A/N: Thank you to those who favorited and followed recently! Hope you are enjoying the story! Twin68 thank you so much. I needed to hear you like my story! It inspired me to post the next chapter.

No Copyright infringement intended on Stephenie Meyer's work.

Paul

I was surprised when Corrie called me over on Monday evening to take her to Sam's for an hour. Of course she didn't want to cuddle or kiss me, she was still taking her space from me – her mind hadn't changed from that morning in her room. She only wanted to verify that what I'd said about Leanne was true. For some reason Corrie needed to see her cousin at Sam's with her own eyes. But I hadn't expected her to apologize. Sometimes I really didn't understand my imprint's way of thinking. After Leanne told her off and I took her home she wouldn't even look at me when she got out of the van. She only asked that I remember what she'd said before walking inside.

It really hurt me to watch her walk away. I felt desperate and nervous. This temporary separation made me feel like I was being cut off from my air supply.

Space was never a good thing. I was the king of needing space from girls – and they never heard from me again! Not even Corrie's promise of staying with me no matter what made me feel any better. She's the queen of running, that's what I expect her to do. Leanne and this baby were messing with her head like they were mine. We were a royally fucked up pair right now.

I was back to work the next day, Tuesday. Amy called me while I was at lunch, asking to go shopping. She needed to get her hospital bag ready as the clinic had given her a list to prepare. With Corrie mad at me I really didn't want to do this, but I couldn't say no. As much as I felt like the baby wasn't mine, a part of me worried that the reason why I was rejecting it was because Amy wasn't my imprint. What if that were the real reason I wanted nothing to do with her, because she threatened my imprint on Corrie? What if the child was still mine?

So I couldn't chance it, could I?

I wouldn't be able to totally deny this child until a blood test was done, plain and simple. All I could do was hope that Corrie would learn to accept it. I had to do this… for me, for the kid.

And I knew I should have told Corrie about my plans to take Amy shopping in Forks that evening, but I couldn't bring myself to say the words. It seemed that I would not learn my lesson about withholding information, but I just couldn't bear to have her mad at me for something else. I was stupid enough to take the same risk yet again. Hopefully she'd never find out. I didn't see why she would be at the mall in the late evening anyways. She'd be at volley ball practice or doing something at home.

I picked Amy up at her house and drove to the shopping plaza for five. We had a couple hours or so before it closed for the night. She looked a little better than before, less dark circles at least, although her bump still was a bit on the small side.

After stopping for her to get a burger, I bought a travelling bag that she would use to put everything in and then we went to the pharmacy and then to a maternity store. I stood there quietly, choosing some baby books for us both to read, while also listening to Amy and the saleswoman gush about the baby and all that was needed. My ears twitched at the words, crib, stroller, bottles, clothes, playpen and car-seat.

Did this chick really expect me to buy all this stuff before I even knew for sure the child was mine? Did the baby need it all immediately? Mom still had my old crib and I was in the process of restoring it with fresh paint, a mattress and bolts. There was a dented chest of drawers at work I was getting for a steal of a deal that I would give her as well.

A familiar tugging erupted in my chest making me gasp in surprise. Corrie was near-by.

The fear was immediate. I couldn't let her find out what I was doing now! She'd be upset, thinking that I was enjoying doing this with Amy or something. How could I be so stupid not to tell her I was taking Amy shopping! This was Forks, a town not big enough to hide in plain sight!

God I hate myself for being so stupid sometimes.

Apparently I had gained my Masters in Fucking Things Up With Your Imprint.

"I'll be right back," I said and sped out of the store. I followed the pull and found her three stores down at the sportswear department with Emily, Leah… and Leanne? This was not what I expected to find at all!

"Corrie?" I called out to my mate, needing her in my arms at once. I was fighting the urge to tremble and phase. I didn't want her near her cousin. She was a volatile new wolf, how could Sam be so stupid and let her come out in public with our imprints! Did he not care about anything that I'd said! True Leah was there but this was unacceptable! Leah looked at me and scoffed, knowing already what my problem was.

When Corrie saw me her eyes lit up like a Christmas tree but quickly turned dull. "What are you doing here? Did you know I'd been kidnapped?" she asked dryly. She was definitely still mad at me much to my disappointment.

"Who kidnapped you?" I asked with a growl.

"Don't be silly. I just mean Emily, Leah and Leanne."

"Why did you come with her?" I frowned deeply while casing Leanne's every move for signs of phasing.

"She wanted to make up for what happened last night…so I came…" but I could see on her face that Corrie wasn't comfortable. "But she's not exactly saying or do anything to make things better between us," she admitted with a sigh. "I really don't see the point of this…"

"You don't have to be friends. You shouldn't be friends after how she spoke to you. Somehow I doubt she's being genuine about it."

"She's my cousin. My grandparents wouldn't want us to be like this. I had to try."

"Well I think you need to give it lots of time before you try, babe. She has to get over our imprint first."

Corrie sighed and shook her head miserably.

"What is it?" I ran my fingers over the loose strands of her ponytail and sighed.

"This! This imprint! It's been so much trouble since it happened. Why can't things just be happy and normal for longer than a week?"

"I'm sorry, I know it's all my fault."

She looked at me then, ready to tell me I'm wrong but then she changed her mind. I guess I deserved it. I had lied, and I was still lying. I was digging this pit deeper and deeper.

"I need to get back," she said, but I knew that she didn't really want to go, I knew my imprint well enough to see through her façade.

"What are you guys doing anyhow?" I asked to prolong our time together for both our sakes.

"Leanne needs shorts and tops and stuff for her stash."

"Oh." I nodded, understanding how important that was. I could see Leanne watching us from the corner of her eye.

Mind your own fucking business! I wished she could read my mind now.

"So you didn't know I was here with her?" she seemed very surprised.

I looked down at her expectant face. Of course she thought I had found out and had come to guard-dog her again! Fuck.

I swallowed thickly, feeling my face go cold a little with stress. I didn't want to tell her.

"Um, promise me you won't get mad?"

Corrie crossed her arms and tapped her foot with narrowed eyes, "What's going on?"

"I-I'm here with-"

"There you are!" a high-pitched, fake, surprised voice rang out behind us, and I felt my blood start to boil with anger. Amy just had perfect fucking timing again. I was certain that just like the time before at my house, she knew just what she was doing.

Both Corrie and I turned to see Amy walking up to us with her shopping bags. "Paul I need you to pay the bill for the car-seat," she pointed over her shoulder at the maternity store.

Corrie rounded on me then, looking as pissed as a wolf would be. "You brought her shopping?"

"Yeah, I needed to get my hospital bag ready, isn't Paulie the sweetest?" Amy said with a big smile for me and Corrie.

"Paulie?" Corrie repeated and I could see the pain in her eyes.

"I don't know why she called me that she's never done it before." I said hurriedly, reaching for my imprint. "Corr, relax, okay? This changes nothing. I'm just helping with this one thing."

"Oh Paul, stop being modest! Did he tell you he's giving me his old crib? He's restoring it for our baby," Amy continued to act like she had no idea what she was doing as she lovingly stroked her belly, drawing Corrine's eyes to the bump.

My imprint shivered as tears gathered in her eyes.

"Amy, just go back to the store!" I barked at her.

"Okay, see you Corrie!" Amy smiled and turned on her heel, obviously aware that her job was done.

That bitch! Didn't I already make it clear when we spoke that I'd never be with her?

"Paul, don't say anything okay? I really don't want to hear this. Like I said before, I need space. Thanks for reminding me why."

"NO, space won't solve anything, it will only pull us apart! You need to believe me, there's nothing going on with me and her."

"You know what's funny? You had the nerve to say that Leanne wasn't being genuine. But are you? You're STILL lying even though it's caused this mess for us already!"

"Corr I'm - "

"Save it Paul!" she cried. A sob escaped her throat then and she shook her head as I tried to pull her against my chest. "Please Paul, I can't. I just can't do this right now. It's too much. I need to go."

Leah, Emily and Leanne came up to us just outside the doors of the store.

"We're ready to go now," Emily announced with a smile, but I could see that she had seen us arguing and was trying to act like nothing was wrong.

"Perfect timing," Corrie answered, straightening herself up under Leanne's unrelenting glare. I could see that my baby didn't want her cousin to see her in a moment of weakness. I didn't either.

"Is everything okay?" Emily asked me as Corrie started walking ahead of everyone.

"Not really, I'll tell you later. Take her home, she needs to be alone now. And tell your husband he's a dead man for being so stupid."

Emily shook her head, "No thank you, you can tell him that yourself!"

She swatted my arm before walking off with the two she-wolves. I ignored Leanne's smug face altogether and went back to pay for Amy's things.

"You really fucked me over just now. I told you things were not happening between us again Amy. We're not some happy little family!" I barked at her once back in the truck and on our way back home. "You can't talk to Corrie like that!"

"But we could be Paul if you'd just stop being so stubborn! This is how it was meant to be."

"And yet you took eight months to tell me about it?" I shot back. I was pissed about that. I could have been saving money longer for the off-chance that the kid is mine. I could have built an extra room or something at the house. If it was mine, I'd be even more pissed that she'd robbed me of knowing from the start. Things would be so different – Amy would be healthy for one.

"I told you my reasons already Paul. And I knew you wouldn't believe me! I know how you act, Paul, I didn't want you to hurt me."

I slammed on the brakes and swerved off the highway.

"Are you SHITTING me right now?" I yelled. "How could you say that I would hurt you Amy? You're pregnant! And I don't hit women!"

"You sure about that? That's not what I've heard?" Amy smirked and I trembled violently now.

"Who would tell you such a lie?" I growled.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" she shrieked as she took in my vibrating body. I hopped out of the truck and ran to the tree line which wasn't far away. But instead of phasing I just punched a few trees and roared til I got the wolf to calm down. If I stopped moving I would have phased immediately, losing my clothes and leaving Amy stranded. If it turned out to be my kid I didn't want that to be on my conscience. And I couldn't let Amy see me become a wolf. I was rather impressed with myself for actually keeping off the phase.

When I finally walked back to the truck with my bloody hands she was on the phone but quickly hung up as I got near. The windows were up and she must have been whispering because I heard nothing.

"I hope the baby doesn't have a temper like yours, that's some really fucked up behavior right there," Amy sniffed indignantly, folding her harms over her bump.

She was acting like a totally different person since we saw Corrie and it was freaking me out. What was she playing at?

"Well, since it's not a Lahote, it won't." I couldn't stop myself from being mean. Her attitude was fucked up. I didn't need another girl thinking that she had some claim on me – believing that she could tear me away from my soulmate. This was getting ridiculous.

The scent of her pissed me off again, more so as it was concentrated in the cab of the truck. I rolled down my window and turned back on to the road.

"How could you be so hateful? I already told you it is!"

"I'll never believe you until I see it in writing," I insisted, then turned the music up so she'd understand that I was done talking.

All I could think about now was how much this was hurting my imprint.

Corrie

It had been five days since I saw Paul and Amy in the plaza.

The worst five days of my life.

I couldn't get the image of her fawning all over my wolf and rubbing her tummy. She was acting like Paul was hers, like if they were going to be a family.

And she called him Paulie. That was what I called him! It wasn't right for her to think that she could too - he wasn't hers!

So why did it feel like I was losing him?

I knew Paul loved me and was mostly convinced that the baby wasn't his.

But what if it was?

Would he change his mind and want to give the child a family with both parents?

I had been denying the possibility since he talked to me in my room that day. I allowed him to reassure me that he was certain it was all a game.

But seeing them together, hearing her gush on and on about his commitment to her like that – it crushed me. It brought me back to reality. He was buying stuff for her delivery, he was giving her his baby crib, something that should have been passed on to our babies if the dang thing could still be used!

I knew I was being childish and petty, but I still felt entitled as Paul's imprint. I still felt like my reaction was expected. I'm sure Emily or Kim would be crushed too, no matter what their wolves tried to tell them.

The baby's presence in Paul's life, my life, was too real.

It was all too real now.

That slight possibility that it could be his seemed like the hugest elephant one could find to stuff in the room.

Between this and Leanne's open hatred towards me, life was just not so great right now. I didn't even care about what was going on with school. This last week I really messed up at volleyball and might have fudged a math test.

My phone rang for the hundredth time. I knew it was him leaving yet another voicemail.

I knew he needed me to tell him that everything was okay between us, but it wasn't and it wouldn't be until he stopped lying to me and the baby was born and the test results were in Paul's hands. That was the point that I was allowing myself to reach – I wouldn't think about what I'd do if it turned out to be his yet.

I was going crazy with all this thinking - thinking the worst and making it worse. I needed fresh air.

I found myself needing to go to La Push. It was Saturday and no one was home right now. Mom had taken the boys out, Joey was at work and Dad was wherever. I abandoned my homework and chores, bundled up, hopped on my bike, pulled my helmet on and sped away from home. At least there was no snow yet to keep me home.

When I got to La Push I found myself driving to my grandmother's. Luckily she was home alone so we went out back to do some gardening. I knew she was giving me space to open up to her.

"So Leanne's a wolf huh?"

Grammie nodded with a smile. "She's a natural Sam says."

"So you're happy about it?"

"Not exactly happy. I don't like lying to her mother about it, but it brought her to her brothers, and now she doesn't feel so alone."

I didn't know that Joshua Uley was her real father all along. It must suck to think that two men abandoned you and that one of them made you turn into a wolf. As upset as I was, I felt sorry for her, hence why I was stupid enough to go to Sam's the other night. I grimaced, not wanting to feel sympathy for the biggest thorn in my side. She had no intentions of making up with me, and I was not about to be stupid enough to care anymore. Paul was right, I needed to stay away until she got over her obsession with MY wolf.

"So I take you two still aren't talking?"

"She's been a real pain for Paul and me since she joined the pack. She thinks I ruined her chances with him. But I didn't intentionally. I didn't ask his wolf to imprint on me! I thought she was gonna leave for college next year and I'd be free of her. But she's stuck with the pack and I'll always have to put up with her glares and remarks." I grumbled to myself.

"Corrie, yes she's acting immature right now, but she'll get over it soon and you can relax."

I guess Grammie didn't want to be put on the spot to choose between us. But I didn't feel like hearing her defend Leanne or chide me. I had a valid reason to be upset with her. She hadn't seen the death stares the girl was giving me. She didn't see how we fought, she wasn't there that night at Sam's.

"She told me in front of the pack that she and I are no longer cousins or friends. And I had a dream that she was chasing me down in her wolf form. And she gave me these," I pointed to the faded scars on my neck. "So no Gram, I don't think she'll get over anything soon."

"Oh my, but you were both wrong for fighting. A dream can be prophetical, but it can also just be a play of your greatest fears. You need to be strong and not let Leanne intimidate you. The wolf is a strong personality and she will be susceptible to it for a while. She isn't herself. She still has to learn how to control her emotions."

But I couldn't help but think that she hadn't been herself for a while, since she found out about Paul and me. But I couldn't argue this with my grandmother. It was best to just leave it alone and keep my distance from my cousin.

"What about you and Paul?"

"Well, I'm not speaking with him right now, actually." Grammie quirked her eyebrow at me and I told her about Amy and his lying about it, then what happened at the plaza.

"My goodness, that Paul Lahote knows how to land himself in trouble!" she clucked her tongue.

"Do you think I'm wrong for not speaking to Paul?" I asked pathetically.

"I need to know more about why you're not speaking to Paul before I can answer that."

"He didn't tell me about the baby, I felt like everyone was talking about me behind my back, and Leanne knowing first didn't help either. And then to find them together shopping? Amy was so possessive of him, like they were a little family. She didn't even act like I was his girlfriend! He's even giving her his crib! Why would Paul keep things from me again? Doesn't he care how it makes me feel, to find out everything second hand? How am I supposed to trust him if he's not being honest with me about something soooo important? He had no right to leave me out of his life like that." I was panting by the time I was done ranting to my elder.

Gram smiled at me and rubbed my back. I guess she just wanted me to let it all out. And it felt good to not keep everything bottled up inside because of my secret. I would have talked to Val already if I could. But I wouldn't until I knew for sure, otherwise this was something no one ever needed to find out about, it was too embarrassing. I hated that I could identify with Paul on this, and it was obvious that maybe I shouldn't be as angry as I am.

"This is what being in a relationship is all about. People make mistakes, but you can't punish them for it, not for long anyways – or else you become the one who's wrong. Marriage is about forgiveness so you need to learn that from now before your time comes. You think there is a man alive that doesn't do something stupid? That's what they do! And if they didn't I'd be out of business! Half these women come to me with relationship problems. You need to talk to him, tell him what you don't like, and then give him a chance to make up for it. I am positive that Paul was just trying to protect you from being hurt. You should commend him for being responsible. If you were Amy, wouldn't you want to have the baby's father by your side?"

I moaned and flopped onto the garden bench miserably. "I know that Gram – but that's not his baby!"

"Oh honey, we don't know that yet."

"It can't be, it just can't!" I sobbed into my dirty hands, not even caring about getting my face messy. Couldn't she just tell me it wasn't to make me feel better?

"Life is never truly easy, Corrine. I know you're in love and you want sunshine and roses, but love has other sides. You're my granddaughter, that means you are strong - so stop thinking like a coward. You know this girl can never come between you. If you stay away from Paul you are giving her free access to meddle with his emotions. He imprinted on you, but who knows what could happen! You can be upset with him and still keep your relationship together. All women learn how to do it – especially when you start living together, will you move out every time he upsets you?"

I shook my head and smiled.

"Exactly. Be strong and smart about this. Do you want to leave Paul?"

I shook my head, and gave her a look that said definitely not.

"Then don't stay away for too long. You might regret that more in the end."

I sighed and got up to fill the water cans. As I wet the potted flowers that were now blooming brightly since that day we'd planted seeds, I thought of what Grammie said. I guess she had many more years of experience over my head, so I just needed to listen. But I knew I wasn't being a coward. I knew I had my right to take some time to stew about this.

Gram gave me good advice, I knew that and appreciated it, but what I really wanted was to be babied. The one person who would know that I needed was the same person I was angry with.

"I'm going to see Emily for a bit before I head home," I informed her as I put away the cans in the shed. It was stupid to go to Sam's but Emily would make me feel better. Hopefully since it was Friday, Leanne wouldn't be there.

"Alright dear, be careful on that thing you ride. And try not to worry."

"I will, love you Gram," I hugged her and made my way over to Emily's house.

"Emily?" I opened the front door and walked in.

"In here!" she called from the laundry room and I went in to find her folding shorts and t-shirts.

"Hey," I said, forlorn.

"Ah my," she said after one look at me.

"What?" I grumbled.

"I know that face – it's an 'I need chocolate' face."

I groaned, "Yeah…maybe I do." When didn't I want chocolate?

She brought me to her kitchen table and filled me up on her yummy chocolate-chip muffins and fudge brownies. She asked me what was troubling me and I told her basically what I'd told my grandmother.

"I feel you, I wouldn't like it if Sam kept those things from me either, I'd like to know every single detail even though it wouldn't be my child. But if there's one thing we can do is trust our wolves Corrie. Paul would never make a fool out of you intentionally. He'd never hurt you intentionally. And I'm not trying to belittle your feelings, okay? But Paul didn't betray you out of malice, he did it because of this," she gestured to me. "He didn't want you to suffer. He didn't want you to shut him out. He needed you, he still does. He doesn't want you to be scared away by the whole baby drama."

I sighed and nodded a few times then I wiped the tears that were threatening to fall.

"I know… I feel bad about making him stay away but I just feel so lost. I don't know what to do if it's really his, I don't know if I'm strong enough. I don't feel that I am."

"You ARE strong enough, but it's okay if you don't feel like being strong right now. Nothing is wrong with sinking to the bottom of the barrel as long as you don't intend to stay there permanently. I had my times with Sam when I needed to be away from him, in the beginning, but I found that the only way I felt better was when I was with him. Forgiveness is powerful and healing and I hope you can get to that point really soon for both your sakes."

"What do I do about the baby then, how do I make peace with all this?"

"That baby, IF it's his, won't change your relationship. Just try to remember that, be there for Paul and you'll find your peace eventually. If it really is his child, you'll learn to love it Corrie. If it's not, then just be happy and move on with him. Our problems are only ever as big as we let them be."

"Things will change because Amy will always be a part of Paul's life, she'll always cause problems, I can see that she's someone who would act like that! You didn't see how she looked at me! This child will always force Paul to choose. She'll find ways to take him away from me and every time I see that baby it will be a reminder of Paul's past."

Emily narrowed her eyes at me and shook her head in dismay. "Is this child forcing him to choose or are you? Amy doesn't have any power over Paul, only you! He won't choose between you and the baby, but he'll never neglect either of you – so you will have to learn to share him. Paul has changed. He could have told Amy to stay away from him and never speak of her or the child, would you have liked him to do that? He desperately wants to be better than his father and that will mean him being a better husband to you."

I sighed and shook my head to answer her question.

"He's trying to do the right thing, you should be there to support him, that's your role as his imprint. The boys always make it seem like it's all about us and never about them, but they go through stuff too, they need help sometimes too. We provide a comfort they can't get anywhere else. This is one of those times to sacrifice for your wolf like he sacrifices for you, no matter how stupid he was for keeping secrets."

I felt the heat rush to my face as I buried it behind my hands. "Emily, that's how I feel already, I told him that he should have come to me and shared his trouble from the start! I want to be here for him but he wouldn't let me because he's too worried about me being angry or breaking up with him! Now I'm just too mad to help because he keeps lying over and over again!"

I slammed my palm onto the table in frustration.

"I'm sorry Paul is being such a nitwit, but he's scared. He's scared of a lot of things. I can see it in his eyes. You getting hurt by Leanne, you leaving him because of the baby, the baby being his, taking care of it….he's got a lot going on that scares him. And now you're apart things aren't going well for him at work because of his temper."

"Really?"

She nodded.

Darn, I didn't want him to risk losing his job, letting his temper get the better of him. I shook my head sadly, not even bothering to wipe away the tears. "Everything is ruined, everything Emily."

"No, it isn't! Yes you hurt each other, but you're not ruined, you just need to forgive and be together. Just call him and set things right before the baby comes. Time is coming fast and he's getting nervous."

"Alright," I said firmly. But I didn't feel confident inside.

I got up, smoothing out my clothes. My head was a mass of dark thoughts.

"I need to go Em, thanks for talking to me."

I needed to be alone. I felt my fortress closing in.

"Anytime, I'm always here. Don't let Leanne stop you from coming Corrie, we can work through this." She stood too and hugged me before I walked outside to my bike.

I was surprised to meet Leah coming out of the forest then, and I immediately grew nervous. She and I had never been friends, and I had the feeling that she was close to Leanne.

"Hey," she called out, in a semi-friendly tone which baffled me.

"Hi," I said, clearly my throat nervously as I mounted my bike. I expected her to go inside but she walked right up to me.

"Listen, uh, Corrie…" she started.

I removed my helmet again and looked at her questioningly.

"I know things are fucked up right now with you and Paul and this whole Amy thing…but you need to forgive him for whatever you're mad at. He loves you, and he needs you to be there for him, he's going to fuck everything up if you don't help him. Don't let Leanne or Amy come between you okay, because honestly, even though they might try, they can't. Nothing can break an imprint. I know that better than anyone…"

I could see how uncomfortable she felt saying this, and I was touched. "Thanks Leah. It means a lot coming from you."

"I just…have a bad feeling, and I wanted to warn you. Just keep your eyes open, yuh know?"

"I will…uh, thanks." I got a funny feeling then, as I thought about Paul in my dream 'everything is not what it seems.'

What was I missing?

She smiled slightly at me then and nodded. "See ya around."

"Bye."

As Leah headed to Sam's I refitted my helmet and sped off.

Why didn't I ask her why she had that feeling? Why didn't she tell me what she knows?

I'd heard enough from the Quileute women in my life.

They were all right.

I couldn't wallow in self-pity for too long.

My job was to support Paul, no matter how scared I was of facing reality, no matter my anger, no matter his mistakes.

That's what imprints do.