Cooper came back from California early. He didnt have to, but once the Lifemate Registry contacted him letting him know his brother hadnt shown up for his pairing appointment, he knew New York was where he needed to be. That was the story he was going with at least. Kurt knew Blaine had called him before he left and told him he was leaving. Cooper waited until he heard from the Registry to come back though.

Kurt was surprised at how relieved he was to have Cooper here. The Registry had been calling a few times a day since Blaine missed his appointment wondering if Kurt had heard from him or had any idea where he was. Apparently, they had to wait two full days before they could officially declare Blaine a Lifemate runaway. Cooper was back by then.

The first thing Cooper did when he got to the apartment was wrap Kurt in a big hug. Kurt felt shaky and a little untethered and was grateful that Cooper was being the calm one for now. "You okay kid?" He asked, still hugging him.

"Im just scared for him," Kurt answered.

Cooper pulled back, keeping his hands on Kurts arms. "I cant believe he actually did it."

Kurt blinked at him, “Wait, did you think there was a chance that he'd run?"

"Ever since the inspection interview thing we had. Hes been antsy. He made a few comments that made me think this might happen."

Kurt tried not to be upset at that. "He never even hinted at it with me. One moment we were good and happy and the next…" 

Kurt swallowed back his fear and irritation. "He had his letter and he was telling me he was leaving."

"A lot of what he does he does to protect you," Cooper said.

"I dont need him to protect me! I need him to talk to me!" Kurt snapped, but his anger was short lived, his shoulders slumped. He wasnt mad at Cooper, he wasnt even really mad at Blaine; he was just worried. "So it looks like youre moving back here," Kurt said to change the subject.

"Yeah, we need to be a united front when the officials come to talk to us, because you know they will."

Kurt reached for his hand and swung it between them. "Happily married. Right?"

Cooper smiled. "Right."

They spent some time going over what theyd say to the Registry and making sure Coopers things were in place. Cooper acted calm and collected but Kurt would catch a line to his brow or a faraway look in his eyes sometimes and Kurt knew he was worried about Blaine too.

Letting Blaine leave without him was one of the hardest things Kurt had ever done. Blaine had been stashing away cash for a little while so when he left, he took some with him and left some for Kurt, so a big withdrawal from his accounts wouldnt alert the Lifemate Registry. They had switched Blaines things for Cooper's and cleaned up all the candles still out from the night before.

Once Blaine was ready to go, Kurt thought his heart might beat right out of his chest. He couldnt believe this was all happening so fast, he couldnt believe he was so close to possibly losing Blaine.

"Where are you going?" Kurt asked as they stood by the doorway.

"Kurt, the less you know the less youll have to lie about."

Kurt hated that, he hated all of this. "Blaine." He leaned his head against Blaines, his thumb running over Blaines cheek. "Youre killing me here, this hurts too much."

Blaine made a broken sob of a noise, and Kurt ran his hand down his face and his fingers traced his lips. "How long do I wait, when will you let me know youre ready?"

Blaine looked like he was in pain.

"Dont tell me you dont know."

"Kurt… I dont know."

"You cant just leave with me having no clue whats going on." Kurt was feeling desperate, dread like a snake coiling around his heart.

"I know Im asking a lot of you, and it isnt fair. But there is a lot I dont know yet. I just need you to trust that I am going to do everything possible to make sure we are together. Safe and together."

Kurts patience with this whole situation was wearing thin, but he did trust Blaine. "Okay, but you better know that if you dont contact me soon enough I am going to come find you. Got that?"

Blaine had smiled, told him he understood, and kissed him goodbye. Not goodbye, it wasnt goodbye.

"I love you," Kurt breathed as Blaine backed away.

"I love you too. Ill… talk to you soon." And then he was gone and Kurt had no idea what to do.

It all seemed like such a horrible idea now. He should have gone with him; he shouldnt be here without any idea where Blaine was. It didnt feel right.

It was the Wednesday after Blaine left that the Lifemate Registry officials showed up. They banged on the door and Cooper answered. It was Hilda again, but next to her was a tall dark skinned man in a suit. Neither of them smiled this time.

"Hello," Cooper greeted, letting them in. "You must be here about my brother. Have you found out anything?"

Hilda and the man walked in wordlessly, looking around the apartment until their eyes landed on Kurt.

"Youve met my husband, Kurt," Cooper said.

"Yes," Hilda said. "This is Addison." She waved her hand at the man with her and gave him no other name.

"Hello," the man said, shaking Cooper's and then Kurts hands; his grip was stiff and unfriendly. "Ill be conducting the interview today while Ms. Miller looks around."

"Id be happy to show you a-"

"That wont be necessary," Addison interrupted. "We will need a key to your brothers apartment."

"Alright," Cooper said and took one off of his keychain. Hilda accepted it with a sour expression before she left the room to go poke around the bedroom. Kurt just watched, they could look around if they wanted, they wouldnt find anything to prove he and Blaine were together and they certainly werent going to find Blaine.

"What exactly are you hoping to find? Something to help you locate Blaine?" Cooper asked, sitting down on the couch. Kurt followed his lead, stomach flipping over itself. Cooper casually reached for his hand and held it, rubbing his thumb over it the way Blaine sometimes did. Kurt thought Cooper was probably doing it just for show, but it actually helped him calm down a little.

"You do realize that running from your Lifemate letter is a serious offence?" Addison asked.

"Yes. It is," Cooper said. "You have to understand, though, my kid brother is a little head strong, but hes a good guy. I think hell probably come to his senses and turn himself in to be honest."

"Lets hope for his sake that is true," Addison said, his face never changing expressions. "Kurt," he said sharply, looking at him squarely in the eyes. "Im going to be upfront with you and I hope youll do the same."

"Of course I will," Kurt said, sitting up straighter.

"Is there a possibility that Blaine has feelings for you?"

Kurt had been expecting a question like this. "Blaine is my friend, a good friend. He made me feel welcome when Cooper and I were paired, even before Cooper and I finally got comfortable with each other."

"Yes, but that doesnt answer my question does it? I have reason to believe Blaine may think he is in love with you."

The way he said "think" ruffled Kurts feathers but he didnt let it show. "What reasons?" Kurt asked, scrunching his brows.

"I thought we were going to be straight with each other here."

Kurt narrowed his eyes, Kurt didnt like this guy; it made it easier to lie to him. "No. I dont think Blaine has those kinds of feelings for me. We are only friends."

"And what about you?"

"Do I have romantic feelings for Blaine?" Kurt asked, raising his eyebrows. "No, it was gradual, but I am very much in love with 
my Lifemate," Kurt answered.

Hilda walked back into the living room, her cheeks a little red.

"Youre lying," she said and her voice was almost shrill. It took Kurt by surprise.

"Hilda, please," Addison said, looking at her like he was bored.

"We know youre lying," She said and held something up in between her fingers. It was small and black and Kurt had no idea what it was, but his heart was hammering in his chest like a cornered rabbit.

"Excuse me?" Cooper said. "We arent lying, we have been nothing but cooperative."

"What is your problem?" Kurt asked, looking at Hilda who was obviously fuming. Kurt knew he looked and sounded more confident than he was; he was actually feeling a little sick.

Hilda marched into the room and tossed what was in her hand down to the coffee table.

"Do you know what that is? Its a bug. We know youre lying, we have it all on tape," Hilda said with a scowl.

Kurts blood ran cold. Cooper just tightened his grip on Kurts hand.

"Huh," Cooper said, looking down at the device. "Thats uncomfortable. Youve been bugging Kurt's and my bedroom? Get anything kinky?"

Hildas face turned an even deeper shade of red as her jaw set, she was furious. "We know. We know Kurt and Blaine are together."

Kurt didnt know if he was going to cry or be sick or just fall apart, but somehow Cooper was completely calm.

"If you have tapes proving these wild accusations, why arent you arresting us?"

There was a long silence where Kurt thought his heart might stop working altogether and it was Addison who finally spoke.

"Hilda, this would be a good time to go check the downstairs apartment."

"But you know theyre lying!"

"Hilda," he said sternly and looked at her. Hilda backed up a little as if even she was a little afraid of him. Then she spun on her heels and marched out of the apartment.

Kurt watched her go and then turned back to Addison. "What… I…" He couldnt find any words, were they about to be arrested or not?

"Is is common practice to bug people you are investigating?" Cooper asked.

"Yes," Addison answered simply. "Oddly, though, none of the bugs we put in either of your apartments ever picked anything up. It seems they were faulty." He looked Cooper in the eye and Coopers lips tipped up in a little smile.

"Thats too bad," Cooper said a little smugly.

"Has Blaine been in contact with either of you since he fled?” Addison asked, changing the subject.

"No," Kurt said and it was the truth.

Cooper shook his head. "Unfortunately not."

Addison looked at Kurt. "You were here in New York when he left; you had no suspicions of his plans?"

"No. I didnt. I didnt even know hed gotten his Lifemate letter." Kurt kept his hand in Coopers, wishing it were Blaines hand but still appreciating the support. Hilda was lying about the tapes, which meant they had nothing on them and were grasping at straws. 
Kurt hoped that was the case at least. There was a long silence and Kurt was determined not to be the first one to break it.

"I hope you both understand if you are lying to a Lifemate official you would be strictly punished." Addisons low voice took on a slightly threatening quality. "And that you could both end up in serious trouble if you interfere in this investigation or withhold information."

"I understand that," Kurt said.

"I would never," Cooper replied and he only sounded a little sarcastic.

"Very well," Addison said, rising from his chair. Kurt and Cooper followed suit. "Well be in touch." He handed them both his business card. "I expect to hear from you if you think of anything you think I should know."

And with that he was out the door.

Kurt stood frozen in place for a moment before he collapsed back on the couch. Now that he didnt have to keep up a façade, he started trembling slightly. "Oh god." He looked up at Cooper. "Bugs? They planted bugs?"

Cooper put a finger to his lips as he went to the cabinet near the TV where they kept the Bluerays and pulled something out; it looked like a remote of some kind. He clicked it on and there was a high pitched buzzing noise. Copper flipped it off again and then stood.

Kurt blinked at him. "What the hell?"

"After they were here the last time, I thought they might have bugged us. I got this from a sound guy I met working on the movie. It makes the bugs useless."

"I… you knew? Why didnt you say anything? Instead you just get all James Bond on me?"

Cooper shrugged. "I didnt want to freak you out."

"Cooper! Im freaked out okay?" He stood from the couch. "And you know what the worst of it is? The fact that you and Blaine kept things from me. I should have known about the bugs and the fact that Blaine had plans of leaving. You shouldnt have left me out! We are all in this together, my future is on the line too!" Kurt was breathing heavy and he was close to tears.

"Im sorry," Cooper said sincerely. "We… I mean he didnt know about the bugs either and I… Im sorry Kurt."

Kurt held his head in his hand. "We are all going to end up in jail… Ill… Ill never see him again."

"No." Cooper shook his head and sat down pulling Kurt down by the hand to sit next to him. "I talk about you in every media interview I do. Marie has worked hard promoting us as some kind of golden couple. The Lifemate Registry will think twice before messing with us. The public is on our side."

Kurt looked up at Cooper, surprised. "Youve thought this through."

Cooper shrugged. "I think it is why they didnt do anything after our first interview; they know they need to have solid proof. And they dont have it."

"Blaine ran, though; it doesnt matter if they have proof on us if they catch him…" Kurt felt a cold shiver run down his spine. "I shouldnt have let him go."

"Kurt, if you hadnt, he would be married to someone else by now."

Kurt felt a little sick at the reminder. "I know."

It didnt make waiting for Blaine to contact him easier.

Kurt got up to start dinner, he wasnt really hungry but he needed something to do. He felt restless and on edge. Cooper followed him in and helped get everything together for the meal.

"What if he is stuck somewhere and cant get in touch with me?" Kurt asked after some silence, expecting Cooper to keep up with his thoughts.

Cooper stuck his finger in the spaghetti sauce and ducked away as Kurt tried to swat him with a spoon.

"Listen, Kurt, theres something else you need to know."

Kurt stirred the pasta sauce and waited.

"I know everything looks bleak now, but dont worry. Blaine… Blaine is with a friend."

Kurt looked at him and narrowed his eyes.

"Blaines with Sebastian. Sebastian has a contact that knows how to help in these situations. Everything will be fine."

"Wait… What? What?" Kurt stomach clenched a little.

"Kurt… I…."

"Are you telling me Blaine is somewhere with Sebastian Smythe right now?" His voice had jumped an octave but he couldnt help it.

"Seb can be trusted," Cooper said. "Weve known the Smythes for years; hed never turn Blaine in."

"There are other things I am worried about with Sebastian." Kurt had wondered about who this contact was but he had never pictured Blaine camped out in hiding somewhere with Sebastian. Why? Why Sebastian and why had Blaine kept so much from him? "Cooper, where are they?" Kurt demanded.

"I honestly dont have any idea. And if you try to get in touch with Sebastian youre just going to draw attention to him."

"Cooper." Kurts head was pounding; all he could think of was Sebastians hands all over Blaine when they used to date.

"Kurt, Blaine trusted you with me, you can trust him with Sebastian."

"I… but…" Kurt closed his eyes for a moment, he knew Cooper was right but it didnt help the images of Blaine and Sebastian together sting any less. "It isnt Blaine I dont trust."

Kurt opened his eyes to find Cooper look at him sheepishly.

"I hate this, Cooper."

"I know kid, I know," he said and sighed. "We just have to wait and yeah, that bites."

"When Blaine does get in touch with me, he is going to have so much explaining to do," Kurt said, turning back to the dinner. 

Somehow being a little angry with Blaine helped mask the worry that was deep in Kurts gut.

Kurt postponed his trip to Lima, wanting to be in New York if Blaine needed him. Waiting to hear from Blaine was torture, everyday he expected a call saying Blaine had been caught and imprisoned. Or what if Blaine never contacted Kurt at all? What if he went years without hearing from him? Kurt shot that idea down; he wouldnt let that happen, hed find Blaine himself if he had to. He would only wait so long.

He was back to sharing a bed with Cooper, for sleeping purposes only of course. It had been two weeks since Blaine left when Kurt woke with a start, a dream about Blaine being chased down and caught still fresh in his mind. It was weird to wake up with Coopers long motionless frame next to him. All he wanted was to have Blaines arm strewn over his chest as he spread out in his sleep and took more than his portion of the bed. Blaine was always so warm and had an incurable need to cuddle.

Kurt took the job at the diner shortly after Blaine left and he tried to fill his time with as many activities as possible. But still the days dragged on. He started developing little habits to get him through the day. Counting his steps down the apartment stairs. Tapping any door handle three times before opening it. Turning the New York snow globe Blaine gave him upside down every morning before he got out of bed and watching it until all of the snow settled at the bottom.

He knew these things were silly but he couldnt help it, his nerves were getting the better of him.

It had been over three weeks since Blaine left when Cooper found him curled in the corner of his room holding a sweater that smelled like Blaine and crying softly.

The day had been going alright; he went to work and then called Rachel for a short chat. When he got home, though, he was hit with the soft smell of Coopers cologne and Kurt felt wobbly on his feet. This was his and Blaines apartment; how long before Blaines presence was all but gone from it?

He went to the downstairs apartment and grabbed a sweater from the closet that smelled like Blaine; he held it to his face for a moment before heading back upstairs to his bedroom, settling down on the floor. He hugged the sweater to his chest and closed his eyes, letting Blaines smell wrap around him. Wanting Blaine so much it was a physical pain.

When Cooper found him, he sat down and wrapped an arm around his back. Kurt leaned his head on Coopers shoulder but it was all wrong. Coopers shoulder was too high, his hand on Kurts back wasnt as firm and he didnt radiate heat the way Blaine did.

"Im giving him one more week," Kurt said, sniffing and drying his eyes, then looking down to see the ring on his finger from Blaine and twisting it around for good luck. In a week, Blaine would have been gone for a little over a month.

"And then what?" Cooper asked.

"And then… Im going to find him."

Cooper didnt respond, he just held him as Kurts tears dried.

It had been 32 days since Blaine has kissed him, promised everything would be alright, told Kurt he loved him and then left. Kurt was done waiting. He didnt know where Blaine was, but he knew who did. He needed more than that, though; he needed a plan for when he found Blaine. He grabbed his phone and called Brittany.

"Hey Kurt!" She answered cheerfully.

"Brittany. I need to talk to you about Santana."