The next few weeks all came and went far too quickly. Classes began to finish up for finals, Santana had yet another new girl in tow and my NYADA letter was due any day now. It didn't help my levels of stress any, that one letter was the beginning or the end of life as I knew it. It was however, helping keep my mind off of the whole Blaine scenario, my Dad had went to see him the next day and remained very tight lipped about what they talked about. Not about honouring his son that's for sure as I hadn't heard from him since my storm out at the party, but as he kept reiterating to me whenever I was sulking like a petulant child 'Would you want him to be with you to keep you from hurting not because he wanted to?' And the answer is no! Of course I wouldn't but at the end of the day it still hurts that the person I loved didn't love me back. My one constant in the whirlwind of senior year was yet again Dale. The man who was just the right amount of snarky, nice and funny all rolled into one, it's a shame I didn't love him how much easier would my life be? But the world doesn't work like that so I have resigned myself to be as positive as I can. Rachel believes that a positive outlook brings back positive results..... I know my outlook on her sanity was anything but positive when she told me that but what could the harm be if it raises my chances on getting into my dream school, in my dream city?

The day that letter dropped through my door I froze. I wanted to tear it open but at the same time I wanted to keep it locked away forever, never having to face reality that my life was about to change no matter how or when I wanted it to. When I did open it there was one person I knew I had to discuss it with, that would be exactly what I needed them to be in that moment and I set off to his house the opened letter sitting in my passenger seat.

******************

"You're joking right?" he stood in the door way from where he was yet to move after me blurting out my result as a greeting.

"Nope!" I didn't know what else to say.....well I did but the witty comments just didn't want to come out of my mouth at this point in time. "Can we at least go inside? I don't feel like talking in front of your whole street...." That kick started him into action and he apparently realised we were still at the front door, pulling me in to the living room and shoving me on to the couch.

"I.....you.....Are you okay?" Dales hand stroked my arm gently and the tension seemed to at least leave me for now.

"Yeah, I mean on one hand I am devastated this is the only school I want to go to....but I guess I always knew I wasn't good enough to get in..." I shrugged softly playing with an invisible piece of lint on the material beside my head.

"No! Don't do that! You have one of the most amazing voices I have ever heard! If NYADA doesn't see that then they are not the forward thinkers that I thought they were. You Kurt Hummel are the next biggest star! I have every faith in that!" his voice was warm and filled with fondness and I knew he really believed what he was saying. "What now though?" If only I knew the answer to that question!

"I don't know! Probably just stay here, work in the garage for dad! It's a good living....." Really, New York was off the table and I hadn't applied anywhere else NYADA was the only place I deemed worthy of attending and I wasn't going to go back on that statement to go elsewhere. I still had standards.

"Oh no you don't!" I don't quite know when Dale got up but he was standing in front of me looking very stern. "You are not staying in this town! You are not going to just work for your dad!"

"Well what would you have me do?" I'm a bit irritated this isn't what I expected when I decided to drive out here... I expected him to agree with me and comfort me.

"Go to New York!!" I go to interrupt but he gives me a look that suggests I don't. "Ever since I've known you it's been the big NYC....That is where you are meant to be Kurt! I'm still talking....So NYADA were too blind to let you in? Find a new dream! Or better yet get a part time job and practice then pick yourself up and apply again if that's all you can see yourself doing! If not I have lots of contacts out there....I could put out feelers for somewhere to work. Just don't settle! EVER! You are far too talented to work in a tyre shop in LIMA- no offence to your dad!"

"You would really do that? Help me find a job?" the tears I was yet to shed were starting to attack my body and I knew I couldn't stop them for long. "Cause no offence but I don't want to work in a kitchen or in a recording studio..."

"None taken! I have a few people I know in wardrobe departments and small fashion magazines....If they are up to your standards? I can make a call or two..." I tackled him to the floor then as my tears began to fall.

"That would be great....!" Then the sobs rack my body as it all sinks in. "NYADA didn't want me..."

"And one day they will realise how stupid their decision was!" he pulled me in tight and let me lie there on top of him on the floor until I had no tears left.

************************************************

"Okay losers! Huddle up!" Santana screamed across the choir room.

"God Santana need you be so loud?"

"Bite me Berry!" she sneered back as I took my spot beside her in the circle.

"I don't swing that way and even if I did your vulgar language would get you nowhere!"

"CUT! No bitch fights today guys this is a happy time!" I yelp to draw everyone's attention in to Finn. As captain he was in charge of this final pep talk.

I wish I could say I remember what he said; it was probably something very cheesy about being a family or the underdogs that proved they could fight. I'm not saying that's not true I'm just saying I wouldn't have said it like that and besides I was too busy having an internal monologue. We were huddled together for a pre-show chat for the last time, it was graduation day and like the rest of the year it had come too fast for anyone's liking. Gone were the days that we wished to get out of school and leave forever as it was now here and we realised it meant no more McKinley, no more glee club, no more friends everyday like we were now and that was daunting. The last few months had been a revelation to us all, we won Nationals, and I found a job (well technically a paid apprenticeship at a theatre as a costume designer!) Dale had definitely come through on that one! Santana and I had found an old empty apartment out in Bushwick that we were going to turn into something chic. Well I was and had been out to every vintage fair and flea market to find ideas and pieces to add to our collection. Finn had decided to go to Europe for a year before deciding what to do, Santana was determined to make ends meet at a few clubs and bars she had contacted and nobody had seen or heard from Blaine. We knew he was safe, drunk a lot too by the sounds of things from the odd story Cooper told whenever he phoned but that was it.

It was all of this running through my head that made me forget all of Finns speech, the opening and closing songs we sung and most importantly walking over that stage to collect my diploma. Kurt Hummel was a graduate, Burt Hummel bawled his eyes out, Dale wasn't much better. I wonder if everyone else feels like that afterwards or if it is just me being dramatic? I can't even remember all that much of the party either but I know for a fact my dad took endless pictures to embarrass me with at a later date. If I'm being honest the month after was a bit of a whirl wind as well preparing to leave and spending as much time with friends as I could before we all spanned the globe. Before I knew it the day before leaving had arrived and we were having a family meal before I left the next day. It was meant to be a time to remember funny stories and discuss anything we thought about the upcoming weeks but in reality it was the four of us in silence, not quite knowing what to say. This, let me tell you was a first for the Hummel-Hudson household.

"Okay will somebody say something? I feel like we are attending a funeral!" always Finn with the subtle words, I think I was going to miss that the most.

"Finn don't talk with your mouth full!" carol slapped his shoulder while shaking her head. That was the least likely thing I would miss.

"MOM! I'm not a child!"

"Well stop eating like one!" I giggle from across the table as he tries to kick me and hits my dad instead making him choke slightly on his beer. Everyone then erupted in a fit of giggles not stopping for a good ten minutes as this was typical behaviour in our house and come tomorrow it wouldn't be our house any more. That was a sobering thought, one that clearly hit us all as the silence set in and only scraping of cutlery against plates could be heard.

"Okay!" my dad slaps his hand on the table to make a dramatic statement. "No pity party is happening here! So Kurt stop pouting, Finn for the love of all that is holy please take a breath in between bites and Carole you need to be more discreet with the water works...."

"Well it is sad honey, my two boys are leaving the nest and I'm going to have to spend all my time with you...." Carole sniffs picking up her napkin to dab at her eyes.

"Don't sound too enthusiastic there love...." My dad tilted his head to look at her and a small 'oh' escaped her lips when she realised what she had said. "Relax I know what you mean! But think of it this way....No more endless grocery shopping to feed Thing 1...and no wrestling for hot water with thing 2... think of all that time we will have to take up a class or just chill out? I think that is a good deal for eighteen years of hard work!"

"I don't eat that much!" Finn moaned around a dinner roll proving that point null and void.

"Why am I thing 2? Scratch that why am I a Suess character?" I stare at my father and he just winks at me.

"It was the only character I knew that you would know. I can't name any of those actors you say you like-"

"Which is a crime in itself! They are the future superstars of today!"

"More like they are hot and you would mac on with all of them..." Finn mumbled finding extra food in a serving dish.

"Finn!!" I screech feeling my face turning bright red. Dad just rolled his eyes at Carole who smiled lovingly at us all. "I'm going to my room! Don't follow me if you want to leave with your legs attached to your body Finn Hudson!" the dramatic storm out was quite a feat with my current food baby but as I stormed out my hair I missed the mumbles of 'I'll miss this' and 'last diva storm out' being spoken in the kitchen.

********************

I did go back down stairs eventually, with the lure of watching movies as a family and to say a very teary see you soon to Dale when he appeared. The night - like the rest of my senior year had drawn in far too quickly and before I knew it me and Dad were standing in the airport to say goodbye after checking in my eight cases (Only the most important parts of my wardrobe and possessions) the rest was shipped out days ago meaning we would arrive at the same time. I knew Santana was waiting for me through the security gates to start our journey and all that was left was to say goodbye to the best dad ever (In my opinion at least).

"Okay Kiddo this is it." I know why he said it but we both still just stood blankly staring at each other as the swarm of people continued around us.

"Dad I-"

"No you listen here! We are not doing this sad soppy goodbye!!"

"But-"

"But nothing! You are destined for greatness! You hear me? So you go out there and be the best of whatever you decide to be...If NYADA refuses to see how brilliant you are again.... Mope for a few days and then get back up and try again! You have so much potential, I've seen it since you were little and nurtured it the best I can but now it's your turn to do this for yourself.....it's time to start your own life! Maybe meet someone new? You deserve the best you know? And I could not be more proud of you!" he gave me a big Burt Hummel bear hug and I staved off the tears for now. "Oh and one more thing don't give up, ever. I'm not letting you back in the house!"

"God dad! What happened to the supportive speeches of it will always be my home?" I bark out a rough laugh through my over emotional state.

"It will be....just not long term! You were always meant for more than Lima, Ohio. You just didn't believe it. I love you kiddo..." he pulled me in for another hug.

"Love you to the moon dad" I squeeze him tighter

"And back!" he pushed me out to arm's length and picked up my carry on handing it to me. "Now go and don't look back! Bye" all I could do was wave as he pushed me in the right direction and walked through allowing one more quick glance at my dad's forced smile before catching up with Santana.

*****************

Hours later when all the boxes were brought in we slumped against a wall together, leaning our heads on to one another. The apartment was now cluttered with all our possessions and it was hard to decide where to start with this whole mess.....

"Home sweet home peachy!" Santana's hand squeezed into my own as we took it all in, faint sounds from surrounding apartments echoed through the bare walls and an inspired idea hit me. I immediately got up and rummaged through my carry on until I found it and headed over to the small wall next to the kitchen entrance. "What are you doing?" she asked but I just continued to fiddle with the existing wall hook before latching the frame on to it. When I stepped back to admire it Santana was there too. Inside a simple black frame were pictures from the scavenger hunt tasks and a large one of the whole group at the end, it seemed like a lifetime ago before all the drama had kicked in but here we were stronger than ever and ready to face the road ahead.

"Now it's perfect!" I smiled happily as we walked in to start the chaos of unpacking and arranging everything. At least our picture was hanging in its place a sign that all would be right.