This fic came to me when I was supposed to work on my term papers and instead I kept watching clips from various versions of talent shows on youtube. (You guys know how it is).
Anyways, I have read some mpreg stories in this fandom and it occurred to me that the biological Hummel-Anderson kids would have to be incredibly talented with two dads such as our favourite gays, so this story just kind of happened, and there will be some more…
About Dalton, the clips of music is of a singer called Michael Ball and he is much older than Dalton, but I do picture Dalton to have his light brown curls and dimples. However, he is a mix of his fathers, with Blaine's smile and skin tone, Kurt's built, nose and hair colour and his eyes resemble his uncle Coopers, except they are green. (Oh, and I borrowed Coop's nickname for him from another mpreg story).
Dalton is so nervous he has a hard time standing still and keeps shifting his weight from one leg to another. Around him people are talking, some dancers are warming up and there is a group of girls giggling in a corner. He checks that his number is still on his Henley for probably the thirtieth time, pressing it against the blue/grey fabric with sweaty palms.
"Calm down Chip, you're going to be great," a voice says and he can feel his uncle's hands squeezing his shoulders. His uncle always calls him Chip, which for some reason annoys the hell out of his dad, but Dalton doesn't mind. With a name like Dalton you learn not to care too much about what people think about your name. He knows his name is special, he knows what it means to his family, and he loves that his uncle has singled him out to give him a special pet name.
"Number 481!"
Dalton hurries to follow the young woman that ushers them down a hallway into a much smaller waiting room. There is an older woman in there with her daughter dressed in matching outfits and a little boy and his parents, Dalton selfishly hopes he doesn't have to follow that little boy. Going on after cute little kids is a nightmare, he has enough experience with that being the oldest of four. The teenage girl catches his eye and she blushes pink when he smiles at her, making her mother scowl at him, so Dalton quickly turns away and focuses on doing his warm up exercises. His uncle is trying to help him, standing in front of Dalton throwing tips his way and flapping his arms as if he is directing a fifty piece choir, it is distracting enough that he forgets his nerves for a while. That is until it is his turn to stand back-stage and look on as the cute little boy lisps his way through a slightly off tune rendition of an oldie, Justin Bieber's "Baby". It is sickeningly cute, but nothing more and he thinks he may have a chance after all.
The little boy is led off the stage by the host, John Leguizamo, a few tears on his cheeks and the crowd out there is bussing, and suddenly this doesn't feel like such a good idea after all. Why did he think that he was good enough to be on the re-launch of America's got Talent? It's not like he does much singing outside the shower and the family karaoke parties. Besides, he is going to be in so much trouble when his dads find out. Dalton is about to turn around and head for the exit when his uncle is there and pats him on the back.
"You go get them Chip, you are a star. With your talent that you have inherited from your father, your dad's charm and my good looks, you kid will knock them dead." And with that he gives Dalton a push and he is on stage, slightly blinded by the lights as he makes his way towards the mark in the middle of the stage. His heart flutters in his chest and his palms are clammy when he stops and lifts the microphone to his lips and looks out at the packed audience and the dreaded panel of judges.
"Hello," he breathes into the mic, and the sound makes him blush slightly.
"Hello young man," Tyler Oakley says to him, "what is your name and what are you going to do for us today?"
Dalton swallows nervously because he knows the minute he says his last name Mr. Oakley is going to know who his father is and he hopes he won't comment on it.
"My name is Dalton… Anderson… Hummel," he manages to get out, "I'm sixteen and I'm going to sing." He barely registers the buzzing of the crowd as he nervously licks his lips and tries to gauge the reaction from the judges. Mr. Oakley just cocks and eyebrow for a second, but then Anna Kendrick, the scary judge, tells him to "get started kid," so he does.
A nod and the familiar tones of "Maria" from West Side Story comes over the speakers. Dalton takes one deep breath and sings : watch?v=y4okBj-KQDQ
When he finishes it is like a fog is lifting and someone suddenly turned up the volume of the world at the same time. His heart is pounding loudly, but it is almost drowned out by the applause of the audience and this wave of emotion is bubbling up inside him, making a grin spread across his face as he dazedly takes in the overpowering sound filling the theatre. The audience eventually quiets down and his nerves jumps up and down in his stomach like Mexican jumping beans.
It is Anna Kendrick who speaks first.
"Dalton," she says and holds his gaze with her eyes, "you made me want to change my name to Maria." And he feels relief washing over him and his grin is back.
"Dalton, that was amazing. You young man are a star!" That's from Kelly Rowland, who has judged on X factor according to his father.
Dalton can barely mutter a few thank you's he is blushing bright red now.
"Dalton," Tyler Oakley says, and Dalton suddenly feels a bit nervous again, "I have never heard a voice like that on a sixteen year old before. What made you choose that song?"
"Well, my dad was Tony in his high school production, so I figured if I did a song that meant something to him, I wouldn't be in as much trouble for doing this behind his back," Dalton rambles, making the audience laugh as he finishes.
"Well, if I was your dad I would be very proud of you," Mr. Oakley says with a cheeky grin.
"Let's vote," he says to his co-judges.
"It's a Yes from me," Kelly says.
"Huge Yes from me," Ms. Kendrick says.
"Dalton, you are going to Vegas, you have 3 Yes'," shouts Tyler Oakley and Dalton manages to say thank you and get off the stage without stumbling over his own feet.
When he makes it backstage he is engulfed in a huge hug from his uncle.
"Coop, you're squishing me," he manages to get out. His uncle lets go of him and wipes away a few stray tears from his face.
"I am so proud of you," he says before hugging Dalton again. There is no interview with the host, he doesn't get through the human wall that is Uncle Cooper and his hugging. Instead he smiles and waves them away.
They get out into the lobby and Dalton cringes when his uncle tells the whole room that his nephew is freaking amazing and will win this competition. It finally hits home that he has gone through to the semi-finals, and that he has to tell his parents when he comes home. Trying to shake off a sense of dread, Dalton follows his whooping uncle out of the building.
When Dalton unlocks the door to his home in Brooklyn later that night, he is really nervous, so nervous that he doesn't react when his little sister Lizzie rushes out into the hallway.
"Dad and Papa are really mad," she whispers, worried in a way only a nine year old can be. Lizzie has always been the worrier in the family.
"Dalton!" he hears his father melodic voice from the kitchen, it is higher and harsher than he has ever heard it before. Subbing his feet on the hardwood floor he makes his way into the kitchen where he finds both his parents.
"Dalton, where have you been all day," his dad says, his hazel eyes look slightly red rimmed, like he has cried.
"And don't give us that bullshit about hanging out with Jasper and Malik because Malik's mother called here wondering where he was," his father bites, he seems angrier than dad.
"I… I was with uncle Coop," Dalton says, and he can see both his parents visibly relax.
"Why didn't you just say so?" his father asks, his voice has returned to its normal speaking range now.
"Uhm…" Dalton studies the floor.
"I sense a confession coming," his dad says and gives his father a look.
"I kind of went behind your backs and auditioned for America's got talent," Dalton says
"Right," his dad says, "so even if we told you that you had to finish high school before doing talent shows or competitions you deliberately obeyed us. You know we have to ground you for this Dalton."
Dalton slumps against the kitchen doorway.
"Yes sir," he says, knowing there is really no use arguing or else he will just make it worse for himself.
His parents look at each other, and they seem to be having one of those conversations without words that they are so good at having.
"I think you should go to your room, and we will talk about your punishment in the morning," his father says, and follows Dalton as he heads for his room. In the hallway he throws an arm around his son and gives him a squeeze. It's good to know his father isn't angry anymore.
"How did you do?" he whispers as he stops by Dalton's door.
"Three Yes' I'm going to Vegas," Dalton whispers back and sees a smile spread across his father's face and a hand ruffles his light brown curls, before his father heads back to the kitchen.
The next time Dalton is getting ready to go on stage he has his father beside him backstage, the rest of his family is in the audience. He is calmer, although his father is kind of freaking out and keep adjusting Dalton's clothes, which is really annoying. All Dalton can think about right now is his song, but still little bits from the past days keep popping up, specially the family interview that was done. He knows that after tonight the whole nation is going to know that he is one of the few children born out of a male pregnancy and that he has two dads. In one way it is no different than everyday life for Dalton, all his friends know that his dad is a carrier and that he and all of his siblings are male pregnancy children, but still, the whole country… that is kind of intimidating.
Dalton tries very hard to push these thoughts out of his head and focus these last few minutes before it is his turn. He has rehearsed the song, he knows it backwards and forwards and he can't wait to hear the reactions to it, whether he is good enough to go through to the final… he tries to be philosophical about it, but he really really wants to.
Finally it is his turn and he can walk out on to the spot in the middle of the stage again. Of course he is slightly nervous because today's judging panel is now four judges, Simon Cowell is back to judge, and according to his father that man is ruthless. Dalton chooses to smile, and hide his nerves, the singing is a piece of cake this talking to the judges, that is nerve wracking.
"Hello, Dalton, how are you feeling today?" Kelly says.
"I feel good, not too nervous," he says, letting his grin get wider. He is not vain, but neither is he stupid and he knows that he has a nice smile, and that girls love his dimples, so maybe that will work on grown women as well. The judges smile and laugh with him, except for Mr. Cowell, he is stone faced.
"So how has the weeks up to tonight been for you?" Tyler asks, and Dalton lets his face fall a bit.
"Well, I was grounded for three Fridays in a row for going on the show behind my parents' back, but that just gave me time for more practise."
Tyler Oakley laughs, as do the rest of them, even stone face is smiling now.
"And how do your parents feel about it now?"
"Oh, much better," Dalton grins, my dad is in the audience with my brother and sisters and my father is backstage." He inclines his head to where he knows his father is pacing nervously.
"Good, good, whenever you are ready," Simon says, and Dalton nods and takes one last calming breath before he gives the signal for his music to start.
watch?v=KTZ4Wwz1-EI
When he is done, he feels elated. He knows that he has done his very best and that if he doesn't go through that there is nothing he could have done better.
"So Dalton, how are you feeling?" John Leguizamo asks him, and suddenly Dalton remember there are cameras watching him.
"Uhm, it was great, I felt it went really well. I just hope the audience likes it as well," he says.
"Let's hear what the judges have to say," John says and turns away from Dalton to face the four in the panel.
"Well," it's Simon who speaks, "Dalton, I thought the guys here exaggerated a bit when they told me about you but seeing you perform with my own eyes, I actually think they didn't. You kid have something great, and with your looks I bet you'll be a hit with the girls."
Dalton just blushes and studies his shoes, he has no idea how to answer that, because who does when they are sixteen and have barely kissed a girl.
He gets more praise and four Yes' and then he can head backstage to find his father.
"You were great D.," his father says as he enfolds him in his arms. Dalton isn't quite as tall as his father yet so he lets his father tuck his chin on top of his head as he holds him tight. "But kiddo, in the final, your dad has to be back here with you, my nerves can't stand one more performance being back here alone." His father looks really frazzled, making Dalton chuckle.
"Sure thing. I love you papa."
"I love you too kiddo."
If you like this story, please review. I will be writing two or three more chapters, because there are more kids in the Hummel-Anderson family.