(A/N:- Hiya! I'm back from my holiday, I had a great time but I missed my
computer! I did find an internet connection but me being me forgot to take
my story with me!! So I hope you enjoy this next chapter!!) Enjoy,
**LoopyLou**
Colleen was taken aback with what he just said, she couldn't speak.
Andrew took her silence as a bad thing and began, "Oh it doesn't matter, it was just an idea, if you don't want to I understand."
Andrew let his head drop with disappointment, but was taken by surprise when Colleen knelt down in front of him, lifted his head back up and gave him a long passionate kiss that he would never forget.
"Does this mean yes?" Andrew asked.
She gave him another kiss then shouted out, "yes!"
"You will?" Andrew asked astonished.
"Of course, I've always known you were the one for me," she said with a large smile on her face.
"Do you like the ring I chose?" Andrew asked.
"I love it," Colleen paused, "do you mind holding on to it until after my graduation?"
"Of course, but why?" Andrew inquired.
"Well, I would like to tell my family in my own way, is that ok?" Colleen asked.
"Sure," he answered then planted a kiss on Colleen's forehead.
A bit reluctantly Colleen spoke "I better go inside before they lock the doors, Goodnight Andrew."
"Goodnight Colleen."
Colleen entered her room that she shares with a young woman named Charlotte, she was surprised to find Charlotte still awake.
"Oh, hello Charlotte I thought you might have been in bed by now," Colleen said.
"No, I couldn't sleep. So who was that fine looking gentleman that I just saw you kissing?" Charlotte asked.
"That was Andrew, I've told you about him before, we've been courting for quite a while now and he.he just asked me to marry him," Colleen said slightly blushing.
"And what did you say?" Charlotte said encouraging her to continue.
"Well, I said yes!" Colleen thought about it for a moment then continued, "I'm going to be Doctor Colleen Cook, oh I can't wait."
"Well, he certainly looks good," Charlotte said.
"Charlotte!" Colleen scolded with a smile.
"Well he does," Charlotte replied.
"Charlotte, this is a secret, don't go telling anybody tomorrow at the ceremony until I have had a chance to talk to my family about it," Colleen warned.
"All right, Goodnight Colleen," Charlotte said.
"Goodnight Charlotte," Colleen returned.
It was almost time for Colleen's graduation and every one was getting excited.
"Come here Byron lets get your tie straight," Michaela said to her youngest son.
"And you come here too Katie, lets braid your hair."
"Mama, why are you fussin'?" Katie spoke up a little annoyed.
"Because we want to look nice for your sister's graduation don't we," Michaela said.
Sully, Matthew, Brian and Andrew all walked in to room where Michaela and the younger children were, they were all dressed in there new black suits.
"Well you all look handsome," Michaela said smiling.
"Are you ready Ma?" Brian asked.
"I'm just gonna finish Katie's hair, we'll meet you in the hotel lobby and then we can get straight off to Colleen's graduation," Michaela said.
"All right, don't be long," Sully told his wife as he gave her a little peck on her cheek.
They were all seated waiting for the ceremony to start.
"Oh, look there's Colleen sat on the stage," Michaela pointed out.
"Ma, why is Colleen sat up there on the stage while the rest of the girls are sat down front?" Brian asked.
"Well Colleen is the class vale dictorian so she must sit up there with the professors so that she can make a speech," replied Michaela.
Oh, be quiet now it's starting, Michaela said.
The Dean of the college stood before the audience and began, thank you for coming here today to see these fine young ladies graduate to become professional doctors.
"When we call your name, please come and collect your degrees," informed the Dean. He then continued to call the names, "Charlotte Baker, Congratulations." "Alison Burke, Congratulations." "Colleen Cooper, Congratulations."
Colleen shared a glance with her mother as she collected her degree, both with tears in their eyes. Michaela was so proud of her daughter.
The Dean carried on with the rest of the names.
"I would now like to introduce this year's highest achieving graduate and the class vale dictorian, Doctor Colleen Cooper."
The crowd began to applause.
"Thank you, I think I should start off by saying congratulations to everyone here who has graduated today." "I don't know about the rest of you, but my dream has always been to come to medical college so that I could work side by side with my mother, Doctor Michaela Quinn MD, and that is just what I'm going to do now. But for you, your dream may be to work in a large city hospital or even work overseas, so don't let anyone put you down and say your not smart enough or are too delicate to be a doctor just because you are a woman. We are just as smart as the men out there and we have our medical degrees to prove it. I would now like to wish you all good luck in whatever path you take and may God watch over you always. While I'm up here though, I would just like to take this opportunity to thank my parents, my brothers and sister for supporting me in every way possible enabling me to accomplish my dream." She hesitated for a moment and then continued looking towards Andrew, "I would also like to thank my fiancé Andrew for all his help and support too. Thank you."
The entire Sully clan turned to face Andrew with huge smiles on their faces. Andrew turned to face them, his cheeks were bright red.
The Dean returned to the stage, "thank you Dr Cooper for that excellent speech and now, ladies and gentlemen I give the graduating class of 1880."(A/N, I wasn't sure about the date, it should be about right, I hope!)
The entire audience stood up clapping for the young ladies.
********
"Hello, reservation for Doctor Cook," Andrew told the waiter. He was taking everyone out to supper to celebrate Colleen's graduation.
"Table for eight, is that correct?" The waiter asked.
"Yes, thank you," Andrew replied.
"Right this way," the waiter said.
Sully pulled out a chair for Michaela and sat beside her, Andrew pulled out a chair for Colleen right next to her mother, Brian pulled out a chair for Katie then sat beside her and Matthew placed Byron on the chair next to him.
Michaela began "this is awfully nice of you Andrew, to take us all out to supper."
"Think nothing of it; I wanted to do something to help celebrate Colleen's graduation," Andrew replied.
There was a moment of silence and then Michaela spoke up once again holding on to Colleen's hand, "so Colleen when did he propose to you? I want all the details," smiling as she finished.
Colleen looked up to Andrew then answered her mother, "he proposed to me yesterday evening when we were walking back to the college. He got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife, and I said yes."
"Oh that's so romantic Andrew," Michaela complemented.
"Yeah, I didn't know ya had it in ya Andrew," Sully said with a smile.
Andrew let out a little chuckle. "Oh that reminds me.." Andrew went fishing in his pocket.
Brian and Matthew glanced at each other, a little confused, then looked back to Andrew.
"Maybe you'd like to wear this now that they know," Andrew said to Colleen. He opened the small box to reveal a beautiful gold engagement ring with a large, sparkling diamond in the middle.
Michaela let out a quiet sigh as a tear trickled down her cheek; her daughter was growing up in to a beautiful young woman with a medical degree and now a wonderful fiancé as well, she felt so proud.
Colleen lifted her hand up to Andrew's and he slid the ring on to her finger, giving it a small kiss too.
Sully spoke up suddenly and said, "right then this is my treat to the evening, excuse me waiter can we have a bottle of your best champagne please."
"Certainly Sir," the waiter replied.
"Thank you," Sully said.
"Sully there's no need," Andrew spoke up.
"Don't be silly; it's not every day your daughter gets herself engaged."
Colleen looked to Sully and said, "thanks Pa."
Sully smiled back at his eldest daughter.
The waiter came with the champagne and went around the table filling everyone's glass, all except Katie and Byron.
"I'd like to make a toast," Sully informed. He raised his glass and started, "this is for Brian and Sarah, Matthew and Rebecca and Colleen and Andrew, may you all be as happy as your ma and me," everyone raised their glass and then took a sip of their champagne.
(A/N:- I'd just like to point out that I don't know anything about what happens at graduation ceremonies, nothing like that ever happens over here in England, I tried my best so I'm sorry if its wrong!!)
Please read and review, thanx!! **LoopyLou**
Colleen was taken aback with what he just said, she couldn't speak.
Andrew took her silence as a bad thing and began, "Oh it doesn't matter, it was just an idea, if you don't want to I understand."
Andrew let his head drop with disappointment, but was taken by surprise when Colleen knelt down in front of him, lifted his head back up and gave him a long passionate kiss that he would never forget.
"Does this mean yes?" Andrew asked.
She gave him another kiss then shouted out, "yes!"
"You will?" Andrew asked astonished.
"Of course, I've always known you were the one for me," she said with a large smile on her face.
"Do you like the ring I chose?" Andrew asked.
"I love it," Colleen paused, "do you mind holding on to it until after my graduation?"
"Of course, but why?" Andrew inquired.
"Well, I would like to tell my family in my own way, is that ok?" Colleen asked.
"Sure," he answered then planted a kiss on Colleen's forehead.
A bit reluctantly Colleen spoke "I better go inside before they lock the doors, Goodnight Andrew."
"Goodnight Colleen."
Colleen entered her room that she shares with a young woman named Charlotte, she was surprised to find Charlotte still awake.
"Oh, hello Charlotte I thought you might have been in bed by now," Colleen said.
"No, I couldn't sleep. So who was that fine looking gentleman that I just saw you kissing?" Charlotte asked.
"That was Andrew, I've told you about him before, we've been courting for quite a while now and he.he just asked me to marry him," Colleen said slightly blushing.
"And what did you say?" Charlotte said encouraging her to continue.
"Well, I said yes!" Colleen thought about it for a moment then continued, "I'm going to be Doctor Colleen Cook, oh I can't wait."
"Well, he certainly looks good," Charlotte said.
"Charlotte!" Colleen scolded with a smile.
"Well he does," Charlotte replied.
"Charlotte, this is a secret, don't go telling anybody tomorrow at the ceremony until I have had a chance to talk to my family about it," Colleen warned.
"All right, Goodnight Colleen," Charlotte said.
"Goodnight Charlotte," Colleen returned.
It was almost time for Colleen's graduation and every one was getting excited.
"Come here Byron lets get your tie straight," Michaela said to her youngest son.
"And you come here too Katie, lets braid your hair."
"Mama, why are you fussin'?" Katie spoke up a little annoyed.
"Because we want to look nice for your sister's graduation don't we," Michaela said.
Sully, Matthew, Brian and Andrew all walked in to room where Michaela and the younger children were, they were all dressed in there new black suits.
"Well you all look handsome," Michaela said smiling.
"Are you ready Ma?" Brian asked.
"I'm just gonna finish Katie's hair, we'll meet you in the hotel lobby and then we can get straight off to Colleen's graduation," Michaela said.
"All right, don't be long," Sully told his wife as he gave her a little peck on her cheek.
They were all seated waiting for the ceremony to start.
"Oh, look there's Colleen sat on the stage," Michaela pointed out.
"Ma, why is Colleen sat up there on the stage while the rest of the girls are sat down front?" Brian asked.
"Well Colleen is the class vale dictorian so she must sit up there with the professors so that she can make a speech," replied Michaela.
Oh, be quiet now it's starting, Michaela said.
The Dean of the college stood before the audience and began, thank you for coming here today to see these fine young ladies graduate to become professional doctors.
"When we call your name, please come and collect your degrees," informed the Dean. He then continued to call the names, "Charlotte Baker, Congratulations." "Alison Burke, Congratulations." "Colleen Cooper, Congratulations."
Colleen shared a glance with her mother as she collected her degree, both with tears in their eyes. Michaela was so proud of her daughter.
The Dean carried on with the rest of the names.
"I would now like to introduce this year's highest achieving graduate and the class vale dictorian, Doctor Colleen Cooper."
The crowd began to applause.
"Thank you, I think I should start off by saying congratulations to everyone here who has graduated today." "I don't know about the rest of you, but my dream has always been to come to medical college so that I could work side by side with my mother, Doctor Michaela Quinn MD, and that is just what I'm going to do now. But for you, your dream may be to work in a large city hospital or even work overseas, so don't let anyone put you down and say your not smart enough or are too delicate to be a doctor just because you are a woman. We are just as smart as the men out there and we have our medical degrees to prove it. I would now like to wish you all good luck in whatever path you take and may God watch over you always. While I'm up here though, I would just like to take this opportunity to thank my parents, my brothers and sister for supporting me in every way possible enabling me to accomplish my dream." She hesitated for a moment and then continued looking towards Andrew, "I would also like to thank my fiancé Andrew for all his help and support too. Thank you."
The entire Sully clan turned to face Andrew with huge smiles on their faces. Andrew turned to face them, his cheeks were bright red.
The Dean returned to the stage, "thank you Dr Cooper for that excellent speech and now, ladies and gentlemen I give the graduating class of 1880."(A/N, I wasn't sure about the date, it should be about right, I hope!)
The entire audience stood up clapping for the young ladies.
********
"Hello, reservation for Doctor Cook," Andrew told the waiter. He was taking everyone out to supper to celebrate Colleen's graduation.
"Table for eight, is that correct?" The waiter asked.
"Yes, thank you," Andrew replied.
"Right this way," the waiter said.
Sully pulled out a chair for Michaela and sat beside her, Andrew pulled out a chair for Colleen right next to her mother, Brian pulled out a chair for Katie then sat beside her and Matthew placed Byron on the chair next to him.
Michaela began "this is awfully nice of you Andrew, to take us all out to supper."
"Think nothing of it; I wanted to do something to help celebrate Colleen's graduation," Andrew replied.
There was a moment of silence and then Michaela spoke up once again holding on to Colleen's hand, "so Colleen when did he propose to you? I want all the details," smiling as she finished.
Colleen looked up to Andrew then answered her mother, "he proposed to me yesterday evening when we were walking back to the college. He got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife, and I said yes."
"Oh that's so romantic Andrew," Michaela complemented.
"Yeah, I didn't know ya had it in ya Andrew," Sully said with a smile.
Andrew let out a little chuckle. "Oh that reminds me.." Andrew went fishing in his pocket.
Brian and Matthew glanced at each other, a little confused, then looked back to Andrew.
"Maybe you'd like to wear this now that they know," Andrew said to Colleen. He opened the small box to reveal a beautiful gold engagement ring with a large, sparkling diamond in the middle.
Michaela let out a quiet sigh as a tear trickled down her cheek; her daughter was growing up in to a beautiful young woman with a medical degree and now a wonderful fiancé as well, she felt so proud.
Colleen lifted her hand up to Andrew's and he slid the ring on to her finger, giving it a small kiss too.
Sully spoke up suddenly and said, "right then this is my treat to the evening, excuse me waiter can we have a bottle of your best champagne please."
"Certainly Sir," the waiter replied.
"Thank you," Sully said.
"Sully there's no need," Andrew spoke up.
"Don't be silly; it's not every day your daughter gets herself engaged."
Colleen looked to Sully and said, "thanks Pa."
Sully smiled back at his eldest daughter.
The waiter came with the champagne and went around the table filling everyone's glass, all except Katie and Byron.
"I'd like to make a toast," Sully informed. He raised his glass and started, "this is for Brian and Sarah, Matthew and Rebecca and Colleen and Andrew, may you all be as happy as your ma and me," everyone raised their glass and then took a sip of their champagne.
(A/N:- I'd just like to point out that I don't know anything about what happens at graduation ceremonies, nothing like that ever happens over here in England, I tried my best so I'm sorry if its wrong!!)
Please read and review, thanx!! **LoopyLou**