Chapter 5

"Here we are," Adam said, as the taxi pulled up in front of the Upper East Side apartment building where his father lived. He paid the driver, and everyone got

The doorman said, "Good evening, Mr. Crawford. Your father called to say you would be arriving with some friends this evening. Do you need help with your bags?"

"Hello, Walter," Adam replied. "We can take care of it. Thank you."

"If you need anything at all, Mr. Crawford, just let me know," Walter replied.

"Thank you, Walter," Adam replied. "I do need to discuss something with you before we retire for the evening. Kurt, do you have a picture of Blaine on your phone?"

Kurt pulled out his phone and said, "Yes." He found a picture of Blaine, and handed the phone to Adam.

"Walter, if you see this man in the area, please call the police and then call us," Adam said. "He has been stalking and harassing my friends."

"Can you e-mail me a copy of the picture so I can alert the other staff, Mr. Crawford?" Walter asked.

"Yes, we can do that, Walter," Adam replied.

"We'll keep an eye out for him, Mr. Crawford," Walter replied.

"Thank you, Walter," Adam said. "Good night."

"Good night, Mr. Crawford. Good night, sir and ladies."

Adam, Kurt, Rachel, and Santana got in the elevator and went up to Adam's father's apartment. Adam unlocked the door and led them into the apartment. They were standing in an opulent foyer with marble floors and a crystal chandelier.

Santana said, "Whoa. You got a guy with money, Kurt."

Kurt shot one of his classic bitch faces at Santana and said, "Santana!"

They heard someone say, "Adam, is that you?"

"Yes, Dad," Adam replied. "We're here." He lead everyone into the living room. He said, "Hello, Dad."

Mr. Crawford, a tall handsome blond man, said, "Hello, Adam." He hugged and kissed his son. "Please introduce me to your friends."

Adam said, "Dad, this is my boyfriend Kurt Hummel, and our friends Rachel Berry and Santana Lopez. Kurt, Rachel, Santana, this is my father Liam Crawford."

Liam said, "Hello, Kurt. Hello, Rachel. Hello, Santana. Welcome to my home. It is a pleasure to meet you." He shook their hands.

Kurt said, "Hello, Mr. Crawford. Thank you for letting us stay with you."

"Please, call me Liam, Kurt," Liam replied. "I'm sorry that we are meeting while you are in difficult circumstances, but I am glad to meet you. Adam has told me so much about you. He is definitely quite smitten with you."

Adam blushed, and said, "Dad…"

"It's OK, Adam," Kurt said with a smile. "I'm smitten with Adam too, Liam." He put his arm around Adam.

Liam asked, "Would you kids like some tea? Or something to eat?"

"No thanks, Liam," Rachel replied.

Santana said, "No."

"It's late, dad," Adam replied. "I should show them around, and let them get settled."

Liam said, "OK. Make yourself at home, kids. Help yourself to anything in the kitchen, and let us know if you need anything."

"Thank you, Liam," Kurt said.

"Good night, everyone," Liam said. "You are safe here, and you are very welcome here." He hugged each of them, and walked out of the room.

Adam showed Kurt, Rachel, and Santana around the apartment, and lead Rachel and Santana to one of the spare bedrooms.

Adam said, "You have your own bathroom. There are towels in the linen closet. If you need anything else, just let me know."

Kurt and Adam said good night to Rachel and Santana, and walked out of the room. Adam led Kurt to another bedroom and said, "You can sleep in here, Kurt. This is my childhood bedroom. I will go sleep on the sofa bed in my father's office."

"Oh, you're not staying in here with me?" Kurt asked.

"I thought you might be more comfortable if I slept in another room," Adam said. "I know you have a lot going on right now, and that you want to take things slow. I know that you are under a lot of stress right now, and I don't want to add to that."

"I just don't want to be alone," Kurt whispered.

"OK," Adam said. "I'll stay here with you." He wrapped his arms around Kurt and kissed him. "Let's get ready for bed."

They got ready for bed, and climbed into bed together. Adam pulled Kurt into his arms, and said, "Are you doing OK, darling?"

"Yeah," Kurt replied. "Thanks for giving us a place to stay."

"No problem," Adam said.

"Your father is really great," Kurt said. "What does he do?"

"He plays cello in the New York Philharmonic," Adam replied. "He started playing with London Symphony when he graduated from college, and got the job with the Philharmonic when I was eight. We've been living here ever since."

"Is your mother here, too?" Kurt asked.

"My parents got divorced when I was 10," Adam replied. "My mum moved back to London, but agreed to let me stay with my dad. It was the greatest sacrifice she made in life."

"Do you see her often?" Kurt asked.

"Yes. She comes to visit a couple of times a year, and I usually go to London twice a year to visit her," Adam said.

"I hope I get to meet her someday," Kurt said.

"You will, Kurt," Adam said. "Kurt, there is a lot I haven't told you about my family yet."

"I would like to know about your family, Adam." Kurt replied.

"Kurt, I am a descendent of the British Royal Family," Adam said. "My mother is Prince Charles second cousin. I am the 40th in line for the throne, 41st when Prince William and Duchess Kate have their baby."

Kurt said, "Wow. Do you have a title?"

"I am the Duke of Kent," Adam said. "When my dad got the job with the Philharmonic, my mother followed him here, but her pull to her family in London made it difficult to stay here. It was causing strife in her family when she decided to follow him. She ultimately decided she needed to go back home to London, but she decided to let me stay with my father so that I could have a somewhat normal childhood without all the pomp and circumstance of being part of the Royal Family."

"Did you go to Will and Kate's wedding?" Kurt asked.

"Yes, I did," Adam replied. "I'll show you pictures tomorrow."

"I can't believe this didn't come up sooner," Kurt said.

"I do my best to keep it private," Adam replied. "I don't want to let my lineage determine what people think of me, nor do I want to let it influence the opportunities I have in my career."

"I understand," Kurt said. "And I'm glad your mom let you stay in New York. We might not have met if you had gone back to London."

"I'm glad as well, Kurt," Adam replied. "It's late now. Let's try to get some sleep. Good night, Kurt."

"Good night, Adam."

They kissed and went to sleep.