(The other side of the looking glass/gate)

'Where are we?' Blaine said in a voice usually reserved for a mind-blowing ensemble concocted by his significant other.

Toeing the border of two worlds, Joe shrugged, 'I guess you could say it's a real life 'trail to nowhere'.'

Before the group stretched an unkempt, yet wholly passable, four lane road. Nowadays, it would have easily been called a 'highway', but the path seemed…older, and in many ways, ancient. Stray blades of tall grass grew high among the cracks in the pavement and a few smaller stones from the nearby hillside had cobbled the surface somewhat, but none of those facts seemed to dampen the group's wonder that something so modern existed somewhere so remote…forgotten by the rest of the world.

'How can this be?' Nellie moved beside Blaine, awestruck, along with the older boy, at the strange sight.

Instead of answering, Hart stepped onto the road and turned, presumably charting the artery's path up the mountain, but his eyes seemed unfocused, as if he were in the thrall of a fond but distant memory. From farther up the four-lane 'highway' in the direction of their guide's stare, a breeze drifted down from the peak and dusted one of Joe's dreadlocks from his bare-shoulder. Planting his feet, he spread his arms and embraced the breeze, as one might accept the hug of a love, long lost.

When he started speaking, he kept his back to the group, and his eyes remained closed; his voice lowered penitently, as if in prayer.

'My pastor told us that this land had been reclaimed by God…that He had seen fit to save a piece of Eden, so we might grow closer to Him…and He to us. When I was a little boy, my church would come up to the Well to witness God's beauty firsthand. During these trips, we did not preach the Gospel…we lived within it, communed with God, and found happiness in one another. All were welcome, whether or not they believed as we; it was more than a celebration of faith; it was a celebration of the human condition. Songs were sung, dances were danced, and courses were straightened. Each and every time we climbed up the mountain and went to the Well, we came down with new friends…we came down a closer, stronger group.'

Sound ceased save for the fresh breeze and the whispers of memories shelved. Finally a solemn and respectful voice begged Joe to continue.

'You said 'when I was a little boy',' Sam quietly stated, 'What happened? How long has it been since you've been up here?'

From behind him, the others could see Joe's shoulders sag and his head dip.

'Fewer and fewer people had time for church, let alone a revival, and those that tried to continue started to get too old to make the trip. A couple of us tried to organize 'youth retreats' to the Well, but...things happened, and time kept marching on. The last time I was here was two years ago with one of my friends. To be honest, we said 'goodbye' to the Well that day, so I didn't think I'd ever see it again. But when I heard Mr. Schue's lesson, I...I can't explain it. I just 'felt' that the Well could show us how to Carpe Diem.'

Slowly, Joe turned back around to the others, tears marking his cheeks.

'I don't know how, but I just knew that this place could help us find our collective voice and grow as a family…because I've seen it happen, and I have faith that it will again.'

Stepping forward, Tina wrapped the emotional boy in a heartfelt hug.

'You're a good man, Joseph Hart,' the senior whispered into his ear, 'one of the best I've ever known.'

Nodding, Joe returned her hug, his dreads sliding from his shoulders to those of the smaller Cohen-Chang. Seconds slipped by, with the friends holding one another, until Tina pulled back slightly, a strange look on her face.

'You smell like cinnamon,' she seemed surprised at her own statement but then lowered her nose to his hair, 'Oh my God, you're like a big sweet roll!'

The mood lightened, a few chuckles glided away on the wind, and the group drew closer around Joe, offering support and love to their guide in this strange, wondrous new 'land'.

A few beats later, Michael, standing at a polite distance, snapped a picture, lowered his camera, and addressed the others.

'Really, what is this place? And why haven't any of you heard about it?' the spy's eyes twinkled with the intoxication of 'mystery', 'I mean…this is rad. I feel like I'm on Lost.'

Joe opened his mouth, ready to continue his tale, but a shout from the Tacoma halted his story.

'Wait, Joe,' Artie said with a smile, 'Wait till we get there, so we can all get the 'full effect'.'

Hart paused for a second and then gave a knowing nod, understanding the senior's bent.

Artie continued with his mischievous smile, 'I'm not trying to be a buzz kill or anything, but I haven't been all the way to the Well yet…and I want to be surprised.'

Taking a few steps away from the group, Tina turned her attention to the same distant point that had drawn Joe's gaze. The breeze caught her dark hair and blew it away from her shoulders, and for a brief beat, she smiled. So significant was the moment that Michael actually captured it on his camera, even though he knew that Charlie and the Croparazzi would have little use for it.

Slowly, Tina turned back around and faced New Directions.

'All right,' she finally allowed her smile to fully break across her face, 'I'm invested in this little adventure now, so lets do this right. Everyone load back up, and lets get to Joe's Well.'

'Its not 'my' Well,' Joe corrected her with a smile of his own, 'It's 'our' Well.'

Tina stared over at him for another moment and nodded, 'Lead on Joe and get us to 'our' Well.'

(Author's Note: Had a question concerning how long this story would run, and the short answer is...as long as you guys want me to tell it :) I have loved every second of this process but most of all, I have been blessed to meet some absolutely amazing people *that's you guys :) * A special thanks to my friend, so-gleek, for her wonderful reviews. Please visit her at im-so-gleek on tumblr. Also, if you have any questions about anything, I'm at gleejack on tumblr. You guys rock! And I have another scene all ready for tomorrow...its a musical number :D )