A/N: The Next Chapter! Enjoy!
When Paul got Bella to the emergency room, she was surprised to see Carlisle there.
"Bella, Paul," he greeted them easily. "Would it be alright if I treated her?" he asked looking at Paul.
Paul's eyes widened at the request, "Uh, you'll have to ask her… it is her body after all," he said, slightly offended that he thought Paul owned Bella or something.
"Of course, my apologies… Bella?" Bella nodded her head and Carlisle directed them to a room.
Bella was feeling uncomfortable… she was in a small room with her ex-boyfriend's father and her… boyfriend? That word didn't seem like enough… lover? She blushed at that, and Paul cocked an eyebrow at her. She shook her head, looking at the floor.
Carlisle delicately looked at her hand, declaring it was indeed broken. She had shattered her knuckle, broken one finger, and managed to hairline fracture her wrist. He fitted her with a cast that she was to wear for six weeks.
"Way to bring in the New Year," she scoffed, trying to lighten the mood.
"Carlisle, listen…" Bella began, clutching Paul's hand. "I said things at the house I shouldn't have, I'm sorry for losing my temper," she said chagrined.
Carlisle chuckled. "Bella, you have every right to be angry. After what we did to you leaving… leaving you to fend for yourself…" Paul growled softly.
"No, I didn't mean that, you're plenty of protection for her Paul, I remember the old pack, I know what you're capable of… but to our knowledge, she was unprotected."
Paul nodded an apology, letting Carlisle continue.
"When we came back, I don't think any of us really thought about the state that you would be in. I'm ashamed to admit, in our unchanging state, it wasn't out of the realm of comprehension to think you would also be the same. It was a great shock to see you walk in, looking much different than you did when we left.
"To see you stand up for Paul and your relationship to seven vampires was quite the shock," he laughed. "You've become quite a remarkable woman Bella; I hope I'm not overstepping my bounds when I tell you that I am proud of you.
"My son, despite the faults that he so effectively displayed today, is a good man. He will get over this, Bella… I promise you."
Bella sighed, tears welling in her eyes once more. She nodded and embraced Carlisle.
Bella and Paul turned to leave, but Paul hesitated. "Bella, can I have a minute with Carlisle?"
Her eyes widened, but she agreed. "Behave you two," she said on the way out of the room.
"Listen, Doc," Paul said when Bella left them. "I don't know exactly what happened today, but I do know enough about Bella's past relationship with Edward to know he'd be pissed if she got hurt, even if it was her own doing. Tell him he gets one free pass. That girl was shattered when he left her in the woods. If he causes her to shed one more tear, he will deal with me, and I don't break bones when I throw punches," Paul finished eloquently.
Carlisle nodded, "Paul, I completely understand. I assure you, I will pass the message along."
Bella was a bundle of nerves until Paul finally emerged. She jumped when they both emerged. Bella quickly scanned Paul head to toe for damage, and then was embarrassed that she felt the need to.
Paul walked over to Bella and casually slung his arm over her shoulders. She sank into him, she couldn't help it, it was just natural to her.
"Thanks again, Carlisle," she said smiling at him.
Paul nodded his head towards the doctor, and they turned to walk away.
"Ah, Bella…" Carlisle called after them. "I know you haven't used your airline tickets yet… if I'm not being forward, maybe you and Paul would like to take a little vacation?" he said, his golden eyes sparkling.
Bella's breath hitched as she remembered that fateful party. She shook her head to clear the images. "Oh, uh… I don't… he ah… I mean…" she took a deep breath. "Edward took all of my birthday presents and pictures when he left," she said in a rush.
Carlisle blinked rapidly. "Oh. Geeze," he said expelling a breath.
Bella had never heard him use such a human colloquialism before, she smiled, unable to help it.
"Give Alice a call when you can, I'm sure she can tell you what became of them. We would, of course, replace them if they were disposed of," Carlisle said smiling politely.
"Thank you," Bella said sincerely. "We'll definitely think about it," she said, glancing at Paul, his expression unreadable.
They exchanged goodbyes again, and were off.
"Babe… do you still want to go out with me Friday night? " Paul asked nervously as they drove to Bella's house. She convinced Paul to stop at her house first so she could speak to Charlie about the Cullen's return.
"What? Of course I do!" she said. "I mean, if you still want to go," she added quickly.
"I do," he said huskily, drawing circles on her open palm.
She blushed, turning her attention to the road, trying to ignore the tightening in her stomach.
They pulled into her driveway and Bella paused, she wasn't sure how Charlie would react. It could go a few different ways. He could be worried that they were going to try to take Bella away. He could blow it off, knowing Bella was never going to leave Paul for them, or he could try to make the pack kill them.
The second was the most appealing to Bella, but she didn't think that was a possibility.
She sighed. "What's wrong, babe?" Paul asked.
"I hate to tell him they are back," she whispered. "He's the only one who really knows what I was like when they left, I don't want to remind him of it. "
"Baby, don't worry… its different now, you have me. Charlie knows all about us, I think he will be alright with them being back… it's not the same as it was before."
"I know you're right, it's just still so hard, I wish we could just be normal, just me and you," she said sighing.
"I love you, Bella. That's all that matters now," he said leaning over to kiss her.
"I love you too, forever and ever," she said smiling.
"So, I was thinking… maybe you want to go shopping tomorrow to get something for Friday?" he suggested. "Maybe you could go with Alice?"
She looked at him shocked for a second. "You'd be okay with that?" she asked curiously.
"I know you miss her baby… she was your best friend for a long time. I know she would never let you get hurt, and if you wouldn't mind me meeting her before you went, I would be alright with it. Honey, I know when you were with Edward you weren't allowed to do everything you wanted to do. I never want you to feel like you can't do something because I wouldn't 'allow' it."
She leaned over and kissed him deeply. "I fall more and more in love with you every day, baby. I'm so thankful that you're mine," she said between kisses.
"I would love to go shopping with Alice… I would feel better if Leah went too, though. I loved all the Cullen's once, and they hurt me deeper than I thought possible, I just can't fall right back into a flawless relationship with Alice that quickly."
"I understand completely… and I'm sure Leah would love to go, she's become quite a shopper lately… I think Aaron might have something to do with that," he said laughing.
"Are they… together?" Bella asked shocked.
"Oh no, not yet anyway," Paul said laughing. "She thinks about him an awful lot though, it's a wonder she even phases at all anymore, she hates that we can hear her thoughts."
"I can't imagine what it would be like," she said shuddering.
"Yeah… wait, couldn't Edward read your mind?" Paul asked.
"No… for some reason, I was blocked to him, thankfully." She said.
"Hmm, I wonder why Alice can see you then?" he questioned aloud.
"I don't know… she always could, well, until I disappeared and they came back..." she mused. "Why did I disappear now? I mean, I've been with you for almost two months now. I should have disappeared a long time ago…"
Paul cleared his throat, slightly nervous. "Uh, well… I think I know why, but you're going to have to wait until Friday to find out!" he said, hopping from the truck.
Bella was exhausted when they finally got back to Paul's house. Charlie took the news a lot better than expected. He said he figured they would come back eventually; he had even talked to Billy about it. But Bill reassured him that when a couple was imprinted, it was nearly impossible for that bond to be broken.
Charlie was sure that Paul and Bella were destined to be together, that one day, not soon he added, they would bless him with numerous grandchildren.
Bella was happy her father took it better than she did. He was angry that she broke her hand, but found it hilarious she broke it trying to injure a vampire.
Bella fudged the story a little bit, telling him Edward tried to kiss her when he saw her, so she slapped him. She didn't want him to know the awful things Edward said, or the fact that she was sleeping with Paul.
Although exhausted, Bella felt she couldn't sleep. So she decided to take a bath. She grabbed her ipod and speakers, plugging them in beside the tub. She piled her hair on top of her head, swaying and softly singing to Paramore's Only Exception.
She stripped off her clothes and stepped into the tub. She smiled as she felt eyes watching her from the slightly open door.
She tilted her head towards the door. "Knock, knock," he called.
She beckoned him in. He had two glasses and a bottle of wine with him. "I thought we could both use a little unwinding," he said grinning.
He handed her a glass, and set his glass and the bottle beside the tub.
She openly watching him as he pulled his shirt over his head and loosened the tie on his pants, letting them drop to the floor. She drank him in, deciding he was pure perfection. He had not a single flaw on his long, lean body. His skin was creamy, he had muscles upon muscles, and he was graceful without even trying.
He chuckled huskily as she tried to pick her jaw up from the floor, enjoying the effect he had on her.
She scooted forward as he slid in the tub behind her, careful not to splash water on her cast.
She settled back against him as he poured the wine. When they were like this, so open, she felt what it was like to be truly loved. To be with someone who accepted her without any hesitation. She thought she loved Paul as much as she was possible, but every day she was with him, she felt her heart grow, swelling with more love. She smiled and closed her eyes, sipping her wine. She loved feeling him at her back, her protector, her lover, her future.
A/N: I felt that the story line was dragging a bit, so I picked the pace up, summarizing some things instead of writing out the whole scene. Huge thanks to SuperSweetbutSugarFree for an awesome Christmas idea! Expect adorable Christmas fluffiness soon after Bella and Paul's date!