Chapter Fifty: Little Yellow Bird
Kurt, Blaine and Ella arrived at the Hudmel household at the same time as Carole arrived home with Lily in her stroller. It has started to snow on the drive down and hadn't stopped as they entered Ohio, making Lima look like a snow globe as they passed the big Christmas tree put up in the middle of the square, and the twinkling lights on all the houses. Carole had even tied tinsel to the hood of Lily's stroller, the small girl gazing up at it.
' Kurt! You're early!' Carole exclaimed, hurrying over to the car as her stepson jumped out of the car, running over the frost bitten grass towards her.
' The roads were practically empty'
' Well that's handy. Hopefully Finn and Rachel won't hit any traffic on their way down tonight' the woman smiled, watching her son unbuckle her daughter from the stroller, lifting her into his arms. ' Ah Ella! How are you? Kurt told me you were coming with them'
' Yes, thank you so much for inviting me, I know I'm early and I hope I am not imposing…' the princess said, hands clasped in front of her in a regal fashion.
' Oh not at all, come inside, you'll be in the spare room with Jack when he arrives if that's okay'
The Hudmel household was decorated beautifully in scarlet and forest green, the Christmas tree yet undecorated, waiting for the two sons to return. Burt was reclining in Finn's dad's lounger, only getting up to greet their guests before returning to his football game, smiling at Blaine as he threw himself down on the sofa, handing the older man a beer from the fridge. He was quickly warming up to his hopefully soon-to-be son in law.
It was only the mid afternoon, and Finn and Rachel would be there by five, so Carole, Ella and Kurt left for the mall for some last minute shopping, leaving Blaine and Burt to watch the game. As soon as the door closed behind the Kurt and the women, the sounds of their car pulling out of the driveway, Blaine turned to Burt.
' Mr. Hummel, I need to ask you something…'
' It looks like an elf threw up in here' Kurt cringed; wrinkling his nose at the extensive decorations that covered the Lima town mall, tinsel, lights and angels everywhere you looked. Carole chuckled next to him, shaking her head in her amusement.
' I thought you liked Christmas Kurt?'
' I do, I love the whole family togetherness aspects but all this…' he span on the spot, gesturing wildly around them. ' Well at home, you'll see that my decoration suggestions that I sent you fitted with a colour scheme and go with the overall ambiance of the house, this…this looks like the elf didn't just throw up, he exploded'
Ella giggled. ' I think it's sweet. I like that America have similar traditions when it comes to Christmas as we do back home'
' What does your family do at Christmas Ella?' Carole asked.
' Not much' the princess shrugged. ' We have breakfast and dinner together, but then dad has to do his address to the people and mum has lots of benefits for kids to go to with grandma, so it's usually just me, Emilie and the boys opening our presents together, playing with Emilie's toys, playing games around the palace, it's empty on Christmas day since mum sends all the staff home so we fend for ourselves'
' So what will happen this year?'
' Well Sebastian will probably spend it with Helene and Nathaniel, and Christian has a new girlfriend, and obviously Blaine, Jack and I are here so Emilie will probably go with mum…'
' Oh she won't enjoy that! Why don't you invite her over here? We have plenty of room!' Carole exclaimed. Ella's eyes went wide.
' Oh I wouldn't want to impose on your hospitality any further…'
' I insist, call Jack and tell him to bring her along…oh! We should go find some toys for her!'
Kurt laughed at his stepmother's antics and Ella's bemused face as they left him with the stroller and Lily sat in it, watching him with interested eyes. He smiled.
' Shall we get some ice cream Lils?' he suggested, pushing her in the direction of the food court, humming along to the Christmas resonating from the mall's speakers despite himself. He bought himself a low-fat ice cream, giving the wafer it came with to Lily and smiling more as she gummed at it and laughed when he pulled funny faces.
' Pretending to be a mummy Hummel?'
Kurt started, looking up and sighing at the predictability of the four former football players standing over him, looking bigger somehow without their football jerseys on, Karofsky and Azimio leading the charge.
' Still here then?' Kurt commented, unconsciously moving his hand closer to the frame of the stroller, glancing at Lily's confused face.
' Of course, we have to keep fairies like you out of our town' Azimio sneered.
' And yet here I am'
' Don't get smart with us fag'
Lily began to sniffle, dropping her wafer, her eyes filling with tears. Kurt frowned at the boys, lifting her onto his lap and trying to sooth her, stroking her head. Karofsky laughed.
' He is trying to be a mummy!'
' Well he can't be one in reality can he' Azimio grinned, kicking the stroller lightly with his foot. Kurt glared at him angrily.
' Don't'
' Don't what? This?' the larger boy lashed out, catching the stroller with his foot and sending it crashing to the ground. Kurt tightened his hold on Lily. ' What? You gonna cry?'
Kurt sighed, standing and pulling the stroller back upright with one hand, seating Lily and strapping her back in before turning to scowl at the four former high school bullies, now just regular bullies who should know better.
' You know what? I'm not afraid of you anymore. We're not at school anymore; we're "adults" so there's nothing stopping me from calling the police if you so much as touch me' he told them, anger bubbling inside him. ' There aren't any teachers or stupid school boards to protect any of you anymore, and I know that's true for me too but I have a hell of a lot more protection out here than you do. Soon I'll have diplomatic immunity and I'll be helping to rule a country with the guy I love, and that may disgust you but it doesn't matter because you'll be stuck here in Lima, with nothing but your trophy stories of how you threatened to kill a fag in high school or how you stuffed more than a hundred kids into their lockers over a school year, stupid stories that won't make people like, people won't even fear you, they'll pity you as people who are too scared by people being different to accept them. I've moved on from high school, I've moved on from you, and I feel bad that none of you have even tried to change. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to take my little sister shopping'
Kurt turned, pushing Lily away, half surprised, half not when a hand grabbed his shirt collar and spun him round, a face inches from his own.
' You don't deserve to be happy, and I am going to do everything I can to make sure that you aren't' Karofsky hissed at him.
' Everybody deserves happiness' Kurt replied softly, the fist tight around the collar of his shirt, almost lifting him off his feet. There were people watching, the other boys laughing. Nobody came to help though. Lily had started to cry.
' Why should you be happy?' something flashing behind the anger stopped Kurt's reply, something he'd seen before. Regret? Kurt gazed at him, gasping when Karofsky suddenly pushed him away from him with just enough force for him to fall into the table, knocking it and himself over. The football players laughed louder, jeering. Karofsky looked down at him for a split second before turning to his friends. ' Come on guys, he's not worth it'
Kurt watched them go, not waiting for someone to help him, but just making sure they were gone before looking over at Lily, tears still rolling down her chubby pink cheeks. He smiled reassuringly, standing up, ignoring the toppled over table and the pain in his side where he hit the table, smoothing down his clothes.
' Kurt?'
He looked up again, smiling at the familiar voice and the familiar face as Tina hurried over, Mike trailing behind her, laden with shopping bags. Tina wrapped her arms around him briefly, looking worried.
' Was that Karofsky and his lackeys we just passed?' Mike asked, hugging Kurt with one arm.
' Yeah' Kurt sighed, digging into the baby bag for Lily's bottle and handing it to her. He caught the couple's worried looks and smiled reassuringly at them too. ' It's fine, nothing I can't handle…what are you two doing here? When did you get back?'
' Last week for me' Mike replied, grinning. ' Yesterday for Tina'
Kurt felt a rush of excitement. ' Does that mean Britt, Mercedes and Santana are back too?'
' Yep, I drove down with the girls and Mike drove Britt down…' Tina explained, unable to contain herself and hugging Kurt tightly again. ' We're so excited for the party!'
' Me too! It's going to be great! Have you got a dress for it?' Kurt asked, glad that the conversation had moved away from the former football players.
' Oh yes! It's really pretty! Though I'm not showing it to Mike yet so he can be surprised' Tina giggled, Mike rolling his eyes behind her. ' So is Blaine with you? I would have thought he would have seen those guys off?'
Kurt chuckled. ' He thinks he's that tough, no he's at home with dad, I think they're having bonding time, which is good. I really want them to get along'
' Does Burt not like him?'
' Sure he does, he just doesn't trust him, me being his only biological son after all, dad's always been protective' Kurt sighed. ' At this rate, dad won't be very happy with us getting married'
At that moment, Tina's phone beeped and she pulled it out to look at the message, smiling apologetically, her eyes widening at the text.
' Is it your mum?' Mike asked, looking nervous. Kurt knew Mike never wanted to get on his girlfriend's parents' bad sides, always fearing what they thought about him.
' Err yeah, she wants us to pick something up for her…we have to go Kurt, but we'll see you in three days?' Kurt nodded, returning the hugs from both his friends. ' Can't wait, I've already got you your present' Tina squealed.
' I've already got yours from New York, you're going to love it!'
Kurt watched his friends dash away, Tina whispering something to Mike who suddenly looked very excited, looking back at Kurt and beaming happily. Kurt shook his head in amusement of the couple. They were so perfect for each other. Humming again to cheer Lily up and ignoring the pain in his side that he'd managed to hide during the hugs, he left the food court to find Carole and Ella.
' Hey, have fun at the mall?' Blaine asked as Kurt set Lily down on her play mat with her two talking teddy bear (that he'd bought to make up for the bullies upsetting her). Kurt smiled, nodding.
' Yep, I saw Tina and Mike, they said that Mercedes, Britt and Santana are back too so I might see if they want to meet up later and…'
' Why are you wincing?'
Kurt froze in a half bend, putting away some of Lily's toys that Burt hadn't bothered to clear away yet. He straightened, trying not to wince, and offered Blaine a small smile.
' I'm not'
' Yes you are' the prince said, sitting forward on the couch to sit on the edge so he could reach Kurt, tugging on his t-shirt so he would come closer. ' Did you hurt yourself?'
' It's nothing really…' Kurt tried to insist, letting out a small eep as Blaine lifted his shirt just enough to sure the very small bruise on Kurt's side. He gasped.
' What happened?' he asked, looking up at Kurt.
' Nothing…' his lie trailed off at a look from Blaine. ' I had a little run in with Karofsky and Azimio, but Karofsky only pushed me into the table, that's all, I got some good words in'
' Kurt…' Blaine sighed. ' I should have come with you…'
' No you shouldn't have' Kurt huffed, pushing his boyfriend's hands away. ' This is my home town and I'm perfectly safe as long as I don't let such Neanderthals get to me, you're the one who said to stand up to them, to call them out, well I did. Don't get pissed off, geez'
Blaine rolled his eyes, taking Kurt's hand and pulling him down onto the couch with a gentle tug. Kurt frowned at him but didn't resist. Chuckling now, Blaine wrapped an arm around his shoulders, pressing a kiss to his temple.
' You're so brave' he sighed. ' I just worry about you okay?'
' Why do you worry about me?'
' Because I love you and I want you to be safe, and I know you've been through a lot already so I want every one of your days to be happy and magical' Blaine told him, resting his chin on Kurt's shoulder, grinning at the twinge of the corner of Kurt's lips as he tried to hide his smile. ' I couldn't make your senior year magical, so I'm going to make the rest of your life magical, and I can only do that if you let me protect you all the time, even if I'm not there'
' And how do you propose doing that?'
' By holding you tight whenever something upsets you'
Kurt couldn't hold his smile back anymore, turning his head and pressing a kiss to Blaine's lips, stroking a hand down his cheek.
' You're so sweet it's sickening'
' Thank you, how nice of you to say' the prince grinned, kissing him one more time before jumping up. ' Right, I have to go out, I'll be back by the dinner at the latest' he said, going to the front door and pulling on his coat. Kurt scrambled onto his knees, kneeling up on the couch to watch him toe on his shoes.
' Where are you going? We were cuddling'
' I have to meet someone, nothing you should worry about, I'll be back sooner than you think' Blaine reassured him, flashing him a genuine dazzling smile before grabbing his keys and heading out the door.
Kurt settled back on the couch, smiling at his father when he lowered himself back into the lounger with a new beer, passing his son a soda. They both watched Lily playing for a few minutes in silence before Burt spoke up, not looking away from his daughter on her play mat.
' Blaine's a good kid' he said gruffly. ' I like him'
' Really?'
' Yeah, but if he hurts you I'm gonna shoot him with my shotgun, I don't care if he's a prince'
Kurt smiled. ' Duly noted'
Burt raised his beer briefly. ' Merry Christmas kiddo'
' Merry Christmas dad'
Blaine walked the unfamiliar snow covered path, coat wrapped tightly around him and his scarf tied up to his chin, a hat over his curly hair. Burt had told him the right way to go, but he still studied every stone for the name he was searching for.
His heart lurched when he read the right name in black lettering on the white marble. Heart pounding, he slowly knelt down in the snow in front of the grave, laying down the bunch of flowers he'd brought with him – plastic so they would survive the winter.
' Hi Mrs. Hummel' he whispered. ' I've already spoken to Burt but…I would like to ask you for your son's hand in marriage'
Nearby, a little yellow bird sang.
A/N In my defence, I rather like Karofsky, but I needed him to learn a lesson and he will appear later on, first in bad circumstances, then in good.
Keep reading and keep reviewing XD Happy Firework Night! X x
