AN: A super big thank you to those of you that took the time to review! Here's the next chapter!

"What are you doing here?"

"Hello to you too." Leah rolled her eyes as Seth beamed behind her. "I followed a friend here." Her tone was serious.

A chill ran down my spine as I realized she meant Victoria. I had almost forgotten about her while caught up in my own drama. "And where is your friend now?" As I asked, my jaw tense.

"I lost her." Shit. I cursed mentally before remembering that Liz was right next to me. I turned to introduce her only to find her staring at Seth. Oh god… please tell me he didn't imprint on him. Seth is so much younger and –

"You are freakin adorable!" She declared before pulling Seth into a hug. He looked confused, but happy for the attention. I sighed when I realized that Lizzy was just being Lizzy. The last thing we needed was for one of the wolves to imprint on her when she was only here for a week.

"Besides, Paul asked me to check up on you." I groaned knowing it was going to be a long day. Still, with Leah and Seth around, Victoria was less likely to make an appearance.

Leah actually proved to be helpful when it came to car shopping. She had the sales man wrapped around her finger, and got him down much lower than I was willing to pay. In the end, I drove away in a new blac SUV. Seth offered to drive my truck home later. We were browsing a clothing store when Leah paused and looked up. I didn't need to turn around to know that Paul was behind me, I could feel it in my chest. Leah quickly made an excuse to check the other side of the store, dragging a curious Liz and Seth along with her.

For a long moment, I stood still, unable to face him. "Bella…" I closed my eyes as his voice washed over me. When I finally worked up the nerve to turn, I almost gasped.

Paul looked worn down. His hair was a mess, and his shirt was inside out. He obviously hadn't shaved in days. If his blood shot eyes were any indication, I would say he hadn't slept either. "Paul."

Like I had, he closed his eyes. "I'm sorry I tracked you here, but I had no other way to get in touch with you." He sighed deeply. "Can we go for a walk? I really need to talk to you." I straightened my spine, willing myself not to show the fear at those words.

"Sure."

We walked side by side, neither of us willing to speak first. Finally, when we were away from the majority of the crowed, Paul pulled me down an alley. I was so preoccupied with the contact, I didn't ask why.

"Bella…" He began, breathing my name again. "I know what you saw must have… It's not true." He ran a hand through his messy hair. "Sasha was my girlfriend, but I broke up with her for cheating on me."

"That doesn't mean the baby couldn't be yours." I spoke at a whisper, my eyes following him as he paced.

"Yes it does!" He groaned and came to a stop in front of me. "I knew we were going to have to talk about it – I just didn't think it would be this soon." He said more to himself than me. "Bella... I can't have kids."

"What?"

"I was born with a hernia in my groin, and my mother was told there was a possibility that I would never have kids. When I was fifteen, it was confirmed. I can't have kids."

"Oh." It wasn't the most eloquent thing to say, but I was torn. On one hand, I was ecstatic that Paul wasn't going to be a father, on the other… where did that leave us in the future? It wasn't decided that we were going to have a life together, but it had been implied by the whole imprinting thing. I had always wanted kids, but without Paul being able to have them… "I'm sorry. I overreacted."

"Don't be. You had every right to freak out." He gave me a tired smile. "I know my reputation, Bella, and if I were you I would have ran too. Had I known that I was going to – that I'd find you, I wouldn't have even looked at those other girls."

"I'm not angry." I shook my head. I was surprised at the truth in my words. "I mean, I dated a vampire… I'm not exactly great when picking people to date…"

Paul groaned, but smiled. "Don't remind me about the leech. And if you're not good at picking people to date, what does that make me?" He crossed his arms in mock outrage.

My heart sped up at his words. "Well… I wasn't exactly sure what you saw me as… I mean… we said we'd be friends…"

His face grew serious as he took a step forward and placed a hand on my cheek. "Babe, you gotta know you're way more than a friend to me." I closed my eyes as his thumb stroked my cheek. When I opened them again, I was startled by the amount of emotion in Paul's eyes. "Bella… The truth is that I'm in –"

"Awe, isn't this sweet?" A sickly sweet voice cut Paul's off and caused a chill to run down my spine. I turned as Paul stood in front of me, growling at Victoria. "I must say Bella, you seem to be a lot more fun since you started laying down with the dogs." She giggled to herself.

"I suggest you back off leech." Paul growled, his shoulders shaking violently. "I won't hesitate to burn you in the middle of Seattle."

"Relax mutt, I've changed my mind about your weak little human there." Her smile broadened. "Since the Cullen's are headed back this way. I think I'll just turn her. I wonder how your little relationship would work then?"

There would have been a time I would have begged to turn. Now the idea was just terrifying. As Paul's shaking increased, her words finally registered.

The Cullen's were coming back to Forks…