Kurt heard it as soon as he stepped off the elevator--a loud cry punctuated by gasps for air.  Panic settled inside him as he hastened to the apartment, fumbling to get his keys out of his bag as the noise grew more piercing.

He was through the door before he could tug the key completely out of the lock, ready to call out when he stopped short.

Blaine stood in the middle of the lounge, a small but plush looking blanket dangling off his arms as he swung his cradled arms back and forth.  Cooper lay on his bed, a paw resting atop his nose, and whimpered.

Kurt kicked the door shut and dropped his bag at his feet.

"Blaine, you can't just bring a baby home," he said, grimacing at the exasperation in his voice and attempting to calm his racing heart.  Blaine's frantic, pleading eyes met Kurt's as the baby renewed its wailing.

"I didn't," Blaine protested, panicked, his attention going back to the crying infant in his arms as he resumed his swaying and rocking.

"You're taking the 'stray' thing a bit too far."

Blaine shot him another distressed look before readjusting his arms.  The baby continued to cry.

"He's been crying for hours," Blaine said, his voice rough, broken, and barely heard over the crying.

Kurt sighed, and then took a deep breath before approaching, eyeing the unhappy infant warily.

"I know things have been tough lately," Kurt started gently.  He winced when the baby gasped for air and cried even louder, his own panic rising.  "But you can't keep him."

"Kurt," Blaine prompted, still trying to rock the baby in a soothing rhythm.

"No," Kurt said, cutting Blaine off and gesturing helplessly.  The insistent crying was doing nothing to help calm his nerves.  "I don't know anything about a baby.  And clearly you don't either."

"Kurt," Blaine tried again, this time jostling the baby so that he could grab one of Kurt's still waving hands.  Kurt's eyes widened at Blaine's firm grip on his arm.

"He's from Daltasia."

Gaze flicking back down to the distraught infant, Kurt finally noticed the embroidered silver insignia on the blanket.  Kurt's mouth fell open.

"What?" Kurt got out just as the baby let out another particularly shrill cry.

"He's been crying for hours," Blaine repeated, ignoring Kurt's question and dropping Kurt's arm to try soothing the baby again.  "I don't know what to do."

"And I do?" Kurt asked incredulously.  At the utter desperation on Blaine's face, Kurt took a deep breath.  "Okay, okay."

"Where are you going?" Blaine asked frantically as Kurt whirled around and hurried to the door.

"I need to call an expert."

Kurt retrieved his phone and made a call, holding the cell to his ear as he returned to Blaine and the sobbing baby.

"Kurt!" Burt's cheerful greeting came after three rings.  "You're calling pretty late.  You okay?  And Blaine?"

"We're fine," Kurt said evenly, despite his still rapid heartbeat.

"You sound a little wired," Burt said after a beat.  "Are you sure everything is okay?"

"We could use your help," Kurt revealed, grateful his father knew him so well.

"Is that a baby I hear?"

"Yes," Kurt said, drawing the word out.

"Are you trying to tell me I'm a grandfather?" Burt teased, though Kurt could hear the underlying seriousness.

"No," Kurt rushed to assure.  "God no."

"Okay."  It was more a question, and the following silence an invitation to explain.  Kurt eyed Blaine, still rocking the baby, and took a deep breath.

"I don't even know the whole story yet.  But right now, we have a crying baby and I have no idea what to do."

"Give me a second."  Kurt heard muffled movement, Burt saying something, and a click.

"Hi honey."

"Carole," Kurt breathed out, relief palpable.

"Does he need changing?" Burt asked, voiced sounding distant.

"I don't know?"

"You have to look," Carole said patiently.  Kurt opened his mouth but no words came.

"Kurt, you need to check his diaper," Burt elaborated.  Kurt was sure his father could see the look of disgust on his face through the phone because the man chuckled in the silence.

"Dad, this really isn't that funny," Kurt said as he led Blaine to the couch and gestured for him to put the still fussing baby down.  Blaine looked doubtful but did so, perching on the edge of the cushion, his hands hovering over the child protectively.  Kurt sat on the other side of the baby.

"It kind of is, kid," Burt shot back amusedly.

"Thanks," Kurt retorted wryly.

Kurt set his phone beside him on the cushion, tapping the screen a couple of times.  He pushed the blanket away from the crying baby and looked warily at the cloth covering the lower half of the infant's torso.  He located the fastenings--safety pins--and undid them.  The sight and smell that greeted them had both men leaning back, and Kurt's nose scrunching distastefully.

"By your lack of response, I'm going to deduce that he needs to be changed," Carole said knowingly.  "Do you have a clean diaper?"

Kurt's eyes flicked back up to Blaine's, whose face showed nothing but confusion.

"No.  And nothing's open this late," Kurt said, sounding defeated.

"It's okay.  We can improvise," Carole assured.  "Try a hand towel."

"Um," Kurt hesitated.

"I know you have some," Carole offered.  "Didn't we go shopping for them last year?"

"We did," Kurt answered slowly.

"You don't have them anymore?" Carole asked, perplexed.

"No, I do, but--," Kurt trailed off.

"What?"

"They're Turkish cotton!" Kurt finally blurted out.

Burt let out a laugh, which Carole shushed, though her amusement was also clear.

"Kurt, it's only one.  And it can wash out," Carole reasoned.

"Fine," Kurt huffed.  Blaine was up already, heading for the linen cabinet.

"Make sure it's pretty snug around his legs.  You don't want any leaks."

"Okay."

Blaine returned with the towel and the two managed to replace the soiled scrap of cloth in a reasonable fashion.

"He's still crying," Blaine pointed out, the distress still in his voice and on his face.

"We can hear," Burt said kindly.  "Why don't you try feeding him?"

"Milk," Carole suggested before Kurt could ask.

"We have that," Kurt breathed out, relieved.

"You're going to need some kind of bottle," Carole mused.  "Oh, do you have a water bottle?  And a cheesecloth?"

As Carole gave Kurt instructions, he grabbed the phone and headed for the kitchen.  A few minutes later, Kurt returned to a still wailing infant.  Blaine had rewrapped the blanket and was gently brushing the falling tears from the baby's splotchy face.

Despite the adrenalin and panic still flowing through him at the constant crying, Kurt could not help pausing a few steps away, watching the tenderness in which Blaine touched the child or the way he murmured comforting words.

Shaking his head, Kurt returned to the couch, phone and makeshift bottle in hand.

Kurt bundled the baby up, clumsily settling the child in his arms as Carole had directed.  Blaine scooted closer and looked on curiously as Kurt prodded the baby's lips with the bottle, marveling as the small mouth opened and cries immediately gave way to a soft, but insistent sucking.

"Carole, you are a genius."

The woman's laughter rang out in the now quiet room, despite being through the phone.

"I was a mom on a budget.  And you know how Finn can eat.  And how he can break things."

"Kurt wasn't much better.  Could practically drink his weight in milk every two hours.  I was getting kind of jealous about all the time he was being breast fed."

"Dad!"

Carole and Burt laughed.  Kurt huffed, trying to hide his own amusement but giving up as, finally, the tension melted from his shoulders.

Tiny, fisted hands broke free of the blanket and waved in the air, surprising both men.  Blaine slid closer and grabbed one, slipping his finger under the clasped digits and leaned over to press his lips against barely there knuckles.  Kurt smiled fondly at the display of affection, so natural and easy despite the circumstances.

"Now, don't forget to burp him when he's done," Burt advised.  "And he's probably going to like to be held, since he's in a strange place."

"Okay," Kurt said distractedly, all his attention on the baby--ensuring he was holding the bottle at the correct angle and that the baby did not choke on the makeshift nipple.  Blaine's attention also seemed to rest solely on the baby, his finger still locked in a tiny fist and his other hand smoothing curly hair.

"You'll need to get diapers and wipes, formula and maybe even some baby food, definitely a couple bottles.  Oh, get him a pacifier just in case.  Babies have special shampoo and bath soap.  He's going to need clothes, a crib, and a carrier," Carole listed.

Burt cleared his throat when Kurt and Blaine did not respond.

"Hey, kid."

"Hmm?" Kurt answered, still focused on his task.

"Did you get any of that?"

Kurt blinked, shifting his arm under the baby.

"Sorry, Dad. What?"

He could almost feel his father and Carole's smiles through the phone.

"I'll send you an email with a list of things you need," Carole said.

"Thank you, Carole."

"Call us tomorrow.  We want to know how he's doing."

.....

"And Rachel said he would have a way back?" Kurt asked from his slumped position on the couch.  The baby had gone through the entire bottle of milk hungrily and now Kurt had him propped on his shoulder, patting his back and earning several small hiccups.  Blaine sat at Kurt's side, posture reflecting his fatigue as he nodded slowly.

"I can only assume the blanket is enchanted, as it was the only thing that came with him."

"Did she say when he would go back?"

Blaine shook his head.  They sat in silence for a long moment, Kurt still patting the baby.

"Of course she would forget to give us his name," Kurt scoffed lightly.

"She was rather preoccupied," Blaine defended.  They lapsed into another silence.

"I can't believe Sebastian is back," Kurt said softly.

"I only hope Daltasia doesn't fall under his rule," Blaine said gravely.  Neither spoke their fear of what would become of Rachel and Quinn if that should happen.

The baby gave a loud burp, followed by a wheezy sigh.  Kurt carefully shifted the baby back into his arms, tiny eyelids drooping.

Blaine yawned, his own eyes barely open.  Kurt reached over and brushed the curls away from his forehead.  Blaine smiled at the gesture.

"You look exhausted," Kurt said worriedly.  Blaine blinked, his fond smile sliding into a frown.  "What is it?"

"I have never been more scared than when he started crying."

"More than your first thunderstorm?"

"So much more.  And I hadn't even known what fear really was then."

"He's fine now," Kurt offered kindly.  "Safe."  Their eyes drifted to the now slumbering babe, tiny fingers flexing occasionally.  Blaine smiled bracingly.

"He is, with you."

Kurt looked back at Blaine, and saw the regret in his eyes.

"I really have no idea what I'm doing," Kurt said honestly.  He laid his hand palm up on Blaine's knee.  "We'll figure it out," he assured when Blaine slid his fingers through his, still looking forlorn.  "There are books," Kurt teased lightly.

Blaine's eyes brightened slightly, a small smile and a laugh on his lips.  Blaine leaned in and pressed a brief kiss to Kurt's lips.  He lingered in the closeness before tugging at Kurt's hand.

"Let's go to bed."

There was no discussion, simply the two of them walking hand in hand toward the bedroom.  Kurt handed off the baby to Blaine, pulled the covers down, and arranged the pillows to create an insulated space in the middle of the bed.  Blaine set the still sleeping infant inside and the two quietly changed into their pajamas.  They took turns using the bathroom, not wanting to leave the baby alone for any length of time.

When Kurt slipped back into the bedroom, lit only by the bedside lamp, he smiled at the sight.  Blaine was already under the covers, on his side, his arm slung over the pillow and hand resting gently on the baby's chest.  His slow breathing told Kurt he was already fast asleep.  Kurt walked carefully to his side of the bed.

Cooper's ears turned and his eyebrows lifted, watching Kurt from his spot at the foot of the bed, back against the pillow shielding the baby.  Kurt ran his fingers through the puppy's soft fur, eliciting a soft whine and a paw lifting reflexively in the air.  Kurt had long since given up on insisting Cooper sleep on his own bed in the corner of the bedroom.

"You to, huh?" he asked the puppy quietly.  Cooper tilted his head and nudged Kurt's hand with his nose.  Kurt stroked the dog's back once more before sliding under the covers.  Resting his cheek on palm and pillow, he watched man and boy.  For the first time in a very long time, he allowed hope to bloom within him, and he allowed himself to imagine what a family--his family--could look like.  And when his eyelids grew heavy, he let sleep take him with a smile on his face.

.....

"Kurt!  Kurt, look," Blaine called out, pushing the cart eagerly down the aisle and coming to an abrupt stop in front of a gigantic stuffed teddy bear.  Kurt followed, mindful of the baby in his arms.  He had opted to carry the baby on the subway, train, and bus rides to New Jersey, being far more experienced in keeping his balance on the jostling vehicles.  And he was very happy with his decision as they made their way into the enormous store and Blaine had nearly begun bouncing with excitement.
 
The baby had given them a mere 4 hours of sleep before rousing them with his hunger.  After refusing to settle back in for another nap after drinking his fill, Kurt and Blaine had decided to get a start on their Saturday.  Which had been a fortunate happenstance, as the store was already bustling despite the early hour.

Catching up with Blaine, Kurt eyed the full cart.  While he had thought to find a store that carried everything they would need, Kurt had not thought further than that.  Getting everything back to the apartment was going to be interesting.

"The toys here are amazing," Blaine said, eyes shining and fingers gasping excitedly at the stuffed bear.  "We don't have anything like this in Daltasia."

"That's arguably a good thing," Kurt commented wryly.  He bounced the baby in his arms, much to the infant's delight.  The baby laughed and stretched his arms toward Blaine.

Blaine easily took the child, his unease from the night before entirely gone.  He cuddled the infant before swinging him up into the air, eliciting squeals of happiness.

Kurt smiled fondly at the pair before he pulled a piece of paper from his back pocket and scanned it.

"We have everything on Carole's list."

"And a few more things," Blaine added, again lifting the baby up.  "Will it be difficult to get everything home?"

The baby wiggled and squealed, then made grabby hands at Blaine's ecstatic face when he came down.  Blaine kissed the outstretched fists, laughing along with the baby.  Kurt's smile was ridiculously huge at the sight.

"We'll manage."

.....

"Not ready for bed yet?" Kurt said softly, leaning over on the mattress.  The baby's blue eyes shone in the moon light, and a tiny hand reached out to fist in Kurt's t-shirt.  Kurt hushed the baby when he babbled, rubbing a hand over his belly and casting a quick glance at an already deeply slumbering Blaine.

"Why don't you come help me in the other room," Kurt suggested quietly, lifting the baby out of the protective pillow fort.  The baby settled quickly into Kurt's arms, resting his little head against warm chest.  Kurt padded softly out of the room, letting Cooper slip out behind him before he pulled the door just short of latching.

Cooper headed for his bed at the end of the hall, the most advantageous spot to keep watch over as many rooms as possible.

Kurt slowly made his way, double-checking the low cabinets in the bathroom and kitchen for the child-locks he had installed that afternoon.  They had found out the day before that the baby could crawl, and had proceeded to empty the bathroom cabinet and squeeze the contents of several bottles all over himself and the floor before Kurt had found him, shocked at the damage caused in the space of a couple minutes.

Kurt hovered at the entrance to the kitchen, rolling his eyes at the baby food and other supplies still piled atop the counter.  Even with two of them, they had not had a chance to rearrange the space.  Kurt wondered, not for the first time, how Carole had raised Finn all by herself.

A high chair had taken the place of one of the chairs at the dining table, a large bear sitting across from it--the only purchase he and Blaine had allowed themselves when visiting F.A.O. Schwarz earlier that day.  Kurt's chuckle had the baby shifting in his arms, and Kurt rocked him absently as he moved into the lounge.

Kurt sat down on the couch, but when the baby fussed almost immediately, he stood and began slowly pacing, gently bouncing the baby.

The room was so different from two days ago.  Books no longer resided on the lowest two shelves of the bookcase, replaced by a few toys.  More toys filled the corner near Cooper's bed and more baby supplies resided on the couch and floor near the entrance.  A playpen rested in the middle of the room, partially assembled and abandoned for the night.

When he felt the baby's head lulling against his shoulder and fingers loosening from his shirt, Kurt let out a sigh.  He did not want to go back to work tomorrow.  It wasn't worry that Blaine would be by himself with the baby, but rather, Kurt had found an odd sort of contentment amidst the chaos of caring for an infant.  He smiled to himself, remembering how comfortable Blaine was, how happily he played with both the baby and Cooper.  Kurt wondered at how easily he himself had fallen into the role of parent.  The last two days had flown by, filled with laughter, playtime, feedings, and naps.  Sure, Kurt was tired, but he never thought he could be comfortable with a baby, much less happy to be caring for one.

The baby snuffled, turning his head.  Kurt could feel his chest rising with a deep breath, felt the small burst of warm air against his neck.  Kurt halted his pacing, merely swaying a bit in place and ducked to kiss the baby's head.  The baby sighed noisily again, rubbing his cheek against now warm cotton.

For the first time in a very long time, Kurt found himself humming.  Though his voice was rough, words followed easily as memories flashed in his mind.

Baby mine, don't you cry
Baby mine, dry your eyes
Rest your head close to my heart
Never to part, baby of mine

Kurt hummed the next verse, not recalling the words, but then his mother's voice filtered into his consciousness and he sang the last verse.

You're not much, goodness knows
But you're so precious to me
Cute as can be, baby of mine

Kurt pressed another kiss to the infant's head, smiling against soft curls and closing his eyes as a new calm settled into his body.

"That was beautiful."  Blaine's soft voice barely disturbed the silence.  Kurt turned slowly, still swaying, and gifted him with a tender smile.  Blaine stepped close and kissed Kurt, his actions still languid from sleep.

"You should have awoken me if he was fussing," Blaine said.

"He was fine," Kurt dismissed.  "And I don't mind."

"Why have you not sung for me before?"

Kurt shrugged, careful not the jostle the sleeping baby too much.

"It's been a while.  Rachel was doing enough singing for the both of us," Kurt explained, no regret or disdain coloring his tone.

"You should always sing," Blaine insisted.  "Will you sing for me again?"

Kurt smiled fondly at Blaine before stifling a yawn.  Blaine smiled back.

"Another time?"

"Another time," Blaine agreed before slipping his hand into Kurt's.  The two made their way back to the bedroom.

.....

Wind swirled around him, carrying leaves along and obscuring his view.  Browns and greens streaked across the scene before him.  Other colors blended in, flickering here and there.

Despite the rapid eddies churning around him, Kurt felt no pull of the wind.  He stood, solid and grounded, and warm despite the thin t-shirt and pajama pants he wore.

The wind slowed.  Colors settled to reveal an idyllic landscape, bathed in early morning light.  Kurt turned to take it all in.  As the wind dimmed to a soft rustle, he felt the weight of his limbs lightening and his body floating.  He closed his eyes, feeling the currents of the wind carrying him along.

Kurt blinked, letting consciousness seep into his brain.  When his eyes encountered brightness, he turned his head.  His lips quirked into a smile as the image before him came into focus.  Blaine, hair mussed and lips slightly parted, lay beside him, the baby resting atop his chest.  Both were still asleep.  With a happy sigh, Kurt snuggled closer, resting his cheek against Blaine's shoulder and closing his eyes again.

A gentle cough roused him from his near slumber, and when he heard a giggle, his eyes widened and he abruptly sat up.  With a quick glance at the baby and man next to him, his eyes swept up and to the foot of the bed.

"Oh, Kurt," Rachel breathed out, smiling widely and launching herself around the bed and into his startled embrace.

"You're here," Kurt marveled, wrapping his arms around the woman.

"We've been here for quite some time," Quinn said.

Kurt's eyes darted to her enigmatic smile, his brow lifting in question.  Rachel pulled away with another giggle, hands resting on Kurt's arms as he glanced around the room, taking in the tall windows, stone walls, and enormous tapestries.  His eyes darted back to Rachel's delighted expression.

"Welcome to Daltasia."