Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Twilight. And the song credit goes to Boys Like Girls. Thanks for all the reviews. This chapter is shorter than I like, but the next is much longer.

"I feel like a hero and you are my heroine
Do you know that your love is the sweetest sin?
And I feel a weakness coming on
It never felt so good to be so wrong
Had my heart on lock down
And then you turned me around
And I feel just like a new born child
Every time I get a chance to see you smile
It's not complicated
I was so jaded
And you caught me off guard
Now I'm running and screaming"

Hero/Heroine

I was paranoid the entire flight home. What if the vampire was up in first class? What if he attacked me by baggage claim? What if he lured me into a darkened corner and sucked all my blood out!? I eventually took one of Derek's relaxers and had crazy dreams about fairies and corn stalks.

I kept shooting looks over my shoulder as Derek and I left the airport and got into his car that we had left in weekend parking. If Derek noticed, he didn't say anything. He probably just figured his relaxers were going to my head or something.

He was strangely quiet on the way to my house…well Paul's house actually. Usually he would talk about something I didn't really care about; really just have a conversation with himself. But he wasn't even doing that and that worried me.

"Derek, are you alright?"

He sighed, "Maybe you were right about some people getting lucky. You just didn't realize that you were one of those people."

"Derek."

"I'm fine Hallie; it's not like I had the time to fall in love with her or anything."

He refused to say anything else and it wasn't long before he pulled in behind the familiar black truck. I was worried about Derek, but now I had to tell Paul about the vampire I suspected was following me. He walked out of the house as I pulled my bags from Derek's car, looking as sexy as ever.

He took my bags from me and gave Derek a little wave before he bent his head and gave me a small peck on my lips. Slightly disappointed, I followed him inside the house and sprawled out across the couch while he took my bags upstairs. He came back downstairs a minute later, picked me up, and sat down with me on his lap.

"I missed you." I sighed as I wound my arms around his neck.

He grinned, "I'll be the judge of that."

I smiled as his lips descended on mine and lost myself in his touch. The way his lips moved over mine, his tongue possessing my mouth, the way his hands stroked patterns over my back; I really had missed it even if it had only been a few days.

When we finally pulled away a bit breathless, I knew I had to tell him. I wasn't sure how he would react, but I needed him to know so I felt safer.

"Do you remember when I freaked out about that guy outside the kitchen window?" I began. He nodded, so I continued on. "Well I've been seeing him more often; especially this weekend. And I'm pretty sure he's a vampire."

"We knew he was a vampire, but you think he's following you?"

"I'm pretty sure he is."

Paul's arms tightened around me protectively and he pulled down my head so it was lying right over his heart. I could hear his heartbeat as he held me and it soothed me. I felt my eyes start to get heavy; the jet lag starting to get to me along with Derek's relaxers.

"I'll keep you safe." He whispered.

"I know you will." I murmured before I let sleep consume me.

***

Mom practically demanded a visit from me. Not only was she suffering from 'Hallie withdrawals' but she also wanted to officially meet Paul as my boyfriend instead of some guy Jake hung around with. So, we were having a big dinner. Kevin, Jolie, and Joanna would be there as well as Jake and Kate. All in all, it would be a pretty interesting dinner.

"How do I look?" I asked Paul as I spun around.

I was late April now, but still a bit chilly. So I decided to wear a nice pair of jeans and the new top I had bought when I went shopping with Tracy back in Maryland.

Paul didn't supply me with an answer; instead he settled his hands on my hips and nuzzled my neck as he breathed in my scent. I sighed as his hands moved under the fabric of my top and his lips caressed the tender skin of my neck.

"Paul, we need to go or we'll be late." I said a bit reluctantly.

He kept kissing my neck until finally I pulled away leaving him there looking like a dog that had been denied a piece of food. I chuckled as I put on my jacket and followed Paul outside to his truck. Thanks to Paul's little distraction we were the last to arrive, which earned us some knowing smirks from everyone seated around the table except for Joanna.

Instead, Joanna looked up at the two of us from her perch on Billy's lap, smiled and extended her arms towards us. I smiled down at her and swung her up into my arms without hesitation. But it wasn't me she wanted; she stretched her arms out to Paul, who happily took her from my arms.

"Looks like Paul has a soft spot for children." Kevin chuckled.

"He always has." Jake laughed from his position next to Kate. I noticed that his arm was slung across the back of her chair, and that she looked perfectly content. Well, at least she took the whole deal better than I did.

"Alright, sit down you two. Dinner is ready." Mom said as she finished placing two large casserole dishes down on the table.

We took the last two available seats next to Jolie and Billy. Joanna was still on Paul's lap and he didn't let go of her until after us girls had all of the food we wanted. He passed her to Jolie and then dug into the casserole dish. Between Paul and Jake the dishes were soon empty, as well as their plates.

We normal people were still eating, but that didn't seem to bug them. Both of them relaxed back in their chairs, their hands spread out across their bellies.

"So we have an announcement." Kevin began.

"We've decided to have a small little wedding next month." Jolie finished as she jiggled Joanna on her knee. "We were just thinking of something simple, in the back yard or something."

"Of course! That's wonderful!" Mom beamed.

"And…" Jolie turned her gaze to me. "Hallie, I want you to be my maid of honor."

My smile probably mirrored my mother's own.

"Of course I will! Who's the best man?"

"Michael."

I couldn't help it, I giggled just a bit. Michael had been my brother's roommate all four years of college. They were best friends and over the years of visiting Kevin at college I developed a teenage crush on Michael. He was cute! Tall, black hair, green eyes, and he had been an engineering major.

Paul turned a questioning eyebrow on me, but I kept my gaze on Jolie. He didn't need to know that I had spent two hours worth of car rides fantasizing about Michael Kettering's perfect white smile at our arrival with fresh baked cookies.

"I was thinking we could go shopping for dresses tomorrow." Jolie suggested.

"Do you mind if I come along girls?" Mom asked.

"I want you to come!" Jolie smiled.

My Mom looked so happy, and she should be. Not only was she married to an amazing man but she didn't have to worry about her son anymore. He was in good hands with Jolie.

"When's dessert?" Jake questioned suddenly.

Kate smacked his arm playfully and I watched as he turned to her with his little lopsided smile. He bent down and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead before he turned to look at Mom expectantly.

"Maybe she didn't make any dessert, son." Billy smirked.

Jake looked almost heartbroken until Mom stood up and pulled out a tray of cookies. His face lit up and I watched as he and Paul grabbed a handful of cookies. Paul handed me one before he shoved on into his mouth followed by another.

Dessert was over fast to say the least. All the guys migrated into the living room and turned on some game, leaving us girls in the kitchen to gossip. Jolie and Mom were at the sink washing dishes and Kate and I were at the table playing with Joanna.

"How's Derek?" She questioned softly.

"He's alright."

"I really did like him, but Jake…he's well…you know."

"I do."

"It's just… I always wondered what it was with Kim and Jared and I was always so jealous. Then the same thing is offered to me? How could I ever throw that opportunity away?" She explained. "I just…Derek is a great person and I still want to be his friend."

I smiled at her in understanding. "He'll understand, just talk to him."

"I was planning on going to see him tomorrow. He'll be home right?"

"On a Sunday afternoon? Oh yeah; he'll probably be reading a book or something."

Joanna reached out and grabbed Kate's loose black hair and started to stick it in her mouth. I gently grabbed her hand and pulled Kate's hair out of it before I bent and gave her pudgy little hand a kiss.

"I can't believe how much she looks like you." Kate smiled.

"I know…you know Mandy? Kevin's ex? She ran into Paul and I while we were out eating and she thought Joanna was mine. Little did she know that she was Kevin's daughter." I grinned a bit maniacally.

"I heard about her; what a bitch. But I can't help but notice Paul with Joanna." She smirked and shoved my arm playfully.

"Thank you, I know." I rolled my eyes.

"Just saying…someday you and Paul…"

"Someday we'll what?" Paul asked as he walked into the kitchen.

He lifted Joanna from my lap and set her on his hip while he stared down at the two of us expectantly. Kate just smiled and turned her gaze upon me.

"Someday we will have Kate as a sister-in-law!"

Ha! I turned the embarrassment right back on her. Although, she didn't look too embarrassed. That didn't matter though; Paul was distracted by Joanna and dropped the subject.

***

Kate and Mom sat on the couch in the dress boutique while Jolie and I tried on all sorts of dresses. Jolie didn't want to go all out, so she stuck to the simple dresses for the both of us. We all decided that yellow was not the right color for me as well as green. So they had sent me once again back to the dressing room with an aqua colored dress.

After I put it on I looked myself over in the mirror for a bit before I finally walked out to where they could see. Jolie was already standing before the two of them in a simple off the shoulder gown smiling widely.

"This is the one." She said before she turned to me. "And I think that's the one for you too."

Kate and Mom switched their gazes to me and smiled a bit mischievously.

"What until Paul sees her in that." Kate chuckled.

"We'll have another wedding to get ready for soon." Mom grinned.

"What? I don't know what you're talking about." I scoffed.

"Whatever Hallie. Well, I have to go guys. I need to speak with Derek." Kate announced as she stood up. She gave all three of us hugs before she left the door with a little wave.

"That dress does look great on you, Hallie." Jolie smiled. "And since I love the color…that's the dress I would like you to wear."

With that decided we made our purchases and left to go grab some lunch. We stopped at a little café and it was as we were headed back to the car that I noticed him again; the vampire. He was leaning against a light pole with a very satisfied grin on his face. He looked a bit like the cat that had caught the canary. Obviously he had something up his sleeve, but I had no idea what it could be. All I knew was that I was going to be sticking very close to Paul.