𝐈𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐈𝐒
i never craved attention until i tasted yours

FOR THE FIRST, Maddie — his imprint — was waking up in his arms. And if he'd known how it would feel to have her there, his heart bursting out of his chest and his throat so full and tight that he couldn't have spoken a word if he'd wanted too, he would never have been able to pass a single night away from her. He didn't know how he ever would again.

Maddie smacked her lips together and tiredly reached up to move her hair out of her eyes much like a child would. And then, she felt the warmth of another body, and opened her eyes quickly, her breath catching in her throat.

"It's okay, I'm here, Maddie. Everything is fine, you are not in danger," Paul's words soothes her and she took in a small breath, closing her eyes as she tried to calm down her erratic heart. "You fell asleep crying so I brought you to your bed. I tucked you in and went to walk away, but you had pulled me in. You wouldn't let me go," he explained quickly, hoping she won't be mad at him for sleeping in her bed with her.

She blinked and then her face heated up in embarrassment. "I did?" She raised her hand up to face and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. She felt like a teenage girl with their crush — albeit, she was a teenage girl.

He smiled warmly at her, dimples showing. "Yeah. It was kind of cute."

She groaned loudly and buried her head further into her hands. "Please tell me I didn't drool."

"You didn't." She peaked up at him through her fingers, noting the mischievous expression take over his features. "You did talk in your sleep, though."

Her face heated up in even more embarrassment. "Oh god! What did I say?"

He grinned, and without thinking, reached forward and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, thumb grazing her cheekbone. He noted the small intake of breath she took, and slowly pulled his hand away from her face. Their eyes stayed locked in place.

Everything seemed to slow around them. All they could focus on was one another. The air even seemed to still around them.

Maddie suddenly jerked away, running a hand through her hair as her heart hammered against her chest so violently she's pretty sure Paul could hear it. He cleared his throat and sat up, back against the headboard. She glanced over at him, cheeks dusting pink. "I'm gonna go take a shower." She was quick to jump off of the bed and into her bathroom.

Closing the door behind her, hand still on the doorknob, she laid her back against his wooden door and exhaled.

Paul exhaled loudly on the bed, running a hand down his face, shifting on the bed. "God, I am so stupid!" Her quietly berated himself, closing his eyes harshly. "Fuck, fuck, fuck..." he groaned and looked up as he heard Maddie turn the shower head on. He chewed on the inside of his cheek before standing up and making a decision.

He made his way down the stairs, and began to make breakfast. He was planning on making chocolate chip pancakes, some waffles, eggs, and bacon. He spotted some strawberries in the fridge and pulled them out as well, chopping them up into slightly smaller pieces so he can put them on the waffles.

He was about halfway done with everything when he heard footsteps behind him. Without even thinking of the possibility of it being someone else other than Maddie, he began speaking, "so, I don't know what you like, so I just made what my mom used to like. She used to—" he turned around and froze in place.

There stood Charlie Swan with a calculating expression on his face. Brown eyes almost identical to Maddie's.

"Crap." Paul swallowed thickly and quickly put down the mixing bowl he had in his hand, turning to fully face Charlie, aka the father of his imprint. "Hey, um... I'm Paul. Paul Lahote."

Charlie's eyes seemed to narrow even more. "I've heard about you."

Paul's eyes widened. "All good things I hope."

Charlie seemed to study the boy in front of him before looking at all the breakfast foods surrounding said boy. His heart swelled at the sight of someone caring enough about one of his daughters that they would go out of their way to make a big breakfast. Paul seemed to be nervous too, that was a bonus. Because in Charlie's mind, if someone isn't at least a little nervous to meet a parent of the person they liked — he's assuming the boy has a crush on his daughter — then there is definitely something to be suspicious with.

Like that Cullen boy. He always seemed to look smug, almost like he knows something Charlie doesn't, and that has always irked the older Swan.

But, with Paul, who seemed to be sweating at the moment in nerves, Charlie had a good feeling about the boy. I mean, why wouldn't he when the younger boy has literally went out of his way to make his daughter breakfast?

"If you hurt my daughter, you best remember I have a shotgun and a gps tracker." Charlie smirked, stealing a strawberry from the bowl, slowly biting into it.

That's when Maddie made her way downstairs. Her eyes went from Charlie to Paul, then back to Charlie. Her eyes widened, wondering how long they have been standing there talking.

Her long redhair was damp and running down her back in soft wet waves, she had no makeup on. She was wearing an oversized hoodie she had stolen from Dean, and some black leggings. She didn't care how she looked right now.

All she cared about is getting her mind off of her terrible nightmare.

She looked between her father and friend again before opening her mouth, "wow, you can basically smell the testosterone."

Paul choked on air while Charlie couldn't help but smile at his eldest daughter.

"I was just about to leave for work when I saw this... young gentleman making you breakfast." He casted a glanced at Paul who seemed to redden in the face. "We got acquainted with one another. He's not that bad."

Maddie glanced to Paul, her cheeks dusting pink at the implication her father was suggesting. She then turned to Charlie and walked closer to him, pecking him on the cheek. "Have fun at work."

Charlie winked at his daughter, grabbed another strawberry from the bowl before walking away. He casted one last glance at his daughter who was watching him with a smile and a wave, and then turned Paul who was looking at Maddie with a soft expression on his puppy like face. He grinned to himself, knowing his daughter is well cared for, and then closed the front door behind him.

Maddie kept staring at the spot her father just left, thinking over his words and his knowing glance.

And then a strawberry was thrown at her face.

She squeaked in surprise and swiveled around to stare at Paul with an incredulous expression on her face. "What was that for?"

Paul grinned and picked up another strawberry, biting into it. "I don't know."

"You don't know?" She rhetorically asked with a tilt of her head as she slowly took steps in his direction.

He shrugged and leaned against the counter, eyes twinkling. All the while his heart was pounding in his chest. Something has shifted in their relationship since they slept in the same bed and he comforted her. It is a good shift though.

Quickly, Maddie picked up a handful of strawberries and tossed them at his face. She quickly scurried around the table as she spluttered in surprise and went to run after her.

They spent the rest of the day having a food fight, eventually getting to eating the breakfast he made, and then watched some movies.