Santana quickly realized how big of a mistake it had been bringing Blaine back home. The second they entered his mother's house, he'd been at her bedside. As it turned out, she had lied over the phone about how well she was doing. The truth was, she wasn't doing well, and every single day she was getting a bit worse.

His mother was insistant that he take his "two beautiful women friends" out on the town for a night, but he hadn't left the house.

Brittany had been watching some soap opera for a few days, and Santana had been brainstorming ways for Kurt and Blaine to make this better.

At least she was until their third day there when someone unexpectedly knocked at the door.

"Kurt?"

His cheeks were flushed as he pulled his suitcase through the door. "Where is he?"

"He's upstairs, what are you doing here?"

"Brit called me, told me to fix her favourite dolphin."

Santana shook her head. "Come here." She pulled him into the kitchen. "Listen, Blaine's mom...she's not doing well. She's really sick, and she doesn't want anything to do with a hospital, and he's just sitting with her. He hasn't left her side since we got here. It's...it's bad, Kurt."

Kurt nodded. "Listen, I need you to do something for me. Get him down here, away from his mom. Tell him that you can't lift something, I don't know. Just get him down here so I can talk to him. We'll work it out."

Blaine was walking down the stairs in front of a pushy Santana. "I don't understand why you couldn't just bring the jar upstairs."

"Because it was...heavy."

He shook his head and walked into the kitchen, stopping dead in his tracks. "Kurt."

"Hi"

"What are you doing here?"

"Brittany called me."

"She shouldn't have done that."

"Blaine, please let me explain."

Blaine crossed his arms. "Fine, explain."

Kurt launched himself into an explination of everything that had happened with Sebastian that night.

"I was confused, and I'm sorry for that. I was angry at him, and part of me really wondered if he was different. And when he kissed me, it all came back. Everything that happened between us, and for a minute I forgot that I was supposed to push him away." He glanced down at his own hands. "I forgot he wasn't you."

Blaine sighed. "Okay, Kurt, I really appreciate you coming all the way out here to explain, and I forgive you, 100%. I just...I don't want you letting Sebastian go when I'm not planning on staying in Ohio."

"What do you mean?"

Blaine started cleaning up as he spoke. "I can't leave her here by herself anymore. She's not doing well, Kurt. I couldn't live with myself if I left her here and..."

He couldn't finish, and Kurt nodded. He didn't want to leave her here to die alone.

Kurt walked up behind him and pulled his hands out of the sink. "You can't do it, Blaine. You can't leave everything back at home for a few months and expect to have it all waiting for you. As much as I hate to say this, it doesn't work like that."

Blaine spun around. "I am NOT leaving her here by herself to suffer. I've left her for long enough, I can't do it anymore." He sighed. "You should go, hop on a plane and go back to Ohio. Tell Burt I'll be in touch in a few days and I'll have my stuff shipped here."

Kurt's eyes were welling up with tears. "Please don't."

Blaine smiled sadly. "I wish things were different. I wish it didn't have to be this way, but it does."

Kurt let the tears fall as he pushed his forehead against Blaine's, letting their fingers find each other. "Will you at least stay in touch?"

Blaine shook his head. "Not at first. It'll...it'll be too hard to talk to you and not see your face every day. But eventually..."

Kurt nodded and put his hand on Blaine's cheek. They stood there for a few minutes with their eyes closed, letting their bodies say goodbye.

"Blaine?"

"Hmm?"

Kurt opened his eyes to stare at him. "I love you."

Blaine's eyes slowly opened and he sighed. "This isn't going to make leaving any easier for you, but I love you too. Since the first time we kissed."

Kurt slowly placed his lips against Blaine's. This kiss wasn't like one they'd ever shared before. It was slow, and gentle. There was no urgency, no abundance of any emotion.

Blaine ended the kiss and pulled away from Kurt. "I need you to go. If you stay much longer, I'm not going to let you go."

Kurt backed away from Blaine slowly. "Okay."

Blaine turned his back to Kurt and went back to doing the dishes until he heard the front door open and close again seconds later. He pulled his hands out of the sink and dried them before sinking down to the floor and letting the tears fall.

Santana spent the better part of the next two days trying to take care of everyone. Brittany had developed some kind of cold, which made her want to sit around watching tv and sleep all day. Blaine wasn't paying attention to anything but his mother. He'd make her dinner and forget to make himself something. He'd spend an hour getting her in and out of the shower and then forget to go back and take one himself.

He hadn't called Burt, and Kurt had stopped returning her texts and messages. She was at a complete loss.

And then Burt called, and Blaine couldn't ignore that. She listened from the other room as Blaine apologized to Burt. He explained the situation and thanked Burt for everything. She heard him hang up and returned to reading her magazine just in time for him to walk out of the kitchen.

"Hey San" He sat down next to her. "Can you do me a favour?"

She smiled. "Anything for you, what's up?"

"Can you stay here for a few days and take care of my Mom? Burt wants me to come tie up a few loose ends before he can release me from my contract."

She took his hand and nodded. "Of course."

He smiled and they sat in silence for a minute.

"Blaine..."

He shook his head. "I don't want to talk about it, okay? I can't talk about it."

"Okay. But when you are ready..."

"You and Britt will be my first call." He smiled and kissed her cheek. "I'm gonna go put the laundry away." He hopped up the stairs.

Three days later his plane landed in Ohio, and like his first time there, Carole was waiting for him. She pulled him into her arms as soon as she got her hands on him. He couldn't help feeling like he was home.

The first half of their trip to the house was silent, but eventually Carole broke the silence.

"How are things at home?"

He shrugged. "Hard, but I'll deal. How are things with you guys?"

She smiled. "Great, we all miss you though. It's almost like Finn forgets you aren't in your room."

He laughed. "That sounds like Finn. How...how's Kurt?" He bit the inside of his cheek.

"He's good. Him and Rachel went up to New York for a few days to visit some friends. They said to say hi though."

He nodded. Kurt had probably known he was coming and asked Rachel to take him out of town. Or maybe Rachel had dragged him along. Either way, he wouldn't be seeing him. Was it better that way?

They pulled up at the house in the dark. The only light on inside was the kitchen light, which Blaine took to mean that no one was awake. Carole opened the door and locked it behind them before heading to bed.

Blaine started walking down the hallway to his old room, but stopped at Kurt's. Before he'd made a concious decision, he was opening the door and closing it behind himself. He immediately relaxed. He could feel Kurt all around him. He felt his way over to the couch and laid himself down. He considered the bed, but it felt wrong to lay there without Kurt.

The next day was a blur. He woke up, went back to his old room and started packing. It was still early, and everyone was asleep. Packing didn't take long. He hopped in for a shower and made his way downstairs. Burt was reading the paper and smiled at him.

"Blaine! Ready for today?"

Blaine nodded. "Yes, sir. Where are we heading first?"

"You need to clean out your lockers, and then I have to drop off some stuff for Carole and then you need to go talk to the Berrys."

"Sounds good."

They finished eating and headed to the arena. Burt went to take care of some stuff in his office while Blaine cleaned out the locker. He pulled out a few pairs of work out clothes, his hockey equiptment. And then he found a strip of pictures him and Kurt had taken in a photo booth.

Kurt had been sitting on his lap for the whole time, making weird faces while Blaine looked at him in amazement. Kurt had actually complained when they pictures came out and Blaine hadn't made a single funny face.

He smiled at the memory and placed the strip carefully inside his pocket. He tossed a few things in the box and closed his locker.

Burt helped him load everything into the car and they took off to a nursing home.

"Sorry about this, Carole's been bugging me to drop some stuff off, but no one wants me lifiting the boxes. It's a vicious cycle."

They pulled up at the nursing home and Blaine grabbed the box as Burt lead the way. He checked in with the receptionist and they headed upstairs and to the first door on the right. Burt entered and Blaine followed.

"Hey guys." Santana grinned happily at Blaine as Burt went over to help Carole with a suitcase.

Blaine stared at her. "But..."

He spun around as he heard someone walking out of the bathroom. Kurt was helping his mother back to her wheelchair and they were chatting comfortably.

Brittany linked arms with Blaine as he watched Kurt and his mom. "Blaine, why are you crying?"

He wiped his eyes with his free hand. "I didn't know I was."

Brittany shot a worried glance at Santana who smiled. "He's happy."

Blaine nodded. "I'm...oh god, I can't believe you did this, San."

"As much as I'd love to take credit for this, I can't. Kurt did the whole thing. It's temporary, of course, once you and Kurt talk you'll understand."

Blaine nodded and walked over to his mom and Kurt. "Hey you two."

Kurt smiled. "Blaine! Why didn't you tell me how fabulous your mother was?"

Blaine took her hand gently. "I guess I just wanted to keep her to myself."

They chatted for a bit before Kurt excused himself to call downstairs for dinner.

"Mom, are you okay with this?"

She smiled. "Blaine, for years I've watched as you tried to fight who you were, and then you accepted yourself. We both know what's happening here with my health. I'm just happy I'm going to see my son happy before I'm forced to leave."

"So you like Kurt?"

"I met him this morning and he's already like another son. You've made yourself a family here. I'm happy to be part of it."

Blaine hugged her gently and Kurt returned. "Everything is ready, they just need a few hands. Blaine?"

He nodded. "Mom, we'll be right back, okay?"

She nodded and watched as they walked into the hallway together.

Kurt smiled at Blaine. "So, do you like my little idea?" He took a step closer.

Another step. "It's possibly the best idea ever."

Another step. "I thought you'd like it."

"I don't just like it. I love it." He took another step closer, taking Kurt in his arms. "I love you."

"I love you too."

They kissed. Kurt's arms went around Blaine's neck and Blaine's rested on Kurt's waist.

Everything was perfect again.