AN: Short epilogue, as promised, so posted immediately. Many author's notes to follow at the end. (And if you've read this part before, you're not imagining things; I did add a small bit. I'd meant to have it in from the start, but forgot. :P I also made a slight adjustment to a particular line to make things a little vaguer... just in case.)

Dave Karofsky wasn't sure he'd said "you're kidding" that many times in his life. He stared his best friend in the face, daring him, almost begging him, to start laughing and say, "no, that really didn't happen, I was joking."

Instead, Kurt Hummel merely nodded solemnly. "Sadly, it happened. I was there."

"I'm sorry you guys didn't make it, Kurt."

"I know. But if nothing else, it was a learning experience, to put it mildly. And it was... interesting."

"I suppose that's one word for it. And 11th place... You almost had it."

"Yeah... I don't know if that makes me feel better or worse."

The dog days of summer were rapidly approaching, so even in the late afternoon, it was still sunny and warm. When the plane first got in from New York, Kurt had turned on his cell phone. The first thing he saw was a message from Dave reading "Since I couldn't be at the airport..." and a picture attachment icon. Kurt had opened it, and smiled: it was a photo of Dave holding up a hand lettered sign saying "WELCOME HOME KURT AND NEW DIRECTIONS!" Thus, Kurt had decided to drive up to Westerville to meet Dave instead of the other way around; the two sat on a stone bench under a tree in the Dalton Academy main quad, each with a plastic bottle of soda to ward off the heat. The world of the exclusive prep school passed them by as they locked themselves deep into their conversation, into Kurt's memories of New York.

"Well, don't worry about it," Dave said, sticking out his legs out of the shadows so they'd be warmed by the sunshine. "You'll be back on Broadway before you know it. And there'll be actual people in the audience."

"That's sweet of you." Kurt's breath hitched in his lungs; it was a reminder of a topic he'd agonized over the entire plane ride back. He couldn't even bring himself to enjoy all those first-class perks (though he doubted he'd ever fly again without halfway expecting a footrest). Still, looking at Dave now, his face dappled by small blobs of light, his Dalton blazer unbuttoned and hanging loose around his waist, his tie crooked in a way that was almost charming all on its own, he found his brain and his mouth leaping ahead with the eagerness of a puppy. "You know... I was thinking about that. My future. In New York. And... What I wanted out of it." He swallowed. "Who I wanted."

"Oh yeah?" Dave's voice was casual, but Kurt's mind honed in on the slight note of hoarseness in it. Ah, the wonders of a pair of trained ears...

"Yeah. I was telling Rachel that... I can't really imagine life in New York... without you in it too."

Dave coughed suddenly, but his eyes remained surprisingly focused on Kurt. "I... I'm flattered. Thanks." His red face told that tale very clearly without words. "But... are you sure that...?"

"It doesn't have to be about that. Even with everything else, you've been a good friend to me. New York is a big place; I could use all the friends I can get."

Dave nodded firmly. "Sure. Yeah. I completely agree."

"But at the same time..." Dave nearly jumped at Kurt actually continuing. "Summer's coming. A lot can happen in three months..."

"It can?" Dave squeaked. Fuck, I didn't know I could make that kind of sound...

"I... I've been thinking about this. A lot." And even that, Kurt thought, is an understatement. "And... we could try it out. Being... together, I mean. A kind of a... probationary relationship?"

Despite everything, Dave couldn't help but laugh. "That makes you sound like my parole officer."

"There is literally nothing I can say to that that won't sound perverted." Kurt chuckled. "Seriously, though... It's going to be our last year of high school together. I figure, why not take a chance? Even if it doesn't work out, we've been through worse." Both winced at the reminder, but Kurt pushed on regardless. "Why not just... take it slow and see where it goes?"

There were all sorts of questions practically tickling Dave's lips. He wanted to make absolutely sure that Kurt knew what he was getting into, that he was serious, that he was actually really ready. But most of all, one little word: why? Did Kurt actually trust him, after everything that happened?

Trust. There was that word again. This really was about trust, wasn't it, no matter how it'd come about?

They both had to learn how to do that if anything was going to happen between them.

"Okay," Dave finally said. "Let's take it slow and see where it goes."

Kurt nodded, as if he'd expected the reply. That only deepened Dave's lingering suspicions; how much did he really know? But then Kurt broke out into a wide smile, and Dave's melting heart drove out every other thought. "Good. Then I have a few suggestions for a first date..."

"A few?" Dave chuckled. "If I know you, it's more like a laundry list..."

"And what if it is? I have certain expectations for a first date; I want memories that'll last a lifetime."

"If you make me too nervous, I'm just gonna vomit all over you. How's that for memories that'll last a lifetime?"

Kurt faux-gagged. "Quiet, you!"

Their laughter attracted the curious glances of a few passing Daltonites, but those students quickly hurried along, wrapped up in their own lives. Dave's mirth finally wore itself out with a sigh. "You know, you're just lucky that NYU was on my college list already, or we'd both be up shit creek."

"I suppose. But we would've figured something out regardless. Besides, I figured you'd be happy to go to New York already." Kurt couldn't help but chuckle at Dave's confused expression. "Well, don't the Rangers need all the help they can get?"

"Wow," Dave said after a long, gaping second. "You're actually learning." He sniffled loudly, wiping away a non-existent tear. "I'm so proud. My little student's growing up!"

"Oh, shut up! It really is a fascinating sport, once you get into it. The mix of grace and violence is really interesting, and I... What?"

Dave was staring at Kurt, who couldn't help but squirm a little under the emotions in that gaze. "I love you," he said.

Kurt knew at once that the declaration had absolutely nothing to do with any "probationary relationship"; indeed, it had nothing to do with romance or sex or anything so trite. It was just a simple statement of longstanding fact, the kind of truth that went beyond insufficient ideas like "friendship" or irrelevancies like "sexuality." With something like that, there really was only one response: more truth. "I love you too." He sighed, raising his face towards the blue, cloud-wisped sky. "You know... Despite all the bumps... I've been to Nationals, McKinley is safer, I'm starting a GSA next year, I found a true friend..." He turned to Dave, who already had a sheepish smile on his face. "It's been a pretty good year for Kurt Hummel."

"For both of us," Dave grinned. "It's gonna be one hell of a summer."

"That it is."

"It'll be interesting to see where it goes."

"It will. Just so you know, I don't have any expectations. But even if we return to just what we have now... that wouldn't be so bad, would it?"

"No, it wouldn't." Dave raised his bottle of soda. "To baby steps?"

Kurt smiled and "clinked" his Diet Coke against Dave's Sprite. "To baby steps."

END

AN: Whew. Wow. Y'know, despite the the troubles I had along the way, this really turned out a lot better than I thought it would. And I get the sense that I've gotten a pretty big reaction from this for a first-timer, especially in a fandom that's not quite 100% familiar yet.

Many sincere thanks to all of you for your alerts, reviews, and favorites. It's really helped me keep going, and it means a lot (like many writers, I'm an attention whore at heart!). The feedback really has helped me, and it's had an effect in shaping how things turned out (and for the better, I believe). Even if you dropped this story after that one event, I do still appreciate you too! :)

What's next? Well, there are a few 'fics and ideas in other fandoms I may post now that I've done something with this account (one is already up, and I have others that have only appeared on website forums and such up to now, in fandoms I think could use some love). And there are a couple in this fandom I may want to try unrelated to this universe. But as for this universe, I'm kind of inclined to tackle S3. I already have a few ideas, already planted a few seeds in this story. If you're interested in it, please say so; it would definitely be more encouragement!

(Oh, and I figured out what to do about my alert dilemma. When/if I start S3, I will simply post the entirety of the first chapter as the 30th chapter of this story. That way, it both alerts my current, ah, alerts, and is more than just a few lines of "hey, go check it out." I'm satisfied with this decision.)

There's nothing else to really say but to repeat my thanks. There's something about the immediacy of "publishing" on the Internet that I hadn't really experienced to its fullest before, and now I have. And it's been pretty cool. :)

See y'all on the other side...

- Leaper
2/26/12