Author's Note: Another chapter, at last. I've actually had this one ready for a few days, but I sort of wanted to finish writing about the episode before I posted it and this is only half of "Heart" because there is so much going on in this one and I also want to introduce a few more things into it and I didn't know where I was going to split it, but then I finished the last scene in this and it kinda worked as a stopping point so I figured I might as well put it up.
I have started on chapter thirteen already, but I am having some computer issues so it might be a while. I have to replace the DC plugging in part so I can't charge my battery. I've been charging it in my dad's computer and then using it on mine but it's just a bother...the screen also has a loose wire so sometimes it begins to go gray unless I move it until it's alright again and it's just been a hassle so I've been considering just going ahead and buying a new computer.
Anyhow, it all depends on a bunch of stuff but I do want to get that one out soon because it goes along with this one...anyway, enjoy.
Anyway, I hope you all like this chapter. I'm not sure how I feel about it...
Added Note: Sorry for the double alert for this chapter, but I accidentally deleted while trying to edit another story. So, um, yeah...putting it up again. Whoops. Also, Happy Holidays! Forgot to mention that last time.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Fox does...and RIB
Chapter Twelve
Wooing Sugar
A week and a half without Blaine was easy to handle, but another week without him and with Valentine's day being the only thing anyone could talk about, was harder than Kurt could have expected. On the upside, Sugar had managed to find the money – Kurt didn't know how – to make it so that the Glee club didn't have to bring back that awful bake sale or worse do sing-o-grams. But Sugar was also throwing a party and Kurt was beginning to wonder just where she was getting all the money to even buy everyone presents.
It was also a little concerning that Artie kept looking at Sugar with a weird smile that Kurt remembered being present only when he was dating Brittany. Before he knew about the whole time travel thing he wouldn't have been too concerned about it all, but now he was. Sugar couldn't date Artie. He'd be some twenty years older than her or more in her time. Why had she proclaimed that everyone had to bring a date?
Kurt could not see any of it going well.
When Glee was over, Kurt caught up with his son. It was weird thinking about Rory as his son, but Kurt was slowly getting used to it. Rory was looking at the chocolates and trying to choose one out of the box.
Out in the hall things were red and pink all over. There were hearts taped to lockers, candy gram flyers, and streamers. Last Valentine's Day he'd still been at Dalton and there hadn't been decorations up there, something that Kurt had been glad for especially after Blaine sang to someone else. He'd sort of been looking forward to this Valentine's because he knew it was Blaine's favorite holiday, but so far all he got to see was everyone else already getting cards or chocolates, but not him.
"What's going on with Sugar and this party?"
Rory shrugged. "She's always thrown a Valentine's Day party back home," Rory said, "I guess she's continuing tradition here though I have no idea why she's demanding everyone have a date. I don't think I'll go if that's the case."
Kurt shook his head. "You are going," he said, "you are going with Sugar."
"What?"
"Who else is she going to go with? You know she can't get romantically involved with anyone else from this time and I thought Tina said he already asked her out once."
Rory had just popped his chosen chocolate in his mouth. So he was chewing, eyes wide.
"I'm serious. You have to ask her to go with you."
Rory finished chewing. "She's like my sister."
"You're a good actor."
That said, Kurt decided it was time to just walk away. He walked down the hall to his locker and was surprised when an envelope fell out when he opened it. So someone had left him a Valentine. He smiled a little to himself as he picked the letter up. He couldn't think of anyone but Blaine doing anything for him. He opened it carefully to not rip the envelope.
The picture of the front was of cupid and the arrow that had been released from his bow was on the back of a guy with heart eyes.
Confetti hearts fell out from inside the card.
Be Mine – from your secret admirer
For a split second Kurt frowned at the handwriting. It wasn't exactly like Blaine's but it was somewhat close and maybe he was trying to throw Kurt off. He smiled a little and put it under a magnet on the inside of his door. He gathered all the books he'd need to study and do homework and closed his locker.
He spotted Rachel and Finn walking arm in arm and bit down on his lip. He'd been debating what he was going to do for a few days now ever since he'd found out that Finn had proposed to Rachel. On the one night he'd torn himself away from Blaine, though mostly because Rachel insisted, Kurt had slept over at her house with Mercedes. His dad had questioned him and even talked with Rachel's dads until he was finally convinced that it wasn't Kurt just using it as an excuse to spent even more time with Blaine.
Rachel had told them while Kurt was trying not to salivate over Taylor Lautner's abs, and the subsequent question had floored him and thrown him back to Christmas and the gum wrapper ring that Kurt still had in its box hiding in a drawer in his room. Sometimes he took it out and put it on his finger and pretended that they really were engaged. Ever since Rory had told them the truth he hadn't even needed the ring to pretend, because he and Blaine were definitely getting married. Kurt hadn't asked about Finn and Rachel and he was afraid to.
He'd debated for a few days and even brought it up to Blaine – but not Rory – and Blaine hadn't known what the right thing to do would be either.
"I just don't think they're doing it for the right reasons," Kurt said, "Finn's so confused about his future and you know he had that whole army idea and if Rachel and I get into NYADA I just can't imagine him in New York. What would he do there?"
"Right – and as a side note you're totally getting in – but," Blaine said, "I get what you're saying, but they're in love. Like we are."
Kurt had shaken his head. "It's not the same. It's like something my dad said once, that before you can lose yourself in another person it's necessary to really know yourself. Well, Finn is kind of floundering right now. He's not ready for this commitment. I'm half tempted to ask Rory if they do go through with this and if it works out."
"Well, then, you have your answer."
Kurt had nodded. "I feel like I'll be betraying Rachel, she told me this in confidence."
"But Finn's your brother."
"And she's one of my best friends. I just want what's best for them. I already tried talking to Finn about it and it's just no use."
"They'll have to tell their parents sometime."
So, Kurt had finally made a decision. He had waited to see if Finn would say anything to Carole or Kurt's dad. When nothing happened, he made his decision.
When he got home some ten minutes later, his dad was also just arriving. It was odd to his dad in a suit more than in his flannel and trucker hats, but Kurt was getting used to it and frankly, he liked how it made his dad look.
"Hey, Kiddo," his dad said, "why aren't you with Blaine? Seems like you're spending all your time there lately."
"I needed to talk to you, actually," Kurt said.
"Oh."
"It's about Finn," Kurt said, "he, um, asked Rachel to marry him. She said yes. I only found out because Rachel had to tell someone. I thought maybe you should know."
His dad was really quiet, as if he were taking in the news and didn't know just quite what to do with them.
"Do her dads know?" He asked at long last.
"I don't think so."
His dad nodded. "At least you and Blaine won't be throwing something like that at me any time soon, right kid?"
Kurt nodded. "Not until we're out of college, dad. But, he's it for me. I don't think I could ever love someone like I love Blaine."
His dad just smiled and nodded again. Kurt would be forever glad that his dad just seemed to understand that when Kurt spoke about Blaine that way he really did mean it. He wondered for a moment how he would have reacted if it had been he and Blaine who were deciding to get married.
"Anyway," Kurt said, "I think I'm going to head over to Blaine's."
"Alright. I'll talk to Carole and we'll figure something out. Thanks, Kurt, I know it must have been hard to decide to tell me."
Kurt nodded.
Rory leaned his head back and groaned. He was surrounded by pink and red. The Hummel living room had never looked as tacky as it did in that moment and Rory wanted to just curl up into a ball and sleep until Valentine's was over.
"Come on," his dad nudged him, "we have to plan out when you're giving her all of these things."
Rory shook his head. "I don't care. Can't I just shove it all at her at once and hope she gets to her senses?"
Kurt shook his head. "You know this is her payback, right? You told me and Blaine about being from the future and she got pissed and now she's decided to be just as irresponsible."
Rory knew his dad was right and that he'd have a better time getting Sugar to get over herself if he actually tried to woo her. Even though Sugar had always been the smarter one of the two of them she was still sometimes petty and she was definitely stubborn. She didn't want to admit that Rory was right, and more than that, she wanted to see him squirm. Rory had no doubt that she wouldn't agree to go with Artie, she knew it'd be stupid to lead him on, but she wanted to wind Rory up and have him chasing after her until she decided to acquiesce and say yes. He'd seen the glint in her eye earlier when he gave her the bag of candy hearts.
"But did we have to buy so much?"
"If you don't use it, it can go towards party decorations or Blaine. Speaking of, I should call him before his medication puts him to bed."
Rory felt bad about intruding in the time his dad usually spent with his papa, but he'd needed him and his car and Kurt had been ready to help. Rory thought he was getting almost as much of a kick as Sugar was getting out of it.
He pulled the tag off the large heart pillow that read 'be mine', it was going to be the first thing he gave her the next day, followed by the chocolate roses. He wasn't sure what he would give her next, but he had a lot to pick from.
"Hey," Kurt said, "yeah, Rory's still here. We're trying to figure out in what order he'll give her everything. I think we bought more than half the store."
"Aww, I wish I could be there with you guys. I can't believe my parents are making me stay home for so long. The doctor says I can go back to school, but mom's insisting and she keeps shoving soup at me, Kurt, I don't think she gets that it's a physical wound and not a very serious one."
Rory giggled a little, but mostly because his papa had always been pushing him to eat soup when he was sick, even when it was just a headache. Now, he knew where he'd gotten it from.
"Well, I wish I could have come see you today. I'll try to tomorrow."
Rory tuned them out after that, not wanting to listen in, but he smiled a little because they were already such an old married couple.
The stuffed bear holding a heart would be the next gift. He could follow it up with the giant heart lollypop, and maybe he could ask the god squad to sing her something. He wondered how Artie was planning on wooing Sugar and how Sugar might respond to him.
"Bye, Sweetie," Kurt said, "I'll tell him."
"Tell me what?"
Kurt set his phone down, "good luck."
The next day was one that Rory just wanted to forget. He gave Sugar her pillow, and Artie made confetti rain on her. Later her gave her the chocolate roses only to have Artie give her a full bouquet of red roses. His stuffed bear had been bigger than Artie's, but Artie had already gotten the god squad to sing to her. Sugar gave neither of them an answer and by the end of the day, he saw her piling all of the things they'd given her into a car. Rory still didn't know how she was managing in the past, but he just didn't question it. She was Brittany and Santana's daughter and Rory just knew that it meant she had her ways of getting things done.
That night he and Kurt went over to see Blaine.
"She keeps smirking at me because she knows what I'm doing," Rory told them. He was sprawled out at the foot of his papa's bed, "but it's like it's not enough and I think she's a little out of her mind because half the time I'm pretty sure she's considering Artie."
"I don't get it," his dad said, "she seemed so upset when she learned that you told us and now she's just ready to throw it all away for some boy."
Rory hung his head.
"A little odd," Blaine said, "but maybe she's not thinking about all of that. I mean, Rory almost had a breakdown just a week ago, who's to say she's handling things any better?"
Rory shifted to he was on his side and facing them. "She does keep staring at her parents a lot. They're not like you, you know. I mean, they're together and everything but they're really different and I know she misses them a lot but they're not even her friends really now."
Rory felt bad about it all, really, but there was nothing he could do short of going to Santana or Brittany and telling them that Sugar was their daughter and that really just wasn't an option. Santana wouldn't take it well at all and Brittany might not understand what he meant. Not to mention that Sugar would kill him. His parents had been more prepared and ready to accept it and not too much had changed between them except that sometimes Rory saw them hesitate when they spoke and other times they stared at him in ways that made Rory uncomfortable.
In the end they decided on one more gift; something that could give Sugar some of the company that she was seriously lacking.
"And when you and Sugar go home, I could totally adopt him. Right, Kurt?"
His dad had been sort of against the idea, but one puppy eyed look from Rory, and one pout from Blaine had convinced him. So, they'd left Blaine in bed and gone to the local shelter.
"You wouldn't let us get a dog in the future," Rory told him when they were shown to the files of cages full of barking dogs, "you said we moved around too much."
"So, no dog. And we move? Hmm, interesting. Why do we move around?"
Rory shook his head. "Used to. Not telling. This one's cute."
The Pomeranian barked at him when he got close and then began to growl.
"Never mind."
Kurt chucked. "Come on, there's more over there. Or maybe a nice cat?"
"She's allergic."
Eventually they found the right one. He was only three years old and had been the only dog to not bark at Rory. They weren't sure what his breed was exactly, but just that there was terrier in him.
The woman that dealt with the adoption specifically warned him about giving the dog as a gift.
"They end up right back in here. People don't like surprises this big and if you don't want to end up with the burden then you shouldn't take him."
They had assured him he was wanted and then they were off with the dog in a cage and a small bag of food and a couple of toys in a bag.
"Is this a good idea?" Rory asked while they drove back to Kurt's house.
"You and Blaine seemed to think so."
The dog barked.
"Not sure if that was agreement."
He and Kurt laughed. His dad reached over and grabbed his hand. "I am definitely looking forward to watching you grow up. You're such a good kid, Rory."
Rory couldn't help but get misty eyed. "I wouldn't be without such a good dad. Such good dads."
It didn't hit Sugar until she was watching Mojo, her new dog, lift his leg against a tree that she really had nowhere to take him. For the most part she'd been staying with Santana and she knew her Mami wasn't going to be okay with Sugar bringing a dog home.
"Aww, he's adorable."
Sugar turned and found Tina and Mike. Mojo had put his leg down and was now wagging his tail while Tina began to pet him.
"I didn't know you had a dog," Tina said, "what's his name?"
"Mojo," Sugar said, "Rory gave him to me for Valentine's day."
Tina looked impressed. "I guess you're going with him to your party then?"
Sugar shrugged. She probably would. It was stupid to even consider going with Artie. She'd had a bit of a stupid moment earlier in the week when she'd decided that it wouldn't matter if she took anyone from this time to her party. After Rory had gone and told his dads about them being from the future, Sugar had gotten so upset that she wanted nothing more than to turn around and so something equally as thoughtless, and then she'd announced that only couples could come to her party. It had been a huge mistake. She was glad that Rory had decided to ask her, but even though Sugar knew she'd be saying yes, she wanted to make him suffer for as long as possible. She had never thought it would lead to a dog.
"You should," Tina said.
"Speaking of your party," Mike said, "Blaine wanted me to ask you for a favor."
Sugar was surprised. "Oh," she said.
"Actually, we were going to visit him. Would you like to come?"
"Ooh, yes, and you can bring the pup, Blaine would love to have that kind of company."
Sugar hesitated for a moment and then she nodded. "Sure."
Sugar hadn't seen her uncle since before he'd been injured by Sebastian. Before then she hadn't interacted with him much, either. And now that he knew she was from the future, well, Sugar had expected to stay away from him even more. But now a plan was forming. If there was anyone she knew would be okay with taking in a dog, it would be Blaine Anderson.
"Cool," Mike said, "he can explain his plan better."
She got into the back seat of Mike's car and Tina insisted on holding Mojo with her in the front. The drive to Blaine's house wasn't too long and they arrived about ten minutes later. Mike texted Blaine after parking and then they walked up to a nice white house.
Mike opened the front door which had been left unlocked and Sugar followed him and Tina up the stairs.
"His mom has him bedroom locked," Mike explained, "she's convinced he's going to fall down the stairs or something. Anyway, he's out free by Valentine's day."
Blaine was in bed dressed in pajamas and holding his phone in his hands.
"Hey, guys," he said and grinned, "it's so good to have company. Do you know there's nothing on tv these days. Oh my god, is that a dog?"
The dog had been in Tina's arms the entire way up, but he was ready to jump out of them. When Tina sat down, she tried to keep him on her lap, but he jumped off and began to explore the room. Smelling around at every corner until he realized there was a bed and then he took a leap onto to it and went to Blaine.
"Hello, puppy," Blaine said.
Mojo licked at Blaine's hands and then settled himself next to him while Blaine continued to pet him.
"He's adorable."
"Sugar's," Tina said, "Rory got him for her."
"Is it settled then?" Blaine asked, "are you going with Rory? Kurt's been filling me in on all the drama and he says Artie and Rory are really going at it to get your attention.
Sugar could have glared at him, instead she settled for making a face and shrugging. "It's really hard to make a decision."
"Artie is really nice," Tina said, "he and I dated for a while and if it hadn't been for Mike or his abs, I might even still be with him. But Rory's so sweet as well."
"Well I think you should choose the one you care about more," Mike said, "the one you fit with more."
"Yeah," Blaine said, "the one you have more in common with." He gave her a pointed look.
Sugar nodded. "I guess I'll have to think about it."
Mojo had nudged himself onto Blaine's leg, and her uncle just picked up the dog, crossed his legs and set him down there and began to pet him more. The look of happiness in his eyes at something so small made Sugar grin. It would be easier than she'd thought.
"Anyway," Mike said, "we brought Sugar so you can tell her your plan."
"Oh, yes," Blaine said. "It's for Valentine's day. For your party actually."
Sugar nodded. "You're coming to the Sugar Shack?"
Blaine nodded. "Kurt doesn't know my mom's letting me out on Valentine's. He thinks I don't have anything planned because I told him I had an appointment with the doctor, which I do, but he thinks we're just going to meet up after your party here and watch a few rom coms. But really what I want to do is to surprise him there with song."
Sugar had always thought that her uncles were the kind of mushy romantics that would go all out like this without even an excuse for it. She'd been watching Kurt all week and noticing the cards he was receiving all from a secret admirer that he was just sure had to be from Blaine. Sugar was suddenly starting to doubt that they were and from the way that Blaine was behaving, not even asking about them, she knew that he probably wasn't the one sending them. She only needed to figure out who would be sending them.
"Anyhow, I just want you to introduce me or something and maybe have someone hand Kurt a mic. I've been working with Mercedes and Rachel over skype for the song and he definitely knows it."
"Well, I think it's a great idea," Sugar said, "just text me when to announce you and I will."
"What song are you going to do?" Mike asked.
"I was thinking Love Shack in honor of the Sugar Shack," he nodded at Sugar, "I even got my mom to get me a heart shaped eyepatch just for the occasion. She's gotten better about Kurt – I think she's realized she can't do anything about it."
"He's going to flip when he sees you made it," Tina said, "It's such a romantic gesture," Tina sighed. She gave Mile a long look.
Sugar didn't know much about the Mike and Tina of the future. She couldn't really remember meeting them but she must have done so at some point. Looking at them, she wondered if they were still together. She should have had an answer to that question, but she didn't.
After a bit more planning and Blaine looking over the homework and notes that Tina had brought him, Mike and Tina got up.
"We should get going," Tina said, "I hope you get to come back to school soon."
"After Valentine's day for sure," Blaine said.
Sugar refused a ride. "I live just a block away," she told them, "I just wanted to ask Blaine a question."
Tina and Mike nodded and then they walked out the door.
Blaine was still playing with the dog, and he had just gotten him to lay on his back to be given a belly rub.
"Rory choose a good one," Blaine said, "Kurt didn't think it was a very good idea, but I thought it might make you realize what a drastic thing you would be doing by agreeing to go on a date with Artie."
Sugar shook her head. "I am being held up by my mami and Uncle Kurt to keep everything going smoothly, to watch after Rory, to make sure that we can get back to our time, to make sure he doesn't do something stupid, but I have no one looking after me. I have no one and I've never had anyone that isn't one of my moms or you and Kurt there to catch me. I have to be the responsible one. Always. Why can't I have some fun?"
Sugar dropped to the bed. "I wasn't really thinking," she said, "when I decided to throw this party or sort of hint to Artie that I might go with him. It felt nice to not think so hard about something for once. But now I have to. Anyway, speaking of, I have a favor to ask."
"Yeah?"
"I want you to take him off my hands." Sugar motioned towards Mojo.
"This adorable fellow? But why?"
"I'm from the future, Blaine," Sugar said, "and I've been living at Santana's and sometimes go off to a hotel when I can't handle it at her house. I can't keep a dog. And out of everyone I could think of you were the one person that I thought might want him."
"We definitely didn't think the dog thing through," Blaine said and laughed, "but, yes, I'll take him."
"Thank you," Sugar said, "thank you so much."
Blaine nodded.
"I'll leave the things Rory gave me. There's some food, a leash, and a cage. I could walk him for you before I leave, just in case. Your parents won't mind the addition?"
"Are you kidding? My mom'll love him."
Author's Note: In my rush to skip The Spanish Teacher I forgot about the one scene I did like about it, when Rachel, Mercedes, and Kurt have that sleepover and talk about the engagement and Rachel asks what Kurt would say if Blaine asked him. I thought this was particularly an interesting moment after we got the box scene and I think with this story in mind it's particularly funny because Kurt already knows that he and Blaine will get married. So, I kinda fit that in here and I think there is so much background on what all the characters are doing in this one that I'm writing everything.
I was also kinda bothered by Kurt and all his Valentines from Karofsky in the sense that I don't see Kurt not hinting about them to Blaine...it just seemed in the episode, at least, that Kurt wasn't seeing Blaine at all that week and I decided a lot of that is to blame on Rory and how he needs help getting Sugar to go to her party with him.
I know a lot of you wanted more of a romantic Rory/Sugar but if that does happen it wouldn't be here, mostly because more than anything I found it hilarious that Rory might have to chase Sugar against his own wishes and that she would have the best time just not saying yes to him to annoy him and because she knows he doesn't like her. That said, romantic Rory/Sugar is still a possibility.
I'll hopefully write up the next one soon, I've already started on the first scene.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. I'm also on tumblr where I will probably leave little progress reports on how my writing is going and occasionally previews for upcoming chapters. So stop by. tumblr: emquin.
Thank you for reading.
Please Review.
-Erika
