A/N So, I am almost sad to announce that this will be the finally chapter. I had thought of doing an Epilogue, but I think everything will be wound up by the end of this chapter.
I thank you all for the support you've given for this story. I've never had such an over whelming response to something I've written before! THANK YOU!
PS I'm sorry if the songs get a little confusing about who sings what, I did the best I could.
PPS As I was finishing writing this, my husband went to the hospital with stomach pains. He is having emergency surgery to remove an obstruction. If it seems off in a couple of places, please forgive me for my distraction. I might edit it later.
525,600 Minutes
"David Karofsky committed suicide this morning."
Kurt just stood there, stunned by the announcement.
"Kurt?" Mr. Schue placed his hands on the boy's shoulders. "Are you okay?"
He just nodded, still mostly oblivious to his surroundings. Blaine wrapped his arms around him. "Look at me, babe. Look at me. Hey, it's okay. Breathe for me. That's it."
Stormy grey eyes locked on to melted gold, and the taller boy inhaled deeply. After a few moments, Kurt spoke, eyes still locked on his anchor. "How?"
"I don't think..." Emma began, but Kurt cut her off.
"How?"
She cleared her throat delicately. "He apparently tore his blanket up and hung himself from a light fixture. The guards found him this morning. He left a note. It said 'I'm sorry.'"
Kurt closed his eyes and leaned into Blaine. He fought back tears. "I didn't want him dead. I didn't want him to die. I just wanted him to get the help he needed. Why did he do it? He could have gone through with the plea deal. Why?"
Blaine lead the pale skinned boy back inside the choir room. Everyone was looking at him. He heard Blaine whisper something to Santana, who then quietly passed the information on to the others as Blaine gathered up their stuff, and lead Kurt out to the parking lot.
The drive to the Hummel-Hudson residence was silent. Burt was waiting for them when they arrived, having received a call at the garage from Angela McBride a short while earlier. Blaine lead Kurt to the couch, and Burt brought him a cup of tea.
"I just don't understand why he did it." The words were so softly spoken the other two men had to strain to hear them.
Blaine held him tighter, running his hand soothingly through the light brown hair. "We don't know what was going on in his head, or even in his life. We know he was confused about his identity. Maybe the guilt of what he did to you was too much."
Kurt continued to sob quietly, leaning on Blaine. Burt sat silently on his other side, rubbing circles on his back. Soon the thin boy was asleep. Very gently, the two men who loved him more than anyone else in the world laid him out on the couch, tucking a blanket around him, before slipping into the kitchen.
"Do you think he'll be okay?"
"Don't worry, kiddo. My son is tough. You know that. He'll recover from this. How are you doing with all this?"
Blaine shrugged. "As well as can be expected, I guess. It just doesn't seem fair that every time he's happy, someone or something has to ruin it for him. It's amazing that he can even smile at all sometimes. How does he do it?"
"After his mom died, it was pretty much just the two of us. Agatha helped out some, of course, but for the most part, we relied on each other to get through. As he got older, he became more independent, but he still found something to anchor himself. Me, fashion, music. Then it was Glee Club. Now he has you. You're good for him, kid."
Blaine smiled and blushed a little. "He's good for me, too. For a long time I used Dalton and the Warblers as my shield and my crutch. Kurt taught me to stand on my own two feet. He gave me the courage to face the world again."
Burt hugged the other boy. "Do you want to hang around for a while? Carole will be home in about an hour. She'll cook dinner then."
"I could cook, if you like. It'd give me something to do."
Burt nodded. "If that's what you want. I'm heading back to the garage for a little bit. I have a couple of quick repairs to finish up."
"Thanks. For everything."
Burt smiled. "No. Thank you. For everything you've done for Kurt."
…
"And now for our second group, please welcome to the stage, The Dalton Academy Warblers!"
As their friends took the stage, the kids of New Directions cheered. They were able to watch a little from the wings as Nick and Jeff lead the group in the first song of their set.
Woooaaahhh
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na
Here we go again
I kinda wanna be more than friends
So take it easy on me
I'm afraid you're never satisfied
Here we go again
We're sick like animals
We play pretend
You're just a cannibal
And I'm afraid I wont get out alive (The Warblers: Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh-oh-oh)
No I won't sleep tonight
As the song continued, the McKinley students made their way to the dressing rooms to finish getting ready.
Mercedes smiled and hugged Kurt. "Ready, White Boy?"
He hugged her back. "I'm fine. What about you?"
"I was born ready for this."
He smiled at her. "Then let's get our Diva on and go bring the house down!"
The rest of the group cheered at these words.
…
"And finally, ladies and gentlemen, let's give it up for William McKinley's New Directions!"
Music began to play, and five spotlights lit the stage. Humming in harmony, Mercedes, Rachel, Santana, Kurt and Finn stepped into the circles of light.
Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
Five hundred twenty-five thousand moments so dear
Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure, measure a year?
In daylights, in sunsets
In midnights, in cups of coffee
In inches, in miles
In laughter, in strife
Artie, Tina, Quinn, Brittany and Mike moved forward as five more circles of light appeared.
In five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes
How do you measure
A year in the life?
Sam, Puck and Blaine filled in the last three lights to appear.
How about (love?)
How about (love?)
How about (love?)
(Kurt: Measure in love!)
(The boys) The Girls
(Seasons of) Love
(Seasons of) Love
Mercedes sang lead on the next verse, with harmonies from Kurt.
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Journeys to plan
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes
How do you measure
The life of a woman or a man?
(Santana) In truths that she learned
(Kurt) Or in times that he cried
(Puck) In bridges he burned
(Tina) Or the way that she died
Kurt (All)
Remember the love (Oh, you've got to, you've got to remember the love)
Remember the love (You know that love is a gift from above)
Remember the love (Share love, give love, spread love)
Measure in love (Measure, measure your life in love)
(The boys) The Girls
(Seasons of) Love
(Seasons of) Love (Mercedes: Seasons of Love!)
The audience gave them a standing ovation. Most of the group left the stage. Mercedes, Santana, Rachel and Kurt remained. Once the audience took their seats, and the auditorium was quiet, Mercedes began to sing without music.
Mercedes:
There's a boy I know
He's the one I dream of, ooh
Looks into my eyes
Takes me to the clouds above, mm
Oh, I lose control (Ooh)
Can't seem to get enough, ahh (Get enough, ahh)
When I wake from dreaming (Ooh)
Tell me is it really love, ahh
Rachel:
How will I know? (Ooh, don't trust your feelings)
How will I know? (Know)
How will I know? (Ooh, love can be deceiving)
How will I know? (Know)
Santana, Kurt, Rachel and Mercedes:
How will I know if he really loves me?
I say a prayer with every heartbeat
I fall in love whenever we meet
I'm asking you, 'cause you know about these things
How will I know if he's thinking of me?
I try to phone but I'm too shy, can't speak
Falling in love is all bitter sweet
This love is strong, why do I feel weak?
Oh, wake me
Mercedes:
I'm shaking (Santana: Ooh)
I wish I had you near me now, ahh
All:
Said there's no
Mercedes:
Mistaking (Ooh)
What I feel is really love, ahh
Ooh, tell me
All:
If he loves me
If he loves me
If he loves me not (Santana: Ohh yeah)
If he loves me
If he loves me
If he loves me not
Rachel:
Ohh, how will I know?
Kurt, Mercedes, and Santana:
How will I know if he's thinking of me?
All:
I try to phone but I'm too shy, can't speak
Falling in love is all bitter sweet
This love is strong, why do I feel weak?
Kurt, Rachel and Santana (Mercedes):
(How will I know?) How will I know
If he really loves me (How will I know?)
I say a prayer (Hey, how will I know?)
With every heart beat, (How will I know?)
I fall in love (How will I know?)
Whenever we meet (How will I know?)
I'm asking you (How will I know?)
'Cause you know about these things
How will I know? (How will I know?)
Again the the audience was on it's feet. Three more members walked off stage, leaving Santana alone at the center. Again, no music accompanied her as she began to sing.
If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song
Oh oh, oh oh
A guitar softly began to play now, as Brittany began to dance around the stage by herself, her movements full of grace and beauty.
Lord make me a rainbow
I'll shine down on my mother
She'll know I'm safe with you
When she stands under my colors
Oh well, life ain't always
What you'd think it oughta be, no
Ain't even grey but she buries her baby
The sharp knife of a short life
Well, I've had just enough time
Kurt joined Brittany on stage to dance, as did Mike and Tina.
If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song
The sharp knife of a short life
Well, I've had just enough time
Blaine and Rachel and Sam and Quinn, as well as a few Cheerios joined the dance on stage.
And I'll be wearing white
When I come into your kingdom
I'm as green as the ring
On my little cold finger
I've never known the lovin' of a man
But it sure felt nice
When he was holding my hand
There's a boy here in town
Says he'll love me forever
Who would have thought
Forever could be severed by
The rest of New Directions came out on stage, the dancers moving expertly around them as they joined in the singing as well.
Santana with New Directions:
The sharp knife of a short life
Santana (with New Directions):
Well, I've had just enough (Time)
Ooh yeah, ooh woah
So put on your best boys
And I'll wear my pearls
What I never did is done
A penny for my thoughts
Oh no, I'll sell them for a dollar
They're worth so much more
After I'm a goner
And maybe then you'll hear
The words I've been singing
Funny when you're dead
How people start listening
Oh, if I die young
Santana with New Directions:
Bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song
Santana (New Directions):
Oh oh (Oh oh)
The ballad of a dove (Oh oh)
Go with peace and love
Santana with New Directions:
Gather up your tears
Santana:
Keep 'em in your pocket
Save 'em for a time
When you're really gonna need 'em, oh
Santana with New Directions:
The sharp knife of a short life
Santana (with New Directions):
Well I've had just enough (Time)
So put on your best boys
And I'll wear my pearls
The applause this time was the loudest yet. As the they got ready for their final song, Blaine and Kurt stood center stage, while the others formed a group behind them. As the music began to play, Blaine took the lead.
When the night has come
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we'll see
No, I won't be afraid
Oh, I won't be afraid
Just as long as you stand
Stand by me
Kurt took the chorus, as the others moved into the choreography.
So darlin', darlin'
Stand by me, oh, stand by me
Oh, stand, stand by me
Stand by me
Artie, Sam, Puck and Finn took over the next verse
If the sky that we look upon
Should tumble and fall
Or the mountain should crumble to the sea
I won't cry, I won't cry
No, I won't shed a tear
Just as long as you stand
Stand by me
Rachel, Santana, and Brittany took the chorus this time
And darlin', darlin'
Stand by me, oh, stand by me
Oh, stand now, stand by me
Stand by me
Mercedes and Kurt took over the lead as the rest provided harmonies and echoes.
Darlin', darlin'
Stand by me, oh, stand by me
Oh, stand now, stand by me
Stand by me
Whenever you're in trouble, won't you stand by me?
Oh, stand by me
Won't you stand now?
Oh, stand, stand by me
When all of our friends is gone
As the song came to an end, the applause and cheers echoed through out the auditorium. New Directions took their well deserved bows, and hugged one another.
…
That evening, the Warblers and New Directions partied at Aunt Jean's house. Burt, Carole, Aunt Jean, and Blaine's parents were all seated together at a picnic table watching the two show choirs interact. They had all been excited to learn that they had once again tied. All of them would be going to Nationals in Chicago together.
As the others continued to celebrate, Kurt and Blaine slipped off to their favorite meadow. They lay in the shelter of the trees, kissing and holding each other, content to let the rest of the world pass them by for the time being.
'What are you thinking about?" Blaine asked the other boy softly after a while.
"Minutes, cups of coffee, and scarves."
The curly haired boy smiled. "Ain't it strange the way life works?"
"Mm Hmm. If I hadn't misplaced my scarf, we'd never have met. We'd never have gotten to know each other over cups of coffee. And who knows what would have happened that night. I don't think I'd have survived."
Blaine grinned and kissed him. "Then thank goodness for scarves and coffee."
…
A/N I hope you all enjoyed this story as much as I did.
Reviews are always welcome, Love or Hate.
