Author's Note: Hey there :) Okay, so here it is, chapter 4. I'm so sorry it took me so long to get it up, but as promise, it's longer than the other chapters. Again, comments are welcomed. Heads up, the next chapter is going to be the last one. I'd love to write more so any prompts or even song choices would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading, don't forget to review!

The house looked the same as it always had. Lisa gasped at the size of the estate as Cooper pulled into the circular driveway. He parked and opened the car door as Lisa got out.

"Don't worry, I know it seems really intimidating but it'll be fine," Cooper said with a wink.

"I hope so because no offense, but your house looks like something out of a horror movie," Lisa teased as she wrapped her arm around Cooper's waist for some much needed support.

"Well, I never said it wasn't," Cooper laughed as they walked closer to the front door.

Dinner was always something that Cooper dreaded when he was home. His father would try to critique every aspect of Cooper's life and make, as Mr. Anderson called them, "suggestions" to how he could make it better. Of course, Cooper wasn't one to sit there and listen to all the crap his father spewed out at him. This led to Cooper bantering back and forth with his father until voices were raised, fists were slamming on the table, and Cooper's mother was crying. Unfortunately, this night was no exception.

"You know, Cooper, I don't understand why you're continuing with this stupid rock band while you're trying to pursue a career in law. You don't have the time or energy to take away from law school; I don't think you understand just how important your future is."

"Dad, it's my life and I need to make my own decisions. Just because you think it's stupid doesn't mean I can't do it. I hang out with my friends on the weekends and sometimes we play at a few bars making pocket cash. It's my way of relaxing and last I checked, it doesn't affect you." Cooper was getting tired of rebuking his father's comments. He knew his father meant well, but at this point, he was simply trying to further control Cooper's life.

"Actually, it does affect me if you're throwing away time that you could be using to study more. If you fail out of law school, you'll come running back to me crying about needing a job and then it is my problem," Mr. Anderson shot at his eldest son. "I will not be faced with the embarrassment of my son failing out of law school. Think of how your family's reputation will suffer from your childish decisions, Cooper."

"Dad, I'm not gonna let you continue to think you run my life. I am a grown man and I can certainly make my own decisions. I'm not going to fail out of law school and if I wanted to be a pole dancer on weekends, I would, simply because I can."

Mr. Anderson stared down at his son from the other end of the table with a look of disgust on his face. He got up, picked up his plate and walked out of the room towards his study, slamming the door behind him.

Cooper laughed to himself, satisfied with winning this argument.

"So Blaine," he directed at his thirteen year old brother, who seemed to have been lost in a daze up until this point, "How's everything going with school? That from soccer?"

A flash of panic passed through Blaine's eyes as his hand instinctively touched the large scratch on the right side of his face before he calmly and quietly spoke. "School's been pretty good. Umm, yeah, the goalie was out sick the other day and I had to fill in; you know I'm not really the best goalie."

Cooper smiled as he remembered that day he had brought Blaine to the park to play soccer when he was about six and he had split his knee open after diving for a ball.

"Don't worry, B. I'm sure you'll get better at it and if not, who cares? You're the best striker on the team." Cooper knew this was true; he wasn't just saying it to cheer Blaine up. Actually, he found it pretty strange that Blaine had filled in for the goalie seeing as he was the top scorer on Blaine's youth soccer team. Probably just giving the other kids a chance to play before they eventually get cut, Cooper thought to himself.

The rest of dinner went pretty well; Mrs. Anderson and Lisa had a long winded discussion on Lisa's job as an art curator which continued as they began to clean up from dinner.

Cooper decided it was safe to leave Lisa with his mother as he and Blaine went downstairs into the family room to catch up and watch some Colombo reruns.

"What do you think of her?" Cooper asked Blaine seriously as the opening credits came on the TV screen.

"She's nice. And the fact that she didn't run out of the house screaming as soon as dad started speaking was a nice change. I like her," Blaine told his brother.

Although he had told Blaine all about Lisa over the phone, Cooper was happy that Blaine had now met her and could fully understand what Cooper had been rambling about for the past few months.

"That's true. Any girl who doesn't immediately leave after meeting him really is a keeper. She's amazing, and absolutely beautiful. Don't get any ideas, bro, I know how that adorable little brother act can charm any woman no matter how old she is," Cooper said as he ruffled Blaine's curls.

Blaine gave a nervous laugh as he reached over to grab the remote to turn up the volume. As he did, his shirt pulled up and Cooper saw four, giant, purpling marks that extended all the way up Blaine's right side.

"Woah, B, what is that?" he grabbed his baby brother as all the color from Blaine's face drained.

"This can't be from soccer, man. I was a goalie for almost twelve years and I know what kinds of bruises you get from being on the ground; these are not them," Cooper said, his voice laced with concern.

Blaine looked up at his brother, tears in his eyes; the same look that he had given Cooper whenever he would run into his bedroom after having a nightmare. Blaine let out a deep sigh and turned away, looking for something, anything, to distract his brother from continuing the conversation.

"Blaine, what's wrong? You know you can tell me anything," Cooper asked quietly.

Contemplating whether to take the opportunity or not, Blaine turned back to Cooper.

"I'm not gonna try to steal Lisa from you," Blaine finally said, cautiously looking at Cooper.

"B, I was just kidding," Cooper laughed. "I hope you didn't take that seriou-"

"I'm not gonna try to steal her from you because I don't like her," Blaine blurted out.

"Oh," Cooper commented, slightly disappointed. He couldn't understand why Blaine would lie to him about liking Lisa when he actually didn't. Of course Cooper wanted Blaine to like her, but his baby brother would always come first, and Blaine knew that. "I mean, that's fine, B. You know, nothing's like, set in stone or anything. But…Umm."

"No Coop, it isn't that. I do like her, but, I don't think she's pretty."
"Well, Blaine, everyone's entitled to their opinion, I'm not terribly offended if you don't think my girlfriend is prett-"

"Cooper, you don't understand!" Blaine practically shouted before realizing he was getting loud and took a deep breath. "I don't think any girls are pretty, I don't like any girls. Cooper, I… I like boys. I think they're pretty… The other boys on my soccer team were talking about how they thought some girls in their classes were pretty and I asked why they didn't think any of the other boys were pretty too… They looked at me like I was crazy and the next day at practice, they wouldn't talk to me. They wouldn't pass me the ball or anything and they kept glaring at me like there was something wrong with me… Our goalie was out sick a few days ago and I offered to fill the spot because even though I would be alone at the end of the field, at least I could choose to be by myself and not feel like I was being punished by them… At one point when I went out of the box to get the ball, one of the guys ran into me and a bunch of them ran over and started kicking me. They said they missed and were just trying to get the ball, but I know they were lying… They hate me, Coop, and I know everyone else will too."

Blaine hung his head as silent sobs overtook him, tears openly streaming down his face.

Cooper wanted to punch himself in the face for being so stupid. How hadn't he seen this sooner? How could he have been oblivious to something so important in his little brother's life? He didn't know how to make it better. For the first time in his life, Cooper was completely at a loss for words.

As Blaine's sobs became shallower, Cooper wrapped his arms around his tiny, baby brother. Blaine was so much smaller than Cooper remembered. He realized that he had been out of his little brother's life for far too long.

"Blaine, it doesn't matter to me if you're more attracted to Zac Efron than Jessica Alba or if you go to prom with some guy who you think is prettier than either of them; you're my brother and I love you. There is nothing you can say that would change that. And if anyone gives you trouble about it, I'll be here for you. I always have been and I always will be. I know it probably hasn't seemed that way lately since I haven't really been home, but I promise, B, I'm gonna be here for you as much as I can." Cooper rubbed Blaine's shoulders as the small boy's sobs became quieter.

Finally Blaine looked up at his older brother, a look of fear and sorrow in his eyes. "Please don't tell mom and dad," he begged.

"Hey, bro, that's not my job; it's yours, whenever you're ready."

"Thanks, Cooper," Blaine said, a sad smile forming on his face and his big, hazel eyes filled with gratitude and love for his brother.

"Anytime, kiddo."

"And Cooper, I really do like Lisa. I think she's great for you," the younger boy decided.

"Thanks, B." Cooper messed up Blaine's curls as he grabbed the remote and turned the volume up so they could continue watching TV.

Not before long, Blaine was curled up on the couch, fast asleep on Cooper's chest. Cooper sat there, holding his baby brother in a one armed hug, wondering how he was going to protect Blaine in the years to come.