Cooper was sitting in Blaine's room, helping his little brother to get his pajamas changed after his bath.

“How was lunch, Squirt?" Coop asked.

“Great. I bet Kurt made the soup, though....it didn't taste like Campbell's,” Blaine grinned.

“Hey, I can cook! I just choose to use my amazing talents for other things!” Coop returned.

“I'm glad you decided to get Kurt out of the house for a while. I've been worried about him. You know he does everything for me. He never sleeps.” Blaine got a faraway look in his eyes and a sweet smile on his lips.

He shook his head, returning to the conversation “How long are you staying?”

“Until Wednesday night.”

“Oh, okay. I know it was your idea about having the Hummels move into our house, what with Mom and Dad gone now. I will miss Mom, a little, but really, they were never around anyway. Shit, Coop, you practically raised me,” Blaine told his brother, his beautiful hazel eyes looking so seriously into his big brother's green eyes. Cooper blushed.

“It just seemed like a win-win for everyone. Mom and Dad were going to GIVE a new house to them, but Burt wouldn't hear of it. I'm just happy they agreed to this much. I'll feel a lot better knowing they are taking care of you, Squirt. You're such a pain in the ass...”

Blaine smacked Cooper on the arm. “Am NOT!”

Coop leaned over and hugged his little brother. “I know. I love you, kid, but if you ever tell anyone, I'll deny it!”

Coop continued, “I have to tell you, I am impressed with Kurt. He sure is devoted to you. And you look at him like you're in the middle of the Sahara and he's a pitcher of lemonade. Is that just because he's taking care of you?”

“No, Coop. I was really drawn to him when I first met him, then he sang 'Blackbird' when the Warblers' canary died. My heart jumped in my chest......I can't describe it. I just had to spend every waking minute with him. Any time away from him was like torture. It was so strange, and it scared me. Then when I got sick...that morning I was burning up. You know my temperature was 103 that day, and went up to 105 before I was out of the woods. I thought I was dreaming – my only thought was that if Kurt let go of me, I'd fall into a deep hole and never come out. I know it's stupid, and probably just a hallucination from the fever -but it felt like he knew I wouldn't ever come back if he let go, so he never did.” Blaine had tears in his eyes by now, spilling over and running down his cheeks.

Cooper pulled him into his arms. “Blaine, I would have been devastated if anything happened to you. But even though I was there for almost all of your hospital stay, it was Kurt that never left your side. He knew what none of the rest of us knew - that you needed him to save you. And I will be forever grateful to him.” Coop rubbed a few tears out of his own eyes.

“I love him, Coop. I want to spend the rest of my life with him,” Blaine said in dead seriousness.

“I know, Blaine. I know.”

Later, after his nap, Blaine spoke to Coop, giving him a list of errands to run. Burt was called in for consultation, then Carole. When it was all over, Finn came in to read to Blaine while Cooper went out to do the errands.

Kurt was supposed to go to Mercedes' for an overnight, and he had been fine with turning Blaine's care over to Cooper and Finn for a day. Well, sort of okay. But he dug in his heels when it came to leaving him for the night. Kurt knew that while Blaine professed to be 'doing fine', the fact was that almost every night Blaine woke up in a bad dream, sweating and crying, holding on to Kurt for dear life. On these nights, Kurt would hold him gently and stroke his face or run his fingers up and down his sides until he woke up. Sometimes he went to get a warm washcloth and wiped his face and chest, or on very bad nights would take him into the shower to get rid of the sweat that covered Blaine's thin body. Kurt thought later that this should have been sexy, should have brought on a raging hard on - Blaine naked with him in the shower – but it didn't. It wasn't as though Kurt never had those thoughts, he did too often sometimes, but when Blaine needed him so much it was a different dimension.

He usually changed the sweat-soaked linen and got Blaine back into clean pajamas, maybe getting them cups of cocoa. Kurt usually sang his boyfriend back to sleep with a Disney lullaby. Kurt had told Blaine's therapist about these incidents, but she had no real answer – other than to tell Kurt he was doing the right thing and to let her know if he started to become overwhelmed. She assured both Kurt and Blaine that this would get better with time, but like most of Blaine's symptoms in the aftermath of meningitis, there was no set pattern or guarantee when they would stop. It was almost like PTSD in a way, but the battle was inside Blaine, not in a war zone.

Instead of Kurt going to Mercedes' house for a sleepover, Kurt invited her to stay the night with them, sleeping in Kurt's bed since he slept with Blaine now. The three of them were cuddled on the sofa in the den, watching a movie after dinner, along with Cooper and Finn. Finn's girlfriend, Rachel, had come over and Burt had gone to get Carole from her shift at work.

“I have a surprise for everyone,” Kurt announced. “Can I get some help in the kitchen?”

Finn and Rachel got up to help and followed him into the kitchen.

Mercedes leaned over and patted Blaine on the leg. “How are you feeling, Blaine?”

“Hmmm......well, if I had a nickel for every time someone asked me that in the past few weeks...” he laughed. Mercedes got a hurt look on her face. “Oh, no! I was just joking. It is hard to be the sick one. You can't understand how much I appreciate all everyone has done for me. And I am glad you care enough to ask,” Blaine blurted.

“I know, it's tough. But I can see how much Kurt loves you. Everyone sees it, and if you are that important to my best friend, you are that important to me,” Mercedes told him. Cooper was quiet, perhaps the two had forgotten he was even in the room, so he didn't want to interrupt.

“He's just taking care of me, Mercedes, because he's a kind person,” Blaine shook his head a tiny bit, still not able to believe Kurt loved him so much.

“I can tell how much you mean to him. Where did this afghan come from?” she asked, indicating the crocheted blanket wrapped around Blaine's shoulders.

“Kurt gave it to me when I was in the hospital.” His hand petted the afghan, it was beautiful shades of mauve and purple and so soft. Kurt had said it was cashmere and lamb's wool.

“Did you know he made it?” she asked.

“Made it?” Blaine's eyes brightened and he did that little thing where he cocked his head to one side.

“Yes, he learned to crochet when he was a little kid – his mother taught us both. When he was sitting with you in the hospital, he asked me to bring him the yarn and crochet hook. He sat in the evenings while you slept and did that,” Mercedes informed him.

Blaine looked at the intricate lacy patterns crocheted into the afghan, then leaned over and put his head on Mercy's shoulder, a tear sliding down his cheek. “Thank you for telling me, Mercedes.” All the resentment she had been so tired of feeling just seemed to melt away. Blaine wasn't competition for Kurt's heart. She should have known – Kurt's heart just made more room. She pulled Blaine a bit closer and gave him a small kiss on his head. Cooper, in a darker corner of the room, brushed a tear from his own eye.

“Hey! What's going on in here? What's with all the tears and sad faces?” Kurt asked, carrying in a tray of small bowls for everyone. Rachel had napkins and spoons, Finn was at his heels with teacups on a tray.

“Nothing...” the three said all at once. Smiles bloomed on everyone's face when they discovered Kurt had made hot peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream. He gave everyone a bowl, Rachel followed with napkins and spoons while Finn passed the cups around.

Cooper took a sip. “Wow...what is this?”

Mercedes grinned. “I know. Kurt makes this when we go to the lake house. It's Dr. Pepper, but heated up and thin slices of lemon floating on top. I love this! Kurt – this goes well with the peach cobbler.”

“Thanks, Mercy," Kurt said and turned to Rachel. "Tell your dads I thank them for the peaches, Rachel. Cobbler just isn't good unless the peaches are fresh picked. I made you a cobbler to take home to your family, Mercy. Sort of as an apology because I'm not going to the lake house this year. And one for you, too, Rachel, ” Kurt told the girls.

“Oh, Kurt! This is wonderful. My dads are going to love it. You need to teach me to bake one of these days, so I can make cookies and stuff for Finn,” Rachel gushed, batting her pretty eyelashes at Finn. He smiled back at her.

There were sighs of contentment and humming noises of appreciation all around as the people Kurt loved ate the food he made for them. Blaine was curled tight against his side and Mercedes had lifted Blaine's feet into her lap, tucking the warm afghan around them. Rachel sat with Finn in the loveseat, eating her cobbler. It was a wonderful, quiet night enjoyed by everyone. Burt and Carole got home and joined the young people in the den, playful banter jumped around the room while they all watched old movies and chatted.

At the end of the next movie, as the soundtrack played a song and all joined in, it was time to end the evening. Finn left to take Rachel back home, Mercedes went to Kurt's room to go to bed, kissing both Kurt and Blaine on the cheek as she left them. Kurt looked at Blaine, his glance asking 'when did this happen?' but Blaine just smiled and kissed her cheek in return. Kurt threw his arms around his best friend, so relieved that she had made peace with his boyfriend. It had been really stressful when he could feel the jealousy between the two of them. He wondered about the turn of events that made them change, but he would probably never know the details.

Burt and Carole had gone to bed a while ago, and Kurt started to pick Blaine up. Blaine and Kurt worked on his physical therapy every day and he was up to about ten steps at a time now, but stairs were still in the future. As Kurt took a breath to lean over and get Blaine, a warm hand on his shoulder pulled him back gently.

“I can take him, Kurt. Let me help this time,” Cooper said, leaning over to slide his arms under his little brother and lifting him up against his chest. Blaine snuggled into Cooper, but dangled his hand for Kurt to grab as they made their way upstairs. Cooper gave Blaine his medications and tucked him in bed, hugging his brother and sliding his hand up to Blaine's cheek. “I love you, Squirt,” he said, and left the room, patting Kurt on the shoulder as he left.

Kurt changed into his silk pajamas and climbed into bed where Coop had left the covers folded down for him. He kissed Blaine in a very chaste kiss on his soft lips, tasting cherry chapstick. His lips felt warm. Too warm.

“Blaine? Do you feel hot?” Kurt raised an eyebrow in question.

“Maybe a little.”

Kurt got back out of bed, retrieving the thermometer from the bedside table.

“Under your tongue, baby, just need to check this out.” Kurt was a little worried. Blaine didn't want Kurt to worry, but he'd been tired and just wanted to go to sleep.

“Okay, it's 100.7 – just a small temperature.” Blaine's temperature tended to go up at night, especially when he was overtired. It wasn't anything to worry about yet, but Kurt set the alarm in his head to wake up an a few hours to check it again.

“Your skin feels warm, almost hot,” Kurt commented. He snuggled closer. “Tell me if I'm too close and making you uncomfortable.”

“Of course,” Blaine lied. He would never tell Kurt that. He wanted- no – he needed - to have Kurt as close as possible when they fell asleep.

“Are you really tired, Blaine?” Kurt asked in a small voice.

“No, not too much. Why?” Blaine's heart quickened. He really was tired, but after all Kurt had done for him, he was ready to repay him in any way possible.

“Can you.....can you sing to me?” Kurt just needed the reassurance of Blaine's voice, singing LaLaLu or Stay Awake.

Blaine smiled and sat up in bed. He took Kurt's hand and looked into his eyes, and began to sing:

I didn't know what day it was
When you walked into the room
I said hello unnoticed
You said goodbye too soon

You're in my heart, you're in my soul
You'll be my breath should I grow old
You are my lover, you're my best friend
You're in my soul

Breezing through the clientele
Spinning yarns that were so lyrical
I really must confess right here
The attraction was purely physical

You're in my heart, you're in my soul
You'll be my breath should i grow old
You are my lover, you're my best friend
You're in my soul

I took all those habits of yours
That in the beginning were hard to accept
Your fashion sense, beardsly prints
I put down to experience

You're in my heart, you're in my soul
You'll be my breath should i grow old
You are my lover, you're my best friend
You're in my soul

My love for you is immeasurable
My respect for you immense
You're ageless, timeless, lace and fineness
You're beauty and elegance

You're in my heart, you're in my soul
You'll be my breath should i grow old
You are my lover, you're my best friend
You're in my soul

Blaine leaned back against the headboard. He loved to sing, but this was really the first time since he'd been sick that he sang a whole song. He was practically gasping for air by the time he was done. Catching his breath, finally, he looked up at Kurt and smiled. Kurt was blinking back tears, smiling back at Blaine. He leaned forward, slipping his arms around Blaine and kissing him on the forehead. It was still pretty hot.

Blaine moved a few inches and caught Kurt's lower lip in his, bringing his tongue out a tiny bit to lick Kurt's lips, asking for silent permission. Kurt opened his mouth a bit, kissing Blaine while most of the blood in his head was rushing south at a rapid rate. This kiss was really hot....but not just as in sexy, no, more like in temperature.

“Blaine, you're getting hotter....I mean your temperature. Let me go get you some ibuprofen.”

“No,” Blaine pulled his boyfriend back, “I'm fine. Kiss me now, I can take the pills later,” Blaine almost whined. He was so sick of being sick, so tired of having every minute of his life taken up by this damned illness. He started to panic a bit, his eyes getting bigger, his breath faster. He was so upset -all he wanted to do was make out with his beautiful boyfriend and this fever might take that all away. Tears of frustration gathered in his eyes.

“Oh, Kurt. Damn it. I just want to kiss you!” he raised his voice.

One look and Kurt saw the need on his face. Getting Blaine upset would not be helpful, and it was just a little fever. He did understand the horrible frustration Blaine was feeling. He moved back closer to Blaine, tipping his head up and placing his lips on Blaine's very hot lips. He opened his mouth a bit, moving his tongue slowly into Blaine's mouth. He still tasted like peaches. He reached his hands up to the back of Blaine's neck, combing his fingers through Blaine's curls.

Blaine turned a bit, bringing his erection to rub against Kurt's thigh. A small moan escaped Blaine's throat, and Kurt felt it down to his core. He began unbuttoning the other boy's pajama shirt, slowly peeling it off and reaching his hands to touch the warm chest presented. Blaine's breath caught and he redoubled his efforts to kiss Kurt like he had never been kissed before.

Blaine's hands had no patience to unbutton the silk pajamas, so he just tugged the shirt off over Kurt's head. The boys moved closer, chest to chest, Blaine kissing down Kurt's neck, licking his collarbone, sucking a bite as he moved to the other side. Kurt groaned and moaned, babbling Blaine's name in a quiet mantra. Blaine scooted down the bed, pulling Kurt with him so they were lying down. He moved his leg over Kurt's, then just got on top of him, rubbing and thrusting as he went, eliciting more sexy noises to savor. His hands were everywhere, running down Kurt's sides, fingers paying special attention to one nipple as his mouth attended the other. He thought he might have to put his hand over Kurt's mouth with all the noises he was making.

Kurt wasn't still, he ran his hands down Blaine's back, sliding under the waistband of his pajama pants to knead Blaine's butt cheeks. His hands massaged them, first softly then with more enthusiasm while Blaine responded by pushing his cock harder against Kurt's. He was just as full of noises as Kurt, stimulating both of them to a hardness that only a teenage boy can achieve. Blaine pulled back, causing Kurt to gasp, where was his boyfriend going? But Blaine only moved enough to be able to pull the silk pajama pants down Kurt's long legs and off with the help of a few kicks by his naked boyfriend.

Blaine moved on top of Kurt, kissing him as he became almost a blanket, covering his boyfriend's body.

“Your's, too.” Kurt gasped, pulling Blaine's pants off. The cool air rushed over the naked boys, but they didn't notice the breeze coming in from the window. Kurt grabbed the towel left on the foot of the bed, spreading it carefully before lying down on it and pulling Blaine on top of himself. Kissing began again, Kurt moving his hips forward each time Blaine rutted down on him. Then Blaine moved further down, kissing Kurt's chest as he had done before, but this time licking the tip of Kurt's cock, holding it steady and using his lips to pull back the foreskin as he brought it into his mouth, tongue ready. His tongue moved slowly across the top, then around the ridge and down the underside as far as he could go. Kurt reacted by jumping in startlement, basically pulling out of Blaine's mouth for a moment.

“Oh, Kurt...who's the skittish kitten now?” Blaine asked with a bit of a smirk on his lips.

“Hmmmpphhh,” Kurt mumbled, not moving.

Blaine went back to what he was doing, concentrating on going slowly.

The fever in Blaine's body was somehow intensified in his mouth, and Kurt couldn't stop his mind from thinking about other places in Blaine that would be feverish and hot. It was so hot, like he was making love in hell inside a volcano. It started a heat in Kurt's belly that felt like nothing less than lava flowing, Blaine's mouth was causing a fever in Kurt that was spreading throughout his body. He couldn't just lie there anymore, he needed to be doing the same thing to Blaine, making him feel the same way. So with a single-mindedness incomprehensible for someone in his advanced state of ecstasy, he turned and reached to hold Blaine's erection – scooting a bit more and a bit more until he was turned enough to get his mouth on Blaine's cock. He wasn't able to see his boyfriend's face, but the gasp he heard was enough. Slow, seductive movements were turning into faster friction, sounds muffled but somehow heard. Kurt moved his fingers to massage Blaine's balls gently and Blaine reciprocated.

Kurt started to pull back, wanting to warn Blaine he was so close, but Blaine was so caught up in the moment, so intent on finishing what he had started, he pulled his boyfriend's hips forward to keep his mouth where it was. He started to moan and hum, creating such a vibration that with the fever making his mouth hot, Kurt came with such force it nearly choked Blaine. The new sensation was amazing to Blaine, who came just seconds later, both boys lying back, spent, on the bed, bodies shaking in the aftermath. Instinctively they sought out each other's mouths, kissing sweet, slow kisses until they had come down from the orgasm high they had given each other. Kurt pulled up the blanket to keep them from getting chilled and both boys closed their eyes for a while, just breathing in the scent of the other.

Holding each other a little while later, Kurt looked over at Blaine. “Did you call me a 'skittish kitten'? Honestly?" Blaine nodded, a smile forming on his face. Kurt continued in a mock-severe way. “A Dawson's Creek reference??”

“Ah, yeah.” Blaine blushed.

“Oh, how stereotype. I bet you watched it because it was the only show with a believable gay character. Did you have a crush on Jack-the-football-star-gay-kid?” Kurt kidded.

“Are you kidding? I had the hots for Pacey, like every other red-blooded American teenager. Didn't you?” Blaine asked.

Kurt blushed. “I'm not saying.....” replied the boy that had all the Might Ducks movies on DVD, not to mention Skulls, and he watched Fringe religiously.

Fifteen minutes later, both boys were cleaned up, Blaine had his fever medicine, and they were fast asleep, wrapped in each other's arms.