EPILOGUE

Two years later

"Oh, it smells like spring in here!"

"Well, yeah, it is spring."

Tina nudges Kurt with her elbow. "Come on. You know what I mean. Spring in Lima never has the same kind of feeling like it's supposed to have. You know, like life, and energy, and rejuvenation! I feel ten years younger in this place!"

Kurt looks at the colored walls of the Lima Autism Center. "I see a wider palette of colors every day. I'm immune to this form of spring."

"So what is your kind of spring?" asks Tina, hooking her arm through Kurt's as they lean against Kurt's car.

"I was never a spring kind of person, to be honest," says Kurt. "More of fall. Those colors are beyond beautiful, they're exquisite."

"Pish-posh," says Tina, lifting her nose in the air.

"Oh, shut up," says Kurt, good-naturedly.

"This place doesn't need to be exquisite," says Tina, earnestly. "It's just vibrant, joyful and most of all, sincere."

"Really? That's not what you said like, four years ago."

"Well, sometimes you only realize it after."

"So, you wanna come back and work here?"

Tina laughs. "As much as this place is the starting point for every good thing that has happened so far, I am really more than happy to just continue with that good streak."

Kurt pats Tina's hand. "Things have been that good to you?"

"You know, the usual stuff with Artie happens," says Tina, with a shrug. "But it doesn't matter. Artie makes me happy, he makes me proud."

"I'm happy for you too," says Kurt, smiling. "What with Artie getting into his dream Masters course for film direction and you debuting a role in 'Chicago' for the L.A. Grande..."

"And I get to teach little kids musical theater on the side," adds Tina, beaming. "That's like the cherry on top."

"I was going to ask you if it was all worth it for you, but I don't think I have to ask anymore."

"You never had to ask," says Tina. "I want to ask you that question too, but..."

Kurt looks intently at Tina. "But?"

Tina laughs. "I'll just use my keen powers of observation instead. Some things just can't be put into words."

Before Kurt can really contemplate what Tina means, the bell rings, and both of them watch as the participants of the LAC stream out to meet their family and friends. Kurt cranes his neck a bit, then breaks into a smile as he spots two familiar people.

"Kurt! Kurt!" squeals one of them, who bounds towards him. Kurt takes a few steps forward, then reaches out to swing Jamie up and into his arms.

"Oh boy, young lady, you're getting heavier! How's your day, Jamie?" he asks with a grin.

"Good!" Jamie wraps her arms around him tightly. Kurt has to set her down because there's no way he can carry her this way any longer.

"Jamie," says Tina, gently touching Jamie's shoulder. "Eyes on me."

Jamie looks up, then shouts, "Auntie Tina!"

"Clever girl! Look what Auntie Tina got for you..."

While Tina fishes into her bag for some sweets, Kurt re-focuses on Blaine, who is saying goodbye to all the little kids and chatting with their parents. Once the crowd clears, Blaine waves one last goodbye and turns towards Kurt to beam brightly.

"Helloo, Anderson," says Tina, slyly. "Did you actually grow, or did you roll up those leg sleeves a little too high today?"

"I've been standing on tiptoes everyday just so I will continue to maintain a considerable height advantage over you to salvage my ego," replies Blaine, smoothly. "Did you have a rough flight?"

"Nah, I'm good," says Tina. "Felt a little weird leaving Artie behind even just for a week, but I really needed to come back to see my parents and he's got a project to work on. Thankfully, one of my good pals there was a former volunteer with special needs and he has pretty much gotten the hang of managing Artie too." She nods, even though reluctance is written all over her face. "So I think he's in good hands."

Blaine leans over to kiss Kurt's cheek and ruffle Jamie's hair. He does it really gently, but Jamie goes, "Ow!"

"Oh dear!" Tina's eyes widen. "It still hurts? I thought you said the doctor long assured that she was fine!"

Kurt rolls his eyes. "I think both Blaine's and my drama vibes have combined forces to affect her. Seriously. The doctor even scrutinized right down to the nerves. There wasn't any concussion, it's just that she's really sensitive after the hard knock so she keeps thinking that the area hurts or something."

He bends over to press a light kiss against Jamie's head, eliciting the "Ow!" once more.

Tina laughs. "Yup, those five minutes of observation are enough to tell me everything, Kurt."

"You knew that Jamie was going to get her senses all confused?" Blaine arches his eyebrows.

"No, Miss Cohen-Chang here has even greater powers of being able to probe into one's inner psyche," says Kurt, holding Jamie tightly against him. "Bring on those psychoanalytic skills of yours, my friend."

Blaine leans closer as well.

Tina puts her hands on her hip. "It really isn't difficult when it boils down to the fact that when you love, you love deeply."

"Who knew?" murmurs Blaine, and Kurt elbows him. "Oof! Okay cut the cheese, Tina, before my ribs get broken."

"I'm being serious!" Tina folds her arms. Kurt and Blaine immediately drop their smiles and stand straight, earning a sigh from Tina. "Look, Kurt, for example, the things you would do to protect your dad when people in the town found out you were gay."

Now, Kurt really doesn't feel like smiling anymore.

"The hours that you put into honing your craft in theater so that you would get the part that wouldn't have traditionally landed in your lap," Tina continues, "The criticisms you have had to endure just to push out your own ideas for a fashion collection, which by the way, was so fabulous that you landed yourself deal after deal, although some credit has to be given to the little genius here." She gestures to Jamie. "And the people you would try to even like and learn to be with, because of the people you love." She gestures next to Blaine. "For all that you put in, Kurt, it's all because you love so much and so deeply. So, of course, it's worth it."

"Well, firstly, I didn't continue with theater. Secondly, Sugar managed to get her collection out despite the haters and is getting TV spots, mind you, she's on her way to being a highly inappropriate-speaking but fabulous national icon," says Kurt, pointedly. "I would also like to add that while I'm within reach of changing my company's name to feature mine, I would like you not to jinx it by placing me on a pedestal too soon. Also, I didn't budge when Blaine wanted Jamie to call us 'Papa' and 'Daddy'." He nods firmly. "I figured she was a mature enough lady and we can have mature conversations. That's just my way of doing things."

Blaine makes a loud lamenting sound in response.

When Tina glares at Kurt in mock annoyance, he sighs. "That's all romantic and happy, Tina," he says, and he can't resist elbowing Blaine again because he can literally feel Blaine's smile radiating from the side. "But behind the 'it's all worth it', all of us know that there are a lot of strings tied tautly between people, across things and situations, and just one tweak could break everything."

Jamie mutters something unintelligible, then snuggles harder against Kurt, who can't help smiling.

"That's like for every single situation, Kurt," says Tina. "Like, things could go screwy when all you wanna do is say, crack an egg for breakfast. Things like that just happen."

Blaine suddenly snorts and Kurt can't help grinning. Tina stares at them perplexedly; Kurt reaches out with his free arm to pull Blaine closer to him. Jamie decides that since no one is paying any attention to her, that she tugs hard at Kurt. He bends down again, and Jamie plants a big wet kiss on his nose, startling him pleasantly.

"Have your romantic cake and eat it, Kurt," says Tina, with a wink.

Kurt looks at Blaine, who matches his beam, and nods. "I will."

FINE.

A/N: Thank you all for wading through this fic! It hasn't been perfect because real life kept eating into my time and consciousness, so the train of thought was broken every now and then even though the outline was already done. Feel free to comment and share with me what you think of my fic! (:

Also, if you're interested to know more about Tina, Artie, Santana and Mike, or to get a glimpse of other characters in the 'verse who don't really appear here, e.g. Rachel, Finn, Brittany, Sam, do stop by my other fic 'Singin' In The Rain'. It also features the very first moment Kurt and Blaine met, and has a greater insight into their friendships with Tina.