Mini-Bang Story #1-19 Part 1
Title: Third-and-Long
Author: chippyofyonder
Beta: bmshull
Rating: R/NC-17
Pairing: Dave/Sebastian, past one-sided Kurtofsky and one-sided Seblaine
Summary: NFL player Dave Karofsky finds himself ready to start a family. But when faced with Sebastian’s opposition, will he lose his husband in his fight for a child?
Note: This is not AU, but set further down the line in the Glee universe, in which scientists have discovered that there is a small uterus in most males (believed to be a leftover biological feature to ensure population continuity) that is, for the most part, inactive. Doctors must operate in order to “activate” it, which opens a channel in order for the semen to reach the egg. Males must be examined beforehand to ensure that there is enough room for the embryo to grow, but overall it is considered to be just as safe as a female pregnancy.
Also, the title is an American football term, meaning a team must run a third-down play with significant distance to go. It’s usually a metaphor for a situation where you need to take a lot of risks.
“You played well tonight, babe,” Sebastian murmured into Dave’s ear, standing close to his husband as they walked towards their apartment.
Dave snorted. “We lost.”
“Yeah, ‘cause your guy’s defense is shit and you know it,” Sebastian replied, flipping on the lights and toeing off his shoes. “You, however, were fucking on and everyone could see it.”
Dave shrugged, but there was the beginnings of a smile on his face. He picked up Sebastian’s shoes and trailed after the other man, tossing them by the closet and ignoring the glare Sebastian sent his way. “I played all right. Don’t think there’s a ring in the near future, though.”
“Au contraire,” Sebastian replied, dropping down onto their bed and stretching languidly. “Don’t forget the promise you made your little fan tonight,” he said, referring to the seven year-old who had asked for Dave’s autograph. He had been a cute little thing with blond curls, clutching his father’s hand and gazing at Dave in wonder, before shyly asking him to sign his jersey. Dave had done so gladly, and the boy had loudly proclaimed him to be “the best player ever” and promised to cheer the very loudest when Dave won the Super Bowl. Dave had ruffled his hair, saying that he’d be sure to keep his ears open, and stood obligingly while the boy’s family took their picture. “He’d be heartbroken, otherwise.”
Sebastian rolled to his side at Dave’s silence, his husband staring off into space with a peculiar look. “Babe?”
Dave jerked, looking to Sebastian in surprise and just a little bit of guilt. “Right, can’t disappoint the fans.”
“Yeah,” Sebastian drawled suspiciously, eyeing Dave as the other man turned to go to the bathroom. He shrugged the strange moment off, standing to get ready for bed.
That night Dave slept fitfully, waking Sebastian over and over again with his tossing and turning. He bitched crankily and threatened to kick Dave out of the bed, before kissing him and pulling him to spoon around Sebastian, which was Dave’s favorite (and not often allowed) position. He fell asleep to Dave cuddling him close like a teddy bear, while his husband followed soon after.
***
Dave dreamt on and off of a championship game and of a young child wearing a “Karofsky” jersey, cheering him on from Sebastian’s arms as his husband smiled proudly. He woke up aching, and stared down at Sebastian until the sun rose, bathing them both in a soft, golden light.
***
“Easy, tiger,” Sebastian laughed, playfully pushing at Dave’s chest as the bigger man trailed lips down his neck. “Give me another minute before round two, okay?” He reached for his BlackBerry as Dave knew he would (Dave was long used to Sebastian’s obsessive need to check his email, post-sex or otherwise), watching as Sebastian’s brow furrowed in confusion. He kept kissing his husband’s shoulder to hide his nerves.
“Dave, what have I said about spamming my work email?” Sebastian grouched. He didn’t move away from Dave’s touches, though he had yet to open the message.
“Well, you handle all the scheduling…” Dave said, trying for casual.
Sebastian rolled his eyes, affectionate. “What, your publicist want you to do another charity? Because I understand maintaining your image and all that, but this is a bit much.” He opened the email, scanning the contents quickly before turning to face Dave in incredulity. “Blaine’s knocked up again? How many spawn are they going for?”
Dave shifted uncomfortably. “It looks like Kurt’s carrying this time.”
Sebastian snorted, nudging his shoulder at Dave in search of more attention. “Figures. Princess couldn’t let Blaine have all the limelight.” Secretly, Sebastian knew that Kurt had always wanted to carry, but due to the high physical demands in theatre, he was never in a place to. That had not stopped the couple from wanting a child, and Blaine, working in advertising, was a much more able candidate.
“Kurt said this was the perfect chance, since he’s taking a break from work,” Dave shifted, allowing Sebastian to slip between his legs to lean against his chest. “They’d like us to be at the baby shower, since we missed the last one.”
“We went to the first one!” Sebastian argued. “Besides, isn’t it a bit early to be planning a shower? Oh wait, it’s Kurt, never mind.” He debated over a gift that would be the most obnoxious, before resignedly adding the date to their calendar. “Tell Princess that we can’t make any promises, but we’ll try. I never know what the league is going to throw at you and my editor is being a bitch, so you never know what’ll happen there.” He set his BlackBerry on the nightstand and turned to kiss Dave, nuzzling to feel the other man’s stubble. “Now, where were we? Something about round two…” His grin was as coy and convincing as it had been in a small Ohioan bar ten years ago.
Dave bit his lip, but wrapped his arms around Sebastian, pulling the other man to him as the kiss turned more passionate. Sebastian wondered briefly at the pause, before he was rolled onto his back and thinking wasn’t quite as high of a priority. Still, he noted the focused way Dave watched him as they made love and the way he stroked his hips and abdomen afterwards, right before he fell asleep.
***
The pamphlets were Dave’s downfall.
Sebastian was rooting through their closet, on the phone with his mother when he found them. He stared at them silently before making his excuses, tossing his phone on the bed and running his hands through his hair. He sat down, fingering the edges of paper without opening them (shit, there were more than one) and just trying to think. Dave found him like that an hour later, still sitting in the closet (which was a walk-in and quite spacious, thank you very much). They stared at one another mutely, until Sebastian held up a pamphlet (“So You Want to Be a Dad: Basic Guidelines to the Male Pregnancy Procedure”), saying dryly, “And here I thought you wanted a puppy.”
Dave flinched, shuffling awkwardly. “I mean-” he started to say, as Sebastian stood, pamphlet still in hand. “I mean, not now, or anything, but. You know. Maybe. Someday?” He fidgeted. “I just thought it couldn’t hurt to be…prepared? Not that I wasn’t going to talk to you, I just-”
“Dave,” Sebastian said calmly, sitting on their bed. He patted the spot next to him. Dave sat, obligingly. Sebastian sighed, flipping the little booklet over and over in his hands, before looking up. “Look,” he began. “This is a lot for me to take in right now, so forgive me if I seem a little blunt.”
Dave found it within himself to scoff; Sebastian and blunt were practically long lost twins.
Sebastian glared halfheartedly, before continuing. “We’ve never talked about…this. I guess I thought we didn’t need to, but I was obviously wrong,” he trailed off, looking down again to fiddle with the pamphlet. “You can’t carry. Even if we waited until after you stopped playing, it’s not recommended. I mean, we don’t even know if you could physically handle it to begin with, let alone after so many injuries. And-” he cut himself off, rolling his shoulders uncomfortably. “I mean, you have to travel for training and away games. I know they’re not that many, I’ve handled you being gone before, but what if you guys go to the play-offs? And don’t give me that shit about you guys not being good enough, you’re getting a new defensive coordinator next season and you’ll be in top shape in no time and-” he paused again. “Well, I-”
Dave stared at him, achy and desperately hopeful while knowing he shouldn’t be. “And you?”
Sebastian sighed, before turning to look at Dave resolutely.
“Dave, I don’t want kids.”
***
Sebastian slid into bed long after Dave had turned off the lights. He turned to kiss him, as he always did, but paused at the tight set of Dave’s shoulders and tense back. Sighing, he laid his forehead between his husband’s shoulder blades, pressing his lips to the cloth of Dave’s t-shirt before breathing gently, “I’m sorry” and then rolling to face the other way.
Neither of them slept that night.
***
Sebastian locked the door behind him, hiding a yawn in the crook of his elbow. He hung his jacket up and headed towards the kitchen, meaning to get a glass of water, but jumped at the sight of Dave standing at the counter, a half-eaten sandwich in front of him. They stared at one another in awkward silence, before Sebastian joked, “Well, that took a few years off my life. I didn’t hear you.” He walked past to the cabinet.
“Thought you’d be back earlier,” Dave said, picking at his snack halfheartedly.
Sebastian fiddled with his glass, before heading to the filtered tap in the refrigerator. “Went out for dinner with Jade and Brad after talking with Emily. She ripped my draft apart,” he said, taking a long swig. “I…thought I texted you.”
Dave took a bite of his sandwich. “Didn’t get one,” he said around a mouthful of lettuce.
“Oh,” said Sebastian.
“…yeah.”
Sebastian finished his water, putting the glass in the dishwasher, before turning to leave with a, “Well, I’m off to bed.” He paused, looking to Dave. “You coming?”
Dave swallowed another bite, murmuring, “Nah, was gonna watch a little TV.”
“…okay,” Sebastian said. He made to leave again, before turning back and planting a quick kiss on Dave’s cheek. “Goodnight.”
“…night,” Dave replied, as Sebastian left the room. After a moment he gathered the remains of his sandwich and threw them in the trash, before making his way to the living room. He didn’t touch the remote.
***
Sebastian hadn’t gone to the game, but he’d watched it on and off from home. He gave up working on his manuscript after the second yellow flag, wincing as the referee called another penalty. At the end of the game, he slowly gathered his papers up and retreated to his home office, where he pretended to work until he heard the front door slam. He held his breath, listening intently to the angry footsteps, and his heart began beating double-time when they stopped outside his closed (though not locked, never locked) door. He watched the shadows of feet linger, pacing, before abruptly they stormed away and he heard the bedroom door close with a slightly quieter bang.
Sebastian’s breath left him in a rush, and he ran his hands through his hair while cursing his husband, the remaining silence, but most of all himself.
***
Kurt opened the door with a pleasant smile, highlighting his glowing attitude and rounded belly. “Dave! I’m so glad you could make it,” he said, gesturing for them to enter. His smile turned to a smirk as he added, “Hello, Meerkat.”
Sebastian smiled wryly, his unusually awkward demeanor upon arrival fleeing in the highlight of a good bitch contest. “Hi, Princess. You’re looking especially plump today.”
Kurt laughed haughtily, though Sebastian could tell he was secretly very pleased. He beamed as Blaine entered, kissing him on the cheek. Blaine turned, clasping Dave’s hand and doing the same to Sebastian, who thought of making it suggestive for old time’s sake, before shaking it normally. “Hey Blaine, Princess driven you crazy yet?”
Blaine laughed, joking, “Oh, completely.” He dodged the swat Kurt sent his way, before taking his hand and leading Sebastian and Dave into the living room. Instantly, Sebastian moved to greet David and Wes, clasping their shoulders in camaraderie and catching up. Dave thought about going to talk to Finn, but Kurt’s hand on his shoulder held him back.
“I hate to be a bother, but could you help me for a second?” Dave nodded, before following the other man into the kitchen, unaware of Sebastian’s narrowed eyes following the exit.
“This is going to sound so trite, but Blaine had to go check on Austin and Nathan, and baby won’t let me lean over, so I can’t get this darn roast out of the oven,” Kurt said, rolling his eyes in exasperation.
Dave chuckled. “No problem, always available to be the muscle.” He pulled on some oven mitts before pulling the pan out. He held it while Kurt fretted, checking to see if it was done, before placing the pan on the stove at Kurt’s approving nod.
“Thanks so much, Dave,” Kurt said. “I love this little guy to pieces, but he can be quite the nuisance.” He directed the last part to his stomach, and Dave felt a pang.
“So it’s a boy, then?” he asked, eyeing the way Kurt held himself and the way he smiled.
“Yes, another male to add to the Hummel-Anderson clan,” he said. Kurt sighed. “I know boys are more likely in our pregnancies, but I had been hoping for a girl.” He rubbed his extended stomach affectionately. “No matter, though, there’s plenty of love to go around.”
Dave made to respond, when a voice chimed from the doorway, “Oh, don’t make me sick before we even eat.” Sebastian strolled into the kitchen, and Dave was surprised to see a small, green handprint on the front of his jacket. Sebastian looked down to it, before adding, “Also, haven’t you taught the boys to wash up before saying hello?”
Kurt hid a smile, drawling, “Oh I’m so sorry, Sebastian. Let me go find something to clean that up with.”
Sebastian shook his head, though his smile was tight. “That’s all right, Blaine said he’d take care of it.” He turned to Dave. “I was sent to find you. Austin wants a hug.”
Dave smiled, which grew wider when he heard a loud, “Uncle Dave! Where are yooou?” from the hallway. He left Kurt and Sebastian in the kitchen, the former apologizing more sincerely, and offering to get the stain out because Blaine would “probably just ruin the fabric”. He turned the corner and was tackled at the knees with a playful roar.
Laughing, he scooped up the three year-old and basked in the large beam he got in return. “Hey kiddo.”
Austin smiled widely, smudges of green paint on his face but hands thankfully clean. “Uncle Dave! Lift off! Lift off!” he yelled excitedly.
Dave laughed again, before moving towards the entrance where the ceiling was higher. He set Austin on the floor, before crouching down to put his hands around the child’s waist. “You ready, big man?” At Austin’s eager nod, he count down from three, before tossing the boy into the air and catching him easily, Austin squealing in joy. He did this several more times before Blaine entered, carrying Nathan who watched the proceedings with wide hazel eyes.
“Hi Nate,” Dave said, leaving a breathless, laughing Austin sprawled on the floor. He approached the two year-old when he ducked his head, smiling shyly at Dave from his father’s shoulder. He ruffled his auburn curls, listening happily to the boy giggle before holding his small arms out. Blaine handed him over carefully, then pulled Austin up to go wash the paint off his face, the boy whining in protest. Dave followed, making funny faces at Nathan just to get him to laugh, while asking Blaine about his promotion.
***
Sebastian turned at Kurt’s voice, telling him that it was only watercolor paint and that his jacket was hanging up to dry. Sebastian thanked him, before following the other man into the living room, but turned his head back every now and then to watch Dave’s retreating form, still cradling Nathan protectively in his arms. He made small talk and smiled haughtily at Kurt’s disgusted face at his present (an orange, singing stuffed dinosaur; obnoxious to see and hear), but overall remained very quiet for the rest of the evening. When he and Dave returned home that night, he didn’t notice his husband’s concerned and longing gaze, muttering a soft, “Think I might try to get a little work done,” before heading to his office. He slipped into bed in the wee hours of the morning, cuddling a pillow to his face and ignoring the arm Dave wrapped around him.
***
“Can’t, I’m busy,” Sebastian said, shuffling his papers idly.
“Oh come on, Sebastian,” Dave said, clutching the phone tightly in frustration. “I think you can lay off work for one night.”
“Well, sorry,” Sebastian snapped. “Some of us actually have to do things other than grunting and tackling to bring in an income, okay? Excuse me for wanting to do something meaningful.” There was a long pause until, apologetically, “Dave-”
“Whatever,” Dave said, before hanging up.
Sebastian looked at his desk, clear but for a few sheets of blank paper. “Fuck fuck fuck!”
***
“What do you mean you’re leaving?” Dave asked, a hint of panic in his voice.
Sebastian rolled his eyes, folding a sweater and placing it in his luggage. “I told you ages ago, I’m meeting with some editors who’re interested in translating my series.” He added a pair of trousers. “There’s a reason I make us a schedule, Dave.”
Dave frowned, watching as Sebastian held up two ties. “But you speak French. And why do you have to go to France for them to do that?”
Sebastian placed the ties in, before grabbing some socks as well. “I’m not as fluent as I used to be, and the thought of translating two whole books…yeah no.” He paused, before heading to their closet and grabbing his nicer dress shoes, just in case. “And Emily said they like to meet with authors, if they can. They’re a smaller business, more selective…,” he frowned at Dave’s continued, mulish expression. “Babe, I’ll be gone a week. What’s the issue?”
Dave huffed, rubbing his hands over his face. “My issue is that you usually tell me this shit. Ya know, not the day before you leave. And don’t give me that schedule bullshit, you know I never read that thing.”
Sebastian set his shoes down, a little forcibly. “You’re a grown ass man. I shouldn’t have to do everything just because you’re too lazy to. And I did tell you. You just didn’t fucking listen, I guess.”
Dave blinked, taken aback by the malice behind Sebastian’s words. “What the hell, Sebastian?”
Sebastian ignored him, packing the last of his things in sullen silence. Dave’s temper, much better than when he was a teen but still volatile, grew. He took a calming breath.
“Look, I know things have been…weird lately. I get it. But don’t take this out on me, all right? I thought you were over this shit.”
“Excuse me?” Sebastian asked, dangerously.
“You know, that little thing where you lash out? Emotional distancing or whatever the fuck the doctors call it. The point,” he said, before Sebastian could interrupt, “is that you’re still weird about me…wanting a family-”
“Dave,” Sebastian said warningly.
“-and I get it, you said you don’t want one. But fuck, why can’t we even talk about it? The conversation doesn’t end like that, okay? Why? Why do you not want kids? I get it if it’s too soon, I do, but why not later? I can wait,” he said, more pleadingly. “I’m totally okay with waiting.”
“Dave, it’s not about the waiting, okay? I don’t want to wait, because I don’t want kids. Ever,” Sebastian stressed. “I don’t want to be pregnant. I don’t want a baby. I don’t want it.”
“But why? Is it the operation? I’ll fucking do it-”
“You can’t. I already told you, they won’t let you, not after playing-”
“Then we’ll fucking adopt!” Dave exploded.
“You don’t want to adopt! Do you think I haven’t noticed?” Sebastian snarled, pushing into Dave’s space. “God, the way you were all over Kurt, fucking hell-”
“Sebastian-!”
“Blaine’s carried twice, and you never trailed after him. But Kurt gets a bun in the oven and suddenly you’re like a god damn puppy,” he jabbed at Dave’s chest. “It get you hot? I bet you just wish it was you who had knocked him up-”
“Sebastian, stop it.”
“Well if you wanted a fucking family so bad, guess you should have married him instead,” Sebastian spit, turning as if to leave.
Dave grabbed his arm, grappling when Sebastian tried to tug out of his grip. “Let go,” he snapped, but Dave wrestled him down onto the bed, pinning his arms and kissing him because he didn’t know what else to do. Sebastian surged against him, biting Dave’s lip before plunging his tongue into the other man’s mouth. They battled more than kissed, tearing at each other’s clothing until their pants were pushed down and Dave was shirtless, Sebastian struggling with his sleeves. Dave took advantage of this, slotting their hips together and rolling them in a fast rhythm, both keenly aware of how long it’d been since they were intimate.
“So stupid,” Dave breathed. Sebastian’s shirt was tangled around his arms, and Dave used it to pin them above Sebastian’s head, forcing his bare torso to pull in a long, lean stretch. He slid his tongue from Sebastian’s neck down his chest, sucking and nibbling as he went. “I don’t want Kurt.” He got to the top of the other man’s stomach, groaning. “Want you. Want you full with a baby. Wanna look at you all ripe with our kid.” He pressed his face into the smooth skin of Sebastian’s belly. “I want to see our child and know that we did that, we created that.” He surged up to kiss the other man, hips pistoning faster. “I think about you holding them,” he whispered into Sebastian’s mouth, like a secret.
Sebastian threw his head back, moaning as he jerked up helplessly. They spilled together moments later, crying out in pleasure and defeat.
They lay panting, before Sebastian squirmed uncomfortably. Dave helped him free his arms, and Sebastian let them drop to his sides. He sighed before pushing himself up to sitting, looking at Dave with a blank expression. He soon stood, pulling up his pants and heading to their bathroom, emerging some moments later with a newly cleaned abdomen and his trousers done up properly. Dave sat up as well as he watched Sebastian pull on a clean shirt, before zipping up his bag and slipping on a pair of shoes.
“Sebastian,” Dave said, feeling exceedingly raw.
Sebastian grabbed his passport, wallet, and keys off the dresser, turning to Dave. “I just…” he trailed off, looking at his husband miserably. “I can’t do this right now, Dave. I can’t.” He leaned down, kissing the other man’s hair and murmuring something that Dave couldn’t hear. He left the room, and Dave listened as he called a cab, and eventually heard the front door close.
Dave couldn’t muster the energy to curse.