Only Time, Chapter Fourteen.

14 Weeks.

The rest of Kurt’s fourteenth week of pregnancy passed in a whirlwind of classes and Warbler practice and collapsing straight into bed after his homework was done; the cycle only broken by his stomach giving sickening lurches at the most inopportune moments. The early days of that week had been the worst of Kurt’s life as he feared for not his own life but the life of the child growing inside of him.

The risk of expulsion from Dalton had left Kurt with fear and dread hanging over his head. Kurt had fled to Dalton from the bullies of McKinley who verbally and physically abused him. He could take all of that; it made him feel worthless sometimes but Kurt had never lost sight at the end of the tunnel, but Karofsky’s almost sexual assault had pushed Kurt over the edge after the bully had spent years making him feel like trash then using him in that way it had broken him.

At first Kurt’s transfer had felt like he was running; he was being a coward and taking the easy way out, but slowly he had realised that no it was no cop out, he simply shouldn’t have to put up with that treatment. After that realisation Kurt had settled perfectly into Dalton which he now considered home with his new friends, and of course his lover. Blaine built him up every day, and every day Kurt became happier in Blaine’s arms. Kurt felt even more courageous than ever; he was his old, strong self with Blaine. Blaine really did bring out the best in him and always encouraged Kurt to be nothing more or less than himself after he had begun to lock himself in his shell after Karofsky’s bullying.

This week Kurt had truly tasted fear. This fear was beyond that of walking around the corners of McKinley’s halls expecting a slushy in the face; this fear was beyond that of his father’s reaction to his sexuality; this fear was beyond that of his father never waking up after his heart attack; this fear was beyond that of Karofsky’s threat on his life after sexually assaulting Kurt. This fear was that of losing his child.

In that moment the disconnected feelings Kurt kept experiencing were gone from his mind when the threat of expulsion was placed over his head. In that moment all he could think of was his child. The jocks often pushed Kurt into lockers, tripped him up in the corridors, or even tossed him into dumpsters on some of the worst days back in freshman year. Now Kurt was not scared for his own physical safety but that of the life growing inside of him and his only instinct in that moment was to do everything in his power to protect that life. Those shoves, pushes and throws terrified him because the life he was protecting was so fragile he feared losing his baby.

Kurt and Blaine got very little time to themselves for the rest of the week as it sped by in a haze. When you don’t want something to come time has a nasty habit of speeding up and soon it was Friday afternoon which meant Kurt and Blaine were going to spend the weekend at the Hummel household, skipping Warbler practice, only after clearing it with Wes of course, who waved them off after hearing about the fiasco earlier in the week, though fiasco was and understatement in Kurt and Blaine’s opinion. Very little time to themselves meant they had each spent the week worrying about this weekend. So maybe Burt hadn’t been angry when he was called into the school but there had been little time to discuss everything and so the two boys feared having to sit down in front of Kurt’s father and talk.

Arriving at the Hummel-Hudson household Blaine took Kurt in his arms when they exited the car. Even though the two boys had barely a chance to talk this week they both knew how the other was feeling. “It’s going to be okay, Kurt. Remember, your Dad didn’t get mad, I know you’re nervous to talk to him about all of this properly but I promise it’s going to be okay and I will be right beside you.” Blaine whispered soothingly into his love’s hair. “Are you ready?” Blaine asked softly taking Kurt’s hand while the taller boy could only nod.

Kurt felt nauseous, queasy, and this time he was sure it had nothing to do with the morning sickness that it seemed didn’t only happen in the mornings. Kurt had never been scared or anxious around his father since he came out but all of those feelings returned as he and Blaine walked hand in hand up the driveway, suitcase trailing behind them dragged by Blaine. Kurt fumbled with his keys in the front door, his hands shaking with nerves, but Blaine didn’t get agitated or try and take the keys to do it himself, he merely rubbed soothing circles in the small of Kurt’s back.

That was one thing that always kept Kurt grounded; kept him sane.  Blaine never tried to take control unless he knew Kurt needed him too. Blaine would always be right there if Kurt needed him but would never make Kurt feel like a helpless child because Blaine understood him much his independence meant to Kurt. Their relationship was based upon trust always and they trusted each other to know when they needed something done for them or when they needed to support only their love could provide. Kurt and Blaine would support and encourage each other no matter what.

For example today; Blaine knew this was Kurt’s day to build up that courage and face what had been one of his biggest fears of late. Blaine kissed the back of Kurt’s neck as the key finally twisted in the lock and they stepped over the threshold. For a moment Kurt’s body seemed to physically relax before the sound of Burt’s voice rang out through the house “Kurt, Blaine, ‘s that you?” Kurt tensed up again; anxiously awaiting his father to mention the conversation he wanted to have with both himself and Blaine.

“I love you” Blaine whispered quietly to Kurt before Burt and Carol appeared in the hallway from the lounge. “Boys” Carol greeted them with a loving smile as always, pulling them into a hug. To both Kurt and Blaine Carol had become a mother figure; Kurt had taken some time to adjust to his father’s new wife, yes they had gotten along swimmingly since day one but only recently had she really became a mother figure rather than a friend. As for Blaine, well, his own family weren’t the most loving and open of people where as Burt and Carol were there for their boys no matter what; Blaine had learned this when he had very first met Kurt and throughout the progression of the Karofsky incident, then when Kurt and Blaine officially became a couple he had been welcomed with open arms into the family and felt more accepted within an instant than he ever had with his own parents in his entire lifetime.

“How are you boys?” Carol asked moving out of the hug; first ruffling Blaine’s curls, which had been washed out of their gel confines shortly before they left Dalton that afternoon, then pressing the back of her hand to Kurt’s forehead. “You look peaky honey I want you to make sure you eat properly at dinner” she observed in her motherly tone with a knowing smile. It was clear from Carols demeanour that she was happy for the boys, it was Burt they were worried about because in their eyes he could have quiet easily just been trying to keep the peace after the fiasco earlier in the week.

Burt leaned in and put a hand on Kurt’s shoulder. “We’ll talk after dinner, okay, Finn is spending the night at Puck’s after family dinner.” Kurt nodded with a gulp; the presence of his Father’s warm hand on his shoulder was a comforting weight steadying him, though Kurt was still very much on edge anticipating the talk.

Thankfully Burt and Carol had very much kept their word and clearly hadn’t mentioned a word about the baby to Finn who was completely oblivious to the tension hanging in the air that radiated from the nerves surrounding Kurt and Blaine. The two kept purposefully brushing hands beneath the table in the only comforting gesture they could manage during a meal without attracting attention, though it seemed Carol noticed what they were doing. Damn that perceptive woman Kurt thought to himself. However Kurt was too nervous to eat properly and ended up eating very little and pushing his food around his plate and she would send him knowing looks and scowls trying to silently encourage him to eat more. Kurt was too nervous to even think about eating for the baby’s sake which he knew he had to do because the doctor had told him the throwing up would deprive him of much needed nutrient’s for the baby’s growth.

“Well guys, I'm off to Pucks now” Finn announced getting up from the table with a clatter “I’ll be back in the morning Mom” Carol got out of her seat too and chuckled “Finn, honey, I have known you your whole life and I know you will not be awake ‘til noon, especially because I'm betting you boys will be awake way past midnight playing video games. Just let me know if you aren’t going to be back by tea time” Carol kissed her son on the check and he blushed but waved  genially to the three men left sat at the table who called out their own “goodbye’s” and soon the sound of the front door slamming echoed in the kitchen- diner. Carol began to clean off the families finished meal and Kurt and Blaine moved to help her out as usual but she waved them off “go settle in the lounge with your Dad, I’ll be through soon” she nodded with an encouraging smile which Kurt returned weakly.

Kurt and Blaine clasped hands as they headed to what felt to them like their doom.