There wasnt much that Blaine held dear to his heart, things he wanted to be so close to, but he knew that his time with his beloved Kurt was passing away. He would go home to a place where he was forced to be silent, out of the home that encouraged him to speak up. He didnt really understand what his parents wanted from him, whether they wanted a noisy son who was constantly under their feet, or a hushed one who only appeared to them when he became desperate for any attention he could get. He tried to stay out of their way, but then he was punished for being their quiet child that they couldnt get to say a word, and when he was around them, he was hurt for interrupting them, for bothering them. He couldnt make sense of anything, but here, in the Hummel household, he knew that his place was among the people who were as different as he was.

So he dreaded, as he lowered to the floor beside of Kurt that Christmas morning, the moment when it would all be over, when he would be ushered back to his own home, where such a happy holiday wasnt celebrated. He didnt know what was to come on this day, how this holiday was celebrated-there was a lot that Blaine didnt understand about the world because hed spent so long away from it. Taking a deep breath, and then another, Blaine watched through narrowed eyes as Kurt pounced in behind his mom, who was carrying a plate of Christmas cookies. They were all in the shapes of snowmen, Christmas trees, and snowflakes, something so cute that Blaine had never seen before. He almost felt alien, stuck out among things hed only watched from a distance, another planet.

Scooting back when Elizabeth knelt in front of him and held out the plate of warm cookies, Blaine wrapped his arms around his legs, almost rocking back into the tree and knocking it over. He jerked upright because hed been startled by the needles scraping his back, his mouth falling open. "Heres a cookie, honey." Picking up a snowflake and giving it to Blaine, Elizabeth smiled as he nibbled on the edge of it, then she turned her attention to Kurt, who was pawing at her dress. "Come now, sweet! Sit down beside of Blaine and you can have a cookie."

Plopping beside of Blaine with a huff, Kurt looked over the cookies and clapped his hands at one of the snowmen. She handed it over to him and boosted herself back up to her feet, calling over to her husband, "Burt, lets have Kurt and Blaine give each other gifts first. Blaine, sweet, why dont you reach under the tree and pick out a gift for Kurt?"

Kurt scrubbed the cookie crumbs off his cheeks and twisted around to face Blaine, almost falling into his lap. Blaine turned around and hunted under the tree for one of his gifts to Kurt, and he pulled out a small box that was wrapped in a pink bow. Laying it in Kurts palm, Blaine wrapped his arms around him and stared at his little hands, wincing with worry that he wouldnt like his present. Kurt busied himself with untying the bow, and he draped the little ribbon on Blaines curls. "Its pretty!" He squeaked, holding Blaines hand so he wouldnt reach up and mess with it. Pulling the top of the box off, Kurt gasped at the hair tie that was within, a pink bow with yellow dots. "I like it! Maman, will you put this in my hair, please? It will go with my Christmas dress."

"Of course, my pretty kitten." Going over to Kurts side and taking the bow from him, Elizabeth clipped it into Kurts hair, "How marvelous! Blaine, what a wonderful gift! Little darling, will you pick out a gift for Blaine now?"

Kurt flipped over onto his hands and knees, disappearing almost all the way under the tree in his search for the perfect gift. He pulled out a box and put it on Blaines lap, looking at him with hopeful eyes as Blaine unwrapped it. Blaine blinked at the book within, the story of Snow White. Grinning at his book, Blaine picked it up and hugged it to his chest, but he noticed a little doll that had been squished beneath the book. He pushed his lips to one side of his face as he considered the doll, one with rosy cheeks and black curls and the reddest of lips. "Snow White." He mumbled very lowly, lifting the fragile doll into his strong hands. She seemed so wrong in his grip, a piece of glass being crushed between two large fists.

"Oh, Blaine," Elizabeth held her hands out for the doll, and he set her in her palms. She turned the doll this way and that, brushing those dark curls off her pink cheeks. "Shes lovely, isnt she? You look a little like her, dont you?" Lifting her blue gaze to his blank face, she returned the doll to his arms and said, "Take care of her, okay? Kurt, youve done an amazing job with your gift! She is a treasure, just like the two of you." She wrapped her arms around the two of them, and they burrowed into her warmth, Blaine clinging to her for a moment too long because he didnt know if he would ever see her again. "You two are my precious gifts. Lets see now... Blaine, would you like to read to us? You could finish our Cinderella story... and maybe someday well hear you read Snow Whites tale."

"Okay." He muttered, getting to his feet and walking over to the coffee table, where his book had stayed. Holding it against his chest, he brought it back over to Kurt and dropped beside of him. Kurt was blind to the English words, but he still rested his cheek on Blaines shoulder and looked over the pages as if he was trying to understand the pictures. "Cinderellas happiness became more and more with each day that she spent with her loving Prince Charming. She ruled her kingdom with a fair mind and a kind heart. Everything was as it should be in her life. One day, though, all of the hatred in her life came back to her. None of them understood these brought up devastations, not her, nor her adoring Prince, nor her devoted kingdom, but she soon passed away of misery, leaving her Prince to grieve a lifetime of being alone, except for the constant friendship of his kingdom. This went on for years, the Prince with only a memory of her and her beauty, and the kingdom with an empty prince. The only beat of his heart was left in his kingdom, but he started to see something better."

Closing his book when he finished reading over the words, pressing his finger to them as he read them, he looked up into Kurts shimmering eyes that were so damp with tears. He wiped them with a pink sleeve, leaving dark streaks across the silk. His lips parted and revealed a dry mouth, all of the moisture sucked into the corners of his eyes. "How very sad." He whispered through a thick but high-pitched voice, "I wish that Prince Charming could have lived happily ever after with Cinderella."

"Im sure that he did..." Blaine reached for a piece of his hair and tugged on it, a nervous habit that was so obvious to Kurt and Elizabeth, "in memory." At their silence, he cleared his throat and moved away from them, but Kurt suddenly leaned over and looped his thin arms around Blaines neck.

"I love you." He whispered in his ear, making Blaine lower his lashes as he relaxed into Kurt. It became very quiet in the room after that, not even a pen dropping to be heard. He glanced up at Elizabeth, who was gnawing her bottom lip until it was sore. Laurice, who had been sitting on the couch and looking at them from afar, stretched her long legs and strode over to them. Bending over her sister, she hugged her tightly, and Elizabeth reached up and patted her hand. Her eyes became very glassy and vague, her mind going somewhere else, then she twisted around and murmured something to her twin.

Sighing very heavily after Laurice replied to her, Elizabeth slumped her shoulders and glimpsed out the foggy window that was outlined in frost. She stared directly at the darkened house on the other end of the street, not a single light on. Quickly turning away before Blaine caught on to her changed mood, she pulled both of them back into her arms and said, "My kittens, Im leaving for France tonight."

Tilting his chin up, Kurt squished his moms cheeks between his little hands, "But why, Maman? Ill miss you too much!"

"I have to go back to Broadway." She said in a low voice, her emotions obviously shaken by the change in conversation. "But you know what Ive always said to you. Ill be back in just a few months... just count your heartbeats until I come home. Thats how much love we have for each other." Wiping Kurts damp cheeks, she bent to kiss his forehead, "Remember that you always have your daddy... and Blaine. You have Blaine now." She turned back to Blaine and slipped her fingers under his chin, even though he tried to look away from her. He couldnt see her kind eyes right now. "And you must be strong for me... you have to remember to be strong."

Blaine rested in her arms for a long time, both of them thinking their own thoughts but of the same thing. He was sure that he was too weak to ever be strong, but that was what Elizabeth, the woman who had become his mom, wanted from him, so he had to be. He thought he only blinked, but he could have had his eyes closed for hours because the next time he even twitched, he was being set on the floor with Kurt, who cried and raised his hands for his mom. She numbly reached down to smooth his hair, but made no other movement of affection toward him, no hugs or kisses, no pats to her leg to assure him that it was okay to follow her.

She left the room with her sister, and Blaine kept staring after her, wondering what was happening. It was all made clear to him when Burt struggled out of his recliner, getting to his feet and walking over to Blaine. He scrubbed his hair, kneeling beside of him to grumble close to his head, "Come on, bud. Lets get your coat on. Its time to go home."

Blaines eyes widened to the size of saucers. He still didnt understand what was going on, even though hed been preparing for this all day. Letting Burts giant hand wrap around his, Blaine went after him, even though Kurt tried to grab onto his jeans. Burt took him over to the table, where his hat and coat were, and he bundled him up and helped him into his boots. Handing his doll and books back to him, Burt bent over him and put his hands on his knees. Even though Burt had always seemed rough to him, his blue eyes were wet and red at the rims. "Youre a good kid."

He knew that he was trying to make him feel better about going home, but it sounded like Burt was saying goodbye to him. Panicking because he didnt want this safe haven to be over, Blaine snapped his eyes over to Kurt, who was torn between chasing after his mom and going over to Blaine. He was losing both of his loves, and Kurt hated losing things that were dear to him, so Blaine felt all the worse about what was happening. He should have just left earlier so Kurt could focus on parting on good terms with his mom.

Putting his books and doll aside because he knew he couldnt take them home with him or else his dad would destroy them, Blaine got down from the chair that Burt had set him on. He went back over to Kurt, who snuggled against his chest. His body was so warm, while Blaines blood ran cold. Elizabeth reappeared from the hallway with her luggage behind her, and Laurice trailed after her. Holding a tissue to her eyes, Elizabeth dabbed them and closed them for a brief second, and then the blue glowed again. "Blaine," she made her quivering voice as steady as she could, but Blaine saw through her calm façade as easily as he could see his own hand. Hed put on a façade long enough that he wasnt naïve to them anymore. It was the only thing he wasnt naïve about. "Im ready to walk you home, sweetheart."

She held her hands out for Blaine, and Blaine hesitantly peeled himself off of Kurt and approached Elizabeth like a wounded animal, his head lowered and his shoulders dropped. Kurt ran after him and grabbed onto his arm, unwilling to let him go. "Maman, cant Blaine stay?" He pleaded.

Elizabeth shut her eyes again, "Love, you know as well as I do that he simply cant. I wish he could. You know I do. But its time to say goodnight to Blaine. Youll see him again."

Turning away from Elizabeth, Blaine stared at Kurt, meeting a shining pair of blue eyes. Kurt tossed himself into Blaines arms, crying into his shoulder and begging him to stay. Nipping his bottom lip, Blaine held Kurt in his arms, turning his head so he could kiss his cheek. He tasted salt, but it was still so like Kurt. "Goodbye." Blaine whispered in his ear, his voice so hoarse that it was almost impossible to understand him. "I love you."

"I love you, too!" Kurt whined into his neck, hardly able to pucker his lips for a parting kiss. "Ill see you as soon as I can." The warmth of him left Blaines body, replacing the heat with a chill that turned his lips blue and froze the tears caught in his eyes.

Elizabeth walked with him over to the door, and Blaine looked one last time over his shoulder before he disappeared into the blackness. The snow made an eerie glow all around them, lighting up the dark sky. He took a deep breath, and he squeezed Elizabeths hand much tighter. She tugged him closer to herself, "Youre okay, my little love. Everythings going to be fine."

Blaine felt like he was walking to his execution, an excruciating punishment waiting for him behind those doors for the crime that he had gone through with, even though hed known it was bad. Somewhere deep down, he knew what his parents said, that what he did was terrible, but when he was with Kurt, nothing seemed bad. Before he knew what had happened, how short that walk had been, he realized that he was in front of the heavy door that wouldnt open to weaker people, just the strong. Elizabeth lifted a tiny hand and knocked, and he heard her inhale sharply as she put it back down. She seemed so little compared to his big house, but so cozy, someone he could reach up to and look at, not so tall that he couldnt even see her.

She looked down at him, but her worried gaze jerked back up when the door swung open. Blaine flinched at his dads hard face, ducking behind Elizabeths leg. She immediately tightened her grip on him, her entire body becoming tense as she, too, was put off by his dads intimidating sneer. "M-Mr. Anderson." She murmured, tucking Blaine farther behind her when his dad didnt respond with anything but an exasperated breath. "Im terribly sorry if we worried you about him, but I-I have-"

"Im not interested in anything you have to offer me." His dad spoke to her as if she was trying to sell him something, and Blaine watched her eyes open wider. Her hand became so tight on his shoulder that Blaine couldnt move an inch. He turned away without another word spoken, and he started to shut the door in their faces. Pulling away from Elizabeth before he could be left out in the cold-he was sure that his dad just hadnt seen him, he hurried past his dads legs and turned around to say goodbye to Elizabeth, but the door shut her out.

Stretching to reach the door handle that was about a foot above his head, he cried to his dad, "Dad!" His dad ignored him as if he hadnt even heard him, and he walked away from him, a blank expression on his face. Returning his attention to the door because he was so desperate to give Elizabeth a hug before she left, he grabbed for the door handle, but Blaine fell away from the door when someone smacked his hand hard enough to make his skin throb. The crack of skin against skin was the only noise to be heard in the house, then Blaine heard his heart beat so much faster when someone slapped him across his face.

Jerking his head over to where the pain was coming from, Blaine flinched at the sight of his mom, who was frowning so deeply that Blaine wondered if her face would get stuck like that. Her eye was swollen with a blackened bruise, a shock of color in her drained face. "How dare you?" She hissed to him, keeping her voice low so his dad, who had retreated into his office as if he wanted to get away from them, wouldnt hear. "How dare you make your dad angry? Do you know how hard it is to keep him pleased, Blaine? I work so hard to keep his temper down! But you upset him... and look at what he did!" She pointed to her face as if Blaine wasnt already so aware of it, and he turned his head so he wouldnt have to see what hed done. For not showing her guilt or sorrow about his bad actions, he got another slap across the face, this one hard enough to make him cry out. "Get upstairs right now."

Blaine stayed where he was because they always told him when he could come out of hiding, but his mom was silent this time. Maybe she never wanted him to come out. "M-Mom-" he begged, his voice thick and raspy. "Mom, Im hungry. Can I eat something?" He wasnt really hungry, just wanted to do something to stay down here for a little longer. He was worried that if he went up to his room without trying to make things better, he would never be let out again so he could see Kurt.

His mom gasped when a book was thrown out of the office, and she quickly backed away from Blaine, letting him be the sacrifice. Stomping footsteps rattled the entire house, making the furniture shake until Blaine worried that itd fall over. A moment later, his dads murderous expression, his furrowed brows and his peeled lips, came into his line of sight. "No! Youre not eating!" He shouted at him, making Blaines ear drums pop and ring. "You think you can take advantage of me, you spoiled brat? You think you can find a better family? Do you think that we abuse you? Go eat with that other family, then! Or is my food better because Im richer than them and can buy nicer things?" Of course it came back to how much money his dad had. "Im not going to beg you to be my son if you dont want to be! Youre not the most important thing in my life. I have another son, so you go find other parents."

Staring at his dad because he was unsure if he was being tricked, Blaine slowly got to his feet and walked past his dad. He knew what his decision would be, but he had to get his things ready so he could leave, if only for a little while. Maybe hed just come home whenever Coop came around. Hed be safe to come home whenever he was there because he would protect him, and hed be glad to be with his brother again because he missed him so much when he was gone. He took the stairs and got up to his room, a dark place that was so different from Kurts room. Taking a look around the room, he walked over to his window and pressed his nose to it, freezing the tip of it. His breath blew and fogged up his view of the little house on the corner of the street.

Looking out at the little family that had gathered around the car in the driveway, Blaine watched a pink form dash up to his mom and hug her tightly. Blaine frowned at that because he couldnt remember the last time hed hugged his mom, if he ever had. Burt spent a moment with Laurice, holding her to his chest, then he moved onto his wife and said something. Blaine pawed at the window, wishing he could be with them, but by the time he made it out of his house, they would have already driven away. He sucked in a breath, and he kept messing with the latches on his window. He suddenly realized that they had been broken, making it easier for him to get in and out of the window. Knowing that this was their way of saying they didnt want him anymore and he could leave at any time, Blaine turned his gaze to the floor, hearing the shuffling of feet and the clearing of throats. "Goodbye." He mumbled to nobody, knowing they wouldnt have heard him even if he had been standing right next to them.

He turned away from his window and got busy with yanking clothes out of his closet. It was a little difficult because he couldnt reach the hangers, so he just tried to be as careful as he could with ripping the clothes off their hooks. A few of them might have torn, but he didnt care all that much. He gathered up all of his toys and books, leaving behind those stupid action figures with the laser eyes and the guns that shot out little darts. His parents had always urged him to play with toys that other normal boys played with, but he found no interest in a toy that he once shot himself in the face with as he tried to figure out how to get it to shoot.

He stuffed all of his favorite things into a bag and went over to the window, leaving it partially cracked so he could get back in whenever he wanted to. He knew he would have to come back for Coop, but he just couldnt stay here anymore. It wasnt the best place for him to be, so he climbed down the wall of his house and ran off to something better.

Blaine had never thought himself able to be loved. When his parents had abused him when he was only a child, hed known, somewhere deep down, that there wasnt a chance to be loved by them. He was too much of a disappointment to them, and hed held onto their resentment of him for the longest time because hed known nothing else. Hed come across Finn and Puck when he was still young, not a child but not yet a teenager, and theyd helped him out of his fear of being hurt by others, but then hed lost them just as he had his parents. He hadnt even been loved by the man who wanted him all to himself, letting no one else in to the little world they shared together. Karofsky had treated him like a precious jewel, but as he stared at his husband from across the room, watching him fold the babies clothes, he realized that he and Karofsky had never loved each other.

His eyes followed Kurt as he wandered around the room, catching the way Kurts silver dress fluttered behind him. He focused on Kurts face, the way his brows were slightly ruffled as he carefully hung the clothes up in the closet. His throat moved as he hummed to himself, a quiet noise that could barely be heard over the TV, which Blaine had left on from when the babies had watched it as they ate breakfast. He thought that it was playing Tangled, but he hadnt looked over at it since Keegan had taken the babies out for a few hours. Kurt had thought it was a good idea for Keegan to spend some time of his own with the children, so he and Blaine had stayed behind at the hotel.

Blaine took the time to relax on the bed, something his sore muscles desperately needed, but Kurt had been up and about, never staying still for long. In Kurts eyes, there was always something to organize, so Blaine sat back and looked at him. After Kurt put away all of the clothes, he turned back around, and his eyes passed over Blaine on their way over to something else that was out of place. He obviously hadnt been expecting Blaine to be staring at him because he jumped and his eyes widened, but then a pretty smile drew onto his lips.

Giving Kurt the same smirk, Blaine rolled over onto his back, letting his head hang off the end of the bed. He stretched his legs out, and his feet hit the pillows. "We havent been alone like this since our honeymoon." Blaine said lowly, and his grin widened when Kurts cheeks turned red at the mention of the honeymoon.

Padding over to Blaine and lowering to the floor in front of him, Kurt put his hands on Blaines cheeks and kissed the tip of his nose. Blaine grabbed the sleeve of Kurts dress and tugged on it, but Kurt quickly covered Blaines hand with his own, keeping it still. "Oh, Blaine! The children will be back soon." Smiling at Blaines pouty lips that were pulled into a frown, Kurt kissed him again, their noses bumping. He pulled away and touched Blaines stubbly chin, so rough and scratchy on his smooth palm. "My silly man... soon, I promise."

Getting to his feet, Kurt started to move away, but Blaine snatched his hips and yanked him onto the bed. Kurt fell over Blaines chest in a tangled mess of limbs and dress. "Blaine!" He cried through his giggles, trying to right himself but unable to keep his balance as Blaine struggled to sit up. The two of them dropped to the mattress again, the entire bed shaking as they laughed. In their writhing to free themselves, Kurts dress had wrapped around Blaines legs, so neither of them could move an inch.

Both of them startled at the sound of the door cracking open, and they glanced up at their children, who were licking cotton candy off their fingers. Hunter was the first to notice the pile on the bed, and he threw his head back with a shout. "Its a wrestling match!" Scurrying over to the bed, Hunter climbed up the sheets and threw himself down on Blaines chest. The air rushed out of Blaine, and he suddenly couldnt get a breath at all when Archer pounced on him. Sticky fingers grabbed his face, and a screeching baby appeared in his eyesight, hot air blowing on his face as Archer screamed with happiness.

Hushing his son with a kiss, Blaine rubbed his nose against Archers, admiring all of the freckles on that button nose. "Did you have a good time, baby? What did you do with your uncle... besides eat cotton candy?" Wincing at the wet stickiness on his cheek, Blaine scrubbed it with his fingers. Kurt finally got loose from Blaine and wriggled away from him, busying himself with smoothing and plucking at his dress.

"We had fun!" Archer cried, his eyes widening to the size of saucers. "We went to Wonderland and saw the Mad Hatter! I said boo to him and scared him away!" Realizing that they were telling about their day to Blaine, Hunter rolled over to face him and started babbling with Archer, both of their voices getting louder as they competed to tell everything to Blaine before the other did. "And then we saw Tarzans tree house! There was a silly, baby monkey! He stole Janes boot!" Pointing at his own shoe as if to show Blaine what a shoe was, Archer went on after he took a deep breath. He had a lot to say all at once. "And then we saw Woody and Buzz, and there were all of these targets and I shot every one of them, Daddy! I shot more than Hunner."

Hunter narrowed his eyes at that, a foul look on his face that made Blaine raise his brows. Hed gotten lost by their babbling about fifty words ago, so he was trying to understand why Hunter was so angry. "And then Uncle Keegan took us to lunch where Pinocchio eats lunch every day! We went to see Pinocchio after that... we got eaten by a whale! And then the whale sneezed us out."

Quickly interrupting Archer, who could talk much faster than he could, Hunter leaned over to Blaine and wrapped his arms around his neck, "And then we saw a parade on our walk back here! It was really bright and colorful! We saw Mickey. He was dancing!" He batted at Blaines shoulders, "What are we doing now, Daddy? Are we going to have more fun?"

"More fun, baby?" Blaine put his hands on Hunters side, holding him up so he didnt wobble around on the squishy mattress, "I dont know... what does my precious baby want to do?" He gave Hunter a kiss, tasting the sugary sweet on his chin. Wiping Hunters messy face with his sleeve, he said, "Do you want to go over to the other theme park? They have big rides there... youre my big boy, though. I think you can handle them."

"Yeah!" Hunter shrieked, tightening his arms around Blaine, "Lets go, Daddy! Arch, come on! Race you to the door!" Sliding off the bed with Archer right on his heels, waddling after him, Hunter didnt even slow down when Archer cried for him to wait. Hunters long, skinny legs carried him much farther with each step, while Archer still had the short, pudgy legs he had when he was only an infant. They didnt get him very far, so he arrived at the door after Hunter did, and he made it very clear that he was upset about that by tossing his head back and crying that Hunter had cheated because he hadnt waited on him.

Swinging his legs off the bed, Blaine walked over to his shoes and put his feet in them, "Hold on, honeys. Well go in a minute." They kept pawing at the door handle, but neither of them were tall enough to reach it. He stood up after he had his shoes on, and he looked over at Keegan, who was waiting by the door with the children. "Thank you..." he mumbled to him, getting Keegans grin. "It was really nice of you to take them out."

"Very sweet." Kurt agreed, going over to Keegan and patting his hand. He returned to Blaines side and wrapped his fingers around his arm, walking beside of him as they went down the hallway.

Blaine led his family out of the hotel and into the warm sun, staying just a few steps behind his children, who were chasing each other around in circles. Hunter snatched Archer a few times, making him shriek and jerk away. They ran the whole way over to the other park, only taking a few breaks to catch their breath when they fell back to hang off Blaines legs. Blaine wondered how much energy they really had. As soon as they got over to Splash Mountain, the babies stood back and stared up at the logs falling over the edge of the cliff. "Daddy, are we going to fall out of the log?" Archer whispered to him, and Blaine reached down to stroke his hair off his face.

"No, honey. Daddy will keep you safe." He promised Archer, bending down to pick him up and hold him against his chest. Archer held onto him with a pair of tight fists for the entire time they were waiting, the worry on his face obvious as he kept his eyes on the cliff where logs were constantly rolling over.

When they got up to their own log that was already damp with water, Blaine started to set Archer into one of the front seats, but he cried and squeezed Blaine as tightly as he could. Keeping his grip on him, Blaine waited for Keegan to help Kurt into one of the seats and boost Hunter into the very front seat. Hunter leaned all the way forward and waved his hands at the water running by their log, screaming when he felt a light mist on his face. "Baby, youre okay. This isnt scary. Daddy will be right behind you." Blaine tried to comfort his trembling baby, climbing into his own seat and putting Archer in the one in front of his. He wrapped his hands around Archers sides, the only way to keep him from squirming.

Behind him, Kurt laid his hands on his shoulders, laughing when they rolled out of the dock and into the stream of water. They dropped down a small hill, and Blaine heard Archer make a low sound. "Its okay." He murmured to him, rubbing his back with a gentle hand. They passed through a briar patch that was full of thorns that Archer ducked away from.

He covered his head with a pair of chubby arms, "Dont prick me, thorns!" He cried to them, shaking from his head to his toes. Blaine scooted as far forward as he could and wrapped his arms around Archer, pressing his lips to the back of his head.

"Shh... Daddys got you." He pointed out the crazy rabbit, who was bouncing along in the pasture, in his attempt to distract Archer from his fears. "Look, honey! Theres a bunny."

"Bunny!" Archers little head lifted from his chest, and he grinned from ear to ear at the silly rabbit. "Daddy, its a bunny!" He opened and closed his fists at the bunny, then he widened his eyes when they went around a corner and found the bunnys friends. Many of the animals were singing and dancing, but they couldnt see them for long because they rushed over a hill and zipped into a darkened cave. Archer clapped his hands over his eyes, shaking his head when Blaine tried to urge him to peek at the bright colors that flashed around them.

They paused by vultures that screeched at them. The earsplitting noises made Archer twist around so he could be closer to Blaine, but the back of his seat kept them apart. "Daddy!" He begged, just barely peering out from behind his hand when Hunter shook his fists at the birds and yelled at them. He hid again when they passed by the fox, who had the rabbit tied up over a fire.

"Honey... Archer." Blaine smoothed Archers hair again, feeling drips of water fall off the ends of his curls. "Daddy wont let anything hurt you. Sweetheart, look up. Were about to go over the cliff. Youll just get a little wet."

Archer poked his nose up, his eyes widening as they got closer to the cliff. The sound of water rushing and crashing at the bottom must have spooked him because he screeched again, pressing himself to the back of his seat. Hunter, who had his fists up, quickly put his hands down and held onto the bar in front of him when Blaine told him to. Keeping a tight grip on Archer, Blaine looked down at the water below when they reached the top of the cliff. They rocked there for a few seconds before their log was weighed down, and they plunged into the foam at the bottom of the waterfall.

A helpless scream ripped out of Archers throat, while Hunter yelled as loudly as he could, so excited about the thrilling drop. Blaine lost his breath in the fall, and he heard Kurt and Keegan laughing from behind him. As soon as they got out of the bubbly water and drifted back into a dark cave, Archer turned around and gave Blaine a pitiful look. He was a wet mouse, his hair sticking to his cheeks and his bottom lip puckered. "Honey... you did so good." Blaine muttered to Archer, who held his arms out for Blaine. Blaine took both of his hands and kissed them, and when they got back to the dock, he boosted his son up and held his soaked body to his chest. Blaine hadnt gotten quite as wet, but Archer pressed himself into Blaines shirt, which made Blaine damp and cold.

Kurt, who was celebrating with Hunter, hopped over to Archer and gave him a quick hug. His messy hair had darkened with the water that had sprayed him, and his silver dress was sticking to his skin. "Im so proud of you!" He squeaked, kissing Archers wet cheek. "Lets warm up now! You must be cold."

Archer wrapped his arms around himself and shivered, so Blaine tightened his arms around him and tried to keep him warm. The walk under the warm sun dried them off by the time they got to the other side of the theme park. Archer stretched his arms up and tried to feel the heat, so Blaine held him up a little higher. Stretching his neck when they got into the new place, Archer widened his eyes when they passed over the Fun Wheel that towered above the entire park. He grabbed for it, his hands opening and closing on nothing. "Hi!" He cried to the picture of Mickey that stuck out from the middle of the wheel. "Daddy, its a mousey!"

"Thats Mickey, honey." Setting his baby on his shoulders so he could see much farther, he reached up and rubbed his knee, "What do you think of going up there, baby?" He glanced down at the top of Hunters head, seeing his baby whack at his leg to get his attention.

"That sounds fun, Daddy! I want to go up high!" He wrapped his thin arms around Blaines leg, holding onto him as he tried to walk. Laughing at his baby, Blaine tried to keep his hands on Archer while he tripped over his own feet. He rubbed Archers back on his way over to the wheel, knowing that he was a little nervous about heights. Archer had never been one for adventure, but to his other son, everything could be made a perilous quest.

They only had to wait in line for about five minutes, and Blaine carried Archer into one of the stationary gondolas. He sat down on one of the benches and held Archer up to the glass wall, letting him paw all over it and squish his nose to it. Hunter ran in after them and hopped onto the bench beside of Archer. Walking in with Keegan at his side, Kurt lowered onto the other bench and gave his children an encouraging smile when they twisted around to figure out why their gondola was rattling.

The gondola lifted off the ground and swung up into the air, slowly leaving the park below. Archers eyes widened to the size of saucers, and he quickly peeled away from the glass and held onto Blaine. "Youre okay, baby." He promised him, wrapping his arm around Archer and patting his bottom. "Look at the park, Arch... You can see where were eating dinner. Isnt that a pretty restaurant? Its right on the edge of the bay."

Archers little arms looped around Blaines neck as he stared out the window, his huge eyes still wide with worry that they would fall out of the gondola. He turned his head and buried his face in Blaines cheek, but he peered back out when Hunter patted his shoulder. "Come here, Arch." Holding his hand out, Hunter urged Archer to come over to him, and Archer cautiously waddled over to him. The two of them stood side by side, their hands in each others, and Blaine smiled at them.

"Thats nice of you, Hunt." Blaine muttered to his son, watching Archer press closer to Hunter when they neared the top of the wheel. Hunter wrapped his arm around his waist, trying to keep him safe.

"Im here, Arch." Hunter told him, and Archers shoulders dropped as he relaxed into his best friend, trusting him to never let him fall. "Ive got you." They leaned closer, their heads drooping against one anothers. Archers dark curls spilled over Hunters head, the black locks tangling around the brown spikes.

They lowered back to the ground, but neither Hunter nor Archer wanted to pull away from the glass. Clinging to Hunters shirt with tight fingers, Archer looked over his shoulder and held his hand out for Blaine. He lifted both of his children into his arms and carried them off of the wheel. Laying them over his shoulders, he patted their backs and said, "Honeys, do you want to go to the river rapids? My poor baby will be all wet again." He squeezed Archer to himself, feeling his little fingers twine through his hair and tug.

Blaine took his children over to the rapids, which roared so loudly that Blaine couldnt hear himself think. Hunter cried at the white foam that fizzed up at the top of the stream, waving his little hands at it, "Daddy, are we swimming?"

"No, baby. Were going in a raft." Blaine chuckled at his silly son, handing him over to Keegan when he held his arms out. He tightened his grip on Archer so he didnt lose hold of him as he stepped into their raft, then he held one hand up for Kurt. Lowering beside of Blaine, Kurt put his hand on Archers knee and rubbed.

"Youre okay, my love. Your daddy will keep you safe." He cooed to him, looking into Archers huge eyes before he turned them to Hunter, who was in Keegans lap. Hunter threw his hands up and screamed as they rocked out of the dock. Boosting Archer up higher so he could see the water flowing below him, he wrapped his arms around his waist. They rolled down a little hill, so Archer wobbled a little. He put his hands on Blaines shoulders, squeezing him tightly as he looked down at the water that was splashing up the side of the raft.

Taking his sons hand, he held it over the edge of the raft, letting droplets of water hit the tips of his fingers. Archer pulled his hand away and shook it, then he turned around to Blaine and put it on his chin. He kissed his sons fingers, tucking him into his jacket as the stream raced much faster. Blackness suddenly blinded them as they whirled under a shack, which scared Archer as he burrowed into Blaines neck, but he rubbed his back with a gentle hand. "Daddys got you." He mumbled into his hair, pressing a kiss to those dark curls.

He hardly realized they got out of the darkness because all he could see was those black curls when he opened his eyes. Lifting his head at the water that misted him, Blaine shoved his damp hair off his face and glanced down at his son, who had his hands raised to the sprays. He chuckled at him and gave his wet cheek a kiss, feeling warm water under his lips. As they rolled around to the dock, he picked his son up and draped him across his shoulder. "I think a little boy is ready for dinner."

Frowning up at the dark sky, Archer grabbed at the empty air and said, "After we fill our bellies, do we have to go night night, Daddy? Im not sleepy at all!" He put his hands on Blaines cheeks, giving him a sad look that made Blaines heart ache. He hated that he always went so soft for his children.

"My poor baby." Rubbing his nose against Archers, Blaine tore his eyes away from him so he could walk with his family. "Youll be sleepy after you eat dinner, honey. But maybe wed have time to get some ice cream." At Archers celebratory noise, Blaine grinned and hugged him much tighter. "Come on, sweetheart. Do you want to eat outside? We can look out at the water." He followed his family into the café, and the five of them went up to the counter to order something that sounded good. After they were done picking, Blaine handed Archer over to Kurt so he could carry the food outside.

It was cooling off outside, and a light breeze brushed over their faces, blowing their hair back. Blaine had never felt so relaxed as he did when he sat down with his family. Kurt took Hunter over to the edge of the dock to eat, and they both slipped out of their shoes before they dangled their feet just above the water. The fish popped up to kiss their feet, begging for bites of bread that Kurt tore off his sandwich. Kurts feet were much slimmer and whiter than Hunters, which were brown and wide and flat. Smiling at the two of them, Blaine looked over at Archer, who was chewing on an apple. The juice dripped over his fingers, making them sticky, so Blaine wiped them off with a napkin. "Are you happy, honey?" He asked his son, and Archer poked his nose up at him.

His lips tugged into a lopsided grin, and he held his arms up, "Love you, Daddy." He peeped, his voice soft because of his draining energy. Hed had a long day, so Blaine knew it was time to take him back to the hotel. Gulping down the rest of his soup, Blaine stood up and collected his son in his arms. Kurt and Hunter had already finished eating and were tossing little pieces of food at the ducks that had gathered around their feet, so he helped them up and waited for Keegan to finish his glass of water.

On their trip back to the hotel, Blaine stopped at one of the ice cream stands and ordered his children their very favorites. He handed Hunter a chocolate chip scoop, and Archer a cookies and cream, but he wasnt sure who had really wanted what because they licked each others. Keegan held Hunter up with one arm and tried to balance his mocha sundae with the other. Kurt kept their strawberry sundae in his hand because Blaine was holding Archer on his shoulder, and he spooned some of the strawberry juice and banana out for Blaine to eat in between bites of his own.

"Is that good, baby?" Blaine asked Archer when he made a low sound, and he smiled at the white that was smeared on his chin and cheeks. "Youre a mess, silly boy." Turning his head and kissing Blaines jaw, Archer giggled at the smudge that was left behind.

"Now Daddys a mess!" Archer poked at the spot, then he screeched when Blaine turned his head and nipped the tips of his fingers.

They got back to the hotel a minute later, and Blaine was relieved to step off the elevator and walk down the hallway to their room. Setting Archer on the bed, Blaine pulled his clothes off of him and turned away to find a pair of pajamas for him. He found a pink pair that had the princesses on them, and he quickly tugged the shirt over his head. His little hands popped out of the frilly sleeves, and Archer held his hands up, grabbing for Blaine. He bent to kiss his son, "Daddy will come to bed in a minute." Going over to the TV to put in The Little Mermaid, he heard Kurt pad through the room, and he turned his head to watch him carry Hunter over to the bed. Hunter was dressed in a pair of pajamas with puppies on them, the pants and shirt very fuzzy and soft.

Hunters head nodded up and down with every step that Kurt took, Kurts humming the last thing to lull him to sleep. By the time Kurt laid him down on the pillow, he was sound asleep, his blond lashes lowered and his pale mouth hanging open. Going over to the bed, Blaine sat down on the edge of it and bent over his sons, giving both of them kisses. "Sleep well, darlings. I love both of you so much." Before he could leave to dress in his own pajamas, Archers little fingers wrapped around his thumb, holding him in place. He bowed over his sons hand and kissed every freckle that was scattered across his knuckles, then he moved over to Hunters hand and lavished it in kisses. He could taste the sweetness of ice cream. "These hands are little diamonds." He murmured softly, squishing both of those hands in his.