Dec. 17, 2017, 6 p.m.
Come Hell Or High Water: Week 26 - Love, Love, Love
T - Words: 2,527 - Last Updated: Dec 17, 2017 Story: Closed - Chapters: 28/? - Created: Apr 29, 2015 - Updated: Apr 29, 2015 202 0 0 0 0
Hi guys! Despite this busy time of year, Im still trying my best to keep these updates coming! I have just under a month before classes start and Im determined to finish before then! Stay tuned...
"Papa Hummel is here!" a familiar voice announced when the front door swung open.
"Dad!" Kurt threw himself into his fathers arms. "Its so good to see you! I missed you so much!"
"Grandpa!" Belle rushed over and hugged him. "Did you bring me any presents?"
"Belle," Kurt said sternly.
With a serious expression, Burt said, "Your fathers right. You cant expect gifts every time I come."
"Dad, do you want some tea?" Kurt moved toward the kitchen.
"No, thanks," Burt said. Behind him, Kurt heard his father mumble, "Heres ten bucks."
"Dad," he turned on his heel, hands on his hips.
Burt shrugged, "What? I love the kid. Besides Caroles bringing up the real present. Just dont tell her about the money."
Belle giggled, "Dont worry, dad. Ill put this away and save it for college."
"For what? Barbie University?" Kurt smiled.
"Good idea," she said, heading toward her bedroom.
When Belle disappeared, Burt said, "Hows she doing?"
Kurt sighed, "Can we step out here and talk?" He motioned toward the fire escape. He stepped out and Burt followed. Kurt grabbed the rail and said, "Dad, I just dont know how to help her. Shes... better but she still needs time to heal."
"I know how you feel," Burt nodded.
"No, you dont," Kurt said.
Turning to face him, Burt said, "How do you think I felt when your mom died? A boy losing his mother is not an easy thing to deal with. I didnt even know how to handle my own grief. How was I supposed to handle yours?"
"I didnt think about that," Kurt said quietly.
"You were devastated. I didnt know what to do. You know when that changed?"
"No," Kurt whispered, shaking his head.
"Christmas morning. You hung up that bottle of perfume like an ornament. It was the first time I saw you smile since she left us," Burt grabbed his hand. "You kept looking at it all day but you started to enjoy yourself. You had her on your mind but you were able to have a decent Christmas, despite how hard that day was."
"I remember," Kurt said.
Squeezing his hand, Burt said, "I started going back to normal routine. We both missed her like hell but we tried to pick up the pieces. Go about our normal lives like nothing had happened, even though we knew it had."
"So you think we should pretend it didnt happen?" Kurt asked.
"No, because it happened. Just like you will always miss your mom, Belle will never forget what happened." Burt paused, "But you have to push her forward. Encourage her. Dont forget to live. Where would you and I be if we never moved on?"
"You wouldnt be married," Kurt said.
"Youre right about that," Burt said. "If you dont move forward, Belle will always be afraid of the outside world."
"Dad, Im afraid of the outside world," Kurt met his eyes. "Im so afraid something will happen to. I cant lose my little girl again."
Taking a deep breath, his father said, "Thats something you have to get over too. There are always going to be risks. You could ask yourself what if someone else tried taking her. What if she got into a car accident? What if she had cancer? What if she falls in love with someone that isnt right for her? What will happen to her when you and Blaine are gone? You just cant spend your life worrying, Kurt. You have to let her live and you have to enjoy the moments you have with her before you are stuck in a tough situation." He gave Kurt a reassuring smile. "Everything you do for her is out of love. These types of fears are natural and I know they arent things you want to think about. All you can do is love her and support her. Give her the best life you can right now."
Love for his father consumed him. This was the reason their relationship was so pure. Burt always knew just what to say. Kurt hugged his father and said, "Thank you, dad. I needed to hear that."
"I know you did," Burt smiled weakly. "Because I had to learn the same thing watching you grow up. I couldnt worry about why you were different. I couldnt let my own cancer stop me from knowing youd be okay without me."
"Youre the best thing thats happened to me," Kurt whispered. He hugged his father again. "I never would have gotten through school without you. I never would have gotten through this without you. I love you so much."
"I love you too, son," Burt pulled back. Clapping a hand to his shoulder, he said, "I once believed wed never move forward after your mom and we did. Youre going to get through this, Kurt,"
"Thanks dad," Kurt smiled.
"Now lets get back inside. Carole is probably done chatting with the cab driver," he turned back to the apartment.
"Look what Grandma got me!" Belle rushed forward. She handed Kurt a small box.
Opening it, Kurt smiled, "Belle, these are beautiful!" He brushed her hair behind her ear, "They arent real, are they?"
"Theyre just clip ons but I thought the bell earrings would look cute for our shining Belle as she walks down the aisle to wedding bells," Carole said. She walked toward Kurt and gave him a hug. "Hi sweetie, its so good to see you."
"I didnt expect you to be here too," Kurt kissed her.
"Your dad got anxious to get up here. I was still getting my bags out of the cab," Carole chuckled. "Rachels a part of our family. We wouldnt miss it for the world."
"More like chatting with the cab driver," Burt mumbled.
"Rachel will be thrilled," Kurt smiled.
"How is the bride?" Burt asked.
Shrugging, Kurt said, "Nervous. Everythings going well though."
"When is my grandson getting here?" Burt asked.
"Relax, dad. Shes still got a little ways to go," Kurt said. "Ive got dinner in the oven. We could invite Rachel and Sam over. Blaine should be home soon. He had a few errands to run."
"That would be great," Burt replied.
Dialing his phone, Kurt couldnt help but smile. It felt so good to have his family together again.
"It seems like just yesterday you and I were getting married," Blaine said, fixing Kurts bow tie.
"I know. What an eventful time that was," Kurt smiled. "So much happened in that year."
"It was a hard time but it led me to you, and I wouldnt change that for anything," Blaine placed his arms around Kurts neck. "Have I ever told you how much I love you?"
"Remind me," Kurt whispered.
Gently pressing his soft lips to Kurts, Blaine moved his right hand to cup Kurts cheek. It felt so natural, so right.
Kurt deepened the kiss. He closed his eyes, placing his own arms around Blaines waist. "I love you so much," he whispered in between kisses.
"We havent done this enough,," Blaine moved his lips down to Kurts neck.
"Should I stop my wedding so you two can have sex or...?" Sam entered the room.
Embarrassed, Kurt backed away from Blaine and said, "Sorry, Sam."
"Rachels asking for you," Sam said to him. "Were just about ready."
Kissing Blaine one final time, Kurt turned to Sam and gave him a hug, "Good luck. Take a deep breath."
"Thanks," Sam said quietly.
Kurt left the room and headed down the hallway. He found Rachel sitting in a chair with her head in her hands. She was crying. It made his heart feel heavy. Kurt walked over to her and knelt in front of the chair. "Rachel..." he started.
"I dont want to hear it," she sniffed. "This is all wrong. I dont know what Im doing."
"I dont believe that," Kurt took her hands and pulled them from her face. "Rachel, you love Sam and he loves you. How could you have doubts about that."
"I dont have doubts about S-Sam," she hiccuped. "Its just that... I have doubts about... about me. Im not meant for this, Kurt. Im not the type of girl who gets her dreams. Im not the type of girl that wins."
Taking her face in his hands, Kurt wiped a tear from her cheek, "Rachel, there is a man standing in the other room waiting for you to become his wife. You did win. You have Sam."
"What if he regrets it?" Rachel said.
"Why would he? Hes been living with you for so long. He knows you almost as much as I know you. You are worth it," Kurt said.
"How do you know?" she met his eyes.
"Because youre my best friend. Youre Rachel Berry. You shine brighter than any star in the sky. Youre beautiful and talented." Kurt smiled, "If I wasnt gay or in love with Blaine already, Id marry you."
She gave a weak smile, "Thats not an option?"
"No, but I promise that Sams your next best option," Kurt said and she chuckled."
"I know youre right. If Sam didnt want to be here, he wouldnt be." Taking a deep breath, she said, "Im just scared, Kurt. Everythings happening so fast."
"You think I dont know that?" Kurt said. "Do you know how quickly I went from thinking Dylan was the one to marrying Blaine? I almost ran before our wedding. I thought I must be crazy to marry someone I had only met a few months earlier when I had known Dylan forever."
"And look how that turned out," she said. "Do you regret what happened between you, Dylan, and Blaine?"
"Not for a second because I knew when I met Blaine that he was the one," Kurt squeezed her hand. "Rachel, you have two options. You can either go through with this or you can walk away. No one is making you do this."
"I love Sam," she whispered. "But I loved Finn and Blaine too."
"Finn is gone and Blaine was always gay. Those were good reasons that things didnt work out. But Sam is here. Sam has been here. Dont wait until its too late."
Using the arms of the chair to push herself up, she gave Kurt a tight hug. "You are truly the greatest person I know, Kurt Hummel."
"I had a feeling," he joked.
"And youre sure I cant marry you?" she nudged him.
"No but its time to decide if youre going to marry Sam. Are you coming with me?" Kurt held out a hand to her.
Hesitating, Rachel took his hand and followed him into the hallway.
Taking a deep, steadying breaths, Kurt glanced at his notes, before looking up at the crowd of people staring st him.
"Um Hi," he started. "So I wrote a speech for this but I think it doesnt do Rachel justice, so Im gonna wing it."
He glanced at Blaine, who gave him a thumbs up. "Okay," he reassured himself. "So Rachel Berry and I met in high school... in glee club of all places. We didnt really like each other at first, then we became friends. She tried to marry my brother and then we moved to New York. Things were always sort of complicated between us. We dont have a normal friendship. We fought for solos, we shared experiences Ill never forget. We laughed, we cried. And I always knew our friendship was special. Weve always told each other that were soulmates... Thats never changed."
He looked at Rachel, who had tears in her eyes, and had to fight back his own. "Things really got complicated when I started dating her boyfriend unintentionally and she ended up pregnant with his baby. I thought I would die. Those few months were hard complicated but they gave me the greatest gift: my family.
"The day Belle was born, She, Rachel, Blaine, and myself became a family. A strange one but a family," he took Rachels hand. "Ive seen Rachels shares of ups and downs. She recently told me that she felt like she never got to reach her dreams... but she has. She has family, she has this city, broadway, her potential. Above all that, she has Sam.
"Ive known Sam almost as long as Ive known Rachel. He has become Blaines best friend, Rachels love, a father to Belle, and a member of my family." He smiled at Sam. "If you had asked me when we met if I thought Rachel and Sam could ever get married, I would have said hell no. I knew Rachel was supposed to be with my brother... But through all of our trials and tribulations along the way, were here at their wedding. I couldnt be happier for the two of you. Im grateful to officially welcome you into our family, Sam Evans."
Applause followed this and Kurt wiped his eyes. He gave Rachel a hug that Sam joined, followed by Blaine and Belle. He closed his eyes, taking in the embrace of his family.
Kurt felt lighter than he had in a long time. It felt so good and so right to have his family and friends together. It felt great to have a reason to celebrate for a change.
That feeling only grew stronger when Santana announced over the microphone, "And now its time for the father-daughter dance."
"You go dance with your dads for this one but save me a special dance later,, okay?" Sam said to Belle.
"Deal," Belle rushed over to where Kurt and Blaine sat. "So whos gonna dance with me?" she smiled.
"Why dont we dance together?" Blaine stood up and took Kurts hand. With his other hand, he grabbed Belle and moved to the middle of the restaurant.
"This was such a nice small space to rent out for the evening. Just enough for a small wedding," Kurt said. "Im so glad Rachel went through with it."
"Me too," Belle wrapped her arms around Blaines waist. Kurt took Blaines hands in his and together the three of them moved around the small space.
Nearby, Rachel danced with Leroy. Will Schuester danced with his daughter. Given that the rest of the wedding party was mostly made up of glee club members, they were the only ones on the floor.
As Kurt, Blaine, and Belle attempted to move across the floor, Kurt gazed into his husbands eyes and smiled. For the first time since Belle has been home, his heart felt complete. Here before him, were the two people that mattered most to him. Together. Safe.
"Lets get away next week," Kurt stated.
"What?" Blaine chuckled.
"Sam and Rachel are going to be gone next week. Summer is here. We have our family. Belle needs some normalcy in her life. Lets just get away as a family." Kurt squeezed Blaines hand. "We could all use a stress free week."
"What about work?" Blaine asked.
"Take off," Kurt said. "Look, we only have so much time with Belle before the summer ends and the baby gets here. Our jobs have been so understanding about our issues. Lets just get away."
"Where did this come from?" Blaine asked.
"I just want Belle to get out of the apartment. To go somewhere and have fun," Kurt said.
As the song came to an end, Blaine stood there with Belles arms still wrapped around his waist. He stared into Kurts eyes, "Okay, well do it."
"Really?" Kurt asked.
"Why not?" Blaine smiled. He pulled Belles hair out of her face and over her shoulder, "We need some time with just the three of us."
"I love you," Kurt kissed him softly, grateful that his husband was so understanding..
"I love you too," Blaine smiled.