This is a future fic based on the children of the students from Degrassi: The Next Generation. The story will follow the escapes of Gabriel and Veronica Mason; the son and daughter of Spinner Mason and Jane Vaughn. There will be a few other kids that will round out the story, but will mainly focus on the Mason children. The fictional characters of Degrassi: The Next Generation belong to their respective trademarks and companies. Please keep in mind that I do not make ANY profit from the properties of Degrassi as well as the fictional settings that they come from. The children of the copyrighted characters are mine alone.

While there will be a listing of couples here and there in the pages of my story, I ask that you keep an eye out on my Profile page in the next couple of days for a full history of Spinner and Jane as they become a couple again. I will also have a listing of some of the major characters that will mainly interact with Veronica and Gabriel; as well as their parentage. There will also be a listing of other couples, favorite characters and teachers. This is mainly for background information.

I thank you for your patience on this story. Feel free to read it and comment on it. While not a stranger to writing fanfiction; I admit this is a new genre for me.

I would proudly like to introduce for you...

The Kids are All Right

Chapter One: Anticipation

Veronica lay on her bed reading Pride and Prejudice for the third time this summer. She placed the bookmark and closed the book. She placed the book on her nightstand and she rubbed her eyes. She glanced at the alarm clock and sighed. In twelve hours she would be starting her high school career at Degrassi Community School. She turned and placed her feet on the floor and moved to her dresser and sat down in the chair; facing the huge mirror attached to the dresser. She took the pencil out of the bun and let her hair fall onto her shoulders. She shook her hair loose by turning her head quickly from side to side; letting it fall a little looser onto the shoulders. She sighed at her reflection and stuck her tongue out at herself; disappointed with her appearance. She looked up and noticed the family picture that was on the mirror. She took it down and studied it; looking at each member of the family.

Jane Mason (Jane Vaughn at work) was a junior partner at the law firm of Brooks and Brooks. Mom had gone off to California to study law after she graduated from Degrassi. She had gotten dumped by her Dad. She had cheated on Dad and took off across the country. Mom had excelled in her studies, but when Grandma Valieri had gotten ill; Jane continued her studies at University of Toronto. She happened to run into Dad one day and they started being friends again. They went from friends to dating for a few years and then getting married. Mom had worked hardest to get into the firm when her brother came along and then herself two years later. James Brooks (Uncle Jimmy to herself and her brother) had left a spot for Mom. Once she was in school, Mom went back to work at the firm. The rest of it is history.

Veronica was almost a dead ringer physically for her mother; her long hair that was a sandy color and hazel eyes, curvy figure and medium height and mild skin tone. She was just as beautiful as her mother and just as smart; if not smarter than her as well. Veronica was proud of herself in the aspect that she was moved up a grade. She would have been starting her eighth grade year this but felt bored and tested to start ninth grade instead. She knew that this would be a challenge, but would take the challenge and run with the opportunity.

Dad was the relaxed one; the one that you could go to if you really got in trouble. The man known to the world as Gavin "Spinner" Mason had worked at the Dot coffee shop after high school until a friend had caught the place on fire. They had rebuilt the place and Dad worked there for another year, before the owner gave the place to Dad. Dad had turned a coffee shop into one of those trendy restaurants like Applebee's or Friday's but better. There wasn't a night that Spinner's Place wasn't busy. Dad had his sister run the finances of the business (Auntie Kendra was way better at numbers) while Dad was head chef. Even Uncle Lucas was working in the kitchen under Dad. Lucas' daughter and Ronnie's cousin Izzy would work waitstaff when she was home from college. It was a true family affair. Dad had set up some money for charities with what he was making at the restaurant. Mom and Dad always wanted to do more for the community.

If she was a carbon copy of her Mom; Gabriel was a carbon copy of her Dad. Gabe looked a lot like Dad; dark hair spiked with some gel, dark brown eyes and mischievous grin. He was a bit taller than Dad and more physically built. Gabe was a year ahead of her in school and was one of the popular kids. Veronica was always a bit jealous of her brother, but knew that was the way it was. Veronica was the straight A student while Gabe was the B average student; Gabe was an athlete (gymnastics and martial arts) while she was the bookworm. He was friendly with the whole school and she was friendly with the smart kids or the outcasts. She rarely got in trouble while Gabe would get into trouble at least once or twice a month. No matter how they were different; they were close as siblings could be. Mom and Dad didn't treat either one of them differently. If she had some academic competition; the whole family was there to cheer her on. If Gabe had a meet; the whole family would go and cheer him on.

They even made a point to have dinner together as a family at least four times a week.

It was because of these times together; they could tell each other what was going on with their lives. There was no judgment; there was a discussion. They would work together as a family and would succeed as one as well.

"Hey brainiac!"

Veronica let out a scream at her brother's voice. She grabbed the hairbrush off of her dresser and threw it at her brother. The brush found its mark and hit him right in the forehead. Gabe had taken the hit and rolled his eyes up into his head and fell like an oak tree onto her floor. Veronica covered her mouth in shock and her eyes wide in terror. Gabe lay on the floor unmoving. She removed the hands from her mouth and looked at her brother.

"Gabe?" Veronica said in barely a whisper.

"Gabe? Are you okay?" She asked a little louder than before.

Gabe didn't move. Veronica moved to his side and shook him.

"Gabe? I'm sorry that I threw the brush. Are you okay?"

Gabe had popped up into a sitting position on the floor; making Veronica jump back a little. Gabe grinned at her.

"Why yes, I'm doing great. How are you?"

Veronica scowled and pushed him. Gabe rolled on his back and pushed himself onto her bed. He sat on the bed and smiled at her.

"You're a jerk Gabe."

"Sorry about that." Gabe shrugged at her. "I knocked three times but you were spacing out." He laughed a little at her. "Were you thinking of rewriting an entry on Wikipedia that you saw earlier today?"

Veronica stuck her tongue out at him. "No. I was thinking."

"You mean worrying Ronnie." Gabe pointed at her. "You play with your hair when you're worried about something."

Veronica's eyes grew wide. "I'm not worrying about anything." Gabe snorted at her in disbelief.

"Yeah right. I know you little sister and almost all of your mannerisms."

She looked at him annoyed. "Remove your skanky butt off of my bed. I don't need to smell dishpig when I sleep. What did you want anyway?"

Gabe moved off the bed and picked up the brush from the floor. He handed it back to her just as she put her hair in a ponytail.

"Mom wants to talk to us about school tomorrow. She wants to meet in her office."

"Both of us?"

Gabe rolled his eyes. "No sis; just you and your stuffed animals."

Veronica shook her head and followed her brother out of her room and down the stairs. She looked at her brother's back and saw the tattoo that he got for his birthday a few weeks ago. It was filled in black Egyptian Ankh with tribal looking wings. The banner below it said Carpe Diem; Seize the Day.

"It turned out nice Gabe."

He looked over his shoulder with a grin. "Hurt like hell too." Gabe leapt down the last few steps to the main floor. He smiled back at his sister.

"You know Dad would take you to get one on your sixteenth. All you would have to do is ask him. Mom would take you if you didn't want Dad there. Hell I'll go if you want me to go."

Veronica shrugged this time. "I'm not sure what to get."

"Mom always said to get ink that meant something to you."

She looked at him confused. "Mom has a tattoo?"

Gabe nodded. "Three if I remember correctly." The two moved walked across the living room and kitchen. He stopped in front of the office door. "Remind me to ask her again."

Veronica knocked on the door. "Coming in."

Gabe opened the door and held it open for Ronnie. Ronnie walked in and took the chair next to the door. Gabe leaned against the wall next to his sister.

Jane smiled at them. "Took you two long enough." She looked at her son. "What happened to your forehead? There's a mark there."

Gabe shrugged. "Hairbrush."

"Did you scare your sister?"

"She was spacing out. I knocked three times. I ended up shouting at her and she winged me in the head."

"I really thought that I hurt him." Ronnie said. "He didn't move after it hit him."

"I said I was sorry Ma, I swear."

Jane shook her head. "You two will be the death of me." She looked at her son. "Rough day at work?"

"When isn't it when it's ninety-five degrees in the dish room?" Gabe smiled. "At least the water's free. I must have downed a gallon at work. The good news is that I'm no longer dishpig anymore. I'll be waiting again when I work next."

"Dad's okay?" Ronnie asked.

Gabe nodded. "You know how Sundays are Ronnie; he's trying to get out after getting prep ready for Monday. He's got inventory with Aunt Kendra tonight too."

"Shit, I forgot that was tonight." Jane groaned.

"Mom, I'll get us off to school." Gabe said.

Jane nodded. "Thank you for reminding me Gabriel. Your uniforms are washed and dried. They're in the laundry basket. Get what you need for tomorrow tonight."

"What about lunches?" Ronnie asked.

Jane sighed. "You get to buy tomorrow. After tomorrow, you two are on your own. I'm stuck working on an important case this week. Dad will have to work most of the evening shifts with Uncle Lucas taking vacation this week for Izzy."

Both kids nodded at their Mom.

"I'll go over everything for the week then." Jane looked at the two of them. "You can have a friend over on school nights, but they're gone before nine. Make sure that whatever you make for dinner, you make enough for each other. There are a few meals pre-made already. Homework has to be done before you go to bed."

Jane turned to Gabe. "Help your sister out at school. Show her the ropes and answer any of her questions for her without any issues. I know that Degrassi can be a maze. Don't get into trouble in the first week." She got serious at this point. "No girls over at all."

"Really Ma?" Gabe groaned. "That's not fair!"

"Gabriel I'm serious." Jane pointed at him. "No shenanigans."

Gabe looked defeated. Jane turned to Veronica.

"You'll do fine at school. Listen to your brother and learn a lot." Jane sighed. "If there are any issues; let your brother know and if you can't find him go to a teacher or the principal. You know Snake and he'll do what he can." Jane sighed again. "Same goes for you; no boys over at all."

Veronica nodded. "I don't think that will be a problem Mom."

"Ronnie, will you stop that?" Gabe asked. "High school is different. For the most part you won't get picked on. If you do, find me." Gabe chuckled. "If you find a boy that likes you, then definitely find me. I'll talk to him for you."

"Gabriel."

"Sorry Ma." Gabe smiled slightly embarrassed. "Ronnie's just nervous. She was playing with her hair when I knocked the first time."

Ronnie turned and stared at him. "What the hell Gabe?"

Jane smiled and patted her daughter on the knee. "Ronnie I was nervous as hell when I started going to Degrassi. I had a couple of friends when I started, but I made more. You'll meet new friends and have a great time."

"Besides you know me and Tony and Jules. We'll take care of you." Gabe spoke as he was braiding her hair. "Mr. Simpson said that a whole new group of niners are starting this year. You won't be alone sis; trust me."

Ronnie nodded at this. She knew that she wouldn't be alone on her first day.

"Anything else about school?" Both kids shook their heads. "Anything at all?"

Gabe raised his hand. Jane nodded to him. "How many tattoos do you have again?"

Jane smiled. "Let me see how yours is doing." Gabe took his shirt off and turned around. "Looks real good. You've been using the Aqua Pour?"

"Yes Ma."

"Good." Jane smiled. "To answer your question; it's three. I have the heart-shaped lock on my lower back for your Dad. I have each of your names right here." She pointed to the area of skin just above the left breast. "The last one is somewhere that only your Dad will ever see."

Gabe shuddered. "I don't want to know."

Jane grinned. "My own son whom takes after his father and ends up being a prude." Gabe smiled at his Mom. "We'll leave it at that. Goodnight you two and get some sleep. Dad will pick you two up after school."

Gabe walked up to his Mom and kissed her on the cheek. Ronnie hugged her and placed a kiss on the same cheek. Gabe opened the door and let Ronnie out. He shut the door and the two headed for the stairs. Ronnie got to her door and watched her brother go to his door. She cleared her throat, which got his attention.

"Did…did you really mean that?" Gabe raised an eyebrow in confusion. "You know; about me hanging out with you guys? Did you really mean it?"

Gabe smiled at her. "Of course Ronnie. You're okay in my book and Jules loves and adores you. She thinks you're cute." Gabe moved closer to his sister. "Besides didn't she tell you that you two could talk about girl things if you needed to?"

Ronnie nodded. "She did."

"Then she meant it." Gabe shrugged. "If I've learned one thing from the Hogart kids is that they mean what they say." He pulled her into a hug. "I'll take care of you. Now go to sleep and we'll take care of tomorrow when it's here."

She smiled and thanked him. Gabe grabbed his clothes and went into the bathroom. Ronnie went to her bed and lay down. She started to get sleepy when she smelled a foul odor coming from the comforter on her bed.

"Damn it Gabe!" She shouted through the wall; pounding on it at the same time. "Now I have to wash my blankets!"

She started to take off the comforter and grumbled. She swore that she heard Gabe laughing the entire time.

Not too bad for a start. I know that it really sounds like a "perfect family" to most people. It's a little weird, but it's set up for a reason. Look forward to the second chapter to be up in a week or so.