Author's Note:
Parents bring with them both the joys and pains of their own childhood. Blaine and Kurt are no different.
Welcome to "From There to Here." In retrospect, this is an Alternate Universe Ready to Fly Series Future Fic, if Kurt had spent Blaine's senior year in Ohio instead of going to New York on his own.
Most of the stories about Kurt and Blaine as parents have been very sweet and fluffy. While this one will certainly have those moments, those of you who know me know that I also love my angst. There will be some warnings in later chapters, but if you've read my others you might have an idea where I am headed.
I've been told by my good friend momaboutown that this story may not be for everyone, and that's ok. Just please don't judge until the end of the chapter.
From There to Here
Kurt and Blaine frantically paced the floor of their Manhattan apartment, running out of ideas of who to call. Tears had dried on both their cheeks, their minds racing with thoughts of the worst. They had called all her friends, the hospitals, the police stations, the theater and the club and no one had seen her. Their friends were all out looking for her and no one had reported back in. It was 10pm, and her curfew was 6pm in the winter when the sun went down early and the city grew cold. Manhattan at night was no place for a 12 year old girl.
Just as they were about to call the police again, she walked in the door. She wore a tan designer coat, pink gloves and a fluffy pink scarf. Her long red hair was covered by her hood, and her pale freckled cheeks were pink with cold and nerves. For a moment Blaine and Kurt remained frozen where they stood, staring at their daughter as her eyes went back and forth from her father to her daddy. Then Kurt ran to her and took her tightly in his arms.
"Kayleigh, thank goodness you are ok, you had us so worried!" he cried, not wanting to let her go. She buried her head in her Daddy's neck.
"I'm sorry," she said quietly.
He stepped back, placing her at arm's length and bent down a bit to put them eye to eye. "Your father and I were terrified Kayleigh. We didn't know if you were hurt or in danger. We called all your friends, everyone is out looking for you."
"I'm fine, Daddy, I didn't mean to make you worry," she said matter-of-factly.
"Fine?" Both startled at the boom of Blaine's harsh voice from across the room. "If you're fine, young lady, then you better get yourself to your room right now," he ordered.
Kayleigh looked up at Kurt, a worried look in her eye. "Daddy?" she asked uncertainly.
"Now, Kayleigh!" Blaine yelled pointing down the hallway.
Kayleigh let go of Kurt and ran to her bedroom.
Kurt went over to Blaine and placed a soothing hand on his arm. "She's ok, Blaine, she's home and she's safe. Let's just take a minute to calm down before we talk to her, it's been a long night." Now that she was home again, Kurt's heart stopped racing and the knots in his stomach started to unravel.
Blaine pulled his phone out of his pocket and sent off a quick message to everyone letting them know Kayleigh was home and safe. "I don't need to calm down Kurt. She's twelve years old, she stayed out until 10 o'clock at night without calling, texting or in any way contacting us, and I am not going to put up with it." He stormed off to his daughter's room, Kurt trailing closely behind.
Kayleigh had closed the door behind her, and he knocked only once before opening the door. She lay on her bed, music hooked into her ears. Her father storming into her room startled her and she pulled out her earphones and sat up.
"What the heck Dad?" she yelled.
Blaine stood astounded at the foot of her bed. "What the…?" he echoed then shook his head in disbelief. "Are you out of your mind?"
As Kurt stepped into the room, Kayleigh stood up and walked over to Blaine. "Why don't you just calm down, Dad," she snapped back to her father.
"Where the hell were you tonight Kayleigh?" Blaine asked, though from her attitude he was almost positive he knew precisely where she was and he didn't like it one bit. "You left this house my sweet little girl this morning, and now you're back four hours late, sassy and defiant." Kayleigh stared at him but didn't answer. "Answer me, Kayleigh," he warned.
Kurt stepped toward them standing on either side of them both. His only desire at the moment was to defuse the situation. "Sweetheart," he said gently touching her arm, "just tell us where you were. It's our job to make sure you're safe."
She folded her arms across her chest and puffed herself up as tall as possible, coming just underneath the shoulders of both men. "I was fine. I can take care of myself. I don't need either of you." She spoke to both of them but her eyes were on Blaine, daring her father to say differently.
Blaine's blood boiled. "You better watch it young lady," Blaine said in warning.
"You are not my father and you can't tell me what to do! I want to live with my mother, I hate you!" she screamed in his face.
Kurt saw it coming. He saw Blaine's eyes blazing. He saw Blaine's hand twitch. It had been years since he'd seen Blaine like this, since before they had adopted Kayleigh, but he knew it in a heartbeat. As Blaine raised his hand to their daughter, Kurt caught it and pulled him to the door.
He looked straight into Blaine's eyes, watching the fire slowly burn out. "Go outside. I'll handle this," Kurt ordered.
"Kurt," Blaine whispered, heartbroken.
Kurt looked at him, softly running his fingers through Blaine's curls, trailing his hand down his husband's back where he squeezed him lovingly. Sweat beaded on Blaine's brow. "Go," Kurt told him, gently pushing him out the door.
Kurt and Kayleigh watched as Blaine shoved his hands in his pockets and disappeared into the living room. Kurt watched him until he disappeared around the corner then carefully closed the door to his daughter's bedroom. He turned and considered his daughter. Tears were welling up in her eyes and she looked at Kurt, sad and confused.
Part of him wanted to just tell her she was grounded and go out to take care of Blaine, but he knew he couldn't. Instead, he sighed and sat down on her bed, patting a spot next to him. Kayleigh sat, wringing her hands together in her lap, eyes staring at them. "I didn't mean it," she said quietly.
"I know you didn't sweetheart," Kurt said, "but there's a reason you said it and I'm beginning to think your father knows why." Kurt waited for her to speak up, but she didn't. "Why won't you tell me where you were tonight?"
"Because you'll be mad," she answered truthfully.
"Kayleigh, we're already mad," Kurt said to her. "We'll be madder if you're not honest with us." Again he waited, but there was no response. Kurt's mind started to race with possibilities. "Do you think you were safe?"
Kayleigh nodded. "Yes."
He moved his fingers to her chin and pulled her face up to him. She was so beautiful, and so young, bright blue eyes, shining with unshed tears. She was hiding something and he was sure Blaine had figured it out before him. Blaine always knew her better. "Would your father and I think you were safe?"
She looked at him, then averted her eyes. She shook her head, face reddening with guilt. That confirmed it for Kurt.
"You were with your brother," Kurt accused her. He didn't need to ask. He knew. She just nodded the confirmation.
Kurt got up and paced across the room.
Kayleigh jumped up. "I was fine Daddy, really. He didn't do anything wrong. I was safe. Please don't be mad," she begged.
Kurt stopped and turned to her. "Getting you home 4 hours after your curfew is not fine and safe. And not letting us know you were okay, does not prove to us you are mature enough to visit him on your own." Kayleigh's tears started to fall down her cheeks. Mad barely even covered the emotions Kurt felt. She had been asking to see her brother a lot lately, and they had repeatedly told her no. They hadn't felt she was ready and she proved them precisely right tonight. He was mostly certainly mad, as well as disappointed in her behavior, not to mention worried about what she may have learned that evening. "3 weeks, Kayleigh, that's how long you had to wait for another visit, only 3 weeks."
"I needed to see him now," she cried.
"Well, I hope it was worth it," Kurt said shaking his head. "Because now you are grounded for 3 weeks until the visit. You go to school and you come home. I can't risk you going out there again. As for what you said to your father, I suggest you sit here and think about how that hurt him and come up with a good way to apologize to him. We will talk more about this later, with your father when all of us have calmed down."
Kurt took a deep breath as he walked out of his daughter's room and back into the living room. He saw Blaine sitting on the couch, head in his hands, as he had for years whenever he was upset. For a moment Kurt flashed back to the 16 year old boy, so hurt and alone, hiding everything inside. Kurt sat down next to him and wrapped his husband in his arms. He could feel Blaine trembling next to him.
"I was going to hit her," Blaine said, voice breaking with shock.
"But you didn't," Kurt tried to reassure him.
"But I would have. If you weren't there, if you hadn't stopped me, I would have." Tears rolled down his cheeks.
Kurt turned to Blaine and took his face in his hands. "Listen to me Blaine. I don't think you would have." Blaine looked away, knowing differently, but Kurt wrapped his arms around Blaine's neck. "We knew this day would come. We talked about it before we decided to adopt her, before we were even married. We knew it wouldn't always be easy, but we'll get through it."
"I just don't want to be him," Blaine started but Kurt kissed him gently to stop his train of thought.
After a minute he pulled away and locked eyes with Blaine. "Listen to me. You are not your father. You are nothing like him," Kurt told him firmly. "You are a wonderful Dad and Kayleigh loves you very much. You have never hurt her, never even come close to raising a hand to her before."
"And I won't ever again Kurt, I swear it." Blaine fell into Kurt's arms and cried until the tears had run dry. Kurt whispered affirmations in his ear and kissed him gently, but he knew there was nothing he could do other than assure Blaine that he trusted and loved him and that Kayleigh did too.
After a few minutes, they were interrupted by quiet footsteps and a small voice. "Dad?"
Kurt and Blaine sat up to see Kayleigh in her pajamas. Blaine wiped his cheeks and opened his arms to her. Kayleigh ran into them and buried her face into his chest, smelling the musk of her father that had always made her feel safe when she was afraid. "I'm so sorry," she said.
"I'm sorry too sweetheart. I didn't mean to…" he tried, but he couldn't say it. "I hope I didn't scare you."
"What I said was horrible, Dad. I would have deserved it if you hit me," she said, looking down ashamed.
Blaine glanced at Kurt shocked, then quickly lifted his daughter's face so that their eyes met. "Look at me." Her tear-filled blue eyes met her father's glowing amber. She reminded him so much of Kurt. "Stop right there. Nothing you could do, now or ever, gives anyone the right to hurt you. Not me, not your Daddy, not your friends or a boyfriend. Understand? Nothing. I was very, very wrong."
Kayleigh nodded and wiped away her tears. Kurt reached around Blaine and hugged them both, rubbing both of their backs. "But you were angry," she reasoned.
"Yes," Blaine admitted. "I was angry. I was hurt by what you said. And I was scared all night. And it still isn't an excuse." He looked back and forth between Kurt and Kayleigh. "Did you tell Daddy where you were?" he asked.
They both nodded hesitantly, concerned about Blaine's reaction.
"Did you see your mother?" Blaine asked calmly.
"No. I just saw Michael," she admitted reluctantly.
Blaine took a deep breath and closed his eyes, calming himself. Kurt squeezed his shoulder to keep him centered. Kayleigh had been asking for weeks to see him on her own. He had contacted her online, despite Blaine warning him not to, and he was pushing her. Blaine had been adamant that she was not to see him outside of her supervised visit. He knew what her brother was into, and it wasn't anything good. He could interrogate Kayleigh. He could ask if Michael was sober, if there were alcohol or drugs, or other guys where they were tonight. He could ask all those things, but those answers could be gotten later. She was safe at home, and really there was only one question that was important.
"Why?" he asked.
She looked back and forth between the two men that had raised her since she was two years old. How did she tell them? How did she explain what had been in her heart for basically her whole life. They answered her questions when she asked, but they were vague and protective. Her childhood was all a blank to her and she just wanted the real answers. "I just wanted to understand," she said.
Kurt took her hand and squeezed it. "Understand what sweetheart?" He glanced up to Blaine and he could see the pain in Blaine's eyes. Kurt had always wanted to tell her their story. Blaine thought it better to wait until she was older. The fact was, it was too hard for Blaine. Too many of his own unresolved issues.
She considered her fathers. They were her fathers in every way and she desperately loved them. But she had a family out there that she only saw six hours a year. A brother, a mother and she didn't know who else. But she needed to know. "I just want to know how I got from there to here. I need to know."
Blaine looked at Kurt. After 17 years together, they didn't need words anymore. They both knew it was time. Kurt rolled his eyes and pulled himself away from the two most important people in his life. "I'll get the popcorn," he said lightly heading to the kitchen.
"I'll get the scrapbook albums." Blaine went into the master bedroom and took out a number of scrapbooks he and Kurt had put together over the years. And one that had been created for Kayleigh on her adoption day when she was only 3 years old. As he reached for it, he sighed. The simple times were over. It was going to get hard from here, but he knew that together, they would make it through.
All three of them gathered on the couch. Kayleigh had gone to her room to get her teddy bear and her blanket, childhood security items that she still liked to cuddle when things were scary or sad. She wasn't naïve. She had a feeling that there was going to be a little bit of both in the story of her fathers and her childhood. But she was also excited to finally hear it.
Blaine smiled at Kurt, and Kurt smiled back. Blaine nodded at his husband to start. Kurt looked at them both, eyes shining. "It all started 17 years ago, when your father and I met at a school called Dalton Academy in Westerville, Ohio."
A/N:
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