"Blaine? Did you hear me?"
Blaine shut his car off, not answering the voice on the other end of the phone. Really, Blaine had to know something big was up when Alex called him right as he was getting out of his last class of the day—a sure indicator that the call was very important and, as such, needed to be made as soon as Blaine was free.
Honestly, Blaine should have known why Alex was calling him but he had still been caught off guard. Or maybe he'd heard wrong. That was always a possibility, right?
"Are you okay?"
"What did you say?" Blaine asked slowly, shaking his thoughts away.
"Grandmother… She passed away a few hours ago." His older brother, Alex, repeated.
So he had heard right. He wasn't too surprised; it had mostly been wishful thinking.
"Why? What happened?"
"Ultimately, the cancer. There was too much toxicity, I guess, and she got really bad sick."
Blaine swallowed, looking at his house. Wes was home. Didn't he have a class or something? No. It was Wednesday. He just had study group and his partner was AJ anyway, so he was never gone on Wednesdays anymore because what was the point in going to campus when you lived with your study buddy?
"Are you okay?"
"Are you in the states?"
"No, not yet." Alex sighed. "Sorry. I won't be in the states until… Friday, most likely. I have to go into work tonight."
Blaine nodded although Alex couldn't see this.
"Listen, it's really better this way. She was in a lot of pain these last few months and—."
Blaine tuned Alex out.
He didn't want some image of his sick grandmother in his head. It was much easier to live with the image of her in that restaurant, talking about paying for UK. It was an underhanded thing she did, like everything she ever did. Picturing her sick… feeling sorry for her? He didn't want that image in his head.
"Five o'clock."
"What?" Blaine asked.
"The funeral. It's going to be at five."
"When?"
"Saturday. Blaine, are you okay? I said that two seconds ago." Alex asked. He didn't sound annoyed. He sounded worried. "Do you want to come? I can try to catch a flight to Cambridge and you can come with me."
"I want to go."
Wait, what?
Why?
"Really? After…?"
"I want to go." Blaine repeated. "But I'll get there on my own. You don't have to worry about me. I can catch a plane."
"I'm not worried you can't catch a plane yourself. I'm worried by how you… sound." Alex said. "I'll come down early. I'll try to come tonight."
"No, it's okay." Blaine said quickly.
"Are you sure?" Alex asked.
"I'm sure."
"I'll come if you want me to." Alex said, voice much gentler.
"I know. I'm fine." Blaine frowned as Wes came up to the car, looking confused. Blaine pushed the door open, holding up a finger so Wes wouldn't speak. "Just call me when you get into the states. I'll try to call you later when I make plans."
"Alright. Call me if you want to talk too, okay? I'll keep my phone on me."
"Alright, thanks."
"Bye, Blaine."
"Bye, Alex." Blaine hung up his phone.
"Did your grandma…?" Wes asked.
Blaine nodded. "I have to… I have to get to Ohio I guess. The funeral is on Saturday."
"I have a test Friday morning but I'll go down right after." Wes said without hesitation.
Blaine blinked at him, shocked.
"If you think I'm not going with you, you're crazy." Wes sighed a bit. "Are you okay?"
"I don't think it's fully hit me yet." Blaine admitted. "I was so young when my grandpa died. I didn't really understand… This is, like, the first time someone I known has died and I've known what was going on."
Wes frowned. "Blaine, if I didn't love you I'd be calling you apeshit insane for even contemplating this funeral. She—"
"Did nothing but hurt me. I know." Blaine licked his lips anxiously. "But I need to… go. I need to go."
"Why?" Wes asked, not unkindly. "Why do you need to go?"
"Because my grandmother is dead." Blaine looked him in the eyes. "Maybe it will give me closure or something…"
"If it's what you want, then you should go… And, like I said, I'll be there Friday after my test."
Blaine nodded as his phone began to ring. "It's David's dad. I'll be back."
Wes pulled him into a quick, rough hug. "I've got your back, Blainers. And I am sorry."
"Thanks, Wes." Blaine hugged Wes back tightly before answering his phone. "Hey, Derek… Yeah, I already know… Alex called me ten minutes ago…"
Wes sighed and followed Blaine into the house, pulling Blaine's wallet out of his pocket and going to book Blaine's flight. He wasn't sure exactly what to say to Blaine given the situation, so that seemed like the next best thing…
…
"There is a 4:30 or a 7:50 flight to Ohio. Which do you want?"
Blaine ignored Wes, dialing Kurt's number for the second time.
He wasn't sure when he'd began to freak out. Probably since talking to David's father and making solid arrangements to stay with them until the following week. The fact that neither David nor Wes could be up as early as him wasn't helping. Not that he had expected them to be able to; they were all adults with lives, but still…
Making matters even worse was the fact that Kurt was not answering his calls. He didn't even remember sitting to call Kurt the first time, hadn't realized he'd done it until he'd heard Kurt's familiar voicemail entailing that he probably wouldn't call back… Which was true; Kurt hated phones and hardly ever called anyone back unless it was he, Burt, or Carole.
Blaine closed his eyes, trying to block Wes out. How was he supposed to stay five houses from his parents for that many days without going crazy?
"Blaine, which do you want?" Wes repeated.
"He's not—He's not fucking answering me." Blaine tossed his phone onto the couch, hands shaking. Why was talking to Kurt so damn important anyway? They weren't together.
"Hey…" Wes got up from the computer, setting his credit card on the desk. "Blaine, it's okay."
"It's not okay. He said I could call him and he's—he's not answering. I really need to talk to Kurt."
"Calm down." Wes said gently. "You're shocked and all wound up. Just calm down."
Blaine took a deep breath.
"Good." Wes watched him carefully.
"Should I try to call again?" Blaine asked.
"He's probably in class or at work." Wes reasoned. "He wouldn't ignore you. That's not Kurt."
"I need him right now."
God. Maybe Blaine was a stalker now.
"Sit down." Wes nudged Blaine until he was sitting on the couch. "Which flight do you want? David's dad can pick you up any time."
"The earlier one, please." Blaine sighed, grabbing his phone. No call back yet. Not that it had been more than two minutes since he'd checked last. "I don't even have clothes for it, Wes. Why am I even going to this funeral?"
"I was kind of hoping you'd explain that one to me too." Wes admitted, going to grab his laptop and then sitting next to Blaine on the couch. "I don't know how much closure this will give you if you're freaking out this much."
"I don't know, I don't know." Blaine moaned, tugging at his hair. "This is stupid. Why do I want to go?"
"Clearly you got the loony gene from your mother."
Blaine shot Wes a dark look before sighing. "There's a possibility you're right, Wes."
…
Five missed calls from: B
Kurt pressed 'OK' on the screen of his phone, stomach plummeting when he saw the call list. Something was wrong.
Missed Call: 1:42 PM
Missed call: 2:07 PM
Missed Call: 2:15 PM
Missed Call: 2:47 PM
Missed Call: 3:46 PM
He shoved his phone into his bag, took a deep breath, and looked at Alec who was still gathering his belongings and rambling on about threadcount or silk or something Kurt couldn't wrap his head around at the moment.
Alec looked up, trailing off. "What?"
Kurt pulled his phone back out and held it up for Alec to see.
"Oh, shit." Alec's eyes widened. "Hey, someone's calling you."
Kurt put the phone to his ear. "Hello?"
"Blaine has tried to call you for three hours. His grandma died." Wes said without a hello. "He's really upset."
"I just got out of class and was about to call him." Kurt said, leaving the Parson's studio with Alec right behind him.
"Here, I'm going to take my phone to Blaine. Talk to him… please. He wants to talk to you."
"Alright."
"Is everything okay?" Alec whispered.
Kurt held up his hand and heard rustling as the phone was exchanged. "Hey, Blaine. I was about to call you back. Are you okay?"
"I need you, Kurt." Blaine said, voice composed—too composed. It reminded him of the time he and Blaine had sat in the car in David's driveway all those years ago. Blaine sounded composed then, trying to talk himself into driving past his old house, before completely breaking down.
"Are you heading to Westerville?"
"There's a flight tonight at seven. Hold on." Blaine set the phone down and he could hear he and Wes whispering before a door shut.
"Blaine, are you okay?"
"I don't want to talk about it. I just want you. I'm sorry. I shouldn't even have asked because—."
"Blaine, stop. I'll get on the first flight out. If I can't get a flight, I'll drive. I need time to talk to my professors and my supervisor at the internship." Kurt said quickly. "Calm down."
"I am calm."
"Don't be ridiculous. I know you better than that." Kurt spoke in a firm voice.
"Kurt, she's dead. I don't… I don't know what to do." Blaine took a deep breath.
"I'm so sorry, Blaine." Kurt said, unsure of what to say. It wasn't like Blaine had been close to his grandmother. He didn't know why Blaine was so upset, why he couldn't talk about it, but one thing was clear—he wanted Kurt there.
"I don't know what to do." Blaine repeated, sounding less composed with each word.
Kurt took a few steps away from Alec. He then lowered his voice, wishing he was able to hug Blaine. "It's okay, Blaine. It's okay."
"I have school and an internship and I don't… I don't…"
"Have you made flight arrangements?" Kurt asked, voice gentle.
"Wes made them. I'm going to stay with David's parents."
"Okay, good." Kurt nodded although Blaine couldn't see this. "What about school? And your internship?"
"My professors said I could have off four days. The funeral is on a Saturday, so it works. My internship said to take off as long as I need."
"Then why are you worried about school?"
"I don't know why I'm worried about anything. Wes and David can't come until the night before the funeral and…" Kurt was pretty sure he heard a hitch in Blaine's voice. He was trying not to cry.
"Hey, it's okay. I'll be there tomorrow." Kurt didn't know how he'd be there. He was only allotted so many absences at school and the internship… Well, he had no idea what they would do. It didn't matter, though. Kurt had to get to Ohio. "I can try to make it tonight."
"But you have school and your internship. I shouldn't have asked, Kurt. I'm sorry."
"Hey," Kurt interrupted, voice soft. "You should have asked. You know I love you."
Well, that wasn't supposed to come out.
Blaine didn't speak for a few seconds before he said, "Kurt, I can't—."
"I know. I'm sorry." Kurt swallowed. "Look, I have to go and talk to my professors and stuff. Are you okay? Can I call you back as soon as I leave campus?"
"Yes. I'm okay." Blaine took a deep breath. "Thank you, Kurt."
"Blaine?"
"Yeah?" Blaine asked.
"Go sit with Wes, okay?" Kurt asked.
Blaine let out a noise—Kurt couldn't quite decipher if it was a laugh or a sob. It might have been both. "Okay."
"Promise me."
"I promise." Blaine responded. "Bye, Kurt… Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"No. I really… Thank you so much, Kurt."
"You're welcome, Blaine." Kurt paused, waiting for Blaine to respond. When he didn't, Kurt spoke again. "I'll see you soon."
"Bye." Blaine's voice was barely above a whisper.
"Bye." Kurt hung up and took a deep breath.
"What is going on?" Alec asked.
"Blaine's grandmother just died."
"I thought he wasn't close to his family?" Alec asked, following Kurt back into the classroom building.
"He's not." Kurt said.
"Then why-?"
"I don't know but he wants me there and I'm going." Kurt said, it coming out snappier than it was meant to.
"Sorry." Alec said.
"No. I'm sorry. I don't know why he's upset but I haven't heard them sound like this in a long time and I… He asked for me and I need to get there." Kurt took a deep breath when they reached his lecture hall.
"Want me to wait?"
"No, it's okay. Go on. You need to get home to check on Eric." Kurt said. "Thank you, though."
"Send Blaine our condolences, alright?" Alec asked.
Kurt forced a smile. "I will. Thank you."
Alec squeezed his arm and then left the building.
"Mr. Hummel, what can I help you with?" Kurt's design professor, or Professor Carter, asked once Kurt reached her. She was a tall and thin woman with fire engine red hair and piercing green eyes. She was most known for her eccentric wardrobe, though, which was one of the reasons Kurt loved her so much.
He was fairly certain she would work with him, but he couldn't help but feel anxious asking a favor so early on in the semester.
"I know we're only a few weeks into the class but there's been a death in the family and, if at all possible, I need to get back to Ohio." Kurt made eye contact with her.
Professor Carter nodded, looking sympathetic. "Of course. When is the funeral?"
"Three days, so I'll have to miss Friday's lecture."
"You'll have two free absences left when you return." She responded. "But if something else happens, I'm sure we can work something out. You will for sure be in class on Monday? With your portfolio work up to date?"
He was going to have to find a way, wasn't he?
"Yes, ma'am." Kurt nodded, readjusting the strap on his bag.
"That's good. I'm very sorry for your loss, Mr. Hummel." She placed her tablet computer into her own bag. "We'll see you in class Monday. If you have trouble getting your portfolio assignments done, I suggest you contact me before class rather than during or after. I'll be much more lenient that way."
"I will but I should be okay to get it done. Thank you very much, ma'am." Kurt quickly left the studio and went to find his other professors. He only hoped they were still on campus and that they were as understanding as Professor Carter had been.
…
"They fired you from the internship?"
"Yep." Kurt said, tossing clothes into his overnight bag.
It was two hours later and he needed to be the airport within an hour. This wasn't exactly what Kurt needed at the moment but Rachel Berry was nothing if not incessant. Which is exactly why he was packing and running around as she talked. If he didn't, he'd never get packed and make it in time.
"Don't you have to have one?"
"Yep." Kurt rushed into his bathroom, sidestepping in order to avoid colliding with Finn.
"Isn't this a little much for someone who you are no longer dating?" Rachel asked, following him into the bathroom.
"Rach, it's Blaine." Finn followed them in there.
"There is barely enough room for one person let alone three in here." Kurt said, choosing to ignore Rachel.
"I'm serious, Kurt. What would your father say about you losing an internship to go to some woman's funeral?"
"You know what? Despite whatever is going on between Blaine and me, he is my best friend and I am still in love with him. I fucked up but that doesn't mean he doesn't mean the world to me still. One day, hopefully soon, we will work towards fixing our relationship. In the meantime, one of my best friends needs me and I'm going to him."
"You two have only had, like, three conversations since you met up." Rachel said. "Would he be doing it for you?"
Kurt tossed his face wash into his overnight bag and faced her. What he wanted to say was that, yes, he had no doubts Blaine would have done the same if one of his grandparents had died. He also wanted to tell her to mind her own damn business but, really, he didn't even have time to listen to her ramblings let alone egg them on.
"I'm just saying—." Rachel continued.
"Well don't."
"What if you two don't get back together?"
"Then I will have been with one of my best friends in a time of need." Kurt sighed. "It wouldn't be the end of the world, alright?"
"You never answered me. What would Burt say?"
"If I didn't go, Dad would ask me what in the hell is wrong with me." Kurt retorted. "This isn't about Blaine's grandmother's funeral. It's about Blaine needing support and asking for me."
"His family's bad, Rach." Finn cut in. "It's kinda… big that he's gotta go to this and big that Blaine'd ask him to go."
"Kurt, think about what you're doing." Rachel pleaded. "Do you know how many people you had to beat out for that internship? That was a once in a lifetime opportunity and you threw it away!"
"And I'd do it again every day." Kurt moved past her once more, gathering his bags in his arms. "Thank you for the concern, Rachel. I know in your own weird way you're looking out for me. It's appreciated. But I'm going to Ohio and nothing you do or say will change my mind. You can give me a ride to the airport since I'm out of gas or you can stay here and talk to my bathroom mirror until Quinn gets home and kicks you out. It's your choice."
Finn followed Kurt, immediately pulling the car keys out of his jacket. "C'mon, little bro. I know a way that will take us through less traffic."
"Thanks, Finn." Kurt murmured as Rachel came up, taking one of the bags from Kurt.
"Let's go." Rachel said, hanging Kurt's bag over one shoulder and looping her free arm with Kurt's. "We've got a plane to catch."
***LTC***
Early the next afternoon, Blaine stood in an airport concourse biting his lip and staring at the terminal his ex would soon be walking through. He'd made it to the airport early, intending to think of what to say or do when Kurt walked through that gate.
So far, he'd come up with… nothing. He had no idea what he would say to Kurt. Was he supposed to hug him? Thank him?
Really, all Blaine wanted to do was cry.
There were so many things he wanted to do. He wanted to kiss him, hug him, ask to get back together right then and there so he'd never be alone again. He wanted to break down and sob into Kurt's shoulder because he'd only felt completely comfortable crying to Kurt and he'd been holding it in since he had gotten the phone call. Lastly, part of him wanted to just talk. Talk about why he was upset, why that upset him, why he felt so frustrated with himself for caring.
There were things he was afraid to say to David or Wes. Things that would undoubtedly worry David, that Wes wouldn't understand. True to his words the last time he'd seen Kurt, there were things Kurt just got. He didn't have to be afraid to open up to Kurt when it came to family things. Kurt was able to understand on some level that his friends weren't; Kurt was able to comfort him in a way that David and Wes attempted but had never quite mastered.
"Hey."
Blaine looked up, David's father's car keys now gripped so tightly in his hand that Blaine was positive there would be an indent. He opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out.
"Come here." Kurt whispered, dropping his two bags and wrapping his arms around Blaine's waist.
"Thank you so much." Blaine choked out before beginning to cry into Kurt's shoulder.
"Shh. Shh, shh." Kurt brought his hand up, running his fingers through Blaine's curls.
"I don't know why I'm so upset." Blaine cried, pulling back. "I don't know what I'm doing."
Kurt put his hand on the small of Blaine's back, nudging him towards an empty seating area.
"Thanks." Blaine wiped his eyes, taking a deep breath.
"You're welcome." Kurt watched him carefully.
Blaine blinked rapidly, looking anywhere but at Kurt. "I know I put you in a horrible position, asking you to leave New York, and—"
"It's okay."
Blaine bit his lip hard, nodding. "If you want to stay with me at David's parents, they said you could. I don't want to cause a financial hardship."
"I'm going to stay the nights in Lima and I'll spend the days in Westerville for as long as you want me to." Kurt responded. "Don't worry about money or anything. I'm fine."
'I'm fine' Blaine knew surely meant Kurt was putting everything on a credit card. Blaine couldn't dwell too much on that fact, though. All he could think of was that Kurt was here, finally here. He felt relief very similar to when he woke up in the hospital after his wreck with Kurt there, right at his side. Everything was easier to handle with Kurt there. It always had been.
Which made the fact that they weren't together all the more painful.
"Come on." Kurt stood, gently tugging Blaine up. "Let's get out of this airport, alright? We can talk somewhere more private."
"David's mom is making dinner. Will you at least stay through that?"
"I'm not leaving until you go to bed unless you want me to leave earlier." Kurt promised.
"I can't thank you enough, Kurt." Blaine made eye contact, sniffling.
"It's nothing." Kurt didn't dare to look away. "I would have come even if you hadn't asked me to, Blaine."
Blaine bit his lip to keep it from quivering, reaching out to take Kurt's bags.
"I've got it." Kurt reassured him.
"Let me at least take one." Blaine sniffled, pulling the heaviest one off of Kurt's shoulder and carrying it. "The car is really close. Luckily this airport isn't too busy around noon in the middle of the week."
"Are you okay to drive?" Kurt asked, hand brushing against Blaine's as they walked.
"Yeah. Sorry I probably won't be very good company, though." Blaine bit his lip, coming to a halt outside of David's father's car.
"I'll let it slide this once."
Blaine smiled a bit before unlocking the doors.
…
"How are you holding up out here?"
Several hours had passed since Kurt and Blaine had made it back to David's house. The first two had been spent helping David's mother with dinner.
Kurt had to admit he was surprised by how nice David's mother was being considering how David felt about him. Both of David's parents had been very welcoming of Kurt, offering him a place to stay until he returned to New York more than once, and even asking him about school.
That wasn't important, though. What was important was that Blaine had slipped away when Kurt and David's father were discussing New York transportation.
Blaine, who was sitting on the backyard's porch swing, scooted over so Kurt could join him. "I'm fine."
"You aren't fine, Blaine. If you were, you wouldn't have asked me to come... You also wouldn't have wandered off alone."
Blaine's lip trembled and he bit it. Kurt always had been able to see through him when it came to matters involving his family.
"You don't have to talk about it but it might help." Kurt frowned before reaching out, placing his hand over Blaine's.
Blaine looked down, moving his hand so it was flat on the swing between them. He lifted his hand up, just a bit, and watched as Kurt placed his hand back over Blaine's and laced his fingers through Blaine's. Blaine stared, chest tight and stomach in knots.
"Do you want to talk?"
"There was never g-going to be anything there. I k-know that but… but now it's just… death is so final. I've never known anyone who has d-died, not r-really since my Grandpa and I was younger." Blaine wiped his eyes with the back of his free hand. "We didn't have a relationship, she treated me like shit, but it still sucks. It still sucks that I have a shitty family and that she's gone and there's nothing I can do about it."
"Shh, shh, shh." Kurt shook his head.
"She didn't care about me, Kurt, and I know that. But she should have cared. We should have had this relationship. I should have had a family that cared about me because I try so hard to be a good person, I tried so hard to make my family proud of me and it never was good enough because of something I can't change and that sucks! But now, with her, it's done. It's done, Kurt. Instead of helping them hide me in a private school or conversion camp, she should have helped me. I should have come before her 'image' and I didn't and it's not fair. It's not fair that I never had a relationship with my grandmother and now she's dead and… and it can't ever happen." Blaine's face screwed up.
Kurt said nothing, but instead squeezed Blaine's hand. Blaine didn't want him to talk, not really. Blaine needed someone to listen—someone to listen and really hear him. Someone to let him get out the stuff he was thinking, too afraid to say to most people.
"I'm so dumb, Kurt." Blaine pulled his hand back and then pulled his legs onto the porch swing, burying his face in his knees.
"You're not dumb, Blaine." Kurt whispered.
"I wish we'd had more." Blaine mumbled into his knees.
"I'm sorry you didn't. I'm so sorry you didn't have a family that cared for you the way you deserved." Kurt whispered in his ear, bending down and stroking his hair. "But you're better than them. You're a good person, Blaine. And one day, this won't matter because you'll have your own family to love and you'll be a good grandfather to your granddaughter or grandson."
"What if I don't?"
"Don't be ridiculous." Kurt said, not unkindly. "You're going to have kids and grandkids and great grandkids one day. You'll get to give your children the family you never had yourself and they'll know what it's like to have a father and a family who truly loves them. It won't erase what you're going through now but it'll still be a wrong that's been righted."
Blaine looked up and into Kurt's eyes, his own eyes puffy and red. "I mean what if I'm not better than them? What if I get a family and end up like my dad?"
"That will never happen."
"Do you think anyone plans to end up a rigid asshole?" Blaine covered his face. "I'm sorry I'm so dumb."
"Don't call yourself dumb for how you feel. The way you feel makes you human and, I'm sorry but that's something I'm not entirely convinced your family is." Kurt frowned. "Own your feelings. They make you you."
Blaine leaned over, head resting on Kurt's shoulder. "I'm terrified to go to this funeral and face my entire family."
"I'll be there with you. David and Wes will, too." Kurt fingered Blaine's long curls. "It's going to be okay. I won't let them say anything to you."
Blaine sniffled loudly and shuddered.
"It's going to be okay." Kurt repeated.
"Thank you so much for coming down here." Blaine looked up.
"You don't have to thank me." Kurt reassured him. "I want to be with you."
Blaine looked at him, expression softening. His lip then began to tremble again and he leaned down, face buried in Kurt's chest.
"I've got you." Kurt whispered, gently rocking him as he moved his foot against the ground, moving the swing back and forth slowly. "I've got you. You don't have to go through this alone."
Blaine clutched his shirt, sobbing quietly into it.
"I'm right here." Kurt repeated, glancing up at the roof of the porch and wanting nothing more than to make Blaine's pain go away. "You're not alone."
***LTC***
"Blaine fell asleep." Kurt said, making his way into Wes' living room the next evening.
"In the middle of my bed?" Wes asked, looking up from the couch.
"Yeah but if you nudge his leg with your foot, he'll move over." Kurt gave a sad sort of smile, thinking it was funny how he missed the littlest stuff the most. He'd heard the saying before but was quickly discovering how accurate it was.
Wes shrugged. "He can have it. I'll sleep in the guest room."
"I guess I better head back to Lima." Kurt bent, picking up his car keys.
"You can stay for a while. Just because Blaine's asleep doesn't mean you have to rush off." Wes pointed out, watching him.
Kurt smiled and took a seat by him. "He's glad you came up a day early."
"I'm glad my professor let me take the exam a day early." Wes responded, moving so that he was seated facing Kurt. "How are things at school? He mentioned you got an internship?"
"I actually… just got fired from that." Kurt admitted.
"Why on Earth would they fire you?" Wes' jaw dropped.
"Because they told me I couldn't get the time off to come to Ohio so I walked out." Kurt shrugged. "For however 'prestigious' the internship may have been, I kind of hated it. I didn't learn anything and everyone was hateful anyway. There was only one designer who would actually teach me stuff and he was off most of the days I worked."
"Did you tell Blaine?"
"No. You know how he'd react. He'd feel guilty and he's stressed enough already. Besides, it's worth it. I'll find another internship later but Blaine needs me now."
Wes stared at him.
"I'm not doing it to get him back or anything." Kurt added quickly. "I just really wanted to be here for him. Maybe I shouldn't be saying it out loud but I really do love him and I'm not going to stop ever."
"I still can't believe you two aren't together." Wes sighed.
"I'm trying to fix it."
"He is too, you know." Wes sighed again. "He's making an effort to talk to you and be positive. If you both keep trying, maybe it will be enough."
Kurt forced another smile. "I hope so. I miss him so much."
"Why'd you do it?" Wes asked. "I'm not mad. Okay, I'm a little mad… I really want to understand, though."
"Because I spent more days crying than not. I didn't know how to talk to him. I couldn't handle the way I felt being so far away from him, never getting to talk to him, never having our problems resolved." Kurt frowned. "I tried to fix it in the wrong way."
"Do you feel better now?"
Kurt took a deep breath, thinking. "I'm better… but I'm not happy. When I talk to Blaine, I… am. I have this routine, I'm seeing friends more and that helps but… he's missing. If we don't get back together, I'll survive. But if there's even a small chance of us getting back to how we were, then… I'd do anything."
"I can't really speak for Blaine or anything like that… but he's happier on days he talks to you too." Wes looked down. "Don't tell him I said that."
Kurt smiled a bit.
"I'm on your side. I don't know how David will act around you tomorrow… but I'm on your side. I think you and Blaine made a really good couple. You hurt him and he obviously hurt you too, but if you two can't make it as a couple there isn't really any hope for the rest of us." Wes frowned.
"I've seen David two or three times with Mercedes. Given the fact that they broke up last week, I'm pretty sure I'll get to hear his true feelings about me. Not that he isn't good at conveying them through faces…" Kurt sighed.
"Don't worry about him. He's trying to protect Blaine. When Blaine was really… depressed… David took it really hard. He stayed with David mostly and it was really… bad." Wes made eye contact. "David isn't right in the things he does or says but that's why he does them. He isn't a bad person."
Kurt didn't respond because nothing he could have said truthfully would have sounded very nice and, unlike David, he knew how to keep his opinions to himself.
"Blaine's opinion is the only one that truly matters anyway." Wes added and shrugged his shoulders. He then frowned. "He's acting weird. I'm honestly surprised he cared enough to go to the funeral. Even my parents wouldn't go to this thing if Blaine didn't want to. Everyone's only going to support him."
"I don't think he's upset about her dying. I think he's upset about what he never had." Kurt explained. "And he knows that's why everyone is going. For him."
"You should tell him about the internship one day… Maybe not now, but he should know what you did for him. It means a lot, Kurt."
"It's Blaine over an internship." Kurt laughed, shaking his head. "There's nothing to that. Even if we're not together, he still means the world to me. There's not much I wouldn't do to make him happy and nothing I wouldn't do to be there for him."
"How is Parsons?" Wes asked for the sheer fact that he didn't know what to say. Why was it that Kurt and Blaine weren't together anymore? Clearly both of them wanted to be—even if Blaine wouldn't admit it. And if Kurt wasn't going to tell Blaine about the internship, Wes sure as hell was. Kurt may have seen it as "nothing" but Wes knew it was, in fact, a very big something.
"Parsons is great. It's harder than CCAD but I knew it would be." Kurt answered. "All of my classes are going really well. I live very close to campus so I get to walk everywhere… Not very many people drive anywhere in New York, though, so that's not a big surprise."
"Are you still in classes with your one friend?"
"Alec? Yeah, I am." Kurt nodded.
"Do you two hang out a lot?"
"We were in the beginning but his fiance keeps getting sick, so a lot of the time he has to go home right after school." Kurt frowned. "It's like the fifth time he's been sick since June."
"Has he been to the doctor?"
"He is a doctor."
"I hope he hasn't caught Malaria." Wes snorted.
Kurt laughed a bit. "I don't know but Alec gave him two more days before he said he was forcibly dragging him to a hospital for testing. Which means Eric is probably just hide being sick if he's not better."
"He's a doctor. He'd probably know if it was serious." Wes pointed out.
"That's what I keep telling Alec. Besides, I saw Eric three days before I left for New York and he seemed perfectly fine." Kurt shrugged. "He's not going to let himself be dying without getting checked out."
"So you've been hanging out with your brother and old friends mostly, then?"
"As of the last few weeks, yeah." Kurt nodded and then rolled his eyes. "Finn and Rachel are getting married in a few weeks and it's horrible to be around Rachel, though. I understand; I really and truly do. But there is only so much Rachel Berry talking about one subject that the human mind can take before it snaps."
"I kind of got that vibe off her." Wes laughed.
"How is Harvard?"
"Top of my class still." Wes beamed.
"And do you still live with the person who wants that title?"
"Yep and she's not getting it." Wes said, voice firm. "If it had been up to me, I wouldn't be living with her."
"Well didn't you meet her before she moved in?"
"No. I was out. Blaine met her." Wes admitted.
"Why wouldn't you meet her first? That's your own fault."
"It was Adrian's friend. How was I to know the one girl he suggests is the one girl on campus that I can't stand?"
"That is completely your fault." Kurt repeated. "Completely."
"I'm not arguing with you." Wes laughed.
"Are Blaine and Adrian still partners in school?"
"Technically they're in the same study group." Wes explained. "But they're mock trial partners in most of their classes. The way I understand it is, they both work really well together. Blaine said there are a few group of kids who are still partners from last year too. One instructor split them up just to see how it'd play out. They're actually against each other in that class now. I'm interested to see what they're like closer to time."
Kurt laughed a bit. "It's good that Adrian is his partner in most of them. I know he really likes working with Adrian."
"Yeah. Adrian's really nice. They hang out a lot." Wes said and then quickly added, "As friends, of course. Adrian got Blaine into this show called Big Brother and it has this 'after dark' show. The season is almost over now but they'd always watch it downstairs until two in the morning, yelling together at people on the screen. And they each like someone the other hates, so that tends to end in them bickering. It's really funny to listen to people get so bent up over a show."
"Finn watched that a few years ago." Kurt nodded. "I think people either get addicted or can't stand it."
Wes nodded. "I tried to watch it with them a few times but the people on it annoyed me."
Kurt laughed, looking up when Blaine came into the room.
"We're gossiping about you, Blainers."
"Mmmh." Blaine, who was clearly half asleep, sat between them on the couch and rested his head on Wes' shoulder.
"Did we wake you up?" Kurt asked worriedly.
"Mmmmhno." Blaine yawned. "Sarah is snoring really loud."
"I'll go take her pillow." Wes stood.
"What?" Blaine asked as Kurt arched his eyebrow.
"If you take her pillow, she quits snoring. I don't question it. I'm just appreciative I know." Wes grinned and headed up the stairs.
"Feeling a bit better?" Kurt asked, watching Blaine carefully.
"I guess so." Blaine yawned once again. "I just want this whole thing over with, you know?"
"I do." Kurt reached over, purely on instinct, and pushed down some of Blaine's curls that were sticking up. "You need a haircut… badly."
"Hey, you can't nag me." Blaine teased. "You need a boyfriend title for that, sir. Besides, I know you love it."
Kurt felt a warm rush go through him. Blaine was teasing him. They'd reached the point to tease each other.
"Besides, your hair is getting longer too." Blaine pointed. "You keep styling it higher. It looks good, though."
"Well you look like you've got a poodle napping on your head." Kurt gave an impish smile.
Blaine smiled back, this one less forced than the ones Kurt had been getting since he'd arrived in Ohio.
"Alright. She's done snoring." Wes announced, coming into the back room.
Blaine scooted back a bit—when had he even scooted so close to begin with?— and looked up. "That's so mean."
"I'll put it back before I go to sleep." Wes shrugged.
Kurt stood. "I really should go home. It's getting late and I don't want Dad and Carole to worry something happened to me."
"You sure you don't want to just stay here, Kurtsie?" Wes asked. "We've got plenty of room."
"No, but thank you." Kurt smiled.
"You're coming tomorrow, right?" Blaine asked, now looking at him with a sad expression.
"Of course." Kurt nodded, his smile faltering. "As soon as I get up, I'll head here."
Blaine stood. "I'll walk you to your car."
"Okay." Kurt's smile widened again and he followed Blaine out of the house (okay, mini mansion) and to Carole's car. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." Blaine put his hands in his pockets, chewing on his lip.
"I'll see you tomorrow." Kurt promised.
"Okay." Blaine forced a smile and nodded. "Bye, Kurt."
"Bye." Kurt got into the car but did not shut his door.
"Why aren't you going?"
"I'm waiting for you to be safely inside the house." Kurt started the car.
Blaine's smile grew and he gave a small nod before walking towards the house. Kurt sighed softly as the door closed behind Blaine and then backed out of the driveway. More than anything he wished they were still together, that he didn't have to leave Blaine's side through all of this.
Everything happened for a reason, though, right?
***LTC***
"Why are you even here?"
Kurt looked up. It was the night before Blaine's grandmother's funeral and, honestly, Kurt was surprised David hadn't cornered him alone earlier than he had. After all, David had been there for over four hours. Not that he'd had much of a choice in waiting, Kurt reminded himself. Blaine had been sticking very close to his side ever since he'd arrived in Ohio Wednesday night.
Kurt had been spending days with Blaine, traveling to Lima late at night to stay with his family. It would have been way too weird to stay with Blaine at David's house. They'd continued to be amazing to him and Kurt could see why Blaine was close to David's family. They were very, very nice. It kind of made him wonder how David could be such an asshole under the right circumstances.
"Because I'm pretty sure a break up means you don't associate with one another." David continued before Kurt could respond.
"He asked me to come." Kurt replied smoothly.
"Do you want to play games with his head or something? He's in a fragile state and—"
"Why would I be trying to play games with his head?" Kurt sighed, looking extremely annoyed.
"You tell me. First you break up with him, now you're trying to be his friend. What am I supposed to think?"
"Don't you have more important things to worry about than trying to start something with me?"
"Trust me. If Mercedes and I hadn't been dating, I would have come to talk to you a long time ago."
Kurt set his phone, which he'd been looking at before David had come up, in his pocket. "Well now that you broke up with her, go on and get it over with."
"How our relationship ended is none of your business."
"But mine and Blaine's relationship is yours?" Kurt asked sweetly. And, really, it was worth it to see the expression on David's face.
"When it concerns my best friend, it becomes my business."
"Right." Kurt nodded, expression serious. "Because it's not like Mercedes and I are strangers."
"We ended on amicable terms. You broke Blaine's heart. We had been having issues for a long time and working on them hadn't helped. You didn't give Blaine the chance to work on anything."
"For someone who is supposed to be so mature, who is going to school to be a doctor, you sure can act like a rich and spoiled little boy."
David scowled.
"What you're doing doesn't come off as you being overprotective. It comes off as you being uninformed and, frankly, an ass."
"I'm the ass yet I'm not the reason Blaine didn't sleep or eat for weeks. I'm not the one giving information about Blaine to his family."
Kurt jumped up. "I didn't give anyone any information about Blaine. If you think I would, that is your goddamn problem."
"They got it somehow."
Kurt stepped back, letting out a hollow laugh. "Maybe you should talk to Blaine."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"I mean maybe you should get your facts straight. You want to make comments about the break up, fine. Not that it's any of your business, but whatever. You want to make stuff up and go at me? No."
"I can't believe Wes or I ever liked you, wanted Blaine to date you, and thought you could make him happy. And now you're here trying to act like you give two shits about him when four months ago you did more damage than his dad could ever do!"
That was beyond low, Kurt thought as he fought the urge to cry. Not in front of David. "Shut up. Just shut up. Blaine and I had problems and we both weren't working through them well. I thought what I was doing was best at the time but I made a mistake, alright?"
The door opened and Wes stepped in. "What's going on?"
"Nothing." David said.
"Are you two in here arguing? Can it not wait until after the funeral at the very least? We're here to support Blaine. Not to go at each other." Wes snapped.
"Mind your own business. Maybe you think it's nice to act friendly but I don't." David snapped right back.
"I'm not acting friendly, David. Kurt is my friend."
"Blaine is supposed to be your friend."
"The problems Blaine and I had in our relationship are ours. Until you are personally involved, don't pass judgments on me." Kurt said. "It's none of your business who caused what, who contributed what, and who is more at fault. It is mine and Blaine's business alone. Now I'm going to go and find Blaine because he asked me to come to the funeral."
"He shouldn't have had to ask." David called after him, loud enough for Kurt and Wes to hear but not loud enough for anyone outside the room to hear.
"Stay away from him if you can't play nice." Wes sighed. "By the way, your mom is starting to get mad at you over your hostility so good luck with that."
"Am I the only one that gives two shits about what Kurt did to Blaine?" David exclaimed.
"No. But you're the only one putting a break up over Blaine's feelings and that's pretty shitty." Wes frowned.
"I'm not…"
"Well it's really coming off that way. If Blaine hears you being rude to Kurt…"
"He shouldn't be here."
"Blaine wants him here. They're trying to work through stuff. Have enough respect for Blaine to not run Kurt off, alright? Kurt made him happy. That should be all you care about."
"Since when are you the expert on relationships?" David scoffed.
"It's not being an expert on relationships. It's being a good friend." Wes walked out of the room to find Blaine.
"Do you have to go?" He heard Blaine asking quietly, sounding pathetic.
"I don't have to but you should probably spend some time with your friends." Kurt responded gently.
"I want to spend time with you too." Blaine frowned when Wes came in.
"Hey, why don't we all go to my house?" Wes asked cheerfully. "My mom was making cheesecake. You like that, right, Kurt?"
Blaine looked at Kurt, eyes pleading him to agree. It was kind of heart breaking.
"Okay." Kurt nodded. Like he could really tell Blaine no.
Blaine's eyes lit up, if only a bit. Wes knew Blaine well enough to know he needed Kurt around him now. Kurt, as someone who had dated Blaine for years and someone who may have known more about Blaine's past then even he or David did, knew how to calm Blaine down. He knew how to pull Blaine out of headspace, bring him back to Earth so he didn't go back to dark places. The two had a special way of talking, Wes guessed. Whatever it was, he knew Kurt was more equipped to deal with Blaine than he (or even David) was.
"I'll go get David and see if he wants to come." Wes excused himself to return to the den where David was angrily staring at the door. "We're going to go to my house for cheesecake. Do you want to come?"
"Not particularly."
"Put it aside until after the funeral." Wes snapped. "Blaine wanted all three of us here."
"Fine." David snapped right back again, exiting the room. "Let's go."
**LTC***
"You look so handsome, Blaine."
"Thanks." Blaine mumbled to David's mother, taking a seat on the couch between David and Kurt—picking that spot mostly to put a person between them, to be entirely honest. Eating cheesecake at Wes' the night before had almost been too much tension to handle and Blaine was surprised they hadn't killed each other yet.
"It'll all be over soon, sweetie." Wes' mother, who was considerably younger than David's mother, said in a gentle voice.
"I know." Blaine responded, so quiet that David and Kurt had to strain to hear the words.
"Time to put the fun in funeral!" Wes announced coming into the room in a very nice tux.
"Wesley!" David's mother exclaimed as Wes' mother covered her face.
"What? It's going to take everything for me to not burst out singing Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead when the pastor walks up." Wes said.
"Blaine is right there." Wes' mother pointed. "Can the funeral jokes wait until next week, please?"
"I don't care." Blaine shrugged.
"If you didn't care, none of us would be going to this funeral." David pointed out.
Blaine looked down.
"Blaine, how do you want to go about this?" David's father asked as he came into the room with Wes' father. "Do you want to sit in the front?"
"No. As far back as we can get." Blaine responded.
"If anyone tries to talk to you, do you want us to intervene?"
"If Mom, Dad, or my uncles approach I want to leave." Blaine said.
"Anytime you want to leave, tell us. We'll stay as short or as long as you're comfortable with." Wes' mom said.
"Alright." Blaine nodded and stood.
"I figured the kids can go in one car and we can follow." David's mom said. "If that's okay with you, sweetie?"
Blaine shrugged. "That's fine."
"If we get separated from you boys, I don't want Blaine alone." David's father said once Blaine had left the house with Wes' parents. "I don't care if Blaine tells you he's okay to talk to someone alone. Unless it's his brother, someone needs to be with him. I don't know that his dad would try to pull anything but we're not taking any chances."
"Don't worry about that." David glowered. "He better not try to say anything to Blaine because I'll let him know exactly where he can—." He trailed off when Blaine came back into the house.
"Who is going to drive?" Blaine asked.
"Me, me, me!" Wes exclaimed, rushing to grab car keys. "I want to drive the new Lexus!"
"Wes, if you wreck my car, there will be more than one funeral everyone in this room will be attending!" Wes' dad called from the front porch.
"Ruin my fun." Wes muttered before grinning at Kurt. "Want to see how fast a Lexus that's more awesome than mine can go?"
"No." David, Blaine, and Kurt said together.
"Oh, fine, you party poopers."
…
"Are you sure about this, Blaine?" David asked anxiously when Wes had shut his father's car off.
"Not really but if I'd rather go and regret it than not go and regret it." Blaine mumbled, unbuckling his seatbelt. "Just don't leave me alone."
"We weren't planning on it." Kurt said, making eye contact.
"They're already talking." Blaine frowned, looking at two couples who were looking into the car with disgusted looks clearly aimed at him and Kurt.
"Are you sure about this?" David repeated.
"Yes." Blaine pushed the car door open and got out, face composed.
David and Wes' parents walked up.
"I was beginning to think you boys had forgotten how to get to church." David's mother said.
"Most of the people inside are family. It's mostly church people out here." Wes said, coming up behind Kurt. "So if people come up and talk to Blaine now, don't worry."
"Do you really think his family will try to talk to him?" Kurt asked.
"The people who come up and talk to him will be the ones you least want to do so." David answered, joining them as well. "Because they'll want to look like they aren't the scum of the Earth."
Kurt watched as three elderly women came up, hugging Blaine. He bit back a smile as one even pinched his cheek. Clearly Blaine was missed from church.
"His dad." David said, glancing towards the end of the parking lot. He glanced at Blaine, who was right with their fathers. "He wouldn't dare do it in front of them."
"No. He'll wait until he's alone with us." Wes agreed.
The small crowd of people saying hello to Blaine made their way into the church and he scooted until he was back with Kurt, Wes, and David. He then took a deep breath. "I don't want to go inside yet."
"Blaine!"
Blaine turned as tiny arms wrapped around his legs. For a brief second he thought maybe it had been Melody—why would he have thought that, though? Wishing thinking, maybe? As pathetic as it may have been to admit, he would have felt more at ease with Burt and Carole also at his side.
He looked down, smiling when he saw a head of black curls. It was nice to give a smile he didn't have to force. "Hey!"
"Danny!" Alex groaned, coming up behind Blaine. "Hey, Blaine."
"Hey." Blaine said, pulling Danny up and then attempting to pass him over to Alex.
"I'll stay with you!" Danny chirped. "You should carry me!"
Alex rolled his eyes. "He's been very excited to see you. It's all he's talked about on the fli—ght." He smiled when his wife caught up.
"You promised to not leave me alone with anyone." She said, although she was clearly teasing.
"Hey, Mia." Blaine smiled brightly.
"Hey, Kurt." Alex smiled. "Hey, David and Wes… everyone."
"He is so cute." David's mom cooed, coming up and waving at Danny. "He's got your eyes, Alex."
"He's got Alex's attitude too." Mia sighed, shaking her head. "And stubbornness."
"It runs in the family." Danny chirped, beaming. He wrapped his arms around Blaine's neck. "I have another uncle but you're my favorite. You send better presents."
"That he gets from my grandmother." Alex said, earning a smack to his arm from Mia. "What? You know it's the truth. You can't hit someone near a church. That's punishable by death here, Amelia."
"I'm not an idiot." Mia shook her head again. "I had a Civics class… and I actually paid attention in school unlike you."
"You've got your hands full." Wes' mom laughed.
"Only when he's not at work."
David's mom snorted loudly.
"I heard that." Alex scoffed. "Play nice and I won't leave you alone in America."
"Daddy is reading with me, Blaine. We're reading Harry Potter." Danny grinned excitedly. "He says you liked Harry Potter when you were my age and that it was your favoritest."
"It's still one of my favorites." Blaine said, stepping out of somebody's way.
"What other books do you like?"
"Hmm, I like a lot of books. Frankenstein—."
Danny giggled. "That sounds scary!"
"You should read Goosebumps."
Alex shuddered. "No way. The kid is weird enough already."
Danny waved at Kurt. "Hi, Kurt! Are you and Blaine still boyfriends?"
"Danny, shh." Mia said. "Use your inside voice."
"Don't wanna." Danny motioned for Blaine to put him down and ran to Kurt. "Can I tell you a secret?"
Kurt bent down. "What?"
"Daddy likes you." Danny giggled.
Kurt smiled and ruffled Danny's curls.
"How are you holding up?" Alex asked Blaine, looking concerned.
"I'm fine." Blaine shrugged.
Alex turned to Kurt. "How is he holding up?"
"He's doing okay… He'll be okay." Kurt answered.
"Do you care if we sit with you all?" Alex asked as an old man sent him a dirty look. In response Alex gave a wide grin and said loudly, "Nice to see you too, Uncle Charlie."
Mia gently hit his back and shook her head before bending down and kissing Danny's cheek. Kurt was pretty sure she called Alex a smart ass, too, and he resisted the urge to laugh.
"Sure." Blaine nodded. "What was that about?"
"We'll talk about it later." Alex said.
"I guess we should head in." Blaine frowned.
"Do I have to use my inside voice now?" Danny asked in a loud whisper when everyone was seated together.
"Yes." Mia said at the same time Alex said, "No."
"Alex, honestly." Mia shook her head. "Don't be in a bad mood."
"Oh, I'm in a great mood." Alex said as their father passed. "Never better actually."
Mia shook her head again and straightened Danny's tie.
"Kurt, can I sit on your lap?" Danny asked.
"If your mommy and daddy don't care, sure." Kurt smiled.
"Yay!" Danny clapped and ran a few feet down, hopping onto Kurt's lap. Clearly he had practice jumping on people's laps.
"Alright. Quiet voice now." Alex whispered to Danny, putting his finger to his lips. "Don't make a peep and Daddy will buy you ice cream when we leave."
Danny clamped his mouth shut and sat completely still, his little fist tightly holding some of Kurt's dress shirt.
Blaine took a deep breath as everyone else began to sit down. Wes, who was sitting directly in front of him, turned around and made a heart with his hands. David then reached back, squeezing his shoulder before turning his attention to the front of the church.
Blaine bit back a smile because, really, he had the greatest friends in the whole wide world. Nobody could tell him any differently.
"You okay?" Kurt leaned over, whispering in his ear.
"I think so." Blaine nodded, reaching over and lacing his fingers with Kurt's. He looked straight ahead, afraid to meet Kurt's eyes and not even really knowing why he'd done it. Maybe he was so used to touching Kurt when they sat so close. Maybe he just needed to feel Kurt there.
And it helped.
It really and truly did.
***LTC***
"Oh my goodness! Blaine!" Carole rushed forward, wrapping her arms around Blaine the next afternoon. "Kurt, I didn't know you were bringing him back with you!"
"I thought he might like to see you, Dad, and Melody." Kurt responded.
"Honey, I am so sorry about your grandmother. How are you holding up?" Carole pulled back to look at Blaine.
"I'm not going to lie. It really sucks." Blaine said, making eye contact with her. "But I'll be fine."
"You must have lost ten pounds… and you've grown at least an inch since I last saw you… and your hair has gotten so long." Carole took in his appearance.
"I've been running a lot more. Stress relief." Blaine explained. "And I eat healthier…" He paused and then added, "Well, somewhat."
Carole laughed a bit before hugging Kurt. "Are you boys hungry? If I'd known you both would be here I would have made food. I wasn't expecting you until dinner, Kurt."
"I'll make lunch." Kurt stepped into the kitchen, giving them some privacy. After all, he'd spent the last three days with Blaine. Carole had not seen him since April and it was August. They wouldn't have all night to talk and Kurt wanted to make sure they made the most of their time.
He was surprised when, a few seconds later, Blaine and Carole came in after him. His heart made a little jump when he saw Blaine come in first. When they were at David or Wes' houses, he'd figured Blaine had kept up with him because Kurt was in an unfamiliar area. In his own house, though?
Maybe Blaine really wanted to be close to Kurt, even if they weren't talking that moment.
For some reason, it made him want to cry. Maybe things weren't as messed up as they thought. Maybe they stood a real chance.
Carole squeezed Kurt's shoulder and gave him a smile. Kurt smiled back and returned to making them some sandwiches.
"Are you going to be behind in school?" Carole asked Blaine.
"A bit, yes. But I'm going to take some extra time off from the internship and try to catch up… and my friend Adrian is in nearly all of my classes, so he's going to help me understand the harder stuff. My professors all promised my grades would be okay as long as I am back up to speed by the Monday after next."
"Good, so you have a whole week to get caught up." Carole smiled.
"Yeah."
Kurt felt eyes on him and glanced back to see Blaine quickly looking away.
"I feel kind of bad Kurt had to bail on his internship and school." He heard Blaine say.
"Don't be ridiculous." Kurt finished the first sandwich, put Blaine's favorite chips on the plate, and handed it over.
"He got a really good internship." Carole said excitedly. "Did he tell you?"
"I didn't know it was a really good one." Blaine looked at Kurt. "Congratulations."
"He got one of only a few spots. It's very competitive." Carole beamed. "We're so proud of him."
"It's not that big of a deal. They're jerks anyway." Kurt finished Carole's plate and handed it over.
"You know, he refuses to acknowledge what he's doing." Carole shook her head. "He gets that from Burt."
"Some of the people at my internship were jerks to me for weeks." Blaine said, making eye contact. "It'll probably settle down soon. They try to weed out the weak."
Well, guess I got weeded out.
Kurt smiled. "Yeah, maybe."
Blaine tilted his head a little bit, still not looking away. Could he tell what had happened?
Kurt finally turned to make his own sandwich and then took a spot at the table.
"Do you feel better now that it's over?"
"What?" Blaine asked sharply.
"The funeral." Kurt said.
"Oh." Blaine looked embarrassed. "I guess a bit. I think once I'm back in Cambridge and have to focus on real life, I'll feel better..."
"You're right." Carole nodded. "Once you get back into your routine, things will go back to normal."
"I hope so." Blaine ate one of his chips.
"I forgot drinks." Kurt quickly stood, rushing towards the fridge.
Blaine got up as well, going to help him.
"I'm sorry."
"It's just a drink." Blaine offered a forced half smile as Kurt held a glass out to him. "Thanks."
"You're welcome." Kurt poured two more glasses, one for Carole and one for himself, before going back to the table.
"Kurt, you're back early. Did—" Burt trailed off, eyes widening in surprise when he saw Blaine at the table.
"Hey, Burt." Blaine said, getting up and going to hug him.
"BLAINE, BLAINE, BLAINE!" Melody ran in, throwing her arms and legs around Blaine's leg before he could reach Burt.
"Hey, Mellie!" Blaine tried to put on a normal, excited voice. "Let me hug you!"
She hopped off his leg, squealing as Blaine scooped her up.
"I've missed you thiiiiiiiiiiiis much!" Melody held her arms apart as far as she could, nearly punching Blaine in the nose in the process.
"If I showed you how much I missed you, you'd probably fall." Blaine stuck out his lower lip in a pout.
Melody threw his arms around his neck, squeezing Blaine tightly.
"I've missed you so much, pumpkin." Blaine mumbled in her ear, squeezing right back. It was the truth, too. He missed not seeing her as much, hated how tall she was now because she'd grown so much since April and it was heartbreaking that he didn't know when he'd see her again if at all.
"Why don't you come and see me, Mommy, and Daddy anymore?" Melody pouted, looking down.
"I've been very busy at law school."
"But Kurt is busy at school and he still comes more than you do."
Blaine looked at her, swallowing a sudden lump in his throat.
"Blaine's school is farther away than mine, sweetie." Kurt said.
"That's not true."
"Melody…" Burt began.
"Finn and Kurt see me lots and you doesn't."
"Mellie…" Blaine said.
Melody burst into tears, burying her face in his shoulder.
Blaine looked at Kurt, an unreadable expression on his face. He had made Melody cry. Why didn't he make more time to talk to her on the phone? Why hadn't be given her the present in person? It had been summer. He could have saved up for gas money or a plane ticket.
"I'm sorry for making you maaaaaaaaaad."
"Pumpkin, I'm not mad." Blaine promised, swallowing another lump in his throat. "I'm not. I promise. I've been so busy. I'm really sorry I haven't seen you."
"You weren't at my softball game and they were."
"Melody…"
"It's not fair!" Melody wiggled until he put her down and then ran to Carole, crying into her leg.
Blaine went over and bent down by her. "I'm sorry I've not been a good friend lately."
Melody didn't respond.
"Sometimes I let people down on accident." Blaine glanced at Kurt, who was watching intently with a sad expression. "But I don't mean to and I always try to make it right."
Melody pulled back to face him slowly, hand tightly grasping Carole's hand that wasn't running through her hair. "Big brothers have to be nice to their little sisters. Daddy says so."
Tears filled Blaine's eyes and he hugged her tightly. "Y-You're right. So I'll have to work on it, won't I?"
Melody nodded, sniffling loudly before hugging him again.
"Do you forgive me?"
"Uh-huh." Melody sniffled into his neck and then nuzzled his shoulder.
"That's good because I don't want my Mellie mad at me." Blaine kissed her forehead.
"Daddy, can Blaine read me my bedtime story tonight?" Melody asked, her voice cheerful as ever.
"If he's still here, he can." Burt promised.
Melody hopped down and ran off, calling behind her as she went, "I'm gonna go and get my new toys so I can show Blaine!"
"I need to call her more." Blaine frowned. "I didn't know she… I…"
"She sees you as her big brother, just like Finn and Kurt." Carole patted Blaine's arm. "Still. She talks about you just as much as she talks about them."
"How are ya doin', Blaine?" Burt asked, coming up and extending his arms for a hug.
"I've been better but I've also been worse." Blaine admitted, hugging him back. "Kurt's helped a lot these past few days."
Kurt smiled sadly when Carole squeezed his arm.
"How are you boys doing? Talking a lot?" Burt asked.
"Burt…" Carole started.
"Right. I shouldn't ask. I'm just glad you two are talking again. Working things out and all."
"Dad, please." Kurt kept his voice soft but there was a definite edge to it.
"I'm glad we're talking again too." Blaine told Burt, giving a smile.
"So I'm going to be in the area in a few weeks' time. Would you want to meet me for lunch?" Burt asked.
"You're going to be in Cambridge?" Blaine raised his eyebrow.
"I'm going to be in Northern New York for a convention."
Northern New York was nowhere near Cambridge, meaning Burt wanted to drive all that way to visit Blaine for lunch. His smile grew, but at the same time it kind of broke his heart a little bit. He missed this, being around everybody, being with Kurt, having a family.
"Definitely if you want to, yeah." Blaine said eagerly. "I can ask off at my internship and show you around. It's a pretty cool city… Not that I get to see too much of it when it isn't summer or a vacation."
"I don't want to take too much of your time." Burt said quickly.
"No, it's fine." Blaine shrugged. "And if I can't have off, Adrian can probably work my shift. It really wouldn't be a problem."
"Great." Burt grinned. "How's school going?"
"It's early on but it's fine. I still have my partner from last year in all of my classes but one which I'm definitely not complaining about. So, it's not been too much of a change. The classes are more in depth, though. It requires more studying and readying. I meet with my study group two more hours a week than I used to, and we used to meet for group a lot."
"How on Earth do you find time to sleep?" Carole asked.
"I don't really." Blaine gave a small laugh. "Not much, at least. Wes and I kind of trade off waking each other up before classes otherwise we'd either get no sleep or sleep through classes. I usually get to sleep around four in the morning and my first class three days a week is at eight… I nap between classes a lot."
"Do the other students get sleep regularly?"
"Well Adrian has been known to sleep in his back seat on long breaks, and this one girl naps in the library all the time, so I don't think I'm alone in my suffering." Blaine laughed.
"Kid, I gotta head back to work. Will you still be here when I get off?" Burt asked, clapping Blaine's shoulder.
Blaine looked to Kurt.
"I'll take you back when you want to go back." Kurt said. "It's up to you."
"Yeah, I think I'll be here… unless something comes up."
Burt grinned. "Alright well, I'll see you boys in a few hours. Carole, don't forget to give Blaine the wedding information. We're still expecting you there, kid."
"O-Oh, okay." Blaine nodded. "Alright. See you soon."
Burt pulled him into another hug, grinning from ear to ear. "It's real good to see you, Blaine."
"You too, Burt." Blaine smiled. "Thanks."
Burt walked out the door, calling a goodbye to Melody.
"I think you made his day." Carole laughed.
"It's really good to be back here." Blaine said somewhat lamely, blushing the tiniest bit.
"It's glad to have you here." Carole smiled. "I'm going to go and get the information for the wedding for you while it's on my mind… But if you can't make it, it's fine. I think everyone would love to see you, though."
Blaine nodded.
Carole rushed up the stairs.
"Sorry about Dad. He might be reading too much into us talking again." Kurt apologized, stepping up.
"Don't apologize… It is good that we're working things out." Blaine took a deep breath.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Blaine nodded, taking a seat on the couch.
Kurt sat next to him, hesitantly lacing their fingers together. "It's going to be okay, Blaine."
"What will? My emotional state… us?"
"Everything." Kurt promised.
Blaine leaned closer, head resting on Kurt's shoulder. "I hope so, Kurt."
Kurt squeezed Blaine's hand and scooted a little closer. As long as Blaine wasn't pulling away, Kurt wasn't going to either.
…
"That wasn't a long enough story!" Melody, who was nestled between Kurt and Blaine in her big girl bed later the same night, crossed her arms over her chest.
"We've read three stories." Kurt retorted, giving Blaine a look. "Your bedtime was almost an hour ago."
"Big brothers have to be nice to little sisters." Melody gave a sweet smile and blinked her eyes in Blaine's direction. "Read another one?"
"I think that one's up to Kurt." Blaine laughed. "You'll have to talk to him."
"Please, Kurt, pleeeeease!" Melody turned to face Kurt. "Pleeeeease."
"I don't know. We've got a long drive. I have to take Blaine to Westerville."
Melody's jaw dropped and her eyes widened. "Why?"
"Because he's staying with his friends."
"But, Kurt, he lives here." Melody looked back and forth between the two of them, clearly confused. "If you wanna be a bed hog, he can sleep with me."
Blaine snorted loudly.
"Any time I sleep with him, he tries to snuggle but sometimes enough is enough!" Melody chirped and shook her head dramatically.
"You're awful picky for someone who forces her way into my bed in the middle of the night every night I'm here."
Melody giggled and nuzzled his arm. "I love you, Kuuuuurt."
"Love you too, Booger." Kurt ruffled her hair and then moved to stand.
"NO NO NO NO NO!" Melody shrieked.
"What?" Kurt asked.
"You have to stay with me 'til I fall asleep like Daddy." Melody explained, looking at him as though he were insane.
"Do you want me to at least turn off the light?" Kurt asked.
"Yes but turn on the pretty lamp from Auntie Paige." Melody clapped her hands excitedly, cuddling up to Blaine.
"So you can cuddle him but not me? I see how it is." Kurt scoffed teasingly.
"I can't please everybody, Kurt." Melody said, both looking and sounding exactly like Carole had looked so many times saying the same thing to Burt.
Blaine covered his face, entire body shaking with his silent laughter.
"Blaaaine, you can't move. You aren't a wiggle worm." Melody glared. "You boys are silly."
Kurt turned on the lamp and climbed back into bed on Melody's other side. "Alight. Everybody has to lay very still so we can go to sleep."
Melody whined a bit but rested her head against Kurt's chest.
Kurt bit his lip, fingers absent-mindedly running through Melody's still-damp hair. They were silent for nearly five minutes before Melody spoke.
"Finn and Rachel are getting married, Kurt. When are you getting married?" She asked sleepily.
"I don't know." Kurt responded, tickling her side. "But you're supposed to be going to bed."
"Can I be the flower girl when you two get married?" Melody sat up, looking between them both.
"I wouldn't have any other flower girl." Kurt promised after several moments of silence. What was he supposed to say? That, at least in that point in time, they probably wouldn't get married? How would he explain what broken up even meant to a little child who had only ever known Kurt and Blaine as KurtandBlaine?
Melody smiled happily and laid back down, this time flat on her back with her head rested on her pillow. "Night, boys."
"Good night, pumpkin." Blaine whispered.
Kurt lay very still for nearly ten minutes until Melody finally let out a quiet snore. He then sat very slowly, looking at Blaine. He was staring at the ceiling, a faraway expression on his face.
"You ready to go?" Kurt whispered.
"I keep thinking about how we wanted to have two girls and this could have been us seven years from now, but…" Blaine trailed off.
"It could still be us." Kurt whispered, looking him in the eyes. "We could still have everything one day, if you want it."
"It's not that easy, Kurt." Blaine sighed.
"I never said it would be easy. There's still so much left to work through but as long as we're both alive, we'll always have that possibility." Kurt kept his voice low, trying his hardest to not wake his sleeping sister. "I'm not afraid to work hard to fix us and I'm not in a rush."
Blaine nodded, not breaking eye contact. "We should talk more."
"Okay." Kurt nodded, smiling a bit. "We'll talk more."
"I guess I'm ready to head back if you are." Blaine sat up slowly.
"Alright." Kurt stood, tucking Melody's blanket around her and resting her favorite bear next to her on the bed.
"I'll be right down." Blaine stood.
"Okay." Kurt nodded and exited the room, quietly closing the door behind him. He then leaned against the wall, taking a deep breath. For the first time in a really long time, he felt like they stood a real chance at fixing things.
Like maybe they'd make it.
***LTC***
Early the next day, Blaine dropped his bags onto the floor and looked around. He and Wes were standing in one of the waiting areas of the Cincinnati airport, waiting for Kurt who they knew would also be flying out that same day.
"I hope he makes it before we have to get on the plane." Blaine mumbled, sitting down.
"He will." Wes sat by him and then gestured. "See?"
Blaine looked to his left, standing when Kurt approached them.
"Good morning." Kurt smiled at him.
"Hey." Blaine smiled back.
"You look like you feel better today." Kurt noted before turning to Wes. "Hey."
"Hey, Kurtsie. It was good to see you, alright?" Wes squeezed Kurt's arm. "Come and see us in Cambridge."
"I will." Kurt promised, smiling. "Have a safe flight, Wes."
"See you in a bit, Blainers." Wes grabbed his bag and moved towards the terminal.
"I want to thank you for putting your life on hold for five days and coming to Ohio for me… You can't understand how much that means to be." Blaine looked Kurt in the eyes.
"You're welcome."
Blaine smiled again. "I really… do, though. Thank you."
"You're welcome, Blaine." Kurt placed his own bag on the floor.
"Were you able to get your homework done last night?" Blaine asked. "I know you got back to Lima pretty late. Sorry."
"I got a lot of it done. I'm not too worried." Kurt shrugged. "I'm just worried about you."
"I feel good." Blaine promised. "I think Carole was right. The funeral's over so now I can… not think about my family. It was a bit silly to get so upset anyway."
"Not silly. Don't invalidate your feelings." Kurt shook his head. "You weren't sad about her dying. You were sad about what you didn't have. That isn't silly."
Blaine moved forward, hugging Kurt.
Kurt wrapped his arms around Blaine, squeezing tight. "When can we meet again?"
"I'll be busy until the wedding. I have to get caught up, make up internship hours, and stuff." Blaine murmured into Kurt's shoulder.
"Labor Day weekend is okay." Kurt nodded.
"Not too far away." Blaine pulled back.
"Stay in touch… Especially over the next few days so I know you're alright."
"I'm fine, Kurt." Blaine promised.
"Our definitions of fine are two very different things, Blaine." Kurt pointed out.
"Kurt, I think we should talk more about… stuff. I know there isn't a lot of time now but… but this means a lot to me and I just want you to know that I… I'm glad you're in my life again because it's a better place when you're here."
Kurt's eyes began to water and he blinked a few times before pulling Blaine into another hug. "You don't know how much that means to me."
"But I do. I do." Blaine hugged him back again. "Every time I see you, I'm terrified it might be the last."
"It won't." Kurt promised, pulling back to look at him. "We've got the wedding, remember?"
Blaine nodded. "I wish I had more time to talk to you."
Kurt hesitantly reached up, pushing some of Blaine's hair back. "Get on Skype after nine tonight. We'll talk then."
Blaine nodded again. "I should go."
"I should too." Kurt whispered, taking a step back.
Blaine grabbed his hand, squeezing it once before letting it go. "Bye."
"Bye, Blaine." Kurt looked into his eyes, telling himself over and over, Don't say I love you. Don't say I love you.
Blaine swallowed. "I'll miss you."'
"I'll miss you too, Blaine. Thank you for letting me come to the funeral with you."
Blaine threw his arms around Kurt, wanting nothing more than to miss his flight and spend the rest of every waking moment with Kurt. Kurt had thanked him for letting him go to the funeral? That resonated with Blaine for a reason he didn't understand. Was it the fact that Kurt had made the experience more bearable and, therefore, didn't need to thank Blaine for letting him attend? Really, Blaine didn't want to put much thought into it right then. He didn't want too much thought into anything actually.
"You have to go. You're going to miss your flight." Kurt whispered, kissing the side of his face.
"I don't want to. I really don't want to."
"Nine. We'll talk at nine. I promise." Kurt made no move to back up—not that he could while in Blaine's death grip. "We'll talk at nine."
Blaine lowered his arms and grabbed his bag, nodding. "Leaving you right now is harder than going to that funeral."
"I love you." Kurt whispered.
"I love you too." Tears filled Blaine's eyes. "So much, Kurt."
"It's going to be okay." Kurt kissed his cheek again.
What was going to be okay? Their relationship? Waiting to talk until nine? Adjusting to life knowing one more member of his family was dead? The flight? Blaine?
"Go. You have to get on the plane. You've got to get back to school and work." Kurt urged, nudging Blaine back a step. "Go."
"Don't say bye." Blaine turned away from Kurt.
"À bientôt." Kurt called after him.
Blaine turned back. "What does that mean?"
"I'll text you the words. Hopefully you can translate it yourself." Kurt smiled sweetly.
Blaine shook his head and then walked through the gate, fighting a smile. He heard his phone ding just as he was sitting next to Wes.
"That was longer than I thought it would be." Wes noted, looking up for one of his textbooks.
"Yeah." Blaine pulled out his phone, copying the text and immediately pulling up a translator.
"What are you doing?" Wes raised his eyebrow, looking down at Blaine's phone. "'See you later'?"
"Nothing." Blaine smiled, tapping out a ':)' and sending it to Kurt.
Because it wasn't goodbye. Not really.
[WARNING/SPOILER ALERT]
And, as a very advanced warning and SPOILER ALERT, in Chapter 16, Part Two there will be a TRIGGER WARNING posted for rape/date rape/attempted date rape. Anything in that vicinity. If you do not feel comfortable reading that, please skip 16.2 and just start up again at 17. Any mention of what occurs in 16.2 will have a spoiler alert/trigger warning as well but anything past that will only be discussion. I am posting this so far in advance because I don't want anybody to be taken by surprise. This warning will be posted at the end of every update up to that chapter and at the beginning of 16.2. And I will be moving up the rating of this story as a result of the upcoming chapter as well.
Again, thank you all. Sorry for posting a spoiler but... trigger warnings are important. I would rather spoil something than trigger somebody.