AN: Hi everyone! I know it's been forever. Life is obviously crazy this year but I hope everyone is hanging in there ok. Hubby and I have been working the whole time, and Kid1 has been working since the summer (she is also our one positive covid case so far, hoping it stays that way). Hope everyone has a good thanksgiving- either with your family or not.
As for this story, there is at least one more chapter and maybe an epilogue, or two more chapters. I'll see how the next one goes. Hopefully it won't take me another year to post it...
Disclaimer: I own nothing but some shirtless pics of Alex Meraz. SM owns all.
Chapter 31
Previously: "Baby, as much as I don't want to stop—and believe me, I don't—we have to." I pressed a gentle kiss to her gorgeous lips and caught her eye again. "Charlie is on his way here…"
Paul POV
I tried to hide my smile as I watched Bella run around my room trying to pull her clothes together. She was so flustered, and she was suddenly embarrassed to be naked in front of me, despite that fact that I'd seen and explored every part of her the night before.
"Don't just stand there, Paul! Put some clothes on! My dad will shoot you, you know?!"
Once I put on a pair of shorts, I walked over and pulled her into my arms. I could almost feel the tension draining out of her body as I rubbed my hands over her skin and pressed her ear against my chest.
"Babe, it's okay. Just calm down," I murmured quietly, trying to soothe her with every tool I had. I waited until she sighed before I continued. "Look, Charlie may be angry when he gets here, but he has no reason to be. We haven't done anything wrong, okay? I won't let him yell at us for being here together. I've done a lot of things I regret in my life, but loving you, and you loving me is something I refuse to feel guilty about."
Bella stared up at me with fucking stars in her eyes like I was some kind of hero. I lowered my face and tasted her lips to try and distract her a bit, but I kept it light and didn't push her for more. When I pulled back, I helped her fasten her bra and pulled her shirt back over her head.
"Okay, Paul. I get what you're saying, but I do know he'll still be pissed. I basically snuck out last night to come here with you. Of course he's going to be pissed. Oh, he'll probably tell me I can't see you anymore, and then I don't know what we'll do! Paul! I can't–"
Damn, that girl could get worked up faster than anyone I have ever met. I wasn't sure when that changed, but it was probably sometime between learning who her biological father was, being imprinted upon by a wolf, nearly smashed by a van, and attacked by a vampire. I guessed I really couldn't hold it against her.
"Bella, babe, I'm serious. I need you to calm down, and let me handle Charlie. If you look guilty and act guilty, he'll sniff that shit out in a heartbeat. He's a cop for a reason, babe. And not just because he has the cool moustache." I raised my eyebrow and grinned at her, loving how I could always pull a smile out of her.
Forcing myself to step back, I picked up her jeans and then dug around for a shirt for myself. It would make her feel better if I wasn't sitting around half-naked, and I would do whatever I could to make her comfortable. I honestly wasn't sure that Charlie wouldn't shoot me, but I sure wasn't going to let her know I had my doubts.
Once we were both dressed, and she'd run a brush through her hair and braided it loosely, I pulled her toward the kitchen. For the first time since I'd brought her to my house, I felt self-conscious. While I'd done a lot of work on the house since phasing, I still hadn't learned to cook much. Tiffany and Emily kept me fed, and if I was really hungry I would hunt as a wolf, although that wasn't my favorite method of getting protein.
"Um, I don't have much here, but we can fix some cereal or something…" I trailed off, looking anywhere but at Bella. Her soft little hand on my face finally brought my eyes to meet hers.
"Paul, please don't be embarrassed. I love your house." My mouth hung open at her statement. I couldn't even move as she continued, "I can tell you've done a lot to fix it up, and you've clearly learned a lot from Sam—it's all good quality work. I'm proud of you, Paul."
She could have knocked me over with a feather by the time she finished speaking. It was one thing for Charlie to notice, but for Bella—my imprint, my mate—to be pleased… I was blown away. This was the only girl I'd ever brought into my home, the girl I hoped would one day share my home, and she was impressed with what I'd done.
For the first time in my life, something deep within me felt settled. I hadn't realized how much I'd been looking for validation, despite the things Charlie and others had done for me, but Bella knew just what to say and how to say it. The little boy who never felt good enough finally heard and accepted that genuine praise.
I caught her off guard when I turned and captured her lips with a kiss that I hoped gave her some kind of idea what she meant to me. She was panting heavily when I finally let her come up for air, and it gave me time to compose myself as well.
I gave her my best smirk and guided her to one of my two kitchen chairs. "Sit right here and let me get you some breakfast."
Her blush made me laugh—a deep, hearty laugh I wasn't sure I'd ever laughed before. She pushed me half-heartedly and giggled as well. I couldn't resist one more sweet kiss as I turned toward the cabinets.
I was a little embarrassed when I pulled out the only box of cereal I had—the only cereal I would buy for myself. It was something of an indulgence since I'd been on my own. I wondered if she would see it for what it was.
When I was growing up, I didn't have the same priorities as other kids. I didn't whine for the latest toy or beg for the popular sugary cereal at the grocery store. Instead, I was focused on staying off my parents' radar and scavenging for whatever food I could find.
When Charlie took me to live with Miss Molly, I didn't have to worry as much about food or getting hit, but indulgence still wasn't anything I was familiar with.
It wasn't until I started spending time with Bella that I discovered I had a sweet tooth. She would bring me cookies and brownies, but for our fishing trips it was always a ziplock bag full of cereal—Lucky Charms to be precise. Those sweet little marshmallows and sugary cereal bits were like little bags full of heaven to me.
Once my dad left and I had money from the council to actually buy food, I was a little overwhelmed at the grocery store. I didn't know how to cook anything that didn't involve a microwave, and it was hard to spend money on myself without looking over my shoulder. But when I walked down the cereal aisle, that colorful box with the smiling leprechaun called out to me.
Since that first trip, I never left the store without a box. Mrs. Ateara would frown when she rang me up, but even her sour mood couldn't ruin that cereal for me. I didn't realize it until Bella was sitting at my table that the food made me think of her subconsciously.
Turning to face her, I walked over with the box and a couple of bowls. "I hope you still like these," I said with a sheepish grin. "It's all I have on hand."
It took a minute for her to catch on as she stared at me in confusion, but then I could almost see the lightbulb moment when she remembered. "Oh my gosh, I had almost forgotten that! Will we be eating from bowls or ziplock baggies?"
We were both still laughing over our bowls when I heard Charlie's car pull in the drive. I tried to not to tense up, but Bella still noticed and froze as well. I rested my hand on her cheek and pressed a sugary kiss to her lips as I stood and made my way to the door. Just before I opened it, I felt her tiny hand slip into mine.
~oOo~oOo~oOo~
Charlie POV
I couldn't even think straight as I raced to La Push. How could she do this? How could she disobey and disrespect me like that? Bella had always been almost a perfect child, so the only person I could think to blame was Paul.
Paul Lahote was clearly a lost cause. Despite everything I'd done for him, he'd still gone behind my back and completely disrespected both me and my daughter. I guess after all this time, Billy was right about him after all.
I left a cloud of dust behind me when I jerked my cruiser into his driveway, and I barely had the car in park before I yanked open my door to get out. I was so focused on my rage that I didn't see the hole next to the driveway. It took me a few moments to regain my balance after I turned my ankle, but by the time I slammed my door and turned toward the house I noticed I had an audience.
Paul was standing in his open doorway, arms crossed and face somber, looking more like Sam than I'd ever seen him look. I could see Bella peeking over his shoulder, biting her lip like she always did when she was nervous or upset.
I clenched my hands into fists at my side, but the brace on my right hand reminded me that I couldn't actually punch a werewolf again. I reached for my gun, but I couldn't shoot as accurately with my left hand, and I couldn't take the chance with Bella standing right behind him. I still left my hand resting above it on my gun belt though.
Walking up to the door, I stared down Paul with every ounce of hatred I felt for every person who had lied to me. Quil, Renee, Tiffany, Embry, Bella, Paul, Old Quil, Billy, Harry, and who knows how many others of those I considered my family and my closest friends. They all treated me like the butt of an inside joke I would never get.
Paul never blinked as I glared at him, until I got within two feet of his door. I switched my eyes to my daughter and ignored the wolf blocking her from me. "Get in the car, Bells."
She was shaking her head before I finished speaking, and I knew she wouldn't go that easily.
"Dad—"
"Chief, listen—"
"Now!" I finally yelled, exploding at the top of my lungs.
I stood there, holding my ground, huffing as my breath came faster and faster. I could feel my face heating up as the rage rushed through me and my heart beat at the pace of a racehorse. A slight pain began to spread up my left arm to my jaw, just below my ear, and I reached my braced hand up to try to rub it away.
"Dad?" Bella's voice was softer now, with a worried tone to it, "Are you okay?"
Paul had his head tilted as he looked at me, brows pulled down in a frown. "Chief, I think we might need to get you to a hospital. Your heart doesn't sound too good."
I wanted to argue with him, but as he stepped toward me and wrapped his arm around my waist, I didn't have the energy to fight anymore. My head felt like it was full of water and I couldn't focus that well as I followed his lead to his truck and up into the seat.
I closed my eyes and rested my head against the cool window, barely noticing Bella in the seat next to me, grasping my hand in her smaller one. "Daddy? I'm sorry! Please be okay!"
Paul was speaking and I couldn't tell if he was speaking to me or to Bella, but I couldn't answer him either way. My head was throbbing and my face still felt hot as I tried to focus on anything. Just before I lost consciousness I finally heard what Paul was saying.
"Bella, call Tiffany and tell her to meet us at the hospital. Try your best to sound calm and not panicky—we don't need her to get too worked up with the baby and everything…"
Baby? What baby?
