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notarelationship · 5 years ago

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Anderson’s Ghosts 13/24

Klaine Advent: Monument

Thanks all so much for reading my Klaine retelling of (obviously) A Christmas Carol. I am working with a thin outline, but I am very much winging this for each word and posting without a beta, so apologies for any punctuation or spelling errors, and any inconsistencies if they pop up (I am actively trying to avoid them!).

Read it all on AO3

Thanks again!

They were standing on a street corner in a quiet Lima neighborhood that Blaine was unfamiliar with.

“I don’t think we’re in the right place,” Santana said, concern wrinkling the dried blood on her forehead. “How did we miss it?” She turned to Blaine. “Do you know anyone who lives here?”

“I have no idea,” Blaine said. “I don’t know that many people. I know I’ve never been here.”

Santana put her hands on her hips and spun around in a circle several times, as if she was trying to pick a direction. When she started walking she moved so fast that Blaine had to jog to catch up to her.

“Where are we supposed to be?” Blaine asked. “It can’t be my mother, she moved to Florida after she divorced my father. I don’t think I have any other relatives around here.” Santana said nothing, she just kept walking. After about three blocks she stopped in front of a small bungalow style house with an attached garage. They could see through the windows that the lights were on in all of the downstairs rooms, and a few of the upstairs ones as well.

“Who lives here?” Blaine asked.

Santana gave him a withering look. “You may think you’re ready to change, Tweedle-Dum, but you’ve still got a lot of time to be spectacularly disappointed in yourself tonight, I think.” She grabbed his hand, leading him up the few steps to the porch and right through the front door and into the living room.

Blaine had no idea where he was. The living room was empty, but he could hear voices coming from another room. He followed them to find Sam Evans in the kitchen with his wife, Mercedes. There were two children running around and Sam was trying to keep them from getting in Mercedes’ way.

“You have known that man since you were both nine years old.” Mercedes was talking to Sam while she darted around putting finishing touches on what looked like a whole turkey. There were bowls and containers of traditional side dishes on the table. “I do not understand why he makes you call him Mr. Anderson, even if it is only at work. It’s not like you ever see him outside of the office any more.”

Sam looked slightly pained. “He’s not like he used to be, ‘Cedes, you know that. Sometimes it’s like we were never even friends at all.”

Blaine hugged himself. He had met Sam playing little league baseball when they were kids. Sam had been there for him when he came out to his family, when he’d gotten beaten up at school for it. They had drifted apart when Blaine went to Dalton, but never completely.

“Here, put some of those sides in this rubbermaid so we can take them to the Hummel’s tomorrow,” She said, handing Sam a few containers. “Was his dad really that terrible? To make Blaine turn out like this? I’ve met his brother and he seems like a perfectly fine man.”

“Yeah, I just think Blaine felt a lot of pressure, he didn’t want to be a disappointment.” Sam snapped the lid on a container. “That turkey looks amazing, babe,” he said, peeking over her shoulder. “Like a turkey monument to Burt Hummel”

Mercedes made a face at Sam, then laughed. “What does that even mean? No one eats monuments. You are so strange sometimes.” Sam kissed her, then shooed the kids out into the dining room. “I’m just glad you got tomorrow off,” Mercedes went on. “We should get over there around three. You are in charge of getting the kids ready.”

“That’s all you get,” Santana said, appearing beside him. Before Blaine could object she slipped her hand in his and they were gone.

#klaine advent 2019 #klaine advent: monument

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notarelationship · 4 years ago

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Anderson’s Ghosts 24/24

Klaine Advent: Yearn

And here it is! The last of my Klaine Advent 2019 chapters. Just in time to start thinking about 2020!

Thank you everyone for reading. I’ll be posing the last few chapters on AO3 as the final chapter there, link to the beginning is here

If you have missed any earlier entries they can be found at Anderson’s Ghosts, or each individual chapter: Achievement, Beer, Creed, Date, Emergency, Fist, Ground, Hiccup, Interrupt, Joy, Kinship, Lecture, Monument, Nest, Overwhelm, Part, Quarrel, Reasonable, Speed, Treat, User, Verdict, Worry

Lunch was a bit awkward. Blaine barely knew how to behave with his own family, let alone someone else's, but when Kurt invited him he couldn’t say no.

“Is your family still in Lima, Blaine?” Carol asked, once they were all settled around the dining table.

Blaine cleared his throat. “Well, my brother is here, but our mother moved to Florida years ago, and she doesn’t come back to Ohio.” He didn’t add that he hadn’t actually seen her in years.

“You don’t see them for the holidays?”

Blaine hadn’t spent holidays with his family in years, but he was sure if he said that in front of this crowd there would be a mixture of sympathy, pity, and for those who knew him better, maybe a bit of private scorn. He didn’t deserve anything but the scorn.

“Nah, Blaine usually works on Christmas,” Sam answered for him.

“You work on Christmas?” Kurt asked, while helping himself to some delicious looking potato casserole. “That doesn’t sound fun.”

Blaine winced. “It’s not.” He paused as Sam handed him a plate of ham, and he took a slice and passed it on. “But I think those days are over. I’m headed over to my brother’s later tonight, and I’m actually leaving for New York in the morning.”

“Oh really? I live in New York,” Kurt said. “What are you going to do there?”

Blaine laughed quietly. “I’m not entirely sure yet.”

From there conversation spread around the table, and Blaine could sit quietly and just soak it in. Watching Kurt, it was hard not to yearn for the life he never had, but Blaine didn’t want to mope about it. He had already changed. He may never have an opportunity again to really get to know Kurt, but he was on the road to setting things right, and he could settle for that for now.

After lunch was over Blaine followed Sam and Mercedes to the family room, where the kids went right back to playing with their Christmas gifts. Burt joined them while Carol and Kurt cleared the table.

“Anderson,” Burt said, once he was sitting comfortably in what was obviously his favorite chair. “Can I ask you something?”

“Of course,” Blaine answered, sitting on the couch, but near enough to Burt for them to have a quiet conversation. He had a feeling he knew what was coming. That was okay. Blaine wanted to talk.

Burt shrugged. “Two weeks ago I was sure you were going to take my business. Your reputation is not unknown to me, Anderson. I knew if you wanted the shop I wouldn't be able to stop you.”

Blaine took a centering breath. The further away he got from the night before, the more everything that had happened had felt like a dream. It may even have been a dream. But it didn’t matter. He was done with that life. “I didn’t want that any more.”

“What? The money? The business?”

Blaine shook his head, not sure how much to share. But there was something about Burt that made it easier. “It wasn’t my life. I want my life, and I think - I hope - I’m still young enough to have it.”

Burt considered him a while, studying Blaine. To his credit (Blaine hoped) he managed to hold Burt Hummel’s curious gaze. “Well,” Burt said with a chuckle. “You’re certainly young enough to do anything you want. And since I suspect money isn’t going to be a concern, I hope you choose what you want wisely.”

“Thank you,” Blaine said. “I hope I do as well. Do you mind - can I ask you a question?” When Burt nodded, Blaine continued. “Are you feeling better?”

Burt grunted, but not in an unkind way. “I am feeling better, thank you.” Kurt appeared then, standing next to Burt’s chair.

“Yes but you still have a lot of recovering to do,” Kurt said.

Burt frowned. Ignoring Kurt, he spoke directly to Blaine, “Apparently I still have a lot of recovering to do.” He thumbed over his shoulder at Kurt.

“Yes, and I’m going to be here for a while making sure you do just that,” Kurt answered anyway. Blaine smiled, watching their banter. He remembered back to when they were in school together, that Kurt had always said he’d had a great dad. Blaine excused himself as they continued to argue playfully over Burt’s condition, and found himself standing in front of the Christmas tree.

Every year when he was little, Blaine wanted to decorate the Christmas tree, but his parents had other ideas. His father always wanted a more utilitarian tree, few decorations, all the same color. His one allowance he gave Blaine’s mother was that she could pick the color, so every year the tree was decorated a different color. Silver one year, red the next, green the next, every ornament precisely placed for the perfect magazine photo holiday spread.

But the Hummel’s tree was covered in a jumble of mis-matched, obviously well loved ornaments of all shapes, sizes, and types. There were vintage glass bulbs, tiny wooden Santa heads, and homemade felt circles that looked like something Blaine had a vague memory of making himself in kindergarten. There was a palm sized Millennium Falcon that blinked, a glass ball with the Ohio State University logo on it, and green construction paper trees shedding glitter all over. Blaine smiled as he looked at them all, taking in every ornament and imagining its history.

He was laughing at a green glass pickle when he saw it. A palm sized nest with two yellow canaries perched on either side. Three small, aqua, realistic looking canary eggs settled in the center of the nest. Blaine swallowed. It couldn’t be possible. It was identical to the ornament on the tree at the hospital. The one the mysterious little girl led him to last night.

“It’s a mess, I know.” Kurt appeared next to him, and Blaine startled.

“No, it’s beautiful,” Blaine said, staring at the ornament. He looked at Kurt. His mouth was parted as if he was going to say something else, but Blaine had to know. He pointed to the nest. “Where is this from?”

“Oh, my gosh,” Kurt said. “It was my mother’s. I think she had it from when she was a little girl. I’m always surprised when it comes out of the box and it’s still in one piece.”

Blaine wanted to shout or scream or anything, it was too much. Of course it was possible that there could be two of them, but to Blaine, it was the final confirmation. Whatever he had experienced, It had been real. And it had led him back to Kurt. He was supposed to be here.

“So I’m going to be in Lima probably for another month,” Kurt was talking, and Blaine had to refocus his attention to get all the words. “But when I’m back in New York, would you like to get together for a drink, or dinner or something? Catch up?” Kurt was smiling at him, inviting him to dinner?

“Yes,” Blaine managed to say. “Yes, I would like that a lot.”

the end

#klaine advent: yearn #klaine advent: 2019 #Anderson's Ghosts #klaine advent

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notarelationship · 4 years ago

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Anderson’s Ghosts 23/24

Klaine Advent: Worry

Getting there...Thank you for reading and sticking with me after all these many months! one more...

–

“I have to confess, Mr. Anderson, when you called and asked if we could take care of something for you today, this isn’t what I expected.” Blaine stood, accepting the thick envelope from his lawyer before shaking his hand. “Can I ask, if you don’t mind, what caused you to change your mind?”

Blaine sighed. He supposed he was going to get that question more than a few times over the next few days. “To be honest, I finally realized what I wanted out of my life.”

And that was it, really. He was tired of suffocating who he was, making himself and everyone around him miserable; it was time to fix things. Not for the first time that morning, he hoped it wasn't too late.

The next part would be harder, and not just because the streets of Lima had only been partially plowed, making driving treacherous. Blaine laughed aloud in the car. It would be just his luck to get into a car accident on his way to trying to make up for the terrible person he’d been for the past eight years. He did still worry that he wouldn’t be believed at all.

The slow drive to the Hummel’s wound up working in his favor. He recognized Sam’s car out front when he parked on the street, which was a relief. He wasn’t sure he’d be allowed inside without Sam running interference. He texted Sam to let him know he was there. Come around to the side door Sam texted back, so Blaine trudged through the snow bank and up the icy driveway to the side of the house. Sam was waiting there to let him in, so he didn’t even have to ring the bell.

“You can leave your wet boots here,” Sam said, indicating a rubber mat with a bunch of other shoes in various stages of drying off. “Everyone’s in socks.”

“That’s, yeah - makes sense,” Blaine managed. “Is this okay?” He asked, turning to look at Sam. Sam shrugged, but didn’t flinch or look away.

“It’s a little weird, sure. But I told them you wouldn’t be long, and that it was important, and that you were leaving town tomorrow so it needed to happen today,” Blaine answered. “Just like you said.”

Blaine nodded. “Let’s do this then.” He followed Sam down the hall and into the family room, where everyone was gathered. Blaine was struck instantly how the whole scene was unlike anything he’d ever experienced. An almost too big for the room Christmas tree was in the corner, covered in mismatched ornaments, lovingly collected over the years. Over the fireplace hung three stockings, with Burt, Carol and Kurt embroidered on them. Mercedes was sitting next to Kurt on the sofa, and hers and Sam’s kids were on the floor, playing with gifts they had obviously just opened that morning. Blaine’s Christmas mornings had never looked so inviting.

“Hey everyone, I think you all know Blaine Anderson, my boss - “

“And friend, I hope?” Blaine interrupted Sam, with a questioning look.

“And friend, definitely.” Sam looked at him and smiled, the lifetime of history between them warming his face. “Blaine and I have known each other since the sixth grade.” Sam carried on with the unnecessary introduction. “Burt you know, this is his wife Carol, and - “

“Kurt,” Blaine said before he could stop himself. “It’s been a long time.”

The expression on Kurt’s face was more one of confused curiosity than outright hatred, which was encouraging. Maybe this would all be okay.

“Almost ten years, I think?” Kurt scrunched up his face in thought. Blaine nodded, not entirely sure what to say next. He didn’t know how to just say that he wished it had been different. He hoped he’d get the chance some time.

“Sam said you wanted to bring me something?’ Burt asked, shaking Blaine from his thoughts of Kurt. “I hope it’s not an eviction notice for the shop already.” Blaine couldn’t tell if he was trying to make a joke, but it didn’t feel like it.

“No, definitely not, no,” Blaine stammered. He wanted to ask how Burt was doing, but wasn’t sure it would be welcome. “I guess I should, I wanted to bring you this.” Blaine handed Burt the thick envelope.

“Huh,” Burt grunted, his eyes narrowing as he took the envelope. “There’s a lot of paper in here. Why don’t you give me the digest version and I’ll read it all later.”

“Yeah, okay,” Blaine scratched the back of his head, unable to stop himself from glancing at Kurt, but the expression on his face wasn;t one Blaine could read. “It's paperwork formally converting the purchase of Hummel Tire and Lube into a loan agreement that will allow the shop to remain operating independently, under your ownership as long as you need.” Blaine heard Carol gasp, but he glanced again at Kurt. His mouth had dropped open just a bit, but he closed it quickly. “If that’s okay with you? You could still take the offer if you prefer that.”

“No, no,” Burt spoke, but his expression had changed from one of suspicion to simply wary. “Do you mind if I take a look at the terms of the loan before I decide how I feel about this?”

“Yes, of course,” Blaine clasped his hands together. “Take your time. I’ll leave word with my lawyer to wait for your call.” Burt nodded, and it seemed like a good time to disappear.

“Blaine,” Kurt spoke. “We’re about to sit down for Christmas lunch. Would you like to join us?

#klaine advent: worry #klaine advent #klaine advent: 2019 #Anderson's Ghosts

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notarelationship · 4 years ago

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Anderson’s Ghosts 22/24

Klaine Advent: Verdict

Another chapter! The last two chapters are drafted, so this’ll wrap up soon! Thank you for reading and sticking with me after all these many months!

It took longer to straighten out things at the hospital than Blaine wanted, since spending an extra hour there hadn’t been in his plan originally, but he adjusted. By the time he managed to convince the billing group that he was who he was, with a promise that his accountant would handle the rest the next morning, it was near nine am. Still early, but it was Christmas morning. He wasn’t so far gone that he couldn’t remember the excitement of getting up hours earlier than normal, creeping down the stairs with hope in his heart. He had people to see, yes, but he didn’t want to ruin anyone’s Christmas morning joy. He hoped to contribute to it.

Once he was tucked in his car with the heat warming his outside, he called the first number on his list.

“Merry Christmas!” Cooper Anderson called into the phone as a greeting. “I have to confess I didn’t really expect to hear from you today, little brother.”

“I know Coop. I,” how to explain it? “It’s just that I need to tell you some things. And they can’t wait.”

“Wow, this sounds serious. Do you want to come by? I’m sure I have something around here with your name on it. Bows and paper and all that stuff.”

Blaine laughed softly to himself. Cooper had been trying for years to be supportive, especially the last few after he had moved back to Ohio. Blaine just couldn’t get over the guilt of disappointing their father.

“Thanks Coop, I have some things to take care of this morning, and I don’t want to wait.” Blaine paused, and he could hear Cooper sigh on the other end of the phone. “But, um, if you think you’ll be around tonight, I’d love to come by for coffee, or dessert?” For a long moment the other end of the phone was silent, Blaine couldn’t even hear breathing. “Coop?”

“I would love that Blaine,” Cooper finally answered.

The next call on his list had a less predictable outcome. Blaine knew Cooper would be there for him, but Blaine had burned a lot of bridges over the years - he could afford to - and he didn’t know really who might still believe in him. But Blaine had to prove that he had changed, even if in the end it was only to himself. He hoped that the final verdict on his life wasn’t set in stone.

By the time he parked his car in front of Sam and Mercedes’ tiny ranch house Blaine had nearly convinced himself to give up and go home. Somehow he didn’t. Maybe he should have called, but he was too afraid Sam wouldn’t help him so instead he rang the doorbell and stood freezing on the porch, still afraid he’d be rejected after all.

“Blaine? What are you doing here?” Mercedes’ opened the door, and Blaine was even less sure she would let him in. “It’s Christmas morning for goodness sake.” She didn’t invite him in.

“I know, um. Hi. Merry Christmas.” Blaine shivered and hugged himself. “I’m sorry to interrupt your morning, it’s just that I -” He what? Had an epiphany? Realized what a horrible person he’d been for years? “I want to apologize.”

“Apologize?” Mercedes actually looked worried. “For what? Did you join a twelve step program overnight or something? You had better not be here to drag Sam back to the office today. That is not happening.”

“No. No.” Blaine kept moving his mouth, but he didn’t know what words to push out next. Now that he was here he didn’t know how - or what - to explain. His brain was still trying to work it out when Sam appeared next to his wife.

“Blaine? What are you - oh my gosh you must be freezing.” Sam opened the door and let him into the entryway of their house.

“Thank you.” He did at least remember to be polite. That was something. “I’m sorry, again, for interrupting. I won’t be long.” Blaine reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope. “This is for you,” he said, handing the envelope to Sam, who just looked at it and then back at Blaine. “It’s your bonus - Christmas bonus. I’m sorry it’s wrinkled. I probably should have got a card when I was at the hospital.”

“Hospital?” Mercedes leaned in closer to look at his face. “Did you hit your head? That would explain it.”

“No, I didn’t hit my head. I had some things to take care of there.” Blaine said, but he could tell she wasn’t sure she believed him. “And I don’t mean to keep you. I actually have to be somewhere in about twenty minutes. But,” Blaine hesitated. It was asking a lot of Sam, and if he said yes this was just the beginning. He wasn’t even sure it would work, but he needed to carry it all the way to the end, for himself as much as anyone. “Sam, I know I don’t have much right to ask you, after everything, but I was hoping I could ask you for a favor.”

#klaine advent: 2019 #klaine advent: verdict #anderson's ghosts #klaine advent

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notarelationship · 4 years ago

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Anderson’s Ghosts 20/24

Klaine Advent: Treat

*knocks on glass*

Hi! I always intended to finish this, but had to break to finish my Blaine Big Bang , and then the world got weird and I lost my mojo. But here we are and I think I got this now! I should have this all up and complete by Sunday!

Posting a few chapters at a time on AO3, so you can read up to this chapter here

Blaine spun in a circle in his living room. Quinn was gone, and he was alone. “Quinn? Are you here? Quinn!” He tore through the apartment, confirming only that there was no one in it with him. “Is that all? Quinn? Am I done? Did I pass?” He realized he was shouting and when he paused to listen to the silence, he was interrupted one last time by the chimes of the church bells outside. 11:45. Not yet twelve midnight. Blaine wondered if there would be another visitor. He had questions. But his dad had said there would only be three spirits.

It didn’t matter. There was no way he was going to be able to sleep. What if his dad showed up again? Or another spirit came to tell him he was too far gone, that he could never make up for the way he had treated people.

Well he could stay up all night if he had to. Blaine grabbed a coke from the fridge and sat in his armchair. He held his phone in front of him, and he watched the minutes roll over. 11:49, 11:50, 11:51. When the church bells rang at midnight he would know for sure. 11:58.

BONG!

Blaine startled. “Huh.”

BONG!

He rubbed his eyes. “Who’s there?” He sat up and his phone fell onto the floor.

BONG!

Blaine looked at his phone, not sure he wasn’t dreaming. The big numbers read 6:00.

BONG!

“Six am?” He ran to the window, unlocking it so he could push it open and look out. The last two chimes from the church bell rang loud through the open window. It was grey but not dark, obviously the still of the morning. Outside he could see a snow plow clearing the street of what seemed like new snow. “It snowed?” The condensation from his breath made little puffs and he watched them float away. “It’s six am!” He stumbled back into his living room, grinning to no one and practically giddy. “I made it.” He double checked his phone,and it told him clearly that it was December 25. “It’s Christmas Day,” he said aloud, to convince himself it was real.

Blaine had a lot of things to do, and he made a mental list of them as he showered and dressed and gathered his keys and wallet. He called down to the garage where he kept his car parked, and it was waiting for him when he exited the building fifteen minutes later. After starting the engine he found some Christmas music on the radio, and headed straight to the hospital.

#klaine advent: 2019 #klaine advent: treat #klaine advent 2019 #anderson's ghosts

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notarelationship · 4 years ago

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Anderson’s Ghosts 21/24

Klaine Advent: User

Another chapter! (kinda of a long one here). Thank you for reading and sticking with me after all these many months!

Blaine Anderson and his father may not have had a reputation as being the friendliest rich men in Ohio, but the Anderson Family Trust donated a fair amount of money to organizations throughout the region, and Lima General Hospital had been on the receiving end of more than a few millions over the years. There was even a cancer ward named after his grandmother.

He wasn’t a regular user of the hospital’s services, and hadn’t been there in years, but when he pushed through the doors into the lobby, it looked nothing like he had remembered. Or, more accurately, it looked nothing like it had last night, when Santana had taken him on his unusual tour. For a moment Blaine wasn’t sure he should even be here, or that Santana had ever really existed. It was only a hunch.

But he had to know. He could barely live with himself now, he would never be able to forgive himself if it turned out that everything that had happened last night had been true - even if it hadn’t been real. Gathering all of the certainty he had in him, Blaine approached the young woman sitting behind the information counter, her name tag said her name was Dana.

“Merry Christmas,” Dana greeted him. “Can I help you?”

“I sure hope so,” Blaine answered, at the last minute remembering to put on his most charming smile. He rarely smiled anymore, but he had a vague memory of someone once saying that people who smiled were happier. It was worth a try. “I’m looking for a friend, I think she was brought in last night.”

Dana smiled back at him. “Okay, let me check our records. What’s her name?”

“Santana -” Blaine stopped. He had no idea what Santana’s name was, since he didn’t really know her. Dana looked up at him, clearly waiting. “I’m sorry,” he winced. “I don’t know her last name. We’d only met recently. I heard she was injured in the hit and run involving the carolers last night? I wanted to see if she needed anything.”

“Ah,” she said, only slightly suspicious. “I can look it up and if she’s here I can check to see if she is accepting visitors this morning. Can I have your name?”

Blaine grimaced. He wasn’t sure Santana - if she were real - would know him from Adam. “Blaine. Blaine Anderson.” Dana did the faintest double take, and blaine noticed her eyes tick over his left shoulder. When he turned he noticed the big gold letters on the wall that said “Felicia Anderson Cancer Ward” with an arrow beneath them pointing in the opposite direction. Blaine shrugged, taking a risk. “She was my grandmother.”

Dana mouthed oh as she looked back at her computer screen. “I’m sorry Mr. Anderson. It looks like she was discharged earlier this morning.” That answered one question - there was a person named Santana who was brought in to the hospital last night.

“So early in the morning?” The clock on the wall behind Dana said it was seven thirty am.

“Well, it is Christmas. I think they wanted to get as many patients home as they could.”

“Oh, that’s good? Right? She must be doing okay then?” Blaine paused. “What about her friends, Brittany, or Quinn?” Blaine had been afraid to ask about Quinn, she had seemed to be in much worse shape than the other two.

Before Dana could look them up, several people entered the hospital lobby from a set of swinging doors marked RESTRICTED. There were two people in wheelchairs, and it was Blaine’s turn to double take, because they were Santana and Brittany, fingers hooked between them as what appeared to be family members pushed each of them into the waiting area. Without thinking, Blaine rushed toward them.

“You’re okay? Both of you?” His eyes darted between the two of them.

“Who the hell are you?” Santana asked, more suspicious than angry, and Blaine stepped back a half step.

“Sorry, I’m sorry.” He held out his hand. “My name is Blaine Anderson. I heard about the accident last night, and it happened on the street below my apartment. I just -” Blaine stopped. What was he doing there? “It seemed like a terrible thing to happen on Christmas, and I wanted to make sure everyone was okay, that you didn’t need anything.”

“Blaine Anderson? The snotty rich guy everyone in town hates?” Blaine opened and closed his mouth. Then he nodded. It was true after all. “Why would you care?”

Brittany had been watching them with interest, and tilted her head as if examining Blaine. “It’s okay San,” she said. “He cares. He’s new.”

Blaine stared at her. There was no possible way that any of this was real. Except both women were here in the hospital and talking to him.

“Well if you do care, you can help Quinn,” Santana looked from Brittany to Blaine. “She’s hurt really badly and has crappy health insurance, so they can’t afford the reconstruction surgery she needs to have on her jaw.”

Blaine raised his hands in front of him, like an offering. “I’ll pay for it.

#klaine advent: 2019 #klaine advent: user #anderson's ghosts #klaine advent 2019

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notarelationship · 5 years ago

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Anderson’s Ghosts 15/24

Klaine Advent: Overwhelm

Read it all on AO3

Blaine rushed to the door, but he didn’t go into the room.

Of course he knew Burt Hummel, he was about to purchase his struggling auto shop and fold it into the local chain owned by Anderson Capital. Blaine knew this was very likely to mean the current employees of Hummel Tire & Lube would wind up unemployed. He also knew that Burt Hummel was recovering from some health issues and was looking for some temporary funding to keep the shop running until he was fully recovered, and that he did not want to sell his shop to Anderson Capital. Blaine hadn’t cared about any of that. It was just another business transaction to him.

Blaine was relieved to see Burt was awake and alert, even if he had tubes up his nose and in his arms. Burt was protesting as the man who had passed Blaine in the hallway fussed over him. Now that he saw him with Burt, it was obvious that this man was Kurt Hummel.

Standing there watching them interact, Blaine felt the same unfamiliar tug that he had felt earlier that night overwhelm him. He felt it when he had been watching his younger self chase Kurt around the Dalton common room, only it was stronger now, and clearer, and filled him with the unmistakable sense that he had missed something in his life that would have put him on a very different path. All he could do was hope that Brittany was right, that it wasn’t too late.

“Do you know them?” Santana appeared behind him, but she kept turning her head to look down the hall.

Blaine shrugged without indicating yes or no. “Sort of.” Kurt said something that made Burt laugh, but for some reason Blaine couldn’t hear them. Other than Santana’s voice, all he heard was confused background noise. “I think -- I think I was supposed to know them. I hope I still can. I want to.” He turned to ask her where to next, but she had wandered away in the direction she had originally wanted to go. Blaine followed her until she stopped in the doorway of another hospital room.

Blaine joined her, and saw in the room shocked him. It wasn’t someone from his childhood who he had wronged, or someone he’d bested in business who was now barely getting by.

It was his guide, Santana. She was unconscious, and there were two nurses checking her vitals and making notes on a clipboard. “Santana?”

Santana looked confused, and started shaking her head. The noise that had been keeping Blaine from understanding what Kurt and Burt were talking about faded away. He could almost hear the nurses, catching words like ‘carolers’ and ‘crash’ and ‘critical.’

And that’s when it hit him, why Brittany and Santana had looked so familiar. He had seen them earlier that evening, when he went out to the liquor store. They had been in the group of people who were singing Christmas carols for the Lima celebration. Apparently a car had skidded on some ice and jumped the curb, running over a mailbox before hitting the scattering crowd of people. Most of the injuries were minor, but three of them were in critical condition.

“No. No no no no!” Santana was chanting the word over and over, staring at herself in the bed.

“You’re alive, Santana. Alive. And you’re in the hospital and being taken care of.”

She glared at him, her face contorted in fear and anger, before running down the hall, looking in every room until she found what she was looking for. This time Blaine wasn’t surprised when he caught up with her.

“Brit,” she choked out. Brittany looked in much worse condition than Santana had. There were more monitors and more nurses, and more things beeping. Santana turned to him. “Make this worth it, Anderson.” Then she pushed him, hard.

Blaine staggered backward, but instead of crashing back into the wall when he landed, he fell softly into the armchair in his living room.

#klaine advent 2019 #klaine advent: oerwhelm

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notarelationship · 5 years ago

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Anderson’s Ghosts 16/24

Klaine Advent: Part

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“Wake up wake up wake up.” Blaine pressed the heels of his palms hard into his eyes. Surely this was all a dream? He most definitely did not believe in ghosts or spirits or haunting, and everything that had happened tonight was beyond conceivable. It was just his brain trying to send him a message, he was sure of it.

Blaine paced the floor in the living room of his apartment. First there were the Hummels - Burt Hummel was on his mind because of their business dealings (you’re taking advantage of him), so it wasn’t so strange that his unconscious mind would drift back to high school (back to Kurt. When was the last time he’d thought about Kurt?). And Cooper. Cooper had visited him this very evening; and he saw Sam nearly every day, right in the office. While their relationship had changed over the years (mostly because of you. You were as close as brothers for a time), it was hardly odd that Sam would be on Blaine’s mind.

And as for the spirits, now that Blaine realized that he had seen them earlier that evening it made perfect sense that they’d played a part in his dream. He’d stopped to watch and listen to them caroling - just for a few moments, but that must have been long enough for his awake brain to have filed away their images. He didn’t even know if their names were really Santana and Brittany. He could have just made that up. Yes, that was it.

Knowing it was all a dream (and he did know it, right), didn’t entirely ease his mind, however. Blaine had been working to make Anderson Capital one of the most successful businesses in the state. Sure, he’d sacrificed a lot, but he’s succeeded, and that was what mattered. That’s your father talking. Success at any price. It didn’t matter whether or not he was happy; happiness was fleeting, success would last. (Will it though? Will you ever be satisfied? And what of the people who’ve suffered while you’ve prospered.)

Blaine dropped into his armchair, knowing the answer. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been kind, shown compassion to another person. He just weighed and measured the business decision and went on with his life. Had it ever made him happy? He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt anything but disinterest. It was time to leave his past in the past. There was a better man inside him and Blaine wanted to let him out.

Church bells began to chime outside, and Blaine reflexively looked at the clock on the wall, thinking it must be nearly two am at this point. He was stunned to see that it was near midnight for the fourth time that night.

“It can’t be,” Blaine said aloud. When the last bell chimed he looked around his apartment. There was no one in his kitchen or living room. Frozen, he looked toward his bedroom, where a low glow was slowly getting brighter. Blaine stood, not sure if he should go in, or if whatever was in there would come to him. “Who’s there?” He called out. “You can go, we don’t need to do this.”

#klaine advent 2019 #klaine advent: part #anderson's ghosts

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notarelationship · 5 years ago

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Anderson’s Ghosts 17/24

Klaine Advent: Quarrel

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The light faded away, and standing in the doorway was a third young woman. Her blonde hair was cut in a bob and looked like it was matted against one side of her head. She wore the same Mrs. Santa/half cheerleader outfit that both Santana and Brittany had worn, with the same damage done. She’d obviously been one of the carolers. She didn’t say anything though, and as Blaine looked at her more closely he noticed her face was paler than either Santana’s or Brittany’s had been, and her jaw hung a little more slack, giving her a distinctly more otherworldly aura.

“I promise,” Blaine said. “I know I’ve wasted time, and I’ve...not been a very good person. I’ve neglected responsibilities to myself and to others. I recognize that.”

The spirit made a motion that was sort of a shrug and sort of a shuffle, and held out her hand. Blaine stared at it, and sighed, and took it.

Hello Blaine Anderson. She hadn’t opened her mouth, but he heard her voice clearly.

“How did you…?” He asked, startled. She shook her head. “Do you have a name?”

The spirit half frowned, as if unsure, then squeezed Blaine’s hand. Quinn.

“Okay, Quinn. Can I ask, again, do we need to do this? I can change. I have changed.”

Quarrel with me if you must, but your journey is unfinished. How can I know if you’ve taken anything you’ve seen tonight to heart? You could wake in the morning and blow it off like it was all a dream. Then we’d have failed. She looked at him thoughtfully. No, you need the reinforcement, I think.

If he had to see his future, he might as well get it over with. “Then let’s go.”

#klaine advent 2019 #klaine advent: quarrel #anderson's ghosts

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notarelationship · 5 years ago

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Anderson’s Ghosts 19/24

Klaine Advent: Speed

Read it all on AO3

When Blaine opened his eyes Quinn was still holding his hand. They were in the lobby of an office building, or something like one. “What happened back there?” He asked. “They were crying over you, weren’t they? Brittany and Santana?” Quinn ignored him. “And what about Burt Hummel? Can you answer any of my questions or am I supposed to figure out what this all means by myself?”

Broken heart.

“Broken heart? Broken heart?” He repeated. “What does that mean?” Blaine followed Quinn through a set of glass doors.

You aren’t by yourself. Not yet. Blaine exhaled, loudly. He was more than a little exasperated. He felt like he’d seen everything he’d needed to already tonight, but if there were more specific lessons he should heed he was really going to need more detail. Unfortunately, it seemed that this particular spirit was not going to share many. Here.

“Where are we now? What could be left to show me?”

They were in a reception area, somewhat sadly decorated for Christmas, with a few red and green streamers, hung behind the desk, and an artificial Christmas tree decorated in one corner. It wasn’t a hospital, but Blaine could see two nurses gathered together, chatting near the desk. At first, Blaine couldn’t hear what they were saying, but as he stood watching their voices became much clearer - no doubt through some magic his guide was practicing, because he did not move closer, and they were not speaking louder.

“There are a few that don’t get many visitors,” one of them - a tall, younger nurse said. “But I can’t remember the last time I saw anyone at all in 12B.”

“Oh his brother comes sometimes, once or twice a year,” said the second nurse. “But not usually around the holidays. I imagine he’s got other places to be. I heard they didn’t have the best relationship. And he hasn’t himself said a word in the three years he’s been here.”

“It’s so sad for some of them,” the first nurse replied. “Speeding towards the end.”

“It is,” said the second nurse. “But then, you get back what you put into the world, I suppose.”

Come. Quinn took his hand and led him through another set of doors and down a long hallway. Blaine had been on the edge of terrified the entire night, but now all he felt was a grave sense of defeat. They stopped in front of Room 12B. Here.

The room was sparsely decorated, if you could say it was decorated at all. There was a television in the corner, but it wasn’t on. There were no photographs or framed pictures anywhere. There was one occupant, an older man who was sitting in a chair, staring out the window. Blaine didn’t have to ask.

“The future isn’t settled,” Blaine said. “You wouldn’t be showing me this if it weren’t fixable.”

Perhaps. But soon. She took his hand again, and Blaine was back in his apartment.

#klaine advent 2019 #klaine advent: speed #anderson's ghosts

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notarelationship · 5 years ago

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Anderson’s Ghosts 14/24

Klaine Advent: Nest

Read it all on AO3

Thanks again!

This time, when Blaine opened his eyes they were in the common room of the Lima General Hospital children’s ward. They were obviously decorating for a Christmas party. Paper stockings with names written in glitter lettering hung all along the window sill. At one end of the room there was an artificial Christmas tree that some of the kids were decorating with an assortment of ornaments, some store bought and some hand made. At the other hospital helpers were setting up a table with as assortment of treats for the children.

“I get that this is all very sad,” Blaine said. “But why am I here?”

Santana glared at him. “It is Christmas Eve and these are children in a hospital. I thought you told me you were ready to turn over a new leaf, be a better person.” Santana shook her head at him. “If you can’t open your heart to these children now, what’s it going to take?”

“Did I do something to these kids?” He asked. “Deny them some funding? Refuse to pay for this party? Because if I did that, I am sorry, and I promise that I will make up for it.” Santana didn’t answer though, because she had wandered out of the room and into the hallway. Blaine was about to follow her when he felt a tug on the hem of his t-shirt.

He looked down and saw a little girl with loose brown curls and huge blue eyes. She could have been anywhere between three and five, and she was holding the hem of his shirt with one hand. In the other she was holding up a Christmas ornament. Blaine stared at the girl.

“Can you see me?” He asked. The girl nodded and pointed to the tree, holding up the ornament again. Blaine took the ornament, holding it gingerly by the hook. It was an unusual piece, made of a small, palm sized nest with two yellow canaries (warblers, he thought to himself) perched on either side. There were three small, aqua, realistic looking canary eggs settled in the center of the nest. Blaine did not understand how this child could see him, but he hung the ornament on the tree as she directed.

The air around him suddenly became very cold - so cold he could see his breath - and Blaine hugged himself for warmth. The room darkened, and Blaine looked desperately for his guide.

“Hey keep up, hobbit. I don’t have all night.”

Santana was standing in the doorway looking impatiently at him; everything had returned to normal.

“That little girl could see me!” He practically shrieked. “She gave me an ornament and made me hang it on the tree. There were birds on it.”

Santana looked perplexed. “What girl?”

“That -” Blaine spun around. She was no longer in the room. “She’s not here. Has that ever happened before? Has someone ever seen you?”

“I dunno, you’re my first assignment.” Santana lead him back into the hospital corridor. “I think we should go that way.”

Blaine turned in the direction she had pointed, but stopped short of following her when someone he thought he recognized but couldn’t place walked past them and down the hall in the other direction. Blaine followed him around the corner and watched him disappear into a room. Above the door was a sign with a name scrawled in black marker: Hummel, B.

#klaine advent 2019 #klaine advent: nest

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notarelationship · 5 years ago

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Anderson’s Ghosts 18/24

Klaine Advent: Reasonable

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“Sam’s house again?” Quinn just shrugged. They were in what looked like Sam and Mercedes’ bedroom, and Sam and Mercedes were having a somewhat heated discussion.

“He is not being reasonable Sam. I don’t care what he thinks he has going on, but one of your oldest friends -- and my best friend, is hurting right now. Blaine Anderson can live without you for a week.” Mercedes said. She put on jewelry, walking in and out of the attached bathroom while she continued. “And if that man cannot find the decency in his heart to let you take time off to help Kurt during this difficult time, well I think it’s time for you to start looking elsewhere for a job.”

Sam ran a hand through his hair. He was dressed in a dark suit and tie, matching Mercedes’ black dress. They looked like they were going to a funeral. Blaine swallowed the lump in his throat.

“I know. You’ve been wanting me to quit for years,” Sam sounded sad and frustrated. “It’s not like there are tons of jobs in Lima ‘Cedes.”

She came back into the bedroom, shaking her head. “Maybe it’s time we leave Lima then.”

Blaine blinked, and Quinn had zapped them to another location. A living room he didn’t recognize, completely filled with people he sort of did. They were all people from around town, Lima residents that he never bothered to know. Some were crying, others clearly had been; they were all dressed for mourning.

“What happened?” Blaine almost didn’t want to know. Quinn tilted her head, and Blaine turned his gaze where she indicated. Kurt Hummel was sitting on the couch, Mercedes next to him with an arm around his shoulders. Kurt had the wrung out look of someone who would be crying if they hadn’t already expelled every tear from their body.

“Kurt I’m so sorry.” Blaine did recognized that voice, and turned to see his brother Cooper reaching for Kurt, who stood and let Cooper embrace him. Blaine didn’t even realize they knew each other. “Your dad was a good man. I’m sorry about - everything.”

“Thank you Cooper. It’s not your fault. It’s no one’s, really. He’d been sick for a while.”

Cooper shook his head. “Everyone deserves compassion.”

“What happened?” Blaine asked again, more insistent this time, but Quinn was walking away. Blaine followed her into the kitchen. “It’s Burt Hummel, I know that. Did something I do cause this to happen?”

Quinn didn’t answer, she was staring at two people who were locked in an embrace, both crying. Blaine’s next question died on his tongue. It was Brittany and Santana, the spirits from earlier in the evening.

“I miss her so much!” Santana was sobbing into Brittany’s shoulder.

“I know. Me too,” Brittany said, her arms tight around Santana. “This was a terrible year.”

“Oh my god,” Blaine said. Looking back and forth between Quinn and the two of them. Quinn stared at them, looking confused, and then sad. She put a hand to her throat, as if to feel that it was still there.

Quinn took Blaine’s hand. We have to go.

#klaine advent 2019 #klaine advent: reasonable #anderson's ghosts

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