Valentine's Weekend 2016: Part VIII.

With Elliott having called to give them all his blessing, all the misgivings that had been felt about the appropriateness of going ahead with the proposal, given the circumstances, were forgotten. They all now hastened to prepare everything for the big moment, as the time that Artie had told Kitty to meet him at was fast approaching, and she was usually very punctual. A friend of Artie's from film school had arrived to film the whole thing, as for once he would not be around to record a special moment in the lives of the group of friends, which they all agreed was a first. He spoke briefly to Artie to get the low-down on what he wanted, then took a seat, hiding in plain sight. Artie had by then made his way to the restroom to complete his own final preparations. He wanted everything to be perfect; he checked his appearance in the mirror, ensuring that his hair was neatly styled, his tie was straight and his jacket was not creased. Then he checked on the little box that seemed to be burning a hole in his pocket. He hoped with all of his heart that Kitty would say yes to him; he would survive is she did not, but he wanted to live in the joyful state of knowing that he had declared his intentions towards her to the world. Kitty was the one for him - she made him happier than any other girl ever had…

"She would have to be certifiably mad to say no to you," came a voice, and Kurt appeared in the corner of the room. "If she does not fall all the more in love with the dapper, suave Mr Artie Abrams tonight, then she is an idiot. Moreover, I will tell her so if she does let you down!"

"Tell Kitty that she is an idiot - it's a good job your already dead, or she would kill you for that!" replied Artie with a smile.

"I very much doubt I will have to… So, go and get her Artie. Own that song, which is a perfect choice for you, by the way. Go and get the girl!"

As Kitty Wilde hurried down the street, she cursed, and not for the first time that evening, the traffic that seemed able to completely snarl up the streets of Lower Manhattan from time to time, even on a Sunday. She had made her feelings quite clear to the first offender that had been blocking the road out of the bus window, as they passed by after a lengthy delay. The comments that she had made had left her fellow passengers either shocked or grinning in delight. When the second snarl up came along, when she less than two blocks from her ultimate destination, she had managed to remain patient for less than a minute. Then she had stood up, stalked down the length of the bus, and turned to the driver to make her request. There had been no need, as the driver, her ears still burning from the language that she had used the first time, and knowing where the young lady was heading, had already opened the bus door. Kitty wove her way through the stalled cars to the sidewalk, ready to make an appropriate gesture to any unsuspecting motorist that blasted on their horn. She was late for her date, dammit, and today of all days. She did not run though; unlike some of her fellow women, she realised that she did not 'glow' after exertion. She sweated, and she was not about to let her current ensemble get sweat stains, even for Artie. She even paused for a moment outside the store next to the diner to check her reflection in the window, quickly tidying up a few strands of hair. For some reason, she had felt that she should make a special effort tonight.

Then as she stepped into the diner, her heart fell. She was only ten minutes late, but there was no sign of him. Sam was at the counter, with Nick and Jeff, the three of them talking in hushed tones, their faces grim, but of the man she was supposed to be meeting there was no sign. That was odd, as he was like her; usually on time, if not early, for most things. She took in the grim faces again, and began to think that something had happened to him…

That was when she heard the music start. She looked up at the dark stage, wondering who was about to sing the old standard that had a special place in her heart. Then the lights came on, and she froze for a moment in shock. There, up on the stage, was Artie, beckoning at her to step forward as he began to sing Wonderful, Wonderful with his eyes focused right on her. She suddenly felt a hand on her back, gently guiding her forward; turning round, she saw it was Sam, now smiling his widest smile. Turning back, she now saw that Mike and Tina had joined her boyfriend on the stage, and where dancing arm in arm; also, he was being backed up in his vocals by Santana, Brittany and Marley. Kitty walked forward, shaking her head at him as she did so. Totally over the top for a simple meal, even on Valentine's Day. Out of the corner of her eye she saw that Nick and Jeff were now striking bottles of water to make the notes of the tune, and she nearly laughed out loud at that; it was ridiculous and so very Niff… Then she was right by the stage, standing right in front of Artie as he came towards the end of the song, his voice filling her heart with pleasure, and bringing smiles from most of the room. And then, just as she felt it could not get any better…

Artie had been watching the expression on her face from the moment that she had walked through the door and the music had begun to play. He knew by now all the various moods and feeling that she displayed through her eyes and her actions, and so he would have known at once if he had got the whole situation wrong and she was deeply unhappy. All he could see, thankfully, was love, most of the time; for the song, for her friends, and most of all, for him. There was a moment when he sang the lyric about 'the treasure that I own' when her faced momentarily darkened, but he had anticipated that, and if he could have altered the lyrics without damaging the rhythm of the song, then he would have done. He did not own her, and even if she did consent to be his wife, she would remain the free spirit that she always had been; after all, that was what had attracted him to her in the first place. Had he seen even a moment of disapproval on her face, then he would not have proceeded with the last, crucial step. But he had not, and now it was time for that most life-changing of moments, that most adult of steps. He was ready to commit - to be honest, the idea of being a player was far too exhausting, and in any case, he had heard rumours about a nasty outbreak of STDs at school amongst his more 'adventurous' classmates. The thought of that sent shivers down his spine; he could not have lived with the shame of being in that position. No, Kitty Wilde was it for him, and now it was the moment. Time to hope for acceptance and pray that he would be strong enough not to burst into tears if she did reject him. He sang the last line with gusto, and as he did so, put his hand into his pocket and grasped the box that lay within. By now, the woman of his dreams was mere feet away. He pulled out that small box, opened it, and held it out towards her…

Kitty's initial reaction when she saw the box in front of her, and the beautiful ring that lay within it, was shock. It had come completely out of the blue; a broadside, yes, but not an unwelcome one. The ring was perfect - and now she realised the implications of it; why Artie was dressed up so smartly, why he had just crooned a beautiful old love song to her with the assistance of some of their mutual friends, and the significance of the date. At least, she hoped that was what it was all adding up to.

Then she heard his voice, just audible above the closing music of the song. "Kitty, will you make me the happiest man alive and marry me? Not today, or anytime soon, but one day, when we are both ready?"

The words were the ones that she had expected. He wanted to show her and the rest of the world how committed he was to them, as a couple, but at the same time, he respected her need to forge a successful career on her own before she settled down. She knew that there was only one answer that she could ever give him, and fortunately it was so easy to express without speech, as her voice was failing her; she knew that if she spoke, it would break with all the emotions that were welling up in side of her at that moment. So she just nodded her head in reply, tears forming in her eyes out of joy. Yes, she wanted nothing more than to be Artie's wife at that moment. She loved him, and she needed his love around her, his unwavering support as she fought her way to the top. She knew that he would always be there for her…

As Artie saw her nod her head in reply, his smile threatened to tear his face in two. Around him, he heard cheers from his friends, and from the random strangers that were present. His friends he knew were celebrating the fact that finally, a straight couple amongst them were getting engaged, and bucking the trend. Kitty was suddenly on the stage with him, and he had the ring in his hand, gently slipping it on to her outstretched finger, letting the world know that they loved each other, and wished to commit to each other on a permanent basis. Then he found himself being pulled into a bro hug by Mike, as Kitty was engulfed by Tina and Brittany; Santana and Marley held back but both were smiling happily. Artie could see that Sam had now made his way back to the counter, as there were customers needing served, but he knew that he would get a hug and a fist bump from his friend later. Nick and Jeff were also giving him a thumbs up, Nick's arm holding Jeff close to him; if his marriage to Kitty was any bit as happy as theirs seemed to be…

"You're a lucky man, Artie. She loves you, and respects you; she has the same drive and ambition. You are going to be quite the power couple," Mike said quietly in his ear.

"I don't know so much, and in any case, I would be just as happy to live quietly in her shadow… Anyway, you and Tina next?" he replied.

"No," said Mike, with such firmness that it left Artie shocked and surprised. "Don't get me wrong, I love Tina, and she is the one, but I am not going to propose to her until I am successful in my career. Tina knows that, and she is happy to wait. She knows that one day, I will, and that is enough for her."

It would be Mike in the end that would have to rescue Kitty from the grasp of the two excitable girls, and then deliver her, via a quick hug from her best friend, Marley, into the quiet booth that Artie had asked be reserved for the two of them. He had asked also for decoration, on a modest scale, and that was what he had been given; a vase of flowers, and some candles, just enough to make the mood a little more romantic. Jeff came to take their order, mainly because he wanted to be the one that passed on his and Nick's best wishes to the newly engaged couple; after all, they were the longest married of the friends, and he wanted to wish them well as they took their first step down the road to the altar. He knew that their journey would probably be longer than his and Nick's had been, but he wanted them to know that if either of them needed any advice, then the two of them were there.

As Jeff headed off with their order, Artie reached over and took Kitty's hand; she grasped his as tightly in return, and spoke. "I had no idea, which is a surprise for me. When I walked in, and you started to sing… You knew how much I secretly love all of those old songs, and that one…"

"I knew that it had to be a favourite. It was on the play list for the reception when Dave and Sebastian got married; and when it was played, I heard you humming along to it with your eyes closed and a smile on your face. I had already started to think about asking you, and your reaction to that tune… I just hope that I did it justice. I want to make one thing clear though, right now; I certainly do not feel that I own you, nor will I ever."

"I never assumed that you did; if anything, it's the other way round…" replied Kitty playfully.

Artie laughed, and Kitty joined in. "I love you so much, and I just want the entire world to know, that's all. I want to make a statement about how I feel. No more distance. There is no-one else for me but you, Kitty. I have my perfection when I am with you."

"I love you too, and tonight was wonderful. Tomorrow I will show off this ring to all those bitches in school that try to put me down. It's you and me, forever. After all, who else could I show off my softer side to?"

"Now that treasure really is all mine," said Artie, leaning across the table to kiss her.

Watching from a discrete distance, Nick and Jeff smiled, both wondering if they had looked as happy and contented on the night when they had become engaged. Close by, Santana held Brittany in her arms, her mind thinking back to the night a year ago when she had been about to propose - and now, in a little over three months, she would be getting married. Love, when you thought about it, really was a beautiful thing.


Although the video that had been shot by Artie's classmate would not be online for a few more hours, the news had been broken by Sam on text to those that were not there. There were soon a plethora of warm and heartfelt messages of congratulations flooding the couple's phones, not that they were aware of this as they sat and ate their meal. It was a moment of light that even managed to raise a smile of Flint's face as he sat by the side of Beats' bed in the Beth Sinai Hospital. Ethan and Izzy were still at the hospital, but at the moment the news came through, Flint was alone in his vigil, having sent the two of them to get something to eat. Ethan had tried to persuade him to go with Izzy, pointing out that he could sit by Beats' bedside just as well, but Flint had been adamant; he had never left his best friend's side when he was needed up until now, and he wasn't about to start on the day he needed him the most. He did consent to eating something that they brought back to him, though; he would be no use to anyone if he was starving with hunger. Before they went, Ethan had popped out and came back with a liquid that alleged it was coffee from a machine in the waiting room, although Flint was not convinced.

He sat now, his phone back in his pocket, staring at the supine form of his best friend, his fellow Warbler; his Preppy Boy partner in crime… "I wish that you would wake up for me, Beats. I know that you have been through a heck of a lot today, but you're missing out now. Kitty and Artie have just got themselves engaged, and I say good for them! Contrary to popular opinion, it would appear the younger generation are all about long term commitment after all. I mean, Izzy and I aren't ready for that yet, but maybe I should plan to go and get a ring. Yes, I definitely should, because she is the one for me. So you need to hurry up and get better, because I will need your help in finding one, and to plan a proposal…" He stopped, and swiped a rogue tear from his eye, then looked once more at the still unmoving man in the bed, the only sound in the room coming from the machines that he was still hooked up to. "More important than me though, there is Elliott. He needs you to wake up, because as long as you don't, he blames himself for all of this; so does Josh. So please, give me a sign that you can hear me, or just open your eyes, because you being like this is breaking all of our hearts…."

Flint had not expected a response from his best friend; he had hoped beyond all hope that he might get one, but he was answered with the same silence that had pervaded the room since he had arrived. He half expected to hear Wes chastising him, and telling him to patient - that Beats would wake up when he was fit and able, and not before. He waited for Blaine to speak, to say that he could understand his frustration, but that it was not going to alter the facts; or for Kurt to start lecturing him in his own unique way. They too seemed to have abandoned him to the lonely silence, punctuated only by the steady noise of the heart monitor and the ticking coming from his wristwatch. All he could do was continue to hold his friend's uninjured hand to let him know that he was there, and that he had no intention of leaving whatsoever. And then he realised that there was one other thing that he could do, something that he did not do very often these days; he began to silently pray, to work his way through all those that he had learnt off by heart over the years on the Sabbath day in that other Manhattan. As he repeated those sacred words quietly to himself, he let the tears roll unchecked down his cheeks, glad of the release that doing so let him feel…

He was so involved in his recitation that he did not even hear them approach until the door was barged open. Flint quickly finished the prayer that he was on, and swiped at his eyes, before turning to see Josh struggling with the wheelchair that Elliott was sitting in. It was a surprise to see him, given that the nurses had told him earlier that Elliott was going to have to have complete bed rest…

"I know what you are thinking, but I couldn't just keep on lying there without seeing for myself that he was ok. Grace had been forced to leave as she had a meeting with Cooper; she was going to cancel it, but I told her Josh was ok with me, and she should go…"

"Then you took advantage of the unquestioning love that Josh has for you to help you out of your sick bed and bring you over here… You are a bad man, Elliott, getting your brother embroiled in this," said Flint.

"He wanted to help; I told him that I would manage on my own, but he refused to allow me to do so…"

"You nearly fell out of the bed, Ell!" said Josh, "What dad has already done to you today is bad enough, without you adding a fall to it. Then again, I also knew that there was no way that you would be able to settle down properly until I could get you over here…"

By now, Elliott had manoeuvred himself right over to the side of the bed; and now, seeing the man that he loved up close, the tears he had been holding back began to fall rapidly. "Oh, Nate! You look so small, so… This is all my fault, and I don't care what either of the two of you say; this is my fault! He wouldn't be lying here like this if he hadn't fallen for me; if I hadn't invited him to come and spend the day with me. I mean, what if…"

"He's going to be fine, Elliott. The doctors have said as much. He's just getting over the trauma, and then he will be back with us, right as rain."

"How can you be certain until he does wake up? He'll be awake, but what if his brain is damaged. What if he has lost his memory, or some function? How do I live with that knowledge; that it was all my fault, because he would never have been placed in any danger if he wasn't with me…"

"It really isn't your fault…" The voice was tiny and hoarse, but it was still a sound that made Flint's heart leap with joy, and made Elliott stop in mid sentence. "You didn't hit me Ell. I chose to get involved, when I could just have easily retreated to safety and dialled 911. I wanted to help the man I love, and if I had the situation to replay, I would still do it all exactly the same. He was a bully, and I have zero tolerance for them." Beats paused and coughed; Flint instinctively reached for the water jug, and poured a little into a cup, before holding it to his friend's lips. Beats drank, frowning when he saw the tear tracks on Flint's face.

"Ok, so that is true…" Elliott began.

He was cut off by Josh placing a hand over his mouth and in a near hiss, saying "Beats is awake, fully compos mentis, and all you can do is try and argue that his being hurt is your fault! If I was in your place, I would just be overjoyed that he was awake, and that he will heal."

"Hear, hear!" said Flint, his smile wide.

"I am happy. I am… It was all just such a total nightmare. I thought that I might have lost him forever, and that…" Elliott stopped, tears falling as he suddenly felt Beats grab at his hand and squeeze it tight. Through his moist eyes, Elliott could see Beats smile, and that was all the hope that he really needed.

From opposite sides of the bed, Flint and Josh observed the happy couple, and smiled at each other, both grateful and relieved that the situation had resolved itself. They also both knew that they would have to cut short the happy reunion; Elliott would have to be taken back to his bed in the other room, and Flint would have to let the staff know that Beats had regained consciousness and was back with them, so they could conduct all the necessary tests. He wanted that done sooner rather than later. He knew his friend well, and although he would say nothing in front of the other two, he could see that Beats was being economical with the truth. His mind and memory might be ok, but as for his physical health - well on that score he wasn't so certain. There was something just a little off about the way he was behaving, unnoticeable to anyone but his best friend. After all, he was the man that had shared a room with him for nearly 8 years…

"I hate to be the one that has to spoil this moment, but we have to cut this short. There will be a nurse through on her rounds soon enough; worse, Izzy could come back at any moment, and as a trainee doctor, she will have no choice other than to report the fact that Elliott is in here. Plus, we do need to get Beats properly checked over, just in case…"

"Flint is right, Ell," said Josh, "If they catch you in here, they will probably ban me from seeing you, regardless of whose idea it was for you to come in here, and I couldn't bear the thought of not being able to see you. There will be plenty of opportunity for the two of you to catch up later."

"I know you're right, little bro, I just don't want to go. I want to say one more thing first; thank you for all that you did today. I love you Nate, and I promise here and now, in front of witnesses, that my love is all yours, for eternity. I will pay you back for everything, I promise you that." He lifted Beats hand to his lips, and kissed it, unable to reach his mouth.

Beats smiled, and replied, "I love you too, my Starman. Now go, before you get us all into trouble." Elliott nodded, and after checking that the coast was clear, Josh pushed him back to his own room once more.

The moment they were gone, Flint turned towards Beats, his arms folded across his chest. "Ok, now it's just us, tell me the truth. I know you, Nathaniel Harper. What is wrong with you?"

"I knew that I wouldn't be able to fool you, Flint, but thanks for not calling me out in front of them. It's my eyes; I can see you, all of you, but things are a bit fuzzy. I have a pounding headache too, but that is to be expected, I guess, when you get body slammed into a wall."

"It's not the first time you've had bother with your eyes, is it? And yes, a headache is an obvious side effect of being slammed into a wall so hard you cracked the plaster. I have no option but to press the nurse call buzzer. They will no doubt be here very shortly after I do, and they will kick me out into the hall whilst they run all their tests. But I am not going any further, at least, not until your folks arrive. And don't look at me like that, I had to call them. By the way, if anyone asks, I am your cousin." Flint reached over, and pressed the call button. "Oh, before I forget, one little bit of good news. Artie and Kitty are engaged; he proposed tonight at the Spotlight."

"That's nice," said Beats, who then went silent as the nurse walked in, and on seeing that his eyes were open, turned on her heel to go and fetch a doctor.

When Ethan and Izzy returned from the hospital canteen with the promised food and drink for Flint, it was to find him sitting outside Beats' room in the corridor, his head bowed. Ethan froze on the spot, his brain immediately thinking that the worst case scenario had happened, and that once more the happy band of brothers were going to have to deal with the early death of one of their own. It was only momentarily, but nonetheless, it shook him to the core. Then Flint looked up, and he was smiling at them. "He came round. He spoke to me, and he knew who I was, and the first thing he asked was if Elliott was ok. They are just checking him over now; he was complaining about fuzzy vision and a massive headache. I hope that it's nothing too serious…"

"Sounds like a classic case of concussion to me," said Izzy. "It shouldn't be anything to worry about, unless it keeps getting worse. They will want to keep an eye on him for a while, just to be certain. At the worst, if his eyes don't improve - but they probably will guys, trust me - at the worst, he might have to end up getting glasses."

"I hope it doesn't come to that," said Flint. "If Beats ends up having to wear glasses all the time to see properly, Elliott will feel so guilty about it, and that kind of guilt can put a strain on a relationship."