Well you are the one, the one that lies close to me,

Whispers, "Hello, I've missed you quite terribly"

I fell in love, in love with you suddenly

Now there's no place else I could be but here in your arms

- Here (In Your Arms), Hellogoodbye

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"IZZY! BELLA!" He pounded on the door.

She opened the door and his eyes widened as she leaned against the frame and smiled, "What took you so long?"

(~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~)

Paul stared at the woman in front of him with confusion and fear dancing through his eyes. "You texted me… you never text me…"

She smiled at him. "First off… get your ass in here before you catch your death in the rain. Second off… what the hell Paul?! You shouldn't have driven your bike!" She scolded.

"I was worried…" He told her, still trying to figure out what had changed.

She took him by the hand and led him to the bathroom. Without asking permission, she started pulling the soaking wet tee shirt from his body. He jolted from his stupor when he felt her fingers dancing over his skin, tracing the tattoos there. He still couldn't figure out what was different. This wasn't the shy sweet woman, Bella. Yet, she was still too sweet to be Izzy.

"You still haven't figured it out, have you?" She murmured before meeting his eyes with her own.

He watched her, trying to puzzle it out in his mind. "Something's different… are you… are we alright?" He checked.

A smile graced her lips. "Of course we're-" Pounding on the front door interrupted what she had started to say. "Get changed, Paul." She instructed before leaving the bathroom.

By the time he came out, Jared and Angela sat on the couch and Bella… or maybe Izzy… had just come back into the living room. He sighed and sat next to his friend, staring at the girl who held his heart in the palm of her hand. Clearly he wasn't the only one confused. Jared and Angela looked as puzzled as he felt.

"So… I guess, since Paul freaked out, I owe all of you an explanation." She teased.

Angela sighed. "I'd like that. You had us worried sick."

"What's going on, Bella?" Jared wondered.

She sat next to Paul and pulled his hand into her lap. "I'm not Bella…"

Paul arched an eyebrow. This was the most subdued he'd ever seen Izzy. She chuckled when he said as much.

"I'm not Izzy either." She told them.

Angela stared at her for a moment. She took the time to take her friend in, noticing the way she carried herself like Bella, yet spoke and relaxed like Izzy. She was…

"One person…"

Jared eyed his girlfriend with a frown on his face. "What baby?"

"You're one person…" She went on, ignoring Jared for the moment.

Paul blinked. "How?"

"It's tiring being two people… did you know that?" She tried to joke, but they just stared at her. She sighed.

"Not that I'm not happy… but… I mean… when…. Um…. When did this happen?" Angela asked.

"After Paul left earlier. Imagine a picture frame being fixed… the pieces of glass all coming together to make it look like the cracks hadn't been there to being with, but the picture is irrevocably changed inside the frame. I grew tired of feeling torn… particularly about you." She said looking to Paul.

"Me? Why?"

"… Bella needed time to love you like Izzy. When she finally started to… well…. Here I am." She smiled.

Jared and Angela only sat in silence. They couldn't look away even if they felt like intruders watching a private moment between their friends. They had to know that things would work out in the end.

"Here you are.. But as who?" He wondered.

She smiled and took hold of his hand. "As me. As Izzy and Bella together."

"Isabel" Angela exclaimed.

All eyes in the room turned to her. She shrugged her shoulders. Jared chuckled and pulled her against his side. He kissed her temple and turned his attention back to their friends.

"I like that!" She grinned.

Paul nodded rolling the name around in his head. "I do too."

"So, everything is alright now.. Right?" Jared wondered. "Because you scared the hell out of Paul, and by default Angela and I." He said with a smirk.

She looked down at her lap. "I'm sorry about that. I didn't think it would bother you so much." She told them.

Paul kissed her cheek and laced their fingers together. "It's fine. No harm done." He promised.

"Well… how about we go celebrate or something?" Angela suggested.

Jared grinned. "And just what should we be celebrating?" He teased.

"The rebirth of Isabel Swan!"

They all laughed and spent the next few minutes agreeing on where to go and who to see in order to show off the new and improved- and less crazy- Isabel.

(~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~)

Angela's idea of celebrating included dressing up in the sexiest outfits imaginable before deeming them fit for Paul and Jared to show them off around town. They now sat in the coffee shop picking at brownies Jared's mom had made fresh for them. Isabel teased him saying he was still spoiled to which he nodded that, 'yes ma'am I am and yes I'm damn proud of it.' which caused them all to laugh.

"What's wrong?" Paul whispered in her ear when they got a moment alone.

She grinned. "Nothing bad. I just think we're all too dressed up for a coffee house."

"Mmm… is that all?" He grinned, pulling her into his lap.

His eyes roved over her body, taking in her outfit. The low cut, deep purple corset top fit tight against her torso. The pleated, Black mini skirt left little to the imagination and paired with the four inch stiletto heels she wore, the entire ensemble had him shifting in his seat. She only smirked. She knew what she'd done to him. He knew she did.

"Hey, Embry just texted me. Sam's at the club, he wants us there." Jared said, breaking them from their little bubble of sexual tension.

Paul grinned. "I'm game." He said, his eyes not leaving Isabel's.

Twenty minutes later found the four walking into Lux Lunae. Sam greeted both Angela and Isabel with friendly hugs and patted both Paul and Jared on the shoulders. Embry nodded his head from behind the bar before turning his attention back to a drink he'd been mixing.

Sam pulled Paul to the side before he got too much further ahead. "Just to let you know, Lauren's going to be here. Jessica's boyfriend invited her and another of his friends to come. It wasn't my idea."

Paul huffed. "Fine. We'll leave when she gets here. I'm dancing with my girl for now."

"When did that happen?" Sam asked Jared.

Jared smirked. "What, him and Isabel?"

"Who?"

"Isabel." Jared smirked again.

"Huh?" Sam asked, confused.

"Her new name. I guess she fixed herself now that her mom isn't bearing down on her. She told Paul she wants to give them a chance." Jared explained.

"No shit. That's awesome." Sam grinned.

Jared nodded and watched them dancing. "She's good for him. Have you ever seen him so relaxed?"

"No. Not since Rachel." He said with a shake of his head.

Jared's jaw dropped ten minutes later when Angela pointed out Lauren and her friends walking through the door. 'Speak of the devil and the devil shall appear.' Jared thought looking at the brunette among them that shouldn't have been there. He tapped Sam's arm hard and nodded his head towards them. Even Sam knew things would be tense when Paul noticed them.

Paul and Isabel took that time to walk back over to them. He noticed the looks on their faces and eyed them curiously. He followed Jared's line of vision and froze. There was no way she'd be here. Not after she swore she'd never see him again. It had to be mere coincidence.

"Paul? Are you alright?" Isabel's voice pulled him from his stupor.

He swallowed and looked down at her. The concern in her eyes touched him and he smiled. "I'm good. Just thought I saw someone I used to know."

"Paul Lahote? My goodness, is that you?"

Isabel and Paul turned around and stared at the tall brunette standing with Lauren, Jessica and her boyfriend. Sam and Jared stood completely frozen, watching as Paul stood with his mouth open in shock.

"Rachel…its… wow… Why are you here?" He asked, his shock evident.

Isabel looked at Paul, confused at the hostile tone in his voice. She turned to Jared and Sam asking them for an answer. Jared mouthed that she was his ex and then she understood. Without making it look possessive, she stepped closer to Paul and laced their fingers together. She smiled and he kissed the crown of her head.

"Your conquest?" Rachel asked, too short in her tone to be polite.

Paul rolled his eyes. "My girlfriend."

Lauren, Rachel and Jessica stared at him in shock. "You don't date!" Lauren finally said.

"I do now. I didn't date before because there wasn't anyone worth dating." He said looking at Rachel with a knowing stare.

Unlike Lauren, Rachel stalked off not wanting to cause a scene. Paul waited until she left before sitting in his seat. Isabel stood at his side hugging him and offering silent support. He smiled, feeling lucky to have her.

"Come on… lets get a few shots. It'll make everyone feel better." Sam said. "I'll ask Embry to make them extra strong." He added before pulling Jared away.

Angela placed her hand over Paul's in a friendly gesture of support. "You alright?"

"She was the woman I thought I would marry once upon a time. She threw my ring back in my face and told me I'd never make her happy." He explained.

Isabel frowned. "You alright?" She asked after Angela had left to find Jared and Sam.

"I will be. It's just a shock seeing her." He sighed and pulled her closer to him.

"You want to leave?" She asked turning so she sat sideways on his lap.

He got interrupted by Sam and Jared coming back to the table with their arms laden with drinks. Isabel sighed and perched herself on Paul's knee. She leaned her back into his chest and hummed in content when Paul's arm wrapped around her to help keep her balanced.

"So what are you drinking, Isabel?" Angela grinned.

"I'm not tonight." She shrugged.

Sam and Jared paused and eyed the girl closely. Angela only frowned. Even Paul was confused. He kissed her cheek and grabbed a shot of vodka to drink for her.

"Oh!" Angela squealed and grinned as though she'd either figured out the cure to world hunger or won the lottery. They'd talked before Isabel had come into her own about the perfect moment. It looked like Isabel had found it.

Isabel put her finger to her lips. "Shh! Don't say anything."

"Come on… let's go dance… give them a minute alone!" Angela said with a giggle.

Paul eyed her curiously. "What's going on babe?"

"I just don't feel like drinking… I kind of wanted to be sober tonight…I had a few things in mind at home…" She whispered, her lips brushing the shell of his ear.

He grinned. "Is that so?" He wondered if she realized she'd said 'home' instead of 'my place' and debated calling her on it. He had to smile at how comfortable she had gotten around him.

"Let me go to the bathroom first. Five minutes, then we can go.. Sound good?" She purred against his lips before pressing a kiss to them.

He hummed in satisfaction and returned the kiss, even going to so far as to pat her butt when she stood up off of his lap. He grinned at the look she shot him over her shoulder before pulling his phone from his pocket to text Sam and let him know Jared and Angela would need a ride home when they left.

Rachel and Lauren took that time to follow Isabel into the bathroom. They waited for her to come out and blocked the doorway after she'd finished washing her hands. Lauren even went so far as to crack her knuckles. It didn't have the desired effect. Isabel only rolled her eyes.

"Can I help you?" She wondered.

Rachel sneered. "You think you're so special? You have Paul on your arm. Big deal. I happen to know that he's into Lauren and he's been seeing her behind your back. Now… let me offer you a piece of advice sweetheart, keep your wanna be skank ass away from him. He's Lauren's!"

Isabel chuckled. She eyed Lauren before shaking her head. "You have bitches fighting your battles for you now? How sweet. Too bad it won't get you what you want. I've told you once already, Paul doesn't want a loose slut like you. Who knows what you'd give to him.

As for you, Rachel was it? Let me set things straight. Just for the record. You. Left. Him. He doesn't want you so now you're jealous. Too damn bad. Now move the hell out of my way." She hissed.

Lauren scoffed and when the attention was turned to her Rachel raised her hand to smack Isabel. She didn't take into account the mirrors had reflected her person, nor that Lauren had neglected to say Isabel could fight.. And fight dirty. In a matter of minutes, Rachel lay on the floor holding her bloody nose and Lauren lay a few feet away, writhing with her hand over her eye. It would more than likely be a bruised eye in the morning, but Isabel felt no remorse for it what so ever. She slammed her foot into their sides for good measure and sauntered out the door without a backwards glance.

Paul grinned when he looked up and saw her coming back to him. His arms wrapped around her before he left a kiss on her lips. "You alright?"

"Of course. Are you ready to leave?"

He smirked. "I sent Sam a text already. He promised me Jared and Angie could ride home with him when they left."

"Awesome. Well lets go." She purred before taking his hand in hers and leading them out the doors.

The entire ride to her apartment, Isabel sat with her hand on his leg, her fingers brushing along his inner thigh. He almost groaned. She had to know she was teasing the hell of out him. She'd retained most of both Bella and Izzy's memories. She'd told him as much. He shuddered and threw the car in park. He helped her from the car and then pinned her to the side as his lips crashed into hers.

She gasped when flashes of the night he pinned her to the wall outside of the club came to the forefront of her mind. The only difference this time being her sobriety. It added to the passion in her mind as she returned the kiss, sending him her own lust and need within it. A groan left her lips, swallowed by his, as she was picked up and moved up the steps to her door. Every slight movement sent tingles racing through her body, landing in her already soaked pussy.

"Paul!" She threw her head back when his teeth nipped at the skin of her neck.

He smirked. "Yes?"

She didn't say anything else and made quick work of the front lock before dropping from his arms once it was opened. She sauntered down the hallway, throwing a coy look over her shoulder as she started unlacing her corset.

It was all the invitation he needed.

Isabel let out a tiny giggle when he pinned her to her bed in the moments that followed. It had taken them next to no time in order to lose the articles of clothing they'd been wearing. Paul sat in between her legs on his knees taking in every inch of her gorgeous body. He'd never seen a woman he wanted more than her. She was flawless.

"Paul…"

His eyes met hers and he swallowed. "You're so damn beautiful."

She pulled him down to her, meeting his lips in a heated kiss. She loved hearing him talk, but she wanted something else from him right then. She made her demands well known causing him to give pause. He searched her eyes for what she felt had to have been an eternity. What he saw caused his breath to hitch. It was the same feelings reflected in his own eyes.

This time when she raised her hips, he lowered his own, meeting her as she ground against him. The feel of her core against his dick had him burying his head in the crook of her neck.

"Isabel. I cant… I need… damn I want you…" He whispered, his voice husky in her ear.

She kissed his cheek, rubbing the back of his neck as she moved her legs to rest at his waist. "Take me, Paul. I need you too."

A shiver raced down his spine and he laced their hands together, holding them above her head. "It's gonna hurt." He warned.

"I trust you."

He had to smile at that. His lips met hers in a heated kiss before he slammed his hips forward, not giving her time to think or to dwell on the pain of his entry. He soothed away the unwelcome feeling of her virginity being ripped away by nibbling on her earlobe, tracing kisses down her neck and sucking on the skin of her collar bone.

It was only a few minutes under his ministrations that Isabel felt her body relax. She raised her hips and moaned when the pain got replaced by something akin to pleasure. It didn't take him long to get the message and within moments a pleasured whimper left her mouth.

"You ok?"

"I'm not gonna break, Paul. You feel good." She told him with some amusement.

His hips snapped forward causing her back to arch some. He let go of one of her hands in order to tease a nipple. He smirked when she whined and tossed her head from side to side. He put every known skill he possessed to pull those sounds from her lips. The harder he thrust, the more vocal she got.

He liked her vocal.

"Paul…. Please…. I…mmm… please, I'm…." She couldn't finish her sentence. But he understood.

She was close.

And she wanted to come… even if she didn't know what her body tried telling her.

Paul knew.

He moaned and slammed his hips into her body, driving his dick into her pussy harder and faster. He redoubled his efforts in order to see her orgasm. Her screams danced over his ears, causing him to groan in pleasure.

"Come on Isabel. Cum for me." He coaxed.

Another minute of furious pounding from his hips was all she needed as the waves of bliss rolled over her. Her body locked, her inner walls tightened and before she completely came down from her high, she became aware enough to register her name being shouted and then his release spilling within her.

They lay together panting with her head on his chest once he'd rolled them and pulled just the sheet up to protect their cooling skin. He hugged her close and kissed her forehead.

"I love you, you know." He whispered.

She smiled and traced random designs on his chest. "It took me the longest time to admit it. But I love you too. Thank you, by the way."

It was whispered, but Paul caught it. "For what?"

"Staying with me. Not giving up on me. Just… thank you. You saved me."

"You were definitely worth it, Isabel."

Her quiet hum filled the air before the both drifted to sleep. Their time together now would be smooth and wonderful after a long and bumpy ride, he knew it and so did she. He couldn't help but smile before he followed her into his dreams.