#wbuct drabble

[crazedlunatic]

Anemia Part 1

“Blaine, you’ve got to get up.  You’re going to be late for work.”

Blaine whimpered and pulled his blanket over his head.

“I’ve tried to tell you a couple of times but I’m going to have to leave soon, babe.” Kurt pulled the blanket back again and then gasped. “Are you okay?”

“I couldn’t sleep.” Blaine said, his voice scratchy. “My head is killing me. I’m freezing. My throat hurts. Really everything hurts. I tried to get up to pee earlier and got dizzy.”

“Why didn’t you wake me up?” Kurt put his head on Blaine’s forehead and his eyes widened in shock. “I’ll be back when I find a thermometer.”

Blaine went to cover his head with his blanket when he heard a faint, “Dadaaaa.” He struggled to sit himself up as both Nick and Zach toddled in.

Nick let out an excited “DADA DADA DADA!” as he tried to climb up to where Blaine was.

Then Blaine heard Sophie starting to cry from her crib. He pushed himself up into a sitting position and then bent over and threw up into the bedside garbage can.

“Nick, Zach, come here!” Kurt called. “Dada doesn’t feel good.”

Zach poked Blaine’s too-rosy cheek and giggled. Nick then giggled too and ruffled Blaine’s curls—both he and Zach’s new favorite hobby after having seen Grampa doing it a few days before. Which secretly didn’t bother Blaine as much as he acted like it did.

When Kurt made it back into the room he couldn’t help but laugh a bit at how pitiful Blaine looked compared to the boys’ gleeful giggles.

“Help.” Blaine rasped as his work cellphone rang. The only person he knew that called the work cellphone this early would have been one of the four ‘bosses’—Tammy Jo, Ryan, Jake, or Bob. Even though Jake still technically wasn’t a manager or boss. That was beside the point.

Kurt rushed back in and answered Blaine’s work phone. “Hey, Bob. He’s sick and slept in… No, he was fine last night. I’m not really sure… Honestly, I don’t know if I’d trust him to drive to the doctor’s office.”

Blaine leaned off of the bed and threw up all over the floor with zero warning.

“Shit, I’ve got to go.” Kurt hung up on Bob and helped Blaine get back on the bed properly since he seemed to be having issues.

“What’s wrong with me?” Blaine whimpered. “I was fine last night.”

“I don’t know but I’m going to see if Carole can watch the boys.” Kurt said as Nick sat on Blaine’s chest. “Hey, Dad. I need to take Blaine to the hospital. Can you and Carole—”

“We’ll be right over.” Burt said before hanging up.

“My heart feels weird too.” Blaine took a deep breath as Kurt went to the changing table and began to replace Zach’s diaper. “The last time I ended up in the hospital minus when I punched my dad, I almost died and they drilled a hole in my head.”

“Oh God.” Kurt looked horrified and said, “Please doesn’t put that stuff out into the atmosphere.”

…

“What’s going on?” Bob plopped in a waiting chair next to Kurt. “Sorry. The text didn’t go through until I was already in court. I got through it as quick as I could.”

“I’m not sure. They’re doing tests.” Kurt sighed. “David is with him. He had been texting me every so often but I… I don’t know. Nobody’s told me anything.”

“I’m sure he’ll be okay. He seemed fine up until yesterday. I should have stopped by to check on him this morning, though. The one time he actually uses that garage that you have piled high with boxes.” Bob checked his watch and then made eye contact with Kurt. “Sarah’s been down, right?”

“No. Her assistant has been.” Kurt bit his lip. “Would Sarah know what’s going on?”

“Even if she knew, she wouldn’t legally be allowed to say anything.” Bob sighed.

“Even with him being your legal son now?”

“She’s a rule stickler when it comes to work.” Bob rolled his eyes.

“Did his case get covered?”

“No. I had it banked due to a health emergency.”

They both looked up when not David but Eric walked out in scrubs. “Hey, he’s asleep but—wait. Would Blaine care if you’re here for this?”

“It’s fine. He’s Blaine’s legal father now.” Kurt said. “Is he okay?”

“Okay…” Eric said, tone pretty urgent. “Both of you level with me, here. How’s he been? Kurt, how much sleep are you all getting? Most importantly him. Also how has eating been going? Are you both getting breaks?”

“What… is going on?” Bob asked, confused.

“He’s Anemic. I’m not talking feeling a little tired. I’m talking you’d think he’d barely had sleep in four months Anemic.”

“Wait, what?” Kurt asked, eyes widening.

“Another three or four weeks of this, he could end up needing blood transfusions. My suspicion is he didn’t even know what his body was trying to tell him because he’s that exhausted.” Eric continued and looked at Bob. “Great on being the legal guardian but you may want to cut him a little slack at work.”

Bob looked surprised. “What?”

“Most people take two to three months to bounce back.” Eric continued, more talking to Kurt now. “I’m going to take a look at his anxiety and depression medicine to see if I can mess with stuff there but this is pretty severe.”

“Can we see him?” Bob asked.

“You can but you all need to get this in check. I get it. Being a parent to twins must be super difficult. But if Blaine or you, Kurt, aren’t operating well the twins will suffer. There has to be work-life balance here. And if there’s something else going on, we need to figure out how to help him. This isn’t good. People can die from anemia if it goes too long.”

“Wait.” Bob cut him off. “You are saying—”

“I’m saying that if we don’t get him to a healthy base level, that there could be irreparable damage. I mean he’s inherited millions. He shouldn’t be this stressed and overwhelmed.”

“What needs to happen?” Kurt asked.

“He needs a break. A legitimate break. Sleep. He needs to be getting in his full meals. All three meals. I’m also talking red meat, pork, and poultry. Seafood, beans, leafy greens, bread, pasta. Not just eating those tiny oat cereal bars. I’ve told him all of this already and wrote him a list. Kurt, can you get time off work?”

Kurt hesitated and then said, “I can get time off but I can’t take paid leave. Legally I’m contracted to work 25 hours per week in the office but I’ve used up my FMLA.”

Eric turned to Bob. “And you’ll give Blaine time off to recover from this.”

“Of course I will.” Bob said, an edge in his voice. “If I had known he was sick and not tired, he wouldn’t have been working.”

“How long does Blaine need to be out of the office?” Kurt asked.

“Two to three months to fully recover if he gets the rest he needs.” Eric said. He then switched his tone of voice to just friend. “Look. Alec and I can come help you all if you need it. Alec’s schedule is a little less hectic than mine but we’re here.”

Kurt opened his mouth to speak when Eric’s pager went off. As he rushed away he called behind him, “The code isn’t for Blaine.”

“Blaine.” Bob groaned and looked up at the ceiling.

“My dad has said his name in that tone so many times.” David came up behind them.

“How is he?” Kurt asked.

“Feeling embarrassed and like shit.” David sat in a free chair in the waiting room making Bob in the middle. “Ready for some overtime?”

Bob looked confused.

“Welcome to anxious and depressed Blaine hiding everything until it comes spewing like a volcano.” David said. “He’s an overachiever and then sometimes ends up figuratively driving into a brick wall at too high a rate of speed.”

Kurt nodded in agreement. “Yeah. It’s happened less since you’ve been around, though.”

“Yeah.” David’s voice was soft and he sighed. “He seemed like he was having a good run. He’s never handled stress super well, though.”

“Do you think he needs counseling?” Bob asked.

“We had a doctor he doesn’t know administer the Beck Depression Inventory. He’s definitely stressed out but it doesn’t seem like he’s having a ton of depression… then again after everything in high school… Honestly you have always been more able to bring him down from this stuff than any doctor or counselor ever could.” David sighed again and then looked at Kurt.

“Can we see him?” Kurt asked.

“Yeah. That’s why I came out.” David led them to an elevator and then into another room.

Blaine was alone except for Marcy who was showing him something on her phone. He brightened up when he saw Kurt and then looked embarrassed when Bob followed behind. “You called him?”

“You didn’t show up at work.” Bob said, neglecting to mention he’d talked to Kurt prior. “Why wouldn’t you ask for help? We are a few houses down, Blaine. I have a whole house of kids and young adults who would love to watch and play with the twins. I would spend all day with them. Shit. I’ve got like four weeks of vacation time I could use to just sit with them so you can shower, eat, and sleep.”

Blaine opened his mouth and closed it several times.

“What?” Bob asked.

“I thought I was just tired.” Blaine admitted. “Truly.”

“You’re overtired.” David said. “And your body is telling you to rest.”

Kurt sat on the edge of the bed with Blaine and played with his curls. “I think sometimes you forget you aren’t alone anymore. You’ve got David, Wes, me, and Bob.”

“You’re in the same boat I am.” Blaine sounded sad.

“Not exactly because I’m getting all my meals in. I’m getting sleep. You can’t just stay up late doing all this house stuff by yourself. We can hire someone to help us clean.”

“No.” Bob said. “Sarah, I, and the kids can help you clean, cook, and we can make sure you two get to eat so you both are taken care of.”

“You can’t take care of the twins if you aren’t taking care of yourselves.” David added. “And, Blaine, you hate the hospital. I know you don’t want to be here.”

Blaine took a deep breath and nodded.

“You have to accept help, Blaine.”

“Are you going to tell Wes?” Blaine winced.

“You need to. Legally I can’t.” David said as Marcy’s pager beeped and she slipped out of the room after squeezing Blaine’s arm affectionately.

“I’d much rather he be mad at me than Wes.” Blaine pointed to Bob.

“Wow. Really?” Kurt asked him, shocked.

Blaine, facial expression very serious, nodded with wide eyes.

“Wait.” David said. “You think Wes is scarier than Bob?”

“Yeah. He’s not afraid to curse at me. Bob doesn’t want to hurt my feelings and make me cry.” Blaine said.

Bob rolled his eyes but didn’t deny it. “How do you feel?”

“Exhausted. Embarrassed.” Blaine bit his lip. “Is my heart going to be okay?”

“It will be if you get enough to eat and rest.” David said.

“But it will take three to six months to replenish your iron levels. Eric is looking into your anxiety and depression medications to see if he can find a better fit. Sometimes that makes a big difference…. Which you already know. That’s something else you could have looked into before reaching where we are now.”

“Do I have to stay here?”

“Maybe overnight. That will be up to Eric or his boss depending on when the decision is made.” David said. “I’d admit you overnight if you were my patient.”

Blaine sighed and then yawned.

“If I were you, I would try to get some rest while Carole and Burt have the twins.”

“Sarah and I can take them tonight and tomorrow.” Bob added. “And you two should be taking us up on bringing you dinner or coming to eat with us. Or, better yet, drop them with us, you two go back home, eat and nap. When you two wake up come over, eat again, and then I can get them down for you so you all can go to sleep. I can’t tell you how many times Mom and Dad took Charlie the first six months. It was invaluable and possibly saved our marriage.”

Blaine bit his lip. “We can’t do that.”

“Yes, you can. No more hospital trips. No more trying to do everything. Accept it. Please.”

“We don’t want to put anyone out.” Kurt said.

“Nonsense. What is family for?”

[sweaterbob]

🫡

[wbuctdrabbles]

Getting Ready

AU

“Here, let me just…” Carole stepped up to Blaine and straightened his bow tie. “Perfect.”

Blaine took a deep breath—something he’d been doing every few minutes since he’d woken up at six in the morning next to Kurt who he would be marrying that day.

“Don’t be nervous.” Carole beamed. “You look handsome and Kurt looks so handsome too. You two are such a beautiful couple.”

“Yeah.” Blaine nodded. “I’m trying not to be perfect but I feel like the last ten years have been leading up to this and it’s kind of scary.”

“We’ve all been there.” Carole laughed. “It is scary but it’s starting now. You’ll have your first look, get some pictures, hide, and then you two are going to walk down the aisle together and get married.”

Blaine felt his eyes water and he nodded.

“You deserve every second of this. It only happens once.” Carole touched his cheek. “Okay?”

“Yeah.” Blaine blinked rapidly until his tears were gone and cleared his throat.

“Come here.” Carole hugged him tightly. “We are also so happy you’re going to officially be in the family.”

“Me too.” Blaine hugged her back. “Thank you for doing this for me.”

“Doing what?” Carole asked.

“All of this.” Blaine pulled back. “Helping me get ready.”

“You’ve had two other moms in here too.” Carole smiled.

“Yeah. Most only get one so I’m making out pretty well, aren’t I?” Blaine sniffed a tiny bit.

“Are you ready?” Carole’s smile grew. “It’s time for the first look.”

“Yes.” Blaine said, a silly lovesick smile on his face and heart beating faster than it ever had.

…

“Geeze, Kurt. I can’t believe you’re getting married today. I still remember chasing you around in diapers.” Burt said, carefully taking Kurt’s tuxedo jacket off of the hanger.

“Dad…” Kurt rolled his eyes a bit but was smiling.

“Kid, I worried about you for a long time. I was afraid you wouldn’t find happiness, especially the kind I had with your mom then and the kind I have with Carole now.” Burt paid no attention to his son. “I’m just so happy that you found someone like Blaine.”

“Me too, Dad.” Kurt’s smile softened and he looked in the mirror at himself. When he was younger, he’d worried as well. But then, Blaine.

“I don’t think I ever told you this, Kurt, but when you were seventeen Blaine told me that I needed to give you the sex talk.”

Kurt began coughing. “What?!”

“Oh yeah, Kurt. Came to the garage and told me at work.” Burt grinned.

“He didn’t. You’re lying.” Kurt shook his head.

“I knew he was going to be around for a while that day.” Burt shrugged. “I didn’t know he’d be here today because, hell, you weren’t even dating yet and first loves don’t usually last too long. But maybe I did kind of know. He was taking care of you a long time before you knew it, kid.”

Kurt raised an eyebrow, trying to figure out if his father was joking or not.

“But then that fall and college… and your grad school and his law school… I honestly knew your senior year of high school but I really knew when you two had that big fight and you broke up. You were both so broken and when you started talking again and it was like the light was back in both of your eyes. You two are each other’s light, Kurt. That’s special.”

“That’s sweet.” Kurt’s voice was soft. It was true, though. Their quality of life was so much better when they were together.

They’d both been a bit nervous when Blaine had gotten a job offer in Cambridge… but then, the new office had opened and they moved Blaine… it was like fate. All of a sudden, they’d gone from uneasy to blissfully happy to live together, forever, and both of them doing what they loved. It had been just short of a miracle, really.

“You two take such good care of each other. I worried about you in New York without him but… Blaine would never let anything happen to you… and you’d never let anything happen to him. I’m so happy you have each other and that you’ve brought him into our family.”

Kurt’s eyes were suddenly tingling.

“He’s always been a part of this family. We’re really just making it official today.” Burt continued. “But I’ve waited for this day for a long time, Kurt. To see you get married. Ten years ago, it wasn’t even legal and now you’re in this tuxedo and Blaine’s in one and… Kurt, I love you two together. But I really love Blaine, too, just as he is.”

“I know, Dad. He knows. He loves you too.” Kurt reassured Burt. “I think it’s hard for him to come out and say it but he knows and he loves you too.”

Burt shook his head, smiling. “I just needed you to know that I wholeheartedly approve—not that you or Blaine need my approval or anything like that. I just needed you to know that I couldn’t imagine a better person for you to love and take care of or for him to love and take care of. You are going to have such a fulfilled life, Kurt, and I wouldn’t want any less than Blaine for you. Because you two are meant for each other.”

Kurt teared up.

“I can see your love for him and I am so excited for today and for those babies coming soon. Quinn’s already showing and you two are going to have your own family… and I know you’re both going to be so great. I’m so excited to see where you two go, what you do… I’m just so happy for you, Kurt.”

Kurt wiped his eyes. “I’m so excited too, Dad. Thank you for always believing in me and in us… and for taking him in like he’s your own.”

“Don’t thank me.” Burt handed him a Kleenex. “Just put that jacket on so you two can get married.”

Kurt stepped forward, hugging Burt tightly.

“Don’t rush the day. Just enjoy your time with him. No worrying about napkins or anything, okay?”

“Okay.” Kurt laughed, pulling away. “Thank you, Dad. Really.”

Burt grinned. “Carole texted me that Blaine’s almost ready so you better head on out. I’ll see you after the ceremony for pictures, okay?”

“Okay.” Kurt nodded. “I love you, Dad.”

“I love you too, Kurt.”

[crazedlunatic]

Happy Birthday, Blaine.

“I know you’re trying to plan something for my birthday. The last few years you’ve been swamped so you couldn’t couldn’t… and I know I acted sad that we couldn’t do anything those times but I was actually relieved.”

Bob looked at Blaine, confused. “What?”

“You really want to do it and I’m sorry. I’m really sorry. But I just… can’t do birthdays.” Blaine let out a deep breath. “I should have said something last month when you mentioned it but I thought maybe I would feel up to it but I’m just… not yet.”

“It’s… a few days away. You may feel better on Thursday, Blaine.”

“No. I’m not sick. I don’t really do birthdays. My own. Other people’s are fine but… I can’t do mine.”

“You don’t do birthdays?” Bob blinked at him and then put the back of his hand to Blaine’s forehead. “You’re not warm.”

“I told you I’m not feeling sick.”

“Then what’s the deal?” Bob asked, frowning.

“My birthday is… a huge trigger for me.” Blaine looked down. “Ice cream with Kurt or walking in a park or going on a drive is okay. People, cake, food, drinks, and gifts… I can’t do it.”

“Okay.” Bob, who had just made it into his office, grabbed his car keys off his desk. “Let’s go on a drive or go somewhere else and we’ll talk about it.”

“I don’t know that I can without getting like I was… before. When I told you about wanting to kill myself.”

“You were waiting for me to get here so you could catch me before I clocked in, weren’t you?”

“Maybe.” Blaine bit his lip. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to—"”

“No!” Bob said quickly. “Don’t ever apologize for setting boundaries. You’ve been very quiet the last couple of days so I had a feeling something was going on… I just didn’t think it was about your birthday. I thought it was lack of sleep because of the twins.”

Blaine got into the passenger seat of his car and said, “You usually don’t drive this one.”

“Sarah said if I don’t drive my nice cars more, I have to sell them.” Bob huffed, pulling out of the parking lot. “So. Park? Panera? Just find somewhere to talk and stay in the car?”

“It’s up to you.” Blaine bit his lip.

“You’re making me very nervous, you know? Are you okay?”

Blaine didn’t really answer.

…

“Okay.” Bob plopped down under a huge tree that, for the most part, was in an area without a lot of people—especially without people who looked like they’d be design students. “Want to talk about what’s going on?”

“Truthfully I was hoping to never speak about it again but I don’t think I can get away from it anymore since you’ve adopted me.” Blaine bit his lip, sitting next to Bob on the ground.

“Want to just dive in or…?”

“When I turned ten everything was great… but about five months from turning 11 I figured out that I wasn’t really interested in girls but I started noticing guys a lot at church… particularly Wes who had just moved into the neighborhood.”

“Am I asking questions or am I just letting you get it out?”

Blaine took a deep breath. “I’m not sure what I want.”

“Okay. I’ll ask questions if they pop up and you tell me if you need me to not ask them.” Bob made eye contact with Blaine.

Blaine bit his lip again, not sure exactly how to voice any of this.

“Or we can abort mission and get an early lunch?” Bob asked, clearly getting worried.

“I came out after my eleventh birthday party after my soccer friends left.” Blaine blurted. “I was like this trophy son with perfect grades and all these extracurricular activities. They took me places and let me have as many music lessons as I wanted. Piano, violin, guitar… singing.”

Bob nodded, not speaking and maintaining a neutral face.

“My mom acted like it was great news at first and my dad…” Blaine took a deep breath. “He kind of lost it. I kind of remembered fights that happened with him and Alex but I was three when he left. They had this whole story about how awful he was never coming home, not doing good in school, disappearing after graduation and not coming back.”

“Yeah?” Bob asked.

“Yes. He really left because his then girlfriend had gotten pregnant. I think I told you? My dad basically offered her family a large sum of money to make her have an abortion… and her parents made her do it.”

“Did he take that out on you?”

“No. I was three. I guess that wasn’t really in order. Sorry.” Blaine’s hands had started to shake.

“No.” Bob said quietly, shaking his head. “Go in whatever order makes sense to you. I’ll keep up.”

“I guess the point was that if something or someone didn’t match the political image… they were out. He did all the same stuff with Alex but I hadn’t known it because I was so young. Apparently my dad tried to throw him over the banister a couple of times too.”

“Your parents—”

“My father.” Blaine interrupted him.

“Your father wanted you all to be… perfect? For his image?”

“The whole family was apparently like this excluding my grandparents… though I’m still confused about my grandmother. I’ve got two other uncles who are well to do. I don’t know them at all. One is in Michigan and one is in Wyoming or something. Alex doesn’t talk to them either but we saw them at my grandmother’s funeral.”

“Let’s focus on the birthday?” Bob asked.

“My birthday… is also the day that I was going to kill myself at 16.”

Bob stared at him, clearly not expecting that. He’d had a response to everything else. But not this. At least not right away.

“That’s… my birthdays trigger me into feeling the same hopelessness… like after I came out, after I ended up in the hospital after getting beat up, the fights that turned physical with my dad, my…”

Bob didn’t say anything—he just took a deep breath and looked up at the sky.

“I know you want to do something for my birthday b-but…” Blaine took a deep breath. “Please don’t. I’m sorry.”

Bob lowered his head and took a deep breath, wiping his own eyes.

“I just can’t.” Blaine whispered, tears welling up in his eyes. “I know I have to get over it because the twins will pick up on it but I… I can’t put it out of my mind… and the longer it goes, the harder it gets.”

“It’s okay.” Bob looked him in the eyes, voice gentle. “Can I suggest something else, though? Something that isn’t you sitting at home and thinking about all these horrible things?”

“Sure.” Blaine sniffled, wiping under his eyes again.

“First, we don’t go back into the office today. Second, we do something you want to do that isn’t birthday related. Third, you consider still having a get together but not birthday related. Nothing overwhelming. No cake or ice cream or presents. We’ll all just hang out.”

“I don’t know. The twins go to bed so early anyway.”

“Then we’ll have a get together at your place downstairs. It’s not a birthday party so no pressure.”

“Will I ever not be like this?” Blaine asked, making eye contact.

“Yes. It will get better… it’ll happen quicker if you make better memories to replace the bad ones, though. Trust me.”

“Did something bad happen on your birthday?” Blaine asked.

“Yeah. I don’t really like to talk about it either.” Bob nodded.

“What happened?”

“My dog was killed in retaliation after I won a case. They chose my birthday to make it extra personal, I guess.  They wanted me to see them kill him and then they attacked me.” Bob bit his lip hard.

“That’s awful. I’m so sorry.”

“Yeah. It is.” Bob sighed. “That’s why we don’t have dogs. I can’t do it. We almost did it once but I backed out. That’s why we have a guinea pig now.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No. This isn’t a pity party for me. I’m worried about you.” Bob gave him a look. “You deserve these good things. Being celebrated. Because your birth is big. You still being here through all this shit is big. You had to fight through so much bullshit to get to where you are and you’re kicking ass. You are.”

Blaine made eye contact.

“You’re meant to be right here, right now, and I’m not going to let you forget it. You and Kurt both are amazing parents to Nick and Zach. You’re undoing everything your shitty parents did by loving these boys so hard. They are both chunky, smiley, funny, precious babies who are loved and happy. Anyone can see it. You’re an awesome father and don’t let self-doubt make you think otherwise. And if you do, I’m here to remind you of what a great parent you are.”

“It’s just a hard day.” Blaine’s voice was barely audible. “I’m trying hard not to lose it.”

“That’s okay.” Bob said gently, meeting his eyes. “Losing it is okay too. Whatever you need to do or feel right now is okay because that’s how we move on and how we eventually be happy.”

“Are you really happy, though?” Blaine made eye contact. “Doing what you do still? Being over all these people and having all these high stress cases? How can you be happy?”

“Do you want the truth?” Bob kept his gaze.

“Yeah.”

“No, I’m not happy doing this. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve thrown up after clients have left. It hits close to home sometimes.” Bob admitted. “Especially the sexual assault ones.”

“Why do it, then?”

“People need someone bigger and louder in their corner at court. I can take some of the worst moments of someone’s lives and make it just a little more bearable to get through the hours, days, weeks, or years… Helping them is worth it to me.”

Blaine nodded.

Bob moved so he was right next to Blaine and pulled Blaine to his side. “I love you. If I could say it enough times to make you feel better, I would.”

“I love you too.” Blaine sniffled a bit and relaxed against Bob. “Can it be a super small thing?”

Bob pulled back and looked at him, surprised. “You mean tonight?”

“Yes.” Blaine said, looking unsure. “If its super small… yes.”

“Yeah. We can. Just the family, David, and Wes?”

“Yeah. We can even have Kurt and the twins if you’re feeling generous.” Bob joked.

Blaine smiled even though his eyes were still teary. “I guess they can come.”

Bob reached up, ruffling his hair.

“Since we’re already here… can we go on a walk? Or a hike?” Blaine asked somewhat sheepishly.

“Only because it’s your birthday.”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me.” Bob kissed the top of his head like when he’d the day Blaine had broken down about his parents—they day they got closer. He then asked, “You have hiked before, right?”

“I take offense to that.” Blaine scoffed as Bob grinned.

[crazedlunatic]

Robbie

“You have a degree in Anthropology.”

“You’re just jealous that I get to help find di-no-saur bones.”

“Why would I be jealous of that? Your dad is right. You’re crazy.”

“Nope. Just the youngest and cutest so I got away with more.”

Sarah’s younger brother, who was living with them and sitting in the living room, turned back and grinned at Robbie. “Do it!”

“What’s your dad going to say?” Sarah asked

“I already talked to him. He thinks it’s a great idea.” Robbie responded.

“What did your mom say?” Sarah pushed.

“Does that really make a difference? I’m still going to do it. She acted as if the fossils would come back to life and eat me or something.”

“But what did she say?”

“Before or after I told her I was going to do it anyway?”

“After.”

“She was disowning me if I became a museum curator. Everyone has known my plan since high school. First, do as little as possible in undergrad to get the credits and look smarter than I am with an anthropology major—4.0 check. Play basketball so I won’t be completely goofing off— kind of checked but still passed.”

Sarah sighed. “Yes. You did the lazy way. I hate that you retain all this knowledge and I must work my butt off.”

“Work smarter, not harder.” Robbie gestured with his hands—the same gesture his dad made when his mother was annoyed at him.

“Think carefully about the next question.” Sarah said.

“Uh oh.” Sarah’s brother said. “She’s got you now.”

“She thinks she does.” Robbie contradicted.

“Timeline of when you’ll have a job. Are there openings? Have you even created a resume?” Sarah asked.

“With the experience…”

“None.” Sarah’s brother laughed.

“You’re not wrong.” Robbie agreed, also laughing. “But when I get the –"

“Again.” Sarah said impatiently. “Timeline for when you get back… how long will it take you to find a job? I’m assuming ‘Dug up dinosaur femur’ will not help you with 99.9999% of the jobs you’ll need to bring in actual money.”

“Then I will have had a very fun experience before realizing I’ll probably have to be a farm hand or something until I die?” Robbie grinned. “We can move in with my parents again. It’ll be fun.”

“I liked you better before you played college basketball and got more confidence.” Sarah sighed. “You were so quiet.”

“Not enough confidence to make me unanxious the whole time buuuuut are you okay with me going…?” Robbie asked.

“I need a good back up option before I’ll seriously think about it.”

“If dinosaurs and museums don’t work out, then I’ll go to Harvard with Jake.”

“Harvard for… what degree? Jake got into law school.”

“I’m good at arguing… only sometimes not when it’s against you.”

Sarah opened her mouth a few times but couldn’t form words. Because, what?

“What?”

“First of all, you’re scary when you’re pissed. That’s the only rebuttal.”

“Robbie…”

“You don’t think I can do Harvard Law?” Robbie asked. “I know what you’re doing. Setting up an argument if I can’t find real work within three months of my savings running out.”

“Robbie, you don’t have savings. We had to scramble for rent last month.”

“You don’t think I can do it.”

“You hate speaking to people on the phone let alone one on one. How will you do that in front of a room of people when you run out of time and must actually get this law degree which you’re betting on?” Sarah asked.

“I’ll up my anxiety and depression medicine.” He pointed at her. “And if I do lose and can’t be a curator, it’ll be something else you say you can do better than me. Right?”

“… you already had this exact argument with your dad, didn’t you? And he came up with the bit about how you didn’t take school as seriously as Jake did and thinking your grades wouldn’t be good enough?”

“Nah. My grades are all high passes.”

“How mad is your dad at that?” Sarah’s brother asked.

“Oh he’s livid I got a 4.2 GPA.” Robbie grinned. “He even still bet against me which means I really do have to follow through with law school if I don’t get a curator job. I can’t wait to see his face when I get accepted into Harvard Law and then not accept because I get to play with dinosaur bones all day… you know what I mean.”

“What if I said I was pregnant?” Sarah asked.

“I’d call bullshit because you always get acne on your period.”

“Fine.” Sarah sighed. “But when you graduate Harvard Law, you better pay off my school loans too, Robbie.”

….

“What are you doing? You got job offers at four huge museums!”

Robbie didn’t say anything, just stared at his packet.

“You should be gloating. Where is the gloat?” Sarah asked.

Robbie looked up, a weird expression on his face.

“Oh no. What happened?”

“They figured out what’s going on with Dad.”

“Okay. What does that have to do with why you’re accepting the Harvard invitation?”

“It’s Parkinson's. I can’t accept the Smithsonian. It’s 13 hours away. Cambridge is 6. If something… if it gets bad…” Robbie trailed off.

“Oh no.” Sarah frowned, dropping into the seat next to him. “I’m so sorry.”

“I’ve been telling him for two years to go to the doctor. My brothers won’t help Mom. Mallory just graduated Harvard Law and already has a job so she can’t help. My brothers are essentially useless. Mom’s got carpal tunnel. She… she needs me to be closer because—”

“We will get it figured out. You don’t have to go to Harvard Law. I wasn’t serious about the bet, Robbie. Can we just go on a walk and calm down a bit? Don’t make life altering decisions right now, okay?”

“I have to be close, Sar. My brothers won’t show up for them. They won’t.” Robbie said, trying to ward off the panic attack that was already trying to start up. “Mom’s having wrist issues and Dad has—"

“You don’t just become a lawyer to be closer. You can take a break from school until we know what’s going on.”

“I’m accepting the invitation to Harvard.” Robbie’s voice was a bit shaky.

“Robbie… no one expects you to do this. I’ll be in Maine for school. I can do it. I can help your mom with him… but he may not even be to that point yet, okay?” Sarah’s voice was gentle.

“I can’t lose my dad. I can’t. I need to be close. I… I already turned down all the curator job offers when I found out. It’s the only way for now… I don’t know. Maybe I can get a law degree and if things are going well… just…” Robbie trailed off.

“Come on. Let’s go on a walk and get some fresh air.”

“You sure we aren’t pregnant?” Robbie asked.

“… Not that I know of.”

“Good. Can we go on a run then?”

“It’s a good thing you’re hot, Robbie.” Sarah teased hoping to at least get a forced smile.

“Sorry. I’m trying really hard to not have a panic attack right now and if we don’t get out of this apartment soon, I’m going to lose it. You’re sure we’re not pregnant, right?”

“I mean four negative tests say no. We were waiting until after grad school anyway, remember?”

“Yeah. What if I get Parkinson’s?”

“It’s hereditary but it doesn’t mean you’ll have it. I mean, your three brothers don’t have it. Mallory’s probably too young to have signs if she did.” Sarah bit her lip. She then added, “Your parents would love us being pregnant but we’ve still got the plan, right? Finish up grad school and whoever gets a better paying position is where we’ll go.”

Robbie nodded and let out a deep breath.

“What?”

“I really don’t want to be a lawyer, Sar… and I was kind of hoping you might be pregnant.”

“I was too after losing..."” Sarah’s voice was soft as she trailed off. She then added, “Even if I was pregnant, we could still go on our runs together.”

“I can’t lose my dad.” Robbie bit his lip and looked up at the ceiling.

“We need more information, okay? It’s probably not advanced too far. He seemed fine last week.” Sarah ran her fingers through his hair.

“What happens when it gets bad?”

“They move in with us. We take care of them together. We get help.”

“Until then? I’m supposed to act like everything is fine?”

“Around them.” Sarah nodded, her voice gentle. “But me, Jake and Liz?  We’ve all got your back and we’re not going anywhere. And Mallory. You’re so close to her even if she drives you nuts sometimes.”

“It could take years and years, right? That’s what Mama said.” Bob asked.

“Usually, yes.” Sarah nodded.

Robbie took in three deep breaths, trying to ward off the tightness in his chest that always happened before a bad panic attack.

“Go on. Get your running shoes and we’ll go on a run.” Sarah’s voice was still gentle. “We’ll get through this.”

“You promise?”

“I promise.”

[crazedlunatic]

Paparazzi

“Kurt, you need to get on the internet right now.”

Kurt, who was staring at his computer screen and trying to come up with an idea to fix a dress he was working on, sighed and removed Alec from speaker phone. “What?”

“So, they’ve figured it out.”

“Who has figured out what?”

“Your fandom has figured out who Blaine is. His full name and they know you two are engaged.” Alec said. “Eric saw it on Facebook. It broke out on Tumblr apparently. Now that they’ve got his name, well… you know people with blogs and social media.”

“They know his name and that we’re engaged. They would have found out his name when we legally changed our names anyway.” Kurt tilted his head, staring at his screen.

“Someone posted where he works. Address and all.”

“Fuck.” Kurt hung up, calling Blaine.

“Kurt, what is going on? I mean I know I made my social media profiles public after Harvard but I have 3,000 friend requests on Facebook, 5,000 new followers on Instagram, and I’m even getting notifications for a Tumblr I had open when I was fifteen.” Blaine said as soon as he answered.

“I don’t know. Alec just called and told me; that’s why I’m calling. What do I need to do?”

“This picture is from, like, my twelfth birthday party. What in the actual hell?” Blaine sounded like he was half paying attention to Kurt. “Why would anyone let me have my hair that short? It’s disgusting.”

“Blaine, can you pay attention to me?” Kurt opened his internet browser, googling ‘Blaine Anderson Kurt Hummel.’ “Oh fuck.”

“I know, right? I mean I know there have been pictures of me with you floating around since you made it big but they’ve never known my full name and honestly, they never even hinted at us maybe being together. And now they know my full name, that we’re engaged, and where I work at? I’ve also gotten ten things of flowers from random men which is flattering but creepy.”

“They’re mailing you stuff? Nobody mails me stuff.” Kurt scoffed.

“Little league soccer pictures? Pictures from the Sadie’s Hawkins dance in high school? Trigger warning would have been nice, just saying. I feel like I need to take a restraining order out on your entire fandom.” Blaine sighed. “I don’t even remember those skinny jeans.”

“People you went to school with before Dalton are probably uploading pictures now… geeze, Blaine. I’m surprised your sperm even took after those skinny jeans.” Kurt gasped. “What do we need to do?”

“I don’t think there’s anything we can do at this point. It’s just old pictures making rounds and there’s no personal pictures of us posted yet; just the same ones that the paparazzi uploads when we go to the gym or out to eat.” Blaine closed the internet from his computer.

“I am so sorry.” Kurt sighed. “They didn’t even act this crazy over me when they found my social media accounts.”

“Well they found your professional ones… I don’t have professional ones to have filtered.” Blaine responded. “But you better go and make your other one unsearchable because we’re listed as engaged so… so that’s how they know. Have you checked your personal Facebook, Kurt?”

“Oh, God.” Kurt sighed, pulling out his personal cell phone and pulling it up. “Apparently I’ve got so many friend requests nobody can request me anymore… on my personal one. So, it’s only a matter of time before pictures of us together, very clearly together, pop up.”

“This is fine. I mean, it’s not like you’re Matt Bomber or Neil Patrick Harris, okay?”

“This is three weeks after the New York show and London’s is next month. These are the first big shows I’ve done solo. Oh, God. Jason was right. She said this would happen but I didn’t think it would.”

“What?”

“He said once they caught wind of who you were, that we’d end up a power couple for the LGBT community. I don’t want to be a power couple. I don’t even wear good clothes to work anymore. I don’t like public speaking or having my picture taken or anything.”

“Relax, Kurt. This doesn’t mean we’re going to end up being a power couple.” Blaine interrupted his impending freak out.

“We’re getting married in three months. We’re having twins in five months. I can’t have a crazy fandom following, okay? It’s hard enough to remember to brush my teeth before bed some nights.” Kurt rambled on. “Oh my God.”

“What?” Blaine asked, sounding alarmed.

“There’s a picture of us shirtless and kissing from the beach trip we took after we got engaged. Oh my God, I’m so white. And you just look perfect. Great.” Kurt whined.

“Who the hell took it then?”

“I feel unclean.” Kurt whimpered. “I need to call a lawyer. Yeah, I should get a lawyer. And have these taken down because if my Dad sees this, he’s going to be so obnoxious for a year. He’ll mail copies to us and we’ll go home in and our room will be wallpapered in it.”

“Uhm… you’re marrying a lawyer.” Blaine said slowly.

Kurt looked at his phone when he got a text.

Looks like you’ve got a problem, kid. There’s a reporter here asking all about you and Blaine.

“They’re at Dad’s house. They are at Dad’s house.” Kurt yelped. “Blaine!”

“This will all blow over. I mean, we’re boring. You take an hour getting ready for bed and I can’t put lids on coffee cups. We are not interesting enough to hold attention that long.” Blaine said, voice gentle and reassuring.

“Y-you’re right.” Kurt took a deep breath. “We’re pretty boring. Surely it’ll blow over… right?”

Blaine didn’t answer and Kurt could hear someone, likely Adrian, saying, “Goddamn, Blaine. Could those pants have been any tighter?”

“Bob’s going to kill me.”

[crazedlunatic]

Sexy

Blaine’s inner thoughts of Kurt talking about porn and afraid of sex and then going to Burt. 

I literally cannot believe I am in this position. David and Wes are going to love this.

But I can’t tell them about this. Trying to teach Kurt how to be sexy.

Although if he’d just have confidence in himself, I wouldn’t have to teach him.

On the other hand if we were dating I could actually teach him… Bad, Blaine. Mentor.

He is sexy, though.

In this adorable, knows-nothing-about-it kind of way.

Mentor. Yeah, right. You don’t even have your life together. I’m a fraud.

Can you be a fraud at 17?

He’s so uncomfortable.

I would have been uncomfortable if I was a virgin too.

But, I mean… it’s sex. And it happens a lot.

Too many times with me apparently.

Twenty people. Who knows how many time each.

Ugh.

As a junior he knows nothing about it? His dad isn’t like mine. His dad would totally be open to talking about that.

Maybe?

Okay. I have to put Kurt out of his misery.

Here goes.

“Uh, Kurt, they’re all kind of looking the same.”

Seriously, how do I end up in these situations? Oh my God.

Why is he so cute? Why did he ask me to help with this?

Sex related discussions with the person I’d really like to have sex wi— bad, Blaine. Mentor.

“That’s because the face I’m actually doing is uncomfortable. This is pointless, Blaine. I don’t know how to be sexy because I don’t know the first thing about sex.”

“Kurt, you’re blushing.”

And it’s so cute.

“I tried watching those movies, but I just get horribly depressed and I think about how they were all kids once and they all have mothers. And, God, what would their mothers think, and why would you get that tattoo there?”

Wait, he just admitted he’s tried to watch porn.

Oh my God, did Kurt just admit he tried to watch porn?!

I can’t see that.

I can totally see him feeling horribly depressed for those actors… who thinks about what porn star’s mothers think?

Although tattoo placement is pretty, uhm, interesting in porn. He has a good point.

Not that I’ve watched it in forever.

Reading fanfiction is better.

No. We’re forgetting about the fanfiction. Seventeen is too old to read that.

HA.

Right. Mentor.

“Then maybe we should have a conversation about it. I’ll tell you what I know.”

Please don’t take me up on this. I cannot do this. Cannot. Cannot talk to Kurt about lube and condoms. Oh my God, Kurt’s probably never even bought a box.

Think about something really depressing. Or gross. Like gorey car crashes. And that time you walked in on—no, not going there.

“I don’t want to know the graphic details. I like romance. That’s why I like Broadway musicals. Because the touch of the fingertips is as sexy as it gets.”

Oh my God.

He’s perfect.

MENTOR.

“Kurt, you’re going to have to learn about it someday.” Blaine pointed out.

Is it getting hot in here? Jesus Christ.

“Well not today.”

Thank you, God and Allah and all of the other mythical beings because I cannot give Kurt a sex talk.

“I think I’ve learned quite enough for today, thank you. I think you should leave.”

Oh my God. He kicked me out. He hates me now.

I was just trying to help.

Worst freaking mentor ever.

Blaine left and got into his car.

But at least I didn’t have to give him a sex talk.

…

This has got to be the stupidest thing I’ve ever done.

But someone needs to talk to him, right??

And his dad seems like a legitimately good dad—despite being uncomfortable with Kurt being gay and not thrilled about me. I did get drunk and sleep in Kurt’s bed so I can’t blame him.

If I was worried I made a drunken move on him, at least I didn’t need to be. Since he’s so embarrassed about anything more than the touch of fingertips.

I can’t even with this.

Also Hummel and Lube. Is this even for real? Let’s talk about your son needing a sex talk while standing inside a place called HUMMEL AND LUBE… problematic because maybe one day there will be lu—MENTOR.

My life is such a sham or joke… or both.

Blaine got out of his jeep, took a deep breath, and walked into the building. Of course, Burt was front and center. Maybe Blaine had come around lunch time in hopes he’d be gone. No such luck.

Blaine approached the car Burt was working on and stood back a bit, not wanting to startle him and he hit his head on the hood. That’d have been a lovely intro.

“Need a hand?”

Burt looked up, clearly confused, and nodded. “Yeah. Why don’t you hand me that carburetor?”

Blaine grabbed the part and passed it over.

“How’d you know which one it was?” Burt asked, looking surprised.

“My dad and I rebuilt a ‘59 Chevy in our driveway two summers ago. One of his many attempts of bonding.” Blaine said, trying to make it sound light hearted and sincere.

But don’t take that as real bonding.

It was the worst form of torture ever.

He only did it to try to make me a real man and because my grandmother could tell people she worked with felt tension at family dinners.

“You looking for parts?”

Ugh, I wish.

Anything but this.

“No, actually.” Blaine said.

Here we go.

“I, uh, actually wanted to talk to you about Kurt.”

“Is he okay?” Burt looked alarmed.

“Have you ever, uhm, talked to him about sex?”

Boom. There it is.

Can I just die now?

Totally crossing the line.

Oh my God.

Burt stepped closer to him before asking, “Are you gay? Or straight? Or what?”

“I’m… definitely gay.”

Burt looked a bit relieved. “Okay, good. I mean, you know, whatever, but, uh, good for Kurt. He needs someone like you to talk to.”

Haaaaa. That went well. Pretty sure Kurt’s avoiding me now.

“Well, that’s kind of my point. I’ve tried talking to him, but he basically puts his fingers in his ears and starts singing.”

Burt, looking uncomfortable again, sighed. “Well, when he’s ready, he’ll listen.”

Oh God.

Does he think I want to have sex with Kurt?

But, I mean, I do.

But that isn’t what this is about, really.

Mentorrrrr.

“I’m worried that it might be too late. You know, Dalton doesn’t even have sex ed classes. Most schools don’t. And the ones that do almost never discuss what sex is like for gay kids. Kurt is the most moral, compassionate person I’ve ever met.”

Was that a non-pushy and appropriate way to say that?

None of this is appropriate. Oh my God.

“He gets that from his mother.”

“And I’m blown away by you guys’ relationship. You think my dad built a car with me because he loves cars? I think he did it because he thought getting my hands dirty might make me straight.”

Ixnay on the talking about your family.

“Yeah. He talk to you about this, uh, kind of stuff?”

If you count locking almost beating me up after finding out I’ve gotten tested fot STD’s.

“No. I had to go find it for myself. The internet is great, and all the information is out there, but I went searching for it. Kurt won’t. And one day, he’ll be at a party and maybe have a few drinks, and he’ll meet some guy and start fooling around, and he’s not going to know about using protection or STDs. I don’t have the relationship with my dad that you have with Kurt. I think it would be really cool if you took advantage of that. I’m sorry if I’m over-stepping.”

Totally not what happened with me at all. Nope. I mean, that’s actually not as bad but, technicalities.

Burt said, not unkindly, “You are.”

Blaine turned and left, groaning when he closed the door.

“I am never going out in public again.” 

[crazedlunatic]

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Can I ask you a question?”

Bob, who was holding a five-month-old Nick on his lap, looked up. “Hmm?”

“Honestly, I probably should have asked back in October but around the adoption stuff was going haywire with figuring out the safest way to bring the twins into the world and… I just never had time to do it.” Kurt said, aware he was mostly rambling.

“You can ask me anything. What’s up?” Bob asked as Nick slobbered on his shirt, not even fazed.

“I guess I’m wondering how everything with you and Blaine went down? How you got so close to him, I mean. Because in the beginning it sounded like you didn’t even want an intern but felt bad that he’d been tossed around so many times in the office. And then you mostly just had him doing paperwork but you never really started talking to him in more than two sentences until the stuff with the will. I kind of figured you felt bad about the fall out and were trying to be extra nice at first… but then it seemed like after that you all kept getting closer and closer until, well, where we’re all at now. Living down the street, you’re his legal father, you all are so helpful with the twins like he… was always your son. You officially adopted him twelve hours before the twins were born and you’ve filled this huge void he had, and I’ll be forever grateful but… I’m curious… why did you do it and how did you get there?”

Bob looked thoughtful. “I mean… if you’re looking for the moment of no return it would have been that day in the office when he broke down about everything that had happened to him before moving in with the Thompsons, but I think it really started after the will… To be entirely honest I was pretty doped up the first month of knowing Blaine and I was barely even around him because I had just come off FMLA. Actually, I was technically still on FMLA and going against medical orders by going to the trials I did actually go to… which really only made recovery take longer… so I really don’t even remember meeting him until that day where he said he’d been trying to actually start the internship for weeks but he was never actually placed with anyone… although I barely remember that day too. It was just a very crazy and stressful few months.”

Kurt nodded.

“Blaine wasn’t even supposed to be my intern. Adrian was. I guess I was a dick to him so he got switched to Ryan and… that’s how Blaine even ended up with me. I was just not going to take another intern after Adrian switched because I really didn’t want one but I really didn’t want him to fall behind in school because of the craziness going on. Also, I usually don’t keep many of my interns. Most of them accept jobs other places or will intern for someone else in the office when I’m caught back up. The only interns I’ve really been close with are Blaine, Ryan, and Brian… coincidently the ones that have stayed. Although I’ve never been near as close to them as I am with Blaine.”

“What made you bond with Blaine as suddenly as it seemed like you did, though?”

Bob switched Nick to his other leg causing him to giggle and grab onto Bob’s shirt.

“I think you got the nail on the head. The will and inheritance thing at first. He asked if I could look it over and gave me a nice-Blaine-version rundown making it sound not nearly as gross as what was actually going on with him.” Bob sighed. “And obviously there was a lot to unpack in that will but it was obvious that someone—his asshole father— was taking money from his inheritance. Asshole didn’t even try to hide it. I looked into it, connected that will to the person in Ohio I knew they were looking at for something similar, told my buddy in the FBI and…”

“And boom?”

“Boom for Blaine, yeah. FBI had the PD arrest his dad and then that conversion camp came threatening to leak whatever lies they would have said to discredit Blaine… probably to save the family name more embarrassment since his lovely grandmother was in on it… I didn’t even know conversion camps were a thing somehow. Not only do I find out his family is absolute shit but he’s got to have loans and credit card debt up through Canada to pay for Harvard even though he’s legally got all of this money to his name that is being withheld!” Bob said, getting annoyed. “And that shit family is the same family that put him in that disgusting camp when he was practically a baby? Eleven years old. I was pretty pissed because even though I didn’t know him that well, it sounded like he was having a hard time at Harvard when all of this was going down—and now I know he was so upset around then because of that kid that got him drunk and tried to rape him. He mentioned that in the office that day and I just knew exactly when that had happened. I remember being able to tell he was extremely upset about something for a few days and the timing lined up. He and Adrian both looked roughed up. It had to have been that guy at the party. There’s no doubt in my mind.”

“It was.” Kurt nodded, frowning.

“Yep. So, all this stuff was happening pretty much at once I guess. I think it was in reverse, maybe? That night happened first? It seems like forever ago at this point. I don’t know. But that’s when I started to feel protective over him and I wanted to do something but didn’t know what… And then when my dad died, Blaine came to the house with Ryan and you could tell he was uncomfortable but wanted to be there for me which made me want to cry… not that it would have taken much given the circumstances anyway. Then Blaine came to the funeral when I told him not to skip class.” Bob looked up at the ceiling, visibly upset. “And before that he talked to Brady after the drunk driving fiasco. And then finding out he was having panic attacks when you and his friends told him to talk to me about it… and that clearly meant he wasn’t coping as well as he appeared to be. I hate that he hides that stuff so well until it just bursts out… I was constantly worried about him after him visiting after my dad passed and then finding out he was having a lot more panic attacks.”

“He did have quite a few rough months… and you took him to the hospital a few times too, right?”

“Twice I think. There were other panic attacks that weren’t as bad, though, so I just got him somewhat calmed down. I feel like I should have noticed them before when we weren’t closer. I didn’t, though. I could have known sooner and maybe made stuff easier for him… or made him feel better at the very least.” Bob sighed. “I thought about bringing it up after the fact, that I wished I’d known before and could have done more then, but I don’t want to make him sad thinking about that stuff.”

“You shouldn’t feel bad about that, though. You didn’t know.” Kurt said reasonably. “I think everyone knows that if you did, you would have gotten involved a lot sooner.”

“Yep, I guess. The kicker was that one day in the new office when I told him I was worried about him and asked about his mom and if he’d talked to her thinking maybe he had a relationship with her…. Although honestly, I think I knew he didn’t. I guess I wanted to know more… He gave me the rundown and I asked what happened to make him leave home when he was younger and he pretty much just fell apart, bringing up wanting to kill himself… there was no going back from that. I couldn’t just not be there. I cried twice. Once in the office when he told me and again at my house when he thanked me for hugging him after my dad died. I honestly felt like crying again off and on all night after he left. My dad was right. When he met Blaine, he said that Blaine needed someone and that someone was me… and he was right. Your dad’s always right.” Bob sighed. “Did you know him back then? When it was so bad? That was before, right?”

“I actually came in at the very end of it, I think. He was almost weaned off his depression medicine and was having therapy sessions once a month. When everything first happened, I think he was going three times a week.” Kurt bit his lip. “He was fine when I met him. You never would have known… and I didn’t know anything was a little off until he was deciding on schools. He had scholarship offers for soccer but I think he picked UK because of me.”

“Probably the best decision he’s ever made.” Bob said, clearly serious.

“It didn’t seem like it at the time. I felt really bad about it.” Kurt admitted. “I told him to go to UCLA with David and Wes but he wouldn’t… although I don’t know what would have happened if he hadn’t been there to take care of me after everything when Dad and Carole were at work… I felt awful that he got behind in school but of course he still got straight A’s and managed everything… probably because he’s always had to manage everything at once with his parents.”

“The thing your senior year?”

“Yeah. It was… really bad. Everything is mostly better now, though. I mean sometimes around the anniversary it gets hard but it gets a little better every year. I don’t think about it as much. When I do think about it now it’s mostly being angry that the guy got practically no time at all.”

“You two have been through too much to be this young.” Bob sighed, readjusting Nick who had fallen asleep. “All of that with school and working at the same time. Sar and I worked but we also had a shit ton of loans too… all the loans. It’s a really good thing we both got good paying jobs after school.”

“You’ve made enough to pay them back, though.” Kurt laughed a bit.

“Yeah but Sarah’s the one who should be making this much with all the effort she put in. I’m just good at arguing and getting pissed off, Kurt.” Bob gave him a look. “You don’t have to even be smart to be a lawyer, Kurt. Just basic common sense and being better at arguing than the person next to you.”

“There’s more to it than that and you know it… especially with some of the cases you take.” Kurt’s voice was soft. “You make a big difference in a lot of people’s lives.”

“Back to Blaine,” Bob sighed. “I don’t know how to not be upset over what happened to him, how much it affected him and still is… the thought of him being that young and getting an internship, good grades, all of these extra things, everything he achieved… living with all of that pain. And the way he squeezed my wrist when he was breaking down after telling me he’d wanted to kill himself when he was sixteen. There was no way that things weren’t going to be different after that afternoon, Kurt. They couldn’t.”

Kurt nodded, his own eyes teary. Because he knew exactly how Bob had felt hearing that story from Blaine. Kurt had felt the same way when he’d found out… and the same way he felt every time he thought of it again.

“So that’s why I ‘did it’, I guess. All of it but… there was no going back after that conversation. I love him to death—and you and the boys too. I always told him I’d unofficially adopted him and doing it officially, him even bringing the adoption word up in his anger after seeing his mom… it was so obvious and I don’t know why Sarah or I didn’t think about legally just doing it. You all are very much a part of our family.”

“I’m so glad he has you. Like when we first came to your house and I told you… he’s so much calmer now because he’s got you in his corner. I’m eternally grateful. David, Wes, and their families… my family. Everyone is so happy you’re here now… and it sounds like Blaine started feeling closer to you right around the same time, then. Just the accumulation of everything.”

Bob nodded, looking thoughtful.

“Thank you, though.” Kurt took a deep breath. “I know David’s dad helped a lot in the beginning but I feel like you put him back together again… so, really, thank you.”

“No need.” Bob shook his head.

They both looked up as the backdoor opened and Blaine came in.

“What, you left early to come here?” Blaine looked at Bob, confused.

“It was more like your son saw me bringing the trash can up when I got home and threw a fit until I got him to sleep.” Bob shrugged, as though he and Kurt hadn’t just had such a hard conversation. “Did you get your stuff done?”

“No. But no Boss Bob outside of work, remember?” Blaine joked, sitting at the table with them and then reaching for Nick. “What are we talking about?”

“The fact that any time the twins see me outside, they have a meltdown if I don’t come right to them.” Bob snorted as he handed Nick over.

“If only they knew most people run away when you come.” Blaine laughed which made Nick giggle.

“How behind are you, though?”

“La la la la.” Blaine got up and left the room.

Kurt rolled his eyes. “I’m pretty sure he got caught up two days ago.”

“Of course he did.” Bob rolled his eyes. “I was going to give him two days off after he finished since he helped out so much but it sounds like he wasted them in his office.”

Blaine came back in. “Well, that’s really rude considering it was I who filed your paperwork since you ran—”

“Another intern off? Actually he’s just on FMLA for family stuff.”

“I don’t even know if I believe you. I’ve seen you blatantly lie to so many people… and it wasn’t just poker face, either.” Blaine gave him a look. “Do I get my two days off?”

“It sounds like you already had them.” Bob laughed.

“Technically from my own work but I was helping you with yours which doesn’t really count since you didn’t notice… even though you didn’t even notice.”

Kurt shook his head, listening to them.

Bob stood. “I will see you both later. I still have garbage cans to move.”

“Oh, come on. It’s not even busy on Wednesdays.” Blaine pouted.

“Bye, Kurt. Bye, Blaine.” Bob left, closing the door without another word.

“He’ll text me within 30 minutes telling me not to come in.” Blaine said confidently.

“Do you two act like that at work around other people?” Kurt asked, amused. “Or just away from the office?”

“Honestly it depends who is within hearing distance.” Blaine said, snuggling Nick. “What were you all talking about?”

“Your curls in high school. He saw that new picture floating around online and wanted to know if you kept it like that all of the time. I should have lied and told him you did.” Kurt lied. There was no way he was bringing up that conversation. Plus, he wasn’t sure Blaine would have appreciated him cornering Bob like that.

“You people and the curls.” Blaine rolled his eyes, passing Nick over since he was now grunting and reaching for Kurt. “Can we get pizza for dinner tonight?”

“Sure… but only because I’ve been saying no for three weeks.”

“Just so you know, limiting my pizza intake is rude. The pizza here is so good. You could eat at a new pizza place every day for four years and maybe not even get to try them all.”

“Okay, Blaine.” Kurt laughed as Zach began to cry upstairs. “Your turn.”

“Yeah, yeah. I know.” 

[crazedlunatic]

The First Date

Prompt:  Can we see high school Klaine maybe spending the first weekend together as boyfriends and going on their first proper date! My heart melted when I read your high school Drabble.

“I know that places that serve lamb are supposed to be a good place for a first date but I honestly hate that kind of stuff since it was all I ever ate out when I was a kid and the only places I really go is the Lima Bean or Panera so…” Blaine trailed off awkwardly.

“I don’t like that stuff either.” Kurt said quickly. “We could go to the Lima Bean. I mean, it is a drive but it’s almost fitting to have our first real date there, don’t you think? I mean the first time we hung out by ourselves we went there and a lot of our pivotal moments were there.”

“But are you sure that’s a good first date? I’ve never really done this before. The right way, I mean.” Blaine looked hesitant.

“We can go somewhere nicer, but I feel like we’d probably be more comfortable in our natural habitat. Plus, you really like those scones.”

Blaine’s eyes lit up because, yes, he did and of course Kurt had picked up on that even though he had never actually mentioned it. Kurt was so observant and thoughtful, though, that Blaine shouldn’t even have been surprised. 

Kurt gave him a bright smile. “I won’t tell if you won’t.”

“But are you sure?” Blaine asked. 

“I’m positive. Anything beats Breadstix again. How can they even botch up spaghetti? You just boil water.”

Blaine laughed. “I could probably manage that. I know how to cook… well, nothing, honestly. Unless it’s a sandwich which really just doesn’t count.”

Kurt’s stomach did a little flip when Blaine, who looked embarrassed, wrinkled up his nose.

Was he surprised Blaine could not cook? Well, not really. He probably had this perfect housewife of a mom who would make that stuff. She probably made Blaine’s favorite food on his birthdays… and, honestly, maybe his family even had a chef? He went to Dalton and he looked rich. 

Plus, Kurt had seen not only Blaine’s car but also David and Wes.’ Their parents were all three clearly very well off if not rich.

“Your parents never taught you how to cook?”

“Not exactly. Honestly, I don’t go home much… well, ever.” Blaine seemed uncomfortable, hands gripping the steering wheel a little tighter.

“Even when you don’t stay on campus?” Kurt looked surprised.

“Oh, uhm, I guess I’m just at David and Wes’ a lot.” Blaine said after what seemed like minutes but was probably only seconds. He then gave a clearly forced laugh and said, “I’m sure my mom will teach me eventually.”

Kurt, not wanting to drawl out Blaine’s discomfort, said, “My dad can’t cook. I have pretty much done all of the cooking since my mom… well, died. So that’s the only reason I know how honestly.”

Blaine’s eyes widened. “But Carole… Wha—?”

“Finn’s mom. Our parents got married... That was the wedding I went to before transferring. They actually used a lot of the wedding money to pay the Dalton tuition.” Kurt said, surprised it was so easy to even talk about his new family situation and even briefly mentioning his mother’s passing. It was not even something he had talked about to Mercedes who was his closest friend.

“Your mom…” Blaine bit his lip. “I’m sorry I brought that up.”

“No. Please don’t apologize. I’m sorry I brought up your parents.” Kurt said. “I guess I’m so used to my dad and getting used to our new family that I just… and you’re at Dalton and at least on TV people who have all this money always seem happy…. I’m just digging myself a grave, aren’t I?”

“No!” Blaine said quickly. “I’m the weird one and I obviously would have talked about it with you sooner rather than later but it’s just kind of hard to talk about it. David and Wes don’t even know some parts and really the only people that know everything is David’s dad and my therapist… I said that last part out loud, didn’t I?”

Now Kurt looked even more concerned.

“I actually only go for check ups now so, uhm, I’m not crazy. I had a lot going on for a few years and I’m… in a better place now so I don’t talk about it much. Really many people don’t know except for my friend’s parents and, David and Wes, and a handful of Warblers know… not much. Less than you know actually.” Blaine let out an awkward laugh and then sighed.

“But you’re okay now?” Kurt maintained eye contact.

“Yes.” 

Kurt watched him carefully. He had seen Blaine look uncomfortable enough when they were in their process of friends-to-boyfriends. It seemed like Blaine was giving an honest answer.

“But we should really pick somewhere to eat. Are you opposed to just getting sandwiches and chips from a good place and having a picnic? Then maybe we can walk around the park? Or pick something else?”

“As long as I don’t have to sit in the grass. These pants are expensive and if I ruin them, Dad may actually kill me.” Kurt joked.

“Well, most parks have tables and chairs, you know?” Blaine laughed.

“I don’t frequent parks.” Kurt admitted.

“Well, there’s at least one nice one so we’ll go there. You can even sit on my Dalton jacket if you want since it’s thrown in the back seat anyway.”

“That sounds good.” Kurt smiled brightly, the smile growing when Blaine smiled right back.

…

“What’s your favorite holiday?”

“Christmas. What’s your favorite day of the week?”

“Day of the week?” Kurt looked confused.

“Everyone has a favorite day of the week even if it’s based on not having French class that day.”

“So, yours is Thursday, then.” Kurt laughed. “Is that why you never want me to tutor you on Thursdays?”

“Guilty.” Blaine laughed. “I’m not huge on Chemistry either… even though I always get an A. I think I just remember stuff long enough for exams and then it’s gone. Wes, however, is a science freak. I feel like if he went to college for anything science, he’d take over the world by the time he’s thirty.”

“Wes? He seems so goofy.” Kurt said, clearly shocked.

“Oh, he is very goofy but he’s super smart. He reminds me of Hermione Granger with how well he understands and remembers it. It’s crazy… and he doesn’t get it from his parents, either. Are you good at math and science?”

“I was better at it when I was at McKinley.” Kurt admitted. “Dalton is definitely a lot harder.”

“Yeah. It definitely is.” Blaine nodded. “I had a bad streak in some classes in sophomore and junior year but the good thing is all of the teachers are willing to help you after classes if you make the effort… especially the math. The French teacher is great too but I think I’m just a lost cause at learning another language.”

“I’m sure that’s not true.” Kurt smiled at him, taking the first bite of his sandwich… because apparently they’d both forgotten all about eating.

“Oh, you might be wrong but I do enough extra credit to not fail.” Blaine laughed. 

“You’re in level three so I figured as much.” Kurt laughed this time.

They fell into a comfortable silence as they ate their sandwiches, watching ducks in a pond. He had to admit that it was a pretty park. Prettier than he thought one would be all the way in Westerville, Ohio. 

“What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not doing school and soccer stuff?” Kurt asked once they’d both finished their sandwiches.

“Read. I haven’t had much time for it lately with it being senior year, though.” Blaine’s answer was almost instant. He then added, “I also like to watch Disney movies with Wes’ little sister which is always a lot of fun… I’m saying that very seriously.”

Kurt smiled. “Well, you already know I like to do fashion research and putting together outfits.”

“Where’s the coolest place you’ve ever been to?” Blaine tilted his head.

“My aunts live in New York City. One of them has a bookstore and one’s a professor. I love visiting them.”

“Aunts?”

“Yeah. My aunt Paige is lesbian and her partner Taylor is too... obviously. Taylor actually owns a bookstore and Paige is a professor at one of the campuses.” Kurt nodded. “I’d love to live there somewhere. It’s always been my dream to go to New York and become a fashion designer.”

“You’re really good at design. I’m sure it’ll happen.” Blaine gave him a big grin and Kurt could tell he wasn’t just faking or trying to earn brownie points. 

“What’s your favorite TV show?” Kurt asked him.

“If I answer you truthfully you’ll make fun of me.” Blaine laughed. “Digimon. David, Wes, and I watch it on weekends where we can’t find anything to do. It kills David’s mom. She thinks it’s hilarious because we’ll just be on the couch with blankets for hours. You?”

“Project Runway of course.”

“I should have guessed that one. How much is too much social interaction for you?” 

“It really doesn’t bother me.” Kurt admitted. “I wish there were more interesting people here… although being around you more than makes up for it.”

Blaine could feel himself blushing and shook his head. Because, really, Kurt was the only person that could make him blush. Which said a lot, he guessed.

“You don’t like a lot of socializing outside of your circle, though, do you?” Kurt asked, head tilted.

“I like having a small circle.” Blaine admitted. “I don’t mind talking to people but honestly besides Wes and David, you’re the only other one at Dalton that knows a whole lot about me outside of school and music. I’ve got friends but outside of you three, long conversations with other people can be emotionally and mentally draining for me.”

“Thad included in that?” Kurt asked jokingly. 

Blaine rolled his eyes and then tilted his head back to look at the sky, looking embarrassed again. “I don’t even know how to handle it. It’s turned into this sometimes funny sometimes creepy thing and I’m just too nice… also sometimes it feels like it’s just him wanting to be friends but I think you, David, and Wes are right. I don’t understand why he likes me so much since we don’t talk a lot.”

“I understand why he likes you so much.” Kurt bit his lip.

Blaine shook his head, now not sure if he should be frustrated with the Thad stuff or if he should be happy Kurt could understand why he had a stalker.

“What is your most prized possession?” Kurt asked him. 

“I mean, I guess my car but I’m not really attached to it either.”

“No small things from your childhood? Stuffed animals hiding?”

“Oh, that’s all at my parent’s house.” Blaine said and looked thoughtful. “I do really want my late grandfather’s piano, though. I think he left it to me so I’m hoping I can at least get that at some point. That’s honestly the only thing I care about and it’s not even something I’ve ever lived with. I just got to play it a lot with my grandfather when I was young. He was great. My grandmother was too until a certain point… that was way too much information.”

“Maybe you could talk to your grandma?” Kurt asked.

Blaine shook his head. “What about you? Your most prized possession?”

“This box of stuff that has my mom’s stuff in it. A brush, perfume bottle, just little things. I know that sounds kind of silly but—”

“No, it doesn’t.” Blaine interrupted, making eye contact. “Not at all.”

Kurt smiled and leaned over, kissing him. He didn’t even plan to. It was just the look in Blaine’s eyes as he said that so sincerely.

Blaine pulled back, a silly smile on his face. “I didn’t mean to interrupt you. I just… it’s not silly.”

Kurt leaned forward, kissing his cheek this time. 

“I haven’t ruined this date, have I?” Blaine asked, looking worried.

“No.” Kurt’s voice was soft. “In fact, I think we can have a few more after this one.”

“I’m sorry about your mom.” Blaine swallowed.

“I’m sorry about your family.” Kurt made eye contact. “And you don’t have to tell me more but if you ever want to but just know I’m here, okay? No judgements.”

Blaine took a deep breath, mainly trying to not tear up. Because in that moment he was almost taken back to one of his worst nights, sitting with David’s dad for three hours being talked down. And he knew Kurt meant every word just like David’s dad had.

“We… I need more time for that, but we will… I’ll tell you when I’m ready.”

Kurt nodded, maintaining eye contact.

Was it possible that they were already in love? 

Because if this wasn’t love, Blaine had no idea how anything could feel better than this. 

[crazedlunatic]

Divorce, Part 2

Prompt: Your divorce drabble has been one of my favorites ever since it was posted. It resonates with me that Nick would hit a turning point after overhearing his parents and the last couple of lines from Blaine’s point of view thinking about how Kurt was willing to end their relationship are so sad. I would like to see a drabble about Kurt and Blaine coming back together and getting back on the same page.

Trigger warning: Eating disorder

“Are we just not going to talk about this?” Kurt sighed, five days after the fight.

The fight over Nick getting sicker, Blaine not willing to make Nick go into a recovery program, and Nick and Kris hearing Kurt threaten divorce. Not that Kurt knew they’d made it home, obviously, or he never would have said it.

And was he really going to even pursue that?

Of course not.

But, still, he shouldn’t have said it.

“I mean do you have the papers ready for me to sign off on your executive decision?” Blaine, who was looking at paperwork for a case but not really seeing it, asked.

“What’d Bob say? I know you haven’t been staying at the office until midnight the last five days.” Kurt sighed.

“What’d he say to you?” Blaine asked sarcastically. “You already know that he thinks you’re right because you’ve been texting and talking to him too. I’m not super pleased with him agreeing with you but at least he wasn’t threatening to un-adopt me over it.”

Kurt squeezed his eyes shut and didn’t speak.

“Excuse me for not wanting to send Nick away to hide when from the ages of 11 to 16 I was basically hidden away for my abnormality.” Blaine huffed.

“This is different. He’s not being abandoned, Blaine. He wants to go.”

“No.” Blaine’s voice rose a bit but not loud enough for the kids to hear through the closed door. “He wants to go to stop arguing. There’s a difference. He doesn’t want to go. He doesn’t want to go.”

“There’s a lot of things he doesn’t want to do. Even David said—”

“I know what David thinks, I know what Wes thinks, what Bob thinks, what Burt and Carole think, what Joe across the street thinks. You know what? I don’t care. It’s our decision. No, actually. It’s not even ours. It’s Nick’s.”

“Nick wants to go.”

“Nick doesn’t want to go! He doesn’t want us to get a divorce! But since you apparently want one—”

“I don’t want a divorce!” Kurt’s voice cracked. “That’s the last thing I want! I want us to be on the same page! The page that gets Nick back to being him.”

“Newsflash, Kurt. He’s never going to be the same. Never.” Blaine’s eyes were teary. “He’s not. You haven’t been through anything remotely like this but I’ve been pretty close to sabotaging my life and I know he’s not going back to how he was and nothing you or I or a doctor can do will bring him back.”

Kurt shook his head. “I hate this.”

“At least it’s not your fault!” Blaine wiped his eyes. “You know as well as I do that this is my fault because all of this emotional stuff, even going back to before he came out, all leads back to me and the depression and anxiety and my genes. I almost killed myself and now he’s basically taking the slow lane right in that direction… and you want to just throw him somewhere with doctors he doesn’t know? Where we can’t even be sure what they’re doing? Kurt.”

“This isn’t your fault, Blaine!” Kurt knelt since Blaine was still sitting at his desk chair, putting his hand on Blaine’s knee. “This isn’t your fault.”

“Oh? How do you figure, Kurt?” Blaine asked.

“Because you’re trying to do everything you can to keep him safe… and I wish we could handle this but, honey, this is over our heads. All of our heads.”

Blaine took a deep breath and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. “You were still willing to…”

“Yeah, but you were still willing to hold your ground too.” Kurt’s voice was soft. “So, what we need to do is come to a compromise. There’s an outpatient clinic. I found it the other day. He goes in for therapy and counseling, but he goes to a hotel at night… It’s outpatient essentially but he’ll be there for several hours doing one on one, group sessions, and they even have a medical doctor on site just in case… He won’t just be locked in a room or anything like that. A support person goes with him.”

“Fine.” Blaine sighed. “That’s fine.”

Kurt looked relieved.

“But what about us?”

“We cut each other some slack because this is all out of our control and because we didn’t get married 19 years ago to give up now.” Kurt sniffled. “I know you’re upset and I… Blaine, I needed to get your attention. It backfired but… but Nick needs help and we all need to be a united front.”

“I’m still really upset you even said that… and printed up the papers.” Blaine’s eyes filled with tears again.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Blaine. He’s our son, though.”

“I know.” Blaine nodded after Kurt reached over, wiping under Blaine’s eyes. “I know.”

“He can start as soon as two weeks from tomorrow but they said they should be able to take him any time after that too. I reached out… I didn’t sign anything or even say we wanted to do it, though. I just wanted to see what the timeline would be.”

“You should go with him.” Blaine sniffed. “I can make sure I’m able to pick up Sophie and Kris. Bob will be okay with it. It would work out better… you’re your own boss so it makes more sense.”

“You all can come visit too if you do want me to be the one that goes.”

Blaine nodded but didn’t say anything.

“I’m sorry. I love you so much.” Kurt bent, hugging him tightly.

“I love you too.” Blaine gave him a big squeeze before pulling away.

“Are we on the same page? Fully?” Kurt pulled back and looked into his eyes. “If not, we should wit until we are before we talk to Nick.”

“We’re on the same page.” Blaine nodded, wiping his eyes again.

“And this isn’t your fault.” Kurt whispered and then kissed the top of Blaine’s head. “Okay? This isn’t anyone’s fault. We need to just… fix it and get him back.”

 “You’re right.” Blaine sniffled and took a deep breath.

“I love you so much.” Kurt touched his cheek. 

“I love you so much too.” Blaine said and then stood. “Let’s go talk to him.”

[crazedlunatic]

Blueberry Muffin

“You’re eating on a Thursday alone?”

Kurt smiled when Bob looked up from his cell phone, balancing Zach on his hip who had already extended his arms towards Bob.

“What are you two doing here?” Bob, who had looked bored, smiled brightly and took Zach.

“I figured Blaine was still at court since I hadn’t heard anything from him… and this little one loves the blueberry muffins.” Kurt sat across from Bob.

“I told him there was no way he’d be out by lunch time but I don’t think he believed me.” Bob laughed. “There was just too much evidence to get through. How nervous was he? It’s been his biggest yet.”

“He doesn’t really seem that worried, surprisingly.” Kurt said, rolling his eyes when Zach reached for the blueberry muffin Kurt was holding. “He’ll get that all over your shirt.”

“I’ve gone through six toddlers. I know.” Bob laughed again. “Do you want something to eat too?”

“No. I actually ate before his doctor appointment. Thank you, though.” Kurt said, watching Zach tear into the muffin like he hadn’t eaten in his whole two years on Earth—of course making a huge mess.

“He’s so cute, isn’t he? They both are.”

“They are. Baby three is going to have a lot to live up to.” Kurt smiled.

“Bay bee.” Zach cooed before pushing more muffin into his mouth.

“One of these days he’s going to choke.” Bob shook his head. “Who watched Nick?”

“He’s at daycare and it’s snack day so he will be hyped up on sugar too I’m sure.” Kurt shook his head. “And Blaine knows it so don’t let him stay at the office all night.”

“Somehow after how long this trial will probably be, I don’t think he’ll even want to stop by the office before heading home. Have you looked into going solo yet?”

“Kind of.” Kurt sighed. “The plan is still to wait until baby three is born and is at least six months old… but I do see the appeal in having that handled before parenting two toddlers and a baby.”

“It won’t make that much of a difference from a work standpoint. You’re still taking the twins to daycare regardless of when she’s born. You’ll just be dropping off three instead of two when you go back to work after she’s here.” Bob reassured him. “Do whatever you two feel the most comfortable with… and you obviously know I don’t care if Blaine is late getting in… although he seems to get more and more late as time goes on.”

“Oh, you can thank Nick for that one.” Kurt laughed. “You know if you have one more of your own, you all could dress up as the Weasley’s for Halloween.”

“No way. I’m too old for anymore. I draw the line at six. We actually planned to cut off at 3… Plus, if you count Blaine it’s seven already. Charlie keeps pointing that out to me. I can’t believe he hasn’t grown out of Harry Potter.”

“According to Blaine, one does not outgrow Harry Potter.” Kurt said, watching Zach very carefully drink from Bob’s water with his assistance.

“It’s weird when they turn into little people, huh?” Bob asked.

“Is it still weird for you after this many?” Kurt looked surprised.

“Oh yeah.” Bob nodded. “They’re all different. It’s never the same experience twice.”

“Think Charlie will have any more?”

“Not on purpose. Think Brady and Andrew will have any?”

“I… am not sure, honestly.”

“Brady’s always been the wildcard. I have no clue what he’s ever going to do.” Bob said, looking stressed. “He’s so private.”

“Sarah says he takes after you.”

“I know. It’s all my fault.” Bob sighed. “My parents always said it would be payback to have a kid that acted like me. They could tell he was going to be like me from week one apparently.”

Kurt laughed.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if they had a baby then got married honestly… but Andrew’s had that ring since not too long after your wedding so for all I know Brady said no or, shit, they could already be married and not have told anyone.” Bob sighed. “But honestly I never told my parents much past us getting married anyway so, again, my fault.”

“Andrew asked your permission to propose. I doubt he’ll let Brady not tell you about when they get engaged.” Kurt reassured him. “And there’s also nothing wrong with being like you.”

Bob laughed loudly, causing Zach to giggle… until he got distracted and tried to twist off Bob’s wedding ring.

“Oh my God, you’re still on lunch!”

Both Bob and Kurt looked up as Blaine walked over. Zach was practically bouncing up and down, excitedly reaching for Blaine.

“Oh no. That was too quick.” Bob said, handing him over.

“No. The other lawyer was super unprepared. The judge even gave him half an hour to put his stuff in order but that guy was hopeless. I won.” Blaine said, taking Zach and giving him a snuggle. “What’d the doctor say?”

“They’re doing good and no sign of infections or anything. They’ll most likely let them fall out on their own… unless they stay in for more than three years and then they’ll pop them out.” Kurt said, watching Zach trying to push Blaine’s bag strap off his shoulder. He then grabbed it right as it began to fall.

“He sure is hyper when his ears aren’t hurting.” Bob laughed.

“It’s night and day.” Blaine agreed as Zach finally settled against his chest and calmed down. “You all talking about how awesome I am?”

Bob snorted, causing Zach to perk up again. “I know it’s hard to believe we can talk about something besides yourself but no. Sorry.”

“So rude.” Blaine cuddled Zach and sat down next to Kurt, across from Bob.

“I’ve got to get back to the office. Ryan’s out today and you know something always happens when we’re both out of the building.” Bob sighed.

“But if the building explodes, we’ll all get an extended vacation.” Blaine joked.

Bob gave him a look and ruffled Zach’s curls. “See you later. It was good to chat, Kurt.”

“You too.” Kurt waved.

“Notice he didn’t say bye to me.” Blaine jokingly scoffed.

“Yeah, because you’re literally on your way to the same place he’s going.” Kurt laughed and tickled Zach’s feet. “Do you want me to pick up Nick from day care?”

“It doesn’t matter.” Blaine sighed. “I wish I could just go home. There’s only so much more time with just the twins. It makes me sad. Bob says you don’t love the new babies less but I don’t see how it’s possible to love anyone more than the twins.”

“You were also worried it’d be hard to love the twins equally too.” Kurt smiled. “I think it just happens.”

Blaine sighed again and held Zach out for Kurt. “See you around five? Hopefully?”

“See you at five.” Kurt kissed him. “I love you.”

“Love you too.” Blaine bent, kissed the top of Zach’s head, and then left the restaurant.

“Let’s go, buddy!” Kurt said excitedly, bouncing Zach on his hip.

“Bubby.”

“Close enough.” Kurt left a tip on the table and headed out towards his car.

[crazedlunatic]

Little Kidney That Could

“I told you not to go out. It’s too cold. It’s too cold now and it was too cold then.”

Matt gave Adrian a weird look.

“What? This is serious, Matt. You passed out.”

“Yeah, not from the cold and but not in front of the kids at school so there’s that. It happened at home.”

Adrian’s eyes widened in the way.

The ‘I can’t even with you’ way that was mostly reserved for AJ and her straight girl crises.

“You’re in the hospital.”

“Okay?”

“With a kidney infection.”

“… okay?”

“You’ve only got one!”

“Oh, you’re right. I must have forgotten about that.” Matt’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “I wondered what that huge scar was from this morning.”

“You have to be careful.”

“You have to let me live.”

“You can’t live if you overstrain your kidney! Sorry but I don’t think you’d enjoy being on dialysis waiting for a donor kidney.”

Matt actually laughed.

“Matthew!”

“The doctor said I would be fine. You’re being dramatic because it’s winter break and you’re bored since you aren’t working until after the new year. You do some version of this every single year only usually I don’t give you an excuse by landing in the hospital.”

“Yeah funny. I was supposed to still be at work and then you called saying we needed to call your doctor in Cambridge and maybe go in.”

“I didn’t call saying I’d been stabbed in the other kidney, was bleeding out, and you needed to probably go 100 miles per hour to get home.”

Adrian covered his face, groaning. “How are we supposed to raise a kid if I can’t even trust you to take care of yourself?”

Matt just stared and him and then laughed again.

“Everything isn’t a joke, Matt!”

“If I could record this and show you it in about a month, you’d think you were being funny too. Ridiculous funny but funny all the same.”

Adrian stared at Matt, opening and closing his mouth a few times.

“You literally asked the doctor if I’d need Dialysis for an infection. You’ve got to calm down. Just because I cough too hard doesn’t mean I’m going to pop my kidney. I don’t even think they pop.”

“If it’s not a big deal, why did you have to take medical retirement from law enforcement?” Adrian challenged.

“Because I could get shot and the city doesn’t want to pay out a lawsuit for that.”

Adrian covered his face again. “It’s not about a lawsuit. It’s about being immunocompromised and—you know what? Fine. Why don’t you go get drunk too?”

“If anyone here needs a drink, it’s you. Trust me. If my mom isn’t hightailing it up here, Adrian, then you have no reason for you to worry. I sprained my wrist once and she insisted being there when they put that stretchy thing on it.”

“You never said you felt sick! You’re supposed to let me know when you don’t feel good in case we have to go here!”

“Oh my God.” Matt groaned.

“How am I supposed to trust your judgement about your health if you pass out? What if you’d hit your head and bled out?”

“Are we worrying about my kidney or my judgement or me bleeding out? I’ve lost track. Not to mention I was nowhere near any furniture and, in case you’re forgetting, I called you after it happened. Jesus Christ. It’s fine.”

“If it were 100% fine you wouldn’t be hooked up to an IV, Matt!”

“Yeah, it’s an antibiotic and not for pain. The only thing that hurts is my side… the side without the kidney.” Matt added.

“I just want—I just need for you to be more careful. And healthy. And everything. I need you here.”

“I won’t be here if you put me in the loony bin.” Matt laughed.

Adrian’s eyes teared up.

“Adrian. Oh my God.” Matt said, scooting over in the bed so Adrian could sit on it with him. “I’m kidding.”

Adrian sat down, head going to Matt’s shoulder and sniffling.

“I’ll be fine, you’ll be fine, we’ll all be fine. I’ll take it easy tomorrow and the next day… but the day after that I may go skydiving.”

Adrian let out a sniffly laugh.

“And you need to calm down about my one kidney. They literally said it’s functioning perfectly. I get bloodwork every six months. You know because now you come to Cambridge with me.”

“Yeah, but that’s mostly because I don’t want to be home alone after…”

“I know. My point is you’re right there every single time they say it’s going great and my whole body—including the one little kidney that could— is going at 100%. Except that time I came with the flu but they had me do bloodwork and a few tests up here after I got better from that anyway to double check.”

Adrian took a deep breath, nodding.

“Don’t worry. I’m taking it seriously. Especially since the birth mom wants to know for sure that everything is okay with me before handing over the baby when he’s born. I’m not risking that. I’m sick but its nothing antibiotics won’t knock out.” Matt grinned. “After we get that baby, though, I may go sky diving.”

“I just need you here.”

“You accepted the ring. You’re stuck with me. Sorry about your luck.” Matt laughed, twisting his own wedding ring around his finger.

“I didn’t ruin Christmas, did I?” Adrian asked.

“Nah. But there’s still time for that tonight or tomorrow.” Matt reached up and ruffled his hair, smiling.

Adrian gently elbowed him. “Jerk.”

[crazedlunatic]

Bob’s First Birthday Potato Candy

“I feel like this is a trick.”

“Oh. My. God. Yes.” Adrian walked over, opened the container, and pulled out two pieces. “Happy birthday, Bob.”

“How did you even know?” Blaine asked.

“Are you serious? Me, Matt, AJ, Wes… we hear you say potato candy and we are so there.” Adrian said and walked out of the room, shoving a piece into his mouth.

“Did you pay Adrian to do that?” Bob asked suspiciously, ignoring the ‘happy birthday’ because it was not his birthday. Nope. Definitely not the ‘big 5-0’ as Brady had been taunting since his last birthday.

“It’s not poisoned—intentionally or unintentionally. Kurt makes it, not me. He still won’t let me know the recipe because he thinks I’ll make it by myself, take the twins, and leave him. Jokes on him because he’s much better at Zachy meltdowns.” Blaine shrugged and nudged the bowl closer to Bob. “You know you want it.”

“Well that would sound really awkward to someone who didn’t know you’re his adopted son.” Jake said, coming in. “Happy—”

Bob glared at him but didn’t need to bother—Jake clearly distracted himself.

“Potato candy?! Can I have some? When I lived in Ohio my granny made it once a month. I had so much of it when I stayed there for summers.” Jake tossed some paperwork into Bob’s lap.

“You do know I’m your boss, right?” Bob gave him a look.

“I’m older.” Jake shrugged.

“By six days.”

“You know what it is?!” Blaine asked excitedly, ignoring their back and forth. “Isn’t it the best?”

Jake, who had shoved a piece into his mouth, nodded.

“Kurt makes it… as if you had any doubts that I can bake or cook well.”

“Quit paying people to say these things. Seriously.” Bob eyed the bowl suspiciously.

“Actually, don’t let him try it because he’ll like it and want it all of the time.” Jake said after swallowing his candy. “Sarah will go crazy over this stuff. I don’t know why it wasn’t a thing in Aroostook since it’s all barns and cows. Speaking of, is Sarah pregnant?”

“Did you just call Sarah a cow?!” Bob asked.

“No. Because of the whole barn comment. You know how you all got locked in the barn and you were smitten for like… 43 years.”

“You’re fired. Just go.” Bob sighed.

“You didn’t answer the question.”

“No. She’s not. I don’t want to talk about that either.” Bob frowned. “This is a long depression. I just want another baby.”

“Look, I actually have work to do since I’m not a superior here. Eat the candy.” Blaine said, knowing if he didn’t interrupt they’d keep bantering. “Try. The. Candy.”

“I don’t want that. It sounds gross. Potatoes, powdered sugar, and peanut butter? In the words of Miles, yuck.”

“I will revoke twin privileges.” Blaine threatened, holding out a piece.

“Oh, give him another bigger one. You know he’s going to like it.” Jake said.  

“Goddamnit.” Bob took the piece and ate it. “There. Happy?”

“You didn’t like it?!” Blaine gasped. “What is wrong with you?”

“Oh, he did. He just doesn’t want to be proven wrong.” Jake said. “He’ll eat another piece ‘just because it’s polite’ and then the whole thing will be gone and he’ll be closer to the average 50 year old man belly size.” Jake took another piece before leaving.

“Why did he even come in here?” Bob asked, picking up another piece of potato candy.

“I guess to throw papers at you?” Blaine beamed. “I told you that you would like it. Plus, I know you have a sugar snack box locked in your filing cabinet so don’t try the whole non-sugar thing.”

“Don’t you have work to do or something?” Bob asked, tone very serious although Blaine of course knew better.

“Yes!” Blaine grabbed a piece of potato candy. “See you in about thirty minutes when you’re in a deep depression because the potato candy is all gone.”

“This will last me more than half an hour, Blaine.” Bob gave him a look, grabbing another piece of potato candy.

“I’d agree… but that’s your fifth piece.” Blaine smiled sweetly.

“I hate you, Blaine.”

“I love you too.”

[crazedlunatic]

Blaine’s Letters, Part One

I may do some more of these... or even go back and add in more from the beginning. I don’t know why. I just felt like writing them? They feel super rough but I guess it works since Blaine was also pretty emotionally rough at the time?

Kurt,

You sang a song about a dead bird

When you sang that song today

You know Pavarotti wasn’t a black bird, right?

Warblers are actually yellow and some gray.

I’m really bad at this stuff.

This emotional stuff that makes me vulnerable to be hurt.

I feel like I’ve known this whole time but today it was different.

And I don’t think it was because I was one of the ones metaphorically being a ‘pip’ to your Kurt.

That was so rude, you know? Blaine and the Pips? Is that the best you could come up with?

You took away my breath the first time I saw you and I forgot to get your phone number.

Or maybe I didn’t forget. Maybe I consciously didn’t do it knowing what seeing you again and being your friend would mean.

When we were alone, it was like something magical happened we clicked.

I couldn’t didn’t want to look away from your eyes.

Actually, my heart stopped in it’s beat and I don’t think I could actually do anything.

I kind of had this list and you check everything off of it.

You know what? This is ridiculous and you’ll never see it anyway.

I think I fell in love with you the moment I heard your voice. Your eyes are the most beautiful shade of blue I’ve ever seen. I have to stop myself from telling you so many things because I feel so comfortable with you, sitting next to you, talking to you. Even being near you makes me feel better.

And I am terrified to take the next step with you because I know you feel the same way about me. We both know it. We’re both too shy to bring it up.

But I feel like you already know me better than David and Wes in some ways and that speaks volumes.

I’ve tried to not love you because, honestly, I’m not good enough for you. Probably anyone, really.

I’ve got too much baggage, too much emotional stuff and too much of a negative past.

Honestly, I’m lucky I have David and Wes with how messed up I am.

But I love you, I can’t stop thinking about you and wanting to know what it feels like to have a real kiss.

Not just stupid, hot, heavy kisses with no feeling.

And I don’t know what I’m going to say but it honestly feels like I’ve been looking for you since I was born. And you’re here now. And I’m freaking out but something has to eventually go right for me, right?

--- Blaine

…

K-

Holy. Fucking. Shit.

We kissed.

A lot.

Is this real life?

-B

…

Hey,

We just had our first real date.

You know, not somewhere within ten minutes of driving distance from Dalton.

I know it wasn’t inherently different from different from us hanging out together but there is something different about sitting next to each other at the bench—it’s so cute you want to do that even if nobody else is with us, by the way.

It wasn’t different from the other times but the more I see you, the harder it is to leave you.

I know I’m eighteen and you’re seventeen.

I know neither of us have had ‘real’ boyfriends before.

But it just feels so right with you.

Holding your hand, cuddling, kissing you… it feels right.

It really is different, and I think I get what people mean when they say you’ll know.

I feel like I know.

I probably sound like the teenager I am, but I can’t think of anything better than spending my life with you. It feels like our lives are already so entwined.

Am I crazy?

Wes thinks I’m crazy when I say this stuff so I probably shouldn’t say it out loud.

I just want to let you know how much fun I had earlier tonight… even despite your dad setting up these new rules—what’s with that, anyway? Is that just a dad thing?

I wish we could have date nights every night.

Maybe once we get married.

Okay, yeah, not giving you this letter ever.

---B (Not that you’ll ever see this.)

…

Kurt,

I’m really embarrassed that we were fooling around and I started crying.

That is so embarrassing. Oh my God.

I hope you don’t think I’m crazy. I just don’t have deep connections with many people.

David, Wes, and you.

I’m close to David’s dad as well, but it’s really David, Wes, and you.

Sometimes it’s hard for me being this emotionally invested with you.

I know there’s a chance we’ll split up.

I mean, I’m leaving for Lexington, Kentucky tomorrow. Much further away from you than Westerville is. I know I’m willing to work hard but what if you find someone else closer? Or you decide I’m too emotionally unstable? David’s dad says I’m not but sometimes I don’t know if I believe him.

Especially since I cried after you fingered me.

Oh my God.

How did I even get to be this attached?

It’s just the way you look at me sometimes if I’m not my usual perky self. Like you can see through everything. Like you know without knowing. And how you’ll put your hand on my thigh and leave it there or give it a squeeze and leave it there. Or how you’ll give me this special smile when you can tell your dad is being just a bit too much.

And it’s okay, really, because he should be.

You’re super special, the most special person I’ve ever met, and I’m glad he is extra protective when it comes to you. He’s such a good dad.

I know it’s weird for him, maybe even hard for him?

But you are both in it with each other 100% and that is so special. I’m so happy you’ve got him because you are special and you only deserve the best.

Remember when you said that to me when I was upset? That I was special and I only deserved the best?

I might be starting to believe you.

Thank you.

-Blaine

…

Kurt,

This weekend was magical.

And I’m not just talking about the sex—that was great, too, though!

A whole weekend, just you and me, in my apartment.

Not worrying about David and Wes or your family walking in.

Not worrying about hurried make out sessions or being too nervous to leave each other’s hand places just in case someone popped in.

Staying in bed Saturday until 3:00 in this afterglow.

I really never knew things could actually feel this way. I thought it was just, like, reserved for fiction. But it does feel this way and I feel so, so lucky to have you in my life.

Like maybe everything bad was leading me to you.

I’m not saying in a religious or fate type way, maybe, I don’t know.

I mean, I did go to church until I was fourteen and everything went kind of crazy. It was never a huge part of my life but everyone was always so kind to me so I don’t want to discredit it either.

But what are the chances of us meeting period? Like, zilch.

I feel so lucky to have you in my life.

Everything was good when you came into it but it’s so much brighter now.

I’m happy more than not.

My favorite part of the day—any day—is seeing you. Hugging you, sitting with you, even our knees touching. Just feeling your presence.

I kind of wondered if I was building stuff up to be better in my head but I wasn’t, Kurt.

It’s you.

It’s always going to be you.

I’m eighteen.

I know I sound ridiculous.

But in this very moment, I know you are it.

You are my everything and I hope we always feel this way about each other.

B

…

I can’t do this.

I don’t know what to do.

Everything hurts you.

Your eyes look… like not your eyes.

You can’t breathe on your own, you can’t eat, the slightest touch makes you whimper.

And I just keep staring because I don’t know what else to do.

I just want to find whoever did this to you and

I don’t even know what.

But I don’t know what to do.

I told you that I’d stay here and I think your dad is mad at me.

I mean, he did tell me I couldn’t do that… but at the same time, you need me.

And I need you.

I need to be with you, to make sure you’re okay, to take care of you, and to make sure you know how much I love you. And how much you mean to me and so you know I’ll do anything for you.

I think you’re coming home in a few days.

They’re saying you’re doing better but taking you home scares me because you’re still so weak.

I just feel like a kid.

I want you to get better, I want you to be able to breathe, I want you to be able to smile.

I would even take a forced smile right now.

I hope you’ll pull through this, Kurt.

I’m so angry about what happened to you. And so sad.

My chest feels like it wants to sob constantly. You know what I mean? Do you ever feel like you need to cry but in your chest, not your eyes? Like it’s so tight, it’s twisting, because you just are that upset?

That’s been me for a week.

Even the night they made me go and sleep in your bed.

I cried because it smelled like you but you weren’t there.

This is all so hard.

I hope I’m enough.

I’m really afraid I’m not enough to get you through this.

Please get through this.

I need you.

[crazedlunatic]

Cody’s Allergic Reaction

“Don’t scratch.”

Cody, who was scratching his neck, gave Nick a look.

“Hey, I’m serious. No scratching.” Nick said.

“I’m so itchy.” Cody whined. “My neck is as red as my arms, isn’t it?”

“Yeah.” Nick admitted. “But it’s a good color on you.”

Cody blushed, although Nick probably couldn’t even tell. He assumed his face was red too.

“You can go. I promise I’ll be fine. They said it could be up to a five hour wait.” Cody said after a few embarrassed seconds—Had he wore red around Nick? Maybe he should more. Or maybe he shouldn’t have taken that so literally.

“I’m not leaving you. Besides, your breathing was labored earlier on the way. I’m not leaving you to drive yourself home alone.” Nick insisted.

“I can call my brother.”

“He has a toddler who is probably already in bed now.” Nick pointed out. “Sorry but you’re stuck with me.”

“Fine but I’m going to try again in fifteen more minutes.” Cody let out a little sigh.

“I’ll come up with some more excuses otherwise these chats will get repetitive.” Nick promised. “Next one’s will involve dinosaurs.”

Cody couldn’t stop the loud laugh that erupted from his chest. His blue eyes widened, mostly out of shock, because he wasn’t a loud person by any means. Nick made him laugh more than most people but he’d never gotten that reaction.

Nick smirked, clearly pleased with himself.

Cody blushed again, glancing down at his hands.

“You still don’t know what you ate that you were allergic to?”

“It must have been one of the seasonings or something… If I’d known I was allergic to it, I wouldn’t have eaten it.” Cody teased—or rather, tried to tease. He really hoped it didn’t come out sounding rude. He wasn’t a teaser or a joker.

Nick laughed. “Luckily we were near a hospital.”

“Thank you for driving… even though you don’t have your license.”

“Yes, well, extreme measures… plus, I’ve only passed out once in the last two months so I think I’m okay to drive. My dads are just really worried.” Nick shrugged one shoulder. “I guess ‘you’re welcome’ would have sufficed, huh?”

Cody smiled and glanced at the TV. “I think I’ve seen this episode before. At Dr. Sanders’ office, in the back room, they have a TV that plays judge shows all the time. When I’m not at the receptionist desk, I’m usually back there doing stuff.”

“Oh?” Nick asked.

“Mhm.” Cody nodded.

“These shows have always bored me.” Nick admitted. “Law stuff just seems so boring.”

“But your dad’s a lawyer, right?”

“Oh, yeah. He loves it.” Nick nodded. “I just never found it that interesting. Soph was going to go into law but she likes writing and stuff. I think she’s going to Harvard University, though. It’s where she wants to go now.”

“Is your dad happy about it?” Cody asked, absent mindedly scratching under his jaw.

“Yeah.” Nick rolled his eyes and pulled Cody’s hand down. “I mean, he’s fine with whatever we want to do but he had this goofy smile for hours when Soph asked him to take her to Cambridge to see Harvard University and Harvard Law.”

“That’s cute.” Cody said.

“Are your parents happy about what you’re doing?”

“Yes and no.” Cody shrugged.

“Huh?”

“Well they’re happy that I want to help people but they wanted me to do it closer to home. I actually had a full scholarship to a school in Georgia but… I just didn’t want to go.” Cody explained. “They pay my rent and stuff. I’m paying for all of school. So they weren’t too thrilled about how much it costs when I could live at home or in a cheap apartment ten times better than the one I have now and go to school for the same price of my shitty apartment.”

“New York, New York.” Nick nodded.

“What about you? How do your dads feel about computer sciences and engineering?”

“Well they love the fact that I can fix the home and work computers.” Nick laughed. “Daddy says I’ll be the one to take care of him and Dad when they’re old because I’ll make the most amount of money. Dad just says I’m a big geek at heart… which is true, I guess. That or boring.”

“You’re not boring.” Cody said, his voice gentle. “At all.”

Nick smiled, looking embarrassed and thrilled. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” Cody said, trying to hide a yawn.

“You can lean on me. You should get some sleep. You’re tired.” Nick whispered.

“No. I’m fine.” Cody said quickly. “I’m not going to make you sit in a hospital by yourself while I sleep.”

“Shh.” Nick put his hand on the top of Cody’s head and guided it until Cody’s head was on Nick’s shoulder. Surprisingly, his head nustled into a perfect position. Almost like he fit, belonged—

No.

That was really reading too much into things.

“You really don’t—.”

“Shh.” Nick whispered.

Cody opened his mouth again.

“Shh, Parker.”

Cody made a hmphing noise before going silent.

…

“Mmmh.”

Nick glanced down nearly an hour after Cody had fallen asleep. He nuzzled Nick’s chest a bit, the hand that was clasped around Nick’s arm loosening. “Morning, sleepyhead… Well, late evening sleepyhead.”

Cody’s eyes opened and he glanced up at Nick. “What time--?”

“It’s been an hour.”

“Head hurts.” Cody whimpered.

“It’s because you need more sleep.” Nick said knowingly.

“Oh God. I fell asleep.” Cody sat up. “I’m so sorry.”

“I told you to.” Nick pulled Cody’s head back down to his chest.

“Did you get in touch with your dads?”

“They’re still out but I left a message with Soph.” Nick responded, smiling when Cody made himself more comfortable against his chest. “You’re a snuffler.”

“Huh?”

“When you sleep, you snuffle.” Nick explained. “And you burrow, too. I’m assuming you like to sleep in a lot of blankets.”

“New York is a lot cooler than Georgia.” Cody admitted.

“One of these days you’ll date me and I can call you cute to your face. But for now, I’ll have to keep it in my head.”

“You said that out loud.” Cody yawned and shivered.

“We forgot your jacket at the restaurant.” Nick gasped and sat up straighter before pulling his jacket off. “Here.”

“No. I’m fine.” Cody argued.

“Fine.” Nick draped it over Cody as though it were a blanket and then leaned back against the chair. “It can keep both of us warm.”

“I’m too tired to argue.” Cody whined, relaxing against him and closing his eyes.

Nick rubbed his hand up and down Cody’s arm, watching the door for a doctor to call him back. It had been 3 hours since they had arrived. Finally, a woman came out.

“Parker, Cody.”

Cody stood, stumbling a bit as he took his first step.

“Careful.” Nick grabbed his elbow, walking next to him as the doctor led them to a room.

…

“Boring… boring… boring…” Nick said flipping through channels. “More boring…”

“How long has it been?”

“Three hours in the waiting room, one hour until they made it to your room, and 20 minutes into the IV.” Nick said. “How do you feel?”

“Tired, itchy, and cold.” Cody burrowed further under Nick’s jacket, eyes drooping.

“I keep telling you to sleep.” Nick laughed, turning the television off. “It’s one in the morning.”

“No.” Cody yawned. “You can sit on the bed. That chair doesn’t look comfortable.”

“Don’t need to tell me twice.” Nick hopped up.

Cody smiled, looking at him. “Thank you.”

“For what?” Nick tilted his head.

“Getting me here, staying with me.” Cody looked down, blushing—and it was very noticeable now that his skin was back to its normal color. “Taking care of me.”

“Hey. My dad pawned me off on you and you cleaned my vomit. I owed you one.” Nick smiled and patted Cody’s thigh. “And I wanted to be here. It’s been nice taking care of you.”

Cody blushed more.

“You’re less demanding than Zach, Sophie, or Kris.” Nick laughed. “Not that I’m saying you’re my brother. I just mean—.”

Cody bit his lip and blinked at him with tired blue eyes.

“Stop that.”

“Stop what?”

“The blinking thing.”

“It’s a human thing, sorry.” Cody giggled.

“It’s different when you do it.” Nick said. “It’s different when you do anything.”

Cody leaned his head on Nick’s shoulder.

“In a good way.” Nick’s voice came out a whisper as he took Cody’s hand into his own.

“Nick?” Cody asked, staring down at their hands with his heart pounding so hard he thought it would burst out of his chest.

“Your hand is so warm.” Nick said, squeezing. “And mine is cold. You should make it warm.”

Cody glanced up at him.

“After all, it’s the least you can do.” Nick smiled and winked.

Cody leaned forward until their noses brushed against each other.

“I’ll give you ten dollars if you kiss me.”

“No.” Cody laughed.

“Twenty?”                                

Cody giggled adorably. “I may be broke but I’m not that broke.”

Nick laughed loudly and then stared into his eyes.

“Yours are prettier.” Cody whispered after several seconds. “They change.”

“But yours are like the sky and the ocean and clouds all wrapped together.” Nick whispered back.

Cody blushed.

“They’re beautiful.” Nick said earnestly. “I could stare at them all day.”

Cody’s blush darkened and he reached up, touching Nick’s face.

“I could spend every day of my life with you.”

Cody smiled.

“Because you’re perfect for me even if you refuse to let yourself see that.”

“I lo…” Cody trailed off and closed his eyes.

“Get some sleep.”

“It’s not that.” Cody swallowed.

“I know. But still. Get some sleep.” Nick moved both of them into a laying position, holding him close. “I’ll wake you when the doctor comes in to check on the IV.”

“Nick?” Cody asked before nuzzling Nick’s chest.

“Yeah?”

“Can you stay the night?” Cody bit his lip.

“Yeah. I already planned on it.” Nick smiled, stroking his cheek. “Get some rest.”

“Okay. Thanks.” Cody closed his eyes.

“You’re welcome.”

Cody fell asleep to the beating of Nick’s heart.

[crazedlunatic]

Boulder

“What are you doing here? You said you were doing live fire tactical something in New Hampshire until Friday. I don’t know if you’re aware but it’s Wednesday morning and I know for a fact that you were home last night because I drove by and the porch light was on.” Adrian didn’t even greet him. Just barged in, saw Matt laying on the couch, and went for it.

Matt blinked at him a few times before taking a bite off his Fruity Pebbles breakfast bar.

“Why are you in pajamas?” Adrian’s eyes suddenly widened. “Did you get hurt, Matt?”

Matt held up a finger, swallowed, and then shook his head.

“Why are the lights off? Oh my God. Is that a blanket? Are you sick? Why is there a plate full of food on your table? Why are you eating that when there’s literally a plate of real food in there?”

“Can you move to the left? I can’t see the TV.” Matt said.

Adrian stared at him, not blinking. He then turned around and pushed the power button on the TV.

“Hey!” Matt glared, moving into a sitting position.

“Are you sick?” Adrian asked.

“No.”

“Then why did you lie about being gone for five days?!”

“Because I thought I might be there longer than fifteen minutes but obviously I was wrong.”

“Were you not enrolled?” Adrian looked at him, confused.

“No. I was never enrolled, Adrian.”

“Then why did you lie?”

“If I was ready to talk about why I’m home early, I would have told you I was home early. What are you doing, driving by my house when I’m not supposed to be here anyway?” Matt scoffed.

“Why did you lie, Matt? You never lie to me.”

“Look, can you just go home?” Matt sighed. “Can we talk later? I’m really not in the mood to do this right now.”

“Do what?” Adrian went closer, looking concerned. “Matt, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing is wrong. I just want to be alone.”

“You never want to be alone. When you are alone, you text me until we meet up or you find someone else to go see.” Adrian protested, sitting on the couch by him. “What’s wrong? What happened?”

“Nothing is wrong and nothing happened.” Matt stood, looking annoyed. “Please just go home, Adrian. I don’t want to do this right now.”

“Fine but you’re coming with me. Otherwise I’m staying right here until you talk to me.”

“I am asking you to please just leave me alone tonight and tomorrow. Okay?” Matt made eye contact. “Please?”

“No. Something is going on and it’s probably serious because you have never, ever lied to me. Are you okay? Did you even have a training?”

Matt covered his face with both hands, letting out a frustrated groan.

“Here. Let’s go to my place. Wes and Blaine are there. You three always laugh at stupid stuff. It’ll cheer you up.”

“Just go home!”

“No.” Adrian said. “I’m not going home unless you go with me.”

“I don’t want to go to your house!”

“Then I’m staying here and you’re going to tell me why you are here! Did you even have a training?”

“No!” Matt’s eyes filled with tears. “I didn’t. Adrian, please. Can you just give me a few days and we’ll talk?”

“You’re crying.” Adrian rushed over. “Matt, what’s going on? Where were you?”

Matt shook his head and took a deep breath.

“Matt… I love you. What’s wrong?” Adrian looked him in the eye.

“I went to Boulder to ask your parents if I could ask you to marry me.”

Adrian gasped—literally gasped. “You went to Boulder?”

“Yeah.” Matt sat back on the couch, wrapping bis blanket around him.

“What…?”

“Your parents said no.” Matt’s lip trembled.

“What?” Now Adrian’s voice was sharp.

Matt covered his face with his hands, his shoulders shaking.

Adrian sat on the couch, arms going around him.

“I’ve been learning freaking sign language for months because I was going to do this eight months ago but AJ told me your mom was deaf a-and she’s been teaching me because I wanted to be able to ask her too and… and…” Matt trailed off. “And none of it mattered. I tried so hard to… to…”

Tears filled Adrian’s eyes.

“They barely let me get two sentences in before telling me that I could never take care of you like that creeper did and that they would never love anybody the way they loved him because he was so good for you.” Matt took a deep breath. “I just assumed… I don’t know. That they would like me? Everybody likes me. Even half of the drug addicts I arrest like me and your dad looked at me like I was this little teenage boy wanting to take you to prom or something.”

“Matt…”

“I should have told you when I got home but I’m so embarrassed. Like… it never even occurred to me that they might say no. And it was so obvious they have no idea what that guy did to you. The whole time they were talking about how great he was and how he took care of you, I wanted to vomit. I actually did pull over and vomit when I was far enough away from your house.”

Adrian watched him sadly.

Matt wasn’t a crier—the few times he’d cried, it had been over something dark that had happened at work (very, very dark) or about Adrian and his past.

“I’m sorry. I couldn’t… couldn’t face you o-or AJ because she knew and I just… I don’t know. And then I keep crying because it’s so obvious they have n-no idea what he did to you and… and no fucking wonder you only went home for a funeral. It’s just so wrong.”

“Matt.” Adrian wrapped his arms around Matt.

“No!” Matt pulled back. “No! No, Adrian. Why the fuck don’t they check on you? Come visit you? Why didn’t you tell them what he did?”

“Because my dad is… he was so invested in Chad. At first I told myself Chad was sick and needed help and that he was a good person. Then I told myself maybe I made it happen. By the time Chad was creeping and stalking too much time had passed and… and that’s where I am with my family. The one who skipped off after undergrad graduation and comes back maybe once a year if someone dies.” Adrian said, looking concerned.

“Why don’t they visit you?” Matt asked angrily.

“I don’t know. I talk to my mom often and my siblings. My dad just… I don’t know.” Adrian bit his lip hard. “Matt, I’m so sorry.”

Matt shook his head. “It’s not right.”

“No… but it is what it is. A year and a half into Harvard without a visit, I just… gave up thinking maybe they’d come see me.” Adrian sighed. “I literally… honestly, I wouldn’t have made it to my grandmother’s funeral if it wasn’t for AJ. I just… going there is traumatic because he and I have so many memories and…”

Matt wiped his eyes and sniffled.

“I’m so sorry they didn’t give you a chance.” Adrian frowned. “And I’m so sorry I didn’t…. warn you about them. I had kind of hoped to introduce you all at graduation.”

Matt took a deep breath and nodded.

“This has absolutely nothing to do with you. I promise.” Adrian bit his lip and then said, “I’m so sorry, Matty.”

“S’okay.” Matt wrapped his arms around Adrian in a tight hug. “I love you so, so much.”

“I love you too.” Adrian pulled back. “And who the hell needs permission to propose? It was so sweet of you to ask but if you withhold that ring, you’re in trouble.”

Matt let out a wet laugh and nuzzled Adrian’s shoulder.

“Thank you for going there.” Adrian pulled back once more so he could look in Matt’s eyes, his own watery. “And learning sign language.”

“Ha. Not much.” Matt shook his head. “I don’t think I’ll be getting more lessons for the foreseeable future.”

Adrian kissed the top of his head and sighed. “Come on. Get dressed. We’ll go get Mexican, get drunk off Daquiri’s, and then have a lot of sex.”

“How about we go get some cookies and take a walk at the beach?” Matt asked, wiping his eyes one final time. “We can get drunk tomorrow.”

“We still get to have sex tonight, right?” Adrian stuck out his lower lip. “It was a long 3 days.”

“So much sex but only if you buy the cookies this time.” Matt grinned. “Sound good?”

“Sounds excellent.”