Disenchanted
So I kind of wanted to finish before NaNoWriMo hope I did it justice…also not a medical profession just going with soap logic that love cures cancer (or inoperable spine injuries as the case may be) song used Dream a Little Dream (because seriously who didn't see that coming!)
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Mercedes and Puck had since left once she exited the room. According to Kurt they were apparently going on a food run with Mr. Abrams because Artie was given the go ahead that he thankfully didn't need to rely on hospital food.
Tina smiled. Artie was sure to like that as he was never the fan of green Jell-O and stale toast.
"So," Kurt said after his explanation as to why their friends and Mr. Abrams were MIA, "did you tell him yet?"
"You mean did I tell Artie that I love him and that I want to be his girlfriend."
Kurt nodded as a smile and a matching nod occurred from the young Asian girl.
"Yep," she said.
"Finally!"
Running a hand through his hair Tina began to observe her friend. It was clear the wheels in her companion's well-coifed head were turning.
"God Kurt please don't tell me your already planning our wedding."
"Tina, Tina, Tina," he said letting out a simply laugh before she flashed him a stone cold stare.
"I was thinking short term like the Spring Formal but now that you mention it…."
Tina simply rolled her eyes as she watched a familiar figure turn to make her way into the waiting area.
Tina's eyes locked with that of the aged woman causing Kurt to roll his eyes, a chill falling down the young man's spine as he'd never seen this person before but her presence definitely seemed to hold some mysterious significance however as the woman looked him in the eyes he was suddenly compelled to excuse himself.
Tina said her goodbyes to her friend and soon let her attention turn to Madame Larue.
"Madam Larue, you're here."
"Yes my child I'm here."
"But why…the Carnival left weeks ago."
"I don't travel with the carnival…I go where the winds of fate take me."
Tina just nodded. Who was she to argue with this woman lest she get on her bad side and get a curse put upon her.
She shuddered as images of her stutter returning for real this time or her hair growing uncontrollably never to stop until she died entered her head before the woman spoke up again.
"These past few weeks have lead you to an epiphany…yes…"
Pausing she recalled the night at the carnival, the older women sensing the fact that she was torn between Mike and Artie. Did she know about her brief relationship with Mike Chang? About how she just declared her love to Artie?
"I told you that he'd be the one you least expected and you never expected it to be Artie because he was under your nose as your best friend the whole time."
Tina just nodded.
"Speaking of Artie…."
"Fate works in mysterious ways," was all she said with a smile as the young mans mother and doctor vacated the room.
"Tina, if you want to sit with him again," Mrs. Abrams said.
"Actually," Madam Larue said, "if you don't mind might I see the patient."
"Who is she?' the concerned mother asked looking at her sons friend with a curious gaze.
Before Tina could explain however Madam Larue held out her hand.
"I'm Evelyn Larue, I do community volunteer work at McKinley and I heard about Artie's accident."
Tina wondered if the gypsy was actually convincing or if she glamoured Mrs. Abrams as the younger looking of the two women nodded while the older woman entered the hospital room.
"Tina?" Artie spoke from his bed seconds later before realizing who stood before him.
"You! You did this to me."
Madam Larue smiled.
Yes, yes she did do THIS to the young man and she smiled letting out a little laugh.
"I told you I would give you a second chance."
"But why like this….why take it away just when…. Just when…."
"When you finally got he girl."
"You know about that?"
"I know all," the gypsy said with a smile motioning for the seat that sat by his bedside.
"May I?"
Artie nodded and watched as the older woman took a seat.
"Do you remember what else I told you that night?"
Artie paused thinking back to the night that he wheeled into the tent upon Tina's insistence.
"You told me fate works in mysterious ways and everything is not as it seems."
The gypsy nodded.
It was then that everything clicked in Artie's head.
"You knew all along didn't you…. That Tina would go out with Mike Chang, that I'd briefly and inexplicably date Britney..."
"That Tina would ultimately choose you…yes. I knew from the second I turned over the lovers card that you two were fated."
"Then why didn't you say so in the first place."
A wicked smile crossed her lips.
"Because, what fun would that be."
She paused.
"Tina, could you come in her child."
From outside the room Tina heard her name being called and instantly entered the room, wondering what the old woman and her friend were talking about.
"From the moment I laid eyes on you two I knew there was something about you. It was fate that you two met freshman year, fate you'd sign up for glee club and become closer friends, fate] that Tina would come out when she did about her stutter before you got too serious…every inch of your journey happened for a reason and that reason is that you were meant to be here…now…telling each other I love yours."
At this she smiled, standing up and heading for the door.
"Wait," Artie said causing her to turn around, purple robes flowing with her motion, "does this mean it was fate that I was in my wheelchair from the beginning? That this…me…walking the past month or so was simply a means to an end to teach me some cosmic lesion."
A silence filled the room as the gypsy winked.
"Everything happens for a reason," she once again replied before heading out of the room back to whatever mysterious please she came from.
Tina's dark eyes met with Artie's blue orbs in that moment as she brushed a piece of hair out of his eyes.
"Do you mind?" she asked as he shook her head causing her to take a seat in the chair Madame Larue just vacated, but not before sliding it closer to the foot of his bed.
Reaching out she gently rested a black manicured hand on one of his feet, tracing a finger along his toes.
"That tickles T," he said before his brain could even process what was going on. Tina was touching his feet and he could feel it. He flashed a wide smile at Tina who flashed one back at him before standing up and making her way back to the head of the bed to bend over and give him a kiss….
Things were going to be ok.
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Artie had been released from the hospital later that night having only incurred a few cuts, scrapes, and a mild concussion. He was lucky people thought but he and Tina knew the truth and simply smiled at one another whenever the events of the accident came up.
Soon Regionals rolled around and after much debating on a set list one song won out unanimously with the twelve members of New Directions and their instructor:
Stars shining bright above you
Night breezes seem to whisper I love you
Birds singin in the sycamore trees
Dream a little dream of me
He thought back to that time an eternity ago.
When Mr. Schue was distracted with Bryan Ryan…when Tina decided they should dance together because that was his dream…how he tried to get up on those crutches knowing damn well what would happen…dreaming that he could walk and dance (before Madame Larue made it a reality) seeing Tina in Mike's arms….all a distant memory and yet at the same time it all made this performance even more powerful.
Say nighty night and kiss me
Just hold me tight and tell me you'll miss me
While I'm alone and blue as can be
Dream a little dream of me
Tina smiled at him as she flew into his arms like she was lighter then air and they began their dance routine while he continued to belt out the standard with full on conviction.
When they were done singing the couple was met with a round of applause before going into the final group number.
Waiting for the judges results Tina and Artie held each others hand, not caring if they lost the competition and glee club by extension or if they placed and were Nationals bound. All that mattered in the moment was that they were together and that for the most part anyway they would live Happily Ever After…
The End
Yes with a title like Disenchanted that end was totes cliché… I hope it didn't get all cop-outy as this end was kind of planed from the onset…
Thanks to all for reading, reviewing, alerting and all that and hopefully come December I'll be back with another glee multi chapter/non crossover piece…