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.

**Two Weeks Later**

"Unca Paul, Unca Paul! Come make a castle! Pweeaase!"

I smile as I feel 2 feet 5 inches of giggling brown haired sunshine crash into my legs. A rare sunny and warm day in La Push, Sam, Leah, Jared, Kim, and I thought it'd be a good day to take Kylie to the beach. Jared laughs, "Kylie honey, I don't think you're gunna be able to knock Uncle Paul over that way."

Grabbing my niece under her armpits I hoist her up onto my shoulders as she shrieks, "Unca Paul too high!"

She grabs my hair and I hold her firmly by her hips, "Just hold on Kylie, I won't let you fall. At least, not until we get to the WATER!"

I run carefully over the sand to the edge of the water and wade out until I'm in up to my waist. Kylie laughs, "Unca Paul, tall!"

Being careful to hold on to her, and keep her head above water, I submerge myself dunking myself in the water, she shrieks and pulls at my hair as I move her around in front of me as I move out slightly, holding her tight as she splashes and screams in delight.

She clings to me as Jared comes out into the water, and I whisper in her ear, "splash Daddy, lets get him good."

Kylie laughs and just as J gets over to us we both splash him, laughing as he coughs and sputters, "Geeze! Thanks you guys! I thought you were supposed to love me!"

Kylie gets a serious look on her face, and exclaims frantically, "I love you Daddy! I love you!"

She reaches out for him, and promptly bursts into tears. He takes her from my arms, hushing her lovingly, "Shh, baby, I know you love me. Daddy was just kidding. I love you too. Come on, you want to go see Mommy? Or should we swim some more? Maybe we can find something pretty to bring Mommy from the ocean."

She buries her head in his chest still snuffling, "I want Mommy!"

Jared strokes her hair as he gives me the 'well what can you do' look, and carries Kylie back to shore where Kim is waiting with her beach towel. Scanning the shore I see a small group of teenagers from Forks that I don't know, looking farther down I see Chief Black and his son Jacob, and shit, Rach and Becca too.

As far as I knew the girls hadn't been back since before their mom passed away from cancer just before our high school graduation 3 yrs ago. Getting out of the water I go back over to where our group is sitting, nodding in the Black's direction, "Look who's back."

Leah lets out a whoop, and grabs Sam's hand pulling him along the beach as she heads over to the Black's. Jared and Kim shrug, and go back to setting Kylie up with her lunch, and I throw on a black Everlast t-shirt, and follow Sam and Leah down the beach.

Leah is hugging Rachel when I get there as Rebecca looks on smiling with a little boy at her feet who's probably only about a year old, and a big dude who is clearly Samoan beside her. Chief Black sees me and comes over, "Paul! Good to see you, son! I'm sure you remember my daughters, Rachel and Rebecca. This is my son in law Sol, and my grandson Will. He's Becca and Sol's little boy."

He clears his throat, "Rachel! Come say hello to Paul!"

Rachel looks up, her eyes wide, "Paul? Paul Dixon! Oh my God! It's so good to see you! Dad and Jake told us all about your fight! Congrats on the win!"

She stands a little too close, and I take a step back. Not for nothing, this is the Chief's daughter, and I know way better than to shit where I eat. Smiling politely I reply, "Thanks Rach. It's great to see you guys again. Bex, your son is adorable, congratulations."

I'm about to make an excuse to walk back over to J and Kim, when I hear Leah call out, "Uncle Charlie! I didn't know you were coming down today!"

A man I vaguely recognize as one of Leah's father's friends comes up to the group, "Well you know it's not every day the sun shines so beautifully in our neck of the woods, and I wanted to make sure I got a chance to see Rachel and Rebecca before they leave at the end of the week. Plus, my daughter is back from visiting her fiancé, so we decided to make a day of it."

Leah smiles stiffly, "Oh, that's great! Well, we should probably get going."

The man notices me for the first time, "Hey, I know you! You're Paul 'Dire' Dixon. I was at your fight a couple weeks ago. Congratulations on the win."

Smiling I reply, "Thanks, I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name."

He sticks his hand out, "Charlie Swan. I'm the police chief up in Forks."

Chief Black interjects, "Charlie and I, along with Leah's father Harry, have been best friends since we were boys!"

Swan, Swan…where have I heard that name before? I shake the mans hand politely, still drawing a blank, when I hear a sweet and somewhat familiar voice, "Dad! Uncle Billy! You didn't tell me Rach and Becca were home!"

Turning I feel my eyes widen as I recognize the girl as none other than Cullen's fiancé. Her eyes meet mine, and widen in surprised recognition, a small smile crosses her face, and she breathes out in almost a whisper, "Hey."

She gets a little louder as she jokes, "I guess this is a better way to meet then our usual."

Chuckling, I smile at her, "True. I don't think we've ever actually been introduced. I'm Paul. Paul Dixon."

She gives me a smirk as if to say duh, and politely sticks her hand out, "It's nice to meet you Paul. I'm Bella Swan, I see you've met my dad already."

In an instant the bubble that had seemingly surrounded the two of us when my eyes met hers popped, and I could hear the ocean, and the conversation of my friends again. Leah is talking to Becca about pregnancy while giving me a wary glare out of the corner of her eye, Rachel is pouting, and talking to Sam, Sam looks bored and is trying to make eye contact with Leah, and Chief Black, Jake, and Mr. Swan are all talking about the Mariners chances for the season.

Her dad and Chief Black distracted, I take her hand and raise it to my lips, kissing it gently, "It's nice to meet you Miss Swan."

She arches an eyebrow at me, but doesn't pull her hand away until Rachel catches sight of the ring on her finger, and exclaims, "OH WOW! That is some ring Bella, honey! Who's the guy?"

The second Rachel yelled, Bella pulled her hand back from me as though scalded. She smiles unsteadily as she turns her attention to Rachel, "His name is Emmett, Emmett Cullen."

Rachel looks confused, "Didn't he just have a fight with Paul here?"

Bella's face falls a little, "Yeah, he did, dad and I were there. We watched it from one of the skyboxes, it was at the ShoWare Center."

Leah's voice is high and mocking, "Oh, one of the skyboxes, that must have been really nice for you! It's too bad that your man lost."

Sam gives her a warning look, as he apologizes, "Don't mind her, she's hormonal. Leah, honey, lets go back over to Kim and J."

Bella's eyes actually flash, as she responds, "Don't apologize for her, she was a bitch way before you knocked her up. I seem to remember it being a chronic condition for you Leah. Yes, my fiancé lost his fight, but he tried his best and that counts for something in my book."

With that she spins on her heel and walks off down the beach. Leah scowls after her, before turning back to Billy, "Sorry Uncle Billy, Uncle Charlie. Sam's right, I am hormonal, and Bella's right too, being a bitch is just my gift in life."

The two of them laugh, and Charlie pats her on the shoulder, "It's okay Leah, Bells has been kind of touchy since she got back from LA."

His eyes shift to me, regarding me with a frank knowing that is honestly a little frightening, as he says, "I'm guessing there's some trouble in paradise. Cullen is a nice kid, his family on the other hand… Well sometimes the apple does fall far from the proverbial tree. Anyways, the two of you have always had tension. Maybe one day you'll realize that the both of you are too much like Harry and I to not end up as friends."

J and Kim come up to us, Kim holding a sleeping Kylie, and J holding their stuff. They greet Billy politely, "Chief Black, it's nice to see you, we're sorry to interrupt."

He replies, "Not a problem Jared."

J turns to me and Sam, "We're gunna head home. Kylie's beat, and Kim and I aren't far behind. We'll give you a call tomorrow."

I nod, "Cool. I need a sparring partner tomorrow, I think Sam has a doctor's appointment with Leah. Do you want to fill in?"

He nods his head vigorously, "Sure thing man. What time?"

Thinking a minute I reply, "Around 10 good for you?"

He nods, and Kim gives me a grateful look, "Thanks for thinking of him, Paul. Come around for dinner tomorrow night?"

She hugs me with her free arm, reaching up on tiptoes to whisper in my ear, "I can tell you like her Paul. Engaged ain't married, you should go talk to her, if things are getting shaky she's going to need a friend, from what Leah's told me she doesn't have too many."

Keeping my face carefully blank I pull away, nodding at her, "I'll let you know about dinner. Thanks for the invite hon."

J and I bro hug, and he follows after Kim back to the parking lot. Mr. Swan looks around for a minute or two before saying, "I should go look for my daughter."

Sam shoots me a look as if to say 'Paul man go', and I nod at him, "I'll go find her Mr. Swan."

Leah interrupts, "That's Chief Swan, Paul."

The man laughs, "Charlie is fine. It's okay, I'll go find her."

Sam nudges Leah, and it's like the light bulb goes off. She looks at me with mild disgust, and rolls her eyes, "Uncle Charlie, let Paul go find her! I wanted to talk to you about Mom and Dad's upcoming wedding anniversary. I'm thinking of throwing them a party."

He looks surprised, but turns to me, "I guess if you don't mind going to look for her I would appreciate it."

I nod, "It's no problem Chief Swan."

He smiles again, "Please, call me Charlie, and thank you."

I nod again and thankfully Leah captures his attention again leaving me free to turn and head in the direction that the girl had gone off in.

Walking down the sand, I round the curve of the beach, and see her, sitting by herself on a piece of driftwood that someone had arranged as a bench of sorts.

She looks upset, and I approach her slowly. Coming up beside her quietly I tuck my hands into the pockets of my baggy black swim trunks, figuring that she would feel safer that way, "Hey. Are you okay?"

She looks up at me, blinking away the wetness in her eyes and straightening up. She pulls on this mask of quiet calm, and replies, "Hi, yeah, I'm fine. It's weird for me, being here."

Confused but not sure whether I should pry, I let the silence linger. I can hear my grandmother in my head scolding me, 'Pauly, you help that girl!', sighing, I ask, "Why?"

She looks up at me again, carefully hiding her emotions, "Why what?"

Rolling my eyes a little, I ask, "Why is being here weird for you? Your dad seems pretty comfortable being here."

She laughs, "Oh yeah, he loves it here. He'd move down here if he could, I wish he could, he'd be happier. He'd be so much closer to Billy and Harry, and I wouldn't have to worry about him being alone."

I look pointedly at the empty space beside her, and she gestures with her hand for me to go ahead and sit down. Sitting down the space is smaller than it looked, and her hip and thigh are pressed firmly against mine.

We stare out at the ocean for a minute before I break the silence, "You didn't answer my question."

She sighs, "Why do you care?"

That's a good question. Why do I care? I look at her out of the corner of my eye, she's beautiful, there's no question about that. Her pale skin with just a hint of peachy undertones, her eyes, large and innocent, vulnerable. Not to mention she's got a pretty hot little figure. Shit, I'm starting to feel like she's Little Red Riding Hood, and I'm The Big Bad Wolf.

Am I attracted to her because since the moment I met her I could see the slight worry hiding behind those eyes? A worry that I can tell has grown each time I've run into her.

Am I attracted to her because she's with Cullen? Do I only want her because I can't have her? I'm broken out of my reverie by a small cynical laugh, "Stumped you huh? I should be getting back."

She gets up and starts to walk away. Shooting my arm out I grasp her wrist, firmly encircling the delicate bones with my hand, being careful to leave my grip loose so that she won't hurt herself even if she pulls away.

Looking just slightly upwards I meet her gaze, "You didn't stump me. I care because I can see something in your eyes, and apparently I'm the only one seeing it. Something's got you spooked girl. You've looked borderline frightened every time I've seen you, and either it's me, or it's something else. And if it's me then I'm sorry, and I'll get up and leave you alone, and if it's not me I'm not going to pry, and I'll just tell you that I care because at the very least, you look like you need a damn friend Bella."

Breaking off, I take a breath, "Look, I know that you don't know me from Adam, and I know the things that Cullen's probably told you about me aren't very nice, but I really am a pretty nice guy, and you seem like a nice girl, and I'd like to be your friend, because you honestly seem like you need one."

She looks down at me with a little fire in her eyes, and I wait for her to snap at me the way she snapped at Leah. Finally she lets out a sigh, running her hand through her hair as she says, "Emmett is pushing me to move in with him at least for the summer…In Los Angeles. Sort of a dry run for when we get married. My Dad…I don't even know how to bring it up. I don't want to bring it up. I know he's going to freak, and I dunno I'm just..."

She takes a ragged breath, running her free hand through her hair before adding, "It doesn't really matter, Emmett is under a lot of stress, and I don't want to make it worse on him, so it's probably going to happen."

Looking up at her, I shake my head, "Honestly Bella, that's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. He's stressed out so you're going to move in with him to try and make him feel better despite knowing that it's not what you want?"

She shrugs, "Well when you put it that way it sounds stupid, but I'm his fiancé. I should live with him! Shouldn't I?"

I shrug back at her, "No. I don't think you should. Not if you know in your heart that you aren't ready for it."

She gives a deep sigh, "I guess that makes sense… Look I don't know you, I'm really sorry that, for whatever reason we keep running into each other, and that apparently, I look frightened when I see you. You don't scare me. I've heard good things about you from my dad, Billy, and even Jake likes you and he's never voluntarily told me good things about a guy I asked him about, but Emmett is my fiancé. I've known him for a really long time. He's one of my best friends, and I love him very much. I also know that he wouldn't like me sitting here with you. So I'm sorry but we can't be friends."

Standing up, I shrug at her, "Why can't we? Because I'm a guy and you're a girl who has a fiancé? Leah and I are friends. She has a husband, why is it okay for her and I, and not you and me?"

Bella shakes her head, and gives a sad little shrug, "Her husband is your friend. My fiancé would be just as happy to throw a punch at you as he is to say hello to you. That's the difference. I'm sorry."

She stands up, giving me a weak little smile as she turns away from me, "Maybe we'll run into one another again sometime. I have to get back to my dad."

Nodding as I sit back down on the driftwood, and watch her walk away, hips swaying lightly as she rounds the curve of the beach and out of my sight. Damn. What the fuck was that.

Staring out at the ocean, my mind wanders, I didn't know this girl, why am I so concerned about her? I've had this one conversation with her, and I'm trying to tell her how to live her life? What is that?

Leah's voice startles me, "This is a mistake, Paul. How do you even know her? Bella's not the type of girl to hop in bed with a guy she just met so I doubt she's one of your conquests."

I cut her off sharply, "Mind your own business, Leah."

She sniffs indignantly, "You're my friend Paul. You're Sam's best friend. You're practically the big brother I never had, and you think it's not my business? Get this through your head Paul, she ain't worth it. Whatever crap she's running on you to get you in her business…"

Having had just about enough I cut her off, "She isn't running ANYTHING on me! I don't even know her, and frankly Lee, I don't know what you're talking about. I've run into her a few times, we had a little spark. I know she's Cullen's girl, and you know me, sometimes I just want what I can't have. Maybe I just want to break up her perfect little romance."

Leah laughs, shaking her head in disbelief, "Yeah, and maybe I'm Audrey freakin Hepburn! I know you Paul. This girl got under your skin, and quick! I've never seen you like this over a girl, and you tell me you don't even know her? You're lying, and now I'm thinking maybe I'm wrong about Bella not being the type of girl to hop into bed with someone she just met…"

Catching her eye, I narrow my eyes in a warning glare, and she quickly closes her mouth as I cut in, "Just stop Lee! For once in our lives, please, just stay out of it! Yes, okay, I like her. I don't know why I feel drawn to her, but I do, and honestly I'm fucking worried about her. Her fiancé, and his family are a bunch of scumbags and you can even ask Sam. He'll tell you if I'm wrong. He's worried for her safety just like I am Lee."

Leah shakes her head, "The two of you are blind. I've known Bella my whole life. She would know if Cullen had a wire or two loose. Charlie would see the signs. I've seen them together Paul, not for a while but I've SEEN them. He worships her. Hell if I didn't have Sam I'd be fuckin jealous as shit of her and her relationship with Cullen. The two of them are good together, I may not like Bella a whole hell of a lot, we've never really gotten along, but she's not stupid Paul. If she had a reason to fear she'd be out of the relationship. She'd go to Charlie."

I interrupt her again, "Yeah, because it's so easy for a girl to go to her DAD, who just happens to be the Chief of Police, and tell him, 'Daddy I think I chose wrong.', I mean give me a break Lee. You obviously know her a lot better than I do so fine let's say I'm wrong. It really doesn't matter what either of us says here. She's gunna move to LA to make Cullen happy."

Leah shrugs, "That's probably for the best, Paul. You'll forget about her. You don't even know her after all."

Rolling my eyes I give a sarcastic laugh, "that's right. I don't. Seriously Lee, the first time I ever met that girl was the day before the fight. Come on, Sam must be worried about you by now. I'm surprised he hasn't shown up and interrupted us yet."

I stand up and Leah and I make our way back down the beach to where Sam is just finishing up getting all their stuff together along with my backpack which he tosses to me. Catching it by the strap I nod at him, "Thanks. I'm gunna head home. See if Dad wants to work out. Good luck with everything at the Dr.'s tomorrow. Let me know how it goes. I have J coming in to spar with me, so you can take the whole day off Sam, spend time with the wifey."

Leah smiles at me, "Thanks Paul."

I nod at her, still not completely ready to make nice, "Yeah. Don't mention it. I'll talk to ya tomorrow."

Heading back to the parking lot I wave by to them as we separate and I take the drive back to my house. Sitting in the driveway I can't help but wonder if this thing with Cullen's girl is as stupid as Leah believes. It probably is, but hold on, thinking back I try to remember what she said when she told me she wasn't afraid of me, 'I've heard good things about you from my dad, Billy, and even Jake likes you and he's never voluntarily told me good things about a guy I asked him about.'

She had asked Chief Black about me? No, the way she had said it sounded more like her Dad and Chief Black had talked about me where she could hear them, but she definitely had said that Jacob had never told her good things about a guy she had asked about.

Well that's interesting… She asked Jake Black about me. Doesn't help me find out exactly what she asked him. I only knew Jacob because he was the Chief's son, we were a couple of years apart in school and we didn't run with the same crowd.

Getting out of the car I walk up the path to the door. I get to the door, and it dawns on me; I don't know Jake Black, but Leah does. Sighing in frustration I remember Leah's negative response to Bella at the beach, yeah, I doubt she'll be helping me out on this.

My dad greets me as I walk in the door, "Pauly! How was the beach?"

I shrug, "Same as it ever is. We had fun though."

He gives me a long look, "What's eatin at you Pauly?"

I gotta give it to the old man, he always was perceptive. Heading towards the kitchen I reply, "Nothing. Really. You wanna work out?"

He shrugs, "Not tonight. I want you to rest tonight. I'm gunna work you hard tomorrow. Tonight, I want you to work through whatever is 'not' bothering you."

Rolling my eyes at him I head upstairs, calling down behind me, "Alright Dad. See you in the morning. Love ya Pop."

He calls up after me, "Love ya too Son."

Going to my bedroom I kick my shoes off and flop down on the bed. Dad's right. I have to work through this. Fuck it. This is NOT a problem. She's just a girl, she's the enemy's girl. Chances are within a week she'll be back to LA and Cullen's parents' estate. She is NOT my problem, and she is not my friend or anything else.

This is my grandma's fault, her, Kim, and Leah with their 'let the guys wingman for you', and always telling my friends, 'find Pauly a nice girl to settle down with.', and let's not forget Kim with her, 'talk to her she could use a friend'. That's just stupid. Besides, even if I did have a thing for Cullen's girl it was just an attraction, no big freaking deal, I'm not even looking for a relationship, I have a career to think about.

That gets the adrenaline going a little. I have a career to think about. I repeat that a few times in my head. I have to focus on my dreams, I can't be mooning over some chick like a brain dead idiot. Shake it off Dire! Forget about Bella Swan.