Love Will Find Away
So, the next few chapters are going to be gooood well at least I hope they are. Lots of Ark and Msquared …. That's all I'll give you….
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
Sitting in a small coffee shop the following morning Kristina let out a sigh wondering if it was all some kind of dream. Did Artie Abrams literally WALK back into her life the previous afternoon? And what more…. did she actually plan to go out on a date with him? It was completely and utterly surreal.
Thankfully Blaine understood the evening before when, before he left to spend some time with his parents back in Ohio she talked to him all about the whole Artie situation and he was completely and utterly understanding about the matter.
God for being a fake boyfriend Blaine Anderson was all kinds of perfect.
Taking a sip of the latte that sat in front of her a voice soon filled the air causing her to snap out of thought and back into reality.
"Kristina?" Mikes caring voice rang out as he flashed her a half smile, "is everything alright?"
Swallowing the small lump that formed in her thought she nodded wondering if she should tell Mike about her recent reconciliation, after all Mike Chang was the most non judgmental non family member she knew.
"Oh my god it's Blaine isn't it? Did he dump you? Because if he did I understand why you don't want to go engagement ring shopping with me."
"It's not Blaine…"
"Is it Nik then? We don't have the black card after all."
Shaking her head Kristina reached into her bag and pulled out the card with a smile.
"It's nothing, it's just…I didn't get much sleep last night that's all."
Mike just nodded needing no further explanation, as he looked her over once more.
"So, then we're ok."
Kristina simply nodded as Mike, not needing to get a caffeine fix of his own, made his way toward the curb to hale a cab thus beginning what was sure to be a highly eventful day.
X-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
Lying in the bed of the small hotel that he spent the night at after the festival Artie reached over toward his bare arm and gave it a good hard pinch before wincing in pain.
No, this time it wasn't some vivid dream that had played out in his mind like some romantic comedy it was all really real. He'd finally found his beloved Kristina again and he was going out with her that evening, that was…if only he could figure out what he wanted to do with her.
Picking up a pamphlet titled 'so you want to woo your ex girlfriend with a night on the town'.
Rolling his eyes he thought back to the thoroughly TMI pieces of glossy paper that had say upon the shelves of Miss Pillsbury's office and began to wonder who the hell made a living coming up with these…they must have been rich that was for darn sure.
He was about to open up the guide to see what it may of suggested for him and Kristina to embark on that evening when the buzzing of his cell phone distracted him.
Looking at the caller ID he simply shook his head.
"So, checking up on me to make sure that I didn't leave her….again."
A laugh rang in Artie's ear before an all to familiar voice spoke.
"You wouldn't abandon her," Puck said, "cause if you did you know I'd kill you."
"Yea, I know."
"So then dude, did you figure out the next step, I mean you asked her out yesterday…which by the way she so didn't bring it up to anyone last night that I know of."
"I think I'm just going to wing it."
"Like hell you are, where are you staying…. let me come over….we can talk logistics I can call my contacts and you and Kristina will have the perfect second first date."
"Since when did the great Noah Puckerman have 'contacts' and more importantly when did he become a romantic sap."
"You know, deep down underneath my bad ass exterior I think Iv always been a romantic… but tell anyone your dead."
"My lips are sealed."
A silent moment filled the line before Puck spoke once more.
"So, meeting, where are you staying cause there is this coffee shop just outside of the park where we can meet and…."
Artie paused wondering if he should interject and tell Puck not to meet him as to keep the secret of his functioning legs one between him, Kristina, and well Miss Pillsbury at least for now.
"And as much as talking to you face to face would probably be for the best,"Artie said, "I think I need to stay here for the moment, get all my affairs in order."
"Affairs? Your not seeing someone else on the side are you because…."
"Wrong choice of words, what I meant to say is I'm trying to get organized for the evening and it's easier to do so from one place."
"Gotcha, so then should I come to the hotel, I mean I'm sure it has a bar…maybe we could get a few drinks?"
"And risk me meeting Kristina drunk? I thought you weren't trying to sabotage me?"
"Touché."
"Anyway Puck, I'm thinking something simple… a nice dinner, maybe some dancing."
"Dancing? But…."
From his end Puck was about to bring up the chair before thinking back to the beautiful way his two friends moved both in glee performances and school formals alike.
"But…" Artie asked.
"Never mind…. Anyway I know a great place and I'm sure I can manage to get the two of you a reservation tonight on short notice…. Is Italian ok with you."
A smile crossed Artie's lips from his end thinking of the many times Kristina and him ate at Breadsticks mixed with all the times they ate her home cooked cuisine.
"Italian's perfect," he said as Puck chatted for a bit more before telling him he'd call back later with details.
Hanging up his cell Artie let out another long-winded sigh as he counted down the hours until he could make the dream of a perfect evening with Kristina Davis a reality.
X-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
As Mike entered the shop he instantly felt overwhelmed and his eyes gazed over to Kristina.
"Maybe I should just hold off on the proposal for now and wait for my great grandma's ring instead."
"Then what? You take her to Breadsticks or some Providence Red Lobster? Not that Mercedes won't say yes either way…."
Mike just nodded thinking the look on his soon to be fiancé's face and the lasting memory would be worth all this stress.
"May I help you?" a young doey-eyed woman named Marie said with a bright smile on her face.
Kristina eyed Mike who simply smiled.
"I'm here to pick out an engagement ring."
Marie smiled and looked over to Kristina.
"Well, your fiancé here is a lucky girl."
Looking at one another Kristina and Mike broke into a bout of laughter.
"You think she…" Mike began looking from Marie to Kristina then back to Marie,
"….no…she's my gal Friday not my fiancé."
Marie just nodded.
"I see, so then…. I'm sure you two would like to start looking at rings right."
They both nodded as Marie lead them over to one of the jewelry display cases where Mike's eyes instantly fell upon a ring in which he instantly deemed was the one. This was up until Marie told him of the $24,000 price tag causing Mike's heart to stop, well metaphorically speaking that is.
Marie looked at the young man and could easily read his face.
"I see that's out of your price range," she said causing Mike to nod while he began to shift his eyesight to another ring which he hoped was less then the first.
"What about this one?" he asked, "How much does that go for?"
Marie smiled which to Mike seemed like a good sign until her words filled his ears.
"It's reasonably less then the last one at $11,500."
Mike swallowed.
Eleven Thousand for just an engagement ring!
"Can I conifer with my friend for a moment Marie."
The older woman nodded while Mike took Kristina to the side.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, nothing is wrong…. Its just do you think perhaps they'll let me buy a gift box and then we can go over to Macy's for a ring."
Kristina shook her head.
"No, we're here…we are getting a ring and besides it's not like your paying for it with your own money."
"Not entirely, I mean I do plan on paying Nik back some you know."
Kristina just nodded before they rejoined Marie.
"What about this one, Kristina said pointing to a ring, "this is their signature ring."
"An excellent selection," Marie said before her lips curled into a frown.
"How Much."
"Well it's $9,200, however if that's still not in your price range we do have this one that's $4,250."
Mikes eyes moved between the signature ring and the much much cheaper one that stood before his eyes. He was sure that Mercedes would love either ring however it was Kristina's voice that spoke.
"He'll take the signature," she said with a smile as Mike rolled his eyes clearly wanting to pick out the ring that was almost five thousand cheaper.
"An excellent choice," Marie said with a smile, "now if you can tell me her ring size we can get started."
Mike nodded and walked off with Marie while Kristina's gaze looked around the showroom as she let out a sigh.
Maybe it was the stores magic, or perhaps it was the events that happened at Rachel's show and would continue to happen this evening, which managed to launch her mind into a vivid daydream.
She was in some kind of garden, perhaps the one at the Quartermaine Mansion or perhaps another lavish rose garden. It was springtime judging by the weather and she was wearing a light sundress that was blowing in the breeze. It was then that he 'wheeled' outside in front of her and motioned for her to take a seat on his lap.
"Kristina," Artie's sweet voice said, "ever since I first laid eyes on you as you walked into the cafeteria Sophomore year I knew that you were something special."
He reached up to gently stroke her hair, a huge smile on his lips as he moved his hand from her head to his pocket pulling out a simple black velvet box.
"I know you'll forgive me for not being able to properly get down on one knee but…. Kristina Corinthos-Davis… Hummel…. Would you do me the honor of adding Abrams to your list of surnames and be my wife."
Nodding her head in her daydream the sound of buzzing in reality snapped her out of her fantasy world.
Looking at the caller ID she smile upon seeing it was in fact Artie calling her.
"Hello," she said.
"So, you told me to call with details about our date tonight."
"I did."
"Well, I've made reservations for seven at…."
"So, should I meet you there?"
"That sounds like a plan, so I'll see you then."
"See you."
Hanging up Kristina noticed Mike now standing behind her.
"And just who are you seeing? I mean I thought you said Blaine left to see his parents."
Kristina paused thinking she needed to think fast and quick as to what she was going to say because she just couldn't say she was seeing Artie.
"My dad," she spat out, "he wants to take me for dinner since I'm in New York and all."
Mike simply nodded as they headed out of the store.
"That's cool, so then since you are having Dinner with your dad I guess lunch with me now is out of the question?"
Kristina was about to shake her head and suggest that she and Mike go grab a bite when out of the corner of her eye she spotted a fantastic dress in one of the shop windows and her eyes lit up.
Nik did say to get a little something for herself after all.
"I'm sorry," she said smiling at Mike who simply smiled back.
"It's alright."
"But good luck tonight with the proposal, try not to get tongue tied."
"And good luck with your dad, try not to get shot."
Kristina let out a laugh as the duo soon parted ways and soon Kristina found herself standing inside a small boutique picking up a fantastic dress that was sure to take Artie's breath away, just like old times.
TBC
So I suck at Geography so everything is taken with a dash of creative liberty…. Also so these spoilers for glee cannon are so conflicting they are giving me a massive headache…. Anyway once again thanks for reading, double thanks to Katy (B00kw0rm92) who has been a godsend in letting me bounce ideas off of her…and for that I'm giving a shout out to her Sam-centric AU Perfect