Work Text:
May - Senior year
Graduation
The day is finally here.
Graduation.
They all made it through finals, even when they thought they wouldn’t. They walked through the week like zombies barely being able to function but all of them made it through. They can’t believe four years have gone by this quickly and they are a little heartbroken this is all over. None of them have wanted to think about it for the last month or so because it made them all too sad. But now the day is here and it’s all very weird.
Maya and Carina’s apartment is all packed up and in a new apartment in downtown Seattle where they are going to live until Carina leaves for Harvard and then Maya is on her own. The only thing left is the essentials they needed for finals and graduation.
Maya and Carina get ready in their bathroom for the last time and they have had to keep themselves from crying for the entirety of the day. There’s nothing in the bathroom beside them and the little amount of makeup and hair products.
Maya stands behind Carina ready to go besides being dressed, curling Carina’s hair as she does her makeup.
“I shouldn’t even be surprised that you’re running late, it happens every time we go somewhere, yet I still am surprised.” Maya laughs curling another piece of Carina’s hair making her laugh as she puts on her mascara.
“I didn’t hear you complaining this morning as I gave three orgasms making us late getting out of bed,” Carina comments making Maya blush and laugh.
“Maybe not, but we can’t be late for graduation,” Maya says starting on the last section of hair.
“Which is why you are currently curling my hair instead of sitting around waiting for me to get ready.” Carina jokes putting the final touches on her makeup looking into the mirror meeting Maya's eyes. They share a laugh before both focusing on their tasks.
“Okay turn, I need to get the front pieces,” Maya says moving onto the last piece relieved, they might not actually be late after all.
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“Carina Deluca! Stop changing outfits! You’re going to look beautiful in whatever you wear. We are going to be late,” Maya yells through the apartment as she grabs both of their caps and gowns.
She had so much hope once she finished Carina’s hair they wouldn’t be late and then Carina had no clue what she was going to wear. Maya then knew all hope was lost; they are definitely going to be late.
“The rest of them are going to be here any minute and we need to leave love.” Maya yells once more seeing Carina come out of the bedroom in a floral dress that came just above her knees.
“How does this look?” It was the first thing she tried on and Maya narrowed her eyes a little annoyed she was going back to the beginning and wearing the original dress. They could have avoided all of this if she would have picked this to start off with.
“Gorgeous, come on,” Maya waves her forward.
“Maya!”
“Carina it does look gorgeous, like I said you look good in anything. I said it was gorgeous the first time you tried it on, now let’s move Deluca.” Maya says getting a text from Andy saying they are standing out front.
“Okay, this is good,” Carina goes back into their room throwing on her wedges and walking back out into the hallway meeting Maya giving her a quick kiss grabbing her purse and everything she needs.
“Okay, let’s go,” Maya says as they move out of the apartment and quickly lock it before moving down the stairs as fast as they can meeting Andy, Vic, and Travis in front of their building.
“Hey, you both look hot!” Vic says making them both laugh as they make their way towards Carina’s car.
“You don’t look so bad yourself Hughes,” Maya grabs Vic’s hand making her twirl both of them laughing.
“I can’t believe this is our last time as college students,” Travis says a pout on his face as he gets a little sad thinking about them not being together once the year ends.
“No. We aren’t doing that right now, absolutely not. If I cry my makeup is ruined and I will be pissed.” Andy says as they get to Carina’s car all getting in.
“I can’t help but get sad! Vic is leaving in a few weeks to go on the Mean Girls national tour. Carina and Maya leave for London to go to the stupid Olympics and you’re probably going off to go save the world and I can’t help but feels sad. The bands breaking up.” Travis says sad they are all going their separate ways after this.
Carina looks in her rearview mirror seeing a sad Travis and a sad smile crosses her face, “Maya and I are only going to be gone for a month or so, and then we are going to be back in Seattle Trav.” Carina tries to make him feel better
“It’s not going to be the same though, we are going to all have big kid jobs and then you’re leaving again. It’s not going to be the same.”
“Travis, Facetime is a thing for this exact reason we aren’t going to leave here and forget about each other. Look at Jack, Dean, and Ben, they left and became firefighters and we still talk to them all the time.” Vic reasons making Travis feel a little better as he nods and Carina pulls up to the stadium parking.
They all get out of the car leaving everything they don’t need in the car, “and if you want, you can come to London for a little bit this summer.” Maya says throwing her arm around Travis’s shoulders making him also feel a little better.
“Okay, I feel a bit better now. Speaking of the rest of the group are they coming today? I know they said they would try but they never said they were for sure coming.” Andy asks wondering if they were able to get the day off.
“Yeah we gave them tickets a few weeks ago, they said they were all able to get the day off and they wouldn’t miss it,” Carina says as they walk into the stadium it really hits them what is about to happen.
They are suddenly in a sea of other graduates in green caps and gowns and they all get sad even though they promised they wouldn’t. They wanted to enjoy this moment and savor it as much as they can.
“I’m going to go find Arizona, Addison, and Jo. I’ll find you before we line up okay?” Carina asks wanting to go and find her friends quickly before the ceremony starts.
“Okay, tell them I said hi,” Maya smiles giving Carina a quick kiss giving her cap and gown to her before she disappears into the crowd.
“So how are you dealing with her leaving in the fall?” Andy asks as Travis and Vic went off to find some of their other friends.
Maya sighs and looks down at her hands before looking back up at Andy. She is still sad and anxious about everything that’s about to happen between them but she feels a lot better after their conversation a week ago.
“I’m dealing with it as best I can, we finally talked about it a week ago. Well more like fought about it because I was avoiding it every chance I got and Carina was finally sick of my shit. I don't want her to leave obviously but I know she needs to and she is going to make an amazing doctor so I am dealing with it. Plus she is so excited about it, it’s contagious, I can’t help but be excited for her. We have all summer together to spend together as well and we are going to London for a month so that’s also exciting.”
Maya wasn’t lying she really is excited for Carina and going to Harvard, she feels a lot better after having talked to Carina about everything. She knows they are stable and have an amazing foundation, nothing can shake them.
“I’m really happy for you guys, you are goals for all of us and you guys can weather any storm,” Andy says putting a hand on her shoulder giving it a squeeze.
“Thanks. So did you end up taking the job with that non-profit helping underprivileged kids? You never told us if the final interview went well.” Maya asks knowing Andy really wanted the job with the group. All Andy has wanted to do is help people that was her one need from a job.
“I did yeah, I start in a month or so and I can’t wait honestly. It sounds like a really great job, it’s exactly what I want to be doing. What are your plans after graduation? I know you said that you aren’t sure you want to get a corporate job, have you figured out what you want?” Andy asks knowing Maya was feeling really lost as to what to do.
“I actually have been talking to Jack about becoming a firefighter, after…after everything that happened Junior year I have been lost about what I wanted. I think I might want to follow them and become a firefighter, I want to be the first on the scene and help people. I feel good about all of it I think, there’s just one little problem.” Maya says not wanting to admit the next part out loud.
“What?” Andy asks thinking she might know what Maya is going to say next.
“I haven’t exactly talked to Carina about it yet…or told her,” Maya says a nervous smile on her face.
“Maya! What is it with the both of you and not talking about your fucking feelings? You need to talk to her Mai, that’s a pretty big decision and you should be making it together.” Andy says exasperated with the two of them, it’s like pulling hair with these two to talk about what’s going on with them.
“Who deserves to know what?” Vic asks as she and Travis make their way back to the group as the ceremony is about to start.
“Maya’s thinking about becoming a firefighter and hasn’t said anything to Carina.” Andy blurts out and they both roll their eyes.
“Seriously? Why can’t the two of you have healthy communication?” Travis says slightly annoyed at the new revelation.
“Listen I haven’t been 100% sure until recently and with finals and graduation I haven’t found a spare moment to tell her. I know that she deserves to know and I learned my lesson with the whole Harvard thing I just don’t know how to bring it up.” Maya says defending her actions.
“Bring what up?” Carina asks as she finds the group as everybody begins lining up to walk out.
“Nothing.” The whole group says at once making Carina even more curious as to what is going on. But she isn’t going to ask at the moment seeing as they don’t have much time.
“Ooo-kaay, are we ready to do this?” Carina asks as they line up all taking deep breaths.
“Not even a little,” Vic says making the rest of them laugh and nod their heads. They all walk out there in a line and sit down in the row of seats for all of the graduates. Maya looks over to Carina and she gives her a sad smile which Carina reciprocates. Carina rests her hand on Maya’s thigh and gives it a squeeze hoping to comfort her in whatever way she can. Maya takes her hand and laces their finger together wanting something to help keep her in the moment.
They listen to the commencement speech about ending one chapter and starting another. About leaving the comfortable life they have and being unleashed into the real world.
The five of them sit there and think back on the four years they have spent together; they think on all the memories they have made. They think about all the good times and the hardships they have been through together. They think about how there is no way they are ever going to be without each other. How they are always going to have each other, no matter what. They have made it through so much in the past four years, they are bonded for life.
They look back and think about how incredibly lucky they were to find each other. From the moment they all met it’s like it was kismet, as if their whole lives lead up to the moment they met each other, their found family.
This is what scares them the most, being without their family, not knowing what the future holds for them. They all want the other’s to be successful and make their dreams come true they just don’t want to fade off into the distance like so many friendships do. They want to make sure they will always be there, like family is.
They think back and get sad because nothing is ever going to be like this again. But they also look back with fondness knowing all those moments are going to stay with them forever.
It comes time for all of them to walk across the stage and it suddenly hits all of them what’s happening and the significance of this moment. Their academic careers are over and real life starts today, holy shit.
As each one of them walk across the stage they can hears the roars of Jack, Dean, and Ben and it makes each of them smile knowing they have them in their corner.
The ceremony ends and everyone throws their caps into the air with cheers the group of five laughing as they do, dodging the falling caps so as not to get hit. They walk out of the stadium laughing still not being able to believe they actually graduated from university.
“I can’t believe it! We are officially college graduates!! No more school, no more brutal 8am classes and finals. Ugh I am so looking forward to not having to study for finals anymore.” Travis exclaims throwing his arms around Vic and Maya’s shoulders.
“Speak for yourself I still have four years of medical school, I’m not done yet,” Carina says yet holding Maya’s hand giving it a gentle squeeze out of habit.
“And you do realize you are going to have to wake up early to go to work five days a week for the next like forty years right?” Vic says making the rest of the group laugh.
“Stop ruining this moment for me! Let me just have this will you?” He asks Vic making her laugh even harder giving him a side hug.
“It still doesn’t feel real, I don’t think it will until next fall when we don’t come back here and we are working our big kid jobs.” Andy says chuckling as they make it into the lobby of the stadium in search of their families and the three others of their little group.
They stand in a little circle not wanting to separate just yet, wanting to soak up every moment they can.
“Agreed, it’s going to be so weird not coming back here. Not roaming around the quad after a night of drinking,” says Vic.
“Or hanging out in the commons until we get kicked out at 11pm because their closing,” says Maya.
“Or going to Hannigans after a long day and drinking until we can’t remember anything,” says Carina.
“God I am going to miss this,” says Travis.
They all get silent and tears come to all of their eyes as all of their feelings about the day finally come to the surface.
“I love you guys,” Vic says her voice cracking from the tears and the emotions.
Carina reaches across the circle enveloping the girl in a tight hug, the rest of the group following as the tears start falling from all of their eyes.
“Can we get in on the group hug?” Dean asks as the three of them waltz up to the group finally having found them.
“Yes! Get in here!” Maya says as the three of them join in on the hug for a few moments making them all laugh before separating. They all wipe the tears from their eyes as they all start to become a blubbering mess.
Maya rests her head on Carina’s shoulder seeking the only comfort she needs for sad moments like these. Carina reciprocates the gesture laying her head on top of Maya’s giving the top of her head a quick kiss and rubs her hand up and down her back.
“We didn’t think you three would show, ya know with the saving lives for a living thing,” Vic jokes making them all laugh.
“We wouldn’t miss this for anything, are you kidding? I feel like my kid siblings just graduated,” Jack jokes also making the group laugh again.
Dean and Jack move over to Carina and Maya and give each of them a tight hug, ever since the shooting they have been all been really close always making sure the others were good. The four of them have become their own little separate group out of the eight of them.
“We’re both really proud of you for making it this far and graduating,” Dean says giving them a smile making Maya and Carina both smile. It means a lot coming from both of them that they are proud.
“Thanks for coming, we know how busy you guys are with your schedules and everything.” Carina says really happy they both made it there.
“Like I said, we wouldn’t miss this for the world,” Jack says.
“There was a split second were I didn’t think we would all make it to this day and here we are, at graduation.” Dean says a sad and proud smile on his face.
They are when they think they are well passed that day, but they know they never will be. They still have the occasional nightmares that plague their dreams when they are anxious but besides that it’s a thing of the past. But they still feel bonded by that day, there’s something about a trauma bond that sticks with you for life.
“I feel you there, I didn’t think either of us would make it here but here we are and it feels pretty great to be graduated from college not going to lie.” Maya admits with a smile on her face, she is forever grateful they made it out of there alive and she could walk across that stage today.
They all smile and Jack moves to Carina giving her another tight hug.
“You’re going to make one kick ass doctor Carina.” Jack says smiling and pulling away from the hug both of them have tears in their eyes.
“Thanks. You make a pretty kick ass first responder,” Carina says lightly punching Jack’s shoulder.
There’s a tap on Maya’s shoulder and she turns around finding her mom and Mason behind her with proud smiles on their faces.
“Hey! I’m so proud of you Maya,” her mom envelopes her in a hug making Maya smile. Ever since her mom left her dad her freshman year of university their relationship has slowly built up to a normal parent child relationship.
“Thanks mom,” Maya closes her eyes and soaks up in the moment and the pride she can feel radiating off her mom. They pull apart and smile at each other, Mason comes into view as she turns to him.
“Pretty impressive, I didn’t think you had it in you,” Mason teases and Maya punches his arm as both siblings laugh. Mason hands over a bouquet of flowers making Maya smile as she accepts them.
“Shut up idiot,” Maya smiles and shakes her head, “thanks for the flowers.”
“You’re welcome you deserve them for getting a degree in business. That sounds incredibly boring.” Mason jokes scrunching up his face in disgust.
“Well not all of us can go to art school and have actual fun classes,” Maya jokes making the two of them laugh.
“And you Miss ‘future doctor’ I’m proud of you too,” Katherine says smiling and pulling Carina into a hug as well. She feels like Carina is her daughter as well with how much time her and Maya spent together in high school. Plus every break during the past four years and spent nearly all her time over at their house instead of at her own house. Carina was as much a daughter to Katherine as Maya.
“Grazie Katherine, have you seen my mama and Andrew?” Carina asks knowing the two women have become friends since Katherine left Lane.
“They were behind us when we got out of the stadium we must have lost them,” Katherine says looking behind them seeing them off in the distance.
Carina spots them and runs off towards them crashing into her brother in a bone crushing hug nearly making them topple over.
“Sono così orgoglioso di te sorella maggiore.”[I’m so proud of you big sister.] Andrew says truly meaning it, he knows how hard she has worked for this.
“Grazie Andrea, non pensavo proprio che questo giorno sarebbe mai arrivato,”[thank you Andrea, I really didn't think this day would ever come] Carina says giggling happy to be done even if she had another four years of medical school.
They finally pull apart from their hug and Carina turns to her mama a watery smile on her face. All she has ever wanted was to make her mama proud and she knows she has by the look on her face.
“Mi rendi così orgoglioso piccola. dovresti essere fiero di te stesso.” [You make me so proud baby. You should be proud of yourself] Lucia says pulling her daughter into a tight hug hoping she really knows how proud she is of her for making her dreams come true.
“Grazie mamma, sono orgoglioso di me stesso.” [Thank you mom, I am proud of myself] Carina hugs her mom back just as tight letting the tears fall down her cheeks.
They pull apart from the hug just in time for the Bishops to walk up behind them joining the family moment.
“Maya! I’m so proud of you as well tesoro,” Lucia crushes Maya in a hug as well making the blonde smile.
“You’re right she does love Maya more than us,” Andrew jokes and Carina nods her head laughing. Lucia pulls away from the hug and hits Andrew on the shoulder.
“I do not have favorites Andrea,” Lucia says.
“You just pushed Carina and I out of the way to get to Maya, tell me again you don’t love Maya more than us,” Andrew says laughter in his voice.
“If it makes you feel any better my mom loves Carina more than Mason and me. She has even gone so far as to tell us as much.” Maya says making Mason laugh and nod.
“Multiple times, she has said this multiple times.” Mason says and Katherine smacks both of her children.
“I have never said anything of the sort,” Katherine says.
“I believe the words exactly were ‘why can’t both of you be more like Carina, she has manners and doesn’t talk back’ were your exact words.” Maya says making the group laugh, Carina the most hearing this.
“Well neither one of you has manners and you both get on my nerves.” Katherine says not even denying what Maya said. The whole group laughs and Maya grabs Carina’s hand lacing their hands together staring into each other’s eyes with goofy smiles on their faces as they sink into their own little bubble. Their families converse around them almost forgetting they are standing there.
“I can’t believe it’s all done; we are done with university. Like actually done with it, we aren’t ever coming back here.” Maya says sad again that this chapter of their lives is ending.
“I know, it’s really bittersweet. I am happy that finals are over but I am really sad to leave.” Carina says a pout on her face that Maya quickly kisses away.
“We will always have our memories though; we won’t ever lose those.” Maya says both of them smiling thinking about how this place will always be with them in their memories.
Vic comes up to the group and says hi to all of them before looking to Carina and Maya, “hey we are all going to Hannigan’s one last time are you guys in?”
They both look to each other and nod, “Yeah I’m game,” Maya says.
“Me too, one last time,” Carina says a smile on her face.
“Don’t forget we are all going to the Deluca’s for a celebratory dinner, seven o’clock don’t be late,” Katherine says to both of them.
“Got it, Deluca’s at seven, don’t be late.” Maya nods and smiles at her mom. They wave at their family’s as they leave and the rest of the group meets them over by where the three women are standing.
“Let’s head out gang!” Ben yells as they make their way out the main entrance of the stadium to the parking lot.
“Bambina! Catch,” Carina says throwing something in her direction which Maya catches with ease looking down her eyes growing wide.
“Really?!” Maya yells jumping up and down with glee in disbelief this is happening.
“Think of it as your graduation present,” Carina smiles as they get to her car.
“I have never loved you more than in this moment,” Maya says kissing Carina passionately making the group yell and cheer and the two women smile.
“But if you crash it I don’t know if I will be able to ever forgive you,” Carina points to Maya seriously.
“I promise to drive responsibly,” Maya says giving Carina a quick kiss before getting into the driver’s seat of the Porsche still not believing Carina is trusting her with her car.
“Oh no, Bishops driving. Hopefully we make it to Hannigans in one piece,” Andy jokes and Carina turns to Maya smile on her face as Travis and Vic get into the back of the car.
“See! I’m not the only one scared of your driving, thank you Andy,” Carina turns to Andy as Maya buckles her seatbelt and starts backing out of the space.
“I am not that bad of a driver!” Maya starts pulling out of the parking lot and heads towards the groups go to bar.
“Maya…The reason I get car sick now is because of your driving when we took that trip to Portland freshman year.” Travis says the memory making him wince.
“Oh that was bad, you were swerving in and out of traffic,” Vic says waving her hands back and forth to demonstrate what it was like.
“You both really are making me doubt my decision to let her drive my car,” Carina turn back to them and they both put their hands up in surrender making Andy and Maya laugh.
“I have gotten better, I am not that bad anymore,” Maya says turning into the parking lot of the bar all of them in one piece.
“See!! Nothing bad happened and we are here in one piece and not one scratch on your precious baby,” Maya says turning to Carina a smile on her face.
Carina narrows her eyes at her and sticks her tongue out making Maya laugh.
They enter the bar and the group sits down in their usual booth as the other three walk into the bar, all together in their favorite place one last time before everything is done. Before they all officially move out of their apartments on campus or their dorms. Before they say goodbye one last time before things get crazy and they all have teary eyed goodbyes over the next few days.
They bask in this moment never wanting to let go but knowing they have to no matter how much they wish they could live in this moment forever.
As they sit there recounting stories over the past four years they know this is forever, they know nothing can break them apart because they have an unshakable bond that nothing will ever be able to break through.