dustofstars | for endingpoint

For the next three weeks, they steadily get closer, with Kurt opening up more and more. Kurt thinks she might be ready to watch that video about him soon, but he still waits. There's a guy at work, though, who's been getting friendly with Taylor. He's nice, friendly, makes her laugh a lot. The guy is always smiling, wears his heart on his sleeve. He's nothing like Kurt; his emotions aren't locked down, he's not closed off, he's just kind and has a big heart. And he likes Taylor a lot.

Kurt tries to ignore it, but on a Friday afternoon, he's making his way to the lab to ask Patterson and Jane something. Then he sees the guy - Sam - standing by Taylor, smiling at her. They're laughing and having a good time. He leans in, resting a hand on her arm, and asks her out on a date that night, after work. It's then that Kurt walks in and he hears the question posed to her.

"Ah. Sorry. I'll give you a minute," he says, walking right back out. He doesn't want to intrude but he also doesn't want to hear Taylor agree.

She's honestly flattered by it all, if not a little overwhelmed. Sam's nice, and she likes that he makes her laugh, she likes that they have some inside jokes. But something just doesn't feel right to her heart.

But the second she sees Kurt, she feels it, and then it's gone again. He's gone, and the light that flickered for a second burns right back out. Going through the rest of the day, Taylor's right there next to Kurt in the loner room once it's empty, ready to leave with him. Not with anyone else.

He slips his coat on, looking at her. He wouldn't blame her for wanting to be with Sam, he sees how easily she smiles with him. Kurt doesn't feel like he makes her smile that often, that easily. Does he give her much to be happy about?

"You're not heading out with Sam?"

"He's sweet, but..." Taylor shrugs just a little, reaching into her locker for her coat as well, pulling it on. "I don't know, something's telling me he's a good friend, and that's all. Just a...gut feeling, I guess."

A good friend.

So he hasn't lost his chance, then. Kurt nods, not trying to make a big deal out of it. But there's a small smile on his lips. "It's Friday night. We don't need to rush home." He grabs a scarf from his locker as well, moving to her and wrapping it around her neck loosely. It's warm and smells like him and with the chill from the Hudson, this will keep her from getting too cold. "Come on. I've got a surprise for you."

When he puts the scarf around her, she smiles a little, and it's small, her smiles can be with him. But the difference, if he can tell, is that her eyes light up too. It's a real smile, no matter how small, just for him.

"Technically, anywhere we go is a surprise for me," she teases lightly.

"True," he chuckles softly. He's trying to make her smile more, not wanting her to feel out of place with him for any reason. And then he leads her out of the building with a hand lightly resting at her back. It's a short walk to the ferry terminal and though it's cold, Kurt implores her to sit outside at the top with him. He even buys hot chocolate to help keep her warm.

"Best view in the city," he tells her.

She sits snuggled against his side - for warmth - and sips at her hot chocolate, looking out at everything. "It's calm up here. It makes it seem like the city is more calm than it really is."

Taylor's quiet for a few moments as she just looks at everything, taking it all in. And then, she looks up at him.

"I'm glad I'm seeing it like this with you."

"That's why I like it sometimes, when I just need to clear my head," he nods with a soft smile at her before sipping his drink.

He's not sure what to say in response when she mentions how much she likes seeing this with him specifically. "You make it fun."

Smiling softly, Taylor sighs happily. And then it just coms naturally when her head rests on his shoulder as she watches the lights on the water. They're the perfect height for each other, and to her at least, it just feels perfect.

He takes a deep breath in when her head comes to rest on his shoulder and then he decides to rest his cheek against her head, quietly sipping his hot chocolate and taking in the lights of the city.

Taylor has no idea where they're going, but she knows she doesn't care. They're going together, she's with him, and it's perfect. When he rests his cheek on her head, she smiles softly, shifting further into him, and she knows, beyond a shadow of a doubt, this is where she wants to be.

When they make it to Staten Island and get off the ferry, Kurt takes her hand. It's less chaotic here, but it's dark and there are still a lot of people; he wants her close. He tells her a little about Staten Island while they walk and then they duck into a pizzeria. Kurt smiles, inhaling the aroma.

"There's a pizza here I think you're gonna like. The best on Staten Island." They sit and he orders the pizza and it comes out piping hot, with a vodka cream sauce, fresh mozzarella and fresh basil.

"Dig in," Kurt smiles.

Smiling happily, Taylor takes a slice and lets it cool so she doesn't burn her mouth, but when she takes a bite her entire face lights up. She'd liked the Mexican food, she realizes. But she really does love this.

"Oh my God," she manages, even with her mouth full.

He smiles broadly when he hears and sees her reaction. It's the first time he's smiled this big for her, and he's so pleased. "Glad you like it."

She's struck by that smile, by the fact it's because of her, and there's that warm feeling again, the one that makes her crave more, and Taylor knows she never felt that with Sam.

"Can I...have a beer?" She asks like it's something scandalous, even if she knows she's fully capable of ordering a beer if she wants.

The question actually makes him laugh. "You want a beer? Of course you can have a beer," he reaches out to squeeze her hand and calls out to the server. A pitcher of beer is brought over just a moment later, with frosted mugs, and Kurt pours them both some drinks, sipping his own beer.

Taking a sip, she hums happily, then eats until she's full, even sharing a small dessert pizza with him. This night, she has so many reasons to smile, and she is, happy and warm and full of good food. As they walk back to the ferry, Taylor speaks softly, admitting something out loud.

"I wouldn't have had this much fun with Sam. Not like this."

He wonders if it's too much to hope, that she's falling for him all over again. But it's a big step in the right direction, and he feels warmth flooding through him at her words.

"You wouldn't. Trust me. Sam has terrible taste in pizza," Kurt jokes with a grin, but it's clear he appreciates the sentiment.

She laughs softly at that, tugging his scarf around her neck a little more, dipping her head a bit because it smells like him, and something instinctually makes her feel so comforted by being surrounded in him.

Once they're on the water again, the smooth motion, begins to make her drowsy, and once again her head comes to rest on his shoulder. But this time she falls asleep, relaxing against his side.

Kurt wraps an arm around her to hold her securely. He can feel when she's asleep, and he just holds onto her, taking a deep breath. Turning to press a soft kiss to her head, he whispers, "I love you." He's sure she can't hear him so it feels safe, and he keeps a strong hold on her the entire trip back to Manhattan.

When they have to walk back, Taylor's drowsy, but she leans against him, an arm looped around his waist as they make their way to the apartment. Once their safe inside, it's still dark, lights not even turned on yet, but she faces him, standing close and speaking in such a sleepy voice.

"I had a good time tonight, Kurt."

He wonders if he can get away with this while she's sleepy; he just needs to hold her, his arms aching for the weight and warmth of her. So when she's facing him, he smiles softly, stepping forward just to hold onto her, hugging her but not letting go. His hold on her is light, tender.

"Me, too."

Her arms instantly loop around him, and her head nestles against his chest. "I want to do it all again." And she doesn't let go either, standing right there in the entryway with him, breathing him in and closing her eyes.

"We will. We'll go somewhere new this weekend," he promises softly. There's a lot still for her to explore, for him to show her, and he's looking forward to it, he realizes. He doesn't even think much about it as he reaches out to rest his hand on the back of her head, stroking her hair idly.

"I'll show you Coney Island, we'll get some hotdogs. I'll take you to Rockefeller Center," he promises.

for endingpoint

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