AN: Thanks for the continued support, here is the next chapter.
Chapter 45: Gradation
2 years later
Sitting in the bleaches in the high school gymnasium, parents were watching the 2010 senior class get their diplomas, and among the happy/proud parents were none other than Sara and Grissom, along with other family members that could be here, which have grown even more through the years, bringing Maria's total of grandchildren to 14 at the moment.
When it came for the class valedictorian speech, the Grissom family stood up and started cheering when they saw Billy step up to the podium, and after a funny joke about his family, which they had been the last to stop cheering, he cleared his throat before he started his speech, and it could honestly have rivaled his mothers when she had to make the speech at her graduation, in terms of emotional/impactful.
And at one point during his speech, Sara turned to her husband and whispered. "You hearing this, babe?"
He nodded with a smile and tears in his eyes. "Loud and clear, honey."
After Grissom had the surgery on his ears, it turned out to be successful, but they'll be the first to admit it was a very nervous time for them during and after the surgery, mostly because he knew what he would be missing the most if his hearing got worse until he couldn't hear anymore, his family's laughs and the sound of their voices, so the first thing he heard when they finally took the bandages off his ears to test how the surgery went, was each of their laughs, and it brought their father/husband to tears in an instant. He was beyond thankful for this second chance at hearing, and never took a pleasant sound for granted.
She kissed his cheek before their attention went back to their son, proud of the young man he was becoming.
After Billy's speech was over and they showed a slide show of the senior class through the years that they were here, they were officially announced that they had graduated. Then once the hats were thrown in the air in celebration, they hand shook/hugged one another (Or at least most of them did), not knowing when or if they'll ever see one another again once they leave the gym, of course expect the ones that were going/doing parties later tonight.
When Billy and Vanessa, whom got third in the their class, met up, they hugged one another before she cupped her boyfriend's cheek with a smile. "I'm so proud of you, baby, that was an excellent speech."
He smiled with his blue eyes bright. "Thank you."
After they hugged again, they pull back and he spoke after clearing his throat. "Listen, I'll pick up at Lydia's (Vanessa's friend) place later. I'm going to see my family."
She nodded in understanding before asking. "Are you sure you don't want come over?"
Her and her friends were going to have a graduation party, which most of the guests were going to be girls, outside of some of their boyfriends of course.
"Nah, you know parties aren't really my thing, besides there is something I need to do."
"Ok, I'll see you later. Love you."
"Love you too."
They peck on the lips before he walked away while she started hugging a few more of their classmates.
When he finally made it through the big groups of people/families, he smiled at his family, who were still at the bleachers, then his siblings, 9 year old Faith, and almost 7 year old Even, rushed up to him in happiness.
He hugged them both with a chuckle and a kiss on their heads, then by the time he stood up, his parents were in front of him, and he saw so much emotion in their eyes, which was causing his eyes to water, and he shook his head. "Please don't make me cry, especially here of all places."
They chuckled before Sara shook her head before cupping her son's cheek. "We can't help it, besides, believe me, you are not the only senior who is trying not to cry right now." Then Sara gets in a more serious mode. "I'm so proud of you, honey. I love you."
Billy nodded before he brings her in his arms. "Thank you mom, and I love you too."
"You're welcome."
After mother and son pull back, Sara steps to the side so Grissom could take her place standing in front of their son, and when father and son's eyes met, there was even more emotion, and the younger one tried to speak. "Dad, I uh...I..."
But Grissom cuts him off as he cupped his son's cheek with a bright smile. "It's ok son, I love you too, and I am so damn proud of you. I can't wait to see what you do next, no matter what it is."
Before Billy had a chance to speak, Grissom brings him in his arms for a hug, which Billy proudly hugs him back.
Once they pull back from the embrace, Billy spoke again. "Speaking of what I want to do next, I've made a decision, I'm going to take that cooking internship in Paris."
When Billy was old enough to start working, he took a job at the same restaurant Stephanie manages, which he started as just a dishwasher so there wasn't any sign of favoritism (Even though Stephanie felt he was a better cook, at his age, than some of the ones that's been there), then as he got older and she gave him more responsibilities in the kitchen, he started to learn from the different chefs that she brought in through the years, and one of them happened to be French, which was his favorite to learn from, so when the chef, who had obvious connections in the 'cooking' world, wanted to go back to Paris, France, asked if Billy was interested in going overseas for a two year internship.
While he saw no surprises on their faces, Billy still felt like he had to explain. "It's an opportunity I can't pass up, you know how many chefs would jump at..."
Sara, the parent who Billy thought would take it the hardest, just smiled with a nod, surprisingly no tears. "We know."
Billy actually looked surprised. "Really? How did you..."
Grissom cut him off with a smile. "The look in your eyes when you first told us about it, it had excitement/passion in them, and that's something you can't turn your back on."
Sara also chimed in. "It was the same look in your father's eyes when he started his career, and he's right."
Billy started to smile a little more as he asked. "And you're really ok that I do this?"
Sara sighed this time. "Of course we are going to miss you like crazy, but your father and I made a promise that wherever your dreams take you in this world, especially if it's something that truly makes you happy, then we won't stop you on making that dream come true."
He took his mother's hand and reassured her. "It's only for two years, besides there are phone calls and it's not like you can't visit, which I hope you do a few times."
Sara then nodded as she squeezed her son's hand. "You better believe it, you're not getting rid of us, no matter how far you go."
After around of chuckling and another hug between parents and son, they stepped to the side so Billy could move towards Stephanie, someone, outside of parents, he loved very much and looked up to, and even though he knew she was more a cousin than aunt because of biology, he still saw her more of an aunt. That bond between them was as strong as it's ever been.
They smile at one another, then Billy asked. "And when I do come back, I hope that job offer is still available."
With tears in her eyes, so proud of the young man that made her feel whole again, Stephanie nodded. "There will always be a spot open for you in the kitchen, whenever you're ready."
They get into a hug as he whispered. "Thank you Aunt Stephanie, I love you."
"I love you too, sweetie."
Later that night
Once Billy, who was in a suit and tie, stopped his vehicle in front of Lydia's house, he pulled out his phone from his pocket and sent a text to Vanessa, letting her know he was there, then after it was sent, he looked at the photos of the two of them as his mind went back in time, which it seemed like it happened yesterday.
Flashback
Two years ago
(Two days after meeting one another)
Billy was standing at his cooking station in the Home Economics classroom, when he heard Vanessa's voice as she walked into the room. "Ok, I'm here an hour early and haven't ate any breakfast like you said, so what's going on?"
Billy smiled. "We are in the Home Ec. classroom, and what do we do in here? Well, I'm going to cook you breakfast."
Vanessa stopped in front of his cooking station, looking shocked. "Excuse me? Cook me breakfast, here?"
Billy nodded as he explained. "I figured I only had three choices to choose to prove to you that I can cook, one, I could have showed up at your house, but I didn't know where you lived, and even if I did, your parents would probably think I was crazy."
Before Billy could continue, Vanessa cleared her throat. "My Brother, it's just me and my older brother."
Billy could see the sadness in her eyes when she said that, and as much as he wanted to know everything about her, he decided he'll learn more another time, then he looked at her with sympathy as he continued. "Two, I could have asked you over to my place, but then you would more than likely would have been bombarded with a lot of questions."
She then smirked. "Or you getting teased."
He chuckled with a nod. "Or that." She chuckled, him feeling the sound go right to his heart as he finished. "And Three, here, since I know just cooking something at home and giving it to you wouldn't have proved anything, you would probably think I cheated, despite how many times I would tell you I didn't."
Vanessa couldn't help but be impressed at how far he would go just to show that he was really serious, and she smiled. "I can't deny that I am impressed by your planning, but are you allowed to do this?"
He smirked. "Probably not."
Vanessa gasped. "Billy!"
He chuckled while shaking his head before reassuring her. "I'm joking, it's ok, I asked and Mrs. Rodriguez gave me permission, I just had to bring the ingredients from home, so what can I cook for you? I got stuff for pancakes, French toast, bacon and eggs..."
Vanessa cuts him off. "What about a ham & cheese Omelet?"
Billy smiled, his blue eyes sparkling, which caused her heart to skip a beat. "An omelet kind of woman, I like it. Coming right up."
As she watched his every move, she could see the smoothness of his transition between tasks, showing that what he was doing wasn't giving him much thought, but that could only mean he practiced, which he did have time if he was this serious on proving her wrong.
She mentally shook her head and silently yelled at herself for not giving him the benefit of the doubt, it was just hard to trust people these days, especially
after losing her parents in a car accident three years ago.
Her thoughts get interrupted when Billy's voice was heard. "Hey, you ok?"
She cleared her throat and nodded. "Yeah, just zoned out there a bit." She then asked. "So, who got you into cooking?" She then smirked, she just couldn't help it. "If you can really cook."
He chuckled. "I see you're still doubting, it's ok, just you wait." She chuckled before he continued after clearing his throat. "And from my dad actually."
"Really?"
"Yeah, I mean my mom can cook, but, my dad does the majority of it, he also likes to try out new recipes from time to time."
She eyed him as she asked. "And why do I have a feeling you do too?"
He smiled shyly, which only made Vanessa fall for him even more, before replying. "Guilty, and before you ask, no, I don't get it right all the time, but the support of my parents inspires me to keep trying."
Vanessa smiled warmly. "You're family sounds nice."
His eyes get brighter, thinking of his family. "While it may not sound cool for me to say this, they are truly the best, I couldn't ask for better."
She whispered with another smile. "I won't tell." He chuckled then she asked again. "Can you tell me about them, any siblings?"
While Billy continued his prepping then cooking, he told her about his siblings and parents, while she hung on to every word as she continued to watch his every move, starting to believe this boy was for real each second, which in a way didn't help matters because she was falling hard and fast for the first time in her life.
Once he was done cooking, he turned the fire off, placed the omelet on a paper plate, grabbed a fork, then spoke as he handed her the items. "And to answer your last question, they've been together since they were my age. And fun fact, my dad use to cook my mom breakfast before school about two times a week."
After Grissom cooked Sara her first breakfast since they became a couple, and how happy it made her, despite knowing he didn't have to do it, he wanted to keeping doing it, if anything just to see that beautiful look in her eyes, so he would cook for her two times a week, and he did until they graduated high school. Then when they started living together, he picked up that past tradition, only this time, it was every morning.
She grabbed the items from him with a shocked look. "Wow, you don't hear many love stories like that these days."
He took a breath and nodded in agreement, but did mention. "Well, my whole family has a lot of those stories."
She cut into her omelet with a smile. "You know what? I don't why, but somehow I don't doubt that."
He just chuckled and watched her lift up her fork that had some omelet on it, then after putting it in her mouth, she immediately closed her eyes at the taste and exclaimed. "Oh my god, this is freaking amazing. I'm never doubting your cooking skills again."
His heart raced as he asked with a that 'Grissom' signature eye raise. "So, this isn't my first time cooking for you?"
She opened her eyes, and as they remained connected, their connection only growing as she replied with a growing smile. "If you play your cards right, Billy Grissom."
He smiled shyly in return before he started cleaning up while she ate as they continued on with small talk, getting to know one another and only falling deeper.
End of Flashback
As he was coming out of his thoughts, the passenger door opened and Vanessa got in with a smile. "So, where is my amazing boyfriend taking me tonight?"
He smiled. "I guess you'll find out."
AN: Thanks for reading and sticking with me, I know it's been a long one, with more to come. Please review, and be safe everyone.