Well sorry for the longer than average delay, but you know vacations. And omg I want to go back! I just why do I have to be back to reality. Then stomach bugs happened (fun) and now I bring you chapter 20 as we celebrate #ListenUp day! I'm drowning in an ocean of proud momma tears right now.

Before anyone knew it, it was time for the family to close on their new house and for Liliana to take a trip to go see Mema and Papa Bear. The family was going crazy trying to pack two apartments, get Liliana ready for vacation, and move all within the course of a weekend.

Kurt, of course, being as overly organized as he was had all of his belongings that they were keeping packed and organized; ready to go. He was essentially going to be living out of a suitcase for the next several days but it was okay, the end result will be worth the lack of options concerning his wardrobe by the end of next week. He would also be accompanying Liliana to Ohio, because she was several months shy of the five year old age minimum for flying unaccompanied.

The flight would leave at nine am the next morning and both Kurt and Blaine were a little anxious. They sat on Blaine's bed and watched the little girl sashay around the room. "You know babe, this is the longest I have ever been without her. I can't believe she's going to be gone for a whole two weeks."

Kurt watched as Blaine's eyes began to pool with tears he was refusing to let fall. He pulled him closer and ran some fingers through his curls. "I know babe, it will be okay, and we are going to be so busy that it will go by in a blink of an eye."

"I know, but I'm going to miss her."

"So will I, but we will actually be able to get things done." He turned to look him in the eyes and began to whisper in his ear. "Annnnd, we will be able to christen the entire house without her there. Maybe a late night rendezvous in the garden?"

Blaine let out a hearty laugh and pulled Kurt in tight throwing them both back on the bed. Kurt pressed a chaste kiss to his cheek as they lay there for a moment. Both men became so lost in thought that they didn't even notice the fresh indents in the bed made by a sassy four year old.

"Daddies ew that is sooooo gross. Can you not?" She nearly yelled with her hands on her hips standing over them.

"What princess, I can't kiss Daddy?" Kurt asks, trying to retain the laugh that is threatening to force its way out.

"No, Chrissy says boys have cooties, which means Daddy has cooties, and you are spreading your cooties. I am never ever, ever kissing a boy. Daddies, did you know I got my cootie shot? Andrea gave it to me. She said, 'circle circle dot dot now you have your cootie shot. Circle circle square square now you have it everywhere.' So I'm safe. You guys can't spread your cooties to me!"

That was it, Kurt didn't even try to hide his laughter anymore. Both he and Blaine began to laugh hysterically as Blaine jumped up and pulled the surprised girl down between them. "Well you know Mich, Daddy kisses don't come with cooties. They are kinda cootie free. So, as happy as I am to hear that you will never kiss a boy, I think your cheeks are in dire need for Daddy kisses."

"Noooooooo!" The little girl shrieked as the two men began to shower her with kisses and raspberries. She squealed with laughter until her face was bright red. "Okay, okay. It's time for Michi kisses."

The two men stopped what they were doing and closed their eyes before puckering their lips. "Get closer Daddies." She said as she placed her tiny hands on the backs of their heads putting them closer. "Okay keep your eyes closed." She reminded with a sly smile on her face. She gathered all the saliva her tiny mouth could muster before sticking out her tongue and giving them both a swift and wet lick across their faces.

She jumped off the bed in squeals and giggles, running out before they could get their barrings together and wipe the spit off of their faces. "Okay, that, was just gross." Kurt said to Blaine as he used his boyfriend's shirt to wipe off his face.

"Really babe, did you use my shirt to wipe off your daughter's saliva?"

"What? She's your daughter?"

"Yea, but that's your DNA."

Kurt laughed and pressed a quick kiss to Blaine's lips. "You act like that's the first time my DNA is been on your shirt."

"You know what Hummel, just for that –"

"Just for that what?" Before Kurt could tease Blaine anymore, Blaine leapt on him, pinned him to the mattress and wiped his moist cheek against Kurt's face. "Okay see, that's just wrong." He said with a laugh.

Blaine rose off of him and got off of the bed. "Come on babe, let's go find her and get her to bed. We can still get some packing done before we head to bed. It's going to be an early morning."

Kurt stood up, grateful that he was in his pajama pants after all the romping on the bed. "K, I have to make sure that her backpack is packed for the flight. Mom and Dad made sure that she has all of the clothes that she needs out there – which they will be bringing back with them – but I need to make sure she has her favorite toys and snacks for the plane."

"I can't believe I won't see her for two weeks. I know she is in good hands, but I'm going to miss her."

"Me too Babe, but let's not focus on that right now. Let's go get her bathed, tucked in, read her story and asleep."

"'K" Blaine tried to compose his frown and followed Kurt out of the room, following the sounds of giggles to find their target.

The next morning came too quickly for Blaine's liking. It was seven am and Kurt and Lili left an hour ago for the airport. He already missed them. He may or may not have cried after their cab left the curb. It was not that he didn't know that she wasn't in amazing hands, he knew that Burt and Carole would take amazing care of her, it was that he was going to miss her. In her entire four years of life Blaine has never been without her for more than a weekend here or there. Not even when Anthony passed away. Even as Cooper, Brittany, his friend Phillip all begged him to let them care for her so he can grieve, he denied them all. He need his little girl with him. This was something new, something that he is not sure he was ready for.

He got up for the island holding his coffee in the fabulous 'world's best daddy' mug that Liliana's preschool class made for father's day last year. She painted it herself, which meant being three and all, that it was a bunch of lines and all of the colors blended together to make a lot of brown. It was the most beautiful mug that Blaine ever saw, so he only used it when he missed her. He usually kept it on display, right in the front of the glass cabinets. He stood and looked around his place, which was now full of boxes and bubble wrap. On Monday they were closing on the house, on Monday they would be leaving. He was under contract to sell the townhouse and if all went well they would close in August.

Blaine stood there in almost a state of shock. It was enough to distract him about missing Liliana. He couldn't believe that he was finishing this chapter in his life. But it had to happen. This wasn't just his and Liliana's home, this was Anthony's home. This was the home that they bought together, that they only had for a few months before he got sick. As many happy memories as these walls held, they contained just as many sad memories. If he and Kurt were going to start a life together, they needed a place that could be theirs.

Speaking of which, now that Kurt was gone for the next twenty four hours it was time to make plans. This week was going to be perfect. It had to be. He pulled out his phone and pressed number four on his speed dial.

After a few rings the other line picked up. "Hey Coop, I'm going to do it, I need your opinion –"

Liliana was bouncing in her seat as she watched land coming closer and closer as the plane was descending for landing. She was clutching her favorite Monster High doll with one hand, face and other face plastered against the small window. "Oh Daddy, Daddy we are almost there! Is Papa Bear going to be there when we get there?"

Kurt gently pulls her face away from the window, so she didn't accidentally hurt herself during landing and replied. "Yup, both he and Mema will be there."

"Ohhh can I ride my bike when I get to their house? I've had it since Christmas and I've only got to use to once!"

"I know Sweetie, but when you get back home we will be in our new house and we'll get you a bike you can use there too okay?" He looked over with a smile and the brunette little girl who just nodded as her attention returned to the runway that they were quickly racing towards.

"Oh Daddy that was soooo cool. Can we do that again?" She asked as the plane taxied.

"Hunny you get to do it again in a couple of weeks with Mema and Papa Bear when they come to bring you home and look at the new house.

"Yay!" Her face quickly went from excitement to confusion.

"What's wrong love?"

"Daddy Kurt, what's going to happen to my room? I mean if I'm not there when you move in, is it still going to exist, am I going to have to sleep with Richard?" She asked seriously and Kurt took a calming breath so he wouldn't laugh at the question.

"Oh baby, you're not going to have to sleep with the dog. Your room will still be there, only in the new house. Do you want it different?"

"Um no, I like it the way it is. You know my Papa painted my room?" She asked quietly and in passing.

"He did? Do you like it?"

"Yea. Sometimes when Daddy is sad and misses him he goes in my room and just sits there. He said cuz it was his fav-rite room in the house. – oh look everyone is standing up, is it time to leave?"

"Yup my love, let's get your backpack and get off." She nodded as he reached under the seat pulling out her backpack. He quickly lifted her onto his hip and stood in the line in the aisle to disembark. As she rested her head on his shoulder, he began to lose himself in thought, instinct causing his feet to move.

He thought about her bedroom, designed for someone so young, but still had a mature elegance about it. He thought back to packing up Blaine's basement and the half empty container of "powderpuff pink" paint. It was in that moment he knew exactly what he had to do, maybe he would stop at a local boutique before heading back home.

Since they had no checked baggage, he was able to quickly walk them out of the terminal to the exit where his parents would be waiting for them. He was quite a sight to see at the moment. Still dressed as fabulous as ever, the only difference being that instead of an amazing broach or scarf to accent his outfit, he had a Hello Kitty backpack and petite, yet beautiful little girl on his shoulder.

It took them a matter of five minutes to find his parents. As soon as saw them, he felt the urge to cry. He missed them so much. Even though he has seen them more in the last several months than he had is the past couple of years, the feeling of coming home was always over powering to him. He closed his eyes to collect himself and as he opened them, he opened them with a smile, seeing them rushing over to them with open arms and open hearts.

By seven pm that night Blaine had made dozens of phone calls, went to the store and found exactly what he was looking for, and with Cooper's help planned the world's most perfect date. More than anything he wanted this to be perfect. He went back upstairs to continue packing and made sure to keep his nicest suit to the side and smiled knowing that Kurt wouldn't dare pack his. Saturday was going to be perfect. He just had to get through the next week of chaos first.

He slowly ascended the stairs and went to his little girl's room to finish packing it up. He began by taking down all of the art lining the walls, and packing them away neatly. He couldn't help but to smile as he ran his finger over the dried paint, and the wax of the crayons. He went through every paper, trying to remember all of the times they were drawn. He laughed as he looked at her first self portrait of their new family, he shook his head at the picture she drew of him lying his head on the toilet after she caught him hung over one night when Cooper brought her home early.

His heart skipped a beat when he got to the large finger painting that was hung up in the corner. He brought it over to the bed and sat there staring at it. He ran his fingers over the outlines of the various handprints in bold primary colors. He felt a lump in his throat as he outlined the names written by a large finger in blue. 'Papa' was under the biggest hand, 'Daddy' was under the hand to the right, and 'Michi' was under the little hand in the middle. He couldn't help but the sob to break out when he remembered the date they did the finger paints. It was the day before they got his diagnosis, the day before their lives changed forever.

Blaine sat there for a few minutes with emotion coursing through his veins. Come on Blaine, Tony would not want you to be like this. He wanted you to be happy. No tears, he told you no tears. He thought to himself as he stood up and brought the picture to his room, he was going to keep this with his special belongings just in case, he didn't want anything to happen to it.

Little did he know that a couple of states away Kurt was thinking about the perfect way to preserve Liliana's room, the perfect way to preserve as much of Tony's memory as possible.

"Hi, welcome to Perfect Treasures, my name is Cecilia how may I help you today?" Kurt looked up at the woman, who looked to be in her late forty's and who was oddly familiar.

"Oh I am just looking, I don't remember this being here last time I came to town, is it new?"

Cecilia smiled and nodded as she walked over to him. "Yes, I just opened about six months ago." Kurt couldn't help but to detect a little sadness in her voice. He was a little confused until he continued. "I went through some major life changes, you know divorce, yadda yadda, and I needed something to do with my time, to occupy my mind. I started making all of these things, thinking that maybe my granddaughter would like them."

"These are all gorgeous items Miss Cecilia, I'm sure she loves them."

"Oh, I wouldn't know, unfortunately I don't really get to see her. It's my own fault though. But that's enough, I shouldn't have unloaded on you like that. I'm terribly sorry, it's so horribly unprofessional of me."

"No, it's quite alright, I actually get that a lot." He smiled at the older woman with the long, curly, black hair pulled into a loose bun.

"You feel safe, I guess." She said with a smile. "Now, is there something in mind I can help you with? I have more things in the back." She patted down her dress, in a quick attempt at being more presentable and waited for the answer.

"Well, we are moving, my boyfriend and I, and our daughter is getting a new room – obviously." He looked at the woman, waiting for the condemnation, but it never came. Rather than dislike he saw pain in her eyes, in the smile she continued to force. There was something more to this woman's story. "We are keeping pretty much everything in her room, I'm just looking for decorative picture frames. There are several really important pictures that I want to put on her wall, but I'm looking for something extra special."

"Hmmm," she began and she went to the opposite corner of the store. Kurt stood there with his hands in his pocket waiting for her to come back. "What design and color scheme do you have?"

"Well she is a girly, girl and a dancer. The walls are going to be a soft, almost rose pink, and she has white furniture, her bed is a sleigh bed."

"Okay, tell me about what you are looking for in the picture frames."

"Hm, okay, I'm thinking something whimsical, with soft edges, maybe with letters in a different color on the corner?"

Cecilia's face lit up. "I have just the thing, and I actually already have some colored letters." She ran to the back and came out with several frames with loopy corners and fun designs already painted white. One of them really stood out to him. There was one the was already in a landscape with the word 'family' in cursive already painted in a rose colored pink perfectly centered and attached at the middle. It was perfect.

"Oh Cecilia, this is beautiful. I want this one most definitely. I also want some five by seven frames with the letters, B, K, S, T, and L. Do you have them in this same rose color?"

"Oh yes, this is my favorite color, it always looked so cute on my granddaughter."

"I hope I'm not overstepping, and feel free to tell me if I am, but when was the last time you saw her?"

"About three and a half years ago. I made some bad decisions and my son doesn't want anything to do with me." Kurt looked at the woman's sad eyes. He could tell that there was regret there, pain, a strong desire to fix what was broken. "But, let me go do your frames in the back quickly, it will only take a few minutes. Do you want them landscape or portrait?"

"Portrait please." She nodded with a smile before going back to what was undoubtedly her work room. He continued to walk around the tiny store looking at all of the precious handmade items it held. When Kurt had more than a carry on for luggage, he would most definitely come back here.

He stopped when he saw the lovely display of diaper bags, custom blankets, embroidered gifts, and crib sets. His mind already began thinking about what it would be like to shop for a new baby, to actually prepare for joy than grief. He sighed and looked down at the embroidered burb cloth on the small, round table. 'Liliana'. Huh, that's a coincidence. He just shrugged it off as Cecilia came back out from the back room with his frames ready.

"Oh this are perfect, exactly what I had in mind."

"Great, I'll wrap them up and ring you out."

"Perfect, thank you." He could wait to develop the black and white pictures that he had in mind for these frames.

"Your total will be $130.45." Kurt just handed her his credit card and smiled. Worth every penny.

After he signed the receipt and took the bag he looked at the owner before heading on his way. "You know Cecilia, it's never too late. Maybe you should try talking to your son. Maybe he wants to talk to you as much as you want to talk to him."

She just smiled and nodded and Kurt left the soothing cool of the air conditioned shop and entered the oppressing humidity of the hot Ohio day.

Blaine actually rather enjoyed a night home alone. He was able to walk around the house naked as a jay bird, take up the whole bed as he slept, pee with the door open – you know things you couldn't do with either a partner or a little girl wondering about the house. In fact he was still sitting that way, on a towel of course, at the island sipping his coffee when Kurt got home the next morning.

"Wow, isn't this a sight for sore eyes?" Kurt asked opening the door and seeing Blaine in all his glory. "Getting used to bachelor life again?"

"Uh, oh this." He blushed slightly, and possibly in more than one place. "I don't know, I just thought that I won't get another chance to, and it's hot. So yea – yay conserving laundry – and all that green shit."

Kurt just giggled and placed his bag at the door. "Oh babe, you are something else."

Blaine just waggled his eyebrows and looked over to the, larger than it was when he left, bag sitting by the door. "Babe what's that?"

"Oh, just a surprise, and actually something I wanted to talk to you about."

Kurt walked over to Blaine, kissed his quickly and sat down on his lap. He wrapped his arms around Blaine's neck for support and Blaine just hummed in response. "Mmm babe and what is that?"

"Well I want to know if it's okay with you if I decorate Lili's new room. I talked to her about it and I know what she wants. Would you mind?"

Blaine remained silent for a moment. For the first time he was apprehensive. Not because he didn't think Kurt would do an amazing job, but because it is like closing one more chapter in his past. It was going to happen anyway, but it's still hard. He slowly looked up and Kurt and was met with understanding eyes. He was never happier than in that moment that Kurt could read him so well. "I- yes. Yes you can. After all, the queen said it was okay."

Kurt encouragingly smiled back at his boyfriend. "There is only one condition."

"Oh yeah? And what's that."

"You can't see it until it's done. I want to go over after we close and paint so it's ready to decorate on Tuesday. After I paint we can start painting the rest of the house."

"Sounds like a plan."

"Now, what color scheme were we going to go with in the bedroom again? Since we are getting a new bed, we need to make sure that everything blends."

"Well I actually had other plans than talking about color schemes."

Kurt just looked towards his lap and laughed. "Okay, as long as you promise to go to Home Depot with me afterwards."

"Okay, okay."

Monday came and went quickly. The closing went by way smoother than anyone would have thought possible, and they got a definite closing date on Blaine's current house. Kurt locked himself inside of Liliana's bedroom for about two hours painstakingly paining three walls 'powderpuff pink' and the baseboards, window sills, door jam, and far wall cream. It was perfect already, and none of the decorations were in it yet.

Kurt looked at the pile of decorations that accumulated in the corner. He was so happy with the picture frames, and a new treasure he found. A treasure that he found Sunday night at home with Blaine.

"Hey baby, what's that?" Kurt asked seeing the rolled up large paper sitting in the corner.

"Oh, that's a finger painting that was on Liliana's wall. It's just- just really special to me and I didn't want anything to happen to it." Blaine didn't seem in the mood to answer any more questions in regards to the picture so Kurt didn't ask anymore. When Blaine fell asleep Kurt snuck out of bed and looked at the painting. He studied the hand prints and the names, and especially the date on the bottom right hand corner. It all made sense to him. And the completion to Liliana's room came to him.

He was able to disappear for a few hours while Blaine went into a meeting for his town home. In doing so he was able to pick up all of the pictures that he ordered, another frame, a simpler frame, for the new artwork, anchoring hooks – it was going to be in a child's room after all, and some accent paints.

After Kurt was done painting in Lili's room, they were able to paint their room, the living and the kitchen before they both passed out from exhaustion. They had the furniture they were bringing with them coming in the morning, so they would be able to paint more in the morning, so long as no one touched the walls. Neither man could believe that by Saturday of that week they would be out of their old homes and into their home together – forever.

Kurt woke up around two am from where he and Blaine slept on the living room floor. Blaine was out cold and snoring heavily. Kurt chuckled and went back to Liliana's bedroom. He took out the accent paint's he purchased and painted a design on her wall, right above where her headboard would be and installed a bookshelf to the right and to the left of the design.

He took the leveler sitting in the corner and leveled the anchoring hooks to where they would be and began to drill them in. By four am, the room looked like it was almost ready to be lived in. Kurt could not have been happier. He snuck out of the room and went back to go where Blaine was sleeping in the other room.

After Lilian's furniture and belongings got delivered the next day Kurt locked himself in the room again, busying himself with its final touches. He was kind of worried that he left Blaine in charge of the living room, but there was nothing he could ruin that Kurt couldn't fix. Besides, Kurt began to enjoy Blaine's quirks in decorating.

By six pm Kurt was straightening out the blanket with his hands on her bed. His hard work complete.

He stepped out of the room and took a deep breath before calling Blaine to come in the room with him.

"Hey babe! Come here, I'm done!" He yelled into the still echoing home. Blaine came over, wiping his hands on his sweatpants, nerves written all over his face. "Ready?"

Blaine semi-forced a smile and nodded. "Of course." He looked at the door, still with her little, ribboned 'Liliana' plaque nailed to the door. Something the same, it was reassuring. Blaine allowed Kurt to cover his eyes with his hands as he opened the door.

Kurt led him about two feet into the room, before he stopped and dropped his hands. "Okay, open your eyes." He said with a whisper.

When Blaine did, he was overcome with emotions. It was- it was perfect. He walked over to her bed, complete with the same bed set she had before, 'Liliana' painted above her bed with vines and flowers accenting it. Two bookshelves next to it, each with a small black and white picture. On one side was a picture of Tony and Blaine holding Liliana the night they brought her home from the hospital. On the other was one of Kurt and Santana holding her, only hours earlier, both facing away from the camera, all attention focused on the little girl in their arms.

He felt a tear fall freely down his cheek as he continued around the room. He took a look to the right, on the same side as the door and saw the wall lined with pictures, in the most beautiful, original frames he had ever seen. Her toy box sat below, centered, with her favorite dolls sitting a top of it. He walked over to get a closer look at the pictures. There was one of himself – with a cute little B on the frame, Kurt, Santana, and oh.

The tears continued to flow as he looked at the picture, in the frame marked with a T. He looked at Tony's sparkling eyes, ear to ear smiling, squished face to face with, an equally as happy Liliana, on her first birthday. After allowing himself a few minutes to gather himself, he continued on. Finally in the picture in the middle he looked the picture in the frame marked family. It was a picture of all four of them, Liliana, Cooper and Brittany all making silly faces at the camera during Liliana's dance recital. It is one of his favorite pictures.

He continued his walk around the room, appreciating every little detail Kurt put in to the room. Seriously though, why is he not an interior designer? This is amazing. Right before he was going to look back and Kurt it caught his eye, framed above the dresser, was the finger painting from all of those years ago. Right on the dresser in front of it was the picture of him and Liliana dancing, which Kurt fell in love with just those few months ago.

"Oh my God Kurt –" He somehow managed to choke out before breaking down into sobs.

Kurt rushed over to him and threw his arms around Blaine. "Do you like it?"

"Oh baby I love it. It's perfect. It's even the same color, you know he-" He whispered into his shoulder.

"Ssh, baby, I know. That's why I did it. Liliana said that you still come in there when you are sad sometimes. Blaine, I know you went through something absolutely heartbreaking, and I need you to know that I will never try to take his place. He is her Papa, you loved him, he loved you both. I figured instead of being sad, I could fill it with happy memories. He will always be part of your family."

Blaine sobbed opening into Kurt's shirt, not even sorry that he was using it as a tissue at the moment. In this moment he had never been more sure about what he was going to do on Saturday.

"No baby, our family."

So, only a couple of chapters left... Kinda sad to see it beginning to come to an end! Now if you will excuse me, Brittany and I need to go cry proud momma tears