Here's the next to last chapter of SYAKC pt1! I hope you guys liked the story so far! I can't believe I've gotten so many reviews! An d here I was thinking that this was a stupid idea for a talentless hack like me to write a fanfiction! Thank you all for the awesome support and I hope you all enjoy:

Senior Year; A Kurtofsky Chronicle

Chapter 21: Improv and Dreams

Kurt spent the rest of the week hard in concentration, learning his part of the duet. Most of what he'd seen with Dave and Mercedes was a lot of back and forth without much feeling, but when he practiced with the jock their chemistry was evident and helped them to put more personality into the performance.

It surprised Kurt how well they actually did sound together. It's not that he didn't believe they would, but he never practiced with his boyfriend, even during Glee club, which in retrospect seemed kind of silly to him. Not only did they sound great, but it was a lot of fun too. Dave seemed content to let Kurt work out a lot of the choreography, but in truth it came easier when they just winged it and let their natural interactions play out.

When Mr. Schue watched them practice during lunch one day he noticed this and encouraged them to forget about the choreography and simply focus on having fun.

"It seems you two already have a natural rhythm between yourselves. I think it might actually work out in your favor if you used that instead of set moves. This type of song might actually call for a bit of improvisation," said the teacher.

"Improv?" asked Dave surprised. "On the stage? Isn't that risky, though?"

"Yeah, it is," Kurt said, "but I think Mr. Schue has a point. "The song is very jazzy and all of the greatest jazz musicians and performers know how to improvise in the right way. That's why no two shows are exactly the same. They know when to do it and how."

"Exactly," Mr. Schue said, beaming at Kurt. "That way their act doesn't get stale, no matter how many times they perform it. They keep it light and improvise when they feel they can, making sure it goes along with the music, but at the same time, it makes the performance unique."

"I guess it isn't very hard when you think about it," Dave said. "I mean, it's basically what we've already been doing, right?"

"Right," Kurt replied. "And we've had some pretty great practices. I like some of the moves we've done and I think the best moment for the improv is going to be during the instrumental bit."

"Yes," Mr. Schue agreed. "That's when the rest of the guys have their chance to show their stuff too. After all we can't have them just swaying in the background and make the act seem genuine."

"Why don't we just make it like a little scene?" Dave asked. The other two looked at him curiously.

"You know," he continued, "like we're a t a real jazz club or something; actually doing a number where the others dance around us. It could be like we planned it that way, and still get to show off everyone's talents. I'm sure the others wouldn't mind, especially Tina, Mike, and Brittany; they love dancing."

Kurt's eyes lit up and Dave gushed. "You're right, that could work out very nicely!" he said excitedly. "Also, and I know what you're going to say David, but hear me out-" the singer said, looking at his boyfriend. Dave's look turned from pleasantly surprised to confused. "I know you said you didn't care what people thought, but it would be nice to start changing people's minds then."

Dave still looked puzzled and so did Mr. Schue. Kurt put his hand on his chin, trying to think of the best way to go about explaining his idea. Whatever Dave said, he didn't want to make school any tougher on the jock than it already was. Dave still cared about football and still had a dream of being a pro one day. There was no way that Kurt was going to see him fail. He would have to figure out a way to help give David what he wanted while making sure that he didn't experience all of the hate and prejudice that he had gone through when he first came out.

"I don't get it, Kurt," the jock said. "Change people's minds how?"

"Yes," Mr. Schue added. "What did you have in mind, Kurt?"

Kurt paused his pacing for a moment, opened his mouth to speak, and then shut it again. He turned to Dave and regarded him with a stern look.

"What," his boyfriend said.

"Well," Kurt started. "What if we had the couples be mixed up? Like some of the guys dance with other guys and some of the girls with girls? Have them dancing and sing a few lines of the chorus like it's no big deal."

"That's a great idea," Mr. Schuester beamed. "That's going to take attention from the awkwardness of having two male leads.

"So you mean, make it seem like it's no big deal that two guys are singing a song together?" Dave asked, frowning. "What good will thatdo? It'll just be like hiding, won't it?"

"Not at all," said Kurt. "It's still going to be me and you singing and performing together, but the fact that we have some same sex couples dancing in the background shows that it's not so uncommon. It'll show people that we have support while taking attention away from the obvious conclusion that we're gay. I mean, I know that you're ready embrace the idea of us being together in public, but as I learned from Nationals, making the audience uncomfortable during a performance is not going to bode well for our score.

You see, it's not just about us singing together, David. It's not just about being proud to be together in public, but also about making less of a deal to see two guys or two girls together at all. Remember: we're not the only gay couple in Lima, nor were you the only closeted boy either. There are others out there that are still too scared to come out, but if we can show people that it's not a bad thing and those people will see that too, it might just give them a bit of courage to be themselves."

Dave's eyes lit up with understanding. The jock nodded furiously looking happy and Kurt smiled. Seeing Dave like this; seeing him want to help those he once hurt and people like him made at least giving it a try worthwhile.

"You're right!" the jock beamed. "There must be a lot more people we can reach that way. I mean PFFLAG is great, but it's only for students and their loved ones. This can help us reach out in a bigger way."

"And it's not only about same sex couples either," Mr. Schuester added. "There's people of all types that come to these things, all bound by their love of music. And we have a pretty diverse group that can represent just about every demographic there is. After all, it's not just gay people who have a problem with facing their fears and insecurities."

"Right," Kurt said. He was positively glowing now. All of this talk of change and acceptance is what made Glee club and show choir so much fun. It gave people hope, love, and encouragement where they otherwise wouldn't have found it. Music reaches out to people in a way ordinary words can't.

The three men kept brainstorming ideas about the songs and how to incorporate the other two songs with this sort of message as well. Throughout the sessions all that week, Kurt noticed how much Dave seemed to be pulling from his own experiences. The singer learned more about his boyfriend in those meetings than he did in their private time. It was like he was meeting someone he knew, but hadn't seen in a long time. He actually reminded Kurt a lot of himself.

Dave had lost his mother too. It broke Kurt's heart to hear it, but Dave told him while they were coming from rehearsal one night. Kurt had gotten a lift from Finn that morning while his dad was working on his car. Since Finn and Rachel seemed to be enjoying each other's company so much, Dave had offered Kurt a ride home with him.

"I'm so sorry," Kurt said.

"Don't be," Dave replied. "She was a wonderful woman and she lived a great life, however short it was. All I can do to show her how much I love her is to keep living my life the best I can. I know she'd be proud of me for how far I've come."

Kurt looked at his boyfriend with fresh tears in his eyes, but they weren't tears of sadness. I understand now, he thought. I understand your need to stay strong. You wanted to stay the boy she knew; the boy she left behind. That's part of the reason you were scared to come out. You didn't want to change… We're more alike than I thought. Not like Blaine and I, but in a way that connects us even deeper.

Dave looked at him and smiled. "It's OK, really," he said, grabbing Kurt's hand and touching it to his lips. "I'm sure she would have loved to meet you. I know in my heart that she's happy for me. I… I had a dream. Before we started dating I had a dream about us…"

Kurt flushed. He hadn't known about that and now here Dave was, telling him so openly. "What… what was it about? Was it a good dream, or…" he asked cautiously. He was anxious to know, but Dave smiled and shook his head. "Oh…" Kurt said, his heart dropping a bit.

"It was great," Dave said. He squeezed Kurt's hand tighter, but still gently making the slender boy's heart flutter. "It was part of the reason I decided to tell you how I really felt; how much I wanted to be with you."

Kurt turned a bit in the passenger's side chair towards his boyfriend. "It was? How?" he asked.

"I dreamt that we were holding hands," Dave replied. Kurt blushed. "I dreamt that you were smiling and wearing a white suit. I knew right away that it wasn't real because you started changing right in front of me."

"Changing? How?" Kurt asked, puzzled.

"Like you were getting older," Dave replied, "and…" Dave tried to continue, but the rest of the sentence became an inaudible mumble.

"And what?" Kurt pressed. "I didn't hear that last bit. Can you say it again?" Dave went an even deeper red and Kurt could feel his palms beginning to sweat. He squeezed the jock's hand encouragingly. "David, whatever it is, you can tell me. I'm your boyfriend. You can tell me anything." Kurt said. He took his free hand and stroked Dave's grizzled cheek lovingly. Dave leaned his face into the soft caress of Kurt's hand and took a deep breath.

"You were wearing white; a white suit…" Dave repeated.

"Yes, and?" Kurt pressed again, a little less patiently this time.

"A- and… I- I heard church bells…" Dave continued. "I think we were getting married…" he almost whispered.

Kurt's eyes widened in shock and he felt his cheeks grow hot and his tongue dry up.

"I saw people there. They were happy and cheering, or at least they looked like they were cheering. I really couldn't hear anything over the bells, but…" Dave paused and Kurt thought he would start to tear up, but Dave actually smiled instead.

"Mom was there," the jock said, making Kurt gasp. "At first I couldn't tell because it's been such a long time, you know… but then I recognized her. She was smiling too… and then the dream started to change again. You were still smiling, and there were still people around, but you were older and they sounded like children… our children…"

Kurt's eyes welled up and a tear streamed down his face. He'd always dreamed of having a family, but after figuring out that he was gay, he knew that that dream would be all but impossible. Sure he could adopt, but he felt so alone at the time that he thought he'd never have anyone to have a family with so he sort of put that dream on the back burner. He'd focus on his career and become successful. Then someone would want him.

Hearing David talk about this dream was almost overwhelming for him. It was like finding out that he wasn't alone. It was like falling in love all over again. Kurt looked at Dave with so much love and passion that the jock's cheeks began to burn bright red again, like Kurt was lighting him up.

"After that dream," Dave continued, "I knew what I wanted. I knew that I had to let you know how I felt about you and that I would do anything to make you happy for the rest of your life. I knew how much I loved you… This was the night after I saw you kissing Blaine in the hospital."

"You mean the night after you saw Blaine kissing me in the hospital," Kurt corrected. Dave chuckled and nodded.

"Right, sorry," he said. "Anyway, I knew I had to get your attention somehow and then I found out about the assembly and that you were coming back for Glee club afterwards. The fact that Mom was in that dream told me that I was doing the right thing; that she was OK with who I was and that she still loved me. So now I had both of my parents on my side –and Z too. I can't believe how well he took it when I told him, but he said that he'd seen how much crap you went through –partly because we'd put you through most of it."

At this Kurt saw a tinge of pain in his man's eyes. "That's over and done with," he said reassuringly. "I've already told you that. Let's not dwell on the past. I want to see that future you dreamt of."

At this Dave smiled wide and Kurt couldn't help but to smile too. A future... A wedding and a husband... Children… Kurt thought to himself. These were dreams he'd thought were lost long ago. He never even thought about them while he was with Blaine. Even when he'd heard on the news that New York had legalized same-sex marriage, he hadn't thought about how he and Blaine would get married when they went to New York.

As if Dave had been reading his mind, the jock added: "I know you probably heard about New York making it legal for gays to marry… You probably thought about getting hitched with the hobbit…" Dave's voice was even, but Kurt could still detect the slight bitterness in the tone.

"Actually," Kurt said matter-of –factly, "I never did see myself as an Anderson. It sounds too… oh I don't know… Stepford Wives-ish."

Dave laughed his booming laugh and sent shivers up and down Kurt's spine. The slender singer squeezed his boyfriend's hand again and leaned on the boy's shoulder. They were in front of Kurt's house now and soon they'd have to say goodnight. Kurt wondered in the back of his mind if he'd be able to have that kind of dream tonight. He leaned in and shared a passionate kiss with Dave, cupping the larger boy's grizzled cheeks in his hands. Kurt found his hands liked the feel of the soft stubble and stroked his man's cheek with his nose, breathing Dave's scent in a bit.

"You know what?" he asked in a whisper.

"Hmmm?" Dave returned, stroking Kurt's perfect hair softly.

"Karofsky sounds like an excellent last name to have one day."

Dave froze, dumbfounded. He looked at Kurt with those wide emeralds and swallowed, apparently not able to respond. Kurt giggled and leaned in, placing small pecks onto Dave's top lip and moving to his bottom, nibbling at it a bit before deepening the kiss and leaving the jock dazed.

"Well you'd better get home, Mr. Karofsky," Kurt said as he got out of the truck. He closed the door and poked his head back through the tinted window pecking Dave's lips again. "Tomorrow's the big day and I want you to be at your best," Kurt said.

He pulled away from the car and started walking towards his front door. As he placed his hand on the knob he turned and looked at Dave again.

"Maybe you can dream about us again tonight," he called.

Dave smiled and stuck his hand out, waving before he pulled off of the curve and down the street. Kurt sighed and went inside, kissing his dad on the cheek and ruffling Finn's hair as he made his way through the living room. The two men looked at each other, then at Kurt before shrugging and turning back to the television.

"Someone's in a good mood," Carole chimed. Kurt went over to where she stood and hugged her tight and kissed her on the cheek too.

"The best!" he exclaimed.

That night Kurt found himself in a bright place, surrounded by the clanging of church bells and the smiles of his family and friends. His heart was light too and when he looked down he saw that he was in a finely made and beautifully tailored white tuxedo with a corsage of the reddest rose he'd ever laid eyes on. He realized that he was walking; walking down a long aisle where on either side stood all of the people he loved and some he didn't know –or know yet… Among them he saw his father, Carole, Finn, Paul and…

There, standing side by side, were two beautiful white-clad women, both with long brown hair. Both were smiling and both radiating so much love that his own heart ached from it. One was his mother. She looked like she had in the last memory he had of her; like she did in the pictures that kept her memory alive. The other woman was the one his boyfriend had just described to him that night. She had his eyes too and as Kurt focused on them, they drifted off to a spot in the distance. He turned and saw that everyone else was looking in the same direction now too.

Then the bells started to fade and Kurt turned to look there with them. His breath caught in his throat, his palms started to sweat, and his heart started beating faster while standing still at the same time.

There stood David. He was tall and handsome, wearing a tux much like Kurt's with the same corsage of crimson pinned to his chest. As Kurt approached what seemed to be an altar, Dave reached out his hand and Kurt's eyes caught a quick flash of silver and emerald before they looked up and into David's eyes. The man looked so happy and as Kurt took his hand his whole body felt like a firework ready to burst with joy.

He didn't know how long this feeling, or the dream, would last, but he knew that he'd have to make it come true one day. Of course his mother and Dave's wouldn't really be there, but it would be like they were. Kurt let his mind continue to play out the dream, feeding off of its bliss and allowing it to build up his hope for the future. One day this could all be real… One day, David Karofsky and I could have a family…

Whew! I'm all emotional right now… excuse me for a minute …..(creys)….. Anyway (sniffle) that's that for chapter 21. I hope (blows nose) you guys enjoyed it. I certainly enjoyed writing it for you! Let me know what you all think! XOXO

~Jay (crying unabashed now…)