“Who do we talk to first?” Blaine asked Kurt as soon as they woke up. They had a long night in the wake of all Kurt's revelations. Most of the time was spent in reassuring each other of the strong bond of love between them. It was not something they had ever actually contemplated...that such an event might drive a wedge between them, but they emerged closer, more determined to keep their commitment to each other. Now, in the morning light, they had to figure out how to handle everything without having it blow up in their faces.

They narrowed it down to two people: Burt or Mercedes. Kurt thought that bringing his father in would bring some reason and experience into the whole mess. But Blaine made a better argument – they needed to know if Mercedes was actually pregnant. Kurt drove to the drugstore, making his purchase and texting Mercedes to meet them at his house in an hour. She replied, reluctant, but finally agreeing when Kurt said it was something he needed his best friend for.

Kurt was sitting in the living room, Blaine was in the music room, playing his piano and singing softly when Mercy showed up. Mrs. Shaw showed her in to the room, shutting the large double doors behind her. Kurt got up, coming to hug his friend and taking her hand when she sat on the sofa. She looked at Blaine, obviously asking Kurt if he wanted to speak alone or with his boyfriend present. Kurt went over to Blaine and helped him over to the sofa, Kurt sitting in between his friends.

“We need to speak to you, Mercy.”

“Why?” she sounded guarded, almost to the point of rudeness, and she couldn't look into their eyes.

“Well, we are worried about a friend. She might think she's in trouble, might have forgotten that we are her friends and we will be here for her, no matter what. She might even need to be reminded how much we love her,” Kurt said in a soft voice, putting his arm around her shoulders.

“You know, don't you?” she looked from Kurt to Blaine, tears threatening.

“Do you?” Blaine asked.

“Ah...I think so.”

“Is it Cooper's?” Blaine asked.

“Yes.”

“Does he know?” Kurt asked next.

“No. I mean, I wasn't sure, then he stopped Skyping me, and I just couldn't tell him in an email, could I?”

“Does your mom know?”

“Nobody knows. But I think Finn suspects.”

“Have you been to a doctor, Mercy? If it was the last of August, you are four months along. You need to have prenatal care, sweetheart.”

“Ah, well, I have to tell my mom, I don't know if I have insurance...” Mercedes whispered.

“Let's start with the first question,” Kurt picked up the paper bag he brought from the drug store and handed it to her. She looked inside and left. About fifteen long minutes later, she was back.

“It's a pink line. I guess that means...you two are going to be uncles.”

“Okay. We need to decide what to do here, Mercy,” Kurt said, putting his arms around her.

“I think I can try to get Cooper on my Skype?” Blaine offered. They went to the bedroom and he started up the computer on his desk. After almost an hour, he was finally connected to his father's office. His mom was on. “”Where's Cooper?” he asked without any greeting.

“He's not here, Blaine. Can I tell him something for you?” she said, the connection breaking up.

“I need to speak to him NOW, Mother. NOW.” Blaine was obviously upset.

“I can call him....just a minute.” She left the screen, and the three friends sat listening to the static for a long time. Finally Cooper showed up, looking tired and half-dressed, no tie, his shirt just pulled on, his hair a mess.

“Blainers? What's wrong, Squirt? Are you sick again?” Coop asked, then noticed Kurt and Mercedes sitting behind him.

“I'm fine. Are you alone?” his brother asked.

“Yeah....what's wrong?”

“We'll let Mercedes tell you.” Kurt turned away and wheeled Blaine out of the room to give them some privacy.

“Cooper?” she started, but broke down into tears.

“Mercy? What's wrong? Tell me.”

“You're gonna be a daddy. In April, I think.”

“I'm WHAT??” Coop almost shouted.

“Oh...well...I have to go.....” she said, turning to leave, but fell forward in a faint. Kurt was back in a second, holding her as Blaine rolled himself over to the screen.

“What did you say to her?” Blaine was on the verge of shouting himself.

“Blaine! Where is she? Where did she go? Is she okay? Mercedes!!!” Cooper was wild, shouting and looking for Mercy in the screen.

“Calm down. Yes, she's okay. I think she fainted – Kurt's with her. Yes, she's pregnant. She didn't know what to do, but we guessed her secret and Kurt and I are going to take her to a doctor as soon as possible. When are you coming home, Coop? We need you. I know you have to do all the stuff for the company, but we need you here. I need you. More than that, Mercedes needs you,” Blaine dissolved in tears.

“I'll be home on the next flight. I need to talk to Burt. Is he home?” Coop asked, calming down but very pale. He ran his hands through his hair, obviously upset. “I'm coming home, Squirt. I promise. If you need me before that, ask Burt. He can help.”

“Okay, Coop......Coop?” but the connection had been lost. The screen went dark and Blaine turned to see how Mercedes was doing. Kurt had gotten her on the bed, was holding her hand and assuring her she would be fine.

“Blaine? Come sit with her, I'm going to go get Dad and Carole.”

Kurt found them upstairs, drinking their morning coffee on the balcony. Burt looked up at the face of his son, “Kurt? What? Is it Blaine?” He got up from his seat, Carole right behind him.

Kurt panted, he'd run up the long staircase and through several rooms before finding them.

“No, it's Mercedes.”

He explained it all as fast as he could as they came down the stairs into the bedroom. Carole was taking Mercedes pulse and had a cool washcloth to her head before Kurt could finish catching them up on the morning's activities. Carole called Finn to help and they got Mercy to one of the guest bedrooms and into bed. Burt left to go get her parents. She wanted to talk to them as soon as possible. It was such a relief to finally tell someone, the results were not even a consideration anymore.

Kurt sat with her, at the side of her bed, holding her hand. The room was dimmed and Carole was pretty sure it was just a case of nerves that had made her faint, but they stressed that Mercy needed to go see a doctor as soon as possible.

Burt called Coop from his bluetooth on the way to get Mr and Mrs Jones. The conversation was short, but Burt knew what to do before he lost the connection. He pulled up in the Jones driveway.

Mercedes was feeling better by the time her parents got there. Everyone sat in the living room, Mercy's parents sitting with her on the sofa. Jo's arms were around her daughter, her father holding her hand. Finn sat in a chair across from them, Mercy insisting he could stay. Blaine, Kurt, Carole, and Burt sat in chairs. Nobody knew where to start, so Carole mentioned that she thought Mercy should see a doctor very soon. Jo agreed and that started everything.

Burt cleared his throat. “I spoke to Cooper on the phone. He is trying to get the next flight out of there, but it may be a few days. In the mean time, I have his power of attorney.”

Blaine just stared at Burt. He was feeling very out of touch with all of this. Coop had made Burt his power of attorney?

“He signed it so that if there was some sort of emergency with Blaine, I could access the funds right away. The way it is written, I guess, it also means I can use the funds for his child, or the child's mother.” He looked at Mercedes. “Carole can help you find a doctor, but Cooper will pay for anything you need. Mercedes, I think your mother and Carole are right, you should be seen right away. Fainting while pregnant isn't a good sign they tell me,” he smiled at her.

By supper time, Mercy had been seen at the ER, but was fine. Her parents were upset, but not angry with her. They would be supportive in any way possible. Finn was relieved he didn't have to keep any secrets and that his friend would be okay. And he would sort of be an uncle in April. Burt and Carole were just tired. Burt had no idea the paperwork Coop had left was the power of attorney – he had thought it was just a simple guardianship in case Blaine had to go back to the hospital. In the packet of papers, he also saw the title to the house they lived in. It did not belong to Blaine's parents or even Coop. It was Blaine's house. He wasn't sure how that made him feel, but he thought he would just put that away in the back of his mind for now. He had enough to occupy his mind for a while.

That night, Kurt was sitting on the edge of the bed, waiting for Blaine to call him. He closed his eyes, wondering when life got so complicated. So many things had happened in the past year. His biggest worry in the world had been how to duck the bullies in the hallway and what to wear with his charcoal vest. Then he met Blaine and his life got better...only to be knocked down by life when Blaine got meningitis. A chance encounter with a simple earache had turned Blaine's entire life upside-down. But would he and Blaine have fallen so in love if Blaine hadn't gotten sick? Kurt would like to think so, that their meeting was fate, but who was to say? They might have stumbled around, both too shy to make the next move – only to go separate ways. Well, that didn't even bear thinking about!

“Kurt?” Blaine was calling him.

“On my way!” he called back, bringing their pajamas to put on after their shower. He walked into the bathroom to find Blaine sitting on the edge of the bathtub. “Hey, you walked over there?” he smiled. The grin on Blaine's face was so good to see. His progress had been moving so slowly and the frustration was building. The drama of all the events of the last two days had served to make Blaine more on edge and so tired.

Blaine had started the water, but instead of the shower, he had put the plug in the bathtub. “I was thinking we could just soak in a hot bath tonight?”

“Oh, that sound so good.” Kurt said with a heavy sigh. This day had just taken it all out of him. He slid into the water and moved back for Blaine to get in front.

“No, move forward..I want to be in back,” Blaine said, motioning for his boyfriend to move.

Kurt did as he was asked, and Blaine got in behind him. Blaine reached forward, pulling Kurt back against his chest. “Just rest, Kurt. I know how tired you are.”

“I am, baby. This whole thing has kicked my ass. And we have to get up and do it all again tomorrow...” Kurt closed his eyes and Blaine started washing his boyfriend's chest. An hour later, they boys were snug in bed, cuddled together, their bond strong and healthy.