Disclaimer: This story is for non-profit use and reader's enjoyment only. All creative rights concerning Glee, its characters and any sayings and/or lyrics quoted here belong to their original creator(s)/artist(s).

"They spoil every romance by trying to make it last forever." ~ Oscar Wilde

"That is the land of lost content, I see it shining plain, the happy highways where I went and cannot come again." ~ Alfred Edward Housman

"Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts." ~ Charles Dickens

"I can't believe that he's actually doing this to us!"

"Will you just please sit down and let us talk about this reasonably?"

Blaine carefully balanced the pile of books he was carrying while he slowed his walk and concentrated very hard on catching every word that came from behind the wooden door of dorm number 23.

Usually, the late afternoons and early evenings were the quietest times in the hallways that connected the dorms which belonged to the boarding Dalton students. On normal days, this was the period in which everyone tried to get at least some homework done before giving up to chat, waste some time online, play videogames, read or visit other dorms in search of more creative ways to procrastinate any thoughts about the looming piles of work on their desks.

Well, today was not a normal day at Dalton.

Several teachers had wondered about the odd behaviour some of their best students had displayed during that day. There had been many disturbances during the lessons (well, more than usual), such as passing notes and whispered conversations. Wes had been caught staring out of the window, not listening to the repeated questions of his teacher for several minutes. Thom had for the first time in his entire life not shown the slightest interest in the discussion of a Shakespearian drama, but had instead spend an hour absentmindedly sketching random pictures on his notebook. And Flint and Nathan had eventually been thrown out of the classroom because they would not stop talking to each other in not-so-very-hushed voices.

If the teachers had cared to compare the names of the students behaving oddly, they would have come to the realisation that the strange behaviour had been exclusively connected to students belonging to the school's glee club. But then again, whenever has a teacher thought of anything sensible?

"We will keep in touch with him."

"Yeah right. Like the guys from his former glee club stayed in touch with him while he was here?"

"Jeff, he is not like them."

"Exactly. So for what reason should he return to them?"

Blaine, who had stopped in front of the door, his head tilted to the side to catch every word, realised that his mouth was slightly hanging open, and he quickly closed it again. In all the time he had known Nick and Jeff, he had never once seen (or heard) them fight like that. If they ever had any misunderstandings (and, like everybody else, they most likely did), they always sorted them out in private.

"Jeff, for Christ's sake, stop yelling, sit and calm down."

"I don't want to calm down. I want to know why one of my best friends decides to leave us practically from one day to another!"

Blaine took a deep breath, steadied the pile of books again and then hesitantly knocked on the door. The upset noises quieted down for a moment, until Jeff's voice, with a hint of aggression still audible in it, answered, "Yes?"

Blaine opened the door and peeked into the dorm. Nick was sitting on the edge of his bed, his fingers curled into the fabric of his blazer. He was biting down on his bottom lip, brows furrowed and a worried expression on his face, but apart from that he still appeared to be relatively calm. Jeff, on the other hand, was looking anything but calm. His cheeks were flushed, his hair looked as if he had been running his fingers through it several times and his tie and blazer never would have passed Wes' strict Warbler-dress-code. Blaine was sure that he hadn't seen somebody looking this upset since Nathan had sewed the sleeves of Thad's blazer together, and the poor boy had tried for several minutes to get his arms out of the thusly created straightjacket, before Adrian had managed to stop laughing and had helped him.

But both of them looked equally surprised to see their lead vocalist stepping into their room.

"I'm sorry to interrupt," Blaine said, carefully closing the door behind him, "but I overheard what you were talking about, and I thought maybe I could... could explain why Kurt is doing what he's doing."

"Well, yeah," Jeff began, his furious glance now directed at Blaine, "you could explain to me why your boyfriend decided to just bail on us and run back into the arms of his non-loving, non-caring glee-club; to a school where he has been bullied to a point that he saw no other option but to leave; when he has friends and a boyfriend and good teachers and acceptance here and even our council showed how much they respect him and his talent by giving him a fucking solo at Regionals!"

"Jeff!" Nick's voice, hissed and now sounding decidedly upset, stopped the rant of the blond boy. Jeff turned away from Blaine and looked at his best friend instead. Their eyes locked for a brief moment, and after a second Jeff was the one to look away first, sighing and running his finger through his blond bangs.

"I'm sorry, Blaine," Jeff said, inhaling deeply and sitting down on his desk, not caring that he was wrinkling the stack of paper he was sitting on. His voice didn't sound angry anymore, now, it just sounded tired and disappointed. "I shouldn't have yelled at you. But when you told us this afternoon... I just feel so backstabbed. I mean, couldn't he at least tell us this himself?"

"He wanted to," Blaine assured, "But he and his dad had to meet with the headmaster to discuss some administrative things, and he couldn't make it. And then he called me and asked me to tell you because the decision has been made and it would have been really unfair not to tell you guys right away and..."

"I know, I know," Jeff said, waving his hand at Blaine, "You told us all that. I understand why he couldn't be there. It just... it still feels awful."

Blaine nodded. He knew how much Kurt would have hated to deliver the news in person and to be at the centre of the rather emotional scene that followed, in which the council had been very pissed, Jeff and Nick and Trent had looked very devastated, Adrian and Nathan had been very displeased and Blaine had felt like a complete jerk.

But as much as Kurt would have hated that scene, if it had been possible he would have delivered the news himself. As he had told Blaine on the phone, he knew that he "owed them at least this much."

"How are you?" Nick asked, interrupting Blaine's thoughts. His gaze trailed over Blaine's face, the question full of genuine concern. Blaine shrugged and opened his mouth to answer, "I'm f..."

"Don't you dare to say that!" Jeff interrupted, his gaze also fixed on their lead vocalist, "Don't you dare to claim you're fine when I know I haven't seen you this upset since your drunken bisexual experiment."

The expression on Nick's face showed very clearly that he wished for the umpteenth time that Jeff would try to express himself in a less direct way, but after all, Jeff was right: Blaine knew that he was anything but fine – and he also knew that it showed.

He just wouldn't have expected the two boys, who were so caught up in their own emotions right now, to notice.

"It's just that... it just happened so very fast," he said, sitting down on Jeff's bed next to Nick. "I mean, we talked about this. Quite a lot, actually. McKinley and the glee club are, strangely enough, where he feels most at home. He loves Dalton, but just from an artistic point of view – he's miserable. And I thought that maybe he would want to transfer back in autumn, start his senior year there, when he had enough time to think about everything, you know – sort things out and talk to his friends there about it. I even thought about maybe transferring with him. But now this? I mean, it feels like he will be gone from one day to the next."

Blaine didn't notice that Jeff had left his place at the desk to sit down next to him. He just stared down at the books he was still holding in his hands, wondering when his voice had started to sound so hoarse, "It's just... I know I will miss him terribly."

Suddenly, he felt two hands on his back – Jeff's long fingers were squeezing his shoulder reassuringly, and Nick was rubbing small circles on his back in a comforting manner. Blaine cleared his throat, blinking away any tears that might have found their way into his eyes. He told himself that if he had managed not to cry when Kurt had told him about his final decision, he would certainly not start crying in front of these two.

"Does he really want to go back that much?" Nick asked quietly, still rubbing Blaine's back. Blaine nodded, "He likes Dalton, he likes the Warblers, but he misses the craziness at McKinley." He tried to smile, "Apparently, we're too tame for him."

"Where was he last week, when Wes and Thad yelled at each other for half an hour because they could not agree on whether jumping on furniture during rehearsal was to be ruled out in the Warblers rulebook? I mean, that was one pointless fight if I ever witnessed one," Jeff remarked, and Nick added, "Especially since nobody ever reads the rulebook."

Blaine simply shook his head, "It's not just that. It's about artistic expression, I believe. We're too limited in our song selection, in our way of performing..."

"Well, that may or may not be true," Nick interrupted gently. "But this is not just about Kurt's freedom as an artist, this is about his safety, about his mental and physical well-being. Is he really willing to risk that?"

Blaine nodded slowly, gaze fixed on his hands again, "Apparently, he is. He said he wanted to stand up for himself. That he didn't want to hide any longer." He cleared his throat. "As much as I understand that – I can't say I'm not worried."

There was a pause in which neither of the boys said a word, all of them deep in thought.

Finally, Jeff asked, "When will he be transferring?"

"He goes back on Monday," Blaine answered, with only the slightest quiver noticeable in his voice. "The administration stuff has been taken care of, and all the teachers have been informed as well."

Jeff looked quite shocked at hearing this assessment, "This soon?"

"He said the longer the parting, the more painful it would be for all of us."

"But he'll still come to school tomorrow, won't he?" Nick inquired. He had French lessons on Fridays together with Kurt and had hoped to see the countertenor one last time in class.

Blaine nodded, "He will, but I'm not sure if he will attend Warbler practice. Maybe he'll just head home – his family has a lot to talk about."

Jeff nodded with a gloomy expression on his face, and again neither of them said anything for a long moment.

"... what are you doing on the weekend?" Nick asked suddenly.

Blaine raised his head to look at the dark-haired boy next to him, blinking at the question in surprise.

"I mean, are you going home or did you make any plans with Kurt, or...?" Nick trailed off.

His brows knitted in confusion at the unrelated question, Blaine thought about it for a moment before answering, "I planned on staying here for the weekend. My parents aren't home anyways, so... Maybe I'll drive over to Kurt's, I'm not... I mean, not tomorrow though, he always has family dinners on Friday night." He looked at Nick, "Why?"

"I was just wondering," Nick answered, shrugging. "After the karaoke party was such a tremendous success last time, we were thinking about throwing another one this weekend."

Since Blaine was still looking at Nick, he missed how Jeff leaned around him, looking irritated and mouthing "We were?" at his best friend.

Nick continued undisturbed, "And Nathan actually asked whether we wanted to come over tomorrow night and have a Terminator movie marathon. Apparently Thom has never seen any of those films, and Nathan made it his mission to educate the poor boy. You wanna come too?"

Blaine smiled shyly. He had always gotten along rather well with all of the Warblers, and was even friends with most of them, but he had never had that good a relationship with neither Nick nor Jeff. Which was mostly because the two sometimes seemed like their own company was sufficient, like they didn't need anybody else. It was only after Kurt had befriended them that they started to hang out with him too, and their relationship had reached some sort of bizarre climax during his awkward yet emotional encounter with Jeff on the topic on his suspected bisexuality.

Even though he hadn't given the matter much thought (mostly because the dreading departure of his boyfriend had occupied his mind), Blaine realised that he hadn't anticipated to still spend that much time with Nick and Jeff after Kurt had left. Sure, somebody would have invited him to the party eventually – but just a few weeks ago, it never would have been Nick or Jeff.

It only now occurred to him that the two Warblers sitting next to him were not only considering him as fellow classmate and glee club leader and the boyfriend of their beloved countertenor any longer, but also as a friend by now.

And he realised that his feeling was mutual.

"I'd love that," he said, smiling almost brightly at the two boys in front of him. Because it was good to be reminded that even though Kurt would not be around anymore, he was far from being alone.

Nick stared at his coffee in amazement, wondering whether it was the hot temperature which never failed to spread warmth through his entire body, or the deep invigorating taste of the beverage that always made people feel better when they drank coffee.

"If he thinks it's enough to treat us for coffee so that we'll just forget about what happened and carry on, he is utterly and completely and horribly mistaken."

But then again, Nick thought and raised his coffee to his lips, Jeff had never exactly been "people".

"I mean, it's good that he called and said he wanted to talk to us, but I'm still pissed about this whole thing and I'm not sure whether I want to understand him in the first place..."

"Jeff," Nick interrupted his best friend, squeezing his knee gently. "Calm down, will you? Give him a chance to explain everything."

The blond Warbler sighed, his hand coming to rest upon Nick's, "I'm not sure I can do it, but I'll try."

Nick smiled at him when Kurt dropped his bag on the seat opposite from them, setting his cup down on the table and smiling nervously at them. "Sorry," he said. "But it took a bit longer..."

"Don't worry," Nick answered, smiling at the countertenor. As awkward as this rather formal meeting between them was, he was determined to make the best of it. He even tried to ignore the fact that Kurt wasn't wearing his Dalton uniform any longer, but instead sported a pair of skinny jeans and a grey jacket. As fabulous as he looked, it was a clear sign that Kurt's decision to leave Dalton was a final one. And even though his stomach twisted a little at the thought, Nick tried his best to brush the feeling and Jeff's frown aside and asked, "So, how are you?"

Kurt first looked at Nick, then at Jeff, before leaning back into his seat, his gaze steady but his fingers fiddling with his cup of coffee nervously, before apparently deciding that it would be to no use to beat around the bush and asked, "How mad are you at me?"

Deciding that a direct question always deserved an honest answer, Jeff replied before Nick had any time to react, "Pretty mad, actually. Well, in my case. Nick is trying very hard not to judge you. Yet. But I'd say were both pissed."

"It's all just rather... sudden," Nick added. "And of course we would have liked to hear the news from you in person, rather than having Blaine deliver them."

It was only when he caught the confused look on Kurt's face and he turned his head to the right that he realised that Jeff's angry gaze was now directed at him instead of Kurt. "Okay Nick, I can't stand it any longer. I get that you feel the urge to act mature and grown-up because for some reason that is your natural self-defence-mechanism, but can you please stop pretending that you aren't hurt as hell by all this? Because it makes me want to scream!"

Nick returned Jeff's look, opening his mouth to reply something. After a brief moment of staring at his best friend, he closed it again, shook his head and turned to Kurt, asking, "Why couldn't you tell us about this yourself, Kurt?"

The countertenor was looking at Nick with an expression on his face that was somewhere between guilty and defensive, "I didn't have the time to come to the rehearsal, Nick. My father and I were talking to the headmaster for two hours, but I wanted you to know right away. That's why I told Blaine to tell you."

"We have cellphones, you know?" Jeff said dryly. "Not just Blaine, but all of us. You could have called. Or come over later. Cause I don't know if you noticed, but as boarders we actually stay at school the whole night."

Kurt took a deep breath, reaching for his coffee and taking a sip before answering, "I hate these things, Jeff. I absolutely hate them. And... I was afraid to call. Because I thought that there was no way you wouldn't be mad at me."

"Funny, I never took you for a coward," Jeff replied.

Kurt bit down on his lower lip, taking a second before answering, "I just felt bad. Because I thought, that... leaving you like this makes it seem like I don't care about you guys at all."

"Letting Blaine tell us instead of showing up yourself made us feel like you don't care about us at all," Jeff replied, his voice harsh. Nick saw that Kurt's eyes started to look suspiciously glazed over, and added, "Look, Kurt. We're not... mad at you, not even Jeff, not really." Jeff shot him an annoyed glance and opened his mouth to protest again, only to be cut off by Nick, "Shut up, you aren't. You're pissed, that's something else. Kurt, we're just really disappointed, and yes, hurt that we had to hear it from Blaine."

Kurt nodded, his gaze shifting down to his fingers which were starting to fiddle with the hem of his jacket, "I know. And I'm sorry."

"Why do you want to go back there in the first place?" Jeff blurted out, finally voicing the underlying question of their discussion. "Is it because you want to compete at Nationals? Because I try to think of a reason why you would go back to that hell-hole of a public school, and I try to come up with a good reason, but I keep coming back to this."

Kurt was silent for a minute, apparently thinking about his answer. Finally, he shook his head, "I would lie if I told you that being able to compete at Nationals isn't a factor in all this, because frankly, it is. I have been dreaming about going to Nationals for so long, and yes, it does make it easier to go back. So, when I'm being completely honest with myself – it has its importance. But if you ask me whether it was the reason for going back, I would have to say no."

"Then what is the reason?" Nick asked. "Is it because you miss your friends? Or because you're not truly happy with being in the Warblers?"

"All that has something to do with it as well, I guess," Kurt replied, setting his coffee down on the table again, "But this is not just about artistic freedom or having the opportunity to perform at Nationals, Nick. I'm tired of running. I don't want to have to hide any longer. You know, real life out there isn't what it is like here. And I will have to face the real world someday. We'll all have to. And I don't want to run anymore. I want to take a stand – against bullies, against homophobia, but most of all against that giant wall of ignorance. And," he was smiling now, a sad, ironic smile, "McKinley really is the perfect place to start."

"As much as I admire this," Nick answered slowly, "Kurt, we're worried about you. I mean, I get that you want to stand up and help but – do you have any idea what you were like when you came here? You jumped at every loud sound, you looked like you anticipated somebody to hit you any minute, you were constantly on edge. Do you know how hard it is for people who care about you to watch you go back to the people who did this to you?"

Kurt looked at him, his eyes glazed over, "I know Nick. I know all that. Don't you think I already had this discussion with my father – and with Blaine? Several times with both of them, actually?" He cleared his throat, before looking at his coffee. Jeff was shaking his head, apparently trying to grasp what Kurt was telling them, "I still don't get it Kurt. I mean, maybe I don't have to get it – it's your life, and you're entitled to make your own choices and all that. But do you think that going back will really change anything?"

"Maybe not for them," Kurt replied quietly, his eyes still fixed on the spot where the barista had scribbled down his name on the coffee cup, "But it will make a difference for me." He looked up to meet the genuinely concerned glances of the two Warblers who in the six months he had spend at that school had managed to become two of his closest friends, "Look, I know you're worried, and I don't want you to be. And I hate that going back again means leaving something that has become very important to me. But I feel that I need to do this. For people like me, but mostly – for myself."

Nick wanted to point out that Kurt was just seventeen, that maybe he should concentrate on getting through high school and leaving puberty behind, before he started changing the world – but then again, Kurt was much more mature than all the other boys Nick knew. And in the end, what could one say in the face of idealism?

"I think what you're doing has a point," Nick finally said, the right corner of his mouth turning into a bitter smile. "I just wished you weren't the one doing it."

Kurt's smile was as bittersweet, but he still tried to joke about it, "Well, with me gone, you don't have to waste time during rehearsals with discussing clothing choices anymore."

Jeff snorted, "Are you kidding? Firstly, Blaine totally caught onto that, so don't think we'll have nobody objecting to the uniform when you're gone. And secondly, even if Blaine keeps quiet – you know those guys. I'm sure they will always find something ridiculous to fight about."

"I don't think you're taking topics like whether the act of winking at a girl in the audience should be met with penalties, especially – though not exclusively – when she is related to a council member, serious enough, Warbler Jeffrey," Kurt said, his tone dangerously close to the one Wes used whenever he felt the need to scold somebody, "You might want to work on that."

Nick chuckled, then looked over his coffee at the younger boy in front of him. "We'll miss you, Kurt."

The countertenor tilted his head to the side, eyeing the two boys questioningly, "Does that mean you're no longer mad at me?"

"No," Jeff replied, "It means we're still pissed about all this and still think it's not a good idea to transfer back, but we love you and will miss you nonetheless."

That made Kurt smile, and it was his first genuinely happy smile since he had sat down on the table. "I don't deserve you two," he said.

"True," Jeff answered, "but I don't deserve Nick either, and he still has been by my side for two years."

"And nobody will ever deserve Wes," Nick added, "But we'll still have to put up with him and his gavel-banging ways."

Kurt grinned, before his expression got serious again, "You'll take care of Blaine, won't you?"

"Naturally," Jeff answered. "We'll keep an eye on him. Well, we and twelve other Warblers, that is."

Nick grinned, remembering how the other Warblers had all expressed their concerns about Blaine yesterday. Thad had gone up to his dorm to check whether he was okay three times, David had knocked five times, and Nathan had stepped by every quarter of an hour until Blaine's roommate James had yelled (loud enough for everyone on the corridor to hear) that Blaine was fine and he was not living alone and if something happened he'd make sure to call on every Warbler personally but he would love to get some homework done and if there would be one more disturbance he would be forced to throw something at that somebody. Nick still felt sorry for Trent, who didn't live on the same corridor and who had just happened to knock on the door five minutes later because he had wanted to borrow James' math book.

"So, Nationals," Nick said, leaning back into his chair. "Have you decided on a set-list yet?"

Kurt chuckled humourlessly, "Oh, Nick. One thing I will definitely miss horribly is the council's organisation. It surpasses the one of Mr. Schue by light-years." His gaze travelled downwards to where Nick's arm disappeared beneath the table, and his eyes narrowed suspiciously, "By the way, are you two holding hands?" he asked.

"Don't be ridiculous," Nick answered, feeling the warmth of Jeff's fingers immediately disappear from his palm. "And don't try to change the subject, Kurt. Since we're not in competition anyways, I'd really like to hear about what fashion choices you plan to pester to your new... old... now this is weird. Your glee-club with."

"And I think I could use another round of coffee," Jeff said, "And maybe some biscotti to go with it. You're still paying, right?"

And when Kurt rolled his eyes but grabbed his wallet anyways, Nick smiled. Because he felt that, even though he was still a bit mad, and even though he still didn't fully understand and even less approved of Kurt's decision, maybe it would still be alright. Somehow.

"Okay, wait a second. Didn't we all agree that while the GAP-attack was as much fun as it was embarrassing, it was not something that would be repeated?"

"It's not a second GAP-attack."

"Yeah, but it's close."

"I think this is pure madness."

"No, it isn't. It's just very, very romantic."

"Well, I think we're going to get beaten up for this."

"Oh, come on. Do you really believe somebody wants to mess with fifteen boys at once?"

"Fifteen blazer-wearing, a-capella-singing guys who are serenading another guy? Actually yes, I can see how that could tempt somebody."

"God, what's with you guys? Stop being such cowards! The idea is cute, the song is good and we didn't have the opportunity to properly say goodbye to Kurt. I'm in favour of Blaine's proposal."

"Thanks Trent."

"Anytime, Blaine."

"As much as I appreciate your idea, Warbler Blaine: when exactly should we schedule this performance? We have classes on Monday, and it would certainly not be good for the Warbler's reputation if we missed..."

"Oh Wes, come on. The headmaster adores you. Explain the situation and we're sure to get permission for this."

"Yeah. And even if we don't – I'm pretty sure Nick can charm us out of French."

"Nathan? Shut up!"

"Wait!"

Nick was the first one to turn around. After their performance, they had followed Wes' instructions regarding a quick departing, keeping Blaine's words in mind: "We just want to say goodbye. Please, no lingering behind, no Do-you-really-have-to-leave, no making Kurt cry in front of his whole school. We just perform, and afterwards we leave."

Nick had watched how the no-making-Kurt-cry-plan failed epically when the countertenor had hugged his boyfriend, but apart from that they had stuck with the plan and vanished silently after the performance.

And now, standing in front of their cars in the McKinley parking lot, Nick saw Kurt hurrying towards them. Blaine, who had been walking next to Jeff at the end of the group, had barely the time to turn around before Kurt had already tackled him, burying his nose deeply in Blaine's blazer and hugging the other boy so tightly that he almost lifted him off the ground.

Apparently, he said something, but it was muffled by Blaine's blazer so that neither Jeff nor Nick, who were standing close by, could understand it. Blaine, however, seemed to be able to make sense of the mumbling.

While gently stroking Kurt's hair, careful not to mess up the meticulous styling, he said, "We thought it would be better if we left and spared you the long goodbye. I know how much you hate them."

At that, Kurt raised his head from Blaine's shoulder, his cheeks still a little damp, but his eyes sparkling with determination as he glared at his boyfriend, "I said I'm never saying goodbye to you, Blaine. But I will most certainly say goodbye and thank you to my other friends."

Nick felt Jeff's hand tugging on his sleeve and reached out to squeeze it briefly, his eyes following Kurt as he said his goodbye to each Warbler.

He shook hands with Adrian, Flint and Jason, laughing when Adrian said that it would be quiet without him. Nathan didn't give him a chance for a handshake – he hugged the countertenor briefly and tightly, ruffling his hair (not caring, like Blaine, that he positively destroyed any effort Kurt had made in styling it) and remarked that whenever those public-school-fatheads behaved like idiots again, he knew who to call.

Thom received a smile and a friendly pat on the shoulder, and so did Trevor. Trent also hugged him, though not as fiercely as Nathan, and then stepped back, rummaging his pockets for a tissue.

When Kurt stood before the three council members, Wes smiled fondly at the former Warbler, offering his hand and saying, "Thank you for everything, Kurt."

Kurt looked at the taller boy, not taking the offered hand yet, "I have to thank you. For letting me sing at Regionals. For becoming my friends." He smiled, "For putting up with me."

That made all the council members grin simultaneously.

"I believe I'm speaking for all of us when I say that we learned much from each other," Wes said. "We will miss you, Kurt. But we understand that this is where you belong, and we're happy for you."

Kurt nodded, and shook hands with Wes, while David and Thad patted him on his shoulders.

Finally, he stood in front of Nick and Jeff. He looked at Nick, then turned his head to look at Jeff before he took a step forward, throwing his arms around both boys.

"I'm not saying goodbye to you two either," his voice said, somewhere between Nicks right shoulder and Jeff's left elbow. "Promise me you'll take care of him?"

Nick smiled reassuringly (which Kurt could not see) and patted the taller boy's back.

"I doubt it will be necessary because he's handling it like a grown-up, but we have an emergency-plan which involves lots of distracting activities, chocolate bars under this pillow and in his socks and James calling us if he starts to feel Kurt-sick overnight."

He took a step back, tentatively tangling himself out of Kurt's embrace, "Besides, it's not like you're moving to another planet, or even another country. It's just a two-hour-distance, and you'll visit Blaine on the weekend anyways. Let's not make that big a drama out of it."

Kurt raised his left eyebrow at that last statement, and then looked pointedly at Jeff, who was occupied with wiping his nose with the sleeve of his Dalton blazer.

Nick could have sworn he heard Wes hiss.

Stepping back from the two boys, Kurt opened his mouth just to close it again, apparently unable to voice whatever it was he wanted to say.

"I think your classes are starting," Nick reminded him gently. "Call us tonight and tell us how your first day went?"

The younger boy nodded, obviously relieved to escape the emotional scene. Before he turned around to hug his boyfriend again, he smiled at the two boys he had grown so fond of over the last few months, saying, "No matter what happens – you'll always have each other."

Blaine hugged Kurt one last time, not looking like he ever wanted to let him go. Kurt whispered something in his ear, kissed Blaine's cheek (which was a rare sight since the two of them weren't exactly known for public displays of affection), and then, with a last smile and an awkward wave of his right hand, he turned around and hurried towards the building.

Blaine looked after him, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth but his eyes looking very sad and tear-filled.

"Come on, oh fearless leader," Jeff said, putting an arm around Blaine's shoulder and nudging him in the direction of the cars, "Let's get some post-performance-pizza."

"I think not, Warbler Jeff," Wes answered, his tone indicating that he was still pissed about how Jeff had treated his blazer. "We arranged to get this morning off in order to say goodbye to former Warbler Kurt, but I can assure you that we are expected to be back at lunchtime the latest."

Nearly all of the Warblers rolled their eyes at that, but it was only fifteen minutes later, when Nathan decided to disobey Wes' lunchtime-at-Dalton-rule and drove Jeff, Nick, Blaine and Trent to the nearest pizza-place, that Nick realised that he wasn't nearly as sad as he would have expected to be.

But when he looked at the other people in the car, when he saw Nathan singing along loudly to some REM song on the radio, and Trent occasionally chiming in, when he saw Jeff giving his best impression of what Wes would say when he discovered that they would not be showing up for lunch, and Blaine, who was still looking a bit sad, but who was chuckling at Jeff nonetheless, he knew that this wasn't because he was unfeeling or indifferent to Kurt's departure. He was glad to have made such an amazing friend, and even though things would certainly change now, they would somehow deal with that.

Nick smiled when Jeff turned to him, nudging his shoulder and demanding his fair share of applause for what had been "my best fucking impression ever."

Because, after all, what Kurt had said was true.

No matter what happened – they would always have each other.

"Of all the things which wisdom provides to make life entirely happy, much the greatest is the possession of friendship." ~ Epicurus

"No distance of place or lapse of time can lessen the friendship of those who are thoroughly persuaded of each other's worth." ~ Robert Southey

"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end." ~ Seneca

THE END (?)

A/N Oh dear Lord. I can't believe I actually finished this story. I'm terribly sorry it took so long, but I think I wrote this chapter three or four times, because I just wasn't satisfied with it. In the end, I accepted that there really is no satisfying explanation for why Kurt would transfer back. I first wrote a longer rant about why it doesn't make any sense - but I think Jeff sums it up rather nicely in here.

Why did I choose for Kurt not to tell the Warblers in person? Yes, he is a strong, independent character, but he makes mistakes. I'd like to point out the ending of Furt: If that's how he handles goodbyes with his "family", I don't think it'll be better with the Warblers. I believe Season3Kurt might have done it differently. But I think it's not unrealistic to assume that this is what Season2Kurt would have done.

So far to the problems I had with this chapter (and episode), but anyways – it's done!

Oh, and to those who wanted to know who Jeff is dating – I'd like to leave that to your imagination. If you'd like to believe Niff has happened in here – sure. If you think they're just friends (cuddly, close friends) – right there with you. I kept it ambiguous on purpose, and I hope you'll forgive me.

If you don't – there's a 20-page-Christmas-special-sequel to this which I will upload on Friday. It was originally a Christmas present, but I couldn't upload it before I had finished this baby. And I keep thinking about doing a multi-chaptered-sequel...

To all my wonderful readers and reviewers – thank you so much! I really hope you enjoyed the last chapter, and I'm so very grateful that you put up with me and my horribly laziness regarding updates. Please let me know what you think of this last chapter – or of the story as a whole.

~ Nalasan