Chapter Text
“It’s honestly kind of ridiculous the lengths that people go to for proposals.” Kurt mutters, annoyed.
Sebastian snorts, “Right? I mean, I guess the person who’s receiving the huge ass proposal digs it, but everyone watching? It’s so awkward.”
“I mean, I understand being romantic, I’m the one who wanted to release glitter doves at my Dad’s wedding, after all! But at this point, I think our friends are just getting out of hand. I mean, tattooing the words ‘Will you marry me?’ onto your skin is not romantic!” Kurt nearly shrieks.
Sebastian laughs, “Yeah, whatever happened to simplicity like, ‘Baby, you gonna make an honest man out of me?’” he mumbles, teasing.
“Please, nothing could make you an honest man.” Kurt responds, tone equally fond.
Sebastian chuckles, “I don’t know I think I’d make an exception for someone with an ass as excellent as yours.”
“You saying what I think you’re saying, Seb?” Kurt exclaims, in mock surprise.
“That’s right baby, will you marry me?” Sebastian says, getting down on one knee, grinning wildly.
Kurt’s laugh is high pitched and bright when he says, “Yes, a thousand times yes!”
They’re joking, of course they are. They might have a twisted sense of humor, but it’s kind of funny to them, how nearly everyone they know has been obsessed with getting engaged and settling down into committed relationships. He knows that they’re getting older, but it’s kind of ridiculous the rapidity at which his friends have chosen to get married. Like each of them is trying to outdo the other. He’s not particularly surprised if that’s actually what’s happening, either, given how prone to competitive dramatics his friends are.
Luckily, he managed to grow out of that.
Kurt had just gotten a phone call from a frantic Tina, exclaiming that Artie had finally proposed. He turned to Sebastian groaning after he hung up, because he’d inevitably have to help plan the wedding. Quite honestly, he was exhausted by the mere thought. Although he’s always loved the excitement of weddings, and the romanticism of planning a perfect wedding for his friends, he was sick and tired of the pitying looks he got. The reassuring pats on the shoulder, and the constant statements of, “You know, my friend Jacob is gay, I could give you his number,” as if he wasn’t capable of getting a date on his own, as if the only qualifier to having a relationship with someone was a compatible sexuality. He’d heard the words, “Don’t worry, it’ll be your turn soon” chirped at him one too many times.
He doesn’t even want to be with someone right now, he’s working his way up the fashion world at Vogue, and he has more important things to worry about than a boyfriend. Really, Kurt kind of hates that all his friends seem to have been caught by some vicious bug, telling them that if they didn’t get married now, they never would. That everyone had to get married now.
He knows that it’s quite a different view on marriage than he had years ago in high school, when he couldn’t wait for that special someone to whisk him away and to settle down. But then, he grew up, understood that fulfillment in life came from having a career and people who made him happy. He realized that marriage wasn’t the be-all end all of life, and that getting married early certainly wouldn’t do him any favors. It’s additional pressure which he’s quite frankly, not ready for. The rate he’s going, he’s not sure he’ll ever be ready for it.
Even with his current opinion on marriage and engagement, Kurt can’t stop himself from laughing out loud, because the thought (and sight) of Sebastian down on one knee, pretending to propose to him is truly ridiculous. Sebastian’s grinning at him as he stands up to pull him into a twirl.
---
Sebastian’s mother, Camille, is hiding in the corner, outside of the room, trying to be as quiet as possible. Happy tears streaming down her face, because all she’s ever wanted was for her little boy to settle down, and there he was, engaged. She only heard the tail end of the proposal, and she’s sure Sebastian gave some kind of speech. Hearing Kurt say yes, so earnest and bright; she knows that the two of them will be happy for a very long time.
She’s not going to say “I told you so,” even though she desperately wants to. She always knew that Bastian would end up with Kurt, mother’s intuition, and she’s ecstatic that she got to witness their engagement, because that’s all she’s wanted for her son.
She decides to give them a moment alone, they’ve earned it, and sets off to make breakfast for her boys. After all, her soon to be son-in-law deserves some special treatment.
She loves having Sebastian at home, even if it’s just for a long weekend. She loves even more that Sebastian brought Kurt with him, felt comfortable enough to propose to him here.
She’s putting together ingredients in the kitchen, as she ponders on how she missed the signs that Kurt and Sebastian were together. She always knew that Kurt was important to her son, ever since the beginning, especially considering that he was the first guy that Sebastian had ever brought home. Even so, she never quite realized how special he was. She’d always been amused by the tone of Sebastian’s voice when he mentioned Kurt, how soft and excitable he’d sound while retelling an anecdote involving him.
So really, the signs were all there. It was just a matter of piecing them together.
When they come downstairs for breakfast, she tries really really hard not to let her excitement be obvious, but she can’t help but grin when she sees the way Kurt’s smiling at her son.
She keeps grinning, maybe a little too hard, at Sebastian when she asks, “Pancakes?”
“Um, sure mom. You know what I like.” Sebastian responds, looking at her warily.
“And would you like some, Kurt?” she turns to Kurt, her smile growing a touch larger.
“Of course, Camille, you know you make the best food.” Kurt replies, seemingly confused by her ever growing grin.
“Please Kurt, call me Mom” she exclaims, grabbing his hand. She gasps in disgust, “Bastian! I raised you better than to propose without a ring,” at the sight of Kurt’s bare ring finger.
Sebastian’s eyes widen when he asks “Mom, what?” the shock evident on his face.
She was going to wait until they told her themselves, but she clearly can’t control herself, so she explains, “Look, I’m sorry. I walked over to your room in the morning to see what you wanted for breakfast and I maybe stayed around in the back to hear you propose to him.” She says with a smile, tears are pooling in her eyes, she can’t help it, her little boy is growing up and getting married.
Sebastian looks like he wants to say something, but she keeps going, because there’s so much emotion bubbling up inside of her, she feels like she might burst with it, so she has to let it all out, now that she’s started. “Sebastian, darling, I am so pleased, you’ve picked a wonderful husband-to-be. You have my approval, through and through.”
She turns back to Kurt and grabs both of his hands, “And Kurt, I wouldn’t trust anyone else with my son’s hand. You’re truly divine.”
Kurt smiles, a huge genuine grin, and says, “Thank you,” he pauses for a moment before squeezing her hands, “Mom.” She misses the glare that Sebastian throws Kurt, because she closes her eyes to stop the tears from falling.
Camille pulls away from Kurt and whispers, voice quivering, “Oh, it’s so beautiful to hear you say that. I’m sorry I’m so emotional. I never knew if this day would come. I’ve been telling Bastian to settle down for years, but he never listens! You know how he is.” she finishes with a flourish and a wink, never letting the tears fall.
“And, after his father passed, a few years back, I just,” she pauses, to get her thoughts together, “I always hoped that Andrew would be around for this day, but I’m so happy that I am.”
Sebastian looks overwhelmed, and she sees how Kurt has moved closer to Sebastian, tight grip his wrist with his thumb rubbing small reassuring circles there at the mention of Sebastian’s father. She feels bad for pouring out her emotions, bringing back the memories of Andrew while they’re both probably still giddy and reeling in excitement from the engagement, so she quickly kisses both of their cheeks and smiles.
“Pancakes will be ready soon, you guys go set the table up, and I want to hear all about how you got together and completely forgot to let me know! God, does Burt know? Can I be the one to tell him? He’ll be so excited!” Her words are quick and happy, as she shoves them towards the table.
---
When they’re both at the table, far away from his mother, Sebastian smacks Kurt on the shoulder, “Why the hell did you go along with it?”
Kurt rubs at his shoulder and Sebastian doesn’t feel bad about it, because Kurt deserves it, “Didn’t you hear her? She was so happy! I wasn’t going to ruin that.”
Sebastian groans but he can’t help but agree, it had been a while since he’d heard his mother that excited, especially since his father passed, “Well what are we supposed to do now, idiot?”
“We could tell her we broke up?” Kurt responds, eyebrow raised.
“After I just proposed? And completely break my mother’s heart? I don’t fucking think so, asshole.” Sebastian whispers back, furious.
Kurt concedes, mutters, “Fine, fine. We could just go with it. For a while.”
Sebastian blinks a few times before saying, “I honestly hate you.”
“You should be nicer to your fiancé, Seb.” Kurt replies, clicking his tongue and shaking his head.
Sebastian rolls his eyes, “I hate you.”
“Whatever. You still owe me a ring.” Kurt exclaims, wiggling his fingers in Sebastian’s face.
Sebastian grumbles back, “I can’t wait for Burt to find out. He’s gonna kill you for not telling him.”
Kurt pales at the thought, and Sebastian’s thoroughly satisfied by the nervousness on his face. “Shit. Camille wasn’t kidding about wanting to be the one to tell him, was she?” Kurt exclaims, worried.
“Yup. And you know your dad, he’ll be just as happy as she is. I know he’s been giving you the same bullshit about settling down that she’s been giving me,” Sebastian seethes.
“We’re fucked, aren’t we?” Kurt says, dejected.
“Yeah, knowing them we’ll have to fake a damn wedding to get them off our backs.” Sebastian laughs.
“Don’t joke, Seb. We might have to.” Kurt looks horrified, and Sebastian feels kind of bad.
But, while staring at the distraught look on Kurt’s face, Sebastian can’t stop himself from laughing harder. Just a few moments ago they were mocking their friends for constantly getting engaged, and here they are talking about a fake wedding. “At least we know that you’re a good wedding planner.” He says, knocking his shoulder against Kurt’s.
Kurt smiles, but it quickly fades. “Seb, honestly. We have to figure out a way out of this. I don’t want to hurt our parents!”
Sebastian agrees, “You think I do? I haven’t seen my mom that happy in years.”
“I know, I know.” Kurt mutters, grabbing Sebastian’s hand for reassurance.
Sebastian gasps briefly at the contact, whispers, “We’ll fix it, don’t worry” with a weak smile. Kurt returns it, and Sebastian thinks, “There’s no one else I’d rather be fake engaged to.”
He doesn’t let himself linger on the thought for too long, though.