"You okay?"

Blaine flinched and pulled away from his locker, notebook in hand. Kurt was standing next to him, brow furrowed in concern.

"Fine. Just...thinking." he answered, stowing the notebook in his messenger bag.

"What about?"

"Cooper." He sighed and shut his locker. "He was acting really weird this morning. Wouldn't even let me drive here."

They set off down the hall, narrowly avoiding a group of jocks carrying familiar looking cups. Even if they'd been widely accepted and congratulated after the win at Nationals, both boys still got nervous if they thought the cups containing colored ice were meant for them.

"Really?" asked Kurt as they entered their English classroom, which was still empty.

"Yeah...I think it had something to do with the fact that our dad came by last night. He was there when you dropped me off." Blaine folded his arms, disgruntled. "I don't know what happened, but nobody was happy after he left. Coop pulled me up to his old room and we played video games until we went to bed."

Kurt reached over, took his hand, and squeezed it.

"Maybe it's nothing -- has nothing to do with either of your parents." he suggested. "I mean -- this is Cooper right? Maybe he was just running late for a photo appointment. Wanted more headshots."

Blaine laughed weakly.

"Maybe."

Though he doubted it.

---

Cooper currently sat in a booth at Breadstix, checking his phone for texts.

From: Danny
We're en route.

From: Danny
By the way next time text me forty-eight hours in advance if you're gonna be in town.

From: Danny
so Haley and I can plan ahead.

He snorted and set his phone down on the table. He'd been best friends with both Haley and Danny in high school -- had even dated Haley briefly before their break up junior year and Danny had asked her out. Amazingly, it hadn't even been awkward between the three and Cooper had attended their wedding four years ago.

Cooper quickly sent a text back.

To: Danny
Apologize to Haley for me. I owe her.

From: Danny
Um no, you owe both of us. You're babysitting Jess tonight.

To: Danny
Fine. She likes me.

"How can she like you, she's never met you -- until now."Cooper's head jerked up and he twisted around to see Danny and Haley walking into the restaurant. Danny was already dressed in his uniform -- he worked as a police officer.

"You bastard," he laughed, reaching over to hug the other man, and then tried to look contrite when Haley gave him the 'don't-use-that-language-in-front-of-our-daughter' look. She shook her head, adjusting her hold on the baby in her arms so she could hug him too when he and Danny moved apart. "Sorry Hale."

"You're not." Haley laughed, tucking a piece of red hair behind her ear, brown eyes sparkling. "Coop it's so good to see you."

"You too. So this is Jess?" Cooper smiled softly as Haley nodded. "She looks just like you."

"Hey!" Danny cried indignantly. "She has my gorgeous blue eyes!"

"Newsflash: You're the only one who thinks they're gorgeous." Cooper snorted. "Thank God she didn't get your nose or that rusty colored hair."

"Okay fine when you have a kid, I'm going to point out everything from you he or she didn't get, and watch as Blaine laughs his ass off and you --"

"You want to hold her?" Haley interrupted.

Cooper froze for just a moment, but then nodded and let his friend transfer the baby into his arms. She looked up at him with vague curiosity.

"You okay?" called Danny, as he slid onto the bench opposite of the one Cooper had been sitting on. "Look like you're gonna cry."

He shook himself, and nodded.

"'M fine. Just...deja vu. How old is she?" he asked.

"Six months." answered Haley. "Why -- Oh. Blaine?"

Cooper nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat and adjusting his arms so he could hold Jess more securely.

"She's beautiful, guys...she really is." He held onto the baby for a few more moments before returning her to her mother and they both sat down.

"So why'd you want to talk, man?" asked Danny.

---

"Would it kill you to smile a little?"

"It might."

"Don't be such a drama queen. Just because Schue reminded everyone that graduation's coming up --"

"Don't."

Kurt sighed and reached across the table for Blaine's free hand. The two had come over to the Lima Bean after glee club had let out, and Blaine had been unnaturally quiet ever since.

"Blaine." he said softly. "Come on...it's going to be okay. Don't you remember what I said to you last year? I will never say good-bye to you."

Blaine nodded and took a sip of his coffee.

"Have you heard from NYADA about your audition?" he asked.The brunette looked down at his lap.

"They sent me a letter while we were in Chicago. I haven't opened it yet." he confessed.

"Why?"

"Nerves...What if they didn't accept me? What if I'm stuck here forever? What if --?"

"They'd be insane not to accept you." Blaine told him, leaning back in his chair. "You should open it."

Kurt's lips curled upward in a slight smile.

"How about day after tomorrow -- can you come over?"The junior smiled.

"I can come over."

The senior's smile widened, but he said nothing.

"Look, Thad just go with the others and find a free table there should be one -- Oh, hi guys."

Kurt nearly spit out the coffee he'd just drunk, and Blaine's eyes widened with surprise.

Sebastian had just walked into the Lima Bean, with Thad, Jeff, Nick, David and Trent.