Dreams

Plot Summary- Set after Ours. Kurt and Blaine are trying to raise their kids in a supportive environment. But sometimes that's not as easy as it seems. Together, they have to take care of and nurture their kids while teaching them that life isn't always easy.

Quick Note: Well, here's the sequel to Ours, dreams! This story will be a tiny bit different—a lot more flashbacks and jumping then the last one. And to avoid confusion, video will continue to be indicated in Italics while flashbacks will be indicated using Bold-Italics. With that in mind, hope you enjoy :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Glee or it's characters.

6:30 every day. Never missed a day in 6 years of life.

"Daddy? Daddy the alarm didn't go off, it's time to wake up!" Kurt blinked his eyes open and saw a trench of frizzy curls in his face—large gold hazel eyes meeting his. The little girl had a front tooth missing but even then, Kurt could still see the smile that belonged to his husband. "Daddy…"

"Alright. I'm up." Kurt smiled. Then she folded into his arms with her bubbly nature. Pink cotton pajama shirt riding up slightly as she clung to Kurt. Not that she cared in all her excitement. Blaine didn't stir even in the slightest. Being the fashion expert had its downsides, like when your daughter lied on you to fix her hair. "Do you want your breakfast first? Or do you want me to fix your hair?"

"Hair." She responded simply. Kurt stood and carried the girl against his hip. They went down the hall and into the bathroom where he set the girl down on the toilet before plugging in the straight iron. "Should I put the heat reducer in my hair now?"

Kurt nodded, trying not to smile in amusement as she tried to reach for the cabinet. He stuck his head out and called out. "Aimee Blaine, are you awake? If you're not, I won't be able to fix your hair before school."

"I'm up…" He hears a tired voice call back. Kurt then turned back to his other child. Trying to peer into the mirror despite her small height so she can rub product in her hair. Kurt smiles but feels a pang deep inside. Seeing the girl here reminds him of the fact that his youngest son is not here. Though that's something of lie because he is. Dalton still exits within her—its just that she's wasn't born to be Dalton, or so she insisted. She now goes by Stefani, and that hasn't changed since she was three and still living as a boy.

It was hard to believe a six year old could already have such a complicated existence. At 6 years old, he didn't know he was gay. At 6, he didn't even know what sexuality was. Just that girls were 'suppose' to be gross, girls dressed a certain way and boys dressed another, and that the differences between the two were restricted to minor things like hair length and skirts versus pants. The idea that his youngest child believed – no, no, knew- he was born in the wrong body…It simply amazed Kurt.

But Dalton Harry, now Stefani Rae as she had renamed herself, had always amazed him.

()

"Your son is exhibiting signs of Gender Identity Disorder."

This was nearly two years before. Blaine and Kurt sat on the uncomfortable couch across from the obviously recently graduated therapist. Not their first choice, but he had been the one their doctor recommended. Kurt knew what those words all meant in a row—he came across the phrase quite often in his younger days do to his belief that fashion knows no gender. Until a few months ago, he thought maybe Dalton was just going through a phase himself. A phase that started as a toddler and just hadn't phased as quickly as it had for Aimee and Court. The 4-year-old child currently sat in the corner, coloring and quietly humming to himself. Kurt resisting the desire to go over and re-tie his curly hair.

But things had gotten suddenly very serious when Dalton started vocalizing the fact that not only he had discovered that he had penis, but that he hated he had one. Not only that, but had thrown a hissy fit all because Kurt wouldn't let him go to school as the dress up personality he and Aimee came up with—Stefani, after both Gwen Stefani and Lady Gaga's real name.

Blaine however was less familiar with the phrase. He obviously knew each word separately, but not all together. "What does that mean?"

The therapist, Preston Karris as he had introduced, took out a sketchbook. He leaned forward and handed it to Kurt and Blaine. "I asked Dalton to draw a picture of himself and the people in his every day life. This was what he drew." Kurt and Blaine peered down at picture of what appeared to be their family. There was a curly haired tall figured that was obviously Blaine, a slightly taller figured with a long coat that was Kurt, one smaller character holding a football that was Court, another that was about the same height with long hair and wearing glasses that must have been Aimee, and finally the last character was holding hands with the Aimee character—with equally long hair and wearing a purple dress he had seen on Dalton when he and Aimee played dress up. "I asked him to tell me who was in the picture, and he identified you two, his brother, and his sister, but identified the last character as Stefani."

"That's the name he uses when he wears his sister's clothes." Blaine mumbles. Dr. Karris hums and shakes his head.

"It's a little more complicated than that. I asked him who Stefani was and he proceeded to tell me about how she lived with her two fathers; about the school she attended, which was Dalton's school, and about how there she has to be 'Dalton' there. I tried explaining that he was Dalton, and he understood it, but wouldn't respond as strongly unless I called him Stefani…. Mentally speaking, he knows he's Dalton and a boy, but he wants to be Stefani, and is trying to identify himself as a girl."

Kurt to this day can't believe the words that came out of his mouth. He told himself they weren't out ignorance. It was out of fear and uncertainty. Out of the knowledge that life would be so much harder for his son if he did indeed have Gender Identity Disorder. "He's only 4…How can we be certain? It might just be a gender-bending phase."

"Usually children who 'gender-bend' still acknowledge themselves as the sex they were born, Mr. Hummel." Dr. Karris says affirming. "I can't tell you if this is permanent. Transgender children have been known to grow out of it by or around puberty, that being said… Dalton seems pretty convinced he's Stefani. I've given you a lot to process and I think you should take some time to research GID and we'll reevaluate our options next week."

It's Blaine that begins researching later that night. Kurt manages to settle the kids into their favorite movie—Labyrinth before he joins his husband at the computer. By the time he joins him, Blaine's eyes are red and watery. Kurt knows immediately why. The articles he's found discuss the amount of confusion and self-hatred these children go through. He reads one about a boy so desperate to be a girl that his parents had just barely stopped him from trying to cut off his anatomy. He reads another about a teenager who killed herself because of the taunting she faced every day. He then proceeds to read about the more medical processes about it—the surgeries, the therapy sessions, the mental and emotionally torment these people go through simply because they had the misfortune of being born in the wrong body.

Blaine almost cries enough when Kurt points out some of the other articles. One in particular about boy who started living as a girl not much older than Dalton was now. And how despite the teasing and judgment, she's much happier now. He reads stories about transgender people who live normal lives and have found love. Many of these stories are lined with sadness and pain, but the end result is happiness which Kurt and Blaine can relate to all too well. They aren't exactly reassured but they're starting to learn that A. this will be a lot harder for Dalton than it is for them, and B. That there's a possibility that this maybe their son's life.

It's from that moment on they start learning more about who their child really is and what made him that way.

()

Kurt's not sure when exactly fatherhood automatically made him a fashion designer, but by the time both his girls have their hair styled (Aimee with long straight hair as he hair almost refuses to curl or take volume, and Stefani with ringlets pulled up and away from her face because she has the absolute opposite problem). The girls then go and pick out their wardrobe, Aimee helping her sister pick out clothes while Kurt started to get himself ready. Blaine during that time gets up and starts fixing breakfast for the family while keeping an eye on Court's progress.

"Court did you take a shower last night?" Blaine asks when he sets down a plate in front of his nine year old son, too engrossed with his handheld video game to answer the questions. "Court Jaden, I'm talking to you."

"I took one three nights ago. I still look clean." He mutters, still not looking up.

Kurt who has entered from the other room runs a hand through Court's greasy hair and makes a face. How the young, smelly athlete could possibly be his son is beyond Kurt. "No, you look like your salamander, though he probably got wet today."

"Benny's a Chameleon, dad."

"Salamander's aren't even lizards, sweetie." Blaine corrects as he finishes up Kurt's fruit cup and yogurt.

Kurt gave him a look before he dug into his fruit. "Seriously? Your son smells like Finn's armpit and your biggest concern is the correct term for the pet youbought him?" Blaine just smiles over his shoulder. Blain mentioned that he himself went through a phase where showering wasn't a high priority. Kurt could only hope that this phase went away before his son was old enough to be a social outcast because of it. "He doesn't have time now…throw a little cologne on him before he leaves the house I guess. And you are taking one tonight if I have to throw into the water myself."

He then reaches over and pushes the video game out down and away from Court's face, pointing to his food with his other hand. Court sighed and paused the game so he could start eating.

It amazed Kurt just how different he and his son were. Court had limited interest in theater, though he loved music. He was really big into sports—he and Blaine never missed a football game, played baseball every summer and for his 8th birthday, the boy had requested his room be designed after the Patriots, The Yankees, and for good measure, the Buckeyes as Blaine had taught him to like. The only thing they shared in common was that they liked some of the same sorts of bands and Court had a little bit of an eye for fashion, though it apparently didn't extend to cleanliness. Despite the differences, Kurt and Court had a close relationship. Every other Sunday, they had breakfast together at a diner of his choosing and even though he hated sports, Kurt never missed a game of Court's. It reminded him of something Burt had told him once…You may not necessarily be interested in what your child did, but it was cool to see them doing what they loved.

Aimee and Stefani made their appearance at last. Aimee looks almost like a little fashioniesta, hair parted perfectly, wearing a black shirt, red skirt, and high-socks outfit she had made last year. While she had always been smaller than Court, Aimee was one of the taller girls in her class, though sometimes that was attributed to her wearing boots that at least had something of a heel to them. Blaine often joked that Aimee was what Kurt would have been like if he had been born a girl— attitude, sarcastic comments and all.

Then, there was Stefani. Kurt and Blaine loved all their children equally and each relationship was different in it's own right. However, Stefani would always be the baby not just because she was the youngest. It was because she was shyer than either of her siblings were, demanded their attention so much more, but also somewhat shared their passions. Whenever Kurt did Stefani's hair in the morning and started to sing, she would sing with him. When Blaine played the piano, she would sit by his side and follow along on the keys. Blaine had started taking guitar lessons in his free time, mentioning that he had started in middle school but stopped due to injuries from the Sadies Hawkins dance. Stefani loved hearing play so Blaine was thinking of enrolling her with lessons to once the school schedule settled down. Aimee had picked out a casual, thin dress, decorated with subtle, tasteful flowers and leggings tucked into the pair of pink sandals Blaine had bought for the beach last year.

"Ew, what's that smell?" Stefani said wrinkling her nose as the girls sat at the table. Blaine gave them each a plate of breakfast. Eggs and potatoes for Stefani, and oatmeal for the recently vegetarian Aimee.

"Your brother." He answers simply, finally grabbing his plate and sitting down at the table too. Now that everyone was sitting, Kurt decided it was time to go over the plan for the day. They did this most weekdays as between Kurt and Blaine's busy schedules and the kids various activities; they were frantic by midday unless they had a plan.

"Alright, Court don't forget you have track after school. I'm picking up your skates for hockey tomorrow so remember you have that too. Blaine, you're taking Mimi to ballet, right?"

"Right after she gets off school. " Blaine confirmed with a smile and turned to Aimee. "Did you pack your leotard and dance shoes in your backpack?" She nods in response.

"And inhaler?" Kurt adds with a stern voice. She nods again and he continues. "You don't have ballet tomorrow but remember you're going with Uncle Finn and Court to hockey practice since Papa and I will be taking Stefani to her appointment. I don't want to hear about any pouting, complaining, nothing other than Mimi was a perfect angel, understood?"

"Yes Daddy." Though her tone indicated she was less than thrilled with this arrangement. "But could you at least ask him not to take us to get hotdogs afterwards? He always gets us hotdogs no matter how many times I tell him I don't eat meat or how bad red meat is for you."

"Hey, I like hotdogs!" Court said in an annoyed tone. Kurt senses an argument escalating and defuses it before it goes further.

"Mimi, I'll remind Uncle Finn to get you something vegetarian okay? Just don't bother with the whole 'it's not good for you thing'. Believe me, with your aunt Rachel around he gets more than enough vegetables." Kurt then turns his attention to Stefani. "Before you leave the house, I have a note for you to give to your teacher. Can you remember to give it to her or do you want me to pin it to your shirt?"

Stefani looks up from her breakfast. "I can give it to her."

"Steffi, you remember why your giving the teacher the note, right?" Blaine asked. She chewed her food slowly and then answered.

"Cause I'm going to see Dr. Karris?" Blaine nods and smiles softly. It always seems harder for them to have her go see the therapist than it is for her, which Kurt supposes is a good thing if you really looked at it. Kurt just worries one day she won't see it as the place she gets asked questions and get draw pictures, but rather an analysis over something she didn't completely understand herself.

They went once every three months. This was to A. confirm that Stefani still wanted to live as a girl, B. make sure she wasn't suffering any bullying or emotional issues, and C. to help Blaine and Kurt better understand what she was going through. On a level, they could. They had grown up with people judging their appearance, their interests, and their love. Back in Lima, they often felt like they lived in a society that didn't have a place for them; so they could understand what it was like to not belong. However, they couldn't imagine what it was like to feel that way inside your own body.

Kurt and Blaine realized life wouldn't be easy for her. In fact, it may be harder for her than it ever was for them. He hoped one day she wouldn't come home from a dance bloodied and beaten or that she didn't get shoved into lockers everyday. From what Kurt heard, since she started going to school as a girl, she had few friends and kids weren't always open to her, but she wasn't necessarily bullied either. It was still early in the year and things could change, hopefully for the better rather than worse.

Because that was what he always wanted for his kids. Acceptance, love, and better.

And there's chapter 1 of Dreams! Hope you guys like the direction so far (simultaneously excited and nervous for reactions). I wanted to do this in the story because earlier this year in my class, I watched an Barbra Walter documentary that followed kids who were transgender from a young age and the struggles they go through to be who they are, awesome documentary if you get the chance to watch it. The kids had gone through a lot of confusion and fear everyday, but are just so happy to feel like they can be the gender they feel like it should be, and you know, I think Blaine and Kurt would handle the situation well (most of the time anyway, I imagine their acceptance would have a lot of personal struggle to go with it as well). The story won't focus completely on Stefani though; we'll see the things Court and Aimee have to struggle with too. And of course, we'll get lots of cute family moments :)