Blair stood in front of the full-length mirror in her New York apartment, a slight frown creasing her forehead as she adjusted the neckline of her crimson midi dress. The gold accessories she'd chosen sparkled in the morning light, complementing the elegant outfit. Today was her graduation day, and the nerves she'd been suppressing were starting to creep in.

"Pepper, are you sure this dress isn't too much?" Blair asked, glancing over at Pepper Potts, who was standing behind Blair, curling her hair.

Pepper chuckled, her expression amused. "Blair, you look stunning. The red is perfect, and it's your big day. You should stand out."

She shifted her attention to the notecards in her hand, quickly revising the valedictorian speech she'd be giving in just a few hours. The words blurred slightly as she tried to focus.

"You've got this," Pepper reassured her, placing the curling iron down and running her fingers through Blair's curls to loosen them up. "Your speech is amazing, and everyone's going to love it."

"Thanks, Pep," Blair murmured, taking a deep breath. "I just want everything to go smoothly."

As if on cue, her phone buzzed on the nightstand. Blair sighed and glanced at the screen before turning her attention to JARVIS in her apartment. "J, put it on speaker, please."

"Of course, Miss Stark," Jarvis responded smoothly, connecting the call.

Tony's voice crackled through the speaker. "Hey, B! So, uh, I might be a little late."

Blair's jaw dropped, and she shot a glance at Pepper, who merely raised an eyebrow. "Late? Tony, it's my graduation day! What could possibly be more important today than ME?"

There was a brief pause before Tony responded, sounding a bit sheepish. "I know, I know. But something came up in the lab. You know how it is."

"Are you serious right now?" Blair snapped, feeling the frustration bubble up. "Tony, this is important! You promised you'd be there on time."

"Blair, I've got to hang up. I'll make it up to you, okay? Gotta go, love you!" And just like that, the call ended with a click.

Blair stared at the phone in disbelief, her annoyance evident. "Urghhh! He always does this. What could be so urgent that he can't even make it to my graduation on time? Its MY GRADUATION for fuck's sake."

Pepper chuckled softly, shaking her head. "You know Tony. He's probably tinkering with some new gadget or trying to save the world. But he'll be there, Blair. He wouldn't miss this for anything."

Blair huffed, though a small smile tugged at her lips. "He'd better be. Or I'm going to make sure all his gadgets mysteriously disappear."

Pepper laughed, finishing up the setting spray and stepping back to admire her work. "There. You're all set. Let's get going before we're late."

Blair gave herself one last look in the mirror, straightened her shoulders, and grabbed her speech. "All right, let's do this."

The drive to the university was filled with light chatter between Blair, Pepper and Happy. As soon as they stepped into the ceremony area, a faculty member approached Blair, letting her know it was time for her to head backstage. Blair turned to Pepper. "Wish me luck."

Pepper gave her a reassuring smile. "You don't need it, but good luck anyway. I'll be right here cheering you on."

Blair nodded and made her way to the backstage area. She glanced around, scanning the crowd, hoping to catch a glimpse of Tony. But he was nowhere to be seen.

Just then, her phone buzzed again. She quickly answered it, smiling when she saw the caller IDs. "Nat! Clint!"

"Hey, Miss Valedictorian!" Nat's voice boomed through the phone.

Clint's voice followed,"We're proud of you, Blair. This is your moment. Fury's watching you from the live telecast."

Blair smiled, her earlier nerves easing a little. "Thanks, guys. I wish you were here."

"Don't worry, we're here in spirit," Natasha replied. "And trust me, you're going to be amazing."

"Break a leg!" Clint added.

"Thanks," Blair said, glancing at the clock. The teacher backstage was signaling that it was time. "I've got to go now. Talk to you later."

"Go get 'em, Stark!" Clint called out before she hung up.

Blair took a deep breath, tucking her phone away. Tony or no Tony, this was her moment. She stood on stage beside her vice president, Weston. The two of them shared a quick glance, a silent acknowledgment of the journey they'd shared leading the student council. With a smile, Blair took the microphone.

"And now," she announced, her voice clear and steady, "it's time to introduce the new Student Council President and Vice President for the upcoming year. Please welcome Ravi Patel and Grace Thompson!"

The audience broke into applause as Ravi and Grace approached the stage. "Congratulations, guys," Blair said warmly, shaking their hands. "You're going to do great."

As the new leaders took center stage, Blair stepped down to join her classmates in the audience. She found her stand next to her best friends, Sydney and Rachel, her excitement slightly dampened by Tony's continued absence. She'd wanted him to see her in this moment, to share in her achievement.

"Can you believe it, B?" Rachel nudged her, a grin on her face. "You're about to receive your degree from your brother. That's got to be pretty awesome!"

Blair blinked, her head shooting up in surprise. "Wait, what?" She turned to the stage, her heart skipping a beat.

"Graduates, faculty, honored guests, and families—today is a day of celebration. A day where we honor the hard work, dedication, and brilliance of our graduates who are about to embark on their next great adventure. But before we send you off into the world, we have a special treat for you.
Our guest speaker today needs no introduction, but I'll give it a shot anyway. He's a man who redefined the tech industry. He's not just a billionaire, an innovator, or the CEO of one of the most influential companies on the planet. He's someone who's always thinking ahead, pushing boundaries, and challenging the status quo. Without further ado, it is my great honor to introduce our keynote speaker for today Harvard Business School's 2009 graduation ceremony—Mr. Tony Stark."

The room erupts in applause as Tony approaches the podium. He acknowledges the crowd with a nod and a charismatic smile.

"What the Fuck?" Blair muttered, her eyes wide with disbelief.

Sydney and Rachel laughed at her reaction. "You didn't know?" Sid asked, clearly amused.

Blair shook her head, still trying to process what she was seeing. "He didn't say anything! I thought he wasn't even going to show up."

"Come on. What else did you expect. He's Blair's brother," Sydney teased, nudging her playfully.

"Why does it sound like an insult." Blair sulked a bit, annoyed that Tony had pulled off such a surprise without her knowing. "Typical," she muttered under her breath, though she couldn't help the small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

The roll call began, students walking up to the stage one by one to receive their degrees. The whole time, Blair tried to wrap her head around the fact that she would be standing up there with Tony in just a few minutes.

When Rachel's name was called, she grinned at Blair before heading up to the stage. As she accepted his degree, Tony patted her on the head with a smile, exchanging a few friendly words.

"You should hug him when you go up there," Sydney suggested, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "It would be so cute. You know the crowd would go wild."

Blair shook her head. "No way. That would be so awkward! Everyone's watching."

"Which is exactly why you should do it!" Sydney insisted, clearly enjoying the idea. "Come on, Blair, it's your brother. This is your moment."

Before Blair could protest further, the dean's voice boomed across the room. "Stark, Blair."

She took a deep breath and stood, smoothing out her dress. She could feel all eyes on her as she made her way to the stage. Sydney gave her an encouraging smile, while Rachel winked at her as she passed him on his way back to his seat.

As she approached the stage, Blair shook hands with the professor and then with the dean. Her heart pounded in her chest as she moved to where Tony was waiting, a proud smile on his face.

She extended her hand to him, fully expecting a simple handshake, but Tony had other plans. He pulled her into a hug, holding her close for a moment as he whispered in her ear, "I'm so proud of you, B. Mom and Dad would be too."

Blair's breath caught in her throat, the warmth of Tony's words settling in her heart. The whole crowd erupted in cheers and applause, and Blair couldn't help but smile as she hugged Tony back.

They pulled apart and Blair could see the pride in Tony's eyes, a look that made all her previous worries fade away. He winked at her, stepping back as she turned to face the crowd.

Blair walked up to the podium, her heart pounding with a mix of excitement and nerves. She adjusted the microphone, took a deep breath, and began.

"Good afternoon, everyone. Wow, we made it! After years of hard work, questionable fashion choices, and more caffeine than any human should consume, here we are—on top. And let's be honest, the view is pretty spectacular. Today is the day we've all been waiting for, and I have to say, standing up here feels pretty surreal. I've been thinking a lot about what I wanted to say to you all—what words of wisdom I could impart as we step out into the world. And, of course, I thought back to something my father used to say: 'Life is unpredictable, so always have a backup plan and a strong drink ready.'"

The crowd laughed, and Blair smiled, feeling the tension ease a bit.

"Now, I could stand here and tell you to follow your dreams, but let's be real, dreams are just a starting point. What really matters is how you turn those dreams into reality. You've got the brains, the ambition, and, if you're anything like me, the perfect shoes to match. So, why settle for anything less than extraordinary? As we leave this place, our paths might not cross again. But the impact we've had on each other's lives? That stays with us. We've all played a part in each other's stories, sometimes as the main character, sometimes as a sidekick, not for me tho" she whispered the last bit. "and sometimes as that annoying plot twist no one saw coming. But it's those interactions, those shared experiences, that have shaped who we are today."

Blair paused, glancing at the crowd, spotting familiar faces that had been with her throughout her journey.

"I want to take a moment to thank everyone who's been a part of this journey, my professors, who've pushed me to think critically and never settle for easy answers; my classmates, who've challenged me and made me laugh, my family: Pepper, Rhodey, Happy. "She lists."who've supported me every step of the way, even when I was too stubborn to ask for help. And Tony... well, I have to say, your stunt today was a total surprise. That's something I'll never forget."

The crowd erupted in cheers and applause, and Blair couldn't help but grin.

"But seriously, thank you. Thank you for showing up, for believing in me, and for reminding me that I'm not in this alone. And to all of you out there, whether we've shared a class, a conversation, or just a knowing look across the room, I want you to remember that you are capable of amazing things. You have the tools, the knowledge, and the resilience to take on whatever comes next. So go out there and make your mark on the world. Don't be afraid to take risks, to fail, to try again. And most importantly, don't forget to have fun along the way. Because at the end of the day, life isn't just about achieving goals—it's about the journey, the people you meet, and the memories you create. Congratulations, Class of 2009. We did it. And I can't wait to see what comes next for all of us. Thank you."