Chapter 28

The next few days were trying as Blaine recovered and started learning how to take care of his infant son. The nurses were extremely patient and kind, and told him that he was a natural to fatherhood, but it was a big difference to adjust to.

He did not anticipate being so cautious and anxious about his child.

When Cooper, who stayed in New York for a few days after their parents departure, waved his hand and then pointed dramatically at Kurt while still holding Oliver, Blaine had nearly had a heart attack. He had shouted for Cooper to please hold his newborn child with two hands, and for gods sake, dont drop him! The next day, when Oliver stopped crying very suddenly while Blaine rocked him in his arms, Blaines stomach had dropped with fear, only to see that he had just fallen asleep as easy as that.

Sam and Tina had been at the hospital to visit, too.

In between cooing over Oliver, Kurt and Tina had struck up a fast friendship as they discussed the merits of different pre-schools and shared teenage rebellion phases. Blaine had to remember to ask about that.

The first time that Sam had entered the hospital room to see Blaine lying in bed holding his baby, his eyes had bugged. Blaine greeted Sam with a smile, and he rushed over to Blaines bedside, and looked at the baby in amazement.

"Wow, dude," he said softly. "I cant believe how small he is."

Blaine chucked, "Sam, the last time you saw him, he was in me. I wasnt that big, was I?"

"I dunno, Blaine, you were pretty big."

Blaine tried to swat at Sam, but he just laughed and backed away. "Anyway," he continued, "Congratulations, man, hes really incredible. Still Oliver, right?"

"Yes," Blaine said, and made to pass the baby into Sams arms, but Sam moved away again.

"No, no, dont, what if I drop him?" Sam said, raising his hands as if surrender.

But Blaine said patiently, "Grab that chair over there, and sit down." Sam did as he asked, and when he was seated, Blaine added, "Okay, now Im going to pass him to you, just cradle him and make sure you hold his head." Blaine passed him over slowly, and Sam made a show of cradling him very gently, until he was in a secure hold. Then he looked up and smiled at Blaine with a look of delight.

"See?" Blaine said. "Not so bad, huh?"

"No," Sam said, now inspecting the baby in his arms.

"You have to get used to holding him if youre going to be his godfather."

Sam looked up quickly in shock. "Really? Me?"

"Sam, no ones been there for me like you have-" Sam snorted and raised an eyebrow, "Kurt doesnt count, he cant be Olivers godfather if one day we-" Sam raised his eyebrows even higher, so Blaine changed track, a light blush covering his cheeks. "Sam, youre my best friend and there is no one I trust more to make sure my son is always cared for. When he needs advice, or someone to talk to, I want him to be able to go to someone whose judgment I trust. And youre definitely going to be the cool uncle, so theres that too."

Sam gave Blaine a watery smile, and said, "Damn right."  Then softer, "Thanks."

Blaine grinned at him. "Just dont tell Cooper."

Sams smile grew, and he said, "Okay, next we need to talk about whos going to be your best man when you marry Kurt, because you know Id write a kick-ass speech, and-" but he was cut off by Blaines shout of, "No!"

Blaine and Oliver were allowed to leave the hospital a few days later. Even though Kurt had barely left the hospital since Oliver had been born, his excitement over their homecoming was infectious. By the time the final paperwork had been completed, Blaine was already imagining Oliver in that new crib hed picked out so many months before.

Blaines life at that point had been so different to where he was now; such a dark and lonely place, brightened first by only the thought of his son, and then later, by Kurt. It felt like to short an amount of time to have his life turned upside down and rewritten to include such happiness, yet in that moment Blaine couldnt remember not feeling so filled with love.

As Kurt turned to smile at him as they pulled up to the apartment building, the feeling only intensified.

Kurt insisted on carrying Oliver, safely tucked into his car seat, up the stairs to their floor, and Blaine was instantly relieved at the command. Even though hed proven fit enough to leave the hospital, he still found himself struggling with the stairs, and once again cursing their lack of an elevator.

When they reached the landing, Kurt waited patiently for Blaine to catch his breath, and then made his way to Blaines apartment without sparing his own front door a second glance. Blaine looked at him curiously, but Kurt seemed to take no notice.

The apartment was still as immaculate as it had been the night that Blaine had gone into labor, but the back wall was now adorned with a huge banner proclaiming, ‘Welcome Home, Baby.

Without warning, Blaine felt his eyes welling, and he let out a watery chuckle. "Thats sweet," he said, and Kurt dropped the bag he was holding to reach for Blaines hand and give it a squeeze.

"Its from Tina, Sam, and me," Kurt said, smiling bashfully. "Im under strict instructions to let you know that they wanted to be here to welcome you home, but they thought you might want some time to get Oliver settled in. In addition to that, you have to call them as soon as youre feeling up to visitors because they miss the baby already."

"And so it begins," Blaine said with a laugh, his eyes still gleaming. "Its just a matter of time before they forget all about me; itll be all about the baby."

"Cant blame them," Kurt said with a small smirk. "He is pretty cute."

"And Im not?" Blaine said, a look of false shock covering his face.

"Youre the cutest," Kurt said, leaning down to press his lips softly to Blaines. "Now come on, Oliver needs to see his new nursery."

When Blaine finally unbuckled Oliver, and hesitantly transferred the sleeping baby to his crib, he couldnt look away. It was just like hed pictured it so many times, a fantasy brought to life, and Blaines emotions flared up again.

"I didnt know I could love someone so much so fast," Blaine said, not taking his eyes off the sleeping baby, watching his measured breaths. "Its almost scary to me."

Blaine could feel Kurt staring at him, so he glanced up to meet his gaze. The look that Kurt was giving him was so soft that Blaine felt his cheeks heat. "Yeah," he said quietly.

The moment was broken a second later when Oliver let out a piercing wail, and both men immediately shifted their attention to the baby.

"Okay," Kurt said. "Where do we start?"