Prompt: "God only knows what we're fighting for" from Adele's Turning Tables. Use of the song was not a requirement.

Characters: Kurt and Blaine (COMPLETELY AU)

Words: 741

Date: September 5, 2012

Updated: September 12, 2012

Seeds of Peace

As the sun set on the Maine woods, Kurt and the other Jewish Israelis and Americans said Kaddish for Asel Asleh, a prayer remembering G-d's grace and spirit while honoring the dead. It was an especially powerful moment for the campers and counselors from the Middle East delegation, but Kurt knew exactly how much it mattered for one in particular. He glanced around camp as the memorial service ended and everyone dispersed. In the moonlight and the glow of the bonfire, he found the curly haired Palestinian across the woods, gazing out onto the lake. Kurt was suddenly taken aback by the pure beauty of this boy he called "enemy" only 23 days before. He would never have believed that beauty possible before. But that was what Seeds of Peace was all about.

He quietly walked over, the fire crackling around him as the soft murmur of conversation filled the pauses between cicada love songs, and sat beside the boy he was proud to now call friend. Tomorrow they would head back home, to Tel Aviv and the West Bank, where hate and fear would loom from all sides as heavily as the trees did above them here in camp. But tonight, there was still peace and still love.

"Shalom Blaine," Kurt called quietly, interrupting the boy's focus on the shimmer of the water's ripples. They were learning how powerful ripples could be, and Kurt and Blaine could be at the center of one, if the world would allow them.

Blaine peered down at him with an amused smile. "You are just going to keep calling me that, aren't you?"

"Unless it offends you," Kurt said, his heart suddenly filling with concern. "Then I will call you Baligh."

The boy smiled gently and sat next to him. "It does not offend me, Kurt. Baligh is my name, but you may always call me Blaine. Though you will need to show me this Pretty in Pink someday."

Kurt blushed, hoping it was invisible to Blaine. "I'd love to," he said. Blaine's eyes crinkled, but his smile faltered and he stared back out again. Kurt felt the change in mood like a shift in the wind and he was brought back to the evening's service. "I'm sorry for your loss, Blaine. And I know I don't need to apologize, but I am sorry for what our soldiers did."

"My brother was friends with him," Blaine explained quietly. "Asel told us all about this camp and how wonderful it was. I was only little but to me it seemed like a dream. When the Israeli Defense Forces killed him, it was like the dream died with him."

Kurt understood. His mother was killed by Palestinian rockets. At the time he felt like all he should do was hate, but it wasn't in his nature. He didn't believe in a god, not anymore, but his mother and father had taught him the importance of love above all else. He looked at Blaine and reached a hand out, absentmindedly touching his wrist. "I'm glad you still came," Kurt whispered.

"Here…I can't even remember what we all die for." Blaine shut his eyes against the paradox of the hate waiting at home and the pleasure of Kurt's touch; forbidden in every way. An Israeli. A Jew. A boy. Here it didn't matter, but… "At home it will be different. I will be different." He paused in thought before opening his eyes again. "Thank you Kurt. For your prayers. I do not know if your Kaddish has ever been said for a Palestinian before. We only fight and kill one another, we do not mourn."

Kurt took the boy's hand, pulling him into an embrace. "G-d only knows what we're fighting for," he mused. "The counselors say that in order to make peace with your enemy, you must first go to war with yourself. Maybe all we really fight is human nature."

Pain shined through as Blaine met Kurt's eyes. "In two years, that is going to be you in the Israeli uniform. How are you going to be any different?"

How they felt about one another went unspoken. It was too soon. Too dangerous. Too fleeting. But it would never be forgotten. "Because in every Palestinian I will look for you," Kurt told him. "Not your face, but the warmth in your eyes, the goodness in your soul."

"And you think that will make enough of a difference?" Blaine wondered aloud.

Kurt glanced at the heavens, his thoughts with his mother, then back to Blaine. "I pray that it will."

Author's Note:

Seeds of Peace is an organization that gives rise to new generations of leaders uniquely inspired and equipped to build lasting peace. Since 1993, Seeds of Peace has set the standard in international peace-building by providing exceptional young people and educators from regions of conflict with an otherwise impossible opportunity to meet their historic enemies face-to-face at our International Camp in Maine. There are now over 5,000 Seeds and Educators from 27 countries who prove that solutions exist, peace is possible, and there is reason to have hope for a better future.

I have every intention, after much reading and research, to turn this prologue into a multi-chaptered story. In the spirit of full disclosure, I am a Jewish American, raised in a conservative synagogue. My marriage is interfaith. I believe in a two state solution. But most of all, I believe in Peace.

Now for some fun. I swear I took this straight off the Seeds of Peace website and altered nothing. Please take note of the first four lines!

We Are Seeds

Give me a second I I need to get my hair gel straight My friends are in the Big Hall Playing Gaga like a bunch of apes My counselors they are waiting for me Across the Dining Hall My seat's been taken by some PSs Asking 'bout a call

And I know I waited for you months ago I'm trying hard not to submit But between the talks and subtle things The doubts in my philosophies You know I'm trying hard to get on track So if by the time the Camp closes And you feel like falling down We'll carry you home

Tonight we are Seeds We can change the world together Make it better Every day

Now I know that I'm not All that you got Guess that I I just thought Maybe we could find new ways to fall apart But our Seeds are back So let's ring the bell 'Cause I found someone to carry me home

Tonight we are Seeds We can change the world together Make it better Every day

Carry me home tonight Just carry me home tonight Carry me home tonight Just carry me home tonightThe world is on my side I have no reason to run So will someone come and carry me home tonight I can see the lake It's never far away So will someone come and carry me home

Tonight we are Seeds We can change the world together Make it better Every day

So if by the time the Camp closes And you feel like falling down We'll carry you home … tonight.

Lyrics (by Orlando; arrangement by Adriel)