Blaine was going to have to apologize to Kurt later if he bruised his hand by how tightly he was gripping it. No amount of anti-anxiety medication seemed to be able to help how terrified he was of the surgery, and now was the time he needed it. Beside the bed, Kurt was speaking slowly and softly to him, telling him he'd be alright and that he would see him right after. The doctors wanted to put him under but he had panicked and now Kurt was trying to soothe him so they could attempt it again in a few minutes.

"It'll be fine Blaine... it's okay. You heard the doctor... it's not a hard surgery or a long one. You'll be in and out in no time."

Blaine nibbled along his lower lip. It was already broken from nibbling it on the way to the hospital, so he was tasting his own blood. Regardless, he kept on chewing on it despite Kurt's earlier efforts to coax him to stop.

"I just... I..."

"You don't want to give up control."

Blaine snapped his head over to look at Kurt, so somber and wise. How did he know?

"I'll be right here. I won't let anything happen to you."

Blaine released an exasperated sigh. His hands were clenched around Kurt's, holding on for dear life. He didn't want to let go, didn't want to submit to being put under....

But if he didn't he ran the really real risk of not being able to see out of his eye forever.

Slowly, very slowly, he released Kurt's hands and laid back in his bed. Kurt gently brushed his fingers against Blaine's cheek. "It'll be fine sweetheart."

He envisioned Kurt doing that to a son or daughter in the future. How beautiful it would be to watch... with both eyes.

"Alright. They can come back in."

Kurt smiled softly, and before going to the door, he leaned down to press a kiss to Blaine's cheek and whispered, "I can't wait to see both of your beautiful eyes again."

Blaine forced a weak smile. He inwardly chanted that he could hold himself together for this.

He had to.

When he came to he felt dizzy, and so groggy. Like he was drunk almost. He could see someone familiar looking at him. Did he know this boy in front of him?

"You're so... fucking hot." He murmured, eliciting a chuckle from the boy. What a sweet sound.

He tried to sit up, but dizziness overtook him and he fell back on the bed. The boy put his hands on him gently and held him down, but not forcefully, just carefully.

"We should totally fuck...." Blaine uttered, staring at him.

"Blaine... sweetie... the surgery went fine, but you need to stay in the hospital overnight for observation - so it's not going to happen."

"Wait..." Blaine's head was completely foggy, and when he tried to think of where he knew this guy from, he couldn't access the memories, "... You know my name?"

Another set of chuckles and the boy seemed to be shaking his head in disbelief. "Yes... of course I do."

"How?"

The boy arched an eyebrow curiously, and Blaine again tried to think back to how he knew him, but everything was cloudy in his head.

"Blaine... I'm your boyfriend... Kurt."

"Really?!" Blaine's eyes went wide, and then a shock of pain from one of his eyes struck him and he winced. Reaching up he felt a bandage covering that eye. He didn't remember getting hurt in the eye... why did he have a bandage there? Why did it hurt?

"They told me you might be a little foggy headed afterwards... I just didn't realize how much... Blaine! Don't touch that!" The boy, Kurt, grabbed his hand and pulled it away from his bandaged eye.

"Are you REALLY my boyfriend?" Blaine asked, looking at the totally hot piece of man in front of him disbelievingly.

Kurt chuckled and nodded, "Yes sweetheart."

"Fuck....." Blaine stared at the now blushing boy in bewilderment. He wished he could remember that. "How'd I get you?"

The boy smirked, "Lots of work."

"I'll bet...." The boy was just damned gorgeous. No two ways about it. Blaine would have had to do a lot of wooing to get someone like him. "I should totally ask you to marry me."

Kurt went bright red at that, even his ears turned red, and let out a little chuckle. "You need to rest sweetheart... let the medicine wear off."

"Marry me."

This time he was met with a roll of the eyes.

"Just rest Blaine."

"Why won't you marry me?"

"Because you're under the influence of drugs right now and even if you weren't, we're in high school and Ohio doesn't allow gay marriage."

"It doesn't? That's stupid!" Blaine tried to reach over to touch the boy, but his spacial perception was off and his hand didn't reach as far as he thought it would. The boy, however, grabbed the reaching hand and held it in his own. He was so soft and warm.

"We should get a puppy. One that's soft like you."

Another chuckle, another disbelieving shake of the head. "Oh Blaine... you're lucky I'm not taping this...."

"How come?"

Kurt smirked. "Because you're absolutely adorable right now."

"I am?"

"Completely."

"Oh.... so we should get a puppy."

Kurt squeezed his hand gently, "Just rest Blaine."

"Then we can get a puppy?"

"My stepmom has four boys and husband living under her roof right now. She won't want a puppy on top of things."

"Wow... four boys.... who are the rest?"

"My step-brother Finn and our friend Sam... you don't remember them?"

Blaine tried, but he couldn't think of anything, and eventually his mind drifted again.

"So... you're really my boyfriend?"

When Blaine awoke again, his head was clear and it was dark. A nurse was checking his vitals beside him and gave him a kind smile when she saw he was awake.

"Hey there.... your boyfriend stayed as long as the hospital visiting hours would let him and asked me to let you know he loves you and will be back to see you tomorrow first thing."

Blaine groaned, feeling nauseous. Too many drugs in his system probably. His head was sore too, though it was focused around his bad eye which felt a little swollen under the bandaging. "How did the surgery go?"

"Everything was perfect. You can go tomorrow. All your vital signs and responses have been fabulous."

"Thank goodness... I didn't know that stuff would conk me out for so long though...."

She chuckled and shook her head, "Oh... you were awake earlier, but you weren't exactly yourself."

Blaine furrowed his brow, trying to recall, but all he got was flashes of Kurt holding his hand and laughing. "Oh god... was I like one of those youtube videos...?"

She chuckled a little and nodded as she moved to write in the data on the clipboard at the base of the bed. "Oh yes. Your boyfriend was quite amused. And no... you still aren't getting a puppy if you ask again."

Blaine groaned and winced his eye shut. This is exactly why he didn't want to go under. He lost all inhibition and made an ass out of himself. He didn't even remember what he said or did. No doubt they would now have a lot of ammunition against him which they would pull out at the most potentially embarrassing moment.

Stupid fucking Sebastian and his stupid fucking rock salt slurpee.

After awhile, Blaine was able to fall asleep again, replaying out worst case scenarios of what he could have said in his mind and trying to think of ways to counter them if they were brought up.

When he awoke again, Kurt was dozing in a chair beside him, not unlike when Blaine was brought in before winter break. The clock read eleven a.m. and Blaine wondered how he could have slept for so long. On the plus side, his head didn't hurt so badly and he didn't feel nauseated anymore - though his desire to take a piss was huge.

He slipped out of the bed and to the adjoining bathroom, happily relieving himself for what felt like forever. When he flushed and went back to the room, he was greeted with a sleepy smile from Kurt.

"My dad is talking to the doctor and it looks like we'll be able to take you home soon as he has a chance to look you over."

Kurt looked exhausted, and Blaine knew that Kurt had intended to have a sleepover with Rachel and Mercedes last night, so he wondered how much they actually slept and how long they probably gossiped for. With those three together, they might not have slept at all.

Kurt had brought Blaine a fresh set of clothing, and really fresh at that - just purchased this morning when Kurt had done some of his 'stress relief shopping' while waiting for visiting hours to begin. With Kurt's assistance, Blaine got dressed. His taped up eye very carefully avoided by the neck of the red polo shirt Kurt had bought for him, and even though he didn't really need the help with his pants, he let Kurt help pull them up, pulling Kurt himself into a gentle kiss when he had them buttoned up top.

"Mmm..." Kurt hummed softly as they pulled apart. "I'm glad you're feeling more yourself."

Blaine pressed his dry, now chewed up lips together and arched a brow up at Kurt, the words of the nurse from last night cycling through his head. Had he been out of character before?

"You were very... out of it yesterday when you woke up." Kurt admitted, a bit of red tinting his cheeks.

"How...?"

"You don't remember?"

Blaine shook his head. Try as he might, he couldn't remember.

"Ah. Well. Probably for the best." Kurt took Blaine's hand in his own and the pair sat on the edge of the bed to await the doctor's final check up.

"I didn't say anything mean did I?"

"No. Nothing like that."

"Was I being a jerk?"

"Definitely not."

"Why won't you tell me then?"

Kurt looked at Blaine thoughtfully, and with a hint of amusement in his eyes, "You were just.... very sweet. Like I'd imagine you to be if you were a little boy."

"Oh god..." Blaine moaned and looked away. He probably was asking for treats and toys and wanted to play....

"It's okay... it was just me, and briefly the nurse too. I won't tell anyone about your secret cutie-pie self."

Another groan fell from Blaine's lips and Kurt chuckled beside him, arms wrapping around his shoulders to pull him into a hug, "If it's any consolation, I already knew you were secretly a sweetie."

"Oh really?"

Kurt kissed the top of his head, "Definitely."

He was happy to be back in his room at the Hudson-Hummels, but really couldn't wait until he could go back to school too. He was bored at home, and the days were terribly quiet and boring. On top of it all, it was clear Kurt was smitten over some night school Spanish teacher who had come in to sing to the glee club. Even Sam and Finn noted that if they were gay, they would totally think the guy was hot. Blaine was tired of hearing about Mr. Martinez and his amazing teeth.

He wasn't worried about Kurt straying though, he just wished he could at least see what the fuss was about such that the house was filled with all the glee club guys rehearsing a number in the most ridiculous looking curly toed boots that Kurt was all gaga over.

"Mexican Hipster Boots." Kurt had given him as a means of explanation.

Whatever they were, he was actually glad that he wasn't a part of this group number because he was already the shortest guy of the bunch, excluding Artie, and those boots would make him look like a veritable Christmas elf.

"I think it looks kinda fun." Burt said, standing beside him as they both watched the practice.

"I think it looks extremely ridiculous." Blaine uttered, getting a laugh in response from Burt.

"Kurt's worn worse.... way worse." Burt noted.

"Oh I know... I always admired him from afar even when he was wearing the most crazy of outfits.... I just admired his courage more than his fashion on those days."

Another laugh from Burt who patted him on the back. He had gotten used to those touches from Burt. The kind, supportive ones that let Blaine know that Burt seemed to appreciate him. He had nothing to compare to them from his father, but he knew he preferred them to nothing. He had even written it down in a notebook in his room. He had two unofficial lists going - "Things I need to do/not do when I'm a dad" and "Things I need to do/not do in general." The supportive pats were something he put down to do as a dad... so long as he was lucky enough to be one someday. He wasn't sure if he even really wanted to, because he wasn't sure he was father material.

Kurt had seen the lists, and given him a questioning glance which Blaine shook his head to. He didn't want to get into those conversations. Kurt hadn't pushed though, and he loved that about him. Kurt let Blaine take his time resolving his own issues. Though, Kurt had written down 'Remember that Kurt always loves you' in the things he needed to do spot. He had looked at it when he was having dark thoughts and it brought a smile to his face each time.

So that night, after Finn and Sam had retired to their rooms and the other boys had left, Blaine was surprised to find Kurt looking at the lists again when he entered his room.

"I just wanted to get into your mind for a bit..." Kurt immediately offered as an explanation when he was caught.

Blaine arched an eyebrow and settled down on the bed beside Kurt, looking at the list in his hands. "My mind is pretty basic babe.... sex, you, and more sex."

He couldn't see it, but the huff beside him told Blaine that Kurt was rolling his eyes. "I know very well you're more complex than that even if you would never admit it."

"You're right. I'd never admit to that."

Kurt set the notebook on the night table and then rested his head on Blaine's chest. "I know something."

"Oh?"

"Promise not to tell my dad and Carole."

"What's wrong babe?"

"Finn asked Rachel to marry him."

Silence overtook Blaine for a moment and then he burst out laughing, "Your brother has a masochist complex!"

Kurt gave him a little shove, "Rachel is not that bad."

Blaine raised his eyebrow in response and Kurt tutted, "Fine. She is... but they do love one another. I told Finn I think he's given up on himself. He lost that football scholarship he had his hopes pinned on and he thinks that asking Rachel to marry him will ensure he keeps the one good thing he THINKS he has in his life beyond high school."

"But if they love one another...."

Kurt sat up and looked at Blaine incredulously, "Wait. You think it's alright?"

Blaine looked at Kurt and then nodded once, "Yes. If they love one another... who cares if they get married now or in ten years?"

"Because... it's for the wrong reasons!"

"What are the right reasons Kurt... and who decides on those reasons?"

Kurt's lips snapped tightly closed and his eyes looked off to the side as he thought. Blaine wanted him to tell him what reasons were right, not only for Finn's sake, but for his own. If he ever expected to ask Kurt to marry him one day, he needed to be sure Kurt would say yes, and wanted to know what he needed to do or what positions they needed to be in for that to happen.

"I thought you would have agreed with me." Kurt finally said, his voice quiet.

Blaine shrugged a little, "I thought you might have appreciated the romance of the young couple in desperate love. I guess we surprised one another."

Kurt chuckled a little, "Yes... well... much as I love romance - I'm still a realist."

"So... you don't think they'll be able to stay together past high school?"

"Not what I said."

"I hope it's not.... because I know the same statistics you do on high school sweethearts and I still don't intend to let you go ever."

Rewarded with a loving and sweet smile, Blaine leaned in and kissed those plush pink lips greedily. Clothing was shed and bodies were aligned in sweaty thrusts before both of the boys were spent and Blaine pulled the blanket over them, holding his boyfriend tightly in his arms.

He wouldn't ever let go.

It took longer than Blaine thought, but getting time alone with Finn in the busy home was difficult. When he did get time alone, it was because Kurt was out with Rachel, Sam was visiting his family, and Burt and Carole were the ones who had driven Sam for the visit.

"I know." Blaine said towards Finn as they sat on the couch, playing a video game together. Generally he could beat Finn at these games, but with his eye, he was losing miserably, so now was as good a time as any to talk.

"What?"

"I know about you asking Rachel to marry you."

"Damn.... Kurt...." Finn grumbled and tossed his controller to the side.

"He's just worried you're doing it for the right reasons... but for what it's worth... I get it."

Finn looked towards Blaine, who had set down his own controller now and was looking at Finn with sincerity.

"You do?"

Blaine nodded, "I... I want to ask Kurt the same thing... because I need him. I want to be with him forever."

"Dude! That's awesome! We could like... have a double ceremony!" Finn bounced on his knees excitedly, making Blaine laugh and shake his head.

"First of all, you really think Rachel and Kurt would agree to share a stage like that?"

Finn stopped his bouncing, thought a moment and then hung his head. "No."

"Also... just because I want to ask Kurt, doesn't mean I will. At least not yet."

"But why not? I mean... I get it, we're young and all that... but I love Rachel and know she's my future and I'll never do any better and she actually loves me too. What does it matter if we're eighteen or eighty?"

Blaine nodded, "Precisely what I said to Kurt, but he doesn't think it's something people as young as us should be doing, so I don't think he'd go for it, not like Rachel would."

"Huh."

Blaine nodded to that as well. It was a conundrum. "Anyhow. I just wanted you to know that I know, I support you, and I won't tell anyone."

"Thanks dude... that's really cool of you."

Blaine smiled to himself, thinking that brothers should look out for one another, and one day he hoped to be Finn's brother-in-law at least.

Presuming he could figure out where he stood with Kurt when it came to that.