A/N: Here's a new chapter for you! Not much to say in this author's note here... so enjoy this chapter!
Always remember to smile, because you are beautiful!
When Kurt returned downstairs again, he found Burt and Carole waiting at the kitchen table. His chair was pulled out, and Kurt readied himself for the conversation he had known was coming. When he sat down, Carole placed a mug of warm milk in front of him. Kurt smiled up graciously at her. She laid a hand on his back in the motherly gesture that used to make him uncomfortable, but now he welcomed. He had avoided eye contact with his dad until now; afraid of what he might see. But when he glanced up now he saw the warm smile that he had missed so much while away at school. He took a sip of his warm milk and sighed. His hand reached up and he massaged his temples. He could feel the stress lines forming.
"I never had dreamed that I would be doing this with him. It's not right. Cooper should be here. I hate seeing Blaine like this. I'm not sure he's been this broken since his parents disowned him. And even then, at least he still had Cooper. I just, I'm lost here." Kurt had to stop, getting choked up thinking of his best friend.
"How is he doing Kurt? Really?" Carole asked.
"He's falling apart. It's like he's so unsure of what to do, and where to go, and what to say. It's like this has absolutely shaken him to the core and he's not positive about anything anymore. His sense of security is shattered." Kurt answered honestly, looking down at his folded hands.
"What about the funeral? I mean, what does he want to do about it?" Burt questioned gently.
"He doesn't know. I mean, there's the money from Cooper's life insurance policy, but Blaine panicked last time I brought it up. I think he just wants someone to make the decision for him." Kurt thought of Blaine's earlier breakdown.
"We can talk to him about it later. How badly was he hurt in the accident?" Burt, always the logical one, helped steer Kurt's thoughts in a pointed direction.
"He had a concussion, the obvious gash down his cheek, and second degree burns down his left arm, but that's about it. He wasn't hurt too badly. He told me that Cooper flung his arm out to hold him from flying out the windshield. That's really been hurting him. He thinks that Cooper died because he didn't think fast enough to help save him, to mirror the reaction Cooper had to protect Blaine." Kurt shot a worried glance up the stairs and ran a hand through his hair, a new nervous habit he had formed.
"So how is Andrew?" Carole finally asked. Kurt froze. To his own surprise, he hadn't thought once about the boy since he had told Blaine.
"We…we aren't together anymore." Carole inhaled sharply and Burt clutched the edge of the table tight.
"Did he hurt you son?" Burt whispered.
"No. Well, no. I'm okay. Promise Dad. But I don't really wanna talk about it right now." Kurt nodded and forced a smile, knowing his dad would see right through it anyways. But it was quick to disappear when he heard the tears. If there was one thing that Kurt's ears were attuned to, it was Blaine. Carole and Burt also noticed and nodded.
"We'll talk more later son. Go. Blaine needs you." Kurt wasted no time in racing up the stairs. He opened Blaine's door slowly and found Blaine awake and sitting on the side of the bed staring out the window. Kurt stepped over slowly and sat down beside him. Blaine had his hands tightened into fists and after seeing Kurt entering was hurriedly wiping away tears. Kurt just smiled a sad smile and grabbed his friend's hands and unclenched them, wrapping his own fingers around them. Kurt pulled Blaine's head to his shoulder and rubbed his back softly.
"Come on Blaine. Let it out. I'll still be here. Let it go." Blaine choked on a sob and began to cry all over again. "I know, I know. It's hard. You'll be okay. I've got you." Blaine clutched Kurt tightly, even after he had cried himself out. Kurt pulled him back to the middle of the bed and sat behind him, wrapping himself around the boy. Blaine relaxed and fell asleep, but Kurt didn't dare move.
Suddenly, Iris's words came back to him and he found himself whispering, "I love you Blaine." His face turned bright red in embarrassment, only because he couldn't see the smile that filled Blaine's face at the long awaited words.
