The Storm: Safe Harbor
Chapter Seventy-Five
By Gayforkurt
Summary: Kurt and Dave have come to terms with the past but can they battle the envy and jealousy of others to make a future for themselves? This is rated M.
Disclaimer: Messrs. Ryan, Falchuk, et al are the owners of my favourite boys. Only the OCs and situations belong to me, alas.
The trial of Cooper Anderson was the usual nine-day sensation, revealing many of his past misdemeanours and plastering his mother's furious visage across both newsprint and the airwaves. Kurt had called Burt and Carole to prepare them and he had been aghast when Burt told him a few of the local paparazzi (who knew Lima had them?) had staked out their home in Lima. Burt reassured him that he and Carole had turned the sprinklers on and that had scattered them.
Thankfully, though, when Catherine Bingham Anderson had grudgingly accepted Kurt's first option and Cooper received a sentence requiring him to be incarcerated for only two weeks, interest in the case naturally waned.
Kurt invited Blaine over to talk to him at the theatre, having a feeling that David would not have appreciated seeing him at their penthouse flat and reiterated David's ultimatum. Blaine had looked at him with that deep sadness that seemed so much a part of him now and nodded.
"Look, Kurt," he paused and licked his lips, his big hazel eyes reminding Kurt of a puppy's as usual. "You've got to know how bad I feel about all this. I_ this, I feel as if I could have prevented it somehow."
The two men were sitting in the semi-dark of the auditorium with Rex seated a few rows in front of him and his 'shadow', Julian, a couple of rows behind. Kurt shifted slightly in his seat and took his friend's hand.
"Blaine, silly, I can't blame you for your dick of a brother's actions!" He grinned at the rueful little smile he'd managed to get Blaine to dredge up. "Come on, I plan to put this whole thing behind me because… guess what? I'm already concentrating on my wedding and putting all this crap behind me!"
Blaine stared at his friend's glowing eyes and huge smile, genuinely happy for him and also relieved that the incident hadn't scarred him emotionally. He nodded now and let out a little puff of air although he couldn't honestly hold onto the little smile for long.
"Okay, but I just want to say that I threatened my mother with a few things if she even dared tried going behind my back about Cooper." His odd, triangular eyebrows lowered over his hazel eyes as he nodded determinedly. "This has gone on way too long and I'm pretty damn sick of it, believe me!"
Kurt nodded and patted his hand before turning back to the stage, the chorus having filed onstage to start their part of the rehearsal. He bit his lip after a bit and then looked at Blaine apologetically.
"I'm sorry that I can't invite you to the wedding, though. I know you understand," he glanced away quickly. He heard Blaine let out a tiny, bitter-sounding laugh and turned to him again.
Blaine shook his head as he looked back at Kurt. "Kurt, you are amazing, y'know that?" At Kurt's quizzical expression he explained. "Only you would be worried about something like that. Even if you did invite me, I couldn't come. Can you imagine how the press would have a field day with that?"
Kurt nodded in understanding and the two sat for a while in silence before Blaine finally rose. When Kurt got up, too, they walked out of the row and down the aisle to the side exit. Kurt knew without looking that Julian was behind them at a discreet distance and he stopped just within the door.
He faced Blaine and took both his hands, holding them loosely as he smiled at his slightly shorter friend. "Blaine, I hope one day we can move past this; maybe we can have lunch when I'm back stateside?"
Blaine stared at his most compassionate friend and smiled, a little bit of genuine happiness showing through and he nodded. "Yes, yes, I'd like that very much…"
Kurt grinned at him and demanded his phone, quickly inputting his number before handing it back to him. "There; now you know I wasn't just saying that like people tend to. I do want us to remain friends and… and I think I missed you."
Blaine hauled him into a hug and whispered into a pink ear, "I missed you too," before stepping back. He pushed on the heavy metal bar to open the door and looked back over his shoulder. The sun gleamed on his shiny dark hair and hit the side of his face as he smiled back at Kurt. "Take care, Kurt Hummel, and all the best for the wedding."
Kurt gave him a little wave and a big grin and watched him step out into the private parking area before turning back to the gloom of the theatre's interior. He smiled softly at Julian as they walked back up the aisle to retake their seats, Kurt sighing softly as he hoped this sordid little chapter of his life had finally closed.
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KHDK
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For Kurt and David, February passed in a whirl of work, rehearsal and wedding planning. The one break had been the outstandingly romantic Valentine's Day that Kurt had surprised David with. The lovers had spent the whole day at a secluded little hotel on the Italian Riviera with only Rick Phillips, one of the bodyguards Puck had lined up, in attendance. They had arrived there incognito, playing it pretty low-key but for the sumptuous hotel suite and concierge service they indulged in.
After that, though, it was right back into their hectic swirl, Kurt's conferences with Monica and the Johars taking up almost all his free time. He didn't neglect David, however, and asked for his fiancé's input in almost everything, teasing him that if anything went wrong, they'd share the blame fifty-fifty.
Dave was pretty happy with the plans so far, even the fact that they'd have to fly back to London to fit the exotic-looking jackets that Kurt wanted. One thing he was certain of after he'd seen versions of their outfits on the Internet: Kurt was going to look absolutely stunning.
Unbeknownst to Kurt, after he'd seen the design for his lover's wedding suit, he'd contacted jewellers in London and had them design the most gorgeous collar and wrist cuff set. He'd sent them a copy of the design that would run down the front of Kurt's Nehru jacket and sent it off to them, asking that the jewellery be delicate versions of the pattern. It would be his wedding gift to his beautiful lover and would make him the cynosure of all eyes on their special day.
To distract his ever-curious lover, though, one day he'd engaged him in a discussion of wedding jewellery for the family and even for Puck and the guys as well. Kurt had told him he was already on it and had even asked Monica to check some ideas out for him. Dave smirked to himself: his lover hadn't even factored himself into the equation and that suited Dave just fine.
Kurt had looked over at his secretive little grin and pounced on him, threatening to tickle him mercilessly if he didn't spill. There had ensued a satisfying surrender on his part as Kurt had 'punished' him most deliciously for holding out.
They lay now, sated, sticky and dopey, matching grins on their faces as they stared into each other's eyes. Dave lifted a hand to trace one of Kurt's eyebrows and just like that, Kurt remembered that he had yet to sort out David's wedding gift.
Dave saw the sudden widening of Kurt's eyes and leaned up one elbow, his hand coming down to trace teasingly around Kurt's chest and one tender nipple. Kurt's eyes closed in pleasure and once again reminded Dave of a large, well-fed housecat.
"What did you just remember, babe? You can't hide anything in those beautiful eyes of yours," Dave leaned forward to nip the full, pink lower lip that had just jutted out.
Kurt slowly deepened the kiss and soon David had rolled onto his back to pull his sweaty lover fully onto him. He whined in annoyance when Kurt pulled back, however, to grin down at him.
"Hmmm, you are particularly randy tonight, Mr. Karofsky. Why is that I wonder?" His voice was light and teasing as he dropped little kisses on Dave's chest before nuzzling his nose into the damp flesh.
Dave pushed his hardening cock up against Kurt's stomach, heedless of the mess they had not taken the time to clean up.
"I can't help it that a little succubus has captured my heart. Come here," he grinned now as he hauled Kurt unceremoniously up so he could get at his mouth. The surprised little yelp the singer released only made him chuckle into the kiss but Kurt soon got with the programme and they rolled right into round two.
They both forgot, in their avid enjoyment of each other's body what they had been going to talk about but they didn't care. Hot, hard flesh sinking into smooth, tight, heat was way more interesting, not to mention mind-blowing and Kurt's eyes rolled back as David dragged another heart-pounding orgasm from his quivering body.
Dave stared down at his lover's slack face, continuing to power into the succulent body and when he barreled over the cliff into his own powerful climax, he cried out softly into Kurt's ear.
Kurt clenched around him as Dave's voice gasped, "Love you, love you, so beautiful… love you," and he wrapped the larger man in his arms and smiled, completely satisfied.
"I love you, too, baby…" and he tagged that moment to the thought of David's gift, promising himself that the next day he would sort it out.
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KHDK
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If Kurt as a child had thought that wedding planning was a seamless process, he was awakened quite rudely now. He was reminded of some of those reality shows with brides tearing out their hair, screaming and torturing family and friends alike in the months leading up to their big day. He was nothing like that but now he had some sympathy for those poor 'bridezillas'.
It was now March, roughly three months away from their own big day and he was standing in the midst of what he hoped was controlled chaos. Around him, men and women were scurrying with bolts of fabric, tape measures, containers with pins and other paraphernalia of the tailoring business.
He had quite naively thought that bespoke tailors were quiet establishments with elderly gentlemen peering closely at the tweeds and silks for their moneyed clientele. Oh, no, not in the 21st Century, apparently, because this was just well-mannered madness.
On this particular day, having flown over the night before with David, Julian and Xavier, they had attended their first fitting at the tailors that the Johars had contracted to do their suits. Upon their arrival, along with Puck and Devon, they had been met by a nervously smiling older man who proceeded to inform them that there just might have been a problem with their order.
Kurt had immediately tensed at that but Dave had smiled at the older man and asked him quietly to explain. The man had led them to the firm's reception area, a very large, well-appointed and quite masculine room of which Kurt immediately approved. After ordering tea for them all, the gentleman, Mr. Pinnock, explained the problem.
"I'm afraid there was some slight confusion with the selection for each of the gentlemen in your party. I can't explain how it happened but…" and he broke off as Kurt raised an imperious eyebrow.
"Exactly what confusion… what happened?" He didn't want to start going all 'bridezilla' on the little man but this was his wedding they were talking about!
The little man cleared his throat nervously and began. "Well, you, Mr. Hummel, had requested through the Johars – a wonderful firm, I must say, having worked with them before – that each of the gentlemen should wear a different Nehru design in a different fabric?"
Kurt nodded slowly, wondering where the problem lay with that request. Mr. Pinnock nodded also and continued.
"It happened that my new apprentice misunderstood and made them all of the same design but in the various fabrics you requested." He finished apologetically but Kurt blinked at him. That was all? Good gaga, he'd been expecting a catastrophe!
Now he smiled slightly and asked, "May I see them? It just might still work – if I like them, that is."
Just then their refreshments arrived but Kurt didn't waste much time; he was more interested in seeing what the assistant had come up with. Eventually they all had their tea, a couple of them declining the digestives and then they made their way to the huge workroom next door.
Kurt's mouth almost dropped open and Dave grinned down at him. The room was abuzz with so many people and even the tailors' dummies seemed caught up in the low-grade excitement, he thought fancifully.
Mr. Pinnock guided them as they wended their way between long worktables, the sound of sewing machines and low chatter rising to give the whole place a factory buzz. He took them over to one corner of the huge space and it was then that Kurt saw the suits.
A huge grin broke across his face as he saw what the assistant had done. He almost clapped his hands as he gazed at the array of five suits in the most sumptuous material straight from the Indian sub-continent. Their colours glowed jewel-bright in the light from the huge windows set halfway up the walls and going straight to the ceiling.
The design the assistant had used was one reminiscent of that worn by Khan in that Star Trek episode his dad loved so much. He had bought the whole series on DVD and Kurt had often sat with his dad, especially after his mom had passed, and watched the show with him. His dad had thought Khan was one of the best bad guys ever and now to see his own bodyguards wearing versions of the man's very sexy jacket was unbelievable.
"Oh, my! Wow, I like this, I really do!" He turned to the tailor, his blue-green eyes wide as he grinned at him. "It was only one of the designs I had them send to you and to be honest, I hadn't even remembered that!"
Dave chuckled as Kurt walked towards the tailors' dummies and around them, inspecting every line of the gorgeous jackets. The others were examining them as well with critical eyes but from what he could see, they appeared mostly pleased as well.
Puck chimed up at this point with a little smirk. "Okay, so which is whose? Or do we just pick a colour?"
It wasn't too cheeky a question because all the guys were pretty much of a size, except maybe Devon who was a little slimmer and shorter than Puck. Ian was pretty tall but he wasn't bulky and on the dummies the difference in sizes wasn't that obvious.
Mr. Pinnock nodded and moved quickly to the nearest figure, lifting a tag that was hanging from the cobalt blue sleeve. "Ah, this is for a D. McGrath?" He looked up with rheumy eyes that were nevertheless a little brighter because of Kurt's approval.
Devon lifted a hand and stepped swiftly over to the figure, a wide grin gracing his face. Kurt looked between him and the jacket, thanking the apprentice silently because the colour was just perfect for the auburn-haired agent.
The man moved onto the purple-jacketed figure, the tag this time saying 'J. Maybley'. Kurt couldn't hold back a giggle as a faintly pained expression appeared on the blond agent's face. The colour would make his blond hair seem lighter and Kurt thought it was perfect, though the agent obviously didn't agree.
Next was a jacket in a bronzey colour with a faint black pattern in it that was for Puck and finally, the grey and black with black collar, cuffs and buttons was for Xavier. They grinned as they looked at theirs, obviously much happier than Julian was but Kurt ignored them to go over to Ian's. The agent wasn't there with them but his jacket was finished as well and Kurt stared at it in awe. It was black with gleaming black patterns swirling in it; it was sexy, low-key and dangerous, just like its owner, Kurt thought.
"Well," he let out with a little breath, "this is just gorgeous!" He turned wide eyes on Mr. Pinnock who flushed and then he looked at his team, taking in their various responses. Xavier grinned and gave him a cheeky thumbs up sign and he laughed, shaking his head. Then he looked over at a somber Julian, his smile softening.
"Julian?" His voice seemed to pull the man out of a reverie and he turned his light blue-grey eyes on Kurt. "If you don't like it, we can change it, y'know? It's not a big deal."
Julian flushed as everyone's eyes turned to him; this was just what he hated. "Um, it's not that I don't like it… er, it's just a little … eye-catching."
Kurt's laughter was light as he came over to Julian's jacket and fingered the material. He hummed to himself a bit and then glanced up at the agent from under his lashes. He knew how shy the other man was but he thought he would look fantastic in it; he didn't want to say that before the other men, though. He had to resort to other tactics, then.
Now he sighed, letting the smile slip from his face a little and then looked up at Julian again. The man was staring at him, waiting on him to speak so he bit his lip, a regretful expression sliding onto his face. He sighed again and then dropped the sleeve before turning to Julian in resignation.
"Oh, well, I just think this was a happy accident… and this colour would really look good on you but, huh, that's just my opinion." He turned away with an apologetic little moue and turned to Mr. Pinnock, ready to tell him to change it. Julian raised a hand quickly, though, and stopped him from speaking.
"I didn't say I hated it, I … uhm, I'm just not used to standing out." His cheeks pinked a bit but he soldiered on despite his obvious discomfort. He nodded at Kurt, saying, "If you think it's okay, then I'll wear it. It's your special day, after all."
Kurt just barely restrained the satisfied grin threatening to take over his face but he simply nodded before raising an eyebrow at Mr. Pinnock.
"Could I meet your apprentice? I want to talk to him, if it's okay."
The little man nodded eagerly and scurried away, Kurt and others glancing interestedly around the vast space at all the industriousness on display. Soon they were joined by the two tailors and Kurt held back a grin as he saw the apprentice.
She was slender and fair and probably his own age, he guessed as he moved toward her, his hand out. She took it hesitantly but he shook it firmly before saying, "Thank you, uhm…" and then realized Mr. Pinnock hadn't told them her name, which he hurried forward to do.
"I'm so sorry; this is my newest assistant, Lisa, only been with me a year or so, right, child?" He looked at her encouragingly and she nodded, apparently too shy to get a word out.
"Well, Lisa, this wasn't what I'd instructed but it's just great. I hadn't considered this option but everything has worked out really well," he assured her, turning to point at Julian's jacket. "Uhm, why this colour in particular?"
She moved up beside it and ran her hand down the front before answering in a surprisingly boyish voice. "I think because when the material came from the wharf, this one just leapt out at me," she said shyly, though a glint of pride shone in her light eyes. She nodded at the other figures and moved off, the group following her as she and Kurt walked along.
Kurt was fascinated with the comments she made about each jacket and stopped in front of Xavier's, the only one that was in two colours. "And this one?" Kurt was really curious; it seemed that she had a passion for her work, it wasn't just a job.
"Well," she said as she lifted the sleeve to caress it, "if you look closely you can see a faint black grain running through the material. It just said to me that it needed the touch of black at the neck and the wrists, y'see. The buttons just bring it all together."
Dave wasn't into fashion like Kurt but he could tell this girl knew her stuff and he was contented that Kurt was pleased with everything.
Eventually it was time to fit and make adjustments as well as the decision on the trousers to complete each ensemble. The inside leg of each man was a different length so that took up quite a bit of time even with several of the tailors helping. When they left the establishment, however, each man was pleased with his outfit.
Kurt and David made arrangements to come the next day to fit their own outfits, Kurt reminding Mr. Pinnock laughingly that he didn't want his fiancé to see him in his before the big day. The little man had nodded enthusiastically, assuring him that they would be in separate, private fitting rooms.
After that it was time for a huge lunch, Puck announcing he'd never thought fitting clothes could be that strenuous. There had commenced a round of teasing amongst them after Kurt had called him a wimp. David had kept silent, simply enjoying the camaraderie in their small group, happy just to watch Kurt in his playful mood.
At home much later that night, Kurt had had a get-together with Eddy and Mrs. Lawrence who had wanted to let him know that regardless of what the Johars were planning for the wedding, they were doing his wedding cake. Kurt had been touched and they had sat him down, cups of tea between them, and worked out how large it would have to be and if anyone in his family was allergic to raisins, sultanas or currants. Kurt's eyes had widened at that and he shook his head, promising that he would double check but he didn't think it would be a problem.
Eddy went on to explain to him that his cake would be what the Yanks called a fruitcake but was actually the cake version of the old English plum pudding; it was made with butter rather that suet and laced liberally with port wine and rum.
Kurt had felt his mouth water as he nodded vigorously. She described the way the cake was decorated with a layer of almond paste and then covered by Royal icing. After that it would be decorated quite elaborately and here she paused, looking at him a little anxiously.
"Would you be wanting floral decorations, then? Like sugar flowers, leaves, that sort of thing?" Eddy was looking at him a bit anxiously and he didn't know what to decide.
He felt as if his head was spinning but when Mrs. L. made a little tsking sound and brought a huge cookbook over to him, he understood immediately and he nodded happily. The full-colour photographs of the magnificent wedding cakes within made his heart soar. His wedding was going to be fantastic if his cake was anything like these magnificent creations, he told them.
"Wow," he exclaimed, pointing to one photo that nearly took up the entire page. "It's huge!"
The two ladies craned their necks to see and Eddy pooh-poohed it immediately. "Pfft, I've made bigger than that in my time. You just wait, they'll be talking about your wedding for years to come, mark my words!"
Mrs. L. and Kurt laughed at this and Kurt patted Eddy's hand reassuringly. "And about your cake, too!"
The cake in question was at least five feet tall from the look of it, with six square layers dwindling to a small one. He gazed greedily at it and then wondered what the cake topper would be. Hmmm, he thought, have to talk to the Johars soon.
The three of them sat for a while, going over ideas for different designs for his cake and he told them about the fusion British and Indian theme he was going for. Mrs. L. suggested then that the cake's decoration could probably be taken from the pattern of his Nehru jacket and Kurt hugged the woman in his enthusiasm.
"What a fantastic idea! Eddy, would that be okay?" He stared, wide-eyed and pleading and Eddy knew she would do her utmost to see he got his perfect cake.
She puffed up her considerable chest and scoffed. "I don't see why not? Easy-peasy!"
They laughed a bit, chatted some more but after he yawned for the fourth time in about five minutes, they suggested he should go on up to bed. David had gone up already, apparently, after spending some time in the office so now he strolled out of the kitchen after a warm goodnight to the women.
The house was warm and quiet, the other guys having retired already and he smiled, looking around the rooms as he walked through them on the way to the stairs. It really was a beautiful old house and no matter if David showered him with more properties, this one was the special one, the first one.
He trailed his hand along the gleaming dark wood of the balustrade as he went upstairs, his mind humming with excitement although his body was beginning to feel the fatigue from the day's activities. His mind went to his birthday, which was in May and he wondered what David had planned, and then he thought of his parents, all the folks back in Lima and, inevitably, he thought of the baby, Lije.
He sighed softly, his lips quirked in a little smile. He strolled along the upstairs hallway toward his suite, wondering if the baby had grown noticeably bigger and then chuckled to himself. If he had his way he would have twins, he was greedy like that. He laughed aloud this time as he entered, locking the door before making his way into the bedroom.
David had fallen asleep while waiting for him it looked like because he had a book sprawled in his lap. Kurt went over and sat beside him, removing the book and placing it on the bedside table. He gazed at his fiancé and wondered again how he'd been so lucky.
Less than a year ago he'd been free, single and disengaged, nothing on his mind but his work and his pleasure. Now, here he was, all but domesticated, in love with and loved by the most amazing man. He leaned over and pressed a light kiss on the smooth brow and then gasped when strong arms came up about him.
"I thought you were asleep, David Karofsky!" He yelped as he was hauled up and into David's lap. He snuggled against him and hummed happily.
Dave chuckled as he nuzzled his hair. "I wasn't; just pretending. What were you laughing to yourself about?"
Kurt sighed and rubbed a palm over the bare chest, the soft hair tickling him. "Mmm, just about babies… and life… and love… and babies."
Dave laughed and then slid him off onto the bed beside him, tugging and yanking gently at his robe only to toss the garment onto the floor on the other side. "Is that what you were talking to the ladies about? Babies… and life… and love… and babies?"
He kissed his way down Kurt's long neck, murmuring appreciatively as Kurt lifted his chin to give him more room to work.
"Mmm, no; that was about wedding cakes… delicious, huge wedding cakes… mmm, yes, right there. Ah!" He shuddered and arched his back to get more of his chest into David's mouth, moaning as a taut pink nipple was nippd and laved.
Dave lifted his head, curiosity in the golden eyes. "So you segued from wedding cakes to life, love and babies?"
Kurt pulled back and pouted, grinning when Dave made to nip at his bottom lip. "Well, my mind was just in a happy, fruitcake-filled daze. You can't blame me for where it goes after that…" he giggled as David licked his chin and then bit it.
Dave pulled back to gaze down lovingly at his beautiful armful, knowing that he would never tire of being with him, even when they were too old to make love. He leaned down and captured the laughing mouth, deepening the kiss slowly before easing back just as slowly.
By the time they separated, Kurt's cheeks were red and his eyes were half-lidded, the blue almost eclipsed by the pupil. He panted against David's mouth now, wrapping his pyjama-clad legs around his. When he spoke, his voice was softer and deeper than usual.
"Make love to me?"
Dave gathered him into his arms and did just that.
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TBC
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AN: Yeah, I know, kind of a sappy ending but that's just how it flowed. By the way, some of you have commented on my attention to detail. Believe me when I tell you the jackets are real and so are the jewellery and cake. Keep reading, more goodies are yet to come in the next chapters.