AN : Embarrassment! I didn't realize FF had chopped up the formatting on the last chapter because I was in such a rush to post before my class finished and I had to run to work. Woe is the life of a commuting student. And this final part is late and that makes me sad but sometimes real life trumps fandom, and this is just one of those unfortunate weeks. My sincerest apologies prompter and readers!

Thanks to everyone once again for the comments and general love. Thanks to rjjg14 for the fun prompt. Thanks to all the writers who participated, the influx of Tina/Artie fics was amazing and finally, thanks to troubadette for organizing Artinathon 2010!

The Heart Grows Fonder

(Part Three - Artie)

Oh! clasp we to our hearts, for deathless dower,
This close-companioned inarticulate hour
When twofold silence was the song of love.

Silent Noon, Dante Gabriel Rossetti

—

Two years later...

You both graduate in June, your commencements within two days of each other but you're so grateful and so honoured that Tina, exhausted as she was, still grinned proudly up at you as you accepted your degree without a sign of fatigue - only love and support.

The promise ring you gave her when she turned eighteen glints as it catches the sun where she stands by your family and laughs over something your dad says.

You think its high time you got her something shinier.

—

First year was tough.

Second year was ridiculous.

Every year has had its challenges, and third and fourth were no exception.

In that time, you two went through another split in which you both ended up seeing other people. But when you received your promise ring in the mail, you snapped out of it and promptly flew out to win back your woman. You think it should be weirder that Quinn only smiled knowingly when you announced you had to fly to Tina and from what Puck told you, he just felt emasculated all the time because she always just cried after sex - the comment which earns him a broken toe.

And now you two are actually living together.

It's odd, in he best way, co-habitating after spending four years apart. There are some things that you know you have to work on, adjust to as you both try and synchronize with each other the way you used to in high school but you know you can do it, because that's the reason you two got on so well in the first place. And god, you love her so much, you two have been through so much.

There really isn't anyone else for you (so she'd better get used to your snoring).

—

One morning, you wake up to the ceaseless chirping of the 4 am birds - it's like they know you've been suffering from sleep deprivation ever since the move to Chicago.

There's a shift beside you and then you hear a small mewl that you find unnervingly sexy for so early in the morning as Tina arches her back in a stretch.

"Morning sunshine," she greets you, her dark eyes fluttering sleepily as she then snuggles further under the duvet. There's a noticeable space between your bodies but beneath the covers are clasped hands which she brings up to her lips to press a soft kiss upon. You return the favor and she blushes, smiles shyly across the way and you can't even begin to put how you feel into words.

After a moment of comfortable silence, Tina clears her throat and glances up at you with a curious look in her eyes.

"You know how I was playing your guitar yesterday?" She asks softly, and you nod your head at the recent memory of Tina rustling through your tabs for a new therapy study she's trying at the clinic where she's interning.

"I found an application form for Tisch," she finishes. You blink up at the ceiling thoughtfully and then you answer as you pull yourself into a slight sitting position.

"I almost forgot about that," you start to say but her hand tightens around yours and she gives you a pointed look.

See, it's around third year that you realize you don't necessarily need to go to grad school. You were offered a place at a few up-and-coming indie production companies around Columbus and you're not supposed to let opportunities like that go but after the incident with Tina, you realize you have priorities to straighten out first. And honestly? You're ready to move past Ohio. New York would be awesome but you don't actually see yourself living there, in the same way Tina said she couldn't imagine living in Seattle despite how much she flourished on the West Coast.

So, Illinois it is. It's only one state over but hey, baby steps.

"Tina, it's fine. I like where I am right now, where we are." Her hand loosens around yours and after a moment, she nods slowly and begins to close the gap between you two, arms slinging around your stomach. You kiss the top of her head and you're both silent again for a few seconds.

"Of course," she starts airily, "you should like where you are right now; you're in bed with a gorgeous lady wrapped around you."

You laugh in spite of yourself.

"The compromising position we are in has nothing to do with it, woman!"

"But I'm sure it helps?"

You begin to smirk. "Depends whether the gorgeous lady is going back to sleep or-."

"I like you so much better when you're sleeping," she states with mock exasperation but her fingers are already crawling under your shirt and you can feel the grin lingering on her face when you bend your head down to kiss her.

—

You love pillow talk.

FIN