When Blaine opened his eyes, the sun was barely over the horizon and was a beautiful rosy color. Aramis was sleeping at the foot of the bed, but Blaine patted the mattress and he jumped up – kissing Blaine's face. Blaine giggled and coaxed the collie over to Kurt, who was sound asleep. He pointed at Kurt's exposed neck and Aramis got the message and started licking his master. Kurt smiled in his sleep, murmuring, “Oh, Blaine...it's too early for that..” but not pushing the dog away. Blaine had to hold his hand over his mouth not to laugh out loud. Aramis was encouraged by Kurt's failure to shoo him away and redoubled his efforts. Kurt's arms came up encircling the snowy ruff around the collie's neck. His eyes snapped wide open and he gasped, pushing the dog away with a look of disgust. He turned and his eyes fell on Blaine, mouth covered in a fit of giggles. Oh, here was the famous ice-cold bitch-glare in full force, in spite of the sleepyness in those blue eyes.

“Blaine....” he started to say, but Blaine took his only means of defense and launched himself into Kurt's arms, covering him with kisses. “Oh, stop!” Kurt managed to squeak. Blaine kissed down his neck, then hit him with his very best puppydog eyes. Kurt sighed. “Good morning. I think.”

“Good morning to you, too,” Blaine grinned.

Kurt yawned and stretched. “You been up long, baby?” he asked. He hated that Blaine would sit and wait for him to wake up, knowing he had to use the bathroom but reluctant to be a burden. No matter how many times he told Blaine he was no trouble at all, he just wouldn't listen.

“No, just a few minutes. I saw poor, neglected Aramis there on the cold floor - so it was only polite to ask him up to join us,” Blaine giggled.

“Right. You probably poked him out of a sound sleep with your cane to make him get up here and cover me with dog spit.” Kurt smiled in spite of himself. “C'mon. Let's go take a shower.”

“Kurt, we took a shower last night. I think I'm clean enough," Blaine sniffed.

“Okay then, I have a better idea...let's go sit in the hot tub! It's awfully cold outside, so a nice soak in hot water will feel great.”

“Yeah, I'd love to. I'm kind of addicted to that hot tub, which is part of the reason I picked this room...it's just a few steps away, after all.”

Kurt got up, took Blaine to use the bathroom and put together a bundle of warm towels along with their robes and slippers. Luckily, the patio was covered, so there was no snow to walk through on the way to the tub. He left for a minute to take all the things to the hot tub, making sure the water was up to temperature and to turn on the sauna. It was in a small building at the back of the hot tub area, and he was convinced the heat helped Blaine's sore joints if they sat in there for a while first. He made sure there were cedar branches in the bin, to be spread on the hot rocks before pouring water over them to make steam. It smelled so good when they did that. He stopped for a minute to look around...it was still hard to believe he lived here, that he had all of these wonderful things at his disposal. He had been perfectly happy before, living in the small cozy house with his dad. But this was something he was determined to be thankful for every day. Not many people in the world were as happy as he was, in spite of all the negative things in his life. Blaine and his family outshone every negative aspect every day. He sighed in pleasure and walked back to the bedroom, wrapped in his warm robe.

“Are you ready?” he called before opening the bathroom door. He heard Blaine's voice and went in. Blaine had been able to stand up, holding on to the sink, and was smiling at Kurt.

Kurt held Blaine's hand to steady him while he took 14 steps, enough to get back into the bedroom where he sat down on the bed. But Kurt could see how painful it was and made a mental note to include the pain medication with his other pills at breakfast. After using the facilities himself, brushing his teeth and noting Blaine had done the same, he returned to the bedroom. He leaned down a bit and swept Blaine up into his arms to take him to the sauna, kissing his cheek as he settled him into a comfortable position.

“Blaine, you feel kind of warm, are you okay?” Kurt asked with a bit of concern.

“Of course I am, Mama Tiger.” he kidded, earning a dirty look from Kurt. While Kurt laughed good naturedly at the T-shirt Finn had given him for Christmas, the joking about that still stung a little.

They were both bundled up against the cold, and the few steps from their room to the sauna hardly got them chilled. Kurt set Blaine down on a cedar bench and helped him out of his clothes. Kurt placed several cedar branches on the hot rocks and poured a ladle full of water to make steam. He and Blaine both breathed in the cleansing scent. They sat on fluffy Turkish towels, Kurt sitting across from Blaine as they chatted about school, upcoming songs they wanted to sing, plans to get Blaine's guitar out later in the day so he could practice a bit, how much fun they were going to have on the trip to New York in a few days. When both boys were sufficiently sweaty, Kurt helped Blaine into his robe, put on his own, and carried him to the hot tub. It wasn't near as hot as the sauna, so that it actually felt kind of cool in comparison. Kurt stepped in after Blaine, snuggling close to him on the bench. He turned on the jets, just on low but it felt nice. Blaine sighed in relaxed comfort, prompting Kurt to look at him very seriously.

“If I ask you something, will you promise to tell me the truth?” Kurt asked, pinning Blaine to the side of the tub with his blue stare.

“Kurt? Have I ever lied to you? Ever? What's this about?” Blaine's smile dropped immediately and cold started creeping up the back of his neck.

“I don't think you out and out lie to me, Blaine, but when it comes to telling me when you are in pain, I think you tend to....shall we say 'play it down'? I know you are not by nature a whiner. Ever. But when you hide your pain from me, that hurts me, baby. I need to know how you are, or I can't take proper care of you. I don't look at it as complaining, I look at it as helping yourself live each day as pain free as possible.” Kurt pulled his fiancé closer, gently holding him in his arms and brushing his nose against Blaine's nose. “I love you, Blaine, and I want to take the best care of you I can. Now, tell me – truthfully – how much you are hurting today?”

Blaine snuggled closer to Kurt, pressing a few kisses into his chest, right above his heart. “I had a bad night. My joints are achy. On that pain scale, it was nearing an 8 out of 10. I didn't want to wake you up again for the pain meds.” Blaine began to blink back a few tears. “You just don't understand, Kurt. You couldn't. I don't mind taking them at night, I'm sleeping then anyway. But those strong narcotics make me sleepy. And if I'm telling you the whole truth, I have to say this: that being awake and alert can be more important to me than being out of pain. Does that make sense?” Blaine dipped his head, thinking Kurt wouldn't understand.

Kurt sat still for a minute, turning this new information over in his mind. He did understand, though. Who would want to spend their life in a stupid fog, not caring or maybe not even understanding what was going on around them?

“I do understand that, baby. I do. I don't like it much, but I understand.” A few tears made their way down his cheek and he was glad Blaine had his cheek on Kurt's chest so he couldn't see them. Blaine didn't like pity. Kurt pasted a smile on his face, determined to bring the conversation to a happier place.

Blaine's voice got a lot lower, almost whispering. “And there's another thing...” he said, but it was so quiet, Kurt could have ignored it if he wanted to. But he didn't, and moved closer to hear. “Well, it's about the medicine. Kurt, if I take the stronger narcotic, it does something to me. It..” he blushes and turns his head into Kurt's chest, hiding.

“Tell me, baby. You know we can tell each other anything. What does the medicine do?”

“It makes it so I can't get hard. It scared me so badly the first time it happened. We weren't, ah..we hadn't...not yet. But I thought the meningitis had not only messed up my legs, but made that broken, too. I panicked. I called the doctor and he told me that can be a side effect of narcotics. Lucky for me, it is temporary. But, Kurt, I love you so much, and that is part of loving you – being able to have sex with you. Not being able to do that? It would just kill me.”

Kurt kissed Blaine on the top of his curls, saying sweet things to him as he kissed him on his cheeks, then gentle kisses on his mouth. “Baby, if that had happened to you, if you had lost that ability, I can't say it wouldn't matter to me, because it would. I love doing those things with you as much as you enjoy them. But you have to believe me when I tell you that the loss of your ability to get an erection would not make me love you any less. It's you I love, Blaine. You. Your spirit, your humor, your delight in all the beautiful things in the world. And compared with a little sex, I'd take you any way I can have you. Don't you know that? Do you have such little faith in me, baby?” Kurt pulled away from Blaine, just enough that they could look into each other's eyes. His eyes were that wonderful color of the Mediterranean today, bright and sparkling as he looked deep into Blaine's golden hazel with all the flecks of moss green shining back. Blaine blinked first and ducked his head.

“Yes, Kurt I do know that down in my heart. I guess I just talk myself into crazy things sometimes and forget what exactly we have together. But if you want to know the truth, I'm pretty glad I can have sex with you.” Blaine grinned up at Kurt, fluttering his lacy black lashes to tease Kurt. Kurt's heart melted a little more. He coughed.

“Hey, we're going to turn into prunes in this water, let's get inside and get dressed,” Kurt said, feeling sort of undone by the whole conversation – so he began splashing Blane in the face with water to cover up. Blaine, of course, retaliated and they laughed, splashing and giggling until Kurt dived under the water and grabbed Blaine around the waist, pulling him under and placing his mouth on Blaine's. A flood of bubbles came up as Blaine tried not to laugh, and they both surfaced, arms wrapped around each other as they pressed their lips together again, this time above water so nobody was in danger of drowning. Kurt stepped out first, wrapping himself in a towel and tugging his robe on top, then turning to help Blaine do the same. He carried Blaine inside, tucking him under the warm covers of the bed and crawling in after him so they both stayed warm.

The air in the room was warm, so in a few minutes Kurt pulled back the covers. He wanted to see the decoration on Blaine's chest in the sunlight. Last night it was so late when they got done, they only had the lights in the room, but Kurt opened the drapes to let in lots of sunlight and the henna swirls and curves lit up, so beautiful on Blaine's golden skin. He wasted no more time, but leaned over to kiss all the way down the path made by the henna, marveling at how gorgeously it highlighted Blaine's muscles.

Blaine was looking at Kurt's decoration, and must have appreciated it a lot because his adoration began to show in a rather obvious manner...which just encouraged Kurt's body to respond. It didn't take long for them to be belly to belly, rubbing and stroking each other, moaning in pleasure.

Kurt reached over to the bedside table for the little bottle of lube and continued stroking Blaine, paying special attention first to his neck and collarbone, leaving a trail of kisses, nibbles and bites. He licked his favorite place, just over Blaine's left hipbone and sucked a purple rose onto the golden skin. Blaine was moaning in pleasure, wishing Kurt would do that more often. Sometimes it was so sexy, Blaine could almost come just from Kurt sucking on his hipbone. But the rest of his anatomy wasn't being ignored.

“Kurt?” Blaine asked, a little shy. Kurt raised his eyebrows. “Ah, you know that book you got me for Christmas? The Joy of Sex book?”

“Yeah,” Kurt said.

“I was reading something in the book, and I though we might try it. I don't think it will hurt, but since you're the one with the required special equipment, it has to be your decision.”

“What? What special equipment do I possess that you don't? Shit, Blaine..are you trying to tell me something?” Kurt had a really funny look on his face and Blaine was trying not to laugh.

“A foreskin, Kurt. I seemed to have, ah, misplaced mine. Probably sometime just after my birth, I think,” he giggled.

Kurt just looked at him, eyebrows raised since he had no idea what possible use a foreskin was. He had noticed, of course, that while he had not been circumcised, Blaine had.

Blaine was happy to explain, it wasn't everyday he could tell Kurt something he didn't know already. “It's called 'docking'.” Kurt's eyebrows raised even higher.

“We lie down face to face and touch the tips of our penises together, then you gently pull your foreskin over the top of yours and over the tip of mine, too. Like the space station.”

Kurt blinked. “Really? I don't know if that will work...I mean, I've never actually tried to stretch it.” Kurt was so red, it was unbelievable, He had been a bit sensitive as a kid about having not been circumcised. He actually never knew a single boy that hadn't, and as if he wasn't different enough, he had that, too. He had even thought about asking his dad if it could be done now, but thanks to the internet, he had read enough to be sure he didn't want it done.

Blaine was watching his face, no doubt thinking Kurt didn't want to try it, so he figured he'd put him out of his misery.

“Okay. But what do you do after they're...ah, docked? And why would they use a word like “docked” anyway, it sounds like you're going to chop it off! Like a Doberman's docked tail.”

Blaine giggled at that.

“Honestly, Kurt, would I suggest we do something to maim you?” He glared at Kurt.

“No, of course not. I'm being a little sensitive. But, yes, I'm willing to try if you are.”

“Okay, we dock, and then sort of masterbate, it's supposed to feel really good.”

They scooted closer, Kurt turning so he was lying facing Blaine and their cocks were touching. Kurt reached down to gently pull his foreskin back over his tip and then pulled it to stretch over Blaine, too. It didn't stretch a lot, but just enough. He wasn't sure if it was just the idea, or the new sensation, but they both had rock hard erections now and reached down to begin stroking. They tried to stroke each other, but that was too difficult with trying to be careful not to pull apart, so they did themselves.

Within minutes, they were at the edge of coming, panting and looking into each other's eyes, both boys had dark pupils and the irises were almost gone.

“I...I think we should stop. I don't know what will happed if we come and we're still docked..it might hurt you.” Blaine murmured, stopping and waiting for Kurt to undo them. His hands shook, but it was fairly easy, and they fell together, letting themselves cool down for a moment. Blaine crawled into Kurt's lap, facing him and reaching down to hold both erections in his hands, continuing the stroke, but feeling the friction of Kurt's whole length against him. He closed his eyes to concentrate, but felt Kurt's lips against his and opened to him. Kurt held him close by putting his arms around Blaine's shoulders, moaning at the feel of Blaine's flesh rubbing against him.

“Oh, baby, I'm so close....” Kurt said into Blaine's neck, and Blaine gripped just a teeny bit harder, the lube just enough to stop them from chafing, but not enough to stop the dragging friction. Blaine was close, too, and his rhythm was getting erratic. He reached his other hand down to cup Kurt's balls gently, moving them in their sac so Kurt could feel them, too. He let out a loud babbling noise, sort of Kurt's name and came hard, dripping over his hand, hitting Kurt's stomach. Kurt was not far behind him as the thrill of feeling Blaine's climax shuddered through his senses. Blaine slowed down his movements, slowly coming to a stop before lying still.

“I love my new books, kitten. Thank you,” Blaine smiled.

After holding each other for a while, hunger and wanting to clean up made them get up and get dressed to start their day.

“Do you want to try to walk a little bit, baby?” Kurt asked when they were dressed, ready for breakfast. It was 8:30, so most of the family was probably gone – thinking Blaine and Kurt had slept in.

“No, I'm pretty tired, can you just push me, if it's not too much trouble?” Blaine asked.

“Of course.” He put Blaine on the soft pillow he had gotten him for Christmas for the wheelchair. He'd called Artie to get suggestions for that. He got the afghan he had made Blaine and tucked it around his legs, wanting to keep them warm. Cool legs made for painful joints. He pressed a soft kiss on Blaine's forehead before pushing him through the door.

“Blaine, you still feel kind of warm to me. Are you okay?” Kurt asked.

“Well, let's see: I spent time in the hot sauna, then the hot tub, followed by a rather strenuous 'workout' exercise. Then you wrapped me up like a cocoon in this wool afghan....yes, I might be a touch on the warm side.” Blaine smiled up at Kurt, reaching up to grasp his hand and squeeze it. Kurt dropped a kiss on the dark curls.

“Okay, just checking,” he smiled. “How about French toast for breakfast?”

“Sounds delicious. Make lots, I'm starving.”

Finn walked around the corner, his arm slipped around Mercedes waist....well, what there was of it with Cooper junior growing in leaps and bounds.

“Look who I found trying to waddle down the stairs,” Finn kidded, earning a smack on the arm from Mercy. But she grinned.

“What's for breakfast?” Finn asked, smiling because Kurt was cooking.

“French toast?” Blaine crowed, happy to share in his bounty.

“Can I help you, Kurt? Mercy asked.

“Yes, I need a hug from my nephew's mama,” he grinned. Mercy hurried over to throw her arms around him, placing a big kiss on his cheek.

“And one for this uncle, too,” she said, hugging a blushing Blaine. He looked up at her, hazel eyes shining through his dark lashes.

“How is the baby this morning? Giving you trouble?” he asked.

“Kicking up a storm. Want to feel?”

Blaine was still shy about touching Mercedes' tummy, but he really wanted to feel his nephew again. He put out his hand and she guided it to a place on her side.

“Oh! I can feel him, Kurt! Come here....” he looked at Mercy. “If it's okay with you, of course.”

“Yes, I don't mind. I can remember when we were just little, 5 years old, don't you remember, Kurt? Mama was pregnant with Tice and we used to sit and wait for him to kick. Your mama and mine, laughing at us for wanting to feel him all the time.” Mercedes smiled at the memory and Kurt's eyes watered, but he smiled, too.

Blaine pulled Kurt closer, moving his hand to the right spot and watching his fiancé's face as he felt the baby move. Finn was sitting across the table, trying not to look, but Kurt exchanged knowing glances with Mercedes and put a hand out to him.

“Finn, the baby needs to know ALL of his uncles, get over here while he's showing off his dancing skills. He can already kick as high as I can,” Kurt grinned.

Finn almost tripped over his big feet trying to get there. He had wanted to feel the baby so much, but was afraid to ask. He had never felt Quinn's baby move before it all got revealed that it was really Puck's, and after that Finn just didn't want to ask. He put a tentative hand on Mercy's tummy and she pressed it harder so he could feel. The baby kicked and his eyes got round, much like Kurt's and Blaine's had when they first got to feel it.

“Oh, Kurt...he isn't a dancer, I can tell. He's gonna be a football hero like his Uncle Finn,” he announced, winking at his brother.

“Well, excuse me, Mr Quarterback, but who got the winning kick that season?” Kurt bitch-glared back at Finn, but softened it with a smile. Finn blushed.

“I think this baby, boy or girl, is going to be the luckiest baby on earth with three handsome and talented uncles to love him. Or her.” Mercedes smiled. “But if I don't get something to eat soon, I'm going to faint from hunger, and that won't be good for the baby at all.”

Kurt got back to the stove, mixing eggs and things for the whole grain bread to be dipped in. Mercedes made the coffee and Blaine set the table. Finn fed Artimis and stepped outside in his jacket to throw a ball for the dog for a little while until he was called in for breakfast.

Kurt put the first plates down in front of Mercedes and Blaine. Blaine's eyes got huge and a smile grew on his face as he looked up at Kurt. “Wow...is this what I think it is?”

Kurt grinned. “Probably. It's French Toast with butterscotch sauce. I added crushed peppermint candies to yours, Blaine.”

Blaine whooped and dug in, shoveling in as much as Finn with every bite.

“I should have never let him have the peppermint ice cream with butterscotch sauce that first time he came over. I created a monster.”

“Kurt, can I have some pain meds?” Blaine asked later in the afternoon.

“Of course, baby, I'll be right back,” Kurt said, getting up to go get them. He returned with a small oblong white pill and a piece of pita bread spread with hummus and a glass of milk. It was kind of unusual for Blaine to ask for pain meds in the middle of the day, but Kurt put it down to his recent walking practice or the weather.

“Thank you, but can I have two of the stronger ones?” Blaine looked a little pale. Kurt felt his head and he seemed a bit warm.

“Okay, But I want to take your temperature. Do you have any other symptoms? Do I need to call the doctor?”

“No, my joints just really hurt. I think we're going to get a storm, maybe. I tend to be sensitive to big weather changes.”

Kurt took back the pill and got two of the stronger ones. He gave them to Blaine and helped him into bed.

“Do you want a massage, baby? I can get you ready and give you one if you want,” Kurt smiled, petting Blaine's curls and running his fingers through his hair.

“Oh, you are so sweet to me, Kurt. But, no. I just want to go to sleep. But if you don't mind, can you sit with me for a while?” Blaine looked like a little kid, small under the blankets of the big bed. He always looked smaller when he didn't feel good.

“I could read to you, or maybe sing?”

“Please sing. Can you do a Disney song?” Blaine must be feeling pretty bad, he didn't usually ask for Kurt to sing Disney.

“La-la-lu? Or Stay Awake? Oh, I know, Close your eyes, baby, and I'll sing you a different one.”

Kurt sat close to Blaine, combing his finger through his hair again, and sang:

When you wish upon a star

Makes no difference who you are

Anything your heart desires

Will come to you.

If your heart is in your dream

No request is too extreme

When you wish upon a star

As dreamers do

Fate is kind

She brings to those who love

The sweet fulfillment of

Their secret longing

Like a bolt out of the blue

Fate steps in and sees you through

When you wish upon a star

Your dreams come true

Blaine was asleep, so Kurt took off his shoes and jeans and climbed into bed next to him, carefully gathering him close to his heat to keep him safe and warm. He put a small kiss on his cheek and whispered how much he loved him, holding his dearest treasure until they both slept.

The next day, Thursday, everyone was in a stir, all talking about the upcoming trip to New York. Kurt was so nervous, thinking about all the things he would see and do. They had arranged to get Blaine on the airplane and have a rented wheelchair waiting for them in New York. Rachel had been over, giggling and planning, making Kurt just about strangle her with her constant chattering. Finn was as excited as the rest, packing and repacking his suitcase. They had two rooms at the hotel, one for Rachel and Kurt, one for Blaine and Finn. Many winks and nods were exchanged between the four whenever the subject came up. The only one that wasn't excited was Blaine.

Blaine had been to New York with his parents and with his brother many times. While he was excited to go with Kurt, he was just a little too tired to care. He had been taking more pain meds than usual, blaming it on the weather, and had thus been more sleepy than usual. Cooper had come down to talk to him in private earlier that day.

“Hey, Squirt.”

“Coop,” he said, looking up at his brother, smiling.

“I just wanted to talk to you for a minute about this trip,” he said, sitting in the easy chair in Blaine's room. Blaine was resting on the sofa, wrapped in his afghan.

“Yeah, it was so nice of you to give us such a great present. Thank you,” Blaine said.

“No problem, Little One. But I want to discus something. I know you don't always tell me everything like you did when we were kids, and I understand that. I'm married now, you have Kurt, and although we live in the same house, we don't always have time to talk in private.”

Blaine nodded, trying to figure out where this was leading.

“Well, you know how happy I am that you and Kurt are engaged. Right?”

Blaine nodded.

“I haven't heard you say when the date is, so I'm guessing you either haven't talked about it, or you're planning something secret. If you are, I want you to know that all of the family loves you, I don't just mean me, or Mom. I mean Kurt's family. Carole adores you, Burt thinks the world of you - as do Finn and Mercedes. That Kurt kid kinda likes you, too, I'm told.” Blaine giggled. “So, if you had planned on eloping, you would hurt a lot of people.

“I looked up the laws in New York, You have to be 18 to get a marriage license, or if you are 16 you can have a notarized copy of agreement by your guardian. You can buy the license, but there is a 24 hour waiting period before you can have the ceremony - which has to be performed by a judge, a man of the cloth, of a state certified appointee. That being said, let me remind you, you are 17 and your birthday isn't until February.”

Blaine blinked his beautiful hazel eyes. “Okay. But Cooper...we aren't planning on getting married during the trip. I know we want to be married, but this is not the time. We want to finish high school first, Kurt has been planning his wedding since he was three. I'm happy you care enough to worry about me, but really, Cooper, you don't need to. Okay? I'd tell you.”

“Well, I was going to get you that letter granting my approval if you asked me for it, Squirt, but I'm sure glad you aren't going to do it yet. I want to give you a bachelor party! I want to help with the plans, I want to get Kurt a passport so I can send you on a romantic honeymoon,” Cooper was so enthusiastic, he could hardly contain himself. He hugged his brother and helped him get ready to take a nap. He took off his shirt and Coop looked over. “Hey, what the...? What is that on your chest?”

Blaine smiled. “It's henna dye. Kurt painted it on me, do you like it? It's what I got him for Christmas. Remember? You were with me when I got it.”

"Oh, yeah. It's pretty cool, that Kurt is an artist.”

“You should see his!”

“You look tired, Squirt. Better rest up for the trip, you leave tomorrow morning.”

Cooper had only just left when Kurt came into the room.

“Oh, Blaine. Are you ready for a nap? I'm so sorry, but I have to help you get dressed again, baby. I just called your doctor and he can see you in an hour.”

“My doctor? Why?”

“I'm concerned about that fever. I know, it isn't a high fever, just a low grade one, but coupled with the congestion and how tired you are, I really want his stamp of approval before we leave tomorrow. Okay?” Kurt asked, cupping Blaine's chin in his hand.

“Sure, Kurt. No problem, if it would make you feel better about going. I'll just get dressed.”

Kurt went to select some comfortable warm clothes, but by the time he returned to the bed, Blaine was sound asleep again. He hated to wake him up, but he really needed to keep this appointment.

Several hours later, Kurt was tucking Blaine back into bed. Blaine was on the verge of tears, but Kurt was adamant he could face his family alone.

“Just get some sleep, baby. I'll be back in just a few minutes. We can go another time. You wouldn't have a good time feeling so bad, anyway.” He called Aramis to jump on the bed and keep Blaine company while he went to tell the family the bad news. The collie lay down next to Blaine, giving him a lick before lying his head on his white forepaws to wait.

Kurt went back into the family room, asking the whole family and Rachel to come down and join him. Cooper put his hand on Kurt's back. They had just spent a little while in Coop's office talking this over.

“I am so sorry to tell you this, but Blaine and I just got back from the doctor. He is sick. They did several blood tests to check for further infection, but it looks like a simple case of the flu. The doctor is advising that Blaine stay home. He is heartbroken, but he probably wouldn't have a good time trying to do so much while he's sick.

“Now, I know this was my birthday present, and I loved it. But my place is here with Blaine, and I know you all understand that. I have talked it over with Cooper, and while the tickets can't be refunded, they can be transferred. Finn and Rachel, you are still going, of course. But we would like to offer the two remaining tickets to Dad and Carole. I know it's short notice, but I called Marvin, Dad, and arranged for him to take over the shop while you're gone. I can go and check up on things, but he's worked for you for over 20 years, so I think he can do it. Carole, I called the hospital and they arranged for others to take over all of your shifts. You never got to go on that honeymoon because you used the money for Dalton for me, so we all think you should take the tickets,” Kurt concluded.

There was a lot of protesting, but he knew in the end he could be more stubborn than anyone there. Burt and Carole were both concerned about Blaine, but Kurt assured them he would call if anything happened. In the end, Burt and Carole packed and got ready to leave with Finn and Rachel in the morning. Surprisingly, the worst one to convince was Finn. He just didn't want to leave with Blaine sick. It finally took Blaine himself to demand that Finn go.

Cooper took them to the airport the next morning, and they took the last plane before the airport was closed because of an incoming storm. He got back into Lima a few hours later, going to Mercedes' parents' house to pick her up. They stayed for lunch, but the roads were closed with the blizzard by the time they wanted to leave for home. Coop called Blaine to make sure he was okay and let the boys know they were on their own until the city dug itself out.