To all fans and readers of this story. It is with great pleasure and also great sadness to present to you the last chapter of this story. I hope it suits you all as an acceptable ending. This has been my most well received fic since I started writing on here. Thanks to everyone who followed this and gave support when it was needed. You all rock! Anyway, without further ado: the last chapter.

Also note to BigCliffyMeanie1: I would never let Spinelli get pregnant. Haha :)

Personal Note: A shout to Oasis for helping me find the right song to fit this chapter

Chapter 14. Live Forever

One Year Later...

They had dreamed about it. They had thought about it while day dreaming in previous years. They had envisioned it with all their heart and soul. But never once did they imagine they'd actually make it to this day: Graduation.

All of the gang was there. Not just Vince, Gret, Gus, and Mikey. But Hustler Kid, the Ashleys, Gordy, Randall, Butch, Menlo, and everyone else they had known over the years since their first days at school. Everyone's parents were there (TJ's mother and father were positively ecstatic) but a number of other guests had managed to intend as well. This included King Bob and Lawson (who had graduated ahead of them sophomore and Junior year), Hector, Tubby, Peter Prickley and Miriam Finnster.

TJ sat in a chair on a hot summer's day in a red robe and cap, his diploma safely tucked underneath his arm. They were at the last leg of people being called. Fifth street had been one wild ride, but they had made it. All of them.

It was fitting that all of them should be there on this day. It was almost like the end of an era to TJ. They had always been there, even after others left or graduated. But now it was time to move on to bigger and better things, to adulthood; to college. It was unsettling but exciting at the same time.

TJ had been accepted to the University of Michigan and planned to major in history (somehow he had always like it). Vince had gotten a scholarship to play basketball at Syracuse University, a full ride for as long as he was there. But TJ knew he had his sights on the NBA, it was his dream after all.

Gretchen, to no one's surprise, had been accepted to every Ivy League school she had applied to. In the end she had decided on Yale. The city wasn't her thing, as Harvard and Columbia were right in the middle of Boston and New York. No one was more proud than her equally genius parents. TJ knew that she would go on to do something great some day. Cure cancer, maybe find a new species of animal. Either way she was going places.

Gus had shyed away from being in the military. The life just wasn't for him he said. Instead he settled on an engineering school in Chicago. During high school he had found himself quite good at fixing cars and building various gizmo's and gadgets in his spare time. His Father at first, had not approved. But his mother had intervened, and after a long sit down to talk things over, he had agreed to let his only son pursue what he desired.

Mikey was going to Ithaca in upstate New York. He wouldn't be too far from Vince, but he was no athletic buff. Mikey had been the number one drama boy in high school and had joined other projects, such as the jazz band and chorus. He played various gigs around town and was noticed by some talent scouts. He was offered a place to sing back-up in some famous Jazz artist's band, but Mikey had wanted to get an education first. His real goal was Broadway in New York, and TJ didn't doubt for a second he would get there someday.

The clapping echoed and brought him back to earth. The camera's were out and the recorders capturing every moment. TJ Detweiler, however, didn't need a camera. He would remember this for the rest of his life. The day an adventure ended and another began.

He looked up at the sky. Not a cloud, though birds were chirping in the background. The wind rustled the now fully grown leaves on the trees. Today was perfect and life was beautiful.

Maybe, I don't really wanna know

How your garden grows

Cuz I just wanna fly

Lately, did you ever feel the pain?

Of the morning rain

And it soaked you to the bone

The next name was called, the one he had been waiting for.

"Ashley Funicello Spinelli"

As people started to clap TJ noticed Spinelli grimaced at the name. He chuckled to himself silently. She never would let anyone call her Ashley.

His girlfriend however smiled as she shook the principal's hand and received her diploma while her relatives whooped and hollered.

TJ knew he had nothing to fear from the future. He and Spinelli had agreed to stay together through college. It wouldn't be too hard. After all she would be nearby, with East Lansing being very close to Ann Arbor. (A/N: Michigan State and Michigan)

As the last names were called and the ceremony brought to a close, TJ had never felt better in his entire life.

But there was one more thing he had to do...

"Wow I can't believe it's finally over" Vince LaSalle muttered to no one in particular.

"Only seemed like yesterday when we were kids right?" Gus said adding on.

"And all that mattered was that sweet, wonderful forty minutes of freedom every day" Mikey remarked.

"Seems fitting that we should be here right now" Gretchen said peering around the empty playground.

Third Street had remained the same. This was mostly due to Prinicpal Prickly, but it was almost like they had never left. They had changed over the years, but the school was now a window into a blissful past. One that held cherished memories of childhood.

"I don't even wanna go into all the stuff we did" Spinelli said dipping her foot into the sand. "I might start crying"

"You know something TJ" Vince said looking at him now. "High school was fun. But this place was the best."

"Agreed Vince" TJ replied.

Everyone else nodded in agreement.

"Damn I can't get over the fact that it was seven years ago the last time we went here" TJ said getting up from the swing set and walking around. "I don't think there's anything I can say to describe it"

"No words could TJ" Mikey said. "This moment speaks for itself"

"Ahmen" agreed Gus.

Spinelli jumped down from the monkey bars and landed gracefully.

"You know I'm really glad we stayed together as a group through high school. No one could ask for a better group of friends" she said.

"Or boyfriend" TJ added quickly with a smile.

"Shut up you"

"Ok let's not get all mushy here" Vince said pretending to vomit as TJ and Spinelli cuddled against each other.

The rest of the gang laughed. "But seriously all in all, there isn't a group of people in the world I'm more proud to call my family" he said. "You guys mean that much to me"

"As you all to me!" proclaimed loudly.

"And me" Gus said.

"Of course to me" Gretchen said grinning.

"And to me and Spin" TJ said. "Things like this don't come every day"

"But what's gonna happen after we go off into our own separate ways?" Gretchen asked with concern.

"You know something Gret" Vince said putting an arm around her while she blushed. "It ain't over yet. Not while we still have time, all summer. Let's make it the best one we've had"

"I second that" said Gus jumping down from old Rusty. "So what you all say to skipping some rocks down by the pond?"

"I'd say I'm right behind you Gus" TJ said smiling.

"Sounds wonderful let's go" Gretchen said getting up from the seesaw and the group started running, TJ most of all.

But then he felt a hand hold him back.

Spinelli clearly wanted some time alone.

"Uh hang on guys, we'll be there in a sec" she said.

"Okay but if you're going get it on in the sandbox, make sure you don't leave any marks for the kids coming back next year" Vince called.

"Vince!" Spinelli yelled.

"Get yo freak on!" he yelled back and then started running away laughing with the others.

Spinelli started to chase after him but she in turn was held back by her boyfriend.

"C'mon Spin it's Vince. It's not worth it" he said laughing.

"Ugh! I know" she said giving a sigh.

"I loved the fact that you never lost that fiesty little temper of yours"

"Mhm keep talking TJ"

"I mean it you're quite cute when you're mad and pouting your lips like...

She immediately jumped on him and wrestled him to the ground. TJ grabbed her wrists in an effort to stop her but it was of no use. Laughing and giggling she pinned him down, gazing lovingly into his eyes.

"You could never beat me"

They got up, brushing the dirt off themselves.

"That tends to happen when you're in love with someone"

"That's why I haven't killed you yet" the Italian timebomb said with a teasing smile.

"Oh really is that the reason? I'm thrilled" TJ said putting his arms around her waist and kissing her on the cheek.

She grabbed his hands in return and the two remained interlocked like that for a few moments.

"TJ?"

"Yeah Spin?"

"I didn't wanna this in front of everyone. But I love you so much. If there is a God out there, the one thing I could thank him for is you."

TJ blushed and his blue eyes watered slightly.

"I would be with you to the end of the earth. Through heaven and hell and back again"

And with that, they kissed silently. At Third Street School; the place where it all began.

Maybe I just wanna fly

Wanna live but don't wanna die

Maybe I just wanna breathe

Maybe I just don't believe

I think you're the same as me

We'll see things they'll never see

You and I are gonna live forever

They broke apart and TJ looked up at the sun that shown brightly above the horizon. And as the wind blew softly in his face he said, "Hey Spin, it's a beautiful day and everyone's waiting. How about we go down to the pond and just be kids one more time?"

She looked up at him and replied softly, "I'd think I'd like that Teej"

And together, hands locked in an evertight squeeze, they headed down to rejoin their friends.

All the while, Third Street looked down upon them.

The End