Sweet mother of all things holy...it's a chapter of Crowded House. Nobody panic. :o Ok, well, I'm sorry. I lost it for a bit...the muse for this one. I also went back to work and their idea of "part time" is 40-45 hours a week most weeks. But, I've promised some of you that it would never be abandoned, and that's still my plan...to finish it, preferably sooner rather than later. So...here's more. A huge thanks to all of you who've read the two or three shorter stories I've posted since last May when this one last updated. God love ya...your feedback and messages have been amazing. I can't begin to tel you how much I appreciate the messages...especially the "Hey, just checking on you to see if you're still around and ok...". You guys are awesome, and you have my thanks. :)
When last we saw our Crowded House family:
Blaine & Kurt: Kurt is just home from Paris Fashion Week and he finds Blaine in Lima with Burt after Burt's accident during the storm which damaged the Hummel home. Blaine's wrist is nearly healed from his fall down the steps when he caught Kurt dancing and singing to One Direction in the kitchen...
Sebastian & Hunter: Sebastian is in London with the governor on business. He left Hunter at home with strict instructions to take care of himself while he's gone, especially after Hunter (stupidly) walked home from the hospital in the freezing rain.
Nick and Jeff: Jeff's working on getting the school ready to open in the fall. Nick is building his real estate business, and he's considering bringing his brothers into the business. Nick's dad is still an issue, despite being in prison, because...you know...he's psychotic and all.
Trent and Thad: The boys are happily married and doing what newlyweds do.
Maggie and Cooper: Timeline...it's March and Maggie is due in two months! Cooper is thrilled with his little family, but wants to adopt Maggie's kids.
Ch. 107
"You're…this is…all of this?!" Blaine exclaimed, eyes wide and gaping at Kurt.
"Well, I mean…I guess I don't have to take all of it. If there's no room, we can always come back for—"
"Holy mother of all things holy, Kurt! You have enough clothing in here to outfit a third world country for a decade! What in the ever, loving—"
"Ok, ok, let's not be overdramatic…" Kurt drawled, looking down his nose at Blaine who was still standing at Kurt's closet door with his mouth resembling Mammoth Cave. "How…I mean…there's no way you've actually worn each piece of clothing in this…room. Jeez, Kurt, admit it, it's a ROOM, not a closet. I'm actually fairly speechless."
"Really, well you couldn't have proven it by me," Kurt deadpanned, eyes rolled toward the ceiling as he shook his head slightly. "Can we just…not? I thought we'd decided on renting a vehicle and driving back to New York and giving Finn my plane ticket?" Kurt was twelve kinds of exasperated already and didn't need any more of Blaine's harassment over his closet…even if it was the size of a small bedroom on its own. Ok, there, he'd said it. His closet was monstrous. He'd expertly talked Burt into making the home's smaller, fourth bedroom into a closet and putting a door between the two rooms. He had needs. Blaine could just shut it. "We can just rent an SUV or a van or some—"
"Good LORD, Kurt…" Blaine went on, still shaking his head in disbelief as he walked inside and ran his fingers over the clothing, each piece lovingly hung on a padded hanger. He was certain Kurt would be able to pick out any item of clothing in a split second, knowing very well that he had some sort of "filing system" going on in there.
"You were wearing my jeans at the shop, Blaine. Surely you noticed—"
"Kurt, those jeans were in the ACTUAL bedroom closet…the one which was built when the house was built. I had no reason to open this door. Besides…" he faltered, blushing. "It sorta stuck when I tried it and I figured it was locked."
"That's the house…it settles…I think the door swells when it's damp outside and with all the rain…"
"Be that as it may, Kurt, there is absolutely no way this much clothing will fit in the back of an SUV. We'd seriously have to rent a small moving truck to get everything back home in one trip. I know you, Kurt, and you'd insist on wardrobe boxes so everything could hang properly and those things take up a lot of room. You can't really stack them…" Blaine trailed off, running his fingers down the sleeve of a jacket that had caught his eye. "Westwood?" He asked, eyes sparkling. Kurt merely grinned and nodded.
"Vintage. Bought it with my first credit card when I was in high school. I can't bear to part with it."
"I don't blame you, it's stunning. Do you want to take the boxes, too? What's in all of these?" Blaine asked, crouching down to examine colorful storage boxes and totes under the hanging clothing.
"Um…shoes, scrapbooks, magazines, mementos…" Kurt trailed off, popping the lids on the totes and checking the contents. He and Blaine laughed over some old photos of the New Directions and Kurt pointed out "his girls", Mercedes, Quinn and Santana.
"I don't see Rachel in any of these photos," Blaine commented.
"She left for New York right after high school and never looked back. We kept in touch, though, especially because she was still sort of dating Finn and he was still here. Of course she'd have to call me and make sure he wasn't seeing anyone else," Kurt said and rolled his eyes. "Didn't take long, though, before he had enough of the long distance and moved up there with her. OH! Look! Look look look! I want to show you…" Kurt trailed off excitedly as he bent to rummage through another tote, then another, on his quest to find what he was looking for. "Remember when we were baking at Christmas and you told me my mom should have been a baker and I said she'd worked at a school and that the kids sent me cards when she died? I saved them," Kurt smiled, biting his bottom lip.
"Of course you did," Blaine beamed at him, slipping his arm around Kurt's shoulders.
"They meant a lot to eight-year-old-me, though. Here! Here they are. Aren't they sweet?"
Kurt extracted the stack of hand-made cards which were tied together with an old, faded, red ribbon, and pulled the bow loose so that they spread out on the floor before them. Blaine lowered himself to sit with his legs crossed, just as Kurt had, and they flipped through the cards, Kurt saying what stuck out to him and made him keep each one.
"And this one had the most colorful butterfly on it…she outlined it in marker and colored it in with crayon. I thought it might be the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen," Kurt said, leaning his head on Blaine's shoulder.
"I think they're all pretty special and I can see why you kept them. This one's awesome, though…" Blaine said, grinning, as he opened the card with the guitar drawn on the front. "Although I've never played a guitar with eight strings before…" he snickered.
"Shut up, dork. That one was my favorite. I told you about it…that boy who told me…well, just read it," Kurt said, eyes bright as he shoved the card at Blaine. "Man, I haven't looked at these in forever."
Dear Kurt Hummel,
We are the same age. I am eight, too, almost nine now. I like music. I like to dance. Do you? I think we have a lot in common but Mrs. McNichols said I can not talk about sad things in my card. She said to make you think of good things about your mom if we can. She was a really nice lady and sometimes she gave me lunch money when I forgot mine at home. My mom has been forgetting a lot of things since my da…
There were some words scratched out, artfully, and a purple colored heart drawn over the scratched out words so they'd look nicer. Blaine snickered. The childlike scrawl went on, though.
So I thought about this. Don't be too sad, because some day maybe you will see Mrs. Hummel again. Probably you just call her mom. She is watching over you every day and now she is your lucky charm. I have a lucky charm, too. I hope you are not sad for too long, Kurt. If you need help falling asleep because you are thinking about her just talk to her like she is there. It helps. I know this for sure.
Have a good day,
It was then that they both sharply inhaled, disbelieving the signature on the card. Kurt hadn't recalled the name that was signed, only the heartfelt message that was written. It was neatly signed by one Jeffrey S. Sterling, 2nd grade, Mrs. McNichol's class. Kurt burst into tears.
"Hunter?"
"S'bastian?"
"Baby, I've been calling you for two days with no answer. Are you at work?"
"No, no, m'home. Sl'ping."
"Hunter, are you…have you been drinking?" Sebastian asked, concerned with Hunters almost slurred speech.
"Huh? NO! No, Sebby, y' know I don't…don't drink hardly a' all…jus' don't feel good. Sleepin'…"
"Hunter? Honey, please. Did you go to work today?"
"No…haven't been out of bed today. Don't feel good. Tol' you."
"What doesn't feel good, love?"
"Head hurts…really cold…then hot. Chest hurts a little. Coughing. Drank some orange juice. Slept some. I'll try to go to work tomorrow."
"You don't work tomorrow, do you? Tomorrow's Sunday."
"No…tomorrow's Saturday, Seb."
"Hunter! You're freaking me out. Tomorrow is Sunday. When did you last work?"
"Um... Wednesday. Worked Wednesday night. Got called in after you left. Someone got sick…went home early…"
Sebastian took a deep breath and pinched the bridge of his nose. Hunter sounded horrible. His voice was scratchy and hoarse and Seb was having trouble even making out his words. He was across the damn ocean and his husband was so sick he didn't know what day it was. His heart hurt and he wanted nothing more than to be home to take care of Hunter, but he wasn't due home for another three days.
"Hunter, baby, have you eaten anything since you worked…Wednesday?"
"Um…had some soup, but I threw it up. Can't keep food down. S'ok, Sebby. Just a little um…a cold or somethin'. I'm ok…how's work? Is everything ok?"
"Hunter…when did you have soup?"
"When I came home yesterday…Thursday morning."
"Yest- Hunter. Yesterday was Friday, I promise you. Today is Saturday. It's Saturday night there, babe. You haven't eaten in two and a half days?"
"Sebby…so tired." Hunter gave a huge yawn, then whimpered pathetically. "Hurts my throat to talk…and yawn. Gonna go, ok? Love you…be safe…come home soon, alright?" Hunter yawned again and Sebastian gritted his teeth, ready to scream at any minute.
"Is the door unlocked, Hunter?" Sebastian asked, beginning to panic.
"Dunno…maybe? I don't know if I can make it all the way out there. So tired. Gonna go. Love you."
With that, the line went dead and Sebastian let out a string of curse words that'd make a sailor blush. He paced the floor in his hotel room, knowing he'd delivered Governor Harris to his room safely and he wasn't on watch at the door until the following day. Three more days. Three days he was supposed to sit in London, knowing his husband was very ill, and do nothing? Not likely.
"….so then I wake up and there's Blaine, slumped over and asleep in the chair next to the hospital bed and the nurse is grinning a little too wide for my liking at my future son in law," Burt grinned. Blaine turned as red as ripe tomato and shook his head, biting his bottom lip. He hadn't known any of this and wasn't thrilled at all to be hearing it now, over dinner, with Kurt sitting right there.
"Oh my God, can we not?" Blaine begged.
"Brandon seemed to take quite a shine to your boy, Kurt. I would have loved to see you shut that down Kurt Hummel style," Burt teased. Kurt tried very hard to force a grin but it came out as more of a grimace.
"Oh? I didn't hear anything at all about a 'Brandon', Blaine?" Kurt teased, tilting his head and giving him an exaggerated grin.
Now everyone at the table was staring…Burt, Kurt, Carole, Finn…all of them staring at him.
"That's because there was nothing notable about him! He came in when I first got there, told me Burt wasn't unconscious, that he'd eaten breakfast, wasn't asking for extra medication, and then he left. That's about it. I don't remember even seeing him after that!" Blaine said, desperately trying to defend himself, and for what, he wasn't sure. Burt chuckled.
"Brandon was more than happy to lower the back of the chair and turn it so that Blaine wouldn't get a kink in his 'cute little neck' while he slept. Even went in search of an extra pillow and a blanket for his new found friend, here," Burt teased.
"Ok, enough of that already!" Blaine blurted, still red in the face. "I don't know what he was after but surely I wasn't after him!" Blaine said, rolling his eyes. Kurt gave him a silly 'oh, sure you weren't…' look and went back to eating.
"So the van is packed and you're all ready to go in the morning, then?" Carole asked, thankfully changing the subject.
"All packed and almost all loaded up. I need to move some things around and use the space better. There are a few things I couldn't fit but we'll get them on the next trip in, I guess, if we can't fit 'em in the truck in the morning," Kurt said, looking a little sad to be leaving some of his things behind again. He'd packed up everything he deemed 'absolutely necessary' though, and they'd loaded up a cargo van to drive home to the city. Blaine rolled his eyes and tried to hide a snicker. "Oh YOU just shush!" Kurt reprimanded him.
"I have never, in all my life, seen a closet like that, Kurt. You put my mother to shame, and that's saying something!" Blaine laughed. "And Carole, this was absolutely divine and I hope you'll give me the recipe before we go? Maybe I can make it for Kurt for dinner one night?"
"Oh! Thank you, Blaine! I'd be happy to," Carole grinned.
"And I've made your grandmother's blueberry pancakes half a dozen times since you gave me the recipe. Burt can't get enough of them!"
"Oh? Like father, like son, then. Seems Kurt can't get enough of 'em either," Blaine smirked, shooting a knowing look at Kurt, who suddenly found the wood grain of the table to be the most interesting thing around.
Every time Kurt ate those damn pancakes he couldn't help thinking of that very first day Blaine had brought them over to the apartment. Kurt had been having an absolutely scandalous and sexy dream about Blaine until his alarm had gone off and stripped him of, what he was sure would've been, an absolutely steamy session. It always turned him on to think back to that when he was eating Blaine's pancakes and Blaine was well aware of it. In fact, Kurt suspected Blaine made them on purpose, knowing Kurt would have him flat on his back in a matter of minutes.
"Look at these two…almost matching shades of red!" Burt exclaimed, laughing at the two boys. "What don't we know about these pancakes, Blaine? Do you put something extra special in the batter for Kurt?"
Blaine's head shot up, his first thought being anything BUT pure, and gave Burt a horrified stare, mouth gaping open and pleading for the gods to confirm that Burt was indeed not suggesting what Blaine thought he was. He shook his head side to side frantically, eyes comically wide and mouth still round with awe.
"Wh-what? Oh…oh my God, no. NO…just…just the regular recipe!"
"Then why's my son look like a cooked lobster over here? His face is almost as red as yours was Wednesday night when he called you and—"
"OK! That's quite enough of that little trip down memory lane. Carole, thank you, dinner was fantastic. I'll excuse myself now," Blaine choked out, nearly upending his chair as he stood quickly, set his plate in the kitchen, and almost ran for the stairs. Kurt's eyes were as big as saucers. Surely Burt wasn't about to blurt THAT out?
"DAD! Oh my God, stop!" Kurt hissed, giving Burt the hard stare.
"No way, Kurt," Finn laughed. "What did we miss, Burt? Enquiring minds want to know," he grinned, still shoveling food in his mouth. Carole also gave Burt an interested look, batting her eyelashes at him. When he thought Kurt wasn't paying attention Burt mouthed "later" to Carole…but Kurt caught him. Burt just shook his head with laughter at Kurt's murderous glare.
When Kurt finished his food and excused himself, Burt winked at him as he left the dining room and headed upstairs to find Blaine.
"Blaine?"
"In here…" Blaine called from the bathroom off of Kurt's bedroom.
"Oh…I'm sorry, I didn't mean to barge in—"
"You're not…I'm not going or anything, Kurt," Blaine snickered. Kurt pushed the door open a foot or so and saw Blaine leaning on the sink, obviously having splashed water on his face.
"I'm sorry about him," Kurt said softly, unsure if Blaine was truly upset.
"He's great, Kurt. I really mean that. He's the best, so don't apologize for him. He's just teasing, and I know this. I'm not upset at all."
"But he's obviously embarrassed you…your face is still bright red."
"A little…but he does it from a place of caring. I know, just from spending the week with him, that he wouldn't harass me if he didn't like me. You're so lucky to have him, Kurt. He really, truly loves you so much."
"I am, and I know it," Kurt replied, taking the few steps toward Blaine to snuggle up behind him and lay his head on his fiancé's shoulder, meeting the man's eyes in the mirror. "And he loves you, too, Blaine."
"I'm glad. I really am, because between Wednesday night and the incident in our kitchen at Christmas, there's no way he'd let you keep me if he didn't." Both of them burst out laughing and giggling, leaning on one another.
"Cooper…will you grab the door?" Maggie yelled. They'd ordered pizza for a movie night with the kids and everyone was anxiously awaiting its arrival.
"Absolutely, babe," Cooper answered, slipping up from behind to loop his arms around her, resting on her round belly as he kissed her cheek and made her smile back at him. He couldn't believe how the time had flown by so quickly. In a matter of only a couple of months they would welcome their new baby into the world and he was just a little over excited about it. "Anything for my beautiful wife," he sang out, heading for the door. Waiting for him on the other side was someone he hadn't expected to see, again, though…and surely not outside his door.
"Hey…" Cooper said cautiously, eyes a little narrower than they'd been seconds earlier. The man nodded with a wry grin and knew immediately that Cooper remembered him. It was clear that the questions in Cooper's mind were about to tumble out of his mouth when the pizza guy showed up, trotting up the stairs to the landing.
"Two large pizzas, garlic knots and a 2 liter of Coke for Anderson?"
"Yeah…uh…" Cooper fumbled, not taking his eyes off the other man in the hallway. What the hell was this guy doing here anyway? "How much?" he asked the pizza guy.
"Forty-two fifty."
"Uh…yeah…here," Cooper mumbled, handing the guy two twenties and a ten. "Keep the change."
"Awesome, thanks man. You have a good night," the pizza guy told him, unnerved a little with the way the two men in the hallway were examining each other as if under a microscope. Cooper just nodded in his direction, never taking his eyes off of the man standing outside his door.
"Dad? Was it the pizza guy?" Mattie called from the sofa, sitting up on his knees and looking over the back toward Cooper. Both men in the hall turned to see him at the same time. Cooper didn't miss the slight intake of breath from his guest.
"I don't want to be rude or anything…Robert, was it? But what the hell are you doing here? Did you follow us home from the sports bar that day or-?" Cooper asked, unnerved and increasingly uptight.
"No," Robert said softly, a small smile forming on his lips as he looked past Cooper ever so slightly to see both little faces now peering at them from over the back of the sofa.
"Honey, did you want me to take the food or som—" Maggie began to say as she approached the door as well. She paused, mouth still open around the rest of the word, but unable to finish. Her heart began to pound and her breathing became a bit unsteady. All at once her world flipped upside down as Evee broke into tears and ran to her room, slamming the door harshly. Mattie stayed in his spot, unmoving, unsure what was happening.
"Hello, Maggie," the man said and Cooper suddenly stood a bit taller and his easy going grin was suddenly just a memory.
"Greg…" she breathed out, heart still pounding in her rib cage.
"Greg?" Cooper asked. "He said his name was Robert."
"I'm sorry for that, Cooper. Really I am, but what would you have said if I'd walked up to you and Blaine in the sports bar and told you who I really was?"
Cooper thought his words over for a few seconds, then nodded, suddenly uncertain and uptight. What the hell was Maggie's ex, Mattie and Evee's dad, doing on their doorstep.
"I…I'm going to…uh…let me just put this down," Maggie stumbled through her words, taking the food and carrying it to the kitchen. She set everything on the counter, leaning in with both arms as she took a deep breath and headed back out to the door. Cooper and Greg were still standing there just staring at one another.
"Um…perhaps you'd like to come in? I can't imagine you came all this way to stand in the hallway?" she asked, unsure if it was the right thing to do. Cooper didn't move an inch, blocking the door. "Cooper?" she said, uncertain as to why he wouldn't allow Greg inside.
"First, I'd like to know why this guy approached Blaine and me in a sports bar, lied to me about who he was, followed me around for a week, then has the gall to show up at my home," Cooper said, his voice even, but Maggie could clearly see that he was anything but calm, and she understood better, now. Cooper hadn't mentioned the guy at the sports bar to her, and really didn't feel the need to mention that he'd also seen the man again around town a couple of times. All of this was news to Maggie, obviously. "Care to explain yourself…Greg?" Cooper asked, his voice a tad menacing.
"You have every right to question me, Cooper…every right. Believe me, I'd be doing the exact same thing if I were in your shoes…and I kind of am, aren't I?" Greg asked. "You're right. I approached you and Blaine when I was already well aware of who both of you were. I did lie about my name…sort of. Robert is my middle name, actually, but I had no ill intentions in doing so…just buying myself some time, really."
"Buying time for what? So you could swoop down on me in my home and…and what? I'm dying to know, so please, don't drag it out. The suspense is killing me," Cooper said evenly, his voice calm now and almost soothing. All he could think of was the kids in the apartment and he didn't want to scare them. "I mean, like I said, I've seen you all week, so I knew you were following me, I just had no idea who you were. I'd like to say it all makes sense now, but I'd be lying. If you've come back for Maggie and the kids, you're out of luck, buddy, because that ship has sailed and you'll have to kill me a dozen ways to get rid of me. They're MY family now, Greg. I don't know that we have much more to speak about, do we?"
"Cooper…" Maggie said softly, laying her hand on his shoulder. "Honey…I wanted to tell you, but I…I didn't know how to…I mean, I wasn't sure if…and then I thought I'd just sort of surprise you if…if um…" she paused, stuttering through her words, but looking Greg in the eye with a searching gaze.
"I'm waiting," Cooper said, staring at Greg and not moving an inch. Greg just looked to Maggie, who finally nodded her permission.
"Maggie called me, Cooper. She uh…" he began, rubbing his hand along the back of his neck, seeming uncertain. With a deep breath he continued. "She said you wanted to adopt the kids. Now I may not be the world's best dad-" Greg began, and Cooper scoffed and rolled his eyes. He felt trapped and uncertain, and he was thrown well off his game. It was a feeling he hated right down to his core.
"Cooper, please…hear him out?" Maggie pleaded, fearing that perhaps Greg was there to talk things out and Cooper's hesitance might ruin it all. After staring holes through Greg's face, Cooper relented and stepped back to let Greg in. "Mattie, honey, would you go check on Evee and make sure she's feeling ok? Mommy and Coop need to talk to…Greg…for a few minutes. Thank you, buddy," she said as Mattie scampered off down the hallway, not wanting to take his eyes off of Greg for even a second.
"Ok, you're here, you're inside, you're sitting on my sofa. Please, by all means, talk. Tell me why you're here, Greg," Cooper requested.
"Cooper, I'm here because Maggie said you wanted to adopt my kids. As I started to say, I may not be the world's greatest dad, but I care about those kids, and I still care about Maggie. What kind of ass would I be if I didn't snoop around and see what sort of man wants to adopt my kids and raise them as his own? What kind of person says 'Oh, sure, here, they're only kids…' and hands them over, sight unseen, to a complete stranger? Yes, I've been in town for a little bit. Yes, I've followed you. Yes, I've asked questions about you to a lot of people. It's amazing what people are willing to spill if you only ask," Robert finished.
"And? I'm not some great, interesting person, Greg. I'm not sure what you were hoping to find."
"On the contrary, Cooper. You are quite interesting, indeed. In fact, I needed only to take a look at your Facebook page to see just how interesting you are, at least to my children," Greg grinned. "And you may not be aware of it, but you're loved by a lot of people…people you're related to, people you work with, people you interact with every day and you may not think you have any effect on them at all, but you do. Even the girl at your coffee shop speaks highly of you. And apparently you speak highly of my…" Greg paused, then regrouped and said "of the kids…to anyone and everyone."
"Of course I do!" Cooper boomed. "They're amazing kids, Greg! They're they joy of my life, along with Maggie. I love those little people with all my heart and I hope like hell they love me back even half as much! They're smart, fun, witty, entertaining as hell…they're honest and caring and beautiful. They take after their mother in so many things," Cooper said, impassioned, and shaking his head side to side as he extolled their many attributes. "How could I not love them?"
Greg watched Cooper's speech, heart in his throat, and nodded along. Maggie kept him up to date with emails about the kids and what they were up to. Many times he failed to even reply with so much as a "good to see they're doing well, thanks". But he was always happy to see them thriving and well. He dutifully sent his child support check every month, and even sent extra for birthdays and Christmas. He loved them and he didn't want them to go without. Living with him in California, however, was out of the question, and he knew there was no way Maggie would even consider it. They'd grown apart and it was nobody's fault…it just was. And Greg didn't even want to think, for even one second, about his kids meeting his mother. They'd probably turn to stone at the first glance.
"You're not wrong, Cooper. And although I don't know you nearly as well as Maggie does, I trust her judgment implicitly…and I don't think she'd ever suggest this…arrangement…if she didn't think you'd be better for them than…than I've been," Greg finished, clearing his throat. "But, that being said, I had to see for myself. I hope you can understand that."
Cooper was silent, unsure what he might say in reply. In the end he said nothing.
It was then that Cooper caught sight of Mattie, peeking out from Evee's room, his face solemn and unshed tears in his eyes. He stared hard at Cooper, lip trembling, as he tried to piece together what he'd heard in the living room with what Evee had said. That's our real dad, Mattie, and what if he wants to come back? What if he doesn't want Coop here with us? What if he says we have to move where he lives? She'd frantically whispered these things to Mattie, sad, scared and upset…and now Mattie was feeling the same emotions.
"Buddy…" Cooper said, soothingly. Mattie charged out of the room, a sob escaping his chest as he threw himself into Cooper's arms.
"Please…please, Coop. Don't go. We'll be good…the best kids you ever had. Don't leave. We just got you!" Mattie sobbed.
"Oh my goodness, little man…no. Absolutely not. I'm not going anywhere. I'm here for as long as you want me, buddy. We're best friends, you and me, right? Best friends don't just up and leave their best dude behind," Cooper soothed him, holding him firmly as Mattie straddled his lap and hugged him tightly around his neck. "I don't ever wanna let you go, Mattie."
Cooper gave a pointed look to Greg, who only nodded, a resigned look on his face as he reached inside his jacket and pulled out a worn looking envelope.
"I uh…I've looked over these papers a hundred times. I've read them over and over again. I've listed pros and cons and I've given myself more than enough time to consider every other option. A man doesn't just give up his children, Cooper. He just…doesn't. A good man will be there for those children even when their mother…" Greg said, yet paused, uncertain. "When HE and their mother can't seem to work things out. They're my kids, Cooper. Mine. They weren't mistakes. They weren't 'oopses'. They were wanted, they were and are loved, they are…mine," Greg finished.
Cooper bit his bottom lip, wanting desperately to jump in and rail that they weren't pieces of furniture you left behind in an old apartment, and to remind Greg that HE left them…but he knew Greg was right. They were his kids, and he paid dearly for them, every month without fail, and Maggie was clear about that. He breathed out a long sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose and prepared to reply, but Greg continued.
"But…be that as it may, I can't be here, in New York, with them. I left them…yes…I can see it running through your mind," Greg smiled sadly. "But I left them in good hands…the very best, and I knew they'd be well taken care of. Nobody will ever love them as Maggie does. She's the best mom I could have picked for them, hands down. And I can see…" he continued, but his voice was off now, a bit choked up. "I can see how much they care about you…how much you care for them as well. I can tell how much you love my kids, Cooper Anderson, and by all accounts you're a good man, a stand up guy, a kind, caring and conscientious individual. You tell everyone you meet about your fantastic, smart, beautiful kids, and for that I'll be forever grateful…because a man doesn't just hand over his children to be raised by just anyone. It takes a special kind of guy to pick up where another man left off and love someone else's children as his own. I think you're that guy, Cooper. Don't let me down."
Greg leaned in and handed Cooper the envelope. Coop opened it and pulled out the signed documents with tears in his eyes, afraid to speak because he knew he'd probably break down and squeak out his words. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Glancing over the words on the page, he realized that Greg did, indeed, sign over custody of his children to Cooper…and Maggie, of course. The lump in Coop's throat was so big he thought he'd suffocate. Instead of speaking he simply nodded and clutched Mattie, who didn't understand what had just happened.
"Forever, Mattie…forever, bud. You and me…" he managed to choke out into Mattie's hair.
Cooper wasn't even the least bit phased when Maggie stood and threw herself into Greg's arms, crying and thanking him profusely, relieved and elated that they could move on and put this behind them. They could be the family Cooper wanted to have, now, and the kids would be legally his.
"Thank you…thank you for this, Greg. You've made a lot of people happy, and I'm so grateful," she sobbed, squeezing him around the neck.
"I uh…he's a good man, Maggie. I've done my research, and aside from some philandering before he met you," he laughed, as did Maggie while rolling her eyes, "he seems to be a really great guy. I won't tell you who I spoke with or what I saw, but I have every confidence that he'll be a good dad to them. You picked a good one, Mag," he grinned, then stepped back. "But, seriously, a little warning about all this would have been appreciated," he grinned, motioning to her rounded belly. She just chuckled and rested her hand on it, proud to be carrying Cooper's baby.
"A couple of months left, yet," she grinned, happier than she could remember being in a long time.
Greg cleared his throat, getting Cooper's attention, then spoke mostly to Maggie. "I uh…I wondered if you'd be alright with…" he paused, unsure what Cooper and Maggie would think of his proposal, but unable to leave without asking. With a deep breath he asked his question. "I wondered if you'd be averse to me sending…things…still. I'd like to be able to send birthday gifts and Christmas gifts, if that's ok with both of you. I know…" he paused again, but continued almost right away. "I know I've signed the papers, but please don't think I'm happy about it. I know they love you, Cooper, and I think having you in their lives will be a huge positive…but I'm not 100% happy about the arrangement if it means I won't still receive emails and pictures regarding the kids and what they're up to. I hope I can continue to count on that much?"
Cooper looked to Maggie who gave him a look which said "that's up to you…" before giving it a moment's thought. He was being given the ultimate gift. This man was basically allowing him to have his children and raise them as his own. Nothing that happened would negate the fact that, biologically, Greg was their father, and Cooper tried to put himself in Greg's shoes before he gave an answer. Finally he spoke, hoping he wasn't making a mistake.
"I think…I think that'd be ok, if it's ok with Maggie. I can't imagine having these guys in your life and then walking away, completely, and never knowing what amazing things they're accomplishing in their lives. And…" he continued, again, hoping he wasn't making a mistake or overstepping, "I think, perhaps, if you'd like to visit now and again that'd be alright as well…again, as long as Maggie's ok with that."
With tears in her eyes, overwhelmed with the men in her life, Maggie nodded that she was on board, and moved to hug Cooper as Mattie jumped down from the sofa.
"Can I tell Evee?" Mattie asked, elated at the news. "Can I tell her that Coop's not leaving and we don't have to go away either?"
"I think that'd be a good idea, buddy," Maggie replied, sending him off to get his sister.
"Bailey, babe, slow down. I can't understand you," Nick said, giving Jeff a quizzical look. Bailey was rambling a mile a minute and accusing him of something, although he couldn't understand exactly what it was she was saying.
"Did you do it? Did you pay Tyler's tuition?" she asked, slowing her speech but still half out of breath.
"What? No, I…what do you mean? I wouldn't know the first thing about—" Nick began, but paused, giving Jeff a pointed look. "I didn't pay Tyler's tuition, Bailey, but hang on a second, will you?" Nick put her on hold and looked to Jeff with an expectant look on his face.
"Dude, wasn't me, don't give me that look," Jeff told him, hands out in front of him as if to ward Nick off. "I mean, I know, with the whole Naomi thing you might think so, but I've never even met the dude, so it wasn't me, honestly." Nick saw the validity of the statement and went back to his call.
"Bay, it wasn't Jeff, either, and you're on speaker now,"
"Hey, baby girl, how's things?" Jeff asked, grinning.
"Fantastic, Blondie, how are you feeling?"
"Can't complain, can't complain. So… how did this all come about?"
"Tyler's home on Spring Break and we went out to dinner tonight. We stopped back to his house afterwards. He got a letter in the mail from the school and when he opened it he nearly fell over dead, Nick. It says an anonymous benefactor has paid his tuition in full for the remainder of his schooling. He literally started sobbing, Nick…like…broke down in the living room and I had to call his mom home from work. He was beside himself, Bubby. It was totally weird but, I mean, I've seen him cry before and everything a few times, so it wasn't that, but he was just…so grateful. Ya know? He would have been paying off student loans for decades, Nick, and this is just a huge, huge thing. The only people I know with enough money or reason to do that is you and dad…" she said, not even registering what she'd said until the words were out of her mouth.
"Honestly, Bay, it wasn't me, and it wasn't Jeff…and I don't think—"
"It's a possibility, though, isn't it?" Jeff chimed in. "Your dad…he said he felt horrible about everything, especially about what happened to Bailey, and he would make it up to her or die trying. It's definitely a possibility, don't you think?" Jeff asked.
"If it was him, I swear to God, Nick, I'm—"
"Now, Bay, don't go off all half-cocked. Nobody in the world feels your anger as much as I do, believe me. I know you're upset with him, and I know what he did was 37 kinds of wrong, but he's paying for it, isn't he? He's been in prison now for almost six months and there is absolutely no way he's getting out any time soon…which begs the question…are you going to be in court when the trial begins?"
"I don't know. They've put it off so many times now that it seems like it'll never happen. I don't know if I can sit in the same room with him and not scream at him for everything. I…do you really think maybe he did this to make it up to me?"
"I don't know, and even if he did, and you asked him, he may not tell you the truth. He's a proud man, and admitting to something like that…well, I dunno. I'd just take it for what it's worth and enjoy it. I'm really happy for Tyler, Bay. He seems like a good guy, and you clearly love him."
"I do, Nicky. I really, really do. He's…everything. I know the likelihood of high school sweethearts making it is slim, but I really can't see myself spending my life with anyone but Tyler. He's amazing and so smart. He's going to be the best pediatrician and I just want to be there with him every step of the way, ya know?"
"Ok, well, this is beginning to freak me out a little because clearly you're growing up way too fast, so I'm gonna go, babe," Nick said, smiling fondly as he spoke.
"I guess that means I'm gonna go, too," Jeff grinned into the phone.
"I love you guys. I hope you're both doing well and being good to each other. I'm coming to visit, soon, ok?"
"You're always welcome, Bay. Love you," Nick said, then disconnected the call. He gave Jeff a curious look before speaking.
"What?"
"Do you think it might have been him?" Nick asked. Jeff just shrugged.
"I don't know, and obviously I can't just ask him, but…seriously, he was hell bent on making this up to Bailey and making sure she knew he still loved her even if she wasn't speaking to him. He said he had "wrongs to right", so it makes sense, doesn't it?"
"It does…but we may never know the truth, I suppose."
"Do you think they left us alone on purpose?" Kurt asked, clearly thrilled to have another night in his bed with Blaine.
"Your dad said he'd had this night planned for months. It's the anniversary of Burt asking Carole to marry him or something, and he – oh God yes, Kurt, please!" Blaine gasped, eyes clamped shut as his back arched off the bed. Kurt's hand covered his crotch over the bulge his jeans and he panted in Kurt's ear, hot breath ghosting over the sensitive spot between ear and shoulder.
"Please?" Kurt asked coyly, finagling the button and zipper slowly, taking his time and repeatedly running his fingers over Blaine's zipper.
"You're a tease, Kurt. What did I do to deserve being teased?" Blaine pouted. "I've done nothing but pack your – oh sweet mother of mercy…." He groaned as Kurt's wet mouth sheathed him in soft, hot suction.
"Mmmmmmm?" Kurt hummed, sending Blaine's eyes rolling to the back of his head as his mouth fell open and his breath hitched.
"P-perfect. So p-perf-fect, Kurt. More…"
Kurt worked him over, slowly bringing Blaine to the edge and then letting him come down, only to start over again. Blaine thought his brain might explode at some point when suddenly he was broken out of his happy place by Kurt's phone blaring to life on the nightstand. Carly Simon sung out "You're So Vain" at the top of her lungs and Blaine couldn't help but snicker.
"Ignore it…" Kurt said, mouth plunging back over Blaine's cock. The phone stopped ringing and Kurt took that as his cue to roll Blaine's balls in his palm, once again causing the man to gasp and arch his back in surrender. Then the phone rang again. Kurt groaned, glaring at the phone, but not stopping his rhythm.
"Sh-should you…um…ring…ringtone….whose…" Blaine tried to ask, but his mind was a blurry ball of mush as Kurt doubled his efforts to drown out the phone's noise. "Kurt?" Blaine said again, sharper now as it rang for the third time.
"Sebastian…" Kurt growled, as he lifted his face from Blaine's crotch momentarily, then dove back in. Blaine did his best not to laugh at how fitting the song title was, considering.
"D-do you th-think…im…important or…oh God, Kurt…like that, just…yes! Just like that…"
"Gonna KILL that man, I swear to God," Kurt grumbled, not even changing his tempo for a second as the phone rang a fourth time.
"K-Kurt, I think…th-think maybe…uh…." Blaine began, but then just slightly shifted and grabbed Kurt's phone from the nightstand, flicking his finger across the screen to answer. "Seb?"
"Blaine…are you home? Is…why are you answering Kurt's phone?"
"N-not h-h-home…" Blaine panted, trying hard to keep his voice steady.
"Fuck…FUCK!" Sebastian growled, and suddenly Blaine wondered if this wasn't a social call at all. "Can you go home or…I mean, I really need someone to check on Hunter, Blaine. He's really sick…he's fucking delirious or something. He hasn't eaten in days and…Jesus Christ, Blaine, are you two fucking? I'm having a god damned meltdown and you guys are fucking. Amazing…"
"N-no, um…we…" Blaine began, but Kurt upped his pace, dead set on making Blaine hang up the phone. "We uh…we…oh God, Kurt…Kurt please…w-wait…" Blaine asked, his mind saying one thing and his body saying another. "Kurt…" Blaine moaned, finally giving in and grunting and whining out a low 'uh…uh uh uhhfuckyes…' as his body fell over the edge into bliss. Kurt swallowed around him, massaging Blaine's deflating cock as the man panted above him, eyes squeezed shut tightly, attempting to remember that someone was on the phone, listening, and maybe…well, with Sebastian, probably…getting off on it.
"I call in desperate need of assistance and you two are fucking. Christ…who the fuck else is home in the god damned building!?" Sebastian roared, clearly unhappy.
"You'll recall that YOU interrupted US, Sebastian. We didn't call YOU in order to get off in your ear. In fact, I tried very hard to ignore your call at all, but Blaine is too much of a nice guy to ignore it the FOURTH TIME. Now what's so damn important?!" Kurt bellowed after grabbing the phone from a half unconscious Blaine.
"Where are you? Can you check on Hunter for me? He's really sick, Kurt. I'm…I'm beyond worried and I don't have anyone else's phone number in the building and I'm about to call his boss, Dr. McGinty, because Hunter's parents are out of town and you guys are…where the hell ARE you?" Sebastian bellowed, clearly on edge.
"We're in Ohio, currently in my bed. Thank you for this lovely chat RIGHT NOW, by the way. Now listen…get a pen. You have a pen?" Kurt barked, then thought better of it. "You know what, nevermind. Give me ten minutes and call me back, ok? I'm going to call Maggie…shit. I can't call Maggie. She's…she can't get sick, not now, not with the baby and the kids and…but there's nobody else home, Sebastian! Trent and Thad are in Atlanta this weekend for the wedding of one of Thad's old co-workers. I'll call Cooper. Um…ok, call me back in 10 minutes, ok?"
"I will, Kurt. Please, just…please ask him to go check on Hunter and, for Christ's sake, if he's not well, please just have him call an ambulance or get him to the ER. I…Kurt…he sounded so bad. I'm scared to death here, man. Please…just…ok. Thanks. Thank you. I'll call in ten. Thanks."
"Calling Cooper. Talk to you soon," Kurt said, then disconnected.
"Kurt! What's up almost brother in law?" Cooper answered, his voice somewhere between elated and giddy.
"We're…we're good, Coop, but this isn't a social call. You guys are ok, right?"
"We're all fantastic, man. What's up?"
"Um…will you go over and check on Hunter for me? Sebastian's in London and he just called in an absolute panic and said he'd spoken with Hunter and he's sick…like delirious kind of sick and he's not eaten in days. He's freaking out."
"I can do that, but…ok, hang on."
Kurt heard Cooper walking across the hard wood floor, then he heard the apartment door open and Coop walked out into the hall. He knocked on Seb and Hunter's door, then knocked again when there was no answer.
"Hunter? Hey…Hunter, it's me, Cooper. Will you open up, man?" Cooper called, but there was no reply. "He's not answering, Kurt. What now?"
"We have keys to all of the apartments up in the drawer under the little desk next to the pantry…the one where Blaine's laptop usually sits? They're all on a big ring. Will you grab them and just…please just go into their apartment. If he's as sick as Seb thinks he is, he won't notice or care that you let yourself in," Kurt told Cooper.
"Yep, on it."
Kurt heard Cooper bolt up their stairs, shuffle through the drawer, grab the keys and then nearly hurdle himself back down the steps.
"Got it…ok, which one?"
"The apartment numbers are—"
"On the keys, I see it. Hang on. I'm in…" Cooper relayed. "Hunter. Hey, man, you ok? Where are you?" he called.
Kurt worried his lip as Blaine finally sat up and edged over toward him on the bed, a worried frown on his face. It was a complete juxtaposition from what it had been just five minutes before.
"Hey…Hunter?" Cooper said again. "He's here, Kurt, but Seb's right…he's absolutely out of it. I shook him and everything and he's….damn, he's on fire, Kurt. I…hang on."
"On fire as in…he has a fever?"
"Absolutely on fire, Kurt. This isn't good. Maggie!" Cooper called, probably still in Seb's apartment. "Baby, can you grab the thermometer thing? Not the mouth one…that'd be just weird. Toss me that one where you just slide it over his forehead and…yeah, thank you, gorgeous," Cooper cooed, then Kurt heard a smacking kiss.
"Do you need me? I can help you—" Maggie said, but Cooper cut her off immediately.
"Nope, no…honey, please just stay here with the kids. He's…he's got a killer fever and I can't have you getting sick, ok? Please…for me?"
"Cooper?"
"Kurt…sorry. Ok, hang on."
Kurt heard shuffling again and then few seconds later a high pitched beep and then a grumble from Cooper.
"Shit…shit Kurt. His fever is reading at 103.2 That's…really bad, isn't it?"
"Coop, please call an ambulance, ok? That's not something to mess around with. Sebastian said he was delirious, hadn't eaten in days, didn't even know what day it was, apparently. Is he responding to you at all?"
Cooper leaned over to shake Hunter again and got a grumble in reply.
"S'bastian?"
"No…Hunter, it's me, Cooper. Can…can you sit up here for a minute and talk to me. I have Kurt on the phone. Sebastian called him and he's really worried, Hunt. I'm…uh…I'm gonna call for some help, ok buddy?"
"M' ok…jus'…cold."
"How the hell is he cold if his temp is this high?" Cooper 'yelled' in a hushed whisper into the phone.
"When you have a fever you get cold…"
"Dude, his color is…not good," Cooper said after turning on a lamp next to the bed. Kurt, I'm calling an ambulance. He's…not well."
"Ok, yes, do that. Have them take him to—"
"Where he works, I know, ok…who's his boss, do I call that guy or what?"
"I…I don't know. I know his boss is McGinty…he's uh…maybe? Is Hunter's phone there? I'm sure there's a number for—"
"It's locked. Hunter, how do I unlock your phone? HUNTER!" Cooper said with a bit more force. "Nothin', Kurt, he's just freakin' out of it. I don't want to leave him like this, though."
"Ok, look, Sebastian's gonna call me back any second and I'll tell him you're going to call an ambulance. His parents are out of town, but I'm going to have Seb call them anyway. They need to get home, because there's no way Seb's coming back from London anytime tonight and Hunter shouldn't be alone. You keep me posted, ok? Seb's gonna be a mess and he'll be calling me every ten minutes for an update."
"Kurt, give him my number. I'll go to the hospital with Hunter, at least until they get him settled so that I can at least tell you what's going on. It would probably help, though, if Sebastian called this McGuire or whoever to tell him it's ok for me to be there with Hunter…that they call tell me things so Seb doesn't keep calling the other doctor."
"Ok, yes…wait, he's calling. I'm hanging up. Call me back as soon as the ambulance gets there, ok? And thank you, Coop. We owe you one."
"Stay safe, bros. Yap soon!" Cooper said, then disconnected.
"Seb?"
"Kurt…what…did you get in—"
"Cooper went over. Hunter is out of it, has a high fever, isn't responding to him. Coop's calling an ambulance and he'll go with Hunter to the hospital, but you need to call Hunter's parents or something and get them there if you can't be."
"Oh my God…oh my GOD!" Sebastian bellowed, furious with himself for ever leaving when he suspected Hunter was getting sick after walking home in the damn storm the previous weekend. "Why the hell did I leave him home alone? I knew he wasn't feeling well and he kept saying he was fine. He's NOT FINE!" Sebastian yelled into the phone, causing Kurt to yank it away from his ear and grimace.
"Sebastian…we're leaving in the morning to drive home. I'll be home in less than 24 hours, ok? I'll go to him as soon as I can get there. You need to call McGinty and tell him that Hunter's sick and he should expect him soon. Tell him Cooper's coming with him and give him permission to tell Cooper anything so that Coop can keep us all updated. Are you coming—"
"YES I'm coming home, are you crazy? He's…oh god…" Sebastian said quietly, his voice cracking. "Kurt…he's my everything. I have to be there with him. This fucking job is…FUCK!" Sebastian growled out again. "I'm gonna go. I have to catch a flight or…or something. Please, Kurt. Please call me at any time with any news of anything. If you're home before I am, please to go him. Don't let him lay there alone. Tell him I'm on my way, ok? Please?" Sebastian begged.
"I will be by his side the very moment I get into town, you have my word. Just…be careful, Seb. Don't do anything dumb, just arrange it so that you can get home. I'm sure Harris will understand. And if he doesn't—"
"He will. He does. He adores Hunter. I'm on my way, some how, some way, I'm on my way. Thank you, Kurt, for everything," Sebastian said, calming a bit now that he knew help was on the way.
"Dude, seriously? What about me? I answered the damn phone when he was growling at me to leave it be!" Blaine said in the background, which caused Sebastian to actually snicker for a minute.
"Thank you, too, Blaine. I appreciate it. You guys go back to your regularly scheduled fucking. I'm sorry I interrupted. I'll talk to you soon, boys. Have a good night."
He disconnected and Kurt did the same, setting his phone on the table.
"He's worried," Blaine said. Kurt just gave him a look that said "ya think?" and raised his eyebrows.
"Well, if it was you, I'd be out of my mind, too."
"No, I mean…even for Seb, he was…out of character. Kurt, you were blowing me and he knew it and didn't have one snarky comment about it. He was totally focused on getting Hunter some help. Awwww, our little Sebby is growing up, Kurt. He's learning what's important in life," Blaine said, then shook his head.
"You're bad…" Kurt laughed.
"Maybe, maybe not, but I think we should probably put off the rest of that little rendezvous and finish loading the truck. The sooner we're out of here the sooner we're home to Hunter. Let's go." Kurt nodded and they slid off the bed and headed toward Kurt's closet.
The morning found them all loaded up and ready to go much earlier than they'd anticipated leaving. Finn wasn't due at the airport for hours and he slept in as they stood in the driveway saying their goodbyes to Burt and Carole.
"Blaine, I can't thank you enough for coming to stay with me. I know you have a good amount of stuff going on back home, but it means the world to me that you dropped everything and came running when they called. I wouldn't have asked you to do it, but you did regardless, and I'm grateful, son."
Blaine gave a nod with glassy eyes and hugged Burt for all he was worth. That "son" on the end really yanked at his heart and he knew then that he'd fallen head over heels for Kurt's family. He couldn't have hand picked a better one.
"There was no question about it, Burt. I knew Carole was out of town, and obviously so were Kurt and Finn. All I could think of was how fast could I get here. I'm just really glad that when I eventually did arrive you were doing well and back on your feet so soon."
"Still…you don't know how grateful I am, Blaine, that you came running and Burt wasn't here alone all week," Carole told him, hugging him fiercely as well, then kissing his cheek.
"Anytime, don't even give it another thought. I had a great time while I was here, anyway. The company was top notch and so were the cheeseburgers," Blaine grinned. Kurt's head snapped around toward Burt as did Carole's and Blaine's eyes went wide.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it. Sure wish I'd be allowed to have one, though," Burt quickly added, recovering faster than Blaine would have ever done. He heaved a sigh of relief when Kurt just added a "you better NOT be eating cheeseburgers…you know better, Dad." Burt only nodded, completely un-phased by the conversation. He gave Blaine a wide eyed stare with a brush of his hand over his brow when Carole and Kurt weren't looking, and Blaine mouthed a fearful "I'm so sorry!" at the same time. They'd get a chuckle out of it together later, Blaine figured.
Kurt and Blaine climbed into the van, waved their goodbyes and started the long drive home, both of them anxious to get there and find out how Hunter was doing. Cooper had called periodically through the night to give them updates and Kurt had dutifully passed the information on to Sebastian until the last call, early that morning, had gone straight to voicemail. Kurt hoped that meant Sebastian was on his way home.
"Jeffrey? Is that you?"
"Of course it's me, Mom. YOU called ME…who else would it be?" Jeff laughed. Nick gave him a confused grin as well.
"Jeffrey, we talked about the money. We had the conversation. I'm not taking your money, I don't need it, as much as I appreciate the thought. You've always been so good to me…to Gram and me…but I don't ever want you to feel—"
"Whoa, whoa…wait…what money? I'm lost, here. Go back a step, Mom."
"Jeffrey, I may not be the sharpest knife in the box, but I do know that I am acquainted with only two people on this earth who can put that amount of money into my bank account, and one of those people is you and the other is your husband. Now as I've said, I don't want you to think we don't appreciate it, or the tickets and the trip, but it's just too much."
"Mom, I sincerely have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. I really, really don't…" Jeff told her, then looked to Nick with questioning raised eyebrows. "I'm gonna put you on speaker…Nick's here. Is that ok?"
"Of course it's ok. So…you're telling me that you don't know what I'm talking about? Then it has to be Nicholas. Now you tell him—"
"YOU tell him, Mom, you're on speaker!" Jeff laughed.
"Nicholas, I know you and I have had our rough points, but there is absolutely no need to go to these lengths. First I get a notice from the bank in yesterday's mail saying that the house is paid off, then I call the bank to find out what's going on and learn that my balance is an embarrassingly large amount more than I've ever had in my lifetime, and then the Fed Ex man arrives with the envelope and the tickets—"
"Ok, ok, back up again," Jeff said.
"If I back up any further, Jeffrey, I'll be outside. Now I'm going to say it again. I adore you, as I always have, and I appreciate what you're both trying to do here, but it's absolutely not necessary and I don't have an iota what in blazes I'm gonna do with that much money!"
"I don't know what she's talkin' about, boys," Gram yelled in the background. "I'm going to Vegas, baby!"
"MOTHER! We are not…I mean you are not going to Vegas!" Caroline sighed in exasperation. "Now I'm asking you—"
"Ms. Caroline, I didn't put the money there…and Jeff says he didn't either. Clearly someone else has done it. Who else—" Nick began, but paused, eyes wide as he looked at Jeff and mouthed "Tyler…." And his jaw shifted. What was going on? "Ms. Caroline…was there a note or anything with the tickets?"
"No, honey. There's nothing in here, which is why I thought it was from you or from Nicholas!" Caroline explained. "What am I supposed to do with this now? I can't return it to someone if I don't know who they are," she complained.
"Well…then I say you should use the tickets, I think. You guys deserve a vacation. Just don't think about it. Go on the trip, have a good time and send us a postcard," Jeff grinned. He knew if he kept up the conversation that she'd only rehash things over and over, so he opted to end the call. "Mom, I love ya, but I have to run. I have an appointment. Really, just use the tickets for the trip and don't look a gift horse in the mouth, ok?"
"I don't know…I'll have to think about it."
"You think about it, I'm gonna run. Love you both. I'll talk to you soon," Jeff said, then he disconnected the call.
"You think my dad did it?" Nick asked, eyes wide.
"Who else? Do we know anyone else with the funds to do that? Or someone who has reason to suck up to her?"
"No, I suppose not…it's just weird. Why? Why would he do it, though?"
"Guilt. That's all I can think of, Babe. Guilt. Period."
"You're probably right," Jeff said, leaning in to hug his husband.
They stood in silence for a few minutes, just holding each other, until Jeff's phone rang and startled them both.
"'Sup, bestie?"
"Hey, Jeffie, you busy? I need a favor," Blaine told him.
"Never too busy for you, man. What can I do for ya?"
"Not for me, for Sebastian. He's in London…well, hopefully on his way home now, but Hunter's really sick. Cooper's been at the hospital with him all night and Kurt and I are on our way there, but we're still 8 hours away so—"
"Say no more. Just tell me when and where and I'm there. I'd do anything for Hunter. If it hadn't been for him I may not have survived after the accident. I'm absolutely in!"
"I knew I could count on you, Jeff. I know Coop needs to get home and sleep, so as soon as you can get over there would be best. Thanks, man."
It was getting dark as Kurt dragged Blaine through the hospital and up to the room where Cooper messaged them that Hunter had been placed. As they walked up to the door, Kurt nudge Blaine and nodded into the room where Jeff was currently asleep on the far side of the room, his chair pulled up closely to Hunters bed and his hand wrapped securely around Hunter's as they both slept. Kurt couldn't help but snap a photo.
Cooper had kept them updated throughout the previous night and into that morning before Jeff had taken over for his shift. Hunter had pneumonia, apparently, and Dr. McGinty was livid with him for ignoring it for so long. He'd been 'in and out of it' for the better part of the past 24 hours, they'd been told. Kurt thought that perhaps Hunter wasn't actually unconscious, but was well aware of how many people would be all over him for his ridiculous, not to mention dangerous, behavior, so he feigned sleep. However, Kurt couldn't prove that.
Kurt woke up in the dark room around midnight to the sound of Hunter murmuring in his sleep. He kept repeating Sebastian's name over and over until Kurt whispered to him that Seb was on his way and he'd be there soon. Shortly thereafter Hunter settled back down and slept, albeit fitfully.
Around three in the morning, Kurt stirred again, unsure why this time. He looked around the room, but didn't see a nurse and he didn't hear Hunter murmuring this time. He'd sat back in his reclining chair, next to Blaine's at the foot of the bed, and was almost asleep when he heard someone enter the room. A thunk and a click later, Sebastian walked quietly over to the bed where his husband slept and sunk down to a crouch, grasping Hunter's free hand and bringing it to his lips.
"You unbelievable lunkhead…." Seb whispered, then broke down, quietly sobbing, Kurt thought, as he heard sniffling uneven breathing from his friend.
"Ya know, 's not nice to call your husband names…" Kurt heard, and Sebastian choked off a watery half-laugh, head falling to the bed.
"If the pneumonia doesn't kill you, I just might. Turnabout's fair play, babe, and clearly you're trying to kill me, so…."
"Missed you. How long have you been gone?" Hunter asked quietly, aware of the others in the room. His voice was still shaky and he sounded groggy.
"Since early Wednesday morning…it's Tuesday. Hunter, Jesus, what were you thinking? I could have lost you. I was very clear that you were to take care of yourself while I was gone…sleep, eat, bathe…"
"Didn't feel good…still not ready to go dancing or anything," Hunter smirked, his eyes still closed.
"McGinty says you'll be out of commission for at least another week recovering from this shit, Hunt. He's really angry with you, and I can't say I'm super thrilled either."
"I thought it was just a cold. It snuck up on me. By the time I realized how sick I was, I was too sick to really help myself. I figured I had the flu and I'd sleep it off. Guess not."
"No…I guess not. You've got a pretty stellar nursing staff here, though, right?" Sebastian asked, glancing at their friends, all passed out in various chairs around the room.
"They've been here for days…Cooper, then Jeff, then these guys showed up around dinner time," Hunter said, motioning to Kurt and Blaine. Good friends…" he mumbled, but yawned and let his eyes fall closed before finishing his sentence.
"Good friends…yeah. More like family, I think. I don't know what we'd do without 'em."
"Our family…" Hunter mumbled, then nodded off again. Kurt grinned, his heart warmed immeasurably, but remained quiet.
Without another thought, Sebastian turned and pulled the room's other bed over toward Hunter's. He slipped off his shoes and slid in under the covers, reaching out for Hunter's hand as he did so.
"Not nearly close enough to you, Babe…" Sebastian murmured quietly, then dropped off to sleep, clearly exhausted.
When Kurt woke the next morning it was to find Blaine and Jeff gone and Sebastian out in the hallway speaking with Dr. McGinty. They were speaking in hushed tones, but Kurt could make out most of it.
"...shouldn't have left him at home alone, not when I thought he was already feeling under the weather after walking home in that damn storm…"
"…knew he'd have a hard time after the accident victims came in, what with losing the little girl. I knew it would drudge up old memories for him and set him off…"
"Memories? Of what?"
"…was a heinous time for all of them, Sebastian, and that's not something you expect a child to ever get over, even when he's a grown man, now…"
"…not following you, McGinty…"
"…a conversation to be had with Hunter, Sebastian. I don't want to overstep. If his fever is down, you can take him home today, but I don't want to see him back here for at least a week, maybe ten days. I can't have my residents bringing sickness in, for goodness sake. Take care of him, and get those guys some coffee and a shower, would you?"
Kurt heard Sebastian scoff and then caught eyes with him as Seb turned to glance into the room at Kurt, the only one of them left besides Hunter.
"I think these guys have the coffee already in hand," he said, nodding down the hall. Kurt assumed Blaine and Jeff were headed their way. "I'll work on the showers. Thanks, Doc. Let me know when I can spring him," Sebastian said, shaking hands with the doctor.
"Hey…" Kurt said quietly as Blaine came back in the room.
"Morning, Love. Jeff and I went down to get some breakfast and Nick called to say he was on the way with real food, so at least there's that, right?" Blaine grinned, leaning down to kiss Kurt on his forehead.
"I wouldn't turn down something edible," Kurt grinned back just as Nick, Jeff and Sebastian came into the room.
Nick set a big box of donuts and Danish pastries on the rolling table near the spare bed and a cardboard container holding four cups of coffee as well.
"You're a life-saver, man," Sebastian told Nick, opening a sugar packet to empty it into one of the coffees. "Oh God…good coffee. I've been drinking sub-par sludge from the airport and on the plane. Haven't really had anything decent to eat or drink for about forty hours now…" he trailed off, inhaling a jelly doughnut like a starving man. "Heaven…."
"Happy to help. How's the patient?" Nick asked.
"I'm good…" Hunter smiled, opening his eyes.
"For now. When you're better and home, completely recovered, I'm gonna kick your ass from here to Philly," Sebastian sniped, eyebrows drawn together. "Not cool, Hunter. Not. Cool."
"I'm sorry, Sebby…all of you. I'm sorry you were hauled out of your warm beds to hang out here with me."
"Don't mind him," Jeff said, nodding at Sebastian. "He's just bent out of shape because you're sick. I'm happy to have been of service in any way possible. God knows I owe ya," he grinned.
"You guys are…you're too good to us," Hunter said, breath still labored.
"That's what family is for, though, isn't it?" Kurt asked, and smiled as Blaine slid an arm around his waist.
"It is, but I'm still grateful. So thank you all…"
"Ditto…" Sebastian added, shoving his third doughnut in his mouth. "Don't know what I'd have done without you guys, and Cooper, so tell him I said I'm in his debt, really. I'll catch him at home, but if you see him first, you tell him, ok?"
"Will do. Listen, I think we're gonna head on out. We have a truck to unload and I'm sure you have tons of paperwork to sign to get him outta here. We'll see you at home, and you just yell if there's anything you need, ok?"
"Maybe taco shells?" Hunter joked, eyes closed again.
"Or an orange?" Sebastian added, smirking.
"Hey! That's enough…Jeez…" Kurt huffed.
"We'll see you at home, then," Blaine said again as they all four filed out, taking coffee with them.
"All alone…" Hunter smirked.
"Yes. Yes we are. And it's a perfect time for you to explain to me why McGinty said he 'expected you to be freaked out after that accident the night of the storm…what with losing the little girl and all,' Sebastian asked, looking pointedly at Hunter. Hunter just sighed long and loud, shoulders sagging as he shook his head slowly.
So there's that. I hope you'll drop me a word or two when you finish reading. I'd love to hear from you, if you're still out there! :) Have a great weekend, guys!