He bit his lip, looking among his friends. They seemed just as nervous as he was. If only Blaine were here, he'd know how to give everyone a decent pep talk…

~X~

Blaine's feet seemed to move of their own accord. They ran quickly through the halls, but once he was outside, he halted. He was in New York. He had no idea what hospital his mom had been taken to. His head whipped around, and he bit his lip.

His hand was suddenly in another's, a soft, warm, feminine hand. Layla. She held tightly and pulled him to the edge of the sidewalk as she held a taxi, screaming at every taxi that drove past her, and pushing Blaine in head first when one stopped beside them. She blurted out the name of the hospital and told the driver to step on it.

~X~

Kurt climbed onto a chair, standing on it, his eyes scanning the room repeatedly, looking for any sign of the judges or anyone with the list. Wes stood close to him, knowing that Blaine would want someone to look out for Kurt. Especially here.

Wes caught eyes with Jeff and nodded. They both knew to make sure that Kurt was okay. Just as Wes was about to ask him, a girl's voice came from beside him. He looked to see who Wes assumed was one of Kurt's friends from the New Directions. The one that he actually still talked to.

"Kurt? You okay?"

Kurt looked down at Mercedes and nodded slowly, climbing back down from the chair.

"Where's Blaine?" She asked softly, as Kurt straightened his blazer.

"….Something came up." He murmured.

~X~

"Can't you drive faster!" Layla yelled at the driver from the back seat.

"There's traffic!" He replied, motioning the busy streets. "It's not called The City That Never Sleeps for nothing, lady!"

"It's not night time so that doesn't mean shit! Just get us to that damn hospital before I rip your throat out!"

The driver said no more and tried his hardest to go faster. All the while Blaine sat beside her, a little dumbstruck, his hands shaking, but he didn't know whether it was from anticipation or nerves.

~X~

Mercedes was about to say more when someone came in and went over to a blank wall and put up a board. Groups of kids rushed over to it, yelling excitedly.

Mercedes shot Kurt a smile before going over to the New Directions. Kurt watched them for a minute, watching their faces fall as they realized they weren't in the top ten. This made Kurt grow even more nervous. He'd thought that even with the horrible kiss, they would've gotten into the top ten. Especially with Rachel's voice.

His eyes sidled to Vocal Adrenaline, who wore bright smiles, meaning they'd got into the top ten. He would bet that Rachel was pissed that she scared her off now.

Then Nick, who had gone over to check alone, came back. Kurt couldn't read his face at all. He looked completely emotionless.

Until a huge grin broke across his face.

"We're in the top three. And we have to go back on stage to find out what place."

~X~

The second the taxi parked, Layla threw money at the driver without counting it and kicked open the door, grabbing Blaine's hand and pulling him out with her and they ran inside.

They rushed over to the reception and Layla started 'talking' to the receptionist. Blaine was still a little shell shocked and stood motionless by her side. He watched as she conversed with the nurse, and then jumped in shock as she grabbed his hand and started running again, clearly having gotten what she asked for.

~X~

Kurt was at the front of the group as they stood on stage, but he wished he wasn't. He was nervous and shaking slightly. Jeff and Nick moved to be his side, they shot him reassuring looks that calmed him slightly.

But it wasn't enough. Especially as another person came on stage, an envelope in his hands.

~X~

They rushed through the white halls, their feet pounding against the floor with every step. Layla stopped suddenly and dragged him through a door.

The room was just as white as the halls. In the bed was their mother, drenched in sweat and wearing a hospital gown. Their father was sitting by her side, holding her hand. And a nurse was bustling about the room, making sure everything was okay.

Then their mother saw them. At first she said nothing, but they both saw the anger clear in her eyes.

"Get him out." She whispered to their dad. He looked back at her, shocked.

"Mom… He's your son-"

"I don't care! He made his choice. Get him out. Now! I don't want him near me or the baby."

Blaine's jaw dropped and he started shaking, tears already threatening to pour down his cheeks.

"Meredith… He's your son… His brother is about to be born… You can't-"

"Daniel! Get that faggot out!"

Blaine sobbed loudly before running from the room, hiding his face in his hands, ashamed.

~X~

"And third place goes to…"

The tension was killing Kurt. His eyes scanned the audience and he was shocked to see the New Directions a row of seats. They all seemed pretty down about their loss, but they came back to support Kurt. He knew that because Mercedes saw him looking and gave him a big thumbs up.

He smiled at her, and mouthed a thank you. The man's voice brought his attention back to the results.

"The Dalton Academy Warblers!"

~X~

Blaine sat on the floor in the hall, crying into his hands, blocking out the sounds of his mother as she went into another contraction. After some yelling, Layla had appeared by his side and wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tightly, refusing to let go.

A million questions were going through Blaine's head. The same questions he'd been thinking of then night when he'd came out to his parents. Why doesn't she support him? Why does she call him names? Does she still love him?

They sat there for ages in silence, Blaine crying and Layla holding him. They stayed there even when they heard screams as their mother started to give birth.

~X~

Kurt didn't actually mind that they'd come third. At least they'd ranked in the best three in the whole country. That had to mean something… especially since Kurt had a solo. And there was his ego going straight through the roof.

But mainly, he just wants to tell Blaine. But he knew had to wait. He was proud of him. They'd have never gotten this far without his vocals. He just wished Blaine was here.

But he remained patient. Waiting silently beside his phone. Waiting for it to ring. Or at least receive a text.

~X~

They were still there a long time after their screaming had stopped. It was getting late when Blaine finally stopped crying and checked the time. He was about to text Kurt when his dad came into the hall.

They were all silent for a minute before he spoke.

"I'm sorry Blaine… I've been trying to Talk to her… I really have."

"It's fine dad. Don't worry about it… At least you care." He replied, giving him the best smile he could do at that moment. His dad sighed.

"She's asleep… Do you two want to see your baby brother?"

Layla and Blaine shared a look before standing up. "Of course we do."

Daniel smiled and led them into the room. He ignored Meredith, who was fast asleep on the bed, and led them over the tiny cot that was now in the room. Blaine's jaw dropped to his baby brother looking straight up at him. Awake, but not crying, his tiny eyes struggling to stay open.

"Can-"

Blaine didn't even need to ask. Daniel was already scooping him up and placing him in Blaine's arms. Blaine smiled and looked down at him.

He had a baby brother.

~X~

Kurt stayed sitting on the edge of Wes' bed, watching the group chatter animatedly amongst themselves, talking about the party that they were going to throw when they got back to Dalton. The whole school were going to be invited. And someone was apparently going to smuggle in alcohol, which no one objected to.

That's when his phone binged with a new message. Everyone in the room quietened and looked over at Kurt. He ignored them and unlocked his phone, shocked to it was from Layla instead of Blaine. He opened it just as eagerly as he would've done to Blaine's.

Say hello to the smallest Anderson. And his new born baby brother, Ryan!

Below this was a photo of Blaine holding a baby. He wasn't looking at the camera, but at the little child in his arms. His eyes were bloodshot, his uniform was crumpled and his hair was no longer in a cage of gel. But he looked happy.

From what he could see, the baby had hazel eyes too, and hair just as dark as it's siblings, which no doubt will grow to be just as curly.

Kurt smiled and handed Wes his phone, and watched as the Warblers passed it round, all looking at the photo, saying how adorable the baby was, and how funny Layla was in her text. He got another text a few minutes later telling Kurt that Blaine would back soon. He didn't want leave Kurt alone, afraid he might suffer from a nightmare. Plus they had a plane to catch early tomorrow morning.