I'll Be There

Title: I'll Be There (5/6)
Author: telepathichawk
Rating: K+, PG
Character(s)/Pairing(s): Burt, Kurt. Puck/Kurt in later chapters. Burt/Carole, Finn/Rachel
Genre: General/Family
Warnings: None.
Spoilers: Anything up to the end of season one is fair game, though I'm not sure there's anything really.
Disclaimer: I do not own Glee. I make no profit from this.
Author Notes: This small series was inspired by six songs. They are as follows: "I'll Be There" as performed by The Jackson Five, "Lullaby" as performed by Billy Joel, "Breeze Off the River" from the musical The Full Monty, "When You Come Back Down" as performed by Nicklecreek, "Child of Mine" as performed by Carol King, and "All You Need is Love" as performed by The Beatles.
OOCness abounds. Please forgive me! But, I really liked the idea of this chapter. I hope you do, too. Last one should be up in about a week or so. Please comment if you have a moment! Thanks so much! Happy reading!
Summary: A fluffy interconnected series of one shots mostly about the relationship between Burt and Kurt Hummel.
Word Count: ~4,200


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"I'm here! I'm here! I'm here! I haven't missed it, have I?" Kurt rushed into the room with the same urgency with which he had come into the world. Burt smiled, feeling more sentimental than he had anticipated.

He could remember it so well. He and Connie had been so nervous about Kurt's imminent birth but, the doctor had assured them that because Kurt was Connie's first and because the pregnancy had been textbook normal and perfect that she would probably be at least ten hours, if not more, with him. They had trusted that and, of course, Kurt had gone against every expectation that any of them had. Connie had woken him in the middle of the night with a slap when she couldn't get him to wake by calling his name. Her water broke while they were in the car and it was barely an hour before their little boy had made his appearance. It had been four-fifty in the morning and Connie had been fast asleep, her small hand curled around the edge of the plastic basinet next to her bed when Burt had finally worked up the courage to hold his hours old son. He had curt the cord, of course, and supported Connie's arms as she smiled down at their baby, but Kurt was just so tiny and Burt felt so big and clumsy just looking at him that he hadn't been able to bring himself to hold Kurt until Connie was fast asleep and there was no one there to see if he made a mistake. He'd almost talked himself out of reaching into the bassinet for Kurt twelve times before he finally braced himself and took his boy in his arms. Kurt had melted his heart and his knees had gone weak with the love that overwhelmed him when his infant son curled into his arm and turned his tiny little face into Burt's chest trustingly.

"Hey, kid," He'd whispered, nuzzling Kurt's little cheek, "Hey, Kurt. I'm your dad. Me and your mom…we've been waiting for you. I'm gonna teach you so much. How to throw a ball…how to talk to girls…whatever you want…I…I love you, kid. So much. And there is nothing that is ever going to hurt you. Not so long as I'm here."

"You're a great dad, Hummel…" Connie had murmured and Burt had turned around, his face heating.

"We got a great kid, Connie," He'd sat down next to her and smiled when she kissed the downy little head nestled against him.

"The best," Connie had agreed.

"Bet your ass," Burt had grinned.

He couldn't help grinning, remembering, as Kurt rushed into the room. It all felt so much the same, holding his wife's hand (She was cutting off his circulation) while she cursed at him and her doctors, the soothing room in the muted colors meant to keep laboring women as calm as possible (That was a frickin' joke.), and listening to the quiet strains of music that were also meant to keep Carole calm and to give her something to breathe along with. He personally couldn't stand Yo-Yo Ma or Itzahk Perlman, too little going on for his tastes, but Carole loved both of them and every single song that Kurt had put on the list he had made specifically for her labor so he wasn't going to say a single thing. Not if he ever wanted his hand back and not if he didn't want the glare of death from the three women in the room as well as his admittedly effeminate son.

"No, you haven't missed anything…" Burt said, smiling at his flustered son.

"Kurt!" Carole called at the same time, "Oh, baby, you're here!"

"Mom!" Kurt called with the same urgency, rushing to Carole and pushing sweaty hair off of her brow before leaning down to kiss her forehead, warm with exertion.

"I was afraid you wouldn't make it," Carole had tears in her eyes and Burt was afraid she was going to start crying again. He much preferred her anger and yelling to her sobbing. He couldn't handle her tears any better than he'd been able to handle Connie's or any better than he was able to handle Miri's or Rachel's or even Bek's tears now.

"Of course I made it," Kurt cooed at her and Burt marveled at the difference between Carole's reaction to Kurt and her reactions to Burt. If he had tried to take that tone with her she would have bitten his head off without another thought. With Kurt she just kissed his cheek and allowed him to put his forehead to hers, "There's no way I'd miss my little sister's birth now is there? Where's Finn?"

"He went to get some more ice chips," Rachel said, bringing in a cool, wet cloth from the attached bathroom. Burt nearly huffed when Carole graced her with a sweet, thankful smile as she wiped the cloth over Carole's brow. Rachel and Kurt shared a small smile. No, they would never be the best of friends, but they had learned to get along and they were even able to admit that they liked each other…a bit…now that it seemed Finn and Rachel were probably going to be Finn and Rachel for a good long time. They had survived their turbulent college years and they had survived Finn's knee injury and subsequent surgery and Rachel's European tour with her first show. They were a good, strong couple. Burt was proud of them. He would be even more proud when Finn finally manned up and gave Rachel the ring he'd been carrying around in his pocket for the last five months.

"He's a wimp," Miri snorted derisively, then leaned in to whisper to Kurt, loud enough for Burt to hear, "He can't handle Mama C yelling at him."

"I'll bet," Kurt laughed softly, but Burt could see the way his eyes went just a little bit distant, a little bit sad. Burt sighed softly, hoping that Kurt wouldn't hear him. Kurt loved Miri, but it was always hard for him lately to be around her. It was hard for him to see her and hear her when she looked and acted so much like Noah. It was hard for Kurt to have Noah so far away and in so much danger when they were so close to the end of his enlistment and he would be home so very soon. Miri seemed to understand. She was very perceptive for a sixteen year old girl and just kissed his cheek before excusing herself to go find out what was taking Finn so long. Kurt grabbed her arm as she was ducking out and pulled some soft of handkerchief out of his pocket.

"You're a mess, little girl," He sighed as he rubbed the oil stain from her cheek, "Have I taught you nothing?"

"You taught me plenty, Kurt," Miri leaned in to tweak his nose, "But, I let Daddy B teach me more." She laughed as she ducked Kurt's half hearted swipe and skipped out of the room.

"Does she ever get in a dress at all?" Kurt asked, only half serious.

"I think she put one on for homecoming," Burt answered, "But, next day she was right back in her jeans and coveralls. Hey," He held up his hands, "Kid likes engines. And she's the best damn mechanic I've ever had. There's no way in hell I'm changing her."

"I don't want to change her," Kurt sighed, "But, a little make-up every now and again never killed anyone!" He said the last part loudly, as if he was hoping Miri would hear him, then sighed, rolled his shoulders back as if bolstering himself, and turned his full attention back to Carole.

The pregnancy hadn't been planned. That was for damn sure. There was no way in hell that he and Carole would have planned to get pregnant when they had two boys graduating from college and were both in their forties. They hadn't been careful when they made love, but they had both thought that Carole was past childbearing age. And nothing had happened for three damn years. In fact, when Carole started having symptoms, they thought that maybe she was starting menopause. She'd gone to the doctor expecting to hear that that was exactly what it was. But, when he'd come home and she was sitting on the couch, wringing her hands, her face pale, for a moment his heart had jumped into his throat and he'd been taken back to that terrible time with Connie. He'd known he wasn't strong enough to go through that twice in a lifetime. But when he'd sat down and stilled her hands by covering them with his own, she'd begun to laugh. At first he'd thought it was hysterical, but he soon realized that it was joyful.

"We're going to have a baby, Burt," She'd whispered when he was hugging her close.

For a brief moment, he'd been terrified. Could they handle another eighteen years of worry and heartache? Of tantrums and slammed doors? Of little feet and cold little noses after an hour of playing in the snow? Could they handle the stories and the bedtimes and the bathtimes and the little body curled between them after a nightmare? When he'd realized that every single one of his doubts was beginning to be something that he wanted more than anything he'd begun to laugh with her. Maybe they were too old but, damn it, they were going to have the time of their lives finding out!

"We're going to have a baby!" He'd laughed so hard, kissing her all over her face.

The pregnancy was harder than either of them remembered it being when they'd been younger and the doctor monitored Carole very closely for complications, but in the end she'd come through it like a champ. Now all she had left was the delivery. And that was going just like he remembered and wished he didn't. He curled and uncurled his fingers a couple of times when Kurt sat on the edge of the bed and took over for him, letting Carole curl her fingers around his small hand. Burt smiled with a tiny bit of pride when Kurt only flinched a little at Carole's grip. He wasn't sure whether it was pride in the way his son bore up or pride in the his wife's grip. He kind of liked it that way.

"When are they going to move you into delivery, Mom?" Kurt asked.

"Soon," Burt answered as Rachel quietly coached Carole through another contraction and Kurt made sympathetic noises from the back of his throat and stroked her hair gently, "Last time the doctor came by, about forty minutes ago, she was nine dilated. He said it shouldn't be long."

"Good," Kurt soothed and cooed again, "Have you decided on a name yet?"

"Yes," Carole nodded.

"We have?" Burt asked, "News to me."

"Burt," And for a moment she was his sweet, loving wife again. She reached out and stroked his cheek, "It just came to me. It's perfect."

"What is it?" Burt asked, exasperated, turning his face to kiss her palm.

"Constance Christine." Carole sighed. Burt felt his heart flutter then settle.

"Of course. Of course that's her name, honey. I don't know why we didn't think of it sooner."

"We didn't think of it sooner because you can be such a dumbass, Burt Hummel!" Carole yelled, and turned back to Rachel.

"That didn't last long," Burt murmured under his breath.

"But it will all be worth it when she gets here, won't it?" Kurt asked quietly.

"Sure will," Burt grinned, "If dumbass is the worst she calls me I'll count myself lucky. Your mom called me a lot worse when she was having you. And in at least three different languages I'm pretty sure."

Kurt grinned back at him and then turned back to squeeze Carole's hand. An hour later, an hour of his life that he was going to try his damnedest to forget like he had with Connie or else he probably would have run for the hills when Carole told him she was pregnant, he knew Kurt was right. It had all been worth it. Because Carole was crying now, her face more radiant that he had ever seen it, and the nurse was walking toward them with a squally, squirming bundle wrapped in pink. He wasn't ashamed to admit that he cried like a baby when Kurt was born and he would never be ashamed that he was crying like a baby as their little girl was laid in Carole's arms. She was so tiny, so very perfect. Carole unwrapped her gently and they counted her perfect little fingers and her perfect little toes together. Ten of each, just like they were expecting. She was red and wrinkled, her eyes screwed together as she squalled and no little girl had ever been more perfect. Burt ran the back of a finger over her cheek and held his breath when her cries slowed, then stopped and she opened sweetly blue and unfocused eyes.

"Hi, baby girl," Carole whispered softly, "Hi, pretty baby. Been waiting for you for so long. You know, Chris was so certain that Finn was a girl. So certain. I kind of got used to the idea. Then, when Finn came out and he was a boy…I mean, no matter how much I love him I was a little…not disappointed, but…it's kind of like you and me…like we…were always supposed to have a little girl," She smiled up at Burt, her eyes tired and so, so happy, "And we'll have Finn there to chase away all the boys we don't want around her and Kurt there to help her snag the ones she wants."

"And Noah to be able to tell the difference, Rachel to indulge her girly whims, and Miri there when she wants to be a tomboy." Burt whispered, kissing Carole's brow before taking their little girl from her when she offered her up to him. She settled back and grinned as he smiled down on his little girl.

"Hi," he whispered, kissing her downy head, "Hi, Constance Christine. God, she's pretty, isn't she, Carole?"

"She's beautiful," Carole agreed sleepily, "Why don't you take her out to meet her brothers?"

"Yeah, okay." He leaned down and kissed his wife with as much love as he could manage, "Thank you, Carole. For this. For her. I love you."

"I love you, too, Burt," Carole murmured, "Don't be too long."

He could barely take his eyes off of his little girl to watch where he was walking as he made his way toward the waiting room. Luckily, it seemed that it was a common occurrence. The nurses just gently kept him away from all sharp corners and he was pretty sure that eventually one of them led him to the waiting room by taking his shoulders and steering. He wasn't entirely sure. He was too busy looking down at his Constance's beautiful eyes as she looked up at him like he was the most incredible thing she had ever seen. Kurt had used to look at him like that. He realized it felt good. It felt really good. Suddenly he knew that this was exactly right. All of the heartache, all of the sleepless nights, all of the worry, all of the pain was going to be worth it. He was giving up the next eighteen years of his life when he had thought that he was going to be able to settle down and just be with Carole for the rest of his life, but it was exactly right and exactly what he wanted to be doing. His children, those he'd helped make and those he'd helped raise, were the best things in his life.

"Hey," He called quietly. He smiled when he saw that Beks had joined the kids. Five dark heads jerked up and quickly after that five people were surrounding him, looking down at the baby, all talking at once, quietly, so as not to wake her. He had forgotten how quickly infants could fall asleep. But, he could remember very well how quickly infants woke up again and he was glad for their consideration.

"How's Mom?" Kurt and Finn asked at the same time.

"She's great. She's a trooper. You'll all have to come in and say goodnight before you go."

"Oh, Dad," Kurt breathed out on a sigh, "She's so beautiful. Can I hold her?"

"Course," Burt smiled as he handed his daughter over to his son.

"She's so teeny," Finn whispered, peering over Kurt's shoulder. Kurt craned his neck to look at Finn, the expression on his face unreadable for a moment before he turned back to look at his infant sister again.

"Yes, she is," He agreed, kissing her forehead, "Hi, Teeny."

"Oh no," Burt groaned, "Boys, you can't call her…"

"Finn, put your hand on Kurt's shoulder and smile so I can get the first picture of you two and Teeny," Rachel squealed from behind him and he threw up his hands and then shrugged in defeat. So, his boys were going to call their little sister Teeny. Who was he to stop them? Besides, it was kind of cute. And the way they were looking down at her, fully united in their love for her as they were in few other aspects of their lives, was kind of cute, too. He knew that they'd love her. They were her big brothers, but to know that they would adore her as well as love her, well, that was something that put his heart a little more at peace. Kurt and Finn grinned at the camera as Beks moved to Burt's side and gave him a hard hug. As soon as the picture was taken Rachel and Miri swarmed the boys and cooed over Teeny. He slammed his face into his palm as soon as he thought of his girl as Teeny. It was never going to be shaken loose. Not at this rate.

"Oh well," He murmured, wrapping an arm round Rebeka's waist.

"What?" She asked, smiling up at him.

"My daughter's name is going to be Teeny."

"It's cute," Rebeka giggled. She looked up at him with a small smile on her face, "You scared to be starting all over again?"

"Truthfully," He smiled down at the woman who had already allowed him to help raise her kids, "I'm terrified, Beks."

"Don't be. Burt, not only did you raise a great man, but you also helped raise Finn and my kids. God only knows what Noah would have become without you and Kurt. And it's you who taught Miri how to trust. I was scared she never would. Burt, you're one of the best men I know and by far the best husband and father. Carole's a lucky woman. And a great mom. So, don't be scared. Between the two of you, you got this."

"Thank, Beks." He would never admit that he was a little choked up.

"You're welcome. And thank you, too." She snuggled a bit and he pressed a kiss to her hair, feeling sentimental and happy watching Kurt fuss over Miri's hair (She'd cut it short herself and Burt personally thought it was cute in a pixie kind of way, but Kurt was scandalized.) and Finn and Rachel coo over the baby. As he watched Finn leading Rachel to a chair so that she could sit while she held the baby his chest got a little tight. Finn was looking at Rachel and Teeny with the most stunned expression on his face, like he couldn't wait for it to be there turn, for the baby in her arms to be theirs. Burt hoped they waited at least a couple more years because he wasn't sure he could handle being made a grandpa anywhere within a span of at least three years after being made a dad again. He turned back to Kurt when his son made a choked sound from the back of his throat.

"Kurt, son…" Burt took a step toward him, worried, when Kurt suddenly went sheet white and stumbled back a couple of steps until he tripped and sat hard on the floor, "Son, what's wrong? Are you okay?"

"I…" Kurt tried to speak, then put his hand to his lips and began to shake his head. His eyes never left the space just beyond Burt. He turned to look at whatever it was that had caught Kurt's eyes when Miri suddenly let out a high little scream and shot past him like a bullet.

"Noe!" She screamed.

"Oh, Noah!" Beks cried out and was out from under his arm in an instant.

"My ladies!" Noah called out. He cut a sharp figure in his dress duds, Burt had to admit. He dropped the white hat he'd been holding under his arm and threw it open to invite his mother into his embrace. His other arm was in a sling, Burt noticed and felt his heart clench. What the hell had happened to his boy? Noah winced when Miri threw herself against him next to their mother.

"Gently, Miriam," Beks murmured, then kissed her son's cheek gently, "Noah, baby…what happened? Are you alright, my love?"

"I'm fine, Ma," He assured her, kissing her hair, "I got my shoulder messed up at bit, but I'm okay. And I'm home, Ma. For good. Missed you." He kissed her forehead.

"What am I?" Miri demanded.

"You are a twerp," Noah laughed, "And I missed you, too." He pressed a kiss to Miri's dark hair, then turned his eyes back to Kurt, still seated on the floor. Miri and Beks let him go, their smiles bright and loving, when he began to move toward Kurt like he was in a trance. Burt wanted to let him go right away, knowing that his son would need to have Noah in his arms to believe he was actually there, but he had to do the same before he could believe it himself.

"Son," He murmured, taking Noah's free elbow as he passed.

Noah seemed to see him for the first time. He sagged against Burt's chest and allowed himself to be wrapped up. Burt could finally breathe again for the first time since Noah had come into his sight. Noah was bigger than he remembered, more filled out. Burt was as careful as he could be while he hugged the hell out of Noah, but didn't feel so bad when he realized that Noah was hugging him just as tight with his good arm. The idea that anyone had done anything to Noah to hurt him made Burt so angry he couldn't see straight, but it was cancelled out by how much relief flooded through him to have Noah back in his arms. He knew, because of how much he had been able to talk to Noah over the past few years and everything that Kurt had told him, that the military had made the bad boy a man and he was glad for it. Even with Kurt's steadying love, Noah had been floundering. He'd needed the military. Some did. And now he was back and still as in love with Kurt as he had ever been. Kurt had confessed to Burt that first New Year's Eve, after way too much champagne that Mercedes and Santana had given him, that he was so afraid the military would brainwash the boy he loved, that his love would be beaten out of him. Obviously that wasn't the case. Burt could have told him that from the beginning.

"Dad," Noah buried his face in Burt's neck for a minute, before he pulled back and lifted the necklace Burt was pretty sure he had never taken off from around his neck, "You were right. Lost causes. Don't tell my mom, but I think he kept me safe. I…don't tell Kurt this…ever…but, an inch more to the right and…Dad…"

Noah was trembling. Burt only knew it because he felt it, but he squeezed Noah's arm to let him know that he understood, then nodded at the medallion before stilling Noah's hand from taking it off, "You keep it, son. Someday give it to your own kid or some smartass punk you see something in who just might need it." Noah smirked and Burt grinned, "Now, go talk Kurt down from the panic attack he's working himself into."

Puck sketched a sloppy salute at him and moved toward Kurt, who was still on his butt on the floor, his hand to his mouth.

"You didn't tell anyone you were coming home," Kurt whispered when Noah had crouched in front of him.

"Didn't know I was until they offered this morning," Noah shrugged with his good shoulder, "By the time my shoulder's all healed up, my enlistment's up. I'm home for good, Kurt."

"Home for good," Kurt murmured. Burt was starting to worry about him. His eyes were glassy and vacant and his voice was very close to monotone.

Puck just smiled at him gently, "Yeah, Hummel. Home for good. You seriously just going to sit there on your ass or are you going to make me feel welcome?"

"I…" And suddenly Kurt came to life. He threw himself at Puck and forced them both to the ground. Somehow he managed to be careful of Noah's shoulder even as he laid on top of him and kissed the hell out of him in the middle of the hospital waiting room. Miri began to whistle. Beks laughed joyfully. Rachel rolled her eyes at both the men on the floor and Finn, making a show of covering Teeny's eyes. Burt just grinned. When Kurt and Noah finally broke apart they were both grinning, too.

"I love you, Puckerman." Kurt said, loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Love you, too, Hummel." Noah answered.

"Come meet Teeny."

"Teeny?" Puck leaned his head back so that he was looking at Burt upside down, "God, Dad, please tell me you and Carole didn't actually name your new baby Teeny."

Burt just threw his head back and laughed. It was good to have everyone home again.


Nobody's gonna kill your dreams
Or tell you how to live your life
There'll always be people to make it hard for a while
But you'll change their heads when they see you smile

The times you were born in may not have been the best
But you can make the times to come better than the rest
I know you will be honest if you can't always be kind
Oh yes, sweet darling
So glad you are a child of mine