AN: I own nothing but Emily. This chapter was inspired loosely by Sugarland's Very Last Contry Song. Please enjoy and R&R!
They are mostly unpacked except for a few boxes Kurt sits down at the kitchen table amongst emptied boxes. He rights the turned over salt shaker sweeping away spilt salt. Fuck superstition, fuck bad luck it's not like its gonna get worse. He inhales a deep breath the scent of motor oil from down stairs and the left over pizza from Emmie's lunch linger. He opens a large cardboard box labeled pictures. Kurt lifts out his parents wedding album. He opens the white leather book. He smiles at his Dad's eighties mullet and looks over at his mom. She looks young, and Kurt suddenly realizes he's ten years older than she is in this picture. He looks like her but can't remember her its mostly one or two sharp memories and the rest is an impression. The feel and smell of her the sound of her laugh. Emmie's in his place now. He can't make it okay and it kills him. He closes the book gingerly sitting it aside.
He eyes a squat pine box. some of Dave's belongings that had been sent back lay in it. He slides away the lid. Dog tags, rank patches and love letters greet him. Part of him is dying to close the box and put it away. But that other part…
He lifts the dog tags out .pressing the cool metal into his hand. His thumb caressing the raised metal stating Dave's vital stats. Kurt has them memorized he recites them in his head like some litany formed prayer. D. Karofsky-Hummel. Blood type O Negative Religion: Lutheran. Inoculation: current. Maybe if he repeats it enough, he'll believe he's gone…Yeah not working. He loops the tags around his neck settling them under his shirt.
Next, he takes out Dave's rank patches and others, along with the letters written in his own hand and sits them aside gently in a neat little pile. He looks down into the box and is greeted by a pile of photographs tied together with what Kurt knows is the Hermes handkerchief he'd thought he lost. Untying it he sees photos he didn't know David kept. They are out of order as though Dave had just been rifling through them. The one on top caused a smile to tug at the corner of his mouth. They'd gone to their 5 year reunion at McKinley walking in hand in hand they caught more than a few stares….
"Ready to do this?" Kurt asked, looking up at Dave.
"It's now or never." Dave opens the door resting his hand on the small of Kurt's back ushering him in. the front hall empty, they find the cafeteria full but the old social hierarchy firmly in place as each clique was off to itself.
"Never changes does it." Dave murmurs. Somehow Kurt's hand slips into his he squeezes lightly and smiles reassuringly.
"No high school is like a black hole of melodrama…"
"Remind me why we're here again?" Kurt felt people around them doing the turn and stare shortly followed by whispering.
"Because we stopped hiding a long time ago Kurt states watching Azimio approach. Kurt inclines his head at Azimio and smiles.
"You match Az did Mara dress you?" Kurt teases in his bitingly witty way.
"And your blazer looks like its made of Hershey's kiss wrappers."
Kurt sniffed. "Its sliver lame` thank you very much."
"It hurts my eyes."
Dave rolls his eyes. "And that's my line, would you two please stop."
"He started it!" Azimio defends himself.
"And you bite every time Az that's why!" Dave says exasperated
"I came to peel you away from lover boy."
"You cool without me a bit?" Dave asked. Kurt nodded. "Yeah I see Quinn anyway." Dave kissed his cheek and began moving away. "Signal if you need saving Kurt said. Dave winked and walked away.
"Its good too see your glaringly bedazzled self Kurt." Az called out following Dave. Rachel bum rushes him and drags him away to the gleek side of the room before he can respond in kind.
Kurt is sipping some sherbetty spiked punch when Santana breaks the groups befuddled silence.
"You and Dave Karofsky? Really?"
"Umm humm."
"Uh Since when dude?" Puck asked straddling a plastic chair sipping a beer. Lauren sat down next to him stealing food off his plate.
"That depends on your definition of time markers in the closet Winter break of Junior year…out of the closet sophomore year of college because I broke up with him." Britney's brows quirked. Kurt smiled at her as she sat in Artie's lap. "But he was mean to you." She stated. Becky who was standing next to her laughed "Come on Brit he might as well of had I love fancy pants tattooed on his melon.
Kurt laughed. Touché Becky . I'm surprised Rachel kept our secret this long."
"Wasn't my story to tell…"
They talked a bit longer before Dave came over. "Fancy I've been signaling for help for like twenty minutes what the hell?"
"Sorry babe my back was turned I guess."
"Oh is that what you were doing you had some weird tourettes tick." Finn said as he moved to loop an arm around Rachel's waist.
"No offense dudes but this is just to weird." Puck added in.
"You shoulda seen that first thanksgiving." Finn joked.
"That's so not funny." Dave grumbled, he stole Kurt's drink taking a sip. "That has rum in it babe you won't like it, " As if on cue Dave's nose wrinkled in disgust. "Yuck fruity."
"Not touching that one." Kurt murmured
"Crap I just made a bad gay pun didn't I?"
Tina sniggered next to him. "It was cute don't worry."
"White boy!" Was shouted across the room. Kurt was bum rushed by the curvy black woman and was jostled from Dave's light hold.
" 'Cedes!"
"How is New York treating you?" she asked.
"Fine but they are about to transfer Dave to Texas."
"Oh so what does that mean for you?"
"We'll get married. You can't live with someone on base and not be." Dave replied and watched as several of Kurt's friends tensed, Jones even going so far as to glare at him, She was never really okay with Kurt forgiving him and on some level he respects her for it on another it just plain pisses him off.
Finn oblivious of the tension. "Can I wear my powder blue tux I got when Sam and I went as the guys from dumb and Dumber at that Halloween party."
"Dear god, No." Kurt responded and everyone laughed the tension draining from the moment.
"Look like you love each other. I need current pictures." Rachel says making motions with her hands like they should squeeze together. "We do love each other." Dave states.
Emily's high pitched laughter draws Kurt from his musings. He looks out the window and sees her being chased by his father. Dave was right he thinks, they did love each other and they were married the summer this was taken.
In a small church in Temple, Texas a suburb of Austin where Kurt taught and Dave made rank as corporal at fort hood.
David had worn his dress greens and Kurt a black on black suit. Kurt knew Dave didn't keep their wedding photo in this pile. People still judged and homophobia still existed and sadly copies of the photo had been burned or defaced many times and left for Dave to find. So, he kept one in his truck pinned to the sun visor next to a picture of Emmie with his sister Alaina.
Flipping through the photos his eyes land on one of the first professional photo taken of Emmie courtesy of Tina. Kurt smiled thinking of how sweetly protective Dave was of Emily.
"You're being unreasonable David," Kurt said snippily.
"I am not it's reasonable to leave her clothed for the photo Kurt. It's fucking cold in here. He cuddled the baby girl into his dark blue dress shirt covered chest. "Give me Emily, David." He says it slow and measured because though Dave's protective streak is cute its slowing up the process. It's irritating.
"No." Dave replied petulantly .
"Stop being ridiculous, it'll take five minutes ." Kurt snatched the baby from Dave's arms carrying her over to one of the couches in Tina's studio. Dave pouted but followed, standing next to the couch cushion Emmie was laid on.
"I still say its too chilly for naked cutesy baby pictures."
"She's not cold Hon, she's sleepin' like a rock." As if on a helpful cue the baby let out a soft snore. "See?" Kurt began undressing her. "And you don't have to stand there all guard dog like She hasn't yet mastered the fine art of rolling over. She's a week old."
"Better safe than sorry." Dave said reaching down and smoothing one of Emmie's wayward dark curls back into place.
Kurt began tying a shiny blue ribbon around the baby's chest tying the bow with his usual flourish. "I draw the line at gift wrapping our child Kurt Elijah." Dave said trying to sound admonishing and not amused.
Kurt's eyes snapped up to Dave's hazel ones. "Oooh my name, you will pay for that!" Kurt said pointing at Dave. At his miffed expression Dave smirks.
"Lookin' forward to it. 'sides Fancy stopped pissing you off along time ago."
Kurt knew why Dave kept this one. He swore up and down Emmie was smiling in her sleep. Kurt didn't have the heart to tell him it was more likely she had gas.
He flips through further surprised at what lay in his hand. A faded photo of Dave that Kurt had slyly taken himself. In the McKinley High parking lot. He stood in profile in a snug worn soft blue graphic tee shirt a simple sliver cross hung around his neck, mirrored aviators adorn his face. His face turned as says something to Azimio.
He looked good. Momentarily content which was saying something for back then. He'd winked at him from behind his aviators as he passed him. Kurt smiled a little sadly. Back then that wink was passed for a brazen public declaration of love. He flipped the picture over and was greeted by his own scrawl. "The day I fell in love with you."-Kurt
" We are now one very big, very bad, gay cliché. Dave muttered as Kurt pulled him into the art department's supply closet where they always spent their free period fooling around amongst paint, plaster, canvas and turpentine.
Kurt stood on his tiptoes to drop a kiss on Dave's mouth. "
Afternoon boy toy. I brought you cookies." Dave's eyebrow quirked up. "That a euphemism Fancy?"
Kurt levered himself up onto the metal sink in back corner of the small room. Kurt smiled nearly victoriously as he watched as Dave's gaze slowly strolled up his body. Stopping salaciously on the crotch of his tight fitting plumb colored jeans. "Nope actual cookies, a girl scout was selling them outside the seven-eleven. I couldn't resist." Kurt wasn't sure he was actually being heard. "My eyes are up here jock." Dave swallowed thickly. Dragging his eyes up Kurt's torso almost unseeing of the dove gray wrap around sweater the boy wore. To rest on his face. "I know where they are, baby."
"Yeah? Seems like you were elsewhere?"
"Heard you just fine." he took three longs strides and was standing in the vee Kurt's thighs made. Grasping the back of Kurt's neck he kisses him hard tongue forcing its way into claim his mouth. Kurt groaned in response kissing back with he equal fervor all but wrapped around the taller boy. When they broke for air. "Then what was it I said?" Kurt voice comes deeper even to is own ears. It's always like this for the first few minutes desperate and hungry. It is usually worse on Mondays and Fridays especially if they aren't able to steal away time over the weekend.
"Cookies where?" Dave murmured nipping at Kurt's earlobe causing him to shiver.
"In my bag." Kurt nods to his leather messenger bag sitting slumped over by the door. Dave leaves his embrace. The promise of food temporarily more important than physical proximity. Kurt enjoys the view of Dave's ass as he fishes out the green box and the play of the muscles in his biceps as he opens the box. "Like what you see?"
"Always, I like that shirt looks good on you." Dave blushes at the compliment. "I knew you'd tell me my letterman jacket would clash so I left it at home."
"Good call." Dave went to open the sleeve of cookies with his teeth.
"Oh Jesus don't do that, give them here."
Dave laughed. "Why?"
"it's icky," Another laugh this time more full and loud, making butterflies awaken in Kurt's stomach.
"Icky?" Dave clarifies. "It skeeves me out okay and is bad for your teeth. You wanna eat hand them over." he plunks them into Kurt's hand returns to stand between Kurt's thighs, this time facing the door.
"No one is going to catch us David I locked it." He stole a cookie for himself and handed Dave back the open package. "I know that." he bit into the cookie with a moan of delight. "Manna from heaven."
"I thought that was scarves and coffee?" Dave replies stuffing a thin mint in his mouth.
"Those too." Kurt leans forward slightly to kiss the back of Dave's neck "How was your day?" he murmured against Dave's skin
Dave shrugs. "Been better took a nasty hit in morning practice shoulder's been outta whack all day."
"Which?"
"Left wh-" he let out a guttural groan as Kurt worked out the knotted muscle.
"You are my favorite…" Dave took a cleansing breath. "Person and you have magical hands."
"You're just now realizing that?" Kurt snickered. Dave shook his head no. "The reminder is nice though." Dave turned in Kurt's arms. "And how was yours?" Dave asked intertwining their free hands.
"I swear on Prada Dave, if I have to listen to anymore Rachel Berry-fied Streisand tributes I may burn my copy of The way we were in protest."
Dave chuckled. "Don't that's a good movie, and its from back when Robert Redford was still hot."
"Hubbell Gardiner is awfully fine. Wait, you've seen it? And liked it?"
He bit into another cookie "Yeah, kinda made me think of us, they are complete opposites who fight all the time, then everything comes easily to one and the other is always fighting some epic battle for their moral code."
"So, which one of is which?" Kurt tilted his head in question.
"You are definitely wordy enough to be Katie Marosky, but nothing comes easily to me now does it? At least not when its important."
Kurt tilted Dave's chin back up. "You'll get there when you're supposed to David, and I'm going to stick around to see it."
"Why?"
"Because I love you and that means you're worth it."
"Why? Do you love me I mean?" Dave's brow quirked
"Lots of things, you see past my bitch veneer and still manage to like me and because sometimes sitting in this tiny closet with you eating thin mints and doing absolutely nothing is the best part of day." Kurt leaned forward to kiss him lightly.
"You see contentment all I see is what I've reduced you too…how is that even possible?"
Kurt shrugged "Life has no easy answers, I'm not going to push you to find them or leave you because you can't see them yet."
Quick feet climbing his stairs drew Kurt out of his thoughts. The young boy working part time at his dad's shop appeared in the doorway chest heaving.
"Mister HK, Emmie climbed up in the oak in front of the shop and I can't get her down. Mr. Hummel wanted to but she's screaming for her Daddy."
Running outside he looks up to measure the distance. Holy Jesus, fuck that's high…
"Daddy! Papa! Somebody help….I w-want Daddy." she screams from her place wrapped around a high but very sturdy looking branch.
But if there's one thing Kurt knows it's that looks are deceiving. He really kind of hates heights and wishes Dave were here. For the millionth time. He's not though so Kurt kicks into action. First order of business is to calm Emily down. "Emily, can you look at me baby…no not the ground, just at Papa's face." he catches her tear filled green eyes. "Good girl."
"I'm going to fall to my death aren't I?" Emily says ever the drama queen.
"Nope, I'm coming up to get you." he turns to ask for someone to find a ladder. His dad is already setting up, Finn decides in that moment to come outside. "I'll get her if you want I know-"
"No, I can do this. Thank you though." he carefully climbs the ladder he's at least two thirds of the way up when he's in reach of Emmie. "Hey bug, what did you climb all this way up for?" he asks as he makes sure he's properly braced.
"There's a bird's nest I wanted to see." he reaches over. "Next time remind me and I'll show you Jacob Ben Israel's hair it'll be easier. Take your left hand off the branch and put it around my neck." she did and he grabbed her free side. "Now the other…good girl." once they both had a good hold he pulled her free of the tree. She wrapped her legs around his waist and basically squeezed him with her whole body. "It's ok baby you're safe…lets climb down ok?" she nodded into his shoulder. "I got you all dirty papa."
"It's alright you are so much more important than my wardrobe."
With Emily firmly on the ground he prepares to launch into a lecture when, he sees a willow brunette who he knows Emily will resemble someday.
"Alaina?"
Emily all fear forgotten turns and runs up "Hi Aunt Laina." she climbs up the young woman. "Hey baby, I was in Peru Kurt I just…" she choked up and kissed Emily's cheek. "Found out."
"I know I uh, left a message for you with the peace corps. Lets go inside and I'll tell you what happened to him."
"My parents they-"
"They know sweetie I called your mother myself."
"No Kurt, they'd like to see Emily." Kurt has almost no reaction. He inhales, finds a smile for Emily and says, "Come on, tell me what I've missed since the Sudan okay?" and ushers her inside Emmie still in her arms. He shoots a worried look to Burt over his shoulder as he's climbing the stairs.