Hey everyone. Before I start I just wanted to say that this was a really difficult chapter for me to write-I'm not sure how I even got this posted without deleting the whole story all together. My grandmother actually passed away from cancer, and the following events happened to me in real life, so my own grief kind of inspired this chapter. A Walk To Remember is a heartbreaking tale, so I'm afraid this must be done. I cried so hard writing this whole story, but this chapter got to me especially. Anyway, enjoy (or don't enjoy.) This is not the final chapter.
So, this is what it came to.
Finn, Blaine, Carole and Burt all surrounding Kurt's bed, with a very sick Kurt lying on top of it. This was it. This was when it was all going to end.
Blaine had gotten a call very early in the morning, at about 3 am. He groggily reached for his phone in the darkness, pressing the buttons and holding the phone up to his ear.
"H'llo?" Blaine mumbled sleepily into the speaker.
"Blaine," It was Burt's voice. "Hey kid, I know it's really early but you need to get down to the hospital right now."
"What?" Blaine sat up on his elbow, a little more alert now. "What happened? is everything alright?"
"Just come, please. We'll explain when you get here."
Right away, Blaine got up, the sun not even out yet.
One hour later, Blaine found himself pacing quickly through the hallways of the sparkly white hospital, a nurse guiding him to Kurt's room even though he could find it with a blindfold on. Visiting hours were closed now, but family was always allowed inside. He came into the room, seeing the blue curtain closed, when Burt Hummel emerged from it. To Blaine's horror, his face was streaked with tears. Burt never ever cried, and seeing him cry now could only mean one thing.
"Sir, is Kurt alright?" Blaine asked.
"For the last time, Blaine, call me Burt," Burt explained. "And no, I'm afraid not. He's so fragile right now. I don't know how much time he has left. It's never gotten this bad before."
Blaine's stomach turned, doing backflips (and not in a good way.) He gulped, his hands starting to shake a little bit. He reminded himself not to cry.
"Kurt's been asking for you all night and morning," Burt's voice was thick with tears. "He really, really needs you right now, kid."
"Let me see him," Blaine was the one with the thick voice now. "Please."
Burt and Blaine slowly entered back into the room through the blue curtain. Finn was sitting on Kurt's right side and Carole was sitting on his right, each of them holding Kurt's hands. Carole had light tear tracks streaming down her tired face, while Finn looked like he was struggling to keep them in. A month ago, Kurt could have ran all over Lima and felt good about it, never breaking a sweat. Now, he could not move out of his bed at all. Lifting his hand was an effort, and his skin resembled fresh snow, those blue eyes still glowing brightly. His chest rose and fell very gently, hardly even noticeable, with every breath he took. Blaine's heart shattered like a glass plate. His sweetheart. His husband.
Kurt smiled when he saw Blaine, almost not looking sick at all. Blaine immediately rushed to Kurt's side and Burt took a seat next to Carole. Finn let go of Kurt's right hand when Blaine pulled up a chair next to the bed, sensing that Blaine probably wanted a turn holding it.
Finn was right. Blaine grasped the tiny, frail hand in his own, which was safe and warm. He leaned over his husband, and Kurt turned his face to get a clearer glimpse of Blaine.
"Blaine," Kurt whispered, tears spilling over his eyes. He smiled widely. "You're here."
"Of course I'm here, sweetheart," Blaine whispered back. He knew he should be embarrassed because Kurt's family was around, but he didn't care. They were his family now, too, and he could say whatever he wanted in front of them.
"I'm so happy you're here," Kurt's voice could go no louder than a whisper. This was the loudest it would ever go again, and Blaine realized this with a crash in his gut.
Blaine brought the hand he was holding up to his own face, and Kurt's fingers gently stroked the skin underneath the tips. Blaine could not help the tears rolling down his cheeks, big fat ones that were silent.
"No," Kurt tried to shake his head. His fingers brushed the moisture away. "No, Blaine. Don't be sad."
"How can I not?" Blaine's voice cracked.
Kurt gave his husband a small, sad smile that made Blaine's heart beat quickly. The family around them watched with agony, however they were touched to the core with the heartbreaking scene displayed in front of them. No one dared to interrupt, and no one wanted to.
"I..." Kurt tried to speak again, tears dripping from his face with a sad smile still curled onto his lips. "It's time to go now, Blaine."
He knew right away what this meant. Blaine clutched Kurt's hand tighter, crying a little harder but never making any sobbing noises, shaking his head.
"No," Blaine whispered.
"Yes," Kurt sniffed. "Yes. I'm so sorry."
"It's not your fault, it's not your fault," Blaine repeated several times. "I love you so much."
"Come," Kurt tried pulling Blaine's face towards him, but he was to weak for that. "Kiss me."
Blaine obliged without any pausing. He leaned down very slowly, capturing Kurt's lips in a soft, gentle kiss. Kurt's lips were still warm, and tasted exactly the same way they tasted when they went on their first date. Burt was frozen in his seat. He'd never seen two men kiss before, except for on TV and at Kurt and Blaine's wedding. But this...this was up close. So intimate. So pure, so full of love. Burt couldn't look away from how devastatingly beautiful this was.
When the two broke away from the kiss, Kurt started to speak again. "Blaine, remember when we first met? Remember when you spied on me in the choir room, and I heard you singing your original song? Remember?"
"Of course I remember," Blaine smiled, still tears in his eyes. "I'll never forget those days."
"You have a gift," Kurt croaked. "You have such a beautiful voice...and you're...so amazing on stage. Don't let that dream die, Blaine. Promise me you won't let your talent go to waste."
"I promise, baby," Blaine sniffed. "I promise. You have taught me so much in these past few months. I'll never forget anything you've taught me. Because of you...I can do so much more now than I could've done before."
"I love you," Kurt whispered.
"I love you too, Kurt Hummel," Blaine kissed Kurt's knuckle.
But Kurt could not feel it. He tried squeezing Blaine's hand, and with his eyes he could see his pale fingers tightening around Blaine's, but he couldn't physically feel him squeezing back. Kurt knew that this was the time, now. His eyes were getting heavy lidded, and the pain in his torso was slowly starting to fade. It was almost like falling asleep, except Kurt knew he'd never wake up again.
Kurt turned to his father and Carole, both looking down on their son with pained eyes.
"Dad, Carole," he said, and Carole patted Kurt on the leg while Burt took his son's hand again.
"I love you both so much," Kurt said. "Thank you so much for everything you've ever done for me. You're the best parents any kid could ever ask for."
"I love you, honey," Carole squeaked.
Burt was full on crying now. "We love you so much. You fought so hard. You fought for such a long, long time. I'm so proud of everything you've done in your life. You've made your father proud, Kurt. I know your mother would be proud, too."
"I love you, daddy," Kurt whispered, and suddenly Kurt was Burt's little boy again, still wrapped up in his mother's blanket and being cradled in Burt's arms. His baby boy. He grew up into such a wonderful young man. Even though Burt had to continue on without his son's mother, he would still say that these were the best eighteen years of his life.
Burt leaned in and kissed his son on the forehead firmly. Kurt smiled and turned his head back to where Blaine and Finn were sitting.
"Finn," Kurt said, and Finn immediately placed a large hand on his step-brother's knee. "Finn, I love you, too. Thank you for always protecting me at school, always having my back. I've always wanted a sibling, and I'm glad I was able to call you that title, even if it was for a short time."
"I love you, buddy," Finn choked. "You're so important to me. It's meant the world to me being apart of your family." He leaned in and planted a kiss on Kurt's cheek. Kurt had never felt so loved before.
And finally, Kurt turned his attention back to Blaine. The boys locked eyes and Blaine started to cry again, the water swelling up in his eyes and blurring his vision.
Using all his strength, Kurt reached up to stroke the side of Blaine's face and neck. "Smile, honey. Smile for me. You look so beautiful when you smile."
Blaine smiled the best he could down on his husband, tears still sliding dow his face like a stream. Kurt returned the sad smile, tears of his own coming down.
"There," Kurt whispered. "You see? Much better."
"I'm nothing compared to you," Blaine said, which made Kurt giggle. It was Blaine's most favorite sound it the entire world, and he was glad he could hear it one last time.
They kissed once more, slowly and passionately, making every second count.
"I love you," Blaine whispered.
"I love you too, Blaine," Kurt sighed. "Thank you for making these last few months so incredible. You made me healthier in so many ways."
Blaine lay his curly head down onto Kurt's shoulder, feeling his fingers gently tangle themselves in Blaine's locks. He could feel Kurt's lips near his ear, and Kurt began to sing so quietly that only Blaine could hear the words clear enough.
So I lay my head back down,
And I lift my hands and pray
To be only yours,
I pray to be only yours,
I know now
You're my only hope.
Blaine stifled a sob in his throat as he recognized the song. Even though Kurt's singing voice was barely a gentle whisper, it still sounded as captivating as the night he performed at the musical. Memories came flooding back to both Kurt and Blaine's minds. They would be each other's no matter what. Blaine still had his face buried in Kurt's shoulder, listening to his heart beat getting slower and slower.
Kurt looked right up at the ceiling, his eyes only half open. Suddenly, he began to see his whole life play up on the hospital ceiling like a movie. His mother and father going out for picnics with him, the first time he rode a bike with his dad's help, the first time he realized he was gay, his mother's funeral, his first day of high school, performing in the glee cub, having sleep overs with the New Directions, meeting the most gorgeous boy in the world, kissing that gorgeous boy, having his first time with that gorgeous boy, dancing at his wedding with that gorgeous boy. And then, his vision got brighter. Brighter, and brighter, and brighter until all he could see was white. His body was not in pain anymore. In fact, now it felt numb, like it was slowly becoming healed. Kurt smiled. He new that wherever he was going, he would be safe. He closed his eyes and let the light consume him.
When Blaine took his head off of Kurt's shoulder, he looked at the beautiful angel face laid upon the pillows. The tears continued to fall, dripping onto Kurt's sheets. His face was so peaceful looking. His eyes were now fully closed, but his chest no longer moved up and down. Anyone could walk into the room right now and just assume that Kurt was sleeping. He didn't look dead, he just looked like he had a long day and was ready to have a snooze. But Blaine knew that was not the case, and so did Burt, Carole and Finn. They all knew he was gone.
Blaine pushed Kurt's bangs out of his eyes, kissing his forehead, letting some tears get into Kurt's hair.
"Have beautiful dreams, sweetheart," Blaine whispered. "You deserve them. I love you."
He leaned down and pressed another kiss to Kurt's lips, except this was the one time in all of Kurt and Blaine's relationship where Kurt did not kiss back.