All Grown Up

One Year Later…

Destiny was at Dani's house and they were planning a graduation party for Miracle and Leon. D.J. and Vida were off playing and Del and Evan were in the playpen just a few feet away.

"I just can't believe Miry and Leon are graduating from high school. It seems like just yesterday we were graduating from high school and they were just babies." Destiny said.

"Now they have a baby." Dani said.

Destiny shook her head. "Well they made it anyway and I am so proud of them. They didn't ever give up even though it got tough at times." Destiny said. "So who do we have on this guest list so far?

"My mom of course, Evangeline…"

"Ooh."

"What?"

"Of course they both have to be there and we all want them to be but… they can't stand each other."

"That's not true."

"It's very true."

"Why do you think that?"

"I don't think. I know."

"Where did you get that from?"

"First of all, my mom feels like Tea ruined her chances with Shaun back in the day. She knows it wasn't on purpose but it doesn't matter. Plus, Tea and I are so close, maybe that's a bit of jealousy… There are a lot of reasons. A lot of people don't like Tea. I'm sure my mom shares a lot of those reasons."

"She just sounds jealous to me."

"Partially but like I said she doesn't like Tea for a lot of reasons."

"Ok, well that has nothing to do with my mom not liking Evangeline."

"Nope, she doesn't like her either. Even though Tea's with Vic now, she feels like my mom was on a mission to take Shaun from her while they were married. They're over but it's the principle of the thing and Tea really did love Shaun."

"Well did she try to take Shaun while they were still married?"

"I don't know. I don't think so. I doubt it but one thing I know about my mom is if she wants something she goes after it. Apparently, for anyone who only knows her as Evangeline, that's out of the ordinary but for anyone who knew her as Charlene, they know different. That was one character trait she left behind with her memories and then picked it back up when they came back. My mom is an amazing person, you know that but we all have flaws and at times, that's hers. Sometimes it's great but other times, you better watch out."

"How do you know all this?"

"You know how Miracle is always 'overhearing' something? I keep telling her about eavesdropping but according to her everyone needs to watch what, when and how loudly they say things. Anyway, she claims she overheard some things they were saying and she told me. Other than that I figured it out myself. It seems a tad obvious."

"I guess I'm blind."

"Off the subject though, how are you holding up with Jason in prison? It's been just a little over a year now. You seem to be holding it together but I know you."

"Honestly Des, it's so hard. I miss him so much. If it weren't for the fact that I have to keep going for Vida and Del and go to work I think I would be a complete mess. I don't know how Starr did this when Cole was in prison. I know what he did was wrong but he's not a bad person. He's the best. He treats me like a queen and Vida like a princess. He always makes me laugh. He has the best sense of humor. I miss his laugh, his smile, his touch… anything you can think of. Just four more years to go."

"It'll be ok."

"I'm going to see him soon. I'm not sure when."

"How is Vida doing with this now?"

"She's rebelling more and more and on top of that I have to co-parent with Matthew Buchanan. How did you do it?"

"He wasn't that bad with me. I didn't really have a big problem with Matt until Miry was a teenager, mainly because he became less involved and you know he was a mess when she was pregnant. Him being an alcoholic had a lot to do with a lot but now he's sober and very alert at all times. He's also trying really hard to be a better father to Del than he has been to the rest of his kids, especially the girls and unfortunately that means you're going to butt heads. He also doesn't like you very much right now considering what Jason did."

"He's getting on my nerves."

"He still only talks to me when he absolutely has to because I knew about all of it and didn't say anything then I represented Jason."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. It's been very peaceful. He's also still with Miley Cyrus so that got him off my back too."

"I loved my mom and Shaun together and I was a bit devastated when they announced they were getting a divorce but with me and Matthew having a daughter and Miracle and Leon having a son we were all just getting too intertwined with each other. It was getting weird… Do you ever want anymore kids?"

"I did but now that I have a grandson and Miracle is going to college, I've changed my mind. I can live with two. I have a boy and a girl. It's fine."

-v-

Matthew was in his bed, half dressed watching television. Miley walked out of his master bathroom fully dressed and walked over to the dresser where her purse laid and picked it up.

"You're leaving?" Matthew asked.

"Yeah. I have to meet Darren at the studio in less than an hour." Miley replied.

"I can't believe you're working with him."

"I've been hearing for years how great of a producer he is and I've heard the proof. Now I finally meet him and you expect me not to work with him? Besides, what's going on with you all has nothing to do with me. It doesn't even have anything to do with Darren. From what I've heard, you've done more to him than he's ever done to you. Yeah, the longer I stay in Llanview the more I realize I haven't known you as well as I thought I did. That's a shame because I've known you a hell of a long time."

Matthew sat silently and then began to wonder how much Miley has actually heard about him.

"You're right, it doesn't concern you but it concerns our son. Jason stole from our family business." Matthew finally said.

"It still has nothing at all to do with Darren… I really didn't want to do this but it had to happen sooner or later and it should have happened sooner." Miley said out of nowhere.

"What?" Matthew asked confused.

"Ace and I are moving to Llanview. It's unfair that he has to go back and forth from Pennsylvania and California every other week and sometimes Tennessee. I need to make this sacrifice for him. It's something I should have done a long time ago."

"Sacrifice?"

"Yes! I'm an actress, a successful actress that could have been a has-been a long time ago but I'm not and L.A. is where the jobs are. I'm also a singer. I feed on L.A."

"You can sing anywhere and travel when you feel like it. New York is just a couple hours away and we have directors, writers, producers and studios here."

"It's not the same but it doesn't matter. I have to do this for Ace." Miley said and then walked over to the bed to kiss Matthew. "I'll be picking Ace up later after I come from the studio. We have one last trip to L.A before we move here." Miley then left the room.

"I really want Miley to move here but if she does she may learn a lot about me she doesn't want to know and I don't want her to know." Matthew thought to himself.

A while after Miley left Matthew went downstairs. His daughters, Drew and Nicole were also at the Buchanan Mansion with Asa. Asa was out riding horses with David and the girls were left inside. It was very quiet which was cause to be suspicious.

"I think it's infected." Nicole said from the living room. Matthew heard and walked in.

"What's infected?" He asked when he entered the living room. All he saw was Drew lying on the couch and Nicole leaning over her for some reason.

"Infected? What are you talking about?" Nicole played dumb.

"I heard you say something looked infected. What is it?" Matthew asked again.

"I didn't say infected. I said, 'infatuated.'" Nicole lied.

"Don't lie to me. I know what I heard." Matthew began to walk closer. The closer he got, the bigger Nicole's big brown eyes got. She ran her fingers through her long black hair and looked away.

Matthew could see that Drew was trying really hard not to express pain through her face and she kept a pillow over her stomach.

"What are you hiding?" Matthew asked.

"Dad, I resent that you would ask such a question. You don't trust us? What kind of relationship can we have if you don't trust your own daughters?" Drew asked.

"An untrusting one." Matthew replied and then took the liberty to move the pillow that Drew was holding on to so tightly in front of her stomach.

"Dad!" Drew yelled.

"I see three things wrong with this picture. One, you're only wearing half a shirt and it's barely that." Matthew said referring to the sheer, black, laced cropped top Drew was wearing. "Secondly, your belly button is pierced! Thirdly, you have a tattoo!" Matthew yelled.

Drew had a colored butterfly tattoo at her waistline, near her left hip and it was about as big as the average woman's fist. It was red, scabbed, pusy, and swollen. It looked a bit scary to say the least.

"It does look infected! What the hell is wrong with you?" Matthew yelled again.

"What are you yelling for?" Drew asked with an attitude.

"Are you kidding me? Do you see yourself? This rebellion is going to stop today. Look at that? Do you have one too, Nic?" Nicole just looked away. "Where is it?"

Nicole just lifted the right side of her top a little to reveal a very small tattoo that said, "Srour~Buchanan" with a heart at the beginning and end. It was barely an index finger long. It was red but that was it, it wasn't nearly as bad as Drew's.

"Do these things hurt?" Matthew asked.

"Yes!" Drew exclaimed.

"No, mine just itches." Nicole said.

"I'm sorry but see, actions have consequences. Who would allow two fifteen year olds to get tattoos?"

"It was a party." Nicole said.

"That was very foolish! Enjoy this trip to the hospital because you won't see daylight for the rest of the summer."

"That's not fair!" They exclaimed in protest.

"Save it! Let's go! Wait, Drew, put on a real top first." Matthew commanded and the girls got up and did as they were told. "Butterfly tattoo, who do you think you are? Mariah Carey? They've completely lost it."

-v-

Tea and Victor popped out from under the sheets of the bed at Victor's condo.

"That was incredible. I don't know how I lived without it for sixteen years. I want you to move in with me." Victor said.

"I told you, I just can't right now. You won't move in but I can't move out. It's too much. My entire family is staying there. Leon's not going to move and he shouldn't have to. He needs me right now, especially since he's going to start college soon. It's going to get a lot tougher for him with Evan. I have a lot of Vida and Del's things there and Dani needs my help more than ever now too." Tea explained.

"All I hear are excuses. Your family can stay in the house. Leon and Dani have this huge family and you're the only one who can help them?"

"Yes, my family can stay in the house but frankly, I just got them back and I'm not ready to let them go yet. As far as Leon and Dani are concerned, there's nothing like a mother's touch."

"At least let me take you away for a weekend so that I can have you all to myself."

"Vic, I just said-"

"They will all be ok for a couple days!"

"I'll think about it."

"Let me help you with your decision." Victor kissed Tea and then pulled the sheets over them again.

-v-

Evangeline was in her living room massaging Shaun's shoulders. He was enjoying it so much he had his eyes closed the entire time and was beginning to doze off.

"You're so tense." Evangeline said.

"I'm a bodyguard, I'm always tense."

"Why do you still do it? You could just run the business." Evangeline said referring to Shaun's bodyguard business.

"I know but I like being there and doing the actual job. It fulfills me but I think it is about time I do actually just sit back and run the business. I'm getting too old for this."

"You'll always be young in my eyes. You have a young spirit."

"Why, think you Ms. Williamson."

"I meant every word Mr. Evans. Do you remember, on my twenty-first birthday we went out for drinks at a karaoke bar and we hogged the mic all night?"

"We weren't hogging it, nobody else wanted to sing. It was dry in there that night."

"Except for us, I am so happy I have my memories back so I can remember things like that. To think that all those years, I couldn't remember so many of those great things, I almost can't see how I could forget."

Evangeline's daughter with John, Eva came into the room. She had shoulder length black hair pulled into a pony tale, was fairly tall for her age and slender. She's eleven now and she is really starting to grow up.

"Mom, Harvey and Uttara are having a sleepover next weekend. Can I go?" Eva asked.

"I don't know. I have to talk to Starr and James first and I'll let you know."

"Ok." Eva said and then left the room.

"I thought you said Starr didn't like you?" Shaun asked.

"No, I said there was a time when Starr wasn't too fond of me but she was a kid then and Starr as a kid didn't like anyone who was standing in the way of Todd and Blair getting back together. She doesn't have a problem with me now. Besides, I'm glad Eva is close with her kids. They're so sweet."

-v-

A week later, Destiny, Darren, Matthew, Bo, Nora, Shaun and Evangeline were all in attendance to the Llanview High graduation for Miracle. Destiny, Darren and Shaun were there for Leon as well. Matthew sat alone on the other side of the auditorium not wanting to be near them. Destiny held Evan, who was now seventeen months old in her arms.

Tea, Victor, Sam, Starr, James, Dani and Tomas sat in the row behind them waiting for Miracle and Leon to accept their diplomas.

"Miracle Charlene Buchanan." The principal called and Miracle proudly walked across the stage to accept her diploma.

A few minutes later, Leon Vic Lord was called, followed by Millicent Jennifer McBain.

The families were so proud of their children. The McBain's, Natalie, Rex and GiGi just so happened to be sitting right next to Destiny and the family.

When the graduation was over they greeted Miracle and Leon with hugs. Matthew also met up with them after the graduation but just said congratulations and let Miracle know that he would see her at the graduation party at Destiny and Darren's.

When they arrived at Destiny and Darren's there were so many family and friends and they were all so utterly proud.

People mingled and no one argued or fought.

Destiny and Darren were talking when they were interrupted by Miracle.

"You invited Millicent?" Miracle asked after seeing Millicent walk in with her family.

"Yeah! You three graduated together and you're friends, right?" Destiny asked.

"No! We haven't been friends for about two years now."

"You never told me that. Why?" Destiny asked.

"Do you remember when you all finally gave Leon and me your blessings to date but right after that we didn't really talk for a while?"

"Yes." Destiny replied.

"That was because Millicent went to see Leon and they kissed. It almost led to more. I'm over it now but I don't trust her any further than I can throw her, especially around my man."

"She has her own. Isn't she with Zane?"

"She was with Ryder when they got together. She was with Leon when she decided she wanted to be with Ryder. She was with Ryder when she decided to make a move on Leon. Never mind the fact that he cheated on her at the time but you see the pattern here."

"Yeah I do. I'm sorry. I didn't know but what do you want me to do about it now?"

"I guess you can't do anything… The party is great though, mom. Thanks." Miracle said and then walked back over to her best friend, Izzy.

Meanwhile, Dani and Matthew were in mid conversation… well more like mid argument.

"Matthew, this is not the time! This is Miracle and Leon's graduation party. You already ruined her sweet sixteen. Do you want to ruin this too? Just don't talk to me for the rest of the night." Dani said and walked away.

Tea approached Matthew right afterward.

"Hi Tea." Matthew said.

"Hey, what was that about with you and Dani?" Tea asked.

"It's nothing."

"It looked like something to me."

"It wasn't."

"We're cool right? I helped you walk again. You owe me one."

"Ok." Matthew said surprised that Tea brought that up. He wondered where she was going with it.

"Don't put my daughter through hell. It's tough enough for her right now as it is."

"Whose fault is that?"

"Don't test me Buchanan." Tea said and then walked away.

Victor walked over to Leon.

"There's my graduate!" Victor exclaimed and hugged him.

"Hey dad." Leon said.

"I'm so glad I got to see you graduate." Victor went in his pocket, pulled out his check book and took out a written check. "This is for you. Have fun with it."

Leon looked at the check. "This is all for me?"

"Yeah! I didn't get a chance to spoil you growing up."

"Thanks dad."

Tea walked over.

"Hey you two! What's going on?" Tea asked happily.

"I'm just spoiling my son."

"Have fun." Tea said.

Evan began to cry from across the room.

"I'm going to check on Evan." Leon said and then went to tend to his son.

"We've got a great kid." Victor said.

"Yeah, we do, don't we?"

Shaun and Evangeline walked into Tea and Victor.

"Hey…" Tea said.

"Hey…" Shaun replied.

It was awkward and it is awkward every time they run into each other. Tea and Evangeline just stared at each other which made the moment even more awkward. Victor and Shaun looked between the two women.

"So how about those Phillies?" Victor asked Shaun attempting to break the ice.

"Great game last week." Shaun replied.

They became silent again then the men looked between the two again.

"We'll see you all later." Shaun said and then walked away with Evangeline.

"What was that about?" Victor asked.

"What was what about?" Tea asked.

"That thing between you and Evangeline."

"There's no thing." Tea replied almost believing what she was saying.

"Hello everyone!" Destiny exclaimed setting up to make a speech. "Thanks for coming and celebrating this occasion with us. We all don't have a chance to get together often enough and I am so happy that we could get together for this, Congratulations Miry, Leon and … Millicent as well. We are so proud you. You're all grown up but you will always have us.

Hope you all enjoyed the start of Llanview Lives 2: Grown Ups.

I'm not a Miley Cyrus fan but she seemed to make the most sense to me out of all the celebs that Matthew would date lol.

Please review! I love reading them.