A/N: This is it, the last chapter. Also, Quote belongs to Lilo & Stitch, I don't own it.

Chapter 27: Still Room To Grow.

"There they are!" Clint hollered waving his arms wildly at the two forms approaching from the private landing strip. Steve grinned at the sight of his boyfriend as he dropped his rolling suitcase and began sprinting towards the group that waiting on the sidelines.

Steve hopped the short fence and ran out to meet him halfway, "you'd think they hadn't seen each other last week huh?" Bucky laughed watching Steve's fast practically glow from having Tony in his arms again.

"I still can't believe they made it this far." Natasha commented softly, it'd been almost a year since their trip to California, the distance at times had been difficult for Steve and Tony but they held strong, it was June, and they made it eleven months and counting.

It helped that Tony owned his own plane and made it a point to try and visit as often as he could, and Steve had spent the latter half of Christmas break down in California with him, not to mention that year's sports tournament, and now that graduation was upon them, Tony and Rhodey had come to watch the ceremonies.

The group had actually only been back a mere five days from going to Tony and Rhodey's own graduation, Tony surprisingly giving a heartfelt speech as he made valedictorian.

Steve and Tony came walking back up to the group followed shortly by Rhodey who stared blankly at Tony holding out the handle to his suitcase, "really man? Just going to leave this behind?" Tony laughed, "Sorry Rhodey, thanks honey bear."

Rhodey rolled his eyes fondly at his friend before getting swept up by the others, all talking loudly as hugs were passed around, "we have dinner plans tonight!" Clint said excitedly, "we're going to this nice sports bar and grill place on 39th, you guys will love it."

"Why dinner tonight, why not Friday when you guys actually graduate?" Tony asked as the group headed through the main airport building and to the nearest subway entrance.

"We decided we're doing it twice, today to welcome you guys back to New York, and Friday when we get released from the bonds of hell!" Clint was fairly dramatic as he said it, making the group laugh.

Rhodey was staying with Clint while Tony was bunking down with Steve, after a couple of stops to drop off their luggage and a quick change of clothes the group was ready to head for dinner.

Dinner was a rowdy affair, they were loud and enjoying each other's company and amusing the waitresses with their banter.

Soon Friday approached, and Tony found himself walking the hallways of his old school, memories assaulting him, but it was okay now, that's all they were, just memories, and they couldn't hurt him anymore.

He had friends, family he made for himself, and he had a magnificent boyfriend, he was happy. "Tones?" Tony nodded his head at Rhodey, following his best friend to the gymnasium where the graduation ceremony was taking place.

He sat in his plastic chair in-between Rhodey and Sarah, Steve's mom. Jane and Bruce we're co-valedictorians and they made a beautiful speech together, it reduced Bruce's mother to tears. Soon student after student made their way across the stage as their names we're called, then at long last "Robert Banner" there was an outrageous cheer from Tony and Rhodey, making Bruce duck his head blushing brightly.

Not even a minutes later "James Barnes" he gave a cocky grin as he made his way across the stage to the loud hollering of his friends, a few minutes later "Clinton Barton" "not the full name!" Clint whined agonizingly as he collected his diploma, holding it up to the audience, "hey mom, look what I got!" he shouted gleefully, making his mother roll her eyes and laugh.

"Jane Foster" she received the same treatment of loud cheers, "Thor Odinson" the tall man practically bounced excitedly along the stage, grinning in self-pride at his accomplishment. "Loki Odinson" Loki made his way much more reservedly to collect his diploma, pausing on the steps when a he caught sight of his father, the large Viking like man clapping with a look of such pride, Tony knew how much it meant for Loki to see it.

"Steven Rogers" Tony was practically on his feet he was cheering so loud, "Love you babe!" Steve called out, pointed at Tony with his diploma, making the smaller boy laugh as the majority of the audience let out coos.

"Natasha Romanoff" she was the last of their friends, smiling openly at the loud cheers and whistles as she collected her diploma.

The ceremony wrapped up not long after, and the group headed to dinner, their parents joining them. There was so many of them they'd ended up taking over half the restaurant.

Half way through dinner, Tony stood clinking his glass gently, "since we all know I like to do things over the top, I'd like to propose a toast." The table quieted, giving Tony their undivided attention, "It's been several years since we've all met," Tony started waving his glass around to encompass the whole table, "We've had our ups and downs, our good times and bad, and a hell of a lot of drama to go with it."

The gathered friends let out small chuckles, "but here we are, our friendships stronger than ever, we've grown so much and I don't know about you guys, but I am personally grateful to know each and every single one of you. You guys, right here, make life worth living, and I know that no matter where the roads in life take us, we'll always find each other right here, we're more than just friends now; we're family. To quote a favorite movie of mine; Ohana, Ohana means family, and family means…"

"No one gets left behind!" The friends responded as one, Tony nodded, "or forgotten, so here's to us, to all of us" he said raising his glass and purposely including the parents in the toast.

"Here's to what we've lost and gained, to what's behind us and to what's in front of us, we still have a long way to go, and we still have room to grow."

A/N: The end….

I am in the midst of writing one shots to fill in the missing blanks of the story line, and also A SEQUEL!

^ ^ if you've enjoyed this and wish to continue on Steve and Tony's relationship journey then keep your eyes peeled for the sequel titled Growth Spurts!

Thanks again to all who stuck with this story; I hope it was as much for you to read as it was for me to write! Peace out! – DayDreamsAndStarLights.