Chapter Twenty-Three

oOo

Summary: Will the proud music teacher eventually find love with the beautiful kindergarten teacher or will he forever come second to the football coach? Rated M.

Disclaimer: None of these characters belongs to me except for any OCs found wandering. I own nothing save for this computer.


Kurt slid his hand through the crook of Noah's elbow and stared around at the mall they were in. They had decided the week after Thanksgiving to look for rings, Noah having told him about being lost as to what Kurt's taste in jewelry was. He had told him about the sales clerk's suggestion that he should bring Kurt with him so now, here they were and Kurt was pretty excited.

He had never thought that he would one day be looking at wedding rings with the boy who used to tease and bully him, later becoming something of a friend. The same boy was now a handsome, successful man, exuding a sex appeal that now mixed with an air of sophistication for a devastating effect. The incredible cold snap that had descended on Lima after Black Friday required them to be more bundled up and Kurt couldn't help but admire Noah's current ensemble.

He was wearing a black shearling coat with dark gray collar and cuffs. Beneath it he wore an ivory turtle neck sweater and black jeans tucked into ankle-high boots. Kurt highly approved because it made him look like something out of GQ Magazine.

Kurt himself was dressed fairly similarly except that his coat was ankle-length, dove-gray and rather military in design. The epaulettes made his shoulders look broader and he wore a soft scarf in shades of blue and gray piped with black wrapped several times around his long neck. Beneath that he wore a pale blue sweater that made his eyes glow and navy jeans tucked into knee-high black boots.

They made a fashionable couple as they mingled with the pre-holiday shoppers and Kurt didn't feel any pressure to remove his gloved hand from Noah's arm. He couldn't care less if anyone noticed them; he was just too freaking happy to give a damn about anyone's homophobia, latent or otherwise.

Noah smiled down at Kurt, taking in the way his hair gleamed under the mall lights and how his eyes twinkled happily. He, too, couldn't care less that Kurt was basically hanging onto him; his fiancé was gorgeous and he was a proud man. They finally slowed as they approached the jewelers' and they stopped to admire the merchandise displayed so enticingly in the huge plate glass windows.

Eventually, though, Noah tugged Kurt by the hand inside the store and he breathed deeply of the expensively scented air and looked around for the girl who had tried to help him before. He finally saw her coming from a back area and his smile widened as he indicated her to Kurt with a tip up of his chin.

Kurt tried to tone down his happy smile but he knew he must be glowing like stadium lights. Noah pulled him over to where the girl had come to stand by a counter as she placed a tray inside and waited for Noah to address her.

"Hi, Tina, I'm back!" Noah's voice caused her to straighten up and she smiled widely as she took in the striking figure he made in what was no doubt an expensive coat, opened now to show off his hard, muscular body. She barely refrained from dropping her eyes down his body and then she took in the person holding his hand.

She had a Brit friend who sometimes used the word 'gobsmacked' and now she knew exactly what she meant. Her eyes widened and her jaw dropped slightly as she looked at the MAN beside her hunky customer, taking in his bright blue eyes, flushed cheeks and curving pink lips. As she watched, his cheeks colored even more and some of the light faded from his unusual eyes. Deep down she knew she was gaping but she couldn't seem to stop.

"Tina, is everything alright?"

Shit! Her boss's voice startled her and she started to shake her head and then she looked up, horrified to see that her hunky customer was frowning slightly, his full lips in a tight line.

"Uhm, yes, sir? No, everything is fine. I was just about to help this customer." She could feel her own cheeks heating up now and wished the floor would just open up and swallow her, she was so embarrassed. She turned apologetic eyes on the two men whose posture was now a little stiffer and if body language was anything to go by, she knew she was going to lose a commission if she didn't get her act together.

Her boss glared subtly at her, his body at an angle to the customers but all he said was, "Okay, then, continue," and he moved away. She took a deep breath, tried to relax and then smiled at the men waiting on her.

"Hello, I see you're back with…" Jesus, what was wrong with her! She swallowed and tried again, "Ahm, is there anything in particular you would like to look at?"

She could feel her boss hovering farther down the long counter and she crossed her fingers and hoped that she hadn't truly pissed off the two stunning men standing before her. She honestly hadn't realized the man she had daydreamed about suddenly changing his mind and sweeping her off his feet was gay. Gay! Good lord, her gaydar was seriously off.

Noah took a deep breath, smoothed out his forehead and looked at Kurt whose face had taken on a polite mask. He bumped their joined hands against Kurt's thigh in silent enquiry and breathed a sigh of relief when he looked back at him.

Kurt looked at the clerk whose face was still flushed and decided that he would let the incident pass as she hadn't seemed homophobic so much as surprised. He dredged up a little smile to give to Noah and then turned back to the girl.

"Sweetie, which ring were you thinking of?" He was addressing Noah but he looked down at the rings on display beneath the glass and he could feel Noah's body relax beside him. He was glad he'd decided to downplay the incident and now he took in the array of truly beautiful jewelry before him. He felt his spirits lift as they always did when he was surrounded by beauty.

Noah looked at Tina with a raised eyebrow and she scurried away to retrieve the tray with the ring he'd thought would be perfect for Kurt. When she came back with it, she smiled at them and then moved away so they could discuss their selection in private. She took a deep breath, glanced quickly at and then away from her boss and tried to calm her nerves.

She watched as her hunk placed a hand on his fiancé's back comfortingly, his face soft as he watched him look over the rings and then take up the one he'd been dithering over. She hoped they chose something because, apart from the commission she would get, she didn't want them to think she was one of the small-minded, bigoted assholes that lived here.

"Uhm, Kurt, you didn't want an engagement ring, did you?" Noah stared at Kurt's face and the brightening eyes as his fiancé scanned the jewelry before him. He was genuinely curious; there were many guys nowadays who were into engagement rings and he had neglected to find out if Kurt was interested in one.

Kurt glanced up and giggled but he shook his head. "No, sweetie, I think we'll be getting married so quickly, we don't really need engagement rings, do we?"

Noah sighed in relief and smiled back at Kurt before taking up the ring he'd liked and showed it to Kurt. "This is the one; what do you think?"

Kurt's eyes widened and then softened as he looked at the ring. The design was relatively simple compared to some of the more extravagant designs but Kurt thought it was elegant and looked rich. He particularly liked that the three diamonds were offset at an angle in white gold. Kurt thought it was perfect and he grinned up at Noah in approval, holding his hand out for his lover to slide the ring on his finger.

When Noah slipped it on, he couldn't help but admire both the ring and his lover's hands. Kurt's fingers were slimmer than his but his hands weren't small and feminine. They were strong and capable but what Noah particularly loved was how soft and smooth the skin was and he loved holding them and feeling them roam his body or play with the hair at the nape of his neck.

Kurt held his hand away from him, turning his head this way and that as he 'oohed' over the ring.

"Oh, baby, this is sooo nice!" Kurt's purring voice was a little inappropriate for where they were because Noah always had difficulty controlling his reaction. He swallowed hard as he stared at Kurt's mouth rather than the ring on his hand and it was only when Kurt looked at him questioningly that he pulled himself together.

"Uhm, oh, yeah, really nice." He smirked at Kurt's suspicious look but his lover simply looked again at his hand before turning towards the counter with the tray of rings.

Although Kurt absolutely loved the ring, being the consummate shopper that he was, he wanted to look at what else was on offer. He and Noah talked about that and then he took the ring off, moving it to the side while they looked at the others.

Noah surreptitiously kept his fingers crossed, hoping that Kurt would go for the one he'd liked. When Kurt looked at him with a little smirk and one eyebrow raised teasingly, he asked, "What?"

Kurt grinned at him. "Well, aren't you going to wear a ring, too? You get to choose, y'know."

He chuckled at the faint look of surprise in Noah's smoky eyes and slid his arm around his waist, oblivious to anyone else watching them. There weren't that many customers in the store; a younger couple was browsing wedding rings and a few older women appeared to be 'window shopping'. Kurt could also see a young girl, late teens who seemed interested in a tongue ring but his mind was mainly on this exciting moment in his life.

Tina was quickly back in front of them, pulling out other trays for them to peruse and she watched Kurt from beneath her lashes. A part of her was jealous that he got to be with the hottest customer she'd had in ages but as she watched them, she could almost see the love glowing around them like a halo. They seemed to exist in a bubble and seeing that they were gay, she figured that it was a good thing. They must face a little resistance, even in this day and age for being so open she thought, and she regretted again her first reaction when she'd seen them.

Finally, Noah turned back to the ring he wanted for Kurt and when Kurt saw him looking at it, he turned to Tina.

"Do you have this in a larger size?" He grinned at the way Noah's eyes widened and he was so tempted to kiss him right there in the store. "What? I've always thought matching rings were romantic."

Noah couldn't care less who was watching and he hauled Kurt to him and dropped a kiss on his smiling lips as he listened to him giggling. "I love you," he whispered and leaned back to see color flood Kurt's cheeks as he looked around.

The other couple was watching them, the girl with a smile on her face. The guy, though, had a slightly disapproving look but Kurt simply smirked at him and looked back up at Noah. He had hoped his lover wouldn't have noticed the couple but just then Noah glanced at them and took in the guy's facial expression.

There, right before Kurt's eyes, Noah seemed to morph into 'Puck', a faint air of menace exuding from his muscular body. Kurt suppressed a giggle as he watched as the guy seemed to shrink into himself and his girlfriend look up at him with a frown on her face. If Kurt knew anything about people, that guy was going to get an earful from his own fiancée when they left the store.

Kurt tugged on Noah's arm and whispered, "Noah," and his lover glanced back down at him, slowly becoming Noah again. He sighed and hugged Kurt to him before turning back to Tina who was waiting with another tray of rings.

"Here we are; they weren't actually a set… uhm," and her voice trailed off but Kurt understood what she meant. The rings obviously weren't designed for a same-sex couple but that wasn't important. He was simply glad that there was a larger one that he would get to give to Noah.

He smiled his thanks at her and beamed up at Noah. "What do you think, sweetie?"

Noah grinned at Kurt's triumphant smile and nodded. "I do have good taste, don't I?"

They laughed together, Noah's arm still around Kurt's shoulder and Tina, with a slight twinge in the region of her heart, nodded briskly and removed the two rings to process them. She moved towards the cash register and the two men followed her, arguing quietly.

Kurt frowned up at Noah; he wanted to pay for the ring for Noah who was saying he should pay for both. They didn't know if there were guidelines for who paid for what in a same-sex wedding but Kurt thought it was only fair that he pay for one of the rings.

He got his way and Noah admitted privately that he felt warmed by the thought that the ring would truly be from Kurt. He stared down at them as Tina placed them in matching velvet-lined boxes and prepared separate receipts for them, having overheard them squabbling.

Finally, with the ring boxes secured in one of the elegant little bags with the store's famous logo on it, they decided to stop for hot chocolate or coffee. Hand in hand they strolled past the other stores, dodging happy couples and loud families with kids dodging in and out of the crowds.

The mall was decorated to the hilt – there were even some suggestively dancing Santa figurines in shop windows – and the smell was glorious. Retailers certainly knew how to tap into human psyche and pocketbooks, Kurt thought cynically as the smell of cinnamon and pine trees mixed enticingly.

He really loved Christmastime, especially after Carole and Finn had become part of his and Burt's family. Even though the Puckermans were Jewish, they weren't orthodox so now he had an even larger family grouping to indulge. He chatted away to Noah, pointing out the stores he intended checking out in the coming weeks for gifts.

They had their hot beverages in the food court, their bodies close together and their heads almost touching. They shared a huge bear claw and made plans for the rest of the week; according to the forecasters, the weather would stay fine even though a lot colder than anyone had expected.

Kurt looked up at Noah and smiled, a question popping up in his mind as they chatted. "What are we going to tell the family?" When Noah looked at him, confused, he chuckled and added, "about the wedding date?"

Noah's face cleared and he smirked at Kurt, remembering how they had dodged the question when Carole had sprung it on them on Thanksgiving Day.

"What, I was thinking we could elope!" He laughed at the look of horror on Kurt's face and hugged him tightly, enjoying the tiny squeak that Kurt let out. "Just kidding!"

He smiled and took Kurt's ungloved hand, bringing it to his lips, kissing the fingertips softly. He looked deeply into the stunning blue eyes, loving the way they seemed to change color. "So beautiful," he murmured and enjoyed the way they softened as Kurt smiled.

Finally he took a deep breath, grew serious and answered him. "Hmmm, what about Christmas Eve?"

Kurt's eyes widened, his mouth dropped open and then he threw his arms around Noah's shoulders, hugging him tightly and laughing.

"Oh, my goodness. Sweetie, that would be wonderful. No, though," and he planted a swift kiss on Noah's pouting lips before laughing again. "That's less than a month away and there's no way I can plan a wedding in that time."

Noah had known that Kurt loved Christmas so he'd hoped he would agree. However, he understood what he meant; the women in their families would probably stone them if they didn't get a chance to help with the wedding.

Now he smiled at his chuckling lover and agreed, reveling in the good fortune that had Kurt returning his love. As they chatted and sipped their drinks, he hoped that everything would be this easy between them and he surreptitiously crossed the fingers on both hands again.

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oOo

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"What do you mean, you're coming here Christmas?!"

Noah's incredulous shout brought Judith from her room to stand at the end of the short hallway to watch her dad pacing in the living room. She didn't like when her daddy was angry; when he was upset she got upset, too, and her tummy felt funny. Now she stood watching him, little tears gathering on her lower lashes.

Her daddy said some words he shouldn't because Briony had told her that soap didn't taste good. She figured, though, that grownups were probably used to soap in their mouths by the time they got old. Sliding down to plop onto her little butt, she sat and wrapped her arms around her knees, waiting for him to finish talking on the phone.

A long time later – or it just seemed that way to her – he finally closed his phone and flung himself on the couch. That was when she figured it was her time now to go and make him feel better so she jumped up and skipped into the room, smiling widely at him.

"Who was that, daddy?"

Noah's eyes, so much like his daughter's, widened in consternation. He hadn't realized Judith had heard his tirade on the phone. He patted the seat beside him and smiled softly as she jumped up, sitting so closely she was almost in his lap. Sliding his arm around her narrow shoulders, he pulled her closer yet and dropped a kiss on her tousled hair.

"Uhm, it's okay, babe. I just got carried away. Grownups sometimes let things get to them, y'know."

She glanced up into the beloved face and noticed that even though his mouth was smiling, his eyes still looked kinda sad. Judith prized herself for being a pretty smart kid so she knew exactly how to cheer her daddy up.

"When is Mr. Kurt coming over, daddy?" She congratulated herself when her daddy's smile came for real this time. His eyes did that crinkle thing at the corner that she loved; she knew her daddy was handsome because she'd always heard people say that. She didn't know about that; Mr. Kurt was really pretty with his fair skin and funny eyes that changed color. Her dad must think so too because sometimes, when they didn't know she could hear them, he called Mr. Kurt 'beautiful'.

Noah smiled down at his daughter and felt a tug in his heart that had everything to do with missing Kurt. They had been together the night before when Sarah had taken Judith for the evening. He and Kurt had spent hours sating themselves on each other's body and then snuggled, making plans and building their dreams of the future.

Kurt had wondered out loud, his head on Noah's chest and one slender finger stroking up the middle of said chest: "Where do you want us to live, sweetie?"

Noah had thought about it and then gave the only answer he could think of: "Wherever you want to, babe."

Kurt, grinning smugly, lifted up onto an elbow and smirked down at him. "Hmmm, smart answer. I can see we will have a successful partnership if you keep doing that."

Noah had laughed and grabbed him, rolling his giggling lover beneath him. He'd kissed the laughter away, their antics seguing into a slower but no less passionate second bout. He loved being buried balls deep in Kurt, the sound of his cries heating him further and making him feel as if he were king of the world. He'd coaxed a slow, rolling orgasm from Kurt and he'd buried his face in the long, sweet-smelling neck as he'd groaned out his own climax.

Afterwards, enjoying a hot, languorous shower where their hands had roamed as much as they'd cleaned, they'd revisited the topic of where they would live. Kurt was of the opinion that he could move in with Noah and Judith and they would take their time to plan towards finding a bigger place.

Noah had agreed as his hands stroked through Kurt's thick wet hair, loving the thought of waking up every day to Kurt's beautiful face and pale, luscious body. More importantly, he wanted to deepen that feeling of family that he got when the three of them were together, Judith deep in slumber land in her own room.

Now he looked down at her sweet little face gazing trustingly up at him. He brushed his nose against hers and grinned as she scrunched hers up.

"We just saw 'Mr. Kurt' yesterday, babe. Don't you think he's gonna get tired of us?" His voice was teasing as he grinned at her.

Judith pulled back slightly and looked at her daddy as if he were crazy. "Daddy, Mr. Kurt loves us!"

Noah gaped at her and then threw his head back, laughing heartily. "He does, does he?"

Judith got a very superior look on her face and looked at the laughing man beside her. "Silly daddy, of course he does. He's marrying us, y'know."

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oOo

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Kurt stared at his dad and Carole as they fussed and searched for their electronic boarding passes and other necessaries for their flight back to D.C. He was going to miss them; even though they'd be back for the wedding, it was still going to be a long time away, in his opinion.

Finally, everything sorted and the sound of their flight being announced over the P.A. system, the three hugged and kissed each other, Kurt getting a promise that they'd call when they reached their destination.

"Remember, Carole, I'll be calling you to get some input about the wedding, okay?"

Carole's eyes prickled with tears as she stared at Kurt's sweet face. His cheeks were flushed that delicate pink that she remembered from when he was a teen with a chip on his fashionable shoulder. Grabbing him into another hug, she murmured in his ear: "Of course, sweetie, and don't you forget!"

Burt shook his head as he watched them, secretly fighting off tears as he thought about Kurt getting married. Heaven knows he loved Carole dearly, but Kurt's mother had been his first, best love and looking at Kurt now brought back all sorts of memories of his own wedding plans so many years ago.

"Come on, kiddo, let her go; we're going to see you in a few weeks, anyway," he said gruffly, flinging an arm around Kurt and nuzzling his nose against his son's forehead. He let him go, grabbed Carole's hand and moved away, smiling bravely at Kurt.

Kurt brushed away the tears and smiled at his parents. "Okay, okay, I know; be safe, okay? Love you…" and he stepped back, waving at them as they backed away from him.

Burt nodded and turned away with his arm around a sniffling Carole. They threw Kurt a final wave and then they were gone, swallowed in the last of the masses returning home after Thanksgiving.

Kurt stood and watched until he couldn't see them anymore. He headed out of the airport, glad for the drive back to Lima to give himself time to compose himself. Finn had offered to come with him; after all, Carole was his mom. Kurt had convinced him that since he had picked them up, it was only fair that he, Kurt, take them back.

As he drove mostly on autopilot, his thoughts moved ahead to the city where the man who'd stolen his heart was spending the day with his little girl. A smile crept onto his face and stayed there all the way back to Lima and by the time he got there, his spirits had lifted to match the smile.

It was Sunday afternoon and his mind turned to thoughts of dessert, Noah and Judith. He decided to stop and pick up his and Judith's favorite dessert and he grinned as he thought of surprising the two at their condo.

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oOo

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Noah stared at his daughter, wondering if maybe a little old lady had taken possession of her and he hadn't noticed.

He tugged her to him and kissed her forehead, his heart swelling at her comment. Yes, Kurt was marrying them both because he and Judith were a package deal. It had taken a little girl to state the obvious and he closed his eyes as he snuggled with her. He totally forgot that just minutes before he'd been yelling into the phone, his heart hammering in sudden fury.

He didn't know how long he sat there, Judith relaxed and chattering away when suddenly the doorbell rang. He hadn't been buzzed from downstairs so he wondered now who it could be. He eased Judith up a bit and then went to answer the door, opening it without glancing through the peephole first.

"Mr. Kurt!"

He hadn't realized Judith had followed him but yes, there was Kurt staring at them with a huge smile, sparkling eyes and a large pink pastry box in his hands.

Noah's whole body warmed as he stared at Kurt before grabbing him and yanking him through the door. Kurt was about to greet them but he found his lips taken in a swift hard kiss and his head swam at its intensity.

"Whoa, hold on, cowboy!" Kurt was breathless as he grinned at his fiancé and then he moved the box to one hand as he drew Judith into a hug. "Hey, sweetie!"

Judith had flung her arms around Kurt's hips, grinning up at him and then asked: "Is that box for me?"

Noah threw a little frown at her but she ignored him, staring up at her beautiful teacher who looked even prettier in a blue coat that almost matched his eyes and his cheeks pinker than she'd ever seen them.

Kurt laughed as he nodded. "Yes, and if you can guess what flavor it is, you'll get the first slice."

She tilted her head, her eyes gleaming as she stared at the box he was holding above her head. "Hmmm," she pretended to think. "Is it… strawberry?"

She grinned widely as Kurt opened his eyes wide in fake surprise and then nodded. She turned to look up at her dad who was staring at Mr. Kurt in that special way and announced: "See, daddy, I told you he loved us!"

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TBC

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