Hey, Paul. I need to give you a huge thank you; for reading this (and, somehow, enjoying it) and for looking after Lyd. I would dedicate you a chapter, but this isn't the right one. But thank you again.

And thanks also to anyone else still reading this fic. Thanks for sticking with it. We're close to the end now.

Story so far...

Kurt has been given a chance at furthering his career at Tommy Bahama, and Blaine returned to his Warblers with a message; live life.

-*T&C*-

"Blaine?"

"K-Kurt... Um, something has... Can you... Shit. Kurt, can you come down to the hospital? I n-need you."

"Blaine?! What happened?"

"R-Robert. He... He had..."

"Oh god oh god oh god. Is he..."

"No, he's still... um, alive. Yeah, he's still here. I just..."

"I'm coming."

"Thank you, baby. Thank you so much."

The morning began lazily. They moved around each other in the kitchen, preparing their own breakfasts; it was just easier for Blaine to cook his own bacon and Kurt to mix his own fruit salad, which was what their Thursday breakfasts usually consisted of. Whenever they passed each other, they'd share a quick kiss before turning the grill off or putting the chopping board in the sink, respectively. Kurt chopped an extra apple and slid it into Bocelli's cage, purposefully avoiding Blaine's disproving look at how much he spoiled their bird.

When they left for work they left their apartment together, walking each other out the building, sharing their last kiss inside before walking out with joint hands; they were always careful still about gestures as grand as kissing whilst outside in homophobic Ohio. They parted at the parking lot and Kurt went to Tommy, Blaine went to Dalton. Everything was just the same.

But after Blaine arrived at Dalton, things started to change.

"Hey, Gina."

"Kurt! How did your thing with Janet go yesterday?"

"Oh, it went really well. I don't want to jinx anything, but... Oh, Gina, this could be it!"

The girl squealed and gave him a hug. "I am so proud of you." She bounced on her feet, then paused. "Wait," she started, "isn't it Thursday? You're not meant to be in today."

Kurt nodded. "I had booked it in as overtime to make up for the days I've missed. But, actually, I can't stop long because Janet wants me straight up in her office again."

Gina raised an eyebrow. "So this is really happening. And you couldn't find me yesterday to tell me?"

"I was in there all afternoon. Honestly, I've seen Blaine, and you, coo over my designs and say how they should be on the rails. But to have Janet... It's unreal."

"How did Blaine take it?"

"He is proud of me. And happy. But, I don't know, it still feels like he wishes we could move to New York. Maybe take the boys with us. This will mean that we can't. Maybe the reality that we can't marry here is sinking in. Anyway, I really have to go or I'll lose this opportunity simply because I can't be punctual. I'm going to have to love you and leave you. Wish me luck!"

With that, Kurt left the break room, leaving Gina to make coffee by herself, sitting down at her own table and fiddling round on her phone, smiling at messages from Reggie. She bit her lip. She really hoped it worked out this time.

Meanwhile, Kurt hurried to the office he had seen so much of the day before. He reached the door and knocked on it, twisting the handle open when he heard a voice call, "Come in!"

"Hi."

"Kurt! Oh, come in. Thank you for coming up here. Now, I hope you don't mind; I faxed that coat across to Head Office a few minutes ago. I'm waiting for them to get back to me, but honestly it's beautiful and I don't doubt that they'll snatch it up. And we'll see where we go after that, shall we? They could want some of your other portfolio works, or give you a brief to create something new. Ooh, isn't this exciting!"

Kurt smiled at her enthusiasm and put his hand on the chair he was standing behind. "Can I?"

"Oh, of course. Sorry. Now, what can I offer you? Coffee? Tea? Water? I can pop out and buy us some champagne if the result comes back as you wanted?"

"Oh, no, coffee is fine. Thank you."

"Biscuits? I think I have shortbread, rich tea, digestive, hob-"

"Oh, no, I'm fine thank you."

"Okay. Right, your coffee. Let's see..." She stood and went over to the kettle, looking over it before flicking the switch to turn it on. It lit up, shining a blue colour. "Water on. And now coffee... Coffee... Coffee..." She searched around the worktop for a jar of instant.

Kurt smiled and stood up to help. "I could make my own? Honestly, I wouldn't mind."

"Nonsense. Sit down. Let me-"

"Please, Mrs Cleaver, I insist."

Their meeting continued much in this vain for a while. Kurt made himself another coffee, even making a weak one for his boss: "You've never had coffee? Oh, come on, you haven't lived." The formalities were dropped after the first time Kurt addressed Janet by her surname, pleading that it made her sound old, and even if she may be, she wasn't ready to feel it quite yet. She'd tucked her blonde hair (greying slightly) behind her ear and laughed when Kurt had insisted that, no, she certainly wasn't old.

They waited for a reply, Kurt reminding himself that fingernails were not to chew on. He looked at the original brief and doodled a few new ideas down as Janet tapped her fingers on her desk and chewed the inside of his cheeks.

Almost two hours in to their meeting, Kurt's phone started to ring.

Blaine arrived at work with plenty of time. He went to drop his bag off in the Aviary before making himself a mug of coffee. It was in the mornings that he really wished he had a coffee machine in his room. Everyone should have a coffee machine. He wouldn't believe that they didn't have one where Kurt worked.

A smile alighted upon his face as he thought of his boyfriend. Kurt, who he was so completely in love with, and who he was going to marry... some day. He couldn't wait. With coffee made, in one of those horrible, flimsy cups, he returned to his room, surprised to find Anthony and Chris inside. They seemed equally as shocked to be interrupted.

Blaine raised an eyebrow. "Everything okay, boys?"

Anthony nodded dumbly and Chris cast his gaze to the floor, not wanting to look his teacher in the eye. Blaine went over to his desk and rested his coffee upon it. No, something was definitely up. He tried a different tact.

"You're in here early."

"Sorry, sir. We can leave if you want?"

Blaine frowned. He had always said his boys were welcome in his room, so that wasn't a problem. What he found suspicious, however, was how Anthony sounded. He was a bubbly Warbler, the one who mucked around if someone was feeling down in order for them to crack a smile. He was the one who pushed his own problems to one side in order to look out for others. He was a great guy, but Blaine often saw a lot of his younger self in him. Especially now. He was very concerned.

"I told you to call me Blaine..." A crazy idea passed through Blaine's mind. His eyes instantly flew to Chris and he frowned at him. His eyes passed over their hair, their lips, their clothes. He saw nothing out of place. "Are you two... um..."

Anthony blushed and shook his head. "No. No, nothing like that."

Blaine turned and spoke to Chris. "You know that you don't have to lie around me, yeah? You can tell me anything."

Chris finally looked up and looked Blaine directly in the eye. "I'm not gay, Blaine. No, I'm not in a relationship with Ant."

Blaine regarded him. His eyes were wide, but truthful. He believed him. "Okay," he said simply. He knew that if any of his boys needed him, they'd ask. He returned to his desk and picked up his coffee again. He made a face as if it was too bitter and walked out the Aviary again, coffee in hand. The beverage wasn't too bitter at all. He just figured that the boys may want some more time to discuss whatever it was they'd been discussing. He wandered back inside, counting down the minutes. When twenty had passed, he made his way back to his room. If they were still chatting then it was serious and Blaine wanted to be involved.

He returned to his room and opened the door to a hubbub of activity. The room was full.

Bill and Ben were sat together, deeply involved in a game of what looked like poker with Luke. Jack was now chatting to Anthony and they were sat apart from the masses in a corner at the back of the room. Daniel was with Simon, laughing at something he said, relaxing on the floor whilst leaning against a chair. On the opposite side of the room, Mark was with Robert, Peter watching them talk from a short distance away. There were some boys he didn't recognise with Jesse and Amos, but they were sat around in a circle on the floor, their bags on chairs around them. Henry had a book out and Chris hovered over him, pointing to things and clearly teaching him a bit of a course which he didn't understand. Wayne was tucked away on a chair, headphones on and eyes closed, separating himself from the noise. Paul was reciting something under his breath, every few minutes checking a piece of paper to see if he got the words right. Tyler sat between two tall bags, giving himself his own little space, and he was reading a book, every couple if seconds glancing up at Wayne or Luke.

When Blaine walked in, all eyes rose to watch him, then fell to their previous activity. Blaine smiled, but they'd all already looked away. He walked over to his desk and sorted some papers. He checked the picnic replies again, filing them away in a file box under the name 'permissions'. He checked his phone, smiling at an old text from Kurt.

The twenty minute warning went, and slowly the boys started to file out. First went Jesse and Amos and their group of friends, who all waved to Blaine on their way out. Blaine hoped that maybe they'd audition next year, if they were all the same age. Maybe they'd be leaving. The twins wrapped up their game and shook hands with Luke, who shook his head, smiling. They all left too, followed by Tyler who skipped after his friend. Henry thanked Chris, offering a hug which the older boy accepted, smiling when he felt his boyfriend's hand on his arm. He pulled out, and the three of them left, Daniel's arm around Henry's waist protectively. Simon shuffled out of the room awkwardly, casting a glance at his brother and then smiling at Blaine. Jack patted Anthony on the back before leaving, saluting briefly at his teacher. Mark stood, scratching the back of his head. He laughed again at something that Robert said, who then turned and spoke to Peter. Mark approached Wayne and tapped him on the shoulder. The father looked up at him, taking his headphones off. He glanced up at the clock and smiled at his fellow Warbler, who was alerting Paul to the fact that they needed to go, too. The three left together, holding the door open for each other as they bade goodbye to their director.

Blaine saw Anthony still sitting by himself in the corner of the room, and decided to take his chance to speak to him. He approached softly and pulled up a chair. "What's up?"

Anthony looked up, eyes wide. "Sorry?"

"You. Something's wrong. Come on, normally you'd be cracking jokes and making it hard for me to teach. But I love it. So what's wrong?"

Anthony sighed. He clenched his hands together and then loosened them, staring at them constantly. Finally, he raised his head again. "I'm afraid," he admitted with a shrug.

Blaine frowned. "What of?"

"Everybody is moving on. People have grown up since you've looked after them. You've nurtured them and turned us all into better people. But me, I haven't changed. Don't get me wrong, you've taught me loads, Blaine. But what if I'm still a child when I leave here? What if I never find a Henry to go with my Daniel? I'm lonely. A cloud who flits from place to place but never settles. I don't want to be alone. When can I find someone?"

Blaine frowned and reached a hand out to clasp the boy's joined ones. "You will find somebody. I know you will. You are a great person, and some guy is going to be lucky to find you." He retracted his hand. "You know, I didn't meet Kurt until I was about your age, and before that I thought I'd stay alone forever. Actually, there was an incident on the final Valentines Day before we got together. I asked him, and the rest of the Warblers, to serenade a guy I liked. I ended up with Kurt. And look at me now. Anthony, just because you haven't found someone yet, don't believe that that means you never will. You are still young. You still have time. You have the whole world out there and ready for you. Embrace it, because it's a gift. You only get one life. By all means, think of your future; I'm not going to be naïve enough to tell you to stop thinking like this. But I am going to tell you that you're a great addition to our family in here. And whilst you may not be able to see it, I can see that you've changed loads since you first walked in that door for your first audition."

Anthony smiled weakly. "Thanks, Blaine."

Blaine smiled back. "That's better; the smile's back. Now, have you got a class to get to?"

Anthony nodded and stood up, reaching for his bag. He was almost at the door when Peter shouted.

"Blaine! He's not breathing!"

Blaine span around, looking at Peter and the collapsed Robert. He stopped breathing, seeing his student lying there so frail and weak. "Call an ambulance. Somebody call an ambulance!"

Anthony dug quickly in his pocket and pulled out his phone, his eyes wide with fear. He had no idea that Robert was so bad. He pressed three buttons. He held the device to his ear as he watched his teacher with his friends. "Ambulance please... to Dalton Academy... Yeah, he's unconscious... um, not breathing... He... he has cancer... Please, please hurry."

Blaine held Peter, who threw himself into his chest. "Is he going to be okay? Tell me he's going to be okay!"

All Blaine could do was hold the boy close, not wanting to interfere with Robert in any way that might make it worse. The boy who was usually so quick to fight back was now sobbing into his shirt, squeezing it between his hands. Blaine had never felt so helpless.

The ambulance arrived and Blaine sent Peter and Anthony away. Peter fought against it, but finally went, kicking the door on his way out. Blaine travelled with Robert and the paramedics in the back of the ambulance, his eyes wide with fear and dreading what could be right on the horizon.

He knew Robert was close to the end; Peter had told him as much. But somehow this was so much more real than the boy's skin growing paler and his energy levels dropping. If this wasn't the end, then it'd certainly be soon.

When they arrived at the hospital, they wheeled Robert straight into theatre. Blaine wandered about the corridors, lost. He felt so alone. Quickly, he stopped and dug into his pocket, no longer aware of his surroundings. He just needed to talk to his boyfriend.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I thought I turned it off."

Janet waved her hand. "Answer it. We're just sitting and waiting and not doing anything. Go on, answer it."

Kurt thanked her and pulled the device from his pocket, frowning at the screen as the name 'Cookies' flashed up. He turned his back on his boss and pressed accept.

"Blaine?"

He heard a scuffling on the other end before the voice spoke. "K-Kurt... Um, something has... Can you... Shit. Kurt, can you come down to the hospital? I n-need you."

Kurt blinked. Hospital! "Blaine?! What happened?"

"R-Robert. He... He had..."

"Oh god oh god oh god. Is he..." All sorts of thoughts were flying around his head. They'd known it was soon, but...

"No, he's still... um, alive. Yeah, he's still here. I just..."

Kurt made his mind up in an instant. "I'm coming."

"Thank you, baby. Thank you so much."

"Don't mention it. I'll call you again when I'm near and you can tell me where to find you, okay? I'll be there soon." He ended the call and turned to Janet, who was looking on in intrigue and concern. "I'm sorry, I'm going to have to go. That was my boyfriend; he's at the hospital with one of his students. I'm so sorry but he has to come first here. The boys too."

Janet shook her head. "No, I understand. You have to go. I'll let you know about Head."

Kurt left the room before she started talking about fashion again. Blaine was in need, and Kurt had to get to him. He just picked up his jacket and ran from the room.

Things aren't looking good...

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