Are You Sure This Is What You Want?

by slyvir

Kurt Hummel had planned his wedding day since he was three years old, Burt had been around to hear 'bout it since the beginning, which is why he got worried when his little boy announced there wouldn't be any of the grandiose details he had been dreaming about for most of his life. Which was precisely why Burt had to talk about it with Adam. kadam relationship

AN: this is part of a personal challenge/project filling all the prompts of past Kadam weeks, and posting one every day from March 28 to May 8th, 7 prompts per year 5 previous rounds (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 last two managed by vcg73) the first week of May 2-8 will present to you the offering for the Kadam Week 2021 you can search for more on tumblr

This is the offering to Kadam Week 2013 prompt 6: Future!Kadam

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If there was something everyone knew was that Kurt Hummel loved big fabulous weddings.

That was one of the very few things Burt Hummel would have betted all his earthy possessions on.

Burt had many very good reasons to believe so. He had witnessed the many revisions of his little boy's dream wedding day.

Starting from its infancy stage, when upon returning from a family wedding a three year old Kurt and his mom sat in the living room commenting on the beautiful dresses of all the girls and the handsome formal attire of the boys.

Burt remembered how the whole dream wedding was then replanned once they picked up the developed pictures and more details became accessible.

Or how it then became a daily, weekly and monthly ritual game Elizabeth invented to keep Kurt busy, every day they would write down one interesting detail that Kurt saw during the day.

At the end of the week, the two of them sat at the piano to discuss the benefits and cons of each one, and then select a winner.

While at the end of the month, during a tea party, one of the four or five details would be promoted worthwhile and kept in an envelope till the end of the year.

Then on new year's eve, the whole family would sit together with glasses of sugar free soda, "Really Burt? Do you want Kurt to stay up till morning? There is already a cake for dessert, if he stays up past 10 pm you'll be in charge of entertaining our hyper on sugar son", Kurt would have a presentation of the twelve most interesting details collected through the year and together they would pick the three most important ones to keep.

The whole thing lasted throughout all Kurt's childhood until Elizabeth died. After that Burt had to shamefully admit he dropped the ball for a while, and Kurt, his little boy took it in stride and tried his best to make the best of their situation.

The talks of the dream wedding dwelled to just few memorable comments over the tea parties Kurt still made Burt sit through. And through the years there had been more wedding planning magazines around the house than Burt thought possible without a woman living in it.

There was also the fact that Kurt had been the one to organize Burt and Carole's wedding, and made a lovely and very spectacular affair out of it, in no time and with a relative pitiful budget. If Burt was honest though, he could admit that it was exactly how he wanted it to be, simple and classy, a happy occasion, with that little bit of magic for Carole's special day.

Then there were all the times when Blaine had came over to their house and the two of them planned and replanned this huge ceremony, with tons of guests, and every time it sounded like they had it all planned out, the venue changed based on fancy, but the rest remained the same to Burt's untrained ears.

He still remembered one of the first times when Blaine asked for Burt's own opinion and the only answer he had for the kids was "How about we revisit the subject later on, let's say in thirty years or so?"

And then there were the weddings Kurt organized for his teacher, and then later on for his friends.

All of those were rather grandiose, the decoration classy but present. The venues ranging from classical to almost bizarre, but chosen with care to the finest detail. The invitations in pretty heavy paper, sporting all the necessary information in neat calligraphy art. And lastly, all the guest lists were rather extensive... In an everyone's grandma and their dogs kind of way.

And the rings, those Kurt helped pick with painstaking precision and fastidious attention to material and details, well they were all quirky and uniquely suited to their wearers.

So when Kurt announced over one of their skype calls that he and Adam were going to get married and to please tell them when Burt, Carole and Finn were available so they could set the date. Burt was, to say the least, a little surprised.

He bowed to practicality when he discovered the date had been picked to accommodate all of Adam's family to be present, and he couldn't fault the couple for choosing to do that.

But finding out that it was going to be a brief ceremony at the town hall in New York, followed by the formality of touching base with their lawyer to update and sign their paperwork. And that the celebration was going to be a simple reservation at a restaurant with all their combined family present...

It made Burt frown, hard, hard enough that Carole had to remind him it was Kurt's choice.

But Carole had not seen his little boy grow up, she had not heard the hundreds of different sumptuous ways he dreamed and talked about what was going to be the most magical day of his life.

After hearing the news Burt wondered if he had done something wrong, what if it was a matter of money and Kurt still believed he couldn't come to him?

If his own son was going to keep playing his card so close to the vest then maybe he could talk with his soon to be son in law.

He organized the occasion to perfection, he made sure Kurt was not around to butt in and insist on the fact that all was fine, they were doing ok and didn't need money, that this was what they both wanted and that yes he was sure they both had made compromises and that no it wasn't a unilateral decision.

Adam looked surprised when Burt asked to talk when Kurt wasn't around, it wasn't that the older man wasn't warming up to him, but once they announced the final details for the wedding he noticed the perplection and surprise in Kurt's family. Picking up the call he smiled politely and offered a simple "Burt" and a nod.

Internally he was dreading a repetition of earlier chats with both Finn and some of the most vocal of Kurt's friends from Ohio. "Hey Adam thanks for doing this, look I know I'm asking a lot of you right now, but please tell me honestly, do you boys need money?"

Adam blinked surprised and tilting his head he thought back on everything, including their future planned expenses then shook his head "No, we are doing relatively well, I understand that we both have chosen careers that don't have any guarantee for stability, but I can assure you Burt, we both know how to manage our income."

Then seeing the still worried look on Burt's face he added softly "Or when it is time to ask for help if we really need it."

Burt passed a hand over his eyes sighing "Look kid, I'm saying this all wrong, it's just... What I wanted to ask is you needed the money for the wedding. I know, I know you both said it's fine, but I've heard that from Kurt since his mom died, and every other time his life was actually falling apart. This means that most of the time, what he says to me, and how things really are, tend to be different things... I might have taken a long time to learn that, but I ended up learning it..."

Adam concentrated on keeping his expression neutral, taking this as an acting exercise. Pretending that the implications, behind yet another well meaning person from Kurt's Ohio life butting in with their opinions and accusations, didn't feel like a knife being pierced straight through his heart.

He could rationally get where Burt came from, and among all who spoke up, Burt was probably the only person who might actually had a little more insight into Kurt's previous desires.

It was just that Burt was the last, in what was frankly quite the long line, of those questioning him instead of the both of them. And Burt was soon to be family.
Family, who while well meaning, was sneaking behind Kurt's back and placing Adam in a very uncomfortable position.

And the most aggravating part was that he was raising a fair point. One which Adam couldn't promptly dismiss like he had been able to do for any of the previous accusations thrown his way before. Because they had discussed the costs of their wedding and had planned accordingly.

"Burt, I get where you're coming from, but you must realise that what you're suggesting, it wouldn't be the kind of decision I could take without Kurt."

Adam was pleading his case in a way he didn't know it would have ever been needed. Had Burt's health not been something Kurt worried about so much, Adam might have been able to explain exactly the kind of compromises that were being made by the both of them. However, without Kurt present to explain his mind and reasoning, it was not a viable option.

"But even if our financial situation was the only reason dictating our choice, which I can promise you it was not the main reason for our decision. How could I decide alone to accept your generous offer when it pertains the one day when I'm going to promise Kurt to treat him with respect as my equal partner?"

Adam knew he was laying it on thick, he had stressed the fact it has been their choice, as in his and Kurt's, but he was also able to see that what he said, in the end, was making Burt questioning his position.

Burt cringed at Adam's words, and while his respect for the other man grew, his own dad's instincts and desire to see his little boy happy were still strong.

"Look kid, it's just, I've heard him talk about his wedding day for most of his life. And what you've talked about is nowhere near close to any of the plans I've heard through the years. I am just worried... Are you guys planning to redo the ceremony later on like other celebrities? Is that why right now you're... I don't know keeping it so simple?"

Burt was grimacing at his own words, he felt out of his depth so he rushed on "I just want to see my little boy happy, and it if is a matter of money, I can help... I want to help making your wedding day as memorable as mine had been, both of them. But he never asks for help, never did, I just... I want you to know that I can help with money if you just tell me."

Adam's eyes softened, he was starting to understand what Kurt said about his dad having a right heart in the right place, but his words not always being that right at times.

The offer was one meant to be supportive and done in that spirit. Adam could see that the way Burt went was the only he could think of, to get the truth about the life of a son, who learnt too soon how to keep things quiet.

But in there remained two important points Adam needed Burt to see and understand for himself. "Burt, how old is Kurt?"

Burt blinked confused as he answered "Twenty seven."

Adam nodded slowly, and this time he didn't hold back the sad smile "Believe me I understand Kurt is your son and he will always remain your son no matter how old he gets."

He fortified himself, making sure to not express just how painful the next words were for him "But if you cannot trust me, to give my best shot at making Kurt happy, can you please at least try to trust that Kurt is comfortable enough with me to speak up his mind and make his wishes known?"

Adam looked just as stricken as Burt, when he laid his own heart bare, his voice painfully soft "I promise you that I'm not going to let him be the only one making compromises, we're in this together."

Burt looked like Adam had just gutted him. It wasn't his intention to upset his future father in law, but it did hurt being cast as the villain when all he did was trying to make Kurt happy.

Their call had been going for far longer than Burt probably planned, as they could both hear the front door opening and Kurt calling out a tired "Hon I'm home, I've missed you."

Adam didn't know what to do, and it must have shown in his face because before he could answer the greeting, Burt solved the situation for him hollering "Hey kiddo you've got in at just the right time"

Kurt walked into the room calling back "Hey dad I've just got home" his voice going flat upon seeing the pain in Adam's eyes and the defeated slouch in Adam's shoulders.

He beelined to his fiancee and wrapped himself protectively around Adam in a hug that spoke volumes.

With Kurt's familiar weight and scent on him, Adam started to relax a little, murmuring a soft "Welcome home love"

Kurt placed a gentle kiss on Adam's cheek and then turned to look unimpressed at the video call asking deadpanned "Was it Finn putting you up to this dad? Because I already told him and Carole to back off about the wedding"

Burt looked stunned and then a little mortified "hmm no, Carole had said to let it rest, but Kurt are you sure this is what you want?"

Kurt looked gobsmacked and then it mounted into a righteous fury "Dad! How could you even suggest..." and then to heartbroken "Do you really think I would want to get married if I wasn't sure about Adam and me?"

Adam gently placed a hand on Kurt's cheek and gave him a placating kiss before interfering "Da'ling Burt was talking about the ceremony itself, not the getting married part, I'm pretty sure he knows by now we wouldn't get married on a whim."

Kurt blinked, allowing himself to be mollified before returning his gaze back to the screen raising an eyebrow expectantly.

Burt was studying them intently "Look Kurt I'll be blunt here, I've heard you talk about your wedding day for ages, if it's like this because of money I just want you to know I can help with that. I want your wedding to be one of the happiest days of your life."

Kurt sighed and cuddled closer to Adam not letting the other man out of his embrace as he got comfortable

"Dad, I get where you're coming from, but I can assure you, like I did before, on many times, and with way too many people than I think should even be allowed to have an opinion on how our wedding should be, that we are both making compromises here."

Burt still frowned worry clear in every line of his face "You both keep saying that..."

Finally, Kurt had enough, he bumped Adam's leg with his before saying bluntly "If it wasn't for Adam asking for all of our family to be present on our wedding day, to give you all a chance to celebrate and make memories, I would have been more than happy to get married and simply inform you over dinner, the next time we had come for a visit after it had already happened."

Burt spluttered flustered and a tiny bit hurt "You didn't want us there?"

Kurt shook his head with a small smile "I never said that, dad. Of course I do want you there, and I'm happy that you'll be there."

Then Kurt's eyes and voice became softer, like he was sharing one of the biggest secrets of the universe "But if it was just up to me, and the choice was between getting married with Adam right when he said yes or waiting for all of our loved ones' lives to align and having to wait till then?"

Kurt looked lovingly at Adam placing a small peck on the blond's cheek, before returning to talk with his father "In that case, we would have already been married for months..."

Burt looked stunned and for what was probably the first time since Kurt had brought Adam home, he stopped looking and just adsorbed what he saw.

Adam was looking down a little flustered but holding Kurt's hand in his. And Kurt, his little boy looked at Adam with the same adoration and love Burt had been able to spot from the get going on the blond kid's face. No, on the man's face, because his sons were both grown men, already facing life as a solid unit, bringing the best out of each other.

Burt nodded once and managed to let out through the emotions in his throat a simple "We'll be there my sons."

Then he closed the call.