I had planned to publish this last night, but I couldn't get it all figured out in my head. Thanks for your patience. This chapter is dedicated to my inspiration LizzyPoodle. Not only does she inspire me, but she writes some amazing stories. You should check them out. In closing, I will say that this wasn't an easy chapter to write, and I don't know if you'll like it. As usual, I would love to know what you think! *ending has been slightly revised from original content*

"Ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation."

Kurt propped the card; bearing a quote by Kahlil Gibran, on his mother's headstone. His mother had loved quotes, covering their fridge with sayings, poems, and words of great men and women. She said that they inspired her.

Every year, on her birthday, Kurt and his dad brought her a new one. It was their small gift to her. He knew that his father would visit later in the day, but Kurt had decided to come on his own for the first time. And for the first time in years, his visit wasn't tinged by an overwhelming sense of melancholy. He was bursting with so many things to tell her, he didn't have room for sorrow.

Sitting on the bench his father had build next to her plot; stifling the self conscience feeling that momentarily gave him pause, he began to speak.

"Mom, I'm in love"

Somehow saying it out loud; in this place that was so sacred to him, it lifted a weight that he hadn't realized he'd been carrying.

His heart lighter; he continued.

"He's so perfect, Mom. I mean, even his imperfections are kinda perfect, you know? He's everything you would have ever wanted for me. He's sweet and sensitive and he cares so much about me. He...he loves me, Mom. He makes me want to be a better person, and he says that I make him feel that way too. It's like we push each other, but support each other. I don't know how to describe it. I guess its how you used to encourage dad to open his own shop, but when he didn't get that first business loan, you made him his favorite meal and said that you never wanted to be a business man's wife anyway. Dave's like that, mom. He…he reminds me of you in some ways. I mean, he's fierce, loyal, and protective- just like Dad. But there's something about the way the way he loves me, the way he looks at me when he thinks I can't see. Mom, he looks at me like I'm a miracle. The same way that you used to."

Stooping down, he laid the pink tulips; his mom's favorite flower, across the ground beneath her headstone. Touching his hand to the deep gray marker, he paused for a minute. the solemnity of this place getting to him, the way it always did.

"I miss you so much, Mom. I hate that you'll never meet him. He would have loved you."

Kurt had been home from the cemetery for an hour. It was still another hour before Dave was coming over. For the first time since the start of summer break, he was bored.

Flopping down onto the leather sectional in the living room, he grabbed the newest issue of Vogue, but flipped through it only absently, his mind drifting over the events of the last week.

It had been 7 days since school had let out. And 2 days until Kurt left for his 3 week tour of Europe. The one he'd begged and harassed his father for. After checking into the tour company, and reading at least a billion online reviews, Burt Hummel had finally conceded defeat and agreed to let his son go. To make it even sweeter, Kurt's grandparents on his mom's side had offered to pay for it, as a year early graduation present. Now he wouldn't have to sacrifice his 'saving for future cosmetic procedures' fund.

This trip had been all that he wanted at the time. Now the thought of "discovering Europe in 21 days' held little to no appeal.

Kurt was sure that Paris was going to be beautiful, but how could it be more beautiful than watching Dave sleep? Than listening to Dave talk? Than kissing Dave? Than…

He opened his eyes, paused in mid thought. He'd just come to a startling realization. Putting his head in his hands, he huffed in a combination of amusement and disgust.

Somehow, he'd become one of "those people". The relationship absorbed, poetry spouting, non stop text messaging nut cases who are obsessed with their significant other.

God, hadn't he always despised people who were caught up in their own pathetically dramatic relationships? Who never listened to you and rarely wanted to talk about anything, unless it was to share the tedious minutia of their boring love lives?

Just this morning, Finn had looked at him from across the table during breakfast and told him; in a voice that was uncharacterically stern for Finn,

"I'm not interested in debating what is hotter, Dave's laugh or his muscular arms. Thanks for thinking of me though"

So yeah, maybe he was a little obsessed, Kurt conceded grudgingly. But after the last week, who could blame him? I mean, his life was like one of those romantic montages from the movies, where the two main characters have a bunch of scenes together, falling in love, all to some annoyingly perky soundtrack. Kurt loved every minute of it.

Kurt had been a fan of romantic movies since the first time he'd snuck down the stairs and watched "Pretty Woman" from the vantage point of the stair landing, unbeknownst to his parents. He had fallen a little in love with Richard Gere that night. And there had been countless other nights, and countless other romantic heroes. Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing, Tom Hanks in Sleepless in Seattle, Nicholas Cage in City of Angels, Prince Eric in the Little Mermaid, Heath Ledger in Brokeback Mountain. (although that one was a bit of a downer, to be frank)

He'd watch the heros win over the ladies that they loved and it had warmed his heart. He'd loved every moment and had tried; as he got older, to ignore the twinge of jealous loneliness that had pierced his heart as every movie ended.

But all jealousy had evaporated because; for the first time; instead of watching, Kurt was living his own romantic adventure. And all those other handsome heroes paled in comparison to his Dave. Especially after this week.

School being out had taken their relationship to a whole new level. After their night of Chinese and Moulin Rouge, Kurt and Dave had gone to the movies twice. They'd planned to go only once, but couldn't agree on a movie, and so had to see both of their choices.

They'd gone to Breadsticks with some of the other kids from Glee. It had been a festive evening of ordering piles and piles of breadsticks and singing along to the soft rock played low throughout the restaurant.

They'd cooked dinner together on the last night before Kurt's parents got home.

Kurt had made his favorite food; sushi, while Dave had made his, seven layer nachos. Kurt couldn't remember when he'd enjoyed a meal more.

They'd been the roller rink, the Wal-Mart, even the library together. Neither of them cared what they were doing, as long as they were together.

Of course; they were careful in public. No one would have suspected they were anything other than two good friends. Well, as long as they didn't look too long. As careful as they were, it was impossible to completely bank the fire that existed between them.

Speaking of which, since that night in Kurt's bed, Dave had been especially careful about touching Kurt, allowing himself only sweet, breathless kisses at the end of the day.

But he was starting to show signs of reaching his breaking point. Kurt smiled. His dad would be out until much later, so he might have the chance to push Dave over the edge again. (Hopefully not literally this time!).

Trying to think up the right way to lure the other boy into his room, half drifting into a restful sleep, Kurt was jolted awake by the knock on the door.

Dave was here!

Six hours later, Kurt had to concede defeat. Operation "Seduce Dave" was an epic fail. After an afternoon and evening at the lake; where Kurt had gotten to admire Dave's muscles as he rowed them back and forth across the water, they'd met up with Finn and Puck for a camp fire and smores. (Puck had smuggled in some booze too, but both Kurt and Dave had declined) After the camp fire, Finn was going to spend the night at Puck's, as they were having a world of war craft raid or something equally incomprehensible that night. Unfortunately he'd relayed this information at the camp fire. This meant that Dave, not trusting himself alone, wouldn't come into the house with Kurt.

Which is why; at 11:30 pm, they found themselves the only customers in the all night iHop, eating French toast sticks and drinking large mugs of hot chocolate. While not as thrilling as going to second base, it wasn't without its charms.

Looking over at Dave; who was stacking his French toast sticks into a makeshift teepee, he smiled. His boyfriend was so strange sometimes.

Cupping his hands around his mug of surprisingly good hot chocolate, he raised his eyebrow, shaking his head.

"That's impressive, David. I didn't know you were an artist…especially not one who worked with such an unusual medium as French toast sticks"

Dave looked up from his project, his hazel eyes lit with humor.

"There's a lot of a stuff you don't know about me, Hummel. This is just the tip of the iceberg".

Kurt couldn't contain his amused chuckle.

"Do tell, please"

Dave stabbed his fork into one of the French toast sticks and took a bite, seeming to contemplate Kurt's request. Finally, he set his food down, and cocked his head to the side, his sexy smile flashing, making Kurt forget to breath for a second.

" Wellll…..since you asked. I am a 4th degree black belt, I think Arbor day is the most romantic and yet overlooked holiday, I wear white shoes all year long, fashion be damned, and I know how to waltz."

Kurt choked on his hot chocolate, and had to set down his cup quickly, while silent laughter racked his frame.

Dave feigned a look of outrage.

"And why, sir, are you laughing? Every single thing I said is true. You know, I had great self esteem until I got mixed up with you..."

Kurt finally curbed his laughter, tears streaming down his cheeks. This had been another Dave quality that he'd discovered over the last weeks; a dry, quirky sense of humor. It was one of his most endearing qualities.

Wiping the tears from his eyes, he struggled to compose himself, biting back the delighted smile that kept trying to emerge.

"Oh, I believe you. Really I do. But Marge, our waitress, she told me to watch out for you. She says that you tell all the girls you can waltz."

Dave nodded his head; shame written across his face.

"It's true. Marge and I, though never having met before this night, have come to know each other well. She knows I use the "I can waltz" line to win my date's favor. She was probably trying to warn you away. I can't say I blame her. "

Kurt, having barely recovered from his last laughing fit, broke down again. His stomach began to burn from laughing so hard. It didn't help that Marge rushed over to their table to ask if everything was all right. And it really didn't help that Dave solemnly informed her that Kurt had just had his heart broken and he really needed a slice of cheesecake and a hug. Kurt had cursed Dave through mirthful tears when she gave him both.

The cab of Dave's truck was still warm, providing a haven from the chilly Ohio night. It was now close to 1 am.

Kurt was both exhausted but, at the same time, strangely giddy. Probably the aftermath of a long day and laughing until he felt sick. Clicking on Dave's radio, as the other boy fired up the engine, he heard the soft rock station playing their nightly love songs, and he couldn't stop the impulse that went through him.

Grabbing Dave's hand before he could put the car in drive, he hesitated. He had to ask him..

"Is it true?"

He heard the other boy turn slightly in his direction, letting go of the gears, the vinyl seats creaking.

"Is what true?'

"Do you really know how to waltz?'

He could hear the smile in the other boy's voice.

"Yeah."

"Would you teach me?"

" Ummm... sure, maybe we could…"

"Right here. "

Dave's voice was questioning now.

"Right now...at 1 am in the iHop parking lot? You want me to teach you how to waltz?"

Kurt hesitated; realizing he probably sounded foolish. He was pushing Dave for too much, too fast. He opened his mouth to take back his request and apologize. But before he could get a single word out, Dave spoke again.

"It would be my honor"

Opening his door, he came around to Kurt's side. Kurt managed to quickly twist the volume dial on the radio up before Dave assisted him out the door.

They were the only car in the parking lot. Marge must have parked around back.

Kurt's head replayed a million and one romantic movie moments in that moment. Richard Gere climbing the fire escape towards Julia Roberts. Prince Eric leaning in to kiss Ariel in the canoe. Patrick Swayze spinning Jennifer Gray on the floor, in front of everyone. Jake Gyllenhall wrapped in Heath Ledger's arms next to the camp fire. All of those movies, all of those romantic scenes, they had all been leading up to this very moment. And not a one of them could compare.

The light was muted; enough so that they could see the stars above them. There was the sound of traffic, but it had a distant, almost soothing cadence to it. Dave took Kurt's hands and pulled him close, until their bodies were connected from chest to knees. It was the first time in almost a week that they had been this close. It felt so good that it made Kurt almost dizzy.

Both of them caught their breath. Kurt could feel the tremor that went through the other boy's body. A new song was starting; one of his favorites. You and Me by Lifehouse. The perfect setting, the perfect song, and the perfect boy. Hollywood couldn't have written it better. Dave leaned in, his whisper sending the now familiar chills down Kurt's spine.

"The waltz is basically a box step. It's a one, two, and three and slow, quick, quick. Just follow my lead, ok, babe?"

Taking one of Kurt's hands, and placing the other one on his shoulder, Dave placed a hand on Kurt's waist and; looking him in the eye, stepped forward with his right foot. It took Kurt a minute to follow, Dave counting for him, and they stumbled a little. Then; just as the first chorus hit, it happened. They fell into step; even managing a simple rotation.

It wasn't perfect or even exceptionally graceful. But for Kurt it was achingly beautiful. Kurt lost track of where he was; felt that his feet weren't even touching the ground. The music and being in Dave's arms, it was a magic unlike anything he'd ever known. He didn't even notice when the song ended, and another began and then another.

He never wanted the night, or this moment to end.

But it did. And in the worst way imaginable.

When they pulled into Kurt's driveway at 1:30 am, it wasn't just his dad and Carol's cars there.

It was Dave's parent's too.