Chapter Text
To: Dad, Daddy From: Addie
Date: Wed, Oct 19, 3:38pm
Subject: If you love me, you will let me go.
Dear Poop and Dumdum,
Greetings and salutations.
I am writing to you with regards to an upcoming musical event that I would like to attend. It is on Thursday, November 3rd at 9:00 pm at a small musical venue in New York City. I think it would be a good cultural experience, and something of a good faith mission, should you allow me to proceed with my plans. As in, it would show that you have good faith in me, and my ability to be an independent young woman.
Fear not, fathers! I would not be attending alone. I would have an entourage of other like-minded young people with me. (including the boy I’m currently in love with.)
In conclusion, PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS HOLY LET ME GO TO THIS CONCERT. PLEASE I BEG OF YOU. I WILL DO ANYTHING YOU WANT ME TO DO.
Sincerely yours,
Adelaide Anderson-Hummel the First.
~~~~~
To: Kurt, From: Blaine
Date: Wed, Oct 19, 4:53 pm
Subject: You know.
PLEASE DON’T MAKE ME HAVE TO SAY NO. I HATE SAYING NO KURT. I KNOW IT’S MY TURN BUT I CAN’T.
~~~~~
To: Blaine, From Kurt
Date: Wed, Oct 19, 5:09 pm
Subject: re: You know.
I was waiting for this email. You’re so predictable.
And of course you have to say no. If you don’t say no, then I guess she’s going to this concert, and her inevitable death and/or resulting jail time will be solely your responsibility.
~~~~~
To: Kurt, From: Blaine
Date: Wed, Oct 19, 5:22 pm
Subject: re: You know.
I don’t like you.
But I love you.
Do you want Thai for dinner?
~~~~~
To: Addie, From: Daddy
CC: Dad
Date: Wed, Oct 19, 6:01 pm
Subject: re: If you love me, you will let me go.
Dear Adelaide the First,
It’s because we love you that we can’t let you go.
You’re only 15. The city is huge. Many of your friends are imbeciles. It would be poor parenting to let this happen.
Our answer is no. We’re sorry, we know you want to go. We’re willing to compromise. Maybe next time there’s a concert you want to go to, you can run it by us, and we’ll take you and a few of your friends?
We’d offer to do it this time, but I checked and the tickets are already sold out.
Love always,
Poop and DumDum
~~~~~
“Hey there,” Kurt says, walking into the kitchen, giving Blaine a peck on the cheek.
Blaine turns around and holds up his finger in a one second gesture.
“Beef pad thai, shrimp spring rolls, chicken pad king, and pineapple fried rice,” he says into the phone, his speech slow and precise, and then listens to the person on the other end. “How long? Thanks.”
He puts the phone down, and smiles at Kurt.
“That was some good phone you just gave,” Kurt teases.
Blaine rolls his eyes. “I hate the phone.”
“You could have ordered online.”
Blaine stares him down. “Why must you tease mmm-me so?”
“You don’t always have to talk on the phone. It’s not actually laziness, or fear, or whatever. Sometimes I order online.”
Blaine shrugs, and settles on one of the kitchen stools. “It’s b-b-better if I try.”
“Of course. You work hard at it. You don’t have to tell me how hard you try.” Kurt leans on the counter next to him, catching Blaine’s eye.
Every time Kurt looks at Blaine these days, all he can think is how well his husband is aging. How even with the gray forming at Blaine’s temples, and the laugh lines by his eyes, he could just as easily be 35 as 45. And how did they get so old anyway? Kurt still feels 20 half the time.
“We’re b-b-being shunned,” Blaine tells him, changing the subject.
“I figured,” Kurt says with a sigh.
“I asked her what she wanted for d-dinner, and she told me new parents.”
“She’s such a drama queen.”
“She is indeed.”
“Where’s Declan?”
Blaine glances at the clock. “Next door, but he should be home s-s-soon. I texted him about dinner.”
“Where’s the dog?”
“Um, hiding from Addie’s wrath? Sleeping sssss-somewhere? Poor Pic is getting old,” Blaine says with a frown.
They hear a door slam above them.
“Sounds like our little angel is emerging,” Kurt says with a smile.
“Are you ready for this?”
“I was born ready,” Kurt says, leaning in to kiss Blaine.
“Ew, you are both gross,” Addie says, stomping into the room a moment later.
“I thought you weren’t speaking to us?” Blaine asks innocently.
“I’m not. But I’m never above reprimanding you for making out in the kitchen.”
“Addie, sweetie,” Kurt starts.
She looks at him, tight lipped, and crosses her arms. Blaine can’t help but think how much she looks like Kurt when she does that. She might have gotten her blond hair elsewhere, but her icy blue eyes, facial expressions, and mannerisms are pure Hummel.
“We really think it’s for the best,” Kurt continues. “You’re too young. End of story.”
“How old were you the first time you went to a concert?” She levels this question at Blaine, who grins.
“Ha! I was like 20. I went w-w-w-with Matt. You won’t win your argument that way.”
“And you?” she says to Kurt.
“Well, I was in high school. But it was Ohio. And it was a stadium concert. I was with Uncle Finn and Rachel and like 10 other people. It was not an intimate venue in the city on a school night. There were no creepy train stations involved or back alley drug deals.”
“There won’t be any back alley drug deals!” Addie protests.
“Buh-buh-buh-ut there will be imbecile friends,” Blaine chimes in.
“Well, I did go with Puck,” Kurt confesses.
“I’m trying to help. This is, is, is no time to b-b-b-bring up Puck.”
They turn their attention back to Addie, who is not looking assuaged.
“Whatever, you two are nerds.”
They both shrug.
Declan comes through the back door then, a whirl of autumn air coming with him.
He smiles and waves.
“Don’t mess with Addie tonight,” Blaine signs.
“You can mess with me,” Addie signs. She speaks too. She’s better at speaking and signing. And they’ve always taken a Total Communication approach with Declan, so it works for them. “These two aren’t allowed to mess with me.”
“What did they do?” Declan asks, also speaking and signing.
Declan’s speech is good these days, getting better all the time Blaine thinks.
Sometimes he worries that they should have waited longer to get him the first cochlear implant, waited for Declan to be old enough to make the decision himself, but when he hears how well Declan speaks he can’t help but feel like they made the right decision to do the implant just before Declan turned five.
He knows Kurt never waivers in their decision, but Kurt doesn’t know as much about Deaf culture. Not that Blaine is an expert, but his minor in sign language and his years in special education have given him a different perspective.
“Well for starters, they called my friends i-m-b-e-c-i-l-e-s,” she finger spells. “Not sure what the sign for that is.”
Declan shrugs. “That’s the truth. Some of them are.”
“And on top of that,” Kurt says, turning to face Declan, signing and speaking. His signs are a bit slower than Addie’s or Blaine’s. And definitely slower than Declan’s. “We told her she couldn’t go to a concert in the city.”
It took Kurt longer to learn sign language than he would have liked. He still feels like he should be better at it, quicker, more adept. He knows the signs and he understands the language, but his fingers are cumbersome. He feels like he’s completely fluent but has a really terrible accent. Blaine assures him, time and again, that he’s a really great signer, but Kurt thinks Blaine might be a bit biased.
Declan raises an unimpressed eyebrow, and scratches his nose.
“Aren’t you on my side?” Addie demands.
Declan shakes his head.
“You do realize I’m paving the way for you. They won’t let you do anything fun, but if I make them set certain precedents now, you’re going to have a lot easier time when you want to start going out,” Addie explains snippily.
Declan narrows his eyes, thinking about this and then turns back to his dads.
“You should let her go,” he says, definitively.
Blaine signs something quickly to Declan, who signs something back.
“Poop’s gonna give me 20 bucks to be on his side. What do you have to offer?” Declan asks Addie, with a smirk on his face.
Kurt bursts out laughing. “We are not above bribery,” he says.
Blaine nods in agreement.
Declan puts his hand out, wanting payment immediately.
“I don’t negotiate with terrorists,” Addie says, turning on her heel and marching back to her room.
“Does that mean you don’t want the pineapple fried rice I ordered for you?” Blaine calls out behind her. He finds he barely stutters when he signs and speaks.
She pauses on the stairs, and comes back into the kitchen slowly.
“Tell me more about this pineapple fried rice.”
Kurt nods. “We’re not above bribing you to be our friend again.”
Addie nods, defeated, and leans against the wall. “I just really wanted to go.”
“I know, Addie-girl,” Kurt says, pulling her into a hug.
The lights flash, signaling the doorbell.
Declan puts out his hand again, gesturing towards the door with the other.
“Give a decent tip,” Blaine signs.
Kurt moves to the refrigerator to get drinks out for everyone, and Addie leans against the counter.
Blaine starts poking her in the arm. “Are you still mad at me?” he asks, continuing to poke her.
“Daddy,” she starts seriously. “Are you aware that you’re more annoying than my little brother? How do you feel about that?”
“I feel like I’m going to continue you b-b-b-bothering you until you forgive me. It’s not easy be-be-be-being the bah-b-bad guy.” This time he pokes her in the side, the way he used to when she was little.
She gives him a slightly withering look, but then rolls her eyes and can’t help but smile.
“Fine,” she huffs. “I forgive you. I can’t believe you bribed Dec, turning my brother against me.”
Declan comes into the room, carrying their food.
“Traitor!” Addie yells at him. “Saboteur!”
He looks at her wide eyed.
“I really needed that 20 bucks,” he explains.
Addie and Declan rarely fight with each other. They have a fascinating sibling dynamic. Addie, when she’s in big sister mode, is protective and kind to Declan. But there are other times when all she really wants is for him to be on her side, forgetting that he’s no longer the little boy that used to follow her around and bow to her every wish. It’s unusual when Declan goes against her, but more and more recently he has his own opinion and agenda, much to Addie’s chagrin. Blaine looks forward to later when he and Kurt will have a chance to discuss Declan’s rare rebellion against Addie.
They settle in at the table to eat, discussing their day, talking, signing, getting louder and louder.
“I’m thinking about doing the, the, the Turkey Trot this year. Wanna r-r-r-run with me, Dec?” Blaine asks, mid-meal.
“Yes!” Declan exclaims. “Yes. I love that one.”
“We’re gonna have to train a b-b-b-bit. You haven’t been running with me since be-be-be-fore your surgery.”
“I can do it. I wanna do it,” Declan affirms. “We’ve been running the mile in gym and everything’s been fine.”
“Good,” Blaine smiles. He loves having running to bond with Declan over. “What were you doing next d-d-d-door this afternoon?”
Declan laughs. “We were playing indoor baseball.”
“That sounds like a terrible idea,” Kurt says.
“They’re getting laminate floors put in their basement tomorrow,” Declan explains. “So everything is all cleaned up and pushed aside. It was Nerf baseball anyway.”
“That sounds mmmm-marginally safer,” Blaine admits.
~~~~~
A moment of Declan
I really want to ask my dads if I can play baseball. Like real baseball, not just baseball in Jack’s basement. But sometimes they’re a little … overprotective. I know they just worry about me, I think I really do get that. But sometimes I feel like I hold myself back a little bit just to make sure they’re okay. Like I worry about how much they worry about me.
And that’s not really how it’s supposed to be, right? The kid isn’t supposed to be worried about the parents, right?
I wonder if maybe I should have been on Addie’s side with the concert thing. Then maybe she’d be on my side after I ask them if I can play baseball. And if they said no at first, she would have helped me explain it to them. Why it’s a good idea.
And I mean, I already looked it up. There’s no reason for me not to play baseball just because of my implants. It shouldn’t be a big deal. I just don’t want them to make it a big deal.
I hope they don’t make it a big deal.
~~~~~
“Can I play baseball in the spring?” Declan asks.
Kurt and Blaine look at eachother and smile. They’re thrilled that Declan wants to join a team. He’s a bit of a loner, happy to spend most of his time with Jack, who lives next door. But this is the first time he’s shown any kind of interest in joining something himself. Not that Kurt and Blaine haven’t encouraged him to join team or clubs over the years, but Declan has always been a bit hesitant about groups.
But this, his interest in joining the baseball team, strikes them as very good news.
“Of course,” Kurt says, without a moment’s hesitation.
“Without a doubt,” Blaine agrees.
Declan smiles and hums happily.
~~~~~
Anderson-Hummel Residence.
Hey Addie-girl.
Hi Mama.
What’s wrong?
The dads won’t let me go to a concert.
I’m sure they have a very good reason.
Well, your son called my friends imbeciles.
That wasn’t very nice of him.
It wasn’t. Thank you for agreeing with me.
But he’s usually a very nice guy, so I have a feeling he just wasn’t expressing himself very well. Is he close by so I can reprimand him?
Yes. He is. And thank you, grandmother. Love you.
You’re welcome, Adelaide. Love you, too.
Whatever she ssss-said is a lie.
Hello to you too, bud.
Hi Mamacita.
Pretend I’m reprimanding you for calling Addie’s friends imbeciles.
[Blaine chokes on a laugh.] Yes, mom. I’m sss-sorry, mom. I won’t do that ever again, mmm-mom.
Good work. Aside from this concert argument with Addie, how are things?
Things are great. We just finished up dinner.
Good. How’s Declan?
He’s good. He’s b-b-b-back in the swing of things after getting the, the, the new implant activated. He’s really, really good.
And Kurt?
Well, I’m a little bit b-b-b-biased, buh-buh-ut he’s perfect.
And you?
I’m a little b-b-bit perfect myself.
Good. I miss you lately.
I’m sorry, mom. We’ll be out for, for, for Thanksgiving.
Oh, I know, and I swear I’m not trying to guilt you. I’m just tired of your father.
[Blaine chuckles, but stays quiet, he knows she’s just getting started.]
He’s so whiny lately. He’s never been whiny. Usually he’s so stoic. But the pain medicine they gave him for his hip is just making him such a … such a … Well, Blaine. He’s being a complete, I don’t even know. I can’t think of a word. I need to talk to more people. I’m spending too much time in the house. I’m losing touch with any decent vocabulary words.
So, go out with Aunt Kathy for lunch. He can take care of himself for a couple hours, r-r-right?
I suppose. I guess I just worry about him falling.
Just a thought, b-b-but maybe you should have worried more b-b-be, before you made him move the hutch.
That wasn’t my idea! That was his idea! I said I needed to clean behind it and that I would wait for Cooper to come over. But he took it upon himself. He was being pigheaded.
You r-r-realize you could get sssss-someone to come hang out with him while you go out? You dah-dah-dah-d-don’t have to leave him there alone?
Oh, he would just love that. A babysitter!
Just one of his friends! Or one of the kids. Call Cooper, ssss-see what Sabine’s up to. She could come over after school one afternoon and, and, and give you some time to yourself.
That does sound nice...
And when w-w-w-we’re there for Thanksgiving, we’ll give you a full d-d-day to yourself. Heck, two full days.
You’re a nice boy. Wait, what?
[Blaine is quiet again while he hears muttering in the background.]
Oh, for the love of God, I have to go. He dropped the remote control in between the couch and table and he can’t reach it.
Alright, mom. Love you, try not to drah-drah-drive yourself crazy.
Alright, alright, love you too. And love to Kurt and the kids.
Don’t kill dad. I kind of love him, too.
Fine. Bye, bud.
Bye Mama.
~~~~~
A week later, Blaine and Kurt sit Addie down one evening to ask her a favor.
She eyes them suspiciously.
“So,” Blaine begins. “Dad and I want to go out this ww-weekend with Matt and Julia.”
Addie’s eyes squint further.
Kurt picks up the train of thought. “And we were hoping you wouldn’t mind watching their kids.”
Addie sighs.
“They’ll b-b-b-b-bah-ring them here. Declan will help. And Jessa’s already 12, she’ll be helpful too,” Blaine continues.
“Miles doesn’t bark at people anymore,” Kurt adds.
“And Alex stopped pinching!” Blaine exclaims.
“And the twins are angels these days,” Kurt says.
“And we’re not above b-b-bra-bribery,” Blaine concludes.
“Tell me more about this bribery,” Addie finally says.
“A hundred bucks,” they say together.
Addie hums in deliberation.
“Please, Addie-girl,” Blaine says.
“Fine. But I think you owe me more than a hundred dollars.”
“We’ll discuss it,” Kurt says. “Dependent on how well the evening goes, and that the house doesn’t burn down, there could be more in it for you.”
“That seems fair,” Addie agrees.
“You are mmm-my favorite daughter,” Blaine tells her, holding his arms out for a hug.
She hauls herself off the couch to hug him. “And you are my favorite dad with a name that starts with B.”
“I accept that,” Blaine says, squeezing her. She’s gotten so tall lately. She had on a pair of boots with a heel the other day and she was taller than him. But right now she’s barefoot and still his little girl.
“Can’t. Breathe,” she chokes out.
“Liar,” Blaine says, squeezing her tighter.
She squeezes his waist in revenge.
~~~~~
That weekend Matt and Julia invade with their children on Saturday evening. All five of them love Addie. They spend enough time together that there’s no initial hesitancy that you sometimes see with kids. Though by and large, Matt and Julia’s offspring are hyperactive, to say the least.
Jessa, the oldest at 12, is the most mellow, she’s followed by Miles, 10, Alex (named after Blaine’s former coffee alter-ego, due to the loss of a bet), 9 and then the twins (identical), Nathan & Evan are 5. The twins are basically human tornadoes. Blaine and Kurt are well aware that they owe Addie big time for taking on this responsibility.
With little fanfare the adults make it out the house.
Kurt and Blaine live within walking distance of the train station, so they enjoy the short walk, chatting idly about the weather, work.
Once in the city, they make their way to the restaurant that has become their regular favorite. Most of the places they frequented in college have closed, or changed hands so many times they’re unrecognizable. But they discovered this place about 10 years ago, and they have a steak that Matt writes sonnets about, and Blaine approves of the chicken. Kurt and Julia are not nearly as picky as their significant others, but they think the place is fine.
“How’s your dad?” Matt asks Blaine as they read their menus.
Blaine chuckles. “He’s fine. I’m still not sure why an 81 year old mmm-man thought it was, it was, it was a, a, a good idea to move a hutch. I think it’s my mom we should be w-w-worried about. She’s had to wait on his ssss-sorry ass while his hip heals.”
“So, I guess no ice fishing this year?” Julia asks with a grin.
Blaine rolls his eyes.
“No! You can’t cancel ice fishing,” Kurt protests. “That’s my favorite weekend for shopping with your mom.”
“I guess we’ll see how his physical therapy goes,” Blaine says with a shrug. “Speaking of therapy, what do you think of Declan’s s-s-s-speech?” he asks Matt.
“I think it sounds really good,” Matt says. “His enunciation is even better than the last time I saw him. And that was only a month ago. I think getting the second implant was a good idea. Which I’ve told you at least a hundred times.”
Blaine nods. Declan hears well, surprisingly well, and understands a lot of of the world around him. But his speech was still quite garbled. Blaine knows that his speech doesn’t have to be perfect, he’s well aware of that. But it didn’t keep Blaine from feeling that there was more they could be doing for Declan. And Declan was game for learning. Blaine would have never pressured him about his speech, except that Declan was interested in working on it.
Declan sees a whole slew of different therapists, audiologists, speech pathologists. He only sees a speech therapist on a weekly basis these days, but every couple of months they make the rounds to the other doctors and specialists. Blaine’s even taken Declan to see Chad several times, mostly to get a second opinion on things.
“How’s he feeling about it?” Julia asks. “About the new implant and everything?”
“He takes in stride,” Blaine says. “It was his decision to get a second one.” Blaine shakes his head. Declan makes him emotional. Blaine is so scared to make the wrong decision when it comes to their son.
“I think Blaine’s more concerned than Declan is,” Kurt says, giving Blaine’s shoulder a squeeze.
“I want to mmm-make sure we do the right thing,” Blaine says with a shrug. “Particularly with the advances they’ve been making with r-r-re-reconstructing the cochlea. But all of Declan’s d-d-d-doctors agreed that since he lost his hearing to mmm-men-meningitis, he’s probably not going to be a candidate for the, the, the same kind of procedures as people who were b-b-born deaf. And that his implant w-w-w-won’t keep him from b-b-b-being a candidate for other advances in the future.”
His three dinner companions stare at Blaine.
“I know, I know. I’ve said all that a hundred times. I just need to keep r-r-r-reminding myself.”
Matt pats Blaine’s hand. “We get it, no worries.”
Blaine smiles. There’s a reason Matt’s still his best friend after all these years.
The waitress comes to take their order then. Julia goes first, followed by Matt, and then Kurt orders for both himself and Blaine.
Blaine thanks Kurt with a scrunch of his nose.
“God, I love that you still do stuff like that for each other. I swear, the romance never dies for you two,” Julia says, leaning back in her chair.
Matt drapes his arm around her shoulders. “When did the romance die for us?” Matt asks.
“When we accidently conceived twins.”
“Those damn kids,” Matt says, shaking his head solemnly.
“They sss-seem … less intense lately,” Blaine offers kindly.
“Ha!” Matt and Julia bark out at the same time.
“How much do we owe Addie for putting up with our brood this evening?” Matt asks.
“We’ll pay her,” Kurt insists.
“Oh, hell no,” Matt says. “We’ll pay her too if that’s the case.”
“And you can’t stop us,” Julia says.
“She’ll be thrilled,” Kurt says.
“She’s a good kid,” Matt says.
“She is, but we had our first serious ‘teenager’ fight with her recently,” Kurt says.
Conversation moves from there, all over the map. They talk work and kids and parents. Health insurance and 401k plans. The days where they make fun of themselves for discussing such mundane, adult topics have past. This is life. Though they do fall into a lengthy discussion about a new tv show, and Matt rants about how he had the same idea 15 years ago.
“Remember B? We were out having drinks and I said it! I said it at the bar, and I think someone must have overheard me. I could be a flobbity jillionaire at this point.”
Blaine rolls his eyes fondly, but concedes that Matt really did outline the basic plot that night.
They finish up, somehow Julia winning this round of “who will pay the check?”
“I have a new job. I’m no longer a stay-at-home mom. I could be an independent woman. You three don’t always have to pay for me,” she states.
“Please don’t leave me!” Matt begs. “And if you do, at least take the twins with you.”
She raises an unimpressed eyebrow at him.
“Anyway!” Matt says, clapping his hands. “How about coffee?”
Kurt checks his watch. “Have we heard from the kids?”
Blaine checks his phone. “Declan just texted me this p-p-p-picture.” He turns it so everyone can see.
“That’s an impressive blanket fort,” Julia says.
“Addie learned from the best,” Kurt tells her, linking his arm through Blaine’s. “I’m in for coffee. As long as it’s decaf.”
“You’re such an old man,” Matt teases him.
“Yeah, that year and a half difference between us is really starting to show up,” Kurt volleys, gesturing at his own gray-less hair and pointing towards Matt’s salt and pepper temples.
“I blame my children,” Matt says with a shrug. ‘“I have no idea how my parents did it. And we have two less than them.”
“There’s still time to catch up!” Blaine says.
Julia kicks Blaine in the shin.
“We should have gone the Sam and Erin route. One kid. One nice, quiet kid. And then you outnumber them,” Matt explains.
“We are so outnumbered, Matty,” Julia says, winding an arm around Matt’s waist.
“Why are we still walking?” Kurt asks suddenly. “We’ve passed like five coffee shops.”
“I had a specific one in mind,” Matt says.
Kurt gives Blaine a questioning look, but they continue on. After what seems like a ridiculously long walk to Kurt, Matt finally turns into a coffee house. It’s warm and bright inside, bustling on this Saturday night.
“Go find us a table,” Kurt says to Blaine and Julia. “Matt and I will grab drinks.”
“The usual,” Blaine says with a smile.
“I’ll just have tea,” Julia tells Matt. “Decaf!” she calls after him.
“Why do you I feel like you guys are up to something tonight?” Julia asks, as she and Blaine settle into a table on the far side of the room.
Blaine smiles and shrugs. “What could we be up to?” Blaine asks innocently.
She lets it drop, instead asking more specific questions about Blaine’s class, the students, the curriculum. By the time Matt and Kurt return, they’re deep in a discussion about how Blaine feels about teaching in an inclusionary classroom.
“It’s a challenge,” he says, accepting his mocha from Kurt with a smile. “Buh-buh-ut worth it. The kids are so great together. It’s an, an, an incredible thing to w-w-witness.”
The four move back into other topics, and Kurt thinks that maybe a caffeinated coffee drink was not the best idea for Blaine.
“Why are you bouncing like that?” Kurt murmurs to him.
“I don’t know,” Blaine says. “I’m b-b-b-bouncing?” His grin belying his awareness of his actions, but just wanting to tease Kurt. Kurt pats his knee.
One of the workers announces that there’s an open mic, and Kurt smiles. “Aw, I feel nostalgic,” he says.
“You’ll feel even more nostalgic in a minute,” Matt tells him, standing up.
Blaine blushes the same shade of red as his sweater when he and Matt stand up and move to the stage area. They had called ahead, learned that there were instruments that other participants never mind sharing. Blaine picks up one of the guitars, and Matt zeros in on a ukulele. He had planned to play guitar, but seeing the ukulele he can’t help himself.
They each take a stool and smile at the crowd. Julia is glowing, and Kurt’s hand is in front of his mouth.
Matt starts. “Blaine asked me to back him up tonight, and I can’t ever really say no to him, because he didn’t say no to me back in the day. I made him promise I was allowed at least one song. So, this is for you, Jules. Even after all this time.”
Matt starts in on a familiar song, and Blaine picks at the first few chords and Matt starts singing.
I was like, good gracious ass bodacious
Flirtatious, tryin’ to show faces
Lookin’ for the right time to shoot my steam (you know)
Waitin' for the right time to flash them keys
Then um I'm leavin, please believin (oh)
Me and the rest of my heathens
Julia laughs the entire time, cheeks red, tears streaming down her face. Kurt can’t stop watching her. At least until Blaine takes the “Girl, I think my butt gettin’ big” line, and then Kurt has to turn to watch him strum away. When they finish, Matt trades in his ukulele for a guitar, preparing to back up and harmonize with Blaine, like they have for so many years.
“It was … 26 years ago,” Blaine starts, voice shy, smiling nervously. Kurt knows he still detests public speaking, which is exactly why the fact that he’s doing it right now is so meaningful. “It www-was on an early November night ssss-sort of, of, of, of like this one that I-I-I first saw the perfect man. He talked to me and I r-r-ran away. Buh-buh-buh-ut somehow we found each other, again and again. He, he, um, he’s put up with me all this time. Ineffable, patient, my perfect fella. He’s always b-b-been willing to fill in my,” here Blaine signs the word “blanks” and Kurt smiles, shaking his head. Blaine will never cease to surprise him. “So, happy sorta-versary.”
Blaine starts with Pale Blue Eyes, and then transitions into First Day of My Life. Then he and Matt play When I’m 64, and round out the set with So Happy Together.
They finish, thanking the crowd, and head back to their spouses.
“Oh, Matt,” Julia says. “I take it back. Romance isn’t dead.”
Blaine sits next to Kurt and smiles bashfully.
“Do you have any idea how much I love you, poop?”
“How mmm-much? Scale of 1 to 10.”
“Infinitely. I love you infinitely.”
Kurt pulls Blaine towards him and kisses his flushed cheek.
~~~~~
When the adults get home, the house is practically pulsing with noise. Addie has the sound system going, and the kids are having a dance party.
Two out of the five Eversleigh kids and Addie descend upon them as they walk into the room. Declan and the twins keep dancing.
“How much sugar did you give them?” Julia calls over the music.
“Not that much even! They’re just really into it!” Addie calls back.
Julia gives her a thumbs up. These kids are going to sleep WELL tonight.
“Declan,” Kurt yells. “Dec!”
He’s twirling around one of the twins.
“He took his ears off!” Alex tells Kurt.
Kurt picks up one of the random foam balls that are strewn about the room and tosses it at Declan to get his attention. It hits him in the shoulder, and he glances around. He grins at the group that just entered the room and waves.
“It was too loud in here!” he yells, way louder than music, his voice booming.
Addie turns down the stereo then, and all the kids groan, except Declan who continues spinning Evan.
“You guys ready to go home?” Matt asks.
“No!” Jessa cries, and all the other kids nod. “It’s not even that late! We thought you guys were going to be gone longer.”
“It’s already 11 o’clock,” Matt says. “The twins are going to drop any second.” Declan still has one twin in his arms from twirling, and the other is leaning heavily on his hip.
Matt swoops in, picking up a twin in each arm.
There are hugs all around, and the Eversleighs are out the door, leaving what feels like a gaping hole behind them.
“So, did you guys have fun?” Blaine signs, and then starts to help the kids pick up the pillows and blankets, and foam balls that he has no memory of owning, that are strewn about the family room.
Declan talks a mile a minute, signing in between helping to clean up. He says that he loves Matt and Julia’s kids, and that he had a lot of fun, and he wishes they would come over more often.
Addie scoffs through the entirety of Declan’s monologue.
“I take you didn’t have as much fun, Addie?” Kurt asks.
“I had fun, but I think Dec is romanticizing the entire evening.”
Declan shakes his head. He signs to them that he’s going to go to sleep. They say goodnight, and Declan heads up the stairs.
Kurt watches him go and then turns to Addie. “So Declan really had a good time? He was okay?”
“Dad, he’s almost 13 years old, he doesn’t need me to babysit him.”
“We don’t mean it in a b-b-babysitting kind of way,” Blaine says.
“We just worry about him. We want to make sure he’s not overwhelmed, ” Addie says in a deep voice, and then makes it a bit higher for the next sentence. “We want to make sure he’s doing okay, right, poop?” To cap off her performance, she makes her voice deep again, and says, “Even better than okay, dumdum.”
“Her impression of you is getting really good,” Kurt says to Blaine, before turning to Addie. “You need to slow down his speech a little. Maybe add a repetition here and there.”
Blaine’s eyes go wide, but then he grins and throws a pillow at Kurt. “Her impression of you isn’t high p-p-pitched enough,” Blaine says.
Kurt throws the pillow back, and Blaine ducks, throwing himself down on the couch. Piccolo comes out of hiding then, and Blaine scratches behind his ears while he talks.
“In any event, Addie-girl,” he says, gesturing for her to sit next to him, continuing when she does. “We like to hear your thoughts on the mmmm-matter. And we’ll ask Declan the same questions,” Blaine explains.
“We certainly don’t think he lies to us, but,” Kurt pauses and smiles, taking the seat next to Addie on the couch. “He does tend to romanticize events. That’s a good word for it. He glosses over the negative.”
Addie sighs. “Yes, everything was fine. He was happy. He helped out a lot. The kids love him, he loves the kids. He took off his transmitters because it was loud, but I think he also wanted to rough house more with the boys, and he was worried about breaking them.”
“Such a good kid,” Kurt says, shaking his head.
“So, poop,” Addie says, patting Blaine’s knee. “Did dumdum like his surprise?”
Blaine leans over to smile at Kurt. “I think you could say that.”
“Yes, you could,” Kurt agrees, with a grin.
~~~~~
Later, when they’re in bed, the boys lay nose to nose, whispering like they have every night for the vast majority of the last 25 years, Blaine squeezes Kurt’s hand.
“Do you know how lucky we are?” he whispers.
“I do,” Kurt says, and then a look of worry crosses his features. “Do you think Addie resents us for making her keep an eye on Declan?”
Blaine rolls onto his back and puts his hands behind his head. “This is awfully d-d-deep for pillow talk,” he says to Kurt.
Kurt slides over and rests his head on Blaine’s chest. “I just don’t want her to resent us, or him, for that matter.”
Blaine’s hand comes down to caress Kurt’s arm.
“I, I, I don’t think she does. I think she’s just as, as, as protective of Declan as w-w-w-we are. I think she understands that we worry about him b-b-b-be-cause he’s Declan.”
Kurt nods, but doesn’t say anything.
“And let’s be honest, we’re not always like this. We’re still coming off of his surgery, and his new s-s-s-sp-eech routine, and all that b-b-b-business. It’ll be normal again soon.”
“You’re right, I know you’re right.”
“And if I’m not right,” Blaine says brightly, “We’ll b-b-b-buy her love for Christmas.”
“Good plan. That’s why you’re the brains of the operation,” Kurt says with a smile.
Blaine smiles too, and kisses him.
“I know it’s still a bit of a ways off, but what do you want for Christmas?” Kurt asks, changing the subject to something a little lighter.
“All I want for Christmas,” Blaine pauses dramatically.
“Is you?” Kurt interrupts.
“No, I was going to say I w-w-wwant to grow a b-b-b-beard. All I really want this Christmas is p-p-per-per-mission to grow a beard.”
“I’m not even dignifying that with a response.”
Blaine makes a sad face, but decides not to pursue it further yet. He’s laying the groundwork, Kurt is bound to give in by Christmas.
“Night, dumdum.”
“Night, poop.”