Dana lay on the couch looking pale and exhausted, but anything would’ve been better than the last time he’d seen her, so he took what he could get. She had almost cried when Kurt had handed her the flowers he’d bought for her - she obviously wasn’t used to being cared for or showered with gifts all that often, and he made a silent promise to himself to bring her a small gift on as regular a basis as possible.

“So there he was …” Josh laughed loudly, almost doubled up in his chair. “Completely naked - locked out and all shaky, hopping on one leg because he’d just kicked the door!”

“I was not completely naked.” Blaine insisted, struggling to hide his embarrassment. “I had a towel.”

“It was more like a small handkerchief.” Dana chuckled, directing her comment completely to Kurt, who fought back the giggles from behind his hand.

“Oh, it was not.” Blaine grumbled. “And I really hurt my foot.”

Kurt tilted his head and pouted at him, his eyes glistening with tears of laughter. His face broke into a huge grin, and Blaine smiled back bashfully.

“Josh, honey – do we have any cookies?” Dana asked her son, looking a little embarrassed at not knowing what food she had in her own house.

“Uh, maybe …” Josh said, looking over at Blaine.

“Yeah, I think we bought some. But where I put them is another matter entirely.” Blaine said, rising and following Josh as he bounded into the kitchen. He mimicked Josh’s bouncy steps and earned himself another chuckle from the room.

Dana gestured to the seat that Josh had just vacated and urged Kurt to come a little closer. He gladly obliged, and took her outstretched hand in his own as he sat.

“Kurt … I really can’t thank you enough for what you did for us – for me – on Thursday.” She said in a quiet, solemn tone.

“Oh Dana, please don’t even think about it. I was glad to help.” Kurt replied, squeezing her tiny hand gently.

“You saved my life, Kurt.” Dana whispered, her eyes brimming with tears.

“Hey, don’t do that.” He said softly, grabbing the tissue box from the nearby bookshelf and holding them out to her. “If the tables were turned, you’d do the same for me, right?”

“If I could … of course.” She nodded. “I doubt I’d have a clue where to begin though. Josh said you were like some kind of superhero.”

“It was just basic first aid, really – maybe you and Josh could go on a course together. I’ll bet there are tons of freebies going on around the city.”

Dana rubbed her other hand over Kurt’s and smiled. “We’ll definitely do that.”

Blaine and Josh returned to the room having finally found the elusive cookies, and Blaine offered the plate to Kurt and Dana with a flourish.

“For you, my prince.” He sang, catching Kurt’s eye and bowing slowly. Kurt laughed and took a cookie.

“I see you finally found a home for Maggie’s brooch.” Dana smiled up at Blaine, and Kurt stopped mid-bite, glancing down hurriedly at the gold pin attached to the lapel of his jacket.

“Oh … uh, yeah.” Blaine said quietly, avoiding eye contact with anyone as he sat down on the arm of Kurt’s chair.

“This one?” Kurt said, nodding down to the pin and looking a little worried.

“Mmm-hmm.” Dana nodded. “He’s been looking for the rightful owner of that little bird for quite some time.”

Kurt frowned up at Blaine, noticeably confused. Blaine gave his shoulder a little rub and sighed.

“Maggie was my first ever paying customer.” Blaine began. “She was eighty three, and it was her dream to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ while playing the piano at her great-grandson’s fifth birthday party. She was a really cool lady, always telling me funny stories about what it had been like to grow up and live in New York all of her life. She also used to bake the most amazing banana bread for me. And all of this on top of the fee for the lessons.”

“But Blaine being the gentleman, he never took that.” Dana interrupted with a grateful smile.

Kurt looked up into Blaine’s eyes and put his hand over his lapel. “So she gave you this pin?”

Blaine nodded. “It was a gift to thank me for teaching her the tune … she gave it to me after her final lesson.”

“… And when Blaine tried to refuse it saying he’d never wear it, he was given strict instructions to save it for someone who truly deserved it. Someone who he ‘valued with all of his heart’.”

Blaine scrunched up his face and groaned into his hands.

“What? Did I say it wrong?” Dana chuckled.

“No, no … you pretty much got it word for word.” Blaine mumbled through his fingers.

Kurt’s heart was racing as he reached up and moved Blaine’s hands from his face, squeezing them tightly and placing them in his lap. “Blaine … that is so sweet.” He said softly.

“And it’s worth a fortune!” Dana chipped in again.

“Dana!” Blaine exclaimed, laughing and shaking his head in disbelief. Kurt clutched at the pin and looked between them both in shock.

“Well, it’s solid gold – of course it’s going to be. I’ve been trying to get him to fall in love with me just so as I could get the chance to wear it.” Dana sighed wistfully. Josh glanced up from the comic he was reading and pulled a face.

“Blaine … I – I can’t keep this.” Kurt said, gazing deep into Blaine’s shining eyes. “It means too much to you.”

“And so do you.” Blaine smiled, stroking the back of Kurt’s head. “I knew after just a short time of knowing you that Maggie had meant the pin for you.”

Josh made a barfing noise from his seat, and Dana scolded him. Kurt simply blinked in disbelief at Blaine’s words.

“You mean it? You really want me to keep it?” Kurt asked, and Blaine nodded, reaching down and pressing his hand over Kurt’s heart, hand, and the pin. “Well … um … do I get to meet the lovely lady to show her my prize? And the pin, of course.” He added with a wink.

Blaine’s face fell a little, and Dana spoke for him in a gentle tone. “Maggie’s no longer with us, sweetie. She passed just a couple of weeks after her final lesson.”

“But not before playing that song for her family.” Blaine added with a watery smile, clutching tighter to Kurt’s hand.

Kurt was so touched that he could barely hide the emotion in his voice. “W-were you there, Blaine?”

“For the performance? Absolutely. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.” He nodded.

“I’m glad.” Kurt whispered, blinking back a tear from the corner of his eye, and mouthing ‘thank you’ again to Blaine, who mouthed back ‘you’re welcome’ with another squeeze of the hand.

Dana cleared her throat, unintentionally knocking the men out of their temporary trance. “Hey … did you finish your homework, kiddo?” She asked Josh with a yawn.

“Uhh …” Josh murmured.

“Ah, I think that might be our cue to leave.” Blaine nodded to Kurt, who rose from his chair without letting go of Blaine’s hand for a second.

“Oh boys, please don’t leave … it’s so nice having you around.” Dana said, trying her best to fight back another yawn.

“I actually have quite a bit of homework to do myself.” Kurt pouted. “And you need your rest.”

“Come back soon though … please? Blaine – you’ll bring Kurt here again, won’t you?”

“Try and stop me.” Blaine smiled gently.

Josh walked with the two men to the door, pulling on Blaine’s sleeve as they neared the door. “She looks a little better, right Blaine?” He asked nervously.

“Oh absolutely, buddy! It’s just gonna take a while for her to get her strength back, that’s all.” Blaine said, hugging Josh around the shoulder for a moment. “Just keep taking care of her like you are, and I promise I’ll be around whenever you need me.”

Josh nodded, a little embarrassed at the offer of help, and opened the door. “OK – see ya then.”

“Bye Josh.” Kurt smiled as they left, squeezing Blaine’s hand all the more tightly as they walked back up to his apartment. “They’ll be OK, won’t they?”

“I’m sure of it … mostly thanks to you.” Blaine said as he juggled his keys. “Now do you really have to go?” He whined, turning in the open doorway and wrapping his arms around Kurt’s waist to pull him close.

“I do.” Kurt pouted. “And thanks to us both making other plans way too far in advance because the thought of sitting at home eating gallons of ice-cream on Valentine’s Day was just too harrowing to contemplate, we won’t even be spending tomorrow night together either.”

“I know. That does seriously suck.” Blaine frowned, swaying gently with Kurt and leaning his head against his shoulder as they began a slow and silent dance.

“You know there’s no music, right?” Kurt said quietly in the general direction of Blaine’s ear.

“Mmmm … don’t care.” Blaine mumbled. “It’s all going on in my head right now.”

“I don’t think I’ll ask you to elaborate – I doubt I’d ever get away otherwise.”

“Please don’t go.” He whined again, tightening his grip at the top of Kurt’s waistband.

“I have to, baby.” Kurt sighed, meeting Blaine’s gaze as he pulled a puppy face at being called by his favourite pet name. “Oops – sorry!”

“Don’t be … just stay.” Blaine batted his long lashes suggestively, and Kurt had to physically wrench himself from the embrace.

“I can’t, Blaine. As much as I want to …” He said, leaning in and nuzzling his cheek against Blaine’s before lightly brushing his lips down the side of his neck.

A low growl rumbled in Blaine’s throat and he pressed his body hard against Kurt’s once more. “You have no idea what you do to me, Kurt Hummel.”

“Oh, I think I have a vague idea.” Kurt smiled, grinding his hips ever so slowly against the front of Blaine’s jeans, the friction causing both men to let out a soft, wanton moan in unison. Kurt managed to hold it together enough to back off, grabbing his bag from the floor on the inside of the doorway and playfully spanking Blaine’s butt as he stood up. Blaine leaned against the door-frame, pouting again.

“Your face’ll stay that way, you know.” Kurt smirked, making his way towards the stairs.

“No … Kurt - wait!” Blaine exclaimed, suddenly serious as he jogged the few paces to meet the curious face of his boyfriend. He cupped Kurt’s cheek in his hand and pressed a long, tender kiss to his lips. “I … I’ll miss you.” He stammered as he pulled away. “And … um …”

“I know …” Kurt smiled and nodded, well aware of how much he wanted to say the three weighted words that were seeming to catch in both of their throats. “Me too.”

“Call me later?” Blaine called after him as he began to trudge down the stairs. “I mean – if you get time …”

“I’ll always have time for you, Blaine Anderson.” Kurt replied, blowing a kiss as he disappeared from view.

***