Chapter 40

January 9, 2013

"Does that mean you will come back home?" she asked hopefully.

"Home?" the slave boy asked absentmindedly, looking through the window but not really seeing anything. The boy in his lap muttered something in his sleep. "Yeah, I want to go home..." he said eventually, looking straight at Burt, who smiled knowingly at his words.

"I had a feeling you might want to," the man said.

"Oh, so you are not staying then?" Cassandra asked with a hint of disappointment in her voice.

Blaine shook his head. "If Burt is still okay–"

"I am," the man immediately interrupted.

"Well, since Burt is okay with it I want to live with him and Kurt," Blaine said with a smile. "I really appreciate your offer, Cassie, but I felt more at home after a month spent with the Hummels than I ever did with you and Coop."

"That's fine, Blaine, you don't have to explain yourself. I know I've hurt you so it was a long shot, really, but I still had to try, right?" the woman smiled. "I'll give your ownership papers to Burt so you can live with them legally."

"Thank you," the slave boy whispered, excitement growing in his chest. "I'll want to come over though. Your condition. I want to visit you and I want to see Mini Cooper growing up. I want him to at least have an uncle if he can't have his father with him. And maybe I could bring a friend or two with me? Kurt and Puck could be cool uncles too. But only if that's okay with you."

"I think that would be perfect," Cassandra said. "You could all have a sleepover here. I think Cooper would be excited to have so many uncles after having none. And speaking of the conditions–"

"It's very generous–" Blaine began but Cassandra didn't let him speak.

"I know how much you hate it when people spend money on you but I'm sure that you'd rather use your parents' money than Burt's."

"What?" the slave asked confused.

"Your parents have set a fund for Cooper Jr. and they also send me money every month so that their grandchild is taken care of. It's way more than I spend so it's only fair that you have some of that money too. After all your parents should be the ones taking care of you and they will be, just unknowingly. If you don't agree with this condition you won't be going with Burt," Cassandra finished with a teasing smirk.

Blaine looked stunned at the woman. He didn't really want his parents' money, he wanted nothing from them but in a way Cassandra was right. It was only fair that they helped him in some way after what they had done to him. And Burt wouldn't have to spend his hard earned money on him. Maybe he could also get some thank you presents for him and Kurt. And gifts for them on birthdays. Next year he could also fulfil the role of Santa just like both Hummel men did.

He had to swallow his pride and accept the offer.

"Only if you are sure that Cooper has enough. I don't want to steal his money," he insisted just to make things clear.

"Oh, please, you know your parents. I hate to say it but Cooper was always their favourite son and now Cooper Jr. is the only grandkid they will ever know so they spoil my kid. They give us more than enough."

"Okay then... Thank you so much," Blaine said sincerely. It was hard for him to believe it was all happening for real.

"So, I think we can go and sign the papers now," Burt suggested.

"Sure," Cassandra agreed and stood up. "Let's go to the study and we can– Actually, I have one more condition."

"What is it?" Blaine asked a bit fearfully.

"I want to pay for your education."

"But I can't go to school or college," the slave frowned.

"You can't but there is no law that says you can't have a personal tutor coming in daily. Is it okay with you, Burt, if a stranger comes into your house to teach Blaine?"

"Perfectly fine with me," the man said, "but you don't need to give extra for that. The amount you offered for Blaine's keep will be enough to cover a tutor."

"I said it was a condition," Cassandra said. "Now let's go sign those papers."

Cassandra walked out of the room with Burt in tow and Blaine was left alone with the kid in his lap. From what he heard Cassie wasn't doing well emotionally but it was obvious that his nephew was looked after. He thanked the higher power that Mini Coop turned out to be a healthy boy despite his mother's harmful behaviour. Maybe it was the universe's way to apologise for leaving the kid without his father.

Several minutes later the boy started to stir and soon he opened his eyes and stretched with his mouth wide open in a yawn.

"Good nap?" Blaine asked with a fond smile.

The boy nodded and sat down on the slave's thighs. "Wanna see my loom, unc' B'ane?" the boy asked with a spark in his eyes. It was a mystery to Blaine how he could be wide awake seconds after waking up.

"Sure, lead the way."

Cooper's tiny arms found their way around Blaine's neck and locked tightly.

"Oh, so I'll have to carry you?" the slave boy asked with a laugh and stood up, his arms holding the boy safely. "You will have to tell me where to go."

It took longer than necessary but somehow both Andersons ended up in Cooper's room. It was light green and orange and Blaine was a bit surprised since he expected it to be stereotypically blue. He wondered if Cassie already knew she was having a boy when she decorated the room.

On one of the walls there were various photos hanging in the frames. He saw a few of Mini Cooper, with toys or Cassandra, there were several of the boy's dad. What really caught Blaine's attention was the biggest photo hanging right in the middle.

"You and daddy," the boy pointed at it.

He was right. It was a photo of Blaine with his brother taken the day before the accident. The last photo he had with his brother and also his brother's last photo ever taken. It was the end of September and they had been raking the first leaves in the backyard. They ended up having a leaf fight and Cassandra found it funny so she snapped a photo with the two of them posing with leaves all over their clothes and heads.

"Smile, unc' B'ane," Cooper said and wiped the tears that escaped Blaine's eyes, "no cry."

Blaine gave the boy his biggest toothy smile and the boy smiled in return. "You should say don't cry," he said with a wink remembering how Cassie corrected her son's mistake. "And I won't cry because you make me very happy."

"Wanna draw?" the boy suggested.

"Okay," Blaine agreed and put Coop down.

The boy ran up to his desk and opened a drawer to reveal not only coloured pencils and white sheets of paper but also a stack of drawings piled there. Cooper took them all out, put them on the ground and sat down, Blaine joining him on the floor with some difficulty as his sore muscles didn't let him forget them.

"Me, mommy, daddy," the boy pointed at the figures in his drawing and moved onto another one. "Me, mommy. Mommy, daddy. Me, mommy, daddy, unc' B'ane. Daddy, unc' B'ane. Me, mommy, auntie Ruth."

It went on and on until the very last drawing with the boy and a dog in it. The kid explained Blaine that once his mother's friend came over with a big dog and it licked him and he wanted to have a dog ever since.

When Cooper put all the drawing back into the drawer he gave Blaine one clean sheet of paper and took one for himself. They settled on the wooden floor and began to draw with the slave boy constantly praising his nephew.

By the time Cassandra came looking for them the little boy was almost finished with his drawing. "Look, mommy, I drew unc' B'ane! He's holding my hand," the boys said proudly. "See?"

The woman looked at the drawing. "Very beautiful, son," she said. "Blaine, Burt wants to leave. He said he wanted to go to his workplace before his employee closed it."

"Leave?" the little boy pouted. "Na-ah."

"Oh, I don't want to leave either, Coop," Blaine said and scooped the boy, who was holding onto his newest drawing, into his arms. "But I promise I'll come visit you soon, okay? You won't even notice it."

"Don't leave," the boy whispered and a tear ran down his puffy check.

"Hey, smile, Coop, don't cry," Blaine said and caught his tears.

The slave stood up and the three of them went downstairs to find Burt waiting. "Ready to go?" he asked.

"Almost," Blaine responded and looked at Coop who was silently crying. "I'll come this weekend, okay? I'm sure your mom and Burt will be fine with that, right?"

Both adults assured him it was fine.

"See? You will see me in just a few days. You can draw many beautiful drawings for me, deal?"

The boy nodded and let Blaine put him down. He then extended his hand with the drawing.

"Is this for me?" Blaine asked and the boy nodded again. "Thank you, Coop, it's very pretty."

"We'll put it on our fridge," Burt said after taking a look at the drawing. "The big monster is really cool."

"That would be me, Burt," Blaine laughed.

"Oh," the man laughed awkwardly and patted Coop on his head. "That's a very realistic drawing there, kiddo. Almost a photo."

"Very funny, Burt, hilarious even," Blaine laughed and gave the boy one last hug. "I'll see you soon. Be good to your mommy."

He then hugged Cassandra and they left after bidding their goodbyes. Blaine settled in the front seat of the car and waited until Burt put something in the navigation system. He looked back to see his bag lying there.

"You knew, didn't you?" he asked.

"Knew what?" Burt asked absentmindedly.

"You knew I would want to go back with you. That's why you said I could leave my bag in the car."

"I didn't know but I hoped, I guess," the man sad and started the engine. "Ready to go home?"

"Yeah," Blaine breathed.

They started driving and soon Blaine couldn't see the house anymore.

"I still haven't told Kurt the news. Do you want to call him and tell him yourself?" Burt suggested.

"Um, can I maybe just tell him in person? I want to see his face," the slave said shyly. He couldn't wait to see the smile that would most definitely spread across Kurt's face.

"Sure thing. I'll just call him to see if he's alright," Burt said and dialled his son's number on the handsfree phone. He waited for Kurt to answer. "Hey, son. How are you?"

"I'm okay, dad," Kurt's voice came from the speakers. "Do you know how Blaine is doing?"

Blaine smiled at the other boy's concern and selflessness.

"He's alright. He will soon come back home," Burt said sending a wink towards Blaine's direction.

"Does it mean you will soon have the papers? Puck called me about the fake ID already. He promised to bring it tonight."

"Oh, um, really? Nice of him," the man coughed uncomfortably. "I take it police hasn't come yet? What about that Dave kid? Did he bother you?"

"Actually... I didn't go to school, dad," Kurt said with uncertainty in his voice. "Please, don't be mad. I was really worried about Blaine and after yesterday I didn't want to face Karofsky."

"That's okay, son, don't worry. I'm kind of glad you didn't go. I don't want you anywhere near that asshole. We'll figure something out."

"I'll have to face him one day, it's not like I can transfer schools. Anyway, it's not important. When do you think Blaine will come back? I miss him."

Blaine grinned at his words and Burt chuckled. "You sure do have your priorities right."

"You know how much he means to me," Kurt sighed. "I know I said it was just a stupid crush but I don't think it is anymore. With every day my feelings grow stronger and it's suffocating not to have him here with me. I know you told me to wait until he makes a move if he ever does but it's so hard, you have no idea. He is just so perfect... Do you think you could buy me some ice-cream on your way home after work so I can eat my feelings? M? Dad? You still there? Can you hear me?"

Kurt's voice echoed in the car with two men sitting completely still with open mouths. Blaine could feel Burt's eyes on him. He couldn't help the smile that appeared on his face.