Author's notes: I apologize if the last chapter wasn't up to par with those previous. Finding time to update is hard these days so when I do find time to write I tend to rush things a little too much. I'll try not to do that with this next chapter.
Purple Strobe: Glad you liked that chapter. I thought it was important that Kat's parents flew in for the graduation since they miss out on so much being so far away.
Dancerchick17: I didn't mean for things to go so fast with the last chapter. I just blame it on the fact that I just wanted to update the story and get another chapter out there.
HarryPassionFan: Yeah I thought it would be nice if Patrick stayed closer to home. Screwing up his middle name is yet another example of why I shouldn't rush things when I write. I went back to chapter 3 (I think) when he was born and his middle name is James.
GinaStar: It's kinda funny to me that I could channel the whole parent vibe thing about their kid going away to college. First, because I have no kids of my own yet and secondly because I am currently living at home while attending college.
Destiny45: Are you like in my head or something? No fair, guessing things to come. LOL All I can say is not all of the kids will marry each other and I'm not sure whether I will reveal all the kid pairings in this story so you may have to wait for all the other couples' stories to come out before all of it will be revealed.
PrettyDiva: This is scary, my readers are starting to get inside my head and figure out what I'll do next. LOL Your feeling is right on, there will be a few of the kids hooking up.
Lushiouschell: Patrick just needed to grow up some more to finally appreciate what great parents he has. I'm glad you think he takes after them.
"Grandma, Grandpa!" twelve year old Joshua shouted as he walked through the Australian airport where Kat's parents stood waiting for him and rest of the family.
"Hey Josh," Jack Hillard said as he embraced his grandson.
"Lauren, you look more like your mother every time I see you," Marie Hillard said as she hugged fourteen year old Lauren.
"Mom, Dad, I missed you so much," Kat said as she hugged both her parents.
"How was your flight?" Jack asked.
"Too long, I'd forgotten what a long flight it was," Tommy said as they shook hands.
"Rick, Lily, we're so glad the two of you could visit us again," Jack said to Tommy's parents.
"I thought Patrick was coming," Marie remarked as they all made their way over to the baggage claim area.
"He had a final to finish but he'll be here in time for the competition," Kat answered.
"It's going to be so nice having the whole family back together," Marie told her.
"Yeah, I'm glad we could all be here for Susie, I know how much this competition means to her," Kat replied.
Meanwhile, at the Pan Global practice gymnasium. Kimberly was coaching Susie on the balance beam while Jayne looked on.
"That's it Susie, keep your legs straight, focus," Kimberly told her as she worked on her routine.
"That was great, you are so going to win this competition," seventeen year old Jayne told her best friend once her practice was over and they headed into the locker room.
"I hope so, I just don't want to let your mom down," Susie replied.
"Fat chance of that happening, Mom's just happy that you made it here, she'll be proud of you whether you win or not," Jayne responded.
"She's right you know, all any coach can ask for is that you do your best," Kimberly said as she followed them.
"I will Aunt Kim, I promise," Susie replied.
"You better hurry and get dressed, your family should have arrived by now and we're due to meet them at your grandparents' house," Kim told her.
"This is so exciting, I can't believe we're in Australia, thanks for letting me tag along Mom," Jayne said as she and Kim waited for Susie.
"I told them you were my coaching assistant and besides I knew how much Susie would want you to be here," Kim told her daughter.
Later that afternoon, everyone was gathered at Kat's parents' house.
"There she is the future gold medalist of the Pan Global Games," Tommy said as Susie walked inside the house.
"Oh Daddy, stop it," Susie said with a laugh as she hugged him.
"We are so proud of you," Lily Oliver told her granddaughter.
"I just hope my nerves don't get in the way and ruin everything," Susie said.
"Nonsense, you're going to do great and it doesn't matter whether you win or lose because we'll all be here to support you," Kat said as she put an arm around her daughter.
"Now that Susie's here can we go to the beach?" Joshua asked.
"Joshua, we just arrived a few hours ago aren't you tired from that long flight?" Kat asked him.
"I'm too excited to be tired and you promised to take me surfing," Joshua reminded her.
"Sorry but the surfing lessons will have to wait but I promise we will go surfing before we leave here," Kat told him.
"Well Josh, it's not the beach but we could saddle up a few horses and go for a ride around the ranch," Jack Hillard spoke up.
"I'll go riding Grandpa," Susan told him.
"Me too," Lauren agreed.
"Count me in," Jayne said.
"That just leaves you," Jack said to Josh.
"Sure I'll go, do you think maybe we'll see a kangaroo," Josh said.
"You guys have fun and stay close to Grandpa," Tommy said as they all left.
Days later, the entire family arrived at the Pan Global arena for Susie's competition.
"This is so exciting!" Lauren exclaimed as they searched around for seats so they could all sit together.
"I don't know why I'm so nervous," Kat said once they sat down.
"Your not nervous dear, you're worried," her mom told her.
"I don't know what she has to be worried about, Susie's competed thousands of times and she's never gotten hurt once," twenty-one year old Patrick stated.
"Oh Pat, go easy on your mom, she's a mom it's her right to worry," Patrick's girlfriend Amanda told him.
"Thank you Amanda," Kat said as she smiled at the young woman who had been dating Patrick since their sophomore year in college.
"You might not want to admit it, but deep down I think you're just as worried for your sister as your mother is," Tommy told his oldest son.
"When is it going to be Susie's turn?" Josh whispered as they watched the competition.
"There are still three more girls to go before her," Kat told him.
"Come on Sport, let's go walk around for a little bit," Patrick said to his younger brother.
"Don't stay gone too long," Kat told them.
Awhile later, Patrick and Joshua returned and there was only one girl competing and then Susie would be next.
"Here she goes," Jack Hillard said as they watched Susie getting up from her chair where she had been sitting with Kim and Jayne.
"Up next on the balance beam representing the United States, Susan Oliver," the announcer said.
"Go Susie Q," everyone cheered.
"She going to do fine," Tommy said as he put his arm around Katherine.
Later that night, Tommy and Kat waited with their family inside the arena after the awards ceremony anxious to finally be able to congratulate Susie on her medal.
"Mom, Dad," Susie said as she finally made her way over to them.
"Congratulations baby," Kat said as she gave her daughter a hug.
"What'd I say, I knew you would bring home the gold," Tommy said as he too hugged her.
"I gotta admit brat, you were pretty amazing out there," Patrick told her.
"Thanks dork, I'm glad you could be here," Susie replied.
"You really were amazing," Amanda agreed.
"She's a keeper," Susie told Patrick as she hugged Amanda.
"And here's the wonderful coach that made it all happen," Rick Oliver said as Kimberly joined them.
"What can I say, it's easy when you have natural like Susie to coach," Kim told him.
"And it helps that her coach also won gold her first time at the Global games," Kat said.
"Yeah, this certainly brought back a lot of memories," Kim agreed.
"I can't believe my best friend is now a gold medalist," Jayne said.
"I'll bet you wished you had stayed in gymnastics now," Lauren told her.
"Are you kidding me, Jayne can't wait to go to Paris next year and study dance at the conservatory," Susie replied.
"What are we all standing around here talking for, let's go celebrate," Tommy said.
A/N: So what's the verdict? Was that chapter better or worse? I hope it wasn't too rushed but sometimes I just can't seem to help it. Click that button and review please.