HI! Thanks for coming back :) Been busy...picked up a new story to read and it's taken some of my time up, but it's well worth is. If you're looking for a good story, check out eRomance by gleeeeeful. Loving it :) Also, Shay...seriously, the Simon and Garfunkel comes up in this chapter, so I'm sure you were wondering what I was on when I said that previously! LOL
I can't thank you guys enough for reading this, and I respond to every review as long as your pm is enabled. Thank you for your kind words...they encourage me to write more! I hope this chapter will entertain you :)
CHAPTER 27
"Daddy?" she whispered from the doorway.
"Bailey. What can I help you with?" David Duval said in a level tone, completely opposite of how he was feeling inside.
"Daddy...was that Nick on the phone? Why were you yelling at him like that?"
" It's none of your concern. Is there something you need from me, B?"
"No...I just...dad. Wait. I'm serious. Did I hear you correctly? Did you just tell Nick he can't see that guy because he's not 'of our rank'? Because if you did...Daddy...that's just not fair. It's not up to you. Nick doesn't make foolish choices. He's the most level headed person I know, and he doesn't make split decisions without knowing the consequences. If he likes this guy, what business is it of yours?" she was nearly shouting now.
"What Nicholas and I have discussed is none of YOUR business, young lady, and I'll thank you to watch your tone with me! I don't know what's wrong with my children these days that they think they can forgo respect and speak to their father as someone undeserving of any civility!"
"Daddy, I need you to answer me honestly. Please. Did you tell Nick he can't see Jeff because of his social standing? Because he doens't have the money we have?" Bailey asked again.
"Bailey Elizabeth Duval, I will NOT be questioned by my 17 year old daughter!" he shouted. "You will leave my office now, and if and when you return, you may apologize for your outburst here!"
"I won't, father. Don't hold your breath!" she said to him, softly, but with a hint of menace.
"Father? You've never called me that, always Daddy. Is this your way of punishing me?" David sneered.
"No, sir. Your actions will bring punishment enough. I'd bet on it." she said calmly, and exited her father's office for the sanctuary of her bedroom. Hurtling down the hallway, she passed her mother who noticed the tears on her daughter's face and tried to stop her to see what was wrong, but Bailey just shook her head and tearfully made her way to her room.
"David?" Meredith asked from the doorway of his home office.
He did not respond, just looked up from the stack of files on his desk and gave her a questioning look.
"Did you and Bailey argue? She's in tears. What happened?" she asked.
"She doesn't agree with a decision I've made. It bears no consequence to her, and she will clearly have to get used to not getting her own way." David replied stiffly.
"David, what happened. Exactly?" Meredith asked. She knew Bailey. Yes, she knew her youngest child, her only daughter, better than any of the boys. She loved them all equally, all dearly, with every scrap of motherly affection she could grab on to, but she knew Bailey best, and this wasn't like her. She was a strong girl, and did not upset easily at all. Being the youngest of six, with five older brothers made a girl spoiled, but even more than that, it made her tough as nails. She didn't take any shit from them or anyone else for that matter. Something wasn't right.
David let out a long sigh, took off his glasses and set them on the desk in a huff. He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his midriff, giving her a look that said "you're interrupting me, can we finish with this conversation quickly?"
"Meri, she's upset because I requested that Nicholas not continue seeing the young man that is recently in his life...and in his apartment...and in his bed."
"You're speaking of Jeffrey?" Meredith asked.
"YOU knew as well?" he boomed.
"I've known about all of them, not that there are many. Nicholas is quite choosy, very careful in his pursuits. What's wrong with Jeffrey that you find it necessary to demand that he no longer see him?" she asked, her anger piqued.
"His social status is not up to par, Meri, and Nicholas is too important to the business to engage in relationships that are destined to cause drama. And when Mr. Sterling realizes that Nicholas is no longer interested, and therefore the money train is stalled on the tracks, he will, inevitably, create drama. I won't have it. I have accomplished too much to have it all fall down because of a hanger-on. " David replied as if this was the most normal of conversations.
Meredith stood in the doorway of his office, anger simmering under her skin. Her mama bear instincts were buzzing and she was afraid of what would come out of her mouth if she opened it now. She took a deep breath instead.
"Are we finished here, because I have a lot of work to do?"
"Not just yet, David. Can you tell me...give me one good reason to think that this relationship will crash and burn as you've predicted? Clearly you've had Jeffrey checked out, probably before you hung up the phone with whoever made you aware of Nick's interest in him. What, exactly, did you find that scares you?" Meredith calmly asked, but there was fire in her eyes.
"I've told you. He is not of our social status and ..." he began.
"DAVID!" Meredith yelled, appalled. "Thirty two years we've been together...THIRTY TWO! And never, have I EVER, heard you say something so unbelievably ignorant! I'm appalled and ashamed of you for this...this...complete act of stupidity! You will call Nicholas, right now, and apologize for this insanity, and tell him that you ... you...fell and hit your head or something!" she squawked. "Have you lost your mind?!"
David sat in his comfy $2500 desk chair, simply staring at his wife with wide eyes. He had never in all of their years together, seen her this upset, this aggravated with him. She had also never sided against him. THAT is what pissed him off.
"I'll do nothing of the sort!" he said, pounding his fist on the desk, making the supplies jump off the wood surface. "And YOU will know your place, Meredith! How dare you..."
"ME?" she took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "David, this is beyond horrible. This is...it's...you've hit a new low. I will not stand for it. And I will remember my place, husband, and at this time, that place is no longer at your side until you come to your senses! He is your SON, David. He is a human being with feelings and emotions and the biggest heart of any of your six children. Whether he realizes it or not yet, he is in love with that boy, and you will NOT ruin this for him!" she said, stepping out and slamming the door to the office.
She knocked quietly on Bailey's door, hearing the faint 'come in' and walked inside. Meredith took in the sight of her beautiful only daughter, her dark, naturally wavy locks hanging in her face which was clearly tear streaked now.
"I called Nicky." she sobbed. "I got his voicemail. I've never gotten his...his voicemail!" she hiccupped. "NEVER. He always picks up when I call. Even in the middle of meetings he's gotten up and walked out to answer my call. Do you think he thinks we're all against Jeff? I left a message...I told him I wanted to meet him, and not to let dad push him around. Jeff….he sounds...sounds so nice, mom. I don't remember ever hearing Nick sound this happy about anyone...about anything, for that matter. How can daddy be like this to him?" she wailed.
Meredith held her daughter tightly in her arms, knowing that she and Nick had a bond the others didn't. Bailey told him everything, and he told Bailey...a lot. Their age difference, although only 8 years, was still significant. At least she hoped Nick had enough sense to keep SOME things back! She smiled, glad that Bailey had called him, and aware of the reason Nick probably didn't answer. Chances are, Jeff was there, and right now, things were probably a little crazy.
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"Jeff! Jeff please...ok, wait. Sit down. Just...PLEASE!" Nick begged.
"Nicky...it's ok." Jeff started.
"NO! No it's not ok! I don't know where he's coming from, I don't know what started this, and to be blatantly honest, I don't give a damn! I'm a grown man, Jeff. I decide what my life is, not him. He may be my father, but he certainly doesn't have this kind of control over me. If he thinks he does, or he should, he's in for a rude wake up call! And frankly, I'm a little scared that after one uncomfortable phone call, you're ready to walk out on me…Jeff….please. Don't leave." He pleaded.
Jeff didn't know what to think...what to do. He sat on the edge of the bed recalling the conversation that he was able to hear between Nick and his father.
"Do you think that? Do you think I'm here for your money?" Jeff asked, sadly.
"NO! Jeff...no. I've never thought that. I had no reason to. None of those guys at work know anything about me. They have no idea there's anything to me but that guitar, you couldn't have known!" Suddenly he laughed. "Are you? Is that why you wanted to talk to me that night? When Blaine sent you that photo, did I have a sign on my forehead that read 'might have money, jump onboard'?" Nick grinned.
"Nicky...no. Just...no. I've never had money. I've never been poor, but I've never felt like I was deprived of anything. It's never been an issue. My mom works, she's a teacher, I told you that. She doesn't make a ton of money, but she makes enough...and when my dad died, well, we ended up with a little money from that, but she shoved most of that away for my education. I make decent money, I can't complain. But it's not important to me...it's just...not." Jeff stated, matter of factly. "But I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to jump onboard you when I saw that picture" Jeff laughed. Nick smiled, finally. "But if walking away is what I need to do to prove that I don't want your money, then that's what I'll have to do. Screw the money Nick….it's not important to me. You…..YOU are important to me!"
"Jeff, I'd really like to forget the events of the past half hour and just...just move on. I warned you about my dad. He can be a real ass...again, this is why I'm here and he's there. I knew there was no way I could work with him, in close contact, on a daily basis. I'd have lost my mind, and probably any morals I started with. I won't lose you, Jeff. I won't. Unless you want to go. But I'll fight you on that, and you have my word on it." Nick smiled at him, so much adoration in his eyes that Jeff thought he might just melt.
"I don't want to cause problems with you and your family, Nick...I really don't. If this thing we have...if it's going to cause problems, then we need to really talk seriously about it. They're you're family, Nick. This is a big thing!"
Just then, Nick's phone buzzed with a text message from somewhere across the room where he'd thrown it. Retrieving it, he found two missed calls and a few texts in the last 15 minutes. What was going on? So, his curiosity got the better of him, and he picked up his phone. And smiled. A big, mind numbing smile that made Jeff's whole being just...sing.
2:12 pm from Bailey: Nicky you didn't answer my call. Please pick up. Dad's wrong! And I told him so!
2:14 pm from Mom: Nicholas, please call me when you have a minute. We need to speak about this rubbish with your father.
2:20 pm from Robby: Nick, dad's a dick. Ignore him. The rest of us do! :)
2:21 pm from Danny: The opinions of the patriarch in this family do not necessarily represent those of the rest of the household.
Grinning madly, he handed the phone to Jeff, whose eyes became misty as he read the texts.
"They haven't even met me...how do they...why..." Jeff muttered out.
"Yeah...well, they've met me...and I've talked to them about you...well, mom and Bailey anyway, and they know how I feel about you. Actually...Rob and Danny know how I feel because...they...um...when we were uh...on the phone...and you were teasing and I was on the balcony and I thought the door was closed but...I'm an idiot, and it wasn't so they...uh...heard." Nick blushed deeply.
"Oh my GOD are you kidding me?!" Jeff yelled, laughing. "Well now I don't know if I ever want to meet them. That kind of requires eye contact, which is something I may never be able to do! Oh my god, Nicky!" he grinned, blushing.
"You think I didn't get razzed for it? It was awful! They keep calling me 'Nicky' now...and I'm only your Nicky..." Nick said softly. "The bottom line is that they trust my judgement...and I trust you, Jeff. Just...please don't walk away from us."
"And if your dad finds out?" Jeff asked.
"Then he does. Again, I'm a grown man, and he doesn't have any say in my private life. I want YOU in my private life, so he'll have to deal with it. Now...I believe we were a lot more comfortable and a lot less anxious before we were so rudely interrupted?" Nick smiled at him, easing back on the bed, and patting the space next to him. They curled up, spooning together, and pulled the comforter up around themselves.
"We gonna sleep all day?" Jeff asked, grinning.
"Who said anything about sleep?" came the reply.
"Cheeky!" Jeff laughed, burying his face in Nick's chest. He tried so hard to relax….to just calm down enough to drift off, but he couldn't. He'd heard Nick's dad. This wasn't going to be easy on Nick, and Jeff just hoped he knew what he was getting into with his father.
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"Evee…..honey, you have to let go" Maggie tried to tell her. Evee was having none of it. She still hadn't said a word, she was shaking like crazy, and Kurt was terrified for her. Their attempts at physically removing her were almost painful for him, so he could only imagine what it was like for her.
"Evee, we need to go to the hospital and let the doctor…um...look at mommy's eye, ok?" Maggie said, stretching the truth. In fact, the paramedics on site had already cleaned and stitched her wounded eye, but they were wary of leaving Evee without medical treatment. She was having no part of getting into that ambulance.
Maggie was pacing the sidewalk in front of their building. Josh had been gone for nearly an hour now, and they were still sitting there trying to maneuver the kids into the ambulance. Maggie was frazzled. Blaine was tired, but had run home long enough to put shoes and a shirt on. Sebastian had gone home to a totally confused Hunter, the latter having woken to find Seb gone and the front door wide open. Kurt was…Kurt was serene.
Blaine didn't get it. Last night he'd put his hands on Kurt's shoulders and he'd totally freaked out on him. Evee had been holding him around the neck now for the better part of an hour and a half and he seemed just fine with it. He wasn't sure whether he should be happy for Kurt or insulted.
"Ms. Jennings, I realize she's only 6, but we can't hold the squad here much longer. We have to do something…" the paramedic explained.
"Maggie…what if…can I go?" Kurt asked. He glanced at the paramedic who shrugged and gave a bored look. "Hey, whatever works. Climb on in, guys."
Kurt walked towards the ambulance and felt Evee's arms tighten up just a little bit more. Maggie looked from Kurt and Evee to Matthew and knew they wouldn't all fit in the ambulance together. Being away from her daughter, who was obviously frightened, was painful.
"Evee…I'm not letting go. I'm going with you. We'll just run on down to the hospital with these guys and they'll take a look at us and see what's going on…make sure we're ok, alright?" Kurt soothed. Evee didn't answer, but she did let up on the pressure around his neck a little bit.
Kurt climbed into the back of the ambulance, and an officer agreed to transport Maggie and Matthew in a squad car. At the tap on the window, Maggie startled. Blaine stood outside the door asking for her permission to open it; she nodded.
"How 'bout I ride with my buddy Matthew, here, and you can keep Kurt company in the ambulance?" he offered. Maggie gave Matthew a questioning look and he nodded his approval. She gave him a bright, beaming smile and thanked him. Blaine switched places with Maggie and she headed toward Kurt and Evee.
The doctor was a little confused at first when he saw the odd group. The little girl was holding on to the chestnut haired man for dear life, and when questioned, it was revealed that he was not her father, nor was he a close friend or relative. In fact, they'd just met that day, but she wasn't letting go.
"It's not uncommon, I suppose" the doctor said. "Mr. Hummel was the one who protected her from harm, so now she associates him with safety. After everything she heard and saw today, it's not surprising that she doesn't want to let go of that safe place."
He motioned for a nurse and they stepped outside the curtained off area to talk. When he returned, he explained to Maggie that they could possibly sedate Evee and check her thoroughly, thus letting her relax and let go of Kurt. Maggie wasn't thrilled with this idea, but after discussing it further, gave the doctor permission to do so. Unfortunately, it would take a while for the drugs to wear off, and they'd be stuck in that hospital room for longer than she'd planned.
Kurt, on the other hand, wasn't at all happy with the idea.
"I don't know….I mean, I realize I'm not…anyone, to Evee, but….don't you think that's a little extreme? Sedating her? Can you just….can you give me a minute in here…if everyone just goes outside for a few minutes?" Kurt asked.
"I think our best bet is to just…" the doctor began.
"No! Sedating as six year old is not the answer…at least I don't think so. Let me just talk to her for a few minutes, ok? Maggie?" Kurt said, giving Maggie a pleading look.
"Ok…" Maggie began. "Evee….baby, I'm just going to go sit in the hallway for a few minutes, ok?" she said softly in Evee's ear. Everyone filed out, Blaine giving Kurt a smile and a thumbs up when he left.
"Hey, Matthew, whadda ya say you and I go get something from the vending machines down the hall, bud?" Blaine said. Matthew readily agreed.
Kurt circled both arms snuggly around Evee's small body. She had stopped trembling now, but was still not letting go. Oddly, he was ok with this, and found it completely weird that he, of all people, was a source of comfort for someone. For the past year or more he'd been the one seeking comfort from everyone around him. It was an odd feeling, being the comforting one.
"Ev…hey. It's just you and me here now, ok? I don't want you to be scared or anything. I know this place is really strange. Have you ever been to a hospital before? I have. It wasn't so long ago, actually. I was really scared, too, and I'm a grown man. I get it, that you're kinda scared here, but the funny thing is, even if this place is weird to you, and the machines make funny sounds, and the people are all strangers….I know, I remember all that, but these people….they went to school for a long, long time to learn how to take care of people…big people, little people, old people…..young people like you. And you know what else?" Kurt rambled on, speaking in a low, soothing voice "people that become doctors and nurses…they don't do it because they want to tell people what to do, they do it because they're special…they like people, especially little people like you. They spend a lot of time learning how to make people like you and me better when we're not feeling so well…when we're having a bad day.
I know today was really bad, Ev. I was really scared when I saw you and Matthew at the door. Even though I'm a big guy, I was frightened. Big people get scared too, so don't worry about being scared. When I was in the hospital, I was pretty scared….not only because I was there, but because someone…..someone that I once thought was my friend did something really bad, and hurt me….really badly." Kurt felt his breath hitch, and his heart was beating out of his chest. He could feel it, and he knew Evee could as well.
"Ev….I can sit here with you all day, and if that's what you want, I will. But I know how strong you are. Blaine told me how much of a big girl you are, helping your mom out at home. He said you know how to cook mac n cheese and make scrambled eggs, is that true? 'Cause you know what? When I was little, my mom….she….she got sick…and she had to leave my dad and I….and my dad wasn't such a good cook, so I had to learn how to cook." He smiled. "I was only eight then…just a little bit older than you, but, even then, I didn't know how to make mac n cheese yet! That's pretty impressive!" he grinned.
"Blaine told me that you help out a lot with Matthew, too. I know, little brothers can be a big pain in the butt I guess. I don't have one, but I've heard all kinds of stories…" he trailed off. He thought, for a split second, that Evee's arms may have loosened just a little bit, so he kept talking.
"I bet it was bad to hear Josh yelling like that, especially at your mom, huh? 'Cause he was nice before, and then he came there today and he wasn't so nice anymore. Sometimes adults get upset, and they don't do it the right way. Instead of talking about it, they just yell, and that doesn't really help anyone. I guess it would have been better if he would have called your mom and said he was coming over, right? Then they could have sat down and talked about….." but he was cut off by a little voice.
"How did you get not scared anymore?" Evee whispered in his ear.
"Um…well, I um…..I talked to my dad some….he's kind of my best friend. He's a neat guy. You'll have to meet him sometime when he visits me. And I sang…a lot….to myself, actually. Do you sing?" Kurt asked her.
"When I sing, Matthew says I sound like a dying dog" she said matter of factly. Kurt giggled.
"I don't think that's true, though, is it?" he asked.
"Will you….will you sing for me Mr. Kurt?" she whispered, still holding on tightly.
Kurt was a little surprised…stunned, actually. They were in the middle of a hospital, after all, in the emergency room, with people all around. He hadn't sung for anyone but himself since Glee club in high school…but if that's what Evee wanted, and if it would make things better, he would sing.
"My mom used to sing this to me when I was scared. Her name was Elizabeth, my mom. She was pretty, like you….." he let it hang in the air for a minute and began singing softly at first, so only Evee could hear.
When you're weary
Feeling small
When tears are in your eyes
I will dry them all
I'm on your side
When times get rough
And friends just can't be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Evee seemed to let go a little bit and settled her head on Kurt's shoulder instead of having it pressed tightly to the side of his face and neck. He kept singing, unaware that he was attracting attention outside the curtains. He got up off the hospital bed where he'd been sitting and began to sway around the little curtained off area with Evee held tightly in his arms.
When you're down and out
When you're on the street
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you
I'll take your part
When darkness comes
And pain is all around
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Maggie was in awe. She was afraid to move the curtain, but it was clear that the angelic voice was coming from Maggie's little space. Blaine and Matthew had returned from the vending machines and were standing next to her. Matthew, focused on his Snickers, paid little attention, but Blaine was stunned. It seemed that activity in the E.R. was slowly coming to a halt as everyone slowed to hear the beautiful melody from cubicle 4. Blaine was finding it hard to breathe, and Maggie was quietly sobbing outright. He reached over and grabbed her hand and they stood, listening, a small crowd slowly forming around them outside the curtains.
Kurt continued with the song, nearly struck dumb when Evee took up the next verse with him, singing pretty well for a six year old. Her little voice was sweet and hesitant, but she knew all the words, and Kurt had to hold back tears. She was letting go….her hold on his neck nowhere near as tight as it was when they'd come in. Her voice was soft, but what surprised him the most was that she knew this song…of all songs. It wasn't exactly new.
Sail on Silver Girl,
Sail on by
Your time has come to shine
All your dreams are on their way
See how they shine
If you need a friend
I'm sailing right behind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
They let the last note hang on for a bit, Kurt smiling down at her and Evee finally lifting her eyes to his. She had let go, completely, and was now just being held by Kurt, still swaying in their curtained off world. She put a hand to his cheek and smiled at him.
"My Grammy used to sing that song to me and Mattie all the time. She said it's Simon and Garfield."
Kurt almost choked.
"Garfunkel, honey….Simon and Garfunkel. You have an amazing little voice in there. Do you sing at school?"
"Sometimes…we sing silly songs at school though, not Simon and Garfield."
"I'm really impressed, Ev….that was….that was very nice. Thank you for singing with me." He smiled at her.
"You have pretty eyes, Mr. Kurt. What color are they?" she asked. "They're not blue, but they're not green, but they're not grey….it's like a rainbow in there."
Kurt was bewitched. When she finally smiled at him, he lost his heart to a girl for only the second time in his life….the first, being to his mom years ago.
"Think we should go find your mom? I think she'd want to know that you're feeling a little better, ok?" Kurt asked her.
She tensed a little bit, but Kurt reassured her.
"If you don't want to we can just hang here until they get back? I can ask a nurse to get your mom, too, if you want to see her?"
"Ok….just…will you stay here until she comes back?" Evee asked him.
"Absolutely, I wouldn't leave you alone here, ever. Ok, just one sec…let me stick my head out and…OH!" Kurt jerked back from the small crowd of people outside the curtain he'd just pulled back. He hadn't realized until now how quiet it had gone around them.
"Um….Maggie…she uh….what's going on?" Kurt asked, confused.
"Impromptu concert, apparently." Blaine smiled. "Kurt….wow…that was….amazing!"
The small crowd clapped softly for a minute, nurses and orderlies smiling brightly at him, then began to disperse. Evee sat on the hospital bed looking around Kurt for her mom, who then came in and sat next to her, Blaine and Matthew tagging behind.
"This is boring!" Matthew said loudly.
"Uh….well, if your mom says it's ok, you can come home and hang with me for a little bit? I don't have to work tonight…we can chill and do some 'dude' stuff if you want?" Blaine said.
Maggie rolled her eyes at Matthew and then cast Blaine a thankful glance.
"Matthew….listen to Blaine, ok? He's in charge tonight. I don't want to hear any crazy stories of wild parties and beers, ok? I know how you are, little man!" she joked with Matthew. "You keep him in line, Blaine" she said seriously.
"No problem. I'll see you back at home, Evee. You hang in there, baby girl…you're doing just fine, k?" Blaine said to her. Before he stepped away, the doctor slipped back in the curtained off area.
"K, Mr. Blaine." Evee smiled at him sweetly. She still clung shyly to her mom who was still sitting next to her on the bed when the doctor stuck his head back in.
"Well! It looks like things are going much better in here now!" he smiled brightly at her. "It seems Mr. Hummel is a miracle worker?" he grinned.
"Uh…no…I don't….know about that. We just had a little talk…shared a few things in common, I guess."
"Mr. Kurt's friend hurt him really bad and he had to go to the hospital" Evee said quietly, innocently.
Kurt sucked in air and his eyes flew wide. He hadn't been aware of the crowd outside the curtain when he and Evee were talking, and honestly, he wasn't even sure she'd heard a word he said until now. All eyes turned to him, and thankfully Blaine stepped in to curb what could have been a totally awkward moment.
"Sometimes people we know do things we don't expect, Ev….and sometimes they hurt us, but we have to be strong and ask people for help to make it better. We have to lean on other people who can be strong while we don't feel so strong. Just like you were able to lean on Mr. Kurt."
Evee reached out for Kurt's hand and he flinched away, finally admitting that his hand was bruised and swollen. Up til now it had been the least important thing on his mind. He clasped his right hand with hers instead and gave her a loving smile.
"I think, perhaps, it wouldn't be a bad idea for you to have an x-ray done on that hand, Mr. Hummel?" the doctor stated with a raised brow.
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After a movie, pizza, nachos and rootbeer floats, Matthew was snuggled up in bed, in the spare room. Kurt was home, hand in a brace due to a sprained wrist and chipped bone in the knuckle of his left hand, and he was situated on the sofa with Blaine watching TV. Blaine had called Jeff to tell him of the days' events, and to make sure it was ok for Matthew to crash in "Jeff's room" for a night. Jeff was going to stay at Nick's apartment, for which he was falling over himself apologizing.
"Blaine, I'll come back first thing in the morning, I swear….I feel so bad that I was gone all day today and all night last night. I came to visit YOU after all…" he began.
"Jeffie?" Blaine interrupted.
"Uh huh?"
"Do you loooooove him?" Blaine teased him, grinning. For a few seconds there was silence….then a sniffly laugh….a hiccup.
"Is it too soon to know that, Blainers?" Jeff asked him. They both already knew the answer.
"No, it's never too soon to know it, only too late to realize it, I think." Blaine answered.
"This isn't going to be an easy relationship, Blaine. There's a lot I need to talk to you about….some things that aren't going to be smooth sailing, bro. I have to talk to Nick about what I can say….but I need your take on some stuff. It's important, Blaine. ….really important to me."
"Jeff, take your time. I'll be here, when you feel like coming back. I have my hands full here, anyway, so don't stress about this, ok? I'm not upset in any way, I just want you to spend time with him while you can."
"You're the best, B….just…..thanks. Really….thank you. I love you, man." Jeff smiled into the phone.
"Love you back, Jeffie. Get some sleep, k? You sound exhausted." Blaine told him.
"Can't be exhausted…spent the whole day in bed…." Jeff snickered.
"Annnnnnnnd, TMI…..I'm out!" Blaine laughed, then disconnected the call. He shook his head grinning at the phone. Kurt laughed at him when he'd hung up.
"TMI?" he questioned.
"I said he sounded exhausted, and he said he couldn't be exhausted, they spent the whole day in bed…so yeah, TMI!" Blaine laughed.
"You wanna know….you KNOW you wanna know!" Kurt laughed out loud, wiggling his eyebrows.
"Maybe, but not when Nick's sitting right there!" Blaine laughed.
"I like him….Jeff that is." Kurt said, smiling at Blaine. "He makes you smile….real, genuine, light up your eyes smiles. They look good on you" Kurt told him from the other end of the sofa.
"He's one of the best guys I know. His heart is so big….he cares so much about people. I've seen him get hurt so many times because he's just so damn nice…..I hope Nick is what he needs. Maybe they're what they both need?" Blaine smiled. "I don't know a whole lot about Nick, but I think he's a decent guy from what I can tell. Jeff says he doesn't talk openly about his 'career' choices, but who am I to say what he should be comfortable talking about?"
"So, what, you're afraid Jeff's holed up in some tiny, shithole apartment with some guy who thinks he should play guitar in a band for the rest of his life?" Kurt asked.
"Nope, not afraid. If that's what Jeff wants, then that's what I'm ok with. Jeff's not like that. His whole perception of Nick will be what's in his heart, in his head, and it won't matter one bit what's in his checking account, if anything." Blaine explained.
"As it should be, then?" Kurt questioned.
"He'll stick with what's important. He loves Nick….wow…a lot. I've known him for years and I've never heard 'that' in his voice before. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for 'em. He said there's a lot to talk about, though. We'll see what that's about I guess. SO! How's the hand, Kurtie?"
Kurt smiled at the nickname. He was never one for nicknames, but this came out more like a term of endearment, and he was quite ok with that.
"Throbbing, actually." Kurt answered. They gave me pain pills, but they say 'may cause drowsiness' on the bottle. I don't want to crash out on you again tonight!" he smiled at Blaine.
"I don't recall complaining?" Blaine grinned at him. You're always welcome to crash here anytime, ok?"
"Noted…" Kurt grinned, glancing at the door when he heard a knock. Blaine got up to answer it.
"Sebastian, how's your jaw?" he said when he opened the door.
"Good….merely a fleshwound!" he said in his fake British accent, making Blaine laugh. "Just wanted to stop over and see how the kids are doing….how Maggie's faring. Have you heard from her?"
"Matthew is asleep in my guest room." Blaine explained. "Maggie called about an hour ago to say they want to watch Evee overnight. Apparently when the kids took off from their room, Josh knocked her down before she could get out of the hallway and she hit her head. I'm just grateful he didn't come after them and he stayed in the apartment."
"What about the apartment door?" Seb asked.
"Helen said they've sort of makeshift locked it until the owner can come tomorrow to get it repaired. She's going to keep an eye on it tonight and keep the front door locked. Apparently it's supposed to be that way, anyway, and the other tenants have just gotten lazy with locking that front door."
"Any word on the boyfriend?" Seb asked.
"Not that I know of. I guess they'll talk to Maggie about it?" Blaine said. "Hey, and thanks again for your help this afternoon, both of you guys….I don't know what I'd have done without you." Blaine smiled.
"Both?" Seb asked. Blaine moved aside to show Kurt sitting on the end of the sofa, waving his fingers at him and smiling like the cat who ate the canary.
"Oh…hey Kurt." Sebastian said with a weak smile in his direction.
"Sebastian….." Kurt let the word drift away and smiled politely, hoping Seb would drift away as well.
Clearly, Seb wasn't expecting Kurt to be there. Now that he was, Seb's interest wasn't nearly as peaked as it had been. Didn't matter…he was expecting Hunter to show up soon, anyway, and after the events of the early morning, he thought it best not to be standing in the hall talking to his "new neighbor" when Hunter arrived.
"Well, keep me posted. I hope they're all ok. See you guys around." He smiled. Oh that damn meerkat smile…Kurt thought.
"Yep….take it easy, Seb…" Blaine said, closing the door. "See?" he said, smiling widely at Kurt.
"See what? That you may as well be a pork chop dangling in front of a starving dog?" Kurt replied dryly.
Blaine laughed and shook his head. "He's seen you here now…and I didn't invite him in, so he will hopefully figure out it's not something he should push, right?"
"You're giving him too much credit and WAY too much humanity I'm sure." Kurt snarked. "The minute I'm gone he'll be on you like white on rice, Blaine. We both know it's true."
Blaine just smiled and took in a deep breath, sitting down on the sofa again. He looked at Kurt for a long while, just watching the way Kurt's lips moved when he talked, the way he ran his fingers through his hair when he was excited about what he was saying, the way he licked his lips when he was nervous. Blaine was enchanted. His mind drifted….
"…..so I said I'd do it, and now I'm really behind. I'm freaking out because I know this is going to set me back!" Kurt rattled off, gesturing to his injured hand. "Did you catch a word of that? Blaine?" he waved his hand in front of Blaine's eyes to get his attention. Blaine's head was cocked to one side and he had a really dopey grin on his face.
"Huh? Oh…shit….I'm sorry, I zoned out there…I was…..um…." he stuttered out.
"You were…uh…what?" Kurt teased him.
"I was staring, alright? I was watching you, watching your mouth while you were speaking. Clearly you've never done that or you'd know just how sensuous your mouth is, Kurt." Blaine blurted out without thinking. "Oh my God…I…..um…." he faltered.
Kurt blushed to the roots of his hair and bit his bottom lip, his smile lighting up the whole room. He was at a loss for words.
"Kurt, I don't mean to make you uncomfortable, I'm sorry…I just…do you have any clue how beautiful you are?" Kurt's eyes went wide at Blaine's words. "You don't, do you. Wow…Kurt." He said, taking in a huge breath, willing his heart to slow down a bit. "I could just sit here and stare at you all night." He said, wearing his heart on his sleeve.
"That would require me staying all night here again, though" Kurt said, being cheeky and flirty.
"Yeah….I guess it would." Blaine grinned. "Unless, of course, you don't want to hang out with me tonight?"
"I should go lock my door, probably, if I'm going to stay any longer."
"I'll wait. I'll be right here on the sofa waiting on you to return." Blaine said playfully.
"Do you think it's ok? I mean, with Matthew here and all….I don't want Maggie to get upset with you…with me…with us." Kurt said, worried.
"Are we going to give her something to be upset about? I was thinking of a movie and talking more…..what were YOU thinking, Kurt?" Blaine teased.
"I was thinking I need to lock my door!" Kurt squealed, and fled to his own apartment, hearing Blaine snickering behind him. "Shut up, Porkchop!" he laughed.