Love Comes from Unexpected Places

Chapter Seventeen: Bonding Moments

"She's beautiful," Paul said approaching Sophia, he smiled as he watched the blonde with her daughter; he was still a little surprised that his imprint had a baby daughter but he didn't mind. 

Sophia looked up at Paul confused a little while she feed Mia her bottle, she wasn't sure why he had come to talk to her especially since the blonde had heard quite a bit about him from her uncle. 

"I'm Paul Lahote," Paul said moving to look at her and her daughter, he couldn't help but smile at her as he admired the two of them.

Sophia nodded her head carefully checking on Mia before she looked at Paul wondering what he wanted; her uncle had often muttered in annoyance about the teenager before her but he wasn't what she expected. 

"Sophia Swan," Sophia replied, she often shortened her full name, Sophia Hayward Swan; it always made her feel so uncomfortable and like someone important. 

"So how are you related to Bella? You guys are very different," Paul asked moving to sit down next to Sophia, he wanted to know everything about his imprint and he didn't want to hear it from other people. 

Sophia laughed quietly and nodded her head knowing that she could understand why people got confused about how she was related to Bella. 

"Charlie is my mother's older brother," Sophia explained brushing some hair from her face, she knew that a lot of people often got confused since she didn't look anything like her uncle or cousin. 

Sophia chewed on her lip knowing that things were going to be interesting, her birthday was next month and she doubted that her parents would be coming to visit her.

"And you're from New York?" Paul recalled her saying that she was New Yorker when he had first met her, he looked at Sophia as she focused on her daughter knowing that he was glad that he imprinted on her and not Bella. 

Paul was aware how close he could have been to imprinting on Bella because Sophia was her cousin and the pack believed that the wolf imprinted on the person with whom he has the best chance to reproduce stronger future wolves. 

"Yes," Sophia replied with a nod of her head, she smiled at Paul wondering why he was asking her these questions; the blonde had only heard bad things about him especially his antics and womanizing ways. 

Paul took a deep breath as he wondered what he could do to grow closer to her, he knew he didn't have the best reputation and it had gotten a little worse when he had phased into a wolf. 

"So what about you?" Sophia asked carefully taking the bottle and moved to burb Mia, she looked at Paul for a moment as she wondered why he was sat here talking to her; she knew she wasn't going to sleep with him and she wasn't really looking for a boyfriend right now. 

"I'm originally from Tacoma, Washington, my parents are divorced and I live here with my dad," Paul revealed with a shrug, his life wasn't that interesting; he just wanted to get to know his imprint right now.

***

Sophia laughed softly as she talked with Paul, she had to admit that he wasn't what she had expected especially after hearing some of Charlie's horror stories about him. 

"This is nice," Sophia admitted checking on Mia who was taking a nap, she couldn't remember the last time that she had been able to just talk to someone. 

Paul nodded his head as he smiled at her, it would be a while before he could tell her about being a wolf and the legends of the tribe. 

Paul knew that he couldn't just spring this on her, especially when she had Mia in her life; he was going to have to cope with not being his imprint's number one concern. 

"It is," Paul agreed watching her fuss slightly over a napping Mia, he couldn't help but feel his heart warm at the sight of her with the infant; he couldn't wait for the day that she would have his children. 

Paul was all too aware that it would be a while before Sophia was ready for that but he was willing to wait as long as it took for that moment. 

"Listen I'm going to be completely honest with you," Sophia started knowing that she wasn't going to lead Paul on, she had no interest in being anything other than a friend and he needed to know that.

Paul nodded his head curious about what Sophia was going to say, he hoped that he would be able to see more of her even if it did mean being around Mia. 

Paul wasn't going to rush things, Sophia had to think about her daughter and Paul respected that fact; he would be her friend and he was happy to take the long road with her. 

"I'm not looking for a boyfriend... but I could really do with a friend right now," Sophia said smiling at him, she had to focus on Mia and she was going to do that.

Paul looked at Sophia as he realised that he could wait until she wanted more; he would be anything that she wanted right now. 

"Then that is what I'll be," Paul replied smiling at Sophia, he had no idea what she was going through right now; sure he'd had a number of false pregnancy alarms but Sophia was a mother and he understood that. 

Sophia nodded in relief that he wasn't upset that she couldn't offer him more, Mia needed her full attention and she didn't want to add a new boyfriend into the mix right now. 

Sophia wasn't even sure what was going on between her and Jason, they hadn't officially broken up when he been shipped off to military school; he had just gone and she hadn't gotten to say goodbye. 

"Thank you," Sophia whispered moving to give Paul a hug, she was a little surprised at how hot he was but she ignored it knowing that it was quite nice since it was a little chilly. 

Paul held Sophia close there would always be a time that she could change her mind and he would wait for that moment; she was his imprint and he'd wait forever for her if that was what it took. 

"Sophia we need to leave," Bella demanded as she appeared from the forest with Jacob, she glared at Paul wondering why he was hugging her cousin.

Sophia raised an eyebrow pulling back from Paul wondering what had gotten Bella's panties in a twist; she sighed knowing that Charlie would be expecting them home soon for dinner anyway. 

Jacob glared up at Paul, he had been happily talking to Bella only for her to freak out at how close Sophia had gotten with Paul. 

"I guess I'll see you around," Sophia said moving to pick Mia up, she looked at Bella who was heading towards the car; she wondered what had happened. 

Paul nodded his head knowing that he was going to find different ways to see Sophia and to grow closer to her; he wasn't going to allow her to slip through his fingers. 

"You will," Paul promised ignoring Jacob and Bella, he knew that he didn't care what the leech-lover thought; she had no right to meddle in his relationship with his imprint. 

Sophia smiled at him before she walked away to join Bella who was waiting impatiently by the car; she ignored her cousin as she moved to settle Mia into the back seat. 

Jacob moved to stand next to Paul wishing that he would stop messing with his time with Bella; he was sure that she would fall for him at some point then she would forget all about Edward Cullen.