By the age of thirteen, Santana has concluded that Blaine is best brother to exist in the world. She’ll never admit it to anyone, ever, but she doesn’t think she has to. Blaine has shown on multiple occasions that he understands how much Santana appreciates all that he does for her.

It’s nice to know she’ll always have someone on her side, there for her no matter what.

---

Blaine comes home on Thursday after debate club to a silent house; his parents are still in California visiting Cooper until Monday, which is perfectly fine with Blaine. Santana’s grandmother has been coming every other day to check up on them, and both Santana and Blaine are rather efficient in the kitchen. He smiles to himself as he makes his way to the dining room, thinking how great it is that their parents trust them so much – especially at thirteen.

He walks into the kitchen and grabs a water bottle, wondering where his sister is -who is usually waiting for him with a snack and some gossip - before heading upstairs.

Blaine listens for Santana as he goes up the stairs and then passes her room, thinking that she might be over at Brittany’s, when he stops, puzzled. He’s pretty sure he just heard moaning.

Moaning.

Blaine quickly goes to his room and deposits his bag and water bottle and then makes his way back to Santana’s door. He pushes his glasses up nervously and then knocks on her door lightly.

“’Tana?”

He hears shuffling from inside, a sniffle and then Santana’s angry voice. “What do you want, Goggles?!”

Blaine sighs; rolling his eyes and then speaks in a soft, calm voice.

“Are you okay? Is there anything I can do to help?”

“You wanna help short stuff? Fine! How ‘bout you get me some goddamn soup and leave me the hell alone!”

Blaine rubs his head, looks up at the ceiling and shrugs. He goes back to his room and gets his satchel. By the time he’s back out the door to make the hour’s walk to Santana’s grandma’s house, Santana is back to rolling around on her bed, moaning.

He figures he can stop by the market on his way back and pick up some Midol and ice cream, too.

---

When Blaine finally makes it back home, it’s beyond late and he is about ready to just lie down; his feet ache(and really, he should have known these shoes are just not meant for long distance journeys), he’s cold and tired and he’s pretty sure he’s going to have to stay up late tonight to finish his English paper.

He sighs and heads to the kitchen, dumping the bags in his arms on the counter and turning to the coffee pot, ready to brew some pick-me-up, when Santana runs into the kitchen. Her face is streaked with tears, her hair wild; she’s clutching her phone in her hand and she looks furious.

Santana hangs up on whoever was on the phone and glares at Blaine, pointing her finger at his chest.

“Where the hell have you been?!”

Blaine calmly takes out the container of soup and the box of Midol, shows them to Santana so she can grab them.

“I went and got you that soup your grandma makes. I also stopped by the market and got you some Midol and ice cream – Rocky Road, your favorite!”

Santana stares at him in disbelief, her eyes starting to fill with tears.

"You...but..."

"I had to walk because Patrick slashed the tires on my bike this morning. Sorry I took so long, San."

Santana takes the items from Blaine’s hands and sets them on the kitchen counter. She looks up at him and then suddenly Santana flings herself at him. Blaine huffs a laugh and wraps his arms around his sister. He rocks her gently and rubs her back.

"How did you- I don't- you got me Midol, how did you even know...?"

"You're my sister, San."

Santana rolls her eyes and gives Blaine a pointed look before she opens the soup container.

"Okay, fine. I heard you complaining this morning - rather loudly I might add - about how much you hated being a woman. I put two and two together."

Santana laughs, then gives Blaine a gentle smile, lays her hand atop his.

"Thank you, Blainey. Really. I was even more upset 'cause mami isn't here, but...you really helped. You're always taking care of me. So thanks."

Blaine smiles and squeezes Santana’s hand.

"No problem, 'Tana. You're my sister, I'll always take care of you."

---

On the night of Blaine’s fourteenth birthday, the snow falling lightly outside, he lies on his bed with Quinn and Santana on each side of him, Brittany at the end of his bed painting his toenails a bright blue.

"Hey, 'Tana?"

Santana hums, her feet sliding up to rest on Brittany’s thighs.

"You know that Rachel girl? Doesn't she have two dads?"

Santana breathes deeply, closes her eyes and clears her throat.

"Yeah, of course. Berry is all kinds of annoying, but Brit and I met her dads at dance class and they're totally cool. Super in love and everything, its sweet. Why do you ask, B?"

Santana and Quinn exchange a look as Blaine sighs, obviously relieved at Santana’s answer.

"No reason," he says.

Shortly after Brittany finishes painting - "Wow, Brit, thanks!" - Cooper calls, so Blaine leaves to take the call with a playful eye roll.

When Blaine closes the door, Santana quickly and quietly asks Quinn, "Do you know? Has he told you?"

"Of course I know, I'm his best friend. But no, he hasn't actually said anything beyond comments like that. I think it’s just a matter of time, though. I'm going to try and protect him as much as I can, I promise you, Santana."

Santana sighs and nods, upset at herself once more at the fact that, once they start high school, she won't be joining Blaine and Quinn at North Lima. She'll be at McKinley with Brittany, she'll be on the Cheerios, popular, with no way of protecting her brother.

Santana trusts Quinn to protect Blaine though. She has ever since Quinn punched a boy that kicked Blaine off the jungle gym in fourth grade. So she squares her shoulders and nods at Quinn, glad to find the steely, determined look in Quinn’s eyes.

When Blaine comes back into the room, Santana and Quinn smile brightly at him as Brittany lets Blaine pick what movie to watch - "Hm...I do love my Star Trek, but I haven't seen Amelie in forever, so." - and the previous conversation is dropped but not forgotten.

---

Its during the summer before high school when it happens. They've all been busy spending as much time as possible together before they separate for school. Santana has even grudgingly gone to one of those weird concerts that Blaine and Quinn go to where the buildings smell like smoke and coffee and the bands are weird and obscure.

Blaine cooks that night. Santana watches him with a close eye. She has a feeling that tonight is the night; that Blaine may not be ready to come out officially to other people, but that he is ready to tell his family.

So she stays quiet and helps Blaine bring the bowl of salad, the casserole dish of enchiladas and the cups, plates and utensils to the table without complaining once.

When they all sit down, Maribel compliments Blaine on the enchiladas, praises him for paying attention the last time she prepared the dish. Charles thanks Blaine for making dinner voluntarily and comments on how Blaine is growing into a handsome, polite, talented young man. Blaine blushes at their compliments and thanks them quietly.

Santana thinks, Come on Blaine, you can do it.

It’s towards the end of dinner when Blaine says it. He clears his throat to get everyone’s attention, takes a deep breath and says, "I'm gay".

Maribel smiles at Blaine, ruffles his hair as she speaks.

"Oh, my baby, we know. But thank you for telling us mijo that was very brave of you."

Santana lets out a breath she wasn't aware she was holding and looks over at Charles.

"We love you Blaine, no matter what. Your mother and I have discussed this, you know. Son… I don't care if you're gay, I just...I worry. I just want you to be safe."

Blaine nods, blinking rapidly to quell his tears and then he turns to Santana, awaiting her response.

She scoffs, waves a hand dismissively at him and sends a playful smirk his way.

"Please, I've known since you checked out George Carter's ass-"

"Santana, language!" Maribel shouts, smacking Santana on the back of her head from across the table. Santana rubs her head and glares at her mother, but sends a wink in Blaine’s direction.

---

Santana tries – and fails – to get Blaine to ditch the glasses the night before they start school. He’s rather adamant, however, on not changing himself for other people. He tells her he likes the way he looks, likes his glasses and pointedly tells her how uncomfortable contacts are. Santana rolls her eyes and acts bored the whole time he talks, but she can’t help but feel just a little bit proud that Blaine isn’t willing to conform for the world.

Her brother really is a brave little idiot.

---

Every Friday, Blaine is forced to talk about his week to Santana. He leaves out the parts where he gets milk thrown at him, and how he gets thrown into lockers. He figures it’s better if she doesn’t know.

He does, however, tell her about his and Quinn’s new friend Seth. Seth is a sophomore, and gay – he says this with poorly hidden smile and little bounce to his words.

Santana’s is glad that Blaine has someone other than Quinn to talk to; but then it gets her thinking about a kid at her school, a guy named Kurt.

She knows he isn’t out, not by a long shot, but she knows he’s gay. She knows he’s the only one at McKinley and she can’t help but feel protective of him.

Blaine has Quinn and Seth on his side, but this Kurt kid…well, he doesn’t have anyone besides that Mercedes girl, and Santana is more than sure that Mercedes has no idea whatsoever about Kurt, no matter how good of friends they seem to be.

So one night, as Blaine paints Santana’s nails a bright red, Santana thinks, and she plans.

If she can’t help Blaine, well then, she’ll make it her mission to help Kurt.