Like A Record Baby (5/5)
Summary: It takes months for the dust to settle, and when it does the landscape has changed completely. "Can I ask you two questions?" "Shoot." "One, why haven't you gone to see Quinn again, and two, what's going on with you and Bland -er, Blaine?"
Pairing: David/Kurt (Kurtofsky) but contains all of New Directions in one way or another.
Rating: R
Spoilers: Up to 3X14 "On My Way"
Warning: Only cursing, really. And un-beta'd, of course. If someone else notices something let me know and I'll put it in the warning.
Disclaimer: I do not own Glee. If I did Kurt would've kissed Dave as soon as he'd taken off the gorilla mask.
Monday's Glee rehearsal was more of a party than practice for Nationals (which seemed to be creeping up on them) after Mr. and the almost Mrs. Schuester (the wedding was set for June 15th, the Friday after graduation, so the two educators would be on summer break and free to honeymoon in lands afar) made the announcement.
"We've finished collecting and counting the donations, and after recieving an anonymous check-"
"-which Sue claims smells like the anchorman Rod Remington-"
"-in the amount of TEN THOUSAND-"
"WHAT?"
"-we have a grand total of-"
"-$18,572," they announced the final number in unison, twin grins on their faces.
Cheers were shattering ear drums, the girls were hugging and crying, and a few minutes later Nikky surprised them by showing up to share in the good news. After she revealed that the money more than covered what the insurance wouldn't they'd spent the afternoon breaking into random songs and drinking sparkling cider ('Laaame, why wasn't I put on drink duty?' Puck had groaned out) out of champagne flutes that someone had snagged.
Kurt was riding a high from the giddiness in the air when he linked his arm through David's, took a sip from his flute, and announced that he wanted to go see Quinn on Friday.
David was giving him a proud, satisfied smile, and Kurt was just about to reacquaint himself with the feeling of David's arm's around him, maybe try to identify David's cologne, when Finn interrupted. He didn't get another moment alone with David for the rest of the celebration.
That night he accidentally interrupted Finn and Rachel's make out session in the family room. What? He couldn't very well miss Body of Proof for their round of tonsil hockey, now could he?
-
The days tended to pass in a blur for Quinn, measured by nurse check ups and physical therapy appointments.
She stumbled across the news in a rare private moment when she was feeling almost normal, watching TV and pretending she was lying on the couch at home channel surfing. She was pulled from her daydream when she saw the date- Wednesday, April 4th. Had it really been over a month since the accident, she wondered? An entire month of her life; come and passed right before her eyes.
The silent place in her mind was calling to her when the door opened to reveal Artie, who peeked his head in before rolling towards the bed. His eyes landed on her wheelchair and he hummed in approval.
"At least they're not skimping on quality wheels," he commented drolly.
Without her consent her eyebrow quirked, her usual reaction to Artie's dry humor.
"Hi," she said, and it came out hoarse but sounded almost like a genuine welcome.
"Hey Quinn," Artie said softly. "We brought the benefit video, I finally finished editing it this afternoon."
Before she could respond Finn, Puck, and Sam were entering the room to set up a projector and speakers, stretching out a while sheet on the wall across from her bed; and then walking out with quick waves to prone girl. Quinn noticed that Puck was wearing a suspicious smirk on his face before all three were gone as quickly as they'd appeared.
"Enjoy," Artie said before rolling towards the door, clicking on the projector and turning off the ceilings lights on his way out.
Quinn watched as her friends sang "Keep Holding On" and was annoyed at how easily it affected her, memories and emotions crashing through her carefully constructed dams. She felt herself break fully as she watched Santana sing "You're My Best Friend", and by the time Kurt and Rachel's "For Good" came to an end she was shaking, her still healing hand (her wrist wrapped in a splint that allowed only her fingers to move; she could only take off the itchy, heavy healing aide off during PT) curled against her stomach as she sobbed into a pillow, her almost healed collarbone twinging at the heaving of her chest.
That was how Shelby found her, the older woman rushing up to the bed to put a hand on Quinn's back,rubbing softly and encouraging her to breathe.
Quinn was still breathing heavily but the shaking had subsided. Shelby took as step back as the blonde let out a final shudder before manuevering her hand to her side and wiping her cheeks with a napkin from next to her mostly untouched dinner.
Shelby's eyes lingered on the plate full of food as she allowed Quinn more time to calm. She seemed to debate with herself before, eyes still on the plate, she spoke in an authoratative tone.
"If you plan on getting better and being able to hold Beth then you need to not only do your exercises, you also have to eat and build up your strength because," she took a deep breath and turned her sharp eyes on Quinn, "you look like a ghost and I won't have our daughter exposed to that."
Quinn gaped, overwhelmingly aware of her stringy hair and the dark bags under her eyes.
"What- I don't- Beth?" Quinn floundered, used to the feeling of coming to in the middle of someone's monologue, though not usually caring. But... Beth?
"Ask Puck, because I'm not quite sure how it happened, but he convinced me to move a town close to New Haven so that you can start a new life outside of Lima that includes our daughter."
Shelby gave Quinn a steady look and when the younger woman didn't respond her eyes flashed dangerously. "There is a strict 'no funny business' clause to this, Quinn. If I so much as suspect that you're trying to mess with me or mine again we'll be gone and you'll never hear from us again. I've already spoken to my lawyer about this-"
"Lawyer?" Quinn asked weakly, feeling even more lost.
"Did you think after the stunt you pulled that I didn't double and triple check my rights?" Shelby asked firmly but gently. "I only want non-destructive people in Beth's life. I know without a doubt how much you love her so if you think you've learned something... I'm willing to give you one more chance."
"But I'm not... Yale isn't an option anymore," Quinn stated sullenly, to exhausted to fight against the onslaught of emotions after holding them in for so long.
"Why not?" Shelby inquired. "You've already been accepted, the hard part's over-"
"Over?! Let's totally forget how my hand doesn't work and that I can't do anything on my own. I shouldn't be allowed in public. Beth's probably better off- That truck killed a part of me.... I don't feel anymore," she explained vehemently, but even as she spoke fresh tears poured from her eyes. Stupid friends and their stupid benefit, undoing all of Quinn's careful shutting down in one fell swoop. How pointless was the constant radical acceptance she'd been encorcing (acceptance that she was doomed to an empty life as a nothing and a no one) if, when people tried to rub hope in her face, she actually fell for it?
"The girl I walked in on was definitely feeling something, multiple something's as far as I could tell." Shelby approached the bed again, gripping Quinn's right hand.
"I have something for you," Shelby whispered, smiling a soft, secret smile before releasing Quinn's hand and reaching for her purse.
She pulled out and unfolded a pink piece of construction paper with red hand prints on it, and feet prints in an attempted heart shape. Across the top it read "Happy Valentine's Day Momma", and Quinn stared at it, soaking it in, barely hearing as Shelby explained how she'd asked the nursery school to make one for all three parents, having given Puck his earlier.
Eyes still on the construction paper, which Shelby had fastened above the overcrowded pinboard, Quinn whispered, "So Puck arranged this, huh?"
She fixed Shelby with her own heavy, loaded gaze. Deflection seemed her last option.
"He really cares about you," Shelby said firmly. Well there went that plan of action. "A lot of people care about you, Quinn. So I'm going to do them a favor and offer you some incentive; I'm going to come by tomorrow night with Beth if you get a full night's sleep, eat three square meals, and participate in your PT tomorrow. Fair trade? I will not bring her until those three things happen." She wasn't trying to use Beth as a bargaining chip... well she kind of was, but she figured drastic times and all. And it was Puck's idea so who's surprised if it was a little callous.
Quinn sat thoughtful, eyes once again on the Valentine bearing impressions of her daughter's tiny hands and feet.
"I think I can do that," Quinn whispered.
-
"I'm going to be absent from tonight's GSA, would you be so kind as to get a copy of the minutes to me tomorrow?" Rachel asked breathlessly, coming up to Kurt before the first bell.
"Why do you look so... giddy?" Kurt inquired warily. Rachel was practically vibrating.
"Something wonderful has happened Kurt. When I dropped some banana bread off for Quinn before school she THANKED ME and then ATE SOME OF IT!" Her hands gripped his wrists and tightened with each emphasised word.
Other students milling about looked on in either annoyance or amusement. The fugue that had seemed to grip the school had lightened once Quinn was awake, and the closer prom, graduation, and summer became the more the mood seemed to improve.
Random people still walked up to ask about Quinn but in general the students seemed to be back in the 'I'm young and nothing can touch me,' mindset, tragedy once again a foreign concept only experienced through mass media.
"That's great news, Rachel."
Kurt felt the weight that had settled along with his determination to go see Quinn shiver and shift. Maybe it wouldn't be as painful as he expected and he'll manage to remain strong and explain himself rationally. Maybe.
"Yes it is. She still looks a bit distant but... it was as if she'd managed to move closer. To top it all of she actually requested my presence immediately after school, so of course I couldn't decline. I went as far as to ask if she was feeling better and she, she said she was feeling," Rachel elaborated, tears of pain and joy mixing together in a smooth glide down her cheeks.
"Can you tell her that I would like to come tomorrow but if she doesn't want me there..."
Rachel seemed to snap out of her emotions and zoned in on Kurt's before slapping him across the shoulder.
"Stop it right now. If you all believe I need to stop blaming myself for... Well, if you think that, then I think you need to stop worrying that Quinn is upset with you."
Rachel's voice had risen, a small smile on her face.
"Things are looking up Kurt. I will tell Quinn that you'll be stopping by tomorrow and I'm sure she'll be delighted."
Kurt gave her a disbelieving look but she stubbornly kept a perky smile on her face, nodding slowly.
He shoved her lightly before shutting his locker with a flick of his wrist.
"Alright Baby Barbra, I'll trust your judgement." He shifted his books in his arms. "Too bad you're missing tonight, we have three new members. I'm surprised it's still growing," he said, bringing the conversation back to the GSA.
"I'm not, mostly. Usually I doubt the thriving humanity of McKinley but I think Santana is to thank for much of the positive response."
They stopped outside of Kurt's homeroom, Kurt once again wearing a befuddled expression.
"Think about it; the Bully Whips were secretly admired and they called attention to the fact that we all have the power to stop bullying. And now you've helped everyone find a place to learn the courage to do just that. You're an inspiration, Kurt." Rachel praised, before throwing her arms around him.
"See you in English!"
She pulled back and took off towards her own homeroom, Kurt walking into the classroom with a slight bounce in his step.
-
That night just as Kurt was beginning his sleeptime hair and face routine, he heard the front door open and familiar sobs coming from the living room.
He raced downstairs with his heart in his throat until he saw Rachel laughing in the living room, Finn looking as baffled as Kurt felt.
"Rach?" Finn prompted, not having gotten anything intelligable out of Rachel save for 'Beth' and he knew if Beth was near Shelby was as well.
"I'm okay, I'm sorry. I just feel like everything's been on pause and now suddenly it's moving extra fast to make up for the lost time," she explained, her arms flapping about even as another manic chuckle bubbled out of her. "Quinn smirked and almost laughed, I could tell! And the way she did her physical therapy- as if she'd been doing it all along... I knew, I knew..."
"Knew what?" Kurt asked, confused by this new development.
"She told me she's finally found incentive but when I asked more she sort of shut down again so I stopped prying. Then as I was leaving I saw; Puck, Shelby and Beth showed up."
"Oh wow," Kurt said, appreciating how good and bad that news was. "Are you-?"
The question hung in the air, Finn grateful that Kurt had asked because, damnit, Rachel was emotional enough with Quinn and college and the wedding and worrying about Puck graduating... And now Shelby was back. Finn had totally forgotten Puck had e-mailed her.
"I'm absolutely ecstatic about the affect it's having on Quinn, and that's what matter." She sighed, her whole body sagging sideways into Finn. "That's all that matters right now."
-
Kurt's last thought before he closed his eyes that night was that he'd forgotten to ask a now sleeping Rachel if she'd told Quinn of his impending visit.
His dream was the strangest he'd had in a while; he was in a long line that stretched down the street, every one in it cheerily chatting to those around them, not seeming to mind at all that the line was moving at a snail's pace. Kurt wasn't sure what he was in line for, exactly, but he knew it was important so he stayed put.
His eyes kept landing on a bright red house in front of him, and Dream!Kurt had always admired the house, could just catch a glimpse of a spiral stair case he ached to climb, had coveted for the longest time. The envy was growing steadily until a friendly, familiar, but ultimately unknown face looked out through a window, the strangers eyes landing on Kurt.
Suddenly the house was much closer than Kurt remembered and the window was opening, the stranger reaching a hand towards Kurt expectantly.
"I've been waiting. Have you?" a smooth, husky voice whispered in Kurt's ear.
But when Dream!Kurt blinked he was back in line, staring at the red house longingly yet incapable of approaching before the line snaked forward, much faster than before, and the dream shifted.
He woke up the next morning to an aching chest, throbbing erection, and no memory of any dreams.
-
After school on Friday David went with Kurt to the hospital as promised (Rachel hadn't even asked if he wanted her to come, surprisingly enough), but when they reached Quinn's floor Dave stepped in to the waiting room at the end of the hall.
"I'm here if you need me, but I wanna give you guys privacy. Take your time."
Kurt glared but David just turned his attention to a sports magazine and Kurt threw his hands up in exasperation before turning and forcing his feet towards Quinn's room.
When Kurt arrived at Quinn's door he was surprised to see she wasn't there. He walked in slowly and took it all in; fresh flower arrangements, Puck's guitar lounging in a corner, the pinboard and surrounding wall covered in pictures and cards, including a Valentine addressed to 'Momma'.
Kurt was staring unseeingly at the board, wondering idly where Quinn could be, when he heard a squeak of wheels and a male's voice.
"I know it's frustrating but I think you're overlooking the upside. We could all do with a little less technology in our lives."
"Probably, but I miss-"
They never heard what Quinn missed as her eyes landed on Kurt and her mouth snapped shut.
"Hi Quinn," he whispered, probably not loudly enough to be heard.
"I'm going to get the nurse in here to help you into bed," the man attached to the voice wearing bright red scrubs said before walking out of the room.
Quinn sat unmoving but her eyes on Kurt were scrutinizing. He met them directly and she looked away.
"David told me what you said," Kurt began, not sure what else he could say for himself. 'I'm sorry' was bullshit sometimes; he had stayed away for a reason, and he knew it probably made him a bad friend but if given another chance he'd do it the same way.
"I figured he was the only one you'd listen to," Quinn admitted, and although she was looking at her hands, her right rubbing and stretching the fingers on her left, Kurt could tell that Rachel was right; she was coming back to them.
Kurt didn't get a chance to respond as the nurse and red scrubbed whatever he was (physical therapist?) walked back in, the nurse rolling Quinn and positioning her parrallel with the bed that was being lowered by the mystery man.
Kurt looked back towards the pinboard as Quinn was lifted onto the bed, not sure he'd want an audience for that himself.
"Rachel talks a lot," Quinn said to his back, and when he turned around they were alone in the room.
"I've noticed?"
"Hmm. So do Tina and Mercedes, even Santana. You have no idea how much people will talk when they know you're not listening," and then she giggled. Giggled.
"Why didn't you tell anyone it was Beth that would help? For weeks your family and friends have been trying to break through and all you needed was Beth?" It was out of him before he knew it, but Kurt didn't want to take it back.
He knew he hadn't been there but that was because he'd watched how much this was hurting everyone around him. And now he was maybe a little ticked that it had taken one visit from Shelby and Beth for her to put in effort. To care.
Quinn shrugged delicately and that annoyed Kurt even further. He'd prepared himself for being distraught, not angry, and Kurt tried to collect his thoughts and listen to Quinn without saying something snippy he'd regret later.
"I didn't know what I needed. I wasn't here, I wasn't in my own head." She shrugged again. "I'm finally talking to the therapist. And my mom. And my doctors. And Rachel and Puck and Shelby." She giggled again, and it reminded him of when Rachel was overdosing on her emotions. Girls.
"You're making up for lost time," Kurt said, hoping it came out with no bite.
"Guess so."
They were silent, Kurt still standing near the card covered wall.
"I get why you're mad." Her voice sounded like the old no bullshit Quinn, with just a hint of something new and different.
Kurt pulled at the side of his hair lightly before forcing his arm down. "Then explain it to me, because it came out of left field," he admitted.
"I'm a hypocrite. Going on about how what Dave did was selfish, and here I was having survived an almost fatal accident, sitting around hurting everyone who tried to help. But I just... couldn't think, couldn't feel, couldn't reach out. The therapist calls it dissociating. I call it being afraid." That's what was different; Quinn Fabray was being totally transparent.
Kurt shook his head as the anger seeped from his veins. "You're not a hypocrite, and if anyone knows about being afraid it's me. I just-" he continued when Quinn looked ready to protest before shaking his head when he no words came to mind.
She was healing, he was dealing, and he was finally here to see her. Kurt kept that in mind before asking his next question.
"So you figured this all out in one day of therapy?"
"One day of therapy and over a month of existing in my own head," she corrected, still looking wary of where they stood.
He pulled himself away from the wall and took a seat in the chair beside her.
"I thought you said you couldn't think?" he reminded her, not totally understanding Quinn's behavior and finding he really wanted to. Needed to.
"Sometimes... it would seem like days passed by in a haze, and on other days I'd be aware but, I don't know, stuck. The thoughts and emotions would build up and I'd fight against them before falling in to another lull. Over and over and over."
"But you're back now?" he clarified, regretting it when Quinn's eyes fell on her splinted hand. She lifted it and brought it up between them, seperating her fingers as wide as they could go before the pain above her wrist flared and she laid it back down.
"I'm getting there."
-
Kurt had lingered in the hospital room with Quinn for a bit, their conversation drifting from PT to Beth and Shelby. Their visit was cut short when, speak of the devils, the two walked in to the hospital room preceeded by Beth's babbling (she'd learned the word 'puppy' and it has been on repeat ever since).
Dave straggled in behind them and Kurt popped up guiltily, having forgotten that David was waiting for him. Kurt turned back to Quinn to say goodbye and when she wrapped her arms around Kurt's neck, squeezing so tightly it hurt (probably on purpose), Kurt felt his weighted shoulders lighten.
"So we're both forgiven?" he whispered in her ear before pulling back. He reached out and ran his fingers lightly over her chopped hair.
"If you can somehow fix this," Quinn pointed to the uneven cut of her blonde locks, "then yes." And she smile a peaced smile as Shelby plopped a still chattering Beth on Quinn's right side.
"Done," Kurt answered before waving politely to Shelby and walking towards David, reaching for the taller's boys hand and heading home.
-
"It's exactly like Rachel said- the movie of Quinn's life has been on pause and now it's skipped ahead and Quinn's happily playing catch up," Kurt explained to Blaine over sales racks the next day. He'd desperately needed retail therapy and Blaine had jumped at the suggestion.
"Do you think it's fake- the happy part?" Blaine queried, mindful of Kurt's tone.
"Not exactly." Kurt picked up a shirt and examined it, a sound of annoyance escaping him when he saw the delicate fabric sporting a pull. "Not at all, actually," he continued, carelessly stuffing the shirt back. "It just goes to show why I'd never want to be a doctor. It's all so..."
He gave up on trying to find a word to describe the confusion and nonsense and pain that involved recovery.
"If it counts you seem happy," Blaine pointed out before practically drooling over the bow tie collection in front of him.
"I am, I think. You, on the other hand, are emitting a glow so bright I was afraid to remove my sunglasses," Kurt observed.
Blaine froze in his reach for a tie, slowly turning his smiling face towards Kurt before visibly hesitating. Kurt laughed. "What?"
"I don't know if it's too soon but- Sebastian asked me to prom!"
Kurt's eyebrows shot up to his hairline. Sure he was happy for Blaine, knew that they'd made the right choice in breaking up. And yet.
"I thought you said drawing attention to yourself was a bad idea?" he reminded Blaine, turning to the boots he'd been drawn to. Jimmy Choos marked down from $280? Yes, please.
"I might have said something ignorant like that, once upon a time," Blaine answered from under a pile of dinner jackets. "Luckily I know someone much wiser and braver than I." That earned a scoff from Kurt.
"They have prom at Dalton now?" Kurt asked. He didn't remember that.
"No... Well they have a 'Spring Formal' with the sister school, but you can't bring outsiders to that." Kurt rolled his eyes at the word 'outsiders'. "He asked me to McKinley prom."
"He asked you to your own prom?"
"That's what I said."
"And you said yes?"
"I did."
Their eyes finally met before Kurt was forced to shift his hold of the contents in his arms.
"Congratulations," Kurt said. "I mean it," he emphasised; he wasn't sure how long the subject of Sebastian would make him want to throw things, but he decided to spare the Gucci bag in front of him. It deserved better.
"Thanks, babe. I wasn't planning on going since most of the group'll be at senior prom this year. Sometimes I forget that I'm only a junior," Blaine laughed, Kurt nodding in agreement. "Has Dave asked you yet?" the shorter boy made his eyebrows dance as he spoke.
"No he has not, and if he had we'd be going as friends," Kurt responded, teeth clenched through the last word. "And anyway, we tend to avoid the 'p' word since the last one ended so abysmally, at least for David. The one time it came up he mentioned his cousin Sonia, so I presume he'll be bringing her. Maybe I'll go look for a date at Scandal's," he huffed out and Blaine gasped happily.
"Ooh please choose Tina," he said, bouncing around so that the belts he'd acquired clanked and jingled.
Kurt snorted again before grabbing up a blouse that would work wonders in his continued efforts to improve Rachel's wardrobe, all the while Blaine listed the merits of Tina over Cher.
"Maybe you and Dave will at least get to dance together this time," Blaine mused as they walked up to the register. The almost forgotten sensation of not recognizing his life or the people in it poked at Kurt's senses.
"I need coffee," he mumbled to himself.
-
"I can't believe I just sat through Titanic. Again," Dave mumbled around his straw.
"I can't believe you're still complaining," Sonia sighed out, her hazel eyes glinting gold in the setting sunlight as she dazed off dreamily. "Leonardo DiCaprio in 3D? It doesn't get better than that, Davey."
"Yeah, pretty sure there were also a pair of boobs staring at me for a while."
"Leonardo DiCaprio, David!"
"Whatever," he waved her off.
"What's got your panties in a twist?" Sonia asked before looking lovingly at her own gelati. "I for one am near delirious between the Rita's, that sunset, those flowers and, ugh, Leo's baby blue's."
"Kurt's eyes are better," Dave was back to mumbling, slurping his drink loudly to drown out Sonia's knowing, "Aaaah".
"So my plan to distract you backfired and you just thought about Kurt the entire time?"
Dave put his smoothie down and ran his cool, condensation-moistened hand over his warming face.
"Not the entire time," he denied into his hand before lowering it and shrugging jerkily. "It's not your fault, nothing works anyway. I'm pretty sure on a scale of one to ten, I hit hopeless about twelve miles back." Dave picked up his drink and stared at it morosely.
"And you're sure he doesn't feel the same way?" Sonia asked for the millionth time since the boys' first GSA-inspired hang out.
When she'd transferred to Ohio State in the fall semester Dave had thrown a bit of a fit, but after a phone call in the middle of an August night, the night of Sonia's 22nd birthday (the first time Sonia had heard the words 'I'm gay' and 'Fancy' and 'WhatdoIdo'), the decision had been made for both of them and she'd gone where she was needed. It took her about a month to get David's side of what his year had been like, but she was sure she knew most of it now.
"Zo, I'm lucky he cares about me as a friend. Shit, I'm still shocked every time I remember he trusts me. I don't expect more and you shouldn't either; Valentine's Day made that clear. But..."
"But?" she hedged.
"But that doesn't mean that I'm not pathetically, like certified insane, way over my head in love with him."
"Titanic probably was a bad idea," she conceded, mouth full of red ice and vanilla cream.
"I hate you."
-
Sunday was a banner evening in the Karofsky house as Kurt experienced making potato, spinach, and cheese perogies from scratch with David and his paternal grandmother, Anna.
Sonia, Paul, Paul's brother Dan and his wife, Adrianna, were gathered in the living room, a Bon Jovi song playing in the background. His aunt and uncle's seven month old Sarah waved happily from her exer-saucer at their chocolate lab, Reese, whom they'd brought along because they couldn't possibly leave her home.
It was Anna's 71st birthday and when David had told Kurt about the family get together Kurt had assumed it was to cancel their ritual meeting/hang out, but he'd insisted that Kurt join them.
That's how he found himself with flour covered hands wearing an apron that warned 'Danger: Men Cooking'.
"I didn't know you made perogies with your chin, musta been doing it wrong all these years," Dave chortled out, looking at Kurt with undisguised mirth written across his face. Kurt merely puffed out his chest.
"I'd start worrying that the student may have already surpassed the teacher," Kurt responded before picking up a napkin to wipe the wayward flour from his chin.
Dave raised an eyebrow, crossing his arm's over his own apron's message- 'Dude With The Food'.
"We haven't even eaten them yet, we can't know whose batch came out better until they've cooked."
"Mine are not only going to be delicious, but they're aesthetically pleasing as well," Kurt answered, raising his own eyebrow at his perfectly half moon shaped and smoothly edged batch before turning a now creased brow to David's group of lumpy perogies.
"Just you wait. You think Gran and I share every secret we have?"
As if on cue Anna shuffled up to them, frizzy hair covered in a net as her green and orange floral housecoat clashed vividly with her purple blouse and khaki colored trousers.
"It's not a contest, boys. They'll all taste delicious if you've followed the recipe."
"I think he's bluffing; mine are shaped exactly like yours," Kurt replied with a sweet smile. Dave rolled his eyes when she seemed to dither before she complimented his efforts and started tenderly placing the perogies onto the baking pan.
(His Gran had actually pulled Dave aside earlier and told him he'd 'snagged a good one' and then continued to fawn over Kurt like he was the second coming. Apparently Anna Karofsky's favorite stories were General Hospital and As the World Turns, and Dave believed his Aunt Dranna when she told him and his father about Gran writing the producers of the latter show, not only in protest of the series ending but of the horrible way they'd left Luke and Noah's storyline. The well meaning woman had encouraged David to watch it and he'd tried, but it had hit a little too close to home so he'd told her it was good and left it at that.)
"They'll all come out inedible unless you've added the most important ingrediant," Sonia spoke from the archway, a shit eating grin on her face.
"Zo," Dave groaned, hoping she'd censor herself in front of Gran. She usually did but she was on her second glass of wine.
"Oh Davey, I was going to say love!"
Kurt laughed quietly as he watched Dave nod disbelievingly, but Anna was the one who responded.
"That's actually written in every one of my recipe," she informed her grandson's cousin. Sonia was David's mother's brother's daughter, though she wasn't close to her parent and she hadn't spoken to her Aunt Katrina outside of random gatherings in years.
"Is it really?" Sonia asked, before looking for herself and going on and on about how cute Anna was and how her grandmother chainsmoked and wouldn't turn off the Real Housewives shows.
As the food cooked David, Kurt and Sonia drifted from the adults and were sitting around Dave's backyard table.
"So you spent a lot of time here growing up?" Kurt asked Sonia, neither of them noticing David stiffening.
"Not really. Been here a handful of times but Aunt Kat- ah, she never had family parties here. My parent's mansion usually house those beloved affairs," she said, mimicking a high society accent.
"Mansion?"
"Yep, I grew up in a veritable museum. In my old town if three people lived in a house, there had to be at least six bedrooms. At least," she scoffed. "I've actually always envied your small town."
"And I've always told her she was insane," Dave added.
"I must go fetch myself some more of this wine, it's freaking dee-lish." Sonia drained her glass and smacked her lips happily, ignoring Dave's, "Save some room for the food."
"She's great David," Kurt said as he watched Sonia walk away singing ,"Fill up my cup- Mazel Tov!"
Dave shook his head at her back before grudgingly admitting, "She has her moments."
Kurt wanted to know more about Sonia, namely how they'd gotten so close if she lived in some snobby town far from here, her accent giving her away as being from New York or New Jersey, but found his mouth working against his brain.
"How are things with your mom?"
It was the one subject David refused to get in to and while Kurt figured he at least spoke to Sonia about it, he really wanted David to share it with him as well. It was a strange fixation Kurt had developed since the day they watched "West Side Story".
Dave just sat there, observing the way the glass table top warped the lines in the wood of the deck before sighing, figuring the conversation was long overdue and Kurt deserved to know; could be trusted with Dave's biggest weakness.
For his part Kurt waited quietly, knowing David would either answer or politely change the subject.
"Last I heard from her was about a week ago." Dave, eyes still staring through the tabletop, readied himself to finally share this with Kurt. Kurt, who remained silent and still, his hands laced on top of the table just within Dave's line of vision.
"She was always absent, even before the divorce, but she seemed to think she could still control me and Dad, even when her 'work' took her across the country." Dave looked through the sliding door when Sonia slid it closed with her still inside. His cousin wasn't any better than Santana at being subtle and he was reminded why those two could NEVER meet. His eyes went back to the table.
"Anyway, after The Incident she went back in California with her new fiancé. Told me that when I graduate I can either move in with them and go to this special Bible study college for, get this, a special course in purity, hint fucking hint... OR I lose my inheritance money."
"Inheritance?" Dave saw Kurt's hands seperate before an elbow landed in their place, Kurt's delicately cradled chin coming in to view. Dave moved his eyes to the candle.
"Yeah, the reason she can live whatever way she wants to is my Grandpa's inheritance. I was born just before he passed away and he made one in my name. Can't access it 'til I'm 21 or married, whichever happens first. And we both know which that'll be," David said self-deprecatingly.
"And your mom is able to prevent you from getting it?" Kurt clarified, trying to hide the anger he felt towards David's so-called 'mother'. He recalled David's comment in the cafeteria; 'I just don't get why they even had kids in the first place.'
"I don't know the legalities, Dad's having his lawyer look into it but," Dave shrugged, hand reaching to fidget with the candle holder in the middle of the table, fingers skimming the heated honey-colored glass, "I don't want the money anyway."
"How much is it?" Kurt bit his runaway tongue, feeling insensitive at the question.
"About $250,000." Kurt stopped himself from gaping (not that David would see it, he thought to himself, more bothered than he should be that David wouldn't look at him).
"Think it's meant to help me buy my first home since he made the money in real estate and all," Dave surmised in the silence. "But that whole side of the family thinks so highly of themselves and I don't want anything to do with them. I'll make my own way."
Kurt knew David's stubborness could rival his own so he nodded in understanding but he had one thinking point to share.
"Your future is more important than pride and that amount of money could drastically affect your future, like say college loans," Kurt missed David's eyes darting up in surprise as he'd fixed his own gaze on the burning candle, "and you shouldn't be so quick to dismiss being able to own a home. Especially these days."
"It's all a moot point if she has her way," Dave mumbled before sighing and bringing both hands up to hold his forehead, elbows on the table. "Sometimes I remember her actually being a mom, ya know, like reading to me and all that other stuff you see in Hallmark movies. And I think that makes it worse; like it's my fault she stopped caring, she knew there was something wrong with me-"
"Nothing is wrong with you, David," Kurt cut in sharply.
Now he understood why Dave didn't talk about his mom, the look on his face reminding Kurt of terrified denials; a trapped animal just before it's made the choice between fight or flight. It made Kurt's chest ache painfully, his hands clenching so tightly he winced at his nails digging into his palms.
"I know," David's answered meekly. "I know, logically, it's her who has a problem." Kurt couldn't stand it anymore and placed a hand, palm up, just next to the burning candle. David reached out his own and gently interlaced their fingers before pressing their palms together. With his eyes on their hands David's voice grew stronger.
"Every day that she chooses something, anything, over loving me unconditionally she fails in her duty as a mother." He huffed out a tight laugh. "Ms. Pillsbury makes me repeat that every time I see her."
"Good, because it's the truth. And not only that, she misses out on knowing her..."
Kurt trailed off, finally looking into David's eyes. He saw the other boy's lips start to turn up into a smirk, a sparkle in his eyes that may or may not be the candle's flickering light. Kurt hoped the orange hue would mask his flushed cheeks.
"Her what?" Dave's smirk grew even further. He could definitely tell Kurt was blushing. Was he flirting, Kurt wondered, his heart rate picking up speed.
"Her strong, intelligent, determined, loving, sarcastic son," Kurt replied finally, his own smirk forming despite himself at the last adjective.
"You forgot handsome," David added slyly.
"No I didn't, Kurt answered instantly, "just figured I'd stroked your ego enough as it was."
Dave's eyes widened slightly as his hand convulsed and squeezed Kurt's. Kurt thought his knees may have gone weak if he'd been standing, the look in David's eyes burning a hole into his chest that pooled into lava which dripped slowly to his...
Abruptly Dave let go of Kurt's hand to stand and walk around the table, moving towards Kurt swiftly- when Sonia slid the door open and announced, "Dinner's ready, boys. Get it while it's hot."
Dave and Kurt didn't get more than one moment alone for the rest of the night and while another long hug shared outside of the open front door was wonderful (Dave had managed to get his nose right behind Kurt's ear for the duration, had felt the paler boy shiver at Dave's breath) Reese had interrupted them (why did that keep happening?!) and Dave had gone to sleep after a long, relaxing shower (behind a locked door).
-
The next morning Dave barged into his own room (where Sonia had slept) as loudly as possible, narrowly escaping a shoe thrown at his head and smiling when he heard her cursing the walls for spinning.
Dave sat in Ms. Pillsbury's office later that afternoon, as per his agreement with his dad when they couldn't afford the hospital recommend psychiatrist (he didn't want medication anyway, especially after his mother expressed interest in the idea) for their weekly appointments during his free period.
"The deadline for the other applications is April 20th. That," she lifted the papers to double check her desk calendar, "is this Friday. When do you think you'll have them for me?" she asked after they'd put the final touches on his safety net application to Ohio State; he was a shoe in for their math scholarship program.
"Just gotta finish the essays and they'll be done," Dave answered, tugging at his zipper nervously.
"And you're absolutely sure about this?" Her eyes scanned his face. He sighed, tugging the zipper harder.
"I know you think it's stupid-"
"I never said it was stupid, David. I think it's a wonderful idea... as long as you're doing it for the right reasons." Her eyes landed on her engagement ring, a soft sigh just this side of being a swoon escaping her lungs. Dave checked the urge the roll his eyes.
"I'm not doing this to follow him. That's creepy and pathetic." Emma tisked at him for the judgemental words and he allowed the eye roll this time. "What, it kinda is. New York City is just the logical option. Cali's outta the question, and I'd be near all the best sports teams in the country. I've been talking to Finn about the degree program we'd be in-"
"I know, he said he'd be here Wednesday with his applications. Made me swear I wouldn't tell Will or Rachel."
"Yeah we're both going for Sports Management. Guy wants to pull a Cooter and make kids dreams come true. 's totally sappy," he smirked, fondness for his teammate showing through.
"It is good that you'll have friends there."
"Yep, Santana's applying to a couple law programs in Jersey and New York, Brittany got into that great veterinary school in Jersey, Rachel and Finn are gonna be shacked up near Broadway or something, Sonia's applying for a psychology internship at NYU Hospital, and Kurt..."
"Kurt is applying to NYADA. Which was what you were talking about when you decided to apply to NYU and SUNY in the first place and I just want to make sure that if," she hesitated, not wanting to push the wrong button. Dave was allowed to say if he wanted the meeting to end early and it would end. She didn't want that; it hadn't happened since their third 'session'.
"If he and I don't end up together, I don't regret going there?" Dave shook his head slowly. "New York's a big city, it has a gay mecca, and honestly? At this point we'd be connected forever anyway through the rest of the gleeks. I drank the punch, or maybe it was a slushie, and now there's no going back."
Emma smiled proudly; the young man before her was a different creature than the bully she'd encountered last year or the struggling teen he'd been a few months before. He seemed able and willing to work through and rise above the hard times that may come along.
"I'm so happy for you David. I hope you commend yourself on how far you've come; how you've reached out and trusted others and opened yourself to new experiences. You're a resilient young man and not only did you pick yourself back up, I do believe you're standing taller," she smiled brilliantly, tears puddling prettily at the bottom of her large orbs.
"Thanks Ms. P. Definitely has a lot to do with the people around me, 'specially you and Mr. Schue. You guys put up with a lot," Dave admired shyly, rubbing the back of his neck.
"It was my pleasure," she peeped perkily. The bell rang and she shooed him out with an encouraging reminder about his applications (like he could forget).
As Dave walked to Chemistry he tried to figure out when he'd decided he was going to tell Kurt about where he was applying. He'd keep it a secret about Finn, who wanted to surprise Rachel (although her dads knew) but he couldn't hold it in any more. His essays were almost done and he was PROUD and he needed to share it with Kurt.
While what he'd told Sonia was true, he really didn't expect more, he couldn't ignore the hope that had lodged itself right next to Dave's heart when Kurt had visited him in the hospital.
Couple that with the signals he'd been getting from Kurt recently (which kept him up all night analyzing and, yeah, okay, fantasizing) he figured it couldn't hurt to lay himself bare; again. Kurt didn't seem to be going anywhere.
-
"I gotta talk to you," Dave tugged on Kurt's wrist after practice ended on Tuesday. Kurt had gone with Rachel to see Quinn yesterday and they'd barely spoken since Sunday. Dave almost felt like Kurt was avoiding him.
"Aren't you coming over?" Kurt asked, shifting so that it was his hand Dave was holding. He realized that had become a habit for them when they were together outside of school. But when?
"Yeah but I have something I wanted to show you."
"Alright, lead the way."
They waved goodbye to Mike and Tina as Dave walked to his locker. He released Kurt's hand to open the lock, smirking at the other boy's expectant face.
"Is it a present?"
"What could I get you that you don't already have?" Dave asked rhetorically as he swung his locker open and grabbed up papers, shoving them towards Kurt before he could answer.
"Here," he said gruffly, finding he couldn't explain himself without possibly/probably grovelling.
Kurt grasped the papers lightly, eyes darting across the pages.
"New York University?!" he shrieked, and Dave jumped a bit at the volume.
"And SUNY," Dave confirmed through a breaking smile.
"Oh my Gaga," Kurt whispered as he read the papers more closely.
"If I get the math scholarship for either schools, I'd have to maintain a 3.85 GPA to major in Sports Management-"
"You can do that, easily," Kurt breathed, eyes still on the sheets he was shuffling through, his grip on the papers crinkling them a bit. "You're coming to New York."
"If I get in," Dave nodded, staring at the shorter boy.
"David I've seen you do math; you're coming to New York," he repeated, looking up from the applications into David's eyes.
"I hope so," Dave said, or he thinks he did, but Kurt was distracting him by nibbling on his lower lip. David felt the mood shift before, for the third time, he found himself with his arms full of Kurt, their bodies pressed tightly together as Kurt nestled his face into the spot between David's neck and shoulder.
"'s all your fault, Fancy," Dave whispered.
"How's that?"
Dave chuckled lowly at Kurt's purred question.
"I couldn't let you have all the fun, could I?" he rumbled into Kurt's hair before brushing a feather light kiss against it. Was he imagining it, or was that really Kurt's heart beating the same erratic tattoo against Dave's own thumping chest?
"It will be infinitely more fun with my favorite bear cub," Kurt mumbled, goosebumps rising along Dave's arms at the sweep of Kurt's lips as they moved against his neck. They both stiffened a bit before seperating.
A long gaze was shared between the two, and just when Dave thought finally, Kurt pulled back to reopen Dave's locker.
He put the applications back on the top shelf before closing it, locking it, and turning back to Dave.
"Until then we still have a PFLAG chapter to start. Come on, Carol's making stir fry." The heavy air lifted a bit, but Dave still had to adjust himself when Kurt turned, not noticing when Kurt did the same thing.
-
Dave spent Wednesday with Sonia, watching as she dyed her hair black.
"You're gonna look like a vampire," Dave commented, eyes on his phone as he shot off a text to Kurt. Apparently he was at the hospital giving Quinn a haircut.
Dave banged his head against the pillow he was laying on, gleaning no satisfaction from the whuff of air he got in return.
"Would you please stop being such a downer," Sonia groused, staring at her reflection in the mirror, her dyed hair piled into a messy glop of purpleblack on top of her head. "I think it'll make me look exotic."
Dave flipped over onto his stomach, his response lost in the fabric of the pillow.
"For fuck's sake, stop moping and make a damn move already. Kid's totally into you-"
"Shut uuuuuup," he whined before dropping his face back into the fluff. He really thought yesterday things were moving forward. They'd shared a moment before, poof, it had been all business. At least they'd finally landed on a PFLAG start date, he figured miserably.
"I'm serious. Man the hell up and, I don't know, ask him to prom. He broke up with his boyfriend, that's definitely a sign-"
"I already told him how I felt and he practically laughed in my face!"
"That was months ago. Ugh, boys are so stupid." Sonia made a grotesque face at him through the mirror.
"Fuck you Zo. You need to stop talking because no good ever comes from it! You always get my hopes up and then I remember I have no chance when he passes up every opportunity to make a move. I just wish he would stop."
"Stop what?"
"Stop being so damn flirty and inviting!"
"You really don't see it, do you?" she groaned, before realizing that Kurt probably didn't see it either. Boys!
"You're a deceiving harbinger of hope and light and I beg of you, fool me no more," he let out dramatically as he wrapped himself in the comforter. She stared at him, mouth hanging open, resisting the urge to jump on top of his cuccooned body.
"I'm gonna go wash this out and when I get out we're gonna eat some Phish Food and watch 'Holiday Inn'. And you are going to stop pouting!"
"Kurt loves that movie," she heard from beneath the covers and she growled out and storm off, slamming the door of the bathroom. She swore if she had them claws would have come out when Dave chuckled from inside of her dorm room. "I'm just kidding! I'm not that far gone; yet!"
"Keep telling yourself that. Just stop with the mooning and get prepare to fawn and compliment me when I get out, jackass!"
-
Early Thursday morning David ambled up to Kurt's locker with his hands behind his back.
"What are you doing?" Kurt asked suspiciously, the shit eating grin that Sonia seemed to live in now planted on Dave's face. Kurt almost lost himself in how the green of David's eyes seemed to be glowing when the ex-football player pulled something out from behind his back; a square white box with a bow on top.
"Finally thought of something I could get you that you didn't already have."
Dave looked from Kurt to the box to back again, nudging it towards Kurt.
"Open it.
Kurt took the slightly heavy box, suspicion turning to excitement as he pulled off the blue bow, stuck it on David's head, and pulled open the top of a box.
What was clearly the top of a mug greeted him and he reached in for the handle and pulled it out, laughing brightly when he read the words 'I Drink Coffee For Your Protection'.
"This is either very sweet or highly insulting, David, but I'll thank you anyway."
Dave shrugged with a grin on his face.
"That's for you to figure out."
And then he ambled back off towards his homeroom, a "See ya later," drifting towards Kurt who was watching him with a funny feeling in his gut. David was still donning the blue bow.
-
Kurt had been watching Dave put up chairs, absentmindedly shuffling together the papers from the teacher's desk, since they'd started cleaning up after the GSA.
"What?"
Kurt jolted out of his thoughts at David's voice.
"It's nothing."
Dave fixed Kurt with a doubtfully raised brow.
"Spill it, Kurt. You've been weird since the meeting ended."
"Okay, but remember you wanted to hear it alright?" Kurt took in a deep breath, standing fully upright from where'd he'd been perched against the desk.
"You're making me nervous," Dave admitted. "Is it bad?"
"Not bad, no. But before I tell you... I need to know if you realize how amazing what you did was."
A freshman had broken down earlier, admitting that since five years old he'd known he was meant to be a she. Dave had instantly been at her side, pulling her into the hallway where he proceeded to give her names of some of the transgendered girls he'd met at Scandals and showing her websites she could go to for information and networking.
When they'd returned Kevin had requested they call her Candace and she'd promised to come as she truly was next week.
"I only did what I could, it was noth-"
"Don't you dare discount how great you were," Kurt rallied. "And that's what has me thinking."
"So it's good thoughts?"
"Reconciling who you are with the guy you were junior year is a near impossible task," Kurt continued, his eyes once again fixed thoughtfully on David. The other boy's face fell.
"That's not who I am," Dave said slowly, feeling nervous again under Kurt's gaze. That unidentifiable glint in the countertenor's eyes was back, the one that made Dave's lower body pool with heat, and even though Kurt had brought up the bad times the hope inside of his chest danced a tango with his heart.
"I know, and that's what bothering me. You're this quirky, sweet, warm person who hid himself because of lonliness and fear, and I'm so sorry I wasn't there-"
"Kurt, it's not your fault-"
"I've been missing out on this great guy all along. I only wish I'd seen it sooner."
"Kurt," Dave's voice got lost in the shrinking gap between them as Kurt breached Dave's personal space, a determined look on his face.
"And the way you look at me..." Kurt trailed off when his eyes landed on David's lips. His hands reached up to brace him on the broad chest in front of him and Dave stared, wide eyed, as Kurt held his gaze while he leaned in closer. A whimper escaped Dave's lips and he closed the remaining distance, a damn of heat breaking open when Kurt's hands fisted in his shirt and Dave breathed in slowly through his nose as their mouths fit together softly before one or bother of them added more pressure.
Kurt pulled back a fraction opened his mouth against Dave's, the former licking his lips, and when Dave felt the moist muscle brush against own bottom lip he was hit with the fact that yeah, this was happening.
"Really?" he asked, going for hopeful but not really caring if he landed near desperate or pathetic.
"Apparently so," Kurt answered, slightly awed but very satisfied by his own actions.
"You're not messing with me, right?"
Kurt looked back at David, stricken.
"Do you really think I'd do that?"
"No!" David moved his hands from their light grip on Kurt's waist (when had they gotten there?) to grab Kurt's hands, which had been slipping from their hold on his shirt front. "No I'm sorry. I just always tried to tell myself to give up hoping and I never thought I deserved you but... I think I've just been waiting."
Kurt felt a strange sense of deja vú before shrugging it off and leaning up for another kiss only to have David lean back a bit.
"Hold on."
Kurt huffed, his fingers tightening in their grip again.
"I thought we had taken thing off hold."
"But I wanna do this right," Dave loosened Kurt's grip from his shirt and brought their grasped hands up between them. "If this is really happening I don't want to screw it up or rush it. Let me take you on a date?"
"A date?"
"Yeah," Dave nodded eagerly. "We can go to that new barbeque place Mercedes was raving about."
"And he listens to my friends," Kurt whispered profoundly. "So a date."
"If you'll agree," Dave furrowed his brow, but a brilliant smile lit up his whole face as the reality of the situation caught up with him. Kurt had kissed him. Kurt had kissed him! He licked his lips at the thought.
"As if I'd say no."
They beamed at each other, hearts syncing against their joined hands that were pressed tightly between their chests. Neither seemed inclined to move, Kurt's eyes once again staring at David's lips.
"Nuh-uh," Dave said, unwillingly stepping back to put space between them. "Gentlemen don't kiss before the first date."
"Then I guess we're not gentlemen, are we?" Kurt pointed out stubbornly but Dave only shook his head.
"Speak for yourself, Fancy. This new leaf I turned over came with a badge of honor. I'd like to keep it shiny since the guy I'm tryin' to impress is a stickler for presentation."
"Sounds like a snob," Kurt joked, trying to calm his libido as he unwillingly seperated himself further from David, forcing himself to finish with the clean up. The other boy was always surprising him; he'd pigheadedly expected David to jump him if he ever so much as looked at him sideways, but this was a refreshing development. Kurt thought maybe he could have it all- the romance and the inferno.
Dave mourned the loss of warmth from Kurt's body before he followed his lead, stacking the rest of the chairs on top of desks before speaking over his shoulder. "Nah, he's a softie. Just has standards. Which is a good thing 'cause he makes me want to be a better person."
It was a lot easier to let the sentiment creep into his voice with his back to Kurt.
I know I love you. I can't wait to prove it, Dave thought to himself, a fire brimming in his chest.
They finished in silence, Kurt humming "You and I" under his breath as he erased the white board. It made Dave melt even further and he kept reminding himself that pouncing Kurt would rock an already storm weathered and precariously drifting boat.
After they finished straightening up they gathered their belongings and met up at the door, their hands simultaneously reaching for the each other.
"You do know Zo and Satan aren't gonna give us a moment's peace, right?" David realized, his stomach flip flopping.
"It'll be worth it to see Finn's face," Kurt assured him, squeezing his hand.
Dave chuckled at the thought. Probably due to his connection with Kurt, Finn and Rachel had become his closest friends, outside of Santana, in Glee. Even though a part of him wanted to keep this close to his vest until it had time to mature he was pretty sure the news would be met positively; at least if Rachel's looks and Finn's comments about the future were anything to go by.
They stepped outside, the cool spring night adding to the ambiance and surreal feel of the evening. Kurt felt the warmth from their joined hands spread up his arm before leaking through every vein in his body.
"I'll see you tomorrow?" he sighed out, leaning against David's side and inhaling deeply. He'd never get sick of the mix of David's own pheromones with his woody cologne. His head began to swim and his eyes drifted softly shut. Dave released his hand before bringing his arm around Kurt's back and pulling him more firmly against his side. His hand rested lightly on Kurt's hip, slightly shaky fingers skimming the skin above his pantline.
"I'll text you later to finalize our date," Dave whispered.
"Okay," Kurt smiled, eyes drifting open and looking out across the McKinley High School parking lot, empty save for a spinkling of cars.
Neither of them seemed inclined to move, though, and they stood their taking in the smell of honeysuckles on the breeze.
"Hey Kurt?"
"Hmm?"
"Got any plans for prom?"
-----
The End
I have an epilogue in my head but I'm not going to write it for a while unless someone wants it, mostly because I'm alright with not writing it. I've lost a lot of sleep to this as it is, trying very hard to get the flow and timing right, and it hasn't left me alone since it popped in to my head so now that it's purged I might just get some rest.
But if even one person asks for an epilogue I'll write it out asap! Be warned, it will be kind of terribly fluffy because this story was kinda angsty and I need some sweet to balance the sour.
Hope you enjoyed!
:)
xoxo
~Meg