"How old are you now Maggie May, twenty-two, twenty-three?" My partner Jasper asked. He had Maggie over at his desk, watching her while I worked on a report. There were blankets, toys, and half eaten Cheerios surrounding my desk. I told the Chief it was just for today but I hadn't had time to look for a new baby sitter.

"Uncle Jasper, I'm four!" She corrected him, holding up four fingers.

"Oh that's right."

"Daddy?" She whipped around. "Am I your new partner?" She crossed her arms and put on a tough face. "You're under arrest, Mister."

"Maybe in a few years, Kiddo," I said, laughing as Jasper threw her up over his shoulders.

"Hey, I might have an idea for a new babysitter for you," Jasper said. He hauled her over to my desk and handed her over to me. I sat her down on my lap and kept working.

"Oh yeah, who's that?" I stuck my pen behind my ear and turned towards him.

"My cousin just moved into town. She's looking for some work."

"I don't pay that much, Jas." I couldn't imagine anybody wanting the job. Ang only did it because she was retired and her old man worked enough for the both of them.

"That doesn't matter to her. She's working on her degree, part time for the summer. She just needs a little spending money. She's a really good girl, Edward."

"Yeah?"

"At least meet her. I can send her by your place tonight after you get off. You're leaving early right?"

"At 8:30. I didn't take a lunch today." Speaking of lunch, I was fucking starving.

"Let me give her a call." Jasper pulled out his phone and held up a finger when I started to protest. "Hey it's Jasper. Listen, I got a buddy looking for a babysitter for his kid. You interested?" He nodded at me. "Can you stop by his place tonight? I'll give you the address."

"Daddy," Maggie said, poking my chest. "I don't need a babysitter. I'm not a baby."

"I know you're not a baby, but who's going to make your peanut butter sandwiches? You're not quite tall enough to reach the counter yet."

She furrowed her brow and nodded in acceptance. "You're right, Daddy." She laid back against my chest and I knew she'd be asleep in no time. It was getting close to her bed time.

I finished up and Jasper packed up all of her stuff for me. I threw her bag over one shoulder and her tiny sleeping body over the other.

"Thanks, Jas," I said.

"No problem. She'll be there around 9."

"Okay."

I left and went right home to get Maggie to bed. I laid her down and made my way to the kitchen to fry up a grilled cheese before Jasper's cousin got here.

I searched the kitchen for a clean pan and had to deal with one that was already out on the stove from my last cooking adventure. It didn't look too dirty. I wiped it out with a paper towel and fired it up.

The moment it was finished, I grabbed it right off the pan, tossing it from hand to hand until it cooled enough. There was a soft knock at my door and I jogged over and whipped it open.

A young woman was standing there, her back to me. The first thing I noticed was her long, dark hair cascading down her back in soft curls. She was petite. Very different from what I was expecting, although I couldn't quite pinpoint exactly who I was expecting in the first place.

"Can I help you?" I asked, taking a bite of my grilled cheese.

She spun around and smiled. "Yes. Sorry. I'm Bella, Jasper's cousin." She held out her hand and I shook it. "You're Edward?"

"Yeah. Come on in." I cleared my throat. "Sorry, I hadn't eaten dinner yet." I held up my grilled cheese.

"Oh it's fine. I understand you're busy." She stepped inside and looked around.

"I know it's not much." I shrugged.

She didn't look quite right in here. Like she was too shiny or too nice to be in a place as dark and dirty as this was.

"It's…fine." She nodded. "So you work mostly nights?"

"I have the afternoon to early evening shift typically," I answered. "Usually home around 10:30."

"That's fine. I only have classes two days a week in the morning. I just transferred here to finish up my degree."

"What are you studying?"

"Pre-law."

"Oh so I've got a future lawyer on my hands," I teased. I blushed, feeling a little embarrassed that I was flirting with her. Was I flirting with her? I didn't even remember what it felt like. It'd been so long.

"Not sure yet." She grinned. "So you just have a daughter?"

"Yeah. Maggie. She's asleep."

She glanced at her watch. "Of course. Listen, I would really love this job. I'm living in the dorms right now so I can't really bring her there, but I'd be happy to come here."

"You want to come here?" I looked around again. It didn't belong on Hoarders by any means. I would never subject my daughter to something that bad. But it definitely wasn't something to write home about.

"Yes. I'd like to come here."

"Okay."

"Okay?" She smiled again and I couldn't help but admire her beauty. I hadn't been with a woman in years. Not since Maggie's mom. Most of the ones I was around now were punching my shoulder and boasting about their latest arrest. I hadn't seen curves or makeup on anything other than the hookers on First Street. This girl…this woman, was different from anything I was used to.

"Edward?" She asked, interrupting my thoughts.

"Yeah? Sorry." I shook my head.

"I said I'll be here tomorrow around 1:30?"

"That sounds great. Thank you."

She started towards the door and waved goodbye before slipping out. "See you then," she murmured.

"Yeah." I sighed. "See you then."

A/N: I know everyone is VERY curious about Maggie's mother and you will definitely find out some more about her in future chapters.

Thank you guys for everything! I'm glad you're enjoying this story. :)