Bella's POV:

I dreamt of Paul that night. I was the princess who had fallen in love with a peasant boy- he of course being my Paul. The prince was Edward. Paul rescued me after Edward had locked me in the dungeon for loving Paul and not him.

I woke up smiling. I knew that he would always rescue me if he had to. I hoped it wouldn't come to that but in this world that seemed to be full of supernatural beings being a mortal wasn't a good thing. I would never be strong enough to protect myself from them – didn't help that even if I was walking on a flat surface I'd probably face plant.

I didn't really feel like getting out of my warm bed but I worked at the Newton's Store today. After work Paul and I were going to have dinner with my dad. Now that'll be an adventure. It seemed from the short meeting last night that my dad liked him but who knows what Charlie is ever really thinking.

Reluctantly I peeled myself from the warm covers and hit the shower. I blow-dried my hair which I normally wouldn't do but it was cool out and I didn't want to get sick. Being sick meant to me not being able to go see Paul now. I hadn't seen him in less than 12 hours and I was already sad about it!

I started my truck which was reluctant to turn on. I'd have to get Jacob to take a look at it at some point in the next couple of weeks. I parked behind the store and headed inside.

Much to my dismay it looked like it was Mike's turn to work. Ugh. I grabbed my vest from the hook by the door and headed to the cash desk.

"Hey Bella!" Mike said enthusiastically. Well so much for hoping that after Paul's freak out he'd back off.

"Morning Mike" I sighed loudly. I was not in the mood to talk to him today.

"So what were you doing at that bonfire the other night?!" He asked as if he was completely oblivious.

"Because I have friends in La Push." I commented "My boyfriend happens to be the one you spoke with." I tried to conceal my grin at the dropped jaw reaction that earned.

"But you just broke up with Edward. I thought you weren't ready to move on" Mike pouted "You wouldn't go out with me!" He really reminded me of a petulant child.

"No I didn't just break up with Edward. He left me and it took me time to get over that. You asked me out continuously for weeks immediately after he left. Paul has my heart. He makes me whole again. He is my boyfriend and he is ten times the man that either you or Edward will ever be." I stated matter of factly, sorting through fliers at a fast pace.

He looked even more stunned at the fact that I had told him off. It was at that moment that the door swung open and a customer came in. Thank God! I quickly pushed past the completely still Mike and went to help them.

Thankfully the day passed by at a quick pace. I was looking forward to seeing my Paul and just spending time around him. The more time we spent apart the more I missed him the stronger I knew I felt about him.

I closed up for the day alone because Mike had disappeared when Lauren had shown up a few hours before. The Newton's trusted me to lock up and I appreciated that. This was only my second real job after all and the first one had been a disaster.

I chuckled to myself at the memory of me burning steamed milk at the coffee shop in Phoenix. I climbed gingerly into the truck and pulled the door shut behind me.

It stalled again as I started it and I thought to myself that it was a good thing that my next stop was a mechanic's shop with plenty of able bodied guys to figure out what the heck was wrong with my poor truck.

It was a slow drive to the reserve because I really wasn't going to push my truck with it stalling. I had gotten directions from Paul and had very little trouble finding the shop. It was huge!

I went up to the receptionist's desk and was mildly surprised to see Kim sitting there reading. "Hey Kim!" I exclaimed happily. I knew that she and Emily and I would be great friends.

"Hey Bella!" She grinned and then slyly said "So I assume you want your boy."

"You know it!" I said "However maybe you could send me Jake too?"

She laughed "Truck finally dying?"

"How'd you know about my truck?"

"A) You drove it the other night to the bon fire and it sounded like a wounded animal and b) Jake and Paul keep commenting on how you should just put it out of its misery and get a new vehicle"

I pouted "But I love my truck"

"Ya but they love you. You know they just worry that one day it'll die and you'll be in the middle of nowhere with no way of getting home." She laughed as she stood and headed back into the shop. I watched from the customer's window and saw her talking to Paul first. I was glad to see his face light up in a huge bright smile and he waves to me.

I became enthralled by how handsome he is. His dark hair was cut fairly short and his eyes were bright and full of love for me. He makes my heart race and I could feel my breathing speed up. He was in a pair of jeans and a white top that had streaks of oil across it. There was another streak across his cheek and a formerly white towel hung from his back pocket.

He waved his hand again beckoning me to meet him halfway. I opened the door and ran to meet him. I kissed him hard as he spun me around. There were catcalls from all the men in the shop and a few wolf whistles thrown in for good measure.

"Hey Princess" He whispered into my hair as he placed another kiss at my temple.

"Hey Paul" I sighed happily. I could stay like this, right here, forever. "You ready to go?"

"Just about. Kim said your truck sounds like a dying animal?" He looked mildly perplexed but the smile didn't leave his face.

"Ya it does" I laughed. "Do you think you and Jake might be able to save it?"

"We can try but I make no guarantees." He laughed with me "We'll take a look at it tomorrow maybe?"

Jake had started walking over by this point. "Bells!" He shouted waving wildly.

I wiggled out of Paul's grasp and ran to my best friend. "Jakey!" I teased as he hugged me. "Paul said maybe you two could try to fix my truck tomorrow?" I looked at him hopefully. He and Paul exchanged glances over my head.

"We can try" He said. He was just as dirty as Paul.

"Ok Paul we better get going I told Charlie we would be home by 7 and that I was going to pick up Chinese food." I started rambling "I would have cooked but I worked today but if you want me to cook something we can pick up ingredients."

"Bella relax." Paul said quietly wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "While you are a fabulous cook Chinese sounds great tonight. That way we can all just spend time talking not worrying about the kitchen."

I wrapped my arm around his waist and we waved goodbye to everyone. We had just about hit the exit when I heard Kim shout "Bella! Tomorrow night Emily and I are having a girl's night. You know sleepover, girly movies, maybe a manicure do you want to come?" She was looking at me so expectantly I couldn't stop myself, not that I really wanted to.

"Sure Kim that sounds fun!"

Paul smiled at me "That was sweet of you."

"I want to get to know them." I said "I am going to be around them a lot in the future after all." I climbed into the driver's seat and Paul into the passengers.

"True" He nodded as I attempted to get my truck to turn over on the first turn of the key. After stuttering a couple of times it started and Paul looked at me and said teasingly "Are you sure you don't want to just let it die?"

I glared at him as we started out of the parking lot. He gave me directions to a small house just on the edge of La Push. It was gorgeous with a small porch and rocking chair. I could feel at home here I found myself thinking.

I followed Paul into the house and he turned to me and said "I'm going to go shower and change. Make yourself at home unless you want to join me." He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively and I rolled my eyes.

"Not yet big boy" I laughed as he turned pouting to head up the stairs. I slapped his ass playfully as he passed by me and he whipped around and kissed me again passionately.

"God you have no idea how much I love you" He growled and I smiled.

"I love you too."

He pulled away reluctantly and within a few minutes I heard a shower running. I wandered slowly over to a fireplace and looked at the pictures on the mantle.

There was one of Paul, Jarrod and Sam goofing around. Paul had a dark look in his eyes that I hadn't seen in him before. I guess our love really did change him.

There was one of a man and a woman with a small boy I assumed to be Paul. He was grinning happily as the people I assumed were his parents gazed proudly at him.

Then there was one that left me a little confused. It was of an infant girl with a toothless smile and bright brown eyes. She must have meant something to Paul if he had her picture but something nagged at me that maybe asking wouldn't be a good idea, that I should let him explain it in his own time.

I heard the shower turn off and decided I should order the food so I pulled out my cell phone and dialed the number to the only Chinese restaurant in town. I ordered double what Charlie and I normally would have but I knew Paul's appetite.

I was just finishing up the call when I heard Paul's heavy footfalls on the stairs.

"Well dinner's ordered" I stated hanging up and returning the phone to my pocket. I almost swooned when I saw him. He was wearing a royal blue button up shirt and jeans but he was so sexy. He smiled cheekily and I knew he had noticed me checking him out.

"Good let's get a move on then!" He ushered me out the door and we headed back to Forks our hands entwined.