Chapter Text
-
In response to a question of hers on the subject early on in their relationship, he does once briefly mention a past marriage. It’s clear he doesn’t care to further discuss the matter though and so she doesn’t broach it again. After all, it’s not as though they ever get serious enough for it to be a necessary discussion.
-
In the blurs of making it through his cabin and into the bedroom, and in the dark mornings as she stumbles out, she does happen to notice a couple of scattered photographs of a young boy. In one image he sits atop a twenty-or-so-years-younger Kurt’s shoulders while they stand before a lake, each with wide grins. She does pick up on the resemblance but doesn’t put all that much thought into it and certainly doesn’t bring it up.
-
After the surprise of Miranda, you’d think she’d have learned not to venture out to his place late at night, tipsy and without warning. But she hasn’t. This time it’s a young man who appears at his door—a young man with a full head of dark hair and a lopsided grin—seemingly feeling a degree of awkwardness himself, but also amusement.
“Hey, Dad, there’s someone here for you!” he eventually calls out.
Her eyes instantly widen—Dad?!
Both Kurt and Diane are a little mortified and a little speechless—about both the revelation of his son as well as her appearing for (what is undeniably) a bootycall before his son. He does introduce the young man to her, “Diane, this is my son, Brian,” but does not further introduce her to his son, and while his voice is steady, she can tell he’s uncomfortable.
She greets Brian and reaches out to shake his hand, but afterwards, when Kurt does not speak any further and they all seem to be at a standstill there at the doorway, she presses on with the first thing that comes to mind. “I, umm… I think I left a file in your lab when I was here earlier. …I, uh… need it. For tomorrow. The… Jefferson case.”
When they get out to his barn she stands there patiently while he gathers his words. His ex moved away with their then-six year old son in tow some twenty years ago, he explains. He still lives out of state and doesn’t see him all that often. She nods, and though she feels like there’s a bit more to it all she lets it rest. He doesn’t take well to being pushed and besides, even in their starting run together, they’ve never had a true relationship—he hasn’t and doesn’t owe her an explanation.
“Well,” she says finally, “I should be getting that cab back.”
“You don’t have to,” he shrugs, much to her surprise. At her suspicious glance—surely he doesn't want her to spend the night with his son there—he clarifies, “You made the trip out, at least spend an hour or two here, then call the cab or take my truck back if you’d prefer. …If you want.”
“Are you sure?” she asks hesitantly. His initial reaction suggested that her presence at that time was not entirely welcomed.
“Yeah,” he nods. “…I was just caught off guard before. Come, meet my son.”
“I’d like that,” she smiles.
…
On her first date with Kurt McVeigh she made a comment about being the one forced to carry the weight of the conversation… that evening hardly compared to this one as she sat between the two McVeigh men. No wonder he wanted her to stay. Both were friendly enough—to her and to each other—but there was an undeniable stiltedness to the conversation, a lack of connection, perhaps. Or maybe just what happens when you have a father and a son with similar minimalist communication styles and habits. Either way, it takes a great deal of effort on her part (and a couple of beers each for the males) to establish a flow in conversation between them all. She does it though, and by the time she’s ready to leave the two finally seem to be settling in with one another.
-
During their engagement period, late at night and together in bed following a visit from Brian in which Diane learns that the young man is gay, Kurt confesses (clarifies) that the reason he hadn’t told her about having a son initially had nothing to to with Brian—the boy for whom he feels endless love and pride—and everything to do with himself and his own lack of involvement in his child’s life and their distant relationship. It’s embarrassing and, truthfully, he’s rather ashamed of himself for letting it happen.
She brings up the circumstances—that he was halfway across the country with a mother that wasn’t entirely cooperative, not to mention the fact that neither is much of a talker—but he brushes it off, saying that, regardless, he should have tried harder, should have done more.
“Well, now you can,” is her response. “It’s not too late, Kurt.”
-
She knows that Kurt wants to play a larger role in his son’s life, wants to get to know him better. But she also knows that reaching out to people and striking up casual conversations is not his forte (and knows it’s even more challenging with someone who feels similarly), so she does her best to encourage him. Sometimes she’ll flat out suggest that he call his son on certain occasions or when there’s news to share. Then, other times, she’ll ask him a question about his son to which the answer, she is sure, he does not know, simply to give him an excuse to call. Within a few months father and son are talking once every week or two.
-
As she spends more time with Brian she begins to learn, as similar as he is to his father, how he differs too. He’s quiet and thoughtful, but he tends to open up a little (or, a lot, as she soon discovers) more easily given time. He’s a little less serious and laughs a little more easily. He’s also a democrat, which they have bonded over, much to Kurt’s disgruntlement (though, truly, delight at seeing the two get on so well together).
As they sit side by side, one-on-one for the first time after Kurt had been called away to a crime scene, they’ve fallen into an easy rhythm more quickly than either had expected—any uneasiness that existed in the beginning having entirely dissolved less than ten minutes in.
After nearly an hour has passed and their comfort level has grown even further, Brian remarks, “You know, you’re the only woman my dad’s ever introduced me to.”
Diane lets out a laugh. “Sounds about right. He’s not one that’s particularly into sharing, now is he?”
“That,” he nods with a smirk tugging at the left corner of his mouth. “But also because there was never any reason to. I don’t think my dad’s ever really been interested in a serious relationship—in marriage—before you.”
“Not after your mom?” she gently inquires.
“Not even before my mom.”
Diane’s brow furrows and Brian leans further back in his chair as he let’s out a sigh. “I’ve never really gotten a straight answer about their marriage date—the month and day they’ve given freely, but they’ve always kind of skirted around the year.”
“Ah…” she nods, catching on.
“I don’t know for sure—don’t particularly care to know for sure at this point—but my guess is that they found out I was coming along and, ever the nobleman, Dad decided to do the right thing. And they tried, for my sake and maybe for theirs too, but… I think they were doomed from the start—neither was really into it and, honestly, the older I get the more incompatible I realize they were. …Of course, you aren't exactly my dad’s type on the surface, either.”
“And he’s not exactly mine.”
“Yeah,” he practically scoffs. “No kidding!” He pauses, then… “You know I meant that as a compliment towards you, right? I mean, you’re way out of his league.”
She laughs and he follows suit.
“Seriously though,” he continues after a moment. “You’re probably the furthest thing from what I’ve ever imagined would be the right kind of woman for my dad—if there was even a right kind of woman for my dad at all—and yet, seeing you two together… it somehow makes sense. And I know he tends to be a little closed off, but honestly, I’ve never seen him look at anyone the way he does you, talk about anyone the way he talks about you. He’s head over heels for you—as head over heels as Kurt McVeigh is capable of being, anyway—and I just thought you should know that, in case he doesn’t make it apparent enough himself.”
Diane, nearly melting at the young man’s observation and confession, gives him a look so filled with adoration that she soon sees a blush beginning to rise to his cheeks before he bows his head, giving it a little shake as he does so.
A moment later he raises his head again and gives her the most casual shrug he can muster. “Anyway, you two seem great together, and I’m just happy for you both.”
-
Brian is the one person they tell before getting married and he’s on the first flight out to make it there in time for their appointment the next morning.
After Kurt and Diane are pronounced man and wife they leave the room and begin to say their goodbyes so that Brian can make his return flight (and so that Diane can save her firm).
The young man shares a few quiet words and a hug with his father then turns to Diane, takes her hands in his, and tells her, “It’ll be nice to have another mom around.”
Deep down she knows that he has a mother already and that, given that, as well as his grown age, she will never have a truly significant role in his life. …But still, the gesture itself and the knowledge that he might think of her, at least in part, in that way, has her heart feeling so full. She soon feels tears prick at her eyes and her right hand instinctually goes over her heart. Then, rather than attempting to verbally express herself in that moment, she simply pulls her stepson—her stepson—to her and embraces him.
Looking on to see the two most important people in his life—his son and his wife—share this tender moment, Kurt’s eyes also begin to glisten and the love he feels is palpable.
-
She honestly hadn’t been expecting anything, so the “Happy Mother’s Day, Diane” text that comes in from Brian McVeigh seven months after becoming his stepmother takes her thoroughly by surprise. And though it may be simple, it truly means the world to her.
-
It’s five months into Kurt and Diane’s separation when Brian—in town on business—and Diane run into each other in a coffee shop she had introduced him to a couple of years back on one of his visits. It’s a little awkward but they’re genuinely glad to see one another and engage in conversation, catching up.
“And how’s your dad?” she finally asks. She’s still in need of space from the man, but she’s genuinely interested in hearing how he’s doing.
Brian shrugs, “I’m not all that sure, actually.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, we, ah… haven’t been talking all that much lately. …Not for the past few months.”
Not since he found out about the affair, she pieces together, and her shoulders fall in a sigh, a little heartbroken. “You should call him.” Brian pulls a face and, as hard as it is for her to admit in that moment, for her stepson’s benefit (and, perhaps, a bit for her estranged husband's as well) she tells him, “He made a mistake, but he’s still a good man. And he’s still your father. And he loves you.”
He nods, looking away—he’s heard her but doesn’t care to speak about it any further. He truly is his father’s son, and she can read him as such.
“And what about you two?” he asks, shifting the focus back to her.
Truthfully, she doesn’t even know at this point; she’s just been focused on getting her own life back on track. “It’s complicated,” she tells him honestly, if succinctly. “There’s a lot to figure out.”
Again he nods, “Yeah…” understanding, though looking a little saddened. “Well, I should be getting going, but-” he pauses briefly, smiling softly at her. “-it was really good to see you, Diane.”
“You too,” she gives his hand a squeeze. Over the few years that she had known him they had grown closer than she had ever expected and, following her separation with Kurt, she had truly missed her stepson’s presence in her life.
Before turning away he leans in to place a kiss to her cheek, melting her heart just a little bit. Before he’s out of earshot though she pulls herself together enough to think to call out, “Get in touch with your father!”
He glances back at her over his shoulder with a lopsided grin—a little annoyed, a little endeared.
-
“Have you talked to Brian yet?” Diane asks lazily, curled up at Kurt’s side and still reveling in ‘and we live together until we die.’
“No,” he tells her. “I’ll call him tomorrow.” And then, “…He’ll be thrilled.”
She smirks. “You think so?”
“The first time we really talked after I told him about… what had happened—after he ran into you—he told me to make it right.” He met her eyes, making sure she’d understand this next part. “I know I’ve got more to do, that we’ve got more to do… but,” his lips curled into a lopsided grin, “I think he’ll be pleased to know we’re on the right road.”
“That we are,” she smiles contentedly and kisses him lightly. And then, pushing up on her elbows as an idea strikes, “We should go visit him soon.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. Also, I still need to meet Ben!”
Kurt nods, smiling, as he pushes her hair back behind her ear. “You pick a date and I’ll see if it works for the boys.”
…
The next afternoon her phone lights up with a text from Brian McVeigh: Just spoke with my dad. I’ll be looking forward to seeing you in a couple weeks. The feeling is most certainly mutual.
-
While she tries to simply focus on the future, every once in a while Diane finds herself lamenting about the things she—that they—missed out on during their separation. His support and encouragement, a shoulder to cry on, the cozy nights in, the unknown trips and weekends at the farm that would have led to countless memories for the two to share. Perhaps at the top of the list is missing out on seeing her stepson get married.
When she does finally meet his new husband though she is utterly pleased and delighted—they seem to be the perfect match. And when the two inform her and her own husband to start thinking about what they’d like their grandparent names to be, she’s simply over the moon.
Nana and Grandpa, they decide that night.
- Long ago she made peace with not having had any children of her own, but she still found herself stopping and wondering about the what ifs on occasion. She doesn’t anymore.