I'm so sorry I haven't updated in so long. I've been sick for almost five weeks now. Ear infection, sinus infection, everything you could imagine. Today is the first day I can stand to do something other than sleep, so I figured I'd write. This is the last chapter for Scraps of Love. I hope you enjoy the ending.

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Last time on "Scraps of Love"…

"Okay, well, let me go get this paperwork filed and the birth certificate filled out. While I'm doing that, I suggest going to the nursery and talking with them about the immediate needs of the baby. We can have a nurse visit you a couple of times per week to make sure everything is going well. Acelynn will be ready to go by the time you are done talking with the nurse," Sue said. "I will see you in the nursery."

"Okay," Blaine said faintly.

When Sue had walked away, the couple turned to each other.

"Well, should we go learn how to be parents?" Kurt asked.

"I think that would be wise," Blaine said.

They stood and began walking to the nursery.

"By the way, I'm Daddy," Kurt said.

"No way, I'm Daddy, you're Papa," Blaine argued.

"Not even close, Hummel. You are Papa. I'm definitely more suited to the Daddy title," Kurt insisted, grinning.

"Keep dreaming," Blaine said, returning his grin.

. . . . . . .

"Careful with her head," Blaine said nervously.

"I've got her head just fine," Kurt replied, rolling his eyes. "If you'd stop hopping around like a Mexican jumping bean, maybe we'd both feel better."

"I just worry if the elevator stops abruptly or something," Blaine worried.

"We're almost to our floor, don't be such a worry wart."

"Says the man who sat in the backseat of the car, yelling at every bump and dip in the road," Blaine retorted.

"Hello? New York roads are awful, or did you forget that fact?" Kurt said.

"Fine, fine, but still. I worry," Blaine said, shifting closer to their daughter.

"I know, I do too. But we're going to be great parents, Blaine," Kurt assured him.

"How can you know that," Blaine asked quietly.

"Because we love her and will love her so thoroughly that she will grow up happy and healthy," Kurt said.

Blaine grinned. "We will love her well, won't we?"

Kurt returned his smile as the elevator dinged to announce their arrival. "We do and we will."

They walked to the condo door and Blaine adjusted the heavy diaper bag over his shoulder. The hospital had supplied them with diapers, wipes, bottles and formula. Kurt had been fine with the bottles and formula, but couldn't stand the thought of putting their daughter in generic diapers. They'd stopped at a store and bought her top-of-the-line diapers and expensive wipes. Nothing was too good for their baby girl.

Pushing the door open, they were met with the sight of box after box piled in the foyer. They were marked with whatever the contents were. 'Clothes' was listed on most of them. Then supplies, medical supplies, and others. There was also a fully built bassinet, a swing, high chair, two changing tables and a large oak crib. Kurt remembered Marley telling him that the crib was the three in one kind of bed. A crib, toddler bed, and a twin bed.

"Wow," Blaine said with a whistle. "Looks like Baby's R Us barfed in our entryway. At least we won't have to go shopping any time soon. Come on, I'll bring the bassinet and changing table into the living room for now so Acelynn has a place to sleep."

Kurt nodded. "Sounds good."

They put Acelynn in the bassinet, unable to resist kissing her and touching her soft skin before letting her sleep.

"She's so beautiful, Blaine," Kurt murmured, staring at her in wonder. Her blonde and black hair was so striking against her pale skin.

"She is," Blaine agreed, stroking a finger down her soft cheek.

"Well, I'm going to go boil the bottles so they are ready to go. Do you want to sort through the box of supplies to see what we have and what we may need?" Kurt asked.

"Sounds good," Blaine said.

Working together, they drug all the boxes into the dining room. Blaine began unloading them onto the table while Kurt went into the kitchen to boil the bottles.

They were talking quietly, going through the boxes, when a tiny cry erupted from the bassinet, they'd dragged to the dining room to be near them. Blaine was the first to reach her and picked her up, bouncing her softly in his arms. Kurt came over and petted her tiny arms, shushing her.

"Do you think she needs a change?" Blaine asked, kissing her forehead.

"Maybe. She might be hungry, too. You change her, I'll feed her," Kurt said, watching Blaine's face.

"No way! If I have to change her than I get to feed her too. Besides, you got to snuggle her all the way home and up the elevator. It's my turn," Blaine argued.

"Fine! That just means I get the next bottle," Kurt said forlornly. He went to the kitchen and mixed the bottle the way the nurse told him to.

They sat together on the couch as Blaine began feeding her. Watching her tiny mouth and cheeks move while she nursed was enthralling to the two new dads.

"She's amazing," Kurt breathed. "Even her little sucking sounds are adorable."

"I know," Blaine agreed. "She is so tiny but so perfect. Aren't you Acey?"

Kurt looked at him. "Acey?"

"Yeah. Acelynn is too long. I'm not going to call her Ace for short. Acey is cute and still feminine," Blaine said.

Kurt looked down at their daughter. "Acey, huh? Do you like that, sweetness? Do you like your first nickname? Oh, Blaine, we can write that in her baby book! Her first nickname," Kurt said, grinning like a fool.

"Is it wrong that I don't want to use the baby book Marley bought?" Blaine asked quietly.

"Not wrong at all. I was already thinking we'd just keep track of the things we want to put in it, but save it until we got to pick a baby book. Besides, Marley drama aside, we should pick out our own anyway. I think it will mean more. And we can look at it without having to think about how she came to us," Kurt said.

"True," Blaine said. Acey finished the bottle and Blaine put her against his shoulder to massage her back, hoping for a burp. She started fussing and there was no burp forthcoming. Blaine rubbed and rubbed her back, but it didn't help.

"Want me to try?" Kurt offered, holding his hands out.

"Yeah, it's not fair to her that I suck at this," Blaine said, gingerly handing Acey to Kurt.

"Excuse me! Take that back. You don't suck at it. You've never done it before! Neither have I. Does that mean I suck?" Kurt asked.

"Of course not. I didn't mean it, I guess. I just want to be good at being a dad, that's all," Blaine said, rubbing his chin.

"I know you do. So do I. Together, I know we'll be good parents, I really do. We'll get to know Acey and all her little signals and sounds. We'll get better at feeding and burping and changing her in time. For now, we just work together, work around our weak spots and just love her," Kurt said encouragingly.

Blaine kissed Kurt's forehead. "You are amazing, you know that, right?"

Kurt kissed him on the lips. "Of course I knew that. I'm fabulous and we have a fabulous daughter. And now we have a fabulous life."

"Fabulous," Blaine murmured before kissing Kurt deeply.

A few minutes later a tiny burp escaped their daughter. They 'aw'd' at the sound and were genuinely pleased with themselves. Putting her back in her bassinet, which had wheels, they pushed her into the master bedroom next to theirs. Blaine began bringing back all of the baby clothes and supplies and Kurt put them all away, noting the need for a new dresser and some shelving.

They cooed over Acey as they worked, sometimes needing to stop in order to snuggle her. Kurt changed her clothes and then changed them again, until he was finally satisfied. Blaine teased him and Kurt reminded him it was never too early to be fashionable.

Blaine set up the baby monitor and went to put the speakers in the living room and their bedroom. Walking back to the master nursery, as they were now calling it, he saw Kurt with Acey in his arms, tears trickling down his cheeks.

Hurrying to his side, Blaine held his arms out. "Baby, what is it? What's wrong? Is Acey okay?"
"She's fine," Kurt said, sniffing. "Blaine, I don't want her in here. It's too far away from me. From us. I want her in our bedroom."

"Oh, baby, of course. I didn't bring it up because I thought you would want her in here. The nurse kept talking about having a proper nursery and all. But I agree, she should be with us. We'll put the rocking chair and other changing table in there too. Does that sound good?" Blaine asked. They had found a second changing table, still in its box, and figured it could only be a good thing to have more than one.

Kurt wiped his eyes, balancing Acey against his chest. "That's wonderful," Kurt said. "I'm so glad you agree. I don't think I could have handled it if she'd had to sleep in her all by herself."

"Same here," Blaine said.

. . . . . .

Over dinner, Blaine commented on the changing table in the living room.

"I'm kind of surprised you were okay with having it in there. It doesn't exactly complement the design aesthetic," he said.

"To hell with the aesthetic," Kurt said, his chin up. "It's for our daughter. Besides, I could always drape a lovely swath of silk around it if I need to."

Blaine laughed and kissed his husband. Just as their daughter was perfect, his husband was perfect as well.

. . . . . .

Kurt jerked awake, his stomach jumping. What had woke him up? Reaching over, he felt the other half of the bed and found it empty. Hearing a quiet voice, he looked over at the changing table in the corner of the room. Blaine was finishing up changing her and put her back in her sleeping gown. Kurt smiled and settled down to watch his husband and daughter. Acelynn began crying and Blaine rocked her and began to sing.

Come stop your crying

It will be alright

Just take my hand

Hold it tight

I will protect you

From all around you

I will be here

Don't you cry

For one so small,

You seem so strong

My arms will hold you,

Keep you safe and warm

This bond between us

Can't be broken

I will be here

Don't you cry

'Cause you'll be in my heart

Yes, you'll be in my heart

From this day on

Now and forever more

You'll be in my heart

No matter what they say

You'll be here in my heart, always

Why can't they understand the way we feel?

They just don't trust what they can't explain

I know we're different but deep inside us

We're not that different at all

And you'll be in my heart

Yes, you'll be in my heart

From this day on

Now and forever more

Don't listen to them

'Cause what do they know?

We need each other

To have, to hold.

They'll see in time

I know

When destiny calls you

You must be strong

I may not be with you

But you've got to hold on

They'll see in time

I know

We'll show them together

'Cause you'll be in my heart

Believe me, you'll be in my heart

From this day on,

Now and forever more

Oh, you'll be in my heart

No matter what they say

You'll be here in my heart, always

Always

Just look over your shoulder

I'll be there always.

Blaine went to put Acelynn in her bassinet next to the bed and felt a hand on his back. Kurt smiled at him as he brushed a finger across their daughter's tiny forehead.

"Tarzan, huh?" he said, referring to the Disney movie the song had come from.

"It fit the moment," Blaine said with a smile.

"It did," Kurt agreed.

They stood watching their daughter for a few minutes, arms around each other. Kurt leaned into his husband, turning to hug him fully.

"I am so in love with you," Kurt whispered.

"And I am so in love with you," Blaine agreed.

"Who would have thought, back in that horrendous court room, that we would not only like each other, but fall in love?" Kurt said.

"I know. We are definitely more lucky than a lot of people out there. It was a kind hearted Fate that brought us together that day," Blaine said.

"Indeed. I love you, Blaine Hummel. I love you Acelynn Hummel," Kurt said, one arm around Blaine, the other reaching out to lightly touch Acelynn.

Blaine mimicked the pose, touching their daughter's tiny hand. "I love you, too, Kurt Hummel and Acelynn Hummel. We are a family now."

Kurt smiled brilliantly at him. "We are. I couldn't be happier if we tried."

Leaning in to kiss each other, the two realized their lives were finally complete.

. . . . . . . .

Epilogue

With the help of the top Scrap surgeon in the country, little Acelynn Hummel was given the digits and toes she'd been born without. They were so perfectly done that even her parents couldn't tell which ones she'd been missing. She grew up happy and well adjusted, filled with love for people that she had learned from her dads.

But not even her dads could keep away the ignorance of people who couldn't stand anything different from her.

One day when she was eight, she came home crying because kids had made fun of her dual toned hair and eyes. Kurt and Blaine cuddled her between them on the couch.

"But Daddy and Papa, I don't look any different than the rest of them! Becky has freckles all over her face and Tommy is almost as tall as Mrs. Miller. They are different than anyone else. Why do I have to be the one they make fun of?" Acelynn said, tears streaming from her green and brown eyes.

"Darling, I am so sorry. I wish I had the answer for you. People don't like those who are different. Sometimes it makes them uncomfortable. I was made fun of when I was in school because I fell in love with boys and not girls," Kurt told her.

"That's just silly, Daddy. You can't decide who you will love, it just happens," she said matter-of-factly.

Blaine grinned. "And that, my sweet girl, is why you have such a big and loving heart. You love people equally and I don't ever want that to go away. You will change the world with your love, I just know it."

"Will you sing it for me, Daddy and Papa?" Acelynn asked, looking at back and forth between her parents.

"Of course, sweetheart," Kurt said and began to sing. They'd been singing the short song to her ever since she was a toddler. It comforted her and reminded her that she was never alone. Not as long as her Daddy and Papa were around to love her, which they would be for all the days of their lives.

All through the night we'll be watching over you

And all through the night we'll be standing over you

And through bad dreams we'll be right there baby

holding your hand, telling you everything's going to be alright

When you cry we'll be there baby

telling you you're never nothing less than beautiful

So don't you worry

We're your angels standing by.

They lived happily and uniquely ever after…

And when little Acelynn Hummel grew up, she began fighting the system that would allow parents to hand pick traits which inevitably ended with 'Scrap' children. Backed by over half a million people and even more signatures and votes, they marched on Washington and the government had no choice but to listen. The laws were changed and the word scrap, once again, returned to meaning nothing more than bread crumbs.

THE END

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I hope you enjoyed the story as much as I enjoyed writing it. The song "Angel Standing By" is by Jewel. I changed the "I" parts to "we" in order to fit in the story better. Let me know what you think!