Summary: Family Day continues but with a "Keep the fact we're at Dalton a secret" solution
Notes:
There was a comment on AO3 about K standing for Killer. It only took 7 chapters for me to say...Come on guys, I wouldn't make it that easy
Last Bella Warning: This is what I've been leading up to. Certain actions in a particular storyline highlighted in this chapter (and will continue throughout the rest of the fic) are much too advanced for a 2 ½ year old. But Bella loves her Daddy and just wants him to be happy.
DEH stands for Dear Evan Hansen. I'm abbreviating it from now on like I abbreviate New York City (NYC).
Sunday…After Bella's Nap
Blaine and Sebastian weren't able to discuss the insanity of the DEH song in K's notebook because Bella woke up almost immediately after Blaine said he got the part Kurt auditioned for. As a matter of fact, they were both grateful for the turn of events, especially Blaine. It was more than a little unnerving how he had a connection with almost all the quote/unquote "solved" music.
They sang Falling Slowly as the first good night song at Dalton.
I Dreamed a Dream is his mother's favorite song and the song he played at his first solo violin recital.
K's version of She Used to be Mine was the male version…the way he always sang it.
You Shall Be Found…self-explanatory
The Phil Collins In the Air Tonight drum solo
But the 2 "non-Broadway" (to Blaine, Phil Collins would always be part of Broadway thanks to Tarzan) songs, Mr. Brightside and Sex on Fire, he had no connection to. He liked them. Had danced to them in clubs. But he had never performed them, not even for Glee Club, and these were the 2 songs Sebastian said he didn't have to research. The only ones he actually knew.
Are those the ones with the strongest clues?
Or were the strongest clues still in the pages and pages of random musical notes and lyrics Blaine believed were meant to be songs but never finished.
And while K's notebook could move to the back burner, Family Day couldn't. Thankfully, Marley (the actress) called and suggested a solution to the Not letting anyone know where they were headache. Record a video instead of Zoom and "bloopers" could be edited out with "retakes".
Blaine loved the idea…Family didn't.
So, Blaine lied (no problem this time) and told them Bella was having a hard time adjusting to quarantine. He thought talking to everyone would be overwhelming. She'd start crying, saying she wanted to hug them again (go for the heartstrings). He just wanted to give her one more week to settle in.
It worked, but there was still the problem of promising Bella she could talk to her grandparents. Burt (who knew this was BS due to their earlier conversation) said he'd cover in his video but Blaine owed him some answers. He didn't agree, but he didn't not agree either.
He always intended to tell Burt everything. His Father-In-Law(ish) was one of the only people he cared found out the entire truth. The money part not the Kurt part. He'd spare him the Kurt part if he could…although his telling the doting Grampy how Bella said she didn't have a Papa anymore begged to differ. He hadn't planned to say anything but DAMN! It felt really, REALLY good to do it.
Once Bella was told of the change in plans, father and daughter debated the best location to film. Sebastian said to leave it to him and they should go make themselves camera perfect. That's why he was sitting in his chair with his eyes closed. Bella wanted to make an entrance.
"Open your eyes, Ash."
If you asked Sebastian to give you one word to describe Bella, his Monkey, he would say without hesitation Tomboy…superhero t-shirts, jeans, pink high-top sneakers, her wild curls everywhere, constantly in motion…playing with Dalton or climbing on everything unless she was watching one of her nerd shows or doing artwork.
That little girl was gone.
This sweet little girl was wearing a pink dress with little white flowers and a matching ribbon tied around the ponytail holding back her hair. The only sign of his Monkey was her pink high-top sneakers. He was pretty sure it was the only style of shoe she owned except slippers.
"Do I look pretty?" Sebastian smiled and motioned her to climb in his lap. Once she was seated, he held up his pinky. "Pinky promise?" she asked, not understanding what that would do with her question.
"Yes, I want you to make me a pinky promise. One day, when you get love in your heart for someone, if that person doesn't tell you every day you are the most beautiful girl in the whole world, I want you to find a new person to love. That person isn't good enough for you. Pinky promise?"
Bella wrapped her pinky in his and shook "Pinky promise"
"Good, and since you can't start dating until you're like 50, I, Sebastian Alexander Smythe, pinky promise that every day I will tell you, Isabella Samantha Anderson, that you are not only the most beautiful girl in the whole world, you are the most beautiful girl on any world…in any multiverse…or any other nerd realm I've never heard of but probably will if your daddy has anything to say about it."
Instead of another pinky shake, Bella wrapped her arms around Sebastian's neck. "I love you, Ash."
Sebastian froze, then slowly wrapped his arms around Bella, not wanting to frighten her. His first instinct was to grab her and never let go.
Yes, whenever he, Trent, Dave and Paul said goodbye they said they loved each other but it was a brotherly love. Wesley and Bev (maybe even Wes and his family) cared for him. His mother had been gone for years and in his mind, he had never had a father. And with K, he felt how much he loved him but he couldn't remember anything of how K loved him back. All he had were clinging hopes to 2 pieces of jewelry and a notebook full of music.
But the little girl he was holding was real. It was the first time in years, that he could remember, someone told him they loved him. "I love you too, Monkey."
She kissed his cheek and whispered "Daddy has s'prise for you."
Huh? "Your daddy has a prize for me?"
"No, su…prise. Close your eyes."
"Oh, surprise. Alright, they're closed."
Bella hadn't bothered to let go of Sebastian's neck before she yelled "Daddy! He ready!"
"Wow, Monkey. Warn a guy next time you yell next to his ear…"
"Open your eyes, Ash."
Sebastian had no idea why she would be giggling so hard until he opened his eyes…and 16 year-old Sebastian (let's just start calling him S16) immediately ran to his apartment to take care of every one of his masturbatory fantasies come back to life.
Blaine's hair was styled more than it had been since he arrived but not the gel helmet it was in high school. The hair S16 said he would know anywhere.
Then came a tight white polo that showed off not only his broad shoulders but well-defined arms. Blaine had obviously kept up with the boxing. And around his neck, holy shit, a bowtie of the same material as Bella's dress. Damn, the things S16 imagined doing with those bowties.
He missed the bowties
And the pants…the pants! Khaki highwaters, cinched at the waist and form fitting the rest of the way down with, of course, the highlight being the accentuation of the most perfect ass adult Sebastian could remember.
He put Bella down to cross the room. He was using his cane but only because he wanted the Evil Murder-bot/Physical Therapy Sadist to feel some guilt for his earlier torture. The guy may look hot as hell at the moment, but he was not forgiven, especially when Sebastian knew this morning was only the beginning of his diabolical schemes.
Once he was in front of Blaine, he reached out his hand and smiled. "Sebastian Smythe"
Blaine knew exactly what he was doing. "Are you a Freshman?"
"Do I look like a Freshman?"
"Ash" Sebastian looked down to find Bella pulling on his pant leg "Do Daddy look pretty?"
He looked back up at Blaine and smiled "Yes, Monkey. Your Daddy looks very pretty."
"Pinky promise?"
Uh-oh
"What pinky promise?" Blaine asked. He could tell something was up and, from his expression, most likely Sebastian had walked into a trap.
"I ask Ash if I pretty and he make me say pinky promise. If you pretty you have say too."
"Well, since Bas thinks I'm pretty…"
Blaine thought he was being cheeky by putting up his pinky but Sebastian became serious when he wrapped theirs together. "One day, when you get love in your heart for someone new, if that person doesn't tell you every day that you are the most beautiful man in the whole world, I want you to find another new person to love. That person isn't good enough for you. Pinky promise?"
"Oh" Blaine knew what the promise was for. Sebastian always said Kurt wasn't good enough for him. He didn't want Bella to settle like he thought he had. "I pinky promise."
"Good"
"Other promise too, Ash"
Oh, no, no, no. "Monkey, that pinky promise was just for you."
"For Daddy too. You say he pretty."
Sebastian mumbled under his breath "I really can't handle another toddler meltdown like we had this morning."
"Then just give me the pinky promise."
He asked for it. "Since you can't start dating until you're like 50…"
Blaine snorted a chuckle "I always thought 30 but I like your age better. Wait, 50 was for Bella, right?"
"Yes, 50 was Monkey. You're good at 25."
"I am 25"
Sebastian rolled his eyes and mouthed No shit before continuing. "Where was I? Oh yeah…I, Sebastian Alexander Smythe, pinky promise that every day I see you I will tell you that you, Blaine Devon Anderson, are not only the most beautiful man in the whole world, you are the most beautiful man on any world…in any multiverse…or any other nerd realm I've never heard of but probably will if you have anything to say about it."
Blaine and Sebastian weren't just grasping pinkies, they were holding hands as if they were lifelines, each giving the missing link the other so desperately needed.
"Now hug"
"Bella!" Blaine snapped a little harsher than he intended. "We talked about this this morning."
"You say no kissy-face. Family hug. Today Family Day and Ash family. Right, Daddy?" Sebastian held open his arms and Blaine gave in. Bella grabbed tight to one of each man's legs. "Group hug!"
"Yes, group hug" Sebastian said "But you have to let go so we can get going to make your video. Go to the big kitchen and get a cooler for water and snacks because we all know you will start complaining about being hungry at some point. Daddy, we'll need Monkey's car seat, hats or sunglasses, sunscreen, Dalton in his kennel and at least one superhero stuffy. And loafers with no socks won't work. You need footwear similar to your daughter's. You two have 30 minutes then meet me with everything by Monkey's swing set."
"Where you go, Ash?"
"First, I am suddenly woefully underdressed so I'm going to change and as for the other part…it's a surprise! Now go!" Bella squealed and ran toward her room but Blaine got the hint there was more Sebastian wanted to say. "Got to give me credit, I recognized what she was doing…trying to set us up."
"How'd you catch on this time?"
"She had her halo being held up by tiny devil horns expression. It's when I know she's up to something. She was looking at you last time."
"That's sweet but you don't know my daughter like I do. She's in full Biological Daughter of Rachel (I sent a Show Choir rival to a crack house) Berry mode. We're in more trouble than either of us thought."
Exactly 29 Minutes Later
Bella was bouncing she was so excited. They had gotten everything Ash told them to and were waiting by the swing set. Daddy made her put on her white sweater, which did NOT make her happy. She wanted to wear a pink one like Daddy's. But she got to wear the pink sunglasses and he wore white ones. And Daddy put a pink bowtie on Dalton.
He didn't like it very much.
What was taking Ash so long? "Where is he, Daddy?"
"He'll be…"
*Beep…Beep*
Sebastian rounded the corner in something Blaine had only seen in Safari movies, but not as big. "What is this?" he asked when Sebastian parked in front of them and got out to help load.
"The Smythe-mobile. The New Dalton campus is multiple acres and has 18 buildings. I obviously can't walk that large an area. A traditional vehicle would be impractical and ATV's aren't necessarily the safest forms of transportation, and with my history, this monstrosity was the best option. Let's get Monkey and Dalton strapped in and I'll give you the grand tour before we get to your video location."
Blaine couldn't believe all the work Sebastian accomplished. Being told how massive Dalton had become and seeing it for himself was completely mind-boggling. He certainly didn't get the full scope from the view off his patio. No wonder they had 70 different committees for this rebuild. Suddenly it occurred to him...why had neither Sebastian or Wesley mentioned curriculum? This was a school.
He was still listening to Sebastian's narrative but something caught Blaine's eye. "Is that a pool?"
"Yes, 1 of 2, although the second isn't finished."
"Stop the car."
"It's not…"
"Bas, stop." When the vehicle did stop, and Blaine got out, he was pleased to find his code for the main building worked on the gate to the pool. He wondered if it would be the case. After looking around, he headed back with more questions than answers. "Why haven't you used this for your physical therapy?"
Sebastian had been waiting for a moment like this to shut Blaine up…he meant down…about something involving his physical therapy. "Because it's an outside pool, it's the 6th of May, this is Ohio, it hasn't been warm enough, and Mr. Martin and his family are in isolation for another week, if none of them get sick. He's the one who knows how to turn on the pump and heater." And yes, he did finish with a S16 smirk, thank you very much.
Blaine didn't say much when he got in and they were on their way again until "Mr. Martin? As in Ernie Martin the Head Facilities Manager? He was like 105 when I was here as a student."
"Mr. Martin, Senior retired 3 years ago at 70 and moved to Florida. His son, Junior, and his son…"
"The Third?"
"Roger. The two of them run the Facilities Team. One of Roger's kids was exposed to the virus right before quarantine and the whole family had to go into isolation because of my crappy immune system. Same thing with the Hendersons. John is the Grounds Manager. Wesley planned on them being my babysitters during lockdown. It's why he was so happy when you showed up."
"Daddy!" Blaine jerked in his seat, expecting to see something wrong but Bella was pointing out the window. "Doggies!"
He followed the sightline to see approximately 100 definitely not dogs. "Those aren't doggies, Sweetie. I think they're goats. Bas?"
"Yup, goats" was all Sebastian said as he drove a little closer. "We're here."
"We're where?" Blaine asked but got out and removed Bella from her seat as well.
"This is where we're going to shoot your video. I thought no one would have a clue where you guys really are if you film in the middle of a field with goats behind you."
"You knew the goats would be here?"
"The Henderson's Farm is on the other side of that hill. The goats are theirs."
"Henderson as in your Grounds Manager?"
"Yes" Sebastian replied as he handed Dalton to Bella. "John works for us but it's a multi-generational farm. And you'll love this, we made arrangements for the farm to grow the majority of the produce served at Dalton. Plus, they supply me with my medication...if you get my drift. Now, go make your video and I'll set out snacks and waters because we know Monkey will be hungry after."
For 15 minutes Blaine filmed Bella and Dalton playing a safe distance in front of the goats. Every so often, he would join them and Bella would say something about Dalton (always remembering to call him Kitten…Yay!) like how he was a superhero kitty who took away bad dreams and how he thought he was a puppy because would follow her but would stay if she said stay.
When Blaine had enough footage, he joined Sebastian back at the Smythe-mobile. While they were filming, he had set up the snacks and waters on a blanket Blaine packed. Thankfully, Sebastian had also remembered to grab chairs. Blaine made a note to be mindful to do that if this was to become a Sunday tradition. There was no way Sebastian was sitting on a blanket on the ground…not yet.
"Thank you"
"No problem" Sebastian replied. "What's Monkey doing?"
Blaine laughed as Bella was basically spinning until she made herself dizzy then falling down. The grass stains were going to be a bitch. "She said she wanted to dance…oh, I'm sorry."
Sebastian knew this conversation would happen eventually. "Don't be. To answer the question I know you're too polite to ask…yes, I miss dancing. I gave singing up by choice. Dancing was taken from me. And even when I was Captain of the Warblers, I always said I was a Dancer who could sing, not a Singer who could dance. The person you should feel sorry for is Dave."
"Dave? Why?"
"Are you kidding? The big lug is one of those people who would totally go to YouTube to get ideas for a choreographed dance so he, Paul and all the Groomsmen could do one at the reception. The only reason he's not is because of me. By the way, thank you."
"For what?"
"His invite to the Hudson Dedication. I know you had something, well, everything to do with it. It meant the world to him…in more ways than one."
Blaine was confused by the last remark. "What do you mean?"
"When Hudson's mom invited Dave, she said she heard the story of Finn trying to convince him to join the New Directions. How he really wanted to but he was just too afraid because of being in the closet. How singing with the New Directions and the football team at that game was his best memory from high school."
"I know. That's what I told Carole."
"That's right, you told Carole. I don't know what made the Big Baby cry more, the fact he was invited or the fact you remembered the story and took it to Hudson's mom to get him invited."
"Did it make you hate me a little less?"
Sebastian gave himself whiplash realizing his complete turnaround toward Blaine (except when he was being the Physical Therapy Overlord) had taken less than a week. "I never hated you. I thought you were a narcissistic asshole like your husband, who wasn't your husband. And I have anger issues stemming from my accident."
"For which you don't see a therapist."
"Blaine"
"Bas"
"Maybe we should change the subject."
Without saying anything, they both agreed it was a good idea.
"The Notebook?" Blaine asked.
"As much as I need to know what happened to K, I'm not ready to go back to the Twilight Zone quite yet. Tell me about Stanley Anderson."
"What do you mean Tell me about Stanley Anderson? Didn't you have to study The Anderson Investment Strategy in Business School? I took one Econ class and we touched on it. Thankfully, no one put 2 and 2 together and realized I was related to the guy who invented it, especially since I almost failed the course."
"I had to take an entire 16-week course on the strategy but I was always more interested in his art. Before she died, Mama was an Art Curator at the Louvre. You know, the Courvoisier. When I lived in Paris, I drank it like Mother's Milk?"
Blaine gave Sebastian his another head stare. It wasn't the mention of their long-ago coffee "date" that threw Blaine off. It was Sebastian's mention of his mother. He had never heard him do it before and he certainly was unaware the woman died. But before he could answer, Bella came to them, asked for a piece of cheese, took one bite, grabbed her Grogu blanket and Dalton, climbed into Blaine's lap and fell asleep.
Spinning was exhausting
"If she's not awake in half an hour, I'm waking her or she'll never go to sleep tonight" Blaine said as he adjusted and handed Sebastian the kitten. "That means we have plenty of time for you to explain your statement. I remember that conversation quite well. I don't ever remember us having one about your mother. I'm so sorry for your loss."
"Thank you, but I just…I can't with her. Not today and with K…"
"Oh, no Bas. I get it. Whenever, whatever."
"I will say she was a HUGE fan of Stanley's art. Unfortunately, so is Xavier and that's how they met…an exhibit at the museum. The Ass is going to freak if he ever finds out I know you, if you inherited any art. But you said you inherited everything and you're like ginormously rich so you must have. Right? Between the art and the investment strategy practically rebuilding economies in Europe after WW2? Holy shit, you really are ginormously rich."
"You've read Fortune 500 and all the other financial magazines. You tell me."
Sebastian smiled. "No offence, but if the estimates were even close, the $8 million you donated is what you have in your loose change jar."
"Well, the estimates weren't even close and if you would have let me tell my story first like we planned this would have all been out by now." Blaine adjusted Bella again. "I'm sorry. You obviously needed to get your story out last night and my story is OBVIOUSLY way more complicated than yours because it involves Kurt and not being married and Bella and Stanley and the Trust and…"
Sebastian reached over and squeezed Blaine's free hand "What did you just say to me? Whenever, whatever. Yes, your story is way more complicated. I had accident, K, oops…can't remember. All done!"
"Well, when you put it that way" Blaine chuckled. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. "I cleared this with my lawyers three different times. By the terms of my trust, I'm free to tell you everything. I will explain how it happened later. You're the first person I've been able to do this with. That includes Sam, Kurt, my Mother, my Brother. Against lawyers' advice I'm willing to give you this information without you signing a non-disclosure agreement."
"Like Hummel had to sign?"
"Kurt's is different.' Blaine opened his eyes, staring into Sebastian's. "I'm trusting you with our Dome of Silence. If you trust me with K, I trust you with this."
"Damn, B…"
"B?"
"It sounds like we're about to become blood brothers or something. It doesn't feel right to call you Blaine like it didn't feel right to for you to call me Sebastian."
"Then yeah, I like it…B. You ready for this?"
"Better hurry before we have to wake up Monkey."
"Right. First, a quick backstory. Everything you think about your father, my father and his brothers are 10 times worse and you can add raging homophobes on top of that."
"Oh shit. I'm…"
"Don't. I've only seen him once since he left my mom when I was 17 and that was at the reading of Stanley's will."
"They thought they'd get money from Stanley? The man was Gay, Gay…super-duper Gay, and Stanley would've known your father's and his family's opinions. He was a spy at one point."
"The family ignored the quote/unquote gossip. It was assumed from the time he contracted polio in the 1930's" Blaine looked toward his lap "nothing down there worked. It's why he never got married. It's why he had no heirs."
Sebastian shook his head "Good old denial."
"They got quite the shock. Anyway, Stanley's pushing 100, decides he can't take it with him when he goes and wants to give it all away…money, properties, stocks, bonds, art…everything. He also realizes he doesn't have the time or energy to do it himself and no one he trusts, so he starts a search."
"And finds his gay Great-grandnephew."
"Who was stupid enough to put in his High School yearbook that his goal in life was To Make Art and Help People."
"That's not stupid. It's…nice."
"Maybe, but Stanley still decides to devise a test to see if I'm worthy. Like Cap with Mjollnir."
"What…" Sebastian threw out his hand, more to stop himself than Blaine. "Never mind, I'm sure it's some nerd thing you're going to tell me about eventually but stay on topic. What test?"
"The Trust. The estate is worth billions but the trust was $50 million. Until my 26th birthday, I had to spend lavishly then donate the exact same amount, anonymously. I couldn't donate anything without the lavish spending. If anyone asked for money personally, I had to turn them down. I couldn't explain any of it to anyone. I was allowed to use only so much for living expenses. On my 26th birthday, I could have no more than $1 million left in the trust."
"What the hell?"
"It was supposedly to show me who I could trust. Money changes people but it also changes the people around you. He forced me to change. He didn't force them but some of them did. I just can't say anything about it until this is over."
"I've never seen you as one of these I want to be the richest man in the world type of guys. What if you just said Fuck Great-granduncle Stanley and his trust?"
"That's where the sadistic part comes in."
"It can't be worse than what you're doing to me with Physical Therapy."
"Wanna bet?"
Not with the twinkle Blaine had in his eyes "No, your bank account is better than mine."
"Actually, my bank account has a little over $10,000 in it."
Blaine was going to have to stop doing this shit to him. "You did it?"
"I didn't think I could with everything getting locked down but Kurt's stunt of going back to NYC allowed me to do it. Now everything just has to stay quiet until my birthday when the trust ends and I receive the full inheritance."
"Answer…the …question"
"Oh, sorry. To insure it was me playing the game, Stanley tricked all of my family members plus Kurt into the non-disclosure agreements. He found out their deepest darkest secret. It's what gave me the idea for our Tit for Tat."
That got Sebastian's attention. "Hummel's had to be you weren't married. Right?"
"No, it couldn't be. I know none of the secrets."
Kurt's secret wasn't the non-marriage. Sebastian knew exactly what it was. Every Warbler did. And Blaine just confirmed he didn't. Trent's worst fear was for nothing.
But he couldn't tell him.
"The reason I didn't say Fuck Great-granduncle Stanley and his trust? Because if I did, everything after the $50 million wouldn't go to help people, it would go to my asshole family. Stanley Anderson is blackmailing me from the grave to do this. Told you he was a sadistic son-of-a-bitch."
Notes:
Finn suggested Karofsky join Glee Club after seeing how much he enjoyed performing Thriller/Heads Will Roll in Episode 2x11 Sue Sylvester Shuffle.
When I saw Dave perform with the New Directions during "I Lived" it really bothered me. Over the years (and brainwashing wore off) it stopped bothering me but it still never made sense. Knowing I was using Dave here, I was finally going to have to (in my mind) justify his being there. I hope it made sense.
The Trust is loosely based on the 1985 movie version of Brewster's Millions. In this version Brewster can take $1 million up front or take a challenge…inherit $30 million but he must spend it all in one month without owning ANYTHING at the end of the month. He can only donate 1% but most importantly he cannot tell ANYONE. If he completed the challenge, he got the real inheritance of $300 million. If he failed, he got nothing.
This day (Sunday) is taking FOREVER but I decided to include Blaine's story within the story and not as one long sit down. While this fic is Sebastian's story, a lot of it builds off Blaine's story (see K note in opening note). I was going to try to post an extra chapter soon but I got a call to JURY DUTY week after next for 2 weeks so we'll see how that's going to screw with things.