"Mmmm, you take care, alright. Give me a call when you get back" said Burt as he gave Kurt a big hug.
It was early the next morning and Kurt, Noah and Finn were ready to leave for the airport. Their flight, to New York, was due to board at 1:30pm and Kurt wanted to get their early, but first they had to go to Noah's to pick up his luggage, so around 7am Kurt and Noah were saying their goodbyes to Burt and Carole.
"I will dad" Kurt replied with a smile, "I'll try to come back as soon as I can."
"Hey, hey. Save your money. You used up your Christmas gift to come out here and help Finn with the club, remember. So, the next time you come out I want you to come back when you want to see me." Kurt continued to smile, "I always want to see you dad… but I guess there's always Skype." "What's that?" Kurt giggled, and shook his head, at Burt's lack of tech knowledge "I'll explain when I get back to New York."
…..
A few steps away, from the father and son, Noah was saying a goodbye to Carole. "Thanks for letting me stay here Mrs. H, I really appreciate it. Oh and your breakfast was awesome."
Carole giggled, "oh Noah dear, you sweet talker you. I bet that's how you got Kurt, huh. Sweet talking him like that," Carole continued to giggle. Noah sighed a laugh "not really… I just… well… I don't know how I got him. I'm just glad I'm still here." Carole nodded and smiled happily at Noah before pulling him into a hug. "You two take care of eachother" Carole whispered into Noah's ear. "Cause if something happens I know Burt will hear about it and hunt you down."
"I know," laughed Noah as he stood back from Carole's hug and quickly changed his expression; from happiness to tense, "that's what I'm afraid off." Carole laughed and jokingly hit Noah's arm, thinking he was kidding. 'If Kurt and I ever broke up I'm heading to France. They never find people there.'
With a quick hug from Kurt to Carole and a large handshake from Burt to Noah the three boys headed off to Noah's, in Kurt's Cadillac Escalade.
…..
With Kurt happily driving his baby, and Noah just looking out the window, Finn suddenly felt a vibration in his pocket. It was his phone. He'd received a message. As Finn pulled his pone out, and happily smiled at the sender's name, Kurt couldn't help but notice his sudden cheeky grin.
'Wonder whose texting him,' thought Kurt as he smirked at Finns smile. 'Has he received good news about something?'
But then Finn face changed. From pure happiness to… like something had hit him. A fish maybe? His nose was beginning to scrunch up, his eyes closing slightly, as if the text he received was hard to read, and his started to shake his head from side to side. Kurt could see him quickly typing a reply and quickly sending it off.
A few seconds later another vibration was heard. Kurt quickly looked over at Finn and asked "you ok?" as gently as he could. Finn's face remained stunned and then he almost looked disgusted as he then threw his phone on his lap and crossed his arms. He huffed with a grunt and turned his upper body to the window. "I'm fine," he said with lips tightly closed.
…..
As soon as Kurt pulled up, in front of the Puckerman's house, Finn quickly exited the vehicle and made his way up the footpath. Kurt just watched him leave as he slowly took off his seat belt, trying to figure out what text message Finn had received to make him act like that.
"What's with him?" Noah asked Kurt as he pushed his head threw the gap bet between the two front seats and rested his arms on the armrest.
Kurt shrugged his shoulders "I don't know… I've never seen him like this."
"He received a text, didn't he?" asked Noah, Kurt nodded. "Do you know what it said?" Kurt shook his head "nope, did you? I mean you could see over his shoulder right?" Noah gave a quick laugh "are you kidding? I could hardly see the road with Hudson's big head blocking it."
Kurt, awkwardly, turned his upper body to face Noah and asked "do you think it's girlfriend trouble?"
Noah shook his head "na, Hudson doesn't have a-" Noah sighed heavily as a thought entered into his head. "Berry" "Noah," said Kurt in a correctional tone of voice. "Sorry… Rachel." Noah turned his head towards Finn and sighed. "But they haven't spent any time together… have they?"
"Are you kidding me? What about the other night, when I stayed at yours, where were Rachel and Finn during that time?" "I don't know," shrugged Noah. "Exactly. We weren't keeping an eye on them."
Noah snorted a laugh "why should we? It's their lives." "Noah…" sighed Kurt sympathetically.
"What? Are you honestly telling me that while we were together you were thinking of them and what they were doing?" "No, of course not." Noah's head turned back around to Kurt. "Good," quickly Noah gave Kurt a kiss "cause I certainly wasn't thinking about them when I was with you." "Noah…" chuckled Kurt and returned Noah's kiss.
After a few seconds Noah pulled away and hopped out of the car. "We should probably hurry up and pick up my stuff. Don't want to miss that plane, do we princess?" Kurt smiled and also got out of the car "yes sweet-heart." "Awww, you really like that nic-name don't you." "It's ok. But I don't think it's the right one… but I'll use it from time to time if you want."
"Whatever you want princess." Noah replied and slung his arm around Kurt's shoulders and guided him towards his house.
…..
As Noah opened the front door he called for his mother, to see if she was home. There was no reply. 'Guess she's gone out,' thought Noah as he invited Finn and Kurt inside.
"Errr dude, can I…" As soon as Finn was inside he hurried towards the kitchen, while Kurt and Noah headed to Noah's bedroom. Noah knew what Finn wanted. "Oh, sure man. Help yourself." Finn smiled and quickly headed to the kitchen.
"Help yourself to what?" Kurt asked. "The fridge," replied Noah "when Finn and I were on the football team he used to come round, after practise, to hang out. And the first thing he would do is make a sandwich, grab some chips and place himself in front of the TV."
"Huh, that's usually what he did when we came back from Glee Club." Kurt looked over to the kitchen and heard the rummage of a fridge and plates being placed down on a table top. "All that eating and he still look fit and healthy. While as people like me has to watch what they eat so's not to get fat." "Babe, you're not fat."
"I know" smiled Kurt and made his way to Noah's bedroom.
…..
With Kurt plunked on Noah's bed he watched as Noah packed some clothes into a duffel bag, most of which were due for a wash. Kurt giggled softly at Noah's packing technique. "So where's your mum?"
"Err, probably at work. She likes doing overtime, or so she says," replied Noah as he struggled to stuff some boots into his overgrowing bag.
"Awww, that's too bad, I thought she would be around to see you off… You did tell her we we're leaving right?" Noah nodded but stayed quite. Kurt could tell Noah was hiding something so he tried fishing for an answer. "Should we leave her a note or something?"
"Na, I'll call her later" said Noah as he tried to finish the conversation. "Really? Is that alright?" Noah ppfffed at Kurts question. "Come on Kurt. I'm not the kind of guy to say mushie goodbye stuff. It's just not me. It was hard saying goodbye, and getting a hug, from Carole earlier."
Kurt frowned, "but it's your mum," Noah pounded the remaining pieces of clothing into his bag and turned to talk to Kurt. "Look," he said harshly "I didn't say goodbye to her the first time I left... so why should I do it now, huh?" Noah didn't mean to sound bitter "just... drop it ok. I told you… I'll call her later."
Kurt let that moment sit for a few seconds... "But… aren't you two at a better place now?" Noah remained silent and zipped up his bag. "We do have some time you know, why don't we go to her work and see her there?"
"No" moaned Noah, "that will be embarrassing." "For who? You? Come on Noah you've dressed up in a wrestling outfit, selling tickets, in the middle of New York, and you can't go see your mum to say bye?"
Noah titled his head, comically, and said "yep," in a sarcastic tone.
"Noah?" groaned Kurt.
"I don't want to see her Kurt," yelled Noah as his emotions started to flow. "Why?" "Cause… I don't want to." Kurt rose from the bed, stood closer to Noah, and started to gently rub his arm "Are you afraid you'll miss her?" "Pffft, no" snorted Noah, but after turning to look at Kurt, and Kurt giving him that sympathetic look, Noah cracked.
"I'm afraid that… when I leave she'll… she'll go back to the way she was. Drinking. And if she does that then at least… At least I'll remember her as she was, during this week, when she's sober. Working. And looking after herself."
"Noah, the way you're talking, in a way, it kinda makes it sound like your mother is dying."
Noah faced turned confused, "how'd you get that?" "Remember her the way she was? Come on Noah, you don't know if she'll go back to drinking. From what you've said she's doing well." "Yeah but… what if… What if she starts drinking again? What if because of her drinking she'll lose her job?" "Noah," "What if, because she lost her job, she doesn't have enough money to pay for the next month's rent?" "NOAH" Kurt raised is voice but Noah ignored it. "It's expensive enough in New York to pay for my own way, you know" "NOAH" "What if.."
"What if the sky suddenly turned pink and monkeys began to play violins, while singing Britney Spear's 'Born to make you Happy' song?" yelped Kurt. With Noah looking at him, in confusion, Kurt slumped back down on the bed, arching his back and holding himself up with his arms. "You should have more faith in your mum. She'll need you if she does need your help."
"You think?" questioned Noah childishly as he began to sway his body, realising how his 'what if' questions were beginning to sound ridiculous.
"I know it, cause… from time to time… I need you," said Kurt coyly. Noah smiled. "And I know how strong you can be." Kurt titled his head to look up at Noah and gave him a gently smile. "That's what… made me fall in love with you. Your strength, kindness… the ways you make me laugh. And your cooking skills aren't half bad."
Noah sighed heavily and sat down next to Kurt. "I don't think you've said kind of things to me before" he joked. "Well… maybe not out loud... but I'm sure I was thinking them at the time." Noah nudged Kurt's leg. Kurt nudged Noah's. "I promise… I'll leave a note and call her when we land" he titled his head to Kurt and gave a cheeky smile "I just… can't say those words."
Before Kurt could reply…
"AHHHHHH…"
"What was that?" asked Noah as quickly stood up, his hands going automatically into a fist. He looked like he was ready to pounce on whatever was on the other side of his bedroom door. "Was that Finn?" Kurt asked. "I think so… Who else has that girly scream?"
"AHHHHHH…"
After a second scream Noah and Kurt hurried out the bedroom and went looking for Finn.
…..
Unknown to everyone, an hour earlier, Joelle had returned from working a double shift. When she got home she groaned, loudly, with tiredness. "Urghhhh…" she moaned, as she dropped her bag on the floor and left it there, next to the front door.
As she walked through to the kitchen she saw the pile of ironing she needed to do and the meal she had eaten, before going out, sat on the kitchen table. Joelle had forgotten to put in the sink to soak. "Urgh-Arghhh…" she moaned again and shook her head with whateverness.
She poured herself a glass of water and headed straight for her bed. She did check to see if Noah had made it home but found his door open. She looked in to see if he was in bed but only saw an untidy one. 'Guess he's out for the night. I didn't have any messages on my phone… Mmm, I'll have a word with him next time I see him. He'll have to come back to get his travel bag so I'll see him sooner or later.'
After walking into her room Joelle placed her glass down on her bedside table and fell onto her soft pillows. Sleep soon consuming her…
:Bang. Ping. Opening of a door. Closing of a door. Foot steps:
"MMMmmmm-rrrghhhh" Joelle groanly said as she woke up after hearing some commotion. "Noah?" she asked not knowing if her son had heard her. "Urgh, doesn't he know I'm just home? That boy."
After hearing some more commotion Joelle decided to get up and give her son some a good telling off. She didn't like being woken up. Even if the fire alarm went off it she would have a go at the alarm instead of checking to see if there was a fire.
She slowly rose form her bed and walked over to her door. She opened it and looked around to see where Noah was. There was no one around 'Huh... Where?' Joelle then heard some rattling in her kitchen. Joelle groaned, sleep wanting to consume her, but she walked to the kitchen, ready to give Noah a quick talking to before going back to bed.
Only, when she got to the kitchen, it wasn't Noah. Joelle could see that straight away as she spotted a tall man's shadow roaming around her kitchen.
Shocked, Joelle quickly, but silently, walked backwards to her bedroom and closed the door. Joelle started to panic. 'Ok Joelle… there's a stranger inside your home… rummaging around your kitchen…' Joelle peeked out to see if the intruder had moved. Instead she saw the man… make a sandwich? Joelle quickly closed her door again. 'And the guy is making himself at home? Is he drunk? Does he think this is his house? I mean yeah sure I've done that before. That poor korean family… thought I'd broken my key and tried to crawl though the cat flap. Should have realised I didn't have a cat… But still, HOW DARE he come into my home. How did he even get in? I didn't hear him break in.'
Suddenly Joelle had a flashback as to how she entered her home. 'My keys are in my purse, so I definably opened my door but… did I remember to lock it from the inside? Ahhh, the door must have been open. That's how he got in. Stupid idiot.' Joelle knew she had to do something. 'I could call the police but by the time they come he might have already left.'
Luckily, Joelle always kept a 'security' baseball bat in her room… incase of such and emergency.
She rummaged through her cupboard and eventually found her bat. With courage Joelle walked out the door and got into a swing position. She walked behind the intruder and was ready to scare him off… only he turned around first.
…..
With a mouth full of sandwich the intruder, well Finn, turned around and saw Joelle looking at him. Before he could reply Finn spotted a rather large bat in her hands. He then noticed the bat was up high and Joelle was in a swinging position.
'Oh... Crab-baskets.'
…..
"AHHHHHHhhhhhh…" Finn screamed, hoping someone would hear or distract the woman, who was currently chasing him with a heavy wooden bat, enough for him to escape.
Joelle swung again and again missed her target. "Who are you?" she yelled with a hint of quiver in her throat. "And what are you doing in my house?"
"Look.. Lady.. I can... ex-Ahhhh-plain," Finn tried to say as Joelle again to a swing. Finn ran toward the living room and screamed "Puuuuuu-ck.." trying to get his, or Kurts, attention.
Joelle chased him as watched as Finn fell onto her couch as he tried to turn the corner.
Joelle was now hovering over Finn ready to hit him. "I'll only warn you once... get out before I scream and call the cops." "You'll scream? What about me? I have a nutty lady hovering over me, swinging her bat, for no reason." "You're in my house." "With your son."
Joelle gasped loudly, "you have my son?" Joelle angrily asked as she readied herself to hit Finn, "where is he?"
"Right here ma, what are you doing?"
…..
Joelle heard Noah's voice and looked over her shoulder to see him, safe and sound. "Noah..." Joelle said with a sigh of relief but soon got back to the matter at hand. "Noah, watch yourself. This guy has snuck in and tried to help himself to my fridge."
"Ma, he's not a stranger, that's Finn" "Finn?" "Finn Hudson. You know my friend from football practise. You've known him for years."
Joelle looked from Noah then back over to Finn. "Hudson? The quarterback?" Finn nodded in terror. Joelle slowly brought the bat down and relaxed her shoulders. She shook her head and looked back over at Noah. "Oh, so… you brought guests over. At…" Joelle checked her watched, "seven-twenty in the morning. Noah I'm surprised, I never knew you knew that time."
Noah laughed, "yeah well, our flight is this afternoon and what with travel time to the airport and getting there to grab our tickets. Sorry, I thought you went out when we got here."
Joelle sighed "no, no... er, I'm just back from a double, they er… sent me home for the day. Don't have to go back till Tuesday, which will be nice." Joelle looked back at Finn and smiled apologetically. "Sorry Finn. I guess I was still sleepy when I heard the commotion. You've grown big. I hardly recognised you." "Yeah, I gathered that." "It's good to see you. How's you mum? Good I hope."
Finn smiled but stayed where he was.
Joelle then paid her attention back to Noah but she noticed that someone was behind Noah and he looked like was scalding Finn, with his disappointed look. Noah took notice of Joelle's turned vision and remembered that Kurt was behind him.
"Oh.. er, ma. You know Kurt Hummel, don't you?" Noah asked hesitantly as he brought his arm around and guided Kurt to the front.
Joelle was a little lost for words and wondered why Kurt was in her home. But she improvised. "Oh.. er, yes. I know him. You're Hummel's boy aren't you? Burt Hummel, the tire guy." Kurt nodded. "Yes, yes. That's right." Joelle nodded. "And your mother was Elizabeth, right?"
"You knew my mum?" Kurt asked a little shocked; he didn't think anyone knew his mother's name.
"Yes… Well, no. I didn't know her that well. I use to see her now and again when I was picking up Noah from pre-school. She was there picking you up around the same time. Then, after a while, I noticed it was your dad picking you up when I heard..." Joelle slowly stopped herself from carrying on. "She was a very pretty woman, your mother was."
Kurt nodded, "thank you."
Joelle took a few steps towards Kurt and looked at his face with curiosity. "I think you have her eyes… Well, not her eyes, obviously, but the look and the sense of them… Ha-ha... Strange isn't it. You hardly notice a person but when you see something that reminds you of them that memory comes straight back to you."
Kurt nodded again and slightly blushed with embarrassment. No one really took notice of Kurt, especially adults. But this was the first, in a really long time, that someone has compared him to his mother rather than his dad. He was touched.
TBC
OH My God. That took forever. Sorry everyone. I know some of you have been waiting ages for this chapter. But with real life and me playing around with this thing, it took a good wile. This is actually shorter than this original chapter I was going to post... Guess the second half will be the next chapter. Hopefully that will be up quicker than this one. Anyway, hope you enjoyed the chapter… please review. I do like reading the reviews.
