Title: BitterSweetCakes

Author: ChilombiLite

Rating: T

Pairing: Artie/Tina

Warning(s): not fluff

Summary: Artie and Tina get into an argument at SweetCakes Factory.

A/N: Written for Ileana in my fic request meme.

BitterSweetCakes

Tina washed her hands and inched her face closer to the scratched bathroom mirror. Her makeup hadn't smeared as much as she'd suspected, but her satisfaction with this new company was bittersweet. She and Artie had gotten into another fight.

"Don't you think you're jumping on the cupcake bandwagon a little too hard?" He'd eyed her strawberry cupcake reproachfully. Perhaps he'd had a point and she had been eating too many since the new bakery, SweetCakes Factory, had opened, but he still had no right to judge her.

"What are you trying to say, exactly?"

Upon hearing that warning tone, Artie immediately laid off, murmuring a low, 'nothing,' before starting on his own pastry. He thought she looked great now, but he couldn't help worrying that she'd let herself go before they reached their twenties. But there was only so much evasive muttering he could muster before she launched her empowered tirade.

"I care about what I look like enough already, Artie. I don't need you to bring me down any lower. Anyway, if you're so upset about all the pastries, why are you eating one right now?"

Tina stomped off, refusing to let her tears fall until she'd gotten out of eyesight of anyone at the shop. Hadn't Artie learned anything from Madonna?

Meanwhile, Artie knew he'd been wrong to act like that, but he couldn't really help himself. For him, any belly pudge would be at eye level; he would notice faster than anyone else that she was gaining weight. No matter how much he tried, he couldn't help being a little superficial... he was human, after all. And he had been doing his absolute best to be conscious of Tina's feelings and needs.

As Tina walked back to the table where she had left him, he saw her resolute expression and knew that he was still in trouble. He took a breath and let the apologies tumble out of his mouth.

"I don't really want to hear it right now. Let's just go." She walked up to the register and got a small paper bag to take the cupcake in; Artie could get his own, if he wanted one...She was certainly not in the mood to be courteous anymore. But her conscious made her wait for her boyfriend and push him home.

The walk was good for both of them; Tina cleared her head in silence while Artie contemplated the things he could do to make her forgive him. He would, naturally, be thinking more about what he was saying-before he said it. He had to let her know that he would continue trying... but she had to understand that changing was a slow process; Rome wasn't built in a day.

They reached Artie's house. "I'm sorry, Tina. I'll do better. I promise."

"I know," she answered, "I'll see you tomorrow." She didn't kiss him goodbye, but she half-smiled. They would be alright, Artie knew.