A/N: So originally I was going to use an OC for the role of Arthur, but I did like Walter (just not as a romantic partner for Kurt, but a friend/mentor). So I've altered him a LOT to better fit this story, but I think his essence is still there. Technically, this story is taking place around 2023 (when Kurt and Rachel would be 30). I've also aged Walter by 20 years, making him around 78. I'll fill in the rest of his story as we go!

Finn singing
Rachel singing
Both singing

Song used in this chapter is "Last Christmas"

It was past lunch before Kurt had finally made his way out of the brownstone and found some comfort in his favorite stores. After finishing with his last stop, Saks Fifth Avenue, he decided to head back and drop off his bags before going back out for that pasta he had meant to have for lunch. That and a really big glass of wine.

As he climbed out of his taxi, he noticed the older gentleman from yesterday. Only this time he didn't have the nurse. He also seemed to keep looking up at the stairs to the houses, but kept moving down the sidewalk. Kurt frowned as he noticed the man pass his own house. He was quick to approach him.

"Excuse me, sir?"

The older gentleman blinked through his black rimmed glasses, making him look quite distinguished along with his salt and pepper hair. Mostly salt at this point. "Yes young man?" Kurt couldn't help but smile at how kind he seemed even in his apparent confusion.

"Are you lost? Do you need me to help get you home?"

His elder tilted his head. "Why? Do you know where I live?"

Kurt chuckled, "Actually, I do. I noticed you entering your place yesterday." He placed a gentle hand on the man's arm, turning him around and pointing at the right doorway.

A flash of recognition crossed the wrinkled face. Wrinkled, but Kurt noted, still handsome. "Ah, so it is." He turned back to Kurt. "Why thank you." He took slow, careful steps back in that direction.

"You're quite welcome. Do you need some help up the stairs?" The older man turned back and eyed him. "I really don't mind."

A soft smile crossed his face. "Thank you…"

"Kurt," he offered, shifting his bags to his left hand so he could use his right to help him.

"Nice to meet you Kurt, I'm Walter."

Kurt smiled, "You too Walter." They reached the top step and the younger man noticed the slight shake to the older one's hands. "Here, let me." He quickly took the keys from him and unlocked the door.

"I feel like I keep saying thank you," Walter smiled, making Kurt chuckle softly. "Would you like to come in for a cup of coffee? It's the least I could do as a more proper thank you to such a handsome, kind man as yourself."

Kurt blinked. Did he just get hit on by this man? Or was he just being friendly? Maybe a little lonely? "Actually, I was just on my way to dinner after I dropped off my bags. If you don't have any plans, I'd love for you to join me."

Walter raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

Kurt nodded, "Really. I mean, unless you have plans."

Walter chuckled. "I haven't had plans in nearly a decade." He paused and then seemed to study Kurt again. "You aren't a vegan like my neighbor are you? Or following some weird diet fad?"

It was Kurt's turn to laugh, something he really hadn't done in awhile. That also explained Rachel's cupboards. "No, no. I mean, I usually watch what I eat, but I have my mind set on some good italian food and wine."

"Well then what are we doing here?"

Another laugh from the younger man. "Why don't you give me a couple minutes to drop this off and freshen up and then I'll pick you up when our ride is here?"

"It's a date, Kurt." Walter smiled before setting his walker against the table by the entryway and grabbing a much more stylish cane. Kurt watched him for a moment, taking in his very well decorated living space. He noticed photos of Walter with what appeared to be grown kids and grandkids, as well as some photos of just him with another gorgeous man. Sadly, those looked to be from at least a few years ago. Kurt sighed softly at the sight, thinking back to his thoughts from yesterday.

"I'll be back," he offered before closing the front door behind him and heading over to his place. He quickly made his way upstairs to set his bags down. After a few minutes of checking his hair over, changing to a more evening appropriate top and pulling out one of his new scarfs, he was back out the door and calling up an Uber. There was a slight pep in his step and it made him laugh that he seemed to be more excited about dinner with Walter than he had been for anything recently with Adam. That spoke volumes to him.

Walter was soon at the door after Kurt knocked and by the time Kurt had helped him down the stairs, their ride had pulled up. Walter held open the door, "After you Kurt."

Kurt just found himself staring at Walter in awe as the older man filled him in on his life story. It was just...remarkable. If he was able to live a life half as rich and worthwhile as the man before him by the same age, he'd consider himself blessed. And he told him so.

"Well, Kurt, you still have a long way to catch up to me, you've got time," Walter smiled, taking a sip of his wine.

Kurt sighed. "I guess. Sometimes I just feel like I'm sleepwalking through life, which is terrifying because I end up buying weird things online when I sleep walk." Walter chuckled a little before taking another bite of his pasta, making Kurt smile. "So you really knew the founder of PFLAG?"

Walter nodded as he chewed, answering when his mouth was clear. "I did. I grew up with Monty actually, so I knew his mom as well. Jeanne was a formabile woman. She wasn't going to let people treat her son any differently just because he was gay, which was quite the uphill climb for the 70s and 80s."

"Still is," Kurt murmured, thinking about how his dad fought for him in high school against the bullying he went through. He offered Walter a smile, "Although better thanks to people like yourself. So thank you."

Walter waved his hand dismissively, "I'm a small player in anything. I mean it took me until I was 50 to come out."

Kurt smiled, "But you did, which was brave. Just how did your kids take that, by the way?" Walter had already told him about how he'd married young and eventually had three kids with his wife Rita - two boys and a girl. The couple had been honest with each other after a year of marriage that they were both attracted to the same sex, but given their Catholic upbringings, strict parents, and that it was still very much a taboo idea at the time, they stayed together for twenty-five years. Together and faithful.

Walter leaned back, rubbing his hands together a little. "Well, remember it was us saying we were getting a divorce because we were both gay. So after the very initial shock, my boys surprisingly took it really well. Evidently Sammy had caught my gaze at attractive men from time to time and had wondered for years, but never knew how to bring it up. Their mother was a little more of a surprise; Rita hid it better." Kurt smiled. "My baby, Becca, was only sixteen at the time so it took her a little longer to wrap her mind around. This was also only a few years after Ellen DeGeneres publicly came out and I think she saw that backlash and was worried about us. But she got there. Now my grandkids only know their Pop Pop and G-Ma that way. Well, knew Rita that way."

Kurt frowned and reached across, gently squeezing Walter's hand. "I'm so sorry."

Walter smiled and squeezed back for a second before pulling back. "Thank you. She was still my best friend even after we divorced."

Kurt sighed, "Can I ask how?"

"Breast cancer, 6 years ago last month. Lost Michael to lung cancer in 2015." Kurt frowned, thinking of his mom. But it started to fade as he watched Walter clearly get overtaken with a happy memory. "I get the feeling you two would've gotten along well. He was always impeccably dressed too."

A smile. "Tell me more about him?"

"We met in 2000 at a charity event. He was a set designer for different Broadway productions and I was still just a lawyer, doing what I could to help those in need."

Kurt raised an eyebrow. "Any shows I'd know?"

"A tour of Chicago. Rent. Wicked. Book of Mormon was his last one before he retired."

Kurt's jaw dropped. "Wow. That's amazing!"

Walter's eyes sparkled. "I know. Why he was with me, I'll never understand but I cherished every second of it. Probably none more so than when we got married after it was legally passed in the City."

Kurt felt a tear in his eye and quickly wiped it away. Marriage. Why he was in New York had just hit him again like a ton of bricks. He sent Walter a wobbly smile. "Gosh, I'm sorry, don't mind me. Your story is beautiful, Walter. Really."

The older man studied him, his eyes narrowing. "And just what is yours, Kurt? What brings you to New York, alone, over the holidays?" Kurt had kept most of their conversation on Walter and not on himself.

Kurt sighed. "A guy. We met a few years ago and I quickly fell hard for him but he evidently didn't feel the same way. He just got engaged…"

"But…"

"But he still 'needs' me for things and I...I can't seem to break away from him," Kurt sighed. "It's pathetic, really. He comes calling and I come running like a lost puppy even though I'm dying inside."

Walter frowned. "Sounds like you don't believe you're really worthy of a true, good love." He paused, "Like Roger from Rent."

Kurt furrowed his brow. "What?"

"This guy…"

"Adam," Kurt supplied.

"Adam is like your April, except he isn't dead. But he haunts you anyway. For whatever reason - love, guilt, odd sense of loyalty - you seem to be afraid to break free of him and it's keeping you from finding someone better. To find your Mimi. He may be flawed as well, but he's your perfect fit. But until you break those chains to Adam, you won't find him because you're not looking."

Kurt sat there stunned for a full minute. "Wow." Walter smiled, finishing his wine. "Just...wow. Thank you Walter. I've had friends and my dad try to help me figure out why I couldn't leave Adam behind for good, but no one has ever explained it like that before."

"You're welcome. You're too good to be waiting until your fifties to meet your soulmate."

Kurt felt a few more tears fall and quickly wiped them away, embarrassed for being this emotional. "How do I do it, though?"

Walter sighed. "First, you have to figure why you keep letting him back in."

Kurt bit his lip, quickly taking the check when the waiter quietly slipped that on their table. "Guess I have some things to think about, huh?" Walter winked at him, making Kurt smile. "So, why are you here all alone during this holiday?"

"Oh, I won't be, the kids are just scattered across the country, but they always make their way back home. They just won't get in until Christmas Eve." Kurt smiled and nodded. "You're welcome to join us, by the way."

Kurt busied himself with signing the bill and tucking his card away. "I appreciate the offer; I'll let you know." He knew already that he had no intention of crashing Walter's holiday with his family. No, he'd make himself some gourmet meal, video chat with Finn and the kids, and talk with his dad and Carol. He'd be fine alone. He was always fine alone.

"Well tomorrow I have some friends coming over for a get together. It's really just an excuse to talk and drink, but the food is decent for a bunch of old guys. Lots of good stories and laughs. Join us for that? Unless you have other plans?"

Kurt grinned. "Just decent food you say?" Walter nodded. "I can do you one better than. I can host."

Rachel sat on the couch, bored. She had gone to the spa today, treating herself to a good massage and mani/pedi, but was now at a lost of what to do with herself. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea; she wasn't so good at being alone. Just having people around her, even if she was in her own little world rehearsing, reading scripts, or running through vocal exercises, was comforting to her.

Brian jumped up on the couch near her and stared at her, like he was challenging her to do something. "What?"

He narrowed his eyes at her and meowed softly. She smiled and petted him for a few minutes, happy to get a faint purr from the feline. Eventually, he meowed again at her and walked off, brushing against a picture frame and knocking it over. Rachel sighed and got up to put it back. That's when she noticed it was of Finn and Kurt, apparently at Kurt's graduation. Her heart started to speed up its rhythm at the sight of the taller brother.

She turned back to the cat, who seemed to almost be smirking at her. "So you're telling me I should go see Finn, huh?" Brian swished his tail and walked off, leaving Rachel shaking her head in his wake. Maybe karaoke wasn't such a bad idea; it could be fun. Plus he said he had friends coming so she wouldn't be alone with him, which might be safer.

Taking a minute to think about it, Rachel finally found Brian again in the hallway to the bedroom. "Okay, you win."

"Wait, wait, you did what?"

Finn sighed, taking a sip of his beer as one of his best friends stared at him. "I know, dude. It just sorta happened. One minute we were singing and the next…"

Sam chuckled, shaking his head. "Wait until Kurt finds out you had sex in his bed. He's going to kill you."

Finn groaned, setting his head on the table with a thud and making their drinks shake a little. "God, I didn't even think about that part."

A snort this time could be heard from Ryder. "Obviously. Was it worth it though?"

Finn lifted his head and his friends could see his eyes glaze over in the memory. "Yeah." The pair shared a smile with each other and the fourth person of their little outing.

"Sugar, you've got it bad, don't you?" Unique commented. "It was just one night."

Finn sighed, "I know but…" He took a sip of his beer, picking at the label. "I haven't felt like this since..."

The group of friends all sighed, thinking about their lost member of their family of choice out in the city of Angels. They were a weird group, but they worked. Unique was the first to recover. "Well, that's great Finn. I hope it works out for you both." She clanked her martini into his bottle. "On that note, I'm about up for my song." She hopped out of her chair, smoothing out her red, shimmering dress. "You coming, Hon?"

Ryder rolled his eyes at his roommate, but stood up anyway. "Yes Peaches," he teased, calling her by her least favorite pet name.

"Oh no you didn't!" Unique huffed, walking off with a laugh to the stage.

Sam shook his head at their behavior before looking back at Finn. "Me too, bro."

Finn smiled a fraction, thankful for their support but not optimistic given Rachel's reaction this morning. The pair started to talk about the Rams chances for the playoffs this year while they waited on their friends to take the stage. That's when he heard a voice by his side.

"Is this seat taken?"

He whipped his head around, breaking out in a large grin. "Rachel, hey!"

The petite brunette beamed at him, relieved by his reaction. "Hello Finn." Her gaze shifted over. "Finn's friend."

The dirty blond smiled wide at her. "Sam. Nice to meet you. And since he's seems be rendered speechless, technically our friend Unique is sitting there but we can pull up another chair and make room."

That seems to snap Finn out of his haze and he jumped up, producing another chair for her while Sam shifted Ryder and Unique's drinks. Rachel slid into the new seat beside him, setting down her wine glass. "Thank you."

Finn smiled back. "Of course. I'm glad you made it." The DJ announced the next performers. "And just in time to see some of my friends preform too," he nodded to the stage.

Rachel nodded, "Great." The trio sat in comfortable silence as they watched the pair sing a duet version of "This is the New Year." It made the broadway star smile at the words; maybe this would be a new year.

"Well, finally a fellow lady at the table. With Mercedes out of town, I was awfully lonely," Unique greeted. Rachel blinked at her before smiling and shaking her offered hand. "Name is Unique, honey."

"Rachel Berry, pleasure to meet you."

Ryder waved, "Ryder. Glad you could join us. How's Kurt's place?"

Rachel raised an eyebrow and looked at Finn. "I may have mentioned meeting the Broadway star staying at my brother's place," he smiled sheepishly. He hoped his friends kept their cool about the other details he mentioned.

"I see," she smiled before turning back to Ryder. "It's lovely. Although I'm not sure about Brian." That got chuckles from the group.

"Yeah, that cat either loves or just tolerates you. Which really means he loves Kurt and not much else," Sam offered.

Rachel nodded as she took a sip of her drink. "So how do you all know each other?"

The group exchanged a glance, particularly with Finn, trying to decide what to reveal. Finn decided to take the lead to help them out. "Well Sam and I work together in the school system. Ryder and I met in college. Unique and I met through other friends and she also sometimes has to appear at the schools."

"Unfortunately," Unique sighed. Rachel furrowed her brows. "I'm a social worker. It's rare my visit is for a good reason."

"Ah." Rachel bit her lip, suddenly remembering she didn't know all that much about Finn to begin with. School system?

Sam seemed to sense it first and took pity on her, changing the subject. "So are we going to get to hear Ms. Berry, Broadway star, sing tonight?"

Finn smiled at that. "I hope so, she's amazing."

Rachel blushed, pushing her hair behind her ear. "Thank you. You're great too."

"Oh...I smell a duet coming!" Unique gushed.

Finn raised an eyebrow, sending her that crooked smile again. "I'm down if you are."

"You pick."

Finn grinned, standing up and offering his hand to Rachel, guiding her to the stage. She smiled wide when he pointed to the song choice. Not traditionally a duet, but could easily be rearranged. She was curious to see how they could handle winging it. A chemistry read, if you will. A way to tell her if last night was just a one time thing because she was determined to feel something after Jesse or if there was more here.

Right before the song started, he leaned in close. "Thought it seemed fitting as a song to sing for the holiday and be a song to dedicate to your ex."

Rachel smiled at that thought before she took the opening line.

Yeah...Oh….
Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day you gave it away
This year, to save me from tears
I'll give it to someone special

Their eyes met as she sang 'someone special' but she was quick to turn back to the group at the bar, taking a step forward and turning on her performance even more.

Once bitten and twice shy
I keep my distance
But you still catch my eye
Tell me, baby
Do you recognize me? (Oh…)
Well, it's been a year
It doesn't surprise me

When Finn started to sing along with her she couldn't stop herself from turning toward him, their eyes locking as their voices blended like they were designed to do so.

I wrapped it up and sent it
With a note saying, "I love you, " I meant it
Now, I know what a fool I've been
But if you kissed me now
I know you'd fool me again

As the pair continued to sing together, they seemed to lose sight of anyone else around, particularly the three at their table.

Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day you gave it away
This year, to save me from tears
I'll give it to someone special (I'll give it to someone special)

A crowded room, friends with tired eyes
I'm hiding from you, and your soul of ice
My god, I thought you were someone to rely on
Me? I guess I was a shoulder to cry on (a shoulder to cry on)
A face on a lover with a fire in his heart
A man undercover but you tore me apart
Now, I've found a real love you'll never fool me again

Those three met each other's gazes with a mixture of excitement and concern.

Sam sighed. "This could either be really great."

Unique nodded. "Or a disaster."

I'll give you my heart...