Hi everyone! Thank you all so much for your reviews and adds. I'm really glad you all enjoyed the last chapter, and I'm sorry I've been MIA and didn't respond directly. I've had a busy couple of weeks, but I promise to respond to any reviews I get for this chapter. I had a small battle with writer's block when I actually had time to write. I knew what I wanted to have happen in this chapter, but it just wasn't coming out right. I think it came out okay in the end though. I hope you all like it, and please let me know what you think!

Disclaimer: I own nothing associated with Twilight.

Chapter Seventeen

Five Months Later

"I can't believe she's already one," Camilla said as she worked with Emily, Kim, Teresa, Sue, and Paul's mother, Sara, in the kitchen of Sam and Emily's house putting the finishing touches on the food for Camilla's first birthday party. Emily had offered up her house to hold Camilla's birthday party because after having so many get togethers at the house for the pack, they all knew that Sam and Emily had enough room for everyone that was in attendance that afternoon. Camilla was grateful for her offer because even though Camilla and her family had a nice house, but all the guys really wouldn't have fit comfortably in it. "It seems like I just blinked and the time passed by so quickly, especially the last few months."

"I've been there," Teresa, Sue, and Sara chorused before all three looked at each other and laughed lightly, which made the three younger women smile. Three months ago, when Paul's parents met hers for the first time, Camilla had been nervous that they wouldn't have gotten along. However, Paul had been convinced that their mothers would soon become best friends, bonding over their children and as much as she hated to admit it, he'd been right.

Sara and Teresa had become quick friends and adding Sue to the mix, the trio was rather comical because all three women enjoyed a good laugh and a glass or two of wine now and then. Their friendship was much like Emily, Kim, and Camilla's, which caused Jared to joke that the three older women were Emily, Kim, and Camilla in about twenty years.

"I know what you mean," Emily said quietly and Camilla looked at her. "Michael will be one in a few months and I really don't know where the time's gone."

"Next thing you know they'll be graduating high school, going to college, and getting married," Camilla said and Emily smiled knowingly at Camilla, who smiled back at her friend.

"Speaking of getting married," Sue said and everyone looked at her as her eyes zeroed in on Kim. "Have you and Jared set a date yet?" she asked before all eyes moved to Kim, which made the more reserved young woman blush prettily before she tucked her hair behind her ears.

"Not yet," Kim said.

"Why not?" Camilla asked curiously and Kim heaved a sigh.

"Because I can't decide if I want to get married in the spring or in the fall and Jared's no help because he just says 'whenever you want, babe.' It's really annoying," she said with a furrowed brow, making all the women laugh lightly.

"Go for fall," Camilla said and everyone looked at her.

"Why?" Kim asked and Camilla smiled.

"I've always wanted a fall wedding," she said softly as she got a faraway look in her eyes and her smile turned soft. "There's that smell in the air as everything gets ready for winter, the leaves are changing and falling, and to me it's just . . . it's the perfect time of year." Kim smiled at Camilla as she turned her eyes to her, and Kim decided then that she would pick a day in the spring. Fall was Camilla's favorite time of year, and since Emily's anniversary was in the summer, she'd let Camilla have her pick of days in the fall for when Paul got around to asking her to marry him.

"I'll think about it," Kim said evenly and Camilla smiled at her as she nodded. The women fell into comfortable chatter as they finished putting everything in serving bowls and trays.

"We need a few more hands," Teresa said when she realized the multitude of everything.

"I get the guys," Camilla said lightly before she wiped her hands on a dish towel and made her way into the living room. Everyone was chatting and enjoying the snacks they had all put out to tide them over until the ladies finished fixing everything. "Hey," Camilla said as she walked up to Paul, who just so happened to be standing with Jared and Embry, and put her hand on his forearm. She felt his muscles tighten slightly under her cool fingers, and smiled to herself as she looked up at him before she looked at the other two young men. "Would the three of you mind giving us a hand loading up the tables?" she asked.

"No, we wouldn't," Paul said answering for the other two and Jared and Embry both smiled as they shook their heads negatively before they started towards the kitchen. Camilla smiled at them and glanced further into the living room, her eyes searching for Avery.

In less than a second she found her little girl, who was dressed in a lavender princess dress with a matching white and lavender bow in her dark hair, which now was growing into loose ringlets, as she teetered around the cleared center of the living room where Michael sat on a blanket playing with his toys, his father sitting in a chair close by. Camilla knew that even though Sam was having a conversation with Billy that the man's 'feelers' were focused in on his son in case he needed anything. She laughed quietly to herself when she saw Seth's eyes on Avery as waddled about, and the young man looked ready to jump from his chair should she fall over and possibly hurt herself.

'So, are we going to help the others?" Paul asked quietly in her ear, making her shiver slightly when his breath washed across her neck thanks to her pulled back hair. He chuckled while she blushed and tore her eyes away from her daughter and looked up at Paul, a small grin on her lips as she did so.

"Yeah," she said lightly as she slid her hand down his arm and laced her fingers with his before she tugged on his hand and started to lead them towards the kitchen, but he moved far quicker than she had been expecting and Camilla found herself standing in the deserted hall just off the living room with Paul before he pulled her into the half-bath that rested on the first floor of Sam and Emily's house. "What are you doing?" she asked in a whisper as she looked up at him when she found herself pinned between him and the door as he flicked on the light.

"Stealing a few minutes with you," he said as his hands gently caressed her sides, the heat of his touch easily seeping through the thick knit of the sweater she was wearing, as they moved higher on her torso. Her breath caught as his thumbs came to rest at the undersides of her breasts, making him grin before he leaned in and caught her mouth with his. Just like every time Paul kissed her, Camilla lost all thought and wrapped her arms around his neck as she kissed him back. After a minute, his lips left hers and moved along her jaw and down to her neck, where he nibbled and licked at the sensitive skin of her neck making her gasp and press her body tight to his before his mouth returned to hers.

"Paul," Camilla breathed after tearing her lips from his and he growled quietly as he opened his eyes and met her gaze evenly. "Not here," she whispered, her pale cheeks darkening and her body tingling as she took in the fire that was roaring in his dark eyes. "Your family, my family, and all of our friends are in the other room. Plus, this is my daughter's first birthday party," Camilla said after she swallowed hard. She was doing her best to control her breathing as his hands roamed her body before his right hand cupped her backside and squeezed, making her gasp.

"I've missed you," he growled lowly, his lips brushing against hers, and Camilla felt the meaning behind his words pressing solidly into her stomach through his jeans.

"And whose fault is that?" she bravely asked back and he sighed heavily, his grip remaining strong on her body. It had been almost three weeks since the two of them had actually been together because Paul had been working on some big job. For the last four months Paul was always tired, more so than usual, when they were together, and since the first of the year, he ended up falling asleep on her whenever they were together. She didn't understand what he was working on, but despite her curiosity she hadn't asked him yet.

"Last Saturday is a perfect example. My mom and dad had gone to spend the weekend with my aunt, Sue and Seth were watching Avery, and we had my house all to ourselves," she said with a small grin on her face and his hold on her loosened slightly, his hand leaving her butt and settling on her lower back. "I went into the bathroom for a second, and when I got back into my room you were out cold. You were even snoring."

"Sorry," he said quietly and Camilla smiled up at him as his hands slid from her completely before he took hold of her hands in his. He righted himself and sighed softly as he looked down at her. "I've been working on something, and I'm almost finished with it. I guess I've had a case of tunnel vision because I want to get it done."

"What are you working on anyway?" she asked as she ran her thumbs over the backs of his hands.

"I can't tell you. Not yet," he said and she raised an eyebrow. "Don't worry. It's nothing bad, I swear."

"Why can't you tell me?" she asked.

"I just can't, but when I'm done you'll be one of the first to know," he said before he leaned into her and kissed her chastely. "Let's join the others," he said and she nodded before he let go of her left hand and laced the fingers of his left hand with her right as they two of them walked out of the bathroom, down the hall, and then into the living room only to find the room was empty and everyone was crowded into the dining room fixing their plates and chatting as they went through the line. Camilla spotted Seth standing beside Avery, who was settled in her high chair, and she saw that he had already fixed Avery's food and had secured Avery's 'Birthday Girl' bib around her neck.

"There you two are," Teresa said as she carried two plates in her hands over to where the pair stood holding hands.

"How long were we in there?" Camilla asked in a whisper as she glanced up at Paul and he subtly shook his head.

"I didn't think long," he whispered back just as Teresa came to a stop in front of the two of them.

"I fixed you a plate," Teresa said as she held out the plate in her right hand to Camilla before she looked up at Paul. "You should get in there before the rest of the boys clear everything out."

"Right," Paul said as Camilla let go of his hand and took the plate from her mother. Paul smiled at her before he wandered into the dining room. Camilla smiled softly as she watched him walk away before her mother cleared her throat and bringing Camilla's attention to her. Camilla furrowed her brow slightly when she saw her mother's grin and Teresa chuckled.

"I have some cover up in my purse if you want to use it," Teresa said and Camilla's frown only deepened. "For you neck," Teresa clarified and Camilla's eyes widened before her empty hand moved to the left side of her neck where Paul had paid the most attention to during their small make out session. Camilla could feel her face heat and she knew her face was bright red as she looked at her mother, who laughed lightly once more.

"Oh God," Camilla said under her breath, which only made Teresa laugh a little louder.

"Relax, Millie," Teresa said. "It's really not all that noticeable since it's still fresh."

"Still," Camilla said in a huff as she lowered her hand to her side after she fixed her hair so it was covering her neck a little more. "I'm going to kill him," she said, her eyes holding her mother's mirth filled eyes.

"Who are you going to kill and why?" Peter asked as he walked up to his wife and daughter, his own plate of food in hand. Camilla's blush deepened and she found that for some reason she couldn't look up at her father's face, so, she settled her eyes with her mother's once again.

"Seth," Teresa supplied for her daughter with a smile on her lips as she looked up at her husband, "because he's been spoiling Avery all day."

"When isn't he?" Peter asked with a chuckle and Camilla finally turned his eyes to her dad, a small smile on her face as she nodded. "Let's grab a seat while we can," Peter suggested and Teresa nodded before the two of them moved to the sofa. Camilla watched her parents for a second before she looked back towards Seth and Avery only to smile when she saw Paul standing there with Seth.

As if sensing her eyes on them, both men looked her way, Paul grinned and Seth smiled at her, before her eyes glanced at her daughter who was happily eating. Even though she really wanted to kill Paul for giving her a hickey, her smile grew as her eyes returned to his across the expanse of the room. His grin morphed into a smile, lighting up his tired looking eyes. Whatever it was that Paul was working on, she hoped he finished it before he ended up hurting himself in some way.

January soon came to a close and as the end of February drew near Paul packed the last of his tools into the back of his truck and closed the tailgate loudly before he let out a relieved sigh. He smiled to himself as his breath misted away in front of him before he lowered his hands from the tailgate and turned around to look at the house behind him. He was pretty sure he had never been as tired as he was at that very moment. He was even more tired than he had been after endless hours of patrolling when they were hunting down that red head a few years back or preparing to fight that newborn army. However, the exhaustion and endless number of splinters he had earned over the last five months would be worth it when he brought Camilla up there the following day.

When he first came upon the modest one and a half story house while on patrol one night back in September, the house looked nothing like it did now. It had looked like a teardown; however, as he looked at the house and the size of the yard that surrounded it all he saw was its potential. So, with the help of his parents he got the house for next to nothing given its condition and the fact that it was basically unlivable; and over the last five months when he wasn't working, on patrol, or with Camilla he was there, working on the house.

Jared and Sam came and helped, but Paul had been living and breathing the house and making it into a home. Peter had even lent him a hand by working out a deal with a supplier friend of his for lumber, insulation, and drywall. He had been nervous when he had told Camilla's parents about his plans at Halloween, but to his surprise her parents were more than supportive. That was probably because he had laid everything out there for them; telling them that someday, when she was ready, he wanted to marry Camilla, and even adopt Avery if Camilla was agreeable to him doing that.

That statement had surprised Teresa and when she asked him why he wanted to do that, his answer had been simple. He loved Avery as if she was his own, and he would be proud to be able to call her his daughter. It was then that they had agreed to keep his plan secret and Peter said he could get him a deal on the supplies he would need. It was thanks to Peter's help that he really was able to do everything he wanted inside, and he hoped Camilla loved it as much as he already did.

The house was empty, but he had acquired used appliances, even a washer and dryer, and he knew Camilla would be more than happy to decorate the house. Jared had given him crap about his decision to let Camilla have free reign over what the inside of their house would be like, but he didn't pay him any mind. He'd seen her room and knew that she favored lighter and airier colors than he did, and he really didn't care if he was soon going to be living in a sea of pastels when all was said and done. He didn't care because it would be his home with Camilla and Avery, and that was all that mattered in the end.

"Hey," Camilla said happily when Paul walked into the kitchen of her family's house, flowers in hand. He smiled at her and Camilla abandoned her place at the counter where she had been chopping up vegetables for the strew she was helping her mother make before she met him halfway and threw her arms around his waist in a warm embrace. Paul chuckled and wrapped his left arm around her and held her close before he looked up at Teresa who was grinning and wiping her hands on a towel.

"Did you finish?" Teresa mouthed at him and his smile remained on his face as he nodded, and Teresa smiled brightly at him. Their silent conversation had gone unnoticed by Camilla as she hugged Paul for a second longer before she pulled away from him and looked up at him.

"You look like you actually got some sleep last night," she said teasingly and Paul chuckled once more as he held out the small bouquet of flowers to her.

"I did, which is why I cancelled on you last night," he said as she took the flowers from him, smiling before she brought the flowers up to her nose. "I was exhausted and I didn't trust myself to drive over. I hope you're not upset."

"No, I'm not," she said as she lowered the flowers and shook her head. "I'm just glad you decided to take care of yourself for a change. I've been worried about you," she said as she rested her empty hand on his stomach, his muscles tightening on their own accord under her touch.

"Well, you don't have reason to worry anymore," he said, "and if your mother wouldn't mind watching Avery and can spare you for the rest of the day, I want to show you something."

"I don't know," Camilla said softly. "Avery's down for her nap, but-," Camilla made to continue, but Teresa cut her off.

"Millie, go on and have a bit of fun," Teresa said and Camilla turned around to face her mother. "I can manage just fine here on my own and if I need help, your father's around. Plus, I wouldn't put it past Seth to show up sometime soon, especially since I told him yesterday that I'm making beef stew today." Camilla laughed lightly as she nodded her head while Paul chuckled.

"Are you sure, Mom?" Camilla asked and Teresa nodded her head as she walked over and took the flowers from Camilla's hands.

"Positive," Teresa said. "I'll put these in water for you."

"Thanks, Mom," Camilla said and Teresa smiled sadly at her daughter, and Camilla wasn't quite sure what the look was for before her mother leaned in and kissed her cheek.

"You're welcome, now go on," she said with a wave of her empty hand and Camilla laughed again as she nodded once more. "I'll save you both some stew and rolls for when you come on back."

"Thanks," the pair harmonized before they laughed and looked at each other. Paul took Camilla's hand and tugged on it gently.

"Let's go," he said and she nodded. With one last glance at her mother, she followed Paul into the foyer. He let go of her hand so she could pull on her boots, and he grabbed her coat out of the closet while she did so. "Where's Peter?" Paul asked as Camilla righted herself.

"In the garage tuning up his truck," Camilla said as she brushed her hair from her eyes. "He said it was running funky yesterday when drove to the market."

"Should I call Jake and see if he can give him a hand?" Paul asked as he helped Camilla into her coat.

"I'm sure he can manage," Camilla said with a small smile before she turned around to look up at him. Paul's smile returned as he looked down at her and watched her button up her jacket. His eyes were soft and warm as he brushed her hair that had once again fallen in her eyes from her face. "Is something wrong?" she asked quietly and he shook his head negatively, his rough hand gently cupping her soft cheek.

"No," he said back in a whisper before he leaned down and kissed her chastely. Camilla's hands raised between them and she rested them on his chest as she kissed him back. After a second, he pulled away and she smiled up at him.

"So, what is it that you want to show me?" she asked and he chuckled as he pulled back from her.

"You'll see soon enough, but first," he said as he reached into the front right pocket of his jeans and pulled out a black scarf he had snagged out of his mother's dresser. Camilla frowned at it before she looked up at him with a raised eyebrow. "Turn around," he said with another chuckle.

"Why?" she asked slowly.

"Because this is a blindfold, and where we're going is a surprise until the last possible second," he said and both of Camilla's eyebrows rose as she blinked up at him.

"Okay," she said slowly once again before she turned around and Paul secured the blindfold around her eyes.

"Ready?" he asked.

"As long as you lead me since I can't see a thing, yeah," Camilla said with a light laugh.

"Don't worry, babe, I got you covered," he said as his lips brushed across her cheek and he lifted her with ease from the floor. Camilla let out a surprised squeak while Paul opened the door and walked outside with a cocky grin on his face as Camilla's arms wrapped around his neck and he headed for his truck. Despite his smile, is stomach was in knots with nerves as he carried her to his truck. He was less than forty-five minutes from the big reveal, and he could only hope that she would love it and agree to move in with him. He wasn't prepared for a 'no' or 'not yet,' but he knew that could very well be her answer. So, as he settled her in the truck and climbed in he sent up a prayer that he would get the answer he wanted.