Blaine sat cross legged on the floor of his bedroom surrounded by Juicy Fruit wrappers. He’d been buying and chewing on the gum all week until every kiss he’d given Kurt had tasted of sweetness and sugar and made Kurt blush and giggle in ways Blaine could see him making the glasz eyed teen eliciting for years. Seriously he was worried about cavities too but this was for Kurt and nothing was too much for Kurt.

Cooper watched his brother from where he stood leaning against the doorframe. He’d come home early for the holidays and come up to say hi to his little brother but as soon as he’d walked in he could see Blaine was busy and he shouldn’t interrupt what he was doing.

The teen was sat on the floor, freshly washed and showered with his curls unruly and already in his pyjamas, his tongue poking out of his mouth in concentration as he folded the wrappers and fixed them to the ring, gluing them together precisely. He spotted a little bowtie by his feet and picked it up; it was obviously meant for the ring but must have been dropped in Blaine’s excitement. He held it up to the light, watching it shimmer for a second then waited for Blaine to notice it was gone.

Blaine sighed as the last wrapper was fixed to the ring and stayed there, pressing his thumb and forefinger on each side, waiting for the glue to set before checking each square of wrapper. Satisfied, he smiled and put the ring back in the box and looked to the side for the bowtie. Nothing. He looked to the other side, nothing. Panicking a little, his hazel gaze searched the carpet, under the bed but there was nothing there, the bowtie was gone. He slumped back to the floor and tried not to let the tears in his eyes flow.

Cooper smiled a little at his brother, taking pity on him and whispered. “Looking for this?”

Blaine’s head snapped round and he realised in his panic he hadn’t noticed his older brother leant against the doorframe, in his hand was the bowtie. “Coop, oh my God I didn’t see you there!” Blaine jumped up and rushed over into his brother’s arms as he opened them up to him. His brother could be a tool but he was the only person he had that he trusted that was related to him. “When did you get here? Thanks for finding this.” He stepped out of his brother’s embrace and took the bowtie, slumping back onto the floor in front of the ring box and looked up, waiting for Cooper to join him.

Cooper smiled and sat down, getting a closer look at the ring in the box as he did. Juicy Fruit. Cute. “Got home early to spend some time with my little Blainey. So what you doing here squirt?”

Blaine glared at him and narrowed his eyes, a smile struggling to break free from the firm line his lips were making. “I don’t like you.”

Cooper laughed and elbowed Blaine lightly “Yeah you do.”

Blaine laughed and nudged Cooper back. “Yeah I do. I’m making a ring for Kurt.”

Cooper’s eyes widened. He’d been one of the first people Blaine had told when he finally kissed and asked the other boy out. He’d already told him about their friendship and Cooper had teased him about there being nothing else and had whooped for joy, down the phone, when Blaine had excitedly told him he’d landed himself a boyfriend and not only that but that it was Kurt. “Isn’t that a bit early, you’ve been dating for what? 8 months now?”

Blaine held up the ring as he fixed the bowtie to it, smiling happily. “9 months and it’s a promise ring. I want to marry him someday and teenage marriage is stupid, though I would but I want to give him something special and we’ve been through so much I just wanted to promise him that I’ll always be with him.” He handed the ring to Cooper to look at, grinning as his brother inspected it gently.

Cooper smiled at him fondly and put the ring back in the box securely. “That is, quite possibly, the sappiest and cutest thing I’ve ever heard. Does he know you exist? ‘Cos seriously if that boy isn’t worshipping the ground you walk on I’ve got some words to say to him.”

Blaine blushed, his cheeks heating up as he snapped the box shut, his heart growing ten sizes. His parents may not love him but he has Cooper and Kurt and he’s pretty sure Kurt’s family like him and that’s all he really needs. “Yeah, he treats me so well Coop, it’s like he thinks there’s no-one else around when I am. It’s hard at school, we have these stupid rules, we don’t hold hands or kiss or do anything that could make anyone say anything bad to us but the way we look at each other, and when we’re alone-”

“Hey, I don’t want details.” Cooper interrupts, laughing.

Blaine glares and carries on. “He loves me Coop. He’s my soul mate. He’s everything I was ever told I’d never have, I’d never be worthy of.” He mumbles the last part, his head bowed as he remembered every harsh word his parents had ever said to him, every cutting remark or put-down as he was told he was worthless.

Cooper’s heart broke for his brother, their parents weren’t like other parents, he’d learned that over time and accepted it. They were caring, sure but they’d grown up rarely being hugged and unused to compliments. It had made Blaine wary, shy, overachieving and impulsive. The second he’d found Kurt and found himself surrounded by love and acceptance he’d become addicted to it. He phoned Cooper often and heard all about the other teen and his family. Cooper thought back to when things had really changed. The night of the Sadie Hawkins dance, before that after Blaine had come out their parents hadn’t been accepting, almost ignoring it but they’d carried on treating Blaine normally, at least for them. The phone call had changed everything. Their dad now treated Blaine with contempt, telling him endlessly how he deserved the beating, how disgustingly Blaine had acted, how he’d never be anyone’s boyfriend, he just didn’t deserve it. Their mom just watched, telling Blaine how disappointed she was. Cooper had become his lifeline for those months before an angel with auburn hair, blue-green eyes and porcelain skin had breezed into his life.

Cooper looks at Blaine and he sees a special, talented, love-filled young man who could take on the world if he tried. He nudged Blaine and watched him raise his head and look at him. “Kurt’s going to love it Blaine, You two deserve everything in the world.”

Blaine’s face cracks into a grin and he wraps his arms around Cooper, the brothers hug each other hard, Blaine whispers in his ear. “Thank you Coop, for everything.”

Hours later Cooper goes back to check on his brother and watches him sleep, the box on his bedside table and a picture of Kurt by his side. Cooper nods, smiling and goes to bed.

Years later Cooper stands at the front of a hall with a glass of champagne in his hand and a mic in front of him. He looks around at the people watching him expectantly and his eyes land on the couple at the front. He smiles and starts speaking into the mic. “Years ago I came home for Christmas to see a young man, my little brother fixing Juicy Fruit wrappers to a ring with a little bowtie on the front,” He pauses and watches the laugh ripple around the room and the young man blush as their gazes lock. “A promise ring, a promise of love and a future neither of them would’ve had without one day on a staircase in a private school in Westerville. Blaine, you’re a special young man and you make me so proud to be your big brother. We had to pull each other through some stuff in our lives, alone for some of it but as we grew up we both found others to help. Kurt, you’re an amazing young man and the second Blaine told me about you I knew you’d be perfect for him. I’m proud to be your friend and now brother-in law. You’ve shown Blaine how to live happy and loved and accepted. 9 months as boyfriends, three more years as promised together, 6 months as fiancés, the rest of your lives as husbands. Let’s give it up for Blaine and Kurt Hummel-Anderson!”

The room erupted in cheers and Blaine and Kurt kissed deeply, tears flowing down their faces.

Cooper jumped off the stage and walked over, enveloping both men in hugs when they parted. “How did I do?” He asked.

Blaine laughed and Kurt grinned. “Amazing, thanks Coop, as always.” Blaine said.

Cooper bowed slightly and laughed. “I try. I wonder what happened to that ring.”

Kurt laughed and took a box out of his jacket. “Oh it’s still around.” He said and opened the box. Inside was a battered, crumpled, yellowing Juicy Fruit wrapper clad ring, the bowtie still shimmering in the light.