Chuck loosened his tie a bit and took a bite out of his sandwich. He gave a little chuckle when he thought about how clichéd he must look now. Wolfing lunch down at his desk, tapping away on the keyboard between bites. He was definitely a working adult. No question about that.

"Hey, Finster."

Chuck glanced toward the doorway, but kept at his work.

"Hey, David. How's it going?"

"About to get out of here. Just wanted to say hi and bye."

"Leaving early?"

"Family vacation. Doesn't actually start until tomorrow but Elaine is kind of having a meltdown trying to get everything done before we leave. And apparently the kids are driving her crazy. So, I'm on my way to help."

Chuck grinned and took a sip of coffee. "So you're gonna keep 'em in line?"

"I used to be able to. But they're more powerful in numbers. We've got four now, you know."

"Well," sighed Chuck, "At least you get to leave. I've been pulling in tons of overtime. Trying to finish up this presentation now. I need to get everything done before I take my time off."

"That's right! The wedding's soon, right?"

"The 21st."

"That's great. Congrats, man. Well, you'll have the whole week off and Richard will probably throw a big bonus your way if you land the McAllister project. And you got the big day itself. That'll be great! Except that you have to be married afterward….I'm joking!" His cell went off. He looked down and laughed. "That's Elaine. I knew this day would come. She can read my mind. See you later."

"Bye! Enjoy your vacation."

Chuck grinned and opened up his bag of potato chips. David was one of the reasons Chuck looked forward to being married. He joked a lot about how awful married life was, but he and Elaine seemed incredibly happy together. Chuck polished off his lunch, slipped his fingers beneath his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. Ok, back to work.

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"This is how it's supposed to be." exclaimed Kimi happily. "We're all together."

"Susie's not here." corrected Phil glumly.

"Oh. Right. Sorry. I know that she really wanted to be at your graduation. You know she'd be here if it was possible." She offered him a consoling hug. He returned it but seemed a million miles away.

"Ok, guys." said Betty, holding up her camera. "Picture time."

Phil groaned. "Mom. How many pictures can you possibly take? Digital cameras have ruined my life. She used to eventually run out of film."

"Ah," sighed Lil with nostalgia. "Those were the good old days."

"Just stand together and try to look happy! I want a nice picture of my grads to go in the family room."

"Ok, ok, geez." Phil wrapped an arm around his sister. They both grinned. The camera flashed and Betty immediately peered down to look at her handiwork. Phil had his tongue out and Lil's eyes were crossed.

"Guys!"

"Sorry, Mom." they chorused in unison.

Betty gave them a menacing look. "Let's try this again."

"She means business," whispered Lil seriously. "You better behave."

"Me? You!"

"Smile!" commanded their mother.

Phil saluted her. "Yes, Ma'am."

The camera flashed and Phil heard someone call his name. As the camera flashed a second time, Susie bounded into his arms. "Baby!" he exclaimed. "You're here!" He ran his fingers through her corkscrew curls.

"You're damn right I am, Deville! Sorry I'm late."

"Just kiss me."

She obliged. Betty cleared her throat and they were brought back to reality. A reality where everyone was staring at them. Tommy snickered.

Susie grinned sheepishly. "Sorry I ruined your picture, Mrs. Deville."

Betty let the camera drop and hang from the lanyard around her neck. "I give up. No more pictures." The graduates cheered. Phil threw his cap in the air and hollered.

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"You know," said Tommy. "Art Academy graduation is next week. You gonna come and see me and Kimi?"

Susie held up a hand to indicate her mouth was full of pizza. "I will try." She replied after she swallowed. "I have a lot to do next week, but I should be free Friday. She took a sip of her water. "Actually, I can probably write this trip off as a business expense and have the label pay my airfare…Tommy, I have a proposal for you."

"Yeah? What's up?"

"Well, did you see my music video?"

Tommy grinned and stuffed half a breadstick in his mouth. "I did. How was it working with the Great and Powerful Oz?"

"Why does everyone think Oz Lincoln is so great?"

Tommy shrugged. "The guy's a legend."

"He's kind of an ass."

"Well, he does good work. The video turned out great. They're already talking about it being nominated for a MTV Music Video Award."

"Tommy, I want you to do my next video."

"Excuse me?" he said around his breadstick.

Lil rolled her eyes. "Dear, use your words."

With difficulty, Tommy swallowed the bread and took a swig of water. "Are you being serious right now?"

"Dead serious."

"Hey guys." said Chuck in greeting.

Angelica less cordially shoved Susie. "Move it, Carmichael." Susie rolled her eyes and scooted over to make room for them. After they were settled, Susie resumed. "Yes, I'm serious."

"What's going on?" asked Chuck.

"Susie just asked Tommy to direct her next video." offered Kimi.

"Hey, congrats, man."

"I haven't said yes yet."

Susie threw a breadstick at his head. "Shut up. You're doing it. I want who I want."

"Already a diva," muttered Angelica.

Lil raised her eyebrows at her boyfriend. "So you're not taking the job?"

Tommy shoved her playfully. "This one. She wants me to get that money. She loves jewelry."

"Tommy," she said seriously. "You can do this. You don't have to doubt yourself, you know."

"Ok, ok" said Tommy hastily, obviously not wanting to have that conversation in front of everyone. "I'll do it."

Susie grinned. "Good."

Phil and Dil finally showed up with a pitcher of beer and their arms full of icy mugs. Dil tilted a mug and filled it. He slid the frothy mug across the table to his brother. "To Tommy!" he said. "And Lil and Phil and …" He leaned down and kissed Kimi's forehead chastely. "My sweet Kimi." Kimi rolled her eyes but her cheeks tinged pink.

Angelica smiled widely. "This is nice. It's like old times."

"Except that you're not nearly as mean as you used to be," offered Kimi.

Chuck wrapped an arm around his fiancée. "She's always nice."

Angelica chortled. "Ok, even I don't believe that."

"Hey—"

"OhmyGOD! You are her! You are totally Susie Carmichael, aren't you?"

Susie eyed the exuberant adolescent girl standing at their tableside. "Yeah, that's me."

"Wow, this is so crazy! I love you! I have your album and I love your new video and I can't believe what you can do with your voice. I—"

The girl just seemed to notice that everyone was looking at her expectantly. She put one hand to her flushed face awkwardly. "Sorry—I didn't mean to interrupt."

"No, it's totally cool," said Susie kindly. "I'm so happy to meet you." She stretched out her hand. "I'm Susie."

The girl grinned ear to ear and took her hand. "I'm Claire. I'm a really big fan. I want to sing. Because of you, I'm going to pursue my dream. I just started taking voice lessons."

Susie smiled. "That's awesome."

"Can I maybe get your autograph?" asked Claire.

"Absolutely." Claire held out a napkin and pen in her shaking hands. Susie signed it and held it back to her.

The girl grinned. "Thanks…well, that's my mom flagging me down…you know, school night." And she was gone.

"Well," said Angelica. "It's not exactly like old times. Some things have changed."

"Wow, that was weird." said Susie. "I have fans."

"Anyway," said Angelica, "If Susie's done hogging the attention"—Susie rolled her eyes—"I believe we were doing a toast."

"To the graduates!" declared Chuck, raising his glass. Tommy lifted his mug with a grin. Lil squeezed his leg under the table.

"To the graduates!"