A/N Sorry it's taken me so long to update! My mind has kind of been on Just Give Me A Reason. If you haven't read that, please do! Anyways, here's more Melody! I only own her, Caleb & Riley. And the plot. No one who was on glee.

Chapter 12: Cap and Gown
Chicago, Illinois

She was nervous. She stood in front of her full length mirror, adjusting her pink knee length dress. She blew out a breath as she adjusted her hair, making sure the pins were holding her dark hair back securely. Her hair dresser had assured her that she would be able to secure her mortarboard on top of her head safely without ruining the hairdo they had spent all morning putting together. She felt a pair of arms wrap around her waist as she was lost in the image in the mirror. She smiled when she felt a kiss being pressed at the junction of her shoulder and neck. She closed her eyes with a smile on her face, leaning into the embrace. She opened them to find Riley's head resting on her shoulder.

"Don't be nervous." He whispered.

"I'm not nervous"

Riley chuckled just as a knock sounded on the apartment door. "Right. And the Pope isn't Catholic."

"Haha." She sighed, pulling herself from his embrace just as another knock came. "You're so funny."

"That's what they tell me." He laughed as he followed her out of the bedroom and towards the front door.

Her entire family was coming in from Ohio to be there for her graduation. Her university graduation. It had been a long four years, with a lot of heartache, late night phone calls and near mental breakdowns but she had done it. She was graduating from the University of Chicago with her Bachelor of Social Work at the top of her class. And she even had a few job offers back at home to make things better.

"I'm coming!" She called as she dodged the boxes she had packed to answer the door, just as another more impatient knock sounded. She threw open the door to reveal her mother, father and Caleb standing in the hallway. The look on her brother's face was priceless, a cross somewhere between complete boredom and happiness that only stems from being able to cut school to come up to see her.

"About time you answered the door." He grumbled as he walked into the apartment, just as her mother threw her arms around waist, pulling Melody into her for a hug. Melody laughed as she felt her mother squeeze her waist.

"Mom, you're going to wrinkle my dress." She laughed as Rachel pulled away.

"Sorry. I'm just so excited to see you!" Melody chuckled again as Rachel held her at an arms length. "You look gorgeous baby"

"Well thank you." She smiled, brushing her dress free of the imaginary lint. She moved away from the door a little bit, allowing her mother and father into the apartment. Finn gave her a hug just a Riley walked into the living room where the family was standing. Melody watched as her father shook Riley's hand. She was a little nervous for her family and Riley to spend time together without her there. They had just recently reconciled in the last six months, and while they had had years to get to know each other, this time it was like starting over again. She trusted her mother. She just didn't trust her Dad. Or Caleb even for that matter. Though she was sure her 14 year old brother really wouldn't scare Riley that much. She just wanted everyone to get along.

They drove together to the school, which wasn't far from the apartment she had been living in off campus for the last three years. She had hated the dorm experience more than anything, and her grandparents had been able to help her with an off campus apartment. The perks of being the only granddaughter of three grandchildren (on her dads side). She never said she wasn't appreciative. She had to leave them at the door and head off to where the graduates would receive their caps and gowns.

Her nerves got worse as she found her place in line with all the other graduates with last names starting with H. She swallowed hard when they filed into the gymnasium, where the ceremony would take place. She didn't know where her family was sitting, but she was sure she would be able to hear them soon enough. If there was one thing she knew for sure, the Hudson/Hummel/Anderson/Berry's always made their presence known. Her family was kind of embarrassing like that.

The ceremony itself was actually quite boring. There were a lot of long winded speeches about making the most of your lives, the journey forward and all that cliché stuff that she could have gone without. Her emotions were already on edge today, as it marked the end of a chapter for her. She smiled and clapped when she saw her friends walk across the stage but it was when she stood up with her row and walked towards the stairs of the stage that she felt her nerves get the best of her. Why did she chose heels? Oh wait, because her Uncle Kurt had sent them after she'd shown him her dress. He should have known better. She was as clumsy as her father, two left feet on a good day. Heels and stairs were not going to be a good idea.

"Melody Hudson" She heard her name being called and she slowly made her walk up the stairs and across the stage to where the Dean of Social Sciences was standing. She heard the hoots and howls of her family, her Dad's voice was distinctive, shouting her name. She felt herself blushing as she accepted the diploma and shook the Dean's hand before walking down on the other side of the stage.

Her family found her before she even had a chance to look for them. She was engulfed in her father's arms and found herself being lifted off the ground as she began to laugh.

"Dad, you're drawing attention to us" She laughed when he finally put her down on the floor.

"How is that different from any other day?" She heard her brothers voice. "You didn't fall Melody. I was sure you were going to trip on the stage..." She leaned over to punch his arm, just as she was pulled into a hug by her Poppy and Nana.

"We're so proud of you Mel" Her Nana mumbled into her hair. "So proud."

"Thanks Nana." She smiled when she pulled away it was a beat before her Poppy pulled her in for a hug. She was going to be smothered today.

Riley offered to walk with her to take her gown back after they had taken what felt like a million pictures. She smiled when she caught him staring at her, the butterflies rising in her stomach as his gaze followed her.

"I'm so proud of you Mel." He mumbled when she approached him, wrapping her arms around his waist. She kissed his mouth gently for a moment before pulling away.

"Come on. My entire family is waiting, and the sooner we entertain them...the sooner they'll leave us be. Until tomorrow morning at least." She pulled out of his arms and started to walk away from him. He caught up to her and immediately wrapped his arm around her waist as they walked to meet her family.

Finn stood up from his spot at the head of the table, holding his wine glass high.

"I'd like to make a toast." He tried. He waited a beat, and when the family didn't stop talking he raised his voice. "Hudson's!" He yelled a little louder. The family stopped talking and all turned to look at Finn. "Thank you. " He cleared his throat. "As I was saying. I'd like to make a toast, to my little girl Melody." She felt her cheeks go red. "Even though she isn't quite so little anymore. Especially in those sky high heels. Thanks for that Kurt." The table laughed. "All joking aside, I just wanted to stand up here and just say how proud both your mother and I are of you Melody. I'll admit, when you first told me you'd chosen the University of Chicago, I was really hesitant to let you go. But only because it was so far away from home, from us" He pointed to Rachel. "But I knew then that you were a smart girl with a strong head on your shoulders. You've proven that and then some over the last four years. We love you so much Melody and you're going to do a lot of good in this world. You're going to go places kid. Just make sure they're in Ohio this time" He winked, holding up his glass a little more as the family laughed again. "To Melody, congratulations on graduating baby girl we are all so incredibly proud of you"

"To Melody!" The rest of the family held up their various glasses before taking long swigs.