Epilogue

In the end, they were the last ones to leave B-W. Only Toby's car remained, and a blue pickup Kurt assumed belonged to Darius. Kurt stood next to Mike, an arm around his waist, holding him close as they watched Blaine pull out of the parking lot. They could already hear loud music coming from Blaine's speakers.

"Dude," Finn said, sounding exasperated. "Turn that down, okay?"

Tina waved from the passenger seat. She fiddled with the controls, and the volume decreased a few notches. "See you at home," she called with a smile, and Mike waved back. They stood together, the three of them, until the car was out of sight.

"You okay, baby?" Kurt asked, not for the first time that morning. Things were suddenly . . . new again, with Mike, and still felt a little fragile. Kurt kept needing to check in as much for his own sanity as to be sure how Mike was feeling.

"I think so," Mike said. "There's still a lot to think about. I think- I think the drive home will be good."

"You're probably right," Finn said, wrapping an arm around each of them. "Just don't spend too much time in your head, man. 'Cause that'll only freak you out."

"Yeah." Mike sighed. Suddenly he broke away from Kurt and Finn, heading up the sidewalk. Kurt tried to reach out to grab him, but Mike was fast.

"Go on," said Finn. "I'll get our stuff from the room and be right back."

Mike was already trying to wrangle his bags into his car by the time Kurt caught up to him. "Hey," he called, taking Mike's duffel bag from his hand. "If we're doing this, we have to talk when things are scary."

"It's not scary," Mike said, shaking his head in irritation, "just- it's a lot to process, you know?"

"I do," Kurt said, "and I want you to have the space to do that. I just don't want you to hide from us. I'll do my best not to hide either."

"Promise?" Mike slid his hand into Kurt's, and Kurt squeezed gently.

"Promise, sweetheart. We'll figure it all out." He walked Mike over to his car, and waited for Mike to pop the trunk. He loaded both of Mike's bags in, and closed the lid before reaching out and pulling Mike into him.

"I love you, and Finn loves you. And Tina... god, baby. She's amazing, she loves you so much, and we're all going to be fine." He kissed Mike's jaw, the side of his neck, his cheek, and then very gently on his lips.

Mike yielded, but not without resistance. Kurt could just feel him begin to give in to the kiss, to the need Kurt could feel stirring inside of him. "What do you need, baby?" he asked, pulling away and tasting the salt of Mike's tears on his lips and tongue.

"It's all too much," Mike said, swallowing hard and blinking.

He reached into his pocket for his handkerchief. "I know, I know. And I think you need to let it all go, but we can't do that here. Can you hold on for me? Hold on until we get home?"

"I-I think so," Mike said, dabbing at his cheek with his fingers. Kurt put the handkerchief into his hand, and Mike scrubbed away his tears.

"Good," Kurt murmured. "That's good. We'll see you at home, tonight, and I'll take care of everything."

"Where- you mean you want to meet someplace?" Mike looked at him, hesitating. "I really don't think we can go out, not in Lima, like on a date or anything..."

Kurt shook his head, smiling. "Mike. Honey... we'll see you at home. Our house. You're part of the family, now, and the house is as much yours as it is any of ours. Blaine said you can even use his room, whenever you need it."

He blinked. A tiny corner of his mouth turned up. "Yeah?"

"Yeah. Now. You should go. It's only a couple of hours, we'll all be okay. But Finn and I both have our phones if you need anything on the drive." Kurt kissed him again, playfully on the tip of his nose, and Mike smiled.

"I- I love you," he said, softly, opening his door and sliding into the car.

"I love you too, man," Finn said, appearing in the space next to Kurt and wrapping his arms around him. "You good to drive?"

Mike shrugged, but he looked calmer. "I don't really have a choice, do I? I'll be fine."

"Yes, you will," Kurt said with a nod. "You're my sweet, brave boy, and you'll be all right. We all will. Drive safe."

He held up a hand as Mike started the car, shifted into gear, and pulled slowly out of the parking lot.

"Do you really believe that?" Finn asked. "Will we all really be okay?"

"I have to believe it," Kurt replied, even though there was a tiny knot of anxiety under his rib cage. "I don't think I could do this, otherwise."

Finn tucked his chin into the space between Kurt's shoulder and neck. "That's because you're good, Kurt, and brave, and... and I'm so damned proud of you."

"Thank you," Kurt whispered. He let himself feel that certainty from Finn, just for a moment, before slipping from Finn's embrace and taking his hand. "I needed to hear that."

"I think it's time to go home, baby," Finn said, leading him toward the car. "We're ready, now."