Delilah's face flushed slightly at the language Jacob was using as she and Paul slipped into the room. Billy Black nodded a greeting to them both, his face pinched, and Carlisle glanced back at them for a moment before he turned back to his patient. Sam Uley stood against the opposite wall, his dark eyes carefully assessing the scene.

Delilah stayed back as Carlisle went back and forth, pressing herself against the wall so that she wouldn't be in his way. Paul remained at her side, though his expression was solemn as he watched Carlisle work. They hadn't been there long before Carlisle came upon a problem.

"His bones are healing the wrong way," she heard her father murmur regretfully to Billy. "I need to rebreak the fractures." He glanced back at Paul, and Delilah knew he was telling him to leave with her, because Paul grabbed her hand and quickly led her outside.

Jacob's screams spiked in volume and depth before they were even in the car, and Delilah froze, unable to unlock the car as her shaky fingers fumbled with the key. Paul gently took the keys from her and unlocked the car, and she got into the driver's seat, but he shook his head, indicating the passenger seat. "Scoot over."

Delilah was too tired to argue, climbing into the other seat wearily. Paul got in and started the car, pulling out of the driveway and onto the road, heading out of the reservation. Delilah leaned her head against the window, closing her eyes and hoping that Paul wouldn't say anything to her. He seemed to know what she was thinking, because the car was silent until they pulled onto the road that would eventually lead them to the Cullens' house.

Delilah straightened up with a frown on her face. "I don't want to go home yet. Let's go somewhere else."

She belatedly realized how bossy that sounded, and tentatively glanced over at Paul, but his face showed nothing but understanding as he turned around in a parking lot and headed further into town.

They just drove around town for a few minutes, until Delilah spotted a small, old church nestled in between a convenience store and a row of small houses. It had been there ever since her family had moved to Forks, but Delilah had never been there, for obvious reasons. Every now and then she had been invited by Basil on Easter day or Christmas Eve, but she had always declined- it just didn't feel right. Tonight, though, she felt like she could go without feeling guilty.

She touched Paul's arm lightly, pointing to the church, and he pulled into the small parking lot without question. Once her feet were on the ground, however, she felt nervous about going into the church, even while there was no service. But having Paul's reassuring presence by her side made her feel braver, and she was able to pull open the door and walk inside.

She was beyond relieved that there was no preacher in sight, that there was no one at all in sight. The empty feel of the sanctuary was pleasant in a comforting way as she wandered down the aisle, her eyes glued to the stained glass windows whose bright colors depicted biblical stories. She recognized Noah's Ark by the huge boat and the many different animals lined up two by two. She remembered having a book when she was younger that had Noah's Ark in it.

She averted her eyes from the windows when she spotted a picture of who she assumed was God, and her gaze landed on an old piano in the corner, to the side of the pulpit. She could feel Paul's eyes on her as she approached it, and looked up at him with a sheepish expression.

"Edward taught me how to play when I was little," she admitted, sitting down on the piano bench and lightly running her fingers over the ivory keys. She looked back up at Paul to see him smiling at her, his arm resting on the piano as he leaned over to see her better.

"Play me a song?" he requested, sitting down beside her.

Delilah deliberated, looking down at the keys. "It's been a long time since I last played, but I guess I can try."

She hesitated for a moment, then placed her hands on the keys, a song instantly coming to mind. It was a beautiful song and relied mostly on high notes, so she wouldn't have to reach over in front of Paul too many times. She started out slowly, making certain she got every note right, that everything was in tune. Then as the song progressed, she began to trust herself more. She let her fingers guide her over the notes, playing the sweet tune without even thinking about it.

She still felt Paul's presence there beside her, felt the heat coming off of his body, but she couldn't bring herself to focus on anything but the song she was playing. He and everything else faded into background as she explored the innocent melody for the first time in years, reveling in the way the piano keys felt on her fingertips after so much time. Her conscious mind disappeared from reality, so completely lost in her song was she. She felt like she had just come home after several years away, and the keys were welcoming her like old friends- they had waited patiently for her return.

Paul sat motionless on the piano bench beside his imprint, watching with complete awe as she played. She let herself go when she was playing; her posture relaxed, her beautiful porcelain face softened. There were no walls around her when she was playing, and he took delight in the picture it presented.

He found himself wholly unable to tear his gaze away from her slight form sitting beside him, so close he could move his knee and touch hers if he wanted to. Her fine hair shone in the faint light of the lanterns that lined the walls, her ivory skin glowing softly. Her eyes were looking at the keys of the piano and not at him, but he didn't mind.

She was so focused on the song that she had temporarily lost all sense of reality, and he couldn't help but think that he had never seen anything more beautiful in all of his life. He felt a smile spread slowly across his face (and he probably looked like a big goof, sitting there grinning like a maniac, but he couldn't care less). And he realized in that moment that she didn't just feel like his imprint anymore. He didn't just need her anymore. She felt like his best friend, and his best ally, a person he could talk to without walls.

He loved her.

When the song was finished, the last sweet note ended, Delilah turned to look at Paul for his reaction. She was smiling unsurely, feeling a little embarrassed that she had completely ignored him for almost five minutes while she had become reacquainted with the piece.

The look on his face floored her.

He was smiling down at her with such a tender expression, his eyes filled with such a sweet emotion that it took her breath away, and she found herself unable to say anything. She became still, sitting there and looking into his brown eyes, frozen.

Finally, she managed to get a hold of herself. "That's one of my favorites," she said quietly, suddenly feeling very shy.

"It was beautiful," he said, grinning widely at her. Then a curious look swept across his face. "You said you hadn't played in a while- why? You're amazing."

Delilah smiled at his praise, then bit her lip nervously. "I guess it's because I had no one to play for. Edward's never really been a very attentive person toward me, and he and Bella have been spending a lot of time together lately."

"What about the rest of your family?" Paul asked.

"Well, I guess they've all become pretty busy, and I'm not sure I want to bother them," Delilah admitted reluctantly.

"What do you mean, 'bother them'?"

"They've all been so good to me, for as long as I can remember. Their main priority has always been my health and happiness, and I feel like I've been given a better life by them than most people will ever have. The least I can do is be a little more independent."

Paul's brow furrowed. He couldn't believe that she actually thought that about herself. "You should never think that you're a bother to anyone. The Cullens adore you, Delilah. Everyone does." Including me.

Delilah looked down at her hands shyly. "I don't think everyone does."

He wished that he could take her small, porcelain hands in his. He wanted nothing more than to reassure her that he was sure anyone who had ever made an attempt to know her had come to love her, even if she didn't think so. But he couldn't- that would scare her away from him, and if she pushed him away now, that would be the end of it. He would have to leave her alone- the leeches would make sure of that.

Instead he asked, "Why can't you just play for yourself?"

Delilah shrugged. "I don't know. I like to have someone sitting beside me. I just need someone to be there with me. You're really the only person I feel like I can play for now," she admitted hesitantly, looking up at him through her eyelashes. He felt his heart melt as he spotted the unsure glint in her blue eyes.

"Well you can play for me anytime you want," he said warmly, grinning down at her. "I'll always listen."

She smiled back at him for a moment, but in the next second jumped at the sudden sound of a door banging open.

"Who's there?" a voice called out, and a moment later, an old woman came down the spiral staircase to the right of the pulpit, just feet away from where they sat at the piano.

Her glare lingered on Paul, who had stood and was growling deep in his throat, but her eyes softened when she saw Delilah behind him, eyes wide and face pale.

"I-I'm sorry," Delilah stammered. "I didn't know that it wasn't… open."

The woman's weathered features grew apologetic. "The sanctuary is always open to those who need it," she said gently. "I'm sorry if I scared you. I heard the piano and thought there were troublemakers down here." She gave Paul a wary glance, and Delilah saw the muscles on his back stiffen a little. The old woman went on, "Can you blame a girl? Nowadays most people who come in here on a day we don't worship are holding a spray can in their hands."

Delilah stepped out from behind Paul a little, frowning. "That's horrible," she said sincerely, her eyes once again taking in the beautiful windows. "Do you work here?"

"I live here," the woman said proudly. "Turned the second floor into an apartment." She indicated the spiral staircase she'd descended before.

"That's allowed?" Delilah asked, then she realized what she'd said and felt herself blush at nosy she was.

But the woman didn't seem to matter; she smiled mischievously. "It is when you're the caretaker," she said, then she seemed to remember something. "Oh my, how could I be so rude? I'm Hazel Bettony, dear, but feel free to call me Hazel." She extended her hand to take Delilah's.

Delilah smiled a little. "I'm Delilah Cullen."

Hazel looked at Paul, expecting him to introduce himself.

"Paul," he grunted hesitantly. Delilah noticed that he didn't seem as tense as before.

"Was that you playing, dear?" Hazel asked her.

Delilah nodded, lowering her eyes in embarrassment.

Hazel clapped her hands together happily. "You were very good! I wish we had a piano player in the church who could play like that! Why, we wouldn't be opposed to having someone like you play for us once in a while."

"Oh no, I couldn't," Delilah declined politely, frowning a little.

Hazel's smile fell a little, but her face brightened in the next moment. "Well that's perfectly alright, child. Just let me know if you change your mind. Samantha Crane plays now, but bless her heart, the girl can't play anything like what you just did."

Delilah's face flushed as she played with a button on her coat. "I will."

"Would you two like some tea? I have all kinds of the stuff stocked up in my kitchen."

Delilah glanced at Paul before she nodded, not wanting to be rude. They followed Hazel up the spiral stairs to her small apartment. Hazel pulled one of her long necklaces off when they reached the door, and Delilah realized that there was a key hanging from it.

At her curious look, Hazel cheerfully said, "I always lock my door when I leave the apartment. Paranoia gets worse as a girl ages, you see, and there's no better place to keep the key than right next to my heart." She unlocked the door and ushered them in. "Of course, normally I wouldn't invite anyone into my home, but you're trustworthy, aren't you? I've always had a sixth sense about these things. My daughter will tell you differently, but that's a story for another time!"

Delilah and Paul exchanged a look, and Delilah couldn't help her slight giggle at his incredulous expression. Luckily, Hazel had already disappeared into the kitchen and was starting the tea.

"Go on and make yourselves at home!" she called to them. She came back a moment later to discover them both still standing. "Well sit down, dears! I don't bite."

She laughed to herself, but Delilah felt a little of the blood leave her face at the expression; it reminded her of what had happened that afternoon. Paul's hand covertly found hers on the couch, and she instantly felt better. Hazel went on talking, but there was a mischievous gleam in her green eyes that said she had seen.

The next few minutes passed with Delilah and Hazel making small talk. Paul said something every now and then but otherwise remained silent by her side.

The tea pot whistled, and Hazel poured them each a cup of tea, opting to drink water herself. "I never did like the stuff," she confessed, "but the pastor thinks I adore it and gives me a new kind every Christmas, and I just don't have the heart to tell him I can't stand it."

"How long have you lived here?" Delilah asked her curiously.

The woman stopped for a moment to think, looking up at the ceiling thoughtfully. "Well, I moved to Forks in.. hmmm.. It slips my mind. I do remember that I moved into the church not long after my youngest daughter left for college. They all went to top schools, my girls did," she said proudly. "Anyway, I think that was about ten or eleven years ago. Of course, a girl's memory fades with time."

"So you've lived here ever since?" Delilah asked.

"Oh yes, and it's a very nice place to live, indeed."

"Do your daughters ever visit you?" Delilah felt like she was overstepping the boundary with that question, but Hazel answered her cheerfully.

"Oh no, not often. But they are so very busy, you see. Vivienne is working as a model. I could have told her she was going to- she was always exceptionally pretty. Belinda is a fine business woman, always earning lots of money, that one. And little Marie, bless her soul, is married with two little boys."

Hazel went on for a while about her girls and her grandchildren, and Delilah smiled supportively the whole time, nodding every now and then to show that she was listening. Her heart hurt for the woman, who had never met her grandchildren but had seen pictures and was convinced that they were perfect little angels with their mother's sweet temperance.

She squeezed Paul's hand tighter, hoping that if she ever had children, they wouldn't forget her like Hazel's children had forgotten her. She never wanted to be that lonely.

It was almost eleven o'clock when Delilah finally looked at the old, antique grandfather clock that stood in the corner of Hazel's living room.

"Oh," she said anxiously. "We should go- the Cullens will be worried if I'm not home soon."

Paul nodded, standing with her. He didn't let go of her hand, and she made no attempt to free it. Hazel stood too, smiling and walking them to the door.

"It was nice meeting you, Hazel," Delilah said sincerely, turning back in the doorway.

"Likewise, dear. And please do come back to visit me- a girl gets so lonely here without anyone to talk to."

Delilah smiled. "Of course."

She and Paul made their way down the staircase, and back through the sanctuary. The silence was comforting, and Delilah had time to study Paul as he led the way outside. He had been fairly quiet the whole time they'd been in the company of Hazel, and she wondered if he had felt uncomfortable.

By the time they'd gotten into the car, however, she'd realized just how tired she was, and she couldn't keep herself from drifting off against the seat in the warm car.

The next thing she knew, someone was touching her face softly. She wondered sleepily at how warm their skin was, and opened her eyes to find Paul's gentle eyes. He smiled when she looked at him, removing his hand from her cheek. "You're home."

Too tired to question why he hadn't just shook her shoulder to wake her up, Delilah turned to look out the window and saw that they were parked out in front of the Cullen house. She unbuckled her seatbelt and opened the door, forcing herself out of the warm car and into the cold air. Paul cut the engine and got out too, handing her the keys and saying goodbye.

Delilah was barely able to walk up the stairs because of how exhausted she was, but there was a deep peace in her heart that she hadn't felt since they'd first moved to Forks. She knew that for once, she was going to get a good night's sleep.

Paul waited until Delilah was inside the house before he turned away, making his way back to his house. It would be a long walk as a human, especially after all the walking he'd done today, but he felt like he could walk forever and not be tired. He had never been able to spend as much time with Delilah as he had that day, and it gave him hope that he would be able to win her over after all, whether the Cullens wanted them together or not.

He frowned a little at that thought. The Cullens were probably mad at Delilah for staying out so late. He pictured the blonde one's cold face and felt a growl building deep in his chest, but forced himself not to turn around. He couldn't defend her like that, not yet.

But sooner or later, he promised himself, he would have that right.

AN: So I'd like to know what you guys think of Hazel; she might make an appearance in later chapters, so I wanna make sure she's realistic enough! In that reguard, reviews would definitely be helpful! :)

Oh, and if anyone's wondering what the song Delilah played sounds like, I imagined it sounding like Yiruma's Kiss the Rain! If you've never heard that song before, you definitely should go and listen to it! :D