Fearless

Epilogue

Graduation Day...

"Carter Eastwood."

I watched as my brother walked across the stage in his cap and gown, taking his diploma with a wide smile on his face as we all stood and cheered.

I couldn't believe that he was a graduate.

After the past few months, who would've thought that we'd make it to this point. After getting almost kidnapped twice and Carter being shot, life had been interesting to say the least.

But nobody knew about his injury. If he'd told anyone, I doubt they would've even believed him. His recovery was insanely quick.

"Lucas Goodman." they announced.

Once again, we all stood to cheer.

I couldn't have been prouder to call him my boyfriend in that moment. Lucas Goodman has been the best thing to ever happen to me, and I wouldn't trade him for the world.

He sneakily winked at me as he crossed the stage and Ivy sobbed in the seat in front of me.

"Ryan Goodman." they announced next.

Ryan practically danced across the stage with a giant smile plastered on his face as if to say 'Oh my god, I actually graduated!'. He was as shocked as we were.

~

When the graduation ceremony finished, we went to see the new graduates who were getting ready to party the night away.

"I'm so proud of you two! My boys are all grown up." Ivy sniffled, hugging the twins tightly.

"Well done Carter!" Mom said, rushing over to my brother and engulfing him in a motherly embrace.

"Thanks Mom." he smiled as Dad hugged him too.

I looked at my brother in front of me, along with all my friends stood around celebrating their graduation, and I couldn't help but smile. 

Carter and the twins were off to university in September, whilst Leanne and Nick began their senior year with Hailey and I becoming juniors. 

Jamie and Nick were also becoming fully fledged trainees at the base, now going on missions and becoming more and more important. I know that Carter wished he was joining them, but he knew college was too important to miss. 

Meanwhile, he and Daisy were getting stronger by the day, and Lucas and I were getting ready to do long distance. 

We knew it'd be difficult, but we knew we'd be okay. I'd visit him and he'd visit me. The time would fly by. 

Ryan was more excited than anybody by the prospect of all the sorority girls he'd meet on campus, and we knew he'd be keeping himself busy with that...

I knew that Ivy especially was going to suffer when the boys went off to college. She'd miss her boys terribly, particularly now that Jamie had revealed that he and his girlfriend, Hope, were going to move in together. 

Ivy was going to be a wreck, despite Blade being extremely excited by the newfound freedom. 

I was nervous for what was going to come. It'd be weird without Carter in the house, and without all of the boys around. I knew it was going to be lonely, and it'd take a long time to get used to, but I still had Hailey, Leanne and Nick, and we were going to have a great year regardless. 

We were also going to make the most of this summer. 

Mom and Dad had also finished dealing with Peter's men and ensured that Savannah got what she deserved with the help of Will, and Ethan and Zach were off travelling again alongside Cyrus and India.  

They were going to enjoy travelling the world kid-free, and Dad would have to deal without his best men on his missions. But of course he'd always have Blade by his side. 

Tris and Kayla were enjoying life as normal with Leanne, and everything was looking up for us all. 

~

Family has always been a complicated concept. 

There're ups and there're downs. But no matter what happens, you know that your family are going to be there to catch you when you fall. 

Whether you're connected by blood or simply just by love, family is the most important thing in the world. 

And despite how annoying my brother is, how protective my parents can be or how dramatic my friends can get...my family are everything to me. And I'm the luckiest person in the world to have been given the people that I have. 

My family is big and loud and chaotic, but they're the best people I know and I wouldn't have it any other way. 

It began with two people falling in love. A woman who didn't know the true feeling of love and a man who portrayed himself as heartless. 

Those people happened to be my parents. And they've given Carter and I the best life that we ever could've asked for. 

They've taught us everything we know, including how to be fearless when times get tough.

So what's next for all of us? Who knows? 

But I can't wait to find out...