Kurt woke to the sound of crying, feeling Blaine shaking a little. His arms pulled Blaine in closer, kissing his cheek and finding it wet with tears.

“Blaine?”

“I didn't meant to wake you,” Blaine looked like he just woke up himself. Kurt gave him an encouraging look, though he suspected what was wrong.

“Can you get me my pain meds? My knees and hips hurt so much.....” another symptom of the meningitis recovery.

“Yeah, sure...just give me a minute.” Kurt yawned and moved his feet over the side of the bed, shaking his head to clear his mind. He checked the time – yes, Blaine could have more of the strong narcotics the doctor gave him to combat the crippling pain.

“Here you go,” Kurt said when he returned with the tablets and a glass of juice. “Hey, it's Friday! Coop should be rolling in just a few hours from now. He called while I was in the kitchen, he's bringing Chinese food.”

 Kurt was secretly relieved. Taking care of Blaine was what he wanted to be doing, had dedicated himself to it, but it was a full time thing and exhausting, both physically and mentally. His family helped when they could, but both Burt and Carole worked and Finn made Blaine nervous.

Actually, Kurt was surprised at how Finn had stepped up to the plate on this one. Since the day Blaine had gotten sick, Finn had been there – for Blaine when he needed it, but mostly for Kurt. Who would have thought Finn could sit for hours and read to Blaine? Who would have imagined Finn spooning soup for Blaine when he couldn't feed himself? And who knew Finn would know when Kurt was too tired to move and carry him up to bed and tuck him in next to Blaine?

“Finn?” Kurt called from down the hall.

“Yeah, Kurt? How's Blaine today?” Finn stepped outside of his room to see what Kurt wanted.

“He's okay, just tired like always. His joints are really hurting. I'm going to try to give him a bit of a massage – that sometimes helps. But I was wondering if you could kind of keep an ear out after, I need to do some errands and I hate to leave him alone for very long.”

“Sure, just let me know when you're ready to leave. He really enjoys me reading Harry Potter stuff to him and I'm kinda enjoying it myself,” Finn smiled.

“Thank you, Finn. You don't know how much I appreciate it.” Kurt gave his step-brother a half-hug and turned to go back to Blaine's room. But Finn did understand exactly how much Kurt appreciated it. He had been worried about Kurt, like they all were, about how much taking care of Blaine was draining Kurt of energy. He was losing weight, looked sleepy much of the time with dark circles under his eyes. At the same time, they all knew it was only because of Kurt's devotion that Blaine was able to get as far as he did in his recovery. The doctors had wanted Blaine to go to a nursing home for a while, but Kurt was adamant that he come home with the Hummels.

It wasn't just family that was worried. Cooper had noticed and offered to get a private nurse part-time to give Kurt a rest, but Kurt was having none of that, and the cold bitch-glare aimed at Cooper made him stop suggesting it. As it was, Cooper was having enough of a hard time getting Burt to take the checks he wrote to help with Blaine's expenses. But Cooper had the same wonderful charm his little brother possessed and when Carole stepped in, Burt finally agreed.

Burt was really busy with the garage and Finn helping was a good thing, but it didn't really relieve the stress of having your own small business in today's economy. Carole had a high-stress job that she loved, but her mind was often on her patients. They both cared deeply about Kurt, but not being there all day every day, they just didn't see how much he was overworking himself. Kurt's friends from Dalton and the Glee Club came and visited, but Kurt had never been one to have a lot of people over to his house and so it wasn't very common for them to visit. Except Mercedes.

Mercedes was glad Blaine was getting better. He meant so much to Kurt, and she actually liked Blaine. But he had basically taken her best friend out from under her nose in one day, whether he meant to or not. She had to bide her time, coming to visit when Kurt allowed it. She got it...Kurt was being protective of Blaine. She would probably be the same way. She could see the way Kurt had slowed down, was unresponsive – crabby even. So she was relieved that afternoon when she hung up the phone after Finn called her.

Kurt entered the room, expecting Blaine to be asleep. He's had his pain meds an hour ago and he often fell asleep afterwards. Today he was on his side, looking out the window. He turned his head when he heard Kurt enter, forcing a smile. He was glad to see Kurt, he always was, but the pain was bad today and the pills hadn't taken it all away.

Blaine stretched out his hand to Kurt, and Kurt grasped it for a minute, placing a small kiss on his boyfriend's cheek.

“How are you doing now?” he asked.

“Much better,” Blaine lied.

“Hmmmmpf.” Kurt knew better. The tight lines of pain were showing on his face, the stiff way he moved- were just screaming how much pain he was in. Blaine would not admit it, and tried to put on a brave face, but Kurt knew him a bit better than that.

“Hey, I promised you dessert after brunch earlier. Still interested?”

“Yeah! Ice cream!” Blaine's smile looked a bit more genuine now.

“Blaine Warbler! You know there is no ice cream for you. I should have never shared my peppermint with hot butterscotch sauce with you because now you're an addict,” Kurt teased.

“Okay, then what is it?” Blaine asked.

“All in good time, my dear, all in good time. I have a few plans first.”

Kurt set about making everything ready. He helped Blaine into the bathroom and while he was in there, Kurt placed a thick blanket on the bed. He set up some essential oil warmers and a large bowl with hot water, placing a bottle in the water to heat. Then he set the tray with dessert on a table across the room.

Returning to the bathroom, he found Blaine with his elbows on his knees, holding his head in his hands.

“Finished, baby?” he asked quietly.

“I'm not a damn baby. Though you'd never know since I need a nursemaid to do every little thing for me every minute of the day,” he practically shouted. Then tears filled his eyes. He glared at Kurt. Kurt gasped and stepped back, thinking he might have to call Finn to get Blaine back to bed. But he remembered what the doctors had told him. Mood swings. Frustration. Headaches. Joint pain. He took a deep breath.

“I know, Blaine,” he sympathized, careful not to call him 'baby'. “But look how far you've come! You took five steps this morning. It gets better all the time.”

Blaine sighed. How could he get mad at Kurt? Kurt was the best caregiver he could imagine, he did everything for him and never made him feel like he didn't deserve it. The guilt just added to all the pain and frustration.

“Can I help you back to bed?” Kurt was walking on eggshells again, stepping carefully so as not to trigger any more anger.

“Yes.”

Kurt put his arms around Blaine, lifting him to a standing position to help him pull up his boxers.

“Let's leave the pajama pants off,” he said, not waiting for Blaine to respond. He lifted Blaine up in his arms, Blaine's arms sliding around Kurt's neck like magic. Neither boy even though about it any more, it was so natural to them by now.

Kurt carried him back to bed, placing him on top of the thick blanket and placing another over his legs and hips. He crossed the room and drew the blinds, making the room very dim with only the candles for light. He turned on his iPod to play quiet music, Gregorian chant.

“I'm going to try to make your pain a little more tolerable, Blaine. Tell me if anything I do is uncomfortable or painful, okay?” Kurt asked in carefully modulated voice.

Blaine nodded his head. He hurt so bad, his head aching, his joints throbbing. He wanted it to stop and the quiet dark room was helping. It smelled nice, too, and he remembered that Kurt said lavender and chamomile were for calming, but this didn't have the same scent as the bath did.

Kurt poured a few drops of different oils into the oil warmer and scents began to reach Blaine's nose.

“Tell me more about the aroma stuff you started to say earlier today,” talking sometimes gave Blaine a rest from the pain.

“Let me start rubbing your back and I'll tell you.” Kurt poured a bit of oil in his hands from the bottle warming in the water bath. Blaine turned over. He pulled his boxers off, not shy in front of Kurt after all this time. Kurt began the massage, softly rubbing Blaine's spine in circles pushing out to his ribs in a gentle way. Blaine sighed and began to relax.

“There are many scents that help with healing, Blaine. Some for relaxing, like the lavender and chamomile – that's what was in the bath today. But others, too: sage, rose, jasmine, sandalwood, vanilla. For headaches or pain relief you can use bay rum, geranium, marjoram. Some are mild stimulates to help with circulation: ginger, black pepper, juniper. I know you're hurting today, so in the oil warmer is jasmine and vanilla. I have ginger and clove oil - that has a bit of a numbing effect - in the massage lotion. How does it feel?”

“Nice. Kurt, why do you know so much about all of this?”

“I read. When my dad had his heart attack, I got him an acupuncturist and it helped his circulation. But I know you're afraid of needles and I didn't want to cause any more stress, so I read up on aromatherapy.”

“I love you, Kurt.” Blaine closed his eyes and concentrated on the touch, the smell, everything Kurt was doing to make him feel better. Even the music was helping. Who knew Gregorian chant could make the pain go away?

Kurt moved from Blaine's back to his arms, massaging the muscles, rubbing his skin. Then back up to his neck as the pain in Blaine's head melted away. Kurt didn't squeeze hard, just rolled the muscles gently to make them relax. Kurt's warm hands moved back down his spine and onto his butt cheeks. Blaine tensed at first, but Kurt started to hum, never being erotic or rough and Blaine relaxed after a while.

 Massaging his hip bones started to hurt and he pulled back, so Kurt slowed down and barely touched the skin for a while until Blaine said it was okay to rub deeper. It really felt good. When Kurt got to his legs, the massaging hands on his thighs was nice, but the first touch on his knee brought a hiss of pain. Kurt skipped over the knees – it was more important to finish the massage as a whole than it was to do each and every part, and Blaine's knees were by far the most painful joints. Kurt stopped occasionally to put more oil in his hands, to move Blaine a bit for better access to a body part. He finished with his feet and slowly helped Blaine turn over.

Kurt wanted to make Blaine relax, not seduce him – though thoughts of that particular activity were on his mind as he saw how Blaine reacted to certain touches. He filed these away for future reference and got back to the massage.

Starting with his neck again, Kurt rubbed his hands gently down to the collarbones; down the sternum to the ribs, careful to do it with firm gentle pressure so as not to tickle him. Kurt noticed not everything was relaxed. He dragged his eyes away from Blaine's erection and back to the matter at hand. The sight was making his breath come faster and he needed to get a grip on himself. He took a soft towel from the bedside table and laid it over Blaine's groin area. Maybe that would help Blaine settle down.

“I'm sorry, Kurt...but I just can't help it. I mean.....” Blaine blushed.

“It's okay. Just try to relax,” and Kurt smoothed his hands over Blaine's stomach, feeling a quiver in the muscles under his hand. Skipping the erogenous zones as he had skipped his nipples earlier, Kurt resumed massaging Blaine's legs. He tentatively touched the right knee, ready to stop if Blaine showed any sign of pain. But Blaine nodded his head for Kurt to continue and he softly ran his hands over the skin there.

As he massaged, he moved the blanket so as to cover Blaine on the parts that weren't being worked on. Getting cold wasn't productive, so the warmth of the blanket helped. By the time he was done, Blaine was feeling much better. The headache was completely gone and the joints weren't screaming any more.

“How was that?” Kurt murmured. He didn't realize until that minute, but he was so very tired. He dropped down into the bedside chair and looked at Blaine. His heart took a leap – Blaine looked so relaxed, so happy. It was worth anything to see that smile back on the boy's face.

Blaine opened his eyes. He had gotten so sleepy with the combination of the scents, darkness, rhythmic chanting, gentle touching...but he was nowhere near ready to take another nap. He held his hands out to Kurt, suddenly craving his boyfriend's touch again. Kurt wanted to just sit and rest, but he was so tuned into his boyfriend, he moved without thought when Blaine needed him.

“Can you take off those jeans and T-shirt and crawl under this blanket with me?” Blaine looked at the door. “And lock that on your way..”

Kurt complied, not sure they should be doing this, but jumped back off the bed.

“Hurry.....”

“I'm coming, just had to grab dessert!”

Kurt climbed back on the bed and sat back against the headboard and uncovered the two chilled dishes on the tray.

“Oh! Whipped cream and berries! That's one of my favorites!” Blaine crowed.

“Yeah, Cooper told me. And I put a bit of vanilla in the whipped cream like your grandmother used to.”

“Sheesh, Kurt. You spoil me.” Blaine snuggled closer to his boyfriend.

They took turns feeding each other berries, dipping them first in the whipped cream, licking each other's fingers.

“I bet your grandmother never fed them to you like this,” Kurt whispered, placing a ripe strawberry in his lips and offering it to Blaine, who took it gently, rubbing his lips against Kurt's in a sensual way that made Kurt's breathless. Kurt dipped his finger in the whipped cream and put a little on Blaine's chest, then licked it off. Blaine blushed, but his breath got faster. “Mmmmm...” he hummed in Kurt's ear.

“You okay, baby?” Kurt asked, worried about Blaine overdoing.

“Quit treating me like I'm made of glass, Kurt. I can tell you if I'm too tired. And that massage made me feel so much better. Maybe I can return the favor?” He put the tray with the bowls on the bedside table, keeping the whipped cream. “Lie back and relax, Kurt,” Blaine said with an authority Kurt hadn't heard in a long time.

Blaine threw back the blanket to get better access and pulled Kurt's boxer briefs off, seeing his half-hard cock. He could take care of that. Taking a finger full of whipped cream, he painted it on Kurt's cheek, licking it off. He pulled back to see if Kurt liked it, and got a smile in return. So he painted the cream down the side of his boyfriend's neck, following it with his tongue. Kurt let out a small moan and closed his eyes. Blaine continued to paint whipped cream all down Kurt's body, paying particular attention to the rosy nipples that made Kurt groan with pleasure and squirm closer to Blaine's body. After a while, Blaine forgot to use the whipped cream and just licked Kurt, nibbling and blowing warm breath over his pale skin.

“Ohhhh...Blaine...” Kurt murmured over and over. Blaine hadn't though how this would end, and they hadn't discussed it since he'd gotten sick. Before, it was strictly an 'above the waist' policy, but Kurt had touched every part of Blaine by now and those boundaries didn't seem to count anymore. Still, Blaine felt he should ask.

“Kurt...can I?” he nodded at the erect cock in front of him. Kurt opened his eyes for just a minute, rubbing his hands over Blaine's stomach, feeling his skin so close. He reached over and got the towel he'd used on Blaine and spread it out, lowering himself onto it. No sense in having to wash the sheets again.

Blaine gently pushed him back down on the bed, licking up his thighs, moving his tongue and fingers over the sensitive soft skin of his inner thighs. Kurt's skin was so pale, so soft...Blaine though randomly that if milk in your bathwater did this, he was going to buy a cow. He smiled at that, and Kurt saw the smile, misinterpreting it and cupping Blaine's cheek in his palm.

“I love you.”

“I love you, too, Kurt.”

Blaine dipped his head back down, turning Kurt over and beginning to rub first with his hands, then his tongue down Kurt's spine. He heard a deeper moan, funny because Kurt's voice usually went up at least an octave when he was excited. Hmm..this must be a different excitement Blaine thought as he moved down Kurt's body, rubbing and licking. He was getting so tired, but couldn't stop. He needed to rest for a second and put his cheek on Kurt's butt cheek. Kurt jumped a little, humming in anticipation perhaps. Blaine nibbled a bit, then kissed the round muscle while Kurt jumped again. Blaine slowly massaged the muscles, pulling the cheeks apart and licking a little. Kurt moaned so loudly it startled Blaine.

“Is this okay?” he asked in a whisper, not wanting to kill the mood, but not wanting to do something out of bounds.

Kurt took a deep breath. “Please....”

Blaine moved deeper, licking slowly at the pink entrance. This was not really something he had ever contemplated doing, but now he couldn't stop. This was hot. Kurt was hot. Blaine was dizzy with excitement – not knowing what to do next, but enjoying the noises Kurt was making.

“Oh, Blaine...oh, god, Blaine....Oh, if you stop I think my heart might stop, too...” Kurt said in a shaky voice, moving his hips to gain friction on the blanket. Blaine complied – moving his tongue in whorls and pushing in a bit, experimenting with how deep he might be able to go. “Oh...you better stop...I'm going to come if you don't stop....”

Blaine stopped. But he turned Kurt over and moved his legs a little apart, moving down so he could reach Kurt's thighs. He started moving his fingers in little circles, up the thighs, near the hip bone which he began to lick and bite a little. Kurt was almost rolling in some inner rhythm, seeming to be unable to speak. Blaine loved this - he was beginning to feel in control of at least something in his life. And to have that something be his boyfriend, well....

The only place left for him to go was Kurt's cock. He licked the base, then went down and pulled his balls gently into his mouth and moved them with his tongue, eliciting a wonderful moaning growl from Kurt's throat that he felt down to his cock. He moved his lips up the underside and took the tip into his mouth, whirling his tongue around the foreskin, moving it further back to expose the head. Kurt just came unglued and Blaine had to hold down Kurt's hipbones to keep him from thrusting too hard. Blaine was so hot, he thought he might come just listening to Kurt's wails.

Kurt had practically started chanting, “Blaine.....Blaine.....oh..my....oh....Blaine, move back, I'm so close.....” which just made Blaine redouble his efforts. He pulled Kurt into his mouth with suction as hard as he could, as far as he could go, rubbing his tongue along first the slit at the top, then around the ridge...and Kurt gave a gutteral sound like his heart being ripped from his body and came in bursts down Blaine's throat – finally pushing his hips forward almost choking Blaine. His whole body was shivering, tensing his muscles and letting go, and saying the mantra of Blaine's name over and over.

When he had quieted down, he found Blaine's arms wrapped around him, his face tucked into Kurt's neck. Blaine was quiet, eyes closed and holding tight. He looked exhausted.

“Blaine...? Are you okay?”

“Shouldn't I be asking you that?”

“Yeah...no....I don't know. Oh, Blaine, how did that happen? I was just going to give you a massage to help you stop hurting, I never expected.....”

“No one expects the Spanish Inquisition.” Blaine deadpanned.

Kurt just looked at him. "Really, Blaine? Monty Python???"

What started as a smirk ended up with both boys laughing so hard they doubled over. Blaine was so thrilled he could do something to make Kurt happy. After weeks of Kurt taking care of him, he wanted to make it up to him somehow. And of course it wasn't all selfless, Blaine had enjoyed it, too.

“But Blaine....what can I do for you?” he asked, noticing Blaine wasn't hard anymore but reaching to take it in his hand. “Did you co.........?” he asked, looking at the towel for his answer.

Blaine blushed. “Almost, but Kurt, I am so tired. Can we..ah...maybe work on that tomorrow? As much as I loved doing that for you, I think I can't....ah......well, not now.” And he buried his head in Kurt's side with a sound of defeat.

“Oh, Blaine...there's nothing to be worried about. You know it's just that you don't have your strength back yet.” He was rubbing Blaine's back, trying to comfort him. “We can start again tomorrow when you're rested. Okay?”

Blaine just looked dejected.

“You know you can do it. Remember earlier in the bathtub?”

“Yeah. I know. I'm just soooooo....” and he dissolved into tears, trembling in Kurt's arms.

Kurt was starting to worry. He knew the dangers of overtaxing Blaine and was feeling a little guilty in taking his pleasure at the expense of his boyfriend's health.

“You know it's a long, slow road, Blaine. And I'll be here with you every step of the way. Every day, in every way. Can you shower if I get the shower chair?” They had gotten this from the medical supply company along with the hospital bed.

Blaine closed his eyes for a minute. “I think so, if you help me,” and he sighed in resignation. This feebleness was so defeating some days, it tended to overshadow the good things.

Kurt wrapped Blaine in the blanket, threw the soiled towel in the hamper and got the shower ready. He carried Blaine in and put him in the shower chair, letting the warm water run over his skin for a while, then taking a few minutes to clean himself. Blaine almost fell, dozing off while he sat there, but Kurt was vigilant and caught him.

Half an hour later found both boys in clean clothes, Blaine in pajamas and tucked into bed, Kurt in skinny jeans, a short-sleeved shirt and vest in coordinated shades of charcoal and forest green. Blaine was trying valiantly to keep awake, but losing the fight. He was holding Kurt's hand, their fingers entwined, a smile on his face. Kurt was so beautiful, looked so gorgeous in his jeans...how had Blaine gotten so lucky?

“Go to sleep, Blaine. Cooper is coming in a few hours and you want to be awake for that, huh?” Kurt asked.

“I'd rather be awake for you, Kurt.”

“You're so sweet, But really, go to sleep for a while. You just took your medication, so you'll be sleepy in a few minutes. Hey, you'll see me again, I live here you know.” He squeezed Blaine's hand gently.

“I'll go to sleep, but can you sing to me? I loved the lullaby you sang to me at the hospital.”

“Okay, but I know another one. From Lady and the Tramp.” Blaine smiled and nodded. Kurt moved closer to the side of the bed to gently stroke the other boy's cheek while he sang:

La la lu, La la lu
Oh, my little star sweeper
I'll sweep the stardust for you

La la lu, La la lu
Little soft fluffy sleeper
Here comes a pink cloud for you

La la lu, La la lu
Little wandering angel
Fold up your wings close your eyes

La la lu, La la lu
And may love be your keeper
La la lu, La la lu, La la lu

And that's where Finn found him, sitting in the chair, leaning over the side of Blaine's bed, sound asleep. With a shake of his head, Finn gathered his brother in his arms and put him on the bed, taking off his shoes and tucking him in next to Blaine. They reached for each other in their sleep, like they always did, Blaine cuddling up to Kurt's chest and Kurt's arms moving protectively around Blaine and holding him tight. Kurt was a mother tiger alright, always protecting the ones he loved.

“I wish somebody loved me that much,” Finn said to himself, brushing away a tear. But his thought turned to Kurt – he was so tired all the time from watching over Blaine. Somebody needed to watch over him.

Finn went back to his room, thumbing through his contact list on his cell.

“Mercedes? It's Finn......”