Kurt and Blaine return to New York more deeply committed to one another than ever before. Over the course of their time in Wisconsin, they seemed to have reached a new level of understanding, and both feel content and at peace. Even the time spent without sex seems to have done them both good, though Blaine is quick to rectify this as soon as they're home.

Kurt finds himself missing Blaine on the nights they're apart. It feels strange to be in bed all alone, and he can't help but laugh when he thinks back to how he used to hate sharing. He welcomes the following Friday night, when they go out to dinner and a show, and then back to Blaine's place together, where Kurt will stay for the rest of the weekend.

Saturday morning is a beautiful day, and Kurt wakes to bright sunlight streaming in the large window. He feels so alive, so full of happiness, that he even joins Blaine in the gym, and then the shower, of course.

"Why don't we go out for breakfast?" he asks as they dress. "We could walk to the Boathouse in Central Park?"

"Okay."

"Wow. So compliant."

"Not compliant," Blaine teases. "Just too tired to argue. Sex last night, tough workout, more sex. What D'you expect?"

They are happy and upbeat, strolling through the park hand in hand. Once again Blaine is relaxed in his outfit choice; burgundy shorts with a navy shirt. Kurt is more bold; his denim shorts are teamed with a red and white sailor style shirt, and a navy ascot. Blaine had made him leave the matching hat behind.

"Do you get any vacation time from the coffee shop, sailor?"

"I guess, if we ask," Kurt says. "I've never thought about it."

"I wondered if you wanted to take a trip, maybe. See a bit of Europe?"

"I've seen London."

"What about Paris? Milan? Rome? Barcelona?"

"You're not my sugar daddy."

"No I'm not," Blaine agrees. "But I am totally infatuated with you, and I want us to enjoy stuff together. Will you come to Europe with me, please?"

"Okay."

"Yes! So compliant."

"Too tired to argue," he counters, sticking his tongue out. They both laugh, and carry on walking, but then suddenly Blaine stops dead, and all the color drains from his face. "Blaine? Are you okay?"

It's a stupid question; he can clearly see he's not, and he follows Blaine's line of sight over to where a suited man stands texting, before pocketing his phone and walking toward them. The man looks up, and then he too stops dead, and stares right back. "Blaine," he says with a curt nod. "How are you?"

Blaine's fingers flex, then squeeze Kurt's hand tightly. "Cooper. Hi. I'm um...I'm good. You?"

"Fine, thank you."

There's a pause, and then Blaine seems to remember himself and he clears his throat. "Oh, uh, Kurt, this is my brother, Cooper. Cooper, meet Kurt, my partner."

"I guess you don't mean business partner," Cooper says, taking in the sight of their joined hands.

"Boyfriend," Kurt says, offering his hand. "Nice to meet you."

Cooper shakes it, but he doesn't return the compliment. Like Blaine, he gives off a hard aloofness, but unlike his brother, there's no warmth in his cold blue eyes.. "And what do you do?"

"I'm an actor."

"Of course you are."

"Kurt and I have been together for quite some time," Blaine interrupts firmly. "It's not just some fling."

"I didn't say that it was."

"How's the family?" Blaine asks in an effort to move conversation along. "I thought you moved out of town?"

"We live in Westchester," Cooper confirms. "Lucy is in her first year at Texas, so she's not at home anymore. Brandon is a sophomore."

"Wow." A sad smile comes over Blaine's face. "They weren't even in high school last time I saw them."

"I changed jobs. Still a stockbroker, but with Bank of America. Sometimes I have weekend meetings, like today, so I stay in the city."

"Oh. Uh... Mom and dad? How are they?"

At this, Cooper's face seems to fall, but he quickly composes himself. "Mom's fine. Dad is... did you know the cancer came back?"

Stunned, Blaine gives a small shake of his head. "No. Someone mentioned he'd been sick but..."

"Yeah. He had a spell in the hospital, they ran some tests and found a tumor in his pancreas. He's had some chemo, but it's merely extending what time he has left."

"Which is?"

"A couple of months at most." Cooper shrugs, looking down at his shoes. "Anyway."

"I didn't know."

"No. Well, I must go. See you around." He glances at Kurt, smiles and then pats Blaine's shoulder. "I'm glad you have a friend."

Kurt watches him walk away before turning back to Blaine, putting an arm around his shoulders. "Let's go home."

There's nothing but silence as they walk back through the park. Kurt would like to ask a million and one questions, and he'd really like to let Blaine know what he thought of the friend remark, but he doesn't. Blaine wears the look of a man deep in agonizing thought, and the nearer they get to home, the more distant he seems to become.

"Could I just..." He trails off, gesturing down the hallway to his office. "I think I need to be alone."

"Sure." Kurt kisses his cheek quickly. "Take all the time you need."

He takes himself out onto the terrace, bathed in the warm morning sunshine, and he sits in a contemplative silence, staring out at the river. He'd like to talk with someone about this, but he doesn't want to betray Blaine. He knows that if Logan were here though, he'd go to him. He counts back; he and Blaine had their first date in London nearly six months ago. That was when Blaine said he'd seen his brother eighteen months prior, so it's been two years.

Kurt's eyes fill with tears at the thought. He can't imagine what Blaine must be feeling right now. Two years of no contact and then to be casually told his dad has only months left to live. Not only that, but Cooper had walked away, not even asking Blaine if he'd like to see his parents. He'd dismissed their relationship out of hand, belittling it by calling Kurt a friend, just as people would have done years ago, when being gay was a taboo subject.

Kurt had always thought Blaine was being stubborn, in not contacting his family, but now, as he thinks, he comes to the conclusion that Blaine can just tell when he's not wanted.

"Okay. Sorry about that." Blaine's voice startles Kurt, who gets to his feet, raising his sunglasses to study him. He's clearly been crying, and, most telling of all to Kurt; he's changed back into suit pants and a shirt with a tie. "We've probably missed breakfast. We could do brunch? At the park, or anywhere, really. You choose."

"Blaine, sit down."

"No, I'm good. Hungry, that's all."

"Blaine..."

"Not now, Kurt." His voice is hard and commanding and Kurt drops his head.

"I just..."

"I can't, okay? I can't." He shakes his head, then turns and walks back into the apartment. "Call Anna and Meredith, see if they want to join us. If they get a cab I'll pick up the tab when they get there."

Blaine resolutely refuses to speak about the incident in the park. Kurt tries to raise it on their way to brunch, and then afterward, and then again in the afternoon, but he's swiftly shut down. He knows Blaine is brooding on it though, because he catches him staring into space several times, and at one point when Kurt is talking, he doesn't even respond.

"I thought I could cook dinner here tonight."

"Huh?"

"Dinner. I could cook?"

"Yeah, sure, do what you want."

"Well it's your kitchen."

"Yeah. Good."

In the end, leaving Blaine to his own thoughts seems like the best option, so he busies himself with cooking pad thai, and in a totally shocking turn of events, Blaine needs no convincing to eat on the couch while watching a movie.

They head to bed early that night. Conversation seems to have run dry, because there's one massive subject that needs to be talked about, but which Blaine is refusing to address. Kurt wonders if he will once they're in the dark, but he doesn't. He merely reaches out for him, pulls him close, and closes his eyes.

Kurt wakes at three. The bed is empty and Blaine's side is cold. He walks quietly down to the office and at first, he thinks it is empty. Then he notices Blaine, huddled down on the floor by the window, looking out at the night, silently sobbing. His face is twisted in anguish and he clearly doesn't know Kurt is there. Endless tears roll down his cheeks as he holds his knees in tight to his chest, his body shaking as he cries and cries.

"Oh Blaine." Kurt kneels beside him and reaches out, placing one tentative hand on his knee. He's unsure if he will want contact or not, or even if he'll yell at him to be left alone entirely, but he doesn't. He cries harder, turning his face towards Kurt, who is shocked to see the hurt in his eyes.

"My dad's gonna die," he chokes out. "He's gonna die hating me, and I hate myself for being this way, for disappointing him so much that he wants to leave this world without ever saying goodbye to me. He's my dad, Kurt. My dad, who took me to Giants games, who drove me to all my football games and cheered me on from the sidelines. My dad who told me time and again how proud he was of me, how much he loved me and then, when I said I was gay, he told me he couldn't love me anymore. Why? Am I that horrible? Is it that wrong to love someone of the same gender? If you have a kid, if you hold them as a baby, raise them, love them, care for them, don't you just want them to be happy?"

"Of course you do. Oh Blaine. I'm so sorry."

Kurt holds him. Though he resists at first, eventually Blaine clutches him, sagging against his chest. The first loud sob rips through him, and then he lets go completely, crying for all the years he's lost, just because he didn't live up to his family's expectations.

"You know, the last time I saw them? On my thirty seventh birthday. They took me out for lunch, and I thought this was it, they were going to apologize, and I'd forgive them, even though it still hurt, because they're my mom and dad. But they wanted to tell me about some new conversion therapy they'd read about. Said it could cure me, and dad, I remember, he said that being gay was a mental illness. But it's not."

"No, it's not," Kurt says firmly. "Listen, Blaine, you are wonderful. No matter what anyone says, I want you to listen to me, because you're everything to me. You have your flaws, just like everyone does, but being gay is not one of them. You're imperfectly perfect, because you're perfect for me. Please know that there are people in your life who love you and accept you. My family, Anna, Meredith, and me. Always."

"I know." He sniffs, wiping at his eyes. "I do know that. Thank you."

"But you want your dad, don't you?"

"I do," he whispers as his tears start again. "Yeah."

Kurt holds Blaine all night long. Even when they eventually fall asleep, Kurt wakes whenever Blaine moves, pulling him back against his chest and kissing him, reminding him that he's there.

Most of Sunday is spent in quiet contemplation for Blaine. Kurt has to cover the lunchtime shift at the coffee shop, but he's tired and his heart isn't in it at all. He rushes back to his boyfriend's side as soon as he can and they sit together on the terrace, drinking wine and saying very little.

"What did your dad say when you came out?"

"Blaine, don't do this."

"What did he say? I'm curious. Did you tell your granny at the same time? What did Logan say?"

"Okay, well, I told Logan first. I was fifteen, he was seventeen. He told me he'd guessed years ago, probably before I'd even realized myself. He said he'd always have my back, and that he'd make sure no one was ever a jerk to me, only he was allowed to do that. So then we told my dad together, who said he'd known since I was three, and then I told granny a few months later. Turns out she'd joined a PFlag group two years before that, because she knew the day would come. All in all it was a bit of a let down." He laughs. "I'd worked myself up so much, and then it turns out I was just being predictable."

"But they were all supportive? They didn't think it was wrong?"

"No, but school was a whole other story. Logan outed me."

"He what?"

"He didn't mean to. He liked this girl, and he asked her out but she told him she wasn't interested, then asked if I was single. He was upset, and embarrassed, and he just came out with it. She told everyone, and then my life was utter hell until I got out of there. I don't think Logan ever got over it, but I did. I knew he felt bad."

"I told my brother first, too," Blaine says quietly. "And he told me I was sick and depraved. I was nineteen. He accused me of perving on him when we were growing up, which wasn't true, obviously. Then he told me I couldn't be gay, because I hadn't had sex with a guy. But I hadn't had sex with a girl, either. I just knew. I went out that night and gave some guy head in the back room of a club, just to prove a point to myself, I think. Of course, he threatened me with telling mom and dad, so I was kinda forced into going home as soon as I could and telling them too, and then it all unraveled."

"I'm so sorry you had to go through all that. I wish I could have helped you."

There's a long silence, and then Blaine looks over at him. "You weren't born."

Suddenly, this seems like the funniest thing to both of them, and they laugh uncontrollably, clutching their stomachs and wiping at their eyes. Kurt raises his glass in a toast. "To you, and me, and our ridiculous age gap which works so wonderfully well."

Blaine drinks too, then pats his thighs. "Get over here."

Kurt obliges, sitting in his lap and kissing him. "We shouldn't be laughing."

"No, we should," Blaine says. "Because you make me so happy, and you're all I need." He presses his head against Kurt's chest. "Can you stay a few more nights?" he asks, his eyes closed. "I really need you."

Kurt kisses into his hair and holds him close. "Of course."

Blaine doesn't talk about his family any more, but Kurt knows it stays with him. For a start, he's either exceptionally moody or incredibly clingy over the next few days. Fortunately the bad moods are short lived and he swiftly apologizes each time, but he rarely sleeps at night, and Kurt often finds him in the early hours, sitting alone in his office.

He seems to sleep only when Kurt is wrapped around him, keeping him safe. Sometimes he cries in his dreams, and Kurt can only hold him tighter, giving his constant reassurance and then one day, ten days after their encounter with Cooper in the park, Blaine wakes Kurt up with kisses all over his body. They make love for the first time since the incident and Blaine is so happy afterwards as they bask in the afterglow together, that he rolls over on top of Kurt once more, kissing his lips. "Do you think your dad would like to visit this weekend?"

"Yes, but he won't let you pay for his flight."

"Okay. Would he like to stay here, do you think, with us?"

"Woah! Really?"

"Well, you're kinda here already, so... I thought we could go for dinner, for your birthday? The girls too."

"Our birthday? I'd like that."

"Your birthday," Blaine corrects. "Call him and ask."

Burt is in awe of Blaine's apartment, though he tries not to show it. He does admit he's impressed that Blaine has ordered beer in though, and he settles happily on a stool at the kitchen island, watching Kurt as he cooks. "You're his servant now?"

"No! I like to cook, and his kitchen is bigger, that's all."

"Is he okay?" Burt asks, glancing over his shoulder to check Blaine isn't around. "He seems kinda...subdued."

"He's having a rough time," Kurt says diplomatically. "But he'll get there."

He says no more, and Burt doesn't push but after dinner, when the three of them are still sitting around the table, Blaine stops peeling the label from his bottle of beer, and looks across at Burt.

"Did Kurt tell you we met my brother?"

"Oh! Uh no, he didn't."

"We bumped into him in the park. It was kinda weird. My dad's dying," he adds as if it were no big deal. "So I guess I won't see him again. Yeah. Weird."

"Wow that's... I didn't know things were that way. I mean, Kurt just said you weren't close to your family, that's all."

Blaine tells him everything. Whether he needs to offload, or whether he really wants Burt to be informed, Kurt can't tell, but he does know that his dad listens intently, and when Blaine chokes on his words, and has to take a moment, Burt doesn't flinch. After a long time, Blaine stops talking. Burt sits for a moment, contemplating it all, and then he reaches out and squeezes his shoulder.

"I don't know your folks, or your brother, but I do know that for them to disown you like that is wrong. Your brother lives in Westchester?"

"Yes."

"Want me to hunt him down and punch him for ya?"

Blaine smiles and shakes his head. "I miss him. I listen to Kurt talk about Logan, and what he'd give to have him back, and all the time, my brother is living. I miss my niece and nephew. I like kids, and they were so adorable. But I've seen them like, four times their whole life through."

"So you used to see them? Sporadically?"

"Yeah...I think my brother thought that seeing him happily married with kids would make me want that too. The last time I saw him properly, he told me to leave his house and never return unless I'd changed my mind. I hope for his kids sake none of them are gay. Will he disown them too?"

"You should contact him," Burt urges. "If you want him in your life, and you want a chance to say goodbye to your old man, call him and ask to meet."

"No way." Blaine hardens instantly. "I'm not putting myself, or Kurt through it. As far as I'm concerned, I don't have a family. It's taken these last two weeks to feel anywhere near myself again, and that's only because Kurt's been so good to me. If it wasn't for him... I don't know. But I do know that I've made my peace with it all now, and I just want to forget about it all."

"Okay." Burt shrugs, and leans back in his chair. "But you know what? You do have a family, my son. You have us."

Blaine grumbles endlessly about Burt calling him his son, and Kurt is pretty sure that his dad then uses the endearment even more for the whole weekend, just to wind him up. He also knows that Blaine secretly quite enjoys it. He has one of the best birthday meals he can ever remember, surrounded by his dad, roommates and boyfriend, and when Burt leaves for the airport the next day, Blaine hugs him goodbye, and insists on sending him in the town car.

Two days later and it's their actual birthday. Though they decide to forgo gifts, Blaine still buys Kurt the designer boots he's been covering, and Kurt insists on booking a table at the Palm Court. He arrives from his own apartment, and waits anxiously; Blaine arrives a little late, looking divine in a gray suit and he rushes in, kissing Kurt's cheek.

"Sorry, my meeting overran. Happy Birthday, beautiful."

"And to you." Kurt smiles and kisses him again. "Come on."

Blaine frowns when they're shown to their table. "This isn't right," he protests to the waiter. "Table for two, not five."

"No, it's right," Kurt says softly. "Sit down, Blaine."

He does, but he's alarmed, and his eyes dart around the restaurant. "Kurt? Please tell me the girls are coming, and someone else? That crazy manager of yours?"

"No, they're not coming."

"Kurt?" He swallows hard, looking like he's about to either cry, or explode with rage. "Oh my god, Kurt, what have you done?"

But Kurt doesn't answer, for at that moment, Blaine's parents and brother arrive.