Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Twilight. And the song credit goes to Hoobastank. I meant to update before I left for the weekend, but my ride arrived sooner than expected. Here it is though! Read and Review please!

"I'm not a perfect person
There's many things I wish I didn't do
But I continue learning
I never meant to do those things to you
And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know

I've found out a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is you"

The Reason

It had been a whole year since I had moved here. So much had happened in the past year, more than what had ever happened in years spent back in Michigan. In celebration, Derek had given me the day off and Paul had a 'surprise' for me tonight.

I had planned on staying home and catching up on some reading, but Paul kicked me out, so I stole his truck and went to Jolie and Kevin's. Kevin was at work, but Jolie and Joanna were in the living room watching a cartoon when I arrived.

"Paul kicked me out of the house until this evening." I stated lamely.

Jolie smiled and patted the spot next to her on the couch. Joanna was on the floor, a toy in her mouth, and her gaze on the educational duckies on the TV. I looked back at Jolie's smiling face; it looked like she knew something I didn't!

"What do you know that I don't?"

"Oh nothing." She said quickly.

"Yeah, I'm sure." I rolled my eyes.

I let it drop after that and soon was absorbed into the weird educational cartoon on TV. It was nice that it was educational, but did it have to be so creepy? I watched things like Eureka's Castle and Fraggle Rock, and I didn't turn out dumb. Of course, my parents were smart enough to actually put a book in my hand every once in a while instead of plopping me down in front of the TV all the time.

I was brought out of my in mind rant when there was a knock on the door. Jolie was busy changing Joanna's diaper, so I got up and walked over to the front door. I thought that it would be my Mom or Kim or even a freaking UPS guy, I did not expect Mandy to be standing on the other side of the door.

"What the hell are you doing here?" She asked.

"I could ask you the same thing."

"Where's your bastard child?"

"One, she isn't a bastard, and two she's my niece." I grinned evilly.

Her smirk slid right off her pale white face. I didn't bother to hold back my pleased chuckle. Instead I stepped out onto the porch with her, shutting the door behind me so Jolie wouldn't hear.

"Yeah that's right, Mandy. He didn't want to have children with you."

"You bitch! It's all your fault! You poisoned him with lies all those years!" She screamed in my face.

"I didn't tell him anything that wasn't true, and don't call me a bitch again."

"Why? You have no problem calling me one."

She did have me there. I shrugged at her and waited for her next explosion. I just needed her to go away so Jolie didn't have to deal with her; I wanted to spare her of this for the rest of her life.

"Oh and yeah…they're expecting another one." I grinned. So, it was a lie, but I needed something to give the killing blow.

"You bitch! Why don't you run back to Dancing Bear and make little mixed babies?"

Before I even knew what I was doing, I drew my fist back and hit her hard right in the nose. I could care less if she called me a bitch, but she would not insult Paul or our future children like that. She stumbled back a bit, her hand clutching her bleeding nose. My own hand hurt, but I didn't care.

"His name is Paul by the way." I hissed. "If I were you I'd get the hell out of here before he finds out what you said and made me do to myself."

She flipped me off with her free hand and stalked off towards her rental car. I hoped she got blood all over so she had to pay to get it cleaned; bitch. I waited until she was well down the road before I turned and went back into the house where Jolie was waiting for me with a bag of ice.

"Here, put this on your hand; that was quite a right hook." Jolie chuckled.

"Yeah, she went a bit too far." I replied. "I don't think we'll be hearing any more from her soon, and when she comes again I'll sick Paul on her."

***

Paul was waiting on the porch when I pulled into the driveway. He watched as I got out of the truck and walked up the stairs to where he stood by the front door. He grabbed me by the hips and placed a gentle kiss on my lips before he pulled away and looked me in the eyes.

"Ready for your big night?" He questioned; a twinkle in his eyes.

"Yeah."

"Well first you need to go get into that outfit I put on your bed." He grinned.

I raised an eyebrow at him before I lifted my hand up to his gaze. He needed to know, and now was better than later. He immediately cradled it gently between his two hands and looked at me with concern and a bit of anger in his eyes.

"Mandy." I said simply.

"She was here again?" He spat.

"Yes and she said some things about you and our future children that pissed me off so I decked her right in the nose."

"Did you break it?"

"I hope so."

"You defended my honor, and our unborn children's?" He asked softly, his hand stroking over my hand gently.

"Well yeah."

"You know what? Screw what I had planned; come upstairs with me."

My eyes widened as the image of us tangled in his sheets, sweaty and naked, swam before my eyes. I felt butterflies in my stomach as the image swiftly turned a bit more graphic and averted my face from his gaze.

"Not for that. Jeez Hallie, I don't think of sex all the time."

"But the other ninety nine point nine percent of the time you do." I chuckled as I laced my fingers through his, my naughty thoughts forgotten; well not completely forgotten. He led me into the house and up the stairs towards his room. If he wasn't thinking of trying to seduce me, then what was he trying to do?

"Remember when I said I was working on a surprise?" He questioned as we stood outside his closed bedroom door.

"Yeah."

"Well, prepared to be amazed."

I laughed at his cheesy line as he swung open the door to the master bedroom. I peeked inside and gasped. In place of his old plain bed there was a beautifully crafted canopied bed in its place. I slowly moved into the room as my eyes continued to travel over the bed. It was a dark wood, beautifully stained, and along the columns he carved wolves along with what looked like books. At first that might sound tacky, but not the way he did it.

There wasn't a curtain for the canopy, but I'd take care of that soon enough. Once I was done with my inspection I turned back to Paul who was leaning against the doorframe as causal as ever.

"It's amazing." I breathed.

"See I told you so." He grinned and moved closer to me. "Consider this a wedding present."

With that he got down on one knee, took my left hand in his, and looked up into my eyes. My eyes were already glistening with tears and as he revealed a simple but perfect ring some spilled over onto my cheeks.

"Will you finally be completely mine?"

I shook my head 'no' and a look of hurt crossed his handsome face. He started to stand back up, but I pressed a hand to his chest, telling him to stay right where he was.

"You have to do it right." I stated.

His familiar grin replaced his somber look and he rolled his eyes at me before he asked: "Hallie, will you marry me?"

"That's more like it, and yes I believe I will marry you."

He happily slid the ring on my finger, stood up and swept me up into his arms. He held me bridal style against his chest as he brought his lips down onto mine. We pulled away after a minute and he finally set me back on my feet.

"So, what did you have planned?"

"I was going to wine and dine you and ask you over dinner, but this just seemed to fit us more." Paul replied.

"You're right, I'm glad you did it this way."

***

I was back to work the next day, the knowledge of our engagement still between Paul and I. I didn't want to tell people over the phone and after he proposed we spent the night curled up on the couch together talking about what kind of wedding we wanted. We had both agreed on something traditional but not over done.

So, it would be in a Methodist church at my request and the reception would be much like Kevin and Jolie's. And the two of us both agreed on having a special cake made. After I shared my dream of a beautifully crafted wedding cake, he had given in easily.

I was thinking of ideas for the cake as I re-shelved books. Was a four tier too much? The cake would have to feed a bunch of wolves, and we were supposed to keep the top for our one year anniversary.

"Hallie? Is that what I think it is?" Derek questioned as he came up behind me.

I looked at him, my brow wrinkled in confusion. Then I noticed that his gaze seemed to be on my hand…my left hand that was pushing a book back onto the shelf.

"Yes."

He smiled broadly, "So the day off I gave you was worthwhile?"

"It would seem that way."

Kate walked over then and looked between the two of us curiously. "What's this little gathering about?"

"Hallie's engaged." Derek replied.

She turned on me with a huge grin and seized my left hand to examine the ring.

"How did he do it?"

"In his own special way, but I made him do it right."

"I'm sure you did. Well, anyway congratulations." Derek chuckled before he walked back towards his office.

"So who's your maid of honor?"

"Probably Jolie since I was hers." I replied. "But will you be my other bride's maid? I'm only having two."

She smiled and threw her arms around me, "Of course I will!"

Once she let go she walked back towards the circulation desk giggling about how much she loved weddings. Well, that was two down and many more to go. But I was sure that with Kate being as happy as she was she would spill to Jake who would spill to Billy, who would spill to my Mom. Maybe calling her wasn't such a bad idea after all.