Here we go, another update from yours truly. I truly thank you all for sticking with the stories during my move and lack of internet. But I am back now, and updates should be regular again, perhaps not as regular as they used to be with work and cleaning. But I promise to have at least one update per story per week. That's the least I can do for my wonderful readers. I hope you enjoy the chapter, the smut has went away again, but it will be back I promise. If you're looking for a smut fix, check out "How do you want it?" the story is entirely smut.
PS I own nothing but my ideas.
"Don't you think its time for us to give her relationship with Damon a chance Gray?" Miranda asked as she searched through her closet for something to wear to their daughters graduation ceremony.
"No. I still hold out hope that our daughter is smart enough to know that she has no future with Damon." Grayson said as he tied his tie.
"Grayson Gilbert! Do not be antagonistic tonight. We are sitting with Damon. Jeremy is coming. Do not fight with either of our kids or Damon tonight." Miranda demanded.
"I wont fight with Elena or Jeremy. Damon can sit this one out. I don't want him at our daughters graduation." he said.
"Damon is coming to support his girlfriend. Elena invited him. He is just as important to her as we are at the moment and I can understand that. Damon understands her more than anyone else on the planet. This is Elena's night. Don't ruin it for her." Miranda ordered as she chose a black sleeveless shift dress. She pulled it off the hanger and went into the bathroom to change while Grayson changed his tie for the umpteenth time. When she came out a few minutes later she had her pearls on and her hair was curled.
"Are you almost ready?" Miranda asked.
"As I'll ever be." he said gruffly.
"I can't believe we're graduating!" Caroline enthused as her Elena and Bonnie got ready for graduation at Caroline's house.
"It's been a long 12 years but so worth it." Elena said brushing her hair back and clipping a large section of it on the nape of her neck.
"I know. And our friendship has lasted for pretty much the entire 12 years. I love you both." Caroline said getting teary eyed.
"Don't cry. You know if you cry, I'll start too." Elena said hugging her friend. Both girls opened their arms and Bonnie joined in their group hug.
"I can't believe I'm going off to LA for college, Bonnie is going to New York and you're staying here to work for the paper. We're all grown up. I don't know the real word. I know high school. I can't do this." Caroline panicked.
"I'll tell you what Damon told me when I had the same panic attack. You'll be fine, and even if you're not, you'll always have me." she said hugging Caroline tightly.
"You both have me too." Bonnie said.
"You have me too Bon." Elena said.
"And you both have me." Caroline shot out, before turning back to her mirror to fix her makeup.
"We should go." Elena said glancing at her watch.
"Yeah, we don't want to be late for graduation." Bonnie said as they left the house and drove over in Caroline's car to the school. Elena seen Damon's car, her parents car, her grandmas car and Jeremy's car, along with Bonnie's dads and Caroline's mom and the Lockwood's. They walked into the school and rushed back stage to wear the other graduates were assembled.
"Hi Damon. I was looking for someone I knew." Jeremy and an unknown girl said walking over to them.
"Hi Jeremy. Excited for you sisters graduation?" he asked.
"Yeah. She'll finally be completely free from mom and dad. How about you?" he asked.
"I'm so proud of my girl. She made it." he said grinning.
"This is Katie, my girlfriend." he said gesturing to the pretty blonde at his side.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Damon, Elena's boyfriend." he said.
"Nice to meet you as well." she said politely as she shook his hand.
"Look out now here come your parents." Damon sighed.
"Great." Jeremy said turning to greet his parents.
"Hi son." Grayson said emotionlessly.
"Dad." Jeremy said nodding at his dad.
"Hi sweetheart." Miranda said hugging her son.
"Hi mom. This is Katie my girlfriend. Her mom said I could bring her here to Lena's grad." he said.
"Nice to meet you Katie. Why don't we all get seated?" she suggested.
"Sounds good." Jeremy said as the group went into the gym where all the parents were finding seats. They sat down in the same row as Liz Forbes who was saving a seat for her ex husband. Mr and Mrs Lockwood were sitting a row ahead of them along with Bonnie's dad. Miranda stood up and waved when she saw her mom coming in. She sat down beside Grayson just as Jenna came rushing in.
"Oh my God I can't believe I was almost late." she said.
"At least you're here. Elena will be so happy. Jenna this is Elena's boyfriend Damon." Miranda said introducing the two that had never met before.
"Good to meet you." she said appraising him.
"You too." he said as the lights went down and the principal ascend the stage.
"Evening distinguished guests, faculty, parents, family and friends, welcome to the 2012 Mystic Falls High school Graduation. The commencement of tonight's festivities will include the presentation of the graduates, the valedictory address and a banquet dinner supplied by Mystic Falls catering. Without further ado, tonight is a celebration in regards to the monumental achievement that these young men and woman got by finishing 12 years of education. I'm sure some of you thought that it would never happen, or wished it was still a few years off. Our festivities will start shortly with the entrance of the graduates once Mr Saltzman have the graduates assembled in alphabetical order." the principal stated.
"Now don't move. We finally have you figured out. We are running late." Alaric stated when he finally had the students in alphabetical order. The entrance of late graduates threw Alaric off his game and he had to practically start all over.
"Can we go graduate now?" Caroline asked as she stood next Elena.
"We just wait for the cue." he said signalling through the curtain that they were ready to go.
"Now without any further ado the current graduating class of 2012." the principal said as the graduation march started. All the parents and family members stood up and watched for their graduate to appear in their cap and gown. All the graduates took their seats at the front of the gym and waited for the ceremony to start.
"This is the beginning of life for these students here tonight, and we are pleased to be sharing it with each of you. Tonight is a night none of you will ever forget. For some of you September will bring a new start in a new city or state. Some of you it will bring responsibilities and a full time job. For some of you it wont change much at all. But just remember all the friends you made in this school, all the memories. Its the fun times that will get you through the rough times that are sure to come. I wish each and every one of you every happiness and every success that the world can give you. With that, I give you the graduates of Mystic Falls High School 2012." he said ending his speech and getting the pile of diplomas from the secretary.
"Bonnie Bennett" the principal called out and she ascended the stage to get her diploma. The entire first row was standing as they moved down each person that was called. Everyone cheered when they saw her get her diploma as she returned to her seat after getting pictures taken.
"Matt Donovan. Full football scholarship to the University of Virginia." the principal said proudly. Matt grinned as he accepted his diploma. Matt's mom who had returned just for this occasion rushed forward and snapped a picture of her son who looked at her with shock on his face. He hadn't expected his mom to make an appearance.
"Caroline Forbes." he announced and the entire room broke out in cheers. She grinned and accepted her diploma before returning to her seat after posing for a couple pictures for her mom.
"Elena Gilbert." he announced and she got just as big of a reaction as Caroline did. She allowed her family to take a couple pictures before she returned to her seat.
"Tyler Lockwood. Football scholarship." the principal stated as the jock accepted his diploma and his mom and dad snapped a couple pictures.
"Joshua Samuel's." he announced and Elena scoffed. "I can't believe he graduated." she said as he accepted his diploma and allowed his overly adoring parents to take a picture of him before he returned to his seat.
"I now present you the graduating class of 2012." he said as the graduates all rotated their tassells to the other side of their caps. They all took their caps off and threw them in the air signalling the end of the graduation ceremony. They all found their caps and the graduation exodus music played as they began the walk out of the gym to the auditorium where the feast was getting prepared. Once the graduates were gone all the guests filed out of the room.
Elena, Bonnie and Caroline were hugging when they got out.
"I can't believe its over." Elena said. She seen Jeremy and a girl work their way through the crowd and she rushed over to him.
"I missed you Jer." she said throwing her arms around his neck.
"I missed you too Lena. I want to introduce you to Katie." he said.
"Hi." Elena said.
"Katie is my girlfriend." he said.
"Oh. Hi. I'm Elena. Jeremy's sister. When did you two start dating?" she asked.
"I met her the day after you and Damon left." he said.
"Oh. I'm happy for you Jer." she said as she seen her mom, dad, grandma and Jenna weave their way through the crowd. She knew Damon must be off visiting with Alaric for a few minutes giving her time with her family.
"Congratulations dear." Grandma Sommers said.
"Thanks." Elena said.
"Congratulations sweetheart." Miranda said hugging her daughter.
"Yeah. Congrats." Grayson said hugging his daughter stiffly.
"Congratulations. By the way your boyfriend is hot." Jenna said hugging Elena.
"Thanks. I know it and he knows it too. Don't tell him you think that. We don't need his ego growing more than it already is." she said.
"I won't." she promised as Damon finally made his way through the crowd followed by Alaric who took his spot next to Jenna.
"Hey baby. Congratulations." he said as she threw her arms around his neck.
"Thank you." she said kissing him far too briefly for either of their liking.
"You look amazing." he said softly.
"No I don't. But I'll be right back. Have to hand the gown back in, they're only rentals." she said kissing him once more before rushing off towards the bathroom.
"Where's she off to?" Grayson asked.
"She has to go take off the gown. She's not allowed to keep it." Damon explained. Grayson nodded and bit back a smart remark about Damon not being able to join his daughter.
"So Jeremy where are you planning on staying while you're in town?" Miranda asked hope clear in her voice.
"I'm not sure. I don't know if I'm capable of staying with you at the moment. Too much history in that house." he said.
"I'm sorry about everything that happened son." Miranda said.
"I forgive you, but that doesn't mean I'm coming home. Richmond is home now. That's not going to change." Jeremy stated.
"I just want my kids back, and that doesn't seem like its going to happen." Miranda said brushing a tear from her eye.
"You haven't lost either of us, but lets not talk about this now. It's Elena's graduation, we should enjoy this night for her, and then in 2 years I hope you all come down to celebrate my graduation." Jeremy said as Elena made her way back through the crowd in a short white dress.
"Now you look really really amazing." Damon said kissing her when she sidled back to his side.
"Well thank you. We should go sit down." Elena said smiling at him. Everyone walked to their table and sat down, they talked about anything but Damon and Grayson's issues, and the Gilbert's family problems.
"So any chance me and Katie can stay with you tonight?" Jeremy asked Elena.
"Sure. Although I don't have a spare bedroom." she said.
"Oh. Do you have a couch?" he asked.
"A small one." she answered biting her lip.
"Hm, that's not going to work." he said pursing his lips. He didn't want to stay with his mom and dad, it would be far too awkward.
"You can always stay at my house, I have lots of spare bedrooms. Elena and I can stay there too." Damon offered. Elena beamed at him and Jeremy smiled.
"Are you sure its not too much trouble?" he asked.
"Its not a problem. You're Elena's brother, its my job to help you." he said smiling.
"Well cool. We'll stay there tonight. If its at all possible can Katie have her own room. We're not... we haven't... we're not..." he said blushing to his roots.
"Intimate?" Damon asked.
"Yeah." Jeremy answered as Katie buried her head in Jeremy's shoulder.
"That's okay. We can set up another spare room." Damon said.
"Thanks." Jeremy said as he started eating.
"So you're staying with Elena tonight?" Miranda asked partially disappointed.
"Yeah. I'm more comfortable this way." he said.
"Okay." she said nodding. When they were done eating and everyone had caught up, they all got ready to leave.
"Hey Elena, we need to get a picture together before you run off." Joshua stated.
"Ugh, do I have to?" Elena whined holding Damon's hand.
"Well yeah. Come on baby." he said holding out his hand.
"I am not your baby." she grunted.
"Go take a picture with the brilliant mind that came up with "you and me equals sex."" Damon whispered in her ear and released her hand.
"Do I have to?" she asked.
"No, but we'll get out of here much quicker if you do, compulsion free." he said.
"Ugh fine." she said stalking over to him and standing next to him. He took a picture of the two of them at arms length with his free arm wrapped tightly around her waist.
"Okay. Buy Joshua." she said unwinding his arm from around her and walking over to Damon. "Let's get out of here." she said.
When they got to the boarding house Jeremy and Katie were entranced by the old fashioned glory of the boarding house.
"Come on in" he said opening the door.
"This is so beautiful."Katie said looking at the antique furniture adorning the room.
"It's been in the family for years." he said.
"It's lovely. My mom would kill for some of the furniture." she said.
"There are some things in this house that date back to the mid 1800's." he told her.
"Wow." she said enthralled.
"Your house is incredible Damon. Why the hell does Elena even want an apartment when she could live here with you?" he asked.
"Because I want the illusion of independence. I like the idea of living alone without actually ever being alone." she said.
"I guess that makes sense. But I'm getting really tired. Where are our bedrooms?" he asked.
"Come. We'll show you and give you a quick tour while we're at it." Damon said showing them the kitchen on the main floor and the TV room. They walked up the stairs and showed them the bathroom.
"This room here is my brothers whenever he comes here. I don't talk to him or about him, but since he's technically family I have to give him a room. This is my room, so if you need anything you know where to find us. And here are you rooms." he said opening the final doors across the hall from one another.
"Thanks Damon." Jeremy said stepping into the doorway of his room.
"No problem... no funny business. I have really good hearing, I'll hear you sneaking out." he said staring at Jeremy. Katie blushed deeply and Elena laughed.
"Come. Bed." Elena said pulling Damon by the arm. "Have a good night Jer. I'll see you in the morning." she called as she walked away.
"I guess I'm going to bed. Goodnight." Damon called. Elena laughed as she pushed Damon into the bedroom and shut the door before tackling him onto the bed, getting him naked in record time.