Part 2

Two months and three days later Rachel goes into labor at one-eighteen in the morning, and at eleven-twenty-nine Kurt's first nephew is born. Kurt's dozing in one of the waiting room chairs when Finn comes out, red-faced and exhausted. "Hey," he says.

Kurt startles awake and blinks at his brother. Finn smiles, and a matching grin cracks over Kurt's face. He jumps up from the seat and asks, "Boy or girl?"

Finn's eyes go even brighter, and he says, "Come meet Brennan Patrick Hudson."

An excited laugh escapes Kurt, and he follows Finn's heels back to Rachel's room. She looks up as they enter. Brennan is curled to her chest. Sweat glistens over her flushed skin, but Kurt thinks she looks lovely. "So not nearly as long for number two," Kurt jokes.

Rachel smiles and replies, "Babs takes her time with everything." She leans down and presses a tender kiss to her son's temple. "Come see."

Kurt walks to the bed and runs his finger down the baby's cheek. "Brennan," Rachel says, "Meet your fabulous Uncle Kurt." She tilts him in Kurt's direction. "Kurt, meet Brennan."

His nephew's eyes drift close and his little nose wrinkles. Kurt blinks away tears. "Hi Brennan," he says. "I'm Kurt. I'm going to teach you how to dress and dance."

Rachel laughs. "I'm going to have two stars now."

Finn leans over the bed and kisses his wife and his son. A pang of longing tears through Kurt's chest. Luckily, LeRoy distracts them all. "Hello, hello!" he says. "Look who I found in the lobby."

"Mom, Burt!"

"Dad!" Kurt greets his father with a hug and gives Carole a peck on the cheek. Arm still wrapped around Kurt, Burt leans over and clasps Finn on the shoulder. Finn ducks his head and grins as if he's brought home a straight-A report card.

LeRoy kisses the top of his daughter's hair and says, "Your dad will be here in a minute. Barbara needed a potty break on the way up."

Burt and Carole congratulate the new parents and deposit a bouquet of flowers on the bedside table. "They're beautiful," Rachel says.

"You're beautiful," Carole replies.

Soon Hiram returns with Babs and Kurt scoops her up upon her entrance. "Look at this princess," he says. She squeals and laughs. At least one of us has gotten some sleep, he thinks.

Finn takes her from his arms blows a raspberry on her belly. "Come meet your little brother."

She stills and glances over to Rachel. "Mama?" Finn set her down on the bed, but keeps a hand on her back and she crawls up Rachel's side.

"Gentle," Rachel says. Babs stares at the baby. "This is Brennan, and he's your baby brother."

Kurt watches them bond. A heavy weight settles on his chest. After a moment, he slips out of the room and heads back to the lobby area of the maternity ward. He passes by the large, clear window showing off all the newborn babies and stops. Arms crossed around his chest, Kurt follows the nurses as they go from baby to baby, checking vitals.

"Hey Buddy," Burt says softly.

"Hey Dad."

Kurt doesn't turn to his father, but he can see the reflection of his dad's blue shirt and matching baseball cap in the window. Kurt doesn't know what to say, so he says nothing. After a few minutes Burt moves closer, pressing his arm against his son's. "They sure are cute, huh?"

Kurt chokes back a sob. "Yeah, yeah they are." Burt doesn't respond, and a heartbeat later Kurt says, "I just thought I'd have one of my own by now." The words break the damn, and tears begin to slide down his face.

"Oh, Kurt," Burt whispers. He tugs his son to his chest and rubs his hand up and down Kurt's back.

"Nothing's like I planned," Kurt says, words stumbling over his tears. He presses his nose to his dad's neck and breaths deep.

"Sometimes," Burt says gently into Kurt's ear, "that happens. Plans fall apart, things change. We have to adapt."

The image of soft blonde hair, long lanky arms and pale, freckled skin slides through Kurt's brain. "Do you ever miss Mom?" he asks.

Burt's arms tighten around his body and his dad days, "Of course. I think about her all the time."

Kurt pulls back and looks at his father. "Really?"

Burt nods.

"Even with Carole?"

"I love Carole with all my heart, but that doesn't stop me from loving your mother too. We never really stop caring for those we fall in love with. They'll always be a part of us." Burt puts a hand on each of Kurt's shoulders. "But when unexpected things happen, we need to give ourselves time to heal, but we need to heal or we'll never be happy."

Kurt wipes his sleeve across his eyes, but fresh tears quickly come. "I just don't know what to do." Kurt takes a deep breath, trying to calm himself. His eyes flutter to the ground. "I've been let go from my job," Kurt says.

Burt's sharp breath whips across Kurt's body like a lash. "Kurt…" he says mournfully.

"I know." More tears burn across Kurt's cheeks. "What am I going to do?" He covers his face with his palms.

There's a moment of nothing, then, Burt says, "Why don't you come home to Lima?"

Kurt drops his arms and looks at his father.

"Just listen," Burt says, holding out his hands. "You know that Henry's been running the shop ever since I took office." Kurt nods. "Well, he told me a couple of months ago that he's ready to retire. I don't have time to manage the shop and help run a state. Why don't you come stay with us and help run the shop?"

Kurt hasn't worked on a car beside his or Blaine's in years, and he's been known to be a cranky boss. "I don't think that's a great idea Dad."

"Why not?" Burt asks. "It would just be for a little while- until I can find a new manager. You can get your bearings while helping out your old man."

Kurt thinks about the town he grew up in, and the city he currently lives. He sniffs and dries his tears again. "It would be nice to change the scenery a bit." To get away from the place where Blaine and I had a life. He meets Burt's gaze. "Just for a few weeks though. A month at the most, until we find a new manager."

A smile pokes at the corners of his dad's face. Burt tugs him in for another hug. "Thanks."

No, thank you, Kurt thinks. Thank you for always being there for me. Thank you for always loving me. "I love you Dad," Kurt says.

"I love you too Buddy." Burt slaps Kurt lightly on the back. "Now let's go see my grandson."

A smile wobbles on Kurt's face. "Okay." He pulls a tissue from his pocket and blows his nose. They walk back to Rachel's room, and Kurt thinks, back to Lima it is.