"The course of true love never did run smooth." ~ William Shakespeare
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Kailani Hummel, an innocent small-town genderfluid teenager, gets sucked into a world that seems like only they can navigate in an attempt to save everyone they love. Will Qu...
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September 1st, 2008
Kailani inhaled deeply and whimpered at the painful strike in their chest with each breath. They leaned weakly into Kurt as he ran his fingers through his twin's hair, lips brushing their head.
They looked up when the hospital room door opened and Burt walked through with his jaw flexing. Kailani watched him, observing his behavior before shaking their head.
"Phenomena?" Kailani asked, voice hoarse.
Carol exchanged a look with Burt before sitting down on Kailani's other side and smiling softly at them. She brushed their hair out of their face and kissed her step-child's forehead.
"What's going on?" Finn stood up from his seat beside Kailani's bed. "Why'd they collapse at practice?"
"I can still play, right?" Kailani asked, pleading eyes shooting between their parents. "Please. I had...I had...fun."
Carol closed her eyes when Kailani struggled to get the words on their mind off their tongue, bringing a slight lisp to their speech. They fell into violent coughs, clutching their stomach and heaving close to vomiting.
"Deep breaths." Carol rubbed Kailani's back, watching her struggle to catch their breath. "Just like that. You're okay, honey."
"Dad?" Kurt's face fell seeing the battle his Burt's blue eyes. "Are they sick?"
"A little bit." Burt's face remained stoned, watching his youngest child sink back into Kurt's side with tired eyes. "But we can handle it, right, Prin—...Crowns? You got this?"
"Yeah." Kailani smiled weakly when Burt corrected himself to keep from using distinctive pronouns. "Flu?"
"Something like that." Burt hesitated to answer, glancing at Carol again. "They're finishing some testing and then the doctor will come talk to us."
"But Kai will be fine?" Finn asked, crossing his arms. "Dad?"
Instead of answering directly, Burt smiled at Kailani as he pulled out his cell phone. "Why don't we see if the Bristols can come out today? Maybe see if Santana can keep you company too?"
"Really?" Kailani's eyes brightened. "Please? I'd like Santana and Lucy to meet again."
"I'll give them a call." Burt hummed.
Finn stood at the side of Kailani's hospital bed and exchanged a slow look with Kurt. They seemed to silently agree with each other, even if they hadn't spoken on what terms they were sharing looks. It was easy to see the issue of Burt's dancing around their questions to keep Kailani calm was due to him hiding something.
