Friends and Family

                            Chapter 21 – Surprise Visitors

Joey arrived a few hours ago to help out with the children on their first day together in the apartment. He is currently sitting on the couch reading a story to Emma so she will stay relatively quiet while Elizabeth is taking her afternoon nap in her crib. Blaine and Kurt are busy in the kitchen preparing more formula as well as making a list of things they need to do within the next few days when the doorbell rings. Kurt walks quickly to the door and opens it. He looks at the people in front of him and a huge smile suddenly appears on his face. “Oh my God Dad, Carol what are you doing here? I am so surprised to see you!” Kurt says as he hugs his parents and invites them into the apartment. “I can't believe you are here.” Kurt says totally in shock as Blaine comes to greet his future in-laws. “I am so happy you are here.” He says wanting to introduce Joey to Burt and Carol when the doorbell rings again. Blaine moves quickly to get the door before it rings again and wakes the baby. He opens the door and is shocked to see his parents standing in front of him. “Hi” is all Blaine can say before he is his their arms. “I am so glad to see you. This is a wonderful surprise.” Blaine says as he brings his parents into the apartment as Kurt quickly comes over to greet Tom and Angela Anderson. “We are so glad you are here.” Kurt says as he takes their coats and ushers them into the living room. “Everyone, I would like you to meet Joey Hill, my brother. Blaine says as he watches the faces of his family. The parents all know about Joey but this is the first time they have ever met him. “Hi everyone, I am happy to meet you. I have heard a lot about you from Blaine and Kurt.” Joey says while having an almost two year old squeeze behind him to hide being very leery of these four loud adults she has never seen before.

They all go and sit in the living room so the boys can find out what is going on. Tom begins by saying. “After hearing the news about your new family your Mom and I decided we were going to take a few days off and have a long weekend in New York. We called Burt and Carol and asked if they would like to join us for the weekend to see our grandchildren. They happily agreed and here we are until Sunday afternoon.” Tom says with a smile on his face. “We checked into our hotel rooms and then came over here.” Burt says as he adjusts his baseball cap. “Well we can't think of a better surprise. We were talking earlier about how much we were looking forward to you meeting the girls.” Kurt says excitedly as the day he has dreamed about is going to happen now. “Emma, come here little one.” Blaine says as he holds his arms out for Emma. She moves from behind Joey and climbs down off the couch as she heads to Blaine. He hears the Grandparents say “Aww” as she runs to Blaine and jumps into his arms hiding her face. He turns her so she is facing the adults when he proudly says. “I would like to introduce you to Emma Ann Green. Emma I want you to meet your Grandma and Grandpa Anderson and Grandma and Grandpa Hummel. Can you say hi?” Blaine says as he picks up Emma's hand and waves it. “Hi” Emma says as she tries to hide her face. “Bwaine dwink pwease.” Emma asks softly. Burt picks up her practice cup off the end table and says. “Emma, can you come here?” Emma sees her cup and slides down Blaine's lap and runs over towards Burt with her hand up and takes the cup and starts drinking as she leans against Burt. He slowly picks her up and says. “She is adorable Blaine.” Burt says as Emma has succeeded in wrapping her new Grandparents around her little finger. “How old is she?” Angela asks. “She will be two in a few months. Blaine says as he watches Emma do her magic with Burt. “Does she know Blaine?” Tom wonders asking the question everyone wanted answered. “Kurt and I told her that her Mom is gone but she doesn't understand. She will call for her Mother every now and then but she has pretty much been her happy little self, which is good because that has helped us get through the grief.” Blaine says as everyone's attention is suddenly turned towards the baby monitor. Sounds can be heard coming for this little box that has everyone interested in the person responsible for the noises. Carol says excitedly. “I think someone is awake.” Kurt stands up and says. “I'll go and check on her. I'll be right back.” He walks to the girl's room. “Hey there sweetie, there are some special people in the living room who want to meet their granddaughter.” Kurt tells Elizabeth as he checks her diaper. After getting her ready for her big entrance Kurt carries her down the hall to the living room and proudly announces. “Everyone, I would like to introduce you to Elizabeth Lindsey Hummel-Anderson.” He says as he walks slowly over to his Father and places her in his arms. “She's beautiful Kurt. Look at those blue eyes and the curly hair.” Burt says as he touches he soft face. Blaine walks back into the living room with a bottle in his hand. “Do you remember how to do this?” Blaine asks Burt as he hands him her bottle after checking the temperature of the formula. “She is a good eater.” Carol says as she watches Burt feed her granddaughter. “Blaine, you guys have decided on your last name. You are going with Hummel-Anderson.” Tom notices. “Yes, we finally did. What do you think?” Blaine asks. “It sounds good to me.” Tom says proudly. How can the baby already have your last name though?” Tom whispers confused to Blaine. “Lindsey had this all preplanned. She wasn't sure she would make it so she had all her wishes ready to go into effect as soon as she died. One thing she did was to put my name down on the birth certificate as the Father. Since she died before she could name the baby Kurt, Joey and I got the honor of naming her. She got our last name because my name was listed as the Father.” Blaine explained. “Is there a possibility that the biological father will contest the paternity?” Tom asks. Blaine explains the story of Elizabeth's biological father and family. “I doubt there will ever be a problem. Besides I don't even know his name.” Blaine says as he stands to take the bottle from Burt since Elizabeth finished it. “Burp time” Burt says. “Joey” both boys say in unison. “Got it” Joey says as he stands up and walks toward Burt and picks up Elizabeth. “Joey is Elizabeth's official burper because he is an expert at it.” Kurt says and the Grandparents quickly understand as a loud burp can be heard throughout the apartment. “Blaine, let's call Finn and Rachael and invite them over and we can order some pizzas and we can enjoy our family's first dinner together.” Kurt suggests.

Soon the apartment is filled with pizza, wine, laughter and music. Emma is entertaining her Grandfathers with her dancing skills. Rachael is telling Carol and Angela all the latest news and gossip from Broadway as well as telling them about her role in Funny Girl. Finn and Joey are having an epic video game match while Blaine and Kurt are holding Elizabeth and watching their family enjoying each other's company. “Can it get any better than this?” Kurt asks Blaine. “I don't think so. We need to remember and cherish this night Kurt. Maybe we should have this picture burnt into our minds so we will never forget it.” Blaine says smiling at the sight he sees. “Oh oh, someone needs to be changed.” Blaine says and before he can say another word Carol and Angela came over and took the baby girl and they are gone. “Boys, good luck ever getting her back, you have just become the latest victims of Grandmotherly love. There is no cure so get used to it for the rest of their lives.” Burt and Tom tell the boys with knowing smirks as they leave the boys to comprehend what they had just been told. The boys look at each other puzzled, wondering what just happened.

“Hey guys, got a minute, I need to talk to you about Lindsey's Memorial.” Joey asks as he sees the boys by themselves. “Sure, what's up?” Blaine asks looking at Joey. “I just got a call from the funeral home telling me that I can pick up Lindsey's ashes tomorrow. Instead of a Memorial I want it to be a Celebration. I want it to be a celebration of Lindsey's life. I want to have it under the oak tree in Central Park Friday around 2 o'clock. I know Lindsey requested that her ashes be scattered under the oak tree but instead of scattering her ashes I want to dig a small hole near the oak tree and place all her ashes in the hole. I think it would be nice if the girls had a place they could go to knowing she is there, a place where they could sit and talk to their Mother and we could sit and talk to her. What do you guys think?” Joey asks. “I think that is a wonderful idea.” Blaine says as Kurt shakes his head agreeing with the decision. “Lindsey didn't know a lot of people so I suggest we keep the Celebration small. I would invite the people that are here right now and maybe her friends from work.” Joey thought. “She really only hung around me so I think the people in this room would be perfect.” Blaine says. “We will let them know before they leave.” Kurt says as he touches Joey's shoulder reassuring him that he is doing a good job and he is not alone. “Alright, if this is decided Kurt and I need to get two little girls ready for bed.” Blaine says as he enters the living room and picks up Emma, giggling all the way to the bathroom as Kurt checks on the Grandmothers and Elizabeth.

Carol and Angela had Elizabeth bathed, diapered, dressed in her pajamas and drinking her bottle in record time. After a while Emma finally ran back into the living room followed by a damp looking Blaine. “Did you take a bath too?” Tom asked teasing his son as everyone started to laugh at the sight. “She splashes Dad. I'll let you have the honor of giving her a bath tomorrow night.” Blaine tells his Father with a smile. The sleepy girls are being held by their Grandmothers when after a few minutes the girl's eyes are becoming heavy and starting to close. The boys explain about Lindsey's Celebration service Saturday and to no one's surprise the girls are sleeping sounding after their big day. Blaine and Kurt carry the girls to their bedroom. Kurt gently places Emma down on her bed and covers her up while Blaine lies Elizabeth down on her back in the crib and covers her with a blanket. They kiss their daughters on their cheeks whispering to them goodnight and leave the girls to sleep.

When the boys return to the living room the food has been put away and the apartment has been picked up and the guests are getting ready to leave. “We are heading to our hotel for the night. We know you guys are going to need some rest.” Burt says. “We will come back tomorrow so if you guys need to run any errands or take care of any business we can watch the kids.” Angela says. “That's really nice of you. We may take advantage of the offer.” Blaine replies as the guests are leaving. The boys close the door to their apartment for the night and look at each other. They quickly start walking hands entwined.

A few seconds later the boys can be found standing in the doorway of their daughter's room, holding each other with smiles on their faces as they watch their children sleep.