A/N: I was recently gifted my grandmother's old sewing machine that she never let anyone touch. This happened.
Written for KurtbastianArchive's "The First Time" Anniversary Event 2022 prompt "Family".
Kurt's hands guide the deep blue fabric under the foot of the sewing machine with a practiced ease. He's done this a million times, lost track of how many things he's sewn with this machine years ago, the machine he learned with, the machine his mother used to teach him and then, after she'd passed, where he continued to learn on his own. She'd never let anyone else touch it, but Kurt was allowed. She wasn't scared he'd break it; she knew that he knew its value, she knew he'd take care of it.
And he did. He has. All these years, he's taken care of it, kept it running like it's brand new and it's never let him down.
Like her.
It's like having a piece of her with him. Not that he needs that, necessarily, he knows she loved him more than words could express, he doesn't need an object to remind him of that.
But, sometimes, it's nice to have the reminder anyway.
He still misses her. He'll never stop missing her, and ironically it's in the happiest moments that he misses her most.
Like now.
He wishes she could have met him; Sebastian. He thinks she'd have loved him. Not at first, maybe, because he is… well, Sebastian, even Kurt couldn't stand him at first, but eventually she'd have grown to love him just as Kurt as. When he called to share their engagement, she would have been thrilled. She would have cried at the wedding, seeing him so happy with his husband, the love of his life.
He'll never know for sure. He'll never have that chance.
But she can be here this way, in the stitching of his wedding suit. He knows it's an ambitious project, but he also knows he won't find quite what he wants anyway, this will make it special, and this way she can be a part of it, too, even though she can't be there.
He smiles to himself, just a little. She'd be so proud of him, where he is now, he knows that. Once upon a time he never thought he could get here, but here he is. He's living in New York with his amazing fiancé, he graduated fashion school and is on his way to building a successful career in the industry, and most importantly… he's happy. He knows that's all she's ever wanted for him.
He's so in his own head, wrapped up in his thoughts and the task at hand that he almost doesn't hear the door creak open.
Almost.
But he does, and the moment it happens his foot is off the peddle, he's standing and spinning around, blocking the view of the table as he sees Sebastian standing in the doorway.
"I told you that you are not to come in here under any circumstances," he snips, moving quickly toward the door and pushing Sebastian out, following behind and pulling it shut with what is probably more force than necessary.
"Relax babe, I didn't see anything," Sebastian says, backing up only as much as is absolutely necessary as he rests his hands on Kurt's hips.
"That's not the point," Kurt shoots back. "What do you want?"
"I just thought maybe you could use a little break," Sebastian muses, ducking his head down to give Kurt a quick kiss before pulling back to smile at him.
"I was a bit in the middle of something," Kurt replies, some of the annoyance in his voice subsiding, though not entirely.
"You've been 'a bit in the middle of something' for the past, oh, about 8 hours," Sebastian smirks a little. "I made supper. I figured you could use something to eat."
Kurt blinks a little dumbly. "Oh. Has it been that long?"
"Yeah, babe. It's been that long."
Kurt smiles a little sheepishly. "I guess I lost track of time. Thanks."
"It's what I'm here for," Sebastian replies with a lopsided grin, and leans in for another soft kiss.
