Burt

A/N: I know that I said that this was going to be the last chapter, but it didn't really feel finished. So just a quick thing after this to tie it up a bit. Probably be posted tomorrow. Thanks! :)

Five hundred miles away and a few hours before, Carol and I crawled into bed after a relaxing night together at home. "I can't stop thinking about the boys," Carol said to me quietly, "can you believe that it's been five years since they got together? They have been through so much but are so strong because of it and their relationship has such a strong foundation now." I looked deep into her eyes while she said this and smiled at her. Kurt and Blaine's five year anniversary came only a couple of months after our own five year anniversary.

If I didn't have Carol, I don't know how I would have survived. She treats Kurt so much like her own son that I sometimes completely forget that he is her stepson and that Kurt and Finn are stepbrothers. It's not that I don't miss my late wife; I remember her often and fondly. But I know that she would like that I have moved on and found someone to love and someone who will help me parent Kurt. Especially after the incident, having a woman's - a mother's - touch, was so extremely helpful and appreciated that I feel eternally grateful.

I was still feeling like a newlywed and I think that it was starting to freak out the boys a little bit. Since the majority of our savings had gone to Kurt's education instead of our honeymoon, we settled on putting away what little we had left with hopes of contributing to it monthly and then taking a family vacation over the summer. In the meantime though, nearly every weekend night when both of us didn't have to work, Carol would make some delicious dinner and then we would curl up together for a movie.

Holding hands, sneaking kisses and giggling - I felt like I was twenty five again and it was fantastic. I was so in love with this woman. She was so good to me, to Kurt and it was wonderful to have someone like Finn in the house who appreciated a good car and a good sports game. My family seemed complete again and this made me so, so happy.

And then there was Kurt, who also seemed happier than ever. At first I had been reluctant to send him to that school, but I knew that I had to let him get away. I would not stand for someone harassing my child anymore. And once he had moved and settled in, he brought Blaine home for the first time for Friday night dinner. I was even more reluctant about this relationship than I had been about sending him away, but the pure happiness and joy that I saw in both of those boy's eyes told me everything that I needed to know. I put on the tough dad face and made sure that Blaine knew that I was protective and would not stand for any nonsense, but under this front I was grateful that he had someone to be close to while he was at Dalton.

Blaine was spending a few days over Christmas break with us since his parents were out of the country on some work related trip, and I was happy to have him. He made a great addition to the family. I know that they hadn't been together very long, but I got good vibes about their relationship and found myself thinking about their future.

Kurt had said goodbye a few minutes ago and gone out to start the car and Blaine came down about fifteen minutes later saying that they would be back in a couple of hours. I smiled up at him, waived him goodbye and then pulled Carol in closer. "Let's make some popcorn," I told her after a few minutes, sitting up. "I've been eating really good lately, but between you and Kurt I need a little snack that isn't made out of lettuce." Carol swatted a pillow at my arm as I stood up, but didn't protest. She leaned up and gave me a quick kiss. "Just no extra salt or butter," she said, raising her eyebrows before putting on a smile and winking, "and hurry back."

I made my way into the kitchen and could hear the wind whipping outside. I thought that I heard a shout coming from outside as well, but I remembered that the tv was still on in the other room, so I pushed that thought out of my head. I grabbed a bag of microwave popcorn and turned around to the other counter and put it in. Whistling slightly, I looked around the room while waiting for it to finish. My eyes stopped at the set of keys that were sitting on the table - they were Kurt's. Why hadn't he come back for them if he left them in here accidentally? Now that I think of it, I hadn't heard the car leave the driveway yet.

The wind was real loud, so there was a chance that I just hadn't heard it and he had used the spare set for some reason, but I felt a weight drop in my stomach when I thought about the shout that I had thought that I heard a few minutes earlier. Grabbing my jacket and the set of keys, I ran out the door into the cold, ignoring Carol's confused questions. I just had to check. Once I saw that they had left and there was no problem, I could explain my silly worries to her.

I looked at the driveway - no tire tracks. It hadn't snowed that much in the last half hour. I quickened my pace and nearly ran to the garage when I saw that the door was open just a crack. Flying into the room, praying that I was still worrying about nothing, I heard whimpering and the sound of fist hitting flesh. My anger skyrocketed when I saw that stupid jock on top of Blaine, who looked like he had passed out. I ran toward them and pulled him off the unconscious boy and threw him across the room. He landed on his back and I heard his neck snap down and his head smack onto the hard floor. He didn't get up.

I looked down and saw Blaine, who was still unconscious, and realized that the whimpering I still heard wasn't coming from him. I spun around and saw my boy, shaking and covered in dirt and blood and I was so shocked I couldn't move my feet for a moment. I shook myself and walked over to him. Kneeling down, I took his hand and used my other to wipe some blood off of his face. "Kurt, son, it's me. Your dad. I'm here. Nobody is going to hurt you anymore," I whispered fervently, hoping to calm him down, but it seemed as though he couldn't realize I was there. I gasped aloud. Due to the darkness of the room, I hadn't noticed his state of near nakedness until now. The tears fell out of my eyes freely and I jumped when I heard my name coming from the door.

"Burt?" Carol questioned, "What's going on?"

"Quick," I shouted, "call 911. We need two ambulances and the police here, right now!"

I heard her let out a sob and run back towards the house, but I stayed with my boy and held his hand and tried to whisper comforting things. I felt the tears on my cheeks sting since they were so warm against my cold face. Kurt had gone completely quiet and it was more worrisome than the whimpering had been. "Kurt, I'm sorry I couldn't be there for you. I'm here now though. I love you so much. Just stay strong. Just stay strong," I said, leaning over him and resting my head on his chest, thankful to feel slow breaths. "I'm here, Kurt. I'll always be here for you," I whispered, barely loud enough to even hear myself.

"Are you okay, honey?" Carol asked, pulling me out of my thoughts. "You've been quiet the last few minutes and you look a little sad." I looked over at her and took her hand into mine. "Yeah, Carol, I'm fine. I was just thinking about the boys too. Remembering some things that I know I should push out of my head but sometimes get stuck in there. Do you know what I mean?" I asked her and she smiled softly and nodded knowingly. "Kurt and Blaine, and frankly all of us, dear, have had struggles that we've had to overcome. And those memories are going to take time to completely forget. But we're all happy now. You're happy, aren't you? I know I am. Remember what Blaine talked to us about the last time that they were both home? Our futures are all looking bright and happy. There's no reason to dwell on the past."

"How did I manage to marry someone who is so perfect?" I asked, leaning in for a kiss. "You always know what to tell me to make me feel better. And you're right. I'm happy." I leaned in for another kiss and then rested back into my pillows, thinking about how true that statement was. I had two beautiful sons, who were on their way to becoming successful men and a beautiful, caring wife - and they were happy - how could I not be? Sure, sometimes the past is hard to think about, but our futures look so bright, it's hard to not be optimistic.

Clicking off the light and pulling Carol in so that she rested on my chest, I closed my eyes and smiled. "Let's go visit Kurt next weekend. I miss him. Him and Blaine," I said quietly. Carol looked up at me and smiled slightly. "I'd love to go visit our son. I miss him too," she whispered. After a few minutes I felt her breaths slow down and I knew she had fallen asleep. I closed my eyes and said the prayer I said every night before falling into a peaceful sleep.

"God, thank you for Kurt, thank you for Carol. Thank you for Finn and thank you for Blaine. Please let my son know that he is loved and we all will always be there for him. Let him be strong, let me be strong. Bless him and our whole family. Amen."