Well - for anyone who was waiting for the conclusion to this fic; it's finally here, after many many years!
Much love to everyone who has been reading and continues to follow me! x


Chapter 32 – When All Is Said and Done

The night at Rocky's seemed so long ago, but in fact it had only been a few days. It had been such fun, dancing with Buzz that night, and watching Woody spinning Bo around the dance floor before they ate dinner.

However, all the time they were at the table together, there remained an unease coming from Woody's direction towards the renewed relationship between Jessie and Buzz.

Jessie sighed as she straightened the smart little black dress she'd found in her wardrobe, and settled into her seat next to Bo at the graduation ceremony. She'd hoped Woody would be over things by now, but she hadn't really heard from him since they had gone their separate ways last Friday night.

It was a lovely crisp, cool day, and the students and families attending were pleased, as it was being held in one of the big school fields around the back of the Lamar campus. There was a big stage set up with streamers, and rows upon rows of chairs laid out in neat lines.

The graduation was staggered with regards to timings, as there were so many students and so many courses to get through. Woody's graduation was an hour before Buzz's, so Jessie and Bo would have to wait around in-between.

The time on Jessie's phone read 9.42am. Woody's graduation was at ten am, and then Buzz's was just before they broke for lunch, at eleven am.

Zoning out to the chatter around her, Jessie thought about what came next for them all. She'd passed her second year at Lamar, and she was delighted with her final marks. Even with all the time she'd taken out to apply for the dance academy mid-way through, she was officially awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree, with her certificate due to arrive in the mail anytime soon. Since she wasn't staying on for her third year, she wouldn't graduate the same as her classmates, but that was fine with her, as she knew she'd get her cap and gown when she was done with her studies at the Academy.

Bo was staying on at Lamar for the next year, to work on her missed classes alongside her administrative duties for the first year dance students. Her illness seemed to be a thing of the past almost, and she looked healthier and happier than she had done at the start of the year.

As third year students, however, both Buzz and Woody were bedecked in caps and gowns, as was the tradition.

Woody graduated with first class honours in his history studies. His Bachelors degree was a good stepping stone to his further studies - alongside his teaching job that was due to Mr Rodriguez's departure.

Meanwhile, Buzz was graduating the dance programme, and also a short Spanish language course he'd enrolled in during his time at Lamar. As well as his degree papers, a further certificate of merit would also be forthcoming to cover both the qualifications.

The long hours ticked past, and at length, both Woody and Buzz ascended the stairs at the side of the stage to take their rolled up graduation certificates. The official photographer took quick photos of both of them, as they did with every other student graduating that day. As per another graduation tradition, there would be a yearbook available for purchase in a few weeks, and photographs of the special day to be purchased separately as well.

In the audience, applauding them as they received their papers, were Jessie and Bo. When the speeches were over, and the caps were thrown, and everyone had cheered themselves hoarse, Buzz reached for Jessie's hand and they walked together to the edge of the outdoor area, for a few minutes peace and quiet.


Sinking down into the soft grass, Buzz and Jessie sat side by side, only the wind stirring around them, Buzz's gown fluttering as the breeze lifted it idly. Nearby, his red truck sat, loaded with boxes in the cargo area, and bags of clothes on the back seat.

"I can't believe you're going so soon." Jessie knelt up next to Buzz, and his hands slipped around her waist. They kissed softly, her hands sliding over his face, urgently deepening the kiss.

"I wish I didn't have to, not right now." Buzz whispered back, kissing her again. His heart was breaking that he had to leave his beautiful girl behind so soon. He wanted the ceremony to be longer, but it went so quickly, even though they had been sitting and waiting and listening for hours. Buzz drew back, and looked at Jessie. "I do have something to ask you."

"What's that?" Jessie tilted her head at Buzz, her fingers stroking his cheek. She wanted to remember what he looked like. She wanted to burn his image into her retinas so she would never forget him when he was gone.

"You remember that night that we were supposed to go to dinner with Woody and Bo, and I needed to get something from the house?"

"Yeah?" Jessie vaguely recalled the reason why they had gotten stuck in the driveway. She smiled a little at the recollection.

"It seems dumb now, after all we've gone through, but I was gonna ask you to be my girlfriend again that night. But then things happened so quickly - and you told me you loved me, and I guess – the timing was all wrong."

Jessie glanced at him, her heart quickening. "So…what are you saying?"

"Well, I was gonna give you this." Buzz slid a small box from his pocket. "N-now this isn't what it looks like, o-okay?" He stammered a little, opening the box and showing Jessie the contents. "I found it when I was clearing out my room for the move. It's my class ring, I've had a few years and I thought you might want it. As a promise ring."

Jessie was speechless, staring at the box. "You mean you…you want to keep this – us - going?"

"Of course I do! Jess, I'm gonna come back for every holiday and see you. When we're done with studying, we'll be together again. That is a freaking promise, Jessie. I love you." Buzz kissed her cheek, and Jessie reached for the ring, slipping it onto her finger.

"I love you too, she whispered, her lips catching his as he made to pull back from her. "I never thought for a minute you'd want a long distance relationship."

"Why wouldn't I? Jessie – it's took us so long to get together. When we were apart, I missed you like crazy. I couldn't think of anyone else but you." Buzz squeezed her hand gently, his thumb sliding over the ring that Jessie now wore.

The image of Molly floated across Jessie's mind, but she pushed it away. That was done and in the past. Molly was long gone.

"I want us to be forever…" Buzz started to say, but he was interrupted by a gentle voice just behind them.

"May we interrupt?"

"Sure." Buzz stood up, brushing the grass off his smart trousers and the graduation robe he was wearing. He helped Jessie up and turned to look at Bo, who was standing just nearby with Woody.

"We're going to make a move back to the new place." Woody said with a wry smile. "We have quite a bit of decorating to get done before the new term starts at Lamar."

"I hope it all goes well with the teaching," Buzz grinned back at his friend. He glanced at Bo. "Don't let Woody overwork himself. And you take care, the both of you."

"We will," Bo's warm expression faded slightly, "It's gonna be weird without the two of you around the place. But I guess the old house was going to be too big for just Woody and me."

"I'll still be in town, "Jessie reminded her blonde friend. "I'm only a phone call away, even if the Academy runs me ragged! I'm still around to talk."

Woody stepped forward to give his little sister a hug. "Proud of you, sis."

Jessie returned the hug. "Proud of you too. My big brother, the History professor!"

Woody laughed, "Not yet, Jess! Hold your horses." He released Jessie from the hug, and turned to Buzz. "Are you on your way, pardner?

"Shortly," Buzz nodded politely.

"Just one thing before you go, then." Woody took a deep breath and looked from Buzz to Jessie and back again. "This isn't easy for me. I know I've been kinda on you two about…seeing each other. Not just now, but when you first got together."

Woody paused and Jessie took that moment to glance across at Buzz, wondering what was coming.

"I just want you to know that…well, I'm settled with it now. I know you don't need my blessing and you're both old enough to make your own choices…but you wont be hearing from me anymore about it, okay?"

There was a stilted silence before Jessie smiled wildly and jumped on Woody to give him the biggest bear-hug possible. "Oh Woody, thank you!"

"It's nothing sis…really." Woody smiled over her shoulder at Buzz, who acknowledged Woody's words with a small nod of thanks.

Buzz himself didn't notice that Bo had crept forward during their discussion. She now stepped forward and hugged Buzz lightly, "Good luck out there. Show them what you're made of, soldier."

"I will." Buzz responded, hugging her back. He lowered her voice to whisper "Did you have anything to do with this?"

"Getting Woody to see sense? Maybe?" Bo broke the hug, and he saw the slight curl at the corner of her lips. "I wouldn't be able to say for definite!"

"Well, whatever you did, thank you." Buzz clasped her hands. "So much." He looked back over at Jessie and Woody. "Could you and Bo give Jessie and me a moment?"

"Sure. Jess, we'll be waiting in the car. I'll give you a lift to your dorm, ok?" Woody tipped his hat at Buzz, put his arm around Bo, and the couple walked away.

"I can't believe you have to go." Jessie flung her arms around Buzz the moment Bo and Woody were out of earshot. Buzz hugged her back. "Leaping lizards, I'm going to miss you."

Buzz tightened his grip on her. "We'll be together so soon, Jess. You wont even notice I'm gone. Fall break, I'll drive up here and we can do whatever you want."

"Wild horses couldn't stop you, right?" Jessie pulled back to look up at him.

"Wild horses," Buzz nodded, giving her another kiss and pulling back to hold her hands, his thumb sliding over the class ring she now wore on her ring finger.. "And now…I really must go."

"I know." Jessie's eyes filled with tears. "Call me, okay?"

Buzz nodded, and one final kiss later, he was in his truck and heading down the long winding road away from her.

Jessie watched him go, tears filling her eyes. Only when the truck had disappeared over the horizon did she drop her gaze to the ring she wore and remembered Buzz's words to her,

"Forever."