Author's Note: This was written in response to a request made by VM is my Religion in the Quinn/Artie forum here at ff net. Christmas Quartie fluff abounds. :) Please read and review!

June

Thinking that it was too hot to function, Artie wheeled himself into the relatively cool diner. He wasn't even sure what had prompted him to make his way into the small restaurant, across town from his house, except for, perhaps, the lure of the best shakes in town. Going to the counter, he ordered one from the waitress, winking at her in the process. "Oh, Artie," she said, giving a roll of her eyes, before leaving to hand his order off. Grinning, he turned away, as always, happy that those who worked there remembered and were on a first name basis with him.

Scanning the diner for an acceptable table, he found his eyes drawn to a familiar form hunched in a booth at the far end. Frowning, he put his hands on the rims of his wheels and pushed himself to her side.

"Quinn?"

Looking up from her half eaten slice of pie, her eyes met his and she attempted a smile. "Hey, Artie."

Noting that she appeared tired, he had to ask, "What's wrong?"

Sniffing, she shrugged, then pushed at her pie with her fork. "Family stuff." She paused before continuing. "And on top of that, Sam doesn't know when to quit. I told him we're through but he won't listen. The worst thing is, I'm not even sure if I believe it myself. I mean, he makes me feel, like, really special…"

Glumly, Artie nodded, right as the waitress from before placed his chocolate shake in front of him. As she left, Artie glanced at Quinn, a little shyly, then said, "I know what you mean. That's how Brittany makes me feel…special. But she doesn't…understand me. She's sweet and cute and…that's about all she is." Making a face, he sipped at his shake. "That was kinda mean."

Shaking her head, Quinn protested, "No, it's not. That pretty much describes Brittany…mostly. Uh, but what about Tina? I heard she wanted you back?"

Biting the inside of his cheek, Artie didn't respond for several minutes before saying, quietly, "She does. And Tina's the one I always thought I wanted to be with, even when I was with Brittany. But…Tina doesn't appreciate me."

Sliding the plate away from her, Quinn made a sound of disapproval. "No, she doesn't. Because she's an idiot. You're an amazing guy, Artie. And you could do better than her. And Brittany. You need someone who appreciates and understands you."

Shocked at her almost outburst, Artie's eyes widened. "O-okay. Thanks." He took another sip of his chocolate shake before regarding her solemnly. "And you need someone who does more than make you feel special. You need someone who you feel strongly about enough to make him feel special." He wasn't sure that made sense but, from the smile on her face, he assumed it did.

After that, they fell into a comfortable silence and Artie wondered if they were on the road to friendship.

July

Stretching her legs, Quinn shifted her position on Artie's bed, watching as he played Battlefront II, a Star Wars video game. "It's hot," she whined after several minutes. "Are you sure the conditioner's on?"

"Yes, Quinn," he replied, not moving his eyes from his television screen. "The being hot thing…must just be you." As the implication of his words hit him, he blushed a little but refused to clarify. He knew that she knew what he meant.

"Nice to know you think I'm hot," she smirked.

"Yeah, yeah." Finishing the level, he threw he controller down. "You should play."

"I'd rather watch," she said, her tone sounding suggestive.

Staring at her for several seconds, Artie burst out laughing. "What?" he asked, once he had regained control of himself. "You're talking about video games or something else?"

Sitting up and leaning on her elbows, she pouted a little. "I was talking about the video game, Artie, obviously. Don't be obscene."

Still sputtering, he insisted he wasn't. Taking a few deep breaths to calm himself, especially seeing how angry, whether real or not, she was becoming over his amusement, he changed tactics. "Maybe you won't play because you know I'll beat you."

"Will not!" Jumping off the bed, she grabbed both controllers, handed one to him and started pressing buttons on the other, starting a level.

Ten minutes later, she was gloating in her victory.

Even though he should have been annoyed, he was, instead, hiding his attraction due to the fact that she had bested him at one of his favorite and most played games.

August

"It was a Saturday."

Gazing at him, Quinn nodded slightly, encouraging him to go on.

"I don't remember a lot, you know, as it happened. I do remember waking up and seeing my mom's tear stained face."

Taking his hand in hers, she squeezed it gently.

"They told me I would never walk again and I started…to cry."

He noticed that she swallowed several times, as if she was holding back her own tears.

"My greatest desire, since then, is that I would be able to walk. I could be better if I could walk."

One cool hand on his cheek prevented him from continuing. Gently, she directed his face towards hers and he knew, just by looking into her eyes, that she didn't think that at all.

Slowly, his the corners of his mouth tuned up in a small smile.

September

In the third week of school, after the final bell had sounded and on his way to glee, Artie noticed that Quinn was staring aimlessly into her locker so he wheeled to her side and touched his fingers to her hand. Startled, she spun to face him.

"Quinn?"

Upon seeing him, a bright smile lit her face but it quickly dimmed.

"What's wrong?" he asked, feeling concerned.

"Oh it's just…" Slamming her locker shut, she began the trek toward the choir room. "It's nothing."

Tugging on her hand, indicating that she should stop, which she did, he gazed up at her, more concerned then ever. Over the last few months, they had come to a place where they discussed pretty much everything. That she wasn't willing to about whatever was clearly bothering her worried him on one hand but, on the other, made him doubt if she could really talk about anything with him, as she claimed. If she couldn't...well, that kind of hurt.

Before he could give voice to any of his thoughts, she blurted out, "It's Beth. Shelby…she…she's moving!" Without warning, Quinn began to cry and, almost on impulse, Artie pulled her into his lap, wrapping his arms around her. "My baby girl is leaving…"

Not sure what to say, as Quinn rarely brought up the daughter she had given away, Artie raised a hand, stroking her hair.

"I…didn't even visit her all of last year but n-now that I finally am, she's leaving to anoth-another state." Tucking her head against his shoulder, she murmured, "It was so hard giving her up, Artie. It hurt to think someone else was raising her. I refused to go see her but…all that changed over the past few months. She's my daughter and -" She stopped talking as a new batch of tears made their way to her eyes.

In response, he held her tighter.

October

For Rachel's Halloween party, Quinn dressed up as Supergirl. When he saw her, Artie's mouth dropped open and he found himself not being able to turn his eyes away from her the whole night, despite the fact that Tina and Brittany had both decided to wear skimpy outfits and were vying for his attention. Neither could compete in level of hotness or sexiness with Quinn, though.

Next to her, he felt kind of plain and boring, in his three hole punch costume, an idea that wasn't even his but he borrowed from a television show. He felt even worse when he compared himself to Sam, who was dressed up as Superman, drawing attention from most of the girls in his form fitting costume, and desperately trying to flirt with Quinn at every opportunity.

Not that Artie cared, beyond thinking that Quinn could do better than Sam, but he took a certain amount of joy in the fact that Quinn spent most of the night near him and ignoring Sam.

But the highlight of the evening came when Quinn finally snapped at Sam, after he suggested that them coming as Superman and Supergirl was more than just coincidence, "You do realize that Superman and Supergirl are cousins right? So if it's more than a coincidence, what does that mean?"

Stunned, Sam shrugged, embarrassed, then slunk away.

Rolling her eyes, Quinn perched herself on Artie's knee. "God, he was getting annoying." Turning her head, she smiled at him. "Did I mention I really like your Jim costume? You look hot."

Grinning, Artie wished that Sam had stuck around stuck around only a little bit longer to have heard Quinn's comment.

November

On the last day of November, Artie felt completely ready for Christmas. He was so excited, especially since Christmas was his favorite time of the year.

But Quinn didn't seem to be looking forward to it.

When Artie asked her about it, she cast her gaze to her hands, then whispered, "Beth's gone…my dad doesn't want anything to do with me this year…Mom's super busy with work. I just don't see how it's going to be a good Christmas at all. But," she lifted her eyes, the smile on her lips not reaching her eyes. "it's fine."

It wasn't fine, however, and Artie intended to do something, anything, to make Quinn's Christmas one she would never forget.

December - The First Day

Twelve days before Christmas, and two days before break began, Quinn approached her locker, slowing when she noticed a note taped to the front of it.

"On the first day of Christmas…"

Tilting her head at the incomplete thought, she opened her locker and a note fluttered out.

"…a true friend gave to Quinn, one single red rose," it read.

Reaching into her locker, her eyes bright, Quinn found a red rose. Bringing it to her nose, she took a breath, inhaling the fragrance. Looking around, she tried to spot who had left the gift in her locker but spied no one.

Down the hall, Artie watched her reaction, then slowly smiled.