Blaine pressed his hollow cheek to the cold window, his lip curling as he dragged his face down the glass. A circle of fog blew out of his mouth, clouding his vision of Kurts little house on the corner of the street. Sinking down to the window sill, he sat down and pulled his knees to his chest. He wondered what Kurt was doing, if he was thinking about him, wanting him to come over that very second. He wanted to know if he had his nose squished against his own window, watching for Blaine with those big eyes of his. Blaine longed to escape his dull home and visit him, but his dad wouldnt let him out the door without knowing where he was going.

Wrapping his arms around himself and tightening his jacket, he peeled off the cool glass and turned away. He heard someone-probably his brother-in the bathroom down the hall, and Blaine hoped he would come in soon to talk to him. Swinging his legs off the sill, he wandered around his room without anything to do. He remembered the first day his boring town had changed, when a few other boys had lived a couple of streets away. Theyd run down Blaines street with their hands flinging and heads thrown back with laughter, and Blaine had become very excited at the thought of finally making friends.

Hed grabbed his coat and barely had one arm in a sleeve before he burst through his door. Of course, his enthusiasm had quickly changed when they could see him, and hed pulled back and scuffed at the ground with his shoe. He had wanted them to make the first move and approach him, and a few of them did glance his way, but then theyd looked away without much interest. Blaine had quickly disappeared back inside his house and watched them from his window until they went home. Hed been disappointed with himself for not being brave enough to talk to them, but hed assured himself hed do it the next day.

Theyd come back with a few other boys, and Blaine was just as nervous, but hed made a promise to himself, and he didnt break promises. After a moment of telling himself that everything was going to be okay, hed walked up to them and murmured a quiet greeting. A couple of the boys had glanced at him and then back at each other, and then at Blaine again. One of the boys had pulled the others closer, muttering loudly enough for Blaine to hear clearly, "Thats Mr. Andersons freaky son. I think he has issues."

Blaine was so shocked and upset that he couldnt even get away from the judgmental glares and grumbles from kids his own age that hed darted back into his house and went into Coopers room. Hed wrapped his arms around Coops legs and cried because he knew that no one would ever like him. Thinking about Kurt waiting for him in his little house made him happy. He wanted to make him just as happy and read him another story, so he distracted himself from his past and considered which book he liked best.

He didnt have many because his parents bought him lots of toy cars and balls and action figures, but he decided to look through the ones that he did have. Going over to his closet, he dug out his toy box and searched through it, finding three story books near the bottom. He remembered when Cooper used to read to him when he was just a baby, and he wondered if he ever read these books to him.

Spreading his choices out on the floor, he pushed The Ugly Duckling aside, knowing that most of that story would make Kurt sad, even though the ending was good. He had to pick between Cinderella and The Little Mermaid, but he slightly favored Cinderella because she was so kind and strong, while Blaine was a whimpering mess who always hid in whatever corner he could find. He aspired to be like her, but he knew he never could be.

Grabbing the book and squeezing it to his chest, he perked up when he heard footsteps clunking down the hallway. He just knew it was his brother coming to play with him until he could go over to Kurts house, so he scrambled to his feet and hurried over to the door. He slumped his shoulders when he saw Cooper approach his door, but then he turned and went down the stairs, taking them two at a time. Blaine figured that maybe his brother thought he was somewhere else in the house, so he chased after him.

His legs were much shorter than Coops, so by the time he got to the bottom of the stairs, his brother was already gone. Hunting for him, Blaine whipped around when a door creaked somewhere nearby. He followed the sound to his dads office, where his dad had secluded himself for hours with his head bent over his paperwork. Blaine stopped outside the office because he wasnt allowed in there, but he stared at Coop, who was rubbing his neck and glaring down at their dad as if he was frustrated. It seemed like they had already exchanged words, maybe a brief greeting that Blaine hadnt heard, because Cooper said lowly, "Dad, this has got to stop. I cant be here all the time to look out for him. I dont even have time for school with my new hours."

Blaine lowered his head as he worried if they were discussing him, maybe even complaining about him. He had heard something about Coops upcoming eighteenth birthday, and how he could start working full-time whenever he wanted because he wasnt a minor anymore. Blaine hoped he didnt spend all of his time away from home. His dads slim face lifted for a few seconds from a document hed been mulling over, and then he dropped his eyes again. He obviously wasnt interested in what Coop was saying, but at least he hadnt kicked him out like he often did to Blaine. "If he had friends, he wouldnt need me." That was more words than Blaine had heard from his dad in weeks, and he realized that hed almost forgotten what his dads deep, gravelly voice sounded like. He thought about Kurts dad, how he expressed some emotion with his easily excitable son, his voice amused and happy whenever he spoke to him. He wondered why his own dads voice didnt have any emotion at all.

Coopers voice raised, bringing Blaine back to reality, "Hes shy, Dad! Why dont you understand that hes a little different from you? Hes only five years old... hes still a baby. If he had your encouragement, he might get the confidence to talk to other kids."

"When you were five, you didnt have this problem." That was all his dad put in, then he added after a moment of scratching his stubbly chin, "Dammit, Cooper, when I was his age, I didnt even know my dad. Do you think I let it bother me? No, not at all. I stuck my chin out and got through it. If you go on coddling him the way you do, hell become nothing. When hes thirty, hell come blubbering to you that he went nowhere."

"Thats not going to happen. Blaines strong." Cooper said in a warning tone, his jaw hardening, "I get it... you raised me to turn my cheek from trouble and get over it, but I was different than Blaine when I was his age. My mouth was too big and I let things roll off my back. Blaine never has... he keeps these things, and if you abandon him, thatll stay with him. You have to be there for him, Dad... just play with him for an hour or two. He needs you."

Blaines jaw dropped when something flashed in his dads eyes, and he wondered if Cooper had changed his mind, even about Kurt. His dad was stubborn, just like Blaine, so he knew it would take a lot for him to admit that hed been wrong, but Blaine knew that if anyone could convince him, it was Cooper. He was good at getting his way. Blaine put one foot through the door and waited for his dad to bend down and hold his arms out to give him a hug. He would eagerly fling his arms around his dad, then he would tell him to wait there so he could get Kurt, and Blaine and Kurt would play happily by his dads feet.

But Blaines dreams of his dad finally accepting that he wasnt like the rest of his family were ruined the second his dads eyes snapped over to him. They narrowed, and then a brown hand lifted, and his dad snapped his fingers at him. "Blaine, Ive told you a thousand times, dont come in here."

Blaines eyes widened to the size of saucers, and at first he thought hed imagined his dad saying that because he always expected it to come if he made the mistake of walking into his office. But his dad really was angry with him, from his lowered brows to his frowning lips. Feeling his eyes swell because he still couldnt be near his dad, and he would still be looked at by his family and people he didnt even know like something they had yanked off the bottom of their shoes, and he still had to keep Kurt a secret, Blaine stumbled backwards, clumsily fumbling to get out so he could please his dad. His dads aggravated expression turned back into one of weariness when Blaine fell out of his office. Blaine burst into tears because that was all his dad would ever want from him, to stay out of his way and not bother him, and he ran away from the office. He heard Coop yell after him, but he ignored him, climbing up the stairs two at a time, even though he tripped quite a few times and fell to his hands and knees.

When he got to his room, he slammed the door shut and flopped onto his bed. He squirmed up to the pillows and covered himself with one of them, his body so small that he disappeared completely under the pile of fluff. His shoulders shook with tears he couldnt keep in anymore, after so long of trying to be strong. Snorting very noisily as he heard his door push open, Blaine winced at the embarrassing sound and hoped that whoever had come in hadnt heard that.

"Blaine..." He flipped over at the sound of Coopers low voice, not wanting his brother to see him with a red face and a snotty nose. "Blaine... baby... its just me." Pressing his face into his blankets when his brother pulled the pillow off of him, he grumbled very lowly and kicked at him. Cooper caught his feet in one hand and laid them back down, then he slid his arms under Blaine. Blaine didnt bother fighting as Cooper laid him down on his lap, his head lulling against his stomach. Cooper was very skinny and tall, so his bony chest wasnt very comfortable under Blaines cheek. "Shh... he didnt mean anything he said. He loves you... he does. Hes just not good at showing it."

Cooper wiped Blaines nose and cheeks, frowning when Blaine hiccupped from the sudden rush of tears. Sniffling again, Blaine held his hands in front of his face, blocking Cooper out so he couldnt see his emotions, "Why doesnt he like me? What did I do wrong?" Blaine mumbled, feeling stupid for asking because he felt like he was expected to know. But he really didnt understand why his dad had never met his eyes, since hed always tried to be a good son who followed the rules and knew his table manners.

"Blaine..." Cooper breathed out heavily, gently patting Blaines butt. He closed his eyes and thought for a few seconds, then he muttered, "You didnt do anything wrong. Not a thing. If only you understood. You will... one day. Youre the best brother I could have asked for... and Dad... he just doesnt know what a good thing he has. Hes too hard headed."

Blaine felt like a small child again, curled up in his brothers arms and slowly getting rocked back and forth like a sleepy baby. Blinking up at his brothers tired face, Blaine squirmed a little closer to him, feeling him shift a little when he reached for the book on the end of Blaines bed. He smiled at the book, "I remember when you used to crawl into my bed and hold out this story. Youd always fall asleep when it got to the good part."

Blaine was helpless in his brothers arms, but he didnt care because he was safe against his chest. Nothing could hurt him when he was in his protective arms. "Can you read to me like you did when I was a baby?"

"Youre still a baby." Cooper chuckled at him, kissing his wet cheek. "Youve just... grown up too fast." Leaning back on the headboard, Coop shifted Blaine around and smoothed his damp hair off his cheeks. He pressed a kiss to the top of his head, "Do you want me to take you over to Kurts house later? After Dad goes back to work? You dont like being away from him, do you?"

Blaine shook his head and stared at the book as Coop opened it, seeing a picture of Cinderellas prince on the page that Coop had flipped to. He looked so in control of his emotions, while it didnt take much to send Blaine into a fit. Cooper must have noticed him staring at the prince because he tightened his arm around him, startling him from his vague mind. "You know, one day youre going to be a prince. You already have your princess."

Blaine frowned up at his brother, wondering how he sounded so sure that the invisible boy who had very little could become a prince who had everything.

Blaine stopped his car by the recording studio, his fingers tight on the steering wheel and his eyes searching through the glass walls. Just like the first day hed ever been there, he could see a few men around his age sitting around the desk and chatting over coffee, while others were rushing around with their hands full of papers. It was a familiar sight that Blaine had quickly gotten used to, ducking between the hurried people who could easily slam into him, and giving a small smile to the ones talking because they usually waved at him. Even though his work was the same, Blaine didnt feel the same at all.

Hed first met the Warblers when he was only eighteen years old, and he and Kurt had just secretly started dating. Hed been out of control back then-and he still was-but things were different now. After fighting and suffering and crying, hed become a husband and a dad, and he realized that over the past two years, the Warblers had never left him. They had always been there for him, even when he refused to let anyone get close to him after he thought Kurt had left him.

Pressing his lips together as he wondered if they knew how grateful he was, he glanced over when he felt a pat on his thigh, and he stared at Kurt. Kurt gave him a gentle smile as if he understood exactly what Blaine was thinking, and Blaine leaned over to nuzzle him before he stepped out of his car. He walked around the car to help Kurt out, his eyes sliding to the back door when it popped open.

Keegan got out and bent down for the babies, picking Hunter up in one arm and draping him over his shoulder. Hunter had fallen asleep during the car ride, so his little head drooped and his mouth swung open. He pulled Archer out next, and Archer waved his pudgy fists at Blaine. Taking his baby from Keegan, Blaine smoothed his curls and kissed his forehead. While his husband reached in the back seat for his birds, Blaine pointed at the tall building, "Baby, do you remember this place?" When Archer tapped his chin and considered the building with a blank expression, Blaine muttered, "Daddy works here, little one. I used to bring you and Hunter in a carrier. All of the Warblers wanted to hold you because they thought you were cute."

Kurt put Pavarotti and Everett on his shoulder, the two birds swaying from side to side as he walked over to Blaine, reaching out for his hand. Blaine led his family into the recording studio, glimpsing over his shoulder to make sure that Keegan was following. He was a few inches behind them, his steps slow and heavy. His eyes darted to every sign he passed, desperately trying to read the words. He gave up and turned his attention to Hunter, gently bouncing the baby and burying his face in his dark hair.

Frowning at him, Blaine wished he knew how to tell him that he was okay here. He turned a hallway and walked over to one of the doors, listening for the sounds of their yelling. Hed gotten so used to their noisiness that he didnt jump when he heard a crash from behind the door. Slowly pushing it open, Blaine looked inside at the guys sitting in a few chairs, and then down at Nick and Trent, who were tangled around each other on the floor.

"Hey, Blaines back!" Thad looked up from the fry hed been munching on, and he threw a hand up and waved at Blaine. "And he brought Kurt!"

Kurt hopped up and down at the excitement, then he scurried over to Jeff, who he seemed to enjoy spending time with. Archer fussed in Blaines arms, wanting to go after him, so Blaine set him down. Waddling over to Kurt, Archer jumped when Nick scrambled to his feet and chased after him. "And he brought babies! I want one!"

Archer obviously didnt remember him, but he didnt squirm when Nick snatched him up and squeezed him like a little doll.

Smirking at his frowning son as Nick cuddled and shook him, Blaine stepped over a few feet to get to the computer, where Wes was sitting by himself. He lowered onto the seat beside him, feeling his hand come to his back and pat a few times. "Its been a while, Blaine. How are you doing? Hows it feel to be a husband?"

A small smile tugged at Blaines lips, and his eyes flicked to Kurt, who was showing off his wedding ring to Jeff. Kurt seemed very enthusiastic about it, his fingertips hiding a pretty smile and his eyes sparkling. Jeffs mouth fell open at whatever Kurt was saying, and then they both laughed. Blaine held his breath at the sight of Kurts little nose wrinkling and his cheeks brightening. "Im fine," was all Blaine said, and Wes squeezed his shoulder.

"I know you are." Wes told him, then he spun back to the computer and typed something.

Blaines brows raised when someone-he thought it was Nick-shouted, "Whos the new guy? Hey, Blaine, is Blondie with you?"

Turning his head, Blaine sighed at Keegan, who was still stuck in the doorway. His wide eyes flashed from person to person, and Blaine remembered how he felt the first time hed come in here and asked for a job. He could only guess that it was worse for Keegan, who had no idea what they were saying about him. Kurt said something to Keegan that Blaine couldnt understand, and then he told the other Warblers that Keegan was his best friend.

Blaine rubbed the nape of his neck and watched Keegan walk across the room to stand beside of Kurt. He was still coming up with some way he could talk to Wes about this. Looking over his shoulder, he said very lowly, "Wes, I need to talk to you."

"I figured you would." Wes didnt even blink, as if he had been expecting this. Blaine was bothered by how easily people could read him, when he usually tried so hard to keep his thoughts off of his face. Closing the document hed been reading over, he turned to Blaine and nodded at the door. "Do you want to talk in the hallway?"

Scratching his stubbly jaw, Blaine twisted around so he faced the other Warblers again, a few of them staring at Blaine and Wes. Blaine figured that it would be better to speak to Wes in private, even though Keegan couldnt understand them, anyway. Getting to his feet when Wes stood up, Blaine followed on his heels, but he paused by his husband. Kurt looked very curious about what he was doing, but he soothed him with a soft kiss. "Ill be back in a minute, honey."

"Okay." Kurt peeped, reaching up for his face and stroking him.

When Blaine lifted his eyes to Keegans screwed up face, he saw him uncomfortably shift from foot to foot. One arm folded over his chest, the other still clutching Hunter. Keegan was aware that Blaine and Wes were going to talk about him, and Blaine assumed that he was nervous because he didnt know if Wes would roll his eyes at his lack of English.

Blaine slipped out of the door, and Wes shut it behind him, giving the other Warblers a warning glare that he could still hear everything they were doing. Leaning against the door, Wes crossed his arms over his chest and raised his brows at Blaine, "This is the first time Ive felt clueless about you, Blaine." That statement made Blaine uncomfortable, but this wasnt about him right now. "Who is this guy and what does he have to do with you?"

"Hes an old friend of Kurts." Blaine said very quietly, as if afraid that Keegan would somehow hear him above the yelling, but also understand him. "Ive never asked anything of you, Wes, but I need you to give him a job... something to do. He doesnt have any money... and hes living with me and Kurt right now, but he could go back to France whenever he wanted."

Wess brows lowered as if he was considering something, his head slowly nodding to something Blaine had said, "Hes from France? Thats how he knows Kurt?"

Blaine dropped his chin a few times, "Wes... he doesnt have anything. He lives next to an alley... and he doesnt have much of a house." Shaking his head, he continued very lowly, almost hoping Wes didnt hear him, "I dont know if he had a job... before..."

Wess face changed with Blaines hanging words, and he urged him, "Before what?"

Taking a deep breath, he lifted his hand and dragged it through his hair, "His boyfriend was murdered seven years ago. I dont know if he had a job before that... but he was only seventeen. It couldnt have been a job that made a lot of money."

Without making any sounds of shock or regret, Wes nodded again, agreeing with another thing, "And his parents?"

"They died." Blaines voice was flat, but he could feel his throat shaking. Keegans past was hard for Blaine to think about because he had always seemed too perfect to Blaine. Hed tried for so long to believe that bad things didnt happen to perfect people like Kurt or Keegan, but hed been the cause of most of Kurts pain, and Keegan had lost everything when he was very young.

"Okay." That was the only word Wes said for what felt like a few minutes, and then he managed to get out, "He doesnt know any English, does he?"

"Hes been working with Kurt to learn." Blaine felt like he had to defend Keegan, who he often found pacing through the living room and mouthing English words, or sitting beside of Kurt and speaking to him in very garbled English.

Seconds that dragged on like hours passed before Wes made another sound, his mouth opening and closing as he went over what little he knew about Keegan. Blaine realized that he didnt know anything about Keegan, either, just that he came from nothing and had only memories of having everything. His heart was Kurt now, but Blaine wanted to know what had made him happy before the murder. Blaine could see him kissing his boyfriend every day, wrapping his arms around him from behind and surprising him. He saw Keegan leaning closer to whisper something in Everetts ear, just a little joke that made him snort with laughter. He wondered if they used to lay in bed together and stare at each other, like he and Kurt did, or if they held hands just to feel each others warmth.

Keegan, who had always been protective of Kurt and Everett, had probably thrown his head back and been carefree on the night that had changed everything. He was certain that nothing bad could happen because he was going to propose to Everett later that night, just to make sure he knew he loved him enough to keep him forever. They had chased each other down an alleyway because Keegan wanted to get home sooner so he could tell Everett how much he loved him, and Everett had wanted to get lost with Keegan, his only hope.

Blaines visions of Everett, the boy he had never seen and never would see, suddenly turned black because there was nothing else to see. The murder had ended everything, and it had destroyed all that Keegans future might have been. Closing his eyes to get those images out of his head, Blaine jerked up at the feeling of someones hand on his arm. Wes gazed at him with dull eyes, as if he could read Blaines thoughts, "I dont know what he wants to do... if he would be good at anything here... but tell him that hes fine." Wes spun on his heel and he thudded away from Blaine, rubbing his forehead to get rid of a headache.

Blowing out with relief, Blaine pressed his lips together as he pushed back into the room. Nick was on the floor with Archer and playing a game with him, so Blaine stepped around them to get over to his husband and Keegan. Keegan still held Hunter, who had stirred, close to his body, looking at the baby as he poked his fingers at his face and drew invisible pictures on him. Pressing a kiss to Hunters fingers, Keegan glanced at Blaine, his eyes wide with uncertainty. "It is... okay?"

Blaine nodded, resting against a wall and letting Kurt take one of his dangling hands. Kurt played with his fingers, wiggling and tickling them. "Youll be okay here, Keegan." He said lowly, biting his bottom lip and watching Keegans expression change. He tilted his head toward Hunter, his blond hair falling around his cheeks, and he gave him another kiss. His turquoise eyes were so warm and soft. "Keegan..." Clearing his throat, he waited for Keegan to lift his gaze again. "How did you... meet Everett?"

To his surprise, not only did Keegan understand what he was asking, but a smile curved his pink lips. Blaine had been worried about upsetting him, but he seemed to be remembering something happy, a small chuckle escaping his mouth. "I... take..." He bent his neck to see Kurt, needing him to help him through the words. When Kurt mouthed something, he corrected himself, "I... took... Kurt... to café. We went every day... but I saw Everett this day. I thought he is..." He shook his head and waited for Kurt to tell him what to say. "I thought... he was beautiful... and I would not leave him alone." He started laughing at some memory that Blaine wasnt a part of, even though he wished he was. He would have wanted to see a love like Keegans. "He didnt like me... at first... but I wanted to have him. It didnt take... much long... very long for me to fall madly in love with him."

Smiling up at Keegan as he closed his eyes and probably imagined the day over again, the thrill of finding someone he knew he would fall in love with, and teasing with him until he broke through the stubborn boys cold heart, Blaine slid his fingers through Kurts and squeezed his palm. He felt tears fill the corners of his eyes, not just because he knew how he would feel if he had something so precious ripped out of his life, but because he was glad Keegan had found his true love, if only for a little while. Abruptly curious about what Keegan thought of Everett, Blaine said very slowly, "Why did you... love him, Keegan?"

"Oh, I love these stories." Kurt chirped very softly, his eyes shining as he reached for Keegans hand. "He could tell them all day." When Keegan grinned down at him, Kurt wiggled to the edge of his chair, very excited to hear him talk about their old friend.

"I did not have... a reason not to." Keegan shrugged his shoulders, a spot of wetness rolling down his cheek and catching on his bottom lip. The tear quivered on his trembling mouth, the corners pulling up and down, "He was my... everything. He was so... challenging... but I loved how strong he... was. I love... loved his red hair... and his brown eyes. He think... they were too dark, but they always spark... sparkled to me. He called himself chubby... so many time... but he never was. He was gorgeous... to me." Nipping his bottom lip, Keegan shook his head again and muttered, "The way... you feel for Kurt... is how I feel for Evie."

Hunter lifted his head from Keegans neck and blinked a few times, "Daddy..." he said through a sleepy voice, "whos Evie?"

While Keegan gave Hunter more kisses, Blaine leaned back in his chair and sighed very heavily, "Evie was a good friend of your Uncle Keegan. They were in love, sweetheart, but..." It almost shocked Blaine to consider that it was Hunters real dad who had killed Everett, since hed thought of Hunter as his own baby for a long time. He had no idea if Keegan knew that he was holding the son of the man who had killed his boyfriend. "But... Everetts not here anymore, my little one. He would have loved you, though."

Keegan dropped his chin to assure Hunter of what Blaine had said, "He would... loved you so much, Hunt. As much as me." Patting Hunters bottom, Keegan pressed his face into Hunters hair, his lids drooping over wet eyes. "Evie would loved you so much, Hunter."