Epilogue: 7 years later...

Joe walked across the stage, got his diploma, shook hands, and then walked proudly to the microphone, where he would address the crowed. He smiled wide as he looked down in front and saw Ken. After the applause died down, he finally was ready to speak to everyone.

"Hello." He said with a smile. "I am proud to be this years graduation speaker. Those of you who know me know the journey I have taken to get here. It has taken a long time, a lot of patience of loved ones, and a lot of soul searching, but after meeting the one I love, they made it so easy for me to be myself."

Joe knew most of the people in the audience besides Ken were imagining him talking about a girl, and that made him a little sad, but he knew Ken understood. He had debated coming out then and there and explaining what he really meant by all that, and if Ken wasn't there maybe he would have, but he didn't want Ken to be swept up in the middle of anything, so he went on.

"I have a job lined up. I'm very lucky for that. I'm sure some of you do too, but for those of you that don't, I want to say to you, whatever happens, don't give up. No matter how dim things may get in your future, don't be discouraged, just keep an open mind and something good will happen."

Everyone stood up and cheered, but cheering loudest was Ken, who knew just exactly what he was talking about. After the rest of the ceremony and a graduating party inside the college, Ken looked at his watch.

"Hey Joe, we better get going." Joe frowned.

"Hey, if you want to stay here and keep celebrating I've got no complaints, whatever makes you happy makes me happy."

Joe grinned a little, and they started walking out. "It's not that. I just want to make sure you really want to go. I mean, I don't want you to be uncomfortable."

Ken shook his head. "Are you serious? I love you, and no one else."

Joe nodded. "I know that." He stopped and kissed him, now that they were outside away from the crowed. "But that doesn't mean it wouldn't be awkward."

"It's fine I promise, lets go!"

Izzy walked into Willis' office at the center.

"Hey honey." Izzy called, and Willis smiled. "We better get going!"

"I know, but first, come here and look at this email I got!"

"Who is it from?" He asked as he walked around the desk.

"Remember Kouji from high-school?"

Izzy blinked. "Who tried to beat me up? No that slipped my mind... why did he email us?"

"Take a look." Willis said, and pointed at the screen.

Izzy read the letter.

Dear Izzy, Willis, and everyone else I knew from High School that works there,

It's been a long time, and I'm probably not the first person you would have expected to hear from, and let's be honest, probably the last person you'd want to hear from. But I'm emailing you because... someone in my family came out to me a few years ago. Someone I was really close with, and, I always assumed that being gay was only for people not in their right mind, and for sickos. But... I know this guy, he's a really great guy. Then I noticed the publicity you guys were getting, all the good you were doing. Not just with gays figuring out who they are, and helping others accept them, but, you have also donated a lot of time and money to other organizations around the city. You help the homeless and the needy. You are showing no discrimination to who you help, you accept everyone, and that's what you are trying to find in return, acceptance. And I grant you that now. In return I would like something too. Forgiveness. Can you ever forgive me for how I treated you? I hope you can... and if there's anything I can do to help... please let me know.

Kouji

Izzy blinked. "Wow."

Willis smiled. "You really did a lot of good here. In a way, I wonder if my parent's faking my suicide was a good thing."

Izzy just stared. "You CAN'T be serious."

"Well not that I'm happy about it, but think about it. Where would we all be right now? I mean, we might still be together, but Tai would still be homophobic, Joe would still be in the closet, and Ken would still be trying to break up Davis and TK."

"Speaking of them, we really need to go."

"Yeah. But I love you, Izzy."

"I love you more, Willis."

They kissed, and then they walked out the door and looked over at a desk.

"Hey Sam, are you sure you don't want to go to the wedding?" Izzy asked.

"Nah." he said. "Thanks though, but someone needs to keep an eye on things here."

"But we have other employees." Willis noted. "You really can go."

He just shook his head. "Nah, I'm sure."

Izzy nodded, and they walked out and got in the car. Izzy sighed.

"What's wrong, Izzy?" Willis asked, as he put his hand on top of Izzy's hand.

"I just feel bad for Sam. He seems to be recovered, but he doesn't ever want to leave work, he never wants to go socialize."

"You gotta understand," Willis said. "Sam missed a big chunk of his life, he missed being a teenager, and that's when you usually figure out just who you are, but he didn't get that. So now he doesn't know how to talk to people."

"I just wish we could do something to help him."

"We have helped him." Willis pointed out. "He may have a workaholic life now, but it's more than he would have had otherwise."

Izzy nodded. "I guess your right."

Willis grinned. "Of course I'm right!"

Izzy shook his head. "We spend too much time around Tai."

After a while they pulled into the full parking lot, and walked in. They saw Joe and Ken just infront of them.

"You made it!" Izzy called. "How was graduation?"

"It was great. Ready for a few weeks of vacation before I start working."

Izzy nodded. "Definitely! You deserve that."

They walked in and sat down in the big room with chairs facing the front. Izzy looked over and saw Tai's Mom.

"Hey Mrs. Kamiya! How's it going?" Izzy waved.

She walked over to the pair. "Oh it's going great. I just got engaged."

"Good for you!" Izzy smiled. "I'm glad you're going to be happy again."

She sighed with a smile. "I wouldn't trade those years though. We had two wonderful children. I'm glad they are here."

Izzy nodded. "Is Kari here?"

"Of course." She nodded. "She wouldn't miss this."

Just then a female priest came out and addressed the group.

"Hello everyone, If you please take your seats we'll get started."

Everyone sat down and an organist started playing. Everyone turned to the back to see Mr. Kamiya and Mr. Motomiya walking their sons down the Isle. Tai and Davis were in matching black tuxedo's, and were both smiling wide. When they got to the front of the room, they split on separate sides. Of the room. Izzy couldn't help but smile at the thought of them being a couple. That would be too much to take.

Everyone turned around again to see Mr. Ishida walking in his two sons. Matt and TK were wearing matching white suits, to contrast the black. A clever idea. They walked up and stood by their partners.

The priest addressed the crowed. "You know, nothing makes God happier than when two people... any two people... come together in love. Friends, family, we are gathered here today to join Tai and Matt, as well as Davis and TK in holy matrimony. These two couples have been through a lot over the years, but they have gotten through it all. Davis and TK had a little bit of an easier time, but Tai and Matt had to work a little bit more. They've really worked hard at their relationship, but now, thanks to the activist work by their dear friends Izzy and Willis, they finally are legally allowed to get married, and after all the things they have been through, they are ready to make a full commitment."

He looked over at Tai and Matt. "Tai, Matt, do you take each other to be your lawfully wedded partners, to love each other for better or for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in heath till death parts you?"

They both nodded. "I do." They both said.

Then the priest looked over at Davis and TK. "And do you take each other to be your lawfully wedded partners, to love each other for better or for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in heath till death parts you?"

"We do." They said.

After the exchanging of the rings, Tai looked over at the priest.

"Before you finish the ceremony, I have something I'd like to say."

The priest nodded, and Tai continued. "Matt... you have been extremely patient with me throughout the years, I don't know what I would have done without you. You have put up with so much... and I hope I can spend the rest of my life making it up to you. I love you."

Matt shook his head. "Shut up Tai. I love you too. And the trouble you put me through was all made up the night you said you loved me."

Tai grinned evilly. "Yeah because that was the night we-."

"Continue!" Matt said frantically to the priest, who nodded.

"By the powers vested in me, I now pronounce you equal partners, in a loving marriage. You may now kiss."

And both couples kissed, and everyone cheered.

As everyone was clearing out, TK kissed Davis again and said with a smile, "You didn't have anything to say to me like that?"

Davis just looked with that blank stare of his. "But we only had that one fight about Ken..."

TK just chuckled. "You never change. I love you this way, Davis."

"I love you too TK."

And then they hugged each other.

At the reception Izzy saw everyone in the room that had been effected by the GSA, well everyone but Sam... He couldn't help be a little proud of himself. Because of standing up for what was right, countless lives were put on track, and though things weren't perfect, It was obvious to him that over time, It gets better.

The End

I hope that was a good ending, and I hope everyone enjoyed it.