Blaine rested his gun on the edge of the roof he was standing on, using it to keep his aim steady because he knew he was only going to get one chance at this shot. If he missed a plate in a competition, it wouldn't be the end of the world. He'd maybe curse himself once for missing that kind of shot, but If he missed this shot, everything was lost to him. Everything had to be just right.

So Blaine held his breath, checked his aim once more, and made the shot, firing it over the crowd where it cut the rope around Kurt's neck perfectly, as if it was butter and the bullet was a knife. He watched as Kurt fell to the ground and stayed still for a few agonizing seconds before squirming against the cuffs holding his arms back and gasping for breath like a fish on land. Blaine breathed again too in that moment.

It was also in that moment that Noah and his boys circled round on their horses, shooting into the air, calls being made at lawmen that Blaine couldn't make out. Between what Kurt had said, and the arrival of Noah and his boys, the crowd became quickly incited, yelling and moving in on the lawmen who looked absolutely confused. Blaine didn't focus on any of that though, all he cared about was getting to Kurt in the ensuing chaos. He rushed down the stairs and pushed his way through the mess of crowd, trying to get to the gallows.

He could see there were others trying to get to Kurt and he drew his revolver, preparing to fight if he had to as he ran up the stairs leading to Kurt. As he got to the top of the stage, he came face to face with Sebastian who had a gun pulled out and readied at Kurt, though he hadn't taken a shot. Sebastian's arm was shaking, and when he saw Blaine approach, he turned the gun from Kurt to Blaine, "This is all your doing!"

Blaine shook his head, still moving forward, but much more slowly. Behind him an older man rushed to Kurt, kneeling and trying to get the rope off of him. Blaine kept Sebastian's focus though, keeping their eyes locked, "No..."

Sebastian snarled and threw the gun to the ground then, walking past Blaine with a shove to the shoulder and into the waiting crowd, who gleefully grabbed him to tie him up along with his boys. Blaine blinked a few times in confusion, wondering what he had missed and trying to determine if he had done or said something more to motivate Sebastian to give up, but finding nothing, he turned towards Kurt.

Any lawmen who might have also been on the stage were now fighting against or within the fray, and Blaine relaxed because the man attending to Kurt was doing so with kindness. Kurt murmured, "dad..." looking up at the man, and Blaine realized this was going to be his first encounter with the man who raised Kurt. He joined the father and son and knelt down to check on Kurt's welfare, drawing a curious glance from Kurt's father.

"Blaine...." Kurt whispered hoarsely as he spotted him and smiled softly, effectively turning Blaine's heart into mush, and making him wish Kurt's dad wasn't there so he could just grab Kurt and hold him tightly. Kurt's neck was red with a rope burn that circled it, and his face was swollen and bruised, streaks of dried blood on his face. He never looked so good to Blaine though, because despite all the blood and bruising, he was breathing.

"Hey...." Blaine had hoped something more eloquent would come out of his mouth in that moment but found himself at a loss for words, just grinning stupidly at the boy he loved.

Kurt either noticed his dads confusion, or at least suspected it because he introduced them next, "Dad, this is Blaine. He has this habit of saving my life and I'd wager I'm still breathing because of him right now..."

Kurt's father looked over Blaine suspiciously and then nodded, "Nice to meet you..."

Blaine found himself laughing, taking a moment to glance at the disorder below where the crowd and Noah's boys seemed to have taken advantage of the upset to overwhelm the lawmen who were now mostly in their own cuffs or on the ground. He looked back then to Kurt and his father, "Good to meet you too, especially given the circumstances."

Kurt's father and Blaine helped Kurt to his feet. The three of them surveyed the scene below, Kurt sandwiched between the men who were both ready to sweep him away at a moments notice. Blaine's hand around his waist and Burt's around his shoulders.

"Wow...." Kurt said after a moment, when it was clear the citizens had overpowered the Karofsky's and Smythe's.

Blaine and Burt just nodded in agreement to Kurt's awe. There were cheers going up through the people below and lawmen being tied up to posts until it was decided what would happen to them. Two groups had marched off to storm the Smythe and Karofsky manors, leaving the three men on the gallows ignored.

After letting the scene sink in, Kurt looked over at Blaine, "Is it weird that I just want to go and wash up with all this going on?"

Blaine grinned towards Kurt and shook his head, "No... Let's clean up and get ourselves sorted out. I think Lima can figure this out without us..."

Kurt finished wiping off Blaine's face, getting the last of the blood and dirt off it. He had already cleaned himself off, refusing to look in a mirror since he knew Sebastian's beating on him had left his face swollen and puffy, not unlike the side of Blaine's face he was cleaning off. They made quite the pair. Kurt made a mental note to check with Mike to see what could be done about lost teeth since Blaine had lost two molars from his attack.

"I don't think your dad knows what to say or do with me..." Blaine spoke and Kurt immediately put a finger to his lips to silence him.

"He's just a little worked up. He just had to watch me get walked to my death, strung up, and then saved at the very possible last moment. Really now.. You couldn't have been a minute sooner and saved a little bit of the drama?" Kurt joked with a little grin that faded into a lusty gaze when Blaine kissed the finger pressed to his mouth.

Blaine wrapped his arms around Kurt then, resting his head on Kurt's shoulder with his face nestled into the crook of his neck. Kurt hummed, almost a purring sound, with the blissfully calming embrace.

"I thought I was going to lose you. I had to make sure my shot was perfect." Blaine whispered against Kurt's skin, his breath hot and humid on Kurt's neck.

Kurt reached up and drew his hand into Blaine's curls, weaving his fingers into them directionlessly, "I thought I had already lost you. I was alright with death."

They were both quiet for a long time after that until Burt came into the doorway, looking both hesitantly and suspiciously at the pair. "We've got a supper ready..."

Kurt nodded to his father, "We'll be down in a moment dad. Thanks."

His dad left his room then. His family had taken over the saloon below for the time being. Outside was chaos as the citizens of Lima celebrated and rioted all at once. Kurt had purposely ignored it, just happy to be alive and appreciating his love, family, and friends all the more given his near brush with death.

Blaine pulled himself up and stood, offering Kurt a hand which Kurt took quickly, pulling himself up and then keeping his hand with Blaine's, entangling their fingers together as they went down the stairs and into the kitchen, where a table had been set up with food in the centre and settings made. Kurt knew his family had no doubt noticed their joined hands, but to their credit, said nothing.

Once they got to the table, they had to separate and Blaine pulled the chair out for Kurt, who smiled sweetly and sat, enjoying the act of chivalry.

"Why don't you ever do that for me?" Rachel blurted out then, ending the silence, as she looked at Finn who was obviously taken off guard by the question and began sputtering in an attempt to respond.

The rest of the table laughed and the awkwardness was ended as they all ate and had varying conversations. Burt wanted to know if Blaine had any ranching experience, Rachel told Kurt all about the wedding plans, Blaine asked Carole about the recipe she had used, Finn asked Kurt about mending some clothing. It was all very loose and carefree until Carole asked,

"So what are your plans now boys?" She queried, looking intently at Kurt and Blaine. Everyone else's eyes followed and Kurt swallowed the bite of food in his mouth, looking over at Blaine who was already looking back at him with a begging look of 'save me' in his eyes.

"Well... Our original plan was to come visit you guys on the ranch once the competition was over and then make our way towards the east... New York, Boston, anywhere else but here."

Burt and Carole looked at one another, sharing a silent thought, and Rachel and Finn did the same. Then the eyes were back on him.

Blaine spoke up, "I asked Kurt to spend his life with me."

Kurt watched as his dad swallowed, and Carole had to elbow him in the side to get him to respond. "And Kurt... You..."

"Accepted." Kurt finished off for him, the drawing out of this conversation wearing on his patience. "I love him. I'm happy with him."

Burt nodded slowly and Kurt felt Blaine's hand on his thigh, a small squeeze given in thanks. Burt smiled then, it was slow to come over his face but it was genuine, "I'm happy for you then son. I was always worried you'd have to be lonely your whole life because of the way god made you... But I can see he made someone else to give you the love you deserve."

Kurt relaxed, not even realizing how tense he had been until then, "Thank you dad." Kurt looked to Blaine who had a goofy grin on his face, which turned flat the instant Burt added on one more statement. "But if you ever do anything to hurt my boy Blaine, I will hunt you down."

Kurt chuckled gently at Blaine's change in expression and his dad's unnecessary threat. Life was alright in that instant. No, life was perfect.

It was a week later and everyone was collected outside of the saloon. Burt had a wagon hitched up to two of his horses filled with items that Kurt was going to keep stored at the family ranch until he sent for them. Minnie and Kurt's new stallion, Kikife, were tied nearby.. The stallion was a gift from his family, and absolutely huge and black like coal. Minnie seemed small compared to him and Blaine had insisted on giving him a powerful name, explaining that Kikife was the word used to describe tornadoes, which apparently were quite destructive, though Kurt had never seen one or their aftermath.

Despite his size, Kikife was gentle and Minnie seemed to tolerate him well enough, though clearly held the attitude that she was still the alpha horse around. Both of their horses were saddled and had full saddlebags and bound bedrolls tied down on them, ready for departure.

The town was much calmer than it had been. Any competitors had long since rode out, new appointments had been made for sheriff and lawmen, and the Karofsky's, Smythe's, and those loyal to them had mostly left town. Ownership of shops had been given back to the people of Lima, and the atmosphere was much more happy and communal.

Kurt had healed up well enough for Mike to give him his blessing for heading out, and he and Blaine were a lot less swollen up, almost looking quite normal again. He glanced over at Blaine who was checking the shoes on Minnie to ensure they were good. Kurt's family had taken a trip to the stores in town to get what they needed for back at the ranch, giving Blaine and Kurt the first break from them in the week since he had nearly been hung.

Blaine caught his eye and smiled over, and that was all it took for Kurt to realize that he needed Blaine, now. He wasn't going to wait until they were camped out somewhere. He returned Blaine's smile with a stare, and a simple point to inside the saloon. Without any other indications, Kurt walked into the saloon, through the kitchen, and up to the room he was about to leave behind forever, stripped down to nothing and empty save for the chests and cot that stayed with it.

A moment later Blaine came through the door, looking somewhat confused, at least until Kurt sprang on him, laying desperate kisses to his lips and pushing him toward the bed. Blaine understood then and kicked the door shut with his foot before letting himself be led backwards to the bed where they haphazardly stripped down, leaving a trail of clothing alongside the bed, all between numbing their lips with frantic kisses.

Kurt laid back and Blaine shadowed over him, moving his kisses down from his mouth to his neck while Kurt moaned along Blaine's hand, cupped by his cheek. He took one of Blaine's fingers into his mouth and sucked it softly, rolling his tongue up and down the digit suggestively. The action made Blaine lift his head and release a shaky breath against Kurt's skin.

Kurt reached down then to grab around the base of Blaine's already hard cock, rubbing his thumb gently against the place where his testicles met his shaft, making Blaine release a low, whining moan, "Kurt...."

"Shh babe. Not too loud or they might find us...." Kurt said into Blaine's ear, half whispering as he pushed back on Blaine who let himself be led by the touch. In a moment, it was Kurt who was atop Blaine, working his tongue down around Blaine's nipples one by one while his hand gently stroked Blaine's cock up and down.

Kurt was enjoying Blaine becoming absolutely undone under him. Blaine had fists gripping into the mattress and his head was rolling back as he made a series of sultry, pleasured noises. He rolled his tongue down from Blaine's nipples, tracing the line from his stomach to his crotch while Blaine arched his back upwards, hips rolling forward, against Kurt in response.

Blaine kept his teeth pressed together to avoid calling out after Kurt chastised him for speaking already, but when Kurt pressed his lips over Blaine's cock, that ended. Blaine called out Kurt's name several times in ragged cries and Kurt had to pull his head back to allow Blaine to get control back over himself.

"Damn it... you're torturing me..." Blaine said, looking down at Kurt through half-lidded, impassioned amber eyes.

Kurt smiled up at him coyly, "I think you're enjoying it too much for it to be torture..." He bobbed his head back down over the cock then, causing Blaine to cry out again and buck his hips up into Kurt's mouth who was able to anticipate and brace himself for the movement.

While Kurt's mouth worked on Blaine's cock, he moved his hands down, one to rub against Blaine's dark puckered hole and the other one to tease his own.

Blaine whimpered softly, "Please Kurt... I'm not going to last...." and Kurt could feel the tension building in his cock as he said it. He lifted his head off Blaine's cock with a small smack and climbed back up Blaine where they renewed kissing each other.

Blaine's hands followed where Kurt's were and soon there were several of Blaine's fingers teasing along Kurt's hole, making him shiver as he realized his own need. He had come prepared though and murmured, "My vest pocket..." in between kisses, though at this point was ready to dry thrust himself back on those fingers.

Thankfully Blaine understood and let one of his arms fall to the side of the bed and dig through the clothing searching for the bottle of lube. When his arm came up with it in hand, Kurt couldn't help but whimper in anticipation, rubbing his hole up against Blaine's hand, "Please..."

Blaine coated a finger in lube and reached back to rub the rim for a second before Kurt ended that by backing onto the finger, letting it force its way up into him and filling him. Blaine went wide eyed and his cock twinged with the action, watching as Kurt moaned and began working himself up and down on the finger.

"God Kurt...."

Kurt looked down at Blaine lustfully and murmured, "More."

Blaine looked at him with surprise, but reached back to dribble lube over Kurt's hole, sliding in another finger when there was enough wetness to handle it it. Kurt continued thrusting himself back on the fingers and when Blaine crooked the fingers inside him and hit his prostate, Kurt let out a long cry of pleasure.

Blaine shuddered, watching the angelic boy on him in rapture. Kurt pushed himself up so he was straddled over Blaine, still fucking back on his fingers. Blaine added a third finger then and watched as Kurt's cock pulsed with the need for release.

"Please Blaine... Just want you...."

Blaine nodded, dribbling some lube down over his own cock and then tossing the bottle to the floor as he stroked the lube up and down his shaft. It took a lot of focus he didn't have to get himself ready because his eyes and ears were all on Kurt, who was the absolute pinnacle of sexiness in that moment.

It was Kurt then who held Blaine's hand down so his fingers were withdrawn, and Blaine watched in awe as Kurt positioned himself over Blaine's cock and slowly moved himself onto it, letting his hole swallow up the cock under him bit by bit. Blaine could have come from the picture alone.

Kurt pressed his hands onto either side of Blaine's hips, so Blaine couldn't thrust up. Kurt was making sure he was in control here. He worked himself up and down Blaine's cock, slowly at first and then with a faster rhythm. Blaine returned to gripping the mattress and whimpering, which led quickly into crying out, "Going to... going... Kurt!"

Kurt could feel Blaine stiffen under him and felt the cock in his ass tighten and ejaculate hot, sticky come. Kurt allowed himself to come then too, having been holding it back to make sure he got Blaine off, and let his come rain down over Blaine and himself while he continued moving up and down on Blaine until the cock was limp inside him.

A final gasp and Kurt pulled himself off, wincing at the loss within him, and then flopped down beside Blaine on his back. Both boys were breathing heavily and covered in sweat and come. Neither one cared in that instant.

Eventually Blaine murmured, "Told you I'd need to know your name so I could call it out...." and Kurt gave him a playful swat to the arm and a laboured chuckle in response.

They heard their names being called outside then so they quickly cleaned themselves up and redressed themselves, Blaine noting to Kurt that he might want to avoid walking more than he needed to with the limp he had going on which got another swat of retaliation.

When they went outside, Kurt explained that they had been in his room to ensure that they had gotten everything out. Santana, who had taken over ownership of the bar with Brittany, raised a suspicious eyebrow and spoke, "So you mean I need to clean boy juice off the walls then? Thanks a lot."

Burt and Finn both went white and started sputtering while Kurt hid his face in his hands and groaned, "Santana...."

She laughed and came over to give him a parting hug, "You make sure you send some letters now and then. Just because I'm boring ol' Lima stock now doesn't mean you get to forget about me."

Kurt returned the hug, "Never."

And so began a line up of hugs and promises to write and visit again one day. Gifts were presented, including a questionable one from Brittany - a garter belt.

"It also makes a nice headband!" She had noted to Kurt.

"Ah... I'll keep that in mind. Thanks."

Eventually Kurt and his father embraced and both shed a few tears, "You make sure if you're going to be out there, that you're happy. Don't ever let yourself be unhappy again son."

Kurt obediently nodded and rubbed the tears from his eyes as they pulled apart, "Love you dad."

"Love you too son."

They had been on the road for about three hours and the sun was coming down around them when Blaine suggested they make camp. They shared in the camp set up and were soon sitting in front of a fire, eating biscuits that Carole had packed for them.

"Blaine...?"

"Yes?"

"I was thinking...."

Blaine smiled over, "Well let's hear it then."

"Instead of going straight east, could we just travel for a bit? No one is waiting for us there, and I haven't ever been out of Lima." Kurt looked over to Blaine as he spoke.

Blaine simply nodded over, smiling sweetly, "I will follow you wherever you want to go. My home is with you."

Kurt returned the smile, "Then I guess we're both home."

Just as a parting note, I want to just explain that I really like David Karofsky in canon. I'm not a Kurtofsky shipper by any stretch (Klaine all the way!), but I do really like his storyline of coming to terms with his homosexuality and being able to befriend Kurt. David is definitely not canon in this story, and while I hesitated to use him as the role of abuser, he was the best fit. Also, this ending leaves it open for me to do some one-shots based on the story if I feel so inclined. ;)