#barolebeth

So they played tea party, three of them wearing tiaras as Finn wore one of Kurt’s bowties around his neck, until Mr. Hummel, Burt, came home. He greeted Carole happily as he took off his baseball cap and puffer jacket. He shared his son’s boyish smile and exuded an air of kindness underneath his gruff exterior of plaid shirts and stained jeans. He definitely looked like a mechanic, but one of those mechanics that would strike up a friendly conversation with his clients as he looked over their engine. He probably had gossip on everyone in Lima, but he didn’t seem the kind to share it around. Elizabeth laughed and pushed him away as he tried to greet her with a kiss, moving to wrap his arms around her waist. “Wash your hands first.” She scolded him, and Carole noticed the grime that settled in his fingerprints. Burt laughed. “Hello, son, you making a new friend?” He asked Kurt, crouching down to look the boys in the eye. Kurt nodded, beaming, which caused Burt to shoot back an identical grin, moving to ruffle his son’s hair with affection. But Kurt copied his mother and backed away with a look. Burt chuckled and stood upright. “Okay, okay, I hear ya. I’ll go clean myself up.” He laughed, he turned his smile to Carole and she felt her heart stutter, just slightly, under the kindness in his eyes. “Nice to meet ya, Carole. I’d shake your hand but…” “Nice to meet you too, Burt.” She responded in kind, unable to stop the smile that graced her face. He and Elizabeth made a cute couple, masculine against feminine, gruff against soft. Juxtapositions of each other, the outward cliche of opposites attract, while inwardly they both had the same innate kindness to their words and actions.