Ryan played his little games for the next few weeks, and Kelly happily danced to his tune. She had long become the master of denial, at least where Ryan was concerned, and he knew that. Actually, everyone knew that, everyone but Kelly. Toby had wanted to point out to her what a jerk he was, and everyone was waiting for him to do so, but every time he thought he had the nerve to talk to her Kelly would find something wonderful to say about Ryan and he found that he just couldn't burst her bubble. Of course, she was the only one who could see that wonderful something, but still, he just couldn't ruin her little bit of happiness, no matter where she found it. And besides, her big day was coming up- tomorrow was the day of the ultrasound and she was going to find out what she was having. Meaning the whole office would find out what she was having. It had better be a girl.

"Ryan, are you coming with me?" Kelly asked as she sat on his desk, snacking on a brownie that Erin had brought in.

"I told you, I think I'm out of personal days. They are watching me like a hawk anymore. Should you be eating that? Is that good for the baby?"

She frowned, then pitched the offending brownie in Ryan's waste basket. "It's for an ultrasound Ryan. I think the company would understand. I'm getting Andy."

He rolled his eyes while she disappeared, knowing that there was really nothing more he could do.

"Andy, Ryan says he's out of personal days but I know he really really wants to be with me when we find out what we're having. Isn't there anything you can do? Can you please let him go with me? Please, Andy, please say he can go. It would be so awesome of you if you would let him go with me. You don't find out every day if you're having a boy or a girl. Ohmygod what if we're having twins? Wouldn't that be awesome? What if one looked like him and one looked like me, we could have a boy and a girl and then it would be so perfect. I would just die, wouldn't you Ryan?"

"Okay, okay, I'll go," Ryan sighed. "Andy, can I pu-leese go with Kelly to her doctor's appointment tomorrow?"

"Of course you can go," Andy slapped Ryan on the back. "If I had it my way I'd make it a field trip."

"Field trip! All right!" Kevin shouted out.

"Not appropriate, Kevin. Just take a few hours for the doctor's and then come on back to work. We all want to hear all about the little tyke or tykette, and don't spare any of the details. Well, you can spare some, we don't want to hear all about Kelly's…"

"Gotcha, Andy," Ryan interrupted. "We'll be back before noon. Thanks, man."

"Anything for you two crazy kids," Andy chuckled before heading back to work.

00000

At the doctor's Kelly was unnaturally quiet and Ryan was fully of questions. But the moment finally came when the image of their child appeared on the ultrasound screen, and a tearful Kelly looked at the man she had loved ever since she had laid eyes upon him. This was all too real, for the both of them. Ryan didn't say anything at first, but he took her hand and gently gave it a squeeze. The doctor smiled, unaware of the drama that the young couple had been through. Appearances were deceiving.

Finally the moment of truth had arrived. "Kelly, Ryan, it's totally up to you, but would you like to know what you're having?" the doctor asked.

"Yes."

"No."

The doctor looked confused, but not as much as Kelly was. "Ryan, I've been waiting for this day for all of my life. You know how badly I want a little girl. This is my moment. Please don't take it away from me."

"We're sorry for the confusion, doc, but you see, Kelly and I are seriously considering adoption as an option and I think knowing the gender would just complicate things. Kelly, we'll talk about this in the car. You know how I feel about you and I only want what's best for you. Knowing what you're having would only hurt you in the long run. Let's not make a scene here, okay? Do it for me?"

Kelly looked at the screen and then looked at Ryan, not knowing what to do. "Okay. You're right. I don't want to make a mess of things. Let's just go before it gets worse."

The doctor just stared at them, uncertain of what was going on but positive that he didn't like it. A minute later Kelly came back in the room.

"I'm sorry, I forgot my purse," she smiled apologetically as she picked it up. "What is it?" she whispered. "You can tell me now."

The doctor smiled. "You were right all along. You're having a girl."

Kelly let out a scream, then hugged him. As the doctor printed out the ultrasound photo, Kelly began to realize just how big of a problem she really had on her hands indeed.