A/N For those of you who don't follow me on Tumblr (grlnxtdr30,) I want to let you all know that I tore my rotator cuff and will need to have surgery. Unfortunately I can't have the surgery until I get my A1c down a little more. They will test at the end of October, and if it is good, I will have the surgery in November. If it isn't low enough, I will have to wait until February. I can still write up until the surgery, but for six weeks after, I will be in a sling with restricted movement, and won't be able to write. For now I am trying to catch up on all my stories, and even trying to get ahead so I will have stuff to post during the six weeks I won't be able to type.

Reviews Always Welcome!

...

The Boys And Me

Bee's birthday party was in full swing, and the late summer heat gave the kids an excuse to throw water balloons and spray each other with super soakers. When it came time to eat, Mitch proudly pointed out everything he helped make. He had spent most of the previous afternoon in the kitchen with Kurt and Blaine, helping to prepare food not only for the birthday party, but the barbecue they'd be having the next day.

Bee was having a blast. It was the first time he'd had so many friends at his birthday party. Back in New York, he'd been too shy to make more than a couple of friends, and the last couple of years he'd only just started coming out of his shell, and had really only hung out with Cole and Lizzie. He'd gradually started letting all the other kids in their circle in, and had been very proud of himself when he'd struck up the conversations with Belinda and Carson, the first two kids outside their network of family and friends that he'd gotten close to. True, he'd made a few friends in the ward when he'd been in the hospital, but he really hadn't gotten close to any of them.

After the party was over and most of the guests had gone home, Lizzie, Bee, Belinda, Daniella, Carson and Mitch played board games in the living room with Belinda and Daniella's dad, Jack, while Georgia helped Kurt and Blaine clean up.

"Bee has been telling us about the club you helped sponsor at the school," Kurt said as he stored the left over birthday cake. "I think it's a great idea, and if there is anything we can do to help, just let us know."

She smiled at them. "You do know I got the idea from the two of you, right? After everything you all did to help us out, and make us feel welcomed, I wanted to pass on the inspiration to others."

Blaine hugged her, one armed as he carried a trash bag to dispose of. "The world needs more do-gooders. Still don't have an official name for the club yet?"

"Marley calls it Klaine's Army," she joked, causing both Kurt and Blaine to blush. "I was thinking of naming it The Hope Squad or something like that."

"I like that," Kurt said. "Your little Bee looked like she had a lot of fun today. How is her treatment going?"

Georgia sighed. "The doctor said the cancer is more aggressive than they originally thought. He's going to double the dose of chemo when the next round starts this week. I'm worried how she's going to handle it. She's already worn down from the current round."

Kurt hugged her this time. "She'll manage. She's strong, just like you. You just have to believe in her, and not let her see how worried you are."

"And Kurt and I will be here if you need a shoulder to cry on," Blaine added. "We've been there, we know what you are going through."

"You're both angels, you know that, right?" she said with a little sob.

"No, we're just a couple of humans who know what it's like to need help," Kurt replied.

…

The backyard was once again full of people on Sunday afternoon. Burt and Kurt manned the three grills they'd set up to cook ribs, chicken, burgers and hot dogs, plus corn and asparagus. They had set up several different games for the kids, and music was playing in the background. The adults were moving from group to group, sharing gossip, talking shop, trading recipes, and enjoying each others' company in general.

Luke had felt a little out of place at first, not really knowing anyone there other than Blaine, but he was quickly engaged in a conversation with Burt, Jack, Dave, Charles, Nick, Sam and Blaine about football.

"So Luke," Dave began after a while. "What is it you do for a living?"

"At the moment I'm working as a security guard, though I'm surprised they actually hired me."

"Why is that?" Burt asked as he checked on the ribs he was grilling.

Luke shook his head. "Back in Colorado I worked for a security analyses company. My job was to test businesses' security systems by breaking into them. I got that job because of my special set of skills."

Sam looked confused. "What kind of skills?"

Luke let out a sigh. "You know the movie Ant Man with Paul Rudd?"

"Yeah," Sam replied. And then he realized what the older man was implying. "You hack security systems?"

Again the older man let out a sigh. "I spent four years in prison for hacking Jeff Bezos' companies and redirecting funds to various charitable organizations around the world."

"Cool," Sam said. "Well, not cool that you went to jail, but you know…"

Luke shrugged. "When I got out, I got a legitimate job testing security systems, with a side job of teaching self defense and martial arts at a community college."

"Working as a security guard doesn't sound like it pays well," Blaine said, and Charles nodded.

"Even the Secret Service doesn't pay what you would think," the former agent added. He'd recently moved to Lima to be closer to Lauren. He'd also resigned from the Service, and had applied to the FBI. He would be leaving in two weeks to begin his training at Quantico.

Luke shook his head. "The pay is okay, but the hours suck. The turn over rate is also extremely high, they can't seem to keep anyone on for more than a few weeks, which is why my schedule has been so hectic lately, because they have me filling in whenever they can't find anyone else to cover a shift."

"Who do they have covering for you now while you are injured?" Jack asked.

"I have no idea," Luke laughed. "I really need to find another job, one with more reasonable hours, that will still pay the bills."

"I might be able to help you out," Charles said, looking thoughtful. "An old friend of mine retired from the Secret Service several years back after being injured on the job, and now he owns his own company, installing and monitoring security systems. He just opened an office in Columbus, but you'd be able to work from home, so you wouldn't have to commute more than once or twice a month. And you wouldn't be the first person with a rap sheet he's hired."

Luke looked stunned. "That would be incredible. I don't know what to say…"

Dave was nodding. "And if that isn't enough, I'm sure I could convince my bosses to add self defense and martial arts training to the after school programs at the Community Center."

"You'd be willing to do that? You guys don't even know me."

Jack laughed. "I said those exact same words a few months ago. These people don't seem to realize that the vast majority of the population wouldn't give either of us a second glance. They seem determined to save every last stray they encounter. Just smile and nod your head yes and say thank you."

The other men laughed. Burt grinned at Luke. "My son and son in law are both pretty good judges of character, and judging from how great your kids are, I'd have to say you're a pretty decent guy. You've hit a rough patch in the road, but there's no reason you need to try and push through it on your own. There are a lot of good people around here with shoulders to lend, who are willing to help bear the load."

"Careful," Carole said, having arrived just in time to hear her husband's words. "With this group, you could have them suddenly burst into a rousing chorus of Put A Little Love in Your Heart."

"Karaoke isn't until after sunset," Kurt said, bringing over a tray of finger foods to set by them.

"Seriously?" Luke asked.

Blaine chuckled. "We are a Glee Family here. Most of the adults here were in Glee club together in high school. I'm a show choir coach and a Tony award winner, not that I'm bragging."

"Trust me, my husband never brags," Kurt interjected, sarcasm in his voice. He kissed Blaine's cheek to show he was just teasing.

Blaine swatted at him playfully. "And nearly every one of the teens and older kids here are in choir, including yours. So yeah, there will be singing. You're more than welcome to join in."

Luke shook his head. "I don't think you all want to hear me sing. It would scare the dog."

…

They did actually convince Luke to sing, mostly because his kids begged him to. He, Sam, Charles and Edward did a rather impressive job on Sawyer Brown's The Boys and Me. Later, Marley and Bee played a duet on the piano and guitar, as Lizzie, Kendra, Joani, and Daniella sang an original song Daniella had written called That's What Sisters Do. It had made Georgia and Belinda cry as they realized she'd written it about her younger sister.

When the sun sank and the stars came out, they all sat around the large fire pit, roasting marshmallows, still sharing music and songs, and just chatting softly among themselves.

Luke had found himself loosening up and feeling much more comfortable around everyone. He thought he'd be uncomfortable around so many gay males, but watching them interact with their significant others, and their children, made him realize they weren't any different than him. And the fact that everyone else here didn't even bat an eyelash when one of the couples shared a kiss or a touch made him see just how normal it could be if everyone felt the same way.