***Disclaimer: Twilight and it's characters are the creation of Stephenie Meyer. I just like to play with them for my own enjoyment. ***

CHAPTER 2

Jenny's memorial service was held in Tacoma. Many familiar faces from Forks and La Push made the trip. The faces blurred together for Lizzie except one that stood out. He was tall, well over 6ft tall and very muscular. His coloring and features told her he was from La Push. He stayed behind at the end as the last of the mourners left. Cooper had exhausted himself and was curled up one of the sofas in the corner of the room. The man approached Charlie.

"Charlie, I'm so sorry for your loss." He said and reached out to shake his hand.

"Thank you, Paul. Thanks for making the trip." Charlie greeted, clapping his hand on the man's shoulder.

Paul then turned their attention to Lizzie. "Elizabeth, I'm so sorry for your loss." Paul offered her his hand.

"Please call me Liz or Lizzie" she said quietly.

"I'm Paul Lahote. I hear we share a sperm donor." He introduced himself with a smirk. She snorted a laugh as she shook his hand, glad for the attempt at levity.

"Apparently, although we don't look alike." She answered, taking in his features.

"Thank the Spirits we took after our Mothers" Paul agreed making everyone chuckle. "I remember seeing you both around the Rez. She helped Sue Clearwater patch me up one summer when I fell out of a tree. She was a beautiful woman inside and out. I'm glad my sister takes after her." Paul smiled at her as tears formed in her eyes. She mouthed thank you, unable to speak.

"Mama" Cooper mumbled as he woke up. He shuffled over to her and leaned against her legs. "I hungry, Mama."

"Ok Baby. We are all done here. What do you want to eat?" she ran her fingers through his straight, silky locks.

"Roni pizza" he exclaimed, waking up. The men gathered chuckled. Cooper look up with wide eyes at the stranger. "Who him?" he whispered loudly to Lizzie.

"This is Paul. He is a friend of Billy and Charlie's." Lizzie introduced as she scooped her boy up.

"You big like Jake." Cooper observed making everyone chuckle.

"What? I'm way bigger than that cream puff!" Paul retorted, smiling. "What is your name little man?"

"Cooper Charles Swan. I'm four." Cooper answered, extending his hand.

"Nice to meet you, little man. I'm Paul Lahote," he introduced himself with a chuckle as he shook the boy's hand.

"Well I think 'roni pizza sounds good. We need to feed this growing boy." Charlie declared rubbing his hands together.

"You like roni pizza?" Cooper asked Paul.

"It's my favorite, little man." he answered smiling.

"Come on, Coop. Let's go feed the animal!" Charlie said taking the boy and following Billy out. Cooper was making roaring noises and the men were laughing at him, Lizzie spoke briefly with the funeral director and collected the urn of her mother's ashes.

Ten minutes later the group was sitting at a large table at the Swan's favorite pizza joint. The owner approached the table herself to take their order

"Well if it isn't my favorite customers" Sallie beamed at Cooper. He had insisted on sitting between Jake and Paul. "So, Mr. Cooper, pepperoni pizza and chocolate milk?"

"Yes, Please. Paul wants roni too." He beamed back at the petite blonde.

They ordered a large pepperoni and deluxe pizzas. Lizzie ordered her favorite, a Greek salad, and a pitcher of coke for the table. Cooper got his chocolate milk. Cooper chattered away to everyone at the table. Lizzie sat back watching her son interact with her long-lost brother. She smiled watching as he wrapped his uncle around his chubby little finger just as he does everyone.

Cooper looked a lot like his uncle she noticed. Her skin more peaches and cream than the light caramel color of her son. His hair was inky black and straight, while hers was brown and wavy. While she shared the same light brown eyes as her brother, Coop took after his father with rich dark mocha, almost black eyes. She knew his father was Native American as well, but he never mentioned his tribe or background in their brief time together.

Paul said his good-byes in front of the restaurant and headed to his hotel. Lizzie invited him over for dinner the next day. Billy had offered to make his famous burgers for her. The remaining group went back to the Swan home. Jake wrestled Coop into his pajamas for her since she was physically and emotionally exhausted. She went to her room and changed as well. When her boy came bounding into her room for a good night kiss as she was sitting on her bed, brushing her hair out after taking it out of the bun it had been in all day. Jake leaned against the doorway.

"Mama I like Paul. He has the same pretty eyes as you." He sighed as he cuddled into her side on her bed.

"I like him too. We do have the same eyes. We have the same Daddy. That makes him my brother and your Uncle." She explained

"My real Uncle?" Cooper asked in awe then he pouted. "Why we not see him before?"

"Yes, your real Uncle. I just found he's my brother. Nannie didn't know that my daddy had other kids. And I didn't know who my Daddy was until we saw Nannie's papers from the safe. Big Chief and a Charlie knew my daddy long time ago and they knew my brother because he lives in La Push, He is part of Billy and Jake's tribe." She tried to explain so he could understand.

"Oh." Cooper was thoughtful for a minute "Mama, do I have a Daddy? Why I not see him?"

"You do have a Daddy. You haven't seen him because he moved away before you were born." She explained.

'Oh." He got thoughtful again.

Lizzie was uncomfortable with the conversation. She was hoping he would be older before he started asking the daddy questions. Cooper let out a loud yawn saving her from having to answer any more questions tonight.

"Come on Little man, time for bed." Jake announced. She kissed her son and Jake scooped him up to tuck him in. Her exhaustion over the last few days caught up with her and soon she was fast asleep.

Jake poke his head in and saw her sleeping sitting up. He shook his head and went over and eased her down into a more comfortable position and covered her with the blanket form the foot of them bed. He kissed her on the head before shutting off the light.

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Paul decided to stay in Tacoma for the for a few extra days. He wanted to spend time getting to know his sister and nephew. Lizzie found comfort in his presence and Cooper was enthralled by his uncle and his muscles. He was begging for Paul to teach him karate. Paul smiled and told him when he was 5, he could start learning. Cooper pouted until Paul suggested they go to the store to get ice cream for dessert. Jake went with them.

Lizzie was prepping potato salad while Billy assembled his famous seasoned burgers. Charlie was lighting the grill on the patio.

"Have you given any thought as to what you want to do now?" Billy asked her.

"A little bit. Mom and I talked about it before her memory started to go. There is some insurance money. Enough to pay everything off even the house. I don't know if I can stay here without her. You guys, Charlie and I guess Paul, now, are all the family I got. With my license and especially my bachelor's degree, I can work anywhere. Cooper hasn't started school yet. There is nothing keeping me here." She shrugged.

"You thinking of moving closer to Forks?" Charlie asked as he joined them.

"Mom wanted me to. She wanted us near family once she was gone. She raised me largely on her own, but she didn't want me to struggle like she did being over 3 hours away from our only family." She answered. "Honestly, this place feels so empty without her."

"It would be a tight squeeze, but you can stay with me while you find your feet, you know that." Charlie said putting his arm around her shoulders.

"I know. I just want to talk to Coop first. Prepare him, you know." She sighed, leaning into her uncle's side.

"We got your back no matter what." Billy assured her

"Thanks Billy." She said smiling at him. Just then her son came running into the kitchen.

"Mama, Mama, Uncle Paul said we can make sundaes after I eats my dinner all up!" he shouted, jumping up and down as Jake and Paul followed with the bags of ice cream sundae ingredients.

"Wow, I bet Uncle Paul just became your favorite person." She teased scooping him up. She blew a raspberry on his cheek making him giggle.

"Yup." He grinned

"Hey, I thought I was your favorite?" Jake pouted.

"Sorry Jake. But you are my bestest friend." Cooper assured him.

"Well I guess that's okay then." Jake sighed, dramatically. He grabbed Cooper from his mother and flipped the boy over his shoulder. "Come one bestest friend, let's show Uncle Paul all your trucks."

Lizzie just chuckled and shook her head at their antics. Jake always turned into a huge kid when he was around Cooper. "Go on with them Paul. Cooper doesn't share his trucks with just anyone." She told him.

Paul laughed. "He is something else Liz. He is going to keep me on my toes."

"He does that to all of us." Charlie laughed as he put the ice cream away.

Dinner was soon ready, and they ate out on the patio. Cooper got his sundae then Jake and Paul took him down to the park on the corner to work out the sugar high. The returned an hour later with a sleeping Cooper drooling on his uncle's shoulder. Lizzie tucked him in and returned to the patio. She found Paul sitting alone drinking some iced tea.

"He is down for the count." She said joining him.

"He wore me out." Paul laughed. He saw her looking around. "Charlie took Billy and Jake out for a beer."

"Ah I see." She chuckled. "Charlie doesn't drink beer around Coop. My mother and I would only have the occasional glass of wine with dinner."

"Yeah I don't drink at all." Paul mused

"Charlie and Billy told me a little about it. I can't imagine going through anything like that."

"He was a bastard for sure." Paul agreed.

"Was?" She asked.

"Yeah, I got a letter from a lawyer about 9 months ago. The old man died from internal bleeding or some shit. There was actually some insurance money. I would like to split what was left after taking care of his final expenses with you." He offered.

"No need. He was never part of my life. I never even knew his name until we went through Mom's papers. You keep it for your business. I know running a business must be hard."

"My gym is pretty successful. I am using some of the money to expand. I am putting a traditional gym with all the weight and resistance machines in and some cardio equipment. It will be right next door and offer memberships for people that don't take my martial arts classes. I got a couple more trainers joining the staff. Business is good." He told her. "Think about taking money. He owed you and your mom. If you don't want it for yourself, we could do a college fund for Cooper."

"That's great about the expansion." She praised. She was impressed that he had that going for him and he was only 28 years old. "And I will think about it, for Coop. Tell me more about yourself."

"Well I live on the Rez in the house I grew up in. I did a complete remodel a few years ago, after my mom passed. Put on an addition, redesigned the first floor, fixed everything up. I was going to sell but changed my mind. I don't do much. I work, and I go home. DIY is a hobby. I used to work for a building contractor from my teens until I opened the gym." He shrugged. "What about you?"

"Well I've always lived at home. Mom helped me raise Coop. I work in the emergency room as a nurse. I just finished my bachelor's degree. Between Mom, work, class and Coop I don't have time for anything else. I like to cook and bake. I sew a bit. Pretty boring stuff."

"What about his father?" he asked. "I'm sorry if I'm prying but Coop look more like me than you."

"No, it's not a problem. He was native American but I don't know what tribe. I met him while he was in Tacoma for some specialized training program at the police academy here. It was pretty much a hot and heavy physical thing for the couple of months he was here and then he was gone. I called and texted telling him I had to speak with him, but he never responded." She shrugged. "He doesn't even know about Coop. It wasn't something I could tell him in a voicemail or text, you know. Mom and Charlie were pissed at first. She never wanted me to follow in her footsteps that way. But she loved that little boy with every fiber of her being." Cassie started to cry.

Paul stood up and approached her. He hesitated before pulling her into his arms.

"He is a great kid. His mom and grandma have been doing a good job with him." He whispered.

"How am I going to do this without her? We have always been a team, my whole life it was her and me." She sniffled.

"I know I'm not her, but I am here. I know you don't really know me, but you and Cooper are literally the only family I have left. I have some friends back home that are close as brothers. I know they would welcome you into our little family with open arms. You have Charlie, Billy and Jake. We are all here for you." He wiped the tears from her face. "I always wanted a little sister and we have a lot of lost time to make up for." He grinned at her

Lizzie gave him a watery smile. "I would like that."

"So, I heard you were thinking of relocating. I have a proposition for you." He said.

"Okay." She said, cautiously. They both sat back down at the table.

"Well I know Charlie's place is a tight squeeze. He only has the one extra bedroom. I told you I remodeled my house a few years ago. As it stands right now, I have 2 guest bedrooms and a den that is already a sort of playroom for my best friend's kids. I am godfather to their baby girl and their son is Coop's age."

"You want us to move in with you?" she was stunned by the offer.

"I would like you to at least think about it. I have the space. My house is on the border of the Rez, closer to Forks. The beach isn't that far away. There is a big backyard for Cooper." Paul explained.

"But you a have a life. What about your girlfriend?"

"Yeah I don't date much. Too busy." He shrugged. "I am hardly ever home really. I bought the building my gym is in. It's cheaper than the rent I was paying. There is an apartment we built above the gym for a friend of mine to stay in while he was going through so shit with his psycho ex. The I teach a couple early and late classes a week and usually crash in the second bedroom there. Just consider it an option. It was our grandparent's house. By tribal law you would be entitle to half of it anyway."

"I will think about it, I promise." She assured him, and he nodded in response. They continued to chat about random things getting to know each other better until Lizzie started yawning. Paul kissed her on the forehead as he said goodnight and went back to his hotel.