I hope this keeps you sated till then. It's Kurt's birthday... May. Not long left... Thank you. Reviews are appreciated. JusticeIsn'tEasy0083. D.
Chapter Sixteen: Kurt's Birthday
Blaine had been shopping and preparing Kurt's party all week and tomorrow was his husband's twenty-eighth birthday. May 27th, the day that Kurt was born all those years ago, and the day that should be one of the most fun days of the year, but the looming Warbler Reunion, and Kurt's worsening sickness, was putting a damper on all things party... Mercedes had called to check on the two boys, asking if they needed for anything to be done, to which Blaine had practically had a mini-meltdown, explaining to the woman that he needed everything to be perfect, and he can't finish it in time, and Wes and David are in the middle of an identity crisis and it's too much for one person, and how he respects Kurt so much more now for all of the time he spends planning their birthdays and parties, and gatherings. He'd heard Mercedes chuckle, and tell him that her, Rachel and Tina would be there in half-an hour to help, but the curly haired man didn't, instead hanging the phone up, and sliding to the ground just beside the front door, head in his hands. If Mercedes was coming, she would let herself in, because she has a spare key, not that it's much use, what with her and Sam living in Chicago now... Kurt was at work, keeping his mind off his birthday, and the knowledge that he was sick weren't helping. Aliyah and Renee were at school, and it was the first time, in a long while, that Blaine had had time off work, and here he was, sitting on the floor, head in hands, fretting about something so trivial as a party, that Kurt probably won't even remember. 'That's not fair Blaine, stop thinking like that' he told himself, sniffling and letting the tears fall freely.
There had only been one other time in their relationship, where Blaine had planned one of Kurt's birthday's, back when they were in highschool, and the older boy had insisted on being in charge or organising Kurt's eighteenth... Mercedes and Rachel had been furious, but gave into the demands of the Warbler, helping and sharing their opinions throughout the night, about the table arrangements, and music, and food, to which Blaine had been grateful for their help, each of them agreeing on a form of payment that Blaine would rather forget about, and hopes to all things holy and good that Rachel and Mercedes don't tell Kurt... he got in enough trouble making out with Rachel ten years ago, he doesn't need any more trouble, especially not since they've all grown up, and have families, and problems, and things to do...
'Do you honestly think that sitting there all day is going to get this party up to Kurt Hummel standards?' Rachel asked, hands on hips, as she and Mercedes walked into the living area, hands filled with bags.
Blaine looked up at the woman, mostly annoyed, but also thankful.
'I don't know Rach, I was thinking of just staying here and letting you and Cedes do all the hard work, but considering that Kurt is my husband, and this might be the last birthday we get to throw for him, I'm not going to sit here and have my head in my hands all day. Now, are we going to argue more, or can you help me up so I can go talk to Mercedes?' Blaine asked, extending his hand to the short brunette, who just grinned and helped Blaine to his feet, following him into the kitchen where Mercedes was going over lists she had made
'Anderson, how many people will be attending?' Mercedes asked, not noticing the cringe that Blaine shot her at the use of their highschool appointed nickname
'The Warblers and the New Directions, plus Burt and Carole, and my mother. I'd say cater for about... thirty-fourty. You never know,' Blaine replied, grinning manically.
Mercedes nodded, sighing and turning back to write down names of people she knew would be attending Kurt's birthday. It wasn't meant to be a big event, only small, but Mercedes and Rachel had practically forced Blaine to have a big party, using the "it may be his last" angle, which is mean, but it seemed to knock Blaine back into reality, and to the fact that he only had two weeks to plan a party, and invite people, who live all over, with only a week's notice. Kurt wasn't supposed to know, considering that it's a surprise party, but that means that Blaine has to work even harder, and he's had to talk to all of the people Kurt works with, to make sure he's pre-occupied whilst Mercedes and Rachel set up the house. Kurt likes to do things himself, Blaine knows this about his husband, and it's very rare that he'll let someone else help, or do anything nice for him. Blaine and Finn feel the same way, and both the times they've talked to each other, they've talked about how they can make Kurt feel special, without actually telling him about it. Blaine believes, and hopes that this party is going to be what Kurt will enjoy... it's all of their closest friends, and family members, just like the parties, they used to have back in Lima, with the New Directions and Warblers, just like the party they threw to celebrate graduation from respective highschool's...
Flashback: Graduation After-Party
Hudmel House
Sam had promised both Finn and Kurt that there would be no alcohol brought to the party... of course, this had been until peer pressure had won over, and Puck ended up bringing enough alcohol to last them until New Years. Blaine had been shocked at the amount of alcohol that one Noah Puckerman could acquire with a fake ID and help from Sam and Finn, who could pass for twenty-one even without a licence. The Warblers and New Directions had been happy enough to combine their graduation parties, considering that it was stupid for Kurt and Blaine to have one party, and Finn to have another. The idea had been planned for weeks, and when both Burt and Carole had agreed, having both boys promise they would behave, they left for a conference in Toledo, and Puck took charge. Rachel, Tina and Quinn were already drunk, and Lauren, Wes and Cameron weren't far behind. The rest, were either tipsy, or sober. Kurt had refused to drink, promising Finn he would keep an eye on all of them when they got shit-faced and couldn't walk, as long as Rachel promised to keep her mouth, and all other body parts away from Blaine, who had nodded manically in agreement, when the brunette had laughed it off, and pulled him over to dance. Kurt trusted his boyfriend, really he did, but when alcohol and New Directions are in the same room... it's time to evacuate the building... which is what Kurt did, opening the front door, and stepping out onto the porch.
Finn had noticed his step-brother acting strange the whole night. The fact that he wasn't drinking anything wasn't surprising; Kurt doesn't really do that, since the April Rhodes incident in Sophomore Year. He hadn't said much, leaving most of the talking to Blaine and the other Warblers, who had all looked sullen and depressed when they arrived, soon perking up, but some, only because of the alcohol. There was a loud crash from the front porch, and Finn, Sam, Puck and Mike sprinted to the front door, yanking it open, to find Kurt hunched up in a little ball, head resting on his knees, the chair and table set beside him knocked over from the force of whatever happened. If they weren't half drunk, they could have better assessed the situation, but considering their state, they were lucky they could even walk... Finn knelt down, placing a hand comfortingly on Kurt's knee, making the shorter boy look up, and give a weak smile, the tears tracks on his cheeks clearly visible through the dull, but illuminating moonlight that caressed Kurt's porcelain face. Puck and Mike were talking loudly about going to get Blaine, and Finn was trying to shut them up, and calm Kurt down at the same time, which proved to be useless, and ended with Finn shouting to his two friends to just go get Blaine, who had appeared at the door anyway. Kurt hadn't said much between the time Finn found him, and when Blaine did, so what happened to his step-brother was still a mystery to the quarterback. Rachel had pounced on Kurt and Blaine the minute the two of them re-entered the house, and Finn heard Blaine snap at his girlfriend, before taking Kurt upstairs, away from the eyes of their friends.
It hadn't been long, but Blaine was sure there was something going on with his boyfriend, and it was one of two reasons he hadn't been drinking tonight... the other, comes in the form of the sentence "Rachel Berry Train Wreck Extravaganza". Of course, it was last year, but that doesn't change anything, and Rachel is still the same clingy person when she's drunk, so Blaine was pretending, just to please Kurt, and so he could do the sneaky boyfriend thing, and make sure Kurt is okay, the same way Kurt makes sure he's okay.
'Babe, I'm worried about you, and so are the Warblers. What's going on?' Blaine asked, as the two sat down on Kurt's bed, the latter scooting up until he was leaning against the headboard.
'Nothing, I'm trying to not let it get to me, but it's harder than I thought and... I just... I have a migraine, and I can't concentrate... and you're not drunk?' Kurt asked, frowning
'No, I didn't want to drink, so I told you that I was because you didn't look well. Baby please, I love you, and I'm worried about you,'
'Can I sing you something? I've been wanting to for a while, and Tina and Quinn have been helping me out?' Kurt asked, as Blaine nodded and took his boyfriend's place on the bed, whilst the countertenor went to fetch the two girls.
...
Once they were all together, and in their respective positions, Kurt turned the music on, and smiled, winking at Blaine as he started singing...
(See AN for song. I do not own)
Maybe it's intuition
But some things you just don't question
Like in your eyes
I see my future in an instant
and there it goes
I think I've found my best friend
I know that it might sound more than
a little crazy but I believe
Kurt winked at Blaine, before darting to the other side of the room, and letting the girls take the first chorus, whilst Kurt just smirked at Blaine, leaning against the far wall.
I knew I loved you before I met you
I think I dreamed you into life
I knew I loved you before I met you
I have been waiting all my life
Quinn and Tina took Kurt's hands, and pulled him towards Blaine, who was now standing by Kurt's desk, tears in his eyes, and a small smile on his face.
There's just no rhyme or reason
only this sense of completion
and in your eyes
I see the missing pieces
I'm searching for
I think I found my way home
I know that it might sound more than
a little crazy but I believe
I knew I loved you before I met you
I think I dreamed you into life
I knew I loved you before I met you
I have been waiting all my life
Blaine joined in with Kurt, singing and harmonising together, taking each other's hands, and looking into the other eyes, whilst the girls quietly sung in the background, watching the two with smiles on their faces.
Ooh hoo ooo, hoo hoo ooo ohh
A thousand angels dance around you
(Ooh hoo ooo, hoo hoo ooo ohh)
I am complete now that I found you
I knew I loved you before I met you
I think I dreamed you into life
I knew I loved you before I met you
I have been waiting all my life
Kurt was crying now also, just listening as Blaine sung back to him the words he's been so longing to sing to Blaine, to tell him his feelings. Kurt joined in with the harmony, placing a soft kiss on Blaine's cheek.
I knew I loved you before I met you
I think I dreamed you into life
I knew I loved you before I met you
I have been waiting all my life
I knew I loved you before I met you, I knew I loved you
(Ooh hoo ooo, hoo hoo ooo)
I knew I loved you before I met you, I knew I loved you
(Ooh hoo ooo, hoo hoo hoo)
I knew I loved you before I met you
(Oh oh, ohh ohh, oh oh oh ay ay yea oh)
I knew I loved you before I met you, I knew I loved you
I knew I loved before I
There was a tender kiss shared between the two, and then clapping from people standing at the door. The Warblers, led by Wes (of course) and the New Directions led by Finn and a smiling, but still drunk, Rachel, clapped as they entered the room, fist bumping both of the teary eyed boys, who were still holding hands, even as Kurt tried to hug Quinn and Tina in thanks, he never let go of Blaine's hand, and it was the answer Blaine had been looking for. Kurt was afraid that graduation would mean a breakup and that song was telling both of them that that wasn't going to happen. Once everyone had said their peace, they returned downstairs, to the party, and Blaine noticed Kurt loosened up a little. He was laughing with his friends, and telling Rachel and Finn off like normal, and it made Blaine smile, and be able to enjoy the rest of the party, not having to worry about his boyfriend, not that he wouldn't not worry, he would, but not as much as before the song.
...
At about ten thirty, Puckerman and Mike decided it was time to play party games, which Kurt and Blaine had been ordered to play, otherwise they would be banned from the house, and it was only after Kurt had explained to a drunk Puck that it was his house, that the boy relented and gave in to letting Kurt and Blaine sit on the sidelines. The two boys took a spot on the loveseat, as the rest of the Warblers and ND gathered around in a circle, each looking drunker than they had before. Kurt had to hide a chuckle when Mercedes tried to sit on Sam's lap, but ended up sprawled on top of him, singing something about belonging together and wishing that she could have everything that he has to offer, because she loves him or something. Blaine awed at the sight, and earned a light wack from Kurt, who was smiling at the sight of his best-friend happy.
'Do you think they'll last?' Blaine asked Kurt, as Mercedes and Sam sat up, giggling, and placing kisses on each other's lips
'Absolutely they will. Mercedes and Sam, Nick and Jeff, us, Tina and Mike... we're all going to last a long, long time Blaine,' Kurt replied, turning to place a kiss on his boyfriend's lips.
'Yes, we are. I promise you we are. I love you Kurt,'
'I love you too Blaine,' Kurt replied, smiling and kissing Blaine again...
End Flashback
Kurt woke up to the smell of food cooking, and Aliyah standing over him, smiling cheekily, holding a wrapped present in her hand. Kurt chuckled, sitting up and pulling his eldest daughter over to him, where she placed a kiss on his cheek, and handed him the big box. Blaine was wearing an apron, and covered in flower, carrying Renee when Kurt found them in the kitchen. He'd never seen Blaine in an apron, nor covered in flour, and if you put Kurt on the spot, and asked if he was turned on by what he saw, he would shout yes to the world, because his husband is hot! Aliyah cleared her throat, alerting Blaine and Renee to their presence. Blaine spun around so fast, he almost knocked the pan off of the stove, and sent flour flying everywhere, a cheeky grin on his face, and a smirk from Kurt, who jutted his hip out to one side in typical fashion, before winking and walking out of the kitchen, calling out to Blaine that he was going to open presents without him if he didn't hurry up. The curly haired man practically sprinted into the lounge, dived onto the couch and tackled Kurt, who yelped in surprise, and fell off the couch from the force Blaine that had struck him. If he didn't have a headache when he woke up, he would have one now, and Blaine could tell, because his husband was rubbing his forehead, but trying to laugh for the benefit of the girls, and even him.
After Kurt was deemed okay, and the laughter had died down, presents were handed to the countertenor, and little girls squealed when a new one was opened, and handed around, only to be placed on a small pile for Kurt to move to the bedroom later, so the guests could sit down. The bad thing about trying to plan a surprise party for Kurt, is that his best friend is always talking to him, and it's not that Mercedes is a gossip or anything, it's just that she gets excited and lets things slip. Kurt had pretended for the whole two weeks to not know a thing, but the fact that Blaine had gone to all this trouble for him was touching, and Kurt would keep pretending to be surprised, because he loves Blaine, and he loves his "surprise" even if Mercedes spoiled it for him.
After presents had been opened, and kisses had been exchanged (mostly Renee and Kurt messing around, because Blaine had been covered in flour, and refused to mess up Kurt's outfit), the family readied themselves for the party that was going to happen. The girls were wearing special dresses that had been designed by Kurt especially for occasions like this, and Blaine was wearing a light black shirt, with jeans, which Kurt thought was a little casual, but then remembered what he was doing and smirked. He could play along with this, and if that meant he had to act stupid, then he would, because according to Finn, he's really good at that. They had just reached the car, when Blaine stopped them, and told Kurt that he needed to be blindfolded, so he couldn't see the "secret location" which he knew was their house, but went along with his husband's wishes, smirking to himself as Blaine tied the black fabric around his head. The four got into the car, and Kurt heard the engine start, and the movement of the car, as Blaine reversed out of their driveway. According to Mercedes' slip of the tongue, they were going to drive to the airport to pick up Mike and Tina, and then Puck and Rachel, before returning to the house, where everything would be already set up, and everyone, apart from Mike, Tina, Rachel and Puck waiting to shout surprise. This time, Kurt couldn't hold back the smirk, playing it down to thinking of all the things Blaine could do to him whilst he was blindfolded, causing Blaine to almost choke on the water he was drinking, and make reference to the fact that their children are in the car. He heard his girls snigger, and smiled in Blaine's direction...
By the time they had done the rounds, and arrived back at the house, Kurt was asleep. Blaine smiled thoughtfully, as Mike, Tina, Rachel and Puck headed inside with the girls, and he tried to wake his husband. Kurt didn't want to fall asleep, but it's hard when Blaine is such a good driver, and he's been so tired lately, he can barely keep his eyes open at work, but won't let Blaine know he shouldn't be there. He doesn't want any more sympathy, or looks that Finn always shoots in his direction. He knows he's sick, he knows there is nothing anyone can do, but that doesn't mean they have to dwell on it. He just wants to spend the time he has doing fun things, and remembering. Blaine manages to wake his husband after five minutes, and the two link hands and enter the house, Kurt mentally preparing himself for the surprise portion of the afternoon. They close the front door, and walk into the lounge when it happens, and Kurt's smile is bigger than ever, as he pulls Blaine into a hug, and kiss combo, before he's pulled away by Mercedes and Rachel to talk. Finn is handing drinks around the room, and Wes, David and Jeff are talking with Cameron, Thad and Trent about finalisations for the Warbler reunion in July, which is two months away, but Kurt knows better than to argue with Wesley when he's planning... it's Wes, everybody knows that... Mercedes and Rachel lead him to the study, where they sit him down on the couch and hand him a folder. Kurt has been writing individual letters to each member of ND and the Warblers, but he's stuck on what to write to Blaine. He's also been talking with Mercedes about funeral arrangements, which is what the folder contains... Rachel shoots a look in the diva's direction, but Mercedes just ignores it.
'Kurt, I know it's your birthday, but we need to work this out okay. Look over it, and let me know okay boo?' Mercedes said, sitting beside Kurt, wrapping an arm around him
'It's so hard Cedes. I don't want to fight with anyone, and I know Blaine will literally kill me if he finds out about this, but... I don't know. Dr. Jennings thinks the letters are enough to stop me from "feeling guilty" and should be enough to give you guys closure. I just... love you all so much,'
'We love you too. Now, Blaine has gone to all this trouble, the least we can do is join them out there. Head up, stay strong Kurt,' Rachel said, kissing his cheek and following Mercedes out of the room
...
It was a small barbeque lunch. Finn and Mike cooked, leaving Blaine and Kurt to "entertain", and the children to run around in the large backyard of Kurt and Blaine's home. Quinn and Kurt had been talking with Carole about shopping for almost two hours, and it amazed all the guys that they could do that, even Puck had been shocked when Rachel had joined in, both with the conversation, and sitting next to Quinn, who was still coming to the, realisation that she couldn't keep Finn and Rachel away from each other. The two women had made amends a year ago, but were still working on their relationship, with help from all their friends. Kurt smiled when Rachel addressed his sister-in-law without prompting, or being forced to, and then when Carole flashed her smile at him, his heart almost broke in two knowing that someday soon, he won't be here to see that. Aliyah and Bailey were playing in the sandpit, singing, and running around, all of the children's parents watching on with smiles on their faces. When Blaine turned to laugh at something Renee was trying to get Mike's son to do, Kurt looked at his husband's carefree smile, and it hit him... everything all at once... the emotions he'd been trying to hold back.. He wasn't afraid anymore... not of dying, or leaving his family behind, because as long as they have each other, they'll all be fine... Kurt felt a tear slip down his cheek, and tried discreetly to wipe it away, but caught his father watching him, a small smile on his face, like he knew what Kurt had just realised.
Blaine placed a kiss on Kurt's forehead, handing Renee a plate with food on it, and taking the empty seat beside Kurt, who had been forced to wear a party hat by Mercedes. Puck had taken to explaining that they were almost thirty, so they shouldn't be wearing party hats, but Kurt had just laughed, and placed the hat on his head, smiling widely, and sipping his lemonade like nothing had happened. Blaine winked, and felt a wack to the back of the head from Wes, who smirked, before Nick tried to trip him, forcing Wes to fall into the sandpit face first, and the entire party of people to burst into laughter, including Kurt, who hadn't laughed that hard since he'd been diagnosed... but he's free now... he doesn't need to be worried, and he's going to take advantage of that for as long as possible. After all, it's not over until he's dead and buried, and even then, he's never going to leave...
A/N: Thanks for reading. Stay tuned for the next chapter. Song is 'I Knew I Loved You' by Savage Garden. JusticeIsn'tEasy0083. D.