Author's note: Wow, thanks to those of you who reviewed! I know there have been problems with alerts, but thanks for your dedication to this story! There will be a few more chapters now, since the characters kind of took over, but there you go! Hopefully 3 more chapters before Christmas, and also a couple after. Happy reading !!

Disclaimer: Glee does not belong to me as much as I wish it did!

Everyone had pretty much left after Mr. Schue's announcement, wanting to get working on the project. Brittany, Kurt and Tina had decided to go over to Kurt's house to get started on their song. Although they all loved their other Glee members, they were happy in their group, because they'd done so many songs together before, with the most memorable being their "Single Ladies" routine.

They were on their way to Tina's house, pointedly avoiding looking at Artie when they left. Kurt and Brittany were discussing something, and Tina was lost in thought when Brittany suddenly spun and talked to her.

"Hey Tina, I just wanted to let you know, you're not stuttering anymore!" Brittany smiled enthusiastically. "I guess you just grew out of it, like I stopped being afraid of the night, oh, well, kind of."

Tina glanced at Brittany. "Look, Britt, I haven't been completely honest with you guys." She poured at the whole story, watching as her face got steadily more and more confused. They had just reached Kurt's house when she finished the story.

"So, you were faking it because you were scared?"

"Yes, I'm really sorry to have lied to you guys, but I didn't know how to tell you guys without hurting you."

"Well, I mean, its not like we don't lie. Everybody lies, but if you're honest, or do what you can to fix it, those people who like you for who you are will look past that right?" Kurt and Tina gaped at her. They loved Brittany, but she was a bit of an airhead, and they were astonished at what she had just said. They both had a newfound respect for the girl.

"You're right Britt," Tina said collapsing onto the couch. Kurt nodded his agreement, "But now Artie's not talking to me, and it looks like I lost my best friend."

"Well, if he won't listen to you talking, maybe he'll listen through song," Kurt suggested.

Brittany laughed and clapped her hands together excitedly, "What do you have in mind?"

"What is one of the most well-known Christmas songs produced by one of the most famous female artists?" he smirked at them both.

" "Where are you Christmas' " from Cindy Lou-Who?" Brittany suggested.

"Not quite what I was thinking Britt, but good guess!"

" 'All I want for Christmas is You," Tina groaned, knowing there was no way Kurt would let her out of singing this.

Kurt smiled, "Perfect. Tina you're lead vocalist, and me and Britt are you back-ups." With that, they set to work on the singing and choreography.

Artie, Mercedes and Quinn were also currently debating their song choice, and not having much luck. They had left pretty quickly after Mr. Schue's announcement, because Quinn had an ultrasound appointment, and they wanted to get started before her appointment, wanting to at least get the song chosen.

"But their are so many Christmas songs," Quinn groaned, "How do we go about picking them?"

"Well, I know a couple of good ones, but it depends what we're using the song for," she said pointedly, looking at Artie, who looked back at her puzzled. She sighed, "Is there any particular message we want to convey to anyone in the group?"

Artie turned bright red at this, knowing what Mercedes was hinting at. She wasn't the most subtle in the group, and he knew that she had noticed him and Tina not talking. Thankfully Quinn was still looking at Mercedes puzzled, and hadn't seen his face.

"Well, I don't know about conveying any particular message to a person, but speaking of which," she turned to Artie, "What's up with you and Tina?"

Artie sputtered. He knew Mercedes was aware of what was going on because she was a pretty observant person, but he had not expected Quinn to notice. He hesitated, not wanting to tell Tina's secret.

"Is it about her stutter?" she prodded when he didn't answer her. This time Artie full-on started choking on the drink he was sipping, how on earth did Quinn know that Tina's stutter was fake?

"Well, at lunch yesterday, you weren't there, she told everyone. She said she didn't want to keep it a secret anymore, and wanted to come clean with us. She explained why she did it, and none of us really have the right to judge her for lying, if you know what I mean, and besides, we all made mistakes when we were younger, hers was just harder to break."

Artie was stunned. He knew that Tina didn't want to keep lying, but to tell everyone at Glee? He had respected her before, but now? Wow, he really had to start putting Plan B in to place.

Quinn and Mercedes exchanged conspiratory winks behind Artie's back.

"Hang on Artie, does this mean you haven't been talking to Tina all week because of a mistake she made in the 6th grade?" Mercedes said, looking shocked.

"No, no, well, I asked her out on a date, and at the end, she told me her stutter wasn't real. I was hurt," he sighed, "We've been best friends for so long, and then suddenly telling me something that's been present for every single day we've known each other wasn't real. I kind of left her," seeing the looks on both girls faces he held his hands up in defence, "Look, I know what I did was wrong, she shouldn't have lied, but if she was that scared about talking to people, who am I to judge? And then when she told me, i shouldn't have left, but-"

Mercedes interrupted him, "We know what you mean Wheels, but what are you going to do about it? Are you just going to keep ignoring Tina?"

"I have not been ignoring her, I've been trying to talk to her all week, but she's been avoiding me!" Artie defended himself.

"Well, you and Tina must be playing a right game, because she thinks you're ignoring her, and you think she's ignoring you." Mercedes pointed out.

"Well," Quinn said thoughtfully, "If you can't talk to Tina, maybe you can sing to her? And we do have this assignment," her voice trailed off as Artie looked thoughtful.

"I know the song we're going to sing. It's her favourite, and it's a pretty good apology song, are you guys ok with this?" Artie looked at both girls.

"Wheels, we want you and Tina back together. We'll do anything you want us too."

Quinn nodded her agreement, "What song are we singing Artie?"

Rachel, Puck, and Santana were still debating over their song.

"Guys, the other groups have already picked their songs, and if I may, as team captain, we need to choose a song." Rachel stomped her foot for emphasis.

"Woah Berry, who elected you as team captain?" Puck said with his eyebrow raised.

"Well, since no one else is stepping-up, I am."

"As a matter of fact, I have the perfect song Berry."

Santana looked up from her texting, "Wait, we have a song?"

"Yeah," Puck smiled, "how about, 'You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,'?"

The group looked at each other and smiled. "Perfect," said Rachel, "Let's get started, me and Santana, choreography, Puck, you're singing."

Mike, Matt and Finn were also still debating over their song. And by debating, that meant they were eating pizza, after all, they needed food for brain power.

"So, anyone figure out a song yet?" Finn asked in between mouthfuls.

The other two shook their heads.

"We're an all-guys group, so we need an all guys song. What boybands have done Christmas songs?" Mike asked.

"Um," Finn scratched his head, turning over the tv channel to music.

"Perfect, 'Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays,'" Matt said enthusiastically.

The group high-fived, finished their pizza, and started rehearsing.

The next day, Artie was waiting at the school entrance again for Tina, hoping that maybe she'd show up. He heard voices, and he perked up, but when he realized who they were, groaned. Of course there would be jocks. He stayed where he was, hoping they would just pass by him. No such luck. And they had slushies, and it was soon all over him. He wheeled inside, getting his de-slushie kit and going to clean off.

Tina came around the entrance a minute later, rushing because her alarm hadn't gone off, and hoping to catch Artie. He wasn't there again though, still avoiding her. She sighed, she was hoping that he would calm down sooner or later, but she couldn't understand why he still wouldn't talk to her. She headed into school with her head down.

Tina missed lunch again, due to another slushie facial. At least it was a different flavour from last time though, she thought. Thank gosh she always made sure she had de-slushie kit.

Artie moped all through lunch. Tina was still avoiding him.

"Arthur? Earth to Arthur?" Artie shook his head to see Kurt waving a hand in front of his face.

"Hey, what's up Kurt?"

"Arthur, we're all wondering why you've suddenly spaced out on us," Kurt spoke. Artie looked around and noticed the whole table looking at him.

"Oh, um, just wondering about stuff."

"You mean, wondering where Tina is?" Quinn said quietly next to him.

He turned to her discreetly, "Yeah, have you seen her?"

"Slushie facial, she's getting cleaned off. That's where Britt and Mercedes are."

Artie smiled, maybe she wasn't avoiding him after all.

At Glee that afternoon, Mr. Schue had another quick meeting for all of them.

"Look guys, I'm really sorry about this, but I've got to run again. They've suddenly scheduled all these meetings for the end of term, and I've got to make sure we're represented. I was wondering if you guys wanted to move up the songs to Wednesday, so we can have a party on Friday?" Nobody objected, "Ok, sounds good. Songs tomorrow, see you then!" With that, he ran out of the room, looking harried.

The club quickly dispersed again, trying to get their group songs finished in time.

The next morning Artie felt something differently. Somehow, he knew that today would be the day. Possibly because they were singing their songs this afternoon, he didn't know, but it felt like it could be a good day.

He headed to school again, and waited for Tina. He kept glancing at his watch impatiently, and heard footsteps. He held his breath, and waited to see who it was.

"Artie?" questioned Tina. "What are you doing here?"

Artie gave a huge grin. "I've been waiting here the last couple of mornings for you to show up. Listen, I want to say something before we get interrupted. First, I'm really sorry about leaving you on our date. I was hurt by you lying to me for all this time, and having something that was here all the time, suddenly finding out it wasn't true, sent me into a tailspin. But, if you were scared enough to fake a stutter, then I don't have the right to judge you for that. And you told me, that took guts. I didn't like that you'd lied, but I'd rather know now, and its not that big of a deal. I really like you Tee, you're my best friend, and I'm not going to lose you over something this tiny." Artie finished his speech, looking at Tina nervously.

And just then Quinn showed up, "Artie, problem!!"

Artie groaned internally, finally he'd been able to talk to Tina, and now they were interrupted.

"Artie?" spoke Tina softly. "I'll let you two talk, but I'll see you at lunch ok?" she walked away quickly.

"Ah, sorry Artie." Quinn said sadly.

"No problem," Artie shook his head, "What's wrong with the song?"

So, how are we liking it? I got my first alerts today, so fanfiction has solved the problem! WOOT! The next chapter will feature their songs, I promise. It was supposed to be this one, and then the characters suddenly took over, but next one, it will happen! Reviews = love, ~ Swimnsail