Sam

He loved Amy too much to regret everything that had happened, but he definitely regretted the fact that they spent so much time apart while he finished the semester. Even when he did go home on the weekend, he usually spent most of it in Burt Hummel's garage, trying to make an extra buck to support his new little family.

"Hey, Sam," a familiar, higher-pitched male voice said as he rolled out from under the truck he'd been working on to find Kurt Hummel looking down at him. "Dad says you've been working for him a lot lately, he's pretty happy to have you."

"Well, I'm looking forward to being around even more this summer," Sam said, wiping his hands off on his coveralls and sitting up. "Just about a month left and I can move back home. Then I can work for your dad as much as he needs me to."

"Mm," Kurt hummed, looking amused. "Most people are trying to get out of Lima, not come back."

"Yeah, well... not me." Sam averted his eyes, trying not to think too much about all the time he'd once spent talking about his dreams and aspirations. His new plans may not have sounded large and impressive, but none of that mattered to Sam anymore. Amy and his son were all that mattered now.

"Well, yeah, I can see why," Kurt said, as he glanced over Sam's shoulder. "You have a visitor, er, technically a couple of visitors."

Amy stepped tentatively into the garage, clutching a brown paper sack. "Hey," she said, with a shy nod to Kurt."

Kurt returned the gesture. "Good to see you, Amy," he said. "Blaine and I are coming to Chicago to see the high school and the middle school compete at Nationals this weekend."

"Awesome," Amy said. "We appreciate your support."

Kurt nodded. "Can't wait," he said. "Well, uh, if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go see if Dad needs any help in the office..."

"I was in the neighborhood," she said, explaining her presence, as Kurt left them alone. "I had my glucose test today. There's a little deli nearby and I was starving from fasting before the appointment, so I stopped in. I got you a panini."

"Thanks," Sam said, as he accepted the parcel. "Glucose test? That's that screening to make sure you don't have gestational diabetes, right?"

Amy smiled. "Right," she said, resting her hand atop the growing bump. "Wow, um, impressive research there. Anyway, enjoy. I better get back to work. I told Leah I wouldn't miss our last rehearsal before we leave for Nationals tomorrow. But I did want to ask you, uh, are you riding with Artie or did you want to take the bus with us?"

"Well, could you use my help on the bus?"

Amy nodded, happy that he'd caught her drift. "Please," she said. "I could really use your help supervising the students and making sure we get every costume piece backstage and getting the music to the sound booth and just... you know, all the crazy, last-minute details that my pregnant brain can't keep up with."

"Absolutely," Sam said, running his fingers through his hair out of habit before he realized they were covered in grease. "Uh, listen, I think you mentioned today's appointment, and I'm so sorry I didn't go with..."

"Oh, no, Sam, I don't need or expect that. You had work to do here. I mean, like I've told you, later on, I will want you to be there. But right now, these doctor visits are pretty boring. We're still healthy... and, and growing," she said, with a laugh.

"That's good," Sam said, casting his eyes down to her mid-section and then back up again. "Still, I just wanna be as involved as I can, Amy. I don't feel like I'm very involved, when I go days without seeing you."

Amy leaned in for a kiss, not even minded that he was a greasy mess. "Just one more month," she told him. "One more month and then we'll be able to call each other husband and wife."

"I can't wait," Sam breathed, kissing her again before she made her exit. Kurt expertly waited until they were done with this little exchange before coming back into the shop. He'd changed into coveralls, begrudgingly by the looks of it, and proceeded to get to work on the next car alongside Sam. It was always kind of funny, watching Kurt work on cars. He knew what he was doing, yes, but he was never very happy about doing it.

"What's this I hear about you getting married in a month?" Kurt said, grinning at him.

Sam knew he was blushing. "I asked over spring break," he said. "And, well, it was either hurry up or... wait. So, we went with hurry up."

"Congratulations," Kurt replied, genuinely. "Are you renting a tux or buying one?"

"Uhhh, I'm waiting for Amy to tell me," Sam said, realizing his mistake as those words left his mouth. She probably had enough on her plate. Maybe that was supposed to be up to him. "Do you have a suggestion though?"

Kurt studied him. "Well, when Dad and Carole got married, we couldn't find a rental tux that was long enough to fit Finn, so they had to buy one. If I hemmed the pants and sleeves... it would probably fit you."

Sam felt strangely emotional at Kurt's offer to help him out with this minor, yet important, detail. They were getting offers of help left and right. And Sam, who was used to handling things on his own, didn't quite know how to take it. Other than to just thank the guy and, well, take it.

"Something borrowed, right?" Sam joked, uncomfortably. "Uh, wow, thanks Kurt. That would be great. I guess I'll tell Amy I've got that part worked out now. If you're sure Carole won't mind me using Finn's suit?"

Kurt nodded quickly. "She'll be happy to see it put to good use again," he said. "As it is, it's just hanging in his closet, really not doing anything except making them a bit sad whenever they look at it."

Sam nodded, feeling all the more uncomfortable at the mention of Finn's grieving family. He was also at a loss for words. Luckily, once you got Kurt started on something like wedding planning, he didn't stop.

"So, what about your bride?" Kurt asked. "Do you know if she's found a dress yet? And someone to do alterations?"

"I think she decided to wear my mother's dress," Sam said. "You know, because my mother was pregnant when she got married, too. But as for alterations, I don't know, maybe? We probably won't know until right before the wedding."

"Right, of course," Kurt said, looking thoughtful. "Well, I could probably manage, if the material's not too delicate. Have her call me."

As Sam texted Kurt's number to Amy, Burt Hummel appeared, looking pleased to see his son had put on coveralls and intended to do some work, but maybe a little disappointed to see that Kurt's hands were still spotless. Sam quickly lay back on the mechanic's creeper, to get back to work, but Burt stopped him.

"That was your Amy, wasn't it?" he asked. Apparently, she'd passed by him in the office on her way into the shop and must have said hello. Sam nodded. "Well, congratulations. Why didn't you mention you two were having a baby?"

"Uh, I guess I'm a little embarrassed, sir," Sam replied, sitting up again. He always called him 'sir' or Mr. Hummel, even though Burt was always asking him to call him 'Burt.'

"Don't be, son," Burt replied. "These are the joyous moments in life to celebrate. I wasn't all that much older than you when I welcomed my first and only. Do you know if you're having a boy or a girl?"

"It's a boy," Sam said, a smile playing on his lips now, when he thought about it.

"Beautiful," Burt said, with a glance at Kurt. "Well, I just came in to tell you that there's a project I could use some help with. Actually, I haven't got the time for it at all, so I was gonna just ask you to do it. Buddy of mine brought in a brand new mid-sized SUV. Toyota. Just had about a thousand or so miles on her when she wrecked, completely totaled. He just sold it to me, flat-out, didn't want to deal with it. I thought maybe you'd like to piece this baby back together, learn a thing or two along the way?"

Kurt stifled a yawn but Sam's excitement made up for that. "Sure!" he exclaimed.

"Great," Burt concluded. "And if you can get her back in safe, working condition, well, then she's all yours."

Sam's expression changed to one of pure shock. "To... keep?"

"Well, sure," Burt answered, as though it were obvious. "You're a family man now. You need something safe and reliable."

Sam didn't know what to say. Between Burt's incredible generosity and the kindness Kurt had shown, offering to help out with the wedding, he was once again left in a place where he just had to thank them profusely and accept their gifts.

Tears pricked his eyes as he bit his lips, ducking his head and just nodding along. "Thank you," he said, as Burt patted his shoulder firmly to let him know it was quite alright.

Sam thought about telling Amy about the new car but decided he'd surprise her later on instead. Besides, it all hinged on him fixing it. And he'd never done a project that big before. He knew Burt would be ordering most of the parts it needed, out of the kindness of his heart, but Sam intended to try to pitch in wherever he could.

They didn't really have time to do much beyond getting the kids to Nationals. It was a bit chaotic, as the high schoolers and middle schoolers were taking one big bus together, with Kurt, Blaine, and Artie coming along behind, carrying most of the costumes in Kurt's car.

Emma Pillsbury was supposed to come along as a co-sponsor, but her morning sickness had gotten especially bad, so she'd had to bow out. Since most people didn't know yet that Emma and Will were expecting, Sam and Amy kept hush-hush about it for them.

Luckily, there were others in town for the weekend, available to fill the void left by Emma's absence. Mercedes was meeting them in Chicago, as was Mike Chang, who went to school in the city. No word on who else might show up, but it was Nationals for both of the school clubs, so it was anyone's guess.

As they gathered in the hotel lobby, Sam watched from a distance as Artie shyly approached Kitty, where she had been sitting away from the rest of the crowd. He gave Amy a nudge and she followed his gaze to the pair.

"Not happening," Amy said, sadly. "I already talked to that stubborn mule, right after he and Julie broke up, and he insists on remaining single until after he recovers from surgery this summer."

"Well, maybe he's onto something," Sam said, with a shrug, and he could tell Amy was annoyed with him just by the sound of the way her heels clicked as she followed him while he went to retrieve his luggage.

"So, you support his idea of avoiding conflict in every relationship he's in?" Amy challenged him, her voice rising as she also rose up to her full height. Being much shorter than Sam, she failed to look the least bit intimidating and it made him smile.

"I support," said Sam, as he deposited the luggage on the rolling cart. "Him. As his roommate, as his best friend, and now as his soon-to-be brother-in-law. In whatever he chooses to do. It's his life. And, yes, as a guy, I can see why he doesn't want to look weak and helpless in front of the girl he's interested in."

An inevitable eye roll followed, but Sam was sure he'd gotten her to see his point.

"I just want to see him happy," Amy muttered.

"I know," Sam said, giving her a quick kiss, then stealing a glance around the busy lobby to make sure no one was paying them any attention. When he had confirmed no one was watching, he moved in to tuck an arm around her waist and pull her in closer for a longer kiss.

She giggled, taking a step back. "Okay, okay," she said. "We do have a room, you know. Oh, shoot, Artie... is he sharing with Blaine and Kurt? Did they get an accessible room?"

"Why don't you let Artie worry about Artie?" Sam suggested, innocently. "Besides, he told me he's staying with Mercedes, and she took care of that for him again. Compliments of Ariana Grande, who just so happens to be judging the competitions tomorrow."

Amy gasped. "Ariana Grande's a judge?" Sam just nodded. He'd been texting with Mercedes earlier, and she'd filled him in. "Wow... and she's the one Mercedes has been recording back-up vocals for, right?"

"Yup," Sam confirmed. "And when Ariana found out Mercedes used to be on our team, she absolutely insisted on getting Mercedes a room here, so that she could see all of us."

"You... used to date Mercedes, right?"

It wasn't so much a question as a statement. "Hardly any pairing in glee club didn't get tried at least once," he said. "You haven't noticed any of your middle schoolers coupling up?"

Amy opened her mouth to speak, but before she could answer that question, the doors swung open to reveal Mercedes. She'd stopped carrying that faux chihuahua around, but she still looked just as fresh out of L.A. as she had the last time she'd met up with them at Nationals.

"Hi guys!" Her eyes landed on Sam and Amy first, as she approached them, then drifted down to Amy's stomach. "Little mama, you look adorable in that dress."

Amy blushed. She was wearing the pretty, red dress Sam remembered her wearing at Regionals, only it fit her differently now. "Thank you," she said, accepting a hug from Mercedes. "It's good to see you."

"It worked out," Mercedes said, brightly. "Ariana said she accepted the invitation to be a celebrity judge when she found out I used to be a glee kid." She turned her attention toward, to the person approaching her now. "Hey, Artie!"

"Hey, Mercedes," he said, grinning upwards as he wheeled towards her. "Thanks again for rooming with me. Can I split the cost with you or something?"

"No need," she told him. "It's on Ms. Grande! C'mon, so I need to know the details, what happened between you and Julie? She seemed great for you..."

Artie glanced over his shoulder and then back to his sister, who looked like she also wanted more detail. "I'll tell you tonight," he promised.

Sam could tell it bothered Amy, not to be in the know about exactly how and why things had ended between her brother and Julie. But she said nothing, excusing herself to go hand out costumes and make sure everyone had theirs before retiring to their rooms for the night.

When Sam finally curled up in bed beside his fiancé later, she seemed to be distracted by something else entirely. She had a faraway look in her eyes, as she lay on her side, clad in her tank top and pajama pants, and massaged a spot on her belly.

"See if you can feel that," she instructed Sam, who allowed her to guide his hand to the spot she'd indicated on her bare stomach. He waited a few seconds, and then sure enough, there it was. A small ripple under her skin. Their son's swift kick felt nothing like what he'd imagined.

"Weird," he commented.

"That's cool," she said, softly. "You finally felt it. I'd been hoping to share it with you soon." She tucked his arm around her more tightly. "I can't wait until we're together all the time like this."

Sam silently agreed, though all he could think about was getting through the next month of school with decent grades and getting enough work on the weekends to save all that he could. He closed his eyes, unwittingly imagining the nice hotel room as a cheap motel-turned-home, complete with a crying baby. He pushed these images aside, trying to remind himself that they weren't real. In reality, he had help from those that cared for him, he would be getting a better car soon, and they had a place to live until they could save enough for their own home someday.

So, why couldn't he turn off those upsetting images every time he closed his eyes?