“So our Saturday afternoon walks turned into picnic lunches whenever I feel alright?” Kurt chuckled to Blaine as they walked from the Subway toward the entrance of Central Park. Each holding one of Claire’s hands, they swung the giggling little girl gently every ten or so paces. Even though Blaine insisted they didn’t. Kurt was feeling strong enough to handle it.
“No they’ve turned into picnic lunches whenever the weather is good. The fact that you’re feeling so well did not play into the decision” Blaine smirked “Although it is good to see you feeling better”
“It won’t last long, I have chemo again tomorrow”
“Take every day as it comes”
“You keep saying that...”
“And you should keep listening. It is brilliant advice”
“If you say so yourself” Kurt laughed even though he lived on Blaine’s words. He did take every day as it came because if he dwelled on the negatives of the day before then he couldn’t enjoy good days like today.
“Hey, look over there” Blaine smiled and pointed up ahead “Doesn’t that girl look so much like Mercedes?”
“That is Mercedes” the bronze haired man gasped and let go of Claire’s hand as he raced toward his best friend. Enveloping her in a tight hug, he couldn’t believe that she was standing there in front of him. “What are you doing here?”
“That boyfriend of yours asked me to come. He thought it might make you feel better”
Kurt looked back at Blaine with a thankful expression. Blaine just thought Kurt needed a breath of fresh air and seeing Mercedes was just what would make the sick young man happy. There really was only so much fun to be had whilst watching a Disney movie with a giggling 3 year old.
Blaine handed the picnic basket to Mercedes and took a step back “Now if you’ll excuse us, Claire and I have a date with some penguins at the Central Park Zoo”
“You’re not staying?”
“And spoil the catch up? I only packed a picnic for two not four...”
“How long have you guys had this planned?”
“A couple weeks” Mercedes laughed. The diva had planned to come to New York to see Kurt even before he got sick but when she got the call from Blaine; she did everything she could to manage a few days away.
“So my health really didn’t play a part in the decision to come today, did it?” Kurt chuckled as he turned to Blaine. Tugging on his boyfriend’s shirt, he placed a short but sweet kiss on Blaine’s lips “Thank you”
“Have fun” he smiled and stole one last kiss before picking up Claire so she could kiss her Papa’s cheek softly “Call me if you need me but we’ll be back soon, ok?”
“Bye Papa, bye ‘Cedes” Claire giggled and waved as she looked back over her father’s shoulder. Kurt and Mercedes waved to the little girl til Blaine had rounded the corner and was gone from their sight. Turning back to his best friend, Kurt took her hand with a smile.
“Do you hate us for planning this? Without telling you?” she chuckled as she walked arm in arm with Kurt to find the perfect spot for their picnic.
“Hate you? Never” he smiled and bumped her gently “I can’t believe either of you would do something like this for me”
“Blaine thought you just needed this” Mercedes smiled as they found the perfect spot in the sun and she laid out the blanket Blaine had packed “The chemo has been getting to you lately...”
“He told you?” Kurt sighed and sat down as Mercedes started to unpack the basket. Blaine had thought of everything packing salads, sandwiches and even the apple cider Kurt loved. Opening the container of fruit salad, Kurt played with the edge of the lid for a minute before looking up at his best friend “It’s hard...”
“You’re not the kind to lash out; you’re the gentle one...”
“I know which kinda scares me more than anything”

XXXXX

“Goodnight Princess” Blaine smiled and kissed his daughter’s forehead softly before pulling up her pink comforter and tucking her in. Flicking on the monitor, he found Claire’s Fairy night light and turned it on as well. Claire was getting too old for a monitor but with Kurt so sick, he needed to keep a watchful eye on both of them. Walking back to his bedroom, he noticed Kurt wasn’t where he had left him. Blaine didn’t need to look around to know where his boyfriend was, he could hear him.
Doubled over the toilet, Kurt clutched the white marble as he heaved what was left of his stomach contents out into the bowl. The now thin and fragile young man shook violently as another convulsion wracked his body. Kneeling down behind his boyfriend, Blaine wrapped his arms around Kurt’s waist and held him until the nausea had passed.
Leaning back into Blaine, Kurt buried his face into Blaine’s shoulder and sobbed as all the pain he was feeling finally boiled to the surface. Blaine ran his hands through Kurt’s thinning hair like he always did to comfort his boyfriend but small chunks of his beautiful bronze hair came away with his hand. Trying to hide his hand, Blaine wasn’t successful because out of the corner of his eye, Kurt caught a glimpse of the lost hair and only sobbed harder.
“Hey, it’s ok. It’ll grow back”
“You shouldn’t have to see me like this” Kurt wept softly as he looked up at Blaine through red and puffy eyes.
“We’re in this together remember? For better or for worse”
“We’re not married...”
“Minor technicality” Blaine chuckled and placed a soft kiss on his boyfriend’s forehead but Kurt flinched as if his boyfriend’s kiss was going to cause pain “Kurt...”
“Stop promising to marry me!” he snapped angrily and slid away from Blaine. Staying close to the toilet, he wasn’t sure whether he may need it again. “Stop promising a happy ending when there is not going to be a god damned happy ending. I. Am. Dying. Deal with it”
“You are not dying” the curly haired boy sighed softly knowing that Kurt needed to rant no matter how much it hurt. “You are not dying Kurt”
“Yes I am and you don’t need to stay and watch me die. You could go; you could take Claire and go”
“Why would I do that?”
“Because you have no reason to stay. I’m not your husband, I’m not Claire’s father, I have no biological tie to either of you. Neither of you need to be here to watch me die” Kurt spat and tried to stand up but his legs buckled beneath him. He was exhausted and ready to just give up now. Blaine held his hands out to Kurt to help him up but they were sharply slapped away. Thinking his boyfriend was reaching out again as he collapsed back against the toilet, Kurt swung his arm once more but this time the back of his hand caught Blaine’s cheekbone. The sound of the impact alone shocked them both.
Kurt gasped softly and brought his hands to his mouth once he realised what he’d done. Rubbing his thumb against his now red and swollen cheek, Blaine was satisfied nothing was broken.
“I’m sorry...”
Blaine didn’t say anything as he stood and held his hand out to Kurt ready to help him up. Taking the offer, Kurt stood and placed his hand softly on Blaine’s cheek. He sniffed back tears as he ran the pad of his thumb softly over the reddened skin.
“I’m so sorry...”
“Come to bed”
“You should be angry...”
“It’s ok, just come to bed”

XXXXX

“The beanie suits you” Mercedes chuckled as she pointed to the dark grey slouch beanie that her best friend was wearing. His hair had been thinning with some patches losing hair faster than others. Kurt hadn’t had the guts to just shave it all off yet so he utilised the entire box of hats and barrettes that he had collected over the years.
“Keeps my head warm” he laughed and picked up a couple grapes out of the fruit salad “You didn’t come all the way from LA just to hear about how little hair I have, I want all the goss about you and Sam. How’s it going?”
“He and I are going well” she smiled feeling the heat rise in her cheeks. Sam had followed her to LA the summer after they finished high school because no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t live without her. He couldn’t afford to go to college so he got a waiter job and worked. He didn’t make anywhere near as much as someone like Shane, her ex, who was now the star line backer for the Ohio State Buckeyes but he was doing his best to prove that he was enough for Mercedes.
“You’re in love...”
“I think I am because I already miss him so much and it’s only been 12 hours”
Kurt squealed happily as he insisted Mercedes tell him absolutely everything. A true gossip, Kurt was so happy to dive into someone else’s bliss and hear all the gooey, romantic details. He had always had his own sappy happiness with Blaine but his illness had really gotten in the way of romance. Kurt was either too sick or too tired from being sick that he and Blaine hadn’t done much more than cuddle in months. Blaine never pushed Kurt even before he got sick and now was no different.
The two best friends polished off Blaine’s amazing picnic and gossiped for hours. It was amazing how much they could talk about after being apart for only a few months. Kurt lay back on the blanket as they continued to talk about Mercedes’ auditions for some major record labels. She loved school but the only reason she went to LA was to get signed. She was going to be the next Beyonce someday.

XXXXX

“You two look like you enjoyed yourselves” Blaine chuckled as he met Kurt and Mercedes at the entrance to Central Park. Carrying a sleeping three year old, Blaine also had a stuffed penguin in his hand that he couldn’t resist buying for his little girl. Her eyes just lit up at their enclosure so he couldn’t help but try and bring that beautiful, bright smile home with him.
Blaine had planned Kurt’s day with Mercedes for Claire as well. He had felt like the worst Dad to Claire whenever he asked Santana to look after her or asked the day care if she could stay a little longer than he originally planned. Today was for Claire to just spend with her Dad without him worrying about a doctor’s appointment or checking Kurt had taken his medication. Blaine felt selfish at the same time for just wanting a day with his daughter but he had to look after both Kurt and Claire. He needed to provide everything for both of them now not just Claire.
“So did you guys, you wore the poor kid out” Mercedes laughed at the gorgeous little girl latched onto Blaine.
“It was good though, she adores those damn penguins” he chuckled and took the now empty picnic basket from Kurt. “Mercedes are you sure we can’t offer you a bed tonight?”
“No it’s fine. You gave me the perfect opportunity to visit my cousins but I promise I will be back to see you tomorrow afternoon”
“You don’t want to see me tomorrow afternoon” Kurt insisted. He was going to be a very different man 24 hours from that moment right then.
“Because you have chemo? Blaine already told me and I’m coming anyway” she smirked and winked to Blaine. They had not only planned the day in the park but also an after chemo movie night. Mercedes was only in New York for a couple days so she was going to make the most of it. “I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon Boo” Mercedes smiled and kissed Kurt’s cheek before waving to Blaine. She didn’t want to disturb the slumbering little girl in his arms. As Mercedes walked away Kurt turned to Blaine and kissed his cheek softly “Thank you”
“What for?” he chuckled playing dumb
“Oh nothing” Kurt smiled as they started walking back to the Subway “So how were the penguins?”