Happy hump day!

Thank you to the lovelies: Brie, kitchmill, Jenn, Kelly, and Kim. You all rock my world.

Today's Hollywood encounter comes from Shamatt0403. Here's her Patrick Swayze Story.

"Patrick said hello to me when he walked past me during outside filming of North and South. My coworker (who was Swayze crazy) dragged me down to where they were filming. I was hoping to see Liz Taylor but no such luck. They were filming at White Point Garden. We were standing closer to the street behind a crowd of people. We couldn't see much filming but the crowd started to clear and Patrick was walking right toward us. He tipped his head and said hello like the gentleman he was. My friend was speechless but I said hello back and he smiled. He was just as gorgeous in person as he was on camera."

Patrick Swayze holds a special place in my heart, so I thank her for sharing her story with us.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Everything had changed the moment my plane touched back down in Los Angeles. I was a hot commodity for the paps. Edward was a wreck because he couldn't be here to protect me. He hated the fact that I was now the paparazzo's number one target and income source.

Even though I constantly reassured him that none of it mattered, I could tell he was disappointed that my life was now a three ring circus full of camera wielding clowns. They did avoid my house, though. One look down the barrel of Daddy's Beretta and they kept their distance when I was at home.

To this day, I still laughed about the bastard who pissed himself because of Officer Swan and his gun.

Emmett and I had become really close because of his constant presence and protection while I worked at the coffeehouse and while going to and from school. The only time I didn't see him was when I was working with Emily. She had her own security, so they watched out for me while I was with her.

At least, that was how it was with the paps until they realized my life was pretty boring. School, work, and home—that was all I did. My allure slowly wore off and Edward was calm once more.

School flew by, and before I knew it, graduation was upon us.

Edward's plane was supposed to arrive the morning of my commencement, but I hadn't heard from him yet. I sat, fidgeting in my seat, as the Dean of Students droned on with his speech. My black robe had been topped off with my red and white sash as well as my honors medallion, and my phone was on vibrate in the pocket I had added to my robe; I hadn't wanted to carry a purse. I was hoping it would vibrate so I would know he had arrived safely.

The ceremony had begun to really move forward, and after the masters' graduates had received their diplomas, it was our turn. The president of the university announced our commencement honors before we walked up to receive our diploma covers.

The lines moved slowly since there were so many of us, and it took almost an hour before it was my name being announced. The cheering that occurred after "Isabella Marie Swan" was announced was enough to turn my cheeks the same color as my sash. I finally felt my phone vibrate just as I was handed the diploma case. I wanted so badly to reach into my pocket and snatch it, but I had to pose for my picture first.

I held up my faux diploma, since the real one would arrive in the mail, as I smiled impatiently at the photographer while I stood in front of the university's pennant for the picture. The second I was finished and back in my seat, I snatched up my phone.

Congratulations, coffee girl. You look beautiful. xx E

My eyes snapped up and I quickly began searching through the crowds of families and friends for my Edward, but there were too many people for me to even try and come close to finding him.

I quickly typed out a reply. Why didn't you tell me you'd be here? xx CG

Not even a second later, his response arrived.

Where would the fun in that have been? Besides, did you really think I would miss seeing the love of my life get her college diploma? xx E

I couldn't help the huge smile that lit up my face. Thank you. I love you and I'm so glad I could share this with you. xx CG

I had officially become one of those girls who smiled at her phone each time a call or message arrived from her man. It made my heart flutter like I had drunk too much coffee. I didn't think those feelings would ever go away, and to this day it still hadn't.

No thanks are needed. I love you more, coffee girl. Now focus on finishing up…you still need to move your tassel over. xx E

He was right. Everyone around me had stood up and they were listening to the president's instructions. I shoved my phone back in my pocket and followed along again. With my fellow graduates, I moved my tassel from right to left and listened as we were added to the alumni family of the university.

Less than ten minutes later, it was over. I had finally graduated. I had achieved my first success as an adult. I felt so proud of myself for sticking it out and achieving something so wonderful. Once the faculty had cleared the podium and officially recessed, we were allow to find our families.

Kate found me first. "Woohoo! We did it, Bella!"

I returned her hug with equal vigor. "We did. Congrats."

"You have to promise to keep in touch, Ms. Big Shot Songwriter." I rolled my eyes at her new name for me, although I was grateful it wasn't Edward's Lover any longer.

It had been a huge shock to me when I was offered a position to work under the tutelage of Felix Andrews, award winning songwriter for everyone who was anyone. I was also beyond honored that Emily had already recorded the song I had sung for her back when I first began interning with her and I earned my first paycheck. It would be the first single released from her upcoming album, and I was so overwhelmed by the response the song was generating within the music industry already.

"I promise. You have my number and my email. Good luck in New York. If Broadway can't see your talent, then they're stupid."

We hugged once more and then she disappeared into the large crowd.

"Coffee girl!" Emmett's beckoning bellow had me whipping my head around to see him parting a path through the masses as he led all my guests toward me.

Edward pushed past him and I ran for him. He gathered me into his arms and spun me around. I giggled and held on tightly as our entire family joined us for a group hug.

Congratulations came from every direction and I didn't know who to thank first until I saw my dad. He tried to covertly wipe a tear from his eye, but I saw it. I tapped Edward's shoulder for him to put me down and then walked over to my dad.

"I'm so proud of you, sweetheart." He had never been a man of many words, but when he spoke it was always honest and from the heart.

"Thank you, Daddy."

After all the hugs were given, I said exactly what was on my mind. "Now can we get the hell out of here? Traffic is going to be a bitch."

No one said it would be eloquent, just honest. They all laughed and agreed. Apparently Esme and Carlisle were hosting a party for me at their home, so we all followed them back there.

I was glad to have been able to lose the ill fitting robe that never looked good on anyone, and show off the Hervé Leger dress once more. I was getting a lot of use out of the dress, so I didn't feel like all the money that had been spent on it was a waste anymore. Besides, I looked smoking in it.

Edward was swallowing his tongue once more when I bent over and pulled off my heels. I continued to walk barefoot through his parents' property while holding a glass of wine.

"I am so proud of you. You stuck to your guns and finished what you started. You didn't let that jackass Riley stop you and you didn't let me interfere with reaching your goals. You're spectacular, love." I shook my head and looked down at the glass.

"Riley and his desire to use me to get back at you for Tanya's betrayal of him wasn't going to happen. I just wanted to make my parents proud, you know? Show them that I could make something of myself."

He lifted my face to his, love shining so brightly from his eyes. "They are. Your dad couldn't stop talking about how proud he was while we watched you walk across the stage."

I snorted. "My dad? Really?"

He nodded. "Yep, he did. I know he doesn't always say much, but he was truly proud to watch you walk across that stage. I know he cried…but we won't tell him I saw that. I don't need to get shot in the ass."

We continued walking around outside. Music was playing throughout the yard and I was content to share the scenery with Edward. We held hands the entire time, sometimes talking and other times just quietly roaming until he pulled me to a stop at the tennis court.

I looked up at him in question. "What's up?"

It was a simple question, but he was obviously nervous. "Um, what do you think about moving in together?"

"What?" I was stunned; it seemed so out of left field.

"Move in with me. It feels like the next logical step for us to take. I hate the idea that now that I'm in town I won't be able to wake up next to you. Paris spoiled me."

I had enjoyed that too. It took me a few days to get reaclimated to sleeping alone. I missed his smell, being in his arms, and his warm breath upon my neck as I woke up. I slept in his t-shirt every night that we weren't together. It didn't smell like him anymore since I'd had to wash it, but it was as close as he could be before this offer.

"I don't know. I don't think I'd feel comfortable living here with your parents."

He looked startled before he began laughing. I didn't think I had said anything funny, so he was beginning to piss me off.

"What?" I snapped.

The look on my face sobered him up. "I'm really fucking this up aren't I?" I nodded and he continued. "I was actually trying to ask you to help me find us a place of our own. I would never ask you to move in here. I think it's time for me to grow up. Really, though, I just didn't want to live alone. Being here was easy. Now I want to share a place with you. Learn all your little quirks, like you learned a few of mine in Paris."

I giggled as I remembered his issue with picking up his socks. "You have other bad habits besides your socks. Learning some of your other bad habits would be fun."

The idea of living together was growing on me.

"So you'll do it? You'll move in with me?" His face was brighter than the sun that shone high in the sky.

"Well…we have to find a place first. If we're going to do this, then it has to be perfect. I'm not moving again. This would be a forever kind of thing. You know that, right?"

I was hoping we really were on the same page. There hadn't been much marriage talk as of late, so I didn't like feeling like I was stepping in the wrong direction with my question. The anxiety had been creeping in while I waited for his answer.

"Forever is a great place to start."

His words comforted me and I settled into his arms, breathing in his natural musk and Ralph Lauren cologne. It really was the smell of home for me. "Then yes, let's do this. Let's find a place for us."

We didn't stay secluded for long. It was a family day, after all, and I believed it was actually a great idea to spend the afternoon combining our two families once again. But before we joined back up with said family for the delicious meal that the Cullen clan kept raving about, my mind wandered. No one mentioned the missing members of Edward's family, but it was disheartening to see they didn't seem missed. I wondered how long it had been since they had all talked.

I was oblivious to everything around me—so much so that I missed Edward's question.

"Huh?"

"I asked what was going on in that beautiful head of yours."

I rolled my eyes at him, but gave him an honest answer. "I was thinking about Alice and Jasper."

He seemed shocked by my comment. "Why?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "I just wondered how long it's been since you all have talked." My thoughts drifted back to my father and the info I knew he had, but was afraid to confirm whether it was good or bad.

He sighed. "It's been a while…"

Thank you for reading and your reviews. See you Friday! xx Dee