Note: I do not own The Middle. No copyright infringement intended.

Note: There are references in this chapter to things that happened in my previous story, "Sue's Story Continues." You don't have to read that story first, but it may help. This chapter was also inspired in part by a scene in The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet, the novelization of one of my other favorite shows. If you haven't watched The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, head on over to YouTube and check it out.

They were a few weeks into the fall semester. Sue and Sean saw each other as often as their hectic schedules would allow. Most of their dates consisted of meeting for coffee or lunch between classes, or ordering takeout and studying together at one of their apartments. When Lexie went home to visit her parents one weekend, Sue and Sean celebrated having her apartment to themselves…by ordering takeout and studying together.

They'd been working on their laptops for a couple hours when Sean checked his email. "Ugh!" he groaned. "I can't believe I forgot!"

"What is it?" Sue asked.

"Homecoming weekend at Orson High. It's next month." Sue didn't need the reminder. She loved homecoming and had already requested time off from work so she could go to the game. Before she could volunteer that information, Sean continued. "This was the 5-year anniversary of our graduation, so some of my classmates have organized activities for that weekend. I got their emails while I was in Ghana, but," he shrugged, "I was a little busy, and I forgot to respond."

"That's funny. You never forgot to answer my emails!"

"I have my priorities!" He smiled before returning his attention to the computer. "I'm forwarding this to you." When the notification popped up on her screen, Sue opened the email. Then Sean distracted her by taking her hand in his. "Ms. Q, will you do me the honor of attending homecoming weekend with me?"

"Hmm. Let me think about it," she teased.

"Go ahead," he grinned. "Check out the itinerary. Do you think you'll be able to take time off that weekend?"

"Well, actually, I already…" She'd been skimming the email; she came to a stop when she reached the list of confirmed attendees. There it was: Darrin McGrew.

"Suzy Q?"

"Actually, I…" she paused, trying to decide what to say. Finally, "I think Axl mentioned something about this. He said he can't come, because he's having to save all his vacation time for the holidays. I'll, um, I'll ask Brooke if I can take time off." She flashed him an overly bright smile before re-focusing on her computer.

"Sue?" Sean asked, concerned. He could tell something was wrong, but he had no clue what it might be.

She kissed him on the cheek. "I'll let you know something as soon as I can. But I really need to finish this essay tonight. I want us to have time to actually go out to eat tomorrow!"

"Right," Sean agreed. He looked at Sue a moment longer before returning to his studies.

Sue hadn't been able to sleep. By 3 a.m., she was sitting on the sofa in the living room, staring at the email on her screen. Darrin McGrew. She hadn't spoken to him since the day she'd ended their engagement. Neither Axl nor Sean had mentioned Darrin to her in the years since, so she had no idea if either of them still spoke to him. And while she assumed that Darrin knew she and Sean were dating (after all, Orson was a small town and gossip traveled fast), she wasn't sure she was ready to face him.

"Suzy Q? What are you doing up?" Sean's voice came from directly behind her. Startled, Sue slammed the laptop screen closed, smashing a few of her fingers in the process.

"Ouch!" she cried, trying to shake the sting out of her hand. Sean walked around and sat beside her. He set the laptop aside, then gently took her hand and kissed it.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm sorry! I didn't mean to wake you. I couldn't sleep, so…"

"So you came in here to check emails," he finished. "You were looking at the one I sent you?" She nodded, biting her lip. "Sue, you've always loved homecoming, ever since we were kids. But you don't seem excited about this one. Is everything okay? Are you upset I didn't mention it sooner? Because I really did forget about it."

"Oh, no! It's not that. It's just…" She knew she needed to bring up Darrin, but she wasn't sure how. So she tried the roundabout approach. "Sean, you and I had very different experiences in high school. You were always so smart, and so good at everything you tried, and so popular, and everybody loved you! And I..." His concerned expression flustered her even more. "It's just…the game is one thing. I mean, 'Yay! Homecoming game!' But this is a class reunion for you. And the only people in your class who knew me, they knew me as Axl's little sister, and as…" She paused, shoring up her nerve. "And as Darrin's girlfriend. He's going to be there. What is he going to think when we show up together? What is everyone going to think?"

Sean was annoyed with himself; he should have foreseen that Sue would be anxious about running into Darrin, and addressed it sooner. He smiled reassuringly as he laced his fingers through hers. "Sue, I can tell you what everyone there is going to think. They're going to think that I'm crazy in love with you. Because I am. And they're going to think that I want you with me always. Because I do. You know that, right?" She nodded. "As for Darrin: he knows. He's known all along."

"Really?"

"Really. I went to see him, after I realized I was in love with you. I told him that I'd decided to go to St. Matthew's to be near you, and that I intended to pursue you."

"What did he say?"

"Truthfully, he didn't seem all that surprised." Sean smiled at Sue's shocked expression. "We, um, we had a…disagreement, after you two broke up. I didn't like that he'd proposed to you, and he didn't like that I asked you to your prom a few weeks later. He accused me of breaking the 'bro code.'" Sean shook his head. "Even though, at the time, I'd asked you as a friend…I think he and I both realized that I cared more about you than I did about him. We patched things up a few weeks later, but our friendship was never the same. And we don't have much in common anymore. Besides, you know, the obvious." He made a face. "In any case, I felt I owed it to him to be honest about my feelings for you. 'Bro code' and all." Sue smiled. "I, uh, I should have told you that sooner, but," he shrugged, "talking about him and about your relationship with him is awkward for me, too, you know?"

Sue nodded, then asked, "So was he…okay?"

"Yeah, I think so. He's married now, and he seems really happy. He said he wanted you to be happy, too. He warned me to treat you well." Sean saw Sue sag with relief, and that relieved him. In a more upbeat tone, he continued, "He also told me I should take you to California. I wasn't sure what he meant by that!"

"Oh!" Sue explained, "I'd told him there were a lot of things I wanted to do before I got married. Like going to college and going to California."

"Ah! Well then," Sean put his arm around Sue's shoulders and pulled her close, "we'll have to make that trip happen!"

"Really?!" Sue's face lit up. "You want to go on a trip together?"

"Are you kidding? You and me, going somewhere fun, doing fun things together, with no family, friends, or neighbors watching our every move…it sounds amazing! California may have to wait for a while, until I'm no longer a broke med school student. But we should definitely plan something for after your graduation." He waggled his eyebrows, "And maybe something before then, too!"

Sue snuggled close to him. His playful mood, along with his story about Darrin, had reassured her. "Sean?"

"Hmmm?" he murmured, brushing a kiss on her forehead.

"I already asked for time off so I can go to the homecoming game. I'll ask to take the whole weekend off. And," she said, stroking his chest, "I really like the idea of a post-graduation trip. And a pre-graduation trip."

"Perfect! And now that all that's settled…" He smiled and tipped her face up to his. A few moments later, he pressed his forehead to hers. "Is everything okay now?"

"What?" she asked dreamily. "Oh! Right! Yes! Everything is…perfect!"

"Good!" he responded. "Then let's go back to bed."

"I'll be there in a minute. I need to shut all this down first." She pulled back and gestured to her laptop.

"Fine," he sighed. He started to stand, but then paused. "I didn't mention it earlier, but I really like your shirt. Though it does look familiar!"

Sue giggled as she looked down at his Notre Dame shirt, which she had confiscated earlier and was currently wearing. "It's mine now! And…"

"And I'm never getting it back," he responded. "I know how it works. And it's okay, because it looks better on you anyway." He kissed her again. Then, "C'mon. Can't everything else wait?"

Sue shook her head. "I'll be there in minute!" She smiled as he headed back to her room. She picked up her laptop and typed a response to his email: Sean, I am crazy in love with you and want to be with you always, too. I would love to attend homecoming weekend with you. Suzy Q. After hitting "send," she turned off her computer and the lights, then followed him to her room.

Homecoming weekend ended up being a wonderful time for them both. Sean got to catch up with old friends, and Sue got to make new ones. Their first encounter with Darrin and his wife was a bit awkward, but there were no regrets. Sue had no doubt that Sean was the right person for her, and she could tell Darrin felt the same way about his wife. After the game ended, the two couples joined several other former classmates at a local bar. They chatted for a while, but eventually Sue pulled Sean aside for a private toast.

"To our future together," she said, raising her glass. "Together," he agreed, clinking his glass against hers.