A/N: Miss me. *Hides* Please don't hurt me!

Chapter 16: Kurt

It's only a couple of days until Sarah gets her new mommy for real. She said before that Crystal was kind of her mommy but she wouldn't be for real until Sarah's daddy and Crystal got married. Sarah is super excited and I am too. Crystal says that I can go to the wedding if I want to because she doesn't want Sarah to get bored.

"Why am I allowed to go to the wedding? Won't there be too many other people there?" I asked, one afternoon while Sarah and I were playing Barbie's.

I had only been to one wedding before but there were so many people there that Mom said she didn't even think I would be allowed to go. Luckily, the lady getting married was my mom's old best friend, Angela, so we got special treatment. That wedding just made me think that all weddings were super huge.

"My daddy says that there won't be that many people there because Crystal's mommy and daddy aren't around anymore and my daddy doesn't really talk to his parents. I heard his dad did bad stuff like my mom used to," Sarah told me, looking sad and brushing her Barbie's hair softly.

She brightened up quickly. "But all my cousins are gonna be there and all my new cousins from Crystal's family that I met at Christmas!"

I nodded and went back to finding a stylish outfit for Ken to wear. I didn't have very many options. Most of Ken's clothes were shorts and shirts with big flowers on them. There was also one that made him look like a doctor, but there was nothing for him to wear to the fake wedding Sarah and I were making for him and Barbie.

"Kurt, can I ask you something?" Sarah asked softly.

I nodded, too distracted wondering if Ken could pull off wearing doctor's scrubs to his own fake wedding.

"Why do you play Barbie's with me? Why don't you play alien attacks with the rest of the boys?"

I shrugged. I'd never really thought about that before. I knew that I liked things that other boys like; like Power Rangers and Pokémon and Batman (even though Iron Man is the best), but I also know that I like things that only the girls seemed to like Barbie's and dressing up dolls. I knew that made some of the boys not want to be friends with me, but I didn't really care, I had Max and Sarah and I only needed them. *

I stood really still while Mr. Sesame Street helped me put on my tie. I had to dress up really nice for the wedding. I liked it, it made me look all grown up. I was trembling with excitement and not just because Sarah was getting a new mommy. I was also happy because Sarah got to stay with me and Mommy for a whole two weeks while her parents were off on a honeymoon. Mommy told me a honeymoon is when a new married couple goes on vacation after their wedding. She said they do lots of grown up stuff. That made Burt laugh, I don't know why.

The church was really nice looking. There were flowers everywhere. I guess that's a bonus of having a wedding in April, spring means flowers. Luckily there were no roses. Those are too boring and unoriginal.

I'd been sitting in our pew and listening to my mom talk to the other adults when I heard music playing and Mommy said the wedding was starting. I could see so Burt picked me up. First a bunch of adults that I didn't recognize made their way up to the alter.

"Who are they?" I whispered.

"They are the bridesmaids and groomsmen. They are like the personal helpers

of the bride and groom," Mom told me in an equally low tone.

When I looked again, I realized I did know a few of adults as being Sarah's aunts

and uncle. Then, I saw Sarah, dressed in a pretty lavender dress, (that was my idea) skipping up the aisle, throwing pale pink rose petals to either side of her. Then there were Sarah's new twin brothers, Frank and Gerard, who were carrying the rings. Finally, there was Crystal, looking like a fairy tale princess in her white sparkly dress. Her older brother was walking her down the aisle. Sarah said it was because he'd pretty much raised her after their parents died.

The priest said a lot of long things about loving each other until the end of time. Just about everyone was crying and Burt looked super uncomfortable. He didn't really know anyone there except for me, my mom, and Sarah. My mom was crying, but then again she cried when there were just weddings in movies.

Crystal was crying when Sarah's dad slipped the gold ring onto her finger. There was a lot of clapping when they kissed and off to the side I saw Sarah cover her eyes, but I could see her smiling from between her fingers.

There were a lot of people dancing at the reception and when I danced with Sarah, a bunch of ladies kept on coming up and saying how cute we were. We would smile and thank them politely but pull a face as soon as they walked away. I was dancing with my friend at a wedding, that didn't mean we were going to get married someday.

Sarah and I were nearly falling asleep by the time Mom came up and said it was time for us to go home. Burt walked up holding Sarah's younger sister, Melody, who was sleeping with Frank and Gerard trailing behind him.

"Sarah, you should go say bye to your parents. You won't see them for a whole two weeks," Mom said.

Sarah nodded sleepily, yawned, and stumbled over to where her parents were dancing.

"Bye Mom, bye Dad," she mumbled, hugging both of them in turn.

"Bye sweetie, we'll see you soon," Crystal said, kissing the top of Sarah's head. She then walked over to where my mom and Burt were standing while Sarah's dad kissed his daughter goodbye.

"Are you sure you're okay with taking all four of them in for two weeks," Crystal asked anxiously.

"They'll be fine, Crystal," my mom assured her.

Crystal sighed. "I know you handle them but I've never been without Melody for this long before."

My mom laughed, but not unkindly. "I definitely know that feeling. Just remember, in less than twenty-four hours, you'll be landing in London. Enjoy yourself. Don't forget, I did raise a child myself."

Crystal smiled a little sadly. "I'll be fine. Chris and I should head out now." She kissed Gerard and Frank goodbye one more time.

I watched the newly married couple walk out of the hotel ballroom together. Sarah walked up to me, still half-asleep.

"I hope they have fun," she mumbled. "My dad has always wanted to go to London."

I nodded. My mom had dreamed of going to Hawaii. I was sure she would go there for her honeymoon. I looked over at Burt. Maybe…

Sarah fell asleep on the ride home. However, Frank and Gerard were still very much awake due to all the sugar they had eaten. When we arrived at home, Sarah was carried up to my room, which we would be sharing. Frank and Gerard were claiming the guest room and Melody's fold up crib would be in my mom's room. I was pretty sure Burt would be staying over here to help out with all the extra kids.

"I'm not tired," Frank whined.

"Yeah, can we stay up?" Gerard asked.

"We could watch a movie!" Frank suggested.

"HOME ALONE!" the twins yelled at the same time, nearly waking up their baby sister.

It confused me that they weren't even twins that looked alike but they still acted like they shared a brain.

"Not tonight boys, maybe tomorrow," Burt said, and the twins' smiles slid off their faces.

"Fine," they grumbled. They raced off to the guest room, saying something about playing Adventure Island on their Game Boy.

Sarah and I walked up to my room and I was so tired, I almost fell asleep right there, still in my fancy clothes. Sarah seemed really happy. I was sure I heard her whisper "I have a Mom" right before she fell asleep with a smile on her face.

Everything was peaceful until about four in the morning when Melody woke up. I think she was scared when she didn't recognize the room she was in because she just started screaming and didn't stop until about six o' clock.

I walked into the kitchen the next morning to see Burt and Mom drinking big cups of coffee. They looked like they hadn't slept in a long time. There were dark bags under their eyes.

"And here I was thinking that my nights of taking care of screaming babies were behind me," Mom said.

Burt sighed and laughed at the same. "How did we get stuck with this again?"

Mom glared at him. "Hey now, I didn't force you. Sarah practically begged to stay over here. Plus Crystal and Chris's family lives out of town, and I know Crystal from work."

Burt held his hands up in surrender. "Sorry I asked," he said.

Mom punched him in the arm.

I poured myself a glass of orange juice as the twins stumbled into the kitchen. I grabbed a few packs of Pop Tarts and put two into the toaster for myself.

"Are those blueberry flavored?" Gerard asked.

I nodded and put the rest of the box away.

"Yuck," Frank said at the same time Gerard said, "Yum." Okay so maybe they aren't exactly the same. That's good. Gerard jumped up, grabbed a pack, and started eating them without even toasting them.

Burt stood up. "I'm off to work kids," he said.

He kissed Mom goodbye and he was off. I knew that Mom was working the night shift so Burt would be staying with us during that time. When I thought about it, Burt was over at our house than he was at his own apartment. Not that I blame him, I'd been over their a few times and it was a mess.

"Mom, why doesn't Burt just move in?" I asked.

Mom choked a little on her coffee. "What?!" she asked, looking at me like I'd just announced I'm an alien.

"I mean, he's over here most of the time and I don't think it's fair that you both have to pay for our own houses when we could all just share one."

Mom laughed a little at that. I didn't know why, I had a point.

The toaster gave a ding and I jumped up to grab them. Sarah ran into the kitchen to report that Melody was crying. Mom jumped up to take care of her while muttering something about getting baby monitors.

"I want to watch 'Home Alone,'" Frank announced.

I took him into the living room to set up the movie and Gerard followed, munching on his Pop Tart. As the movie started, I went back to the kitchen to see Sarah sitting at the table staring out the window.

"Watcha thinking about," I asked, sliding into the chair next to her.

"Just my parents," she said and then sighed. "My mom left me with my dad and let her life just fall apart. Part of me is still so mad at her but if she hadn't done that but then Crystal wouldn't be my mom. And I know that Gee and Frank still miss their Dad but I know they love our dad. And Melody wouldn't even exist."

I sometimes wondered that too. What if my dad, whoever he is, was my dad now? Maybe we wouldn't have moved out of Minnesota, but then I wouldn't have ever met Sarah or even Gerard and Frank, even if they are kind of annoying, or Melody, even though she cried all night. Thinking about all this made my head hurt.

"That's sad. I think we should go play outside," I said.

Sarah nodded and soon all of us were walking to the park. Gerard and Frank were mad that we had to leave the movie but Mom didn't want to leave anyone alone in the house.

"But we're nine," they'd whined. They had just had their birthday, only a few days earlier. They were very smug that were almost double digits.

"I still don't think I would leave you alone in a house until you both go to college and you have to be alone," Mom said, checking that Melody was still sleeping happily in her stroller.

We ran around and soon Gerard and Frank had stopped complaining about being outside and were playing basketball with some boys their age. Mom sat with Melody while Sarah and I tackled the monkey bars.

We stayed there until lunch and after that we all played Power Rangers. It wasn't as fun because Gerard and Frank knew that the green Ranger was the best unlike Max. In the end, I was playing the blue Ranger and Frank got to be green Ranger. Sarah had called yellow Ranger and Gerard was red Ranger. We were fighting the villain (played by Melody, although she wasn't very scary).

Burt got back for dinner at five and we ordered pizza. Mom left for work and Burt explained to Frank and Gerard how a car engine worked while we did dishes. I found it really cool. How all those little pieces went together just to make a car run.

"Can I see a car engine?" I asked.

Burt handed me a plate to dry before he answered. "Maybe someday, kiddo," he said. "But not while I'm working at this garage; my boss would never let a little kid anywhere near one of the cars."

I nodded and went back to drying the dishes.

"Today was so much fun," Sarah whispered from her sleeping bag.

"I know," I replied.

"I hope everyday is like today," she said.

"Tomorrow won't be as fun," I said, "we have school."

We laughed for a moment before closing our eyes.

A/N: *One reason I keep on stressing the point of Kurt liking toys "designed" for both boys and girls is because I was a little bit like him as a kid. I liked toys that were more for boys. I was never exactly teased for it, but I still feel like it's important to know that just because a boy likes to play with Barbies doesn't make him less than a boy who prefers baseball. Thank you. *gets off soap box*