Three days later, Blaine was at Finn and Rachel’s apartment for dinner. He wasn’t as upset anymore but his feelings were never in doubt. Daniel had been at their apartment since New Year practically now, and Blaine didn’t like him very much so therefore didn’t want to him to be in his home.

“Blaine, please cheer up” Rachel frowned at him across the table where he was sat, his head propped up by his hand, lazily prodding a fork at the grilled chicken and salad in front of him.

“I’m sorry, do you think I like being sad?” he mused, raising his eyebrows at her.

“Of course I don’t, but you could do something about it” she replied haughtily, glancing at her own boyfriend who smiled half-heartedly. Finn didn’t get annoyed that easily but even he knew this was getting beyond a joke between the two of them.

“Rachel, for the last time, as much as I love Kurt, I could never split him up from anyone and you know that” he raised his fork and jabbed the air with it in her direction.

“But you two would be so great together and you know it!” she answered, almost pleading.

“Rachel, I promise if me and Kurt get married, you can be maid of honour” Blaine grinned at her. She meant well. She just had a pushy way of showing it.

“When you get married” Finn corrected, smiling at Blaine. Blaine’s eyes lit up a little and he turned back to his food with a hidden smile.

“Finn, since when could you cook anyway, this chicken is great” Blaine said encouragingly. Bit of a white lie, it tasted kinda weird but Finn was doing his best.

“Aw thanks dude, Rachel never lets me cook meat but you know you’re a sane person who still eats meat”

“Hey!” Rachel exclaimed, hitting Finn’s forearm. Blaine laughed and realised he was pretty thankful for these two. Finn was dumb and Rachel was crazy but they had been good friends to him the past couple of days. Friends he hadn’t realised he had needed so much.

“Bye Blaine!” Rachel called as she heard the door shut, and she got up to wander over to the kitchen. She grabbed a chocolate bar from the cupboard and glanced at the bin. She carried on walking, the chocolate half way to her mouth when she stopped and turned back to the bin. Grabbing the now empty pack of chicken, her eyes widened.

“FINN HUDSON GET IN HERE NOW!” she screeched.

“What?” he replied, looking as innocent as possible.

“What’s the date today Finn?”

“3rd January” he replied after five seconds of thinking.

“What does this say?” she thrust the chicken packet towards him.

“20th December” he said proudly.

She raised her eyebrows at him, while he figured it out.

“Oh crap, Blaine!!”

Walking home, Blaine was not feeling well at all. He was sweating despite the cold January night, his stomach felt like it was internally punching him and he couldn’t decide whether his phone was buzzing in his pocket or whether he was hallucinating.

Luckily, he was only a few metres away from their apartment, struggling to open the door and fight consciousness was quite a feat Blaine thought to himself. He ripped his scarf and jacket off, although cooler it didn’t help, all he wanted was to collapse into bed and never leave it.

“Blaine, is that you?” Kurt’s voice called from the living room.

“Yeah” Blaine shouted back weakly, leaning on the hallway wall for support.

“Are you alright?” Kurt shouted back.

“m’fine, not feeling too well, gonna go to bed” Blaine stuttered out, taking deeper breaths between words.

“Dan, get off me, let me go see if he’s okay”

Great, Daniel was here as well Blaine thought. His stomach then took a turn for the worse and Blaine groaned at the sudden sharp pain.

“Whoa, Blaine, are you okay?” Kurt rushed to his side, grabbing his arm to steady him, blue eyes full of concern.

“Just help me to my room, Kurt” Blaine replied quietly, his head began spinning and all he could remember feeling was Kurt’s arms around him as he walked.

Kurt kicked open Blaine’s door and helped Blaine to sit down on the bed. Within seconds, Blaine was asleep.

Blaine woke up about 5am the next morning. His head was pounding and the slightest movement sent him spinning. ”Fuuuck” he whimpered out loud and then that feeling came.

His stomach churned and Blaine had to face the dizziness to run to the bathroom, trying to not throw up before he got there. Collapsing next to the toilet bowl, Blaine retched and groaned. The noise woke up Kurt and soon enough, he was beside Blaine, rubbing circles on his back, murmuring soft words in comfort, despite the fact Blaine was literally coughing up his guts.

Blaine shut his eyes and inhaled sharply, leaning back against Kurt’s touch.

“Are you alright?” Kurt asked softly, angling his head away from Blaine’s mouth – his breath wasn’t the best thing to be in line with right now- but keeping his arm around him.

“No, sorry I woke you up” Blaine whispered weakly.

“Hey don’t worry about that at all. Need a hand getting back to bed?” Kurt said, lifting Blaine up gently by the arms.

They made the short trip back to Blaine’s room and Blaine crawled back under the covers, moaning as he did so.

“Want me to bring you anything?” Kurt said.

“Water would be great thanks” Blaine replied quietly, burying his head into the pillow.

Kurt returned a few moments later, with two pills, a glass of water and a quick stroke of Blaine’s curls. “Take the pills, Blaine. They’ll settle your stomach”

Blaine woke up three hours later, to his surprise, to find Kurt sat in the chair in the corner of his room, asleep and looking rather uncomfortable to be honest.

Blaine’s head still hurt and his stomach still felt like it was punching him, but at least he didn’t need to throw up again…yet.

He winced at the ache in his muscles as he moved and tried to sit up. Almost immediately, Kurt’s eyes flickered open.

“Hey Blainey. You alright?” he asked through a yawn.

“When did you come in here?” Blaine asked in mild wonder.

“About five minutes after your 5am throw up. I felt guilty for leaving you” Kurt said, standing up and coming to sit on the end on Blaine’s bed.

“Seriously though, how are you feeling?” he asked in kindness.

“Like death warmed up. I don’t even know what’s wrong with me” Blaine groaned, leaning back into his bed.

“I do” Kurt said, tossing Blaine his phone from the jacket that was slung lazily on the floor.

Blaine unlocked it and read

Finn Hudson – “Dude, I’m so sorry! That chicken I gave you was nearly three weeks old! I hope you’re okay, I didn’t eat any of it in the end…so I’m okay. But I’m sorry!”

Blaine managed a weak smile when he saw Kurt’s reply

“Finn, you are a fucking idiot okay? He came home…ALONE. On the verge of collapse. Seriously, you need to make it up to him big time! – Kurt.”

“Was I really on the verge of collapse?” Blaine asked.

Kurt pointed in the direction of the mirror and Blaine glanced up. “Oh god” he said, noting his appearance. His normally tan skin was white as sheet and from his bed he could see the beads of sweat clinging to his forehead and curls.

“Feel up to eating anything?” Kurt asked.

Blaine’s stomach did a backflip at the bare mention of food and he gagged, Kurt jumping up to grab the bin on the floor, but Blaine stopped himself. “I’ll take that as no then?” Kurt chuckled.

“No. I just want to sleep for forever and a day” Blaine nestled back into his pillows. Then he remembered something from the previous night.

“Isn’t Daniel here?” Blaine asked, a little bitterly.

Kurt’s eyes shot up at Blaine’s tone but replied “Nope, I sent him home once I realised you were ill” “He wasn’t all too pleased about it to be honest” Kurt added quietly so Blaine couldn’t hear him.

Blaine nodded. “Oh”

Crap, the awkwardness was back.

“So what do you want to do? Do you want to stay in here and mope or come sit in the living room with me and the cat and mope?” Kurt asked, raising his eyebrows, trying to make it better between them.

“I’ll come mope with you and the cat” Blaine smiled a little, shifting his legs off the bed. His head span again, stomach hurling. “Just one second” he said before running back to the bathroom.

Kurt jumped aside to let him past then followed him swiftly. Leaning on the door frame and screwing his face up at the highly attractive retching noises Blaine was making. “Quite finished?” Kurt said, after Blaine rubbed a hand on his forehead and sat back on the floor.

“Pass me the mouth wash please?” Blaine said, frowning in disgust at his mouth… he didn’t think that was actually possible but there’s a first time for everything. Kurt passed him the bottle of green liquid and Blaine swigged it briefly. Spitting it out again, he said “Even that’s making me feel ill again, yuck”

“What has my dear brother done to you, eh?” Kurt said sadly. “Come on invalid. We can watch Aladdin if you want” Kurt held out his hand and Blaine let Kurt drag him to the couch. Kurt disappeared and came back with a bottle of water and Blaine’s duvet. Blaine giggled as Kurt threw the duvet at him and then proceeded to crawl underneath it next to Blaine.

Melody wriggled her way under Blaine’s arm and settled in his lap, her warm body resting on his stomach.

Kurt turned the TV on and started the DVD up. Aladdin was Blaine’s favourite ill movie, he watched it whenever he felt rubbish and most of the time, Kurt joined him now.

They watched in companionable silence until Blaine’s head began to pound again. “Ow” he said after the pain had become too much. Kurt rushed to the kitchen and grabbed the painkillers off the side, bringing them back.

“Here you go” Kurt popped two of the pills into Blaine’s hand and practically moved his hand to Blaine’s mouth.

“Remind me to kill your brother when I next see him please” Blaine murmured, closing his eyes and leaning back into the couch.

“You’ll have to get in line. I hate seeing you ill. But at least I won’t get sick as well” Kurt joked, settling back next to Blaine.

Blaine, in a sleepy state, yawned and thought to hell with it. He moved to lean his head on Kurt’s chest and wrapped an arm around Kurt’s waist. Kurt did a half-smile, half-frown and wrapped his arm around Blaine’s shoulders, snuggling him closer. Melody came and settled in the grove between their bodies.

“What’s this for?” Kurt asked, hugging Blaine to him even still. It was nice; comfortable and familiar.

“I’m ill and want cuddles. Let me be” Blaine mumbled into Kurt’s shoulder.

“Fair enough” Kurt finalised and sighed blissfully. He liked this; he wanted to just cuddle the boy in his arms forever. He could. All he had to do was get rid of one thing- Daniel.

Their relationship had been rocky for a few days, ever since Daniel had seen Kurt dancing with Blaine on New Year’s Eve, Daniel was going from overly affectionate to really pissed off within seconds, and Kurt was getting sick of it. At first the guy’s personality had been endearing and cute but now he was verging on annoying.

Kurt ran his fingers through Blaine’s hair sweetly, twirling strands around his pinkie. He felt Blaine smile against his chest, although his eyes were shut, he wasn’t quite asleep and he’d always loved it when people played with his hair, it relaxed him for some reason.

“Kuuuuuuurt” Blaine said sleepily, dragging his name out.

“That is the voice of someone who wants something” Kurt chuckled.

“Only one thing. Stay here. With me. All day” Blaine’s voice went quiet and more vulnerable, like it was troubling him to say this but it was all he wanted in that moment. Just him, Kurt and the cat. To him, it was perfect despite how crappy he was feeling.

“I’m not going anywhere. I’m never going anywhere it comes to you. You know that” Kurt replied, glancing down to Blaine’s hand that was resting on his stomach and his own hand resting on the arm of the chair. He could easily reach down and lace their fingers together, bringing them closer. But he couldn’t do it, whether it was because Blaine might only be doing this because he is ill  or whether he was feeling guilty or whether he just was scared of what the outcomes would be.

If he and Blaine were together, what if it went wrong? What if they didn’t work out? Kurt would be without a best friend and even if Blaine wasn’t in his life as he wanted him to be, he wanted him there. Kurt had been lost, floating, frightened of bullies and whether he would ever have friends and then a curly haired idiot with the voice of an angel and the looks of a Greek God came into his life and changed everything. Kurt had a friend to start with, which then turned into best friend, then roommate and finally soulmate. Why hadn’t Kurt realised this before?

Kurt was brought back down to reality when his phone buzzed from his room. Blaine had fallen asleep and Kurt didn’t want to wake him. Its okay, he figured, it’s probably just Finn or Rachel wondering if Blaine was alright. Kurt smiled at the sleeping man in his arms and succumbed to sleepy unconsciousness himself.  

When Kurt woke up, Blaine had disappeared again. “Blaine?” he shouted, sitting up, the duvet was half over his legs, Blaine had gotten up in a rush obviously.

“In here” he heard a weak reply from the bathroom.

“Aw Blaine” Kurt said sympathetically, standing outside the door, screwing his face up at the retching noises. “Need a hand?”

“I’m good” Blaine said, emerging from the room, oddly with more colour in his cheeks. “Feel a little better to be honest”

“You want something to eat?”

Blaine held one hand up to shush Kurt and another back on his tummy. “Don’t say the food word yet”

“Sorry” Kurt laughed at the sudden uncertainty in Blaine’s eyes. “Go cuddle with the cat on the couch for a bit, I, who can still eat, is going to”

Blaine rolled his eyes and headed back towards his duvet nest. “Come back soon!”

Kurt briefly heard his phone buzz again, but he couldn’t be bothered to go see who it was. They can wait.

After Kurt ate his grilled cheese sandwich, he returned to the couch where Blaine immediately reattached himself to Kurt. They stayed like that for the rest of the day.

The Next Day

Kurt hadn’t gotten to bed until late, both him and Blaine had fallen asleep again and by the time Kurt had gotten to his room, his messages on his phone had long been forgotten.

He was awoken by rather loud knocking on the front door about 9am. “Jesus” he whispered in annoyance as the knocking got angrier. “Alright, I’m coming!” he shouted, grabbing his dressing gown and wrapping it round himself.

He pulled the door open forcefully to be greeted with an angry looking Daniel.

“Oh so you are alive?” he asked, raising an eyebrow, almost snarling.

“Yep, why wouldn’t I be?” Kurt asked. “Nice to see you too honey by the way”

“Yesterday? You were meant to come meet me for lunch; instead I got your voicemail three times and no texts at all. What the fuck happened to you?”

“Blaine was ill, I’m sorry I meant-“

“Oh it would be Blaine wouldn’t it?” Daniel spat out bitterly.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Kurt replied defensively, narrowing his eyes.

“Blaine. He’s all you fucking talk about Kurt! Oooh Blaine did this, oooh Blaine did that. I’m sick of it! I’m your boyfriend, not that freak!  Every time we are together, I know you compare me to him in your head and I don’t compare do I? Not to your precious Blaine”

“Firstly, don’t call him a freak. Secondly, he’s my friend and he’s ill because of my stepbrother. I wasn’t gonna leave him alone especially after he asked me not too”

“Oh so he asked you to stay and you conveniently forgot to call me? Thanks Kurt. Thanks a bunch”

“What did you come here to do Daniel?” Kurt rolled his eyes.

“Chose. Me or him. If it’s him, I’m leaving you and you’ll never see me again. If it’s me, you move in with me. I like you Kurt, I really do but I can’t do this anymore. I need to know”

Kurt breathed in and looked at Daniel, he could see how much this was hurting him, what Kurt has brought on him. But Kurt knew the answer. There was only one answer.

“I’m sorry Daniel. I’m truly sorry. You’re a lovely guy, but I can’t. It’s him. It’s always been him. I just never noticed” Kurt said quietly.

“Thought so. Bye Kurt” Daniel nodded, kissed Kurt’s cheek and turned. After a few steps, he turned back round “I hope everything works out for you two. You are kinda cute”

Kurt smiled. “Have a nice life Daniel. Stay in touch okay?” Kurt asked.

“Of course” he grinned, there was hurt in his eyes but he seemed content.

Blaine had stumbled out of his room by this point, leaning on the door. Thankfully, his skin was normal colour and he seemed brighter than the previous day. It seemed the illness had lifted.

“Kurt? What happened?” Blaine said, eyeing the retreating figure and Kurt himself.

“We need to talk Blaine” Kurt inhaled and turned round, shutting the door behind him.

“About what?” Blaine asked puzzled.

“About us” the simple reply came.