The Little Mermaid

Chapter 17: Epilogue

Carole is impressed with the job Kurt has done on the downstairs bedroom, it looks like her, the pink, the Broadway posters, the cat themed comforter (She knows he must have died a little inside when he picked it out for her). Burt didn't even pretend to be upset about giving up his gym, he can keep the treadmill in his and Carole's room and the weights in the den, it's not like he really ever used them anyway. Carole beams a little as he hangs the finishing touch on her wall. It's the rhinestone encrusted fish that he knew she would love, just a little something to remind her of home.

"So, what do you guys think?" Kurt says proudly.

"Oh Kurt, it's beautiful," Carole says, her voice breaking a bit. She always has wanted a daughter.

"Yeah, great job babe," Blaine says.

"I'm digging that fish," Burt chimes in.

"At least one of you does," Kurt says, rolling his eyes.

"So what should we do now? Should we wait for them on the pier?" Carole says.

"They'll find their way," Burt says. "It's only been a month."

"I wonder if Finn's going to be all pruny when he gets back," Blaine says.

"That's what you're wondering?" Kurt says snarkily.

"Do you think he'll still be able to hear?" Blaine says, ignoring Kurt's question.

"I'm pretty sure evolution took care of all that Blaine." Kurt continues.

Finn has to admit that it's strange coming home, he's never had to come home from anywhere before, let alone after spending a month under the sea and three extra days in Australia. Rachel was right, it really was magical, and being able to see more than coral and exotic fish was a nice change for her. They'll go other places, they may even take a plane one of these days. They resurface under the pier together and Finn smiles instantly at the sight of his island home, he never thought he had the capacity to miss this place.

"It looks the same," Finn says, scanning the beach as they leave the water in their bathing suits, hand in hand.

"What were you expecting? You've only been gone for a month," she says teasingly.

"I know, it's just kind of strange, it's like I've seen the world you know?"

"You've seen one other continent, there's still plenty more world to see Finn, like New York."

"Are you sure going the first week of Christmas break is a good idea, the water is going to be freezing," he says. "Maybe we can take a plane."

"I told you, your body can handle it, we're far more resilient than the average human, my father went to Alaska for his pilgrimage, Alaska Finn"

"Oh, so that's why he's pissed off all the time," Finn says.

"Well I did lie to him for seven years and bring home a human boyfriend," she says, shrugging.

"He's warming up to me though right? When we left he called me Finn and not 'you daughter stealing bottom feeder.'"

"And he really liked all of your stories, he pretended not to but he smiled a little at the one with the robots."

"Actually I was just giving him the gist of the Terminator," he says sheepishly.

"He'll come around," Rachel assures him.

"Maybe he'll lighten up a little if we find him a boyfriend, I mean I know Mermaids only get together to reproduce and everything but he's already done that. Besides, he's always commenting on that black Merman's shoulders."