Would You?

Author's Note: Kind of short. Not sure I've quite got Burt down. Please forgive this fact! Thank you for reading!

"Mr. Hummel…sir…" Puck tried not to flinch when Burt took another step toward him. He shot a pleading look at Kurt and backed away from his bed as fast as he could, pulling his shirt over his head so that maybe by seeing less skin his lover's father would be placated in some way. He swallowed hard when Burt growled from the back of his throat.

"Oh, please, Dad!"

Puck wanted to kiss Kurt when he heard the tone of Kurt's voice. It was his superior, arrogant voice. Puck had been hearing less and less of it lately, but it made him go weak with relief to hear it now. Because even Burt Hummel hesitated a moment when his precious baby boy used that tone. Puck didn't know it, but Kurt's mother had perfected that tone in her first year of marriage with Burt. When it had come out of Kurt's mouth the first time (It had been just three months after his mother had died and her parents had suggested that Burt wasn't up to the task of raising Kurt himself. Kurt hadn't taken kindly to it.) Burt had smiled down on his son with pride, then locked himself in the bathroom when they got home and muffled his sobs with a bath towel. It was amazing the way Burt's feelings were all written on his face, Puck thought. When he turned to look at Kurt, still under his blanket on the bed, he face showed worry, hurt, and love. He turned back to look at Puck and the expression changed to one of anger bordering on rage and…Puck wasn't sure that murder could be called an expression, but if it could it was on Burt Hummel's face.

"Dad, if there's going to be a drama queen in this family it's going to be me. Now, please, just go upstairs. Noah and I will be up in a moment and we'll all discuss this like normal, rational people."

"There is no way in hell that I'm leaving you down here naked with the Mohawk." Burt ground out.

"And there's no way I'm letting Noah go upstairs with you alone in your current state of mind," Kurt countered.

"Kurt…" Burt growled and turned fully to his son.

"Dad, don't fight me on this," Kurt growled himself. Puck stared at him in surprise. He'd never heard Kurt do that before. But, apparently Burt had. And apparently it put an end to some of their arguments in the past because Burt stared at Kurt and Kurt looked back with steel in his eyes for just a moment before Burt huffed and turned back to Puck.

"You have two minutes." He turned his back and stomped up the stairs.

Puck moved and fell into the side of the bed, "Fuck, Kurt…Your dad is going to kill me."

"Noah…" Kurt began, but Puck interrupted him.

"He said he was going to go get his gun, Kurt!"

"Noah, he's not going to get his gun. Two minutes will be enough time for him to calm down a little. Try to see it from his point of view. He walked in on us. It's disrespectful and he has every right to be angry with us. But, he'll understand. He just needs to cool down."

"You sound really sure of that." Puck sighed when Kurt wrapped his arms around him.

"I am really sure of it," Kurt nuzzled a little and laid his head against Puck's chest, "It's going to be okay, Noah."

Puck felt the least like a badass he had ever felt as he watched Kurt redress himself. He was nervous as hell. His palms were sweaty. He felt like he was going to be sick. And Kurt was there, just as cool as you please, trying to decide if his scarf from earlier in the day matched the new outfit he had chosen. They walked up the stairs hand in hand without saying another word to each other. Burt was seated at the kitchen table, a beer opened but not yet sipped at his elbow, and his hands folded together so tightly his knuckles were white. He took one look at their joined hands and winced. Puck tried to drop Kurt's hand, but Kurt wouldn't let him. He kept a vice-like grip on Puck's hand and looked at his father coolly. He was scared, Puck realized. As scared as Puck was. He was just trying not to show it. He kept Puck's hand in his because he didn't want the trembling in his hands to show.

"Mohawk, want to take your hands off my kid?" Burt growled.

"Dad!" Kurt's voice was sharp, "His name is Noah. And I'm sorry you had to find out about us like that. It was disrespectful of us to do that in your house without you even knowing there was an us. But, Noah is important to me. I would appreciate if you could at least call him by his name."

"You're damn right it was disrespectful!" Burt roared, rising from his chair, "Having to walk in on you like that! You were…"

"We were sleeping, Dad," Kurt said quietly. He finally relaxed his grip on Puck's hand and held up both of his own to his father in an open gesture of hope and resignation, "I'm sorry! There are only so many ways I can say it. Please, calm down so we can talk about this. Please."

Puck had never heard Kurt so upset. He turned to look at him and saw the tears in his eyes. Kurt was so scared. His father had accepted him without a harsh word against him. But, now he was afraid that, faced with the reality of what it meant to have a gay son, his father would reject him as he had always feared. To see that pain and fear on Kurt's face when he had told himself that Kurt would only feel happiness this week made Puck's chest tighten uncomfortably. He couldn't see Kurt in pain and not try to do something about it, despite what his father might do. He turned his body so that he was angled to Kurt and set his hand to Kurt's cheek, turning Kurt's face to him. He wiped away the single tear that had fallen from Kurt's eyes with his thumb.

"It's okay," He whispered, then turned back to Burt. Kurt's father was still standing as if he was angry, but his eyes spoke a different story. He loved Kurt. He was sorry he had hurt him, but he was going to be too proud to say so. Kurt had gotten that from him. Father and son were much more alike than either of them thought.

"Mr. Hummel," Puck began. He'd never tried to show how much he respected someone with just his voice before. He hoped it worked, "I'm sorry, too, sir. We didn't mean any disrespect. We shouldn't have done what we did, but we can't take it back now. But, you need to know that what we do…Mr. Hummel, sir…I'm kind of crazy about your kid."

Kurt squeezed his hand and Puck knew he'd said the right things. It had given Kurt the confidence he needed to say what he was feeling.

"Dad, you fell in love with Mom when you were both in high school. We're more alike then we thought, I guess. I'm in love with Noah." He turned to smile softly at Puck.

"Love?" Burt choked out. "I need a beer." He sat heavily.

"You have one on the table already," Kurt finally released his death grip on Puck's hand and moved to his father's side, "Though it's a little early." He handed his father the beer and sat at the table, motioning for Puck to take the seat next to him. Puck did so.

Burt watched them as they sat. It was pretty obvious from the way they reacted to each other that what they said was true. They didn't even know it, he realized. They didn't realize that they angled their bodies toward each other no matter what they were doing or where they were sitting. When they were seated Kurt automatically reached for the Mohawk's hand and the Mohawk automatically made sure that Kurt could see the reassuring –damn it, there was no other way to describe it- smirk on his face. That damn smirk made Kurt relax in the slightest and brought a small smile to his face, despite the fear that was still in his eyes. So the Mohawk rubbed the back of his hand slightly with his thumb and Kurt relaxed further. He hated to admit it, but it reminded him of himself and Constance sitting at her parents' kitchen table when they were only eighteen. Only when they had been in Kurt and Mohawk's position they'd been two months away from graduation and terrified because Connie was pregnant.

Connie's parents, the Baldwins, had never liked him. He'd been below them in both social standing and their minds. It wasn't like Columbus had had a huge upper class, but there were still people better off than others. The only reason Connie had even been going to public school instead of a private boarding school was because she had wanted to. And her parents had put up a ridiculous fight about that, to have heard Connie tell about it. Against all of the odds, because he had not been the type to settle with a good girl, and despite her best efforts to keep him distant, because she had not been the type to sleep with a boy she wasn't in a relationship with they had fallen in love. She was the first girl he had actually dated. He was the first boy she slept with. The only boy she'd ended up ever sleeping with.

Kurt had been a surprise and at first, they thought, a mistake. Their only option –to their minds and his parents- was marriage and raising their baby. Connie had loved her baby from the moment she had found out she was pregnant. There was no way she would even consider adoption. And even though Burt hadn't yet really settled into the family man he would become he had known beyond a shadow of a doubt that he wanted Connie. She was the most beautiful, most loving, most incredible girl he had ever met. Though he'd had no love for the baby growing within her at first, it was just the excuse he had needed to keep her by his side. His parents had helped him pay for the ring when he had decided to ask her to marry him. It was not the same for her parents. The Baldwins had threatened to disinherit her if she didn't "take care of it" and never see Burt again. She'd cried as they sat at the table with her parents. She'd been gripping his hand so tight and he'd been terrified that she was going to tell him goodbye. After all, he couldn't compete with money. He'd been surprised, and had fallen in love the rest of the way with her when, holding her head up high, she hadn't let go of his hand and had instead said that she was going to marry Burt and they were going to have a baby and they would do it all on their own if they had to.

And they'd had to. At first it had been harder than anything they'd ever done. That whole first summer they'd lived with his parents, after a small, private wedding at City Hall. His parents had done everything they could to help the young couple but they hadn't had a lot of money and Burt hadn't been able to find a job. The only thing they could do was let the young couple live with them. He and Connie had tried, but the stress of having no money while she just got farther and farther along in her pregnancy had gotten to them. They'd fought like they hated each other and hadn't touched each other for months. After two months of it he'd been terrified they were falling apart. The old fear had resurfaced that she would give up their baby, forget about him completely, and go back to her parents. So in a last ditch effort he had taken the job as a mechanic in a little town a few miles out of Columbus he had been avoiding. The town had been Lima. The job had paid enough for them to rent a house that they both loved and not much more than that. So Connie had gotten a job at the local supermarket. She had always loved working with people and while he'd felt bad that she hadn't gone to school like she had dreamed she assured him again and again that she loved her job and him more than the dreams she'd once had.

Away from Burt's parents and away from the town that held so many bad memories for both of them they had begun to be them again. Burt had quickly proven himself to be capable and not a little genius when it came to cars and he'd gotten a raise. Connie had gotten bigger and bigger. Her coworkers and regular customers had thrown her a surprise baby shower. They'd come home to each other every night exhausted, held each other as they told each other about their days, and made love like they never had before. The first time the baby had been real for Burt, the moment he had fallen as in love with his baby as was with his young bride was the first time he had felt his child move within the woman he loved. They'd spent three hours on the couch simply murmuring love at her belly. Four months later Kurt had come along and they'd been even more exhausted and even more in love as they delighted in every little thing that Kurt did. Their love for him had only encouraged their love for each other. Eventually Connie's parents had given into seeing Kurt and their love for him had gotten them to accept Burt and Connie. He still didn't like them and they still didn't like him, but they all loved Kurt and they made it work because of him.

It had never been perfect. But, it had been real and it had been good. The years he'd had with Connie had been the best of his life and she had given him the best thing in his life in the form of their son. And now he was terrified once again because Kurt was sitting at the table with him looking at Mohawk the same way Connie used to look at him. And that spelled trouble. He knew because he had been Mohawk when he was in high school. Not the most popular boy is school, but close to it. Best friend of the quarterback, probably the best player on the team. Could have any girl he wanted, got all of them, only stayed with them long enough to get into their pants. That was the thing that scared Burt the worst. He didn't get the whole gay thing at all, but it just didn't seem like a kid like Mohawk would ever really go for a kid like his son. Of course Kurt was strong and confident and any boy would be lucky to have him, but the Mohawk was so very…male.

Then again…the way the Mohawk was looking at Kurt, the way he was running his thumb over Kurt's knuckles to keep him calm. The way Kurt looked at him, like he was the most amazing thing he had ever seen, and the way Kurt had sounded so sure when he said he loved…What the hell was his name? Something Jewish. If this was going to be something that was going to last (And by the way they were looking at each other it seemed the most likely scenario) he should probably learn the kid's name. He had to respect that both Kurt and…Noah…had apologized for…whatever it was they had done. Hell, he accepted his son, but that didn't mean he had to even try to think about the mechanics of sex between two boys. To be honest, he wasn't sure he wouldn't shudder if he tried to think about it. He just didn't get it. He probably never would. But, none of that mattered. His ego, his pride, and his comfort didn't matter when it came to his boy. Because Kurt loved Noah. Noah was a typical teenaged boy and couldn't say the l word yet –Burt had caught that- but he had at least been able to admit that he was (How had he put it?) crazy about Kurt. It was probably as close as Noah would be able to get to saying he loved Kurt before high school ended. He knew Noah because he knew himself. He hadn't been able to tell Connie that he loved her until the day Kurt was born.

And Burt wasn't stupid. Noah had to be protecting Kurt. He was the type of kid who wouldn't stand for anyone touching what he cared for. Kurt's dry cleaning bill was down to next to nothing compared to what it had been. Kurt didn't come home with bruises he couldn't explain anymore, making Burt rage internally as he rubbed the stupid oil Kurt insisted helped heal bruises on his boy's shoulders. And he was happier than Burt had seen him since he started high school. He had always sung around the house but now he sang happy and upbeat songs and even danced in the kitchen as he made meals. He hardly ever laid next to Connie's dresser anymore and it had been a nearly weekly occurrence. He smiled more often now and his tongue wasn't as sharp when he got upset with Burt. In fact they hardly fought anymore.

Damn it. He was going to have to admit it. Noah was good for Kurt. And damn it, the kid played football! He was going to end up liking this kid. Especially if he got rid of the Mohawk.

Damn it! But, it didn't mean he didn't have to make the kid squirm for a few…months… before he admitted it. What kind of father would he be if he didn't? The thought comforted him a little as he reached for his beer and took a long swig. At least he didn't have to worry about Kurt and Noah getting pregnant. That was another comfort.

"Is this the kind of guy you go for, Kurt?" He asked lowly, "One with skunk hair who convinces you to cut school just so you can…"

"Please, Dad…don't even say it. And no. We don't skip school regularly. We just…we needed a day together. That's all."

"We won't do it again, Mr. Hummel."

"Damn right you won't, Mohawk."

"Dad!" Kurt rolled his eyes, "Please. His name is Noah."

"Noah…" Burt said the word as if he had to force it out. He had to respect the way the kid didn't even flinch. Kurt grinned at his "effort" and he had to resist the urge to grin back. He took another swig of his beer and stood, "I'm going back to work. You have your day. But, if I ever come home to find you two naked again…" He turned to Noah, "I do actually have a gun. I won't hesitate to use it. I'll bring home pizza for dinner. Mo…Noah, you'll be staying. You watch Deadliest Catch?"

Noah looked at Kurt whose expression clearly said that he better say yes before he turned to Burt, "Yes?"

"Good. There's a marathon starting at six. I'll be home for the first episode. You better get all of your homework done before then. Both of you. See you later."

"Dad!" Kurt called out when he stood up and started to walk toward the door. Burt turned around just in time to catch his son in his arms, "Thank you." Kurt whispered.

Burt curled his hand around Kurt's neck and squeezed gently before he pushed his son gently out of his arms and walked out to his truck. It was another ten minutes before he could steady himself enough to leave.

"Fuck," Puck said as the door swung shut behind Burt. He reached across the table and grabbed the half finished beer. Kurt looked on at him, amused, as he finished it in three gulps and pushed the empty bottle away, "What?" Kurt was simply smiling at him, "You're dad terrifies me, Kurt."

"I think that was his plan," Kurt moved toward him and sat in his lap, laying his head on Puck's shoulder, "It went well, Noah. He didn't throw you out. I was expecting that he would and I would have to throw a fit and spend the night with you. He must see something in you. I think he might just learn to like you."

"What a relief," Puck scoffed, "Was he serious about me staying for dinner?"

"He's always serious," Kurt kissed his neck gently, "And about that stupid television show. He's going to make us watch all four hours of it to punish us."

"Kurt," Puck tilted Kurt's chin up with his fingers and kissed him gently before setting his forehead to Kurt's, "I don't know how to tell you this…"

"What?" Kurt asked, a little scared.

Puck smiled reassuringly, kissed Kurt once more quickly, then whispered, "I like Deadliest Catch."