Chapter Text
Making dinner had, slowly but surely, become of of Blaine’s favourite part of his days. It was almost like a ritual, helped him decompress after a long day at work and gave him some quiet time. Most importantly, making dinner was some Sebastian and he time that was assured to happen every day (unless they, occasionally, chose to go out for dinner). Whilst not always alone, it was pretty much non-spoken in their house that making dinner was their special time, one they valued immensely. With how busy their lives are it almost feels impossible to find some quiet time for just them otherwise, so dinner is, hands down, one of Blaine’s favourite things to do.
Alas, dinner being sacred in their household for them also had, again with time, acquired a definition trait. Which is - making dinner was Blaine and Sebastian’s time to discuss not only their days, but also the decisions they had to make, or their time to talk about important topics. Which is why Blaine is not surprised in the slightest when he sees his oldest daughter come into the room, a bashful and almost timid look on her delicate face. She still looks as decided as she can look, and Blaine has to blame himself and his husband for that look of determination. He can, already, feel the incoming headache his daughter’s crazy idea of the hour (not month. Hour) is going to cause.
“Daddies…” she says for a greeting, making her voice melodic and almost singing the word out. Sebastian immediately looks at Blaine and points at him with the spatula he is using.
“She wants something” he says, matter-of-factly. Blaine laughs at that, but Poppy opens her mouth in indignation and turns around to look at Blaine, who was retrieving something from their fridge when she’d first come in, an expression of surprise on her face neither parent is buying. Sebastian raises an eyebrow towards her, and the same shade of evergreen face each other for a long second before Poppy is breaking the eye contact and going straight for Blaine, hugging him sweetly.
“Daddy, Dad’s being mean” she tells him, pouting.
“No” Blaine laughs, softly hugging his daughter back “. Dad knows you, which is different”
“Just tell us, Koko” Sebastian says, leaving the spatula be and resting his hips against the countertop. Poppy looks at him, and then at Blaine, and when the latter nods reassuringly to her, she finally speaks.
“Okay, so… I was talking with Auntie Izzy” Poppy starts, breaking her hug with Blaine and hopping on the kitchen aisle. She starts to idly play with the end of one of her long locks, now not as blonde as it was when she was a kid but still a dark golden, and in natural waves that always remind Blaine of a princess. He exchanges glances with his husband before looking back at their kid, letting her go on “. She called to ask about my Summer, and my Summer plans. All that stuff”
“Okay” Sebastian nods “. And?”
“And… well, I told her I wanted to do something” she shrugs, and Blaine can blame her need to do something at all times on him, it’s okay “. And she told me about this amazing summer internship that takes place at her office”
“A Summer internship?” Blaine asks, crossing his arms across his chest. Poppy nods with a smile, leaving her hair be.
“Yes!” She exclaims “. I would be working with one of the designers, and I would essentially be their assistant. But I could see in person how they work, and how it all does as well. I could learn a lot about fashion and the industry… not to mention, it would look amazing on any applications I make in the future”
“Right” Blaine nods, whilst Sebastian stays silent. Poppy takes that as the signal to keep going.
“I would even be paid. Not like, much, but some, so it’s not like they’d be profiting off of me. And I promise I will be super responsible with it, and that I will be no headache for Auntie Izzy. But this is the coolest thing ever, and something I really, really want to do. So… can I? Can I do the internship with Auntie Izzy, pretty please?”
She ends her speech by putting puppy eyes on, which Blaine immediately avoids by looking at Sebastian. His husband is already looking at him, and they both have a silent conversation for a long minute before Blaine is sighing and looking back at their daughter.
“I don’t know, Po” he says, and looks as she visibly deflates “. You’re still a bit young for that kind of stuff, neither Dad nor I want you putting that much pressure on yourself this early on”
“C’mon Daddy!” Poppy exclaims, trying even harder with the puppy dog eyes look. Blaine can just think he regrets teaching her how to do those every damn day “. I’m not too young for it, I’m almost fifteen!”
“You turned fourteen not even three months ago” Sebastian points out, going to stand next to his husband. He raises an eyebrow towards Poppy once more, as if daring her to dispute his words. But then again, Poppy is his daughter.
“Which, adding that to how long a pregnancy lasts, would’ve mean I’ve existed for fifteen years” she reasons, and Blaine has to bite a laugh at that, knowing he has to be on his husband’s team no matter what. But oh, it’s so funny to see Sebastian finally meeting his match.
“Ah, you’d be wrong there, Koko” Sebastian disagrees “. You were born quite early” he points out, and Blaine hugs his waist, smiling when Sebastian embraces him back and kisses the top of his head.
“He’s got a point there, P. You gave us quite the scare” he agrees, and Sebastian nods to his words. Poppy doesn’t seem as happy with them, hopping off the counter and getting that look of stubbornness on her face Blaine’s been told comes from him.
“Dads, please” Poppy pleads “. You guys are always telling my siblings and I to fight for what we truly want. This is what I want, and you guys more than know it, and this is just… this is an amazing opportunity” she insists. After her dads stay silent for a moment, she goes to add “. C’mon, do you want me to make a whole presentation about it? Because I’ll do it, and I’ll call my Uncles for back up”
“No” Blaine rather immediately says “. You don’t need to make a presentation to make us realise you want the internship. We believe you do”
“Yeah” Sebastian nods “. We know about your presentations, Pops”
“We already got a dog to prove that” Blaine sighs. Just as in cue, Max barks on the background.
“And a cat” Sebastian adds, as he sees Daisy jumping on one of the aisle’s high-chairs. The cat looks back at him, unimpressed, and starts licking her paw.
“You love them both” Poppy says, bringing the attention back to her “. Also, may I point out it was you guys the ones to tell me oh, Poppy, if you truly want something you should actually show that”
“Yeah” Blaine grimaces, looking at his husband “. That’s on us. You had the idea of making them do presentations”
“See?” Poppy insists, smiling.
“Okay, not the point. Pops, Daddy and I know this is important for you. But you are still very young, and most importantly, this is something you’ve talked about with your Auntie, but without us there to discuss it. Which, I am aware, is what you are doing now”
“So” Blaine continues, seeing his husband’s point “, what we can’t do is say yes without knowing what we need to know about the internship. Meaning, we will be talking with your Auntie about it, and once we do, we’ll talk with you again”
“And you’ll let me do it?” Poppy asks, hopeful.
“We’ll discuss it, Princess” Sebastian points out “. For now, that’s it”
“Okay” Poppy finally nods “. I’m more than okay with that, and thank you both for even considering it”
“You’re very much welcome, Koko” Blaine smiles “. We want the best for you, alright? So let us see what this is about, and then we’ll make a decision. Just know it is always with your best interests in mind, Honey”
“I know” the blonde teenager says, nodding to her father’s words with a smile. She goes to hug both of her parents, and Blaine distantly remembers a time where her arms couldn’t even hug him properly “. And you are the best Dads for that. Now, can I go with my siblings before dinner, or do you need any help?”
“You can go” Sebastian says “, but tell your siblings dinner will be ready in less than twenty minutes”
“On it” Poppy nods, already leaving the kitchen. When she’s left, Sebastian looks at him with an amused expression on his face and Blaine groans and hugs him, hiding his face on his chest for a moment before he’s looking into his eyes.
“One day those damn puppy dog eyes are going to kill me. I don’t even know why I taught her to put them on in the first place”
“Yes you do, Love” Sebastian disagrees with a laugh, kissing his husband’s lips for a sweet moment “. Also, if you regretted it so much you wouldn’t have taught our other children how to use them, either”
“Okay, when I taught Oli I wasn’t aware of the danger they supposed, back then they were just cute” Blaine argues back “. And by the time I realised and the twins were old enough… well, it was tradition”
“Of course it was” Sebastian laughs again, kissing Blaine’s temple. The shorter hums, resting his head on his chest and feeling his husband’s heartbeat under his ear.
“Besides, Love” Blaine adds “, we both know had I not taught them, either one of our oldest would’ve taught them the art of the puppy dog eyes, either way”
“Oh, they would’ve done it together, as a team effort” Sebastian agrees, nodding “. All the Anderson-Smythe kids a united front of puppy dog eyes against their fathers, I can already see it”
“The heathens we’ve raised” Blaine agrees, feeling his husband’s laugh under his ear.
“The best ones” Sebastian murmurs, and Blaine cannot help but agree.
“The absolute best ones, those heathens” he nods “. Speaking of the oldest one though… what do you think?”
“I think she’s right” Sebastian sighs “. It’s an amazing opportunity for her, Killer. She’ll gain experience and she’ll know if this is truly the right field for her… not to mention, she’s also getting paid. Which is more than any other internship will give her”
“I know” Blaine nods “. And even when she’s young… I know she can make it. If anyone can, Baby, then it is her”
“That we agree on… she has your stubbornness, after all”
“Hey!” Blaine laughs, swatting his husband’s chest “. I am not stubborn, mister”
“You so are” Sebastian disagrees, laughing as well “. And you’re just proving my point, by the way” he ignores Blaine rolling his eyes at that, and continues “. I say we do as we told our daughter, B. First we talk with Izzy, and then we decide”
“Sounds good” Blaine nods, breaking from the embrace with his husband and fully ignoring his pouty lips “. I’ll send her a text now, see if she can meet us tomorrow for coffee. Also, my Darling, you are way too old to be making those faces”
“I am fully taking offence on that, Killer” Sebastian tells him, going back to their cooking. Blaine snorts, but does as told, and sends a text to their Aunt. And when she agrees, he goes back to one of his favourite things to do.
The next day, and without telling their daughter (if anything to not make her feel nervous), Blaine and Sebastian go to meet Auntie Izzy - aka, Isabelle Wright. Aka the head of Vogue.Com.
Blaine had been surprised after learning of the connection between Isabelle, who he’d heard about from Kurt back when they were both in McKinley, but Sebastian had explained Isabelle was his father’s younger half-sister, on their mother’s side. The siblings had not always been too close, but she had always been an amazing Aunt to Sebastian, and had, more often than not, given him the attention and love he hadn’t received from his parents. That was until Blaine had come into the picture, when the shorter man had taken as his mission to fix the relationship between all the Smythes. It had taken him nearly two years, and lots and lots of tears and not so comfortable moments, but he’d managed. And in the process, he’d made Isabelle adopt him as one more of her nephews, completely enamoured by the hazel-eyed wonder. They had grown quite close after that, and she had been there for them when they were searching for their first apartment in the city after moving there from attending college in California.
Once their kids had been born, she had become Auntie Izzy (previously known as just Izzy for Sebastian and Blaine). Because the kids’ grandparents were not in the city (even when they travelled to see their grandkids as much as they could), Isabelle became the closest thing they had to a grandparent in New York, so they were quite close. And, of course, she was over the moon when one of her grand-babies showed interest for fashion. Which, Blaine guesses, is what brings Sebastian and he to now.
They had left Poppy and Oliver back home, taking care of their youngest, their twins, and had just said they had to run some errands. Then they had met Isabelle in one of her favourite spots, and she had been already there when they had arrived, with their drinks in front of them. Blaine knows his Aunt takes pride in doing things like that, in showing them she knows the very last detail about them, so he just thanks her with a smile and lets her do.
“So, first of all” she says the second they sit down “, I just wanted to apologise”
“That’s new” Sebastian says, rising an eyebrow and getting a soft kick to his shin from his husband. Isabelle looks at them, amusedly, and continues.
“I should’ve told you about the internship first, before I told our sweet Poppy. So, for that, I’m sorry” she apologises, and Blaine can actually appreciate that.
“It’s fine, Izzy” he smiles “, but thank you. We do understand you were excited about it”
“Very much so” Isabelle nods “. Has Poppy told you about the details of the internship?”
“As well as she can, I guess” Sebastian answers for them “. She told us she’d be working as an assistant mainly, and that she’ll be paid”
“Yes, and yes” Isabelle nods “. She will be working next to designers and editors, and seeing how it all works. And yes, she will be paid. But I also want to add - this is almost like a summer camp. She’ll come in the morning, some days she’ll have to come back after lunch, too, but not that many. And only the occasional Saturday. Of course, she will have her holidays… you told me you’re going to Europe, right?”
“Yeah” Blaine confirms “, to Spain first, and then we’re going to spend a few days in Italy. My parents and Bas’s are coming to meet us there”
“There is no problem with that” Isabelle assures them “. Maybe Pops will have some privileges, but I don’t care. The important thing here, guys, is that this is an amazing opportunity. It will be extremely good for her, and for her future”
“We know” Blaine sighs “, it’s just… we fear it’s too much”
“It won’t be” Isabelle says, sounding incredibly sure of herself “. Blaine, Sebastian, you know your daughter. You know Poppy is incredibly intelligent, and witty, not to mention responsible. She’s extremely capable, too, and even if she finds any trouble, I will be there to assist her. I understand this is scary for you guys and that you want nothing but for her to be okay, and that’s why you hesitate. But this is an amazing opportunity and, honestly, I think you should let her take the internship”
Blaine and Sebastian listen to her words before they sigh and look at each other, silently discussing their next move. Even when Blaine thought they were good at having silent conversations before, it only became better once they had to discuss their kids’ problems.
“Fine” Sebastian finally says, both looking back at Isabelle “. We will let her do it”
“Really?” She exclaims, beaming at them.
“Really” Blaine nods, smiling softly “. This is her dream, has been for years, and… who are we to deny her of that? Especially when we’ve always told her to fight for what she wants”
“And it’s exactly what she’s doing” Sebastian adds “. So… there will be conditions we’ll talk over with her, and then tell you. She’s still fourteen, so we have to put some rules and some limits”
“I agree” Isabelle nods “. And you guys know I will do as you say. I love her as my granddaughter, so I will be worrying about her all the time, don’t worry”
“We know” Blaine laughs “. The fact that you’re there is a big reason we’re letting her do it. We know you’ll be there for her, taking care of our baby girl”
“Yes” Isabelle nods “. But… just so you know, I am not the one designed to train and teach Koko. I wish I were, but I have too much work to really do so. But, she’ll be with an editor I trust, and one that also started as an intern for me, back when he was eighteen. He’s your age, so still young, so - you can only imagine how long I’ve known him and how well he knows Vogue”
“Right” Sebastian nods “. So, still young-ish, and with experience. Not bad”
“Poppy will be more than fine with him, I promise” Isabelle insists.
“What’s his name?” Blaine asks, curious, and the next words Isabelle says manage to stop his breathing for a second.
“Kurt Hummel” she announces, and immediately takes on how the husbands freeze, and lose their smiles. Sebastian looks at Blaine sharply, and the shortest man is gaping at her “. Is something wrong, kiddos?”
“You tell her” Sebastian tells Blaine, making his husband sigh.
“Kurt is… my ex boyfriend” he reveals, and leaves Isabelle gaping this time.
“What?” She asks, surprised. As far as she’d known, Sebastian and Blaine had been together since Senior Year of high school. So this is news for her.
“We dated back in high school, for a year and some months” Blaine tells her “. Actually, now that I recall… we broke up like the day before Kurt was to go for an interview to get an internship. Not my best moment” he winces “, but the thousandth argument grew huge, so… we broke up”
“Oh my God, I remember Kurt telling me about a bad break up shortly after he started at Vogue” Isabelle exclaims. She looks a mix between shocked and sorry, and is quick to grab Blaine’s hands in hers“. I am so sorry, my sweet boy. I had no idea, oh… I’m sorry”
“It’s fine, Izzy” Blaine smiles “. You clearly didn’t know, how could you?”
“Is there a chance Poppy is supervised by anyone else?” Sebastian asks, frowning.
“Not really” Isabelle winces “. I am sorry, but right now Kurt is the only one who can help her out. I usually have someone else, but she won’t be here ‘till Summer’s more than half-way gone, as I sent her to Europe to cover some fashion events for the first half of it. And then she’s on holidays, so… she’s coming by the end of the Summer, I’m afraid”
“Right” Sebastian and Blaine say, at the same time. Isabelle worries her bottom lip, looking between her nephews worriedly.
“Does this change your decision? Because, I will understand if it does”
The husbands take a moment to think over that, looking at each other to have one more silent conversation before they look back at Isabelle.
“No, it doesn’t” Blaine decides for them. Sebastian nods immediately to his words, so he feels better about them immediately “. We still want the best for our baby, and we know she deserves just that. It’s not fair we change our decision based on someone I dated forever ago. However… we have to talk to her about it”
“I understand” Isabelle nods “. But are you sure? Maybe that will only confuse her”
“We are, Izzy” Sebastian says “. It’s not fair for her to go blindly into this. We’ll talk with her, explain who her mentor would be, and, if she’s okay with that, then so will we be”
“Alright. Then it is decided, my boys” the head editor of Vogue applauds, and even when Blaine is still feeling nervous and taken back by all the information, he laughs along with her.
Not too long after, Sebastian and he are arriving back at their home. Sebastian had assured him in the car that he’s fine with this, and had actually worried about him. In truth, Blaine’s mostly uncomfortable, not so much anything else. Truth to be told, it’s been decades since the last time he saw Kurt, or thought of him, and since they were together but, if his ex is still the way he was in high school, he doesn’t want his daughter to be hurt by him. Regardless… he is aware this is Poppy’s decision, at the end of the day, not his. And like his husband and he had told Isabelle, they were not taking their kid’s dream away just because of their own past teenage problems.
Poppy and Oliver are watching TV on their second living room, the one they use the most for family life when they get back, a re-run of a show they all watch as a family on. They barely look at them when Sebastian and he go into their living room, which makes Sebastian roll his eyes playfully.
“We’ve come home, you know” he says for a greeting, and their kids roll their eyes simultaneously, in the same fashion their father has displayed.
“We welcome you to our humble abode, Father” Oliver tells him, playfully. Blaine has to bite down a laugh at that, smiling amusedly at their oldest son. Now close to being a pre-teen, it’s wild to see how much Oliver looks like him. Especially if they compare it to pictures of Blaine at that age.
“Where are the twins?” He asks, looking around for the little terrors. Poppy is the one to answer, pausing the show and siting up on the couch.
“Oli and I put them down for their nap like, forty minutes ago” she explains “. We played in the playroom and even went to the park for a bit, so they were exhausted”
“Okay” Blaine nods. He exchanges a look with Sebastian before looking back at their eldest son, a soft smile on his face “. Mister Moo, can you go and check on your siblings? Dad and I have to talk with Po”
“What have you done now?” Oliver asks his older sister, an amused undertone to his voice. Poppy sticks her tongue out at him and gets the same in return.
“Oliver” Sebastian insists, nodding to the hall that leads to their big staircase “. Please, do as Daddy said”
“Sure” the kid shrugs “. Can I find out what’s this all about though?”
“Later” Blaine nods “. Now go”
Oliver nods and finally does as told, disappearing from their living room in a matter of seconds. For when Blaine is looking back at Poppy, she’s already alert, her evergreen eyes shinning with suspicion.
“Did you talk with Auntie Izzy?” She asks, barely keeping herself from bouncing on her seat. Blaine huffs a laugh at her, fondly, and sits on the other end of the sofa, waiting until his husband is next to him to start talking.
“Yes, we did” he confirms, and Poppy lets out a squeal “. We just had coffee with her”
“And how did it go?” She asks even before Blaine’s done talking “. Did you guys decide?”
“We did” Sebastian confirms “. But first, Poppy, breathe. Now - we want you to listen to us talk and wait until we’re done to talk back. Understood?” He waits until their daughter has nodded, and then looks back at Blaine with a soft smile on his face “. Alright Darling, tell her”
“Well…” Blaine smiles, exchanging a mischievous look with his husband before looking back at their daughter “. Dad and I talked with Auntie Izzy, and she told us some details of the internship you hadn’t told us yet. And after talking with her, and after discussing it between us… we have decided to let you do it. We just want the best for you, baby, and we know this is it. And you were right… we taught you to fight for your dreams, and it is precisely what you are doing”
Poppy squeals once more after his words, throwing herself at Sebastian and he for a bear hug they return in a second “. Thank you, thank you, thank you!” She exclaims, kissing their cheeks by turns “. Thank you, you’re the best Dads ever!”
“There will be rules, Poppy” Sebastian intervenes quickly, and waits until Poppy has sat back down, this time next to Blaine, to continue “. And conditions”
“Like what?” She asks, not taken back but looking curious about it.
“Like, we want you to have a balance between the internship and your free time” Blaine tells her “. You are way too young to get lost in work, honey. We understand you want to do this, but we don’t want you to stop having fun as well and doing the things kids your age do”
“Exactly” Sebastian nods “. Also, we’ll be discussing your curfew once we know your schedule. If plans change, you always tell Daddy and I, and of course, Auntie Izzy. If something else happens that you know we have to know about, likewise. We can discuss all the rules with your Auntie”
“Okay, sounds good” Poppy nods “. Something else?”
“Actually” Blaine grimaces “. Yes. And this is something important, alright kid? This is something you have to know before you truly accept the internship”
“Okay…” the teenager says, frowning. She looks between her Dads with eyes full of worry “. Is something wrong?”
“Not really” Sebastian tells her “, but listen to your father. This is… kind of a sensitive subject”
Poppy frown gets deeper at that, looking at Blaine with urgency in her eyes, so much so the musician feels bad for worrying her. But this is something she has to know, and not something easy to talk about.
“When Auntie Izzy was telling us about the internship, she also told us who you would be working with. Did she tell you?”
“No” Poppy says, shaking her head “. She told me she had to check who was available”
“Okay. Well, there were two possible candidates. One that is away this Summer, working in Europe. The second is the one Izzy chose, but when she told us the name, Dad and I were a bit taken back. Look, Pops… his name is Kurt Hummel. And he is my ex-boyfriend”
“What?” Poppy exclaims, shocked. She’s been so loud Blaine’s convinced the rest of his kids have heard her. Possibly the whole neighbourhood. All the Anderson-Smythes have good lungs, after all.
“We dated when we were in high school” Blaine keeps explaining “. He was the boyfriend I had before I started dating your Dad. We broke up a few days before he started working at Vogue, so I had no idea he could or would be there”
“And Auntie Izzy?” Poppy asks, frowning still.
“Had no idea either, baby. She didn’t know who Kurt was to me, as I’ve just told you we broke up before he even started working for her. But he’s there, and he’s the one meant to teach you”
“Daddy and I have been talking” Sebastian intervenes “, and we’re still okay with you doing the internship, regardless of who your mentor is. Kurt is someone from our past, sure, and we all have a complicated history…”
“You, too?” Poppy asks, surprised once more.
“It’s a long story” Sebastian winces “. But - it’s in the past. And he’s not a part of our lives anymore, hasn’t been for decades, so… we’re fine with it”
“But we wanted to know if you are” Blaine adds “. It will be completely okay if you’re no longer okay with it, and Auntie Izzy has told us she will also understand”
Poppy worries her bottom lip for a moment at that, staying silent for a long moment and looking down at her lap before she looks back at her Dads “. Will you two truly be okay with him teaching me?” She asks, doubtful.
“We will, Koko, we promise” Sebastian says, Blaine nodding to his words “. Honey, you’re our baby, and there is little we could want more than you and your siblings making your dreams come true. So, as long as you are responsible with this, and as long as you meet our conditions, we’ll be okay with this”
“Then I want to do it” Poppy says, smiling so big Blaine knows everything is worth it for her. Absolutely everything.
“And we’re proud of you because of that” he tells her “. One more thing though”
“Sure” she nods, a look of determination on her face that, once more, looks too much like Blaine’s.
“Dad and I agreed it could be a good idea if Kurt doesn’t know who you are” he tells his daughter “. Just in case, you know? We don’t want any changes on his behaviour, nor any bias, so it’s better if he doesn’t find out your last name. Or who your Dads are”
“Likewise, I’ll be talking with Izzy” Sebastian adds “, and I’ll ask her to not reveal your ties to her, so you can be at Vogue.Com and not be accused of having privileges because you’re Isabelle’s great-niece. Sounds good?”
“Sounds fantastic” Poppy agrees, and hugs them once more “. Thank you so much for this, Dads. Seriously. I am so incredibly lucky to have you both…”
“We’re the lucky ones, Poppy” Blaine tells her over her head, kissing her golden locks softly. He exchanges a look with his husband over their baby’s head, and winks an eye at him. And even when the whole situation is nerve-wracking… he thinks they’ll be okay. Hopefully, anyway.
Before either Blaine or Sebastian want, the first day of Poppy’s internship had arrived. Their kid had been a bundle of nerves since the day before, barely being able to sit still during dinner and almost not able to fall asleep, as excited as she’d been about it. She’d woken up criminally early and had been ready to go by the time Blaine and Sebastian had woken up. Looking at her, dressed with a long floral dress that showed her as professional yet incredibly young, made Blaine’s heart melt. He wanted to cry at how grown up his baby looked, but instead he caressed his daughter’s long golden locks and kissed the top of her head, letting her ramble about what she was looking forward on her interview.
Poppy had been almost buzzing by the time they were all ready to go. Sebastian and Blaine had decided to take the rest of their kids out on a family day whilst Poppy was at Vogue, picking her later on to have a celebratory family lunch and, possibly, do something all together after that - but that only meant they had to make sure Oliver was awake and ready in time, as well as the twins. Oliver was still half-zombie, but had managed to get dressed and gotten some breakfast in him. Grace and Everett, on the other hand, had been pretty active whilst having breakfast and getting ready, but they had fallen asleep the second they were in the car. Oliver had slowly woken up, if anything because of Poppy’s excited chatter.
“So, you are in charge of the coffee?” He asks once they’re close to the building, Blaine driving because, contrary to what Sebastian likes to say, he is not a morning person. Blaine’s pretty sure Oliver got that from his husband - who, at their son’s question, snorts softly, nursing his second coffee on his thermos.
“It’s more than that, Oli” Poppy tells her. It’s telling she doesn’t get annoyed by that, and a glance to his husband tells him he thinks so as well. So, she’s excited alright “. I will also be working on editing and like, photoshoots and stuff”
“It’s a good job, kid” Blaine smiles, turning around during a red light to smile at his daughter “. And we’re very proud”
“Yes” Sebastian says before yawning “. And we know you’ll do amazing”
“I know that, too” Oliver intervenes “. But also, does this mean you’ll know how to make killer coffee? Because I want the benefits from that”
“One coffee per week maximum, Oliver” Blaine intervenes, getting a pout from his clone “. Don’t look at me like that, I don’t care. We are not repeating the incident from last Spring”
“Please don’t” Poppy agrees, shuddering. The building she’s going in appears on her sight then, and she visibly brightens up, bouncing on her seat “. Oh my God, there it is!”
“Okay, before you stop listening” Sebastian says, smiling amusedly at how excited Poppy is “. Remember to please call us, either Daddy or I, if you need us or for anything else you might need. We’ll be there as soon as possible. And also, please tell your Auntie if you need something. If you want to do it in a discreet manner that’s fine, but please do”
“Sure” Poppy nods, her brilliant smile never leaving her face “. I promise I will behave and I will be responsible. You’ve trusted me to do this, and I am not abusing that trust”
Blaine smiles proudly at his daughter, and when he stops the car to let her get off he turns to receive her hug. Sebastian does as well, and Poppy hugs Oliver goodbye before leaving the car, all silently agreeing that waking up the twins is not the best idea.
Blaine returns to the road and tries to focus on that, blinking fast to not get emotional. When Sebastian clears his throat, he knows he’s doing as bad as him “. Just like her first day at kindergarten, huh?” He asks, voice a bit weak. Blaine smiles fondly at that and grabs his husband’s hand to kiss it reverently for a moment.
“And first day of school” he responds “. We were even bigger messes by then”
“If it helps” Oliver’s voice comes from the backseat, and through the rearview mirror Blaine sees his son smiling sweetly at them “, I am still here. And the twins”
“It helps, Oli” Blaine says, but he has to blink some more because of that.
“Good, I am glad. So, speaking about that coffee…”
“No” he gets from both his fathers.
“Damn it”
They end up spending the morning in the American Museum of Natural History, after having a coffee and other beverages first. Blaine even lets Oliver have a couple of sips, under Sebastian’s amused smile, and he justifies it on that day being an important one for their family. It’s okay if he indulges Oliver a bit.
They spend the whole morning exploring the Museum, just as if they haven’t done it countless of times before, anyways, and, even when he’s missing Poppy, Blaine knows his daughter is working hard for her dreams to become true. It’s easier to accept that when he has one of the twins on his arms, or Oliver close to him. And of course, it helps when Sebastian hugs him sweetly to his body, knowing exactly what is going through Blaine’s mind - and of course, he does hug Sebastian when Blaine can see the same thing going through his husband’s mind.
When they pick Poppy up to go to lunch the kid is visibly plethoric, basically bouncing on her seat with excitement, but she still asks about her family’s morning first and listens with a sweet smile as the twins take turns to tell her about their morning, Oliver intervening here and there. She even helps the twins out of the car, although that is not that surprising, as she’s always been an amazing older sister, and Blaine cannot help but think she’s maybe missed them a little.
The Anderson-Smythe family get into their favourite restaurant, being greeted by the owner and walked to their usual table. Blaine and Sebastian had offered a daddies-daughter date to celebrate Poppy’s first day at the internship, but the teenager had declined the offer with a soft smile, thanking her Dads but telling them on how she wanted to have a family celebration. And because that had melted Blaine and Sebastian’s hearts, they had not insisted.
Once the family is sitting down and they have ordered their drinks and foods, Poppy asks her siblings to finish the story of their morning. She still listens to it with a smile on her face, but Blaine can see her bouncing on her seat with silent excitement and, after sharing an amused smile with his husband, he turns to their daughter once their other kids have stopped talking.
“So, Pops… how was your first day at the internship?”
At his question, Poppy’s eyes start to sparkle beautifully, and she barely can keep the excitement in and not burst “. It was so fun!” She exclaims, and Blaine lets out the air he had not realised he was still holding “. Auntie Izzy welcomed me, actually, and she showed me around for a bit and explained everything to me. Don’t worry, Dads, I made sure no one knew she’s my grandma, but. You know. It was cool to have her. And today I mostly learned everything I will have to do, but - it was so great. Thank you so much for letting me do this”
“You’re very much welcome” Sebastian says, finding Blaine’s hand under the table and lovingly squeezing it.
“We just want you to be happy, Koko” Blaine adds, smiling gently at his oldest baby “. So… if this works for you and you like it, then there is nothing more we could ask for”
Poppy smiles brightly and sweetly at that, nodding. But then her smile gets smaller, and she tilts her head for a moment before asking “. So… do you want to know about Kurt?”
Sebastian and Blaine open their mouths in a small surprise at that, almost having forgotten about the man with how nervous and excited they’d been for Poppy. On the other hand, Oliver frowns and looks from between his parents and sister to the twins, who are as confused as him.
“Who is Kurt?” He asks, making Blaine and Sebastian realise that they had only told Poppy about Blaine’s ex. Poppy seems to realise so as well, because she blushes at her brother’s question. Sebastian can see Blaine in a loss for words, so he gently squeezes his hand again and looks back at their son.
“Kurt, Kurt Hummel, is Poppy’s mentor” he explains “. But, he’s also Daddy’s ex-boyfriend from high school”
Oliver’s jaw falls open at that, eyes going wide as well with that new piece of information. Poppy blushes even more, which only highlights her freckles, and the twins… they just look confused. Blaine grimaces at that, knowing their little four-year-old minds must be exploding right now.
“Wait, what?” Oliver asks, a bit too loud and immediately getting a stern look from Sebastian “. Sorry, yeah, I know. Don’t be loud in a restaurant, but… what? Daddy, you had someone before Dad?”
“I am sorry, why is that surprising?” Blaine asks, amused. Sebastian hides his laugh behind his hand, but Poppy visibly laughs at his younger brother.
“I…” Oliver stutters, blushing at his father’s question “, it’s not that, I just, I thought Dad and you had always been together. You started dating in high school”
“Our Senior Year” Sebastian points out, still amused by the whole thing “. A lot can happen before that, Oli”
“Yeah, I see that” Oliver murmurs, making his family laugh again.
“Moo, Kurt and I dated before I started dating your father” Blaine finally explains to his clone “. We started dating during my Sophomore Year of high school, a few months before I met Dad, and broke up at the beginning of my Senior Year, when he left for New York and I was fed up with him and his attitude. And by then, Dad and I were already very good friends, so… it was only natural”
“Literally everyone saw it coming” Sebastian adds, smirking at his husband “. We were going to happen no matter what”
Blaine smiles softly at him, nodding, and he feels butterflies in his tummy when Sebastian rolls his wedding ring with his finger, still holding his hand under the table. Poppy and Oliver smile at them as well, before the latter is looking at the former with nothing but curiosity in his hazel eyes.
“So? What happened with Kurt today, did he recognise you?”
“He didn’t, because Daddies agreed he wouldn’t know my surname” Poppy shrugs “. And Auntie Izzy agreed, just like no one knows I am her grandchild. It’s better this way”
“Fine, but how did it go?” Oliver insists “. How is he, is he nice? Bitter because he didn’t get Daddy?”
“Oliver” Blaine reprimands him, but it’s muffled thanks to Sebastian’s laugh, who doesn’t stop it when his husband glares at him.
“Sorry, Daddy. Pops…?”
“He was… nice, I guess” Poppy shrugs. Blaine can tell it is not like she’s liked him and doesn’t know what to say, rather… his kid sounds genuinely confused “. I don’t know. He was not warm towards me, and it doesn’t look like he’s a warm person at all, but he was nice enough. And when Auntie Izzy asked him to explain to me what I would be doing with him, he did and made everything pretty clear”
“But didn’t he ask you about yourself?” Oliver asks, confused “. That’s like… I don’t know, being polite”
“He didn’t ask me about me, no” Poppy confirms, and Blaine swallows a sigh. On one hand, he knows Kurt could be doing more of an effort and not treat a child like she’s out in a war zone; on the other hand, he’s happy their whole charade is safe for now “. Nor did he ask about my family, or how I ended up doing an internship at Vogue.Com. He just made a remark on how young I am and how that will be no excuse to not work as hard as everyone else in there, but that’s it”
“Well, all in all it was a good day,” Blaine says, smiling at his daughter “. And today’s just the beginning, Koko. You are doing amazing things this Summer”
“That we don’t have a single doubt about” Sebastian adds “. So, as long as you keep it up and as long as you follow the rules, you’ll have an amazing time there. That being said, how about a toast for Poppy now?”
The kids agree to the idea enthusiastically, all lifting their glasses into the air, and Blaine shares a loving look with his husband before he copies their kids. They take turns in saying the most silly toasts they can think of, and by the time their food comes, they have to ask for more drinks.
Blaine puts himself on a state of alert for the next weeks, just like he knows Sebastian has done. He watches as Poppy comes and goes from the internship and asks her how it’s been daily, wanting to see if there is something off, something weird - something he should be worrying about or telling Isabelle. But Poppy seems to be doing fine, she is all smiles and enthusiastic stories, so Blaine forces himself to relax and starts believing things will be okay.
It’s easier, as more time goes by. Poppy only goes to Vogue in the morning, and he has her back by lunchtime. She’s there on the weekends, except one so far, and all in all, Blaine sees her more than he’d hoped for (hangouts with her friends included), which is great.
That particular day finds Blaine playing with his kids in the Garden Patio, taking advantage of the good weather. The twins have managed to convince Oliver and he of playing tag throughout the whole house, which had been as chaotic as one could fear, and then the oldest boy had convinced his siblings of going to the Patio and playing cards there. By now, Blaine can see his twins starting to get bored, so he knows it’s about time until they demand they play something else.
All in all, it is a peaceful afternoon. Sebastian is still in his law firm, and he’s told Blaine he will try to not come home too late and will bring dinner with him, too tired to do anything else. Blaine has agreed to that, if anything because he knows his husband is mentally exhausted thanks to a particularly hard case he’s working on, and he reminds Sebastian that in not even two weeks they’ll be off to Europe, which seems to cheer her husband up some.
He himself has finished two albums and three singles this week, and he has more work before he leaves with his family for Europe, but… for now, he can have a day off with his babies. Even if the oldest has yet to come home after her lunch with Isabelle.
Speaking of the devil, however. Blaine sees his daughter go into their house, leaving her purse on the couch before she spots them and smiles blindly at them, receiving Grace’s bear hug with a laugh “. Hello, Princess. Missed me?”
“All the time!” Grace exclaims, getting Poppy to kiss the crown of her head before she greets everyone else.
“Hey, Koko” Blaine smiles, hugging his daughter sweetly to his body “. Did you have a good time with Izzy?”
“Yes,” Poppy smiles. But there is something different… something in her eyes, Blaine can tell. Before he can actually ask her about it, Everett and Grace have come up to Poppy, pulling on her hands.
“Pops, can you play with us now?” Everett asks, his evergreen eyes wide and almost perfecting the puppy dog eyes look.
“Yes, please?” Grace asks as well, backing her twin up “. We miss you”
“Aw, then of course I can play” Poppy agrees immediately, ruffling her sibling’s hair “. What do you want to do?”
“Tea party” Everett immediately says. Grace nods to that, faking a serious look that makes Blaine laugh and agree with the twins. He helps them bring the stuff down from their playroom after they insist to stay in the Garden, and is kicked out of their scheme plans when the four-year-olds want to prepare the ‘tea’ for the rest of them. He goes back to Oliver and Poppy then, sitting between them and observing his youngest, just in case they create a mess.
“Hey, Daddy?” Poppy starts, so suddenly it startles Blaine for a second. When he looks at her, however, he worries, because there is that look in her eyes that still worries him a little.
“Yes, Po? Everything okay?”
“Yes, just…” the teenager sighs, shrugging “, I was wondering if I could ask you something”
“Of course” Blaine nods “. Ask away, Koko”
Poppy worries her bottom lip for a long moment, watching her siblings before she looks back at her father “. What happened between you and Kurt?” She asks, and Blaine widens his eyes at that, mouth opening in shock. Oliver seems surprised by his sister’s questions for a moment, too, before he turns and looks at Blaine.
“Now that P asks, I am curious as well. What happened, Daddy?” He asks, eyes wide in curiosity.
“What- why do you want to know, Pops?” Blaine asks, trying hard not to stutter. Poppy blushes faintly at that, shrugging.
“It’s just - Kurt is not a warm person, and he’s all about work and barely talks outside of it, but… he’s been opening up lately, some”
“And?” Blaine presses on, gently.
“And he’s mentioned how he’s never found a decent guy” Poppy finally says, looking conflicted after she does so. Blaine tries hard not to show surprise, but, in all honestly, he can barely believe what he is hearing “. He told me men are usually not good, that they are mostly… er, trash, and that he has yet to find one that is good”
Blaine can’t help it; he opens his mouth in surprise, aware that nothing will come out of his mouth if he dares to speak. Just - what. Kurt has told a fourteen-year-old what?
“Oh my God” Oliver exclaims, looking as surprised as Blaine feels and surely looks. And given how much his son looks like him, he can guess what he looks like, as well “. Are you serious?”
“Yeah” Poppy nods, looking a bit dejected. She looks at Blaine again, and in her eyes Blaine finds confusion and a bit of hurt “. Daddy, I just… I don’t get it. You are the best man in the world for me, like Dad is, I don’t… I don’t understand what happened for Kurt to say you are not, or that you are… trash”
“And it upset you” Blaine says, more like an affirmation than a question. Poppy sighs again, but nods, and lets Blaine hug her to his body, yearning for some parental comfort “. Honey, I’m sorry”
“It’s not your fault, Daddy” Poppy whispers, snuggling into him “. But why does he think so?”
“I… look, kids” Blaine says, talking to both of his older kids. The twins are distracted enough and they are, anyway, too young for this type of talk “, feelings are very complicated. And it is sad Kurt thinks of me or men this way, but… it is life”
“But why does he think that?” Oliver insists, sitting closer to his father and sister “. What happened between you two for him to think that?”
“It’s… complicated, again” Blaine grimaces. His kids nod at that, still expecting an explanation, and the music producer cannot blame them for that one. So, he sits better and figures he can explain the matter to them “. Okay, so… Kurt was my first boyfriend. The first one who was close to anything serious, anyway. We met when he came to spy at Dalton for the New Directions, a long story Uncle Sammy will surely tell you eventually, and then he transferred to Dalton when he saw it was a school free of bullying”
“And you started dating then?” Oliver asks, curious.
“Not then, but a while later. He was different then, I guess. So was I, we… we were kids, after all. And we stayed together for a while, and then… I met your Dad. He transferred to Dalton on our Junior Year, although I had transferred to Kurt’s high school by then. Still, we met because Dad was in the Warblers, and… we had this instant connection. Looking back there is no way I can deny that, even when back then I did try, if anything out of respect for Kurt”
“So… did you break up with Kurt for Dad?” Poppy asks, curious. Blaine shrugs, looking at the twins to make sure they are not creating a mess before he looks back at his oldest kids.
“Not really. Sebastian and I were good friends, but just that, for a long time. Junior Year was… a mess we will tell you about one day, but we didn’t start dating then. I was still with Kurt, although we started to have loads of issues”
“Why?” Oliver asks, curious like Blaine knows he himself is.
“We were too different” Blaine shrugs “. And we started dating because we were friends, and because it was convenient, and… we were not a good match, all in all. So as time went by we fought more and more. He’d convinced me to move to McKinley, but then he was unhappy to have me there, because I kept taking the attention he was craving, even if I didn’t mean to. And I was unhappy at McKinley as well, because I was missing my friends, and the Warblers, and just Dalton. And because Kurt’s a year older than me, I decided to go back to Dalton come to Senior Year. Go back home”
“And he didn’t take it well” Poppy guesses, getting a nod from her Dad immediately.
“He hated it. Kurt tried to convince me to stay in McKinley for weeks, if not months, but my mind was made. Kurt was leaving for New York, to try to find work and re-apply to an arts school that had rejected him, so I had nothing left to do at that public high school… of course, I had friends like your Uncle Sammy, or Auntie Tina, but still”
“Dalton was home” Oliver completes for him. Blaine nods with a smile; even after decades, Dalton still feels like home. And having all of the Warblers as his kids' Uncles only proves that.
“Exactly” the hazel-eyed wonder says “. So, I decided to go back, and Kurt didn’t like it. Our fights and arguments just grew, and our relationship became so toxic, and… one day I asked myself: why am I doing this? Why am I still in a relationship I don’t want to be with, trying to force it to work? Why do I insist on being unhappy?”
“You deserved more than that, Daddy” Poppy says with determination, before smiling mischievously “. Like Dad”
“Like Dad, you little rascal” Blaine laughs, tickling Poppy’s tummy to make her laugh and then doing the same with Oliver’s “. But yes. You are right. I deserved better - something Sebastian told me as well. So, eventually, after the thousandth argument, I broke up with Kurt. And it was messy, and over a Skype Call, but we did break up. And even when I feel bad when I say it, I felt better afterward. I was deeply unhappy with Kurt, and almost depressed. So breaking up with him kind of saved me”
“And Dad?” Oliver asks, curious about it.
“Dad was the best friend I could've asked for through all of it” Blaine says, smiling gently at the memory “. He helped me get settled back in Dalton, and he helped me through my complicated feelings and through the mess that was my breakup. And because by then I was free, I was also free to see the connection between us and to explore it… it was a natural progression, I’d say, and we eventually started dating a few weeks into our Senior Year. But…”
“Kurt didn’t take it too well” Poppy guesses.
“Yep. Kurt took me starting to date your Dad as treason. He cut all contact between us immediately, blocked me in everything I could be blocked in, and he did that to Sebastian as well. It amused Bas, though, so I don’t think Kurt achieved what he wanted. And I couldn’t care less, so” he shrugs “. It was all a mess still”
“In what sense?”
“Well, Oli… Kurt believed I’d broken up with him because I was cheating on him with your father” Blaine reveals, laughing softly at the faces of shock his two kids make “. He was convinced Bastian and I had gone behind his back and had created this whole… plan against him. To humiliate him, or something. Although, maybe there is a bit of exaggeration there, we heard it from Sam and he loves to make things bigger than they are”
“Still sounds a mess” Oliver says, snorting “. Also, unfair to say. Dad and you did nothing wrong, and he could’ve asked before accusing”
“As I said, Moo, feelings are complicated” Blaine shrugs, ruffling his baby boy’s hair “. And we were still kids when all of that happened… granted, Kurt was an adult already, but” he shrugs again “. Barely. Which I know doesn’t justify it, and… I was hurt back then. But I learned to let it go, and to forget about that and about him. I was with your Dad, and my happiness with him was way more important than any petty ex-boyfriend”
“So, that was all?” Poppy asks, frowning lightly “. A messy break-up where he made up half the stuff?”
“That was all” Blaine shrugs “. And trust me, Koko, I would tell you if there was something else to it”
“I know, Daddy. You wouldn’t lie to me when I asked for the truth”
“Yes” Blaine nods, looking at the twins once more to check on them. They are almost ready with their fake tea, so he knows he has only a couple of minutes left with his oldest “. Look, Poppy… I don’t like Kurt talking to you that way. You are fourteen, and he is your mentor, this is highly inappropriate. And I know Dad will agree, and so will Izzy”
“Daddy, it’s fine” Poppy protests immediately, and she hurries to explain herself when Blaine looks back at her, unimpressed “. It is, I promise! I understand it was wrong of him, but like, it was just a comment”
“That left you upset” Blaine still points out.
“Yes, but now I am not, Daddy. Please let me stay there, please? I promise if he says stuff like that again I will complain to Auntie Izzy, but Daddy, please?”
Blaine knows it’s a lost battle. There have been few times where he’s been able to say no to his daughter, especially with the puppy dog eyes at full force, and almost none when Sebastian was not present to help him out. So, he sighs, and nods, getting a handful of Poppy the next second.
“I will let you do it” he says when his daughter breaks the hug “. Although, I am talking to Dad about this”
“Okay” Poppy nods, because all in all she knows better than to disagree on that “. It’s fair”
“More than fair” Blaine agrees “. But, Koko, I want you to be careful”
“I will be, I promise” she smiles, but it is not enough. Now that Blaine has seen Kurt still has it for him and Sebastian, apparently, it is not enough. So much so for forgiving with time.
“Poppy, I am serious. You’ve half-seen how little Kurt likes me, or your Dad for that matter. I would like to think Kurt is professional, but still. You have to be careful in not showing or saying who your parents are”
“I will, I promise”
“And” Blaine adds “, please, don’t take to heart everything Kurt says. And if ever upsets you again, you come to me, or Dad”
“I promise, Daddy” Poppy says, a soft yet serious look on her face that Blaine has seen in himself a lot of times “. I just wanted to talk about it, but I am fine now”
“And I am glad you are, Koko” Blaine smiles, kissing the top of her head before the twins go back to them, ready to start their tea party. Watching as his oldest kids forget about the whole thing to focus on their siblings, Blaine decides to do the same thing… but he will tell his husband about this later.
“He did what now?”
“Calm down” Blaine tells Sebastian, thankful that their kids are in their second living room, hence won’t be hearing them discuss this in their bedroom. He watches as Sebastian huffs, getting off his shirt and going to search for a comfortable t-shirt.
“I am calm, Killer. If I wasn’t, I would go to Kurt and rip him a new one”
“Bastian…”
“Who exactly does he think he is, anyway?” Sebastian keeps going, putting his t-shirt over his head before he goes to search for some sport shorts, now not wearing any pants. Blaine worries his bottom lip, shrugging “. He is bitter, Killer, and pathetic”
“Bas”
“Now you will tell me he’s not?” Sebastian asks, putting on shorts and looking at Blaine incredulously “. Darling, c’mon”
“I am not saying anything, Love. And trust me, I was mad as well, but getting mad won’t get us anywhere”
“You know, you should’ve been a therapist”
“Ah, I’d get bored” Blaine shrugs, making Sebastian snort. He frowns after that, and points a finger at Blaine.
“Do not make me laugh. I am trying to be serious here”
“For what, exactly?” Blaine asks, going to sit on their bed “. How will that help us?”
“Er…” Sebastian stutters, realizing his husband’s question is a good one.
“I don’t like Kurt’s words either. I actually hate them. And I think it is highly inappropriate he talked to our daughter like that, especially when she’s just fourteen. But I talked it through with Poppy and with Oliver, and they’re okay”
“So, what? We’re not doing anything?”
“We are talking with Izzy, Bastian” Blaine tells him, and Sebastian sighs and goes to sit on his lap, still frowning a bit “. That’s all we can really do… we cannot complain to Kurt, as he doesn’t know we’re Poppy’s Dads, and we are not blowing her cover over this”
“Yes… you’re sadly right”
“Damn right I am” Blaine says, tickling his husband’s sides to make him laugh “. If this gets worse, we’ll intervene. I promise. But as for now, we have to trust Izzy and let her do”
“You know, I bet she’s loving all of this power” Sebastian notes, and makes Blaine laugh brightly at that.
“I don’t doubt that. But also remember - she adores Poppy, she won’t let anything happen to her”
“That is true” Sebastian nods. He kisses him then, slow and lazy yet Blaine can’t love it more “. Then what has you worried?”
“I’m not worried”
“We’ve been together since we were seventeen, Love. Try harder” Sebastian says, amused. Blaine rolls his eyes at him, although he does love his husband’s words, and puts his arms around Sebastian’s waist.
“Kurt has been this harsh to our baby just by talking about men. And vaguely referring to me”
“Yeah. Not bitter at all”
“But” Blaine presses on “, what if he continues?”
“Then we will talk with Izzy. You just said that”
“No, I mean… what if Kurt finds out Poppy is our daughter, Bastian? I can’t help but be scared of what will happen if he does”
“He won’t” Sebastian tells him, although it almost sounds like he’s trying to convince himself “. We will make sure he doesn’t find out, unless we want him to know. He won’t hurt our baby, okay Love?”
“You don’t know that” Blaine softly protests “. We cannot always protect her”
“Yes, and I absolutely hate that” Sebastian half-agrees “. And I know you do, too. But we can try to make sure she’s as safe as possible. And you just said it, B. Pops has Izzy there for her, and she won’t let anything happen to our daughter. Poppy will be fine”
“Poppy will be fine” Blaine echoes, getting another kiss from Sebastian.
“Good boy, finally listening to me. Now… if our kids are busy enough, you know, we could use some time for ourselves…”
“Close the door. Don’t forget the bolt”
The morning is nothing short of perfect. Albeit extremely warm, the sun’s out and there are no clouds, and there is even a gentle breeze making it all better… the scene is peaceful, and serene, and Blaine knows it is pretty much the definition of a perfect day. And one they deserve after their busy days at work.
They had taken advantage of Poppy’s free days at work to leave for Europe, a trip they had planned for for months. First Sebastian and Blaine had taken their kids to Spain, doing a small tour from the North (starting up in San Sebastián), to then slowly driving down, to Bilbao, Madrid, Valencia, and then they had gone to Mallorca for a few days. After that they had met their families in Italy, in a villa that had been in the Anderson family for many years now. It was close enough to Florence they could go there and explore during the evenings, and it was a good time to be all together, both Blaine and Cooper’s families as well as their parents. And the Smythes had even joined them, traveling from Paris to be with their grandkids, Cooper’s kids included in that.
Blaine had not expected his life to turn out like this, to have this big family that got along as well as it could, especially with their past. But they had all worked hard for it, and, whilst Sebastian and he still had a hard time believing it was all real from time to time, their kids knew that as their normal life. Their family. And Blaine’s aware he cannot be thankful enough for that one.
Which brings him to now, having ice coffee with his husband in the terrace and under some shade, while observing his kids playing in the pool with their cousins, carefully watched up-close by Sage, Blaine’s sister-in-law. His Dad joins them a few minutes later, looking at his grandkids with a smile before looking back at his son and son-in-law.
“They are having a good time, huh”
“The best, from the looks of it” Sebastian says, a gentle and peaceful smile on his face “. They deserve it… especially Poppy, she’s been working really hard lately”
“Ah yes, the internship” Michael nods “. Xavier was telling me all about it, how his sister is over the moon with having Poppy there with her… and Poppy has told me about it, too. Actually, she rambled”
“She got that from you, Love” Sebastian tells Blaine cheekily, making his husband roll his eyes playfully at him.
“He’s got a point, Bear” Michael quips in, smiling amusedly at his youngest son “. But, how is our sweet girl doing in her internship, really? Are you two happy?”
“Pops is doing well” Blaine answers “. She’s gotten the hang of it and she loves what she does… and Izzy makes sure she doesn’t overwork herself”
“And we are happy that she is happy” Sebastian shrugs “. Really proud as well”
Michael hums at that, staying in silence and looking between them with a soft frown on his face “. So… what is going on?” He asks, surprising his sons with his question “. I know you, my boys, and there is something you are not saying, so. Do it now”
Blaine sighs, looking at Sebastian and getting a reassuring smile before he looks back at his father “. Pops didn’t mention who her mentor is, did she?”
“No, she did not… why? Who is it?”
“Kurt Hummel” Sebastian answers for him. Michael frowns deeper at that, taking a moment to actually recognize the name, as he wasn’t that close to Kurt in the first place (nor did he like him very much) and it had been decades since he’d last heard of him.
“The boyfriend you had in high school, Blaine?”
“That’d be him. He started an internship for Izzy when he first moved to New York and is still working there. And he was the only available to teach Koko, so… he’s her mentor”
“And you're okay with it?” Michael asks, surprised by that “. Sebastian, son, are you?”
“We are okay with that” Sebastian shrugs “. I mean, it’s not like we like it, but this is what Poppy wants. And we are not taking it away from him because her mentor is someone we didn’t have a good relationship with in high school”
“But, does she know?”
“She does, Dad” Blaine confirms “. We told her even before she accepted the internship, we didn’t want her to go blindsided into the whole thing… and, she was okay with it. It’s weird from time to time, but it’s okay”
“Weird, how?” Michael asks, frowning “. Is Koko okay?”
“She is, Michael, don’t worry. Just… Kurt’s not a warm guy, and he’s taken to treat Poppy as if she was another worker, and not a teenager having her first experience with working somewhere”
“I think he believes he’s helping her” Blaine says, shrugging. Sebastian sighs, putting his arm around him and bringing Blaine closer on the bench they’re sitting on, until there is no space between them and Blaine’s resting his hand on Sebastian’s thigh “. That somehow this will prepare her for the future and will toughen her up or something. I don’t agree with that, and neither does Seb, so we’ve told Pops to tell us if he keeps being like this”
“And if he keeps it up, then we’ll talk to Izzy about it” Sebastian completes for his husband “. We were close to anyway, a few weeks ago. Blaine’s been especially worried about Kurt since then”
“Why?” Michael asks, frowning. Blaine sighs at that, snuggling impossibly closer to Sebastian. Truth to be told, yes. He’s been worried and, as much as the holidays have helped, he still is.
“P told me something Kurt had told her” he tells his father “. How he’d started telling her that men are trash and he’s never met a good one”
“That is highly inappropriate talk. I hope you took action on that, sons”
“We did, Dad. But the thing is… ever since Poppy told me, I’ve been worried. We decided not to tell Kurt who Poppy really is, not her surname or who her Dads or even her Aunt are. Mostly so there is no bias and for Poppy not to feel violent or too uncomfortable”
“It’s a good choice” Michael agrees “. So, what’s the problem?”
Blaine sighs once more, only feeling better by the soft caresses he’s getting from Sebastian “. I am scared Kurt will find out about it and he will take it on Poppy, when hiding all of this from him was Sebastian and I’s decision, not hers. She just went along because we told her so”
“Darling, that won’t happen” Sebastian says, hugging him even closer to his body “, Izzy won’t let that happen, and you know that”
“Izzy can’t control everything” Blaine points out, stubborn as ever.
“Still, Baby. You are just scared for our daughter, but nothing bad will happen”
“I agree with your husband, Blaine” Michael quips in “. Nothing bad will happen to our Poppy, alright? You’re just worried for your baby, like any good parent would, and like I am sure Sebastian is as well”
“I am” Sebastian admits “, but I am choosing to have hope. And knowing that Isabelle is there helps”
“That’s true” Blaine concedes, sighing once more “. I still don’t feel completely okay about this, but I guess you’re right”
Sebastian and Michael smile at that, happy that at least Blaine can listen to them some. They can see the shorter man trying to protest some more, but then Oliver runs up to him, soaking wet.
“Daddy, come with us” he pleads, grabbing Blaine’s arm.
“Oh, don’t you want your poor Dad to go as well?” Sebastian asks dramatically, making Oliver huff a laugh at him.
“You can come, too, Dad, but Charlie and Devon want to play against Pops and I and we need a judge. Auntie Sage is playing with the twins and Uncle Coop is napping, and Daddy’s the one who usually is more fair”
“What does that even mean?” Sebastian asks, now a bit offended. Blaine smiles amusedly at his husband, kissing his cheek before he’s standing up to go with his oldest son.
“That means that you always want our kids to win, Love” he points out, to his husband’s indignant gasp. He ignores it, laughing along with Oliver and going to his kids and nephews. He can hear Sebastian rushing to get to them, and, surrounded by his family, Blaine decides to forget any problems he could have.
It is sort of a miracle, especially during Summer, that they get the house to themselves. But with Poppy at her internship, Oliver out with a friend and the twins enjoying a playdate with a friend from kindergarten - they are so. And they use it well for themselves, going back to bed the second they are alone and having the luxury of grabbing a shower together. They enjoy brunch then and after they’re done, sit in their grown-up living room, with the garden patio’s windows open and a soft light coming through.
They give themselves a few minutes to drink their ice coffees and talk about mundane stuff, before they realize it’s time they start talking about things regarding their kids, taking advantage of them not being there to interrupt. Especially because the biggest topic of the day is their oldest daughter, and Poppy seems to have ears everywhere.
“So… do you think she should continue?” Sebastian asks, patting the legs Blaine has resting on his lap “. She has ballet starting up in a few weeks, reckon she can actually combine the two things?”
“Love, it is our daughter we are talking about” Blaine reminds him, making Sebastian laugh “. I know it is big… school changing so much, and ballet, and everything she ends up doing… I know is a lot. But you heard Izzy, and she explained it to us”
“Yes” Sebastian sighs “. That Poppy could keep the internship as another extra-curricular, combine it as she deems with ballet. I just fear it’s too much”
“She’s been doing great so far” Blaine argues “. We let her do it this Summer and she proved to us she could do it, so what does it say if we say no now? I understand she won’t have as much time as this Summer, but she wouldn’t be going as much either”
“Right”
“Look, Izzy told us first this time, which means Poppy doesn’t have her hopes up fro the start. And you at least have to admit it is a good idea. You were the one to say this was an amazing opportunity for her and her future”
“Yeah, you’re right again, Love. It is a good idea to let her do it, I just - worry. Still not as much as you though”
“Shut up” Blaine laughs, swatting at her husband’s chest “. We can talk with Koko about it, see if she wants to do it… and then, I was thinking of something else”
“Should I be worried, Killer?” Sebastian asks playfully, getting another slap to his chest.
“Shut it. Besides, you’re gonna like this” he assumes, getting Sebastian to arch his eyebrow at him in curiosity “. I was thinking - Izzy told us the other editor that could be a mentor for Koko was going to be available come the second half of Summer, which means Poppy could start working with her now”
“Huh. That’s a brilliant idea, actually”
“I know” Blaine smiles, proud of himself. Sebastian huffs a laugh at him, kissing his lips and letting Blaine talk again when they break it “. We could also talk about Pops not hiding who she is anymore. She’s worked her ass off all Summer, no one can say she doesn’t deserve to be there, and… maybe it’s better if Kurt finds out this way she’s an Anderson-Smythe”
“That’s a good idea, too. But let's make that happen once Poppy has her new mentor”
“Oh, yes. And I want to talk to our daughter about this first, anyway. She has to decide on this”
“Agree” Sebastian nods, kissing him again. Blaine smiles against Sebastian’s lips, snuggling even closer to him and breathing in deeply. It’s been decades since Sebastian and he decided to be together, and yet Blaine falls possibly more in love with him every day.
The sudden peace, however, is broken abruptly when they hear the front door slam - something that never happens in their house, unless it’s an extremely windy day. Which is not the case. Blaine and Sebastian look at each other, worried, and then they are standing up from the couch and going to see what that was. And when they do see it, well - it breaks Blaine’s heart immediately.
Because it is Poppy the one who had slammed the door, and the one who is starting to walk up the stairs to her bedroom. She is crying, so hard she’s hiccuping now, cheeks and eyes red, as well as puffy. And Blaine sees red, and is filled with worry. Because he knows his daughter - Poppy is not the one to get upset easily (something, he can admit, comes from Sebastian), and she can breathe in and stop whatever’s bugging her before it gets to a point where she lets it all out. Which means that, if she ever has a meltdown this bad, then… whatever’s caused it is big.
And Blaine has a sneaking and terrifying suspicion about what’s happened.
“Poppy” Sebastian says from behind him, which alerts their daughter of their presence. She looks at them, gaping for a moment before she turns around and goes down the stairs and directly into Blaine’s arms, latching onto him like he’s the only thing that can keep her upright. The second Blaine hugs her back her sobs only grow, and Blaine’s pretty sure his heart is bleeding right now.
“Hey, baby girl, everything’s fine…” he whispers, caressing his daughter’s long locks and kissing the top of her head “. Daddy’s got you, everything’s okay… c’mon Poppy, breathe… I’m here, breathe, okay?”
He looks at Sebastian over their daughter’s head, his husband’s expression surely a mirror of his worry, and the taller circles him and their kid with his arms, as if he wants to protect them from any harm.
“Pops, your Dads will not let anything bad happen, okay? Honey, breathe, I promise you’re safe” he whispers, kissing Poppy’s head first and Blaine’s second, if anything to calm himself down. Blaine appreciates it though, because it feels as if his heart is going to escape his chest.
Poppy keeps crying, sobs not as loud but still some, and Blaine decides they just have to let her get it all out, that she has to feel like nothing bad is inside her anymore. So, he nods towards the living room Sebastian and he were just in and his husband nods, leaving their embrace and going to get some water for their kid whilst Blaine walks to the couch with her.
The teenager snuggles so close to him that she’s basically in his lap, still latched onto him like when she was a small kid, and Blaine can do nothing but hug back, knowing she desperately needs the comfort. He keeps caressing his daughter’s wavy hair, and helps her drink some water when Sebastian comes back with it. Eventually, after the taller man sits on the coffee table in front of the couch, to see their kid better, Poppy starts to calm down. She lets her fathers help her breathe better and tries to control her hiccups, cheeks dotted pink from all the crying.
For when it looks like she’s doing a lot better, Blaine gently brushes some locks out of her forehead and puts them behind her ear, smiling when Poppy leans into his touch “. Poppy, honey… what happened?”
Poppy sniffs at his question, sighing shakily and hiccuping before she forces herself to speak “. Po, breath” Sebastian gently reminds her “. We will be here for whenever you are ready”
Poppy nods, taking a couple of minutes to calm down some more before she is speaking up “. Daddies…” she starts, voice shaky. It only manages to worry the matrimony even more “, Kurt found out who my Dads are. Who my family is” she says, stopping a sob before she adds “. And he found out my surname. He knows everything now”
Sebastian and Blaine open their mouth in shock and look at each other after they learn that new tidbit of information, feeling as if it is getting harder to breathe. Blaine is quicker to get over his shock, looking back at his daughter “. What happened, Koko?” He insists. Poppy shrugs, sniffing again and snuggling closer to Blaine.
“Kurt asked me to go into his office today” she starts explaining, finally not hiccuping “, and I just - I thought he’d have me over some silly stuff, or grab some coffee for him, or - I don’t know. But I went in and he told me she’d seen my Instagram, and I don’t even know when or how he’d known my username anyway, because I have my full name in there, but… he saw you in there, because I have plenty of pictures of you and our family on my feed. I’m guessing he learned everything from there”
“Shit” Sebastian sighs, ruffling his hair. Blaine doesn’t even tell him on the bad word, knowing Poppy hears worse anyway as a New York kid, and only nods in agreement.
“He told me he was assuming I was aware of who he was” Poppy keeps explaining “, and when I didn’t deny it he told me he felt betrayed”
“Betrayed” Sebastian repeats, like he doesn’t believe his own ears. Blaine cannot fault him on that “. He felt betrayed? Dear God he has not changed”
“Bas” Blaine sighs “. I share the feeling, but not now. P, what happened next?”
“He… he told me that after my fault, he realized I was not in the right place. That he thinks I am too young and too immature to be there. And most of all” she shrugs, cleaning her cheeks from new tears “, that he’s not comfortable working with the daughter of his ex-boyfriend and the meerkat. The last name just left me confused”
“It was a stupid insult he used in high school” Sebastian scoffs, rolling his eyes “. And your Auntie. Where was she and why didn’t she stop this nonsense?”
“Auntie Izzy was not there” Poppy hurries to explain “, she had some meetings in the Upper East Side and she told us yesterday she was not going to be at the office all day long”
“So Hummel waited until Isabelle was not there to tell him not to be an asshole, noted” Sebastian huffs. Again, Blaine finds himself unable to disagree with that. Poppy sniffs and nods, playing with a loose end on her short summer dress. “. Thing is - Auntie Izzy was no there to intervene” she says “. Or to maybe clarify, because I’m pretty sure Kurt doesn’t have the full story and it doesn’t look like he knows Auntie Izzy is my godmother, much less my grandma. And I… I was too stunned to speak”
“That’s okay, Poppy” Blaine tells her, gently “. Honey, you weren’t expecting this, it’s okay”
Sebastian nods at his words, resting a comforting hand on their daughter’s shoulder, but Poppy just starts crying harder at that “. I just left” she hiccups again “. I couldn’t be there anymore, so I just left, and - I am sorry I did not call you, I was just… in shock”
“It’s okay, Po” Sebastian whispers, even though Blaine can tell he’s punching himself for not being there for their kid, just like he is.
“I- I just” Poppy hiccups, close to sobbing again “. Kurt was so crude, and mean to me, and to you, and I… I am frustrated, because he just - he kept yelling at me and he didn’t let me explain and I just - I’m so sorry, Daddies”
“Hey, no” Blaine is quick to say, hugging his baby to his body. Sebastian is on the couch and hugging Poppy from the other side in less than a second, and she just crumbles down again, hiding her face into Blaine’s shoulder “. Little love, this is not your fault in any way, okay? You have nothing to be sorry about”
“Listen to Daddy, honey” Sebastian agrees, kissing his daughter’s hair softly “. This isn’t your fault, in the slightest. Daddy and I were the ones to tell you to hide your surname, and even so, it was not right for Kurt to yell at you”
Blaine agrees with that, silently starting to boil with rage. Poppy, she - she’s always been such a kindhearted girl, nurturing and nice with everyone, something that had made everyone say she had Blaine’s character. Of course, she had things coming from Sebastian as well, but… she was incredibly sweet. And kind, and honest, and so strong… and Blaine knows his daughter. And he knows Poppy will never go and lie about something like this. If she’s this affected by Kurt’s actions, Blaine has zero doubts in his mind that the fashionista had yelled and mistreated his daughter. And oh, like hell is he letting that go by.
“Poppy” he says once his daughter has calmed down some “. Baby, everything will be okay, alright? We will talk this out with Izzy, and we’ll see what we can do”
“Exactly” Sebastian agrees immediately, brushing some locks away from Poppy’s forehead “. Izzy will know what to do, sweetheart. And she knows the whole story, not to mention she loves you dearly, so… she’ll make things better. Do not worry about that”
“But, I just… I failed you” Poppy whispers, and that breaks her fathers’ hearts.
“Poppy Marie, you’ve never done that” Blaine tells her, firmly “. And this is not it. You have not failed us, and this is not your fault, okay? Stop thinking that”
“We are endlessly proud of you, Poppy” Sebastian adds “. Don’t let any of this convince you of the contrary”
Poppy sobs again at that, and they go back to hugging her, knowing she has to let it all out. Eventually, she calms down enough she agrees to go up to the family room to watch one of her favorite movies from when she was a kid, one that still manages to comfort her. She snuggles with them again and they start watching the movie and, slowly, her mood gets better, and she calms down completely.
Blaine, on the other hand, is desperately trying to keep his anger at bay, just like he can feel Sebastian is doing. He’s trying so hard to do so that he barely registers when Oliver comes back home, only notices when his son is at the door of the family room, greeting them. His face falls the second he sees his sister’s face.
“Po, what happened?” He asks, worried. Poppy sighs and, after gesturing for Oliver to come closer, she tells him. The kid grows more and more mad as the story goes on, but he keeps it in and makes silly jokes to brighten his big sister’s mood, agreeing with their parents that this is, in no way, Poppy’s fault.
Blaine looks at the clock just as his family has agreed to keep watching the movie, and he figures he can make up the excuse of having to leave now to go and pick up the twins. He still has some time to do that, just the time he needs to get something else done first.
“You see the movie, I will go to pick up the twins” he says then. Poppy and Oliver nod to his words, debating on whether start up the movie from the beginning, but Sebastian catches his eyes over their kids’ heads, arching an eyebrow in a silent question. Of course he knows what Blaine is truly doing, the musician had known his husband was going to guess it immediately. When Sebastian nods in his direction, smirking in that old way of him, Blaine smirks back, and nods “. Alright, I will go now. I will bring back lunch, okay? So it’ll take me a while”
He can see Sebastian trying and failing to hide a smile at that, but he still kisses the top of his kids’ heads and his husband’s lips and leaves the room. However, before he’s made it to the staircase, someone stops him “. Daddy”
Blaine turns to see Oliver standing close to him, a serious look on his face that is not that common in the curly-haired kid “. Yes, Oliver?” He asks, arching an eyebrow at him.
“Can I go with you?” He asks, stepping closer “. I want to defend Poppy, too”
Okay, so maybe he had not been as discreet as he had hoped for. Or maybe Oliver is too much like Sebastian - Blaine would like to think it’s a mix between the two “. Oli…”
“Please?” Oliver asks again. Blaine smiles gently at him, hugging his baby boy close to him and kissing his forehead before getting away.
“This is something I have to do on my own, Moo. And right now you’re a bigger help by staying home and helping Dad with cheering up your sister… can you do that for me?”
Oliver sighs, but he eventually nods “. Fine” he says, and then points at Blaine in a way the older Anderson-Smythe knows his son has learned from Cooper “. But make Kurt pay for hurting P and making her feel sad, alright?”
“I will” Blaine says, winking an eye to his son “. I will take of it, Mister Moo. Now go with your sister and Dad”
Oliver nods again, just as if he’s on a mission, and after hugging him again he returns to the family room. Blaine is quick then, leaving his home with barely the essentials. While in the car, he calls Isabelle and explains the whole thing, not with all the details but with enough to make her aware of the situation. Isabelle is upset after hearing his words, and mad at her great-niece being attacked that way, so much so that she promises she will take care of it. Blaine tells her to wait and to talk with Sebastian and Poppy first, and then he asks for Kurt’s address. His Aunt gives it to him immediately, understanding Blaine has to do this, and asks him to call her after he leaves and if she can go to the Anderson-Smythe residence later that same day. Blaine agrees and says goodbye before he starts his drive to Kurt Hummel’s place.
It is a decent neighborhood. A bit far away from Greenwich Village, but Blaine can guess it’s good to live in for someone who’s as fashionista as Kurt. He walks up to the fourth floor and then, when he’s sure he has Kurt’s door, he starts frantically knocking on it. And after only a few moments, the door opens.
Kurt Hummel is just like he remembers, yet completely different. It’s like the roots are there, but everything else is different, and Blaine is aware he himself looks older, that it’s been decades since he last coiffed his hair daily, but he still looks like himself. Then again… Kurt must look like himself, too. Just one Blaine’s never gotten to know. And given everything that has happened, Blaine’s kind of glad he never did.
Kurt only looks half-surprised to see Blaine standing in front of him, just as if deep down he was expecting him, and some part of Blaine gets sick at the thought of his daughter being yelled at just to get him to come. Still, even if he’s fallen into the trap, he doesn’t care - he's there for Poppy. Just for her.
So, Blaine storms in and doesn’t wait for an invitation. He stops in the living room, and stops himself from widening his eyes in surprise when he sees some of the people from McKinley there. In truth, he should not be surprised. But there they are - Rachel with Jesse (of course), Santana with Brittany, Mercedes, and even Artie. All looking surprised at the sight of him… Santana not so much, but that’s not a surprise either.
Blaine ignores them though, as he is there on a mission, and turns to face Kurt, who has followed him to the living room. The slightly taller man has a look of self-superiority on his face, arms crossed across his chest. Blaine can only guess Kurt believes he’s somehow right in this whole thing, and he has to stop himself from scoffing at him, instead standing straighter before he starts tearing him a new one.
“What the fuck is wrong with you, Kurt?” Blaine asks, and Kurt just rolls his eyes, uncrossing his arms to put his hands on his hips.
“I was acting accordingly, Blaine” he explains, as condescendingly as ever “. And I acted in consequence”
“The hell you didn’t” Blaine immediately disagrees “. You cannot, honestly, believe what you did is the little bit right”
“Clearly age has not given you morals, Blaine. But I know what is right and wrong, and this was not. So I had to do something against it”
“Excuse me?” Blaine exclaims “. How can you be so cynical, Kurt? First of all - you yelled and mistreated a kid. Poppy is fourteen, Kurt. Fourteen. As much as she can be a teenager, she is not someone you can yell at like that”
“Oh come on” Kurt protests “. She has to learn this is how the world works. So what if I yelled at her? I am sure she made it sound worse than it was”
“You keep your mouth shut about my daughter” Blaine warns him, not caring about how aggressive it may sound “. I get it. You were not happy with how things turned out to be - fucking fantastic. Understandable to some degree, even. But what you cannot do is go and yell and treat a kid like you did”
“Now you are the one dictating how I should act?”
“No. I am the one telling you not to act inappropriately and verbally attack a fourteen-year-old”
“Then illuminate me, Blaine, what should have I done?” Kurt asks mockingly, but Blaine is not letting him have it.
“You should’ve called in her parents” he says, so matter of factly it manages to shut Kurt up “. You call Sebastian and me first, and then we discuss it as adults. We don’t care if we’re being yelled at by someone who cannot let go of the past, Kurt. If you wanted to yell at me, fine. I couldn’t give less of a fuck, and I am sure my husband would be amused by it all” he can see Kurt flinching at the superlative he’s used for Sebastian. And if he’s honest, he doesn’t hate his reaction, he’s letting himself be at least a bit petty “. But what you are not doing is yell at Poppy like that”
“She misbehaved, Blaine” Kurt argues “. So much for a good education, I guess. But, given that her own parents have not been able to give her one, I had to”
“I am sorry, that is educating a child?” Blaine asks, flabbergasted “. Since when? Would Burt agree with that? Let me tell you, no”
“Do not bring my father into this, Blaine”
“Then don’t attack my daughter, Kurt” Blaine argues back “. And don’t go insulting the education my husband and I provided her of. Because let me tell you, from what I’ve seen - it’s way better than yours. Most of all, Kurt. Teaching her a lesson is not your place. At all”
“Right” Kurt scoffs, but Blaine insists.
“It is not. She is not your child to do that with - you were meant to teach her about fashion, not yell at her because, God forbid, she didn’t tell you who her family is. If you wanted to lecture a child like you did Poppy, then you do it to your own kid”
“Don’t have any” Kurt says “. But honestly, I cannot be grateful enough. Because if somehow they turned out to be liars...”
“You talk about her that way again, Kurt, and I absolutely will not care about your wellbeing” Blaine warns him, a second time “. She is fourteen”
“Old enough to know actions carry consequences” Kurt argues “. Old enough to accept the world is not easy, and not at her feet. If you refuse to treat her as an adult, then that is not my fault… if anything, I am doing her a favor by letting her know how the world will eventually treat her”
“She’s fourteen, Kurt” Blaine exclaims at that, not caring if the McKinley lot is watching their argument like a tennis match “, not thirty! If you liked to pretend you were older than you really were when you were her age, then fine. I’m no one to talk about it. But don’t treat my child like that. I will not tolerate it”
Kurt scoffs at that, crossing his arms across his chest again “. You are babying her, Blaine”
“I am not. I am treating my child as I deem, and do not speak to her as if she’s already allowed to drink and go to bars. And I’ve had it up to here with you, Kurt, and for a while now”
“Oh yeah?” Kurt asks, again mockingly “. How so, Blaine?”
Blaine scoffs, and he feels the small resolve he had to not completely explode quickly resolve “. I don’t like the way you talk to my kid” he says, and he can tell that takes Kurt by surprise “. Even before you found out she was mine. I’ve been keeping quiet for too long, just for my daughter’s sake. But I’m done. I don’t like you talking to her like she should look at the world through your lenses. I don’t like when you say inappropriate things around her, and I definitely don’t like that you’re telling a child that men are trash and not to trust any. It is not your place, Kurt. You were her mentor, at best. But she’s not yours to tell that stuff - she’s my daughter. Mine and Sebastian’s. Ours”
“Wow, you really hold a grudge huh”
“I hold no grudge, Kurt. But I didn’t like to see that behavior, haven’t liked it for weeks, and you know what? I am not shutting up about it, not when I saw Poppy look that sad”
“Then go back to your kid, Blaine” Kurt tells him, rudely “. And your so-called husband, and those other kids you seem to have, who knows why. I already told your daughter, that she is not welcomed back at Vogue. So you yelled at me. Congratulations. I hope you sleep better. Now go, and I seriously hope you learn how to raise a child”
“I know how to do that alright, Kurt” Blaine argues “. And actually… I came for more than that”
“Oh yeah? Surprise me then”
“Well…” Blaine drawls out “ I just wanted you to know, actually, it’s more of a promise, that you will stop working at Vogue before you force Poppy to leave it”
Kurt gapes at him for a long moment, and then he’s laughing humourlessly at his words, looking at Blaine like he’s told the world’s worst joke “. What, are you forcing your child to stay somewhere she doesn’t want to be now? Such a parent you are”
“My daughter wants to be at Vogue. I don’t love you’re there, no one in my family does, and I am pretty sure Poppy especially doesn’t, but this is her dream. And you are not stopping her, Kurt. She will be at Vogue whether you like it or not”
“Right” Kurt says, smirking mockingly “. Why huh? Do you want her to be me now?”
Blaine was not expecting to be surprised, yet he is, blinking slowly at Kurt “. I am sorry, what now?”
“It’s irony, if you think about it. Your daughter with the meerkat loving fashion as much as I do… does Sebastian know you are this insistent because of that?”
“You are delusional if you think that is it, Kurt,” Blaine says, almost laughing in stupefaction “. You and I have been broken up for decades now, and both of us have completely different lives. Are you serious?”
“You tell me, Blaine. Your daughter loves fashion and you are obsessed with her working in the same place as I do. You tell me”
“Okay, I tell you. No. She is not there for you, nor does she remind me of you in the slightest. God forbid if she did” he shudders. Maybe Sebastian has made him be more petty, but he’s okay with that “. Poppy got that into fashion because of a family member of ours. One that works at Vogue, funnily enough”
“Really?” Kurt asks, frowning.
“Yes” Blaine smiles “. Actually, that relative is the reason why Poppy will not leave Vogue, as much as you want her to. Her Auntie Izzy” he reveals, and watches as Kurt immediately pales at that. He’s pretty sure the fashionista is praying for Izzy not to be the person he’s thinking about.
“Izzy…” he murmurs, and Blaine just smiles bigger at that, taking some dark pleasure in the way Kurt pales even more. What can he say, no one messes with his babies, nor with his husband.
“Yes. Your boss” he nods, and ignores the gasps he hears from everyone else in the room, as well as the holy shit that he’s pretty sure comes from Santana “. Isabelle Wright”
“How?” Kurt exclaims “. How is she related to you?”
“He’s my father-in-law’s sister” Blaine explains calmly “. Well, half-younger sister, but. That’s a technicality, they are siblings and in turn, do you know what makes her?”
“No” Kurt whispers.
“Sebastian’s Aunt!” Blaine exclaims cheerfully “. They’re really close, too. And we became really close after I started dating Bas, especially so after we moved to New York… so, she’s like an Aunt for me, has been for what has to be decades now. Two, yeah. And, you know, when Sebastian and I’s kids were born their grandparents were not living here, so Isabelle is the closest thing they have to a grandmother”
“Isabelle is…”
“Poppy’s Great Aunt” Blaine answers with a blind smile “. Although, if you ask my daughter, she’ll answer she’s her Grandma. So will the rest of my kids. She’s also their Godmother. Fairy Godmother, she said back in the day”
“She-she…”
“She is not happy with what happened, let me tell you” Blaine completes for him, nodding with a serious expression on her face. Kurt pales even more at that.
“She knows?” He exclaims, his voice going higher in fear.
“Oh, for sure she does, yes” Blaine confirms, knowing he has the upper hand. He’d always known, but it’s fun to see Kurt realize so as well “. I called her on the way here, after Poppy explained what had happened to Sebastian and me. I got your address through her, she understood I had to come and talk to you. I told her what had happened”
“You told her you lied as well?” Kurt asks, trying to gain some control back desperately.
“She was in the whole charade, Kurt,” Blaine says, rolling his eyes at his ex “. We all discussed it before Poppy started at Vogue, and we all agreed to not have Poppy say who her parents are, or who she is to Izzy. It is a decision the adults made, not the teenager. So, another reason you shouldn’t have yelled at her”
“How was I supposed to know?”
“You would’ve, had you let her explain” Blaine points out, with no patience left whatsoever “. And let me tell you, Isabelle was not impressed with the way you treated her grandchild either. You will deal with her when the time comes, that’s for sure, and she is coming to Sebastian and I’s home to discuss it later today, but… not my problem”
“Then what do you want from me?” Kurt weakly asks. Blaine shrugs at that, crossing his arms across his chest after he does it.
“I want you to leave Poppy alone”
“I will, don’t worry,” Kurt says immediately, looking mildly disgusted “. I am a professional, but I refuse to have your daughter learn from me”
“She doesn’t need you, Kurt. In fact, she was going to be working with another editor who was away this Summer. Sebastian and I have already discussed Poppy going to her, especially now that she’s going to continue the internship for a while “ now that is a bit of a lie, and he knows. And his daughter will have to forgive him for that one, but it is worth it to see Kurt’s face at that news “. She would’ve gone with her since the beginning had she been there, so. My kid will be free from you, and you will leave her alone. You just suck it and leave my daughter be”
“Or what?” Kurt asks, tilting his chin up.
“Or I will let Isabelle unleash her rage on you” Blaine threatens “. Trust me, she’ll be dying to. Do not mess with Poppy, not one more time. Because if you do, my husband and I will make sure to destroy you. Now,” he says, standing straighter “, if you excuse me, I have to pick up my two youngest kids from a playdate, and we have to pick food on our way home, I left my husband with my oldest two and they must be waiting for us. Goodbye”
He leaves the room, and then the apartment and just hears another holy shit coming from Santana, this time louder. When he’s alone, Blaine lets himself smile in victory, and even texts Sebastian a thumbs up before he gets into the car and, finally, goes to pick up his twins.
Nearly an hour later, he’s back home with Grace and Everett, and their lunch in bags. Sebastian and his other kids are in the kitchen, settling the table (as Blaine had called his husband to tell him he was close to home) and, when he sees Blaine coming in, he raises an eyebrow in a silent question, just to make sure everything has gone well. Blaine smiles and nods at that, and that gets Poppy’s attention, who looks between her fathers with a curious look on her face. Only when he sees the smirk on Oliver’s face does she realize, opening her mouth for a moment before she stares at Blaine, who’s leaving their foot at the table.
“Daddy, what did you do?”
“Me?” Blaine asks innocently while he goes to grab himself water from the fridge“. I don’t know what you are talking about, Koko”
He hears Sebastian snort and he tries to hide a smile, not so well if he judges his daughter’s unimpressed face and his son’s amused smile. The twins are as confused as ever, and Blaine knows the poor things are going through some of the things he himself went through, having that big of an age gap with their siblings.
“Daddy” Poppy insists, and Blaine crumbles when he sees her puppy dog eyes. Damn it.
“Fine. I went to talk to Kurt”
“You did what?” Poppy exclaims, getting closer to him “. Daddy!”
“Poppy, no” Blaine cuts her off, looking at her with a firm look that stops her from complaining “. Sweetheart, let me explain first”
“But-“
“Poppy” Sebastian intervenes. Poppy sighs and nods, sitting down. Blaine does as well and takes one of her hands.
“Pops, I know you don’t want conflict. But the way Kurt treated you is not okay in the slightest, and neither Dad nor I felt comfortable in letting him speak to you that way”
“Neither was I” Oliver intervenes “, if that matters”
“I talked to Kurt” Blaine says, smiling amusedly at his son’s intervention, like Sebastian and even Poppy are “. And I told him the way he treated you is not the right one, and to never do that and leave you alone. Before you protest - that is not up for discussion. You are not working with Kurt again”
“I understand” Poppy murmurs, crestfallen.
“However” Sebastian intervenes “, Auntie Izzy told us about another editor that was going back to Vogue around this time. You can keep working with her”
“Can I even?” Poppy asks, nervous about it and not all that hopeful.
“Yes” Blaine assures her, watching as her eyes start to sparkle at that “. I talked with Auntie Izzy, and she is coming here later to talk to you as well. But, the main thing is that, only if you want to, you can continue being at Vogue”
“Daddy and I were going to talk about that with you, actually” Sebastian intervenes again “. Izzy thinks it’s a good idea if you turn the internship into a sort of an extra-curricular for the school year”
“Combined with ballet?” Poppy asks, her eyes sparkling again.
“If you want to, yes” Blaine nods “. But under the other editor’s supervision, we are not allowing you to work with Kurt still”
“I don’t want to keep working with him either” Poppy says, which is not a surprise “. I want to keep being at Vogue. If that’s okay”
“It is” Blaine confirms “. But we can discuss that later with Auntie Izzy, alright?”
“Yes” Poppy agrees, leaning in to hug Blaine tightly “. Thank you, Daddy. Even with the whole going to yell at Kurt thing, thank you”
“I didn’t yell at him” Blaine weakly protests, but Poppy breaks the hug to look at him, utterly unimpressed.
“I know you, Daddy. I know you did”
“Yeah, well” Blaine half-admits, shrugging “. Dad and I are not letting someone treat you that way, Pops. No way we allow that”
“Not with you, not with any of your siblings” Sebastian adds, looking at their other kids after he does so.
“So… maybe I went all Papa Bear on Kurt. But he deserved it”
“Damn right he did” Sebastian nods, going to stand behind Blaine and resting his hands on his husband’s shoulders, leaning down to kiss the top of his head “. You’re telling me the whole thing later, aren’t you?” He whispers into his ear
“Like you have to ask, my Love” Blaine whispers back, getting a peck on his cheek. Poppy looks a bit better with Blaine’s actions, leaning in again to hug both of her parents now. Oliver adds himself to the hug, and the twins, albeit confused, do so as well.
“You are… ridiculous” Poppy says, still hugging him “. All of you are. But… I love you. And I am so lucky to have all of you”
“We are the lucky ones, Poppy” Blaine whispers into his daughter’s hair.
“Dads?” She whispers then, breaking the hug and looking a bit nervous. Blaine lets his husband sit on his lap, and both look at their daughter.
“Yes, Pops?”
“What if I have to think about going to Vogue, after all?” She asks, worrying her bottom lip “. What if I am not too sure I am ready to go back? Because, I know I said I was, but-“
“Koko, you do not have to go back” Sebastian says, gently interrupting their daughter “. Not if you don’t want to”
“But…” Poppy murmurs, smiling when Oliver drags a chair to sit beside her, twins gone to play in one corner “, I feel like I’d be acting like a coward”
“No, you wouldn’t be” Blaine immediately disagrees “. You would not be a coward, Poppy, and no one would think that”
“But, be honest. Do you think I should go back?”
Blaine looks at his husband at that, and Sebastian raises an eyebrow at him. Blaine knows he has to be honest with their daughter, that she is searching for them to tell her what to do, but he cannot do that. He can be honest, and let her make her own choices.
“Look, Koko, if you really don’t want to go back, you don’t have to. And we are not making you do so. Do not think you have something to prove, to us or to Kurt, and never think you are failing us if you choose not to go back”
“We want you to be okay, Poppy” Sebastian adds “. More than anything else”
“Now… you have a choice here,” Blaine tells her, patiently “. You can go back and show how strong you are, which you will still be if you decide not to do it, by the way. But, you can go, and fight for your place there and show Kurt that you deserve to be there, no matter what he thinks”
“That doesn’t so bad” Poppy agrees “. But…”
“Look, let’s do this” Blaine says, seeing his daughter hesitate “. We talk with Izzy about this. And then, you can meet who would be your new mentor, and if you like her, then you try to work with her for a week or two. See how you like it and if you’re comfortable with that, and with being in the same office as Kurt”
“And if you’re not, honey “Sebastian intervenes “, we won’t force you to stay there. Not if you don’t want to. But Daddy’s idea is a good one - try for a little bit with the new mentor. Because if you don’t at least do that, you may regret it”
Poppy stays silent for a long moment after that, pondering her fathers’ words. Finally, she nods, a brilliant smile on her face once again “. Sounds like a good idea. After all… you have always taught me how to fight for what I want. And I am not stopping that now”
“We are really proud to hear that, Poppy” Blaine smiles, Sebastian nodding next to him.
“I am proud, too” Oliver quips in “. My big sister is the best in the world”
“Aw, thanks Oli” Poppy coos, hugging her younger brother.
“No problem, Koko. But if you want me to I can always kick Kurt’s butt. Daddy stopped me before, but…”
“Oliver Michael” Sebastian says immediately, but he’s having a hard time not laughing “. No”
“I’m just saying!” Oliver exclaims, raising his hands in self-defense. Her Dads and sister laugh at him, the latter ruffling his curls and ignoring her brother’s scoff at that.
“C’mon, time to eat lunch,” Sebastian says, standing up from his seat on Blaine’s lap and helping his husband stand up as well “, it will get cold otherwise”
“We can watch a movie later” Blaine suggests, getting the attention of the twins “. Do a marathon until Izzy comes by later”
“Dear Father, you always have the best ideas” Oliver says, making the rest laugh. Poppy hugs herself to Blaine, still cuddly after a long day, and Blaine knows that, without any doubt - he’d burn the world down for her. For any of her siblings. For Sebastian as well.
He’s the definition of a Papa Bear, after all.
*******
Isabelle is almost more mad than Blaine and Sebastian are, but she respects her family’s decision and only has a serious talk with Kurt the following day, before also advising him of staying away from Poppy. Sebastian laughs for five minutes straight after Izzy tells them, although it’s still less than the nearly twenty minutes he’d laughed after Blaine had reenacted his confrontation with Kurt. The night after that had been interesting, the lawyer wanting to show his husband how much he appreciated him defending their family, and how hot he found it all. All in all - Kurt leaves Poppy alone. Which is what matters, after all.
Poppy meets her new mentor, and she loves her immediately. She tells them all about Alba, how she is open-minded, and much warmer than Kurt, and how she includes Poppy in discussions and teaches her with patience. It only takes the teenager two days to decide to take the internship for longer and turn it into an extracurricular, and soon enough they’ve made a schedule with her school hours and ballet hours. It’s on pre-probation, as Poppy has yet to start school and ballet up again, but they’re hopeful it will work.
The end of the Summer comes with an exhibition made by the editors at Vogue, where they will show the work done during that Season, all displayed at a gallery closed to the office. Poppy is excited beyond words about it and rambles on to her Dads about the whole thing for days, and she beams at them when Blaine marks the date on the calendar they have put on the fridge, complete with all the important dates for their family.
Of course, they are invited to go, as well as the rest of their family, and so when the day comes they get ready, dressed smart, and leave for the gallery. Poppy is bouncing with energy the whole time, grabbing Sebastian and his’ arms and walking with them, her in the middle, explaining everything to them and her siblings. They cannot help but smile proudly at their baby, listening to her and giving commentary when necessary.
They’re approached by quite the amount of people, all congratulating them for Poppy and her work, and the husbands feel as if their hearts could burst with pride, watching as their first baby just seems so proud of her work and of being there. Knowing all she’s gone through to be there, Blaine knows he couldn’t be happier.
“Ah, there is my beautiful family!” He hears, turning around to see Isabelle walking up to them. The twins run up to her, with identical small cries of Auntie Izzy that make the woman swoon “. Hello my little darlings. Oh, you look beautiful!”
“Hello Auntie Izzy” Oliver greets her as well, giving her a gentle hug.
“Oliver, my little prince. Oh, look how dapper you look… your father’s copy” she smiles tenderly, cupping his face. She moves to Poppy then, hugging her sweetly to her.
“Hi Auntie Izzy” the teenager says, hugging back energetically.
“Hello, my sweet Princess. You look beautiful… now, have you explained to your parents everything here yet?”
“At least twice” Sebastian jokes, hugging Blaine to his body with a hand on his waist. Blaine smiles at his husband, putting his own arm around his middle, and looks at their Aunt.
“She’s done an amazing job, Izzy. And we’re so proud of her”
“You should be” Izzy winks at them “. Let me explain some more of it to you - Koko, I’m expecting you to help me out some”
Sebastian and Blaine let their Aunt do and guide them through the exposition. Once they’re done she tells her grandkids she has some special sweets for them and, after looking at their fathers, they let them go with a laugh.
Just as Blaine is looking them go, he catches Kurt’s eyes, who, at being caught, looks away. Sebastian realizes what’s happened and smiles amusedly, hugging Blaine tighter to his body “. Reckon he will do something?” He asks his husband.
“No way” Blaine responds, shaking his head “. He knows he’ll be in deep trouble if he even thinks of it. So far he hasn’t done it”
“Yet I’m betting he’s been watching us like a hawk” Sebastian muses, and Blaine can’t say he disagrees.
“Then that’s on him” he shrugs, getting a satisfied smirk from Sebastian.
“That is right, Mr.Anderson-Smythe. Now, can I get you something to drink?”
“Oh, trying to buy me with drinks, Mr.Anderson-Smythe? My my”
“I can try” Sebastian smirks, leaning down for a kiss that is quickly interrupted by their kids returning with way too many sweets in their hands. But they can allow it for once, and even smile at Izzy when she smiles in a triumphal way at them.
They eventually get their drink, too.
“Okay, the twins are going to be walking zombies tomorrow”
“Just the twins?” Blaine asks with a laugh, stepping out of his shoes “. Darling, I bet you all of our kids will be sleeping in, until at least noon”
“Yeah” Sebastian grimaces, taking his suit jacket off before he starts to undo his tie. After looking at Blaine pouting, his husband smiles and goes to do it for him, both pretending Sebastian has a hard time doing it, even if he learned how to do it when he was three “. Honestly, Izzy gave them way too much sugar, they all crashed the second we were in the car”
“And thank everything Pops and Oli woke up once we were home” Blaine says, getting a laugh and a nod from Sebastian “. But it was a special day, you know? And Poppy earned this”
“She so did” Sebastian agrees, smiling softly at his husband “. We raised her well, right?”
“So well” Blaine agrees, smiling back at his husband “. Sometimes I don’t know how we managed to do it so well”
Sebastian laughs, but he still agrees, and both talk about the day while they get ready for bed, all of their kids dead to the world in their respective rooms. Once they are in bed, cuddled together, Sebastian looks at him in a way that has Blaine raising an eyebrow at him, curiously.
“I just… cannot believe it” the taller murmurs.
“What, Love?” Blaine asks, gently. Sebastian smiles, his hands caressing Blaine’s face reverently.
“That we somehow made it, Killer. Look at us… married, with kids. Happily in love for close to twenty-five years. That’s fucking insane”
“It is” Blaine says, agreeing with his husband “. But we did good, huh?”
“We did fantastically, Love” Sebastian says, so matter of factly Blaine cannot help but laugh “. I don’t know, I guess… before we dated I didn’t think I could have this. But I cannot be glad enough I did”
“I am glad I have this, too” Blaine tells his husband, his own hands caressing Sebastian’s back and the back of his head, playing with his hair “. But what brought this on, Love? Our anniversary of when we started dating isn’t until September”
“I know” Sebastian laughs, leaning in for a sweet kiss “. I don’t know. I guess seeing Kurt again has made me realize we’ve gone through a lot. And being in the same room as him, but with us together, married with kids… it was a bit wild”
“Yeah, a bit” Blaine agrees “. But honestly… I felt so proud of us, Bastian”
“So did I” Sebastian smiles “. We made it, Killer”
“We made it, Love” Blaine smiles back “. Through hardships and all… we made it. I love you”
“I love you, too” Sebastian smiles. And when he kisses him, Blaine feels as if he could fly. There, in his dream home, with the love of his life in his arms and their children asleep in their rooms… no matter how many years go by, Blaine is right where he belongs.
Chapter 2
Summary:
Kurt is less than happy when Isabelle informs him he has to train a new intern. However, there is something about Poppy...
Poppy is just going for the ride. And praying Kurt Hummel doesn't read wht her last name is on whatever paperwork.
Notes:
Oh wow, I cannot BELIEVE I am finally posting the continuation to this! But alas, here it is!
Now - three main things.
1. The story is sort of extra scenes of what the first chapter is about. So, some of Kurt's pov and some missing Seblaine scenes. And a small addition at the end ;)
2. The POVS will jump from Kurt to the Anderson-Smythe family. Do not be scared for his pov at the start, I promise it is not the only one here! I just found interesting to get his perspective.
3. The story altogether was originally supposed to be 3 chapters (OG+2 extra chapters), but since the first extra chapter was going to be LONG, I decided to split it, so now you got 4! A bit more on why I decided to split it at the end, right now I would spoil it hehe.
Okay, I think that is all! Enjoy and see you at the end!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
When he’d been a teenager, Kurt Hummel’s dreams had been big. Move to New York after High School, get into NYADA, and be at the top of all of his classes. He'd dreamed of making it big on Broadway, getting a few minor roles at first (could be while he was still in school, but he was realistic enough to know it’d most likely happen once he had graduated) and then making it big. It would be especially significant, given all the critiques he had always gotten on his voice and his mannerisms. They had told him he didn’t have the voice to succeed, sure, but he was going to prove all of them wrong. And then, once he had the fame, he would also find success in the Fashion Industry. He would design clothes, and maybe even jewelry, having his own line.
That had been twenty-five years before. And now - now nothing like that had happened, not really. He had moved to New York after High School, and he had gotten into NYADA. But he had never been even close to being at the top of his classes, and he had actually struggled to graduate from that place. Had barely done it as it was, and - he still remembered Carmen Tibideaux’s words, how she’d told him he was graduating because he had indeed done the work, but how she believed his path was not Broadway. It had been soul-crushing.
He had turned into his work at Vogue then. Something he had not seen coming before coming to New York, knowing fashion was a big passion of his but not knowing he was actually going to dedicate his life to it. Or at least, not in that way - he had expected to actually design and be famous for that, not work at Vogue.Com - not even Vogue, but its electronic alternative. Still, it had worked for him. What had started as an internship had turned into an actual job, and Kurt knew he was not going to find something better. So he had stayed there, and there he was, twenty-five years later. Now working as a stylist, helping with the articles and classifying what was trendy and what wasn’t. It wasn’t a bad job at all. And Isabelle now trusted him, took him into consideration. So he cannot complain.
He is successful. He is living in New York, in his own apartment (he had made it to Manhattan, too. Not the biggest place, but enough for him), has a good job and a good social life. He’s still single, granted. In the more than two decades he’s been in the city, Kurt has not found anyone worth of his long-term attention (nor time).
As much as he hates to admit it, he kinda misses Blaine Anderson. Because now, decades after their relationship had ended, he can see Blaine had been (still is) his best boyfriend. Now he can see Blaine had been one of a kind, and now… well, not one person has been like him. So, maybe, perhaps - Kurt screwed up. Because he hasn’t had a relationship like that with anyone else. But so far… Kurt had decided his professional life was (is) more important.
This is why he immediately goes to Isabelle’s office when she calls him in, telling him she has to talk to him. It doesn’t matter - he does nothing by thinking about Blaine. He doesn’t know how he is - nor where he is, even. He had blocked him and Sebastian once they had started dating, and has not checked since, and he doesn’t even want to do it now. For all he knows, Sebastian and Blaine broke up after only a few months (or weeks - ideally, days) and Blaine is still single, missing him and them desperately. Kurt doesn’t want to go after him then, no way. Blaine has to make the first move.
“Kurt, hi” Isabelle greets him when he comes into her office, smiling gently at him and snapping him out of his train of thought “. Thank you for coming so fast”
“I was kind of curious” Kurt admits, sitting in front of his boss “. You seemed a bit urgent”
“Perhaps not urgent” Isabelle softly disagrees “, rather excited, I’d say”
“I can see” Kurt nods, noticing how chirpy Isabelle looks. In all the years he’s known her, it’s been very few times where he’s seen her like this “. Why’s that?”
“I have some exciting news” Isabelle smiles “. So, here is the thing - you are going to mentor a talented young girl. Woman, young woman. I like the sound of that better”
Kurt opens his mouth in surprise, not having expected that to come out of Isabelle’s mouth, not really “. What? “ He asks “. I have to mentor?”
“Hmm,” Isabelle nods “. I was very impressed by her and her knowledge of fashion, and I figured she would benefit from an internship. And you would benefit from an intern, I think. It’s been a few years since your last one. Besides, given how you started at Vogue, I figured you’d be the right one to teach her”
“Yeah, but-“
“I’ve spoken with her parents already, and they’ve agreed, they think it’s a good idea. The girl is excited, too”
“Oh” Kurt murmurs, all of that info almost making his head explode. He blinks fast for a few moments, and then clears his throat. He knows his options - and that is, he has none. Whilst he doesn’t love the idea of having to teach someone (nearly loathes it, actually), he knows he cannot say no to Isabelle. For as much as she trusts him after so many years, she still is his superior, and he cannot just blatantly say no “. Okay. If you think this is a good idea…”
“I truly think so” Isabelle nods again, now looking even more excited.
“Just… how old is she? The same age I was?”
“She’s fourteen, actually” Isabelle reveals, and Kurt cannot help but show surprise at that, opening his mouth in shock for a moment before he forces himself to close it.
“Fourteen” he repeats “. That’s… young”
“Well, she is extremely talented” Isabelle shrugs “. The age doesn’t matter - her talent does. And we do have the consent from her parents”
“Then… she will work with me? From when?” Kurt keeps asking, curious. Isabelle smiles, happy to see Kurt is working with her on this one. Truth to be told, she had had her doubts when thinking about this - Kurt’s someone who likes to work very independently, after all.
“She will work next to you. Your mission here is to teach her as much as you can, and to show her the ropes, essentially. You should let her observe and learn, and ask her as many questions as she may want to. She will start in ten days, her parents already agreed so now we only have left some paperwork. I will send you a report on this this afternoon”
“Alright,” Kurt nods “. I can leave now, then?”
“Sure, keep working” Isabelle smiles “. And thank you for doing this”
“Sure, Isabelle” Kurt agrees, and as he goes to leave, he stops for one more moment “. Hey, before I forget - what’s her name?”
“Oh. Poppy. Her name is Poppy”
Isabelle had sent him the info about the girl, but Kurt, honest to everything, doesn’t feel like reading it, not really. So he had pushed it back, figuring he could read it once he was home, and had spent the rest of his day doing some other work.
By the time he gets home, he’s exhausted. New York is slowly going into Summer, which only means hot weather and sticky clothes, and Kurt has had it by the time he gets to his place. He changes into something more comfortable and then pours himself some wine, figuring he can start reading his intern’s report now. However, before he can do so, his phone is ringing. Kurt goes to grab it and sighs again when he sees the ID caller, sitting on his couch with his wine in hand and pressing accept.
“Hello, Rachel,” he says, leaning back. Rachel is shrieking the next second, and judging by the background noise, Kurt can tell she’s in the car with her husband, Jesse St.James.
“Hello Kurt” Rachel exclaims back in a sing-song voice “. How are you?”
“Tired” Kurt deadpans “. You, however, sound pretty excited”
“I am!” Rachel exclaims, and Kurt faintly hears a We are! That sounds exactly like Jesse “. We just dropped Sonny at his Theatre Summer Camp. Wait, Jesse also wants to talk”
“Oh, wait-“
“Hey” Jesse hears again “. Just wanted to tell the amazing tale of Sonny’s first day - he was ecstatic”
“Almost jumped out of the car in anticipation” Rachel keeps going. And as unbelievable as it sounds, he knows it to be true - truly, the only child of those two is… something else “. He’d been waiting the entire year for this”
“He really loves his Camp” Jesse agrees “. Remember last year, Sweetheart? He was scared to just step out of the car. And now, look at him”
“Yes, a ten-year-old prodigy” Kurt muses, rolling his eyes when the couple agrees with him. Rachel takes him out of the speaker then, again making the conversation just theirs.
“Anyway, I was calling because now that Sonny is at his Camp, we can finally have some more adult fun times, and adult dates, you know? I’ve been dying for those”
“Sure” Kurt nods, sighing “. I need some of those, too”
“Why?” Rachel asks “. Something happened?”
“It’s just… this thing Isabelle wants me to do” Kurt sighs “. She wants me to train an intern this Summer”
“An intern?” Rachel asks “. That sounds fun!”
“Rachel, it is not fun” Kurt argues “. This is torture. Alba gets to spend her Summer in Europe, traveling to multiple countries and going to the fashion events we all dream about, and me? I get stuck with a teenager”
“How old is she?” Rachel asks, curious.
“Fourteen”
“Oh wow, that is young. How come she is an intern now? I didn’t know Vogue.Com got them this young”
“Isabelle says she’s really talented” Kurt shrugs “. That she was really impressed. But honestly… I just find this annoying. I am not a teacher”
“You’re being so negative about this” Rachel almost whines “. This can be a positive thing! A positive experience, even. Something cool”
“Cool. How?” Kurt asks, skeptical.
“You can influence a young mind, Kurt. Remember how much Isabelle influenced you, and helped you grow? You can be so for her! Wait, what is her name?”
“Poppy” Kurt provides.
“Oh my God, that is the cutest name ever. Babe, her name is Poppy!” She exclaims, and Kurt then hears a Wow, what a pretty name that is said way too loud “. Jesse agrees. Such a gorgeous name”
“Yes, yes. Poppy is a beautiful name. Not the point”
“Sure” Rachel agrees “. The point is - I am sure Poppy will be amazing. If she wasn’t, Isabelle wouldn’t have asked her to do this”
“I guess… it’s only for the Summer, too, I think. So hopefully it’s not too bad”
“It won’t be” Rachel reassures him “. This will be better than you realize, and you will teach Poppy, you’ll see. And maybe Isabelle will send you to Europe during the Fall, or Winter”
“Perhaps” Kurt half-agrees “. Okay, I will trust you”
“You better. So, Jesse and I will be back in the city in, like, less than an hour. Dinner at our favorite?”
The glass of wine is almost gone. The weather is still hot, and sticky. But Kurt has nothing better to do, and he has no other plans - Rachel is still a big part of his social life, for better or for worse. So…“. Sure”
Before Kurt had wanted to, it was the first day of his intern at Vogue. He had been glad when Isabelle had told him she was going to be the one to show the girl around. It has given him enough time to do some work he had still yet to do - which he should’ve done before, but hey.
He is in the middle of editing a couple of pictures he should’ve sent a couple of days before when he hears the door of his office being open, and, stopping himself from rolling his eyes, he looks up to see Isabelle go into the room - and yes, she is walking up to him with a teenager. Immediately, Kurt knows it’s the girl. Poppy.
“Kurt, hi” Isabelle smiles, putting an arm around the teenager “. This is Poppy. Poppy, this is Kurt Hummel, who will be your mentor this Summer”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr.Hummel” Poppy says, smiling big and prettily at him “. Thank you for dedicating your time to mentor me, I deeply appreciate it. I promise to work my hardest and not be an inconvenience to you”
Kurt is briefly taken back by the kid, nodding and standing up to give himself a few moments. He uses that time to look at Poppy, truly looking at her. Because, just the way she talked, the way she introduced herself, and how she was so charming… well, Kurt cannot help but be immediately reminded of Blaine Anderson.
It’s not like she looks like him. Granted, she is not tall, and her hair is wavy, but that’s about it. The color of her hair is a soft golden blonde, a bit dark, and her eyes are a clear evergreen, a bit striking but in a good way. She has delicate features that make her look like a doll, and carries herself with so much elegance and grace that, again, Kurt is reminded of his ex-boyfriend.
And there is something else. Her smile. That smile… it is a copy of Blaine’s. The way she smiles, how sweet it is. And even when her eyes are clear, again, they’re just as sweet as Blaine’s had been. Hold the same warmth. It is a bit overwhelming, really.
Kurt realises he has to put himself together, so he clears his throat and goes to stand in front of Isabelle and Poppy “. Glad to hear that” he nods. When it’s obvious he’s not going to say anything else, Isabelle intervenes again.
“So, I’ve shown young Poppy around” she informs him “. I explained everything to her, the installations, and how it all works. Likewise, I’ve explained to her everything she has to do now that she’s started her internship at Vogue.com. You can take it from here, Kurt, and explain to her what you exactly want her to do and what are your expectations, alright?” She asks, getting Kurt to nod to her question “. Okay, so I’ll leave you two to it”
Kurt stops himself from sighing in exasperation. Again, he has better things to do than to take care of a teenager - he hasn’t had kids for a reason, after all. Not only because he has not found anyone to have said family with (and has a nonexistent interest in doing it by himself), but also because kids are, at the end of the day, annoying. And a headache. So this is definitely both.
Poppy’s looking at him now, eyes big and expecting him to do something. That look, together with the summer dress she’s wearing, makes her look almost angelic. Which in turn makes it a bit harder to be annoyed at the situation - albeit, not impossible.
“Alright, follow me, I will show you this section of the office and where you will be” he says, snapping his fingers in Poppy’s direction. The kid follows him instantly, instead of tripping over her feet moving elegantly and gracefully. It’s starting to be annoying, how she reminds him of Blaine, and he wants it to stop. So he focuses on something else, and instead explains to Poppy everything he can think will be useful and will keep him from explaining things over and over “. Lastly” he says, turning around and looking sternly at the teenager “. I want you to know I expect nothing but perfection. Understood?”
“Yes sir” Poppy nods immediately.
“You are quite young” Kurt notes “. But that will be no excuse for you to not work as hard as everyone else here, if not more. I want to see you deserve this spot. Understood?”
“Of course, Sir” Poppy nods “. And I promise you I will work hard and will prove to you I deserve to be here.
“Good. It doesn’t matter you’re thirteen, you know”
“With all due respect, Mr.Hummel, I am fourteen” Poppy gently and politely corrects him.
“I don’t care about the specific age, kid” Kurt dismisses. Thirteen, fourteen - it’s all the same “. What matters here is - Isabelle thought you were ready to be here. So you must show me you are”
“I promise I will, Sir” Poppy nods “. I will give only my absolute best” she adds. Her determination, once more, reminds Kurt of Blaine, in a way it makes his breath stutter, but once again he decides to ignore that.
“Good” he nods “. Given that Isabelle has shown you around already, I assume you’re done for the day, right?”
Poppy checks her watch at that, and then her phone. She raises her eyebrows almost imperceptibly, putting her phone back on the pocket of her dress “. Yeah, I am, Mr. Hummel” She nods “. My Dad just told me he’s close to the office, my family are taking me to lunch”
Kurt nods, already bored by it, and walks back to his office, Poppy following him hesitantly “. I expect you to be here no later than ten a.m tomorrow. You will start working right away. Understood?” He asks, turning around once he’s back in his table. Poppy nods to his words and, after saying her goodbyes (painfully polite) she leaves.
Sighing, the fashionista sits back on his chair and tries to forget the last hour and a half. About teenage interns who resemble his high school boyfriend way too much and that makes him miss him even more. He checks his emails and decides it - time to forget about Poppy. Until the next day, at least.
“Max, no”
The dog eyes the pepper he was still trying to steal, and then looks at Blaine like he’s completely innocent. Slowly, he approaches the pepper, but it’s stopped by a melodic laugh “. Maxie, listen to Daddy” Poppy says as she enters the room, scratching the dog behind his ears and making him extremely happy “. We don’t steal peppers” she says just as she grabs one piece for herself, under her parents’ amused stares “. He’s getting the long end of the stick by being here, by the way. Daisy has been captured by the twins”
Sebastian and Blaine snort in amusement, sharing a look before they look back at their daughter “. For what?” Blaine asks.
“I think they’re trying to make her look prettier” Poppy tells them, making Sebastian laugh loudly and Blaine smile even bigger.
“And where is Oliver?” He asks his kid, getting Poppy to smile amusedly.
“He’s laughing along with the twins’ shenanigans and putting bows on Daisy”
Sebastian huffs a laugh at that, and Blaine cannot help but laugh at that as well, even when he tries to stop it. Poppy laughs along with him, which he guesses it’s fine. Besides, Daisy is quite possibly the most patient cat he’s ever met, way too accustomed to the Anderson-Smythe kids’ shenanigans.
“Okay, so what’s up, Pops?” He asks, arching an eyebrow to his daughter. Poppy shrugs, resting against the counter and happily petting Max when he demands attention.
“Nothing” she says “, I just wanted to be with you guys for a while and talk”
“Aw, that’s sweet” Blaine smiles “. And I know you are sincere with this, honey, but… c’mon. Try again”
Poppy blushes at that, which only highlights her freckles, but nods. She’s almost interrupted by Sebastian, who at the scene laughs loudly and amusedly, but their daughter soon points a finger at him “. You can’t also trick Daddy, Dad, so if anything I got this from you. No laughing here”
Blaine snorts a laugh, which turns into a loud laugh when his husband shoots an offended glare towards him “. Koko has a point” he shrugs, smiling innocently at Sebastian “. You can never fool me”
Sebastian fakes hurt, putting a hand over his wounded heart, also opening his mouth in feigned surprise. Poppy laughs at the scene, bringing the attention back to her.
“Okay, fine” she says, and Blaine had known he was right. He knows his baby daughter, after all “. You got me, Daddy. It’s just…” she sighs “, I didn’t feel like I could talk freely before, you know? Back when we were all in the restaurant”
“Why, Koko?” Sebastian asks, slightly frowning and exchanging a glance with Blaine.
“The twins were there” the blonde explains “, and they were confused enough with everything that we were explaining. I didn’t need to add to that”
“Yeah, you’re right on that one” Blaine sighs, nodding.
“And well done, Pops” Sebastian adds, smiling warmly at their daughter “. This was a really good thing from you”
“You’ve always been the best big sister” Blaine agrees, copying his husband’s smile “. So, what is that you wanted to talk about then?”
“It’s nothing,” Poppy says, sighing “, but… I couldn’t help but feel as if I was annoying Kurt this morning. Like he didn’t want to be there, so… I don’t know if I did something wrong, or if I should behave differently. I don’t know, to not make him so… annoyed?”
Blaine sighs at that, feeling something heavy and uncomfortable sitting on his chest now. He can feel Sebastian’s gaze on him, surely wanting to see how he feels at that, but he ignores it for now and goes to their daughter, knowing Sebastian will take care of the dinner while he’s at it.
“Poppy, listen to me: you did nothing wrong” the musician says, but Poppy is quick to shake her head.
“You don’t know that, Dad. You just want to make me happy” she tries, and Blaine should’ve seen that one coming. Poppy is painfully like him at times.
“I do, because I talked to Izzy today and she told me you were on your best behavior and were the most polite girl. And as much as your Auntie loves you, she wouldn’t tell me that if it wasn’t true. Understood?” He asks, only continuing when Poppy nods “. Okay, good. Listen, this is just Kurt. He was this way in high school, too”
“And I’m not surprised by that not changing” Sebastian adds, making his two loves look at him “. Hummel’s always thought he’s the one to always be right”
“Not helping, Darling”
Sebastian shrugs at that, under the amused smile of Poppy “. I can tell you don’t exactly like him, Dad” she muses.
“I’ve never done it, to be honest,” Sebastian admits, shrugging. Poppy looks more curious at that, tilting her head.
“Why?” She asks “. Was it because he was the one with Daddy?”
Sebastian stays silent for a moment, putting their dinner in the oven so it can be cooked. After, he turns around and goes with his husband and kid “. Now I can admit that was partly it” he says, hugging Blaine to his body from behind “. I hated to see your Dad in a relationship with a guy who didn’t deserve him in the slightest. Someone who was not the one for him” he explains, getting Blaine to smile softly at him and press a kiss against his jawline “. But not only that”
“Then?” Poppy asks, curiously. Max looks between all of them, half bored half intrigued, and when Poppy resumes petting him, he just stays content in his spot.
“I didn’t, and still don’t, like him because of him” Sebastian explains “. Because of his way of behaving and being. Because I found him selfish, and egocentric, and worst of all - he had a victim mentality that always irked me”
“It ended up irking me, too” Blaine confesses “. So I get that one”
Sebastian hums, kissing the top of Blaine’s head sweetly “. Anyway, it doesn’t matter now” he says “. Blaine and Kurt are long done and we are happy together now”
“Of course, Darling” Blaine smiles, getting a wink and a sweet and gentle smile from his husband “. However, that being said… I cannot help but feel a bit worried about your words, Pops”
“Me too” Sebastian agrees, rather immediately “. So I think it is fair if Dad and I ask you to please be careful”
“I will” Poppy is quick to answer “. I promise I will. It’s just - I guess I naively thought I could have a kind of good relationship with Kurt. Like, he could be a mentor, wanting to show me how everything works. Especially when he also started as an intern and when he doesn’t know who my Dads are. It’s not like there is already a reason for him to dislike me”
“Of course there is not a reason to dislike you, Koko” Blaine is quick to say, frowning “. Honey, don’t think otherwise. And it’s not like he dislikes you, it’s just that he’s this way”
“Right” Poppy murmurs.
“Either way, you just have to be professional about it” Sebastian intervenes “. If anything, he’s your mentor, but nothing else. Perhaps that’s why he’s acting this cold, although he could’ve been nicer”
“I will be professional, yes” Poppy agrees, ignoring the second part of her father’s statement “. It was just the initial shock”
“That is fine, sweetheart” Blaine smiles “. Dad and I are glad you could talk to us about it”
“Of course” Sebastian agrees.
“However” Blaine continues “. If Kurt’s attitude becomes worse, please tell us. And definitely tell your Auntie”
“Of course, yes” Poppy nods, leaning in for a hug with her parents. At almost being squished, Max goes to check the food on the oven, making an indignant sound when he sees he cannot longer steal the dinner “. Thank you for being so amazing” the teenager says once the hug is broken “. Now I think I’m going to try to save Daisy”
“Good luck” Blaine laughs, letting his daughter break the hug.
“Thanks, I’ll need it “ she laughs back “. C’mon Maxie, wanna come?”
Max responds to his name being called immediately, and happily follows Poppy out of the kitchen. Sebastian looks amusedly in their direction, going down to whisper into Blaine’s ear “. Do you think he’s aware Poppy is using him as bait?”
“That poor thing is so innocent of it it’s painful” Blaine answers, making Sebastian laugh. He cannot do it, however, as now he does have something in his head. His husband seems to notice it instantly, because he turns the shorter man in his arms so now they’re face to face. Sebastian rests a hand on his waist, and the other one cups Blaine’s face, letting his husband hug his waist.
“What’s up?” He asks, looking a bit worried “. You’re worried about this, aren’t you?” He asks, perfectly guessing. After Blaine blushes faintly, the taller of the two sighs and kisses his forehead “. Love, aren’t you over-worrying a bit? Which fits you, but still. Poppy will be fine”
Blaine shrugs at that, calming some when Sebastian draws his cheek with his thumb, gently “. I know she’ll be fine. She’s our kid, I know she can do this and whatever else she sets her mind to”
“That’s right”
“I trust Poppy,” Blaine says “. And I know she’ll do just fine, but… yes. I am worried, maybe too much, but I am”
“Love…”
“I just don’t want my kid to feel the way I did” the musician finally confesses. Sebastian smiles at him warmly and in a sympathetic way, caressing his cheek once more.
“That is why we’re here, Love,” he says, softly “. To protect Poppy if she needs to. We’ll make sure nothing bad happens to her, alright?”
“Alright,” Blaine nods.
“And hey, this was just her first day. So it was nerve-racking, for all of us. This will be just fine, and better than we think right now… and things will eventually settle down, okay? Like they always do. And we always manage”
Blaine smiles softly at that, nodding and leaning up for a sweet kiss that Sebastian immediately returns, leaning down to make Blaine more comfortable. Once air is needed, the taller pecks the shorter’s lips and rests their foreheads together.
“You are right” Blaine murmurs “. It was mainly the nerves of the first day, but things will be fine”
“That’s my man” Sebastian nods, smiling amusedly as Blaine rolls his eyes playfully at him, but doesn’t deny his claim.
“And thank you” Blaine adds, getting the lawyer to arch an eyebrow in surprise.
“What for?”
“For being as fantastic as always”
“Hey, no problem” Sebastian smiles, leaning in for another sweet kiss “. It is, in fact, my pleasure”
Blaine smiles amusedly, but leans in for another kiss that gets interrupted once Max gets into the room, barking. Both Anderson-Smythes burst out laughing when they see all the bows the poor dog has on him.
“C’mon, let’s go get our kids and save Daisy, Max certainly wasn’t enough”
Sebastian is still laughing as Blaine drags him along up to their second living room in order to retrieve their kids and save their pets.
Sooner than Kurt realized, two weeks had passed from the start of the internship. And now that some weeks have gone by, Kurt cannot help but slowly warm up to Poppy. But really… it is kind of inevitable. The teenager is a lovely girl. Kindhearted and earnest, funny and intelligent. She’s witty and hardworking, and Kurt cannot help but be constantly reminded of Blaine when he’s around Poppy. More and more each day.
He cannot help it though. And perhaps it’s just because he’d been thinking about his ex-boyfriend lately, but Poppy is like a carbon copy of him, personality-wise. And it’s impossible to ignore, so Kurt’s chosen to simply accept it and move on.
It also means he starts feeling more comfortable around her, not as tense. Poppy’s someone easy to be around, warm and incredibly smart, so it’s hard not to warm up to her, eventually. Especially when he sees her almost single day, and with how she’s almost like his shadow.
He maybe can try to show Poppy he’s more okay with her presence now. He’s barely talked to her since the beginning of the internship, other than to boss her around. Maybe he can try and have a more mentor-mentee relationship with her. Or, closer to that.
So, when they do not have as much work as they’ve been having all morning, Kurt approaches her, watching as she finishes the last task he had asked for her to do. She looks focused, frowning in a way that looks painfully familiar - or, at least, in a way that used to be familiar. Shaking his head lightly, Kurt tells himself to focus.
“Poppy” he says, startling her a bit and snapping her out of her thoughts. After a moment where neither speaks, he adds “. Are you almost done?”
“I already am” Poppy replies, smiling politely at him “. I was just reviewing it one more time. Even though I feel I’ve done it so many times I won’t see even the most obvious of mistakes” she softly jokes, which makes Kurt smile tinily, even if he doesn’t want to “. Did you need something, Mr. Hummel?”
“I guess not” Kurt shrugs, getting slightly closer to the teenager and trying to see what she’s working on. At first glance, it seems like she’s done a perfect job “. It’s been two weeks since you started here, right?” He asks after a moment in silence. Poppy nods, smiling sweetly at him.
“Yes, Mr. Hummel. I surely hope my work during this time has been good enough”
“It has been good” Kurt nods, because well, firstly he cannot lie, and Poppy is good, and secondly, he doesn’t want to be overly mean to a teenager “. I just realized I don’t know that much about you”
“Oh”
“You have to have a lot of drive to be doing this kind of thing this young” Kurt keeps saying, going to sit in front of the blonde “. Are your parents okay with it?”
“Yeah, they are” Poppy nods, her smile a bit more nervous than before. Kurt wonders if it is because that relationship with her parents is, perhaps, rockier than she’s letting on. He knows Burt would’ve been a bit reticent at having him do this work being as young as his intern is.
“So, they are happy with this?” He insists, trying to reach the bottom of things. Unbeknownst to him, Poppy is not freaking out because of some hard, rocky relationship with her parents, but by talking about them alone. But she has to be professional, and not give them away. She’s watched her Dad prepare enough court cases and her Daddy avoid sketchy questions in interviews to now fail at this.
“Oh yeah, they are happy” she replies, forcing herself to go back to her normal voice “. Very proud, too. I mean, they made me promise I wouldn’t overdo it, but overall… I think they’re really happy for me. They’ve always taught me to go after my dreams”
“That’s nice” Kurt offers, a bit unsure.
“It is” Poppy nods “. And I know they’re there for me if I need them. But more than anyone, my Dads encouraged me to take the internship. They’re extremely supportive”
Kurt blinks in surprise at that bit of information, looking at Poppy in a new light in a matter of a second “. Dads” he repeats, the word somehow feeling funny in his mouth. With no reason, too, because he knows plenty of queer people who have kids now, and kids Poppy’s age (and older); hell, he knows Rachel. But, the smallest part of him that still lives in Ohio will always be taken back by those things, Kurt guesses “. You have two Dads?”
“Oh” Poppy blinks, looking a bit surprised at Kurt’s own surprise “. Yeah, I do. Sorry, I thought it must’ve been in my file”
“Probably it was” Kurt reluctantly admits “. But I read that part fast. Do you have any siblings? Or is it just you?” He asks, wanting to see if this is another Rachel Berry in the making. But Poppy smiles, soft and sweet, and clearly thinking of her family.
“I do have siblings” she nods “. Three. I’m the oldest though”
“Oh wow”
“My parents have been together for a long time” Poppy adds “. They’re high school sweethearts”
At that, Kurt feels something he one hundred percent is not going to analyze in his gut, churning uncomfortably. He doesn’t let himself dwell on whatever thoughts were starting to infiltrate his mind, refuses to think (even for a second) about another life, about marrying his own high school sweetheart and, perhaps, having a child. In no way four, no. Maybe two, but that’s a strong maybe. And not real, anyway, so. Not thinking about it.
“How old are they?” He asks instead. Poppy is fourteen, and she’s the oldest of her siblings, so they cannot be that much older than Kurt.
“I think they’re around your age, Mr. Hummel. Perhaps a bit younger”
“Oh,” Kurt says, trying hard to not look as surprised as he feels “. That’s… nice. Definitely not something that is normal to find”
Poppy frowns slightly at that, once again reminding Kurt of someone he doesn’t want to remember “. What do you mean?” She asks, sweetly.
“Well…” Kurt stays, absently playing with one of the pens Poppy has lying around “. I just, it’s hard to find a good guy. So of course two guys that are decent have to find each other”
“You don’t think guys are decent?” Poppy asks again, confused still. Kurt shrugs, still playing with the pen.
“I haven’t found a decent guy at least,” he says, unbeknownst to him making Poppy’s frown deeper in the thought of her father. Her Dad is the best guy she knows, and both of her Dads are… so for Kurt to say they are not ‘decent’ is definitely upsetting “. Men… look, Poppy. You’re young still. Fourteen, right?”
“Yes, Sir” Poppy nods.
“You’re still very young” Kurt repeats “. Still a lot left to learn. And I don’t know what type of crushes you may get, but, kid. Men… they usually are not good. Most are trash”
“Oh” Poppy murmurs in front of him, taken back. As much as she is a New York kid (meaning, she hears worse language on the street on the daily, especially if she grabs the subway) she’s never had an adult speak to her that way. Her parents have never talked to her that way, that’s for sure “. But not every person is like that. Not every man”
“I still have to find a single one that is good,” Kurt says, shrugging again “. Who knows if I ever will - New York is big, right? Someone here has to be nice”
“I guess” Poppy murmurs, still frowning. So Kurt has never met someone that is good. That includes her father, doesn’t it? But he… he is Poppy’s hero. So how is he not good? “. There are good men out there though. My parents are good men”
“Sure” Kurt replies, looking a bit uncomfortable at Poppy’s words “. I did not mean your fathers are not nice people, kid. Just that I have not found a nice one for myself. That’s all,” he says, making Poppy nod, frown a bit less deep but still some “. Alright, keep working. I sent you some pictures I want organized by model”
“Sure thing, Mr.Hummel” Poppy nods, and holds her breath until Kurt has left, and is no longer close to her space. She has to hurry up, and forget about his words - her Auntie Izzy is taking her out for lunch.
<<Poppy,
I know you are OOO, but I need you to review these two articles.
Likewise, you need to check these pictures look good and
the Photoshop done to them is not obvious. Lastly, I need to get the isolated
audio from that interview we did last week as soon as possible.
Kurt Hummel>>
<<Hello Mr. Hummel,
Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause, but I kindly remind you I am
OOO for a little bit, as I am on vacation with my family. It was in
my schedule. Therefore, I cannot do the tasks you asked me for now.
Again, apologies for any inconvenience,
Greetings,
Poppy>>
The blonde teenager worries her bottom lip, wondering if she’s done the right thing or if she’s gonna upset Kurt or put her job at risk. But she had informed him of her holidays multiple times, and it’s been in her schedule since she started at Vogue, so it will be fine. It has to. Besides, her Auntie is fine with it and, at the end of the day, that is what matters.
“Hey, Koko” she hears, and she raises her head to see her brother coming up to her. She smiles at Oliver and snickers when she sees the expression on his face.
“Hey, Moo. Bored?” She guesses. Oliver groans for an answer, letting himself fall on the empty seat next to his sister.
“So bored,” he says, resting his head on Poppy’s shoulder “. We still have like, forty minutes ‘till boarding and Dads are in the kids section entertaining the twins”
“Hey, at least we’re in the cool couches” Poppy points out, rustling her brother’s curls and getting Oliver to protest. The kids section of the lounge they’re at in the airport is not visible from where they’re sitting, but she can just imagine her Dads trying to tire the twins as much as possible before they go onto the plane.
“Fair,” Oliver says eventually “. What were you doing, by the way?” He asks after a bit, curious in the way Poppy knows every Anderson-Smythe is.
“Replying to Mr. Hummel” she answers before sighing. Oliver frowns at that, sitting up in his chair to look at her better.
“But you’re not working during this trip, right? Dads said you were free from your internship”
“I am” Poppy assures her younger brother “. Don’t worry, Moo, I am on holiday. It’s just - I guess Mr.Hummel didn’t know? Or maybe he didn’t remember”
“But you told him” Oliver points out, almost in a question and very clearly frowning at that. Poppy shrugs, grabbing the coffee her parents had let her drink and swirling what little is left of it. She can see Oliver eyeing it with hope, but no way she’s letting her borderline hyperactive brother drink coffee before a flight across the ocean “. Don’t know if he remembers” she finally answers. Oliver hums at that, in a way that is almost an exact copy of when her Daddy does it. She’s pretty sure she does it that way, too, if anything because of subconsciously copying Blaine after her whole life of hearing it.
“What’s the deal with your boss, anyway?” The eleven-year-old asks, genuinely curious “. He’s confusing to me”
“He’s confusing to me, too” Poppy confesses, almost too fast. But she cannot help it - as much as he loves and trusts his parents (more than anyone else, in fact), she knows there is only much she can complain about Kurt before either one of her Dads (or worse, both) does something about it, most likely involving Isabelle as well. Oliver hums again at that, looking deep in thought for a moment before he lets the thought go.
“And what’s been happening since the whole ‘men are trash talk?” He asks, sounding way too young for the words he’s just said. But also-
“You’re not coming here to find more stuff for Dads, are you?”
“Hey, that’s offensive” Oliver protests immediately “. I came because I wanted to talk to you, Poppy”
“Sorry, Moo” Poppy says, immediately apologizing and ruffling her brother’s curls “. Truly. I know you worry even if Dads don’t say anything and that you just wanted to talk to me”
“Okay,” Oliver nods, not really getting mad about it. He stays silent for a moment but, before Poppy can think he’s let it go, he talks again “. So? What’s been happening?”
Poppy sighs at that; the stubbornness is another trait of the Anderson-Smythes, and, if anything, she’s been an exemplary role model of it for her siblings, so she cannot go and complain now. Perhaps she can gain a bit of sympathy for her parents, for all the times they’ve complained about her and her siblings’ stubbornness, but not much. Her parents’ stubbornness is also something she has to deal with, so her empathy reaches only a certain point.
“Mr.Hummel… I mean, things have been okay” she finally replies “. He’s just - I don’t know”
“Koko, I’m gonna need you to explain that better”
“Shut it” Poppy laughs, getting the pre-teen to do the same “. Okay, fine. Look, Oli, things are fine. It’s not like Kurt is someone warm, in the slightest, so we barely talk about personal things as it is. Plus” she adds after a moment “, I’ve met some other cool people at Vogue.Com that are way warmer, and that truly want to make me feel comfortable”
Oliver nods at that, looking pensive and, Poppy thinks, way too old for his age. It’s something her Lola had told her Blaine had done, too. Back then, Eleanor had just thought it was because of having a much older sibling, but with Oliver copying his father (even with vastly different childhoods - the youngest’ much less stressful and sadness-free than his Dads), the family had decided it was just a Blaine trait that he had passed on to Oliver (possibly Everett, too, given how quiet the baby of the family was).
“What else?” The curly-haired kid asks after a couple of minutes, managing to startle Poppy. She blinks at him, surprised for a moment, but he simply blinks back at her.
“You’re too much like Dad” she complains, but that only makes Oliver beam at her “. Fine, it’s just - as more time goes on, I have a harder time understanding how and why Daddy dated him”
Oliver frowns at that, tilting his head in question “. Why?” He asks. Poppy shrugs, drinking the last of her coffee and looking around her, not wanting her parents to listen to the conversation. She cannot see them, so it’s pretty safe to assume they’re still in the playground with the twins.
“Well - I understand things back then were different. At least that’s what Daddy said” she starts, getting Oliver to nod “, we both heard his explanation. And what Dad told us, too”
“Right”
“Daddy told us Mr.Hummel was different back then. And I am sure Daddy himself, and Dad, were different then, too. It’s normal, I guess - part of growing up and stuff”
“But?” Oliver presses on.
“But even so, Oli” Poppy sighs “. I just cannot see how Daddy dated him. Even if it’s in the past, it just doesn’t make sense in my head”
“You mentioned he’s not warm, right? Mr.Hummel, I mean” Oliver half-asks, getting his sister to nod “. Daddy is the warmest person I know. And even if Dad is not as warm as he is, he still is”
“Especially with the people he loves” Poppy nods “. And even with people he doesn’t know, he’s not as… cold as Mr.Hummel is. And it’s not like I’m a complete stranger”
“That’s true”
“Besides” she adds, almost as in second thought “. He’s also this way with everyone else at the office, and he’s been with some of them for years. The only person he’s a bit warmer with is Auntie Izzy”
Oliver smiles mischievously at this, which Poppy doesn’t like one bit “. He’ll freak out once he knows you’re her granddaughter” he says, getting Poppy to tsk at him and flick his nose “. Hey, I’m right!” He exclaims, laughing. Poppy can only roll her eyes at him, but not disagree, and the siblings enjoy a moment of silence before the youngest of the two speaks again “. You know… we can always ask Uncle Sammy or Auntie Tina about it. They can surely tell us more”
“That’s actually an amazing idea” Poppy realizes “. They were Daddy’s best friends in high school and knew Kurt pretty well, which is something that Uncles Warblers don’t have”
“They have the double perspective” Oliver nods. Poppy hums at that, in the same way Oliver had done not even five minutes before.
“It’s a good idea. But… Auntie Tina and Uncle Sammy will eventually tell Daddy, so… we have to be careful about it. Think on how we’re asking them about this”
“Maybe try to start with Uncle Sammy” Oliver agrees “. Auntie T will go straight to Daddy”
“Yep,” Poppy agrees. Oliver nods in agreement as well and sighs, resting his head on Poppy’s shoulder. The blonde smiles and kisses the top of her brother’s head, his curls gently tickling her nose “. What’s up, Moo?”
“Nothing” he murmurs “, I’m just really excited for our holidays. Not only to visit new places” he adds after a moment “, although that is very cool. And I’m really excited about spending time with our family, especially when the rest come” Poppy hums at that, knowing that, sometimes, it’s good to just let Oliver rant for a bit “. But. I’m more excited because I can spend more time with you, Koko. I’ve missed you this Summer”
“Oh, Mr.Moo” Poppy murmurs, feeling her heart breaking a little at her brother’s words.
“It’s cool” Oliver dismisses “. I’m really proud of you, and of your work. You’re killing it, Pops. And it’s not like we haven’t spent time together, we have, just-“
“Less than usual” Poppy completes for him.
“I’ve just missed you” the curly-haired kid finishes, which makes his sister just hug him tighter, blinking hard not to cry.
Truth be told, she’s been missing Oliver, too. And her family as well. She sees them a lot, it’s not like her internship it’s a full-time job, but in comparison to other Summers the difference is there.
And Oliver and her have always been close. With only a two-and-a-half-year difference, she’s always dragged him behind her, forcing him to accompany her in all of her adventures. They had gotten even closer as siblings after the twins had been born. Granted, they adore their siblings but, because of the nature of being twins, Grace and Everett are naturally closer to each other. Which in turn, made it so Oliver and Poppy created a tighter bond between them. Their parents jokingly called them their first pair of twins sometimes.
Now that she’s slowly becoming a teenager, Poppy knows it will be hard sometimes for Oliver and her, as she is two and a half years older. But she loves her brother, and she knows he’s her best friend, and he will always be. She just hopes he knows that as well.
“Nothing is more perfect than spending time with you, Oli” she murmurs, kissing his head again “. I’ve missed you too, and you’ll see, we’ll have the best time in Europe. Together, but also with the rest of our family. I’ve also missed them”
“Yeah, it’ll be nice” Oliver agrees “. Dads were saying about having some time with them”
“That sounds nice” Poppy smiles. Their fathers do pretty good in having one-on-one time with all of their kids but also, sometimes, they do two-and-two, like they were doing at the airport. Mostly for age closeness, but neither Poppy nor Oliver will complain. Before either sibling can add something, the twins come into view and barrel into them, Everett landing on Oliver’s lap and Grace on Poppy’s.
“Hey, Mavi” she murmurs, kissing her sister’s head of curls, not as wild as Oliver’s but getting there. She is a second away from asking where their parents are when she sees them coming, twin looks of fond exasperation on their faces.
“Mavise, we told you to be patient,” Sebastian says, hands firmly resting on his hips. Grace smiles sheepishly at him, cuddling closer to Poppy, and getting Sebastian to give up on his pretense “. Don’t let her fall asleep just yet, Koko - we really want the little monsters to fall asleep on the plane”
“Oh, great idea,” Oliver says next to her, bouncing their younger brother on his knees, so suddenly Everett almost falls to the ground out of surprise. Blaine is quick to stop it and grab his youngest son, especially when Oliver just starts cackling at that, and Poppy cannot help but smile at the scene. Yeah, she’s missed them so much.
Notes:
And hello again!
So, to the point: I decided to shorten the chapter and end it here because I said to myself: hey, it has been a while since you posted, AND this was highly requested and a cool thing to do. Let's give them something nice before the drama.
Fair warning: Chapter 3 (second extra) has the drama ;) hehe
But! For now please do tell me what you thought about this chapter! And even about Kurt's pov. I am not used to writing it so I am not sure if it totally worked lmao, but do let me know. And I can't help it, I love writing Rachel and Jesse lmao. Also about the kids! I love writing them and playing with the Anderson-Smythe family dynamics, so if there is something in particular you want to see, surely let me know!
Okay, the next chapter shouldn't take long to publish! 1 week-ish, MAX 2. Okay, have a great week!
Chapter 3
Notes:
Hello!
Next chapter is here! I was planning on having this as part of the 1st chapter, but then decided it deserved its own chapter... so enjoy :)
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
He doesn’t do it that often but, every once in a while, Kurt will organize a dinner with the people from McKinley. He’s more used to just going to another member of the group’s place, but every once in a while he has to do the dinner at his. Mostly because Rachel insists enough Kurt just caves in, but. He’s just gotten a new (and expensive) couch, so it’s also a good idea to invite everyone so they can appreciate it.
So he’s asked for food from his favorite restaurant, only a few blocks from his place, and has opened a bottle of the wine they’ve all been obsessing over the Summer, more bottles in his kitchen because the fashionista knows they’ll probably use them all.
All in all, he’s in a good mood. He shouldn’t be too surprised when, of all people, Santana notices it.
“You look positively chirpy,” she notices, arching an eyebrow elegantly at him.
“Don’t ever describe me like that again, Santana” Kurt deadpans. The Latina only smirks at that, which Kurt knows it’s dangerous, and pours herself some wine before sitting next to her wife on the couch, Rachel on the other side of her. Kurt frowns at her, joining her by sitting on his new, fancy couch, and eyes the rest of room. Santana and Brittany had accepted the offer for the dinner, and after them Mercedes had done it as well. Of course, Rachel and Jesse had joined them, and so had Artie, who was spending some months in New York trying to film an indie movie there.
“No, but Santana is a bit right,” Mercedes says, looking him over critically “. You look like you’re in a good mood. Something happened?”
“Something has to happen for me to be happy?” Kurt asks back.
“With you being you?” Santana quips in, snorting elegantly “. I’d say yes, Hummel. You seem happier, and I don’t think it’s because of your fancy new couch, so. Spill”
“Ugh,” Kurt murmurs, rolling his eyes. Count on Santana to slightly dampen his mood “. I am in a good mood, yes” he finally admits.
“Because…?” Santana still presses on. Kurt levels at her with a glare but, before he can count his victory in, Rachel is chirping in (because. Of course).
“Oh, does this have to do with your intern?” She asks “. You seemed a bit down last week and you told me she was away on holiday. Has she come back?”
“That is such a good guess, Dear” Jesse smiles, and Kurt struggles not to throw a pillow at him. Especially because now Santana, and even Mercedes, have that look on their faces that tells him there is no way he can pretend it’s not exactly what Rachel has said.
“Yes, she’s back” he finally admits, ignoring Santana’s victorious smirk and the self-satisfied grin on Mercedes’s face “. She came back today, she had been on a holiday with her family for, like, two weeks”
“And?” Brittany asks, serving herself some more wine “. There is more to this”
“Definitely” Artie agrees “. He’s making the face he makes when he doesn’t want to be vulnerable”
“I don’t make faces” Kurt argues, but a look from, well, everyone, and he has to drop it “. Fine. I’ve missed her. A bit. And her work - she’s really good, especially for her age, so. It’s nice she’s back. It’s nice to have her in the office again”
His friends look at him surprised at that, save Rachel and Jesse (as they have become more familiar with Kurt’s new intern). And he cannot exactly blame them. Poppy hasn’t been his first intern, but he’s never gotten close to them and he has never felt any fondness for any of his past interns. He’s definitely never missed them if they went away. So this is new for him.
“It is not like you to warm up to interns” Mercedes voices, getting the rest to nod “. What’s her name again?”
“Poppy” Kurt replies “. She’s fourteen”
“Wow” Brittany murmurs “. A genius, like me”
“Yes, baby, just like you” Santana murmurs to her, before looking at Kurt quizzically “. ‘Cedes is right, it’s not like you to warm up to any intern. You’ve had many since working at Vogue and it’s never happened. So what gives?”
Kurt shrugs, drinking some of his wine to give himself time to think of the answer. He’s never liked to open up too much, and although the group he’s with right now is probably his closest, and even when said group is notorious for just telling everything and anything about their lives to each other, Kurt is still slightly uncomfortable with it. The occasions where he opens up, truly does it, are rare and far in between. But somehow, Poppy has been able to get under his skin, and now he feels as if he has to talk about that or he’ll just explode.
“It’s just different” he finally says “. She is different. She’s clever, and so, so intelligent… and she’s kind, and really sweet. Warm. Friendly. A good girl, I think, and really nice to work with. And…” he goes to add, but quickly he stops himself. Santana sees it, though, so of course she’s leaning in and arching a perfect eyebrow at him.
“And? C’mon Hummel, don’t leave us like this. And, what?”
Kurt sighs deeply at this. He hasn’t even told Rachel about this, so it’s not like he’s loving the idea of telling everyone all at once, but hey. He knows he cannot run out of this one.
“She reminds me of Blaine” he finally confesses, fully ignoring how everyone gasps at that (and seriously, why does Jesse do it? Sure, he’d met Blaine, but barely as it is, and mostly in a choir setting, rarely as Kurt’s boyfriend).
“Seriously?” Artie asks, shocked “. How? Why?”
“She… just does” Kurt shrugs “. A lot, actually”
“But why?” Mercedes presses on, this time more gentle than before, which Kurt also chooses to ignore.
“It’s… her sweetness, I think. How smart she is, how she sees the world” Kurt confesses, in a soft tone “. It’s the way she talks, and walks, and conducts herself. She just seems like a young and female version of Blaine, even when they don’t really look alike. Also…”
“Also?” Rachel asks, curious.
“Poppy has some mannerisms I remember Blaine had, too” Kurt confesses, and from the corner of his eye he sees Santana perking up at that “. She uses some of the exact same expressions he did, even the ones that are more… weird, I guess. And like I said, the way she talks, it’s… uncanny. Even her smile, the way she smiles, how sweet it is… she reminds me of Blaine constantly. Which is starting to be a bit annoying”
“Right. Annoying” Santana says, smiling at him. There is something in her smile, Kurt can tell, but he cannot exactly tell what it is. Before he can ask, however, Mercedes talks again.
“What’s her name?”
“I just told you her name - Poppy” Kurt frowns “. It’s not a nickname, ‘Cedes”
“No, I know. I meant her full name”
“Oh” Kurt blinks “. I… don’t know” he admits “. She’s never told me, and I could swear on her file it only shows her name. Maybe the middle name, too, I don’t remember right now”
“But no last name?” Santana asks this time. Kurt shakes his head, further confirming it, and looks as a slow smirk appears on his friend’s face. Immediately, as he’s learned to do for more than two decades now, he fears it “. You know, there is an easy solution for the last name issue”
“There is not an issue with that, Santana” Kurt immediately argues.
“No, but you have to be at least a bit curious” Rachel intervenes “. No? I am, and I don’t even know her”
“I guess a bit” Kurt shrugs “. It’s weird that I don’t see her last name in her file”
“Then we can find it” Santana insists “. Easy peasy”
“Yeah? How so, Satan?” Kurt asks, now a mix of curious and irritated with his old friend.
“We can simply look at Vogue.Com's followers, look Poppy up”
“That will take us forever” the fashionista complains “. And I am not wasting my evening on this”
“Not necessarily” the Latina disagrees “, we can look at who Vogue is following. They usually follow their workers back, and I don’t think you have hundreds of Poppies working there”
“That’s a good point” Brittany agrees.
“It is” Artie backs them up, and Kurt now knows this is a lost battle. His friends are too invested in this already to let it go “. It’s a cute name, but not that popular”
“Worth a try” Mercedes nods, and now Kurt’s officially lost.
“Yeah, Kurt, couldn’t you put your phone on your TV? You did to show us some video of something you were working on last month” Jesse, the traitor, says, and now Kurt’s lost. And he also wants to kill Jesse, rather desperately. But that’s nothing new, so there is that.
“It is still a long shot” he still tries “. Besides - is it right, even? Poppy is fourteen, and she has not given the info about her socials to me”
“Wait, that is a good point,” Mercedes says “. I don’t know if this is right”
“Please, if her Instagram is public it’s fair game” Santana argues, getting several nods from her friends.
“It’s not like you’re stalking her” Rachel vaguely argues “. Santana is right - if her Instagram is open and public, it’s not that bad. It’s just checking her socials to see her last name”
“Harmless” Jesse nods, and Kurt just wants to tell him to shut up. Still, he guesses now his friends have a point and, truth to be told, he is a bit curious about it all. So…
“Fine” he finally agrees, letting Santana grab his phone and connect it to his TV. She’s quick to log on to Instagram and go directly to Vogue.com's page and then to their followers. She has almost a feral grin on her face, which Kurt fears, if he has to be honest, but he’s not brave enough to tell her to stop.
“Okay, let’s go,” she says, and then starts to type Poppy. There are a few they skim through, people Kurt doesn’t even recognize; even one guy. But, in the end, they find something that looks like it can be her, and oh my God.
“Wait, hold on” Mercedes exclaims “. Does that say what I think it says?”
“Poppy… Anderson Smythe” Artie reads, glancing at a gobsmacked Kurt.
“Maybe it’s not her” Mercedes tries, weakly.
“That’s her in the profile picture” Kurt argues, weakly as well.
“Maybe it looks vaguely like her” Rachel tries as well “. She’s blonde, right? There are like, millions of blondes in New York”
“Blondes know how to have more fun” Brittany agrees, nodding. Kurt chooses to ignore her and ignore Rachel as well, knowing damn well that the girl in the picture is his intern. And, look, perhaps it is an extremely, extremely slim chance this is just a cosmic coincidence, perhaps a sign from the Universe to tell Kurt to fuck off, but he doubts so. Anderson and Smythe together? It cannot be a coincidence.
“Click on her profile” he demands Santana. There must be something in his voice for the feisty woman not to tell him off for his tone (or perhaps, and this is most likely, Santana just wants to see the chaos unfold), because Santana does it immediately. And soon enough. Yeah.
Poppy is Poppy Anderson-Smythe. It is her.
“Is it… her?” Mercedes asks, gently. Kurt doesn’t even look at her, can’t, not when he almost feels his throat closing in, and instead snaps his fingers at Santana.
“Click on the first picture, on whatever picture, I don’t care,” he says. And again, Santana must be living for the once-in-a-lifetime type of drama this must be, because she does as told without any complaints, and clicks on Poppy’s most recent picture.
Which is a family selfie. Because. Of course, it is.
In it, Poppy is making the picture herself, a beautiful smile gracing her face. There is another kid, a bit younger than her, standing right next to her, and Kurt and everyone else are a bit taken aback by how much he looks like Blaine; truly, it is a carbon copy almost. Next to the kid, there are Blaine and Sebastian, both looking much older than the last time they had seen them but, to Kurt’s annoyance, both have aged enviably. Honestly, it’s kind of unfair how good they are looking, and how well age fits them. Both look even younger than they are, but in a natural way. Sebastian has some grey speckled in his hair, and Kurt could swear there is some in Blaine’s as well, although not as much.
To make matters worse, there are two other children, them being in the adults’ arms. Blaine is holding a little boy, with dark blonde and wavy hair and eyes that are a copy of Poppy and Sebastian. He’s smiling shyly at the camera and clinging to his father like a Koala. Next to him, Sebastian has a little girl in his arms. She seems the same age as the little boy, so Kurt has to guess they must be twins, and she has Blaine’s curls, although a shade lighter than her father and brother. Her eyes are a copy of her Dad and, in this case, brother. Kurt can very well see which kids they each fathered.
The fucking cherry on top, however, the thing that Kurt hates, is how fucking happy they all look. The background looks insanely pretty, definitely in Europe (where, now Kurt remembers, Poppy had gone for holidays), and they all look radiant. They are fucking glowing.
He goes and reads the caption, trying not to grimace at the sweet: my favorite people in the world <3 Anderson-Smythe fam vacation is complete!!!!!!
“Awe, that is really cute” Mercedes coos, smiling at the picture.
“They truly look like an adorable family” Rachel agrees, ignoring Kurt’s look of betrayal “. Didn’t expect them to have this many kids, I have to admit”
“Me neither, but it fits them” Santana adds “. In a weird way”
“Don’t see anything weird” Jesse says, shrugging “. They look like good Dads - all their kids look insanely happy”
“You’d be too if you were vacationing in Europe” Brittany points out, and everyone can admit she has a point “. Keep scrolling, baby. I want to see more of my favourite narwhal’s babies”
“I’m sorry, why are we all okay with this?” Kurt asks, flabbergasted.
“Because we are in our fucking forties and this is entertaining” Santana replies, going to the next photo, which is a cute one of Poppy in what looks like Italy “. She truly is a beauty”
“Looks like a doll, so precious” Rachel agrees.
“Definitely has Sebastian’s eyes” Artie intervenes “. I’d argue the boy has Blaine’s though. And the little ones have it reversed”
“Of fucking course those two would manage something like that” Santana snorts, going to the next picture. This time they are multiple, apparently making a recompilation of their Europe trip. The first one is a family picture where they can see the Anderson-Smythe family again, but also Cooper and what looks like his family, and what seems to be the Anderson and the Smythe parents. In another, Poppy and Oliver are taking a selfie together, and in another they are with their other little siblings. The rest are pictures of the trip that sometimes feature more of their family. The next post is of her and the Blaine-clone, both being silly all over Europe, including Disney. Oli boy <3 is the caption, which solves some doubts.
“Looks like the boy’s name is Oli” Jesse points out “. Oliver?”
“Seems like it” Mercedes nods “. Nice name. Fits him”
“Actually, yeah” Artie agrees “. I was calling him Blaine Jr in my head, but Oliver works nice”
Several people laugh at that, scrolling to the next picture, which is of Poppy and her siblings in Disneyland. She has the little girl in her arms, and Oliver has the little boy on his shoulders, and they are beaming at the camera with the Disney castle behind them, all dressed properly for the occasion. Oliver, Grace, Everett, and I would like to apologize to our parents for all the chaos we’re about to cause today. xoxo, Poppy.
“I like her” Santana smiles “. Also, now we know the names”
“I love Everett” Rachel exclaims, clapping her hands together “. It’s one of the names we debated for Sonny very early on”
“Fascinating information” Kurt murmurs, looking a bit green. Santana snorts at that and goes to the next, which makes the fashionista of them choke on air. Because it’s a picture of Blaine and Sebastian, both looking happy, relaxed, and sun-kissed in what looks like an Italian villa. They are cuddling close together, not quite kissing yet lips already grazing each others. All in all, it is a beautiful picture. My dream is to find a love just like theirs the caption just puts the cherry on top.
“Damn, they truly made it,” Artie says “. How long have they been together for now?”
“Mmm… it must be close to twenty-five years now,” Brittany says, counting in her head “. They started dating our Senior Year of high school, remember Sectionals that year?”
“God yes” Artie snorts. Kurt just scrolls before they can comment further, but that makes it a bit worse, because it is a selfie of the teenager with her parents. She is leaning on Blaine, Sebastian putting an arm around them and taking the picture. My heroes <3 as the short but sweet caption. Sebastian has left a comment under that, and the username of sebastianandersonsmythe almost makes Kurt bristle. More so when he reads how familiar he seems with the girl, writing a once more being, very obviously, a daddy’s girl. It’s okay, honey, I love you all the same. Blaine has replied to that comment, and the blaineandersonsmythe of his username almost makes Kurt bite through his tongue. Ah, Love, don’t be a sore loser. We love you all the same <3
“They are so fucking sweet my teeth are going to fall out,” Santana says, looking very much like she means it.
“But it’s cute,” Rachel says with a shrug “. This actually explains why Poppy reminded you of Blaine so much, Kurt”
“It makes sense” Jesse nods.
“Exactly! I mean, she can look like Sebastian, at least her eyes, but she can take after Blaine in character and personality. She is his daughter, after all”
“It does track” Mercedes nods “. Sebastian said in the comment she’s a Daddy’s girl, right? Which I’m guessing, she’ll refer to Blaine as so. If she favors him, it sort of makes sense she takes after him”
“Totally” Brittany nods, cuddling closer to her wife. But it is her wife the one that looks at Kurt, a suspicious look on her face.
“What’s up, Hummel?” She asks “. You’ve gone pretty damn quiet”
Kurt looks at her, finally blinking out of his stupor. He feels as if he cannot breathe, not really, and he actually has to force himself to do it “. How could Poppy lie to me?” He asks, hating how vulnerable his voice sounds for a moment, until he forces himself to clear his throat “. How could she keep this from me? All these weeks, and she…”
“Hey, relax” Santana interrupts him “. Maybe Poppy didn’t know, alright? Don’t go blaming a kid for this, Kurt”
“Yeah, right” Kurt scoffs “. Santana, she must have known. Do you think her parents would let her work there without that information?”
“Maybe, to protect her” Rachel ventures.
“Also, maybe even they didn’t know” Artie points out “. Don’t see Smythe being completely okay with you teaching his daughter”
Kurt tries and fails not to shiver when Artie calls Poppy Sebastian’s daughter (mostly, because he’s terrifyingly right), and instead crosses his arms and shakes his head “. No. I know they knew, Isabelle told me they had signed a permission slip. That had my name on it and, unless they didn’t read it or didn’t care who the person teaching that kid was, they knew”
“I don’t see Blaine not reading that,” Mercedes says “. So I have to agree with Kurt. They definitely must’ve known”
“Therefore, Poppy has to know. If she doesn’t they are completely horrible parents” Kurt adds “. She knows. I’m convinced she does. She has to”
“One, let’s not say what kind of parents they are with no information on that” Rachel intervenes “. Poppy seems like a great girl with a good head on her shoulders, so I’m pretty sure they’ve done a good job. But two… I agree she probably knew. Which is not that weird”
“Also” Jesse adds, trying to aid his wife “, I’m going to say it’s not that weird for her not to go and talk to you about it. It must be weird and awkward enough for her. I wouldn’t be wanting to talk to my father’s ex when I was, what? Fourteen?”
“Jesse makes a great point,” Mercedes says, shrugging “. She’s in a tough position. Even if she knows, I don’t see weird she didn’t tell you”
“No, it is weird” Kurt disagrees “. We had conversations about her parents before, she talked to me about her siblings. And she was keeping her true relationship to me the whole time”
“What relationship?” Santana asks, snorting “. Hummel, if anything you’re her mentor. You’re nothing else - you’re not a parent, not a relative, not even a family friend”
“But I am still someone” Kurt disagrees “. And I am someone important from her… father’s past. Both of her fathers’ past. And she looked at my face, and lied”
“Okay, let’s not overreact here, Kurt” Mercedes says, frowning lightly at him “. You have to remember Poppy is still a kid. If you do something, you can definitely get in trouble”
“Please she’s not a kid” Kurt scoffs “. She’s fourteen, and if she’s old enough to be working at Vogue, then she’s old enough to be reprimanded. And I am sure Isabelle will agree”
“Just be careful”
“I will, ‘Cedes. Can’t be wrong when one is right”
His office has always been one of his favorite spots in the city. In the whole world, really. Even when he’s been stressed, Kurt has always been able to feel comfortable there, feel at home almost. His office has felt more like home than the majority of shitty New York apartment he’s lived in. But now the air inside is heavy, and oppressive, and Kurt almost craves to get out of there. And it is all Poppy’s fault.
It’s been a few days since the dinner that revealed the whole truth to him, the truth about Poppy’s family and her nature, and he knows he has to do something about it. He’s barely seen Poppy since her return, but now she’s fully back and, what’s most important, Isabelle is not in the building, busy as she is with some meetings downtown.
He has not told her about Poppy. For some stupid reason, Isabelle seems to be sort of attached to the young girl. Kurt doesn’t know why that is, if it is because of how young the blonde teenager is, or because perhaps it reminds Isabelle of her young self; Kurt doesn’t care, not really. Isabelle will perhaps be disappointed by what happens now, but she’s going to be understanding of Kurt’s reasoning. They cannot allow behavior like the one Poppy had to go on in the workplace. Truly, Kurt is doing Isabelle and Vogue a favor by doing this.
So, taking a deep breath, he calls Poppy in, waiting for her while sitting at his desk with his hands pulled together on top of it. Poppy doesn’t take long to arrive, efficient and quick as she’s been since the first day she arrived at Vogue.Com, and Kurt has a hard time not stopping breathing at the sight of her.
Now that he… knows. Now that he knows who Poppy’s fathers are, and where she comes from, he cannot help but truly look at her, analyze her, and observe her in a way he had not done before. At least not in this way. But, it’s just -
She has Sebastian’s eyes. Now it is so obvious, so glaringly obvious, that Kurt wants to scoff at the realisation. Looking into the teenager’s eyes is almost like looking into Sebastian’s, and that is a tiny bit disturbing. For him, at least. She has Sebastian’s soft features, albeit in a feminine way, and a marked jawline that draws her face like a doll. She’s insanely pretty, that is something Kurt had been aware of even during their first meeting, but now he’s almost mad at the way she is beautiful, because now he knows where that beauty comes from. And she, she just-
She has Blaine’s smile. Even now, when it is nervous and small, hesitant in its wake, it is so much like Blaine’s it sends a very real pain through Kurt’s chest. She has the same way of walking delicately and elegantly into a room, the same way of holding herself Blaine had. Has, Kurt guesses. Her eyes crinkle the same way Blaine’s do. Holy heavens she is so much like Blaine it is definitely making him feel dizzy. How has he not been able to see it before is almost impossible to comprehend now.
She’s Blaine’s daughter.
And even worse, she’s Sebastian’s.
Poppy is looking at him with a nervous look on her face, eyebrows furrowed together and a nervous smile playing on her face. She’s dressed in a short but still very much appropriate summer dress, one that Kurt had seen in one of the last New York fashion week’s events, so he knows it costs more than what he spends in a week. He guesses he can be happy Blaine is able to provide for his daughter, give her nice things, and give her the elite life Kurt had always dreamed for himself. But he cannot help but bristle at the sight of it. Because he was supposed to live that life, too. Blaine has always had money; the Andersons are old money. Kurt had known. And their life together was supposed to benefit from that. And now he sees that Blaine has also grown his own fortune, but he’s not sharing it with Kurt. Instead, he took it and made a family with Sebastian fucking Smythe. Or, Anderson-Smythe now, Kurt guesses. And now it is his off-spring with the meerkat the one to enjoy the benefits from it all.
So. Seeing Poppy there, pretending to be innocent while looking like a living, breathing mockery of everything Kurt did not get in life, makes his insides burn with anger.
It also seems obvious Poppy has noticed something is wrong, which should not be surprising. Kurt knows the teenager is seriously smart and perceptive, so of course she’s noticed “. Mr. Hummel, everything okay?” She asks, genuinely sounding worried.
Kurt fights hard not to snort at that, and instead sits straighter in his chair and clears his throat “. You see, Poppy” he starts, not even able to make his voice any warmer than icy cold “. I just realized you have never told me your last name” at his words, he can see Poppy’s clear evergreen eyes widening ever so slightly, breath hitching a bit, but he cannot bring himself to care about that “. And actually, you don’t have to! I know already… Anderson-Smythe, isn’t it?” Poppy opens her mouth in surprise at that, voice seemingly gone and skin that much paler “. Isn’t it?!”
Poppy jumps a bit at the way his voice raises, and Kurt guesses he could be feeling guilty, but he very much does not. He’s moved on from feeling any type of guilt about this. He raises an eyebrow at her, as it pushing her to reply, and she finally gulps, and then nods.
“Yes,” she says with a tiny voice “. That is my last name”
Kurt nods at that, coldly. He feels anger bubbling inside him, the same way it had done after first finding out about Poppy’s true nature, and he forces himself to take a deep breath to not over-explode. Still. He knows he won’t get in trouble for yelling, especially if Isabelle is not there to see it or hear it.
“I saw your Instagram” he reveals, ignoring how she flinches “. Saw your pictures and your surname. I saw who your Dads are. And who your family is. Blaine and Sebastian Anderson-Smythe, huh?”
“Yes, Sir” Poppy stutters. Kurt nods at that, eyes hard and unforgiving.
“I am going to assume you are aware of who I am,” he says, and this time Poppy’s flinching is even more obvious, which in itself serves Kurt as a confirmation “. From your father I assume you know, mostly” at that, Poppy nods, now looking terrified. Kurt scoffs at that, pulling his hands apart and on top of his desk “. You know” he says “. I cannot help but feel betrayed. I trusted you, Poppy. I willingly worked next to you for weeks and weeks, and for what? For you to lie to me? To break my trust as if it is a toy?”
“Mr. Hummel” Poppy tries, voice shaky, but Kurt refuses to let her speak, and instead slams his hands on the desk and stands up, chair falling behind him and clattering to the floor.
“Shut up” he yells, making her take a step back, paling even more “. You do not speak a word. I do not give you the permission to do so. Because, for what, huh? Now you want to pretend you are so innocent, so pure? That’s funny” he laughs, ignoring how Poppy has downright started shaking “. You know what you are? You are nothing but a spoiler brat who got here only because your parents must have made a huge donation. Is that true, huh? Your Daddies decided it was time to get you out of the house, so they paid for us to be elite babysitters?”
“No, they-“
“I said shut up” Kurt cuts her off “. You just wanted to be here and play grown-up, without realizing the work behind it. Without being responsible for it. You just wanted to pretend like you were someone. You just wanted to play with me. But you know what? After realizing your fault, like hell I am letting things continue this way. You are not in the right place. You never were. Not for a second “ he says, and Poppy is shaking so much right now it is impossible to miss “. You are too young and too goddamn immature to be here. To be anywhere near me, or this building. Most of all” the fashionista adds “. I am not comfortable working with the daughter of my ex-boyfriend and that fucking meerkat. I refuse to do so. I won’t have contact with the offspring of people like them. In fact, I don’t ever want to see you. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, sir” Poppy stutters, sounding so small and helpless Kurt wants to scoff.
“You are not welcome at Vogue anymore,” he says “. At all. I don’t even want you near this street. And I want you gone now. Pick your things up and get out of my sight. And, oh” he adds, smiling menacingly “. You should feel lucky right now, Poppy. In fact, you should thank me - you should be grateful this is all that I am doing, because trust me, I would love to blacklist you from working anywhere in this industry. It is what you truly deserve. But I refuse to waste any more of my time on someone like you. So come on. Leave now”
Poppy is frozen on the spot for a long second, clearly shellshocked, but soon enough she’s struggling through a gasp and turns around in her heels, leaving Kurt’s office. It is not that long after that he sees her going into the elevator, now with her things, and only when Kurt knows she’s on her way out he lets himself rest, falling back onto his chair and letting out a shaky sigh.
God. He knows this is the right thing to do, and he knows Poppy has to learn that there are consequences to her actions. Hell, he knows that if her parents are not going to start educating her, he has to do it, to a certain degree. But it’s sucked.
Even with Rachel and Jesse’s son sort of close to him, he’s never really done this. Reprimand a child, educate him. Sonny is… something else, but he’s not a kid Kurt considers as his nephew, and he certainly doesn’t think he could ever tell him off, or exude any type of authority towards him. So this has been a first. And whilst it’s been hard, and whilst he does feel a bit bad, ultimately Kurt knows this was the right thing to do.
And if he knows Blaine and Sebastian are going to feel bad about this, then. Two birds with one stone.
Notes:
... i'm sorry.
(not really)
please do tell me what you thought of this chapter in the comments. did Kurt go a step too far? was he justified? let me know!
see you soon!
Chapter 4
Summary:
Isabelle has, very few times in her life, felt this furious.
Aka Karma is fun.
Notes:
And here I am, after having this written since June, I finally edited in August... sorry.
We can all thank Darren and Grant for their selfie, because it motivated me to finally finish editing this! Now please enjoy this last chapter!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Isabelle Wright has always loved her nephews’ townhouse. In fact, she had been the first person to see it from the family, as Sebastian and Blaine had brought her during one of their visits to the place before buying it. They had told her all of their projects, all of their dreams, all of the visions they had for their future home. She had cried with happiness when hearing all of it, when she’d seen how happy Sebastian had been next to his husband, planning a life together and a potential family. She had helped them with some of the decoration (okay, her boys had indulged her and had let her help, but she takes it for what it is deep down) and Isabelle had lost count of the number of days she’s spent in the home, visiting her kids or babysitting her grandbabies. Truly, she’s never needed an excuse to stop by, or spend the night every once in a while. Her nephews had made it clear long before that their home was a home for Isabelle as well, and she’d always felt it as so. Has always felt peace when going to what she considers her second home.
Tonight is not that.
No. She gets in, and immediately she can tell the tense atmosphere, can feel it in her bones. It goes along with what she’s been feeling ever since her nephew had called her, a few hours before. Blaine’s voice had shaken with contained anger, and he had struggled through an explanation of what had happened that same day. Needless to say, Isabelle had seen red, especially when Blaine had explained how truly distraught their sweet baby girl was; especially so when she had heard how distraught her sweet Blaine was, too. Giving him Kurt’s address had been a no-brainer, and she had breathed in with relief when he had agreed to have her come by later, once Poppy was feeling better. Isabelle knows she’s supposed to be there not only as a grandmother and source of comfort for the teenager, but also as her sort of boss, and she does not want to fail either mission.
Knowing where her family will be, she’s quick to move down the hall and leave the food in the kitchen, before she goes up two stairs to the family living room where she knows everyone will be. And, as she had expected, there her family is - Blaine has Poppy snuggled up against him, clearly still needing comfort, and Isabelle is not surprised to see she mostly seeks it from Blaine. That kid has always been a Daddy’s girl, for once, but also, Blaine has a soothing quality to him that just makes you want to be near him if you feel bad. For extra comfort, Isabelle can see she’s changed into comfier clothes, and she can see Sebastian’s old college t-shirt over her shorts. She knows the only reason she’s not wearing a Dalton sweatshirt (which no one knows who it belonged to at first at this point) only because it’s still hot outside.
The rest of the family is sprawled around, with Oliver close to his sister, and the twins practically on top of Sebastian. The husbands are close enough, hands loosely intertwined between them, and Isabelle cannot understand for the life of her how Kurt Hummel can think there is anything wrong with them.
Poppy is the one to first notice her, when she puts a strand of hair behind her ear and sees her in the corner of her vision. Her head swirls towards her, and despite her smile being smaller than what Isabelle’s used to, it is sincere “. Auntie Izzy” she cries, breaking the hold she had of her father and almost throwing herself at Isabelle. The older woman lets her do, cradles her baby closer to her and soothingly combs her finger through the teenager’s hair.
Poppy has always been a sensitive little thing. Granted, like Sebastian she was hard to shake, and knew when to put those feelings down, but she’s always felt everything deeply. And now, shaking and crying again a bit in her arms, Isabelle knows her grandbaby holds a big sadness in her. She wants to kill Kurt Hummel a bit more in that very second.
“It’s alright, my angel” she whispers, kissing the side of her head and still combing through her silky hair “. Let it out, Auntie Izzy’s here”
Poppy just hugs her tighter for a moment, before she breaks the hug and hiccups softly, looking down for a moment before she looks back at her. Her evergreen eyes shine with unshed tears, and they look so much like how Sebastian’s used to look every time Isabelle had to talk him down after a fight between his parents.
“I’m so sorry I let you down, Auntie Izzy” she murmurs, making her aunt frown.
“Hey, no, none of that” she’s quick to say, watching as Blaine gets up from the couch and, after a gentle kiss to Isabelle’s cheek, puts an arm around his daughter’s shoulders. Poppy’s reaction is immediate, turning around and burying herself into the warmth of her father’s chest, letting him draw his hand over her hair and shush her a bit more. Isabelle smiles tenderly at that, not surprised at how Blaine manages to calm his daughter down in a minute. She lets him keep Poppy, seeing how she clearly just needs Blaine, but does hold her face for a moment “. I will never think you’ve let me down, Poppy Marie” she says, soft but firm “. Now, I brought dinner I don’t want to go cold. So, we’re all going downstairs to eat, and after dinner we will talk, alright? But you’re not in trouble, and you have not failed me in any way. Understood, angel?”
“Understood, Auntie Izzy” Poppy nods, the smile on her face a bit bigger and a bit more true.
“Alright” Blaine nods, kissing her temple before looking at Sebastian pointedly. His husband is moving in a second, and even when they’ve been together for more than two decades (and she’s been close to them for just as long), Isabelle is still marveled by how they can communicate between them with literally no words “. C’mon, we’ll help Auntie Izzy with the table, alright? Dad has the twins and Oli, so let’s go to clean our hands and get dinner ready”
Poppy nods, very much finding comfort in having something to do (like Isabelle knows Blaine does), and she’s the first one to leave for the kitchen. Blaine dutifully follows after her, stopping for a second in his husband’s office to retrieve the Dalton sweatshirt and giving it to Poppy once they’re downstairs. She takes it with a smile and takes that as confirmation they’re eating out in the patio, and again Isabelle marvels at how easy this family flows together.
And she knows that, factually, Kurt does not know this. He’s never seen her family, she doesn’t know how much Sebastian and Blaine were made to be together. He doesn’t know how amazing those two are as partners, as husbands, as Dads. But still. A look at Poppy and one can deduce so. And hell - a look at Poppy and you know there is no reason to treat a kid like that. No matter if they’re old enough to do an internship.
Shaking her head, Isabelle decides to not think about that. Poppy needs her to be a rock, not to be lost in her own head. So, she moves, and helps her nephew and grandbaby plate their dinner, and helps them set the table outside. The weather in New York is warm enough still they can do it, although wearing a sweatshirt is not that crazy, as it is starting to be cold at night.
Sebastian and the rest of the kids appear soon, and the lawyer gives his husband his sweatshirt from Columbia, knowing the musician usually runs cold, like Poppy. The shorter of the two thanks him with a sweet and soft kiss, and Isabelle cannot help but sigh in contentment, and slowly start to plot how she’s going to kill one of her oldest employees.
All in all, they have a good dinner. They let the twins take control, let themselves soak in their joy and enthusiasm for everything, their wild stories slowly warming them up from their insides. Isabelle sees Poppy starting to smile more, and laugh a bit, and she can see her Dads looking at each other with relief at that.
However, once dinner is done it is time for them to get serious. So, the husbands look at each other, and then at their eldest son “. Oliver” Blaine starts, smiling gently at his kid “. Can you take the twins to the playroom? Dad and I will be there soon to put them to bed, but we need to talk with Izzy and Koko first”
“Can’t I stay?” Oliver tries, clearly still worried about his sister “. I promise I’ll behave”
“No, Moo, not right now” Sebastian intervenes, backing his husband “. Listen to your Dad, alright? Poppy can tell you later, but for now we need you to take care of your siblings while we talk with your Auntie”
“Fine” Oliver sighs “. But if you need me, please come get me”
“Promise, kiddo” Blaine smiles, urging Oliver to leave. The pre-teen is quick to gather his siblings and usher them upstairs to their playroom, where they won’t hear the conversation about to be had. Isabelle smiles at Poppy, who now looks that much nervous, and gently grabs her hand.
“Sweet angel, tell me what happened” she pleas, and Poppy takes a moment, looking at her parents and getting nods of encouragement before she looks back at her godmother, nodding. She then proceeds to explain to her everything that had happened with Kurt that day, and Isabelle has to make a physical effort not to leave the table and go in search of him, wanting to unleash her rage on him the same way she knows her nephew has done. Only the knowledge that her grandbaby needs her to stay keeps her in place, but barely.
Blaine takes over after Poppy is done, telling her how his visit to Kurt had gone down and, to be honest, there have been few times where she’s been prouder or happier for her nephew. Granted, his wedding day and the days his kids were born are in a league of their own, but this scores pretty high, too. And she loves to see Blaine defending his family with so much passion - from the looks of it, Sebastian clearly also enjoys it.
“Bas and I talked, and then we talked with Poppy” the musician says, closing on his story. Isabelle won’t be surprised if Bas and I talked is more like non-speaking gestures between them, but she knows that, for her nephews, that is talking “, and we kind of thought of a solution”
“We don’t want Kurt determining if Poppy can stay at Vogue, as if he’s the boss of it all” Sebastian intervenes “. And B and I remembered your offer the other day, as well as what you told us at the beginning of the Summer”
“In fact, we had been talking about it before Poppy came home. We were thinking on letting her continue the internship, adapted to her school year now, but we thought she could be under the potential mentor that was in Europe this Summer”
“Oh my, Alba” Isabelle exclaims, smile lighting up her face “. You guys had an amazing idea! Even without all of this mess, Alba is the right one for Poppy, I think. Do you want information on her? Maybe it helps Poppy decide, if she has not done it now. Have you, baby?”
“Kind of” Poppy shrugs “. I don’t want to just give up. And deep down, I don’t want to let Mr.Hummel win, so… Daddy suggested I could try it out for a few weeks. See if it works”
“A probationary period” Isabelle nods “. Sounds good. We can see if you work well with Alba, and if it is okay with you two in the office. But, Poppy, listen to me now… if I ever have to choose between you and Kurt, you have to know, I’d choose you. I’d rather have you working at Vogue.com”
“Auntie, you can’t do that” Poppy softly protests “. Kurt has been working for you for longer than I’ve been alive, I don’t want you losing him because of me”
“That’s where you’d be wrong, sweetheart” Isabelle softly disagrees “. If I ever have to take matters into account regarding this, then I’d be losing an employee because of him. Regardless of our personal relationship, the way he treated you and spoke to you is unacceptable, and something I refuse to let happen in my workspace. Even more so when it is a workspace under my supervision. Alright?”
It takes Poppy a minute to nod, mostly encouraged by her parents, but finally she does it “. Alright” she finally agrees. And then, after a beat “. Is Alba nice?”
“Really nice” Isabelle nods, smiling softly at her grandbaby “. She’s thirty right now, and from Spain. She moved here for college, met her husband and just decided to stay, which I’m happy about if I’m honest. I sent her to Europe for the Summer so she could be with her family, but also because she’s one of the most brilliant minds I’ve had working for me. And she’s kind, and open, and loves to have interns to teach. She herself started as an intern. I can send you a document with more information, if you want”
“Okay” Poppy nods, now her smile back on being real, which is definitely a reliever.
“And hey, if it does not work out and you decide you cannot continue to work there, that is also fine” Isabelle reassures her “. I won’t be disappointed in you, like I’m sure your Dads won’t, either”
“Of course we won’t be disappointed” Blaine is quick to say, putting an arm around his daughter’s shoulder “. Honey, we’ll always be proud of you”
“And we want you to continue only if it is what you truly want” Sebastian adds “. Never do it for us, Koko. Okay?”
“Okay” she nods. Isabelle nods as well, approving of everyone’s words, and gives herself a minute to breathe in before she forces herself to ask the pending question.
“I need to know what you believe I could, or should, do with Kurt” she says, looking at her nephews “. Because I understand you had it handled, Blaine, but I need to do something about it, too. I cannot simply let him get by after doing something like this”
Sebastian and Blaine look hesitant at her words, exchanging a look above their daughter’s head, and Poppy worries her bottom lip, back to looking worried “. I don’t want any more trouble, Auntie Izzy” the poor thing says “. I don’t want more drama, or to be the centre of bad attention at the office”
“Baby, you wouldn’t be” Isabelle gently tells her “. But I told you - I can’t let Kurt speak to someone like that. Even if it was not you, I cannot let it happen. I’m the boss, I literally cannot do that”
“Then what will you do?” Sebastian asks, putting an arm behind his husband’s chair “. Will you fire him?”
“If it gets bad, yes” Isabelle nods “. After Blaine’s words, however, I’m pretty sure he will behave. I know his goal is to keep growing at Vogue, and this has put it in jeopardy. So hopefully he can learn to behave after I give him a serious warning. I will make sure this is not okay to do”
“Sounds good” Sebastian nods “. Also - Blaine and I would be more comfortable if his interactions with our daughter were kept to a minimum. We understand sometimes they will have to interact, and Poppy will be as professional as ever, but we don’t want them interacting more than necessary”
“Of course” Isabelle nods “. We’ll make sure he keeps his distance. Is that okay with you, Koko?” She asks, sweetly. Poppy nods, now finally looking relaxed, and lets herself lean against her father’s body, Blaine dropping a kiss on the top of her head absently “. Is everyone okay with it?”
“As okay as we can be” the musician sighs, resting his cheek on his daughter’s head “. Thank you, Izzy”
“That’s what family is for, sweetheart”
Isabelle leaves no too long after that, as it is getting late and Oliver has been taking care of the twins for long enough it is now dangerously close to the youngest children’s bedtime. Sebastian and Blaine decide to deep clean once every kid is down for the night, but as they bring some leftover food that cannot be left in the open for too long inside, Poppy follows them, resting against the countertop. The husbands exchange a glance as they put the leftover food away, knowing their daughter enough to give her a minute, and soon enough Poppy is sighing deeply, playing with the long sleeves of her sweatshirt. Blaine thinks it might’ve been Sebastian’s, as it hangs big even in his frame (it almost engulfs his daughter), but then again he’d had gone through an oversized phase in high school that had very much been influenced by his boyfriend and his penchant on stealing Blaine’s hoodies, so. It could also be his.
Honestly, after nearly twenty-five years, a marriage, four kids, and a mortgage, Blaine guesses it doesn’t really matter. It’s theirs.
“I feel bad this whole thing is causing so much trouble” Poppy says, breaking the silence just as Daisy hops on the counter. Blaine thinks Max might be with the twins, as he had trailed after Oliver once he’d gone up with his siblings, so he half-hopes he’s not being drowned in bows again. He sees as his daughter picks the cat up, softly petting her and making Daisy be in heaven, really “. It feels like this is all my fault”
“It’s not, Koko” Sebastian says, voice firm but kind. Blaine cannot help but feel a bit guilty about his daughter’s mindset. He knows the tendency to blame herself for everything comes partially from him, for all the times he’s lamented in a similar way. Sebastian has told him over and over Poppy and he just have hearts that are too big for their chests, but it does not take away how bad he feels from time to time. Still - he can’t do it now. And he can’t let his daughter feel this way.
“Pops, you heard your godmother” he says, putting on a similar voice as his husband “. This is something Kurt did to himself, not you. You are not to blame here, alright?”
“And Daddy and I understand why you are feeling upset about this” Sebastian adds “. Because, just like your Dad, you have a heart that is so big it might just come out of your ears”
“Ew, Dad” Poppy giggles, eyes shining a bit.
“I’m right with that one” Sebastian shrugs “. But honey, this is in no way your fault”
“Your father is right” Blaine nods, leaving the food in the fridge and getting closer to the teenager “. First of all, keeping your last name private was not your choice, but ours. As in, your father and mine’s. And Izzy's. We were the ones to decide to keep it under wraps and as a secret. You went along with it because you are a good kid, and because you listen to your parents. And no one can fault you for that”
“Second of all” Sebastian says, coming closer to them as well “. If Hummel had a problem with you and your actions, he simply should have not acted this way. Not with a minor, regardless of who they are, and not in this way. In this case, he should’ve called the minor’s parents. Us”
“I don’t think he wanted to talk to either of you” she murmurs, petting Daisy still. The purring of the cat is almost louder than her voice.
“It doesn’t matter if he wanted or not” Sebastian argues “. Do you want me to be factual here?”
“Oh, you’ve made him go into lawyer mode” Blaine winces, making the blonde teenager laugh.
“Teenager is fourteen years of age, which makes her underage” Sebastian says, ignoring the amused looks he gets from his two loves “. The minor is there under a permission form signed by her parents, who give consent for her to be there. However, in said consent it is stipulated that, if any issue were to arise, it should be brought up with the minor’s legal guardians. In this case, her parents. Never with her, as she is still a minor. I know the permission slip by fucking heart. Kurt was in the wrong”
“One dollar in the swear jar” Blaine says, making his husband scoff and their daughter laugh “. But also, Dad’s right, Pops. The permission is not legally binding, so it’s not like we can sue. Not like we could want to, I’m sure we all want to move on fast from this” he adds, and the two evergreen-eyed nod at his words fast “. It serves as proof of his wrong-doings though. No matter what he believes, truth is that you’re still a minor, and very much under our guardianship. If there are any serious issues, Kurt should have talked with Izzy first, and then he should have had a meeting with us”
“He only didn’t do it because he’s bitter, by the way”
“Not helping, Love” Blaine murmurs to him, getting a wink back from Sebastian “. Poppy, look” he sighs, looking back at his daughter “. I’m going to tell you something, alright? Remember when I told you Dad and I’s Junior Year was a mess?”
“Yes?”
“One of the things that happened was that Kurt sort of cheated on me during it” he reveals, to Poppy’s surprise. Her jaw opens comically wide, and she only closes her mouth when Daisy tries to put her paw in it “. It was not physical cheating, but emotional cheating”
“Which is almost worse, in my opinion” Sebastian adds, moving so he can heat some water for them to drink some tea. If Blaine sees he picks the one he usually chooses when he needs to feel grounded, he doesn’t say.
“Kurt said I had done the same with your father, when we had first started talking at the beginning of the year” Blaine resumes to say. Poppy still looks surprised, but also like she’s listening “. I had not done so, as my texts with your Dad had never been anything but innocent. I had let him known I had a boyfriend, and Sebastian had respected that, mostly”
“Excuse me, Love. Mostly?”
“You still flirted, Darling, I cannot deny that”
“Fair”
“Thing is… I was extremely hurt by it. It was one of the final nails in the coffin for Kurt and I” he tells his daughter “. And, granted, I’ve moved on. I hadn’t thought about this in decades, really. It doesn’t affect me anymore. But even if it did, and in a very hypothetical situation I had the child of that guy and Kurt working for me at the record label as an intern… Poppy, I would never treat a child like this. I don’t care if they’re fourteen and old enough to do what you do. I would never do it, regardless of who their parents would be. Instead, I would have a meeting with their parents to discuss the matter, or issue, or whatever it was. But I would never do what Kurt’s done”
“Honey, Daddy’s making a great point here” Sebastian says, bringing two mugs from their cabinet, as Poppy never drinks tea that late “. It’s better if you put it all in perspective. You see it?”
“Sort of, yeah” Poppy nods.
“Kurt deserves to be warned and punished for this, Koko” the taller of the three insists “. And you don’t have to feel awful, alright? You were not the one creating any issues”
Poppy takes a moment to think her fathers’ words, but neither mind. They know she works best this way, so instead Sebastian pours the hot water into their mugs and puts the tea bags in, choosing Blaine’s favorite for his own. For when they’re almost done, the teenager has let the cat go and is hugging them tight.
“You guys are right” she says once the hug is broken “. Thank you for helping me see it. And thank you for all that you’ve done today”
“Hey, it’s our job” Sebastian shrugs, smiling sweetly at his kid. Poppy smiles back, nodding.
“And you know if you need anything, we’re here” Blaine adds.
“I know” Poppy nods, smiling even brighter “. I’m going to get ready for bed, alright? It’s been a long day, and I am exhausted”
“Of course, Baby. Goodnight” Blaine nods, hugging Poppy one more time and letting Sebastian do the same. Poppy leaves after a moment, smiling sweetly at them, and the husbands decide to let the tea cool off for a moment whilst they take care of the other kids.
Oliver is quick to leave once they reach the room, no doubt going to get ready for bed first and going to interrogate his sister second. Blaine and Sebastian let him do, hugging him goodnight and pretending they don’t know exactly what he’s planning to do.
Instead, they go straight for their youngest kids, who look ready to drop “. Alright Mavi, up we go” Sebastian says, picking Grace up. Blaine looks at them with a sweet smile on his face, watching as Everett rubs his eyes cutely and tiredly.
“C’mon Ev, time we go to sleep” he says, picking the youngest Anderson-Smythe up”. You had a big day, huh little love?”
“I played a lot” Everett nods, resting his head on Blaine’s shoulder and cutely rubbing his face on it “. And I loved watching movies together”
“That was fun” Blaine nods, kissing his son’s soft locks “. Tomorrow we can maybe go to the park”
“I want to” Everett nods “. Daddy, will Koko come?”
“I’m sure if you ask her she will, Ev” Blaine replies, kissing his head again. Poppy is taking a break from her internship, at least until they can fix the mess and arrange her new mentorship with Alba. Everett hums at that, in the same soft way Sebastian does when he’s really tired, and Blaine tries really hard not to melt with affection. He brings his son to his room and tucks him in, thankful that his oldest son had changed his siblings into their pajamas and had made them brush their teeth. It makes bedtime much easier, and Everett is so tired from the day that he’s asleep before his head hits the pillow.
Once he tucks him in and kisses his head, softly petting his hair back, he leaves the room, leaving the nightlight on. He checks on Grace next, and the girl is already asleep, looking like a sweet angel. He kisses her head, too, and smiles at Sebastian when he crosses him to go to check on Everett himself. Blaine is quick to check on his oldest as well, wishing them good night (although they are allowed to stay up for a bit longer - Blaine suspects with how charged of everything the day has been, they will crash soon anyway), and once he’s done he goes back down, cleaning up dinner while sipping his tea.
Sebastian joins him after a while, kissing his cheek and then his lips before he helps Blaine clean up their dinner. The quiet of the night is a welcome thing, especially after the long day they’ve had, and Blaine breathes in, drinking in the peace his husband’s presence always brings him. Sebastian lets him do it in peace, surely wanting to decompress after their long day as well, and does not say anything until they’re in their bedroom, already changed for the night.
“So” Sebastian says, breaking the comfortable silence “. I know you, Love. Better than anyone”
“Hmm, I’m sure that was part of your vows” Blaine nods, getting Sebastian to snort softly “. You say this… what for, Baby?”
“Because I know you kept a lot of what happened with Kurt from Isabelle and our baby girl” Sebastian says, raising an eyebrow towards Blaine “. Am I wrong?”
Blaine smiles amusedly at that, watching as Sebastian sits down on their bed. After making sure their door is locked, he turns the light off, only leaving the ones on their nightstands, and sits on his husband’s lap, hands settling comfortable on the back of Sebastian’s neck, softly playing with his hair.
“You indeed know me more than anyone” he nods, leaning down to kiss his husband softly.
“So tell me” Sebastian says over his lips, softly biting his bottom one “. C’mon, you know you want to”
“Mayhap” Blaine nods “. Okay, so… I go inside, right? Madder than I’ve been in my entire fucking life, because no one is messing with any of our babies”
“Damn right, Killer”
“And I get inside, and the McKinley gang is there”
“No way”
“Uh-huh, yes. Not like it surprised me, but there they were. And then…”
Sebastian listens raptly, eyes focusing on his husband and smile slowly growing in amusement. By the time Blaine is telling him how he had revealed Isabelle is their Aunt, he’s full-on giggling, and for when he’s done he’s laughing out loud, throwing himself back on their bed and dragging Blaine down with him. The musician yelps in surprise, but lets his husband do, the taller’s laughter music to his ears.
“Oh my God, Killer, I love you so fucking much” he says in burst of laughter, making the shorter of the two roll his eyes at him. Still, Blaine lets him do, even if Sebastian is more or less laughing for ten minutes, tears falling from his eyes by the end of it.
“You are ridiculous” Blaine says, petting his husband’s chest gently. Can he understand him? 100%. But Sebastian is still ridiculous.
“Oh, I would’ve paid to be there, baby” Sebastian says, cleaning the tears from his eyes “. Like, good fucking money”
“Oh, Kurt would’ve lost it” Blaine laughs, not even pretending to feel bad by saying it “. He would’ve had a heart attack, or an aneurysm, had you been there”
“Oh, totally” Sebastian nods, laugh finally subsiding. Instead, he smiles tenderly at his husband, and closes the distance to kiss his lips lovingly “. Thank you” he whispers over his lips, to Blaine’s curious hum “. For protecting our family the way you do. I’m very proud of you for defending our oldest daughter”
Blaine smiles tenderly at him then, eyes shinning more than two stars and reverent fingers tracing his husband’s face “. You know I’d do anything for any of you”
“I know” Sebastian nods “. And you know it goes both ways. Marriage, and all that” he adds, getting a playful tickle to his neck “. Also… Kurt had it coming from a mile away. Not only because of today, but also because of all the shit he’s been telling Poppy”
“Oh, fully” Blaine nods, accommodating himself so he’s comfortable hovering on top of his husband “. I had been wanting to tell him my peace ever since Poppy told me about their little talk… it felt good to do so”
“I can only imagine” Sebastian nods “. You did good, Love”
“I hope so” Blaine sighs “. Honestly, I’m a bit afraid I messed up, or that I upset Pops. Or made things harder for her”
“Baby, no” Sebastian is quick to reply, shaking his head to emphasize his words “. You were looking out for our daughter, B. Just like we told her, nothing you that happened is your doing. This is all Kurt’s choice, and the consequences of his actions”
“Yeah” Blaine sighs “. You’re right” he nods, leaning down to kiss his husband’s lips tenderly.
“I am” Sebastian nods as well “. Look - we could’ve told Hummel about Poppy being our kid. Okay, sure. We could’ve told him about Izzy. Fine. We had literally no obligation, especially when Izzy agreed with us it was a good idea to keep it between us all. However. However, Love - we did not tell him because we were afraid he’d react badly to the news, and he’d treat Poppy poorly. If he even agreed to be her mentor, that is”
“Right”
“And it is exactly what he’s done, B. He reacted like shit and then treated our kid as badly as he could manage. So, honestly, I think we were okay acting as we did. He just proved we were right to be cautious”
“Yeah” Blaine sighs “. I think you’re right, Love”
“Why, of course I am”
Blaine lets out a laugh at that, leaning down for another kiss “. My my, don’t let my words go straight to your head” he says, making the lawyer of the two laugh”. But… thank you for your words”
“No need to thank me, Baby”
“I know” Blaine smiles “. But I wanted to tell you… we make a great team”
Sebastian beams at that, bringing Blaine closer to him to kiss him deeply “. We make a perfect team, my sweet B” he whispers over his lips “. We’ve been so for more than two decades, and we’ll be so for the rest of our lives”
“Hmm” Blaine nods, purring happily when Sebastian moves to kiss his neck “. I locked the door” he whispers.
“And I want to show you how much I appreciate you defending our daughter and our family” Sebastian whispers back “. So… just let me”
And Blaine does.
There have been very few times when Kurt Hummel has been more stressed. In fact, he cannot really think of a moment - save the terrifying time when he thought his father's cancer treatment hadn’t worked, perhaps, or his father’s stay at the hospital after his heart attack. But, really, that’s it. This is a whole new thing, this - almost feels like his life, his career, is at risk. He’s barely been able to sleep, eat, or drink, after Blaine’s visit to his apartment.
Because he had known where Kurt lived because of Isabelle. Because she had told him. Because Isabelle is Blaine’s Aunt. At least, in law. And she is Poppy’s… grandmother, Kurt guesses. Or Great Aunt, or Godmother - hell, Kurt is confused about that one. The only thing he does know is that he’s very much fucked. Blaine was furious with him, and he had told him Isabelle was as well, and Kurt… probably should have listened to his friends. God, they had all drilled into him the day before, had gotten mad after learning how he had treated Poppy. He had barely managed to calm them down, it’s… been a mess. And a mess that is, quite possibly, growing larger now.
He gets into the office and ignores the looks he’s getting from people there, clearly remembering what had happened the day before, and instead just hides in his office until Isabelle calls for him a couple of hours in, voice stern and hard. He forces himself to go, legs shaking, and firmly chooses not to think about how he must look a bit like Poppy had looked the day before.
Isabelle is sitting behind her desk in another mirror of what had happened in Kurt’s office the day before. The way she looks at him has the blue-eyed man trying hard not to start shaking “. You called me, Isabelle?” He asks, trying hard to pretend his voice is not trembling. At his boss’s gesture, he closes the door behind him once he’s fully in the room.
“I did” she nods, smiling in such a fake way Kurt struggles not to grimace at that “. I just wanted to see if you wanted to tell me what happened yesterday” she says, faking a calm demeanor that, once again, Kurt knows he had done the day before as well “. Actually, scratch that” she says before he can answer “. I can tell you myself!”
“Isabelle-“
“You” she says, ignoring his interruption “yelled at your intern. So loud people outside of your office heard you, and so harsh that the poor girl left the office in tears. You told her she’s not welcomed back here, without talking to me first, and you insulted her and verbally abused her. A fourteen-year-old, Kurt. You treated her as an equal, as an adult, and you decided to destroy her emotionally. So. Don’t tell me. I know you yelled at a fourteen-year-old like a deranged person, and I know you acted completely inappropriately”
“I-“
“And, to top it all off, you did all of that to my fourteen-year-old. To my granddaughter”
“I didn’t know” Kurt weakly argues.
“I don’t give a crap that you didn’t know she’s my family, Kurt. You still did it”
“I was acting accordingly” Kurt argues further “. Poppy kept something big from me. Something huge. I felt betrayed, Isabelle, I-“
“Your feelings, Kurt, are not Poppy’s responsibility,” Isabelle says, interrupting her employee once more “. You are a grown man”
“But-“
“Besides, Poppy kept her last name from you because I, as well as her parents, decided she was going to. Because we asked her to keep it private, and to keep it from you. And Poppy was being a good daughter by listening to her parents’ words. If anything, Kurt, Poppy owes the truth to her Dads. Never to you”
“It still was not a good call” Kurt argues. Isabelle purses her lips together for a moment, before standing up from her table.
“I have to admit, I did not understand my nephews at first with their request. Not one hundred percent” she admits, crossing her arms across her chest and standing up from her desk, getting closer to Kurt “. Of course, I agreed immediately because we were talking about their daughter, not mine. Whatever they said or say, goes. No discussion. Because I know they will always act with their baby’s best intentions in mind”
“But you saw how insane it was”
“No” Isabelle replies, harsher than before “. I did not understand completely at first. I respected their choice still, and thought I’d just give myself time to understand, or to convince my sweet nephews they were just being a bit paranoid about their baby girl. And now? Now I can see my boys were more than right to keep Poppy’s last name private”
“No, they weren’t” Kurt argues “. Things would have been different had I known from the beginning, Isabelle”
“You know as well as I do that is a lie, Kurt. You would have refused to be Poppy’s mentor… hell, you barely wanted to be so in the first place, it’s almost a miracle you agreed. So don’t even try. And you know what? It doesn’t even matter. What happened, happened, Kurt. And the way you behaved was simply unacceptable”
“I had no other choice” Kurt tries to argue again, but that only seems to anger Isabelle.
“Yes you did, Kurt! Instead of yelling at her like a Neanderthal, you speak to me first. Bring the issue up with me, because no matter if Poppy is my grandbaby, she’s also someone working for me. My responsibility. And then we would have had a talk where I would have explained everything to you, and how I had allowed it all to happen, how I was okay with it happening. That’s what you should’ve done”
“But-“
“And then, if you wanted to, then we would have talked with Blaine and Sebastian about it all. Calmly. Something I know they would’ve been open to, as the adults they are. But not just talk to Poppy about it, and do it like that - yelling instead of letting her explain”
“I did not find a need to let her explain anything”
“It was not a choice to make, Kurt. Just like you also did not have the authority, nor power, to fire Poppy or tell her she can’t be at Vogue anymore. If anything, that would be my decision. Never yours. Also, now that we’re on it, let me tell you - Poppy is not going to stop working at Vogue”
“But I don’t-“
“I am not even going to let you do it. It has not even crossed my mind for a second” Isabelle interrupts him “. She is going to have another mentor, Alba. But she’ll be here still. I know my nephew told you about it yesterday”
“Thought he was bluffing” Kurt murmurs, crossing his arms across his chest.
“Blaine is not the one to do so” Isabelle immediately argues “. He was telling the truth, and something I had already approved of. In fact, it was me the one to propose the idea to my nephews. Poppy will continue here once Summer ends, as sort of an extracurricular. I went to the Anderson-Smythe home yesterday, talked to all of them extensively” she reveals, finding a dark pleasure in how Kurt winces at that “. And I talked to my granddaughter. She wants to continue at Vogue, and because it is something she wants, her parents are approving of so and letting her do it”
“And I don’t have a say in this?” Kurt asks weakly “. Doesn’t matter if I’m uncomfortable with it?”
“You were the one making it uncomfortable, Kurt. And you are completely out of this decision. You were yesterday, you are now”
“I won’t be comfortable with her here” Kurt insists, to Isabelle’s scoff.
“I don’t care, Kurt. You are a grown man, and Poppy has never made a thing to make you feel uncomfortable, other than being her Dads’ daughter. She’s always behaved appropriately and she’s always been a delight to be around. So she’ll be here. And she’ll work with someone else, and you don’t have to interact. It’s better for all of us this way. And if, even then, you feel uncomfortable, then it will be your doing, Kurt. I know for sure Poppy will not actively make you feel uncomfortable. That girl does not have a mean bone in her body”
“But-“
“That being said” the businesswoman continues “. If I ever hear about you being the one making Poppy uncomfortable… there will be hell to pay, Kurt. And that is a promise”
“Because she’s your family?”
“Yes” Isabelle is easy to admit “. I’ve been more than generous not to fire you, Kurt. And trust me, I have wanted to. More than you know. It is because Poppy didn’t want to make this a big deal that I am not doing so, because she’s kind, and sweet, and way too good for this world. And I am respecting her wishes. Because, despite your actions, you are a good professional”
“Thank you” Kurt murmurs, taking the victory where he can.
“But I do have my limits, and my patience can become non-existent, Kurt. Easier than before, too. So, please know that if something like this ever happens again, if you do something like this to Poppy one more time, I won’t hesitate to fire you. Understood?” She asks, and Kurt wants to scoff, to protest, to tell Isabelle this isn’t fucking fair. Instead, she frowns at him and elevates her voice “. Kurt. Understood?”
“Yes” Kurt finally says “. Understood”
“Good” Isabelle nods “. You can leave, I am still extremely mad at you and I don’t want to see your face “. Kurt nods at that, stopping himself from scoffing and turning to leave. A few steps from the door, she stops him “. Kurt, one more thing” she says, making him turn “, I don’t understand what happened between you, and Blaine and Sebastian” she says “. And I don’t really care to know. But I know my nephews, and I know how good they are. They are good men. Good people. So… maybe you should let the past go, and learn not to be bitter about it still. It’s been more than two decades” she finishes, smiling in a way that now terrifyingly reminds Kurt of Sebastian. How he has never seen it, he cannot understand now “. That is all. You can return to work”
“It was humiliating. And so, so unnecessary, my God”
“I don’t think it was completely unnecessary, Kurt” Rachel disagrees, sipping more of her wine “. I mean, you yelled at Poppy. And we told you it was a bad idea to do so”
“I had my reasons” Kurt argues, crossing his arms across his chest. The rest of his friends scoff at him, sitting in a circle in the park, in the middle of one of those stupid picnics Rachel has always forced them to do “. And that’s not even the worse part. No, the worst part was when I actually had to see them”
“You saw them?” Santana asks, frowning “. When? Weren’t you supposed to stay away from Poppy?”
“I did” he argues “. I am away. Trust me, I do everything to keep myself away”
“Then?” The Latina woman insists, a bit annoyed by Kurt’s dramatics. He simply sighs, annoying her further, and slips slowly from his beverage before answering, drinking in the power he feels at knowing everyone’s attention is on him.
“We had a showroom happening. Kind of an exhibition of everything that was done during the Summer… Isabelle started doing it at the end of the quarter like, four or five years ago”
“Okay” Mercedes nods “. And this is opened to whom?”
“All employees, as well as their families and any plus ones they might want to invite, within the limits” Kurt says, sighing once more after his words “. So, of course, Poppy had to invite her entire family”
“One, stop talking to her as if you’re a couple of nemesis now” Santana points out “. She is fourteen, we are tired of reminding you”
“And second” Rachel continues “. Of course she invited her family, Kurt. This is the first big thing in her life in this sense… it’d be weirder if she didn’t”
“Exactly” Santana agrees.
“Yes, but the whole family?” Kurt insists “. Even the small kids that we saw in the pics?”
“They’re the kid’s siblings” Jesse intervenes, shrugging one shoulder “. If they are well-behaved, why not? We bring Sonny to a lot of events”
“And he loves it” Rachel adds “. It’s good to get kids used to being in those environments without making them act too grown, you know. This is a way to do it”
“Don’t have kids, but agree with that, surprisingly” Santana says “. Sonny can be an eccentric little man, but he is a cool eccentric little man”
“And very well behaved” Mercedes points out, getting nods from everyone (sans Kurt). The proud looks on Rachel and Jesse’s faces make everyone laugh at them.
“Also, not the point” Artie intervenes “. The point is: Poppy was right to invite her family to the exhibition, or showcase, or whatever it was”
“And” Brittany adds “. I think you have to remember they also are your Boss’s family. I’m sure she was happy they were there, too”
“Yeah, she sure was” Kurt scoffed “. The minute they arrived she plastered herself at their side. I’m pretty sure she gave the kids their weight in sugar during the night”
“Well, that must’ve been fun for Sebastian and Blaine” Jesse snorts.
“I definitely do not admire their bedtime routine” Rachel agrees with her husband, both sharing a wicked smile.
“The juicy question here is: did you interact with them?”
Kurt frowns lightly at that, looking down at his lap for a moment. If he knows one thing is that he is not about to be honest with his friends. He can’t tell them watching Blaine and Sebastian, and the family they had created, had made his stomach churn uncomfortably. He had felt an oppression in his chest, a knot in his throat, and the immense need of puking.
He doesn’t even know if it was jealousy. He had never wanted the life Blaine had with the meerkat and his family. The kids (way too many for Kurt), the playfulness, the banter, the blatant flirting in a public space. Those were things Kurt didn’t know if he could ever want, is more sure that is something he wouldn’t.
But Blaine clearly does, that’s for sure. Kurt had never seen his hazel eyes sparkle as much as they did the night before, even when he was aware of Kurt’s close presence and thus, a bit on the defensive, looking out for his oldest daughter. Even then, he had been the walking picture of happiness. He was glowing. Worst part is though - Sebastian was glowing equally as much. They were making the perfect couple image in a way that was turning multiple heads, and part of Kurt’s bad feelings had steamed from that.
So. Was he jealous? Is he now?
He’s always wanted the lifestyle Blaine could’ve given him from the get go. That he knows. And he’s wanted, more recently especially, the type of attention Blaine had given him; unconditional, devoted, blind. He’d dreamed of having someone that was devoted to him, in all the ways he thought he couldn’t get as a kid. Blaine has, so far, been the only one to come close to that.
He’d actually done it. And then Kurt broke up with him.
And he’d been sure back then. So sure. He’d thought Blaine was going to miss him, crawl back to him the second Sebastian screwed him over. But then Sebastian hadn’t screwed him over, and… twenty-five years had gone by, and he still hadn’t. They were together. They were happy.
Kurt is, in a certain way, still waiting.
But for what? He’s as sure as ever he was waiting on a fantasy. And maybe seeing the family Blaine has built for himself is the kind of wake up call he’d needed, but… the Blaine he was idolizing is not real. Maybe he was, once upon a time. When he was sixteen, and when he didn’t know better, and when his whole world was Kurt and their relationship. But now? Now he’s a music producer. A businessman. Now he’s a husband. Now he’s a father.
And he is those things because he’d wanted to be those things. To get married to Sebastian, to have four children, to have all the chaos and playfulness that comes with it… that Blaine. That is one Kurt has never gotten to know.
And deep down he knows a part of him will always wish things had been different. He knows he’ll never be happy about the fact that Blaine and Sebastian ended up together, with a beautiful family of their own. He’s not happy, and he doesn’t want to be happy about it. And seeing them…
“We kept our distance” Kurt ends up replying. A part of him had been tempted to get closer, to get one snark in, but he had seen Sebastian pulling Blaine closer for a kiss, and then Isabelle going up to them with the kids. And the look his Boss had sent him had delivered the message perfectly: do not even think about it. One more strike and you’re done “. We didn’t need to talk”
“Yeah, I can’t imagine they’d be happy to see you” Brittany shrugs “. Not after you yelled at their daughter”
“Blaine already yelled at Kurt for that though” Artie points out “. No need to dwell on it”
“Yeah, well, if someone treated Sonny like that I would hold a grudge for the rest of my life” Jesse shrugs.
“I would sabotage you without a second care” Rachel confirms, getting a pleased hum from her husband and a sweet kiss on the side of her head.
“Well, they fully ignored me” Kurt snaps, a frown ever-present on his face “. And I ignored him. I just spent the whole night avoiding them, and even Isabelle”
“You did kind of make your bed on that one, Hummel” Santana points out “. So don’t go complaining”
“But-“
“Every single one of us told you to be mindful of Poppy being fourteen” Santana interrupts him, not letting him try to defend himself “. Everyone reminded you she is still a kid and not to take it out on her. But no… you had your pride hurt, so you had to act out. Now you just gotta accept the consequences”
Kurt scoffs at that, but he finds himself unable to argue against that, as much as he can hate it. Mercedes intervenes then, seeing the tension slowly but steadily rising, and rests a friendly hand on the fashionista’s knee “. Have things worsened since the incident for you to be avoiding Isabelle as well?”
“Not necessarily” Kurt shrugs, choosing to look at his old friend instead of Santana “. They are not bad, it’s just… I know she’s pissed at me still. But. Poppy spends her time with Alba, her new mentor, I don’t deal with her for anything anymore… it seems like she’s doing okay. And I am keeping my distance, even from asking for details to someone. I know they won’t tell me, anyway. What happened is now pretty well known in the office”
“You miss her” Rachel says then, some pity in her voice Kurt immediately loathes “. Don’t you?”
“Rachel, please” Kurt scoffs “. Me? When have I missed anyone?”
“You missed Blaine pretty hard until now” Brittany shrugs, making Artie hide a snort next to her.
“I’d argue he still does”
“Shut up” Kurt snaps, glaring at them as they snicker “. Both of you. I don’t miss him, and I sure as hell don’t miss her”
“Yeah, Hummel, I don’t know how you think you’re fooling us with this one”
“Because, Santana, I simply do not miss the meerkat’s daughter”
“She is her own person, you know”
“Yes, Jesse, I happen to realize that. And I do not… oh, you got to be kidding me” Kurt groans, and the gang looks to where his eyes had drifted off during his answer. Immediately, all of them either gasp or lets a small cry of surprise.
“Oh, I am loving this” Santana says, smirking in pleasure “. More than two decades without running into either of them, and now… oh, this is the Universe giving me an early birthday present”
“To be fair, we picked a different park this time” Jesse says “. But yeah, Santana… happy birthday I guess”
“Oh it is happy indeed” Santana nods, looking as everyone else is frozen in their spots, everyone looking to where the family is.
She has to admit they make a beautiful family. Blaine and Sebastian (both having aged like fine wine, she’s more than willing to admit so) walk hand in hand, and in his free one Blaine holds a dog leash, an excited golden retriever on the other end. Their kids are around them, two small kids (surely not older than four) running around the couple and making the dog go slightly craz), and two older ones walking in front of them, watching their siblings in amusement. They make quite a beautiful family, Santana decides, and she’s glad to see Poppy looks well and not troubled by what had happened.
“Guys, can we please ignore-“ Kurt starts then, but Santana was never listening to him, not really. She simply smirks at him, watching in pleasure as defeat conquers Kurt’s features, and is quick to elegantly stand up and go to the family.
“Hey Blaine, Sebastian!” She exclaims in a sing-song voice. The married couple hears her and immediately freeze, more than likely recognizing her voice even after all the years apart. They come to an abrupt stop, their kids also immediately stopping at their parents’ actions, and even the dog copying the rest of the family. It’s a bit unfair, Santana absently thinks, how picture-perfect they all look.
“Santana?” Blaine exclaims, unable to mask his surprise. He shares a look of surprise with Sebastian, the two having a small silent conversation before looking back at her as she finally makes it all the way to them.
“In the flesh” Santana smirks, and Blaine has to fight not to look at Sebastian again, getting his husband to reassuringly squeeze his hand again. This they had not been expecting when they had decided to take a walk with their kids and Max.
They are even more surprised when they see the rest of the McKinley gang back there, slowly but surely joining Santana, and Blaine feels Sebastian squeezing his hand again, probably this time in question. Which he can share, because they’ve been walking around the same park for the better part of fifteen years, ever since moving to their townhouse. From being newlyweds to strolling through it with a newborn Poppy safely tucked in, to now with all four kids and half of their pets. And not once in all the years they’ve been there they’ve run into anyone from McKinley. Of course it had to be after their drama with Kurt.
Blaine cannot help but regret their decision to go on a family walk. But with school starting up again soon, they had all decided to try to do more family things, before the chaos of schools and extra curricular activities got to them. The twins had even tried to get Daisy to come as well, but Blaine and Sebastian had known it would’ve been too chaotic for the poor cat. She was patient, but also had her limits. And the plan had been to walk around, play around and talk, and go to their usual (and favorite) café for a late-morning coffee and beverages. Now…
At the sight of Kurt, Blaine immediately turns his head to look at his oldest daughter, feeling Sebastian do the same. They check on her quickly, not wanting to draw all the attention to her, and thankfully Poppy sees their intentions immediately, because she smiles reassuringly to them, clearly avoiding looking at her old boss. It does not calm all of Blaine’s anxiety, but at the very least he knows his baby is okay - or as okay as she can be.
“Well, hello” Blaine finally says, looking at Santana with a genuine smile “. It’s been a really long time”
Santana snorts at his words, not maliciously, and nods “. Ain’t that the truth” she agrees “. A really long time. Good to see you as well, Smythe”
“Good to see you, Lopez” Sebastian greets back “. B’s right, it’s been quite a while”
“And yet look at you two” she replies, almost in a sing-song voice “. Somehow managed to stick together after all these years, like an adorable co-dependent pair of Chips. Congratulations on the kids, by the way. I didn’t guess you two to have a small army of children, but somehow it fits you. Blaine has always given me teacher vibes and Sebastian fits the whole looking tough, being a teddy bear thing”
Blaine can tell Sebastian is honest to everything flabbergasted, which he cannot blame him for. If you’re not used to her, Santana can be a lot. But he’s used to, or at least was once upon a time.
“Four isn’t quite a small army” he replies, laughing a bit at her words “. But thank you, Santana. I am glad to see you’re doing well as well. I knew Britt and you could make it” he adds, glancing at her wedding rings. Santana genuinely beams at that, winking at him in a playful manner to try to pretend she’s not touched by his words. Blaine is also thankful for the way she still is Santana, but in a contained manner, definitely taking into account there are kids present. This is her being nice, Blaine is more than aware of that.
Blaine can see the kids looking between them with curious looks on their faces. As it is, Blaine knows having a stranger run up to them and talking to them the way Santana is doing, plus everyone else making their way to them, doesn’t even faze them. They are used to having the Warblers as Uncles, after all. And on Blaine being a known producer.
“Well, aren’t you going to introduce us to these cuties?” Mercedes asks as she approaches, a friendly and warm smile on her face“. It’s so good to see you. Both of you”
“Really great to see you as well, Mercedes” Blaine answers back. Sebastian nods at his words as well, a small but genuine smile on his face. However, the musician can also tell his husband is a bit tense at having Kurt be so close to their daughter, and he can share the sentiment. He wants Kurt as far away from Poppy and the rest of the kids as possible “. And of course. Do you want to introduce yourselves, kiddos?”
“Sure” Poppy replies, as always taking the lead. She smiles at her parents in a reassuring way, redirecting that smile to her siblings to show them it is okay and to follow her lead. Blaine can see Oliver immediately tuning in, and whilst the twins take a moment to agree, they’re quick to see their sister’s intentions “. I’m Poppy Anderson-Smythe. It is very nice to meet you, my Dad has talked about how fun it was to compete with your choir”
“I’m Oliver Anderson-Smythe” Oliver jumps in immediately. Blaine is suspecting, just a little bit, his kids are making a point by saying their last name. At least his oldest. If Sebastian’s pleased smirk is anything to go by, he’s also realized it “. Very nice to meet you. Our Uncle Sam has talked about you a whole lot, Miss Mercedes. It is nice to put a face to the name, right?”
“So right, Oli” Poppy nods, and then goes to ruffle Everett’s hair, to the frown of the four-year-old”. Want us to introduce you two, or can you do it like big kids can?”
“We can!” Grace exclaims for the both of them, her twin enthusiastically nodding next to her “. I am Grace, and I am four. Your hair is super pretty, Miss” she tells Mercedes, eyes downright sparkling at her long braids. Blaine cannot help but smile at that, knowing his youngest daughter has been going through an obsession of braiding her hair (hell, she has the whole household learning how to do it so they can french-braid her hair at any given moment), so now seeing Mercedes must be like seeing a real-life princess.
“Thank you, sweetheart” Mercedes replies, winking at her “. And who are you, little man?”
“I’m Everett” the last Anderson-Smythe kid says, smiling gently at them all whilst leaning on Blaine’s leg “. It is very nice to meet you” he adds, before he presses his face against Blaine’s hip, making the musician give the dog leash to Sebastian to pick his youngest up. Everett has always been their shyest kid, especially around strangers he’s not comfortable with. It is easier if he’s pumped on sugar, but as it is, it is getting closer to snack time.
“Very nice to meet you all” Santana replies for all of them. She can’t lie; all the kids have inherited their fathers’ charm, seemingly pouring out of all of them. Even when the youngest is shy, he’s charming in a little four-year-old way. And they all seem lovely, and like the perfect mix of their parents. More than ever, she’s having a hard time understanding why Kurt cannot let the past go. These two have a solid relationship, a solid life together, and they have not bothered anyone by building a future as a couple. They did get together right after Kurt and Blaine had broken up, but Kurt had also been dating someone else by then.
Honestly, Santana had not thought too much of it. Everyone in Glee Club had been constantly changing partners, so why was this time that bad? Sebastian and Blaine were hurting no one. Granted, she had taken neither side, but had remained Kurt’s friend because she hadn’t known Blaine that well. Still, back then and now, she cannot understand why Kurt’s pride is still so hurt about this. But she won’t act like she is sure Kurt is expecting them to act around the Anderson-Smythes. They’re no longer sixteen-year-olds. So she refuses to act like one.
“You two have a beautiful family” Mercedes says then, bless her. No one else seems to be the ones to speak, so Santana is thankful for her friend “. Enjoying a Summer walk, I presume?”
“Yes” Sebastian responds this time, smiling down at them. Their dog is waiting patiently, sitting and resting his body on Sebastian’s leg “. With the kids starting school in the upcoming weeks, we thought it was nice to spend some family time”
“And Max” Blaine adds, looking down at the dog “ has unending energy, so that also factors in”
“He’s very cute” Mercedes agrees, smiling at the dog “. How old is he?”
“He’ll be six this year” Blaine smiles “. Poppy convinced us to get him as a Christmas present when she was eight”
“You two told me to show you I really wanted a pet, I mostly followed instructions” Poppy remarks, smiling playfully at her fathers and getting twin smiles back. Blaine looks back at them again, and neither Mercedes or Santana are missing the fact that he’s very pointedly not looking in Kurt’s direction. Not like either can blame him “. I see you were having a picnic. This park is great for those” he adds, readjusting his son ever so slightly in his hold.
“You have lots of those?” Brittany asks, intervening for the first time.
“We live close to this park” Sebastian replies for them “. So we know it pretty well”
“Ah, makes sense” Santana nods “. But, yeah. We wanted to enjoy a bit more of this Summer”
“Understandable” Blaine nods. Santana can see Poppy slowly growing a bit more uncomfortable, and she stops herself from glaring at Kurt for staring at her, but barely. And only because Poppy takes the initiative.
“Daddies, would you mind if I head to Rosa’s with my siblings whilst you finish your conversation?” She asks, as polite as possible “. It’s getting close to rush hour if we want to find a table, and Ev will get cranky if he doesn’t get a snack soon”
“That’s true” Blaine agrees, looking at Sebastian playfully “. He does take after you”
“You’re so funny, Love” Sebastian deadpans back, making Santana snort a bit. Blaine exchanges a glance with his husband, a whole conversation going between them, and then looks back at their daughter.
“Sounds good, Koko. Tell Rosa we’ll be there soon and for our usual, alright?”
“Sounds good, Daddy” Poppy smiles “. Do you want to sit outside or inside?”
“Outside, it is still good out there” Sebastian replies for them “. We’ll join you in a minute”
“Okay” the teenager smiles again, looking at them in a mix of apology and glee “. It’s been really nice to meet you all” she says, grabbing her little sister’s hand as she does.
“Likewise” Oliver adds, copying his sister and grabbing his brother from Blaine, getting Everett to latch onto his back for a piggy ride “. It was nice to meet you”
“Goodbye!” The twins exclaim in unison, letting themselves be led away by their siblings.
“They listen pretty well” Santana notes.
“Ah, Poppy has taken after Blaine and his leading and commanding tendencies” Sebastian jokes, putting his arm around Blaine’s shoulder and getting his husband to put his around his waist, now that he’s free from holding Everett “. She runs a tight ship”
“Her glare is yours, though” Blaine throws back, softly squeezing his waist “. And thanks, Santana. We’ve gotten really lucky with them”
“They are amazing, guys” Rachel says, intervening for the first time “. And congratulations for your beautiful family, I’m sorry I didn’t get to say it sooner”
“Thank you, Rach” Blaine smiles, hearing Sebastian do the same next to him “. It’s good to see you”
“It’s good to see you, too, B” Rachel throws back, winking at him playfully. When Jesse hugs her to his body, she rests a hand on her husband’s stomach and looks back at her old friend “. Jesse and I have a son as well, I think he might be just a bit younger than Oliver”
“Congratulations” Blaine and Sebastian say simultaneously.
“What’s his name?” Sebastian asks, readjusting his arm around Blaine’s shoulder to hug him a bit closer to him.
“We call him Sonny, mostly” Jesse replies “. His full name is Sondheim, though”
“That is such a cool name” Blaine blurts out, unable not to. Rachel squeals at that, moving so she’s clapping enthusiastically.
“I know right” she exclaims “. Oh, I knew I could count on your reaction. And he takes after us so well… he’s currently in his theatre music camp, we’re picking him up on Sunday. Do any of your kids enjoy musical theatre?”
“Oliver and Ev are really into music” Sebastian replies “. They’re always hanging out in Blaine’s studio. Poppy and Grace also love it, but not to the same level as their brothers. For them it’s like an obsession”
“Truly” Blaine nods “. They all love Broadway and musical theatre as well… I’m sure they would jump at the opportunity of theatre camp, come to think of it” he adds. Sebastian nods at that, almost absently, and both are brought back when Rachel laughs in delight.
“Then we should totally do something together soon, both of our families” she proposes “. It would be lovely if all the kids met. Imagine if our kids were friends! So cute”
“Sure” Blaine nods, taking Sebastian’s softly squeezing his shoulder as confirmation he’s thinking as Blaine is doing. Both are a tiny bit skeptical of Rachel’s words, as close as she seems to Kurt. But she also looks genuine, and Blaine believes in second chances “. Sounds more than good”
“We can figure something out soon” Sebastian nods “. B still has the same number, so text him if you’re interested” he adds, getting Rachel to nod.
“It was great to see all of you, but our kids are waiting for us and it’s been long enough” Blaine says then, smiling gently at them “. We told them it would be a minute”
“Of course” Santana nods “. It was nice to see both of you. It would be nice to do so again, I will ask Rachel to send me your number, maybe we can figure something out”
“Sounds good” Sebastian nods, already starting to walk away. They wave at the rest as they go, watching as they immediately go into a small circle, to probably discuss what happened. Kurt takes a beat longer, for sure staring after them and offended at the way he was fully ignored. Blaine decides to ignore that; he'd closed the door on Kurt the moment he'd left his apartment, and as far as he’s aware, Kurt is long gone in his life and in his mind. He doesn’t deserve a second of his attention.
He smiles at Max perking up and strutting next to them, and his smile grows when he feels Sebastian kiss the side of his head “. That was weird as shit” he says into his ear, and Blaine cannot help but laugh at that.
“It truly was” Blaine nods “. Do you reckon Rachel will actually want to hang out?”
“Will not surprise me if she was serious” Sebastian shrugs “. And I’m actually all for it. Her brand of crazy seems fun”
Blaine can’t help but snort at that, moving his hand so he’s grabbing Sebastian’s, and starts leading them both to the café their kids are waiting them at. He’s given the McKinley gang enough thought - it’s time he goes back to his family.
The second they get home the twins are off, trying to find Daisy to probably play doll with her once more, to the husbands’ amusement and fear. They know the twins know better than to be rough with the cat, and both suspect Daisy actually loves being pampered like that, but there are so many bows a cat can wear before it becomes completely ridiculous.
Blaine moves into the kitchen, wanting to brew some coffee before they can start making lunch for all of them, and is not surprised when his husband and their oldest trail after him. Instead, he brings out the lemonade pitcher from the fridge and grabs three glasses, letting Sebastian pour one for them just as he makes his own coffee and pours some much needed water for Max, fully ignoring his husband’s playful glare at his choice of beverage.
It is a peaceful silence, in the way they rarely get anymore if the twins are present (Blaine adores them with every single atom of his body, but those two are something else), and Blaine lets them live in it for a little while. But then, his iced coffee is made, and he turns around and rests against the counter, getting his family’s attention. He can see all of them figure out what his next words will be when he focuses his gaze on his oldest daughter.
“We don’t have to talk about it” he starts with “. But I just wanted to ask if you’re okay after the encounter at the park”
“I am” Poppy nods, so sure of her words Blaine feels some unbeknownst tension leaving his body. She takes a moment before speaking again, clearly mulling over her words, but they all let her, observing as she slowly gets the condensation at the top of her glass “. I think I am fully okay, actually. Like, sure, it was a bit uncomfy, but I wasn’t feeling bad”
“I personally think Mr.Hummel could’ve apologised,” Oliver says, shrugging as he twists the half-full glass on the table. Blaine is fully counting on some lemonade spilling onto it in about thirty seconds “. He owed you at least that”
“No, I am kinda glad he didn’t,” Poppy says, thankfully grabbing her brother’s glass to make it stop spinning “. I know it wouldn’t have been genuine, or sincere. And I don’t want him trying to be nice just because Auntie Izzy now glares at him every time they’re near each other”
Blaine and Sebastian exchange a glance at that, and the former is not even tempted to tell his husband to stop smiling so big at Kurt’s obvious misfortune. He’d be lying if he was to say he doesn’t like this new development for his ex. Besides… he is more petty now. And he knows that comes from Sebastian and Isabelle’s side of the family.
“That’s fair” Sebastian says, fingers drumming on his own glass “. But now that we’re on it… Daddy and I received an offer from one of them to hang out soon”
“Rachel” Blaine confirms “. And her husband Jesse. They think it would be nice, and that you’ll get along with their son. He’s a bit younger than you, Oli, and super into musical theatre. His name is apparently Sondheim, although they did tell us they mostly call him Sonny”
“That is such a cool name” both kids say at the same time, getting twin nods from their fathers.
“You both okay with it though?” Blaine asks, just to be sure. Both kids nod, but then Poppy leans in, closer to her Dad.
“You hadn’t told us one of the high school friends that you had is the Broadway Royal couple. It would’ve been nice to know”
“So nice” Oliver nods “. I didn’t know you knew them. They’re legends”
“We are aware” Blaine tells them, smiling amusedly at them “. I don’t know, I guess it didn’t cross my mind, on your father’s, to tell you. We haven’t talked in a long time… it would be nice to be friends again, though. I always got along with Rachel”
Sebastian snorts softly at that, and Blaine is quick to glare at him, immediately forbidding him from making a single comment “. Your Dad knew Rachel way better than me, anyway” he says instead “. And I hadn't met Jesse yet, not officially”
“I crossed paths with him once or twice during competitions” Blaine shrugs “. Also McKinley’s prom, the one I unfortunately had to go to. He’s eccentric, but… a good kind”
“Noted” Poppy says, smiling at her fathers “. That being said, we’re both more than okay with hanging out with them”
“Noted” Blaine throws back “. Now, can you two go and see if Daisy needs rescue from your siblings? Dad and I will get started on lunch”
“On it” Oliver nods, military saluting them before he’s dragging Poppy upstairs. Sebastian huffs a laugh at them, going to retrieve their empty glasses and putting them in the sink. He refills Max’s bowl with more water, because the poor thing had been patched after their walk, and softly pets him before going to Blaine, hugging him tightly.
“Poppy is okay” he murmurs in his ear, and the remaining tension leaves Blaine’s body.
“How did you…”
“Please, Love, do not question my psychic abilities when it comes to you, you know I mastered them five years in”
Blaine snorts a soft laugh at that, kissing the juncture where Sebastian’s neck meets his shoulder before he’s getting a bit away to be able to kiss his lips “. Fair point” he says, kissing his nose before he breaks the embrace. They truly need to start on lunch before it gets closer to the twins’ nap time.
“That girl is your daughter through and through, Love” Sebastian keeps saying “. I doubt there is a single thing in this world that can keep her down. And you know that”
“I do” Blaine says “. I just - she’s just growing up so fast, and she loves to be independent, and… I love that for her. I know it will only do her good. But a part of me wants to stop her and shelter her from any harm”
“Which is very reasonable, especially when it is something you think only, and not something that may lead you to stop her from doing things” Sebastian says, gently hugging him to his body again “. And also, it is very reasonable for you to feel this way after today, alright? After seeing Kurt so close to her”
“So you were also feeling anxious” Blaine completes, not in a question but an affirmation. He gets a bit away from his husband, a clear question in his eyes, and looks as Sebastian shrugs and nods, in that order.
“She’s our baby, Love. Cannot help it. And it is not as much as I was afraid he’d do something… he knows his career would be buried deep if he ever thought about it. It was just…”
“How his presence was going to affect Poppy” Blaine completed for him “. See, this is why I was reticent, and this is what I didn’t want her to go through. I didn’t want her feeling this way”
“She is going to, one way or another” Sebastian gently reminds him, moving his hands so they massage the back of Blaine’s neck. The reaction is immediate, as the musician can feel the tension that he’d build back up slowly start to disappear “. And you did an amazing job at handling it and making her feel better”
“We did”
“Hmm” the lawyer nods “. Like the amazing team we are. So we are not going to dwell over it or feel guilty. Alright?”
Blaine sighs at that, not surprised Sebastian had guessed his feelings about it all.
“Alright” he murmurs, knowing Sebastian can add something to it. Before he’s able to do so, however, his phone dings with a notification, and he uses that to escape “. Huh”
“Huh, what?” Sebastian asks. The musician knows his husband is still half-thinking Blaine is using this as a scapegoat (which, fair), but this time is actually something.
“Rachel actually texted” Blaine tells him, getting closer to the taller man to show him his phone “. It’s… long. Huh, she apologizes for the way things went down. Didn’t see that one coming”
“It’s nice of her though” Sebastian notes “. And it does seem very genuine”
“That it does” his husband nods, unable to escape the warmth in his chest at Rachel’s text. He’d been sad to lose her friendship and, whilst a texted apology does not set anything in stone, it does give Blaine a good foreboding “. She’s also asking about that meet-up. It would be nice to have it, wouldn’t it? Sonny is close to the kids’ ages, especially Oli”
“It would be nice” Sebastian nods “. Being an only kid can feel very lonely at times, it’s always good to meet people”
“Done then” Blaine smiles, pocketing his phone “. I’ll text her back in a little bit, we should get started with our lunch”
“Before the terror that is your youngest son when he’s hungry”
“Oh, so he’s my son when he’s a walking terror. I am assuming he’s yours when he’s being an angel?”
“You know it, baby” Sebastian replies, winking playfully at his husband. Blaine cannot help but laugh fondly at that, leaning up for a kiss before he goes to the fridge, retrieving the ingredients and letting Sebastian help him with starting their lunch.
And just like that, they move on. The world has not ended for having Kurt so close to Poppy again, and now they’ve potentially gained a friend back, Blaine hopes. And whilst this is not necessarily what he would’ve wanted - he would’ve preferred Kurt to lose his job and be truly miserable, maturity be damned-, the important thing is that they made it. That he can hear his kids laughing in their playroom, that Poppy’s delicate laugh is the loudest.
What matters is then, it is he and his husband of nearly seventeen years cooking together in the home they built and curated for their family. What matters is, Blaine realizes as Sebastian sweetly kisses his cheek, that he’s content. He’s happy. With the love of his life, with their sweet kids.
They’re doing great. And no one can take that away from them.
Notes:
Heeeello again!
So, I hope this was what everyone wanted! I saw how you guys wanted Isabelle and Kurt's confrontation and I already had written it into the chapter, so I hope it was good! This fic was so fun to extend, and it has motivated me to truly start working on Seblaine's Week!
Now, please let me know what you guys thought of this! I will try to post more, but until then, we will see each other in the comments <3
Also, visit me on tumblr if you want - I am open to asks and prompts! -> azaharinflames
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