Chapter Twelve: Plans
The Saturday after his first scan (the picture now magnetised to the giant refrigerator in the kitchen) Kurt was relaxing (banished) with Blaine and Mercedes in his basement room whilst Finn played a video game in the living room – but Kuuuuurt, the TV in the living room is huuuuuge and makes the game look more realistic.
After the scan, Noah and Kurt had gone their separate ways once the countertenor had retrieved the appropriate vitamins and dropped Puck back at school for his ratty, old truck, and since they had barely spoken a word to one another. However, Kurt had to admit that it wasn't for Noah's lack of trying. There had been many occasions where the larger teen had tried to talk to him, but Kurt had found himself avoiding Noah at all costs. Whilst he wanted Noah to be a part of his child's life, for the moment he desperately needed to keep it quiet and he couldn't risk anything being overheard at the school. Should any of the Neanderthals find out about Kurt's pregnancy and that Puck was the father... Well, the countertenor really didn't want to think about those repercussions – for both Noah and himself.
Effectively, in ignoring Noah's advances towards him – as simply friends or otherwise – he felt that he was protecting the two of them from what could be a seriously dangerous situation. Lord only knew what would happen to them if people found out. Until Kurt had worked out a plan, they were stuck – with or without Noah's opinion on the matter.
Thus the reason why he had called upon his closest of friends who were now lolloping all over his bed, flicking through fashion magazines.
"Kurt, you really should consider redecorating before the baby comes," Mercedes grumbled, "White walls aren't a good choice to begin with, but once you have a baby in the house, whew! That's just asking for trouble!"
Kurt smiled, "I know, Mercedes, that's actually the second order of business."
"Not that I don't like being in your luxurious room," Blaine said, smiling his dazzling smile – which Kurt had almost fell for on numerous occasions before the thing with Noah, "but what, pray tell, did you summon us for, Kurt?"
"I did not summon you!" He cried indignantly, though he was still smiling, "Well, I asked you here to help me with a game plan."
"Game plan?" They questioned at the same moment, glancing at each other and laughing a little.
"Yes." Kurt sat down at his dresser with a huff, "I'm aware that I won't be able to stay at McKinley for my whole pregnancy," the word was still foreign on his tongue, "so I really need you guys to help me come up with a plan."
"Well, how long will it be until you start to show?" Mercedes asked helpfully.
"I've been researching it and I'll probably start showing at three months, so another, what? Three or four weeks. But, I can probably get away with continuing at school until I reach about four months."
"So what's your plan after that?" Blaine this time, he was laying on the bed, body flush to the mattress and legs bent at the knees and his socked – for once – feet flipping back and forth slowly.
"Well, actually, I was hoping, Mercedes and Finn could collect assignments from the school? Then I wouldn't be missing out on my education." Kurt said. He had thought this through over the past few days and, knowing he was intelligent and had never found it difficult to catch up when he was sick in the past, he figured that this was the best and easiest course of action to take.
"I'll be happy to help, Boo. And I'm sure that Finn will too." Mercedes smiled at him, and Kurt could tell that she was looking forward to being an 'auntie'.
"Uhh, Kurt, not to rain on your parade or anything, but what's going to happen if the jocks at McKinley start pushing you around and... Well, what if something worse happens than just a locker-shove or slushie facial?"
Kurt sighed, "I know... I don't know, I guess..."
"You won't need to worry about that, Kurt." The two boys looked at the black diva, who had a surprisingly vicious look on her face. "Finn and I will have your back... And if you tell the rest of the Gleeks, I'm sure they'll look out for you too. Seriously, no-one is gonna touch you."
Kurt grinned at her, cursing 'baby-hormones' for the tears gathering in the corners of his eyes. "Thanks, Mercedes." He whispered and both of his friends went to embrace him as he wiped away a couple of happy-tears.
As they all pulled apart, there was a vigorous knock at the front door followed by the doorbell. Kurt waited for a moment, allowing Finn to open the door. It wasn't long before the lanky teen was raising his voice and, with an exasperated sigh, Kurt trudged up the stairs to the hallway, quickly followed by Mercedes and Blaine, to see who the visitor was.
"I swear to God, Puck, I will break your face if you so much as look at Kurt!"
"Finn Hudson!" Kurt screeched, a hand on one hip and blue eyes radiating 'bitch-glare'. "What do you think you're doing?"
"Uh..." Finn took on the deer-in-the-headlights look, "Hey, Kurt. I just thought, you know, you weren't talking to him at school so..."
"I appreciate what you're trying to do, Finn." Kurt's glare softened a little and his arm relaxed a touch, "But I am quite capable of breaking his face myself." The countertenor looked at Puck and was a little taken aback by his appearance. Whilst Kurt was always a little disgusted by the larger boy's lack of fashion sense – although he had to admit to a tiny fetish concerning those Levis – the boy in front of him looked like a faded copy of Noah Puckerman the Badass. "Come in, Noah."
"Do you think it's a good idea, Boo?" Mercedes questioned, glaring ferociously at Puck, her arms crossed against her ample bosom and Kurt glanced at her, surprised. Noah lowered his head a little further.
"I agree with Finn and Mercedes, Kurt." Blaine said, his mouth twisting contemptuously. "I don't think it's a good idea to let him in."
"Guys." Kurt breathed, surprised by the amount of animosity the trio held for Puck. "You do realise that it took two of us to make this baby, right?" Each of them looked at Kurt, shocked, though none of them more than Noah. "I'm just as much to blame for this as he. In fact I'm probably the one to blame for all of this. I love you guys, but he's as much a part of this as I am and I would really like to avoid a repeat of the baby-drama from last year. Quinn very much played the victim, and I refuse to play that role when we are both responsible." They all stared at Kurt as he took a deep breath. "Now, Noah and I need to talk, so would you all mind making yourselves scarce? Finn you can take your game station and stuff to my room. The TV in there is big enough. And you two," Kurt gestured at his two best friends, "can take out the box of vintage Vogue mags from under my bed."
Finns feature darkened toward Puck, but after clasping Kurt on the shoulder he did as he was asked. Mercedes looked ready to cut someone, as did the Hobbit, but both nodded briefly at the countertenor before retreating back towards Kurt's basement room.
Kurt gazed after them, making sure that they truly did disappear before returning his attention to Noah. The countertenor sighed, looking at his socked feet, then back at Noah with a tiny smile on his face that didn't quite reach his eyes, "So, are you going to continue standing on my doorstep or are you going to come in to talk?"
Puck smiled gently as he stepped into the house, closing the door behind himself. Kurt signalled to the kitchen. "I'm hungry, you want anything?" He asked.
"Sure." Noah stood in the spacious kitchen, watching as Kurt fixed them a couple of sandwiches – one smothered in chocolate sauce for Kurt and the equivalent for Noah sans chocolat.
They sat at the kitchen counter and, without their consent, their minds took them back to the night the child growing in Kurt's belly was conceived. The atmosphere had been different, for sure, but the way they were sitting opposite each other, cautiously glancing at one another was much the same.
Kurt was the first to finish and he moved to the refrigerator to get a drink, dropping his plate in the sink as he passed. Noah watched him carefully, trying to figure out what he wanted to say; he knew better than anyone that he had a habit of speaking before fully processing his thoughts. However, as Kurt shut the door to the 'fridge – a can of diet coke and a regular coke in his hands – Puck's hazel eyes were drawn to the black and white picture – identical to the one in his wallet – attached to the white surface.
Slowly, he got up from his chair and approached the refrigerator. He raised one strong hand to gently touch the corner of the photograph as Kurt curiously watched him from the sidelines, sipping daintily from his diet coke. Noah muttered something unintelligible.
"Hmm?" Kurt voiced, mouth full of cool fizzy drink.
"I said; I envy you being able to put this photo up so blatantly in your house." Noah turned to smile at him sadly, "Your dad must really love you."
Kurt shrugged one shoulder lazily, "Your mum loves you too." The countertenor smiled at him, "She doesn't like your past life choices, but she'll always love you, Noah." A slender hand subconsciously reached down to touch his tummy. Noah's gaze followed the hand hesitantly, before he looked away.
"Kurt." He started, "I want to tell my Ma." Kurt's head whipped up to stare incredulously at him so fast that he was pretty sure he should have suffered whiplash. "And Lily." Noah sighed miserably, "Most of the baby-drama last year involving Ma and Quinn... Ma said that she didn't like Q because of the fact that she cheated on Finn... Not that I was any better. She also resented Quinn because of her decision to... To give up Beth. I think that even though she wasn't planned, Ma was kinda looking forward to being a Nana." Puck looked up at Kurt and suddenly the countertenor understood why Noah looked so rough.
He's struggling with his conscience.
"Noah..." Kurt was unsure of what to do, he had never expected this turn of events.
"Actually, I don't want to keep this a secret from anyone." Kurt's eyes widened and he began shaking his head, "Before you freak out, Kurt, I swear on my life that I will never let any harm come to you or the baby. I just... I want to be there for you."
"You can do that anyway." Kurt protested, "No-one needs to know."
"You're not going to make this easy, are you?" Noah said, fondly, "Kurt, neither you or our baby deserve to be a secret. And I don't want you to be. I want to take responsibility." The countertenor frowned and gave Puck the regular coke, which he opened, before tilting his chin towards the living room.
Noah sat on the sofa whereas Kurt opted for Burt's favourite chair, curling his knees up to his chin.
"Puck, I... I appreciate what you're saying, I really do, but I don't think Lima is ready for someone like me. Besides, just imagine what will happen to your reputation." He knew that it was a low shot, but surely it had to work?
"I don't care."
"What?" Kurt stared at him. The footballer had leaned forward to rest his elbows on his muscular thighs and was gazing at Kurt intently.
"I don't care." Noah's eyebrows drew closer together, "Kurt, right now, you and the baby are two of the most important things in my life and –"
"Don't." Kurt whispered, looking away as he felt his cheek heat up and tears start to gather in his eyes. "Please don't."
"It's true. Kurt, I'm struggling here."
And it was true. Over the days that Kurt was steadfastly ignoring him, he found the thought of, 'Look at me' swimming around his mind. Usually that particular thought wasn't reserved for anyone person, even during the same situation with Quinn and that worried him greatly. It wasn't a feeling he could suppress and the more he experienced it, the less he wanted to.
"Look, I don't know what any of this means. It's just... When I'm with you, I feel like I can do anything... And I want to keep this feeling." He muttered haltingly, still staring at the smaller boy who finally turned back to him.
"It won't work, Noah." Kurt whispered hoarsely. "It just won't. Either the ignorance of the people here will get to you and you'll move on, or you'll resent me for tying you to me when we're both so young and leave anyway."
Noah shook his head, "I'm not my dad, Kurt."
"I know you're not."
"And do you really think I'll back down from the assholes here?" Kurt smiled a little, "Besides, if it get's bad we could always go to New York."
The countertenor sucked in a shocked breath; he seemed to consider what Noah was saying, his eyes softening a little, before swiftly changing the subject.
"I wanted to talk to you anyway." And again Kurt turned distant; it upset Noah, but he understood that he was protecting himself. "I've decided what course of action I'm going to take." Noah's heart stuttered for a second before Kurt's eyes widened as he caught on, "No no no no! I mean concerning school."
He proceeded to tell Noah what he was going to do and he was surprised when Noah asked; "what's going to happen if the jocks start pushing you around? What if something worse happens than slushie facials or locker-shoves? What if you land wrong when they dumpster-dive you?" Kurt was taken aback by the panic entering the bigger boy's voice and the way that he was effectively echoing what Blaine had said before.
"Finn and Mercedes will be acting like my personal bodyguards."
"They can't be with you all the time, Kurt." Noah grumbled, before Kurt was certain he saw the 'light flick on', "Let me watch you. I won't leave your side and I'll never let anything happen to you or the baby."
"And you think that they will?" Kurt didn't understand the sudden ager flaring in him, and pinching the bridge of his nose, he calmed himself. "Sorry." He muttered and Noah shook his head in an understanding manner. "Look, Noah, I'm tired already so can I ask you to leave?"
Noah's face fell but he nodded and stood, following Kurt into the hallway. "Kurt, I..."
"Noah..." They stood in the doorway, Kurt just inside and Noah standing on the doorstep once more. Unlike the usual Noah stance – cocky, elbow resting on the doorframe and smirking – the stance Noah had taken on appear rather shy. He had both hands in his pockets and he was staring at his sneakers, almost as though he were afraid to see the expression on Kurt's face.
Kurt reached out to touch Puck's muscular shoulder, squeezing gently, "I don't regret any of this, Noah." Kurt smiled and touched his free hand to his belly, "This is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. Alright, so it didn't happen in the best circumstances and we did it for the wrong reasons, but I wouldn't change it." The countertenor sighed, withdrawing his hand from Puck. "If... If you want to tell your mum, you can." Puck gazed at him, his mouth hanging open a little, "I don't mind. Just make sure that it doesn't go further than her."
Noah actually felt his knees give before he launched himself at the smaller boy to embrace him tightly. "Thank you!" He breathed, "Thank you so much, Kurt."
Kurt allowed the hug, but patted the footballer on the back in an awkward manner, before he pulled away. "I really do appreciate what you were trying to say, and do, but everything is so confusing for me right now, and I don't what to get any more stressed right now... Perhaps, you know, later, after I've fully processed things."
Noah took a minute step forward and lowered his head a touch to look into Kurt's beautiful eyes. "Will you stop ignoring me?" Kurt nodded hesitantly and Puck smiled, "Can I try to prve to you that this is what I want?"
Kurt smirked, suddenly feeling confident. No way would he ruin his reputation. "It could be a good place to start, yeah."
Noah grinned, ducking in to chastely kiss Kurt's cheek. He took pride in the blush that bloomed on Kurt's gorgeous face and the way a slender hand flew to the patch of skin as if to confirm that it had really happened.
"I'll see you later, Princess." He said, taking his leave and throwing a wave over his shoulder; as Kurt was going to shut the door, Mercedes, Blaine and Finn crowding the hallway to interrogate him, Puck suddenly called out: "Hey, Kurt!" He opened the door again and raised an eyebrow, "Those things I said before," He knew that Kurt would understand that he was referring to the argument at the beginning of the week, "I did mean it." Kurt's eyes widened, but he felt a smile tugging at his lips; he nodded approvingly, "But that doesn't mean I don't want everything that this could be." Kurt blushed ferociously and swiftly slammed the door in true diva style.
He could still hear Puck chuckling.
Really not sure what happened here... Let me know what you think.