It's two years later when he hears about the same boy. He just doesn't know it's the same boy.

Rachel comes home and throws herself on the kitchen floor, completely hysterical. James glances down from where he's stirring a pot of sauce on the stove, and then up at Leroy, a faint smile on his face.

"Princess, what's wrong?" Rachel rolls over, sitting up without using her hands–Leroy wishes he could still do that.

"He doesn't love me," she wails, crossing her arms in a pout. James nearly snorts, but covers it with a cough; Leroy spares him a glare as he reaches down and tugs Rachel up. She stands, sliding up onto his lap easily and clutching at his neck.

"We both get made fun of," she sniffs, "so I thought he'd want to be my boyfriend."

"Your boyfriend, honey? Aren't you a little young for a boyfriend?" Rachel looks disdainful.

"Daddy, Quinn Fabray is already dating that cute boy with the glasses from down the block, and if she can nail a hottie," Leroy looks up, alarmed by the term "nail a hottie", at his husband, who merely shrugs, "like Artie Abrams I should be able to get a boyfriend too."

"Well, honey, maybe this boy just doesn't want a girlfriend." James wipes his hands on a cloth and joins them at the table, reaching over to rub circles on his daughter's back.

Rachel sniffs again, rubbing her cheeks pitifully, "But Kurt is nice, and pretty, and he has soft hands," she frowns, looking pleadingly at her daddy, "I don't have cooties, do I?"

"No, sweetie," James coos, "I'm sure this Kurt boy will come around."

Rachel leans back to smile brightly at her dad, her back straightening in determination as she slides off Leroy's lap, "You're right," she barks, "I'll have Kurt Hummel if it's the last thing I do." A dark looks crosses his husband's face and Leroy has to fight to keep the reassuring smile on his face for his daughter.

She gives both of them a kiss on the cheek before turning and marching up the stairs to her room.

James goes back to the stove, leaning over the pan and lifting a taste of sauce to his mouth. Leroy stands as well, approaching his husband from behind and wrapping his arms around him, "What's wrong, baby?"

The body in his arms relaxes against his chest and James leans back to rest his head on Leroy's slightly taller shoulder, "Nothing," he sighs, "It's just–I used to know a Hummel."

Leroy hums knowingly, "A bully?"

"What else?"

"Well, from what Rachel says, his boy is getting bullied. Not that the boy deserves it, but if his dad believes in karma I hope he blames himself."

James laughs gently, "He wasn't the worst of them, honey. He was the quarterback–he went with the flow, but he was never the ringleader."

"If you say so," Leroy kisses him softly on his cheek, releasing him and stepping towards the stairs, "I'm going to go make sure Rachel isn't attempting to make a love potion from that Harry Potter set she has."


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