Burt Hummel doesn't claim to be great at many things. He's not too smart. He doesn't have huge plans for his life. All he wants - all he's ever wanted - is to do right by his kid. And by his wife, when he had her.

Now that she's gone, Kurt's all he has left. He never imagined their house being as quiet as it was after that day. Kurt used to sing and dance. He used to put on shows for them and his stuffed animals. When Burt bought him Rescue Heroes and building toys, Kurt found even more creative ways to play with them. His action figures were locked in huge fortresses, and then his mom's old Barbie dolls came to the rescue. He used to dress up the Halloween costumes all year round. And ever since his mom, everything just stopped.

Burt remembers the last song he ever heard his kid sing. It was so mundane. Kurt had sung it so many times before that Burt had no idea how much he should treasure it. That it would be the last time for years to come that he would hear his son sing anything at all. It was the theme song from some cartoon called Kim Possible and Kurt sang it and danced around the kitchen instead of sitting down to eat. Burt had lost his temper, but Kurt hadn't batted an eye. "I'm waiting for Mom anyway," he'd said. "So, it doesn't matter if I'm dancing."

He never imagined the call that would come, telling them both that Burt's wife - Kurt's mom - the love of their lives - was gone forever.

After that, they both changed. Burt tried to branch out. Tried to cook dinners, play with Kurt, and do all the things that Kurt's mom had done so easily. But it wasn't easy. More often than not, Burt walked away feeling like he hadn't done enough for his son.

Years went by, and then, in his sophomore year of high school, Kurt joined this singing club with a few other kids. It seemed to make him happy. Or, happier, at least. And, though Burt didn't say much about it - anything that made Kurt happier was okay in Burt's book.

But there was still the silence in the house.

That's what Burt couldn't get over. He could have lived with the absence of his wife after a while, because she was gone, but Kurt? Kurt was still here. And once his mom died, he just transformed into this other kid, one who never sang. Burt was hoping that his involvement in the club at school would change that, but now it's been two weeks and there's still no change.

At first, Burt thinks maybe Kurt is singing when he's not around, but he gets rid of that idea pretty quickly. Why would Kurt sing when no one could hear him? Eventually, Burt just lets go of the hope, and they go on living as they have for the past eight years. Quietly, side by side.

Three nights later, Burt is on the couch with a beer, trying to catch up on Deadliest Catch. That's when he hears it. He fumbles for the remote and presses the mute button as fast as possible.

Kurt's voice is faint, but Burt can hear it. He gets up and walks to the top of the stairs - it's as close as he wants to get - he doesn't want to freak Kurt out. He doesn't want Kurt to stop. His voice has gotten better. It hasn't changed, but it's gotten better. It's more mature, but most important, it still sounds like Kurt.

For the longest time, Burt just stands there and listens, as his son sings about his walls coming down. About an angel watching over him.

Burt listens, and tears fall, and he hopes Kurt never stops.

The End.

A/N: The song Kurt sings at the end is "Halo" by Beyonce.