Artie

The following Saturday was July 4th, which entirely let Artie off the hook, in terms of planning some great date night in Columbus. He learned that there was already a family date in the works, which included Teresa, Miguel, Jessa, Isaac, Santana and Artie. After his stunningly smooth proposition, Artie received a text from Isaac later that night, on Friday, after he and Jessa had already gone home.

Major props to you dude, the older guy had written. If I didn't know better I would think you'd been doing that all your life

Artie had still been too upset by what he'd learned about Santana's past that night to focus on anything else. Dude I had no idea about what she's been through that's so awful

Remember how I told you there was a lot you didn't know? That's what I meant

The next day, Santana worked a short shift and was thankfully off in plenty of time to get ready for the family outing.

Artie had to get ready, too. He had done a little online shopping while he'd been home, and he now had some new clothes for summer that sort of reminded him of something Sam or Mike would wear. He literally had not tried to look even remotely stylish for many years now. If he was completely honest, it was something of a defense mechanism. He'd been completely lying himself when once he told Tina "I'd never try to push anyone away because being in a chair does that for you." Being in a chair and dressing like you're eighty does that, too. His mom had accidentally started the problem by buying him the awful pleated jeans, because they looked like they'd be easier to pull on and off. In actuality, with the exception of the spandex ones he'd worn for their KISS number, Artie could work his way into just about any pair of pants, after years of practice. Artie, who had been about nine when his mother brought home the grandpa jeans for him, had asked to go shopping with her when the time came to pick out shirts. He'd chosen several plain white button down shirts, belts and suspenders on that trip, deciding bitterly that if everyone already thought he was a nerd, well, he'd just give them the biggest nerd they'd ever seen. It had worked. It was who he had been ever since then, and he really stopped giving his image a second thought until The Summer of Independence.

Artie could cook. Artie would be driving soon. And Artie had just asked out a senior who happened to be a cheerleader, too. If anyone was going to take him seriously now, it was up to him to show them how. Artie pulled tags off the brand new clothes, a pair of trendy cargo shorts and a collarless striped polo shirt with blue and navy stripes that brought out his eyes. He already owned a pair of converse shoes, so he added those with low socks that didn't show. Isaac had a full length mirror that was right at the height Artie needed to survey his new look. Other than not liking his pencil-thin calves very much, he had to admit, he liked his overall appearance. Well, almost. He rolled forward and eyed his hair. He really needed a trim. Normally, his mom would do it in the usual bowl-style but something told him he should consider professional help here. Isaac had been talking about getting a haircut soon, maybe he wasn't busy...

Forty-five minutes later, Isaac showed up at the house to pick up Artie. Only, instead of the Hummer, he pulled up in a black Kia Sorento with an accessible rear-entry ramp for the chair(s). As Artie rolled right into the back, Isaac fixed him with a tense expression, for he'd clearly hated trading in his baby. Artie sang a little funeral dirge in response.

"It's so depressing," Isaac grumbled. "But as you can see, this wheelchair Dad van will hold two car seats. I can probably even set it in my lap and roll right on in and load one baby at a time, by myself, if I had to..." Isaac sounded as though he was still trying to justify this purchase that he didn't want to make to himself.

Artie figured Isaac chose black because he was still mourning his loss. "Well, just try to cheer up and imagine those two car seats right now, holding your two little babies..." Artie cocked his head to the side, curiously. "Well? Aren't you cheered up?"

"Somewhere between cheered up and on the verge of a nervous breakdown," Isaac quipped. It was then that he took in Artie's appearance. He let out a low whistle. "Now, seriously, you're going to tell me you knew how to dress your age all this time and just didn't want anyone to know?" As Artie shrugged, Isaac, who knew him much too well added, "Buddy, I gotta say, that is one weird defense mechanism."

They drove to a place that, Isaac reported, specialized in men's hair cuts and neck massages from the attractive women who'd be cutting their hair. Two guys entering in wheelchairs drew more than the usual amount of stares. "Maybe they'll give us a discount," Isaac whispered, causing Artie to grin from ear to ear. He always enjoyed Ike's sense of humor about these things.

"My friend here needs to look nice for a date tonight," said Isaac. And as for Ike, who usually wore his hair kind of longish and shaggy, he reported that he planned to hack it off, with Jessa's approval, given that it was just too hot out for this particular coif.

"Who's the lucky girl?" asked the stylist, as she first showed Artie to her chair, where he parked next to it rather than trying to climb in, of course. This was no problem for the stylist, who simply put a cloak around him and got right to work.

"A senior and head cheerleader," Isaac supplied for him, as he parked in front of the mirror beside Artie.

Artie felt himself blush. This had just happened and he didn't know if he should even be thinking of this as a date-date yet. "I dunno if she's head cheerleader, Ike," was all he said.

His stylist sighed. "I wish I was going out tonight," she said. Isaac ever so subtly made sure that his hand, complete with the wedding ring that he'd already gotten and taken upon himself to wear on his left hand, was visible. Artie had to stifle a laugh.

"Yeah, it's the fourth," Artie added, lamely. "Fireworks."

"Fireworks and proposals," added Isaac. "Not me, I'm already engaged, with twins on the way. Not Artie here, either, he's in high school. My mom's boyfriend is probably going to pop the question tonight."

Artie had to keep his head still, for she was already hard at work on his hair. He looked at Isaac in the mirror. "Really, how'd you know?"

"Miguel asked me first," he said. "This morning. I told him I'd be happy to have him as my stepfather, that he's always been like a dad to me."

"That's so sweet," commented the stylist working on Isaac. "I just love when old people get married."

The family date night, as it turned out, was also a church gathering. The congregation of St Joseph Cathedral had rented out a large group of park pavilions for the firework show that night. Food trucks were everywhere, and they got to choose between a wide variety of options for dinner and dessert. Finally, there was ample space available to spread out picnic blankets or set out camping chairs in the field.

At the picnic pavilion, Jessa practically inhaled the pulled pork sliders that Isaac brought back for her. "These are amazing," she said, showing no signs of her all-day sickness that she'd battled for the first several weeks. Isaac offered her the sliders he'd bought for himself and went back for more.

"Now, that's a good man," Santana added, approvingly, to Jessa's emphatic nod.

"Such a good man," she added, as Isaac pushed his away across the grass. Artie usually hated pushing himself over grass and bumpy terrain, but he'd noticed with the work he'd been putting in at the gym, sometimes with Santana or Isaac and sometimes by himself, it was actually getting easier. Isaac was right; he'd needed to do this for a long time. Just one more thing he didn't need anyone for.

"Jessa," said Santana, starting up a conversation with the other girl. "You found a house yesterday, got Ike a new van, what's next? What can we help with?"

"We're gonna need some help with the move," Jessa said, subtly licking the barbecue sauce off her fingers. "Isaac wants to hire someone, but I can't help wanting to cut corners. It's just we don't know many guys who could—"

"What about Carlos and Marcos?" Santana asked, and Artie remembered those were the names of her older brothers and Ike's friends. Good question, he wondered. Why wouldn't Ike use them?

It looked like it took Jessa a moment, "Oh, right, your brothers..." she paused, as though finding the right words. "I think I met Marcos once. Ike, um, he just doesn't see them much anymore. I don't know when the last time was."

"What?" Santana's screech that followed echoed Artie's thoughts exactly. Although, if the guys hadn't seen each other in awhile (and that would seem to be the case, especially if Jessa hadn't even met Carlos), all this would soon change, for they were going to be stepbrothers.

Jessa looked over her shoulder, for it seemed like she didn't want Isaac to overhear the next part. "People do grow apart," she said. "I know they were best friends when you guys were neighbors..."

"And then you moved, right?" Artie supplied, trying to help.

But Santana shook her head. "Only mom and me," she said. "Carlos was about to graduate, so he stayed back with Dad. Marcos was already living on his own here in Columbus and working by then. They both still live in Columbus..." she trailed off, and then turned just in time to see Isaac returning with his sliders in his lap. "Ike! Why is it Jessa tells me you don't see my brothers anymore?"

Isaac appeared dumbstruck by the question. He faltered for a moment, then shrugged. "People grow apart when they get older, Santana," he explained. "Sometimes life gets really busy, sometimes..."

He shot Artie a meaningful look. Artie caught his gaze and his head moved in an almost imperceptible nod. It wasn't something either of them talked about openly with others, not even with the people who knew them best. Isaac didn't have to finish the sentence, for Artie knew the rest. Sometimes hanging out with the guy in the wheelchair just gets old.

"Hey, it's getting dark," Artie interjected, as eager as Isaac was for a subject change. And besides, it was. They needed to get ready for the fireworks. And, with any luck, they'd also get a front row seat to Miguel's big proposal, the one that only Artie and Isaac knew about.

Santana and Artie had their own blanket under a big patch of sky, where they both stretched out on their backs, to wait on the show. Artie propped up on his elbows and looked around, making sure that could still have a good view of Teresa and Miguel.

"What are you looking at?" Santana wanted to know, also propping up on her elbows and following his gaze. "Why are you staring at my mom and Miguel like that?" She gasped, though, as if she had just answered her own question. Her eyes flashed towards Artie. "Is he going to...?"

"Ike told me earlier," Artie said, dropping his voice low. He'd made up his mind to tell Santana, so she wouldn't miss it because she wasn't watching. "He's using what was probably Ike's Plan A proposal."

Santana snorted. "Well, I can guarantee Ike's Plan A wasn't showing her the picture of the ring on his phone," she said. "But that's what you do when you've got surprise twins on the way."

"I'm sure he'll do it during the fireworks," said Artie. "Maybe we can take turns watching them so we don't miss either show."

"So, I can finally call Ike my stepbrother..." Santana trailed off, a smile on her face. It was quickly replaced, however, by a rather cross expression. "I need to call up my two actual stupid brothers and let them know their new stepbrother needs some help moving out."

"No, don't!" Artie's outburst was a little louder and more forceful than he meant it to be. "I mean, uh... I'm sure Ike would like to work all that out for himself, you know? I wouldn't get involved."

"Artie, he's gonna pay for movers when my two able-bodied brothers just live—" Santana cut herself just short when she realized what she said. "Sorry, I wasn't thinking, that's not... what I meant."

"It's okay, really," said Artie, and he was glad that the fireworks show was starting just then, because this conversation was not exactly what he'd pictured for their "date." As it turned out, however, watching the fireworks show together and then watching Santana's father propose to Ike's mother was exactly what he needed to set the tone for the rest of the evening. Teresa had jumped up and screamed, then run to each couple on their blankets to exchange hugs and show off her rock. She ran back to Miguel and the two shared a long, steamy kiss. By then, Artie and Santana were smiling ear to ear.

As the fireworks continued, in huge, loud bursts that filled the sky above them with color, Santana nestled her head against his shoulder. He clasped her hand in his and intertwined their fingers. And for the first time, he didn't feel like he was Artie the Nerd and she was Santana the Cheerleader. For the first time, he started to believe that they could actually, shockingly, publicly be a thing.

Author's Note: Credit to Kitty Wilde for that last line. This is AU, remember? So, sorry to any Artie/Kitty fans. (I like them, too.)