1998

‘Okay Kurt now no running off, you hear me.' Burt turns to face his son in the back of the car and repeats the words for what must be the seventh time that day. They're pulled up in a car park outside the local Christmas tree farm and Kurt just. Wants. To. Get. Going.

‘Yes Dad.' Kurt says with a roll of his eyes, Burt hadn't been expecting the snark until the teenage years so this new found Kurt is a little surprising, he'd probably reprimand him more if it weren't for the fact that a five year old boy who's still afraid of monsters under the bed trying to be sassy is one of the funniest things he's seen in a while.

‘Okay then, let's go.' Burt claps his hands together and gets out of the car, quickly moving round to let Kurt out and making sure his son's coat is done all the way up before they get going. Kurt jumps out of the car and latches on to his Dad's hand. It's only early December but it's already freezing, Kurt's wrapped up in his blue duffel coat, it's far too long and hangs about three inches over his fingertips but at least he's warm. He has his read mittens on which make it a little hard to hold hands but his Dad doesn't have any intention of letting him go. His matching red hat with the ear flaps and the tassels hangs low over his face, almost obscuring his eyes so that he has to keep pushing it up every few minutes while the tassels whip around his red cheeks every time a particularly strong gust of wind hits.

Burt keeps a tight hold on Kurt, the boy's become extremely curious as of late and has taken to wandering off when they're out and about, it's not usually far, he just goes over to run his hands through some of the silk ties in the men's section or to stare in awe at all the neatly dressed mannequins in high class shop windows, but Burt's not taking any chances.

‘Come on, stay close to me and choose which one you want.' Burt leads Kurt down aisle after aisle of pre-cut Christmas trees, keeping a tight hold of his mittened hand and pulling him a little closer when he starts to shiver. It's bitterly cold outside and Kurt's always hated it, he loves the season, the warm clothes and all the layers you get to wear, having extra blankets on your bed and getting to drink hot chocolate every evening, but he hates being cold. He usually spends all of winter curled up by the fire or buried beneath all of his blankets but today the harsh wind is even getting through his winter coat, chilling him to the bone and making him shiver uncomfortably.

They browse for a little longer, Kurt turns down every tree his Dad suggests, he has very high standards. Only the best will do for his Christmas tree. But then Burt gets distracted by one of the workers and Kurt takes that a sign for him to go running off. He makes sure his Dad's still in sight as he skips through row after row of Christmas trees towering high into the air, he feels like Lucy Pevensie arriving in Narnia, snow drifting lazily down from the sky and a forest of dense green trees to protect him from any monsters.

He wanders for a little longer, his mitten clad hands drifting over the branches of the trees he passes. Snow has been falling on and off for weeks, drifting down in lazy flurries, it's not enough to settle properly but it's enough to wet his hair and hurt his cheeks. He's bored of shopping, all of the trees look the same and none of them are good enough. He wants a tree like you see in movies, one that's full and green and fills up an entire corner of the room, not these spindly things.

The Kurt finds it. It towers over him like a giant, standing tall and proud like something you'd see in a shop window or on TV. It's a darker green than the rest, richer somehow, and every single branch is perfectly in place. Kurt stares at it in awe. He momentarily forgets the cold and the wind, he forgets to pull his sleeves down and his hat up, he just stands and stares and imagines it in his house, nestled into the corner and covered in fairy lights. He imagines decorating it with his Mum and  opening presents under it on Christmas morning. It's perfect.

He doesn't even hear his Dad approach. He's too caught up in his daydreaming about Christmas trees and snowy woods and running off to have an adventure. He jumps at the warm hands that grasp his shoulders and the gruff voice that leans down to whisper in his ear.

‘What did I tell you about running off Kurt?'

‘Can we have this one?' Kurt ignores his father, choosing instead to point at the tree with his puppy dog eyes turned up full.

‘It's a bit... big.' His Dad eyes him uncertainly, ‘there were plenty of other ones that were just as good. And smaller.'

‘Yes but they weren't this one, this one's green and pretty and-‘

‘They're all green Kurt.'

‘But it's a nicer green and Mummy would like it.' Kurt turns his big blue eyes on his Dad, preparing himself for a tantrum if need be, but he thinks that by playing the Mummy card he's got him sold. Whenever Kurt wants anything he just tells his dad that his mum wants it too, if there's anyone he'll give in to over Kurt it's definitely Kurt's mother. The pair of them have Burt wrapped around their little fingers.

‘Your heart's really set on this one?'

‘Yes.' Kurt grins, he already knows he's won, it hadn't taken much of a fight.

‘Well go on then, if you think it will look so great.' Kurt lets out a squeal of excitement, wrapping his arms around his Dad's waist and bouncing up and down on his toes.

‘Thank you Daddy, thank you so much.'

‘I knew brining you with me would be a bad idea.'

 ‘Come on Cooper, come out with me, pleeease?' Frannie drawls down the phone, using the voice she knows Cooper can't resist. Cooper scowls at the floor.

‘I can't, I'm so so sorry but I have to stay and look after Blaine, our parents are out.'

‘Please.'

‘I can't.'

‘Fine whatever.' Frannie hangs up the phone without another word. Cooper screams through gritted teeth and kicks the wall.

‘What's wrong Coop?' Blaine toddles into the hallway where the phone is and stops in front of Cooper, he looks up at his brother with big earnest eyes and a worried look on his face.

‘Nothing, just a girl.'

‘I don't like girls.' Blaine proclaims happy. Cooper laughs at him, knowing full well that will all change soon.

‘Just you wait and see.' Blaine looks defiantly up at Cooper as if he's about to say something but then he thinks better of it.  ‘Do you want to decorate the tree?' Blaine nods and follows Cooper into the living room. He drags his old raggedy blanket behind him. It used to be Cooper's but Blaine inherited it when he was born and lately he's started taking it everywhere with him. ‘Are you okay B? What's wrong?' Cooper stops Blaine at the door and kneels down in front of him, all day Blaine's been acting weird, well weird for a five year old during Christmas time anyway. He's been quiet and reserved and has barely spoken at all, it's very odd for Blaine.

‘Mummy and Daddy aren't here.' Blaine whispers quietly, avoiding Cooper's gaze.

‘So?' their parents are very rarely there, Cooper doesn't see what the big deal is.

‘Do they not want to see us?' Blaine's bottom lip trembles like he might cry. It doesn't take much to make Blaine cry so Cooper tries to step lightly.

‘No, no, they just... go out, a lot. I doesn't mean they don't love us it just means they have very busy social lives.' Cooper doesn't mention the fact that those social lives don't really need to take precedence over their own children, he just grins down at Blaine and tries to sound reassuring.

‘But why don't they want to decorate the Christmas tree with us?'

‘They think they're too old, but hey! You get to spend time with me so why are you complaining?'

‘I'll never be too old to decorate the Christmas tree.'

‘No me either.' Blaine smiles, albeit still a little sadly, but he sets his blanket to the side and helps Cooper decorate the tree by doing all the lower branches.

They spend several hours covering the tree in all their extravagant decorations. Cooper never really understood why his parents insisted on buying the most expensive things when they only came out once a year, but he does agree that the tree looks fantastic. It's covered head to toe in tinsel, reds and golds that spiral their way up to join together just beneath the star on top, and is dotted with glistening angels and stars and reindeer that sparkle under the glow of the fairy lights. Everything is placed perfectly symmetrical; Cooper knows that's how their mother would like it so he instructs Blaine as they go along.  They dangle bells from the edge of the prickly braches and hang candy canes about the place. They turn the rest of the lights in the room off and sit under the glow coming from the tree, it makes everything seem softer and warmer, coating it all in shades of gold and red. At one point Blaine tries to hang some decorations that he'd made at school on the tree but Cooper doesn't let him.

‘No Blaine I was never allowed to hang my homemade decorations on the tree so you're not allowed either. And mine were better than yours.

‘but Cooop.' Blaine whines, pouting a little in way he knows people can't resist.

‘No Blaine, we have to keep it neat it'll throw the whole dynamic off.' But Cooper isn't people. Blaine gives up and sets  his decorations aside, they weren't that great anyway. Once they're finished decorating Cooper makes them hot chocolate and cuddles up with Blaine under a blanket to watch the Muppet Christmas Carol together. Blaine nuzzles into Cooper's side, sipping delicately at his hot chocolate and stealing most of the blankets. Cooper lets him, he feels bad that they're parents keep leaving them home alone, they seem to believe that if they buy Blaine a lot of Christmas presents it will make everything better.

‘I love you Blaine, you know that right? Sometimes I'm kind of mean to you but that doesn't mean I don't love you okay? Just remember that.'

‘I love you too Coop.' Blaine smiles, cuddling if possible even further into Cooper's side.

‘Good, but your decorations still aren't going on the tree.'

Kurt shifts in the line waiting to see Santa, he bounces excitedly on the balls of his feet and cranes his neck to try and get a better look. He's surrounded by a small group of children his age, all of them babbling excitedly and shuffling in their place in line. His Mum's arm wraps protectively around his shoulders a she pulls him close in to her side. The whole store is lit up with bright lights, fake snow is hanging from every surface and tinsel clings to almost every shelf, there is music blaring, decorations swaying and the whole room is poised in collective anticipation, children clinging to each other and talking loudly about what they're going to ask Santa for. Kurt's likes the feeling; he likes the idea that everyone around him is just as excited as he is and he likes the fact that at Christmas, no matter what's going on, everyone tries to be happy.

‘If Santa's not allowed to see me on Christmas Eve why is he allowed to see me now?' Kurt looks up at his Mother with his open blue eyes and a slightly confused looking frown pulling at his features.

‘He's far too busy on Christmas Eve to stop and talk to people silly, he has to deliver presents to everyone in the world.' Molly laughs, Kurt's always been curious, never stopping for breath between the constant stream of questions.

‘How?' and there goes another one, she can't help but smile down at her son, he's the cutest thing she's ever seen, all pale skin and big eyes and so unaware of how funny he is.

‘Magic of course.' She waits for the question that's about to come next.

‘but how?' Kurt says, perplexed, his eyebrows drawn together in confusion, you can almost see his brain working to comprehend what he's been told. ‘He couldn't even get through our entire town in one night let alone the whole world.'

‘I told you, magic.' Molly walks him forward just a little more in the line, trying to shield him from the other pushing children. He's always been small for his age, but he looks tiny in the centre of this crowd. ‘Also time zones.' Kurt nods his head in understanding, although he still doesn't really get it.

***

Only a few people behind Kurt in the line stands another boy, about the same age with a mess of dark curly hair that looks just as unruly as he is, and bright hazel eyes that scan the store excitedly. He's talking animatedly to his older brother, gesturing wildly with his arms and bouncing precariously on his short little legs, he's even shorter than Kurt.

‘Coop Coop Coop Coop Coop, I'm going to see Santa!' Blaine can't control his excitement, every part of his body seems to be buzzing, tingling all over and making him hop from foot to foot in anticipation.

‘Yeah I know Buddy, what are you gonna ask him for?' Cooper can't help but grin, it seems that more and more often these days he doesn't want to do anything with Blaine and still ends up enjoying it- it's getting out of hand. He'd agreed- begrudgingly so- to take Blaine to see Santa, if he didn't do it no one would, and he can't bear the thought of a little boy not getting to meet Santa, no matter how irritating that little boy is. The problem is that Blaine's just so cute, and he's endearingly over excited about everything. Cooper now understands why no one could say no to him as a child either.

‘I don't know! Some superhero stuff and- and a new microphone- because you broke my old one.' Blaine pouts angrily at Cooper at that but then goes back to eagerly listing all the things he wants. ‘And some new gloves and a racing track for my cars  and some dressing up costumes and some films and oh I don't know there's too much. Can I have a puppy?' Blaine grins, he never once stopped bouncing as he recited his Christmas list. His eyes are all lit up, the light from the Christmas trees bouncing off them as he's smiles at Cooper like this is the best day of his life- it probably is.

‘Sorry B, I don't think Santa does live presents.' Cooper grimaces at the thought of what their parents would do if he bought Blaine a puppy for Christmas.

Blaine's still talking at Cooper. He jumps up and down in an attempt to see where Santa's grotto has been set up but he can barely see over anyone's head. The music playing over the speakers changes suddenly from something slow and melodic that Blaine had never heard of before to Christmas Wrapping. His face lights up- if possible- even more and he turns to Cooper grinning.

‘Cooper I love this song!' They both laugh, if there's one thing either of them love more than Cooper it's music. Blaine sings along quietly, trying to dance in the small space both he and Cooper are occupying, he beams. His eyes light up and his curls bounce around his head, his entire body emanating joy as he grabs Cooper's hands to dance with him. Cooper shakes his head fondly at Blaine as he begins to sway along too, he can see a couple of people looking at them but they all seem to be smiling and cooing at Blaine so he takes it as a good sign. By the time the chorus comes round they're both singing out loud together, Blaine jumping far more boisterously than Cooper, with his coat flapping about beside him and his brother keeping a tight hold of him so he doesn't hit anyone.

***

Kurt looks about the shop dully, he's almost at the front of the line but he's bored of waiting by now. There's some upbeat song playing from the speakers, he's not sure if he's heard it before but he likes it all the same. He glances behind him, trying to get a better look at the fake North Pole that's been set up in the corner, but something catches his eye. Only a few feet back, two boys singing along, not quite loud enough for him to hear, to the music and dancing energetically. The youngest one doesn't look that much younger than him and they both seem to be having far more fun than he is, stuck waiting in the boring queue. He's about to ask his Mum if he can go join in when it's his turn to go see Santa. He sighs- he'd really wanted to join in- but as he walks up to where Santa is smiling at him and patting his knee he forgets why he was even bored in the first place. He's going to talk to Santa after all.

Blaine stops singing for a few seconds as he watches the line move forward once again. A boy who looks about his age walks up to see Santa next, his got this light blue scarf on that matches his eyes perfectly, he's one of the prettiest people Blaine's ever seen. Their eyes meet for a spit second and  Blaine grins at him receiving a blush and a small smile in response, but then Cooper's nudging him and giving him a confused look so he continues to sing again, forgetting all about the boy in the pretty blue scarf.

‘Kurt! Kurt come here a second.' Kurt runs down the stairs two at a time and crashes into the living room where his parents are curled up together on the couch. He's been running on energy he really shouldn't have all day, with the holidays have come later bedtimes and with later bedtimes should come a worn out child but things haven't turned out that way. Kurt's still as hyper as ever, maybe even more so. But who can really blame him, it is Christmas.

‘You're not going to make me go to bed are you?' Kurt asks warily, eyeing his parents with a look that tells them they're in for a fight and a half if they even think about.

‘No honey, it's six o'clock in the evening.' Molly laughs, she's pressed close against Burt with their legs tangled together and their arms wrapped around each other. She looks at Kurt fondly, smiling when she sees him relax now the threat of an early bed time is gone.  ‘We were just wondering if you wanted to join in on a little tradition we have?' Kurt smiles with his whole body, the kind of all-encompassing smile you want to wrap up in a blanket and never let go. he nods his head shyly and lets his Mother pull him to her lap by his hands. ‘It's nothing special.' She explains ‘we just watch it's a wonderful life once a year on Christmas Eve.'

‘What's that?' he asks, burying his head in his Mum's chest and snuggling down under the blanket his Dad throws over them both.

‘It's the most wonderful Christmas film ever.' His Mum sighs, she hugs Kurt close, her arms wrap all the way around his body and keep him trapped up against her, he giggles as she goes to tickle his sides but she soon lets up and they cuddle up quietly to watch the film.

‘Cooper? Cooper?' Blaine whispers into the dark, he's illuminated by the light coming from the hall as he stands in the doorway to Cooper's bedroom. His hair is falling wildly around his cheeks and his toes curl up from the cold even though he's dressed in his long footie pyjamas. His Teddy bear- the one Cooper had bought him for his fifth birthday and named after himself- hangs limply from his arm. ‘Cooper.' He repeats, still lingering in the doorway instead of just coming in.

‘What is it?' Cooper grumbles, it's only eleven or so but he was trying to go to bed early, he didn't want to sit up with his parents and talk about their family or his exams or why he doesn't want to be a lawyer. He just wants to sleep.

‘Cold.' Blaine mumbles, recoiling slightly from Cooper's hostile tone. He looks small and embarrassed as he plays with the sleeve of his pyjamas and clutches his teddy bear close.

‘Do you want me to make you a hot water bottle?' Blaine shakes his head and takes a step into the room, he doesn't usually going anywhere in the house but the living room and his own bedroom without asking for permission but Cooper doesn't look like he'll stop him so he walks right in. He paws lightly at the covers where they're pulled up to Cooper's neck and tries to climb onto the bed.

‘No Blaine you can't sleep in here tonight.' Cooper tries to sound soothing, he really does, but it still comes out grumpy and disgruntled as he tries to prise the covers away from Blaine and back over himself, it really is cold in the house.

‘Please.' Blaine pleads, his bottom lip trembling as he sits back on his haunches and looks at Cooper. Cooper stares him down for all of two seconds before he gives up and wonders why he ever even tries to say no to Blaine.

‘Just a few minutes okay? Just until you warm up, you want to be in your own bed for Santa right?' Blaine doesn't say anything, just buries himself under the covers like a puppy and curls up into Cooper's side. His tiny little hands are freezing, they feel like blocks of ice as they wind their way around Cooper's neck, he tries to squirm away from them but Blaine turns his almost tearful eyes- honestly that child will cry at anything- on him again and he ends up pulling his younger brother closer. They curl up under the covers for just long enough for Blaine to fall asleep (and then maybe half an hour after that but don' t tell anyone) and then Cooper picks him up and carries him as best he can back into his own bed, he grabs an extra blanket from the cupboard in the spare room and wraps it around Blaine so he doesn't get cold again.

‘Merry Christmas Blaine.' Cooper whispers as he heads back to his own room.