Disclaimer: you already know i don't own anything

Chapter 22

"Thank you," I whispered at Harry. We were lying on the floor and he was finally letting me pet him without me coercing him with a hot dog first. Everyone had come by to say goodbye, and Emmett and Leah had to literally pry Rosalie and me apart. And I still felt immensely guilty that I didn't really get to know Nessie.

I turned the TV off and glanced outside to catch Paul walking out of the woods with a grocery bag. I stared as he skipped up the back porch and let himself in.

"Hey you okay?" he asked as he opened the door.

"Fine," I mumbled up at him. I'd move to get up, but I knew Harry would just go back to ignoring me and I wanted this sweet Harry to last.

"Uh huh," he nodded at us. "Are you done crying?"

"I didn't cry!" I whined. "Only a little…" My eyes had watered when I had to say goodbye to Jacob and Rosalie. Even Emmett and Leah gave me hugs.

"Um right, I can tell you've been hardcore crying. Your eyes are still poofy."

I blinked at him and his stupid observational skills. I'd been crying earlier like a crazy person after Jake stopped by, but I'd thought I looked okay now.

"They'll probably be back in a month for Christmas break..." he paused, quirking his head at me. "I brought you some ice cream."

"Hmmph," I snorted. Doug used to me bring me flowers when I was upset - they weren't fattening for me.

"Okay fine, I'll eat it then. I got the rockiest road they had," he snapped, plopping down on the couch behind me and pulling out a spoon. He didn't even flinch at the coldness as he took a large bite.

I just stared at him, feeling guilty and slightly amused as he kept taking large bites. He glared at me as he opened his mouth to say something.

"-I'm sorry," I interrupted him. "I was upset about something earlier and now I'm just being a brat. The ice cream was very thoughtful, thank you."

"Wu-"

"And you're really cute when you pout like that," I grinned as his lip turned up.

"Come here," he patted the spot next to him, and my body reluctantly moved to please him.

"How you feeling?" he asked after giving me a soft kiss on my cheek.

"Okay, I'm just being overemotional," I shrugged, taking the spoon away from him.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong," I pouted.

"Well it's something…"

"Okay, since we should be honest with each other," I sighed, thinking of the questions I had for him. "The ice cream just reminded me of Doug and how he'd bring me flowers whenever I was upset. He said it was healthier and less fattening – and I'd been crying earlier because Jake was asking about Mom's ring."

"Wait, why would that make you cry?" he frowned at me.

"It just made me miss her…" I looked away. It wasn't technically a lie, but I didn't want to tell him I'd been irrationally, over thinking about marriage.

"Right," he gave me a strange look. "And please don't compare me to him anymore. I know it's hard because I'm amazing and all, but I don't do that to you, so…"

"That's fair, but I'm curious. How many other girls have you dated?" I smirked taking another bite of ice cream as his face fell.

"What?" he blinked.

"Well I didn't really date in high school and I met Doug in my first year of college. So who have you dated?"

"Um, I'm not sure about an exact number," he blushed, not looking at me.

"Oh Paul… were you a whore?" I giggled at his discomfort as there was a strange twinge in my chest.

"No!" he covered his face. "I dated Jessica in high school before I phased, and then…"

"Then?"

"Sam told me I wasn't allowed to date and-"

"Wait, he just told you that you couldn't date?" I frowned.

"No listen, it was a good thing," he smiled, trying to explain. "I couldn't control my temper back then and it would have been very dangerous for me to be around any one. I was banned from Sam's house for like two weeks."

"You think you'd actually hurt someone?"

"Yeah I do," he gave me a sad smile. "If it happened to Sam, it could definitely happen to me." He placed a hand on my cheek wiping under my eye with his thumb.

"Oh…" I muttered, realizing what must have happened. I didn't know why I hadn't thought of it before – how Emily got the scars on her face. "So you didn't date – well you… don't date?"

"I couldn't date back then. When Sam gave an order, it couldn't be broken because he was our Alpha – our leader. Like if he said we couldn't say the word apple, we wouldn't have been able to say it no matter how much we tried."

"Huh…"

"But to answer your other question, I date," he spoke softly, leaning in my ear.

"Oh? So there has been no one else?" I grinned.

"Well…" he pulled away with a grimace. "There was short period of time when I was very friendly with a girl, but she wasn't my girlfriend."

"It's okay Paul, you don't have to explain," I laughed.

"But I feel like you should know who it is," he winced.

"Okay…"

"It was Leah – I mean it was years ago and I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to be with anyone because I was so scared that I'd hurt someone – and then Leah was all in my head and she wanted to get over Sam," he spoke quickly.

"Okay."

"Okay? You're not mad?"

"No, do you want me to be?" I shrugged.

"No…"

"Good, because it doesn't change anything."

"Really?"

"Yeah," I spooned some more ice cream.

"Oh…" he sighed, stealing the spoon from me.

"So do you have an imprint?" I asked causing him to choke on the spoon.

"What? Where did you hear that word?"

"Everywhere," I shrugged.

"Who – do you know what it means?" he stammered.

"Yeah."

"Do you really know what it means?"

"Like a soul mate."

"That's basically right, but I'll explain it better later. But…"

"So that's a no. You don't have one?" I frowned. This certainly was not how I imagined this conversation going.

"No. Yes. No I - ...I might have one," he bit his lip, trying not to smile.

"Yeah?" I raised an eyebrow as he rested his head against mine.

"Yeah maybe, I might," he grinned. "Can I have a taste?"

I held out the spoon, but his hand rested under my chin and our lips met.

…

"Feeling awake now?" Paul kissed my forehead as he finished drying the last plate.

"Yeah, thank you for making me breakfast," I nuzzled into his chest. "Do you wanna sleep here tonight?" I had to work a late shift tonight, and it made more sense if he'd just stay over here instead of coming over in the morning.

"I can if you want," he nodded, rubbing my back.

"I want," I grinned. "But I don't want to go to work now."

"Go, and then you'll have three days off."

"Since when have you been an optimist?"

"Since I mmm - I don't know," he looked away. "You're going to be late."

"I know," I sighed. "See you later."

"See you," he murmured before leaning down to kiss me. It was always overwhelming when we kissed - intense, warm, tingling. I didn't know if it was that because Paul was a shape-shifter, or it was just Paul himself, or our imprint connection. When I asked if he had an imprint, I could read in his eyes that I was his imprint while he said maybe. And I shouldn't have asked when I knew Paul thought it was too early for me to be in a relationship. But really I hadn't been in a relationship for two years - Doug and I were having problems for a long time there at the end, and it'd been even longer since I made love with him - or anyone else for that matter.

So I was definitely ready for a relationship and I was going to let Paul know very soon.

...

When I got off work, I was surprised to find Paul sleeping in my bed. I knew that I'd asked him to stay, but I didn't think he'd be still asleep. It was nice to see a vulnerable side to him. He laid on his stomach with his legs kicked out from under the sheets, and his face looked softer and younger. I just wanted to curl up next to him and never move again.

As quietly as I could I pulled off my scrubs and slipped on a soft t-shirt. Getting into bed turned out to be difficult because Paul was huge and laid in the middle with his right arm stretched out. I tried to lift it gently out of the way, but it was as if his arm weighed a ton. I quickly gave up and huffed, lying uncomfortably on his arm.

Then I felt the bed slightly shake and deep laughter erupted next to me.

"Are you kidding me? You were awake?" I gawked at him as he turned to look at me - his face was puffy with sleep.

"I woke up when you tried to lift my arm," he chuckled into the pillow. He slid his arm out from under me on to pull me closer to him.

"Were gonna have to get separate beds like in I Love Lucy," I scoffed.

"I love it when you say stuff like that," he mumbled into my hair. "How was work? Do you need me to fix you dinner?"

"No, I already ate, and work was good. Will you stay until I fall asleep?" I asked sheepishly. I didn't think about the comment about the separate beds when I said it, but I was relieved to find out that it didn't bother him.

"I'll stay forever. I just fell asleep," he groaned with his eyes closed.

"What were you doing last night?"

"Working."

"For who?" I frowned, turning on my side to look at him.

"The pack - just patrolling outside the reservation. We're just making sure no vampires get a scent on the Cullens. Jacob and Leah usually mask it well, but it's just a precaution."

"And you go with someone right? You aren't by yourself?"

His eyes were open now watching me. "There are others working too, but we are usually spread out so nothing gets through."

"Oh," I frowned, suddenly feeling nervous.

"But hey don't worry, I can take care of myself. I've faced a lot of vampires, and I've never been seriously injured. And it's been a long time since we've had a one around here."

"But what if you did need help? Do you howl or something until someone comes?"

"Uh no," he laughed." We communicate telepathically in our wolf form - we always know what everyone else is thinking. If we need help, someone's there instantly."

"What?" I gaped at the thought.

"Yeah, but it's essential when were killing vampires, and it makes it a lot easier."

"And you're bigger than Leah?"

"Yes", he reassured me. "I suppose I'll have to show you one day."

"Please," I snuggled closer to him and hitching a leg over one of his.

"Are you..." he looked at me with wide eyes. "Are you not wearing pants?"

"Maybe," I teased as he rolled us over and he was rubbing a leg against one of mine.

"Have I told you I love your legs?" he said looking under the sheet.

"No," I breathed as he started to kiss me.

"You gotta be kidding me," he cursed as my cell phone started blaring. "You're not expecting a call from work or anything?"

"No, but it might be important. No one ever calls me."

"Fine," he grumbled reaching over to the night stand. "Hello? ... No, is there something you need? ... No ... No we're just sleeping! ... No! She'll talk to you later bye Kim!"

He cursed as dropped the phone on the table.

"How's Kim?" I smiled as he rolled over onto his side.

"She's having the girls over around eight tonight – you're invited, but I'm willing to be your excuse if you don't wanna go."

"Sounds fun," I yawned.

"Don't - be sleepy," he yawned as well. "Damn."

AN: I feel like the I Love Lucy reference is a little outdated for some of you. Hopefully you've all seen it…