A/N **- Epilogue time! ( and an excessively long-ish A/N )

Alright everyone, hello, I love you and thank you! I've been...unwell this week but like everything, I hope it'll pass.

Wallowing done, I couldn't wait to say thank you to a lot of recent reviewers and messages I have received about the gut wrenching but heart felt emotionalism that I have put into this story. I have been shit at replying to reviewers but only because my computer time has been minimal since restarting work. But here's my THANK YOU, to everyone that has ever sent me a review for this story. *insert sunshine blinding grin here*

I had said that this fic took a lot out of me because it was so draining, and it did delve deeply into my own past experiences as well as mention a few people who have touched my heart in the past. I know that not everyone likes a bunch of angst and honestly when I started this I had only anticipated it being maybe 10 chapters long, and making it a fluffy struggle piece, focusing on Blaine mostly, and not the heart grasping 20 chapter fic surrounding two very emotional souls, that it turned into.

ALL of that is because of you lovely people. No matter how many one-shots or random epics I write it never ceases to amaze me, even now, that I even have a fan base, never mind one that seems to be as loyal as you guys. You have all made me so happy by sending me your thoughts and love surrounding this story that I couldn't in good conscience leave it where it was, but give you the ending to this as soon as it poured out of my brain.

This AU Klaine speaks so loudly in my head that they really do write themselves and it has strayed far from my usual writing because it hasn't been anywhere near as fluffy or smutty as I normally write.

It may not have been my most popular work, but some of you have voiced that it IS in fact your favourite of my works thus far, and THAT alone has kept me writing, kept me creating, and I am forever grateful.

This Torontonian found her muse again with Crisscolfer and Klaine and it has only exploded as time has gone on, and I will not stop writing. I can promise you that. :-*

Sorry for the long note but each and every one of you, even the ones that read this and have never said a word to me in a review or PM, deserves my love, my thanks and huge cyber hugs and cookies from this outspoken Canadian. *throws cookies in the air and hopes they make it to your corner of the world*

"Our ship is solid, we're all in this together. All are equal no matter whom you are." xx sabriel81

Bittersweet Symphony

Epilogue Part 1

(KPOV)

It had been busy, very busy. Yes, in the last little while I had literally been non stop travelling, working, planning and everything in between. Let me bring you up to speed shall I?

Since Blaine's double surgery, I guess you could call it, I had been running not just my own life but Blaine's as well. In the few days that he had to recover in the hospital I had taken that time to truly re-evaluate what I was going to do with my life and how much of that was going to involve Blaine.

That itself wasn't even a question, of course everything would involve Blaine from here on in, but since the change in his condition, the probable permanent hearing loss, and the needed time for him to recover, I was going to have come up with some specifics for his care, his job, my job, my school, where he was going to stay while he recovered...yeah I had a lot to deal with.

Thankfully, despite the world always throwing shit at me in different directions, the world did always seem to give me the greatest support group of people I could imagine.

My dad and Carol had insisted that they could stay in town, at a motel if I hadn't shushed them about it, while Blaine recovered in case I needed extra hands. I had told them it was unnecessary but my dad made sure I didn't argue the fact. Cooper had offered my dad and Carol his loft for the next few weeks since they wanted to stay in town, and only because of Coop's incredible charm, mixed with his insistence did they agree.

My apartment did have a guest room but it was really only a small den and it would be very crowded for an extended period of time if my parents stayed with me. That's usually why when they did come into town they split the time between me and Finn and Rachel's.

So dad and Carol would be at Cooper's. He would be staying with Blaine, wherever that was he said, because there was nothing that was going to keep him from his little brother now that he had him back and when he needed him.

It had been decided that Coop would move into Blaine's apartment when he got discharged, since Blaine needed familiar surroundings that were calming to him, and that I would be there whenever I wasn't finishing school, or sorting out life in general, to take over duties for caring for Blaine. Coop said he didn't mind taking charge but he knew when to give it up because I would probably only be able to be away from him for a short while before I lost it. If I wasn't doing something that required my immediate attention; I had to be there fore Blaine...I promised him I would take care of him.

Finishing up school, thankfully my actual school had been done the day I wrote my final exam, the day of the concert, so I only had my tutorials and kids' final exams for the year to finish before I was loose for the summer holidays and then I could be there everyday and all day if Blaine needed me.

So all I had to concentrate on was the future, Blaine's and my future, and I had a plan but it would take some time, hence why I was so busy.

XXXX

The day Blaine came home it was an emotional one. All of our friends and family where either there or insistently draining the battery life on my cell trying to get updates. Finn was obviously not paying attention at his store, firing off messages every few minutes asking how he was doing, Rachel was the same way, even though she was preparing for the last few shows before he show went on tour this month, but Rachel had declined the offer to travel. She had decided to take the summer off to be with Finn.

Nick and Jeff had been at the hospital numerous times in the last few days prior, checking on their friend, Nick acting as sign translator for a lot of us, and it did give my dad's hands a break since that seemed to be his full time job recently. They, like Barb and assorted others, were asked to give Blaine some space for the time being since minimal stimulation was in order, so it was just Carol, my dad, me and Cooper that brought him home safely.

Blaine had been groggy for most of the week, he had to stay in the hospital for a few extra nights too since his blood pressure kept rising and dropping dramatically, but he had since levelled out and was okay now to discharge.

The painkillers he was on made him a little incoherent and he had been crying off and on every time he tried to talk and couldn't even faintly make out his own voice.

Between the shushed confidences that we all doted on him, the small white board I thought to buy him so he could write down things instead of fighting with signs, and the regularity in which we all interacted with him...he was starting to lighten up and stop feeling so sorry for himself, but like everything else; it would take time.

Coop would make him food everyday, keep the house clean and we would swap. Carol would give him a break once in a while and come over with my dad. Dad and Blaine would be sign chatting up a storm while Carol busied herself in prepping things for the upcoming days for Cooper, mostly meals and whatnot, that way if Coop had an audition, he could leave at a moments notice, and Carol secretly wanted to make sure Blaine was eating more healthily than she knew Cooper could cook. I had to make sure that I had a wing-woman watching out for my boy's health when I wasn't there.

Bless you Carol Hudson-Hummel..

Little did Blaine know that the reason I wasn't there more often was that I had been planning something, something that I needed Cooper's help with. I had reassured Blaine that I just had a bunch of things at work to finish and Blaine was obviously upset that I wasn't there as often, but each night I shushed him and held him while he slept, feeling the warmth of the body beside me as he healed, and knowing that the leg work I was doing was for our future.

XXXX

(BPOV)

I had been talking to myself a whole lot; mostly because I was yet again trying to remember how to talk with my hands only and not get freaked out when I opened my mouth to actually say something and heard nothing but silence.

I had been feeling fairly normal since I had gotten home but it was a weird mix of sensations. It was like I was perfectly normal, ready to tackle the world one step at a time, but it was like my body was way slower to recover than my mind was. Kurt and Cooper had been telling me that I needed to rest my brain and not get too stimulated but my brain felt fine, it was my body that didn't quite cooperate with me. I was exhausted all the time, my muscles having a very mild form of atrophy surely since all I had done since the surgery was get up to piss and have a bath, apparently I couldn't shower and risk getting water in my ears until I had them rechecked.

The bitter part of me was like: Hey what's the big deal if I do? What's it gonna do make me go deaf or something? But I always shook off the bitterness, knowing that Kurt's inner monologue would chastise me for pitying or berating myself in anyway...he was usually right anyway.

Thankfully Cooper only tried to help bathe me once before the day I got home, and him and I were scarred for life, thus thankfully Kurt took over duties helping me with such things.

The weeks had passed, Kurt was finally done his classes for the year, all the kids having passed his classes save one which was fine, because he would tutor her next year should she try the course again, and he was now less busy that he had been. It may have been selfish of me but I wanted him near me, somehow it made me feel better if that makes any sense.

Carol and Burt were leaving the next day to head back to Ohio, Cooper was moving back into his own apartment, laughing that he was thankful for the space but he and I both knew we loved the time we had spent together, despite the awkwardness with me teaching him to sign, and him having difficulty between the sign for hungry and horny..it made for some very loud laughing fits that I could only wish I could hear. But here's the funny and comforting thing...I had memories of what it sounded like, so I could picture it as if I heard it. It was this small amount of sanity that made everything seem a little brighter, a little better.

I was going to miss Burt and Carol a lot too, they had been planning to get me and Kurt and probably Coop if he wasn't busy, to come down to Lima for a few days in the summer.

Kurt had of course not backed out of seeing Wicked with Rachel on their "gleeniversary" at my insistence, but him and I had postponed our Paris trip until the fall, hoping that I could be cleared to fly by then.

Things had progresses well with me, and it was thanks to everyone that had been in my life recently, I don't know if I could have asked for a better bunch of people.

I felt a tap on my shoulder as I got my shoes on at the front door, Coop with bright eyes, maybe even a little wider than normal but I thought nothing of it really, was standing in front of me, half signing half talking.

"Ready to go squirt?"

God I still hated that name...even in sign it was annoying.

"As I'll ever be man. Let's see what the verdict is huh?"

"It'll be fine bro, then we'll head out for dinner once all this shit is done. It'll be a long day but it'll be worth it...I promise."

If there was a god...this was where I was praying he was listening.

XXXX

(KPOV)

"A little to the left...no back a bit.."

"Oi lady lips, only you would try to make the pictures that fucking straight, because in this house currently it's the only thing that is!"

Santana gave up her hold the picture and ironically when she let it go, it fell into place perfectly. Her comment did make some sense though. San and Brit were organizing the last of the small decorations and pictures I had left to be hung and Nick and Jeff were squabbling about kitchen functionality for the other room. Yeah okay so two and a half gay couples in one room really shouldn't be arguing about the straightness of anything any time soon.

"It looks perfect Tana, thanks...all you guys."

Brit just smiled and shrugged as she placed a onyx statue of two small dolphins that she had brought as a house warming gift on top of the the shelf over the white baby grand in the corner.

The guys obviously heard my thanks and called back in unison.

"You're welcome Kurtie!"

I really hated the nickname but when I didn't snap back at them when they first used it, and merely blushed, they used it constantly just to see me redden.

"Kurtie huh? And here I thought pretty pony or lady lips made you blush but if Kurtie is what gets to you, I'll make sure.."

"You finish that sentence and I'll pull out your extensions, segment by segment with vice grips."

"Oooh touchy Kurt...fiery thing when you aren't getting any huh? How long has it been since you and him did the pant less mambo anyway?"

I huffed out a large breath but didn't answer her.

"Whoa...I mean I know he's been recovering and I know the doctor's orders and whatever but really?"

"God Tana...what was I supposed to do? Walk into the room and jump the guy and beg for him to let me take him right there? Beg him to take me? He's recovering Santana and I just didn't want to push him is all."

I was a little angry at the outburst but I did have a lot of pent up frustration recently. I had been working so hard on this apartment since I had bought it. Well technically Cooper had bought it with his inheritance and Blaine and I would pay him back, despite Cooper saying it was a very early wedding present, ( I had said that I wasn't even sure I wanted to get married but Coop rolled his eyes in disbelief). Blaine and I had the money but this was the only way to keep the apartment a surprise from Blaine.

I really hadn't wanted something so expensive, I mean the place was huge and far too large for just the two of us but this was an investment, an investment in our future. I wouldn't ever see myself living anywhere else, and then we could use whatever money we made to support causes that we loved, like the arts and supporting equality for all, but which groups Blaine and I were going to invest in was still up for debate and something we would talk about in the time to come.

I had been working on making this perfect and ready for tonight since he would be at the doctors all day, and once he was there, Cooper, Finn and Blaine's friends David and Wes who were in town, would rush over to Blaine's and move his clothes and other personal items. Little did Blaine know that my apartment had been vacant now for 2 weeks.

I couldn't wait to live with him here, be with him here, and it was one of these visions that made me internally groan.

I hadn't even thought about the physicality of Blaine's and my relationship as of late because I didn't want to overstep anything or hinder the healing process. Everything had been so scary for the both of us recently and only now that Blaine seemed more comfortable in his own skin did I even dwell on the idea of being physical with him again.

Honestly I needed to stop jerking off to relax at night now, I was having a closer relationship with my left hand than with Blaine, but once again...I didn't want to push him and I would take whatever precautions that were necessary, and that included telling off Santana Lopez if she pushed much harder.

"I...know Kurt. I just, I want my guys to be happy. You've been through so much..."

"Tana...are you okay?" She sniffled and in an instant had Brit hugging her from behind and that little display of physical attention made me want Blaine beside me more than ever. Tana whipped her eyes a little defiantly, as if the tears weren't supposed to be there of something before responding.

"M'fine. Sorry, I swear I removed my tear ducts." She wasn't convincing anyone but her display of raw emotions towards me had me a little choked up too.

"Stop deflecting Lopez."

"Fuck you Hummel."

"Love you too Tana. And thank you." I hugged my Brit and San in one go.

"You're welcome, and Kurt?"

It was really weird when Santana called me Kurt., but I raised my eyebrow to her when she moved away from the hug.

"Superior bitchiness aside, make Blaine feel loved. He doesn't have to hear it, and if the doc says it's okay...make him feel it." she looked over dreamily at Brittney beside her who still hadn't let her waist go, " and make sure it's ever damn day of your life boy. Promise me."

I smiled, "I promise."

San and Brit left right after that, knowing that the work was almost all done anyway and Santana seemed to be too emotional and didn't want anyone but Brit to comfort her in that moment.

"Aww if I weren't gay that would have been hot. But since I am I just want to grab a box of tissue and some ice cream and curl in a ball on the couch and weep girly tears and embrace the stereotype."

Jeff was pretending to gasp, holding back tears as he leaned down on Nick's shoulder.

"Hold me Nicky."

"Oh shut up, god seriously I swear I should have asked Blaine out in high school."

Jeff stopped the charade but Nick was laughing with me, we both knew that was the magical button to get Jeff to stop being a child...Jeff was a jealous person and loved to be overly protective of Nick.

"Not funny Nicholas." Jeff knew we were playing but it was sweet to see the jealous glint in Jeff's eyes, but all three of us knew that they were this odd pairing that seemed to work through unspoken words and goofy banter.

"So Kurt everything's in place, did you need us to do anything else? Wes went back to the depot to drop the truck off with David. Finn had to check in at the shop since the new kid is there mostly by himself. I can get anything else you'd like, I can send Jeff out to get dinner or something if you want.."

"Hey! Since when am I errand boy?"

Nick leaned in and kissed Jeff's ear before whispering something against the shell that had Jeff close is eyes for a few seconds and clear his throat.

"Y-yes I can go out and get you whatever you need Kurt."

"Do I even want to know what you said to him?"

Jeff piped in, "Only if you like the whole spanking th-mmmmph." Nick cover Jeff's mouth with his hands smiling apologetically and mouthing 'Excuse him'

"So you're good?"

"I'm good...thanks guys. I'll call you if I need anything but um...I'll only call if I have to." I winked at Jeff who swooned at Nick as they left the door in a fit of mini hysterics.

I really wanted that with Blaine, all of it, and I knew before all of this I had been limiting myself; limiting us.

I wanted the looks across the table at the others' hand where the other was fiddling with their wedding band, just like I saw Rachel and Finn do on occasion. I wanted the silent moments where just sitting and listening to the silence of the house and hearing the thankful still-there heartbeat that I knew Carol and dad loved to do with each other.

I wanted the crazy bouncing head over heels insane type of love that I saw come from Jeff when he watched Nick talk about their record company to a reporter, and would casually mention that his life partner and love of his life Jeff Sterling was the real brains behind the company. The smiles and gratitude they had for each others very existence was beautiful.

I wanted the long standing love that was Santana and Brit. A love that survived high school in one of the most closed minded places imaginable, only to come out of it scarred and almost beaten but better than ever, and somehow more mature.

Blaine and I had all of that but I knew, I always knew, that I had to release everything to really give myself to another person, and seeing Blaine fight as hard as he had for everything and now his survival made me want all those things even more, I would give them to him.

Ever since I had decided to buy the apartment and move in with Blaine and then make it a surprise, I had been asking everyone, and I mean everyone, for their opinion on the subject. I'm surprised Blaine hadn't found out since literally anyone that knew us, I had probably asked for their opinion.

I had even called Dave the other night, knowing we hadn't caught up with each other in a while, but he was the last and probably best person to talk about my fears with...he had even been responsible for some of them in the past, and now my friend was more than willing to talk me through things.

He had said, " Kurt, Ryan and I are happy, and you know why? Because I gave up for him, I wanted to give the charade up for him, and let my true self show through. I told him about the guy I used to be, I even told him the things I used to do in high school as a bully, of course I never mentioned it was you because that wasn't my place, and he understood. He still loved me despite it so I gave up fighting against it and embraced everything that we were together as a couple.

And Kurt, I know you love Blaine. You've told me so many times, you've told Puck the same and shit even Finn called me back in the winter about this great new guy that Kurt was seeing and how happy he made you. He said he'd never seen you like this...Kurt some people search their entire lives for things that are right in front of them, you taught me how to picture a happy life when I couldn't do that for myself. Let yourself truly do the same...so yes I agree with your plan, swoop him off his feet! You and him have been through hell and back together already. There's nothing stopping you from having it all, because you already have it, man."

In some strange twist of fate and irony it was Dave Karofsky that gave me the most sound love advice that solidified my decision.

XXXX

(BPOV)

I was literally bouncing in my seat beside Coop. He had taken to renting a car since he had two auditions while my day long assessment was taking place and then had to drive me to and from the doctors and then dinner tonight. He had justified the need for a car only because the auditions were at opposite ends of town, so I thought nothing of it.

But the reason for my bouncing? I was 100 percent healed. There was no long any visible bruising on my brain, the hair on my head was growing back so I looked less like a giant infant, or so I told myself, and I had a clean bill of health.

The docs had taken me off the antibiotics a few days ago and I relished in not having to take pills for the first time in years, the only down side...I had no hearing whatsoever. Yes I was healthy again, but it still sucked a little, but that was the only down side.

I could do anything I wanted now, work, cook,... have a shower again...I was never so unhappy with having baths in my life.

I would also be a candidate for an ear implant if I chose to go ahead with that in about 6 moths time, if I wanted to, but that was something I wanted to talk over with Kurt.

Kurt.

He was the real reason I was bouncing in my seat, Cooper said he would be meeting us for dinner at this little place on the upper west side and I couldn't wait to kiss him and tell him that I was all healed. I was so excited that I could finally be myself again, and in Kurt's arms, to notice that Coop was driving in a direction I found odd. It was too late to question him why he was taking W 66th off Broadway and heading west, so I just tried to stare the answer out of him. I didn't really know any of the places around here, all I knew was that Julliard was around here and that maybe Kurt had suggested a place to Cooper. I didn't ask, nor did he take the staring bait, but just kept smiling and driving the small distance until we hit Riverside which I knew was a diversion from where I thought we should be going; so something was obviously up Coop's sleeve.

He pulled up to the entrance for an underground garage, producing a key card, swiping it and entering a digit pin and the underground opened up. Cooper had a huge smile on his face and held up his one hand so I wouldn't freak out and my obvious question. He drove into the garage and parked in a spot that he seemed to know exactly where it was.

Okay so he not only had been here a lot but he had a card and key entry...why were we at an upper west side luxury condo? What was going on?

When we entered the building using the same card to open the door, then on the elevator which immediately started it's way up the penthouse, I swallowed thickly...I was so confused. I turned to Coop and I almost couldn't control my hands or my voice but I couldn't tell if I was screaming or whispering.

"What the hell Coop? Where are we? What's going on?"

He rested both of his hands on my shoulders as the elevator continued its assent.

"Blaine, read my lips okay? It will be fine, trust me. Yes this is a surprise but it will be worth it. I promise." I strained through the worry to actually focus on his words, and I manage to ignore the butterflies that were have a luau in my gut.

"Okay."

The elevator dinged and the doors opened, Coop didn't step out the elevator and I looked at him questioningly as he handed me an envelope.

"Read this first. Follow the instructions little brother, and I'll see you soon."

"You're leaving?"

"Only for the a little, read the letter. Love you man." He hugged me then and it was one of the first hugs I had shared with him in a long while and when he pulled away I almost didn't want to let go.

I waved once I left the elevator and before I knew it, it closed, leaving me alone on god knows what floor standing in front of a small hallway leading to the only door on the floor.

I opened the envelope, seeing a key card much like the one Cooper had in his hand which made me furrow in confusion, but there was also a letter inside, opening it I smiled at the familiar curvacious writing.

Blaine my love,

Um surprise? Eloquent I know but what else can you say at this moment? I know you're confused but please read through this.

I love you, more than I did yesterday and even more than I did the day before. I can't even put it into words how much you mean to me, so I have decided to show you instead. We had said a while ago that we wanted to make an investment in our future and I felt that I would surprise you by following through with this idea. I want our lives to start; we've spent so much time fighting for things, fighting for the right to be ourselves and together and healthy enough that we could embrace that.

I know that you're healthy now without you telling me in person...I just know it, because even if the world has shown us unkindness, I have had faith in you.

I love you Blaine, come find me, in our new home.

;) use the card and follow the yellow brick road, okay follow the silk Persian carpet under your feet...you know what I meant :p.

Kurt xo

Okay, before my brain exploded with this new information I had to try and wrap my head around it before I fell over. Kurt had bought a place? Here? For us?...This was my new home?...No.

I walked rather quickly up to the foreboding door and swiped the card over the door, and when it flashed I opened the door quickly, almost afraid if I didn't open it quickly like a band aid then it would be less daunting, but I was wrong.

The sight that I walked into made me cry almost instantly. The place was huge, obviously under decorated which I'm sure meant Kurt had taken away the pieces he didn't like and replaced it with his own flair, and somehow my stuff was there...and Kurt's stuff. The place was huge, it had to be at least on the 20th floor and from the side view I could see, it faced the Hudson. It was elegant and simple at the same time and I almost had to shake myself that I could possible live here.

I turned around and was greeted by the most amazing sight, and that was saying something considering the overwhelming beauty that was this apartment.

Kurt was standing against the entrance to what I would assume was the hallway to the bedrooms in a very delectable outfit. He was wearing a white button up with a sinfully tight long sleeve black sweater vest over top and tight fitting dark blue jeans. It was casually sexy, and I felt something in me stir at the sight...the rest of the apartment be damned, Kurt was more worth my attention.

He didn't say anything but walked toward me, reaching out to wipe away the tears that had fallen from my eyes.

"Hi."

I was shaky but I managed to sign and speak back. "Hi, you look fantastic."

Kurt laughed and the memory of that sound mimicked in my brain as he threw his head back lightly.

"Here I am in a new condo, our new home and you still tell me I look fantastic, god could I love you more?"

Kurt threaded his arms around my neck and I hummed when I felt him kiss my neck. I kneaded my hands around his back, settling on the dip just above his ass, as I kissed his neck in return. I would have wanted Kurt to grab my hair but it wasn't long enough yet. That longing would have to wait.

Kurt kissed his way to my mouth, ignoring where we were, both of us forgetting the surprise and the promise of the future that it held, but molded out lips together with the utmost need. It was something that neither one of us had been really able to do for fear of over stimulation but now my hormones were going crazy holding the firm and oh-so tempting body of my boyfriend in my arms, loving the way he dove his tongue into my mouth, and the way it felt massaging mine.

We both knew what we wanted, we both knew what we needed, but when Kurt pulled away breathless I almost couldn't form words or a reaction when he said what he said.

"Make love to me Blaine. I'm yours."

Hi again...ummm is this okay? LMK cuz it's been a labour of love to get right! I had so much more to put into this epilogue, so I had to split it into two. I am writing the next part now so don't fret, it will be up soon and THAT is the last piece from this story. Yes it will be smutty I assure you, but also sweet with some music mixed in...which is what this fic has always been about from the beginning. The love of music.

Oh psst...I will post a pic of the floor plan of the condo and Kurt's outfit on my tumblr if you want to see it. ( Sorry Chris would look fantastic in this, so yeah Kurt should wear it...ahem, I'm done)

Review kids, even if you haven't before and let me know that I have done alright. I am sad this is over but the last instalment is so very me...it's fitting. Love you all, so very much. xoxo