Before anyone feels the need to educate me...i'm aware grad school doesn't work this way...well i am now. I kinda Jossed myself which is a total feat I MUST say...
"I suppose even a holiday dedicated solely to gluttony has a good side." Kurt sighed as he looked over the table once again. He was fairly positive Carole had managed to cook everything that was ever stored in their cabinets. The dining room table was positively sagging with the weight of all the dishes and that didn't even include the turkey his father was currently carving in the kitchen.
"The holiday is about being thankful for friends and family." Courtney laughed from her seat in Burt's prized recliner. Kurt still couldn't believe she and Finn had made the drive all the way to Lima for Thanksgiving with her due date less than a week away. Everyone had begged them not to come, to rest and take it easy, but Courtney had insisted. It was already arranged for both families to come to Athens over Christmas, so Courtney felt they should come to them for Thanksgiving. Kurt was pretty sure a road trip that included stopping roughly every twenty minutes for various reasons had Finn rethinking the wisdom of agreeing with her. "The entire day is a good side."
"Not when your entire family watches every piece of food you put on your plate." Kurt pointed out. "I feel like a circus freak."
"If it helps, this year they'll be watching my every blink to see my water has broke."
"As they should you crazy woman." Kurt rolled his eyes at her while she giggled. JoBeth barely took her eyes off the television where the adventures of Charlie Brown entertained her. Finn and his dad had been forced to give up football for kitchen help duties. "You should be at home or glued to your doctor's side."
"I'm fine to travel. And the women in my family generally deliver late according to my mother."
"Well Gaga forgive me for not trusting so proven as what your mother says is family tradition. You should be at home."
"Then who would distract them from how much or little you are eating?" Courtney smirked as Kurt placed his hand over his heart.
"You are so generous, driving the rest of to distraction just to help me out. How will I ever repay you?"
"It's the least I could do for your help finding non-ugly maternity clothes. Honestly Kurt I can't thank you enough for that. I was beginning to think everyone who made maternity wear were insane and blind."
"There was no way I was going to let my sister-in-law look like a frumpy house frau for five months." Kurt shuddered. "I'm trying to make a name for myself in fashion and pictures of you looking like that just wouldn't do."
"So long as it helps you." Courtney started to laugh but it was cut short as she winced in pain. Kurt instinctively leaned forward, placing his hand on her shoulder. "Sorry. Indigestion."
"You've had that all day long." Kurt pointed out. "And you've barely ate a thing."
"I'm fine." Courtney protested before wincing again. "Wow. I think the baby is a little excited for Thanksgiving. That was one hell of a kick."
"Courtney…you aren't going into labor are you?" Kurt questioned with warning in his voice. He loved Courtney and he already loved his nephew or niece (Finn hadn't wanted to find out the sex, convinced it was bad luck), but he was wearing his new Gucci lace up boots and there would be hell to pay if that happened.
"I don't….I don't think so…." Courtney managed before she gripped Kurt's hand tightly.
"CAROLE! FINN! GET IN HERE" Kurt yelled. He knew next to nothing about the entire birthing process and he preferred to stay ignorant. "I THINK COURTNEY'S IN LABOR."
It turned out that in addition to being able to spot trends early, Kurt could also tell when a woman was in the early stages of labor. If he didn't have trouble even seeing a hint of blood, he would have had one hell of a career in obstetrics, the on call doctor had told him. Kurt could remember mumbling something about not being able to work with the ghastly green scrubs before he made his way back to the waiting room, where it seemed everyone in the room was waiting for news on Finn, Courtney and the baby.
His dad was on the cell phone in the corner, most likely trying to give directions to Courtney's parents who were on their way. Carole was close by, glancing anxiously up at the clock. JoBeth was sitting with Brittany, playing with a pair of dolls Kurt couldn't be sure which girl actually owned. Santana was furiously flipping through a months old magazine while Quinn filed her nails. Rachel, Tina and Artie huddled together whispering over something on Artie's laptop. Mike and Mercedes held hands while watching the TV mounted on the wall. Puck had his legs kicked out into the middle of the room, forcing anyone who wanted to move to practically jump over him.
"Any word?" Carole asked when she spotted Kurt enter the room, making his way towards where Matt sat near the vending machine.
"Not yet. " Kurt sighed as he sat down. "But Finn apparently fell on his way into the delivery room, so he's clearly acting normal."
"I knew it!"Artie pumped his fist excitedly, grinning at Tina. "You owe me a Coke woman."
"This is taking too da…darn long" Puck corrected himself quickly when he caught JoBeth's eye. "It seemed shorter last time."
"You had a slightly different vantage point." Quinn pointed out coolly, her eyes never looking up from her nails. Everyone, even Puck looked away uncomfortably. "I'm sure Courtney is doing just fine and this baby is being just like his father and waiting for his perfect entrance."
"Exactly." Rachel chimed in, a bright smile on her face, sliding closer to Quinn. "This child is a born performer and is being dramatic. It's a wonderful indication of stage presence."
"Did you ever think you'd see the day when Rachel would be riding to Puck's rescue?" Matt whispered to Kurt, laughing quietly.
"Never. Just like I never thought half of these people would be here under these circumstances." Kurt pointed out, waving his hand. "Ex boyfriends. Ex girlfriends. A baby daddy and a baby momma. We're an incestuous little Brady bunch."
"But the Bradys always did better when they stuck together. Although I always thought we were more the Partridges than the Bradys."
Kurt shot a glance up to the screen of the TV. "I'm blaming the conversation on the fact Reality Bites is currently airing on the only channel this room actually gets."
"Duly noted." Matt nodded, his fingers playing with the edge of an envelope Kurt had seen him pull out of his back pocket when he arrived. Not that he was looking because it was a particularly pleasant area to look at; he reminded himself, he was just curious. Still was to be honest.
"What's that?" Kurt pointed towards the envelope. "You've been playing with it ever since you've got here."
Matt held the object up so Kurt could see the official seal in the corner. The University of Chicago. "I think it's an answer to my application."
"I thought you said you wouldn't get that till April."
"Yeah but individual departments can tell applicants early if they wish. Apparently the psychology program wishes."
"And you've come to the conclusion it's an outright rejection because you're you and that's what you do." Kurt guessed. He was going to take Matt's sudden interest in the floor's linoleum tiles as confirmation he was correct. He held out his hand. "Here. Gimme. You won't open it and I'm not waiting all night to find out."
There was a good five minutes as Kurt could see Matt mentally debate if it was going to be worth it to fight him on this. Kurt kept his sternest face fixed on Matt and his hand outstretched. With a sigh, Matt gave him; slapping the envelope in his hand. "Ok but if it is a rejection just make something up. Tell me the school is closing in a year or something."
"And people say I'm the drama queen. Honestly they should listen to you sometimes" Kurt muttered. With a practiced air he slipped his finger under the sealed flap, pulling out the heavy stationary inside. Pausing for a moment to admire the simple yet elegant letterhead, he scanned the letter. With a grin he looked up to meet Matt's eyes. "The school isn't closing."
"What?" Matt grabbed the letter from Kurt's hands and Kurt desperately tried to ignore the tingling he felt from the brief contact. "I got in? I got in."
"You got in."Kurt confirmed, before impulsively leaning forward to hug Matt. "Congratulations."
"I can't believe it. This was my reach school." Matt shook his head. "I didn't actually think I get in."
"Well you did. And I'm so proud of you."
"Thanks." Matt turned around and both of them found themselves startled by how close they were actually sitting together. A movement of a few inches by either one of them and their lips would be touching. Almost as soon as the realization washed over them, their eyes lowered; locking in on each other's lips. Each lost in their thoughts about if it would still feel the same if they were to just close the gap. Would it change everything? Would they lose everything they had fought so hard to keep?
"He's here!" Finn's joyous voice broke their spell as he came running into the waiting room, nearly sliding across the floor and into to Puck's lap.
"He?" Carole asked excitedly as everyone stood up. Kurt tried not to notice Matt taking an extra step away from him. "It's a boy?"
Finn nodded, the brightest smile his step brother had ever given etched on to his face. "Yes. And he's perfect Mom. Just perfect."
"What's his name sweetie?" Carole asked hugging her son to her as Burt clapped a hand on Finn's shoulder. Kurt found himself being moved closer to his family, mainly due to JoBeth's insistent grabbing of his hand. He wanted to be there for Finn's big moment but he couldn't deny a part of him wanted to drag Matt into a smaller room and figure out exactly what had just happened.
"Christopher. Christopher Douglas Hudson."
Carole swallowed thickly, nodding far too quickly in an effort to keep back tears. "Can we go see my grandson?"
"Yeah. Come on." Finn draped his arm over Kurt's shoulder dragging him along as he made his way out of the room and down to the nursery. "He's so cute you guys."
"Congratulations." Kurt offered up brightly. It was the same sentiment he had offered up just minutes ago to Matt, but Kurt knew the same strange moment wasn't going to happen again. And no matter how much he might wonder exactly what had almost happened, he had to put it out of his mind. The moment had passed and it wasn't going to happen again. Right now he had a new nephew to focus on and not a near kiss with an ex.
