6 months later
"Happy Birthday, Artie!" Kurt trilled, flinging open Artie's locker to reveal the decorations he'd put in there early that morning.
"Aww, thanks, honey," Artie said, admiring the streamers and confetti that Kurt had strewn artistically throughout his locker.
"Anything for you, darling," Kurt said, kissing his boyfriend on the cheek. "Besides," Kurt whispered hotly in Artie's ear. "Your big present comes later tonight."
Artie looked at Kurt in wonder. "You mean…?"
"You'll just have to wait and see," Kurt said with a gleam in his eye. Just then, Dave Karofksy walked up to the happy couple.
"How are my little pansies today?" he asked with a smirk.
"Shove off, Karofsky," Artie said.
"Oh yeah? And what're you going to do about it, you gay cripple?"
He turned towards Kurt. "And you, Madonna Junior. You gonna fuck your little boyfriend tonight?" Kurt could hardly breathe. Karofksy always terrified him.
Just then, Mercedes strode up. "You givin' my man Kurt trouble, Karofksy?"
"Yeah. What's it to you?"
"No one picks on my man, Dave."
"Well, I do," Karofksy huffed.
"Well, you do one more time, and you'll face the fury."
"Oh yeah?" Karofsky said. "You and what army?"
"This army," Mercedes said, spreading her arms out as the rest of the New Directions members assembled around her, forming a protective circle around Artie and Kurt.
Karofsky's eyes darted back and forth; he knew he was outnumbered. He gave one last leering glance towards the boys before stalking off down the hall.
"Are you okay, Kurt?" Mercedes asked.
"And you, Artie?" Tina asked.
"We're okay," they said in unison. "Now that you're here".
That night
Artie and Kurt were lying on Artie's bed this time, heavily making out. Before either of them knew it, both of their shirts were off and discarded somewhere on the floor.
"You work out?" Artie asked, admiring Kurt's perfectly sculpted body.
"Of course. I have to keep my body perfectly in shape and runway-ready at all times."
Artie moaned into Kurt's neck. "I love it."
Kurt's hand inched towards Artie's nether regions, curious. When a bulge formed in Artie's pants, he gasped. "Artie…you never told me…"
"Oh, yeah. My penis is fully functional. Isn't that weird?"
"It's awesome is what it is!"
In a few more minutes, they were both in their underwear, and it was getting hot and heavy on that small bed.
Artie moved his hand towards Kurt's crotch. Kurt shuddered and sat up straight.
"What's wrong?" Artie asked concernedly.
"I'm not ready for this…I thought I was, but after what Karofsky did to us in the hall today…I just can't do this."
Artie tried to conceal his disappointment, for Kurt's sake. "I understand," he said.
"Do you, really?" Kurt asked, getting heated. "Artie…no offense, but you've only been out for a few months. I've been out for years. I've been tormented for years. You're new to this…you should be the one in this position. I should be the immune and confident one. But I'm not. I'm not confident at all with this stuff."
"And you don't think I haven't been tormented for being a 'cripple' for 8 years, Kurt? Because I have been, and you know I have. I know what it's like to be seen as different, as weird. This is only one more thing that's going to make me stronger."
Kurt sighed. "That's great for you, Artie. But it doesn't quite work that way for me." Kurt put his clothes back on. "I'm sorry, Artie. I'm just not ready to give myself to you yet."
"It's okay. Like I said before, I'll wait for you."
Kurt walked around the side of the bed and put his hand on Artie's shoulder. "I'm sorry that this hasn't been the best 16th birthday for you."
Artie put his hand over Kurt's. "Are you kidding? I have friends. I have singing. But most importantly, I have you."
Kurt swallowed. "I love you."
"I love you, too," Artie smiled.
Kurt leaned down to give him a quick kiss. "Happy birthday, Artie."
"Kurt, can we watch RENT?" Artie asked all of a sudden.
Kurt was taken aback. Artie usually never asked to watch a movie musical, but who was Kurt to argue with that request? "Sure!" he said, popping it right into the DVD player. He snuggled in next to his boyfriend, bringing up a blanket to cover both of them.
After "Over the Moon", Artie turned to Kurt. "You know what I just realized?"
"Hmmm?" said Kurt, absently.
"You remind me of Maureen."
"What's THAT supposed to mean?" Kurt said, fighting back a smile.
"You're my little drama queen," Artie said, nuzzling his nose against Kurt's.
"Does that mean you're Joanne?" Kurt whispered against Artie's lips.
"You bet it does…honeybear."
"Kiss, pookie," Kurt said with a giggle.
Later that night, the two boys were lying in Artie's bed, snuggling and spooning each other. Kurt ran his hand through Artie's hair, and whispered soft to him. "Will you do something for me?" he asked.
"Anything for you, love," Artie whispered back.
"Will you go with me to visit Mom tomorrow? I want to tell her about us. And I want you to be there when I tell her."
"Of course I will," Artie said.
The next afternoon
Kurt pushed Artie's chair through the hilly cemetery. The sun was warm on their faces, and a gentle breeze made the grass bend and blow, sending the sweet grassy smell through everyone's noses. A bouquet of lilacs, Raina's favorite flowers, was sitting on Artie's lap. The day was as bright and clear as could be. Kurt rolled Artie up to the place where his mother was buried, and Artie shuddered, thinking that he could've been in that cold grave, instead of Kurt's mother. Kurt parked Artie's chair in front of his mother's headstone while Artie gently laid the flowers down.
"Hi, Mom," Kurt said softly, moving to stand next to Artie. "Look who I brought with me," he grinned, taking one of Artie's hands.
"Hi, Raina," Artie whispered.
"Mom, remember how I told you that I loved Artie, but I didn't think he loved me back? Well, it turns out that he did. We've been dating for the past six months. We're in love, Mom. We really are. I brought him here with me, so we could tell you together." Kurt prodded Artie to say something.
"It's true, Raina. I love your son. I won't ever hurt him, and I can promise you this. He's my world now, and I'd be lying if I said this weren't one hundred percent true. He's an amazing person with such a big, kind heart. He's gentle and true, just as you were. I see so much of you in him." Kurt felt a tear roll down his cheek, but did not move to brush it away. Artie continued. "You must be so proud of him. I know I certainly am. The past few weeks…months…years…have been really hard for Kurt, but he always manages to wear a bright smile even when his heart is breaking on the inside. He's the best thing that's ever happened to him. I guess what I'm trying to say is…thanks, Raina. Thanks for bringing him to the park that day we met. Thanks for bringing this boy into the world." Kurt was full-on crying by now, tears streaming down his face and plopping onto the soft soil beneath his feet. Artie squeezed his hand tightly.
"I love you, Mom," Kurt choked out. "I wish you were here right now. I wish you were here to give me advice on everything. I wish you were here to talk to about dating and sex and all that stuff. I can't talk to Dad about anything. I wish…" he broke off. "I just wish you were here, Mom. To see how Artie and I are like today."
"She is here, Kurt," Artie whispered. "She's been watching over you since she left, baby. She's always been watching you, and me, and your dad, and everyone."
Kurt stiffened. "You know I don't believe in Heaven, Artie."
"I know," Artie said simply. "But think of her as your guardian angel." Suddenly, Kurt felt a hand on his shoulder, if only for a moment. He gasped.
"What is it?" Artie asked, concerned.
"She's here," Kurt whispered. "I felt her."
"I told you she was here," Artie said, matter-of-factly.
"I believe you now," Kurt said. "She's always been there over my shoulder, hasn't she?"
Artie nodded. "Yes, she has."
Kurt smiled at his boyfriend. "Can you feel her, too?"
"Yes," Artie said. "Whenever I'm with you."
Kurt smiled again. "Maybe she is my guardian angel after all…" He turned back to his mother's headstone. "Thanks, Mom," he said in a murmur. "I love you so much." He turned to Artie. "Do you mind giving me a moment alone with her?"
"No, of course."
Kurt chuckled. "Then why aren't you moving?"
Artie gave Kurt a Look. "You put the brakes on my chair. I can't move, silly."
"Oh, right," Kurt said, quickly undoing the brakes and sending Artie rolling on his way.
He turned to his mom's grave once again. "Sorry about that, Mom. So…what do you think? Are you really proud of me, like Artie said? Do you approve of us going out?" A soft breeze that tousled his hair didn't need to tell him her answer; he knew.