Work Text:
Your heart is racing as your hand hovers over the keyboard. The laptop screen staring back at you.
“Aaaand done.” you state quietly, hitting the submit button.
That was it.
You had just submitted your last assignment for your Master’s Degree in Social Work.
You had worked endlessly, it felt like.
Four years in undergrad followed by 2 more years, clinical hours, internships, etc.
No one knew this was happening. Not even Jack, your amazing boyfriend who has been your biggest support the last two years of your education journey.
He knew you were on track to graduating but no idea when you’d finish or when graduation would be.
Not that you would tell him either.
Most of your life, no one showed up for your milestones and achievements.
Not your fifth grade piano recital, not your high school graduation, not your bachelor’s degree, and definitely not this.
You were used to no one caring and no one showing up.
Therefore you tended to hide good things so you wouldn’t be disappointed when no one came.
You closed your laptop and headed to bed.
The achievement plaguing your dreams.
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It’s been a week since you officially finished school and you still haven't mentioned it to anyone.
You want to. You really do but the memories of no one being there during other events keeps you from saying a word about it.
It also didn't feel as important or significant as being a trauma doctor. Jack and his colleagues (also some of your closest friends) saved lives every day. They had one of the most important jobs in the world. And you? You finished school. That was nothing in comparison to them.
—
Jack had gotten the mail when he came in this morning from his shift and left it on the table. He went to bed shortly after, leaving you awake and getting your day started.
You grab the mail to sort through it and find an envelope with your school's name on it. Quickly you drop the rest of the mail on the counter. You look around just to double check Jack is nowhere near and then tear the envelope open.
It's your graduation information packet.
Graduation is in a week.
Wow.
It also has 3 standard tickets inside for anyone you’d like to invite.
You sigh ‘wont need these’
You keep the information card with the date, time, and directions to the stadium, shoving it in your pocket.
The tickets get thrown in the trash. You shake your head as you grab your bag and keys.
Guess you can shop for your graduation outfit while you're out too.
—-
About two hours later Jack emerges from the bedroom. He starts the coffee machine and picks up the mail he remembered leaving on the counter this morning.
After sifting through everything, he goes to throw them away but something in the trash can catches his eye.
On a corner of a paper he partially sees ‘ticket admission for-” and then it cuts off.
Tickets to what?
He pulls them out and his eyebrows raise as he reads it over.
They were tickets to your graduation. A graduation that was happening next week.
Why didn't you tell him? Did you not want him there? Actually, when did you finish your classes, your degree?
He didn’t want to confront you and make things worse if something was wrong but he did want to be there to support you in this.
He pockets the tickets and immediately googles the address of the stadium. Better to know where it is now instead of the day of.
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The next week passes quickly and soon enough, it's graduation day.
Your mind is swimming and your heart racing. Before you can lose your mind you get a text from Jack.
‘𝘏𝘦𝘺 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵, 𝘐'𝘮 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘚𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘧𝘵! 𝘓𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦'𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘐'𝘮 𝘰𝘶𝘵. 𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘢𝘺.’
You let out a breath you didn't know you were holding. Good. Jack would be occupied for the day and you could get the graduation over and done with.
You start getting ready and two hours later you're grabbing your regalia and headed out of the door.
—
The graduation goes great and you walk the stage, receiving your hard-earned degree. You could’ve sworn it felt louder when you crossed the stage but maybe it was just all the general noise of all the people there.
You start to wish Jack had been there but it was better this way.
You talk with a few classmates around you when you feel someone tap your shoulder.
“Could I get a picture with the hottest girl in the room?”
Your body freezes.
There’s no way.
You didn’t tell him.
Slowly you turn around and see Jack.
He’s dressed in black suit pants and a white button down with the first few buttons undone, bouquet of flowers in hand.
Your eyes start to water as you stand there frozen.
“Jack? W-What are you–how did you– you're here…”
“Of course I am sweetheart. You're gonna have to do a lot better at throwing away graduation tickets next time.” he laughs lightly.
You quickly embrace him in a tight hug as the tears fall
He showed up.
Someone finally showed up.
You pull away slightly and he immediately wipes the tears away.
“Okay pretty girl, no more tears. I still need my pictures with my smart as fuck girlfriend.”
You chuckle as you fan your face.
Jack hands his phone to one of your classmates and steps back to you, wrapping an arm around your waist, pulling you close.
You both smile as your classmate takes the first photo.
And it is the first of many that day.
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Jack later surprised you with an early dinner reservation at your favorite restaurant.
Of course he did.
He never did things in halves.
You both are walking up to the apartment hand in hand after the long day.
You get ready to unlock the door but he pulls on your hand to stop you.
“Do you know how proud of you I am?”
It feels like he’s looking right into your soul. Past everything that had been in your mind these last few weeks.
Your eyes water at his question.
“So fucking proud, sweetheart.”
You hug him as you take a deep breath.
“Thank you for showing up Jack” you take another breath before continuing “no one’s ever shown up”.
His heart hurts as he holds you tighter.
“I’ll always be there if I can.” He murmurs against your head before laying a kiss there.
“Alright miss graduate, let’s get inside”
You pull back with a smile and unlock the door.
You feel for the light and flick it on, eyes wide when-
“SURPRISE!”
The apartment is decorated with balloons and streamers. There’s desserts and snacks. There’s party favors with your face on them and a huge sign hanging that reads ‘Congrats Grad’.
But most importantly there’s your friends and family of the pitt waiting at the center of it all.
For you.
They showed up for you.
Your hand covers your mouth in shock as the tears start again.
“You didn’t think you’d get away with achieving this and us not find out right?” Dana says from behind the kitchen counter.
You laugh shakily through the tears.
“I love y-you guys. T-Thank you.”
Dennis comes up to hug you.
“Of course. You’re our favorite person, why wouldn’t we celebrate you?”
You let that sink in.
The people who welcomed you with open arms when Jack first introduced you.
The people who encouraged you to take the internship for your degree at ptmc.
The people who have loved you without condition.
The people who surrounded you having no blood relation but did more than your actual family ever did.
Why wouldn’t they have shown up?
It’s all they’ve ever done since you’ve met them.
You hug Dennis tighter.
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The party is fun and full of jokes, games, stories and all your favorite people.
Dana had bought a delicious cake that was devoured by all very quickly.
You had just refilled your drink and made your way back to the living room where everyone was gathered.
You stand beside Jack as he’s in the middle of an amusing conversation.
“We always knew she was smarter than you Abbot. Still don’t know how you managed to get her .” you hear someone say.
“Hey!” Jack yells in amusement “who said I couldn’t pull the most beautiful woman ever? I’ve still got it.” he says while winking at you.
This pulls a laugh from everyone at his attempt to flirt despite already being your beloved boyfriend.
“So kiddo” Robby asks after the laughter dies down a bit “What’s next? Where are you hoping to get a job?”
Everyone’s now paying attention, awaiting your answer.
You smile shyly while still catching your breath “Actually… I already have a job lined up.”
Jack's head turns impossibly fast to look at you.
“What?! When did you interview ? Why didn’t you say anything?” He questions softly in surprise.
“It was two months ago. And I didn’t keep it from you intentionally. I wanted to tell you—tell all of you” you gesture to your favorite people “I was just terrified of disappointing you all if I didn’t get it or if I didn’t get my degree, if I…failed”
Jack wipes a tear off of your face. You didn’t even notice you had shed a tear.
“Sweetheart, we would be proud of you regardless of the outcome.” He grabs both of your hands.
“You’ve worked so hard for this. I’ve watched you run yourself sick over this. I’ve helped you for so many tests. That you always do so well on. You’ve also had some bad ones. Does that make you less smart? Have I ever loved you any less?” he whispers.
A few more tears fall as you shake your head lightly “N-no”
“Exactly baby. You could’ve failed this degree and I wouldn’t think any less of you. None of us would've thought any less of you. So please, no more downplaying these huge accomplishments or opportunities. Whether you think they’ll work out or not. I want to celebrate all your wins and be able to sit with you in any losses. Please, let me do that for you.”
You squeeze his hands before pulling him into a tight, comforting hug “Okay.. okay, I can do that.” you sniffle
“Thank you sweetheart” he hugs you back harder.
You wipe your face “No, thank you Jack. I couldn’t do this without you. I love you, so much” you gently kiss him.
He hums into the kiss with a smile “and I love you”
“Alright alright don’t start a home movie while we’re here” Trinity speaks up attempting to lighten the mood. Everyone laughs at her interjection.
Robby leans on the counter by your side “So kid, what’s the job and where is it?”
“So…” you clear your throat nervously as your face heats up “you’re looking at the new social worker of PTMC effective as of next week.”
You could’ve sworn you thought you told them they had won the lottery the way the room errupted in cheers and congratulations.
Trinity and Dennis are the first to rush you in a group hug, Jack and Robby moving to make room for them.
“HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT! YOU'RE GONNA WORK WITH US, OH MY GOD!” Dennis can’t contain himself.
Trinity is no better “YES BABE! I CANT BELIEVE IT! PITT FAMILY FOREVER!”
You giggle as they jump up and down with you in the middle, excited they’ll get to see their friend more often than just in their free time.
“Alright alright you crazy ass kids, let me in” Robby peels the two friends off of you before embracing you in a hug.
He lets out a sniffle “I’m so proud of you kiddo. So damn proud. Like Abbot said, I hope you know we have your back. If you ever need anything, a pep talk, a laugh, time away from your grumpy ass man,”
“Hey!” Jack cuts in from behind you
“Pipe down!” He laughs back at him and faces you.
“Like I said, if you ever need anything, you call me. I know I’m not your brother or your dad, but I hope you know I’ll be there as your family anytime.”
You’re at a loss for words as you start crying again. Nodding you hug him tighter. He really is like the brother you never had ever since you started dating Jack.
“Thanks Robby. Love you” you say wiping your face.
He smiles gently “Love you too kid.”
—-
Everyone hangs out at the apartment for a few hours until they start to file out and head home for the night.
As the last person leaves, Jack stares at you fondly.
“What’s with the staring J” you giggle
He makes his way toward you and engulfs you in a hug, swaying you lightly “Just still so proud of my smart and pretty girl.”
“Well this girl is ready for bed” you sigh with a small smile, your energy drained from all the emotions and celebrations of the day.
He holds your face in his hands, mouth hovering over yours “Alright, I’ll go shower and you get comfy in bed. I’ll meet ya there in 15, sound good?”
You kiss him quickly with a smile “It’s a date.”