When he and Kurt had gotten the call that their surrogate, Jessica, had gone into labor they'd never been happier or more excited. The mad dash to the hospital remains a blur for Blaine. What he remembered most from that day-other than the overwhelming sense of joy at the impending birth of his child was how cool and efficient Kurt was. Kurt kept Jessica's spirits up and when Jessica's umbilical cord was compromised Kurt was the one who kept Blaine's panic in check and Jessica's fears at bay. When Blaine's hands were shaking too badly to cut the cord, Kurt gently placed his steady hands over Blaine's and they cut it together.

Kurt was the one who contacted their families with both the news of Isabelle's birth and the flight information for the next few available flights to New York, conducting a three way call with Carol and Bethany Anderson to make sure both sets of parents were on the same flight. Kurt also took over the task of notifying their friends, which meant he had to secure a plethora of hotel rooms when Santana, Mercedes, Brittany, Nick, and Jeff all insisted they were coming to New York ASAP to meet the newest member of the Anderson clan. Blaine had sat by, in a happy-God he'd been so happy-sort of daze where all he could do was hold little Isabelle telling her how much he loved her, thank Jessica and kiss Kurt.

Even though Blaine was the one who had wanted a child, even pushed for the surrogacy, it was Kurt who seemed to ease into the transition to fatherhood. Where Blaine was a jumble of nerves, rational and irrational fears, Kurt was a calm, steady presence who always just seemed to know what Isabelle-and Blaine-needed.

Even with Kurt's quiet confidence and the help of both Bethany and Carol, it had been an exhausting yet oddly exhilarating week. Between the excitement and adjustment of having Isabelle at home and the constant stream of friends and family showing up to meet her, Kurt and Blaine had floated along in a warm bubble of contentment the entire time, surrounded by affection and marveling how every day they seemed to fall in love with Isabelle –and each other-just a little bit more. Blaine had never imagined that their bubble would burst so suddenly and viciously and he'd end the best week of his life in a hospital room praying that his husband would open his eyes.

For the second time in the space of a week his life had changed with one phonecall. One moment Kurt and Finn were on their way to pick up dinner for everyone, the next Finn was calling to say they'd been in a car accident and he was ok but Kurt…wasn't.

Blaine ran into the hospital-the same hospital he'd left seven days prior with Isabelle in his arms and joy blooming in his chest-with his heart in his throat and fear clawing at his insides. Rachel, Burt and Carol were a half a step behind him, his every fear and worry etched into the lines on their faces.

They found Finn in the ER waiting room, with an obscene white bandage over his eye and his arm in a sling. Rachel, Burt and Carol took turns alternately embracing and interrogating him until bit by bit they got an idea of what happened.

Tensions boiled over when one of the officers assigned to the case informed them the person who had hit Kurt's SUV had been driving drunk. All of Blaine's fear turned into white hot rage and it took every ounce of Carol and Rachel's combined powers to keep Blaine, Finn and Burt from storming the jail and dispensing their own brand of justice.

"Stop it, all three of you!" Carol snapped, reaching the end of her patience with her three boys. "None of this is helping Kurt. This is not the old west and you three will not go exact some type of vigilante justice in Kurt's name. Kurt would be horribly disappointed in all three of you right now, especially you two," she said pointing at Burt and Blaine. "You," she said poking Burt in the chest, "cannot afford to get upset like this. You know Kurt would be a wreck right now if he saw you carrying on this way." Burt flushed red and looked down guiltily. Carol then shifted her focus over to Blaine, taking his face in between her hands, "And you," she said softly but no less seriously, "have a baby at home. Isabelle needs her daddy to hold it together. Kurt would never forgive you for doing something foolish and making it so you aren't there for here while he can't be."

"But mom that guy-"

"Finn Hudson not another word," Rachel snapped. "The police will deal with that guy. I will personally raise enough hell that they not only throw the book at him but make sure it hits him square between the eyes. But right now, we're going to do what Kurt would want and Kurt would not want this. Kurt would want us to take care of his daughter and each other until he's better. This isn't helping Kurt, it isn't helping us and it isn't helping Isabelle."

"It's easier to be angry than scared," Finn whispered, taking his wife in his arms and somehow folding himself over until his head was buried in the crook of her neck.

"I know baby," Rachel soothed.

Blaine collapsed back into a chair, head thrown back, eyes squeezed shut and tried to force himself to breath and not feel the irrational stab of anger that Finn and Burt both had their spouses to comfort them while he did not.

It felt like hours later, after mountains of paperwork and emergency surgery and time spent on his knees in a small hospital chapel praying to a God he knew Kurt didn't believe in but Blaine did that Finn came by to tell him that Kurt was out of recovery and he could go see him.

"I'm so sorry, Blaine. We were stopped at the red and the guy just came out of nowhere. He just…he didn't even slow down he just rammed-"

"Stop," Blaine sobbed out, not wanting or needing to hear the details of what happened to Kurt or even why. All he wanted was his husband, healthy and whole. "I don't blame you Finn. I know it was an acci-," Blaine stopped then because the truth was drunk driving is never an accident. It's a choice. What happened to Kurt was a conscious, selfish, stupid, arrogant choice that some stranger made and now Blaine's entire life was in pieces and-

"Blaine?" Finn's worried voice pierced the haze.

Blaine shook his head a little to clear it. "I don't blame you Finn," he repeated. "Just take me to Kurt."

Blaine knew that he had thrown quite a few people for a loop when, halfway through his sophomore year at Columbia he'd announced that he was changing his major to pre-med. Even though it had caused friction with his father and grandfather, who had both anticipated Blaine to keep with Anderson family tradition, become a lawyer and begin working for the family firm, Blaine had never regretted his decision.

Until now, the moment Blaine picked up Kurt's chart and read the words Disseminated intravascular coagulation he'd never regretted anything more. To Burt, Carol, Finn and Rachel they were just words. They didn't understand what they meant but Blaine did. Blaine knew those words meant that Kurt had DIC, that his blood wasn't clotting, that he was bleeding out and that if they couldn't get his blood to clot that he'd eventually bleed to death. Blaine knew exactly what was going on in Kurt's body. He knew all the potential pitfalls and complications. He knew the numbers and he knew the odds were not in Kurt's favor. Blaine sat by Kurt's bedside, took his hand in his and began to weep.

"Don't you dare do that," Burt's voice came from doorway, low and furious. "Don't you dare sit there and give up on my boy."

"Burt, I read Kurt's chart. He's-"

"He's your husband, that's what he is. He's the man you love and the father of your child. He's Kurt," Burt interrupted, "I know that it's bad Blaine. I know that you know better than all of us just how bad, but I also know that when you love someone you hang on until you're forced to let go."

"They can't transfuse indefinitely. If his blood doesn't start clotting soon-"

"I believe in my boy. You wanna be here, you find a way to believe in him too," Burt came and sat beside Blaine. "I know what this feels like. I know how angry you are right now, how helpless you feel. But I also know that no matter what you don't let go of the other half of your heart until you have to."

Blaine looked up at Burt and realized that they weren't just talking about him and Kurt. Kurt had been a small child when his mother passed away but he had told Blaine about his memories of days spent at the hospital with his father, barely leaving his mother's room as Burt held her hand, read to her, talked to her, brushed hair and did a million other things both big and small for the woman he loved. Kurt told him how when she died she was in his father's arms. Burt had held on until the very end and he expected nothing less from Blaine.

"I can't lose him," he whispered.

"You won't," Burt said, his voice strong and steady. "This is Kurt we're talking about here. My boy, " Burt cleared his throat of unshed tears and pushed on, "my boy is a fighter and he'll fight to stay here, to stay with you and Belle. You just make sure you're fighting just as hard for him."

Blaine nodded. "Thanks Burt."

"Anytime kid," he said clapping Blaine on the shoulder. "Carol sent me to find you. She's in the cafeteria. She's got food and if you don't go eat she swears she's not only gonna send Rachel in here after you but she's gonna call your mother. She said if that didn't get your butt moving to let you know that she won't hesitate to tell Kurt when he wakes up that you weren't taking care of yourself."

Blaine arched an eyebrow. "You married an evil genius, you know that don't you?"

Burt nodded. "You should see what she comes with when I try to go off my diet. She only looks harmless. That woman is as hardcore as they come…don't you dare tell her I said that."

Blaine smiled. "My lips are sealed." Blaine stood and made his way to the door. "Thanks again, Burt," he said before slipping out of the room.

Burt drew in a shaky breath and began straightening Kurt's sheets. "You did good, son, real good with Blaine. He's a good man. He's a little shaky right now but we're keeping a close eye on him so don't you worry." Burt finished tucking the sheets in around Kurt and took his son's hand.

"He's been calling and checking on Isabelle every hour on the hour and he stayed here with you all night long. That little girl of yours is…she's something else. I checked on her this morning and she was pretty and pink and just perfect, Kurt. Some of the people from your show stopped by, that's an uh…interesting bunch. Good people though, they seemed real broke up about you being hurt."

Burt smoothed Kurt's bangs away from his forehead, his heart aching at how small and pale Kurt looked. "You got a hell of a life kid. You got everything you ever wanted, Kurt-Blaine, Broadway, a beautiful little girl to have tea parties with or teach how to strip and rebuild an engine. You got the life you always wanted son and that's how I know you aren't going anywhere. You fought for this too hard and went through too much hell to let some drunken idiot take it all away from you."

Burt leaned forward and placed a kiss on Kurt's forehead. "You may have taken Blaine's name, but you're a Hummel, " his eyes grew bright but he refused to let a single tear fall as he whispered in Kurt's ear, "you are a Hummel and nobody pushes the Hummels around."

When Blaine never showed up to the cafeteria Finn was deployed to go and find him. After having him paged twice and wandering aimlessly for half an hour Finn stumbled upon him in the labor and delivery ward, staring through the glass at the newborns.

"I don't know how I'm going to do this, Finn." He said in a hollow voice.

"Do what, dude?"

"Isabelle. I was the one who wanted a baby. I pushed and pleaded and I convinced Kurt that it was the right time, that we were ready, that we'd be fine and ever since she got here he's been the one making sure that all that's true. From the moment we decided to have a baby, Kurt's been the one doing all the actual work."

Finn rubbed the back of his head and then gave Blaine a lopsided grin. "That's Kurt though dude. Once he decides he's going to do something he throws himself into it. Rachel's the same way. When we had Conner she actually had this chart with all the diaper brands -"

"Oh my God, so that's where he got it from," Blaine interrupted with a laugh. "I came home from the hospital one day and Kurt had set up a power point presentation in the study comparing the various brands of diapers and baby wipes-"

"Did he have samples?"

"Of course he had samples."

"Did he make you pretend the mashed bananas and peanut butter was poo to prove which wipe worked the best?"

"We married crazy people," Blaine said with a grin.

"Dude, I think everyone is pretty sure we're the crazy ones," Finn returned.

Blaine laughed and then sobered almost immediately. "I think, maybe…in a long, long time from now if I lost him I might be able to be ok. Not good, just ok," Blaine whispered.

"Dude, you know we wouldn't let you just be ok," Finn said, grabbing Blaine's shoulder. "Kurt, he'd come back and haunt us all if we let you fold, man. But it doesn't matter cause he's gonna be fine."

"He's got DIC Finn. He's only got at best, a 50% chance of recovery. He's bleeding out and they can't transfuse forever. They've treated the internal injuries and with DIC once you find and treat the underlying cause your options become severely limited and-"

"Dude, stop being a doctor right now and be a husband," Finn interrupted. "I get that you got all that medical stuff up in your head but right now just…just don't be Dr. Anderson, just be Blaine."

"This is me," Blaine snapped. "This is me telling you that if I lose Kurt I can't do it. I could piece myself back together enough to be semi-decent son and maybe, maybe a halfway good brother to you and Rach and Julian but I can't raise Isabelle alone."

Finn winced because yeah, he got it. If something ever happened to Rachel he honestly didn't know if he'd be able to do what Burt and his mom did, if he'd be strong enough to pull himself together and not mess up. He didn't know if he'd be able to raise his son in a way that honored Rachel if she weren't there to guide and help him.

Looking at Blaine and seeing the unmitigated fear on his face drove home for Finn, possibly for the first time, just how strong his mom had been, just how strong Burt had been to pick up and carry on after losing their spouses. To put their children first and not just love their kids, but love them enough so they never felt like they were missing something.

Finn had always known that his parents were amazing, but he didn't think he'd ever truly appreciated them as much as he did in that moment.

"You know you wouldn't be alone, though right? I mean, your parents, mom and dad, me, Rach, Mercedes, just dude, everybody would be there for you," Finn said.

"If it were Rachel would that be enough for you?"

Finn winced again because yeah, no it wouldn't be.

"I wanted to be a father, Finn. I wanted to have a child with Kurt. I wanted to fill our life with laughter and love and raise a little person that would drive us crazy and make us proud. I wanted a family with Kurt." Blaine choked out.

"But, and this can't be emphasized enough, I wanted it with Kurt," Blaine continued. "Without him, it doesn't work. Without him, I know I'd be a complete failure. I know me, Finn. I would avoid our home and his memory. I would bury myself in my patients. I would work 80 weeks, I'd spend my weekends on call, Belle would have a nanny and she's spend more time in Lima with Burt and Carole than she would with her own father and I know that sounds terrible," Blaine said, looking at Finn, " but it's the truth. I would hide. I would run because she's ours, but God she's his, Finn and every time I looked at her I'd see Kurt and –"

"Kurt's not dead yet," Finn broke in. "He's not dead and Belle's here and you can't like, take her back. You don't know yourself nearly as well as you think you do if you honestly believe any of the crap you just said."

"Finn-"

"No, Blaine. You and Kurt, you two are like Energizer Bunnies. You two just keep on going no matter what. And yeah, if Kurt dies it's going to suck, but you're gonna keep on going. You aren't gonna pay some Swedish chick named Helga to raise Belle because she's your daughter and she's Kurt's daughter and that's just not who you are. You'd take her to the park and you'd read her bedtime stories and sing her Disney songs and give her bubble baths because that's who you are, Blaine."

"That's who I am with Kurt."

"No dude, that's who you are period. Remember how we used to like, tease you and call you Grampa cause you were like a mini-adult, all perfect and stuff and the rest of us were messing up left, right and center?" Blaine nodded and Finn continued. "You always had to be the best at everything. The best student, the best boyfriend, the best showman, I know you're gonna be the best father. Kurt knew it too, that's why he agreed to have a family with you. He'd have never done that if he didn't think you'd rock at fatherhood, dude."

"I didn't…my father tries but he and I are never going to have what Kurt and Burt do."

"Dude, do you remember what you told me when I was freaking out about being a father cause well, I didn't have Burt in my life until I was almost ready to be out on my own?"

"I told you to put the kid first and the rest would fall into place."

"And when all else fails, ask yourself 'what would Burt do' and do that," Finn grinned. "It's been good advice. Eight years and I haven't broken Conner yet."

"I'm just scared I'm gonna mess up."

"Don't be. If something happens to Kurt you'll still have Rachel. She won't let you screw up her goddaughter."

Blaine shot Finn an incredulous look and Finn shrugged. "What? You know if something happens to Kurt, Rachel's gonna be all over you," Finn paused for a moment, his forehead wrinkled in thought before he continued, "and Mercedes. And Santana cause you two are so close and she has a weird soft spot for Kurt. You might want to move…and not tell anyone."

Blaine laughed, really laughed for the first time in over 24 hours at the image of Rachel, Santana and Mercedes locked in battle over which one of them got to choose Isabelle's outfit for the day.

"Dude, I'm not joking. Those three are scary when they work together. Remember the wedding?"

"Mine or yours?"

"Yours."

Blaine winced as he remembered the catfight that had occurred when Kurt insisted on having a bouquet toss. Mercedes had ripped the weave off David's date, and Santana had hit his cousin in the throat in an effort to secure the bouquet for Rachel.

"Not so funny anymore huh? How is your cousin Molly, by the way?"

"Shut up Finn. And thanks."

Two days later, Blaine found himself feeding his daughter at his husband's bedside. Kurt had finally woken up the day before but he was far from out of the woods.

"Mercedes is here and you let her dress Belle didn't you?" Kurt said softly, shaking his head at Belle's leopard print onsie with hot pink piping.

Blaine flushed guiltily. "It's unique."

"It's hideous and you should apologize to Belle profusely for allowing her to unknowingly commit a hate crime against fashion."

"Belle, Papa's sorry your daddy is insane. I think you look adorable. Since daddy's so picky, we'll just let auntie Rachel dress you tomorrow-"

"I want a divorce on the grounds of mental cruelty and irreconcilable differences." Kurt deadpanned.

"And he's a drama queen."

"Daddy's gets paid to be a drama queen because Daddy's a Tony winning Broadway star baby girl," Kurt corrected. "Don't undersell me to our daughter Blaine."

"My apologies," Blaine grinned. Blaine reveled in their banter but he knew that Kurt was still weak and tired and he was worried because on top of everything else the brunette seemed to be depressed.

Blaine knew that wasn't unusual but he also knew the benefits of patients having a positive attitude.

Carol chose that moment to come in and retrieve Belle. "How is my precious?" Carol cooed.

"I'm fine, thank you." Blaine and Kurt answered in unison, earning them a glare from Carol.

"First rule of parenthood boys: from this point on, it's all about the grandchildren."

"But you've known me longer," Kurt pouted.

"But you aren't my pretty, pretty princess Belle," Carol replied, grabbing the bottle from Blaine. "I thought you could use a break sweetie and some time alone with Kurt."

"Thanks Carol," Blaine said, smiling up at his mother in law. "I think though, you and my mother just want to make sure Belle's still in one piece."

"Oh hush, " Carol admonished, "don't let him fool you, Kurt. He's been wonderful with her."

"I'm sure he has," Kurt said, giving Blaine a small smile before looking up at Carol. "And if he ever falters, you and the rest of the family will be there to help him back on the right track."

Carol's smile froze and Blaine's heart plummeted. Kurt wasn't just depressed; he was giving up. Instantly Blaine was transported back to all the times over the past couple of days when his fear had threatened to overwhelm him. He could see the helplessness, frustration and sheer exhaustion that he'd been struggling with mirrored on Kurt's face and he resolved to do for Kurt what their family had done for him.

"Actually Carol, if you don't mind Kurt needs a little more time with Belle," Blaine said.

"I think that's an excellent idea," Carol agreed, handing the baby back to Blaine, before kissing Kurt on the forehead and leaving.

"I know this is hard for you," Kurt said after a few moments. "I wish there was something I could do to make it easier."

"There is," Blaine said evenly, looking at Kurt over the top of Isabella's head, "keep fighting. Stop doling out final instructions like this is a reading of your last will and testament. I'm your husband Kurt and even though you haven't said the words, I can hear you saying goodbye and I won't have it."

"Blaine-"

"I know what you're thinking," Blaine went on gently. "I won't sit here and lie to you, there were some dark moments when I was thinking the same thing but our family bitch slapped me back to reality and I'm here, ready and willing to do the same for you."

"Baby I'm not getting better-"

"I won't have it, Kurt." Blaine repeated stubbornly. "You have been through too much and fought too hard to give up now."

"I'm so tired," Kurt whispered, tears slipping down his cheeks.

"Then you take my hand," Blaine said reaching out for his husband, "You get your strength from me, from us," he said kissing Isabelle, "We won't allow you to quit, Kurt. You wanted me and you got me, baby. You wanted out of Lima and you got out. You wanted New York and NYADA and you got it. You wanted to be on a Broadway stage and you are. You wanted to be my husband and you are. You wanted to be a father and raise a child with me and you got it, Kurt. All you have to do is fight one more time, just one more time baby, so you can stick around and enjoy it all."

Blaine leaned over and rested his forehead on Kurt's. "If you can't do it for you, and you can't do it for me, you do it her. Do it for our little girl, Kurt. Isabelle needs you, you understand me?"

"I do." Kurt said, through his tears.

"You fight this, you get through it, and I promise you I will be right here every step of the way fighting just hard."

"I promise," Kurt said, wiping away his tears. "I am going to survive this and I am going to be my same absolutely fabulous self and I'm going to be with you and Belle for a very, very long time."

"We're gonna hold you to that," Blaine said softly. "Hey, hey babygirl, you want daddy to hold you?" Blaine asked Belle, as he maneuvered his way onto the bed beside Kurt.

Isabelle gurgled and cooed and Kurt beamed, "That was a yes. She's trying to communicate with us. Our daughter's a genius. I bet she'll have advanced language skills. We have to start researching preschools right away and-"

"How about you just hold her for now?" Blaine chuckled, placing her gently in Kurt's arms.

"Hi sweetie. Daddy missed you. You know what little one? You and me and your daddy, we're going to have the best life ever."

"We totally are," Blaine agreed, leaning in for a kiss.

Five days later Kurt was at home in bed, surrounded by fashion magazines, baby books, and his laptop with Isabelle sleeping peacefully on his chest and Blaine cuddled next to him.

As the sounds of their daughter's gentle, steady breathing filled the air Kurt looked at over at Blaine and smiled. "I told you we were going to have the best life ever."

Blaine stole a quick kiss. "It is pretty sweet, Mr. Anderson."

"But Blaine, " Kurt said eyeing Belle's purple and orange striped romper with a kitten on the front with obvious distaste, "if ever let Rachel dress our baby again, I'll cut you. This is an abomination and the only reason I haven't ripped it off her body and set it on fire is because �she's so adorable that she almost makes it work."

Blaine bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing and then nodded. "I can live with that."