"I have knitted!" Sara cries happily on Christmas Day as she hands a large package to Blaine, thinks better of it and gives it to Kurt instead. He laughs and moves to sit on the floor with his husband and together they unwrap the parcel to find blankets, hats and cardigans in white, pale yellow, cream...and pink. Lots and lots of pink.

"Mom!"

"Get annoyed at me all you like, darling," she says to Blaine, holding her hands up. "But that baby will be a girl. I'm with Kurt on this."

"Kurt needs no encouragement," Blaine says. "He's been saying we're having a girl for the last five years!"

"Blaine...are you being gender stereotypical here?" Kurt asks. "What's to say a boy can't wear pink? In fact," he says, tugging on his husband's pink bow tie, "I think it looks rather fetching."

"I..but...that's...it's... No! Boys can wear pink, of course they can. But babies all look the same. People will take one look at a baby wearing a pink cardigan and hat and assume it's a girl, they always do!"

He follows his mom into the kitchen where she carries on preparing lunch ready for the imminent arrival of Burt and Carole. "Mom...don't get me wrong, I love the clothes, and thank you for spending so much time on them, but if we have a boy I'm not dressing him in pink cardigans."

"Oh darling, don't worry about it," she says, kissing his cheek. "The baby will be a girl, and I know what you're going to name it, too."

"No you don't!" he laughs. "Because Kurt and I haven't even discussed names."

"You'll call her Elizabeth."

"How..."

"Because Kurt knows how to get his own way," she smiles. "Not that there will be any contention between you over it of course. No. You'll be happy. That's why he gets his own way all the time- because his way is your way. I like that about you two. It's not you giving into his demands, it's you two being made for each other. You'll always be safe with Kurt."

"What's safety got to do with anything?"

"Because as a parent, Blaine, you want two things for your child. Happiness and safety. Kurt provides you with both those things so I never have to worry. Bravo Kurt, I say!"

"Oh mom," Blaine laughs. "I do love you."

"Are we good?" Kurt asks later that night. As usual they have escaped the rowdiness of the party downstairs and retired to Blaine's childhood room to be alone.

"Of course we are," Blaine laughs. "Why wouldn't we be?"

"The baby clothes..."

"Are beautiful."

"And I heard your mom talking about names..."

"Ah. Yes." Blaine starts to undress for bed, grateful for the distraction it brings as he feels Kurt's eyes on him.

"We don't have to, you know," Kurt says after a while.

"We don't have to what?"

"Name the baby Eilzabeth. I know I mentioned something on our wedding night but I wasn't entirely serious."

"Well it seemed as though it was something you'd thought about."

"That's just it though," Kurt says, automatically picking up the clothes Blaine has discarded and folding them neatly. "I thought about it. Me. Not us. It was just an idea I had when I was like...I dunno...nine or something. And it stuck. But this is our baby, not mine. And if I'm brutally honest...nothing against my mom at all, but I'm not that sold on the name Elizabeth as a first name anyway."

"It's your middle name," Blaine points out as he stands there in his underpants.

"I know, and it's entirely fabulous because it's different and unique but as a girl's first name..."

"I hear you, but I do think it would be nice to acknowledge your mom somewhere in the name, in some way. What was her middle name?"

"Margaret."

"Oh." Blaine pauses, smiling at the look Kurt gives him. He thinks on it while he uses the bathroom and emerges with a toothbrush in his mouth. "'Ow bout Beff?"

"I'm sorry, what?"

"Beth," he calls after he spits. He comes back into his room, triumphant. "If it's a girl we could call her Beth. I like that."

"Uh...no."

"Why?"

"Because we still see Quinn and Puck occasionally, and I don't want to rub their faces in it, that's why."

"Oh. Yeah. I'd forgotten that. Okay. Well...we'll think of something."

"What about boys names?" Kurt asks, pulling his pajamas on. "Any ideas?"

"Hmm...I have a few, what about you?"

"Adam?" he asks nonchalantly, expertly dodging the cushion Blaine throws. "Okay... Being serious here, what's Wes' middle name?"

"Winston."

"For real?" Kurt asks as he slides into bed alongside his husband. "They called him Wesley Winston?"

"No," Blaine laughs. "It's James."

"See if I was his parents, I would have..."

"Well you're not," Blaine points out.

"No. But I do like James."

Blaine opens his mouth to reply but they are interrupted by a knock on the door. "Are you naked?" his dad calls out.

"No," Kurt laughs. "We're an old married couple now. We're sitting in bed wearing pajamas and talking. Come on in."

"He's going to be inappropriate, you know that?" Blaine asks under his breath as Mike comes in and makes himself at home on the end of the bed.

"I do like that stairlift," he comments as if to himself. "Makes life a lot easier. Well! Hello boys."

"Hello dad," Blaine sighs. "What do you want?"

"Just wanted t-t-t..." He breaks off, shaking his head frustratedly as Blaine looks at Kurt with concern. "T-t-t... Did the...? Because...no...that's not it either."

"Dad? Are you okay? Your words..." But Kurt silences him with a brief touch to his arm, remembering what the therapist had said about not alarming him if a relapse occurs.

"Mike? Did you just want to see if we were naked?" Kurt jokes. "We tend to wait until you're all asleep...for this very reason."

His joking works, and Mike laughs which relaxes him. "No! Oh...I r-r-remember...I just wanted to say sorry for mom earlier. She just gets a little over excited, that's all. I didn't want you to think badly of her, Kurt."

"Oh I wouldn't," he reassures quickly. "We're all excited. It's fine, honestly."

"S-s-sometimes," he gets out, sighing heavily. "Sometimes she doesn't listen. I keep telling her you might have a boy. B...laine, remember when she told everyone Cooper was going to be a doctor?"

"Yes," Blaine laughs, remembering. "Even though Cooper had applied to study acting. She was still convinced."

"Well I think she's right on this one," Kurt says, smiling at them both. "I really think we're having a girl."

"Well...it's fifty fifty I guess," Mike says. "But she will insist on buying pink. I'm not s...supposed to tell you this, but the guest room closet is full of little girls dresses, a doll, a pink teddy..."

"Oh god," Blaine moans. "Our son is gonna have a real complex."

"I love her so much," Mike says suddenly, which makes Blaine stop talking. "I know I'm not too well...but...but... I'm really excited for this baby, I just wanted you to know. And I'll be here, I will. I promise you."

"We know that, dad," Blaine says, reaching across for his hand.

"Yes...yes," Mike says distractedly patting Blaine's hand back. "Well...goodnight, I guess. Goodnight for me, anyway, since I actually intend to sleep." Laughing loudly at his own joke, he stands, and leaning heavily on his walker, shuffles around to Kurt's side of the bed. "Goodnight son, sleep well," he says, stopping to kiss his forehead lightly. "And you," he says, reaching Blaine's side, "snuggle down now, lights out."

"'Night dad," Blaine says, flipping the lamp out so that just the light from the landing shines into the room. "Love you."

"You too. Both of you."

"So," Kurt says into the silence once the door is closed. "James Michael?"

"Yes please," Blaine whispers, and Kurt holds him while he cries.

"Well he has had a mini-stroke," Sara Anderson sighs down the phone to Blaine on New Years Eve. "Chances are it happened that evening he came into your room. You said he didn't seem to know what he was doing in there to start with, he was talking nonesense, and his speech faltered. It was only a mild one though," she continues with forced brightness. "And he's so much better now. Don't worry, darling. Just enjoy your party- it's the last one you'll be having for a while."

"True," Blaine says morosely as he stares at all the bottles of champagne lined up ready for the evenings events. "Oh mom. I... No. You know what? Never mind."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. Yeah, it was nothing. Honestly. Um...are you free tomorrow? I spoke with Burt earlier and he suggested he could drive everyone up for lunch?"

"Oh darling, you don't need to do that. You were here only a week ago."

"I know that, but I want to," he says, silently adding that he feels he may need to. "Maybe the baby will kick dad again. I know that made his entire holiday season."

"It was quite funny," Sara laughs. "He spilled his beer all over his festive shirt. We'd love to."

"It won't be too much for dad?"

"Not at all. I told you, he's much better."

It is all arranged by the time Kurt comes bustling through the door, snowflakes in his hair and cheeks red with cold. He is anxious to tell Blaine all about his days work, but he asks about Mike first, sensing that Blaine will need and want to talk, which he does, explaining to Kurt all about the impending visit.

"Is that okay?" he asks anxiously. "I know we only have tomorrow together, but if I don't see him tomorrow I don't know when it will be. I'm in concert all next week, then I'm in Boston for a week..."

"Blaine, it's fine. Absolutely fine. Really."

"I'm worried if I don't make the effort then I might not..."

"He'll be here for the baby," Kurt tries to reassure, but his heart's not in it and Blaine can tell.

"I'm not entirely sure that he will. I wish Cooper would hurry up and move here. I'll feel happier knowing he's close by."

"Has he got a date yet?"

"It's looking like mid February," Blaine sighs. "Anyway, I guess I better tell Maddie they're visiting tomorrow. She'll want to see her grandpa."

"Which reminds me," Kurt says, trying to lighten the atmosphere a little. "Don't go hard on her tonight if she has a few drinks, okay?"

"No! Not okay! She's only eighteen. And she'll end up going home with Joe or something."

"Okay. Blaine, listen to me. Maddie is a grown woman. Our niece, yes, but she is now an adult. I hate to break it to you, but I think her dorm room has barely been slept in since Joe got his apartment. As for the drinking, please recall the New Years we had when I was seventeen and we got hideously drunk at your house and had sex on the floor that left you unable to sit down for two days. Maddie is at least, more sensible than we were that night. She won't disgrace herself and trust me, Joe will take care of her."

"I hate life," he grumbles as he trudges toward the bedroom.

"No you don't," Kurt laughs, following him down the hall. "You love life, you love the people in it, you love the people that are soon to arrive in it, and you love the opportunities it brings. Now let's get ready for the party."

Blaine doesn't really enter into the spirit if the party. To be fair, their New Years gatherings have become more subdued over the years anyway- more a group of friends gathered to share food and drink as they ring in the new year together rather than the raucous drunken noise it used to be. Even so, Blaine escapes to sit on the balcony a while, staring out at the night and wondering what the coming months will bring.

"It's freezing out here," Sebastian says as he sits down next to him and drapes a blanket over his shoulders. "You want Kurt?"

"No," Blaine says lightly. "He's having fun. And that's fine," he adds quickly.

"It's gonna be an interesting year, isn't it?" Sebastian asks.

"Yeah," Blaine says heavily. "And I don't think all of it is going to be good."

"They very rarely are," Sebastian says musingly. "I don't think many people can say they've had twelve perfect months. I know this year has been good for you and Kurt, but you've still had moments that haven't been great. No doubt you've bickered at some point, or had a bad day at work..."

"Point taken," Blaine concedes.

"Y'know Blaine... I wouldn't write your dad off just yet. He's a tough guy."

"I know. But he's...aging."

"We all are," Sebastian points out. "This coming year will see us both turn forty. When we were fifteen, did you ever envisage that happening? It seemed so far away, and yet now it's here, staring us in the face. You're married, about to be a father, I'm... Well, I'm still searching for that elusive thing called love, only now I tend to look for it in guys who are thirty five as opposed to twenty one," he chuckles. "Seriously Blaine, he's nearly eighty. You want my advice? Make the most of the time you do have with him. Stop worrying about what could possibly occur and just enjoy. He's a wonderful dad. You don't want to look back in a few years and realize you didn't enjoy the last few weeks, months or even years with him, because you were too busy worrying about when he would pass away."

"You're right," Blaine says, smiling for the first time all evening. "God. You're right."

"I know," Sebastian says with a smug smile. "Now come back inside. I believe your niece said something about mulled wine."

"What?" Blaine calls after him in alarm. "No!"

But the mulled wine is already heated, and Maddie forces a mug into Blaine's hands, ignoring the pointed look as she saunters across the room to cosy up with Joe. Blaine finds Kurt in the corner of the couch, looking sleepy as he watches Rachel and Finn staring in fascination at Santana's enormous stomach.

"Hey, old man," Kurt says, reaching a hand out to pull him close. "Come sit with me."

Blaine happily obliges, kicking off his shoes to tuck his legs under him as he rests his head on Kurt's shoulder. "You okay?"

"Yeah. Up and down," he admits. "Ridiculously excited yet worried."

Blaine wraps an arm across Kurt's waist, his fingers burrowing under his shirt and vest to trail over the gentle curve of his back. "Be excited," he says quietly. "We have to focus on the good stuff, and the here and now...else we won't enjoy it."

"True. Hey, did you know this year will be the eighth year of us being an us?"

"Of course I knew that," Blaine smiles. "It's written in bold across the calendar."

"It will be our third wedding anniversary too," Kurt says into his hair. "I was thinking the three of us could take off somewhere for a weekend away. Our first family trip."

"Perfect," Blaine says, snuggling in tighter. "See? Now we're excited."

"Well...that'll be later," Kurt says, making Blaine laugh at the chuckle that resonates through him.

"Bed at five after midnight?"

"For sure."

"Okay, someone has to take a picture of this!" Santana says, laughing loudly as four over excited grandparents-to-be hold their hands on her stomach, waiting for the inevitable kicks and squirms.

Blaine grabs his phone, as does Kurt and they both get photos before Carole squeals. "Oh! Here! Just here!"

The next few minutes are silent with a very patient Santana standing still while six over eager adults all clamour to feel the baby's kicks, with Burt blushing when she takes his hand and places it down low. "Head," she explains, and he smiles weakly before pulling away.

Following his mom into the kitchen, Blaine cannot stop grinning. "He's really good," he says excitedly.

"I told you darling," she smiles as she bustles about, making herself at home in his kitchen. "It was only a mild turn, that's all. I know how you worry but really, this baby is doing him the world of good. He was so excited to come here again today."

He says nothing, only leans against the counter and cries with relief at seeing his dad looking so happy and well and his mom carries on putting her homemade pie in the oven before wiping down her hands and going to him.

"Oh darling," she sighs, wrapping her arms around him. "Come here. You know, you may be Kurt's old man, but you'll always be my little boy."

It is a happy and upbeat Blaine that returns home from work three days later. He has been in rehearsal all day and the orchestra are more than ready for their opening night tomorrow. Kurt has been in his new 'office' all day, working diligently with Anna on different designs ready for a touring production of Hairspray starting in a month. A text from him earlier told Blaine to go on home and take it easy, he was happy to go to the store on the way home and then cook dinner. So Blaine intends to do just that. He fumbles for his keys, cursing quietly under his breath when he hears the phone ringing, just managing to get the door kicked shut behind him before grabbing the phone from its stand.

"Hello?"

"B...B...laine?" his dad sounds strange, voice slightly wavering as Blaine hears him clear his throat and immediately starts to panic. "Uh...is Kurt with you?"

"Hey dad, no," he says, trying to keep the panic from his voice and remain calm. "He's going to the store on his way home from work. Why? Did you need him?"

"No, no. It's uh...it's not that."

"Dad? Are you okay?" Blaine asks, feeling suddenly sick to the pit of his stomach.

"It's...Blaine...it's your mom."

Kurt bustles into the apartment, arms filled with bags as he kicks the door shut behind him and tosses his keys into the bowl on the hall table. "Hey!" he calls cheerily. "Sorry I'm late. The store was rammed." Going right on into the kitchen he dumps the bags on the counter, noting that the living room is in darkness and assuming Blaine is in the music room. "And I swear the woman in front of me had saved every coupon known to man," he says, voice raised now as it carries down the hall. "I...oh!" He stops as he sees Blaine sitting stock still on the couch, frozen and staring into the distance.

"Blaine? Sweetie? Why are you sitting in the dark?"

He rushes into the living room and kneels between Blaine's legs, clutching his hands, as he senses immediately that something is horribly wrong.

"Blaine?" But the only response is a slight trembling of Blaine's chin as he stares into the distance. "Blaine, honey? Please talk."

"My mom died," he whispers, eyes still fixed on the far wall.

Kurt's jaw goes slack, his mouth working around nothing for a second as he struggles to breathe, his eyes wide and a trembling hand reaches up to his face in shock. "What?" he whispers fearfully, though he knows he hasn't misheard.

"She...sh...she...she had a brain aneurysm and...and...sh..she...just collapsed and...She died instantly... Kurt...my momma died."

The sobs which tear through his body are unlike anything Kurt has ever witnessed from Blaine before as he rushes to take him in his arms, trying but failing to keep his own tears from falling as he rocks Blaine back and forth.

"Oh Blaine...Blaine, my darling I am so, so sorry. Sweetheart..."

"My momma," Blaine sobs as he clutches at Kurt's shirt desperately. "My momma is gone."

"I know sweetie, I know. Oh Blaine...I just don't even know what to say," he sniffs as he gives in and lets himself cry too. They sob together, clutching one another tightly as Blaine tries to comprehend the situation.

"My dad," he hiccups into Kurt's arms. "What's gonna happen to my dad now? He was there, Kurt. She collapsed in the parking lot of the mall and he tried to help her but...oh god Kurt...she's gone...she's just...gone."

"Does Cooper know?"

"Yes," Blaine sniffs. "Or he will now, anyway. Dad was gonna call him after me. I offered but... Kurt? How is this real? How is this happening? She can't be gone. She just...she's my mom!" he shouts loudly, tearing at his hair. "She's my mom and she should be here, waiting to be a grandma again. She...she...won't know our baby," he cries. "She wanted to meet it so desperately."

"Yes, she did," Kurt chokes out through his river of tears. "And I know this will be of no consolation at all right now, but...at least she... I don't know, at least she died happy, I guess. She didn't suffer at all, she wasn't in pain and she didn't know what was coming. Oh Blaine." There doesn't seem any more that can be said, so Kurt settles for holding and soothing his husband as best he can, until eventually- after how long Kurt does not know- Blaine's tears subside to occasional hiccuping sobs.

"Blaine? Do you mind if I call my dad? I just thought maybe he could help by checking on your dad, or calling some people. I don't know."

"Yeah...yeah," Blaine says distractedly as he curls into the couch. "Um...could you ask him to call Wes and Santana?"

"Sure." Kissing his forehead, Kurt goes to the kitchen, tossing the now long melted ice cream into the trash as he dials his dads number and waits. Imparting the news is hard, and hearing his dads voice crack as he speaks and listening as he relays the news to Carole causes Kurt to be overcome with a fresh bout of tears. Burt agrees to call Wes and Santana, then says he will drive to Mike to check on his welfare.

"Oh shit," Kurt breathes, suddenly remembering. "Blaine's supposed to be in concert tomorrow."

"Give me the italian's number," Burt says. "I'll call and explain. He's only playing the violin, right? No piano in this one?"

"No."

"So they have other violinists. That conductor is a good guy and a good friend to both of you. He'll understand."

"Do you think we should drive back tonight?" Kurt asks fearfully.

"Not tonight, no," Burt tells him. "There's not going to be much you can do, and it will be the early hours of the morning before you can get here. I'll stay with Mike tonight. Tomorrow. Come tomorrow and stay the weekend."

"Okay. I love you, dad."

"I love you too bud."

"I just wish...the baby, dad," Kurt says, breaking down once more. "She was so excited for the baby."

"I know," Burt sighs heavily. "Go to Blaine," Burt urges gently. "We can talk tomorrow and I can hug you good and proper, but right now your husband needs you."

"'Kay."

"And tell Blaine I love him."

"I will do."

"Blaine? Sweetheart?" Kurt approaches with caution to where Blaine sits, now staring numbly into the distance once more. His face is swollen and raw, and Kurt can see that his eyes are stinging with the effort of keeping them open. "Dad's gonna stay with your dad tonight, okay? He's also going to call Riccardo."

"I don't think...I can't play."

"And that's fine. No one would expect you to," he says gently, sitting down next to him and rubbing small circles on his back. "You want something? I don't know...tea? Something stronger?"

"I think I just want to sleep."

"Okay. Come on." Blaine allows himself to be led to the bedroom, where Kurt helps him into pajamas and pulls the covers over them both. To his relief, Blaine falls asleep right away, though Kurt stares at the ceiling, wiping away a seemingly never ending stream of tears. He drifts off at some point however, but wakes when he rolls over to find Blaine's side of the bed empty.

He finds him in the music room, head bowed onto the piano lid as he sobs silently, fingers tangled despairingly in his hair, face screwed up in anguish. Kurt sits wordlessly on the bench, pulling Blaine against him and kissing softly into his hair. "You don't have to hide," he says kindly. "I want to help you."

"I don't want you to see me like this," he cries as he lifts his tear stained face. "I don't want you to see me broken. That's what I am, Kurt. I'm broken and I don't think I can ever be mended. Not without her, not without my mom."

"I am your husband," Kurt says strongly. "Forever. We're gonna go through all the rough and all the smooth together, and we'll have to help one another through this scenario with my parents, your dad...I don't know, maybe even Cooper and Claire. Others too, probably. It's unfortunate and it's painful but that's life. Don't hide how you're feeling, Blaine. We have to see each other broken, otherwise how can we put each other back together again? I love you, my darling. Don't ever feel that you have to shut your feelings away or put on a front to be with me. I love you and I love your family as if they were my own. I need you right now as much as you need me, because this hurts. It really, really hurts and I can't even figure out how to breathe without it being painful. But we can break and heal together, okay?"

Blaine looks up, taking Kurt's face in his hands as tears cascade down their cheeks and they kiss fiercely. Blaine pulls him closer and closer, his grip on Kurt's shoulders tightening until he breaks the kiss, breathless, to collapse against him and cry.

"Come on," Kurt says, standing and offering his hand. "Back to bed. It doesn't matter if we don't sleep, we just need to hold each other."

"I love you, Kurt," Blaine murmurs as he rests his head down on Kurt's chest. "I just wish it would stop hurting."

"I know," Kurt sighs, kissing his forehead.

"I want to wake up and it's all been some kind of nightmare, you know? You'll be sitting there smiling indulgently at me and I'll feel silly...but that's not going to happen, is it?"

"Not this time," Kurt says, wiping at his eyes. "Not this time."

"So what do we do?"

"We love each other, Blaine. That's all we can do."