sorry this is late, guys :S but i'm hoping you understand because this chapter is an absolute monster. i've had to split it into two parts so i could give you lovely people an update :P
so, i know this story seems kind of slow going at the mo, but i promise things'll start to pick up after this chapter x
in the meantime, please REVIEW! i don't mind busting my ass for updates if people are actually reading this, but i don't know if you are becasue i haven't really heard anything...
anyway. onwards.
oh, and i disclaim.

Chapter 2 pt. 1

The following Monday saw Will hurrying down the corridors of McKinley High after his last class of the day.
He was apprehensively making his way to the choir room. He had never been so reluctant to teach a Glee meeting in all his (three) years directing the club.
Well, maybe this came a close second to the whole 'accountant' disaster of sophomore year, he mused.
But definitely an incredibly close second.

He wrung his clammy hands together nervously as his shoes continued to slap against the linoleum floor; his footsteps amplified by passing rows of metal lockers.
The echoes of sound seemed to be mimicking the ever-present and resonating thoughts whirling ceaselessly through his mind;
right foot – 'should I tell them?'
left foot – ' I don't suppose I really have a choice...'
right – 'but what if they don't understand? Heck, I barely even understand!'
left – 'No, that's not true.'
right – 'is it?'
Round and round. Seemingly plaguing his conscience even while he slept.

An exasperated huff escaped Wills lips as he rounded the final corner to the choir room.
It was all Emma's fault, really. Not that he blamed her. The absolute warmth and perfectly pure clarity of her heart and nature never failed to blow him away. He loved her too much to ever doubt her decision, but that didn't mean he didn't resent her just the littlest bit for leaving him to break the news to the kids. However, he had to concede that she probably has her hands just as full with her end of the bargain.

He was close enough to the club now to hear the teens' apparently jovial banter – close enough to hear a short quip from Santana that sent the club into pearls of laughter.

He paused briefly by the open Choir room door, hoping beyond hope that their light hearted spirits would work in his favour as they had done on occasion in the past.
Bouncing once on the balls of his feet and sucking in a steeling breath through his teeth, Will plastered what he doubted was a convincing smile on his face and entered the room; ready to face his most valued and harshest critics with what was quite possibly the biggest news of his life.

Whether or not it was the best, Will had yet to decide.

~o0o~

That same afternoon found Kurt Hummel all but collapsing into one of the red plastic chairs at Glee practise – his designer-skinnnies clad behind making contact with the hard surface minutes before Mr Schue finally arrived.

The boy with skin as pale and smooth as porcelain let his Marc-Jacobs satchel fall to the floor with an ungraceful thump, for once not even bothering to fret over its well being.
He was in too bad a mood to care.
His first day of senior year had not gone at all the way he had planned.

Firstly, his alarm had failed to go off. That left him waking up a mere half hour before he was due at school, meaning he was forced to spend an incredibly rushed and small amount of time on his skin – even less on his hair – and getting ready before he was running out the door with barely so much as a quick goodbye to his father and Carole; never mind a piece of toast or a cup of coffee.
secondly, he had pulled into the school parking lot in his black Navigator and proceeded into school only to find that even with the graduation of David Karofsky, he was still met with sneers and the cold shoulder from his fellow students.

His day had only gotten worse from then on.

Rachel Berry – McKinley's resident annoyance and Kurt's self-proclaimed best friend – had immediately located Kurt at his locker as if she were lying in wait to annoy him, wasting no time in rabbiting on about sectionals, her talent, sectionals, her solos, sectionals, Finn, and surprisingly; her talent. Ever. Since.
It was a wonder Kurt didn't strangle her with her vile green-and-pink polka dotted scarf.
Complete with matching Beree and animal sweater.
In September, for God's sake.

However, despite the fact that the small brown haired girl grated on his nerves for the most part, he did love her. He had to, really. Once you got past the irritating, stubborn, LOUD exterior, you discovered that Rachel actually had a heart of gold, an infectious laugh, and was painfully loyal to her fellow Glee clubbers.
Well, maybe not Santana. Or Quinn most of the time. But the point still stood.
It just took a lot of patience and perseverance to get to it, that's all.

But that didn't mean he wasn't about ready to snap when she started up again seconds after he had crossed his legs and settled in his seat.

Instead of creatively silencing her like he yearned to, Kurt chose to instead tune her out – allowing himself to finally relax in the safe atmosphere provided by his friends. All were in high spirits, laughing and joking with one another; Sam and Finn teasing Puck about his inability to get Lauren Zizes to stay in the club, Artie, Mercedes and Santana laughing at something Brittany had said, Mike and Tina cuddled close and giggling with one another as usual.

That last observation cause a slight pang to pull somewhere in Kurts chest.
He loved both Mike and Tina dearly, especially Tina, but that didn't stop him from feeling slightly resentful and bitter towards their relationship. They just had it so easy. No one was constantly judging them, or throwing unprovoked insults about their sexuality in their faces every time they turned a corner.
Kurt would give anything to have someone to snuggle up with when it's cold, someone to buy flowers for him/for; someone other than his family or friends to tell him they loved him.

He was tired of being alone. Nearly desperate to have someone he could call his own, and who could call him theirs.
Unfortunately, being seemingly the only out gay kid in Lima, Ohio, apparently doomed him to being single until he could get out of there – to New York, preferably.

The loud laughter of the club that came in response to something Santana had said (but Kurt had missed in the bleak turmoil of his thoughts) brought the stylish teen out of his brooding just in time to see Mr Schue walk through the door; a very fake, strained smile on his face.
It was possible that Kurt could smother his own problems for one more year by focussing on someone else's. And, judging by the way their director timidly called the clubs attention and confessed to having an announcement, an opportunity had just opened up for Kurt to do just that.

Maybe his senior year would be bearable after all.
Or, most likely, not.

~o0o~

Will couldn't help but gulp nervously - in what would be a comical manner if the situation weren't so serious - as all eyes in the room landed on him. Some were attentive, and some curious. Will noted that Kurt looked particularly interested, but he would wonder about that later. Right now he had to man up and stop procrastinating. It was time to tell them, consequences be damned.
He allowed himself a small, dry laugh in his head. Hah. 'Consequences be damned'. If only it were that easy.

'Uh, Mr Schue? You okay?'
Finns voice brought the teacher out of his cynical musings. He realised that he was yet to say anything other than a feeble 'all right, guys'; every Glee clubbers attention focussed on him in what had to be the first time in a while.

He took a deep breath. Here goes nothing.

'Right, yeah...so. I have an announcement to make, Guys. It's pretty big.' He couldn't help but notice that it came out slightly higher than usual, and cursed his nerves for the pitch change. He cleared his throat, and continued on in what he hoped was a stronger, more confident tone of voice; 'as you know, Emma and I have been planning on starting a family of our own for a while now.'

Their faces instantly brightened, most of them sitting up straighter in their seats excitedly. Will saw, not without amusement, Rachel lean forward expectantly – anticipating her directors next words.

Now allowing himself to smile properly for what had to be the first time today, he took in their caring faces. His nerves vanished. He wondered what he had been afraid of in the first place. Sitting before him was the group of the most understanding, caring, accepting people he had ever met. Of course they would welcome his news with open arms. If not, then Will was at least confident that they would respect it.

'Well, it's finally happened! Emma and I went out to the Home near Westerville on Saturday and brought someone back with us. I'm actually a father, Guys!' the obvious happiness in his voice surprised him, but apparently the club expected nothing less.
The kids erupted in cheers and whooping, shouting congratulations at their mentor - Finn and Rachel going so far as to rush forward and envelope him in a big hug. Will laughed. He hadn't felt this light, this genuinely happy, since that wonderful day he had married the woman he loved three years ago.
That was, until, reality came crashing back as the kids started asking him the questions he had dreaded.

'That's so great, Mr Schue! Is it a little boy or girl?'

'I can't wait to meet them! I bet they're just adorable...did you get to name him? Her?'

'We're going to be such great role models for this kid! Can't you just imagine teaching them all about music as they grow up?'

'Yeah! And diversity and stuff too!'

It was with a heavy heart that Will calmly tried to get their attention back from where it had wandered. This was what he had been afraid of the minute they had started the drive back from Westerville. The kids were going to be crushed when they realised their fantasies were unable to become reality in this particular instance.
Finally having settled back in their seats, the Glee clubbers once again opened their ears to Will. That is, all except Kurt who hadn't moved in the first place. He had continued to watch Mr Schue carefully, apparently suspecting that there was more. And rightly so.

'Yeah, thanks guys. It really means a lot to Emma and I that you care so much for our family. But, there's more.' His slightly more solemn tone didn't fail to register with his audience. Nearly identical looks of concern flashed across every face. All except Brittany, however, who, bless her, just looked confused.

'What do you mean...more?' Sam asked carefully, slowly. The blonde had a bad feeling about this, but he couldn't place why.

'well,' Mr Schue shifted nervously for what had to be the hundredth time that day, 'they're, um, rather a bit older than we had expected...' he smiled sheepishly.

'So...the little brat's what, like, twelve or something?' Santana asked, still obviously just as confused as everyone else by their directors behaviour.

'Uh, well, no. They're not really small at all. Well, they are, but...um, not like that.' It didn't make all that much sense even to his ears. A beat of silence. Then:

'What?' Kurts sudden participation made Will jump. He looked up and realised that the same question was written on everybody's face.

With a resigned sigh, Will geared himself up for the explosion.

'He's seventeen.'

...

'I didn't know you could get babies that were seventeen...'

XD bit of Brittany at the end there, incase anyone didn't catch it :P pt 2 should be up some time between now and next Sunday...probably sunday as i've had my laptop confiscated, but i'll try my best. :S
just one more shameless plea...review? :( x
Kj 3