Chapter Twenty-Four

Blaine had big plans for Kurt's thirty-first birthday.

It would start in the morning (which Blaine was thankful to have off, as it was a Monday) when he would wake the man with a back rub and kisses, and see where that took them. At eleven o'clock would be brunch with Kurt's parents, followed by a trip to the museum where Blaine had noticed there was a fashion exhibit that Kurt would love. Burt and Carole were picking up Aiden and Ella after school, so that would allow the couple to see a movie and get a nice romantic dinner before returning home. There, Burt and Carole would be ready with the children and a homemade cake.

It was perfect, Blaine was sure of it, and Kurt would absolutely love it all.

And then Blaine woke up that morning to find the other side of the bed empty. He frowned, turning onto his back to stare at the ceiling, when he faintly recognized the sound of retching. There was only a brief moment's pause before he was throwing off the blankets and bolting to the master bathroom. He pressed the door open, spotting Kurt clutching the sides of the toilet as he continued to empty the contents of his stomach. Immediately Blaine was at his side, one hand rubbing his back comfortingly while the other pulled the brunette's bangs off of his sweaty forehead.

"Are you all right?" Blaine asked him gently.

Kurt coughed a few times. "Just peachy," he croaked in response.

"Stupid question," Blaine sighed, and at last Kurt straightened himself slightly.

"Water?" he asked weakly, squeezing his eyes shut, and Blaine nodded, jumping to his feet and turning on the tap. He took a plastic cup and handed it to Kurt, taking up his kneeling position beside him and rubbing his back once again.

"God, Kurt," Blaine sighed. "This isn't exactly the birthday I'd had planned for you."

"Really?" the other man snapped. "Because this was the most fun that I could think of. Today's going to be just dandy." He glanced at Blaine apologetically after a moment. "Sorry."

"I don't care if that's a sign of what's to come today, I'm still taking care of you," Blaine told him.

Kurt made an attempt to roll his eyes but gave up halfway through, leaning back against the side of the bathtub. "I don't need to be taken care of."

Blaine raised his eyebrows. "Can you even stand up?" he asked. At this, Kurt glared at him, turning slightly to grasp the side of the tub in an attempt to push himself up. Quickly Blaine was on his feet, placing a steadying arm around Kurt's waist, offering him one of his hands.

"Thanks," Kurt mumbled. "But I don't want your help," he insisted. "I have no desire to get you sick."

"You're not getting rid of me so easily," Blaine told him in turn. "You're lucky I'm not carrying you right now." At this, Kurt sighed, leaning heavily on Blaine as they inched their way back into the bedroom.

"You'll have to forgive me, then, for looking so incredibly unattractive," he murmured. "This isn't exactly the stunning outfit I had planned for today."

"Please, you look fabulous as always," Blaine told him with a grin. "So fabulous, in fact, that I'm changing your clothes." Kurt looked at him questioningly. "We're dressing down for the day. I'll see what I have that you can wear..."

"But I like my pajamas..." Kurt protested sitting down on the edge of the bed, and Blaine raised an eyebrow at him.

"You want to wear silk when you're violently throwing up?" he asked him, and Kurt grimaced, shaking his head no after a pause. "Then you can spend one day wearing a t-shirt and sweatpants."

It only took Blaine a few brief moments of sorting through his drawers to find appropriate wares for Kurt. Then, he returned to the bed, sitting beside the other man. Gently he undid the buttons of Kurt's shirt and slid it off, the material clinging slightly to his back from sweat. He handed Kurt the fresh shirt, and Kurt pulled it over his head slowly. He helped Kurt lay back against the pillows before handing him the sweatpants, tossing Kurt's pajamas into the hamper as Kurt wrestled with the sweats. Blaine couldn't help but smile at how child-like Kurt looked in his clothes, the pants a little short, riding up above his ankles, the Dalton t-shirt rather baggy. He fetched the brunette a cold washcloth and the waste basket from the bathroom, setting the latter beside the bed.

Blaine leaned forward, pressing a gentle kiss to Kurt's forehead. He groaned. "If you get sick, it's your fault and I'm not taking care of you," he mumbled to Blaine, who chuckled.

"That's only fair," Blaine said with a grin. "But don't worry, I don't get sick."

Kurt grumbled in response and Blaine smiled, leaving the room quietly to wake up Aiden and Ella for school.

"I can't see him?" Aiden asked Blaine sadly as he chased his cereal around his bowl with a spoon. "I wanted to give him his birthday present..."

"And I've been practicing singing 'Happy Birthday' with Auntie Rachel," Ella huffed, drinking her orange juice.

"Tonight," Blaine assured them, placing their respective lunch boxes beside each of them. "I promise, when he's feeling a little better tonight, you can both see him." He picked up Ella's empty bowl. "Now, hurry up, Aunt Mercedes has agreed to take the both of you to school in ten minutes."

He saw the two of them off, giving his thanks again to Mercedes as she waved it off. "Just tell Kurt to get better," she told him with a smile. "Give him my love."

Blaine nodded and waved goodbye as Mercedes pulled out of the driveway. Quickly, he returned inside the house, stepping carefully along the path in his bare feet until the hardwood was beneath his feet again. He quickly climbed the stairs again, only to find the bed empty. Frowning, he quickly moved to the bathroom, where Kurt was once again hunched over the toilet, retching.

Blaine didn't hesitate, crouching beside Kurt and squeezing his shoulder, pushing his bangs back. He felt his heart tug painfully as Kurt wrapped his arms around himself, crying slightly. Quickly Blaine pulled him close, running his hand over the back of Kurt's hair.

At last, Blaine managed to get Kurt back to bed, pressing a fresh cold cloth to Kurt's forehead.

"I'm sorry, I know this isn't fun for you, either," he whispered.

"It's not about fun," Blaine told him gently. "It's all about making you feel better." Kurt hummed quietly in response. "Why don't I make you some ginger tea? My mom always said it settles the stomach. And then maybe we can have a movie marathon."

"Sounds perfect," Kurt replied quietly. "Laptop's downstairs."

Blaine nodded and left the room, returning ten minutes later with a mug of ginger tea for Kurt, a cup of coffee for himself, and Kurt's laptop bag slung over his shoulder. He gently handed Kurt the mug, setting his own on the bedside table. He sat himself beside Kurt, flipping open his laptop.

"Such a great way to start my thirty-first year," Kurt mumbled, resting his head against Blaine's shoulder.

"I don't know," Blaine said, wrapping an arm around Kurt. "I wouldn't mind spending my birthday in bed with you, watching movies in our pajamas."

Kurt smiled weakly. "Hopefully spending your birthday in bed will involve less vomiting."

"And more of other things," Blaine said suggestively, and Kurt chuckled softly, putting his mug to his lips and taking a long drink.

He shivered slightly. "God, I hate the taste."

"But if it works, maybe the entire day won't be lost," Blaine reminded him, pressing a kiss to his hair.

After My Fair Lady, half-way through The Sound of Music, Kurt was fast asleep, his head in Blaine's lap as the latter gently ran his fingers through his hair. At one point, Blaine had made to change the movie (having seen it a few too many times for his liking, but how could he argue when it was one of Kurt's favorites?) though the other man had sleepily mumbled he was still watching. Blaine had smiled and rolled his eyes, waiting until the very end to switch on Moulin Rouge! The hours passed slowly, after Blaine had regretfully texted Carole that Kurt was too sick to make it to brunch. Blaine was just happy that Kurt was getting some rest, even if his legs were successfully numb from lack of circulation.

It wasn't until late afternoon that Kurt was awake again, deciding that he was ready for a shower. He rolled his eyes as Blaine made him promise (repeatedly) that he would get back into pajamas after.

And an hour later, Kurt was sitting in the kitchen (in his sweatpants and t-shirt, as per Blaine's request). Just in time, Blaine thought, as they heard the front door open.

"Daddy!" came Aiden's voice, the young boy hurdling into the kitchen and flinging himself at Kurt. He smiled gently, picking up his son and setting him on his lap.

"How are you, A?" Kurt asked.

"I'm fine," Aiden said quickly. "Are you better? I hope you're better. I made you a present and I wanted to give it to you."

"Calm down, A," Burt said affectionately, clapping a hand on his son's shoulder. "How are you feelin', kid?"

"I've been better," Kurt allowed, forcing a smile.

"Well, I have a remedy for that," Carole said, coming through the door with a large pot in her hands. "Homemade chicken noodle soup," she told him. "Finn and Rachel wanted to come over, but since you're sick—"

"The baby," Kurt said quickly, nodding, bouncing Aiden up and down on his knee. "It wouldn't be smart, I totally get it."

Carole nodded. "Well, I'm going to put this on the stove," she said, indicating the pot of soup. She leaned in to press a quick kiss to Kurt's temple. "Happy birthday, sweetheart."

"Thanks," Kurt said with a smile. "How is Rachel doing, by the way?"

Burt sighed. "Right now she's at that stage where she's torn between wanting the baby outta her right now and terrified that she's only got a month left," he reported.

"Sounds about right," Blaine said. "I remember Cooper telling me that Julia was the same exact way right before Ella was born."

"Elizabeth was, too," Burt said fondly, giving Kurt's shoulder a slight squeeze.

"Aiden?" Carole called, poking her head from the kitchen. "Why don't you run and get your daddy's present? I only need to warm this up a bit, and we're all ready for dinner."

Aiden nodded quickly, extricating himself from Kurt's grasp and hopping onto the floor. He bolted for his bedroom.

"I hafta get my card!" Ella quickly told them, following Aiden as fast as she could.

After Kurt watched them go, he turned to his father. "What did he make me?" he asked in a hushed tone, but Burt shook his head.

"Can't ruin the surprise, can I?" he asked, grinning as Kurt pouted slightly.

Minutes later, as Carole was placing bowls of hot soup on the table, Ella and Aiden returned, Ella with her card clutched to her chest, Aiden holding whatever it was behind his back.

"A told me to go first," Ella told Kurt excitedly. She quickly went to stand right in front of him, and Kurt didn't hesitate to place his hands under her arms and pull her onto his lap. She smiled as he did so, and then held out the construction paper card. Kurt took it in his hands and Ella leaned into his chest, looking on.

"You're quite the artist," he told her, looking at the drawing on the front, clearly what was a crayon version of himself, dressed as a prince, with herself as a princess holding his hand. "And I have to say that I look rather fabulous." She giggled at this, and he opened the card, where it read Happy Birthday Kurt! I hope it is as amazing as you! He smiled broadly at the message, surrounded by pink and purple hearts and covered in glitter. He pressed a tiny kiss to Ella's hair. "Thank you sweetheart."

"Has your day been good?" she asked him quickly. "Do you feel better?"

"Much better," he assured her and she clapped her hands together before throwing her arms around his neck for a hug.

"Now A's turn!" she said, climbing off of Kurt and pushing Aiden forward. He quickly took up Ella's vacated spot on Kurt's lap, Blaine picking up Ella in his arms and resting her slightly against his hip.

Aiden pushed the crudely wrapped gift into Kurt's hands, and Kurt carefully removed the paper from it, gasping a little when he saw the gift.

"I made the frame myself," Aiden told him proudly, indicating the rectangle made of blue craft foam, with two yellow star and two red hearts in opposite corners. Written along the bottom of the frame in black marker was MY FAMILY.

And taped to the back of the frame was a photograph taken just a few weeks before. It had been while Kurt, Blaine, Ella, and Aiden had been visiting with Burt and Carole, a photograph taken of the four of them. Kurt and Blaine were grinning broadly, holding a laughing Aiden and Ella respectively, the spring flowers in Carole's garden just behind them.

It was perfect. So incredibly perfect.

"Thank you," Kurt said breathlessly. His eyes stung a little, but he did his best to blink back the tears. "I love it." He showed the picture to Blaine and the other man looked at in in awe for a moment before breaking out into a wide grin.

"Don't cry Daddy!" Aiden said quickly, but Kurt shook his head, pulling his son impossibly close to him.

"I just love it," he told him again. "I mean it. Thank you so much."