Blaine woke up to see a man sitting on his bed, staring at him. His soft, blue eyes were glistening with tears. The man forced a smile.

“Morning, sleepyhead.” Blaine smiled as the features fell into place, the fog clearing from his mind. He let out a dozy sigh.

“Hi, Kurt. It feels like I haven’t seen you in forever.” He reached for his hand. “What’s wrong? You look worried.” The man sniffed and gripped onto his hand tightly.

“Nothing, Blaine. I’m just, uh…” He closed his eyes tightly to hold the tears in. He took a deep breath, looking away, but smiled again when his eyes settled back on Blaine. “I’m just really happy to see you.”

“Well, I’m happy to see you too, as always. But you don’t have to cry, you see me every day. And you definitely don’t have to sit so far away; come here.” He shifted along to make room, patting the space next to him. The man nodded, blinking again.

“Sure.” He climbed up next to Blaine, putting an arm around him. Blaine felt a tiny cold spot on his head as the man clung to him and rested a cheek on his hair. He knew it was a teardrop.

“Hey, don’t be upset; I’m here.” He held the hand in front of him and brought it up to his lips, kissing it gently. “Wait! I know how to make you feel better. We should go dancing. I can’t remember the last time we went out, just the two of us. We can call Rachel, I bet she won’t mind baby sitting. Any excuse to see Sophie and escape from the boys, right?” He felt the head on top of his nodding.

“That sounds great. How about tomorrow? Maybe today we can just stay here. Nice and quiet. I think we both need a quiet day.” His voice was trembling, so Blaine held his hand a little tighter.

“Whatever you want. As long as I’m with you, it doesn’t matter what I’m doing.” He leaned against the warms chest next to him, his eyes falling closed again, until a woman appeared in the doorway. Her long, dark hair hung loosely about her shoulders. “Speak of the devil!” He looked up at the blue eyes above him. “I told you she’d want to get out of the house! Hey Rach, would you mind watching the kids tomorrow night? I think Kurt needs to be spoiled for an evening.” She didn’t smile. She stared at him until her forehead crumpled and tears filled her eyes. Blaine frowned, looking from one face to the other. “What is with you two today?”

“I’m not Rachel.” The man holding Blaine tried to talk over her.

“Soph-”

“No, I can’t do this again. Not today. It’s not like he’ll even remember tomorrow.”

“Sophie? Is something wrong with Sophie? Where is she?” He started to climb out of bed, but he was gently pushed back down. “Kurt, what’s happening? Rachel-” he reached out to her, but caught a glimpse of his hand. His skin was wrinkled and covered in light brown spots. His hands were old hands. He pulled back, as if getting further away from the hand would stop it from being his. “Kurt…” He looked back and Kurt was gone. Someone else was sitting there. He shook him off. “Where’s Kurt?” His eyes were darting around, wide and panicking. He realised he was in a hospital bed. “Who are you? Get off me! Where’s Kurt?” His voice became louder but started trembling. The man tried to take his hands, but he flinched away from him.

“Dad, it’s me. It’s Alex. You need to calm down.”

“What? Alex is nine. Stop this; it’s not funny. Where. Is. Kurt?”

“He… He can’t come.” The man’s voice caught in his throat.

“Alex, just tell him. He’ll only get more confused.”

“Sophie, shut up! You’re making it worse!” Blaine froze. He looked at the man, then the woman, then back down to his hands before returning his gaze to the man. His son. His breathing was laboured, turning into coughs. His voice was a shaking whisper.

“Al… Alex? Alex, is that you?” A tear rolled down the man’s face as he knelt next to the bed, nodding.

“Yeah, Dad. It’s me. I’m here.”

“And… Sophie?” He turned to the woman, and she nodded. Her lips were closed tightly. She couldn’t speak. Blaine’s breathing was fast and heavy. His chest was heaving. “A-Alex, tell me, just tell me where he is. Where’s Kurt? I want to see Kurt.” Alex’s head fell forward. “Alex? Where is he? Alex!”

“Dad, I’m- I’m sorry.” Blaine stared into his son’s eyes. Kurt’s eyes. He felt the small, weak body in his arms as the last breaths fell out of it years ago. He saw him smiling, his hair limp, his smile fading. He heard faint whispers of ‘I love you’ getting quieter and quieter.

“No, you can’t-”

“Dad-”

“Why can’t I hear him? Make it come back!”

“Make what-”

“His voice, it was there, it was in my head, and now it’s gone. Alex, where is it, why can’t I hear him? Where is he?” Sophie sat on the bed and put a hand on his knee, doing everything she could to stop herself from sobbing.

“He’s gone, Dad.” She took a deep breath, he bottom lip quivering and her voice catching. “I’m so sorry. He’s gone.”

Images kept flashing through his mind. He remembered Kurt hooked up to machines, needles sticking out of his arms, his pale skin even paler, sometimes he had hair and sometimes he didn’t, and a whimper of ‘I can’t fight it any more, Blaine’. He looked down at his own hospital bed. He saw the chair next to it and he could see himself sitting there. He remembered holding Kurt’s hand, begging him to keep trying, to hold on for him, trying to hand him the oxygen mask and his head turning away, and it froze. He shut his eyes, still struggling to breathe, as he tried and tried to see his face as it was supposed to be, young and healthy and happy, but he was just sick. There were dark lines under his eyes and he was shaking his head. He was talking, but it was muffled.

“Kurt, I can’t hear you. Please. You can’t.”

“Dad, stop-”

“You have to keep trying. You’re strong; you can fight this. Do it for me. I can’t lose you…” Alex looked at Sophie. They knew there was nothing they could do. They each took an arm and tried to soothe him, but he was gone again. He batted them away. Just like he batted the doctor away. Time had skipped in his mind again, back to the end. “No. This is what he wants. No more.” In a blur he felt Kurt in his arms again, his breath rattling as he whispered ‘thank you’. The words were clearer this time.

“Thank you Blaine. Thank you for everything.” He could still feel the thin palm against his cheek. “I wouldn’t change a second, Blaine. I love you. I know I’m going, but it’s fine. It won’t stop me loving you. The love won’t die. It’ll just have to reach a little further.”

Blaine remembered looking down into his eyes as he cradled him, like he was rocking him to sleep. Which, in a way, he was. He could remembered wanting to tell him everything, how grateful he was for him, how perfect their lives together had been, but he knew he didn’t have to say it. Kurt knew.

“I love you too, Kurt. So much.”

He remembered eyes closing. He remembered the last bit of warmth leaving him, he could feel his last breath, his body going soft and heavy in his arms. He remembered silence. No more talking, or singing, or laughing. No more Kurt. He was silent now. Sophie and Alex stared at his blank expression, hoping he could stay calm this time.

“Dad?” Alex looked at his little sister. She bit her lip and tried again. “Blaine?”

“It’s OK. I remember. He’s gone.” He looked down at his hands. They were in his lap. Weak.

“We miss him too. Dad, I’m so sorry.” Blaine looked up at his son’s eyes. That smile came back. That gentle smile that said everything was fine. It was both true and false.

“What’s wrong? Oh, you know what we haven’t done in a long time? Danced. Let’s go dancing.” Sophie rested her head on the hand she was holding. Alex clenched his fist so his nails were digging into his palm. He nodded his head.

“Sounds wonderful. Tomorrow.” Blaine grinned and kissed him on the forehead.

Maybe this was bad. Maybe he was confused and getting everything wrong.

But right now, as far as he was concerned, he still had Kurt. And it made him happy again. For his children, that was enough.