Quinn almost couldn't contain herself, as she stepped from the limo in Artie's driveway. She looked up just in time to see him open the door, and the grin she was wearing turned into the biggest smile possible when she saw his jaw drop. The look on his face was priceless.

After Judy spoke briefly to the driver, she stepped out of the limo, and watched as her daughter made her way towards the house, holding her dress carefully so it wouldn't get caught on anything. Judging from the look on Artie's face, Quinn had made the right choice with the dress, and she and Beth had made the right choice in deciding to rent the limo for them.

Judy saw someone gesture to her from the side of the house, and walked discreetly down the path and around to the back door, where Beth let her in.

Artie stared at Quinn, as she gingerly made her way towards him. He wasn't quite sure what was going to come out of his mouth if he spoke, and was relieved when she spoke first.

"Surprise!" Quinn said, quietly, draping herself carefully across his lap. "You look so hot," she whispered into his ear, wrapping her arms around him.

"I-I-um…wow," Artie mumbled. "Let me try that again."

Quinn smiled, resting her head against his, careful not to disturb her hair.

"You look so amazing," he said, finally. "About fifty times more beautiful than I could ever have imagined."

"And here I thought you had a pretty good imagination," she said, giggling quietly. "Apparently I overestimated you."

He cleared his throat, chuckling nervously. "How did you do that?" he asked, quietly. "The limo?"

"Why don't you ask your mom?" Quinn said, standing up. "Or my mom. Who, by the way…are both watching us right now."

Artie grinned sheepishly, turning to see his entire family, minus Michael, and plus Martin, AJ, and Judy standing at the living room window, watching them.

"We should probably go inside," he said. "But I don't want to share you with them. I actually just want to keep you for myself right now."

Quinn grinned, leaning over and placing a soft kiss on his cheek. "I'll make sure we have some time for that later," she said, as she reached for the doorknob. "But for now we'd better get in there. Judging from the camera flashes I already saw since we've been out here, our moms are going to break some sort of picture-taking record."

He grinned back at her. "After you," he said, gesturing towards the door. "And I'm going to hold you to that promise," he added, softly as she stepped inside.

"QUINN! YOU LOOK LIKE A PRINCESS!" Lindsay shouted, before anyone else had a chance to say anything. She rushed over to Quinn, before screeching to a halt. "Can I touch you?" she asked, in a voice more appropriate for indoors. "Can I hug you? Will it hurt your dress?"

Quinn smiled. "Of course you can hug me, Linds," she said, crouching down and holding out her arms. "You can't hurt the dress."

"Yay!" Lindsay exclaimed, before wrapping her arms around Quinn.

"Quinn, honey, you look amazing," Beth said, as she took several pictures. "So beautiful."

Steve nodded in agreement, and Quinn smiled and said thank you, noticing out of the corner of her eye that her mother was discreetly wiping tears from beneath her eyes.

"This is like something out of one of my dreams," AJ mumbled, before Martin kicked him gently in the back of the leg, indicating that he should stop before he said anything else.

"You look really nice, Quinn," Martin said to her, a big smile on his face.

AJ nodded. "Artie, can we trade dates?" he asked. "Or, if not…Quinn…please. I just need one dance."

Quinn giggled, as Artie and Martin rolled their eyes. "I think we can arrange that," she said. "The one dance…not the trading dates. Sorry, AJ."

Everyone laughed, before Beth announced that they'd better get outside and take a bunch of pictures before dinner.

At the mention of dinner, Artie's eyes widened briefly, and he hoped no one else saw. He'd said he'd make arrangements for dinner…and had promptly forgotten.

As everyone headed to the back door, he was relieved to see Steve near the back of the group.

"Dad!" he said, quietly enough that not everyone would hear, but loudly enough to catch his father's attention.

"Yes?" Steve said, stopping and turning toward him, as the others filed out through the door. "What's up?"

"I was supposed to do…something about dinner," Artie hissed. "And I totally forgot. I was so fixated on everything being perfect, that I totally missed a major component of the evening. What do I do? I can't believe I forgot that! I should have just listened to Martin when he said he'd take care of it!"

Steve grinned, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small slip of paper. "I suspected this might happen," he said, quietly. "You have a reservation for four at Luigi's at 5:15."

"Thanks," Artie said, grinning back at his dad. "But wait…I can't really afford Luigi's, and I'm pretty sure Martin and AJ can't either."

Steve nodded. "I gave them my credit card," he said. "You're good to go."

"You didn't have to do that," Artie said, glancing over his shoulder to see if they were being missed yet. "But Dad…thanks."

Steve smiled at his son, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I knew you wanted everything to be perfect," he said. "And plus, you know your mom and I went to Luigi's before we went to prom when we were in high school. It's like a family tradition now."

Artie grinned. He had heard the story of his parents' first official date many times, and several times over the last couple of weeks, as prom drew nearer. It never got old.

"We'd better get out there," Steve added. "Your mom is looking for you."

"Well, the pictures ARE always better when I'm in them," Artie said, chuckling softly because his father knew how much he hated having his picture taken. "So I guess we'd better go so I can make my appearance."

While they were waiting for Artie and Steve, Beth took some pictures of Quinn by herself, some of Quinn and Judy, Quinn and Linds, and then several of Quinn with Martin and AJ, because AJ insisted they needed them so they could show their mothers. Beth knew that Martin's parents weren't going to be home that evening, as she had spoken with his mother earlier in the week, when she'd called to ask if Beth could take lots of pictures for them because they had an important business meeting they had to attend the night of prom. Beth wasn't exactly sure what business they were in, but she knew that one or both of them were frequently out of town.

AJ's mother, Maria, had called her later that week, to let her know she wasn't going to be able to take them up on the invitation to join them for pictures, because she'd been scheduled to work an unexpected double shift at the hospital at the last minute, and couldn't get out of it. Beth had assured her she would make sure to get lots of pictures of AJ, and she had laughed when Maria told her that AJ had already made plans for them to get some pictures of the two of them the day after prom, before he returned his tux to his uncle's shop.

She happened to glance inside at the very moment Steve handed their son the slip of paper with the information for the dinner reservation on it. She had heard Artie tell Martin that he'd take care of dinner, and had promptly shared this information with Steve. Steve knew his son, and had made the reservation soon after, knowing that he could always cancel it if Artie told either one of them he'd made the arrangements. They both knew he was so fixated on everything else, that there was a good chance dinner would slip his mind.

"Artie, honey," she said, once he began his descent down the ramp to the back yard. "Let's get some pictures of you and Quinn, ok?"

He nodded, grinning at her. "Where do you want me?" he asked.

"How about over there?" she said, pointing to the corner of the yard that had the most flowers blooming. "Is that ok?"

"You're the photographer," Artie said, heading over to where she'd pointed, glancing over his shoulder to see if Quinn was following. "We'll go wherever you want us."

They took several photos of Quinn standing beside Artie, and several more with her standing behind, hands on his shoulders. Then, Quinn sat across his lap, carefully arranging her skirt with the help of Lindsay, who insisted it had to be "just right," and Beth and Judy took more pictures. Once they were satisfied, Martin and AJ joined the pair for some group shots.

"We'd better go soon," Artie said, glancing at his watch, which read just a little past 4:30. "Our dinner reservation is for 5:15."

"Where are we going?" AJ asked, as they headed back inside.

"That's for me to know, and you to…well, you get the picture," Artie said, grinning at his friend. "I think you'll approve," he added, moving to the side to let Quinn go into the house ahead of him.

Once they reached the living room, Artie glanced outside, and saw all three parents standing on the grass outside, chatting with the limo driver, while Lindsay chased what looked like a large butterfly around the yard.

"I didn't want to ask this when everyone was here," AJ said, "But where did you get a limo, Quinn? I thought we were going to go in Martin's car. How is the A-man going to get into that without ruining his outfit? And, you know…hurting himself. Not that it's not amazing," he added. "I just feel like I missed something here."

"I wouldn't hurt myself," Artie muttered. "It just might not be very graceful."

Quinn exchanged a brief glace with Artie, noticing the slight grin on his face, before addressing AJ's question. "My mom and Artie's parents got it for us," she said. "As a surprise. And he's not going to hurt himself," she added, "Because it's totally accessible."

"They make those?" AJ asked, looking around the room. "They can do everything!"

Everyone laughed, before Artie announced that they'd better get outside, so they wouldn't be late for dinner.

Once they had exchanged thank yous, hugs, and goodbyes with Beth, Steve, and Judy, the four headed over to the limo.

After the driver, who had introduced himself as Randy, had opened the door, and helped Quinn inside, she watched as he explained the mechanics of the sliding seat, more for AJ's benefit than for Artie's, she assumed, judging by the way AJ's facial expression looked as if it was the most interesting thing he'd ever seen.

Once Artie was seated securely beside her, his chair stowed safely in the trunk of the limo, Martin and AJ got in, and Randy stuck his head in, telling them they'd be just in time for their dinner reservation.

Artie, assuming that his father had filled the driver in on where they were going while they had been talking outside, thanked him, and before they knew it, they were off.

Dinner went smoothly and was relatively uneventful. AJ had proclaimed that Artie had done a good job selecting the restaurant, and the others had agreed.

Once they had finished eating, they headed back outside, where Randy was waiting for them with the limo. It was his first time driving a group of kids to prom, and, while he'd been a bit apprehensive at first, having heard horror stories from other drivers at the limo rental company about their prom passengers, he found himself liking the group of polite teenagers instantly.

When Judy had phoned to make the arrangements for the limo, she'd asked if it would be possible for him to pick them up after prom as well, and take them home, to make sure they all got back safely, and he had happily let her know that he was available for whatever they needed him for, and he would make sure that all four in the group got home safely.

Once they were settled back inside the vehicle, they headed off to prom.

"Are you excited?" Artie whispered to Quinn, as they approached the school.

She nodded, grinning at him. "Are you?"

"I'm always excited when I'm with you, yo!" he said quietly, grinning back at her. "We could go to the dump, and I'd be excited."

She giggled. "You're so romantic," she said. "I'd be excited too," she said. "As long as we were together."

"Good," he said. "Because we actually do need to go there one of these days. There's a bunch of stuff in the garage that needs to be sorted into those huge recycling bins. I told Mom I'd take care of it."

Quinn giggled again. "Ok," she said. "Oh, look, we're here!"

Once they'd reached a stop, and Randy had come around and opened the door, Martin and AJ got out, while Randy went around to the trunk to retrieve Artie's chair.

"Dude," AJ said, quietly. "I want to design stuff like this. Like…for a job."

"Stuff like what?" Martin asked, scanning the groups of fancily-dressed teenagers spread out across the parking lot, looking to see who all was there.

"Stuff that's accessible for people that need to do stuff differently," AJ responded. "This is so cool. Did you not see the A-man's face when he saw the limo? Did you not see how cute they were sitting there, across from us? Can you imagine how hard it would have been for Artie to get into a normal limo? The fact that someone, somewhere, designed a limo that he could easily get into changed his life. I want to change people's lives! This is amazing!"

Martin grinned. "It is pretty cool," he said. "And yes, of course I saw his face AND how cute they were. You know I see everything."

"That's my line!" AJ said, as Quinn and Artie thanked Randy, and headed towards them. "Not that I've ever said it before," he added, "But it's totally something I would say."

"What's something you would say?" Artie asked, halting his chair next to his friends.

"Never mind," AJ said. "Martin is just stealing my brain waves again."

Artie chuckled, before holding out his hand to Quinn, gesturing to his lap. "Shall we?" he asked.

She grinned, sitting down carefully. "We shall," she said, before turning to Martin and AJ. "You guys ready?"

Martin nodded, looking slightly chagrined when AJ held out his arm. He decided to just go with it, though, and looped his arm through his friend's.

"I was born ready," AJ said.

"Hey!" Artie said, as they headed off towards the door. "THAT IS my line."

AJ grinned. "I know," he said. "And now it's mine, too."

They had barely made it through the large doors, when Quinn spied Rachel rushing over to them, dragging Puck behind her.

"I've been waiting for you!" she said, once they'd reached them. "Oh, Arthur," she said to Artie, "You do look fantastic! As you do, Martin and AJ."

Martin smiled softly at Rachel. Part of him wished that they were still together, and that he was her prom date, not Noah Puckerman. But another part of him also realized that things were better the way they were now.

"Dude, did she just call you Arthur?" AJ whispered into Artie's ear, as Rachel gushed something he couldn't quite understand to Quinn. "Seriously?"

Artie nodded. "She does that sometimes," he whispered back. "I hate it."

"She is never finding out what AJ stands for," AJ muttered. "That's the last thing I need. Someone who calls me by my full name."

"It's not that bad," Martin said. "Really."

"Yeah, if I were a politician or a lawyer," AJ muttered. "Neither of which I will ever be. So AJ it is. Tell her, and I'll sneak into your house at night and steal your cat."

"I don't have a cat," Martin said, trying to stifle his grin. "But you could come steal that hideous statue my aunt gave my parents for Christmas? If you can even get into my house at all, that is."

Artie watched as his two best friends continued their conversation, before turning his attention back to where Quinn was standing, talking to Rachel, and a very bored-looking Puck. Every time he had a second to himself, he found the same thoughts running through his mind. He couldn't believe that this was actually happening to him. He was more lucky than anyone else. He had decided right away that Quinn was clearly the most beautiful girl there, although he then admitted to himself that he may be slightly biased. And he was ok with that.

He was completely lost in his thoughts, when Quinn placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "You ok?" she whispered into his ear, leaning down.

He nodded. "Just thinking," he said.

"About what?" she asked, playfully.

He grinned. "About how I'm easily the luckiest guy here," he said, softly. "I mean…look at you."

She grinned back. "That's funny," she said, moving around in front of him, retaking her place in his lap. "Because I was just thinking that I'm easily the luckiest girl here," she said, quietly. "I mean…look at YOU."

He wrapped his arms around her, and just held her for a couple of minutes, until Principal Figgins announced that the music would begin shortly.

Once the dancing started, it was very clear that a pattern was rapidly developing. Slow songs found Quinn seated in Artie's lap, arms around him, as he moved them gently back and forth, while most of the faster-paced songs found everyone dancing in a larger group, although Quinn never left Artie's side.

At one point, during one of the slower songs, Quinn glanced over to where Sam and Mercedes were dancing, before resting her head on Artie's shoulder, and speaking softly into his ear.

"Look at Cedes and Sam," she said. "They look so happy."

He glanced over, making a small nod with his head. "They're almost as cute as we are," he responded. "Almost."

She giggled softly, kissing him gently on the neck. "No one's as cute as you are," she said.

He grinned. "Are you having fun?" he asked, as they swayed to the music.

"You have no idea," she answered. "You?"

He nodded. "Quinn," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry that you don't actually get to have a slow dance with your boyfriend's arms around you."

She lifted her head, her eyes meeting his. "Hey," she said. "There's nothing to be sorry for," she responded. "I get to have all the slow dances with my boyfriend's whole body holding me, not just his arms."

A small grin spread across his face. "That is true," he said. "But still. I really wish I could just hold you while we dance. But if I do…we're not going to be able to move."

Martin, who just happened to be dancing right behind Quinn and Artie with one of the girls in the jazz band, overheard their conversation. Once the song had finished, he scanned the area for AJ, who was sitting on one of the chairs nearby, talking to a boy Martin had never seen before.

"A word?" he said, quietly to AJ, sitting down beside him. The person he'd been talking to excused himself, and headed off in search of his date.

AJ nodded. "What can I do for you, sir?"

Martin grinned. "You know how you were talking earlier about how you wanted to change people's lives?"

AJ nodded again.

"I've got one for you," he went on. "You just have to clear it with Quinn."

AJ nodded for a third time, listening intently as Martin explained to him what he had to do.

Once the song had finished, AJ headed over to where Quinn and Artie were.

"Quinn, can I have the next dance?" he asked, meeting Artie's eyes for a brief second, until his friend nodded.

"Of course," she said. "I was wondering when you were going to come collect that."

AJ grinned, and grabbed Quinn's hand once the next song started, pulling her far enough from Artie that he wouldn't hear what he was going to ask her.

Quinn grinned, as AJ explained what Martin had told him, and asked if she thought it would be ok. Her eyes teared up a little, as she nodded, and told him that she was sure it would be just fine.

Artie watched as AJ danced with Quinn, and was about to turn around in search of Martin, when a flash of pink caught his attention out of the corner of his eye.

"May I have this dance?" Rachel asked, smiling at him.

He nodded, smiling back at her. He could talk to Martin later.

When it was announced that it was the final dance before prom king and queen were crowned, Quinn settled herself into Artie's lap. He put his hands down, placing them loosely on his rims, and was about to get the rhythm going they'd had all night, when he felt a pair of hands on the back of his chair.

He looked back, to see AJ standing behind him.

"Put your arms around your girlfriend," AJ said quietly, leaning down so Artie could hear him. "I'll take care of this."

Artie turned his eyes back to Quinn, who smiled softly at him, before reaching for his hand, and bringing it up around her waist.

"I hope this is ok," she said, softly, once his arms were wrapped around her. "Is it?"

Struggling to find the right words, or…any words, Artie held her in complete silence for a moment.

"Artie?" Quinn whispered, finally. "I just wanted it to be perfect for you, and I know this is what you really wanted," she added, quietly.

"I got what I really wanted the moment you said you'd come here with me tonight," he whispered back, pulling her closer. "This is just so above and beyond perfect, that I don't even know what to say."

As the song ended, she leaned in, kissing him gently.

AJ stood behind them, trying to give them some privacy, but unsure of how he could do that when he had a job to do as well. He couldn't help but overhear Artie's final words before the end of the song, and he smiled softly, blinking rapidly so that the tears that were threatening to invade his eyes would stay where they were, safely nestled in his tear ducts.

He wasn't exactly sure that he'd really changed either of their lives, he thought, but he did know one thing. He'd performed a simple gesture, which had made both Quinn and Artie look even happier than he'd seen them all night.

Maybe that was life changing after all, he decided, removing his hands gently from the back of the chair. And if changing people's lives made them (and him) feel that good…he was going to be sure to do more of that in the future.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed this! It's not exactly what I was expecting to end up with, but I am quite pleased with it.

I know some of you were probably hoping to see other people at prom as well, but once I got going…there was no room for other people. So, while you probably didn't get what you were expecting either, I hope you enjoyed it nonetheless. :D

Both chapters of this story correspond with All My Dreams chapter 114 and The Smile on Your Face chapter 96. I had planned to go on, but decided to end where I did because it just seemed right. Details about what happens after can be found in the journals!

Now that we've hit prom, it's not long until summer vacation!