You guys know how much I love answering your reviews. I've answered every one of them for every story… until this one. It's been difficult around the holidays and personal stuff, so I'm really sorry I've failed a bit at doing so on some chaps. Please know that I read them and love them all.

Chapter 25

"The closer I get to you
The more you make me see
By giving me all you got
Your love has captured me
Over and over again
I tried to tell myself that we
Could never be more than friends
And all the while inside I knew it was real
The way you make me feel" – Roberta Flack, "The Closer I Get To You", spent two weeks as number one on the Hot Soul Singles chart in April 1978, and peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. It was eventually certified gold in the United States on May 1978.

As we roll into Mac's parking lot, everyone is lined up on either side of the lane I'm driving through. I'm high-fiving kids through the window, and Edward is super-cool with his shades on and foot perched on the dash.

Van Halen shouts through the loudspeakers and even the employees have stopped waiting on people to watch us crawl by. I see one little girl with ice cream dripping down her arm staring at me agape as we cruise by, and in the background, I hear her say, "Mommy, can I be as cool as that one day?" To which the mother replies, "No, honey. No one will ever be as cool as they are."

I sigh, lost in daydreams and nerves as I approach Mac's and pull in. In reality, no one seems to look up from what they're doing and I'm a little annoyed my debut with Edward AND my car is going unnoticed and uncelebrated.

I park next to Ang's station wagon and at least she seems to be excited. She runs over and throws her arms around me. "Happy birthday, bitch!"

Laughing, I hug her back excitedly. "Thanks, I think."

"So, your dad really gave you his car? That's awesome!" She looks into the interior like she's never seen it before. "So much cooler than mine." That mollifies me. "What kind of birthday milkshake do you want? Chocolate?"

"Is there any other kind?" Angela orders Ben to go fetch us our drinks while Edward makes his way beside me.

This is the moment I've been excited for and dreading, but when he rests his perfect butt on the hood and slings his arm over my shoulders so that I'm leaning against him, it's the best feeling in the world. I want to pump my fists in the air and run up a lot of stairs in victory like Rocky Balboa.

I covertly scan the group, smug to see a group of the bimbo girls tittering and whispering, and looking our way. I'm sure they're expressing their distaste that Edward Cullen is off the market. All their hopes and dreams since the moment they heard he and Rosalie were splitsville are now dashed.

I eat it up and want to yell 'kiss my grits' across the lot.

Some of his surf crew come by and say hello, comment politely about the car and wish me a happy birthday. None of them seem particularly shocked or bothered by our closeness, so I relax, knowing in the dramatic world of teenage relationship dynamics that we are accepted as a couple.

Ang and I lean on the car, drinking our milkshakes and bopping our heads to Foreigner. I fill her in quickly about Rosalie, knowing we'll have a more in-depth round table about it in my room tomorrow because the new issue of Cosmopolitan just came in the mail. Someone passes a joint around but because I'm driving, I decline and Edward follows my lead. I'd love to smoke up with him sometime, but today is just too perfect to ruin with a head full of weed. He kisses me on the cheek and goes back to talking to some guy he knows from the surf shop.

"So, did Edward give you a present?" Ang winks while biting her straw and leaning into me.

"Oh my god, Edward is the sweetest boyfriend ever." I tell her about my day and all the gifts, ending my story by showing her my necklace, which immediately earns Ben an elbow to the stomach.

"I'm the what?" Edward pulls me towards him and takes a sip of my drink which even though sharing dairy products grosses me out, is nothing but wonderful 'cause it's him.

"Sweetest boyfriend ever, apparently," Ben says, rubbing his side. "Thanks."

"I can't help it if I'm great at gift-giving." He smirks at Ben and it makes me so happy to see my best friend's boyfriend and mine getting along. That's a huge thing.

"Best ever." I boldly wrap my arms around his waist and snuggle in, hoping those still-gawking girls are jealous beyond belief.

"It's not over yet," Edward whispers in my ear right before he gives me a kiss on the soft sensitive skin there, giving me goosebumps.

"No? What else do you have planned?" I ask excitedly, happy to extend my special day.

"It's a secret." His lips suck on my neck a second and my insides flip. A hickie from Kenickie might be a Hallmark card, but a hickie from Edward would be the entire freakin' rack.

"Get a room!" Someone yells from across the lot and a bunch of kids laugh. Edward, however, takes the opportunity to look at him with that lazy, sexy smile right before planting a knee-melting kiss right on my lips. I am of the same mind that we should, in fact, get a room, having never had anyone want to make out with me in public before.

He pulls back and puts his hands on my neck, stroking it softly. "Wanna get out of here?"

"Back to Zuma?" I ask when I drive my car onto the edge of the beach at Edward's direction.

"It's a nice night, let's enjoy the smog." He grins and I follow him out, watching as he pulls his blanket from the backseat of my car.

"Sneaky."

"Prepared." I step up on the fender and sit while Edward opens up two beers he also snuck into the back of my car at some point. He joins me and we toast, taking in the roar of the surf and the stars we can sort of see because we're parked far from any lights. There's a small bonfire billowing out in the distance, making Zuma quiet this evening.

"I think this might be the first time we've actually been alone," he says, taking a sip.

"We've been alone. The pier, lunch, surfing."

"Nope. They don't count. There were always people nearby." He puts his arm around me and squeezes. "I'm talking alone-alone. No one near."

"Besides at my house earlier, I guess that's true," I say, suddenly nervous but wholly excited, too. "What are we going to do with all this alone-ness?"

"Hmm. Parcheesi?"

"Not if you want me to remain your girlfriend."

"What, then?" He smirks while his hand lazily rubs my back. "It's still your holiday."

"Well, maybe something like this?" I turn and straddle him, resting my arms on his shoulders. His throat swallows as his hand moves to my hips. Now it's my turn to smirk. Taking a sip of beer, I try to act casual, like I'm always perched on his lap.

"This could be fun." He wiggles his eyebrows and lifts his can to his mouth.

"Could? I'm offended. Would you prefer my road head thing instead?"

He sputters his own sip of beer. "Ah, I'm good right here." He regains his composure quickly. "Let's save the road head for another day."

"Deal." I move closer, leaning in and looking at his mouth. He takes the hint and meets me halfway. His lips are soft and gentle at first, but quickly grow greedy when he pulls me close to his body. I throw my beer down onto the sand and he copies me, letting his newly free arm grab me solidly around the waist.

We've made out before, but somehow the fact that we don't have to go somewhere or there's not someone nearby makes it completely different. There's nothing to stop us or slow us down.

I begin to move on him, my thighs squeezing his as they try to climb him like a tree. He breaks away and I moan a little in dissatisfaction. "Let's move to the sand. More comfortable."

Nodding quickly, I scramble off him and he grabs the blanket and my hand after turning on my stereo. He leads me a little way away from the car, but close enough that we can still hear Frampton Comes Alive! through the open windows.

I resume my position on his lap, and we continue to make out, his hands exploring braver than they ever have. He caresses my back and his hands move to the inside of my waistband where he grips my ass, moving me against him the way he likes. I offer encouragement, moaning against his mouth. His hands slip under my shirt, and the sound he makes when he skims my braless breasts is enough to make me nuts.

He pulls away, and I can see the hunger in his eyes. It's a side of Edward I've only ever glimpsed at that day on his bed. I'm flushed with excitement and awe that I can bring this out in him.

My hand goes to his face and I trace his nose with my finger and touch the soft skin under his hungry eyes. I lay my palm against his cheek and kiss him with all the love I have inside me. I begin to push him back and he flips us so he's hovering over me.

The bonfire people are either done or out of view, so we're completely alone as we stretch out on the blanket. The ocean sings and so does my heart when Edward leans over me, his hand moving from under my shirt to play with a piece of my hair. "Nothing has to happen, I just want to enjoy lying here with you, no interruptions."

My throat moves, my voice coming out hoarse. "What if I want something to happen?"

He looks at me for a long time, his fingers still moving through my hair and his eyes searching my face. The hunger is still there, and my stomach flips at the sight. His tongue peeks out to lick his lips. "Are you sure? There's no rush. We have all the time in the world."

And I totally trust his words.

I know deep in my heart that we both know we have the rest of our lives together.

"Edward, I love you. I want you. It'll only ever be you." I've never said anything with more conviction. He must believe me, because he's kissing me passionately not a second later. His mouth makes me high, his fingers set me on fire.

Gripping the hem of his shirt, he lets me take it off him and I sit up to let him do the same to me. Edward's glorious California-blessed, sun-kissed torso is finally against mine, pressed against me for the first time and every inch of my skin is exploding and sending electric currents through me.

We explore each other and I can't get enough of the feel of his skin as my hands play over his chest, back, and sides before moving to the waistband of his jeans. My fingers stretch underneath, looking for more skin to discover. I'm so eager to uncover all of him, I worry I will throw up when I finally touch his butt.

"I'm sorry?" Edward's eyes are narrowed and he's smiling down at me.

"Shit, did I say that out loud?"

"Um yeah. You're going to vomit because of me? Not a great ego-booster."

My hand flies to my face, blocking him from me. "Oh my god. You just don't know. You have no idea."

"Tell me." He pries my hand away and twines his fingers in mine. His smile tells me he's enjoying my embarrassment a little too much.

"Jinkies, Shaggy! I don't know! I mean, you're Edward Cullen. I've imagined this moment so many times but never really thought I'd ever be here, you know? It's just… a lot."

"I told you we don't have to do anything."

"NO! I mean, if you stop now I'll kill you, so no, thank you. And I'm on the pill, don't want that to go to waste."

He laughs. "So, it's okay with you if I do this, then?" His fingers release mine and unsnap the button on my jeans.

"Adoy."

"And this?" Those same, devilish, teasing fingers pull my zipper down and it's all I can do to not wiggle out of my pants without his help because my legs are so eager to be naked.

"You have my approval."

"That's all I need." With that, Edward pulls my pants off and quickly gets up on his knees. My throat is dry watching his striptease, his fingers releasing the buttons of his fly one by one, while he stares down at me laid out before him.

With his pants go his boxers and it's all I can do not to pass out.

Not that I ever imagined differently, but his cock is as beautiful as he is.

I wet my lips as I stare at it and enjoy the sensation of Edward's hands moving up my legs slowly, his fingers skimming the undersides as his thumbs circle the inside, getting closer and closer to the top of my thighs.

"These have got to go." He tugs my undies suggestively so I lift my hips and let him pull them off. Insecurely, I look up at him to see his reaction to me being completely naked under him. His eyes are heavy, scanning me from head to toe. "Bella, you are so fucking beautiful."

I feel like Sandy when Danny throws his letter jacket on the ground and pronounces he has chills. His stare climbs to my eyes as his palm softly lays against me. His hand has been there before, but this is so, so different.

It's so much more.

"I love you, Swansong."

I suck in a breath. "I am so in love with you."

And with that, Edward Cullen enters me.

He's gentle at first, easing in and I'm hoping that it's because I'm so sexy he'll blow his load too quickly, but I'm sure it's because he's the sweetest guy there is.

When he's fully inside me, he moans and I put my legs around him. We stay like that for a moment until he kisses me and begins to move. Words could never describe the feeling of being with him like this. It's everything I thought and nothing I imagined.

We move together under the smog and stars, "Baby, I Love Your Way" wafting over the ocean air mixed with the crash of the waves, and I can't imagine a better moment than this.

His fingers move between us and he strokes me like he's done it a million times, hitting my spot just right. The way he's bucking his body against mine pushes his hand against me and it takes no time at all until I'm shuddering and gripping his biceps hard as he pushes me over the edge. Edward's body lifts from mine as he thrusts into me once, twice, three more times and if it's possible he's even more glorious and sexy when he's coming, eyes closed and mouth open, moaning and saying my name.

He collapses on top of me, both of us breathing heavily against each other. I can feel his heart pounding in his chest and the rhythm matches my own rabbit-paced thumping. He stretches against me, his arms enfolding and hugging me to his sweaty body like he's afraid to let me go. After a moment, he pulls up one side of the blanket and lays it over us, protecting and cocooning us in our own little world. His forehead rests against my chest and he lets out a shudder. "Wow," he says as his body continues to shiver.

I spread the blanket over his shoulders more and wrap my arms around him, kissing the top of his head.

"Are you okay?" he asks, his hands searching whatever parts of my body he can reach in our tight capsule.

"I've never been more okay."

I feel him smile against me and we lay like that until Peter Frampton sings his last note.

The ocean has quieted for the night and the seagulls are nowhere to be heard, so there's nothing but the sound of our steady breathing, hands slipping against skin, and our slowing heartbeats.

As I stroke the damp hair on his forehead that threatens to cover his eyes, I think back to a few months ago. Never in a million years did I think I'd be lying here, fully in love and one hundred percent sure that I'm fully loved back by none other than Edward Cullen.

The summer of 1978 is going to be a hard one to beat.

PB Fun Fact: Or more like sad… I always wanted to be that girl, butt on the car with a guy's arm around her surrounded by teenagers. I was a late bloomer, and my first real boyfriend didn't come until after high school so I was out of my teenage years when all that happened. It had lost its thrill LOL.

LAY and CARRIEZM Fun Fact: Both these beautiful girls were born in the summer of '78, and I totally agreed with Lay when she said to me it makes her love the last line even more. I didn't know it when I was a wee kid that summer, but them being born was one of the best things to happen to me. I love them as much as Zuma Bella loves Zuma Edward.

As always, thanks for the love and attention my two girls give me and my stories. I couldn't, I WOULDN'T, do it without them.