Written for the "Passionate About Paul" one-shot contest

Pen Name: Sabi'sSookie
Title: Running Home
Rating: MA
Primary Players: Paul/Bella
Summary: He broke her heart and she ran, only to come home and realize that he's not done with her by a long shot.
Word Count: 3,693
Beta'd by: Nostalgicmiss

DISCLAIMER: Stephenie Meyer owns the Twilight saga and all its characters. No copyright infringement is intended. No profits have been received in the production of this piece.

To see other entries in the "Passionate About Paul" contest, please visit
www(dot)fanfiction(dot)net/~passionateaboutpaulcontest

BPOV

The hair on the back of my neck stood on end as a tingling sensation ran up and down my spine. I didn't want to turn around for fear of what, or more appropriately, who I would see. It had been four years since I had set foot in this dump of a town. They say that you can never go home, and while I have no clue who in the hell "they" are, I do know that they are very wrong. You can most certainly go home again; I was living proof. What "they" forget to tell you is that coming home means facing all the problems you left behind, or in my case, the heartbreak.

I had been the virginal, bookworm daughter of the Chief of Police. A wallflower in every sense of the word, and perfectly content with that social status. I was awkward at best, and so clumsy at my worst that it should have been a handicap. As lonely as it got at times, I was more than content with my plot in life. Alone was safe. My father was living proof of just how badly things could go when you allowed people to get too close. If only I had heeded my own thoughts on the matter.

A throat clears from over my shoulder and I down the tequila shot sitting in front of me.

"Another, please," I manage to get out, and the bartender eyes me warily.

"Bella." His tone is harsh and I can tell that he is annoyed by my lack of attention, but I will not waver. I owe him nothing. I have given him more than enough.

His large hand touches my shoulder and I stiffen. The current of electricity that always comes with his touch courses through my body and I shiver. I can practically feel his smug smile.

"Fuck off." I swear with as much conviction as I can muster.

"I'd much rather fuck you," he whispers in my ear, his hot breath causing me to shiver involuntarily.

"I think you did enough of that years ago. Get lost, I won't tell you again." Now I am pissed. How dare he come on to me like he didn't break my heart four years ago and send me running for the hills! I wanted to punch him in the balls until they were forced to retreat back inside his body.

"Mmmm, so feisty these days. I like it." Cocky bastard.

"Come on, man, just leave her alone." I hear a voice I haven't heard in years and for once it is welcome.

"Jake!" I squeal and turn to look at him, all while avoiding the prick to his right.

"Hey, Bells. Charlie said you might be here." He wrapped me in a hug and I inhaled his woodsy scent. Apart from Charlie, my dad, he was the only thing I had missed in this hell hole of a town. He had been like a big brother my entire life, even when he grew tall and popular and I remained the geeky little Bella Swan.

"I missed you, Jake." I heard what sounded like a growl coming from him, but pointedly ignored him.

"Get your fucking hands off of her, Black." His voice was low and menacing.

"Get bent, Paul or I'll do what I should have done years ago." Jake had never been intimidated by Paul, even when others feared him.

Paul Uley had always been tall with muscles that rippled every time he moved. He was the quintessential bad boy, fully equipped with a motorcycle and tattoos. His older brother, Sam had always tried to keep him in line, but with an absent father and a drunken mother he didn't have much backup. Paul used it to his advantage and basically ran amuck. I had always watched him from a careful distance, daydreaming about how he was so hard on the outside to protect the softness within. I read way too many romance novels back then. Now I know better. People are exactly what they seem to be.

"You don't scare me, Jake," Paul spat. "Your warnings didn't keep me away from her then and it won't now. Bella is mine."

I am very ashamed to say that his possessiveness turned me on. It always had. I suppose that was why he picked me to begin with. I was naturally submissive and it made me easy to control, and that was something that Paul always needed; to be in control. I figure it was due to the fact that his life had been nothing but chaos as a child.

"Yeah, I don't think so, dickhead. Bella here is getting married." I felt my back straighten at Jake's words. Nothing good could come of this.

"Like hell she is." Paul was dangerous and his voice made him sound positively lethal.

"I don't really think anyone asked your opinion, Paul."

"Jake," I warn, but his eyes never leave Paul's.

"Come on, Bells. Charlie told me to tell you to come on home if I found you."

"Okay, " I whisper and follow him without a glance in Paul's direction.

Paul's strong hand grabs my arm and Jake stiffens as he leans in.

"This isn't over, angel. I'll be seeing you soon." As soon as Jake situated me in the passenger seat of his truck I broke down. Fat, salty tears streamed down my cheeks.

"Just hold it together a little bit longer, Bells. It's all right." I sob loudly all the way to my dad's house, and sob some more as Jake carries me up the stairs to my bedroom.

"Did she see him?" I hear Charlie ask.

"What do you think?" Is Jake's reply. "I told him she's getting married."

"Dammit, Jake! You know all that's going to do is make him want her more! I've spent years covering her tracks to keep him from finding her, now he is going to come at her with everything he's got!" I looked up to see my dad tugging at his hair.

"I'm sorry, Daddy," I cry.

"No, baby, it's not your fault. Why don't you just get some rest, sweetheart. It'll all work out."

"Kay," I answer weakly.

Okay, so I'm sure you're all asking me "what the fuck" right now, right? I suppose I should explain. Like I said, I was a quiet girl, focused completely on school and helping my dad raise me. Jake was my only friend, and after visiting him on the reservation where he lived I decided to make a trip to the beach. I came across a very drunk Paul who looked unusually distraught. It was different from the anger he usually exuded.

Flashback

"Are you all right?" My voice was small, but I couldn't just leave without making sure. It wasn't in my nature not to help.

His eyes shot up to mine and he wiped them furiously, trying to rid himself of the evidence that he was, in fact, human.

"I'm fine. What the fuck do you want?" I immediately lowered my eyes to the ground.

"Sorry, I just saw you and thought… sorry. I'll just… go." I made to walk away and in an instant he had his arms around my waist, pulling me to him.

"So sweet," he whispered as he ran his nose along my neck. I didn't speak. I couldn't have if I tried. I looked up to meet his eyes and was lost in their depths. I saw something in him that needed to be saved. Ever so gently I raised my hand and pressed it to his cheek and he leaned into the contact. After a few seconds his eyes filled with determination and his lips were pressed to mine. It was my first kiss, and while it was forceful and desperate it was filled with a strange tenderness. We didn't talk that day, but over the next three months he would randomly appear, his eyes always watching. Occasionally he would approach me if we were alone. Those days were the best. We would talk for hours and sometimes kiss, but he never pushed anything. He said I was an angel and angels shouldn't be spoiled by devils like him.

I guess after a while he changed his mind as he actively sought me out. Everything was done in secret. He claimed it was for my benefit. He said my reputation would be ruined if anyone ever found out. We ran in two completely different circles so it was not hard to keep our relationship quiet. After 6 months of sneaking around I gave him my virginity. He was careful and sweet. It was beautiful. And six more months later, right after graduation, my world came crashing down around me.

You see, the reason I was kept a secret was not for my benefit at all, it was for the benefit of his girlfriend who happened to be Jake's sister Rachel. She had been away at college but had come home for the summer. I had showed up at Paul's wearing a trench coat and nothing else. I was 18 and free to be with him. I had decided to forgo university to stay with him and was excited to tell him the news. I let myself in, using the hidden key. Imagine my surprise to come face-to-face with Rachel, parading through the house in nothing but Paul's t-shirt.

"Oh, hey, Bella!" She smiled. "What are you doing here?" Paul emerged with a towel slung low around his hips. She looked back and forth between us as I blinked back tears.

"Paul, tell me you didn't!" She screamed, rounding on him. "How could you do that to her? To me?"

I ran without thinking and ended up at Jake's house. I broke down and told him the whole sordid story. He was surprised, as neither of us ever spoke of Paul. He knew that Rachel had dated him, but thought she finally wised up and kicked him to the curb. He hugged me as I cried and eventually Rachel came home and wrapped her arms around me.

"Oh, Bella, you poor girl. I'm so sorry he did this to you." She ran her fingers through my hair in attempt to soothe me.

I asked her why she wasn't mad at me.

"You didn't know, Bella. You were a virgin, right?" I nodded.

She explained how she knew that Paul had been messing around with someone and meant to break it off with him, but she saw him and fell under his spell, just like I had. She told me that he slept with her, but something was off. He was distracted and unable to finish. She thought he just felt guilty about cheating on her.

My heart was shattered into a million pieces. I was forced to tell my dad what happened after Paul threatened to beat down our front door if someone didn't open it. He called, left messages, and eventually even resorted to texts. I changed my number.

He showed up at my dad's house every day, looking worse for wear, and sometimes very drunk. I moved in with my dad's sister, Esme and told no one. I went to college and became a dental hygienist, a job that didn't require much in the way of communication as my patients' mouths were always full and unable to talk.

My dad would come to visit me at the house I shared with my cousins Edward and Alice. I tried dating, but it never felt right. I only did it to appease Alice. Eventually I met Emmett through Alice's boyfriend, Jasper and we began to spend time together. I never felt for him what I felt for Paul and he understood. He had his own bad past relationship with Rosalie Hale. We were friends, but let everyone believe there was something more. We both desperately wished that there would be, but it never happened.

Eventually Alice married her boyfriend Jasper, and then Edward met a woman and fell madly in love. I no longer fit in but the final straw was when Emmett gave in to his feelings and went back to Rosalie. I wasn't hurt. I was happy for him, but watching everyone pair off was just too much. I decided to leave Chicago and go back to my dad.

My dad never mentioned that Paul looked for me, not that it would have made much of a difference. I was so confused about everything. Why Paul tried to find me. Why Jake lied about me being engaged. It's been four years since I left so none of it even mattered.

I slide under the covers and fall into a fitful sleep.

I am awakened by a familiar tingling. My eyes shoot open and Paul is sitting on the edge of my bed. I instinctually jerk away from his hand that is touching my face.

"Shh," he warns. I should scream. My dad would come in and probably shoot him. But then my dad would end up in prison, not a good place for a cop.

"Leave. You shouldn't be here."

"Oh, that's where you're wrong, angel. This is exactly where I should be." He kicks off his boots and climbs into my bed.

"Please don't," I beg as tears fall from my eyes.

"Oh, baby, what did I do to you?" He sighs. "None of that matters now. You're back and we're going to work this out. I love you, Bella. I've always loved you."

His words wash over me and I feel something I haven't felt in four years, and I want to hold onto it. I know that it can never go past tonight. I am not foolish enough to let him into my heart again, but I just want one more time.

PPOV

Four years. For four years I looked for her. I begged and pleaded, but no one would tell me. I made a mistake and broke both our hearts in the process. I had always planned to break it off with Rachel, but I felt I owed her to do it in person. She wanted one last time, and I felt so guilty about hurting her that I gave in. It felt awful. Wrong. She was too tall and her hair was too short. Her chest was too big and she didn't smell like Bella's fucking strawberry shampoo. She got off but I didn't, I couldn't. I wanted Bella. Then she was there. Innocent and beautiful… and fucking destroyed. Rachel laid into me about breaking her heart and Bella's. She loved Bella. Everyone did, and I was the prick to hurt her.

My brother beat me within an inch of my life when he found out what happened. My angel thought no one noticed her, but she had no idea how cherished she was by everyone that she ever came in contact with. She was the only one to ever see past the image I put out. She loved me. She told me so as often as she could, and like a fool I never said it back.

Then she was gone.

When I saw her in that dingy lodge, slamming back tequila shots it took all my willpower not to throw her over my shoulder and carry her back to my house. The house I built for her. After she left I worked hard, made a living and opened an auto shop with my brother. I built her dream house, hoping she would come back to me. I didn't deserve her, but I would stop at nothing to have her back.

Then Jake happened. Said she's getting married. Not unless she's marrying me.

I watched her house, waiting for all the lights to go out. I climbed the tree outside her window. Lucky for me she left it unlocked. And I just sat watching her until she woke. She could always feel me, like I could feel her. It was some freaky connection we shared. She was still Bella, only a little older. She had grown into herself, no longer did she look like a girl. Her hair was a little longer, and she had filled out a little more, but she is still the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.

She was shocked and angry, but then something changed. She launched herself at me and I am finally home. I hold back the sob that is dangerously close to escaping my mouth and kiss her greedily. I taste the salt of her tears but when I pull away to wipe them she shakes her head and kisses me again. I know we should talk, but I am caught up in the taste of her; the feel of her. She is everything.

She tugs at the hem of my shirt and I allow her to take it off. Her tiny hands trace my torso and she takes in the new tattoo over my heart from the faint light her nightlight gives off. It's her name and a tribal swan. She kisses it and I moan.

"I love you," I whisper and she silences me with her mouth. Her tongue traces mine as she explores my mouth, her hands running up and down my chest.

I'm not sure how, but her shirt is gone and she is before me in nothing but her white cotton boyshorts.

"So fucking beautiful," I want to cry because she really is.

My fingers brush her nipples and she cries out. I fight back anger wondering about this man she intends to marry and if she reacts to his touch this way.

"Mine." I growl and my hands make their way down until I am cupping her. She is so wet and I want to dive in and never leave.

I lay her down and she raises her hips as I remove her panties. I kiss her there and her hips buck.

"No," she cries "it's been too long. I just need you."

"What do you need angel? Tell me." I demand.

"You. Inside." Her hands reach for my belt and my dick twitches when she brushes it. For four years it hasn't been touched by anything but my hand. If I didn't have her I didn't want anyone. I had to hold out to show her. I would have waited forever.

Now we are both bare and I am poised at her entrance. She moans quietly and begs.

"Please," she says as her hips jerk meeting my tip. We both moan.

"Tell me who you belong to. Tell me that you're mine and no one else's."

Her eyes shoot open and she bites her bottom lip. I nudge the head into her just enough to make her want more.

"Tell me," I demand again.

"Yours," she breathes, "I've always been yours, Paul."

My name from her lips is all I need and I ease my way into her. She is wet and tight and I just know that no one else has been there. She still fits just me. It takes her a few minutes to adjust to my size and then we are moving. In and out, slow then fast. Our hands roam and our mouths seek out the other. She cries into my mouth as she comes. I thrust harder, but try to hold off. I want her to feel that ecstasy again. My fingers find that sensitive bundle of nerves and I rub as I increase the speed of my thrusts.

"Paul," she whispers against my lips.

"Can you come for me, angel. I'm so close." She nods and I feel her tightening around me. I kiss her to keep us both quiet.

I release into her. Our eyes meet and she quickly turns away. That will not do.

"No, I've waited four years to see those eyes. Don't turn away from me." Her eyes say it all.

This was goodbye for her.

"No!" I cry, not caring about the volume of my voice.

"Shh, be quiet!" She whisper yells.

"No! I don't fucking care! I'm not just going to let you go!"

"Please, just be quiet," she pleads and shifts. I am still inside her and the movement makes me hard again.

"This isn't over. It will never be over." I start thrusting and her eyes roll back. Each word I say is punctuated with a hard thrust. "You. Belong. To. Me. And I belong to you."

"Paul," her voice quivers, a sign that she is close.

"Mine. Say it!" I growl and she complies.

"Yours, yours, yours." I know that she will say anything in this moment but I take it.

She comes and relaxes, then she tries to turn herself off. I can practically feel her shutting down.

"Look. At. Me!" I do cry now. I am desperate. I need her like air, and I won't survive if she leaves me again.

I come and it's powerful despite my emotional state.

"I'm so sorry I hurt you. I couldn't… I can't lose you again. Baby, please…" I sob like a child but she shields her face from me. I need her eyes. I need to know that she still loves me.

Neither of us realizes the time, but we both stiffen as we hear Charlie's alarm clock. Thankfully, he doesn't check in on her and goes to work.

"Bella, we need to talk about this. You need to know…" but she cuts me off.

"Can you just hold me, Paul? Just for now? I feel like I haven't slept in years." I can't deny her, and I don't want to. My arms wrap around her slight frame and I feel her relax into me.

"I love you," I whisper, reverently.

"Doesn't change anything." Her words are slurred as she drifts into sleep.

"It changes everything." I say, but her breathing is still even. "I know you still love me. I will get you back, and neither of us will ever be alone again."

I kissed her and drifted off to sleep, hopeful, for the first time in four years.