"Oh, honey, you look so handsome," Elizabeth gasps, hand clutched over her chest as she stands in the doorway.

Kurt turns from the mirror to look back at her, a wide smile spreading across his face. "Thanks, mom."

She makes her way into the room, walks to Kurt and places a hand on each of his arms, and he feels the warmth of her skin through the fabric of his suit. "You look so grown up," she says, voice full of love and a little wistful, as she takes a moment to give her son a thorough look-over.

"I am grown up," he says with a laugh, the smile still lighting up his face. And of course it is; your wedding day is supposed to be the happiest day of your life, right?

"That you are, sweetheart," she says, meeting his eyes for a moment before pulling him into a hug. "That you are."

Kurt returns the hug, wraps his arms around her tightly, feels her arms squeezing around him in return. There's nothing quite like a mother's hug.

"You're going to make Blaine a very lucky man," she says as they pull apart.

Kurt grabs the tie hanging over a nearby chair, then turns back to the mirror to tie it around his neck. "I think I'm the lucky one, actually," he says, and it's true; he is so lucky. Today he gets to marry the love of his life, surrounded by all their family and friends. He really could have never asked for more.

"You're both lucky," she says. Kurt watches her in the mirror as she moves to take a seat behind him. "Most people aren't fortunate enough to find a love like yours so early in their lives."

"Maybe it runs in the family," Kurt says with a chuckle as he finishes tying the bow tie at his neck.

"Maybe," his mother says with a small laugh of her own. When she speaks again a moment later, her voice is still soft but her tone is a bit more serious. "Honey, will you promise me something?"

He turns from the mirror again, gives her a curious look. "What is it?"

"Don't take your time with Blaine for granted," she says, standing and making her way back toward him. She lifts a hand and smooths a stray strand of hair along the side of his head. "I took my time with you and your father for granted, and I wish I hadn't. Please don't make the same mistake."

She's smiling, but her expression doesn't match the words coming from her lips. He frowns at her "What do you mean?"

"Sweetheart, we only have so much time in this world, and sometimes that time is much shorter than you think. I wish I could have seen you grow up, watched you graduate, come to your wedding today. I wish I could meet my grandchildren and grow old with your father. But sometimes that's not the plan life has for us. I just want you to make the most of every day you have with the people you love."

"Mom, I– I don't know what you mean. You're here right now. This is my wedding. What do you mean?"

She's not making any sense. Does she have somewhere to go? What could she possibly have to do that's more important than being at Kurt's wedding? And all of the other things, too; of course she'll grow old with his father, why wouldn't she? And his graduation, she would have never missed his graduation, he remembers...

Except, she did miss his graduation. His father was there, beaming with pride as Kurt walked across the stage, but his mother was nowhere to be found.

Because his mother passed away when he was a child.

Faintly, he hears an unpleasant, repetitive buzzing in the distance.

"Mom?" he asks, voice a little desperate now as realization starts to dawn on him.

"I'm so very proud of you," she says, then stretches up on her toes to plant a soft kiss on his cheek. "But I have to go now."

"No, mom, stay. Please!" He tries desperately to cling to her, but she slips right through his fingers, seems to not even notice, doesn't react to anything he's saying.

"I love you, sweetheart. And I just know your wedding is going to be beautiful," she says, smiling softly at him as she walks backward toward the door where she'd entered.

"Goodbye, honey."

And then she's exiting the room, turning down the hall and disappearing out of sight.

"Mom? Mom! Please, come back!" Kurt cries, crossing the room to the doorway. He steps outside, looks both ways down the hall but she's nowhere to be found. "Mom?!" he cries again, nearing hysterics.

The buzzing is louder out here, but he tries to ignore it, just wants to find his mother again, wants to find her and tell her to stay, tell her she needs to stay because he needs her here.

"Kurt."

He hears a voice, not his mother's but a man's voice. It's a little muffled and he looks around wildly trying to find where it's coming from, but he's still alone in the hallway.

"Kurt," the voice says again, this time louder and clearer but it still seems to be coming from every direction, and the buzzing is getting louder and he just wants his mom.

"Kurt, honey, wake up."

Kurt's eyes snap open, and he sees Blaine's face hovering above him, brow furrowed in concern as he looks down at Kurt.

"Sweetheart, it's alright, it was just a dream," Blaine assures, reaching across Kurt to hit the alarm and finally the buzzing stops. "It was just a dream."

Kurt rubs at his eyes and feels his hands come away wet with tears. "I...," he starts, but trails off, not sure what to say.

"You're okay," Blaine murmurs, a hand stroking reassuringly along Kurt's arm.

Kurt feels a fresh set of tears spring to his eyes as he remembers the warmth of his mother's touch that he'd felt in that same spot just minutes before.

"Kurt," Blaine soothes, pulling Kurt close to his chest and wrapping his arms around him. "Kurt, honey, I've got you. I've got you," he whispers into Kurt's ear, places a kiss into his hair.

"I dreamt about my mom," Kurt whispers back.

Blaine gives Kurt a tight squeeze, holds it for a few moments. "I'm sorry honey."

"It felt so real. She was right there. It felt so real."

"I know," Blaine murmurs against Kurt's skin. "I'm sorry."

"It's not fair."

They're quiet after that, Kurt curled tightly into Blaine's arms until his breathing evens and his tears finally dry. He pulls back from Blaine, just enough to be able to meet his gaze. "I love you," he says quietly, then leans forward and presses their lips together in a chaste kiss.

"I love you too," Blaine repeats, giving his fiancé – soon to be husband – a soft smile.

Kurt takes one final deep, steadying breath. "Now, let's get moving. We have a big day to get ready for."

Blaine's smile widens, and he leans forward for another quick kiss. "Yes, we do," he agrees.