Disclaimer: I do not own anything except for things you do not recognize. Song credit to Blink-182

Thanks again for all of the reviews, I really needed them because I have been in more of a reading mood than a writing one.

"In the car I just can't wait,

to pick you up on our very first date…"

First Date

Tonight, I knew, was not going to be a typical first date for me. For one thing, I knew that I wouldn't be a nervous wreck throughout the night, and I was also pretty confident that the evening wouldn't end in one of those awkward waves.

In my life I had had three boyfriends, which pretty much meant three first dates. Unless you counted that time with Cole what's his face, which I didn't. On each of those dates I had fretted the entire day over what to wear and how to do my hair. Did that shirt show off my boobs nicely, did those pants showcase my ass? Tonight I didn't really care. Well I did, but not the same kind of caring.

I was pretty confident that Paul would think I was sexy in a potato sack. So it didn't take me long to decide on my favorite pair of jeans, which made my ass look good, and a purple clingy top. I let my hair down, but not before I straightened all those rebellious waves out of it first. Damn my Father and his white Mother for giving me wavy hair.

"Oh Natalie!" Mom sang up the stairs. "Paul is here!"

By the time I slipped my shoes on and came down the stairs Paul and my Dad were on the couch having a very serious conversation about how much stuff I had and how long it would take to get it into Paul's house.

"Whoa! Excuse me! What is going on here?"

Dad smiled sweetly while Paul sobered up immediately at the daggers I was shooting with my eyes.

"Just planning ahead sweet heart." Dad grinned.

"Jim." Mom warned.

"We all know that it's going to happen eventually!" He cried.

I scuffed before I held out my hand to Paul, "Let's go."

He eagerly grabbed my hand and followed me out of the house and into his truck. Leave it to my Dad to mess up the beginning of our first date. I was beginning to think he was trying to get rid of me.

"I think my Dad wants to get rid of me." I mumbled.

"Aw Natalie, don't say that."

"Come on."

"Yeah, you're probably right. Apparently he's been talking to Matt about finding a job and his own place. He must be eager to enjoy retirement with your Mom."

"Gross!" I shrieked. "'Eh, he's probably sick of wolves hanging around."

Paul grabbed my hand from where it rested between the two of us on the seat and brought it up to his lips for a quick kiss.

"Forget him, tonight is for you."

"Ooh, look at you being romantic." I grinned. "So, what are we doing?"

"I thought we'd have a picnic at the beach."

"Paul, its November."

"I brought blankets! Plus you have me."

I rolled my eyes at the smug look at his face. I had to admit that I did like the idea of the picnic, minus the cold temperatures. Knowing Paul he had probably prepared the picnic too; my Mom had domesticated him. I really loved that lady sometimes.

Sure enough once the blanket was spread out and I peeked inside the basket I saw the sandwiches he'd made along with a couple bags of chips, some water, and about two dozen cookies. I laughed at that; I'd probably only eat two while he would easily 'wolf' down the rest.

"You are so domestic, Paul." I smiled as I handed him his five sandwiches.

"Isn't it great? You need to teach me how to make meals. I think I've got desserts covered now."

"As long as I'm the one you'll be making them for." I teased.

"Of course." He grinned. "You know, that right there was the perfect time for me to ask you to marry me; if you hadn't made me promise of course."

"You wouldn't really want to do it that way would you?"

"I suppose that when I do it, it'll have to be all romantic. Like I could hide it in some food and-"

"I would choke on it."

He laughed, "I know you better than that. You just wait and see."

"Paul, you know we really are only on our first date."

"Wolves and their imprints don't follow those rules. We're a way different situation, Nat."

We continued eating our dinner while the waves crashed against the shore line in front of us. The wind started to pick up while I was starting my cookies so I happily snuggled up closer to Paul while he shoved his own cookies in his mouth two at a time.

"So what's next for tonight?"

"This is it." He replied easily.

"Seriously? It's only eight!"

"I'm kidding." He chuckled. "Now get up and go get in the truck while I pack this stuff up. Turn the heat on until I get there."

I did as he told me, but since his heater was a piece of shit I was freezing by the time he finally climbed in next to me. He laughed as I practically launched myself at him and kissed the top of my head.

"Our next activity is inside." He assured me. "We're going to go back to my place and watch a movie."

"Way to be cheap, Paul." I chuckled.

"I thought it would mean more."

"It does."

It was at that moment that I had an epiphany. I was in love with Paul. I had been before, but that had only been 'hey he's my best friend' love. No, this was definitely the real deal. I wasn't really shocked; as soon as I had heard I was his imprint and what that meant I knew that this day would come. And I was happy that it was here and with him.

"Hey Paul?"

"What?"

"I love you."

So it wasn't one of the most romantic ways to say it. We were in his truck on the way to his house on a cold windy November day and I had just pretty much blurted it out. But it felt right, oh so right.

"I love you too." He grinned…widely as he pulled into his driveway.

Once the truck was in park he grabbed me and maneuvered me so I was straddling his lap, with my back pressed up against the steering wheel. We gazed into each other's eyes for a minute before his lips seized mine, sweeping us both away in passion. My arms wrapped around his neck and he tightened his hold on my hips as our tongues fought for dominance in my mouth.

We finally broke away when the pressure from my back made the horn go off. After that we grudgingly separated and headed into the house to watch the movie. He stuck in some comedy, but we didn't really watch it. Instead we acted like a couple of teenagers and made out during the whole movie.

By the time I got home, my lips were swollen and my hair was mussed, but I had a radiant smile on my face. All three of which my parents noticed with great interest.

***

Tonight was pregnant lady double date night. This meant that while Sam and Jared were out on the town with their ladies, Paul, Matt and I got to watch Abby and Joel. Or to be more exact…Paul and I got to watch Joel while Matt hogged Abby.

So while Matt and Abby played with dolls in the living room, Paul put Joel up on the counter and we pulled out the recipe for Joel's favorite cookies; sugar cut out cookies.

"Paul, see if you can find our cut outs." I directed while I gathered all of our ingredients.

"There's Christmas ones and that's about it." He replied after a minute.

"Grab the star."

"Star!" Joel yelled excitedly.

A kid after my own heart; I too, loved the five pointed shape.

"We're going to make star cookies, Joel." I told him with a smile.

"Yay!"

"I see that he's taking after his father and his uncles; love for food." I remarked before I started measuring up ingredients. "Although the idea of star shaped cookies excites me too."

Paul was about to reply when we both noticed one of Joel's pudgy hands reaching for the knife rack. Paul reacted first and scooped him off the counter and into his arms. Joel just laughed and slapped his hands on Paul's face.

"He's so adorable!" I cried just as Joel planted a noisy kiss on Paul's cheek.

"Wuv yous!"

"Aww!"

"Jeez Nat, you sound like a girl out there!" Matt yelled from the living room.

"I am a girl, in case you missed that." I called back as Paul ruffled Joel's black hair.

"Alright, enough of this cuteness. You two need to help me make some cookies."

An hour later all three of us were covered in flour thanks to Joel and his hands that liked to throw things. Luckily Paul had stopped him before he could chuck an egg at my head. That didn't stop him from throwing flour at the both of us though. We looked like ghosts…or vampires, but I wasn't about to tell Paul that.

"Once the cookies are out of the oven, let's give him a bath."

"I could use one too." Paul sighed. "So do you…hey we could-"

The oven's timer went off then saving me from having to scold Paul even though my own perverted mind conjured up images that I'm sure he had just been thinking of. I distracted myself by handing out a cookie to each of them and then grabbed one for myself.

"This is good." Paul muttered through a mouthful of cookie.

"Mmm!" Joel smiled as he rubbed his belly in appreciation. He really was taking after the rest of the wolves. He probably was spoiled rotten with food with Emily for a Mother; lucky kid.

"Alright, bath time!"

I grabbed Joel's hand and led him up the stairs with Paul following behind us in case Joel stumbled with his chubby little legs.

"Be prepared to get wet, Nat. If he doesn't hesitate to throw flour I doubt he'll hold back with water." Paul chuckled while I turned on the water and he stripped Joel down.

He was right. Joel's simple little bath had turned into an all out water war. At first Paul and I had settled for his splashing us, but then when I accidentally splashed Paul it was all over. The bathroom floor was absolutely wet by the time we were done and all three of us were laughing. If my Mom saw this…well she definitely would not be laughing.

"My Mom is gonna kill us."

"Let her." Paul grinned before he pressed his lips against mine.

The moment was ruined when Joel plopped himself down on my lap naked and stared up at me expectantly.

"I guess that means he's done." I muttered.

"Too bad I'm not done with you."

That sounded like a promise.