Author's Note:

Glee is back! And with Glee of course comes my Ready to Fly series and the 6th (and last I think) installment, which gives the series title, "Ready to Fly", so named after the brilliant song by my amazingly talented friend, Scott Evan Davis!

I am so thrilled to be back in this world and back to writing straight from RIB's rulebook. AU's are fun, but this is such a challenge, it's amazing to write. I hope you love reading it as much as I love writing it.

For those new to this world, I beg you to go back and read the rest, but if you don't: Ready to Fly will follow canon unless otherwise stated. Also, unless otherwise stated, everything that happens in the show happens in this world. I tend to write around the show, but sometimes important scenes are included. Major additions are Blaine's back story and his friendship with Santana. This fic is FULL of spoilers, so if you aren't watching S4, don't read yet!

So without further ado…here's what you missed on Glee!

"You didn't have to carry my bags, Boyfriend, I'm probably stronger than you." Santana smirked as she watched Blaine haul two large suitcases that she had packed for Kentucky. Summer was nearly over. Blaine and Brittany headed back to McKinley after Labor Day, but her own classes started August 17 and cheerleading practice began even sooner. Her dorm was ready for her and she needed to move in. And move on.

"I am sure you are stronger, Santana," he said grunting down the stairs at the weight. If he didn't know that Brittany was waiting outside with Kurt and Santana's parents, he'd think she was stowed away in one of the bags. "But I am still a gentleman, born and raised." He reached the bottom of the stairs and set the bags down at her feet harder than he had intended. He exhaled and caught his breath. And his eyes met hers.

They softened as they looked at her; the girl who only a year ago had been hard as nails and hiding from the world. It had taken only one moment, when he had caught her watching the girl she loved across a crowded room. One moment when he gave her his number and told her that she wasn't alone. That one moment had grown into one of the best friendships of his life.

His eyes shined with unshed tears. "What am I going to do without you?" he asked with a sad laugh.

"The same thing you do with me Blaine," she told him firmly. "Keep fighting."

He fell into her arms and she held him tightly. They had spent a lot of time together over the summer. Beautiful double dates to romantic restaurants, and exciting nights out to the jazz club filled the evenings when none of the four of them were working. But there were the days and nights too where Brittany and Kurt did their own thing, and Santana went with him to his father's house, making the visits with his dad easier for Blaine. Much to Blaine's surprise, the Colonel and Santana actually got along well. She was as strong as he was and didn't put up with his insults or demands. Where Blaine would have backed down, she stood up and it helped both men continue moving forward. It wasn't perfect. It never would be. But it was better, thanks to her.

He pulled away and she smiled at him. He smiled back. "I will keep fighting. I promise."

"Don't let them push you around Blaine," she told him. "You're an adult now. If and when you see him is your choice, not his." Blaine nodded. It would be hard, but she'd showed him he had the strength to do it. "Now as for Kurt," she continued in a warning tone. "Don't hold on to him too tight. A Kurt Hummel stuck in Lima, Ohio will be absolutely no good to anyone around him. We've kept him busy and distracted, but everyone is going to be gone now except him."

Sending Finn off to basic training had been harder for Kurt than anyone had thought. In the back of Kurt's mind there had always been the assumption that if either of them would be left behind in Ohio it would be Finn. Then Mercedes and Puck left for LA. Quinn was soon to set off for Yale. Blaine wasn't sure that any of them had truly come to terms with the fact that the one person they were sure would get out was the one stuck at the Lima Bean and signing up for Allen County Community College. The only one who seemed to accept it was Kurt, and that's what seemed the most wrong to Blaine. But it had been so nice to have him all summer without worry about the goodbyes and the tomorrows like everyone else. It had seemed so right, and yet…

"He can't stick around here for you," Santana continued, reading his mind as always. "You can't let him. Kurt's ready to go."

"I know," Blaine sighed.

She lifted his chin and her eyes were confident. "You are ready too." Blaine closed his eyes against the warmth of her fingers. God, he was going to miss her.

"Santana!" Her mother screamed from the front hallway and Blaine exhaled, grabbing the handle to one of the suitcases while Santana grabbed the other, and they started out the door.

He took her hand as they walked outside. "If I can't even say goodbye to you, how am I supposed to say goodbye to Kurt," he wondered aloud.

"Oh believe me Boyfriend," Santana said as she met Brittany's wink. Both girls' faces lit up and blushed, full of secrets from the night before. "Sometimes goodbyes can bring some of the most amazing moments of your life."

He'd texted Santana last night after the ridiculous audition for the new Rachel. Blaine missed her desperately. He missed everything about her, but most of all he missed her fire and her honesty in the choir room. They needed that more than anything right now. The tiny group was lost without their strongest members, and now had a precarious position on the top of the school food chain that they all knew could topple any minute. And Blaine just didn't know his place. He had never wanted to lead New Directions before, but now with Kurt gone, he suddenly felt a need to continue his boyfriend's legacy. He certainly didn't want Unique waltzing in and taking over. It was bad enough he'd just planted himself in Kurt's seat in the choir room without so much as a by your leave. Tina and Brittany, as much as he loved them and they were amazing at what they did, just weren't strong enough singers to maintain their title of National Champions.

"Keep an eye on Brittany," Santana had ordered him. "If she gets too lost she may never find her way back. Just like someone else we both know."

Blaine promised he would and ignored her swipe at Kurt. After school the next day he invited Brittany to the Lima Bean for coffee. Seeing Kurt was just an added bonus.

"So how's Santana?" Blaine asked as casually as possible while they waited for Kurt to bring over their drinks.

"She's good, she's just really busy with cheerleading practice and it's hard making out over Skype, you can't really scissor a webcam," Brittany responded.

Blaine shook his head, not wanting to think at all about his best friend's sex life. He breathed a sigh of relief when Kurt came over with his coffee. Even if it was…

"Here's an extra hot soy latte for him," Kurt said feigning cheerfulness as he put the sophisticated drink down in front of Blaine. He stared at it. He really missed his medium drip but Kurt had been on a mission all summer that if he wasn't going to New York, he was going to bring New York to Lima. And that meant Kurt pretending he was working in one of the top Barrista's in NY instead of the Lima Bean, and for Blaine it meant drinking a soy latte instead of his regular coffee order. And whether he wanted it or not, he would do everything he had to in order to support Kurt.

"I can't wait till Friday," Kurt grinned, sitting down quickly with them even though he was in the middle of his shift.

Blaine looked at him askance. "Why?" he asked confused.

"Glee Club auditions," Kurt reminded him.

Blaine traced his finger on the coffee cup, his chest tightening with echoes of Santana's words and something else that continued to nag at him but he couldn't quite figure out. "That'll be nice."

"Is it depressing that I'm more excited about it than either of you?" Kurt asked, already knowing the answer.

"Yeah," Brittany admitted.

"No, not at all," Blaine lied.

"Just a little bit," Brittany told him honestly.

"No, no, it's…" Blaine trailed off shrugging, offering his boyfriend a smile of reassurance that didn't reach his eyes.

"Excuse me, Garcon!" Blaine frowned as the new cheerleader called Kurt over and Kurt excused himself to return to his job.

"So explain to me again why Kurt isn't going to big boy college too," Brittany said turning to Blaine.

"He is going to college," Blaine answered defensively. "He just missed the acceptance deadlines of his second choices because the NYADA decision came so late, and his community college hasn't started yet."

They both turned to watch Kurt as the cheerleaders and jocks teased him like they had his whole life. At least Glee club was getting a reprieve after winning Nationals. But Kurt worked 3 years toward the trophy and didn't even get to reap the rewards. Instead he had to withstand the same insults, just in a new place with new Neanderthals. It broke Blaine's heart. And it was breaking Kurt's. Kurt spent the days taking coffee orders imagining that each night after he hung up his apron, he'd bound out to the streets of New York, and race to make his half hour call for an off-Broadway show he was starring in. In reality, the best he would do here was climbing back into the seats of the McKinley High School auditorium, choose the "New Rachel," and pretend he was following his dream.

"He's starting to remind me of Mr. Schuester," Brittany said with a frown. "I may miss Santana like crazy, but I'm glad she's moving on. We're the ones that are supposed to be miserable Blaine. Not them."

"I know Britt," he said swirling his coffee and checking his watch. "Come on, Kurt has another two hours before he's off work. Let's go do something fun."

They walked to the door, Blaine carrying his soy latte in his hand. He probably wouldn't even drink it. He caught Kurt's eyes and gestured that he'd Kurt call him later. He couldn't stay here and watch anymore. He needed to figure out a way to fix this.

Blaine spied her across the hall in between classes and he jogged to catch up to her. "Hey Tina," he called, slowing as he reached her, and together they headed to their next class. "How are you doing?" he asked gently. "You know, with the whole Mike thing."

"It's definitely weird being here without him. But I'm fine, Blaine, really," she assured him with a smile. Then she looked over with sudden concern. "Why, is Mike okay?"

"I thought you guys talked every day?" Blaine asked. They dodged a group of cheerleaders giggling down the hallway and paused beside the lockers to talk.

"You think he's going to tell me how he really feels?" Tina asked with a raised eyebrow. "If he's going to tell anyone, it'd be you."

Blaine knew Tina was right. He and Mike had messaged every few days since he'd gone to Chicago, and though Mike missed Tina, he seemed to be doing really well there.

"I think he's okay," Blaine told her. He watched her concern fade as she studied him. "You think I should do the same with Kurt," he asked sadly. "Let him go. Don't you?"

Tina shook her head. "Blaine, I broke up with Mike for me, not for him. I didn't want to be 30 years old and married and full of regrets of all the loves I never had. If it's meant to be then we'll still end up together, but I'm not ready to settle down. I need to know what else might be out there for me." Tina smiled softly. "But I don't think that's the same for you."

Blaine thought about Kurt as he had a million times this summer. No matter how he pictured it, if it were his choice, his future was always with Kurt. He'd had no interest in Sebastian or any other boys that might have showed interest in him because he didn't need to know what else was out there for him. He already had exactly who he wanted.

And what he wanted was the fierce, determined, selfish but amazingly caring boyfriend that was slowly slipping away into the distance, not of space, but of despair and resignation. The transformation over the summer had been slow, but watching Kurt face the same bullies all over again at the Lima Bean and choose to walk back into a school that had never protected or embraced him only because he felt he had no other place to go, it was suddenly so clear to Blaine that Kurt was losing everything that was so perfectly imperfect about him. The Lima Bean and community college were not even close to where Kurt belonged, and no amount of soy lattes or other such feeble grasps at a greater life in Lima, Ohio would change that. Kurt was so much better than that. He deserved so much better and Santana had been right all along. Blaine didn't need to let him go, he needed to make him go. He couldn't wait a second longer, it was time.

He looked at Tina, his eyes suddenly alight with excitement and plans for a courtyard extravaganza and he quickly squeezed Tina's hand and kissed her on the cheek. "I need to talk to Kurt," he said before he bounded off in the other direction, calling loudly behind him, "Thank you!"

"Are you sure you guys don't want me to come with you?" Burt asked as he started to gather the breakfast dishes.

"Quite sure, Sir," Blaine blurted without thinking, a sparkle in his eye that made Burt laugh. Only then did Blaine realize he'd said that out loud and snagged the last piece of bacon before Burt took the plate to cover the reddening of his cheeks. Thank goodness Carole was still adjusting to not having to cook for Finn's enormous appetite and Blaine was still getting used to not having to grab everything he wanted at the top of the meal.

Kurt side-eyed Blaine curiously then joined his Dad at the sink, drying towel in hand. "I'm leaving for New York tomorrow, Dad, I better get used to doing things on my own. Besides, I've been around cars my whole life, I'm pretty sure I can manage selling one."

"Well don't let them go under the amount we talked about on the phone," Burt counseled. "You need every dollar you can get, everything in New York costs three times what it does here."

"I know Dad," Kurt said rolling his eyes. "That breakfast at Tiffany's Rachel and I had cost about 20 bucks."

Blaine would never stop marveling at his boyfriend's relationship with his Dad. It was never going to be like this again, but Blaine refused to let it get him down today. Today was going to be about building memories and moving on. He'd worry about the emptiness tomorrow.

"So we're just going to drop my car off at the dealership and then go get Kurt's car detailed," Blaine explained to Burt. "Then I have a bit of a surprise for him this evening if that's okay?"

Kurt looked near giddy and Burt looked at them amused. "You guys do whatever you want today, I know how important it is to you. Tomorrow is my turn," Burt said, pointing a finger at Blaine.

"At 5 o'clock in the morning," Kurt grumbled, rolling his eyes.

"You wanted an early flight to get to Rachel, you get an early flight. I'll make sure the pot of coffee is ready for you," Burt told him.

"I think I'll need two pots," Kurt said under his breath.

Blaine chuckled and took Kurt's hand. "Let's go," he said eagerly. "This day isn't going to get any longer and we have things to do and people to see."

"What exactly do you have planned, Mister," Kurt asked with a sly grin as he bumped shoulders playfully with his boyfriend and headed out the door.

"Magic," Blaine promised.

"I am pretty certain that we will not find the necessary equipment to detail the car on lover's lane, Blaine." Kurt eyed his boyfriend as he shifted the soon to be sold car into park on an especially secluded section of the town make out spot.

Blaine said nothing, merely throwing him a roguish wink as he got out of the driver's seat and slipped into the back. Kurt turned around to glare at him, but couldn't help but break into a smile as Blaine suggestively patted the seat next to him.

Kurt shook his head, got out and climbed into the backseat, his smile broadening. Blaine knew he was remembering back to all the times they'd made love back on that seat. After Blaine's disaster of a first attempt at Scandals, he had been afraid to try again. But desperate for one another and no parent-free place to go, they'd stopped here for a detour the second night of West Side Story before Brittany's party, nervous but excited. They had both been surprised to find that the clandestine nature of it sent a thrill down Kurt's spine.

"I thought if we were going to say goodbye to this car, we ought to do it properly," Blaine smirked. "Don't ya think?"

Kurt chuckled at him and rolled his eyes, but melted into Blaine's fingers before he could answer as he quickly cupped Kurt's cheek and kissed him with the passion to last them through the weeks or months they'd be apart. The moan from Kurt's throat drove Blaine wild and he easily pulled Kurt down on top of him, refusing to allow air anywhere between them. They had quickly realized so many months ago that the small space of the car only added to the exhilaration, and the press of Kurt's body against him now, so wanting and willing, reminded Blaine of that first night. They had long since mastered the difficulties of comfort and as Blaine reached for Kurt's belt and clothes were quickly discarded, they moved with one another like dancers, fitting together in perfect harmony to each of their rhythms.

As Blaine slipped inside Kurt, the rest of the world fell away. Nothing existed but the stunningly beautiful man in front of him whose eyes shined down with more love than Blaine had once thought existed in the universe. Feeling the warmth of Kurt's skin as he traced the lines of his chest, he believed in that moment that there could never be too much distance between them because their love had no bounds. Falling together as their pleasure overtook them, they snuggled against one another, listening to their heartbeats racing and then slow. Blaine could not imagine ever feeling safer than he did in these moments. He nuzzled Kurt's neck and lightly nipped at his glistening salty skin.

"You are beautiful," Blaine whispered.

"You only love me for my good looks," Kurt teased.

"Don't forget your impeccable taste," Blaine added, the double entendre evident as he surged forward and kissed Kurt, his tongue diving inside to taste every delicious morsel.

"You're not so bad yourself," Kurt gasped, eyes sparkling, as they took a breath.

Blaine just stared at him, a million feelings washing over him. "God, I love you so much, Kurt."

"I love you too," Kurt told him with one more kiss to the lips. "But now we really need to get this car detailed, so it might be best if we put our clothes back on."

"Since when are you the practical one?" Blaine pouted as Kurt climbed off of him and gathered their clothes from where they had fallen.

"Since I'm about to become a New Yorker," Kurt said pulling his shirt on over his head. He stopped short, as a look of panic fell over his face. "Oh my god Blaine, I'm about to be a New Yorker! A real New Yorker!"

Blaine smiled and kissed him, brushing a comforting hand against Kurt's cheek. "The best New Yorker in the whole damn city. The Big Apple won't even know what hit them!"

Kurt was quiet as Blaine drove them into the city after selling the car. They'd done a good job of negotiating, mixing Blaine's charm with Kurt's extensive knowledge of cars, and managed to snag $1,000 more than agreed to over the phone. But as soon as they'd gotten into Blaine's car, Kurt clasped Blaine's hand and his mind drifted into silence.

Blaine glanced over, worried. He knew that today could be one of the hardest days of their lives, but that's not what he wanted. He wanted it instead to be one of the best. "Penny for your thoughts," Blaine coaxed.

"My thoughts are worth way more than a penny, Blaine Anderson," Kurt chided, but his voice didn't have the bite that it should. Instead it was heartbreaking.

Blaine squeezed his hand. "Come on," he said softly. "You can tell me anything."

Kurt looked over at Blaine, then shifted his gaze back out the window. "I'm just worried about you, that's all."

Of course he was worried about Blaine. Ever since their fight about Chandler and their heart to heart in Ms. Pillsbury's office, Kurt had really taken to heart all of Blaine's feelings about him leaving. But Blaine smiled softly. "I'm going to be fine, Kurt, really. I know I was terrified of this last year, but spending so much time with my Dad over the summer, I know I can do this. Besides, I'm not alone. I have Tina and Britt. And that Marley girl you like so much seems pretty cool. Who knows, maybe she'll be my new Santana."

Kurt scoffed. "There is no new Santana, she's one of a kind. Besides, Marley seems far too nice to take the place of Satan."

"Well, my point is," Blaine said as they pulled into their destination. "We're ready for this." Blaine quickly exited the vehicle and ran around to the other side to open the door for Kurt like a gentleman. Blaine cocked his head toward the front door of the Night Town Jazz club, where they were now frequent visitors and occasional performers, though only ever in duet with Santana. But Blaine had plans tonight, a solo he'd sung only once before, but it had meant everything to him then, and it meant everything to him today. "Come on," he said, grabbing Kurt's hand. "I'll show you."

They waltzed into the smoke filled club, and the adorable waitress Katie brought them to their usual booth. Kurt watched as Blaine whispered to her and she smiled and nodded. Kurt raised an eyebrow. "What exactly do you have up your sleeve?" he asked.

But Blaine just winked and ignored him, keeping his silence as they ordered their drinks. The piano player who had been serenading the crowd as they walked in finished his set and his audience clapped appreciatively. The club manager caught Blaine's eye from across the room and Blaine quickly kissed Kurt on the cheek before slipping out of their booth.

"Blaine, what are you…' Kurt started, but Blaine put his fingers to his lips and whispered with a grin, "shhh…."

Kurt sat back and watched as Blaine took the microphone, eyes only on Kurt. It wasn't like it was the first time. He'd done it before here with Santana and out at Karaoke bars, and that one time last year at the theme park only minutes before he'd driven off with Burt to confront his father and change his life forever.

Oh. Of course.

"Hi, Ladies and Gentleman. My name is Blaine Anderson," he introduced himself. "My best friend Santana used to be a regular here, and occasionally she'd give me the honor of singing with her. Well, tonight the Night Town has given me the honor of letting me sing alone."

He took a deep breath, and though he looked out onto the crowd, his heart belonged to only one person and Kurt could feel it. Distance didn't matter. "You see, the love of my life, my boyfriend Kurt, is leaving tomorrow on the greatest adventure of his life. He's going to New York City, and though I will miss him tremendously, I am so excited to watch him leave behind a world that never embraced him, and go to where he will be loved and accepted. And though he's the one leaving, the sweetest thing is he's worried about me." Blaine's eyes fell on the boy he loved and he blinked back his tears. "You see, a little more than a year ago, I did the same thing. And now he is my world of love and acceptance. But Kurt, distance can't change that. Distance won't change that. Because everything that you gave me is in my heart forever now and there is absolutely nothing and no one in the world that can take it away." His voice cracked, and he had to wipe away some tears, but he squared his shoulders. "I was scared before. But I'm not anymore. Because we're ready to fly, love."

Firefly summers and butterfly springs
A little boy sings and looks to the sky
As a mother whispers through her tears
"It's time, come kiss me goodbye."

Last time he had sang only for himself. This time he sung also for Kurt. Kurt, who had sung since they day he could speak. Kurt, who had been wishing on a star for something greater since the summers and springs of his childhood. Kurt, who had lost his mother too young and too soon.

Floating and falling, riding the breeze
Gliding with ease, I'm flown through the sky.
And I'm told that when I'm strong enough
I'll be ready to fly.

Scared, confused, and angry as hell
That I'm left on my own
No I refuse to fly into the crystal clear
Lose the things I've held so dear
If I stay here, my heart will turn to stone.

Last year Blaine had been scared and angry that Kurt seemed so excited, so willing, to leave him behind.

This summer he'd come to understand what Kurt had always known. That Kurt staying would be the worst thing for both of them. Kurt staying meant losing everything because the Kurt he loved would most certainly fade away into only a ghost of himself.

I see my reflection, I know that it's me.
But all that I see is a beautiful lie.
Will the boy fade into memory
Once I'm ready to fly?

He knew they both feared that everything they had together would fade once Kurt flew out into the world. But Blaine was ready to trust. He believed in himself and Kurt and he believed in love. But most of all he believed that whatever was meant to be would be and that more than anything, Kurt was meant to be in the city of dreams. He wasn't fooling himself. Kurt's journey would change them both. But he had faith it would change them for the better.

Stop!
Take hold,
Put trust in the wind,
Have faith when it calls.
Wings unfold and fly into the crystal clear,
Letting go of ancient fear
Because way up here
Nothing ever falls

They would never know unless they tried. He knew Kurt was scared for him but words spoken by Burt not too long ago had been right. Having Kurt here was always a way out for Blaine. A way to avoid the work he needed to do with his family to either forgive or let go. A way to avoid growing up and being his own man, whatever that may turn out to be. Blaine knew it wouldn't be easy, he would miss Kurt like crazy. He couldn't know what would happen, but he trusted himself now that he would be okay.

With no expectations
Let the journey begin
How can I win if I don't ever try?
Will I prove that I am strong enough
When I'm ready?
Am I ready?
I am ready!

And a voice in the breeze starts to whisper,
As I think of the bridges I've crossed.
Finding the strength, I'm spreading my wings,
Put trust in the wind and see what it brings

A year ago he sang, terrified of the unknown, confronting his father, leaving his home. There were still moments that frightened him when things became too hard; the empty house because his mother was spending the night with his father, the dinners when the triggers for both him and his dad returned and the past became the present too quickly and without warning. The times when for even a brief moment the hate returned. Santana had stood with him to grow strong, but Kurt had been his angel to save him, to hold him when it hurt too much, to find him when he was lost. He knew with no one to run to he'd have to face those realities on his own, but that's what Burt had meant. And Blaine was ready now. This was his future and he was ready to fly.

And I'm ready,
I'm ready to fly!

Love swam behind his misty eyes as they fell on Kurt and Kurt alone. A year ago, neither one of them were ready to face the world without one another. Now he knew they both could. He blew him a kiss, as he watched Kurt wipe away the tears and mouth "I love you", and he sang the final words.

We're ready to fly.

If anyone asked him, Burt Hummel did not cry all the way home from dropping his only son at the airport. But one person knew better.

Burt wasn't surprised to see Blaine's car in his driveway or the boy leaning on the car, waiting, phone in hand as his fingers danced across the screen. Burt pulled up and Blaine slipped the phone, and his hands, into his pockets.

He hadn't been waiting long. He had gone through every moment of the day since he woke at 5am, knowing that Kurt was waking up too. At 6 Kurt texted to let him know that he and Burt were leaving for the airport. 7:30, Kurt was probably just passing through security and stopping at a coffee shop to get his third cup of the morning. He wondered if he'd found a place to get his special New York style drinks, or if he'd had to settle for the basics. He hoped for the flight attendants' sake that he'd been able to grab a latte, otherwise there might be news later that day of a crazy irate teenager escorted off the plane at JFK airport. At 8am, Blaine left his mother's apartment in Lima and drove here.

Burt wiped his eyes one last time to hide his tears, but the red rims were clear to Blaine when Burt approached him. They no doubt mirrored his own. "Hey," Blaine greeted him timidly.

"Hey yourself," Burt answered, his own hands shoved into his pockets. They were both embarrased, trying to hide emotions to the one person that would understand more than anyone.

"My house was empty," Blaine shrugged in explanation for his appearance on the Hummel doorstep.

Burt looked at his own home in feigned nonchalance and back at Blaine. "Mine too."

"So…ummm…" Blaine stared at his feet kicking a rock in the pavement, then back up at Burt. "Would you like to watch a movie?"

Burt looked away. He had planned to go to work, but he did not in any way feel like going in. His staff could cover him for the day. They'd probably expected it anyway. "Yeah, sure."

Burt led the way inside and hung up his coat. Blaine went immediately to the kitchen. "You know how to make that popcorn?" Burt called out. Kurt had never liked to let either one of them near the popcorn for fear of them burning it.

"Oh, I've learned a thing or two watching Kurt," Blaine answered with a smirk. He flung the bag into the microwave and let it go for 2 minutes and 42 seconds on the dot. Just like Kurt.

He poured it into the bowl, and brought it to the couch, the two men settling in for Burt's choice, Rudy. Sitting side by side, sharing the popcorn, they could almost pretend that Kurt was there with them, but both knew the truth. Kurt was gone, and aside from visits on holidays, he wasn't coming back. They'd both wanted this, and yet it broke their hearts at the same time. The emptiness they felt, of living without him, and of him living without them, made their chests ache.

Burt patted Blaine on the knee, a fatherly gesture that a year ago might have made him flinch, but was now as natural as a kiss from Kurt. It didn't matter that it was 9 in the morning on a Sunday and they were eating popcorn for breakfast. What mattered was that as they sat, the love of their lives was getting on a plane for the city of dreams and neither one of them was alone. "You're going to be okay," Burt assured the boy who was as much like a son to him as Finn.

Blaine nodded without responding. Then he turned to Burt. "Kurt's going to be okay too," he said, though whether it was a question or a statement, he wasn't sure.

Burt though was sure and smiled, his shining eyes trained on the screen in front of him. "Yeah. Yeah he will be."

Author's Note:

Ready to Fly, is by Scott Evan Davis. If you don't know the song or his other music, google him or check him out on YouTube. He's amazing.

The Tina/Blaine scene is dedicated to StarGleekBelle. I owe you so much, it's the least I could do.

Of course a million thanks to my beta, typegirl19, who is my constant reassurance and who gets me back on track when I'm lost.

And of course, to you, my wonderful readers who have stood by me on this journey. Your love and thoughts are my lifeblood, so please, alert and review, follow me on tumblr at GleekMom, and let me know what you think!