AN: This is a continuation of sorts from my other story 'Take It All Away' which you may want to read first so you understand what is going on here. This story is going to be a collection of one-shots based on the friendship between Artie and Kurt.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

"One measure of friendship consists not in the number of things friends can discuss,

but in the number of things they need no longer mention." - Clifton Fadiman

Abrams Household – Lima, Ohio – September 15, 2010

After Artie had uploaded the pictures to Facebook and took the next ten minutes wading through the comments and 'likes' that came along with them, he turned his laptop off and headed into the kitchen for a quick snack before bed. His mother was standing by the counter, talking to her sister on the phone while simultaneously putting the dishes from dinner away. Artie rolled over to the pantry, grabbed a Pop-Tart out and stuck it in the toaster. He was pulling the gallon of milk out of the fridge when his mother hung up the phone and turned to talk to him.

"Are you sure you want to eat right before bed?" she asked him as he backed out from the fridge to close the door. "The sugar might keep you up."

"I'll be fine Mom," Artie replied slightly exasperatedly. His mother was always keeping a close eye on him; he knew she cared but at times it got just a little overbearing. He headed over to get his Pop-Tart out of the toaster when he heard the telltale popping noise that let him know it was done.

"So did anything interesting happen at school today?" his mother asked as she sat down at the table across from him, a glass of her own milk in hand.

"Not really," Artie said as he thought back over his day and his various classes. Then he realized that he hadn't mentioned the pictures to her yet.

"Well actually," he began, pausing to take a bite of his snack. "Yesterday I found a box of pictures in the living room. From the accident," he elaborated as she looked confused. His mother's face tightened slightly at the mention of the accident. She didn't like to talk about it much; he knew she still felt guilty about it even though he didn't blame her in the slightest.

"Oh I'm sorry," she said quickly. "I knew that seeing them would upset you, so I kept them hidden –"

"No, it's okay," he interrupted his mother. "It didn't really bother me. Actually, I found out something kind of interesting from them." At his mother's inquiring glance, he continued his explanation. "Do you remember me hanging out with another kid at the hospital?" His mother thought for a moment, then nodded slowly.

"Oh yes I do remember that now," she replied. "I took a couple of pictures of you two, didn't I?"

"Yup," Artie replied cheerfully. "You know my friend Kurt, right?" His mother scrunched her face up in concentration.

"He's the one with the nice clothes, isn't he?"

"Yep, and he's the kid that I met at the hospital," Artie finished with a grin on his face. His mother blinked at him in confusion, but then realization dawned on her face.

"Are you serious?" she asked him, setting her cup down on the table. Artie nodded, grinning broadly. "Well that's…..quite awesome really," she finished smiling back at him. "What are the chances that you would meet him again after all these years?"

"That's what I said," Artie replied. "It's my very own Hallmark moment!" His mother shook her head, smiling slightly at him.

"So now what?" she inquired.

"Now?" Artie repeated confusedly. "Now…we're still friends I guess. But we have a weird connection. And I can make fun of him for the rabbit thing." She chuckled at that, shaking her head at the memory.

"I still can't believe he managed to do that," she said. "I would have never in a million years, expected to walk into your room and see you holding a rabbit of all things." They both shared a laugh at that as Artie finished up his Pop-Tart and bid his mother goodnight as he headed back to his bedroom.

McKinley High School – Lima, Ohio – September 16, 2010

The next day at school, Artie was the first one at their table for lunch. He had brought his own lunch whereas Mercedes was going through the line for hers, and Kurt had to double back to get a book from his locker. He had gotten all his food spread out and was starting in on his sandwich when Kurt sat down with an exasperated sigh next to him.

"What's up?" Artie asked him through a mouthful of sandwich. Kurt wrinkled his nose at the other boy's lack of table manners but responded with,

"Just the Neanderthals being themselves again. Nothing new."

"No slushy though huh?" Artie noted, glancing at Kurt's pristine clothing.

"Not yet anyways," Kurt replied, pulling his own lunch out.

"So I told my mom about you yesterday," Artie said. "The hospital thing," he elaborated at Kurt's confused expression.

"What did she say?" Kurt asked munching on a carrot stick.

"Just that it was pretty cool that we managed to meet up after all these years," Artie replied. "Did you talk to your dad at all?" Kurt rolled his eyes at that.

"Yessss," he answered, drawing the word out. "My dad… I just don't get him sometimes.

"Why, what did he say?" Artie asked, laughing slightly at the look on Kurt's face.

"Well," Kurt began. "I mentioned something to him about being at the hospital. Then I asked him if he remembered me hanging out with another kid there. And you know what he said?" Artie raised his eyebrows, encouraging Kurt to go on.

"He's like 'Oh yeah, that's your friend Artie, right?'" Kurt paused to take a sip of milk. "I asked him if I had already told him, and he said no. Then he said that he knew it was you since he met you. And he thought that I had known as well."

"So what you're saying is…" Artie prompted him, a grin spreading across his face.

"What I'm saying is," Kurt heaved a deep sigh. "He's known for the better part of a year, and he's never said anything about it." At this, Artie cracked up laughing.

"He's known all along?"

"Yes!" Kurt cried out in exasperation. "And he's never once said anything about it to me! He just assumed that I knew it was you, and didn't bother mentioning it."

"You'd think you would have said something about it," Artie chuckled, calming down slightly.

"That's what I said," Kurt grumbled. "I just can't believe him."

"Dude, your dad is awesome," Artie replied grinning.

"Don't call me dude," Kurt reprimanded him as Mercedes plopped her lunch tray down next to him.

"What's so funny?" she asked, looking from Kurt to Artie.

"His dad is amazing," Artie replied, pointing at Kurt.

"Yeah I know that," she answered. "But how so this time?" Kurt waved his hand at Artie to retell the story, clearly intent on not wanting to talk about it anymore.

I know it was pretty short, but this is just an introductory chapter. If there's a situation or prompt that you want me to do with these two, let me know. This upcoming episode is going to give me some seriously good stuff to work with though, so that's exciting. Feedback is welcome as always!