A/N: There are two songs in this chapter and if you're interested there are links if you click on the astericks!

After much pushing and shoving, Kurt and Blaine got the keyboard into the car. One quick drive later, the two were pushing the keyboard into Kurt's living room, arranging it just so. Leaning against the wall with a sigh of relief, Kurt surveyed their work.

"It's perfect," Blaine muttered.

"Can you play me something?"

Blaine hesitated slightly before nodding and seating himself on the piano bench. He began to play, faltering at first, then becoming more confident. He closed his eyes, fingers gliding over the keys. *

Kurt watched and listened, almost afraid to breathe. All too soon, the music came to an end and he exhaled slowly. "Holy crap, Blaine. That was beautiful."

Blaine laughed, bowing sarcastically. "Want to give it a shot?"

Almost forgetting his intention to learn, Kurt stared for a minute before nodding. This probably wasn't going to end well, seeing how easily frustrated he often got. Sitting down on the bench, he ran his hands across the keys.

Blaine sat down beside him, his body comfortably close to Kurt's.

"Okay, so I'm definitely not the most patient, but I promise I'll try," Kurt muttered, fingers still playing with the keys.

Having learned where the keys were and spending quite a bit of time practicing, Kurt was able to play Hot Cross Buns, which pretty much amounted to the simplest song on any instrument.

"Ready for a real song?"

"Yeah, probably not," Kurt retorted with a laugh, continuing to play the same tune over and over again.

"I'll help you out," Blaine said, reaching around him and putting his own hands on the keys. "Put your hands on mine."

Kurt almost shuddered as he felt the other man's soft breath on the back of his neck, and he nodded uncertainly as he placed his hands atop Blaine's.

He started to move his hands, Kurt moving along with him. **

Kurt recognized the song, staring at the keys and wishing he had the talent that Blaine had. As the music continued, he closed his eyes and felt Blaine move closer to him, relaxing into the song.

As the music trailed to a close, Kurt turned towards Blaine, his eyes still closed, their noses brushing against each other. He inhaled sharply and barely had time to react when he felt lips on his in a gentle kiss. Kurt responded for a second before jerking away. He couldn't do this. No matter how much he wanted to, he couldn't.

Blaine stared at Kurt with wide eyes akin to a puppy dog, slightly shocked.

"I-I'm sorry, I just can't-" Kurt stammered, trying to say what he really didn't want to. He couldn't hurt Blaine the way that he knew he would if he told him.

There was a moment's pause as the two stared at each other. "Should I... Should I go?" Blaine asked, looking down at his hands, desperately wishing that he hadn't just ruined things.

Kurt merely looked away, trying to subtly sniff back tears as Blaine stood up and began to walk slowly away, not knowing what he should do.

"I'm sorry," he finally said, just as Blaine reached the front door.

Blaine just stared for a moment.

"I just- I don't want to hurt you."

"Pretty sure I can take care of myself," Blaine bit back, self-defense evident in his voice.

Taking a deep breath, Kurt prepared himself, "It's not that, it's just- I haven't really been honest with you. And... knowing the truth would hurt you and not knowing it would hurt you and, there's really just no way to not hurt you."

Blaine stared in silence, trying to register what he had just said. "Just- just tell me. Tell me whatever it is."

"I... I can't. Not right now. I'm sorry."

And with that, Blaine was gone, running down the front walk. Kurt watched from the door, tears now freely tracing paths down his cheeks. Why did Blaine have to go and complicate everything?

Even as he thought that, he couldn't blame the other man. He wanted it, wanted Blaine. But he couldn't have him. Kurt knew that that was not how the universe worked. It wouldn't be fair to Blaine to give him all of Kurt's problems. He just had to let him go.

Kurt sniffed again, sinking to the floor, arms around himself. He could do this alone. He'd done so much by himself already, what was a little more going to hurt?

Two weeks and six ignored phone calls later, Kurt didn't know what to do. As much as he felt that he should just forget about Blaine, he couldn't force himself to do that. He didn't want to keep avoiding him like this. And, well, it had been a month since they first met. He could just tell him and hope for the best. Blaine would probably turn and run in the other direction. It would be better that way anyhow.

At least, that's what he tried to tell himself. In actuality, he wanted Blaine to stay. He wanted him to make some of the hurt go away. He just really wanted someone to care about him.

Kurt had his family, of course. But he was just so lonely. All of his friends from McKinley had moved on with their lives, going off to L.A., starting a family. He'd never had a boyfriend, or even a best friend for that matter. He just needed someone to turn to.

Deciding to just go for it, he picked up his phone and dialed Blaine's number with shaky hands.

"Kurt! Hello!" he heard from the other end of the phone, just a hint of hope there.

"Hi, Blaine. Look... I'm sorry I've been avoiding you. Can I show you something?"

"Should I meet you somewhere?"

"Actually, could you pick me up? I'm at home now."

Without answering any of Blaine's questions, Kurt hung up the phone feeling both horrified and relieved. He hated going on for this long without talking to Blaine. At least this way he could have closure. Blaine would probably make his excuses and be on his way, and Kurt wouldn't have to think of what ifs.

"Where exactly are we going?" Blaine asked, Kurt climbing into the passenger seat.

"Nowhere fun, don't worry. And please, please don't get mad at me for this. And no questions now, at least. I'll try later, but I just can't right now."

Blaine glanced at him with concern, but saw Kurt's determination and turned back to the road.

With Kurt giving directions, they made it to the hospital entrance.

"Pull in here."

"What?" Blaine asked sharply, his worry visibly growing.

"Just do it."

He parked the car, following Kurt towards the building. They kept walking up to what Kurt thought of as the chemo floor, and it was obvious that Blaine had no idea what was happening.

"Okay, now if this freaks you out you can leave," Kurt said with a shaky voice, "And I can just call my dad for a ride home. I just, yeah, I'll just call him."

"I'm not going to leave," Blaine replied with more confidence than he was feeling, dreading what he was about to learn.

They entered room 105, Kurt waving to a nurse that said hello to them. After adjusting another patient's IV, she hurried over to him.

"Hello, Kurt! Glad you brought someone with you today," she said brightly.

"Hi, Nancy. This is Blaine," he replied, motioning to Blaine who stood there dumbfounded. He nodded politely, looking around the room. There were several older looking people, all connected to IVs and either sitting with their eyes closed or staring ahead at the television. Kurt didn't belong here, what were they doing?

Kurt sat down, observing Blaine staring at him unsteadily. Averting his eyes, he instead turned to watch Nancy put the IV in his arm, wincing at the slight pinch.

"There ya go. Let me know if you need anything, sweetie," she said gently, rubbing his back as she stood up.

"Thanks, Nanc."

As she walked away, Blaine shuffled towards Kurt. "What is this?" he asked quietly.

"Come on, Blaine. You have to have at least a little bit of a clue," Kurt said with a snap. Suddenly aware of what he just said, he shook his head. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean that."

"I'm not stupid. You're obviously sick, I just... Is this chemo?" he whispered, gesturing to the room as a whole.

Kurt nodded slowly, leaning back in the chair.

"Yeah, I... I have cancer, Blaine."

Kurt glanced up at Blaine as he said it, watching the other man's face crumple at the gravity of the words. The lines on his forehead softened and his mouth dropped open as he put a hand on the chair next to him, trying not to fall over.