AN: I don't have much experience with kids so I based childKurt on the little brother of a kid I'm tutoring.

The chapter is a bit shorter, because I wanted to put each year of Kurt's past in a separate chapter.

CHAPTER 2: Year One

2002/2003

Lima, OH, August:

"No Burt, I've already told you three times that Kurt doesn't want to come down to Texas to learn horse back riding. You should know by now that he doesn't like anything that involves dirt." Elisabeth was pacing the living room floor while she was on the phone with her now ex-husband.

They had filed for divorce soon after Burt had moved out and the paper work had gone through two weeks ago. For the last few weeks, Burt had tried to convince her to send Kurt to Texas, instead of the theater camp he wanted to go to. "School is going to start soon as well, so if you're actually interested in spending some time with your son – I don't mean pawning him of to some ranchers – you can come up here. Kurt's camp is going to put on a production on their last day."

"You know I can't come up to Ohio. I just got started at the shop here. And if I want to take it over any time soon, I can't just up and leave every time Kurt is in some silly show."

I bet you'd come if it were a sports game, Elisabeth thought, though she didn't say it out loud. No need to get into another fight about Kurt's hobbies or lack thereof. "Fine, can you at least give him a call when you find time in your busy schedule? And it would be nice if you could come up here, some time before Thanksgiving. He misses you."

The line went quiet for a few seconds. "I miss you guys too. I gotta go. I call you when I know if I can come up anytime soon." Elisabeth threw the phone onto the couch sighing. She had honestly though things would be easier if Burt became an only-every-other-month-dad. But he still didn't even try to find time to spend it with his son.

Austin, TX, November

He really had planned to fly up to Lima to spend Thanksgiving with his ex-wife and his son. But the timing was just, let's say, not ideal at the moment. Burt had finally gotten his own shop, and much, much sooner than he thought he would.

Two weeks ago Frank had had a heart attack, right in the very shop Burt Hummel was now a proud owner of. With the stress of the funeral and legal procedures involving the shop he was just swamped. Telling Lizzy he wouldn't be able to make it, was not going to be fun. Man up Hummel, he told himself. He sat down in his new office and picked up the phone. A high voice greeted him.

"Hey there buddy. Is your mom home?", he asked his son. "Mom's at work. She got a new job as a choir teacher," Kurt proclaimed proudly over the phone. "And she left you home alone." "I'm not a baby, I can take care of myself. Even when you were still home I was alone a lot because you were working too much."

Wow, Burt didn't know that nine year olds could sound so accusatory. "Right, of course you can take care of yourself. Now listen buddy, the reason I called is that I can't make it to Thanksgiving. Uncle Frank just past away and I have to take care of things here. But I promise to come up for Christmas. Can you tell your mom that?" " You promise?" The voice sounded tiny again. "I promise."

Lime, OH December

Christmas that year was strange. Burt had stuck to his word and had flown up the week before Christmas. To keep things from getting weird he had decided to stay with one of his buddies again. He took Kurt sleighing and even though he knew his son wasn't a fan – at least this time they were both trying.

Later that night, Lizzy reminded him that Kurt was a child and shouldn't have to try. Their job as parents was to love their child just the way he was instead of trying to change him. Not wanting to get into a fight so close before Christmas eve, he took Kurt to some weird ice revue thingy. He had to admit, seeing his son light up with glee as he watched men and women in tight costumes dance on ice, put a smile on his face too.

After the initial awkward start, they quickly fell into a routine, with Burt spending time with Kurt while Lizzy was at work. Mostly he let the kid do what he wanted to do and stayed out of the way. Christmas Day, they opened presents in the living room and Kurt was quick to hide his frown as he got yet another toy car – a replica of Burt's first car. Lizzy shot him a look at that, but otherwise the Christmas holidays went by without any big incidents.

When it was time to say goodbye, Kurt threw himself into Burt's arms and told him he was going to miss him. Burt, never one to really be affectionate with people awkwardly patted his son's back and made his way back to Texas.

Austin, TX, February

"And the teachers won't do anything. I mean there's this kid who pushes Kurt off the swings pretty much everyday in recess and all I get is boys will be boys." Lizzy was complaining over the phone. "Maybe next time you're up here you can talk to the school."

"I don't think he's wrong. Kurt's gotta learn to fight back. Otherwise, the kids will just continue to make fun of him." Burt didn't see what the big deal was. Boys were always roughhousing on playgrounds.

He and his friends hadn't been any different. Not in middle school, not in high school. You always went for the people who wouldn't fight back to assert your own status. He just didn't want his own son to be one of the weak ones. Kurt was already different. At least he could fight back and show them what Hummel men were like.

Elisabeth interrupted his train of thoughts. "He shouldn't have to learn how to fight. School should be a safe place for all children and parents like you are the reason why kids like the ones who push Kurt around thinks it's okay to do that to classmates. If you're not going to help, I'll let you get back to your cars."

"I talk to Kurt." "With that attitude, I'd rather you don't. He already has enough people in his life who put him down, he doesn't need his father to do the same thing."

Lima, OH, May

Kurt came bouncing into the kitchen where Lizzy was backing a cake for his birthday party. Elisabeth smiled at him. It was rare to see her son that happy and he was only turning ten. "Is dad here yet? Mercedes and I learned a new song and I want to show him when he gets here. It's really awesome. We even made costumes to go with it."

"That's great honey. Your dad is outside manning the grill with Paul." Kurt frowned. Paul was his mom's new friend, but it was like he wanted to be Kurt's friend too. He always brought him gifts. Games for the gameboy his dad had gotten him during his last visit. His friend Mercedes always said that the good thing about having divorced parents was getting a lot of gifts, but Kurt couldn't see what was so good about that. He never got gifts he actually wanted.

"Why don't you go outside and show your dad your song," Elisabeth encouraged, trying to distract herself from the fact that her current boyfriend was talking to her ex. Kurt ran downstairs to his room and put on the costume he had made with Mercedes, then skipped back upstairs excited to show his dad what he had learned.

When he was done both man clapped politely and his dad ruffled his hair. Kurt huffed. His performance should have warranted a standing ovation, not just some polite clapping. He was about to go back inside when he heard his name. Mom's new friend was talking about him. He didn't know what most of the words meant but they didn't sound nice. And his dad just stood there and didn't even defend him. Before he could stop it, tears were streaming down his face and he ran into the kitchen, throwing himself into his mom's arms.

"Honey, what's wrong? Are you hurt?" Elisabeth asked the crying boy in her arms. What could have happened to Kurt? Judging from his outfit he had just been outside, giving a performance. Elisabeth loved Kurt's performances. Her child was talented and so she fully supported his tap dance and voice lessons.

"Mom, what's a fag?", Kurt asked in a small voice once he had calmed down a little. Elisabeth was shocked. Kurt hadn't even started middle school and kids were already calling him names? "Where did you hear that word, honey?" she asked anxiously?

"You're friend Paul told dad, that if he didn't watch out I would become one of those fags. And it didn't sound nice when he said it. And dad said there wasn't much that he could do because I was living with you and you make me soft. I like living with you. Please don't send me away. Please." Kurt was crying again, clinging to his mom.

Elisabeth caught Paul's eye who was frowning at the display. "Kurt why don't you go downstairs and prepare a little show for me while I go talk to your dad. And Kurt, that wasn't a nice word and I don't want you to ever call someone that. Do you understand?" Kurt nodded and ran out of the room.

Elisabeth took a deep breath. She knew Kurt was different than other little boys. She had her suspicions. But Kurt was still a child and deserved a safe environment and it was her job as a mother to make sure their home was such a safe place. She squared her shoulders and marched outside to the grill. After calmly telling Paul to leave and not come back, she turned to Burt.

"What the hell is wrong with you? This is Kurt's home. It's supposed do be a safe place for him, especially after all the crap he already has to go through at school and you say things like that in front of your son!" If it hadn't been for the neighbors, Elisabeth would be shouting by now. How dare her ex say stuff like that about his own son? He was supposed to love him, unconditionally.

"Lizzy, calm down. I'm sorry that Kurt heard, but if you keep encouraging his behavior his going to hear it a lot more in the future. If you wouldn't cater to his every whim, letting him do all that girly stuff we wouldn't have this problem."

"Kurt is not the problem. I'm not the problem. The problem are bigoted people like you, who can't even accept their own children. Kurt's ten for Christ's sake. Who knows if he's gay or not? It shouldn't matter. At least not to us. And if you can't deal with it, I don't want you coming back until you find a way to keep your bigotry to yourself and behave like a father."

She didn't give him a chance to defend himself, and went downstairs to watch one of Kurt's shows. Kurt was special, and one day, she was sure, everyone would be able to see that. Later when she went back upstairs, both Paul and Burt were gone.

Next up: Pre-teen Kurt.