New York City: Strut Your Way To Love

by HADALABO

"I Love You." "Why?" "You Can't Ask Why About Love." After his NYADA rejection, Kurt leaves his childhood town of Lima behind and enters his undecided future in the city of his dreams, New York. However one thing he doesn't anticipate are for his plans to be ruptured by a career he never thought he'd have the looks for and a tanned tycoon he'd never in a lifetime think he'd meet.

21. Happy Birthday

XXI

~ Happy Birthday ~

Noah leaned back against the passenger car seat as he huffed a sigh of frustration, his body pumped and full of energy but restrained within a vehicle moving excessively slowly to be considered comfortable. Once had he escaped the cathedral through its great brass doors, abandoning Quinn and leaving everyone behind for someone worth more than any of them, Noah had flown down the steps and entered straight into the car that had been there waiting for him. Of course said car had been his wedding car, a white Rolls Royce Phantom decorated with white ribbon and a bouquet at the front of the hood, a luxurious beauty of a car that he been meaning to depart in with Quinn, but now plans had changed and strict instructions fired at his completely bewildered chauffeur, Derrick, like a frenzied army lieutenant to step on it, had been ordered.

However, as the car had peeled off the street, paparazzi and journalists alike had gone crazy. Only one thing could be interpreted by Noah's early leave; a ditching, and this meant a tabloid field day for them all. No doubt after this, everything that had gone down in the cathedral was going to be the talk of the town for many, many weeks, maybe even months depending on what steps his mother would take to minimize the press. For this whole ordeal was surely going to be an embarrassing blow to the company. There was no escaping that. However, Noah knew that it was something they could recover from easily. Quinn had been taken down and the photos Anita had taken had no doubt been deleted, but thinking of Anita, how had she known all about this at the very last minute? Had she found it out herself? Or had someone told her?

These were questions that would be answered later because right now, Noah was a mission to return to Kurt. He orders had been to drive to Kurt's apartment but because Noah had spent the last few minutes trying to contact the boy there as well as on his mobile without success, he began to have doubts, though it was of no matter. He'd wait as long as it would take until his boy came home to find himself once again in Noah's arms. They'd be reunited, their hearts would mend on first contact and everything would be well, except for one thing. Joshua. Noah had not forgotten the man from the Balencia Ball, or from his photograph with Kurt in LOVE magazine. He was the competition, touching his Kurt, kissing him, it enraged Noah. Quinn was indeed now out of way, but this obvious rebound so called 'new beau' was next in line for defeat.

"Oh my God!" Exclaimed Noah, leaning forward in his seat and attempting to catch a glimpse of what was going on ahead through the windshield. They were approaching Kurt's residence along the Central Park west road with the park to the East and the blocks to the west of their current position, but due to an incident up ahead, traffic had piled up, rendering their speed to that of a tortoise. It was enough to drive Noah mad, for this thwarting traffic jam could not have come at the worst time. "Derrick, can you see what the hell is going on up there. Why aren't we moving? I have to be Kurt's now!"

"I'm sorry Master Puckerman, but I can't see any better than you can. Nothing seems to be moving."

"Well then could we go another way? I don't know; take one of these streets coming up here perhaps?"

"I won't be able to until we reach a turning for one, so until then we'll have to wait."

"Screw that, I'm not sticking out this hold up."

"Master Puckerman, where are you going?" Stumbled Derrick as without a minute left to spare, Noah exited the car, shutting the passenger door firmly behind him as he made his way over to the sidewalk. He weaved his way through the throngs of honking cars, taxis and vans, their drivers shouting out wildly as he himself continued looking up ahead for what was going on down the road. Nope. Even from here, he couldn't see anything close to what resembled an accident of any kind. There were no flashing lights from police cars, fire engines, ambulances, nothing, except for the air thick with road raged drivers.

Considering this was the city and considering this was New York City at that, even minor traffic jams soon escalated into ones of such magnitude that it would take hours to die down. This was one of the primary reasons why road works were so detested by everyone. Anything that disrupted a driver's path within this city and they would have had made one furious enemy. This was why Noah had attempted and succeeded in reaching the Central Park west side walk as quickly as possible. It hadn't helped that he may have drawn attention to himself that bit more by not changing out of wedding tuxedo from. He'd noticed people looking but in all frankness, he didn't care. He hadn't had time to do anything apart from throw himself in a car only to later pelt out of it at full speed. He had no time to lose.

Breaking out into a steady job, Noah journeyed his way down the street, counting down each block until he would reach the one that would lead him to Kurt. It was a harder however, what with the occasional van blocking certain road signs and the tedious distractions of the drivers, to spot the one he wanted, but he managed to maintain his speed as he dodged the occasional wide eyed pedestrian and staring passersby. By the time Noah had reached the street he'd been looking for, his breaths were labored and his feet were aching like hell. The shoes he was wearing weren't running shoes at all and all the jogging couldn't have done them any good, but he was where he needed to be. All he had to do now was cross the road to the other side. Why didn't I cross to that side in the first place, thought Noah, mentally kicking himself as he called Kurt's cell.

"Come on Kurt, pick up, pick up, pickup..." muttered Noah as he paced impatiently around in circles, his eyes routinely following his feet as well as the ground as the ringing on the line continued its long streak of incessant ringing. He was currently in between the Beresford Apartments and the Natural History Museum, about a three minutes walk from Kurt's place, but he needed to hear the boy's voice. He hadn't heard it in more than two weeks and he wandered if it had changed, whether it had sombered like his or matured after heartbreak 2.0. "Oh come on baby, pick up... please."

"Hi! Kurt's answering machine is broken. This is his refrigerator. Please speak very slowly, and I'll stick your message to myself with one of these magnets," laughed Kurt's answering machine message, as Noah frowned before he stopped pacing and smiled. Oh, it was so good to hear Kurt again. That lovely voice, so soft and spunky that had the man's insides fluttering as he chuckled at the amusing message. Kurt sounded fine, he was okay, yet that was what erased Noah's grin. If this message reflected how Kurt was at the meant, was the boy doing fine without him? Please... no...

"Hey Kurt... it's me," began Noah. "Look don't be alarmed. Quinn doesn't know I'm ringing you, and she's never going to know, because I'm not marrying her anymore. It's off, the wedding, the engagement, everything. I left the cathedral early and I'm now on your street because I want to you see you, Kurt. I have to talk you. I can't end another day without telling you I love you and how much I fucking miss you and how badly I want you back in my life. I want you with me again in my arms next to me and I don't give a fuck what anyone else thinks. You're mine baby, you'll always be mine. Call me."

Ending the message before pocketing his phone, Noah looked around as he decided what he should do. He could make his way to Kurt's apartment and wait for him or he could return to his penthouse, change and then return, because his wedding tuxedo in this surprisingly sunny yet windy day was going to roast him up into a sweating mess, and to meet Kurt for the first time in weeks in such a state was a definite no-no. However, before he could finalize on a decision, his attention was led astray by the sounds of an ambulance siren nearby. It seemed to come from inside the park, no doubt on one of its many windy roads, but even though he shouldn't have been bothered by a noise that was New York's signature sound, very much how the city's signature food was the apple, he couldn't help but feel curious.

Deciding to investigate and relying on the sirens of the ambulance to lead him to the presumed accident that may have been the cause of the traffic holdup, Noah walked down the street, passed the Natural History museum and entered the park. There he followed the pathway until it lead to what he make out was The Lake further up ahead. People around had also been captured by the ambulance sirens with most, if not all of them, wondering in the same direction as he was. They were all talking, some whispering but with the content of their conversations all-revolving around the same thing, that someone had fallen into the lake and drowned. Of course such a thing to hear was horrible, but a rowing boat accident couldn't be attracting this much attention now could it? New Yorkers were one of the most jaded people around.

However, as he reached the western pathway right on the edge of the lake, he began to realize that this was no normal boating accident. From his stand point, towards the south of the lake where the Cherry Hill Fountain was located, stood various white marquees, and amongst them were reflectors, lighting equipment, outdoor vanity mirrors and various crewmembers with the makeup artists and their fanny packs flitting around members of the crew. Clearly, a photoshoot had been going on here, but what really had been going on here? What had happened? Who had drowned, and why was a sudden pang of fear threatening Noah's nerves at knifepoint? He knew he wasn't helping himself by thinking it. He was just being paranoid and it was making him fret without cause, but he couldn't help it. What if it was Kurt? What if his boy had drowned?

Shaking his head and mentally forcing himself to reject such a heart wrenching idea, Noah continued to follow the path along the lake's side, his eyes continually focused on the South end. A large crowd had formed behind stretches of yellow police tape, sealing off the premises and the photoshoot equipment was being quickly and efficiently packed up and removed, lessening the clutter within the sealed area. However, as Noah took note of various police officers at the tape fence, warning many onlookers not to come any closer of they would be arrested for defying orders, his hazel eyes caught sight of an attractive sailboat. It was painted in blue and white stripes, slightly larger than the park's rowing boats, but definitely more eye-catching, though as he squinted his eyes in hopes of catching who was sailing it, he froze.

Joshua Maxum, Kurt's current boyfriend, was sailing the boat closer and closer to the edge of the lake where multiple policemen were waiting for him, their arms outstretched and their hands wide as they prepared to dock the boat. However, the displeasing site of seeing Joshua again was overshadowed with a greater pang of fear, the knife pressing harder now into his nerves. Kurt must have been modeling if he'd invited his boyfriend to come over and watch from the sidelines. It was only reason that occurred to Noah in that meant and as it did, he picked up his pace. The faster he ran, the weaker his legs seemed to become until he could no longer feel anything, until numbness had overtaken them. He was dodging people left right and center, not caring if he skimmed their shoulders or sent them flying into the lake themselves. He needed to know what was going on.

"Stand back! I repeat get back! Do not come any closer!" Boomed a police officer, a large red microphone in his hand as his powerful authoritative voice managed to intimidate the bustling on lookers, causing them to retreat slightly as Noah reached the back of the large of crowd. From here, he couldn't see anything. People were struggling to catch a glimpse of the docking sailboat as it came ever nearer to the embankment and not allowing any way for Noah to maneuver himself into a good vantage point. He'd have to move elsewhere. "Step away from the water's edge! I repeat, move away!"

Rushing back until he reached the Cherry Hill fountain, Noah urgently scanned the area. The majority of the circular stone patio towards where the sailboat was located was crowded with people and so attempting to that way would be a bad idea. However, going around the sides was an idea. Setting off again, Noah followed the path towards the Bow Bridge but changed direction before cutting across the lawn and through the trees until he found himself once again on the pathway on the edge of the lake. The boat was right up ahead and as he jogged forward, he stumbled to a stop as his heart balanced itself on a perilous precipice. The sailboat had docked, Joshua was sopping wet through and as the policemen held the boat fast to the edge before entering the boat themselves, a body was lifted out from its decks. Noah's heart plummeted.

"Sorry son, I can't let you go beyond this point," warned a police officer as Noah made to approach the scene on deadened legs, his mouth gaping as his eyes welled like springs of grief. The lifeless looking body that had just been settled on a stretcher thankfully wasn't Kurt. It was another male model, a very pale looking one with a sickly bluish tint to the skin as if the man's life had been sucked out by the cold water. It was obvious even from where Noah was standing that the man had drowned, though as the police prepared to lift someone else out of the boat, Noah could only look on with torturous anticipation.

"Oh my... God..." muttered Noah, watching on in horror as his fears pushed his heart of its cliff only to land mutilated on sharp shard like rocks below. Slowly being lifted out of the boat was none other than Kurt. Although Noah couldn't see his face, he knew that the dead looking boy in the policeman's arms was his model, his baby. His body was also drenched; his wet clothes sticking to his flesh like a choke like restraint and with a mental crack, Noah couldn't take it anymore. He dislodged the cop's hands from his chest holding him back and ran to the boat, Kurt's name screaming from his pounding chest. "KURT!"

Barging like a human battering ram through the group of bewildered policemen, Noah reached Kurt as the officer holding him stepped out of the boat and onto the land. It was even worse up close but somehow better. Kurt's head was unsupported and allowed to flop back whilst his hands and feet, like those belonging to a small child's seemed to flop as if their puppet strings had been harshly snipped and allowed to loll towards the ground, helpless. Without thinking what he was doing, Noah pulled Kurt out of the baffled officer's hands and carried him onto the lawn, crouching down on his knees as he lay Kurt in his lap, the boy's head now held in his hand. However, the little shakes of Kurt's body, the minor tremors that vibrated through him were not of the freezing cold boy's making, but of Noah's, his strong arms now weak as they shook with great sorrow.

This couldn't be happening. Noah could not fully fathom it. He'd just been set free from Quinn's maleficent grasp to go and love whom his heart belonged to, but to now find his love in his arms again in a state that only seemed to scream death, was enough to tear a revolver from any of the approaching policemen and shoot himself dead upon Kurt. His tears were cascading down his cheeks only to land amongst the lake's droplets already on Kurt's face and also on his innocent sailor suit rendering the boy more like a child who'd got too close the water. His voice was letting out a string of blubbering whimpers, his fingers were wiping away the stray hairs sticking to Kurt's forehead and as he lifted the boy's head with all the power he had, Noah kissed Kurt's frozen lips before bringing him into his chest and balling into his hair. Kurt's life was over. Now, so was Noah's.

"Sir, come away from the boy," ordered the same policeman who had earlier stopped Noah from approaching the scene. Raising his head, the crying billionaire eyed everyone around him. A circle of policemen were surrounding him, further away, Joshua was watching his intimate interaction with Kurt with both shocked and narrowed eyes and every other member of the public crowding by the tape had gone quiet. Everyone had gone dead quiet. For all was left to hear was the singing of the birds, the rustling of the trees and Noah's tearful shuddering breath. "Unhand the boy now sir, or we will have to use force."

"No! I'm not leaving him! He needs me!"

"Are you a family member? A close relati-"

"We love each other! I love him and he lives me, isn't that enough!"

"Sir, I'm sorry but I'm still going to have to ask you to come away."

"No, you don't understand! I can't part from him again, I... I..." murmured Noah as a movement from his arms brought his attention from the nearing officer to look down and notice something that was in his eyes, a miracle. Kurt's head was shifting, his lips slowly moving somewhat, tiny movements but ever so important, until with a sudden lurch forward, the boy violently coughed again and again, water spilling from his mouth as his eyes winced from internal pain. Noah was there however to nurse him, to rub his head and soothe his stomach as the man's tears of sadness rained down now as those of ecstatic joy.

Opening his eyes a little wider than they had been before, Kurt looked directly up into Noah's hazel orbs and let out a strangled gasp. It was an intake of breath too greater size at such an early time after regaining consciousness that Kurt let out another set of gurgled coughs that eventually died down. Though through it all, Noah noticed how those glass eyes had not for one-second lowered their lids. Their eyes were connected once again, after so much time, blue twin pools as if made from clear mineral water themselves meeting red rimmed hazel eyes, the mint green specs within the chocolate flickering like beacons. It was a look shared only by them and as Kurt made to speak, Noah let out a whimpered choke like cry of relief, his arms crushing Kurt to him and their lips cushioning themselves once again. "Oh my God, Kurt... fuck... I thought I'd lost-"

"Excuse me sir, but I'm going to have to ask you to let go of him. We have to get him to the hospital as quickly as possible," urged a female medic as she quickly crouched down on the other side of Kurt opposite Noah and looked straight into the man's eyes. It was true. Kurt may have coughed himself back into consciousness, but he was barely awake. His body was weak from the strain, freezing as only did Noah now notice that he was shivering violently as if suffering from the sweats and if they didn't get him attention, Kurt's health would hastily deteriorate. "Sir please, I know you and him are close but-"

"I'm carrying him, no one else," interrupted Noah determinedly, wrapping his arms under Kurt's shoulders and knees before rising from the ground and making his way towards the awaiting ambulance up ahead. He ignored the stretcher the medic had by her side, he ignored the looks and whispers he was receiving from all around, he ignored them all as he kept his gaze on Kurt, the crowd parting like the red sea for them both. However, as he handed the boy's limp body over to the team of medics by the ambulence, he was stopped from coming any closer. "What? No, I'm not leaving him like this!"

"I'm sorry sir, but this ambulance is already at full capacity."

"'Full capacity' my ass! I want to be with him! I want to know if he's going to be okay!"

"We're taking him to the Lenox Hill Hospital. You'll be free to see him there."

"I want to see him now! You're not driving him away without me!"

"Sir, you're friend is going to be alright. Now stand back from the vehicle," ordered the medic as the female medic from earlier hopped in, giving Noah a reassuring smile before closing the doors and driving away, the siren once again entering the air. Noah had half a mind to chase after it, but he knew it would be pointless. The hospital wasn't that far away from here and what with all the traffic, he guessed he could reach it before Kurt if he ran, and so he did. Setting off like an Olympic sprinter, Noah pelted from the scene, his heart beating like a bashing drum as he ran and ran and ran. Kurt was hurt, safe, but in desperate need of him and nothing in all this God damn world was going to stop Noah from answering those silent cries like love's instinct only could, a father racing to his screaming child, his baby.

Don't worry Kurt, I'mma comin'...

.

Glee

.

Opening his tired eyes, Kurt winced as the sunshine pouring in through the blinded window flooded his hospital room as if he were in an overly lit photography studio, hundreds of lit soft boxes facing him with their burning bulbs searing into his weak retinas. However, his eye lids were proving to be more of a problem. They felt like ton weights, as if they were the heaviest and strongest parts of his body, and which ultimately indicated how tired and weak he really was. He had been sleeping for God knows how long in this admittedly very comfortable bed by a hospital's standards and he was only now believing that if he didn't start moving around to prevent his whole body from going dead, as well as taking a shower to rid himself of the stench like smell of lake water, he was going to become a whole less comfortable.

No one was in his room apart from him. He supposed he'd been left alone in peace to sleep everything off, but looking around, Kurt began to wonder if he should call for assistance. After all, he hadn't moved his legs in what now was counting to be at least twenty-four hours and who knew if they would be able to support his weight, let alone carry him into the en suite bathroom and into the shower. However, in the end, he chose against it. Pulling his duvet off of him, Kurt swung his legs over the side of the bed and began patting them, squeezing them and massaging them to regain greater blood flow. It was a good enough warm up exercise to raise himself on both reawakening yet unsteady legs, to enter the bathroom where he shed his oppressive cotton hospital gown and to fell allow his dormant and wooden like body to fall prey to the spray.

However, as the first drop from the showerhead landed on him, Kurt's eyes blew open. Memories about what had happened at the photoshoot were becoming clearer and clearer with every droplet that was landing on his body and he couldn't help letting out a struggled outtake of breath. His sadness had led him to drink, which had led him to act irresponsibly and precariously on a sailboat, leading to the accident and ultimate death of his fellow model, Theo. If Kurt hadn't been intoxicated, he could have found that rope faster and saved a life. In fact, if he hadn't been wasted in the first place, the whole shoot would have ended successfully with a sailboat returning to the lake's edge with both passengers alive, instead of one dead and the other unconscious. Kurt blamed himself. It wasn't murder, but to him, it was close.

What followed the accident remained a blur to him; a blur that was smudged even more without recognition and that would refuse to budge when Kurt attempted to force his mind to tell him. He recalled that his vision had gone dark once Theo had resurfaced and that he'd begun to sink, but who had saved him from drowning himself? Who had rescued both his body and Theo's from being lost out in the lake and brought back on land, but most importantly to Kurt, who had held him in their arms, cradled his head and kissed him when he'd been settled on the warm park lawn? So many questions that had Kurt rubbing the shampoo and conditioner even harder into his hair, scrubbing his body with more force until he reddened into a light shade of copper pink. His body was alive once again, but his mind was taking its sweet ass time.

Shutting off the shower and stepping out of the cubicle, Kurt proceeded to dry himself off with a towel and wipe the condensation off the mirror above the sink. As he looked into his reflection, Kurt was reminded of his thought processes when he'd been in the makeup chair with Charlotta. He remembered how he'd south desperately to be beautiful, not just 'bonnie', but beautiful. Little had he known then that he had been beautiful, with the only unsightly imperfection and ugly blemish riling inside him in the form of his insecurities had been preventing from seeing it, and why all these insecurities? Of inadequacy and helplessness and doubt? Well, that was a question obviously answered with a loss that had been the greatest of intoxicants. Kurt cared not to think about it as he pulled away from the glass. It had claimed him once, it never would again.

Walking out of the bathroom with a towel securely around his waist, Kurt froze in the doorway as sitting in the seat in the armchair next to his bed was his father, Burt, In his hand was a steaming hot cup of coffee and the expression on his face when his eyes came to land on Kurt's was one of overwhelming relief. Kurt was equally happy to see his father as he was both shocked and surprised as Burt put down his coffee and came over to wrap his arms around him, his son returning the hug just as avidly. Kurt supposed he shouldn't have been all that surprised that Burt was here. His jacket had been slung over the armchair but he hadn't recognized it until now. Also, the hospital must have contacted his family, in his case, his father, and knowing his father, he would have threatened the pilot at knife point to break airline speed limits to get to him.

"Dad, how long have you been here?" Asked Kurt as he peeled himself away from his father's embrace to not so much as look the man in the eye but to rather look over Burt's appearance. He could tell that the stress and worry of this whole ordeal had taken its toll on him, from the rings under his eyes showing exhaustion to the crumpled state of his clothes due to possibly a lot of frantic running around or even a restless night in an uncomfortable waiting chair. "I know I've been asleep for the most part of my stay here, but they could have awoken me to let me know you were with me."

"You needed your rest, Kurt. I wanted to see you as soon as I got here but the nurses insisted you got your rest."

"And when was this?"

"Last night. Caught a late flight from Columbus right after I got the call."

"And you've been by my side in that armchair ever since?"

"Never left your side unless it was completely necessary, but I did try and find out what the hell happened," replied Burt. "I didn't find out much except that it was just a 'boating accident'. Frankly I can't believe you were allowed to sail out into that lake without not knowing a single thing about sailing, and for them to now say the magazine won't be billed for the clothes that got ruined in the water, it pisses me off. If anyone should be billed, it should be that reckless bunch of half-wits. They should be billed with their jobs because thanks to them you're now in the hospital."

"Dad, I'm sure they're feeling very ashamed and guilty about the whole thing, and besides, if you must know, it isn't entirely their fault," reasoned Kurt, his father scoffing in disagreement as his son walked over to the bed and sat on it. There he rested his body and watched as Burt sat down in the armchair opposite him, eying him for some poorly constructed excuse to defend the irresponsible actions of the shoot's crew. "Just take comfort in that fact that I'm okay, that I've learned from all this and that I'll be out soon... hopefully. How much longer do I have to be here for?"

"I don't know, but judging how you are now, not for much longer. We'll just to have see what the nurses say," smiled Burt as he leaned over, placed a hand on Kurt's knee and rubbed it comfortingly. "Apparently, the ambulance got you here just in time before you contracted a serious case of Hyperthermia. I heard that the other model with you... didn't make it, which made me freak out even more, but you were treated well and by the time I arrived you were sleeping soundly, albeit a little paler for my liking but there we go. I'm just glad you're getting better, son."

"Don't worry dad, I am. I'm just a little shaken is all. That and I'm trying to remember everything that happened. I'm having a hard time placing the bits after we were rescued," admitted Kurt. "I mean... I know I was unconscious when I was saved from the water, but when I was carried out of the boat and onto the grass, I found myself in someone's arms. It was a man's, but I don't know who it was. Whether he was the one who saved me, I don't know. My sight was all blurry, but I got the sense that I knew him. I think he was wearing a suit, and he kind of looked like... like-"

"Noah Puckerman?"

"What? H-how-"

"The man was Puckerman, Kurt."

"It... it couldn't have been. He was getting marrie-"

"Kurt, I'm telling you now, the man that carried you out of that boat and onto the grass was Puckerman. I know because when I finally arrived here, the first person I saw standing right outside this room was him and he told me everything," revealed Burt. "He told me how he felt when he first saw you getting carried out of that boat and how he took you out of the cop's arms to carry you himself, but I guess it wasn't really what he said that struck me, it's how he said it. The man's in love in you Kurt, and I don't know if you know that or not, but what he did and what he said proves it... so I punched him."

"What?! Why would you do that?!" Shouted Kurt as he tried to get over what his father had done to Noah as well as juggling at the same time what Noah had been doing in Central Park at the time of the accident. As far as he had hated to know, the man was getting married in some large cathedral at the time. Kurt had been dreading the wedding bells, but now as he came to think of it, no bells had rang out that day. "You just sat there recounting how Noah poured his heart out over what happened and now you say you punched him?! That is not decent post indirect admission of love behavior, dad!"

"I'm sorry, but when I asked him why he was dressed the way he was and he replied that he'd been in the midst of getting married to that same Fabray girl you'd mentioned back in Lima, I lost it," admitted Burt as he shifted slightly in his seat. "I mean, I thought you guys had been together, or had everything planned out to be together. I wanted to know what happened, because the thought that immediately came to mind was that he'd made a string of empty promises to further lead you on only to break your heart later by dumping you in favor of still going ahead with his marriage."

"We did break up dad, but only because we were found out by Quinn before we could go and tell Mrs. Puckerman ourselves," sighed Kurt as he shifted his eyes from his father's face, to the floor, to Burt's face again and then to the window where his gaze stayed trained on the busy city outside. "It broke our hearts because we did love each other dad, but after Quinn threatened Noah with blackmail, we could no longer see each other again. We had to go back to our own separate lives, learn to live without the other, so we did. I went back to modeling and he went back to his... fiancée."

"I know Kurt, he told me everything. I got the sense he didn't want to but I pried it out of him with perhaps the threat of another clocking," chuckled Burt, Kurt rolling his eyes before reluctantly smiling. "The reason why he wasn't at his wedding Kurt was because... was because he walked out of it. Before either he or that Fabray girl could exchange vows or rings, he learned something about her that had him ditching her at the altar, running out of there and trying to find you. That was why he was near the park at the time. He'd meant to go to your apartment but left a message on your cell instead."

"Are you... are you serious? He ditched Quinn at the altar? What did he find out about her for him to have done such a thing?" Asked Kurt incredulously, watching as his father rose from his armchair only to walk on over to the desk opposite to the end of the hospital bed. There he pulled out Kurt's iPhone from the boy's jacket pocket folded neatly on top that Kurt hadn't noticed had been there until now, along with his other possessions that had been at the shoot yesterday. Handing over the iPhone to him, Burt watched as Kurt opened up his voice mail and put it on loudspeaker, his eyes wide and fingers shaking.

"Hey Kurt... it's me," began the message, Kurt looking at his father speechlessly as Burt went back down to sit in his armchair, his body leaning forwards as he rested his elbows on his knees. "Look don't be alarmed. Quinn doesn't know I'm ringing you, and she's never going to know, because I'm not marrying her anymore. It's off, the wedding, the engagement, everything. I left the cathedral early and I'm now on your street because I want to you see you, Kurt. I have to talk you. I can't end another day without telling you I love you and how much I fucking miss you and how badly I want you back in my life. I want you with me again in my arms next to me and I don't give a fuck what anyone else thinks. You're mine baby, you'll always be mine. Call me." There the message ended, but it seemed as though Noah's voice hadn't died away, not in the slightest.

What Noah had said was exactly what Kurt had needed to hear before he'd stumbled out of Forde's wardrobe marquee as Britney Spears had done back at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards. The man was no longer with Quinn and was therefore free to be with him. However, whether Noah had made that clear in the cathedral as he'd left, Kurt didn't know. If he had done, Kurt was petrified of what reaction he must have got, how the congregation must have looked at him and what they had said, but if Noah hadn't, then their secret was still very much a secret. Yet, if Burt was telling the truth and it had been Noah who had allegedly held him on that lawn and kissed him in front hundreds of onlookers, then their cover was again blown. In that moment, Kurt's nerves acted up. His affair with Noah had been let known, and it had shocked a nation.

"You know son, as long as I was here when Puckerman was, that man was plastered to the side of your bed as if he were super glued there," chuckled Burt, shaking his head fondly as Kurt stared fixedly down at his iPhone. He was debating calling Noah like he'd asked, to tell him he was awake and well but in the end, he decided against it. "He sat right in the armchair I'm sitting in now and held your hand in his. We both knew you were would be okay and according to the nurses, you were in the clear if you continued to recover, but he wanted to stay with you Kurt, dirty and stained wedding suit and all."

"Where is he now?"

"I sent him home. He put up a fight but a weak one, since he was properly drained."

"How long ago was this?"

"About an hour ago. He'd slept by your side for some time and he'd only ever open his eyes to look at you."

"Oh... well, thanks dad. I wouldn't have wanted him to lose anymore sleep because of me. I know Noah likes his sleep like most men," smiled Kurt as Burt returned the grin before nodding his head in affirmation. God knows Burt was one of those men. "Um... this may be an inappropriate question to ask given what's happened but... what do you think of Noah, dad? You know I would have wanted you two to meet some other way in a scenario that didn't have me in hospital and you punching Noah in the face, but as a person and for someone who loves me, what do you think of him?"

"Well, at first when you and Mercedes talked about him back in Lima, I had him pegged for someone who had deceived you full of stories of so called loneliness and misunderstanding to get you into bed," replied Burt. "However, after everything you said back there and after everything I've seen for myself in a scenario I too would have preferred not to have happened, I can safely say that that Puckerman boy isn't half bad. He's a good kid and I knew from the first single look I saw him give you that he's not going to let anything bad happen to you again. You're stuck with him now son, because he's not going anywhere."

"So you don't mind if I date him? I mean, I'm not looking to restart things with him quite yet, or even at all. I don't know if his family and friends are going to approve of me with him, but if they do and once all this drama has simmered down, will you allow me to see Noah?" Asked Kurt nervously as Burt grinned and nodded. "Thanks, dad. I only asked because I kind of wanted to make up for how you found out about Blaine and I when we were dating back in high school, and even though this whole affair with an engaged man was worse, I wanted to think of you and to start this relationship off on the right foot... if it happens that is."

"Oh it will happen Kurt, there's no denying that. Maybe not right away, I mean you may find after this that you just want to be alone for a while, but you'll be hard pressed to stay single for long with a certain Puckerman at your back, and if I'm led to believe that he really does have a knack for barging through strong front doors to get to you, then he's going to be that much more of a challenge to keep away from," laughed Burt. "I really have no worries that he's going to keep you safe, but I'd suggest not telling him that you've woken up yet. He'll be speeding over here faster than you can say 'go!'.

"Won't he be angry if he finds out I've been discharged without him knowing?"

"He will, but you'll be back home in Lima with me when he does."

"I will? Why can't I stay on my place here in New York?"

"The Big Apple is a roller coaster ride for you Kurt and although it may be fun, sometimes you just need a break before you puke."

"That's the reason? You just want be home again because you miss me... which I guess is good enough a reason," smirked Kurt as he threw his father a lightly accusing glance but only burst out into a fit of giggles as he did. He wouldn't mind returning to Lima if he had the sense Burt really wanted him there. It was the sense of being wanted that drew him in more that anything else. "All right, as soon as I'm discharged, you can take me home, but don't be surprised if Noah finds out where I am, flies over and barges through the door, because he's done that once before, he easily can do it again."

"Fair enough, I'm always up for a challenge, but one quick question before we call for the nurse, Kurt. You've... been in love with Noah before haven't you? Before you met him and before you came here to the city, you've had a thing for him... right?" Asked Burt as Kurt tentatively nodded. "That's all I needed to know. Explains everything, your attitude, your behavior and how you were with him, it all makes sense now. You strutted out on that catwalk for him, didn't you? You wanted him to meet you at that after party. You may not have known it, but subconsciously you wanted his attention... or am I totally wrong?"

"No... I don't think you are, and if you are, then you're not far from it," answered Kurt, surprised that Burt could have thought up such a hypothesis, and one that made a lot of sense. "That night, I was nervous as hell but it was the first time I'd felt... beautiful, and I was proud of it. I wanted to share that feeling with everyone around me, whilst at the same time not drawing too much attention, but yes, I suppose the person I most wanted to be desired by was Noah, and even then I just wanted him to think I was beautiful. That's all I asked for, and if I got that, then I would have gone home happy."

"Well son, you're coming back home with me because you need some good old country air back in your lungs before you can properly breathe. I'm afraid to open this window here less the sulphur fumes of this city come wafting in to knock you unconscious again," chuckled Burt, Kurt letting out a laugh that felt so good, as if it shook off the final shackles of the accident's lingering oppression. "We're going to get your life back on track so that by the time you do return here to New York, you're going to make one hell of a comeback. Believe me Kurt; this city's not going to know what's hit them."

.

Glee

.

One week later and Noah stepped warily out of the Mercedes Benz before being greeted with the flashing lights and the enthusiastic cries of the paparazzi. He was here at the Radio City Music Hall theatre with his family and friends to celebrate his twenty-first birthday and a large show was to be put on in celebration of the festivities. He'd known for some time that something big was going to happen, but it hadn't been until now that he'd been let in on what really had been organized by his mother, and it wasn't as if he was ungrateful for all the time and effort that had gone into it all, it's just that he would have much preferred to celebrate his transition from teenager to adult in a less pompous manner fit for a president's son, like staying in his penthouse, tucked up warmly on his couch with Kurt watching a great movie… if he even had Kurt.

Once he'd been instructed by Burt Hummel to return home from the hospital with the excuse that he'd begun to drool on Kurt's lap during his sleep as well as the fact that he could not keep on going around the place wearing a ruined wedding suit, Noah had done what he'd been told. However, the next day, when he'd returned to the hospital with a bouquet of flowers and a get well card, he'd been shocked to learn that Kurt had since awoken, but not only that, he'd been discharged, all without Noah knowing. The man had been furious. He'd demanded the nurses where Kurt was, they hadn't answered. He'd raced to Kurt's city apartment, no one had answered and finally in a desperate attempt to reach his baby model, he'd rung Kurt's cell. Fittingly, the call had gone to voice mail. No one had answered.

Noah had been a wreck. He hadn't known what had happened to Kurt, where he was, or who he was with, until it suddenly occurred to him. Kurt was back in Ohio. It was so obvious. He knew Burt was protective of his only son and would take any excuse to bring him back home with him for a week or two, and at this, Noah had subsequently thought of ringing Kurt at his Lima home, but in the end, he hadn't. There was a reason why Burt hadn't informed him of Kurt's whereabouts. His son needed time off, to make sense of life again before returning to swing on the vines of the concrete jungle, and Burt hoped that Noah would get the message. Although, for Noah, though it was tempting to fly over to Kurt and see him, he'd promised to stop barging through his doors. That and fearing the mighty Burt Hummel himself, for that man could really pack a punch.

As for Noah's own family, it wasn't as if the Puckerman's weren't suffering with their own drama related problems. Quinn had since been arrested and processed for her crimes against them, with a pre-trial conference having just ended two days ago. The press had just about gone crazy over the whole thing and it had driven Noah and his mother completely up the wall, but thankfully due to their own personal team of well experienced publicists, news about the wedding had been significantly minimized with the use of threats of suing any publication that dared spread rumors and lies about what happened, keeping many magazines at bay. Managing news about themselves when things got rough wasn't anything new for the Puckermans, but this whole ordeal just felt closer to home, and the more personal it got, the more ruthless the family fought back.

Tonight however, was a night of celebration, not of business, trials and the press. Everyone was to have fun tonight. Noah's friends and their dates were chatting excitedly of the show's program as they posed for the photographers before entering the theatre, his family too seemed to forget about their personal woes in favor of putting on a brave face, and replacing photos of the ditched wedding with the birthday extravaganza, which everyone hoped would end successfully. Noah himself was again grateful that the topic of conversation had since changed to the night's guest and performance list. A number of affluent faces from Hollywood glamour, Washington power and New York money had paid from $1000 to $10,000 to attend the evening and Noah was flattered, but he was back to where he'd started, a prisoner in his own fame.

Entering the theatre after having been photographed and ignoring the pleas from many to approach for an interview, Noah walked with his entourage into the Grand Foyer. He greeted politely, shook hands with many and pretended to care what they had to say, many wishing him a happy birthday but also condoling him about what had happened with Quinn. In the end, such interaction had only helped him speed his way up the stairs and towards his seat on the first balcony in a puff of smoke. He'd mentally begged the celebrations to start, not bothering to check the program for what it had in store, because the earlier it began, the faster he'd be able to lose himself in it. However, in the end, as everyone finally took to their seats and his mother came to sit beside him, he relented to check out the set list out of curiosity.

"Ma," began Noah, as he took in the long list of entertainers that had been lined up, all of them personal favorites of his including Pantera, Nine Inch Nails, Type O Negative, Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, Outkast and Nirvana to recitals of the works of Mozart, John Coltrane, Miles Davies and Herbie Handcock. Amongst the musicians however, were also poetry readings read by acclaimed actors as Daniel Day-Lewis, Jessica Chestain, Hugh Jackman, Jennifer Lawrence, Christolph Waltz and Anne Hathaway, but towards the end of the program, the finale was labelled '?' "Ma, what is the finale?"

"It's a surprise Noah, but I suppose I ought to tell you what I know, otherwise you're going to sit there shuffling in your seat wondering what it is for the whole show," smiled Emily, glancing over at Noah's program. "Now I didn't personally organize the finale. It was the only act I didn't arrange and oversee and even when I wanted to find out what it was myself to grant final approval, I wasn't told. It's a secret to everyone. I've heard it could be a firework display to even a performance from an old school friend of yours who's apparently hit it big on the West End in London."

"Were they talking about Hunter Clarington?" Inquired Noah, looking at his mother as she shrugged unsurely. Noah knew Hunter from high school, but the show choir fanatic had always been a victim of 'Puck' and his rule of dweeb extermination than a 'bro' as such. "Why would he be performing for me? I mean, don't get me wrong he was good at theatre and all, but we were never friends. I didn't hang out with him at school; in fact, I was a bit of a jerk to him. I used to pretty much tease him all the time for being too 'dwarf' sized to pull off any role in those fruity musicals he loved so much."

"Speaking of fruity, I hear you're half sugared yourself," smirked Emily. "Even though I choose not to remember that day for many, many reasons, I will always remember that little declaration of love you gave before you left the cathedral. I have to say that I would have preferred if you'd come to out to me first and told me about the boy you love before anyone else, but maybe it was just as well. It takes guts Noah, to stand as proudly and defiantly as you did and announce such a thing in front of six thousand people, and never have I ever been more convinced that there is a lot of your father in you."

"Really? Does that mean you don't have a problem with me being... you know," Asked Noah nervously, shifting uncomfortably in his seat as his mother turned her gaze from the stage to him. Perhaps the nature of this private conversation wasn't best suited to be had in a theatre packed full with six thousand people, but the topic had come about and there was no postponing it. In some strange way, the acceptance of his mother was very important to Noah. Even though she'd been rather distant during his childhood, she was his only parent left. She mattered. "You don't mind that I'm... bi?"

"No Noah, of course I don't mind it. There's nothing to mind about, it is who you are, though I do have to say I am surprised, as I'm sure many others are," replied Emily as she gestured with her hand out to indicate to the huge auditorium. "I'm sure your father would have been a little taken aback as well if he were still here with us today, but I can't say for sure what he would have thought. Hopefully, he wouldn't have minded, and I don't think he would have believed you'd be any better or worse a CEO if you were bisexual. If he did, he would have been an idiot, and I did not marry an idiot."

"What about the company?" Inquired Noah fearfully, his attention completely on his mother. The conglomerate had been ravished by a good selection of light scandals in the past, but what had happened may have been for many, the final clincher. Who knows at what rate their stocks were dropping, who else knew anything about it except his mother. "I mean, you once said that my 'whoring' around was something that got the investors 'nervous', but after what's happened with Quinn, my coming out and Kurt, going by what you've said, they're going to be there having heart attacks on the floor of Wall Street."

"Oh Noah, stop being so melodramatic. We're not ruined and the company is not broke. Nowadays in business, people don't care what your sexuality is just as long as there's money and I'm sure our investors have far greater sense in them than to leave us for such a bigoted reason. It's only in politics when it starts to matter," Replied Emily as she wagged a finger at him before sighing in weak frustration. "Anyway, can we not talk about the company, Noah. You know I despise talking about business, especially when on nights like this. It's just such a bore I just don't know how you stand it."

"Oh thank God, I was worried there," grinned Noah, breathing out a sigh of relief as he lounged back in his chair. "But it doesn't matter anyway. I may have come out to everyone but I don't have the person I came out for. I mean, I thought Kurt and I would get back together afterwards, but then the accident happened. So I decided to talk to him about us once he woke up, but his dad took him home back to Ohio when he did and now I get the sense that I won't be able to see him until he comes back, which could take weeks, and I want to see him now. I want him here with me now."

"I know you do Noah, but you have to give it time. A near death experience for someone can be very traumatic and smothering your little friend with ideas of getting back together so soon wouldn't have done him any good. Let him come to you. Only he will know when and if he's ready to come back to you," replied Emily. "Besides, I feel as if I've gained a little something here myself during this whole thing, because now I've got what I've always wished for, a gay son... bisexual sorry. Now you can come and advise me on haute couture, exotic cuisine, musical theater and antique furniture."

"Yeah right," scoffed Noah. "I'm not into all that, but... Kurt is... kind of. I mean, I think he prefers modern furniture to 'antiques', and I don't think he knows a great deal about 'exotic cuisine', but fashion he knows and musical theater he definitely knows. I just wish you could have met him, ma, that I could have introduced you to, because I wanted to. We had plans and everything because I knew you'd like him. He's witty, clever and funny and he's a great listener. I mean, he can listen to me for hours on end talking about anything and he'll sit there and listen. I just... just like being around him."

"That and he's gorgeous," giggled Emily. "You know Noah, just because I'm your mother, doesn't mean you can't mention the more... physical aspects of your attraction to him. He's a delightful little thing and you know you always had a weak spot for pretty things that weren't yours until you made it your mission to go after it and claim it as your own. It reminds me of how your father pursued me when we first met. I did the old 'hard to get' trick and I knew that for him it was annoying and frustrating as hell, but it just made the moment he finally caught me all the more satisfying."

"That's not what I heard," began Noah as Emily whipped her head to face him, her eyes narrowing with curiosity. Come to think of it, how his father and mother had met was similar to how he and Kurt had both met. Once Thomas had seen Emily in the papers after her Miss America win, he'd attended her next competition, Miss Universe, in hopes of meeting her where they had done at the after party. It was disturbing how coincidental it was. "I heard you slept with him on your first date when he took you out into the sea on his yacht. Apparently you were the loosest one of them all."

"How dare you," smiled Emily. "Lies, all lies... I slept with him on our third date and he proposed right after, but you should have seen how the other beauty pageant contestants or even women were in general when they were around your father. He was a handsome man Noah, very charming, charismatic and masculine. A real presence everyone loved being in, but you, young man, you should have learned by now to believe every single story and rumor in the press. I would have thought tasting your own medicine many a time over would have opened your eyes. Eh, Mr. Party Rocking Puckerman."

"Sorry," apologized Noah as he fell silent, his cocky laughter from before ceasing swiftly as his smirk faded. "I didn't mean anything by it, I just... You know there was a time when I didn't mind what the press nicknamed me as or wrote about me. It was back in high school and I thought it did great for my rep, but when I stopped wanting to have a lame ass reputation for being a 'badass', they kept on going, as if reminding me of what I'd been even when I was trying to change. They influenced everyone around me to think I was still 'Puck', except Kurt... God ma, I miss him. I really, really miss him."

"Who wouldn't miss a face as sweet as his, Noah. You couldn't have found a more innocent a model if you'd tried," complimented Emily as the man rested his head on her shoulder, her hand rubbing up and down his forearm comfortingly. "You know, I've seen his latest photos for LOVE magazine. I don't know if you saw them or not, but now I can't blame you for entering an affair with the boy because with an ass and a pair of legs like that, you make allowances for pretty much anything. 'Sex for Breakfast'? If he'd had breasts it would have been 'tits on toast', but he made it work."

"Oh my God, you saw those?" Noah asked incredulously, closing his eyes in embarrassment as Emily burst into a set of giggles, her son trying to hide his face in her neck as her chest went up and down with amusement. "It's weird that you've seen Kurt nearly naked. I mean, I don't like it when anybody does, especially when he's on those photoshoots of his in front of others, stripping, posing and pretending like he's orgasming for the camera. I know what those perverted photographers ask models to do, it's no secret, but to learn that your own mom has seen the boy you like nearly nude... that's just wrong."

"Again with the melodramatics, Noah. You should be happy that I approve of Kurt's appearance. You know, it's not unheard of in certain parts of the world that the bodies of both the man and woman are checked out for their virility and fertility before marriage," informed Emily. "The striking thing about Kurt is that he has a rather androgynous figure. He has the body of a male with the curves of a female, but with you, Noah, you take up after your father. I should know, you were very well endowed even when you were little when you used to streak around the house shouting, 'my penis momma! It's so big!' repeatedly."

"That's... embarrassing."

"Kurt must be pretty brave to tackle such a-"

"Ma!"

"Alright, alright, I'll stop... look Noah, I'm sorry about Quinn. Bat shit crazy as she was."

"Oh God ma, don't talk about her. Hell, I'd prefer it if you'd go back to talking about my dick, but please, just don't mention her name again," muttered Noah, pulling away from his mother and leaning back in his own chair. The mention of his ex-fiancée on a night like this only acted as a major downer to the event, which was rather counterproductive as the sheer spectacle of the show was not only to celebrate his birthday, but to also steer his mind clear of his past few strenuous days. Come to think of it, he really needed this distraction. "Wait ma, are you okay? You just swore, and you never swear."

"I'm entitled to Noah, the girl drugged me, and if what you said back in the cathedral was true, she could have killed me," replied Emily seriously. "Oh well, it's best not to think about it. I'm sorry I brought it up. Just promise me that the next person you become engaged to, you'll make sure they're not some crazed ex-girlfriend or money obsessed loon, because we both know how that will end. Nothing may happen to me, but you might end up being tied to the bed with a pig's bladder stretched over your head, a raw sausage in your mouth and a pineapple up your ass."

"How many drinks have you had?" Inquired Noah, frowning at his mother's odd behavior when he suddenly realized that a coupe of bubbling champagne was in her hand. Back down in the Grand Foyer, drinks had been distributed like candy for kids. A tall pyramid of champagne coupes had been erected in the centre and gallons upon gallons of champagne had been allowed to waterfall itself down into each glass. However, Noah suspected his mother may have stolen a bottle and stashed it under her seat, for no one her age could become intoxicated from a measly coupe. "Ma, are you... are you drunk?"

"No Noah, I'm just... let's just say I'm at the point where I no longer have any inhibitions. That and I'll be more tolerable to stay and listen to those ghastly metal bands off yours," replied Emily, calling over a nearby waiter holding a silver platter filled with flowing coupes of champagne. "It's a birthday celebration, Noah. Everyone here is to celebrate your coming of age and your now legal right to drink. That and you can now also rent a car from Avis and legally gamble in Las Vegas, but if you even think of doing that, I will cut you off. Just stick to the drinking for now. Here have one."

"Thanks, but you do realize ma that I've been drinking since I was sixteen. This isn't going to be the first drink I'm ever had," informed Noah, chuckling slightly as Emily passed him a coupe of champagne, her eyes wide as she took in the news. "I mean, come on. I wasn't going to wait until now to see what being hammered was like. I used to break into our liquor cabinet and wine cellar all the time. Plus I could pass for a twenty-one year old back when I was eighteen so working my fake ID was piss easy to get the kegs I needed for all those parties back in senior of high school."

"I would criticize your cursing Noah, but that would be hypocritical of me. Let's just try not to let our tongues slip and draw any more attention to ourselves because like you, I don't think anyone here has seen me tipsy before," replied Emily. "To be honest Noah, I knew about your drinking escapades with friends. Anita would tell me and sometimes I'd put two and two together. I wasn't always oblivious, although I apologize for when I was. I'm just glad you didn't go beyond rebelling with alcohol and that awful Mohawk... or are there things that both you and Anita have failed to inform me on?"

"I think it best if we leave it there. You really don't want to know anything else."

"Noah, what did you do?"

"Nothing, ma."

"Noah."

"I'm telling you I didn't do anything... except on Valentine's Day high school freshman year, I replaced all the candy hearts with frog hearts from the biology lab. In sophomore year, I got detention for swearing when I said I deserved a Mother's Day card for being 'a badass mother fucker'. In junior year, I was caught banging, by that time my thousandth chick, on the maps in the geography room where I accidently spunked on China, and in senior year, I smoked cigarettes, weed and pot behind the bleachers so I could play football high to piss off our coach. God, he was mad as hell," chuckled Noah.

Gaping back at her son, Emily stared at Noah before bursting into a fit of hysterics. The man had a lot of reservations about revealing just a taste of what he had done back in his high school years, for not only had he feared his mother going absolutely ballistic, but that she would, like the press, believe that the 'Puck' inside him was still very much there. Thankfully, due to her increasing champagne intake, Emily was taking his past antics very well and as the house lights dimmed and the stage lights ascended, Noah realized that this conversation with his mother was one of the first where they truly seemed to connect as mother and son since he was little. He didn't know whether that was just because he was now an adult, bisexual or whether this whole ordeal with Quinn had brought them closer, but he appreciated the feeling greatly. He had his ma back.

Looking at the stage, Noah watched as the show began. He remembered events like this when he was child, when his father was still alive. On particular birthdays and anniversaries of his marriage to Emily, Thomas would be thrown a massive celebration of similar grandeur and splendor as Noah's right now, but everyone knew that it wasn't Thomas's thing. The events were nothing more than a vanilla sponge of fundraising galas for the Democratic Party, masked under a thick layer of birthday celebration buttercream icing. However, unlike his father, Noah was thoroughly getting into the show. His favorite music was played, beautiful poetry was read out and personal speeches from every one of his family and friends were given, spliced seamlessly into the spectacle. However, Noah just only wished he could have enjoyed it with his special someone.

"Noah, hey dude," began Finn, standing before the lit podium at the front of the stage and waving up at his friend as he began his own speech. "On this occasion of your birthday, this lovely person is not only pulchritudinous but good. A person about whom, it truly may be said they need no introduction because in these past few months of modelling perhaps there has been no one model who has turned more heads, who has been talked about more and whose remarkable story has given more inspiration to all aspiring models than who we bring you tonight. Noah... Kurt Hummel!"

Noah gasped, his champagne coupe slipping from his loose grasp and spilling to the floor with a clunk as he tried to catch what Finn had really said. He'd only thought his friend would deliver his own speech, that he would like all the others, offer his touching words and be done with it, but as Noah snapped his eyes back to look at the program once more, he noticed that this was no speech, but the finale, hosted by Finn Hudson. Now he understood. Kurt was the finale. His Kurt was going to round off his birthday celebratory show and whether he did it with a bang or not, Noah didn't care. All he cared about was seeing his boy again. Sharing in the bewildered surprise was his mother, but unlike Noah who had been frozen in shock, she hastily joined in with the welcoming applause as the spotlight shone on the left hand wings of the stage.

Coming into view wearing a men's mink coat that covered his body from neck to toe, Kurt appeared onstage and made his way over to the podium next to Finn. The cheers and applause of a volume suited best for the Roman amphitheater accompanied the boy as he smiled up at Finn who in turn offered to take his jacket. Gladly shedding the faux fur coat, Kurt bit his lip as everyone was revealed his outfit; a pastel peach slim suit and tee shirt, nude shaded skinny jeans, black canvas plimsolls and a black veil head ban, it's ends falling gracefully behind him like a makeshift ponytail. At the sight, a wave of surprised gasps and moans of appreciation rang through the theater, and as Finn promptly gave the stage up for him, Kurt was left all alone on a 144ft long stage in front of six thousand people, their applause still very much ringing in the air as he smiled out to them all.

The truth was, Kurt was extremely nervous. There was now a huge silence in the auditorium, and a silence that palpable in a theatre this big was something he'd never quite experienced before. The Salvatore Spectacle, his first ever runway show had been his first ever stage instead of his bedroom, and the people there had been his first ever audience instead of his father. There had been twenty-thousand people that night in that arena, but yet even that was eclipsed as he stood as a lone figure in front of countless eyes. It somehow made him warm inside, as if it heated his flesh colored clothing that felt like his skin, from a supposed chill. Ultimately, like a kiss. A feeling that had him flicking the microphone before coming to stand before it, positioning it's head in line with his mouth. He was going to sing this song as if it were the last thing he would ever do.

Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday Mr. Puckerman,
Happy Birthday to you...

The spotlight on Kurt was blinding. He'd had to raise his hands up to cover his eyes at first as he'd looked around the audience whilst waiting for his piano cue, but now that he was singing, he felt like the spotlight was serving him, not the other way around. However, he was glad he had the microphone in front of him, for he wasn't so much as projecting the song as he was breathing it out. Happy Birthday, a loved children's tune was now morphing into a sumptuous lullaby of sex, fit for a twenty-one year old birthday boy, and Kurt couldn't stop himself. His body had now a mind of its own, darkening his irises as he shot bedroom eyes up at Noah. His hands strayed from the microphone stand as they landed on his open body, traveling along fine material to feel his curves and his presence; his anatomy was raising the temperature into the stratosphere.

Thank you Mr. Puckerman for all the things you've done
The battles that you've won, the way you deal with US steel
And our problems by the ton, we thank you so much
Everybody, Happy Birthday!

Throwing up his hands into the air, Kurt gestured to everyone in the audience to join in as the orchestra continued to play. Everyone stood up from their seats with a thunderous noise of their closing seats and turned to face Noah at his perch on the balcony, but as they all started singing happy birthday, the man's eyes did not stray for a single minute from Kurt's dancing form as the boy moved to the orchestrated music. The china-imported fireworks, that Emily had mentioned earlier, erupted from behind the brunet as the amazing spectacle illuminated the whole autroruim, sparklers, cart wheeling fireworks and fire capturing everyone's gazes. Following this, hundreds upon hundreds of red, white and blue balloons that had been caged in the ceiling were allowed to rain down on everyone, fluttering confetti and sparkling glitter also joining in their descent.

"Be careful honey, lean any further over the balustrade and you'll fall," warned Emily, pulling Noah back from the edge with a hand on his shoulder as she smiled at her son's happy face. From the moment Kurt had arrived at the podium, all through his erotic rendition of Happy Birthday, to now, Noah had stood up from his seat, grabbed the nearest set of binoculars he could find and brought them to his eyes, leaning so far over that it felt as though he was going to fall at any minute. "You know, I may have seen your boy in magazines and what not Noah, but in person, here and now, he looks glorious."

"He is, he's... he's the best finale and birthday present I could have ever wished for," gushed Noah, his voice breaking slightly as his emotions overran him like an avalanche. Kurt's sudden appearance had stunned him into submission, the boy's sultry serenading vocals had erected his trousers into a tent and whilst the performance had been wildly inappropriate, he couldn't help lapping up every note that had come out of Kurt's inviting mouth. He was insanely happy with joy, drunk on it. Kurt was here. Here. "Thanks, ma. Thank you for bringing him back to me."

"Me? I told you Noah, I had nothing to do with the finale."

"Then who invited him to perform?"

"I don't know. Finn possibly, or maybe Kurt himself."

"You think so?"

"That boy loves you Noah, he wouldn't have missed this for the world," smiled Emily, pointing to Kurt on the stage as the boy danced in the raining sparks of the fireworks, his beam like smile lifting Noah's heart to the skies. With his attention now on Kurt, Emily took a mental photograph of her son's expression. She hadn't seen a smile plastered on that thick for years and now that it had reappeared, she suspected it was going to be the first in many now that Kurt had returned. She approved of Kurt greatly, and even if she didn't, Noah wouldn't have cared. They were too deep in love to care. "Go to him, Noah."

Turning to look at his mother before fiercely nodding his head, Noah shoved the binoculars into her awaiting hands, scrambled out of his line of seats and pelted towards the nearest sets of stairs, taking two at a time. He didn't take great care trying to avoid people on his way. If footmen or various members of the theater staff didn't move aside fast enough, they could land in the champagne coupe pyramid for all Noah cared. No more obstacles were going to steal Kurt from him again for he believed that this boy had returned for him and him alone, no one else. Now, upon reaching the Grand Foyer, Noah followed every single sign he could find that could direct him towards the circle, and there he sprinted like nothing else, the hum like sound of the audience beyond awing in wonderment making itself heard in the distance.

Meanwhile, as Noah made his way through the theater like a hyperactive child in an Art Deco maze, on the stage, Kurt was introducing the birthday cake as it was wheeled on stage by two chefs. It was a large twelve-tiered confectionary monster made by Ladurée, stuffed full of raspberry meringue, rose flavored cream, raspberry jam and lychees. Sparklers and candles adorned its surface and along with the number twenty-one was 'Happy Birthday Noah' written on the top. The cake reached the podium just in time as the final notes of the song ended with ground breaking applause, and Kurt in the midst of it all couldn't help being a little cheeky. He dunked his finger into the blue fondant, scooped on a generous amount and sucked it dry, moaning slightly as he gave a thumbs up to the two chefs who smiled proudly and bowed respectably to the audience.

"Happy Birthday Baby..." cooed Kurt, nymph like tears of joy trickling down the sides of his curved cheekbones as he smiled, but as he was just about to blow a kiss to where he thought Noah was seated, he paused, frowning at the man's sudden disappearance. That was odd. Just a minute ago, Kurt could have sworn that Noah had been seating on that balcony alongside who he thought was his mother, but no. There was no one. He looked around the auditorium awkwardly for the man, his nerves increasing with each painful second, but again Noah wasn't anywhere. "Where... w-here has he... gone? Noah?"

He was nervous again. His nerves were pooling from every part of his body into his stomach to create a huge fluttering hive of butterflies. Everyone was watching him, well-known faces, celebrities and members of high society. They were eying him heavily, with the occasional onlooker glancing around for Noah, but when they too couldn't pinpoint him, they returned to drowning Kurt with their gaze. It was as if they had suddenly turned on him, wanted to see him fall after acting as the star to the finale. For Kurt, it reminded him of the Balencia Ball, a memory that made him want to bowl over in pain and as he could do no more than whimper into the microphone, his fingers tangling themselves together across his chest as his eyes started to water, this time in despair, he regretted his return. I shouldn't have come back. I'm too late. He's left me. He's gone. He's-

"I'm right here, Kurt..."

---

~ PLEASE REVIEW ~

(But if you wish to criticize, may it be constructive. I'm not going to learn from my mistakes and improve if you vent.)

Author's Note: I took influence from Marilyn Monroe's 'Happy Birthday Mr. President' performance at John F. Kennedy's 45th birthday gala (1962) for Kurt's finale performance.

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to the characters from Glee since I don't own the show. I'm not earning money from this and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. I mean only to please whoever stumbles upon my Love Story.

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