The Storm: Safe Harbor
Chapter Seventy-Seven
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.
Carole stared out at the Corso Sempione from the balcony of her bedroom and smiled happily. She and Burt had arrived the evening before while Kurt was at the theatre and the look on his face when he'd seen them had been priceless. She had thought David had told him which day they were going to come to Milan but apparently not. Now she giggled as she remembered the scene and she gazed out toward the park, tilting her face up to the sun.
There was a light tap at the door and she turned now to call "come!" She grinned when she saw Kurt poke his head through before stepping inside.
"Hey, sweetie, I thought you were still snug abed?"
Kurt stepped out onto the balcony to lean against the railing beside her. "Nah, I was too excited that you and Dad were here," and he slipped an arm around her shoulder to hug her to him.
"Awww, it is so good to see you again, although it's been just a couple of months, eh?" She rubbed her cheek against his shoulder and then looked up at him. As usual, his fair skin was soft and flawless, the freckles from their summer in France already gone. His blue-green eyes were clear and his happiness shone from them like a beacon.
"You really had no idea that David had invited us?" She giggled at the little pout that made its appearance.
"No, I knew you guys were coming for my birthday but I had no idea exactly when. I thought he would have told me so I could go with them to meet you at the airport. Hmmf, I've got to pay him back for sure!"
He and Carole chuckled for a bit until she sobered and asked him how the wedding plans were coming. They settled into the chairs on the balcony and then he regaled her for the next half an hour with the progress that Monica and the Johars had made.
"Oh, by the way, you and Dad aren't going straight home from here; did David tell you?" At the shake of her head he continued. "Well, you guys have to get fitted for your outfits, don't you?"
He grinned as her eyes widened and she let out a little squeal. "Oooh, you mean we'll be going to London after this?"
Kurt nodded, his face glowing in the late morning sunshine. "Mmhmm, oh yes; I get to torture dad into wearing a tux – or maybe I'll get him into a kilt!"
Their uproarious laughter snagged Dave's attention as it wafted over that balcony to the next and through the doors of the drawing room. He threw a glance at Burt and then shook his head, smiling.
"Want to bet those two are talking about clothes?" Burt's voice was gruff but Dave could see the pleased glint in his eye. When he'd called them to invite them over for Kurt's birthday which would be in a couple of days, he'd told Burt their arrival time was a surprise for Kurt. Carole hadn't known but Dave had wanted to give Burt a heads up.
Now the two of them were lounging about the living room after they'd had a wonderful breakfast, Burt savouring his second cup of coffee and acting as if it were liquid gold.
"So, what do you and Carole want to do today? Just hang out here or do you want to do a bit of sightseeing?" Dave asked, his legs stretched out onto the huge hassock and crossed at the ankles. Unbeknownst to him, he looked the very picture of indolence but Burt knew Dave worked pretty hard for someone with his resources. It was natural that he would take time off to hang with his fiancé's folks when they came to visit.
"Oh, I don't mind either way. I'm getting kind of old for all the dashing about but flying on that beaut of a jet was great." His eyes lit up and they were suddenly discussing the specs of Dave's various aircraft and the next thing Burt knew, he was the future owner of a Cessna 172R Skyhawk.
Carole and Kurt walked in to find the two men almost glaring at each other and when they asked what was going on, Burt, apparently speechless at the moment, simply flopped his hand at David. Kurt turned to his fiancé with an eyebrow raised and watched as his lover coloured.
"Uhm, I only wanted to give him a little gift, Kurt, it wasn't anything major!" He winced as Burt scoffed and then he shrugged, looking pleadingly at Kurt. "Well, okay, I shouldn't say that; it's only an… ahm…"
He sputtered a bit as Kurt came and perched on the arm of his chair and rubbed a gentle hand across the back of his shoulders, brushing the nape of his neck calmingly. Kurt winked at Carole and then grinned down at David.
"Okay, spit it out; what were you giving my dad?"
Dave looked up at him, a definite whine leaking through into his voice. "Babe, it was only a plane! And a little one at that!"
There was a brief silence and then Carole and Kurt burst out laughing, Kurt shaking his head as he looked over at his dad. His giggles subsided as he looked at the confused-looking man.
"Daddy, you should have been happy it wasn't a jet!"
He and Carole were off again especially when David started nodding enthusiastically. "See, Burt, it's not a big deal. The Cessna Skyhawk is a pretty popular and extremely safe plane. No better aircraft for simple, private use."
Kurt looked over at his dad who looked back at him with a resigned expression that was warring with a faintly pleased look. Eventually he gave up the struggle and grinned outright at his future son-in-law.
"You gotta know it's gonna take me a while to get used to the way you do things, son." And he laughed as Dave blushed again. He knew where David was coming from; he, too, had lost his parents fairly young and having Kurt's beautiful mother in his life had made him feel the luckiest man alive. David showed that same feeling by showering gifts on the people he was close to. He was obviously generous by nature and nowhere near as unfeeling as his public persona would lead one to believe. Just look at how he cosseted Kurt; it was almost indecent the amount of jewellery his son had received from his fiancé the previous Christmas.
So, now, he nodded and smiled at the two men so obviously in love and happy. "Thanks, son, but you'll be the first to fly with me when I get my license, okay?"
Dave nodded happily and Kurt gave his father the softest, warmest look ever. It was Burt's turn to colour faintly as Carole leaned against him, patting his arm as if congratulating him for doing something wonderful. Well, he guessed, graciously accepting a gift was probably an accomplishment. He was glad he hadn't turned it down; it would be tantamount to throwing it back in David's face.
Kurt straightened up a bit as he recalled something and he grinned mischievously at his lover before leaning forward conspiratorially. In reaction, both Burt and Carole leaned forward as well but Dave simply looked at his fiancé curiously.
"You wouldn't believe what I discovered in New York earlier this year…" he said, his voice lowered dramatically and Carole's eyes widened but conversely Burt's narrowed. He knew his son and he recognized the teasing gleam in the glasz eyes.
"What?" Carole whispered, caught up in Kurt's little act but Kurt could feel Dave's faint chuckle ripple through the large shoulders.
"I discovered," he paused and licked his lips. "I discovered… David's secret stash…"
"…"
"Huh?" Burt was the first to react after the second of silence. "What stash, Kurt?" His eyebrows had lowered but he still looked suspiciously at his son.
Kurt, unable to maintain the charade, giggled and straightened up slightly but he stared at Carole as he spoke. "In his childhood bedroom, I discovered…" he grinned as his dad rolled his eyes at him. "David's model… airplane… collection!"
Carole's mouth and eyes were round as she realized she'd been had and joined in the laughter from the men. She watched as David lightly swatted Kurt's knee, chiding him for teasing his folks like that.
Their bright laughter gradually subsided as Dave looked lovingly at his impish lover. He shook his head and then turned to explain to his future in-laws.
"I was an only child so my parents tried to give me everything – nothing too excessive, though." He smiled as he reminisced. "One of the first gifts I'd ever got from my dad was model airplane kit. I think I fell in love with airplanes that day. If not then, pretty soon after… and I kept at it for years."
Kurt rubbed his shoulders gently as he settled himself more comfortably on the arm of the chair. Naturally he would have preferred David's lap but he didn't want to distract him from his reminiscences.
"So, as I started running out of surfaces to place my planes when I'd finished with them, Dad suggested hanging them from the ceiling. That was a great idea… and I'd lie in bed or on the floor sometimes and just stare at them, imaging myself back in the day, flying those Fokkers and Messerschmitts, the Tommy Scouts and the Spitfires…"
His voice drifted off as he realized they were all staring at him and he ducked his head, chuckling apologetically. "Yeah, it was a great hobby for a kid who was pretty much by himself most of the time."
Burt nodded understandingly. "True, but didn't you ever want to become a pilot yourself, when you grew up?"
Kurt tilted his head to get a better look at David's face, already knowing the answer to his dad's question. "Oh, I do have my pilot's license, 'though I need to get my hours up to stay rated but I had to go into the family business, y'know, especially after_"
Carole interrupted softly, "I know, and I'm so sorry, David." Her warm eyes held his as she leaned over and patted his hand.
Dave nodded and smiled at both her and Burt who was nodding, too. "Thanks, it's been a while and I do miss them but I have so much to look forward to, now."
He smiled broadly as he looked up at Kurt who was still sliding a hand across the back of his shoulders. He didn't kiss his lover but he could tell that Kurt knew that he wanted to. The singer leaned down and simply rested his forehead against his before straightening up.
"Well, what have we decided to do today," Kurt said a little briskly, not wanting them to wallow too much. As it was, Carole was all ready to start being teary-eyed and he just didn't want to go down that road today. He smiled at each of them encouragingly and when his dad shrugged he narrowed his eyes at him.
"Okay, I'll decide for us, then: we will do a little sight-seeing – Carole you've got to see the shops here! – and then maybe lunch. How does that sound?"
Dave slipped an arm behind Kurt's hips to hug him closer and nodded. "Sounds good; you guys okay with that plan?"
Carole smiled broadly as she stared at her stepson's bright face. "Oooh, shopping too, that's great!"
Burt and Dave rolled their eyes simultaneously and Kurt and Carole burst out laughing again. With Kurt reminding them that every moment was a moment for fashion, they separated to their respective bedrooms to get ready for their outing. Burt's grumbles and Carole's chuckles made Kurt feel warm inside and he nuzzled David's neck as they went to their own room.
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KHDK
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Sightseeing in Milan wasn't all about visiting museums and staring at magnificent, centuries-old buildings. No, where Kurt was concerned, Milan was Europe's fashion capital so alongside visiting the Duomo and staring at La Scala and the like, he dragged his family from one high-end boutique to another.
Poor Burt couldn't tell the difference between an Armani tuxedo and one by Calvin Klein or Ralph Lauren. Kurt assured him that there were and he decided to bow to his son's expertise and vast knowledge. The fact that Kurt timed their itinerary so that they would hit the Via Montenapoleone after lunch was probably no coincidence, his dad realized. His son got a strange, manic look in his eye that he swore he saw reflected in his wife's pale blue orbs.
Dave grinned as he watched Burt following behind the whirlwind that was Kurt on a shopping spree, dragging Carole happily behind. He realized he and his future dad were relegated to being pack horses when Kurt turned his big, blue-green eyes pleadingly up at him before gleefully handing over elegant shopping bags to them.
They hit Alexander McQueen, Alberta Ferretti (where he picked up a sexy, sleek little summery dress for Rachel), Bottega Venetta (whose Nero Galuchat Knot purse he told Carole was the perfect evening bag for her), Gucci, La Perla, Louis Vuitton, Montblanc (he got pen sets for his dad and Finn), Salvatore Ferragamo, Valentino, Versace and, of course, YSL. Kurt barely took a breath, every perfect strand of hair still in place although Carole had started looking a bit frazzled.
Dave finally reined him in when Burt grumbled about his feet killing him and they headed to another café for refreshments.
Carole fanned herself as she looked around at all the fashionable Milanese and when she made a whispered comment to Kurt, he grinned and nodded. "Oh, sweetie, they say you can tell the tourists because they're the ones in flip-flops, t-shirts and cargo shorts. The Milanese are the most fashionable people on the continent, I swear."
They relaxed for a while at the ultra chic Caffe Cova, enjoying their delectable chocolates, pralines, cakes and more, in addition to wines for Burt and David and excellent coffee for Carole and Kurt. Finally replete, they gathered up their various bags, the majority, of course, laden on the two men and they headed off again.
Kurt chattered away to Carole, explaining quite unnecessarily how he got a charge out of shopping when suddenly two men leapt out at them as they walked along a covered walkway. Flinging an arm out across Carole in protection, he realized the men were photographers and instinctively turned his face away. The rapid clicks of their digital cameras and the men's request for him to look their way fuelled a sudden rage within him but he maintained his cool façade.
Carole had gasped and stepped back so she accidentally collided with Burt who was strolling behind her. Dave lunged after one of the paparazzi who danced backward out of his reach when, quite unexpectedly, Philips and Julian barged into the two men.
Kurt hadn't even been aware that his 'shadows' had been, indeed, shadowing him and his family but he felt a vicious thrill of pleasure as one of the cameras, obviously expensive, fell and smashed against the tiles of the covered walkway. He hurried Carole and his dad around the struggling group and then looked for David who was yelling in Italian at the two men.
A little way away from the group, Kurt stopped to watch the altercation and realized they'd gathered a small crowd of onlookers. Although he was annoyed by the incident, he was grateful it had only been two of the vultures who had spotted them while they were shopping. He smiled now at Carole and his dad, shrugging philosophically.
"I guess they can say they were only doing their jobs, right?" He hoped his casual attitude would help to defuse the situation for his parents and he was glad when he saw their postures relax a little bit. He turned to David when the man hurried up to them.
His winged brows were drawn down fiercely over his hazel eyes but as he joined Kurt and his parents, he cleared his expression a bit. He smirked as he shook his head now. "I think those two will think twice about startling their subjects after this."
They laughed a little breathlessly and Carole nodded, a twinkle of excitement in her eyes. "Oh my, it was a little unexpected. I guess this is how those celebs feel when the paparazzi lunge at them from out of their own hedges!"
The laughter was a little louder and more genuine this time as they turned to continue on their way. Kurt took up the narrative again, explaining some of the sights they were passing on the way to another shopping street, the Via della Spiga.
There was Bang & Olufsen (where Dave and Burt experienced a flush of pleasure at the sight of all that hi-tech equipment and gadgetry), Chopard (in which Kurt's reaction to some of the jewellery was almost orgasmic), Dolce & Gabbana, Miu Miu (where he got an elegant lace coat for Rachel), Prada and, finally, Roberto Cavalli, where he picked up a gorgeous turquoise gown for Mercedes and a slightly different coral version for Carole with a sequined bodice. After that, there was nothing to do but call it a day, much to Burt's relief.
When they stepped out of the last boutique, Cavalli's, Kurt was amused to see Julian and Phillips waiting with the limousine. He threw a grateful glance at David who must have asked the men to meet them there. As much as he loved shopping, he had not been looking forward to walking all the way back, laden down as they were. Now, as they settled themselves in the back of the spacious vehicle, he couldn't help but sigh in pleasure; there was nothing quite like a day of shopping with one's nearest and dearest.
That night at dinner he announced that the next day was for pampering, graciously conceding that maybe David and his dad would not want to hang out in a salon getting their nails done. However, Carole was quite happy with the arrangements and much of the dinner was spent with their heads occasionally together as they planned what they would be getting done at the spa.
Dave watched Kurt with all the love he felt shining in his eyes and Burt had to suppress a snort. The man really had it bad for his son but he pretty much understood what that was like. After all, Kurt was like his mother in masculine form and even though Burt loved Carole dearly, Elizabeth had been his first love. Every time he looked at Kurt, especially when certain expressions were on his face, he couldn't help but think of her. He hoped Carole never felt as if she were competing with a ghost but Kurt was just so much like her, he couldn't help but remember.
Now he distracted Dave with talking about his newest gift and watched as the younger man chuckled shyly. Burt decided to spare him any further mentions of gratitude but engaged him in a discussion of the plane's specs, the mechanic in him fascinated by all the information Dave had at his fingertips.
When they moved to the drawing room, Kurt turned to his parents, a tiny smile on his face. "Hey, guys, at my birthday dinner you will be meeting a few new people, okay?" He didn't know if they had thought it would just be the four of them.
Burt quirked a curious eyebrow at him. "Yeah, who?"
Kurt went on to describe the Casellis in great detail, his fondness for the elderly Italian couple quite obvious. "And Rex, our Artistic Director, will be joining us, as well."
Carole made a little sound and when Kurt looked at her askance she just waved her hand. "Oh, don't mind me; it's just that that will make the numbers uneven. For dinner, that is."
Kurt giggled. "Seriously, Carole, I'm not married yet so I'm no society matron to be worried about numbers at dinner."
They laughed at each other and Dave smiled softly to himself. His plans would make certain that it would be an even number sitting down to dinner but, of course, Kurt didn't know that.
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KHDK
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Two days later, the birthday boy woke up alone at nearly 10 a.m. He had come in almost at midnight from the theatre the night before and would normally have slept until nearly noon, but the combination of his parents' presence and his birthday meant he could not stay in bed.
He stretched luxuriously and rolled over onto his stomach, reveling in the feel of the 1500-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets against his bare skin. He'd gone hog wild when he'd found a store that sold only Egyptian cotton products and so his bathroom had the towels, his beds had the sheets and he and David had several matching bathrobes in the lush fabric. The towels were his special love because they were so decadently soft and absorbent. The first time he'd used one he'd almost embarrassed himself with the sounds he'd made, but David had simply laughed, scooped him up and taken him to bed.
Now he rubbed one hand caressingly on the sheet as he smiled to himself, recalling that particular workout and he felt his body react to the memory. His prick, the greedy thing, hardened slightly and he rocked his hips against the sheet. Unconsciously he slid the caressing hand up the sheet and under his pillow, gasping as he withdrew it and the object lurking there.
He rose up onto his knees, spreading the piece of jewellery apart in his hands and looked at it, puzzled. He couldn't at first, figure out what it could be but when he did, he blushed all over, a huge grin spreading across his face.
The piece wasn't necessarily the most expensive thing David had ever given him but it was interesting in that it was unusual. It was a very long, fine chain but interspersed along its length, tiny stones in assorted colours hung suspended on their own little links. Kurt looked closer and was certain he recognised sapphires, rubies, diamonds – both coloured and clear – and a number of emeralds. The links were delicate, almost breathtakingly so and when he wrapped the chain about his waist and hooked it, a part of its length still hung down with one emerald twinkling at the end of it.
He leapt out of the bed and stood in front of his full-length mirror, his skin still warm from the blush, staring at himself disbelievingly. With his hair still tousled and his lips a little swollen from David's voracious attentions, he looked like the pampered favourite in a sultan's harem. More colour flooded his cheeks as he laughed softly, looking at the way the last emerald swung just above his neatly-trimmed pubes.
The sound of the bedroom door opening had him spinning around, his eyes round and his lips parted in a quick gasp. He bit his lip as David entered, standing still as the man's eyes roved possessively over every inch he could see. A gleam of satisfaction appeared in his lover's golden eyes as he finally stepped up to him, his hands going to caress Kurt's hipbones just below the gold chain.
"Happy birthday, mio bello," he murmured and then bent to take Kurt's mouth in a deep kiss. Kurt's arms slid of their own volition up and around his neck and he opened to the kiss gladly. He moaned as David's hands slid around and down to caress and knead his bare cheeks, bringing him in close so that Kurt could feel his own burgeoning erection. "Ti amo, il mio cuore dei cuori."
Kurt sighed into the kiss and then almost whined as Dave eased away to smile down at him. He dropped a quick kiss on the pouting lips but shook his head. "You've got guests waiting on you to yell 'happy birthday', okay?"
He smiled as Kurt subsided in his arms; the singer hadn't said anything since Dave had stepped into the bedroom but Dave knew he was happy. The little telltale hum was soft and almost sleepy but his lover was in a good mood. He eased him back and smiled down into the big, drowsy eyes before turning him around and pointing him towards the en suite.
Kurt sighed as he dragged his feet; he had wanted David to take him back to bed and ravish him while he was wearing this seriously sexy piece of jewellery but he had to acknowledge he was right. His parents were waiting, probably in the drawing room, for him to make an appearance.
He knew David was still staring at his naked backside so he gave it one final, saucy twitch before disappearing into the bathroom, giggling as he heard the half-stifled groan. Serve him right for turning me on and then sending me off, he grinned to himself, removing the chain before stepping into the shower enclosure and starting his morning routine. Was a little blowjob too much to ask for?
Today was going to be great, he just knew it and as he glanced over at the gold belt that he'd placed on the counter, he suddenly thought to himself: I'm going to wear that tonight at dinner and I'll let him find out I'm wearing it. That should teach him to be a tease.
Dave could hear his rich chuckles coming from the bathroom and wondered only briefly what his imp of a lover was in there planning. He shrugged as he realized that, no matter if it was payback, he knew he would end up enjoying it, anyway.
He leaned back against the piled-up pillows, his hands behind his head as he gloated now: yeah, life with Kurt, his very own succubus, would never be dull. Never.
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TBC