“Hey guys, this is for a group of people I’ve known for years. They’ve been my best friends and family since I walked into a high school and surprised one very special man. I love you guys.

When you look back on times we had, I hope you smile
And know that through the good and through the bad
I was on your side when nobody could hold us down
We claimed the brightest star
And we, we came so far and no they won't forget

Whenever you remember times gone by
Remember how we held our heads so high
When all this world was there for us
And we believe that we could touch the sky
Whenever you remember, I'll be there
Remember how we reached that dream together
Whenever you remember

When you think back on all we've done, I hope you're proud
When you look back and see how far we've come
It was our time to shine and nobody could hold us down
They thought they'd see us fall
But we, we stood so tall and no we won't forget

Whenever you remember times gone by
Remember how we held our heads so high
When all this world was there for us
And we believe that we could touch the sky
Whenever you remember, I'll be there
Remember how we reached that dream together
Whenever you remember, yeah ooh

We claimed the brightest star
And we, we came so far
And know that we showed them all
And no they won't forget, yeah

Whenever you remember times gone by
Remember how we held our heads so high
When all this world was there for us
And we believe that we could touch the sky
Whenever you remember, I'll be there
Remember how we reached that dream together
Whenever you remember, whenever you remember
Ooh, whenever you remember”

Years passed, dreams were lived, loves were found and strengthened.

Quinn became a lawyer, she handled the legal runnings for both Kurt and Blaine, gave advice for those who wanted it and eventually became the legal power she’d dreamed of. She married and settled down, having three kids, contact with Beth and the life she’d dreamed.

Marley, Tina and Unique followed Blaine to LA and signed contracts. Their careers changed to acting, Marley in movies and Unique and Tina to Broadway and they went on, finding love and acceptance.

Sam became a voiceover actor, voicing cartoons and movies. He stayed single until he met a country singer friend of Blaine’s while Kurt was fitting him for a tux. She’d been there to get fitted for a dress and blew him away. It would take Kurt two months to cave and own up to Blaine’s meddling, changing their fitting times to set them up.

Artie became a film director, directing most of the New Directions; Blaine in two films, Rachel in one and Marley in a TV series. His films gained Oscars and many other awards and he had the distinction of, in their words, gaining Blaine his first Oscar. Through medical breakthroughs and assistance Artie left his wheelchair behind at age 32.

Mike became a dancer, becoming Blaine’s tour dancer as well as Marley’s. He was well-lauded and respected from Hollywood to Broadway alike.

Finn became a teacher, inspiring young minds and teaching a few of the New Direction’s kids. He married a loving, caring girl in Ohio and had two kids.

Rachel married Cooper and made her home in LA making movies and doing runs in her beloved New York when she was offered, begged, as her star grew.

Cooper himself realised his dreams and landed a TV show. From there he was never out of work and followed Rachel to Broadway often.

Puck, Ryder and Jake formed a band and went on as the first act on Blaine’s tours before their star really exploded and they were everywhere.

Santana took the world by storm, deftly switching between Broadway, TV, films, singing and travelling the world sharing her passion for equal rights together with Brittany and teaching others how to look on everything with love, sweetness and innocence and kick ass while doing it. They set up a foundation with Blaine and Kurt for actors and singers who wanted to get into the business with an angle towards gay people who wouldn’t have been able to live their dreams before.

“So guys, you’re writing a book?”

“Yup, it’s called This Too Shall Pass.”

“Tell us what it’s about.”

“It’s kind of autobiographical, well mostly autobiographical. We had the idea a while ago to write a book to help others that went through the things we’ve been through and tell them that it will get better and life can change in an instant and it’s up to you to make it good, but you can and things do get better.”

“Wow. Well Blaine as we know your albums usually have a meaning in the title, what does This Too Shall Pass mean?”

“Well it’s a proverb and it’s been used many times but it means that everything, positive or negative, is temporary. We used it because when I was younger, while I was going through what I went through we used to say things would get better, what we were going through would change and we’d do what we wanted to. I found this phrase and one day while I was deep in this kind of shock and healing I wrote it on the board in our ex-school’s choir room. It’s still there actually. I wanted to show them just because things were bad, they wouldn’t always be. It’s actually also a lot like something a Roman emperor said called Marcus Aurelius.”

“He said ‘Time is a sort of river of passing events, and strong is its current; no sooner is a thing brought to sight than it is swept by and another takes its place, and this too will be swept away’. We quote him a lot in the book.”

“We do.”

“Is it hard to keep up that positivity?”

“Sometimes. Our lives are better in ways we couldn’t even name or imagine since then but obviously everyone has bad days but we have each other and our family and our fans, the people that love us and that’s all that matters.”

Kurt kneels in front of Burt’s grave and dusts the leaves off the top before he looks at the picture of his father inlaid at the top, under his name. “Hey dad. I still miss you, we both do. Blaine’s new album is out. There’s a song for you on it. You’d be amazed at everything that’s happened dad. So much has happened since you were here. I don’t think I ever really thanked you for everything. You gave me life, made me strong, kept me safe then took Blaine and protected him when he needed it. You never stopped believing in us. I love you dad.” Kurt cuts off and stands, tears rolling down his cheeks.

Warm arms circle him and pull him in tight. “He knows Kurt,” Blaine’s deep voice whispers in his ear. “He watches us every day. He’s happy up there. He’s got both his wives up there giving him hell about his diet and the time he decided that motorbike was a good idea and teasing the angels. He’s done what he needed.”

Kurt sniffles and smiles, his husband always knows what to say. “Like us, one day.”

Blaine chuckles and nods against Kurt’s shoulder.  “One day, a long time from now; us too.”

“Not yet though.” Kurt says, turning in the younger man’s arms and looking into hazel depths.

Blaine gazes at Kurt, age has given him stronger beauty and definition that it had when they were young and the tiny wrinkles Kurt curses over daily but he’s never stopped being able to take Blaine’s breath away. “I still have many more cookies to bake you and I’m sure there’s a few places I haven’t kissed you yet.” He laughs when Kurt gives him a ‘whatever’ look and kisses him deeply.

“Still many firsts on our list.” Kurt whispers when they part and Blaine nods.

“Many, many firsts still to cross off.”

Blaine sat down and smiled, his interview technique well-trained now after so many years.

“You’ve done so much, overcome so many obstacles, does it get any easier with time?”

He smiled at his eldest child before answering. “I don’t know that ‘easier’ is the word. You get used to it; learn to push through the things that hurt you. There is no cure for trauma, pain and depression. You live with it; learn how to make yourself stronger against it. I’ll always have it living inside me, just like your dad will. We used it to grow into better people from it. Without that strength we wouldn’t have any of what we have and we wouldn’t trade the ability to change lives or our family for anything.”

“What would you say to the people that hurt you and what would you say to those who are like you?” She asked, her curly black hair bouncing as she looked from the audience to Blaine and her crystalline blue eyes captured every emotion in the room.

Blaine thought for a second then looked at her. “I was given the chance to ask one of those people why a long time ago. What I said to her didn’t bring me any solace and I know nothing I could say to any of the other people would either. I don’t need anything answered any more. Maybe back then I would’ve but I doubt those people could answer me. None of it really matters. In the grand scheme of things all those people had a hand in making me the man I am as much as the people who loved me and gave more than those people could take. That’s what I’d say to the people who are and were going through the things I went through. None of it matters. Things get better and you will have a million good memories to replace the one bad with. You can use your pain to make a difference, to show the people who’d tell you that you can’t to prove you can and do, please do. In my line of business as such as your dad’s, you, your siblings and family we can do anything, get money and fame, the best roles, songs, interviews, anything but the one thing that will make all of it worth it, is that kid, that kid who comes to you and says ‘you saved me’. Your dad and I have both had people say that to us and it makes everything worth it. I could be broke tomorrow, lose my voice and have nothing but the memories and the knowledge that I’ve changed lives and I’d die happy. The ultimate dream though, what anyone will tell you who aren’t just here for the money or fame; to see someone who they saved succeed, to see that person have a number one or hit movie and know you helped. There is nothing better.”

Blaine walks into the office and watches Kurt work. His hand shakes and he walks over and takes the pencil away, massaging the fingers and palm until the muscles are loose again they look at each other meaningfully. “What are you working on?” He asks as Kurt picks up the pencil and carries on.

Kurt looks at him and Blaine sees a young boy, asking him why he wants to duet with him. He sees a young boy designing his prom outfit, uncaring how he could be hurt. He sees a boy sitting across from him, exhilarated from the first deep breath of the outside world and what it could give him, pausing to let the ‘I love you’ sink in before replying. He sees a boy, gushing over a gum wrapper ring, bush staining his cheeks. He sees a young man gasping as he is revealed, ripping off his eye patch and surprising them all. He sees a young man telling him he’ll never say goodbye and singing to him. He sees a man astonished as he serenades him and walking off to New York. He sees blue eyes above him, begging him to live, please live. He sees a man wrapping his arms around him, telling him everything would be ok. He sees a man holding his hand and watching him, wide eyes loving and patient. He sees a ring slipping onto his finger and those blue eyes filled with tears of happiness. He sees breathless joy at his first award and proud eyes in the crowd. He sees a man, face flushed, running towards him with their child in his arms so they could have another family hug. He sees cheers, tears, frustration, contentment, laughter, passion. He sees a man that is his everything.

“I’m making your suit.” Kurt says and they lean in to kiss, their lips moving over each other’s with the practiced ease of decades.

Blaine loses his voice. He dies happy.