Title: What Could Be
Genre: Friendship
Rating: K
Pairing: Bella/Paul
Words: 501
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Prompt: "Looking at her, he realized that he didn't really want to know the answer after all."
and a picture of two coffee mugs next to a snowy forest scene

AN: This is something a little different. It's a snapshot of Bella and Paul's friendship before my Garrett/Bella story, Independence Day. If you haven't read it, basically Bella was living with Sam and Emily after the Cullens left, and she and Paul were good friends. They didn't take it further due to worries about imprinting.

~oOo~oOo~oOo~oOo~oOo~oOo~

What Could Be

My breath caught when I walked out of the kitchen to see her curled up in the chair by the window. The snowfall had her captivated, and the look of peace on her face was one I definitely wanted to remember.

I walked slowly, letting her enjoy the moment, but she shivered just as I reached her and she smiled up at me gratefully when I handed her the moose mug—it was her favorite. "Thanks Paul," she murmured, turning her attention back to the window.

She held her mug for a minute more, then set it down and looked up at me expectantly. I couldn't stop my smile as I scooped her up and sat down in the chair, pulling her down on my lap. "The snow is beautiful, isn't it?" she asked me quietly, tucking her head under my chin as her arms wrapped around me, making me jolt as her cold hands met my bare skin.

At her prompting, I took the time to actually look outside. She was right—the snow was beautiful, but it had nothing on her.

Bella was doing so much better now, compared to a month earlier. She had regained her lost weight, and she was happier here with Sam and Emily. I liked to think she was happier with me, too, but I knew we could never be more than friends.

Running my hand through her soft brown curls, I let my mind wander as I watched the snow. I wondered if we were living in a world without monsters, if Bella could have ever been mine. I knew she loved me, but I wished we were both free, and that she could love me with her whole heart.

"What's wrong, Paul? You're being really quiet." As usual, she picked up on my mood and I looked down in her wide chocolate eyes, still lost in what could be.

I couldn't resist leaning down to rub my nose against hers, making her giggle as my man card became a little more crumpled in her pocket. I thought about asking her, but as I looked at her, I realized I didn't really want to know the answer after all. It was something better left unsaid.

Instead, I wrapped her more firmly in my arms and reached down to hand her her cocoa again. "Nothing's wrong, baby girl. I'm just thinking about Christmas."

She accepted my answer with a drowsy nod, taking another drink of her chocolate before leaning up to set it on the windowsill with mine. Surrounded by my supernatural heat, it didn't take her long to drift off to sleep in my lap, and I stayed there enjoying the snow until it was time for my patrol.

Emily smiled as I passed her in the hallway, when I headed back to put Bella in her bed. She watched from the doorway as I laid her down and kissed her forehead, covering her with the quilt to keep her warm until I returned.