Chapter Twenty-One: Sixteen weeks

The number on the scale was bothering Kurt more than it should. He was ecstatic that he was bang on the target weight for the stage of his pregnancy – in fact he was little over the target weight – but as he was so used to being slender, and he always ate well, the number bothered him.

Sighing, he ran a gentle hand over his belly. He was getting bigger and after his scan he was definitely dragging Noah around the mall for maternity pants. That morning he hadn't been able to fit into his favourite Armani jeans and had promptly burst into frustrated tears; it had taken Noah an hour to calm him down enough to pick out another pair – thankfully his second choice had fit, though they were still a little snug.

"You ready to go, babe?" Noah asked, a smile blossoming on his face when he observed Kurt's hand on his stomach. He walked over and, standing behind the pregnant teen, placed his larger hands on top as he rested his chin on Kurt's slim shoulder, "Hey, Smidge." He kissed Kurt's cheek and rubbed his lightly swollen tummy.

Kurt bit his tongue as he felt hormonal tears press against his eyes. He turned in Noah's arms and hugged him tight. Noah held him with tentative arms and rested his lips against Kurt's warm neck. The week had been hard on them.

After the fiasco at McKinley, Kurt had asked Noah not to go in the following day, to stay at home with him and Smidge and be safe; but he had insisted. The reporters had still been hanging around, like flies around dung, but Noah had stridden into the school flanked by Finn, the other Gleeks, and most surprisingly, David Karofsky.

The first day had been the hardest. Questions and insults flying at him, girls offering to fuck the gay out of him – though Santana had put an immediate stop to that, screaming about what she would do to them in Spanish. All he had wanted was to crawl back to Kurt and hold him.

When he had got back, Kurt had been sitting on the bottom step staring at the door and awaiting his return. As soon as he had set foot in the house, Kurt had enveloped him in a tight hug and guided him to the sofa where, on the table, there was a steaming cup of cocoa waiting for him. He'd felt the tears there, they were ready to fall, but when Kurt curled into his side, nuzzling his neck and resting there, he knew that it had been worth it.

Before this, Noah had been a boy, now... Now he felt that he had earned the title of 'man'.

They'd fallen asleep on the couch that night, and despite practically biting his hand off, Noah had earned himself a smile from Burt when he'd growled protectively as he tried to carry his son to bed.

The rest of the week had been pretty much the same, although the reporters dissipated reasonably fast due to the lack of information – that, and Sue threatening them with bodily harm, and they'd felt drained by Friday.

Kurt sighed and leaned heavily into Noah. Sixteen weeks. Four months. The pregnancy was already taking its toll – though he couldn't determine whether that was due to the eventful week or the fact that his body wasn't officially built to carry a child. When he had wondered aloud about it one day, Noah had thrown Kurt a concerned and apologetic look before kissing him gently and suggesting that he ask Dr. Turner about it.

Noah pressed a gentle kiss into Kurt's neck, murmuring once more against his soft skin, "You ready to go?" The countertenor nodded and sought Puck's lips for a quick kiss before he pulled away.

"Ready to hear our baby?" Kurt grinned at Noah's shocked expression.

"Really?"

"Hopefully."

Puck's face cracked into a prideful smile and he caught Kurt's hand in his, kissing his knuckles. "Fuck yeah!" He exclaimed.

The journey to the clinic had been reasonably quiet with soft touches and adoring glances exchanged between the boys. Noah's hand very rarely left Kurt's and the smaller boy enjoyed the contact.

As they stepped out of the Navigator at the doctor's surgery, Noah grinned over at Kurt and Kurt smiled back at him, his eyes shining. Happiness flowed from every pore, lighting up Puck's world. Half a year ago, Beth had been given up for adoption and Noah thought that his life would be consistently heading downhill from there; but then the thing with Kurt happened, and, although he was shocked – and at some times horrified – by the revelation of his feelings for the slight boy, he wouldn't change any of it for the world.

Puck's hand sought Kurt's as they checked in at the reception and took a seat. Kurt slumped in his chair a little and rested his head on Noah's shoulder. The affection between the boys was obvious to anyone who cared to glance their way.

"Kurt Hummel, Room Two, please."

Noah stood first and offered a hand to Kurt, who half-heartedly glared at him, muttering about being treated like a porcelain doll. Noah smiled and kissed Kurt chastely before striding down the hall to Room Two and tapping excitedly on the door.

"Come in." A voice called, muffled ever so slightly by the door.

"Hey Dr. T!" Puck greeted, pulling Kurt in with him and ushering him over to the exam table. The countertenor chuckled at Puck's excited behavior but lay on the exam table with his feet bouncing a little from his own enthusiasm.

"Hello, boys." Dr. Turner smiled widely at them, "I saw you on the news a few days ago. Honestly, you'd think this kind of thing never happened." He huffed, winking at the boys to show his support.

"It was a tough week, but knowing that we'd be seeing Smidge made it more bearable." Kurt said, a smile blossoming on his face as he ran a gentle hand over his swollen tummy. Dr. Turner smiled. When Noah turned to look at the countertenor, while his eyes paused at the boy's stomach, it was the smaller boy's face that held his gaze. The adoration shining in his hazel eyes made the doctor's heart swell with something close to pride.

Most often times, young hetero couples that came to his practice didn't regard each other with that kind of affection – especially with an unplanned, underage pregnancy. Usually there was resentment and regret… Very rarely was there something so close to love.

"Okay, boys, shall we get started?"

Noah grinned, nodding his head maniacally as he clasped Kurt's hand after the countertenor rolled his shirt up and lowered his jeans a little. Dr. Turner donned his latex gloves and applied the gel to Kurt's belly. He noted, with further elation at the boys' relationship, that Puck's hackles rose slightly at Kurt's surprised gasp before he seemed to remember that the gel was always a little cold upon application.

He pressed the ultrasound paddle to Kurt's abdomen and moved it about until a familiar image appeared on screen. Pressing a few buttons, he pointed everything out to the young couple and answered a few questions. Smidge still wasn't in an optimum position to determine his or her sex but that worry went out the window when Dr. Turner suggested that they attempt to hear Smidge's heartbeat.

As he sorted the equipment, Noah asked, "C-could I, you know, record it on my phone or something?"

Dr. Turner smiled, "Really, I shouldn't let you have you phone on in here, but I think, on this machine, I might be able to record it onto disc or something for you?" Kurt nodded emphatically and the doctor sorted that out as well before touching a different paddle to the teen's stomach.

He pressed a button and the room was filled with the quick whooshing sounds of Smidge's heartbeat. It was enough to make Kurt cry and to cause Noah's eyes to water as he pressed gentle and loving kisses to Kurt's hands and brow.

Kurt lifted one of his trembling hands to the screen – still filled with Smidge's image – and gingerly touched the black and white picture. "Soon he'll be here, Noah. In our arms."

"Yeah." Puck whispered hoarsely, choked with emotion. "Soon, Kurt."

They left the surgery in a happy disposition, a new picture in each of their wallets and a CD of Smidge's heartbeat clutched lovingly in Kurt's hand.

Noah made sure Kurt was secure in the truck before speeding off to the mall. He wasn't stupid; he knew that Kurt wanted new clothes… Maternity clothes to accommodate his growing stomach; to accommodate Smidge.

Noah parked as close to the mall as possible and they made a beeline for the maternity stores – two situated next to each other. Puck hovered about Kurt as he grumbled and complained that there were no clothes for men before finding a few clothes he thought of as passable and gathered them up in his arms and heading to the check out. He was about to ask why Kurt was being for fast about the store when he spotted several people outside the shop window, staring in and whispering to one another.

"Uh… Kurt..."

"I know." He ground out. "This'll do for now. I'll sort out other stuff later."

Noah smiled sadly, this just wasn't fair. He kissed the countertenor on the lips and flipped their audience the bird as Kurt paid for the clothes.

They were quick to leave after that, but Kurt was smiling at Noah on the ride home, despite the taunts they'd suffered at the hands of the mall-onlookers.

I'd do anything for that smile.

So sorry for the late update guys! Hope you've enjoyed this chapter. Don't forget to review.