So, I know I just updated the other day, but I started writing this chapter and before I knew it, it was finished. Thank you all so much for your reviews and adds. I'm so glad you guys are enjoying the story. I hope you like this chapter, and please let me know what you think!

Disclaimer: I own nothing associated with Twilight.

Chapter Eight

Four Months Later

Camilla had settled into a comfortable pattern in her care of Avery, however, she had yet to talk to Mack about getter her old waitressing job back at the diner. Her mother in particular was in no rush for Camilla to start working because she felt there was no need and that Camilla should just focus on continuing to nurture her bond with Avery. The more she thought about it the more she realized her mother was right, plus she was sort of in love with her little girl and probably would die if she was away from her for too long.

"Don't you look pretty," Camilla said with a smile as she lifted her daughter up so she was sitting on the changing table and Avery giggled as she looked at her mother and reached for Camilla's face. Camilla laughed as she helped Avery remain sitting since she hadn't quite mastered that skill yet.

Avery could roll though and enjoyed rolling all over the living room which is why when Camilla was doing stuff around the house, Avery was settled in her playpen in whatever room Camilla happened to be in. Camilla had been blessed with a calm and even tempered baby, and Avery always seemed to be happy. She rarely cried, only crying on the rare occasion that Camilla hadn't noticed her soiled diaper, she was extremely tired, or Camilla was late in feeding her.

With her free hand, Camilla fixed the skirt of the pretty dark pink and white dress she had put on Avery as she got her daughter ready that late morning. The ruffle of the skirt was littered with tiny pink and green rosettes and she had paired it with a pair of dark pink pants, white lace socks and the white soft shoes Teresa had recently bought. The dress had been a gift from Emily, which was why Camilla had dressed Avery in the pretty cotton dress with sleeves. They were going to Emily's baby shower, and a quick glance at the watch she had taken to wearing on her left wrist she realized Paul would be there soon to pick them up.

"We need to brush your hair," she said as she picked up the soft bristle baby brush from where it rested on the side of the changing table. "Paul will be here soon," she told Avery and the little girl's face lit up before she giggled and clapped her hands while Camilla ran the brush through Avery's hair.

Camilla laughed softly once more as she shook her head in mild amazement. For some reason, Camilla could swear that Avery understood everything she said, especially when it came Paul. Avery was besotted with him, and if Camilla didn't know better, she would have thought Avery loved Paul more than her. However, there was one thing she did know: Paul absolutely adored Avery. Watching him with her, one would think that Avery was his daughter and over the last few months Camilla found her feelings towards the young man drastically changing.

She didn't know if it was because of the way he acted with Avery or if it was because her eyes finally opened and she saw just how truly amazing he was. He was seemingly the perfect guy, and he was always there when she needed help no matter what he had going on. He had a bit of a temper that came out when Jared or one of the other guys goaded him, but all she would have to do was say his name and his attention would return to her and though she could still see the irritation at his friends in his eyes, he would calm. Peter had always seemingly approved of Paul hanging around her, and now Teresa had also grown fond of Paul.

Over the last few weeks, Camilla had found it harder to restrain herself from touching him and she had lost count of how many times she had to suppress the urge to kiss him. He gave her no solid sign that he felt the same way, and she didn't want to chance losing the person she considered her best friend because she couldn't suppress the sudden surge of hormones she was experiencing. A sudden knock shook her from her reverie and she finished brushing Avery's hair and smiled.

"Paul's here," she said and Avery screamed a laugh as Camilla picked her up and rested the fifteen pound little girl on her left hip before she left the nursery. Avery's diaper bag and jacket were already downstairs in the living room along with Emily's wrapped present.

Thankfully, she didn't have to juggle anything else other than Avery, who found one of the buttons of Camilla's dark purple cardigan interesting as Camilla went downstairs. She walked over to the front door and paused briefly to run her hand through her hair, which she had just had cut into her usual style so it fell neatly above her shoulders. After glancing at Avery, she laughed at her own silliness before she opened the door and smiled when she spotted Paul standing on the front porch, his hands in the front pockets of his jeans.

"Hi," Camilla breathed as she felt her cheeks heat as she took him in. It was totally impossible, but every time she saw him she thought he got better looking. He was dressed in his usual dark jeans with a well-fitting maroon shirt on underneath a light weight black cotton jacket.

Paul smiled at Camilla when he saw her blush. Lately, whenever he was around the beautiful pink color start at the apple of her cheeks before it raced down her neck, and disappeared under the collars of her shirts. She looked beautiful in a simple black top that was tight to her chest but flowing from her body just under her bust. The sweater she was wearing was beautiful against her pale skin and the dark skinny jeans clinged to her legs and hips nicely. She'd lost most of the weight she had gained while pregnant, but he knew the reason for the flowing top was because she was still self-conscious about the way her stomach was still slightly puffy. However, to him she was absolutely perfect.

"Hi," he said back through his smile before his eyes turned to Avery. "Hey Avery," he said happily and the little girl looked away from the button she was playing with before she giggled and reached out for him with her left hand. Both Camilla and Paul chuckled as Camilla stepped aside and Paul moved into the house, taking Avery from Camilla and hearing another giggle from the baby as he kissed her cheek. She put her tiny hands on his face as she giggled and Paul couldn't help but smile as he settled her in his arms, her hands grabbing onto the lapel of his jacket.

"You know, sometimes I think she loves you more than me," Camilla said as she closed the door and Paul chuckled as he looked at Camilla.

"No," Paul said and Camilla smiled at him. "I just spoil her a little more than you do."

"Please, I'm going to end up being one of those push over moms because all she's got to do is look at me with those hazel eyes of hers and I'm a goner," Camilla said and Paul laughed along with Camilla before he watched her slip on her shoes. "Since I know she won't let me take her from you, would you mind helping me put on her jacket?" Camilla asked and he grinned as he shook his head negatively before he followed her into the living room and over to the sofa where she had everything laid out. "Thank you for coming to get us," Camilla said. "If Mom and Dad wouldn't have had to go to Port Angeles this afternoon for a supply run, I would have had the van. You had to drive all the way over here only to go back to the same place you came from."

"Camilla, I wouldn't have volunteered if it was a problem," Paul said as Camilla stood in front of him and put Avery's jacket on and zipped it up before she put the white knit cap. Thankfully, she had another brush in the diaper bag and she would fix her daughter's hair once they got to Sam and Emily's.

"Still," she said softly as she looked up at him, her hands unconsciously going to rest on his forearm where Avery's bottom was settled on and on his wrist that was curved around the baby, holding her close. "Thanks," she smiled softly at him and Paul smiled at her in return.

Despite his above-average body temperature, Paul could feel the heat from Camilla's fingers on his wrist and arm seep through his jacket, which he wore only because Camilla chewed him out for not wearing one, and he felt every hair on his body stand up. He didn't know what to say as he looked down at her and as she looked up at him with her stunning green eyes soft and so full of emotion. He couldn't tell what emotion though since a million different ones seemed to be swirling in her eyes.

She'd been acting differently around him lately, but the signals she gave off only confused him and he didn't know just where he stood with her anymore. However, he did know that he meant a great deal to her, almost as much as she meant to him, and he dared to hope that he was possibly leaving the friend zone. He lifted his right hand from his side and slowly brought his hand towards her face. However, before he barely even reached her face Avery squealed and tugged on his jacket, drawing both of their eyes to her. Camilla's hands left his arm and Paul glanced at her to see her cheeks darken with yet another blush as she cleared her throat and fix her sweater.

"Well, we should get going, hmm?" Camilla asked and Paul nodded. "I've got her car seat, will it fit in your truck?" she asked and Paul shook his head.

"I actually borrowed Jacob's car," Paul said. "That way she's safe in the backseat." Camilla smiled and nodded her head before Paul handed Avery over to her. "I'll take everything out to the car and get her car seat fastened in while you get your coat on. It shouldn't take me too long." Camilla could only nod as Paul moved away from her and Avery and easily gathered everything in his hands before he walked outside. Camilla sighed heavily and looked at Avery, whose chubby cheeks were flushed because she was warm in her coat.

"Oh, Avery," she said and the little girl looked at her. "Mommy's in way over her head when it comes to that man." Avery giggled again and Camilla smiled before she looked out the window and saw Paul bending into the back of the small old car, giving her a perfect view of his backside since he had parked halfway up the driveway. "Yep, definitely in over my head."

"Camilla, thank you! Look Sam," Emily said with a smile as she unwrapped the present Camilla (and her parents) had gotten for the expectant mother and showed her husband the video baby monitor system. "This is just too much," Emily said as she turned her eyes to Camilla, who laughed from where she sat on the sofa beside Paul.

"It's not too much, Emily, and you'll love it, trust me," Camilla said. "I know I love the one I have."

"If it wouldn't take me twenty minutes, I would get up and hug you," Emily said and everyone in the room laughed, including Camilla once more.

"Don't worry, we'll hug later," she said with a wave of her hand and Emily chuckled as she handed the box off to Sam who put it with the others while Emily's mom handed her another present.

Camilla's eyes fluttered over to Avery, who was settled in Seth's arms/lap as she slept soundly, her face turned into his chest as she suckled her left hand. Camilla had taken time to feed Avery before Emily had started opening presents and thanks to Seth's body heat and her full tummy, she went out like a light.

Avery's connection with Seth was much the same as it was with Paul, she was infatuated with Camilla's slightly younger friend and Seth loved Avery like he was a proud big brother. Camilla had offered to take Avery from him to lay her down in the other room, but Seth said she was fine and that he didn't mind holding her, especially since she seemed so content. Seth was as helpful as; if not more than; Paul and he had already told Camilla that if she ever needed a babysitter, he'd be happy to watch Avery for her. Camilla knew that if her mother wouldn't be able to watch Avery for her, Seth would be at the top of the short list of people she would call.

She felt Paul shift beside her before his warm arm came to rest on the back of the sofa behind her. The movement allowed her to smell the intoxicating scent that was Paul and she felt her cheeks flush once more. Paul smelled like the forest after a cleansing rain and a warm spicy scent that was familiar but that she couldn't quite place. Her thoughts were flooded with the endless times she had almost kissed him, and how she had wanted to do just that a few hours earlier as they stood in the middle of her family's living room. It was taking all of her will power not to attack him, and she needed to take a moment for herself.

"I'll be right back," Camilla whispered as she finally turned her eyes to him and he nodded as he watched her stand and slip from the room before she disappeared into the kitchen. Paul frowned as he looked at the tops of his knees and decided it was best to follow after her. Something was wrong, and whatever it was he wanted to fix it if he could.

The kitchen was empty since everyone was out in the living room watching Emily open her gifts and Camilla moved over to stand in front of the sink, her hands resting on the edge of the counter/sink. She took a deep breath as she closed her eyes and slowly let it out as the tension left her shoulders. However, the tension was back when a familiar voice filled the room.

"Hey, Camilla, are you okay?" Paul asked and she opened her eyes before she turned around and forced a tight lip smile as she rested her hands on the edge of the counter behind her.

"I'm fine," she said and he frowned as he walked closer to her, coming to stop about a foot in front of her, his brown eyes bearing down on her green.

"I don't really believe you, you know," he said. "You're not exactly the world's greatest liar." She bit her lower lip as she looked up at him, unsure what to say. She couldn't exactly blurt out that she was pretty sure she was falling in love with him. The very thought of falling in love again should have frightened her after what had happened the first time around, but with Paul . . . it was different.

Her thoughts went back to that night as they stood on Sam and Emily's porch, when they barely knew the first thing about each other. She had been in such a fog as they spoke on the porch, but she remembered his words that night and as she stood there with him she realized something. She finally saw what her father had so easily seen and what had caused her mother to worry about her heart when it came to the man standing in front of her. However, Camilla knew then and there that she had no reason for the doubt and fear she was battling. Paul looked at her the way Jared looked at Kim, and unexpected tears lined her eyes as she smiled up at him.

Paul literally felt the air between them shift as Camilla looked up at him and gave him a teary eyed smile and he swore his heart was in his throat as his mouth fell open at what he saw in her eyes. Earlier he had not been able to read her face, but now . . . now he knew exactly what she was thinking and with determination he took a step, closing the distance between them, before he raised his hands to her face. He could hear her heart race in her chest and feel her pulse rapidly pounding against the tips of his fingers as they rested on the side of her neck. She looked up at him expectantly and he decided to take his time and enjoy the moment leading up to what both of them knew was inevitable at that point.

He leaned into her, his nose gently brushing against hers as their eyes remained locked and their faces centimeters apart. Their breath mingled together and Paul was sure his already quick beating heart tripled in its rate, just like Camilla's did under his fingertips. His right hand slid in her hair while his left remained on her cheek and he felt her hands settle on his waist before she gripped his t-shirt tightly into her hands. He nudged her nose with his, earning a breathy laugh from her and a sparkle lit her eyes as he smiled in return.

Paul closed his eyes as he kissed the tip of her nose and he heard her breath catch as her grip on his shirt tightened. Slowly, Paul moved in and tenderly pressed his lips to hers, coaxing her response, which took no time at all to garner as she responded quickly and urged him to deepen the kiss. Something he had no problem doing.