Near the end of Willow Lane two women stood gazing at a house. It is a fairly old two storey building with a 'for sale' sign planted at the front of the yard and a moving van parked on the curb.
"It's so weird that someone's already moving into Elizabeth's house so soon after she died" said Susan.
"I know," replied Katherine "it's kind of like when you break up with a guy and the next day you find out he's got a new girlfriend and it's like, 'oh, I didn't know we were seeing other people already' ".
"Look, the moving people haven't even taken the sign down yet. These people must be pretty antsy to move in; this van doesn't even have much stuff in it."
"Speaking of which meow"
On cue a young man emerged from the truck. He was reasonably tall with a shaved head and wore a pair of jeans with a tight white shirt that accentuated his ripped chest.
"Katherine! He's got to be at least 10 years younger then you. Speaking of which, he can't have been out of college that long, how can he afford a place like this?"
"He's living with another guy, maybe they're both super-rich or something".
"You saw another guy? What does he look like?"
"Honestly, like the bastard child of Liberace and Elton John".
"Hey, you don't think him and the muscle guy…"
"No, don't tell me muscle guy bats for the other team. I haven't had a hot neighbour since, since Lizzie went out with that puppet guy."
"Seriously? I thought he was creepy."
"Yes Susie, but he was hot."
At this point the van drove off, so the two women approached the house armed with what Susan called welcome-to-the-neighbourhood gelato and some paper to exchange phone numbers.
"Sure, come in."
At muscle guy's invitation they made their way through to the living room, where they sat on the couch. It was weird; the familiar room still had most of the same furnishings but was otherwise bare. Elizabeth didn't have any children or close family and the loan people had taken most of the things of any value, and it didn't seem like the new proprietors were going to refurbish it any time soon.
"I'm just putting the gelato in the fridge, do either of you want some coffee."
"We're fine, thanks."
"That's good because I don't think we have any coffee."
As he joined them the other man made his way down the stairs.
"I just finished putting away the last box but we're going to have to unpack properly if- oh hello, I didn't know we had company."
"I suppose I should introduce us. I'm Susan Derkins and this is my-our neighbour Katherine Fairchild."
"My name is Noah Puckerman and he is Kurt Hummel."
"Well I live next door and Kathy here is just across the road so if you need any help setting up, well, I have a husband who can do all the heavy lifting." Susan laughed.
"I really like what you've done with the place" said Kathy, indicating the sparse room and eliciting a glance from Kurt.
After a moment of silence Susan decided to broach the subject. "So, it's interesting that you're two guys who own a house together."
Kurt spoke up "He's my boyfriend if that's what you're trying to ask."
Susan was ready to jump in with an interjection; she knew from experience that this was the point where Katherine would say something inappropriate; but instead she seemed to be happily staring into space, apparently having already lost interest in the new neighbours.
After some more prying the women found out that the two had been a couple since high school. Whilst Kurt had attended a performing arts college "slaving under the spotlight" an uncle of Puck's had gotten him employment at a recording studio that produced animated television shows. After working as an assistant for years Puck was 'discovered' and offered a role as a voice actor for his variety of voices and impressions, which was something of an undiscovered talent. Kurt and Puck had decided that after Kurt graduated they would live together, having had to maintain a semi-long-distance relationship. However Puck was offered a role on an animated show by Fox on the agreement that he move to California, where it is being produced. So Puck's generous uncle loaned them the payment for a nearby "house in the 'burbs", which the girls assumed would be selling at a low price on account of the whole previous-owner-dying-in-mysterious-circumstances thing.
The first thing Katherine thought was 'who is this uncle and where can I get one?'
The first thing Susan thought was 'there is clearly so much more to this that they're not telling us yet'. But this was fine for now. There is a saying amongst the housewives on Willow Lane: There is always more prying to be done.
I wanted to write a Puck/Kurt story and decided to set it in the future to avoid the tricky situation of how they actually got together. As far as you're concerned Puck spent the intervening years between this and high school making up to Kurt for being an ass, wooing him, etc.
As for the whole house in the suburbs thing I honestly don't know where that came from. I hope you accept my flimsily constructed explanation for why Kurt and Puck are living together in some Stepford suburbia (don't squint too hard; I admit it makes little sense).
By the way I'm not a massive Desperate Housewives fan so it wasn't until after I finished this that I realised how similar my fic is.
Anyway, hopefully my next author's notes won't be so long.