Author's note: If you recall, the epilogue in Westerville Abbey takes place on Armistice Day on 11th November, 1920. This chapter takes place in the same month.

November 1920
Blaine

Tom Healy bursts into the kitchen. "Blaine, there's an urgent telephone call for you. Better make it snappy - we've got 90 covers and two tables of VIPs in the front of the house."

Blaine wipes his hands on his towel and rushes to the office. "Blaine Anderson speaking."

"Blaine, it's LeRoy. Rachel is in labor and is on the way to Mount Sinai Hospital. Finn is a bundle of nerves, and your uncle isn't faring much better. They're worried that Rachel might die in childbirth, like her mother. Could you and Kurt come to the hospital, right away?"

"We'll leave immediately," Blaine confirms.

When he returns to the kitchen, he explains the situation to Tom Healy, who is hesitant to release them from the shift. "Why do they need both of you?"

"Rachel is my cousin, and her husband is Kurt's brother. We're their family," Blaine patiently explains, although he's furious that Tom is being so reluctant.

Beiste approaches Blaine and pats him on the shoulder. "Don't worry about the kitchen, pumpkin. We have everything under control." She looks at Tom and narrows her eyes. "I'm sure some arrangement can be made for another waiter to take over Kurt's shift."

Tom purses his lips. "Well, I suppose I could take over Kurt's shift until a relief waiter arrives, but just this once."

Blaine and Kurt quickly change into their street clothes, leave the tavern, and hail a taxicab.

"Is there any reason to believe that your cousin will die during childbirth?" Kurt asks, his voice full of concern.

"I don't think so. It was only yesterday that she saw the doctor, and he reported that everything is fine. Uncle Hiram is just worried because he lost his wife when Rachel was born."

Blaine screws his eyes shut, trying not to imagine the worst case scenario.

Kurt leans towards him and whispers, "I know you, and you're worried about your cousin. She is having the baby in the hospital with all the best doctors and medicine available. Besides, she wouldn't dare die until she's had the chance to become a Broadway star."

Blaine's body relaxes as he hears Kurt's comforting words. He wishes desperately that he could hold Kurt's hand and have the physical connection he craves, but they're in the back of a taxicab.

In no time at all, they arrive at the hospital, and the receptionist gives them directions to the maternity ward. They know they are in the right place when they see Uncle Hiram, LeRoy, and Finn pacing the corridor.

"Any news?" Kurt asks.

LeRoy shakes his head. "We might be here for a while."

"When did she start labor?"

Uncle Hiram explains, "This morning, Rachel insisted that she had to work at the election polling station to make sure that women understood how to complete the voting ballot for the next president. We warned her it would be too much."

Finn adds, "You know Rachel - once she's made up her mind, there is no stopping her."

"She was so excited about being able to vote for the first time," LeRoy counters.

Uncle Hiram continues, "Her water broke in the polling booth. An ambulance was called and took her to the hospital. The midwife telephoned us to let us know what was happening.

I love a piano
I love to hear somebody play
on a piano, a grand piano
It simply carries me away

"Is that Rachel singing?" Kurt asks.

Finn grins from ear to ear. "Rachel told me that she wants the first noise that the baby hears to be her sweet voice. It must mean the delivery is finally happening."

Blaine chuckles because only Cousin Rachel would make the delivery of her baby an excuse for a vocal performance.

"Where's the twilight gas? I need it NOW! I want a doctor! This hurts!"

Each man turns pale as they hear Rachel screaming at the midwife, and a doctor rushes along the corridor to assist with the baby's delivery. Blaine offers to go to the cafeteria for much-needed coffee, while Kurt paces with Finn and tries to calm the man down.

An hour later, they hear a quiet, clear voice sing.

My baby's eyes are blue, as blue as summer skies,
My baby's hair is golden hued, the kind I idolize.
And when my baby's near, I'm happy all the while,
For there is nothing in this world,
Just like my baby's smile

A doctor wearing a protective gown, cap, and gloves, followed by the midwife, exits the labor room. "Mr Hudson, congratulations. You have a baby girl. Both the mother and baby are healthy and fine."

Blaine gives Finn a slap on the back, and they all hug in celebration.

"Can we see them?" Uncle Hiram asks.

The doctor nods. "Please make your visit quick - Rachel needs time to recuperate. We'll keep her on the ward for at least a week so that she is well-rested before she returns home."

They cautiously enter the private room to find Rachel singing a lullaby to the baby. Her face lights up when she sees them.

Finn walks to her bedside and gives her a kiss. "How are you feeling?"

"Tired, but good. Why don't you hold her?"

Rachel passes the baby to Finn, who cradles her carefully.

"Do you have a name for the baby?" Blaine asks.

"Carole Pamela. Carole after Finn's mother and Pamela after yours."

Blaine is touched that Finn and Cousin Rachel have included his mother in the naming of their baby. After each man has had a chance to hold the baby, they leave the hospital to allow Rachel time to recuperate. Uncle Hiram passes out Cuban cigars, but they are all too tired to smoke them. Instead, the men return to their respective houses to get some well-deserved sleep.

Two weeks later

Kurt and Blaine arrive at the Berry townhouse early on a Sunday morning, excited to see Finn and Rachel's baby once again. When they ring the bell, Finn answers the door.

"Come on in, guys. Rachel is feeding Carole upstairs. Once she's finished, she'll join us downstairs."

They enter the parlor, where Uncle Hiram and LeRoy are reading the New York Times, and it isn't much of a wait until Rachel, Carole and the nursemaid arrive. When Rachel sits down next to Blaine on the sofa, he leans over to get a closer look at the wee baby. Blaine wasn't in Westerville when his nephews and niece were born, and he has never seen a newborn before. He touches Carole with his index finger and marvels when she grabs it and holds it tightly.

"Would you like to hold her?" Rachel asks.

"Could I?" Blaine replies with a hopeful but tentative look. He really wants to hold the little bundle of joy. However, he's never held someone that small, and he's nervous.

Rachel gently places the baby into the crook of Blaine's arm. "You need to support the back of her neck at all times."

Blaine looks down at the baby in his arms, and the love that he feels for her is overwhelming. She closes her eyes, and he gently rocks her in his arms and hums Brahms' Lullaby. When Blaine finally tears his eyes away from Carole, he looks up to see an expression on Kurt's face that he can't quite interpret.

Finn coughs to get Blaine's attention. "Rachel explained to me that you and Carole are first cousins once removed. But since Kurt is my brother, I'd like Carole to know you as Uncle Blaine and Uncle Kurt. Is that all right with you?"

"That sounds pretty perfect to me. What do you think, Kurt?" Blaine replies.

Kurt nods in agreement.

Finn continues, "When Carole is older, it might be confusing if you call Rachel by the formal 'Cousin Rachel' all the time, especially if you are going to be her uncle. Perhaps you can drop the cousin bit?"

"Sure, I can do that. I think of Rachel like a sister anyway."

Rachel's face lights up. "And I think of you like a brother."

The conversation turns to the recent elections and the great turnout of women for their first opportunity to vote, while each man takes a turn to hold Carole. Kurt is unusually quiet throughout the visit, and Blaine wonders what is going on in his head. He makes a mental note to ask him about it later.

When it's time for the baby's nap, Blaine stands up. "Kurt and I need to leave for Healy's Tavern. We're working today."

"Will we see you at Granny's house for Thanksgiving?" Rachel asks.

Blaine shakes his head. "No, Kurt and I will be working on Thanksgiving Day. The tavern will be chock-a-block with people who don't want to make a turkey dinner."

Blaine kisses Rachel's and Carole's foreheads before they leave. He plans on being the very best uncle to Carole, and most importantly, the very best brother to Rachel.

Later in the evening, Kurt and Blaine arrive at their home on MacDougal Alley. Kurt sits down in the entrance way to take off his winter boots. "My feet are killing me. The tables turned over three times tonight. With all the trips from the front of the house to the kitchen and back again, I feel as if I've run a marathon. I could do with a cup of tea."

"If you make the tea, I'll go run you a bath so you can have a good soak," Blaine offers.

Blaine is tired, himself, from the hard work in the kitchen. While Kurt was rushing to serve the meals, Blaine was rushing around the various kitchen workstations. He gathers their night clothes from the bedroom and runs the bath, adding a few drops of lavender oil. He makes sure that the bar of Yardley lavender soap is on hand. It's not as nice as Kurt's aunt's soap, but it's readily available in the nearby drug store.

"Are you going to join me in the tub?"

Blaine turns around to see Kurt holding two cups of tea on a tray. He had been hoping that Kurt would make this offer. "I'd love to."

Once Kurt has set down the tray, Blaine undoes the buttons of Kurt's shirt and pulls it off his shoulders so that it drops to the floor. He then undoes the belt buckle and trouser buttons, pulling them down so that Kurt can step out of them. As much as Blaine would like to pepper kisses all over his body and taste him, he knows that Kurt is tired.

When Kurt climbs into the tub, Blaine quickly shucks off his clothes to join him. Kurt opens his arms and Blaine positions himself so that his back is against Kurt's chest. When Kurt's arms close around him, a warm feeling flutters inside Blaine - he's exactly where he belongs.

"I saw Jakub working on the line tonight. I thought he only washed the dishes," Kurt comments.

"We were a line chef short, and the orders were piling up in the kitchen. Tom wasn't helping matters by yelling at everyone about the long queue of customers waiting for tables to free up. Jakub saw that we were running low on the vegetable sides and immediately joined the line. He picked up a chef's knife, and began to chop vegetables and boil them. The Pole might not speak much English, but he's smart and observant. He caught on quickly and really helped out."

"It's a pity that Jakub can't work his way up from a dishwasher to a cook."

Blaine lets out a deep sigh. "There is no way that the Healy brothers will agree to on-the-job training. They are more about making a quick buck than actually caring for their employees. If I ran the tavern, I would do things completely differently."

"Then why don't you?" Kurt asks.

"I can't overthrow the tavern's owners and do things my way. I'd be fired on the spot."

"That's not what I mean. You don't like how the Healy brothers manage the tavern. Why don't you quit and find another restaurant where you have more say over how things are run? Your food is what brings in the customers. I'm sure any restaurant in New York City would hire you on the spot."

"But what about you, Kurt? Half the fun of working at Healy's Tavern is having you there, too. Or is this your way of telling me that you are planning to get another sort of job?"

Kurt squeezes Blaine tighter. "Let's finish washing in the bath and discuss this in bed."

Blaine lathers a washcloth with lavender soap and cleans Kurt's body. He's worried about what direction this conversation will go. Ever since Kurt has moved into the townhouse, Blaine has avoided deep and meaningful talks about their future, afraid of what he might hear. But now that Kurt wants to discuss jobs with him, he's filled with dread. He likes working and living with Kurt. He really doesn't want anything to upset the apple cart.

Kurt cleans Blaine quickly but thoroughly, and they are soon out of the bath and in their pajamas. Once they've brushed their teeth, they slip into bed and leave a table lamp on, which casts a light glow in the room. They lie facing each other with knees bumping and holding hands between them.

Although Blaine dreads the discussion, he decides to start it. "Do you have plans for another sort of job that I don't know about?"

Kurt smiles. "No, but I could be a waiter at any restaurant where you work."

Blaine rubs his thumb over Kurt's hand. "I know you don't want to be a waiter forever, and I don't want to hold you back. If I left Healy's Tavern, it would be the ideal time for you to pursue something new."

Kurt pulls their clasped hands toward his heart. "Blaine, you're not holding me back. Ever since I moved in with you last month, I've been incredibly happy. You make me feel so connected and so safe and loved. I enjoy working with you, too. I like that our skills complement each other's and we effortlessly work as a team. No, where you go, I go."

Blaine uses his free hand to stroke Kurt's cheek. "I don't want you to feel like you're settling for something just because of me."

"Blaine, I've thought a lot about this. I'm very good at my job - after all, it was my father who trained me to his 'exacting standards'. I know how to deliver good service to customers. Sure, I don't want to be a waiter all my life, but I could see myself working my way up to become a maître d' or even managing a restaurant."

Blaine looks carefully at Kurt's face for any signs of disappointment or even regret, and he sees none. He concludes that Kurt really does want to continue to work in a restaurant with him, wherever that might be. "You can do anything you set your mind to."

"You know, when I was working at Le Fay Club, I enjoyed performing, and people seemed to enjoy listening to me. Maybe once the Yanks finally get rid of Prohibition, we could work at a restaurant that also has live music."

"Do you think the Yanks will ever get rid of Prohibition?"

Kurt smirks. "Of course they will. It's not really working - people are still drinking, and it's only lining the pockets of the bootleggers. Besides, the government will eventually miss the tax revenues on the booze."

Kurt yawns and then pulls Blaine into his arms. It might be cold outside on a November night, but Blaine is cocooned in the warmth of Kurt's love.

The following morning, Blaine wakes up early and takes a few minutes to gaze at Kurt. His hair is tousled this way and that, and he looks like an angel peacefully sleeping. He counts himself lucky that he found Kurt when he was so young. Kurt is his best friend, his lover, his coworker…. His everything.

Blaine is delighted about how the talk went last night. To know that Kurt is incredibly happy with him and their lives together has eased his mind considerably. He wants to give Kurt every chance to make his new dreams - their new dreams - come true. He's been mulling an idea in his mind for the past month or so, and Kurt's words only reaffirmed that it's a good one. Blaine gives himself a deadline of Christmas to make it happen. What a glorious gift to give Kurt on Christmas Day.

Blaine slips out of bed and puts on his dressing gown and slippers. He goes downstairs and retrieves the newspaper, which was delivered earlier that morning, from the front stoop. The top story is about the burials of unknown soldiers that took place simultaneously in Westminster Abbey in London, and at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. A shiver runs through Blaine's body, knowing how close he was to being one of the unknown soldiers. It's a miracle that he survived the trenches, the POW camps, and the long journey back to England on foot.

He fills the kettle with fresh water and lights the gas hob under it. While waiting for the water to boil, he makes toast, slices a grapefruit, and prepares a breakfast tray with butter and the orange marmalade that Kurt loves. Mrs Sylvester has given him her secret recipe for the marmalade, and Blaine makes it especially for Kurt. He plucks a few daisies from the vase on the kitchen table, cuts down the stems, and places them in a smaller vase on the tray. Once the water has boiled, Blaine pours it into the teapot, and the breakfast tray is ready.

Blaine carefully carries the tray upstairs. When he slowly pushes the bedroom door open with his hip, Kurt is stretching in bed. Blaine knows that Kurt's war injuries leave him stiff in the morning, especially if it's cold or if he's been busy at work the previous day.

"Good morning, my love," Blaine greets Kurt. He sets the tray down on the night table and gives Kurt a kiss. "Are your legs feeling stiff? Would you like me to give you a massage?"

Kurt slowly sits up, and Blaine plumps the pillows behind him. "You don't have to spoil me with the newspaper and breakfast in bed every day."

"But I want to," Blaine replies and gives him a lingering kiss.

Once Blaine has poured two cups of tea and has handed one to Kurt, he slips back into bed. "Even though we were tired, I'm so glad that we had that talk last night."

Kurt spreads butter and marmalade on toast and passes it to Blaine. "Me, too. I've been wanting to bring it up for a while, but it never seemed like the right time. I'm really happy. Nobody understands me better than you. I like that we are both from the West Country and have known each other for years. During the Great War, we were separated for so long. There is nothing I enjoy more than spending time with you, whether it's at work, going out, or at home."

"Especially in the bedroom," Blaine purrs.

"Especially here, yes, whether it's eating breakfast in bed or doing other things. Take this morning - not only do I get breakfast in bed, but you included a little vase with my favorite flowers. I feel truly loved."

Blaine feels a warmth all over his body. "Because you are. You don't have any regrets about not pursuing fashion?"

Kurt shakes his head. "I have this wonderful space upstairs and enough money to make us fabulous outfits. I'm quite content to keep it as a hobby."

Kurt tops up their cups of tea. "Can I ask you something?"

"Anything. You know that, Kurt."

"Why did you volunteer us to work at the tavern on Thanksgiving Day? I don't mind, particularly as we'll be paid double time, but you were very quick to tell the Healys that we would do it."

Blaine sets down his teacup and pinches the bridge of his nose. "I didn't want to go to Granny's for a Thanksgiving meal."

"Is that because of me?" Kurt asks.

Blaine lowers his head. "Sort of. If Granny can't be civil to you, then I don't want to be around her. You are the most important person in my life. I think of you as my family, too. We have to hide our true feelings around so many people, I don't want to spend our free time having to worry about what my granny thinks of us and our relationship. Does that make any sense?"

Kurt takes a sip of tea and nods. "Yes, it does. I don't know what I would do if my father wasn't supportive of us. I would definitely have to rethink about how I interact with him."

They are silent as they tuck into the grapefruit. Blaine sneaks glances at Kurt, who looks lost in thought. Blaine says, "There's something else. I know you and I can see it in your eyes. You've had something on your mind ever since we visited our family yesterday morning."

"You know, I don't want to hold you back either… and have you settle for something just because of me."

Blaine can't understand where Kurt is coming from. "But you're not! You're everything to me. What have I done for you to doubt it?"

"It's not something you have done per se, but when I see you with Carole or your nephews, I realize what a good father you would be. You're a real natural with children and babies. And, well… Sometimes I think that I'm taking that away from you. The experience of being a father, that is."

"I can't lie - I do love children. In an ideal world, we could raise children together, but that's not possible. I want children to be part of my life, but I don't want my own." Blaine takes Kurt's hand and places it on his chest near his heart. "You are the love of my life. You are the one I want to live with until death do us part. Now that I'm free to live my life as I choose, I choose you."

"I don't want you to wake up one day and think that you made the wrong choice."

"Never! We now both have nephews and nieces and they can be part of our lives. We'll be the best uncles for them."

"The absolute best uncles ever," Kurt confirms.

Kurt sets the breakfast tray on the night table, then pulls Blaine into his arms. Kurt presses his lips against Blaine's, and the kiss takes Blaine's breath away. He feels all the love that Kurt puts into it, and he wants more… needs more. He leans into Kurt so that they both lying down, pulls up the covers, and is soon lost in everything Kurt.

Author's notes

Songs Rachel sings in labor are

"I Love a Piano" by Irving Berlin. The original version was performed by Bill Murray in 1916, but you may know Judy Garland's cover in the in the 1948 film Easter Parade.

"When My Baby Smiles at Me" performed by Ted Lewis Jazz Band (1920)

Trivia: In the 1920s, there was a shift from home to hospital births in the USA, especially for the wealthy. "Twilight sleep" - a combination of morphine and scopolamine - was popular as a pain relief. It also erased the memory of the birth altogether. It was widely used for about 20 years.

Many thanks to my fantastic betas - Fearlessly, Lilyvandersteen, Dblmalfunction. I made the last-minute edits and performed the final proofreading by myself, so all mistakes are mine.

I'm HKVoyage on Tumblr.

Next up: Kurt and Blaine celebrate their first New York City Christmas together.