“Blaine, your dad got furious when I told him that you had got married. He started yelling that it was my fault, and that I had mothered you too much and kept you from toughening up. But I am so happy for you, I really am.” Susan closed her hand around Blaine and Kurt’s that were locked together on the armrest of Blaine’s chair.

Susan had come in to visit them at the hospital, and Kurt had gladly taken the opportunity to get out of the bed and come sit with them by the window instead. Blaine was way too scared to have him wander the halls, so Kurt settled with rolling his eyes and put up with Blaine wrapping him in a blanket before they sat down.

“I did something though. And I know that you might not be happy with me for doing this, but I really think it was necessary. So please indulge me and listen to what I have to say before you get angry with me,” requested Susan before she took a sip of her coffee and put the mug on the windowsill. Then she turned back to Blaine and took his free hand in her own two.

“I told your father about Kurt. About him being sick. I genuinely think he deserves to know. Even though he isn’t supportive of your relationship, I think he deserves to know that his son-in-law is sick. And as I had predicted, he was shocked. He stopped yelling and calmed down. He actually sat down and listened to what I had to say. I told him about how much you have supported Kurt all the way, and I told him how strong you have been - how much of him I see in you; all those good traits I fell in love with in your father. I see them in you, Blaine, now more than ever. You have been so strong, and loyal, and you have put everything aside to stand by Kurt, and I admire you so much. And I really think that your father is proud of you, after what he’s heard that you’ve done for Kurt. So please, when he’s ready - give him another chance. I really think he is on his way to giving you another chance.”

Blaine had no idea how to feel about this. His father shouldn’t have to feel like “giving him another chance”. A dad should have unlimited space for his son. Kurt on the other looked as though he had just had an epiphany.

“Mom. I know that it really means a lot to you, and I completely understand. I just - I just don’t think he would come to me. Honestly; I don’t think he hates me, but he despises what I am. And the way he talked about Kurt. I can’t let that slide. I can’t let anyone - anyone - talk that way about Kurt. I’m sorry.” Blaine felt a burning ball of guilt in his stomach when he saw the expression on his mom’s face. He sincerely wished that it didn’t have to be this way. Maybe under different circumstances he wouldn’t have reacted like this, but right now all that was on his mind was to protect Kurt.

“I think it’s really great, honey. Maybe if your dad comes to you it would be a good idea to talk to him, try to start some sort of dialog so you can work things out between you two. Life is too sh -” Kurt hesitated before he said it. It was like he couldn’t get the words over his lips. Like it would mean that he had considered the possibilities.

Blaine squeezed his hand as strongly as he could, but he could already sense that the word had poisoned its way through Kurt’s body and affected him to the core. He wanted to say something to make Kurt forget what he had just said, but it was impossible. Anything that came into his mind revolved around that intoxicating subject.

The rest of the day they didn’t touch the subject of Blaine’s father or anything mildly depressing that could lead to any uncomfortable conversations. In fact, they kept the conversation on superficial subjects that was sure not to lead to anything deeper than the latest gossip or anything like it, while they played cards or looked through the fashion magazines Susan had brought for Kurt.

By the end of the day, Kurt begged her to come back soon, and she promised. Blaine followed her to her car while Finn, who had just arrived, stayed with Kurt.
Susan hugged Blaine for several minutes before she looked at him with tears in her eyes.

“I am so proud of you. With you by his side Kurt can do anything, I am sure he can.” She kissed him on the cheek before she told him to say hi to Burt and Carol for her and then drove off. Blaine continued standing in the dark parking lot watching until the headlights were completely gone. Then he walked slowly back through the silent hospital halls to find Kurt in bed with Finn by his side.

“Hey man. You should really go home and get some sleep. I’ll stay here,” exclaimed Finn when he saw the state Blaine was in.
Blaine had been prepared for people to start telling him to go home, but he blankly refused.

“No thanks. I’m okay. I slept just fine in that chair last night.” Blaine pointed in the direction of the world’s most uncomfortable chair, making Fin skeptically raise an eyebrow at him.

“Dude, come on. You can’t sleep like this every night. I’m sure Kurt will be okay with you leaving. He’ll understand. You need proper sleep to be there for him.” Finn’s voice was a bare whisper to avoid waking up Kurt, but he wasn’t giving Blaine a lecture; he was worried.

Blaine fell down in the chair next to Finn’s and exhaled exhaustedly. He squeezed his eyes hard and tried to collect his thoughts but gave up. His head was buzzing with thoughts of what his mom had told about his father, and about Kurt, and how everyone would beg him to go home and sleep for the rest of Kurt’s hospital stay.

“It just wouldn’t do any good, you know, if I went home to sleep. I would just lie in bed and twist and turn. I wouldn’t dare close my eyes because every time I close them I - dammit, Finn, all I see is Kurt lying there; cold, pale, lifeless eyes. I am so scared. What if something happens while I’m not here? What if I miss a second with him? I can’t do that. I want to have every single moment with him I can get.” He had said it. He had spoken the words he had tried to avoid. Up until now he hadn’t told anyone about how he was afraid to close his eyes; what he saw.

“I know. I feel like that too. I mean - I can’t imagine how you must feel, you’re his boyfriend -” said Finn, but got interrupted by Blaine muttering.

“Husband. I’m his husband.” Blaine hadn’t thought about it. He had promised Kurt they would tell Finn together, but by now it had become a reflex. It had taken some time to get used to, but now it felt so much more natural to say.

“Wait, what? What did you say?” Finn asked confused, looking at Blaine like he had just found out that all of his life he had mistaken a circle for a triangle.

“Fuck. We’d agreed that we would tell people together. It was when - when we were in Vegas. The first night. In the middle of the night, Kurt woke up, and we went for a walk through the city, and we ended up at a chapel. Kurt planned it all out in his head when we left the hotel. I didn’t know, though. Suddenly we were standing in front of this horrendous chapel, and - well, Kurt proposed to me. I couldn’t do anything but say yes.” Blaine smiled to himself by the memory. That had truly been the best day of his life.

Finn didn’t respond. He just sat staring at Blaine with his mouth ajar, his eyes witnessing that his brain was overloading. At first it seemed like he hadn’t really caught Blaine’s words, but then his expression changed, almost as if he didn’t really believe it.

“But - does it… So we’re like - brothers-in-law now? Who even knows?” Finn blinked a few times as if to help the news sink better in.

“Yeah. We’re officially related now. Well, we told Puck, and Burt of course, I guess he told Carol. And then we told my mom. It’s not like we wanna put it on display or anything, but I guess that by now we should come with some sort of - official statement,” Blaine explained while he let it run through his mind realizing how comfortable and natural he felt about it.

“Of course you should. You need to tell Sam, and Rachel, and - just everyone,” Finn began eagerly, but Blaine stopped him.

“It’s not that we don’t want people to know. It just hasn’t felt necessary. And I - I’m starting to think that we need to convince Kurt that it’s time for him to tell his friends that he’s sick. We owe them that after how much they’ve been through together. And we just don’t want people to think that we did this because he’s sick. We did this because we wanted to; because we love each other and wanna be together forever.”

Blaine twisted the ring around his finger. He couldn’t quite believe how happy he had got about that ugly piece of plastic. They had agreed to get a real set of rings once they got home and had made it official, but right now Blaine didn’t want another ring. He just wanted this one. It had been the rings they had given each other after they had told each other their vows, and it was the ring that symbolized their relationship. Maybe when they got older. If -

“I don’t think they’re gonna think that way. Really, it’s only just been a matter of time. Next to Tina and Mike you guys were the only ones from high school we just waited for an announcement from. Tina and Mike have been engaged forever, so we don’t really expect them to get married anytime soon. They’re  fine the way they are. But you guys - we were just waiting for you to get engaged and announce a wedding - it just fits. Like this is the way it’s supposed to be for you.” Finn tried to ease Blaine’s mind, and it was nice. It was rare that they had time to sit down and really talk, and Blaine relaxed in a way he hadn’t done for a long time.

“So - did you do the whole thing? With the vows and the champagne and all? So did he carry you over the doorstep or the way around or what?” Finn was clearly curious as to how it had felt to get married. He didn’t have a girlfriend, and hadn’t had any since he and Rachel broke up after she had been in New York for a few months. There was no question that he missed her and that he had imagined himself to have these things with her.

“Yeah. We did the vows and the champagne and that stuff. There wasn’t any carrying over any doorstep though. We were both in our pjs, and just wanted to get back to our warm hotel room.” Blaine chuckled by the thought of the night. Even though it had only been a few weeks ago, it felt like it was years ago.

“And the wedding night? Did you do all that, or was it just like - was he too exhausted after everything that had happened?” Finn didn’t look at Blaine. He was clearly intrigued by the idea of hearing every single detail, but he was embarrassed by hearing himself ask.

“I’m not gonna tell you about our wedding night, Finn!” Blaine burst out embarrassed feeling his face grow red.
“Well, no. He certainly wasn’t exhausted. It was - let’s just say it was amazing. Like - magic.” He couldn’t believe that he was actually telling Finn about it, but it felt really good. It had been way too long since he had been able to have a casual conversation without feeling that he had to suppress all these heavy issues he had constantly hanging over his head. He had needed this so bad - to talk without caring, and now that they had started he was afraid to pause and find out that he had to stop.

“Yeah. I bet the Vegas air does something to you. Like it changes ones boundaries and the way you feel,” Finn joined in with a smirk.
“Not really. Kurt’s always magic. That’s just how he is - like he’s some sort of enchanted creature from another world. Wow, maybe I really do need to get some sleep, I’m talking nonsense here.” Blaine hid his face in his hands and realized how tired he actually was; in his entire body, and his head and eyes. He was so concerned about Kurt that he hadn’t had any time to take care of himself.

“No. I mean, yeah, obviously you do need sleep. But I’ve always liked the way you talk about Kurt. Like he could be standing in a crowd of a million guys, and even though you’d be blindfolded you would still be able to find him just by a touch. It’s inspiring, and something I think everyone should wish for. Like when Kurt talks about you, he was like that even when you were just friends - he would talk about you like you were the sun or something. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life.” Finn wasn’t smirking anymore, he was dead serious. Blaine couldn’t remember ever having heard him talk like that, but he deeply appreciated it.

“Blaine. You’re not gonna leave, are you?” Kurt’s voice was dragging, like he had been awake for days. He lifted his hand and stretched his fingers to show that he wanted Blaine to take it, and Blaine rushed to move closer.

“Kurt. Of course I’m not gonna leave. We thought you were asleep. Is everything okay?” Blaine felt a sudden panic rise inside him, like it had been on mute but out of nowhere the volume had been turned to max.

“I can’t sleep. Will you sing to me? Like yesterday?” Kurt clearly hadn’t energy to speak, but he struggled so hard.
“Of course I will sing to you, honey. What song?” He didn’t know why he asked. He already knew what Kurt was going to reply with, the same song he wished for every night since he got to the hospital; but it felt like this was the right procedure.

“Teenage Dream. Like when we met, but that slow version you do on the piano. It chases away my bad dreams.” Kurt hugged Blaine’s pillow, and squeezed his hand while heaving for breath.

Blaine looked briefly to Finn who looked uncomfortably by intruding on this intimate moment. Then he had to swallow to stop the tears from welling up in his eyes, and started signing silently, just audible enough for Kurt to hear it while he let his hand caress Kurt’s hair.

Finn left the room to find some coffee, and after Blaine had sung the same song three times Kurt finally fell asleep, and then Blaine fell asleep with his head resting on the mattress next to their folded hands.

*

The next few days Blaine spent on calling their friends and telling them about Kurt.
The day after he and Finn had talked about it Kurt had brought it up himself. He told Blaine that it was okay, that they deserved to know now. Kurt had felt awful that day and hadn’t even been able to leave the bed. That was the day the nurses had put up an oxygen tank next to his bed. Like a horrific monster hovering over them.

It was terrible having to tell their friends over the phone. He had paced the hospital halls with his cell phone in his hand trying to find out what would be the proper thing to say, but in the end he knew that it was just an excuse to try to avoid the inevitable, and he had promised Kurt to do it. Kurt would never be able to do it himself.

Everyone was in shock. Rachel had started crying, and Blaine had barely been able to understand a word she was saying. Mike had grown silent and after a minute, he promised to tell Tina. Brittany had been confused, but after a while she said that she and Santana would come as soon as possible. All of them had promised to come back to Lima.

Sam had been the hardest. There had been a short moment of silence and then he had hung up without a word. Blaine had just stared at the display, not knowing whether he should call back or leave Sam to some time to digest the news. He didn’t even get the time to think it through before his phone started ringing.

“I’m sorry, dude. It was just - I can’t believe it. I’ll get a flight right away. I should be there tonight.” Sam’s voice had been thick and bewildered and Blaine hadn’t even been able to get a word in before he hung up.

True enough Sam had been there later that day. He had come straight from the airport and called Blaine from the cab. Puck had met him in the hospital parking lot where he had rushed inside demanding to be taken straight to Kurt’s room.

“I’m sorry I’m so late, I couldn’t get an earlier flight,” said Sam as he threw his arms around Kurt who was sitting on the bed.
Kurt did his best to return the hug, but Blaine could see that he had to struggle to keep his arms around Sam.

“But why, why didn’t you tell me?”  Sam didn’t sound judgmental, more hurt and stressed.
“If you had told me I could have gotten here before. Kurt, you fool. You know I would have come here for you.” He pushed his suitcase under the nightstand with his foot, and let a hand brush over Kurt’s cheek.

“I didn’t want you to worry about me. You don’t need that, and I’m fine. Look at me, all chipper and everything.” Kurt raised his arms to do the jazz hands, but started coughing and hurried to cover his mouth quickly.

“You’re not fine. Don’t lie to me, Hummel. You’re really sick.” Sam rolled his eyes as he sat down on the chair next to the bed.
“That was just - an unlucky coincidence. - Don’t you dare - hold it against me.” Kurt had to pause between words for coughing, with every painful gasp making Blaine wince.

Sam shot a glance at Blaine, and there was no questioning what he was thinking. Sam’s face was painted in a scared frown. He locked his hand around Kurt’s on the mattress. Then he looked up to Kurt, scrutinizing every single detail of his face.

“How have you been? Tell me about your life,” Kurt said in a desperate attempt to turn the conversation away from his own state.

Sam told about his school and his friends. He told about his siblings, and how they were doing really great after they had left Lima. He spoke a long time about his job at a sports equipment store and how nice his colleagues were to him. He had already made it as junior manager, and he played quarterback on the local football team.

While Sam spoke, Blaine observed how Kurt was absorbing every word. Kurt’s eyes were shining and a slight hint of a smile covered his lips. It was good to see him like this. Blaine hadn’t seen him this happy in a very long time, and it was a comforting difference to the usual scared tint in his eyes.

“I missed you so much, Sam,” peeped Kurt. He laid back down and tipped his head a little on the pillow as he yawned.
“I missed you too, Hummel. Are you tired? It’s late, I know.” Sam looked apologetically from Kurt to Blaine.

“No. I don’t wanna sleep yet, you just got here. I’m not that tired,” Kurt rushed, but had to hide yet another yawn as his eyelids started drifting.
“Hey. Don’t worry. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll go find some coffee and when you wake up I’ll be sitting here with Blaine,” Sam assured with a promise in his eyes.

Puck was standing by the door waiting. He already knew that when Kurt was about to sleep he wanted Blaine to sing to him so that was about the time where he made his way out to find candy or cokes.
Sam got up from his chair and followed Puck down the hall. Right before he left the room he turned and smiled at Kurt in a promise that he’d hurry back.

Blaine moved over to sit in Sam’s chair where he let his fingers intertwine with Kurt’s. He let his eyes bore deep into Kurt’s to see if he somehow could figure out what he was thinking, but nothing came through. Kurt had turned into a complete mystery.

“Thank you for getting him out here, Blaine. I missed him so much.” Kurt let his thumb caress Blaine’s before he closed his eyes.
“Blaine. Would you - would you kiss me?” His voice was weak and insecure, he opened his eyes that were glistening as if he was on the edge of tears, and yet not.

“Kiss you? Of course, silly. If I could I would kiss you all the time,” Blaine burst out in disbelief. He stood up and leaned in over the bed. When his lips met Kurt’s he couldn’t help noticing how dry Kurt’s lips were, but he promised himself not to mention it.

“Thank you, baby. That was nice,” Kurt said dozy with a smile on his lips as he let his fingers run through Blaine’s curls before Blaine hurried to sit down as he smiled back at him.
“You should really get a shave, your face is all stubbly. If you wait any longer you’ll end up looking like a savage.” The more he talked the more he was heaving for breath, and Blaine ended up putting a finger to his lips to hush him.

“Shhh, I’ll fix it. I promise. Now let me sing you to sleep, so you can get some more energy to be with Sam tomorrow.” Blaine swallowed and blinked a few times to get control of his emotions.

Then he sat down and started singing quietly, as he did it every night waiting for Kurt to fall asleep.

*

The following week was filled with their friends coming in and out of the hospital. On several occasions Blaine actually had to ask some of them to wait out in the hall to not overcrowd the tiny room.

It took Kurt an unbelievable amount of energy to even see people every day, and in the end Burt had to tell them to not come by so often. He was really overwhelmed by how many people had put their lives on standby to come from all parts of the country to support Kurt in this hard time.

Blaine could easily feel the change in Kurt the days where no one but Puck, Finn, Burt and Carol stopped by. Of course Blaine was there all the time. He never left, no matter how much people told him to go home to sleep and shower.

It had been days since he had showered, his curls were running wild around his face and Kurt kept telling him to get a shave, but Blaine didn’t care. To do those usual every day things meant to leave Kurt in the hospital and he couldn’t do that. What if something happened while he was 30 minutes away?

It was late night and Blaine had sung Kurt to sleep as usual. Burt and Carol had drove home, so all that was left by Kurt’s side were Blaine and Puck.
They sat in the chairs they were almost living in lately and didn’t say a word. It was like they didn’t need to, because they both knew how each other felt, and the unspoken agreement of not mentioning Kurt’s condition was hanging over them like a deep, dark, depressing cloud.

The machines, oxygen tanks, tubes and strings that were all around Kurt made it look like they had stepped into a science fiction movie.
As Kurt lay there, not even looking like himself anymore, he most of all resembled a papier-mâché replica of himself, and it scared Blaine.

He was tired; so incredibly, unbearably tired. Blaine just wished that he could put Kurt in his car and drive home so they could curl up around each other and sleep. In Kurt’s bed; in their bed.

All Blaine wanted was to be close with his husband. But he couldn’t.

He shook his head to get rid of the thought. It kept haunting him, stronger and stronger every day, but he was starting to face that it might not happen ever again.

Blaine yawned as he wondered why Puck was being so quiet. He never was. Even in the times where everyone else just wanted to relax and unwind Puck would always find a way to break the silence and lighten the dark atmosphere; but tonight he hadn’t said a word since he had returned to his chair.

Blaine casually looked to his side thinking that Puck might simply just have fallen asleep. He hadn’t, in fact what Blaine saw shocked him.
Big, fat tears were streaming quietly down Puck’s face and his mouth was twisted in a painful grimace while he was staring wide eyed at Kurt in the bed in front of them.

This was strange and awkward. Puck was always the one to comfort them whenever they were having a breakdown, so what should Blaine do now? He didn’t even know if Puck had even realized that Blaine knew that he was crying.

Blaine took a quick decision, and without a word shifted his arm on the armrest so he could close his hand around Puck’s. It only took a second before Puck turned his hand so he could close his around Blaine’s in return, before he broke out in a heartbreaking sob and moved to hide his face against the hollow spot under Blaine‘s chin, making Blaine wrap his free arm around the crying boy’s shoulders.

“It’s just so unfair. Look at him - he’s so freaking young, man. How could anyone ever take him away from us? He can’t just leave us here. And you - you two only just got married. You should be together, live together and do whatever married couples do. Not be in a hospital locked to a bed like this. What the fuck have we done wrong?” Puck sobbed into Blaine’s collarbone.

As confused and pained as Blaine was he had no idea what to say. He felt the same way; there was no denying those feelings.

Puck’s tears were soaking Blaine’s shirt, but he didn’t care. He had let his own tears start falling and drip down into Puck’s muffled Mohawk, clenching as hard as he could around his friend’s shoulders.

After they had sat sobbing, holding each other for a few minutes Puck raised to sit straight in his own chair again. He looked up at Blaine with the most heartbreaking look in his eyes that Blaine had ever seen.

“I think - I think I’m starting to lose my faith in God. If there really is a God, and if God really loves us, then why would he ever do this to someone like Kurt? You know, I just can’t love a God that would do this.” Puck closed his eyes, tears still strolling from his eyes, clenching his teeth with his hand still squeezing Blaine’s as hard as ever.

“And you, you’re so freaking strong. You just sit here every night, every day, holding his hand, singing to him, doing everything to keep up his mood. I don’t know how you do it. If it was someone I was in love with - I just couldn’t do it. I would have walked away months ago. You’re goddamn special, Anderson,” Puck squeezed out through heartfelt sobbing, as he let his free hand up to cup Blaine’s face.

Suddenly affection for Puck rushed in over Blaine. All the way through he had been so focused on Kurt that he had completely forgotten to think how their friends were feeling. How could he forget to consider that when Puck loyally sat with him as often as he could during the late nights of watching Kurt sleep?

He just wanted to embrace Puck, and kiss him, and hug him forever.
Not in a romantic way. Blaine just needed to somehow show Puck how much he appreciated his friendship, and the fact that he even stayed - loyally. Without him Kurt might not have made it so far, because he was the one to always keep the spirit up when everyone else was ready to throw in the towel.

“I love you, Noah. Kurt does too. I wish I could ever tell you how much it means to me, to us, that you are here. We could never have asked for a better friend than you,” Blaine said struggling not to let his voice break.

Their conversation was set in a whispered tone, as they were both afraid to wake up Kurt.
Blaine had promised himself that he wouldn’t let Kurt see him break down; that was the last thing he needed at the moment, and as Blaine had the long nights he might as well cry his soul out while everyone else were asleep.

Puck smiled grateful back from a soaked face. Blaine almost couldn’t see him through his own tears, but he didn’t care. It had been a relief to say the words out loud. He couldn’t believe they had been friends with Puck for so long without even once telling him that they truly loved him. No one had been there more for them than Puck.

Even before Kurt got sick it had always been Puck they had come to. When they had been fighting and they both were upset about it, they had always called Puck who had guided both of them through their frustrations so they could talk it through. When there had been something one of them felt was needed to discuss, they had come to Puck for an objective opinion. Whenever there had been the slightest problem, they would call Puck. And he would always be there.

“I love you guys too. You’re my best friends. I can’t picture a world without you - and Kurt, poor Kurt.” He broke down again, and Blaine dragged him back into a close consoling hug. It had been such a long time since Blaine had last been giving consoling attention to anyone than Kurt, and it actually felt good. It was nice and comforting to know that he could be there for others too. Lately he felt like he had just been sucking energy and life out of people in order for them to be by Kurt’s side, and he had nothing to give back.

The rest of the night Blaine and Puck held each others hands and didn’t spoke. It felt like it wasn’t necessary for them to use words - each others presence and affection was enough.

Eventually Puck fell asleep with his head resting on the mattress next to Kurt’s head, leaving Blaine in the dark observing as their chests rose and fell in perfect sync.
Every time Blaine’s eyelids started drifting closed, he opened them a little wider in fear that he would fall asleep and not be able to watch over Kurt.