Author's Note: I know I said this would have a couple more chapter, but this story has always had a mind of its own. It wanted to end here, so end here it shall. I started writing this story more than two years ago, way back before we knew Tina faked her stutter, before Artie was randomly a jerk. Before Brittany and Mike and Bartie and Tike. Back when Artie/Tina was the For Real Couple, or the Cory/Topanga as Kevin liked to say.

Of course, I'm disappointed by the way things have turned out on the show, and I'm even more disappointed that Tina has just about as little character development as she did back then. But I think I've managed to tell a good little story about them, and I hope you all agree and have enjoyed reading. I am truly sorry that it took me so long to finish and that I made you endure such a long hiatus. But at the same time, I'm glad I waited rather than forcing the story - I don't think it would have turned out the same and I like where the story ended up.

Again, I am sincerely grateful for everyone who has read this and stuck with me. It's one of my first fanfics and my first series, so I truly appreciate all of the kind reviews and words of support. Thank you. :)

The first time they go on an official date, it ends up being a quadruple date. And then the entire freaking glee club is there and he doesn't even know how it happened.

Okay, so a few of them were actually supposed to be there, but the rest just showed up on their own.

He and Tina had been an official couple for almost two weeks now. And they hadn't slept together once, which he thought was an improvement for them overall. It was like they were starting fresh, doing everything the way they were supposed to.

They still fooled around, of course. Because, well, why not? They were slowing down, not going backwards.

He'd managed to talk her in to coming with him to see Ms. Pillsbury, which was beyond awkward at first. He swore Tina almost walked out after Ms. Pillsbury tried to talk to them about healthy ways of expressing themselves sexually. It was mortifying, but surprisingly helpful because Ms. Pillsbury was basically telling them things he'd been thinking about for a long time. Like that they shouldn't be having sex just to do it, and that there should be feelings behind it, and that Tina needed to address the reasons why she felt like she "needed" him in that way.

Eventually, she agreed to have her own sessions with Ms. Pillsbury, and even agreed to seriously think about having joint sessions with her parents in the future.

Overall, he felt like they'd made a lot of progress in a relatively short amount of time. He was hopeful about where they were heading, but most of all, he was proud of Tina. He knew firsthand how hard it was to face your inner demons and try to change your life. She'd helped him more than she'd ever know. And he was planning on doing the same for her.

When he asks her to go to dinner with him, she immediately says yes and he's relieved to see her smile the way she used to, with her eyes shining and her dimples finally making a very welcome reappearance. They'll go to Breadstix, because it really is the only restaurant in town appropriate for a date night. And then maybe she'll come over to his house and they can watch a movie or something. And if there happens to be a snuggle fest on the couch, that might be nice, too.

And maybe, just maybe, after she leaves, she'll sneak back into his room like she used to, and he'll get the chance to make love to her the way she deserves.

But he tries to not think about that part too much (which he fails miserably at) because that's not what they're about this time around. If it happens, he wants it to be because it's the right thing to do. Because they love each other and because they're both ready for that next step in their relationship. Because they can't imagine going one more night not in each other's arms.

Because they're meant to be.

He tells Rachel about their date, of course, because ever since Rachel Berry became his best friend, she's managed to turn him into a gossipy girl who like, totally needs to talk about his feelings and stuff. Or something. He's not sure how or when it happened, but every time he's around her, he can't seem to control himself and ends up telling her every little thing he's thinking and feeling.

She has this way about her, you see. This way of taking you in and wrapping you in her tiny arms, and fixing and piecing you back together when you didn't even know you were broken in the first place. This way of holding you together even when she's falling apart, because if she can get you out alive, then maybe she can get herself out, too.

Honestly, he doesn't think he'd know how to breathe without her anymore. But he's getting there. And now that she has him and Finn, and even Shelby and Quinn (and you know, other actual friends), he thinks she's getting there, too.

He doesn't think Tina will ever really understand the strange thing him and Rachel have made for themselves, but when he tries to explain it to her, what he ends up saying is that he sort of wants to be Rachel Berry when he grows up. And he thinks she finally gets it.

He doesn't know why he's surprised, but when Rachel immediately grabs his shoulders and excitedly tells him that she'll bring Finn and it'll be a fabulous double date, he's so shocked that he ends up agreeing before he even really processes what she says. And once you say yes to Rachel Berry, there's sort of no going back.

Once he breaks it to Tina and she's surprisingly fine with it (and rather amused actually), it's only a matter of time before he ends up inviting his other best friend. His first best friend, and as such, in many ways, his dearest friend. The girl who has managed to curl herself up comfortably in the corner of his heart that's always been hers. That will always be hers and that he knows, though she'll never admit it, will always break Tina's heart just a little. Because it's a spot that she can't touch. A spot that's been closed up since Before. Since that day in the tree so long ago that still manages to wake him in the middle of the night, with a scream and sweaty sheets clinging to his now useless legs.

When he invites her and Noah to tag along, her face lights up and she leans down, wraps her arms around his neck and kisses his cheek swiftly. Thank you, she whispers into his hair, and then she's rushing off to the new man in her life. The one who will fill up all of the empty spaces in her own heart. The spaces that have been hollowed out ever since that day in the tree so long ago that still manages to wake her in the middle of the night, with tears and an outstretched hand and his name on her lips.

Finn showed her how to put the pieces of her heart back together, but Noah's the one who showed her how to use them again.

At glee rehearsal on Friday, Tina mentions the triple date to Kurt and Mercedes and that's all it takes for them to invite themselves along, too. After all, as Kurt points out, they're as much a couple as any of them anyway. They even have the matching outfits to prove it.

They all decide to just walk to Breadstix after rehearsal is over, since there's far too many of them for even two cars to handle, especially with Artie's chair. It's only about a mile and the spring air is just starting to hint at the warm summer to come. School will be out in only a couple of weeks, and Rachel is trying to coordinate a trip to New York for them all. The rest of them are doubtful this plan will ever get off the ground, but they also know that if anyone can make something happen out of just the sheer force of her want for it, it's Rachel Berry.

Luckily, Rachel also took it upon herself to make a reservation, so that when the eight of them arrive at the restaurant, there are already two tables pulled together waiting for them. But they've barely gotten their drink orders put in when he feels someone pulling his chair away from the table.

"Sorry, Wheels, but seeing as how you and Lady Dracula neglected to include us in your 'special' little glee outing, we had to take matters in to our own hands."

He's not sure how she did it, but Santana managed to put the air quotes on "special" without the use of her hands, seeing as how she was currently pushing his chair right up next to Tina's. Behind her, Mike and Matt were pushing a nearby table up to the end of theirs, with Brittany trailing behind, awkwardly trying to carry two chairs over.

When they finally get themselves situated, Santana grandly declares that they may all proceed with their orders now, and it's the glint in her eye and the genuine friendliness of the other three that make them all laugh along with her. He can't help it – he feels a little guilty for not inviting them in the first place. Especially Mike, who had been so kind to him, and particularly to Tina, over the past few months. But none of them seem all that upset and he's just happy they're here now. The last members of the little family they've made for themselves.

Because that's really what they'd become – a family. Even if they didn't like each other sometimes (he didn't think Santana and Rachel would ever be best friends or anything close to it), they would still always be there for each other. Just yesterday, Santana had viciously humiliated some jock in the middle of the hallway who had dared to make fun of one of Rachel's animal sweaters. Of course, as soon as they were in the safety of the rehearsal room, Santana herself had went on to mock the very same sweater. But there was a fondness in her voice now, like she wouldn't quite know what to do with herself if Rachel ever actually stopped wearing the atrocities.

He watches as Mike held a protective arm around Brittany, just as Matt held one around Santana, the word around school being that each pair was dating. But every single person there knew that the girls were actually holding each other's hands under the table. No one said anything and no one gave them a second glance. It was just something that was accepted in their little group and no one questioned it or asked Mike or Matt why they went along with the charade. They all already knew the answer – each boy simply loved the girl enough to let them be. They loved them enough to want to make sure they were safe in their embrace. Safe to be with each other without fear of ridicule or gossip. So they went along with it. Because they loved them and because they were family.

He watches Rachel tell a grateful Quinn that her dads have invited her to stay with them for a while. No one is surprised that Noah's mother doesn't really want her son's girlfriend staying with them permanently, and really, that's probably not the best thing for their fledgling relationship anyway. They sort of remind him of Tina and himself in a way. They started something messy almost a year ago and were only just now getting around to doing things right.

(And they didn't know it then, but the very next day, Shelby would invite Quinn and Noah to come see little Bethy. Finn would tag along, because even though it was all a lie, that baby girl would always be a little bit his, too. And Rachel would go, insisting it was just for moral support, but they all knew it was really for her sake, as well.)

He watches Tina and Mercedes giggle over some blonde guy sitting a few tables over with his family. Watches as Mercedes holds herself straighter and her head a little higher and actually smiles at the boy and even waves him over when he keeps catching her eye.

His name's Sam and he's starting at McKinley next year. And yes, he can sing.

He watches Kurt drop his head on to Finn's shoulder at the end of the night, yawning and dramatically telling him that he'd have to be carried home at this rate. They'd literally found brothers in this club.

He watches Matt break the news to the group that he's moving over the summer, and the whole table is silent for a few seconds, trying to imagine what their group will look like one member short. Santana doesn't even try to hide the wetness in her eyes. She doesn't have to. Not with them.

And because Breadstix is literally The Only Restaurant in Lima, he's not surprised at all when Santana calls out to Mr. Schue and Ms. Pillsbury across the room. They only talk amongst themselves for a couple minutes before pulling their own chairs up to their ever-growing table. It's a celebration, he tells them. Of a fantastic first year and of many more to come. It's also a goodbye to one of their own, and the way he wraps an arm around Matt makes Artie's throat tighten a little.

But then Tina's hand finds his and he feels a warmth spreading through him. Of all the things they've managed to accomplish this year as a group, he thinks the two of them have accomplished quite a bit on their own. They've both grown up and tried to fix themselves. They've fallen in love and been broken-hearted. They've been best friends and they've been lovers and they've been everything in between. But most of all, they've just been Artie and Tina, leaving behind Wheelchair Kid and Goth Girl.

She sleeps over that night, for the first time since they started from scratch. He wraps his arms around her, her back resting against his chest, and he times his breathing to hers. Watches her twist her fingers in his, kiss them each one by one. Listens to the contented humming sound she makes in her throat.

They don't make love that night, but that's okay. He knows they will when it's right for them. He tries to stay awake as long as possible, just basking in this perfect, peaceful moment of theirs. Breathing her in. Trying to memorize everything about it. The way her skin feels against his hands. The way her body fits against his like some kind of missing puzzle piece. The way her hair smells like lavender and her skin smells like vanilla or cinnamon or something like that. The way her feet snuggle against his, even though he can never play footsie with her.

The way she says his name in her sleep.

The first time she tells him she loves him, she thinks he's sleeping.

The first time he tells her he loves her, it's the next morning, and he makes sure she's listening.

The first time she says "always" instead, he thinks he likes it better than "I love you."

They still say "I love you," but they say "always" for the rest of their lives.

The End.