LOVE WILL FIND A WAY….
So, thoughts on Blame It on the Alcohol? How about the Brenda/Sonny train wreck wedding extravaganza Aka clink boom 2.0, I loved the off color comments about Alexis's boobs (that inspired some Puck dialogue in this chapter) and when Kristina told Ethan one day I'll marry you is it bad that my mind was seeing Kevin McHale as opposed to Nathan Parsons….anyway hope you are enjoying this piece…. Reviews feed the muse so leave them constructiveness isn't necessary a simple hi makes me smile.
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There was a light breeze wafting in the Boston air as Kristina sat on the grass still half asleep from the evening before where Artie totally killed it at that bar.
Sucking in a breath of fresh air she pulled out a magazine from the chic messenger bag she was using as a purse.
"Why do we have to be here so early?" she asked fully well knowing what the answer would be as seeing the Pops live on the fourth was probably an item on numerous a bucket list and people had been camping out over night for this.
"Early bird gets the worm," Nate said with a smirk, "I would have thought an Ivy League gal like yourself would have known that."
Letting out a laugh it was then that the other mans eyes caught the brunette's current reading material and looked over to Artie then to Kristina and back again at Artie.
"Anyway was there something I missed last night when I crashed at Cass's?"
Artie and Kristina flashed Nate a pair of confused glances.
"What Nate means is…did Artie pop the question or what?" Cassie asked with a giddy school girl tone to her voice.
It was then that Kristina looked down at her current reading material, one of Mercedes's bridal magazines and let out a laugh.
"This, no…a friend of mine is getting married and I'm the best man….well person and frankly I needed something a bit lighter then LSAT study guides."
"But a bridal magazine?" Nate asked, "What are you trying to do, freak Abrams out? Why can't you read about teen vampires like normal girls?"
"Because teen vampires are so five years ago," Kristina said with a smirk just as Artie reached over to gently push a loose strain of her hair behind her ear.
"Besides Nate, my woman was never one for teen vampires even when they were all the rage, she was more into those cliché Nicholas Sparks novels."
"You remember my favorite non school reading material? I think I just fell in love with you all over again."
Leaning over Kristina gently gave Artie a kiss on the cheek.
"Get a room you two," Nate said as Cassie playfully slapped him.
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Meanwhile while Kristina had been sneaking around with Artie in Boston the festivities in Ohio were heating up as Burt along with Matt were already getting the grills cooking with the insane amount of food that was to be served that day while the other members of the extended New Directions family was scattered in various spots in and out of the home.
One of the groups on the inside of the home was Puck and Sam who at the moment were sitting watching the famous hot dog eating contest on television.
"So that's why Rachel and Milo called and said they couldn't make it," Sam said with a smile as the camera of the pre-show panned to the crowd and an all too familiar pair fell upon the screen.
Puck just nodded a smile pursing his lips.
"I wonder how Giambetti pulled it off…."
"You wonder how Giambetti pulled what off?" Max asked entering from the kitchen where he'd most likely been assisting his very pregnant wife Dianne and the also pregnant Alexis in making desserts and cold side dishes for the barbeque.
"I was talking about Milo, taking Rachel to the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest."
"He probably told her that it's a tradition and seeing as how I was stuck here with my pregnant wife…."
"How can you say oh you're stuck with Dianne, I mean she's attractive….well for a woman her age…. Not to mention what the pregnancy is doing to her and Alexis's…"
"If the next word that comes out of your mouth is boobs Noah I don't care if this is your party or not, I'm kicking you out of the house."
Puck raised his hands in surrender.
"Do you think maybe you can…I don't know…help Burt on the grill?"
Wondering when this bad ass chick sitting beside him managed to get him whipped he nodded picking up the remote and hitting record on the program before glaring at both Sam and Max.
"If either of you spoils this for me…." He said before he left to head outside leaving Sam and Max alone.
"So," Sam said, "speaking of your wife and my mom being pregnant….have you thought about names yet?"
"Well, I know one thing….I don't want to name the baby Maximous Giambetti the third."
"That's a relief," Dianne said entering the room, "seeing as I'm having a girl."
At this statement it seemed that Molly, Kurt and Dani came into the room out of nowhere.
"A girl!" Molly said, "oh how exciting."
Sam know how hyper Molly could get and didn't want Dani listing in cause the next thing that would happen would surely be her little girl asking for a brother or sister and Sam didn't have the heart to explain the harsh realities of her situation at the moment.
As soon as mother and daughter were gone Molly began to smile.
"So a girl you say…well my sister's name obviously is Samantha but what about Carrie or Charlotte or Miranda…."
"Sex In The City….seriously Molly we come up with epic names for out brother to be and that's all you can come up with."
"I didn't know Alexis told you she was having a boy yet," Dianne said.
"She didn't," Alexis said stepping into the room and looking at her two children, "and what are those epic names."
Molly looked to Kurt as to silently ask him to break the news to their mother.
"Well, we were thinking about Holden Clark or Austen Gene," Kurt said as he and Molly looked over to where there mother stood silently though from the smile on her face they assumed that she liked it.
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The afternoon seemed to be creeping by at a snail's pace though the music that had recently began to play from a local radio station proved to be a pleasant distraction even if said music was mostly pop hits from the 70's-90's.
Smiling now, as Artie was singing along to a cheesy 80's tune Kristina suddenly felt her stomach rumble.
"Are you ok?" Artie asked forgetting about the song as he reached over to gently rub his girlfriends back.
"I think I'm getting a bit hungry."
"Well we can't have that," he said with a smirk.
"Are you telling me I'm fat?"
"You're the epitome of perfection, I meant we can't have you hungry because a hungry Kristina is a grumpy Kristina and I love my Kristina when she smiles."
"That was poetry," Cassie said before looking at Nate and slugging him, "why don't you talk like that to me?"
"Um, well," Nate turned to Artie and rolled his eyes, mentally cursing his friend for making him look bad in front of his girlfriend however he was soon cut off by Artie continuing his train of vocal thoughts as he stood up.
"So Kris, I know we've been back together for about a month now but I meant to ask are you still a Vegetarian."
She shrugged her shoulders.
"Yes and no, I mean I'm not as strict as I'd like to be but if you're asking if I'd be fine with a burger then yes, just ketchup and lettuce."
"And a diet coke?"
"Bottled Water…"
Artie nodded as he looked over to Nate thinking it only right that his friend be a gentleman and take his ladies order as well.
"So Cassie, what do you want to eat?"
"Burger, ketchup and mustard and a diet coke please and thanks."
Nate smiled as he glared at Artie as to say HA MY GIRL SAID PLEASE.
Soon the boys walked away leaving the two women alone to share an awkward moment as they had only met just the day before.
"So," Cassie said.
"So." Kristina replied.
"What was Artie like back in High School?"
"Why do you want to know?"
Cassie shrugged.
"Just making conversation and I know that Artie is a subject we are both familiar with."
Kristina nodded excepting this reason as she let out a sigh.
"Artie believe it or not was a total dork in High School."
"No."
Kristina nodded.
"Bowties, suspenders, grandpa sweaters….not the fashionable young man he was today."
Cassie just let out a giggle.
"But what Artie wore on the outside didn't mess with the man he was on the inside. He was a wonderful boyfriend, I mean sure there were times when he'd blow me off for weekend long video game tournaments but most of those times I was going on mall crawls with the girls and my step brother Kurt so I didn't mind. Anyway I was in a bad place when I moved from New York to Ohio my sophomore year of High School and Artie, he saved me…yes I know that sounds as cliché as the novels I read."
"No, no it doesn't," Cassie said as a light smile crossed her face before her eyes drifted to a figure in the distance.
"Cassie…is something wrong?"
Lowing her voice the young woman moved her head toward her companion and began to talk in a lulled whisper.
"No, nothing's wrong other then there is a guy behind you totally checking us out."
"A guy." Kristina said biting her lip and shaking her head at the thought of someone spying on them, "describe how he looks like."
"He's most likely in his 20's or 30's, shaggy hair casual dress…."
Tilting her head ever so slightly Kristina caught a glimpse of Ethan Lovett, a smile crossing her lips.
"Who is he? An ex boyfriend or something?"
"Or something," Kristina said momentarily excusing herself to reconnect with her friend.
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By now the party had moved from all around the Puckerman-McCall property to the back yard.
The first round of food had been served and while some of the members of party were partaking in their first rounds of food others were simply hanging out.
To Kurt he just sat in the center of the yard, relaxing on a lounge chair just out of the rays of the direct sunlight so as not to mar his skin simply people watching. He couldn't believe how some of his so called peers were acting playing various lawn games and horsing around in the pool. They were in their 20's now, in college though they didn't seem to be acting this way. Then his eyes drifted to Dani who was bouncing around right along with her 'aunts and uncles trying to keep up in their games. A smile crossed the young man's lips as he began to think that while there would be a four year age difference at least she'd have someone to play with more her age to play with once his mom and Diane had their children, and Diane was having a girl so that was definitely a plus. Letting out a sigh he pondered getting up and imbibing in some physical activity when he soon looked over to Molly who like him was sitting on a lounge chair minding her own business. Standing up Kurt made his way over to where his younger step sister sat trying to see just what she was up to on her computer.
It was in that moment the smooth acapella sounds of the Dalton Academy Warblers filled the air causing him to roll his eyes.
"Getting a head start in scouting the competition for glee club next year Moll?"
The petite brunette jumped before turning her head to face her step brother.
"First of all how do you know you'll be facing Dalton? We didn't find out our competition until late October, early November and besides, it would make more sense if you looked at last year's performances and not the Warblers circa 2011 and oh my god…you're totally getting off on Blaine singing aren't you."
Molly's face flushed a bright pink at the way he said this too her.
"No."
"I thought we talked about this last night."
"Yes, you said that you wouldn't call what he and Kristina are doing as dating which makes sense seeing as that I have it on good authority that our sister is seeing someone else."
"I do love a good scandal, so who is this mystery mister."
"Now, this stays between us…sibling code and all that."
Kurt nodded.
"Well last month…."
"…Yea."
"When we were in New York…."
"…go on."
"I picked up her cell phone…."
"…spit it out."
"She's back in contact with Artie!"
Feverishly blinking his eyes as if it would affect what he'd just heard, Kurt flashed his sister a deer in headlights look.
"I mean she claimed they were only going to one little dinner as friends to catch up but the way she lit up….it was like something out of…."
"Insert romantic comedy or novel title here?"
Molly let out a little laugh as she nodded.
"Anyway, I've compiled a list of ten steps to woo him….want to hear step one?"
"I have a feeling you'll tell me even if I say no."
Molly just smiled and began to ramble on to Kurt about her master plan of seduction.
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"Ethan," Kristina said with an excited twinge in her voice as she made her way through the crowd and tossed her arms around the familiar young man who she hadn't seen in ages.
"Kristina, I thought that was you," he said with a bright smirk crossing his lips as he looked her over up and down amazed at how much she had grown as a young woman since the last time he'd seen her back in the Summer of 2012 when she's sung at her last regional's. Sure there was the occasional call and e-mail but for two people who had at one time been good friends they had all but seemed to of grown apart.
"You look good," Ethan finally said as they broke out of their embrace giving Kristina a chance to look him over for the first time. He had the same scraggly pirate look that she had long since grown accustomed to which caused a smile to cross her lips.
"What is it love?"
"Some things never change."
"And some things do….I mean look at you, living your dream studying law at Yale."
"Well more like pre-law undergraduate grunt work but yea I'm at Yale what about you."
"Still trying to make an honest buck at a casino that is rarely even open…really sometimes I wonder what if I stayed with Maya and got a job at ELQ."
"You'd die a little bit inside each and every day."
Letting out a laugh Ethan nodded.
"Why did you have to move to Ohio and get it on with that Artie bloke again?"
"Because the fates knew we'd be better off as friends," she spoke flashing her companion a smirk that mirrored his own.
"What about my Tiny Dancer, I know the last time we saw one another she had just split up with that Justin Bieber wannabe."
"You knew who Justin Bieber was?"
"Maxie is a closet fan and talked your grandpa Mike into putting his music in the jukebox at Kelly's…you can only guess what happened next."
A slight chill went up her spine before she remembered what she had just been asked.
"Right, Tina….she's good, she's in Providence studying art, dating Finn long distance."
"Finn? Like Finn Finn? The quarterback who was dating your brother Kurt for a spell, and then dated Blondie."
"That would be the same Finn."
"Wow, I didn't know show choirs were that incestuous."
Kristina let out a laugh when suddenly a voice echoed behind her.
"There you are, Cassie said you went off with another man and I was about to get jealous."
"Your not going to get rid of me that easily," Kristina replied turning around and flashing a sweet smile to Artie.
"So you got yourself a new bloke I see," Ethan said with a smile as he held out his hand to Artie who was trying not to laugh.
"Seriously Ethan, am I that unrecognizable without my wheelchair."
"Artie," Ethan said in shock.
"Yep."
"How…when…don't answer, it's not really important…I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything," Artie said with a smile, "anyway are you here alone because you're more than welcome to join us."
"As fun as joining you and catching up sounds I can't loves, I'm actually here with a date."
"Well then we won't keep you," Kristina said, "but it was great seeing you again."
"Same here, we should do this again on less random circumstances," Ethan replied before making his way to where a pouty looking blonde was sitting.
Once Ethan had walked away Artie looked at Kristina and smiled.
"Tell me that wasn't awkward."
Kristina let out a laugh.
"Yes, it was a bit awkward but better Ethan then someone else right?"
Artie just nodded however he instantly changed the subject by telling her that her lunch was sitting back on their blanket with Nate and Cassie and they'd better get back before it got cold or worse Nate decided to chow down on it.
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The summer sun had finally shown signs of setting and as stomachs became full on grilled goodies and sweet treats, the guests that remained at the Puckerman-McCall festivities began to reconvene back in the yard once more for the impending firework extravaganza that was to be shot off from a local park just a short distance away.
"Why can't we go to the actual park?" Finn asked in a tone that once again sounded like a young man far younger then he really was.
"Because," Tina said from the spot beside him, "it's just as good a view here and it's not as crowded."
"But the crowd is half the fun."
"Go then, I don't mind."
"please tell me there is not trouble in paradise already," Mike said with a pout, "I don't want to spend the evening drying Tina's sweet Asian tears and besides if you break up then there will be tension at my wedding and I don't want to have to disinvite any of you."
"You'd have to set a date and invite us first before you can disinvite," Finn said before biting his lip, "that was out loud wasn't it."
Tina and Mike just nodded before Finn stood up, mumbling an apology stating that he wondered if there was any apple pie left.
"You know the one thing that could make this night even more interesting than it already is?" Michael said from across the yard where he was sitting with Quinn perched on his lap, "if we had a bit of a campfire sing-a-long."
A long silence filled the air as most parties wondered if Michael had sipped one too many beers however before anyone could reply otherwise Dani began to jump up and down with delight.
"Sing daddy….sing, sing, sing."
Soon all eyes fell upon Puck as everyone else began to chant the same word over and over again.
-Sing, sing, sing….-
A smirk played across Pucks lips as he reached over to where his guitar was leaning against one of the picnic tables knowing that he couldn't say no to his little girl.
Pausing for a moment he tried to think of a song to perform before it hit him and he began to play the first faint chords of a tune:
Light a roman candle with me
Just a roman candle, you can wear your sandals
and I'll pour you just one cup of tea.
Then you can go and rest
you haven't seen my best, so...
Just spend an evening with me
Just a lazy evening, then you could be leaving
or we could stay and talk until three.
I will think it's magic and I'll hope you'll agree, so...
As Puck sang the song his eyes seemed to be locked onto Sam's as if she were the only person sitting outside however that didn't stop his former glee mates, Molly and Michael from singing along in true campfire fashion as the song progressed, and as it wound down he was, as always met with a round of applause before he placed his guitar down and made his way toward where Sam who proceeded to lean in and give him a kiss.
"I love it when you sing to me," she whispered into his ear softly as the first firework filled the air from a distance.
"it's starting," Burt said with a smile taking a seat by Alexis's side and gently placing his hand on top of her ever growing bump while Max was doing the same to Dianne's as the gang all settled in for the show.
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It seemed like forever and a day that the foursome was seated at the esplanade waiting for the Pops to begin but once they began to play their iconic pieces they thought it was worth it.
At the present moment Artie stood behind Kristina with his arms gently wrapped around her waist and his lips planted at the nape of her neck.
"I always knew that there were fireworks when we kissed," he whispered in her ear causing her to laugh.
"And you thought I was cliché."
"I never said…anyway I could get used to this, being with you."
"You don't like the fact that we're keeping this secret do you."
"I don't mind the secrecy; it's just how long can we keep this up?"
Kristina let out a sigh, shrugging her shoulders as the opening chords of the 1812 overture began and Artie's lips fell onto hers causing her to wonder if she was doing the right thing in lying as she really could get used to his kisses every moment of every day for the rest of her life.
TBC
Ok so this chapter took me FIVE Days to write and some things have happened in fandom between my first AN and this one… I'm so glad that cannon! Sam isn't dead though I don't like the fact that she's deaf because she needs to hear Puck's sweet songs…for real… speaking of Puck's songs the song in this chapter was Roman Candle by the band Fun…. Anyway I hope you liked this chapter I don't know if I want to jump sometime between this one and the next or not…. If I don't I'm pondering a chapter that focuses on Molly's operation WOO Blaine and possibly some Puckerman-McCall family fluff…. Ideas and comments like I always say are simply love….