"Oh my God, Coop, I look fine --"

Cooper snorted and turned down the collar of Blaine's shirt.

"Yeah, now you do." He eyed his brother's curls, deep in thought. "Hang on one sec, okay?"

Cooper pulled on his own suit jacket and left the room. When he returned, Blaine let out a groan at seeing what he was carrying.

"Cooper, no --"

The elder sibling rolled his eyes.

"Blaine, relax. We're just going to style it back a little okay?" he gestured for the curly haired boy to sit down, which he did -- resentfully. "I know you used to hate it when Mom did this -- though you don't remember it --"

"You said I would run screaming." They both chuckled as Cooper worked the substance into his hair with a gentle hand. "and that's why you did it instead until they left."

Silence reigned.

"Where's Kurt?" Blaine asked quietly.

"In his cabin, getting ready. We'll see him before dinner. Remember to thank his father for the loaners." Cooper gestured to their suits with his free hand as he grabbed a comb and carefully styled Blaine's hair back. "There. If you'd done it, you'd have plastered it to your head."

Blaine snorted.

"I would not. Oh." he looked down at his shirt. "No tie..."

Cooper sat down carefully on the love seat, and picked up one of the ties that had been laid out for them.

"Here we go." A few seconds and Cooper had formed the tie into a perfect black bow around his neck. "You look handsome."

"Not as handsome as you."

Cooper snorted and walked over to get the door.

"Come on, let's go lay on the charm for these people."

Blaine groaned.

"We're doomed."

"Hey!" Cooper managed to shove him at least once before they left the cabin and headed for The Grand Staircase.

----

"Blaine stop fidgeting."

"Coop shut up. Everyone's staring."

"They're staring because you're fidgeting. Come on." Cooper led him into a secluded corner of the floor at the foot of the stairs. "Deep breath, B. Okay? Come on. It's alright -- breathe." Blaine let out a shaky breath and he smiled. "Good, B...you're doing so good." he kept his voice low and calm. "We can do this okay?"

Blaine nodded. Cooper patted his shoulder, the gesture reassuring.

They waited by the staircase, Blaine glancing around, trying to find Kurt.

Then he saw him.

Walking slowly down the steps, looking pristine in his suit, Kurt looked stunned. Cooper nudged his shoulder, and Blaine quickly shut his mouth -- which he hadn't even realized was open -- what was wrong with him?!

Kurt smiled at them when he reached the bottom step.

"Hello Blaine," he said quietly. "Cooper."

Blaine extended his hand, which Kurt took and shook firmly. Cooper smothered a snort, which unfortunately wasn't that successful, and got Sebastian's attention from where he stood greeting Finn and Rachel. Kurt noticed too as he reached over to shake the elder brother's hand.

"Ignore him," he said in a low voice. "He won't try anything."

"It's not me I'm worried about." Cooper muttered. He wrapped an arm protectively around Blaine's shoulders and they went to greet the Hummel-Hudsons.

"You two clean up nice," said Sebastian smoothly as his companions turned and went to enter the Dining area. "Cooper, I don't believe I've met your brother properly." He gave Blaine a thin smile and extended his hand. "Sebastian Smythe."

Blaine looked uncertainly up at Cooper, then at Kurt, who nodded, as if saying it was okay. Cooper hesitated, then nodded himself, and Blaine took Sebastian's hand, shaking it firmly.

"Blaine Anderson," he said politely.

"Hurry along boys, don't want to miss the first course!" called Burt over his shoulder.

Sebastian nodded briefly, turned and left. Kurt exhaled.

"You two did well," he smiled, and Blaine knew his face was heating up. Cooper chuckled, and the brothers followed Kurt to the table.

----

Burt told the story from what Kurt had told him. The entire table was generally very welcoming to both of the Andersons, for which Kurt was grateful.

"I'm curious," said Sebastian suddenly, his eyes locking right on Cooper. "What do you do for a living, Cooper?"

"I worked on a farm," said Cooper evenly, eyes narrowing. Under the table, Blaine gripped his hand in warning.

"And yet you're here...on the unsinkable R.M.S. Titanic." Sebastian looked thoughtful, though his eyes were cold as ice. "Interesting."

Santana Lopez, who had been sitting next to Blaine, threw Sebastian a dirty look. She wasn't the only one -- Kurt and Rachel didn't look pleased at the comment either.

"He won our tickets in a game of poker," Blaine spoke up, hoping to get rid of the tension between the two men.

The other men at the table looked intrigued.

"Really?" inquired Michael Chang. "Must've been some lucky hand."

Cooper shrugged.

"I think so."

Sebastian rolled his eyes at Michael.

"You don't honestly believe that, do you, Mike?" he asked.

Mike rolled his eyes. His wife, Tina, patted his arm.

"Most of us like to think our wealth comes from more than just hard work, Sebastian." he said shortly.

The rest of the meal was spent discussing the ship, or other sorts of things Blaine just couldn't follow. Cooper kept up conversation as best he could, but even he was at a loss when Sebastian looked over at them again.

"Blaine," he said, "I must say, I'm sorry we've not talked to you much. I have a question. If your brother farmed back in Europe, what did you do?"

Blaine squirmed uncomfortably in his seat, very aware that everyone at the table was now looking at him.

Especially Kurt.

"I was in school." he said, not liking the intent way Sebastian was staring at him. "I offered to help Cooper, but he said school was more important."

"And how on earth did he manage to afford money to pay for your lessons?"

Blaine was spared answering when Kurt spoke up.

"Sebastian there's no need to interrogate him." he said firmly. "It's an incredibly improper thing to do."

Blaine gripped the hem of the table cloth tightly in his free hand, the cool fabric soft against his skin.

"I agree." said Burt, glaring pointedly at Sebastian, who scowled but fell silent.

When the meal was over, the men left to go to The Smoking Room. Burt and Carole went to return to their cabin, but Kurt opted to stay at the table -- until he saw Cooper whisper in Blaine's ear, and both brothers stood to leave.

"Blaine are you --?" he asked quietly.

"Sadly yes. We have to go." he and Kurt shook hands briefly, and then Blaine let Cooper guide him out of the dining room.

Five minutes later, Kurt excused himself, and left the room in a hurry, stopping only when he saw Cooper and Blaine standing near the clock on the wall near the staircase. Cooper bumped Blaine's shoulder with his own, and the boy turned, the tense expression on his face suddenly changing to shock, and happiness.

"Kurt." he said, delight painfully obvious in his voice.

Cooper simply grinned at the other teen.
"So Kurt," he said conversationally. "Any chance you'd like to join us?"

Kurt quirked an eyebrow and crossed his arms.

"Join you two where?" he inquired.

Both boys' faces split into grins.

"A party." said Cooper.