The tipis were coming down in rapid succession. Kurt was standing back by their already felled tipi watching the amazing efficiency and speed of what was left of the tribe as they packed up and prepared to move to their winter site.

The boys had stayed on with the tribe until those that were ill either passed on or got better. Unfortunately, it was more the former than the latter, but in true Cheyenne spirit, the tribe endured and continued on with its plans to relocate before the winter and leave behind this site - probably for good. There was a lot of talk about finding a different summer camp site given the bad spirits apparently cursing this one. It was all superstition in Kurt's mind, but he could appreciate not wanting to come back to a place that had seen so much death in such a short time.

Originally, they had decided to leave not long after being reunited. That idea lasted until a few days later when Bear Mother interrupted their morning love making by announcing that Ominitago was with foal.

Once Kurt and Blaine had yelled her out of their tipi, gotten dressed, and Kurt had brought the level of blush in his cheeks down to a less obnoxious hue of red, they went to check to see if what Bear Mother had announced was true. It was. Without having done any checking of her own, Bear Mother somehow knew Ominitago was pregnant, while Blaine had to feel around Ominitago to confirm it.

"Huh... well she was riding a lot slower than normal..."

Kurt had to roll his eyes at that. Mares gestated for around eleven months so it meant that, at the least, she had been pregnant since before Kurt had been gone, and Blaine had not noticed.

It took one of the Cheyenne men who specialized in horse training and breeding to confirm how long she had been pregnant for.

"You're joking right?" Blaine stammered when the man, aptly name Runs on Hooves, told them that Ominitago only had three more months left to her pregnancy.

Runs on Hooves shook his head and laughed at Blaine's response, "No. You will have a fall foal. Very lucky."

Blaine rolled his eyes at that and turned to Kurt, "Lucky... right. Your horse knocked up my horse."

Kurt lifted his hands up, palms out defensively, "Hey now! You can't blame me for what Kikife does... besides, knowing Ominitago, she wouldn't let him near her unless she was okay with it. She has a strong will."

Blaine grumbled at that while Kurt chuckled. They decided to stay on until the foal was birthed because Kurt hadn't paid attention during his time on the ranch when it came to horse breeding, and Blaine just had never had the experience. It was safer to stay with people who knew what they were doing. Blaine and Kurt both continued to help Bear Mother during this time, tending to the ill and restocking her herbs and poultices.

It had helped that, aside from Bear Mother's one intrusion, they were given privacy to conduct themselves as they wanted to in their tipi - and they conducted themselves, as they wanted to, almost daily.

On one afternoon, Kurt had been lazily tracing his finger in circles on Blaine's chest, cutting through the short but dense patch of chest hair and wondering to himself how it was that he found himself so attracted to chest hair when Blaine had posed the question.

"Why do you keep that old flask?"

Kurt stopped his finger and looked back to where Blaine was looking at the flask he had sent to Kurt when they were separated. "I thought you might want to send it to your father."

Blaine shook his head and huffed, as if the suggestion was absolutely incredulous.

"And why not?" Kurt prompted, sitting himself up and pulling the fur blanket over his naked bottom half.

Blaine reached out with both arms to pull Kurt back to him, chest to chest. "No point."

Kurt moved a hand up to Blaine's face and gently stroked his cheek, staring into those honey eyes, "You don't want to reconnect with your dad at all?"

Blaine kept his eyes locked with Kurt's, though he leaned into the touch of Kurt's fingers against his face, "No. I bought that flask for him the day I was beat up, so it was on me when I was sent away. When he cut me out... like that... I knew he didn't want me."

Kurt stilled slightly, looking into Blaine's eyes for signs of sadness, but instead only finding resignation. He couldn't imagine his father not wanting him and tossing him out like that, into the wild with no attempt to find him. "But... do you want him?"

Blaine pressed his lips together, taking a moment to form his answer before responding. "I did.. when I came here as a boy. I wanted my dad so badly. I missed him and the life I had... but my mother and Bear Mother showed me love I had never known when I lived with him. They gave me affection I never knew I needed, and instead of being critical at me all the time, like he was, they gave me kind words. It didn't take long to realize that he was a father in name only." He paused for a moment and then continued, "Kurt... I don't need him, or want him. I have all the love I need."

Kurt smiled at that, leaning down to press a kiss to Blaine's lips gently, and finding it returned hungrily as Blaine smashed his lips back, engaging Kurt in a lengthy kissing session. They buried the flask later that day, deep into the earth. Blaine mockingly called it the funeral of his drinking days, and Kurt ensured that the burial site would be hard to find by carefully replanting the growth they had dug up.

When Ominitago was ready to birth, everyone knew. She whinnied noisy and Kikife was panicked, running from one side of the pen to the other and protectively challenging any other horse who came near Ominitago. Kurt opted to stay away for the birth, recalling the mess from when the animals on his dad's ranch gave birth. Blaine however was curious and watched the whole process with awe.

The little female foal looked like an appaloosa, but with larger black spots. Kurt was called to come see the newborn a little too early, when Ominitago was eating the placenta. The sight made Kurt have to leave just as quickly as he came in order to avoid puking. He really didn't know how he had survived growing up on a ranch given that the birth of cows and horses was commonplace there.

"How are we going to travel with a foal?" Kurt asked when he had returned, offering Ominitago a carrot as the filly suckled.

Blaine shrugged up his shoulders from where he was crouched, watching the filly drink with what Kurt could only place as wonderment. "We're not exactly good at planning things... but we seem to be able to do alright for ourselves regardless."

Kurt patted Ominitago's nose when she nudged it to him appreciatively after munching the carrot. Throughout everything, Kikife had stood guard, in a very awkward but noble gesture towards Ominitago. Sometimes Kurt's stallion reminded him of his step-brother - sweet and well meaning, but somewhat oafish.

"Well we can't stay here. The tribe is going soon. We need to make some kind of plan for the winter."

So they had talked... and talked... and talked. Blaine wanted to stay with the tribe, but Kurt was ready to move on. Kurt wanted to return to the city, but Blaine didn't know what they would do with their horses there, or what he would do. Back and forth they went, and despite the disagreement on what to do, Kurt was happy they were having the dialogue that months ago wouldn't have even happened.

When Kurt woke up with a shriek one night and sat right up, Blaine was there to soothe him back down and hold him closely.

"That's the first time you've done that since you've come back..." Blaine whispered to Kurt, holding him tightly against his side.

Kurt nodded, tucking his head against that furry chest he liked so much. "I've been better... but it still happens sometimes... I can usually tell myself that my dreams are just that when I'm in them... but occasionally it's hard to remind my subconscious of that when they get too intense."

Blaine ran his hand over Kurt's hair repeatedly, stopping only to press a kiss to the top of his head before continuing to stroke his head. "I'll always be here to keep you safe."

Kurt chuckled and tipped his head up, giving Blaine a peck on the chin. "My dashing prince."

Blaine scrunched his face up in disdain over the title, causing Kurt to chuckle once again.

Ultimately they had decided to spend the winter with Kurt's family near Lima. It would be a safe place for the foal to stay until it was done nursing and Kurt and Blaine could stay in one of the cabins that the seasonal ranchhands lived in during the rustling season, which would be empty in the winter. Once winter was done though, their plans were still up in the air. Kurt was happy he would get to spend some time with his family though, and integrate Blaine into the family while doing so.

So now they were packed up, Blaine helping the tribe bring down the tipis of families that had perished from cholera which would be distributed to the survivors as their needs warranted, while Kurt cooked up a stew from the excess perishable food they couldn't pack for their trip. Despite being a random mix of vegetables and different meats, it actually smelled and tasted wonderful.

Their three horses were tied up nearby, as the pen had been taken down and the tribes horses being prepared for the trip south. Every now and then Kurt would cast a glance to where Ominitago, Kikife, and Katsee were resting. Blaine had named the filly Little Girl, Katsee, apparently drawing on a creative blank compared to when he had named Ominitago and Kikife. Kurt wondered, as he watched them, if this was as close as they would get to having a family of their own. He caught himself in this thought with a sharp inhale. He had never really thought of having kids before. Being gay, it wasn't even something he had bothered to consider before since it simply wasn't possible, much less acceptable in the world they lived in. If they were ever discovered, they risked death or, or at the least, alienation and humiliation of some kind. It certainly wasn't a life that they could bring a child into, not without having to lie continuously to the child about the nature of their relationship.

Somehow though, being with Blaine and knowing that their future would be spent together, prompted Kurt to have thoughts like that. When he had watched Blaine dance and play with some of the tribe children earlier that week, he couldn't help but pretend those children were their own and let his heart fill with warmth from the thought of it. He put the thought away though, back in the recesses of his mind, since he knew all he could hope for was being a favourite uncle to Finn and Rachel's kids. However, knowing that he was with someone who made him think things like that brought a smile to his face.

"Why are you grinning at a tree...?" Came Blaine's voice to his right side suddenly, and Kurt snapped out of his dream world and looked back to man walking towards him. Blaine's clothes were clinging to him, as he had obviously worked hard that afternoon and was now covered in his own sweat.

"I was... My mind was elsewhere." Kurt replied, thinking to himself that he would love to have a little girl with Blaine's curly hair, which currently was slicked into tight curls from the moisture running through it. Blaine's brow furrowed in question and Kurt shook his head, turning his attention back to stirring the stew, a small grin on his face.

"Well... everyone is packed up anyhow. They've started leaving too. Bear Mother wanted to say goodbye to you though before we left." Blaine noted, sitting himself down cross legged by the fire and pulling off his shirt and tossing it to the side to expose his glistening, naked torso. Kurt stole a glance and hummed appreciatively, causing Blaine to grin knowingly.

"You're a tease." Kurt murmured, sipping a bit of the stew broth he had scooped from the pot.

Blaine winked back to him and reached to pour himself a mug of coffee from another pot kept by the fire.

"I'm going to miss her you know." Kurt said, putting down the ladle and licking his lips in appreciation of the flavour. "She scared me at first, but now it's like she's family I didn't know I had."

"Well that's because she is." Blaine responded, his nose wrinkling up as he looked back to Kurt. The way he said it made it seem like it was obvious. "You're my family, and she's mine too... so you're both related."

Kurt cocked a solitary eyebrow as he listened to Blaine's explanation. Sometimes his man was simple minded... so simple that he made sense. If they were a heterosexual couple, Bear Mother would be related by marriage.

Kurt moved himself to sit by Blaine while the stew finished up, catching himself before putting a hand on Blaine's hand. It was one thing to display intimacy in the tipi, it was another entirely to do it outside where they were. They had to keep up the charade of being business partners, even though Kurt suspected that at the least, Pale Crow knew the truth.

Blaine smiled warmly towards Kurt and whispered, "Naehame..."

Kurt beamed back and whispered his response. "Yes... Naehame."

Saying goodbye to Bear Mother was harder than Kurt thought it would be. The first time he left he was too full of emotions surrounding Blaine that he hadn't thought about Bear Mother. This time though, he was full of them.

She had had to push him off her where he had been hugging her, and push him into Blaine's arms, declaring that they would see each other again - if not in this life, than the next, which just made Kurt whimper and Blaine strengthen his hold on Kurt's shoulders. Bear Mother had given them a full supply of herbs, poultices, and tonics, including one that she noted would "increase virility" with a wink. Kurt groaned, knowing full well that Blaine needed no help in that department, and made a mental note to hide that particular tonic.

They had traveled slowly, since Katsee was young yet and needed to suckle regularly. Taking their time, they had made detours, enjoying the wilderness that was mostly unexplored and uninhabited as they went along. Instead of the week it took going strong, they spent a month traveling back to Lima.

When they got into the ranch house, Kurt was immediately tackled in a hug by Rachel, whose baby bump sent him into a giddy state of shock. Blaine hung back and watched with amusement as Kurt was allowed to touch the bump and ask Rachel a plethora of questions about her state and when his niece or nephew was due.

Kurt and his dad were also gleefully reunited, and Burt made an awkward, but noted attempt to hug Blaine and tell him he was welcome as part of the family at the ranch.

Blaine and Finn were ultimately the ones who ended up getting along the best. Blaine congratulated Finn for knocking up Rachel, which caused Kurt and Burt's jaws to drop, and Finn responded that the process was a pleasure - receiving a smack in the arm from Rachel in return.

Carol had warmly embraced them both and was eager to have Kurt around again to help her with her wardrobe. They spent hours during the winter going through her clothing while Kurt made alterations, and even some new dresses for her.

Blaine spent his time helping Finn and Burt on the ranch, learning some new skills and keeping himself occupied and out of the women's, and Kurt's, way when they got on about babies and clothing.

So the winter turned into spring, since Kurt insisted they stay on for the birth of the baby - a boy named Christopher - for Finn's deceased father, and spring went on until summer, since Blaine decided to he wanted to stay and help with the ranch and hone his skills, and before they knew it, they were in another autumn.

Kurt cradled little Christopher against his chest and hummed happily. The baby was already sound asleep in his arms, but putting him in his crib meant that he wouldn't be in Kurt's arms, which was inconceivable to him.

Blaine was reading through one of Kurt's old books that his father had kept after Kurt left home initially, and they were seated on the sofa in front of the fireplace in the main house where they had moved in back in the spring when the ranch hands had come back. Everyone else had gone to bed already since Kurt had insisted on putting little Christopher to bed that night.

"Blaine...?"

"Hrm?" Blaine looked up over the edge of the book at Kurt.

"Are we going to stay here for another winter?"

Blaine didn't respond. He set down the book on the arm of the sofa and turned towards Kurt, finally speaking, "Are you asking me if we are or are you asking for permission for us to stay?"

Kurt felt the heat rise in his cheeks as he had been caught. He wanted to stay on, with his family in this place where it was safe for them to be together, where Blaine felt useful, and Kurt had a few other people to talk to.

"Both... I guess."

Blaine smiled and scooted himself closer to Kurt, peering down at the baby with another wide grin. "Well..." He looked up at Kurt, "I'm alright with it. I've only made one plan for my life."

"Which is?" Kurt crooked an eyebrow.

"Be with you." Blaine murmured and leaned over to press a kiss to Kurt's cheek before moving back to his spot on the sofa and picking up his book.

Kurt grinned, inwardly elated at the prospect of staying in the home. Really he had come full circle - wanting to escape home for adventure and city living, and now finding himself back at home and blissfully happy there.

"Blaine?"

Blaine didn't bother peering over the book as he replied this time. "If you want sex you have to put the baby to bed."

Kurt rolled his eyes and shook his head. "You're lucky I'm holding him or you'd get a smack to the arm."

"That's why I said it." Blaine murmured. "What was it though?"

"Let's build our own house on the ranch land here."

"By we, you clearly mean me. Alright." Blaine again didn't stop looking from the book.

Kurt just stared at Blaine for a few minutes, absently rocking Christopher in his arms. He hardly expected that to go over well, let alone so smoothly.

Kurt didn't have to speak though, since Blaine piped up once he recognized that Kurt was at a loss for words.

"We're safe here... and we have a purpose here. It makes sense."

Kurt make a small squeak of joy and leaned himself, along with the sleeping baby, into Blaine, kissing his cheek. "Thank you!"

Blaine chuckled and snapped the book shut. "You don't have to thank me... just following along with my one plan... but if you really wanted to thank me... put that baby to bed and meet me in our room."

Kurt stood up and grinned at Blaine, "Meet you there."

And I stop it there, because to do otherwise would just result in this fic dragging on and on in fluffy drabbles. I don't like it when other fics have endings that last for chapters, so I'm not going to do that. Besides, I like my angst, and without starting up another storyline in this verse, there isn't any angst left right now.

Stay tuned for my next fic - a shorter, but headcanon followup to season 4 that describes what happened to Blaine with Eli, and the aftermath of dealing with it.