Where it all began...

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The young man stood anxiously by the side of the bed, his frame absolutely still except for the shallow breaths barely moving his chest and the rapid blinking of his bluish-green eyes. His arms were held out rigidly in front of him, his jaw clenching, nostrils flaring as he appeared to brace himself for what was about to come.

A soft laugh met the determined stance. "You don't have to worry about him being too heavy, Daddy. He barely weighs six pounds. In fact, this will be far easier on you both if you can manage to relax a bit."

Drawing a deep breath, the nervous man brushed a hand through his thick dark hair and shook his shoulders out before trying again, attempting to look a bit less like a weight-lifter about to be handed an anvil and more like a father about to hold his child for the very first time. "Sorry, I'm a little nervous I guess."

The kindly nurse smiled indulgently. "Happens all the time, trust me. You have nothing to be nervous about. You'll be an old pro before you know it. Now, here you go." She placed a lightly squirming blue-blanketed bundle into his arms, positioning him to support the baby's head in the palm of his hand.

"Oh, God." Tears welled up in his eyes as he gazed down into that small, wrinkled face, getting his first good look at the life he had helped create. One thumb ventured out to pet that delicate little face, marveling at its softness. He had never been a big believer in the Almighty, but right at this moment he was tempted to change his mind. There was no other way to explain the sheer perfection that he was witnessing in such a teeny, squirming, red-faced package. Stroking over the baby's head, he frowned, a bit concerned. "Will he? I mean, um … I kind of expected him to have more hair."

A chuckle from the nurse met this statement. The baby did have a bit of damp, downy fuzz here and there, but nothing that could rightfully be called hair. "Don't worry about that. Give him a little time and it will come. All of the important parts are accounted for. Ten fingers, ten toes…" They both laughed when the baby suddenly took a breath and let out a lusty howl of infant outrage. "And a very healthy set of lungs!"

"What did I tell you?" A tired but happy voice spoke from the bed, making him look up. "Listen to that voice. Didn't I say when he started kicking me every time you turned on the garage radio that he was going to be a singer?"

"Just like his mom," Burt agreed happily, going back to his wondering inspection of the yowling child in his arms, addressing him directly. "And here I thought you just didn't like the Classic Rock station."

The baby continued to wail and Burt jiggled him sympathetically, trying to calm the unhappy boy. "Aww, don't cry, little guy. It's okay. What's the matter? Are you hungry?"

"He probably is. He had a rough day," the boy's mother agreed, green eyes tired but so full of love as she took in the sight of her precious newborn and the awe-struck father who couldn't quite bear to part with him yet. "Bring him here, darling. Let's see if we can get him to nurse a little."

Burt moved closer and settled himself carefully on the side of the bed next to his wife. His rough adult hands looked absolutely huge in contrast to his son's body as the baby was transferred into his mother's arms.

"Here you go. Here's Mama," Burt said softly, continuing to lightly stroke the softly heaving little back.

The child whimpered and snuffled for a few more seconds, then found what he was searching for and latched on eagerly to the source of nourishment.

"Well, he certainly seems to have his father's appetite!" the young mother laughed, stroking one unbelievably soft cheek with a wondering fingertip. "Oh, Burt. I can't believe he's finally here! Our little Kurt."

Burt would later deny it when the time came to proudly show off his son's first photos to friends and relatives, but here and now, he didn't even care that tears were trickling down his face. Kissing his wife's lips, he wept without shame. "I love you so much, honey. Thank you for giving me the most amazing son in the history of the world."

His breath caught when the baby flailed a tiny arm, miniature fingers landing on one of Burt's larger ones and instinctively curling around it.

"Looks like somebody thinks he's got a pretty amazing dad, too."

Lifting the captured digit a bit higher, Burt kissed that tiny hand, knowing in that moment that he would do anything and face everything the world could ever throw at him if it meant that he could keep Kurt safe and happy.

"I love you, too, son. I love you, too."

THE END

D'awww, baby Kurt! Comments?