The Storm: Parenthood

Chapter 7

By Gayforkurt

Summary: Kurt and David Hummel-Karofsky have embarked on the most important part of their lives together – as parents. This is the story of their struggle to complete their family. COMPLETE.

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A/N: I want to thank all the folks who stayed with me on into the last part of my little trilogy. Thanks to the reviewers, followers, etc. Knowing that someone besides me enjoyed watching Kurt and Dave's journey meant a lot to me. Thank you all so much.

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Disclaimer: I own nothing but the OCs, as usual, although I wish it were not so.

"Dylan Hummel-Karofsky, get in here right now! So help me…!" Kurt's usually melodic voice rang sharply through the suite as he stood in the middle of the children's sitting room, hands on his hips.

From beneath a table a dark, tousled head came, slowly and carefully and the golden eyes, huge and liquid turned to look up at his daddy.

Kurt folded his arms across his chest and he stood with one foot tapping, his face neutral so the little boy wouldn't know what to expect. He kept his blue-green eyes trained on the four-year-old and repressed a grin at the hang-dog expression.

The little body followed the curly head and his son, tall for his age and slender, came crawling out. As he stood, Kurt could see the smears of chocolate and caramel on the backs of his hands and around his mouth.

Kurt turned slowly and took a seat on one of the smaller couches dotted around the room. He patted the space beside him and his little boy took the longest time possible in dragging his feet to come and sit beside him.

Dylan looked up at his daddy, his big golden eyes so like his papa's glistening wetly. "I'm sorry, daddy, I just wanted…"

Kurt huffed as he struggled to keep his smile back and to look firm while ignoring the smell of chocolate emanating from the child beside him. "I know what you wanted, mister, but I distinctly told you no more, didn't I?"

The little head nodded and Dylan stared down at his hands, apparently just realising they were a dead giveaway to his illicit activities. He ventured a squinty look back up at his dad and relaxed a little at the soft look on his face. Suddenly his nose twitched and he realised he wanted to cry; he hadn't wanted to disobey his dad, it was just that the little chocolates in the bon-bon dishes had called to him.

Kurt watched as moisture brimmed and trickled down the flushed little cheeks. He huffed a bit and then hauled the child onto his lap. He nuzzled his nose into the fine hair so like David's and then kissed him.

"Sweetie, we only tell you this because you will get sick if you eat too many sweets, okay?" He leaned back to look down at the dear little dirty face gazing back at him. "And you don't want to be sick for your party, do you?"

Dylan's eyes widened in horror only a four-year-old could manage at the thought of being too sick for his own party. He was going to be five; he didn't know what that meant, just that he was going to be a bigger boy, so papa said, and he was going to get to go to school with other kids.

"No, Daddy, I won't get sick, promise!" He shook his head, frantic at the thought that he would miss the greatest thing ever if he got sick.

Kurt chuckled at the look on his first-born's face, remembering how things could loom large in the mind of a child. "Relax, honey, I know you won't get sick because you won't be eating any more chocolate today."

He said this in the tone young Dylan had come to recognize as the 'I'm not joking' sound. He nodded his head so vigorously he rocked in Kurt's lap and his dad laughed again as he hugged him, unmindful of the chocolaty state of his son.

He looked up as David came in behind Cara, his 20-month-old baby girl who tottered towards him on plump little legs. David had taken her to change her wet diaper and now she was pretty and fresh again in a sweet little pinafore she had chosen. Her turquoise eyes, framed by long, dark lashes were brilliant in a face as pretty as a flower. Now she toddled over to slump against Kurt's knee and babble up at him – only a few words clear.

Dylan relaxed against the warmth of his daddy's chest but smiled up tentatively at his papa. Sometimes when one or the other of his parents was upset with him he would get a double scolding but though he would cry for a little when that happened, he never stayed sad for long. His daddy and papa loved him more than any other little boy in the whole wide world. They told him all the time. When he was naughty, they still loved him.

David smiled down at the picture the three made and then his eyes narrowed on the evidence of his son's perfidy but from the tear tracks on the little red cheeks he knew Kurt had already dealt with the situation.

He leaned down and dropped a swift kiss on Kurt's sweet lips before leaning against the arm of the love seat. "Everything sorted, love?"

Kurt nodded and grinned up at him. "Yes, I even got a promise because a certain someone won't want to miss his birthday party tomorrow."

Dave sniggered down at his son who was now smiling a little, memories of his scolding and the tears fading rapidly. "I'm going to be good, papa," he chirped and smiled widely as the larger man laughed.

"Yes, sweetheart, we'll see. It's a good idea to listen to daddy, though, because he's always right!"

Kurt slanted an eyebrow up at his husband, a contented smile curving his full pink lips. "Thank you, darling, for that ringing endorsement. I must find a way to reward you…" and chuckled maliciously when Dave suddenly shifted to hide his body's response to Kurt's seductive tone.

The children looked up at their parents, puzzled at the words they couldn't understand but it passed quickly because the way the grownups looked at each other made them feel happy, too.

Dylan hopped down from Kurt's lap and turned to announce: "I'm gonna wash up now, 'cos I'm a big boy tomorrow."

Kurt glanced up at David who nodded sagely. "That is so true, son, but if you do need help, a big boy can always call his parents, okay?"

Dylan barely spared him a quick grin before he was dashing off to his bathroom. "Yes, papa!"

Kurt shook his head as he watched his ball of energy, no doubt aided by the calories in the snaffled chocolate, and then turned to his sweet baby girl, lifting her onto his lap and snuffling his nose into her neck.

She giggled happily, her short arms trying to go around Kurt's neck as he tickled her. Her hair was exactly like his; in fact, whenever they were out friends would tease them that they had had him cloned to get such a perfect little replica.

Dave sighed at the picture the two made, his heart swelling even more as he remembered how they had so looked forward to having their sweet little Cara Elizabeth Denise. He and Kurt had hoped and planned shortly after their marriage to start the surrogacy programme that had been recommended to them and they had done so quite eagerly.

They had found the perfect person in Misha to be their surrogate mother because, according to David, she looked very much like Kurt though her eyes were a regular green and not the fascinating blue-grey-green of Kurt's. Over the years of their association, Kurt had had little twinges of nerves, fearing that David would find himself falling for her. After all, said Kurt one memorable night filled with tears and drama, Misha was bright and sweet and she was able to give David what Kurt couldn't.

He needn't have worried as Dave was absolutely besotted with his beautiful and talented husband and saw Misha only as a means to an end. They had weathered that emotionally turbulent time and been presented with a beautiful seven and a half pound boy they promptly named Dylan and added their dad's names afterwards.

Then they had decided to have their second child and when they had announced their decision, they had feared that Misha would have wanted a break to further her education. Dave and Kurt had fretted for a while and then, to their surprise and gratitude, she had decided to go ahead, using Kurt's DNA this time and she had eventually presented them with sweet-natured little Cara. She had actually been nearly nine pounds at birth and Dave had teased Kurt and reminded him that Burt was no 90-pound weakling.

When their nanny had up and quit, saying she didn't like the jet set lifestyle, they had hired their dear Toddy.

Now, Dave wished he had his camera as Cara, in her little polka-dotted and frilled pinafore, bounced in Kurt's lap as she babbled about helping Toddy choose her pretty dress.

"Bees-knees!" She announced this with a look of utmost satisfaction as she lifted the hem of the frock to show the frills.

Kurt burst out laughing as Dave shook his head at them. It was clear that her first words included things she'd picked up from her nanny and "the bee's knees" had been one of the phrases that had apparently stuck.

Kurt snuggled her and dropped a soft kiss on the downy cheek. "Yes, sweetheart, it is the bee's knees, indeed."

"Indeed!" Her bright little voice chirped the word perfectly and they all laughed. As Dylan hurried back into the room, he too laughed, though he didn't know why. He was just happy that everyone was happy.

Going up to stand beside his papa, he held up his hands to show they were now chocolate free. Dave scooped him up and, with the little legs wrapped around his waist, walked with him to a nearby armchair.

"So, does this mean you won't be snitching anymore of Daddy's bon-bons?" Dave raised an eyebrow at the little face turned trustingly up to him.

Dylan nodded vigorously before smiling widely over at his Dad. "No snitching, Daddy, promise!"

Kurt smiled approvingly at him and nodded back. His voice was warm with affection and love for his little family. "I'm happy to hear that, Master Dylan, because your Papa and I would be very sad for a long time if you became ill. Now we don't have to worry… because you promised."

He knew he was laying it on a bit thick but he had to find some way to enforce the lesson. Fortunately, Dylan was not yet at that stage where he thought he knew better than his parents and the thought of being sick absolutely scared him.

Kurt looked up at the faint sound of the lift coming up and they all turned their attention to the grille doors as they parted.

Toddy came out pushing an antique tea trolley that Kurt had found a couple of years ago and fallen in love with and she smiled at the young family.

"Ah, everyone up for a bit of tuck, are we?" Her cheery voice made Kurt chuckle and then he had to laugh as the children scrambled to get to the trolley. Dylan held up his hands to show her they were already washed and Toddy ruffled his curly hair as he passed.

Tea time was something they tried to indulge in as often as their schedules allowed and it was a custom that Kurt had absolutely adored from his very first time in England. Now he felt a little greedy anticipation at the sight of the little tea sandwiches, cream cakes and macaroons that Cook had sent up for them.

Having tea in the children's sitting room was also a ritual and, along with Nanny Todman's occasional instructions, Dylan and Cara were learning how to comport themselves properly.

After tea time was walking time and this was something Toddy had insisted she would do no matter the weather. Where she was from, one didn't huddle inside one's house because of inclement weather; oh no, there were things to do and the good Lord hadn't made them out of sugar to melt in a little rain water.

The first time Nanny had taken Dylan out when it was rainy, Kurt had fretted the entire time until they had returned. Listening, however, to a much younger and obviously unharmed Dylan describe all the puddles he'd been allowed to jump in had eased his anxiety somewhat. Toddy had simply looked at Kurt sympathetically; he was not the first new or young parent to think their little darlings were too delicate for real life.

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KDHK

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"Dylan, get back in there and put your pants on!" This time it was Dave's turn to chase the little rapscallion down and get him dressed in time for his little guests and their parents to arrive.

The little boy was understandably excited and Dave really hadn't the heart to blame him.

"Papa, my feet just want to run!" Dave had cornered Dylan by the little white piano Kurt had installed in the children's sitting room after he'd decided they weren't too young to start their music appreciation.

Now Dave stood with his hands on his hips, staring at his son whose lower lip was quivering as he tried to articulate the nervous energy he didn't understand.

Dave laughed at him. "Yes, son, I understand, but you can't very well greet Gianna only half dressed, can you?"

Dylan's eyes widened and his little mouth dropped open even as he hopped from foot to foot. "No, papa, no! I don't want her to see me like this!" The wail was cut short as Dave managed to scoop him up and he turned with his son in his arms to head back to his bedroom.

Dave hugged him and bounced him a little, not thinking the little boy, who was five years old that day too old for such an action. His boy was understandably distressed about his crush seeing him half-dressed and he grinned to himself.

"Well, let's get you looking all spiffy, then, okay? Gianna is going to think you're the greatest little boy in the world."

Dylan nodded, his confidence returning as he calmed. Gianna was his bestest friend, he'd told his parents and explained that she was going to marry him when they grew up. His daddy had looked at him kind of funny.

"Wait, sweetie, did you mean 'you' are going to marry 'her' when you grow up?"

Dylan hadn't thought anything of it but had shrugged and continued playing with his toy army all spread out on his bedroom floor and trying to keep a tank out of Cara's reach.

"That's what she told me, daddy; when we grow up, she's going to marry me."

His daddy had made a funny sound and when he'd looked up he could see his face was all pink and his eyes were shiny. Grownups were so funny.

Now he couldn't wait to finish getting dressed and he sighed when his papa ran the hairbrush through his hair and then smiled at him.

He looked at himself in the mirror and nodded once, just like he'd seen his papa do. His daddy had decided that he would wear his favourite colours so now he had on a green shirt with tiny little planes all over it and dark blue 'dungarees'. Toddy told him that that's what they used to call jeans when she was a little girl. Huh, he couldn't imagine his nanny as a little girl but he loved her so he believed everything she said.

Now he looked up at his papa who was smiling at him and told him thanks.

Dave couldn't help himself; he pulled his little boy to him for a quick hug and just barely restrained himself from tousling the same hair he'd just got neat. Sometimes when he looked at Dylan he saw traces of the little boy he himself had been, at least that's what the old photos had shown.

They made their way downstairs in the lift and headed out to the walled garden where Kurt, Cara and Nanny Todman were waiting for them. The guests were to arrive by 4 p.m. and they had only about ten minutes to spare.

Kurt smiled as he watched his two best-loved men walking towards him looking so handsome. He smiled down at the shorter of the two.

"Why, Master Dylan, you look positively handsome today!" His voice was light and musical and no one could doubt he was an extremely contented man.

Nanny Todman nodded as well and she put Cara down so she could toddle over to her brother. Dylan grinned happily at the compliment and the attention, kneeling on the soft grass to grab hold of his sister as she reached him.

"I'm five today, Cara!" He laughed as the little girl collapsed against his knees and she clapped her hands. He didn't think she actually understood him but she was happy because he was laughing and she loved him.

Kurt came over to lift the little girl onto his hip and he reached out a hand to smooth back a lock of Dylan's curly hair.

"Now, remember, you have to say 'thank you' when someone gives you a gift or a compliment, okay, sweetie?"

Dylan's eyes widened and then he grinned, saying, "Thank you, daddy!"

Kurt laughed, his eyes shining as he gazed at his handsome little boy. "You're so very welcome, darling. Now, come and sit while your papa plays doorman for your guests."

They giggled as Dylan stared up at his beautiful daddy and his gurgling sister. He loved his family and he loved Nanny Toddy and he loved being five!

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KHDK

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Kurt and David stared around at the laughing, screaming, running, jumping, bouncing children, a slight look of bewilderment on their faces. Some of the other, older parents simply laughed at them and let them know that they hadn't seen anything yet.

"Guys, wait until they start asking for their own cars; that's when you're going to start feeling the pressure!"

That was Marian, a brash, tiny, older parent whose six-year-old was a particular friend of Dylan's.

Kurt groaned at the thought of Dylan being old enough to drive. "Please, Marian, let me keep my illusions for a few more years!"

Everyone chuckled and the more experienced parents just shrugged and sipped their cold beverages. The New York summer that year had been particularly brutal and now, at the end of August, they were all frankly looking forward to the start of the school year and the cooling down of the weather.

"Hey, Dave, I hear you're moving the family back to England. What, New York schools not good enough for ya?"

Dave suspected that Richard, a tall, gangly fellow with a grating voice was already past his drinks limit but he smiled politely as he shook his head.

Kurt, however, jumped in with a slight glare at the insensitive jerk although his voice was ever sweet. "Why, Rich, isn't your older girl finishing up in Switzerland? Aren't New York schools good enough for you?"

Dave held up his hand as he took in the looks that had turned their way, ranging from avid curiosity to mild discomfort. He dropped a swift kiss on Kurt's dark-chocolate hair and murmured softly to him before turning to their jackass of a guest.

"Come on, Rich, I think you've had a bit too much to drink; don't spoil things." He grinned around at their other grown-up guests before continuing. "Actually, I simply like the idea of Dylan getting a few years of English schooling under his belt."

He said this with such finality that no one was impolite enough to continue on a subject that was actually the private business of Dylan's parents.

The slight tension eased considerably when Richard's wife managed to steer him towards the buffet to try and get some more food into him and the others relaxed.

One woman, a rather quiet redhead with the most gorgeous eyes, turned to Kurt. "Kurt, I can't believe you don't plan to sing again for a while. I think that's a waste of a beautiful voice right there."

There was a hum of agreement and once again all eyes turned on Kurt but this time he was blushing slightly even though he smiled.

"I've not retired, guys, seriously! I just want a break to focus on my family," he laughed. "I've not turned into a recluse or anything; in fact, I'm getting into the philanthropy side of things, continuing where David's parents left off."

"That's wonderful, my dear," Marian chimed in again. "Come to think of it, you and I should probably talk because I've always been interested in after-school programmes and it's been terrible how much our governments have dropped the ball on that."

There ensued a passionate discussion on ways they could get involved in arts programmes and even set up grants for talented kids who didn't have the resources needed to pursue their dreams. Kurt felt his heart swell as he thought about getting to do something more than just helping his high school alma mater through Rachel.

"I'll definitely keep in touch with as many of you who want to do this. We should be back here for Christmas hols and you guys are definitely coming to my Christmas bash, okay?"

There was happy laughter during which some got up to get more food – the birthday cake had been Dylan's favourite marmalade cake that Dana had sent them – and more drinks. The party would start to wind up within the next hour or so as Kurt thought the kids should be put down by at least 8 o'clock.

He watched the children scampering around the garden, Nanny Todman keeping a careful eye on Cara and a couple of other toddlers and he sighed in a satisfied manner. Suddenly he saw Dylan stop and look over at him, a huge grin on his little face.

Kurt laughed out loud when the little boy ran over to him and launched himself into his arms.

"Hey, sweetheart, everything good?" He ran the risk of tousling his son's hair and nuzzled his nose against him.

"Thank you for the party, daddy. I love you!" Dylan reached up and kissed his dad, smacking his lips against his.

Kurt pulled back with a suspicious little glint in his eye but he smiled and said, "You are always welcome, darling… but why do you taste like chocolate?"

Kurt knew he had not included anything chocolate in the desserts, some of which were still on the buffet tables. He watched Dylan reach into his pocket and when he withdrew his hand, Kurt recognized the silver foil and tiny strips of paper.

Dylan held his little hand up to Kurt so he could see, saying triumphantly. "Kisses! Gianna gave me them as a special present!"

Kurt laughed and hugged the little body close to him for a second or two before easing back. "Mmmm, those are the best kisses, baby, chocolate kisses!"

The two heads rested against each other's and they smiled into shining eyes. Kurt felt his throat tighten as he marveled at his great luck. It didn't matter how many children they had, where they lived or went to school, this simple feeling of being with loved ones was the greatest thing in the world.

He smiled at his little boy and his chocolate kisses and then kissed him on his cheek. "My favourite kisses in the world."

The End