The Sunday before classes begin found Blaine alone in the apartment with Bernadette.  Rachel was off shopping for everything she needed for her classes.  They have quickly discovered in the short time they have been in New York that it is much easier to shop without a baby – technically toddler? – in tow.  Blaine had his iPod on the deck and the sounds of his ‘Bernie’s’ playlist filled their small apartment.  Bernadette stood, bracing herself on the cushions of the couch, dancing (more like swaying to the music) when Aretha Franklin started playing.  Blaine walked over to his daughter and picked her up, bracing her with one arm, clutching her chubby first with the other, and began to dance to the music. 

Blaine began singing to his daughter to familiar tune “The moment I wake up, before I put on my makeup, I say a little prayer for you.  While combing my hair now, and wondering what dress to wear now, I say a little prayer for you..”  Blaine looked at his daughter who had her eyes clamped and was sporting an ear to ear grin that showed all (eight) of her teeth.  He had her head thrown back, hair bouncing from the motion as she laughed and laughed.  Blaine smiled at Bernadette, thanking whatever divinity there may be, for that beautiful little girl in his arms.  He remembered the first time he ever sang this song to her.

It was nearly 1am and the baby had been crying for over an hour.  She was inconsolable.  They had tried everything: feeding her, changing her, rocking her, driving her, putting her in her swing – nothing worked.  Rachel was sick so Blaine offered to take care of her downstairs while Rachel attempted to rest.  Blaine was exhausted and at the end of his rope, ‘Why won’t she stop crying?’ He asked out loud. ‘What is wrong?’  ‘She’s probably teething.’  A voice from the doorway mentioned.  Hiram stood leaning against the door.  ‘Take a look in her mouth.’  Blaine opened her mouth to see a little white nub trying to protrude from her bottom gums. ‘Here, give her some Tylenol, and maybe sing to her.’  Hiram handed him the infants Tylenol and headed back upstairs.  About ten minutes after giving her the Tylenol, she finally started to stop screaming as loudly.  ‘Forever and ever you’ll stay in my heart, and I will love you forever and ever, we never will part and how I love you. Together forever, it how it must be, to live without you would only be heart break for me—‘  The soothing tone of Blaine’s exhausted, yet still nurturing voice, seemed to call Bee down.  By the end of the song she just laid in his arms silently staring into her daddy’s eyes.

“I run for the bus dear, while riding I think of us dear. I say a little prayer for you. At work I just take time, and all through my coffee break time, I say a little prayer for you. Forever and ever you’ll stay in my heart, and I will love you forever and ever, we never will part and how I love you. Together forever, it how it must be, to live without you would only be heart break for me.  My darling believe me.  For me there is no one but you----“

*x*x*

Marley was finally all settled into the apartment she was sharing with Kurt.  Not that there was a lot of settling in to do, but she wanted to spend as much time as she could exploring the city before she had to start watching Bernadette and her classes began.  Also, truth be told, she wanted Kurt and Burt to spend as much quality time as they could together. It wasn’t often that they could spend a whole week together. 

She looked around her small room, it really felt like home.  Not that ‘home’ really felt like anywhere.  Her and her mother moved around a lot, going wherever there was a job.  The economy is tough and board of education budgets get cut first.  Sadly, after the arts, ‘extra’ jobs like the lunch lady.  This past year she lived in Lima Heights Adjacent in a tiny one bedroom apartment.  She had the bedroom while her mom stayed in the living room.  It wasn’t much, but it was what they could afford.  She was so grateful that Burt offered one of their spare rooms, now that both Kurt and Finn were out of the house for her. She would finally have a chance to save a get back onto her feet. 

She had her clothes laid out across her bed, ready to be ironed and hung for the week when Kurt walked in.  “Hey Marley, what are you up to?”

“Oh just ironing my clothes.  I am not going to have time to do it once Bernadette comes and I start my classes.”

Kurt eyed some of the clothes sprawled out on the bed and picks up one of the lose knit sweaters that laid folded and ready to be put in the drawer.  “Oh this is cute, I’m sure it looks great on you.  Who makes it?”  Marley sheepishly looked down at her feet.

“I don’t know.”  Kurt went to look at the tag, when the J Crew label fell out revealing the Faded Glory tag.

“Oh Marley, did your mom sew the J Crew tag over the Wal-Mart label?”

“Yea.”

“Why?”

“Because she wanted me to feel special, but she can’t afford special.”

“Oh honey, you don’t have to sew fake tags in your clothes to feel special.  There is nothing wrong with wearing clothes from Wal-Mart, you just have to make the most out of what you have.  Your clothes don’t make you special Marley, you make you special.  Don’t ever be embarrassed about not being able to afford designer clothes.  Your mother is a hard worker and you should be proud of where you came from and of who you are.”

Marley looked up at Kurt with a smile across her face.  “Thanks, Kurt.  Maybe sometime you can take me shopping?  Not where you shop – there is no way I can afford that.” She said waving her hands suggestively.  “But maybe Target.  I can be your project.”

Kurt’s face lit up.  “That is a deal my dear.”  Marley ran over and tackled Kurt with a hug.

“You’re the best.”

“I know, I know.  So tell me about your friends, the ones that moved here with the baby.”

Marley walked back over to continue ironing as she spoke.  “Oh Blaine and Rachel?  They are great.  Kurt – you would absolutely love them.  They are both ridiculously musically inclined. You think I can sing?  I think Rachel may be just a little bit better.” 

“Oh wow, if she’s better than you, she must be nothing short of amazing.”

“Mm hmm, and she’s going to NYADA!”

“Oh my goodness! Is she crazy?  NYADA and their hectic and busy schedules with a baby?  How is she going to do it?”

“If anyone can do it, it’s Rachel Berry.  Throughout her four years of high school she was the captain of 16 different clubs, lead soloists at glee, got pregnant, had a baby, and still managed to graduate top of her class with damn near a 4.0 GPA.”

“Shit.  I think I was wrong in this whole not-believing-in-God thing, I mean she’s obviously right there, a few blocks away.”  They both started laughing.

“Oh and Blaine can sing, play the piano, the guitar and he can dance.  He also treats Rachel like a queen.  I wish I could find a guy like him.  I only just met them this past school year, after Rachel had already had the baby, but from what I heard Blaine like worshipped the ground she walked on.  He’s such an amazing boyfriend.  Oh and just wait until you see him with Bernie.  Best dad ever, I think he may give your dad a run for his money.”

“Never, my dad is the greatest, it says so on the mug I gave him for Father’s Day.”  He replied cheekily.