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xX- Close My Eyes And Leap -Xx
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Friday rolled around all too quickly for Kurt's liking. Such a beautiful spring day was wasted by the sad and slow atmosphere that encompassed the Hudson residence and its residents.
Kurt had spent a whole hour trying to dress himself, each item of clothing seeming to weight heavier and heavier until finally he was done. He had gone to help his niece and nephew to dress too, but they had already dressed themselves and were waiting with Burt and Carole in the family room ready to go to the funeral home.
The children, to Kurt's surprise, seemed fine. Their shoulders were slumped lower than he had ever seen them, but their eyes told him that they would be ok. Burt looked worn out and tired, but that was perhaps because he was a 50 year old man who had occasion heart problems ever since his heart attack 8 years ago.
Carole, however, looked very sad, which in turn made Kurt feel even sadder than he had been already. She held her shoulders up high, and her face was strong, but Kurt knew deep down she was broken by the loss of her biological son. It was all in her eyes.
Kurt reached his family and pulled Carole into a hug immediately. The older woman tensed up before relaxing into the embrace, and let out a sigh and a few sobs into the crook of Kurt's neck. Pulling apart, Kurt held her at arms length while looking at her straight in her sparkling brown eyes, "You look beautiful, and even though Finn cant tell the difference between silk and satin, he'd say so too."
Carole giggled as she dabbed at her eyes with a tissue, "Thanks hon." Turning to face her husband and the children, she squared her shoulders and spoke with authority, "Lets go family."
10 minutes later, the remaining Hudmels arrived at a small funeral home that looked more like an old manor house. The whole parking lot was filled, and Kurt didn't believe that all were there to see his brother off, but after entering the building, he swallowed his words, and the lump that formed in his throat at realizing that everyone was there to see his brother off.
Carole and Burt were immediately pulled into hugs by an elderly couple Kurt remembered were Rebecca's parents. Rebecca was a beautiful woman, with long blond hair and green eyes. She was down to earth and a genuinely mellow person. After breaking up with Rachel for the umpteenth time, Finn needed someone so un-Rachel, that meeting Rebecca seemed like a match made in heaven. She also was able to teach Finn a lot, and the boy Kurt knew had turned into a resourceful and clever young man once their twins had arrived.
Watching the exchange between the parents of the deceased, Kurt felt a light squeeze to his right hand. Looking down at his hand expecting to see Angel or Breakers small one entangled with his, what he saw pulled the corners of his mouth into a small fond smile, "Blaine."
Blaine smiled as he found himself in a warm embrace by his old friend. Kurt squeezed Blaine in a bone crushing hug, only then realising that he needed the familiar gesture. Before he knew it, he was sobbing into the now slightly taller, still curly haired but unnecessarily gelled haired man, "How are you Kurt?" he asked gently when they pulled apart.
"Its hard" Kurt answered. They had always been honest with each other, and now was no different.
Blaine smiled and patted Kurt's shoulder, "I know it is, but you'll get through it."
Kurt nodded, "Thank you Blaine" he smiled at his friend, "When did you get here? Is Stefano with you?" he asked about Blaine's boyfriend.
"Just a few minutes ago actually, and no, he couldn't get time off work, but Becky and I came together."
Kurt smiled at the thought of seeing Becky again. She was always such a sweet girl, excluding what she did for Couch Sylvester. "Oh well that's a shame, it would have been nice to see him again, and it'd be great to see Becky again too."
Blaine placed a hand over his heart and feigned hurt, "And it isn't great to see me again?" he joked.
Kurt played along, shrugging his shoulders, "Meh."
The two old lovers laughed and carried on talking to each other for a few minutes before the service was called into session. Kurt paled, but was encouraged along by his old friend slipping his hand back into his own and pulling him along towards the front of the hall to a seat.
When Kurt sat down on a padded chair, he refused to look up at first. On his right, Angel sat down and slipped her hand into his as well. Breaker, Carole and Burt all sat in the front row. Finally, Kurt looked up towards the two black coffins at the front with huge bouquets of red and white roses on top of each one. Because of the car accident and the injuries the bodies had sustained, it was a close-casket funeral.
The funeral home director began the proceedings with a short prayer Carole had asked for. Kurt didn't believe in god, but Carole and Finn did, and if they wanted a prayer to be given, he would do nothing but support them. After the director gave a heartfelt speech about life and death, he cleared the floor for family and friends to speak if they so felt inclined.
Burt spoke first, telling a story of how the boy who once believed you could get pregnant in a hot tub turned into a loving and devoted man and father who got his wife pregnant the proper way, much to the horror of not only Angel and Breaker, but of Kurt as well.
Rebecca's family spoke in turns after Burt, telling of how beautiful their daughter was, and how soon her life was cut short. A few friends of Finn and Rebecca's spoke next, and the speeches all varied from emotional to humorous.
After Rachel's speech, mainly about her rocky past with Finn, had ended, Kurt still couldn't gather himself to speak. He knew he was being cowardly but he just couldn't get up and do it. Finally, Angel and Breaker stood up and made their way to the front, all eyes on the two beautiful children.
The two kissed both of their parents' coffins before standing in the middle of both, linking hands as they talked into the microphone, Angel saying "My name is Carolyn Michele Grace Hudson, but everybody calls me Angel."
Kurt, and everyone in the room for that matter, smiled at the adorable little girl talking with such confidence. Angel smiled at everyone before continuing, "My mommy always told me that angels are beautiful creatures sent from God to remind the world of how much love there is" tears were already welling up in the eyes of all those in attendance, "But mommy and daddy were my angels. They reminded me of how much they loved me and Breaker each day. I know that they loved us both, and ill miss them. I want to be just like my mommy."
By now, Kurt was already balling his eyes out silently. Breaker then began to speak, "My name is Christopher Kurtis Burtram Hudson, but I such a heartbreaker, they call me Breaker" everyone giggled at this, "My dad once told me that when someone dies, like a parent, they never leave their child's heart. So I know my mom and my dad are in here" the boy said, placing his hand that was clasped with Angels over his heart, sure enough, breaking everyone's heart, "He was my hero, and I want to be just like my daddy."
Kurt turned his head to the side, and sure enough, everyone seemed to have been crying. Angel and Breaker came back to sit next to Kurt, and Kurt couldn't help but pull them into a suffocating hug, "Im so proud of both of you!"
The director chose that moment to return. He had been told that after the children spoke it would be the end of the service. With one final prayer, the funeral service was ended. Burt, Carole, Kurt, Angel, Breaker and Paul and Francine Winters, Rebecca's parents, stood in the front of the hall to thank everyone as they approached them. After everyone had been thanked and filed out of the funeral home, the director of the funeral home and his team carried the two coffins away to be cremated.
Kurt watched as his brother disappeared out of sight, tears now free falling from his glasz eyes. Burt rested his hand on his sons shoulder, Kurt rasiing his hand to cover his fathers, and the whole family watched in silence as the doors closed behind the funeral director. Carole pulled everyone into a group hug where they hugged it out for a good few minutes, bidding farewell to Finn and his wife for the last time.
Burt had invited everyone over to his and Carole's home for the wake, and sure enough, almost everyone had shown up. Ella had organized the caterers while everyone was at the funeral, and people began mingling and chatting with each other as soon as they arrived.
Kurt was getting himself a drink when he heard lots of familiar laughter and the distinct sound of guitars. Smiling as he passed everyone to make his way into the family room, he saw his other family. His glee family, all sitting on the couches in the centre of the room. Kurt took in the sight. Everyone was here.
Artie was sitting in his wheelchair, Tina on his lap. The two had split up with their respective high school partners senior year, but never got back together until a few years ago when they both moved back to Lima after graduating college. Artie owned his own I.T firm in Lima, while Tina worked at McKinley High as the co-director of the current Glee club and dance teacher.
Brittany and Santana were sitting next to each other, their hands clasped together. Kurt had to smile at the two. Even after all these years, and their mutual love for each other, they still weren't officially a couple. They were occasional bed buddies, but they were free to see other people, and Brittany currently had a boyfriend who lived in Lima with her. Santana was the new cheerleading couch at McKinley High, and if possible, was more maniacal than Sue Sylvester.
Quinn sat daintily on the ledge of the couch. She was still as beautiful as ever, but she had definitely grown up a lot. She had attended Harvard law school, and was a practising lawyer in Columbus where she lived with her husband Alex, a beautiful British man. Kurt had to admit, she did know how to pick them.
Rachel was sitting on one couch, staring intently at Noah who was sitting on the other couch strumming his guitar. Noah represented Rachel and Kurt in New York. His charm and bad-assness as he would put it, made him the ideal manager. He and Rachel had a whole lot of sexual tension, and thought that they hid their secret relationship well, but Kurt so knew they were screwing each other behind closed doors. He even caught Noah looking at wedding rings once.
Mercedes sat with Matt behind her. Her and Matt had hooked up when Matt returned to Lima for the gleeks' graduation, but nothing further had come of it. When Mercedes moved to LA upon getting her record deal she so damn deserved, the two had bumped into each other on the set of Mercedes' video for Hell To The No. They began dating, and now the pair were engaged. And only Kurt knew she was expecting their first child.
Mike sat next to Blaine and Becky. Mike and Matt had moved to LA after graduating high school and started their own dance studio. A few special clients, and they found themselves as the hottest choreographers in all of California. Mike currently was single, but he didn't mind that fact.
Kurt smiled fondly at Blaine. With Kurt transferring back to McKinley, and Blaine heading off to Julliard, their relationship ended shortly after they got together, though they still decided to stay friends. Their friendship was solid, and they still were each others support system all these years later. Blaine currently lived in LA where he owned his own production company, and he was a well-known musical director, screenwriter, composer and performer on the LA theatre scene.
Becky had come to her senses and quit scheming for Sue. She joined the Glee club and became close friends with everyone. After winning Homecoming Queen senior year, Becky became a motivational speaker and is a frequent guest on a talk show in LA. She also lives with Blaine and his boyfriend.
Even Mr. Schue managed to come. His wife, Emma, couldn't get the time off, but Kurt's former Glee club teacher could. He and Emma finally got their shit together and were now happily married with a 5 year old of their own. He was still Glee club and Spanish teacher at McKinley, and despite no longer being his students, Kurt and the gleeks still called him Mr. Schue.
And then there was Sam, who was as blond as ever, as good looking as ever, and looking at him.
Kurt held his breath when Sam stood up looking mighty fine is his tailor Armani suit. Immediately, all the former gleeks who had been chatting boisterously, paused and just stared at the two men. Everyone knew their situation. "Sam" Kurt said simply, nodding at the other man.
Sam took an awkward step forward but stopped himself from embracing the other man in a hug, settling for extending his hand, to which Kurt shook firmly. The two just looked at each other for a few moments until a loud cough broke them out of their staring contest.
"That wasn't awkward at all" Santana exclaimed.
Kurt watched as Sam blushed red. Kurt turned to glare at the beautiful Latina before sitting down next to Puck on the couch, "What are you guys talking about?" he asked them.
Within seconds conversation picked up again. Everyone shared their stories and memories with Finn over the years, and there were many tears, but many more laughs. They barely even recognized that people had started to leave until Mr. and Mrs. Winters had bid farewell to Kurt.
Carole and Burt turned back into the family room as the last of their guests had left. Carole sighed and flopped down onto the couch next to Rachel. Burt smiled at the group as he walked into the kitchen, seconds later walking back out with a platter of sandwiches and sat them down on the coffee table. "Perfect time for a song, don't you think?"
Hurried footsteps were heard and Angel and Breaker scurried into the room, Breaker holding his flip camera, "Wait, let me get this on camera."
Carole looked at her grandson for a while, "Why do you want to get this on camera?" she asked him.
"Are you kidding? Mercy Jones and Sam Evans are sitting in front of me, ready to sing a song, Im gonna be so cool at school" the little boy exclaimed, all adults in the room chuckling, except Rachel who glared at the boy for not mentioning her, but didn't say anything.
"You all sing, right?" Angel asked hopefully, "You were all in the Glee club with daddy and uncle Kurt?"
Everyone nodded happily, Kurt pulling Angel into his lap, "That's right, and your daddy was our co-captain, with Rachel."
"Captain?" Breaker asked with wide eyes as he settled onto the couch with Carole, "My dad was so cool."
Everyone looked on at the boy with glassy eyes. He sure did idolise his father, for good reason too. Carole pulled Breaker towards her and wrapped her arms around the boy, resting her chin on his head, "So, how about that song?" she asked with a smile.
"Of course, what shall we sing? Perhaps something from my Tony award winning musical Wicked, or a classic Barbara-"
"Open Arms" Angel announced, cutting off Rachel's obnoxious rant.
All the adults exchanged looks with each other before Kurt turned to asked "Why that song sweetie?"
"It was daddies favourite."
"And his and moms wedding song, right Pop?" Breaker added, holding up his camera tp pointing it towards the adults.
Kurt nodded towards Noah who began picking at the strings, playing the notes into the song. Kurt closed his eyes to imagine the piano, his time spent with the Warblers had taught him how to listen to the music that wasn't there.
Noah started the song, "Lying beside you, here in the dark. Feeling your heart heartbeat with mine."
His smoky voice blended beautifully when Rachel softened her voice and sung with him, "Softly whisper, you're soul sincere. How could our love be so blind?"
Rachel and Noahs singing ceased for Santana to sing, her voice warm and soulful, Blaine cutting in to harmonize at the end of the bridge, "We sailed on together, we drifted apart. And here you are by my side."
Everyone joined into the chorus, the old friends finding their place in the melody easily, no one person over powering, just a blended soft sound accompanied by the acoustic music of the guitars.
"So now I come to you, with open arms. Nothing to hide, believe what I say. So here I am, with open arms. Hoping you'll see what your love means to me. Open arms."
Kurt swayed with his arms wrapped around Angel. The little girl looked up at him as he began to sing beautifully, "Living without you, living alone. This empty house seems so cold."
Kurt's head snapped towards Sam, who lowered his voice to blend effortlessly with Kurt's higher notes. Their eyes locked as they sang, "Wanting to hold you, wanting you near. How much I wanted you home."
Shaken by the words in that verse and by Sam's haunting face, Kurt stopped his singing, and so did Sam. Luckily, Artie piped up with the bridge, Tina harmonizing at the end, "But now that you've come back, turned night into day. I need you to stay."
Mercedes and Mr. Schue sung together, their strong voices building the chorus. Kurt had to smile when Mercedes gave a few runs. It wasn't a Glee song without Mercedes' runs.
"So now I come to you, with open arms. Nothing to hide, believe what I say. So here I am, with open arms. Hoping you'll see what your love means to me."
The last chord played out, everyone's eyes darting to Angel, who smiled and finished the song, "Open arms" she sang in key.
Carole, Burt and Breaker all screamed and applauded loudly, Breaker turning the camera to face himself, "And that, ladies and gentleman, was New Directions class of 2012!"
Everyone exchanged sad smiles, touched and heartbroken by Breakers innocent words.
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Starzhei's Note:
- HI! Thank you so much for reading my story! Thank you to everyone who has put me and my story on alert and/or favourited it. Yes, Im using favourited as if its a real word :P. And, thank you so much for them lovely people who have reviewed to tell me what you think. Seriously, authors get nothing from their work apart from the kind words from their readers. That being said, if you have any questions, comments, thoughts or concerns about my story, please don't hesitate to send me a review or a private message. I'd love to hear from you beautiful people, find out what type of person is reading my fic lol, does that sound creepy in any way?
- Anywho, Im super nervous about this chapter. I really liked writing it. I just hope y'all enjoy reading it. In my culture, funerals are completely different to that of what is in this chapter, so I apologize if anything seems off.
- The song used in this chapter is Journey's classic love song 'Open Arms'. I used it because it is one of my favourite songs ever. Also, don't you think the cast of Glee would totally kill that song? I can totally picture everyone how I described them singing it. Just, also imagine Mike and Brittany dancing gently, contemporary style, a La 'Dream A Little Dream Of Me' from the episode 'Dream On'.
