Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Twilight. And the song credit goes to Panic At the Disco.
I woke up and checked my mail and saw that I had more than two reviews! That made my day; especially with conjunctivitis in my eye. Thanks guys; keep 'em coming.
"Things have changed for me and that's okay
I feel the same, I'm on my way and I say
Things have changed for me and that's okay"
That Green Gentleman (things have changed)
I was pissed, armed, and dangerous. Okay so I was armed with a baby bag, but I did steal Derek's car. He knew I had Joanna today and what does he do? Decides to have a little brunch thingy with Kate that he claims is a romantic date. I didn't mind that he was trying to start a relationship with her, but a little warning would be nice next time.
Joanna gurgled happily in the back of the car as I pulled into Paul's driveway. I sighed in relief when I saw his familiar black truck sitting in front of the garage and turned off the car. I saw him emerge from the garage out of the corner of my eye as I pulled out the carrier that contained Joanna.
It wasn't until I turned to face him that I noticed he was shirtless, and sweaty. My breath caught and I had to take a deep breath to keep myself from jumping him; Joanna was with me for God's sake!
"What's going on?"
"Derek is having a date back at the house." I sighed.
"I see." He smirked. "With Kate I presume?"
"Yes, if it was Bridgett I wouldn't have left. I would have made her change a few diapers; get her precious fake nails dirty."
Paul chuckled as he moved closer to me where I stood holding the carrier in one hand and the diaper bag in the other.
"Let me go take a shower." He stated. "You two make yourself comfortable."
"Is it clean in there?" I asked skeptically.
He rolled his eyes at me, "I'm not a pig."
"No, but you are an animal." I chuckled.
I followed him into the house, my gaze glued to his shapely ass contained in his low slung Levi's. I knew that he knew I was looking, but I had felt his gaze on me too often for him to say anything about it. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the house wasn't in a complete state of disaster. Paul sent me a smug smile over his shoulder and disappeared up the stairs to take his shower.
While he was in the shower I set up a little play area for Joanna by the couch and pushed the coffee table against one of the walls. She was happily banging blocks together when Paul came back downstairs fully clothed. He barely paid me any notice as he joined Joanna on the floor and scooped her up into his arms.
"You know there is a way to solve your problem." Paul stated as Joanna dropped her block to examine his rather large finger.
"What problem?"
He raised a brow, "Having to leave the house because of Derek."
"Yeah and what's that?"
"Move in with me."
I think my mouth actually dropped open. Maybe he was kidding. Nope, he looked pretty serious. Well, as serious as a guy can look with his finger about to be put into a baby's mouth. He pulled his finger away before she could gum it and tickled her under the chin. Her happy giggles filled the room, as I continued to stare at him with my mouth wide open.
"Just think about it; you could use my truck to go to work since I'm here during the day and you won't have to hear Derek's sexual exploits. You don't have to answer right away."
Why was everything changing so fast? I knew that I really liked Paul, but I didn't want to live with the guy until I really knew how I felt. But he did have some valid points, and I wouldn't have to share a bed with him if I didn't want to anyway. What I needed was some serious time to think about it, and he seemed more than willing to give me all the time I needed.
***
"Honey, I've got some bad news."
The tone of voice Mom was using was never a good one. She sounded stressed; something I hadn't associated with her since she divorced Dad.
"What's wrong?" I asked a bit nervously.
"She's coming out here."
"Who?" I asked with a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.
"Mandy."
Not the bitch! Of course she would have to fly all the way out here to ruin Kevin's life further. Wasn't it enough that she was trying to get everything she could from him in the divorce? Now she wanted to mess up the happiness he had with Jolie and Joanna? I hated that bitch!
"She doesn't know that Jolie was pregnant." Mom stated.
"She didn't?" I questioned, slightly relieved.
"Nope."
"Thank God."
"That's why your brother needs you to take care of her while Mandy is here."
"Of course I will." I said without hesitation.
I would do anything to keep my precious niece from that conniving, blood sucking bitch. Well, she wasn't a vampire, but she sure did suck the happiness out of people.
"Alright, you have a few weeks to prepare."
After I hung up the phone I realized something else; I had just made my decision about Paul's offer.
***
He looked so happy carrying in all my junk into his house and up the stairs. I had agreed to move in with him after negotiating my own room and bed. He had relented, but not gladly. After he had gotten over his disappointment about my own room, he'd practically attacked me; smothering me in his hot arms.
"It seems like a waste; you'll be in my bed soon enough." He teased as I started to make my bed.
"I wouldn't be so sure of that."
"Oh really?" He grinned as he placed his hands on my hips and spun me around to face him.
My hands flew up to his chest and my eyes fluttered shut as his lips closed over mine. Just like that, I was lost in his touch. His grip on my hips tightened as he pulled me closer, his tongue stroking mine in a heated dance. I slid my arms around his back and pulled him closer as his hands slid down to my ass and lifted me up.
I wrapped my legs around his waist and didn't protest as he pushed me up against one of the walls. We still weren't close enough though. His lips left mine and skated down the side of my neck as I threw my head back with a moan.
His lips moved back up to mine, but just before they touched he let out a little chuckle.
"You sure you want your own bed?"
My eyes snapped open and I unwound my legs from his waist. Once I was on my own two feet I elbowed him angrily, only to grab my elbow in pain, and went back to making my bed.
"Oh come on, Hallie."
"That is exactly why we shouldn't share a bed, Paul. I plan on staying a virgin until my wedding night."
"I can wait."
***
My plan was to avoid Mandy at all costs; there was no telling what would happen if we saw each other. Last time I saw her when Kevin and she were still on good terms; I had wanted to rip her eyes out. There's no telling what I would want to do now, especially with a baby involved.
Joanna and I would be sticking to the house, and while I was at work Paul would take care of her. I wasn't worried about her at all with Paul; he was actually quite adorable and amazing with her. Which was a fact my subconscious wouldn't let me forget.
Paul was in the kitchen feeding Joanna when I came down dressed for work. She was sitting in her highchair, banging her hands happily against the tray as Paul spooned nasty looking baby food into her mouth.
She smiled when she saw me approach and Paul turned around to greet me with his own happy smile. Once again my heart was reduced to mush. He looked so natural with the baby sized spoon in his large hand and a towel to wipe her face slung over his shoulder.
"Well, there's no reason for me to be worried about the two of you." I smiled as I grabbed a granola bar from the cupboard.
"Uncle Paul has it all handled." He said proudly as he picked her up from the high chair and situated her on his lap. "What about you? What if you see Mandy?"
"If she has the nerve to come into the library, Derek will have to hold me back." I replied. "So what are you two doing today?"
"Disney movies and naps."
I smiled, truly great full that fate had bestowed this wonderful man upon me. "Thank you Paul."
"It's not that big of a deal; I'm going to be her uncle some day."
With that statement fresh in my mind, I left for work in the truck. Kate and Derek were already there, their hands to themselves. They may not have physically been touching, but the looks that they were sending each other were enough to make me feel very awkward.
To escape their eye sex, I grabbed the cart of books and set about shelving them. I breathed in the smell of books happily and started to sort the cart in alphabetical order so it would be easier.
I was emerged in the world of 'F' when I heard someone come up behind me.
"Hello Hallie."
'F' for a very choice word that I don't like to even utter in my thoughts. But it was so appropriate right this instant because Mandy was behind me, her nails on the chalkboard voice still ringing in my ears. I turned around slowly, hoping I was dreaming, but alas…I was not. There she stood in all her pudgy short glory, her blonde hair still in a crappy perm.
"What lies did you feed Kevin this time?"
"I never fed him lies; he just chose to believe me finally." I smirked. "And it helped that Jolie came into the picture."
I smiled in satisfaction when I saw her flinch at Jolie's name. Ha bitch, take that! Don't play with fire unless you want to get burned Mandy!
"I hope you're happy you ruined both of our lives."
"I didn't ruin his, but yes I am happy. For more reasons than you know."
I noticed Derek's curious gaze and sent him a look; a look that said unless he wanted a smack down in the middle of his library, he better get this bitch out. He must have gotten my message because he speed walked over to the two of us and looked between the two of us nervously.
"I'm going to have to ask you to leave." He said to Mandy.
"Oh, I was just going." She rolled her eyes, and with a flip of her hair, she was gone.
"Nice self control, Hallie."
"I didn't want to touch her, she disgusts me." I replied and went back to re-shelving books.
***
"Aunt Hallie is home!" Paul yelled as I walked through the door.
He was standing by the door holding Joanna, both of them dressed up. He had put her in a cute little purple outfit and I couldn't help but look him up and down in his jeans and casual dark green shirt. I placed a kiss on Joanna's cheek before I reached up on my tiptoes to place one on Paul's cheek.
"Why are you guys dressed up?" I asked curiously.
"I'm taking my two favorite ladies out to eat." He grinned and grabbed Joanna's coat.
I went to fix my hair and makeup while he got Joanna ready to go. When I was done, he was waiting by the door, keys in hand and Joanna in the other.
"Ready?"
"Yup."
After we figured out the car seat in his truck (me worried about the safety hazards we were violating only to have him tell me that he was a werewolf with extra senses) we took off along the coast line.
"So where are we going?"
"Another place I did some work for." He replied. "I didn't do all of their furniture, but I did the host stand."
"What are you working on now?"
"It's a surprise."
What kind of surprise? I knew he wouldn't give me any clues, but I wanted to know anyway. My imagination set it again as I pictured a whole variety of things Paul could make with wood. Statues, walking sticks, chairs, tables, but what was good enough to make a surprise?
The waiter smiled as we entered the restaurant and immediately seated us at a nice booth and a highchair. We didn't have to wait long for our drinks to arrive and when they did I smiled up at the middle aged lady kindly.
"Your daughter is adorable!" She exclaimed.
I blushed and Paul smiled. Oh yeah…Joanna did look like me, so it was only natural for people to assume.
"She's my niece actually."
"Our niece." Paul inserted.
"She looks a lot like you; I bet her Mother is unhappy."
"Not really." I smiled. "I think it's what my brother deserves for his years of torment he caused me.
She smiled, and after she took our order, left us in peace. The two of us passed the time playing with Joanna and chatting with each other before a familiar voice gave me a start. My entire being froze, and I felt my hands clench into fists.
"She's here, Paul." I whispered, looking out of the corner of my eyes to see if I could spot her.
Sure enough there she was a few tables away with a menu in hand. Paul followed my gaze and turned back to me.
"Mandy?" He whispered.
I nodded my head, "I've already seen her once today, isn't that enough?"
"I'm here now."
"True, Derek was surprised I was able to hold myself back."
Paul chuckled, his deep and rich chuckle and of course that attracted every female's attention within a twenty foot radius; including her. I shot him a 'thank you, you idiot' look and busied myself with cleaning the little bit of water that had spilled from my glass.
"Who is this Hallie? And what is this? A baby…already? You aren't even married."
"At least someone wanted to have a baby with me."
That was a low blow, even for me. But I had to make her think that Joanna was mine, and it wouldn't be too hard with her looking so much like me. Mandy's eyes narrowed and she fixed her gaze on Paul, completely ignoring me.
"I'd get rid of her while you can, before she ruins your life." Mandy stated. "I'm surprised she had a kid with you; she doesn't trust anyone."
I saw Paul's hands clench into fists on the table top and did nothing to try to calm him down. I knew he wasn't at a dangerous level and he would never do anything that would harm me or Joanna. Actually I was almost giddy with excitement at what he was going to say.
"I'd appreciate if you didn't talk about Hallie like that." He growled.
"What? I'm just stating the fact that she's a bitch."
If he wasn't careful he would break the table.
"Leave before I make you." His voice had dropped even lower and scared me even though it wasn't directed at me.
Mandy blinked at him in surprise before she finally moved away without a backwards glance. Not only did she leave the table, but I was happy to note that she left the restaurant entirely. When I looked back at Paul, his hands were still clenched into fists on the table top. I reached across the table and placed each of my hands over each of his own. His tension immediately eased and he looked up at me with that familiar look in his eye; love.
It wasn't until Paul was gently setting Joanna down in her crib in my room that I finally realized something that I had probably known for a while now; something that I was afraid to admit, but now I was almost happy to. Sure, lots of things had changed, but it was a good kind of change.
I turned to him after I pulled the blanket up around Joanna and wrapped my arms around his waist; my head resting against his firm chest. His own arms wasted no time winding around me and he placed a gentle kiss on the top of my head.
"I love you, Paul." I whispered, knowing he could hear me.
His arms tightened and he placed another kiss on the top of my head before he whispered back:
"About time."