Chapter VIII: Dog Days of Summer

'Dog Days of Summer' definition: traditionally, it's a term that refers to a period of particularly hot and humid weather occurring during the summer months. Also signifies the weather as "not being fit for a dog," aka. it's the weather in which dogs can indeed go mad.

A/N: We have reached the final chapter. Thank you so much for all the reviews, follows, fav's, and PMs.

A/N #2: I never did like Jacob's antics in the books, especially in Eclipse and early parts of Breaking Dawn. I know he's a teenager, but I've met smart, calm, and critical thinking teens too, so I decided to do something to pay tribute to all the wise, even-keeled teens that I know and that was to make Jacob into one also. Sooner or later, being a 'hothead' just isn't cute anymore. Except you, Paul ;-) You're everyone's favorite 'hothead.'

The crickets were still silent, but watching as Bella paced back and forth just outside her kitchen door, hoodie over her head, hands rubbing one another, and her heart beat racing faster than she could count. She had been walking in a half-hazard line for the last twenty minutes, nervous, anxious, and just plain scared out of her mind. It was crazy to think that it was only just a few short hours ago that she had been nervously awaiting Paul's arrival. That was so her virginity could be taken. Now she waited to hear from him about whether any of the packmates had survived their chase with Victoria. How different had her life now become? How different would her life be if any of the wolves were hurt? They were her family, especially now that the Cullens were gone. She didn't even want the Cullens to come back. She wished Edward good healt—er, immortal life—but she had a place now and it was here, with Charlie. With Jacob. With him.

Well, maybe not with him, but she wanted it to be with him.

Dang it, where was he—where was anybody? Surely one of the wolves should have shown up by now to tell her something. That could only mean one thing: something had gone wrong. Something had gone very, very wrong. If one of her wolves got hurt because of her—

"Bells!" came an elated cry from up the road. It was Jacob, sprinting toward her.

"Ohmygod," she breathed with a sigh of relief. Jacob was ok. He didn't look injured. And he had come back to tell her the news. She was so happy.

Jacob practically flew over to her, his toes just barely gliding over the ground with his toes. He was so happy. He was actually able to refrain himself from hugging her, at first. He was so excited to share his news with her. He had done it. He had saved her. Him. Him! "Bells, I've got great news! That leech is dead, Bells!" he rushed out. "Isn't that great? Now we can be together and—" Jacob cut himself off, finally taking his first breath since he had bounded over to her and the house. His nose begun to do a funny dance and then his facial features had screwed up as if he had drunk a huge mug of sour milk. Initially Bella's fist instinct was to ask what was wrong, but then she wisely kept back to let the wolf side of him process what he may have been smelling. What he smelled was sex.

Bella realized with a start that he had likely smelled Paul's scent that was still on-inside-her. The pack all had very good noses. She had not been thinking. She hadn't even showered, so worried about the whole pack and Paul and…She carefully waits for her Jake to put the pieces together.

Her friend looked pained for a moment as he then pinched the bridge of his nose. Fuck, Jacob thought. Fuckfuckfuckfuck. His damn nose. Just once, just this once he wanted his fuckin' nose to be wrong. His inner wolf yowled inside of him, but was otherwise tame. He didn't understand it. Then again, he never understood the sexual appeal of Paul Lahote either. Apparently, Bella-his Bella-wasn't immune to Lahote's charms neither. He chuckled darkly but he wasn't trembling. Wasn't even close to phasing. He also wasn't relieved to know what the truth was though he had felt it in his gut, but he damn sure wouldn't blame Bella. What was there to blame anyway? What would be the point of it? His dad's illness, his sacrifices, and just the day of part time work with Sam, chores, patrol, and finally the killing of the redhead that had been plaguing the territory for a solid three months had just caught up to him.

Oh, and his best friend was fucking his packmate. The most annoying packmate, in his opinion. Just that one whole ordeal made him tired, right down to his bones.

Damn. What a fuckin' day this was. When his burnt-sienna eyes met his friend's and he saw how tense and apprehensive she now was, his need to protect another packmate blossomed, because Bella Swan was definitely pack. Unofficially, of course, but she was definitely still part of the pack. And he couldn't bear to be the cause of any pain or distrust that she might be feeling right now. He wasn't okay with this new development of hers, not by a long shot, but he'd be there for her. That's what friends were for each other.

"Oh Bells, honey, why did you have to...," he started, but then stopped himself. It sounded too much like he was blaming her when he started the sentence like that. He hesitates and then tried again, bringing his dad's wisdom with him. He sighed deeply, shook his head and then softly began speaking. "Ya know, my dad used to tell me something about painful instances that happened in your life," he started. "He told me: 'Jake, you better let go…or be dragged.' Used to think he was nits, but now, I don't think you can get any clearer than that."

"What does that mean, Jake?" she asked him cautiously.

He gave her his best Jacob-smile, reserved just for her. "You'll figure it out like I did just now, I guess," he replied back easily. "Just know I love ya and I'll be here…whatever you decide."

"Thanks, sweetie," she replied back in awestruck and possessing more than a few tears that were brimming from her eyelashes. Then she hugged her Jake.

When Bella reached him for one of his famous Jacob-bear hugs (and once he got over the initial smell of Lahote's pungent scent), Jacob realized how much he had shifted and it wasn't just the wolf in him. He felt love for Bella, but it felt more like sister than lover now. Maybe it was due to everything changing, but he was ok with that part of it. And Bella, his Bella, his best friend Bella, was safe. That's what had really mattered all along.

She exhaled a sob into his chest. "I'm so glad you are all ok," she said, relief evident in her tone. "So glad that you're all..." Bella started and then her lips folded into themselves. All of the pack was safe. Everyone. But what would happen the next time they all met? Would they all still be ok? She didn't care really if they knew about her and Paul. It had been her decision. It had been her choice. She loved Jake and still did, but Paul was what she had needed. And wanted. For as long as she could hold onto him. "We're all ok, right?" she restarted.

"We're good, Bells. Far as I know, we're good," Jake replied. Somehow he knew what she was asking without meaning to and he had answered her truthfully. He wasn't all the way not mad at her and didn't want to say too much just yet, but he didn't have any complaints.

Overall, life was good.

Bella couldn't remember all the details of how the rest of her night had gone from that moment on, but one thing was for sure: she hadn't lost Jacob. She hadn't lost her friend because of her tryst with his packmate, Paul. She saw how badly his face looked as if he really wanted to ask (or pry) for more, but he never did that night. Or the next. And Jacob never pressed the issue or brought up that they should try and date again. She had guessed that he was waiting until enough time passed. Or that he was being a really great friend and allow her space until she was ready to talk about it (which she wasn't, really-not out loud, anyway), but Bella had never been that kind of talker. In the end, Jacob never did say it and she didn't bother to bring it up.

After a couple more days had passed (and him not bringing it up) and the excitement of everything wore off, Jacob's 'hidden' statement had become so clear to her once she realized that what he had said could apply to this situation with Paul too. He could have been advising her to be willing to let him, Paul, go. Or whomever she was obsessing about it. Whether it was Edward or Paul, it didn't matter. She had to move on. She had move past it or she'd be doomed to repeat her fugue state all over again. And this time she might be dragged down by the weight of it. She didn't want that and she wasn't going back to what had happened the last time someone she lov—cared for someone and they had left her. She agrees with Jacob. She wholeheartedly and truly does, but there was one big, glaring issue that she had to face: she missed Paul. She didn't exactly love or cherish the memories of his snarky remarks or rude manners, but she missed the man he had changed into after just a few shifts with her. And she longed for the wolf that still resided behind his angry, twisted, good-looking, hazel-eyed face.

But she tried not to think about it. She really, really did.

Things resumed normally, more or less. There were no more bear sightings so Charlie thinks that the bears just moved on and he goes back to working day shifts again. Both Bella and Charlie are very glad of this fact for different reasons, but Bella also knows that this means no sleepovers with the pack. Why should they all still sleep over, anyway? Victoria had been caught and killed. Jacob had told her so himself. She wouldn't have to worry about him, Embry, Quil, Jared, Sam, or…yup, she wouldn't have to be worried. Let's just leave it at that.

When the bear sightings had stopped and there were no more hikers killed in over a week, there had been talk of giving Charlie a small plaque to place on his desk. Bella could not have been happier for him and she had told as much to her mom, to Angela, and to anyone else considered in her close, but small circle of friends including Jacobs pack. Except one.

Paul had missed the news. Maybe he had eventually heard it from one of the other wolves, but she had never told him personally. He wasn't around for her to tell.

But Bella didn't think hard over that detail. After the great news about Charlie, Bella literally pulled Jake into her house and back into her life. They were friends again. Better than friends; Jake had saved her life by killing Victoria and no doubt countless others if she had been allowed to continue hunting in the forest. There were still vampires out there, but they'd have six of the very best and fine La Push rez shapeshifters to sought through and for the first of many times, Bella Swan was glad that she hadn't been turned into a vampire. There was no way she wanted to come across any of her boys or their wolves. She liked that when they were around her that they only growled due to their hunger and she was too happy to oblige their need to eat. Even if they weren't Paul, whom she often considered her dirty-little-secret-distraction, they still took her mind off other things. Like her dirty-little-secret-distraction.

One day she arrived home from food shopping when she found herself staring at the ascending backside of her dirty-little-secret-distraction in the house. Paul Lahote was in her house, carrying a huge wooden, window frame up the stairs and into her bedroom, by himself. She instantly set the bags of food down on the floor without bothering to put them away and saw both Jacob and her father talking in the living room while Jared was busy fiddling with one of her father's tool drawers.

"Hey, Bells," Jacob cheerily called out to her before he and Charlie went into the back room, leaving Bella alone with Jared.

"Hiya, Bella," Jared parroted after he pulled something out.

Bella was too distracted to really focus on the other company in the house. "Hi, Jared," she answered automatically and then turned to rush up the stairs faster than even Jared, but when she reached her bedroom door, she hesitated. Jared politely went around her and into the room. She saw that he was carrying a hammer in his hand. Bella finally stepped inside and found Paul, still holding the brand-new frame with glass panes pre-inserted easily by himself, and she couldn't help her cheeks from reddening when her eyes arrived on his face. This was her room. This was the room where they had…and then again. And then ag—stop it, Bella! She cried to herself. Not helping. It was obvious that Jacob, Jared, and Paul had come by to fix her window and that she should let them get to it. She didn't really like having a giant hole in her bedroom covered only by a tarp. It was a heavy-duty tarp, but still. But she couldn't stop staring at him. He was here. He was really here in her house, again. This was crazy. Definitely insane. It was absolutely—

"Hey, Paul," she called out softly, before she lost her nerve. She didn't want to just keep gawking at him as if she were a lovestruck ten-year-old. 18-year-old, yeah, but not ten.

But nothing happened.

The world was still spinning. Bella still felt like she swooning in his presence, but nothing was happening. Paul didn't answer her. Hadn't answered her. He didn't even glance in her direction. He acted as if he didn't hear her. No movement in his face was even made before, during, or after her greeting to him.

Bella continues to wait another minute for a response, but Paul seemed very interested in the right corner of the room. We ended up there too— "I said, hey, Paul," she repeated to not only silence her thoughts, but also to fill the space of her obvious foolishness. He must've heard her. He had super wolfy hearing. Their darn noses sure smelled everything. Well in case he hadn't, she had now greeted him twice. The sting was sudden and fierce, but she was a different girl now, and part of the reason was because of him. "Well?" she prompted.

Paul sighed loudly and, while still not looking or acknowledging her, called out, "Come on, Cameron, this fuckin' thing is heavy."

Jared, who had been standing off the side, comically widened his eyes and then slanted them out of annoyance. "You're a damn shapeshifter," he fired back loudly. "You kill leeches with teeth and paws but you're bitching about holding a fuckin' frame?"

"Wanna say that a little louder, asshole?" Paul hissed. "Don't think the fuckin' police chief heard ya in the other room."

Jared glanced down nervously toward Jacob and Charlie's booming laughter from the downstairs room. They had moved back into the living room, but were still deep in conversation with each other. Plus, Jacob's roar of a laugh really blocked out most other noises in the house. Jared then breathed in relief, seeing that the pack's cover was still secret. "He didn't hear me," he insisted. "My fault though."

"She heard you," Paul retorted, flicking his eyes toward Bella for the first time.

Jared rolled his eyes at his packmate. "She already knows," he replied, his bravado returning. "Duh. Ain't you gonna say hi back to Bella?"

"She," Bella snapped at him, though she didn't know all the reasons why, "is standing here. And hello, Paul, yet again," she finished pointedly. A few more seconds of silence passed as Bella watched Paul while he kept his eyes to the corner, and Jared looked nervously at them both.

"Hurry up with that hammer, Cameron," Paul finally voiced. "Don't want to be here all damn day."

"Jeez, Paul, how come you won't say nothing to Bel-"

"I'd like to say nothing to you right now," he interrupted angrily. "And I'll be able to say nothing to you once again when I get the fuck done with this job, so hurry up with the fuckin hammer! Not gonna ask you again." He let the unfinished threat hang in the air.

Jared shook his head and walked over with the tool. Soon they went back to work, placing the pre-cut frame expertly in the right way. And that was it.

Bella then realized that Paul wasn't going to even recognize her via greeting. It was like she was starting over with him. Or worse. She felt her throat close on her. She had wanted to ask him so many questions, but it was obvious that he would continue to ignore her. He wouldn't even look her in the face. She briefly wondered if she'd ever see those beautiful hazel eyes again. Or even his wolf's startling ocean blues. Not knowing what else to do or how to act, she just watched him longingly through sideway glances as he and Jared worked, and then was joined by Jake.

When almost forty minutes passed, she found herself pathetically jumping up from her bed when they had finally finished and her dirty-little-secret-distraction had stepped away from the other teens. Paul was so quick that he had reached the room's doorway in two strides. She couldn't believe it. Was he really leaving without—no. No gosh darn, freakin' way!

Without fully noting what she was doing (her brain must've obviously switched to off at this point if she was doing this), she moved straight into Paul's path as he was just about to set foot into the hallway. He came to a halt without bumping into her. His reflexes were that good even if hers were crap. She stood in front of him, watching for any hint of an emotion other than indifference toward her. When she didn't see anything initially in his face or body language, Bella's first instinct was to cry, but she held that part of herself in and instead got pissed. Really pissed. What the heck was his problem? She wanted to know—no, she had to know.

Okay, she hadn't expected for her illicit affair will Paul to continue much longer past their one night, but she thought at least he'd have the basic civility to perhaps acknowledge her. She thought even Mike would do that and she had never even heard from him again after that one fateful afternoon. She swallowed loudly, shaking a little. Rationally she knew she couldn't (or really shouldn't) yell at Paul right now for a host of reasons; she'd be yelling at a volatile, giant shapeshifting teen in her father's house. She didn't think bullets would slow him down much, but it would ruin his nice silver pelt at least for the afternoon until he healed up. Jacob and Jared would become alarmed. They may or may not try and come to the aide of their packmate, but judging by how she had heard Paul often talk to them all, she wasn't so sure. But what finally did stop her was the fact that Paul had never said that she and he would last; actually, he had said quite the opposite. Repeatedly.

Even with these valid points running through her head, Bella still thought it prudent to say something additional to him. "Was nice not talking to you even though you've been here before, eaten the food I've prepared for you, and we..." Her voice caught. After taking a second to regain her composure, she continued. "You could've at least tilted your head or something to show that you're a decent person. That's what normal, decent people do and I am a decent human person. Clearly, you're not."

It was a low blow and she knew it. Half of her wanted Paul to react. For him to get angry enough (which hadn't taken much in the past) and reveal himself for the horrible (gorgeous) animal he was inside if he didn't even have the balls to address her, but the other half of her knew that if she saw his wolf, she definitely would've broken down into tears. Her police chief father, be damned.

What was more amazing than Bella's mature, somewhat tempered reaction to Paul not talking to her was that Paul didn't seem to react to her at all. He didn't shiver, twitch, or even offer a snarl in her direction, something she had heard him do many times before. Especially at her. She had known him to be brutish and crass, but never sullen and quiet. It was like she was no longer even worth his wrath or contempt. This was scary and it made her feel hollow. At least before he had hated her, but now... now he didn't even seem to see her.

He still hadn't met her eyes, preferring to this time stare at the floor. And he still hadn't said anything directly to her. Bella could feel the other two teens watching their lack of exchange and Bella knew they both likely drew their own conclusions on what had happened between them if what they had said about the pack mind was true, but at that moment she only saw him, Paul, and Paul still only looked at the floor. After a few more painful seconds that seemed to stretch much longer than they should have, Bella watched as Paul exhaled audibly, sidestepped past her, and then walked downstairs, leaving through the backdoor without a single word back to her. She just watched him go, beyond hurt. She wasn't crying but she could feel her vision getting blurry.

She felt Jacob's warm body approaching her and held her breath. If Jacob Ephraim Black was going to say something—anything— mean or offer her any "I told you so" bullshit-about what had just happened, she just might re-break her window. With his damn head.

Jacob, whom had finally come upstairs to help his packmates finish, could see how much work it took for his good friend to hold it together and he was really glad that she was in fact holding it together. Lahote had deserved a whole lot worse than an angry sentence or two for his behavior, but it wasn't his call nor his business. But now he really wanted to ask her a whole different unanswered question about what had happened; however, as he observed the exchange, noted the defeat in her stance and his uncharacteristically quiet packmate, he knew. He just knew that something bigger had happened between them. Something much bigger than sex even.

Bella still reeked of her and Paul's amorous activities even now. He knew the smell too well. At least about his packmate's contribution, anyway. Jacob had in fact been privy to the evidence of Paul's sexual escapades multiple times before when they had previously run patrol together and it was a scent he had grown used to. Now though, he couldn't say for certain the last time he had smelled recent sex on Paul, including today. Actually, he didn't think Paul had even been having any sex of any kind lately. Or with anyone, period. However, he still wished Paul hadn't bedded his friend, but hey, Bella had made her own bed. It sucked that the wolf's nose was so precise and kept the scent memory long after it should have dissipated. He couldn't help but wonder if the asshole came in her hair too? Yuck. He wasn't pleased with his friend's choice but he wouldn't make the mistake of judging her. Not anymore.

"That's just Paul, Bells," Jacob instead tried to explain to her. "Cold one minute then asshole the next. He…I don't think he'll ever change." He said this, but he didn't actually believe it. The old Paul would've verbally (as well as tried to physically) ripped Bella a new one after what she had just said to him. This "new" Paul, well, he didn't know what this one was capable of yet, but seeing Bella and how much she needed something to be said about Paul's behavior for comfort, he'd try anything and hoped he'd sound convincing enough.

Bella shrugged, feeling the sag in her shoulders. She hears Jacob gulping uncomfortably before he pressed on. "You know I'm here for you, Bells," he continued, mistaking her shrug for something worse. "Remember? I'm your best friend and that won't change. If there's anything you need to tell me, I..." He trailed off. Jacob once again realized what he had known to be true deep down: he had called himself her best friend and that it wouldn't change. He realized how true that was. Maybe it was the way he had recently matured after taking out that redhead. Sam had been so impressed that he had started grooming him even more to take over the pack. His father had been getting him more involved in the Tribe Council stuff. Or maybe it was just the way Bella had been looking at Paul when be was in the room. He had never caught her looking at him like that. Not even once. Bummer. He hated that it was Paul who made Bella look at him that way, but it still wasn't his business. All he could do was be there for her. And at least Paul was a slight step up from another leech. She sure likes her danger though, he thought.

Bella finally gave him a sad smile. "Thanks, sweetie," she repeated, just like she had that night when he had found out about her and Paul, and then she sighed and gave him a one-handed hug. He returned it.

After Jacob and Jared said their goodbyes and left, Bella resolved right then and there to try and to let it go, again. Let him go. Paul was never hers. He had told her many times that he didn't like her. Except once. Once he had said she wasn't so bad, but that wasn't like a marriage proposal.

She still had never fully explained to Charlie as to why there had been a huge gaping hole in her bedroom where her window used to be, and after the guys fixed it, it was kind of an unspoken rule that she didn't have to explain. Bella wouldn't have been able to look him in the eye as she lied anyway nor would it sound any less stupid if she had said "You were right, Charlie; I locked all the doors every night and because of that, a bear came through my window instead. Yup, that sure is how it happened. Yes, indeed." But Charlie Swan hadn't pressed her any further about the matter. He had just been glad she was ok.

So, Bella shouldered on. Just like she did when Edward and the rest of the Cullens left. Just like when Jacob left temporarily, though thank goodness he was back now. She's melancholy but not sad. She just misses Paul. She felt strong, unlike last time when Edward had left her in the woods or even when Jake hadn't returned her calls. Being around Paul, with his yelling, questionable table manners, and intrusive nose had wormed its way into her head and heart. She didn't feel like crying, but she did feel a bad ache where he used to fill. In his own way, Paul had been right; she wasn't crying over him exactly, but damn she really missed him. And his wolf.

She finds herself inhaling the bed sheets one final time right before she finally gives in and washes them. It isn't healthy to sleep on old sheets nor was she that type of pathetic girl anymore. And she knows she's thinking too hard about him, but she can't help it. She resolved to try harder; after all, he had told her that their situation was temporary. It's not like he had lied. And for that, she could respect him for. He didn't hide behind his bullshit of doing what was best for her or for her own good. They each had a need to be filled and he had done his duty while he was here. Very well, she might add.

She sighed again. "Oh, Paul," she can't help but moan.

She never got tired of saying his name. She was just upset that he wasn't around to hear her say it.

A week later after the window fix.

Bella is doing a bit of light reading just before she would get dinner ready and Charlie is watching the game on tv. Back to normal, indeed.

The doorbell suddenly rings.

Bella, closing her book, goes to answers the door. "Hey, who's ther…?" she stops.

It's Paul. He's alone. And he's fully clothed.

Bella takes a second and he waits patiently for her eyes adjust to him. Her brown eyes are wide and disbelieving of their sight of him. It's him. It's really him. She had never seen him so clothed. She couldn't say that she hated him with clothes, but she had been lucky enough to view him without and the view had been nice. Very nice. Her cheeks felt the warm rush of color and soon her hands turned clammy. Oh boy, she thought. And then, Darn him.

Paul swears that he can hear her thoughts and he can't help but smirk at her initial reaction to him, but then quickly readjusted himself. He wasn't there to drive her nuts or charm her out of her pants. Not this time. He's here for a much different reason though he wouldn't object to another round with her.

Bella, however, is still stunned. And she's intrigued; she's seeing Paul, in a shirt, shirts, both socks this time, and sneakers. She has never seen him that covered up before. It's a sin that he has on so much clothing. Heck, she doesn't think even Jacob has worn that many clothes around her in months. Around the time he had begun to phase, actually.

After a rush of initial euphoria that overtakes her finally passes, her hands jolt toward him for a split second. Bella's next moment is then one of panic. Oh no, she realizes. If he's here, then that must mean-Her mouth begins to quake as the words formed. "Is it another...another...you know, after me again?" She was painfully aware that Charlie could overhear any part of their conversation at any time. "Are you back on 'Bella-duty'?" she then whispered to him.

"No," he answered her normally. "And no."

"Is it Jake?"

Paul gives her an annoyed look, but shakes his head. "Nah. Not him neither."

She takes another moment. It's bizarre that he's here. Bizarre and wonderful, but she wouldn't be fooled twice. "So...? Why are you...?" She asked.

"To say hey," he replied easily.

The tension in her shoulders and upper back dropped as she visibly relaxed. Well, there isn't too much she could read into with that. "Oh. Hey," she said back sheepishly.

"Hey," he says again. They don't say anything else. She wanted to reach out to him to check if he was really there, but his stoic expression and his calculating darkish golden eyes, not unlike the steady gaze of his wolf's dreamy blues, made her kept her hands to herself. Afterall, he had told her numerous times that what she thought this was, it wasn't. She wouldn't let her imagination run wild again. Paul had taught her a lot during his Bella-duty shifts.

Still, she was glad to see him.

Bella exhales deeply, drops her eyes, and takes a step back. "I defrosted a chicken to make dinner for Charlie and it's almost ready. There's more than enough. Want to stay for dinner?"

His eyebrow quirks up. "You inviting me in? A non-decent human like me?"

She swallows. "Well, I'm not sorry for saying that to you. You were pretty awful. But you did say hey to me just now plus you're probably hungry-cause you guys always are," she joked lightly, "so, I guess I should let you in. And you are wearing clothes this time."

"Just saying, I didn't think you'd want me here."

"I never kicked you out or asked you to leave," she responded boldly. "Besides you're pack. Pack is always welcomed here."

His jaw slightly twitches but then resumes it's rigid line. "That so?" he asks, trying to keep his voice neutral. He wouldn't blame her for shutting the door in his face, but truthfully, he was glad she hadn't so far. Made what he really wanted to say to her much easier.

"Would you rather I didn't invite you in, pack or not?" She asked point blank. "If you're gonna come in, then come in. Otherwise..." Bella trailed off. She really didn't want him to go, but why the heck did he have to make everything so difficult? If he wanted to be friends, that'd be great. If he wanted more-no, no way does he want more, she thought sadly. She knew better now. She knew he didn't want that.

Meanwhile, Paul seemed to finally get the message. "Yeah," he responds slowly. "I would like to come in." He doesn't speak any further, but silently moves past her so that he may step inside, barely brushing her front with his own. A sigh she couldn't catch in time escaped her when the very smell of him entered her nose, making a beeline straight to her head and her vision dim. Her head suddenly got heavy. Darn it, she thought. Can't believe I even still feel something...then she found his eyes once more, still staring at her as she watched him. Yeah, she amended. I can believe I still feel something. She wrung her hands nervously.

And then Bella, not one for looking a gift horse in the mouth, calls out to her dad. "Hey Dad, we've got company for dinner, okay?"

She hears Charlie getting up from his recliner. "Come on in, Jake," he began in greeting. "The game's still—oh!" Charlie Swan stops short when he sees Paul, who looks nothing like Jacob Black, standing tall in his kitchen. "Sorry about that. Thought you were Bella's other friend, Jake. Okay, well," he said a little embarrassingly after shaking Paul's hand, "Let's eat. Bells," he finished and motioned everyone to the table.

Bella set the table with Paul silently helping without being asked or questioned. Charlie makes a note of this. They then sit down to eat dinner amicably enough, but Charlie is definitely suspicious. For one thing, Charlie finds it mind boggling at the amount of food Paul puts away, still looking like he does. He even notices that Bella, also without asking, had automatically piled a huge plate of food in front of the young man without so much as an extra glance at him or their guest. How the heck had she known about his eating habits?

Charlie knew she had been spending at least some time with Jacob and other teens from La Push here and there, but where the hell had he been when she had met this one across the table? This guy definitely wasn't Jacob. In fact, he could pretty much say he was borderline man and beast all in one. Guess he would have to do some detective work.

"Dinner was delicious, Bells," Charlie compliments and then clears his throat. Time to get serious. "So," he starts slowly after he had finished the last bite on his plate and sees that this Paul kid is finally slowing down after two rather large servings. "You two are…?"

"Just friends, Char-Dad," Bella says quickly.

However, it arrives at the exact same time as Paul replies back with "Dating, Chief Swan."

Bella looks at Paul, stunned again for the second time that afternoon.

Charlie looks a bit taken aback too but recovers quickly, nodding his head. Teenagers still figuring it out. The usual. He had been there, once upon a time. Still, Charlie had to give the kid credit; the young man had looked him dead in the eye and hadn't flinched when he had said it. He wiped his mouth with his napkin. "You the one that broke my window?" he asked, not bothering to mince his words or fix his authoritative tone. If this kid did that with glass, plaster, and wood, he wasn't so sure about what he might do to his little girl, because that's what Bella was and always would be: his little girl.

Paul didn't drop his gaze. "Bear attack," he stated automatically. "Had to scare it away."

Well, that was the same excuse Bella had given him. Sort of. Hell, did they rehearse their lines together? "Uh huh," he replied back skeptically. "With a window?"

"Yes, sir. Big bear," he deadpanned.

Charlie didn't say anything else. He appreciated the united front on the whole bear story even if he knew it was bullshit. He changed tactics. "And you work with Sam?"

"Yes, sir," he answered. "Construction. I like fixing cars, but construction is ok for now."

"I see. And you helped fix the window with Jacob and...?"

"Jared, sir. Jared Cameron," Paul supplied, his face and movements very calculating and precise. Wasn't a bad thing. It was just evident that this teen had some kind of power in him. "And yes, I did."

That made Charlie shift. True, he had broken the window, but he also came back to replace it. Kid was handy at least. Seemed ok too otherwise. Charlie waited another beat before asking the most important question of them all: it was about his Bella. "Do I need to worry about anymore, uh, bears?"

Paul knew what he was asking. There weren't any more vampires here in Forks now and there wouldn't be for a long time. He and his pack would see to it. In response to Charlie, he shook his head. "No, sir. That bear ain't coming back," he replied confidently. "I guarantee it."

Charlie nodded. Those were all the questions he had. He turned to his daughter, who was still sitting with her mouth agape and staring at the young man. She wasn't even concerned with him. He remembered when Bella used to look at him, her father, as if he held the whole world, but now it was someone else's turn. Looks like it was this guy. He sighed with the realization that his little girl wasn't so little anymore. He was a bit proud. "You've always been a smart kid, Bells," he announced. "I trust your judgement." And with that out of the way, he stands up and kisses her on the head. Turning back to Paul, he says, "I'll leave you to it then, Paul. Remember, no more windows," he added as he left to go back into the living room to finish the game.

Paul's mouth curls into a grin. Cool dude. He wasn't big on authority figures, but he sorta liked the police chief already.

Bella had in fact noticed Charlie's face and demeanor at dinner. But that simple action of asking his questions and then ridding himself of being in the room with the two of them still in it spoke volumes to Bella more what he had said to Paul. Neither her nor her father were particularly good at feelings or saying things out loud. She herself had fallen hard and fast for Edward, her first love, had felt nothing but brotherly love for Jacob, and had gradually grown to love Paul and his wolf. Hence the whole sputtering thing. That was the major reason she was always a blithering idiot around Paul. Especially Paul. With Charlie as her father, who could blame her? And now Paul had not only made Bella speechless, but also her father. I can't breathe, she thinks in a panic.

She feels herself stand up, as well, and begins to clear the table, still not daring to inhale. Paul helps her without saying anything else. He was being so freakin' helpful. She doesn't know the correct words to use. She carries one dish at a time, trying to focus on the menial task, but unsuccessfully cannot stop thinking about Paul's admission to her father. What was she supposed to do? Could she ask him about it? Did he even want to talk about it? Her fingers began trembling. And she's still not breathing.

Paul notices. He stands right behind her and she thinks she can smell him again. That wonderful cedar—no, no, no! "Relax," he says softly to her back. It's as if his breath went through her clothes and was now tickling her skin to breathe back life into it.

She shakes her head, her knees weak. How the hell could he be so calm after that declaration? Wait, had he said that we were-? "Dating?" She squeaked as she turned to face him and she finally took a breath. Then something catches in her throat is caught as those eyes stare back at her. She never thought she'd be able to look into them again. The she melts. "I thought we were...I mean I thought that we weren't...and last week when you were here, you ignored me...," Bella said weakly, holding her sides. She hated the way her sentences came out. She thought she was ok with it, but all the hurt of being cast aside, again, because of Paul Lahote came roaring back. At least she thought he had pushed her aside. Wait a minute. Think slower, Bella, think slow... "...I thought that what I thought this was, it wasn't," she finally finished.

"We thought about that."

"We?" She questioned. Oh, oh...

Still, he nodded at her while answering. "My wolf and me. To have me, you have to take him too. Have to want us both."

Then she nodded insistently and without much further thought. "I did-I mean, I do want you both," she corrected. "I still do. You know I think he's beautiful and I mean, you are too. I just thought you hated complications..." She hesitated.

He seems to understand. "Yeah," he said, but not harshly. "Well, like I said, we both thought about it. Seems that what you thought this was and what I thought it wasn't, well, the last week has shown me, in particular, that it's not true."

She blinks at him. "What?" Now she was all sorts of confused.

He moves closer to her. His own face is serious as he reaches out to gently touch her chin and juts her gaze upward so that it met his own. "What you wanted it to be, I was wrong for telling you that it wasn't, cause it really is and it always was. Last week when I was here, couldn't look or even say anything to you cause I knew I'd want to hold you again and..." He stopped, seeming to be at a loss for words. He shook his head and started again. "I'm sorry about how I treated you before. I'm here because I'm done fighting it, babe, and I'm done fighting my wolf about it too. You gotta know: he wants you and only you," he says definitively. The small hints of gold in his irises blaze with their usual intense ferocity and it bores a hole right into her. She could see herself in them and only her. And she felt torn apart by it. "Don't know if maybe you've changed your mind by now about it," Paul resumed. "But if you haven't, we'd both like to show you what it could be. If you'll let us, that is," he then adds.

She stared back at him in disbelief. This is the most she has ever heard Paul Lahote say at one time. It couldn't be an act. Did he really want her? Excuse me, did they both really want her? "What it could be?" She can't help but ask, bewildered and still in shock.

He swallows distinctly and his hot head touches hers, connecting lightly. "Yeah, what it could be, Bella," he answers. "Cause what we were this last week-apart-I don't want to be again. We hated it. We both want what you think this is to actually be what this is."

He had said her name. Her actual preferred name. Then finally, an understanding comes over her face. "So does that mean we can be...?" she asks hopefully.

"We already are," he reaffirms.

"For how long?"

"Til we aren't anymore." He states simply and out loud, but he and his wolf knew it was going to be for a very, very long time. Once an alpha male picked a mate, he mated with her for life. She'll figure it out eventually, he thinks, smiling a real smile at her, very different from all the other ones he gave to other girls before her. In fact, as far as he and his wolf were concerned, there were no other girls.

Bella grins back and nods, not knowing what was going through Paul's mind at this very moment. She just knew she wanted to be with him. All of him. She was still young and had just gotten over having another person assume how her life was going to run and then he himself ran off. She figured that at least Paul wasn't lying to her or handing off false promises of an immortal life together only for her to be left behind. That alone spoke volumes to her, too.

"I can handle that," she says. She didn't know all the in's and out's of the wolf pack, but the last month or so of all six packmates staying with her, Paul and his wolf were the most confusing. And she loved it. "Both of you are very complicated," she jokes.

He laughs with her. "You're the first person that has ever told us that. Thought I kept things pretty simple. My wolf was the one who had to go mess it up."

"Cause he wants me?"

"Yeah, he does. And I do too," he admitted resoundly.

So, this was really happening. Bella raises an eyebrow at him, pretending to be annoyed. "Let me get this straight: instead of an 108-year-old vampire, I get a dual personality giant shape shifting teen wolf with a temper, a ten-man army appetite, but is also sexy as all fuck-oops!" She said, blushing furiously at her Freudian slip with a curse.

He laughs gently again, cupping her chin and kisses her lightly but tenderly in the kitchen. "Least I ain't a virgin. Personally, I think you traded up."

She has to smile back. "Thanks to you, I'm no longer one either. And I know I did."

He pauses before uttering, "You are supernatural, Bella."

"Says you." she retorts back.

"Says us," he states. Then he shows her what she means to him, and his wolf, by way of another kiss.

As they continue, unaware of anything else but each other in the small, cramped kitchen, Paul's eyes remain closed to enjoy the other four senses that came alive as their two mouths connected in unison again, this time for good. His eyes remained shut not because he wanted to forget or pretend not to see who he was kissing, but because he knew exactly who it was that he was kissing. A stubborn girl. A former leech lover. A good cook. A true fighter. A loyal friend. A beautiful girl who saw him and his wolf just as beautiful too. And the real pleasure for him was knowing that this girl, in all her Italian seasonings, vanilla-or special occasion strawberry-shampoo, was only just for him. Alright, alright, with a fake reluctance. And his wolf.

His chest rumbled as his grey wolf gave a sigh of pure contentment back into Bella's throat. The last coherent thought before immersing himself back into their kissing was as follows: She's for me. No, his wolf then argued back, she's for us.

As for the girl he was still immersed in kissing with, she had no thoughts or verbiage to contradict his because she was enjoying every second that their lips were pressed together.

Epilogue:

Bella Swan had no more issues with sleeping after that day, even if most mornings she woke up sore.

The End.

A/N: I did promise a happy ending. Again, thank you for all of your follows, reviews, and favorites! This was really a pleasure to write and quite a journey. Hope it made dealing with this hot summer just a bit easier.

A/N #2: I feel the need to add a personal note; I do not wish to condone or encourage any person (whether woman, man, still deciding, etc.) to stay with someone until they "miraculously" treat you better. This is only a story. That being said, live your life however it makes you happiest.

A/N #3: Last note then I'm off to the next story. To head off any possible confusion– Paul is NOT an alpha in my story, at least not fully. He has alpha-like traits, qualities, and mannerisms (especially now since he's matured a bit since the beginning), but he is not a full alpha. If anything, he's considered Delta (third after Jacob and Sam, respectively). If that's weird, think about the original Twilight saga: in Sam's pack, he was third-in-command (after Jared), so he wasn't exactly demoted nor promoted in this story either.

But he doesn't want to run the pack anyway, preferring to spend all his time with his new love. :-)