“You okay, babe?” Kurt asked, pulling Blaine onto the bed to cuddle with him.

“Yeah, why?” Blaine asked.

“Because I know you, and I think the trial was hard on you,” Kurt said, kissing him on the neck where he knew Blaine would get shivers. Kurt was right and got a little thrill that he could do that.

“It was, but now that it's over, I'll be better every day. Thanks to you and everyone. Sophia is so good to me – and all our friends, Kurt. I have never felt so blessed.”

“Me, too,” Kurt said. “Now, let's get some serious make-out time before either your brother or my dad comes down and tells us to keep the door open, okay? ”

Blaine didn't answer, he just kissed Kurt, and pulled him under the covers to wrap himself around this boy he loved with all his heart.....

Thanksgiving at the Hummel house had been wonderful. And the cuddling and kissing afterwards had been even more wonderful but both Blaine and Kurt were tired and they soon fell asleep, tangled together as always.

Around midnight, Blaine was shifting back and forth in his sleep. This woke Kurt up, long experience telling him that Blaine was having the beginnings of a nightmare. Sometimes he could gently stroke Blaine's side, caress his back or neck and Blaine would fall back into a deeper sleep, night terror averted. Kurt shook himself awake to try and do something to help. He placed his hands on Blaine's sides, running his palms down over the ribs that still stuck out a bit in spite of a year's worth of good eating. Blaine hummed in response, the ghost of a smile on his lips as he reached his arms out to hold Kurt closer. Maybe this would be enough tonight. Kurt fervently hoped so, he was tired.

Just as Kurt was drifting off to dreamland once again, Blaine sat straight up, screaming.

“Blaine, it's okay, I'm here, honey. I'm here. I'm holding you, you're not alone,” Kurt whispered in his ear, trying to calm him down. Blaine blinked his eyes, turning his face to Kurt. Kurt snapped on the bedside lamp. “I'm here....” he said, kissing Blaine's cheek and rubbing his back.

“Oh, I...I was in the room again. I'm sorry, Kurt...” Blaine said, regret filling his eyes.

“It's okay. Do you want me to get you some warm milk?” Kurt asked, dreading the answer. It was cold, especially in the basement where their room was, and he didn't want to go upstairs. But he would if necessary, of course.

“No, thanks, Kurt. I'm going to get a drink of water from the bathroom sink.” Blaine slipped out of bed and into the bathroom. He came back with two glasses of water and handed one to Kurt. They both drank and Blaine got back into bed, pulling Kurt under the covers with him.

Kurt slid his arms around Blaine, spooning him close to his chest, dropping a kiss on the back of his neck where Blaine smelled like vanilla cookies and spring rain and sleep. Blaine relaxed immediately and fell back to sleep. Kurt waited. Sometimes Blaine would just have nightmare after nightmare and it was easier to stay awake than it was to fall back asleep only to be awoken by his boyfriend's screams in a few minutes.

It wasn't like Kurt resented the nightmares and the disruption of his sleep, but well, he did. It had been over a year since he and Puck had spirited the boy from the attic room where he'd been imprisoned for three long years by his own parents – for the 'crime' of being gay. Kurt shuddered at the thought. He had been imprisoned for only a week in that same room when Blaine's parents wanted to get revenge on their son, and after just a week Kurt thought his mind was gone. The pain of being alone was so bad, the frustration and anger that consumed him were hard to even think about today. He could not even imagine what it must have been like to be there for so long, and know each day it was your own parents that did it to you. No wonder Blaine was still so broken. So, guilt was another part of what Kurt felt – guilt that he resented Blaine for having nightmares, something he had no control over. Kurt sighed.

When Blaine's parents' trial was over, they went to prison. And Kurt knew they deserved it. But Blaine had somehow gotten it into his mind that it was his fault. That had led to may heated arguments, Kurt insisting they only got what they deserved – Blaine saying if he hadn't failed them it might have been different. Finally, Burt had come to the rescue. He forbid the boys to talk about it at all. Blaine was seeing a psychologist and he could take it to her, Kurt could do the same with his counselor. But they may not continue to argue. It took a while, but both boys finally agreed and that had been the end of the fighting, but Kurt could see the guilt eating away at Blaine. Thinking about how Blaine's life had been stolen from him made tears come to his eyes. He wanted Blaine to be whole again, he wished he had known Blaine before the imprisonment – but most of all he wanted Blaine to heal.

“Kurt?” Blaine was waking up again.

“Yes, honey, I'm here,” Kurt said, holding the boy closer. Blaine turned over to face Kurt. The light beside the bed was still on and Kurt looked into Blaine's eyes, liquid with tears waiting to come tumbling down. He leaned forward to kiss Kurt, letting a small whine escape as his emotions crested in the storm that was his brain tonight.

“Let's plan something,” Blaine asked.

“Plan? Plan what?” Kurt asked. He wondered just how awake Blaine really was.

“I want to go do something tomorrow. I know the weather is cold, but maybe we can go for a walk in the woods or something. I want to get away from Lima, I want to go to Paris or something.”

“You want to go to Paris? Tomorrow? We only have a week's vacation, I don't think we can get our passports in time, honey,” Kurt tried to play along, just in case Blaine was serious.

“Where do you want to go? I have that money I've been saving, we might use a little to do something fun, although I know most of it is for college.”

“What about New York? You know how much I've always wanted to go there,” Kurt said.

“Oh, and we can see my brother!” Blaine crowed.

“Ah, Blaine, your brother is upstairs, asleep in the guest room. We can see him in the morning,” Kurt deadpanned.

“Yeah, but we could go with him back to New York and stay with him for a week or two. He knows all the best places to go in New York, all the restaurants, the theaters. I want to go!” Blaine enthused.

“Okay, okay, just hush. People are sleeping. That does sound like a lot of fun, Blaine. We can talk to my folks and Coop in the morning. Now, maybe we should get back to sleep?” Kurt was beginning to whine a bit.

“Goodnight, Kurt,” Blaine said, snuggling in to Kurt's body, kissing his neck and having no intention of falling asleep when Kurt was so warm and smelled so good....”

Cooper entered the Ohio State Prison and went through the protocol to see his father. He walked into the room, sat in the chair in front of the thick window and lifted the headset so he could speak.

“Hello, Cooper.”

“Father.”

“Thank you for coming. I get lonely in here,” Mr Anderson said.

“Like Blaine did for three years?” Cooper snapped, unable to stop himself.

“Yes. I regret that, Cooper. How is he?”

“Better since he's with Kurt. I moved my practice to Columbus, but I still have business in New York, and living with the Hummels is providing him with stability. He's getting counseling,” Cooper said.

“Still? Cooper, it's been over a year. Why does he still need counseling?” Mr Anderson asked.

“He just does. Being locked up fucking unhinged him. Why did you do it? I want a real answer, Father. Was it really just because you're a homophobe? Because I don't remember you being like that when I was a kid,” Cooper said, searching his father's face for answers.

“No, Cooper. It was the pressure. We had to keep your secret for so many years, then Sasha had phoned us when Joshua - Blaine, I forget you call him Blaine - turned twelve. She threatened to spill the whole story if we didn't let her see him. So your mother told her he was in Switzerland. When we saw her hanging around, we got worried and then Joshua - -ah, Blaine, told us he was gay – it was just the last straw for your mother.

“But why? You should never have forced me to make a decision at such a young age, Father. I wasn't blameless, but I was a child myself," Cooper said, playing with his keys and avoiding looking at his father.

“You're not going to tell him the truth, are you?” Mr Anderson asked, looking worried. “My life is over. I know I made bad decisions from the time you were just twelve, and it never got better. I'm at peace being in here. I deserve it, Cooper, and all I can do is ask your forgiveness. But you need to know, I'll take your secret to my grave if need be. He'll never hear that truth from my lips. Is that why you came?”

“Yes. Thank you, Father. Blaine has been through enough in his short life, maybe we can wipe the slate clean. Oh, and I wanted to thank you for signing the papers. The house and all the property and accounts have been changed to split between Blaine and myself. I know we can't sell the house – and, frankly I don't want to, it's been in the family for over two hundred years, but you know that neither Blaine or I can live there. Too many bad memories. I'll have to ask him what he wants to do with it.” Cooper got a far-away look in his eye. He shook his head and his gaze went back to his father, sitting slumped on the metal chair. He didn't look like the strong, handsome man that Cooper remembered. He'd shrunk with age and he looked pitiful, but Cooper would never stop thinking of his father and the way he was when Coop was twelve.

“Was it Mother that decided to tell me Blaine had died in Switzerland? You know, never mind. I know it was,” Cooper sighed.

“Okay, son. I know you'll do the right thing. And I'm proud of you and what you've done with your life. I know so much of this is my fault, Cooper, and I'm sorry it all turned out so badly. Maybe you and Blaine can begin to heal and then have a better life than you got with me and your mother. You're my only son, Cooper, and the only one I ever wanted. But it's time for you to go. Good bye.”

Cooper touched the glass with his hand, pressing it against the cold surface until his father did the same thing, then he got up and left. He had no desire to visit his mother. He had known since he was a small child that his mother was in charge, that his father did whatever she told him. He knew his father was just as guilty in what they had done to Blaine, but he also knew it was his mother's idea and she was the one that made it happen. It was all her idea -from the first lie when he was twelve to the last one when they took Kurt Hummel hostage. No, he would never go see her.

Hummel house, the day after Thanksgiving:

“Boys! Breakfast!” Carole called down the stairs. Blaine woke up, stretching and called back that they were awake and would be there directly. He turned to Kurt and shook his shoulder.

“What?” Kurt asked, coming awake abruptly and sitting up. He was so tired, last night being the worst for Blaine's nightmares he'd had in quite a while. He blinked and rubbed at his eyes, then tumbled out of bed to go into the bathroom.

Blaine had been up earlier and took a shower, so he just got dressed and headed upstairs to talk to Cooper. The idea of going to New York with Coop and Kurt sounded better with every passing hour.

“Coop!” Blaine said, walking up behind his big brother and throwing his arms around him. Cooper grinned, so happy to have Blaine near him. Even after a year, he still felt elated whenever he was near Blaine.

“Hey, Squirt, how are you doing?” he asked, having heard the screams coming from the basement last night. He knew they were Blaine, but he also knew that Kurt was the one he wanted when he needed comfort. A frown crossed Cooper's face at this thought, but he was powerless to change it. He was glad that at least Blaine had someone that cared enough to help him through these awful spells, and he should be thankful, but he still wanted Blaine to need him. He sighed.

“I'm fine, Coop,” Blaine said. He didn't like to talk about his nightmares.

Blaine sat down and reached for the plate of bacon when Kurt arrived at the table, sliding silently into his seat and smiling at his dad.

“We wanted to talk to all of you, actually,” Blaine started. Kurt looked up for a moment, then nodded his head when he remembered the conversation from last night.

The other people at the table looked at Blaine. Carole had just sat down to spoon eggs onto her plate, Finn was not really paying attention as he shoveled hash browns into his mouth, Burt sat with just a cup of coffee, having gotten his breakfast at sunrise as usual.

“Kurt and I were thinking it might be fun to go to New York,” Blaine said. “Cooper, we thought we might stay at your apartment with you? Kurt has never been to New York and I haven't since I was a little kid, so with Burt and Carole's permission, we'd like to propose a trip for after Christmas?”

Carole and Burt looked at each other. “Well, I don't see any problems with it, as long as Cooper can take the time off to chaperone?” Burt said, looking at Cooper.

Cooper had a huge smile on his face. “I'd love that, Squirt! How about we plan to leave the day after Christmas and come home January second?”

Blaine grinned. “Perfect. We can watch the ball drop in Times Square!” He looked over to catch Kurt's eye and saw a beautiful smile on his face, his hand groping for Blaine's under the table and his foot hooking Blaine's ankle. The only one with a brighter smile was Cooper.

“Now, you two be sure and do what Cooper tells you, he's lived there and it isn't like Lima,” Burt said, probably for the tenth time. All three of the boys nodded their heads. They were early arriving at the airport, but with the heavy holiday traffic, it was a good idea. The crowds weren't as bad as they had anticipated, but of course they still had JFK to get through.

The flight was quiet, Kurt in the window seat, Cooper on the aisle and Blaine between the two. He was not doing too well being in such a crowded plane, in such a small space and he was practically in Cooper's lap, holding on to Kurt's hand for dear life. He had taken the tranquilizer prescribed by his doctor, but even though he was very sleepy, he was having to do mental exercises not to start screaming. Cooper slid his arms around Blaine a little tighter and Kurt was whispering encouraging things to him. They had both experienced Blaine's PTSD spells and Blaine was determined that they would not stop him from living a normal life, so his boyfriend and brother did everything they could to support him.

Cooper finally turned him around to lie on Kurt's shoulder while Kurt stroked his temple and kissed his cheek trying to keep him quiet.

Cooper started to sing very softly, so only Blaine and Kurt could really hear it.

“Hush, little baby, don't say a word...”

Kurt gave him a quizzical look and Blaine told him it was a song from his childhood that Cooper would sing to him when he was home from boarding school. Blaine finally relaxed and fell asleep, but neither Cooper or Kurt stopped holding and caring for Blaine. They knew he could wake up at any moment and be afraid again.

The flight finally landed and the three embarked to find a taxi. Gathering suitcases and carry-ons, they left the airport and drove into the snow-filled New York night, Blaine and Kurt curled together in the back seat of the taxi. It pulled up in front of an apartment building and Cooper got out with his keys ready. The doorman met them and helped bring in the luggage, Blaine and Kurt looking around the apartment with smiles. Cooper opened the blinds so they could see the Manhattan skyline before taking his suitcases into the guest room.

“I'm going to take the twin bed in the guest room and leave you guys my king-size bed,” Cooper said, picking up Kurt's suitcase to tote into that room. Blaine followed with his.

“Oh, we didn't mean to put you out of your room!” Kurt said, meaning it.

“Don't worry, I'm fine there,” Cooper said, “The bed is soft and the view is great. I want you two to be comfortable, and this is my Christmas present to you – so, enjoy it!”

Blaine ran forward to hug his big brother.

They had settled everything in and came back to the living room to look at the city, the brothers smiling at the sparkles in Kurt's eyes as he gazed at the cars and people rushing everywhere in spite of the fact that it was past midnight.

“Are you guys hungry?” Cooper asked and got grins and smiles in reply. “Okay, we're going to one of my favorite bistro's that just happens to be not only a short walk from my front door, but also open until three.”

They all bundled up in their warmest coats to brave the New York winter and walked the few blocks to the bistro. The waiter greeted Cooper by name and brought them to a small table near a window so they could watch the snow fall. The owner came to the table with a bottle of wine and greeted Cooper.
“Mr Anderson! We've missed you. I'm happy to see you back here and brought you a bottle of your favorite wine as a Christmas present,” he smiled.

“Oh, Tony!” Coop enthused. “You know you could never keep me from coming back here, it's my home away from home. I would like to introduce you to my own family. Tony, this is my brother, Blaine, and his friend, Kurt. They are visiting me from Ohio for the holidays.”

“So nice to meet Cooper's family, I am honored,” Tony said, shaking hands with both boys and giving Cooper a sort of hug.

“So nice to meet you, too, Tony,” Blaine said.

“This is a lovely restaurant, and it is so nice to know Cooper has such a good friend. Thank you for the wine,” Kurt said, taking Tony's hand to shake.

“Good, I'm happy to see you again, Mr Anderson, and to meet your family. I hope to see you again soon,” Tony ended, turning to leave.

“Thank you again, Tony. I'll be here for a week, then back to Ohio. But I'm maintaining the apartment here, so you'll see me again. Tell Maria I send my love,” Cooper said with a pat to Tony's back.

He opened the wine and filled the three glasses.

“A toast to us, and to a wonderful new year on the horizon. I know the coming year will be better than this one.” Cooper smiled at Blaine and Kurt who touched glasses and each had a sip.

“Oh, that's delicious!” Kurt said, looking at Cooper.

“It's my favorite,” he started to say when the waitress came over.

They ordered their food, Cooper suggesting his favorite items and the boys took his suggestions. Blaine ordered a Monte Cristo and Kurt the Seafood Risotto. Cooper ordered his usual: the Red Wine Braised Short Ribs with mashed celery roots. The next hour was spent drinking the wine and consuming all the food, sharing bites and laughing and talking into the night. Completely filled and feeling great, they walked back to the apartment.

“I love New York already,” Blaine said, hugging his brother.

“Thank you so much, Cooper,” Kurt added, “I had a great time tonight.”