"And now we're here, in front of our family, our friends," King Ben announced loudly in his microphone, "Thank you. Everyone for making this momentous occasion memorable. I would now like to have everyone switch their tassels from the left to the right, indicating that we are now your graduating class."

"It is with my greatest pleasure, to present to you, Auradon Preparatory Academy's newest graduating class!" Fairy Godmother exclaimed happily.

The auditorium erupted in cheers, kisses were shared, tears were shed. The vibrations were so loud, they could feel the auditorium slightly shaking. Upbeat music played as everyone held on to each other and sang, lifting their graduation caps and throwing it in the air. Doug was smiling and laughing at his friends, but after they left the stage he was quickly whisked away to take pictures with his family.

Every family in the Dwarfson household rounded up and took pictures of their newly graduated high school students: Sebastian, son of Bashful, Sophia, daughter of Sleepy, Gordon, son of Grumpy, and lastly Doug. It started off with each of them with their own families, then with each uncle's family, then with all the boys or all the girls; Doug hated it because his cheeks were sore and he wanted pictures with his friends but he persevered through, knowing going to The Jade Dragon for dinner would be worth it. It also didn't help that he was showered in floaty inner tube with sweet messages covering his face.

After what felt like an eternity, Doug was able to catch Carlos, Jay, and Mal who were about to walk out of the stadium doors, following Ben and his family.

"Guys," he called out to them. The VKs turned around, and he beckoned them over, "Can I get a few pictures with you please?"

Jay and Carlos smiled at Doug covered in the floaties. He made sure his cousin Sophie got them one too. "Of course, buddy," Carlos said, nudging Jay and Mal to follow him.

Mal nodded her head, "Yes, Doug!" She waved Ben over and he happily followed.

Jay slapped his shoulder while bringing him into a bro-hug, "are we seeing you at the after party?"

Doug laughed, "Of course. I'm so ready to get wasted."

Jay and Carlos barked laughing. Even Mal, giggled. "Bro, be prepared," Jay said, "I can't believe Ben was able to convince his parents to host our after party at Castle Beast."

Doug nodded excitedly, "Yeah, for sure."

After Dopey took more photos of Doug and the VKs, Doug and Chad, Doug and Ben, Doug and the girls, all the boys, they finally left Auradon Stadiums.

Family dinner was always as hectic as it was. The Dwarfson clan was as eclectic and loud as it was in the Enchanted Forest.

Doug and his cousins were separated from the adults, his older cousins, and the younger ones. Everyone shared stories, laughs, and jokes. While he was happy on the outside, Doug felt genuinely empty.

It had been months since Evie graduated Auradon Prep early and went ahead to a fashion and design school in Cinderellasburg. Evie was interning overseas in Venice, Italy for Donnatella Gerimaldi, a high profile designer who taught Cruella de Vil and Anna Radcliffe everything they knew about fashion too.

They decided it was for the best, taking a break so that she could focus on immersing herself in the college experience, and he could focus on getting his life in order for college in Camelot Heights.

"C'mon Eve, you're not going to turn down this chance are you?"

"Doug..."

"You've actually considering it?!"

"How can you of all people yell at me? This is my future not yours, Doug!"

"I'm yelling because this is your ticket to make yourself somebody, and you won't. You won't take it because you're scared, when we both know you've dealt with much worse."

"Are you kidding me? What about the Isle program? I can't leave it all to Ben. What about Jay, Carlos, and Mal? I'm not graduating without them."

"Evie. The Isle program expanded with Uma and Ben working together too. Your best friends want you to take this just as much as I do. How can you not?"

"I've built my business here, my new life. I can't just give it up."

"You've gotta be willing to take those chances, Eve. I know you! I know you can be so much better. Why don't you have the same faith in yourself? You can't tell me that all those kids we saved on the Isle aren't looking up to you."

"Just shut up! Okay? Shut up. I don't want to hear this right now. Get out."

"I'm just trying to help," Doug said softly, as he picked up his stuff and made his way to the door.

"You wanna help?! Why don't you just leave me alone, Doug! That would be amazing," she seethed, her voice cracking at the last bit.

Lost for words and his throats actually hurting from all the yelling, he dipped his head and walked out, silently closing her door.

Unknowing to the both of them, they sighed exasperatedly at the same time. Evie was tearing up while Doug went to Jay's room to hit their new punching bag.

"Another fight? Geez, that's the fourth one this week," Carlos said as he held Doug's punching bag.

"She's-just-so-stubborn," Doug panted as he hit the red bag.

"I'm surprised you don't want her to go to school with you. It's almost as if you're afraid she'd outdo you in college."

"It'd be selfish of me if I told her that I wanted her to come with me. And that's not fair Carlos. I'm always going to be supporting Evie, I will even admit she's smarter than I am. I'm just-I'm pushing this for her because I know that if I was in her shoes, I'd want her to at least be supportive, even if it means fighting all the time and feeling like breaking up. It's hard, man," he tried to explain before making up a new set of punching combos.

Carlos nodded, "I agree dude, Evie should do this. My mom once said that Gerimaldi was the the best thing that ever happened to her. Except, maybe the way you're saying is like you're pushing her away, instead of letting her see the potential of success herself."

Doug cocked his head to the side, "Yeah, I think so. I'm gonna go apologize after I shower and stuff. I feel terrible, 'Los."

"Water break," Carlos said, letting Doug cool down and finish his workout. "How about two more minutes, then you go finish thinking about how you're gonna apologize to her."

Doug quickly nodded, following Carlos back to the bag and began hitting it. When they were finished, Doug left the room and walked back to his dorm. To his surprise, Evie was standing there waiting.

"Babe?" Doug asked, making Evie turn.

A second passed before they both apologized at the same time. Evie had a small smile on her face, mouth agape as she was about to say something but Doug stopped her.

Doug took her chin and propped it up so he could look into her eyes, "Evie, I'm so sorry. Whatever you wanna do, princess, I'm here for it. If you feel like you're gonna succeed without Gerimaldi, then I know you will. I want you happy. I'm sorry. We could go to university together, I'm sure you're gonna get into all the League schools. We could get our own place and have Dizzy--"

Evie shook her head, "Doug, please don't apologize. I'm sorry for what I said. You were right. You were right about the whole thing. I am scared but I also want to do this," she said softly, "I need this."

Doug blinked twice, trying to register what she said, "So...you're gonna take her internship?" She slowly nodded, then he continued, "And you're gonna leave for Cinderellasburg in four months?" She nodded again, looking down at the floor, not sure of what to say or do next. "I'm happy for you Eve. I'm so, so proud," he smiled, lifting her in the air and spinning her. She giggled too, leaning into Doug for a kiss. He pinned her against his door, kissing her senseless in the hallway. He didn't care. He was in love, and so was she.

When Evie made her announcement to Fairy Godmother and their friends, she couldn't help but tear up a little. Mal was also crying, even though she refused to admit it. As happy as Jay and Carlos were, they couldn't imagine being in Auradon without her. Ben granted Evie he title of advisor, so that whenever she was ready to come home, she'd have a place in the kingdom. Lonnie, Audrey, and Jane were just as proud and excited, but heart broken that their friend was also leaving so soon. Audrey and Jane almost fainted at the realization that Evie wouldn't be there to design their outfits for castle-coming and prom. Dizzy was hurt the hardest, Evie was her big sister after all. She and Doug talked for hours about Evie, and what could happen next.

"Doug, do you think you guys will be together? What's gonna happen if you break up? Will I lose both of you?" Dizzy hugged him tightly, starting to sniffle at the idea of her senior friends leaving her behind.

Doug shook his head, trying to calm her down, "Diz, deep breathes okay? I'm always going to be here for you. You're like my sister just as much as you are Evie's. Evie and I are trying our hardest to figure out what to do next in terms of our relationship. Long distance can only work for so long, ya know?"

Dizzy tried to be optimistic, "She still has two months...maybe you guys will find a balance."

Doug had a faint smile on his face as he continued to let her ramble about all the drama buzzing around the school.

Two weeks later, Doug and Evie were relaxing on his bed. Both of them entangled with the other, not saying much. When he moved his arm off her body because he could feel it falling asleep, Evie turned to face him, "Doug...what about us?" Doug closed his eyes, knowing this question was bound to be asked, "I've been wondering the same thing. Statistically speaking, not many people stay with their high school sweethearts after graduation. It's messed up but it's true. True love isn't easy to find nowadays. A love like Ben and Mal's, yours and mine, and all those fairy tales that came before us. But, it's kept me up at night, trying to figure out how we can be together, even though right now it seems like we can't." He opened his eyes to look at Evie staring at the ceiling, a few tears streaming down her cheeks, "Why was it so much easier in the stories?"

"Imagination is easier to except than reality, I guess," Doug sighed. He reached to intertwine their fingers, and for the first time, they felt different. Not warm, but slightly colder. Maybe it was the room, maybe not. He felt Evie shift so she could cuddle into him this time, "Please," she softly whispered, "can we talk about it another time, I don't wanna think about it anymore."

He kissed the top of her blue hair, wanting to inhale her sweet perfume forever, "As you wish, my love."

Hellooo Koalaisland2 here, back again with some Devie angst because there's never enough of it! as always, favorites, follows, and reviews are always welcome! I'm thinking about turning this into a little ficlet, but we'll see because of University, responsibility, and being an adult blah blah! Thank you guys :)