Miracle on This Street, Part II
Author's Note: OMG, what happened?! It was Christmas when I was writing this, I was IN the Christmas spirit! ...But no, no, Christmas got way away from me and I'm getting this chapter to you when it's near...Valentines. Oi.
It's very, very long, 21 pages spaced. Naturally AU because Barrett's dad actually sounds pretty cool in Rune Factory 2, lol. Also, I don't censor when it seems to EXTREMELY take away from something said.
And finally, excuse Kurt, it's his other woman. Enjoy and try to dig up those past Christmasy feelings!
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"So...you just let my crazy little girl bring a boy home?"
Carrie stood near the door, having just gotten off set and met with this news. She frowned as she tugged off her warm gloves and Vinny sighed weakly, "I'm sorry, Carrie. She was insistent."
"It's fine as long as he's not nuts..."
"Nah, he can't be more than nine or ten..." Vinny answered slowly.
"Okay, I'll deal with it. Thanks for watching her" she smiled at her driver.
"You sure?"
"Of course, Vinny. I know you wouldn't do anything to put Emma in harm's way. Go on and relax and I'll see you in the morning."
The man nodded, seeming relieved, before leaving the brownstone house. Carrie frowned again, walking up the steps curiously. What on Earth was Emma thinking?
Walking into one of the two guest rooms, she found Emma resting her head on the bed that occupied a little boy. If anything, he looked like Emma. They could have been long lost twins...that is, if she didn't know for a fact that Emma definitely didn't have a companion during that time in the womb.
Carrie looked over him thoughtfully. He was a pretty little boy, all the same. His facial features were more European close up. Smoothing the locks of brown hair away from his eyes, she stiffened. What...?
Under his hair, on his forehead, was a burn...and she'd know that burn mark for the rest of her life. It was a crack pipe burn.
Aside from when she would burn herself, she used to do it to Haru and Will all the time when the two were so high they couldn't tell up from down, burning them vaguely with the 'instrument'. She never pressed too hard. Hell, she really just let the heat hit them. All the same, they had this same marking afterward.
...What were they doing on a ten-year-old kid?
Vinny said she found him being beat up by a bunch of guys. Could his parents be involved in drugs?
"You can't have him, mama."
Carrie jumped, startled, Emma's voice interrupting her musings. She looked to her daughter with a cocked brow, the little girl glowering at her while rubbing her eyes. "Why, whatever do you mean?"
"You can't have him" she pursed her lips, "He's mine."
Carrie had to laugh, "You just can't claim people, Miss Em, just so you know. That aside, I have your daddy, remember?"
Emma brightened, as if not realizing Carrie still had her favorite person in the universe as her husband, "Oh yea!"
"Why'd you bring him home, sweetie?" Carrie questioned.
"He was hurt" Emma insisted, "Mama said to help people in need."
"Of course" Carrie quickly inserted, "But please, no more, uh, alley fights, okay? Your father would have a heart attack and never let you out of his sight. He's still nervous about what happened with Will."
"Okay" she agreed, "But can I keep him?"
Carrie smirked, "Like I said, he's a person, Em, not a puppy."
Staring at the marking though, she felt her stomach flop at the idea of the boy returning to his parents. Maybe she could keep him here to get a grasp on things. She...she didn't want any child to know that universe.
"But maybe for now he can stay."
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Barrett woke up to a movie star.
He'd been moved downstairs, it seemed, to the couch and he'd woken up in a daze. He wandered around for a second before running into Carrie Inaba. His father loved her. So how on Earth did he end up in her house...? Or was he just going crazy?
But the woman smiled, "Hello. Your name's Barrett, right? I'm Carrie Inaba. It seems my daughter has taken you in."
...No wonder the girl was so pretty, her mother was, as his father said, 'smoking hot'.
"Uh, I-I didn't really have a choice" he stammered, utterly nervous to be speaking to someone so famous.
"Oh no, it's fine" she insisted before scratching her neck, "May I...ask you something though?"
What an Oscar-award winning actress could possibly ask of him, he couldn't even fathom, but he nodded.
"...I, uh- well, I was wondering if perhaps you didn't have a place to go. Y'know, so you could stay for a bit and keep my Em company. She has loads of cousins and whatnot back home to play with and I'm very busy with my schedule so...I was just hoping..." she laughed slowly, "But what am I saying, I bet your parents are worried sick."
He wished."...I'm not in any particular hurry to get home" he said after a moment, "And my parents...they're pretty...preoccupied, so I wouldn't mind."
"Great!" she smiled, "You're welcome to anything you like in the fridge and whatever else."
He nodded, wondering just how this happened. And did he really just agree to hang out with a probably spoiled little girl...?
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Emma had her hands crossed, staring at the board before looking to Barrett who idly stroked his chin as he cocked a brow.
He grumbled in his head, in disbelief that he was losing at a game of chess to a six-year-old. This was his game, sheesh...but she smiled as she took his last man, the only way he could actually possibly take her army.
"...You're not six" he glowered.
"Uh huh!" she pouted.
Barrett sighed and reclined back, staring around the living room. Carrie was in the kitchen, singing as she cooked dinner. He flustered. Holy crap, he was being fed by a celebrity.
Emma suddenly giggled, "Is it that weird being around mama?"
He blinked at her, "It's very weird. Where's your dad though?"
"Papa? He's in Japan."
"Are they divorced?" he asked, confused.
"Divorced? Not at all" Emma shook her head, "Just mama always ends up alone on Christmas because she has to do shoots in America so I decided to come with her."
He nodded slowly, wondering if she had the type of parents that would mask her from those things. She crossed her legs and blinked, "It's nice here. All those movies show it as kind of cruddy but it's really interesting, I think."
Barrett frowned, shaking his head, "You're in the good part, that's all. There are really cruddy areas. And I don't know, maybe it's just...kind of not cool to me since I live here."
Emma seemed to ponder, "Well, any place has a bad area. And I'm not really sick of where I live yet. Maybe when I'm ten I will be too though."
Barrett, sheepishly, asked curiously, "I can't imagine a place like Japan ever getting boring though. It's got to be pretty fun."
"I like it" she agreed, "We live in a smaller city and I never run out of things to do. It's pretty cool! You should visit."
He sighed, "I wish."
"Em, Barrett, dinner" Carrie called.
Emma skipped into the kitchen and Barrett followed, wondering when he'd wake up from this bizarre dream. He sat down at the table next to Emma and was almost overtaken when he saw the food. He didn't have food that looked this good...ever.
"Itedakimasu!" sang Emma.
Carrie repeated the sentiment and Barrett was just bewildered. Carrie laughed softly, "It's a prayer kind of thing we say before we eat in Japan. Don't mind us though."
He blushed a little and mumbled, "Well, uh, if it's your tradition, I can...try it."
He knew he ended up slaughtering the word, pronunciation seeming to be a strong point in what made it sound awesome. But Emma broke down each symbol for him. E-teh-dah-key-ma-sue...except you weren't supposed to say a strong 'sue', just a hint of it. He'd pinked a bit when Emma told him she could teach him Japanese and that it wasn't complicated...
She probably had no idea he'd never gone to school for more than a month.
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Flustered, Barrett wondered how much his mother would flip if he knew he was walking through the mall she barely had the right to even dream about.
Emma held his hand, dragging him. Her body guards and the driver, Vinny, were surrounding her...not too close, but close enough just in case someone decided to snatch her up. But she was oblivious, acting as if she wasn't the daughter of...well, Carrie freakin' Inaba.
"Barrett" Emma murmured, "What do boys like?"
"Eh?"
"I have a twelve-year-old brother" she explained, looking in the video game store, "And Haya-nii-chan is always being nice to me when he says he likes gifts I give him."
"...Haya-nii-chan? Is that his name?" That was pretty long and complicated.
"His name is Hayato. I call him Haya-nii-chan because 'onii-san' means 'older brother'."
"I see" he blinked before glancing to the store, "Well, boys can like anything…like video games. Does he play them?"
"All of them. Oh! He loves music games!" she gasped, pulling him into the store.
"I haven't played those" he admitted slowly, staring at the Nintendo system he'd longed for for...ever.
"Does Barrett want that?"
He jumped, startled, his eyes widened as he rapidly shook his head, "N-no, I-I was just looking."
Emma looked at him rather solemnly and he blushed, pursing his lips and looking away, "R-really..."
"If Barrett says so" she sighed, frowning, "But I don't think Haya-nii-san has this one. He has the Japanese one so..."
She picked it up and took out a credit card...in her name?
"Your mom gave you a credit card...?"
She went to the desk and shook her head, staring at the game, reading the back, "My mom pulled strings since I'm not eighteen but the money is mine. My aunt has an art wall at work and I sell my paintings there. Putting the money here is easier than pieces."
Barrett cocked a brow, "Is your art really that good...?"
"So they say" she remarked sagely before smiling at him happily, "I'll draw you something when we get back to the house."
"Okay..." he agreed, rather curious. He kind of thought they were probably just like, 'aww, look at the kindergarten art' and humoring her.
Purchasing that gift, she slipped her hand back into his, dragging him next to a...guitar store? Skipping to the desk, she grabbed the edges with her little hands and tried to drag herself up. Vinny seemed to start to help her but Barrett just lifted her a bit more. He guessed either he was really tall or she was just really short.
"Hiya!" she greeted the cashier.
Barrett wasn't used to jovial workers. They usually glared at people or grumbled but the man smiled, echoing, "Hello. You're back, I see. Came to pick up your guitar?"
"Yes, sir" she nodded, "How did it come out?"
The man walked to a room in the back and returned with a cherry colored guitar, glossy and engraved with a pretty lotus blossom and tribal designs. Emma 'oohed' and took it from him, looking over it.
"It looks great! What do you think, Barrett?"
"It's cool" he agreed, gingerly running his fingers over the wood.
Emma paid the man rather extravagantly and he wondered why her parents didn't have more of a limit on her account...but oh well.
She bought things...a lot of things. Like, so many things he had to ask 'why'? Emma tapped her chin.
"Well, let's see, there is great-grandma Dana and great-grandpa Yamada and Grandma Jill and Yoshiko and Grandpa Cliff and Wataru. Then there's great-uncle Shin, Tony, Koji, Nelly and great-aunt Kelis and Nyoko..."
Barrett stared at her blankly as she just went on and on and on...
"...Your family is...really, really big" he commented when she seemed done.
"Yep!"
She took his hand, this time not dragging him but probably just because she wanted to. "Do you have a big family, Barrett?"
"...Not as big as I'd like, Emma."
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Barrett scowled as he played on the weird pink guitar Emma had, wondering who thought of this and how on Earth anyone got above 'medium'. His fingers hurt.
He glanced at Emma who was sitting across from him, seriously drawing, moving back and forth between colored pencils. She'd told him specifically not to look...
He's spent three days with Emma and he had to admit it was more curious than annoying. She was the brightest person he'd met...which might not be saying anything except it was interesting because she was so...young.
Carrie was just about the most down to earth person he'd ever met as well. She never flaunted her wealth nor acted like she was the most important being in the universe. He had to admit, he liked it here. But compared to back home, that might not have been so surprising.
"Barrett, are you homesick?" she asked, still drawing.
"Huh...? Oh, uh, not at all" he admitted slowly.
"I like having Barrett here" she replied, working steadily, "But if he's going to miss out on presents and family things…"
Barrett felt sad that he really never had either of those things on Christmas. It was truly a strange holiday to him. His mother once brought home a plastic wreath someone had apparently given her...and that was the extent. Shaking his head slowly, he whispered. "I...don't ever get gifts or ever see my family."
Emma looked up and frowned, "No family or gifts?"
"No..."
Scowling, she skipped over and handed him the sketchpad. He blinked, confused, and took it from her. He was positively stunned. He supposed it was him...she must have saw more than he did though. But it was...amazing. He guessed she wasn't pulling his leg. "It's...really, really good."
"Barrett's eyes are more intricate" she pondered, "I couldn't really do it. It was frustrating."
Were his eyes any different from anyone else's? "What do you mean?"
"They're sharp" she informed, "And very mature. It looks pretty on your face but strange on canvas."
Barrett flushed, not sure what to make of being called... "I don't know how to feel about being 'pretty'."
Emma just giggled, kissing his cheek, before skipping away. "Emma will buy Barrett presents!"
"W-what? No, that's not necessary. I'm already staying here" he insisted quickly.
She skipped back, pouting up at him, "No! Christmas is a happy time and Barrett not getting presents or seeing family is unacceptable. You're getting presents!"
He stared at her. She was cute, he thought vaguely. Cuter than most women he ran into. Of course, she was a six-year-old little girl, what else could she be?
"...I guess" he mumbled reluctantly.
He supposed it was only right that he get them presents too. What he could get a movie star and her daughter, he had no idea...
But...it was the least he could do, right?
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Carrie smiled lightly at the two from the doorway, shaking her head. What a mess. Kurt would murder her if she knew she was letting this go on. Thank God neither of them were hormonal yet though...
Barrett disappeared yesterday.
Emma had called her in an absolute tizzy, saying he wasn't in his room and that he hadn't left a note or anything. Carrie tried to calm her to no avail. She'd assumed he'd just gone home. There was nothing keeping him there. But Emma wouldn't hear it...
Emma was beside herself the entire day. She was awfully smitten for a six-year-old, Carrie had observed. When she was Emma's age, boys were below her. Except Mu. Mura gave her cookies so he was equal. And, well, Jyun or Keiji, but they didn't really count...
Carrie tried everything to make Emma happy but nope. Even calling Kurt wasn't enough to will her away from the window. That'd crush her hubby if he knew.
But at 11:50 at night, there was a knock at the door and Barrett returned.
Emma absolutely spazzed on him. She sounded like...well, she sounded like a nagging girlfriend or wife. And poor Barrett just cowered. Carrie instructed Emma to hear where he'd gone. Maybe he had good reason. Emma glared expectantly at him and he quickly told her he'd gone to work.
Work...? 'For what?' Emma had demanded.
One thing was for sure, Barrett would make a good husband one day for he answered at ease, 'To buy you a present'. Of course, Emma was placated. But she told him he better leave a note next time. It was a very interesting day.
Sometime during the night, Emma had crawled out of bed and crawled in with Barrett. He was sleeping heavily which was understandable. He'd worked a full day yesterday doing…something. Carrie sighed and shook her head. What a mess.
"Emma" she called.
The little girl looked up, confused, and she waved a hand, gesturing for her to come to her. She pouted and wandered over, Carrie closing the door behind her.
"You can do that with your brother or your daddy or I but you can't with Barrett" Carrie scolded.
"Do what?" she asked, confused.
"Just leap into bed with him" Carrie sighed, "He's not related to you."
"He didn't say no" Emma pouted.
Carrie sighed, "It's not a good thing to do is all, baby. Mama knows you like Barrett but you need to stay in your own bed, even if he did say you could sleep next to him."
"But-"
"And we're definitely going to have to talk when you're older. A lot of men aren't going to say 'no'" Carrie rolled her eyes.
Emma just looked cross and Carrie smiled, kneeling, "Tell you what: let's go shopping today, all three of us. You can buy Barrett some presents while we're out."
Her blue eyes brightened and she nodded, "Okay!"
Carrie chuckled, kissing her forehead when the doorbell rang. Carrie rose and frowned deeply. It was decently early, 7:30 a.m. Scowling, hoping it wasn't her agent or some other idiot, she went down the steps, Emma at her heels. She noted the long limo outside. Bah, today was her day off and Vinny knew that! Opening the door, she opened her mouth before faltering, absolutely startled.
"Papa!" squealed Emma.
Inaba Kurt dropped his bags without a second thought and snatched Emma up in a bear hug embrace, holding her tightly, whining, "Emma boo, my baby..."
Carrie stared at him in disbelief as he barraged Emma with kisses, "You're never allowed to leave papa again."
Emma just giggled, "I missed you, daddy!"
Carrie's eyes narrowed and she felt kind of...well, ignored? Just figured, the asshole.
"Mom."
She jumped a little when arms wrapped around her almost contently and they didn't belong to Kurt. Hayato...? Hayato didn't hug anymore.
The teen quickly released her though, clearing his throat, and mumbling, "Uh, I mean..."
She squealed happily, hugging her first born tightly, "Yay! My baby missed me!"
"Did not!" he flustered.
Carrie kissed his forehead and giggled, releasing him before cocking a brow, startled that...well, she was staring him in the face.
"Have you grown more?"
He nodded proudly and she sighed to herself. Of course she knew children grew up...but Hayato was her special little boy and he wasn't allowed to ever grow up. At least, that's what she'd told herself when she held him for the first time. It was a lot more difficult than she expected to accept that he wasn't her cute obliviously adorable munchkin anymore.
"Hayato-nii!"
Emma leaped from Kurt's arms to Hayato's, the boy catching her neatly. Carrie smiled at the two before glaring back at Kurt, marching off to the kitchen.
"I'll make you guys breakfast, I'm sure you're hungry. Emma, why don't you let your brother take a seat? I'm sure he's sleepy."
Emma happily nodded, pointing and directing Hayato to the living room. Carrie opened the fridge, irritable, when a hand grasped her wrist.
"I just walked into the house. What did I do wrong?"
She glowered at Kurt who just stared back, brows creased. Pouting, she snatched her wrist away and took out the pancake mix.
"If it's about just showing up, I wanted it to be a surprise" he offered.
"That's not it" she snapped, irritated, "You...you just came because you missed Emma."
Kurt looked puzzled, "Wha...?"
"If it were just me here, you'd have stayed at home and wouldn't have even thought about visiting!"
"Aww, honey..." he cooed, reaching out for her.
"Bug off, bitch."
Kurt groaned, pulling her against him, "I'm sorry, okay? I mean...no offense, but I've kind of had to get used to you being away. If I didn't, I'd be insane by now."
"Maybe..." she mumbled, "But I asked you to come and you practically treated it like it was the most horrible idea ever."
"Mm, I know..." he sighed, "Grandpa told me to take Christmas off, that it wasn't right if I wasn't with my whole family. I guess I should have asked him before blowing you off like that and I really am sorry, baby doll."
Carrie just sulked but hugged his waist. He kissed her forehead and smiled, "Besides, I missed you a lot too. This would be the first time I've gone an entire month without you. I've been lonely without both my girls..."
Carrie sighed and finally hugged his neck, inhaling his scent, "Mm...I guess I have missed you too."
Kurt smirked, kissing her faintly before moaning, pulling away and flustering, "Uh, think we can dump Emma off on Hayato and...?"
She couldn't help but laugh, pinching his arm, "You just walked into the house. No sex for you until later."
He pouted before whispering playfully in her ear, "And I'm definitely holding you to that, Mrs. Inaba..."
She smirked, taking his hand and leading him back to the living room. That's right, she had promised she wasn't going to neglect Kurt's closet nymphomania...
He slammed down on the couch, snatching Emma away from Hayato, looking her over with a marked scowl, "You're pale, Emma doll."
"It's really, really cold, daddy" she informed.
"Have you been eating?"
"Yea, they have yummy hot dogs!"
Kurt just stared at her before looking to Carrie who groaned, "I've taken her to eat in restaurants all over the city, cooked her different recipes people give me, and she's still addicted to hot dogs."
"The penne with pesto and alfredo was good" Emma offered.
Kurt just cocked a brow before mock-glowering at Carrie, "Stop making my baby a spoiled rich kid."
Carrie laughed, "I made that, idiot."
Emma snuggled into her daddy's arms and of course, Kurt looked like the happiest person alive...
"Good morning..."
Everyone's head shot up and Emma squealed, leaping away from Kurt to go hug Barrett, "Yay, you're awake!"
Carrie watched Kurt's flabbergasted expression. His precious left his arms for another. Another male, at that. Barrett looked down at her sleepily before looking to them. He appeared startled.
"Oh, uh..."
Still hugging her new beloved's waist, Emma smiled happily, "Barrett, this is my big brother and papa!"
"Oh, nice to meet you..." Barrett mumbled shyly.
Hayato just kind of cocked a brow and Kurt stared plainly before tilting his head to Carrie, "Kitchen."
Carrie sighed and wandered back into the room, Kurt closing the bay door behind him. He glowered, "Is there something I should know...?"
"Like what?" she scoffed, "Barrett is one of our long lost children?"
Kurt growled, "Then who is he?"
"He's a kid I took in off the street."
Kurt once again just stared at her before commenting, "What?"
"I took him in off the street" she shrugged.
"Ever occur to you to...y'know, contact his parents?" he questioned wryly.
Carrie pursed her lips and turned to the stove, "Come closer."
Kurt blinked and came closer behind her, resting his chin faintly on her shoulder, as she reported, "I think his parents are...drug addicts."
"What makes you think that? Did he tell you?" Kurt frowned.
She sighed, "You were too pretty for me to do it to. I would have punched myself in the face if I had."
Kurt blanked, "Wha...?"
"On his forehead, he had a crack pipe burn."
Kurt was startled before glancing over his shoulder, "...He's...what, nine at most?"
"Ten."
Kurt rubbed his forehead before laughing humorlessly, "If we were...a tad less ethical-"
"F—k no" grunted Carrie, interrupting him, "If I had had Haya in that place-well hell, I wouldn't have had Haya in that place. That's why I'm not immediately seeking out his parents. I can't imagine a parent that would stay in that world but even have their child involved too."
Kurt looked perplexed for a moment before glaring, "Fine, but what the hell is with Emma?"
"She's a little smitten" she smirked at her husband, "It's cute."
"There's nothing cute about my little girl being 'smitten' with another boy" he scowled darkly.
Carrie laughed and hugged his waist, kissing his chin, "If I met you as a little girl I would have been smitten with you..."
He sighed airily and crossed his arms at the small of her back, "I would have fought your stupid 'Mu' for you too."
She snickered, "Would you have given me cookies?"
"I would have given you ice-cream."
"You're so sweet..."
Kurt chuckled and kissed her faintly before grimacing, turning his face away to yawn, "Oh God..."
"Ma' baby's sleepy" she cooed, taking his hand, "Come on, I'll put you to bed."
He didn't argue but stopped in the living room, glowering a bit at Barrett who Emma was curled up under before snatching her up.
"Come on, baby, take a nap with daddy."
"But Emma just woke up, daddy!" she complained.
His eyes narrowed as she yawned widely a second after the statement, "Oh really...?"
"Uh huh..." she mewed.
"Just lay with him for a few, Em, you know your daddy probably hasn't been able to sleep without you" smirked Carrie, shaking Hayato's shoulder since he'd dozed off.
Kurt stuck out his tongue but Emma giggled, cuddling with him, "Okay!"
Kurt was once again placated and Carrie smiled, "You can go back to sleep too, Barrett. I'm sure all the noise woke you."
"Oh...well, when Emma kind of disappeared from bed, I was confused" Barrett admitted, so very, very naïve.
"WHAT?" demanded Kurt loudly, his contentment flying out the window.
"C'mon, Hayato, Barrett! Let me tuck you in!" Carrie said, quickly guiding her son and Barrett up the steps.
Yep...this would definitely be interesting.
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"What...the effin...hell?"
Carrie smirked at her husband who might as well have been stabbing Barrett in the back with his glare. "Don't you think you're being a little immature about this? Emma's all of six-years-old and you're already seeing this as some kind of threat?"
"She's starting young" he growled, "I won't allow it."
After they'd woken up and after Carrie had assured Kurt that she'd lectured Emma on sneaking into Barrett's bed, they'd come out to the mall, the whole family and Barrett. As it was Hayato's first time in America, he was pretty amazed and had ran off to explore. But Barrett and Emma were right in front of them, holding hands.
"You're going to be one of those fathers, huh?" Carrie rolled her eyes.
"Those fathers?" he demanded.
"Y'know, my father."
Kurt grimaced and laughed quickly, "I think your dad would like me more if we, uh, didn't have sex… in his kitchen."
"Or the sex video" she snickered, "Or the incident where I was blowing you off in the middle of his office."
"Mother of God, I am every father's nightmare" Kurt said randomly, eyes wide.
She laughed, elbowing him, "I know, you bad influence."
Kurt glanced at her then snorted, "Oh wait, I forgot who I was married to..."
He laughed as she elbowed him harder, tossing his arm around her waist and kissing her cheek, "I'm kidding, I love your promiscuous habits. They keep me on my toes."
"Silly boy" she smiled before rolling her eyes, hearing questions from the paparazzi become rather deafening.
"I hope Hayato's okay" Kurt frowned, glancing at the reporters snap off pictures.
"He does look a lot like you now so it probably wouldn't be too hard to figure out he's ours..." she frowned as well.
"Hayato looks like you, woman."
"The hell he does! I can't name any part of Hayato that even remotely resembles me!"
"I guess Emma does resemble you a bit more..." Kurt noted.
"Uh, no, both of our kids, your genes kicked my genes' asses."
He snickered, playfully pinching her side, "Emma definitely has your face, nose, and eye shape though."
Carrie pouted, "I guess..."
"Give me another one."
"Uh, no."
"Oh c'mon!" he pouted, "It could be my Christmas present for five whole Christmases."
Carrie couldn't help laugh, shoving him before retaking his hand, "That's Christmas for the rest of your life! Birthdays and anniversaries too."
He stroked his chin thoughtfully, cocking a brow, "So just a whole eternity without gifts."
"No, Kurt" she 'nyahed'.
"Darn."
"Mrs. Inaba! Mrs. Inaba!"
She rolled her eyes again, resting her cheek against Kurt's shoulder. He glanced down at her, "Are you okay?"
"Yea...I'm just really glad you're here" she mumbled softly.
Her husband squeezed her tight, kissing her lips gingerly, "Me too."
"Mama, papa!"
Carrie blinked at their daughter who was pointing at the ice-cream place in the food court, "Can we get some ice-cream?"
Carrie glanced to her side and saw one of her guards signal another before nodding, "Go on sweetie."
Kurt grumbled as she skipped off with Barrett still attached to her side, "This sucks."
Carrie laughed and hugged his waist, looking up at him with a cute expression, "You said you'd buy me ice-cream, hubby."
"Did I?" he smirked before sighing, "I think I said if we were in kindergarten but I guess I can."
"Kurty, have I told you lately that I'm happy you're my hubby...?" she murmured, clenching his shirt.
"Are you okay? You're acting kind of...nice" he frowned.
He laughed as she pinched his nipple, "I mean, I'm glad you're happy I'm your husband and that I'm here but what's up?"
"I guess I've felt lonely..." she admitted faintly.
"Don't" he murmured, "I'll always be here for you...whether it be by webcam or in flesh..."
"Mm, I think I like you in flesh."
"Oh baby."
She snickered and glanced at Barrett and Emma who were ordering still. She noticed that Barrett was kind of staring at them oddly, like he didn't understand why they were so lovey dovey. It wasn't anything she hadn't seen around these parts, that was for sure. Maybe it wasn't the PDA though but their relationship…
She wondered what kind of life he had.
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"Bull. Absolute bull" growled Kurt, stretching out on the bed.
"You cannot get offended. At least she's not kissing him on the mouth" Carrie said from the bathroom.
"She shouldn't be kissing him at all!"
"She probably sees me kissing on her papa and thinks it's okay" she said in a matter-of-fact tone.
Kurt crossed his arms and opened his mouth before stopping, startled. Carrie wasn't in the room but commented, "You were going to say then I should stop, huh?"
"Well, I'm not sure I'm that concerned yet..."
She giggled and he sighed, "So...what are you going to do about him?"
"I don't know. I was thinking maybe...well, you could talk to him?"
"What?" demanded Kurt, "Why me?"
"Because I make him nervous."
"You make him nervous?" he snorted, "I'm pretty sure I've glared at him the entire time."
"Yea, but you're still not a celebrity, baby. Well...you sort of are. I've seen far too many duplicates of your pec shot in actresses' houses."
Kurt flushed, "Are you serious?"
"Yep. But I also want you to speak to him because…well, you were a young man when you were going through your ordeals. Maybe he needs that from someone."
Kurt swallowed that. "Maybe. I still think you're better suited…"
"But I'd appreciate it so much" she cooed.
He glowered, "Car-"
Kurt gawked when she walked out, stunned. Dressed in a tight dark red corset with white fur around the top and a tiny red thong with a garter, she bit her fingertip coyly.
"And I've been such an awfully good girl..."
Gazing at her, Kurt swallowed and sat up on his knees, "...You know lying's a sin, right?"
Giggling, she pranced over to him, crawling into his arms. He moaned as he rubbed her back, burying his face into her neck. Carrie sighed, "So will you?"
"I don't know...what will you do for me?" he questioned huskily, biting and nipping her neck.
"It's not a question of 'for you', silly, it's 'to you'" she purred.
"Damn..." he moaned, her fingers sliding down his pants.
"So will you?" she whispered into his ear.
"Okay..." he rasped, stretching against her touch.
She smiled and pulled his shirt over his head, kissing down his chest as she pushed him backwards gently, unsnapping his pants and dragging them down his hips.
"Carrie..." he murmured, closing his eyes, "If they're not drug addicts like you suspect and the kid just burned himself on something, you'll send him back, right?"
"I guess. 'Course, you'll have to tell Emma."
"Wha-?"
She immediately sucked him off to stifle all argument. Hell if she was going to be the one that kicked Emma's boyfriend out.
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"I wanna go!"
Kurt stared at his 'other woman' as Carrie so called her as she pinned him with the most pitiful look he'd ever seen. He closed his eyes and inhaled. Be strong, Kurt, she couldn't manipulate you forever.
"Em, just stay here, I promise daddy, brother...and Barrett will be back in a bit."
"But Emma wants to go!" she cried.
Carrie was on the phone with people, talking animatedly as she walked back and forth between the living room which they were in and the kitchen. He smiled tightly at her, wishing she'd...say something.
"I mean it, Emma, just stay for now. This is male time" he coughed.
"That's stupid! Why is papa being mean to me?!" she whined.
"I'm not being mean to you!" he protested, whining back.
This was the point where Joe said 'she broke him like a twig'. He knew he was getting played, he just couldn't help it. Hayato, standing nearby, rolled his eyes, saying in Japanese "Barrett will think you're spoiled."
Emma balked, returning back, "He does not!"
"How do you know that? You're being a brat and dad's being a pushover" Hayato pointed back.
Kurt sulked, flustering, " I am not a pushover!"
"Stop speaking in Japanese, it's rude!" Carrie suddenly snapped, covering the mouthpiece on the phone.
Barrett indeed looked a bit mortified, standing in the crook of the entrance to the front door, wide-eyed. Kurt groaned and Hayato rolled his eyes, "Fine, I'll say it in English...EMMA is A-"
"Shut up!" Emma bellowed, tackling him.
They wrestled on the floor and Carrie just stared at them while Kurt shook his head, "And you want more of them?"
"Well…not on some days" Kurt grimaced.
"Ms. Em, here" Carrie commanded sharply, pointing to the space in front of her.
Emma had been pulling Hayato's ears roughly when she scowled, stalking over to her mother who was still on the phone. The blonde pointed to the couch, looking serious, "You sit there until your daddy gets back, young lady."
Emma pouted and stalked over to the couch, slamming down and crossing her arms, sulky. Kurt frowned, "Is a time-out necessary...?"
"Go get our stupid tree, pushover" she glared at him, returning to her phone call. Pushover.
He grunted and picked up the ax, looking to Emma, "I'll be back as soon as possible, sweetie."
"Okay, papa..." she mumbled miserably, her chin rested on the arm of the sofa.
"Okay, let's go" he sighed, wanting to get this over with quick.
"Wait!" Emma called.
Kurt paused and wondered what she was going to tell him. She often stopped him on his way to work to say she would miss him or something. It had made his day...
"Does Barrett think Emma is spoiled?" she pouted.
...Damn it. Barrett looked very, very confused but shook his head, "Uh, no..."
"Okay" she brightened.
"He just doesn't know you that well" Hayato dragged his eyelid down at her.
"I'll beat you up!" she snarled.
"Get out" Carrie growled, peeking out of the kitchen.
Emma leered at Hayato, saying darkly in Japanese, "Sleep with one eye open."
Kurt just stared at his daughter as Hayato stuck out his tongue at her, just so nonplussed his little sister threatened to kill him in his sleep because he guessed his whole family was crazy. So, violent tendencies...
"Bye-bye, Barrett!" she said happily.
...And boy crazy.
Definitely had to get this over with quick.
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Kurt watched as Hayato wandered around the wooded place designed for the purpose of choosing a tree and cutting it down as well. Carrie had thought it'd provide a perfect opportunity for him to talk to Barrett. Too bad he kind of lacked the desire to. He wasn't their kid so why even bother? But, remembering what Carrie said and clearing his throat, he mustered a faint smile for Barrett.
"So...Barrett...where ya' from?" So he could know where to take him back.
Barrett, sitting on a stump, frowned, "Queens."
"Oh, nice. You, uh, like it there?" he questioned absently.
"...Not exactly" Barrett answered softly, stuffing his hands into the coat Carrie apparently bought him.
"Why's that?" Kurt asked.
"Dunno...it's just not a nice place."
Kurt took the stump next to him, feeling kind of good that he was making easy progress, "Did you run away?"
"Not exactly..."
"Well, don't you think your parents miss you?" Kurt pressured.
Barrett's light blue eyes darkened considerably as a very, very strange smile crossed his face, "My family isn't like yours, Mr. Inaba."
Kurt blinked, startled, digesting that before going on, "Oh...? How so?"
"We aren't...happy."
"...I see" Kurt frowned, definitely understanding where the kid could be coming from there, considering his own family life growing up.
"Dad used to be a city official, y'know?" he murmured, "They fired him when they found he was doing some bad things with the money. Or, at least, that's what he tells me."
Kurt tilted his head, "What does he do now?"
"He sells drugs."
It was hard to hide his shock over such an easy admittance, "...Drugs?"
"Mm."
"...What about your mother?" Kurt quickly smiled, "I mean, what does she do?"
"Fucks."
Kurt sat and stared at him for a long time, "...What?"
"That's what she said when I asked her why she didn't have a job and she says her job is to fuck" he said as if he were talking about the weather.
Kurt's stomach turned and he tried to retrieve his senses, "I…I see. H-Huh. Guess you…don't really think they miss you?
"Not really. My mom says I'm a waste of space. She told me she would have gotten an abortion but she wanted to keep the five hundred pieces for pot and blow."
Kurt gaped wordlessly as Barrett turned to glance at him finally, "Why do you ask? Does Mrs. Inaba want me to go back?"
...Dear God.
"Uh...no, I-I was just curious" he quickly pasted on a smile, "You don't have to go anywhere until you're good and ready."
"Oh, okay. I promise I'll pay you guys back for everything" he said with a very painful innocence.
"...No...don't...worry about it..."
...What?
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"You cannot be serious" growled Carrie, fury quickly etching across her face.
Kurt watched the living room where the kids were making ornaments to decorate the tree out of random knick-knacks, "He said it so seriously I nearly fell over."
"'I would have gotten an abortion but I would rather use the five hundred pieces for pot and cocaine'" Carrie echoed, gritting her teeth, "Kurt, what kind of mother would even tell her son something like that? I can't even imagine telling Hayato directly about my drug stint or that he was even kind of a result of it.."
Kurt grunted, "Hayato didn't even touch that world. And Hayato was the gift that got you away."
Carrie stared into the living room before smiling sadly, "I used to look at him when he was a baby and think, 'this is my beautiful little boy. Where would I be without him?'"
Kurt stared at her as she bit her lip, anger retaking her essence, "And that some bitch can tell her own son that the one reason she kept him was because she wanted the money for drugs."
"I guess you were right. What are we going to do?" he asked softly.
"We're talking him back, of course."
Kurt froze and stared at his wife, absolutely floored, "What?"
"We'll take him back, send in the social workers to see for themselves, and he'll be removed" Carrie sighed.
Kurt calmed and nodded, "I see."
"Thing is, the system is as damaging as what they'll take him out of" she murmured, "Do we know anyone that needs a kid?"
"I would say maybe Joe but he's kind of hell-bent on having his own."
"Any one of my family could take him but I'm loathe to bring him to Japan where he knows nothing about our culture or language..." Carrie frowned, "So it'll have to be in the U.S. somewhere."
Kurt stared at the little boy who shyly smiled when Emma said he had green glitter on his cheek and was trying to scrub it off, laughing softly when Hayato told him something that made Emma throw a pipe cleaner at him.
"...Yea."