Kurt didn't like hospitals.
He wasn't sure why anyone would think he would—his father's heart attack, weeks in one after his attack, pneumonia stays, Blaine's wreck, that one time Blaine twisted his wrist while drunk… which was actually only last week. Truthfully, Kurt was hoping Blaine and Wes would have been back to their house by the time Kurt made it into Cambridge but he had no such luck.
This time, though, he was sitting in the waiting room and jiggling his foot anxiously.
Anxiously… excitedly?
"This is taking forever." Burt grunted from the seat next to Kurt, rubbing his eyes.
"I'm just so excited we're here!" Carole exclaimed, not looking tired in the slightest.
Melody, who had been asleep for over an hour, shifted in Kurt's lap and whimpered a bit.
"She getting too heavy yet, kid?" Burt asked as he stood up to stretch his legs.
"I'm good for now." Kurt whispered.
"It's been so long since we've had a baby in the family." Carole continued.
"Carole, Melody is only 5." Burt deadpanned.
"Oh, go take a nap if you're going to be grumpy. This is our first grandchild!"
"I just wish she'd gone into active labor eight hours ago when it was daytime." Burt mumbled, but not loud enough that Carole could hear.
"Kurt's doing perfectly fine." Carole continued cheerfully. "He hasn't complained once."
"Kurt hasn't been here twelve hours." Burt said, this time loud enough for her to hear.
"I'm just glad she didn't ask me to be in the delivery room." Kurt admitted. He had been stressing about that for four months at least (to which Blaine told him to suck it up—it came with having female best friends.)
"You wouldn't last five minutes in there." Burt chuckled.
Carole shook her head, smiling.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Kurt scoffed.
"The V, bro." Finn came into the waiting room.
"Is it-?" Carole hopped up again.
"No. I need sugar before I fall asleep." As if on cue, Finn yawned. "They're saying it'll be any time but…"
Carole rushed over, hugging him. "It's the greatest day of your life, Finn!"
Finn nodded as he yawned again.
"The V… oh." Kurt scrunched up his nose. "I probably wouldn't last two."
"They're checking it all the time, bro. Including right now." Finn pulled back from Carole. "All up in there."
"I just threw up a little in my mouth, Finn. Thank you."
"Is everything okay?" Burt asked.
"Baby's a little less active so they've got the pediatrician surgeon coming to double check but they think so. The people in the room next to us are in labor though and man, I am glad I am a man." Finn shuddered.
Melody sat up on Kurt's lap, rubbing her eyes. "Where's Blaine?"
"Asleep." Kurt whispered. "He's got a test in the morning, remember?"
"He's always got a test." Melody whined, sliding off Kurt's lap and going to Burt. "Or homework or a paper."
"He's in law school, Melody. It's a lot of work." Carole said gently.
"Aunt Rachel said he should work with his body 'cause it'd be easier."
Kurt and Finn's eyes both widened.
"You should tell him, Kurt." Melody continued. "And you and he can come home."
"I am not comfortable with him working with his body." Was all Kurt could think to say… to his five-year-old sister.
Because honestly, Blaine probably could make a lot of money doing that but Blaine was his so no, absolutely not.
It really was very late. Why was he still thinking about this?
"But he can take care of you and the dogs. Usually the man does that and Kurt, you're more girly." Melody didn't skip a beat. "But my teacher says that it just means you're more girly and not a girl. And then Carrie's sister is a girl who looks like a boy, so we had a long talk in school and we gave the teacher a head ache."
"Melody, you shouldn't bring up things like that at school. You're five." Burt said.
"Oh my goodness." Carole covered her face. "This has been happening since the Christmas discussion about you and Blaine."
"Sorry." Kurt shrugged as Finn slipped back into the maternity area. "I'm just amazed by the fact that a teacher in Lima is even attempting to talk to kindergartners about it."
"Kid's something else." Burt said, rocking Melody who had fallen asleep again.
"They all three are." Carole smiled at Kurt.
~*~ Long Time Coming ~*~
"Seriously, though, waffles and chicken? I don't understand the appeal."
"The appeal is that it's breakfast and dinner together."
"Only you would say that, Blaine."
Kurt, who had just reached his floor of the apartment building, looked around the corner to find David, Blaine, and Wes sitting in a triangle in front of his (yes, his) door even though David had an apartment literally across the hall. Five feet from where they sat.
"What do you mean only I would say that? You binged ate five pizzas and, like, three sundaes when we were fifteen." Blaine scoffed.
"That was a dare and I really wish you'd quit bringing it up." David responded. "That was the worst night of my life. Worse than any hangover I could ever have."
"That's why you hate pizza, isn't it?" Wes asked thoughtfully.
"He's home!" Blaine went to stand, attempting to use his hand to assist, and winced. "Damn it."
"How's the wrist?" Kurt asked, walking over to them. "David, did you get locked out?"
"No. Blaine kept checking the hallway to see if every step was you. It was easier this way." David responded, waving from the floor.
"The wrist is fine." Blaine went over and kissed Kurt. "Hey. Sorry, we got here as visiting hours were over. Wes is going to stay with David."
"I'm in the middle of a quarter life crisis but it's no big deal." David waved his hand and then hiccupped. "Whoops."
"Is everything… okay?" Kurt asked.
"I may have put hundreds of thousands of dollars into medical school and be on the brink of dropping out of my highly sought out internship at the hospital everyone wants to intern at but everything is just cheery." David gave a grin that looked—well, like his normal grin. "Thanks for asking, though."
Wes hopped up and went to ruffle Kurt's styled hair. "It is good to see you and we now leave him in your capable hands. Just remember, if he eats too late at night he gets a hurt tummy."
Blaine shot him a look at then smacked him upside the head, then hissed and cradled his injured wrist.
David held up a hand. "Ice it and quit using it. I've told you this forty times a day."
Blaine rolled his eyes. "Okay, Daddy."
"I still want to know how this happened." Kurt said, looking to Wes who would most likely tell him.
"Text me when he conks out. It's a really delightful story." Wes winked.
"Will do." Kurt laughed and pulled out his keys. "You all have a good night."
"You too!" David and Wes said together.
"Don't you dare tell him." Blaine hissed before going into Kurt's empty apartment.
"Is it that bad?"
"Adrian can't talk to me with a serious face, so yes." Blaine sighed as Kurt closed the door. "I'm a stupid drinker, you know? I always have been."
"I've heard." Kurt smiled and locked the door. "I didn't know you were bringing Wes."
"Well we were actually going to come down here anyway to see David. He called in the middle of the night pretty upset." Blaine explained before kissing Kurt quickly.
"Oh no, why?"
"Well in January he started only working in pediatrics with Eric because he just… wasn't feeling the ER anymore. Eric nominated him for chief resident next year and it's likely he'll get it. He's done great with all of the interns."
"Isn't that good?" Kurt looked confused, sitting on the couch next to Blaine.
"Yeah but it made him realize he doesn't want to work in a hospital setting and he doesn't want to work with or teach new interns. He wants to be a pediatrician in an office… with patients that aren't always in emergency situations. I think it's affected him more than he thought it would." Blaine sat next to him. "Wes and I have heard plenty of terrible stories, I get it… I don't think I'd be able to handle anything like that."
Kurt frowned, putting his hand on Blaine's thigh.
"Also how weird is it that Eric is his resident?" Blaine tilted his head. "Is it a small world or am I prone to coincidences?"
Kurt laughed a bit. "I don't know. I mean, I actually didn't know until Eric told me. He put it together through your Facebook mutual friends."
"I don't use Facebook enough to know where to find mutual friends anymore. They update it so much. It's annoying." Blaine shrugged and then looked horrified. "That is something Wes' dad would say. Oh God, are we getting old?"
"Well you're older than me, so I don't have to worry yet." Kurt laughed at Blaine again.
"Either way, though, David's freaking out a bit. I'm sure he'll be fine. He's smart and always makes appropriate, informed decisions. But it's nice to have friends by your side when you're feeling that way, so that's why we came up."
Kurt gave him a small smile, thinking of how good of a friend Blaine was. Not that he could tell David was 'going through a quarter life crisis' by looking at him, but Blaine and Wes were great friends to know the triggers and understand when he needed his friends the most.
Then again, the three had been very close for a very long time.
"What? You're giving me a silly look. Do I have food on my face or a rouge curl?" Blaine whined, hand going to his head.
"No. You and Wes are just really good people. You're both super busy with school and came to be with him when he's stressing out. It's sweet."
"If we're being technical, I planned to come up when the baby was born anyway… but I'll always take a compliment." Blaine grinned. "But tell me—how cute is she?"
"She's pretty cute. She's got a thick head of hair and a really loud wail."
"Rachel's kid alright…. Did I say that out loud?"
Kurt playfully smacked his shoulder before pulling out his phone. "Finn took some good pictures for you until you see her in the morning. She was a big baby too… that must be from Finn because Rachel's tiny."
Blaine bent over to look, smiling. "They're cute. Rachel looks really happy."
"You can look through them." Kurt smiled and handed his phone over.
"Geeze, I don't even want to imagine how much it would hurt to push something that size out of a tiny hole… but she's super cute. And lanky."
"Yeah, Carole swears she looks like her sister did as a baby." Kurt nodded.
"Carole has a sister?"
"Yeah. She has two. We've only met one and that was at the wedding." Kurt relaxed against the back of the couch. "I'm pretty sure she has an older brother two that doesn't really talk to her or her sister."
Blaine looked through more pictures, getting a dopey grin on his face (but making a mental note to ask Carole about her siblings later).
"What?"
"You are holding the baby in the last one." Blaine closed the phone and passed it back over. "You look much more confident than I will be tomorrow."
"You held Mellie as a baby. It all comes back." Kurt reassured him and then leaned against Blaine. "I'm so glad you're here this earlier than this weekend."
"Me too." Blaine bent and kissed his forehead, wrapping an arm around Kurt.
Kurt let out a content sigh, snuggling closer.
"Is Quinn home?"
"She has a 'new boyfriend' so she's not here very much anymore… which is alright since she's still paying her rent." Kurt responded, nuzzling Blaine's shoulder.
"Who is she dating?"
"Mercedes and I think it's Puck but Finn's not letting anything slip if it's true… and if Rachel knew, everyone would know, so I'm not sure." Kurt admitted. "The gross guy went away a few months ago thank God. But I have a feeling if she gets a 'real boyfriend' that she'll skip out of the lease early."
"I don't think she'd do that to you." Blaine shook his head. "Rachel probably would."
"Oh God, I love Rachel but I would never be able to live with her. We'd kill each other." Kurt shuddered.
Blaine stood. "Can I get into your snack stash? I'm dying for a snack."
"Snack stash? I don't know what you're talking about." Kurt blinked a few times.
"Pistachios. Don't lie." Blaine grinned.
"Damn." Kurt grumbled.
"And you've got the good kind of peanut butter. You would never let me get that when we lived together. That's rude." Blaine continued.
"Because you eat a whole jar in one sitting. We all don't have impending wealth, you know? Some of us have to make good stuff last." Kurt teased.
"Impending wealth. Puh. Yeah, right. I hope you're not holding onto that thought too much. We are talking about my father. He even threatened to cut Alex off."
"Alex? For what?"
"Apparently Mom wanted to come up the week that I'm coming up this summer. Alex told them that under no circumstances were they to show up. Mom made a big fuss and naturally Dad threatened his money." Blaine shrugged his shoulders. "Apparently every other conversation he has with my Dad involves that or his poor life choices in moving away and marrying a foreigner… Nevermind the fact that both sets of grandparents moved to America for the first time… I don't even know."
"Hold on, Blaine." Kurt said very seriously, following Blaine to his 'snack stash.' "You don't think he'll let them? Or not tell you if they do?"
"Psht, no." Blaine said very confidently.
"I just… what if you end up there and they show up? Are you sure…"
"I've been talking to Alex a lot more. I'm pretty sure he hates Mom more than I do. She tried to push Mia out of his life. He thinks Mom is more manipulative than Dad." Blaine explained. "I trust him completely. He's visited twice since we split up. He's really making an effort… It's kind of weird to have someone close to that I'm related to, but I think it's genuine and I'm happy that he cares."
Kurt smiled. "I didn't know he'd been in the states."
"It was only for a day or two at a time." Blaine stretched again. "He thinks they're going to move to the states after the baby is born. She's too far along now to do it."
"Wait, what?"
"Mia has been offered a teaching job in Rhode Island next fall and Alex can pretty much work wherever he lives. He does remote IT work for Google."
"Google?" Kurt repeated. "Like the Google that has a playground in their breakroom Google?"
"Yeah. And get this, there is a location in Cambridge! They would be living in Rhode Island and he'd be commuting if they want him in office… I'm kind of excited that he'll be closer. I don't think it's like we'll hang out every weekend or anything but, you know… it'll be nice to have a family member close. And we can get dinners after I have class and he works or something."
"Do you think his parents will try to… come say mean things to you when you visit Alex?" Kurt asked worriedly.
"This is why I'm not worried about them showing up when I visit in Italy—our parents have no idea he's even planning to move back. He is literally not going to tell them and is making sure his lawyers intercept anything that may go to him in Italy."
"Oh… oh, wow. That's sad that he'd even have to do that."
"Right? I almost have it easier not fooling with them." Blaine sat down on Kurt's bed, munching on another pistachio. "Small miracles, right?"
"You look really tired. Are you getting enough sleep?" Kurt sat next to him on the bed, placing his hand on Blaine's thigh.
"As much as I can. I'm in the last semester of second year and there's only 2 more semesters after this, so it's getting pretty time consuming." Blaine shrugged. "The amount of people in my year that nap in the halls between classes is larger than the ones who don't."
Kurt forced a laugh, eyes on Blaine. He was clearly still worried.
"I'm fine!" Blaine reassured him. "I'm a little stressed out… okay, a lot stressed out."
"Is it just school?"
"I mean… no. Wes is going through a rough time right now too and you already know about David. I'm kind of overwhelmed."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
Blaine groaned and fell back against the bed, legs still dangling off. "He's going back and forth between if it's the right decision or if he should just stay in ER. Is he just running away because a patient died while he was assisting operating? Should he ask his dad? Flip a coin? Ask Google questions?"
"He has looked stressed the last few times we've passed each other." Kurt said, scooting back and playing with Blaine's hair.
"Whatever he does will be fine. He's just stressing. David is usually calm about stuff like this but once he starts to stress, he stresses. And Wes is having his own crisis, so it's coming from both ways. Usually I'm the one in crisis and they're both helping calm me down. I can't even go to David about Wes or vice versa because they're struggling and I don't want to add to it. I'm floating on a plank in water with a white flag over here." Blaine joked at the end, but he did look pretty stressed out.
"What's going on with Wes?"
Blaine frowned a bit. "He has real feelings for AJ and she turned him down. She's scared because of his reputation… She was super sweet about it, but he's just crushed right now."
Kurt frowned.
"I can't blame her though." Blaine whispered as if Wes would walk in and hear. "He's always been a certain way with girls after his first real break up. Keep them around a little bit and then move on, sometimes without even properly breaking it off… or just messing around without anything, you know? David always told him that he was going to end up liking someone a lot and they'd stay far away, and she is trying to do just that… but Wes told me they've made out several times. They have real conversations… not just, like, school friend ones. They hang out on campus between classes and sometimes even after classes just talking or spending time together."
"Poor Wes." Kurt frowned again. "That sounds confusing for both of them, but it is a good sign if she's still spending that much time with him… they're really getting to know each other."
"Yeah… and last week during the big snow storm, her car got stuck. He went out in the middle of the night to get her… but he wouldn't answer his phone in the middle of the night for just anyone. When he was there trying to get her car unstuck, his car got smashed into a median by a huge truck that lost control. The car is totaled—his Lexus is his baby. He wasn't in it, thank goodness, because he was out helping."
Kurt nodded.
"But," Blaine continued, "There has been all of this tension and feelings in the house. Like the air is heavy, you know? And after the wreck I feel like it's gotten more complex. AJ feels horrible about the car because she knows how much he liked it… and the air is heavy… To conclude, I'm really glad Rachel went into labor when she did so I could get away from it for a bit."
Kurt nodded again sympathetically and then said, "Adrian and AJ are close. What does he say?"
"Oh, Adrian loves Wes. He wants them to get together." Blaine laughed.
"Wes is a good guy. You can tell." Kurt yawned a bit.
"I don't think it has anything to do with her thinking he isn't good. It's scary to put yourself out there, especially if you think there's a good chance you'll get hurt." Blaine knew that feeling all too well. He moved into a laying position as well, Kreacher between them and already fast asleep.
Kurt could tell what Blaine was thinking—that's how he'd felt before getting back together with Kurt. Not knowing if it would happen again—although Kurt knew for a fact that nothing similar would happen. Never. Kurt wasn't letting Blaine go again.
"I'm usually the one having a life crisis and they handle it together. This time they are both going through things and I'm dealing with these alone." Blaine scrunched his nose up adorably.
"I guess with our long nine-month crisis, it was your turn to handle it." Kurt laughed a little bit.
"Yeah." Blaine scooted until he was at the head of the bed and looked at Kurt sleepily.
"I'm sure they'll both get everything figured out and it will be okay… I feel worse for Wes, though. As goofy as he can be, I'm sure he'd be a really nice person to spend the rest of your life with. Just seeing how he is with you when you're upset and how he came up here because David's having issues…"
"Wes is the best person I've ever met." Blaine pushed himself back into a sitting position. "I mean, I love them both but Wes… he's so caring and understanding. He doesn't really get mad and he's always been there for me even when I was in the wrong. I don't know if I would have made it through my teenage years without Wes to be honest."
"Really? I would have thought David…"
"David's great too but Wes just… it's hard to describe. I don't know." Blaine rolled on his side, blinking at Kurt.
Kurt got into bed next to him after tugging off his jeans and dress shirt. "You need to get some sleep."
"Yeah, I do." Blaine sighed. "I'm glad I get to sleep with you though. I don't really like sleeping alone."
Kurt reached out, touching his face. "I know. I don't either."
Blaine smiled a bit and then snuggled up.
"On a lighter note, my femininity has been a topic of Melody's kindergarten classroom… if that makes you feel any better." Kurt whispered after a few seconds of silence.
Blaine sat up quickly. "Wait, what? In Lima?"
"Right? That's what I thought too!" Kurt yawned.
"You have got to elaborate on this more tomorrow." Blaine laid back down and t hen leaned over to kiss him.
"I love you, Kurt."
"I love you too." Kurt snuggled up to Blaine, leg worming it's way between Blaine's. "Thanks for coming again, B."
Blaine snorted and stroked Kurt's hair absentmindedly. "Hey, Kurt?"
"Yeah?" Kurt shifted, scooting closer to Blaine.
"Thanks for letting me talk about that… I feel better."
"Anytime." Kurt kissed his cheek. "Good night."
Blaine kissed him quickly. "Good night, my love."
They both fell asleep, snuggled together and smiling.
~*~ Long Time Coming ~*~
"I don't think I'm ready; I didn't know I was going to have to do this. I'm not ready."
"C'mon, bro. You are basically her uncle." Finn grinned, still approaching Blaine.
An hour before, Blaine had said he wasn't ready to hold the baby.
He had also said the same an hour before that.
"You better go ahead and do it, kid, or Carole and Kurt will hog her." Burt chuckled.
"Do it, Blaine Warbler!" Rachel said from the bed, beaming.
"It's Anderson, Rachel. Anderson. His name is Blaine Anderson…" Carole blurted and then her hand flew to hear mouth. "Oh no. I just said that out loud, didn't I? I am so sorry, dear."
Rachel looked at Carole. "I just never knew his last name. He's not my friend on Facebook."
Blaine, who was watching the interaction, was thrown off when Finn and Kurt situated the baby against his chest.
"Oh boy, here it is. Okay." Blaine rose his arms up, keeping the baby in place. "Oh, she's so tiny!"
"Do you have her? Are you okay?" Finn asked worriedly.
"Yeah, I've got her." Blaine whispered and nodded, eyes not leaving the little baby. "Oh my God, she just snuffled."
Burt grinned. "Kurt, he's gonna want one of them soon now."
"My God, we are not ready for that." Kurt's eyes widened in horror. Because, yes, his niece was adorable… but Kurt and Blaine barely got enough sleep as it was.
"I could be." Blaine cooed, raising one hand and touching the baby's nose. "I can't handle how tiny she is."
"Melody was bigger." Carole smiled.
"Daddy, I want to hold the baby!" Melody chimed in, hearing her name.
"Oh, sweetie, not quite yet." Carole bent down and picked Melody up. "But you can look. When she's just a little bit older, we'll let you."
Rachel smiled. "If she wants to sit with me on the bed, it's okay."
"PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE!" Melody said in the loudest whisper she could. "PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEE!"
"Blaine has him right now, but maybe after." Carole said, trying to shush her.
"Rachel is the momma and she said it's okay." Melody pouted.
"Show us how good and quiet you are, and we'll let you hold her." Carole coaxed. "Is that alright?"
"Yes, Mommy." Melody pouted a bit, watching Blaine readjust the baby. "Blaine's got deer eyes right now, Mommy."
"I think he always does, Mel." Burt chuckled.
"Kurt!" Blaine whispered. "Oh my God, she snuffles!"
Kurt laughed, putting his hand on the baby's back.
"You should name her Perfection." Blaine told Rachel.
"Or Snuffles." Melody quipped.
"We planned to name her Madison but it doesn't fit her." Rachel said, smiling at Melody. "She looks more like a Chloe or a Bella."
"I like Penelope." Finn pointed out.
"Finn, you can't name your daughter after a character in Criminal Minds." Carole looked at Finn, exasperated.
"Jennifer?" Finn suggested.
"Pretty sure that's the other girl's name." Kurt sing-songed.
"Chloe is really pretty." Blaine walked closer to Rachel. "And I think it fits personally."
"I think so too." Rachel smiled.
"Do you want to a turn?" Blaine asked Kurt, who was standing behind him with his hand on Blaine's lower back.
"MEEEE!" Melody whined.
"Okay, okay!" Carole sighed, mainly to avoid having her five-year-old kicked out of the hospital. "Don't move too much. Rachel is still sore."
"Mmkay!" Melody chirped when Carole sat her next to Rachel on the bed. "Baby me!"
"Uh… I don't want to…" Blaine began, looking at Carole.
"I'll take her." Carole smiled at him and gently took the baby. "Okay, Melody. Be very quiet."
Melody nodded as Rachel wrapped an arm around her from behind.
"I'm going to lay the baby on your lab and Rachel will make sure the baby's head stays up."
Melody nodded, squealing as quietly as she could when the baby was placed in her lap.
Rachel was the one supporting the baby, but Melody seemed content with this.
"See how tiny?" Kurt asked, kneeling and touching the baby's cheek.
"Really tiny." Melody nodded eagerly. "Daddy, I want one!"
"Your mother and I are out of commission, kiddo. Sorry about your luck." Burt shook his head.
"Kurt, can you give me a baby?" Melody asked.
"First of all, I do not have the right equipment. Second, Blaine and I will be spending next year in our find year of graduate school. I don't think that's in the cards yet. I'm sorry." Kurt responded.
"Don't worry, Melon Head." Finn grinned. "They'll get kiddos soon enough. I give it five years."
Kurt moved quickly away from the baby, coughing in shock.
"Maybe seven." Blaine added. "Or twelve. Twelve is a respectable number."
Burt chuckled. "I don't think the boys are ready yet, Mel."
"Sure they are, Daddy! Rachel and Finn said they're probably still in the make up sex stage since they don't live together. They said so when you and Momma went to the car."
Rachel gave an awkward laugh, refusing to meet Kurt or Blaine's gaze.
"On that note, I think we're going to go for the day." Kurt cleared his throat. "It has been lovely seeing you all and we'll definitely, erm, see you tomorrow."
"Daddy, are they going to go and have more make up sex?" Melody asked.
"Nope." Kurt chirped. "After the last two minutes, we may never have sex again."
Finn chuckled as Kurt looked horrified and Blaine looked… just a tad smug? Maybe?
Surely not sweet, polite Blaine.
"Call us if you two want to get dinner tonight." Burt called as Kurt dragged Blaine out.
"No thanks!" Kurt said as Blaine laughed a little too loud for a hospital hallway.
~*~ Long Time Coming ~*~
The next afternoon Kurt and Blaine were waiting in the entrance of the hotel Burt and Carole were staying at, standing close together.
"You know what's going to happen. This is the first time they've been alone with both of us since we got back together." Blaine whispered.
"And it's been three months since that, so it's going to be full of hints and fishing for 'where we're at'." Kurt nodded, lacing his fingers with Blaine. "I'll try to put an end to it."
"That's pointless. When you walk away, he'll start in on me." Blaine laughed, eyes bright.
"I am so sorry." Kurt shook his head.
"Eh, it's Burt." Blaine grinned. "I can take it."
"I know you can but sometimes I wish he'd mind his own business." Kurt shook his head before putting a bright smile on his face. "Hey, Carole."
"Your dad is on his way." Carole came up, giving Kurt a hug and then Blaine one. "Melody stayed with your aunts last night. I haven't felt this rested since she was born."
Kurt and Blaine laughed together.
"It is so good to see you two back together." Carole smiled and squeezed Kurt's hand.
"How's everything going?" Burt grinned, coming up and giving Blaine a hug.
"As good as law school can go, I guess." Blaine laughed, hugging him back.
"So, when are you two moving back in together?" Burt asked, nudging Kurt.
"Dad!" Kurt huffed, sending Burt a look. "It's not your business."
"Of course it is. You two are my kids, aren't ya?" Burt grinned again.
"Burt…" Carole sighed. "Don't get Kurt worked up."
"We've talked about it." Blaine said before Burt could speak. "We're close enough to visit and I'm locked in a contract until right before the next school year starts, so as of right now we're going to travel to see each other when we can. If it sounds like a move is something we can feasibly due that late in the summer, we'll live halfway between again."
"Not that it's your business." Kurt grumbled as Blaine took his hand.
"Carole, I told you all they had to do was get past the break up and they'd be right back where they were!" Burt said excitedly. "Look, they're moving in together and next they'll get married."
Kurt coughed loudly as Blaine's face temporarily fell, but he recovered it as quickly as he could.
"Dad, I know you're excited but just because we're back together doesn't mean we're ready to get married."
"It's March, Kurt. Three months is a long time." Burt retorted.
"Can you kindly butt out of our business?" Kurt shot his dad a look. "Seriously. No wedding talk or—don't even talk to us about moving back in together, either. We're both extremely busy with school and—and internships and I think that we don't need you influencing when we talk about stuff like this, alright? Blaine and I are in this for good but it needs to be our relationship and our decisions."
Burt opened his mouth.
"I know you love Blaine and I love him too. He's not going anywhere, Dad." Kurt held up a finger to keep him from interrupting. "You will be the first two we tell, okay?"
"I can't believe you just held up a finger at me." Burt glared at Kurt. "Now I think Carole and I shouldn't even discuss why we wanted to have lunch today."
"If it's about a wedding, probably not." Kurt retorted.
"Okay, okay." Carole stepped between them. "Let's just go have lunch. Burt, we can still talk to the boys."
"Kurt gets all bent out of shape anytime I talk about them." Burt sighed.
"With good reason." Kurt mumbled as they left the hotel. "Wait, what do you need to talk to us about?"
"I guess if you'd be nice, you'd probably know by now."
"Burt!" Carole said. "You two have the same attitude, I swear."
…
"Are you going to tell us?" Kurt asked for the fifth time since they'd sat down to eat.
Blaine hid his smile behind his hand.
"It clearly involves us and you're withholding information because you're mad at me." Kurt continued when Burt didn't speak up.
"Oh, now I'm withholding information?" Burt chuckled, shaking his head.
Carole locked eyes with Blaine, shaking her head.
"Fine." Kurt sighed, eating the last of his green beans.
"We were going to tell you boys this before everything happened." Carole began. "But after spring break… we held off. But it's been three months since you've gotten back together and things seem to be going really well."
Blaine tilted his head and Kurt looked confused.
"The shop did really well last year. Business doubled." Burt explained. "What I did was take the extra funds and split them up two ways—between you two and between Finn and Rachel. If business keeps up this well, we're going to put up another shop next January."
"Wait, what?" Kurt asked. "Can you backtrack?"
"It's for a house." Carole explained. "When you two are ready to buy a house, we have $60,000 for you two for a down payment. We have the same for Finn and Rachel as well."
Kurt began to cough as soon as $60,000 was said.
"We know Blaine may be getting some money but even if you do or don't get it, we want to support you two. It's not just for Kurt, Blaine. You're like a son to me like Finn and Kurt are. And you two are a damn good team. You take care of each other, you fight for each other, and I want to take care of you the same way you take care of Kurt. If I've said it once, I'll say it a million times. That night you showed up in the hospital sealed the deal for me, kid. You're family."
Blaine shuffled his feet and looked over Burt's head, not even sure how to come up with words. He looked down when Carole leaned over to put her hand on his.
"And you don't have to say anything." Burt continued. "Just know how… how the whole family feels. You're a big part of it. Almost as big as that hair gets when you don't cut it."
Blaine let out something between a laugh and a sob, shaking his head.
Burt grinned and went to hug both Kurt and Blaine. "I definitely wouldn't get a house halfway between your schools is the only thing I'd say, kids. That's what I was trying to get at earlier."
Kurt stood up, properly hugging his dad. "That's very sweet of you two. I appreciate it."
"Me too." Blaine, who was still having a tough time coming up with words, said meeting Burt's eyes.
"You two are loved and supported." Carole smiled.
"And don't worry about Melody. We've got at least 15 years before she's ready to buy a house. Plenty of time to save." Burt grinned again, hugging Kurt and then leaning down to ruffle Blaine's hair. "I love you, kid."
"I love you too." Blaine stood to properly hug him as well.
"Seriously, though," Kurt joked. "Do you have some to spare now for grocery money? It's the end of the week and—."
Burt pulled back and rolled his eyes. "I will give you grocery money before I leave, Kurt. You do this every time we visit."
"Times are tough, Dad."
…
It had been a long day and Kurt was relieved, very relieved, to finally be back at home with Blaine. He hadn't spent so much time with Blaine in a long time since they'd both been busy with school, and he felt like they (at least he) needed this time.
Kurt, who had put some food and water into Kreacher's bowls, walked into his bedroom.
Blaine was sitting on the bed with a large book in his lap. He moved his head to either side before returning his eyes back to the book.
There were highlighters and pens on the bed next to him but Kurt knew Blaine would never mark up a book. He supposed it was a habit or a comfort thing for Blaine because there were no notebooks next to him as well.
"You've been in here reading for an hour."
Blaine looked up, an apologetic smile on his face.
"No! It's fine!" Kurt said quickly, sitting at the foot of the bed. "I was making sure you were still alive."
"Barely." Blaine laughed a bit and closed the book. "Did you get your sketch done?"
"A rough version, yeah." Kurt nodded. He bit his lip and looked at Blaine a few seconds before speaking. "It's almost the weekend. You're going to stay the weekend, right?"
"Definitely if it's okay! Wes is going to stay all weekend and I'd love to stay with you too."
Kurt smiled and nodded. "I'd love that too."
Blaine grinned, eyes bright.
"You've had a kind of emotional day, haven't you?"
"God, that was embarrassing." Blaine sighed, scooting closer to Kurt.
"It made me want to cry. You and my Dad are so precious." Kurt admitted, scooting closer to Blaine as well. He reached over, fingering Blaine's short curls. "You know, I like your hair short but…"
"You, Wes and my curls. It's a torrid love affair." Blaine laughed a bit.
"I know they're not professional but…" Kurt sighed.
"Don't worry. Summers are slower for lawyers and my hair grows pretty fast." Blaine winked at him.
This time Kurt laughed.
"I can't believe they were going to give that money to us for a house before we broke up. No wonder Burt's been going crazy this last year." Blaine stretched a bit.
"He doesn't need an excuse to go crazy over us. He and Puck, both. When Puck found out we were back together, he tried to take me for celebratory drinks." Kurt ruffled Blaine's hair again.
After several seconds, Blaine sat up. "You got quiet. Is something wrong?"
"I don't know if I should bring it up." Kurt admitted.
"That definitely means you should. Open communication, remember?"
Kurt smiled a bit but it turned into a frown.
"What?" Blaine asked gently, scooting until they were next to each other. "Talk to me."
"Your face when Dad mentioned us getting married… You looked so…" Kurt trailed off.
"I…" Blaine opened his mouth but couldn't think of anything to say. He was hoping nobody had noticed the facial expression but clearly that hadn't been the case.
"I know we're not ready yet. I know we're still building everything back up and finding new ways to be us and to make the relationship work for both of us. It made me worry, though… if because of everything, you don't want to ever… get married?" Kurt bit his lip.
"I know I wasn't ready when I had that ring but I had committed to doing it… and then you called it off and I…" Blaine looked down, picking at his nails. "I had to return that ring, Kurt."
Kurt nodded, although Blaine couldn't see it.
"It's not that I don't want to get married." Blaine took a deep breath. "It's that I don't want to ask you to marry me."
Kurt stopped breathing.
"I can't do that again. I can't go and spend $7,000 on a ring and have it thrown at me. I think I threw it at you, actually, but that's not the point." Blaine took another deep breath. "It took a lot for me to work up that courage and I know I won't be able to do it again."
Kurt nodded, not knowing what to say.
Blaine closed his eyes. "I'm sorry. I… It takes me a long time to open up to people and I was scared to take that leap. I already trusted you as much as I thought I could and you… you wanted to get married, and I realized that I couldn't completely trust you with everything in me because I was so scared to marry you. I had to really go deep inside myself to let myself be prepared for… for what could happen if we didn't work out. Or if you didn't say yes… and before I was able to ask…"
"I am so sorry." Kurt covered his face, taking in a deep breath.
"You don't have to apologize. I just need you to know that I can't… I can't be the one to do it. I can't."
Kurt lowered his hands, nodding with tears in his eyes.
"I'm sorry. I wanted to be able to do that for you but I…" Blaine shook his head.
"No. No, no, no." Kurt shook his. "Don't apologize, Blaine. I am so sorry that everything… has been such a mess. But I promise you are my forever and I am yours."
Blaine nodded, pressing his forehead to Kurt's.
"I know we aren't there yet but I know it's you. I have always known and it will always be you. I will take care of your heart and I know you'll take care of mine."
Blaine nodded again, letting out a deep breath.
Kurt pulled his head back, stroking Blaine's cheek.
"I know we're better and I feel in my heart that it will be okay… you're everything to me, Kurt. Please don't think I don't want everything with you because I really, really do. Marriage and babies and buying our first house. Your parents being our kids' grandparents. I want you being my children's father and I want to grow old with you. I do." Blaine kept eye contact with Kurt. "I want it all."
"I do too." Kurt's eyes were watery. "And we'll have it. I promise."
Blaine's eyes teared up again and he felt exhausted, like he'd been crying all day or something. Or maybe it was just because he'd said that all out loud. He hadn't even talked about that with Wes or David.
"I promise." Kurt pulled him into another hug. "I promise."
"I know. I do." Blaine pulled back. "Mentally, though, I have to tell myself because it was four months of telling myself I'd never see you again or—or be able to love you the way I had before. And then it was two months of telling myself I wanted to try again. And then two months of hell because we were so close but not there. I think my brain needs to catch up a bit it all. These three months have been beyond amazing, but my brain needs to accept it like my heart has."
"I know what you mean." Kurt sniffled. "I guess I thought we'd get back together and everything would be fine but there are mental things and it… you're right. I want it all too, but I understand your mind has to catch up. I know you've been hurt a lot and I'm sorry for all of that, especially what I did to contribute to it."
"No, no, no." Blaine pulled him into a hug. "I hurt you too, you know? I mean, I know we both know because we've talked about it so much. But we agreed not to apologize anymore because that's behind us, right? And we're never going back. We know that."
"I'm so glad I got to see you this week. I miss you, you know? Even with us trying to come up and down every other weekend. I just remember living together and having so much time together. It's like we—at least, I— took it for granted." Kurt scooted back.
"I know exactly what you mean." Blaine nodded. "I do."
Kurt suddenly hugged him again.
"Long distance sucks." Blaine mumbled into his shoulder, squeezing him tightly. "But we're going to get through it and we'll have a long, happy future together."
Kurt nodded, stroking Blaine's hair. "Promise?"
Blaine pulled back and held out his pinky finger. "Pinky promise."