AN: Final instalment (for now) of The Accident, enjoy :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds.

Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around in awareness.

- James Thurber

December 19th 2005, Graduation

The balding man at the microphone calls out the next name, "Alice Catherine Jareau."

That name makes me cringe but I rise from my chair and walk slowly towards the front of the stage. I hate crowds and I hate being stared at. Breathe Catherine, just breathe. Everything is going to be okay. You just need to walk across the stage and take the diploma. Then you can leave. I'm talking to myself again; this is not a good sign. I can see Jen sitting in the audience with Spencer, Derek and Penelope. Aaron gave them the afternoon off to see me graduate. Aaron, Haley and Jason are supposed to meet us later for dinner.

The small graduation ceremony is being held for all the students who are graduating early, or late as the case may be. I don't really know anyone that I am graduating with because I was only attending for a few months. I've been taking my last two grade twelve classes here as well as a few classes that are offered by the local University.

Even though my aunt fought it, Jen got custody of me after our parents died. Not having to live with my aunt Charlotte and cousin Tanya is something I am grateful for everyday. I moved into Jen's old apartment last April. I finished my courses by correspondence. Jen and I went apartment hunting and we found a nice small two-bedroom place close to my new school. I'm not going to live on campus, at least right now, Jen says I'm too young and I agree with her. Penelope lets me stay over at her apartment when the team is away. It's not as close to school as where I live with Jen but I can take a bus.

I smile at the principal and hold my breath while I shake her hand. I stand still as she moves the tassel on my hat to the other side. We turn to the audience and smile for the cameras. I can see Jen in the audience, she's crying. As I walk back to my seat, I release the breath that I have been holding. It is finally over, I've graduated. I wonder what my mama and daddy would think, would they be proud of me? Would my mama be crying like Jen? Would my daddy have a silly grin on his face like Derek? Stop thinking. Okay, I'm good now.

All of the students, including myself, file off the stage and return our white gowns to the awaiting staff. I duck away quickly, trying to get a moment to myself to process everything but there is nowhere to hide. I give up and start looking for Spencer; his tall lanky frame will be the easiest for me to find in such a large crowd of families. There he is. I'm smiling now; I can see my family, Jen, Spencer, Penelope and Derek waving at me.

Oddly enough, Derek reaches me before anyone else; he picks me up and spins me around in a circle. I hold onto him very tightly, trying not to laugh at how silly he can be. Penelope reaches me next, "Kitty Cat!" she shrieks, she looks like she wants to pick me up and I back away with a grin on my face. She settles for a huge, bone-crushing hug.

When Penelope finally lets me go, I notice that Jen is still crying. I'm rather worried about her. With her arms wrapped around me, she assures me that they are happy tears, "I am so very proud of you. I know that mama and daddy are as well." She whispers in my ear.

"Thanks Jen," I whisper back "now you're going to make me cry too."

Spencer is hanging back, as if he is unsure of himself. It is cute in that awkward kind of way. He's brought me flowers, miniature yellow, pink and white roses. I want to laugh at his nervous face but that would be cruel, instead I take the offered flowers. "Thank you Spence," I say with a smile. I know he doesn't like to be touched, especially when he's nervous, but I can't resist. I hand my flowers off to Jen and throw myself at Spencer. He catches me with a bewildered expression on his face. This time I do laugh, "They're beautiful, I love them."

"Damn, I should have brought the Princess flowers," said Derek.

Penelope laughs at him "You did hot stuff, they're waiting for Catherine back at the apartment."

"Thanks baby girl." He answers lightly.

When we finally reach the restaurant, it is past six o'clock. It took two hours to get here because of traffic. I'm so nervous I feel like I'm going to throw up; at the same time, I'm so relieved to get out of the car that I'm actually considering kissing the pavement. Jen waits with me while I calm down and the others go inside to see Aaron, Haley and Jason.

Dinner is wonderful. The food is great, but being surrounded by my family and Haley and little baby Jack is better than anything else in the world. When talk turns to the upcoming holidays, I learn that Derek is going home to visit his mother and sisters, Jason is going to his cabin in the woods and Aaron, Haley and Jack are going to spend time with Haley's sister out of State. When the team learns that Spencer is not going home to Las Vegas this year, it is immediately decided that he is going to spend Christmas with Jen and me. Penelope already had plans to join us.

I start school again in a few weeks and I am so excited. I am so happy to be finished with high school; I never have to go back again. I just want to forget everything that has happened in the past year. I miss my parents, but I am so very grateful to be living with Jen and that I can count her team among my family.

On ne voit bien qu'avec le coeur. L'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux.

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly. The essential is invisible to the eyes.

- Antoine de Saint Exupery

AN: There will be another companion piece coming soon. It will be called Meeting Emily Prentiss.