By the time Kurt's physio therapist came to talk to them, almost an hour later, Blaine had managed to change the sheets on the bed, sneaking them into a laundry chute and talking Kurt into taking a shower together.

They emerged, happy and giggling to find Carole waiting patiently in the chair next to the bed, a knowing smile on her face as she cooed to Madeline.

"Here you go precious, here's your daddies. You missed them didn't you?" she smiled. "We came by earlier but you two were clearly busy."

Both boys blushed a violent scarlet, and Blaine hurried over to Carole's side, picking Madeline up out of her arms and cradling her to his chest.

"Hi princess! I missed you today!" he said immediately, trying to ignore Carole's words.

Kurt wobbled, sitting hurriedly on the side of bed. He wasn't very stable without someone's support, and he didn't particularly want to fall over again, especially not in front of Carole, and especially not when he was certain she knew what they'd been doing.

Carole stood, smiling at Blaine and dropping a kiss on Madeline's cheek before hugging Kurt around the shoulders.

"I should get going now, Burt will be expecting me." She excused herself quickly, trying to get away from the awkward tension of the room, picking her handbag up and waving as she hurried out of the room.

Blaine kissed Madeline's forehead, breathing in the smell of baby powder and trying to change the topic before Kurt started on Carole hearing or seeing them.

"Carole must have bathed her this afternoon." He told Kurt. "She smells all pretty and fresh."

Kurt raised an eyebrow, settling himself back against his pillows.

"When does she normally have her bath?" he asked, hating the fact that he had to ask, that he didn't even know that about his own daughter.

"In the afternoon, while you're sleeping." Blaine replied, blushing a little.

Kurt pouted a little.

"I haven't bathed her yet." He told Blaine quietly, holding his arms out for her and cradling her close with faint relief. "Or changed her nappy, or even dressed her. I've barely done anything for you except feed you when you're hungry – and even then Daddy Blaine burps you, and most of the time rocks you off to sleep." He told Madeline, sighing as he looked up at Blaine. "I barely do anything for her at all."

Blaine settled at his side, stroking the backs of Madeline's hands.

"That doesn't really matter, and you know it. You're her daddy, and she loves you very much, even though she's too little to show it yet."

Kurt sighed. "You sure?"

Blaine grinned. "Of course I'm sure. She loves you."

Kurt smiled, leaning into his side a little before sighing as the physio therapist walked in, smiling at their little picture-perfect pose.

"Hi." She grinned. "Don't you guys look cute."

Kurt smiled back at her.

"Hi Barbara. This is my... Madeline's other dad."

"Hey Blaine. I've heard quite a bit about you actually." Barbara laughed at the worried expression on Blaine's face. "Nothing too bad, I promise.

Blaine relaxed a little, nuzzling Kurt's shoulder.

"So, I'm just here to talk to you both about Kurt's progress." Barbara said conversationally, settling herself in the visitor chair. "You've been making pretty good progress for having been bed-bound for a couple of weeks, so if you keep pushing yourself, you should be walking properly by the end of the week."

"So..?" Kurt asked hesitantly and Barbara smiled again.

"As soon as we've got you walking, you can go home, but you'll have to come back every week day for strengthening exercises and the like until we've built you back up to what you were at before this little one –" She reached out for Madeline, scooping her into her arms and bouncing her gently. "- decided to come along and ruin all that."

Kurt was frozen in place, looking at her hopefully.

"I...I can go home? On Friday?"

"If you keep pushing yourself, and can walk by then, yes." Barbara nodded, mentally checking things off of her list. "And I think that's everything!" she laughed, handing Madeline to Blaine as she stood, waving at Kurt. "I'll let you get some rest, I know how awful those exercises can make you feel."

"Then why do you make me do them?" Kurt asked, looking up at her as he leans back against the pillows.

Barbara laughed then, properly, grinning down at Kurt.

"You did say you wanted to be able to walk without it hurting." She reminded him. "This is the only way that's going to happen. Get a good night's sleep, and I'll see you in the morning."

"Bye." Kurt called softly as the door shut behind her. He turned to Blaine, taking Madeline out of his arms and settling her on his chest. "Don't you have something you want to do Blaine?" he asked calmly, petting Madeline's back as she grizzled slightly.

Blaine looked confused, a worried expression crossing over his face. Kurt noticed as he glanced up at him, and hurried to edit his words.

"No! Nothing like that. It's just... I don't think I've ever had a proper chance to just sit and cuddle with Madeline by myself... And I know that if I let you stay here you'll just distract me again... Plus I kind of really do want some proper clothes, I'm getting sick of wearing my pyjama's everywhere, and the hospital washing powder smells funny." Kurt said pleadingly, cuddling into Blaine's side.

Blaine smirked.

"So you want me to go home and do some laundry? And bring you back clean clothes and pyjama's?"

"And maybe some of the stuff we bought for Madeline. Like the clothes? And that toy?" Kurt asked, making himself comfortable as Blaine slid of the bed, packing Kurt's hospital bag.

"Anything else?" Blaine teased, coming back over for one last hug before he left.

"Not that I can think of right now, but I'll text you if I remember anything." Kurt replied, sitting up carefully so Blaine could hug them both, a hand holding Madeline gently in place.

"Have fun." Blaine kissed Kurt, leaning down further to kiss Madeline's forehead.

Kurt made himself comfortable as Blaine left, smiling as Madeline shifted restlessly before settling down, peering up at him with curious eyes.

"Hi baby." Kurt whispered softly, tucking her blanket more securely around her. She stared up at him with her wide, blue eyes, her free hand flailing slightly.

Kurt caught it, smiling as she gripped his little finger tightly, her knuckles turning white with the effort.

"This is nice isn't it? We haven't had a lot of time for this – for cuddles without anyone else around."

Madeline gurgled, and Kurt laughed quietly, watching as she rubbed her face against his chest.

"You're enjoying this aren't you?" he asked her, nuzzling her gently. "Enjoying not having everyone fussing over you? I am. I'm enjoying not having to share you, not even with daddy Blaine or Grandma Carole. For once, you're all mine."

She gave a little yawn, and Kurt almost melted at the sight of her little, toothless mouth.

"Tired, are you baby?" he cooed. "You get tired a lot. I don't blame you though. I do too."

She continued to watch him, her eyes drooping slightly, and Kurt smiled, stroking the fine hairs at the top of your head.

"You're going to grow up perfect, you know? With perfect skin, and beautiful eyes. You've already inherited Blaine's gorgeous hair...and I just...I know that one day, maybe thirteen years from now...you're going to complain about it." he giggled softly. "I can't wait for you to grow up..."

Madeline's eyes finally drooped.

"It's going to be perfect."

^.^

Blaine arrived back at the hospital an hour and a half later - choosing to take the scenic route. He didn't mind Kurt's request - he was actually rather glad, because it was ten times better than the alternative. Kurt not loving Madeline was one of the worst things Blaine could imagine.

He chose to take the stairs and climbed them slowly, waving to the nurses as he went. Finally, he dawdled into Kurt's room - his backpack bulging with things for both Kurt and Madeline.

"Kurt?"

His boyfriend was asleep, as was Madeline - clutched close to his chest. Blaine grinned and kissed both of them on the head, before curling up at the end of the bed.

^.^

"Second last day, gorgeous." Blaine kissed the side of his face.

Kurt let out a groan of discomfort, cuddling up around Blaine.

"I don't want to."

Blaine grinned. "You say that every morning."

"It's because I don't want to, every morning." Kurt rolled over, and Blaine wrapped his arms around him.

"Madeline's going to be so sad if you don't get up this morning."

Kurt frowned, rolling back over so they were nose-to-nose. "I'll get up, I just don't want to go to physio."

Blaine kissed him, sitting up and stretching. "I know. But you have to."

"And I will. For you. And Madeline."

Blaine grinned, whipping around and kissing him again, before jumping out of the bed.

"You're spry this morning." Kurt noted with a sour face.

"I love you." Was all he replied with, before heading Madeline's cot.

She wasn't awake yet, her eyes still firmly shut, her little fingers curled around the blanket.

"I love you too." He grinned, brushing his fingers gently over her forehead.

She stirred slightly, her mouth opening and closing once or twice.

"Blaine...?"

Blaine turned slightly, a fond grin on his face, to where Kurt was looking frustrated.

"Yeah babe?"

"My legs feel like jelly." He grinned. "Massage?"

Blaine smirked at him.

"You just want another massage don't you?"

Kurt smiled, stretching lazily.

"Yeah... And they really do feel like jelly. And I have to make some progress today, so I can go home tomorrow."

Blaine grinned excitedly. "Just think...we'll be bringing Maddy home...and she'll be sleeping in her own room – and..." he suddenly gasped with an excited bounce as he started massaging Kurt's legs. "We should hold a party!"

Kurt keened slightly, his whole leg shuddering as Blaine pressed a particularly tender pressure-point. "What?"

"A...a welcome-home party – for you and Madeline. That way we can introduce her to everyone...and get all the awkward out of the way quickly."

Kurt pouted a little.

"I kind of just wanted us to be alone for a little while... So we can settle Madeline in, and get used to there not being so many people..."

Blaine's hands paused on his leg, and he leant down to kiss Kurt gently.

"I know... But we need to tell everyone. What if we do it on Sunday afternoon? That way we have most of the weekend to ourselves, and we have an excuse to make them leave if you or Madeline start getting too tired."

Kurt seemed to consider this before nodding. "Fine. But you get to organise it. Maddy and I will sleep."

Blaine laughed, his hands working over Kurt's legs again. "Deal."

^.^

Kurt managed to pull himself out of bed that morning. He was wobbling, wincing and shaking, but he managed to stand on his own legs long enough to fall into a wheelchair. Blaine clapped and praised him appreciatively, which jerked Madeline awake.

Her distressed cries echoed throughout the room and Blaine quickly scooped her up as Carole walked in.

"Morning!" she said cheerfully, hugging Blaine and giving Kurt a kiss on the cheek.

"Morning Carole." They both replied as Blaine settled Madeline in Kurt's arms.

"We'll see you at two?" Kurt asked Blaine, and he grinned.

"Like always. Good luck today." Blaine kissed him gently, and Carole wheeled him out.

Grinning, Blaine grabbed his guitar and pulled the strap around his neck – eager to visit paediatrics again. He headed down the familiar corridors, waving at nurses as he went, before stepping into the brightly covered hallway.

"Blaine!" one of the nurses from yesterday greeted him warmly. "Back for more?"

"Couldn't help myself." Blaine grinned.

"You know the process. Good luck."

Blaine thanked her and decided to start from the oldest section first – the thirteen to eighteen year olds. The ward was huge – beds lined the walls in random intervals, and each bed could be curtained off. At the end of the room, a living room was set up with couches, a TV and a couple of gaming consoles. Glass walls showed the outside – a courtyard with grass and trees, with thick curtains pulled away to allow the light in.

Blaine looked around at these kids – but he really couldn't call them that. The eldest of these kids were still only a year younger than he was – but for some reason, they seemed younger – more withdrawn. Frightened and detached.

Blaine made his way down the room, silently watching. There were kids attached to monitors, some attached to drips, some with cannula's and some who didn't appear to have anything wrong. There were others with obvious diseases – those with shaved heads, and some with a multitude of broken bones. All of them were there for the same reason – they needed to get better.

Finally, Blaine reached the end of the room and planted himself on a couch, depositing his guitar on the floor.

"You play?"

Blaine turned and a sixteen year old boldly stood in front of him – he was one of the ones who didn't appear to be sick.

"Yeah." Blaine grinned. "You?"

"A little."

"Don't lie, Josh." An identical sibling appeared at his side, grinning happily as she poked 'Josh' in the side. "He took lessons for a couple of years. He's really good."

"That's awesome. Want to play?" Blaine offered his guitar, and Josh gave him a distrusting look, before biting his lip and taking the guitar by the neck.

"It's been a while." He said softly, but Blaine shrugged with a small smirk.

"If you're as good as your sister says you are, it'll come back. Do you sing too?"

He nodded a little, sitting on the edge of one of the couch arms before picking a little – getting familiar with it again.

Colouring slightly, he got up the nerve to play a little louder, glancing once at Blaine before opening his mouth and singing. His voice was strong – even when he just started – and Blaine listened with a wide grin on his face.

He was good.

When he was done, a resounding clap echoed throughout the ward, and Josh was crimson.

"That was really, really good." Blaine grinned, taking the guitar back when Josh passed it over.

"Too bad those lessons were for nothing." He said quietly, and Blaine raised his eyebrows.

"What do you mean?"

"I stole the good parts from Mum and Dad." His twin had materialised again, somewhat sombre. "He got the shitty bits."

"Doctor says I won't make it till the end of the year."

Blaine's stomach went cold, his throat going dry. He swallowed hard.

"Isn't there something they can do?"

"There would be, if this dickhead would agree to it." His twin muttered fondly.

"Wait...what?"

She sighed, and Josh glared at the floor. "Since I was three, I've been donating organs to Josh. Kidney, liver, marrow, blood...so much blood." That made him smile slightly. "But he needs a lung. I can give it to him...but he won't say yes."

Blaine paused, frowning in confusion. "Why not?"

He shrugged. "I've taken enough."

She shook her head, a small smile on her face. "You just don't want me to have any more blackmailing rights than I already do."

"You know it, Jem."

Blaine watched their playful banter, a little in shock. How could you not want to save your own life? Watching him closely, Blaine could see the signs of decay – the way his eyes were slightly sunken, the haggard breathing after just one song.

He was deteriorating fast, and he wasn't accepting help.

"Alright, I've got to go visit the other wards. I'll see you guys again some time?" Blaine grinned, desperate to get away.

Josh and Jemima nodded, bidding him farewell before returning to their conversation.

Blaine leant against the wall outside the first room, breathing heavily.

"You okay, love?" one of the nurses asked, and Blaine looked up, nodding slightly.

"It's...tough."

She nodded slightly. "Working in paediatrics is always draining. These kids are so brave."

Blaine nodded, biting his lip before taking a deep breath and preparing himself for the next group of children.

"Don't overwhelm yourself, Blaine." The nurse said softly. "Get too involved and you'll only end up destroying yourself."