Fic: The Time Machine (9/?)
Title: The Time Machine
Genre: Romance, Humor, Fantasy
Pairing: Klaine, Brittana, Rory/?
Rating: PG - PG 13
Spoilers: none.
Disclaimer: : I own nothing...and do not claim to.
Summary: In a moment of what could be called absolutely brilliance or stupidity, Rory Hummel-Anderson decided that the only way to get his Papa back was to go back in time and stall him, or stop him from getting into the car at all. The only problem is, his Aunt's time machine is still just a prototype and he can't even specify a time. But Rory uses it anyway and suddenly he's back in 2011 and he has to pretend to be an exchange student while he waits for Aunt Brittany to build the time machine again and get back home. In the meanwhile he gets to know his parents as teenagers and even help their relationship along when they hit a bump in the road.
Chapter Nine
Yes/No
Somehow Grandpa Burt knew just what Rory needed. The warm cup of milk with honey and just a dash of nutmeg that had always been his comfort drink sat in his hands warm and familiar. It grounded him. He lifted the cup with both hands and took a sip. Delicious.
“You know, I suspected something about you the moment I saw you,” Grandpa Burt said, waiting for Rory to explain himself, “In fact, that you’re enjoying that drink - I don’t know how this is possible.”
It was one thing for Santana and Brittany to know, it was entirely different for Grandpa Burt to know the truth. But Rory couldn’t find any excuse that might make sense. There was nothing to it, he would have to tell him.
“I’m-” He couldn’t say it. The words got stuck in his throat and he just couldn’t get them out.
“Well, I know you’re related to us somehow, kid,” Grandpa Burt cut in, “though your accent did throw me.”
“I’m your grandson,” Rory got out and immediately he brought the cup up to his lips to sip at. H
“What? That isn’t possible. I’m not old enough to be your grandfather - hell, you’re just a few years younger than Kurt and I’m pretty sure he’s my only son.”
Yet despite everything that he’d just said, Grandpa Burt was staring at him in such a scrutinizing way that Rory knew he was considering it even if he couldn’t figure out how it was possible. At least he hadn’t shouted at Rory and called him a liar.
“I am Kurt’s son,” Rory said. He set down the cup on the table in front of him, “I’m from the future.”
It took a moment before Grandpa Burt spoke again. When he did, it was only to say, “but you said you needed to save your papa…does that - Rory, you have to tell me what’s going on right now.”
Rory took another long gulp. The drink would give him courage. At least he hoped.
“I’m from the future,” he said, “and I came back too far - I only meant to go back a week, but I woke up here in this time and I’m stuck until Brittany builds the time machine again. And I have to get back because -” he paused because he didn’t know how to say it out loud. He didn’t know how this would alter time.
“Because?” Prompted Grandpa Burt.
“Because in my time my papa is dead and all I wanted to do was stop that from happening and I’m here and my dad’s all alone without either of us and I miss them both so much.”
It was almost as much a surprise to Rory as it was to Grandpa Burt that he was crying. But his cheeks were wet and his eyes were burning and all he could picture was his dad curled into himself in his bed, alone and so distraught.
“Who are your parents?”
“Who else?” Rory asked.
“Kurt and Blaine?”
Rory only nodded.
Grandpa Burt didn’t seem all that surprised. It was like he had asked only so that there wasn’t a miscommunication.
“I’m glad,” he said, “and I guess anyone that meets them sees that coming.”
Rory wiped at his cheeks. He knew exactly what Grandpa Burt meant and it hurt more than ever to think that in his future that tightly bonded unit that his parents had been, had been broken irreparably.
“But something happened to one of them and you travelled back in time to save him.”
Rory nodded. He couldn’t speak or even try to explain himself. Grandpa Burt had gotten it anyway and he looked like he was trying to really wrap his mind around the whole thing.
This was how his dad found them.
“What’s going on?” He asked and stepped further into the kitchen.
Rory jumped. Had he heard anything? Rory hoped not. Kurt didn’t look like he’d just heard that Rory wasn’t just his classmate and friend. He reached for the roll of paper towels to try and clean himself up a little, but Kurt’s hand clamped over his wrist.
“Rory?” he asked and there was a strange pained sound to his voice that was so familiar he couldn’t help but look up.
Grandpa Burt stood still, watching them. Rory caught his eye and his grandpa only gave him an encouraging look.
“Paper towel’s too tough,” Kurt said awkwardly, “but you should clean up - you look a bit splotchy.”
Rory hesitated for a moment before he got up and headed out of the kitchen and to the stairs. He wiped at his face with his hands again and then paused right at the foot of the stairs.
“What happened?” he heard his dad ask.
“Kid’s just missing home,” Grandpa Burt said, “can’t blame him.” There was a pause and then, “you’re very protective of him.”
“The day I met him,” Kurt said, “he was being shoved into a locker. He’s - I don’t know - fragile and alone and I just wanted to help him. I don’t like him hurt. I don’t really understand it, but I want him to be okay and happy and to not suffer like I have at that school.”
Rory couldn’t help but smile a little bit. That was definitely his dad - the man that cared about nearly everyone around him. He moved up the stairs and was glad to not run into Finn on his way. There were only a couple more days until their break was over. New Year’s Eve was the next night and then they’d be back at school two days later.
He splashed water on his face and patted himself dry. He did feel better knowing that an adult was now aware of the situation. He and Grandpa Burt would have to discuss everything to more detail and Rory hoped that just as he always had that his grandpa would help him and make all of Rory’s problems a little easier. He knew that he would be spending a lot more time at the Hummel-Hudson house.
- - -
Sugar spent the entire week break and the week before the break hanging out at the apartment that she was staying in. She had planned on calling up Rory or having him stay with her for the week, but those plans had flown out the window when she heard he was spending it with Kurt and his family. She hadn’t had the heart to tear him away from them and so she’d spent the holiday alone. After all, Sugar didn’t have the luxury of spending the holidays with the teen versions of her moms.
It had been alright time, time that she spent mostly thinking and trying to really figure out if her moms and Rory’s dad had known that they’d be going to the past before it happened. It had all been inconclusive.
When it was time to go back to school she’d almost been excited mostly because it would mean not having to keep thinking about her time and the holidays there and how lonely she was in the past because even though she and Rory were interacting now, they really weren’t and Rory actually seemed to be getting something out being around his parents in the past.
She didn’t get to talk to Rory the first few days, but she hung out with the glee club girls while Mercedes gossiped about Sam - and it was all kinds of weird to hear that they had dated. When she finally saw Rory again it was right after having the strangest conversation with arty.
“Legs skinnier than my arms,” she muttered to herself, “I’m an idiot. What kind of excuse even is that?”
“What are you muttered to yourself about, Sug?”
Rory smirked at her. He knew exactly what she was muttering to herself about.
“Were you just eavesdropping?”
Rory shook his head and leaned against the lockers next to hers. “Artie told me. I seriously love that we get to know him now - you know he directed all my favorite movies in the future. He’s just so cool.”
Sugar had actually forgotten that Artie Abrams was this big shot director in the future. It was probably because she didn’t care for his movies - she couldn’t even remember the title of one. Rory of course knew just who he was and even went as far as to being a fan.
“And he just tried to ask me out,” Sugar said, “ewww. He’s old in our time. He could be my dad.”
“I don’t even know if you’re joking,” Rory said.
Sugar glared at him, but she hadn’t quite mastered her mami’s glare so it just bounced off of Rory. She reached over and pinched his arm. But the truth was that Artie very well could be. Her moms had always told her that she was made from their love. She was definitely not adopted, but even though her birth mother was her mom, she was her mami’s biological child. Sugar had always thought it was cool that in a way she did belong to them both. But whenever the topic of who her father was, they always got a bit quiet.
“It was a friend,” her mami had told her eventually, “we didn’t want just any old sperm, you know.”
Her mami had never tried to keep Sugar unaware of certain aspects of life - she had always been very open about everything which had made for some interesting conversations with the other adults in her life. But somehow everyone seemed to accept that because of who her parents were.
“Will I ever get to meet him? My dad?”
They had never answered that question.
“I don’t know if I am,” Sugar said, “but I am seriously not getting attached to anyone in this time.”
Rory laughed. “So, Sugar, where’d you disappear to the last few weeks.”
She considered telling him for a moment - sharing with him how half the time she’d been happy to be alone and away from anyone from this time but how then she would cry her eyes out for missing her family. Rory looked at her with curiosity and some worry but mostly his eyes were strangely happy. Sugar couldn’t take that away from him.
“Just needed a break from it all,” she told him.
“Well,” Rory said, “I have to tell you something you won’t like, then.”
Sugar groaned. This was not going to end well. Rory had messed up something big, she was sure of it.
“What did you do?”
“I may have let the secret out to someone,” Rory said.
“Not your dads though? Right? It’s not Kurt and Blaine? They don’t know anything?” She rushed it all out, eyes wide and questioning.
“No. No, they don’t know. It’s enough your moms do. No. My grandpa. He sort of figured out after meeting me and I just ended up telling him what happened. He promised not to say anything and he’ll willing to help me.”
It could have been worse. Blaine or Kurt could have finally figured it out and freaked out because they wouldn’t have just figured out that they were from the future but who they were. So far they were safe with her moms just knowing they were from the future. Sugar was sure though, that if they ever knew just who they were - who she was - that they would be done for.
- - -
Kurt didn’t think he should bother trying to give Mr. Shuester a song or idea for how to ask for Ms. Pillsbury’s hand in marriage. He thought the entire thing was sweet and he was all for marriage, but he didn’t think that it was for he or any of his fellow glee club members to decide how their teacher should ask his girlfriend to marry him. That was supposed to be a personal aspect of his life that he dealt with on his own.
Still though, Kurt was such a romantic at heart that he couldn’t help but be happy for them. He also kept thinking about a small red box sitting on his vanity table at home, the gum wrapper ring from Blaine sitting daintily inside.
He’d said yes. He’d been so ready to say yes without even thinking about it. He looked over at Blaine. God, did he love that boy. Kurt was definitely going to marry him someday. And he knew that when it came to a proposal it wouldn’t matter which of them did it as long as it came from them. It didn’t even have to be some fancy, long winded proposal. Simple would do just fine.
And then they would have the perfect wedding. It would happen in New York of course and all of their friends and family would be there and his dad might even walk him down the aisle even if that did make it possible for him to be construed as the bride. But he didn’t care. Maybe he and Blaine could both we walked down the aisle. Kurt knew that his boyfriend’s family life was hard, but he couldn’t help but hope that maybe in the future that would change.
So the entire week while everyone else was trying to figure out a way for Mr. Shuester to propose, Kurt tried not to sit at home and actually plan his and Blaine’s wedding. He would never admit it to anyone, but he already had a binder with color schemes picked out as well as names of flowers that could work well for them and even half designed dresses and suits. Looking through bridal magazines was a good distraction from thinking about NYADA and his certainty that he wouldn’t be getting in.
Kurt had pushed all thoughts about College aside for the holidays, but now that he was back in school, he couldn’t help but start worrying again. It’d been weeks, after all, since his application was sent. Shouldn’t he have heard something by now? His only consolation was knowing that Rachel hadn’t received anything either.
“You shouldn’t worry about this so much, kid,” his dad told him when he caught Kurt staring at the NYADA website, “even if you don’t get into that school I just know that you’re going to make it.”
“NYADA is the school, dad,” he said, “if I don’t get in, I don’t know what’ll do.”
“You’ll either apply again, or you’ll go somewhere else - that isn’t the only school. But, Kurt, the one thing you aren’t going to do is give up.”
Ever since the holidays and since Rory had stayed with them, his dad had been acting a bit strange. Any time the future was mentioned he got an odd smile that could have belonged to the Cheshire cat. It was as if his dad knew something that he wasn’t telling Kurt. When Kurt tried to question him, he just walked away.
While trying to keep himself busy, Kurt spent as much time as he could with Blaine, even helping him bake a bunch of cookies that would technically be for Ms. Pillsbury in congratulations once the question was finally popped.
“I don’t know what he’s going to do,” Blaine told Kurt, “I helped Artie with his number, but he didn’t really seem to like it. And the girls did something that was a little too emotional for Mr. Shue to use.”
“You know he already asked Finn to be his best man,” Kurt said, “does that man even have any adult friends? Seriously. I mean, maybe his crazy first wife drove them away, but still.”
Blaine had been taught to bake cookies by his grandmother and Kurt was deeply fascinated by how delicious they were. They were even better than Rachel’s “I’m sorry cookies” though really what made those taste good was that Rachel admitted to doing something wrong while handing them over.
“Was she really crazy?”
Kurt had forgotten how much Blaine didn’t know about McKinley but he quickly filled him in.
“Nuts,” Kurt said, “she was his high school sweetheart and super possessive. She pretended to be pregnant to keep their marriage from crumbling and he was planning on taking Quinn’s baby and pretending it was hers.”
“Wow,” Blaine breathed.
“Yeah, I know. I guess you don’t really know what someone’s capable even if you know them for a long time.”
Blaine had leaned over to kiss his cheek, at that point, “we won’t be like that.”
The cookies did not end up going to Ms. Pillsbury mostly because Finn arrived looking so distraught that Blaine just handed a plate over while Kurt warmed up milk.
“She lied to me,” he said, “my mom lied to me all this time. I don’t even know what to think anymore.”
It wasn’t until a while later that they got it all out of him - how he’d gotten the idea to go to the army like his dad and the dishonorable discharge that his mom had hidden all those years until she finally had to bring it up as a way to stop him from following in his footsteps.
“I just can’t believe it, you know,” he cried, “I just - I never once thought he wasn’t that honorable man that fought for our country bravely”
By the time Blaine had to head home, the cookies were gone and Finn had gone up to his room to be left alone.
“I need to think, Kurt, but thanks. Maybe I’ll call Rachel.”
The next night Finn was still as distraught as ever so he and Rachel dragged him to Breadstix with Blaine apologizing because he’d promised to hang out with Rory earlier that week and watch a bunch of movies. He’d promised with the expectation that Kurt would join them, but he told Kurt it was fine when he realized it was about Finn.
- - -
Rory thought it was the craziest idea ever to let a bunch of teenagers who were not trained in synchronized swimming try their go at it while singing a song for the proposal between their teacher and guidance counselor.
But he went along with it clumsily and tried to get all the moves not only right but in time with everyone else’s. It was hard work and it took them days until they finally got it. By the end of it Rory was sure that the actual synchronized swim team hated them for getting roped into helping them.
In the end though, it was all worth it to watch Ms. Pilsbury crying as a ring was slipped on her finger by Mr. Shuester who looked absolutely ridiculous in his all white dripping suit.
Afterwards, Rory and the rest of the boys went to the locker room. Finn, Artie, and Sam all just dried off and got redressed but Kurt and Blaine each took a stall and Rory went to another because smelling like chlorine for the rest of the day really wasn’t attractive. He and Blaine were done before Kurt and after they got dressed and Blaine sat down to wait for Kurt, Rory sat down next to him.
“Haven’t really seen you all week,” Blaine said, “but I’ve seen you talking to Sugar.” He nudged him.
Rory rolled his eyes. He would never be interested in Sugar. She was like family. This week he had spent a whole lot of time with Sugar though; mostly because she seemed to be really lonely, especially now that the glee clubs had come back together again. Her moms ignored her. Mercedes and Rachel were suddenly as thick as thieves again and she was dealing with her own Sam drama regardless and even Kurt was staying away from that. She really hadn’t made a good impression - or so he’d been told - when she first auditioned and even Rory knew that Sugar had no voice to boast for.
“She’s nice,” Rory said, “if annoying.”
Blaine nudged him again. “I think you like her.”
“Artie likes her,” Rory said.
This was a conversation that Rory had already had with his papa once. Not about Sugar - because really she was family - but about another girl in his grade. He hadn’t had a crush on her, but they’d been friends and his papa had teased him endlessly.
“In all seriousness, though, kid, all your dad and I want is for you to be happy. I’m just teasing because I love you and I’m excited that you might be getting your first crush because soon enough you’ll have your first crazy teenage love and that’s just exciting for me even though I don’t want you to grow up.”
“That doesn’t mean you don’t.”
Rory rolled his eyes. “I don’t.”
“Don’t what?”
Kurt was in a bathrobe. He grabbed his clothes and walked around the lockers to get dressed.
“He claims he doesn’t have a crush on Sugar, but I’ve seen them talking and I’m pretty sure something’s going on there.”
They heard Kurt laugh before he responded. “Oh, really. Well, She’s a little crazy, but maybe you could mellow her out or something.”
When he’d finished getting dressed and applying moisturizer, they left the locker room and Rory walked next to them grinning.
“Oh, by the way, Rory, my dad wanted me to invite you to dinner Friday night. It’s a family thing, but I think he really liked you when you were around during Christmas. He came home early from Washington this week, but he’s leaving again Monday morning.”
Although Grandpa Burt had promised to help him - Rory didn’t know how - he’d had too many things to deal with in the last week. But they might be able to talk on Friday and try and actually figure something out.
The last time he’d talked to Santana she’d said Brittany was still working on the time machine, but that she’d gotten distracted by other things. Rory more than ever hated not knowing when Aunt Brittany had managed to finish building it.
“Cool. I’ll definitely be there.”
“Me too,” Blaine told them.
Kurt hit him on the arm, but the look he gave him was one filled with love. “What did you think about that proposal?”
Blaine shrugged. “Overdone.”
“Yeah,” Kurt breathed, “it kind of was.”
Rory smiled a little bit. Most of the other students had left already and it was definitely noticeable in the way that his dads held each other. Their relaxed pace and the smiles they kept shooting each other were easily the best reminders of who they would be in the future. For that reason alone and because Rory needed him desperately, his papa had to live. He had to grow old and be proud of Rory when he finally did find someone to love like his papa and dad loved each other.
Genre: Romance, Humor, Fantasy
Pairing: Klaine, Brittana, Rory/?
Rating: PG - PG 13
Spoilers: none.
Disclaimer: : I own nothing...and do not claim to.
Summary: In a moment of what could be called absolutely brilliance or stupidity, Rory Hummel-Anderson decided that the only way to get his Papa back was to go back in time and stall him, or stop him from getting into the car at all. The only problem is, his Aunt's time machine is still just a prototype and he can't even specify a time. But Rory uses it anyway and suddenly he's back in 2011 and he has to pretend to be an exchange student while he waits for Aunt Brittany to build the time machine again and get back home. In the meanwhile he gets to know his parents as teenagers and even help their relationship along when they hit a bump in the road.
Chapter Nine
Yes/No
Somehow Grandpa Burt knew just what Rory needed. The warm cup of milk with honey and just a dash of nutmeg that had always been his comfort drink sat in his hands warm and familiar. It grounded him. He lifted the cup with both hands and took a sip. Delicious.
“You know, I suspected something about you the moment I saw you,” Grandpa Burt said, waiting for Rory to explain himself, “In fact, that you’re enjoying that drink - I don’t know how this is possible.”
It was one thing for Santana and Brittany to know, it was entirely different for Grandpa Burt to know the truth. But Rory couldn’t find any excuse that might make sense. There was nothing to it, he would have to tell him.
“I’m-” He couldn’t say it. The words got stuck in his throat and he just couldn’t get them out.
“Well, I know you’re related to us somehow, kid,” Grandpa Burt cut in, “though your accent did throw me.”
“I’m your grandson,” Rory got out and immediately he brought the cup up to his lips to sip at. H
“What? That isn’t possible. I’m not old enough to be your grandfather - hell, you’re just a few years younger than Kurt and I’m pretty sure he’s my only son.”
Yet despite everything that he’d just said, Grandpa Burt was staring at him in such a scrutinizing way that Rory knew he was considering it even if he couldn’t figure out how it was possible. At least he hadn’t shouted at Rory and called him a liar.
“I am Kurt’s son,” Rory said. He set down the cup on the table in front of him, “I’m from the future.”
It took a moment before Grandpa Burt spoke again. When he did, it was only to say, “but you said you needed to save your papa…does that - Rory, you have to tell me what’s going on right now.”
Rory took another long gulp. The drink would give him courage. At least he hoped.
“I’m from the future,” he said, “and I came back too far - I only meant to go back a week, but I woke up here in this time and I’m stuck until Brittany builds the time machine again. And I have to get back because -” he paused because he didn’t know how to say it out loud. He didn’t know how this would alter time.
“Because?” Prompted Grandpa Burt.
“Because in my time my papa is dead and all I wanted to do was stop that from happening and I’m here and my dad’s all alone without either of us and I miss them both so much.”
It was almost as much a surprise to Rory as it was to Grandpa Burt that he was crying. But his cheeks were wet and his eyes were burning and all he could picture was his dad curled into himself in his bed, alone and so distraught.
“Who are your parents?”
“Who else?” Rory asked.
“Kurt and Blaine?”
Rory only nodded.
Grandpa Burt didn’t seem all that surprised. It was like he had asked only so that there wasn’t a miscommunication.
“I’m glad,” he said, “and I guess anyone that meets them sees that coming.”
Rory wiped at his cheeks. He knew exactly what Grandpa Burt meant and it hurt more than ever to think that in his future that tightly bonded unit that his parents had been, had been broken irreparably.
“But something happened to one of them and you travelled back in time to save him.”
Rory nodded. He couldn’t speak or even try to explain himself. Grandpa Burt had gotten it anyway and he looked like he was trying to really wrap his mind around the whole thing.
This was how his dad found them.
“What’s going on?” He asked and stepped further into the kitchen.
Rory jumped. Had he heard anything? Rory hoped not. Kurt didn’t look like he’d just heard that Rory wasn’t just his classmate and friend. He reached for the roll of paper towels to try and clean himself up a little, but Kurt’s hand clamped over his wrist.
“Rory?” he asked and there was a strange pained sound to his voice that was so familiar he couldn’t help but look up.
Grandpa Burt stood still, watching them. Rory caught his eye and his grandpa only gave him an encouraging look.
“Paper towel’s too tough,” Kurt said awkwardly, “but you should clean up - you look a bit splotchy.”
Rory hesitated for a moment before he got up and headed out of the kitchen and to the stairs. He wiped at his face with his hands again and then paused right at the foot of the stairs.
“What happened?” he heard his dad ask.
“Kid’s just missing home,” Grandpa Burt said, “can’t blame him.” There was a pause and then, “you’re very protective of him.”
“The day I met him,” Kurt said, “he was being shoved into a locker. He’s - I don’t know - fragile and alone and I just wanted to help him. I don’t like him hurt. I don’t really understand it, but I want him to be okay and happy and to not suffer like I have at that school.”
Rory couldn’t help but smile a little bit. That was definitely his dad - the man that cared about nearly everyone around him. He moved up the stairs and was glad to not run into Finn on his way. There were only a couple more days until their break was over. New Year’s Eve was the next night and then they’d be back at school two days later.
He splashed water on his face and patted himself dry. He did feel better knowing that an adult was now aware of the situation. He and Grandpa Burt would have to discuss everything to more detail and Rory hoped that just as he always had that his grandpa would help him and make all of Rory’s problems a little easier. He knew that he would be spending a lot more time at the Hummel-Hudson house.
- - -
Sugar spent the entire week break and the week before the break hanging out at the apartment that she was staying in. She had planned on calling up Rory or having him stay with her for the week, but those plans had flown out the window when she heard he was spending it with Kurt and his family. She hadn’t had the heart to tear him away from them and so she’d spent the holiday alone. After all, Sugar didn’t have the luxury of spending the holidays with the teen versions of her moms.
It had been alright time, time that she spent mostly thinking and trying to really figure out if her moms and Rory’s dad had known that they’d be going to the past before it happened. It had all been inconclusive.
When it was time to go back to school she’d almost been excited mostly because it would mean not having to keep thinking about her time and the holidays there and how lonely she was in the past because even though she and Rory were interacting now, they really weren’t and Rory actually seemed to be getting something out being around his parents in the past.
She didn’t get to talk to Rory the first few days, but she hung out with the glee club girls while Mercedes gossiped about Sam - and it was all kinds of weird to hear that they had dated. When she finally saw Rory again it was right after having the strangest conversation with arty.
“Legs skinnier than my arms,” she muttered to herself, “I’m an idiot. What kind of excuse even is that?”
“What are you muttered to yourself about, Sug?”
Rory smirked at her. He knew exactly what she was muttering to herself about.
“Were you just eavesdropping?”
Rory shook his head and leaned against the lockers next to hers. “Artie told me. I seriously love that we get to know him now - you know he directed all my favorite movies in the future. He’s just so cool.”
Sugar had actually forgotten that Artie Abrams was this big shot director in the future. It was probably because she didn’t care for his movies - she couldn’t even remember the title of one. Rory of course knew just who he was and even went as far as to being a fan.
“And he just tried to ask me out,” Sugar said, “ewww. He’s old in our time. He could be my dad.”
“I don’t even know if you’re joking,” Rory said.
Sugar glared at him, but she hadn’t quite mastered her mami’s glare so it just bounced off of Rory. She reached over and pinched his arm. But the truth was that Artie very well could be. Her moms had always told her that she was made from their love. She was definitely not adopted, but even though her birth mother was her mom, she was her mami’s biological child. Sugar had always thought it was cool that in a way she did belong to them both. But whenever the topic of who her father was, they always got a bit quiet.
“It was a friend,” her mami had told her eventually, “we didn’t want just any old sperm, you know.”
Her mami had never tried to keep Sugar unaware of certain aspects of life - she had always been very open about everything which had made for some interesting conversations with the other adults in her life. But somehow everyone seemed to accept that because of who her parents were.
“Will I ever get to meet him? My dad?”
They had never answered that question.
“I don’t know if I am,” Sugar said, “but I am seriously not getting attached to anyone in this time.”
Rory laughed. “So, Sugar, where’d you disappear to the last few weeks.”
She considered telling him for a moment - sharing with him how half the time she’d been happy to be alone and away from anyone from this time but how then she would cry her eyes out for missing her family. Rory looked at her with curiosity and some worry but mostly his eyes were strangely happy. Sugar couldn’t take that away from him.
“Just needed a break from it all,” she told him.
“Well,” Rory said, “I have to tell you something you won’t like, then.”
Sugar groaned. This was not going to end well. Rory had messed up something big, she was sure of it.
“What did you do?”
“I may have let the secret out to someone,” Rory said.
“Not your dads though? Right? It’s not Kurt and Blaine? They don’t know anything?” She rushed it all out, eyes wide and questioning.
“No. No, they don’t know. It’s enough your moms do. No. My grandpa. He sort of figured out after meeting me and I just ended up telling him what happened. He promised not to say anything and he’ll willing to help me.”
It could have been worse. Blaine or Kurt could have finally figured it out and freaked out because they wouldn’t have just figured out that they were from the future but who they were. So far they were safe with her moms just knowing they were from the future. Sugar was sure though, that if they ever knew just who they were - who she was - that they would be done for.
- - -
Kurt didn’t think he should bother trying to give Mr. Shuester a song or idea for how to ask for Ms. Pillsbury’s hand in marriage. He thought the entire thing was sweet and he was all for marriage, but he didn’t think that it was for he or any of his fellow glee club members to decide how their teacher should ask his girlfriend to marry him. That was supposed to be a personal aspect of his life that he dealt with on his own.
Still though, Kurt was such a romantic at heart that he couldn’t help but be happy for them. He also kept thinking about a small red box sitting on his vanity table at home, the gum wrapper ring from Blaine sitting daintily inside.
He’d said yes. He’d been so ready to say yes without even thinking about it. He looked over at Blaine. God, did he love that boy. Kurt was definitely going to marry him someday. And he knew that when it came to a proposal it wouldn’t matter which of them did it as long as it came from them. It didn’t even have to be some fancy, long winded proposal. Simple would do just fine.
And then they would have the perfect wedding. It would happen in New York of course and all of their friends and family would be there and his dad might even walk him down the aisle even if that did make it possible for him to be construed as the bride. But he didn’t care. Maybe he and Blaine could both we walked down the aisle. Kurt knew that his boyfriend’s family life was hard, but he couldn’t help but hope that maybe in the future that would change.
So the entire week while everyone else was trying to figure out a way for Mr. Shuester to propose, Kurt tried not to sit at home and actually plan his and Blaine’s wedding. He would never admit it to anyone, but he already had a binder with color schemes picked out as well as names of flowers that could work well for them and even half designed dresses and suits. Looking through bridal magazines was a good distraction from thinking about NYADA and his certainty that he wouldn’t be getting in.
Kurt had pushed all thoughts about College aside for the holidays, but now that he was back in school, he couldn’t help but start worrying again. It’d been weeks, after all, since his application was sent. Shouldn’t he have heard something by now? His only consolation was knowing that Rachel hadn’t received anything either.
“You shouldn’t worry about this so much, kid,” his dad told him when he caught Kurt staring at the NYADA website, “even if you don’t get into that school I just know that you’re going to make it.”
“NYADA is the school, dad,” he said, “if I don’t get in, I don’t know what’ll do.”
“You’ll either apply again, or you’ll go somewhere else - that isn’t the only school. But, Kurt, the one thing you aren’t going to do is give up.”
Ever since the holidays and since Rory had stayed with them, his dad had been acting a bit strange. Any time the future was mentioned he got an odd smile that could have belonged to the Cheshire cat. It was as if his dad knew something that he wasn’t telling Kurt. When Kurt tried to question him, he just walked away.
While trying to keep himself busy, Kurt spent as much time as he could with Blaine, even helping him bake a bunch of cookies that would technically be for Ms. Pillsbury in congratulations once the question was finally popped.
“I don’t know what he’s going to do,” Blaine told Kurt, “I helped Artie with his number, but he didn’t really seem to like it. And the girls did something that was a little too emotional for Mr. Shue to use.”
“You know he already asked Finn to be his best man,” Kurt said, “does that man even have any adult friends? Seriously. I mean, maybe his crazy first wife drove them away, but still.”
Blaine had been taught to bake cookies by his grandmother and Kurt was deeply fascinated by how delicious they were. They were even better than Rachel’s “I’m sorry cookies” though really what made those taste good was that Rachel admitted to doing something wrong while handing them over.
“Was she really crazy?”
Kurt had forgotten how much Blaine didn’t know about McKinley but he quickly filled him in.
“Nuts,” Kurt said, “she was his high school sweetheart and super possessive. She pretended to be pregnant to keep their marriage from crumbling and he was planning on taking Quinn’s baby and pretending it was hers.”
“Wow,” Blaine breathed.
“Yeah, I know. I guess you don’t really know what someone’s capable even if you know them for a long time.”
Blaine had leaned over to kiss his cheek, at that point, “we won’t be like that.”
The cookies did not end up going to Ms. Pillsbury mostly because Finn arrived looking so distraught that Blaine just handed a plate over while Kurt warmed up milk.
“She lied to me,” he said, “my mom lied to me all this time. I don’t even know what to think anymore.”
It wasn’t until a while later that they got it all out of him - how he’d gotten the idea to go to the army like his dad and the dishonorable discharge that his mom had hidden all those years until she finally had to bring it up as a way to stop him from following in his footsteps.
“I just can’t believe it, you know,” he cried, “I just - I never once thought he wasn’t that honorable man that fought for our country bravely”
By the time Blaine had to head home, the cookies were gone and Finn had gone up to his room to be left alone.
“I need to think, Kurt, but thanks. Maybe I’ll call Rachel.”
The next night Finn was still as distraught as ever so he and Rachel dragged him to Breadstix with Blaine apologizing because he’d promised to hang out with Rory earlier that week and watch a bunch of movies. He’d promised with the expectation that Kurt would join them, but he told Kurt it was fine when he realized it was about Finn.
- - -
Rory thought it was the craziest idea ever to let a bunch of teenagers who were not trained in synchronized swimming try their go at it while singing a song for the proposal between their teacher and guidance counselor.
But he went along with it clumsily and tried to get all the moves not only right but in time with everyone else’s. It was hard work and it took them days until they finally got it. By the end of it Rory was sure that the actual synchronized swim team hated them for getting roped into helping them.
In the end though, it was all worth it to watch Ms. Pilsbury crying as a ring was slipped on her finger by Mr. Shuester who looked absolutely ridiculous in his all white dripping suit.
Afterwards, Rory and the rest of the boys went to the locker room. Finn, Artie, and Sam all just dried off and got redressed but Kurt and Blaine each took a stall and Rory went to another because smelling like chlorine for the rest of the day really wasn’t attractive. He and Blaine were done before Kurt and after they got dressed and Blaine sat down to wait for Kurt, Rory sat down next to him.
“Haven’t really seen you all week,” Blaine said, “but I’ve seen you talking to Sugar.” He nudged him.
Rory rolled his eyes. He would never be interested in Sugar. She was like family. This week he had spent a whole lot of time with Sugar though; mostly because she seemed to be really lonely, especially now that the glee clubs had come back together again. Her moms ignored her. Mercedes and Rachel were suddenly as thick as thieves again and she was dealing with her own Sam drama regardless and even Kurt was staying away from that. She really hadn’t made a good impression - or so he’d been told - when she first auditioned and even Rory knew that Sugar had no voice to boast for.
“She’s nice,” Rory said, “if annoying.”
Blaine nudged him again. “I think you like her.”
“Artie likes her,” Rory said.
This was a conversation that Rory had already had with his papa once. Not about Sugar - because really she was family - but about another girl in his grade. He hadn’t had a crush on her, but they’d been friends and his papa had teased him endlessly.
“In all seriousness, though, kid, all your dad and I want is for you to be happy. I’m just teasing because I love you and I’m excited that you might be getting your first crush because soon enough you’ll have your first crazy teenage love and that’s just exciting for me even though I don’t want you to grow up.”
“That doesn’t mean you don’t.”
Rory rolled his eyes. “I don’t.”
“Don’t what?”
Kurt was in a bathrobe. He grabbed his clothes and walked around the lockers to get dressed.
“He claims he doesn’t have a crush on Sugar, but I’ve seen them talking and I’m pretty sure something’s going on there.”
They heard Kurt laugh before he responded. “Oh, really. Well, She’s a little crazy, but maybe you could mellow her out or something.”
When he’d finished getting dressed and applying moisturizer, they left the locker room and Rory walked next to them grinning.
“Oh, by the way, Rory, my dad wanted me to invite you to dinner Friday night. It’s a family thing, but I think he really liked you when you were around during Christmas. He came home early from Washington this week, but he’s leaving again Monday morning.”
Although Grandpa Burt had promised to help him - Rory didn’t know how - he’d had too many things to deal with in the last week. But they might be able to talk on Friday and try and actually figure something out.
The last time he’d talked to Santana she’d said Brittany was still working on the time machine, but that she’d gotten distracted by other things. Rory more than ever hated not knowing when Aunt Brittany had managed to finish building it.
“Cool. I’ll definitely be there.”
“Me too,” Blaine told them.
Kurt hit him on the arm, but the look he gave him was one filled with love. “What did you think about that proposal?”
Blaine shrugged. “Overdone.”
“Yeah,” Kurt breathed, “it kind of was.”
Rory smiled a little bit. Most of the other students had left already and it was definitely noticeable in the way that his dads held each other. Their relaxed pace and the smiles they kept shooting each other were easily the best reminders of who they would be in the future. For that reason alone and because Rory needed him desperately, his papa had to live. He had to grow old and be proud of Rory when he finally did find someone to love like his papa and dad loved each other.