Author's Notes: Sorry, sorry, sorry! I've been so busy! I don't mean to keep you waiting but unfortunately between being a single mum and working a fifty-five hour week I struggle to find time to sleep let alone write! But I love it so much that I couldn't not do it. I hope you like it and I hope to get another chapter with you soon. As always a big thank you to my beta JenJenSon for all her help.

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight, the characters, book or film and make no money from this story it is pure fiction for fan purposes. Lyrics are from State of shock's 'Best I ever Had' and Jordin sparks Tattoo. If you listen to them and picture Bella and Paul on the beach having their chat they just fit. Best I ever had for Paul's thoughts and Tattoo for Bella's.

Chapter 12: Want

Paul POV

'Now I know I messed up bad

You were the best I ever had'

The next few minutes seemed to drag ever so slowly as I stood behind Bella with her back turned to me. I took in her dark curls being tossed by the wind coming off of the water, her deep brown eyes focused on the ocean ahead of her...she looked like she was thinking on something really hard. Either that or she was really pissed at me for not telling her.

"Bella? Just talk to me." I sighed.

"It's quite a shock you know. After a conversation about how many puppies wolfs can have; I find out that one of them is actually tied to me for life by some unseen force of nature so that if I ever leave it could literally kill him." She replied, still not turning to face me. She looked so hurt I just wanted to fix it but I didn't know exactly what had pissed her off so much in the first place, the imprint or keeping it from her.

"Bella, I can't make you stay no matter what it would do to me. Part of the imprint is being whatever you want me to be not just dragging you into my bed." I hissed.

'You and I were living like a love song,

Now I know you're the only one that I want'

"So the imprint didn't make you love me?" she asked.

"The imprint drew me to you; I fell in love with you all by myself." I replied, dropping to sit on the ground. "Bella this is so stupid; it doesn't matter about the imprint. All you need to know is that right now I love you. Does anything else really need to change because of some stupid wolf thing?" It had taken me long enough to win her over and there was no way I wanted to go through this every time something happened, I needed her to just believe I loved her and that was all that mattered.

"That would mean it would kill you if I left." She added.

"Yes, well-"

"I think it would kill me if I left too." She said, sitting down next to me. I looked round at her in surprise. "Loving you is like...it's easy. Do you know what I mean? I mean with Edward it was like living in a dream world but with you I'm wide awake and it's real."

'I can't waste time so give it a moment,

I realise nothing's broken,

No need to worry about everything I've done,

Live every second like it was my last one'

"So you're comparing me to the leech? How flattering." I muttered.

"That's not how I meant it. I just meant that-"

"I know what you meant Bella." I interrupted sighing and standing up, offering her my hand. She took it and as I dropped my arm over her shoulders to head back to the house it started to rain. I vowed to myself I would make this work. No matter what happened I would make it work. I could see Embry stood in the spare room window holding one of his new bundles to his chest, I wasn't close enough to see which one and then I looked at Bella. She was fixed on the window too; watching intently as Embry rocked his new baby lovingly. He had instantly loved all three of them. I had no idea that being a father was like that...that instant love for your child, almost like an imprint.

"Do you want that?" I asked her seriously. I saw her bite her lip and glance down nervously.

"I never thought I'd be that girl but...yeah, I want that one day." She replied. That was a good enough answer for now I supposed as we entered the house; after all I certainly never thought I would be that guy!

'Don't look back, got a new direction,

I loved you once, needed protection,

You're still a part of everything I do,

You're on my heart just like a tattoo.'

Bella POV

Three weeks had passed since Leah and Embry had had the surprise arrival of their triplets. They had moved into a small house of their own thanks to the money Leah's dad had left between her, Seth and her mum. Leah's share had been a big help towards their house. We hadn't seen much of Leah or Embry for the past week due to them having their hands full; everyone in the village had helped out getting baby stuff together for their rather unexpected arrivals.

"Bella!" Emily's voice shouted as soon as I got out of my truck at her and Sam's. I looked at her slightly perplexed as she practically ran to meet me. "Bella I'm pregnant! I just took a test this morning!"

"Congratulations." I told her, hugging her tight. "I'm so happy for you."

"I can't believe it's happened at last." She smiled. "Come inside, Sam and Paul will be back soon and we can have some lunch before going to see those little ones."

We headed inside and Emily told me all about her plans for the baby already while we made a cup of tea and sat waiting for the boys to arrive. Emily moved around the kitchen and put some lunch on so the boys would have something to eat when they returned. We didn't have to wait long; they came trampling up the porch steps not fifteen minutes later in high spirits.

"Morning Bella." Sam smiled, going over to kiss Emily. "What's for lunch darling?"

"I've just put some bacon and eggs on for you and the rolls are warming in the oven." She replied.

"Morning Bella." Paul murmured, kissing my neck before sitting at the table.

"So has my lovely wife been talking your ear off too badly?" Sam asked, sitting down. I shook my head. "She is very excited."

"You seemed pretty excited yourself earlier." Paul commented.

"I am." He replied, touching Emily's stomach. "My beautiful wife is carrying my baby."

"Here you go dear." Emily said, passing him a plate with bacon and egg rolls on it and then passing Paul his. "Bella one roll or two?"

"Just the one please." I replied. "I'm not as greedy as these boys."

"We're growing boys!" Jake's voice called, as he joined us in the kitchen. "Morning everyone! Thanks Emily!"

"You mean you get bigger?" I grinned.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" he murmured. Paul narrowed his eyes at him and he put his hands up defensively. "It was a joke man! You know I wouldn't do that to you."

"Boys, boys not at the table please." Emily chided, sitting down herself. So contently we all returned to lighter conversation and ate our lunch.

"Right let's go see these pups then." Sam said, as Emily and I finished the last of the washing up.

"How are they coping with them, do you know?" I asked Emily.

"They're doing alright. Leah's pretty tired because she's trying to breast feed all three but they're having to use formula for top ups... although they don't seem to like the formula very much. Embry is amazing with them, he is so excited by everything they do and doesn't seem to be getting tired from all the work yet." Emily explained as we walked to Leah and Embry's new family home. "Everyone's been so nice; helping out where they can because the tribe is just so excited by the whole wolf breeding thing."

"It's pretty weird to think of them as parents so suddenly." I commented.

"It seems that imprinting isn't always easy; but it certainly picks out the right person for you. I mean isn't it nice to know that there will never be anyone more perfect for you? That no one could ever love you more?" Emily sighed.

"Me and Paul perfect?" I asked with a raised eyebrow. "Did you not see us a couple of months ago?"

"I don't mean Paul's perfect Bella; God help me he's nowhere near close," she laughed. "But he is perfect for you. You two don't just have the friendship, love and emotional side of things in tune but you have some serious sparks and fireworks going on as well."

"Yeah the sparks I noticed," I laughed. "When I was slapping him for changing Jake into one of them or yelling in his face for making fun of me."

"Now why do I get the feeling I'm not being entirely praised here?" Paul's voice came from behind us. I practically leapt three feet into the air in shock at the sound of his voice.

"You jerk! What are you doing trying to kill me?" I shouted.

"No need to overreact." He replied coolly. "It's not my fault you have a guilty conscience."

"I don't have a guilty conscience!" I protested. "Just for that you don't get to come home with me!"

"You don't mean that." He smiled, sliding his arm easily around my waist as we walked. "You'd be at home in our bed; all alone..."

"Since when is it our bed?" I asked him.

"Since I decided I can't possibly spend a night away from you." He grinned.

"You probably may as well move in; you never leave." I grinned back, and then I spotted Embry coming out of the house in front of us carrying a bag of rubbish.

"Afternoon!" he shouted. "Go on in!"

"She's got you on trash duty then?" Jake asked.

"Dirty diapers." He replied. "For tiny things they don't half create a stink." Then he shrugged and led the way into the house.

On entering the house Leah greeted them sat with one baby cradled under each arm with the aid of pillows attached to each breast, feeding away. Paul, Jake and Sam very quickly turned their backs where as Emily and I just averted our gaze a little. The third little one was sound asleep in a basket next to the couch where Leah sat.

"That is a sight I never thought I'd see, nor wanted to." Paul said. Leah just reached for a nappy liner and covered herself slightly but continued.

"Trust me; this isn't easy so I don't give a damn who's here once I've got them quiet it's just tough if you don't like it." Leah shrugged.

"Sorry, it was a bit of a shock though." Sam said. Just then Keira decided to wake up and Leah just sighed deflated.

"There's still some milk in the fridge." She told Embry. Embry went to the fridge and brought out a bottle of milk before pouring the boiling water from the kettle into a jug and standing the milk in it to warm up.

"I don't know how you do it." I murmured, shaking my head.

"Badly, I suspect." Leah sighed, she looked exhausted.

"Don't be silly you're doing an amazing job." Emily said, lifting the crying baby from the basket and taking a seat next to Leah.

"I'll do it." Jake said, as Embry shook the now warm bottle and headed over to Emily.

"I think Emily deserves a turn, Jake." Embry said diplomatically, Leah just glared at him.

"I didn't know you were so good with babies, Jake." I grinned, until I saw everyone else's faces and my smile slipped away. "What did I miss?"

"Jake imprinted on Keira." Sam explained.

"What? Seriously? Isn't that kind of...gross?" I asked.

"It's not like that!" Jake defended. "I swear it's nothing as bad as you're thinking." Meanwhile Emily had Keira in her arms feeding her the expressed breast milk from her bottle.

"Cody's done." Leah said, Embry took the little baby boy from Leah and raised him to his shoulder to wind him, cloth already in place over his shoulder in case.

"They're beautiful." I said quietly, sitting next to Emily and stroking the soft dark fuzz on Keira's head. All three of the babies had tanned skin and dark hair but Keira had the most. All of them had greyish eyes to start with but now they were turning more brown.

"I can't wait." Emily sighed happily. "Even if it's triplets I don't care."

"I don't think that's very likely." Sam smiled.

Leah finished with Finley the biggest of the three babies and Embry passed Cody to me to begin winding Finley.

"Go lay down Leah." He said softly as he took Finley. "They'll all be back to sleep in a minute I bet."

I cuddled Cody to my chest and stroked the soft skin on his arm. I couldn't believe how much I wanted this... There was this longing inside me so bad I suddenly felt I was about to cry.

"Nice one." Paul muttered, as he started trying to wind Keira and she brought up a mouthful of wind and milk. "You have your mother's manners."

"She is only three week's old." Emily pointed out.

"And that's the only reason she gets to throw up on my shirt." Paul replied, smiling. "Because she's adora-... until you do that." He chuckled and passed her to Jake. "All yours." Jake shrugged and started changing Keira.

"You want one." I jumped as I heard Paul's voice in my ear; he stood behind me and slid his arms around to rest on my stomach possessively.

"One day." I croaked out, trying to swallow the nerves suddenly flying round my stomach at his nearness and the serious but soft tone in his voice.

"That look on your face doesn't look like one day." He murmured, his hot breath brushing over my ear. "Marry me Bella, marry me and have a baby with me."

I didn't know how to respond to that. I couldn't make my mouth work; I actually had to tell myself to breathe in my head. He just said what?