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.

41. Chapter 32

December

"If you aren't even going to talk to me, what is the point in being here?"

Kurt, who was sitting next to his father inside a medical office, glanced up but didn't speak.

"Kurt, this is ridiculous. It's been ten days." Burt sat up straighter, careful to not pull out the IV with his concoction of whatever four medicines for his triweekly chemotherapy. "You and Blaine have jobs. You don't need to be here."

"You should have told me you had cancer three months ago. You saw me at Paige's wedding and on Thanksgiving. You were already getting chemo and radiation. You've known you had cancer since August. Sorry if I don't believe you when you say that you don't need me here." Kurt snapped.

They had been in Lima a week and a half.

Kurt was pissed.

Beyond pissed, really.

"I didn't want you to do this. Getting all dramatic and quitting your job."

"My job is fine for the fifth time."

"I really don't feel good enough to put up with your attitude anymore. I'm tired."

"You know what, Dad? You have spent the last year and a half butting into literally every aspect of my and Blaine's relationship. When are we getting together, when are we moving back in together, here is money for a down payment for a house, when am I going to propose? I get annoyed and it is what it is. So why am I the last one to find out about this? Why did you ask me to stay 'a few' extra weeks after Christmas if you didn't want me to know? Did you think I wouldn't find out you weren't working full days and left for a couple of hours four days of the week? Why would you do this?"

"Because I don't feel good and I miss you. I shouldn't have asked. That wasn't fair of me. I'm sorry, Kurt."

"You're only sorry I found out. "

"I didn't want you to worry. The doctor said chemo and radiation has a 92% survival rate for stage 2."

"Survival rate. Oh my God." Kurt took in a deep breath, trying to keep from tearing up.

Burt moved his hand, careful not to pull out his IV, and placed it over Kurt's smaller hand. He then squeezed it.

Kurt's face screwed up and he let out a choked sob.

"I'm going to be fine, Kurt." Burt said. "Come to my appointment tomorrow and let the oncologist tell you. This year is gonna suck and then I should be fine."

"I am so mad at you."

"I know. I would be too. I'm sorry. I was hoping I could beat it without you knowing but… it's going to take a while… and I want you with me right now. I need you with me right now."

Kurt nodded, tears falling.

"I'm sorry. Please don't take it out on Carole anymore. She wanted to tell you but I wouldn't let her. Finn doesn't know. Melody doesn't know."

"I am so mad at you… but that isn't what's important right now." Kurt wiped his eyes with the back of the hand that Burt wasn't holding.

"I'm so sorry, kid." Burt repeated.

"It's okay, Dad. Well, it's really not." Kurt sniffed. "How often do you do this?"

"Three days a week, around 2 hours each. Then I have radiation fifteen minutes each Tuesday and Thursday."

"How do you feel?"

"I constantly feel like I'm sick."

"Did you before?"

"No… The doctor just noticed something wasn't right and sent me up for a CT scan and an MRI. Two weeks later, I'm in here four days a week."

"What am I supposed to do? Or say?"

"Being here is enough… but you can't stay forever, Kurt. Same for Blaine."

"I'm not leaving."

"It could be a year."

"Blaine can go if he needs to but I'm staying, Dad. I'm not leaving you." Kurt took in a deep breath and slowly let it out.

"Kurt…"

"I'm an adult and I can make my own decisions. I am staying until it's gone."

Burt leaned against Kurt, head resting on Kurt's shoulder. "Okay."

"Okay."

…

"Well… what happened?"

"It was just an IV."

"No, Kurt. What happened? What did he say? You two were actually talking when you got back this time."

"It's stage 2. He's been getting chemo and radiation for almost four months." Kurt said and then sarcastically added, "Don't worry. It's only 8% likely that he will die."

"Well… that's good, though." Blaine watched Kurt carefully.

"He wanted me to stay longer because he doesn't feel good and he misses me… which means he feels really sick and isn't acting like he feels as bad as he does." Kurt took a deep breath in and let it out slowly.

"That makes me want to cry." Blaine frowned.

"I know. Me too. I've wanted to ever since he told me about the cancer, though, so that's not new… And then he tells me he only wants me to stay a week or two. Is he joking? Does he really think that I am going to leave right now?"

Blaine watched Kurt, not knowing what to say.

"What did Carole say?" Kurt sighed and sat down at his old desk, the computer chair facing the bed where Blaine was sitting.

"The doctors are positive that he will beat it. They said the heart attack may have saved his life, though. He wouldn't have been going to the doctor as often and it could have ended up much worse if it had gone unnoticed for months or a year." Blaine sighed.

"Blaine, you should go back to New York." Kurt sighed, looking him in the eyes.

"No. If you stay, I stay. When you go, I go."

"You have a job, though… and you're missing training and studying. Your test is in February."

"Kurt, it's December and the Bar is at the end of February. I have time to study—and I've been studying at work… well, some days. Some days I just stare at it but that's not the point. Bob said I have all the time that I need and to keep him in the loop."

"Dad said it was going to be a rough year."

"He may be feeling a lot better and have made a lot of progress by February."

"You can't go a year between the Bar and taking cases, Blaine."

"What, do you want me to wait until July to take it?" Blaine blinked at him. "I don't know what you want me to say right now."

"I don't know what I want! I want everything to go back to how it was two weeks ago. That's what I want." Tears filled Kurt's eyes.

"Kurt…" Blaine swallowed hard, watching him.

"I'm sorry."

"I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying right here. Bob has said to keep him in the loop but that I have all of the time I need."

"You can't just start taking cases after you get the Bar if you don't know what you're doing, Blaine! You're going to throw it all away for… this." Kurt gestured around the room.

"So, your boss says your job will be fine and you're staying through it all. My boss says my job will be fine but you want me to go on a leave of absence for, what, two weeks and then just go home by myself? Like even though we have been together eight years and he is like a dad to me, I just shouldn't stay? I should go back to New York City and work and pretend nothing is going on? You're barely talking right now so I'll know even less if I go home!"

"Blaine, stop."

"No. You stop! Stop being pissed at your dad because you need to get over it! And stop trying to act like I don't belong here because I've earned it! Not that I should have to earn that!"

"No, no, no. Don't start crying." Kurt rushed over as tears filled Blaine's eyes.

"That's not right, Kurt. What you're implying is not right."

"That's not what I— Blaine, no. No, no, no."

Blaine took a deep breath and wiped his eyes.

"I'm so sorry. No. That's not what I meant… or what I was even thinking… and you don't have to earn the right to be here. Oh my God." Kurt touched his face. "Blaine, I'm sorry."

"Then quit telling me what to do. I want to be here too. If you need to be here, I need to be here. We're a team and we're family and your family is my family… and they have been since your senior year of high school." Blaine sniffled.

"I'm so sorry." Kurt kissed the top of his head several times. "I just… I don't care if I lose my job but yours is… it's one of the best firms and Bob is really good and he loves you. I don't want you to risk that."

"Bob isn't going to let me go. We're too close. I know he won't. He promised my job is fine and that we'll figure it all out."

"There are other partners too."

"Tammy Jo wouldn't do that and I don't even know if Ryan is acting as partner yet or what, but neither of them would do anything either. All the upper people are like family and they never go against each other. When one says something, it is that way."

"But the Bar…" Kurt frowned.

"I have my laptop. The program is on there. Bob said I didn't need to study as much as I was wanting to anyway, so I'll be fine." Blaine watched Kurt carefully. "Honestly, Kurt, I'm not even doing much. I'm watching Bob do stuff for his trials but that's it. Otherwise I'm studying—which I could do here— or pretending to study but actually sending videos and gifs to Adrian down the hall." Blaine bit his lip. "I want to be here. He means a lot to me too, Kurt."

"I know he does, Blaine."

"I can help. I can go pick up his medicine, take Melody where she needs to go, try to make dinner without burning the house down…" Blaine nudged Kurt with his elbow.

Kurt smiled a bit. "I love you, Blaine."

"I love you too." Blaine smiled back at him. "Listen… if he starts doing better, I will go back early… as of now, though, I'm staying until you leave with me."

"What about the Bar?"

"I'll fly up for it and back down after if I need to. Honestly, Kurt, Bob's baby is going to be born in January and they're knee deep in that Verizon case. This is probably the best time for me to be gone."

"What did Bob say, though?"

"He hopes Burt gets better soon and to not worry about work. Bob isn't going to let anything happen to my job. Honestly, they've put way too much money into me to get rid of me." Blaine laughed a bit.

"And Bob loves you."

"Yeah." Blaine nodded, smiling a bit. "He's been checking in every couple of days… Even his oldest son Charlie texted me."

"Really?"

"Yeah. He's close to my age and used to play soccer, so we get along pretty well." Blaine nodded.

"That's really good." Kurt smiled.

Blaine glanced towards the door, hearing retching.

"He's throwing up again." Kurt groaned and covered his face. "He told the doctor every time he eats, he throws it right back up. I can't do this, Blaine."

"I'll go check on him." Blaine stood.

"Okay." Kurt nodded, taking a deep breath.

Blaine went down the hall and through Burt and Carole's bedroom to their bathroom. He heard more vomiting and opened the door. He kneeled by Burt. "Can I get you anything?"

Burt shook his head before throwing up into the toilet bowl again.

Blaine sat on the bathroom floor, his hand on Burt's lower back. He wasn't sure what else to do, but also didn't want Burt to feel like he was alone.

After what seemed like forever, Burt sat up straight and then slumped against the cabinet under the sink.

Blaine kneeled and helped Burt up. "Are you okay?"

"I just need to sit down for a few minutes and I'll be okay."

"Let's get you over to the bed then." Blaine said, leaving the bathroom. He moved right next to Burt but not touching him—close enough to catch him if needed, but far enough that it wouldn't annoy him… too much, at least.

"Thank you, Blaine." Burt said once he had gotten on the bed, laying down on top of all the covers. Blaine noticed there were two extra blankets on Burt's side.

"You're welcome." Blaine grabbed a water bottle off the nightstand and twisted the cap off.

Burt took it, downing nearly half of it in one drink.

"Can I do anything?"

"Marry my son already." Burt joked.

"I will." Blaine said, very seriously.

"I know. You take really good care of him. And me too, apparently. This is the second time now."

"You know, it's in the handbook for future son-in-laws." Blaine shrugged. "I bought it at Barnes and Noble."

Burt chuckled a bit.

"Don't feel too flattered. It was on sale."

Burt let out a loud laugh, causing Blaine to grin. "You've been around Kurt too much, Blaine."

"I could never been around Kurt too much. I feel like I barely see him as it is." Blaine sighed a bit. "We're both always so busy."

"He hates me right now." Burt sighed. "I shouldn't have asked him to come… I know everything will end up fine but I miss him."

"I understand. When I'm sick, I want him there. He's really good at taking care of sick people." Blaine nodded. "Also, he doesn't hate you, Burt. He's mad, shocked and scared. He didn't know you were even sick and then he finds out you've got cancer. He's really worried."

"I didn't want him to pull you out of work too. Your job is too important. You've got that big test soon. You need the training. Kurt will find another fashion job but Kurt said your office was in the top 3 in Cambridge. You can't risk that."

"Not the office. My boss is one of the top three lawyers in Massachusetts." Blaine sighed.

If he was in New York, he would be going to talk to Bob about everything that was going on. How stressed he was about Burt, how he missed seeing Kurt's smile—the real one, not the forced ones he had been giving since he found out about the cancer.

Bob was busy, though, and there was plenty of stuff Blaine could do to help in Lima.

"What are you thinking about, kid?"

"I'm mad too. I know you aren't my father but you're like a father to me. You visit me as much as you visit Kurt… You talk on the phone and check in…" Blaine looked down. "For the record, I don't think either of us should leave. Not right now. Carole's working part time. Kurt had to drive you home from Chemo today, Burt… You need someone to help you if you're going to make Carole keep working."

"It's not feasible to have her not work. We have all the house bills and now medical bills on top of that. It's just… not feasible."

"I have money."

"No, Blaine." Burt shook his head.

"You all took me in for over a year. I ate a lot of food. I probably owe you at least a million or two." Blaine joked.

"No. Do not get into that money for this. I am serious. I will be fine, everything will be fine, and we will get caught up." Burt said, voice firm and sounding more like his usual self. "Do not get into that money, Blaine."

"I want to help." Blaine bit his lip.

"You are helping just by being here." Burt looked up as Kurt came into the room. "Hey, kid."

"Are you okay, Dad?"

"I'm just tired."

"Did you drink some water?" Kurt asked.

"Yes."

"Can I get you some juice? Or apple sauce or something?"

"Thank you two both but honestly I just want to take a nap. Can one of you pick Melody up at her bus stop at 3? They won't let her off the bus without an adult to pick her up."

"Yeah, Dad." Kurt nodded. "You don't need anything?"

"No. I'm good. I just want to sleep for a bit. I'm fine, you two."

"Okay." Kurt pulled a blanket out of the closet and laid it over Burt. "Just yell for us, okay?"

Burt nodded and closed his eyes.

Blaine followed Kurt out of the room, turning off the lights and closing the door behind him.

Kurt leaned against the wall of the hallway, tilting his head back and looking at the ceiling.

"It's okay." Blaine whispered, rubbing his arm. "It's okay."

Kurt wiped his eyes, lowered his head, and nodded.

"He's going to be fine."

"He isn't fine now, though." Kurt took a deep breath.

"He will be. That's what you need to remember. The doctor said it will take time but that he'll beat it."

"I know but it doesn't make this easier now."

"I know." Blaine rubbed a hand up and down Kurt's back.

"I'm going to go and get Melody from the bus stop." Kurt sighed.

"Okay." Blaine sighed after Kurt went outside.

January

"Hey, hon."

Kurt looked up from his cup of coffee—the one that had gone cold because he'd gotten lost in thought, just staring at it. He and Blaine had been in Lima for a little over three weeks and, honestly, Kurt only felt worse about everything.

"Good morning."

Carole ruffled his hair and then took the cup from him. "I'll start a new pot."

Kurt nodded, resisting the urge to take a deep breath. Lately they all felt deep, though. Deep and heavy.

He was silent until Carole sat next to him, handing him a new cup of coffee.

"I usually get distracted and forget about mine too." Carole sighed a bit. "It's hard not to think about it when he's not in the room."

"Yeah." Kurt's voice was soft.

"Hon, I'm sorry I didn't tell you. He asked me not to. I told him he needed to talk to you. I thought he was going to at the wedding but he didn't… then he was going to at Thanksgiving and he didn't…" Carole trailed off.

"I understand." Kurt looked her in the eyes.

Because honestly, if it had been Kurt and Blaine going through this, Kurt wouldn't have told his secret.

"I think he… didn't expect to feel so bad with the chemo and radiation. He felt fine when they caught it, but he just feels sicker the more he does his treatments… It's been working very well, though. 1/3 of it had gone away before he told you."

Kurt nodded. "He told me that… and it is good… but that's still 2/3 left."

Carole leaned over, squeezing his thigh. "He will be fine. The year is going to be rough but he will be fine. I know it."

"I…" Kurt swallowed. "I know that but I'm still really scared. He feels worse every week… He shouldn't be driving himself anymore. He needs to be resting more and not trying to fix things or… or do the pointless stuff."

"You know Burt is not going to just lay around and do nothing. He's always has to keep himself occupied— fixing stuff even if it isn't broken. Changing windows, hanging shelves, taking care of the yard twice as much as it needs." Carole said gently.

"He's sick. Even when he acts like he feels okay, he doesn't. He's trying to hide it but I'm not dumb. I know him. He gets frustrated but, honestly, he asked me to come. He knew how I was going to be." Kurt took a deep breath.

"He misses you all… and I think you being here makes him feel better even if you're not very happy with him… He was just trying to protect you. He wasn't going to tell any of you kids until it was gone but… I think he wants you close."

Kurt nodded. "Yeah… That was a really shitty way of finding out, though… Over the phone. Did he really think I wouldn't find out?"

"I think he hoped you wouldn't but I told him you were going to figure it out. He kept bringing up you two getting married, he was going to bed too early, he didn't have as much energy…"

"I didn't notice." Kurt sighed. "I just thought he lost weight and that he was tired… I should have known when he flew in for the wedding. Dad hates flying."

"He couldn't make the trip driving. He's too weak to drive that long. I wouldn't let him." Carole sighed a bit.

"How didn't I know? I mean now that I know it's so obvious. I should have known something was going on."

"No. There was no way for you too, hon. You've been busy with work and life. If you'd spent more than two days with him at a time you would have figured out, but at the wedding a lot of people were there. It wasn't a lot of one on one time." Carole squeezed his leg as his eyes teared up.

"I can't stop crying or wanting to cry."

"Me too." Carole nodded, her own eyes tearing up. "But I promise you that you being here, even if you're mad at him, has made him feel a lot better. Blaine too but especially you."

"What if he…"

"No. Don't think like that. He's going to be fine, hon. We just have to get through the treatments and it'll be gone and we'll never, ever have to worry about it again. Okay?" She touched his cheek.

"Yeah." Kurt nodded and wiped his eyes. "I'm sorry I was so mad at you."

"I would have been too, Kurt. I know how close you two are. I actually thought you would react even worse." Carole admitted.

There was a thud from upstairs.

Carole and Kurt both rushed up the stairs, but by the time they had made it to Burt Blaine was already there and helping Burt up.

"What happened?" Carole asked, helping Blaine sit Burt on the bed.

"I don't feel good. I wanted to use the bathroom and I got dizzy."

"Did you pass out?" Kurt asked.

"I don't know so I probably did."

Blaine, who still had his hand on Burt's shoulder, looked at Kurt.

"Do we need to go to the ER?" Carole asked.

"No."

"Burt, if you got dizzy and passed out then you're probably anemic." Carole was bending down in front of him.

"I'll just tell the doctor when I get there for my chemo."

"No." Kurt said, voice rather forceful. "You can't get treatments like this, Dad. I read the pamphlets. You need to call the doctor and tell him what happened before you go in for it."

"Kurt, I've got two more days and then I'm off of it for three weeks."

"Why?"

"There are cycles, hon. He's been doing four weeks on, three weeks off. Burt, maybe we should go to the emergency room." Carole said.

"I don't need to go to the emergency room." Burt said, his voice rather forceful.

"I'm calling your doctor and we'll see what he says." Kurt grabbed Burt's cell phone off the nightstand before he could react.

"Kurt!"

Kurt left the room.

"He is not the parent." Burt said angrily, moving to stand up.

"Just sit here." Blaine said, his voice gentle.

They could hear muffled talking before Kurt came back in.

"Well?" Carole asked.

"He does not need to go to the ER unless he gets a fever over 101 or his heartbeat gets fast or irregular." Kurt said. "And he's not going to chemo and radiation today."

Burt glared at him.

"What, Dad? What if Blaine wasn't in the next room over?"

"Then you and Carole would have gotten here like you did, Kurt. You're making it out to be worse than it is. Carole, I don't have a fever! Is Blaine the only one here that is sane? Come on now." Burt looked between all three of them.

"Actually… It might be good to give your body a break today." Blaine said quietly. "Rest up and just make the chemo up on Friday since you don't usually go that day. That way you still get the same chemo and Kurt and Carole will feel better about today."

Burt looked at him and then scoffed a bit.

"You were really close to the corner of the nightstand." Blaine sighed. "If you had hit your head the right way…"

"Fine." Burt moved himself against the pillows. "You all can quit worrying. I'll sit here and stare at the wall. Hopefully I don't breathe too hard and pop a lung."

"Oh my God, Dad." Kurt rolled his eyes and looked up at the ceiling. "Quit acting like you don't have cancer if you're not puking. You are sick and you are obviously pushing yourself too much if you passed out."

"It's Anemia, Kurt! It is a common side effect! I stood up too quickly and I passed out! It doesn't mean I'm dying!" Burt shouted.

"Well it's a good thing because if you were, I probably wouldn't know until after your funeral!" Kurt shouted right back.

"Everyone needs to calm down and quit overreacting." Carole said loudly before Burt could respond. "We are all worried and exhausted. Getting worked up is only making this worse. Kurt, walk away until you've calmed down because you are overreacting."

"Yeah, he is." Burt huffed.

"And you quit being so difficult. You wanted them here. Well, they're here. I can promise you if Kurt wasn't here, you would be on the way to an ER right now. You are not making this easier by getting so defensive. People are worried about you. If the roles were reversed and Kurt was the one sick, you would be raising nine kinds of hell."

"Kurt, come on." Blaine whispered, wrapping his hand around Kurt's arm. "Let's go for a walk."

Kurt left the room without another word.

Blaine followed, closing the bedroom door behind him. He then went into the living room where Kurt was sitting on the couch, glaring at the fireplace.

"Kurt, sweetie, you've got to calm down." Blaine bent down by him.

Kurt rose his hands and opened his mouth before snapping it shut again.

"What?" Blaine asked, hand going through his messy hair.

"Why am I here?"

"Because Burt wants you here."

"Are you sure about that?" Kurt scoffed.

"Look… he did pass out but maybe he stood up too quickly? The important thing is he didn't get hurt. He was already awake by the time I made it in here." Blaine's voice was gentle. "He's frustrated because he can't work and he's always tired."

"I know but—"

"But what?"

"I don't know. I don't know." Kurt covered his mouth with his hand and shook his head.

"If it was a big deal, the doctor would have told you to take him to the hospital. We just need to let him rest and then you'll both have calmed down."

"It's not that easy."

"Fine. Then keep torturing yourself and make it harder than it has to be."

"I can't handle this, Blaine."

"Do you want to go back to New York?"

"No."

"Well then you have to handle it. He wants you here and you came. I know this sucks but he wants you here. We have to find a way to make it work. Neither of you need a screaming match and Burt needs to save his energy."

"I know." Kurt rubbed his face. "Fine."

Blaine nodded. "I'm sorry."

"I hate this."

…

"Blaine, I told you not to do this." Burt came into the kitchen's backdoor, sounding angry.

Blaine, who was looking at a huge text book and about to take a bite of his banana, looked up.

"The bills. You can't do that."

Blaine looked at Burt, tilting his head. "I have everything set to automatic payments. Everything is good. They all went through."

"No. You know what I mean. I tried to make a payment at the doctor's office this morning and they told me it had been paid in full. That was almost $17,000. It's too much."

Blaine's eyes widened. "I didn't do it!"

"I know you want to help, Blaine, but it's too much."

"No. Wait." Blaine set his banana on the table, got out his phone, and pulled up his bank app. "Look. I didn't do it."

"You used the other account."

Blaine pulled that one up too. Literally no transactions. Just a straight $8,000,000. No more, no less… like it had been since the money had been deposited.

"It's too much, Blaine."

"I didn't do it. I wish I had thought of that, though." Blaine said sincerely.

"You are the only person I know with that kind of money, kid."

"It wasn't me. I promise. I didn't do that. I never even thought to do that. I really wish I had. We've been here a month. I could have just walked in and did it. Why didn't I think of that?"

"Did your brother?" Burt looked at him suspiciously.

"He's too busy to breathe and I haven't really talked about anything in detail with him, so there's no way he would know how much your bills would be…"

Kurt came downstairs in only pajama pants and his hair going in every which way.

After several seconds he turned to face them and said, "What? The scar isn't that bad."

"I still can't believe you got that tattoo." Burt sighed. "Kurt, do you know anyone with a huge amount of money that would have paid off my chemotherapy and radiation bill?"

"I thought you weren't using that." Kurt looked at Blaine.

"It wasn't me! Come look at the bank app." Blaine held out his phone.

Kurt took it, looking through his checking account and both savings accounts. He then went, "Uh… why do you have Pandora and Spotify, Blaine?"

"I was drunk and couldn't decide which one I liked better… so I just got them both. I know, don't judge me… Somehow, I have Amazon Prime now too… Might have been drunk then too. I probably was. It doesn't take much anymore."

Burt watched Blaine, his eyebrow arched. Was he serious? He didn't look like he was joking.

"How long ago was this?" Kurt asked.

"Four years ago. I don't remember the password to Amazon to get in to cancel anything… and I still can't decide between Spotify or Pandora."

"You've had them both for four years and can't decide?"

"They each have great aspects, Kurt."

"As thrilling as this conversation is, who goes and pays a bill without saying anything?" Burt interrupted them, looked frustrated.

"Is there a name on it?" Kurt returned his attention to Burt.

"No. Only random numbers and then a bank name. I don't even know where the hell that is from. I figured it was just something from Blaine's money. Where is Katahdin? Is that in Ohio? I've never even heard of that."

"Can I see that?" Blaine asked.

Burt handed the printed sheet to him.

He typed in the name of the bank and searched.

Eagle Lake, Maine. Which was in the county of Aroostook, Maine.

Which was where Bob was from. It was hard to forget the name Aroostook.

"Did you find anything?"

"No." Blaine lied, shook his head, and handed the paper back to Burt. "That's really weird, though."

"Dad, you should have woken me up before you left this morning. I was going to take you." Kurt said.

"Without a shirt?" Burt arched an eyebrow.

"Oh. My. God." Kurt went upstairs, coming back down in a Parsons t-shirt. "If it was Finn, you wouldn't say anything. Are you happy?"

"I still just don't know why you would get drunk with Finn and get a tattoo?"

"Because I was 22 years old and didn't care. I still don't care. I like my tattoo." Kurt responded.

"Well good because it's there forever."

"Maybe I'll get a few more just to make your day better."

"Kurt, you do realize those never go away, right?"

"Yeah, well, this scar isn't going away either so why not add to the mess?" Kurt sighed. "You shouldn't drive yourself if you don't have to. You're always nauseous and then there's chemo brain."

"Hey, you and your torso are not a mess." Blaine cut in, a definite edge to his voice.

"Chemo brain doesn't exist." Burt said before Kurt could respond to Blaine.

"Oh? You don't get disoriented?"

"I can drive, Kurt."

"I know but—"

"I am the parent here."

Blaine slipped out onto the back porch unnoticed. He had a feeling they would be bickering for quite some time—like every time Burt took himself to doctor's appointments alone.

He sat on the steps, unlocked his phone, and pushed Bob's name.

"Blaine?" Bob asked. "How are you?"

"Did you pay Kurt's dad's medical bills?"

"Excuse me? Hello to you, too."

"That really wasn't necessary."

"I actually do not know what you are talking about. Hey, your checks are still coming through, right? Is there anything I can send you all? Food? Alcohol? I heard you can mail alcohol now… too bad they didn't have that when I was in college."

"Bob!"

"It wasn't me."

"So, you don't have a bank account at Katahdin? Which is in Eagle Creek? Which is in Aroostook? Which is in Maine?"

"Have you been watching trials in Ohio? Geeze. Maybe you don't even need training. I mean there may be more barns than people but it doesn't mean I'm the only one with money in that county. There are 68,000 people, Blaine. And I don't even live there anymore."

"It has the bank name on the statement. You are the only person I know from Maine." Blaine sounded frustrated.

"I don't know what you are talking about. How is Kurt's dad?"

"Bob, seriously?"

"Seriously what?"

"You know what." Blaine sighed.

"What can I say? I like to live like I have as much money as you… still doesn't mean I paid any bills, though."

Blaine rolled his eyes.

"Hey, I was actually going to call you on my way to work. How are you doing?"

"I'm okay. Sorry I haven't texted yet this week. It's been kind of hectic. Kurt's dad has been feeling bad. I think they increased the medicine during Chemo."

"No, don't worry about that. I'm sorry to hear that for Kurt's dad, though."

"Yeah. It does look like the cancer has gone down, though. For the second time. I guess it had gone down before we made it back home too."

"That's really good!"

"It is but by being around him, you'd think it was getting worse. He's really weak and tired. He gets dizzy and nauseous a lot."

"I know it sucks but that means it's working." Bob said. "But, how are you? I know you're close to him… Are you okay?"

"Honestly, I'm just relieved. The doctor said the heart attack probably saved his life since he was getting checked out so often. A lot of times it can go undetected until it's… a lot worse." Blaine admitted. "I know the doctors keep saying everything is fine but I'm also really anxious. Probably because Kurt is. I don't know how many times Burt's two doctors have told Kurt he will be fine."

"It's his dad and they're close. I understand that very well." Bob said. "It makes him feel better to be close and hover. Don't be too hard on him for that."

"Yeah… Is work okay?"

"Don't worry about work, Blaine. You know your job is here when you come home. We did move your office, though. It didn't make sense having you and Adrian in a completely different area from where Ryan and I are since we're training you. You're next to me at the end, Adrian is on your other side, and Ryan on his other side."

"I didn't like that hallway anyway… If you're moving offices, does that mean there are more lawyers?"

"Yeah. 20 total not including Adrian and yourself. It's a lot louder… which is actually better for me because I don't have to worry about people overhearing my phone conversations with clients. I don't really care if you, Adrian or Ryan hear but I don't know a lot of these new people well enough to know who would or wouldn't talk."

"Bob… You should have put yourself on the end and me next to you, then Adrian and Ryan… That puts three people between you and the next person."

There was silence and then Bob said, "Yeah. That probably would have been a lot smarter. I wonder if Martin will switch that before he goes back to Cambridge…"

"You know Martin probably hates you, right?" Blaine laughed.

"No. I pay him too much money for him to hate me. He makes three times as much as IT people usually do." Bob said. "He's just so good and I actually trust him. He's not allowed to leave me."

Blaine was quiet for several seconds and then said, "Thank you, Bob."

"You're welcome, Blaine. If I'd known you were going to investigate, I would have used my regular account. I didn't want you to know."

"I figured… you didn't have to do that."

"I know that. You guys shouldn't be worrying about paying for treatments, though. The focus should be on Kurt's father getting healthy again."

"It was a really big deal, though."

"Not to me."

"Bob… you don't have to pay me on my leave of absence. I'll be fine without the pay."

"You, just like Adrian, are on salary. I would do the same thing for anyone else in this office. Tammy and I don't want our associates to be financially burdened when there is already rough stuff going on. It's in the budget for that to come out and we aren't going to change that. Can we send food or anything?"

"No. You've done enough."

"How are you doing apart from Kurt's father?"

"I'm stressed out… The test is getting closer and I'm having less time to study." Blaine sighed.

"You've done really good on studying so far... except when you and Adrian are together. You should keep studying but I wouldn't worry about it too much. You'll be fine. Are you going to take it in February still?"

"Yeah. Kurt and I were talking some last night. If Burt keeps getting better, I'll just stay in New York after it. If not… well, there will be bigger things to worry about because theoretically he should be doing much better by the end of next month."

"Don't feel like you need to rush back, Blaine. Honestly, we will be fine. Now if you were taking cases we may be a bit screwed but you're just training… and we can catch up on the training when you get back, so don't worry about CMJ."

"Am I going to be really far behind?"

"No. I mean, honestly, Adrian's doing what you all were doing since graduation. Shadowing some, helping out some, but mostly studying… or at least pretending to." Bob laughed a bit. "When you get back we'll go watch some trials, you can shadow me on cases… hell, you can even come and watch me in court if you want. Any of us, really."

"Really?" Blaine asked, now interested.

What was it like to watch the third top lawyer in Massachusetts at work?

Everyone had said Bob was really good but it'd never occurred to him to… go watch Bob in court.

"Yeah."

"That won't make you nervous?"

"Blaine, there isn't much that makes me nervous anymore. Ending up in the hospital after angry clients or plaintiffs try to kill you makes you really not care about who watches you work."

"Wait, what?"

"Oh yeah. I do the bad cases and that means bad guys. I've been in the hospital seven times from retaliation. Actually, someone even blew up my car once."

"What?"

"Yeah. I went to open the door, heard a beep, backed up and boom. Bye bye car. That actually pissed me off more than the times I got hurt and ended up in the hospital."

"Are you serious?"

"I am. Actually, I hadn't been back too long from FMLA when you started at the internship. I think I may have been back four days or something. This is a discussion for another time, though. No, it won't make me nervous if you watch me. Honestly I'll probably forget you're even there."

Blaine nodded although Bob couldn't see it.

"Hey, listen, I just got to the office so I'm going to have to go. Call me after seven if you want… or we can text. I will even have a text conversation for you."

"You must really like me." Blaine laughed.

"Something like that. Don't worry about work, though. Seriously. That should be the last thing on your mind. Okay?"

"Bob… thank you. For the bills... and being understanding and everything."

"I don't even know what bills you're talking about. Bye, Blaine."

"Bye." Blaine hung up his phone and stared down at it for a few seconds. He looked up when the door opened and Melody came out. "Hey, Mellie."

"Hi, Blaine." Melody hopped onto his lap.

"Okay, then. Hi."

"Can I tell you something?" Melody asked.

"Always." Blaine put his phone on the table and looked at her.

"Nobody wants to tell me Daddy is sick but I know."

Blaine's eyes widened.

"Is he going to die?"

"No. He's not." Blaine said quickly. "He's getting better."

"He doesn't seem like it." Melody frowned and looked down.

"Daddy has to feel worse before he'll feel better… but he's got three very good doctors who are taking really good care of him." Blaine said gently.

"Kurt keeps crying… and Momma sometimes too. Everyone thinks I can't hear but I do." Melody sighed.

Blaine hugged her close to him. "Sometimes adults don't want kids to know things to protect them. They don't want to scare you."

"Well I am scared."

"Don't be. He's going to be fine."

"Do you promise?"

"The doctors say he will be fine soon. It just takes some time. Kind of like after the heart attack. He'll take a lot of medicine and then he'll start to feel better… and then he'll be back to being the same Daddy."

Melody nodded but didn't look convinced.

"Would I lie?" Blaine asked, looking her in the eye.

"No." Melody bit the inside of her cheek, watching him.

"Then don't worry. We're going to keep doing what we do and soon, Daddy will be chasing you around and everything like usual." Blaine smiled.

"Daddy wants you to marry Kurt." Melody said, still watching him.

"I know… and I'm going to."

Melody gasped. "Did you get a surprise ring? Did you give Kurt a surprise ring?"

"Not yet." Blaine smiled. "But I don't think you have to wait too much longer."

Melody's jaw dropped—her face showed pure excitement. She then squealed, throwing her arms around his neck.

Blaine laughed and hugged her.

"When are you two going to have babies?"

"Did your dad put you up to this?" Blaine asked.

"No but Momma and Daddy talk about it sometimes. Momma says Daddy just misses having a baby around because of me, though. I'll be nine next year, and then ten, and then—"

"Yes, all the way up to 100." Blaine laughed again.

"How old are you?" Melody tilted her head.

"I will be 25 on April 3rd." Blaine said.

"And Kurt will be 24 on August 27th?"

"Look at you knowing everyone's birthdays." Blaine smiled as Burt came out.

"Hi, Daddy!" Melody hopped down and then climbed onto Burt's lap when he was seated. "Did you know that hedgehogs are lactose intolerant?"

"I did not. At least they can still drink milk and eat ice cream, though."

Melody giggled. "No. That's what they can't eat."

Burt tickled he side, making her giggle more.

"You're mean, Daddy." Melody leaned back against him, making herself comfortable.

"Kurt used to do this too." Burt laughed. "Just sprawled on out."

"Daddy, did you know that Canada owns the Mall of America?" Melody asked.

Burt raised his eyebrow and then asked, "Really?"

"Yep. Mrs. Annie said so." Melody nodded.

"Well she must be right."

"Daddy, guess where the biggest pyramid is!"

"Egypt?"

"No! Mexico! Isn't that silly?"

"How did you get so stinking smart?" Burt gave her a squeeze.

"From you and Momma and Mrs. Annie." Melody grinned when Kurt came out. "Hi, Kurt!"

"Hey." Kurt smiled, going to sit at the table with Blaine, Burt, and Melody.

"Kurt, do you know where the largest pyramid is?"

"Mexico."

Both Burt and Blaine looked at him.

"What?" Kurt asked. "I'm right."

"But…" Blaine tilted his head. "How do you know that?"

"Internet?" Kurt shrugged.

"And Miami was founded by a girl!" Melody chirped and then hopped down. "I'm going to find Momma!"

Burt ruffled her hair before she ran off. "She definitely didn't get that from me."

"You look tired, Dad. Do you need anything?" Kurt asked.

"I'm fine, Kurt."

Kurt opened his mouth but closed it again.

"Melody knows." Blaine said.

Burt looked at Blaine quickly.

"She told me today… she figured it out." Blaine bit his lip.

"Damn." Burt sighed. "We didn't want her to know."

"You look sicker every week, Dad." Kurt said, voice quiet.

"I don't even know what to say to her." Burt sighed again.

"The truth. You're sick and the doctors say you'll be fine." Kurt tilted his head back, looking at the ceiling of their covered porch. "You have to talk to her now that she knows."

"Yeah." Burt stood and walked back into the house, ruffling Kurt's hair as he went.

Kurt looked at Blaine, who was picking at his nails.

"Bob did it, didn't he?"

"He didn't come out and admit it… but I'm pretty sure it was him… Technically it could have been Jake or Mallory but… It was Bob." Blaine nodded.

Tears filled Kurt's eyes and he took a deep breath before nodding. "He's so sweet."

Blaine got up, walked over, and kissed the top of his head. "I love you."

"I love you too." Kurt sniffled.

"It's okay. We're okay. Everything is going to be fine." Blaine whispered.

"Yeah." Kurt nodded and wiped his eyes. "I know you're right but I'm still worried. Even his doctors have told me but what if…?"

"I think you should try to focus on what is happening and not what could happen. I mean, any of us could get hit by a car at any time."

"Was that supposed to help?" Kurt laughed a bit.

"Yeah well, Bob was a lot better at making me feel better about the what if thing…"

"What did he say?"

"Basically, it is what it is… and to deal with stuff when it comes but to not stress about it until it comes? Only he made it sound a lot better and more adult than that. Do you want me to call him? I will totally call him… after 7."

"No, it's okay. Thank you, though." Kurt smiled.

"I know it's hard but right now everything is good… Try not to worry until you hear otherwise." Blaine tilted his head. "Is that a little better?"

"Yes." Kurt nodded, his smile growing.

February

"What is he doing?" Burt asked in the beginning of February, gesturing towards Blaine who was at the kitchen table with several pages laid out in front of him.

"Taking a practice MBE test." Kurt, who was on the couch, looked behind him to see Blaine circling an answer.

"What is that?" Burt sat on the couch with him.

"It's a section of the Bar exam. It's three and a half weeks away." Kurt explained. "I think Bob's been sending him a bunch of study stuff."

"Crunch time already?" Burt glanced at Blaine as well.

"Yeah. I think so." Kurt nodded. "It is 200 questions in 6 hours, though… which sounds super intense. It's been five and a half hours… I hope he finishes them all before it's up."

"He's got it." Burt said confidently.

"I think so too." Kurt smiled and set his phone down. "How do you feel?"

"Better after my nap. If chemo didn't make me so tired and nauseous, it'd be better. I feel great the days I don't see the doctor." Burt sighed a bit. "So, the doctor called and left a voicemail when I was asleep... he said it looks a lot better. Only a third compared to August when I found out I had the cancer."

Kurt's eyes widened. "Oh my God."

"I think they were a little surprised it went down so much too." Burt leaned over and ruffled Kurt's hair.

"So… what did they say?"

"We're going to keep the frequency of treatment the same until it's all gone… I would rather them get it gone quicker than slow down treatment and make it last longer. I just want it over."

Kurt nodded.

"So, if you need to go back to work—"

"No. You still need someone here when Carole is working… and I would really rather you not drive yourself to and from your chemo and radiation appointments. I know how bad it makes you feel." Kurt didn't even let him finish.

Burt glanced towards the kitchen.

"I don't know that he'll want to go back either, Dad. His boss told him he had all the time he needs."

"He doesn't need it now, though. Two thirds of the cancer is gone… in six months. They estimated a year for it to all be gone. They told me I was even fine to work a couple of days a week if I wanted to."

"No."

"I know. Carole said the same thing. I'm letting Jeff handle it." Burt shook his head. "Sometimes I wonder who the parent really is, Kurt."

"Sorry." Kurt sighed a bit.

"You've gotta talk to him, Kurt. He needs to be preparing for the test with the people that have done it. I don't care what his boss sends him. That's not what's going to help." Burt sighed. "You know I love having him here but it's setting him back. You can just pick back up at your job but his job is a little different… and he's not even properly trained for it."

"He's more ready than he acts like… that's just how he is. He never thinks he's as ready as he really is." Kurt glanced at Blaine.

"You've still gotta talk to him, kid."

"Talk to me about what?" Blaine asked, going straight to Kurt and handing him several sheets. "Can you circle the ones I got wrong? I would check it myself but my eyes are burning."

Kurt nodded. "I will. In the meantime, Dad would like to talk to you."

"Kurt."

"This is all you. The last time I told him to go home, he didn't take it well." Kurt looked back and forth between Blaine's practice test and the answer key.

"I'm not going home." Blaine said, voice firm.

"It was a real good visit, Blaine. It's two thirds gone." Burt said.

"That's great but you're still not feeling well." Blaine said. "I want to help."

"You will be helping me by going home because I know you'll be learning your law stuff. The test is in three weeks, kid."

"Believe me, I'm aware… but what about your appointments on Thursdays? It's later and Kurt takes you. Someone has to get Melody from the bus stop." Blaine reminded him.

"Carole is quitting her job. Between she and Kurt, it will be handled." Burt spoke in a very firm voice. "I would love to keep you both in this house as long as I can, but you're needed somewhere else, Blaine… and I know Kurt probably won't leave until it's all gone."

Blaine looked between Kurt, who was still matching answers, and Burt.

"Honestly I will feel better if you go because I know you will be where you're supposed to be. I appreciate everything you have done for me and I love you a hell of a lot." Burt looked him in the eye. "But I am going to be fine… don't put off anything for this."

"But—"

"No buts about it, Blaine. I will feel better knowing you're up there learning and training, not here helping run errands and bringing me blankets and water." Burt gave him a smile.

"He said I could stay as long as I need to."

"You don't need to anymore, Blaine." Burt's smile did not leave. "Everything is going better than planned right now. A lot better. If I thought I could get Kurt to go home, I'd be saying the same thing to him… but he's too much like me and I know that won't happen."

"I find that offensive. I am not like you." Kurt said. "But, Blaine, you'll get to meet Bob's baby! And see Bob, obviously, but you know…"

"What if you need me, though?" Blaine looked between Burt and Kurt.

"Then you'll come back." Burt said.

Blaine frowned.

"This is a good thing, Blaine!" Burt said. "The chemo may be kicking my butt but it's kicking cancer's too. We're two thirds of the way there."

Blaine moved forward.

Burt got up, hugging him.

"Are you sure, though? Honestly, I'd rather be here." Blaine asked when he stepped back.

"I am sure." Burt said very seriously. "You've got a test to study for without Melody pestering you… you've got training because in May you can have your own cases. Everything good is about to happen but it won't happen if you're not there to take it."

Blaine looked at Kurt.

"I'm fine, Blaine." Kurt said, looking him in the eyes.

"… Okay. Fine. I'll… I'll go back, I guess." Blaine looked back and forth between Burt and Kurt.

"You will?" Burt asked. "Oh, good. I'm way too tired to argue you on it."

"That's mainly why I'm not fighting you." Blaine admitted.

"Good. I'm going to lay down for a while. Don't let me sleep more than two hours." Burt yawned.

"Okay, Dad." Kurt nodded.

Blaine went to sit by him.

"165."

"What?" Blaine gasped.

"165 out of 200 questions. You got 165 right."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes!" Kurt laughed. "I'm assuming that's good."

"The average is less than 140." Blaine admitted.

"Oh my God! Yay!" Kurt beamed.

"Holy shit. 165?" Blaine repeated.

"Yes! 165!" Kurt nodded.

"I am trying really hard to not seem excited about this but oh my God!"

Kurt stood and hugged him. "See? What did I tell you? You've got this."

"This is the first time I'm thinking that maybe I do." Blaine admitted, looking at him. "I need to text Bob and tell him."

Kurt smiled.

Blaine smiled back and then sighed a bit.

"What?"

"I feel really bad leaving even if he's telling me to." Blaine bit his lip. "But his whole demeanor has been good for the last month and even if he's tired, he has seemed more like his old self."

"Yeah. Three weeks ago he would not have argued with you." Kurt nodded. "He better not try to pull that with me, though."

"I don't think he will… not yet, at least." Blaine sat down by Kurt on the couch and then leaned against him. "Kurt, this is really good."

Kurt smiled and kissed the top of his head. "I know… It really is."

…

"Kurt! Oh my God. I know you said you never answer a phone but how are you?"

"Hi, Alec." Kurt laughed a bit, sitting on the edge of the bed. He glanced at Blaine, who was fast asleep even though it was the middle of the day.

"Hey. How is everything? Is your dad doing okay?"

"Well the cancer is 2/3 gone which is awesome… Dad isn't feeling very well because of it, though." Kurt said.

"That's pretty normal though, right?" Alec asked.

"Yeah, I think so. His doctors say he's doing really well and could go back to work a couple of hours a day but my stepmom Carole put a stopper in that real quick." Kurt laughed a bit. "I think Dad hates everyone but Blaine and Melody right now."

"I don't blame her. My grandma had cancer. She would be feeling great and it would just hit her all at once." Alec said.

"I didn't know your grandmother had cancer. I thought she died of old age." Kurt frowned.

"Oh, she did. I mean, the cancer sped it up a bit but she was… on her way out? If that makes sense? She was, like, 85." Alec asked. "But it's probably good that your dad isn't going to work yet."

"Yeah. Even if you can't tell by looking at him, he is doing a lot better. They think two more rounds will finish it off. Each round is on treatment 4 weeks and off for 3 weeks… or something like that."

"That's two and a half months! That's really good!"

"Yeah, I'm finally feeling more optimistic about everything… like we can see the light at the end of the tunnel." Kurt leaned over, pulling a blanket over Blaine who had shivered.

"How is Blaine?"

"He's good. Studying a lot for the bar. It's at the end of the month, so he's starting to get anxious and jittery." Kurt laughed a bit. "He does well on his practice tests, though, so I know he'll be fine."

"Oh, Eric was always like that over his tests in medical school too. Blaine will pass it with flying colors and feel silly for stressing so much." Alec laughed a bit. "Have you gotten a you-know-what yet?"

"Hang on." Kurt crawled out of the bed and left the bedroom. His dad was in the living room laying on the couch, so Kurt slipped out the back door. "Yes."

"OhmyGod!"

"Technically Wes and AJ have it. AJ's always home and it required a signature, so I sent it there." Kurt said.

"So, if you already have it… I take it you're not waiting until the end of April or May?"

"No, I'm not. Honestly after all this stuff with my dad… I don't want to wait anymore. I know we're it. I mean, he followed me here to be with my dad. He's been so great and supportive and… I can't wait until the end of April or the beginning of May for test results. What if something were to happen to one of us between now and then? I originally wanted to do it in December before he said the whole waiting until after the test results… but I don't care. That test shouldn't determine when we start the rest of our lives."

"Do you think he'll be okay with it?"

"Honestly, yeah. Everything has changed since November with my dad… Honestly, I love Blaine more than I ever have and I can't wait. I just can't wait."

"Have you told your dad?"

"No way. Dad will be overly excited and Blaine will know something is up. It's going to be a total surprise."

"How are you going to pull it off?"

"By coming home earlier than he thinks and having his boss send him to the library to pick something up."

"He's going to die."

"Hopefully not literally." Kurt laughed a bit.

"The boss he's really close to?"

"Yeah. I mean, he sends Blaine out to get stuff all of the time so Blaine won't think anything of it. He was the one that actually suggested the book hunt part when I told him I was going to do it at the library." Kurt nodded although Alec couldn't see it. He glanced up at the back door. Someone was in the kitchen but he couldn't tell who. "Okay, subject change. How is your job?"

"Gotcha. I mean, it's good. I get there early and leave late… I'm making good money but it seems like Eric and I work opposite schedules." Alec admitted.

Kurt smiled when Blaine came onto the back porch, looking half asleep and his curls messy.

"The good thing about Blaine and I is we pretty much have the same hours… until he's a real lawyer, that is."

Blaine raised his eyebrow before sitting on the ground in front of Kurt.

"Yeah… Eric's schedule is so weird. He'll get sent home Monday and on Tuesday he's there literally twenty hours. His schedule is so messed up that I don't even know if you can call it a schedule. It's just craziness."

Kurt raised his eyebrow when Blaine opened a can of Red Bull and downed it in one long gulp.

"Blaine, do you want a heart attack?"

"No." Blaine yawned. "I want to study but I can't keep studying if I fall asleep doing it."

Kurt leaned down and took the second can that Blaine had brought outside with him.

"Hey, that's mine."

"You'll be okay, Hair Bears." Kurt giggled a bit at Blaine's confused and then angry facial expression. "Hey, Alec, I'll call you back later."

Alec, who was laughing over 'Hair Bears' said and okay and hung up.

"Was that David?" Blaine asked, still looking displeased.

"Well I said 'Alec, I'll call you back later' so I'm assuming it wasn't David." Kurt said sweetly.

"You know what? I'm barely alive right now let alone awake. I can't take sass yet."

"How late were you studying last night if you were taking a nap before noon?"

"I went to bed at three but Wes, Adrian, and Bob all called me. By the way, apparently the new $5,000 payment'wasn't from him.'"

Kurt shook his head. "Did Adrian say the apartment was okay?"

"Yeah. He's been dropping by every three days, changing lights so it looks like we're home and bringing in the mail and stuff. Nothing bad has happened yet." Blaine nodded.

"Did Dad fall asleep yet? He looked close to it when I came out here."

"I think he's going in and out. Melody's laying with him now, though." Blaine yawned again.

"What did Wes want?" Kurt asked.

"He was just checking on us."

"Wait, Bob called you pretty late."

"Yeah! He was telling me the baby got to go home. He got a little infection and they kept him for a few days to be safe." Blaine pouted.

"Oh no." Kurt frowned. "Is he okay now, though?"

"Yeah. No sign of infection and he's gone back to being his quiet old man self…. The baby, not Bob."

Kurt snorted. "Do you have any new pictures?"

Blaine opened his texts and handed his phone to Kurt.

"He's so precious… and those chubby red cheeks." Kurt let out a little sigh. "Between Scarlett and Miles, I'm getting a serious case of Baby Fever."

"Oh God." Blaine's eyes widened.

"I mean I know it will be years but they're just so cute."

"Oh my God. Scarlett said her first word!"

"What?!"

"I know! The doctor was starting to think she might be mute or something but nope. She was just being stubborn."

"What did she say?"

"Spoon."

Kurt tilted his head. "Spoon?"

"Yeah. Wes is now convinced she's speaking when they're not around. I mean, she's been signing since she was four months old." Blaine shrugged. "She probably waits for them to go to sleep and has conversations with herself."

"I think it is so cool that AJ has her doing sign language so early."

"I know! I watched Adrian and AJ signing once. Their hands move so fast. It is insane."

"Why were they signing to each other?"

"I'm pretty sure they were talking about something they didn't want Wes to understand." Blaine laughed a bit. "I can't believe Scarlett said her first real word, though… Even if it was spoon. Honestly she is Wes' child so I shouldn't be surprised."

"You really shouldn't." Kurt laughed. "He's probably right and she's saying words at night when you all are asleep. That would be hilarious."

Blaine frowned.

"What?" Kurt looked concerned.

"My flight is at seven in the morning." Blaine sighed.

Kurt sighed a bit and nodded. "I'll take you. Well, Dad and I. His chemo is at 8:30."

"I'm going to miss you. I'm kind of dreading going home honestly."

"What? Why?"

"It will only be the dogs and I… I don't know. I haven't lived by myself in so long." Blaine admitted. "I just know I'll be bored to death."

"I'm sorry." Kurt frowned.

"No. It's okay. You should be here. I know he's getting better but Carole still needs the help." Blaine put on a not-entirely-forced smile.

"I can't sleep without you again." Kurt admitted.

"I know… Me too. I'm so used to being curled up together." Blaine frowned.

"Who is picking you up at the airport?"

"Matt and Scarlett."

"I still think it's so cute that Matt watches her while they work." Kurt smiled.

"Yeah and he won't take money either. He says its fun." Blaine nodded.

"He should be an elementary school teacher." Kurt said.

"Oh, next fall he's going to start classes at NYU… assuming he'll get in, but who would deny a wounded police officer? Come on now." Blaine scoffed a bit. "He doesn't know what he wants to do, though."

"Elementary school teacher. Can you imagine him with kindergartners or first graders? He would love it. The kids and parents would love him." Kurt repeated.

"Adrian has a feeling he'll lean towards that actually. Matt is acting like he doesn't want to, though… But I also think he's kind of depressed about having to find something new." Blaine chewed on his lower lip.

"Is he not doing good again?" Kurt frowned.

"No, he's fine. I think it's hard to pick something else because it really means he can never be a police officer again. It will be an adjustment but he'll be fine." Blaine said confidently. "Apparently, he came to the office to visit Adrian but ended up in Bob's office for, like, two hours just chatting. I'm pretty sure Bob's trying to talk up going back to school or something. I guess Matt's mom has been giving him a hard time about it."

"They shouldn't force him to go to school before he's ready or he won't do well. He's got plenty of money to take the time he needs." Kurt protested. "Plus, he's getting married in three weeks. He has enough to worry about."

"You're going to try to come to it, right?"

"Yeah. Carole's not working so they'll be okay for a day or two." Kurt nodded. "Does AJ know they're actually married yet?"

"Nope. They have almost pulled off her not finding out."

"Good because she'd probably kill both of them since she doesn't even have a job." Kurt laughed. "I can't believe Adrian hasn't spilled it yet. Was that in October or something?"

"Around in there." Blaine nodded. "This August Wes and AJ are getting married too. I wonder if David will propose to Marcy."

"He does really love her… but he doesn't seem like the type of person to rush into something like that."

"Yeah." Blaine tilted his head and then stood. "Okay. I'm going to go and review some more essay questions from previous tests. If you don't hear me four hours from now, I've probably died."

"Have fun." Kurt smiled when Blaine ruffled his hair. "I love you."

"I love you too." Blaine kissed the top of his head and then went back into the house.

…

"165? Really?" Bob asked. "I know you told me over the phone but I'm still in shock."

He and Blaine were sitting inside a Panera and eating lunch while a five-week-old Miles slept in his car seat that was sitting on the side of the booth Bob was at.

"Yeah. I even double counted because I couldn't believe it." Blaine admitted. "What did you get on the test?"

"171… I studied my ass off for it too." Bob looked thoughtful. "God, that was the worst period in my life. Well, academically at least."

"Damn." Blaine's eyes widened. "What about Jake?"

"168. His face when he found out I beat him was hilarious. We had been arguing about who would score higher. He was always one or two questions more than me when we did practice tests." Bob laughed a bit. "But he's actually got a higher percentage of wins overall and he's done more cases than me, so I can't brag too much."

"Yes but you're one of the top fifteen in the country." Blaine pointed out.

"For now. That Taggart lawyer is working his way up there."

"The 27 year old?" Blaine's jaw dropped.

"No. His oldest brother." Bob shrugged. "He's good but he does a lot of civil stuff so it's not as difficult to win."

Blaine snorted.

"Don't you ever tell Mallory I said that." Bob gave him a look. "Also, I beat that guy the day Miles was born actually. The dad. I haven't gone up against the youngest one again but I did watch one of his trials while I was waiting for mine to start."

"Are the other sons as bad as Jake made them sound?"

"Oh yeah. They're younger than me and I beat them too. It helped ease my ego a little bit… I really want to go against that youngest one again, though."

"When do you go back to work?" Blaine asked.

"I've been in and out the last two weeks a bit."

"What?" Blaine asked.

"Not cases. Just helping with that stupid Verizon thing from hell. That hard part is over, though so I probably won't go back until the FMLA is over." Bob yawned.

Blaine looked at him, amused.

"What?"

"I have never seen you yawn in the middle of the day… or at all, actually."

"You have also never seen me with a five week old infant." Bob pointed out. "All of the caffeine in the world doesn't prepare you for the first two months of a baby's life. I don't care how easy anyone makes it sound. They. Are. Lying. Nobody gets that lucky."

Blaine laughed and then leaned over the table to look into the car seat. Miles was still fast asleep. "He's so cute."

"Yeah, he is pretty cute." Bob pulled the baby blanket up a little bit, smiling. "He can be pretty loud too when he wants, though… Of course, Sarah says he gets that from me… Honestly, she's the loud one. You just have to really piss her off to get her there."

"How often do you make her that mad?"

"Not very often. Usually it's over high profile cases and being gone so much." Bob said. "We bicker but we don't really argue… and I never yell at her. Can't say the same for her yelling at me, though."

Blaine laughed, feeling more at ease than he had since finding out about Burt's cancer.

Talking to Bob just made him feel better.

"So, how are things?"

"Good, I guess. It's weird living by myself. I did for like two months my first year of undergrad but then went back to Ohio, so I really don't know how to live alone." Blaine admitted.

"You went back to Ohio? I thought you graduated from Kentucky." Bob looked confused.

"Yeah, I did. I guess I took a break technically. Kurt was attacked the fall of my freshman year and it was pretty bad, so I dropped out and basically moved in with his family to help take care of him."

"Attacked? What do you mean attacked? For what?"

"Yeah. For being gay… It was bad. Some guys jumped him one night when he was getting into his car. A rib punctured his long and they couldn't get a surgeon for hours and it was… horrible. There was more than just that, but that was probably the scariest part… the lung. They had to wait for a surgeon to make it in from another city because the one in their hospital was in a transplant surgery or something and it was horrible watching him trying to breathe. He missed three months of school I think." Blaine sighed. "He still gets pneumonia pretty every year or two, though. I'm assuming that's why… I could be wrong, but… I don't know."

"Fuck. Seriously? Kurt?" Bob stared at Blaine.

"Yes. The worst thing is they found the guys who did it. They actually hurt a few kids but one of them died. They basically got nothing… 44 months in prison. Not even five years. That was just for the kid that died, though. They didn't really do anything about the others unless we just didn't hear about it.""

"How is Kurt now? He's just a year younger than you, right?"

"Yeah. Just a year… and he's good. It's been seven years." Blaine said. "He had PTSD… I don't think he has it anymore. He went to counseling not that long ago, though, and it's helped a lot. I think it affected him more than anyone really knew but he doesn't think about it a lot in general except for when the anniversary comes up."

"Poor Kurt. He's so sweet."

"He really is…" Blaine nodded. "Nobody deserves it but especially not Kurt."

Bob nodded. "I bet that was rough… and with your parents, even."

"Yeah. Oh my God. They got involved when I withdrew school." Blaine rolled his eyes. "They came down to Kurt's dad's garage and made a huge scene. My dad didn't know what had happened to Kurt. He was up again and walking fairly well, just kind of slow. My dad had moved towards me and Kurt blocked him or something and my dad pushed him in his chest and his lung collapsed again. God, I forgot about that. He had to have surgery again and everything."

"If there is a hell, your father is going there." Bob said, facial expression very serious.

"Yeah… Every few years he creeps back up with some new form of torture. Good times." Blaine sighed a bit. He then added cheerfully, "If he stays locked up at least four years, it'll be a record for not attempting to ruin my life."

"I hope I never meet him. He better hope I never meet him. That's all I'm going to say about that." Bob sighed and looked down at Miles. "I don't understand how anyone can have a baby, raise that baby, and… So many parents do shit like that, though. I don't get it. You should have to pass a test to be a parent… although I don't know if I would have passed it at 22 to be honest."

"I don't understand it either… but I think most parents are good. Any other parents I've been around have always been so welcoming. I try to focus on the people like you and not the people like my parents." Blaine leaned over, looking at the baby who was now awake. "Oh no. Is he going to cry?"

"He's actually really quiet. Quieter than any of the others at least." Bob said. "He gets fussy when he's hungry and that's it… Thank God. We're too old for the all nighter stuff."

Blaine laughed a bit. "He sleeps through the night?"

"Almost every night." Bob nodded. He then stood and joked, "You should come over to my place. It was so long I forgot what you looked like."

Blaine got all of the trash on the trays and took them up. By the time he got back, Bob had the baby under a blanket and ready to go.

…

"Bob."

Bob, who was sitting on his couch two and a half weeks later and folding onesies, looked up. "What are you doing here?"

"Remember how you said we would be sitting again before the Bar?" Blaine asked, going over to him.

"Is it that time?"

"I spent more than $300,000 on this degree." Blaine said, looking panicked.

"Yes?"

"And I am going to fail this test."

"Are you kidding me? Two weeks ago you told me your got 165 right out of 200 on the MBE from last year."

"That's just multiple choice. Then there's the essay examination. I haven't written an essay since, like, last May."

"You read through the past questions?" Bob asked.

"Yes, but—"

"Did you know the answers to most of them?"

"Yes, but—"

"Blaine."

"What?"

"Quit freaking out. You're going to get yourself worked up and you'll not sleep well tonight. You need to be well rested. You have two days full of tests starting tomorrow morning."

"Oh God." Blaine took three huge breaths. "Not really. Can you quit folding those?!"

Bob looked at Blaine, both amused and surprised. He dropped the onesie he was folding.

Clearly Blaine was a lot more comfortable with him.

"I'm going to have a panic attack. Oh my God." Blaine looked up at the ceiling. "No, no, no."

"No, you aren't because this is the first time Miles has slept for more than fifteen minutes all day and I'm going to be very annoyed if I have to wake him up to take you to a hospital."

Blaine gasped for breath.

Bob jumped up, pushed the unfolded clean onesies off to the side, and went over to Blaine.

"I can't do this. I can't do this. Oh my God." Blaine gasped for breath again.

"Calm down. There is nothing to panic about and you're making this seem worse than it is." Bob said gently, no longer looking amused.

"I feel like I'm going to die. I can't breathe."

"You can breathe because you are talking." Bob said calmly.

"I can't do this. I'm going to fail it and all this work will be for nothing. My dad is right."

"First of all," Bob's voice was now loud and firm. "Your father is scum so you can just push that out of your head right now. I am not going to listen to you talk about yourself that way."

Blaine met eyes with him, nodding and swallowing.

"You have got to believe in yourself, Blaine."

Blaine gasped for breath twice.

"We are not going to a hospital. I just got Miles to sleep, so you need to calm down, like, yesterday. Come on. Take a deep breath."

Blaine did so, feeling less like the room was caving in on him. But only a little less.

"Keep going."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't you dare apologize. You aren't bothering me. You shouldn't be doing this alone." Bob watched him carefully.

"I miss Kurt." Tears filled Blaine's eyes.

"No, no, no. Deep breaths. Come on. Quit thinking about things out of your control right now. Just breathe."

Blaine nodded as a few tears fell.

"No, no, no." Bob repeated. "Don't cry, Blaine."

"I can't do this. I'm not going to pass it." Blaine's eyes filled with more tears again. "Because I shouldn't even be here. What was I even thinking going to Harvard?"

"Stop that. Right now." Bob said in a firm voice. "Freak out all you want over the test but do not say you don't belong here and do not question why you went to Harvard. You graduated second in your class. You had so many job offers because you were so good that professors talked about you and recommended you to their peers. You had all high passes on everything you turned in the whole three years."

"Well, I actually had one that was just pass because I wasn't feeling well and behind and—"

Bob ignored him and continued. "You nailed your finals. You got a Harvard Law degree, Blaine. Do not put yourself down. You have been through so much but you have accomplished so much more."

Blaine nodded and wiped his eyes.

"You belong here. You belong in those testing rooms. You belong when you get your passing results back in late April or early May. You belong in that office with the stuff that you picked out for yourself. Because you graduated from Harvard Law, Blaine. Not Harvard University. Harvard Law. Do you know how many people try to get in a year? Then compare it to the percentage they take in?" Bob touched his cheek. "If anybody deserves to be here right now, it's you. Adrian barely beat your GPA, Blaine. You deserve this."

Blaine let out a deep breath.

"You earned your place in that testing room, in CMJ, and soon in the courtroom. I am so proud of you and everything you have achieved. Okay? Because it's a big fucking deal. The added bonus is that you are proving your family wrong every step of the way."

Blaine took in a deep breath, then let it back out.

"You are going to nail this test to the wall and then we're going to get you ready for court and you'll do trials. The first few you'll fumble through but then you'll figure out what you're doing and you are going to go so far. I hope you do twice as good as me. I know you'll be good enough."

"That will never happen." Blaine scoffed.

"You're amazing, Blaine. I will always be in your corner and here to tell you that. You are amazing and you're going to help so many people because you care so much—you feel so much." Bob pulled Blaine close, hugging him. "I'm so proud of you."

"Thank you." Blaine sniffled again.

"Come on. Sit down." Bob gestured to the couch.

"I need to go home and study."

"No. You are going to sit here because technically you're on CMJ's time until 5:00, buddy."

"You aren't even working so you aren't my boss." Blaine pointed out. "You're on FMLA."

"Well I'm also your adoptive parent so you have to listen to me." Bob joked and gestured for him to sit again. "Did you tell anyone you left?"

"No… I didn't even think about that since you're my boss and I was coming to you..." Blaine's eyes widened. "Crap. Am I going to get written up?"

"You aren't going to get written up for leaving the office. Do you know how many times Ryan sent Adrian home when you were in Ohio? At least twice a week… Plus, technically you're my not-intern." Bob laughed, pulling his work cell phone out of his pocket.

"Does Sarah know you still keep your work phone on?" Blaine asked.

"She's my wife, not my keeper. Plus, she knows Tammy and Ryan will have to get in touch with me from time to time even if I'm on leave. I've talked to someone from the office at least once a day since I left."

"That sucks."

"It is what it is. You get used to it. I've had to call Tammy when she's been out as much as she's called me. When you're partners in a firm, everyone has to agree. You can't just enact something when a partner isn't there." Bob shrugged. "That's actually in the agreement."

"That's great but I really do need to go home and study."

"Did you not hear me tell you no more studying? We're going to sit here and watch TV or something stupid like that. Later we'll go get your dogs and then we're going to come back and you're staying here until after both days of testing are done. Longer if you want but you'll be sick of Emily by then."

"Are you serious?" Blaine sat on the couch and Bob sat down next to him.

"Dead serious. No more studying. It helped at finals, didn't it?"

"This is crazy." Blaine blinked at him, not answering his question… Bob was of course right, though. It had calmed him down a lot. Was he going to admit that? No.

"No, it isn't. You're not staying up all night studying. You are staying here, you are going to sleep at a reasonable time, and in the morning you're going to take your first part of the bar and the next day you'll do the rest. Then we work, we train, we shadow, we do all the new stressful stuff. But tonight and tomorrow night, you are relaxing."

"I can't not study."

"You know this. You're just stressing yourself out and psyching yourself out for nothing. I'm not letting you go in there like this tomorrow. You are going to go in calm, cool, and collected."

"I can't even read over the study guide again?"

"No, Blaine. You're studied out." Bob shook his head and handed Blaine the remote. "So, you pick something on TV and I will be right back."

Blaine stared at it like he'd never seen a television remote before. "I can't watch TV right now."

"Oh yes, you can." Bob said from halfway up the stairs.

Blaine took a deep breath. Honestly, knowing he couldn't study was a relief. He'd been studying nonstop for weeks. Weeks.

He looked over as Bob came back down, baby Miles in his arms.

"You didn't turn it on."

"Thank you." Blaine said, looking Bob in the eyes.

"You're welcome. Do you care to hold him when I get a bottle?"

"Sure." Blaine smiled and took Miles, cradling him.

A few minutes later Bob came back in, two water bottles and a baby bottle in his hands.

"He's so cute." Blaine said.

"Yeah. We make cute babies. They always eventually turn into bratty kids, though but it usually evens out about twenty years old…" Bob joked. "Do you want me to take him?"

"No. I'm good." Blaine took the bottle from Bob.

"I am not going to argue." Bob turned the TV to a soccer game.

"You don't have to put it on soccer." Blaine laughed a bit.

"There's honestly nothing else on. Trust me, if basketball was on I would be watching that." Bob shrugged. "How do you feel?"

"Better… " Blaine sighed. "I think I'm just really tired."

"You've had a rough three of months… and you miss Kurt." Bob said.

"I do… a lot. I know he wants to be there as long as he can and he should be… But it's hard to go from always living with someone to only having dogs to talk to. Winnie's always been super quiet and chill. Kreacher is seven so he's not as hyper and annoying anymore. It's so quiet and I'm a talker. I need social interaction."

"What is quiet like?"

"What?"

"A quiet house. What is that like after 3:30 in the afternoon?"

"Boring." Blaine sighed. "Silent and boring."

"Kurt will be back soon."

"Will I ever have a normal again? Once this is over and I theoretically pass the bar?"

"I mean, your normal will change once you're really in law but eventually we all get to a normal. It's always constantly changing, though. It'll change when you get a lot of cases, once you're planning a wedding, once you have kids, once your kids move from day care to elementary school, to middle school, to high school, and then college. If you're like me, you'll get most of them aged up and another one will come knocking." Bob pointed to Miles, who Blaine was still holding.

"Where is Sarah?"

"With Jake's wife. She needed some downtime. It was a long night."

"Who would want time away from this guy?" Blaine cooed, adjusting Miles in his arms. "He's so cute and he's barely made a noise."

"Yeah. Babies are great but they aren't always quiet like this. I am not telling her he was this quiet when she gets home, though." Bob laughed a bit. "He wailed all night."

"Were Brady and Sam planned? I know you said Emily and Miles weren't… and Sarah said you passed out when you found out about Charlie so I'm assuming he wasn't."

"Brady was planned. Sam was… planned, but we had no idea it was going to happen as quick as it did. It took two years to get pregnant with Brady and a month to get pregnant with Sam." Bob laughed. "Honestly the doctor told us we probably couldn't get pregnant after Sam—that was a kind of rough delivery— but we've had two more since then. Doctors aren't always right about that stuff."

Blaine nodded.

"We always wanted a lot of kids, though… Both of us had a lot of siblings. But I really hope it stops after Miles because I'd like to retire before I'm 90."

Blaine laughed a bit. "Are you going to take care of that situation?"

Bob looked at Blaine like he was crazy. "Hell no. She won't and I won't. Eventually she'll go into Menopause. She can't be fertile that much longer."

"Well… you know people are more likely to get pregnant after having a baby, right?"

"Pffft. We don't have time for that between Emily and Miles. By the time we're able to get in bed, we're pretty much dead." Bob sighed. "Have you and Kurt talked about kids?"

"Yeah. We want one that's biologically each of ours and pretty close together." Blaine nodded.

"Do you know when?"

"I guess it depends on how long it takes us to get married… or even engaged."

"I can't believe you asked him to wait until after the Bar results came out." Bob laughed.

"I kind of feel bad now with Burt being sick… He really wants us to get married, like, yesterday." Blaine laughed a bit.

"Anyone would want you as a son in law. What would you do if he asked right now?"

"He's not even in the state." Blaine tilted his head.

"But?"

"Obviously I would say yes… but I don't want to get married right away. I want us to be settled into our jobs and have savings… preferably a larger apartment."

"Don't take this the wrong way but life isn't going to go according to what you want or your plans. Getting married doesn't mean life will be perfect from there on out. What difference will three years make?"

Blaine blinked at him.

"You're already living together and you did for four years before law school. Your routines are down, you've figured out most of the crap, you know how many kids you want and you have common career goals… You're pretty much already married, honestly. Just not officially. Honestly, tell me. What difference will three years make?"

"I mean… we'll be settled."

"Do you think within three years you and Kurt will be so settled in your careers that everything will just stay calm and nothing will change?" Bob laughed.

"Isn't that the idea of growing up? Settling down?"

"I mean if Kurt's in design, I don't think he'll ever be more settled than it is now. If he gets bigger on his own, you probably can't even imagine what will happen." Bob said. "You could go from two cases a month to ten very quickly. Sometimes I have ten trials in one week, Blaine. Once your job picks up, it picks up. You could be talking two trials in one day. Meetings all day. Conference calls all day. You'll have nights where you don't leave until 8 or 10 or 12 when you've got too much going on. There is always going to be something going on. Life isn't calm and settled. Not usually, at least."

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?"

"No but it's not supposed to make you feel worse either. It's supposed to make you think more realistically. You can wait three years, five years, ten years… but it's always going to be the same. Something new coming up. Something different to figure out. The 'something' just changes. Then you add kids to that and then that is that many extra things that come up. They get sick, they forget clothes, they miss the bus, they forget their lunch money, they get suspended for acting out and biting someone—don't ask. I'm just saying that being settled doesn't last very long when it happens. You just deal with it and carry on." Bob shrugged. "If everything was the same all the time, life would be pretty boring. Shake ups are good."

"I guess."

"Who knows where I would be if Sarah hadn't gotten pregnant with Charlie? I wouldn't have been motivated to work as hard to get that extra money. I wouldn't have had the added pressure to do better. If I didn't have as much money we wouldn't have decided to have Brady then. If I hadn't pushed them in school, they might not have been where they are now. Good schools that will open a lot of good opportunities. You'll get where you're supposed to be… Don't worry about being 'settled' before you move on to B, C, and D. Plans are great but they don't always work out and sometimes it's okay and other times it puts you in an even better place down the road."

Blaine nodded.

"Wait to get married if you want but don't expect there to be a 'settled' perfect moment. If you wait too long and get too busy, you'll end up like Brian—in a relationship for twelve years and can't even find time to get engaged let alone propose." Bob gave him a look.

"He's gay, isn't he?"

Bob held up one arm in an 'I don't know' kind of way.

"That's why he went off on Jake."

Bob gave him a weird look. "You were outside of my office when Tammy and I were talking, weren't you?"

"Honestly, I was coming to talk to you and I was going to just wait until you two were done… but by the time it had gotten that far, I'd been there too long to make it look like I'd just walked up. I didn't mean to hear it." Blaine admitted.

"He did that because he knew Ryan was too upset to even attempt to defend himself. Ryan hits a wall where he just shuts down. He stresses out a lot… I stress him out a lot but at least now he's to the point where he'll tell me I'm doing it."

"You're trying to change the subject."

"It's not really my thing to tell, Blaine. Kind of like how you probably wouldn't want me telling Ryan about you wanting to kill yourself when you were younger. If he wants people to know, he will tell them. If not, it's his business."

"How did you find out? Did he tell you?"

"No. I ran into he and his partner at the grocery store. They were holding hands so it was pretty obvious…" Bob said. "The next Monday we had lunch and talked about it to clear the air. He's not closeted or anything outside of work… but he doesn't want work or cases to be jeopardized because of his sexuality. I don't think he was comfortable coming out in Cambridge because of something Vince and Jeff said about Ryan's wedding… It's been so long now that it would be weird to come out since he's worked with everyone for so many years."

"Does Ryan know?"

"Definitely." Bob nodded. "But Brian told him. He and Jamie sometimes get dinner with Brian and his partner… Believe me, there are plenty of people that have figured it out but he'll come out to us all when he's comfortable with it… and if he doesn't, that's okay too. It was scarier to come out when he was young so it's understandable. He's only six or seven years older than you and it's already gotten a lot better. Plus, when he was new to the office Ryan got triggered by this case he was doing. I ended up taking it and finishing it out, but that probably didn't help Brian's nerves about coming out. A lot of people, mostly guys, were saying Ryan needed to just get over it or that he was just 'being gay.' Those people didn't last very long after that, though."

"Did you fire them?"

"Tammy Jo actually fired three of them… the other three I pushed out."

"Pushed out?"

"I was a complete asshole any time I talked to them and they knew why. I quit giving them cases, too. They got the hint and left. Tammy and Jeff were more than okay with it, though." Bob shrugged.

"I can't picture Tammy Jo firing anyone."

"Oh, she's fired more people than I have… She can be a downright bitch when she wants to be. That's how she's gotten where she is, though."

"You two argue a lot."

"Believe it or not, it was a lot worse ten years ago." Bob shrugged. "Don't say anything to anyone about Brian, though."

"I won't." Blaine promised.

"Let's go get your dogs." Bob stood and then took Miles from Blaine.

"Wait, what?"

"I was serious. You're staying over tonight and tomorrow night so I can make sure you don't study yourself into another panic attack. Come on."

"You cannot actually be serious." Blaine laughed.

"Come on, Blaine."

…

Hey, Bob. This is Kurt. I kind of stole your phone number from Blaine's phone when he was asleep.

Oh God. What did he do?

It's more of what I'm hoping you will help me with.

Does this involve a ring?

Yes.

I'm in.

---

Silly guys thinking I would kill Burt... he's got grandchildren to harass, come on! I love me some Burt, though.

Also, I can NOT wait for them to be engaged and wedding planning and babies and ugh.

Leave a review and let me know what you think!