#but my drama teacher came and brought her little grandson !!! and he said he liked the show !!!!!!

[tapewormoffthestring]

i did shows 👍

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Changed For the Better 8 [Klaine Advent Day 8]

Rating: S for Shenanigans Word Count: 2792 Summary: AU - Kurt’s a struggling actor living in New York, and is currently working on a Made-for-TV movie starring Cooper Anderson.

A/N: Written for Klaine Advent Day 8: Health

[Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3] [Part 4] [Part 5] [Part 6] [Part 7]

//

Changed for the Better - Part 8/24: Just the Way You Are

The first few days after Kurt came home were pretty refreshing.  He never thought he’d miss Ohio, and he didn’t really, but there was something nice about the wide open spaces, the slower pace, and the less complicated life his family led that helped put his mind at ease.   His dad welcomed him home, as always, with open arms, while Carole had a home-cooked meal ready for him.   They were up until much later than Burt or Carole were used to listening to Kurt’s stories about filming the movie he had been - Carole telling him that she’ll definitely record the movie once it aired.  

Kurt had three days of relative peace, no planned schedule, nothing to do but catch up on movies and magazines, and browse the music store looking for a good piece to sing for his audition for Blaine’s show.  He put his phone on silent, and spent time with his dad and Carole.  He’d be down in Ohio for three weeks, might as well get the best out of it - and ignore his regular life for a while.  

And then Finn and Marley showed up for dinner on the fourth day he was home. And as happy as it was to be with his brother again, one thing was clear -- it was wedding planning time.   He was ready.  He had his clipboard and his headset and a long list of plans he’d been thinking about before Finn and Marley had showed up.  He told Finn that he’d get started bright and early on everything.  

After dinner, Finn took him aside.  

“Kurt, I know you’re in charge of everything, and I trust you, I--we just have a few requests,” Finn said.  He took out a folded piece of paper from his pocket.  “The budget isn’t huge - we’re having the ceremony in that field past maple street.  The city said they wouldn’t even charge us or anything.  There’s a barn near by incase it rains. Burt even said he’d officiate.”

“Did he?” Kurt smiled.  His dad hadn’t told him that.  

“Yeah,” Finn said.  “Marley said she didn’t need a fancy church wedding, and with her being pregnant and all...just we don’t need anything big.  We’d like to have food that we know the place it came from and maybe just some folding chairs - maybe with Christmas lights as decorations.  We’re not picky about that.”

“Not picky about the chairs, huh?”

“Chairs don’t really matter.  Marley said the guests could sit on haystacks as long as we still go married,” Finn said.  Oh, she was a sweet one, wasn’t she, Kurt thought fondly.  “Anyway, the one thing Marley really wanted was for the flowers to be peonies.  She really likes peonies.”

“That’s perfect,” Kurt said, his eyes lighting up.  “Based on the bridesmaids’ dresses, I was going to go with a cobalt and amaranth theme, maybe a more pastel version, and peonies would be lovely.”  

Finn game him a confused look.  

“That’s the color scheme, Finn...don’t worry about it.”  

“Also, no birds pooping glitter,” Finn game him his serious look.  

Kurt stifled a laugh.  “You know, we’re not sixsteen anymore.”  

“I’m not cleaning up bird poop at my own wedding.”  

“Ah, you are a simple soul, Finn.”  

“There’s one more thing,” this time, Finn rubbed the back of his neck, the way he did when he was apprehensive about what he wanted to say.  “You’re not bringing Rachel as your date, are you?”

“Oh, no,” Kurt said.  He hadn’t even thought about it.  “I’m going alone.  Besides, Rachel’s okay, Finn.  I promise.”

“Oh, good,” Fnn said. “I mean, I wish Rachel well and all, and I wasn’t really worried about her, but I don’t want her at my wedding.  She’d be very high drama, and I think I’m better without that level of stress in my life.”

“Understandable.”

“You know what’s weird?”  Finn continued.  “I didn’t even think about her until Marley brought it up.  I mean, I was engaged to her, she was my whole world.  And I didn’t even remember she was on the planet.  Is that a mean thing to say? I don’t know.”

“It makes sense,” Kurt said - giving him a pat on the shoulder.  “Just because someone meant something to you then doesn’t mean they have to mean that to you now.  Besides - you seem happy Finn.  Sometimes the universe can send you things when you least expect it.”  

Finn looked relieved, and happy.  “Yeah, sometimes they do.”  

Finn looked past him, and to the kitchen, where Marley was helping Carole with the dishes.  Kurt knew that stupidly-in-love look anywhere.  And even though a little twinge of jealousy ran through him, he was glad for his brother -- who seemed at peace for the first time in a long time.

//

[Texts between Kurt and Blaine, two weeks before the wedding.]

Blaine: Hey! Can I get your email so I can send you info about the show.  And the audition?

Blaine: Hope all is going well with your family.

Kurt: Oh thanks!  hummelk527@gmail.com  

Kurt: Does your family ever make you question your mental health?

Blaine: My family’s Cooper.  What do you think?

Kurt: There is way more wedding drama than should be.  Apparently, about 100 more people want to be invited than Finn and Marley can handle - the cousins are coming out of the woodwork.  Carole’s sister arrived yesterday and has been in a constant state of drunkenness since she’s been here.  Oh, and Marley’s 2nd cousin is doing the cake.  I tried the muffins she sent us.  They were horrible.  The cake’s gonna be a monstrosity.  

Blaine: Well, at least you’re family wants to be a part of it.  I can’t remember the last time even my immediate family was in the same room, let alone over a hundred of us.  

Kurt: Well, true.  They’re just all driving me crazy.

Blaine: lol

Kurt: Oh! And my grandmother -- my grandmother who isn’t related to my brother or my future SIL biologically is insisting that she come.  She told my dad she wants to be a part of her step-grandson’s wedding because she doesn’t think I’ll ever get married.  I just can’t…

Blaine: Do you even want that? The whole wedding and a marriage stuff?

Kurt: I always said I’d be married by 30.  I always wanted a lavish wedding.  I know exactly how it’s going to go.  Groom was always a little fuzzy though.

Blaine: Ah, yes.  I used to have dreams about meeting a prince charming who’s sweep me off his feet and we’d have this fairy tale romance, you know?  Now, I think I just want someone I can picture growing old with, you know?  

Kurt: Yeah, that’s a nice thought.  Same.

Kurt: So, Finn wants to hire a local Journey cover band for the music.  How do I talk him out of this…

//

“Hey, Kurt, have a second?” Marley peaked her head out of the guest room of his dad’s house, and waved her hand for him to come in.  

“Sure,” Kurt said.  Marley kept the door mostly closed as he slipped in.  He knew why.  Her gorgeous wedding dress hung on the closet door.  They were keeping it at his dad’s house so Finn wouldn’t see it.  Marley, he found, was surprisingly superstitious about certain things - not wanting Finn to see the dress was one of them.  “What’s up?”

“There hasn’t been a real good time to do this, so I thought I would now,” Marley said.  She fished a check out of her pocket.  “It’s not much, but it’s Finn and my’s way of saying thank you.”

Kurt took the check, stunned.  “You guys really didn’t have to.  I had planned on doing it for free.”

He tried to give it back to her, but she pushed hand away.  “No, really.  These past few weeks have been--absolutely crazy.  But also wonderful.  And I wasn’t one of those people who needed a huge wedding, just someone that I wanted to be married to was fine enough.  But you’ve made it magical.  And please, take it.  Because there’s no amount of money can pay you back for what you’re giving me.”  She rubbed her belly a little, and smiled.   “The three of us really thank you.”

Kurt was utterly flattered.  “Well, you’re welcome.  It’s been a pleasure.  And weddings are always magical.”

Marley looked him over curiously.  “You know I had no idea that you were a romantic, Kurt Hummel.  I’ll admit, when Finn first said you’d help with the wedding, I thought he was joking.”

“Well, there’s a silly romantic underneath the hard, cynical shell,” Kurt said.  “It just doesn’t come out much.”

“Well, it should,” Marley said.  “I like it.  There’s something else, too.”  She went to the dresser, and pulled a piece of sheet music from the top drawer.  “I wrote a song, for Finn, for us.  And I was wondering if you were open to singing it for our dance.”

“Oh, Marley,” Kurt said, astounded.  “I’d be honored.”  

“Thanks! I’d sing it myself, but I don’t know if I could get through it.”  

“Are you nervous?” Kurt asked.  “About all of this, I mean.”

“No, not really,” she replied.  “Maybe about ripping my veil or not showing up on time.  But about marrying Finn? We’re already married.  It just feels like it’s making it official.  And having a big party to celebrate.”  She took a seat on the bed.  “You know, I remember when we first met.  It was at school and one of the other teachers thought it would be a great idea to give the kids sparklers -- while we were inside.  And I was in the process of trying to round the kids up when Finn showed up -- having dropped something off to the principal.  And he stepped in to help -- just as the sprinkler system went off.  The sparklers went out, and we had two dozen screaming, wet children, and he just -- handled it.  Our lives don’t get much more dangerous than that -- sparklers inside.  But I wouldn’t trade it for anything.  He’s going to make an excellent father.  And that’s more important to me than the actual wedding.”

Kurt’s heart twinged.  The old romantic that had tried very hard to bury kept rising to the surface.  “Yeah, I think you guys will be okay.”

//

[Texts between Kurt and Blaine, one week before the wedding.]

Blaine: This show is becoming a disaster.  

Kurt: Oh?

Blaine: Yeah.  Cooper insists on having a role.  I just spent an hour listening to a debate on colors for blazers - blue with red piping or red with blue piping.  An hour! And June is insisting we change half the script.  We can’t change half the script - it would completely delude the meaning of the story.  Help!

Kurt: Okay.  Tell Cooper he can play a statue that’s intensely pointing - he’ll be good at that.  

Kurt: Blue with red piping - it’s classier, and will go better with my skin tone.  

Kurt: And give June a fake script and keep her out of rehearsals.  Once the show opens, there won’t be anything she can do about it.

Blaine: You are amazing.

Kurt: I know.

Kurt: The show’s going to be great!  

Blaine: Sometimes I wish I was just a performer.  Someone else can make all the decisions.  

Kurt: That’s why you put all this hard work in now.  Then someday, you’ll have all the people working under you make the decisions and you can do as you please.  

Blaine: Well, then I look forward to some day having you under me.

Blaine: I meant professionally.

Kurt: You couldn’t afford me.  

Kurt: Besides, who’s to say that someday I won’t have you under me?

Kurt: I mean, I do plan to have all of you working for me some day.

Kurt: ;)

Blaine: You’re diabolical.  

Kurt: Some would call that cleverness.

//

The day of the wedding came all too quickly.  And for all their planning, it was crazed and chaotic as any wedding could be.  Still, with the exception of a few minor things, there were always a few minor things, the wedding went off relatively seamlessly.  It helped that the weather cooperated, and it was sunny and warm with a slight breeze.  The ceremony was lovely, Marley was beautiful and glowed as she walked down the aisle, and Finn was the most composed and adult-like Kurt had ever seen him.  

Afterwards was pictures, and then everyone making their way to the reception.  Kurt sang the opening song, the one Marley had written as a surprise for their first dance.  Finn was so touched he began to cry as they had their first dance.  Kurt felt the song in his bones, a song about deep love, and companionship, and imperfectly perfect.  

A good while into the reception, Kurt took a seat at one of the back tables.  There were scatter plates of half eaten cake on them, half drunk champagne glasses, and the tablecloth had been marked up by blue crayon.  At least it matched the peonies, he thought with a laugh.  

His dad was sipping a beer, leaning back in his chair, watching the chaos out in the room.  Kurt had his wine glass, and sipped from it quietly.  It was nice to be on the outside of the madness for a few minutes.  

“You did a lovely job, Kurt,” his dad said.  Burt didn’t turn his head, but Kurt could hear the pride in his voice.  

“Well, I try,” Kurt said.  Another sip of wine, and he was becoming relaxed.  It was nice.  

“You’ve been awfully quiet today,” Burt said.  He gave Kurt a long look.  “Something on your mind?”  

“No, no,” Kurt assured him.  “I’m just taking it all in.”  

“Thinking about your own wedding, huh?” His dad gave him a wink.  

Kurt wasn’t as sure as he once was.  “I don’t think that’s going to happen -- not unless I decide to marry myself.”

“Oh, c’mon,” Burt said.  His dad was cheerier than usual - probably the beer taking over.  “You’re still so young.”

“You were younger than me when you met mom.”

“And twice your age when I met Carole.”

Huh.  He had never thought about it that.  

“Age doesn’t mean anything, Kurt.  Just a number.”

Kurt swirled his wine.  He’d be going home soon, and a lot of things to confront when he got back.  “Sometimes I wonder if I’d have been happy if I had married Adam.”

Burt gave him an odd look.  “Would you have been?”

“You didn’t like Adam?”

Burt considered his words carefully before he spoke.   “Adam was perfectly fine.  But more importantly, I’m happy with however you’re happy.  But you know, kiddo, you’re the only one who can do that.  No one’s gonna make you happy if you’re not happy with yourself.”  

“Adam wants to get back together,” Kurt said.  It was the first time he brought it up with anyone -- anyone other than Blaine all those weeks ago.  It felt nice to say it out loud - and he knew his dad was a good choice to turn to.  

“Ah,” Burt said, nodding, as if expecting it.  “Do you?”

“I don’t know,” Kurt admitted.  His mind wandered not to Adam but to Blaine.  Blaine, who he had spent the last three weeks texting.  Blaine, who he felt like he had known so long and it had only been a month.  Blaine who he was wishing was there with him now.   And for a second he thought of when he and Blaine met, Blaine looking so handsome in that tux.  “I thought maybe I did.  But then, life sometimes throws you unexpected sparklers inside.”

“How many glasses of wine have you had?”

“I’m fine dad,” he said.   Maybe his heart knew what it wanted, but his head was just slow.   “I’m just -- thinking about what I have to face when I go back to reality.  I just have some choices to make.”

“Well,” Burt said.  “I’m not going to lie and say I don’t have my reservations about the whole thing.  But you’re your own man, an adult now, and I encourage you to make your own decisions.  And I’ll support you.  If Adam is what makes you happy -- then fine.  If it’s some other guy, then that’s fine, too.  And if you really want to marry yourself? Well, I’ll be honest, that one is a little weird.  But I’ll be right there at your wedding if that’s what you want.”

Kurt burst out laughing, then placed his head on his dad’s shoulder, letting out a heavy sigh.  His dad always had a way of making him feel better.  “I love you.”

“I love you, too kiddo.”