Summary: Elizabeth dies and Burt makes a promise.
March 2nd, 2001
Burt felt numb as he clutched his son's hand in his, the only point of warmth in his body as he watched his wife's body be lowered into the ground. He'd loved her, she'd been brilliant and beautiful and so full of life that it was hard to imagine her dead. God, he'd known this was coming sooner or later (the words: 'no she's dead, this is her son' rang through his head), but it had been a distant worry. The only person close to him that had died was his great grandma, and that had been more of a surprise that she'd lasted to 101 years old. But as much as he wanted to break down and cry, he couldn't.
He looked down at his son and marvelled at how much he looked like Lizzie. Burt (he was Burt now, it was what he answered to, not Alex, no matter how much Alex made up his core) knew that his son would grow up strong and beautiful yet so easy to break as he fought for his father's attention. Even though he'd never pictured himself as a father, he was proud to be one and loved Kurt with his whole heart. He felt proud at every A Kurt brought home and went to each and every dance recital (his boy had gotten into dance when he turned six and had excelled in every lesson). He was going to make sure he made it through this.
Later that night, after putting Kurt to bed and cleaning up after the funeral guests that had come over to give their respects (and multiple casseroles that Burt didn't even know what to do with), he lay in bed and let the emotions roll over him.
Guilt. Fear. Rage. Sorrow. Love.
He was silent as tears streaked down his face, smelling the scent of his wife's perfume, the same fruity scent that had told him that something was wrong six years ago and just let go.
He'd break now and put himself together in the morning. He didn't know what Burt of the show did, but he was going to be Kurt's rock now. He'd done everything so far for Elizabeth and Kurt, but now he'd have to try extra hard for Kurt.
