Title: What's Not Said

Genre: friendship, hurt/comfort

Rating: T

Pairing: Paul/ Bella

Word Count: 500

Prompt: He's not an idiot, you know

Pre-Reader: Twin, AKA Katastrophic Kat, AKA Kat, AKA Kat 1

Disclaimer:

All characters and known situations belong to their respective owners. Everything else came from my own mind. In no way shape or form have I made nor do I intend to make a profit from this story…. All rights still belong to Stephenie Meyer…

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Paul shook his head in disbelief. Someone had to hate him in Heaven. This couldn't be right. He had to be dreaming. Paul Lahote couldn't be a father.

"What's her name?" He stared at the baby in the social workers arms.

"Her name is Makenzii Nicole Lahote."

Paul thought back to the woman who fled his doorstep nearly a year ago. If the baby hadn't smelled so much like him, he'd have asked for a paternity test. His wolf growled in protest at that thought. The pup was theirs- no tests needed thank you.

"Come on inside then." He said while wiping the grease from his hands the best he could. He'd been caught working on his car. So much for a peaceful day off- he knew hell would break loose when she left.

He thanked the pack yet again for helping him with the renovations made after Arianna had left him. The feminine touches had come from his new-found best friend, Bella Swan and he could tell that the social worker had been impressed by them.

The two spent an hour discussing his new responsibilities. He felt aged beyond his 22 years already. She offered him her card and a diaper bag on her way to the door and told him to call if he needed anything. As soon as she shut the door, he dialed Bella's number. Once he hung up with her, he called Sam. The news of his daughter spread like wildfire through the pack after that. As he stared down at her, Paul felt the walls of panic closing in on him.

"I'm just a mechanic...How do I take care of a baby?"

Three weeks flew by fast as Paul settled into a workable routine. Bella helped him with his baby, offering her free time to him so he could work, sleep and patrol. The pack had never seen him so determined- not since Victoria anyways. None of them had children of their own- yet anyways. They just couldn't understand how he felt. Caring for someone else changed how he saw a lot of things.

Another week gone by found the pack at Sam's. Bella had heard enough of the teasing and jealous barbs from Jacob. He didn't see what was so special about Paul having a baby. She threw down her game controller and stood to glare at him.

Jacob blinked, confused by her anger. "What gives Bella?"

"He's not an idiot, you know." She growled and stormed away.

"What just happened?" Quil asked his friends.

Leah's eyes rolled. "Isn't it obvious?"

"Uh… she's mad?" Jacob tried.

Kim snorted. "Men."

"She's in love with Paul. Has been for a while." Leah shrugged.

Jared took that moment to walk through Sam's door. "Bella is over at Paul's. They're kissing."

Leah smirked when Jacob growled. He'd never change. "See?"

"How did you know that?" Embry wondered.

"I pay attention to everything not said. If you just pay attention to their words alone, you'll miss something important."