So sorry about how long this has taken. Although my one-shot Snow Falling took up very little of my time, I've had a lot of problems with the Burt/Carole stuff in the middle of this chapter that has really slowed my progress down.

Hope Carole isn't OOC in this chapter. It's been so long since we've seen her on the show that her voice in my head isn't coming through as clearly as it once did. Needs must re-watch some older episodes.

Star Consort - Chapter Seven

Carole had no idea that her afternoon would turn out this way.

She'd initially been discouraged to come out of work and find Prince Jute of Sateen waiting for her outside. He'd assured her that he only wished to get to know her better, but she wasn't convinced. Only the fact that she knew she needed to get along with Kurt's boyfriend made her agree to coffee.

The Lima Bean was only a couple of blocks away from her job, so they walked. It had been quiet most of the way, with Jute commenting on Earth architecture and Carole making the occasional mumbled agreement.

Thankfully, Carole eventually wore down and started to enjoy herself. Jute had kept his reasons for being there to himself and had concentrated on being charming and affable. She'd altogether forgotten he was grading her until he noted, "You're not what I expected; I'm glad I got to know you better."

"I'm relieved to hear that," Carole admitted. "I know you'd rather Burt pick Kasha over me-"

"That isn't so," Jute assured her. From anyone else it would have sounded scolding or defensive. Jute made it sound matter-of-fact. "I respect Burt-Hummel a great deal, and want him to make the choice that will make him the happiest."

"We all want that."

Jute looked down at his coffee, his enthusiasm waning a little. "This is very hard on Kurt. He's torn between his mother, and a woman that he loves like a mother."

Carole was shocked to hear that. Not that she doubted for a minute that Kurt loved her as much as she loved him. But Jute was clearly far more involved with Kurt than she thought if he was privy to something like that. "I know. I don't know what to do for him except hope that this gets resolved as fast as possible."

"I think you're right," Jute told her. "I don't like watching Kurt hurting. But I blamed you for this situation, and I apologize. My grandfather was right to convince me to see your side of this."

"Well, thank him for me." Carole glanced at her phone as it beeped again. Another missed call from Burt. Carole hated it when people interrupted the conversations they were having with people right in front of them. But this was the seventh call in the last half hour. "It's Burt again. I hope you don't mind if I answer; it might be important."

"Of course, if he's that anxious to talk to you."

Burt sounded more than anxious when Carole answered the phone. "Oh my god, Carole. Are you okay?"

"Burt, I'm fine. What's going on?"

"Carole, somebody broke in to your apartment. They think it might be the same ones that attacked Kurt. When I couldn't find you-"

Carole gasped. She was normally home by now, no wonder Burt was so worried. If she hadn't been so darned LUCKY that Jute decided to see her today she could have been in real trouble. "I'm okay. Jute stopped by when I was on my way out of work and we got coffee. I haven't even been home yet."

"Thank god. Carole, if anything happened to you I don't know how I'd manage."

Carole blushed. "I'll be right there. I love you."

"I love you too."

Carole turned to see Jute looking at her, concerned. "What's happened."

"Someone broke into my-" Carole broke off, the reality of the situation hitting her like a slap. She actually had to make two tries to get to her feet. "I- I have to go."

"You don't look up to operating a vehicle," Jute said as he stood. "I'll take you."

Carole was a little surprised by that. She'd assumed that Jute got from place to place with one of those 'jumpers' Kurt used. "You drive?"

Jute led her to an SSC Ultimate Aero that was clearly his from the beep it made when he hit the alarm on his keychain. "Oh, I drive."


Burt alerted the police that he'd gotten in contact with Carole, and that she was on her way there. Then he went back to pacing anxiously.

This had been the breaking point for him. As much as he loved Kasha, he knew he needed Carole in his life. The saying went that you didn't know what you had until it was gone. He knew now, and had been lucky enough that he'd gotten her back. He wasn't going to risk losing her again.

"Burt!" Carole came running up to him, but it was Burt who wrapped her hugs and kissed her.

"Oh my god, It's so good to see you. I don't know what I would have done if I'd lost you!" Burt exclaimed.

"It's okay, Burt. I'm okay," Carole murmured comfortingly.

"I love you, Carole! I'm done waffling. I want to be with you."

Carole back up at that, startled and uncertain. "Burt, you don't know how much I've wanted to hear you say that. But I don't want you to make a rash decision in the heat of the moment that you'll regret later."

Burt couldn't believe what he was hearing. "I'm not going to regret this!"

Carole looked very regretful, but her voice was firm. "No, Burt. This is the panic talking. Believe me, I get it. I want nothing more than to let you just take me in your arms right now. But I don't want right now. I want forever, and I'm not convinced this is it."

Burt was stunned. "But-" He broke off, because he couldn't think of anything to say that couldn't be judged as an emotional reaction.

Jute decided to make his presence known at that point. "Perhaps it would be best if we retired back to the Hummel house to continue this discussion."

"I don't know," Carole admitted.

"You can't stay here!" Burt declared.

"Agreed," Jute said. "Burt, I've moved into the house Kasha lived in before she married you. If you'd like I can entertain Kurt while you talk things through with her and Carole. And Finn as well, of course," he added quickly.

Burt made a little face at that, but nodded. "Yeah, that'd be great. Come on, Carole. It's not like this is coming out of nowhere."

Carole was pensive for what seemed to be a long time, but she finally nodded. "All right."


Kasha and Kurt had been making dinner together when they heard the front door open. Kasha had been elbows deep in pastry dough so Kurt left the potatoes to go greet his dad. "Hi, dad. I hope you're hungry because Mom and I have been in the kitchen most of the afternoon, and Finn just called to say he was-"

Kurt's voice completely dropped off as he rounded the corner into the living room. "Kurt, are you okay?" Kasha asked.

"I'm-" Kurt paused. Uneasy, and Kasha's mind immediately went to red alert at the uncomfortable tone. "Yeah. I'm okay. Mom, you should probably come in here."

That was even more worrying. Kasha extricated herself from the pie she was making. "[Are you alright, Kurtling?]"

"[I am,]" he replied. "[It's-] Dad brought Jute home for dinner. And Carole."

Well that explained why Kurt was so uncomfortable. She briefly wondered if this was about Kurt, or if Burt had made his choice. Then she realized that she was better off going to find out than speculating.

She set down the knife she'd picked up, before she went into the living room. Now that there was no PHYSICAL threat to her family in the next room.

As soon as she saw the look in Burt's eyes she knew it was over. Her first thought was for Kurt. "Jute, are you here for Kurt?"

Jute saw the look in her eyes and nodded gravely. "Yes, Princess. Kurt, you said Finn wasn't here?"

Kurt jumped, a little startled but nodded. "Yes. He's staying over at Puck's tonight."

"That's probably for the best," Jute noted. Kurt's eyes widened anxiously as he took in the exchange. Jute offered him a hand. "I promised your father I'd look after you for the night."

Kurt's mask of indifference, that Kasha had barely gotten to see though she'd heard it was commonplace, slid into place as he nodded. Kurt turned back to Kasha to give her a big hug. "I'll see you tomorrow," Kurt declared, his certainty as much a mask as his face.

"You will." Kasha was determined that no matter what happened with Burt, she was never saying goodbye to her son again.

Kurt hugged his dad, then after pausing hugged Carole as well. He walked to the door, giving everyone a composed wave as he left.

Leaving just the three of them. Soon to be two.

Burt sat down on the couch, trying to compose himself. She was relieved to see this was at least not an easy decision for him. "Kasha, you know I've always loved you."

Kasha fought the urge to join him on the couch. She remained standing, the warrior princess she was. "Yes, Burt. But I also know how long I've been gone."

"Someone broke into Carole's apartment this afternoon."

Kasha wasn't expecting to hear THAT. Though it did her emotional upset no good; she was all too aware what almost losing someone does to a person. "I'm sorry to hear that. Do they know who did it?"

"Not yet," Carole admitted. There was something else there, something not said. But Kasha couldn't guess what it was.

"So you're staying here, then." Kasha's voice came out uncertain. She would have offered, but realized that she may no longer have the right to invite someone to stay here.

"I don't know where I'm staying yet," Carole declared, muffling Burt's 'yes' and subsequent grumble.

"I'm sorry, Kasha," Burt told her. "Even before this happened, it was- And then I thought that Carole might be kidnapped or worse- Damnit!" he snapped. "I don't know how to say this."

Now Kasha did go to sit beside him, she couldn't help herself. "I understand. You want to be with her."

Burt looked at her, anguished. "I'm so sorry. I wish I could explain it better."

"You don't have to," Kasha replied. "I already know. I'm still dead to you, Burt."

Burt was surprised, and hurt, to hear that. "No, Kasha. Whatever else happens, I'll always-"

Kasha interrupted, touching her hand to his heart. "In here. You had to go on, and I completely understand. My coming back didn't change anything. Your love for me is a love of something in the past. The way I love my father. It's not connected to me anymore."

Burt bowed his head and wept. "I should have gone to you. Shouldn't have let my pride get in the way when you got hurt."

"You didn't know."

"Kasha, I am SO sorry," Carole insisted. "I didn't want to do this tonight. Burt is upset over the break-in-"

Kasha waved off her apology. "I've suspected this since- Since I saw your picture the first time, I suppose. You don't have to worry about him changing his mind."

Kasha decided to go while she could still do so with some dignity. Rising from the couch she led Carole to her place. "Take care of him. Tell Kurt…. Tell him I'll talk to him later tomorrow. Here time."

Burt's head lifted up in shock. "You're leaving?" he gasped.

"It's past my time," she told him. "Ten years past."

Burt's head bowed down again. Kasha knew he wanted to say something else. But she also knew he didn't know what to say.

Carole still felt the need to say something, though. "You don't need to leave tonight. I can sleep in Finn's bed-"

Kasha chuckled grimly. "When my mother told you I was alive, did YOU want to stay here until morning?" Though it was a rhetorical question, as Bebe had told her that Carole hadn't."

Apparently Carole knew Kasha knew that. "Point taken."

"I'll have Kurt bring me my things, if that's all right?" Kasha told them.

Burt nodded, still unable to speak.

"[Goodbye, Burt-Hummel.]"

A tear fell down Burt's face. But just one, and it wasn't enough to change anyone's mind. "[Goodbye, Princess.]"

And then she was gone.


Kurt shut his phone looking tired and anxious. "I told my grandmother what happened. Mom isn't back yet, and Grandmother thinks she won't have time to call when that happens."

"Probably not. I'm sorry, Kurt."

Kurt was looking around his mother's old house, that the Sateeni had jokingly deemed 'the Embassy House'. If Jute was expecting Kurt to be too 'Earthen' to notice what he'd said he was wrong. Kurt turned to Jute, puzzled. "Why would you be sorry?"

"Because I want to help you with this, and I know I can't," Jute explained. "Perhaps that's why people use the words so freely on this planet."

Kurt went over to Jute, putting his arms around his boyfriend. "Then it's a stupid reason," he announced. "You are helping. I just wish I could help my mother. I don't like being away like this; she doesn't have to protect me."

"She's your mother, of course she does," Jute smiled. Then he added, soberly, "It will be easier for her to grieve if she doesn't have to be brave for you."

Kurt nodded. "I get that from her."

"What did your grandmother say about the break-in?"

Kurt shook his head, discouraged. While Bebe had been perfectly concerned and had volunteered to be involved…. "She wants to hear everything the police have as soon as we get it. She'll have her own people look at it. I was hoping we could do a thorough scan of the apartment, but there's just no way to get the equipment there discretely."

Jute considered this. "There might be another way."

"Really?"

"It's an old technique, and I'd need an Air and an Earth shaper to pull it off," Jute explained. "Let me look into it."

"So how is it that you know these super secret ancient techniques?" Kurt asked with a coy smile.

"It's not like that," Jute admitted. "It's just something that's obsolete on Sateen, your grandmother has probably just forgotten about it. But here, it just might work."

Kurt put his head on Jute's shoulder. As much as he felt awful for his mother right now, being here with his boyfriend was doing him two worlds of good. "Thank you, Jute."

Jute kissed Kurt gently on the forehead. "So Finn is going to be at his friend's all night?"

"Actually…" Kurt hadn't been completely honest in front of his dad and Carole. "We told Rachel the truth about me today. It went pretty well, and Finn is going to be spending the night THERE."

Jute raised an eyebrow. "Really? A first for prudish Earth morals."

Kurt smacked him playfully. "Rachel's dads are very permissive, almost to the point of being absent. Besides, I don't think they're going all the way just yet."

"Well it means two fewer people making decisions on how to occupy you for the evening," Jute declared. "What do you feel like doing?"

Kurt smiled tiredly. "Not going all the way. In fact right now I don't feel like doing anything. I just want to be here with you."


Kasha arrived back in her suites in the Thunder Palace. She hadn't been back since she'd woken up, and they still looked the way they did when she and Burt were first newlyweds.

She ran, unable to bear the memories.

Kasha didn't know exactly where she was running to, or if there was a 'where'. She stopped only when Bebe literally dragged her to a stop. "[Mama?]"

Bebe pulled Kasha into her sitting room. "[I know, Kasha. Kurt called and told me everything. You have my condolences.]"

"[I've lost everything,]" Kasha sobbed. "[I wish I'd never woken up.]"

"[Do not say that,]" Bebe told her. "[Over and above how glad I am to have you back, Kurt needs you.]"

"[Kurt is a man,]" Kasha countered. "[He doesn't need me, anymore. It's too late.]"

"[Is that so,]" Bebe replied unconvinced. "[And your being a grown woman, now deprived of her husband, you have no need of YOUR mother? Nonsense. Kurt needs you. We both need you.]"

Kasha disintegrated. With a loud scream she dropped to her knees. Another scream, and every water based trinket in Bebe's sitting room shattered. "[It's not fair! It's not fair!]"

Bebe knelt in front of Kasha and took her daughter in her arms. "[I know, my darling. You must hate me for keeping him from you.]"

As much as she was hurting, Kasha couldn't stand to hear that. "[I've been in Purgatory ten years. If my boys had to endure that, for half of Kurt's life-]" Kurt's life would have been much different growing up on Sateen, as he would have if Burt had known about Kasha's accident. While it would have been better for her, it would have been harder on Kurt than she dared think about.

"[It's hard to imagine this being for the best, right now,]" Bebe admitted.

Kasha wept, but much more quietly than before. After what seemed like eons she finally pulled herself and Bebe to their feet. She looked around the shattered room. "[I'm sorry I broke your ornaments, Mama.]"

Bebe waved off her concerns. "[My daughter needs me, something I feared would never happen again. I don't care about a few trinkets.]"

(to be continued)