Author's note: Hello, readers :) Making this chapter was kind of difficult, but I hope it came together okay. I've been working long hours, and then I had a doctor appointment that didn't go too well, and I have a research paper to work on, so I was trying to put in little paragraphs in the short time I had every day to work on this. I took an extra week off because I had to go to NC, too, so I could see my brother before he deploys. But... about my doctor appointment, I've had a lot of pain in my stomach, and I had to get blood work done. If things go well, this could be pretty minor and easy to treat, but they're also saying that it could be something that's really harmful, so, yeah, I've been dealing with that. So, a big thanks to my Beta, kathrynevie21, who has been there all the time for me and has helped me through some of the scenes that were very hard to write. I couldn't have gotten through this chapter without her :)
KlainesSecretChild: Thank you so much for your awesome review! It definitely made my day to hear that you really liked my story! It's been one of the best things to ever happen to me, so I'm really glad that other people enjoy it, too. It's really fun to write Kurt's outfits :) I've never written someone so fashion forward like him so it's fun to play around with his favorite styles and everything. I still feel terrible about what I did with Blaine at the end of Out! It was sad for me, too, but it was really interesting to write something so different than what my first fifty or so chapters were about. I love Keegie, too! I'm looking forward to writing his book about his relationship with Evie! It's always fun to write about such a knowing and worldly character like Evie. Blaine and Kurt both have something a little naïve about them, but their story is great, too. It's just nice to switch things up a bit. I'm glad you liked all of those characters! Laurice is one of my funniest characters. I always wanted to put in scenes with her, even if they were totally random and didn't really do anything for the plot. If you've started the sequel, I really hope it's just as good for you! Thanks again for the awesome review! I'd really like to hear about your performance. I think it's so cool that you performed in Miss Saigon :)
Blaine looked out at the stars that night, the little lights that flickered around the midnight sky shining back into his eyes and making the dull gold glow. He stretched his hands up to them, imagining cupping those bright beams in his dark palms. The streak of light floating across the dark bed wrapped around his body, and he moved his hands a little, holding them up to the glare. Spreading his fingers and letting light slip through the cracks, he watched his bandages appear and disappear as he twisted and turned his hands. Sealed up scars crept out from under the strips that hid away the new cuts, black lines that would never heal. He didn't remember when he'd started clawing. The first time he'd noticed the scratches was a vague blurriness in his head, a brief moment of absolute shame and guilt as he wandered into Coop's room and held up his hands. "Cooper? My hands hurt." He had cried to his brother, and he had knelt down in front of him and took his little hands in his. Cooper's hands were so warm and muscular, and Blaine had never wanted him to let him go.
His mouth had firmed up as he stared at the raw spots, the slashes that weren't very deep because his tiny fingernails couldn't dig that deep, "Are you okay, bud? Come on. Let me clean the cuts." After that day, Blaine found himself spending more and more time in the bathroom, sitting down on the counter as Coop held his hands under the water. He never could recall where they came from when Coop asked him, just that he might have squeezed his fork too tightly or grabbed the edge of the counter and held onto it too firmly. But, all of that had changed when he'd waddled into his dad's office because he was lonely and wanted to play with his dolls, and his dad, who had been drinking and stressed and ruffled because he'd recently found out about his mom's affair, had slapped him across the cheek and screamed at him. The sound of him falling to the floor and crying out had alerted Cooper, who had burst into the room and run over to him. His eyes had widened at Blaine's hands, which were already sliced open as he mindlessly tore them apart, and he'd picked him up and rushed him into the bathroom. Blaine hadn't known what was happening, just that his brother looked panicked and worried as he peeled Blaine's numb fingers off his palms.
"Blaine! Stop it! What's the matter? Let go of your hands." Blaine had finally lowered his eyes to his hands and blinked at the red marks that were permanently engraved into his hands, and even though he still didn't understand why they were bleeding and why his brother was trying so desperately to uncurl his fingers, he'd burst into tears. He'd cried for a long time in his brother's arms, feeling so ashamed and embarrassed of himself for reasons he hadn't comprehended. Soon after that, he'd tried to make his brother proud by not pushing his nails into his palms, even when he was terribly sad, but that had only lasted a few weeks before he'd finally broken again as his dad screamed and hit him. He hated to be hated. As his dad stopped drinking because his job was being threatened if he didn't sober up and pay more attention to his paperwork and less on his misbehaving son who he had to punish for everything, the slapping and kicking slowly went away until it wasn't quite as often. But now that Blaine was disobeying him again, his worst temper was coming out and he was hurting Blaine. Blaine wanted to stop clawing.
Squirming this way and that so he could escape most of the light—he didn't want to be seen, not even by himself, he flipped over onto his side and gasped at the sight of Kurt, who was curled up on his pillow and sleeping peacefully, as if there wasn't a freak lying next to him. Blaine stopped breathing as he stared at Kurt, the only boy who had ever not scorned him and turned his nose away. He wondered why, when everyone else, including himself, didn't think he was very special. Letting his breath out, he reached up to his face and patted his cheeks, moving his hands all the way down his body, searching for anything that might stand out as not completely plain. But there was nothing very attractive about him, not his dark skin, not the light dusting of freckles under his eyes, not his thin lips, and definitely not his mess of curls. He tried to search everything he'd ever said, anything he could have blurted that somehow kept Kurt at his side, but he couldn't imagine that Kurt really liked to hear his awkward mumbling.
He sucked in a breath again, holding it until he felt his cheeks become hot, then he blew out in one heave. Scooting a little closer to Kurt, Blaine looked over his rosy cheeks, a shock of color in his pale face, except for those damp, pink lips that were so pouty and full. Kurt was so beautiful, and Blaine thought that he could have anyone he wanted. He didn't understand why it was him. Reaching out for Kurt's little face, he touched his pointy chin, and Kurt's lips parted at the brush of scratchy fingertips across his sensitive skin. He murmured quietly, tightening the little ball he had curled into. "Kurt?" Blaine whispered, his voice so low that he couldn't hear himself. He didn't know what he wanted from Kurt, if he wanted him to wake up and give him some company to break the constant silence that Blaine had gotten too used to. He didn't know if he wanted his hugs and kisses, if he wanted to feel his warmth on his cold skin, but he didn't have long to think through why he was disturbing Kurt's deep slumber because he suddenly saw two blue sapphires gleaming up at him. His mouth fell open because a feeling of guilt overwhelmed him, and he turned away from Kurt, "I-I'm sorry—"
He heard Kurt wiggling around on his pillow, the blankets crinkling and shifting with every twitch of his legs and arms. A round cheek pressed to Blaine's shoulder, much to his shock as he looked down at Kurt, whose eyes were halfway covered by pale lids. He had a sleepy look on his face, his nose slightly wrinkled at the tip and the corners of his mouth turned down. "Blaine?" He peeped, his voice like a soft bell that Blaine was so relieved to hear, even though he still felt terrible for bothering Kurt. "What's the matter?" He slid a tiny hand to Blaine's stomach, feeling his way over to one of Blaine's hands, which was hidden under the thick blanket. "Are your hands okay?"
Blaine said nothing to that, letting Kurt feel his bandages, which were still pressed tightly to his skin. After he was sure that he didn't need to replace them, he put Blaine's hand on his chest but left his fingers on his shoulder. Blaine could tell that Kurt was looking at him, waiting for him to reveal something to him, an expression of pain to show that his hands were burning, or one of sadness that his parents had left him behind again, but Blaine kept his mouth from quivering and his lashes from lowering. His eyes were as cold as his heart. "Blaine?" That high pitched bell rang again, a tiny noise that Blaine tried not to turn his eyes to. He didn't want to see Kurt. The blankets rustled again, and he felt the soft sheets draw up to his neck, a caring gesture that made Blaine finally flick his eyes down to Kurt. His wide eyes and ruffled brows were enough for Blaine to realize that Kurt was concerned that something had gone wrong, but not at all angry that he'd been startled awake.
Once he finished tucking the soft blankets around Blaine, Kurt squirmed even closer to him, until there wasn't a gap between them. His heat seeped into Blaine's cold skin, making him shudder and sigh as he helplessly burrowed closer to Kurt. The two of them wrapped around each other, their arms and legs twisting and tangling, and the next time Blaine looked up, he was completely intertwined with Kurt. He didn't want to let him go, not for a moment. "You feel so cold." Kurt murmured, pressing his palm to the back of Blaine's head and scratching his scalp with those smooth, oval nails. Blaine was unaware that he'd even made a noise, but Kurt's lips rubbed against his ear as he hushed him, "Shh… it's okay. Why are you so upset, dear Blaine?"
"I didn't m-mean to wake you up." Blaine whined, his voice thick as he babbled around the lump that had swelled in his throat. "Are you mad at me? Please don't m-make me go back. They don't l-like me." He flung his hand up to his throat, trying to keep a hiccup from bursting out of his mouth. Some part of him knew that he was talking nonsense, that Kurt would never force him back to a place that wasn't good for him, but he was so frantic that he blurted whatever worries came to his mind.
Barely able to make out Kurt's gasp over his frantic sucking and blowing, Blaine felt Kurt's arms fall around his shoulders. He squeezed him to his chest, pressing a kiss to his jaw, "Blaine… Blaine… shh. You'll be sick. Come now, take a deep breath." Rubbing Blaine's back with gentle fingers, Kurt pleaded with him, "Oh, dear. You don't have to go back, I promise. I've got you." He decorated that weary face with pecks of his lips, all over his brows and lids and cheeks, "It's okay. See? I'm not mad with you… not at all. I could never be." He drew away from Blaine's shivering body, making him cry out and paw for him to come back, but Kurt soothed him by cupping his cheek and stroking his wet skin with his thumb, "Will you tell me how your hands feel?"
Blaine's hands tightened into fists, which made him wince as his cuts rejected the sudden pressure. He hissed lowly, but tried to grit his teeth so he could just forget about his wounds again and ignore them until they healed, but Kurt noticed every flash of emotion across his face. His eyes widened at Blaine's hands, and he touched his white knuckles, "Blaine… let me see." He begged, wrapping his little fingers around Blaine's sweaty hands. When Blaine tensed up his hands so much that all of the blood drained out of his fingers, Kurt lifted up from his pillow and said very softly, "Please."
Blaine finally loosened his stiff fingers, then he uncurled them and revealed his brown palms. Frowning at the black and red scars that had been painted across those hands, Kurt laid his hands on top of Blaine's and murmured so quietly that Blaine almost didn't hear him, "You'll be better." He curled his fingers around Blaine's palms, rubbing those sore spots as if they didn't look repulsive to him. Lifting his blue eyes to Blaine's golden eyes that had darkened to black, Kurt nuzzled closer to him and kissed Blaine's cheek, "I promise… beautiful thing."
Blaine's brows furrowed, "Beautiful thing?" He mumbled, and Kurt's warm hug was enough for him to finally understand why Kurt had chosen him.
Blaine carried a few plates back over to the table near the middle of the room, hearing Keegan walk very close to his side, his hands also full of warm platters that were weighed down by mounds of food. Seeing his husband with his children, pointing out the little chipmunks as they strolled around the room, Blaine helplessly smiled when he bent over them and gave them gentle hugs. Archer reached out for his milk and tried to stretch his neck so he could put his lips around the straw, so Kurt bent it toward him and held it up to his mouth. Getting over to the table, Blaine set the plates down and walked around to his husband's side, taking a seat next to him. After he got a quick kiss, he turned to the plates and pushed a few fruits over to the babies.
Once he was done with tearing up their waffles into little pieces, he poured syrup on them and put them between the babies. He grabbed his own omelet and took a few bites of it, watching from the edge of his plate as the babies giggled and made a smiley face with chunks of bananas and apples. Grinning at them, he shook his head and glanced over at Kurt, who was also watching them with a smile he was hiding behind his fingertips. Hunter suddenly picked up what Blaine thought might have been the nose and stuck it into his mouth, making Archer push his lip out. "Hunner!" He cried, looking back down at the ruined smiley face and crossing his pudgy arms. "He's not happy anymore."
Hunter frowned at his upset friend, and he looked around himself for something to put in its place, then he picked up a piece of waffle. Replacing the missing nose, he glanced over at Archer's puckered lip to see if he wasn't sad anymore. "I'm sorry, Arch." He said softly, wrapping his arms around Archer in his plea to fix things.
A smile finally broke out on Archer's red lips, and he nuzzled closer to Hunter, "It's okay, Hunner. He's happy again!"
Hunter perked up again, lifting his drooping head and flicking his eyes over to Blaine for his approval. Stretching his arm out, Blaine scrubbed Hunter's spiky hair, "That was nice of you, honey. You're a good baby." After he was sure that things were better again, he returned his attention to his waffles and dug his fork into them. Stuffing them into his cheeks, he gave his parents a wide, toothless grin that they gave back to him.
"Fill up your bellies." Kurt encouraged, licking up his own strawberry yogurt, "We'll have a very busy day, darlings." Both of the babies scooped up another bite of waffles, wanting to get to their fun day much quicker, but they stopped chewing when the chipmunks made their way over to their table. Holding up their arms, the babies laughed as Chip and Dale wrapped them up in their fuzzy arms and squeezed them so tightly that they looked like squished waffles. Blaine smirked as they teased and played with the chipmunks, pawing at their furry hands and grabbing at their chubby cheeks. Once the chipmunks padded away, they waved them off, opening and closing their little fists.
After they were gone from their line of sight, the babies twisted back around to Blaine and Kurt, and their arms swung up. Blaine grabbed Archer and tucked him against his chest, while Kurt cuddled Hunter, who pressed a kiss to his cheek. Once he paid, he walked out of the restaurant with his family close to his heels. Feeling Archer turn this way and that as he looked around at the sights they were passing, Blaine laid him over his shoulder, patting his back with a light hand. On his way into the queue area of Soarin', he gathered Kurt up in his free arm and brought him over to the ride entrance.
As they walked down the aisle and over to the seats, Blaine took Hunter from Kurt and set him down, then put Archer next to him. The two of them wiggled around in their seats, trying to stretch so they could poke the floor with their toes. Blaine helped Kurt sit down next to Archer, while Keegan sat down by Hunter. Lowering beside of his husband, he reached across his lap and rubbed Archer's thighs, making sure that he was okay with being lifted up high. "Honey, you're alright." He said as Archer peeked around himself when they started to swoop into the air. "Look at the pretty sights, sweetheart."
Kurt glanced over at Archer, who had a worried expression on his face, and he wrapped him in his arms and pointed at the screen, which lit up with an image of puffy clouds that they glided through. It was a rocky ride as they tried to keep their balance, but Hunter didn't have one concern as he flung his hands up and screeched. Archer squeezed Hunter's shoulder and Kurt's hand, and Hunter stopped flailing his fingers and put his hand on Archer's knee. Widening his eyes as they dove down to a river, Archer covered them with shaking hands, but Hunter gently patted him and mumbled, "It's okay, Arch. See? It's fun!" He clapped his hands at their new sight, a bunch of hot air balloons floating through the sky.
Archer tried to trust his best friend, who had never done him wrong, and he clapped his pudgy hands. Kurt bent to give him a kiss, showing him the clouds of snow that drifted through branches and twigs, "Archer, look at the pretty snow and trees! You like the snow!"
Lifting his head from Kurt's shoulder, Archer peered at the mountains that were smothered in white, and he grabbed at the screen that was too far away from him, "Can I play in that snow?" He whispered to Kurt, who giggled at him and gave him another kiss.
At the sudden rush of a waterfall, Archer's mouth fell open, and he whipped around to face his parents. "Why is that water falling down? Is it raining really hard?"
"That's a waterfall." Hunter told him, mouthing the word very slowly so his parents could correct him if he had it wrong. After a few more sights went by, they saw a shore to an ocean that looked just like the one outside their home.
Archer clapped his hands to his cheeks, his tiny feet kicking, "That's our house!" He squeaked, tapping Kurt's arm with quick fingers, "Père, Daddy, that's our house!" Blaine laughed at his excited son, watching his eyes glow. Lights reflected back into his eyes when Disneyland popped onto the screen, and even when the screen darkened, they still shined. "Tinker Bell!" He cried to her when she fluttered onto the screen, sprinkling the park with her pixie dust. "I love you, Tinker Bell!"
He squirmed so much that Kurt had to hold onto him tightly to make sure he didn't slip off the seat as they lowered back to the ground. As soon as Kurt leaned down to unstrap Archer, he burst from his seat and did a little dance. Hunter climbed from his seat next, and the two of them bounced up and down. Blaine got up from his seat and held his hand out for Kurt, reaching down with his other for one of the babies. He scooped Hunter up, leaving Archer to Keegan. The two of them batted at each other as they were carried out of the ride, and Hunter grabbed a curl that was dangling over Archer's cheek. Running his fingers through it, he laughed when Archer crossed his eyes to see what he was doing. "Pretty." He said softly, gently yanking that little curl that Archer was trying to blow out of his face. Stretching his hands out to Hunter's grinning face, Archer pulled him closer and smacked his cheek with a wet kiss.
They held onto each other all the way over to the Jungle Cruise, mumbling quiet words that only the two of them could understand. Blaine could only imagine the love they felt for each other, both of them having been raised together since they were infants. In pauses between their babbling, they rubbed against each other, squeezing each other so tightly that they looked like one baby instead of two. They stayed like that until Blaine boosted Hunter up higher as he climbed onto the boat that rocked back and forth as his feet hit the floor. Turning around and holding Kurt's hand as he stepped onto the boat, he led him over to a seat at the end of the boat. He lowered to the bench and plopped Hunter onto his lap, seeing him lean forward for Archer as Keegan brought him over. Sitting down on Blaine's other side, Keegan loosened his grip on Archer and let him scoot closer to Hunter. The two of them snuggled into each other, their wide eyes flicking all around at the trees and the water.
As they passed by a tiger that hissed and growled at them, Archer whipped away from it and burrowed under Hunter's chin. Hunter raised his hands at the tiger, then he turned to Blaine and swatted his arms, "Daddy, it's a kitty!" His eyes widened to the size of saucers when the tiger made an especially loud noise, but the guttural snarl was quickly drowned out by the trumpet of an elephant. He spun around to the other side, and his mouth fell open when his eyes came across a group of elephants, which were wading just a few feet away from them. Holding his fingers up to his mouth to make little tusks, he looked back at Blaine and said, "I'm an elephant, Daddy!" His cheeks turned red as he blew out from between his lips, trying to howl like an elephant. From somewhere nearby, a louder noise burst from another elephant, which surprised Hunter as he peered through the trees for the elephant that was talking to him. "I speak elephant! I made a friend!" He cried, and Blaine helplessly chuckled at him.
"I like the baby elephants." Archer peeped, his blue eyes gazing over Keegan's shoulder at the tiny elephants that were squirting water. "They're little… like me. Look at that one! He's taking a bath! I take baths, too!" Lifting his eyes to Blaine's face, he said lowly, "Did his daddy tell him he has to be clean like you tell me?"
"Of course." Blaine scratched under Archer's chin, making him giggle at the ticklish feeling, "Elephant daddies like to kiss clean fingers and toes just as much as human daddies do." Taking Archer's little hand in his, he pressed kisses to those freckled fingertips. Archer laughed and pressed himself into his uncle's chest, hiding his pink face. Moving his hand to Hunter's head, Blaine smoothed that brown hair, feeling him turn this way and that under his hand as new, interesting things caught his eyes.
As they drifted over to a waterfall that sprayed them with a light mist, the babies held their hands out and caught the droplets of water. One dot of water landed on the tip of Archer's nose, making him wrinkle it and shake his head. They found their way past a few giraffes and zebras that the babies smiled at, and they looked shocked by a few hippos that popped out of the water and stretched their mouths. Archer opened his mouth as wide as he could at the hippos, showing off his small, pearly teeth. Snorting at his best friend, Hunter clapped his little hands, then he laid one of them over Archer's. Those brown eyes became huge at something in the distance, and he pulled Archer closer to himself, trying to protect him from whatever had scared him, "Look, Arch! Mean fish!" He gnashed his teeth at the piranhas that flipped through the water, pulling back their lips to show off their sharp teeth. Archer went back into hiding, turning to Blaine and burying his head in his shirt. He heard a tiny squeak from Archer when a speck of water flew up from the bubbly surface and smacked his cheek, making him peek down at the sloshing water for a brief moment before he pressed himself even closer to Blaine's chest.
Wrapping his arms around his baby, Blaine patted his bottom and watched his other son, who was growling and snapping at the fish as if he was trying to frighten them away. As soon as they floated past the vicious fish, he stuck his tongue out at them and lowered his brows, "Don't scare Arch again, you mean fish!" Putting his hands on his hips, Hunter turned to his best friend and scooted closer to him. Within seconds, a pair of big, blue eyes peered out at him.
"Are they gone?" Archer peeped, poking his nose up for a quick check of the boat to make sure none of the fish had flopped onto it. After he was sure that things were safe again, he reached out for Hunter and wrapped his arms around his neck. "Thank you for saving me, Hunner." Turning his head, he pecked Hunter's thin cheek with his lips, making a crooked smile tug at Hunter's mouth.
Glancing up at Blaine after he and Archer tugged apart, Hunter flailed his little hands and said, "Come on, Daddy!" He grabbed his hand and slid off the bench after a moment of squirming, following the crowd off the boat as soon as they docked. Struggling not to step on Hunter as he weaved in and out of people with his short but quick steps, Blaine chuckled and tugged him back to his side.
"Come here, baby. Stay by my side." Finally keeping a pace that wouldn't have him out of breath in a few minutes, Blaine tightened his grip on Hunter's hand so he wouldn't lose track of him. "What are you hurrying for, honey? Tell Daddy and we can go see whatever you want."
Hunter did a little hop, almost landing on top of Blaine's shoe. "Those scary fish reminded me that we still have to see the monsters!" When Archer's face became as white as snow and he burrowed under Kurt's chin, he held up his hands and batted at Archer's little feet, which were dangling above his head. "I won't let the monsters hurt you, Arch! I promise!"
"We can see the monsters, baby." Blaine paused in his walk to bend over and scoop Hunter into his arms, resting him against his shoulder, "But let's get a snack first. I can hear Archer's belly rumbling. What do you think? Do you want some pretzels?" When Hunter bobbed his head, Blaine turned in another direction and started heading toward the pretzel stand. They found it after a few minutes, and Blaine led his family over to one of the nearby tables. He left Kurt there to look out for the babies while he and Keegan ordered the snacks and drinks. Bringing the tray of food back to the table, he handed a container of plain pretzel bits to the babies, then passed over two cups of juice. Blaine shared a few bites of an almond pretzel with Kurt, keeping an eye on the babies as they chewed up the tough pieces. Once they were done, Blaine took Hunter back into his arms and walked the rest of the way over to the ride with Mike and Sulley.
Pressing Hunter to his chest as he wriggled and struggled for freedom so he could run around, Blaine walked through the queue line and let his baby look around at all of the posters and signs. He grinned when they came up on their taxi, grabbing at the air as Blaine plopped him into the front seat. Sitting down beside of his son, Blaine checked on his husband and Archer, who had chosen to sit in the back seat with Keegan. Archer was squished to Kurt's side, a petrified look on his face from his puckered lip to his huge eyes. Reaching back for his baby, Blaine smoothed those wild curls and said, "You're my good baby. You're okay, sweetheart. Daddy's right here."
Blaine jerked away from Archer when, from beside of him, Hunter screeched and leaned so far forward that Blaine worried he'd fall out of the car. Raising his brows at his writhing son, Blaine felt the taxi shift position, then roll away from the sidewalk. A bright gleam in Hunter's eye at the thrill of going into a dangerous city that had a toxic child running through it quickly faded away when they came across Mike and Celia, who were cooing over each other. Curling his lip in disgust, Hunter turned away from that and screamed at Randall, whose silhouette appeared and disappeared as they went around the corner. "Get Randall, Sulley!" Hunter cried at Sulley, who was hiding Boo away. He pointed back at where Randall once was, but he had vanished from their line of sight. "Get him!"
Curling his hands into tight fists, Hunter made a snorting noise, but his anger was instantly replaced by a huff of laughter at Celia, who was throwing a fit that her date had been ruined. Blaine helplessly smirked at his baby, watching his mouth fall open when the CDA arrived to search out Boo and decontaminate the city. Glancing down at his own arms and legs, Hunter poked his skin and gasped, "Are children bad?"
Laughing at his baby, Blaine bent down to kiss him, "They're absolutely terrible, Hunter. You're the worst of them!" As if pleased that his troublesomeness had gotten him a bad reputation, Hunter bounced and patted his hands together. Blaine shook his head at his naughty baby, wrapping his arm around him and pulling him close. "You're a silly baby, but Daddy loves you, anyway."
Stretching his arm out, Hunter waved his hand at Boo's door, which Randall was trying to keep to himself, "No, Randall! That's for Boo! Daddy, Randall's daddy will be disappointed with him, won't he?"
When they drove around the corner and found Boo hitting Randall with a bat, Hunter started laughing like a madman. "Bad Randall!" He cheered, clapping his hands for Boo, but he became very quiet again when Mike tried to put Boo through her door. "But, Daddy, Boo likes being with Kitty. Can she stay with him?"
"Boo will visit Kitty sometimes." Blaine assured him, pushing a fallen hair off his forehead, "But Boo's parents would miss her if she left them." He nodded as if he understood, thinking of his own loving parents, then he looked up at Roz, who was spitting out her usual insults. He burst into laughter again, his former worries soon forgotten.
They came back around to the sidewalk, and Blaine lifted Hunter against his chest. Waiting for Keegan to boost Kurt up, Blaine grabbed his husband's waist and looked over Archer, who was still pretending to be invisible. "My sweetheart… these were nice monsters." He tried to convince Archer, but he shook his head, his curls swinging from side to side. Clearing his throat a few times, Blaine looked up at Kurt, who was bouncing Archer in his attempt to comfort him. "Maybe… it'd be best for Archer to not go into the Haunted Mansion."
Kurt followed Blaine's gaze to their shivering son, and he murmured, "Archer, would you like to stay outside with me? We could get some milk."
A pair of damp eyes appeared over Kurt's shoulder, "Will the bad monsters eat Daddy, Uncle Keegan, and Hunner?"
Blaine made a low sound, quickly reaching out for Archer and stroking his messy curls off his face, "Oh, baby… no, no. Daddy would fight off the monsters… I would never, ever let anything eat your uncle." Giving him a small smile, Blaine teased with him, "Maybe Hunter… but never your uncle." At Archer's solemn face, he realized that Archer wasn't in a joking mood. "Listen to me, baby… Hunter's so crazy, isn't he? Who would ever want to see a bunch of mean ghosts? But Daddy will keep him and your uncle safe. If we don't come out in five minutes, you can come in and rescue us. You're my strong boy, aren't you?" Wiping the wet spots under Archer's glowing eyes, Blaine smiled when he nodded his head just once, "You would rescue Daddy. But we'll be out in five minutes… and then we'll see a fun show." Archer didn't respond to that, his red lip still puckered and his eyes still moist, so Blaine spread his arms, "Will you be a good baby and give Daddy a hug? I'll miss my Archer for those few minutes I'm away."
Nuzzling into Blaine's chest, Archer closed his eyes and sucked in that little lip. He sprinkled kisses all over Archer's locks, then lifted his head after a moment and caught his husband's eye. Kurt tilted his head at him, an unreadable expression on his face, and then a gentle smile broke out on his lips. He leaned closer to him and dotted his lips with a kiss, whispering against them, "You're a wonderful daddy." Glimpsing away from him, he took Hunter's hands in his and squeaked, "Go on, you ghost hunter! When you meet a ghost, tell him that there's a little boy who's very nervous to meet him and would like him to be nice, okay?"
"Yay! Ghost hunter!" Raising his hands and flailing them like a madman, he screamed, "Let's go, Daddy! The darker it is, the spookier it is!" He laughed at his excited son, walking along beside of Keegan, who was grabbing Hunter's kicking foot. Looking back one last time at Kurt, who was bouncing Archer again and murmuring sweet words to him, he met both pairs of those blue eyes that were so beautiful to him. He gave his baby one last encouraging grin before he turned away and concentrated on keeping his grip on Hunter, who slid out of his arms a little more with every squirm and wiggle.
After a few minutes, they came across the towering Haunted Mansion that was lit up against the dark sky. Hunter chirped at the frightening building as if the cobwebs hanging over the windows and the dusty curtains didn't startle him at all. Blaine was proud of him for being so brave, and he told him so by giving him a kiss. They were ushered into a small room with paintings speckled across the walls, and he felt Hunter shudder, but besides that brief moment of panic, he didn't look the least bit frightened, even when the walls started stretching and the booming voice warned them of all of the ghosts that would be lurking.
Kicking his feet as if he wanted to run around, Hunter looked around himself while they walked down the queue line, which took them by paintings of men and women who watched them, and underneath chandeliers that were caked in dust and webs. Lightning flashed from somewhere above them, and Hunter looked up at the ceiling, but there still wasn't an emotion on his face. As soon as they got around to their buggy, Blaine and Keegan climbed in on either side, and he set Hunter between them. Squirming around and bumping into Blaine's thighs, Hunter rested his hands on Blaine's chest, the first sign he'd given that he might get scared and need to cling to Blaine.
They rocked out of the queue area and drifted down a long hallway that seemed to go on for miles. Passing by another hallway where candles danced, Blaine felt Hunter twist around, trying to see all that he could. He started to squeeze him as they floated by a crystal ball that had a talking head in it, but he let go as soon as she was gone. Realizing that Hunter secretly was nervous but didn't want to reveal it, Blaine wrapped his arm around him and tugged him close, feeling him relax against his chest. When Hunter looked up at him to see if he'd noticed that he was anxious, Blaine gave him a small smile and ran his fingers through his hair, "Daddies get scared, too. I need you to protect me."
Hunter delighted in that, firming up his lip and putting on his bravest face. Turning back to the ghosts with a new confidence, he pointed at the dining room that was in full swing below them. "Daddy, look. Père would think that's pretty, wouldn't he?"
Looking down at the dancers in their beautiful gowns and tuxedos, Blaine rubbed his finger over Hunter's cheek, thinking he was more beautiful than all of that. "You think so, baby? I think your père would like that dress the most." He gestured to one of the dancers who was adorned in a gown with plenty of bows on it, but Hunter shook his head and made a face.
"No, that dress." He argued, flinging his hand at a different dress that had frilly sleeves.
Smirking at his baby who he knew loved to bicker, he bent down and smacked his cheek with a wet kiss that he quickly scrubbed off, "But we both know your père would look beautiful in all of those dresses." Hunter had nothing to fight about that time, so he slumped in his seat and crossed his arms over his chest, pouting that there would be no bantering. "Silly baby… you're my naughty boy, aren't you?"
Even Keegan laughed at that, which made Blaine chuckle and press his face into Hunter's hair, giving him lots of kisses that he spat and hissed at. "Daddy loves his naughty baby." Pulling his baby onto his lap, Blaine pointed out the ghosts that were flying up the walls. "Hunt, look at the ghosts."
Following the ghosts with his eyes, Hunter obviously got dizzy as he tried to keep track of them because he turned his head into Blaine's shirt, "Where are they going, Daddy?" He looked up at the ceiling, where the ghosts were headed, but frowned when he couldn't see them anymore. Jumping at the sudden monsters popping up from the ground, he pushed himself against Blaine's chest, so Blaine hushed him and patted him a few times.
"Daddy's got you." He promised him, feeling his body tense up as unexpected ghouls all came together into one mob. Pushing himself against Blaine, Hunter screeched because he wanted to see everything that was happening around him but couldn't. He tugged Hunter against his chest, hiding his face in his shirt. "Shh… Hunter. It's almost over." He was relieved when they rolled by a few ghosts that were saying goodbye, and he rubbed Hunter's back to assure him that it was okay to look.
Peering up at the mirrors that showed them with ghosts sitting on top of their buggy and in between them, Hunter started laughing so much that Blaine worried he'd pass out because of his lack of breath. "Daddy, there's a ghost poking you!" He snorted, then he screamed with giddiness when Blaine held him up higher, making him get poked by the ghost. "Hi, ghost! Arch would like you because you're funny!"
Chuckling at his baby, Blaine lifted him up when they came back around to the boarding area, and he stood up and stretched his legs. "Let's go find your père and Archer, ghost hunter. Did you have fun, baby?"
Hunter was still laughing, so he couldn't say much of anything. Kissing his baby again, Blaine walked out of the mansion and down the pathway, seeing his husband and other baby sitting not too far away. Archer was playing with a butterfly that was fluttering past, but he waved goodbye to him when Kurt stood up. He and his husband gave each other fond grins, handing their babies over to each other so they could tell about how things went. Archer was so glad that Blaine had returned to him that he didn't say a word but draped himself over Blaine's chest, holding onto him so tightly that Blaine lost his breath. "I'm happy to see you, too." He murmured to his baby, squeezing him with gentle arms. "Daddy missed you so much."
Babbling on and on to Kurt about all the spooks and terrors in the Haunted Mansion, Hunter heaved with laughter once more as he thought back to the ghost who had been poking Blaine. Kurt, who was known for chattering himself, was somehow able to keep up with Hunter, and he giggled just as much. "Are you ready to see Fantasmic, darling? It will start very soon. And when that's over, we'll go back to the hotel and sleep the night away so we can be ready for our last day at Disneyland tomorrow!"
Hunter gasped at that, and his feet started kicking again. "Fantasmic! Fantasmic! Arch, we're going to see Fantasmic!"
Even though Archer didn't know what that show was about, he cried, "Yay!" The two babies held each other's hands on the way over to the show, and they watched with shining eyes as the water started squirting up. Mickey stepped up onto the rock that sprung up from the water, and fireworks shot out all around him, sparks spurting this way and that. Their little mouths fell open as they watched with fascination, the lights reflecting onto their cheeks.
When the Evil Queen burst from smoke and flames from not too far away, both of them quietly shrieked and hid their faces behind their hands, but peeked out from between their fingers. The water shot up from behind her, a giant wave that Mickey tried to keep down so they weren't flooded. "Get her, Mickey!" Hunter screeched, his eyes narrowing at the Queen, who wasn't ready to give up.
Blaine knew that by the time the show was over the babies chins would be bobbing, so when the water finally hit the ground for the last time and the fireworks sparkled out, he stepped away from the crowd and led his family back to the hotel. It was later than the babies had ever stayed up, almost ten, so they didn't have much to say about how amazing the show was before they were snoozing on their parents' shoulders. He felt Archer slobbering on his neck, the constant and slow breaths from his button nose blowing on his wet skin. Blaine held his baby so close to him.
By the time they got back to the hotel, their feet were aching and they were all ready to drop to their beds. When they pushed through the door, Blaine sat down on the bed and kicked off his shoes, then laid Archer beside of Hunter. He stripped them of their clothes and replaced those with their fuzzy pajamas, these ones matching with the Dalmatians on them, but Archer's pink and Hunter's blue. Before he climbed into bed, he put in one of their movies and thought it was Sleeping Beauty, figuring that if one of them woke up and got upset they could watch that until they were lulled back to sleep.
Laying down with his husband, who had dressed in a thin, pink nightgown, he wrapped his arms around him and looked at their children. "They're so beautiful, aren't they?" Blaine drew the blankets tighter over Archer when his little foot twitched.
"Very sweet." Kurt agreed in the softest whisper, his voice like silk to Blaine's ears. "Blaine?" When Blaine pressed his lips to the side of his neck, he giggled, a high pitched noise that he tried to keep quiet by burrowing into Blaine's chest. "I love you so much."
"I love you, too." Blaine muttered, pulling Kurt's face around to his and kissing him very gently. "I love you, too, beautiful thing."