The hardest thing for Kurt was not telling everyone he met that he was carrying his and Blaine's child. When they had decided months ago when all this had begun to not share the news until the end of the first trimester, Kurt didn't realize just how hard that would be. They had only known a month and still the only person that he had been able to tell about it was the receptionist at the Obstetricians office he had called to set up the appointment that was still a week away. They lay in bed sated and happy, Blaine lovingly stroking the small bump that had now formed, an activity he didn't seem to grow tired of when Kurt finally said what he had been wanting to blurt out for a month.
"I want to tell people."
"What?' Blaine asked lazily.
"Not everyone obviously," Kurt said, "But I want to tell Elliot and Cooper, Isabelle too. Just the people who already know it's a possibility."
Kurt looked down at Blaine and saw as understanding lit his face, a moment later confusion colored it again. "Cooper knows it's a possibility?"
"I mean I didn't tell him," Kurt laughed, "But I wouldn't be surprised if Elliot did. I don't think they keep anything from each other any more and you know they are practically living with each other."
Blaine smiled, "Yea, I don't think I have been to Elliot's when Cooper hasn't been there. Kinda makes me regret moving Cooper's things into his apartment in the first place."
"So- what do you think?" Kurt asked, playing with Blaine's curls. "Can we tell them? I mean I don't want to tell Elster yet, not until we know that everything is okay. But Isabelle and Elliot have both been there from the start. It would be nice to have support if-"
Kurt couldn't finish the sentence but he knew that Blaine understood.
Blaine traced a heart over Kurt's ever growing stomach before saying with a goofy smile, "I can't wait to tell them either. Maybe we can invite them over for lunch tomorrow. I don't trust Elster not to eavesdrop, not when Elliot, Cooper and Isabelle are here. Almost all her favorite people in one spot, I don't think she could resist. Only thing that would make it worse is if Alfie and Laurel were here."
Kurt could hardly contain himself the next day. If Isabelle suspected anything upon his invitation she had the decency not to show it. It was Blaine's responsibility to invite his brother and Elliot. Kurt picked up their cafeteria order with Isabelle before the pair made their way to the Hummel house debating which students would choose their own classes next year.
"I'm sorry Isabelle but I think it was decided long ago that Alex was mine. They made the top grade in my class last rotation. They have an innovative mind when it comes to design."
Isabelle laughed, "And I am telling you they have a tech mind, you won't be able to satisfy them with fancy clothes."
"Fancy clothes?!" Did you really just call Hero costumes fancy clothes?" Kurt asked, scandalized.
"Maybe I should be the hero today and break this up." Cooper laughed, drawing both their attention to him before he added. "I mean I don't think the headmaster would be very pleased if two of his faculty members came to blows right here on campus."
Kurt sputtered, "But did you hear her Coop?"
"I did," Cooper said sympathetically, "maybe we can forgive her just this once if she promises not to say it again."
Isabelle could hardly contain her laughter, "Yes, I'm sorry Kurt I didn't mean to insult your- hero costumes."
Kurt knew she was a split second away from calling them fancy clothes again before thinking better of it. He decided to drop it and instead ushered them in the house. He busied himself setting out everyone's orders as they waited on Blaine and Elliot to arrive.
As they sat eating boisterous conversation filled the room and Kurt's heart swelled. This was what their child would grow up with, the environment Elster was already thriving in. He took Blaine's hand and squeezed it, sending a silent message to his husband. He wanted Blaine to tell them. He wanted to watch as his soulmate, the love of his life told a small part of their family their news. Blaine seemed to understand because as soon as there was a break in the conversation he cleared his throat drawing everyone's eyes to him.
Color painted Blaine's cheeks and a small smile graced his lips as he said, "We just wanted you three to know, Kurt's pregnant. We're going to have a baby."
For a moment you could hear a pin drop following his statement. Cooper's eyes widened, Isabelle's mouth fell open and Elliot's face broke out into a huge goofy grin.
"Kurt!" Elliot crowed, nearly leaping across the table towards him pulling him into a bone crushing hug as the others joined in the celebration.
"Elliot told you?" Blaine asked Cooper.
Kurt could feel Elliot tremble slightly before Cooper answered. "He let it slip when we came back from our trip. I was surprised but I couldn't be happier"
"Sorry," Elliot mumbled, finally releasing Kurt from his embrace. "I just wanted this so badly for the both of you."
Even if Kurt wanted to be mad, which he didn't, he couldn't have been as he saw the happy tears in Elliot's eyes. Kurt couldn't find his words, instead he hugged Elliot again, thanking fate for sending him such a good friend.
"When?" Isabelle asked.
Kurt laughed, "Seems like my stomach bug wasn't just a stomach bug after all. We've known a month but we couldn't keep it to ourselves any longer. We will tell Elster once we are through the first trimester."
Kurt was happy they told their friends. It made things easier when they had to ask them to watch Elster for Kurt's first doctor's appointment. They had the last appointment for the day only having to dismiss their classes a little early. As they had chatted with Dr. Brooks before heading to Chicago he had given them a list of trusted OBs in their area. Dr. Houghton had been at the top of their list. Her office was close to Dalton, she was highly recommended by Dr. Brooks and she had handled more than a dozen male births in her relatively short career.
Still as they waited hand in hand in her office, Kurt couldn't help the prickling of nerves once they started. The quizzical stares of the other occupants of the waiting room didn't help. Kurt tried to steady his breathing as Blaine's thumb soothed circles on his palm further calming him.
One by one the other couples around them disappeared into the back of the clinic to see one doctor or another. Soon, only Kurt and Blaine remained. When the waiting room door opened again Kurt wasn't surprised when the nurse called, "Misters Hummel?"
It almost felt like any other doctor's appointment Kurt had ever had before. They weighed him and took his vitals. The only out of the ordinary question being his last missed period, which he had had to approximate. He was a little surprised when the nurse had handed him a paper gown instructing him to change before she left the room.
He replaced his carefully chosen outfit to help conceal his pooch with the gown as instructed and sat carefully on the exam table, Blaine standing by his side holding his hand.
"Are you doing okay? Blaine asked, carefully watching his face.
Kurt nodded, "Nervous, excited. I just- I want everything to be okay."
Blaine lovingly kissed his forehead just as a knock sounded at the door. Blaine answered as Kurt took another cleansing breath.
"Mr. and Mr. Hummel, I'm Dr. Houghton, it is a pleasure to meet you. Dr, Brooks sent me your file and everything looks great on paper." She said, flipping through the chart in her hand.
She sat demurely on the stool and wheel herself closer. "Alright, since this is your first appointment. We are just going to do a quick exam and I can answer any questions you might have. Let's start by listening to your heart and lungs shall we."
Kurt's nerves dissipated as this was not unlike any other appointment he had ever had. It was unremarkable that is until Dr. Houghton said. "Alright Kurt, why don't you lie down and let's get a look at that baby of yours."
"Really?" Kurt asked, hardly believing they were going to get to see their baby so soon.
Dr. Houghton smiled at the hopeful sound of his voice. "We want to try and get as accurate a date as possible. If we are lucky all we will need is an abdominal ultrasound. However, if we can't get a clear picture we may have to do a vaginal one, though I understand under the circumstances why that may not be ideal. That is also why I will try to hold off on doing a pelvic exam unless it is needed."
Kurt swallowed before following the doctor's orders. She draped a paper sheet over his lap before pulling up his gown and reaching for the wand of the machine closest to her.
"This will be cold," she warned before squirting a gel just above the line of Kurt's briefs. Kurt watched the monitor anxiously squeezing Blaine's hand wishing he knew what she was looking for. Black and white blobs were all he could discern. The doctor smiled.
"See right there," She said pointing to a fluttering in the lower left side of the screen. "That is your baby's heartbeat."
And with a flick of a switch a rhythmic whooshing sound filled the room. "Nice and strong, that's what we like to hear." She kept flicking buttons clearly knowing what she was doing, but all Kurt could focus on was the first image of the life he and Blaine had created.
"Amazing," he heard Blaine whisper beside him.
All too soon the wand was removed from his stomach and the image disappeared. Before Kurt could be too disappointed she was handing him pictures he hadn't even known she had printed.
"Everything is looking just as we want it to. The baby is measuring right on target at around 10 weeks 2 days. Which puts your due date on May 12. I think we are safe to book your next appointment for 16 weeks. That will put us in a perfect spot to see you on the schedule we would like. Of course if you have any concerns please call the office and we will get you in as soon as we can. If you experience any bleeding call us on the way to the hospital, understood?"
They nodded in tandem. Once she was sure they didn't have any questions, she stood saying "Congratulations. We will see the 3 of you soon."
Kurt beamed at his husband before Blaine helped him off the table letting him get dressed again.
They had barely made it in the house before Elster was running up to them. "What took you so long," she pouted.
Kurt picked her up and held her close, still too giddy to hold back his smile. "We told you this morning we had an appointment," He reminded her.
"Why couldn't I come?" She whined, burying her head in Kurt's neck. His heart ached that she felt left out, that she couldn't share in their joy. He looked at Blaine in silent conversation as Elliot and Cooper entered from the kitchen.
Blaine nodded, and Kurt carried her to the couch. He looked over at his best friend and brother-in-law for a moment before focusing on his daughter.
"Papa had to go to the doctor," he began.
"Are you sick?" she asked, pulling back to look at his face. Kurt's heart broke seeing the worry in her eyes.
"No sweetheart. Papa's fine. We just wanted to be sure before we told you," Blaine said, taking her hand.
Elster's face scrunched in confusion.
Kurt smiled at her, "You're going to be a big sister. We're going to have a baby."
Kurt watched Elster's face as he told her. What he didn't expect was her eyes to well up with tears and her lip to start trembling.
"Elster, baby, what's wrong?" He asked before looking pleadingly at Blaine.
Her breathing hitched before she practically wailed, "are you going to send me away?"
"What? No honey we would never, never do that." Blaine said as Kurt tried to fight back his own tears.
"But if you are going to have a new baby then why do you need me?" She cried.
Kurt held her close, "That isn't how families work. We can love you and the new baby."
Kurt looked around the room, he didn't know what else to say to make Elster feel better. This wasn't the reaction he expected at all. Slowly Elliot approached.
"Hey El, can I ask you a question?" he whispered and suddenly her wet eyes were on him and she was nodding slowly.
"When you met Uncle Cooper, did you love me any less?" He asked.
Elster shook her head, "No, I like having you both around."
Elliot smiled at her, "And everyone is going to feel the same way about this new baby. We will love them just as much as we love you. See love is the best magic of all. It just keeps growing and growing every day. It never gets tired, and we don't even have to think about it. So don't you worry. Papa and Dad, and your Uncles, everyone else. We will all love you more and more each day even with the new baby. And I know you will love them too. You are going to be the best big sister this world has ever seen."
She looked at all the men in the room each in turn before she asked, "Is that true?"
"It's the truest thing I have ever heard." Kurt said quietly. "Nothing and I mean nothing in this world or any other could make me stop loving you. And I know everyone in the room feels the same."
"And we still have months and months before the new baby comes. For you to get used to the idea." Blaine added.
"So Christmas?" Elster asked, a sparkle returning to her eyes.
Kurt laughed, "Even longer than that. Not until almost the end of school."
To everyone's surprise she gave them the most incredulous look before saying, "You mean I'll almost be a 2nd grader? Everyone knows 2nd graders are big kids. I won't be a baby any more."
"Oh is that a fact?" Blaine asked.
"Dad of course it is."
"We have pictures," Kurt said to the room. "It's really hard to see what it is though."
Elster was unimpressed with the ultrasound pictures when Kurt showed them to her. Elliot and Cooper at least tried to pretend they understood what they were seeing.
"Why don't you run upstairs and wash up before we head to dinner?" Kurt suggested to her.
Once she was upstairs he turned to Elliot, "Thank you for what you said. I really didn't expect her to react that way. Although maybe I shouldn't be surprised. She has been through so much. Sometimes it is easy to forget."
"I don't know, maybe she has the right idea. Maybe little brothers aren't the best idea after all," Cooper teased.
Blaine playfully punched him in the arm. "Hey you have to admit I have come in handy. If it wasn't for me you never would have met Elliot."
Cooper pulled Elliot into his arms and kissed him on the forehead. "You're right baby brother, you brought me the love of my life so I guess you are good for something."
Kurt couldn't help but smile as Elliot blushed at Cooper's words. "I love our family and I can't wait for it to keep growing."
To everyone's surprise Elster's voice added as she came down the stairs. "Our family is going to be huge. A new baby and Uncle Cooper when you give Uncle Elliot the ring you said that then he would be a real real part of our family. It sure is a good thing that love is the best magic cause we are going to need a lot of it."
Everyone looked over at Cooper as he sputtered on the spot before saying, "Elster Colleen Hummel I told you that in the strictest of confidence. So why are you telling our secret"
"What? You said it was under the strictest of confidence, you never said it was a secret." She said with a shrug.
Kurt and Blaine tried valiantly to hold in their giggles but it was in vain when Elliot said with a cheshire grin, "I've told you before honey, you should choose your words more carefully when speaking to her. Now let's go to dinner and you can tell me about this ring."