“So, Blaine and Kurt are going to university in London? That is so wonderful for them,” Andy sighed.

“Do you think we could have done that?” Buddy asked Andy, sitting close and holding his hand.

“Yes – well, maybe. It didnt work so well in New York, baby,” Andy said, coming close to kiss Buddys mouth.

“Im sorry,” Buddy blushed, hanging his head.

“Oh, babe...it wasnt your fault. We had a good run in Lima, I dont regret anything. We had each other and nothing else mattered, did it?”

“No, I guess not. Not for me, anyway. Do you have any regrets?” Buddy asked, a little bit shy.

“I cant think of any. I wish Id have found you sooner, I wish I had saved you from that gang in New York – a few things like that, but everyone has a little rain fall in their lives. We got the best thing anyone could imagine, though. We got each other,” Andy said, looking deep into Buddys eyes. Buddy returned the gaze.

“I regret that I had to leave our life first – had to leave you alone for those years. I missed you,” Buddy admitted, a tear in his eye.

“I missed you, too, but I knew we would be together again soon - and I got to meet Kurt, that was a plus. I couldnt believe it when I heard him singing our song. It took me a minute, but I knew then that it was your - - spirit? I mean, somehow it was you, but I dont understand how. Here we sit, content just to be with each other,” Andy went on, “but Kurt and Blaine are down there living their lives. How can we be them – or they are us or...were the same ah...souls?” Andy wondered aloud.

“Now, dont start that. You know theres no explanation, weve been trying to figure it out forever. There are no explanations here,” Buddy lamented.

Andy reached forward and took his love into his arms.

“I think we are in between worlds, you and I, maybe? That could explain it. We found each other again here, then helped Kurt and Blaine. You know that Kurt would have died if we hadnt...” Buddy tried to argue.

“Yes, I know. I still think it was a test of some kind. We helped him go back to Blaine and that was the right thing to do. He might know a bit more than hes supposed to, but who are we to decide that?” Andy reasoned.

“I knew we would be together forever before you did, Andy. Remember when I woke up from the coma – it was the same as Kurt. I knew things I couldnt explain. It took a long time for me to convince you,” Buddy said, looking sad.

“Yeah...I didnt let myself believe when I lost you, babe. It wasnt until Kurt came along and sang...” Andy wiped a tear from his eye. “But think of this - because we helped get Kurt back where he belonged. They got to get married, and that is something we never got to do, Buddy.” Andy looked sad. Buddy coaxed his lover into climbing into his lap, arms tight around him.

“I know. We were the same thing as married, right? I always thought of you as my husband, paperwork and certificate or not. It didnt stop us from loving each other, did it?”

“No, I thought of you that way, too, Buddy.”

“Well, Im sorry Burt is going to miss his son. My dad died so early in my life, I didnt get to have that kind of relationship with him. It makes my heart warm to know Burt loves Kurt so much,” Buddy smiled. Andy laid his head on Buddys shoulder and kissed his neck.

“You know theyre having an amazing time in university? They love being married, what else is there?” Andy asked.

“You know,” Buddy said, turning his head to place a kiss on Andys temple.

“What? That they have Buck? They might have named him Dalton, but you know as well as I do that the dog is Buck,” Andy said, a smile returning to his face.

Buddy laughed ironically.

“Andy, you know I didnt mean the dog. You know what the one thing we always wished we had been able to have, but with the way society was back then – we couldnt do it. I wish sometimes we had been born later - to be able to experience things as they are for Kurt and Blaine?”

“Yeah. It would be fun, amazing really. I know you didnt mean the dog, Buddy. You meant that we wished we had been able to have a baby, right?” Andy asked, stroking his fingers down Buddys cheek.

“Yeah. I always thought you would have made the best father....” Buddy lamented. He put his head down, not wanting to cry in front of his soulmate. Andy understood. He had wanted a baby, too, but knew it was impossible. He tugged Buddy closer, feeling protective as he always had when Buddy hid his face in Andys neck. Andys arms went around his lover, holding him like hed never let him go – which was true, Andy would never let Buddy go.

“When will they decide to have a baby?” Buddy finally asked.

“Not too long after they graduate from university I think. I can hardly wait. I think Ill feel fulfilled when that happens. Wont you?”

“Yeah, I will. Oh, I know theyll be happy, but that will be the icing on the cake, wont it?” Buddy said excitedly. They sat close, eyes closed, enjoying just being together. There was nothing more to say.

~ ~ ~ A&B ~ ~ ~

The plane from England was coming in for a landing. Kurt and Blaine held hands tightly, neither had been able to sleep much on the flight back home. They would change planes in Boston at Logan Airport, then fly home to Lima on a smaller plane.

“Do you have everything?” Blaine asked once again.

“Yes, mommy. You know I do,” Kurt joked. Blaines worry was adorable sometimes.

“Hey, no call for that! I was just checking,” Blaine said, giving Kurt a gaze that meant he was treading on thin ice.

Kurt leaned closer and placed a not-too-chaste kiss on his husbands lips. “Forgive me? I do understand, you know. Im as nervous as you are, but I am hiding it better right now. All bets are off when we get home to Lima, however, and we see my dad,” Kurt laughed. Blaine reached over the car seat that was strapped tightly in the seat between them and took Kurts hand in his. Their gaze turned from looking into each others eyes to looking at the baby in the car seat. They both smiled.

By the time they got to Lima, both men were exhausted. They had been away from Ohio for seven years now with only one visit home, when Burt and Carole got married. It had all started with Kurt and Blaine being accepted to university in London, then internships and career choices. When they made the decision to return to the USA, it was something they had been planning for a long time and both were excited to be home.

The best part of being at home was that they were going to bring their baby to meet the family. Kimmy was all of five months old and had never seen her Hummel grandparents.

It had come as a rather large surprise to Blaines parents at a reunion with the Andersons in Italy when they had mentioned wanting to adopt. Both Kurt and Blaine were doing well, saving money and planning their move back to the States. When adoption was brought up, Mrs. Anderson perked up.

“Oh, I can help with that! One of the charities I fund is an orphanage and adoption center in Korea. Is that something you might like me to look into?”

Kurts eyes sparkled as he looked over at Blaine to see his reaction. It was the same as Kurts.

It took almost a year of planning and red tape, but at the end of the waiting, Kurt and Blaine flew to South Korea with Charlotte Anderson and met their new daughter. She was ten days old.

~ ~ ~ KB ~ ~ ~

“There they are!” Burt shouted, leaping out the front door and rushing to open the door of the SUV. Trent had picked them up at the airport and drove them as far as Westerville. They stayed a little while to visit with Trent and his husband, Nicky, but both Kurt and Blaine were anxious to drive on to Lima to see Burt and the rest of their family.

Arriving at the Hummel house, Kurt opened his door and rushed forward to hug his father with no other thought in his head. He held on for dear life as he swung his dad around in a circle. He would have gone on hugging Burt all evening if he wasnt interrupted by a huge bear-like creature that jumped on him, barking and slobbering.

“Dalton! You remember me!” Kurt yelled, hugging the huge fuzzy dog around his neck.

When the scene had calmed down, Blaine emerged from the car, hugging Burt and Dalton in turn, then going to the back seat of his car to unbuckle his tiny daughters car seat.

They all went in to Burts house, Blaine carrying the car seat with Kimmy asleep in it. Kurt had handed Kimmys diaper bag to his father and then returned to bring in the rest of their luggage. They were going to live with Burt for a while until they had established their lives once again. Trent and Nicky had been renting Kurts apartment in Westerville and Kurt didnt want to disrupt their lives until he and Blaine made some important decisions.

“Carole!” Kurt shouted, setting down all of his burden to give her a hug and kiss her cheek.

“Kurt! Oh, Im so glad to see you two!” she laughed, pulling back to look at Kurts face. She and Burt had gotten married a few years ago and she had been so happy that Burts boys were coming home now. She knew how much he missed them. Plus, they were bringing home her newest grandchild. She could hardly wait to hold that darling baby in her arms. If she could get the baby away from Burt.

They all came into the family room, luggage strewn all around, everyone talking and laughing. Although she had slept through the chaos and noise of Logan Airport and countless other noisy places, Kimmy woke to look around and see her new family. She smiled and looked at her daddy, curious about her new environment. Blaine unstrapped her from her seat and held her close to his chest, dropping a few kisses into her angel-soft black hair.

Blaine looked up, catching Kurts eyes and smiled. Kurt came to take the baby and gave her a kiss as he settled her into her grandfathers arms.

“Oh, Kurt, shes beautiful!” Burt whispered, shy of making too much noise and scaring her.

“Its all right, Dad, she isnt breakable,” Kurt laughed. Burt gave him a quick scowl and then smiled down at Kimmy. He glanced up as they heard the front door open.

“Can I see the baby?” a young voice was heard from the front hall.

“Wait a minute, Leigh. Remember what we talked about last night and again on the way here?” Rachels voice came next. Kurts face lit up with happiness and he ran to the front door, gathering Rachel in his arms and twirling her around in the air. It wasnt until he started to put her down that he realized how large she was. He set her down gently and put a hand to her protruding belly.

“Oh! Im sorry, Rachel. I forgot you had this...” he stammered, blushing. He had no idea what to call her pregnant belly.

Rachel laughed.

“Oh, Kurt, dont worry. No harm done. Im just so happy to see you! Now, wheres your gorgeous husband and that darling little bundle of cuteness?” Rachel giggled. She was just leaning over to help her son take off his coat when Finn stepped in.

Kurt was suddenly in his arms, too, hugging him for all he was worth.

“Oh, Finn! I missed you!” he said, pulling back to see his brothers face.

Finn look a little shell-shocked but smiled at Kurt just the same.

“Good to see you, too, Bro,” he said in a warm tone. He and Rachel had gotten married just after high school and moved to New York. Rachel had made it to Broadway and did a few shows, but both missed their families and were now teachers at McKinley High.

“Where is your baby, Uncle Kurt?” Leigh asked. He had met his Uncle Kurt just once – at his grandparents wedding when Kurt and Blaine flew home for a visit, but he was used to talking to him on Skype.

“Shes in on Grandpa Burts lap, honey. Want to go meet her?” Kurt asked just as Blaine came in to hug Rachel and greet the rest of his family.

“Uncle Blaine!” Leigh shouted, throwing himself into his uncles arms. Blaine picked him up and twirled him around, making the little boy giggle uncontrollably.

“Blaine! He was just starting to calm down!” Rachel admonished, but her heart wasnt in it as she tried not to smile. Blaine saw that and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

“Sorry, Mama,” he said, his eyes twinkling.

They all went to settle down in the family room, talking and laughing and feeling so good that the whole family was once again together.

“Leigh, come sit next to me,” Kurt asked, patting the space on the sofa between Blaine and himself. The little boy eagerly ran to climb up between his uncles. Burt came over, settling Kimmy in the five-year-olds lap. Leigh grinned from ear to ear, so proud that he was old enough to hold a baby. He looked into her big dark eyes, amazed that she was smiling up at him.

“Oh, Leigh! She likes you already,” his Uncle Blaine said, giving him an even bigger grin.

“She is pretty. Why does she have different eyes? She looks like my friend, Michael,” he asked, his face bewildered.

“He means Michael Chang – Mike and Tinas son,” Finn explained. “Michael is Korean. His parents are both Korean, Leigh. All people have things that make them different and things that make them the same. You know that, right?”

“Yes, Dad. Does that mean Aunt Tina is Kimmys mommy?” his little brain tried to understand this.

“No, honey. Uncle Blaine and I went to Korea and got Kimmy. She was in an orphanage there and needed a family. Uncle Blaine and I loved her so much we asked if we could be her daddies. They let us and now she is our baby,” Kurt tried to explain in terms that his nephew could understand.

“Oh....but didnt she have a family already?” he asked.

“No, honey. She was living in a home where babies go when they dont have their parents any more. Her mommy couldnt keep her, so she took Kimmy to a place to be safe and to get a new family,” Blaine tried.

Leigh looked confused, but when Kimmy made some cute baby sounds and grabbed his finger, Leigh grinned.

“She likes me, right?” he asked shyly.

“Yes, she does, son. You are going to have a good time with your cousin I think,” Rachel said, smiling at Kurt and Blaine.

“Will our baby like me, too?” Leigh asked.

“Of course!” Finn came into the conversation, his arm thrown around his wife as they sat on the loveseat together.

Later that night, after everyone was in bed asleep, Kurt had wandered up the stairs to the kitchen. Blaine and Kimmy were both fast asleep, but he couldnt seem to relax. Maybe a snack would help?

He opened the refrigerator and brought out the milk, pouring it into a small saucepan and setting it to warm on the stove. He was just opening the cupboard to find the Dutch-processed cocoa when he heard footsteps. He looked up to see Burt in his bathrobe and slippers.

“Hey, Dad. I hope I didnt wake you...”

“No, I just couldnt sleep for all the excitement of having you home, kiddo,” Burt smiled. “Hey, hot chocolate? I have some whipped cream left over from dessert tonight,” he grinned.

“Sure, just let me add a bit more milk,” Kurt said, opening the carton and adding more to the saucepan.

“You have a beautiful family, Kurt. Kimmy is so darling, and I can see how much you and Blaine love her. Im so happy you came back here to live,” he smiled, tears welling up in his eyes.

“Oh, no, Dad. This is happy! Dont cry!” Kurt said, rushing over to pull his father close and hug him, rubbing his back as if he were the child.

“No, Im fine. I was just thinking about your mother,” Burt confessed. “I really wish she was here to see you right now. What youve done with your life, how happy you are with Blaine, your smile when youre holding Kimmy. She would be so proud of the man that is standing here. So proud,” Burt concluded. He gave Kurt one more bear hug and they sat down to drink their hot chocolate.

~ ~ ~ KB ~ ~ ~

“Oh, I wasnt sure where youd gone, babe,” Blaine said, blinking in the light from the hallway as Kurt slipped back into the bedroom.

“I couldnt sleep. I made myself a cup of hot cocoa and Dad came down and joined me,” Kurt told him.

“Are you crying?”

“No. Well, maybe just a little. Dad was thinking about my mom....and....I wish she was here to see us, to meet you, to hold Kimmy. I guess I just miss her,” Kurt confessed. Blaine pulled the blankets back to allow his husband to get into bed. Kurt removed his robe and slippers and climbed into bed.

“Oh, this is warm. Thank you, Blaine. Im really fine, I just miss her from time to time. I came to grips with her being gone a long time ago – but once in a while the grief surfaces,” Kurt explained.

“I know, baby. I cant bring her back for you, but you know Im always here to catch you if you fall. I love you,” Blaine whispered as he kissed Kurts temple and pulled him close.

They were just falling asleep when a cry from the baby monitor brought them both wide awake.

“No rest for the weary, I guess. Sounds like show time!” Kurt said, swinging his feet over the side of the bed. “Do you want to get her and Ill make the bottle or vice versa?”

“Ill get the bottle, you just came from the cold kitchen,” Blaine offered as he put on his robe and slippers. Kurt grinned at him, then kissed his cheek.

“And that is why you are the best husband and father, right?” Kurt giggled. Blaine rolled his eyes and stood up, offering a hand to Kurt to help him up.

“I dont know about that, but I try. Ill meet you back here in just a few moments.”

Kurt lay in bed, snuggling Kimmy under the blankets when Blaine arrived, baby bottle in hand. He handed it to his husband, shed his robe, and climbed back into bed.

They lay facing each other, Kimmy between them as she drank the formula in greedy gulps. Blaine sat up to burp her, dissolving into giggles with Kurt when the tiny, dainty girl gave them a burp that sounded for all the world like her Uncle Finn.

“Oh, my goodness!” Kurt squeaked. “I cannot believe that came from my sweet little baby girl!”

Blaine laughed, putting a hand to Kurts shoulder so he didnt fall over on the baby.

Kimmy opened her eyes wide, looking at her daddies, then closed them. She was still sleepy.

“Lets sing her a lullaby. I think she needs to get back to sleep,” Blaine suggested.

“Okay, how about...?” Kurt tried to think of a good one.

“We can sing Andys song,” Blaine gave his husband a wide smile.

“Yes....”

Ill walk in the rain by your side
Ill cling to the warmth of your hand
Ill do anything to keep you satisfied
And Ill love you more than anybody can.

And the wind will whisper your name to me
Little birds will sing along in time
Leaves will bow down when you walk by
And morning bells will chime.

Kimmy was sound asleep in moments.

“Here, Ill go put her back in her crib,” Kurt said, shuffling back to get out of bed to do just that.

“Wait, baby. Can we...can we just hold her? I mean for a little while. Everything has been so chaotic – with moving back here, with all the craziness of flying from place to place. Poor Kimmy. Shes only five months old and shes been to three continents!” Blaine lamented.

“Yes, lets keep her here for a while,” Kurt agreed. He and Blaine had not really had enough time to get Kimmy settled into a routine. Everything had been so hurried – organizing and planning the move back to Ohio, going over lists and options. While they had been able to give Kimmy all the love they had, it was not a substitute for calm routine.

“I wonder if we were just meant to live here in Ohio, do you think?” Blaine asked.

“Your uncles made it work for them. I do love being close to my family, those years in England were tough sometimes, you know?” Kurt said.

“Yeah, I know,” Blaine said.

“But here I am being insensitive. Im sorry, Babe. You are farther from your parents now,” Kurt observed. He looked sad.

“Oh, no...it isnt the same. Yes, I love my mother and father, but they can come here. We werent seeing them much when we did live closer, did we? Im used to it. Kurt, honey, I know Burt needs to have you close. It was breaking his heart that you lived so far away for so long,” Blaine said with his typical sensitivity.

“And thats why I love you so much, Blaine. You always put me first. Okay, we can stay here for a while, then move to our apartment or your house. Cooper did say that hes lonely bumping around in that huge house by himself,” Kurt smiled.

“That is an option. Okay, we stay here for a month until everything calms down and we figure out jobs and all. We wont think of another thing to disturb our lives – we will just work on the joy and calmness that make every day together so beautiful,” Blaine surmised.

“Oh, yes. That sounds like a plan.”

They lay back in bed, Blaines head on the plumped-up pillows and Kurts head resting on his chest. Kimmy was settled in between them, snuggled in the warm blankets with her daddies, sleeping peacefully.

“I think this is a slice of heaven, Kurt,” Blaine said, placing kisses on both Kimmy and Kurts heads.

“I agree. I think were living our dreams, right?” Kurt asked.

“Yeah, all of our dreams came true.”

~ ~ ~ KB ~ ~ ~

“All of their dreams came true,” sighed Buddy, his eyes shiny with moisture.

“Yes, and they arent the only ones. This is the final dream come true for us, too, isnt it? What we both wanted in life?” Andy waxed poetic. Buddy sighed and melted into Andys side.

“Yes, so beautiful, and I think our part of this is done,” Buddy said, gazing up at Andys face to see the care and love that was reflected there.

Buddy turned at a sound and his eyes widened. He struggled to stand up from Andys lap, offering him a hand so they could stand together.

A bright, shining light came from somewhere, highlighting the surroundings and the two men. Buddy and Andy took one more look at Kurt and Blaine, the men kissing each other and cuddled in the bed with their tiny daughter. They saw the caring that all the years had built, saw the loyalty of family, saw the grace of being loved every day in every way. It was indeed the fulfillment that they had waited for, the ending of a beautiful story of devotion and never-ending courage, faith, and absolute love for Blaine and Kurt.

Andy took Buddys hand and with smiles on their faces and love in their hearts, the two walked toward the light. Together.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ THE END ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~