Oh My GOD. I just watched Episode 1 of Season 3 of GLEE. SOMEBODY BURY ME, CAUSE I JUST DIED. What a show! I hope (pray) none of the cast read my stories, but if you do, 1) Please message me, 'cause I'd love to hear it! and 2) What an amazing show! You guys rock! And I don't just mean Klaine, 'cause Finchel was being cute, Bartie was adorable, Asian Fusion rocked, and the only thing I missed was Samcedes. No more Sam... and Mercedes and Azimio? What is their name? Mermio? Azicedes? I don't like it. (Crosses arms furiously.) You can't make me! (Pouty face).
As per Awsomekelly, a great reviewer, I now realise this is not Azimio, but a guy named Derek. So I apologise for calling him Azimio. But it's still not Sam, and I don't know if I like him. Nope. Don't know at all.
Thanks bunches to Gleekmom from FF who is my ever amazing, talented Beta. And to Stevie, who once again advised me if I didn't get my arse in gear and write the next chapter she would come after me with a paintroller. I'll be glad when the painting is done! XD
And on a different note. To all my readers, whom I love completely: I'm moving soon. I have a week to get out of my house, and find somewhere else to live. If I don't get a chance to get on here as often, I'm sorry. I'll update as often as I can. I'll still have my computer, so I'll be able to write even if I'm not online.
Love you guys. No word of a lie. I seriously do!
Kurt placed his fingers to his temple, trying to rub away the pain of the past twenty-four hours. It was the end of the girls' first week of school, and as he should have expected, things were not going well for him. First Blaine had been called away on that stupid business trip, then his parents had called to tell him they wouldn't be coming up for Thanksgiving after all, and then Blaine's parents had called to say they were coming, and Penny had been caught on the school grounds smoking.
His head throbbed harshly, and Kurt knew a nasty migraine was forming. He looked over at his middle daughter, trying to come up with a suitable punishment for her.
"Daddy, I really wasn't!" She whined, her eyebrows scrunching up the same way Blaine's did when he lied. "I was set up! See, my best friend, Mariah, and I were outside at lunch period, and she lit up a cigarette, and asked me to hold it for her while she went inside to go pee." Her crocodile tears overflowed, and Kurt swore she was getting to be almost as good an actor as Kurt was. Or at least, as much of a drama queen as he was. He sighed softly, wishing that Blaine was here. At least if there were two of them, he would get some much needed back up with disciplining the girls.
"All right, Penny. Let's say, for the sake of argument, I believed you. And it was really Mariah's cigarette. And you really had nothing to do with it. What have we told you before about hanging around people who are a bad influence on you?"
Penny rolled her eyes and sighed. Monotone, she recited, "People who have a negative influence on my life shouldn't be in my life. I am free to be me. No one will ever expect me to conform." She paused at he annoyed look on Kurt's face. "But Daddy, isn't that what you're trying to get me to do?" She asked hesitantly. "I mean, you want the best for us, I get that, but shouldn't we be free to make our own mistakes? And why wouldn't one of those things being trying cigarettes? Or dating? Or having sex?" She finished, and Kurt's eyebrows shot toward his hairline.
"Oh, are we having this talk now? Hmmm, Penny?" Kurt's eyes narrowed as he watched his middle child scrunch up her shoulders, waiting for the inevitable meltdown. He shook his head softly, looking at her.
"You know how much I love you, right Penny?" he asked, his voice soft and gentle, but laced with steel. He needed to think through this properly, so he wouldn't make any mistakes in the way he delivered his message.
"Yes, Daddy," she sighed, her eyes never leaving his face as he began pacing back and forth in front of her.
"And it's because I love you that I say these things. I've always loved you and your sisters, very much. I," and here he paused, his mind trying to come up with the right words. "I've made mistakes, Penelope. More mistakes than you could possibly imagine," He looked at Penny, her eyes wide as she started back at him.
"I don't believe that, Daddy," she whispered, her voice low as though she was scared. "You never make mistakes. I've watched you do thousands of things, and you've never made a single mistake, that I can think of,"
"That's because I try to do things alone before showing you what I do," Kurt replied, passing his hand over his face in weariness. "I can't tell you how many times I've had to go out and buy new cookware because I've destroyed the set we already had. Or the times I've done something stupid while alone, because it seemed like a good idea at the time. Like getting drunk," Penny gasped. Her Daddy was well known for not drinking, ever. He had a low tolerance, and he very rarely ever drank anything alcoholic.
"I tried smoking once, Penny," He sat down on the couch beside her, and took her hand in his. "Do you know what happened?" His daughter simply shook her head softly, her brown curls bouncing around her head the way her father's did when his hair got a bit too long.
"I choked. I gagged and I spit the damn thing out. This was back in my senior year at school, and my friend Quinn was trying it too. We both ended up so sick from it, we never tried it again. What happened when you did it?" He looked curiously at Penny, and a soft blush covered her cheeks.
"I coughed. It made me wanna be sick, but I also felt a bit, well… cool," Her head ducked down, and she stared at the floor. Kurt sighed, and wrapped his arms around his daughter, gently pulling her close into a cuddle he hadn't been able to get for a couple of years. He always tried to be stern with his girls, but it never worked. They always managed to melt his heart.
"I know you want to be cool, and popular, sweetheart," he offered gently, his hand rubbing small circles into her back as tears began to flow down her cheeks. "But smoking isn't the way to do that. I know you remember what a pair of lungs look like after years of smoking, right?" She nodded, a small shudder wracking her body at the memory of those pictures in health class. "That's what would happen to your lungs if you continued. And think of what it would do to your sister," he added. She looked confused, and he smiled. "You know Katherine does everything you do, and vice versa. The pair of you, I swear, should have been twins!" She giggled softly.
"Yeah, we can even finish each other's sentences," she added softly, her fifteen-year-old face lighting up with delight. Kurt smiled again, his eyes soft and warm for his beautiful little girl.
"That's quite true, and also mildly annoying," The two of them burst into giggles, hugging tightly. "So, do me a favor?" Penny nodded, her suddenly sober face peering intently at his. "Don't smoke anymore, okay? If you need to feel cool, come and talk to Dad or I about it. We can help get you set up with new clothes, or a new hairstyle, or make up, but no more smoking. Please?" He begged. Penny nodded gently.
"I wasn't going to anyway," she sighed, her head hanging again. "It made me throw up in the girls' bathroom. I hate being sick," Kurt nodded in agreement, glad he was able to avoid such a dangerous situation so easily. He hugged her once more, kissing her gently on the temple, and sent her off to do her homework. She pouted a little, but acquiesced fairly calmly. Kurt sighed.
Ahhh, the joys of raising teenage daughters.
Blaine waited patiently for someone at his house to pick up the phone. He was still in Japan, and he wasn't enjoying it as much as he thought he would. The marketing consultant for the firm they were taking over was an ass, and had no idea what he was doing. How he had ever managed to rise to a position of power, Blaine would never know. He was frustrated, and needed to hear a sympathetic voice. Finally the line was answered.
"Mmm, hello?" Kurt's sleepy voice answered, and Blaine automatically lowered his voice.
"Hey, love," Blaine said gently, his heart still swelling at the sound of the man he loved, even after ten years.
"Blaine? How come you're calling me now?" Kurt replied, and Blaine pictured him sitting up in bed, rubbing his tired eyes. He smiled softly.
"I'm calling because I missed you," Blaine's voice dropped again, his huskiness coming out in his bedroom voice. Kurt gasped into the phone softly.
"Oh…" Kurt whispered. Blaine could picture Kurt's face turning crimson, and chuckled. "I suppose you want to… well… ummm…" Kurt gulped softly. Blaine chuckled again as he listened to the breathing on the other end of the line get slightly faster.
"Hmmm, that would be very nice," Blaine said, his mouth wide in a grin. "But we don't have to. I'd be content just laying here listening to you breathe all night," Kurt gasped again, and a barely noticeable hitch came into his voice as he replied.
"You would?" Kurt asked in a tiny voice. Blaine furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.
"Of course I would, Love. I mean, it would mean one hell of a phone bill, but it would mean everything to me to be there with you right now." A soft sob came from Kurt's end of the phone, and Blaine gripped his phone tightly. "Babe? Babe, tell me what's wrong?" He pleaded gently.
"P-Penny got caught s-smoking at school, S-Sue is trying to k-kill our two eldest children, my p-parents aren't coming for T-Thanksgiving, but yours are, and I m-miss you!" Kurt's composure finally crumbled with the revelation, and there was nothing but soft sobbing coming from the other end of the phone. Blaine's eyebrows reached his hairline as he realized everything Kurt had been going through the past week.
"Wow. You really have been pummeled with a lot this week, haven't you?" Blaine murmured sympathetically. Kurt just sniffled into the phone. "Firstly, sweetheart, calm down, okay?" Blaine added. He listened until Kurt's sniffles faded away, and he heard the other man's breathing steady out. "Okay. What did Penny do when you talked to her about smoking? You did talk to her, right?" Blaine asked. Kurt huffed.
"Yes, I talked to her. She tried to lie about it, saying it was her friend Mariah's. I told you that girl was a bad influence," Kurt stated. Blaine nodded, not realizing Kurt couldn't see him nod through the phone. "She promised me she wouldn't smoke anymore, but I had to tell her that if she needed to feel cooler to come to us and we'd take her shopping. I'm starting to regret that, now," Kurt added softly. Blaine nodded again.
"I guess so," Blaine replied, knowing that his daughter would be able to out-shop Kurt, and that was saying something. "And what did Sue do to try and kill Penny and Katie?" he asked hesitantly. Kurt's relationship with one Sue Sylvester had always perturbed him. He'd never figured out why Kurt liked the woman, although that was apt to change on any given day.
"She managed to get her hands on another carnival cannon," Kurt sighed. Blaine's eyebrows shot up again.
"What?"
"A cannon, Blaine," Kurt sniped, and Blaine knew Kurt was very tired if he was getting snippy with him. "The kind you shoot people out of. She tried this once back when I was in high school. It never panned out because she couldn't find a volunteer to be shot out of it. My friend Brittany was supposed to have been the victim, but she bailed at the last second to come help us with the half-time show at our football championship. I wish I could have been dancing with the glee club that day. The costumes were incredible! On, second thought, never mind. I don't want to think about what that gunk would have done to my skin," Blaine laughed along with Kurt, trying to imagine him in a costume that would have been bad for his skin. Some kind of heavy make-up for the crowd, maybe? He'd have to ask if Kurt had pictures, and sometime soon!
"So, what you're telling me is that Sue wanted to shoot one of our girls out of the cannon? Is she insane?" Blaine asked, clearly dreading the answer.
"I think the jury is still out on that," Kurt replied, a heaviness coming back into his voice. Blaine couldn't figure out what was wrong with Kurt. He decided to just come out and ask.
"Babe, what's wrong? It seems like this stuff is getting to you more than usual." He allowed a measure of love and affection to color his voice, letting Kurt know how much he missed him.
"Nothing," Kurt choked, as though trying to keep in a sob. "It's just between everything that's been happening, and me feeling like I'm not contributing to the family, and all this stress, I'm just feeling lower than usual, I guess." Blaine felt his eyes begin to burn, upset that Kurt would feel so bad, especially when Blaine wasn't there to comfort him.
"Oh, Kurt," Blaine murmured, his heart melting with the love he felt for the man he'd been with for ten years. "Kurt, I love you. So very, very much. I wish I were there to help take some of the stress from you. I know you feel as though you haven't contributed to the family. But you've done so much for everyone. And not just in our family. You cook, and clean; you make sure the girls are at every one of the after school activities they go to. You manage to still find time to get out and have a life outside of family! I know for a fact you get out at least twice a month with Mercedes, and Rachel comes to take you out whenever she's in town too. I know you get out with the guys sometimes, too. I'm not saying that I trust that Puck guy, but I trust Finn, and Artie, and I know they'll take care of you. You're the most amazing person in the world, Kurt. I just wish I could make you see it," he ended, the tears rolling freely down his cheeks now as he tried to convince the love of his life of how amazing he truly was.
"And as for my parents coming to Thanksgiving dinner, well, I'll make sure they don't say anything derogatory. They'll be informed beforehand; if anything like that comes out of their mouths, they will be expected to leave." Blaine was adamant about that. The steel that laced his voice when he spoke of his parents had been there since he and Kurt had first gotten together. His father had been inexcusably rude to Kurt, and he had never really forgiven him. Not to mention that he'd accused Kurt of molesting the girls. But that was in the past.
Kurt's voice shook as he spoke, as though he was trying hard to keep his feelings in check.
"Did you even remember…" Kurt's voice trailed off, and Blaine scrunched his nose. Huh? What did he forget? Kurt wouldn't have brought it up if he didn't think it pertinent. Blaine thought hard about what was coming up lately.
"Did I remember what? Hun, are you all right? I wish I could come through the phone and hug you," his voice hitched on the last word, meaning every single syllable.
"Nothing," Kurt sighed softly, his heart dropping. "Hey, Blaine?"
"Yeah?"
"It's almost four here. Would you mind terribly if I went back to sleep? I love you, but I need my beauty rest…" Blaine sighed. It had been a long week.
"Of course, sweetheart. Would you like me to sing for you?" he asked. This was one of his favorite times when he was away; getting to sing Kurt to sleep.
"No, that's all right," Kurt yawned. "I love you. Have a good day, night, whatever it is there." Blaine blinked. But, he was supposed to sing!
"Love you Babe. Sweet dreams," he murmured softly, and Kurt hung up the phone. Blaine lay back on his bed, his mind whirling around and around, trying to figure out what he was missing. He decided to text Wes, and ask if he would be willing to check in on Kurt.
Hey, Wes, any chance you might be headed to Columbus? – B
Possibly, why? Aren't you in Japan atm? – W
Yeah. Kurt's been down lately, wanted to know if you'd check on him – B
Of course I will. What plans have you made for your Anni? – W
Blaine blinked softly in the light of the TV. Oh. My. God. He was so dead. His breath hitched in his throat as he sent his next text to Wes.
Shit. – B
Uh, okay… don't you think he deserves a little more than just shit? ;) – W
I forgot. – B
Blaine squirmed around, his blush spreading over his cheeks in horror. I forgot. Oh my God. Kurt's going to literally kill me. Oh God, Oh God, Oh God. Was all he could think.
You did NOT! – W
Oh God. I'm so dead. I'm in Japan for our ten-year anniversary! I'm dog food. – B
Gotta admit it man, yes you are. WTF are you gonna do? – W
Yes. Blaine could fix it! Wes could help! Oh God, would he help? And what could Blaine do to make it better?
Can you help me? – B
Whatever I need to do. I'll help in anyway I can, you know that! – W
You're an amazing friend, you know that? – B
I've been told. ;) – W
Blaine began planning, his heart racing a mile a minute. He had only a few days to get everything ready. Thank god for Wes and the rest of his friends. They would make sure everything was set up for him.
Now all he had to do was find a reason to leave the meetings early. Like, a whole week early.
Shit.
Kurt looked up in surprise as a knock came on the door. Wandering from the living room to the front hallway, he looked out the small window to see Wes, David and Thad on the front stoop. He opened the door with a smile.
"Hey, guys!" He leaned forward, and shook hands with David and Thad. Wes scoffed at him and pulled him into a hug. Kurt stepped back, blushing and chuckled as the other three laughed at his discomfort.
"You know, Wes, if I didn't know and love your wife to bits, I'd think you were hitting on me!" They all laughed again. "Come on in!" He ushered the men to the living room, turning off the TV. Thad giggled when he saw what Kurt had been watching.
"Oprah, Kurt? Really?" Kurt blushed again, picking up the laundry basket from the couch and placing it at the foot of the stairs in the hall. He gestured to the others to sit down.
"Things have been kind of slow around here. I take whatever form of entertainment I can get. Besides, I love it when Oprah gives stuff away. Like the cars she gave to a whole audience once? That was epic." David nodded in agreement, while Thad and Wes just laughed.
"Can I get you guys anything? Kurt asked, his hands smoothing down his jeans. "I have fruit punch, Coke, or Beer," he added, looking at the faces of the other three.
"Beer," the guys called, as Kurt made his way to the kitchen. Grabbing three beers from the fridge, he nabbed himself a diet Coke, and returned to find the guys watching him intently.
"Uh, so. What are you guys doing here? I know at least Wes knows that Blaine's in Japan at the moment," Kurt quipped, one of his eyebrows raised in query.
"We came to hang out with one of our favourite people," Thad answered, taking a swig of his beer lazily. Kurt looked at him in confusion.
"Wait, what? How did I manage to become one of your favourite people, Thad? We barely know each other," His eyes roamed to the other two in the room. "What's really going on here?" He asked, almost afraid at the answer he was going to get. Wes sighed softly.
"Blaine was a bit worried about you, is all," Wes replied. He ran his fingers through his hair as a slight blush crept up his cheeks. "He asked if I would be willing to come check on you, just to make sure you were all right. I brought David because I know he's your friend too, and Thad, well, Thad was there when I asked David, so I told him he could come too," Thad looked at Wes in dismay.
"And here I thought I was just here to be a friend too!" he pouted, then burst into giggles along with the other three men in the room. Kurt was quite happy with the company, truth be told. He had been feeling down lately, and to have good friends come over to visit, made his day so much better.
They spent quite a bit of time, just chatting about random things. Then the door banged open, and Kurt jumped. Katherine came in, followed by Jessica and Penny. He looked over at them from the couch, and they peered back at the four men staring at them.
"Uncles!" They squealed, and all three girls ran to the three men that were now standing, waiting for hugs. Once everyone had been hugged, Katherine piped up.
"Did you bring us anything?" Her hopeful eyes rested on Wes, who smothered a laugh.
"No, but I was thinking that maybe we could all go out to dinner tonight?" He looked at Kurt, whose eyes lit up at the prospect of not having to cook for this lot. "My treat?" The girls squealed again, sending the men into gales of laughter, and all in the room turned to Kurt, looking for an answer. He pretended to deliberate for a few moments, then replied:
"Wes, I think we'd be happy to go to dinner with you!"
Everyone cheered, and they all made their way out to the cars.
