A/N: Brace yourselves everyone…IT'S THE FINAL CHAPTERRR! (DodoDOOdo…DodoDOdodoo)
Well, I say that. There'll be an epilogue, but shhhh!
I know this sounds cheesy and weird, but I want to thank you guys. Without all of your support, and comments, I wouldn't be here, on chapter 25. That's the longest fic I've written that I've completed and it's helped me develop my writing so much, I seriously do love each and every one of you who reads this.
Okay. Mushy stuff over.
Ash is back for one last time! :D She can be found at alltheklaine on Tumblr (because she's had a URL change since last time she was in this fic ;P) and Lorna (who is still thegirlwhowas0nfire) and Olly (ollehh)!
Enjoy!
…
"I still don't know what I'm doing here!" Ash was sat in the passenger seat of Jeff's car.
"Did Quinn not tell you?" Ash shook her head. "You're staying with her for a couple of weeks."
"I know that! I just don't know why."
"Don't you want to spend time with your favourite ex-member of an all-boys show choir?" Jeff pouted.
"Oh, you're taking me to visit Kurt?" Ash teased.
"Shut up," Jeff laughed. "Or I'll get your brothers to pick you up again!"
"Fine, I'm sorry," Ash rolled her eyes. "Why am I in Ohio?"
"Because Sam's taking you to prom."
Ash's eyes widened. "He's what?"
Jeff nodded. "Yeah, but he doesn't know it yet. We do have to go and visit Kurt first, because he's designing your dresses and he wants to make sure they fit. I'm only dropping you off, because Quinn's there too and I'm 'not allowed' to see anything."
"Preparation for the wedding," Ash joked.
"I'll hit you," Jeff warned.
"You won't," Ash shrugged.
"Nah, I won't," Jeff agreed, laughing. They pulled up to Kurt's house. "This is where I leave you!" He pulled Ash in for a hug. "Say hi to Quinn for me!"
"Of course! I'll just swan in and say 'Quinn, I know this may seem a little weird, but Jeff has asked for your hand in marriage.' Then she'll say 'Oh my God, Ash, we've already got two kids named Joaquin and Christina, you were the godmother, remember?' and I'll say 'Was there alcohol there?' and she'll say 'Yeah' and I'll say 'That's why I don't remember!' and –"
"You frighten me."
"Good, then my job's done." Ash jumped out of the car. "Bye, Jeffers!"
…
"I can't tell you."
"Kuuuurt, come on, man. I just need to know the colour. You wouldn't want a mismatched couple, would you, Kurtsie?"
"I thought we left that nickname at Dalton… Anyway, fine. She's wearing – Kurt, you're not supposed to say! – I'm just telling him what colour you're wearing because otherwise you won't match and it'll all be a total disaster! …Look, Jeff, I'll send Blaine down now to take you guys shopping, he knows what the girls are wearing."
"But wait, surely Sam should come too? He doesn't even know Ash is here, let alone that he's going to prom!"
"Uggghh, you people will be the death of me. Alright, give me half an hour. Pick Sam up and bring him with you to the mall."
"Alright. See you there, Kurtsie!"
"I hate you."
…
Jeff knocked three times on the door of Sam's motel room. "Jeff?" Sam asked tentatively as he opened the door. "What are you doing here? Isn't everyone getting ready for prom or whatever?" He looked down sadly.
"Nope, we're just going to the Lima Bean. Kurt and Blaine are bringing the girls, I think Artie's coming too, some of the Warblers are…And so are you!" Jeff grabbed Sam's arm and pulled him out of the door. Sam sighed, rolling his eyes as he allowed himself to be led by Jeff.
When they got to the coffee shop, Quinn was already there. She came bounding up to Jeff and kissed him sweetly. Sam looked at his shoes awkwardly before someone leapt on his back. "Hey, Mr Grumpy-Gills," Ash laughed at the Finding Nemo reference she'd just made into Sam's ear.
Sam turned on the spot, much resembling a puppy chasing its tail before realising that it wasn't helping him see for himself if it really was who he thought it was on his back. "Ash?" he asked excitedly. "What are you doing here? Why aren't you back in Virginia?"
Ash slid off of Sam's back. "Well, okay, if you don't want me here…" she started to back away slowly, giggling when Sam wrapped his arms around her.
"I didn't mean it like that," he laughed. "Don't you have school up there?"
Ash shook her head. "Home-schooled," she explained.
"Oh, okay, awesome!" Sam beamed. "So what brings you down here?"
"Well, as surprising as it sounds coming from me, I do love a good prom," she raised her eyebrows, giggling as Sam's jaw dropped open.
Sam turned to look at Quinn and Jeff, who were both looking on like proud parents, and shook his head. "No way, I can't afford it, I –"
"Have a bunch of awesome friends who've totally hooked you up so that you don't need to pay a thing?" Jeff smirked. "We know."
Sam looked at Jeff, then Quinn, then Ash, all of whom had the same amused expressions. "I – I can't even – You guys are gonna make me cry in public," he laughed shakily. He hugged Quinn, then Jeff. "Thank you two, so much."
"No problem," Quinn smiled sweetly.
"Oh, and Sam?" Jeff slipped Sam two $20 bills. "Take her ou tonight, and treat her right, won't you? Remember, if you break her heart, I'll break your nose."
"Same goes with Quinn," he shrugged, taking the money. They both grinned before pulling each other in for a man-hug. "Thanks, man. For everything."
"Don't mention it," Jeff smiled.
…
All the couples were now in the hall for prom. Nick was wearing a dark blue suit with a white shirt and red tie ("I gotta represent my home colours somehow!") while Rachel sported a dark blue dress and red headband. Ash's dress with aquamarine on the top half with a black skirt, and Sam's black suit and shirt with aquamarine tie complemented nicely. Lorna and Artie were wearing red, Santana and Brittany were wearing yellow, Kurt and Blaine had incorporated purple into their outfits somehow, Mercedes had gone off somewhere with Shane and nobody had seen her, and Tina and Mike wore simple black and white outfits. Quinn and Jeff were wearing light blue, because Kurt refused to have them wearing colours that didn't match and Brittany and Santana had already called yellow as 'their colour'.
Jeff and Ash were dancing together, as were Sam and Quinn. "So, you having a good time in Ohio?" Jeff asked Ash as he twirled her round.
"Absolutely!" she beamed. "I'm having an amazing time."
"Good! So, have you and Sam figured things out yet?"
"Well, I dunno," she shrugged. "I like him. I mean, he's dorky as hell, but so are you – Oh, you know I love you," she laughed at his offended face. "Yeah, it's just getting over the whole distance thing that's dragging."
"Well, whatever happens, I'll be happy for you," he pulled her in for a hug as the song ended. Sam and Quinn walked up to them. "You two have fun?" he asked, and both nodded, before catching each other's gazes and laughing. Jeff sighed, looking at Ash and shaking his head. "Do you know what they're giggling about?"
"It's Sam, it could literally be anything! Oh, I'm sorry, don't give me those eyes!" as Sam threw a puppy-dog look her way.
He laughed before asking, "May I?"
"May he?" Ash asked Jeff.
"No," Jeff put his arm around her protectively. "I'm just kidding! Of course you can. Just have her home by 11!"
"Shut up!" Ash laughed as her and Sam headed into the dancefloor.
Jeff rolled his eyes at Quinn. "Would you like to dance with me?" he asked hopefully.
Quinn giggled. "Of course!" She took Jeff's hand and allowed herself to be led to the dancefloor too. She wrapped her arms around Jeff's neck and couldn't help but grin at the look he was giving her. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"You're honestly the most beautiful woman I've ever met," he smiled, still looking at Quinn with the same adoring gaze. "Inside and out. You know that, right?"
"Well, when you constantly tell me, it's hard not to," she giggled, before her face became serious again. "And you're genuinely the most amazing guy I've met. I'm so glad I found you."
"That feeling," he tapped her on the nose, making her giggle, "is more than mutual."
They kept dancing for a while, looking around at everyone else dancing. Lorna was sat on Artie's lap, and both were swaying gently, Artie saying something into Lorna's ear that made the Irish girl giggle and blush. Next to them, her brother Rory was dancing with the other foreign exchange kid, Olly. Even Kurt and Blaine were slow-dancing. Everyone finally had someone. Jeff looked over until he saw the blonde of Sam's hair to see him kissing Ash. Jeff initially had mixed feelings; while at first a wave of protectiveness swept over him, he remembered it was Sam, and he felt more relieved.
"What are you grinning a–" Quinn turned to look where Jeff was. "Aww!" she cooed as she realised. "They're so cute together."
"Second cutest couple here, I'd say," Jeff smirked.
Quinn gasped. "Could it be? Is Jeff Sterling really complimenting himself?"
"Nope," Jeff shook his head. "Your adorable radiates so much it makes me seem slightly better. I'm still nothing compared to you," he bent his head down to kiss her cheek softly.
"Not true," Quinn frowned. "I wish you could see how amazing you are, Jeff," she admitted quietly.
"Oh, I hate seeing you upset!" Jeff moaned, bouncing on the balls of his feet. "Okay, here. If you think that I'm so great –"
"You are that great, though," Quinn reminded him.
"Then I can't be absolutely terrible." He grinned.
Quinn mirrored him. "You're more than not terrible!"
"Baby steps," Jeff raised his eyebrows.
"Baby steps," Quinn nodded, laughing before wrapping her arms even tighter around him.
"Can I have your attention, please?" came Principal Figgins' voice from the stage. "It is time to announce who your prom king and queen are. This year's McKinley junior prom king is…Artie Abrams."
Everyone burst into wild applause; Artie couldn't even believe he'd won. He rolled himself onto stage and shook the principal's hand before taking the microphone. A huge grin spread across his face as he announced, "Ladies and gentlemen…King Arthur has arrived!"
Everyone laughed and applauded as Artie took his place at the side of the stage. "And now," Figgins called after everyone had settled down, "your prom queen for this year is…Quinn Fabray!"
Quinn stood in shock. She couldn't have – How? "Did you –?" she asked Jeff, not needing to continue as she saw his beaming face. "You're such a jerk, you know that?" she laughed before kissing him and joining Artie. When she was handed the microphone, she was stunned into silence. "I don't…I don't know what to say, I – Thank you guys," she wiped a tear from the corner of her eye and everyone "aww"ed before cheering again.
"And now the king and queen must dance!" Figgins announced.
Quinn smiled at Artie, who smirked, "Well, you're no Lorna, but you'll do."
"Shut up, Artie," she giggled as they both made their way down to the dancefloor, holding hands and moving from side to side with him. "Congratulations, Artie, you deserved it," she smiled.
"So did you! You look amazing tonight," he grinned back, raising his arm for her to spin under. She did so with a laugh. They continued dancing for the duration of the song, and when it was over, Quinn bent down and kissed Artie's cheek. He thanked her, a little flustered, and wheeled himself over to Lorna, where he asked her to dance. She accepted, her smile stretching from ear to ear.
"So can I have you back yet or are you pining after Artie now?" Jeff murmured into Quinn's ear as he stood behind her, his arms wrapping around her waist as they started swaying from side to side.
She laughed. "Well, I tried, but apparently 'I'm no Lorna'."
"True," Jeff shrugged, laughing as Quinn turned to look at him reproachfully. "But you are Lucy Quinn Fabray and you are everything I need and so much more."
"That's the cheesiest thing you've ever said to me, and that's saying something," she giggled.
"I'm a cheesy guy!" Jeff defended bemusedly.
"True," Quinn replied in a mock accent, repeating what Jeff had said.
Jeff laughed. "But you've put up with me throughout my ridiculousness, so that's gotta count for something, right?"
"Right." She sighed. "This has been the best night ever."