Author's Note:
Hello everyone :-)
Thank you all for coming back and continuing this story with me. It was so nice to hear from you last week. Reviews mean the world to me!
I hope you all like this chapter. Thank you so much to my beta bowtiesandboatshoes!
"Hello. I would like to introduce myself. My name is Cooper Anderson. About 20 years ago you were born and I was informed that I was your older brother. Now maybe my intel was incorrect, but Mom assures me that it wasn't."
"I'm not so sure," Blaine muttered into the phone. He settled back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. He knew this could go on for a long time. He knew it was long overdue.
"I'm not so sure either because I haven't heard from you in forever-"
"Calm down Cooper," Blaine sighed.
"And now I am informed you are dating a so-called bear…" Blaine's eyes went wide, and he snapped back up. "…which makes no sense at all to me because I've never in my life heard you interested in-"
"It's not like I've talked to you about the guys I've liked before, there's really only been one and who the heck are you hearing this from anyway?" he asked sharply. "Santana? Kurt?"
"My sources are to remain anonymous."
"Coop you are ridiculous." He got out of the bed, unable to sit still.
"Less ridiculous than you dating Dave Karofsky," Cooper pointed out.
Adopted. That was the only explanation, Cooper had been adopted for the sole purpose of tormenting him and they'd kept it a secret all these years.
"I am not having this conversation," Blaine declared, pacing back and forth. He willed his parents to come up any minute and ask him to do something. Or Santana could beep in. Cooper had to let him off the phone rather than face the wrath of Santana.
"Less ridiculous than you blaming your ex-fiance for stealing a girl who made a choice to sing where she feels welcome rather than where she has to fight."
"Fighting isn't always a bad thing Coop," Blaine said.
"Something you've learned in therapy?" Cooper retorted.
"I hate you." Blaine wondered for a moment if he threw the phone out the window would Cooper land on his head back in LA. "With a passion."
"Not as passionately as you love Kurt." Blaine's breath hitched. He froze in the center of his room. "Okay, maybe that went a little far."
"Maybe?" Blaine bowed his head, letting his temper calm in the silence.
"You care about Dave?" Cooper asked with sincerity.
"He's a nice guy," Blaine said.
"I asked if you care about him," Cooper repeated.
Blaine didn't want to think about what Dave meant to him and he certainly didn't want to discuss it with his brother. "We're dating Cooper. We're not getting married. Believe me, that ship has sailed."
"Maybe not as far as you think."
Blaine's stomach tightened. "Don't."
"Blaine he still-"
"I said don't," Blaine yelled. "I can't. It's too late. Even if I wasn't dating anyone. I can't trust him anymore Coop. I can't live in fear anymore that everything I say and everything I do is the wrong thing. I can't walk on eggshells anymore. I've done it too long." Blaine let out a shaky breath. "I'm tired."
Cooper paused. "Okay Squirt," he said. "Just remember what I told you back in New York the last time. Real life beats fairy tales any day."
"Real life sucks Coop."
"Yeah," Cooper said. "It does. Sometimes. Until it doesn't."
If Blaine had thought that leading the Warblers was rewarding, he learned quickly that coaching them was even more so. He was proud of them, in a way he'd never really been before, and he was proud of himself. He was good at this. And it was nice to find something he was good at.
They'd rehearsed into the evening, Sectionals looming near, and he pulled up to his house after dark. This part was still strange. He thought coming home would be something he'd get used to, but even though he and his parents were getting along surprisingly well, it still felt wrong. So when Dave had suggested moving in with him instead, the idea had its appeal.
He opened the door, wanting nothing more really than to grab himself a snack and fall exhausted into bed. He didn't expect his father to be up or even more waiting for him, but there he was in the living room, watching television.
"Hey Dad," he greeted, throwing his bag down on the floor by the door. He took off his shoes and hung up his coat. "Sorry I couldn't make it home for dinner. Sectionals and all."
"It's no problem Blaine, your job comes first," the Colonel said and Blaine smiled softly. "How are things coming along?"
"They're pretty good," he said before disappearing into the kitchen. "The guys are coming along nicely," he yelled, fishing around in the fridge for the makings of a sandwich. "Song choice is the hardest though. We have so many great options. It would have been better with Jane, but well…" He trailed off. Things with Jane had just gotten messed up and he'd said things he regretted to Kurt and Rachel. And then Kurt had seen him with Dave at Homecoming…
He shook his head, finished making his sandwich and took a bite. He grabbed a soda from the fridge and brought it back out to the living room.
"Choosing the right song is important," John said, looking at Blaine. "A song can't be unsung."
Blaine glanced over and stopped chewing for a second, shrinking slightly at his father's pointed gaze. "We aren't talking about the Warblers," he said. He put his sandwich down and picked up his drink.
"I want to talk with you about Dave," the Colonel said.
Blaine swallowed. He instantly grew wary. "What about him?"
"Are you safe with him?"
Blaine scoffed. He put his soda down and shook his head. "Oh that's just rich," he said leaning back with an air of disbelief. And he wondered if it was Santana or Kurt who kept sticking their nose in where it didn't belong. Or maybe they were tag-teaming him. He wouldn't be surprised.
"Blaine," his father said calmly. "I am allowed to worry about your safety. You've been hurt too much for too long by too many people and I don't want you just falling into another relationship with someone who's going to hurt you."
"Dave's not going to hurt me Dad," he said. "He's done things in his past, yes, but you of all people should know not to judge him based on that. He understands me. He understands how much things can hurt and he's sweet to me. He cares about me. He makes me feel…"
The Colonel waited, but Blaine simply pursed his lips and averted his eyes. "Loved?" he guessed.
"Wanted," Blaine admitted quietly, his eyes falling to his hands. "He makes me feel wanted." John didn't say anything. Blaine took a breath and looked back up. "He asked me to move in with him."
"And you said…?"
"I said I had to think about it." But he'd thought about it now and he thought he knew what was right. "I think I should. I think it's something I have to do."
"You don't have to Blaine, your mother and I-"
"Don't need your 19 year old college drop out living with you." His father's expression made it clear that he didn't agree with Blaine's assessment of himself, but that didn't change anything. "I have to do this Dad. I don't know that I can explain why, but I know I have to."
"Your mother and I always want you," John told him. "You know that right?"
Blaine nodded. "Yeah dad, I do."
John sighed. "When do you plan on going?"
"I don't know exactly," Blaine said. "Dave's gotten a new place and we need to buy some stuff. I need to pack. But soon."
"Ok," the Colonel said. Whether he liked it or not, he would accept Blaine's choice. He got up, grabbed his glasses and his book next to him to head upstairs. "Don't be a stranger though okay? You and Dave should come over for dinner some time."
"Yeah, sure okay," Blaine said with a smile. "Thanks."
Blaine let out a breath. He felt that with the decision made a weight that had been there since Kurt had come home was lifted from him. He took another bite of his forgotten sandwich and picked up his phone. This was right. He knew it was.
From Blaine to Dave: Yes.
From Santana to Blaine: I'm sending you Brittany as a house warming gift.
From Blaine to Santana: Um, gee Tana. She's not exactly our type.
From Santana to Blaine: To decorate you idiot. God, I don't share easy, you'd think I'd get your gratitude not your sass.
From Blaine to Santana: You love my sAss. ;P
From Blaine to Santana: And thank you Tana. For your enormous generosity. I'll try to pretend I don't know she's there to spy.
From Santana to Blaine: If she finds a box of sex toys I'm having her burn them.
From Blaine to Santana: Now see? Why would I ever be ungrateful?
It was supposed to just be a quick trip to the music store. His dad was right, a song couldn't be unsung and Blaine had to make sure he had just the right one to knock the socks off the judges. Dave kept making him second guess everything, but he knew if he could just browse for a while he'd find the right piece.
When he'd heard Kurt's voice he didn't even think. Not at first. For just a moment he was back to best friends when everything was easy. But then it wasn't easy at all.
He couldn't help but wonder if this was how it was for Kurt the first time, knowing Blaine had wanted him back but not being able to trust him. He remembered that horrible day in the hallway at McKinley. It had been Kurt running then. Blaine wondered if he was the one running now.
As he sat in the Lima Bean with Dave he tried to concentrate on the conversation, but images kept flooding back. The coffee shop was full of reminders of the days when Kurt had loved him without fear or regret. When they'd risked everything to be together. Kurt had taught him what love really was, he was his safe place to fall and his escape. And he was Kurt's.
Looking up at the man smiling down at him so adoringly, he realized how strange it was that Dave had been the one to bring them together. Would he now be the one to keep them apart?
"Hey," Dave said, looking at his watch. "Should we go back to your house to keep packing or…"
Blaine was pulled out of his memories and he blinked his eyes clear. "I need to stop back at Dalton to drop this stuff off. I want to try out a few arrangements before tomorrow."
"Okay," Dave said with a smile. "Drop me at home and tomorrow we can finish packing while Brittany works her magic on the apartment."
Blaine laughed as they grabbed their things and headed out to the car. "Doesn't Brittany's magic scare you a little bit?"
"I try not to be so scared anymore," Dave said and Blaine knew it was things like that that made him care for Dave. Fear was a trap. "Nothing good comes of being scared."
Blaine didn't respond. He turned the music on and Dave listened to him sing on their way back to his house. It's Too Late came on the radio and he felt a pang in his chest. Dave didn't join in and Blaine was grateful.
"See you tomorrow," Blaine said, leaning over the seat to give him a kiss before Dave got out of the car. He pulled away as Dave waved goodbye from his front doorstep.
He didn't go to his office, instead he went straight to the piano, sheet music in his hand. He set it out when his phone vibrated and he picked it up, his Dad asking when he'd be home. He answered and went to put the phone down but before he knew it he was flipping through photos of Kurt. He landed on one, Kurt at Finn and Rachel's non-wedding. The day that Kurt had forgiven Dave. The day Kurt had asked him about kids. The day Blaine had said he had their future all planned out. It was funny how much had changed since that day, how the world had flipped upside down, and yet two things remained the same.
He still loved Kurt. And with or without him, he still believed he could fly.
"I even baked you rainbow cookies," Brittany said, pulling a baking sheet out of the oven.
Dave didn't hesitate to take a piping hot one from the tray and bite into it. "Oh my gosh," he said with his mouth full. "This is delicious."
Brittany beamed. "Okay as fun as this is, I've got lady kisses waiting at home for me and she's gonna want a full report."
"Thanks Britt," Dave said, hugging her sweetly. "The room looks amazing."
"I'll walk you out," Blaine said, a hand on the small of her back as he opened the door for her and walked her out to the car. "Thank you Britt. For your decorating of course, but also just for being here. Supporting me. Without you and Santana…"
"We love you Blaine," Brittany smiled. "No matter what. We just want you to be happy."
Blaine nodded appreciatively. "I am," he said and the words came out before he realized that in a lot of ways, they were true. "You know, I think for so long I was holding on to a memory. We both were. It's hard to let go. But sometimes you have to and you just have to move on." He smiled slightly and looked back at the door leading to his new apartment. "Wherever it leads."
Brittany shrugged. "Well who can't be happy in a house full of rainbows," she grinned and Blaine laughed, pulling her in for a hug.
"Smartest girl in the world," he said, kissing her softly on her head. "Tell Santana thank you for me."
Brittany pulled away and winked. "Oh you know I will."
Blaine shook his head fondly, opened the car door for her and watched her drive away. He turned back to the new place he'd call home. He'd always put so much stock in that word – home. But this was his seventh move since he'd walked out of the place he'd grown up, hand-in-hand with Kurt. And even though some of those moves had been back and forth and back again, this was really the first time he felt that he was moving out on his own. In a lot of ways it was the scariest move he had made. But nothing good comes of being scared Dave had said. And Blaine believed he was absolutely right.
"So to what do I owe the pleasure of your company," Blaine asked, grinning as he brought Santana over Dalton's finest coffee. Her visit had been unexpected but certainly not unwanted. He missed her, seeing her. Talking on the phone or texting just wasn't the same.
She took the coffee from him and hesitated. She didn't know how he would take the news and the last thing she wanted to do was hurt him. "I asked Brittany to marry me," she said with a quiet delicateness so unlike her. "And she said yes."
"What!" His voice was high and excited and his smile reached all the way to his wide open eyes. "Santana that's amazing!"
Santana beamed and the tension disappeared from her shoulders, all the worry she'd had flowing out of her. "I just wanted you to hear it from me."
"Tell me everything," he said eagerly.
"Well, we were together the other night and I just…I just realized I never wanted to live without her." She blushed, her vulnerability rising to her cheeks. But Blaine was one of the only people she trusted with that. "So while Brittany was decorating your apartment I went out and bought a ring. And then this morning in Glee, we sang this mashup and then I proposed and she said yes."
"God Santana," Blaine breathed out. "That's incredible. I'm so happy for you."
"I'm glad you are," she said, taking a sip of her coffee. "I was worried you'd be as upset as Kurt." The words came out of her mouth before she could even think and she clamped her mouth shut as the smile faded from Blaine's lips.
"Kurt was upset?" he asked but he didn't even give her time to answer. "No of course he was," he muttered sadly.
"Don't you worry though, I ripped him a new one," she told him.
"Oh no Santana," Blaine said, leaning forward on the table. "You shouldn't have done that."
But Santana didn't need Blaine telling her what she should and shouldn't do. "Boy can't rip my best friend's heart to shreds and then get away with trying to destroy everyone else's happiness. Likes to climb on his high horse and tell us we're too young to get married but it's only because he's too afraid to admit that if it's not true for us then it hadn't really been true for him. Just because he's too stupid to hold onto the greatest thing that ever happened to him doesn't mean the rest of us are."
"Santana," Blaine said softly. He reached across the table and took her hand. "Kurt's your friend. You don't have to hate him for me or even be angry at him. I don't and I'm not. Not anymore."
"I just…" She looked down at their clasped hands and she squeezed him tight. "I just hate the way he hurt you."
"That doesn't mean you should hurt him back," Blaine said. He offered her a warm smile. "I love that you want to defend my honor but you don't have to. I'm a big boy."
"Wanky," she teased and they both let out a laugh. "Ok, you're right. I probably shouldn't have said the things I said."
"All that love you give to Britt and me? Spread it around a little bit," Blaine said. "The rest of the world deserves to see you like we do."
Kurt was standing backstage of the auditorium, arms folded, staring at the picture of Finn on the wall. Santana crossed the stage. "I thought Berry told you to go home."
"If you've come to tear me apart again-" he said bitterly.
"I haven't." She lowered her eyes. There were times when she came here too. Alone in the empty theater you could almost hear his voice. "Finn would tell you that you've never been afraid of getting married young," Santana said. "You're just afraid of getting married at all. Afraid of giving up even the tiniest bit of control to someone else."
You've already won me over in spite of me
"Do you think if he was here-"
"You'd still be a complete idiot?" Santana smiled at him, that warm smile that said that she was cruelest to the people she loved most. "Yeah. I do."
Kurt looked to her. Tears shined in his eyes. "Is he okay?" he asked softly. "Is he happy?" Santana just glanced away. If he wanted answers to those questions he could ask Blaine himself. The last thing they needed was a go between.
Don't be surprised if I love you for all that you are
"I have never stopped loving him Santana," Kurt said and he wandered back on stage, sitting back down. The stools were still there and he just looked through them. "I remember everything. The moment we met, the moment we first kissed. How I felt at prom when Karofsky left me on the dance floor and Blaine held out his hand." Now they were the ones dancing and he was the one alone. "I remember every minute with his family, his dad and Cooper. Every fight. I'm just so scared one day you're going to wake up and realize I don't love him anymore he told me." Kurt wiped the tears from his cheeks where they fell in his heartbreak. "But there's never been a day Santana."
"I know," she said and she took his hand. "He knows."
"It was so easy in the beginning when we were just two kids. He was so easy to love." He looked up at Santana and she couldn't help but feel bad for him. "When did I become someone who gave up just because it wasn't easy anymore? I fought for solos and NYADA and for the right to walk down the street without being beaten up. I fought for me and I fought for him Santana. Why couldn't I fight for us?"
"Maybe because there wasn't really anything you needed to be fighting for anymore Kurt," Santana said. "Maybe the only thing you had to do was love him."
He did love him. He loved him more today than he ever had when it was easy. "Don't be stupid like me Santana," he told her. "Don't get scared and push her away. Don't ever take her for granted. What you and Brittany have? It's special."
She squeezed his hand and stood up. "You know what else Finn would say?" Santana said with a soft smile. "Don't stop believing."
Author's Note:
Lots of references to previous episodes and chapters in this one! Did you get them all? :-)
Reviews are love 3
