Three weeks have passed since prom and the after party. Santana had snuck in just before Sebastian could help free Sam from the cuffs and got a few good snapshots with her camera phone. True to her word, she promised not to share them with anyone outside of glee club. Naturally within ten minutes the entire club had a copy, but with Sam's history they all agreed to keep mum and not show anyone else.
By the end of the weekend Blaine and Sam had spent the most amazing time together. Not once did they part. Rachel and Finn were the same. It was if each couple were so in love that the mere thought of separation was an impossibility. The return to school and to reality came as quite the shock for some of them, but eventually they all fell back into their normal schedules and life and fantasy parted ways once again. Nationals came and in their victory, the New Directions finally had their moment of glory. Graduation is merely hours away and soon everything will change. Cooper arrived, got an apartment and once the judge's verdict is read he and Blaine will, with all hope, be living together.
Sam sits impatiently in the choir room. All morning he's been waiting for Blaine's call. His leg bounces rapidly. Every few seconds he checks the ticking clock on the wall only to be disappointed. Rachel sits beside him. She takes his hand and smiles.
"It's going to be alright, Sam. The judge is going to let Blaine live with Cooper, and then he'll be safe." Her voice is soft and sweet as always.
Sam's worried eyes begin to look a little less concerned. He gives her a quick smile and says, "I hope so, but that's not all that I'm nervous about."
Rachel's head tilts when she sees the look in her best friend's eyes. "Sam, what are you planning?"
A small, mischievous smirk crosses the blonde teen's lips. "Can you keep a secret?" She nods and Sam reaches into his backpack and pulls out a folded magazine page. He opens it and reveals a picture of a simple golden ring in a black velvet box.
Rachel looks around, thankful they're alone. "Sam! Are you crazy! You and Blaine are juniors!"
Sam just laughs, "And you and Finn are seniors." He shakes his head. "Besides, who's to say the engagement will be a short one. I just want to be with him forever, Rachel."
She smiles, knowing the same is true of her and Finn. Not a day passes that she doesn't fantasize about growing old with him, having children, doing everything together, experiencing everything that life has to offer. So, she smiles and says, "Well, how are you going to ask him?"
Sam smiles, "I've got a plan. I'm going to New York with him and Cooper for a couple of weeks this summer, while Cooper films a few scenes from his latest movie. I'm going to take him to Central Park, rent a boat and when we're in the middle of the lake, with all the ducks and swans around us, and then I'll sing him his favorite song. Either that or I'll stick the ring in a double fudge brownie, they're his favorites. I can't decide."
Rachel laughs, "Just keep it simple, whatever you do ... Blaine will love it."
"Are you sure, I mean this is Blaine we're talking about...he deserves better than simple." Sam's cheeks are flushed and his heart races. In his eyes Rachel can see how important this is. "Blaine deserves something special after everything that's happened...we both do."
...
Blaine sits nervously next to his brother. He stares only at the black robes of the judge sitting before him. Next to him is Sebastian's father and on the other side of the room sit his parents with their attorney. Cooper's hand finds his and Blaine breathes a heavy sigh.
"Its gonna be alright, little brother. It's going to be you and me from here on out." Cooper says giving his hand a slight squeeze.
Blaine smiles for a moment before he looks across the room at his parents. Their eyes meet with his own and his body becomes cold and numb, like he's drowning in an ice bath. Shivers run rampantly up and down his spine, his hairs stand on end and his throat tightens as he gazes into their icy stares. Disappointment and anger shine through a facade of concern and love. The bang of a gavel echoes and Blaine jumps in surprise.
"Mr. Anderson," the judge says looking at Blaine. The teen's lip quivers as he shifts his gaze. "Are you all right?"
Nodding his head, he tries to command his body to stop trembling. "Yes...yes..." his eyes shift to the left, "yes, sir."
The judge sighs, "It's clear, this young man is terrified of his parents, and therefore, I am not only granting him the right to live with his brother, Cooper Anderson, as his guardian, but I am transferring the interest of the trust, belonging to David and Bethany Anderson over to Cooper. " Blaine's parents try to stand and argue but their lawyer gestures for them to remain calm and seated. The judge sighs, "Furthermore, I am enforcing the trust's rule over family counseling, and I'm adding in parental therapy for David and Bethany. Should either of you," He gives them his most serious look, "Miss a session of either session, you will be held in contempt."
The Andersons nod and the judge turns to Blaine, "The same goes for the two of you. I know Blaine from the records provided by the appointed therapist hasn't missed a session, but Cooper has only been present at four of them. Now," He says looking directly at Cooper, "You can video chat if you have work on a set somewhere, but that's the only excuse."
"Yes, sir." Cooper says nodding quickly.
The judge smiles, "Good, then I have one final order, Blaine Anderson shall henceforth be known as trustee of the Anderson Family Trust, he alone may choose a successor. That is all." The gavel bangs and Blaine is left speechless.
His chest rises and falls, but he doesn't even realize he's breathing, his mind is too busy trying to comprehend what has just happened. He can hear his parents yelling at their lawyer, but its muffled. Cooper's hand on his forearm, feels distant and faint, like being touched by a ghost. Nothing is registering, not his rapid heartbeat, not his lawyer smiling and congratulating him, nothing-and then he thinks of Sam. It's only for a moment, a blink of an eye, but in it he sees that big smiles, that mess of blonde hair, and those big green eyes, and in that moment he finds the stillness of the world and everything just stops. He closes his eyes slowly and lets out a deep breath. When he opens his eyes, he smiles, and feels like everything is okay, and it's because of Sam.
...
Sam and Rachel are sitting together in Glee Club, watching the clock tick and listening to Tina and Santana cover Florence and the Machine's Shake it Out. Mercedes and Brittany sit on stools next to them and help harmonize, while everyone listens intensely. Sam's mind is too fixated on Blaine. He should have heard from him by now and he's contemplating running out of the room to find them, but he knows he's supposed to wait until the final bell so he doesn't get counted absent. Even a single missed class would result in his being held back. He's made up the days he missed, but Figgins had told him that if he got so much as a C on a final he would have to do summer school, which meant losing time to spend with Blaine in New York.
The idea of proposing was suddenly seeming like a pipe dream. He worried about all the factors stacked against them, their young ages, lack of income, impossible dreams, it all sends him into a panic. His breathing becomes short and quick. His chest tightens as he feels his heart begin to race, each thump harder and louder than the last. He rubs his eyes and spots appear and refuse to leave. His phone vibrates in his pocket. He pulls it out and sees the message from Blaine.
BLAINE: HEY, BABE! WE WON! TELL YOU ABOUT IT OVER DINNER TONIGHT?
Sam smiles and texts back.
SAM: CAN'T WAIT! LOVE YOU. MISS YOU.
He calms down knowing that Blaine is safe and out of his parents' house. Nothing could be better. The music ends and Will dismisses the kids for the day, asking Sam to hang back. Rachel pats him on the shoulder and says that she'll wait in the parking lot for him.
Sam walks over to his father, hands in his pockets. He's nervous and it shows on his face. As his heart races, Will walks over to the desk in his office. When he returns, Sam feels like his heart is going to explode.
Will smiles at him, "Son, I know you're going to propose to Blaine."
Sam's eyes widen with panic. "Dad! I...I can...I can explain!"
His father laughs and shakes his head, "Look, son, I know you two have the odds stacked against you, and every parent in this country will probably say I'm insane for saying this," he runs his hand through his hair. "But, I know what it's like to be young and in love, and to just know that the person you're with is the person you're meant to be with. I felt it with your mother, and I feel it with Emma. Things like that are rare, so I want you to have this." He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a black velvet box.
Sam takes it and opens it. A small, golden band, rests in the center. Its old, but shined to look new. Will speaks, smiling at his son's awestruck face. "It was my grandfather's wedding band. My grandmother actually proposed to him with it."
Sam looks at him with wonderment and tear filled eyes. "Dad, I don't know what to say."
Will keeps smiling, "Just promise me that you'll make it a long engagement. At least after you've had a semester or two of college, because that's when you'll start scratching the surface of who you are, and I don't want you or Blaine to rush it. I want you to be happy, and even though I loved your mother-we rushed it and it all fell apart."
The boy nods and hugs his father, "I promise, dad, when I ask him and he says yes, we won't rush it."
"Now," Will says patting his son on the shoulder, "do you know how you're going to do it?"
Sam smiles and nods, "This summer, when I go to New York. There's a place in Central Park that he loves, I'm going to do it there."
Will nods, "If you look at the inscription on the inside it reads, 'Our Love is Rare and Unique."
Sam feels confused, "Why does it say that?"
A smile crosses Will's mouth, "Because back then, it was very unusual for a woman to propose, but my grandfather loved her for her boldness and the way she wasn't afraid to step outside of the norm. She was the first person in our family to speak out for gay rights. Her best friend Evelyn was a lesbian and my grandmother hated that she was forced to hide who she was."
Sam lets a tear fall, wondering if he could ever have been that brave. He looks back over the events that have happened over the year and he thinks of how a moment of weakness almost took away the life he has.
"I want to be that brave." Sam says
Will hugs his son tightly and whispers softly, "You already are."
...
Blaine and Cooper are standing outside of the courthouse talking to their lawyer. He's already decided he wants Sam and Cooper to be the successors of the trust, should anything happen to him. He wants Sam to be taken care of, despite the protests of the lawyer and Cooper.
"Come on, bro, he's seventeen. He wouldn't know what to do with all of that money." Cooper says trying to talk some sense into Blaine.
Blaine shrugs, "Like you did when you got access to your part of the trust?" He slightly tilts his head, "I'm pretty sure you blew that million dollars within the first sixth months." He sighs, "Sam was homeless for a long time, and he knows the value of a dollar. He may be seventeen, Cooper, but he's not crazy and impulsive like you are."
Cooper sighs, "It's your money, he just better not spend what I got from mom and dad." He shakes his head, "Have I mentioned how pissed at them I am?"
Blaine laughs, "Relax, Coop, they're just stuck in a fantasy of what they wanted. I broke that fantasy when I came out." He shrugs his shoulders, "Besides, that extra money is all yours after graduation next year, but if you really need it, I'm sure we can access it somehow."
Cooper smiles. He hates that he was blind to the things he parents put his brother and he was going to do whatever it takes to make sure Blaine is happy. He leads Blaine down the street after saying goodbye to their lawyer. They find a small café and decide to sit outside.
The waiter comes and takes their drink order as they sit and chat, "Blaine, I have to say something."
Blaine looks at his older brother, "What's the matter, Coop?"
Tears well up in Cooper's eyes and he wipes them away quickly, "Blaine, I…I'm so sorry, for…for not being there for you, for not protecting you from mom and dad's hate. Grandpa got you out of the house, and even though he had the best intentions when he died, by trying to fix things with therapy, but," He takes a moment to gather himself, "I'm your big brother. I'm supposed to protect you."
A sigh leaves Blaine's lips, "Cooper, none of this is your fault." He shrugs his shoulders and holds a look of self-loathing guilt, "If anything I should have done something sooner. It shouldn't have been Sam and Sebastian rescuing me, I should have rescued myself."
Cooper shakes his head, "You just did what gramps wanted. You tried to fix our jerkhole parents."
Blaine laughs, "But seriously, Coop. Why am I always being the one being rescued? I mean for a while I was the man that guys wanted to be. I was confident, I was the one protecting Sam, and then I got bashed, and then somehow I became the weak, pathetic one." He shakes his head, "I swear if Sam and I ever get married, I have to be the one to propose."
Cooper's brow furrows with confusion, "Why do you have to be the one to propose? And where is this idea coming from?"
Blaine sighs, "Sam sort of asked me in his sleep the other night. I just want to feel like a man again."
His older brother rolls his eyes and sighs exasperated, "Just because he asked you in his sleep doesn't mean he's actually going to propose, you guys are just juniors…if you were seniors I'd be worried."
Blaine sits there pondering his life and how things have changed. He feels like he's lost himself and his manliness. His thoughts swirl around how often he's felt helpless and weak. Moments where he stands up for himself feel few and far between. He's relied on Sam for so much that he feels like the lesser of their relationship. In that moment he decides that he's going to man up and find a way to, at the very least, be equal to Sam.
…..
Two days have passed and Sam and Blaine are lying in Blaine's bed. Blaine holds Sam tight in his arms, but then Sam shifts and wraps his arms around Blaine. He plants a kiss on the dark haired boy's soft lips, his hands roaming under his shirt and vest. His fingers trace their way down Blaine's happy trail until they find top of his jeans.
Blaine's eyes open wide and he feels the sudden urge to take control. He grabs Sam's hands, while rolling him onto his back. The blonde stares up at him confused until Blaine throws Sam's hand back onto the pillows behind him and rips open Sam's button down. He begins to attack the blonde's chest with his lips, flicking his tongue over Sam's nipples. Sam moans and tries to moves his hands, but Blaine keeps them pinned.
He looks up for a moment, "I got this." He says smugly. "You just lie there and look pretty."
Sam feels confused, but it fades as soon as his boyfriend's head slides between his legs and his pants are suddenly around his ankles. He sighs, "Yes, sir."
Blaine smirks happily as he feels in control just before he flicks his tongue and Sam's body writhes under him. A hiss comes from the blonde's perfect lips as his body begins to beg Blaine for more.
…..
A/N: Hey guys sorry this is sooooo late. Work's been hectic, my cousin got married in Boston, I had to go to the E.R. on Monday (last week), and then my grandmother passed away on Wednesday. I was almost done with this chapter when everything just piled up at once and didn't seem to let up. Everything is better now. My granny suffered from dementia and so her passing was more of a blessing, watching her suffer over the past several years has been difficult and knowing that she's at peace now is a great relief for my family. I was in the E.R. because my heart was beating too fast. I was in A-fib for several hours and they ended up having to actually shock my heart, which was fine because they knocked me out. I'm fine now and I'm going to see a cardiologist next week to find out how long I'm going to be on this medication they put me on and to see if I have to have any more tests done. Anyways, I want to thank you guys for all of your reviews. I don't know how many chapters there are of this story, but I do feel like it's getting close to being finished, at least this part anyways. I may do a sequel if I feel like I can get enough inspiration for another story, but I don't know yet. Right now I just want to add a little conflict and see where it goes. Thanks for all of your reviews and Messages about the story, it means so much to me.