AUTHOR'S NOTE: Like the last chapter, this, too, is a preview for a larger fic that has been in my WIP folder for the longest time. I'm really excited about it, though, so if you are excited about it, too, please favorite or review and I'll post more of it!

Two little boys, they couldn't be older than eight, sat in the old sycamore on a hill, on one of the thickest branches. One of them was holding a bright red balloon that was tugged on its string in the evening breeze. But the boy's grip didn't falter. His bright blue eyes gazed into the distance, to the horizon.

The other boy, who had a remarkable mop of unruly, dark brown curls and big, honey hazel eyes, was squirming on the branch, making it bob and sway.

Their shadows grew longer as the sun set, and the smaller boy scooted closer to the other one.

"Can your mommy get the message yet, Kurt?"

His clear voice rang loudly through the twilight. His gaze was fixed on Kurt's serious-looking little face, as the taller boy put his arm around him.

"Not yet, Blaine. We have to wait until we can see the stars, because my daddy told me that when people die, they become stars. And so when we let the balloon go then, it will find it's way to my mommy, because I wrote her name on the card."

Blaine nodded in understanding; one of his longer curls fell over his forehead. He pushed it away with a small huff and grabbed Kurt's hand, twining their little fingers together.

"I wouldn't mind if it takes even a… uhm. An…. A really, really long time for the stars to get here. Because it would mean that I can sit here with my best friend for a really long time."

He put his head on Kurt's shoulder, nuzzling the other boy's neck. Kurt giggled because the curls tickled his face, but then he sighed contently. He squeezed Blaine's hand as darkness slowly surrounded them. And so they sat, two little boys, hands intertwined and little legs dangling from the tree into nothingness.

The red balloon was floating in the air, stopped by little shocks when the string in Kurt's hand held it close.

He was still staring at the horizon, when the first stars began to appear. He nudged Blaine, whose eyes were drooping, with his shoulder. The boy sat up and yawned, and he looked so much like a dinosaur Kurt had to laugh, but then he turned serious again; they had something very important to do.

With a lot of wobbles and swaying and steadying themselves on each other, they both took hold of the string. Slowly, to not lose their balance, they both stretched out their arms to the sky. The balloon was tugging on its string like mad, caught between the leaves and the light summer breeze. Kurt sighed deeply and looked over to Blaine, who was looking at the small card attached to the balloon with a determined look on his face. Blaine glanced over to Kurt from under his tangled mess of curls.

"I think there are enough stars now."

Kurt sighed one more time and took Blaine's hand.

"Yes. I guess there are."

Their eyes locked, for just one second, and nothing mattered, because they both had their best friend in the world with them.

"Are you ready?"

Kurt closed his eyes, breathed in deeply, and turned to look at Blaine.

"Yes."

Blaine nodded and squeezed their locked hands.

"One…"

Kurt looked at the balloon.

"Two…"

Blaine looked at Kurt.

"Three."

It came out as a whisper, neither of them wanting to disturb the moment they created, not wanting to tear the silence apart with words. They let go of the balloon at the same time.

They watched it float upwards, higher and higher until it was just a small, almost invisible red dot in the night sky, nearly unrecognizable among the millions and millions of stars that crowded the sky.

Kurt turned around and hugged Blaine. He buried his face in the mop of curls and felt tears sting his eyes.

He felt two tiny arms come up and rub his back soothingly.

"It's going to be okay, Kurt. I'm sure she'll get the message. She's gonna love it."

The balloon drifted away, the small white card dangling at the bottom of the long chord.

"dearest mommy,

I love you very very much, and i miss you a lot.

I really liked it when we played with the dolls and with my tea party set and with my tiaras. I wish you were here becos even tho blaine (thats my bestest friend in the whole world) plays with me, its not the same as when you did.

Sometimes the bigger kids from school call me things like homo and gay and something with a F that i couldnt write on here from daddy.

i don't like that becos it makes daddy sad.

i just want to say that i really really really mis you. and i just want you to know that, even tho your not here, i sometimes think you are, and that makes me happy.

i hope this balloon reaches you

I love you, mommy,

Kurt

Oh also i told blaine about you and he said he liked you a lot even tho he doesnt know you but i think that if you new him you'd love him too like you love me."