Sorry for the delay, exams suck!

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BPOV

It had taken me hours to calm down that night let alone sleep. Jake wouldn't let me go home, he said that in the state I was in Charlie wouldn't hesitate to get his shotgun and kill Paul before he even had the chance to explain. I guess he was right. I knew had it not been for the pack there was no way I would have made it through. Emily and Leah were angels, they took me inside and proceeded to give me a list so long of reasons why Paul was wrong and he should want me, it gave me a headache. I still wish I could believe them, but I could understand why Paul felt the way he did, there was no way he could love me, I was a leech lover after all.

"Excuse me miss…" I was pulled from my thoughts by a middle aged woman waving her hand in front of my face in an attempt to gain my attention. I hated working on the weekends when I could be down at La Push.

"Oh my goodness," I gasped. "I'm so sorry, I don't know what happened."

The woman giggled much to my relief, "That's quite alright dear you were in a world of your own there. I was hoping you could show me where the camping gear is, you see my husband and I want to go camping but I don't even know where to start."

Half an hour later the woman left the store loaded with bags and a grin on her face. I smiled and glanced at the clock, grinning as I realised it was time to close up.

.

Not twenty minutes later I cut the engine on my truck in front of Sam's. Before I even had the door shut Quil and Embry were racing down the stairs. "Bells, Bells, Bells…guess what" Embry breathed into my hair as he wrapped his arms around me and lifted me off the floor a little. His excitement was infectious and I couldn't help but tease him just a little.

"What Em, have you finally realised that Quil is the only one for you? Thank God I thought you were never going to come round." I heard snickers from the porch and realised that the rest of the pack plus Emily and Kim had joined us outside.

"Watch it cheeky." Quil laughed taking me from Embry and swinging me round. Smiling as Quil put me down, I decided that I'd better let Embry tell me what had him so worked up.

"Come one Em, what is it?"

I didn't even have to wait two seconds. "She knows me Bella" he gushed. "I spoke to her today for the first time, I was so nervous and I…I just stared at her for ages and she said hey Embry and I swear I nearly passed out and then… it was like suddenly all this courage came from nowhere and the next thing I know she's saying yes to going to the movies with me tonight."

I screamed in delight as it sunk in the Embry finally had a date with his imprint. Throwing my arms around his neck, I hugged him tight, telling him how happy I was that he was finally going to get his happily ever after.

"Bells?" Sam sounded serious and I was instantly worried. "Paul came by earlier, he was looking for you." I ignored Jake and Seth's growls as I tried to think why Paul would want to see me, we'd agreed yesterday that we wouldn't talk and that I would see him for a short time every day so that he wouldn't suffer. It dawned on me then that I hadn't seen him today and he was probably sick of the dull ache in his chest that was beginning to annoy me also. It dawned on me then that he didn't really want to see me at all, he just wanted pain relief. I sighed, angry at myself for getting my hopes up, I wasn't going to get what Emily, Kim and now Embry's imprint had. That kind of love wasn't for me it seemed

.

As I walked closer to Paul's house, the smell of stale alcohol became more pungent. I was a little confused the pack said they were only allowed to drink at bonfires. That was until I heard an unfamiliar voice coming from inside the house.

You're just like your mother was, a perfect example of everything that's wrong with the world, you're a weak little runt and I should've had rid of you when I had the chance, just like I should have with your mother, caused me so much trouble that woman…" I gasped this was Paul's father. Charlie and the pack had warned me about him, but it had never occurred to me or them apparently that this was why Paul had issues. No one deserved to hear things like that about themselves or their family, especially not from a parent.

"That's right boy, you're a coward, a worthless little piece of shit. You disgrace me look at you, could you be any more pathetic. Sniffling like a little baby whose mommy can't even come and save them because their mommy was just as pitiful as they are. You've got no one boy you need me, you're alone in this world without me."

That's when the anger kicked in. Paul didn't need this, and I wasn't about to let him go through it anymore. Even if he didn't like me there was no way I was going to let him believe that any of the things this man was saying were true. I hadn't even realised that I had entered the house and was standing in the door way to the living room, until my voice rang out as strong and clear as I had ever heard it. "That's where you're wrong sir."

I looked at Paul as surprise and pain radiated through me. He looked so vulnerable crouched down on the floor and it was so wrong, I never wanted to see him like that again. He gasped and raised his head as he realised I was there, I had no time to reassure him though as his father began to speak again.

"I suggest you shut your mouth if you know what's good for you." I smirked a little at the audacity of this man, he didn't even know me and yet he was threatening me. In a vain attempt to keep my voice calm I voiced my opinion. I laughed humourlessly "Did you honestly think you can say things like that and just get away with it? Paul doesn't need you, no one needs you because you sir are the one's who's worthless, don't think I haven't heard about you? You're the pathetic one who's alone. Paul has a whole bunch of people who have his back and you, you have no one… not one single person and I bet that's what scares you the most, you silly little man, you'll never know what love and friendship feels like because you just threw them away dismissing them as pathetic feelings, but let me tell you, you'll never control Paul, you never have and as long as I'm around you never will."

Apparently though this guy was having none of it, "Oh little girl you have no idea who you're messing with."

Little did he know, I had every idea who this was and he certainly wasn't going to be here much longer. "Neither do you apparently. If you had any sense, you won't lay a finger on me. You'll leave now and never bother us or anyone on this reservation again. No one wants you here, no one ever has and no one ever will. You're alone sir and I feel sorry for you."

I could see then that he was done, he had snapped I tensed waiting for the blow I knew was coming, I didn't mind though, as long as Paul was going to be okay, I'd endure what I had to, he was never going to have to go through this alone again.

"Why you little…" I heard the sounds, but I the impact never came. I looked up to see Paul grasping his father's arm hard, his face murderous, I was glad it wasn't directed at me. Before I could blink Paul had left the room, apparently taking his father with him.

I shivered a little at what had just transpired, my shoulder slumped as all the previous confidence I had seemed to evaporate from me. Suddenly I was nervous and unsure of myself, had I done the right thing in coming here, something inside me said I had, I just hoped that Paul felt the same.

Nervously I began twisting my hair round my finger as I heard footsteps approach. I glanced up at the doorway to see Paul. He was shaking his face a mixture of elation and uncertainty. As soon as our gazes locked it was as if the world stopped, what I already knew became even more prominent: I would do anything in my power to see this man smile again, anything at all, I never wanted to see him look this unsure again.

"Bella" he whispered, his voice hoarse with emotion. I shuddered a little as the way my name sounded like a caress, I wanted nothing more than to hear him say it again. He reached out tentatively for my hand, as if asking for guidance. Not wanting to deny him anything I slipped it gently into his, hoping that I was going to be strong enough for what he needed.

I smiled slightly as I realised that as long as we were okay everything else would be too. "It's going to be okay Paul, I promise."

"Bella" My name fell from his lips again and I squeezed his hand lightly in reassurance. His other grazed so gently from my forehead to my chin so lightly that if he hadn't done it again I would have been convinced I had imagined it. "I just needed to check you were real." He whispered, as if he feared talking would cause me to shatter.

I mimicked his movements stroking down his face, he shuddered a little. "I'm real sweetheart, I'm not going anywhere until you send me away."

He stilled suddenly, drawing me into his arms tightly. Burying his face he shook his head. "I'll never send you away." My heart swelled a little, but I knew that it was only because he was in shock, I just needed to help him through this even though I was going to hurt myself in the process.

"Thank you." He breathed. "Thank you thank you thank you thank you." His body shaking with sobs.

"Hey." I whispered. "It's okay sweetheart, it's going to be okay, you're okay." I soothed. Wiping my thumbs under his eyes to remove the tears, that I hated to see there.

"No Bella, thank you. I couldn't have done that on my own. You saved me, my little angel." He hugged me tighter to his chest as I stroked his back. Tears of relief ran down his cheeks into my hair.

He stumbled backwards until I he fell onto the couch, taking me with him and pulling me onto his lap, seemingly content just to sit there.

.

Two hours later the phone began to ring, Paul made no move to get it. I stood, sighing at the loss of his arms. My legs ached but it was a small price to pay.

"Hello?"

"Bells, thank god. It's Sam. You guys okay?"

I smiled a little at his concern. "We're getting there Sam."

"Oh?" he sounded a little confused but I wasn't about to elaborate. "We're starting a barbeque to make up for the one we missed yesterday, you coming?"

I looked over at Paul knowing he'd have heard, he shrugged letting me know it was up to me.

"Sure Sam. We'll be there soon."

I walked back over to Paul, I wanted so desperately to take his hand but I wasn't sure if the moment had passed. "Are you sure you want to come? You don't have to Paul."

He stood, taking my hand in both of his. "I'd follow you anywhere Bella." A look of uncertainty crossed his features, "unless you don't want me there, I'd understand I was such an ass to you yesterday and I need to apologise."

I shook my head violently. "Of course I want you there Paul, please don't doubt that."

He smiled brightly and pulled on a shirt, much to my disappointment.

"Then let's go, I'm starving!"

I smiled knowing full well that I would also follow this man anywhere.