Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns Twilight and all recognizable characters and situations contained therein. All original content contained in this story is property of the author. Story is rated M and chapters may contain graphic language, violent content, mild to moderate drug use, descriptions of domestic violence, and sexual situations.

A/N: This chapter is going to have a third person section showing what's going on with the Cullen's in the wake of Emmett's loss, it will be brief! Oh, and Billy isn't in a wheelchair in this story!

**4 hours later, about 2:45am**

The time after the fight had gone by in a blur, I showered, changed, and then had the ring doctor look at my face. He had dabbed super glue into the cut and pinched it together until the glue held. It would heal, I'd probably have a small scar, but I looked a hell of a lot better than Cullen probably did.

Now we're just pulling into La Push and I'm ready to hit the sack. Sam had wanted to go out and celebrate, and truthfully so did I, but that would be for later tonight. Seattle was just too far from home for us to go out and party, and then drive home. Dad had met up with my mom and gotten a hotel room for the night, he'd be going to the NWRBA headquarters to pick up the belt with my name on it along with my winnings, and also stopping into the sponsors offices to pick up the checks.

I was slated to make a good 300k after taxes. About 25 percent of that would be given to programs to help improve the housing around the Res, last year's summer storms had really done a number and there were a lot of people still living with tarps on their roofs because they couldn't afford to put on a new one, 10 percent would be given to the food bank, and another 15 percent would go to the health clinic for new equipment.

Sam pulls up in front of my house, turning to catch my eye with a grin, as he playacts holding a microphone in my face, "Paul Dixon, you've just won the North Western Heavyweight Championship belt, what are you going to do next?"

Laughing, I grab his wrist and talk into his hand, "Well, I'll tell you Sam! Tomorrow, I'm gunna sleep until noon, and then, I'm going to watch bad daytime TV until it's time to go down to the Rec Center for my party and the presentation of funds to the tribe, and after that, I'm goin with my 3 best friends down to Port Angeles, going to a club, finding a girl, and I'm gunna get LAID!"

Sam laughs long and loud, the two of us laughing so hard we have tears streaming down our faces. Wiping my face off, careful to avoid my eyebrow I grab my bags, "Thanks Sam, for everything."

He nods, "Don't mention it man, I'm the one who should be thanking you."

We sit there for a minute before it starts feeling a little too cheesy, and I grab my bags and get out of the car, telling him, "I'll call you tomorrow."

Leaning in the open window, I waggle my eyebrows at him, as I tease, "Give your Ol' Lady a big ol' kiss for me okay?"

He laughs, "You wish! I'll talk to you tomorrow!"

**Meanwhile Back at the Cullen's hotel**

Carlisle paces the exquisite carpet in the living area of the Cullen's suite at the Alexis Hotel in Seattle, a blind person could tell that he is beyond pissed. Emmett, his adopted son, sits in front of him, completely dejected. His face is bandaged and bruised, and he's just happy that his fiancé went home with her dad directly after seeing him after the fight.

Carlisle turns toward him and starts in again, "What in the name of all that is holy WAS THAT? Tell me Emmett, did we NOT train? Did we NOT prepare for this fight? Did I NOT spend exorbitant amounts of money to get you the best trainers, the best foods, the best equipment? To be beaten by that, that, HEATHEN! You should be ashamed at that showing Emmett! I am ashamed for you! We did this the way you wanted to do it, obviously that didn't work! No. Tomorrow is going to be different. We're going to do it the way I said to do it from the beginning…"

Emmett cuts his father off, knowing where it's heading, "I'm not using PED's Dad! It's illegal! It's cheating! Even if it wasn't, I'll get caught! Don't you remember the testing we did!"

Carlisle smiles a greedy smile, "Didn't I tell you son? One of my affiliated practices starting on Monday is going to be the new testing company used by the North Western Regional Boxing Association. Dr. Marcus Volturi, an old, OLD friend of mine is going to be the new chief testing doctor. Hell if you want you can even go back to your nasty old habit of smoking a blunt at night when you go out. Your tests will always come back clean."

Emmett stares at his father blankly, "I don't want to win that way Dad."

Carlisle looks at him disgusted, "Have I taught you nothing? Winning is winning, and winning is EVERYTHING! We've been going over this and over this since you joined peewee football 15 years ago! Being good doesn't cut it in this world son! Do you think if you keep losing, and you let your face get beat to hamburger again and again and again that that pretty little fiancé of yours is going to stick around?"

The stricken look on Emmett's face tells Carlisle that he picked the right nerve to grind, and he grinds it a little harder, "Why do you think she was so eager to go home with Charlie after the fight tonight? She could barely look at you! And after your mother and I spent so much money on a suite for the two of you! Ungrateful little hick, she's lucky she's a beauty."

Emmett looks at his father with a scowl, "Don't talk about her like that! She's not like THAT!"

Though any good parent would feel bad, Carlisle continues to push the button, now that he's found the right one, he'll push it until his son caves, "Please Emmett, she knew what she was getting when she met you, God knows you weren't that good looking up until you hit your last growth spurt the year after you met her. Did you think she was with you for your brains? Trust me my dear boy, she's with you for the money and for the notoriety. If you can't give her that she'll find someone else who can!"

Emmett's face falls, he gives a mighty sigh wincing as the air rips through his broken nose, and finally he breathes out the one word that will make his father stop, "Fine."

Carlisle can barely contain his glee, "I'm sorry?"

Emmett looks at him disgusted, "I said, 'fine'. I'll do it, whatever you want. I'll do whatever it takes to keep her."

**Paul POV the next evening around 7:00**

Sam meets me at my place with his wife, Leah, in tow. The two of them have been together practically since grade school, they have the kind of love I hope to have someday, though, not today.

Leah hugs me as soon as she's within grabbing distance, screaming in my ear, "I can't believe you won! Congratulations, I'm so happy for you!"

She immediately bursts into tears and I step back from her, feeling my eyes go wide with worry, "If you're so happy for me why are you crying?"

She dabs her eyes with a handkerchief, "Sorry! I don't mean to blubber all over you Paul! It's the damn hormones!"

Leah freezes, and I look from her to Sam who has this huge idiot grin on his face, "Oh shit! You mean, I'm gunna be an uncle again?"

They both nod, and I cross over to Sam and punch him half strength in the shoulder, "That's awesome man! Why didn't you tell me before?"

He looks a little sheepish as he replies, "We were waiting until after the fight so that this way if you lost you'd at least have some good news coming to you. Not that I thought you would lose."

He looks pointedly at Leah, who just shrugs, "What can I say, I always gotta give some faith to the underdog. I watched that press conference, that white dude was huge!"

Raising an eyebrow at her, I ask, "and what am I?"

She shrugs again, "I guess you're huge too, but I've seen you almost every day for practically my whole life! I'm used to you."

I shrug back at her, "I guess I can understand that. Come on, we're gunna be late."

Heading outside I'm happy to see that they brought Leah's car instead of Sam's truck, we're all dressed somewhat nice and Sam's truck almost always has paint, sawdust, or grease on one seat or another.

We make our way to the Rec Center and head inside. The whole town is seemingly in attendance, and everyone I pass reaches out to pat me on the back or shoulder as I make my way to the front of the seating area that they set up around the ring where Dad is sitting with my mom and my grandma. I hug my mother, and give my grandmother a hug and a kiss before sitting down beside her and taking her hand in mine.

Chief Billy Black, the rest of the elders, and Chief Black's son Jacob are sitting at a long meeting table in the middle of the ring

Chief Black raises his hands for silence and a hush falls over the room. He stands up and grabs a microphone walking over to stand by the middle of the ropes, "We're here tonight to honor one of our own! A young man who has done our tribe proud with every action. A young man who has never forgotten where he comes from! I'm talking of course, about Paul 'Dire' Dixon! With his first major payday as a professional fighter Paul funded the improvements to this facility. He also put in place the after school programs that so many of our youth get so much enjoyment out of. Today we honor him, by renaming this facility the Paul 'Dire' Dixon Youth and Recreation Center."

He has a plaque and I get up taking the envelope with the checks in it from my dad as I get into the ring. I shake Chief Black's hand as I take the plaque, flashbulbs go off and we both smile for the camera. Sam comes to the edge of the ring and takes the plaque as Chief Black hands me the microphone.

I take it with hands that are shaking a little, my throat feels a little tight as I start to speak, "Wow. If you had told me 10 years back that I'd be standing here in this ring having this building that I love so much renamed in my honor… Well knowing myself as well as I do I have to admit I probably would have told you 'Well, duh!' Still this is just such an honor. I want to thank every single one of you who came out to the fight last night, I could not have done it without your support! My love for this community, the place where I grew up, the place where I still live, well it's only surpassed by the love I have for my family, and that includes every single person in this room! Without the love and support from my family, and my community, I would not be in the position that I am in today. That's why I want to say thank you."

Chief Black comes back up to me, and I hand him the envelope, "In that envelope there are 3 checks, one is for the housing improvement fund. I promise you that if you are a member of a household that is still living with a tarp on your roof from last summer that your roof will be replaced before this summer is over. The second check is for the La Push Food Bank. The Food Bank helps families, it helps senior citizens, it's helped my own family a time or two over the years through hard winters. Finally, the last check is for the La Push Community Health Center to update their equipment. The Health Center has been serving the community since before I was born, and some of their equipment is that old! I just want to say that it is a pleasure, and an honor to be able to do these things for my community, and for my people! Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart, thank you La Push!"

The crowd cheers and claps, Chief Black puts a hand on my shoulder as he leans into the microphone, "No, thank you Paul."

Dad brings the belt to ringside, I grab it from him and hold it high over my head. Chief Black and the rest of the elders gather around me and I see the reporter in the first row now as he snaps our picture.

The formal part is over now, and I can relax and just mingle with the people. I exit the ring and head back over to my grandmother. She's beaming with pride and I can't help but smile.

Sitting down next to her I ask, "How are you feelin today? I know you were a little shaky earlier this week."

Grandma laughs, "Well, I think that was more because all I was thinking about was my one and only grandson facing that gavoon Emmett Cullen! I'm much better now that it's over and the outcome went the right way! I can't tell you how proud I am of you Pauly! Look what he did to your handsome face though baby boy!"

I wave her off with a grin, "I'll still be handsome when it heals, don't you worry Gramma. Besides, if you think this is bad you should see him!"

She sniffs indignantly, "No thank you. Are you going to come around this week? I'll bake you some cookies now that you have some time to relax and not worry about keeping up your diet."

Giving her a kiss on the cheek I smile, "I'd come around even if you didn't bake the most awesome cookies ever Grandma. How's about Thursday?"

Grandma nods and squeezes my hand as Sam comes up, "Hey Mrs. D. How are you?"

She smiles up at him, "I'm good Sammy, how about you?"

Sam grins, "I'm great! Leah and I are gunna have a baby the end of December."

She lets out an excited scream and stands up to give Sam a big hug, "Congratulations Sammy! You and Leah are going to be great parents. Do me a favor and maybe help my Pauly here find a nice girl to settle down with."

Sam grins slyly, "I'll do my best. You know how picky Pauly can be when it comes to the ladies."

She smirks a bit, "Yes, well, you try anyway. Now the pair of you get on out of here. I know you didn't get a chance to celebrate after the bout last night! Get out of here and have some fun! You've earned it!"

Laughing I wrap my arms around her and hug her tight, "Thanks Gramma, I'll see you on Thursday. Give me a call if you need anything."

Sam hugs her next and we wave to my parents as we meet back up with Leah who's already ready to go, "Are you two heading over to pick up Jared and go down to PA?"

I look at her confused, "Aren't you coming?"

Leah waves me off, "Psh, no, I'm 3 and a half months pregnant Paul, the last thing I want to do is go to a club where I have to watch skinny bitches drink and push up on my man. You guys go, have a great time! Let Sam and J wing man for you!"

We all laugh and I give her a hug, "Thanks for being one cool bitch, Lee."

She nods, "Yeah, yeah, just know that if anyone gets too friendly with him it'll be you I come after all hormonal and pissed off!"

Getting back in her car she drops us off back at my house, and Sam takes his time giving her a long loving kiss as I go into the house. Taking off my tie I drop my dress jacket and grab a short sleeved dress shirt throwing it on over top of a black wife beater. After exchanging my dress shoes for a pair of steel toed docs I head back out to where Sam is just finishing saying goodbye to Leah.

The one fancy thing I had bought myself with my winnings was a fully restored vintage Dodge Charger in matte cherry red. It was my baby, and I loved driving it. Getting into the drivers seat I wait for Sam to hop in.

Finally he lets Leah pull away from the curb and comes and gets in the car. I turn on the radio and put in a Hatebreed CD as I pull out of the driveway and make the 3 block drive to Jared and Kim's place.

Pulling into their driveway I honk the horn twice. J opens the door and holds his hand out in the wait a minute gesture. The door opens and I see Kim holding their 3yr old daughter, Kylie, dressed in a pair of Barbie pajamas up for J to kiss goodbye. He gives his daughter a hug and a kiss before giving Kim one and heading to the car.

He hops in the backseat, and claps me on the back, "Congrats on the win man! Sorry we couldn't make it down, Kylie's had a bad cold this whole week. Kim's staying home with her tonight cause we couldn't get a sitter."

Frowning slightly, I ask, "Does she want you to stay with her man? I feel bad pulling you away from them if my lil niece is feeling under the weather."

He waves me off, "Nah she understands how much we all need this night out. Besides, she wants me to wing man for you and help you find a nice girl to settle down with."

Rolling my eyes, I laugh, "Damn women! Between, her, Leah, and my Grandma I'll be lucky to make it to 22 with my rep still in tact!"

We make good time down to PA, Sam and J share a joint on the way down, I decline because even though I don't have any fights scheduled for the next 3 months or so, you never know when an opportunity is going to present itself.

We head to the door of the club, and the bouncer stops us, "Hey wait a minute there fellas, I can't let you in with no chicks. You know that!"

Sam rolls his eyes, "Dami, man, do you know who this is?"

Dami, a guy I remember from high school takes a better look at us, "Holy shit! Paul Dixon man. Sorry Dire, go right in! I won 500 bucks last night because of you!"

I give him a smirk and follow Sam and J inside. We head straight to the bar and I order 3 shots of Jager, handing one each to Sam, and Jared, "Well Boys, here is to great friends, a great night, and beautiful ladies to either go home with or home to!"

We clink the shot glasses and down the shots before pounding the glasses on the bar and letting out a celebratory whoop. Scanning around I see that the club is full of possibilities, it looks like there are 2 bachelorette parties meaning that Sam and J can dance with the brides to be while I get to take my pick of the bridesmaids!

I grab the bartender, who happens to be another guy we went to high school with, by holding up a 50 dollar bill, "Dude, I want a round of whatever those ladies are drinking sent over on me and my boys! Put it on my tab, this is for you"

Jesse does a double take as he recognizes me, "Sure thing Paul man! It's great to see you! Jared, Sam."

J and Sam shake his hand as he pulls a waitress over and gets the drinks ready. The 2 parties are at booths next to one another and we follow the waitress over. She sets down the tray and starts off loading drinks. The brides to be look confused, and one of them, a blonde, exclaims, "Hey, wait, we didn't order these!"

The waitress smiles at them, "Well it just so happens that these gentleman behind me ordered them for you!"

The brides look a little skeptical, and the blonde one asks me, "You know I'm getting married, right?"

I smile at her, "That's okay, my boys here are both already hitched. The shorter one has a 3yr old at home, and the tall one has a baby on the way, their wives and my grandma really wanted them to wing man for me tonight so I figured I'd make it easy on them. You brides can dance with them, don't worry they won't get fresh with you, their girls would full out kill them if they did. And I can get to know some of your friends."

The blonde now looks awe struck, "That's so sweet of you! I was worried that I'd be fending off jackasses left and right tonight. Come sit down with us, This is Alicia, Amy, and Caitlin, they're all single. Deanna's boyfriend is coming to meet up with us later along with Sarah's husband."

The other bride, a cute redhead with big green eyes, does a double take, "Hey! I know you! You're Paul 'Dire' Dixon, aren't you! You just won that big fight last night!"

Smiling I reply, "That's me. It's nice to meet you…."

She takes my hand shaking it lightly as she replies, "Beth. Beth Calloway. My fiancé is a huge fan of yours. Do you think you could sign a napkin for me to give to him? He'd just die to have your autograph!"

Sam hands me a pen with a smirk, and I sign the napkin, 'To Beth and your future husband, I wish you many years of happiness -Paul 'Dire' Dixon'

I hand her the napkin and she folds it and puts it in her purse quickly. The music thumps and Sam takes her hand, "would you dance with me Miss Calloway?"

She smiles and lets him lead her to the dance floor, Jared and the blonde follow them out leaving me with the bridesmaids. The hottest one is Caitlin, she's a small latin girl with just the right amount of curves and a thick head of dark curls that flow down to the middle of her back. I hold my hand out to her, "Would you like to dance?"

She smiles and takes my hand letting me lead her out to the dance floor. The music is going at a frantic pace and we fall into a rhythm. Losing track of time I laugh as we dance, she moves her body sensually against mine, and I let my hands flow over her hips as we dance close.

Someone taps me on the shoulder and turning I find a short frat guy, who asks, "Hey dude, mind if I cut in?"

She shrugs, and I smile, "sure, go ahead."

He takes her hand, and I decide to go get another drink before looking for another partner.

Going back to the bar I get a bottle of beer and sit with it watching the crowd. I spot Cullen coming in with his girl, I know neither of them are 21, and I'm a little surprised that Dami would risk his job doing something so stupid, but hey it's not my problem.

I can't say that I'm unhappy to see the damage I did to his pretty boy face. His eyes are both blackened, his nose is completely covered in tape, and I can tell from how stiffly he's walking that he has at least 3 bruised ribs. What the fuck he's doing here tonight is absolutely beyond me. Fuck me, if I was him tonight I'd be at home letting my pretty fiancé pamper the hell out of me.

Cullen sees me as he approaches the bar, and his grip on his girls waist tightens. She looks around, and sees me. Our eyes lock for a moment before she drags hers away. She says something to Cullen and the look on his face softens as he releases her. She heads in the direction of the bathrooms, and I get up and start to follow.

Cullen cuts me off, "You need something from my fiancé, Dixon?"

Rolling my eyes at him, I shake my head, "Actually, I was gunna go drain the snake. You wanna give me a hand or something?"

He sneers at me, "Stay away from my girl. Otherwise I'll give you a beating you won't soon forget."

Chuckling softly I shake my head, "Really? Have you forgotten the one I gave you just last night? A quick glance in the mirror should help you out with that."

Side stepping him, I continue on my way to wait for the girl to come out of the bathroom. I don't know why I feel like I need to speak to her, but I do. Pacing around in front of the ladies room door, when she comes out I nearly knock her over. Shooting my arm out to steady her I joke, "We have to stop meeting like this."

She bites her lip, hiding a smile, and I feel my pants tighten slightly, as she breathes out, "Sorry. I should be looking where I'm going."

Still holding her arm gently, I ask, "Is everything okay? You look like something is upsetting you."

She shakes her head, "Look, I really shouldn't be talking to you. Em wouldn't like it."

I tilt my head at her in confusion, "Do you usually let him tell you who you should and shouldn't speak to?"

She shakes her head, and in that same small voice replies, "No, he doesn't. I just meant, I have to go."

I reach out to stop her, but Cullen's voice cuts in sharply, "Bella!"

He stomps over to us, and she looks worried and slightly frightened, as he puts himself in between the two of us, getting up in my face, "What did I fucking tell you about talking to my fiancé? What? You haven't got enough skanks to fuck between here and the Reservation?"

Her small white hands grip his arm, "Em, please! He wasn't saying anything to me, I just almost knocked into him on my way out of the bathroom. Come on."

He rips his arm out of her grasp, almost sending her flying. I see Sam come up behind her and steady her as she teeters on her heels. His voice is hard, and angry as he snaps, "You just almost hurt your fiancé, Cullen! Paul, come on, lets go! It's starting to get late."

Cullen looks at the girl with worry, and just a hint of anger in his eyes before stomping away from all of us.

Sam saying it's starting to get late is code for lets get the fuck out of here before this ends up in the papers. I nod at him, "Alright."

I see him slip a card into the girls' bag as he says, "if you need anything, a safe place to go, a ride, anything, use the number."

Her face snaps up, and for the first time she meets his eyes, "Emmett has never and would never hurt me. I don't even know you people. I just, I have to go."

She scurries away, tripping every other step in the 4 inch heels that she was wearing in an attempt to get close to her fiancé's hulking height. Sam shakes his head, tsk tsking as she gets back to the bar and attempts to make things right with the brooding child known as Emmett Cullen, "That's a damn shame. She seems like a sweet little thing."

Worried now, I ask him, "You don't really think he's gunna hurt her, do you?"

Sam shrugs, "We both saw the way that dudes' dad was ripping into him last night in the middle of the ring, Paul. She was telling the truth when she said he had never hurt her, but I think if push comes to shove, with the amount of pressure that guys father is piling on top of him, give him enough of a trigger, and he's gunna fuckin snap. I just hope that girl of his is nowhere near him when that happens."

Nodding, I agree with him, "Yeah, you and me both man."

Sam looks like the light bulb just went off, "Dude, you like her!"

Rolling my eyes, I wave him off, "Come on, lets go find J, and get the fuck out of here. I'm tired."

Sam walks off to find Jared, and I head to the bar to close out our tab, it's not too bad, just over 200 bucks what with the drinks that we had bought the girls. I lay the cash down on the bar and add another 20 on top of the 50 that I tipped Jesse earlier, "It was great to see you man."

We shake hands, and I can hear a scuffle break out on the dance floor. Turning I see Cullen being separated from some guy. I roll my eyes, as Jesse scoffs, "Damn! I knew we'd have trouble from that guy. Dami lets him in here every other month or so because his fiancé is smoking hot, and it's always the same shit. He gets two shots in him, and thinks anyone who looks at his girl is trying to take her. Dami'll be lucky not to get shit canned this time. Especially if that jealous ass actually hurt someone."

Sam and J come up to the bar, "Aight man, lets get the fuck on out of here."

They shake hands with Jesse and we head out of the club, and get on the road back home.