Hearing of Victoria's arrival, Bella was sucked into memories she wished she could forget.
She was back in the ballet studio, trying to save her mother's life. She ran through the studio wildly, trying to locate her mother as she yelled for Bella.
She threw open the doors, her heart pounding wildly in her chest, momentarily confused as she was faced with a video of her and her mother, when she was little.
She realized it had all been a ruse, and she was relieved. She was her mother's protector; to see Renee get sucked into Bella's world would have been a terrible tragedy.
She tried to run, stumbled, James sauntering forward… the memory sped up, she felt her leg fracture, felt her skull feeling like it's was going to split in two.
She felt James sink his teeth into her right forearm, felt the venom spreading, felt the glass puncture her leg, as her life slipped to the floor.
She felt Edward suck the venom from her arm, felt Carlisle remove the shard of glass littering her skull and stuck in her leg. She smelled smoke, heard fire crackling.
Then everything stopped. She came back to her own body to see utter chaos. Paul was kneeling on the floor, Bella at his side; he was clawing at his forearm, tears streaking his face.
Bella put her hands on his face, breathing on him, tears flowing freely down her own face as fell. "Paul," she choked out, "Paul, no, it's gone… he sucked it out, it's all okay now, it's all gone," she whispered soothingly, cradling his head in her hands like you would a child.
Paul looked into her eyes for the first time since the ordeal began, "Bella?" he whispered.
"Yes, baby, it's me, I'm here, everything is alright," she said, stroking his cheek.
He grabbed her arm and gasped when he saw her crescent shaped scar. He brushed his thumb over it, feeling the temperature difference.
"It really happened," he said shocked. "He bit you," he whispered.
The room exploded into angry snarls and startled gasps. Jacob stalked over and grabbed her arm, ignoring Paul's growls. "I'll kill him," he said venomously.
"The Cullen's already did," she said bleakly.
Jake looked startled, "he's dead? Edward's dead?" he said shocked.
Bella's head snapped up, "what?" she asked shocked. "No!" she shouted, understanding what he meant. "Edward didn't bite me, James bit me. Edward saved me; he sucked the venom out before I was turned."
Paul nodded his head, "I felt it… God, the pain was unbearable, it felt like my arm was on fire and nothing could ever make it stop," he shuddered.
Paul stood up, bringing Bella with him, not ready to let her go yet. He sat on the couch and situated her on his lap before she began her story.
She told everyone of the night in the baseball field, of the nomads hunting her, James tricking her. She was relieved that Laurent was now dead as well, after she was assured by Sam that he indeed still had red eyes.
She explained that he was supposed to go to the Denali's but that he must have changed it mind, because his eyes would have been completely golden by now.
She explained to everyone that Victoria was James' mate… that she was now back, hunting for Bella, to make Edward suffer over the loss of her mate.
She explained that Victoria believed that Edward and Bella were pair-bonded, like vampire pairs can be. But, Bella knew the truth; she was never pair-bonded with Edward. She didn't know what the attracting was for him, but she strongly believed he was just toying with her.
She sighed and rested her head on Paul's chest. She was thoroughly exhausted from her earlier meltdown, and this new revelation. Paul took note of this and stood, setting her gently on the floor.
He looked towards Sam, "I'm taking Bella home, I'll stay with her tonight, are we good for now?" he asked.
"Yeah, you're all free to go," he said.
Jacob took Hayley back to his house after she called her parents, saying she was staying with Bella. Sam insisted that Charlie would cover for them, saying he was like a pack member now too.
Kim stayed at Embry's, her parents used to her being there most nights, Seth went home, and Emily called Claire's parents to keep the little girl at her house overnight.
Quil ended up on Sam and Emily's couch with baby Claire sleeping soundly on his chest.
Bella walked in her house, thankful Charlie was already asleep. She looked at the clock and saw it was 11pm already. No wonder she was so tired.
Paul came in her house with her, not bothering to jump through the window.
Bella went to the bathroom, stripped off her clothes, donning Paul's t-shirt and a pair of boy shorts. She scrubbed her teeth, washed her face, and slung her hair into a messy bun.
She walked back to her bedroom to see Paul already crashed on her bed. She smiled as she looked at him, so thankful he was in her life.
She turned the lights off, locked the door, and crawled into bed, pulling Paul's arms across her as she snuggled into him.
Bella awoke to the smell of breakfast cooking. She opened her eyes to the rare Forks sunshine streaming in her window. She rolled from bed, pulled some shorts on and stumbled down the stairs.
Paul had his back to her, mumbling at the bacon. He seemed to be frustrated. "why won't you cook?" he mumbled at it, shaking the pan. He cursed when dots grease flew onto his skin, searing it.
Bella couldn't help but giggle. He turned around to look at her, dressed in his shirt that hung to her knees, her face still rosy from sleep, hair disheveled.
"You think that's funny, do you?" he said trying to look angry. His sad attempt at anger made her laugh even harder.
She sat on the steps doubled over in laughter and Paul thought she never looked sexier. He could see her creamy legs and the flat expanse of her stomach, as her shirt was more of a nightgown, and her perch on the steps made it very easy to see up it.
He walked over to her, pulling her up from her spot on the steps, slamming his mouth to hers. His hand traveled under her shirt, to the waistband of her shorts. All laughing stopped.
He continued kissing her mouth, tongues dancing, as his hand slipped below her waistband into her heat. She cried out in his mouth as his fingers stroked her tender flesh.
He pushed her back against the wall, pushing his other hand up her shirt, seeking her breasts. He carefully rolled one nipple between his fingers, hardening it even more. He trailed his lips down her neck, sucking and nibbling on a tender spot. She knew he was going to leave a mark on her alabaster skin, the thought made wetness pool between her already soaked thighs.
He lifted her shirt, exposing her breasts, pulling one into his mouth roughly. They needed each other in an animalistic way, they weren't careful, they weren't tender, and they both loved it.
He sunk two fingers inside her and she moaned out loud, her knees buckling.
He picked her up and set her on the counter. Precisely the same position they were in when her father caught them.
He hated to see what he would do to them if he caught them like this, the thought made his head hurt. Good thing Chief Swan was at work, all day long.
Paul's thoughts were cut short as he felt Bella's hands at his pants. She stroked him through his jeans and he ground his teeth together. He continued pumping into her, his thumb circling around her clit. She cried out as she fell over the edge, colors bursting around her.
Instead of satisfying her, it added more fuel to her fire. She popped the button on his jeans and slid them down to his knees. She captured the drop of wetness on him with her finger and brought it to her mouth.
She moaned at the taste of him. He ripped her shorts and underwear roughly down her legs, knowing she would have a bruise here or there, but he couldn't wait any longer.
Once she was naked except for his shirt, she grabbed him and guided him inside her. She cried out as her filled her completely, pausing to give her time to adjust.
No matter how many times they did this, she was always shocked at how whole it made her feel. She never felt like she was missing anything, until he was inside her, completing her, and she was whole.
He waited until she moved her hips to begin stroking her. Her hands rested on his shoulders as he thrust into her. It didn't take long before she was exploding around him again. She screamed his name as her explosive orgasm took over her. He ground his teeth again, feeling her clench around him over and over; her beautiful face slack in the throes of release.
He waited until her tremors stopped before thrusting against her once more. She wanted him deeper; she was pulling his hips closer to her, but felt like she couldn't get him deep enough.
He pulled himself away from her, stood her on her feet, her back against his chest. She squeaked at the prospect of a new position before all rational thought was pushed from her mind when he entered her from behind. She gasped at the fullness the new position brought.
She was partially bent over the kitchen counter, giving him better leverage to thrust into her. They were walking a tightrope of pleasure and it was about to snap, sending them both to edges never reached before.
He pulled her up against him, his hand reaching around to stroke her hard bundle of nerves. Once, twice, three times was all it took for her to explode around him again. He couldn't hold on any longer and exploded inside her.
They were both panting and sweating when they came down from their high. Bella heard a strange beeping sound on the fringes of her mind, Paul figured out what it was first and ran to he stove, shutting off the burning bacon. He pulled the battery from the smoke alarm, effectively stopping the noise.
Bella was still draped over the counter, unable to support herself. He took in the sight of her. Shirt pushed up exposing her perfect ass, her legs were parted and he could see all of her from his angle. He could see the remnants of their love making sliding down her thigh. His pants were haphazardly pulled around his hips, making it possible for him to walk.
He walked over to her, scooping her up and taking her to the bathroom. He ran a bath and stripped the rest of his clothes away, sliding his shirt over her head before sinking into the tub, pulling her with him.
She rested lazily against his back, bathing in the afterglow. He gently washed her as she was still sensitive from their extensive activities.
When he reached between her legs with the washcloth her body twitched and she moaned at the contact.
"You're insatiable," he whispered in her ear before letting the washcloth go, softly stroking her. She was making soft keening sounds as he brought her with his fingers once more.
He thought for sure she would be sore and spent, but when she felt him harden against her back, her libido peeked out once more.
She lifted herself up, tucking her legs under her, on either side of Paul; she reached between her legs, reaching for him. She firmly stroked him a few times, ensuring he was rock hard before positioning his head right at her entrance.
He twitched in her hand, and in one motion she slid down, impaling herself on him.
They both moaned at the connection once more. She loved feeling him behind her. She slowly rode him, using her legs for leverage.
Paul was kneading her breasts, so she reached down between them, stroking herself in time with her thrusts. Seeing her touch herself threw him over the edge once more. She came around him, feeling him exploding inside her. She leaned back, resting her head on Paul's shoulder.
He chuckled as he kissed her temple. "You're amazing," he whispered against her cheek.
She smiled lazily, her hand still resting between her legs. Their stomachs growled simultaneously, causing them to laugh.
They disentangled themselves, found new clothes and returned to the kitchen where the adventure began.
A/N: This was supposed to be just a little shot of happy for Bella and Paul, but it turned into a marathon! Let me know what you think! All reviews are so greatly appreciated! =]