Lorrie had picked her grandsons up from school, and the three of them were in the hospital waiting room, awaiting news on Carole and the baby. Burt came out an hour later, telling them that the doctors had given mom medicine to stop the labor. She had to stay in the hospital for a day or two to monitor things, but she would be allowed home after that on strict bed rest. Burt told his boys he expected them to be on their best behavior around their mother until the baby came. Stress could push her into labor; they may not be able to stop it a second time and it was still way too early for the baby to be born. Kurt and Finn agreed, and Burt took them home leaving Carole's mother to keep her company. He knew his wife was fine now, and his boys were probably frightened and needed him more than she did right now.

The three spent the evening preparing Carole's bedroom for optimum bed rest. They moved the guest room TV (the one the boys used primarily for video games in the room that would become the baby's ) into the master bedroom. Burt brought up a high table and placed it next to the bed, where she could have things she needed in arms reach. Grandma Lorrie would be spending the days taking care of her daughter for the next few months, and they wanted to make things as easy as possible. Carole came home the next evening in good spirits.

Her boys took good care of her over the next few weeks. The three of them also painted the nursery, black and white walls, with red accents in the decorating. Burt had to admit, it looked really good. He had been unsure of Kurt's preferences, but he did a good job. And the room could suitably house a boy or a girl. Burt enjoyed the time he got to spend with his two kids, preparing for his third. He knew it would be harder to find once the baby came, so he was happy to get the time he could now.

Kurt missed the Christmas showcase he'd normally be preparing for right now, and had no Christmas program to make up for it. He wasn't a high schooler, and most of the middle school kids didn't get a part in the program. Now, it looked like he never would. He did have his choir concert coming up, but he had no Christmas performances besides. While he missed it, with his mother being bedridden and the baby coming, he was kind of glad he didn't have that obligation. He could help prepare for the baby more now, and he got to spend a lot more time with friends, too. He was realizing what he missed by being so busy!

He had been spending a lot more time with Blaine, Sophia and Katie. He had neglected them lately, but he missed them and knew now that he may be back at school with them next year. He found that Blaine had grown up a lot, and was now quite attractive. Still, after what happened with Derek, Kurt wasn't interested in anybody right now. But he did enjoy the time he got to spend with Blaine and the girls. The girls were still doing the showcase, but Blaine had been coming over to Kurt's house almost every afternoon. The two would work on their homework, and then Kurt would teach Blaine some ballet steps as his ½ hour of practice/night homework.

Kurt also spent a lot of his free time watching musicals snuggled with his mom in her bed. He was excited to meet his baby brother or sister, but the lingering fear that she would love her biological children more than him was still there. Carole knew it, Kurt admitted to it, but she knew that she couldn't prove otherwise to Kurt until after the baby was born. So in the meantime, she was happy to have him spend time with her. One day Kurt dumped a bunch of fabric on her bed and asked to use her sewing machine.

"What are you doing?" she asked as he started cutting up squares of fabric.

"Dad took me to the fabric store and gave me $20. I want to make something for the baby," he explained to his mom.

Carole smiled. Her son really was extremely sweet. "Can I help?" she asked.

"I'm making 10X10 inch squares. You can help cut," he told her handing her the other scissors. The blanket was finished three days later, and it turned out adorable.

Carole made her way downstairs for Thanksgiving, which was at their house this year to make things easier for Carole. The guys had to cook, but Kurt was good and Grandma Lorrie helped. It was a nice affair, with Grandma Lorrie, his aunt and uncle, and two cousins.

Carole abided by her bed rest, the boys made sure of it, and the baby stayed snug inside her until December 8, only two weeks before her due date. Burt woke the boys up in the middle of the night, telling them that Grandma Lorrie was coming to stay with them. They could stay home from school tomorrow, and Grandma would bring them to the hospital in the morning to await the baby. Kurt didn't sleep the rest of the night, too excited. He checked and double checked that everything was perfect in the baby room. He straightened the crib, re-organized the clothing drawer and the closet, and made sure enough diapers were stocked for immediate use. He made sure the downstairs was clean and there was nothing laying about that the baby would put in its mouth and choke on (though he knew the baby wouldn't be able to do that for some time). Then, he made breakfast for Grandma and Finn.

The three arrived at the hospital at 9:00. Carole was still in labor, but she was close. They got to see her briefly before being ordered back to the waiting area. Two hours later, Burt came down.

"Mom's doing well," he told them, "and so is your little sister."

They got to go to Mom's room and meet little Emily Lorraine Hummel. Kurt got to hold her for a few minutes…she was so teeny tiny, it was hard to imagine a human being that small. Kurt passed her to Finn, who looked terrified he would drop her and immediately passed her to his grandma. They stayed for an hour, each taking turns holding Emily and taking pictures, examining her tiny fingers and toes, before Grandma and the boys left. They stopped for lunch, where Finn proudly exclaimed to the waitress that they'd just been to visit his new baby sister in the hospital. The waitress gave them free congratulatory cake.

Mom and Emily came home from the hospital the next morning. Kurt and Finn were forced to go to school, everybody seemed to think it best that mom relaxed for a few hours when she got home.

"Kurtie! Where were you yesterday?" Brittany asked as he met her by the entrance.

"My mom had the baby, we were at the hospital."

"Ooh! Baby! Boy or girl?"

"It's a girl, her name is Emily," Kurt explained.

"Can I come meet her after school?"

"I don't know…maybe another day. I don't think dad's going to want company right away," Kurt replied.

"What are you doing next year, Kurt?" Brittany asked.

"I don't know…my parents haven't decided yet," Kurt told her. "Do you know?"

"Yes, my parents told me last night we're moving. I'm not sure where, but they said Daddy's gotten a new job and the school has a really good cheerleading team, they think it would be good for me. The only problem is that Daddy's job starts in January, so we're moving after Christmas," Brittany told him, sadly.

"What?" Kurt asked, forgetting everything else for a moment. "You're leaving? How far away?" How could his best friend be moving? He didn't know what he would do without her, especially if he had to go to public school next year! He figured at least maybe they could still be together.

"I don't know. A few hours. But Kurt, we'll still be friends. We'll still talk all the time, on the phone…right?"

"Of course Brit," he replied, pulling her into a hug.

"And I want to meet your sister before I go," she told him.

"I'll make sure you do," he promised.

That day after school, Kurt raced to Brittany's car. Upon dropping him off at home, Mrs. Pierce handed him a big casserole dish. "Your parents probably don't feel much like cooking," she told him. "That's for dinner."

"Thanks, Mrs. Pierce!"

His mom was nursing the baby on the sofa, but she was just about done. Kurt averted his eyes, he knew his mom would be doing that, they'd explained it to him, but he didn't want to see his mom's boob.

"It's OK, Kurt nothing's showing," Carole assured him with a smile. Kurt peeked, and his mom was right…he couldn't see any skin at all, just his sister's bald little head.

"How is she?" he asked.

"Perfect. She's a champion eater," his mother replied. "Do you want to burp her?"

Kurt nodded, hesitantly. His mother handed him a throw blanket. "Cover your shoulder with this," she explained. Kurt did so, making sure the top part of his back was covered, and sat down on the couch next to his mom. She carefully handed him his sister, quickly covering herself up, and directed him how to hold her so her head was on his shoulder.

"Now gently pat her back," she told her son. Kurt did so, but Carole instructed him to do it a little harder. Emily was just so tiny, he didn't want to hurt her. But he gave her slightly firmer pats, and a few seconds later Emily let out a loud belch.

"That was from her?" he asked, astonished that a tiny baby could have that loud of a belch. Carole simply laughed. Kurt asked if she wanted the baby back, but Carole told him he could hold her if he wanted. So Kurt situated himself so he was leaning against his mom, the baby cuddled to his chest. Carole shifted to a more comfortable position, and welcomed the snuggles from her two babies. That was how Burt found them a minute later when he walked in with Finn. He took a picture, and said he would find something for supper.

"Mrs. Pierce made us a casserole, dad, I put it in the fridge," Kurt told his father. Finn went up to his room to change.

"How was school?" Carole asked.

"Brittany's moving. When they found out she couldn't go to Bajar next year, her dad accepted another job, in a school district with a good cheerleading team for Brit," Kurt said, feeling the tears welling up in his eyes. "They're moving in a few weeks, right after Christmas."

Carole felt bad for her son; Brittany was his best friend and having to say goodbye like that…really sucked. But she couldn't blame the Pierces at all.

"Brit wants to meet Emily, though. Can she come over?"

"Of course, sweetie. Just Brittany, I don't want a ton of people around Emily yet, but she can come over tomorrow if you like," Carole told him.

Finn rejoined them then, and Kurt asked if he wanted to hold the baby. Finn nodded, so Kurt handed his sister back to his mother and got up. Finn took his place, and Carole carefully placed Emily in his arms.

The next day, Brittany fawned over Emily. She thought she looked just like a baby doll. She was very gentle, and good at holding the Emily. She decided she'd have to convince her parents to have another baby, so she could have one too.

XXXXX

The next few days passed quickly. Kurt loved having Emily around, and he didn't feel like his parents cared about him any less than their biological children. Finn on the other hand, spent as little time as possible at home. He went to a friend's house almost every day, and never seemed to want to hold Emily or have anything to do with her. He got pretty angry when Burt insisted he spend an evening at home for family time. He swore at everyone, and refused to say a pleasant word until Burt told him he would no longer be allowed to go to friends' houses if he behaved this way at home. Then Finn decided he would spend the evening in his room.

The next morning, Burt reminded Finn that he was to come directly home that evening, as he was grounded for his behavior last night. Finn got angry and stormed off to school, but did come home directly after. Burt and Carole asked Kurt to watch Emily for a few minutes, and went to talk to Finn in his room.

Finn was pissed. He had been avoiding being at home because everything was about the baby right now. He had been excited about the baby, too. But now he felt like the world centered around her. Her and Kurt…because his parents seemed so determined to prove to him that he wouldn't be left out, that they included him in everything and left Finn out. And then he got grounded just because he didn't want to come home and they made him? What was that? Finn threw a baseball at the door just as Burt opened it. He sidestepped the ball, avoiding being hit. \

"Sit down, Finn," he ordered. And now they didn't even knock. Finn sighed, but sat down. "Why don't you knock?" he spat out.

"We did. You were in the middle of a tantrum and didn't hear," Burt informed him. Oh. Yeah, Finn supposed that may be true.

"What's going on with you, Finn?" his dad asked, taking a seat on Finn's desk chair. His mom sat with him on the bed. Finn just shrugged.

"Come on, buddy, what's wrong?" Carole asked, wrapping an arm around him and pulling him close. Finn obliged, curling up to his mom. He didn't think he'd ever truly be too big for mom cuddles…as long as nobody at school knew.

"Everything's just all about the stupid baby now. And Kurt. You forgot about me," Finn accused.

"What?" Burt asked, taking Finn's chin and turning his head to look at him. "Finn…we haven't seen you in the past 2 weeks. You've been at a friend's house every single night and had a sleepover last weekend. How can you accuse us of not paying attention to you when you refuse to come home? I was at your game last week, and you barely acknowledged me," Burt told him.

Finn supposed that was true.

"Finn, I know things are kind of focused on the baby right now, but she's so new and we're still trying to get used to things. She keeps us up all night, and we're just doing the best we can right now. In a few months when she's sleeping through the night, things will get easier, I promise. And if you start coming home again, we'll make sure you don't feel abandoned again. I'm sorry we made you feel that way," Carole promised him. Finn nodded.

"How about we both make some promises," Burt suggested. "We'll make sure to spend more time with you, I'm sorry we've neglected to do that, I really am. And you come home at night and let us do that, alright?"

Finn nodded in agreement. That sounded fair.

Brittany's going away party was two days before Christmas. They had all their friends there, both from public school and Bajar. There were many tears, a few final dance-offs, and one last musical they could sing along to. They ordered pizza, Brittany asked Kurt to give her one last manicure, and they had an awesome sleep over at Brittany's house. It was the first time Kurt had successfully slept over anywhere, and only the second time he tried. But it was Brittany, and his friends, and he felt completely safe. And three days later, Brittany was off to another city…Lima, Mr. Pierce had stated. It was only an hour and a half away, and the Pierce's assured Kurt he could visit any time, and they'd bring Brittany back for sleepovers as well.

Christmas was a bust that year. Kurt and Finn both came down with the stomach flu. Between caring for them, and trying to keep Emily away from it, the holiday just passed them right up. They celebrated several days later, when the boys were feeling better.

XXXXX

In January, the school informed the families that it would indeed be closed at the end of the year. There was still to be a musical, and it would incorporate all students involved in theater. They decided on Mary Poppins, as the cast size was large enough. Kurt got to share the role of Michael Banks with another boy; he would be performing every other show. His parents decided it was time to talk to Kurt about where he would be going next year. They really needed to start getting those plans laid out.

"I was thinking," Kurt told them, "Maybe I could go back to school with Finn. It's been so long since I had that outburst and I'm so much better at controlling myself now. Plus, Finn said the guys that actually stuffed me in the locker were expelled. If I go there, I could be with Finn, and I have a lot of other friends there too," Kurt suggested.

"No Kurt. You've seen what Blaine goes through at that school—"

"That was middle school, dad. This will be high school now!" Kurt protested.

"It doesn't matter, it'll be the same kids."

"But he said it's much better now. I really just don't want to go to another brand new school and have to meet all new friends. I want to be back with Blaine, Katie and Sophia. And besides, it's cheaper," he pointed out.

"You're worth whatever the price is to keep you safe, Kurt," Burt insisted, but Kurt cut him off.

"Please dad? This is important to me. I promise, I can do it!" Kurt pleaded.

"We'll think about it, and we'll talk it over with Dr. Wheeler. That's the best I can promise you for now, Kurt," Burt stated with finality. Kurt knew that was the best he was going to get, so he let it go, choosing instead to go make funny faces at one month old Emily, who was swinging in her swing. She did nothing but stare at him and make grunty noises, but Kurt enjoyed watching her.

The next day, Saturday, Kurt begged to go shopping with Blaine and Sophia. Kurt had never been on a shopping trip without an adult, but he was 13 now, and his parents knew they would have to allow it at some point. They agreed, as long as Kurt kept his fully charged phone on him so he could be reachable. Adam Seewald, Sophia's dad, was to drop them off at 11, and Carole agreed to pick them up at 2. Kurt was given $30 when Mr. Seewald came to pick him up.

They had a good time. Kurt helped Sophia and Blaine pick out a few new outfits, and got something for himself. He couldn't believe what an atrocious sense of fashion Blaine had, but he was a cute guy and fun to find clothes for, so Kurt didn't mind. During a late lunch, Kurt brought up the thing he'd been hesitating to tell his friends since he found out.

"Bajar's closing," he said.

"Whoa, what?" Sophia asked. "How long have you known?"

"We've known they were losing their funding and I wouldn't be able to continue there since October. That's why Brittney's dad accepted a new job," Kurt explained.

"So that's it…I was wondering why they were pulling her out of that school…she loved it so much," replied Blaine.

"So where are you going next year?" Sophia asked.

"I'm trying to get my parents to send me back to school with you guys.""

"What? That'd be awesome!" Blaine exclaimed.

"But they are pretty against it. They said they'd think about it, but my dad knows all the trouble you had last year and he doesn't want that to happen to me," Kurt replied. "Bajar's been a safe place to be out. Public school, not so much."

"But it hasn't been that bad this year," Blaine pointed out. "Sure they call me names, but they haven't done anything physical at all."

"But you weren't the one that had a meltdown in the middle of gym and attacked a student and a teacher," Kurt pointed out. "Or shoved in a locker for 4 hours."

"Well yeah…but those guys are gone now. They were the worst of the bunch."

"Yeah, I know, those are all my arguments. But my parents know I don't exactly have a clean history of public school performance," Kurt replied.

"Well, I hope you can Kurt, it would be amazing to have you back at school!" Sophia exclaimed.

It was 1:30, so Kurt called his mom to see if they could stay until 4 or so and go to the movie theater in the mall. Carole agreed, as did Sophia and Blaine's parents. Carole and Emily picked them up at 4, and took them all out for dinner with permission from the other parents. Sophia fawned over the new baby, and Kurt and Blaine whispered secrets to each other on their side of the booth.

XXXXX

Over the next few months, Kurt cherished every moment he spent at Bajar, knowing they would soon be over. He talked to his friends about where they would go. Some would be going to public school. Natalie, he found out, would be enrolled in the school he'd be going to if his parents decided to send him to public school. Natalie was excited about this, because she'd already met Katie, Sophia and Blaine and got along well with them. Max would be set to the Dayton school of the arts; it was a ways away, but his parents were willing to make the move for him to attend a good arts school. Derek was being enrolled in Dalton Academy for Boys, a private school in Westerville. It didn't have a good arts program, but his parents could afford to enroll him in a private program.

The Mary Poppins production was coming along quite well. Though he had to share the roll so more kids could participate, Kurt enjoyed playing Michael very much. He missed Brittany a lot; he thought she would have made the perfect Jane—and she probably would have, had she not left. Natalie got to play Jane opposite his Michael, and she was very good; Kurt enjoyed working with her very much. She was a good friend of his, and he knew that no matter where each of them went, they would continue to be friends. Still, he missed Brittany.

Kurt and Finn found they really enjoyed having Emily around. She was growing every day and in April, at 4 months old, started rolling over. She was laughing quite a bit, and loved it when her brothers tried to make her laugh. She held her head up more now, and was more fun to play with now that she wasn't quite so tiny and fragile. She had her daddy wrapped around her little finger. Between the three of them, she was destined to be one spoiled little girl.

June came along, and Kurt's family was delighted to watch him perform Michael in the production of Mary Poppins. After their final production, all the kids, both the actors and the Orchestra pit musicians, went to an after party in the school auditorium supervised by the staff. Derek and Kurt made up that day, though they agreed that they were better friends then boyfriends. There was plenty of singing, dancing, and tears. The last few days of school was the same. Teachers had given up on trying to teach, and just let the kids hang out. They still had exams for their academic classes, but they had the afternoons to just be together. For many kids, Kurt included, the school was their safe haven; they were unsafe at public schools for different reasons. For others, it was simply their livelihood. Kurt was very sad to see it go.

There had been much discussion between Kurt's parents, between the three of them, and with Dr. Wheeler, and it was decided that Kurt would be returning to public school. They talked to the high school and Kurt got a note from his psychiatrist that he was to be excused from gym. Kurt's friends and Finn were excited about this development. Kurt was excited as well, but he was extremely nervous. He thought he had a good hold on his panic attacks. His doctor prescribed him anxiety pills that he was to keep with him and take as needed. Kurt was thankful that Blaine and Sophia were in advanced classes, he should have somebody in most of his classes, and Natalie would be there as well. She had become a very close friend of his. His parents had also consented to allow him to do the showcase again this year, as he no longer had Bajar. Natalie had convinced her parents to let her join, as well.

Kurt turned 14 that summer. He wanted a party at the bowling alley, so his parents left Emily with Grandma Lorrie and took the 9 kids bowling. Kurt got some cool gifts, including the latest Katy Perry CD and a scrapbooking kit from Blaine, a Golden Girls boxed DVD set (thanks Katie and Sophia!), a Bajar scrapbook and CD from Natalie, a soda making kit from Finn and the boys, and a laptop from his parents. Kurt had been extremely jealous of Finn when he got his 3 months ago on his 14th birthday, but had to admit he'd been expecting the same. His parents were allowed to check his history at any time, and had a bunch of parental controls on it, but it was his!

Blaine started coming over to the Hummels more and more. Kurt enjoyed his time with Blaine…he felt like he could relate to him on a level he couldn't with the girls. The boys enjoyed just hanging out in Kurt's room and listening to Katy Perry, Broadway songs, or showtunes. One such day, Kurt decided Blaine was quickly becoming his best friend, and he deserved to know things about Kurt that he normally didn't share.

"Did you know I was adopted?" he asked, abruptly. He couldn't really think of a subtle way to bring it up.

Blaine looked up, surprised. "I figured one of you might be, or be step brothers," Blaine responded, "you and Finn are like, 2 months apart."

Kurt cracked a smile, yes, it was pretty obvious.

"Yeah, well I've lived with them since right before I turned 9. They adopted me when I was 10," Kurt confirmed.

"Oh…" Blaine responded, zoning out in thought for a minute, before sitting up to give Kurt his attention.

"Why are you telling me?" he asked.

Kurt was taken aback, he was expecting questions about his past, but not this question.

"I just thought...you're like, one of my best friends. I thought you deserved to know. I know you've noticed weird things about me…why Finn is overprotective…why my parents are so strict, and why I have panic attacks and flashbacks sometimes." Kurt replied. "If you don't want to…I mean, that's fine. You can just forget or whatever."

"No! I do, I want to know whatever you want to tell me, I just…don't feel like you have to, you know? I'm glad you want to. I'd like to know," Blaine answered. "How did you meet them?"

"They were my foster parents," Kurt answered. "My parents died when I was 4. I had some not-so-good families after that, and sometimes things trigger me to think back to that. I can't tell you what."

"Wow…" Blaine replied, he didn't really know what to say. "I'm sorry, Kurt…that sounds really hard."

"Don't be sorry, I don't want anyone to feel sorry for me, which is why this is something I never talk about. I don't want you to tell anyone, I just thought you should know," Kurt told him.

"I would never tell anyone, I promise Kurt," Blaine assured him. "You didn't have to tell me, but I'm glad you did. Thank you for trusting me.

They talked about it for a little longer, but Kurt didn't give any specifics, and Blaine didn't push for them. He didn't even tell him about Lucy…that particular memory was too painful. Kurt no longer expected to ever see her again, and wasn't sure she even remembered him. She was what kept him going for 4 years after they were separated, but Lucy had a good family from a young age…why would she need to remember him. Kurt still watched random blond girls on the street, imagining that they might be her. But he had no idea what she looked like anymore.

July turned into August. Brittany came down the first week of August to spend time with him. They squeeled excitedly and hugged for 10 minutes. Brittany was over the moon when she saw Emily.

"Oh my God Kurtie, she's so big!" Brittany exclaimed, lifting the baby, who immediately whimpered and held her chubby hands out for Kurt. Emily was 8 months old now, and beginning to army-crawl and roll to get around. She was pretty fast at it, too. Just the other day they lost her, though dad's back had only been turned for a moment, she rolled right under the sofa. The found her quickly, and dad decided to line the bottom of the sofa with pillows. They also had to be extra careful not to leave anything laying around that Emily shouldn't put in her mouth.

Kurt and Brittany spent hours in Kurt's room, gossiping about every little thing. Kurt asked how McKinley high was.

"I love it, Kurt! The cheerleading team is amazing! Coach is super strict and pretty mean sometimes but I guess that's what makes it a good team," she told him.

"Do you have a lot of friends?" he asked.

"Yes, a few. Mostly on the cheerleading team. There are some freshmen coming in that I met at cheerleading camp, though. Quinn and Santana. Here," she handed him her phone. On it was a picture of her with a blond girl and a Latina girl, both very pretty.

"You look happy," Kurt replied.

"Yes, but I miss you, Kurt. Out of all my friends here, you were the best. It's just not the same without you. Where are you going to school?

"Back to public school, with Finn."

"Oh Kurt, be careful please? Don't get hurt."

"I'll try, Brit, I promise. So what else is going on with you?"

"I asked mom for a baby. She said no, but I got a cat instead. His name is Lord Tubbington, see?" She handed him her phone again, where she had a picture of a fat cat. Kurt smiled.

"Nice, Brit, I love him!" Kurt exclaimed.

Kurt's time with Brittany was fun. They hung out with the others a bit, but wanted a lot of quality time with just the two of them. Two days later, Brittany's dad came to pick her up.

The last week of summer came quickly. School would be starting soon, and Kurt found himself having to take his anxiety medication once in a while. It seemed to help better than most of his PTSD meds did…they were fast-acting and helped him relax, but they also made his brain cloudy. His parents had a conference with the principle, who assured them that they would do what they could to ensure Kurt's safety, he would be allowed to carry his pills with him, and would not be required to take gym. Kurt was thankful for this; he didn't think he could handle gym. Kurt was determined to keep his promise to Brittany.

So it's been a bit of a wait, but I got the next three chapters completed...twice. I didn't like where it took me the first time, so I started over. Which is why it's taken awhile. But they are done, so the more reviews I get...the faster they get posted! The couple of chapters after this will take us to the part I've been waiting for, so I'm excited about that. Stay warm! And please, review!