Disclaimer: I own nothing associated with Glee.
A/N: Well...we've done it. We've reached the end of the story. It's almost surreal to be finished writing something I've been pouring my heart into for very nearly five months. Your reviews and feedback mean the world to me, and this story would be nothing if it wasn't for you guys. Thank you so much for everything you've done for me and this story. And a special thank you to the world's greatest beta jlbassmaster. He listened to me complain about writing and still continues to put up with my whiny crap, and the only payment he's received is a rock from Derry, Ireland. He helped make this story what it is. So...without further ado, here is the end of The Plan That Actually Worked.

The Plan That Actually Worked
Chapter Nineteen: Home

Sam's eyes opened wide. "W-What?" He stumbled over the word breathlessly.

Rory nodded, a small smile on his face. "Sam, my mother wants to move over here. She says she wants to leave as quickly as possible. After you left, we started working on the paperwork for passports for herself and Seamus. She's going crazy with all the paperwork, but grandad is helping her. She's serious, Sam."

The room went silent as Rory finished. Sam's mouth just hung open dumbly as emotions flooded through him. This couldn't be real. It couldn't possibly be. He was going to wake up and the entire day will have been a dream. Rory continued to slide his thumb across Sam's knuckles, waiting for him to speak, but he said nothing. Silent tears rolled down Sam's face.

"Sammy, what's the matter?" Rory asked, alarmed. He pulled Sam against his side and leaned against the headboard. "What's wrong?"

Sam sniffled but was still unable to speak. Relief flooded washed over him as the reality of the situation hit him. He'd spent so much time being terrified about losing Rory and, recently, he'd gotten a taste of what it would actually feel like to have him so far away. As the realization began to sink in, the stress and worry vanished. He wasn't going to lose Rory. The thought was enough to overwhelm him and render him speechless.

He wrapped his arms tightly around Rory's middle and hugged him close. The Irish teen held Sam and let the emotions play themselves out. He pressed a kiss to the top of Sam's head. "I'm here, Sammy. I'm not going anywhere." The truth of the words brought Sam a level of comfort he'd never experienced before. Rory wasn't going anywhere. He wasn't leaving.

Sam turned his head to kiss Rory's bare shoulder and let himself get carried away by the rush of pure emotion.

-xXxXx-

The rest of the family came home too soon. They just barely avoided an awkward situation with Finn thanks to the sound of his thunderous footsteps coming up the stairs. Though it had been obvious that they had been doing something, they'd been able to quickly throw on underwear and t-shirts so that it wasn't immediately clear that they'd been doing it.

Rory had been invited to stay for dinner, an offer he'd gratefully accepted, telling everyone at the table the news that he'd be returning to McKinley in the fall for good. Sam's eyes still sparkled as he held Rory's hand on top of the table. He was pretty sure Rory's news would never lose its impact on him. He felt a fresh wave of pure excitement every time he heard the words leave his boyfriend's mouth.

On the way out, Rory thanked everyone in the family for their generosity, thanking Burt especially for funding Sam's trip to Ireland in order to be with him in his time of need.

"Mr. Hummel, you'll never know how important it was that Sam was with me when my brother was in hospital. I don't think I could have done it without him," Rory said honestly, squeezing Sam's hand.

"Sam is a good man, Rory," Burt agreed. "You're lucky to have him."

"Yes, sir, I am," Rory replied, smiling and shooting a glance in Sam's direction.

The ride back to the Pierces' had been a quiet one. It wasn't an awkward silence. They just sat, quietly enjoying each other's company, holding hands across the cab. When Sam pulled up to the curb in Finn's truck, he turned to face Rory, smiling at the bright blue eyes he'd missed so much.

"I am so happy you're home, babe," Sam said, relief saturating his tone. He leaned across the cab and kissed Rory adoringly, his hand coming to rest on the Irish boy's face to hold him still. When he pulled away, he didn't go far. He just sighed and rested his forehead against Rory's. "I love you."

Rory's lips turned up into a smile and he hummed in contentment, his closed eyes fluttering open. "I love you, too, Sammy."

Sam smiled and pressed another kiss to Rory's lips, smacking his leg playfully. "Alright, go inside. I'll be back before you know it." Rory returned Sam's smile and kissed him quickly before hopping out of the truck.

Relief flooded through Sam as he watched Rory walking toward the Pierces' front door, using his key to get inside. It was normal. Everything had suddenly been righted and Sam was able to breathe. Everything was back to normal. He'd drop Finn's truck off back home and sneak back over to climb in Rory's window. He grinned widely at the thought and turned the key, causing the truck to roar to life.

Later that night, exactly as planned, Sam tiptoed down the stairs, creeping toward the front door. He had his hand on the doorknob when he heard a deep throaty chuckle behind him. "Goin' to see Rory?"

Sam spun on his heel to face Burt, his mouth falling open. Burt laughed at the blond's deer-in-the-headlights expression. "Kid, you'd have to be a lot craftier than that to get anything past me."

"H-How long have you known?" Sam choked out, still unsure of how much trouble he was in.

Burt laughed again and clapped Sam on the shoulder. "Before Christmas, sometime."

Sam looked down at his feet, embarrassed at being caught. "Oh."

Burt reached into the pockets of his jeans and pulled out a set of keys. "Here. It looks like it might rain. Take my truck."

Sam took the keys with a shaky hand. "T-Thanks."

"No problem, kid." Burt smiled and gave Sam a hard pat on the back before heading toward the stairs, chuckling to himself.

The blond stood, frozen, for a moment, still trying to process what the hell had just happened. He laughed out a breathless sound and decided not to question it, throwing the door open and climbing into Burt's truck, headed to the place he knew he belonged.

-xXxXx-

The next few months went by like a dream. The upsets and stresses of earlier had become a distant memory and everything settled back to the way it should be, if not a little boring. The only drama was Mr. Schuester's suggestion that Rory sit out Nationals because he'd missed so many practices, but after a very pissed off Sam Evans assured the teacher that nothing of the sort was going to happen, Mike stood up and offered to get Rory up to speed and they'd ended up winning.

After that, even the bullying stopped. Rory was able to walk through school without fear of getting checked into a locker when Sam wasn't around. By the end of his sophomore year, his life had taken a 180 degree turn. He thought back to what he'd imagined America would be like when he was back in Ireland and he smiled widely when he realized that, despite the bumps in the road, things were finally like he'd imagined.

He was in love with his cute jock boyfriend, he had friends who would do anything for him, and he felt more accepted than he ever had in his life.

Sam came up behind him, snaking his arms around the Irish boy's middle and pressing a quick kiss to the side of his neck. "Ready to go, babe?"

Rory shut his locker and turned around in his boyfriend's arms, rocking forward to kiss him on the lips. "Of course."

Sam smiled and kissed him again quickly on the tip of his nose, causing Rory to crinkle his nose, a bright smile playing on his lips.

Rory's phone vibrated in his pocket. He lifted the phone up to read the message.

Love, our plane gets in at five instead of six tonight. You should see your brother; he's so excited he can't sit still. See you soon. :) xoxo -Mum

A blinding smile lit up Rory's face as he realized: He never had to leave. He was home.

A/N: There will be a sequel to this. I don't know when it will actually get written, but this is not the end of this particular universe. I don't think I could let it go if I tried. Thank you all so much for reading. I appreciate each and every one of you. :)