Silence followed Blaine's words. Burt and Carole looked dazed, as though they had never seen him before. Cooper looked slightly angry, almost like he couldn't believe Blaine would even suggest such a thing. Kurt's expression was the hardest to read. He looked confused and angry; there was something else, but it was hard to read. Rose turned and muttered something about telling the judge and the lawyers before leaving. It was Cooper that recovered first.

"Are you sure you want to do that, little brother?" He asked in a whisper. "They aren't exactly going to be nice to you in there. It's vicious."

"I'm sure," Blaine replied, trying to keep his voice steady. "I just... I can't stand just sitting there doing nothing.I don't want to be accused of being a liar and not have the opportunity to defend myself. If that means I have to stand up and t-testify, then I'll do it."

Without warning, Kurt pulled Blaine into a tight, bone-crushing hug, kissing the top of his head.

"Kurt, what-"

"You're so brave. I can't even begin to explain how proud I am of you."

That was when it hit. Pride – that was the third emotion hidden in Kurt's features. Blaine let out a quiet laugh and wrapped his arms around his waist, a sigh escaping his lips. He always felt comfortable in Kurt's arms, no matter where they were, but this was different. He felt safe, like he was home.

Their happiness was short-lived. Barely five minutes had passed when Rose returned, telling them that they had to go back into the courtroom. The judge was going to allow Blaine to testify, and had agreed to let Kurt back into the trial, as long as he stayed quiet.

They walked back to the courtroom in silence. Burt and Carole walked in front, talking to Cooper and Rose in low whispers. Blaine and Kurt remained at the back of the group. They walked in silence, their hands entwined. They knew that they would have to let go of each other soon, and neither boy was looking forward to it. As they approached the door that led to the courtroom, the district attorney stopped them.

"Blaine? I'm Michael Walker, the DA." He held out a hand for Blaine to shake, smiling. His smile faltered when Blaine didn't respond. "Okay… Rose has just told me you're willing to testify. We haven't had time to prepare you properly, so I'm going to help you through it and try to make it as easy as possible for you, alright? The questions I ask are going to hurt and you're probably going to have to talk about stuff you've never told anyone-"

"That's not true," Blaine interrupted, finally speaking.

"I'm sorry?"

"I said that's not true. I've talked to Kurt about… this."

"Have you told him everything?" When Blaine remained silent, he sighed. "That's what I thought. I'm going to have to get it all out of you when we're in there. Like I said, I'll make it as easy as I possibly can. I'm afraid the same can't be said for your father's lawyer."

Blaine's breath hitched in his throat. He'd seen how the other man had acted towards Cooper and Burt, and he'd seen how brutal and ruthless he had been towards Kurt. He knew that the lawyer would try and make him out to be nothing but a filthy liar. Blaine knew he only had one shot at getting his father sent to prison, and he was determined not to screw it up.

The group re-entered the courtroom, not surprised to see that it was already full. Michael walked over to his desk and shuffled some of his papers, and Burt, Carole, Cooper and Rose moved to their seats. Kurt had remained by Blaine's side, obviously unsure what to do.

"Blaine, I-"

"I'm fine," he whispered, giving Kurt's hand a gentle squeeze. Blaine smiled when he squeezed back. "Go and sit down, seriously. I have to do this… I can't just let him get away with it."

Kurt hesitated, but eventually gave a small nod. He pressed their lips together briefly and moved to sit beside Carole, who took hold of his hand.

Blaine took a deep breath and walked to the witness stand, taking his spot. Only when he was there did he allow himself to look around the courtroom. The jury were watching him closely, obviously focusing on his every move. His family – because they were all his family now, including Burt and Carole – were sat, each of them holding hands. Finally, Blaine turned his gaze to his father. His breath caught short when their eyes met. Andrew Anderson was staring, no leering at his youngest son. Just the intensity of his gaze made him shiver. It was horrible. Blaine felt like he was going to be sick, and all he'd done was looked at him.

"Court is now in session," the judge said, banging her gavel once.

Michael gave a curt nod and stood.

"Raise your hand," he said to the boy. Blaine did as he was told, biting his lip. "Do you promise that the testimony you give in the case before this court shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?"

He didn't believe in God and at any rate, why would he help Blaine? Apparently he was living a life of sin – God wouldn't help him in this situation, so… what was the point in swearing on him? Although, he did read somewhere that God was supposed to be omnibenevolent, meaning that he loved everyone. Would that mean he was accepted, or was he still a sinner in the eyes of religion? He mentally shook himself and answered the question. Now was not the time to get distracted.

"I do," Blaine said.

"Please state your first and last name, just for the record."

"Blaine Anderson."

"You are the youngest son of Andrew Anderson, and the younger brother of Cooper Anderson, correct?"

"Yes."

"Do you remember what you said in your original statement?" Blaine nodded at the lawyer. "Would you like to repeat if for the ladies and gentlemen of the jury?"

"Okay…" He said, looking down at his hands. "Um… when I was younger, I never really understood what was going on. My father would lock me in my b-bedroom for hours. I just stayed up there and played with my toys, but… I could hear the screams. I know now that they were Cooper and my mamma… But I didn't understand it at the time."

"Can you remember hearing anything specific?"

"Um… my mamma never really spoke, just screamed as loud as she could. C-Cooper said something once and… I've never forgotten what my father said back."

"What did he say?"

"Um… It was just before Coop moved out, so it was before things got really bad for me. I was only nine… I don't think they realised I was there, but I was at the top of the stairs and I heard what they said…"

"What did he say?" Michael repeated in a gentle voice.

Blaine glanced over to his older brother, his stomach knotting tightly at his expression. Cooper looked horrified, finally realising what Blaine was talking about. The moment was burned in his memory and it always would be – it was the day he'd abandoned his baby brother.

"Cooper t-told my father that he was leaving and when he could, he'd come back for me, to take me away from him…"

"What did your father say after that?"

"He… he said that there'd be nothing left of me by the time he was finished. C-Cooper got angry and they fought. He ended up leaving that night."

"What happened after Cooper left?"

"My d-dad came up to find me. That was the first time he hit me. I honestly thought I was going to die – he kept on punching and kicking me, yelling that I was the reason Cooper had gone. He said that if I hadn't been b-born, then Cooper would still be living at home. He said I ruined everything."

"How did he act around you without Cooper in the house?"

"When Cooper was around he just ignored me, like I wasn't there, but when he left, my father never left me alone. He… he wouldn't let my mamma out of the bedroom and I wasn't allowed to see her. I cooked all the meals but um… if he got home from work and he was drunk, he'd throw whatever I'd made across the kitchen and hit me."

"You were attacked at school when you were thirteen, correct?" Blaine nodded. "How did your father react to that?"

"He was angry because my clothes were ruined, and he kept saying that I'd obviously provoked the people who did it."

"What happened then?"

"I told him why they'd attacked me."

"And why were you attacked?"

"Because I'm gay."

"I'm assuming your father didn't take the news very well?"

Blaine shook his head. "He… He told me I was a liar, and that he didn't want his son ruining his life by being a faggot. He wouldn't listen to me and just told me to go. A little while later he came up to my bedroom. He… he kept hitting me. Just when I thought it was going to stop, it started again."

His voice broke slightly at the end. Michael seemed to notice, because he moved away from the subject.

"Okay. What happened when you enrolled at Dalton Academy?"

"Everything changed," Blaine said in a small voice. "I was finally away from my father but… I missed my mamma. I knew she would miss me – when she was having a bad day, I could calm her down."

"How long were you at Dalton for?"

"I joined when I was fourteen and left last month… so three years."

"Why did you leave?"

"My dad stopped paying the tuition. He didn't want me going there any more; one of my friends is gay and he didn't like it. I think he assumed we were dating."

"And were you?"

"No. Jeff's my best friend, nothing more."

Michael nodded. "So you transferred to McKinley High and met Kurt Hummel, correct?" Blaine nodded. "When did he confront you?"

"On my second day; we both auditioned for the school's glee club and he noticed that I had bruises on my neck. He… He asked who'd done it but I didn't answer. I knew if I t-told him, my dad would kill me. But Kurt guessed who it was. He guessed everything."

"Can you tell me what happened on the night of your mother's death?"

"What?" Blaine said, his eyes wide with panic. "What does that have to do with this? My mamma isn't on trial here!"

"I'm sorry Blaine, you misunderstood," Michael said gently. "I mean what happened when you got back to your apartment, when you found out you were going to be staying with Kurt?"

"Oh," he said, blushing. "Sorry. Um… well I went back there with Kurt. He was going to help me pack my things. We got most of it done when the front door opened and we heard him. Kurt d-didn't know who it was, but I did… So I told him to stay quiet. But he still found us."

"What happened when he did?"

"He saw us and threw Kurt across the room, into my mirror. He kicked him and then came at me. He… I don't remember everything… but he kept punching me. I remember being on the floor and him kicking me. I know Kurt tried to stop him, but he was just thrown across the room again. My… my d-dad picked me up and pinned me against the wall. He punched me again… I don't even know how many times… But then it stopped. I don't remember what happened after that. I woke up in a bed, in Kurt's house."

"Thank you Blaine. I have no further questions."

Michael gave him a small smile and sat down. Blaine would have returned it, if his father's lawyer hadn't got to his feet. The next half an hour found the defence lawyer firing questions at him. Each one of them twisted his words, trying to force him to admit to lying. But Blaine stood his ground. He wasn't entirely sure where his sudden strength had come from, but once he had it, he tightened his grasp and refused to let go. Maybe it was seeing Cooper smiling at him, proud that he was keeping it together, or maybe it was Kurt's trembling figure, anxious to know what was going to happen. Either way, strength flowed through his body. He didn't let the other lawyer's questions trip him up in any way.

"No further questions," the lawyer snarled eventually. The corners of Blaine's mouth twitched in satisfaction. He moved from the witness stand and sat beside Kurt, who immediately grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze. The lawyer sat in the seat beside Andrew Anderson, looking troubled. Blaine could only hope that it meant good news for him.

"Does the prosecution wish to call any more witnesses?" Michael shook his head. "Does the defence have any more witnesses that they would like to call?" The other lawyer also shook his head. "Very well; we have two more pieces of evidence – first up is Blaine Anderson's original video statement."

A trolley, similar to the one that had been holding the laptop, was wheeled into the courtroom, carrying a television screen. The girl who had brought it in pressed a couple of buttons, nodded at the judge and walked away.

Blaine watched as his own face appeared on the screen. Disgust was the first thing he felt. He recognised the scene immediately. Of course he did; it was his interview with Rose, back at the hospital. Was it really only a month ago? It felt like years had passed. The Blaine on the screen was sat on a chair, wringing his hands together. His breathing was raspy and the rise and fall of his chest had him wincing in pain. Rose sat in the chair opposite him, a notebook and a pen in her hands. The Blaine on the screen looked directly into the camera, the fear in his eyes obvious.

"W-Why is this being recorded?"

"It's necessary, I'm afraid," Rose said gently. "It'll be played in court as your testimony. Are you okay?"

"Do I really need to answer that?"

Blaine looked at the version of himself on the screen and agreed with what he had said. The bruising on his face was clear, even through the poor camera quality. They snaked down his neck and along his arms too, where Blaine knew they carried on, scattering across his shoulders, chest and his back.

"I'm sorry, I had to ask. Don't be scared Blaine. I know this is hard for you, but this has to be done. After this you'll be photographed by a doctor."

"Photographed?" Blaine repeated. "Why the hell am I being photographed?"

Rose sighed. "Blaine, they'll present these photos to the jury in court as evidence. Most of your injuries will have healed by then, so it's essential we get photos. Don't worry; we're only going to ask you to take your shirt off."

Blaine watched as he answered Rose's questions, a lump in his throat. Had he really sounded that scared? Did he really flinch whenever she leaned in to him, or whenever her voice became too loud? Did he still do that?

The video was only ten minutes long, but by the time it had finished, Blaine was shaking. He wasn't sure why it had affected him so much, but it had. Maybe it was because he'd finally seen how he looked to the others… to Kurt. He looked terrified, afraid of the world.

"The next piece of evidence is the photographs taken of Blaine Anderson, by Doctor Jones of the Lima Memorial Hospital," the judge said. She nodded to a young man and the girl from before. The man handed a plain brown envelope to a member of the jury, while the girl set up something else on the television screen. A gasp escape Blaine's lips as the pictures appeared in a slideshow. Had he really looked that bad? His torso was the worst, the bruises completely covering his body. Blaine could feel Kurt's grip on his hand tighten and his breathing become shallower. His eyes were wide and were full of tears. Blaine turned away from the television to look at Kurt, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze.

Once the jury had seen all of the photographs, the judge got to her feet.

"If the jury would like to leave the courtroom to decide on a verdict," she said.

The people in the jury nodded, got to their feet, and walked out of the door behind them. Blaine was trembling from head to toe now. He wasn't sure if he'd ever felt this nervous before. Was he really going to leave his future in the hands of twelve complete strangers? Why the hell had even agreed to testify?! If his dad got off, he'd murder Blaine. Literally murder him. His gaze flickered to his father, his heart stopping. Andrew Anderson was glaring at his youngest son, wearing an expression of pure hatred. A small whimper escaped Blaine's lips and he turned away, pressing his body closer to Kurt. He needed him, needed to feel that he was still there. But what he needed most was Kurt's arms around him, telling him that everything would be alright.

Blaine could practically feel his father's gaze burning him. He closed his eyes, hoping to escape the reality of the whole situation. Unfortunately for him, it wasn't that simple. Kurt gave him a gentle nudge. He opened his eyes and sat up a little straighter, his eyes now fixed on the jury, who had re-entered the room.

"Will the jury foreperson please stand? Has the jury reached a unanimous verdict?"

The head of the jury, a tall and stern looking woman, got to her feet elegantly. "We have Your Honour; after hearing both sides of the case, as well as listening to the witnesses and looking at the doctor's photographs, the members of this jury find Mr Andrew Anderson guilty of all charges."

Blaine didn't realise he was holding his breath until he released it all at once after those words. He looked at Kurt, whose mouth was turned up in a grin.

"Mr Anderson is sentenced to eighteen years in prison with immediate effect," the judge said. "Case closed, court is adjourned." And with three quick bangs of her gavel, it was over.

Blaine heard the yelps of excitement and relief that came from his older brother. He was frozen in his seat, disbelieving. It was almost like he was waiting for someone to tell him it was all a joke. But then he saw a police officer walking towards his father with a pair of handcuffs and he knew. It was real. He had won. Someone was pulling him to his feet and he found himself in Kurt's arms.

"You did it baby, we did it. We won!"

It was this that made him react. Blaine covered his mouth with his hand, both laughing and crying. He couldn't help but pull Kurt into a passionate kiss. Fuck everything, he'd sent a homophobe to prison, why the hell couldn't he celebrate?

"You're disgusting! You filthy fag, I swear to god when I get out I'll rip you all limb from limb."

Blaine pulled away from Kurt's lips to face his father. Then he did something he couldn't remember doing in his life. He smiled at his father. Okay, so it was more of a satisfied smirk, but still. He saw Kurt turn sharply, ready to scream and yell at the man, but both Cooper and Blaine held him back.

"Don't Kurt, its fine."

"But, he just-"

"I know he did," Cooper said. "But he can't hurt any of us. He's gone."

Kurt seemed to see the sense in these words. He turned back to Blaine and kissed him. Blaine kissed him back without any hesitation, unable to stop smiling.

"Don't cry baby. It's over now," Kurt whispered, brushing the track of tears on his cheeks with his fingertips. "It's all over."

Blaine nodded numbly, still not entirely sure if he was breathing. He hadn't even realised he was crying. Nothing felt real. His father was going to prison… they had won.

"Okay, move over lovebirds," Cooper said. "I want to hug my baby brother!"

Kurt laughed and let go of Blaine, leaving the older Anderson brother to pull him into a tight hug.

"Well done squirt," he said, his voice thick with unshed tears. "You were so brave up there! I'm proud of you, hobbit."

Blaine didn't reply. He didn't think he could – who knew when the ability to speak would return to him? He certainly didn't. He could only hug Cooper tighter, feeling like his legs would give way any second. He felt a gentle pat on his back and turned his head to see Carole. He let go of Cooper and hugged her, making her give a small chuckle. Then Blaine did something no one expected him to do. He threw himself into Burt's arms, giving him a tight hug.

"Woah, calm down kiddo," he said, smiling.

"Thank you," he whispered. "Thank you so much Mr Hummel."

"There's no point in even telling you to call me Burt, is there?"

Blaine gave a shaky laugh and shook his head. When he'd released Burt, Kurt took hold of his hand again.

"This deserves a celebration," Burt announced. "Come on; let's go have lunch somewhere nice. It's my treat."

"Excuse me?" said Cooper. "I think I'm paying for this one."

"Do you really want to start an argument about this, Anderson?"

"I will if you make me Hummel," he replied, grinning. "Rose, do you want to join us?"

Rose looked slightly taken aback at Cooper's words, but gave a small smile and a nod. She looked even more surprised when Cooper told hold of her hand and gave a small wink.

Kurt started urging him out of the courtroom, his arms wrapped securely around Blaine's waist, constantly nuzzling into his neck. Blaine was afraid he would explode in the middle of the hallway. He was still numb – they had actually beaten his father. He was free.

They followed Burt, Carole, Cooper and Rose without paying attention to them. Kurt was still nuzzling Blaine's neck with his nose.

"I take it you're happy?" Blaine whispered. Kurt grinned and nodded.

"I think it's a cause for celebration, don't you?" When Blaine nodded, he grinned again. "I don't mean the kind of celebration my dad has in mind either."

Blaine's heart skipped a beat and he gave another shaky laugh. As they walked out of the doors of the courthouse, into the busy street, Blaine didn't feel tempted to look back. He was leaving his old life behind once and for all, ready for the new one that was set up for him. He'd never felt happier.