An authors note...Thank you so much for the wonderfully encouraging reviews. I originally planned to incorporate some of this into the last chapter, but decided(during one of the many rewrites) that it would be better on it's own. Please don't hate me for going down this route, even if you think it's a bit ooc. Giving my original characters layers and depth and making them "real" was always my intention and I hope I've done just that with this chapter.

Disclaimer-Glee is the property of FOX, the creators and the writers.

Let It Be

They had slowly graduated from playing go fish to war to rummy, and were currently on their third game of the afternoon. He'd always had a knack for games and those of the card variety seemed to be no exception. Also much to his mothers chagrin, he was picking up poker and blackjack a lot quicker than she'd ever imagined. Not that she'd imagined her eight year old would ever be playing either.

There was a lot she would have never imagined her eight year old son would be doing...or have to endure.

"Mom, why doesn't Dad hug me anymore?"

All previous thoughts immediately disappeared. Alicia wasn't sure she'd heard him right. Her stunned blue eyes flickered up to meet identical imploring ones."What? Honey, I..." It was obvious she was struggling for something to say. But how was she supposed to respond to that? "Artie, I don't understand..."

The little boy glanced down, studying his cards as he cautiously continued. "Well, it's just when he visits, he always either gives me a high five or messes my hair up..." There was a pause as he pulled a shrug that was most likely meant to project an accepted indifference. It turned out to be not all that convincing.

"Maybe he thinks I'm too big for them now," Artie murmured softly, almost to himself. But when he looked up again, he could see tears starting to pool in his mothers eyes. Guilt gripped him. The last thing he wanted to do was make her cry or get his dad in some kind of trouble. He was just curious as to why.

"Honey, I'm so sorry. I never noticed...," Guilt consumed her as well, but words failed.

"No, it's okay. Sorry. Let's just forget about it," he shot back with a quick to dismiss casualness. His eyes lifted and he flashed her the widest smile he could muster, "It's um...still your turn."

What could Alicia do but swallow the huge lump that had formed in her throat, give a shaky nod, and play her hand.

...

"Hey there Pal," Art called out as he stepped through the doorway of his sons room, stopping next to his wife to place a small kiss on her cheek first, before continuing inside.

"Hi Dad," Artie returned enthusiastically and grinned up at him.

"How was your day?", was the million dollar question.

"Great," Artie replied with an ever widening grin, "I beat Mom, five games to two."

"That's my boy," Art chuckled and held his hand up, signaling he was requesting a high five from Artie.

The little boy didn't look at his mother as the exchange took place, he didn't need to, he already knew she'd be watching. Only after, did he dare a glance in her direction to find her standing there, mouth parted in pained disbelief and eyes shinning. Those eyes met with his, and she quickly plastered on a mask of optimism. "He also mastered three very important tasks on his checklist today," she proudly pointed out after first clearing the building emotion from her throat.

"I took a shower all by myself," Artie clarified with an enthusiastic nod that morphed into a modest little shrug. "Mom stayed right outside the door in case I needed any help, but I didn't have to call her once."

"That's fantastic, Buddy." Art nodded encouragingly at his son, a soft smile spreading across his lips. Alicia's grin was predictably similar.

Artie beamed. "And Lauren said there's only a few more things I need to learn before I can come home," he stated with great satisfaction. "She also says we can go down to the therapy room whenever we want so you can see too...wanna go now?"

"Sure," Art replied, managing to hide his growing discomfort behind a smile as he gestured with his hand, "lead the way."

"Where's Andy?" Alicia asked once they were out in the hall, with Artie a safe distance ahead.

"I left him at your parents," he returned casually, "he had a long day."

"He's in half-day kindergarten Art," Alicia countered incredulously, thinking that was nothing compared to the kind of day their eldest had. "Artie's been working really hard. I wanted us all to be together for this."

"He still has that graduation type thing coming up?" Art asked more than stated. Alicia nodded. "We'll all be here for that," he promised, then quickly added, "He just didn't feel like coming today." That much was obvious, Andy never wanted to come see his brother. Though Alicia thought it best to keep that argument to herself.

As soon as they arrived, Artie got right down to business showing off his newly acquired skills. "I can almost make it all the way up the stairs Dad...watch."

But as much as he wanted to, Art just couldn't.

"He did this five or six times already today," with a small smile playing at her lips, Alicia started the commentary. "After the second try, he realized he could cheat a little and transfer right to the third step...where are you going?"

"I need a drink of water," Art replied, hastily breezing right past the water cooler on his way out the door.

Alicia found him right outside, leaning up against the wall with his hand over his face. It probably wasn't the best time, but the hall was empty and she just needed to know. "He asked me earlier if I knew why you don't hug him anymore." Art lifted his head, eyes wide with surprise. "I told him I didn't, but now I think I'm starting to understand."

"God Leesh, I never meant..." he trailed off, pausing to cough down his emotions. "I thought I was okay with it, you know? Thought I had it under control. But seeing him here, in that chair, struggling to do even the simplest..." He coughed again, but couldn't be bothered with wiping away the single tear that was making it's way down his cheek. "I'm not always sure what to say to him or how to act around him...and now, watching him drag himself up a flight of stairs..."

"He needs to learn how Art," Alicia cut in gently as she took a comforting step closer to him. "I don't want him to be stranded if there's an emergency somewhere and no elevator access, or at home, if our stair lifts break..."

"It's just so hard..."

Alicia nodded as she snaked her arm around his waist, and let her head fall to his chest. "I went through the same thing that first week we were here, when they were trying to teach him how to roll over. All I could think about was how he'd been rolling over since he was three months old and now he couldn't." Her eyes lifted toward his and they were brimming with tears. "I was so angry and devastated and...and then did it...and the look on his face, that smile, it was like he'd slayed Goliath..." Beaming with an expression of admiration, Alicia gave a small shrug, "...maybe to him, he had."

She was smiling now, tears falling, but happier ones this time. "It was then that I realized how truly lucky we were. When I think of how differently things could have turned out..." Art could feel her shutter underneath him, and he tightened his hold. Alicia took in a calming breath as was soon able to continue. "I know things have changed so drastically and we're all still grieving for everything we lost that day...all the dreams we had for him, all the dreams he had for himself...but we still have our little boy, and that's all that really matters."

There was no further need for words and the couple simply stood there, wrapped in each others embrace. "I'm going to get back," Alicia finally whispered after a few minutes.

They pulled apart and Art nodded, but made no attempt to follow her. "I'll be in, in a few."

Though mildly disappointed, Alicia didn't press the issue.

"Mom look I did it," Artie called excitedly from atop the platform of the staircase apparatus, "Up and down this time."

"That's wonderful Sweetie," she croaked out proudly as she cupped her hands around his cheeks and placed a kiss to his forehead.

"Up, down, back in the chair and out again, a few times," Lauren, his therapist elaborated pointedly.

Artie blushed sheepishly and looked between the two women before asking, "Where's Dad?"

Without letting her smile falter, Alicia answered, "He's coming."

"I'm right here," Art's voice rang out right after hers.

Artie grinned up at him. "I can get up and down the stairs now, wanna see?"

Art smiled back. "Already did," he replied with a casual jut of his chin, "Had a clear shot of everything through that window in the door."

Alicia's expression softened tenderly. That explained the set gaze that he almost never broke. She watched as that same contact was now maintained between father and son. "I'm so proud of you Artie," Art added, just a beat later. "Really, really proud."

The little boys smiled spread from ear to ear and a small chuckle escaped his lips. "Thanks Dad."

As Art looked into those eyes he first fell in love with fifteen years ago, then again just seven years later...his heart swelled all over again. "What do you say we go down to the cafeteria, and celebrate with some ice cream?" he suggested playfully, then chuckled at Artie's enthusiastic nod. "Just the two of us."

It came out sounding more like a question than Art had intended, and left Artie glancing at his mother for validation. At her nod, his grin became impossibly wide. "Sure." But just as he was preparing for his descent and transfer, a strong pair of hands appeared in front of him.

"Here, let me help."

Keeping one hand at his side for balance, Artie lifted the other, and soon he was in his fathers embrace. "Is this okay?" Art asked cautiously as he shifted his arms to give Artie enough support . "I'm not hurting you, am I?

The happy little boy didn't answer, he just threw his arms around his fathers neck and pulled himself up enough so he could rest his head on that large comforting shoulder...and squeezed.

...

ANx2...my sincerest apologies for the delay in this update. Megan knows how much trouble I was having with this chapter, and unfortunately, the problems I was having with it didn't resolve themselves as easily as I thought they would. But it's done and I'm moderately happy with it, so now I can finally move on.