Kurt lifted his head so quickly after hearing those words that it caused Blaine to fall backwards into the grass. He couldn't believe Blaine used those exact words.  Kurt stared at him open mouthed. Blaine just stared back, his golden eyes shining. He was enjoying watching Kurt squirm. Blaine felt something he hadn't felt in over 100 years. He actually had butterflies in his stomach. For the first time Blaine allowed himself to really look at Kurt. His blue eyes still shiny from tears, his hair dangling in front of his forehead, his lips slightly parted.

“You matter, Kurt. You matter. I know you were standing on that bridge thinking that you didn't and that the world would be better off without you. And you are wrong. Without you, so many people in your life wouldn't be happy. Your dad probably would have lost the family business, Finn and Rachel would have never gotten together, Artie wouldn't have decided to pursue film school, Mercedes wouldn't have had the courage to move to LA, and Nick and Jeff  wouldn't have found the courage to admit their true feelings for each other, and they wouldn't have opened the bar.” 

Kurt suddenly stood up so quickly, he slipped and fell. Blaine reached out to catch him, but Kurt corrected himself looked at Blaine with wide eyes.

“How in the hell do you know all this stuff about me? Who are you? Are you stalking me?” Kurt shrieked into the night.

Blaine reached out to grab Kurt's hand, he knew he was messing this up and he knew if he didn't do this right he would never get his wings. He knew this was his last chance. Kurt pulled his hand back and turned to walk off.  Blaine started to follow asking him to please slow down and stop for a second.

“Go away, and leave me alone creep!”

“Wait Kurt, you don't understand. I am here to help you.”

“How are you going to do that exactly? By making me forget that Adam was just cheating on me after I got laid off from my first and only job since moving to New York. And that my whole life that I have fought so hard to keep for the last 5 years is crumbling before me and there is NOTHING I can do about it.” Kurt screamed into the night.

Blaine reached to touched Kurt's chest, even with Kurt's layers he could feel his heartbeat.  Blaine's hand had a calming effect on Kurt, who stopped breathing so hard and looked into Blaine's eyes.

“Who are you?” Kurt whispered

“I told you, I'm Blaine and I am here to help you. I am here to remind you about all the good things you have done. You don't know this, but all your friends were thinking about you tonight. Straight from their mouth to my ears, and now here I am. ”

Kurt didn't understand what was happening, but for the first time in his life he was speechless. Even his mind was blank; he couldn't even process what was happening. All he could do was stand there and stare. Stare into the most beautiful hazel eyes he had ever seen. 

A car honking nearby broke the spell Kurt was under.  Both him and Blaine jerked apart, and Kurt finally came to his senses.

“Look Blaine, I don't know who you are or what you think you know about me. But I don't need any help. I am fine. I've been fine since I was 18 and finally got out of Ohio.”

“I want to show you something.”

Slowly everything around Kurt seemed to fade away, and suddenly they were standing in a very familiar cemetery. Kurt recognized the huge elm tree in the middle of the gravestones. He used to climb up as far as he could and watch his dad talk to his mom.  Kurt thought to himself, that he must have hit his head when he fell into the water, and this was all a dream. Is this what it felt like to be dying? Then Kurt saw his younger self and his dad by the gravestone he hasn't visited since he was 16.

2001

Kurt sat on the ground next to his mother's gravestone watching his Dad lay the tulips and tiger lilies on top. It had already been 6 months since she passed but to Burt it felt like it just happened yesterday. Kurt didn't fully realize what death meant, at only 8 years old he was still expecting his mom to come home any day now. It couldn't be real, it just couldn't.

They sat quietly for a few moments listening to the birds chirp in the trees and the sound of spring engulf them both. Burt had been strong for the last 6 months. Never letting Kurt see him crying, always making sure dinner was on time (even if it was pizza or Chinese takeout), and rocking Kurt to sleep with the nightmares became too much for him to handle. 

When the silence became more oppressive than soothing, Burt stood up and reached his hand out to Kurt.  He needed to get back to the shop, there were still hospital bills to be paid. He couldn't afford to be in anymore debt.  For the first time ever, Kurt willingly stood up and took Burt's hand. Usually, he put up a fight to stay ‘just 5 more minutes.' Burt knew the loss of his mom was hard on him, so he always caved and they end up staying for another 30 minutes or so.

Once they were back in the car Kurt starting grinning from ear to ear as Burt turned on the radio and their favorite song started playing.

Oh yeah, Ill tell you something

I think youll understand

When Ill say that something

I wanna hold your hand

I wanna hold your hand

I wanna hold your hand

Oh please, say to me

Youll let me be your man

And please, say to me

Youll let me hold your hand

Ill let me hold your hand

I wanna hold your hand

Burt started to sing along in his very monotone voice that was nothing like the melodic soothing voice of his late wife. Kurt giggled uncontrollably in the passenger seat watching his Dad belt out the lyrics to the famous Beatle's song.  Seeing Kurt so happy, Burt was able to let go of all his hurt and pain and for the first time in 6 months he really laughed.

It was a full belly scrunchy face laugh. Burt looked fondly at young Kurt in the passenger seat.

“Hey son, what do you say about a tea party when we get home?”

“REALLY DADDY? You mean it?” Kurt let his eyes grow wide and the excitement took over his whole body. He started rocking in the seat, he couldn't wait. They haven't had a proper tea party in what felt like forever to a young kid.

The cemetery was a short drive from their house, so they were home in no time. Kurt immediately unbuckled and ran from the car to the house. He was bouncing the balls of his feet by the time Burt reached the door. Burt couldn't help but smile at his young son. Within 30 minutes Kurt had the living room looking like the inside of a British castle, complete with a tea set and crumpets.

Burt picked up his #1 Dad coffee mug and leaned up against the recliner to watch his son finishing setting up.

“Come on, Dad. I'll let you be the princess this time.” Kurt beamed at his father, already putting the Prince's crown on his own head.

Tears slipped from Burt's eyes, and for the first time since losing his wife he let himself cry.

“Dad, Dad, why are you crying? Did I do something wrong?”

“No kiddo, I just think I am the luckiest dad in the whole world.” Burt said wiping his eyes. While he still missed his wife and she left a hole in his hear that will never quite be filled, looking at his son he knew that would do it all over again even knowing how it would end.

“I am lucky too dad, I have you. Now come drink your tea before it gets cold” Kurt grabbed his Dad's hand and pulled him down to sit on the floor.

For Burt, this will always be the day that Kurt saved him. Kurt grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the darkness of grief and back into the real world.