Chapter 37: Graduation

Disclaimer: Don't own it.

Author's Note:Well, here's the epilogue, I hope you enjoy it.

The gymnasium was already crowded when Gibbs came in. There were seats on the floor, obviously reserved for family. Seats in the bleachers was hard to come by.

A long carpet had been stretched from the dressing room to a portable stage at the far end of the gym. The parents' seats were on both sides of the carpet. On the stage were various school officials. Crowded behind the bleachers, near the dressing room, was a group of young adults in silky, red caps and gowns nervously shifting as they awaited their cue.

Gibbs found a seat just before the band began to play Pomp and Circumstances and after the seniors were seated, the audience sat as well.

After several prayer and several speeches from both adults and students, they began to call names to get their diplomas. Gibbs watched as student after student walked up the steps, received their diploma, shook the hand of the school board president, walked down the steps, took roses from their sponsor, and went out to find their family before returning to their seat.

This was when their lives would change.

"Justin Lloyd Spencer," the superintendent called and as Gibbs watched Justin cross the stage and get his diploma, he thought. In a few weeks that boy will be seeing things like he's never seen before.

There was a chance that this was the last time his friends would see him for a few months, if not, ever.

But he knew that Justin could make it.

Justin was strong.

He had already proven that.

He watched the rest of the ceremony unfold, the senior slideshow, and then the graduates stood and walked back down the carpet as music played over the loudspeakers.

And so we talked all night about the rest of our lives,
Where we're gonna be when we turn 25.
I keep thinking times will never change,
Keep on thinking things will always be the same.
But when we leave this year we won't be coming back,
No more hanging out because were on a different track.
And if you got something that you need to say,
You better say it right now because you don't have another day.

Because we're moving on and we cant slow down.
These memories are playing like a film without sound.
And I keep thinking of that night in June,
I didn't know much of love but it came too soon.
And there was me and you and well we got real blue,
Stay at home talking on the telephone, with me,
We'd get so excited and we'd get so scared,
Laughing at ourselves thinking life's not fair.

Gibbs found Justin in the lobby of the gym, his mother was holding him tightly and Frank and Stasha were beside them talking and laughing.

"Special Agent Gibbs!" Justin called, running out to meet Gibbs, "I can't believe you came!"

"You invited me, Private," Gibbs replied.

Justin smiled and hugged Gibbs, Gibbs was taken aback by this, but returned the hug.

"Thank you for everything, sir," Justin said, as he stepped back.

"Thank you so much, Agent Gibbs, I don't know what we'd do without Justin," Justin's mom said, as she hugged her son tightly.

Gibbs smiled and looked down then looked back up at Justin and said, "You be careful out there, Private. You come back and make something out of yourself, do you understand?"

"Sir, yes, sir," Justin barked, then saluted Gibbs, who returned the motion

"Urah."

Will we think about tomorrow like we think about now?
Can we survive it out there?
Can we make it somehow? (somehow)
I guess I thought that this would never end,
And suddenly it's like we're women and men.
Will the past be a shadow that will follow us round,
Or will these memories fade when I leave this town?
I keep, keep thinking that its not goodbye,
Keep on thinking its our time to fly.

As we go on,
We remember,
All the times we,
Had together,
And as our lives change,
come whatever,
We will still be
Friends Forever.

A.N.: The End.

That's the ending.

I know that the song, Graduation (Friends Forever) by Vitamin C, is one of the most overplayed graduation songs ever, but it worked so well here. Doncha think?

Well, the unanimous decision seems to be that you want a sequel...That can be arranged! Sequel it is! I'm gonna start brainstorming immediately.

I love you guys and this is my longest and most serious fic ever. This is, like, my crowning achievement as of now. I really appreciate all the favorite author, favorite story, author alerts, story alerts, and reviews that you guys have given me.

I've been working on this fic for so long I don't know what I'll do without it...Other than write a sequel, of course!

So, this one is for everyone that has reviewed, favorited, or alerted this fic; Cable_Addict, thank you my wall; all the people that I based the characters on, especially Aaron, whom I based Justin on. Aaron didn't graduate and couldn't stay in the National Guard due to asthma difficulties, so this one is in hopes that Aaron can find something to focus on in his life and maybe get out of Podunk.

Thank you again for all past reviews, but please don't forget to review this chapter!

Look for the sequel, coming soon! (that was fun to say)

With love,

arashi