A year passed.

Hands threaded together they walked down the streets, graced with a dust of dirty snow and their footprints, tangled together. They were just coming back from a movie, and Blaine was gushing about his favourite parts, Cooper watching him with doting eyes. The seasons had changed four times over but Blaine hadn't. He was still the same, gushing, precious little thing that Cooper kept so close to his heart.

He was mid-sentence when Cooper pressed him against a lamp post, admiring the way the dim light lit up the gold in his eyes before he kissed him, Blaine melting into his touch, tangling his fingers through his hair, sighing into his mouth.

Cooper pulled away, grinning down into Blaine's starry eyes. "Let's get home," he said warmly and Blaine nodded eagerly.

They walked along, their feet kicking up snow in their path when they heard it.

A sob.

They both looked up, startled, exchanging confused looks before glancing around.

Blaine saw him first.

"There," he murmured, tugging on Cooper's hand and jerking his head towards the corner where the road branched off into a side alleyway. He darted off and Cooper could only scurry after him as he made his way to the boy, slumped against the wall, the lids of his eyes bruised and closed, the rise and falls of his chest too slow to be healthy.

"He's hurt," Blaine whimpered, dropping to his knees beside him. He thumbed down his neck, until he found his pulse. "But he's breathing."

"Let's get him home," Cooper said urgently, moving to his side instantly and scooping the boy up in his arms without hesitation.

They moved quickly, but thankfully weren't too far from home. Blaine unlocked the door with shaking hands and Cooper pushed through hastily, taking him through to the bathroom where Blaine was already running him a bath.

Cooper set him on the counter, sitting him up against the mirror and prodded his shoulder gently.

"Hey," he murmured gently, "could you open your eyes for me please, buddy?"

The boy let out a little whine, trying to push Cooper away but he prodded him again.

"I'm sorry to wake you," Cooper said softly as the boy slowly lifted his lids. "My name is Cooper, and this is Blaine. We found you… and we think you're hurt. We want to help you. Could you tell us your name?"

The boy started as he came to his consciousness, eyes widening quick and bright as he drunk in his unfamiliar surroundings. Cooper repeated his words, rubbing his shoulder gently, keeping his eyes wide and earnest.

Finally, the boy let out a little shuddery exhale and nodded.

"My name is Kurt," he said, his voice achingly soft and shy. Cooper rubbed his shoulder, smiling into his eyes.

"Thank you, Kurt," he said encouragingly. "Could you tell us what you remember?"

Kurt's eyes, a dazed, dust particle grey, welled with tears and a small sob shuddered through him. Cooper waited patiently, his face falling with sympathy as he kept his arm on his shoulder, rubbing in soothing strokes.

"It's okay, Kurt," he murmured, "you're safe now."

"I ran away," Kurt managed at last. "I was living with my g-godfather and he-he…" Kurt sniffed, "he was awful and I couldn't stay there-I couldn't."

"So you ran away?" Cooper prompted, moving his hand further down his back, rubbing in soothing , tender motions. Kurt nodded.

"I had a bit of money… but they took it."

"Who's they?" Blaine voiced, speaking behind them from the first time from where he stood, back leaning against the far wall. Kurt started a little, having not seen him at first, but quickly recovered, casting his eyes low under his tear wet lashes.

"I don't know their names… they f-found me… in the alley and they…"

"What did they do to you?" Cooper asked, fighting the anger building his chest.

Slowly, speechlessly, Kurt lifted his shirt and Cooper and Blaine both gasped at the sight of his chest, the skin dirty and pale like the snow still falling outside, littered with a litany of bruises and deep cuts.

Cooper moved immediately.

"We've got to get you cleaned up."

Blaine had to leave the room as Cooper took care of Kurt, unable to take his cries as Cooper attended to his painful wounds. He busied himself making soup for them all in the kitchen, locating some warm clothes for Kurt and laying them out in the spare room, just like Cooper had done for him.

He didn't have to do this alone anymore.

Once Kurt was all cleaned up, Cooper led him out and found the clothes Blaine had left him.

"Put these on, sweetheart," Cooper told Kurt softly, "and we'll talk over dinner, okay?" Kurt nodded, shooting Cooper a grateful smile, his eyes darting to Blaine a little nervously before he met his equally warm smile.

Blaine blushed under the acute stare of his rain puddle eyes.

"Thank you for your help, baby," Cooper murmured, coming up behind him as he divided the soup between the three bowels. When he was done dishing them out, Cooper pressed him into the counter kissing him gently and gratefully. Blaine kissed him back, cupping his cheek.

Kurt emerged minutes later and took a seat at the table across from Blaine. Cooper sat on the side that fell between them and poured Kurt a glass of juice, which he gulped down eagerly.

Cooper squeezed his knee softly as he ate. He could tell he was starving by the eager way he gulped down his soup and Cooper continued to rub up his leg comfortingly.

"Good boy," he praised softly. "We can't have you starving on us…"

Kurt shot Cooper a bashful smile before returning to his food. "It's good," he murmured.

"Thank you," Blaine said, a little shyly, ducking his head to hide his blush.

Precious.

When Kurt was finished his soup, Cooper offered him the rest of his but he declined quietly. Blaine stood up to collect all their things and Cooper took it as an opportunity to get Kurt to talk, scooting closer.

"You don't have to tell me anything, sweetheart," he told him, "but I just want to help you. Do you have another place to stay? Anyone at all you could call?"

With wide, sorrowful eyes, Kurt shook his head. "My father died six months ago," he said, his voice catching a little on the admission. "My mom died when I was eight… my godfather was all I had left but I can't stay there… he was horrible."

"What did he do to you?" Cooper asked quietly.

Kurt dropped his gaze. "He called me a fag."

Cooper automatically caught Kurt's hand in his, squeezing tightly.

"And other things," Kurt continued. "He never hurt me… physically but emotionally…" his voice dropped to a whisper, "I just couldn't stay there."

"Hey," Cooper murmured gently, shifting even closer, tapping his forehead against Kurt's tenderly, "it's okay. You're safe now. You can stay here."

Kurt's eyes lifted hopefully. "I can?"

Cooper smiled.

"We'll take care of you, Kurt."

After they finished cleaning up dinner, Cooper brought out the ice cream he had bought per Blaine's special request. It was macadamia and white chocolate – Blaine's favourite.

"Mine too," Kurt said softly. Blaine grinned, curling up on the couch beside him.

"I guess we can share," he teased.

Cooper put on Tangled at Kurt's shy request and pulled a blanket over the boy's shoulders before sitting in the armchair by their side. He only half watched the movie, too engrossed in their reactions to it.

Watching them duet I See the Light was possibly the most heartbreakingly beautiful thing he had ever seen.

Kurt fell asleep, head drooping onto Blaine's shoulder towards the end and Cooper couldn't help but smile at the contented little sigh that fell from his lips, or the way Blaine blushed as he tugged the blanket a little snugger around his shoulders, nestling in closer.

By the time the credits rolled they were both asleep, their little snores and sleepy, subconscious sighs so adorable that Cooper didn't have the heart to wake them.

So alone he went, to his big bed where he slept for the first night in a year, on his own.

He kept the door open for them.

Just in case.