A/N: Since Charlie Eppes is my very favorite character on 'Numb3rs', I thought it would be fun to give him a girl who loves him. If you don't like pairings or 'ships, just skip this one. To those of you who do, I hope you enjoy. :)

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Numb3rs characters. I'm just borrowing them. The Manning family and Jordan are mine, and are purely fictional.

Many thanks goes to my awesome betas. Antoinette and Nora. You Rock!

Many thanks goes to Efrat for encouraging me to attempt writing, and for being brave enough to be the first one to read it. :)\

It was warm and sunny after many days of chilly weather. Charlie was enjoying his bike ride home, taking in the scent of things blooming, and the gentle breeze. He was glad he had a short day. It gave him a chance to get caught up on things around the house he'd been neglecting.

Suddenly, Charlie's thoughts were interrupted by a tiny boy running out towards the street. Charlie quickly put on the brakes, fearing he might run the little boy over. The bike came to a stop, just as the little boy reached him. Charlie jumped off the bike to see if the child was okay.

"Michael Joseph!!", Charlie heard a woman shouting. Charlie looked up to see a young woman running towards them, with a terrified expression. She fell on to her knees and gathered Michael into her arms. "You scared me to death!" she told him. Charlie looked down at her. He recognized that Michael was his neighbor's son, but who was this woman?

She looked up at Charlie apologetically. "Hi. I am so sorry. He just took off." She closed her eyes and shook her head, knowing very well what could very easily have happened.

Charlie smiled at her reassuringly. "It's okay. He's fine."

Michael was happily pointing at a bird. Charlie extended his hand. "I'm Charlie Eppes."

The woman stood to her feet and put her hand into Charlie's. She smiled at him. "I'm Jordan Engel. Nice to meet you." She was still shaken. It terrified her to know that Michael had gotten away and could have been badly hurt. She was thankful Charlie had stopped so quickly. Her eyes met Charlie's. He smiled warmly at her. She blushed a little and smiled back at him. What a nice man. She decided that she liked Charlie.

Charlie immediately liked Jordan. She was probably three inches shorter than him, with long dark curly hair that hung down past her shoulders. She was about his age, maybe a year or so younger. She had wide blue-grey eyes, and an open friendly face. Charlie noticed she had a Southern accent.

"Are you a friend of the Mannings'?" Charlie asked her, curious to know why Jordan was alone with his neighbor's child.

Jordan lifted Michael to her hip, and with her free hand pulled her hair back from her face. "I'm their nanny."

"Ah. I see. Have you watched Michael very long?"" Charlie watched Michael wrap his little arms around Jordan's neck. He wondered how the little boy could become attached to her so quickly.

"About a month."

"How is it that I've never seen you then? I ride by nearly every day!"

Jordan smiled. "It's been chilly. You can't take a baby out when it's chilly. He could get sick."

"That sounds like something my father would say." Charlie rolled his eyes.

"He sounds like a smart man." Jordan grinned at him. Charlie grinned back.

Jordan secretly thought he had a nice smile.

All too soon, Michael started whining. "What's the matter, Honey? ... Oh, I think he's wet." Jordan looked at Charlie apologetically. "I need to get him changed. It was really nice meeting you though." Jordan smiled at him, meeting his eyes.

Charlie smiled back. "It was great to meet you. I'm sure I'll see you around." ..."I hope.", Charlie thought to himself as he pedaled past the last three houses to his home.

Jordan stepped back into the Manning home with her little charge still on her hip. "You have a really nice neighbor" she told the little boy. Michael clapped his hands and laughed. Jordan snuggled the little boy. She hoped she saw Charlie again soon.

Alan was in the kitchen when he heard Charlie come in. Charlie came into the kitchen and dropped his back pack into a chair. "Hi Dad. Smells good. Brisket?"

"Yes. Donnie's coming over to eat tonight. I thought it would be nice."

"Sounds great Dad."

Alan turned around to look at him. Charlie had an expression that Alan hadn't seen in a while. He felt pretty sure he knew what the expression meant. He studied him a moment. "What's up, Charlie?"

"Nothing!" Charlie said with an innocent face. Alan looked at him and smiled. He felt sure it was about a girl.

Charlie grinned. "It's nothing Dad, honest."

"Whatever you say." Alan slid the brisket back into the oven. Alan wondered who the girl was.

The three Eppes men were halfway through dinner. Don was eyeing Charlie. His brother definitely had something on his mind, and for once it wasn't math. Don had a good idea what it was.

Charlie cleared his throat and looked at Alan. "Dad, have you talked to Kevin Manning lately?"

Alan looked at Charlie. "Yes, I saw him just the other day. He was working on their new flower bed. Why do you ask?"

Charlie squirmed in his seat. "Umm, I was just curious. Did you know that Michael has a nanny during the day?"

"Well, I knew that 'someone' watched the child. Kevin mentioned hiring someone about a month ago. Why all the interest Charlie?"

Charlie smiled. "I met the nanny today."

Alan and Don exchanged glances.

"Really?" Don asked. "Is she pretty?"

Charlie turned red. Ignoring Don's question, Charlie took a breath and continued. "I was riding home today and she was outside with Michael. Michael ran out to wave and I stopped. She's really nice." Charlie didn't see the need to tell of Michael's nearly going under his bike wheel.

Don grinned at Charlie. "So why don't you ask her out?"

Charlie colored a little. He didn't look at Don.

"Well, why not?", Don continued. "You obviously like her."

"But we just met! I don't even know her yet."

"Isn't that the purpose of dating?" Alan chewed his brisket & pointed his fork at Charlie. " You date the person and get to know them better."

"Exactly", agreed Don, reaching for his beer.

Charlie thought about it. "Maybe I will."