An authors note...I know I said that this chapter would be the end of the long and involved arc I've been working on, but my muse had other ideas. So to keep it all manageable, I've decided to split the chapters into two...but I PROMISE, the next chapter is the end(though the chapter after, will only jump about two weeks time). My undying gratitude to all of you for everything...THANKS.

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

Beauty and the Geek

She was a vision to behold, dressed in a teal hued cocktail length, that was supposed to compliment Artie's eyes. Luckily, it was a Kurt approved color for the autumn months as well as one that he could "work with"...because, after all, it was now fall, and he was taking the prettiest girl at the school, to her Homecoming dance.

"You look amazing," Artie muttered breathlessly, as he watched her she make her way to the bottom of the stairs, where he was waiting for her.

"Why thank you kind Sir," she returned, giving a little curtsey for added playfulness. "You don't look half bad yourself."

Artie glanced down at himself, and had to agree. The clean sweats he'd put on after his shower were a whole lot better than the short, t-shirt combo and wicked case of bed-head he'd been sporting for the better part of the past day and a half. But what he wouldn't give to be dressed in his favorite(and only)suit...to be the one escorting his girlfriend to their Homecoming.

"I've got something for you," he stated, reluctantly taking his eyes off of her so he could lead her into the living room. "I asked Kurt not to bring you one, because I wanted it to be from me," he added once he reached the coffee table, and took the small box in his hands. "You don't think that was selfish of me...do you?"

Quinn tried not to let Artie see the tears pooling in her eyes. "No, I think it's the sweetest thing ever," she choked out, taking the corsage he was offering her. "It's so beautiful Artie...thank you."

Artie grinned as he slipped the delicate bouquet onto her wrist. "I made sure it matched your dress, since I'm not exactly sure what Kurt will show up in," he quipped, chuckling softly, then finished the gesture with a gentle kiss to the top of her hand, before glancing back up to meet her slightly pensive gaze. "I'm sorry Quinn."

"Artie, please don't," she pleaded desperately, kneeling down at his side. "I'm having a hard enough time going to this dance without you..."

"Which is exactly what I'm apologizing for," he cut in wistfully, but his words trailed off as he began to gently run a finger up and down the silky arm draped over his thigh.

Quinn watched, mesmerized by his hand caressing her arm and the feeling it gave her. "You know, it's not too late for me to back out," she suggested, soft...but very sincerely.

"Yes it is," Artie muttered quietly, after a quick glance at the clock, giving Quinn the time to reciprocate his gesture of affection. He smiled down at her and she forced one up at him, until their hands stilled, then joined.

"You should probably go back and stretch out on the couch," Quinn suggested, running her thumb over his knuckles. He wasn't the only one to notice what time it was...and it made her painfully aware that he'd already been up and sitting in his chair, much longer than he was currently allowed.

"I will," Artie assured her with a grin, then gently tugged on her hands, and helped her to her feet, "just as soon as Kurt gets here." That proved to be sooner than expected, and half a beat later, the doorbell was chiming. Quinn managed to shoot Artie a playful smirk, before following him into the foyer.

As they approached the door, they could hear Alicia greeting Kurt. He exchanged a polite greeting with Mrs. Abrams, then looked beyond her, and gasped. "Wow Miss Fabray, the sight of you in that dress almost makes me want to go straight," Kurt teased, blushing as he gave Mrs. Abrams a slightly self-conscious smile when he noticed Abbey pop her head up and look in their direction, before adding a playful, "Almost."

Quinn giggled and colored in much the same manner. "Thank you Kurt," she replied, giving her friend a welcoming hug.

"How's the knee, Artie?" Kurt asked casually over Quinn's shoulder.

"It's getting there," he replied, barely able to finish his thought when a blur on the stairs got Alicia's attention.

"Andy honey, where are you going?" she called out curiously.

"Harry's," the boy answered dismissively, and continued his descent.

"Dressed like that?" Alicia returned skeptically.

Andy stopped at the bottom, frowning slightly. "I'm riding with him to the dance."

"You're going to Homecoming?"

Andy's eyes shot up in surprise, but not as surprised as Artie was, when he realized he'd just said that out loud. Alicia however, just looked plain confused. "I've heard of friends going stag to prom, but Homecoming is usually a dance you attend with a date..."

"I have a date, Mom," Andy interjected, blowing out a sigh of annoyance in the process.

"Who, Harry?" Artie teased his brother, then thought about how insensitive that may have sounded in front of Kurt, and flashed his friend an apologetic smile.

Kurt smirked back, eyes dancing with amusement, where Andy's were glaring daggers at Artie. "Her name is Kelsey," the younger Abrams said, turning to his mother, "she a cheerleader..."

"Petite, blond?" Quinn cut in and asked, to which Andy replied with a nod. "She's cute," she added, with a smile.

While Andy acknowledged the compliment with a small grin, Alicia's chest grew heavy and she frowned. "Honey, I had no idea you were interested in a girl..."

"It's no big deal, Mom," he cut in, trying to dismiss any concern of hers, with a shake if his head. "We've only been together a few weeks..."

"Wait...you two are dating?" she gasped out in shock. It wasn't as if she was all that surprised that her son was in a relationship. He was handsome, popular, and had 'dated' before, having two different 'girlfriends' in junior high...one the summer after seventh grade, and the other, toward the middle of eighth. "Andy, why didn't you tell us you had a girlfriend?"

He saw the sadness etched in her expression, heard the hurt in her voice, but all he could do was make himself shrug and avoid looking at anything but the floor. "Am I at least going to meet her?" Alicia added pleadingly.

"Sure Mom...soon," Andy answered, quick to appease her, but even more to distance himself from the awkwardness of the situation, "but after I get to Harry's..."

"I can drive you," she offered, her tone hopeful, if not a little desperate. "I'm sure Kelly wouldn't mind if I take on the carpooling duties for once, that way I get to meet this...Kelsey...and..."

"Okay...whatever...," Andy acquiesced, flashing his Mom a forced smile, before pulling his phone from his pants pocket, and heading for the kitchen.

"Sorry guys," Alicia intoned apologetically to the other group huddled in the foyer, "I hope you don't mind me running out like this."

"It's fine Mom," Artie assured her with a grin.

Alicia smiled back as she reached for her purse, then realized, "I should probably take Caroline with me..."

"No Mommy, you can't," Abbey called pleadingly from her place in the living room. "She needs to stay with me and Artie," the little girl stated breathlessly, panting from her short but furious run, "We're watching The Lion King and Little Mermaid for tonight's movie marathon. It'll be Caroline's first time." Eyes darting up between Quinn and Kurt, Abbey's smile intensified, "Artie says it's a good idea to start her early."

The small chuckle that escaped Alicia, mingled with the ones already coming from both Kurt and Quinn...causing Artie to lower his gaze to his lap, and blush.

"If it were me, I probably would have started her on repeats of America's Top Model," Kurt quipped, smirking playfully when Artie lifted his eyes to meet his. "Artie my friend," he continued, acknowledging said peer, exclusively, "I do believe your choices are much more age appropriate."

"So we're good?" Alicia asked, as soon as the second round of laughter dissipated. She waited for a quick consensual nod from both Artie and Quinn, then added, "I shouldn't be very long," before finally heading out.

"Are you sure about this Artie?" Quinn queried, only mildly concerned, but grasping for any reason to stall. "I'm sure we can wait a bit longer if..."

"Actually Quinn...," Kurt interjected regretfully, "We should probably leave now if we're going to get to Mercedes for pictures..."

Reluctantly, she nodded. Artie could sense her internal conflict, so he did what he knew would ease her mind. He grinned. "And I have a date with a couch, Walt Disney, and two of my most favorite girls."

"And ice cream sundaes," Abbey made sure to mention.

"And ice cream sundaes," Artie repeated, beaming from ear to ear as he took hold of Quinn's hand...his eyes urging her to go.

Quinn swallowed back her tears, squeezed his hand and nodded. Leaning forward, she captured his lips, letting the kiss linger a little more than was actually necessary. "I love you," she whispered in his ear.

"I love you too," he returned, smiling encouragingly, until she was out the door.

...

When the front door opened at 9:48pm, Artie half expected Andy to stomp in, grumbling under his breath about how much his night had sucked.

But the footsteps were too soft.

Head twisted over his shoulder, he tried to keep his voice hushed with a slumbering Caroline nestled in the crook of his left elbow, and a dozing Abbey curled against his right side. "Hey, what are you doing home so early?"

"The dance is over," she answered casually, as she slipped out of her shoes. Artie looked at her skeptically and frowned. Quinn gave him a small shrug and innocent grin in return. "At least it was for me."

"Quinn?"

"Seriously Artie. I showed up, got my crown, had one last dance with my date, and left," she stated in her defense, circling around the couch to sit on the coffee table in front of him.

He still didn't look convinced, but before he could say anything to the contrary, Abbey stirred awake. "Hey Quinn, you're home," she greeted thickly and rubbed her eyes.

"That seems to be the consensus," Quinn quipped playfully, even if the joke went right over the sleepy girl's head, and smirked pointedly at Artie.

"Did you win?" Abbey asked next, and began to sit up...though she never left the protective cocoon of her brother's arm.

Quinn chuckled. "I did," she replied, smiling as she pulled the sparkling tiara out of her purse for proof.

"Wow," Abbey gasped, now fully awake. Staring at the crown, she grinned from ear to ear, "It's so pretty."

Glancing down, Quinn turned the bauble around in her hands. "It really is beautiful," she couldn't help but agree. "It's a shame it's just going to end up going to waste." At Abbey's incredulous glare, Quinn smirked. "I mean, it's just going to end up collecting dust on my dresser. I can't wear it to school, or cheer leading practice, or dance class, ...and if I did wear it, Caroline would just pull it right off of my head, and use it as a teether. It deserves to go to someone who would treasure it, they way it should be treasured."

There was a pause, and Quinn took the time to watch Abbey's expression soften from deep contemplation, to a sort of understanding, but not quite... "I'd like you to have it, Abbey."

"W-wha...?" the little girl stammered, eyes darting wildly from her brother, to his girlfriend. Quinn smiled and nodded, "Really?" she asked, just to be sure, and looked over at Artie for permission. But he was staring at Quinn too.

"Of course," she replied, giggling. "I know you'll wear it, take care of it, and appreciate it."

"Oh I will," Abbey replied, practically squealing with delight, as Quinn leaned forward to place the tiara on her head.

"There you go Princess Abbigayle," she announced, beaming with her own sense of joy at seeing how excited Abbey was getting. "And I have the authority to do that," Quinn added, just a half a beat later, "I'm Queen, you know."

"Thank you so much Quinn," Abbey shrieked, throwing her arms around the bigger girl.

Artie threw a very meaningful glance his girlfriend's way. "You look beautiful, Squirt," he stated, the softness and sincerity of his statement was enough to break through the embrace. "Just like the princess that you are," he added, playfully poking her in the stomach with his finger.

"I love you, Artie" Abbey exclaimed, lunging at him this time. Never one to hold back on showing her affection, the little girl turned back around. "I love you too, Quinn," she stated, giving out another short hug before she straightened, eyes wide, lips drawn up, and fingers skimming the crown atop her head. "I have to go show Mommy and Daddy."

Artie watched with a grin as his sister practically sprinted from the room. "You didn't have to do that," he said, turning back to face Quinn.

"I know, but I wanted to," she replied casually. "I honestly have no use for it, and Caroline is way too young..."

"But it belongs to Caroline," he interjected, briefly stealing a loving glance at the baby cradled in his arm.

"And it will be hers someday," Quinn assured him, smirking pointedly, "...like when Abbey's in high school and has a collection of her own." That comment made him grin. "I wanted her to have it Artie," she continued, her hazel eyes dancing brightly. "Did you see how excited she was?"

Artie's smile reflexively widened, and he reached out for her hand. "Thank you," he muttered softly.

Quinn laced her fingers with his. She stood, bent at the waist, and placed a soft kiss to his lips. "Thank you," she parroted, though the reason behind her declaration wasn't quite as clear...until she gently scooped her daughter from his arms. "I appreciate everything you've done for me tonight."

Before he could even blush with embarrassment over the statement, Quinn notice Artie shift his position, and for a split second, wondered just how long he'd been sitting like that.

"She was an absolute angel as always," he intoned dismissively, trying so hard to avoid accepting the compliment he didn't think he was worthy of, that he completely missed her obvious concern.

Quinn smiled at him and gently squeezed his hand, before sitting on the couch next to him. "Artie...," she called after tasting the sweet evidence on her lips, "...why is her cheek sticky?"

His expression immediately turned to that of a five year old, who'd just been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. It took all the self control for Quinn not to bust out laughing. "I may have let her taste some of my ice cream," he confessed guardedly, and at the slight quick of Quinn's brow, immediately began to explain. "I was only a little bit, and just vanilla...and it's not like she's hasn't already had dairy...she's been eating that baby yogurt for weeks now..."

"And just how old was Abbey when you first gave her a taste of your ice cream?" Her voice was light and teasing, if not also playfully accusatory.

Caught.

Artie blushed and momentarily lowered his gaze. "A little over two months," he muttered, almost under his breath. He lifted his eyes to see Quinn's amused expression and cracked a smile. "It was the fourth of July and it was hot. My ice cream was starting to melt, and she was looking at me with those great big blue eyes..." He let out a sigh of resignation, and seeing her resolve was about to dissolve into laughter, admitted, "I've never been very good at saying no to her..."

Quinn giggled, staring into those same big blue orbs, as she leaned in to capture his lips once again. "I know the feeling."