Aurora - *FELIX V. PAUL*

Ch. 22

*SHORT*

Charlie opened the door at the sound of the doorbell and was all but surprised to see Paul there.

"Good afternoon, sir," he extended his hand to shake the Chief of Police's, but was met with a thin lipped, slow blink of disapproval.

"Let's get this out of the way, shall we?" Paul gulped and put his hand back down listening. "I set some rules in this house. If I ever catch you in my daughter's bedroom again, I'll have you arrested. And believe me, the juvenile penitentiaries have some pretty curious fellas who'd take a quick shine to you shirtless. So watch yourself."

Paul's eyes were wide and fearful. Thankfully, Aurora appeared and opened the door wide enough to allow him access. "We get it, dad. Thanks." She pulled him into the living room where her bridesmaid dress was sitting on the couch.

"This one for me?" Paul asked earning a grin and a backhand to the shoulder.

"I need your help deciding what shoes to wear with it. Alice gave me a couple and I've narrowed it down to two, but I can't decide."

"I'll be upstairs." Charlie called as he made it to the staircase.

"Good thinking. Now I can get changed here!"

Paul's head snapped from the dress to Aurora and to where Charlie was still walking up. Without ever stopping, he responded. "I can take you both out with the rifle! Keep your damn clothes on!"

Aurora chuckled. "Love you!"

"Not funny!"

Paul took a deep sigh of relief.

Aurora picked up the dress off the couch and headed to the bathroom. The doorbell rang and she turned back to him.

"Could you get that? It's probably Alice with the jewelry." Paul watched as she disappeared into the hallway. He could hardly believe that he finally had everything he wanted. She was his. Completely his.

Somewhere down the road he'd have to deal with the blood sucker that wanted her too, but this life was serene. Her heart wouldn't stop beating until she had lived a full life with him by her side. He couldn't imagine a better future for them.

A knock at the door resounded after a while of Paul being blinded by his thoughts. He turned to the door and opened it to see a short woman that was unfamiliar to him. She had dark brown hair and eyes to match and her skin was fair.

"Can I help you?" He asked politely.

She seemed to search around him and become discouraged. "I'm sorry, by any chance does Charlie Swan still live here?"

Paul nodded profusely. "Yeah. Let me call him for you." He turned only to be met with Aurora in her bridesmaid dress. A sigh of disbelief came from Paul as he stared at her in the pale blue dress with lavender floral details stitched into the tulle. There was not a single part of his being that didn't melt at the sight of his girl every time he saw her.

"What do you think?"

"... Wow."

Aurora smiled brightly at his reaction. A throat cleared from behind the door and Paul walked back towards the stairs to call up to Charlie. "Mr. Swan! Door for you!" Aurora got a glimpse of the woman outside and narrowed her eyes at her. The woman stared back and covered her mouth with her hand.

"Auror—"

Aurora stomped to the door and slammed it shut. Paul watched her, confused, but before he could get a word out she had dashed passed him upstairs. Charlie had come from his room and caught the last sight of dress enter her bedroom before she slammed the door shut. He turned down to Paul who shrugged unsure of what had happened.

Charlie sighed and motioned to her room. "Just this once."

He and Paul passed each other on the steps. Charlie got to the door and opened it. His eyes went wide not believing what he was actually seeing. The woman smiled at him a nostalgic smile.

"Charles."

He leaned on the door frame unimpressed. "Starting to understand why my daughter slammed the door on you."

She shook her heard at him. "Our daughter, Charlie."