#radiates dad energy. dresses like a dad talks like a dad makes constant dad noises

[all-of-the-imagines-for-eve]

Stressed and In Love ~ Paul Lahote

A/n: REQUESTS!!! MAKE ME SO HAPPY!!!

Request: "My god, I had this idea and now I’m hoping I can live it though your amazing writing! So Bella’s sister tries to talk Bella out of going to Italy to save Edward, when she failed she stayed with Jake so she wouldn’t have to be alone till Charlie came home from work. Jake took her to hang out at Sam’s and Emily’s with the pack, trying to comfort her about losing her sister. When they get there Paul imprints on her and it’s like supper cute and stuff ? This was super long but feel free to ignore!🥰" by @sweetkiitty

A/n: As promised! Sorry again that I took a while. I really do appreciate your guys' requests so much I'm just hyper fixiated on something else right now. Thanks also for your patience, and the love that last Embry request got! Love you guys :)

Word Count: 2500+

MASTERLIST

"BELLA DON'T!" The panicked, desperate words came not from the best friend that had fallen in love with her, but the sister who had cared about Bella far longer on a far deeper level. When Jacob had failed to convince her even after he pulled each and every string he knew, Y/n stepped in to give it a shot.

Bella's expression remained constant. Grim and guilty, but also a little panicked. "I have to." She struggled to find some way to explain it but came up with nothing.

"You have a life here," Y/n insisted. "Someone who loves you and will treat you better than a guy who's bred to kill you. You're food to him!"

Bella stepped away from me. "You don't know what you're talking about."

Y/n grunted in frustration. "He left you! Without hesitation. You told me he didn't care for you, and now you're going to prime vampire central because he's put himself in danger? Come on Bella!"

She shook her head. "He's doing it because he thinks I'm dead."

"He's doing it because he's a drama queen who's overly obsessed with you in the most creepy way possible!" Y/n argued.

Bella ripped away from her. "One day you'll understand."

Y/n felt her loss and stepped away, her eyes watering. "I hope I never end up like you, Bells. The way you guys cannot survive without each other... it's toxic."

Lost on what to say, Bella got in the car, leaving Y/n and Jacob to simply watch it vanish in the distance around a corner. When she was really gone, Jacob broke. Soft sobs came from him as he turned away, trying to hide his face. Y/n, completely understanding, moved to him. It was easy to forget when he was there taking up her attention. She rubbed his back until she got him to open up to her. He finally scooped her up in a hug, burying his face in her neck.

Y/n and Jacob were the same age. They didn't go to school together, but with their dads being so close, had been friends for ages. When Y/n had chosen to stay with Charlie and Bella with Renee, Y/n had quickly taken Bella's place as Jacob's best friend. They had both depended on each other for a long time, finding solace in each other away from everyone else. When Embry left, Jake came to Y/n. When he had a crush on Bella and she got with Edward, he came to Y/n. When Bella had decided to stay with their mom and Y/n had stayed with their dad and that meant that the two girls wouldn't see each other anymore, Y/n went to Jake. When her first boyfriend didn't show up to her first dance and stood her up, Jake had gotten dressed up and gone with her instead.

It only made sense that as Bella rode to her probable death for an asshole that was throwing a fit after HE left HER - rightly so might I add - Jake and Y/n spent the night together, cuddling and comforting.

Charlie wasn't going to be home for hours and they hated empty, silent houses, so they headed to Jake's instead. They stayed silent as Jake drove, moving inside with the same quiet. "Do you mind if we make a stop by Emily's? She's really good at comforting?"

Y/n was plenty aware of what Jake was. Y/n had actually found out even before Jake knew when she'd confronted Embry about hurting him and things had gone super south when she'd set him off. Thank god Sam was there to intervene. It had been a relief to be able to comfort Jacob when he'd turned too, even though she'd been secretly hoping he wouldn't.

"Of course." It was less that he thought she wouldn't want to go to Emily's and more that he was asking if it was okay to be around other people. Y/n had never met any of the other pack members. She did adore Emily though, so she didn't mind. It was nice to know Jake had more people who were much closer to go to for comfort, other than her and Bella.

There was a rule at Emily's: if you heard talking, come in. Jake knew how awkward I was about just walking into new people's houses though, so he knocked.

Emily answered, smiling with greeting and confusion when she saw it was Jake. "Why did you knock?" Jake motioned to me and her eyes moved. She nodded, her smile growing. "I see! And who is this?"

"I'm Y/n Swan," Y/n greeted, holding out her hand.

Emily rolled her eyes, amused instead of annoyed. She pulled Y/n into a hug and it was strong and warm and Y/n felt like nothing could ever bother her again. No wonder Sam had fallen for her. No wonder this had been Jake's default place to go for comfort. Emily radiated a motherly, safe energy like no one else Y/n knew did. "Now come in. I can make you some food. You hungry?"

Y/n giggled as she was pulled from Jake and into the house, her previous companion closing the door behind the two women. "Y/n!" Embry cheered, standing and jogging to her to envelope her in a hug. Embry had become as much of a brother to Y/n as Jake was. She melted into him and he seemed to sense her need of a pick-me-up. So he did just that. He picked her up, right off of her feet, and spun around. She squealed, cinching tightly to his body to stable herself.

They were both laughing when he set her down. She shot a wide eyed look at Jake, who busted up as well. Emily made a comment about being careful and not breaking anything, but it was lost as Y/n looked around to take in everyone else. See if she knew anybody else.

She did not.

However, her eyes seemed to graze over everyone else just to race to the moment when her gaze net his.

He was a little shorter than Embry. A little more muscled. He had a smile that made her a little nervous, a mix of curiosity and a little danger in his expression. His hair was just as dark as everyone else's, but favored a short hair style like Jake's rather than a little long and wavy like Quil's or Embry's. He was looking directly at Y/n, as if waiting for her to look back. And when she did, both of their breaths caught.

His face went blank and his skin seemed to go an odd color, like he was motion sick or something. His body relaxed. His grip on the fork in his hand loosened and fell onto the glass plate underneath, making a very loud clatter that made Y/n jump.

Everyone looked over at him. "You okay over there, man?" one of the other people Y/n didn't know asked.

Jake nudged her as Embry finally let her go. She managed to tear my eyes away from the boy - who was really pretty and overall nice to look at and also shirtless dear god why were they always shirtless - and look over at Jake as he began speaking. "So, let me introduce you to the gang. Embry, Sam, and Quil you know. Then we have Leah and Seth, the Clearwaters. You remember me mentioning them?" Y/n nodded wordlessly. "Jared is the one next to Seth." They all waved as their names were said, Leah settling on just looking over and then away. "And then there's Paul."

Looking back at him loosened Y/n's chest. She hadn't realized that it was squeezing when she'd looked away, but the relief now was indistinguishable. "Hi." She meant the word to be smooth and clear, but came out as a kind of choked off squeak.

Paul... blushed. Someone laughed and then everyone's eyes went wide and I felt like I was suddenly on the outside of a conversation I'd missed the beginning of. Someone else made a noise that was obviously a laugh being masked as a laugh. Everyone was smirking. Except Leah. She rolled her eyes and looked away.

"Hey," he finally managed. The room grew quiet, which was very unnatural for this group of people especially. Awkwardness and tension settled in as Paul and Y/n held eye contact for a whole minute.

"Okay," Embry sighed rather heavily. "Seth, move over and let Y/n sit down." Seth giggled before doing just that. Jake didn't help as I shot him a pleading look- Embry had begun moving me to the mow empty chair. He sat me down and I was burning with how close I was to the very pretty man who was still staring at me.

Everyone turned away, forcing sudden conversation that didn't include me or Paul. What was going on, and why did it suddenly feel like I was being set up for something? There was something in the back of my brain, just out of my reach. Something I wasn't really remembering. Something that would make this make sense. Jake had told me all about the wolves and what had happened. What was I missing?

I'm kind of disappointed, you know? But I guess it was more lucky that I didn't imprint on Bella than anything.

Imprint.

Oh god.

Y/n looked at him, feeling her heart beginning to race. "I-" He had finally looked at her as she spoke, food forgotten but obviously searching for something to say to her. Was this shyness usual for him? How were they ever supposed to get along if both of them were quiet and awkward? Y/n stood, her mind racing, and booked it around the other boys and out the door. Her arms crossed over her chest as she began walking home like the total idiot she was.

Behind her, the door closed. Then slammed open again. "Y/n! Y/n wait!" She turned as Paul caught up to her, almost slamming into her. The two were far too close but neither of them could gather the self control to move away. "I- You- I have to-" He grunted as he struggled to say anything.

She swallowed. "You imprinted on me." Paul looked up, surprised. "Jake told me all about you guys, when he turned and then Sam told him I knew. He tells me everything."

Paul nodded then took a second to think. "I know it's kind of sudden and stuff-"

Y/n barked a short laugh that made Paul frown nervously. "Ten minutes ago I was losing my mind as my sister drove off to go after a fucking leech. A monster from nightmares born to kill her, and a toxic boy who watches her when she sleeps and is emotionally demanding and exhausting. Ten minutes ago, my world was destroyed as I watched helplessly as the person who used to be my mom became more like my child after that same asshole ditched her and left her comatose for MONTHS and completely broken after she finally became responsive... That's been my life for- for forever. Bella. Taking care of her and making sure she's alive. And suddenly you're here and I'm supposed to forget how she's probably terrified and in danger and going to die tonight, all because a really pretty boy looked at me and his wolf shit kicked in and now I'm his or whatever."

It was silent for a very long time. "You're not mine, Y/n." He moved even closer, his hand raising to brush her cheek softly. "I'm yours." She swallowed. That was so much responsibility... "And yeah, it's a lot to handle in a short amount of time. I can't imagine- god I don't know how you and Jake don't lock her to her bed and kill that leech yourselves. How you can watch it and deal with it. I wouldn't blame you if you did, even though it's against the treaty or whatever." He rolled his eyes. "But the great thing about being my imprint is now you have me 24/7. If you're upset or in danger or just need someone to try a new dish you've cooked or someone to rant to or someone to sit down and binge watch a show with you so you can have someone to rant about it with, I'm your man. And as long as I'm not out there fighting someone or Sam doesn't need me for something just as important, I'm instantly available. No more coordinating with Jake and balancing with distance. I'm there and I move fast, so it doesn't matter where you are, I'm now with you." His hands moved awkwardly through the air, his words earnest.

Someone to be by my side... No matter what day or time or distance... Well, within reason.

"Wow," Y/n whispered. "That's a lot of work for you." Suddenly her heart was racing again. "I'm really hyper once you get to know me. I never stop talking. I'll bug you constantly, I really will-"

"Good," Paul interrupted. Both of them were getting excited. They were even closer now, as close two people can be without having to cross their eyes to see each other. "Any reason to be around you as often as possible. I'll take it."

Y/n licked her lips. "I know I said that I have a lot going on... but you're really pretty and very close and I kind of really want to kiss you."

Paul laughed. "Thank god." The hand that was on her face earlier moved to cup her cheek, the other hand gripping her waist. It started hesitant and soft but the second their lips touched, the kiss grew hard and his grip became rough and desperate. He pulled her to him and she was knocked breathless. Her fingers wrapped around the back of his neck, slipping up to lightly grip the short strand of his hair. The kiss broke to allow him to gasp, sucking air in sharply with rhythm to the light tugs.

"Holy shit." They finally parted, giddy smiles on their faces and a shared sort of lightness in their bodies. "Do that again."

Paul grinned. "How about for now-" Y/n popped up on her tiptoes, quickly pressing her lips to his again. He jerked forward, deepening the kiss instantly. He grunted, pushing her back for a second, blinking to clear his mind. "I want to do that. A lot. But uh-" he inhaled deeply and then exhaled again, trying to stabilize himself. "You make me very nervous and I'm super not used to that. How about some food?"

Y/n's smile was soft and sweet and warm and beautiful. She'd loved hearing about imprints and kind of had wanted Embry to imprint on her. When he hadn't, she'd moved on from the idea and been perfectly fine with just chilling instead. But now... she was kind of overexcited at the prospect of being handed someone she knew would be good for her.

They were both excited about it.

The most fun would be learning WHY they were good together, though.

And they were excited for that too.

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