Sorry for the long wait; I'm back in college and I'm in the process of writing my second story and I didn't know what to write as an epilogue. It's a bit rush, maybe, but it's the conclusion to say goodbye to this world, the Casablanca's, its luxury and characters! I hope you enjoyed it. I began writing this, like, years ago, and now, it's done. I'm teary-eyed, but I have another amazing story in the work right now that I'll post as soon as possible! It's called 1969 and it's hippie!Klaine in a world of freedom. I hope you will enjoy this one as well.

Thank you for all of your lovely comments!

-XXX-

The cold went through the door as Blaine walked inside of Mon Chou , his scarf wrapping tightly around his neck and his gloved hands were around heavy beer boxes. As he entered the place, a warm and delectable smell from different dishes engulfed every corner. Now that it was well in the evening, the soft, but powerful voice of Mercedes could be heard from upstairs. Since the restaurant opened a little over a year ago, food critics were always praising the idea of having a singer such as Mercedes Jones to lull the patrons into their time here.

The business was good for several months, now. It had become quite popular and the people and critics just love the ambiance, the food that the chefs put their heart and soul to make and the décor that Kurt planned so artfully. Blaine put the beer boxes near the door before going downstairs to put them with the wines. They all buy locals and Blaine was, with his charming smile, the man to go through the city to buy the best of the best. He learnt that from his father, how important it was to buy locals as they walked though Florence to buy the best vegetable, the best beer, and the best meat. And he just wanted to honor his dad, in some way.

Christmas decorations were hanging everywhere, but not in a tacky way, like Target would do. It was more like what Harrods during Christmas would do. Blaine scanned the restaurant and saw Santana at the bar, with a dreamy gaze. He picked the beers again and went to her; just because he wanted to, he dropped forcefully the boxes on the counter and she startled. She glared at him as he laughed loudly.

''Don't do that,'' she hissed at him.

''It was too tempting. What are you looking at, anyways?'' he said, trying to look in the direction she was looking, but she replied quickly: ''Nothing''.

Blaine shrugged. ''Shouldn't you be in the kitchen? God only know how mad you are when someone messes with your kitchen. You never go out of here!'' he said, arching an eyebrow. Santana was about to retort, but Kurt appeared behind Blaine, offering him a peck on the cheek.

''Hey, you,'' Kurt said. Blaine replied by kissing him on the temple as he encircled his waist. ''How was Roberto?''

''Good, actually. His wife's pregnant,'' he said to a wide-eyed Kurt. ''But he gave us all the good beers. As usual.''

''Mm…'' Kurt said, looking in the boxes. ''I should thank him and congratulate him with a bunch of his favorite macaroons. His wife just loves the orange ones.'' He smiled at Blaine, then at Santana. ''By the way, to your previous conversation, you were looking at a girl. Not too subtle, Lopez.''

''What?'' Santana said. ''I-no. This isn't… I mean…''

''Oh my god. You totally do!'' Blaine exclaimed. ''I've never seen you so flustered before. This is priceless.'' Blaine beamed at her. She looked at both of them, and then faltered and a nervous smile appeared.

''Okay, okay. That's true. I've been out of the kitchen lately, because I just can't help it. She's so beautiful; I have to get a glimpse of her, like, every ten seconds! What do I do?'' she said at them and Kurt arched an eyebrow and Blaine gaped at her.

''I've never seen you so nervous with a girl before,'' Kurt remarked.

''But now, this is different.'' She went around the county to be inches away from the men. ''It's Dani Harper.''

''The girl we hired two months ago?'' Kurt said excitedly. ''I knew it. You were just drooling all over her for weeks!'' he made a move to turn to look at the waitress Santana had an eye on, but her shrilly voice made him stop.

''Don't look back. She'll know we're talking about her or stalking her or something.'' She said quickly and breathlessly.

''Why don't you just come to her and say ''Hey, wanna date?'' Blaine asked, bluntly.

''No, no, no. I told you, this is different. I'm getting that stinky panic sweat under my boobs.''

''Why?'' Kurt asked. ''She's cute, she's sweet, everybody knows she's gay, ask her out.''

''This is too risky. I'm technically her boss. I can't do this.''

''Yes, you can,'' Kurt asked. ''It can lead to a great romance.''

''Yeah, like the mess you've been through with Blaine? Please, it makes me puke.'' Kurt rolled his eyes.

''Who cares if you're her boss. Besides, she got a waitress job; I don't think you'll be her boss for years. Now, go.'' He pushed her not so gently towards Dani who was serving a client. Seeing the overly bright smile that Dani gave Santana, Kurt and Blaine shared a knowing smile. It was clear that Dani was into their best friend as well. It was cute to see Santana so nervous around a girl, though.

''I have to put these in the basement. I'll be back in a few,'' Blaine said as he parted from Kurt to pick up the beers.

''I'll come with you,'' Kurt said with a gentle smile as he helped with a box. ''The guys in the kitchen can handle it for a few minutes.'' As Blaine packed the beers in different containers, Kurt just sat on the old stairs, looking at Blaine with a fond smile. ''I went shopping for Julian today. Do you think he'd like that vest from Mark Jacobs we saw last week?''

''You finally bought it for him? I think he will love that for Christmas. I swear, that kid just think you're a god or something. If I wouldn't know any better, I'd think he has a crush on you.''

''He's just glad to see his favorite brother-in-law, that's all,'' Kurt retorted teasingly.

''He also likes it when you buy him clothes from Fifth Avenue,''

''He likes great clothes. Your brother is tastefully dressed. I will make sure of it.''

''Oh, yeah?'' Blaine said, going between Kurt's legs as he finished putting the last bottle of beer in the container. ''We still have the gift for Cooper to buy. What would he like?''

''Knowing him, a girl in a box will do,'' Kurt said, chuckling. ''But we have to hurry, though. We're going to Italy next week for Christmas.''

''And don't you think I don't know that? Mom's been pestering me for three weeks now over the phone, telling me not to forget that, or this and to no get hotel reservations, because if we do…''

''She'd be pissed,'' Kurt grinned at him. Ever since they opened the restaurant over a year ago, a lot has changed. Charles, by his faults with sleeping with minors, had to resigned to a quiet life in Miami, so he gave up all his credit to the other person in charge after him; Maggie. She'd never know that she could be such a fierce, but compassionate businesswoman. Now living in Italy with Giorgio, she had a passionate job that she loved so much by taking care of the hotels, and the man of her dream. Kurt and Blaine had heard from Blaine's siblings from his mother; Patrick got a divorce and that wasn't a surprise as Kurt sees Quinn quite frequently. After the divorce, she left for New York to find refugee with Rachel and Kurt to put her on her feet again. After seeing Kurt's face in Europe, she just realized how much she missed her old friends. In the months that she rediscovered herself again, Puck and she rediscovered themselves as well.

Beatrice said goodbye to her fashion dream to the great joy of Santana. Blaine never wanted to see them so vulnerable, but it was life. They had fun without seeing the consequences and they had lost everything. Losing the trust of the people, of their own mother… Blaine was sure (and it was inevitable) that he was going to see them again, and he will, but he won't be their brother anymore. Too much betrayal, too much confusion and they hurt his boyfriend. He wished them the best, maybe having a quiet, quaint little life like he has; a successful job that he likes, a partner that he loves, friends that he adores, he really wished them all that. But they had to wish that to themselves, too.

''Hey, my boy!'' a loud voice said on top of the stairs. ''We need you in the kitchen.''

''Coming, Ed!'' Kurt said, smiling at the man who was standing at the top of the stairs. Eddie, the homeless man that Kurt used to see when he was working at that dreadful Italian joint, was now an honorary employee to Mon Chou. A few weeks after the restaurant was open, Kurt went to see his old friend in the streets. He promised him a new life, a new start. Since he hadn't worked for years, he began to wash the dishes, Kurt and Blaine invited him to live with them now that they had their own place, and slowly, but surely, he became the man he was before being homeless. With the first pay he had, he found a nice little apartment, bought new clothes, get a good shave, straighten up his posture, and he was like a new man. His eyes were bluer, full of life. Now with no barb, he had a slim, but joyful face. Kurt helped him find his place in society again and if he wants to live someday to find another job, he'll let him go, but for now, he was happy to have him. After a couple of months, he began to cook under the watchful eye of Santana how become, in a way, his mentor to make good food, not this shit you find in the shelters, estùpido! Santana's words.

''Come on,'' Blaine said. ''We have work to do!''

''Hey, can you believe that next week, Guy Fieri is going to step into our restaurant, tasting our food?'' Kurt said as they climbed up the stairs, the soft voice of Mercedes vibrating through the old walls of the building. Smiling faces greeted them as they stepped on the first floor, patrons enjoying themselves; it was a lovely atmosphere.

''Well, if the host of Triple D is going to be there, that's because you, my darling, is doing a kick-ass job at creating the best of the best. I love you,'' he said as they stopped walking near the kitchen doors.

''I love you too,'' Kurt said back. ''Annnd the fact that our faces are going to be displayed on Food network is pretty awesome. You know, when you think about it, Kurt Hummel had a pretty good year,'' he concluded as they sealed their lips together under the brouhaha of the restaurant.

-X-

''Cheers, people, cheers!'' Cooper shouted as he lifted his glass of wine in the air, beaming at his family and the girls' neighbors that couldn't stop swooning in front of him. In Giorgio and Maggie's villa, family, friends and neighbors were all reunited to make a big Christmas party outdoors. It was, in a way, the conclusion of a chapter in Kurt's life and another just began.

''Cheers!'' everybody exclaimed, clicking their glasses together. A mix of Italian and English words was mixing together.

''Kurt,'' Julian said as he rushed at his side. Kurt smiled gently at him, fondness in his eyes. ''I just wanted to tell you that that this shirt is SO kick-ass! Like, super-duper cool!'' he exclaimed. Kurt laughed as he leaned against Blaine who was chuckling softly at his younger brother.

''It's nothing. You'll get to experience the real fifth avenue very soon, right?'' Kurt asked with a teasing smile.

''Fuck, yeah! This summer in New York with you guys is going to be AWE-SOME!''

''Ju, language,'' Blaine said, but his easy smile betrayed his seriousness. Julian shrugged and left to join a friend near the pool. Blaine spotted his mother in her garden, a little far from the party goers. He kissed Kurt's temple, promising to come back soon.

''Hey, mom.'' He greeted her. ''It's really cool what you did with the backwards.'' He complimented as he really looked at all the lights hanging up to make it look like stars, the stereo was playing a soft music in the background and food and alcohol were serving in abundance. It was truly a beautiful way to celebrate Christmas. ''what are you thinking about?'' he asked. He sat on the bench next to his mother.

''That it's my very first Christmas apart from my children,'' she softly said with a sad smile. Blaine understood and puts a gentle hand on hers. ''I mean, I know what they did was wrong, and I'm so, so disappointed in them. I call them almost everyday- they may have done some awful things, but I'm still their mother. And in a way, I feel like I fail them. Like it's my fault if they are like that.''

''It's not your fault, mama,'' he said quickly to reassure her. ''They made their own decisions… and it costs them their reputation, their future careers,'' he chuckled bitterly, sans humor. ''Patrick's wife is gone.'' Maggie touched Blaine's cheek.

''My beautiful boy. So compassionate… my other kids should learn a thing or two from you, sweetie,'' Blaine shook his head.

''I was like them, once. If I… if I didn't wake up, I'll probably be where they are now. Full of regrets. I…''

Maggie hugged him then. She hugged him tightly as she played with his curls. ''Give that hug to Kurt from me, will you? I have to thank him to bring my little boy back to me,'' she whispered, teary-eyed.

And he did. Later in the evening, Kurt was on the balcony, wanting to get away for a little while. He could see the golden fields below them and could feel Blaine's arms wrapping around him.

''Hey, you,'' Blaine murmured in his ear.

''Hey,'' Kurt softly said with a warm smile.

''My mom told me to give you this hug,''

''Oh? What for?''

''For being you, and for changing me,'' Blaine whispered in the wind as he looked at Kurt and his plum lips. A soft smile graced his lips; yes, his life was going to be amazing.

-XXX-

Thank you again for taking the time to read my story; it means a lot to me. My new Klaine fanfic called 1969 is going to be there soon, so stay tuned. You will find me here and on Archive of our own.