AN: Thanks for the support, here is the next chapter.

Chapter 3: Graduation Day & Surprise Visitor

Five months later

Nick smiled in the mirror as he was straightening his tie, then after grabbing his graduation gown, he started to put it on when there was a clearing of the throat in the doorway of his room, so he turns around and sees his twin sister standing there in her graduation gown, they smiled at one another before he asked. "Hey, what's up?"

She walked in his room as she replied. "Just wanted to have a little moment with my bro, if that's ok with you."

He nodded as he zipped up his gown. "Sure, anything specific you want to talk about?"

"Yeah, I can't stop thinking about it, or else I wouldn't bring it up."

He raised an eyebrow as he asked. "About what?"

There was a pause before she looked into her brother's eyes. "Why you and dad seemed awfully quiet last night during dinner."

The family decided to have take out last night, so Horatio and Nick went to a Chinese restaurant and got it, and when they came home and sat down to eat, Nicole couldn't help but feel something happened while they were out.

Nick shook his head with a sigh. "It was nothing. Besides, of all days, it shouldn't be brought up now."

"Which means it really is something, and you know I won't stop asking until you tell me, so what happened? I can take it."

She had been doing so well these last few months that he was afraid if he told what he knew that she might go back to the way she was before, and he couldn't stand to see her like that again. But then again she was right, she wouldn't stop asking until she knew. Plus, he didn't want her to find out any other way, so he nodded with a sigh before telling her. "We saw him last night with a girl, and it looked like it was a date."

Immediately she knew who he was talking about and for a second it felt like the wind was knocked out of her, but she shook it off a second later, knowing she was the one that caused this situation, and nodded her head as she walked to the end of her brother's bed. "Was it Ashley?" After he turned to look at her, he nodded his head, making her take a breath as she sat down before speaking. "I guess that's that, then, huh?"

As he walked over towards her, he asked. "You ok?"

She gave him a little smile at his concerned look. "Yes, you don't have to look at me like I'm about to unravel. Yes hearing what I just heard wasn't the greatest thing in the world, but he's only doing something I knew he would eventually do, what comes natural."

He sits down next to her and sighed. "I just don't understand why it had to happen in the first place." He looked at his sister now and started to ask. "Nicole..."

But she cuts him while shaking her head. "Please, not today."

He sighed with another nod. "Ok, I'll drop it, but please just tell me one more time that he didn't force you into anything or hit your or anything like that."

She gave him a smile as she took his hand. "Nick we've known him since we were five years old, have you ever seen him lose his temper or become aggressive in anyway?"

His response was immediate. "No, especially when he was near you."

"There you go. Don't give this any more thought, ok?"

"Alright, I just want you to be ok."

She gives him another smile as she squeezed his hand. "And I am, I promise."

After seeing the truth in her eyes, he nodded, then he changed the subject with a smile. "Mom and dad would be so proud of you."

Knowing which parents he was talking about, she didn't have to ask which ones, but she did ask. "You really think so?"

He chuckled with one more nod. "Are you kidding, Ms. Valedictorian?"

She chuckled with a nod in return. "Ok, I hear you." She then smiled as she replied with pride in her voice and eyes. "They would be proud of you too, placing 5th isn't too shabby."

He smirked, but before he could reply, they hear Calleigh's southern toned voice from the doorway. "She's right you know, they and Horatio and I are very proud of you, both of you, we couldn't have asked for better children."

They turned their heads to look at their mom and smiled at the praise she gave them before they both said at the same time. "Thanks mom."

Calleigh nodded with a smile as she walked into the room, and when she got closer to them, she stopped in front of them and held out two white envelopes, one for the each of them, as she spoke. "Before we leave for the ceremony, Horatio and I wanted to give you guys something."

They released each other's hands and took the envelope, and after opening it up, they saw what was inside before looking up at her in shock while Nicole spoke. "There has to be at least 2,000 dollars in here."

After Calleigh nodded, they shook their heads and handed it back towards her as Nick spoke for the both of them, both feeling the same way. "We appreciate it, but I, we can't..."

Calleigh cuts him off with another smile. "You can and you will." They were about to speak, but she cupped each of their cheeks and continued before they could. "It's for whatever you want to do with it, whether it would be to save it for the future, school, or spend it, just do with it that will make you happy."

Knowing there was no point in trying to give the money back, they just nodded with tears in their eyes as Nicole spoke again. "Thank you, mom."

Nick gave her the same sentiment as they started to stand up, both now towering over her, as the each wrapped an arm around her while she wrapped her arms around them and whispered with tears in her eyes. "I love you two so much, never forget that."

Nicole replied for the both of them, knowing her brother felt the same. "We never will, and we love you too."

Calleigh nodded with a sniffle, then after a few more seconds in the embrace, they started to pull back before she asked with a smile. "Are you guys about ready? We don't want to be late for your own graduation."

They nodded before Nick spoke first. "Yeah, I'll be down there in a few minutes."

"Me too." Nicole replied.

Calleigh gives them each a kiss on the cheek before she nodded and walked out of the room, leaving the siblings alone, and once they were, they hugged with smiles as they congratulated one another before she walked out of the room, and once she did, she went right to go up the hall to her room, then after she was in, she walked towards her dresser, placed the envelope on top before pulling the gold chain that had a star out from under her dress and graduation gown, then took the end of it in her hands and closed her eyes, thinking of the night she got it.

Flashback

(Two days after their first time)

They were sitting on a blanket to protect them from getting sandy as they sat on the beach during the evening, she was sitting between his legs while he had wrapped his arms around her waist with her hands on top of his, Bryan then kissed her temple and whispered against it. "You know how much I love you?"

She smiled with a chuckle as she slipped her fingers through his. "Considering you told me about a billion times, especially the last two days, I would say a lot."

He smiled in return as he continued. "I do. I've never felt closer to you."

She smirked as she turned her body the best she could so she could look in his brown eyes. "Well, we did get as close as we can get, I don't think we can get much closer than that."

He chuckled with his eyes sparkling before he replied in a serious tone and look that made her heart skip a beat in a good way. "I don't only mean it in that way, I just meant I feel like we can do anything, get through anything. I..." He stopped and shook his head with a chuckle. "I uh, I don't know what I'm trying to say here."

But she reassures him as she squeezed his hand lightly. "I think I get it, more looser, freer, and dare I say, perfect?"

His eyes lit up with a nod, they always seemed to be on the same page, then he slipped one of his hands out from under hers and cupped her cheek while whispering. "You are perfect."

She smirked while shaking her head. "Hardly." Then she replied softly with love in her eyes. "But I don't mind hearing it from you from time to time."

He ran his thumb up and down as he whispered. "I'll never stop." They lean for a kiss, but he stopped just short and said. "Oh, before I forget, I got you something."

After they pulled back, she spoke as she watched him grab his messenger bag so he could open it. "You know you don't have to..."

He cuts her off with a smile as he pulled out a square box and held it out in his hand. "I know, you don't even like me giving you anything on holidays, our anniversaries or birthdays, but I saw it and I thought of you, so please, just take it."

She took a moment before she nodded and took the box out of his hand, making him happy, then after she opened it, she gasped and replied softly. "It's beautiful."

He took the star necklace out of its box and moved it around her neck so he could clip it on as he replied. "I thought you might think that."

Once it was in place, he took the box and sat it down on the blanket as she asked while holding the end of it in her hands. "What's it for?"

"Just another reminder that no matter what, I'll be there for you. Just think of it as our star."

She smiled with a nod. "Our star, I love it, and the gift, thank you."

Sincerely he replied back. "You're welcome."

After finally sharing the kiss, they pull back, and he kissed her forehead before whispering. "I love you."

"I love you too."

After wrapping his arms around her again, he sighed in content as he asked. "So, what's your plans for tomorrow?"

With the back of her head resting against his bicep, she replied while looking out in the ocean. "Well, I have lunch with Kyle, and dinner plans with the family, but other than that I'm free, why?"

When they have eye contact he almost looked apprehensive as he asked. "I was hoping we could meet up."

Knowing why he looked that way, she smiled as she asked. "Our place?"

"Well, our second place. I like to think this is our first."

She nodded in agreement before replying to his question. "I think we can make that work."

"Yeah?"

She cupped his cheek while she finished. "Yeah, I would hate for your ego to take a beating every time it's me planning."

He smiled. "I think my ego can take it."

She smirked in return. "I bet."

He chuckled before turning his head to kiss her palm before looking down in her eyes again as he spoke tenderly. "You know I'm taking this step seriously."

"I know, and I couldn't have asked for a better boyfriend."

His eyes lit up, making her heart once again melt, as he leaned down and kissed her forehead again, then her nose, making her chuckle a little, before finally a soft and tender kiss on the lips, and after he pulled back, he made sure he still had her in his arms as they looked out in front of them again with another sigh of content, feeling like they were invincible and nothing was going to happen to them, not knowing in a couple of weeks that feeling would be shattered.

End of Flashback

She mentally shook head from the past as she heard her brother's voice from downstairs. "Nicole, I think you should get down here, like now."

She shouted back. "I'll be down in a minute."

She unclipped her necklace and removed it from around her neck, already missing the feel of it, then she held it up and looked at it with a smile. "I guess now that you've moved on, I should do the same. I'll never forget what we shared." Before placing the necklace on the bottom compartment of her jewelry box.

As she was closing the box, Nick's voice was heard again, telling her to hurry up, so she turned around and grabbed her cap from her bed before walking out of her room and down the hall, then as she got to the stairs she said. "Relax bro, we still have time before we are..."

She trailed off and stopped at the bottom step in shock as she saw and heard Kyle. "I think there was another reason why he wanted you to hurry up."

She shouted with a smile as she rushed over to her older brother. "Oh my god, Kyle! What are you doing here!?"

The family chuckled as Kyle wrapped his arms around his sister. "You think I could miss the best graduation ceremony that school will ever have? I think not."

"I was hoping you would be here."

"And you got your wish."

"I'm so glad. I've missed you."

"And I've missed you."

As they pulled back, she asked with the smile still on her face. "So, how long are you here for?"

"Two weeks." She nodded before he spoke with a smirk. "But of course you do have to share me with another woman in my life."

He then turned around and looked at his three month old sister, Jenny, who was in Calleigh's arms, and Nicole took a step so she was next to him before she also looked at her little sister. "Yep, she is a beauty, isn't she?"

He wrapped his arm around Nicole's shoulders as he replied. "Our parents did well, didn't they?"

Nicole chuckled with a smile. "They sure did." Then she looked at her parents. "Even though they didn't tell me that you would be here."

As Horatio was handing Anthony off to Kyle, who wanted his attention again, he spoke sincerely. "We didn't want to let you guys down, just in case his plans fell through."

Calleigh then added. "Plus, we really did want it to be a surprise."

"Well, this is a lovely surprise."

Horatio looked at his oldest with pride in his eyes. "Yes it is."

After a moment of enjoying the whole family's presence, Calleigh cleared her throat and spoke. "Ok, we really should get out of here though."

Once they nodded in agreement, the family started moving towards the front door and out of the house, then when they got to Calleigh and Horatio's vehicle, Kyle places his youngest brother in his car seat before Nicole hands him the keys to his vehicle, which the twins had been using since he's been gone, and said. "Why don't you drive Nick and I."

He nodded but Anthony didn't want his oldest brother out of his sight after he just got here, so he whined a little as he took his hand. "No!"

Kyle looked at his youngest brother with a smile as he replied. "I'll tell you what little man, tomorrow it will be just you and me, will that be ok?"

Anthony sniffled a second later as he nodded. "Ok."

Kyle smiled as he leaned forward and kissed his forehead. "I love you."

"'uve you."

After he pulled back enough, he shut the door before walking to the red blazer that was next to his parent's vehicle, and once he got in, which the twins were already in, Nicole in the front seat and Nick in the back, he started the vehicle, and while they waited for their parents to leave the driveway first, Kyle looked over at his sister and said. "So, what really happened between you and Bryan?"

Nick chuckled as Nicole groaned and shook her head. "Not you too. This can not be the first question you had on your mind."

He shook his head and replied sincerely. "When it comes to the well-being of my sister, heck yes it is."

He started to drive as Nicole replied. "Listen, it doesn't matter now what happened, it's in the past.
I'm moving on, I'll be going to a new school in the fall, starting a new chapter in my life."

Kyle nodded. "Right." Then he spoke with a smile/smirk. "Hey Nick, where is our sister gong to school this fall?"

Nick, a little confused at first on where this was going, said slowly. "University of Miami."

"Yeah, and doesn't someone else we know go there as well?"

Now understanding, Nick replied with a smile. "Are you talking about Bryan?"

"The one in the same."

Nicole, seeing what her brothers were saying, chuckled and shook her head. "No, he wasn't even a factor when I accepted." When she saw the unconvinced looks, she continued stating the points. "He wasn't. Lindsey and I both agreed that we wanted to go to the same school and to stay near home, so when we saw that Miami was the only school offering both of us full academic scholarships, we saw no other option. Besides, it is not a small campus and we more than likely won't have any of the same classes, so it isn't like we'll run into each other." She then sighed as she looked out the window and finished softly. "And on top of that, even if I wanted him back, he's moved on, he is no longer an option."

Kyle stopped at the stop light before looking over at his sister and asked softly. "Do you want him to be an option again?"

Holding back her emotions, she closed her eyes for a second before asking, almost defeated. "Please, not today, Kyle."

"OK, I'll drop it. I just wanted to make sure you're ok."

She gave him a warm smile with a nod. "And like I told Nick earlier, who said the same thing you just did, I'll be ok, I promise."

Once he was convinced, he nodded with a smile. "Alright." As he started to drive again, he cleared his throat before speaking again. "Ok, you're right, I did have another question."

Nicole smirked as she looked at her brother again. "Ha, I knew it, and let me guess, it has something to do with that beautiful girlfriend of yours."

He shyly smiled with a nod as he asked. "How is she really?"

She replied sincerely. "Other than missing you like crazy, Honestly ok. Being distracted with school helped out a lot."

He took a breath as he replied with a smile. "I'm glad, so there wasn't..."

He trailed off, and she finished. "Of course there wasn't a guy that caught her eye, she's still totally in love with you. Right Nick?"

Nick cleared his throat, feeling his heart race a little, and nodded with a smile. "Yeah of course man, who could there be, other than you?"

Feeling more relief after hearing that from his siblings, Kyle nodded with a bigger smile. "Thanks guys, that really makes me relieved. I mean don't get me wrong I want her to be happy, but..."

Nicole cuts him off with a smile. "Believe me, she is still very happy with you and proud of you."

After releasing anther breath of relief they shifted the direction to Nick and what he had planned after high school, which he wanted to become a cop so he was enrolling in the police academy.

On the football field at the high school there was a stage set up in the middle of the field, the graduate chairs was set up so there was an aisle in-between the multiple rows, behind them were more chairs for the parents or the immediate family members, and behind them was the home side bleachers where the rest of the families/friends could sit, and among those who have already shown up, Lindsey was having a moment with her mother, stepfather and half-sister, and as she was pulling back from Warrick after a congratulations were said, she smiled at them as she asked. "So, what was that phone call you had gotten before we left?"

It looked like it was an important phone call, and they seemed pretty happy about it but they had also been hush, hush about it too, so she really wanted to know.

Catherine smiled proudly at her daughter before speaking. "This is your day, honey, we'll tell you later."

"Please, I don't mind."

Catherine looked at her husband, and he replied as he placed his hand on the small of her back. "It's up to you babe."

She nodded in return before speaking as she looked at her daughter again. "I guess we do need to know how many tickets to get."

Lindsey raised an eyebrow as she asked. "Tickets, to go where?"

Catherine took a breath before answering. "You know we've been looking to adopt, right?" Lindsey nodded, she knew and was very happy about the news. "Well, we didn't only put our names down for just this area, we are looking in multiple states and cities, and well, there is someone in Vegas that picked us out."

Lindsey's smile grew with her blue eyes sparkling. "So, it's really happening?"

Warrick replied with a smile as he ran a hand up and down his wife's back. "We don't want to say it's official until we signed the papers and we are back here, but yeah, we like to think it's really happening."

She hugged them again with a chuckle. "I'm so happy for you guys."

As mother and daughter pulled back from one another, Catherine cupped her daughter's cheek and replied with tears in her eyes. "And I'm so happy and proud of you, you are my light, you know that, right?"

"I do mom, I love you."

"And I love you."

Lindsey then cleared her throat and asked. "So, when are you leaving?"

Catherine removed her hand from her daughter's cheek as she replied. "In a few days, so if you want to go with us, just let us know, the earlier the better." Lindsey nodded, then Catherine shook her head and continued with a smile. "On second thought, I believe I already know your answer."

Lindsey looked at her with confusion as she asked. "What do you mean?"

Catherine nodded her head towards the family that was walking closer to them. "Look behind you."

Lindsey still had a confused look on her face as she turned around, but the minute she saw Kyle, the confusion turned to joy and she screamed as she ran toward him. "Kyle!"

The two families smiled as they watched the couple embrace, which in their minds it probably would have been longer had they not been in public.

After Kyle and Lindsey pulled back from their kiss, they placed their foreheads together and she whispered. "I love you."

"I love you too."

When they pulled back, she lightly hits him on the arm with a smile. "But why didn't you tell me?"

He cupped her cheek and said with love in his eyes. "I wanted it to be a surprise, I also didn't want to let you down if my plans had to change, and before you ask, the only ones who knew were my parents."

Lindsey nodded after a second. "Ok."

He gives her a pouty look as he asked. "So, am I forgiven?"

Lindsey smiled as he took her boyfriend's shirt and brought him closer to her and said. "Yeah, your forgiven, how can I stay mad at you."

Before they started to kiss again, Catherine cleared her throat before speaking with a smile. "Remember where you two are, honey."

They smiled against each other's lips before they pulled back, and Lindsey spoke. "Yes mom."

Catherine smiled at Kyle and held out her hand. "It's nice to see you again Kyle."

Kyle nodded with a smile as she took her hand. "You too Mrs. Brown." He then took Warrick's hand. "Mr. Brown."

They both nodded then kissed Lindsey's cheek and patted his shoulder before they walked away so they could get the seats next to Calleigh and Horatio.

There was a paused moment between the four of them before the estranged fifth member of their once solid group walked up to them. "Hi guys."

They turned to look at Bryan while Kyle wrapped his arm around his sister, showing he was protecting her, and Bryan couldn't help but wince a little, even though it wasn't him that hurt her, while Lindsey broke the tension that started to build up between them immediately. "Hi Bryan, I'm glad you could make it."

"Of course, there is no where else I would rather be today, and congratulations on being salutatorian."

She then smirked while nodding her head towards Nicole. "Yeah, with Mrs. smarty pants over there, I knew I wasn't going to get much higher than number 2."

They all chuckled, feeling like it was old times again, if only for a few seconds, then he nodded as he finished. "Well, regardless, a very well deserved accomplishment."

"Thank you."

After one more nod, he looked over at Nick. "And congrats man on number 5, not to shabby yourself."

Nick nodded with a small smile himself. "Thanks man, and I uh, I'm also glad you came."

That comment coming from him kind of surprised Bryan, but he accepted it as he looked at Kyle. "I see that you're back for this special occasion, and I realize you probably got most of your time here booked up, but I was hoping we could have a little time, if you want that is?"

Kyle nodded. "Sure, if it's ok with Nicole."

Nicole chuckled as she shook her head. "You don't need my permission."

"I know, but I just wanted to make sure you're ok with it."

Seeing the sadness in Bryan's eyes with how they are acting towards him, was starting to break her heart, but before she could drown in the sadness, she continued. "Of course I'm ok with it, he's your best friend, he's all of yours. I never wanted any of you to stop hanging out with him because of what happened, you guys should have already known this by now."

They nodded as Kyle spoke towards Bryan after clearing his throat. "I'll let you know when I'm free."

Bryan nodded with a smile. "Ok."

After one more nod, and a short pause, Nicole spoke after clearing her throat. "Guys, can I have a moment alone?"

Lindsey spoke with a smile. "Sure." Then she walked up to Bryan and gave him an unexpected hug, but he accepted it with a smile, and after they parted, Lindsey, Kyle, and Nick started to walk away.

When they were finally alone, Nicole spoke after a sigh. "I'm sorry if they hadn't been the best of friends to you this past year, or make you feel like you're the enemy, I never wanted that to happen."

"I know Nicole, but it's only natural, the guys are your brothers and she's your best friend, so of course they are going to lean more your way."

"Yeah, but I still feel bad about it."

He waved it off. "It's ok." Then he replied softly. "I'm just glad you have that support."

As they stood there looking into each other's eyes their hearts were racing while the feelings for one another still present in each other's eyes, then she cleared her throat and looked down. "I have to go."

"Yeah, I hear you have a speech to make."

She looked up at him with a nod. "Yeah." There was a small pause before she continued. "I'm glad you came today, you didn't have to."

"And miss one of the greatest accomplishments of your life, no way." She nodded as she turned around, but before she could take a few steps, he said her name. "Nicole." When she turned back around, he continued. "Congratulations for today, and for getting into University of Miami." At her confused look, he said with a smirk. "Our parents still talk, remember?"

She chuckled with a nod. "Right."

He nodded in return before finishing. "And if you ever need anything, I'm only a phone call away, day or night, always remember that."

Keeping her emotions down, she replied softly. "Thank you, and I will."

After one more nod, she finally turned around and started walking towards her seat, wiping a small tear off her cheek as she went while he watched her for a second or two before heading towards the bleachers, not wanting to miss a moment of the graduation ceremony, particularly the speech from the best valedictorian this school will ever have in his opinion.

AN: Sorry for the lack of Ducaine in the last few chapters, but I needed to set this up to move forward without skipping a bunch of things. Now Ducaine romance next chapter, hope you are ready for it. :) Thanks for reading and please review.