Chapter 6 – Meeting Dad

Antonia woke up with a smile on her face. She couldn't believe the words that Paul had spoken to her the night before. He was sweet and tender and when she looked in his eyes she knew he was telling the truth. He wasn't lying for one second. Antonia showered and pulled on her jeans, a white form fitting t-shirt and white sneakers. She made sure her hair was dry as she tied a white bandana around her head. She bounced down the stairs and noticed her dad was already awake and dressed in his full deputy uniform.

Adam was leaning against the kitchen counter drinking a hot cup of coffee hoping it would wake him up more as he watched his oldest bounce into the kitchen with a smile that he couldn't have unscrewed from her face even if he tried. He smile softly as she pushed up on her tip toes and kiss his cheek. "Morning dad." Adam chuckled, "What's got you in such a cheerful mood this morning?"

Brady walked into the kitchen and scoffed, "Paul Redson. He was over here for like two hours last night after we came back from the bonfire. they spent their time in the rec room...alone." Adam looked from his son to his daughter, "Antonia Marie Barlow...Did you have a boy in the house without me being home?" Toni smiled softly as she nodded, clearly not ashamed by any of it. She leaned over and smacked her brother in the back of the head, "If Brady hadn't taken it upon himself to be the family tattle tale, I would've told you what happened. Besides it's not like I'm going to go and have sex in your house or anything dad." Adam plugged his ears with his fingers as he spoke loudly, "I don't need to hear about my daughter...My ONLY daughter having sex with anyone...ANYWHERE!"

Adam waited until Brady walked into the living room with his gigantic bowl of cereal be for leaning over with Toni standing next to him and whispered, "Do I have to take you to that BGNYO person? You know for...umm...Birth control?"

Antonia couldn't help the laughter that escaped her lips, "Dad it's called the OBGYN. And no of course not. Mom did that a couple of years ago."

Adam grumbled a little, "Thank God." He rinsed his coffee cup out and set it in the sink as he turned to Antonia crossing his arms over his chest as he looked down at her. Whoever this Paul Redson was he'd clearly had given her the glow that was surrounding her because he hadn't seen her this happy in quite a few months. Adam could feel himself getting protective as his voice grew gruff, "So Antonia, who is this guy Paul and when exactly do I get to meet him? Or don't I get to meet the boys in your life anymore?"

Toni smiled softly, "Don't worry dad he's a nice guy. And he knows. I told him last night. I told him everything, but guess what dad? He didn't run away. He didn't even flinch, he saw me with my bandana off and said whatever I was hiding under it wouldn't make me look any less beautiful to him. He said a lot of sweet things, but the one thing that made me believe all of his words...He looked me in the eyes the whole time. His eyes never averted to anywhere. They stayed locked with mine the whole time he spoke to me."

Antonia pushed herself into her father's arms as she buried her face in his chest as he wrapped her in his arms and kissed the top of her head, "I really like him dad. Ask Billy and Charlie, they know him, he owns a business with Jacob and another guy. And you can meet him in a few minutes, he's coming to get me."

Adam chuckled at his daughter, "I wish I would've known I was going to meet my future son in law, I wouldn't have strapped my gun on. I hope I don't scare him to badly. It would be a shame to make him scream like a girl in front of you."

Antonia smacked his chest lightly, "Dad! I never said I was going to marry him. I just..."

Before she could finish her statement there was a knock on the door. Brady opened the door and Paul was looking back at him, "Hey is Antonia here?" Brady rolled his eyes, "Yea...TONI! The meat head from last night is back looking for you." Antonia walked into the living room as she walked by Brady she smacked him in the back of the head again as she walked up to Paul and smiled softly, "Hi. Sorry about him...Little brothers, can't kill them, can't feed them to sharks." Paul leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her cheek, "It's quite alright, my brothers you met all of them last night, believe me that wasn't even them, they were being nice and mild."

Toni giggled, "My dad wants to meet you." Adam Barlow stood leaning against the doorway to the kitchen with his huge arms crossed over his equally huge chest, he wasn't a small man by any means, he was 6'7" 250 lbs of muscle and had been nearly his whole life. His jet black hair was cropped and his face was clean shaven. He's was kind of an intimidating brute. Paul squared his shoulders as he walked over and held out his hand, "Paul Redson, Nice to meet you Mr. Barlow."

Adam stood to his full 6'7" height as he looked down at the young man who had his precious daughter attention, he took the young man's offered hand as they shook hands and Adam suddenly aware of something as they stood there. Out of nowhere, Adam grabbed Paul by the back of his neck and did a half turn as he drug him down the hallway, "We need to have a talk boy."

"DAD!" Toni's eyes shot open. She couldn't imagine what had gotten into her father. Especially after she'd just asked him to be nice in the kitchen.

Adam looked back at his daughter, "Antonia Marie you stay there...Don't you dare move." Toni frowned, "Yes dad."

Paul was almost nervous as Adam drug him down the hallway and tossed him into a room with books, a desk and computer, clearly it was her father's office as he slammed the door and then grabbed Paul and threw him against the door, "Just what exactly are your intention with my daughter mutt?"

Paul's eyes grew wide and then he glared at Toni's father, "How did you know?"

Adam glared at Paul, "It may have been years since the last time I phased, but I can still smell the wolf stink on you." Paul nodded, "No I can still smell it on you." Adam growled low in his throat, "I'll ask you again what you're intentions are with my daughter, I know she told you she's sick. And whatever bag full of God damn lies you told her last night she believes them."

Paul shook his head, "I wasn't lying sir. I...I imprinted on Antonia." Adam was taken back. Someone in their tribe imprinted on his baby girl. It had been nearly 21 years since he'd stopped phasing. It was actually the day Toni was born when he'd decided he didn't want to be a wolf anymore. He knew he couldn't keep her away from Paul. The pain would be too much too bare. Considering it had been seven months since his own imprint walked away from him and their kids.

Adam cleared his throat, "If I ask Billy, Sam and Charlie about you...What would they say?" Paul looked down at the floor and then back up into Adam's eyes, "That I'm a hot head. I have a bad temper and I'm volatile. But I'm always the first one to back up a one of my brothers in a fight with a bloodsucker. And I'm a quite successful furniture maker with Jacob Black and Jared Tinsel. We opened our business after we graduated high school and the business just keeps growing."

Adam rubbed the back of his neck, "Have you told my daughter what you are?" Paul shook his head, "No sir. I won't either until I think she's ready. I don't want her to be afraid of me. She has to understand I would never and could never hurt her...physically, mentally or even emotionally. Was...was Antonia's mother your imprint?" Adam frowned as he nodded, "Yes...Which is why I will not keep my daughter from being with you. But you are going to have to pay attention to the signs of her illness. I trust you with her now. If you was anyone other than Quileute or part of the pack I'd kick your ass up between your shoulder blades. Especially when I found out she had you here alone last night."

Paul nodded in understanding, "She wanted to tell me about her being sick, face to face and I wasn't about to deny her." Adam nodded, "Let's get one thing straight. If you hurt my daughter in any way, shape or form. For whatever reason. You're done. I'll tear you limb from limb. I may have not phased in almost 21 years, but don't think I can't if it came to protecting my family. The same goes for your protecting her. If anything happens to her. You're finished." Paul nodded in understanding.

Adam nodded again, "Go make my daughter happy some more." He opened the door as Paul walked out and into the living room. Antonia jumped up, "Dad you promised!" Adam smirked and was about to say something, when Paul interrupted, "I'm fine Antonia. It was a Father/boyfriend kind of talk. All fathers have to have that talk with their daughters boyfriends. You still coming with me today?"

Paul held out his head as Antonia nodded as a small smile played on her lips, she walked over and kissed her dad's cheek as Paul took her hand and led her out to his truck.

Adam watched as the beat up blue pick-up pulled out of the drive way with his daughter inside and suddenly understood what it felt like 22 years earlier for his father in law.