That word is love.

[startingpoint]

It's the twenty-fifth anniversary of Taylor's disappearance, and Kurt's mood is noticeably dour. He's never been the most easy-going person at work, but his mood gets much worse and everyone knows to keep their distance from him. It's a quiet day, thankfully, and he gets off early, heading upstate to be with Emma and their small family of people who miss Taylor just as much as Kurt does.

Kurt's mother left them years ago, unable to stick around when it seemed his father was the one responsible for taylor's disappearance. He'd been exonerated five years ago, and it took a while for the healing to begin, but Kurt and his father are finally on good terms again. So he hugs him tightly when he sees him, taking comfort in the strength of his father's arms. It's Emma Shaw, though, who has all of Kurt's focus. They take care of each other, and he pulls her tightly into his arms to hug her, kissing her temple tenderly as she tells him he looks tired and like he's not eating enough, fussing over him. He smiles softly and just nods, keeping his arm around her waist while the minister speaks and presides over the memorial.

When it's over, they all go out to eat dinner, and Kurt spends the night at Emma's house, letting her dote over him with a pancake breakfast in the morning. He brings her a bouquet of flowers before he leaves with Sarah in the afternoon, and that night, his sister starts bugging him about dating. He's never been able to hold onto a steady relationship, and she worries about him sometimes.

"What about a blind date? Just for fun. It doesn't even have to be serious," she prods him.

"Yeah...no," he says quickly, shaking his head.

"Please. Just think about it. Just once."

He rolls his eyes a little, finally conceding, "I'll think about it."