5YL Let the Encore Commence

Part 71

Since the shop closed early on Sundays, Burt was looking forward to getting home given the events of the previous night and that morning. Yet upon walking in the door, he found Carole at the table with the envelope Sebastian had given them before her. "Here I thought you would've shredded that once you got home." Burt told her as he took his hat off. "You've got to know, anything in there has been fabricated."

"Is that so?" He nodded. "If that's the case, why did Kurt look mortified." Carole countered. "I know you have your issues with Sebastian, rightfully so, but you can't dismiss everything he says. Like it or not, Kurt's not innocent in all this."

"The courts are on Blaine's side because he's famous." Burt said as he went to get something to drink from the refrigerator. "They're bias against Kurt."

"Then explain how it was their divorce judge who put so many of these protective measures in. Remember, Blaine was nothing more than a struggling student when they divorced."

"True, but his parents got him the best lawyer money could buy."

"Did you not listen to anything Dr. Brady said?" Carole replied. "Kurt has issues, plus has admitted to hurting Blaine. Why can't you accept that?"

"Why are you taking Blaine's side?"

"This isn't about sides, it's about putting an end to this, once and for all." She told him. "As long as you continue defending Kurt, he's never going to accept responsibility for what he's done. Dr. Brady stated…"

"I know what she stated, and, he's my son Carole."

"I know, which is why you should be helping him, not making excuses for him." Carole replied. "We can't change the past Burt, but we can try and stop him from making more mistakes, hurting more people."

"Including himself." She nodded. "Part of that, is accepting he did the things he's accused of."

"Wait, did you talk to Dr. Brady?"

"I did, because I want us to get through this, together. Yet as long as you continue to defend him, I, I don't know how much more I can take."

"Wait, are you saying you'd leave me?" When she sighed, he rubbed the back of his neck. "I can't believe it's come to this. He's my son."

"And if this was Finn, I'd expect you to do the same for me if I refused to accept the truth." She then opened the envelope and dumped all out on the table. "These are from numerous social media sources, all documenting what Kurt was doing while he was married to Blaine."

"They're…"

"Burt, they're still online, they're not fake." Carole said to him. "Kurt had an entire life that didn't include Blaine. All those nights he accused Blaine of being out cheating, when he was actually practicing, Kurt was out with friends." She then searched through the printouts for one particular one. "This right here, is from the night of their first anniversary. He was out at a club, with friends, and there are multiple pictures from that night. Do you remember what he told us?"

"He said Blaine was out, and he sat at home, waiting for him." Burt replied as he looked at the picture she handed him. "This can't be, he…"

"Burt, Blaine was the one sitting at home." She told him. "Look closely, Kurt's not wearing his wedding ring. In each these pictures, it's the same thing." She then reached for another picture. "This one here, is with Kyle, the same Kyle who testified in court. Each of these pictures or tweets, contradicts what Kurt told us."

"He wouldn't do this, Sebastian…"

"Sebastian gave us this to prove once and for all, Kurt lied throughout the divorce proceedings. Why else do you think Kurt didn't want us to see it, because he didn't want us knowing the truth."

"Doesn't mean Blaine wasn't cheating."

"How'd I know you'd go there." Carole replied in frustration. "Did you know I asked Sam about that, if he thought it Blaine could've possibly been seeing Sebastian when he was married to Kurt?" He shook his head. "I did, and he was pretty adamant it didn't happen."

"Blaine wouldn't have told him, especially after last time."

"True, but that's not how he knows it didn't happen." Carole told him. "And for the record, don't you remember how that guilt ate at Blaine, to the point he actually told Kurt." Reluctantly he nodded. "While Sam didn't get to New York often, he and Blaine did talk, and…he admitted, Blaine was pretty solemn most of the time they spoke. Yet once Blaine started dating Sebastian, he came to life again. Heck, he saw him shortly after Rachel found out they were together, and said Blaine was ridiculously happy."

"He could've…"

"Just stop, please. Rachel admitted the same thing." She said to him. "She was around Blaine more than the rest of us, and saw the change in him. Initially she wasn't thrilled, yet, she gave Sebastian a chance because it felt good to see Blaine happy again."

"Why are you defending him?"

"I'm not defending him, I'm simply pointing out that he's not the person Kurt claimed him to be. Face it, everything he said about Blaine, he was doing himself, and then some."

"Carole." He said before taking a seat at the table, looking at all the printouts she emptied onto the table. "I…"

"I know it's a lot to process, but you need to start admitting to yourself, Kurt did the things Blaine's accused him of."

"If they had this information, why wasn't it used during the divorce?"

"You're assuming they had it then. This is one time, I think you're correct to presume Sebastian had something to do with this, as hiring a PI, doesn't seem like something Blaine would do. Regardless, it doesn't change the fact it happened."

"Why show it now, I don't get it?"

"If you listened to Sebastian, he said Kurt made an agreement with Blaine, and he broke it." Carole replied. "So, you'd have to ask Kurt what he agreed to do, but didn't. But considering the times Blaine's gotten mad in the past, it probably has something to do with either his husband, or Rachel."

"But why now?"

"While this is only a guess, they want this to end, move on with their lives without Kurt making himself a part of it." She said as she sat down beside him, taking his hand. "They've been married now for a year, together for about three."

"How do you know that?" Burt asked as he looked at more of the pictures, shaking his head as he did. "How long they've been together?"

"A little bit of research, combined with when Kurt started acting out." She told him. "Kurt even told us when he first saw them together, someone in that group said they'd been together for a few months at that point."

"If not longer."

"True, yet Blaine was entitled to date whoever he wanted since he and Kurt were not only legally separated, but in the middle of a nasty divorce. Burt, you know as well as I do, the moment Blaine moved out, the marriage was over."

"Yet…" He then took a deep breath, before looking at another picture, taking note that once again, Kurt wasn't wearing his ring. "If he was so unhappy, why'd he fight the divorce?"

"I don't know, and we probably never will." Carole told him. "Frustrating as this is for us, it has to be equally, if not more frustrating for Blaine and Sebastian. They just want to live their lives without Kurt attacking them or those they love."

"So, he's supposed to just ignore them, when Blaine's everywhere."

"He was ignoring him, until Blaine started making a name for himself. He never had to go to that bar to see him perform, and if he hadn't, he might not have seen the two of them together." She replied. "I'm not saying he wouldn't have found out, but, the situation might not have been so explosive. Not only was Blaine with Sebastian, but a bunch of people Kurt couldn't stand and…"

"The feeling was mutual." Burt said to her. "It's just so hard seeing the situation he's gotten himself into."

"Exactly, he got himself into it, and continues making matters worse for himself." Carole replied. "Like it or not, Blaine and Sebastian are merely reacting to things he does. When he rubbed his neck again, she gave his hand a squeeze. "Dr. Brady said it starts with us, holding Kurt accountable since he doesn't seem to care what the judge says, yet…"

"He doesn't listen to me Carole."

"Not always, but you've said yourself, he seems to care what you think. Why else do you think he denies everything he's been accused of? And I didn't single-out Blaine, because he's denied doing things to Rachel, and David Karofsky as well. He did it because…"

"He knew I'd be disappointed." Burt replied.

"That's what I choose to believe." Carole told him, though she knew there was other possibilities based on what Dr. Brady said. Yet she chose not the bring them up in the moment, as this was about getting through to Burt, and to get him to stop blame Blaine and Sebastian for what's happened.

While the two of them were having their talk, Sebastian was pacing the Anderson kitchen as everyone else talked. "Care to tell me what's going on Squirt?" Cooper asked as he draped his arm around Blaine's shoulders, thankful he was able to extend his stay a bit. "He looks a bit pre-occupied."

"Wish I knew." Blaine said in response. "One minute we were talking, the next, he excused himself to take a call." Sebastian was aware enough to notice their attention on him, so he shot them a wink before smiling.

"What was that?"

"His way of telling me not to worry." Blaine replied before reaching for his beer. "I just want to stop feeling this way Coop."

"And what way is that?"

"On edge."

"Because of Kurt." Blaine nodded. "You do realize he comes off as the epitome an irrational ex, right?" When Blaine just looked at him, Cooper gave him a squeeze. "I'm serious. All people see is that your ex-husband is pissed you're not only successful, but you've moved on with Sebastian. Who, don't tell him I said this, is seen as a major upgrade."

"I don't know about that."

"It's true. If you don't believe me, ask Whitney, she's heard it too." Cooper told him. "It's to the point where anything he says, is going to make him look pettier than he already does."

"Coop."

"B, even my publicist sees it that way." That earned him an eyebrow raise from Blaine. "We talked about it, after he threw his fit after the song release, then the after-party videos made their way online. While you and Sebastian have responded privately, you never handled it in the press, which is how it should be done."

"Yet it ended up in the press anyhow, as they were at court."

"Blaine, the fact you and Sebastian are in court dealing with it, adds strength to the fact his behavior is wrong."

"Who are you and what have you done with my brother?" Blaine replied.

"Cute, but I can't say I didn't have it coming given my past behavior." Cooper said in response. "Let's just say, I've finally grown-up."

"Coop."

"It's okay, as I know I didn't always take things as seriously as I should've. But you've got to know, I've always had your back, whether you realized it or not."

"Didn't we have this conversation once before?"

"We did, some time during that trip I took home when you were in high school, as Kurt actually said something along the lines of me being…"

"The best-looking man in North America, I remember that."

"So do I, but not for the compliment, but because of how rude it was." Blaine cocked his head in response. "I know, shocking, but it's true. It's why when I first met Sebastian, I loved that he didn't give me a second look, he was all about you, as it should be. And we won't discuss the fact that I clearly interrupted something around Mom and Dad."

"That would be appreciated." Blaine told him, before looking back at Sebastian who look a bit calmer. "Is it so wrong to want to leave Kurt in my past?"

"Not at all, and you have for the most part."

"Doesn't feel like it, at least right now?"

"That's because he threw another fit, it'll pass."

"Till next time."

"I wish I could tell you there wouldn't be one, but I can't. The only thing I can say, is you and Sebastian need to keep doing what you're doing, living your life on your terms." Cooper said to him. "Honestly, being happy together is the best revenge."

"Which is something I keep reminding him of." Sebastian interjected before leaning down to kiss Blaine's cheek.

"What was that about?" Blaine asked.

"It was Santana, calling to inform us that Puck knows why Hummel assumed Marley told him he'd been ordered to see a shrink."

"Is Marley alright?"

"As of this moment, she's ignoring everyone's calls outside of Santana."

"Did Santana say how Puck found out?"

"Azimio."

"How did he know?"

"Seems he's a corrections officer." The next sound they heard, was Blaine laugh. "B?"

"Azimio was one of Kurt's tormentors at McKinley, he's also friends with Dave."

"Seriously?" Blaine nodded. "As if being in jail didn't suck enough."

"No kidding. Now, about Marley?"

"I told Santana, to tell her to not say anything, even though Hummel confirmed what Azimio told Puck." Sebastian replied. "It's one thing to know she works there, it's another for her to confirm he was there."

"Good point. Did Santana have anything else to say?"

"Just that she's ready to get back to New York."

"I know the feeling." Blaine replied before looking towards the sliding door, to the deck where the parents and Whitney were. "You should probably go join your fiancée." He said as he looked at Cooper.

"Is that your way of getting rid of me?" Cooper asked.

"I just need a minute with Bas, we'll be out soon, I promise."

"You better, as we already ran interference with Mom long enough today."

"And I appreciate it, we'll be right there." Cooper nodded, before leaving the two. "Do you find it odd, we haven't heard anything else after the fit Kurt threw today?"

"Not really, as JBI was preoccupied with what was going on at McKinley." Sebastian said as he slipped his arms around him. "Is that all that's on your mind, or is there something else?"

"You don't think we're jumping the gun, are you?"

"You mean in regards to my conversation with my Dad?" Blaine nodded. "No, as we're merely getting our house in order. We agreed, I'll be taking the bar first, and hopefully passing the first time. And you still need to finish writing your next album, let alone record it."

"Let's not forget the tour which will accompany it."

"I'm not, which is why we're not getting ahead of ourselves. Our lives aren't simple B, which means…"

"We need to look at the big picture, I know." Blaine replied. "Your Dad's not going to say anything, is he?"

"No, as he knows this is our news to share when the time is right." He then pressed a kiss to the top of Blaine's head. "Us sharing this type of news, is no different should Cooper and Whitney have kids. You share it, when the time is right, not before or afterwards."

"True." Blaine then tilted his head, and was met by a kiss. "You don't think we're being irresponsible, I mean, considering Kurt's still an issue."

"Not at all, because Judge Watkins already put language in which will cover them. And I dare him to say anything about us having kids, because while our parents have stayed out of it thus far, there'd be no stopping them should he go after their grandchild."

"I hadn't thought about that, but, that's an excellent point."

"I have concerns too B, but remember, we're not in this alone." Sebastian told him. "We can talk about this more once we get home, okay?"

"Yes. Ready to join the others?"

"I am, as it's going to be awhile till we have time like this together, again."