Today was the big day.  The day the test results were expected to be back in Dr. Washington's office, and Kurt and Quinn were going to meet Blaine and his parents there at 9:00 sharp to hear from Dr. Shelley that Blaine's fetus was not related to either of them, and hopefully, that would convince Blaine that this wasn't a magical love-baby.  Because Blaine needed to move on with his life, the sooner the better.  It was almost prom time and graduation time, and this craziness was ruining what was supposed to be a magical senior year in a very different sense.

He looked in the full length mirror and sighed again.  He'd tried on seven outfits, and this was a last resort, the biggest pair of pants he could find in his closet.  And the pants were so tight, his big fat gut was sticking out over the top.  He couldn't go out in this outfit either.  He released the straining top button and breathed a sigh of relief.  Sliding them down, he threw them in the corner and went to his dresser.  The new pants he'd bought last week in a larger size were in the laundry, so that basically left sweatpants.  Sweatpants, outside the house and not in gym.  He grimaced and pulled on a pair, then switched  his Marc Jacobs shirt to a sweatshirt, adding some sneakers and surveying himself grimly.  He was officially a fat slob.  

It was 8:45.  Just enough time to make it to the hospital, if he left right now, as he well knew from all the times he'd visited poor Blaine there in the last month.  He'd better hurry or he'd be late.  He certainly didn't want to delay the truth coming out.  Of course he wanted the fantasy to come to an end.  That way he and Blaine could focus on teenage gay boy stuff, on getting back into shape together with lots of time at the gym watching Blaine work the punching bag while he did crunches nearby.  Lots of sex, and maybe going out dancing.  That was what teenage gay boys did, not sit around reading Pregnancy Magazine.

8:46.  He ran a hand through his hair, which along with his skin was looking mighty good lately, at least.  It was time to leave, and get this over with.  He looked down at the picture of the 3D sonogram Blaine had given him last night when he'd come to visit.  There was a strange, aching twinge in his chest at the sight.   He looked back at the clock.

8:47.  Time to go.  

There was a tap on the door, and after shoving the sonogram picture in a drawer hurriedly, he opened the door to see his dad standing in the hallway with a folder in his hands.

“Hey, Kurt, glad you're up. You've been sleepin' in on the weekends a lot lately and runnin' around with Blaine so much, I hardly have had a chance to talk to you,” Burt said.  “I've got some stuff we need to go over.”

Kurt glanced at the bedside clock.  8:48.  “I really can't, Dad.  I'm on my way to meet Blaine.”

“Blaine can wait,” Burt said sternly.  “Your NYADA acceptance form and the applications for financial aid are supposed to go in the mail by next week, remember?”  He held out the form.  “I filled out the application for you, wrote the check for your deposit, and you have to sign the acceptance form and then take it to the post office.”

Kurt looked at the forms in Burt's hands.  He thought of Blaine, convinced he was having Kurt's baby, due at the end of December. Blaine, alone here in Ohio, in his last trimester of pregnancy, at McKinley High School with the homophobic football team.  Then being put on bed rest for the last months of his pregnancy, still all alone and scared.

“I don't know if I'm going to NYADA.”

Burt stared at him.  “Pardon my French, kiddo, but what the hell are you talking about?  You were so into this school you refused to even apply anyplace else.  You been ranting and raving about this school ever since Emma told you and Rachel about it.  What's changed?”

“I … I don't know if I can leave Blaine right now.”

Burt took off his cap and turned around for a moment, breathing heavily.  After a minute, he turned around and surveyed Kurt intently.  His voice was tight and controlled when he finally spoke.  “I know you love Blaine, kiddo, but this is a once-in-a-lifetime thing we're talking about, gettin' into this school.  If you turn them down, you won't get a second shot.  No high school relationship  is worth giving up your dream, Kurt.”

“It's not what you think - - it's not just being some lovesick idiot, Dad.  Blaine really needs me right now,” Kurt pleaded.  “I can't explain it more than that right now, but … just wait to send in the money, okay?  I don't want you to lose your deposit if I decide I'm not going.”  He glanced at the clock, despairing.  He was going to be so late.  “I really have to go,” he begged, grabbing his keys and wallet.

“This conversation isn't over, Kurt,” Burt called as Kurt hurried down the hallway.  “We're talking about your future here.”   Kurt paused at the top of the stairs, but then kept going.

~ * ~

Traffic was slow for a Saturday morning.  Kurt hit every red light and got stuck behind a funeral procession; and he arrived at the hospital fifteen minutes late.  He parked the car and sprinted through the parking lot, then skidded into the lobby at a full run.  He signed in quickly at the front desk, and snatched the visitor's pass.  Reaching the elevator, he pushed the button for the obstetrics floor and waited impatiently, watching the numbers light up in turn as the elevator descended.

The door to the elevator finally pinged open, and Quinn stood in his path.  

“Better late than never,” she sniped.  “The appointment's over.  Nice boyfriending.”

“Over - - what - - what did Dr. Shelley say?”

Quinn looked him up and down coolly.  “Well, it was quite the surprise.”  She started toward the door to the hospital, and Kurt followed her, frantic.

“What did the doctor say, Quinn?  How did Blaine take it?”

“Not well.  Turns out - - “  she paused and pivoted dramatically, her blonde hair swirling around her.  “I'm the father.”

The air felt thick and syrupy around him, his mouth wouldn't work right, and he couldn't quite catch his breath.  “You - - you're - -”

“Yep.  And Blaine decided you won't want to be with him if the baby isn't yours, so he's agreed to the surgery.  You should be thrilled.  Go on up and see him, but try to contain your excitement, okay?  He's pretty devastated.”

“It's not my baby?” Kurt finally quavered.  The tears started rising up in his throat.  “There won't be a baby at all?”  He choked on a sob, backing away.  He couldn't stop shaking.  Why couldn't he stop shaking?  

“I need to see Blaine!” he cried.   Then sadness and disappointment overwhelmed him completely.  He hid his face in his hands and started sobbing in earnest. He needed to see Blaine and they needed to hold each other - - Blaine must be devastated, because … because Kurt was.  

He thought of the blurry sonogram at the house.  He remembered the little fluttering movement that he'd felt with his hand pressed against Blaine's belly just last night after they'd made love, just barely perceptible, but … how happy Blaine's face was when Kurt smiled and said he felt it.  He'd felt a flutter of happiness in his own heart, though he hadn't admitted it then.  

He had to get to Blaine, before he did anything rash.  Blaine had wanted the baby … he couldn't let Blaine have an abortion just because he was afraid he'd lose Kurt if he kept the baby.  He had to let Blaine know he'd love him and the baby just the same as if … as if the baby had been both of theirs.  He felt sick with disappointment that it wasn't so, and dimly registered his own surprise that he felt that way.    But he started blindly toward the elevator to get to Blaine and let him know … he didn't have to give up their baby if he didn't want to.  Blaine had been right - - it was their baby, no matter whose genes she carried.  ”I have to go,” he said, drying his tears.  ”I … I'm sorry it isn't mine.  I - - I wish it was - - but he needs to know I'll stand by him no matter what.”

“Hold up,” Quinn said.  He looked back through a veil of tears at her standing there with one hand on her hip and two sheets of paper in her hand.

“Just kidding.  You're the father,” she said smugly.  “Guess now you know how you really feel about the baby, though.  Saw that on Friends once and couldn't resist trying it.”  She handed Kurt the papers and grinned, “Get up there and see your man, Dad.”