Chapter Nine

The late afternoon sun is filtering through the curtains when Kurt wakes up, warm and fully content right where he is. He feels a soft kiss be pressed against his forehead. There's a sleepy smile playing on his lips as he opens his eyes, heart feeling full and happy when he meets Sebastian's warm gaze.

"Sorry, babe. I didn't mean to wake you up," Sebastian apologizes, low and soft, and Kurt drifts pleasantly on the adoring gaze fixed on his face. There's silence for a beat before Sebastian whispers, "I took this for granted."

"What?"

"You," he says. "Blaine." Quiet and thoughtful. "I forgot how beautiful you look while you're sleeping. How amazing it feels to fall asleep together like this and how much I love waking up next to you."

Blaine nuzzles unconsciously at Sebastian's shoulder, his arm draped tight and protective around Sebastian's middle. Sebastian lets his fingers slide through Blaine's hair while Kurt reaches across to rest a hand on the warm, tan expanse of the smaller boy's back before offering, "He can't sleep very well without you."

Sebastian ducks down to drop a kiss to his sleeping boyfriend's mess of curls. "I don't do so well without you two, either," he admits. "Before I got put up in the Hotel California, I was staying with one or both of you pretty much every night. And then, in the blink of an eye, I was on my own, couldn't even call you during the night if I needed to talk. It sucks."

He sighs and kisses the top of Kurt's hair. "I miss you," he says, sighing. "I miss this."

"I can't wait until you can come home where you belong." Kurt rests his hand over Sebastian's heart.

"I can't wait to come home so we can start our lives together." The words are so earnest and hopeful that Kurt feels his breath catch. Sebastian takes a breath. "But for now, I'm going to appreciate every second I can get of my freedom." He smirks and kisses Kurt on the lips. "And nothing says 'freedom' quite like passing out cold after sex and waking up from the nap snuggled between the two most beautiful guys I've ever seen."

Kurt laughs a bit too loudly as Sebastian kisses his cheek, smiling. "Let freedom ring."

The laughter that rumbles through Sebastian's chest is enough to wake Blaine. He lifts his head and smiles sleepily up toward Sebastian. "Missed this," he says, voice soft and slow with sleep.

Sebastian drops a kiss to the top of his messy curls. "I know, baby. Me too." Blaine nuzzles closer as Sebastian wraps an arm around his shoulders. "But," he drawls. "We can't just stay in bed all day. Let's go to Lima."

"What on Earth for?" Kurt asks, voice pitched higher in confusion.

"There's just something I've got to do there."

-x-

"Sebastian, honey!" Carole is off the couch and across the room in a flash, reaching up to frame Sebastian's face. He leans down and lets her kiss his forehead, smiling warmly. "Kurt didn't tell us they released you or else I'd have planned something-"

"Carole, please," Sebastian dismisses with a laugh before leaning forward to wrap the small woman up in a hug. "You don't have to do anything." He pauses and grins before continuing. "And I haven't been released yet. I'm just out on good behavior for the weekend, so Kurt and Blaine decided to surprise you by bringing an unstable mental patient into your home."

Carole throws her head back and laughs, smacking at Sebastian's shoulder. "Oh, please. I don't think there's ever been a stable person in this house. You'll fit right in." She winks and pats his face before glancing at the clock and frowning. "God, I wish I would have known you three were coming. I'd have told Helen I couldn't take her to the doctor today. I could call her now and-"

There's a soft smile on Sebastian's face. "Carole, I'm nobody special. You don't have to change all your plans just because I'm here. Believe me, I'm just happy to spend a day in the company of people who don't think they're Teddy Roosevelt or sit on a couch petting a cat that isn't there."

Carole kisses him again, an apologetic crease in her brow. "Are you sure, sweetheart?"

He smiles widely and helps Carole into her coat. "Go. I'm sure we'll still be here when you get back."

"Okay," she finally acquiesces, kissing each boy on the cheek. "Finn's upstairs and Burt's out in the garage."

After another round of "Are you sure, because I could call and cancel...", they finally manage to shove Carole out the door with a smile. Kurt laughs and pulls Blaine down on the couch. He reaches for Sebastian. "Sit?"

"Not yet, babe," Sebastian says. "I need to go talk to Burt for a second. You and Blaine watch tv or something. I'll be right back."

With a parting kiss to Kurt's cheek, Sebastian makes his way down the hall, pausing at the door to take a steadying breath, letting it out as he turns the knob and enters the garage. Burt is half-hidden by the hood of his truck as he works on the engine.

The door clicks shut behind Sebastian and Burt doesn't look up before saying, "Good, Finn, wanna hand me that socket wrench?"

A wide smile spreads across Sebastian's face as he picks the wrench up off the toolbox and offers it to Burt. The man looks up as he takes the wrench, doing a double take before a small smile touches his face.

Sebastian grins broadly and gestures to the wrench. "You should probably take it," he jokes. "I'm pretty sure I'm not supposed to be holding blunt weapons. I might go psycho."

"I'll take my chances," Burt laughs, stepping back. "Let me take a look at you. You're thin as a rail, but you've always been a beanpole, so I guess you're alright."

Sebastian breathes out a laugh as he's swept up in an unexpected hug. He relaxes into it, enveloped by the smell of motor oil and Dial soap.

It hits him suddenly that he doesn't remember the smell of his own father's cologne. He wonders if he's ever even been close enough to figure it out. It doesn't matter. Everything about Kurt's family has always felt more like home anyway. Felt like it was worth remembering.

Burt squeezes his shoulder. "It's damn good to see you, kid. How ya feelin'?"

"Much better," Sebastian answers with a smile and a dismissive shrug. It's the truth. "It was pretty touch-and-go for awhile, but I feel good now," he admits, scuffing his shoe on the garage floor before looking back up toward Burt. "Thanks in no small part to Kurt and Blaine." He takes in a breath. "Which is why I'm here."

He slides his hands into his pockets and watches his foot kick at the concrete of the floor. "I know that I've pretty much made life a nightmare around here these last few months-" Burt tries to protest, but Sebastian holds up a hand and looks up to meet the man's eyes. "Let me finish. I'm not here to fish for sympathy or apologize, but I really need to thank you for everything you've done for Kurt and Blaine-especially Blaine-since I've been locked up.

"You've always been like a father to Blaine and I, but it still amazes me the lengths you'll go to for us. I know they couldn't have funded their daily trips to see me all on their own, and I know that taking in another kid isn't cheap-also considering the primary reason he got kicked out is me-I know I owe you a lot more than just a 'thank you'."

"You don't owe me anything," Burt says firmly. "Kid, if you think I'm gonna stand here and let you thank me for giving you and Blaine things that your own damn parents should have given you without even thinkin' about it, you've got another thing comin'."

Burt reaches out and grabs Sebastian's shoulder. "Now you listen to me, you're going to go in the house, sit on the couch, and eat all my damn food while the three of you hog the tv, because that's what kids are supposed to do. Kurt is going to continue to bleed my wallet dry on crap I don't understand, Blaine is going to keep the bathroom radio cranked way too early in the morning and make me want to strangle him, and you-" He pokes a finger in Sebastian's chest.

"You are going to continue to lie to me about how things in Kurt's bedroom keep getting broken." Sebastian flushes and breathes out a laugh. "And do you know why?"

Sebastian shakes his head. "Why?"

"Because you're kids, and it's got to be someone's job to make sure you've got everything you need. And, God help me, I love you and the other one, so I guess it falls on me." Burt grins before laughing when he sees Sebastian's overly bright eyes. He shoves at Sebastian's shoulder. "And the fact that you're thanking me for any of that is actually making me nervous. It's unnatural."

Sebastian laughs quietly and Burt shoves him again. "Now get the hell out of here. Go break a lamp or drink the milk right out of the carton or something." He claps Sebastian on the back as he shoves him back toward the door. "Hey, Sebastian?" Sebastian turns back to see a warm smile on Burt's face. "I'm damn glad to see ya."

With a wide smile, Sebastian turns back toward the door and heads back inside the house that's always felt like a home. His home.

-x-

The rest of the afternoon passes with little incident. It's not until Finn's migrated downstairs with his Playstation, playing his third "That's not fair, the light was in my eyes" Mario Kart rematch with Blaine, that anything noteworthy happens.

Kurt combs his fingers absentmindedly through Sebastian's hair, reading a magazine while Finn and Blaine play Playstation and Sebastian dozes with his head on Kurt's leg. He feels the change in Sebastian before he actually sees it. Sebastian's energy goes from relaxed to anxious, so Kurt glances down to see him staring at the screen with rapt attention. Kurt scratches his fingers into sandy blond hair to get the boy's attention. "Honey?"

Soft green eyes meet Kurt's, curious. He speaks in a shy whisper. "What are they doing, Kurt?"

Kurt answers just as softly as not to call Finn's attention. Blaine glances over, brow creasing slightly, but turns back when he sees that Kurt's got the situation in hand. "They're playing a game, and I'm sure if you asked nicely, they'd let you play, too." He says the words with deliberate volume to draw Blaine's attention.

Uncertainty crosses Skylar's face. "I don't know him-" He gestures shyly toward Finn as he sits up.

"That's Kurt's brother," Blaine says, pausing the game. Finn looks up in confusion, but Blaine continues anyway, coming to sit near Skylar. "His name is Finn and I think you two will get along very well."

Kurt stifles a laugh and clears his throat, looking toward Finn with pleading eyes. "Finn, this is Skylar. He's eight years old." Skylar ducks into the crook of Blaine's neck. "No," Kurt chides gently, turning the alter by his shoulders to face Finn who, as expected, looks thoroughly freaked out. "If you want to play Finn's game, you have to ask him."

Skylar squares his shoulders but leans closer to Blaine. His words pour out in a comical rush. "FinncanIplaywithyouandBlaine ?"

"Uh...Yeah," Finn says, hesitating. "Sure, Skylar..."

A proud, beaming smile lights up Skylar's face and Blaine kisses him on the head as he hands him a controller and shows him the buttons. Finn stands up awkwardly and hands his own controller to Blaine. "I'm-uh-I'm going to see if there's anything to eat. You two go ahead."

Once Finn makes his equally awkward exit, Skylar turns to Kurt, worrying his lip. "I didn't mean to make him mad, Kurt. He can play, too. We can take turns and stuff. I'll share, I promise. Ask Blaine, I'm real good at sharing..."

Blaine looks at a loss for what to say. Kurt rests a hand on the alter's shoulder. "Honey, he's not mad," Kurt soothes. "I'll go talk to him, okay?"

Skylar tries a small smile. "Okay, Kurt." Blaine shifts closer as Kurt stands up to leave and nods. Skylar seems to relax a bit. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, sweetheart," Kurt answers, kissing the top of the alter's hair before heading toward the kitchen to find Finn leaning against the counter, staring out the window. "It's a lot, I know."

When Finn turns toward him, Kurt is shocked to see tears in his eyes, He crosses the kitchen in a flash and puts his hand on his brother's shoulder. "Finn, what's wrong?"

"His head's really busted, isn't it?" is all Finn says, voice thick and uncharacteristically quiet. "His mom and dad did that?"

Kurt sighs sadly. "I'm sure they didn't help."

"I-I just don't understand. He never seemed broken before."

"He's not broken now. He never was. Everyone deals with stress and abuse differently, but he's doing so much better now."

"I just can't imagine how bad his life had to be in order to have to do that though."

"I don't think I want to know," Kurt admits. "What I've heard is just unthinkable and to imagine him going through any of it makes me want to cry. I'm so proud of him for everything he's done and I can't imagine how hard this is for him-not that he'd tell me-but I know that he's going to be okay, because he's the strongest person I've ever met. So, if I have to learn to love my boyfriend as four different people, I can do that. Because I love him and he continues to amaze me every single day."

Finn nods silently, waiting a beat before offering, "I'm real proud of him, too." Kurt smiles at the words and Finn lets out a breath, rubbing at the back of his neck. "How should I-"

"Just treat Skylar like you're talking to a kid. If any of the others come out, you might have to reintroduce yourself, but I don't think they will. Skylar loves games, so I was kind of expecting him to make an appearance. He's a good kid." Kurt grins broadly. "Plus, it'll probably be the only time you'll ever be able to beat Seb at anything."

Finn breathes out a laugh and claps Kurt on the shoulder. "But he's-he's good, right? Mostly, I mean."

"Yeah, Finn. He's good." Warmth spreads through Kurt's chest. At least now Sebastian has a family who cares about him. Finn nods to himself and heads toward the living room. Kurt wipes his eyes before following.

He makes it into the room just in time to hear the front door slam shut, his father appearing around the corner, irate. "Finn, dammit! I told you that when you finish with the tools at the shop, you put 'em back where they belong or else they get broken!"

Burt slams down the remnants of a broken meter on the coffee table before Kurt can stop him. The noise and action is enough to make Skylar cover his ears and bold from the room. Blaine shoots Kurt a pleading glance before chasing after the fleeing boy.

"Dad!" Kurt cuts in, his voice loud and bracing in the now silence of the room. "You can't do that around him. That wasn't Seb."

"Oh." Burt freezes, his eyes darting toward where the two boys ran to, gesturing absently. "That was one of his other personalities?"

"Yes," Kurt breathes, rubbing at his tired eyes. "And you just scared the hell out of him."

A/N: Reviews are always appreciated. :)