Author's Note: Surprise chapter! I get a snow day from work due to all the grossnes that is snow and ice and you get a new chapter...seems fair to me :)

Thank you all for reading and thank you for leaving your thoughts. I love reading them, the good, bad and ugly. Please keep them coming. they really do brighten my day.

Onward with chapter six!

Thanks again,

Lisa

Chapter Six

Bella had just stepped out of the bathroom after applying her make up when the doorbell rang. She didn't have time to check herself out in her new, cute navy sundress when she ran to answer the door.

"Coming," she yelled. When she finally reached the door she was surprised to see her handsome blond haired blue eyed neighbor standing at her door. Mike was a good guy and liked to tease and harass Bella. He did it in good fun. He was laughing as she looked at him. "Hi, Mike, come in."

"That's a great look for you Swan. Are you trying to start a new trend?" Mike joked as he pointed to the purple towel on her head.

"Yea, right. It's bathroom chic. How's it going? What did you need Mike?"

"Come on Bella, do I need an excuse to come over and see you? And just think if I was here ten minutes earlier I would have seen you half naked, right?" He asked sarcastically.

"Actually yes Mike, you do need a reason. You never just stop by. Now what's going on? I actually have a dinner that I have to get ready for."

"Oh, date. Exciting! I hope it goes well. Actually I think you left this in the laundry room. It isn't mine, although it's nice. I think I prefer a cotton blend opposed to a lace demi," Mike teased as he held up Bella's black bra. "It was mixed in with my laundry. You must have left it in the washer."

"Thanks for returning it. I appreciate it."

"No problem, like I said I don't think it would look as good on me as it does you."Mike paused and looked at Bella with a smile. "So tell me about who this mystery man is and where is he taking you?"

"Who said there was a man?" Bella asked as Mike gave her a dirty look. "Right. Well, I'm going out to some restaurant but it's for work and," Bella paused as there was a knock at her door. "And that's probably him now. Could you get the door please?" Bella asked as she ran back into her bedroom. She quickly towel dried her hair. She pulled her long chestnut hair into a bun before applying a quick coat of lip glass. When she heard the door close, she yelled out to Mike. "Mike, who was at the door?"

"Um, it's Carlisle, our landlord," Mike yelled back confused.

"Hi Carlisle, I'm coming," Bella ran fast with her heels in her hand. She smiled as she saw Carlisle standing in her living room. He was dressed nicely in khaki pants and a light blue button down shirt. Bella looked over at Mike and noticed he was still holding her bra. "Oh, well, let me take that from you please?" She sheepishly said as she grabbed her bra and ran back to the bathroom and hung the wet bra on the towel rack. and then back to the living room. She looked around and saw Mike was no longer there. "Where did he go?"

"He said he had to go," Carlisle explained looking flushed.

Bella nodded as she grabbed her purse. "Okay. I am finally all ready."

Carlisle led her outside and helped her into his car. He walked around from the passenger seat and started the car. They were very comfortable conversation before Carlisle brought Mike up.

"Are you and Mike a couple?" Carlisle asked curiously.

Bella raised an eyebrow. "What? No!"

"Bella, he was holding your bra when I got there. Are you guys fooling around?" Carlisle paused and then jumped before Bella had the opportunity. "I'm sorry, that is really none of my business."

Bella smiled. "No, that's fine and no, we aren't fooling around. He had my bra because I forgot it in the washer in the laundry room and he found it after he did his laundry, so no, Mike and I aren't together. He's become a friend but that's about how serious our relationship has become."

"Really?"

"Yes really."

"I think he might have a crush on you," Carlisle said smiling.

"And I think you would have lost your mind."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because Mike told me he has been walking around with a ring in his pocket for the last two months waiting for the perfect time to ask Jessica, his girlfriend for the last three years, to marry him."

"Really?"

"I would expect him to ask you to add her name to the lease sooner than later."

Nodding back at her, Carlisle looked at Bella as they stopped at the red light. "Of course that can be done. I thought since he was standing so freely with your lingerie that he was your boyfriend."

Laughing, Bella shook her head. "Afraid not."

Carlisle looked back at the road as the light turned green. "I feel foolish."

"Oh don't worry about it. I guess it looked differently if you had walked into the situation." Bella paused as she looked out the window. "Edward has been trying to encourage me to get out and date."

"How does that make you feel?" Carlisle asked trying to not to show that much interest.

Sighing, Bella looked over at Carlisle. "I know I can't be alone forever and I don't want to be, so I guess it's time."

Carlisle was thinking of his chosen words carefully before he spoke. "Have you, well, have you met anyone who you wanted to purse a relationship with?"

The valet interrupted the conversation by knocking on the window. Carlisle shook his head, got out of the car and handed the valet his keys. He hurried to Bella's side of the car and helped her out. They walked into the restaurant silently. Carlisle told the hostess that the reservations were under his name. She led them to a table in silence. Immediately, they both ordered wine.

Taking a deep breath, Carlisle spoke again. "I'm sorry about that comment earlier in the car. We are supposed to be here thanking you not interrogating you on your love life. This was turning into something completely different. I'm sorry, that wasn't my intention."

Bella waved her hand as she looked at Carlisle. "Please don't worry about it. There is nothing to be sorry about." Bella paused to sip her wine as a smile slowly found her lips. "I have met someone who I am attracted to and who I want to pursue a relationship with but it wouldn't work out."

Taken back, Carlisle sat back in his chair. As he sipped his wine, Carlisle grew sad. He missed his chance. He tooks a deep breath and looeds at Bella. "Why wouldn't he be interested? Is an idiot?"

Laughing, Bella looked back at Carlisle. "No, he isn't. He is actually a good man, great man at that. I don't think he sees me for anything more than a friend, at most. We are really both in different places in our lives right now."

Placing his drink back on the table, Carlisle looked at Bella. "I can relate to that feeling. I'm sorry."

Shaking her head, Bella looked across the table at Carlisle. "You have to stop saying that. I mean, it's not like you can help the way you feel, right?"

Carlisle was surprised. He couldn't tell if Bella's comment was directed to him or just in general. He raised his eye brow as he spoke up. "I don't think you should assume how this person feels. Have you asked him directly?'

"No, it's just my assumption," Bella answered him as she sipped her wine.

"I don't think you should assume things that you don't really know."

"Excuse me?"

Immediately feeling brave, Carlisle sat up. He leaned forward and spoke again to Bella. "Instead of assuming how he feels, you should just ask him. You might be surprised by the answer you receive." Carlisle watched Bella look away from him. He spoke up again. "Just tell him."

"Carlisle, it might ruin everything. Things might be very different."

"Different isn't always bad Bella."

Bella sighed as he now sat on the edge of her seat. She let out a nervous laugh before she started to talk. "I'm not good at this stuff. I have next to no experience with this stuff. Jacob was it, ever for me. Sometimes I wake up and expect him to be there but then I remember my Facebook stalking. I remember why he isn't with me." Bella paused and smiled sadly. "I know he isn't with me because our son died. That's when he changed. Maybe I changed. Now he is going to be a father by his mistress, who I used to consider my friend, and not me, his wife." Bella paused as she took a deep breath. "I'm sorry for that little pity party. Sometimes things just hit me. I have no idea about life or love. I have no idea what I am doing and it scares me."

"Bella," Carlisle started in a comforting tone. "Sometimes it is better to follow your heart and not your brain. Sometimes your brain can't make sense of what your heart is saying. Sometimes things can be over analyzed." Carlisle paused and looked at Bella sitting in her chair. She was staring down at her drink. "I think you need to tell this guy how you feel."

"I-I don't know."

Carlisle was silent as the waiter placed their entrees on the table. Bella ordered another glass of wine. After the waiter had walked away, Carlisle spoke up. "I think I need to share something with you."

"What is it?"

Taking a deep breath, Carlisle started. "Well, I've been thinking and well, I kind of asked you out with an alter motive."

Laughing, Bella looked at Carlisle as she picked up her fork. "I knew it! Yes, of course I'll watch the kids. When and where are you going?"

Confused, Carlisle looked at Bella. "What?"

"You want me to watch the kids, right?"

"No, no, it isn't that."

"Then what is it?"

Carlisle nervously began to speak. "This is about you and me Bella. I asked you out tonight because, I, well, I-"

"You're stuttering and nervous. Am I fired? Did I do something wrong?" Bella asked as she looked down.

Adamantly Carlisle shook his head. "Goodness no. I asked you here because, well, I feel an attraction to you. I have grown really found of you over these few months. You are really caring and beautiful and selfless. I've really enjoyed getting to know you and I like our friendship. I look forward to getting to know you better. I don't think that I have mentioned you are one of the sweetest people I have ever met in my entire life. You literally walked into my life and scoped my children up and treated them as if they were your own. I feel a sense of gratitude towards you because you brought my kids back to me. They were empty shells before and now they are children again. I will never, ever be able to show you how much I appreciate you."

Speaking softly, Bella still looked down unable to look Carlisle in the eye yet. "I love them, the kids. They are really wonderful children."

"I would like to think so." Carlisle paused and noticed that neither he nor Bella had touched their dinner. Bella's new glass of wine sat not touched. He felt extremely nervous that he had offended Bella in some way. "Did I make you uncomfortable?"

"No, of course not."

"You got very quiet," Carlisle said now unsure of himself. "Are you sure you are okay?"

Bella nodded but still didn't look at him. "I'm sure, it isn't that I'm uncomfortable."

"Then what is it?"

"You really feel this way?"

"Confident, why?"

Bella began to chuckle as she finally looked up. "I've been sitting here this evening talking to you all night about a man I am afraid to make a move on. Instead of me being courageous and speaking to him myself, he's been talking to me and feels the same."

Carlisle looked down at his meal before he looked over again at Bella. "You were really talking about me?"

Bella was unable to hide her grin. "I was. I also trying not to be obvious, but as I said, I have no idea what I am doing."

Carlisle smiled as he looked at Bella. "If it is all right with you I'd like to help you figure out what you are doing."

"I would like that, a lot," Bella nodded.

Carlisle reached for her hand and kissed it. He quickly released it. They began to eat their meal with light conversation.

On the other side of the room, a pair of eyes watched as Bella and Carlisle laughed and smiled. A pang of jealously etched over her body. She slowly turned and walked away.

"It's Saturday Edward, where is Tanya?" Bella asked Edward over brunch at her house.

Edward sighed as he threw his napkin on the table. "She got a really high profile case, that is in Seattle and she is working none stop. We don't see each other at all anymore. We move like ships in the night."

"I'm sorry Edward. That really is hard."

Edward waved his hand at his friend as he gulped his orange juice. "It's fine. I'm happy for her in career. She's so successful, I just really miss my wife. We were supposed to go away this weekend but that isn't going to happen, as you can see." Edward let out a breath of air again. "I don't want to talk about it. So you and Carlisle?"

Not being able to hide her smile, Bella started laughing nervously. "What about us?"

"Bella," Edward asked as he raised his eyebrow.

"Can it Masen. I don't want to hear one word from you." Bella said to him as she looked at the flowers Carlisle had sent. It had been about month since their first date. They had been out a few times on the weekend while the children were with friends. They also had lunch dates. Carlisle also took a few days off to help her around the house. They spoke and shared stories. They both were excited to be in the presence of each other. They were in the beginning stages of their relationship and enjoying every minute of it.

While they weren't officially a couple yet, they were both only interested in seeing each other. They were going to speak on their next date about telling people, including his children first. Bella looked back at Edward. "Edward?"

"Yes?"

"To answer your question, yes, Carlisle and I."

"It's nice to see you like this. Smiles look good on you," Edward truthfully told his best friend. "It's been too long since you looked like this, happy."

"Thank you, and I mean that. Without you I wouldn't be this happy," Bella squeezed Edward's hand as she beamed. "We are going out on Friday night and we are going to discuss how to tell everyone, his kids."

"What are your plans?"

"Dinner, maybe a movie and then back to his place to talk about us. Both kids are spending the night with friends. Oh, you and Tanya should join us for dinner on Friday night."

Edward shook his head sadly. "We can't. She is going to a bachelorette party one of her co-workers."

"Then you come with us. You love Carlisle and I think you kind of tolerate me," she joked.

Offering a sad smile. "Thanks but no thanks. I don't want to be a third wheel."

"You could never be a third wheel Edward!"

"No thanks. I'm sorry I'm whinny, I just miss my wife. I feel like I have to schedule time to be with her."

Bella pulled the chair out next to Edward and squeezed his hand. "You are sad Edward. You helped me when I was an emotional wreck. Let me help you."

Squeezing her hand back, Edward pulled her into a hug. "Oh Bella, you deserve to be happy. Enjoy it. I'll call Emmett to see if he wants to grab a beer and shoot some pool."

"If that's what you want to do, then fine." Bella paused as she took a breath. "Have you heard from my brother?"

"I thought he was coming to visit in a few weeks with Maria."

"No, he cancelled on me. I was just wondering how he is doing since he hasn't spoken to me."

Edward shrugged his arms. Like he told Carlisle, Jasper wasn't a bad guy. His girlfriend was something to be desired but he wasn't a bad guy. He figured Maria had something better to come up and made Jasper cancel his plans with Bella. "Bella, you know he's busy at work."

"I know. Do me a favor, don't say anything to him about my dating status. I would like to tell him if you know, I ever speak to him again."

Laughing, Edward threw his head back. "Why, are you embarrassed that your dating such an old man?"

"Grow up will you? No, it isn't that. It's just that we haven't caught up since before I moved back here. By the way, Jacob called me. The house finally sold. He sold all of the furniture 's giving me more than half of the profits because he says he feels terrible." Bella paused and got quiet.

"Did he say anything else?" Edward inquired.

Shaking her head, Bella looked up at Edward with tears in her chocolate eyes. "Yes. He said he asked Leah to marry him, and she said yes. Edward we aren't even divorced yet and he is going to get married again."

Edward pulled Bella in his arms and let her cry. He had actually known about Jacob's engagement. Jasper had found out and called Jacob. He gave him an earful and then called Edward. No one could understand Jacob's actions. He was never self centered or inconsiderate. He always doted on Bella and loved her, even after the baby. No one could explain his change.

Once Bella had calmed, Edward looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "So you are going to tell people?"

Immediately Bella knew Edward was talking about her relationship with Carlisle. "Yes. We need to start with his children. We don't want them hearing it from anyone else."

"So this is serious then? It isn't just a fool around thing?"

"Nope. I really like him, a lot. He is incredible. And for your information we haven't fooled around yet."

Covering his ears, Edward spoke loudly. "Too much information. Once you do you must never tell me about it, ick."

Nodding in agreement, Bella looked at him. "I promise I won't but know one thing."

"What's that?"

"If his kisses are any indication of the kind of lover-"

Edward stood up and started bringing the dishes to the kitchen. He was now shouting. "La! La! La! La! This conversation is over Swan! Completely over!"