When I Grow Up to be a Man
Title: When I Grow Up to Be a Man
Pairing: Kurt/Blaine
Other CharactersBurt POV, plus brief appearances from Carole, Finn, and Rachel
Rating: PG
Word count: 3500+
Warnings: none
Spoilers: none
Disclaimer:Glee is not, never has been, nor ever will be mine.if it was, Blaine would be a damn senior with Kurt.
Summary: “It's just...he's my baby boy, Carole, “ Burt tried to explain around the lump in his throat, fighting the tears that were threatening. “He's all I had for a very long time, and I feel...I feel like I'm losing him.”
Author's note:Welcome back to the Hummelson!verse! Oh my god, I know, I've been gone forever, school has definitely gotten in the way. Unfortunately (or fortunately for you depending how you look at it) an illness has caused me to withdraw for the quarter so now i don't have anything better to do than to devote my time to getting this puppy out, so who knows? you could be seeing a lot of me through December.
Also, for the purposes of this story and verse, Blaine is not/never was a junior. He's In Kurt's grade, they graduated together and they're getting the apartment in New York. Rachel is still close by though. oh and I'm sticking with my whole Kurt going into fashion instead of the performing arts, because, well I'm not changing my whole verse just because season three has completely jossed it.
If interested, you can find the rest of the Hummelson!verse here on my masterlist but I don't think it's absolutely necessary to read the whole verse to understand this story.
I'm an idiot. of course many many many thanks goes to my fabulous, patient, and completely understanding beta callmerayray without whom this story would not be possible. well it would, but you'd be drowning in a sea of misplaced and unneeded comas and capitalization's.
When I Grow up to be a Man
“Kurt, where do you want this one?” Burt called out as he entered the small New York apartment with a large box labeled 'bedroom'. The problem Burt was having was that it wasn't labeled which bedroom it was supposed to go to. It wasn't even labeled 'Kurt bedroom' or 'Blaine bedroom' like the boxes that were 'Kurt clothes' and 'Blaine Clothes' were.
Kurt peered around the corner where he was unpacking the kitchen items with Carole, looking exasperated.
“Dad, how many times do I have to tell you? Anything labeled 'Kurt clothes' goes in the small bedroom, otherwise, if it isn't labeled kitchen, bathroom or living room, it goes in the master bedroom!”
Burt leveled his eyes at his son. “I get that, but what I don't get,” Burt continued as he set down the heavy box before approaching his son with his arms crossed. “Is why there's nothing but clothes going into your bedroom.”
Kurt sighed heavily as he unpacked the newly purchased Pyrex mixing bowls and rolled his eyes. “Because, Dad,” Kurt huffed as if it should be obvious. “It's not my room and Blaine's room, it's our room and my closet.”
Burt's eyes shot up.
“Hold up, young man. When I agreed to you two getting this apartment together, you said nothing about you guys sharing a room.”
Kurt crossed his arms and cocked a hip impatiently, shooting a look over at Carole for help, who was loading groceries into the fridge.
Carole just raised an eyebrow at him as if to say “Don't bring me into this”, and continued stocking the fridge.
“Dad, I'm almost 19, I don't need your 'permission' to live with my boyfriend, let alone to sleep in the same room as him.”
Burt's eyes narrowed. “Call me old fashioned, but in my day we got married before moving in together.”
“Dad, you're being a hypocrite!” Kurt cried incredulously. “You and Carole were gonna live together before getting married.”
Carole's head popped up over the fridge door and stared he husband down, clearly telling him with that look “He's right you know.” Burt just ignored his wife.
“It's an entirely different situation.”
“Oh yeah? How so?” Kurt had completely abandoned his unpacking and stood there in the middle of the kitchen, arms crossed with a look that said he was going to challenge anything Burt said.
“Because Carole and I are adults and you're still my little boy!” Burt roared.
Burt was vaguely aware of a shuffling movement behind him, and broke his hard gaze with his son just for a moment to see Blaine standing in the doorway, heavy box in hand, gaping at the argument taking place before ducking his head and falling back to the bedroom, clearly uncomfortable and unwilling to get in between the two Hummel men.
Burt turned back toward his son, who's lips were pursed, and eyes furrowed in stubbornness and frustration.
“Fine,” Kurt said shortly. “Blaine!”
Burt wasn't fooled into thinking his son was giving in or agreeing with him in any way. Instead, he was duly wary of Kurt's sudden cry and determined stance.
Blaine entered the room cautiously, looking as if he'd rather do anything but get in the middle of an argument between his boyfriend and said boyfriend's father. Burt was slightly amused at that. Although Blaine had for the most part become part of the family and was usually very comfortable around him he was pleased to know that he could still intimidate him as his boyfriend's father.
“Kurt, I'd rather not get into an argument between you and your father.”
“No problem, love,” Kurt said, smiling sweetly at Blaine, all traces of annoyance with his father gone instantly at Blaine's reappearance. “Argument's over.” Kurt walked over and kissed his lips softly, chastely, then linked his arm with Blaine’s and gave a tug toward the door.
Blaine looked dubious. “And we're going where?”
“To City Hall.”
“Why?” Blaine asked sceptically.
“To get married,” He answered breezily with a shrug of his shoulders.
The next moment was pure pandemonium. Carole dropped the milk she was putting away, cracking the plastic and spilling milk all over the floor, while Burt roared in outrage at his son's sudden announcement. Blaine paled and just stared at his boyfriend.
When Burt had sufficiently calmed down (meaning he wasn't calm at all but had at least managed to control the starts and stops of expletives that kept trying to weasel their way out) Blaine calmly turned toward his boyfriend.
“Kurt, sweetheart, it's not that I don't love you, or don't want to marry you someday. I do. You know I do, but don't you think we should wait till we're ready?”
Kurt's face, which had been surprisingly relaxed a second before, hardened as he turned and glared pointedly at his father.
“Well, ideally yes, but my father is insisting on being old fashioned, wanting us to be married before we live together so...”
“That's not what I meant and you know it, Kurt!” Burt roared, struggling to keep calm.
“Well what do you want, Dad?” Kurt said, impatiently. “Breaking up with Blaine is not an option, and it makes absolutely no sense for us to have separate apartments. One of them would be sorely neglected. ”
And there it was. As close to an admission from Kurt as he would ever get that he was in fact sleeping with his boyfriend. It's not like Burt didn't know. He had suspected as much for a while now, but to hear his son actually put it into words...his baby boy was having sex. Burt couldn't quite deal rationally with this information.
“I'm not ready to get married yet, dad, but I will if it's the only way to keep Blaine and make you happy,” Kurt said, his voice softening.
“Kurt, I...” Burt started but was suddenly interrupted by a loud argument coming from the adjacent apartment.
“Rachel, you don't have to do this!”
“Finn, I told you! I told you last year that this couldn't be long term!”
“Why? We love each other!”
“I know, but I need to focus on my dreams now!”
“Rachel, please don't.”
“Please, Finn just go....”
“But...”
“Please, don't make this even harder than it already is...”
The occupants of the Anderson/Hummel apartment froze, all knowing they shouldn't be listening in on Finn and Rachel's breakup, but not really knowing how not to. An awkward silence filled the apartment, their own disagreement temporarily forgotten as they listened to Finn and Rachel's tear filled argument.
Suddenly, the yelling stopped, a door slammed, and Finn was rushing into the apartment, furiously pushing tears from his eyes.
“Finn...”Blaine started, but Finn just shook his head.
“I'm fine, I don't want to talk about it,” he said before disappearing into Kurt and Blaine's room, slamming the door.
Carole moved to go comfort her son, but Kurt beat her to it. “Let me, Carole.”
Carole looked uncertain, and Burt knew that she wanted nothing more than to hold her son while he cried. He would be hard pressed not to do the same thing if it was Kurt's heart breaking.
Kurt though looked determined to be the one to talk to his brother, and Carole finally relinquished, stating that she probably should clean up the mess in the kitchen anyway.
Blaine touched Kurt on the shoulder before he headed to the room. “I'll make sure that Rach is okay then...” and with that the two boys departed, leaving the adults alone.
Burt wandered into the kitchen, gently touching his hand to Carole's shoulder as she mopped up the milk.
“He's going to be fine Carole. A broken heart, it sucks, but sometimes you just have to go through it. And Finn's a strong kid. He'll get past this.”
Carole sighed heavily. “I know, Burt, it just seems like his heart is broken more often than not. And by the same girls....Finn just loves so easily. I wish he would just find a girl who's not going to drag him through the mud for once.”
“He will. It might take some time, but he will.”
Carole gave a half smile to her husband. “Kurt's going to be okay too, you know. He and Blaine have a solid relationship, which is quite remarkable for their age. You don't have to worry so much about him.”
Burt leaned against the counter, a heaviness settling in his heart. “I'm being unreasonable, aren't I?”
Carole chuckled softly. “Well, maybe a little bit, but I have a feeling this more has to do with the fact that you're not ready to let him go yet, rather than your disapproval of their living situation.”
“It's just...he's my baby boy, Carole, “ Burt tried to explain around the lump in his throat, fighting the tears that were threatening. “He's all I had for a very long time, and I feel...I feel like I'm losing him.” Burt lost his fight and the tears broke loose in great racking sobs.
“Oh, honey.” Carole swept Burt into her arms and let the grown man sob into her arms. She held him close stroking his back comfortingly as she spoke softly. “You're not loosing him, Burt. I know it can feel that way with him moving so far away, but Kurt loves you so much. Nothing, not a fancy new life in New York, or his relationship with Blaine or any one else is ever going to change that.”
Burt pulled away, wiping at his eyes but let Carole stay close, rubbing soft comforting circles on his back as she listened. “I know, I know it's just...gonna be hard, not seeing him every day. I guess I'm not ready for my little boy to be grown up yet. And his moving here, getting his own apartment with his boyfriend? Everything about him just confirms that he's not my little boy any more.”
“Burt, honey, I don't care how big or independent they get, our children will always be our little boys to us. I think it's just the nature of being a parent,” Carole chided.
“Yeah, but it's not the same. This is going to sound horrible, but at least when he was in high school and getting picked on everyday, I could still be there for him. I had something to fight for, for him. I could protect him. Now? He fights for himself. He protects himself. And when it's too much for just him, it'll be Blaine he turns to, and not me. And it breaks my heart.”
“Daddy!” Burt's head snapped up at the sound of his son's broken cry to see him standing at the entrance, tears forming at the corner of his eyes. Kurt rushed to him, throwing his arms around his neck. Burt clutched his son to him closely and the two cried softly. He was vaguely aware of his wife leaving the kitchen at some point, presumably to go check on her son, giving the two some privacy.
“Dad,” Kurt whispered hoarsely, once his tears had slowed some, the two continuing to cling to the other, “I promise I'll never stop needing you. Never.”
Burt felt himself coke up again at that. Kurt pulled away to look at him, wiping away the tears.
“I mean it, Dad, yes I have Blaine to go to, but it's not the same. No one could ever replace my relationship with you.”
Burt nodded wordlessly, wiping away a stray tear.
“Besides,” Kurt said, chuckling suddenly, “Someone's going to have to console me after Blaine and I have a fight.”
Burt gave a watery laugh at that. “You and Blaine fight? Didn't know that was even possible.”
Kurt rolled his eyes. “Of course we fight, or are you forgetting the great 'I might be bi' debacle?”
“Kurt, that was over two years ago.”
“Well, we fight. Maybe not often, but we've had other arguments since then. We're not perfect you know.” Kurt paused for a second before amending. “Well, we're almost perfect, but we do disagree from time to time, and I'll need you to talk to when that happens.” Kurt shrugged. “Actually I'll need to talk to you, no matter what the reason.”
Burt wrapped an arm around Kurt's shoulders and pulled him into his side, giving him a hug. “You call me anytime, Kurt. For what ever reason. I'll always be here for you, son.”
Kurt wrapped his arms around Burt's waist. “Of course.”
“And Kurt, I'm sorry about before,” Burt explained. “Really, I'm not so old fashioned that I expect you and Blaine to live like monks. I guess I was just living in my own happy fatherland, blissfully ignorant of my son’s...activities with his boyfriend. But if you guys are being safe, he's treating you right, and you truly love each other, you know I have no objections. I like Blaine, I think he's good for you, and you for him. Plus, he's been around so often it already seems like he's my own.”
“Yeah?” Kurt asked looking up at Burt, still holding onto him.
“Yeah. You wanna keep him around for awhile, that's okay with me.”
Kurt gave him a playful swat. “Good to know I have your approval,” he said half mockingly.
Burt laughed and wiped his eyes one last time before finally letting his son go.
“Why don't I finish getting the rest of your things up from the truck so we can get your apartment set up shall we?
“Yeah, that sounds good,” Kurt agreed and with a final hug the two busied themselves in the moving activities.
~
The truck was unloaded, the kitchen and bathroom set, Carole and Finn were still holed up in the master bedroom, Kurt was busy organizing his closet, and Burt was in the middle of assembling Kurt and Blaine's new entertainment system when Blaine finally trudged in from Rachel’s. He collapsed on the couch with a sigh.
“God, next time when given the choice between Finn and Rachel, I'm taking Finn,” he moaned, throwing his arm over his eyes.
“You sure about that?” Burt chuckled dryly. “Finn wouldn't even let Kurt through the door, and Carole’s been consoling him for the last couple of hours.”
“Beats two hours of 'I love him so much, Blaine, but I just don't see how it can work'.” Blaine lifted his arm to look at Burt. “Honestly, they knew this from the beginning, I don't get why they chose to continue a relationship when they knew it it only hurt more in the end.”
“Well, let me ask you something, Blaine,” Burt asked carefully, setting down his tools to look at the boy that he instinctively knew would one day be his son-in-law. “If you knew how your and Kurt's relationship was supposed to end, and it was going to end in a lot of hurt and pain and heart break, and there was no way around that, would you walk away before all that could happen, or would you stay with Kurt and soak up every second you could with him before it inevitably ends?”
Blaine pondered that for awhile before conceding. “I'd stay with Kurt. It would hurt either way and I’d want every chance I could with him.”
Burt smiled softly. “That's what I thought, kid.” Burt turned back to the entertainment center and continued to build before Blaine interrupted his work once more.
“Burt, about earlier, I swear, I’d never come between you and Kurt and if you're uncomfortable with our living situation...”
“It's okay, Blaine.” Burt smiled at him. “Kurt and I already talked about it. I don't expect you guys to get married or live in separate apartments, or bedrooms.” Blaine chuckled and Burt did as well before getting serious. He got up from his spot on the floor and settled on the couch across from Blaine. He studied Blaine for a minute, while the boy fidgeted slightly under his gaze.
“Blaine, I'm going to be straight with you. I'm not thrilled that you and Kurt have that kind of relationship. I really don't like the way I found out about it either. It's not that I haven't suspected. There's a shift that happens after a couple has been intimate for the first time, and looking back, if I’m being honest, I’d say that happened after your trip to Cincinnati. Am I right?”
Blaine looked down for a second, a blush stealing over his face, but he composed himself and looked at Burt directly in the eyes when he said, “Yes, Sir.”
Burt was ready for it really. He never really expected the boys to come back from a weekend alone and not to have done something, and the way they had looked at each other after coming back and every day since then was so full of love and trust he didn't see how they could not have progressed their relationship to the next level. It saddened him, though that his son felt he had to hide that fact from him.
He let out a slow breath. “Well, at least I know for sure now.”
“Mr. Hummel,” Blaine said seriously, “You have to know how much both Kurt and I respect you, and taking our relationship to the next level had nothing to do with disrespecting you or wanting to sneak around. I do respect you, and I promise you that your wishes and rules didn't just get thrown out without a second thought.” He took a deep breath and steadied himself.
“But I also respect Kurt and his wishes, and I respect our relationship. If this relationship is going to last, Kurt has to be my first priority. He matters so much to me, Mr. Hummel. I know you know how special he is, because I know you wouldn't want anything to ever hurt him, you told me that yourself, and I promise you that I definitely have never or would ever hurt Kurt in any way and that includes making him do something he isn't ready for. I promise that it was both of our decision, and that we were, have been and will continue to be safe.”
Blaine's ramble ended and Burt watched as the boy's eyes widened a little at the end, as if he just realized the magnitude of what he just said to his boyfriend's father.
“Blaine, stop panicking, it's okay,” Burt consoled, reaching out and clapping Blaine on the shoulder, leaving it there. “I appreciate your honesty, however late, and that you spoke to me about it man to man.” As soon as Burt said it, he realized it was true. It wasn't just his little boy that was growing up. Blaine wasn't a boy either. He was a man.
“And since you're not a boy, and neither is my son, god help me, please know that I can't, nor do I desire to stop you and the decisions you two make, and also that I trust both of your judgments as men.” Burt choked up on the word men a little. Kurt was a man. And so was Blaine. Dear Lord, he didn't think he was ready for this. But he had to be. He had to be okay with his little boy growing up and moving away and finding a family of his own. And looking at Blaine sitting before him, he didn't think he could find anyone more perfect for Kurt to start a life with.
Blaine nodded, looking a bit teary eyed as well. “Thank you, Mr. Hummel.”
Burt took a deep breath before squeezing Blaine's shoulder a bit and saying, “Blaine, you're not a kid any more. There’s no need for the formality. Call me Burt.”
Burt didn't see the tears of happiness fall from his son's face as he quietly watched his father and boyfriend embrace as if old friends, happy to know that his dad was truly coming to terms with his life decisions. All he saw was the tear filled eyes of a man he was coming to think of as his own flesh and blood before his arms were filled and he was being embraced as well as embracing.
Through a tear streaked voice he heard Blaine's muffled “Of c-course, Burt,” before he lost himself in the hug, confident that although it hurt like hell, his boy...man- no, Kurt would always be a little boy in his mind despite being a man- would be okay.
The End
Pairing: Kurt/Blaine
Other CharactersBurt POV, plus brief appearances from Carole, Finn, and Rachel
Rating: PG
Word count: 3500+
Warnings: none
Spoilers: none
Disclaimer:Glee is not, never has been, nor ever will be mine.if it was, Blaine would be a damn senior with Kurt.
Summary: “It's just...he's my baby boy, Carole, “ Burt tried to explain around the lump in his throat, fighting the tears that were threatening. “He's all I had for a very long time, and I feel...I feel like I'm losing him.”
Author's note:Welcome back to the Hummelson!verse! Oh my god, I know, I've been gone forever, school has definitely gotten in the way. Unfortunately (or fortunately for you depending how you look at it) an illness has caused me to withdraw for the quarter so now i don't have anything better to do than to devote my time to getting this puppy out, so who knows? you could be seeing a lot of me through December.
Also, for the purposes of this story and verse, Blaine is not/never was a junior. He's In Kurt's grade, they graduated together and they're getting the apartment in New York. Rachel is still close by though. oh and I'm sticking with my whole Kurt going into fashion instead of the performing arts, because, well I'm not changing my whole verse just because season three has completely jossed it.
If interested, you can find the rest of the Hummelson!verse here on my masterlist but I don't think it's absolutely necessary to read the whole verse to understand this story.
I'm an idiot. of course many many many thanks goes to my fabulous, patient, and completely understanding beta callmerayray without whom this story would not be possible. well it would, but you'd be drowning in a sea of misplaced and unneeded comas and capitalization's.
When I Grow up to be a Man
“Kurt, where do you want this one?” Burt called out as he entered the small New York apartment with a large box labeled 'bedroom'. The problem Burt was having was that it wasn't labeled which bedroom it was supposed to go to. It wasn't even labeled 'Kurt bedroom' or 'Blaine bedroom' like the boxes that were 'Kurt clothes' and 'Blaine Clothes' were.
Kurt peered around the corner where he was unpacking the kitchen items with Carole, looking exasperated.
“Dad, how many times do I have to tell you? Anything labeled 'Kurt clothes' goes in the small bedroom, otherwise, if it isn't labeled kitchen, bathroom or living room, it goes in the master bedroom!”
Burt leveled his eyes at his son. “I get that, but what I don't get,” Burt continued as he set down the heavy box before approaching his son with his arms crossed. “Is why there's nothing but clothes going into your bedroom.”
Kurt sighed heavily as he unpacked the newly purchased Pyrex mixing bowls and rolled his eyes. “Because, Dad,” Kurt huffed as if it should be obvious. “It's not my room and Blaine's room, it's our room and my closet.”
Burt's eyes shot up.
“Hold up, young man. When I agreed to you two getting this apartment together, you said nothing about you guys sharing a room.”
Kurt crossed his arms and cocked a hip impatiently, shooting a look over at Carole for help, who was loading groceries into the fridge.
Carole just raised an eyebrow at him as if to say “Don't bring me into this”, and continued stocking the fridge.
“Dad, I'm almost 19, I don't need your 'permission' to live with my boyfriend, let alone to sleep in the same room as him.”
Burt's eyes narrowed. “Call me old fashioned, but in my day we got married before moving in together.”
“Dad, you're being a hypocrite!” Kurt cried incredulously. “You and Carole were gonna live together before getting married.”
Carole's head popped up over the fridge door and stared he husband down, clearly telling him with that look “He's right you know.” Burt just ignored his wife.
“It's an entirely different situation.”
“Oh yeah? How so?” Kurt had completely abandoned his unpacking and stood there in the middle of the kitchen, arms crossed with a look that said he was going to challenge anything Burt said.
“Because Carole and I are adults and you're still my little boy!” Burt roared.
Burt was vaguely aware of a shuffling movement behind him, and broke his hard gaze with his son just for a moment to see Blaine standing in the doorway, heavy box in hand, gaping at the argument taking place before ducking his head and falling back to the bedroom, clearly uncomfortable and unwilling to get in between the two Hummel men.
Burt turned back toward his son, who's lips were pursed, and eyes furrowed in stubbornness and frustration.
“Fine,” Kurt said shortly. “Blaine!”
Burt wasn't fooled into thinking his son was giving in or agreeing with him in any way. Instead, he was duly wary of Kurt's sudden cry and determined stance.
Blaine entered the room cautiously, looking as if he'd rather do anything but get in the middle of an argument between his boyfriend and said boyfriend's father. Burt was slightly amused at that. Although Blaine had for the most part become part of the family and was usually very comfortable around him he was pleased to know that he could still intimidate him as his boyfriend's father.
“Kurt, I'd rather not get into an argument between you and your father.”
“No problem, love,” Kurt said, smiling sweetly at Blaine, all traces of annoyance with his father gone instantly at Blaine's reappearance. “Argument's over.” Kurt walked over and kissed his lips softly, chastely, then linked his arm with Blaine’s and gave a tug toward the door.
Blaine looked dubious. “And we're going where?”
“To City Hall.”
“Why?” Blaine asked sceptically.
“To get married,” He answered breezily with a shrug of his shoulders.
The next moment was pure pandemonium. Carole dropped the milk she was putting away, cracking the plastic and spilling milk all over the floor, while Burt roared in outrage at his son's sudden announcement. Blaine paled and just stared at his boyfriend.
When Burt had sufficiently calmed down (meaning he wasn't calm at all but had at least managed to control the starts and stops of expletives that kept trying to weasel their way out) Blaine calmly turned toward his boyfriend.
“Kurt, sweetheart, it's not that I don't love you, or don't want to marry you someday. I do. You know I do, but don't you think we should wait till we're ready?”
Kurt's face, which had been surprisingly relaxed a second before, hardened as he turned and glared pointedly at his father.
“Well, ideally yes, but my father is insisting on being old fashioned, wanting us to be married before we live together so...”
“That's not what I meant and you know it, Kurt!” Burt roared, struggling to keep calm.
“Well what do you want, Dad?” Kurt said, impatiently. “Breaking up with Blaine is not an option, and it makes absolutely no sense for us to have separate apartments. One of them would be sorely neglected. ”
And there it was. As close to an admission from Kurt as he would ever get that he was in fact sleeping with his boyfriend. It's not like Burt didn't know. He had suspected as much for a while now, but to hear his son actually put it into words...his baby boy was having sex. Burt couldn't quite deal rationally with this information.
“I'm not ready to get married yet, dad, but I will if it's the only way to keep Blaine and make you happy,” Kurt said, his voice softening.
“Kurt, I...” Burt started but was suddenly interrupted by a loud argument coming from the adjacent apartment.
“Rachel, you don't have to do this!”
“Finn, I told you! I told you last year that this couldn't be long term!”
“Why? We love each other!”
“I know, but I need to focus on my dreams now!”
“Rachel, please don't.”
“Please, Finn just go....”
“But...”
“Please, don't make this even harder than it already is...”
The occupants of the Anderson/Hummel apartment froze, all knowing they shouldn't be listening in on Finn and Rachel's breakup, but not really knowing how not to. An awkward silence filled the apartment, their own disagreement temporarily forgotten as they listened to Finn and Rachel's tear filled argument.
Suddenly, the yelling stopped, a door slammed, and Finn was rushing into the apartment, furiously pushing tears from his eyes.
“Finn...”Blaine started, but Finn just shook his head.
“I'm fine, I don't want to talk about it,” he said before disappearing into Kurt and Blaine's room, slamming the door.
Carole moved to go comfort her son, but Kurt beat her to it. “Let me, Carole.”
Carole looked uncertain, and Burt knew that she wanted nothing more than to hold her son while he cried. He would be hard pressed not to do the same thing if it was Kurt's heart breaking.
Kurt though looked determined to be the one to talk to his brother, and Carole finally relinquished, stating that she probably should clean up the mess in the kitchen anyway.
Blaine touched Kurt on the shoulder before he headed to the room. “I'll make sure that Rach is okay then...” and with that the two boys departed, leaving the adults alone.
Burt wandered into the kitchen, gently touching his hand to Carole's shoulder as she mopped up the milk.
“He's going to be fine Carole. A broken heart, it sucks, but sometimes you just have to go through it. And Finn's a strong kid. He'll get past this.”
Carole sighed heavily. “I know, Burt, it just seems like his heart is broken more often than not. And by the same girls....Finn just loves so easily. I wish he would just find a girl who's not going to drag him through the mud for once.”
“He will. It might take some time, but he will.”
Carole gave a half smile to her husband. “Kurt's going to be okay too, you know. He and Blaine have a solid relationship, which is quite remarkable for their age. You don't have to worry so much about him.”
Burt leaned against the counter, a heaviness settling in his heart. “I'm being unreasonable, aren't I?”
Carole chuckled softly. “Well, maybe a little bit, but I have a feeling this more has to do with the fact that you're not ready to let him go yet, rather than your disapproval of their living situation.”
“It's just...he's my baby boy, Carole, “ Burt tried to explain around the lump in his throat, fighting the tears that were threatening. “He's all I had for a very long time, and I feel...I feel like I'm losing him.” Burt lost his fight and the tears broke loose in great racking sobs.
“Oh, honey.” Carole swept Burt into her arms and let the grown man sob into her arms. She held him close stroking his back comfortingly as she spoke softly. “You're not loosing him, Burt. I know it can feel that way with him moving so far away, but Kurt loves you so much. Nothing, not a fancy new life in New York, or his relationship with Blaine or any one else is ever going to change that.”
Burt pulled away, wiping at his eyes but let Carole stay close, rubbing soft comforting circles on his back as she listened. “I know, I know it's just...gonna be hard, not seeing him every day. I guess I'm not ready for my little boy to be grown up yet. And his moving here, getting his own apartment with his boyfriend? Everything about him just confirms that he's not my little boy any more.”
“Burt, honey, I don't care how big or independent they get, our children will always be our little boys to us. I think it's just the nature of being a parent,” Carole chided.
“Yeah, but it's not the same. This is going to sound horrible, but at least when he was in high school and getting picked on everyday, I could still be there for him. I had something to fight for, for him. I could protect him. Now? He fights for himself. He protects himself. And when it's too much for just him, it'll be Blaine he turns to, and not me. And it breaks my heart.”
“Daddy!” Burt's head snapped up at the sound of his son's broken cry to see him standing at the entrance, tears forming at the corner of his eyes. Kurt rushed to him, throwing his arms around his neck. Burt clutched his son to him closely and the two cried softly. He was vaguely aware of his wife leaving the kitchen at some point, presumably to go check on her son, giving the two some privacy.
“Dad,” Kurt whispered hoarsely, once his tears had slowed some, the two continuing to cling to the other, “I promise I'll never stop needing you. Never.”
Burt felt himself coke up again at that. Kurt pulled away to look at him, wiping away the tears.
“I mean it, Dad, yes I have Blaine to go to, but it's not the same. No one could ever replace my relationship with you.”
Burt nodded wordlessly, wiping away a stray tear.
“Besides,” Kurt said, chuckling suddenly, “Someone's going to have to console me after Blaine and I have a fight.”
Burt gave a watery laugh at that. “You and Blaine fight? Didn't know that was even possible.”
Kurt rolled his eyes. “Of course we fight, or are you forgetting the great 'I might be bi' debacle?”
“Kurt, that was over two years ago.”
“Well, we fight. Maybe not often, but we've had other arguments since then. We're not perfect you know.” Kurt paused for a second before amending. “Well, we're almost perfect, but we do disagree from time to time, and I'll need you to talk to when that happens.” Kurt shrugged. “Actually I'll need to talk to you, no matter what the reason.”
Burt wrapped an arm around Kurt's shoulders and pulled him into his side, giving him a hug. “You call me anytime, Kurt. For what ever reason. I'll always be here for you, son.”
Kurt wrapped his arms around Burt's waist. “Of course.”
“And Kurt, I'm sorry about before,” Burt explained. “Really, I'm not so old fashioned that I expect you and Blaine to live like monks. I guess I was just living in my own happy fatherland, blissfully ignorant of my son’s...activities with his boyfriend. But if you guys are being safe, he's treating you right, and you truly love each other, you know I have no objections. I like Blaine, I think he's good for you, and you for him. Plus, he's been around so often it already seems like he's my own.”
“Yeah?” Kurt asked looking up at Burt, still holding onto him.
“Yeah. You wanna keep him around for awhile, that's okay with me.”
Kurt gave him a playful swat. “Good to know I have your approval,” he said half mockingly.
Burt laughed and wiped his eyes one last time before finally letting his son go.
“Why don't I finish getting the rest of your things up from the truck so we can get your apartment set up shall we?
“Yeah, that sounds good,” Kurt agreed and with a final hug the two busied themselves in the moving activities.
~
The truck was unloaded, the kitchen and bathroom set, Carole and Finn were still holed up in the master bedroom, Kurt was busy organizing his closet, and Burt was in the middle of assembling Kurt and Blaine's new entertainment system when Blaine finally trudged in from Rachel’s. He collapsed on the couch with a sigh.
“God, next time when given the choice between Finn and Rachel, I'm taking Finn,” he moaned, throwing his arm over his eyes.
“You sure about that?” Burt chuckled dryly. “Finn wouldn't even let Kurt through the door, and Carole’s been consoling him for the last couple of hours.”
“Beats two hours of 'I love him so much, Blaine, but I just don't see how it can work'.” Blaine lifted his arm to look at Burt. “Honestly, they knew this from the beginning, I don't get why they chose to continue a relationship when they knew it it only hurt more in the end.”
“Well, let me ask you something, Blaine,” Burt asked carefully, setting down his tools to look at the boy that he instinctively knew would one day be his son-in-law. “If you knew how your and Kurt's relationship was supposed to end, and it was going to end in a lot of hurt and pain and heart break, and there was no way around that, would you walk away before all that could happen, or would you stay with Kurt and soak up every second you could with him before it inevitably ends?”
Blaine pondered that for awhile before conceding. “I'd stay with Kurt. It would hurt either way and I’d want every chance I could with him.”
Burt smiled softly. “That's what I thought, kid.” Burt turned back to the entertainment center and continued to build before Blaine interrupted his work once more.
“Burt, about earlier, I swear, I’d never come between you and Kurt and if you're uncomfortable with our living situation...”
“It's okay, Blaine.” Burt smiled at him. “Kurt and I already talked about it. I don't expect you guys to get married or live in separate apartments, or bedrooms.” Blaine chuckled and Burt did as well before getting serious. He got up from his spot on the floor and settled on the couch across from Blaine. He studied Blaine for a minute, while the boy fidgeted slightly under his gaze.
“Blaine, I'm going to be straight with you. I'm not thrilled that you and Kurt have that kind of relationship. I really don't like the way I found out about it either. It's not that I haven't suspected. There's a shift that happens after a couple has been intimate for the first time, and looking back, if I’m being honest, I’d say that happened after your trip to Cincinnati. Am I right?”
Blaine looked down for a second, a blush stealing over his face, but he composed himself and looked at Burt directly in the eyes when he said, “Yes, Sir.”
Burt was ready for it really. He never really expected the boys to come back from a weekend alone and not to have done something, and the way they had looked at each other after coming back and every day since then was so full of love and trust he didn't see how they could not have progressed their relationship to the next level. It saddened him, though that his son felt he had to hide that fact from him.
He let out a slow breath. “Well, at least I know for sure now.”
“Mr. Hummel,” Blaine said seriously, “You have to know how much both Kurt and I respect you, and taking our relationship to the next level had nothing to do with disrespecting you or wanting to sneak around. I do respect you, and I promise you that your wishes and rules didn't just get thrown out without a second thought.” He took a deep breath and steadied himself.
“But I also respect Kurt and his wishes, and I respect our relationship. If this relationship is going to last, Kurt has to be my first priority. He matters so much to me, Mr. Hummel. I know you know how special he is, because I know you wouldn't want anything to ever hurt him, you told me that yourself, and I promise you that I definitely have never or would ever hurt Kurt in any way and that includes making him do something he isn't ready for. I promise that it was both of our decision, and that we were, have been and will continue to be safe.”
Blaine's ramble ended and Burt watched as the boy's eyes widened a little at the end, as if he just realized the magnitude of what he just said to his boyfriend's father.
“Blaine, stop panicking, it's okay,” Burt consoled, reaching out and clapping Blaine on the shoulder, leaving it there. “I appreciate your honesty, however late, and that you spoke to me about it man to man.” As soon as Burt said it, he realized it was true. It wasn't just his little boy that was growing up. Blaine wasn't a boy either. He was a man.
“And since you're not a boy, and neither is my son, god help me, please know that I can't, nor do I desire to stop you and the decisions you two make, and also that I trust both of your judgments as men.” Burt choked up on the word men a little. Kurt was a man. And so was Blaine. Dear Lord, he didn't think he was ready for this. But he had to be. He had to be okay with his little boy growing up and moving away and finding a family of his own. And looking at Blaine sitting before him, he didn't think he could find anyone more perfect for Kurt to start a life with.
Blaine nodded, looking a bit teary eyed as well. “Thank you, Mr. Hummel.”
Burt took a deep breath before squeezing Blaine's shoulder a bit and saying, “Blaine, you're not a kid any more. There’s no need for the formality. Call me Burt.”
Burt didn't see the tears of happiness fall from his son's face as he quietly watched his father and boyfriend embrace as if old friends, happy to know that his dad was truly coming to terms with his life decisions. All he saw was the tear filled eyes of a man he was coming to think of as his own flesh and blood before his arms were filled and he was being embraced as well as embracing.
Through a tear streaked voice he heard Blaine's muffled “Of c-course, Burt,” before he lost himself in the hug, confident that although it hurt like hell, his boy...man- no, Kurt would always be a little boy in his mind despite being a man- would be okay.
The End