Sorry for the short chapter. Writer's block is a real bitch.

Chapter 18: Beautiful Brown Eyes

One month later…

Bella shuffled through the house, hastily throwing things into Ben's diaper bag as she tried to locate her lost shoe. She was running behind, trying desperately to get herself together. As she came bustling around the corner into the living room, she ran right into Charlie.

"Whoa. Slow down there, kiddo. What's got you in such a rush?"

"Sorry, Dad. Nothing is going right today and I was supposed to be at Edward's ten minutes ago."

"You headed over to the Cullen's?"

"No, Edward finally got everything moved into his house. Ben and I are going over there for the evening."

At this admission, Charlie made a tempestuous face, but remained mute.

"Dad!" Bella said with an exasperated sigh.

"I didn't say anything!"

"You didn't have to; that look says it all."

"I'm sure he's turned out to be a nice…man…but I just think he's a little old for you."

"We've been over this before, Dad. We're just friends."

Charlie raised his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay." When he moved past her in the entryway, Bella rolled her eyes and let out an exasperated huff.

Her day had been mediocre at best, seemingly headed downhill. Bella had been up before the sun, arriving at the diner ten minutes late to start an early morning shift. She wasn't used to working the breakfast rush, filling in for another waitress that was out sick. When her shift was finally over, the rain was pouring down and she realized she'd forgotten her umbrella in her car.

Bella made a mad dash through the back parking lot, her car parked in one of the last spots. As she raced through the loose gravel, she managed to turn her ankle over, not enough to cause a sprain, but just enough to be painful and annoying.

Ben was fussy when she finally arrived at home, refusing to nap and crying unless she rocked him in the rocking chair. Once she'd finally gotten him to sleep, she put him down for his afternoon nap, racing up the stairs to rush through a shower. She dressed quickly, already hearing his quiet coos coming through the baby monitor, expecting his wails of discontent to start at any moment. When Bella was finally ready to go, she raced downstairs to get Ben dressed. She rushed through the motions, only to realize that his diaper had leaked all over her jeans. After changing her clothes once more, that was when she realized her shoes were missing, and she was already late.

Then, Charlie had to start. Though he hadn't voiced much of his displeasure this time, he'd previously made it known that he wasn't exactly comfortable with Bella's relationship with Edward. She'd assured him over and over that they were nothing more than friends, but Charlie wasn't buying it. The situation wasn't helped by Sue's constant description of their outings as "dates" or the teasing and wiggling eyebrows Seth was always throwing her direction.

When Charlie would voice his displeasure, Bella would remind him that Carlisle was one of his best friends and that he'd known Edward since he was a small boy. He would counter that while he had known Edward as a young man, he'd had very little contact with him in the past ten years; a person could change a lot during that time, especially living in a big city like Chicago.

It was an argument that usually ended in a stalemate, but Bella couldn't find it within herself to be angry at her father. He was just looking out for her, trying to protect her. She knew that he worried about her being taken advantage of, but also she knew that Edward wasn't that kind of man. Deep down, she thought Charlie did too, but the age difference automatically caused him to be concerned.

Finally gathering everything she would need and strapping Ben into his car seat, Bella drove toward the edge of town and Edward's small home. He'd brought her by a few days before he moved in while she was on her lunch hour, anxious to show off where he would soon be living. Though she knew he enjoyed spending time with his parents, Edward was definitely tired of living at home.

As she pulled into the driveway, Bella exhaled a loud groan. Her day had just gone from bad to worse. Sitting in the driveway was Jasper's pretentious and over-priced Porsche. It stood in stark contrast to Edward's classic pick-up, its shiny yellow paint glistening under the setting sun. She rested her head against the steering wheel as she grumbled quietly to herself.

She'd finally met Jasper three weeks prior, at a dinner Alice had arranged at their home. Bella had been excited to finally meet the man her friend was so obviously in love with. She was shocked, however, by the cool and detached demeanor that Jasper exuded. Though he hadn't gone out of his way to be rude to her, she got the distinct impression that he was not pleased with her or her friendship with his wife. Bella had cornered Alice in the dining room, quietly asking if she'd done something to offend him, but Alice just brushed off her concerns and implored her to give him time.

Since that tense dinner, Bella had the displeasure of Jasper's company on two other occasions. She assumed Alice had said something to him about his behavior, as he no longer looked at her with anger in his eyes. Instead, his face was cold and devoid of any emotion, a blank mask. He would occasionally give her a tight smile, only speaking to her when necessary, but from time to time his façade would slip and Bella could see that bright flames of fury that danced in his eyes.

Lost in her own internal musings, Bella was brought out of her stupor by a short and rhythmic tapping against the glass pane of her car door. She looked up to see Edward standing in the sprinkling rain, a gentle smile on his face. When she unlocked the door to get out, Edward immediately moved to the back, quietly speaking to her son. Bella couldn't help but smile as she heard the squeal of laughter Ben emitted as Edward pulled him from his car seat.

In the time they'd spent together over the past month, Ben had grown quite attached to Edward. At first, Bella had been wary of allowing her son to become attached to someone that wasn't guaranteed to be in his life, but she soon realized that there was no reason to believe their friendship would fail. After all, Edward was her friend—not her boyfriend.

"Sorry about Jasper," Edward said. "He just dropped by and parked himself on my couch. I can't seem to get rid of him."

"Is Alice here, too?"

"No, she's in Port Angeles. I already tried to call her. If Jasper makes you uncomfortable, just tell me and I'll get him out of here, okay?"

"I'm sure it'll be fine."

Of course, as soon as they entered Edward's living room, Bella realized that things probably wouldn't be fine. Jasper was stretched out on the couch, nursing a beer, a football game blasting from the surround sound speakers. When he saw Bella enter the room, he immediately scowled. Feeling uncomfortable, Bella took a seat on the far side of the room, as far away from Jasper as she could manage.

"I guess I'm interrupting your date," Jasper mused, a distasteful look on his face.

"It's not a date," Edward and Bella both stated at the same time.

"Jasper," Edward warned in a firm tone. Jasper simply rolled his eyes and resumed watching tv.

"I should start on dinner," Bella stated, moving to grab the small bag of groceries she'd brought with her. Edward gave her a look of exasperation, obviously feeling the tension in the air. She just gave him a small smile as she moved into the kitchen.

~ O ~

Edward could hear Bella moving about in the kitchen, the sounds of pots and pans clanging together echoing through his tiny home. He bounced Ben up and down on his knee, smiling as the little boy laughed, his chubby cheeks flushed a subtle pink.

"Are you sure you should be spending so much time with that kid?" Jasper asked. "I mean, he's not yours and it seems like you're a little attached."

"Jasper, could you please not start this with Bella here?"

"I'm just trying to warn you, bro. What are you going to do when the two of you break-up and you can't see the baby anymore? And you will break up. That girl's practically a child herself."

"She's not a child and we're not dating, for the thousandth time."

"Then why aren't you dating someone else? I'm sure there are some hot nurses or something at the clinic."

"I just haven't met anyone I'm interested in."

"So if you met a woman you liked, besides Bella, you'd go out with her?"

"I—"

"You keep telling me you're just friends. If that's true, then go out on a date with somebody else."

"I told you, I would go out if I met someone, but Forks is a small town. It's not like there are lots of available women."

"No worries. I've already found the perfect woman for you. I'll set you up."

"I don't need you to find dates for me."

"Oh, I think you do. Otherwise, you end up like this," Jasper stated, waving his hand around to emphasize Edward's current situation with Bella. "Look, I get that you're older and you want to get married and start a family, but playing house with some girl isn't the way to get that. You need to date a real woman, someone that's ready for a commitment and a relationship, not some fickle girl that's going to string you along with some 'just friends' bullshit until someone better comes along."

Edward vehemently denied Jasper's accusations, the frustration evident in his tone, but his younger brother was unrelenting. Jasper knew exactly how to push Edward's buttons, to play upon his fears and insecurities.

Though Edward hadn't considered even for a moment that he would meet someone else, his mind had played out many scenarios in which Bella did. Most boys her age weren't ready to deal with the responsibility of dating a woman with a child, but what if she met the one that was? He couldn't even fathom the thought of seeing her with someone else, of Ben smiling at laughing with another man. Their friendship wouldn't survive it.

He worried that his growing feelings were one-sided. Bella had never really explained why she only wanted to be friends, simply stating that it was "for the best." Edward had felt that growing spark between them, the excitement of a new relationship. As they spent more time together, his feelings began to grow, even under the guise of a platonic relationship. He couldn't help but to become more enamored with her as time passed. Bella wasn't the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen, but she was pretty in a very girl-next-door sort of way. Though her sweet face and kind eyes were what initially drew him in, it was her loving heart and self-sacrificing nature that kept him interested.

Edward had dated women in the past that were vain and self-absorbed, women desperately looking to make their own lives easier. The Chicago dating scene had been filled with vapid social climbers that could have cared less about him, more interested in what he could do for them or where his name would take them. He was by no means one of the city's playboys, but he was from a moderately wealthy family and was well-respected in his field. That was enough to draw attention from some women that wouldn't have otherwise been interested. He knew that if he'd lived in a cramped studio apartment and worked a blue collar job, his dating life would have been much different.

Moving back to Forks had been a welcome change for him, a chance to begin the next chapter of his life. School was finished, his career was fulfilling, and he'd just purchased a new home; now, all he needed was someone to share his life with. He was looking for someone that shared the same small town values as he did, knowing that Forks was the perfect place to raise a family.

He'd entertained notions that maybe Bella was that woman. She hadn't been dealt the easiest hand in life, yet she persevered and made the most of her situation. He admired her for the care and concern she showed for her son. There were much easier options she could have chosen, but she made the difficult decision and sacrificed her own hopes and dreams to care for Ben. Watching her with Ben, he was enraptured by her patience and gentle nature. She was the kind of mother he imagined his own children would have someday.

As his feelings grew, however, Bella gave no indication that she felt differently for him. Aside from the occasional hug or quick kiss to the cheek or forehead, she had made her physical boundaries very clear. Sometimes when they were watching a movie together or late night tv, she would cuddle into Edward's side, but as soon as the program was over, she would revert back to keeping her distance. He'd wanted to spend more time with her, hoping to change her mind about the boundaries of their relationship, but now he wondered if his efforts were all in vain.

"She's a nice lady, Edward. Well educated and closer to your own age. I think you'll really like her."

"Okay," Edward replied.

"Okay," Jasper answered with a grin.

Bella emerged from the kitchen moments later to announce that dinner was ready. Edward already felt the feelings of betrayal swimming in his stomach.

~ O ~

On Saturday night, Edward eased his truck into the driveway of a small brick home located between Forks and Port Angeles. His stomach tightened with anxiety, but he couldn't be sure whether it was the nerves of a first date or the sting of guilt lodged deep within his belly. With one final deep and calming breath, he exited his truck and rang the doorbell.

He didn't know much about Charlotte, just that she'd moved to the area from Alaska and was a biology professor. Jasper spoke highly of her and thought their love of science would be something they had in common. Edward had called her two days before, to confirm the date his brother had set up for him. He wiped his sweaty palms on the thighs on his trousers, anxiously waiting for the door to open.

When the door finally swung open, Edward smiled routinely, his eyes betraying him. The woman that stood before Edward was nothing like he had expected. Charlotte had perfectly styled blonde hair and expertly applied make-up. Her clothes were tailored and expensive looking, her nails polished a bright red. As Edward gazed into her sparkling blue eyes, a wave of nausea passed through his body. She was the exact opposite of Bella and everything about her was all wrong.

As Edward led her to his sturdy old truck, he walked stoically beside her, his hands flat against his thighs. The drive to The Lodge, the nicest restaurant in Forks, was mostly quiet. Edward struggled to keep the conversation flowing, feeling unsure and out of place. When they arrived, they were quickly ushered to a table in the back. Edward tried to listen and be attentive as Charlotte prattled on about her hometown, her job teaching biology at the college in Port Angeles, and her friendship with Jasper, but nothing felt right.

She reminded him of the women in his past, the ones that weren't right for him at all. He couldn't deny that she was attractive, with her thick blonde hair and bright blue eyes, but Edward yearned for something warmer. He imagined soft mahogany hair and deep brown eyes. Even though he and Bella weren't together, he still felt as if he was betraying her. How had he ever let Jasper convince him this was a good idea?

The sound of a baby crying at a nearby table drew Edward's attention. A small little girl with a tuft of brown hair sobbed loudly as her mother tried to comfort her, cuddling her in her arms as she cooed in her ear. Edward thought of Ben—of his chubby, red cheeks and gummy smiles. He thought of his pride as he watched Ben roll over for the first time, of his childish giggles as Edward tossed him about and made funny faces. Even as the mother offered her comfort, the baby continued to cry.

"That woman should shut her brat up. I don't know why people bring babies out in public like this. I can't enjoy my dinner with some kid wailing away."

"You don't like kids?"

"Not at all. Being someone's mother is definitely not a role I ever see myself in."

Suddenly Edward wondered exactly what about this woman made Jasper think she was the perfect woman to set him up with. It seemed the only thing they had in common was a love of science; in every other aspect, they were total opposites. Edward began to try to figure out a polite way to end this date without being rude.

He smiled as his cell began ringing in his pocket, interrupting his half-hearted conversation with Charlotte. Beautiful, beautiful brown eyes, his ringtone sang. He knew it was rude to accept the call, but he couldn't ignore it. Beautiful, beautiful brown eyes. Apologizing to Charlotte, he moved quickly from the table as he accepted the call. I'll never love blue eyes again.

"Bella? Is everything okay?"

A/N: Thanks to lislar for being my beta, even though she didn't get to look over this one, and to shoefreak37 for pre-reading and being my shoulder to cry on.

Speaking of shoefreak37, she wrote a lovely review of blossom that was featured on The Twilight Awards. http:/www(dot)thetwilightawards(dot)com/2010/05/fic-review-blossom(dot)html

I will also be contributing a side-shot from this story from Charlie's POV to the Fics for Nashville compilation. For more information: http:/community(dot)livejournal(dot)com/ficsfornash/

Edward's ringtone is Beautiful Brown Eyes by Rosemary Clooney.

Reviewers get a teaser. Any guesses as to what Jasper's deal is? See you next week!