Long Time Coming

by CrazedLunatic

When Blaine gets accepted into Harvard, Kurt and Blaine find out exactly how hard it can be to maintain a relationship when they discover how much their dreams conflict. Sequel to What Brings Us Closer Together. AU.

38. Chapter 29

"OHMYGOD OHMYGOD OHMYGOD!"

Blaine looked at Wes, who was sitting with him on the couch.

"Don't ask me. I just have a baby with her." Wes shrugged, peeking over the back of the couch to make sure Scarlett was still asleep. "If she wakes her up, it's all her. It took me an hour to get her to sleep."

AJ ran down the stairs and said, much quieter, "Did you hear me? I said 'ohmygod, ohmygod, ohmygod!'"

"I think the only person in a five mile radius that didn't hear you is Scarlett." Blaine laughed.

"Matt did it. He proposed."

"Well did Adrian say yes?" Wes asked.

"Obviously." AJ sat on the couch between them. "Do you think he'll really move out?"

"It's the beginning of May and graduation is the 28th. I don't think he'll be going anywhere. He was already stressing about losing the extra study time to drive to New York to look at apartments." Blaine laughed and closed his textbook. "How did Matt do it?"

"I don't know. Adrian just texted me and told me it happened and that he'd call me when they were on their way back to Cambridge." AJ took a deep breath. "I just really want to knooooow."

Wes looked at her, amused. "You were not this excited when I proposed to you."

"I was six and a half months pregnant. The only thing I was excited about was the prospect of being able to see my toes again in January." AJ responded. "Plus, I don't have to plan their wedding. Ours just gives me extra work."

Blaine laughed loudly and stood. "I've got to go to CMJ. Don't let Adrian leave until I get home if he makes it here before I do—or Matt! I want to see them both!"

"I won't." AJ promised.

Blaine grabbed his bag and went out to his car, calling Kurt.

"Hey. I'm walking to class to finish my last piece but what's up?"

"I just wanted to check in. I'm on my way to work." Blaine said cheerfully.

"I'll be better when next Friday hits and I never have to worry about a fashion show again. At least, not one like this." Kurt groaned. "I miss you."

"You're almost done, though! This last piece and you're done with grad school!" Blaine sounded excited.

"Yeah, I'll be excited when I can sleep. I've had ten hours in two days." Kurt sighed. "How are you?"

"I'm good. I really just wanted to hear your voice."

"I'm so glad to hear yours too. I'm sorry I didn't call last night. I didn't want to wake you up. I actually ended up passing out at Alec's place."

"At least you aren't in misery by yourself." Blaine smiled.

"I guess." Kurt laughed a bit. "Your time is coming soon. Don't worry."

"I know." Blaine sighed a bit. "Adrian and I have been making study guides and stuff. Putting our notes together actually helps a lot because we'll catch stuff the other didn't in class."

"Okay, I just got to class. I should go." Kurt sounded hesitant. "Sorry you only got to talk to me for two minutes."

"No worries. I just got to CMJ anyway. I love you, Kurt."

"I love you too. Text me tonight."

"I will." Blaine hung up and went into the building. He had turned down the hallway to go to Bob's office but Tammy Jo poked her head out. "Hi."

"Hey. Bob isn't here. His dad passed away this morning." She frowned. "I didn't have your number or I would have let you know."

Blaine's smile faded. "What?"

"He didn't even call me. He texted me at like six this morning. I'm not sure what happened. I don't even know if anybody else but Ryan and I know." Tammy Jo sighed.

"Is Bob okay?"

"They were pretty close. He's lived with Bob and Sarah since it was in stage 2 and that was eight years ago, so… he's probably not. He's the youngest of his siblings too."

Blaine opened his mouth but closed it, having no idea what to say.

"You can stay obviously… but one of his friends is in his office now getting all of his case stuff. Mallory said he probably won't… won't be back for four or six weeks."

"What about his class?" Blaine asked.

"His friend is the one that usually teaches it, so he's going to finish out the last couple of weeks."

"Is Mallory here?"

"She was about an hour ago. She's in court right now."

"Even though her dad just died?" Blaine's eyes widened.

"Brian has two court cases today otherwise he would have taken it for her. He tried to reschedule one of them but the judge wouldn't allow it. He's a real asshole."

"Did you say someone was in his office? Can they even get into his files?"

"His name is Jake. He is Bob's best friend. I guess Bob gave him his keys. You can trust him, though."

Blaine looked at her, not knowing what else to say.

"He had some paperwork on his desk if you want to get those sorted out. Ryan and I are going to go through that later tonight and see what we can piece together. I'm going to give him a few days before I… talk to him." Tammy Jo sighed.

"What did his wife say?"

"All he's said about work is that he wants to buy Jeff out since he doesn't have to pay the medical bills anymore." She looked like she was about to cry. "I was over there a week ago and he was fine. He's been doing well. I don't understand. Oh, God. Charlie, what are you doing here?"

Charlie, Bob's oldest son, gave an unenthusiastic wave. "Hey. Mom sent me to get some papers Jake found."

"He's not doing cases." Tammy Jo said. "I don't care what he says. I'm not letting him."

"It's not work stuff. He had Pa's will papers locked up in his desk." Charlie bit his lip.

"Blaine, can you show him where his office is?"

"Yeah." Blaine said. "Hey."

"Hey, Blaine. Thanks for showing me where it is. I don't come here too often and it's kind of a maze."

"Is he okay?"

"No. He found Grandpa this morning and… no, he's not okay right now. That's the short answer. I mean… I haven't seen him yet but Brady says it's not good."

Blaine walked into Blaine's office, not knowing what to say. Ryan was behind Bob's desk and another guy, who looked around Bob's age, was looking in a cabinet that was always locked.

"Hey, Jake." Charlie went in.

"Hey. I'm so sorry." Jake immediately came to hug him. "Did you make it over there?"

"Yeah. I had just made it when you called Mom." Charlie nodded, stepping back.

"Has he done anything? Did you see him?"

"No. Mom said he's just sitting on the couch. Brady says he isn't doing good. Mom took Emily to Tammy Jo's house since her husband is home. She was getting pretty upset that Dad's not… saying anything. I don't think she understands yet."

Ryan looked at Blaine, meeting his eyes, and then gave a forced smile.

"Are you staying with us?"

"Yeah until after the funeral at least... It may be late before I get back though. I honestly have no idea what is going on right now. Your dad isn't exactly organized on the best of days…" Jake laughed a bit. "But the will papers are in that green folder. Don't let him see you bring it in."

"I know. I'm going to put it in my backpack." Charlie went and picked up the green folder from Bob's desk. "Mom said he left his wallet here last night."

Jake pulled it out of his pocket and handed it to him. "Here, I think this is the side door key to the house too."

"Thanks. If you find anything else, text me and I'll come back." Charlie said before quietly leaving the room.

"He looks exactly like him, doesn't he?" Jake asked Ryan.

"Dead on." Ryan nodded. "This is Blaine."

"I've heard all about you." Jake smiled and went to shake Blaine's hand. "Hi."

"You're just… going to take his cases?" Blaine asked, not even greeting him.

Bob never let anyone go through those cabinets and his desk drawers… but he did have the keys and it was extenuating circumstances.

It was still unsettling, though.

"I'm not really sure. The tall guy—"

"Brian." Ryan said from the desk.

"He's pushed a lot of them back. He's been on the phone with clients between his two cases. Three of the bigger cases can't be pushed back so I'll have to do those. Hopefully some people here can take some of the smaller ones. I'm on sabbatical so I can do some of them but I live about five hours away." Jake paused. "I'm hoping we can get the small ones knocked out too, though. I don't want him to have a long to do list or calendar full when he comes back."

Blaine nodded and sat in one of the chairs in front of Bob's desk.

"How long do you think it will be?" Ryan asked.

"I have no idea. The only person Bob's talking to is his mom, really… Sarah a bit and me enough to give me the keys and his planner… We were talking two weeks ago about how he would probably pass soon, though." Jake sat down at the other seat in front of his desk. "His dad went from being really sick to having energy and stuff. People always say that you get a surge of energy when you're dying. Bob had a feeling it was coming."

"Did the nurse find him…?" Ryan asked.

"No. Sarah and he had gone in there to grab something this morning and… they could tell before they made it over to him." Jake took a deep breath. "You know… I think he's really shocked right now and I think he'll need at least a month off… but it would have been a lot worse if he hadn't started to mentally prepare himself."

"Can we go see him?" Blaine asked.

"I… don't think he wants to see anybody right now." Jake said slowly. "I mean, if he didn't have to see me, he wouldn't have let me talk to him either. We've been best friends since middle school… If he's not talking to Sarah, he's not ready yet."

"Can we go to the funeral?" Ryan asked.

"I'm sure he would appreciate it… I don't know if his mom will want it to be private, though." Jake nodded. "But I'm sure you still could."

"Can I send him food or… something?" Blaine asked. "I just… want to do something for him."

"I have a feeling they'll have more food than they can handle by the end of tomorrow. I'll ask him tonight if he's okay with you two coming over, though… but don't be surprised if he doesn't want you to. He's... Well, himself. You know what I mean, I'm sure."

Blaine nodded. "Okay."

"Can you help me with something though? Could you get into Outlook and pull up everyone's schedule for the next six weeks?" Jake asked. "I've got his passwords to the computer and email."

"Can I even see that?" Blaine asked Ryan.

"I'll show you how." Ryan motioned for him to come behind the desk.

Blaine hadn't been behind the desk before, but he wasn't surprised to see pictures of his family and a picture of he and Sarah from when they were younger under a clear mat on his desk. There were a lot of small random papers pushed under it too—they were probably important notes since they were all handwritten, but Blaine had no idea what they were for or what they meant.

Jake got up, going back to the cabinet Bob usually kept locked. He sat on the floor, pulling folders out of the bottom drawer and sighing every few minutes.

Blaine pushed his thoughts away and watched Ryan pulling up the calendars and printing them off.

At this point, all he could do was to help with what he could.

Long Time Coming

"I haven't seen you in, like, two weeks." David said when Kurt came into the apartment. "I don't even know if that's an exaggeration."

"Ugh," was all Kurt said before dropping his bag on the ground. "I graduate next Saturday. Do you think I can make it two weeks with four hours of sleep a night?"

"I mean physically, yeah… but I wouldn't recommend it." David gave him a sympathetic smile. "How are the pieces coming?"

"They're coming, I guess. The first part of the semester dragged and now I can't even find time to eat… and when I have time to eat, my stomach hurts from not eating, so I don't eat." Kurt sighed. "At this point, I think I'm done caring."

David laughed a bit.

"How has the ER been?"

"Are you really asking how Eric Davis has been?" David asked.

"Yes." Kurt nodded.

"I mean, it's fine. He's definitely not happy with me but you can't really let that effect work when you do what we do." David shrugged. "It's not great but he's not giving me the silent treatment anymore."

"That's good at least!" Kurt yawned and sat down on the couch with David. "Sorry."

"Hey, have you been able to talk to Blaine much this week?"

"No and I feel awful about it. We had this deal to talk every day for at least thirty minutes and all I've had time to do is send him texts for four days. I'm so slammed right now that it's ridiculous. The people who didn't start early are starting to really freak out." Kurt bit his lip. "He didn't say anything, did he?"

"No. I mean, he asked how you were doing. I told him there had been signs of life other than me in the apartment but that I hadn't seen you in a while." David laughed. "Now I can tell him I know for a fact you are alive. You're so close to done! What does that feel like?"

"I. Want. To. Die."

David laughed again and then asked, very seriously, "Is your wrist okay, though?"

"Yeah. Is this your first day off in a week?"

"Eleven days. I'm off for two days, though. Thank God Wednesday and Thursday because the family doctor's office is closed those days. I've never been so excited for two days off in my life… although I won't be surprised if I get paged in. I keep telling myself to go to sleep in case that happens but Netflix. I forgot what it's like to watch TV and zone out."

"How is Marcy?"

"Good. Of course she works the whole time I'm off." This time David sighed.

"What about between shifts?"

"She's been doing sixteen hour shifts so probably not. She'll need rest. Two nurses quit over scheduling... which totally screws the other nurses who are already working overtime. Plus, where she's an APRN, they like her there during the week for when the doctors are super busy. There are more doctors in on the weekend. She can order tests and prescribe medicines. There has been a couple of times she's caught stuff I've missed before patients leave. It's like… nurses hear everything. It's insane, Kurt."

"So… are you telling me you're not going to try to go over there the ten hours between the shifts?" Kurt looked at him skeptically.

"I mean if she wants me to, I'm obviously not going to say no." David shrugged. "I'm also not going to bring it up or ask to come, though."

"I have a personal question." Kurt said, biting his lip.

"Okay?" David looked worried.

"Do your parents… care that you're dating somebody who is white?"

David looked relieved and then laughed.

"I'm serious! And curious! Sorry!"

"No, it's totally okay. My dad is totally fine with whatever. I think my mom is shocked, though. I've never dated someone white before. She's not upset… she just hasn't gotten used to the idea yet. She really likes Marcy."

"YOU SAID DATED! I KNEW IT!"

"Screw you! You did that because I'm tired!" David threw a couch pillow at him.

"No. I really was asking. But that's the first time you've used the word 'dating.'" Kurt looked pleased.

"Please don't tell Alec." David sighed. "Marcy will kill me."

"I would never do that. I won't tell anyone. Even Blaine." Kurt hopped a bit in his seat. "Oh, I'm so excited and I love it when I'm right. I knew you two weren't just messing around. I'm happy for you. Blaine and Wes will be when they 'officially' find out too."

"Thanks, Kurt." David smiled and then said, "As an almost medical professional, you look exhausted. You should call Blaine and get some sleep."

"I think you are right." Kurt stood and grabbed his cell phone. "And I won't tell anyone. I promise."

"Thanks." David smiled at him before returning his attention to Netflix.

Kurt closed the bedroom door and called Blaine, sitting on his bed.

"Oh my God. You are alive!" Blaine said after only two rings.

"Barely but yes." Kurt laughed a bit, collapsing on to his bed.

"How are you?" Blaine asked.

"I'm exhausted. How are you?"

"Anxious." Blaine admitted.

"Studying?"

"No. Bob's dad died two days ago. Tomorrow Adrian's boss and I are going after work to visit him." Blaine sighed. "Ryan said I should go but I'm kind of nervous. I haven't really been around anyone who has lost someone they were really close to."

"Oh no. That's terrible." Kurt frowned, sitting up. "But you should go. Just from the two minutes I saw him, I could tell he really likes you. It may make him feel a bit better to see you."

"Or he'll think I'm a stalker." Blaine muttered.

"No, he won't. You guys are close—at least a lot closer than the last two years. He will probably really appreciate you showing that you care." Kurt said. "Weren't you glad that Wes and David supported you and checked on you when She Who Shall Not Be Named died?"

Blaine laughed loudly and then said, "Sorry. I was not expecting that to come out of your name but I appreciate the Harry Potter-esque name you've given her."

Kurt smiled. "Well, I have a few others I could have used but that's not what we're discussing."

"You're right. I did feel better with them there even if I didn't say a lot." Blaine said after a few seconds.

"He will appreciate the gesture… I know he will." Kurt said. "Try not to stress about it. Especially if the other lawyer is going too.

"Yeah, you're right. I still feel weird… I think it's because I know he's not doing very well. His best friend has been at the office trying to sort out his case stuff. Apparently, Bob's not very social."

"Well, you're not going there to talk. If he doesn't talk a lot, that's fine. He'll just appreciate you came to sit with him or… whatever you do." Kurt reassured him.

"Yeah. But how are you doing? Are you exhausted? Are you nearly finished yet?" Blaine asked.

"Ha. No." Kurt laughed. "It's coming along but I'm exhausted. I can't wait to graduate and have a month to do absolutely nothing."

"But move." Blaine reminded him. "That is not going to be fun either… but we get to live together again! I am so excited to sleep with you every night and wake up to you every morning!"

"I'm emotional and exhausted. Don't make it worse." Kurt laughed again. "But I'm really excited too. I think about that every time I want to cry or get frustrated out of pure exhaustion."

"Aww. You should get some sleep."

"No. We haven't gotten to talk much in, like, three days."

"Are you going to at least sleep in tomorrow or are you going in to the studio?" Blaine asked.

"I am not going to set an alarm… but when I wake up, I am heading straight to the studio and not leaving until I can't see straight anymore. I know I've got five days to get this stuff done… and the fashion show Friday night… and graduation Thursday. I am literally going to die, Blaine."

"I'm still really upset I have a mock trial Friday night. I'm so sorry!" Blaine sighed.

"No, it's okay. Honestly, I don't know if I even want to be there myself. Plus, they'll display a couple of things from everyone for a couple of weeks. It won't be on an actual person, but you'll be able to see them. And they'll post a video on Vogue's website."

"Oooh, fancy… I am upset, though. I'm sorry."

"No, don't be. You can't help it. Plus, you'd just distract me anyway."

Kurt smiled when Blaine laughed.

"I don't know about that. I have kind of looked like a mess all week." Blaine laughed too.

"You distract me no matter what you look like." Kurt smiled. "Oh no. Is that the baby crying?"

"Her or Wes. Take your pick." Blaine snorted. "She's teething. She's got this little bitty tooth on the top coming out. It's so cute. She's so cute."

"I don't know how Wes and AJ are managing a baby and finals. Theirs are probably a lot harder than ours."

"Well, I'll put it this way. They studied a lot more for the December finals. AJ seems stressed but Wes is chill as usual. I think she's turning into a daddy's girl already, though. If Wes is in the room and not paying attention to her or holding her, she gets fussy so he's had to come up with some interesting positions to hold her and do his studying at the same time." Blaine paused. "What are you thinking about?"

"Sleeping in after graduation." Kurt admitted. "What are you thinking about?"

"That I both love you and hate you right now. I love you because, obviously, I just love you. I hate you because you graduate two weeks before me. You're going to be well rested for copious amounts of sex in the new apartment and I'll probably be hiding in the bathtub asleep."

"Hiding in the bathtub?" Kurt repeated.

"I like how you think I know the words that are coming out of my mouth at this point."

Kurt laughed. "We are both messes. You seem pretty calm, though."

"The calm before the storm. I mean I'm studying and everything, but we've still got class work… and one of my finals is a fifteen page typed out essay, so I should really get on that. Luckily, I have until 1:00 on Thursday to have that done. Seeing as that means 36 essays will have to be graded in the system by 6:00 Friday, I feel like they won't be paying too much attention. That's a shit ton of actual reading to do in a pretty short amount of time."

"What's going on with Bob's class?"

"So his best friend is the teacher that usually does the class. Bob does it every five years when he goes on 'sabbatical.' He's doing discussion and is doing the final. He did tell me it's going to only be 5 questions and each answer has to be a page… which doesn't sound too horrible. Where he hasn't lectured the class and doesn't know how far we got, it's hard for him to make up something more comprehensive and he doesn't want to bug Bob about it. I'm not complaining one bit because the final for my Thursday class is going to kill me."

"No, it won't! You say that about at least one final every year and you always get high passes. That's what you call it, right?" Kurt titled his head even though Blaine couldn't see it.

"Yeah. High passes."

"Don't worry. You'll be fine."

"You too! You're right. We're always fine." Blaine sounded more cheerful.

"Are you really doing okay?" Kurt asked hesitantly.

"Yeah. I'm getting more nervous as time goes on… but I haven't had a panic attack in a long time, so I think I'm doing good. Shit, I just jinxed it Are you really doing okay?"

"I'm exhausted and ready for it to be over with. I know I'll get it all done but I'll be glad when it is all done." Kurt laughed a bit and then yawned.

"That is the fourth yawn in the last ten minutes so I'm going to let you go… but I will see you Friday night."

"You're coming up?" Kurt's entire face lit up.

"Yeah. I'm going to bring my stuff. I'll sit with you and Alec in the studio while you work. It may not be the best quality time but we'll still be together." Blaine said. "That's okay, right?"

"Of course it is! I just didn't know you were planning on doing that. That makes me really happy."

"I thought I told you… I bet I dreamt that. Sometimes it's hard to tell what's real and what isn't anymore." Blaine laughed a bit. "But you need to go to bed."

"Will you call me tomorrow? Let me know how everything goes?"

"Yeah. I'll call you once I get home and everything. If you can't pick up, just call me whenever." Blaine paused and then said, "I love you, Kurt. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Blaine. I love you too."

Long Time Coming

"Are you sure we should be doing this?" Blaine asked Ryan the next afternoon, getting out of the passenger seat. "Are you sure I should have come too?"

"Even if he doesn't want to talk, it will mean a lot to him… he cares a lot about you, Blaine." Ryan said.

"You too." Blaine's voice was soft.

"I know." Ryan nodded and knocked on the door.

"Oh, you came too!" Sarah opened the door. "Hi, Blaine!"

"Hey." Blaine smiled at her.

"He will be glad to have an excuse to not talk to his brothers. They wouldn't even let Jake pull him away but they don't know you two so hopefully they won't argue." Sarah smiled and let them in as Brady walked past the room. "Brady, go and tell your dad that he's got visitors."

"DAD, YOU'VE GOT VISITORS!" Brady called and then they heard receding footsteps going up the stairs.

"He's so moody." Sarah sighed.

"Your son hollered?" Bob came into the entrance.

"You say my son like he gets the hollering from me." Sarah rolled her eyes.

"Hey, guys." Bob said.

It was the weirdest thing, seeing Bob in jeans and a t shirt.

Ryan went straight to him, giving him a hug without hesitating. "I'm so sorry."

"Thanks." Bob forced a smile. "Hey, Blaine."

"How are you?" Blaine asked as Bob wrapped an arm back around Blaine's shoulders and gave a small squeeze.

"Ready to get out of this house. Do you guys want to sit on the porch?" Bob asked. "Please say yes. I will pay you to say yes."

"We should sit outside." Ryan said, a little louder than necessary. Blaine watched Bob mouth a 'thank you.'

Blaine opened the front door, closing it behind him after Bob and Ryan had gone outside.

"You didn't say how you were." Ryan pointed out.

"Hang on. Emily, get out from under the porch." Bob said, sounding annoyed.

Ryan looked at Blaine, clearly confused.

"I'm hiding!" They heard Emily say from underneath them.

"I thought you were hiding with Sam." Bob said and then stood, saying, "Excuse me for five seconds."

Ryan laughed when Bob laid belly down on the ground and looked under the porch. "Emily is my favorite human being."

"Want her?" Bob grunted as Emily said, "I'm not coming out!"

"Suit yourself." Bob moved himself into a sitting position. "I'm going to lock up now. Have fun sleeping with the opossums."

"NOOO!" They heard scooting and then saw a little head pop out. "That's rude, Daddy."

"The fact that you ruined that dress is rude too. Do you know how much Mommy spent on that?"

"Two pennies." Emily said as Bob stood.

"I wish it was two pennies." Bob muttered.

"Robbie, did you see—Emily! You're supposed to be with Sam." Sarah sighed. "And you got Daddy dirty. What did you get into?"

"It's more of what did she get under." Bob said.

"Sam is shooting people, Brady is being mean, and Charlie is trying to get the baby to sleep." Emily said as Bob scooped her up. "I don't like all of the people. They're too loud. And the baby is getting all the attention. I hate babies."

"You're in for a rude awakening in five months." Bob muttered.

"Daddy, what does that mean?" Emily asked.

"Emily, let Daddy talk to his friends and then you can bug him." Sarah opened her arms.

"No. I want to bug him now."

Ryan covered his mouth, trying really hard to not laugh.

Bob put her down and pulled his phone out of his back pocket. "Go watch Taylor."

"EEEEE!" Emily ran into the house.

"She does not get that from me. That's all you. I remember you at that the Killers concert." Bob gave Sarah a pointed look.

"Oh, leave me alone. You are just jealous Brandon was cuter than you."

"And about ten years younger than you." Bob muttered where only Blaine could hear him.

"Five months?" Ryan grinned before Sarah could respond to that. "You are pregnant?"

"Yeah. We found out for sure three nights ago." Sarah smiled. "Why not add number 5? It'll be a zoo."

"The only one not happy is Emily." Bob said. "She's pretending she doesn't know English when we try to talk to her about it."

Sarah kissed Bob's cheek and went back inside. He sat back in the chair he'd been in.

"How are you?" Blaine asked again.

"I was hoping you'd forget to ask that again." Bob sighed. "I'll be fine. I'm ready for my family to go home, though. I feel horrible saying it, but I can't wait for this funeral to be over with."

"Other than that?"

"I don't know." Bob let out another sigh. "I'm fine. I should probably just go back to work. I need to get the paperwork to buy Jeff out. I can't do it anymore after two weeks ago and now this."

"That's not what Blaine's talking about." Ryan said. "And you shouldn't go to work now. Take the time off. We will get everything handled."

"I'm not doing very well." Bob admitted and looked up at the ceiling of the wrap-around porch. "I can't quit thinking about seeing Dad like that… and then having to wake my mom up and tell her… Shit, it was horrible. And they haven't come to take that bed away and I don't even know what to do with the wheelchair. I don't know. I just want it all gone but they keep not showing up."

"I'm sorry." Blaine said quietly, not knowing what else to say.

"Thanks." Bob lowered his head as Jake came out. "Are they about to leave?"

"Probably not. They're all being obnoxious and laughing at something." Jake dropped into the empty chair by Bob. "Emily's watching that stupid concert on your phone again."

"She was hiding under the porch and then wouldn't let me put her down. It's the only way I can bribe her now. At least it's not Peppa Pig anymore?"

"You have got to quit letting her do that or you'll be carrying her and a new baby soon." Jake said and then added, "I bet if you have Charlie put it on the big TV with the surround sound, they might clear out…"

Bob instantly hopped up, going inside.

"He must really be ready for everybody to leave." Blaine said, watching the screen door close behind him. "Should we go?"

"It's his brothers he really wants to leave. They're too loud for him. They always have been. Don't worry." Jake reassured them.

"How is he really doing? You're staying with him, right?" Ryan asked.

"Yeah, I'll be here until the day after the funeral at least and then I'll probably come down here when I have to… If you want full disclosure, he's doing bad right now. I think after the funeral tomorrow it may be a bit better." Jake glanced at the door to make sure Bob wasn't on his way out. "He got really drunk last night, though. He doesn't do that so I'm more worried than I was yesterday."

"Did he ever—?" Blaine began.

"No, he's never had a problem with it. He usually only drinks when he's not emotionally… stable?" Jake said it as though it was a question, rather than a fact.

"When the alcohol comes out more than once in a week, he's in over his head." Ryan added.

Bob came back out and took his seat again. "Are you sure you don't want in at CMJ? If you say no, Sarah's not going to be pleased when I clear out my 401K. You already live in New York. You'll have windows."

"Why don't you bring this up more than two days after your dad died and not after a night of drinking a shit ton of bourbon?" Jake stood and ruffled Bob's hair.

Ryan laughed at Bob's horrified expression as the screen door closed.

"Hey, can you—" Bob trailed off when the front door closed as well. "Never mind. I hate when he does that."

"Okay, Bob." Ryan said, voice sounding more serious. "How are you really doing?"

"Do you want honesty or do you want me to say something to make you not worry?" Bob asked.

"Honesty." Blaine said.

"Horrible. I have a house full of loud people telling stories and laughing and crying and eating all my food. I haven't been able to sleep since the night before last. Sarah is four months pregnant with our fifth child and honestly, we're going to be like 63 when the baby graduates high school. She is excited but this was not in the plan. Honestly, Emily wasn't part of the plan either. Speaking of Emily, she won't listen to a damn thing I say unless I 'reward' her with Taylor Swift. Mallory is hovering, Tammy Jo is hovering, even Charlie is hovering." Bob let out a deep breath and continued. "I literally decked Jeff in the face three weeks ago and I'm just sitting around waiting for a court summons because you know he'll take any excuse to get more money. My mom is all alone and my dad is dead. I'm not doing good and I just want all these people out of my house. Especially Mallory because she acts like everything I do is the wrong thing. I can't even grieve the right way—isn't it supposed to be different from everyone? Why is she hassling me? What does she want from me?"

"I don't know." Ryan watched him sadly.

"I'm so sorry." Blaine whispered, watching him sadly.

"Oh my God. I can't believe I just said all of that about the baby and Emily. I am a horrible person." Bob covered his face with his hands.

"You aren't a horrible person." Ryan said gently. "We know you don't mean it. You're really stressed out."

Bob lowered his hands and sighed, looking exhasuted.

"Is there anything I can get you? Or do for you?" Blaine asked, still watching him.

"Can you help Jake get stuff sorted out? I mean, it's all here but—"

"I'll do it now." Blaine stood.

"Oh God, don't do it now. It's not urgent." Bob looked surprised. "I just mean when he's in the office and trying to figure stuff out. I'm not the best at keeping stuff organized... as you both know."

"You can say that again." Ryan laughed quietly, not even fazed when Bob shot him a look. "If you can believe it, Blaine, he's actually gotten better in the last fifteen years."

Blaine sat back down, laughing a bit.

"I appreciate you two coming. It means a lot." Bob looked between the two of them.

"We wanted to come." Blaine said.

"Can we bring you guys anything? Food, drinks, a broom?" Ryan asked.

"No but thank you." Bob snorted a bit and then leaned over, shaking Blaine's shoulder.

"What about your class?" Blaine asked.

"Jake is actually the one that usually teaches it so he's going to finish out the last two and a half weeks. He commutes for it two days a week usually." Bob said and then joked, "Now, you can't start having panic attacks when it gets close to finals. I'm only legally obligated to pick you up from the hospital or doctor's office when I'm active in the office."

Blaine smiled a bit. "I'll keep that in mind."

"I'm joking. You know that, right?" Bob asked seriously.

"I know." Blaine's smile grew.

Ryan stood. "We'll go ahead and go. I know you'd rather spend all of your time with us but, you know, we have lives."

"You are such an ass." Bob stood as well and pulled Blaine into a hug. "Thank you. Don't miss classes tomorrow to come to the funeral, okay? If anything, stop by after. You need to stay focused on classes."

"Are you sure?" Blaine asked. "I was going to skip."

"I'm positive. I really appreciate you coming with Ryan to check on me. It means a lot." Bob forced a smile and then went to hug Ryan.

"Call me if you need anything." Ryan said after pulling away from the hug. "Anytime."

"I will if you think you can take time out of your busy TV schedule." Bob laughed and then headed into the house. "Bye, guys."

"He's not doing very well, is he?" Blaine asked when he and Ryan were both in the car.

"No," Ryan sighed. "He isn't. Hopefully after the funeral, though…"

"I'm kind of worried." Blaine admitted.

"Give it two weeks and then worry if he doesn't seem better."

Long Time Coming

"I hate you. You're done."

Kurt looked up when Blaine came out of the bathroom in his apartment. "Sorry?"

Blaine smiled and sat next to Kurt on his bed. "I am insanely jealous but very proud of you for graduating with honors."

Kurt grinned.

"How does it feel?"

"Honestly, I don't know if it's hit me yet. It will be weird having six weeks off before I start working… but it feels really weird to not have a summer break anymore." Kurt playfully hit his shoulder against Blaine. "You've only got 16 more days yourself."

"Yeah, I don't think I'll have a summer break either… Well, I guess it depends on when Bob decides to come back to work. Everything has been thrown off kilter with his dad passing and the building our office was going to be in caught fire." Blaine shrugged.

"It sounds like he's having a really rough couple of weeks." Kurt frowned.

"He's doing a lot better than was three weeks ago. He's been in the office a couple of times but he's turning down cases for the 'immediate future' whatever that means… I think he's bored, though, because he keeps texting me random law questions… and if I take more than two minutes to start responding, he tells me that looking it up is cheating." Blaine laughed.

"You had dinner with him a couple of days ago too, right?"

"Yeah." Blaine nodded. "And his friend from New York that's been handling his bigger cases. Bob wants him to come to our firm… I think it's because he and Tammy Jo bought Jeff out and Bob doesn't want to have to change a letter in the firm's name."

"Coincidently the same letter?"

"Same last name even." Blaine yawned and pulled one of blankets on the couch toward him. "I kind of hope he does, though. He seems really cool and they've been best friends since middle school."

"Wow. That's a long time." Kurt looked surprised.

"Yeah. He doesn't miss a beat when Bob is being an asshole either." Blaine laughed a bit again and then tilted his head. "All of your outfits were, like, perfect."

"Give me some more compliments." Kurt gave him a sweet smile and then got under the blanket with him, curling against him.

"No, seriously. Really good. And you beat out Alec for… is it Valedictorian there?"

Kurt nodded. "It was really close, though. If Alec hadn't got the flu in February and missed a couple of classes, it definitely could have been him."

"But it wasn't. It was you." Blaine grinned. "Burt was so excited and proud."

Kurt smiled and then laughed. "He's come a long way from hiding my tiara collection."

"You had a tiara collection?"

"Of course, I did."

"And Burt hid them?"

"Of course, he did." Kurt said in the same tone. "You could get Valedictorian."

"Nope. I blew that up last week when I turned in a paper a day late… she docked 10% off it… which is completely understandable since my excuse was printer issues… my excuse was really that I fell asleep at my desk, though."

Kurt looked up at him. "I'm sorry."

"It's fine. At least it wasn't a class Adrian and I are both in so I know she wasn't trying to give him a one up." Blaine laughed a bit. "I mean, I was surprised to even make it to Harvard so I'm not going to cry over spilled milk. The funny thing is Adrian could literally care less. He's been on cloud nine ever since Matt proposed."

"What?!" Kurt pulled back.

"Oh my God. Did I not tell you? Did nobody tell you?" Blaine asked guiltily. "I'm sorry. Bob's dad died the day after and—"

"Excuse you, I just want to know how he did it. I cannot believe you." Kurt interrupted him.

"Well, Adrian thought he was going up to New York to look at apartments but Matt had already bought one. He put like half the cash down for it—like, how much money does he have saved?"

"Stay focused." Kurt laughed.

"But he told Adrian it was theirs and when Adrian came up to him a few minutes later he got down on his knee and asked Adrian what he was doing for the rest of his life."

"That is so sweet." Kurt let out a happy sigh. "Matt is so adorable."

"You and all of Cambridge thinks so." Blaine laughed.

"Wait. Did you say he put half cash on an apartment in New York City? That he purchased?" Kurt pulled back to look at him.

"Yes! Adrian told me he's over, like, fifty people and makes $40 an hour. He usually works 55 hours a week, so that's, like, $2,500 a week before taxes. He also bought his current house outright. He lived with his parents until he was 22 and had enough to buy it with cash. Apparently, he's the baby of the family and his mom didn't want to let him go. He milked it for all it was worth. She didn't even want him to leave after he had enough to buy a house outright… Obviously by that point he was over living at home, though."

"But still." Kurt said. "Did Adrian at least like the place?"

"He told me he doesn't even remember anything about it because he was so surprised at the proposal." Blaine laughed.

"Well I hope he liked it. That was pretty brave of Matt. Please don't ever do that."

"I know you better than that." Blaine scoffed.

"Good point." Kurt nodded, smiling when Blaine cuddled up to him again.

"I would never be able to save enough money to outright buy an apartment in this city." Blaine said.

"Uh… you wouldn't have to save to do that. It's still sitting in your checking account. Hopefully not the regular one still."

"Shit. Alex has reminded me three times in the last month to go and take care of that. I'm really bad at adulting."

"You told me that you did go!"

"Yeah… I went but the line was very long, so I left." Blaine gave him an innocent look.

"That is really important."

"Now you sound like Bob." Blaine groaned.

"We're going tomorrow morning. It's time to pull up the adult pants and get out of the teenage pajamas." Kurt said as David walked in.

"Did you say Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?" David asked.

Blaine covered his face, beginning to laugh.

"No. I'm trying to tell Blaine he needs to do something with that money in his account." Kurt sighed.

"Do you know how long it took him to even open a checking account? My dad literally had to take him on a Saturday morning because he kept getting his King's Island money out in cash. He kept it in a SpongeBob lunch box." David yawned and covered his mouth as Blaine glared. "Sorry."

"Hey, how are you and Eric doing?" Blaine asked.

"It's not really back to normal but he's given me the prescription pad again." David shrugged.

"He said you couldn't sign his name anymore?" Blaine let out a loud laugh. "That's petty."

"I think it was an attempt to talk to me less…. But that meant he had to come and write all of the prescriptions himself... meaning he had to talk to me more." David laughed. "He's being alright, though. He's being a little grumpy with all of the interns because he got written up."

"Why did Eric get written up?" Kurt looked surprised.

"Two of his interns were going at it… unaware that there was a patient in the neighboring room and the blinds were not pulled... meaning not only did a patient see but also the Chief of Staff who was doing a random check. Not even the chief of the ER. This is the guy over the whole hospital. It's actually hilarious."

"Why did he get in trouble for that?" Kurt tilted his head.

"Because one of them was distracted by the other during a trauma right before and almost gave the patient the wrong IV fluids. Eric got pissed—understandably— and told them to 'just go fuck each other and get it over with, so you can focus on your patients.' When the Chief of the ER asked them why they were going at it, they told her what Eric said." David snorted. "I don't think the chief appreciated that very much. I'm just glad I wasn't over those particular interns because the woman who is over them is not on his good side either."

"Wait. He literally told his interns to go have sex… and they did?" Kurt repeated.

"Yes. In a triage room. Not knowing the blinds were open where people could see them. First years are stupid. At least go into the empty rooms we use for sleeping. There are no blinds and the doors lock." David shrugged.

"Did the interns get into trouble?"

"I mean… they're first year interns. They were probably glad they weren't sleeping with residents or attendings to be honest. Then, of course, the kids said they were on their paid fifteen-minute break… I think they probably didn't mostly because we'd be screwed without them. Doing their job sucks and we don't have enough time for it."

"So… have you and Marcy ever…. You know… in the hospital?" Blaine grinned.

"I'm a student and she's one of the top APRN's in the hospital. I'm not about to jeopardize her career by giving solid proof we're together... If nobody knows for sure, they can't do anything." David shrugged and then added, "Her apartment is two buildings down from the hospital though, so if we're ever desperate, we sneak off long enough to do that in an actual bed."

"Are you… official?"

"We have been since the winter after my first semester."

"What?!" Blaine looked at him and then at Kurt. "You knew!"

"I did. Sorry." Kurt pouted a bit. "I was sworn to secrecy. I haven't known that long, though."

Blaine huffed. "I don't know who I'm more irritated at right now."

"Look, Blaine. I asked him not to say anything because he is best friends with Alec who is married to Eric who is my boss. The more people that know, the riskier it becomes. Marcy's the one with a job theoretically on the line and it's her not wanting to come out. Kurt lives with me so he's obviously going to know."

"I didn't know the whole time, though." Kurt said. "And I definitely didn't know you all had been official that long. Wow. Did you two basically get together three and a half years ago?" Kurt stared at him. "And neither of you have told anybody?"

"Not anybody at work… well, one person at work knows—long story— for sure but she's not going to say anything. You saw Eric's reaction at him thinking we're 'messing around' so I obviously don't feel comfortable telling him. People can assume whatever they want until the end of December but I'm not giving anyone a reason to fire or demote her."

"That is three and a half years!" Blaine exclaimed.

"Yep. Okay. I'm off tomorrow so I'm going to go die until Thursday. G'night!" David walked off.

"Just so you know, I haven't been having panic attacks for three and a half years! Pot calling the kettle black!" Blaine called, ducking when David through an empty toilet paper roll in his general direction. "How did it happen?"

"Good. Night. Blaine." David closed his bedroom door.

"Did you have sex first or date first?"

David opened his door and gave Blaine a look. He then closed the door again.

"I don't think he's had much sleep this month." Kurt said, leaning back into Blaine's chest.

"Yeah, well I'm not upset. I just think it's stupid that he gets upset I've—wait. DAVID, DOES THAT MEAN YOU WERE STILL A WEE BABY INTERN WHEN YOU GOT TOGETHER? SHE CORRUPTED YOU OH MY GOD. YOU WOULD NEVER DO THAT! WES IS GOING TO FLIP. HIS. SHIT."

Kurt, who had fallen into the arm rest when Blaine leapt off the couch, glared at the back of his head.

David opened his door again, now in his pajamas. "I will throw you out, Anderson."

"She corrupted a first year intern." Blaine laughed. "I don't know her but I like her."

"Good. Night. Blaine." David closed the door again and then called cheerfully, "G'night, Kurt!"

"Night!" Kurt called and then gave Blaine a look.

Blaine sat back where he was, pulling Kurt towards him again. "Sometimes he's so private."

"Yeah, I can see that." Kurt nodded.

"How do you go three and a half years without telling your best friends? How did it start? I need to know these things!" Blaine moaned.

"I'm sure he'll tell you eventually now that you know."

"Well he better tell Wes because I can not be trusted with that information. Any time I know something he doesn't, it's like an alarm goes off on his head. I'm surprised he's not texting me now." Blaine muttered.

David opened the door. "I will tell Wes tomorrow. Lay off the caffeine or you're going to have a heart attack. Can you please just shut up now?"

"I'm happy for you." Blaine smiled adorably and tilted his head.

"You're so annoying. Don't get loud or I really will kick you out." David threatened.

"Your official girlfriend is pretty."

"I know. Good night, Blaine." David closed his door again and this time turned off the light in his room.

"You were so cute in your gown." Blaine looked at Kurt and then tickled his side a bit.

"Don't tickle me!" Kurt turned his head and glared at him.

"Sorry! But you did. It was sexy." Blaine grinned.

"Your new medicine has helped a lot, hasn't it?"

"I quit taking it in February."

Kurt sat up and looked at him. "What? Why don't you tell me this stuff?"

Blaine scrunched up his nose. "I don't know. I think talking to Bob made me look at everything differently. I'm still super stressed but I'm actually less stressed being off it."

"Really?" Kurt asked.

"Yeah. I didn't know if I was going to stay off it is why I didn't tell you. It took me a lot longer to come down from Wellbutrin in high school. Months."

"Blaine." Kurt scooted back, staring at him. "If we are going to live together you are going to have to tell me things like this. You are always there for me when I have big stuff but you aren't even giving me the chance to be there for you."

"I'm sorry." Blaine looked guilty. "The whole medicine thing is just… ugh, I hate even thinking about any of it. I really was hoping nobody would find out I had even started it, though. I really hate taking medicine to make myself feel normal."

"I was on medicine after the attack, remember? For the anxiety? I understand that… but this goes back to communication. This isn't an issue… but what else will you not tell me? Or should I feel like I can't come to you with how I'm feeling?"

"No! I don't want that at all!" Blaine said quickly.

"That's how I feel right now." Kurt locked eyes with him and didn't look away.

"I'll tell you if I start to feel bad again. I promise." Blaine bit his lip. "I love you."

"I love you too, Blaine. I just want you to be happy and to not be embarrassed or ashamed to talk to me—or anybody— about stuff like this. Stuff is super hectic for us right now and we need to lean on each other. Kind of like how you've been up here six times in the last two weeks. I know sometimes it's uncomfortable but if we're going to have a healthy relationship, we both need to be aware of what's really going on with each other."

"You're right." Blaine agreed. "I promise I'll be more open about my mental state regardless of how good or bad I'm feeling."

"I promise to do the same thing too." Kurt sighed a bit. "I'm really worried about Dad."

Blaine frowned. "Did something happen?"

"I don't think so. He brought up his will the other day on the phone." Kurt rubbed his forehead. "And I don't know if he's being weird because of how bad the heart attack was or if he's not doing as well as the doctors thought but it's really stressing me out."

"If something was wrong, Carole would have said something. She would never keep you int the dark." Blaine said instantly. "She goes to the appointments with him."

"I don't like hearing him talk about what's going to happen after he dies. I'm not even twenty five yet and he's already had a heart attack twice. That's traumatic enough without him bringing up his will and how he wants me to handle things since Carole 'wouldn't be in a good place to do it.'"

"How long have you been stressing about this?"

"Since the heart attack… but ever since that phone call it's always popping into my head. You know?"

Blaine nodded, frowning. "Do you want to talk to him about it?"

"No. I don't want him to know I'm worried because then he will worry about me." Kurt bit his lip. "So, there's my thing I've been keeping to myself. Sorry I wasn't honest about it… I felt like I had to tell you since I just got onto you for pretty much the same thing."

"Yeah. I don't feel as bad now." Blaine smiled, his nose scrunching up a bit.

Kurt smiled back at him.

"You graduated!" Blaine exclaimed for the fifth time that night. "I am so proud of you!""

Kurt laughed. "Thanks."

"You're welcome." Blaine smiled. "I'm really happy for you… and for me too because my partner is going to be an amazing fashion designer who is going to take the world by storm. Just don't forget about me when you've got your own millions."

Kurt leaned over, kissing him. He then pulled away and grinned. "I'll try not to but there might be cuter suitors."

Blaine laughed loudly and pulled him close. "Seriously though, Kurt. You've had a rough couple of years and you really deserve this and all the opportunities it will bring. I can't wait to see you as an established designer. It makes my heart really happy."

Kurt's grin turned into a soft smile. "In two weeks, I'll be saying the exact same thing to you."

"Aaaah!" Blaine bent and buried his head in Kurt's side. "So many exams and so little time."

"These two weeks are going to fly by." Kurt promised.

Long Time Coming

Blaine took a deep breath. "1, 2, 3, 4… 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7… 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8."

He was literally twelve hours away from his biggest final and he couldn't get out of his head enough to even study.

"Why does this keep happening?" Blaine let out a deep breath again.

At least he wasn't at the internship. The last thing he needed was Bob's best friend telling him that Blaine was freaking out. Or Tammy Jo thinking he was crazy. Or whatever else may have happened if he'd had this panic attack there.

"1, 2, 3, 4… 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7… 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8."

Okay. He didn't want to pass out anymore so that was progress. Right?

"1, 2, 3, 4… 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7… 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8."

He needed to think of positive things. Like the fact that on Sunday he could literally start moving stuff into his new apartment that he got to share with Kurt. They were going to live together again.

"1, 2, 3, 4… 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7… 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8."

Honestly, he probably should have called Kurt since he was officially on summer break.

He knew Kurt and Alec were hanging out, though, and he also didn't want Kurt to worry.

Wes wasn't home and Adrian was at CMJ working. While he adored AJ, he wasn't quite there yet.

"Shit." Blaine grabbed his cell phone, went into the contacts, and pushed Bob's name before he'd even realized he had done it.

"Blaine?" Bob answered.

"Can we meet? I…"

"Should I pick you up?"

"Maybe because I'm pretty sure I'm about to have a panic attack." Blaine groaned.

"Okay, calm down. You have nothing to have a panic attack about. You're letting your mind play tricks on you." Bob said into the phone calmly. "You are fine."

"I can't remember the difference between criminal and civil law. Or the torts. Or anything."

"Well of course you can't right now. You're having a panic attack and making it worse." Bob said. "Calm down."

"I've been trying for twenty minutes."

"Okay, let's try again."

"I can't do this."

"You can do this. You almost have done this. You've got two finals left, Blaine. More than half of your finals are done and I know you got full marks on all of the ones you've done so far."

"How do you know that?" Blaine asked, taking a deep breath.

"Because I know you."

Blaine jumped when there was a knock on the door. He opened it and saw Bob.

"I can't do this."

"You can do this." Bob pocketed his cell phone and ed him to the couch.

"I can't breathe." Blaine sat in the middle.

"You can breathe." Bob put his hand on Blaine's shoulder after sitting next to him. "You are freaking out but you can breathe. Everything is okay."

Blaine gasped for breath twice.

"Do not make me take you to the hospital." Bob said sternly. "I am not kidding. You are fine, Blaine."

"I'm sorry." Blaine gasped again. "That's not helping."

"Here. Let's go outside. Maybe some fresh air will help." Bob moved so he could stand.

"I don't think I can walk right now."

Bob put his hand back on Blaine' shoulder. "You can walk and you can breathe. You are getting too worked up. If you calm down, we can go somewhere and talk about this. Okay?

Blaine nodded, taking a deep breath.

"Good. Again." Bob watched him.

Blaine did so, a bit of the color returning to his face. "Okay."

"Are you okay?" Bob asked.

"Not really." Blaine took a deep breath.

"Come on. Let's get away from here and the notes and the books." Bob gestured for him to stand.

"I am so sorry. I didn't know I was calling you until you answered and I know you aren't working."

"Blaine, stop. I gave you my cell phone number for a reason." Bob said calmly. "And I want to be here. You aren't bothering me. Okay?"

Blaine stood, nodding.

"Are you okay?"

"I think. I'm not hungry."

"We can go somewhere that doesn't have food." Bob laughed a bit.

"I shouldn't have called you." Blaine said pitifully. "You've got so much going on."

"And it can all wait because right now I'm here with you." Bob opened the passenger door to his car for Blaine.

Blaine put on his seat belt and took a deep breath, very thankful Bob had answered his phone.

…

"I'm really sorry." Blaine said nearly an hour later, sitting on a bench at the Arnold Arboretum. "You've got real stuff going on."

"Are you not a real person?" Bob gave him a look.

"You know what I mean." Blaine shrugged and looked down.

"Actually, I don't." Bob said.

"You're not even working."

"Oh God, Blaine." Bob sighed. "Were you working when you and Ryan came to see me two weeks ago? Or when you skipped class to come to the funeral… even though I told you not to?"

"No."

"This is the exact same thing. I am worried about you. I care about you."

Blaine nodded. "Sorry."

"Stop apologizing. I'm sorry I sighed at you." Bob said. "Apparently I'm being more of an ass than usual, so you'll have to excuse me."

"How are you?"

"Blaine. How are you?" Bob looked at him like he was crazy.

"I just… I don't know. I think I'm choking."

"You aren't choking. You've earned this degree. You deserve this degree and moving back in with Kurt and all of the great things that are about to happen in your life." Bob watched him.

"Yeah. But great things don't really happen and when they do, everything usually comes crashing down."

"In three days, I am going to get to watch you walk across that stage and walk off it one huge step closer to becoming a lawyer. You're there, Blaine. It's here and you better not psych yourself out enough to mess it up."

Blaine swallowed.

"It's a lot of pressure. I know." Bob sighed.

"What if I put all of this time into Harvard and I don't pass the bar?" Blaine met his eyes.

Bob looked at him. "That is not going to happen. I think you'd probably do fairly decent if you tried to take it in July but you need a mental break from studying."

"Or a break from life." Blaine joked. "But what if I don't pass it in February?"

"Then you study some more and you take it next July and your job will still be waiting for you. You're going to have your own desk and office. You get to pick your computer. Study in there until you pass it. Although if you don't pass it after ten years, I may begin to worry you never really went to Harvard." Bob joked and then spoke in a gentle voice. "You're going to pass it, Blaine. There is no doubt in my mind that you are going to pass it the first time you take it."

"What if—"

"You can't let what ifs run your life or you'll never be living. Just do what you do. You'll have some shit moments and you'll have some great ones. Most of them will probably be pretty boring… but you'll still be spending 50 hours in your office a week regardless." Bob watched him.

"I don't know." Blaine said after nearly a minute of silence.

"Well I do. I wasn't just shitting you when I said that I'm excited to see where your career goes. And I am excited to see you prove yourself wrong. This is scary and stressful but you'll be done with this part in a couple of days and then we'll be sitting at some park in New York the day before you take the Bar." Bob nudged him and smiled.

Blaine took a deep breath and nodded.

"It's scary. I know. And honestly, it's not going to get easier as you get older. It'll just be another issue or thing to worry about."

"Gee thanks." Blaine laughed a bit.

"I care about you a lot, Blaine. I really do." Bob looked him in the eyes.

Blaine swallowed.

"I don't know. A month ago I probably would have done a lot better calming you down. I'm sorry."

"A+ for effort." Blaine joked.

"Smart ass." Bob rolled his eyes.

"Thank you." Blaine said seriously, locking eyes with him again. "For always answering my questions and for teaching me and for giving me a chance… and for believing in me."

"If you had parents worth a shit, you'd believe in yourself." Bob said. "But you're welcome and you don't need to thank me."

"Seriously, though." Blaine said.

"I'm serious too."

Blaine fell silent again. Ten minutes must have passed before Bob's cell phone started to ring.

"Would you really have seen me if my phone didn't ring at least once?" Bob joked as he pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. He rejected the call and then typed out a text to someone.

"You could have taken that."

"I'm busy." Bob gave him a look.

"How are you doing?" Blaine asked. "With everything?"

"I don't know." Bob took a deep breath. "It's not really getting easier but Sarah's belly is getting bigger and the house is getting emptier regardless."

Blaine bit his lip, not sure what to say.

"It's weird. I'm the youngest of five and my dad has always been—well, always was. Shit.— a huge part of my life. Ever since he got diagnosed with Parkinson's I've just been… waiting. But it happened and it's like I'm standing still and the world is just… going anyway. Without him in it. I mean I moved my parents out here ten years ago so Sarah and I could help Mom take care of Dad and now he's just gone. My mom wants to go back to Aroostook, Maine with my oldest brother and we're moving to New York." Bob sighed.

"It's kind of funny that you have four siblings and now you're about to have five children."

Bob looked, thinking on it, and then nodded. "That is really weird. Five children."

"Why are you going to New York?"

"We've been talking about opening an office there for five or six years because we get a lot of cases there… I don't really want to go but Charlie's going to be in medical school at NYU and Brady is going to Columbia. Sarah wants to be closer to them." Bob admitted and then joked, "Plus I really don't trust Brady to not destroy an apartment on his own. He can barely clean up after himself. I also don't trust him to not have crazy parties. He could wreck it so bad and they'd sue me since my name would be on the lease."

"I think you may be being a little hard on him over the car."

"No, Blaine. You don't know him. He's not a bad kid, he's got tons of book smarts, but he doesn't make the best decisions when in the company of teenage boys… or girls. His girlfriend will probably get pregnant within the year. She was pregnant before and they… well, you know." Bob sighed. "I'm all for doing what you want, her body her choice, but I'm sure he had a big influence in that decision which pisses me off more than I'll ever say out loud to anyone else. He does stupid things and gets away with them and keeps doing them."

"What did Sarah think?"

"Oh, Sarah doesn't know a third of the stuff he does. She worries about him enough without knowing what all he's done. She doesn't know about the abortion… The only reason I know is because he told Charlie and Charlie told me." Bob gave him a look.

"Do you think you should… tell her?"

Bob shrugged and said, "Honestly if I can have her stress about one huge thing less, no, I don't think I should tell her. When I need to, I'll talk to her. I'm hoping he'll straighten himself out without her needing to know. Also, I am fully aware you're trying to distract me."

"Maybe." Blaine shrugged. "Do you want to go to New York?"

"No. I love Cambridge." Bob admitted. "That's why we keep ending up here. We've moved back here five times over the last twenty-one years. God, that makes me sound so old."

"When did you all get married?"

"Right out of high school. We've been married twenty seven years on the first of June."

"Why did you two get married so young?"

Bob laughed at him and asked, not unkindly, "Do you want me to write a memoir?"

"No. I just want a distraction." Blaine admitted.

"Fine. I'll play your game. Sarah and I married right out of high school because we've been together since we were eleven. We had one split up in sophomore year of high school. We were apart like three weeks." Bob laughed. "I shamelessly begged her to 'come back' to me at fourteen years old. Honestly I knew I couldn't live a happy life without her during and after those three weeks."

"You all literally grew up together. That's so sweet." Blaine smiled.

"It is really sweet. My mom loves telling people only she makes it sound a lot better than it was. I don't know I would do without Sarah. She says she'd be alright without me, though." Bob laughed again. "It's probably true."

"Why so early, though? You don't seem like the… rush into things kind of person."

"Her family treats her horribly and I knew I wasn't going to find anybody better than her. I wouldn't even want to look. I proposed with this cheap ring that I got from Walmart in the beginning of our senior year. A couple of weeks after high school graduation we got married… well, it was just a courthouse thing. I didn't want her in that house any more than she had to be... Living in it at least. We do see them occasionally but I won't let her stay very long because they're toxic." Bob looked thoughtful and then added, "She has gotten a ring upgrade, though. She didn't want one but it felt like the right thing to do when I graduated Harvard. She still wears the first engagement ring and wedding band I got her in high school with the new set. She's crazy to wear the old ones still."

"I'm sure the first set means a lot to her… I'm sorry about her family but that's super sweet that you all have been together so long… I can't imagine being married at my age let alone eighteen."

"It wasn't easy. We were scraping pennies through undergrad. So many Ramen Noodles and McDonalds meals. It was a bit better in grad school because we took out a lot of loans but we also weren't regularly living together which sucked for both of us. Blah blah blah. You know that part."

"And now you've got more money than you know what to do with."

"Maybe if we had stopped after Charlie I would. You would be surprised at how little is actually in our checking account." Bob laughed loudly. "Humans are expensive—especially when you have to provide everything for them."

"The office brings in a lot, though. You said a couple of million at least."

"Yeah, it's all into the office though. It's not like we have a bank account that we can dip into. That would be nice, though. Everyone thinks I go on these vacations but it's always conferences. A vacation with four kids—five if you count Charlie's wife— isn't cheap."

"Do you and Sarah ever do anything without the kids? Little trips?"

"We used to. Jake would stay with them. Emily doesn't like us being gone over night, let alone for a couple of nights. She gets really scared if we're not home—especially me sometimes even if Sarah is home. Hopefully when she's a bit older she'll calm down. How did you and Kurt meet?"

"Oh, we are not going there." Blaine said, looking at him. "It involves a glee club."

Bob started to smile but quickly tried to hide it behind his hand.

"You can laugh." Blaine sighed. "Everyone else does."

"Sorry. That's really funny. I really tried to stop it."

"Hey, a while back you said that everyone started asking you when you were going to propose to Sarah when you were my age. You were already married."

"Most people don't think to look for wedding rings on people in their early twenties. People are usually in their first serious relationship at that point." Bob shrugged. "Have you and Kurt talked about it?"

"Not a lot recently. We had a bit of a break and the split may have ended with a thrown engagement ring… which has been returned." Blaine admitted. "I probably shouldn't have bought it to try to stop our problems."

"Oh. Was that what was going on last April? I could tell something was wrong."

"Yeah. It was good for us, though." Blaine nodded. "We're a lot better now."

"I want you to do something for me, Blaine."

Blaine sat up straight. "What? Do you need something from the office?"

"No. I want you to call Kurt tonight and tell him about today… and I want you to rest. You know the stuff. Cramming your head and stressing yourself out won't do anything for you tomorrow. And if you're bored, ask Matthew about Mount Auburn Cemetery… and please let me know his reaction. Bonus points if you ask him in front of Adrian."

"Wait… how much trouble did you get him out of?" Blaine asked. "How well do you know him?"

"Oh, I only got him out of trouble for the computer hacking. I know him well enough that I was a reference for the NYPD, though. I'm pretty good friends with his dad. He's a good kid but he did some stupid stuff—it's always funny stuff, though. His dad never thinks so until five years later, though. He is a goofball."

"I saw Matt and his parents at the funeral." Blaine said.

"Yeah. They're a really good family… they're good people." Bob nodded. "Oh, ask Matt about the Bunker Hill Monument too. You could ask him about the rooster on the Boston Common Carousel. Actually, please do that and let me know his reaction to that one. It will be priceless."

"Was he in trouble for all of these things?"

"Not with the law. With his father, though. Matthew was the kid that gave them a run for their money. Anytime I would see his father after the biology grade thing, I would ask about him and he'd tell me these stories. Always different stories. When I see Matthew now and he's not in his uniform I give him so much hell."

"Does he get angry?"

"I don't think he could get angry outside of work. He's always good about it. He'll laugh and ask me if I remember something else he'd done. He's a great cop but I have a hard time seeing past his high school days. I don't know if Adrian knows what he's gotten himself into."

"They work really well together." Blaine smiled a bit.

"Do you feel better? Do you want to talk more? Are you hungry yet?" Bob asked, looking at him.

"I'm honestly just really tired." Blaine admitted.

"Let's get you home." Bob stood. "I want you to text me around eight and let me know you're okay. I was serious about no studying."

"I will." Blaine stood too and looked at him. "Thank you again."

"You're going to be okay, Blaine. Everything is going to be okay." Bob shook his shoulder a bit. "I promise."

"Yeah." Blaine nodded, though he wasn't quite sure he believed it.

But would Bob lie?

Long Time Coming

"You are in so much trouble!"

Blaine, Adrian, and Matt all looked up from the movie they were watching.

"I didn't do it on purpose!"

"Wes, I know you and I know you did!" AJ followed Wes down the stairs. "And you're an idiot. Because I could have gotten it without you 'forgetting' to do the last two questions on the back of the last sheet of the final!"

"I'm half asleep half of the time because Scarlett's teething and I'm the one that's been getting up." Wes said, turning around to look at her.

"I could have gotten it even if you hadn't done that." AJ was staring at Wes, clearly pissed.

"Ruhroh." Adrian whispered. "Someone's in trouble."

"I didn't check the back of the page." Wes shrugged, completely calm.

"It had something in the bottom corner reminding you to not forget about the last page."

"I didn't think I'd have to deal with this much PMS with you off of the pill!"

"Don't you even try to change the subject. You didn't do those questions on purpose knowing that our GPAs were literally .02 apart from each other. And now I have to wear stupid ribbons that I don't even know if I deserve."

"Are you sure you aren't pregnant again because you're acting insane?"

"Is it always like this?" Matt asked, looking back at Blaine.

"This has been a thing since first year. Their grades are always so close together." Adrian whispered. "Do you think Wes did it on purpose?"

"Totally did." Blaine whispered back, nodding.

"We don't need your commentary, Blaine!" AJ said, glaring at him and then turning her attention back to Wes.

"Whoops." Blaine whispered.

"Look. Finals are done. We are done until tomorrow when we get our diplomas. We should be happy." Adrian interrupted. "Who cares who was whatever point away from whatever point. It's barely a difference."

"There is a big difference when he goes around for three years acting like he's going to beat my ass. Well I wanted to beat his ass and neither of us win now because we don't know who really would have won!" AJ said.

"This is exciting and all," Matt interrupted. "But I think you should know that I managed to clean all of my uniforms in one load of laundry. Did I break the washer? Maybe. Do I care? No. Because I have enough in my savings to buy a new one. Is that irresponsible? Yes. Do I care? No."

"You are so weird." AJ stared at him like he had lost his mind as Adrian rolled his eyes.

"Thanks." Matt flashed a smile.

"How many uniforms do you have? How often do you do the laundry? There are a lot of variables here." Wes asked. "I'm not sure if I should be impressed because if it's only like two—"

"I've got sixteen. But I threw all of the tshirts in there too because I really hate doing laundry and my dad gets annoyed when my mom comes over and does it for me."

"Are you serious right now?" Wes asked, looking back at him.

"If someone came to your house and offered to clean and do your laundry for free, would you say no? Look, I worked sixty two hours last week. By the time I get home, I'm too tired to find the bed let alone gather clothes and take them to the basement. Once I woke up on the kitchen floor and I have no idea how that happened."

"You two just stop." AJ snapped.

"Does your mom really do your laundry? I thought she only did that when you got shot." Adrian looked at Matt.

"If I answer that question, I'm afraid you'll judge me."

"I mean, does she do all of it?"

"No obviously since I washed my uniforms last night."

"But did you wash them because she hadn't come to wash them yet?" Adrian asked.

"I'm not answering that. I feel very tired and think I need a nap."

"Thank you for the distraction, Matthew. Wesley, I am going to kill—"

The door opened and a couple that could only be AJ's parents walked in.

"Mami! Papi!" AJ went to hug them. "Te extrañé mucho!"

Matt literally had his head on his own thighs, laughing so hard he was shaking.

"Hey!" Adrian waved. "I know I've gained weight. No need to point it out."

"Why would I ever do that?" AJ's mom asked, going to kiss his cheek.

"My mami." Adrian said. "Yesterday."

"She did not. You are putting them into an early grave, you know?"

"Oh, I'm sure that's true in their version." Adrian scoffed as Matt sat up.

"You must be Matt." She smiled. "Congratulations."

"Hi." Matt waved, flashing a smile. "And thank you."

"This is fun and all but where is the baby?" AJ's dad asked.

Wes came down with her, glaring when AJ took Scarlett and carried her over herself. He then looked at Blaine, Adrian, and Matt. "She just stole my child. Did you see that look?"

AJ handed Scarlett to her mother and then came up to Wes. "Kitchen please."

"Are you going to behead me and feed it to your parents? Spanish cuisine?" Wes scoffed, following her into the kitchen.

"He's funny." AJ's dad said from across the room.

"He totally didn't answer those test questions on purpose. He's way too calm about it. For the record." Blaine said when they were both out of earshot. "If he had really done it on accident, he would be throwing stuff and cursing."

"Yep." Adrian and Matt said together.

Adrian looked up when AJ's dad came over, holding Scarlett. "You need to talk to your parents, Adrian."

"We had breakfast this morning. We've talked." Adrian said. "And I'll talk to them again tomorrow after graduation and then I will resume my 'breakdown' as Dad so lovingly called it."

"Mark was so stupid trying to pull some stunt like that and Elizabeth sure didn't try to stop him." AJ's mom said.

"Yes but—."

"You know what? I graduate tomorrow afternoon and I really don't want to get into it with them until after. Trust me. Seven o'clock tomorrow night I will talk to them. Right now, I want to pretend they aren't here." Adrian interrupted.

"Good for you." AJ's mom said as AJ and Wes walked back out. "Hi, Wes."

"Hi." Wes smiled brightly.

"You're disgusting." AJ scoffed. "He didn't finish his final exam so I could be Valedictorian."

Wes did not argue, but instead went and tickled Scarlett's belly.

"Well that was sweet!" AJ's dad said.

"And stupid." AJ scoffed again.

"So, you do think it's sweet?" Wes asked.

"Yes, but now we will never know who the true valedictorian would have been." AJ sighed.

"Me obviously." Wes joked before making a face at Scarlett.

"God." AJ sighed and then sat on the floor where Scarlett usually had tummy time. "Where did I go wrong in my life to end up here?"

"I'm just happy you aren't marrying Todd." AJ's mother said. "Did you hear that he's going to be a politician?"

"Oh God. The country is screwed if he's elected into anything. He's such an idiot no matter what his grades say." AJ sighed, but smiled when Scarlett reached for her.

AJ's mom, who was holding her now, passed her over. "She is so precious."

"She is but she's already turning into Wes. Okay, let's go and get dinner before Kurt gets here and blocks the car in." AJ said. "Wes, can you move the car seat in my car to their rental car?"

"Wouldn't it be easier to—you know what? Never mind. I'll go do that now."

Scarlett giggled when Wes went outside.

"He is not silly, Scarlett. He is not. He's very bad." AJ said, looking down at her. "Scarlett, Kurt's here!"

Blaine's face lit up when Kurt walked in the front door.

"I parked behind Matt's car." Kurt said. "Your mom is so pretty!"

"Yeah." AJ smiled, passing Scarlett to him since she was reaching out.

"Hello." Kurt snuggled her and then went to the couch. "Congratulations, you two!"

"Thanks." Adrian and Matt said together.

"Hi there." Kurt smiled, sitting in the free spot next to Blaine. "You're done!"

"Thank God. I don't think my mind could have handled another day. My brain hurts." Blaine whined a bit.

Kurt's smile grew. "Are you excited?"

"I had to write a four page essay as a final with no notes or anything. Right now I'm just numb." Blaine joked, tickling Scarlett's foot. "Literally. My hand hurts."

"Is Wes in trouble?"

Matt shook his head quickly.

"Oh." Kurt looked at Blaine.

"Wes threw his final." Blaine whispered. "She got Valedictorian, but she's pissed because they don't know who would have gotten it."

"Oh." Kurt said again.

Wes came over, grinning at Kurt. "Hey, stranger. Can I have my baby back?"

"If you must. She's so squishy, though." Kurt pouted a bit as he passed Scarlett to him.

"Yes. She is my squishy." Wes took her and loudly kissed her cheek. "My slightly overweight but still flawless squishy."

"The doctor was wrong." AJ snapped coming in. "She is not eating too much."

"Doesn't he look well rested?" Adrian asked. "Kurt, what does that feel like?"

"Amazing." Kurt responded.

"You will have plenty of time for long naps starting Sunday." Matt said cheerfully. "All of you will."

"Sleep! Woo!" Wes bounced Scarlett a bit. "See you guys in a bit."

"Okay, Matt. You need to go to work and I need to go and talk to my parents. Ugh." Adrian sighed, standing.

"Today? Are you sure you don't want to wait until tomorrow?" Blaine asked.

"No. AJ's dad made me feel guilty." He sighed again. "He has a way of doing that."

"I'm not going to say anything about any of this." Matt held his hands up. "You do you."

"That's probably a good idea." Adrian nodded and walked out with Matt, grabbing his own car keys off of a side table by the door.

Blaine waited until everybody had left the house and then looked at Kurt, an excited smile on his face.

"I told you that you could do it!" Kurt exclaimed, hugging him.

"Oh my God. If I ever want to further my degree, please tell me not to." Blaine pulled back.

"I'm so proud of you!" Kurt's eyes got watery.

"Noo! Don't do that!" Blaine pulled Kurt into another hug.

"I'm just so glad you did this! You didn't even think you could get into any law school eight years ago and now you've got a job in a top firm and you'll be in New York City! This is such a big deal, Blaine." Kurt sniffled and pulled back again. "Plus, you cried during my graduation. Carole told me."

"I did." Blaine admitted. "But that's different."

"It's not different at all!" Kurt wiped his eyes and then playfully hit him. "This is huge. Oh my God, Blaine. This time tomorrow you'll have the temporary diploma and in no time you'll have a real one! And we'll have to hang it somewhere where everyone can see it."

"That might be a bit much." Blaine laughed, wiping under Kurt's eyes.

"I'm really proud of you. I knew you could do it. Even when you were so upset two nights ago and so tired, I knew that you could finish it out."

"I think that was sheer exhaustion." Blaine admitted, giving a sheepish smile.

"I knew it was because I know you." Kurt smiled. "I'm so proud of you, though."

"Kurt, we can literally take a load of my stuff to New York tomorrow after graduation! Oh my God! We get to live together again!" Blaine exclaimed and then looked at Kurt. "I've missed sleeping with you and waking up next to you more than I thought I would."

"Me too!" Kurt nodded in agreement. "And we can watch Project Runway cuddled up on the couch like we used to."

"And have sex that lasts longer than two minutes because we're too horny to make it last as long." Blaine added.

"Oh my God, I know. We can have so much sex. Like everywhere." Kurt gasped.

"In every room of the apartment and every surface if we want." Blaine grinned.

"Don't get too crazy now." Kurt laughed. "I'm so happy, Blaine."

"Me too." Blaine pulled him into a hug. "So, Bob wants to get dinner with us if you're okay with it."

"Yes, that's fine." Kurt nodded. "How is he doing?"

"He seems like he's doing a lot better." Blaine said. "He's coming to the graduation tomorrow so hopefully you'll get to see him again."

"Speaking of sex…" Kurt smiled impishly.

"Yes, please."

Long Time Coming

"Why did Adrian leave in the middle of the ceremony?" Blaine asked AJ after breaking away from the crowd of students the next evening.

"I don't know if he has his phone. I don't know. But when the woman pulled him out and gave him his temporary diploma, I saw two police officers off to the side. He left with them." AJ said. "He's not answering my texts. I don't know what's going on."

"Does anyone have Matt's number?" Wes asked.

"I already tried. It rings and rings. I think something happened." AJ took a deep breath. "He was supposed to be here for the ceremony but I haven't been able to find him."

Blaine turned, feeling a hand on his lower back. "Hey."

"What's going on?" Kurt whispered. "Why did Adrian leave?"

"Blaine, you and Kurt go spend time with your family." Wes said. "I will call you when we know what's going on."

"Are you sure—"

"Yes." AJ cut him off. "Go. It could be something stupid. I'm going to find Adrian's family and as soon as we know something, I'll call. Go."

Blaine looked hesitant, looking at David who had of course come for the graduation as well.

"You should go too, David." Wes said.

"Okay." David nodded, going to stand with Kurt and Blaine.

"Is everything okay?" Carole asked when they got to her.

"My friend is the one that left in the middle and his fiancé never made it…and he's a police officer." Blaine said. "I'm not sure but we should go and get food."

"We're so proud of you, kid." Burt pulled him into a hug. "Can I see the paper?"

"Sure." Blaine handed it over as they walked towards the parking lot. "Hey, did you all see Bob anywhere?"

"I did earlier but it looked like he left a few minutes before everything ended. He was sitting with the staff." Kurt admitted.

"Let's go get dinner." Carole said. "And if we need to leave early, we will. Okay? Maybe it was something about an assignment or…"

"They wouldn't pull someone out of a graduation ceremony over an assignment." Finn said.

"Finn." Carole gave him a scary look.

"Look, Carole's right. Let's go eat and celebrate! You just graduated Harvard Law!" Kurt said, squeezing Blaine's arm once he'd pulled his robe off.

"Yeah." Blaine didn't look convinced.

"Sorry. Blaine?"

Blaine turned around seeing Bob. "Hey, I thought you left."

"No. I went outside. Hey, listen and don't go saying this because it hasn't gone public. Something happened around 1:00 and five police officers are in the hospital in critical condition."

"Matt?"

"Yes. Matthew is one of them. His dad didn't say much except six of them were ambushed outside of the courthouse. The sixth one only had minor injuries but he's at the station going through books of pictures I guess."

"Okay. Are you going to the hospital? Can I go to the hospital?"

"No and no. His dad said not to come but Adrian is there and with Matt's family. They think he'll be okay but they don't want a lot of people going. They've already got an entire waiting room filled with police and firemen so it's already going to get more attention than they need. You should go and do whatever you wanted to do."

Blaine opened his mouth and closed it.

"I know but there is literally nothing anybody can do. I will keep checking in with his dad and I'll text you, okay? I want to try to find Adrian's parents. Do you know what they look like?"

"No but his mom is deaf so they may be signing instead of talking. Sorry." Blaine frowned.

"Actually, I think I know where they are then. Congratulations, Blaine! I'll let you know when I hear something. I'm proud of you!"

"Okay." Blaine nodded and turned back around to face everybody. "I guess… we're going to dinner?"

…

"I know you all are pretty stressed out but today was big, Blaine. You're one step closer to being a lawyer."

Blaine, who was sitting on the couch while Kurt took a shower, forced a smile when Carole came in and sat by him. He smiled and said, "Yeah. Thank you for coming all the way up here for it… Two weeks after Kurt's."

"Well it would have been convenient if they were on the same weekend but there's no way we were going to miss it. Burt has been so excited for the last two months because you two are graduating—graduated!" Carole squeezed his thigh. "How do you feel?"

"Relieved to have graduated… I'm going to take a month off with no studying, just interning once we're up and running." Blaine said as Burt came in.

"What next, though? What do you do until you pass the Bar?"

"I'm going to enroll in this online program called Barmax. It's kind of like a study course without actually having to go to a class." Blaine explained. "And CMJ is even paying for it which is awesome."

"What'll you do until the bar at work, though?" Burt asked.

"Once Bob's back, I'm going to shadow him on his new criminal cases. He took a LOA or I would have six weeks ago. I'll probably shadow some other people too on different types of cases… and I'm sure they'll find other stuff for us to do too." Blaine explained.

"Are you nervous?" Carole asked as Kurt came down, sitting on the floor in front of Blaine.

"Oh, yeah." Blaine nodded and laughed. "Really nervous actually. I thought maybe I'd be relieved after getting the diploma but now it's like, 'Okay. Now the real hard work starts.' I don't know how much to study. All the online sites and different courses says different times from 20 hours a week to 50, so I'm like… okay? There is a big difference."

Kurt smiled at him. "Bob told him he does well enough in school that 30 hours a week would probably be too much for him."

"Well he's got three degrees, Blaine. I'd listen to him." Burt chuckled.

"That just doesn't feel like enough." Blaine sighed.

"That's almost a full time job." Carole squeezed his thigh again. "And you'll be working."

"Tammy Jo said they'll factor in time for us to study at work. Apparently, summers are slow too, so maybe I can do a lot of it there and get paid?" Blaine laughed. "But I ask too many questions and talk too much to really do that."

"No. The perfect amount." Kurt smiled sweetly. "Did David fall asleep?"

"He is out." Blaine laughed again. "He should now when he can."

"David is the one with the baby?"

"No. He's the one who has one semester of medical school left." Blaine said.

"He works as many as twelve days in a row." Kurt said. "It's insane. Any time he's home, he'll fall asleep anywhere. Once I think he fell asleep playing with Kreacher because I got home and he was on the floor by Kreacher's bed it and Kreacher was curled up to him."

"David is a total cat person. That's actually hilarious." Blaine laughed, looking up when AJ and Wes came in. "Did you hear anything?"

"I've talked to Adrian. Matt lost his kidney." AJ said, bouncing Scarlett in her arms. "He's so drugged he doesn't even know or remember what happened. He just keeps asking for Adrian even when he's right next to him. He's really out of it."

"That makes me want to cry." Blaine stared at her and swallowed.

"I know." She nodded.

"What did… What happened?" Kurt asked.

"They think it was a gang. When they go into the courthouse, they park the patrol cars in the garage next to it. Somehow, they were ambushed when they were walking up to the building. The camera wires were cut so there's not even footage." Wes said. "I heard that on the news, though. The public knows because one of them died an hour ago."

Carole's jaw dropped.

"I'm going to put Scarlett to bed and take Adrian some clothes. They're letting him back there with Matt… probably because of Matt's dad." AJ headed towards the stairs.

"Can they have visitors?" Blaine asked.

"No. It's on lockdown. They're even keeping them in a different area of the hospital incase someone tries to come in and do something else. There was a drug bust last week and ten people were arrested so the police think it's retaliation." Wes sat on the floor.

"Did he sound okay?"

"AJ is the one that talked to him. I'm not sure." Wes admitted.

AJ came back down with a small backpack of clothes.

"Did Adrian sound okay?"

"He sounded worried. He's in a waiting room talking to his parents while they do some tests on Matt, though. I think it's going well. I'm trying to get there before he goes back to be with Matt so I can actually see him and not just pass it off." AJ took the car keys from Wes' outstretched hand. "I'll be back."

"Suddenly studying for the Bar doesn't seem so stressful." Blaine said.

Carole leaned over and hugged him.

"It's a university hospital. Those are usually the best." Burt said gruffly. "And I'm sure that they'll go all out for cops."

"Yeah." Wes said. "But who knows if he can even be a cop anymore."

"Shit."

Long Time Coming

"I think that's it." Burt said gruffly two weeks later, falling onto Kurt and Blaine's new couch. "Finally."

"Burt." Carole laughed.

"No. Finally is so true." Kurt plopped onto the hardwood floor. "I keep forgetting this isn't carpeted."

Blaine laughed a bit, sitting on the couch between Carole and Burt.

"Well, how does it feel? Everything's moved in. The boxes left to unpack is the small stuff." Burt grinned and looked between Kurt and Blaine.

"I'm so excited." Kurt smiled at Blaine.

"Me too. Living together again makes me feel at home." Blaine smiled back at him.

Kurt's smile grew.

"And we got it all finished by ten in the morning." Carole said. "I thought it would take until two."

"We were moving stuff until ten last night. I did not want to let it take longer than it had to be. I'm exhausted." Kurt said.

"I think Paige wants to harm Melody. Apparently, she's asking nonstop questions." Burt sighed. "And we've got a long drive so that'll be fun."

Carole smiled sadly. "Already?"

"If we don't, we'll have to stop overnight on the way." Burt stood. "I'm tired of hotels."

"You've stayed in it one night." Kurt scoffed. "One."

"One is enough. I watch TV. I know what happens in hotels." Burt said.

Blaine let out a loud laugh. "That could mean a lot of things."

"Don't encourage the conversation, Blaine." Carole laughed and stood up to hug Kurt and Blaine. She then stepped back, squeezing each of their arms. "It's all over. You're back together."

Kurt's eyes lit up when Blaine grinned at him.

"Now Blaine, I know it's been a while. Don't let him boss you around." Burt joked.

"Psht. He ignores me whenever I tell him to do stuff anyway—whether we live together or not." Kurt rolled his eyes.

"It's true. Sometimes." Blaine laughed.

"Be happy and be in love and get engaged." Carole said.

"Oh, I can't bring up the E or W word but you can?" Burt scoffed.

"Burt, shut up." Carole said, making Kurt laugh.

"You have gone to the dark sighed." Blaine let out a loud sigh.

Carole gave him a big hug and then kissed his cheek. "I love you, Blaine."

"I love you too, Carole." Blaine smiled.

Carole went over to Kurt and looked at him before pulling him into her arms. "See? Remember I told you this would happen last year when everything was going on?"

"You were right." Kurt nodded and pulled away. "I love you, Carole."

Carole beamed and ruffled his unstyled hair too. "I love you too. So very much."

Burt went to hug them too. "Now don't go breaking up on me again. My heart literally can't take it."

"Dad!" Kurt exclaimed.

"I'm kidding, Kurt." Burt grinned.

"Well don't." Kurt snapped. "Don't say things like that!"

"Okay. We aren't at the point where I can joke. I've got it." Burt laughed and pulled Kurt to his chest.

"You drive me crazy." Kurt mumbled into Burt's shoulder.

"You drove me crazy for 23 years so I guess it's time for the tables to turn." Burt laughed again.

"I love you." Kurt mumbled, pulling away.

"I love you too. And you, Blaine. Very much." Burt pulled Blaine into a hug.

"I love you too." Blaine said as he pulled away.

"Call me when get home." Kurt said, pointing at Burt. "Not tomorrow when you wake up."

Burt turned to Carole. "Do you hear this?"

"You forgot last time after Blaine's graduation." Carole shrugged. "You deserve it."

Burt sighed and went to the door. "Good luck with this one, Blaine."

"I think I can handle it." Blaine laughed.

"Handle it?" Kurt scoffed.

"Enjoy living together again before work starts and it gets hectic. Spend time together." Carole said when she made it out the door. "It really is over. You're back together."

Kurt closed the door when they walked away. "Sex?"

"Yes, please."

"Where are the dogs?"

"I really don't care." Blaine pulled him towards the bedroom. "Like at all."

"Oh yeah?" Kurt grinned, sitting on their new bed.

"Right." Blaine climbed over him, shivering when Kurt's hand slid up his shirt.

"You know it's sexy when you carry heavy things."

"Oh?" Blaine grinned.

"It does things to me." Kurt scooted back towards the pillows.

"Well you do things to me just by walking into a room." Blaine leaned down and kissed him as his phone began to ring. "REALLY?"

Kurt laid back, laughing loudly.

"Eternal. Fucking. Cockblock." Blaine said before answering his phone. "Yes, we are in the apartment. Yes, the stuff is moved in. Yes, we are happy. I will call you back after we have sex."

"Who was that?!" Kurt gasped as Blaine put his phone down.

"Don't make me answer that question. Just take your pants off before your phone rings."

"Nobody would call me right now." Kurt laughed, unbuttoning his pants

As if on cue, his phone started to ring.

"Argh!" Blaine crawled off of the bed. "I hate technology."

"Okay, grandpa." Kurt said before answering his phone. "Hi, Grammy. How are you doing?"

I don't even feel bad, Blaine mouthed before closing the bathroom door.