Renee didn't take the news lightly. In fact, she had been so offended by being told that Bella was going to be staying in Forks until her side healed, that she had booked a flight to go home. Renee was always a flighty one – a dramatic, and over emotional one.

And so three days later found Charlie, Sue, and Renee driving up to Seattle to take her to the airport. Bella offered to stay at home, and to sleep more. She was sleeping a lot, whenever she wasn't at her therapy classes in Port Angeles. Charlie and Sue would be staying the night in Seattle before driving back down in the morning. A date night.

Bella would have the house all to herself.

Until there was a knock on the door in the middle of Jeopardy. "Door's open! But if you're some intruder, I have the police on speed dial!" Bella called. It opened slowly. And a bag of food jutted through the crack, before a head appeared.

"Please tell me you aren't armed, too?" Paul spoke. Bella shot him a grin, but kicked up her feet.

"Is that food for me?"

Paul shrugged as he shut the door and as she stepped closer she saw that it was from one of her favorite restaurants in Port Angeles. "Charlie called. Sent me over to make sure you didn't fall and weren't able to get up."

"I'm not eighty seven," Bella insisted. But she took the bag as he handed it to her, sitting down on the couch beside her. She could see everything she liked inside.

"I was in the area, and I picked it up. Charlie told me what you usually order."

But she doubted Charlie could much remember that. Not after nearly four years. She would eat it all the time, though, while she was in high school. With Jake, with her friends, everyone that would come with her to pick it up. She practically lived off of it. "Thank you," Bella said warmly. "Really… Did you get yourself something too?" It looked like it, but she wasn't sure. "Because, if you did, you can eat with me, please? I don't want to eat by myself in a house too big and too cold."

He jutted his chin towards the bag. "If you touch my Szechuan, you're eating alone." Bella pulled out her food, setting it on the sofa beside her, and tossed the bag back to Paul. He caught it easily.

But the chop sticks weren't going to work. She could tell as she tried to stab her chicken. "I know you just took your first bite and it's heavenly, but instead of having to spend twenty minutes like a grandma walking to the kitchen..." Bella trailed off hesitantly. "Could you get me a fork?"

Paul stopped chewing on his food, glancing up at her. And she gave him a hopeful smile. "Please?"

The sigh was apparent. As his whole chest heaved and he set the food down, his chop sticks atop it, and shot her a glare. "You're so needy."

"Hey, you showed up here," she returned. But he lumbered to the kitchen, found the forks with ease, and passed her one. "Thank you," she said simply. He fell onto the couch with an oomf and began to eat once more.

"So, what? You don't need to be fed, either? Need someone to blend it into a smoothie before we give it to you?"

Bella shot him a half-hearted glare. "Was that an old lady joke?" He shrugged, as if he wasn't going to admit it was or not. "That's it. I'm giving the pack one joke each. You just cashed yours in. Have a hard time when I really start walking with it, and you'll have to bite your tongue."

"And what happens if I say them anyway?" Paul challenged.

Bella gave him an innocent look. "Oh, well, that would just mean that that's one more event you invite me to that I say no to." She took a bite of her chicken, chewing it thoughtfully. "It would really suck if there was a bonfire you wanted to take me to. Or a restaurant." She gave him a look. "Or… do you not think of me like that?"

"Fuck, are you suggesting a date?"

She shrugged. "You imprinted on me, not the other way around. Don't imprints date?"

"They… bond first." She raised an eyebrow and he elaborated with a one armed shrug. "Get to know each other before the relationship-y stuff happens. I don't know, shit…" He stared at her as he took another bite. "Are you asking me on a date?"

"I thought you liked me?"

"But that's different from…" Paul glanced back to his chicken. "Yeah… I guess. I mean… Yeah, I do but..."

"Well, I've seen you almost every day for the last week and a half I've been awake." Paul snorted. "And you've been sharing my bed for most of it. I think a date is the least a girl could offer before things get all out of order and messed up."

"Doing what?"

Bella shrugged. "This is nice," she said kindly. He glanced down at the food in his hands, before glancing back at her.

"This? You consider this shit a date? Don't girls want fancy places and dress up games?"

"Now, Paul," Bella snorted. "If I was expecting some role playing, I would have at least gotten the walker out." Paul growled, but she could see he was amused at the innuendo. "I'm good with just sitting in, watching a movie and eating take out. I don't want anything fancy. In fact, I really don't like it unless it's for something special. I know we aren't like… dating or anything, but we are getting to know one another. Afterall, you know my favorite food now."

"And you know mine." Bella smirked, proving a point. And he shrugged.

"Alright, I'll bite."

"Don't dogs always bite?"

"Fucking dog jokes, really?" Paul ground out.

She let out a peal of laughter, and he tensed slightly at it. Like she was laughing at him. "I couldn't resist."

He sighed. "I better not regret this, Swan. Fine… I'll count it."

"Count it?"

"As a date. This."

She shot him a smirk. "Yeah?"

He took a deep breath, an angry one that was obviously annoyed. "For fuck's sake, you're really annoying, you know that?"

"At least I don't shed," Bella pointed out, shoving another forkful in her mouth as Paul shot her a glare. But he glanced back to his chicken, taking a bite. He still seemed tense, as if waiting for everything to explode. "You know," she began, hoping to ease some of the tension. "I'm not going to pass out or anything. You don't have to look like you're waiting for me to start spurting blood."

Paul swallowed, and she could tell he didn't exactly chew that piece of chicken, as it seemed hard to get down. "Sorry... I just don't know what you last remember."

"I remember... a phone call telling me to come here. A road trip. I was sick, and in Sue's restaurant. And then trying on dresses and stuff for Angela's bridesmaid bit. And going to get some drinks in Port Angeles, and then that's it. The wreck and the screaming of Angela."

"So you remember everything, but nothing with me in it," Paul said flatly.

Bella hesitated. Maybe she should have just said the accident? "I guess so. Which I find really weird, but the doctor says that it's normal and memory should come back in a few months." He nodded. "But I meant it. I'd like to get to know you... Not whatever past we had."

"Yeah sure." There was silence. And they ate.

It wasn't until she moved onto her rice that she tossed him the remote. "Pick a movie. You're a really quiet date, you know."

"Thought you didn't need anything big."

She shot him a grin. "Just pick a movie, James Dean."

"Who the fuck is that?" Paul snapped.

Bella giggled. "Google it sometime." She tugged a blanket from the back of the couch over her legs, and propped her feet up so that the warm food rested on her stomach.

"Is he a fucking idiot?"

"Well, he's dead, so that might qualify," Bella admitted. "But, no, in fact he was killer with the ladies."

Paul brooded in silence for a while as he picked out a movie. Some cheesy action film with too much war and not enough dialogue. It was perfect. "Was he a fucking bad ass?"

Bella felt a smile light up her face as she took a bite of her food. She waited until she stopped chewing to answer. "Oh, yeah."

"Good." Bella glanced at him to see he looked rather smug. Good. Maybe he needed it – the ego booster. It wasn't until the movie was over that Bella began to feel the ache in her side from her muscles being used again. She groaned as she moved her leg, and Paul tossed the rest of his food into the empty Chinese bag, for their trash.

"Do you hurt?"

"I haven't used these muscles in a few months. I feel like I just ran a marathon, and my body hates me for it." She ran her palm down her side, trying to kneed out the ache, but it didn't work well. Instead, she just sighed in disappointment and fell back onto the couch, glancing to him. "Now I understand why you guys run a hundred and three and sleep after patrols. Don't you guys ever hurt?"

"After the first few months, we're built up enough that we're used to it," Paul said slowly. "You need anything? Do I need to call your doctor?"

"I might run a bath later," Bella admitted. "But I'm fine, thanks." She just didn't feel like moving.

So later would do nicely.

Paul shifted, as if conflicted. "I can help… you know, starting the bath and shit."

Bella quirked an eyebrow. If he wanted to see her naked, there was going to be a strict no on that. But he looked like he was running through things in his head a mile a minute, and he kept glancing to the hand that was rubbing her side like he had been the one to cause her pain.

As if he blamed himself for the accident.

Fuck, he didn't… did he? She hoped not. Because it wasn't…

"If you want," Bella said at last. "But you aren't going to be seeing me naked."

He shot her a quick, and sleezy grin. "Don't need to. I know what you look like in a bikini. It's close enough."

"Eugh!" She threw a clump of rice at him and he dodged it, getting to his feet and moving out of the way as she threw another one. "Creep!" she called after him. He ducked into the bathroom with the big tub and she heard the sound of water starting, and closed her eyes, leaning back into the couch.

Who the hell was he? He was acting like a prodigy… Like he was freakin' God's son or something. She didn't think the change would be this extreme. She thought maybe a few comments here and there, but not… this was really different from any Paul she had seen.

Shit, Sam was right. He had worked really hard to be someone that people could live with. Shit…. It made her feel worse for lying to him.

"Paul?" She opened her eyes to see him poking his head out of the bathroom door, his face alert as he waited for her to tell him something important – like it was okay if he joined her. In his dreams. "I know you think the accident was your fault..." Paul's expression closed off. "I don't know why, but a deer ran out onto the road. That wasn't your fault. That's just… this danger magnet I have." He glanced away from her, his jaw clenched. "Please don't blame yourself."

"I know you don't remember, but I said a lot of awful things to you that made you want to go out that night. So, yes, by default, it's my fault-"

"But you didn't cause the accident-" Bella insisted, trying to make him see some reason.

"I made you want to go in the first place," Paul snapped harshly. But almost immediately, he squeezed his eyes shut, taking a deep breath. His anger melted from him, and his shoulders dropped. It was the most amazing thing Bella was sure to have ever seen. Holy fucking shit. What was that? "Sorry… I… Sorry."

She had to say something. "Sam mentioned you got angry. Jake and you warned me plenty too-"

"A lot," Paul bit out, still irritated it seemed, but not angry. "At every fucking thing." More irritated with himself. Shit… She didn't mean to press him, or spark something. She just wanted to make sure he understood. "Your bath is ready."

Bella heaved herself to her feet, setting her container of leftovers on the table, and she winced slightly as she balanced just enough to grab the stupid walker from the side of the couch. She shot him a look, to deter him from making a joke, but he was staring into the bathroom with his jaw clenched tightly.

"I've got to get clothes," she pointed out when he stood in the hallway, blocking her path.

"I'll fucking get them," Paul muttered. "Just get in the bath."

He was already moving towards her bedroom, getting whatever he wanted to, she guessed. And instead of the more revealing clothing she knew was in there – she was going to a wedding for God's sake. She packed to attract – he placed some sweats and a sweatshirt on the countertop. Probably the opposite of what he wanted her to wear, she was sure, but something warm.

She tugged at the sweatshirt she was wearing, pulling it off of her head and throwing it to the floor. "You know," she began as he moved to walk away. "You haven't really called me a mean thing since I woke up. And you're probably one of the best snugglers I can remember… So, I say that whatever you did call me, wasn't that bad." But with the sweatshirt off, she could smell something. The bath had some of those bath salts Sue kept out for decoration in them. Lavender. Woah… That was… nice.

"I made you cry a lot because of what I said," Paul admitted. "And it was really hypocritical, because I'm a lot worse of when it comes to… you didn't deserve it. I was just being a massive dick and I shouldn't have been. And I'm such an asshole-"

"Woah," Bella said, turning around to face him. Her fingers had been in the water, testing it out. Really warm. Nice warm. "I never said-" she began, but he cut her off.

"Yeah… I know, but you probably should have a lot more than you did." Shit… She frowned, worriedly, but Paul shrugged and moved to grab the door handle. What the hell happened to him? "I just want you to know that I'm sorry, for what I called you… You aren't… a whore or anything. I just… call people names a lot. Because it makes me feel… I don't know, better or some shit."

Shit, she wanted to hug him now. She wanted to slap his agonizing face. "You called me a whore?" But she had to keep this up. She didn't need him to phase in the door of her bathroom. "I've only slept with like a handful of guys. Two because I drank, and they drank..." Bella glanced at him. "When did you call me a whore?"

"A lot of times. But… I think the final straw was when you were trying on wedding dress, you know, for fun or whatever you girls do… You were messing around, asked if I'd elope with you in Vegas… And I called you a whore." Bella swallowed. Oh, yeah, she remembered alright. "I… I didn't mean it. It was sort of a reflex and… I don't think you're a whore. I really, really, really don't." That was a lot of reallys and each one had more emphasis than the first as he stared at her. God, who was this man? He was breaking her heart just to listen to. "And I'm sorry." His voice cracked as he said it and he gripped the door handle tightly, as if reminding himself he had been leaving.

"Stay with me tonight?" Bella asked. His eyes shot up and shit… they looked a little wet. Was he about to cry? Please, please don't cry. "You know, like you did at the hospital?" She attempted to look sheepish. "I don't want to be by myself. Charlie or Sue are usually home but they're in Seattle so..."

"I'm not… sleeping with your anything."

Bella's eyes widened. "Shit, I never said-" She snorted in amusement. "I'm not sleeping with you, Paul. Besides, the doctor's say no physical intimacy until I'm cleared for it. You've got four more weeks before you convince me that's a good idea."

He raised an eyebrow. "You would … want to sleep with me?"

Bella shrugged. It had been her plan, after all, when she came back from Florida. "You aren't exactly a bee hive, I'll give you that."

"What does that mean?" he asked carefully, like it meant everything to him.

She glanced over her shoulder as she smirked, grabbing the hem of her shirt. "It means I'd let you fuck me sideways if the doctor said it was a good idea." Her eyes looked him over. "Or upside down, or backwards… Maybe right side up if I felt forgiving."

"Fucking hell… This isn't funny."

She met his eyes and grinned. "Who said I was joking? Close the door, will you? The steam's going to get out."

The door nearly slammed shut and she waited until she heard his footsteps leave before she let out a giggle, shedding the rest of her clothes before carefully lowering herself onto the lip of the tub and practically spider crawled in. Oh, it felt absolutely heavenly on her sore muscles. After spending a minute sighing in bliss, she opened her eyes to see that all of her shampoos had been moved to the rim of the tub so that she could reach them. And the tub was beginning to fill up with bubbles galore.

She reached to turn the water off before it could overflow.

She doubted he would stay. He was probably eager to get home after spending the evening with the leech lover, but after the water turned cold and she felt more relaxed than she had been in ages, she pulled the drain and eased herself the same way over the side to help her get out. She reached for the towel and pulled it around her before she grabbed the sweatshirt and pulled it on, not really caring for a bra. He hadn't gotten her one anyway.

Bella doubted she had the dexterity to put it on.

Next to follow was a pair of panties – underwear she knew meant he went into her good underwear drawer full of all sorts of interesting items. But they weren't the best ones of the bunch, and they certainly weren't grannies. Just a thong that made her roll her eyes. Of course he would pick that. The sweatpants were old ones from freshman year of college, boys size and fluffy.

And socks. Oh, bless him for remembering socks. The tiles were cold enough and she slid them on, before opening the door, using the walker to help get her to the room just a few feet away.

She was surprised to see him sitting at the foot of the bed, tugging off the shoes he was wearing. There was snow falling outside, and the windows did little to keep the room warm, but Paul was like a space heater in his own right. She gave him a warm smile.

"Nice thong."

He smirked. "Yeah, I thought so."

Rolling her eyes, she pulled back the covers to the bed and slid into them. "I didn't think you'd really stay."

"Do you want me to leave?"

"No… No, this is nice," she admitted. She pulled the covers up. "Besides, it's freezing in the winter here. You're warm. It's a good solution to the problem. Probably my favorite solution."

"Fuck, you really are a needy bitch aren't you?"

Bella found herself laughing, throwing one of the pillows on what would be his side of the bed at him. "You didn't have to stay, dickwad. Now, are you going to be keeping me warm, or do I need to radiate some heat to warm myself?" He groaned and moved towards the back of the bed, pulling the covers back. "Thank you, Paul," she said quietly as he sat down. "Really."

"Yeah, whatever," Paul muttered. "Fucking unappreciated for my good looks. Just my movability-"

She laughed, and when to grab his pillow, when he stopped her. "You're such a brat." But when she laid down, feeling the warmth of his body already making under the covers warm, she had no complaints. Not even when he turned towards her on the bed, and she felt him move her hair off of his pillow – though it wasn't as long as it used to be since they butchered her head.

She reached behind her, grabbing his arm, and putting it around her waist. It was all the permission he needed to get closer and keep her warm.

It was all she needed to feel like it was summer again. To feel like she was in high school. To feel like everything was going right for once.

He had a life other than just being with her. So she would hang out with Jake and Angela some evenings, sometimes Sam, Emily, and his kid would come over and they'd play Jenga. And sometimes, Paul would show up with some take out and a movie and they'd curl up on the couch and watch it, all the while muttering things under their breath about one another. Either that he was an attention-starved mutt or she was a granny with a cougar complex. She let him get away with the granny jokes.

Only because he brought food.

And kept her warm on the nights he did stay.

But she couldn't go Christmas shopping, which really bummed her out. So instead she had to bribe whoever came over to get a list of gifts for her, and she'd give them whatever baked good they desired. Leah agreed to get stuff only if she got brownies.

Jake was harder to please. He needed not only brownies, but also her Grandmother Swan's Christmas cookies. She had glared at him, but reluctantly passed him the paper of things she still needed. He shot her a grin and a quick kiss to the cheek, before whistling on his way out.

They were all mongrels. All of them.

She just couldn't believe Christmas was a week away.

She couldn't believe she had been asleep for six months.

She couldn't believe Paul actually wanted to have dinner and a movie with her.

What sort of Christmas miracle had been wished?

Check out my tumblr ODaerwyn if you want to see what I'm planning next. All guest reviews are replied to on my Tumblr.