“A person's a person, no matter how small.”

~Dr Seuss, Horton Hears a Who

Days of Glory – Chapter 2– Katura Elizabeth

Among the other papers, a photograph fell out onto Kurt's lap. He picked it up and saw a very, very small new born baby asleep on a white fur blanket, a pink crocheted afghan draped over her. He held the photograph and looked at Blaine.

They scrambled to read the letter.

Dear Mr and Mr Blaine and Kurt Hummel-Anderson,

As you know, the screening process for your application with our agency to adopt a child in need had finished the last phase and I am excited to inform you that you have passed every hurdle and are now on our list to be considered for a child.

While many adoptions are a long, involved process with much waiting time – sometimes years – this is not true in your case. Because you wish to adopt a child in need, there are many very special children waiting for a loving home.

When reviewing your file, I was reminded of a young girl who has recently given birth in one of our homes. She is only fourteen and unable to give her child a stable home environment or support the baby once she returns to her own home. She looked through files of many possible homes for her child and picked you. If this seems a compatible match, please contact me this week and you can come to meet the baby. The mother does not want contact, but will provide a tape for her child if you wish this so the baby can “meet” her when the time comes.

I am including a picture of the baby, who was born on June 19th. If you wish to know more, open the sealed envelope I have provided.

I hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely,

JoLinda Christine Charles

Family Counselor and Social Worker, 'Adoptions for Love'

Blaine and Kurt looked at each other, then once more at the photograph. The baby was blue-eyed and had a bit of reddish curls peeking out from under the little cap. It was hard to tell, but it looked content and sleepy. They did not need words, Kurt took the sealed envelope that had only a case number on the outside and opened it.

Name: Baby Doe #7572217

Sex: Female

DOB: June 19, 2015

Baby Doe is female, reddish hair and blue eyes.

Mother is of: Scots-Irish descent. Father is of mixed race: Filipino/Korean

Baby Doe is healthy with the exception of being small birth weight (under 5 pounds) and RSV diagnosed on third day. (see attachment). She needs oxygen for the next few months but this usually clears within the first six months.

Birth mother was free of STD and her Drug/Tox screen was negative upon entrance to the hospital. Baby Doe was born via C-section at 36 weeks due to fetal distress and the size of the mother's pelvic dimensions.

A second page read:

RSV: Respiratory Syncytial Virus can lead to a lower respiratory tract illness such as pneumonia or bronchiolitis — an inflammation of the small airway passages entering the lungs. Signs and symptoms may include:

• High fever

• Severe cough

• Wheezing — a high-pitched noise that's usually heard on breathing out (exhaling)

• Rapid breathing or difficulty breathing, which may make the child prefer to sit up rather than lie down

• Bluish color of the skin due to lack of oxygen (cyanosis)

Infants are most severely affected by RSV. They may markedly draw in their chest muscles and the skin between their ribs, indicating that they're having trouble breathing, and their breathing may be short, shallow and rapid. They may cough. Or they may show few, if any, signs of a respiratory tract infection, but will eat poorly and be unusually lethargic and irritable.

Most children and adults recover from the illness in one to two weeks. But in young babies, infants born prematurely, or infants or adults who have chronic heart or lung problems, the virus may cause a more severe — occasionally life-threatening — infection that requires hospitalization.

Kurt's eyes got huge, looking at Blaine.

“Can we do this?” he asked.

“I think so. We nursed a baby flying squirrel back to health. How much harder can a human baby be?” he asked, his look so serious. Kurt looked at him, mouth agape until he saw the twinkle in his eye. They both broke up, the air filled with laughter.

“Yeah, I put that on the forms you know – probably why they picked us!” Kurt laughed.

They settled down, the laughter serving to break the tension that was about to choke them.

“Seriously, what do you think? We can call JoLinda Charles and tell her we need a few more days if you think we need it,” Blaine said.

“Do you need more time?” Kurt asked.

“No. I want her,” Blaine answered, laying his head on Kurt's shoulder. He could read what Kurt was thinking, but allowed him to answer for himself.

“I want her, too,” Kurt whispered. “Daddy.”

Blaine's smile reached across his face like the sun had come up. He tilted towards Kurt and they touched lips, then snuggled together.

“Papa?” Blaine asked.

“I haven't thought about that...how many names are there for 'father'?” Kurt asked.

“We'll find out. Well – it is about time for bed. I want to run down the mountain and call her right now, but I think maybe running through a dark forest in the middle of the night isn't the best idea, is it?” Blaine quipped.

“Probably not. Let's spend this night together because it might be one of the last we get - just the two of us before we're the three of us,” Kurt suggested.

“I like that idea,” Blaine said, standing up to offer Kurt his hand as they went into the tent for the night.

Blaine and Kurt made love as if it were their last night on Earth, slow and loving, sensuous and mind blowing. They cuddled together afterwards, talking about how their lives were about to change.

“You are home more often since you do your drafting and designing from your office upstairs,” Blaine said, thinking about the logistics of how to do this parenting thing. “So I think if we just stay on the schedule we have now with a few tweaks, and I can arrange things so that I'm home in the evenings when you like to do your work. We can always take turns staying at Puck and Lenore's house when we have to go to Philomath for business. Oh! We can turn our old drafting room into a nursery there.”

“Yes, and your office can be the nursery since you never use it anyway,” Kurt kidded. Blaine had moved his desk into Kurt's office the second week they had lived in the log house and they used the extra room for storage.

“But where will we store the Christmas ornaments?” Blaine laughed.

“I can hardly wait to design the nursery!” Kurt crowed, ideas flowing into his thoughts making his hand itch for his pencils and drafting board to begin the drawings.

“We need to get to sleep so we can start early in the morning,” Blaine said. Kurt gathered him close and they finally fell asleep, tangled together and having the same dream of their new baby.

It was a bright, warm fall day when Blaine drove up to the hospital in Corvallis, Kurt practically bouncing in his seat. They had chosen not to tell anyone yet about the new baby until they were sure, although both had admitted to the other that they were sure the second they saw her photograph.

Blaine was out of the Navigator first, running around to open the door and take Kurt in his arms before they went into the hospital to meet Mrs. Charles and their new baby.

“I can't believe this is happening so fast! She is less than a month old and...” Kurt couldn't think of anything else to say, but his eyes told Blaine everything.

“I know. I know, Babe. Let's take a deep breath and go,” Blaine coached, trembling a bit himself. This was the minute that would change their lives forever.

“Mr. Hummel-Anderson, it is so good to see you. And you, too.” Mrs. Charles said, holding out her hand to shake first Blaine's and then Kurt's hands. “If you will follow me, I can take you right up to the meeting room,” she said, walking briskly up the stairs. Blaine and Kurt followed her, anxiety and apprehension clouds in the air as they walked down the empty corridor of the hospital. Mrs. Charles took a key from her pocket and unlocked the door, waving the men inside.

“Are there rules? Can we touch her?” Kurt asked, seeing Blaine was having trouble even speaking.

“No. Of course you can touch her. I've called for a nurse to bring her, so it will only be a few minutes. Do you have any questions?” JoLinda Charles asked.

“Do we get to take her today?” Blaine asked.

“If you are okay with that and provided you have a suitable car seat. We went over all of the paperwork yesterday in my office and you went through all the approval stages before we even paired you with her. Do you have her bed and things ready?” she asked and got two nods.

“You went through the classes including CPR for babies, correct?” she asked. Parents of children with RSV were required to take these classes before taking their babies home. Blaine nodded. “And we've got the oxygen set up at your home,” she said, ticking off the list on the paper in front of her. “The visiting nurse is scheduled to come three days a week for the first four weeks to check on her progress with the RSV.”

A knock on the door startled them and Mrs. Charles got up to open the door.

A nurse in a pink scrub suit walked in, pushing a clear bassinet. Inside was a tiny baby lying next to an oxygen tank. A long green tube led from the tank to her face and the tubes went over her tiny ears and to her nose. The tubes were taped to her cheeks to keep them in place. She was asleep.

“Who gets her first?” the nurse asked and Kurt waved at Blaine, who was sitting down in the rocking chair provided. The nurse picked up the baby and set her in his arms. Tears came to Kurt's eyes as he saw the love in his husband's face as he moved the blanket back to see her little face better.

“Oh, she is so tiny!” he exclaimed, looking up at Kurt. “I had no idea she would be this small. Awww...”

“Are you sure she's big enough to take home?” Kurt asked.

“Yes. She has gained weight. She was at five pounds at birth, but is 5.6 pounds today. That is big enough to take home,” the nurse told them.

“Let's leave the new daddies alone with her for a little while to get to know her,” Mrs. Charles said to the nurse. “If either of you have any questions, don't hesitate to call. The call button is on the wall over here,” she said, pointing to a red button. “Her bottle is ready and you will find it along with diapers and wipes in the basket under the bassinet. Any questions before we leave?”

“No. I think we'll be fine,” Kurt said, putting out his hand to shake with the nurse and JoLinda Charles.

“Alone at last,” Kurt laughed as he pulled the other rocker so it was right next to Blaine.

“Isn't she perfect?” Blaine murmured. Kurt smiled.

Blaine laid her on his lap, undoing the blanket so they could see all of her. Kurt put out his finger and she grabbed it tightly. Blaine smiled, amazed at how this little tiny thing thrilled him to the core.

“Here, Daddy, I think she wants you to hold her,” Blaine said, picking her up carefully and setting her in Kurt's arms.

“Aw, sweetheart, do you want us to be your daddies? I promise we will do everything in our power to be the best daddies in the world to you,” Kurt whispered to the little baby.

She woke up, trying to focus her eyes on Kurt's face.

“Oh, Kurt, she likes you! I knew it. She is ours – right?” Blaine asked and Kurt turned his head to place a chaste kiss on his husband's cheek.

“Yes, she is. But right now I think she's hungry. Look in the bassinet and find where they left her bottle, please.”

Blaine found it and Kurt rewrapped her to make her more comfortable, smiling when she began drinking the formula with greedy sucking sounds. Her hands waved in the air in her excitement and she quickly drained the bottle.

“Do you want to burp her?” Kurt offered and Blaine held out grabby hands. He took her and gently held her to his shoulder, patting her back. She coughed and seemed to choke for a moment and Kurt pushed the red button to ask the nurse to come. It was just a moment before the woman walked through the door, observing the panicked looks on the new daddies faces.

“Oh, the cough. I'm guessing that's why you called?”

“Is this typical? I know she has RSV, and we read about it. We learned how to use the syringe to suck the mucus from her nose and mouth if she gets congested, but she sounds so pitiful when she coughs. Does it hurt her?” Blaine asked, kissing her temple and continuing to gently pat her back. The baby burped loudly and stopped fussing, but the cough remained.

“She's had it since she was a few days old. It is better and I don't think it hurts – at least she isn't making faces or crying, so I think it is more upsetting to you than it is for her. Just check to be sure her airway isn't blocked,” she told the new fathers. “Babies under six months old can't breathe through their mouths, so its important to keep her nose clear. Both nodded to show they understood.

She took the baby, listened with her stethoscope, and picked the little bundle back up.

“She's fine. There are a few rails, but I think she's doing well. We wouldn't send her home if we didn't think she was healthy. Now, you have the visiting nurse coming tomorrow, correct?”

“Yes, at nine. We've met her and she doesn't live very far from the road to our house,” Blaine answered. He was suddenly anxious to take their baby home.

“Okay. You're both comfortable with feeding, giving medications, using the oxygen?”

“Yes.”

“Good. I know you will make good daddies for this lovely lady. Now, who gets to hold her?” she asked.

“Let Tatay, I got to feed her,” Kurt said.

“Tatay?” the nurse asked.

“Its Filipino for 'daddy'. Blaine's mother was from the Philippines and we needed a word that distinguishes between the two of us. It just sort of felt right,” Kurt said, laying a hand on Blaine's shoulder. The nurse set the baby on Blaine's lap, smiling.

“I'll call Mrs. Charles and tell her you're ready to take your new daughter home. Congratulations, Daddy and Tatay.”

They drove home carefully, Blaine behind the wheel for the first half, Kurt in the back beside the car seat. They stopped at a small restaurant for a bite to eat and to feed the baby, then Kurt drove the rest of the way.

Once home, they carried their new daughter inside and up to her room, exchanging the portable oxygen container for the large one in her nursery. Blaine sat in his rocker and Kurt changed the diaper, then placed her in his arms. As much fun as it was to hold her, Kurt thought it was even better to watch Blaine with her. He was so tender when he kissed her tiny head or let her grip his finger.

“I'll just run down to the kitchen and get her bottle ready. Tatay,” Kurt grinned. He was loving this so much.

“We'll be right here when you get back,” Blaine said, cuddling his daughter closer. His eyes were twinkling as he looked up at Kurt.

When Kurt got back, it was his turn to feed her and Blaine sat close. They were both so happy it was cute.

“Your folks and Coop are arriving tomorrow about eleven, right?” Blaine asked.

“Yeppers. Right after the visiting nurse comes. Hey, missy, you be on your best behavior tomorrow for Grandma and Grandpa and Uncle Cooper. They don't know about you yet, you're going to be a big surprise,” Kurt cooed to his daughter who replied with a burp. Kurt giggled.

That night both new fathers were awake more than they were asleep, each eager to tend to the baby's every need. By the time morning rolled around, Kurt was walking back and forth in the hallway trying to get her to go to sleep. She finally fell asleep while he was rocking her and singing a lullaby a while later. After tucking her into her crib, he crawled back into bed to cuddle Blaine.

“You look tired, Babe. Why don't you go to sleep for a while and I'll listen for her. I think the night was almost worse on her than it was on us, poor little thing,” Blaine said, reaching his arms out to hold his husband. Kurt scooted across the bed to snuggle his nose into Blaine's neck and Blaine kissed his temple, holding him tightly. Kurt's muscles relaxed and Blaine thought he might have fallen straight asleep – until he felt a warm hand rubbing up his bare leg.

“Oh, so you're not as sleepy as I thought you were,” he said in a teasing voice. He heard a subterranean giggle and the hand moved down and then back up slowly. Kurt tilted his head up and kissed Blaine's cheek, then down to his jaw and nibbled at his neck again. He hummed in satisfaction when he felt Blaine's hand move across his belly and slip under the waistband of his flannel pajama pants on their way to caress him.

“Are you sure she won't wake up?” Blaine asked, but Kurt didn't answer. He slid his pajamas off and then pulled Blaine's off as well. Blaine closed his eyes to enjoy Kurt's warm tongue moving down his chest, nibbling at a nipple and then his belly.

“Mmmmmm..” Blaine moaned quietly, afraid to make much of a sound and wake the baby. Encouraged by this, Kurt kept kissing until he reached Blaine's hard cock and took just the crown in – sucking gently and swirling his tongue.

“Oh, Kurt,” he whispered, his voice deep and sexy. Kurt pushed deeper and Blaine moaned louder, putting his hand over his mouth to muffle the noise. He reached over to the sliding door in the headboard and took out their lubricant, squeezing out some onto his fingers and reaching down Kurt's back and between his cheeks. Kurt moaned then, very quietly as he shifted position so Blaine could reach more easily.

“Yes, baby, yes,” he murmured as he pulled off and kissed his husband's belly before taking him back into his mouth, this time deeper and with more conviction. He sucked a little harder and pulled in his cheeks to make the friction better.

“Kurt, stop, honey. I need you so much, but I don't want to come too soon,” he said and Kurt backed off. He stroked his hands down Blaine's legs and kissed his hipbone, sucking a small love bite into the golden tawny flesh there.

Blaine had worked Kurt up to three fingers, gentle but steady while he tried to be patient and not move too soon. They had been married for five years, but Blaine was still very careful not to go too quickly. He never forgot the fear when he had torn Kurt the first time they made love.

“Now, baby. I need you now,” Kurt said, pulling back so Blaine could choose how he wanted him.

“Lay on your back, Kurt. I want to see your beautiful face,” Blaine cooed. Kurt laid down and Blaine was on top of him in a moment, caressing his skin. “Oh, Kurt, I do love you so...” he said and pushed himself in. It never failed to amaze him, the heat and the softness of Kurt when he did this. It was a feeling that was exciting and stimulating, so tight even now, six years later. Blaine knew that if he just lay still, listening to Kurt breathe and knowing they were as close as two people could be, he would come from the mere thought of it. Add Kurt's moans to that and it was the best thing in this world. He closed his eyes and just felt Kurt until his hips rebelled and began to sway with the inner rhythm that Blaine was born with.

“Oh, Blaine...so good...mmmmmm,” Kurt moaned a little louder, his voice bringing Blaine's climax closer with every sound.

The tactile feelings melted into his nerves and ran through his body, like lava through a volcano and he couldn't stop himself from moaning on the next thrust as Kurt met him and pushed Blaine deeper.

“Blaine, harder....I need you, harder, baby...” Kurt said, his mouth supplying words that he hadn't consciously thought of. He moved up to take Blaine's mouth and thrust his tongue deep, knowing it was what Blaine wanted. Then he gathered a bit of the lube on his fingers from his hip where Blaine had smeared it. When Blaine thrust deep into him the next time, Kurt used his long reach to slide his fingers between his husband's cheeks and brush across his entrance. Blaine whined and on the next thrust forward, Kurt pressed his finger inside Blaine.

“Oh, my stars, Kurt...yesyesyes,” he chanted, “Kurt, are you ready, baby? Are you ready for me?”

“Blaine.....ungh, yes....” Kurt managed to articulate before he lost his voice to loud moaning and he was there. Blaine thrust in as hard and deep as he could and Kurt felt the lava in his balls, running all through him and spurting onto Blaine with a passion that his husband felt and the two of them were riding high for what seemed like forever.

Neither man moved when it was done, they just lay together and listened to the other as their highs cooled down and they stayed together, not falling asleep but close to it. After a while they knew it was time to get up. They could hear their new daughter fussing a little in what they had come to learn was the precursor to her wails to be fed.

“I think we have time for a really quick shower, my love,” Blaine said, taking Kurt's hand and leading him to the bathroom. Kurt grabbed the monitor on the way in case she decided to make her wishes known a bit sooner.

It was later that morning when the visiting nurse had come and gone and Kurt was lying on the sofa downstairs with his head in Blaine's lap that they heard the door open.

“Hey, Buddy, stay up too late last night?” Burt's voice fell on Kurt's sleeping ears and Blaine signaled with a finger to his lips for Burt to let him sleep.

“Please, sit down. How are you, Carole?” Blaine said in a quiet voice.

“Oh, I'm fine. It was a lovely drive. Can I help get anything ready?” she asked, wanting to help and seeing Kurt wasn't going to wake up.

“No, I have iced tea and sandwiches on the table in the dining room if you would like some refreshments?” Blaine asked just as his brother walked in the front door, August Waverly with him.

“Hey, Squirt, what's the big news?” Cooper got right to the point. “Oh, must be big news – did you drive all the way from Washington this morning, Burt? Carole, good to see you,” Coop said, looking at his little brother for clues.

“I don't know yet,” Burt said. “We drove to Philomath yesterday and spent the night with Puck and Lenore. We drove up here today. Well, Blaine? I'm pretty sure this is more than just Kurt missing my ugly mug, right?” Burt crossed his arms on his chest and hit Blaine with his glare.

“Yes it is. Let me just wake Kurt up and we can tell you together,” Blaine said. He rubbed Kurt's back for a few moments and whispered in his ear that everyone was assembled.

Kurt sat up and covered a yawn, smiling at his father and Carole.

“Oh, you're here. Ah, just a moment. I need to go get something upstairs,” Kurt said and went up the stairs two at a time. Blaine asked everyone to sit and they did. No conversation started as they looked at Blaine or at the staircase where Kurt had disappeared. Cooper and August sat on chairs by the fireplace, Burt and Carole on the second sofa.

Kurt came back down, holding a bundle in his arms and walking over to Burt.

“I think you just might remember what to do with one of these,” he said in a teasing tone as his eyes twinkled and Blaine stifled a giggle. Kurt placed the bundle in his father's lap, waiting to make sure Burt was holding it securely before letting his hands go. He flipped the blanket back, revealing the tiny sleeping baby.

Burt stared at the baby, a smile growing as he looked at Kurt's face and saw the pride in it.

“Is this....is this my grandchild?” he asked, his voice trembling.

“Yes, Dad. She is,” Kurt said, his own voice shaky, too, as Blaine brushed a tear from his cheek.

“But how? When?” Cooper said, looking from Kurt to Blaine.

“Let's start with an introduction. You said 'she'? It's a girl?” Carole asked, leaning closer to Burt on the sofa to see the baby.

“We have named her Katura Elizabeth. She was born last month to a young girl and since we asked to be allowed to help a baby in need, the agency called us last week and said she was available,” Blaine explained.

“Katura? That's an unusual name,” Carole observed.

“It's Irish, we named her after my grandmother,” Blaine said, smiling.

“We had gone through the whole process of classes and passing a very rigorous background check already. When Katura Elizabeth was born with RSV, most of the candidates for parents weren't interested. Plus, she is of mixed race and that makes her harder to place,” Kurt said. It was obvious what he thought of people who let things like that dictate if the baby was acceptable to them.

“She's wearing oxygen I see,” Carole noticed. “Is she still being affected by the RSV?”

“Yes, but she's getting better. She still has a deep cough and wheezes if she cries too long. The altitude makes the extra oxygen necessary, but she is doing fine. We have a visiting nurse that comes three times a week for the first few weeks. She was here this morning and Katura is doing so well – better than the doctors expected with everything that has gone on in her short little life,” Kurt said with pride.

Katura chose now to make her wishes known and scrunched her tiny face up, ready to cry. Burt set her against his chest and after putting the blanket around her, he patted her little diaper-covered bottom until she was lulled back to sleep.

“Wow, Dad, someone might think you'd done that before,” Kurt laughed. Burt cuddled the tiny baby close and smiled back at Kurt.

“Son, I'm so proud of you and Blaine. This was such a selfless thing to do, and I know the two of you have so much love to give. This little baby is one lucky gal,” Burt said.

“You...a daddy?” Cooper said, a teasing note in his voice, but he continued in a more serious tone. “I think its great, Squirt. You know there is a camp full of 'uncles' out there to help when you need it. I will support you guys in any way I can, you know that, right?” Cooper said. Blaine nodded and gave his big brother a sweet smile.

“What do you mean 'mixed race'?” August asked, looking at the beautiful little girl.

“Her mama is of Irish and Scottish descent and her father was Filipino and Korean according to her file. Kurt and I didn't meet the parents, they didn't want to actually meet us, but they chose us to be her fathers,” Blaine explained.

Kurt smiled. Blaine was of mixed ancestry: Irish, Filipino, Chinese, Spanish, and Malay. Katura might grow up to look a lot like him, except for her curly red hair. Hers was closer to Kurt's color and thick with red tones in it. He knew she was going to be beautiful.

“Its just about time to feed her. I'll go make a bottle and be right back,” Kurt said, getting to his feet tiredly. Carole got up to go with him and perhaps help.

“Come get your daughter, Blaine. If you are new to each other, you need to bond with her before the uncles and grandparents take over,” Burt said, lifting the baby into Blaine's arms.

Blaine walked over to the rocker and sat down, “Hey, Katura Elizabeth, Tatay is going to feed you. Are you hungry, little one?” he cooed at her. She opened her eyes and Blaine smiled.

“Tatay?” Cooper said. “Isn't that Fillipino for 'Daddy'? I remember mom used to say that when she talked about dad,” he said, looking at his brother.

“I remember you called him that when we were very little. Well, when I was very little anyway. We didn't want her to get confused calling us both 'Daddy'.”

“I like the sound of it,” Burt said.

Kurt was back with the bottle and Blaine rocked her gently as they all smiled and chatted and talked about the future.

Burt, Carole, August, and Cooper stayed for a few hours, each getting to hold her for a little while. When she got fussy, Kurt cuddled her in her blanket and she went right to sleep. Blaine took her from Kurt's arms and carried her upstairs to bed. Goodbyes were said all around.

In the coming days, a lot of phone calls were made. Finn and Rachel were over-the-moon for their brother and Blaine. They talked about coming to visit soon. Puck and Lenore were happy, too, and made plans to drive up in the next week. Brayden Warner, the owner of the lumber company, insisted upon giving Blaine two months off with pay to bond with little Katura.

By the time the visits were over, Kurt was about dead on his feet. Blaine helped Kurt up the stairs to bed.

“That went well,” Blaine said, “I thought Burt might get his nose out of joint because we didn't tell him ahead of time why we wanted them here,” Blaine speculated.

“I think he's happy. So are Carole and Cooper, even August was happy about it. But, Blaine, I know who is the happiest of all,” Kurt said.

“We are,” he answered, coming close to share the warmth of Kurt's body. Even though it was summer, the nights on the mountain were chilly.

Just as they were shutting their eyes, lips touching, a tiny cry was heard from the nursery. They looked at each other for a moment.

“I'll go get her, its my turn,” Blaine said, getting out of bed and walking down the stairs to make a bottle. He was back before she was crying very much and brought her into their bedroom.

“Do you want me to feed or change her diaper after?” Blaine asked.

“Let's go out on the balcony with her and cuddle together in the hammock, you can feed her there,” Kurt suggested. They had placed their hammock out there when they first moved to the log house in the Oregon woods. They spent a lot of time lying together there, listening to the birds and the wind in the trees. The view was spectacular through the trees to the high meadow on the side of the mountain.

Blaine held baby Katura as Kurt got in, then handed her back and spread the thick quilt over them. He crawled in, snuggling close to keep the baby warm as he took the bottle and fed her. She drained the bottle and burped, then they cradled her between them.

“Hi, Katura Elizabeth. We are on the balcony and we are both keeping you warm tonight. We want you to grow up to love your family, so I think I need to tell you how your Tatay and I fell in love. It was six years ago and my first day on this mountain, I looked up and saw an angel with black silky curls. That angel was your Tatay.”

“As a family, we're going to do a lot of things together. Ride mules, go camping, make rabbit pie and cinnamon rolls,” Blaine told their daughter.

“Your Tatay taught me to tie flies and how to catch fish – I caught the biggest fish in the river once. I can teach you to do that, my little one,” Kurt said, “but I think the very first thing we need to do together as a family is to stargaze. Your Tatay and I fell in love in the meadow just over there. The first constellation you need to learn is Orion.”

“That's his belt, those three stars, darling. Just like on Daddy's necklace......”