Here's the new chapter! I know some of you have been waiting for this part of the story, so enjoy...and please read the final notes :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Kurt, Blaine or any of the characters mentioned in this story.

Chapter 10

The last few weeks had been very different between Kurt and Blaine. After that movie marathon-stay-over dinner they had had with Sam and Mercedes they were more closer than ever. They were not officially together because nothing had happened between them, not even a kiss, but certainly there was something going on between them. They had been openly flirting with each other and on several occasions, they had woken up to discover that they were embracing. Neither of them had tried to say anything, they were still afraid to say it out loud, so they were just letting things fall into place...naturally.

o-o-o-o-o

The first week of November arrived. Kurt was supposed to be out all weekend attending some art congress in which he would be representing the museum. He left on Thursday night and was supposed to be back until Sunday night. However, due to some drawbacks, the final days of the congress were canceled and he returned home on Saturday night. He arrived at the apartment, hoping to find Blaine lying on the couch watching one of those documentaries that he loved so much or maybe playing the zombies' video game with Sam, but the place was completely silent. As if no one was there.

"Blaine?" He asked, as soon as he entered the apartment. "Are you here? I came home earlier, the congress was canceled." He said, as a matter of explanation, but no one answered.

The place really looked deserted, the only noise was coming from the clock placed by the plasma. The empty box that Kurt had left on top of the dining table on Thursday night was still there, so not even the maid had been there. Confused, Kurt quickly looked at the key holder. Blaine's car keys were there, so that only meant that Blaine should be home—he very rarely left the apartment without his beloved car.

Kurt entered the main bedroom looking for him, but he wasn't there either. He left his luggage by the dressing room door and looked in the kitchen, laundry room, the library and finally he went to the studio. He opened the door, but the place was also empty. He frowned, and when he was about to close the door, he heard some noises coming from inside the locked room—the forbidden zone.

"Blaine?" He asked cautiously.

There was no answer. He walked near the door, trying to make sure of there was someone inside, and knocked slightly. He was almost certain that he had heard something, but wasn't completely convinced. He tried to listen more carefully, placing his ear against the door, and he heard some strange noises. Someone was definitely inside the room and was—according to him—crying.

"Blaine? Are you there? Are you alright?" He asked worriedly.

There was no answer again, but this time Kurt knew Blaine was the one crying. He had never seen Blaine crying, but he knew the color of his voice and the sounds coming from that room were definitely his. He sounded strange, broken and inconsolable.

"It's me, Blaine, Kurt. I came home earlier…are you alright? What's going on?"

Blaine kept crying. Kurt tried to open the door, but it was locked so he cursed in silence.

"Please, Blaine! Tell me what's going on. What happened? Why are you crying? Why are you locked in that room? Please let me help you."

Blaine didn't answer, he just kept crying and Kurt was desperate.

"Please, Blaine. I know it's hard for you, but you can trust me. Let me in, let me help you! Tell me what's happening! Why are you crying?"

Blaine didn't answer again. Kurt could only hear Blaine's cries of pain. It was very hard to hear him suffering like that. He was in agony and Kurt had tears in his eyes due to the frustration.

"Please, Blaine, please! I hate to hear you so broken! Let me help you, I can do it, whatever it is, I promise to listen and not judge or ask. If you don't want to tell me anything it's fine. I don't need to know, but at least let me be with you…it's killing me to hear you crying and not be able to comfort you! Please, Blaine…remember that you're not alone anymore. I'm here for you…please!" Kurt begged.

Blaine didn't reply, but the door suddenly cracked open and a broken version of Blaine threw himself into Kurt's arms. Kurt caught Blaine in time and hugged him tightly. Blaine cried for almost half an hour without stopping and Kurt just rocked him in his arms. Kurt tried with all his heart not to cry, but seeing Blaine crying like that made him lose control, and he started to cry as well.

o-o-o-o-o

After some time Blaine looked up and saw Kurt's teary eyes. "Why are you crying too?" He asked, sobbing slightly.

"Because it kills me to see you suffering! Why don't you see that? Your pain is my pain, Blaine! I only wish I knew why you're crying like this."

Blaine looked him with his eyes full of water and took his hand to let him enter the room. Kurt walked hesitantly because now he wasn't sure if he wanted to see whatever it was inside that room. He had to admit that he was afraid of whatever was waiting inside.

Kurt entered the room and gasped.

"Oh my God..." He exclaimed in a whisper.

The room, which seemed to be smaller from the outisde, was in fact the size of the actual studio. It was a very bright and huge place with millions of boxes, pictures hanging on the wall and a black piano. Kurt looked around confused.

"You play the piano?" He asked.

Blaine just nodded.

"Then, why do you have it in here and not in the living room?"

"Because I don't play anymore...it's something I used to share with my dad. I haven't played in several years."

Kurt didn't say a word. He had gotten distracted with the pictures hanging on the walls and the ones that were scattered all over the floor. Blaine took a picture that was near the couch and showed it to Kurt. Kurt smiled, recognizing one of the kids in the picture—it was an 8 year old version of Blaine. He was very young, but he was still the same handsome boy that Kurt knew so well. However, the other one was a complete stranger. He was definitely older than Blaine, maybe four or five years older, and had a gorgeous face highlighted by two large blue eyes, brown hair and that same beautiful smile that Kurt loved so much.

"He was my brother. His name was Cooper…today was his birthday, he would have turned 32." Blaine said, starting to cry again.

Kurt looked at the picture and put his hand over Cooper's face, now he could see the resemblance. They both were very good looking men, completely different, but still so alike. The Anderson brothers were very, very handsome. Kurt had his favorite, that was for sure, but he could see that Blaine's brother had also been a very attractive man with a gorgeous smile, eyes that could make you melt in a second, and that same special charm that Blaine had.

"What happened to him?" Kurt asked, without taking his eyes away from the picture.

"He died four years ago…and it was all my fault!" Blaine confessed, crying loudly. Tears were streaming down his face and he fell defeated to the ground.

Kurt knelt beside him and put the picture aside. Carefully, he reached out his arms to grab Blaine's shoulders and hugged him again.

"I don't know what happened, but I'm sure it's not your fault." Kurt said, trying to comfort Blaine a little.

"It was my fault! I left him, Kurt! He needed me, and I left him!" Blaine said, crying loudly.

Kurt sat next to Blaine and hugged him tightly. Blaine was like a little broken baby boy and all Kurt wanted to do was to hug him tightly and make sure he was okay.

Blaine hadn't showed his emotions with anyone, not even with Sam, but he knew that with Kurt things were different, so he let go and continued crying desperately, hiding his head under Kurt's neck.

The whole time Kurt couldn't help but look at the pictures hanging on the wall; in almost all of them Blaine was there with his brother, his mom or his dad. They looked like a very close-knit and happy family. Kurt's mind was wondering why Blaine had kept this side of himself hidden in these walls.

After some time Kurt asked politely, "Do you want to talk about it?"

Blaine looked at him with his beautiful and teary hazel eyes and just nodded.

"Okay, go on. I'm listening, tell me whatever you want me to know. Don't worry, I won't judge you. I'll just try to understand. Remember that I just want to help you, Blaine."

Blaine looked at him and without second thoughts, he began to tell his story. "Five years ago, my dad died in a tragic car accident. I still can remember it as if it had happened just yesterday. I was in my last year of college, and I had missed classes that day because it was my dad's birthday and Coop was coming home to celebrate with us."

"He didn't live here?"

"No, he was living in LA with his girlfriend. He was in charge of the small branch of Anderson & Partners there."

"Okay, go on."

"I picked him up at the airport and along with my mom, we prepared a beautiful dinner just for my father. He was out of town, he had had to go to Boston to attend some event and was supposed to be home by night. I remember that my mom was extremely anxious that day and she didn't even know why. The irony, right? It was as if life was somehow telling her that something bad was about to happen, but she didn't get it until it was too late." Blaine said, chocking a little on his own tears. "Anyway, my dad called when he left the hotel and told us that he was on his way and that he'd be home by eight. We waited, and waited, and waited, and he didn't arrive…three hours, Kurt! Three fucking hours!" Blaine said, crying.

Kurt looked at him and in a tender move stroked his face to wipe away some tears. Blaine closed his eyes and continued telling the story.

"Almost at midnight the phone rang and my mom picked up thinking it was him, but it wasn't. Her face went pale and she passed out. I was just a few steps away from her, so I ran to catch her just in time and Coop took the phone. I remember that he started asking too many questions and his voice was shattered. After I put my mom on the couch I ran away...I walked for hours, not wanting to face the truth. My mom's face and Coop's voice were all I needed at the time to understand what had happened. I went to my dad's office, now my office, and I stayed there for hours just contemplating the view...Sam found me later and took me home. It was a very hard time for all of us. I think that when my father died our family died with him too."

"Why?" Kurt asked carefully.

"Because we didn't know how to handle his death. He was the glue that held us together...without him, we just disappeared as a family. My mom was very depressed and didn't talk to anyone for several months. She didn't even attend my dad's funeral, and after some days, I had to go back to school and Coop took over the company. That's when everything got out of control. Our family dynamic changed completely and although, Coop and I tried to keep things as normal as possible between us, we couldn't help but distance ourselves a bit. He was now Mr. Anderson and although he was still my brother, he had plenty of things to do, money to administrate, business to attend, important people to meet and a big hole in his heart." Blaine said, taking a deep breath to continue. "Eventually, we realized that the only time we could spend together was in the company events and parties, so we started to find time to go to all the events available in the city. As you can imagine, we lost control; I started 'to live' my life as an idiot and so did Cooper. We spent all the money we could in silly hobbies and useless stuff, we went to events together and we got drunk until we passed out. We were very stupid; we had power, money and no control at all."

"And your mom?"

"She was too depressed to see what was happening. The thing is, that during all that time I didn't know that he was doing some other things besides alcohol. I thought he trusted me, I thought I knew him better than anyone, that's why when they told me how he had died, I didn't believe it. I still find it hard to believe. He was always such a perfect son, Kurt. He was extremely responsible, honest, smart and very charismatic. Everybody loved him. He was a lawyer, you know? He graduated from Yale! He was the greatest achievement that this family had ever had. He was perfect in every way. For me, he was some kind of superhero, after my father, of course...that's why it hurts me so much. Back then, when my father died and we had the reading of his will, the lawyer said that my dad's last wish about the company was that we took care of it. Obviously, I was still in school, so Coop was the first in line to take over. It was obvious, I mean, he already knew a lot about the business with the two years he had spent in LA, and everyone agreed that he was the best option for the company at the time. I agreed too, after all, it was natural that he assumed my dad's position once he was gone. Now I know it was such a pressure for him."

Kurt smiled apologetically. He didn't know what to say.

"He told me once that he couldn't keep pretending to be dad, but I didn't think it was important. I didn't care, Kurt. I was selfish. I was just worried about my own life and I didn't listen, I didn't pay attention and then...he died too." Blaine said, bursting into tears again.

"What happened to him?" Kurt asked carefully.

"He was found dead in his apartment…five days after his actual death. He had an overdose of alcohol and drugs…a lethal cocktail." Blaine explained.

"I'm so sorry." Kurt said, sincerely. He couldn't even begin to fathom the pain Blaine must have felt with that. It was obvious with the way he was talking about his brother that for Blaine, Cooper was, indeed, some kind of superhero.

"He was my hero, Kurt, my best friend, my role model, but he died and I blame myself everyday for that. If I had only listened, if I had paid attention to the small details…if I had helped him."

"It wasn't your fault, Blaine—he lost himself." Kurt said, trying to help Blaine.

"But I wasn't there for him, Kurt. He was my brother, I was supposed to help him. The company was not his entire responsibility, my dad made it clear that we both should take care of it. But it was easy for me to pass him the entire responsibility."

"You were young, you can't blame yourself for that."

"I know that, but I also know that I made a mistake, Kurt. I know I should have done more, but that's not what hurts me the most."

"Then, what is it?"

"That I didn't call him, Kurt. I didn't worry when the people from the office called to ask me if I knew something about him. He was missing and in my stupidity, I thought that he had just gone to visit his girl, and I didn't even bother to call or to go and check on him." Blaine said, crying again. "That's why, when they found him, I went crazy, the pain and guilt took over me and I made myself the promise to never get attached to anyone in my life again! It's a promise that I had kept intact until recently."

"Until recently?"

"Yes, lately I've lost control of my life and my emotions."

Kurt blushed and looked away, trying to hide his flushed face. A picture caught his eye and made him smile; it was one of Blaine kissing his mom's cheek. It was a very sweet and beautiful picture, but it looked weird. The way Blaine had treated her during last month's dinner was nothing like the way Blaine was looking at her in that picture.

"Blaine…can I ask you something?"

"Yes." Blaine replied, still sobbing a little.

"I cannot help but notice that you were a very close-knit family, but you and your mom don't look like that anymore. I'm sorry, but that day at the restaurant you were so distant with her that I don't know…all of these pictures tell me that it wasn't always like that."

"And you're right, it wasn't always like that." Blaine explained. "When my dad died and she drowned herself in depression, I didn't care, I was too selfish to see her pain and I got away from her. It was the easier thing to do, but when Cooper died I blamed her for not being there for us. I told her that she had been selfish and I blamed her for everything that had happened. I'm not trying to justify myself, but try to understand...I was just a 24 year old guy with no experience at all who all of a sudden had to become the CEO of a major publishing company, who had to arrange the funeral of his own brother and to top that, who had to deal with a mother who had been absent for almost a year. I didn't have a minute to think things clearly, so I did what I thought it was the best for everyone...I sent her away. Using the power I had over the family money, the properties and the company, I sold the house she had with my dad here in the city and I sent her to Chicago…alone."

"Why did you do that?"

"Because I didn't want her near me. I hated her, I hated everything about her. I accused her of ruining my life, although now I know she didn't do anything, and I also blamed her for Cooper's death. I said horrible things, Kurt! I told her we needed her and that she hadn't been there for us...I banished her from my life. All these years I've been using the same silly excuse that I sent her there, so she could get away from this city that hold back so many memories of my dad and brother, but the truth is..." Blaine said, sobbing again, "that I didn't want her around because I had to learn to live without her just in case life decided to take her away from me too. I know it's silly, but I'm not that strong, Kurt! I won't be able to handle another loss like that."

Kurt caressed Blaine's face. Hearing the story made it all fall into place. It was as if Kurt were finally able to see the whole puzzle that was Blaine Anderson,.

"You always wanted to know why I haven't had a formal relationship before…well, there's the answer…I'm a coward. I'm afraid to be attached to a person who one day may not be with me anymore. My heart is not strong enough, Kurt. I don't want to suffer like that ever again."

"I understand that, Blaine, believe me that I do." Kurt said, he knew that this was his only chance to help Blaine, so he tried to make the most of it. He wasn't an expert on the matter, but he had some experience. "You know that I lost a brother too, and my mom, and although I'm sure nobody can feel what you're feeling inside, I know how it feels to have a loss like that. Many times I thought the same thing you do, Blaine. I thought that my heart would not be strong enough, but I promise you that it won't break. You'd be surprised to discover how much pain one's heart can handle. I know it's hard, but you cannot keep living like this forever. One day, you'll have to learn to forgive yourself and understand that nothing of what happened to your brother and your dad was your fault, and you'll have to let your walls down. You'll have to try to fix your life and most importantly, you'll have to trust your heart to someone, so you can be happy again."

Blaine looked at Kurt directly in the eyes and whispered. "That's what I'm trying to do."

Kurt's heart skipped several beats and his mind tried to understand the meaning behind Blaine's words. Blaine was vulnerable, his eyes were full of tears and Kurt lost all his self-control. His mind and heart lost connection again, and he leaned closer to him.

"Blaine." He whispered, looking into those hazel eyes before closing the small distance between them and kissing him.

Blaine trembled a little under Kurt's touch. He was still afraid to let go, but Kurt's words kept ringing in his mind. "You cannot keep living like this forever." So hiding all his fears and using his heart, he kissed him back. Putting into that kiss everything he had to give.

They kissed! They finally kissed! I've been delaying this because I love the game between them, but it was about time for some change. I hope you liked it! I know many of you wanted to know the story behind Blaine's family so I decided to add it here. I hope I have fulfilled your expectations. In other news, this chapter was split in two, originally it was a single chapter, but because of reasons that I'll explain in the final notes on the next chapter, I decided to split it ;)

Wait for the next chapter and I'm sure you'll understand why I did it. Love you all and thanks for reading XOXOXO