Disclaimer: SM owns Twilight.

Chapter 12: Like The Palm In Your Hand

The force of the collision threw icy cold water down the front of Bella's uniform...and all over the man she'd just ran into.

Mortified by her clumsiness, Bella could already feel the pink tinge of her embarrassment moving up her chest to the apples of her cheeks. Her shame was increased when she looked up to see Jessica Stanley, one of the waitresses that gave her a hard time, looking at her with a smug grin of satisfaction. Bella could see that Forks' own version of the Wicked Witch of the West was holding back her cackle, eager to announce another of Bella's unfortunate accidents to her own troop of flying monkeys, Lauren Mallory and Kate Denali.

Thankfully, Jessica was the only member of the demonic trio that worked at the diner. That didn't stop the three of them from making Bella's life infinitely more difficult, though. Lauren and Kate had already come into the diner several times since they had learned of Bella's employment there. They would sit in her section, make harsh and unreasonable demands, and then stroll out without leaving a tip. Bella didn't understand why they found it necessary to go out of their way to torment her. Surely there was something or someone in Forks more worthy of their time and energy.

Bella could never understand why they hated her so much, guessing that it was simply because she was new and different. She hadn't grown up in Forks like everyone else and her shy, timid nature made her a bit of an easy target. Her pregnancy didn't make things any easier.

The core of their resentment seemed to reside with the unrequited crush Mike Newton harbored on Bella, feelings that were not returned or encouraged. After high school, Bella had hoped to never encounter the trio or Mike again; she'd done well to avoid them all, at least until she got the job at the diner.

Mike had begun working at his parent's sporting goods shop in town, making it easy for him to drop by the diner and annoy Bella with inappropriate jokes and invitations to "friendly" outings. There was nothing friendly about the way he looked at her, leering at her breasts and giving her a lascivious smile. He seemed to be under the impression that just because she had a child, she must be easy. Or maybe he assumed that because she had a baby, she was now tainted goods, more inclined to give into him.

Neither of those assertions was true. Bella was a legal adult and had been dating James for several months before she'd had sex with him. Even then, she'd done so because she thought that he loved her, that he would protect her. That wasn't the case, making her even more skittish where relationships were concerned—especially now that she had Ben to care for. She was content for him to be the only man in her life. If anything, his presence made her raise her standards.

Whatever man she brought into her life would also be part of Ben's life. She never wanted him to have to endure the painful and difficult childhood she'd endured with Renee. Since learning of her pregnancy, Bella hadn't even considered dating. She didn't know when she would be ready for that sort of commitment again.

"Hey, are you okay?" a strong, masculine voice asked, distracting Bella from her thoughts. Bella looked up to meet a pair of deep green eyes. Despite being wet, the stranger seemed not angered or bothered by her epic blunder, but simply concerned.

"Oh my gosh! I am so, so sorry. I just-I wasn't paying attention and I…"

"It's okay. It was an accident. No worries. At least it wasn't the scalding hot coffee, right?" he said as he looked at her with a grin, one side of his mouth tilted higher than the other.

Bella couldn't help but to smile back, even though she was sure even her ears were red at this point. Before she could answer, she felt someone squeeze her upper arm, pulling her back. Bella realized that she was standing entirely too close to the man she'd just rammed into, mere inches separating their bodies. She looked over to see Rosalie staring at her, a blank expression on her face.

"I've got this, Bella. Why don't you head on home?" Rosalie said in her stern, miss-management voice.

Once again, Bella simply nodded and acquiesced.

~ O ~

"Edward, honestly, I am truly sorry. Let me take care of your meal."

"Absolutely not, Rosalie. Like I told the waitress, it was simply an accident."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Now, will you please stop pestering me so I can enjoy dinner with my folks?" he asked her.

"Edward, dear, what happened?" Esme asked as she and Carlisle sidled up near him, noticing that the entire front of his shirt was soaking wet.

"I bumped into a waitress. It's just a little water. No big deal," he said, staring at Rosalie to emphasize his words. He gave his father a one-armed hug and leaned over to kiss his mother on the cheek.

Rosalie continued to stand there for a moment before finally exiting with a quick hello to Carlisle and Esme. She summoned another waitress to the table, instructing her that the meal was on the house.

Edward slid into the seat across from his parents with a bright smile on his face, feeling more content than he had in a long time. It was nice to be back in town; he had missed his family, but he hadn't realized how much he missed his old friends as well. Seeing Rosalie and Emmett again, in the same diner where they'd spent much of their teenage years, brought back a lot of memories.

Emmett McCarty and Rosalie Hale were practically royalty in high school, the quintessential, stereotypical teenage couple. Rosalie was the head cheerleader, with sparkling blue eyes and wavy blonde hair. Emmett was the captain of the football team and also excelled in wrestling. His jovial personality and boyish good looks made him popular amongst all the high school students, but he only seemed to care what Rosalie thought of him. Their relationship had been combative at times, mainly because Rosalie was never afraid to speak her mind. Beneath that gruff exterior, however, there was a kindness and love that few people ever found—a love that Edward was still searching for.

Edward had left town around the same time Rosalie and Emmett had, heading to school back east. He'd tried to keep in touch with the two, but time and distance seemed to work against them; the only information he knew of them was garnered from his parents. Of course, Edward had been very busy with school, majoring in biology. After completing that degree, he headed off to medical school in Chicago, where he had been living for the past seven years. He was just finishing up his residency in pediatrics, and when his father offered him a position at his clinic, he couldn't turn down the chance to come back home.

When he'd rolled into town three days ago, Edward was shocked to see that Rosalie and Emmett were running the diner. Of course, his parents had told him as much, but it was still odd to see Rosalie manning a cash register and waiting tables. In high school, all she ever talked about was getting away, and she had. Emmett had gotten a football scholarship at a small school in California; she followed him there. It didn't take long before both of them were homesick; there was apparently something about the charming, small town that seemed to draw its residents back, even when they tried their best to escape. Upon earning their degrees, the pair came straight back to Forks, taking over the diner several years later.

Edward had a few friends in Chicago, but no one he was particularly close to, no one he would be upset to leave behind. He hadn't been in a relationship in a long time either, never really finding the time to devote to a woman when he had all of his work commitments to take care of. His job had always come first, which was why his last relationship had ended on such a poor note, just like all the ones before it. He hoped that in returning to his hometown, even if he couldn't find a woman to settle down with, he'd at least have the company of his family and friends.

"How was the meeting with the realtor, dear?" Esme asked in a warm, motherly tone.

"It actually went really well. The first few houses I looked at were just way too big and not at all what I was looking for, but the last one was perfect. It's just a simple, little cottage on the edge of town. I already put in an offer and I'm hoping to get everything taken care of by the time I get back from Chicago. It shouldn't take more than a couple of weeks for me to get my stuff packed up and moved back here."

Esme and Carlisle both beamed, casting happy smiles towards their son. They were so very glad to have him back home.

~ O ~

Bella grumbled to herself as she pulled her car into the driveway. She was still chastising herself for being such a complete and utter klutz. I can't believe I dumped water all over that man. Rosalie's probably going to fire me now! She'd tried to think of more pleasant things on her drive home, but the incident was like a giant stain that just wouldn't go away. She grabbed her bag from the seat and headed inside the house.

As she entered the foyer, she could hear Sue in the kitchen, cooking dinner and making baby talk. Bella smiled. In the months that she had lived with Charlie, Sue had become the mother Bella had never known. Motherly devotion was never one of Renee's strong suits, always making Bella feel like an obligation and a hindrance. Sue, however, had never made her feel that way at all, even when Bella knew that her presence was a strain on Sue's budding romance with her father. Charlie and Sue had never judged her for the pregnancy, simply welcomed and supported her with open arms.

Entering the kitchen, Bella saw Sue standing at the kitchen island chopping vegetables. There were several kettles on the stove, steam billowing from a pot of boiling water. Bella sidled over next to Sue, peeking into the baby bouncer that was sitting on top of the island. There, nestled in his soft blankets, was baby Ben. Bella leaned her face close to his, placing a soft, sweet kiss to his forehead. When she pulled back, he looked at her with his big brown eyes…and then he smiled. He'd just begun to coo and smile, and each time he did so, Bella was overcome with emotion. There was simply nothing like seeing his angelic, chubby-cheeked face breaking into a gummy grin. It made everything Bella had gone through in the past year worth it.

"Has he eaten?" Bella asked.

"No, I thought I'd wait and let you do that when you got home; I know you like to spend that time with him. He hasn't cried so I thought it would be okay. Dinner should be ready in about half an hour."

"Thanks, Sue," she replied, leaning over to give her stand-in mom a kiss on the cheek.

Bella scooped up her chubby little boy and headed towards the nursery. She positioned herself in the old rocking chair, gently swaying as she began to nurse Ben. Breastfeeding was never something Bella thought she would be interested in; when the nurses at the hospital had talked to her about it after she had given birth, she decided she'd give it a try. At first, she had a hard time adjusting to the engorged feeling in her breasts, as well as the odd feeling of her son feeding. Soon enough, however, she realized it was a special time she got to spend with her son. She enjoyed those quiet moments together, even more so since she'd started working. It gave her time to observe her son, to make note of the subtle changes in him from day to day. He was growing so rapidly and she didn't want to miss any milestones.

Holding Ben in her arms, she sometimes thought about Renee. Now, being a mother herself, Bella was even more puzzled by the choices Renee made and the way she'd treated Bella throughout her childhood. Even more bizarre was how quickly and easily she'd sent her away once the pregnancy was revealed. She just didn't understand how someone could be so careless with their child. No matter what happened, she knew that Ben would always be first in her life, that she would never repeat the mistakes Renee had made.

Bella stroked Ben's cheek gently, causing him to open his eyes and look at her. His eyes were just like her own—a deep, coffee-colored brown. Shortly after his birth, she'd been shocked when he opened them and they were a milky blue. She'd gasped aloud, muttering about his blue eyes to no one in particular. A nurse had somehow overheard her, explaining that they would most likely darken over time. While Bella knew that she'd love her son just the same, no matter what, she cringed when she thought of having to look into icy blue eyes each day—the same eyes that belonged to his father.

For the most part, Ben looked like Bella. Charlie had compared their baby pictures, pointing out all of the similarities. His brown hair even showed hints of red in the sunlight, just like his mom. There were some things about him, however, that reminded Bella of James—the shape of his ears, the curve of his fourth toe, and bow of his lips. Though those things initially made her sad, she tried not to dwell on them. Her disappointment had been replaced by anger and bitter resentment. Just like Renee, James had thrown his own child away.

~ O ~

After his feeding, burping, and a quick diaper change, Bella put Ben back in his bouncer for a nap. Charlie had arrived home and dinner was waiting on the table. Sue had prepared garlic bread, salad, and some sort of elaborate pasta dish. It smelled divine. Bella hadn't realized how hungry she was until the aroma of garlic was wafting through the house; it had been many hours since she'd eaten lunch.

Dinnertime conversation centered on Bella's upcoming 19th birthday. She had pleaded with Charlie and Sue to just ignore the day, but they seemed oblivious to her demands. It was enough that Charlie had taken her in when she had no where else to turn and that they had both been so helpful with Ben. She didn't need gifts on top of that. They insisted otherwise.

"Bella, I thought that since you have the day off tomorrow, Charlie could take care of Ben for a few hours in the morning and we could do a little birthday shopping?"

"Sue, really, I don't need anything."

"Bella, you never do anything fun, for yourself. All you do is take care of that baby, work, and help out around the house. You need to get out more. Now, do your old man a favor and go with Sue in the morning."

She could never bring herself to argue or disagree with Charlie, so she gave into his demands. "Fine, but we can't stay out too long. Ben has an appointment for a flu vaccine and a check-up in the afternoon."

Sue and Charlie were both smiling at her, and despite herself, Bella smiled back. As much as she protested about their over-protective nature, she was certainly glad that someone thought enough of her to care. She had grown so accustomed to feeling unwanted that it was hard for her to adjust, to actually believe that people wanted to do things for her with no ulterior motive and expecting nothing in return.

~ O ~

After getting Ben ready for the day and eating a quick breakfast, Bella and Sue were off to do some shopping. Ben would be spending the morning with his grandfather, probably relaxing in the recliner and watching fishing shows on Outdoor Network. Bella had gotten more tips than usual over her past few shifts; she planned to use those to buy Ben a couple new things. He was growing so fast that it was hard to keep him in properly fitting clothes. She'd long given up on shoes. She had no idea what Sue planned to buy for her but she was hoping to keep the purchases to a minimum—maybe a new sweater or a pair of shoes. Bella assumed they were headed to Port Angeles and she was shocked when Sue parked along a side street in downtown Forks.

Sue, seemingly sensing Bella's confusion, spoke up, "There's a new boutique that just opened down here, next to where the old movie theater used to be. I thought we could check it out, especially since Ben's appointment is in a few hours."

The pair walked down the lonely street, the wind whistling and blowing leaves up and down the sidewalk. The bell on the door of the boutique rang loudly as they entered. Bella noticed the racks of clothes, immediately heading towards the baby section. She felt someone grabbing the hood of her jacket, holding her back.

"Nope. This is birthday shopping for you. We'll get Ben something later."

Bella grumbled to herself as she headed towards the women's section. She looked through the racks, hoping to find something practical like a thick sweater or a flannel shirt. Warmth and comfort were her two highest priorities. Besides, there was really no use in buying beautiful clothes when everything she owned always ended up with baby vomit on it. A blue, cowl neck sweater dress caught her eye. Bella pulled it from the rack and gave it a closer look. It was absolutely lovely, but definitely not something she'd have any use for.

"That would look beautiful on you, with your pale skin," a lilting voice called out as a petite woman moved towards her.

"Oh, I was just…I mean, I'm looking for a sweater or something. This is too much."

"You really should at least give it a try. I'm Alice, by the way," she said as she held out her hand for Bella to shake.

"Bella," she replied as she placed her hand into the other woman's.

"Your aura is very dirty. Is everything okay?"

"Wha-what?"

Without any warning, Alice flipped Bella's hand over and began examining her palm.

"Hmm…well, your life line reaches across your whole palm, so that's good. And your love line is long and curved. That means you have a romantic nature," she said with a grin. "It's kind of hard to get a good reading under these fluorescent bulbs. You should definitely come by my shop."

"Maybe?" Bella said, her unsure reply coming out more like a question as she pulled her hand away. She was completely overwhelmed by Alice, wondering what this woman's deal was.

Alice's hair was short and spiky, dyed a dark and sleek-looking black, pinned back with a pair of metal barrettes. Bella could see that her ears were each pierced multiple times. She was wearing an old cardigan, one that was probably better suited to someone's grandma. It was her dress, however, that caught Bella's eye.

The dress was long and flowing, dancing around Alice's ankles as she moved. The fabric was a paisley print in shades of purple and blue. It made Alice stand out amongst the monotone of the jeans and sweaters that were preferred by most people in Forks. Both of Alice's wrists were adorned with bracelets in varying stones and metals. A pendant of a twisted tree lay between her collarbones, held in place by a piece of long, black cording.

"Hmm…here, take this," Alice said as she pulled a bracelet from her arm. "It's not exactly what you need, but it'll work until you can come in."

Bella took the bracelet from the odd woman and slipped it over her wrist. It was a gold cuff with a large turquoise stone in the center.

"Umm…thanks."

"You're welcome. It should help to balance out your aura, but you'll definitely need to come by the shop. I have the perfect healing bracelet for you. Here's my card. I'll see you soon, Bella."

Bella stood there in shock and watched Alice walk away. Still trying to figure out what just happened, she stared down at the professional-looking business card Alice had handed her.

Psychic Waves

by Alice Cullen

Dream Interpretation, Psychic Readings, Spiritual Guidance, Energetic Awakening, and Soul Healing

As much as Bella felt the urge to laugh, she was also intrigued by the eccentric dynamo she had just encountered.

In the car, on the way home, Sue questioned Bella about her new jewelry.

"That bracelet is lovely, Bella. Did you buy that today?"

"No, I met the most bizarre woman in that boutique. She gave it to me, said I needed to cleanse my aura or something."

"Ah," Sue said. "You know, Native Americans believe that turquoise has a lot of healing power. It protects and blesses, helps to heal the spirit and bring piece of mind."

Staring out the window, Bella thought that maybe Alice wasn't so crazy after all.

A/N: Thanks to my beta, lislar, for all of her help. She really makes my writing so much better. If you haven't checked out her stories, please do so and leave her some love. Second Chances is one of my favorite stories right now. The Innocent Heart of Darkness is excellent as well, especially if you enjoy AU stories.

Apologies to people that reviewed late, as I didn't get teasers out to them. But I updated early, so that should make up for it, right? There will probably be another update this week, closer to the weekend.

Also, I do take banner and blinkie requests. The information and a link to my work is in my profile.