Graduation Day

Danielle stood in the procession line for graduation waiting for the cue to start the grand march into the ceremony. She fidgeted with her cap and the tassel until it sat just right. The girl behind her laughed nervously, "Here, let me help you." The girl pulled the tassel to the other side of Danielle's cap. "You're not graduated yet," she laughed.

"Oh thanks," Danielle said embarrassed. "I can't believe how nervous I am."

"We all are," said the girl. "Is your family here?"

"Yeah, my dad and my brother," Danielle smiled. Unfortunately, it was only her dad and brother. It hurt her that Nick wasn't there. That he couldn't be there. It tore her apart. Just the fact that this day was so important and he wasn't there, hurt. But knowing that she was going to see him the next day in Key West took a little of the sting away.

She had even received a bouquet of flowers that morning from Joey. That surprised her. How he knew when graduation was and that he had the gall to make a move like that, was shocking to her. As nice a gesture as it was, the flowers ended up in the garbage. She didn't need, nor want his best wishes.

As the procession began, Danielle followed the person in front of her nervously. She looked around the crowd to see if she could see her dad and brother. There was a sea of people, but she couldn't miss them waving their arms frantically at her as she walked by. She smiled at seeing them and as much as it calmed her, it broke her heart that her mother wasn't sitting there with them.

Nick sat in the crowd, keeping close track of all the graduates that were passing by. Dressed in a suit and dark sunglasses, he blended into the crowd. He was pleased that he was able to be there for her graduation and that he was able to keep it a secret so that he could surprise her. They could go to Key West together, and he could give his graduation gift to her in person. He watched her float by with the rest of the graduates and watched her take her seat. She looked beautiful. Even with that cap and gown on. She looked like an angel. He never got to wear a cap and gown for anything, and for a moment he felt as though he was living this moment through her. He was so proud of her. She stuck to her guns and didn't let anyone hold her back from achieving this. No matter how much he had begged and pleaded with her to drop her books and come to see him, she stuck it out. And he was proud as hell.

Danielle sat in her seat as the ceremony went on. She started reflecting on her life as a college student. She never got to be in a sorority, she never really got to get involved in sports and she wasn't able to make very many new friends because of who she was. Which was the girlfriend of a celebrity. Dating Joey had its drawbacks. She sat thinking about how much she had changed from the time she began college and now. Now, here she was. Still the girlfriend of a celebrity, which made her chuckle to herself. But here she was about to receive her degree. She worked so hard for this moment. SHE did this. No matter what, she deserved this because SHE worked for it. And no matter what, no one could take this away from her. A tear began to form in her eye, as she wondered where she would go now. What did she really want to do? Where was she really gonna go? Now that this was nearing an end, what was next? She didn't like the uncertainty that held. But she wasn't going to let that uncertainty steal her moment.

As they called her name, she went up to the podium graciously. She shook hands with the Dean of Students, and as she walked away from the podium she gently pulled her tassel to the other side of the cap. She looked up toward where her dad and brother were sitting and waved to them. She kept walking but her eyes still wandered the crowd. She felt a presence that she couldn't explain. A chill ran through her and then sudden warmth. Danielle couldn't help but start crying as she continued to walk back to her seat. She knew, at that moment, that she wasn't walking alone. Her mother was right beside her.

Nick could see her crying, and fought the urge to go to her. He watched her go back to her seat. She looked up toward the sky, smiling. He saw the tears still glistening in her eyes. He could tell by the smile on her face and the way she then closed her eyes that she was remembering her mom. He had seen her look up to the sky like that before. I hope you're as proud of her as I am Ms. Miller. Nick thought looking up at the sky then himself. Thanks for being here.

At the end of the ceremony, Nick kept an eye on where Danielle went so that he would be able to find her. There were thousands of people there, and he wanted to make sure that she knew he was there.

Danielle had given her dad and brother a designated place for them to meet right after the ceremony so that they could find each other. Upon seeing her dad, she ran into his arms still wearing her gown but carrying her cap.

"Oh Princess, I'm so proud of you!" he exclaimed hugging her tight.

Shane was busy taking pictures of her hugging their dad, when she opened her eyes and saw him. "C'mere big brother," she told him grabbing him and hugging him tight. Shane passed the camera off to their dad and let him take a picture of his moment with his sister.

"Okay, now just let me get a picture of the two of you smiling at the camera," Mr. Miller said. Shane and Danielle posed for their dad and then Shane took a picture of just Danielle and their dad.

Danielle stood before her brother and father as they began to discuss what their next plans were. Danielle was speaking when both her father and brother diverted their attention from her to someone behind her.

Nick found Danielle with her family and weaved through the crowd of people. He had half a dozen of pink roses, a simple bouquet, but something that was special to her. As he got closer he saw Danielle's father and brother looking at him questioningly. He put his finger up to his lips telling them "Shhhhhh", as he snuck up right behind her and placed the bouquet in front of her.

Danielle stopped talking when she saw the bouquet. It took her a moment to focus her attention to the flowers, and let it register that someone was behind her with them.

"What the?" she said confused, then turned around to see Nick standing there before her with his other arm outstretched ready for her to be wrapped into it.

"Oh my God! Nick!" she yelled and wrapped her arms around him as he embraced her tightly.

"You didn't REALLY think I'd miss this, did you babygirl?" he asked into her ear as he pulled her closer.

She felt the tears beginning to form in her eyes again and she held him tighter. She couldn't believe he was there. He was there! "I can't believe you are here!"

She pulled away from him slightly and held his face in both of her hands, "I just can't believe it," she said through her tears. "God, Nick, I'm so happy!"

He smiled at her sweetly then allowed her hands to guide his face to her lips where they shared a quick greeting kiss.

"Ahem," Shane said. "This MUST be Nick, although I don't know if she's ever gonna let him go long enough to introduce him to us."

Danielle turned slightly to her family while keeping her arms around Nick. "Daddy? Shane? This is Nick Carter. MY Nick," she looked lovingly back at Nick upon her last phrase.

Nick extended his right hand out to Mr. Miller and Shane. "Very nice to meet you both," Nick said.

Danielle's father chuckled, "Well, we were hoping we would get to see you while we were here. When Dani said you weren't going to be here, we were pretty disappointed. It's nice to meet you too."

"Yeah, I wanted to surprise her," Nick said looking at Danielle. "Are you surprised?"

Danielle gave Nick a look like he was crazy, "Uhhhh, yeah!" She held onto him tighter. She just didn't want to let him go.

"Dani, he needs to breathe too, ya know," Shane joked with her.

"Shane, I have not seen this boy in over a month, I ain't letting go anytime soon," she told her brother.

"Good," Nick added planting a kiss on top of her head.

"Well, Nick," Mr. Miller began, "We were just discussing going out for dinner to celebrate, you are more than welcome to join us."

"Thank you Mr. Miller, you know, I would be more than happy to take you all out to dinner," Nick added.

Mr. Miller waved his hand, "Absolutely not. My daughter, MY treat."

"Thank you sir," Nick said.

Danielle poked him playfully as they began to walk to their cars, and said quietly, "Sir? You are calling my dad, 'sir'?"

"He IS a 'sir'," Nick said. "Just let me be my courteous self, k, baby?"

"Alright," she said.

He took her hand and held it firmly as they walked together to the car.

After dinner, Nick and Danielle approached Danielle's car. "Can I drive?" Nick asked.

Danielle gave Nick an obvious look, "What do you think?"

"Yes?" Nick said hopeful.

"No," she said flatly and unlocked the doors with her remote entry. Nick got into the passenger seat and Danielle into the driver's seat. The top was up on the car and the two sat there staring at each other. Nick leaned over and kissed her gently, holding the back of her head with his right hand.

"Will you stay with me tonight?" he whispered.

"Of course," she whispered back. "Want to go to stay at my place?"

Nick shook his head, "Nah, let's stay at my place. Are you all packed? We can go pick up your stuff and bring it to my house."

Danielle nodded, "Yeah, I just have a few last minute things that I need to grab."

"Cool, let's go get your stuff." He placed his hand over hers on the gear shift of the car, as she raced out of the parking lot. "Damn girl! You need to slow down!"

She looked over at Nick with a smirk on her face, "Oh, look who's talking. You're just jealous cause I'm the one driving."

"Maybe. But still. Be careful," he picked up her hand off the gear shift and kissed it before placing it back down, protecting it with his own hand.

Nick's House, Later That Night

Danielle laid in Nick's bed, listening to him brushing his teeth. Waiting for him to come and join her. Lying in his bed made her feel so connected to him. They had slept next to each other before, but something about sleeping with him in his bed made her feel special. She ran her fingers along his pillow and anticipated him lying there. She couldn't wait to lie in his arms, smell his skin, touch his hair, anything that proved he was really there with her.

Nick walked out of the bathroom and saw Danielle lying there, touching his pillow. What a sight to be at home and to come into his room and see the vision of her in his bed. A month. It had been a month since they'd seen each other and this night felt like a new beginning for them. He wanted to make love to her. He yearned to make love to her. He had planned on waiting until they were in Key West to consummate their relationship. But the look on her face, and the way she laid so comfortably in his bed. He knew that he wanted their first time to be here. Not in some hotel. But here, in his bed.

He moved quietly to the bed and sat down next to her form. She turned upon feeling his touch on her thigh and smiled at him as she reached up to touch his cheek.

"Whatcha thinking about babygirl?" he asked as he reached up to grab her hand on his cheek. He slowly turned his head to kiss the palm of her hand.

"How much I missed you," she whispered. "How much I want to hold you in my arms."

With that, he gently laid her hand down to her side and crawled on top of her. They were both on top of the covers. She was wearing his shirt and boxers and he was wearing just his boxers. He held himself over her, intertwining his right leg between hers. She reached up and softly massaged his shoulders, running her fingers over his tattoos.

He leaned down to her face and slowly reached his tongue out to trace her lips. She tilted her chin up and allowed her tongue to touch his and traced his tongue in the same motion. He rested his weight on top of her and cradled her shoulders between his elbows. He held her head in his hands as he deepened their kiss and covered her mouth with his. There was something more to this kiss than before. There was a hunger between the two of them. She ran her fingers down his back and held onto him in the lower small area of his back. She pulled him closer to her and she felt his hardness pressing against her between their boxer shorts.

Upon feeling himself pressed against her, he moaned into her mouth. He moved his lips to her cheek, then her neck. He buried his face in the nape of her neck and he began to lick and suck her skin.

"Nick," she whispered in a breath. "Nick. . .baby. I want you to touch me all over. I want you to kiss me all over." She kissed any part of him she could reach with her mouth. His ear, his hair, his cheek, she wanted to feel every part of him.

"Dani," he breathed. "Baby. . .God. . .I've missed you." He raised himself from her a bit to reach down and pull the t-shirt she was wearing up. He waited to see if she stopped him, but she didn't. He pulled the shirt up farther exposing her breasts to him. She leaned up and took the shirt off the rest of the way. She looked into his eyes as he began to slowly drink in the vision of her flesh. "You are so beautiful, Dani."

She ran her fingers across his chest and down to his stomach, "So are you, baby. Now, I want you to kiss me. Everywhere." Her eyes invited him to her chest, where he gently massaged her breasts with his hands and then with his tongue. She arched her back slightly upon feeling his tongue on her nipple. It had been quite a long time since having such a passionate sensation flow through her. She opened her eyes to see him staring at her face as he kissed her breasts. When their eyes met he brought himself back to her lips. He kissed them lightly.

"I want to make love to you, Danielle," Nick whispered looking into her eyes. Her eyes began to glisten with tears as the two searched each other's faces. "I don't want to wait anymore."

She kissed his lips and smiled softly at him. "I don't want to wait anymore either, Nick."

Nick sucked in his breath when she said that. He furrowed his brow and stroked her cheek with his thumb. "Are you sure, baby? Only if you're sure," he whispered.

"I'm sure, Nick. I want to make love with you," she whispered back nodding her head.

There were no questions in her mind. All the answers were in her heart. She knew she wanted Nick. To be with him. Everything about this moment with him was so right. She knew in her heart that her life wouldn't be fulfilled without him. And there was nothing she wanted more than to feel him make love to her.

His heart began to beat faster upon hearing her words. His eyes flashed with surprise and then the emotion was replaced with complete surrender to her. He kissed her lips gently then reached over to his nightstand drawer for a condom. She giggled. "No babies," she teased. He giggled right along with her, "That's right."

He moved back into position next to her and leaned back to rest on his knees. He ran his hands from her face, down the front of her breasts, around her waist and placed the tips of his fingers on the waistband of the boxers. He leaned down and kissed the outline of her skin as he slid the boxers further down off her body. He followed the trail down her legs until he had them completely removed. He kissed back up her inner leg and made a new trail, gliding his tongue from her hip to her bellybutton.

He leaned back onto his knees again and placed her hands on the waistband of his boxers. "Your turn," he told her.

She sat up onto her knees facing him and began to slide his boxers off. She opted for kissing his chest as she removed them. She licked his nipple and felt him tense up and grab her shoulders. He threw his head back and felt the sensation of her teeth brushing against his nipple. She ran her hands back up to his waist once he was naked and moved off her knees to extend her legs around him on the bed while he knelt before her. She continued to kiss his chest and stomach before lying back onto the bed. Now was the time and as she lay back, he knew this was his invitation.

He quickly grabbed the condom and put it on, then slowly positioned himself between her legs. She held his face in her hands and kissed him deeply. She massaged his tongue with hers. She knew how close he was to entering her and the anticipation of feeling him inside her raised the passion in her kiss.

"God, baby, I can't wait anymore," he breathed.

"I'm ready, Nick. I want this. I want you," she sighed.

He began to kiss her neck as he entered her slowly. He could tell it had been sometime since she had made love to anyone. The way she hugged and captured him inside of her. He closed his eyes tight, the sensation enveloping him making it difficult to maintain his level of control.

"Oh, baby," he moaned. "You are so tight."

Danielle tensed around him as he began a slow rhythm within her. It didn't take long for her to find the same rhythm. She loved the feeling of him inside her. She loved the look on his face as he moved. She loved seeing the beads of sweat forming on his brow. She grabbed the back of his neck with her left hand and buried her face in the nook of his neck and then wrapped her legs tighter around the back of his thighs, pulling him deeper into her.

"Oh God, Nick. You feel so good," she panted.

"Are you close baby? Cause I don't think I can hold back much longer," he told her.

"Just come baby, I'm right behind you," she said.

As soon as she felt Nick tense up she felt the climaxing shudder explode within her. They came together, rocking into each other as the sensation slowly faded away. Then he collapsed next to her. Grabbing her face and kissing her softly. She could taste the salt of his sweat on his lips, and she licked his lips clean.

"That was," he took a deep breath. "Wow." He breathed out. As they both began to catch their breaths she rested herself next to him and laid her head on his chest. He could see the tears forming in her eyes. He reached up and stroked her hair. "Baby? What's wrong?"

She sniffled for a second and then smiled at him. "I just realized. Now, that I don't ever want to be without you." She stared at him as a tear fell from her cheek and onto his chest.

"Awww, babygirl, I ain't going anywhere," he told her softly and continued to stroke her hair.

"No, Nick. Really, I know this now. And I can't change it no matter what," she told him.

"What is it, Dani?" he whispered.

She bit her bottom lip as she prepared herself for what she was about to say. She rested her head back on his chest and kissed him before pulling her head back up to stare into his eyes.

"I know what my heart is telling me," she paused for a moment and kissed his bottom lip. "I love you, Nick. With all my heart. All my soul."

His look of concern was replaced by a sweet smile. He wrapped both of his arms around her neck. "Do you know how happy that makes me to hear you say that?" he asked.

"Dani, baby. If I hadn't felt it before, I know it now. Especially now that you've told me."

He grabbed her face in his hands and smirked at her. "Baby. I LOVE YOU." He said firmly. "I love you, Danielle. I don't know how else to say it."

Danielle ran her fingers over his face, smiling at him. "I never thought I could love someone again, Nick. But, with you it feels different. It feels like I was supposed to love you."

"I'll never hurt you, Dani. I never want you to doubt my feelings," he told her.

"I don't ever want to."

A smile spread across Nick's face. "Do you want your graduation present?"

"You mean it gets better?" she giggled.

Nick shrugged and hopped out of the bed. He pulled a small box out of his dresser drawer and brought it over to Danielle. "I hope you like it."

Danielle pulled the ribbon off the box and then pulled the lid off. Her hand shot up to her mouth when she saw what was inside. "Oh my God," she gasped.

Nick sat there next to her smiling, "I figured now was as good a time as any to give you that. Is it safe to do that now?"

Danielle reached in and pulled her old watch out of the box. "I can't believe you are giving this back to me." She looked up at him with tears in her eyes.

"I'm hoping that I didn't need to hold onto it for leverage anymore. I'm hoping that by giving this back to you, it'll really be sealing that we are really together," he explained.

He put the watch on her wrist and then kissed her hand. "Why are you crying?" he asked.

"I just. . .love you so much," she blurted throwing her arms around his neck.

"I love you too, baby," he laughed.

The two lovers shared another kiss. They didn't need to say it again. They spent the rest of the night in each other's arms. They both knew that waking up the next morning was going to be a brand new beginning for both of them. As the two held each other, they dreamed each other's dreams. They held onto this night, but couldn't wait until tomorrow.

Chapter 16
Chapter 14
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