So, I've been wanting to do an Anderbros/Frozen parody, but there's already a good one out there, so, I decided to make this sort of modern-day, Glee/White Collar canon. The prologue will take place over the space of 18 years, then the rest of the story will take place between episodes 13 and 14 of Season 5 of Glee, and the tail end of season 5 of White Collar. The first half of this fanfic will be based loosely on Frozen (with Blaine as Anna, Cooper/Neal as Elsa, Kurt as both Hans and Kristoff and Sam as Olaf. The other half will be loosely based on a few storylines from Days Of Our Lives. I kind of wanted to post this in honor of Sibling Day.
Neal was sixteen years old when his mother and stepfather announced to him that he will be a brother. Of course, he wasn't referred to as Neal. His family was in Witness Protection. They had a little slipup in St. Louis, so, the FBI transferred them to Westerville, Ohio. Meet Thomas Anderson, his pregnant wife Lily, and their son Cooper. Neal- or should I say Cooper- was estatic at the news of the new addition to their little family. Each night, Neal dreamed he would teach his younger brother- or sister- everything he knew. If he has a brother, he would dream that they would play football and chat about girls. If he has a sister, he would dream about being overprotective and beating up any guy who dares hurt her.
When Blaine was born, Neal held him gently and smiled. Blaine snuggled comfortably in his arms. 'I'm going to be the best big brother ever.'
XXX
Then, a little over a year later, Neal's parents and Ellen struck him with the horrible truth: His real name is Neal Caffrey. They were all in Witness Protection because Neal's father killed a cop. Neal figured he'll never be accepted working for the government, so, might as well just have fun. He still made time for Blaine, though. Every winter, they would build a snowman from the time Blaine was three years old. They fought a few times, of course, but in the end, they would always be in each other's corners.
Neal had just started his career as a con artist at the age of twenty-one. One of his early jobs was swindling money by sleeping with a lonely woman with a rich husband. He made the unfortunate mistake of inviting two of his cohorts home when he was watching Blaine. He had sent Blaine to his room when Neal's two friends Ivers and Clark came over.
"Tell me you got her." Clark said.
"I got her. One night with her, and she was putty in my hands." Neal grinned triumphantly. "Just give me three more days, and you'll get the money."
"Three? That's stretching it, kid." Ivers shook his head. "You have a day and a half."
Neal shook his head. "That's not enough time to gain her trust and sympathy let alone her husband's money."
"Caffrey, we've been at this much longer than you have." Clark pushed aside his jacket to reveal a gun. "Do we have a deal? Or are we going to have to get violent?"
Blaine crept down the stairs and peered through the bars holding the railing up with wide, curious eyes. Neal raised his hands. "Okay. Fine. A day and a half."
Blaine gasped. What was going on? Ivers pulled out his gun and waved it around. "Who's there? You said you were here alone!"
"I didn't hear anything." Neal shrugged, trying to act natural.
"Coop?" Blaine called from the stairwell.
Spooked, Ivers shot his gun in the direction of the voice. Blaine tumbled down the stairs, unconscious.
"Shit. Let's get the hell out of here." Clark and Ivers ran out the door.
Neal gasped and ran to his brother's side. "Blaine!" There was a gash at the side of Blaine's head. The bullet lay against the wall on one of the steps. Neal carried Blaine to his car and rushed him to the emergency room. He called his parents, and they came running.
Blaine was lucky. The bullet only grazed the side of his head. Neal held Blaine careful not to rip the stitch. "You're okay, Blaine. I got you."
"Neal, what have you done?!" Thomas demanded as he and Lily burst through the hospital room. "This is getting out of hand!"
Lily cradled Blaine tearfully. "Oh, Baby…"
"It was an accident." Neal explained. He turned to Blaine. "I'm sorry, Blaine."
The doctor came in. "Mr. and Mrs. Anderson?" Thomas and Lily turned to him. "Your son is fine. The bullet grazed his skull. But, the bad news is, it affected his memory. There's a chance that he won't remember getting shot, which actually is a good thing."
"Thank you." Lily swallowed.
"I'll leave you alone." The doctor left.
"So he won't remember I'm a con artist." Neal breathed.
"It's for the best." Lily assured him.
"Listen to me, Neal. Things will only get worse." Thomas spoke up, gravely. "You almost got your brother killed because of who you are. I can't have you around my son any more. You need to leave."
Lily looked between her husband and son with tears in her eyes. She didn't want this to end in a fight, so, she focused all her attention on Blaine.
Thomas continued. "You have one hour to pack up and never come back. We'll occasionally write and call, but…until you redeem yourself and clean up your act…I don't want you near my boy."
Neal swallowed and nodded to show he understood. He took one last look at Blaine and left, fighting back tears. His stepfather was harsh, but, he was right. He couldn't let Blaine get hurt again.
XXX
About a year later, Blaine looked out the window to see it was snowing. He happily walked over to his desk to write his brother a letter.
"Dear Coop,
It's snowing! Do you wanna build a snowman? Come on, let's play. I never see you anymore since you've gone away. We used to be best buddies, and now we're not. I wish you would tell me why. Do you wanna build a snowman? It doesn't have to be a snowman.
Love,
Blaine"
Blaine's letters were sent to Ellen's apartment on Roosevelt Island. She forwarded the letters to Neal, who read them with a heavy heart. He couldn't exactly keep the letters while on the run, so he forwarded them back.
Ellen kept a close relationship with Blaine. She was like a second mother to him. She would visit every year on his birthday and Christmas.
"Ellen, where's Coop? Why hasn't he visited?" Blaine asked her one day.
Ellen heaved a sigh, figuring out the best way to soften the blow. "Sometimes when people grow up, they also grow apart from their family and friends. It's not because they don't love them, but because…they just feel like they need space."
"Is it because of me?" Blaine asked sadly.
"Oh, sweetheart, no!" Ellen gently pulled him onto her lap. "This has absolutely nothing to do with you."
Blaine nodded, but was still unconvinced.
XXX
The years went by, and Blaine only saw Neal once or twice every couple of years. Blaine came out while Neal was in prison. Ellen as usual intercepted the letter, then sent it to Neal, who wrote back what he would say to Ellen, who sent it to Blaine. Blaine was saddened that the only family member who seemed totally okay with him being gay was MIA.
Once out of prison, Neal was caught reading Blaine's letters by Mozzie. He quickly hid them.
"Neal, I'm your best friend. You don't need to hide Kate's letters from me." Mozzie told him.
Neal exhaled. "Moz, if I tell you something, would you promise not to tell anyone- especially Peter?"
Mozzie nodded and folded his arms. "Well, I'm intrigued."
"These aren't from Kate. They're from Blaine." Neal replied.
"And Blaine is…?"
"My brother."
"Your brother? You never said a word about your brother in all the time we've known each other." Mozzie commented.
"That's because…early in my 'career', I accidentally put him in danger." Neal explained. "I don't want to risk that happening again."
Mozzie nodded again in understanding. "You know…I can keep tabs on him without anyone knowing. You know, to make sure no one else finds out about him."
Neal smiled in appreciation. "Thanks. That would be great."
XXX
By the time Blaine was a sophomore in high school, letters from Neal started becoming more frequent. He became hopeful that he and Neal would become close again. A few weeks before Thanksgiving of his sophomore year, he wrote to him again.
"Dear Cooper,
Do you wanna build a snowman? Or ride our bike around the neighborhood? I think some company is overdue. I started talking to my pictures around my room!"
Blaine picked up a framed photo of Kurt. He knew he was going through a terrible time at his school. "Hang in there, Kurt." He set the picture down and continued writing.
"It gets a little lonely- all these empty rooms just watching the hours tick by.
Visit soon, please!
-Blaine"
XXX
Apparently, "soon" turned out to be a year and a half. Neal managed to convinced Blaine (and America) that he was an actor (which isn't totally far from the truth). When he fled after his hearing, he visited Lima. After his short visit in Lima, he packed up again.
"You know, I was thinking…the Hudson-Hummels might be going to Disneyland this summer. Maybe if I go with them, I can also swing by LA to visit you." Blaine said hopefully.
Neal froze and bit back a sigh. "Actually, I'm not going to be in LA this summer."
"Oh." Blaine said, a little disappointed. "Okay, well, it's just a thought."
Neal smiled and nodded. "Someday."
"Okay." Blaine nodded. "Well, maybe for my fall or winter break."
"The thing is, Blaine…I don't know when or if we'll ever see each other again." Neal said honestly.
Blaine deflated and sighed. "I knew it was too good to be true."
"Blaine…"
"Why do you always do this? Why do you always reach out to me only to push me away?" Blaine asked angrily.
"You wouldn't understand." Neal said, zipping up his suitcase.
Blaine scoffed and shook his head angrily. "Screw you, Cooper."
XXX
The morning after Kurt's senior prom, Kurt noticed a scar on the side of Blaine's head. "What's this?"
Blaine felt the scar absentmindedly. "Oh. I fell down the stairs and cracked my head open. Somehow my memory was affected, since I don't remember exactly how I got it."
Kurt nodded. "Oh. Is that also why you wear hair gel?"
"Sort of. It's embarrassing."
Kurt smiled and cupped Blaine's chin in his hand. "I like it." Blaine smiled back.
XXX
When New Directions finally won Nationals, Blaine smiled at all his friends and fellow glee clubbers as they celebrated with their families. Blaine smiled and couldn't help but to think how lucky they all were. He seemed to be the only one without family there, so he left the room. He spotted Ellen sporting a scarf around her head and holding sunglasses.
"Ellen!" Blaine exclaimed happily. He ran to hug her. "I'm so glad you could make it. Did you see the competition?"
"Yes, I did! Congratulations on winning!" Ellen replied, smiling. "I'm so proud of you."
"Thanks! Are Mom, Dad, and Cooper here?"
"No, I'm afraid they couldn't make it." Ellen replied sadly.
Blaine tried not to look too disappointed. "Have you heard from Cooper?"
"No." She shook her head.
Blaine slumped his shoulders. He was about to respond when he heard Kurt call for him. He turned around and Kurt was walking towards him. "Oh- Ellen, this is my boyfriend Kurt Hummel. Kurt, this is Ellen. She's been like a second mother to me."
"Oh, nice to meet you." Kurt said, shaking her hand. "Blaine's told me a bit about you."
"The pleasure's all mine." Ellen replied. "You're all Blaine ever talks about!"
Blaine blushed and chuckled. "So, our Glee club and our families are going to a celebratory dinner. Come join us!"
Ellen's face fell in regret. "I'm afraid I can't. My flight home leaves in just over an hour."
"Oh." Blaine said in disappointment.
"Hey," Ellen caressed his face gently. "I promise: next time I'm in town I will make it up to you."
"Okay." Blaine brightened, slightly. "I'll see you soon."
Little did he know that would be the last time he ever saw Ellen. Two weeks after Kurt's graduation, Blaine got a letter from Neal telling him that Ellen passed away. Blaine didn't even know where she lived or died. He spent almost a month in grieving silence. He had hoped this would bring him and Cooper closer, but it hadn't.
XXX
In midwinter of 2013, Neal joined a facebook group of all the guests of the McKinley High Glee club. He of course used a profile picture of the Hollywood sign in order to hide his identity. Unfortunately, the other members- Holly Holliday, April Rhodes, Bryan Ryan, Jesse St. James, Sandy Ryerson, and Shelby Cochoran already know what he looks like.
Neal walked briskly down a street in a hurry. He was to meet Peter at a restaurant to go over a bank fraud case. He wasn't watching where he was going and bumped into someone who was holding a cup of coffee, which spilled over both of them.
"Oh, shit! I'm so so sorry!" Neal exclaimed.
"Oh, God, no, I'm sorry. I wasn't looking where I was going." The brunette woman replied, wiping up her light blue dress and light gray coat. She sighed and looked up. Neal stiffened as he recognized the woman from Facebook. "Oh my God- Cooper?!"
"Shelby." Neal greeted.
"Well, fancy running into you here. I thought you hated New York." Shelby said.
Neal shrugged. "Blaine's applying for school here, so I figured I might as well check it out for his sake."
"Oh. Well, if you need a grand tour, feel free to contact me." Shelby offered.
"Thanks." Neal replied. He spotted Peter in the distance. "Well, once again, sorry for ruining your coffee and your outfit. Sorry to cut this meeting short, but I gotta go."
"Okay. See you." Shelby replied.
Neal fast-walked to Peter. "Okay, let's go inside. I'm freezing."
"So, who was that woman? Old girlfriend?" Peter asked, curious.
"No. Just someone I accidentally bumped into, spilling coffee." Neal replied.
"She seemed to know you." Peter noted.
'Conceal, don't feel, don't let him know…' Neal thought. "She is the older sister of someone I went to high school with."
Peter nodded. "Oh. Okay."
XXX
Neal was not prone to panic attacks. But when he keeps hearing that Blaine has been hospitalized, he kept getting paranoid each time that someone found out about him and attacked him in revenge. When he heard that there was a shooting at McKinley, he came pretty close to a panic attack and had Mozzie check it out. When he heard that it was an accidental shooting that had nothing to do with him, he collapsed into a chair in relief.
'I don't know how much more of this I can take.'
XXX
When Blaine planned on proposing to Kurt, he considered writing to Cooper, but then thought against it. His brother has been distant to him for some time and he figured it was never going to change.
After the proposal, Blaine and Kurt went to Finn's dorm to deliver the good news. Finn, of course, was extremely happy and excited for his stepbrother. He hugged Blaine tightly.
"Welcome to the family, dude." Finn said. "I'm so happy for you, little brother."
Blaine felt a pang. That's what Cooper could have said if they'd been close. Blaine swallowed and smiled. "Thanks."
"Sorry I couldn't be there. I had a final, and lots more coming up over the next couple of weeks." Finn sighed. "Because of that, I'm also taking a break from helping Mr. Schue with Glee."
"Oh. Okay, well, see you in two weeks." Blaine smiled.
XX
The Monday after Blaine's senior prom, tragedy struck. Finn got into a fatal car accident during a huge thunderstorm at night. He died on impact. The tragedy shook Blaine almost as much as it did Kurt, Burt, Carole, Rachel, Puck, Mr. Schue, Ryder, Marley, Coach Beiste, and Santana. Kurt lost his brother….and there's a rift between Blaine and his brother. How was it fair that Finn died and Blaine and Cooper were fighting?
After the funeral, Blaine slowly made his way up to his room. Still in the tuxedo he wore to Finn's funeral, he picked up a pen and paper.
"Cooper,
Please, I know you're reading this. My friends have been asking where you've been. They say 'Have courage' and I'm trying to. We haven't talked since Ellen died last year. I'm right here for you, just let me in. Kurt just lost his brother. Not unlike you and me. What am I going to do?"
Tears of grief and sadness sprang to Blaine's eyes. He already lost two people he loves. He can't lose Cooper too.
"Do you wanna build a snowman?
Love,
Blaine"
Blaine read over his letter, set it down, and put his head in his hands and cried.
Over in New York, Neal read Blaine's letter with an expression of grief and sympathy. He set the letter down and stared out the window where a light, late winter's snow was falling outside. He knew Blaine was hurting, but after losing so many people he cared about- Kate, Ellen, even Agent Siegel- he just couldn't risk seeing Blaine again. It was the only way to keep him safe.