Blaine could never understand why the cookies were always stale at the NA meetings. He had been good and gone to a meeting every week after he had gotten back, getting another pin. Some familiar faces, Clyde and Carrie, were among the group and had welcomed Blaine in with open arms.

            But for some reason the cookies always sucked.

            “Dude…what the hell kind of crappy generic oreos are these?” Cooper scrunched his nose up and Blaine felt the now familiar sense of frustration swell up in him.

            “They suck,” Blaine mumbled around a chocolate chip oatmeal cookie.

            The meeting had gone well, inviting the recovering addicts, family and friends speak their minds. Going to the meetings gave Blaine a sense of belonging. When the world outside of rehab got too overwhelming he liked the tight community he had found.

            But Cooper was always there.

            Honestly, he was so lucky to have such a supportive brother. Cooper was there for him and was willing to be a part of his recovery which was more than most of the members of the group. After his parents threw him out he needed some family there.

            But he was there making a nice healthy breakfast in the morning.

            He was there when Blaine got home from school with a snack.

            He was there to subtlety go through Blaine’s things.

            He was there to make him dinner.

            He was there to check in every ten minutes.

            He was there to give him a big glass of water and put him to bed.

            It was exhausting.

            “Ready to roll?” Cooper smiled cheerfully as he jingled the car keys. Blaine gave him a tight lipped smile in return and nodded.

            “Let me just say goodbye to everyone,” He said quickly and made a round of the room, giving a few hugs before following his brother out to the car.

            “So do you want to get a burger or something?”

            “Not really,” He shrugged.

            “Ice cream?”

            “No.”

            “Milkshake?”

            “What are you doing?” Blaine glanced over.

            “I’m trying to get some food or ice cream?” Cooper stared straight ahead as he drove.

            “Why?”

            “Because it sounded good?” His eyebrows furrowed.

            “No, why are you doing this whole thing? The taking me everywhere? The being with me all the time?”

            “Maybe because I’m trying to be a good brother,” Cooper sat a little stiffer in his seat.

            “You don’t need to do this much. What….do you think I’m going to go back to drugs if you don’t watch me all the time?” He snapped. “That if you are the perfect big brother I’ll be okay? Do you think I don’t know that you go through my things? That you’re looking for any sign that I went back?”

            Cooper stayed silent.

            “You can’t follow me around forever.”

            “I can try!” Cooper suddenly exploded, startling Blaine. “Fuck Blaine do you think you’re the only one who feels guilty? I want to help you. I want to help you because I was never there before.”

            “You’re not helping!”

            “Okay, calm down,” Cooper’s voice was tight.

            “No! I’m allowed to get angry! I’m not going to run out and shoot up or fuck a stranger. You can’t keep me in this bubble for the rest of my life,” He was shaking slightly with rage and Cooper swerved his car into the side of the road and parked.

            “Blaine I nearly saw you die twice. I still have nightmares about getting the phone call after that dance and I will never forget how much pain you were in with the withdrawal,” He took a deep breath. “I don’t want to lose you.”

            “You wont,” Blaine stared at his brother. “But I can do this on my own.”

            “You don’t have to.” Cooper shook his head frantically.

            “I do,” Blaine said softly. “Cooper I need to do this on my own. I mean…do you trust me?”

            “Of course I trust you,” Cooper sighed. “It just scares me.”

            “What are you so scared of?”

            “I don’t know…” Cooper leaned back against the seat. “Something stressed you enough to start doing it in the first place right? I don’t want you to have any of that stress.”

            “I can’t live a stress free life. I have college to prepare for, friends to deal with, and…you know…the fact that our parents are homophobic assholes who disowned their own son,” He let out a shaky laugh. “It’s like I can’t get a break. It’s just one shitty thing after another.”

            “It’s not fair,” Cooper looked over at him sadly. “I just want you to have a normal, happy life Blaine.”

            “Well, a normal life isn’t really in the cards anymore,” Blaine shrugged.  “And maybe it really hasn’t been happy so far but…but I need to make it happen. I need to work to make myself happy.”

            “I’m proud of you Blainers.”

            “And just…tone it down?” He smiled when Cooper laughed. “I know you mean well Coop but you want erase what happened. No matter how many fancy pastries you get me for breakfast.”

            “I usually eat three by the time I get home from picking them up. You just get the leftover one,” He poked his brother in the shoulder. “I don’t know…maybe with you going off to school I’m just worried.”

            “So you’re suffering from empty nest syndrome? Nice to see someone is since our parents aren’t,” Blaine grinned and Cooper’s smile fell.

            “Don’t joke about that.”

            “I’m sorry,” Blaine sighed. “I’m just saying that you’re my big brother. You’re not my dad. So, the idea of you constantly on me instead of living a life just makes me sad. Coop, go out and meet up with friends, meet a girl, do something!”

            “I’m an all or nothing kind of guy I think,” Cooper shook his head. “Maybe I went overboard.”

            “Maybe?”

            “Okay, I did,” Cooper rolled his eyes. “But it was for you.”

            “You’re my only family Cooper,” Blaine took in a shaky breath, feeling his chest tighten. “And I love you and appreciate everything you’ve done. Seriously appreciate it. Let me try to do this on my own and if I need it I will ask for help.”

            “I’ll miss you when you go off to school.”

            “I’ll miss you too,” Blaine smiled. “But this time we’ll talk.”

            “Absolutely,” Cooper squeezed his shoulder. “But…I would still like to come to the meetings if that’s okay. They’re helping me understand everything more.”

            “I’d like that,” Blaine shrugged. “And maybe you can also talk to the cute girl down the hall from your apartment?”

            “Lisa?” Cooper frowned. “She doesn’t feel anything towards me.”

            “Coop, did you really think the mailman was accidentally putting our mail in her box? She drops it off every day.”

            “Huh.”

            Blaine’s phone beeped with an incoming text and he glanced down.

            <i>From Sam: Halo tournament? I need someone on my team to totally destroy Finn

            To Sam: I’m so in </i>

            “In fact, you can have the apartment to yourself tonight,” He said as he finished typing. “I’m going to play video games with the guys.”

            “Fun,” Cooper nodded as he pulled into the driveway.

            “Get pizza or something,” Blaine hopped out, unlocking his own car. “Invite Lisa.”

            “Ha ha,” Cooper rolled his eyes. “Go play your video games.”

            Blaine grinned at him, walking to his car. A slender, pretty blonde girl smiled warmly at him as she stepped out of her car as well, carrying several grocery bags.

            “Hi Blaine,” She nodded at him.

            “Hi Lisa!” He said loudly and out of the corner of his eye saw Cooper freeze. “That’s a lot of groceries. I’m sure Cooper would be more than happy to help you out with them.”

            “Of course!” Cooper jogged over, taking most of the bag. Lisa blushed prettily and gave Cooper a smile as he shot a glare at his brother.

            “I might be home late.”

            “I’ll see you later,” Cooper nodded again and Blaine slipped into his car, still grinning.