Chapter 12

“Two months, Blainey. It’s been two entire months since Ally’s birthday party and I know for a fine fact that you kissed him there!” Rachel fumed, swinging her legs back and forth from where she was sat up on the counter in the café, smiling and pausing slightly to allow a customer to order. “I mean two months and nada. You kissed him for god’s sake.” Throwing her hands up, she muttered a little of the choice French that Kurt had unwittingly taught her over the years of their friendship. Taking note of Blaine’s scandalised look as the customer left the pair again she shrugged, “Kurt talks when he’s drunk.”

Blaine sighed as he glared slightly at the brunette watching him with a raised eyebrow. “It’s not that easy Rae, it’s not what he wants.”

Rachel rolled her eyes and reached out, hitting Blaine across his head much to the amusement of nearby customers watching the interaction.

“What the hell was that for?” He yelped jumping backwards and rubbing his head.

“You’re a moron,” She muttered pursing her lips and turning back to the door as Blaine served another customer. Grinning, Rachel watched Dani slowly push the door open with one hand as Alice led her into the café, one of her little hands clasped tightly around Dani’s pointer finger, held up above the toddlers head. Alice’s bright blue eyes scanned the café with sharp intensity, a beam lighting up her face as she saw Rachel, the beam growing exponentially however the second that she spotted Blaine. Looking to Dani, the woman nodded slightly with a soft smile. Alice instantly released her mother’s hand and hurtled across the café arms outstretched.

“Blay, Blay!” Blaine practically sprinted along to the other side of the counter in order to grab the small girl as she reached the little gateway that led to the work area. Grabbing her, he tossed her into the air as she squealed, before pulling her close and blowing a raspberry on her cheek. “No, Blay, no.”

Grinning, Blaine held her close; laughing as she reached up to push his curls that had fallen from his beanie away from his face and leant forward to peck his lips with a beam. “Thank you baba,” He chuckled, placing her on the floor outside the gate again and trying to ignore her little hands reaching up to grab to top of the gate as she tried to peer over the top, repeating his name. “I thought you guys weren’t coming in for another half hour?” He queried with a smile, leaning over the counter to peck Dani’s cheek before grabbing a cake from the cabinet for a customer, Alice now trying to swing on the gate.

Dani just laughed, passing Alice’s bag to Rachel who was taking the little girl for the afternoon and shrugging slightly, “And miss the precious little time I have with my favourite guy? Never.”

“I thought Sam was your favourite guy?” Rachel smirked, Blaine snickering quietly as he leant against the counter once again.

“Shut it Rach,” Dani growled, ignoring Blaine’s snort of laughter and Rachel covering her mouth to hide her own sniggers. Smiling at the customer collecting their take away coffee from Blaine, she breathed a sigh of relief as she glanced around the now empty café. “Empty day?”

Blaine shook his head, “On the contrary it’s been really busy, it just seems that everyone’s after take aways today, both coffee and food wise.”

“B, you should’ve phoned me in sooner if it’s been busy.”

Chuckling, he placed his hands on Dani’s shoulders, pulling her as close to him as he could get with the counter between them. “Honey, relax it was fine, I just yanked Rachel back here during the rush.”

Dani squeaked her eyes widening as she turned to Rachel. “Rach, you know you’re not allowed back there after the last time.”

Rachel shrugged, resuming swinging her legs again with a grin. “It wasn’t my fault that idiot tried to hit on me and that his iced coffee just happened to slip from my grasp and fall all over his pretty little Armani suit. Like I said, he was an idiot.”

Blaine barked out a laugh, “You’re kidding me?”

Dani shook her head, sending Rachel a dirty look. “Nope, all over his suit, and guess who got his dry cleaning bill? It was like four months after we first opened as well, absolute nightmare, so I banned her from being back there, which she full well knows.”

“Hey, I worked well today and Blainers needed me.”

A sharp bang interrupted them and all three turned to look at Alice with raised eyebrows. The toddler was stood sporting one of Kurt's famous bitch glares, her foot poised to kick the gate again.

“Jesus, she really is Kurt's kid huh?” Blaine breathed out and the girls’ couldn’t help but laugh, at least until Alice’s foot made impact with the gate again.

“Alice Hummel, stop that right now!” Dani foamed, stalking up to her daughter and lifting the little girl from the floor even as she shrieked slightly.

“No, Momma, no,” Whining, Alice tried to tip herself backwards out of Dani’s arms, a frustrated cry escaping her lips as she held her arms over to Blaine. “Blay peas, peas Blay.”

Glancing to Dani for permission, Blaine took the little girl from her arms and swiftly stood out from behind the counter at her nod. “I know she’s only just turned fourteen months, but by any small chance are the terrible twos creeping up pretty rapidly?”

“You have no idea,” Dani groaned slightly, shaking her head as Alice happily tucked her head into the crook of Blaine’s neck. “But I think this is moreover she missed her best friend,” Dani laughed quietly, “A week and a half is a long time for her to go not seeing you.”

“Well I missed her too,” Blaine chuckled, kissing the crown of her head softly as his eyes lit up. “Ooh, actually I have something that she can try.”

Wandering into the back kitchen, he set Alice down on the floor, smiling when she instantly took hold of his pants, her head sticking into the fridge with a little ‘ooh’ when he opened it. Grabbing a bowl of a pink substance, he instantly scooped Alice up with his other hand and placed her on the bench, leaning to grab a spoon from the nearest draw.

Glancing to Dani and Rachel leaning in the doorway, he placed a hand either side of Alice to keep her in place on the bench. “Is she allergic to anything?”

“Not that we know of yet. Why what you got?” Moving closer, Dani pulled out another spoon and peered over Blaine’s shoulder as he pulled the cling film off of the bowl.

“I’ve been playing around with a cherry and white chocolate cheesecake topping and I think I’ve finally got the consistency right.”

Digging the spoon in, he held it out to Alice who eyed it suspiciously before glancing back to Blaine again. “Go on baby, try it, it’s good look,” Leaning forward, Blaine took a little from the spoon, smiling when Alice leant forwards, her forehead hitting off of his in the process.

The trio laughed softly as Alice pulled back, smacking her lips together, her face lighting up as she lunged for the spoon once more.

“I think that we have a winner,” Blaine laughed, turning to Dani as Alice continued to munch on what was left of the cheesecake topping.

Dani laughed digging in her own spoon and bringing it to her lips. “Damn B, that’s literally like heaven. I may have an idea for a base though if you’d be willing to let me?”

“Be my guest,” He laughed softly, handing Alice the spoon and beckoning Rachel over to watch the little girl whilst he cleaned up the mess, Dani exiting the small kitchen in order to serve the few college students that had just walked through the door.

Turning back to the pair still in the kitchen, he chuckled softly as he watched Rachel clean the cherry coloured staining from around Alice’s mouth. Scooping the toddler back up into his arms, Blaine kissed her temple, resting his forehead to hers.

“Right, I have to get going little munchkin.”

“No, no,” Alice cried quietly, her grip on his t-shirt tightening and her wide blue eyes flooding with unshed tears as her bottom lip quivered slightly.

“Yes, yes, yes, but you get to have go fun with your Aunt Rachel,” Blaine smiled, brushing her hair away from her face and kissing the tip of her nose, grinning at the giggle that escaped from her lips.

“No Blay, peas?”

Blaine felt his heart break slightly as he cuddled her close, sad for the lack of Alice that he’d had in his life over the past few weeks between treatments and he and Dani somehow winding up with opposite schedules. Opening his mouth to answer, Rachel beat him to it with a small smile.

“How about we walk you to your appointment?” She smiled, her own tears pricking her eyes at how tightly Alice was cuddled into Blaine. “She’s missed you and I’ve missed you and we’d just be hanging around here or the apartment anyways.”

“Yeah Rae, that would be great.” Blaine grinned, grabbing his bag as Rachel left the room with a smile, grabbing Alice’s little summer hat and her little backpack before getting the final instructions for the afternoon from Dani. 

Blaine laughed as Alice wriggled in his arms, desperate to be down. Looking at her, he planted a kiss squarely in the centre of her forehead, laughing as she went cross-eyed. He placed her down on the sidewalk, grabbing the hand closest to him as Rachel grabbed her other one, the pair of them swinging the giggling, shrieking child between them as they started the two block walk to Blaine’s doctors offices.

“So Blainey, what’s this appointment for? Should we be worried?”

Blaine glanced up from the toddler, grinning and shaking his head slightly. “Nah. I’m just getting some routine test results back.”

“Not too bad then,” Rachel smiled, Blaine unable to not notice the way in which her entire body sagged with relief.

“Nope, not at all,” Blaine beamed as they came to a stop outside of the small doctors offices and he swung Alice up into his arms. “Right munchkin, this time I really do have to go and leave you with your Aunt Rachel, but I'm sure she’d love to take you to the park to play on the swings.”

Rachel glared as Blaine smirked at her, pressing a tender kiss to Alice’s temple before handing her over to Rachel.

“Can you wave bye bye?” Rachel murmured in the baby’s ear as Blaine turned back to look at the pair from the top of the small flight of stairs.

“Ba ba,” Alice giggled, flicking her little wrist up and down and looking rather proud of herself as Rachel nuzzled her hair.

“Bye munchkin,” Blaine laughed, blowing her a kiss and laughing as Alice attempted to copy his motions.

Opening the door, he smiled and stepped back to allow an elderly, frail looking lady enter before him.

“Thank you young man,” She smiled, looking rather surprised. “The three of you make a very lovely family by the way.”

Blaine blushed, following her down the corridor and reaching round to scratch the back of his neck nervously. “Oh, we’re not erm, she’s my ex-boyfriends little girl.”

“I see,” The old lady smirked slightly, her eyes twinkling. “Well, then, I'm sure the three of you will make an even more adorable family one day. It’s clear from the that goofy look all over your face that you still love him my dear.”

Blaine’s jaw dropped as he watched her continue down the corridor with an air of wonderment. Shaking his head, he laughed to himself softly and entered the waiting room in front of him, smiling at the receptionist as he approached her.

“Hey Blaine, always good to see you,” An older gentleman crowed as he walked up to where Blaine was sitting, shocking him from the back issue of vogue he was flicking through. “Sorry,” He chuckled as the younger man stood up with a slight smile. The doctor clasped Blaine on the shoulder as he guided him into the consultation room and into the seat placed opposite his own.

“Wish I could say the same doc, but no offence, I’d really rather be just about anywhere else.”

Smiling sadly, the doctor nodded slowly. “I know Blaine, believe me I know. I'm afraid this is going to be one of those visits you hate unfortunately, the tests didn’t particularly show what we wanted to hear I'm afraid.”

Blaine felt the blood rush from his face as he started to tremble, his body rigid yet numb, his mind oblivious to his surroundings and the words coming out of his mouth, his last word ringing in Blaine’s ears. “I’m afraid it’s bad news Blaine.” 

Santana paced the apartment nervously, her eyes flickering between the clock on the wall and the front door. Sam sat with his elbows rested on his knees, tapping his foot incessantly as the nerves continued to fill him.

“Where the hell is he Sam? His appointment was five hours ago and it’s starting to get dark!” Santana suddenly shrieked, startling Sam as he flew from the seat and wrapped his arms around her, letting her head drop to his shoulder as the tears began to flow.

“I'm sure that he’s fine San. I'm sure he’s fine,” He mumbled, unsure whether it was Santana or himself he was trying to convince and reassure more, one hand running soothingly up and down her back.

“You can’t know that Sam, he’s never just disappeared before,” Santana whimpered, burying her face in his chest.

The front door suddenly crashed open, laughter flooding the room before it stopped almost as soon as it had begun.

“What’s wrong?” Brittany whispered slamming into Santana’s side and pulling the shaking girl into her arms.

Sam closed his eyes and took a steadying breath, opening them to the worried stares of Brittany, Mike, Puck, Finn, Quinn and Dani. “Blaine’s missing.”

Silence filled the room for a few seconds before all hell broke loose, various shouts and shrieks streaming through the air, tears still streaming down Santana’s face.

“He had an appointment with his consultant earlier and now his phone’s switched off and he’s nowhere to be found. I don’t even know where to start looking,” Santana croaked, silence filling the air once more as everyone strained to hear the girl.

“Oh god,” Dani murmured slightly, paling as Quinn wrapped her arms around the younger girl.

“Yeah,” Sam whispered, watching her closely as Brittany pulled Santana into her own arms and motioned with her head for him to go to Dani. Wrapping the brunette in his arms, he smiled and breathed in her coconut scent, pecking her head gently before laying his on top of hers. Quinn stepped back into Puck and Mike’s embrace as Finn simply looked dumbfounded. “We don’t even know where to start really.”

Mike nodded slightly, “Right, well then, we start scouring New York. It’s going to be hard as hell because knowing B, he’ll have a damn good hiding place that we’ll never find. We search in twos or threes, no less, got that?” He glanced up, making sure everyone nodded, “And we start with places where he might actually be, the café, his old job, Times Square, god knows he loves it there for some reason.”

“Someone should phone Kurt,” Quinn muttered quietly and the room froze before Santana, Sam and Mike all dived for the first cell phone they saw.

“What the-” Puck muttered, eyes wide.

“Why the hell didn’t we think of this,” Santana growled, scrolling through the numbers on the phone as Sam and Mike each nursed nip wounds.

“Think of what?” Finn questioned, frustration taking hold.

“Kurt,” The four owners of the apartment answered at once.

“That really helps, thanks guys,” Dani muttered sarcastically, smiling slightly when Sam’s arms wrapped back around her, Santana heading into the other room to make the call.

“Kurt's always been like Blaine’s comfort blanket,” Brittany smiled, accepting a hug from Finn. “If he was really, really low or he couldn’t sleep back in Lima, or he was having a panic attack, or anything really, all we had to do was stick a DVD of one of Kurt's performances on and he calmed down like magic.”

“Even when they weren’t together, Kurt was his security,” Mike smiled, one arm still wrapped around Quinn.

“God knows, even I can recite Defying Gravity by now, although that never leaves this room,” Sam muttered, glaring at Finn, Puck and Mike as they erupted with laughter.

Kurt laughed along with Elliott and Rachel as Sebastian tore through the living room, Alice following at top speed before she tumbled over, pushing herself to her feet again with a giggle and continuing to chase her uncle through the apartment.

“Where’s everyone else? Shouldn’t they be here by now?” Elliott enquired, catching Alice as she flew into his arms and Sebastian collapsed breathlessly beside him, head falling to his boyfriends shoulder.

“She’s a fast little witch,” He breathed, lifting his head to press a kiss to Elliott’s lips. “And I'm sure they're fine, they're big boys and girls now sweetheart.”

Elliott glowered while Kurt and Rachel sniggered, the blue eyed man reaching for his phone as ‘Teenage Dream’ started to blare, much to the amusement of Sebastian and Rachel.

“Hello?” He answered with a laugh.

“Kurt?”

“Yeah Satan, what’s up?” He smiled, his brow creasing slightly, unsure as to why she’d actually used his name.

“Kurt is Blaine with you?”

Kurt's brow furrowed with further confusion as he shook his head slightly. “Nope, I haven’t seen him since our birthdays last month.”

“Still think it’s weird that he’s literally a year and a day younger than you,” Santana grumbled desperate to stem her rising panic, shaking her head slightly.

“Santana, what’s going on? You're freaking me out a little here. Why are you asking me where Blaine is?”

“He’s missing.”