“There is only one important time, and that time is now. The most important one is always the one you are with. And the most important thing is to do good for the one who is standing at your side.”

~Leo Tolstoy, The Three Questions

It was getting late and the stars were coming out. It was difficult for Kurt and Blaine to see them since the trees grew so close together here, but the two lay back on a blanket to look for them anyway.

“Do you think Noah remembered to take Katie out to say goodnight to the stars?” Kurt asked, squeezing his husband's hand.

Blaine smiled. He loved that Kurt still had such an innocent, child-like quality after all these years.

“Of course he did. Puck takes his role of uncle very seriously,” Blaine said, his smile revealing his joy at hearing Kurt's concern about such a small thing.

“Are you laughing at me?” Kurt asked, a hurt look on his face.

“No, honey. I just love the way you bring all the joy of childhood along with you. I don't want you to turn into a stuffy and serious old grump. I love that you still have that magic inside that made me fall in love with you all those years ago,” Blaine said quietly. He turned and placed a chaste kiss on his husband's cheek. Kurt blushed just a tiny bit. He really did have so many things inside him that stemmed from his childhood.

“It's getting cold. Can I bring you your sweater?” Kurt asked.

“Are you cold? Just come closer, baby. I'll get you warmed up,” Blaine offered. He pulled Kurt close to his side and put his arms around his husband. “There, better?” he asked as he scooted Kurt a little closer to the fire. The blanket they had set out to eat on was close and Blaine pulled it up and wrapped it around the two of them, then wrapped his arms back around Kurt.

“Much better, thank you,” Kurt whispered into Blaine's ear. He cuddled down into the blanket, pulling some of it over to cover his sock feet. His boots were drying by the fire along with his jeans. He'd stepped into some marshy land getting close enough to the stream to fill the collapsible bucket with water for washing up.

The two young men sat up, looking up at the few stars that were visible from their camp site. Lost in their own thoughts, they were both cold when Kurt shook his head to clear it.

“I guess we should be off to bed, my love. Morning will come quickly, right?” Kurt commented.

“That it will. Okay, let's get the sleeping bags and I will make sure everything is put away or at a safe distance. We don't need bears in the campsite,” Blaine said, helping Kurt to his feet. Kurt took the sleeping bags from where they were hanging in nearby trees and set about making up their bed in the tent.

Once they were all snuggled into bed, Blaine looked over and smiled at Kurt.

“Penny for your thoughts.”

“I wasn't thinking of anything much. I was just sorting through all we've done today and what's coming up next,” Kurt answered.

“Well, I need to write down all of my observations in my journal, I need to tally what I've found in terms of trees – species, type, size, etc. along with other plants and animals. It won't do to have a crew come in to harvest and find we're in the middle of an area with a threatened species of animal or plant, would it?” Blaine asked.

“Have you seen any endangered things yet?” Kurt asked, his brow arched in question.

“Nope. Not so far at least. I need to do some further research, but so far it looks pretty good,” Blaine said, a satisfied smile on his face.

“What kinds of things did you see? I saw all sorts of birds, a few animals, but mostly I would not know one species of tree from another,” he confessed, looking a bit sheepish.

“I could say the same thing about the houses you love so much. I don't think I could tell a Steamboat Gothic from a Queen Ann style to save my life,” Blaine returned, laughing.

“Oh, that's easy! But I see what you mean...because I'm interested in architecture, I know a lot about it. I like being in the forest with you – but I don't know a blue spruce from a Douglas fir,” Kurt said.

“Then we make a fine pair – what one of us doesn't know, the other does. Balance.”

Kurt smiled. “I'm not adverse to learning, though. Like the birds we saw earlier – how did you know that tiny brown bird was a creeper?”

“My dad and Mr. Warner, told me. Later Cooper gave me a set of nature books that had big, colorful pictures of all the plants and animals. I still have them if you want to borrow them.”

“That's a good idea, thank you,” Kurt answered.

“I was always curious about the things in the forest,” Blaine continued. “I loved to be all alone and just look around me and know what I was looking at. I didn't have many friends growing up here – Lenore was the only one my age - but I really didn't feel lonely, I liked being in the forest. It was the same as having friends, but the birds and chipmunks didn't talk back,” Blaine said, but there was a sadness in his face.

Kurt reached out to ask silently if Blaine wanted a hug. They came together, arms holding each other and legs tangled.

“I'm so sorry, sweetheart. I wish I could wave a magic wand and make it all better for you, but I can only tell you I'm sorry that happened to you,” Kurt whispered as he stroked his fingers through Blaine's curls.

“Don't be sorry, I grew up happy most of the time. Cooper was there, the Warners, August, Shannon and Cookie. They all helped and I felt loved. It would not have been good if I was neglected, but as it turned out I had so many people that showed me every day that I was loved. I was lucky, Kurt. And then I met you....and my life became better than I had ever dreamed it would.”

Kurt smiled and squeezed Blaine tight.

“That's okay then,” he whispered.

“Good night,” Blaine whispered back and they fell asleep.

~

“AAAAGGGGHHHH!”

“What? What happened? Who's there?” Blaine shouted, sitting up in the sleeping bag, listening for the mules – who were making a huge racket on their picket lines. He reached for Kurt and found an empty place with just a bit of warmth where Kurt had been sleeping.

“Kurt!”

Blaine jumped up, shoving his feet into his boots and grabbing a jacket to go over his thick wool shirt. He exited the sleeping bag and walked quickly towards the mules.

“Kurt!” he shouted, peering into the dark forest.

“Here, Blaine...” he heard and followed the sound. Kurt was standing in his boots and pajamas with his coat buttoned up. Blaine hurried over and hugged his husband.

“What's going on? I heard the mules making a racket and you shouting,” Blaine said, looking anxious.

“It was him,” Kurt pointed and Blaine saw Lenore's wolf-dog sitting in the semi-darkness under a pine tree.

“Balto? Hey, boy, come here,” Blaine cooed at the big dog. Balto came out, tail wagging. “What are you doing here?”

Kurt smiled and handed Blaine a piece of paper – folded many times and dirt showing.

“This was taped to his collar.”

Dear Boys,

Balto came home tonight and I knew Blaine had intended to take him with you. He's good at tracking, so I took him to the place you saddled the mules and told him to go find Blaine. I hope he gets there! If not, he'll come back home.

-Shannon

“Good dog, Balto!” Blaine praised him. He felt better having the wolf-dog with him on this surveying trip. He didn't expect any problems, but it was always better to have a back-up plan if anything went wrong. He leaned down to give the dog a good scratching and petted his silky head.

The men went back to their tent, climbing back under the warm blankets. Kurt drifted towards Blaine and vice versa until they were cuddled close together in the cold night. Balto lay down across the opening of the tent and fell asleep after his long trek to find Blaine. Even Caesar, Claudius, and Maximus fell back to sleep in the quiet night, dreaming whatever it is that mules dream.

Kurt woke up to someone running their warm tongue on his back, going down and across his waist where his pajamas had hitched up. The strip of skin was apparently irresistible and the tongue bath went on until it woke him.

“Hey, Blaine...I don't need a bath! Here, let me find somewhere that your tongue will be more appreciated,” Kurt mumbled as he shook himself awake. He turned in the sleeping bag and reached out to pull Blaine closer and give him a morning kiss....

“Ewwwww!” he shouted, opening his eyes to find Balto was the culprit. He frowned, pushing the wolf-dog further away and reaching to get something to wipe the dog-slobber off of his skin. He looked up in just the nick of time to see Blaine pull back out of the entrance to the tent. He could hear his husband laughing.

“Blaine! That was not funny!” he shouted, trying not to laugh himself. He got up, ordered the dog from the tent, and proceeded to get dressed. He felt a bit of discomfort as he pulled on his jeans. He wasn't used to riding all day long and was probably starting to get saddle sores. He'd have to take a look later.

“Hey, why didn't you wake me up?” Kurt asked as he left the tent, “or was sending Balto in to wake me up your idea?”

“Nope, that was all pure Balto. I was cooking up some eggs and trout. I've been fishing already!” Blaine grinned. It wasn't usual for him to beat Kurt out of bed.

“Oh, my stars...did I sleep that late?” Kurt asked, looking to find the sun. It was almost at it's zenith and Kurt blushed. “I'm so sorry, Blaine. I didn't mean to be so lazy. You really should have woken me.”

“If you slept that late, you must have needed it, babe. I didn't mind. I had a lot of writing to get done, so I did it while I fished. No harm done. Are you hungry?”

“Starving! Let's eat.”

~

An hour later, they were back on the trail. Well, what trail there was. Blaine found a place to stop around lunch-time and halted the mules. He and Kurt dismounted near a stream and allowed the mules to drink.

“So, how many kinds of animals and trees have you collected?” Kurt asked as he leaned down to retie his boot.

“More than I ever thought! I'm really surprised to find so many trees that are not evergreens. You'd think we were in New England from this list,” Blaine said, his eyes scanning over the writing in his notebook.

“Like what for instance?” Kurt asked. He was curious about what Blaine found compelling. He was an architect and loved buildings and shapes and design – but he found the things in nature almost as interesting. He walked over to where Blaine was sitting on a downed log and sat next to him.

“Well, there was a small stand of Big-leaf Maples back about 200 yards. I see those once in a while at lower elevations, but to find a whole bunch of them together was special. I didn't think they grew much at this altitude. Then I saw several that really surprised me: English Walnut, Butternut, and Sycamore. There was an amazing Copper Beech that must have been over a hundred years old,” Blaine went on, his eyes dancing with joy as he described some of the trees.

“What impact will those have on the tree harvest? I know Mr. Warner mostly cuts pine and other soft-wood evergreens. Does he cut hardwood trees for things like making furniture?” Kurt asked, getting curious about the other trees. “It would be a shame to waste such gorgeous wood.”

“Many of them can be saved. Mr Warner is interested in harvesting by picking specific trees, not clear cutting. We also agree on finding something constructive to do with the non-evergreens, too. Why, did you have an idea?”

“Yes...sort of. Since I'm designing the new visitor's center for the state park, maybe we can incorporate some native wood in the design?” Kurt suggested. He had a vision of how the main room would look and this was playing right into his hands.

“I think that's a grand idea. Do you have any sketches?” Blaine asked.

“Not yet, but with a list of all the species of trees we find, I know I can design something wonderful,” Kurt's eyes twinkled as he thought of his dream project.

“I think Mr. Church and Mr. George will be pleased with you, babe. I can hardly wait to get back and talk all of this over with Brayden. I'm sure he will donate whatever you want,” Blaine finished. What he didn't tell Kurt just yet was that this mountain was half his and Cooper's. He wanted to speak to Brayden Warner first, but he was sure this would be easy to arrange to give Kurt the trees.

“Brayden? You are now on a first-name basis with Mr. Warner?” Kurt asked.

“Yeah...when he hired me, he said I should call him Brayden now that I was also an employee,” Blaine blushed bright red. It still felt funny to call the man he'd grown up admiring by his first name, but he supposed he'd get used to it in ten or twenty years.

They put the bridles back on the mules and continued their journey through the forest towards the meeting place where Blaine had arranged to meet up with Mr. Warner in three days time. He pulled out the GPS device in his pocket and noted their location on his map, then swung up into the saddle. He turned to see Kurt cringe as he adjusted himself onto the saddle, as if his thighs hurt.

“Kurt? Are you saddle sore?” he asked. Kurt had been saddle sore a lot when he met first met Blaine and was learning to ride on the mountain. Blaine recognized the signs...the slight limp, the pained look on Kurt's face when he had to remount. Yep, his husband had a class A case of saddle sores.

“Ah, not too much...” Kurt lied. He had convinced himself that he was fine, just a bit sensitive since he hadn't ridden a mule for almost a year.

“Dismount.”

“Oh, Blaine, I'm fine. We need to get your survey done, we don't have time to dawdle around molly-coddling me for saddle sores. Really, honey, I'm okay,” Kurt protested.

Blaine got off of his mule and walked over to Kurt, reaching his arms up to help his husband down from the saddle. Kurt knew when he was out voted. He got down into Blaine's arms and leaned into his husband's hug.

“Off with your trousers, soldier,” Blaine smirked. Kurt glared and thought about arguing, but he knew Blaine would win. He might as well get on with it. He popped open the button at the top of his jeans and ran the zipper down, pulling the jeans down his legs until he realized the fabric of the jeans was stuck to his inner thighs. It really hurt and he thought maybe several of the blisters had broken open and were stuck to the jeans. He yanked them lose and it hurt even more. Blaine leered at him, giving a loud wolf-whistle. “Boxers, too.”

“You do not need my boxers off to check a saddle sore, mister. I am not sitting on a scratchy, dirty old log with my bare bottom! I'm leaving them on.”

“Suit yourself,” Blaine rolled his eyes dramatically. “Now move your feet further apart and let me see your thighs,” Blaine ordered. Kurt complied. Blaine finally made him sit down on a blanket so he could inspect Kurt's thighs close-up.

“Oh, honey...this is bad. Several of the blisters have ruptured and they're bleeding! There is bruising all along the inside of both of your thighs. We need to do something...you can't ride in the saddle today,” Blaine said, leaving a tender kiss on Kurt's knee.

“No, it doesn't even hurt. I'm fine! I'll just put on a pair of long underwear and it will be okay,” Kurt argued. He didn't want to cause a delay when Blaine was doing such important work. He looked up at Blaine and saw tears in his eyes.

“Kurt. You are the most loyal, wonderful husband in the world, but I cannot let you hurt yourself over me. I'm stopping here to camp for the night and that is final. Okay?”

Kurt felt along his naked thigh, feeling the oozing blisters and how sore the bruises were. Blaine was right – one more day of riding and he wouldn't be able to ride home at all. With a heavy sigh, he looked back up at Blaine.

“Okay. Maybe I can help with something else?” he bargained.

“Of course...I know. I'm not great at sketches of animals or birds. Maybe you can sketch some for me?” Blaine asked.

“I'd love to,” Kurt gave him a small half-smile. He was still feeling terrible because they had to stop early for him.

~

Blaine had Kurt sit on a pile of blankets next to the saddles, leaning back and resting while he made camp. By the time he'd picketed the mules and set a fire, Kurt was curled into a ball in the blankets – sound asleep.

“Poor baby, you must be exhausted,” he whispered as he sat down next to Kurt, who hadn't put his jean back on, he just pulled the blanket over his legs. Blaine gently pulled back one leg to look closer at the damage on his thighs. It was bad, but not terrible yet – no infection. Blaine began to think they had stopped before any real damage had been done. He got up to find the first aid kit and to get a bottle of clean water from the saddle bags.

Blaine set all of the supplies down next to Kurt and decided to make supper. He gathered a few things, put them in the kettle over the fire and came back to Kurt.

“Wake up, babe. I brought the kit to dress those sores.”

Kurt stretched his arms, blinking himself awake. He peered up at Blaine and then moved the blanket away from his lap.

“Okay...”

“Now, this might sting, but I need to clean out those ruptured blisters,” Blaine warned as Kurt crossed his arms tightly over his stomach, hands gripping together in anticipation of the pain. Blaine wiped the blisters clean and patted them dry with gauze, adding more gauze and tape after some antibiotic cream.

“All done!” Blaine announced, helping his husband to pull on a pair of his own sweat pants.

“Ewww...I don't wear sweats!” Kurt complained.

“I think it will work better than your jeans, don't you? Besides, you look cute in my clothes,” Blaine teased him, trying to get a smile.

“Okay. It does feel better than the stiff denim I was wearing,” he conceded, then hugged Blaine. “Thank you.”

“Hey, do you want to have some lunch? I started a stew for supper, but I have the left-over trout and some veggies for a salad if you're hungry,” Blaine offered.

“Sounds great.”

They ate, feeding little tidbits to each other and then some for Balto. The wolf-dog was perfectly able to get his own supper, he was a superb hunter, but he did love to get treats from his human friends.

After spending the afternoon with Blaine catching up on all the notes concerning the forestry information he was gathering, and Kurt sketching some of the plants and animals they had encountered, they were both ready to get up and move.

“I think I need a break! My head is starting to hurt. Do you want to go for a dip in the lake?” Blaine asked. They had seen a small lake a few hundred yards to the east.

“Ah...yeah, I'd love to, but....?” Kurt pointed at his legs.

“Oh... I forgot about the open blisters. No, that wouldn't be a good idea. It kind of puts a dampener on walking, too. I'm sorry, babe.” Blaine cupped Kurt's chin in his hand and gave him a kiss.

“Hey, you're looking so sad, honey. Don't worry, your legs will be fine in a little while and we can do all of those things. I promise,” Blaine tried to coax a smile from his husband.

“It's not that...I'm fine, Blaine. Go ahead, take a nice swim. I'm fine here. I can sketch a few ideas I have about doing something with the hardwood trees for the visitor's center. I'm fine, really,” Kurt told him, but he didn't look fine. “Please, just go. I would feel guilty if you stayed away from the water because of me.”

In the end, Blaine decided to go look at the lake and put it on his map, then come back and check on Kurt again.

~

“Kurt!” Blaine called as he came back into camp. He didn't hear any reply, so he hurried past the surrounding trees. There was Kurt, once more curled into a blanket and sound asleep. It wasn't like him to need so much sleep and Blaine was getting worried something more was wrong. He sat down by Kurt, feeling his forehead for a fever but there was none. He looked at him for a while, and Kurt was very restless. He twitched and moved, saying something but Blaine couldn't make it out. He had to decide if he should just let Kurt sleep or wake him to see if anything was the matter.

After stirring the stew and adding a few plants he found while walking in the forest, Blaine laid down in back of Kurt and just held him close. After a while, Kurt woke up.

“Hey, sleepy-head. You feeling all right?” Blaine asked.

“Yeah, just tired. I guess I'm not used to all this riding and stuff. I'm not as young as I used to be,” Kurt tried to laugh, but it fell flat.

Blaine hugged him.

“Yeah, an old man at 24. I'll call around to the old folk's homes and try to find you a place when we get home,” Blaine teased. Kurt punched him lightly on the shoulder.

“Let's eat some supper...it smells so good. What's in it?” Kurt asked, taking a sniff in the direction of the stew pot.

“Snakes and snails and puppy-dog tails,” Blaine sang and Kurt laughed.

Blaine got up and spooned some stew into two bowls, grabbed a half loaf of sourdough bread to share, and came back to sit with his husband.

“Oh, this is delicious!” Kurt praised. “I can taste some venison - did you use the jerky?”

“I did. Plus I found some ramps and watercress on my way back from the lake – which is more like a small pond than a lake. I also picked one of your favorite foods and put them in the pack for tomorrow,” Blaine grinned.

“What? I saw some blackberries! Did you bring me blackberries?” Kurt grinned. He was always up for eating his weight in blackberries.

“Nope, though I saw some wild strawberries we can check out after supper. No, this treat is far more rare around here. I'm not telling, you'll have to wait until tomorrow,” Blaine giggled. He wiggled his eyebrows at Kurt.

Kurt jumped at him, knocking him off the log and sitting on his stomach to keep him down.

“Hey!” Blaine managed to shout before Kurt slid off of him, laying on the ground in apparent pain. Kurt was back up before Blaine could gather himself to sit up, but the worry on Blaine's face was evident.

“What's wrong?” he asked, arms out to hold Kurt's shoulders as he looked him up and down.

“Just the blisters...I should have known better. I'm okay,” Kurt claimed. Blaine was reluctant to believe him and decided to check all of the sores before the sun went down any further.

“Here, let's finish supper and then I want to see your legs,” he demanded.

“Hah! I'm not some floozy....I don't take my pants down for just anyone,” Kurt said, using Blaine's phrase in an attempt to lighten the mood.

“Well, I did wine and dine you, sweetheart, I need something for all that...” Blaine flirted back.

“I didn't get any wine!” Kurt objected. Blaine reached over to pick up a flask of water.

“Nature's best! Here, have some carafe d’eau,” Blaine said in an attempt at a French accent, brandishing the flask of water in front of Kurt.

Kurt laughed and sat back down to finish his stew, the surprise Blaine had brought forgotten for now.

After taking care of the mules, bringing them closer to the tents, and cleaning up the food dishes, Blaine coaxed Kurt over so he could look at his legs.

“Here, sit on the blanket and let me see your thighs, I'll be as gentle as I can getting the bandages off. I will try not to pull...” he said, picking at the edge of the first bit of tape. It did not come off easily, but they managed with only a few tears and Blaine took a good look at the blisters. They were much worse – more had ruptured and some of the first ones were showing the beginning signs of infection.

“Damn,” Blaine muttered under his breath. Kurt heard him and hung his head. He hadn't wanted to come on this trip at first, then he thought about the weeks without Blaine and changed his mind. He could have been home, working on the drawings for the Visitor's Center, taking care of Katura, but he was selfish enough not to want to spend all that time without his husband. Maybe this was karma. In any case, he was determined to get well and not ruin the trip.

Blaine treated the blisters, putting on a soothing antibiotic cream and padding them with gauze before applying the tape.

“Let's go to bed, babe. Tomorrow's another day,” Blaine said and led Kurt into the tent. Balto laid down across the threshold and put his head on his paws. He could sense something wasn't right, but he didn't know which way to look for the trouble. He sighed and closed his eyes.