Hello peoples! I'm sooo sorry for the wait :( I started school, (High School) and I have been getting no free time whatsoever. But I'm happy to give you this exciting conclusion, and I hope you enjoy it. (Don't forget, this IS NOT the last chapter. The FINAL chapter is the epilogue, coming soon. This is just the conclusion to the story.) Well, read on! :)

House of Graduation

Nina's POV, Saturday, The Day of Graduation

You are educated. Your certification is in your degree. You may think of it as the ticket to the good life. Let me ask you to think of an alternative. Think of it as your ticket to change the world. ~Tom Brokaw

I could hear my heart beating fast. Today was the day. The day I had dreamed of since I was little. The start of a new beginning.

Everyone sat around nervously in the common room. Mara and Fabian were going over their valedictorian speeches in their heads, and Jerome was wondering if maybe, just maybe his parents would come. Alfie was not making even a single joke, as he looked around nervously. Amber was making sure there isn't a single crease in her dress, or a strand of flyaway hair. Mick was squeezing Joy's hand hopefully, as she leans her anxious head on his shoulder. Patricia was tapping her leg quickly and nervously, as she stares away deep in thought. And me, I was daydreaming about my future, my hopes, and my dreams.

The doorbell shook up everyone.

"I'll get it!" I called nervously.

I ran up to the door and opened it.

"Gran!" I yelled excitedly and pulled her into a huge hug.

"You made it!"

"Now why would I miss my favorite granddaughters graduation?" She smiled.

"I'm your only granddaughter!" I poked her jokingly.

Just then Fabian walked up.

"Speaking of my favorite granddaughter, there's my favorite soon to be grandson in law!"

She hugged Fabian.

"Gran!" I blushed furiously.

Fabian waved his hand.

"It's cool."

"Come in!" I led my gran into the common room.

"Everyone, you remember my gran?" I said.

"Heck, yeah! Wazzup?" Alfie gave her a high five.

I giggled.

"Hello, Amber nice to see you again." She said.

"You too, Ms. Martin." Amber smiled.

My face spread into a huge grin. Everything was falling into place.

Ding, dong!

I whirled around and opened the door to find Fabian's parents.

"Mr. and Mrs. Rutter!" I exclaimed.

"Oh, hello Nina dear! It's certainly a pleasure to see you again!" Fabian's mum grinned.

"Nina." Fabian's dad said.

"Mum, dad!" Fabian pulled them into a group hug.

"So glad you could make it!"

"Wouldn't miss it for the world. I even have the video camera to record our little Fabes do his valedictorian thang!"

"Mom!" Fabian blushed. "Stop trying to be cool! And I'm a CO! Valedictorian. With Mara remember?" Fabian hissed.

"Oh, yes." Fabian's mum grinned. "For sure's!"

"Mom…" Fabian groaned.

"Heh. 'For sure's'!" I quoted.

Fabian playfully smack me on the arm and led me away. The whole house was filled with joyous reunions of family.

Then all of a sudden the room fell silent. A woman with big dirty blonde hair and smoky eyes walked in. She looked like she was pulled right out of a New Jersey style magazine.

"Mom?" Jerome stepped out of the huddle of stares and whispers.

"Jerome, honey." She reached in for a hug but Jerome took a step back.

"What are you doing here? And where's dad?" He raised a shaky eyebrow.

"I'd thought I'd come see my son graduate from high school. If that's okay…"

"Mom, can I speak to you outside?" He said silently.

Everyone awkwardly continued talking and Mara walked up.

"Jerome, I…" Mara put a hand on his arm.

Jerome shook it off.

"Later Mara. Okay?"

She nodded then hurried off to find her family.

Jerome's POV

I led my mom outside, and I couldn't help myself.

"Mom, what the hell are you doing here?" I shouted.

"What do you mean?" She asked innocently.

"All those years," I continued with a whisper, "You never once came to see me. And now…"

"Now's different honey. I'm different!" She responded.

"How so?" I raised an eyebrow.

"You're asking me? I thought for sure you'd say no way right away…"

"Maybe I'm "quote" different too, and then some." I scoffed.

"Jerome, honey…" She put a hand on my arm.

I started to tense up but then I relaxed.

"You can come, but I'm not going back to you." I said quietly.

She then nodded slowly and then walked away.

Nina's POV

"Alright, dearies, everyone get together!" Trudy called from the main hallway.

Everyone groaned but giggled at the same time.

"Okay, first let's do couples. Nina and Fabian?" She announced.

Everyone stepped back and rolled their eyes.

Fabian swooped me up into a princess style carrying position. I giggled loudly and Trudy snapped the picture. Next, Alfie and Amber got together and acted like gangsters while standing back to back. Then Mara grabbed Jerome's hand and forced him in front of the camera where she kissed his cheek and he wore a stupid grin. Mick and Joy threw their arms around each other and smiled. Lastly, Patricia made a funny model pose.

"Alright everyone, group photo!" Trudy called.

Everyone got together and we held and laughed with one another as if we were family, which we pretty much are.

Later, at the Ceremony :)

Me and Fabian walked into the crowded hallway hand in hand.

"So, are you ready to graduate?" I asked lightly.

He smiled brightly.

"Heck yeah."

We stared at each other for a long endless moment until…

"Students! Please proceed to your alphabetical formation immediately!" Mrs. Andrew's voice rang over the loud speaker.

"Well, this is it." He smiled at me and looked at me one more time before taking off down the endless hall of students.

I sighed and stepped into the waterfall of gathered students beginning to form.

The faint music started to play and we all followed one another into the stuffy gym. I saw my gran and Fabian's parent's wave excitedly at me.

"Students of…" And from there I kind of tuned out. I wasn't big into these kinds of ceremonies, especially all the long speeches. Time seemed to drone on and on, and I saw people give their speeches and teacher hand out awards and other stuff. Then, it was finally time for the valedictorian speech. Mara and Fabian walked up to the podium and I shot Mara a thumbs up and blew Fabian a quick kiss.

"Hello fellow students and parents. I welcome you here tonight on the behalf of the class of 2014!" Mara started.

"We've been through so much in the past few years, and it's been great to spend it with all of you." Fabian continued.

"And with all the most frightening experiences, we still managed to stay cool and hold our ground." Mara smiled.

"From mysteries, to school work, to senior pranks, we've all gotten through this together." Fabian grinned.

I smiled to myself.

The two continued on for a couple more minutes then finally concluded.

"So on the behalf of the class of 2014, I congratulate every one of you on your win. Congrats!" They said together and everyone engaged in an enormous amount of applause.

Soon, we all walked up to get our diplomas. When I got up there, I saw my gran shed a tear, and that made me smile.

After the Ceremony

After the ceremony, and receiving flowers from my gran, I looked for Fabian through the crowd. Where could that boy be? I walked into the mess hall and it was thankfully empty. I sat down quietly and leaned back. Oh, what a day. My life is just slipping away from me isn't it? And then the music started. I turned around and saw Fabian and the rest of the Anubis gang walk up.

"Half the world is sleeping,

half the world's awake

half can hear their hearts beat

half just hear them break."

Fabian sang and held his hand out to me and we started dancing.

"I am but a traveler, in most every way

Ask me what you want...to know."

Amber, smiling, continued and danced with us.

"What a journey it has been

And the end is not in sight

But the stars are out tonight

and they're bound to guide my way."

Mara smiled, laughing.

"When they're shining on my life

I can see a better day

I won't let the darkness in,

what a journey it has been."

Jerome continued and took Mara's hand.

"I have been to sorrow

I have been to bliss

Where I'll be tomorrow,

I can only guess…"

Joy continued, with her beautiful voice, and we shared a secret smile.

"Through the darkest desert

Through the deepest snow,

Forward always forward, I go…"

Mick took Joy's hand and they sung together.

"What a journey it has been

and the end is not in sight

But the stars are out tonight

and they're bound to guide my way."

Alfie added, trying to sound as silly as possible.

"When they're shining on my life

I can see a better day

I won't let the darkness in,

what a journey it has been..."

Patricia continued with a smile.

"Forward, always forward...

Onward, always up...

Catching every drop of hope

In my empty cup."

Amber and Patricia sang together in a lovely harmony.

"What a journey it has been

And the end is not in sight

But the stars are out tonight

and they're bound to guide my way."

I added finally, after their nudging, because they know that that is my favorite song. I know the words by heart.

And finally, we all took each other's hands and sung together…

"When they're shining on my life

I can see a better day

I won't let the darkness in,

what a journey it has been..."

"What a journey it has been..."

We all pulled each other together into one tight group hug and spent and endless moment of laughing, and crying. We may not live together any more, but we sure as anything aren't splitting up.

After the moment ended, I pulled Fabian aside and kissed him.

"Thank you." I smiled.

"Anything for my Nina." He traced his finger along my chin.

"Fabian, what will happen now?" I couldn't help but asking.

"I don't know, and I never will know till it happens. But as Orrin Hatch once said, Graduation is not the end; it's the beginning."

And he pulled my lips to his and I knew that whatever happened next, wherever we would go, I knew, it would be, simply amazing.

And that's it! Omg this has been an amazing ride, and thanks for letting me write for you! I know I haven't updated in well like, forever, but I hope you have it in your heart to forgive me. Also, the song that they sung is called Journey by Lea Salonga. I suggest you look it up on youtube, it's an amazing song, and it's guaranteed to make you shed a tear. (Listen to it and imagine the Anubis people singing it!) Well, I love you all, and the epilogue will be coming soon!

Love all of you, and, please review!