Ring

Somebody please make that stop...

Ring

I was up all freaking night! Please stop the noise!

Ring

Dammit! I'm going to kill whoever is waking me up at... 5am?!

Kurt growled to himself as he crawled over a still sound asleep Blaine to reach his phone on the nightstand. His heart raced when he saw that it was the hospital.

Darla...

"Hello," he spoke hurriedly in a voice that was still heavy with sleep.

"Dr. Hummel, this is Lisa. I'm so sorry to bother you. I know you were here so late last night..."

"It's okay, Lisa. What's going on?"

"I think you need to come in. Right away if possible."

His heart stopped racing and dropped. He didn't bother to say anything or ask any more questions. He hung up and dove from the bed.

"You okay, Dr Hummel?" One of the morning nurses looked at him oddly as he rushed in to the hospital ten minutes later. His hair was still a slept on mess, he was dressed in scrubs instead of his usual shirt and tie and was wearing outdated glasses, having broken his others last night. He started to respond that he was fine. That was his normal response. He knew that he wasn't fine though.

"Not particularly. Where is Lisa?"

The nurse pointed down the hall wordlessly, sensing his rush. He ran down the hall, following where she had pointed.

Time seemed to slow down as he jogged into the family waiting room where Lisa was sitting with Karen. Both had their heads bowed and were sitting close together, hands clasped. Kurt felt his stomach churn as he approached them. Karen looked up at the sound of his footsteps and jumped from the chair and into his arms. He expected to be holding a sobbing a mother. What he got instead was laughter.

"Can you believe it?" He pulled back to look at her in genuine confusion and then glanced over at Lisa.

Lisa grinned at him from her seat. "He doesn't know yet, Karen. He kind of hung up on me before I could tell him the good news."

"What... Darla's... okay, fill me in here." Normally Kurt absolutely detested not being in control, not being the first to know when it came to his job, but now he was so filled with hope and relief that he couldn't have cared less.

"At about four this morning things were getting bad. We were pretty positive that she was going to be gone within the hour." Lisa spoke quietly, watching Karen and biting her lip tentatively. "Then all of a sudden, her temp dropped, her color returned... everything started evening out. We ran a panel just now, we obviously haven't heard back yet but it all points to things having improved significantly."

"What happened? How... Did Dr. Hurvitz try some new med..." he was interrupted by the very man walking into the room, looking exhausted but clapping him on the shoulder happily.

"There was nothing to try. I had done all I could." Kurt was beyond thrilled that everyone seemed so happy but couldn't figure out the underlying storyline here.

"I prayed," Karen whispered quietly but unashamedly. Kurt looked at her in surprise. "I saw her, lying there, almost ready to lose her and I did the one thing I had left. I prayed for God to heal her... she started improving about two minutes later."

"What do you know, doc? A bona fide miracle!" Dr. Hurvitz looked at him with a grin, daring him to respond. He knew full well where the young doctor stood on faith and religion. Kurt wanted to argue. He wanted to come up with any medical explanation. He didn't though. He knew he really didn't have a leg to stand on. Any possible explanation he could have come up with would have been pure speculation. There really was no medical reason why Darla should have improved so much, so fast. He looked over at Karen as she watched him happily and evenly, knowing in her heart what had really happened. He just hugged her.

"I couldn't be happier for you. Whatever you're doing... keep it up."

Huh. Prayer. Who knew?

Kurt walked through his front door an hour later, wanting nothing more than to fall back into bed with Blaine. He was understandably disappointed when he found the nurse wide awake and talking on phone.

"I just want to say thank you, Uncle Joe," Blaine's head shot up at the sound of the door and he looked relieved, immediately rushing up to the doctor and pulling him close. "Yes, if you're really willing to do it all then I am just grateful." Kurt tried to pull back to give him a questioning look but Blaine was clinging too tightly. The doctor just contented himself with being held. "Thursday is fine... No, I'll be there." Kurt could feel the nurse tense. "I want to be, I need to be... Yeah, I don't know about Addy yet. I-I haven't had the chance to tell her..." Kurt managed to disentangle himself enough so that he could be the one holding Blaine. "Thank you, and... I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for you... I just wish... I know... You're right." Blaine started to tear up again then and Kurt kissed the dampness away. "Yeah," he laughed without any humor, "me too. Okay, well I guess I'll see you Thursday unless I hear from you before then. Bye."

Blaine pulled out of Kurt's arms then and pressed the end button slowly. He stood motionless for a moment before swallowing hard, looking directly into the doctor's eyes and completely breaking down.

Kurt just held him. They stood there for almost thirty minutes before Blaine whispered in a broken voice.

"Do you think you could make me heart-shaped pancakes?"

Kurt nodded. "Yeah, I think I could."

They were cuddled up, not long after, on the benched window seat on one side of the small kitchen table. It really was too small for two adults, usually the children shared it for breakfast, but the two men desperately needed to be close right now... even to the point of being smooshed together.

They were slowly feeding each other bites off of the shared plate of pancakes. They had yet to actually talk, and Kurt suddenly realized that he hadn't shared the news about Darla.

"Would you like to hear something amazing?" Kurt asked almost shyly, not wanting to push. He really wasn't sure where Blaine was emotionally, but he knew, had it been him, that he would have been past the breaking point. Blaine surprised him by actually smiling and nodding eagerly.

"Please! Please tell me something amazing. I need to know that there are amazing things left in this world." He promptly put a bite of pancake into the other man's mouth though, keeping him from speaking for a moment. "I am desperately hoping that it has something to do with Darla and why you were gone without leaving a note this morning." Kurt grimaced while swallowing his food.

"Sorry about that. I was kind of in a hurry. I thought it was going to be bad news at first and I rushed over there without a second thought."

"Forgiven, now share."

"Darla is fine." Blaine's first response was to stare in shock.

"She's what? I thought you just said last night..."

"I did. I mean, she still has cancer. She still has a long road... but everything from last night? It's gone." Kurt closed his eyes and leaned back in his seat, running his fingers through his hair. He was still trying to let this soak in. "Her temp is back to normal, she's feeling great, she's awake and talking." His shook his head in disbelief. "She will be observed for a bit before going home, but for all intents and purposes... She's fine."

"How?" Blaine whispered with a small laugh of joy.

"... Miracle?" Kurt responded uncertainly, waiting a moment before looking Blaine in the eye.

Blaine just smiled and nodded. "I like that answer," he responded softly.

"I love you, Blaine."

"I love you too."

They finished feeding each other their pancakes in silence and were soaking together in a hot bath ten minutes later before speaking of Alex. Kurt was leaning back against Blaine as the nurse mechanically traced circles onto the doctor's chest with soapy bubbles. Kurt gently took the hand and pressed the fingers to his lips.

"So what was that phone call all about?" It seemed as good a place to start as any.

"That was Alex's uncle," Blaine sighed. "The hospital contacted him yesterday and he called to see how I was."

There was silence for a moment and Kurt simply waited for his fiancé to go on, knowing that there was more and he just needed to go at his own pace.

"Alex didn't really have any family. His parents pretty much disowned him when he came out and the rest of the family took that as a cue. His Uncle Joe, his mom's brother, was the only one who kept tabs on him. He and I were always pretty close. My own family was never around much either, you know that." Kurt just nodded. Actually, he didn't really know that much about Blaine's family, besides their absenteeism, but now didn't really feel like the moment to bring it up. "When I left, I never contacted him. As close as we were, I wasn't sure that my soon-to-be ex's family would be the people for me to call. He always liked me better than Alex though... he would continually tell me that his nephew was an ass." Blaine laughed a little then, not sure how he found humor in a moment like this, but he was in such an emotional upheaval that every type of emotion seemed to be on the surface. When he stayed silent for a while Kurt decided to speak again.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but it kind of sounded like he might be taking care of the funeral arrangements." He felt the other man nod against him.

"Yeah, he offered when he found out..." Blaine stopped and took a deep breath. "He didn't even know, Kurt. Alex hadn't returned his calls for the last few months. He had no idea where things stood with us." Kurt could hear the devastation in his fiancé's voice and realized that it was for the uncle, to have unwittingly left him out of the loop. He spoke, knowing Blaine well enough by now to know what was going on in his head.

"It's not your fault, baby."

"But, if I had..."

"Blaine, it's not your fault."

"Kurt, I should have..."

"No," he actually sat up and turned in the tub. "Stop it. Right now. I will not allow you to do this to yourself." Blaine sighed and cocked his head to the side, looking slightly resigned but like he still had a little argument left in him. Kurt stopped him from speaking with a small kiss. "I realize that you were close to him. The truth, though, is that he was Alex's family and it was understandably uncomfortable for you to contact him when you guys split. Besides, I know you, and you would have talked to him in time. You weren't about to cut him out completely. You had no way of knowing that this would happen, that things would end like this." He took soapy hands and placed them on either side of the other man's face.

"It is not..."

kiss

"your..."

kiss

"fault!"

Blaine leaned in and took another long, deep kiss.

"I just really, really love you."

"Do you understand what I'm telling you, honey?" Blaine sat on the side of Addy's bed, stroking her hair. Kurt sat behind him, an arm around his waist. Puck was sitting off to the side in small pink princess chair, holding Elliott in his lap.

"Papa isn't going to be here anymore."

Blaine just nodded.

"But papa was already gone." Addy looked at him like he was crazy. Blaine looked back in confusion, trying to figure out how he had given her that impression.

"You said we wouldn't see papa anymore when we talked to that lady with the crayons."

Blaine understood. In the three-year-old's mind, her absentee father was already done being a part of her life so why was this any different. For just a moment he felt the need to try to make her understand, to try to explain... then it hit him. What a blessing. To her he was gone. She didn't have to hurt anymore right now. When she was older, he could explain... but for right now it was enough.

"You're right. I guess I just wanted to make sure that you understood." She still looked a little confused but nodded. He pulled her into his lap and held her tightly, unable to stop some of his own tears. She seemed uncertain as to what brought on his sudden emotion, but loving being snuggled, she just hugged him back.

Blaine and Kurt pulled into the parking lot of the funeral home. The nurse wasn't surprised to see that it was pretty full. Alex had always been a popular guy with lots of friends, even if he was somewhat pompous. The complete crash of the last few months of his life was unknown to most people. The news of his death had been of a vague accidental overdose. Blaine hadn't had the heart to tell the truth to his husband's friends and colleagues. It wouldn't do any good now and seemed petty... and Blaine was not petty.

They had exited the car and started to walk in when Blaine saw something that made him stop in his tracks. Walking toward them was a huge group of people. He made out their faces as they grew closer. He dropped Kurt's hand in surprise.

Jeff, Nick, Wes, Marie, Puck, Burt, Carole, Finn holding a baby, Rachel holding the other baby, Lisa, Simone, and finally, the biggest surprise, Paul.

Blaine had stopped crying after that first day. He had mostly felt numb. He had wanted to cry but just couldn't find it within himself. He seemed to be cured. Tears ran down his face at the sight of so many people there to support him. Just for him. It was something he had had very little of in his life.

They had purposely kept things fairly quiet, because of the nature of Alex's death, and he hadn't expected so many of his friends to show up. He went down the line and hugged every single one. He didn't have any words. He lingered for an especially long time when he reached Paul. This had to be harder on him than any other person here. When the nurse finally stepped away he coughed to clear the lump in his throat. His voice was still thick with tears when he spoke. It seemed kind of ridiculous but he said the only thing he could think of.

"How in the world did you all find someone to watch your kids? Our daycare director is here." They all laughed. The sudden realization hit him. "Wait, Carole, I thought you had our kids! How..." Kurt spoke up and took his hand again.

"I'm sorry honey, I thought this might be a really nice surprise so I didn't tell you."

"Tell me what?"

"Are you sure?" Kurt looked at Silas in quiet disbelief, questioning his sanity. Blaine was in their bedroom making some phone calls about the funeral and the children were playing quietly in Elliott's bedroom. After bringing the kids home Puck had stuck around for a while, and when Silas had learned of his friend's whereabouts he had stopped over briefly.

"Yes, sir. I am. I feel more connected to you all than I probably should, being a case, but that's the way it goes. I really want to do something to help and this is something I can do."

"But, have you ever even taken care of kids before?" Puck and Silas both laughed at this.

"I have eight younger brothers and sisters, sir. When I walk through my front door back home I automatically turn into a jungle gym. I know that I can handle it. Plus, my girlfriend will be there to help me. If you don't mind that is... I vouch that she'll be great with the kids too. She loves my brothers and sisters." Silas eyed him hopefully. Kurt just smiled and nodded.

"If you really want to do this then I won't be the one to argue." Kurt reached to shake the younger man's hand. "Thank you so much. It really means a lot to us."

"So he is home right now with," Blaine looked around and counted, almost missing Simone and her twins at first, "seven kids?"

"I think he answered the wrong calling," Puck spoke up. "He should be Carole's new assistant." They all laughed lightly.

Kurt gripped Blaine's hand a little more tightly and looked him in the face. "You ready?"

"I am now." Blaine spoke in a broken whisper as he looked at the faces surrounding him.

They walked as a group toward to waiting building.

The service was short and quiet. Just before the end, Blaine was surprised to see Alex's uncle stand to speak.

"I know we all have our own memories of Alex and our own impressions of him that will stay with us." He looked around the room. Some of the people who only knew him superficially were nodding with sad smiles, remembering small work or college memories. Those who knew him a little better were wiping away tears, knowing, without details, the tragedy of his death. Those who knew him the best in the end tried to keep the hardened looks from their faces, only thinking of his cruelty and crazed actions.

Blaine didn't know what to think at all. It was asking too much of him to try and come up with his own memories right now. He desperately wanted to know what this man was going to say. Blaine had wanted so much to come up with a great way to eulogize Alex. To end things well, but he couldn't. The horrible parts of their marriage were too sharp and fresh in his mind. He sat with bated breath.

"Here's what I will remember about my nephew." Uncle Joe looked directly at Blaine. "I will forever remember the day that he brought home his first serious boyfriend, to become husband. I will forever remember how smart my nephew was for realizing what a treasure he had found." Kurt squeezed Blaine's hand so tightly that the nurse's fingers turned white, but it was barely felt. "I will forever remember the pure joy and happiness on my nephew's face the day they got married. The knowledge of the fact that he had made the world's best catch." Blaine broke slightly, a catch in his throat. "I'm pretty thankful for that young man, and what he meant... and still means, to my family. That's what I will remember about my nephew." He stood silent for a moment as he and Blaine stared at each other. Blaine was hoping that his look spoke enough of his thanks. The older gentleman just nodded and gave the tiniest sad smile, and went to sit down.

Forty-five minutes later they were headed home. They had fingers linked over the center console.

Blaine had made the rounds and talked briefly with people. He had hugged Uncle Joe for a long moment, tears starting again. They had promised to see each other soon, the older man telling Blaine that he wanted to see that 'little curly-haired cutie' before she grew up. They had taken the time to hug each of their friends again and ended with holding the babies. They started out each holding their own namesakes, then switching. There really wasn't a better way to end such a day, to hold new untainted life in your arms.

Blaine looked at Kurt as they drove, just staring with a small smile starting to form. Kurt started to feel embarrassed at the attention.

"What?" He asked softly, cheeks turning pink.

"Nothing." Blaine smiled and looked away, stroking the soft hand with his thumb.

Just a little more time, a little more time for healing. Then he would propose officially. He knew just how he was going to do it.