Okay, I had to. Really. I just love Cooper, okay? And Kurt and Blaine, obviously. :) But yeah, this is set pretty close to the last chapter, maybe the same night that Cooper comes home. I hope I did this justice again, and thank you everyone so SO much for all the lovely reviews! Keep them coming, thanks. ;)

Disclaimer: I obviously don't own glee, or it would be the Kurt and Blaine show and nothing else. Just saying.

Enjoy the story, and please leave a review! Love you guys!

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Cooper wakes up in the middle of the night with a start. He's so confused for a second, and he doesn't know why, but he feels like something isn't right. He tries to ignore it at first, rolling over and trying to fall back to sleep, but his mind won't let him. Not until he figures out what's wrong.

"Ugh," he groans to himself. Maybe it's just the fact that he's in a different house now—he hasn't been to his childhood home in over a year, and maybe he's body's just feeling messed up.

He finally gets up, after a few minutes of tossing and turning, and heads out of his old bedroom. The hallway is completely dark, obviously, but a small light shines up from downstairs. Cooper frowns—their parents won't be home for another three days, so it has to be either Kurt or Blaine.

Just to make sure, Cooper pads on bare feet over to his brother's room, opening the door hesitantly with a creak. He realizes too late that he might be walking in on two naked boys, or something equally as scarring—

But Blaine's side of the bed is empty. Kurt's still sleeping soundly by the looks of it, curled in a tight ball and clutching one of Blaine's pillows. Cooper smiles fondly before softly closing the door again.

It takes Cooper another few minutes to get downstairs, mostly because he's bumping into walls and trying not to kill himself on the stairs, and see Blaine sitting at the island. His shoulders are hunched forward, his head down, the picture of misery.

"Hey, squirt," Cooper mumbles groggily. "S'matter?" Blaine jumps a little, and Cooper rounds the corner of the island to look at his face. He doesn't look sad—more like nervous. His eyes are cast down, he's wringing his hands on the countertop, and he's tugging at his messy, curly hair, like he always does when he's anxious.

"Hi," is all Blaine says in return. He lays his head down on the granite top and closes his bloodshot eyes. He looks exhausted.

"B…what are you doing?"

"Sleepin'," Blaine grumbles back. Cooper raises an eyebrow, and Blaine sighs. He can feel his brother's incredulous look.

"What, does Kurt steal all the covers or something? Or snore? Because this is going to be an issue when you two get married. You should address this now—"

"Coop," Blaine groans, but he's actually laughing a little. "No, Kurt doesn't snore. And sometimes he steals the covers, but I don't mind. I just…I can't sleep with the lights off and I didn't want to wake him up."

Cooper peers closer at Blaine's face. He can't sleep with the lights off. Something in Blaine's voice—defeat and fear—remind Cooper of when they were younger and Blaine would crawl into his bed after a bad dream.

"B," Cooper says, his voice gentle. "Did you have a nightmare?"

Blaine buries his head further into his arms and whimpers a little. He's clutching at his hair in frustration, and Cooper moves closer and takes the seat next to him.

"I know, it's so pathetic," Blaine says angrily. There are tears in his voice. "I haven't had one in years. I just…I don't know why I had one tonight."

"About….about the Sadie Hawkins Dance?" Cooper can't bring himself to say "you mean those guys beating you up until your arm was bent the wrong way and you were unconscious?" Cooper remembers getting that call. He remembers being so terrified and so angry that it was almost scary. He could've killed those ignorant son-of-a-bitches.

"Yeah," Blaine mutters. "It's not a big deal, though. I used to have them all the time."

It's not the first time that Cooper resents the huge age gap between them. If only Cooper could be there for Blaine, like when he was little and had nightmares. He would've let Blaine crawl in bed with him then, too. Thinking about him scared and alone after a bad dream (because obviously he would never go to their parents) makes Cooper feel sick.

Cooper hums a little and reaches out a hand to rub Blaine's back. Blaine relaxes immediately under his touch and slumps further into the counter top.

"How long have you been down here?"

"Couple hours," Blaine sighs back. Cooper inhales sharply.

"Go lay on the couch. I'll make you some hot chocolate."

Blaine obeys, and when Cooper has two steaming mugs of hot chocolate ready, he goes into the living room. He expects Blaine to have fallen asleep, but he's just sitting with his arms wrapped around his knees and staring ahead. He looks like he's in another place—which could be true. Cooper hopes he's not having flashbacks.

"Blaine," he says quietly. "I have your hot chocolate." He guides Blaine's hand around the handle of the mug while Blaine mumbles a "thank you." Cooper sits down beside him and puts an arm on the back of the couch.

"Are you okay, kiddo? You want to talk about it?"

"Why do you call me that? I'm not a kid anymore." But there's a smile on Blaine's face. "And not really. I just…it was just the same. Just a bunch of guys beating me up."

Cooper's stomach clenches and he puts his arm fully around his little brother. Blaine's shoulders are trembling with the memory, and with the force of holding back his sobs.

"But this time it was worse," Blaine continues. He doesn't even seem to realize he's still talking—he's got that blank stare again. Cooper recognizes it this time as Blaine's mask. He always has to hide his emotions, even with Cooper, which makes the older Anderson really upset. "You remember Austin? My date for the dance? They were beating him up, too, but then I suddenly looked up and it wasn't him, it was Kurt instead—"

Blaine cuts himself off with a gasping sob. He lets his mask go and falls sideways into Cooper's arms. Cooper's right there to catch him, tugging Blaine closer and rubbing soothing motions on his arms.

"It's okay, bud," Cooper whispers. "They can't hurt you anymore. They can't hurt you, and they can't hurt Kurt, okay? Especially when I'm here. I'll never let them hurt you ever again, do you understand?"

Blaine's crying freely now, trying to muffle his cries into Cooper's sleep-shirt. He's shaking and mumbling stuff that Cooper can't understand, and it reminds him of after the dance, and after Blaine told their parents he was gay, and it's scaring the shit out of him.

"Blaine?"

A timid, sleepy voice in the doorway has both Cooper and Blaine darting their heads up. Kurt's standing there all rumpled with sleep and very confused looking, with his arms wrapped around himself, like he's cold. Cooper can tell Blaine's trying to stop his tears, but he sniffs loudly anyway. Cooper can see the moment when Kurt realizes Blaine's crying—his eyes grow to twice their normal size and he reaches his arms out, even though Blaine's too far away for him to touch.

Kurt stumbles forward until he's kneeling in front of the couch. He cups Blaine's kneecaps, rubbing gentle circles over his sweatpants.

"Blaine, baby, what's wrong? Are you okay? Are you sick?" Kurt realizes two things at once—that he's babbling (in concern, but still babbling), and that Cooper's arms are still wrapped around Blaine. Oh shit, what if they were having a brotherly moment or something, and Kurt was interrupting—

Kurt removes his hands and goes to stand up, and Blaine whimpers loudly in protest.

"Oh God, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt anything, it's just, I get really…I'm sorry, Blaine's crying, and I just get—"

"Kurt." Cooper rolls his eyes. "Shut up and sit your ass on this couch, right now." Kurt blushes, but he does what Cooper says on Blaine's other side. He's hesitant at first, until Blaine pretty much collapses into Kurt's side, his hands shaking where they clutch at Kurt's shirt sleeve. Cooper removes his arms so that Kurt can replace them with his, but continues to rub Blaine's shoulder.

"Honey, what happened? What's the matter?" Kurt's voice is worried and breaking—he hates seeing Blaine in any kind of pain. Cooper's respect, acceptance, and liking for Kurt immediately skyrocket.

"'M—'M sorry! I had a-a nightmare, and-and I didn't-didn't want to wake you up—" Kurt's shushing him after "nightmare," mostly because Blaine's trying to breathe at the same time he's talking, and it's not really working.

"Baby, next time you wake me up, okay? I want to help you. I always want to be there when you need me, sweetheart. I can handle loosing sleep."

Blaine's crying has died down a little, and he buries his face in Kurt's neck, sniffing loudly. Kurt starts to sing something under his breath, rocking Blaine back and forth. He kisses his boyfriend's head and rests his head on it.

"It's okay, Blaine, baby. It's okay. They can't hurt you now."

Cooper stares at Kurt for ten seconds before the smile takes over his face. God, Kurt doesn't even have to ask, he just knows. Cooper loves Blaine, he'll always love Blaine, but he's been absent for a great deal of Blaine's life—and the most important parts of it. But Kurt understands. Kurt loves him, Kurt knows him. It makes Cooper a little jealous, but he's also relieved. He's glad Blaine has someone that loves him this much.

"Love you," Blaine mumbles. "M'okay."

"Good," Kurt whispers back, sounding sleepy again. "I love you, too."

"Coop," Blaine says, barely coherent. Cooper has to duck his head down so he can hear him.

"What is it, B?"

"You're the best big brother ever," he slurs. He's so close to sleep now that it's almost funny. Cooper and Kurt share a smile. "Love you. And…just…thanks."

"Well, then you earn the award for best little brother ever, okay? I love you, too. And don't thank me, I'm just doing my job." Blaine lifts his head up as much as he can and tips his head towards Cooper, like he always did when they were little and he wanted a kiss.

A warm feeling settles at the pit of Cooper's stomach. He presses a kiss to the side of Blaine's head and ruffles his hair.

"Go to sleep, B."

Kurt sings Blaine to sleep at his insistence. Cooper doesn't recognize the song, but Kurt's voice is fantastic. Blaine obviously thinks so too, because he practically melts into Kurt, and falls asleep with a happy smile on his face.

Cooper expects Kurt to fall asleep right after Blaine does, but he just sits there and continues to rock Blaine back and forth.

"What happened?" Kurt asks Cooper in a whisper. Cooper grimaces.

"He was just sitting in the kitchen. I think he was in there for a while. He just… he gets like that. He gets really closed off and nervous at first, and he doesn't want anyone to help him."

"I know," Kurt sighs, adjusting Blaine against his chest. "He's impossible, sometimes." Kurt's smile is warm and fond though, and he kisses Blaine's curls.

"You really love him, don't you?" Cooper asks.

"Yeah," Kurt murmurs. He's not embarrassed for once. He has a good feeling about Cooper—he's as accepting as they come. "I really, really do, Cooper."

"How much?"

Kurt starts a little at Cooper's desperate voice. It's like he's worried Kurt will get up and leave him if too much of his past shows.

"More than anything." Might as well hold nothing back now. "I won't ever…there's nothing he could do that would make me want to leave him."

Cooper swallows and looks away. There's suddenly way too much moisture in his eyes.

"He needs you," Cooper says, his voice thick. "I just…please take care of him? I can't always be here." Cooper has to give Kurt credit—doesn't look the least bit awkward. Kurt places a hesitant hand on Cooper's shoulder.

"I need him just as much, trust me. And of course I will."

"Good. You better," Cooper says, trying (and failing) to do the "scary, overprotective brother" act. "Or I'll have to hurt you."

Kurt doesn't even bat an eye. God, Cooper likes this kid more and more every second he spends with him.

"Of course. I understand."

Both boys break down into a quiet laughing fit. Blaine snuffles against Kurt's neck in his sleep, and Kurt actually shivers at the puffs of air over his skin. He folds further into Blaine, nuzzling his cheek with his own.

"So, what exactly does Blaine say about me?" Kurt asks. Cooper laughs again and rolls his eyes.

"Jeez, everything! I pretty much know your entire life story. Like, I probably know more about you than him at this point." Kurt covers his mouth with his hand and his eyes crinkle at the corners. Cooper only notices because Blaine told him that he loves it when Kurt's eyes do that. "But then he mostly goes on and on about how much he loves you and how amazing you are, you know, all that lovey-dovey crap."

Kurt giggles softly in the dark, and yawns hugely.

"Well, good to know he feels the same way I do."

All three boys end up falling asleep on the couch, with Kurt slumped against Blaine and Cooper curled on the other end. Cooper, surprisingly, is the first one awake the next morning, and he has a bout of inspiration. He watches Kurt and Blaine sleep for a minute (as creepy as it is), Blaine snoring quietly against Kurt's chest, before he gets up.

Cooper isn't much of a cook, but everyone can make pancakes. He's just pouring the first batter-pancake onto the griddle when Kurt comes in, all sleepy eyed and smiling. He doesn't seem like much of a talker in the morning, just mumbles a little "I'll help" and starts setting the table.

Kurt has to wake Blaine when breakfast is ready, because Blaine's a ridiculously heavy sleeper, which Cooper is sure that Kurt has learned by now. He hears Kurt's soft, loving murmurs and his laughing when Blaine presumably complains. Blaine stumbles into the kitchen with an amused Kurt trailing behind him.

"How ya feeling, little bro? Hopefully these pancakes will help." Blaine smiles gratefully and breathes in the pancake-smell.

"Smells good," he croaks. "I'm okay, thanks." Kurt kisses him swiftly on the cheek, and goes to pull out a chair for him and everything.

Cooper rolls his eyes, but inside he's singing.

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So, what do you think? I know it's cheesy, but I HAD to. I really did. Please leave a review, and I will love you forever! And possibly update more ;) Thanks for reading!

-Hope