Five

Don't Tell Me No Lies, and Keep Your Hands to Yourself…

Bella hated leaving Wyatt. Even if it was only for a few hours. Even if it was with his father. Even if she knew he was in the safest place he could be. It was irrational and a bit like the behavior of an over-the-top helicopter mom … but she hated it. She had taken an extra thirty minutes to say goodbye to him. An extra ten to make sure Paul had the numbers to reach her, and then another fifteen going over all of Wyatt's can's and can not's… which she had written down and color-coded the night before. Sure, she was a bit obsessive, but Wyatt had been her world for the last three years. She finished community college online so that she didn't have to leave him, and up until recently, she didn't have a job that didn't provide daycare. She didn't need daycare – Bella reminded herself – she had Paul. He needed time to bond with Wyatt, though the two were certainly hitting it off.

It had been less than a week since they moved in with Paul, and already he and Wyatt were like two peas in a pod. The pack treated him like one of their own too, which Bella was thankful for. It was the big family she always wanted for her son… she just wished she didn't feel like an outsider. Maybe it was because she wasn't Quileute, or maybe it was because she wasn't actually pack, but Bella couldn't help but feel like an intruder. She had taken up space in Paul's home, and now she felt like she was taking up space in his life. The point of coming back was for him to get to know Wyatt, not play house with her. Although… it was fun. Bella found herself humming over dinner most nights while Paul tried in vain to explain football to a toddler. Once Wyatt was down for the night, Paul would help with the dishes while the radio played low in the background. They would use that time to tell each other about their day or talk about Wyatt.

And then there were the times they didn't talk. Either sitting on the couch watching a movie, or hanging out on First Beach watching Wyatt build lop-sided sandcastles. Those times were more… more. Those were the times she found herself watching Paul. He wasn't any different physically from the last time she had seen him, but there was something more mature behind his eyes… or maybe it had always been there and she never bothered to notice. He would catch her gaze every now and again and just hold it. It would always make Bella's heart race the way his dark eyes bore into hers – as if he could see to her very soul. Then slowly, almost painfully, the corners of his mouth would turn up in a soft smile that would take her breath away. She wasn't even sure he knew he was doing it.

Bella hadn't been with anyone since the night Wyatt was conceived. Her first time was also her last – though she thought about it a lot… even more lately. The little bell above the library door pulled Bella from the dangerous road her thoughts were heading down. Forks library was small – practically a doublewide. It held a small children's section with colorful mats and second-hand stuffed animals. It was a bright spot in the otherwise scares and – frankly – pathetic establishment. Bella's welcoming smile faltered as her eyes caught the gleam of familiar copper hair.

Edward hadn't changed either – not even on a subconscious level like Paul seemed to have. "Edward." She breathed his name, half out of fear, but he must have taken it another way because he smiled warmly at her. "What are you doing here?" Bella was suddenly aware of just how empty the library was. There was an elderly man using one of the computers against the far wall, but he hadn't even heard her welcome him nearly an hour ago.

"I heard you were working here and thought I would come by to say hello." He looked around the small library, a polite smile painted on his lips even though she was sure it must have been a hovel to the creature that had seen countless wonders.

"I mean in Forks." Bella breathed as she pulled her sleeves over her hands nervously. Had he followed her? Had they all followed her? Had he been waiting for her to step off the reservation just to get her alone?

"My family is considering moving back. It seems Carlisle left the hospital sorely lacking when we made our hasty retreat." His smile finally dropped as he assessed her with careful eyes. "You're upset…" He gathered, carefully sliding his hands into his pockets. "I suppose you told Jacob of my offer." He winced.

"Jacob?" Bella's brows knit in confusion. Jake was still running somewhere in Canada. None of the wolves, especially Jacob, knew that Edward had contacted her. Suddenly, the realization hit her. "Jacob isn't Wyatt's father." She clarified, taking small satisfaction in the shock that cracked his usually perfect mask. "It was Paul… Lahote. The tall, buff one with the temper." She rose her hand as high as it would go to indicate his height. Sure, it was childish, but she wanted Edward to know and be afraid of him. She wanted him to never want to come near her and Wyatt again.

"Oh, Bella." The disapproval in his tone was only matched by the disapproval on his face. "Jacob I could have understood… but Paul…" He sighed deeply. "If only you knew the vial things I have heard in his head."

"Well, it's not really for you to understand, Edward." She was sure her racing heart rate gave away her false bravado. "You left me all those years ago. I moved on. I have a life, and a son, and a… Paul." She finished lamely, not quite sure what Paul would classify as. He certainly wasn't her boyfriend, and 'baby-daddy' was just too crude. "Anything I do is none of your business."

He looked dejected and Bella almost felt guilty. Even after all these years, he could make her feel like a scolded child. "I'm not here to dictate your life, Bella. I'm simply here to talk. I know how badly I messed up all those years ago, and I want to make amends. All I'm asking for is your friendship." He offered with a kind smile.

Bella nearly flushed with embarrassment. In fact, she might have. She had been so sure that when she rejected Edward, he had been stalking her – that his whole family had been, but all he wanted was to talk to her. They had been a big part of each other's life, and he just wanted some semblance of that back. Maybe they all did. For a long time, Bella had missed the Cullen's dearly, but in time life took over. She almost felt guilty. But could she really offer him her friendship? Paul wouldn't like it – especially if there was a chance Wyatt would be around them. To be completely honest, she wasn't sure she even wanted Wyatt around the Cullen's. They were quick to call her a danger magnet, but the danger only really seemed to surface when she was with them.

"I don't know if I can be your friend, Edward." She sighed. This time, his mask remained in place.

"Because of Paul?"

"Out of respect for him, among other things." She sighed and leaned against the counter. "But if you're moving back, I'm sure we'll see each other around."

Edward opened his mouth to reply, but froze, tilting his head to the side lightly. Tensing a bit, he gave her a fleeting grin. "Well, I'll see you around then, Bella." With that he turned on his heel and moved at a pace that was twice as fast and twice as graceful as any human could move, not that anyone was around to see it.

Bella's shoulders had just begun to relax when Seth sauntered into the library – his face tense and his eyes wild. Unlike Paul and Edward, the time that had passed was evident on Seth's features. Apparently, after she left, he had taken a year off of phasing before a rogue vamp forced him back into the game. His face was narrower than it had been when she left – any signs of baby fat long gone. His eyes still held the sparkle of unheard laughter, but there was a mature seriousness to them at first glance. Even his shoulders were straighter – and certainly broader. He was a heart breaker on the rez from what Bella had heard. He never hurt the girls who pined after him, he simply didn't acknowledge their advances.

"Hey Bella." His tone was light, but there was a tightness to it as his eyes still moved around the scarce stacks. "Been busy today?"

"Not really." She brought her shoulder to her ear as she straightened. She could tell by his stance that he knew Edward had just been there. He probably still smelled him. "Edward Cullen just stopped by."

He grew even tenser, if possible. "Aw man, Paul's gonna kill me." He groaned and dragged a hand down his face. Before Bella could ask, he spoke again. "What did he want?"

"To say hi, apparently. And to tell me he wants to be friends. Before you wolf out-" she whispered the last part, sparing a glance to the old man who stared lifelessly into the old computer monitor "- I already told him it wasn't going to happen."

He relaxed immediately. "Good choice, Bella." His face split in a large grin that made him look more his age. "Wanna grab some lunch?"

Considering her morning had been full of surprise visits from vampires and werewolves, Bella found the rest of her day boring. The job was easy enough – check people in, stack the books, clean up… boring. The only plus side to the job was that there was plenty of time to read, and an endless supply of books at her disposal. Part of her job was ordering new books for the library. Perhaps if she got some newer titles in, some of the younger residents of Forks would bother to stop by.

Regardless of not really doing much all day, Bella felt drained as she opened the door to Paul's house. Walking through the living room, she raised a brow at half-propped fort hanging off the couch. Following the trail of minor destruction to the kitchen, she bit back a smile at the plate of spaghetti on the table, her name written on a torn piece of paper beside it. Just past the table, the sink overflowed with just about every pot Paul owned covered in sauce. How he had managed to make such a mess with such a simple dish, she'd never know. Setting down her bag, she took a bite of the food, nearly humming in approval. So, he was messy, but he could cook. That was good to know.

"Paul?" Bella called gently, not wanting to wake Wyatt. Surely, he would have heard her come in. Moving to Wyatt's room, Bella paused in the doorway. Biting her lip, she pulled out her phone quickly to snap a few pictures.

Paul's oversized frame was slung over Wyatt's race car bed, his feet still nearly touching the floor. His mouth was open in a light snore next to Wyatt's ear. Wyatt, who either didn't notice or didn't mind looked up from the book he had memorized and was 'reading' to Paul. "Shhh, mommy." He held a tiny finger in front of his lips, dark eyes widening. "Daddy's sleeping!" He declared in a harsh whisper.

"Not so much anymore, little man." Paul groaned as he stretched, peering out of one eye to look towards Bella. "I was putting him to bed."

"Looks like the other way around to me." Bella smiled, making a mental note to get copies of the pictures she took for Emily. "But it's past your bed time, mister." She looked to Wyatt, who promptly groaned. They might not have been a typical family – Bella thought with a smile as Paul began to tickle his son's sides – but it was a start.

AN: Once again, super special thank you to everyone that reviewed! You guys are the real MVP. There's nothing better than knowing someone enjoys something you put so much effort into. Next chapter should be up in a few days since I'm off from work!