Burt stepped back to give Kurt a little bit of privacy, but didn't leave the room. He plopped down in one of uncomfortable hospital chairs in the corner of the room and picked up a magazine he found on the small, wooden table—a table that had seen one too many stressed families. The polish had begun to wear away and Burt absentmindedly picked at one of the battered corners.

He looked up a few times to make sure Kurt was okay, but for the most part, he didn't feel the need to be a part of what was going on. He didn't want to feel like an intrusion. Burt was simply there for Kurt when he needed support.

Neither Kurt nor Blaine moved for a solid two minutes as they stared at each other, almost as if they were afraid a blink of the eye would make the other disappear. Kurt braced himself against the edge of the bed and kept reminding himself to take deep, steady breaths.

"Hey," Blaine finally said and for the first time Kurt could hear how weak he was. His voice was rough and uneven, but the smile that tried to form wiped all of Kurt's worries away.

"You're awake," Kurt exhaled. He tried to hold back the tears that were begging to be released.

"I woke up on the ride to the hospital. There's nothing like waking up on a different plane and not knowing where you are," Blaine laughed, trying to lighten the mood.

Kurt looked away from Blaine's face and let his eyes wander across Blaine's body once again. "How are you?"

"Really? You see me again for the first time in two months and that's all you can think to ask? I've been good, but I've missed my boyfriend terribly."

"You know what I mean," Kurt said, broken.

"I'm alive," Blaine pointed out matter-of-factly.

"Blaine-"

"Hey, no. Don't do that." Blaine extended a shaky hand which Kurt gladly took hold of. "I'm alive, I'm going to be okay, and I'll recover. I want to focus on us because I've missed you so much."

"I've missed you, too." Blaine began to shift in the bed, and Kurt immediately reached out to still him. He was afraid the movement would only slow his recovery. "Stop, don't move! What do you need?"

"I need you in my bed right now." Kurt let go of Blaine's shoulders and noticed him relax. "I won't hurt myself if I move to the side a little bit."

"But… I mean," Kurt bit his lip and looked at the now-empty space in Blaine's bed, "will they let me… my dad told them you were his son."

"And what did you tell my nurse?"

"I… nothing," Kurt sighed in defeat.

"Good." Blaine pat the spot beside him and held his arms out for Kurt to slide into. "If anyone gives you any trouble, we'll figure out a way to deal with it, okay? As long as you want to be here, I won't let them make you leave."

"I don't want to leave until you do." Kurt breathed in the scent of Blaine, only it wasn't Blaine. It was the stereotypical hospital smell, not the sweet scent he was so attuned to.

"Well, I don't know how long I'll be here, but you have to go back to work at some point."

Kurt shook his head, "No, not yet. I think after what happened they can give me some time off." He turned his head to get a better look at Blaine. "I didn't know if you were the man in this room; I just knew I had to find out. The press isn't releasing any names or details, and I was so scared. I was scared that you weren't going to be in here."

"But I am." Blaine pulled Kurt tighter.

"How were you able to get out when no one else could?"

"Because I have you. I'm not just talking about your expertise on flying, though that did help. I don't remember much about what happened to be honest, but I do remember everything you've always told me about the safety of the plane. I guess all of those excuses to talk to you on the flights by claiming I was interested in your job were beneficial.

"The girl sitting next to me couldn't have been older than nineteen, and all I could think about in that moment was that she probably hasn't even met her Kurt yet. She hadn't met the person who would make her really feel alive for the first time in her life. The man or woman who would teach her to be fearless was still out there somewhere. I made sure she did everything possible to help prepare herself for what was happening. I don't know how I even managed to stay calm enough to think of everything, but I did. The last thing I remember is telling her not to let go of my hand, and if she did that, I would get her out of there alive.

"That wasn't as important to me, though. The safety procedures, I mean. While they were helpful, they weren't my most prominent thoughts. I was thinking about you. I knew what was happening, and I told myself I had to do whatever it took to survive because I wanted to get back to you. I needed to see you again. I needed to spend my entire life with you and have our forever."

"Our forever?" Kurt smiled, and for the first time all day, it wasn't forced. He rested his head on Blaine's shoulder and felt Blaine's head rest on top of his. "I can't wait for that, you know."

"You still want to marry me? Even after seeing how wonderful life was without another man in the house?"

"That wasn't a life worth living. The only advantage was my clean bathroom and stocked refrigerator," Kurt joked. "I guess I saved a little money on condoms, though, since I didn't have your sex-crazed self in my apartment every night. You're quite demanding, you know."

Kurt and Blaine both jumped when they heard a choked yelp coming from the corner of the room. They had both forgot Burt was sitting in the corner, and based on his red face, wide eyes, and startled expression, he had been able to hear every word they had said.

"Dad! I-I forgot you were here." Kurt made to sit up, but Blaine pulled him back down. "Do you want to say hi to Blaine?"

"No, buddy, I'll…" Burt couldn't bring himself to look the two of them in the eyes when he rose to his feet. "I think I'm going to find a drink. Do either of you need anything?"

"I'm fine, but thank you," Blaine said politely, and Kurt just shook his head.

"I can't believe my dad heard me talking about our sex life," Kurt buried his face in Blaine's side.

"He has to know you have a sex life. How can he not? We're twenty-seven and I have a gorgeous boyfriend."

"That doesn't mean I want my dad knowing any of the details," Kurt groaned.

"I'm sure he'll do his best to forget you said anything." Blaine kissed Kurt's forehead and they fell into a peaceful silence. By the time Burt made it back to the room ten minutes later, both men were wrapped up in each other's arms, soft smiles on their faces, and fast asleep.

"Did you know that according to the 2003 Durex Global Sex Survey, the French are the people who have sex the most often in a year?" Kurt sat down on the edge of Blaine's bed and flipped through Eupedia's webpage.

It had been a couple of days since the plane crash, and during that time they had found out the extent of Blaine's injuries, which actually were fairly minor due to the circumstances. Kurt had refused to leave Blaine's side until Burt, with Blaine backing him up, had insisted Kurt go home to get some rest and take a shower. However, Kurt was with Blaine any minute he could be, and Burt was happy to help out in any way possible.

"Wow. I'm in the wrong country. I should move to Paris and take my super sexy boyfriend with me."

"You wouldn't survive in France, sweetie. English is the most common foreign language spoken according to this website, but you're too nice. You would want to talk to everyone and not everyone would be able to understand you."

"I could learn. You could teach me!" Blaine's face lit up and Kurt couldn't suppress a little giggle.

"Why don't we just focus on getting you completely healed first?" Kurt's focus drifted back to his phone.

"France has won the 4th most Summer Olympic medals in history. Only the Unites States, USSR, and the UK have won more."

Blaine's eyebrows rose, showing exactly how impressed he was. "You know, when I was little, I wanted to go to the Olympics one day. I never wanted to participate, but I always imagined myself watching gymnastics or swimming or ice skating or whatever. It didn't matter; I just wanted to be there. As I got older, I realized that wouldn't be the easiest thing to do, so I gave up on that dream."

"You can watch from the comfort of your own home with your boyfriend," Kurt suggested. "I love the Olympics."

"Hopefully by the time the Olympics come around again, you'll be my husband, or at least my fiancé."

"We'll see. You have to ask me first, and I might not even say yes. It just depends on how nice you are between now and then."

Blaine didn't pick up on Kurt's sarcasm. "Would you really say no?"

"No, silly." Kurt playfully ran his hands through Blaine's hair. "Oh my gosh. There are over forty thousand châteaux in France. We have to visit some of them when we go."

"Cha-what?"

"Châteaux. You know, castles, manors, palaces, places where those of royal importance usually stay."

"Oh, so your second family."

"I practically belong in a royal family, Blaine. I know more about England's history than the royal family themselves! These aren't all for royalty, though, and even the ones that do belong to a royal family most likely don't belong to the Royal Family."

"What makes one royal family superior to another?"

"Blaine. It's the Royal Family. Everyone knows who the king and queen of England are."

"Next fact," Blaine said quickly as if he were trying to change the subject. He poked Kurt in the side and flashed him a teasing smile.

"Oh, you'll like this next one. There are over 300 kinds of cheese made in France."

"Gouda's my favorite."

"Again with the movie references," Kurt shook his head at his ridiculously adorable boyfriend.

"I was alone before you, Kurt," Blaine drew out his words. "I didn't have anyone to entertain me. I had a two-on-one date with my couch and my TV. Ice cream out of the carton for dessert. Pizza delivered to my door for our entrée. Pop tart appetizers. It was grand."

"Okay, enough facts about France for now. You're starting to lose it."

"I'm just happy you're here."

"I'm happy I'm here, too." Kurt leaned in and pressed a chaste kiss to Blaine's lips.

"Um… am I interrupting something?" Burt walked in carrying a Burger King bag and a cup from Dairy Queen. "I brought what you asked for."

"Burt! My hero!" Blaine enthusiastically reached out for the food.

"Dad, why do you encourage this?" Kurt watched as Blaine tore into the back and pulled out a greasy chicken sandwich and overcooked onion rings. "Blaine, if you eat those, you aren't kissing me for the rest of the day."

Blaine looked torn for a split second before extending the bag to Burt. "I can't take any chances. He can be stubborn sometimes."

"It wouldn't kill you to go a day without kissing me, you know." Kurt looked at the two other men, disapprovingly.

"Hey! Who just initiated our last kiss?" Blaine pointed out. He took a big bite of his chicken sandwich, and Kurt sighed as he wiped away a bit of mayonnaise that was left behind in the corner of Blaine's mouth.

"Anyway, moving on. Does your dad know you're in the hospital yet?"

"I'm not sure. He probably thinks I'm in New York visiting my friends."

"Are you going to call him and let him now?"

Blaine shook his head. "No, not yet. I can't talk to him yet. I…. I don't think I'm going back to work. Not for him, I mean."

Kurt sat up a little straighter. "What do you mean? Where are you going to go?"

Burt sat down in his usual spot in the corner of the room, but his full attention was on Blaine. Blaine looked up at Kurt again and set his sandwich aside. "I did a lot of thinking on the ride here and during the few times you haven't been with me. I love my mom and dad, but I'm tired of living my life the way they want me to. This plane crash was sort of a wake-up call. I don't know how long I'll live or what will happen in my lifetime, but I know that I want to make the most of it. It's too late for me to go back to school-"

"It's never too late, Blaine."

Blaine sat his hand on top of Kurt's and gently rubbed it with his thumb. "Yes, it is. For me, it is. I can't teach kids how to read at an elementary school or about the world's most famous poets in a high school classroom, but I can start my own preschool."

"A preschool?" Kurt thought back to the times he'd seen Blaine around kids. He was incredible with Carla and something about the way Blaine handled Elizabeth made his heart melt.

"Yeah, I love kids, and that's something I can do on my own. I can start small and build up credibility, and maybe I'll be able to open up an actual school one day. I could hire a few people to help run a day care if needed." Blaine noticed Kurt's supportive smile and knew he'd done something right. "So, do you think it's a good idea?" He hesitantly asked.

"I think it's a wonderful idea, Blaine. You'll be a fantastic teacher."

"Can I talk to you about something else?"

"You can talk to me about anything." Kurt laid his head on Blaine's shoulder and looped their arms together.

"I think you should quit your job. I'm not telling you to, but I want you to be happy, Kurt. I want you to have every opportunity that you want, and you may not think so now, but you might regret giving up on music years from now. I've heard you sing and you have a gift, Kurt. You have a voice unlike anything I've ever heard and it's beautiful."

"I can't, Blaine," Kurt whispered. "It's too late. NYADA turned me down, and now my chance is gone. I'm twenty-seven. I can't go back to school."

"Who said you can't? You're only twenty-seven, Kurt. If you try hard enough, you could get a degree by the time you're thirty-one. You still have half of your life to share your gift. You could audition for parts on Broadway if you wanted to. It's where you belong. I know that, and deep down, I know that you know that, too."

"We… I mean, what happens if we get married one day?"

"There isn't an 'if' about that. We will get married one day unless you change your mind."

"Never."

"Okay, good. Now tell me what you meant. If we get married, what will happen?"

"Do you… I mean… I don't really know how to bring it up because I don't know how you feel about it. I know what I've always wanted, but if you don't want to, that's okay. I understand, but-"

"Kurt," Blaine chuckled. "I'm a little lost."

"D-do you eventually want kids?"

"Oh." That's what this was about.

Kurt noticed Blaine go silent and immediately regretted bringing the subject up. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked. You don't want kids. That's fine, really. We can just get a dog or a fish, or even a plant would work. Kids aren't-"

"Kurt," Blaine kissed him quickly, "do you honestly think I don't want kids? I love kids."

"What about with me? Is that something you would want? Would you want to adopt a baby with me?"

"I wouldn't adopt a baby with anyone else in the entire world."

"Then I can't do Broadway."

"Why not?"

"I want to be there for my son or daughter the way my mom was always there for me. If I do Broadway, I'll never be home. I'll never get to see either of you."

"Well, how would you feel about doing something like your choir teacher. What was his name again?"

"Mr. Schue," Kurt supplied.

"Right. You told me how much he inspired you, and how much he cared about every member of glee club. You could be that person for another group of kids, each one as special as you are."

"You want me to teach?" Kurt hadn't even considered teaching before, but the more Blaine talked about it, the more he liked the idea. He imagined being a theater teacher, working at the same school as Blaine, sneaking off to have lunch in their classrooms together, and going home with each other at the end of the day. He imagined taking their son or daughter to school and watching them grow up. They would both have the summer off, so they could spend time together as a family. He had to admit, being a teacher was suddenly growing on him.

"You would be an excellent teacher, Kurt."

"So would you. You said it yourself! We could be done with school in four years if we try hard enough."

"That's what I would have wanted at one time, but now I like the idea of being there for kids from the beginning. I want my preschool to be a place where parents aren't afraid of taking their children. I want to be something for those kids who don't get the time and attention they should at home."

"So, you're not just giving up on school because you think it's too late?"

"No, I want to do this. I've never been more excited about my job before."

"So, when are you telling your dad you're quitting?"

Blaine took a deep breath. That wasn't something he was particularly looking forward to. "I'm not sure. I figured I could call him in a couple days and let him know I'm here. He won't be happy that I lied and went to Ohio to see you instead of New York to see my other friends, so I'd rather feel a little stronger before setting myself up for a fight."

"I wish he could see how happy you are."

"Me too. Maybe once I leave and he sees that I'm not going anywhere, he'll ease up a little bit."

"I hope so." Kurt leaned over to kiss Blaine's cheek. "You're all scratchy," he grumbled.

"You're not much better yourself."

"That's not true!" He scoffed. "You better eat your ice cream before it melts." Kurt motioned towards the Dairy Queen cup sitting on the table next to them.

"Oh! I forgot about it!" Blaine picked the cup up and took a gigantic bite of ice cream."Thanks again, Mr. Hummel."

"It's dad," Burt corrected with a grin.

Blaine looked from Burt to Kurt, who just smiled and leaned closer into his side."I actually have to leave for a few hours. I promised Rachel we would go out to lunch, and she won't let me get out of it." Kurt slid off of the bed. "Is that okay?"

"What? Yeah, of course! Go hang out with your friends and have fun. I'm not going anywhere."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course, baby. I'll be fine. I have my fast food and your dad. I couldn't be better."

"I'll make sure to take good care of him while you're gone," Burt assured him. Kurt looked to the side to see Burt walking to the bed.

"Okay, well, I'll see you tonight." Kurt leaned in to give Blaine a quick kiss. "I love you. Goodbye."

"I love you, too. Goodbye, sweetie."

Kurt began to leave, but paused when he reached the door. He slowly turned around and took one last look at the man he was in love with. Blaine was one of two survivors. Yes mom, he thought, I do believe in miracles.

"Okay, I found a necklace that is pretty and very much suits my personality. It's a little on the pricy side but still very much in our acceptable price range. Now, I've taken a picture so that you can give Finn a very detailed description of it next time you talk to him." Rachel kept babbling as she walked around the glass counter in the jewelry store, carefully maneuvering Elizabeth's stroller around the tight corners. Kurt had agreed to go with her to the mall (somehow she had managed to convince him to have their little lunch date in the food court) to look at potential anniversary gifts for Finn to purchase. When she finally approached Kurt, she grew silent and followed his gaze through the crystal-clean glass guarding the jewelry inside.

"What are you-"

"There." Kurt murmured, pointing to a piece of jewelry inside and not taking his eyes away.

"I didn't know you guys-"

"We aren't."

"Are you going to-"

"I don't know."

"You should probably talk to-"

"We have."

"Do you want to?"

"Yes," Kurt exhaled.

"Well, it's beautiful."

"It's perfect," Kurt emphasized. He continued looking into the counter. There was a variety of jewelry inside—necklaces, bracelets, earrings, pins, rings—but one piece stood out to him. It was a shiny silver ring. The edges lined with gold, an infinity symbol was etched onto the surface, and the word "forever" was engraved on the inside. A small diamond was placed in the center of the symbol and glistened as the bright lights reflected off of it.

Before he could spend too much time convincing himself to walk away, Kurt flagged down a member of the staff and asked to see the ring. He ran his fingers along the cool metal and slid it on his finger. He knew he and Blaine had roughly the same sized fingers. It slid on with great ease and Kurt couldn't help the smile that pulled on his lips. He could picture Blaine's hand sliding into his own like it had so many times before, only this time Kurt would feel the ring against his own finger. He would feel the proof that Blaine was his and no one else's. Nothing in his life had ever felt as right as being with Blaine, so he did something that terrified him as much as it thrilled him. He pulled out his debit card and purchased the ring.

"Do you think it's too early to propose to someone if you've only been dating them for six months?" Blaine blurted out. He held a small ring in between his fingers. It was a ring he'd found in L.A. a month earlier, and he knew it was perfect for Kurt. He'd purchased it and carried it around in his pocket ever since. The doctor had returned it to him a few days earlier when a nurse found it in the pants he was wearing the day of the wreck.

Burt sat his newspaper down and leaned forward in his chair (that chair might as well have his name on it by now). "Depends on the couple." He cocked his head to the side and studied Blaine. "Why do you ask?"

"No reason." Blaine took a sip of his water and gently set the cup back down on the table beside him. He tugged at the thin cotton sheet covering his legs and hesitantly looked towards Burt.

"Do you want to marry my son?" Burt stood up and made his way towards the bed in the center of the room.

"I… I love him, sir."

"I told you to call me dad. You know I already think of you as a son." When Blaine didn't say anything, Burt continued. "You didn't answer my question. Do you want to propose to Kurt?"

Blaine looked up with one of the most sincere expressions Burt had ever seen. "We've talked about marriage and our future together multiple times. I know it may seem crazy, but I love Kurt with all my heart, and I know this is the right thing. I know I want to marry him and be his husband. I want to spend the rest of my life with him, but I can't do that unless I know you're okay with it. I want your permission to ask him to marry me before I propose."

"You don't need my permission, Blaine. You guys are old enough to do what you want."

"But I want it," Blaine retorted. "I want to do things the right way this time."

"This time?" Burt prodded.

Blaine looked away, afraid he might screw things up with Burt if he found out the truth, but he knew he had to continue. He took a deep breath and began speaking. "I don't know how much Kurt has told you about me, but I doubt he's told you that I was married before." Blaine took Burt's shocked face as confirmation. "I don't want you to think any different of me because of it. I was eighteen and stupid. I wasn't in love like I thought I was, and I was rebellious. I regret it every single day, especially when I look at Kurt.

"Kurt is only the second boyfriend I've ever had, but he's everything I've ever wanted. He's intelligent. He's compassionate. He's determined. He has a wonderful outlook on life. He cares about everyone. He makes me laugh and smile and feel things I never thought I would ever feel. Kurt is the man who taught me what love is. I hate that the first time I had sex wasn't with him, but the first time I made love was with him. I'm sorry if that is awkward for you to think about, but I just want you to know that I'm not proud of what happened in my past, but it's a part of what made me who I am today. It's the reason I know that if Kurt and I were to get married today, we would be getting married for all of the right reasons.

"I've kept myself so guarded these past nine years. I was afraid to let anyone in, and I was afraid to open my heart up for someone to break. I didn't know what love really meant, and I was scared that I would never really know if I was in love with someone. But then… then Kurt showed up. I didn't go out looking for him, and I was at a time in my life when I was about to give up on love. I had a job that paid really well and a few close friends I could count on for anything. I wasn't looking for a boyfriend or even just a casual date. But the second I saw Kurt on that plane, something inside of me told me that I had to get to know that man better. So I did whatever I had to, and taking that flight when I met him was the best decision I've ever made.

"I don't want to think about what would have happened or where I would be right now if I hadn't met him. I certainly wouldn't be here in this hospital talking to a man who has treated me more like a son than my own father. I wouldn't be asking for permission to marry the most wonderful man I've ever met." Blaine took another deep breath.

"I'm sorry if I'm rambling, but I just want you to know how I feel. I need you to understand how much Kurt means to me and I will do everything in my power to make him happier than he's ever been. I'll treat him like a price. I'll give him everything he deserves and more. I'll love him and take care of him for the rest of my life. So please, please don't think my failed marriage will even be a fraction of what my marriage with Kurt would be. I love Kurt more than I've ever loved anyone in my life, so this is me asking you for permission to marry your son."

Blaine didn't have time to react before Burt's arms were wrapped around him and the two men were hugging. It was an awkward hug, but something about it warmed Blaine's heart.

"I would be honored to have you marry my son. Of course you can propose to him." Burt sat back down in his chair and picked his newspaper up again. "You better get some rest. Something tells me you have something you need to do as soon as you're better."

Blaine smiled and placed the ring aside. He slid down in the bed and decided to take a nap until Kurt returned later that night.

Kurt opened the ring box and studied it some more. It really was the perfect ring for Blaine, and now he had to find the perfect time to ask the question that would undoubtedly change both of their lives.

Elizabeth started getting fussy, so Kurt unbuckled her from the stroller and lifted her onto his lap. She grabbed at the ring—she was entranced by anything shiny—but he moved it aside before she could place her chubby hand on it. "Not right now, Lizzie. That's for Uncle Blaine."

Rachel arrived at the table with a tray of cafeteria food—a salad for herself, a chicken sandwich for Kurt, and apple sauce and soft carrots for Elizabeth. "Will you put that thing away?" She looked from Kurt to the ring. "You can stress about what romantic gesture you're going to perform when you propose later. Right now you're supposed to have a stress-free day with your sister and the niece you claim to love so much."

"Sorry," he closed the ring box and slipped it into his bag. "I'm just excited. I want to marry him, Rachel. I really do."

"Well, that's good considering you just bought an engagement ring." She picked Elizabeth's food off of the table and placed it on the stroller's tray as Kurt strapped Elizabeth back in.

"So," Kurt began. He placed his sandwich on the table in front of him and took a sip of his coke. "Blaine is quitting his job. Well, I guess he will. I don't know how everything will play out because he's a co-owner, but he's not going back to L.A., and he's not flying back and forth either."

Rachel looked up, intrigued. "Really? And what does he plan to do? You know, I don't think you should marry and unstable man, Kurt. Blaine is great, he really is, but you need to-"

"Rachel, he has plans. Even if he didn't, I would still support him. That's what I'm supposed to do. I'm supposed to be there for him when he needs me to be."

"You're also supposed to make sure he doesn't make a huge mistake." Rachel began feeding Elizabeth, pausing every so often to take a bite of her salad.

"You think quitting his job is a mistake."

Rachel shrugged. "I don't know why Blaine doesn't like his job, but job stability is crucial. If he has a steady job that pays well, I don't see the point in leaving."

"What if he's unhappy? Isn't his happiness more important than money?" Kurt didn't want Rachel to be right, especially not when Blaine was so confident and determined to finally make something of his life.

"He still needs a decent job, Kurt. You and I both know that your salary can't support both of you for very long." Kurt looked away and drew silent. "What is going on, Kurt? What aren't you telling me?"

"He thinks I should quit my job, too."

"What?" Rachel exclaimed. "Kurt, you can't do that!"

"And why not? We both know exactly why I took this job. It's not what I want. It's never been what I want, but I was so unhappy and so scared to admit it to myself. I convinced myself that I was happy with my life, but I don't think I am. I don't want to fly to and from L.A. until I'm old and grey." Kurt sat up a little straighter. "Rachel, I sang for him. I've sung for Blaine multiple times. In Ohio over Thanksgiving, I sang for the first time in years and it felt incredible. I finally felt like I belonged again. Up on that stage… that's where I'm supposed to be, and I know that now. Blaine helped me see that."

"So you want to perform?"

"I don't know. That's what he suggested. He told me I should audition as many times as I needed to before I got a part on Broadway, but I don't know if I can do that. He wants kids, Rachel. He wants to adopt a baby with me. That is something I always thought I would have to do alone, but now that he's here with me, I just want to be there for that child. I want to raise him or her as you're raising Elizabeth. I don't want to be gone all day, every day."

Rachel reached across the table and grabbed his hand. "Kurt, you know I'll support you no matter what, but maybe Blaine is right. Maybe you do need this. NYADA was just one school. One school that didn't want you. You have a gift, and I don't think you should throw that away because you want to start a family."

"So you're saying my career is more important than my family?"

"No, what I'm saying is that you and Blaine have the rest of your lives to adopt. Even if you were to get married tomorrow, adopting a baby will take a long time. You have time to do what you want and do what will make you happy. Go after your dreams before you start a family, Kurt." She looked towards Elizabeth and gently ran her had across her daughter's pale cheek. "I love Elizabeth more than anything in this world, but I had her before I got the chance to make something of myself. I settled down with Finn in Ohio right after we got out of school, and I didn't make it to New York, at least not for good like you did. Go out and do what I wasn't able to do."

"You didn't give up on your dreams, Rachel. You just took a break."

"I took a break at the wrong time. I was getting audition after audition. Small parts were being offered to me. People in the business finally began to know who I was, but I left. I don't regret settling down with Finn, but sometimes I wish I would have stayed in New York."

"I don't know what to do," Kurt said quietly. He fumbled with his thumbs and abandoned his chicken sandwich. "I want to marry Blaine. That's the only thing I'm sure of."

"Okay, so marry him. Marrying Blaine doesn't mean you have to give up on your dreams or leave New York. It just means you have someone to support you through the rough times and celebrate with when you finally land the part of your dreams."

"He actually suggested I become a theater teacher. It sounded good at the time, but the more I think about it, the more I start to doubt if I'd even be happy doing that. He's going to be a preschool teacher, you know. He's wonderful with kids. You've seen the way he interacts with Elizabeth, and his friend has a daughter who adores him."

"Maybe by the time Elizabeth is ready for preschool Finn and I will be able to make it back to New York."

Kurt laughed. "Maybe. I have a feeling Blaine is going to spoil her so much she'll think she's better than the other kids."

"She will be, though. She has you and him for uncles."

"That's true," Kurt chuckled.

"So do you feel a little better now?"

"I guess. Do you really think we're doing the right thing by quitting our jobs?"

"I think it's risky, and personally I think you're crazy, but if it's what you want, you should do it."

He stood up from the table and bent down to give Rachel a hug. "Thank you, Rach."

"Are you ready to go? I thought we could hit a couple more stores before taking Elizabeth to see her Uncle Blaine. She misses him." Rachel tickled her stomach and Elizabeth giggled uncontrollably.

"Sounds perfect."

A few days later, Blaine braced himself for what he believed would be much more terrifying than the plane crash itself—his father. It wasn't that he didn't get along with his dad, or that his dad was a horrible person, but he didn't understand Blaine. That much was clear when he sent him across the entire country for simply taking his boyfriend out for Valentine's Day.

With Kurt by his side, Blaine closed his eyes and took a deep breath before squeezing Kurt's hand and saying, "come in."

The door cracked open a bit and for the first time, Kurt saw the man responsible for raising Blaine. It would only take an instant for one to realize where Blaine got his looks. The curly hair on top of the older man's head wasn't as thick—probably due to age—or dark, but there was definitely a resemblance to the mop on top of Blaine's head. His dad's eyes were the same dark honey color as Blaine's and his eyebrows even showed some resemblance. Everything about the man standing before him was a reminder of the slightly shorter, more fragile man lying next to him in the hospital bed.

"Blaine," the man, Blaine's father, said. He barely made his way into the room, but Kurt didn't miss the way he avoided eye contact.

"Dad." Blaine opened his eyes and squeezed Kurt's hand, trying to get rid of some of his nerves.

"What the hell were you thinking?" Okay, his dad definitely wasn't pleased to be there if his harsh tone and loud voice had anything to say about it. His voice was only laced with more and more vigor as he spoke. "You were supposed to go to New York. Do you realize that if you did what you had planned, you would be safe in a New York apartment with friends right now instead of in a hospital bed with some guy?"

"Don't be such an idiot. I wasn't going to New York for my friends! I was going to see Kurt!" Blaine shouted, and immediately leaned into Kurt's embrace. He hadn't decided how or when he would tell his dad the real reason he'd taken off from work, but it definitely wasn't going to be in the middle of a fight or so soon.

"I sent you away from New York for a reason, Blaine! Now, as soon as you're out of here tomorrow, you will fly back to L.A. and catch up on the work you've missed, do you understand me?"

One glace at Kurt's comforting smile gave Blaine all the courage it took him to stand up to his dad. "I'm not going. I'm staying here, and you can't do anything about it."

"Blaine, you have a job to do, and you will do it." His dad made his way further into the room, but still kept his distance.

"Charles!" Blaine had only used his father's first name a few times in his life, but each time, it had the same impact—his dad's eyes widened and his lips were closed tightly. It was enough to allow him to speak without being interrupted. "I'm quitting. I'm tired of being your little errand boy. I'm tired of going to meeting after meeting, doing something I hate, being away from someone I love just so that you don't have to hire someone else to do the job. I'm supposed to be your partner, dad. I own half of that company, and I'm not going to sit in an office all day anymore. I'm not going to allow you to treat me like one of your minimum-wage employees who will cater to your every need just so that they're guaranteed job stability. That's not how this works, so I'm done. I'm not giving up my half of the company, but I'm not coming to work for you either. I'm going to work with you."

"Blaine, you're being-"

"I'll have my office cleared out within the next couple of days. You can find someone else to cover that position. I'll be at any of the mandatory legal meetings, but other than that, I'm through. I'm finally going to do something I want to do with my life, and you'll have to learn to get by without using me as your personal assistant."

"This is because of him, isn't it?" He gestured towards Kurt, his eyebrows creased with anger. "Blaine, you can't be a part of his family and be with him. You know we had a deal. You would-"

"I would put my happiness on hold so that your friends wouldn't frown upon you because your son turned out to be gay? Well, you know what, Dad? Maybe I was okay with that at one point because Elliott screwed me up so much I didn't want anybody, but things aren't that way anymore. I want to be happy, and Kurt makes me happy."

"Blaine, you're being selfish."

"No, Dad. You are the one who is being selfish. Your friends would have to learn to accept who I am. I'm you son, Dad. You should accept who I am."

"Blaine, there is too much at risk. I can't have that drama and scandal-"

Blaine's laugh interrupted his dad, and Kurt was so shocked by Blaine's sudden change of demeanor that he almost laughed himself. "Scandal? Dad, this isn't a scandal. It's love, and if you can't see that, then I'm sorry."

"It's me or him, Blaine. Your family or some guy you barely know."

"Him," Blaine said with confidence, not even batting an eye or taking another breath before making his decision. "It will always be him."

At that point, Kurt really did laugh. His laughter was filled with joy, love, and about a thousand other emotions he couldn't put into words. For the first time since Blaine's dad walked into the room, Kurt spoke. "You can leave now. I want to kiss my boyfriend, and I'd hate to subject you to watching such a horrible act of compassion."

Charles left without another word, and Kurt leaned down to kiss Blaine one more time.

A little over a week after Blaine was checked into the hospital, he was set to be released. Kurt made sure to do everything possible at home before the day arrived, but nothing seemed to settle his nerves.

"Hey," Blaine grabbed onto Kurt's arm from his where he was seated in a wheelchair. They were waiting near the front desk while Burt checked him out and the doctor rambled off a few last minute precautions. "You've done everything you could to make sure I'm comfortable here, and going home with you won't be any different. I'll be okay, sweetheart. I love you."

"I love you too. And I know what you said is true, I'm just worried. I mean, what if something happens and it takes too long for us to get back to the hospital."

"You're forgetting that there are hospitals closer to Lima than Columbus. Nothing is going to happen, though. The doctor wouldn't release me if he wasn't positive I would be fine."

Kurt took a deep breath and planted a kiss to Blaine's cheek. "I'm glad you're coming home with me, you know. I've missed being able to cuddle in our bed."

"We've done that here."

"It's not the same. I know no one has said anything, but this is still Ohio. I still feel like they're judging us every time we kiss or you hold my hand or we say 'I love you.' At home, we don't have to worry about that."

"Well," Blaine craned his neck up to reach Kurt's lips, "they'll just have to get over that, won't they?"

Kurt pulled away from the kiss when his dad reached his side. "Well, your dad said he didn't want any part of this situation, so the nurse won't contact him to give an update on your progress." Burt gave Blaine's shoulder a tight squeeze. He knew how hard it had been for Blaine to tell his dad about his future career plans the previous day, and the only thing Burt wanted to do was make sure Blaine knew he'd always be there for him. "Maybe your dad will come around."

"Yeah, maybe." Blaine looked away. He knew his dad well enough to know that he'd made his decision, and nothing Blaine could do would change his mind. He didn't want to be a part of Blaine's life anymore. Blaine would be lying if he said it didn't hurt a little, but one look into Kurt's eyes and it was all worth it. He may not have is mom and dad anymore, but he had Kurt. Kurt's family felt like his own, and he made a pact with himself to focus on their future rather than dwell on the past. At least with his dad out of the way he felt free to finally build a relationship with Cooper again. "At least I'm still a co-owner of the company, even if it's only because he can't legally take it away from me. He just-"

"Let's go home," Kurt interrupted. "You don't need to worry about your dad anymore. I hear Carole made all of your favorite foods for dinner."

Blaine nodded and silently allowed Kurt to wheel him to the car. His thoughts were elsewhere until Kurt slid into the backseat and nuzzled into his side. Then, the only thing on his mind was the man who had stolen his heart.

"Blaine, stop. I'm trying to make you a nice dinner." Kurt strategically maneuvered away from Blaine's nuzzling face as he continued chopping an onion.

"You know I eat anything. You don't have to make a fancy meal for me."

"I'm not making anything fancy, but you need to eat something other than hospital food and takeout. Plus, I owe Carole for everything she's done to help make this house Blaine-safe."

"You make me feel like I'm a baby," Blaine pouted.

"Oh, sweetie, you act like it sometimes." Kurt yelped and jumped to the side when he felt Blaine's arm snaking around his waist. "Blaine, go sit at the table. Now."

"What if I don't?"

"The floor is lava. You'll burn and die," Kurt replied flatly.

Blaine's mouth fell open in disbelief. "Kurt, I'm twenty-seven, not three. I may be drugged up on pain killers, but I'm not that gullible."

Kurt set the knife down and slid the onions in a pan to sauté. "Please do as I say. I don't want you go get hurt. You just got out of the hospital four hours ago, okay? Now, if you go along with the lava theory and do as I say, I promise we can have fun later."

"How much fun?" Blaine raised an eyebrow and Kurt finally let his body fall into the shorter man's.

"I love you, do you know that?"

Blaine shrugged. "It's been mentioned a time or two."

Kurt kissed him quickly and turned out of his arms. "Go sit."

A few minutes passed without any trouble from Blaine. Kurt managed to cut up the rest of the vegetables and began marinating the chicken. However, the dessert had him too preoccupied to hear the gears turning inside of Blaine's head or notice the wooden dining chairs sliding across the hard wood floor; at least not until Kurt noticed Blaine moving out of the corner of his eye and turned to see him standing on one of the chairs.

"Blaine!" he scolded. "What are you doing?"

"You said the floor was lava. I found a loop hole." Blaine slid a chair around and climbed from one to the other, making his way closer to Kurt.

"You're going to hurt yourself! Are you not aware of the cast on your leg?"

"It doesn't hurt," Blaine grinned.

"Of course it doesn't right now. You've been resting and taking care of it. Your medicine isn't going to help if you make things worse. Get down."

"But the lava…" Blaine trailed off and fearfully looked around the kitchen floor.

"Blaine Anderson, listen to me." Kurt reached out for his arm and gently eased Blaine onto the floor.

"I just wanted a kiss," Blaine mumbled as he made his way towards the living room. Kurt didn't miss the small smile playing on his lips. Maybe a few kisses before dinner wouldn't be such a bad idea. With that thought, he stuck the chicken in the oven and joined Blaine in the living room.

Although Blaine was getting stronger and healthier with every passing minute, his stamina still hadn't caught up to what it was before the accident which is why Kurt and Blaine found themselves cuddling beneath the covers in Kurt's bed just a few hours after dinner. Kurt had his iPod in his hands as Blaine scrolled through the songs, making a playlist of what he considered the melodies of their life.

"Oh, that's a good one!" Blaine angled the phone towards him a little bit more causing Kurt to roll his eyes and bury his face in Blaine's neck.

"These are all love songs, Blaine."

"We're in love. They're fitting. At least I'm not picking any Adele songs. I don't foresee a breakup in our future."

"I've always believed that anyone could write a decent song about love or lack thereof. Love is a strong emotion. It has the power to take over us and control our every thought. Extracting that emotion and pouring it into music, scrawling lyrics onto paper and notes onto a staff, that comes easy when love is the motivation. Love is like a terminal illness. Once it becomes a part of your life, it's nearly impossible to get rid of, and it just grows and grows and grows until it eventually owns you."

"You're comparing love to a terminal illness? Is it really that bad?"

"Maybe that's not the best analogy, but it works. The point is that finding the place inside of you to pull emotions from in order to write a love song comes easy, at least it always has for me. Do you know what I'd like to see? I'd like to see someone write a song about the structure of a tree."

"There was a tree, a pretty tree, the prettiest tree, that you ever did see," Blaine sang

"Shut up." Kurt playfully punched Blaine.

"The tree in a hole, and the hole in the ground, and the green grass grows all around, all around, and the green grass grows all around."

"Blaine! You know what I mean. Apart from silly kids' songs about trees and bear hunts and stars, how often do you hear a song about something that is in no way related to love? What kind of emotion does it require to write a hit song about a car wash?"

"Are we talking Rose Royce or Christina Aguilera here?" Blaine inquired.

"Rose Royce of course."

"Ah. Of course," Blaine mumbled as if it was an answer he was supposed to know.

"You think this entire conversation is pointless, don't you?"

"Of course not. I mean, it's a little silly since the entire motivation behind what you're saying is because I chose a love song to put into a playlist describing our lives as a couple. I mean, correct me if I'm wrong, but I love you and you love me."

"No correcting necessary."

"Good." Blaine tilted his head and moved in to kiss Kurt, allowing his arm to snake its way around the other man's waist.

"Love songs aren't always bad," Kurt decided.

"No?" Blaine propped himself up, but immediately fell back onto the bed. "Fuck."

Kurt pulled away and examined the expression on Blaine's face. "What's wrong? What happened?"

"Nothing. M-my side just hurts. It's fine; I just can't twist that far."

"Are you sure you're okay?" Kurt gently placed his hand near Blaine's waist, careful to avoid the purple and yellow bruises he could see on Blaine's side.

"I'm fine. Just frustrated." Blaine turned away and started staring at the ceiling. "Why did I insist on surprising you in Ohio? If I would have just stuck with our plans, we would have been able to spend time in New York together. You wouldn't have been at the hospital with me for a week straight. You wouldn't have to take care of a cripple and I would be able to kiss you without wincing."

"Hey," Kurt placed a hand under Blaine's chin and turned his head to the side, "don't say that. There is nowhere else in the entire world that I would rather be."

"I was terrified, Kurt." A tear trailed down Blaine's face and Kurt felt it hit his bare shoulder. "I know I've acted like it wasn't scary, but it was. All I could think about was you. As soon as I realized what was happening, I was scared I would never see you again. I don't want to lose you, Kurt. Never."

"You aren't going to, sweetie." Kurt brushed away Blaine's tears before wiping his own. "I'm never going anywhere and neither are you." He intertwined their fingers and rested them between their chests near their hearts. "We're in this forever, right?"

Blaine nodded and a small smile appeared on his face. "Forever."

"This accident and this recovery, it will take a little bit of time to move on from, but we'll get there. No matter how fast or slow the process, I'm never leaving your side. We'll get through it together. All I care about is that you are alive and in my arms."

This time it was Blaine's turn to nuzzle into Kurt's chest. He hummed a few lines of the song playing from Kurt's iPod before falling asleep.