"Blaine." Blaine felt a light patting on his cheek, cool fingertips brushing his skin. Grumbling between slightly parted lips, he flipped onto his side and buried his face in the pillow. He heard a huffing noise and soon the tapping was on his shoulder, "Oh, Blaine? Youre very difficult."

A small smile curved his lips at Kurts frustrations with him, but he kept his eyes closed. He felt Kurt crawl over to his other side and press their noses, "Please, wake up. Ill get lonely without anyone to talk to."

His smirk widened, and in a quick move, he toppled Kurt to the bed. Kurt softly squeaked in surprise, pressing his hands to Blaines shoulders to keep from being squished. Blaine grinned down at him, his cheeks flushed and his lips parted, his eyes as round as saucers. Realizing Blaine wasnt upset, Kurt happily wiggled and looped his arms around his neck, "Im happy youre awake! I had to spend a half an hour all by myself while you snoozed!" He stuck his bottom lip out in a pout.

"Im sorry." Blaine said softly, leaning down until the tips of their noses brushed. Kurts eyes were so blue, their lashes brushing with every blink. When Kurt bashfully batted his lashes and tried to turn his head, Blaine lowered his brows, "Dont be shy. I think your eyes are beautiful."

A nervous giggle slipped from Kurts pink lips, "I think your eyes are very lovely, too. Ive never seen eyes like yours... so golden. Youre handsome." Sitting up a little when Blaine moved off of him, Kurt turned away and brushed his fingers through his hair, primping himself so no stray locks were hanging across his forehead. He suddenly remembered something and his little jaw dropped, his mouth perfectly round, "Oh! I almost forgot. I made you breakfast. I love breakfast-in-bed. My maman would always make it for me if she was home. You get to be so cozy and munch on sweet treats."

Blaine raised his brows at Kurt, wondering why he never said anything less than cheerful. When he scampered off the bed and slid the tray of food off the dresser, Blaine sat back on the pillows and muttered, "Why are you always so... happy, Kurt? Dont you ever have a bad day?"

"Well, of course." Kurt said, climbing back onto the bed with Blaines help. "Everyone does. But if youre sad about it... then nothing makes it better. And things can always be better if you let them." Snuggling against Blaine, Kurt picked up a muffin and nibbled on the top of it. He smiled at him, "Besides... its very easy to be happy when I have you."

Blaine swallowed thickly, then he laid his cheek on Kurts blond hair and kissed the top of his head. "Can you read to me... please? I want to hear the story."

"Id love to." Kurt murmured softly, reaching for a book on the table beside of the bed. He pulled it onto his lap and opened to the first chapter, and after a few moments of looking at the words, he frowned and tapped his chin. "Oh, dear. I can only read a few of these words. You see, my maman taught me how to read in French when I was just a baby. My daddy had to work and couldnt teach me very much English." Holding the book out to Blaine, he said, "Maybe you could read to me. Id love to listen."

"Okay." Blaine took the book from Kurt, putting his finger on the first word, "There were two very different families, one from the richer side, and one from the poorer. The rich family had a daughter named Juliet, and the poor had a son named Romeo. Juliet and Romeo did not care who thrived in wealth, and who suffered in poverty. They played together every day."

He stopped reading after he turned the page to look at Kurt, whose eyes were wide with curiosity, already so fascinated with the story when it hadnt even begun. "One day their fathers had a feud, and they were not sure over what. They just heard noises of fighting, then their fathers dragged them separate ways. They were never to see each other again."

Turning the page, he found the end of the chapter, so he closed the book. Kurt made a low noise and stuck his bottom lip out in a pout, "How sad. I would just hate to be separated from the one I loved." Wrapping his fingers around Blaines arm, he rubbed his cheek against his shoulder, "I feel as if this story might make me cry."

"Its okay." Blaine turned his head and kissed Kurts forehead, "I wont let you cry. I would change the ending for you if I had to." Seeing a corner of Kurts mouth curve, Blaine gently pecked it with a kiss. "Do you want another chapter?"

Kurt looked at the book, his lips pursed with anxiousness but his eyes sparkling with hope. "Hm... no. I want to wait until tomorrow... I want to toss and turn over how it ends, and feel the way that Romeo and Juliet do when they get separated. I have hope for this story because you promised to make it a happy ending. Can I just know... is it really a happy ending?"

Blaine knew a few versions of the story, but he flipped to the back of the book, anyway, just to appease Kurt. Reading a few sentences, he bit his bottom lip, then lifted his head again. Kurt was still looking at him with those worried eyes. "You said that anything could be made better." Blaine told him, hoping that Kurt understood without him having to hurt him. Kissing Kurts forehead again, he put the book aside, "I need to leave before my dad notices Im gone."

Kurt held onto Blaines hand as he struggled off of the bed, "Will you be back tomorrow? Oh, please, tell me you will."

"I promise." Blaine leaned in for a quick kiss that still made his skin so hot. "Ill always return to you."

Blaine pulled into Santanas driveway and turned off his car, but he didnt get out yet. He stared up at her small house, but his vision was blurred by bullets of rains slashing across his windshield. Yanking his hood over his heavy hair, he took a deep breath and reached for the door handle. The walk up to the door didnt take long, but rain quickly soaked him until he was shaking from the chill and his fingertips turned blue.

Knocking on the door, he pushed his hood down and shook out his hair, pressing his lips together when the wind snapped his cheek. He heard footsteps over the pounding rain, and a few seconds later the door opened. Santana appeared on the other side, her numb expression not changing when she realized it was him. She gestured for him to come in, so he followed on her heels without saying a word. He immediately knew that something was wrong.

Santana shut the door behind him, giving him a few seconds to listen to her silent house, the only noise coming from the humming of the heater. "Youre back from your honeymoon." It wasnt a question, and she didnt seem to want to hear about it, "Wheres Kurt?"

He wondered why she was asking, because it shouldnt have concerned her that much now that Karofsky was in prison. "Hes at home with my family." That was all Blaine offered as the two of them walked deeper into the house, Santana with a slump to her shoulders. Blaine was tired of slouching. "Whats wrong?"

Throwing herself down on a couch in the living room, Santana remained silent for a few minutes, her fingers rubbing her temples as she stared at a staircase. She finally moved, her mouth falling open before she got the words out, "Hes being released in six months, Blaine. What are we going to do?"

Blaine didnt know how to respond to that. Hed be taking his family to California, where theyd be safe, but Santana hadnt mentioned getting away from him. Turning his head, he shoveled his fingers into his curls and squeezed his eyes shut. Before he could say anything, she continued, "I saw him while you were away. I go to visit him sometimes... when I want to see exactly whats destroying my life and know that I cant do anything about it... him."

He didnt think hed be able to handle seeing Karofsky like that, where he was only separated by a few bars. Keeping his eyes closed, he laid his head in his hand and muttered, "Is he still...?"

"Hes still nothing." The words were harsh, short, which made him look up at her. "Everything about him is different." Lowering her brows, Santana crossed her arms and fidgeted uncomfortably. "Hes worse than ever, Blaine. Hes like this savage monster that will bite your fingers if you stick them through the bars."

Blaine tried not to imagine Karofsky like that, so destructive and damaged that he barely seemed to feel anymore. "What about Hunter?" He said quietly, hating that he had anything to do with Karofsky. "Hes all I care about."

"You mean... if he wants to keep him?" Santana shook her head, "He hasnt said either way. Hes probably doing this on purpose... making us suffer in not knowing how Hunters life is going to end."

Blaines head jerked up, his eyes widening to the size of saucers at her last statement, "What did you just say?"

Raising a brow at him, she let her jaw drop, then she closed her mouth again, as if she was confused by his shock. "Dont be stupid, Blaine. You know hes a violent wreck. He would kill a baby if it was given to him. Hunter doesnt stand a chance-"

"Hunter doesnt need to know about him!" Blaine was unaware that his voice had raised at all until she winced, "Im not giving him to Karofsky... I dont give a damn what he has to say. Ill hide him away if thats what it takes."

Santana slowly sat up, the alarm still in her flashing eyes and parted lips, "Blaine, you promised you would give him back if Karofsky wanted him-"

"I said nothing!" Blaine yelled so loudly that the house seemed to shake, and for a few seconds neither of them said anything, both frustrated by the others intentions. Blowing out heavily, Blaine grumbled under his breath, "You said you didnt want him. That doesnt mean Karofsky has to get him."

Tears suddenly swelled in her eyes, her chest rising and dropping much faster than it should have, "Youre being so fucking selfish... just like you always are!" She whipped away from him and put her back to his face, then got up and wrapped her arms around herself. Her knees shook so violently that he thought she might collapse. "It was decided by the court that our time with Hunter would be split... If he wants the baby, we have to give it to him."

Blaine dug his heels into the floor, "You cant ask me to give my baby up to someone who wants to kill him."

"Your baby?" She turned around so quickly that she stumbled a little, but she caught herself on the edge of the couch, "I knew it was a mistake to give him to you! You get so attached to things and then you cling to them! Its what you did with Kurt! Blaine, this is not your baby and its not your decision! I asked you to watch the baby because I couldnt... I didnt want you to bond with him! Brittany is sick, Blaine! Shes dying!"

Shaking his head, Blaine backed up to a nearby wall and pressed his cheek to it. He felt so weak, like his entire body was collapsing. "What?"

Santana moved toward him, striding over to a staircase and stepping up. Without looking at him to see if he would follow, she disappeared up to the second floor. He stayed where he was for a few seconds, trying to catch his breath, and then he walked after her. His footsteps were so heavy, and he wanted to sit down, but he kept going up. Hearing a door crack open to his right, he glanced in that direction and saw Santana go into one of the rooms.

He went after her, putting his hand on the doorway and leaning against the wall. The room was a little cooler because of fans blowing at a bed, so he tightened his arms around himself. Sitting down on the edge of the bed, Santana looked at a lump under the blankets, and she carefully peeled them back.

He was startled by the figure stretched out on the bed, what looked like Brittany but couldnt have been. She was violently shaking, even though her cheeks were burning with color from heat. Her limp hair had been pulled back in a loose ponytail that was sticking to the nape of her neck, and her forehead shined with sweat. Her throat and everything lower was discolored, a deep purple that got darker at her fingers. They were usually thin and pale, but now they were almost black and swollen, at least three times the size of Blaines. Her stomach was also larger, bloated and full, and just as discolored as her fingers.

She groaned and convulsed, her head jerking up with the violent spasm. Taking a step away from her, Blaine looked at Santana, who didnt seem at all alarmed by the movement. She hushed Brittany, laying her back down on the pillows.

"What is this?" Blaine couldnt stop the words from coming out, "She was getting better when I left-"

"She wasnt." Santana said softly, covering her back up with the blankets. Brittany moaned and became very still, but she was still breathing too hard. "Hunter got so big that he caused a blockage in her veins that stopped the fluids from spreading, but after those whores took him out there was nothing to keep her entire body from filling."

"What fluids?"

Laying her hand on her forehead, Santana muttered, "The doctors found out what Karofsky put in Brittany. You remember... when I told you he drugged her. Once Hunter was out, they were able to run more invasive tests. The drug that Karofsky put in her... was a lethal poison. It moves slowly... so it makes the victim suffer for a long time before it finally reaches the heart and kills them. He put it in her on purpose. He wanted her to go through this. Its usually not this horrible... part of her pain is a disease she got after having sex with someone. I dont know who... she had sex with a lot of guys back in high school. The poison caused the disease to inflame, and her stomach bloated, which is why the placenta detached. At least... thats what the doctors told me."

Blaine was speechless as Santana kept stroking Brittany. He had no idea what he could tell her to reassure her because hed be stupid if he thought that things were going to be okay. Swallowing thickly, he said lowly, "Isnt there a way to get it out of her?"

Santana nodded, "There would have been... at first. The doctors could have pumped it out... and theyve tried that... theyve done that a thousand times. But its taking too much blood. The doctors have given up... they said theres nothing they can do for her now." Inhaling sharply, Santana covered her mouth and said through a thick voice, "As soon as the poison reaches her heart, shes going to die."

Staring at the panting girl on the bed, Blaine sighed heavily and turned away, his head throbbing. All he wanted to do was go home and be with his family, forget that hed ever come here. He still had only one concern, as bad as he felt for Santana. "What does Brittanys sickness have to do with Hunter?"

Santana lowered her voice, and she almost sounded desperate, "If you hide Hunter from Karofsky, he could take it up with the police. Theyd arrest Brittany for keeping his son from him-"

"Dont call him his son." Blaine snapped, his voice a low rumble.

"Whatever you want to call Hunter, he belongs to Karofsky!" She shouted. "Blaine, Brittany cant go to jail! She wouldnt make it there... shes too weak! You just have to give Hunter up!" When he made a horrid sound, her voice became shrill, frantic. "What if it was Kurt?"

Blaine was starting to lose control, lights flashing in his eyes. All he could see and hear was a helpless baby screaming under Karofskys violent hands. "Im damned!" He managed to get out, finally quieting her. "Hunter doesnt have to be!"

Stomping away from her when she screamed at him again, he slammed the door behind himself. He didnt know where to turn or what to look at, blinded by his own rage and confusion. The only thing clear to him was that Hunter loved him and needed him, and he needed him just as much. Going up to the front door, he flipped his hood up and stood there for a few minutes, listening to the rain and crashing thunder.

He slammed his fist against a wall and pressed his face to it, breathing so heavily because his throat felt tight. He needed to protect his family, and he would stop at nothing to keep them safe. Opening the door, he hurried outside and got into his car, needing to hold their little bodies again, kiss their dimpled cheeks, hear their playful giggles. He was suddenly terrified of losing everything he loved. The rain kept pouring.