A/N – So yeah….. I got sucked into some really awesome Vampfic and just….wow. I don't like Edward, but by the end of that story, I was like YAY. It's a Carlisle/Bella fic called "Take This Heart" by BookwormBaby2580 on . It goes to some REALLY dark place places at times, but it ends with happy vamps and happy wolves. All 111 chapters are WELL worth the read. If you get a chance, check it out. Her other Carlisle/Bella fic called Original Sin is awesome too. She even has a Jake/Bella OS called Petition that is powerful. Go...read...but only after you read this lol. Ok, so on with my story now I suppose!

Bella POV

Monday dawned a little bright and a lot hopeful. No school, no work, just peace and quiet. Too much quiet in fact. Charlie must have already left for work. I went downstairs to get a cup of coffee and some food. Definitely needed some energy today.

I took my coffee mug and pop tart out on the front porch to enjoy the chilly, slightly foggy morning. No rain so far! My thoughts wandered to Jacob and Quil. I understood their frustration with Embry abandoning them; they don't understand the real reason. Since he recently phased and became a protector of the tribe, it stands to reason that he needs time to learn control. And if this is supposed to be some kind of secret, Embry must feel horrible not being able to tell his friends. Besides, according to what Paul said, they'll be in on the secret soon enough.

As far as Jacob and Quil's reaction to me talking with Paul? Well, they're just going to have to get over it. I can talk to whomever I please, thank you very much! I tried looking it from their point of view: here was this muscle bound man who was friends with someone they called a "hall monitor on steroids" and often gave them really weird stares. They didn't know him personally, but he had somehow managed to wrangle their best friend away from them and kept him there. So why wouldn't they be suspicious of him talking to me? I was just a sweet, innocent, helpless girl. I couldn't help my snort at that thought. If they only knew sweet innocent Bella had run from and with vampires they wouldn't think that. I was so lost in my thoughts I didn't hear the roar of a motorcycle until it was parked next to my truck. When I looked up, I nearly dropped my coffee cup.

Long legs clad in dark denim straddled a beautiful black and chrome machine with dark blue flames on the tank and fenders. His boot clad feet kicked down the stand and he stood to get off the bike, cutting the engine as he went. My eyes trailed slowly up his body to the tight fit black t-shirt and black leather jacket. By the time I made it to his face, I'm sure I had a line of drool hanging out of my mouth. I can only think one word: Paul.

I must have said it out loud because the small grin that was on his face turned into a large smile as he greeted me. "Hey Sweet B." Oh sweet Mary, that nickname is gonna kill me. I must still be in a daze though because all I can think to say is "What are you doing here?"

He chuckled as he approached me, deep and throaty and oh my wow I feel myself melting into a giant puddle of Bella. He sat beside me on the step and grabbed my coffee from my limp hand. He took a small sniff before gulping the rest of it down. "Well, I figured I'd give you a day to absorb all the info you got at the bonfire the other night before I came to dump even more info on you." He said it casually, but I could see a little tension, almost nervousness around his eyes.

I smiled at his consideration though because there HAD been a lot of information dropped on me all at once. "Honestly, I do have some questions, but…" I trailed off and bit my lip wondering if it would really be appropriate to ask the first thing because it had nothing to do with shape shifters and everything to do with the gorgeous machine currently sitting in my yard. I felt his warm finger tilting my chin to look into his eyes. Yeap, there will be a puddle of Bella on the ground soon. Hope no one steps in me. "You can ask me anything, sweetheart." I shiver at his deep voice, drawing in a breath. He smells like the woods and a bit of oil and the sea and…..MAN.

"Can we take a ride on your bike?" I whisper. He looked startled at first, but his smile quickly returned full force. "Sure thing, but you'll probably want to get dressed first." I jerked as I realized I was sitting here in front of him in nothing by my flannel pajama pants with bunnies on them and the matching long sleeve sleep shirt. My humiliation is complete and I turn crimson as I look down and realize that yeah, it's a titty bit nipply out here.

I jump up, crossing my arms across my chest and mumble out something that resembles an invitation inside to wait while I dress. I show him to the living area and tell him to make himself comfortable. As I'm walking towards the stairs, I just about trip when I hear his deep chuckle again. I grab some jeans, a black sweater, socks, and my hiking boots, run to the bathroom to brush my teeth and wash my face. Then I dress, brush my hair into a low ponytail and make my way down the stairs.

Paul was standing by the fireplace, looking at the few pictures Charlie has up there. I know them by heart. There's one of me and Rene when I was a few months old, one of me and Charlie when I was about 9, one of me and Jacob on my last trip here before I moved down and one of just me that he took a few weeks ago. I was curled on the couch reading something and he snuck up on me. I almost protested, but when he printed it out, I decided it was actually a really good candid shot. So I let him keep it.

I cleared my throat and Paul turned around, gazing at me from top to bottom and back again. I felt overheated by his assessment of my person but I did not mind one little bit. He finally met my eyes again and smiled. Good lord, that smile. Brighter than Jacob's with just a touch of something almost wild, untamed. I wanted to kiss that smile and never stop. He slowly shucked his jacket off as he walked towards me. He helped me put it on saying "You'll need this more than I will." I couldn't help the shiver that took over my body with him so close to me.

He grabbed my keys off the table by the door and led me outside, locking the door on the way out. We walked down to the bike where he paused for a moment, digging in to one of the saddle bags. He came out with a helmet. "I don't necessarily need one, but I believe Charlie would have my hide if I didn't put one on your head," he explained as he helped me strap it on. I chuckled, knowing full and well that he was correct. "Now," he continued, grabbing my shoulders. "Rule number one: hold on tight. Can't have you falling off. Rule two: lean with me when we turn or go around the curve. It can be very difficult to turn if I'm going one direction and you're staying straight." I giggle at that because it sounded like something I would absolutely do not given a warning. "And rule number three: enjoy." I smiled at him and nodded my head in acknowledgement.

Paul climbed on the bike and held his hand out to help me on. I scooted as close to him as I could get and wrapped my arms securely around his waist. I could feel his muscles bunching and pulling as he stood the bike up and pulled the stand. He started the engine, revving it a few times before walking it back onto the street and taking off in the general direction of La Push. I just held on and enjoyed. The vibrations from the bike and the feel of his body under my hands and against my chest were doing things to me I had only imagined in my mind. I loved it. It felt daring and rebellious and oh so right to be here with him.

We wound around the highways and back roads for about an hour. We had passed La Push and finally stopped at a little roadside dinner. My legs wobbled a bit when I got off the bike, not used to being so tense for so long. Thank goodness Paul was there to catch me. I couldn't help but smile up at him, staring for just a few moments before standing up straight. He grabbed my hand and we made our way inside.

The diner was almost empty but for an old man at the counter and the waitresses. We made our way to a booth and I ordered a coffee and he ordered about half the menu. We sat silently for a minute until the waitress brought our drinks and left us be. Paul looked at me expectantly.

"Well, I guess I just want to know everything about what it's like to be you. Does it hurt? Do you have anything special about you? Do you keep you wolf sense in human form?" He just smiled at my questions and began the tale of his first phase. He and his father had gotten into it, again. Apparently this was a common occurrence in his house. He had taken off outside to blow off some steam and ran in to Sam and Jared standing behind his house in the tree line. He just lost it, started charging them and jumped. The next thing he knew he had four paws and a tail and could hear them in his head. "Wait," I say. "Like read their minds?" He shook his head. "No, more like we could talk to each other without having to use our mouths. Very convenient when you're a wolf and can't physically talk." I thought about that for a moment and decided that yeah, that would be helpful. He continued explaining about the physical changes that occurred before and after the change, the hike in his temperature ("A toasty 108.9.") which explained his lack of need for a jacket, the fast healing, the immunity to illness, heightened senses, everything. He only paused when the waitress brought his food. He stopped talking for a few minutes to eat and let me digest everything he had told me.

It was all so incredibly unbelievable but I knew it was true. I felt no lies coming from him. And like I told him before, I dated a vampire, why couldn't shape shifters be real too? I smiled at him and nodded my head. "Ok, what else?"

A/N 2 – So next chapter (or maybe the one after, I can't decide where I want to put Eddie's update lol) will be Paul's POV of explaining the imprint. Hopefully my darling princess will nap long enough for me to get it written. Hope you enjoyed this bit!