AN: Whew. Okay, I think I may have gotten slightly inspired by the events in the finale. So I finally broke down and finished off Rachel & Kurt having their first child. I do hope everyone likes it. And so everyone knows, there are some pieces in the story that I have published before, but they have been edited and tweaked slightly. Here's a list of what's been included:
Two to Tango
Dinner and a Change
Discussion
Your Turn
This first chapter is mainly a lot of already seen material. If you want, you can go ahead and skip to the second if you've already read them before. Anyways, I hope you enjoy!
Rachel just felt off. Like everything around her was running five minutes ahead and she couldn't catch up no matter how much she tried. She was tired, so very tired. She was pretty sure it had been a couple of weeks since she had a full night's rest. Rachel had thought the show was just stressful even though it was still early in production, but even at home she felt exhausted. And it had nothing to do with the first reviews. She had fallen asleep making toast and tea the other morning and it seemed like it was getting worse. The fog in her brain just made her feel like lying down and waving the white flag in surrender.
Whatever this was, it was taking it's sweet time doing her in.
"I think I'm getting sick. I hope it's not cancer. Please tell it's not cancer Kurt," whimpered the brunette, looking panicked at the love of her life. He was setting down some soup and sandwiches for them both for dinner on the coffee table. Rachel was all cuddled up under a blanket, surrounded by pillows. He patted her knee.
"I doubt it's cancer. And your understudy can take over if it's necessary. It's not the end of the world Rachel. You can be sick. Cold and flu season isn't exactly over."
"It is for me," pouted Rachel. "I don't want to be sick. I've even been wearing those little masks out in public."
"Maybe you're not," said Kurt with a shrug as he picked up half of his turkey sandwich. Rachel narrowed her eyes at looked at him, irritated.
"What do you mean by that? Do you think I'm faking it? Like I want to be tired and cramping and grumpy?"
"Well no," said Kurt. He rubbed the bridge of his nose. "But it does sound like you're perhaps having PMS?"
Rachel stared hard at Kurt. Like she wasn't aware of her cycle.
"It was just a suggestion!" said Kurt with a sigh. "I have been living with you for seven years and counting. That doesn't even include high school and having to avoid you girls one week out of a month as much as I could. I have learned what week is what, and even I know that sometimes the timing is off. Especially when you start reaching for our dark chocolate stash."
A thought flickered in and out of Rachel's mind. It hadn't been that long since their fifth wedding anniversary, and…
She got off the couch quickly, jumping over the edge of the coffee table and running for the sanctuary of their bedroom. Rachel pulled her planner off the side table, praying to the heavens above that she had not conceived a child at Disney World.
The brunette whimpered and whined as she flipped a page in the planner, checking for the last time she had her period. She flipped another page and whined as she had to flip another.
"Rachel?" said Kurt. She looked up and saw he was frowning from the doorway, leaning against it. "Are you okay honey?"
She closed the planner with a snap, glared at him, and ran to the bathroom, shutting the door with a slam.
"Oh god, please tell me you're not nauseous too," said Kurt. "I don't want to be throwing up."
"Yes!" Rachel yelled back in a ruse, not wanting for Kurt to come in. She pawed through the bathroom cabinet, looking for the boxes. She had picked up some new ones about four or five months back just in case. She pulled out a test box and whimpered.
She was pregnant. Everything fit. The tiredness, the cramping, even her breasts had been a little sore and she could have sworn the other morning her favorite bra had been much tighter than it should have. Rachel realized after looking at her planner she hadn't had a regular period in a couple of months. She sat down on the toilet with a thump, chastising herself that she hadn't paid enough attention.
"Rachel?" said Kurt, knocking on the door. She knew he was worried about her being ill.
"I'm fine," she sighed. "I'll be out in just a few minutes." She looked at the box again, trying to decide what to do. The brunette started tearing into it and pulling out the foil wrapped package. Might as well start with test number one…
About 15 minutes later, she went back to the living room where Kurt was sitting on the couch, eyeing Rachel's sandwich over his empty plate. She pushed it and the soup over in front of Kurt and curled up beside him on the couch.
"Oh honey," said Kurt. He pulled her closer and Rachel gestured for Kurt to put his feet up on the couch. He did so and Rachel crawled into his lap and laid her head on his chest. She found herself being covered in one of their large throws.
"This illness is going to be bad, huh?"
Rachel didn't say anything as Kurt rubbed her back. How was she even going to tell him that the pregnancy test she had just taken in the bathroom was positive? She looked up at Kurt with a sigh before laying her head back down on his chest. Thinking about a potential baby made her rub her belly. It wasn't like she and Kurt hadn't talked about kids. They both wanted kids in the future. But talk was all they had ever done because the future was so… the future. They had been careful, so careful about things.
She still couldn't believe she had possibly conceived a child on their wedding anniversary trip. How ironic timing was that in her life?
Rachel just hoped the pregnancy test she took in the morning would be negative. Then she would go to the doctor like before and be declared pregnancy free and could go on with her life till she knew she was absolutely ready. But from the way she felt right now she knew it wasn't possible. Thinking about it now, she felt pregnant. Everything looked, felt, tasted, and smelled different the past couple of weeks and she hadn't even paid that close attention.
It'd also explain why she had a reoccurring craving for orange marmalade.
She sighed and let Kurt comfort her.
"I think I might have a stomach bug or something," she said finally, leading Kurt on in a ruse. "You're probably going to get it now."
"It wouldn't be the first time we've traded off diseases," said Kurt. "I think we'll manage. But you however are going to the doctor in the morning."
"No," she whined. "I'll be fine. I just need to rest."
"And you haven't been sleeping well for a while Rachel."
She wanted to snap at him, she really did. He had gotten her pregnant despite all the protection they had used. She gave him a pout instead.
"Okay, two days," he said with a sigh. "But after that, I will physically carry you to the clinic whether you like it or not. You have a show to do. You'll thank me later."
Two days. She sighed. At least he thought it would be two days of illness. She hoped to find out about her pregnancy before then. Though she didn't think she'd be ready to turn their world upside down in that short amount of time.
The next morning, Rachel called her director before getting out of bed, letting her know that she wasn't feeling well, but that she'd be back to the stage the next day. She pulled the covers back over her and pretended to sleep as she listened to Kurt getting ready for work. She felt sort of guilty that she hadn't said anything yet to him about what she had potentially discovered about herself. It was Kurt's child too.
Baby. She was having Kurt's baby.
"Your daddy hums while he's doing his hair," she mumbled to her belly as she ran her hand over it. Flashes of Kurt helping a little child up on a step-stool and helping them brush their teeth in her mind made her whimper. Mostly from the cuteness of the image, but partially from what had to happen between then and now for said child to appear. She didn't want to wear maternity clothes. Did she have to wear maternity clothes?
"Rachel, are you talking to me? I can't hear you through the blankets," said Kurt from the bathroom.
"No I'm just talking to myself," lied Rachel. "Going over my lines in my head."
"Rest," said Kurt, coming out of the bathroom and flipping off the light. He sat down beside Rachel, stroking her hair. "Health first, then work."
Rachel sat up in bed, pulling on the covers.
"This stomach bug is making my imagination run wild," said Rachel casually. She was just going to go ahead and throw it out there to see how he'd respond. "I dreamed that we had a child last night."
"Really?" said Kurt, with a half smile. "What did they look like?"
"They had your freckles," teased Rachel. "And blue eyes. Bright blue."
"And they had your voice of course," said Kurt, giving her a raised eyebrow.
Rachel broke out into a big smile. "Of course. And they had my drive and motivation. Which will probably lead them to a successful career onstage."
Kurt rolled his eyes. "Go back to sleep Rachel. Now I know this illness is making you delusional if they didn't have my fashion sense or my practical sensibility." He kissed her forehead. "Do you want anything before I go to work?"
"Another run of Funny Girl?"
"Only if I can have a lead in a stage version of Taxi," said Kurt as he got up and headed for the doorway. "Text me if you need anything sweetheart."
"I'm going to stay right here in bed," said Rachel. She started pulling on the covers, scrunching up her face. "Unless I'm in the bathroom."
He gave her a sympathetic look and headed out of the bedroom. She waited till she heard the front door shut before she flung the covers back. She really had to pee. Shutting the bathroom door just in case Kurt came back, she made a grab under the sink for the other pregnancy test and was relieved when she could actually sit down.
Looking at both of the pregnancy tests she had taken had made Rachel sigh in the bathroom. They were identical. Now she was sitting at the kitchen, contemplating her next step over a glass of juice. Rachel moved to pick up her phone from the table. She had to call her doctor, choose an obstetrician… but stopped.
Was she really ready to do this?
Well, it wasn't like she could just pick up a baby in the mail whenever she wanted. It was in her uterus already, a little bean sized thing that she was sharing her blood with. She sighed. She was going to need things. Vitamins, nursing bras…
But first, she wanted and needed Kurt by her side in this. She picked up her phone and called her doctor, setting a last minute appointment for early afternoon. She was grateful they had a cancellation and could see her today. Rachel was certain she couldn't wait any longer. She had to know for sure. She looked down at her stomach.
"We'll be telling your daddy soon enough," she said. She didn't even want to know how Kurt was going to react. Even thinking about telling him was making her nervous. The brunette pushed the thought out of her mind and headed for the shower.
Rachel walked out the doctor's office with a handful of information and an answer which while relieving her that she hadn't spent money on faulty pregnancy tests, made her wonder even more about her life and where she was heading. Was she really ready for a child? Yes she was of the right age for child bearing, but was she ready to dedicate a good chunk of her life to raising a child, much less children? It probably meant little to no parties and socializing for a while. She had already seen more than few people in the Broadway community drop off the radar to have families. Even her own former glee club family was growing. Tina already had a boy named Justin, and Rachel had recently found out that Sugar had two son, ages two and three.
A boy, thought Rachel. She could be carrying a son. Rachel stopped and looked in a store window. She leaned backwards and poked out her abdomen, trying to imagine what it would be like in a few months.
If Kurt wanted to keep it that was. They would have to come to a mutual decision on that. There was no way she could do it without him. The thought that she was pregnant with Kurt's baby made her smile a little, remembering high school and all its dramatics. Never would she have thought she'd ever be pregnant with his child. Well, there had the thought between them she might have been his surrogate at a later date. But that seemed so long ago now. She pouted at the image in the glass.
"I'm going to get stretch marks," she groaned. Makeup would just have to cover them up if she ever got on the cover of Rolling Stone. She saw a little coffee & sandwich shop down the street and decided to go in for a moment and gather her thoughts. Once inside, she nearly stopped dead in her tracks at the sight of one of the tables. A woman was sitting there with a baby stroller and feeding a little girl a bottle. Rachel almost whimpered out loud at the imagery, putting a hand over her mouth to stop herself.
She headed towards the counter and ordered herself a cup of chai before sitting down at a nearby table. She leaned her head to the side and watched the woman feeding her little girl. The little shop was busy with the late lunch crowd, but she had a good vantage point. It always amazed her how people could instinctively know what their child would want. When did you give a bottle and when did you change a diaper? How did you know when it was just a bad dream or they were sick? What if they were dehydrated or had constipation and she didn't know it? Or even worse, what if she was onstage and he or she was dying? Would she go on acting or run off stage and to the hospital?
Rachel had to calm down and take a deep breath. Her baby barely had her nose, much less a chance to be dying of leukemia or suffering from a massive head injury.
Her baby. It was funny how one little word could change how you felt about things. Her baby. Holding her baby, kissing her baby. Dressing them up in great clothes, going to see her dads…
And smells. The absolutely sensuous smell of grilled cheese on the panini press was making her stomach growl. Like nothing else in the world sounded better than eating a large melty, absolutely gooey grilled cheese sandwich.
"Can I get one of those?" she pointed out the sandwich on the press to the waitress as she brought out her tea to the table. "It smells delicious."
"I'll get Chuck to make you up one," said the woman with a smile. "They're really great. There's like five cheeses and lots of fresh herbs."
Rachel nodded with a smile, but inside she was dying at the thought. Her vigorous dietary regiment was probably not going to survive her pregnancy. Maybe she could get Kurt to go vegan in her stead. That would make their weekly dinners out even more amusing.
Dinner. That was it. She could tell Kurt over dinner tonight. Placate him with good food before laying out the news that he was about to be a father. But she was going to have to work fast. She took a sip of her chai and pulled out her phone, quick dialing a number.
"Hello Isabelle? It's Rachel, Kurt's wife. I was wondering if I could ask a favor…"
Kurt had just finished researching for a piece on the latest model trends on the runway and was about to call it a night when Isabelle walked into his office. There was a bright smile on her face as she laid out some little outfits across his newly cleaned off worktable.
"I'm trying to pick out some gifts for a friend of mine," said the older woman. "Gucci sent over these cute newborn outfits and I can't make up my mind. Think you can help me decide? They're all too adorable."
"Aw, are those little onesies?" said Kurt, coming over to the table and putting a hand over his heart. He tried not to yawn as he looked them over, feeling tired after a long day. They each came with a short sleeved outfit, a long sleeved coverall, a hat, and booties. "So precious." He paused, thinking. "I think personally I like the soft white & yellow with the light brown details."
Isabelle held it up. "And that would match the Guuci white wool receiving blanket and matching baby bag I'm giving them. Thanks, Kurt."
"Can I see?" asked the fashion writer.
"I would but they're already being wrapped by one of the new interns," said the fashion editor. "I can show you them on the website if you want."
"Maybe later," said Kurt, yawning again. "I think I'm about ready to go home."
"Tired?" asked Isabelle.
Kurt nodded. "Rachel's been restless and not feeling well. She's also being stubborn and not wanting to go to the doctor."
Isabelle chuckled. "Women are good like that sometimes Kurt. We don't want to admit something is the matter."
"Well, she needs to if I'm going to get any sleep," grumbled Kurt, crossing his arms.
"Are you about to leave?" asked Isabelle. Kurt nodded.
"Just as soon as I gather my stuff and shut down."
"Could you do me a favor?" she asked. "I'm meeting someone for dinner, and I have these flowers for them. I just don't want to show up with them in hand." She looked sheepish. "Would you mind helping me out?"
Kurt raised an eyebrow. "So you want me to play delivery boy?"
"You'd be the cutest delivery man ever," laughed Isabelle. "And certainly the best dressed," she said as she eyed his Westwood pieces with approval. "Come on, it's just around the corner at that little Italian place we always get catering from."
"I suppose. Just for you though," smiled Kurt, picking up his bag and slipping it over his shoulder. "Do I get a tip?"
"I'll let you pick out the hotel when we go to Paris."
"That's only because my French is better than yours."
Isabelle smiled. "As usual, you see right through me." She went back to her office and came back with a jacket and a huge bouquet of white lilies and pink roses with greenery.
"Gorgeous," said Kurt with a nod. She handed him the flowers.
"You're the best," winked Isabelle.
"Say that tomorrow when you're giving me the lead on next month's story on fashion and charity."
"Blackmailer."
"I learned from the supreme blackmailer herself," said Kurt with a light smirk. Isabelle pushed the button for the elevator and they waited for it to appear.
"How is Santana?"
"Enjoying being an actress," said Kurt. He adjusted the flowers in his arm. "She's happy with Brittany out in L.A."
"That's where everyone is these days," said Isabelle. "If you want to be famous."
"So it seems," agreed Kurt. "I miss them being in the city though."
Isabelle nodded, but no more was said. The elevator dinged for the first floor and they both got off and headed out with a nod to the security guard at the door. The spring evening air greeted them with the heat of the city as they walked down the sidewalk to the east and towards the restaurant.
"So who are you meeting for dinner? Some famous celebrity or fashion head?" asked Kurt.
Isabelle was checking her makeup in a hand mirror as they walked. "Just the wife of one of our fellow employees."
"Oh? Something that plebeian in the life of Isabelle Wright?"
"My life isn't completely fabulous as head editor," chided Isabelle. "I do sit in my apartment and eat Chinese like the rest of New York."
"While watching bad reality shows," said Kurt.
"And my DVR is full," sighed the woman. They approached the restaurant and Isabelle started pulling out her phone. "I need to make a quick call and then I'll be right in. I owe you the biggest favor Kurt."
"You'd better," mused the fashion writer. "And who am I looking for?"
"You'll see her. She sort of stands out," smiled Isabelle. "Now go on."
Kurt arched an eyebrow at that, but said nothing. He walked into the restaurant. A maître d' was waiting at his podium by the door.
"Come on in," the black suited man said with a smile. "We've been expecting you, Mr. Hummel."
"You've been expecting me?" said Kurt in confusion. He knew they frequented the place fairly often, but never had he been called by name. "How…?"
"Kurt."
He looked up to see Rachel walking towards the entry way from the seating area. She was dressed in a soft sky blue dress that came just above her knees with silver sparkles shimmering across the material. Her hair was in curls, cascading down her shoulders. Silver heels adorned her feet.
"Rachel. You look gorgeous honey," said Kurt, going over to her and giving her a quick kiss. "I thought you were laying down still?"
"I am feeling better, and so I decided to meet you for dinner," said Rachel.
"But how-? We don't have reservations."
"Yes we do or I wouldn't be here," giggled Rachel. She looked at the flowers in Kurt's hands. "Aww, Isabelle shouldn't have," said the brunette. She took the bouquet from him, and took Kurt by the hand.
"Come on, we have a table waiting," smiled Rachel. They both followed a waiter to their table. It was secluded from most of the others in the restaurant by a half- sliding wall. It was quiet and secluded, which was great for when Isabelle wanted to take the staff out for lunch. Kurt looked confused as they sat down, putting his bag under the table.
"Okay, I know I didn't miss our anniversary. Please tell me you aren't dying from something, or I'm going to break down right here and now."
"I'm not dying Kurt," said Rachel, rolling her eyes at her husband's thought pattern. "I just thought we could have a nice night out." She sat the flowers down on the table in the middle and smiled at them. "I asked Isabelle for her help. I wanted to surprise you."
"Well, it is a surprise," said Kurt with a slight smile. "She acted like I was going to deliver flowers to a friend she was meeting for dinner."
Rachel chuckled softly as the waiter brought water and offered a drink menu. She declined, asking for just water. Kurt looked over it, ordering a cocktail for himself.
"Not ordering anything?" asked Kurt.
"I don't think anything with alcohol would be good for my stomach at the moment," said Rachel with a sigh, thinking how she was going to spin this lie. "It took all I had to nibble on dried fruit and nuts all day."
Kurt frowned at that. "And now you're going to eat pasta?"
"I am hungry," admitted Rachel. "I'm going to go for something light." Kurt nodded at that, looking at the flowers.
"So how was your day?" asked the brunette.
"Fine," said Kurt, waving his hand mindlessly. "Meetings, phone calls, and research." He smiled and took Rachel's hand and squeezed it. They were seated not far from each other and he played with her fingers. "You know, the usual."
"At least it was uneventful."
"That is a good thing. I got some things done," nodded Kurt as the waiter brought his cocktail and their menus.
"Oh, the roasted butternut squash ravioli with spring bean pesto and Paramigano sounds wonderful," moaned Rachel. "I think I will be having that for dinner."
"That does sound good," agreed Kurt.
"Maybe I'll give you a small baby bite," smirked Rachel teasingly. Kurt laughed at her words.
"Only if you let me indulge in something extravagant," he said, looking down at the table where he had laid down set list of food.
"Just stay in our budget please. I saw some of those wine prices."
"Not that," said Kurt, giving her a dour look over the top of the menu. "Their oyster offerings here is the delight of the season."
"Well, maybe just this once," said Rachel, taking a sip of her water. "It is a special occasion."
"Okay, what are you up to?" asked the fashion writer, putting down his menu quickly. "You asked Isabelle to help you surprise me with dinner and she gives you flowers. And now it's a special occasion?"
"May I recommend the Kumamoto oysters?" said the waiter, trying not to look too amused at the pair. "Fresh in this evening from Washington. Gorgeous and cold."
"I think I will," said Kurt, smiling at the waiter. Rachel was glad for the brief interruption.
"Very good," said the waiter. "And for you madam?"
"I'd love to try the smoked eggplant with herbed ricotta and marinated plums," said Rachel. She pushed her hair behind her ear and smiled at the waiter. "I don't think my husband has decided on an entrée yet, so we'll need a few minutes."
The waiter nodded and left with their appetizer orders.
"Okay, so special occasion," said Kurt. "Just because the waiter took our attention doesn't mean you get to get away from the question."
"After dinner," said Rachel with a smile. "Don't worry."
"Now I am worried," said Kurt. "Please don't tell me Isabelle is firing me via you."
Rachel laughed out loud and squeezed his hand. "I don't think Isabelle would ever fire you honey. She likes you too much."
"I'm still not convinced," said Kurt skeptically. He took a sip of his drink, happy to feel the alcohol and sugar wash over him.
"You had better choose your main course," reminded Rachel as she pulled out her phone. "I'm sure the waiter will be back soon."
"I think I'm going to go for the salt baked branzino on a bed of wild arugula and lemon with roasted cherry tomato & basil risotto," said Kurt, setting down his drink. "Now spill. I'm ready to order."
"That doesn't count," teased Rachel. "We haven't eaten yet."
Kurt gave her a pointed look.
"Patience," chided Rachel, rubbing a finger across the condensation on her iced water. "I kind of want to savor this moment before our lives change."
"Okay, now you've really got tell me," said Kurt, looking slightly disturbed as the waiter approached with their starting course. "Rachel, what…"
Rachel dipped a fork in the herbed ricotta after the waiter had taken Kurt's dinner order and left, placing it to her lips and taking a bite. She closed her eyes as she enjoyed the flavor. She was going to be craving and enjoying a lot of cheese in the near future as just eating that small bite was hitting all the right notes. She pointed to his plate.
"Eat, then I will tell you."
Kurt sighed and dipped one of his oysters in the accompanying vinaigrette.
They talked through dinner about their day, with Kurt making side glances at Rachel. She finally got him distracted when she mentioned some gossip on the Broadway blogs that got him interested in some production's big scandal. It wasn't until they ordered dessert: a salted caramel mousse with dark chocolate crema and coffee crumble for him and hazelnut semifreddo with anise mascarpone and fresh grapefruit with a dark chocolate drizzle for her that Kurt brought it up again.
"You've ordered a lot of cheese for dinner," said the fashion writer, eyeing his wife. "You normally don't even eat cheese unless you're being polite."
"I'm blaming you," said Rachel. "I got a craving for it."
"I do like cheese," agreed Kurt, thinking as he took a sip of his drink. "But what does that have to do with me and this apparently special occasion?"
Rachel laughed, looking down at her lap. She stood up and moved her chair next to Kurt's, kissing him softly before she sat back down.
"I love you, but you are sometimes so clueless." She wrapped his hands in hers.
"Kurt… I'm pregnant."
"Well, that's nice," said the brown haired male. "You can— wait, what?"
She tweaked his nose. "Burt's getting that grand baby he's been wanting forever."
"Rachel, are you serious?" said Kurt, his jaw moving back and forth as he processed the news. "How… I mean, I know how, but-"
"I confirmed it with my doctor this afternoon," said the brunette. "Two months. Our baby will be born in late November or early December." She paused, staring at his shocked face. "Kurt, say something."
He kissed her instead. Rachel moaned into the kiss before returning the gesture. It had been a reaction she wasn't expecting. Kurt was pulling her closer, wrapping his arms around her waist as he leaned into her shoulder.
Rachel sat back a little. "Kurt, what…"
"You're pregnant, Rachel. You're really pregnant," He paused, staring at her for a moment like she was something he hadn't seen before. "I'm going to be a dad." He groaned. "I'm going to be someone's dad. A family. A baby… I mean…"
"I know," said the brunette. "I've been thinking about that all day after I found out." She pulled out of Kurt's arms and looked at him. "I thought you'd be more in shock about this."
Kurt fiddled with his scarf before sitting back in his chair with a sigh.
"I know we've talked about it in the past. We weren't in the right place in our lives, still in school and such. And we really were not… stable I suppose. If we hadn't of put in the time and dedication, we wouldn't be where we are at 25. You wouldn't be one of the most talked about leading ladies on Broadway and an upcoming actor, and I wouldn't be writing for the magazine and the website plus doing Broadway and doing movies too. I had been thinking about… talking about it." He blushed and looked down at his boots. adjusting one of the laces.
"Aw Kurt," said Rachel, her eyes softening. "You want to be a dad."
"I am so not ready though," he said with a sigh, placing a hand over Rachel's stomach. It was a gesture Rachel knew there would be a lot of repeats of in the future. She rubbed a hand across Kurt's.
"I'm not sure I'm going to be a good mother," admitted Rachel. "You're probably going to be the better parent."
"Of course. They will be well fed and dressed. And don't put yourself down Rachel. You will be the best mother to them that you can."
"But what if they don't like us?" whimpered Rachel. "Or they are embarrassed by us? What if we're absentee parents because of work? Kurt…"
"And on that note," said Kurt as the waiter approached with their desserts. "My wife is freaking out about our future child. I think I need your strongest single malt scotch. Please."
Rachel gave him a look. "Kurt, you don't need alcohol for that."
"I might need it for your mood swings. Ow!"
The brunette sniffed as she re-crossed her arms after smacking Kurt's shoulder. "You will be right here beside me, going through it as I will."
Kurt sighed. "I guess I don't have to have alcohol, but it would be helpful." The waiter was laughing and left the table quickly.
"Kurt."
"Oooh, a motherly tone already."
Rachel rolled her head back and groaned.
"You'd better watch these mood swings Hummel. I might just stab you with a fork."
"At least I will have died happily with good food in my belly and progeny in yours." He moved quickly to get away from Rachel before she smacked him again.
"You are in a mood, aren't you," she mused, a small smile on her face.
Kurt took a bite of his mousse. "You have to admit, it is kind of funny."
"What do you mean?"
"Rachel, in high school, I joked with my dad that he would never have to worry about me getting anyone pregnant. Then you in all your insanity turned my world upside down. Or sideways. Something. Now you're having my baby."
Rachel kissed his cheek before rubbing it with a smile. "It was bound to happen sometime. We aren't always that careful."
"I suppose once in the seven years we've been together isn't a bad record."
"Well, three actually. I was late a couple of times and I started to wonder."
"Do you want this?" asked Kurt suddenly, looking at her. "I mean, I know I just admitted that I thought about having kids, but if you're not ready…"
"I don't know. I kind of want this," said Rachel. "I mean, I'm not dancing or anything too strenuous right now on this latest project, so it is kind of good timing…"
Kurt frowned and swirled the last of his drink. "I hope that isn't the only reason."
"No," smiled Rachel. "I've thought of us having children more a few times. I mean, they will be a little bit of both of us, you know?"
"Let's just finish and go home," said Kurt. He fed Rachel a bite of his mousse.
"I'm so replicating that."
Rachel whimpered at the taste. "Please do."
After getting home from the restaurant, Rachel was relieved to get out of her heels. Changing out of her dress into something more comfortable, she came back into the living room to find Kurt reading through some of the information they had given her earlier at the doctor's office. He looked bewildered at it all. She decided to lighten the mood.
"Aren't you pleased I'm going to have bigger breasts?" she teased him as she sat down beside him on the couch. "More pillow for naps."
Kurt quirked an eyebrow at that. She gave him a small giggle and crawled into his arms. He put down the pamphlet and wrapped his arms around her.
"How am I supposed to nap when you'll have a big balloon belly?"
Rachel rolled her eyes at his attempt at a joke.
"You're nervous right now, aren't you?"
"Terribly," he said, his voice muffled as his face was buried in her hair.
"You'll be a good dad," said Rachel. "I know you will."
"You'll be a good parent too," said Kurt. "Mostly I'm worried about seeing you in labor. I may come out of that missing key body parts."
"I promise I won't break your hands."
"It's not my hands I'm worried about."
Rachel smirked and made a grab for the front of Kurt's pants. "You know, I enjoy that part of you too. And I'd like to keep enjoying it."
"Parents," sighed Kurt as he tried to wiggle out of Rachel's grip. "By the way, there were a couple of times you thought you were pregnant?"
"Just… a thought," shrugged Rachel. "It's always a worry every month if I'm a day or two late."
Kurt leaned his head back against the couch with a sigh. "I guess it's easy to forget how worrisome this stuff is."
"Hey," said Rachel. "We've been doing alright. Things just… happen."
"A baby happened."
"Mmhmm," said Rachel as she ran a hand through Kurt's hair. "Our baby." She took Kurt's hand against her own, gripping his fingers tightly. "Which will be here in about 8 months, give or take." She sighed. "But before we even start planning names or rushing to tell our families, we have to find an OB and make an appointment. My doctor said since I was about eight weeks along we could probably get a sonogram and hear the heartbeat."
"See and hear our baby?" said Kurt, surprised. "So soon?"
"Well, we are running a little behind," began Rachel. "I sort of didn't even think about being pregnant till you mentioned PMS last night and I went and checked my planner. I hadn't had a cycle since before we came back from our anniversary trip and I hadn't even noticed."
"You're usually well aware of these things," Kurt said, side eyeing her.
"I was too caught up in the exhaustion and not sleeping well I think," frowned Rachel. "Or maybe I was too caught up in work. You know how focused I get."
"He or she is still tiny Rachel," said Kurt. "It's not like they've made that big of an impact on your health and body."
"We still have most of the year for that," agreed Rachel, snuggling closer to Kurt. She gave him a smug look, quirking her lips. "Eight months of you waiting on me hand and foot."
"I knew that was coming," said Kurt with a small sigh.
"You got me pregnant Hummel with your evil boy... sperm," said Rachel in a stern tone. "There are repercussions."
Kurt laughed a little, shaking his head.
"I still can't believe we're having this conversation."
"I know we haven't been been together or married as long as some," said Rachel. "But you have to admit, it probably would be for the best. I don't think we want to be 36 and trying to have children. I know it seems like a long time between then and now, but…"
"It is," Kurt said softly. "But us… with kids?"
"Would you rather be having children with Tina? Imagine those mood swings."
"I'll leave that to Mike," said Kurt, shuddering.
"There's always an upside to everything," chuckled Rachel. "Though now I'm wondering if you'll still love me when I'm nine months pregnant and round."
Kurt kissed the top of her head. "It'll be a cute, well dressed baby belly."
Rachel sniffed. "I knew it. You're only concerned about your child." She yelped when Kurt's hands dug into her ribs.
"You know better than that."
"Do I?" she said with a little pout, pushing her arms down to her sides to keep him from doing that again. Kurt rolled his eyes and smoothed down her hair.
"Yes, you do," said the countertenor. "You will be beautiful, even with stretch marks and swollen ankles and oily skin and…"
"Ugh," said Rachel, burying her head deeper into Kurt's chest. She could feel him chuckle at her reaction.
"Come on," he said, rubbing her back. "Let's just watch a movie for a while and try not to think about the next few months."
Later that night Rachel woke up, feeling dry in her mouth and throat. She got her water bottle off the side table and took a drink. She went to move around, but realized Kurt had his arms wrapped around her. His left hand was pressed flat against her stomach, his fingers were soft through her pajama top, save for the metal of his wedding ring. It was comforting, knowing he was there beside her on this. They were now expecting parents.
She put her hand over his and went back to sleep.
The next morning as Kurt got to work, he was still in a bit of daze from the night before. But he was determined to find Isabelle first thing to thank her for helping Rachel. She wasn't in her office yet, so Kurt went back to his own work space to get started on the day's activities. Opening the door, he laughed at the three presents that had mysteriously appeared on his desk. On top of one of the gifts was a note that read:
Okay, I lied a little. They are for a friend and his beautiful wife, who I hope will put them to good use. Congratulations on your new family Kurt.
- Isabelle
Kurt took a picture of the presents and sent it to Rachel with the message:
I think we just got our first baby gifts. Isabelle, of course.
Rachel responded with a smiley face. : -) Kurt smiled at that, knowing Rachel was backstage at the theater, stretching and getting limber before going out to perform.
And probably exhausted out of her mind. Thinking back, he wondered why he hadn't though about her being pregnant before now with her being so tired. Maybe he had been too caught in everything as well. Life had sped up so quickly lately. Rachel had been doing back to back shows, and he had been going places with Isabelle and enjoying the fashion life. Plus, he wasn't a slacker when it came to doing theatre. He now had an Obie, which still amazed him that he had won. It sat next to Rachel's Tony on their TV stand. The awards themselves didn't mean much. It was more about the prestige. People now regarded them differently when it came time to interviewing for performances. It made everyone sit up and notice and whisper among themselves. Kurt liked that power. Especially since he and Rachel now were both taking interviews for movies and TV. Rachel had done some indie short film projects, and he had done one movie that had a lot of buzz.
Kurt sighed and looked at the stack of presents on his desk.
And now they had a baby to throw in the mix. He wondered what his mother would have thought about having a grand baby. The idea made him wistful, but he went back to his work, trying not to think about it.
Across the city, Rachel was talking to one of her co-workers and wondering what Kurt would think of the name Patrick if they had a boy.