Chapter Text
‘So, I’m going off to bed, you guys. See you in the morning?’ Mike stands and stretches his legs for a moment, before taking off to his tent to get some sleep.
Nick and Jeff mumble goodnight and stay by the fire a bit longer. There’s some tension between them like there hasn’t been before and Jeff doesn’t like it, but he doesn’t know how to fix it.
He stretches his injured leg out in front of him and chances a glance at his friend. Nick is staring into the fire thoughtfully.
‘Jeff?’
‘Hmm?’ He tries to calm his racing heart by taking measured, even breaths.
‘When we talked earlier and you said you really missed me?’
‘Yeah?’ His voice does falter though.
Jeff averts his eyes. He has no idea where this is leading to.
‘What exactly did you mean by that?’
‘I.. uhm.’ Don’t panic.
He really doesn’t know how to go on.
Nick looks at him expectantly, but then he realizes he’s not getting any answers tonight.
‘Nicky, it’s getting late. Let’s get some sleep, yeah?’ Jeff tries to get up, but his leg is failing him miserably.
Nick puts his arms around him. ‘Okay, come on. Let’s get you up.’ He hoists Jeff upright and if his hands linger a bit longer than necessary, Jeff is certain it’s just all in his head.
They manage to get in the tent unharmed and they make themselves comfortable and scoot close to each other, trying to stay warm.
Once Jeff’s breathing has evened out and Nick is certain he’s fast asleep he slowly trails his fingers over Jeff’s cheek. He looks at his friend and tries to makes sense of it all.
Just a few days ago, that was all they were, just friends. Now he had to spend days worrying sick about Jeff, realizing he’s been more than just a friend all along. He wonders if it’s like that for Jeff too. If maybe that was what he tried to talk to him about earlier. He’s afraid to take this leap though, he doesn’t want to mess up their relationship. He watches Jeff’s pale face in the moonlight and brushes back his hair. He scoots closer and spoons up behind him. They’ve spent the night like this before, it won’t alarm Jeff if they wake up like that. He takes another glance at his friend’s face and whispers in the silence of the night.
‘God, I’m so in love with you.’
*
Santana keeps hacking her way through the bushes trying not to hurt Quinn or Tina while doing it. They’ve been on this trail for two days, but they’ve finally found their way back to their camp. Another hour or so and they’ll be home again.
She stops for a minute and turns to her friends. ‘Take a break? I’m exhausted.’
Tina stops walking immediately and falls down on a broad tree branch that is laying on the ground. ‘God, I can’t feel my legs!’
Quinn takes out a bottle of water and passes it on to Tina after taking a large gulp herself. ‘Here, take a sip. Just a little more further, right San?’
‘Yeah, I know it’s not the best idea, but I’m going to sit for a minute anyway.’ Santana drops down next to Tina.
Quinn keeps pacing in front of them, her hands on her sides, breathing evenly. ‘So, Blaine and Kurt.’
She’s got Santana’s full attention immediately. ‘What about them?’
‘Come on, San, we all know what that is about.’ Quinn stops and shrugs. ‘Its no big deal, not to me. Right Tina?’
‘She’s got a point there San. We all realize by now, I mean, they can hardly hide it.’
Santana gives in. ‘Okay, you’re right. We have their backs, though, right? I mean, when we arrive at this new camp, we don’t know all these people, we have to be careful. I don’t want anyone to sell them out.’
Tina chuckles. ‘I think they’re so cute together.’
‘They are.’ Quinn smiles. ‘It must be hard though, to love someone while the whole world is judging you. You never know who is going to approve. You might be beaten, hurt, lose your friends.’
‘We’ve got this, ladies. We’re with them, every step of the way. I’ll just keep an extra eye on them health-wise.’ Tina takes another swig of water. ‘This fever is a nasty thing. We’ll have to make sure they stay together for the coming weeks. It will get easier after that.’
Santana takes the bottle of water from her. ‘Yeah. I wonder what it feels like, to bond with someone. I don’t know if I would want that to happen to me, really.’
‘I’ve heard it can be really tough. So I say we be there for them, whenever they need us to. To talk, to defend them, to keep them safe.’ Quinn holds out her hand. ‘Pinky swear?’
Santana rolls her eyes. ‘Really?’
Quinn shoots her a look and Santana holds up her hands. ‘Alright, okay!’
The three girls stand up and make their promise.
‘Okay, girls, let’s get this show on the road!’ Quinn hoists her backpack up again. ‘Got to get back to my baby girl today.’
‘Yeah. I wonder how Brittanny is doing.’ Santana lends Tina a hand getting up and starts walking again. ‘Let’s go!’
*
They’ve been walking for five days and they’ve already should have found the camp by now. The group is getting restless and worried, but Noah doesn’t seem phased at all. After they’ve all come back together, Jeff’s been slowing them down quite a lot, as he can’t walk as fast as the rest of them yet and Noah’s certain they’ll reach the camp anytime now.
They hear a faint bird whistle in the distance and Mike perks up at that.
‘It’s probably a scout from our camp you guys. Hopefully they’ve got some good news to bring our way.’
They pause for a moment to wait for the scout, who turns out to be David, light packed and hastening through the woods.
They exchange hugs and pats on the back as soon as he reaches them and give him a minute to catch his breath before sharing the news.
‘Everyone’s good you guys. Quinn, Santana and Tina have reached the camp safely and they’re packing everything up as we speak. Beth, Brittany and Mercedes are coming with them and all of the Dalton boys have agreed to come, too. Then there’s the Wilson family, …’ He keeps listing people who want to join them in their new camp. ‘They’ll be here in a day or six, so you guys can just go ahead and they’ll be here as soon as they can.’
The goods news gives them all some much needed fresh energy and a few hours later they finally, finally reach their destination.
The first signs of their new home are brightly coloured ribbons that sway in the light breeze. It’s kind of a novelty because there’s not much time and energy to decorate these days, so nobody seems to bother. It kind of takes away some kind of lightness in life though. It’s nice to be welcomed like that.
As soon as they come closer to the new camp they hear voices and something that seems like music. A delicious smell is wafting through the trees and Kurt realizes a scout from their new camp must have spotted them and gave word to the people of their new home. Cooper assured them he would give them a heads up that they were coming, so they were expecting them anyway.
Kurt grabs Blaine’s hand a little tighter. They exchange a glance and smile at each other. This is it. A new start for both of them. Kurt hopes they will be welcome here.
When they approach the first houses he notices two women who are waiting to welcome them. One of them is a beautiful Asian woman with long black hair that is braided and has white flowers in it everywhere. She’s wearing some kind of fighting outfit, with camouflage pants and a black jacket. She seems fierce and sweet all at once. She’s holding the hand of another woman with light blonde, curly hair.
Mike suddenly rushes towards them. He stands still in front of them, bows his head and presses a light kiss on the first woman’s hand. Then he stands up and gives her a tight hug.
The group that is following him exchange confused glances once again.
Noah chuckles at their astonished faces.
‘Yeah, that would be his sister.’
Mike looks at his little sister with glistening eyes. ‘Caroline.’
She beams back at him. ‘Michael.’
She gives him another hug and looks at his companions. ‘Welcome. Welcome to all of you. We received word of Cooper that you were coming, we were already expecting you. Please, come in.’
She looks at all of them, one by one. ‘I’m Caroline, you can call me Kate though.’ She squeezes the hand of the woman next to her. ‘This is my wife, Jennifer.’
The other woman waves at them. ‘Hi. You can call me Jenny.’
They all look at them in wonder. Kate laughs.
‘I know, there’s a lot to get used to. We’re handling things a little differently here.’
Nick huffs. ‘Can’t say I mind one bit at all!’
They all come closer and start exchanging names and handshakes. Kurt is still holding on to Blaine as Kate approaches them. Her eyes trail down, watching the boys tangled hands and she smiles at them.
‘Kurt? Blaine?’
They both nod, a little shy with all the attention.
She takes their hands. ‘Cooper told me about you guys.’ She takes them in for a moment and gives them both a soft look. ‘Welcome to your new home.’
*
Blaine takes Kurt a little closer into his arms. He presses a soft kiss on his head. ‘I can’t believe they gave us a cabin to sleep in. To live in. I mean, this is ours, Kurt, it belongs to both of us. This is our home now. I get to go to sleep with you every night and wake up next to you every morning. Every morning, sweetie. I just can’t believe it.’
They’re sitting in a rocking chair close to the fire, Kurt in Blaine’s lap, cuddling, being next to each other as close as they can get.
‘I know, baby. It’s a whole new world.’
Blaine hums in Kurt’s hair. ‘It is. Isn’t it?’
He caresses Kurt’s bare chest and thinks about all the things they just did, the intimate ways they touched each other. He feels warm and safe and so, so loved. The fever is gone now.
Blaine quietly talks. ‘I can’t wait to explore it with you Kurt. Our new home, our new life.’
He watches the fire for a bit.
‘You’re quiet.’
Kurt mumbles. ‘Afterglow.’
Blaine chuckles at that. ‘I love you.’
Kurt raises his head for a bit and looks in Blaine’s honey-colored eyes. He gives him a soft smile. ‘Love you too.’
*