Previously on Crowded House: Nick's dad's trial is coming up. Jeff has been to see him a handful of times trying to find some closure. Maggie and Cooper are handling three kids now. Kurt and Blaine have set a wedding date and picked a venue. Seb and Hunter are settling into their married lives. And that's what you missed on...yeah, no. Ok, I still own nothing except my OC's. Off you go!
Ch 111
"Meredith…you look amazing, as usual," Jeff smiled. He leaned in to hug Nick's mom as she approached their table at the restaurant and squeezed her tightly. She squeezed him back just as much and gave him a kiss on his cheek.
"I've just had my hair cut and colored," she told him, her hand automatically reaching up to touch her locks, patting them into place. "I went with some lighter highlights this time…"
"And if I may say so, they make you look even younger than you usually do," he grinned.
"Flatterer…"
"I speak only the truth, madam!" Jeff grinned, pulling out Nick's mother's chair for her.
"So, let's cut to the chase, Jeffrey. You wanted to have lunch and you specifically did not invite Nicholas. What is it you wanted to 'run past me', as you said on the phone?"
Jeff was saved for a few minutes by their waiter arriving. They ordered drinks and Meredith picked up her menu to peruse the items on offer. Every once in a while she'd glance over the top of it to look at Jeff and he would grin, but not meet her eyes. When the waiter returned with their drinks, they both ordered something light, a salad for Meredith and half a sandwich and soup for Jeff. They handed over their menus and Meredith folded her hands on the table in front of her, her manicured nails shining spectacularly in a shade of lavender that said both sophistication and fun. She gave him her best "I'm waiting?" look and batter her eyelashes with a smirk.
"You've already proposed and you're already married. I'm assuming neither one of you are pregnant, so I'm at a loss as to what big news could be imparted today, but my mind is open, Jeffrey. Spill it. I can see you're anxious about something. How can I help?" Her motherly smile was playful and reassuring and he just hoped he could get her on his side.
Jeff let his eyes fall closed and sucked in a deep breath through his nose. After gnawing on his bottom lip for a few seconds, he met her eyes and spoke, guardedly at first, but he knew there was no holding back now. It was best to just get it all out and see where Meredith stood – with him or against him.
"I'm just saying, Blaine, I think I'm still leaning toward the color scheme – or lack thereof - that we talked about in the beginning. I know I've changed my mind four times, but too much red…" Kurt paused and wrinkled his nose. "I'm afraid it will be garish in that room, and the 'fall colors' are so overdone for that time of year, and it's really not even fall yet. It's still the end of summer," Kurt explained, flipping through yet another wedding magazine and marking the page with a Post It note – pink, blue, yellow, mint and purple. Each color represented something different: flowers, décor, cake, clothing and photo ideas. There were so many Post Its all over that Blaine was sure he'd wake up one morning to find one stuck to his own nose.
"I told you before and I'll say it again. Whatever you want is fine with me. There is nobody who could plan a more beautiful, more perfect ceremony than my fiancé. I know you've been thinking about it for years, and I don't want to get in the way of your ideas. But, that being said, I'm good with the cream and off-white flowers. I think it's timeless, classic and it will be absolutely beautiful in that space. And while it'll hold its own, it won't take away from the stunning man meeting me at the end of the aisle," he grinned.
"I love you," Kurt grinned back, his cheeks pink as he bit his bottom lip. "And I can't wait to be your husband, Blaine. You're it for me, forever, and I just want this to be amazing and perfect because it's for us and we're not doing it again. So…if you're ok with the cream, then yes…let's go with that. Classic black and cream it is, with a pop of burgundy, perhaps, to make it stand out. It will be beyond stunning."
"It will never rival you, love,"
"Cheesy…"
"I'm sincere-"
"Oh, I know you are…and I love you for it. So, at the meeting with the florist tomorrow, we go with cream flowers and lots of greenery with maybe just a little pop of burgundy?" Kurt asked, wanting reassurance.
"It will be magical!"
"You'll be there. Of course it will be!"
"NOW who's being cheesy?" Blaine grinned, leaning over to peck his fiancé on the cheek.
"I'm allowed," Kurt smirked, looking down his nose at Blaine with a flutter of his lashes. "And the cake, we have to go back to the three we liked best and see if they're completely booked already for Labor Day weekend…and if they can accommodate my amazing man and his sweet tooth."
"I'm in! Oh, that's my favorite part, all the cake tasting!" Blaine grinned widely, his eyes playful and bright.
"Why am I not surprised?" Kurt laughed. "And we're going to talk to Suzanne about the photos?"
"Yep. I work with Joe tonight. I'll find out if she's back in town yet, and tomorrow we can hopefully call her and see if she's available. You've already seen one of her wedding albums, though, you said." Blaine remarked.
"I have. She had picked up someone's prints and was heading back home when I bumped into her on the street a couple of months ago. She shared them with me and they were absolutely stunning. We gushed over them while we had lunch together that day and I might have dragged her back to the loft to meet David. I'm not entirely happy with the company he hired to take photos for our website and I figured it wouldn't hurt to give him another option. She's wonderful and I hope David calls her the next time we need photos taken."
"Well, if he's smart, he certainly will. And we already know he's smart, right? He hired you, didn't he?"
"Oh, sweetheart, now you're just laying it on thick. What reason could you have for trying to butter me up, Mr. Anderson?"
"No reason," Blaine blushed.
"Ok, I have to get moving. I'm going to leave these magazines out if that's ok? I don't want to put it all away just to get it back out in the morning. I'm meeting David to pick out some velvet and you know how he is about being on time for appointments. Will you plug my phone in to charge while I take a quick shower?" Kurt asked, handing his phone to Blaine who just nodded and accepted the phone. Kurt sauntered off down the hall and Blaine waited until he heard the shower water running before he shuffled through Kurt's contacts and slid into the spare bedroom to make a call.
"Jeff…" Meredith trailed off, clearly unsure of their conversation and Jeff's plans.
"I know…believe me, I know. And he'll be angry. There's nothing I can do about that. I know this, I've planned for it, I've resigned myself to the fact that I'll be…unpopular, to say the very least. But we can't always get our way, and I feel like this is what I need to do. Everything David did was done to me; not Nick, not my friends, not my family, not…not your family, Meredith…with the exception of Bailey. I need to speak to her about it, too."
"He's…Jeff, you know what happens when you catch him off guard, sweetheart. We've seen—"
"I know, yes. But…I've already made a deal, and I stand by my word. I can only hope and pray he stands by his word as well. It's the only way to keep Nick and I safe. I have to follow through and, above all, I have to know where I stand. I've given this a lot of thought, believe me, but I'm done sitting back and watching my life go by, doing what everyone else thinks I should do and feeling how everyone else feels I should feel. This is how I'm choosing to deal with David Duval. You don't have to like it, you don't have to agree with me, and you don't have to approve…but know that I have…reservations…about the way shi-" Jeff began, but remembered in whose company he now sat. "I have reservations about the way things have gone thus far. I intend to remedy that. I've learned a lot in the last year, believe me."
"I don't have to tell you I'm scared, Jeffrey. I'm scared for you, and I'm scared for Nicholas…and I'm scared for the two of you as a couple, and what this decision will do to you. Please, Jeff…please think carefully about this," Meredith urged him. Her eyes revealed every ounce of concern she felt.
"I have thought of little else for months, since that first visit to the prison. And we all know he'll be there for the foreseeable future, so—"
"But he has people, Jeff!" she whispered harshly. He rolled his eyes and chuckled.
"Oh, I'm well aware that he has people."
"Nobody's seen Dominic for months. He's still out there, Jeffrey. I hope that Joseph and his staff are still on the ball?"
Jeff grinned and looked over her shoulder toward the door, then nodded at a man sitting at a table all alone. The man merely met Jeff's eyes and gave a very brief nod in return. There was no hiding that he was security. The dark suit, crew cut and dark glasses were a sad disguise. But…Jeff didn't mind. It was necessary for now. Still. He caught Meredith turning to see where his gaze was and she turned back to him with wide eyes. He merely smiled back at her, then glanced over his shoulder out the window at the street where a similarly dressed man stood next to a nondescript, black sedan. "I think we're good," he said softly, returning to his soup.
"Don't discuss this with Bailey," Meredith said after a beat of silence. "Just…you've clearly made your mind up already. Leave her out of it. What you do now has no bearing on her…"
"When she leaps over the chairs and comes at me like a deranged spider monkey, I want your word as her mother that you'll step in," Jeff said with a deep sigh.
"I'll…do what I can."
"That's all I ask. Thank you…for sitting with me, and for not ripping my head off. I know I've been the source of so much upheaval in your lives and for that I'm truly sorry. But thank you for always being there for us…for Nick…when the—" Jeff began, but paused again.
"When the shit hit the fan?" Meredith smiled. Jeff blushed, grinned and nodded at her. "Oh, Jeffrey. Something tells me we haven't seen anything yet." Jeff just nodded, thinking that she was probably right. Maybe the worst was yet to come. He sincerely hoped not. "Are you going to warn him?" she asked, obviously more concerned than curious.
"Absolutely not, and I'd appreciate if you didn't either," Jeff said quietly. Meredith took in a deep breath and let her eyes fall closed as she shook her head, uncertainty clouding her thoughts. She couldn't begin to know what her son in law was thinking, but she trusted him and knew he had a good head on his shoulders. And, after all, this was all happening because of what had been done to him. Perhaps this is what Jeff needed to finally have some closure. The trial started in a few days and she could only hope they were all ready for the chaos that would surely ensue.
"You're quiet," Hunter grinned as he flopped down next to his husband with a bowl of ice cream.
"I'm contemplative, there's a difference," Sebastian smiled back at him, stealing his spoon and then stealing a big bite from the bowl. "Good God, Hunter, how hungry are you?"
"It's not about how hungry I am. It's about knowing that if I ask you if you want some, you'll say no. But if I don't put enough in my bowl for both of us, you'll eat half of my ice cream that you didn't want to begin with and I'll have to get up and refill the bowl. I'm just nipping this in the bud before it gets out of hand," Hunter teased, leaning over to bump shoulders with Sebastian.
"Smartass…" Sebastian griped, stealing the spoon again.
"Seriously, though, you've been quiet for a few days. What's on your mind?"
"Work, mostly. Just…things, ya know? Timmerman put in for a transfer from the department and it got me thinking, I guess."
"Yeah? Where's he going?"
"I'm not sure, I didn't want to pry. I just saw the transfer request on Jimmy's desk."
"And that got you thinking about…what?" Hunter asked. Sebastian huffed out a short, mirthless laugh.
"Us, really. I know you're still not comfortable with me working there…doing what I do and all that. I've been keeping my eyes open for…other options."
This was news to Hunter and he couldn't hide his surprise. He hadn't thought Seb had given his qualms much thought.
"Listen, Seb. I love you, and you know I do. You're so good at what you do and I don't want to be the reason you leave something you love. Please promise me that before you leave or put in a transfer that we'll discuss it, ok? Please?" Hunter asked, his eyes wide. Sebastian just shrugged.
"I'm not going to miss out on something just so I can come home and dissect it with you for days. If the right thing comes up—"
"Then we'll talk about it. Call me, that instant, and we'll talk, ok? Please. You love what you do, Seb, and it's important to love what you do."
"I love you more," Sebastian said without a hint of snark or teasing. He finally met eyes with Hunter and his expression was so sincere, so open and honest, that Hunter was struck by it. "I don't like that you worry, and I know that's not something you can help. You're a worrier, and my job doesn't help that at all. If I can take away that worry, I want to work on that as an option, ok? I've given it plenty of thought, and I'm not jumping into anything, but it's important to me…because it's important to you."
"I love you so much, you know that? I just…ok…thank you. But please talk to me about things before you make any big decisions, alright? And Seb…thank you, really, for entertaining even the thought of changing just because you know it makes me uneasy. It means a lot to me."
"YOU mean a lot to me. I want you happy and content, not anxious and afraid every time I walk out the door. We'll make it work, babe."
"You mean a lot to me, too, love. But that doesn't mean that I haven't noticed that you ate the whole bowl of ice cream. Go refill the bowl, you pig!" Hunter laughed, shoving at his husband.
With a long sigh and a shake of his head, Sebastian rose from the sofa and headed off to the kitchen. "Can't win for losin' around here," he griped as Hunter snickered at him.
"I'm asking you not to," Nick said into the phone. Jeff sat on the sofa in their home with his feet propped up on the coffee table and took a deep breath, blowing it out slowly. His husband was so stubborn.
"I know you are. And I'm asking you to not ask me not to. It's something I need to do, Nick. And I'm sorry if it makes you uncomfortable, but it's not as if I haven't been there before. This will be the last time I see him before the trial. I need to do this," Jeff said evenly.
"You're just stirring up the shit now, Jeff. He's up to something, I know it. It's been way too quiet. I don't want you going up there."
"I know you're worried, and I respect that, but this time is no different than all the other times. He'll be in that room and unable to get to me. He hasn't tried to get to me at all, Nick. I'm going, and I'm not asking you for permission. I'm just telling you so that you can't say you didn't know. I'm not hiding this from you."
"But I worry about—"
"I know you worry, and I know you do whatever you can to keep me safe and I love you for it. I haven't even said anything about all the security hanging around again. I know you just want—"
"What? What do you mean 'all the security hanging around again'? Jeff?"
Jeff was silent. Nick would be the first to admit if he thought something was wrong and he'd called in additional security for Jeff again. If Nick hadn't arranged it…
"JEFF. WHAT do you mean about the security? Joseph hasn't spoken to me about anything and I haven't asked for anything since you flew off the handle at me the last time."
"That guy followed me into the men's room, Nicky, and tried to stand outside the stall door! I'm all for being safe, but come ON, babe—"
"Jeff. I'm being serious now. I haven't asked for security. What are you saying? You've seen guys following you?" Nick asked, already shoving the day's work in his briefcase, ready to head upstairs to their home to be with Jeff. He'd work from his home office today so he could keep an eye on Jeff himself. Not even bothering to snap the case, he nearly sprinted to the elevators letting the door to the office slam behind him.
"I'm sure I'm mistaken, then," Jeff said quickly, grabbing his baseball hat, keys, phone and wallet as he slipped out the penthouse door and headed for the stairwell. He could tell Nick was on the move and there was no way he was going to sit in the living room and wait for Nick to come up and throw a fit, forbidding Jeff from going to see David Duval one last time. Besides, Jeff had some questions for his father in law. Mainly, what the hell was going on with these guys watching him. If it wasn't Nick and it wasn't Joseph…"
"Ok, don't go anywhere, ok? I'm on my way up. We'll talk to Joseph and figure out what's going on," Nick said, but all he heard was Jeff's breath on the other end, a rhythmic puff, puff, puff of air as Jeff took the steps two at a time. He went down three floors, stepped out into the lobby and waited for the elevator to reach the penthouse before speaking. When he heard the ding of the elevator in the phone, he knew Nick was in the penthouse lobby heading for their door. "Jeff…" he called as he went into their home. At the same time, Jeff stepped into the second elevator three floors down and hit the button for the ground floor.
"I'm going, Nicky. I love you and I respect you more than anyone I know. But please don't take this from me. I need this last visit. It's important and I'm going to do it with or without you consent."
"Where are you?" Nick asked, obviously agitated now.
"Probably somewhere around the 15th floor?"
"God damn it, Jeff! Why do you do this? I'm trying to be level headed about it, but you're making me crazy!" Nick yelled into the phone.
"I'll be back soon. I'll be careful. I'm ok, Nick. One last time before the trial begins. I love you, just remember that, ok? I'll be home for dinner."
"Jeff? JEFF!" Nick bellowed into the phone, but Jeff had already disconnected. Nick immediately called the elevator up and stood, fuming, in the hallway waiting for it to arrive.
Asking Terrance to hold the elevator on the ground floor for a few minutes was probably pretty childish, but Jeff did it anyway, taking the stairs to the garage under the building. He knew Nick would probably come after him, and that was perfectly alright. He could drive upstate with Jeff to see his father if he wanted to. But Jeff knew Nick wanted to keep him from speaking to David, especially this close to the trial. Jeff wouldn't be deterred, though. And now he needed to find out what was going on with the guys following him. He glanced in the rearview mirror and, sure enough, the dark colored sedan was still back there. It followed at a distance and didn't bother in him in any way, but…it was always there. Just as well. Nobody had seen or heard from Dominic for months, and that unsettled Jeff.
A short time later he noticed another vehicle approaching behind him at a higher rate of speed than the sedan. It slid between Jeff and the dark colored car and Jeff nearly giggled to himself. Oh, Nicky…
When his phone rang, he considered not answering, but didn't want to be childish.
"Hello, love of my life. It's a lovely ride upstate, isn't it?"
"You're in so much trouble. You can't do that to Terrance. He was totally freaked out when I came flying out of the stairwell. He thought the building was on fire, Jeff!"
"Oh my God, you're such a liar!" Jeff laughed, his eyes watering up as he pictured the scene. "I told him flat out that I was keeping you up there long enough to get away a few minutes before you could come after me!" Jeff scolded him. "He was probably freaked out because you're an idiot and you ran down all those stairs and looked like a sweaty, nasty mess when you finally got to the ground floor. What is wrong with you? Just wait for the elevator!"
"You think this is so funny, don't you?" Nick asked, his tone less freaked out now.
"It's not funny, but I still say it's something I need to do. I'm sorry you don't agree with me, but I'm a grown- ass man and I'll go if I want to go. Now come with me, sit like a nice little boy in the waiting room, and we'll grab some lunch together on the way home, ok?"
"Brat. Why the hell did I fall in love with such an annoying child?!" Nick bellowed.
"Because you know how much I love you, too? Bye baby…" Jeff said, then disconnected the call and shot up the road without a backward glance.
"Their buttercream at the third place is better than the first one, I'm just saying," Blaine said, making notes in his phone. "But the vanilla bean cake at the second place was to die for. And they had that cheesecake, too, for the Grooms' cake. I know you want cheesecake, Kurt…"
"I do, that'd be nice. And…and this is so important…" Kurt began with a serious expression, "she sent us home with a dozen assorted cupcakes so we could have others test out the cake as well. I don't think there's any question now, do you?" Kurt grinned. Blaine shook his head no as well. "So we're in agreement…the second one?" Blaine glanced down once again at Kurt's lap to the two small boxes, each containing half a dozen cupcakes, all decorated with ganache, buttercream icing, sprinkles and sparkling sugars. Yum…
"I think yes. And they're open for our date?" Blaine grinned like a kid in a candy store.
"They are. They have two other weddings that day, but they also have the staff to cover it. They deliver the morning of the ceremony and set up as well, leaving the whole afternoon for the cake to come to room temperature. And she was the one who was so excited about the design I want on top, right?" Kurt asked, making his own notes on his iPad as they sat on the subway next to each other.
They slid to a stop and the doors opened. A good dozen people got on, including a pregnant mother and her young son who clung to her leg as if he was glued there. The poor woman looked ready to pop and Blaine, dapper as ever and gentlemanly to boot, jumped up and offered her his seat. She smiled her thanks and the young boy stood between her legs leaning into his mother's chest. He eyed the boxes on Kurt's lap until his mother noticed and scolded him for his lack of manners. Kurt winked at him and smiled.
"They look yummy, huh?" Kurt asked quietly. The boy simply nodded and then hid his face in his mother's shirt again. "We tasted cakes today that they're going to make for our wedding in a few months. Have you ever been to a wedding?" Kurt asked. The boy shook his head no. "They make beautiful wedding cakes at the bakery…tall cakes with two, three, four layers, this tall!" Kurt said, holding his arm up to show the boy how high the cake would be. The boy's eyes were wide and excited. His mother simply grinned and held on to the nearest bar with one hand and her son with the other.
"So Sylvia's for the cakes. How about the flowers? Were you able to get in touch with the woman Suzanne mentioned?" Blaine asked.
"I did, and she is going to get back to me. She has a wedding that day already, and it's fairly large. She's hoping to get her niece to come in and help out so that she can do both. She'll get back with me within the week," Kurt answered, tapping more notes into his iPad.
"Have you spoken with David about the time off?"
"I did…" Kurt said, not making eye contact. Blaine was instantly intrigued. Uh oh…
"And?"
"He's very happy for us, of course…"
"Of course. But?"
"There's a huge conference he's committed to attending the week before, and he's none too pleased that I most likely will be too busy to attend with him," Kurt said, his tone not nearly as exuberant as it was a minute earlier.
"Kurt…it's our wedding. Surely he'll understand?" Blaine asked.
"I hope so. He was…agitated. That's putting it mildly. He stopped short of saying I should have asked for permission to get married that week, but I could tell he was thinking it," Kurt replied, rolling his eyes.
"And how are you feeling about it?" Blaine asked carefully.
"Sweetheart…oh, no. That's our day. It's set, and we're getting married come hell or high water!" Kurt blurted, his enthusiasm back now. "Surely David can take someone else with him to the conference. I'm sure Naomi would jump at the chance to go. In fact, I think I'll suggest it. She's come a long way since we hired her, and she's been working on a few things that I want her to share with David. She'll be even more of an asset, and I need for him to see that. But, B, we're getting married Labor Day weekend no matter what. I won't let work get in the way of that. I won't allow anything to get in the way of our special day," Kurt promised with such love in his eyes that Blaine was almost giddy.
Eight stops later the train slowed and just as they were about to exit, Kurt turned and handed one of the boxes to the young boy, whose face lit up with a grin worthy of a commercial for the American Dental Association.
"Make sure it's ok with Mom before you eat them, alright?" he said, waving as they exited onto the platform. The boy nodded and his eyes never left Kurt's. "And good luck with the baby!" he called as the doors slid closed.
"You're gonna be the best dad," Blaine grinned, grabbing his hand. "And I can't wait for that day."
"One thing at a time, fiancé. We're getting there, slowly but surely."
"I love you," Blaine smirked, swinging their arms between them.
"Even though I gave away half of the cupcakes?"
"Even though," Blaine grinned. "Or maybe especially because you did."
"One last hurrah, Sterling?" David smirked as Jeff sat down across the table from him.
"Something like that. Uh…what's with the security?"
"Until it's no longer necessary. Just a precaution," David answered, his face showing no emotion at all.
"And you think it's…necessary…now?" Jeff asked, trepidation evident in his voice.
"We'll see, won't we?" David smirked. Jeff swallowed hard.
"I suppose we will. Who'd have thought…" Jeff shook his head in wonder.
"Mmmm…yes. Odd," was all David had to say. He stared at Jeff for a few minutes while Jeff looked around the room, unsure where he stood and what to say now.
"We're down to a couple days now. Everything is as it should be?" Jeff asked. It still unnerved him to be in the room like this, but he was a far cry better than he had been during their first meeting when he'd talked Blaine into coming with him. Multiple visits in between made Jeff a little less anxious.
"I gave you my word that I'd make it right. I trust you remember your part of the bargain?"
"I do. How can I forget?" Jeff asked, a slight upturn of his lip refuting the seriousness of the meeting itself. "Although it seems I'm getting the easy part of this deal."
"Perhaps…but one more important to me in the big scheme of things. Just don't forget. It could be years down the road."
"I won't forget. It's a small price to pay for Nick's safety."
"And your own…but you're oddly self-sacrificing, aren't you? You think he'll see it that way? As a small price?" David smirked.
"In time, yes. Give him time. After Monday he'll have other things on his mind, anyway."
"Is he—" David began, but thought better of it. He let Jeff talk about Nicholas, but he rarely asked about his son, knowing that Jeff felt as if he was betraying a confidence when he spoke about Nick. If Nick wanted his father to know what he was thinking, he'd come in and visit with the man on his own terms.
"Nicholas…he's well?" David asked. Keep it simple, he thought.
"Yes. He's…he followed me here this morning. He's waiting for me."
"He's here?" David asked with a glimmer of hope in his voice.
"He is. He wasn't happy with my decision to come, but he understands my need for…closure."
"And do you have it? Closure?" David asked. To Jeff's surprise, he looked truly curious…almost concerned. This was not the same man Jeff had met months earlier during their first discussion.
"Not yet. I'm working on it," Jeff replied. "I'm not at all certain my idea of 'closure' will be popular with everyone anymore than your solution to…" Jeff paused, unsure how to word what he wanted to say with the guard standing there. Finally, he went with "the outstanding issue that we still need to resolve."
David gave Jeff a look that said "Oh? Do tell?" But Jeff was in no mood to get into that with David. He just shook his head. David would likely be stunned and knocked off his feet just like everyone else. No…Meredith knew, but as far as everyone else was concerned, he'd keep that little bit of 'closure' to himself. He just figured it was only polite to give this man's ex-wife fair warning. Everyone else would have to cope in their own way when it was all said and done.
"The issue will be resolved. I'm certain of it. I'm still in charge, Jeffrey, even from the inside. I still give the orders and you'll do well to remember that," David said with little to no heat behind it. It was little reassurance for Jeff, of course. "And I don't think I need to remind you what happens when I give an order and someone doesn't follow it. I'm getting older, Jeffrey. I'm set in my ways. I like things done my way, and I don't appreciate, nor will I tolerate, someone ignoring those…requests. Surely I don't need to remind you of this…you of all people."
"No, sir, you don't," Jeff replied, his face a mask of indifference. "And you still think he'll show?"
"I'd bet money on it. He's always been one for the dramatic."
"And it's under control?"
"You have my word, Jeffrey, and I have yours. Now, go have lunch with my son, and give him my regards. He'll probably spit at me but offer him my regards anyway. Nicholas is my son, the one who takes after me more than any of the others whether he likes it or not, and I will always wish him well. Even if that's with you," David smirked. Jeff fought the grin trying to make its way to his face and shook his head as he rolled his eyes at his father-in-law. Was David joking with him?
David stood quickly at the same time Jeff did and, in a move completely foreign to any other visit, he stuck his hand across the table toward Jeff. The security guard surged forward, but Jeff held out his arm to stop him. He met eyes with David Duval, held the contact, then offered his own hand to shake.
"I'll have everything you need delivered to you before Monday, Jeffrey. Be smart. Be safe. Be well…and take care of my son, who I love deeply whether he wants to believe it or not," David said, giving Jeff's hand a firm shake that he held for just a moment longer than Jeff might have liked. He nodded to his son-in-law, his eyes dark and fierce even now, and left the room, leaving Jeff standing there oddly unphased. It was done. There was no turning back now.
When Jeff stepped back into the waiting area, Nick jumped to his feet to meet him.
"Are you ok?" He asked, obviously concerned.
"Oddly enough…I'm good. I really am. Now…let's get some lunch and start our weekend. Monday promises to be a barrel of fun, so let's just relax a bit before then, can we?"
Nick stood still, watching Jeff's face for any sign of consternation, but he saw none. With a nod, they left the prison, Jeff glancing over his shoulder, but knowing he wouldn't be back there again, and Nick never looking back.
"He sends his regards," Jeff said quietly.
"I'd like to tell him where he can send 'em," Nick replied, never missing a step.
"I know you're still angry, Nicky, but…I really hope, in time, that you can step back and look at things from a different point of view. I'm not sure what point of view that is right now, but…in time. I don't want you to hate him…not over me."
"Don't hold your breath, Pretty Boy."
"I was thinking of maybe having a Fourth of July party. What do you think?" Blaine asked out of nowhere over dinner Sunday evening. Kurt paused, mid bite, just watching him.
"Here?"
"Of course 'here'. Where else?" Blaine teased. I was up on the roof yesterday watering everything and I realized that we'll probably have a halfway decent view of the fireworks. I just thought it might be fun. And Mickey has some band coming to play that evening that plays zydeco and I thought after the fireworks we could all go to The Dive and hang out if you want. That seems to be our M.O. when we have a party anyway."
"I suppose we could. That might be fun," Kurt grinned, then continued eating. "I'm a little freaked out, Blaine," he added out of nowhere. Blaine glanced up, concerned.
"Freaked out? About what? What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong…per se. I'm just…a little…concerned that things are falling into place so well. We basically have the venue, the cake, the photographer, the florist and the music taken care of for the wedding. I know there are a zillion little things to do between now and then, but I feel like we've accomplished so much in such a short time, and I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. It's all been too easy," Kurt said, his head tilted to the side a bit.
"Don't think like that, Kurt. We don't want to invite trouble. You were just so, so, so prepared and you knew exactly what you wanted going into it. I don't think they knew what hit 'em when Kurt Hummel went striding into their spaces," Blaine chuckled. "You have a vision, and I think that's pretty spectacular. You know how you want everything to look, you're very adept at explaining your vision and making everyone else see what you see, and you know how to communicate your grand plan so that everyone is on board. There are no questions left unanswered with you, Kurt. You're quite thorough. This is one of the things I love about you. I'm not left with questions. I know for sure. You don't dilly dally when you put your mind to something."
"And we're back to the flattery, Mr. Anderson," Kurt commented with a coy smile.
"I mean every word," Blaine flirted back. "But there are some little things we need to discuss. Did you want to send out 'save the date' things or just the invitations? And we haven't really discussed invitations at all, now that I think about it. I'm sure you have some ideas, though," Blaine grinned.
"Of course, I do, don't be silly!"
"Of course, you do…"
"We do need to finalize the guest list as well as…the wedding party. Have you decided?" Kurt asked, his eyebrows raised in question.
"I don't want to leave anyone out…but we said 'small' wedding party, right?"
"We did, but Blaine, don't leave someone out if you want them to stand up for us. Let's make lists and decide if we can…I dunno…pare it down or if we even want to, ok? I mean, Cooper and Jeff are a given for you. Rachel and Finn are a given for me. There, now we're even," Kurt laughed.
"Sure, sure. Make fun," Blaine rolled his eyes. "I just feel like we've all become a big, happy family since we moved in here, and I don't want to make anyone feel as if they're less important than anyone else. Does that make sense?"
"Perfect sense, but we can't have everyone, Blaine. It'll be a parade instead of a wedding," Kurt grinned, putting his hand over Blaine's on the table.
"And what about your girls back in Lima? They won't be offended if you don't ask any of them to be here? To be in the wedding? I know you miss them, Kurt."
"Of course, I do," Kurt answered, and his reply was a bit harsh, a hiss rather than a statement. Blaine was a bit taken aback.
"But you've never gone home to visit them. And you've never invited them here…" Blaine trailed off softly, a little confused.
"You know I have a hard time going back home. It makes me…uptight. I remember too many things with him when I'm there and that's not what I want to remember about 'home', Blaine. And the girls…"
"What about them? I'm sure they miss you, Kurt."
"They…they do. They call now and then…and sometimes I even answer the phone. They send me messages on social media occasionally, too. I just…I don't know, Blaine. I don't always feel…worthy…anymore."
"Oh, Kurt. Sweetheart, no…."
"After everything happened with Jackson, I went into my shell and didn't come out. I ignored their calls and I didn't leave the house for weeks. I was an awful friend to them, and I'm ashamed of myself. I'm not the friend I was before…everything…and what we had isn't the same as it was. They probably don't have time for me, and I can't blame them at all. Mercedes is the only one who calls on a regular basis…" Kurt trailed off, his thoughts obviously elsewhere.
"But she's never come to New York to see you, either."
"She was supposed to come around Christmas. Unfortunately, her great grandma passed and she had to stay home. We said we'd plan another trip, but it just…never happened. I don't feel like I can ask her to put her life on hold in order to come here to see me, Blaine. She's busy, ya know?"
Blaine just nodded and looked a bit sad. "And the others? Santana? Brittany? Quinn?"
Kurt just shook his head. There was so much to say, and yet…none of it changed anything.
"They saw the worst of it, Blaine. They saw Jackson treat me like shit. They saw him drag me from the theater and shove me in his car. They heard him speak to me as if I were garbage on the street. Truth be told, I'm still embarrassed about all of it, that I didn't put a stop to it sooner, and I'm sure they have better things to do than to hang around with a guy who couldn't even get his own shit together enough to hang out with his friends…and then abandoned them."
Blaine wasn't sure what to say to that. Kurt wasn't one to be placated, but he didn't want him putting all that on himself.
"I think you're being a bit hard on yourself, aren't you? You told him to get out. You broke it off with him and at one point you had a restraining order. It's not as if you were inviting him to hang out with them every weekend, Kurt. I don't think they saw things the way you saw things. I'd bet money that none of them thought of you as 'weak', the way you seem to think they did."
"Can we…not? Can we change the subject? I'd just really rather discuss something else. Anything else, actually," Kurt asked quietly.
They sat in silence for a few minutes before Kurt spoke again.
"You're going tomorrow, right?"
"Of course. I wouldn't miss it for the world. I'll be right there by Jeff's side the way he's always been for me. Will you be able to make it?"
"I think so. I told them at the office that I wanted to be there, at least for opening arguments. I'll be there as often as I'm able. I just have some deadlines that I can't screw up. I'll meet you at the courthouse in the morning if that's ok? I want to get into the office and get a few things started before I meet up with you."
"It's going to be a long, hard day I think."
"For everyone involved, I'm sure. I just hope Jeff holds up," Kurt commented, carrying his plate to the sink.
"And I hope Nick doesn't vault over chairs and desks to strangle his dad," Blaine sighed. "Although, Jeff seems to have almost come to terms with everything. He's been to the prison a good handful of times to talk to Nick's dad. I honestly think he's trying to understand him, if that's even possible."
"We'll see how things go. I want to be there to support them in any way we can. They're our family," Kurt smiled.
"That they are, love. And that being said, let's sent out some kind of invitation to the bbq this weekend. Are you sure we can make it happen in five days?"
"Are you doubting that Kurt Hummel can whip up a fantastic party on short notice, Blaine?"
"Oh, absolutely not. If anyone can pull it off, it's you," Blaine grinned. "Kiss me. I have to head to work. I'll see you tonight, love."
"Wake me when you get home?"
"I can…if you want. But you know it'll be late…or early, rather."
"Mmmhmmm…late, early, I still want to hold my fiancé and kiss him goodnight."
Jeff paced the floor of the penthouse, his breathing shallow and his heart racing. Today was the day. Today would change everything, he was sure of it. Today they'd go to court, and they'd all lay their cards on the table.
He already knew David Duval would plead guilty. That was no secret. The variables were…just that. Uncertain, hanging out there, and he'd never be able to predict what was said or done ahead of time. He'd just have to go there and let it all play out. He wasn't happy that he'd have to face David Duvall in court, and it wasn't so much David who unnerved him. It was that beady eyed Caesar Fontaine who gave him the heebie-geebies. He wasn't happy about possibly being put on the stand. He wasn't happy about any of it…but with any luck it would be over quickly and they could all move on.
"You ready love?" Nick asked, straightening his tie as he strode down the hallway with a big smile on his face.
"I am. I think. A little nervous, of course."
"This is a slam dunk case, Jeff. He doesn't have a chance. He's pleading guilty. Of course, there's still the mess with the corporation and all the documents found on his computer, the extortion—"
"Alleged extortion," Jeff grinned. That was something David wasn't copping to. He didn't discuss that with Jeff, though.
"Well, at least you won't be called to testify about any of that," Nick soothed him.
"But you will."
"Most likely, yes. I'm ready for it, though. I'm anxious to see how many of David's cronies come out of the woodwork for that trial; or if they do at all. With him in prison I'm not sure who's still hanging around. Any word on Dominic?" Nick asked and didn't see the panic flash through Jeff's eyes as they stepped into the elevator.
"Uh…no. Haven't heard anything."
"I wasn't sure if David said anything about him while you were there chatting him up?" Nick smirked.
"Nope…nobody's seen him. Nobody's talked to him, either, as far as your dad knows, so I'm just…kinda…uptight about that."
"That he's in hiding?"
"That maybe he's not aware that your dad doesn't want me dead anymore," Jeff said softly, hands clutched on the metal rail of the elevator cab as it descended dozens of floors to the ground level.
"Surely word has reached him—"
"Has it?" Jeff asked a little too quickly. "We don't know that."
"So, the guys hanging around that you saw—"
"Yeah…your dad," Jeff said with a half smirk. That still flabbergasted him.
"Wait…my Dad—" Nick cringed, having refused to address David as such for months now. "He's the one who has the security following you!?"
"Seems so, yeah," Jeff confirmed. "He's not sure where Dominic is and he's not sure that he won't try something stupid…revenge or retribution or…whatever."
"Shit…FUCK!" Nick growled, stepping off the elevator into the lobby of his building. Terrance was standing near the front desk and he startled at Nick's outburst.
"Sir? Is everything well with you?" he asked, obviously concerned.
"I…yes. I'm fine, Terrance, I'm sorry. Is Joseph around this morning?"
"No, sir, I believe he has young Evan watching things today. Shall I ring him for you, Mr. Duval?"
"Yes—" Nick blurted.
"No," Jeff said, nodding toward the front of the building where their car had just pulled up to the curb. "We'll be ok, Nicky. It'll be fine. The car is here already, we don't want to be late. Let's just get this over with, ok? Thank you, Terrance. Have a pleasant day!" Jeff called as he walked to the door. Nick followed with quick steps, scanning left to right with his eyes as he did so.
"This isn't my car," he said, grabbing Jeff's arm as he did so.
"No, love, it's not. Your father sent it. These are the guy who've been tailing me for weeks, and if there was anything to be done, it would have been done by now. They've had ample opportunity, Nick. And look…" Jeff said, trailing off as he nodded to the driver of the car. Joseph, Nick's head of security, sent them a nod with a mask of nonchalance as they approached. Two men got out of the car in front of the Town Car Joseph drove, and two more men exited the car behind it. They nodded to Jeff as he glanced their way and he nodded back. Another man exited the front seat of the Town Car next to Joseph and opened their door. Nick was hardly at ease, though.
"If he's sending us with a small army of men, Jeff, then he clearly thinks something's up. I'm not comfortable with this at all. Let me go on the record as saying so. You're ok?" Nick asked, his heart in his eyes.
"Nicky…I'm good, love. C'mon. It's almost over. Let's just go to the courthouse and say our piece and be done with all of it, shall we?"
Nick gave a nervous half nod and locked eyes with Joseph as they got into the car. The ride to the courthouse wasn't long, but it seemed to both go on forever and be not nearly long enough for Nick's nerves to settle. Jeff was staring out the window on his side of the car, his breathing even for the most part, but he never let go of Nick's hand throughout the trip.
As they pulled up in front of the courthouse they saw a throng of media standing around, as well as fully armed police officers and a few of the guys they'd come to recognize as Jeff's new security detail, who'd arrived minutes before them. Jeff met Joseph's eyes in the rearview mirror and took a deep breath as they pulled to a stop.
"They'll want photos…" Jeff trailed off. "Your dad is big news, even here in New York," he said, still holding Nick's hand.
"Well, let's not keep them waiting, shall we?" Nick offered, then scooted toward Jeff so they could exit on the side of the vehicle at the sidewalk. Jeff took another deep breath.
"You know what? I think it's better if you let me get out first, let them get their photos, etc. I don't want you to have to deal with all that publicity, love. The last thing you need is to lose out on potential business because of all this. Just give me a minute to get out and let them snap their photos and then you can follow, ok?" Jeff said, and his tone was one of certainty, not question.
"Jeff—"
"Nick, I think it's for the best, don't you? I'm not a child, I can do this much on my own," he said, leaning in to kiss his husband with a grin and a wink. Jeff nodded to the man in the passenger seat who got out and walked around the car to open Jeff's door. In a matter of seconds, Jeff slid out of the vehicle just when it struck Nick as odd that Joseph didn't get out and open the door. With a click, the door was closed even as Nick slid across the seat toward it and the vehicle moved forward half a block.
"Joseph! I'm still back here," Nick grinned.
"Yes, sir, you are," Joseph answered, but when Nick reached for the handle, the door wouldn't open.
"Joseph—"
"Mr. Sterling wishes for you to remain in the car for a brief moment, sir," he said steadily.
"Joe," Nick growled, watching his husband walk up the steps to the courthouse with reporters all around, his security making a path for him to navigate the chaos. So many reporters and people around Jeff and here he was in the damn car. "JOSEPH, open the door, please," he said again, his tone even but firm.
Suddenly there was a loud pop and commotion on the steps. Nick could easily pick out the security that his father had placed around Jeff rushing in. A sound ripped from Nick's throat as he reached forward and grabbed Joseph by the shoulder, jerking him into action.
"Open this door right now, Joe, he's in trouble God damnit!" Nick roared, and he must have finally gotten through to Joseph as the locks clicked and Nick rushed from the car, Joseph on his heels, to the crowd who seemed torn on whether or not to disperse or hanker down with all the commotion.
"He has a gun!" someone screamed as she tore away from the crowd. The officers were yelling "shots fired!" into communication devices and moving quickly toward the center of the action…where Jeff was, charging in without a second's hesitation.
"They've subdued him!" someone else hollered as Nick rushed in, shoving past anyone in his way to get to Jeff. There was no question in his mind that Jeff had known something was going to happen today and he left Nick in that car on purpose. He didn't have time to be angry. He was too concerned for Jeff, who he still couldn't see.
"MOVE! Get out of the way!" Nick growled at the crowd as he shoved through, only to find a pile of security on top of his husband as well as a face he knew as well as his own brothers'. "YOU! You did this to my husband?!" Nick all but screamed as he tore the security away from Jeff in order to make sure the love of his life wasn't injured. "Jeff! Jeff!" he said again and again as he saw his husband's eyes flutter open on the bottom of a pile of larger men.
"It's ok, Nicky…I'm good…they did their job…" Jeff said softly – so softly that Nick barely heard him. In hindsight, he figured Jeff was probably having difficulty taking a deep breath with that linebacker sized guard covering him with his whole body.
"You're not hurt? Jeff, Jesus…" he said, holding Jeff's hand now.
"Get him out of here!" Nick heard someone say, then turned to see officers leading a bleeding and handcuffed Dominic Lanzilotta away, his shoulder clearly injured and officers keeping everyone away from Dominic's gun, which lay abandoned on the ground where he'd dropped it. He was spitting mad and yelling over his bloody shoulder that it wasn't over and Jeff would never be safe. Nick shivered, watching and wondering if the man was right, but he caught one of the new security officers looking up toward a building across the street. When the man noted Nick's obvious gaze in the same direction, and saw that Nick had clearly seen the shooter on the roof, he merely mouthed the word "sharp shooter" to Nick, as if it were an everyday occurrence. Nick was dumbfounded. His father had hired outside men to take down one of his own to keep Jeff and Nick safe?
"My Dad?" Nick asked, hesitantly. The guard nodded once to Nick, then to the shooter on the roof across the way. He then took up his position around Jeff, as if nothing had happened. Nick was still confused. Surely his father wouldn't have taken out a hit on his right-hand man…right? There were still so many unanswered questions and Nick wasn't sure anymore that he even had the right questions.
The hired security pulled Jeff to his feet where he brushed himself off and examined a rather annoying scuff to his new shoes.
"You knew!?" Nick hissed, hugging his husband hard and tightly.
"I had a feeling, and your father obviously did as well."
"Did he…is he behind this? Is Dominic acting on David's orders!?"
"No, sweetheart…no. David gave the order to leave you and I in peace. We made a deal, David and I. We were to be left alone as if nothing ever happened, but he couldn't get in touch with Dominic. He'd fled when your dad was arrested, apparently, and David could never be certain that he was told to cease any and all actions against us. But then, and I didn't find this out until minutes ago, Fontaine told David that Dominic had been in touch and he'd explained to him that David didn't want either one of us to come to any harm…but Dominic said he couldn't promise anything, that he blamed you and I for David being locked up to begin with, and that he was honor bound to finish the job. He didn't believe Fontaine that David called off the hit. He thought Fontaine was just trying to keep David out of any more trouble than he was already in."
"But you knew…"
"I suspected…I thought it might come to this. I didn't want them to have to protect both of us if he showed up, and he'd have never made it inside with a weapon, so this was the most obvious point of contact if he was going to try anything. And your father said Dominic always did have a flair for the dramatic, so he thought…well, here," Jeff shrugged.
They sat on the steps of the courthouse for a few minutes watching the goings on, the officers taking statements from bystanders and the media getting their footage for the next news segment. Security kept any and all reporters away from Jeff and Nick, thankfully, but he knew they'd be the subject of many stories and in the background of many live shots. Jeff just shook his head at being the subject of 'breaking news' and took a deep breath, knowing his day was just beginning.
"Mr. Sterling, we're needed inside," the guard said, leading the entourage up the steps into the courthouse as Jeff's attorney walked up to join the group. He apologized for being a bit later than he expected and looked around with a critical eye, unsure of what had happened before he arrived. Clearly everyone was a little bit on edge. Thankfully, most of the media had fled the scene when the sharp shooter took Dominic down, but those who stayed behind were clearly all worked up.
"We'll need a statement—" an officer interjected.
"Yes, well, apparently there will be a lot of statements given today, so you may as well join us inside. I'm expected in court, officer," Jeff explained. "Unless you want to explain to the judge why I'm late?" he grinned.
"Statement?" Paul asked, eyeing Jeff and Nick. "What did I miss?" he asked, looking around. The ambulance with Dominic in it was long gone, but there were still officers standing around speaking to witnesses. "I'm his attorney, so if there are statements to be made—"
"There was an attempt on this man's life moments ago, counselor," the officer replied with no snark whatsoever in his voice.
"Dominic?" a wide-eyed Paul asked quietly and received a short nod from Jeff as they continued to walk into the building, then place all of their personal items on a conveyor belt to be put through a scanner inside the courthouse lobby. Paul said nothing as Nick mouthed "later" at him. "I'll join you later for the whole story, then," the officer told them as they all walked forward, replacing items in their pockets as they went.
They made their way inside the courtroom, the security still around them with Joseph bringing up the rear. Nick expected him to look sheepish after the stunt he'd pulled, but the man held his head high and accompanied them into the courthouse as if what happened outside was an everyday event.
"Mr. Sterling—"
"Sterling-Duval," Jeff corrected Paul, then rolled his eyes. "Can we not start over, Paul. Just Jeff is fine, please."
"Jeff…" Paul addressed him, eyes pleading as he did so. "Are you absolutely sure about this. I'm your attorney and you are my client and I'm here for you, but I need for you to be absolutely certain that this is what you want to do. You haven't changed your mind?" Paul asked.
"No. I haven't. And I won't, so if we can just get this over with as soon as possible, I'd be entirely grateful," Jeff said quietly as they sat down. Jeff returned a tight smile to Blaine and Kurt, as well as Nick's family who sat behind him in the courtroom. Meredith looked positively ill, if one could look lovely, regal and ill at the same time. Paul just sighed, shook his head and nodded. He cast a weary glance behind them at the assembled crowd.
It felt like forever before the judge entered the courtroom. David Duval sat next to Caesar Fontaine across from Jeff and Paul. Jeff's nerves were already shot, and he could feel and see his hands shaking as he sat there trying to calm himself.
"All rise…"
"Well, here we go…" Paul said softly, his eyes never leaving the judge.
There was a bunch of legal jargon spit out around the courtroom that Jeff wasn't familiar with. Paul nodded and responded when he was supposed to and Fontaine did the same. Jeff listened intently, trying hard to follow what was going on, and for the most part he knew what to expect. But you could have heard a pin drop when Paul stood up and asked to address the court before the proceedings began. There was tittering and whispering but it all came to a grinding halt when Paul uttered the words nobody could believe: "My client, Jeffrey Sterling-Duval, wishes to drop all charges against Mr. Duval, your Honor."
Eyes wide, but still the picture of calm, nobody was more surprised than David Duval himself.
A/N - Yes, it's been an eternity, and for that I'm sorry. I have ten thousand things in my head and finding room for writing has been...well, not as easy as it once was. I miss it, and I hope to do better in the future. Thank you, each and every one of you who are reading this, for sticking with me, for your kind messages and your inspirational nudges in the butt to get going, finish it, do SOMETHING. I hear you, I'm working on it, and I won't let this go unfinished if I have any say in the matter. If it helps, while I deal with huge bouts of writer's block on this story, I've started two others which are at least half finished. :D
Kindest thanks to HKVoyage / VoyageAsia for reading Crowded House and sending me great feedback as well as encouragement to continue (and soon!) She has said the loveliest things about my story on Tumblr and I'm grateful, as each time some new readers seem to pop up. So, my friend, I thank you for that! If you're not reading her Westerville Abbey, go do it now! :)
For those who are my cheerleaders, always: Suzanne, Kristine, Stephanie, Laura, Robyn. You guys keep me sane, and for that I'm forever grateful as I often feel I have much to make me INSANE, as you know. LOL Thanks, Sue, for the beta work, and for always getting it back to me quickly! You're a life saver and more!
I ask for your well wishes and hugs to Robyn, who continues her fight every damn day with grace and a smile. To Laura, who is sending off, not one, but all three of her girls to college in the same week. Bless you, woman! To Kris, for her lovely mother's good health. To Steph, who started a new job and will, I'm certain, thrive there! And to Sue, who does more for her family than just about any mom I know. Ladies, I love ya and you kick ass!
Blessings and good karma to all. Have a fantastic weekend!