A/N: You knew this day was coming…

One Night Stand

Twyla Mercedes prompted: With Belle's car out of commission and Ruby busy, she calls Ryan to take her to her doctor's appointment. (Rated K+)

"Thank you again for doing this. I know I've been saying it a lot… but seriously thank you."

Belle enlisted Ryan once more but this time she needed a ride to her doctor's. It was a routine check-up and since her car was still in the shop, Belle needed someone to take her. Her go-to person Ruby was busy at the diner and they were slammed and she couldn't afford to take a break to drive Belle. Her best friend was truly apologetic and Belle understood.

The only person she knew who might be available (she would never say available for sure because it would indicate she was counting on him to be available) was Ryan Gold. She started telling him if he was busy not to worry but Ryan wouldn't hear of it. And he wouldn't stand for her to have her appointment rescheduled.

Belle was eternally grateful for this man and she knew she had to repay him once the baby was born.

You know how you can do that. Tell him everything. You've known him long enough to know he's caring and honest. He won't take the baby from you. So tell him!

If only it were so easy.

And to make matters worse… Belle believed she was falling for him. She didn't know how it began, but ever since the day she threw up in his car she knew he was something special. He didn't get upset or yell at her. He was understanding, even made a joke. Her mother always said that if a man could tolerate a woman throwing up in his car for any reason… he was a keeper.

Mum was right. Ryan Gold was a rare specimen and she was fortunate to have him as a friend.

Since that night six months and five weeks ago, Belle felt a deep connection with him. She had known him as Rum, but he changed her life in that single moment in time and she didn't regret a single second. Even after she found out she was pregnant, Belle still didn't regret the choices she made. The only thing she regretted was not telling Ryan the truth.

For so long he has believed her ex-boyfriend Gary was the father. He was the perfect scapegoat as the absentee father and with Gary not around… she was able to maintain the farce. However, the more she had gotten to know Ryan and his son, the more she felt horrible for keeping this secret from them.

But it wasn't something a person could blurt out. She was more than halfway through her second trimester and she knew she better come clean, but Belle was scared. She still had reservations that Ryan might want to take the baby from her despite getting to know him the past month.

She was a coward. Plain and simple.

Meanwhile, Ryan was enjoying being useful to her. Belle was the light he needed in his life. Bae loved her and even he was developing feelings for her. Of course, he already had feelings for her since the passionate night they shared six months and five weeks ago.

But who was counting?

Ryan wanted to ask her out, feeling secured that Belle had no feelings for her baby's father. It was always on the tip of his tongue, but he would become timid and he couldn't ask her. Even though they got along very well, Ryan didn't want to jinx their friendship. He also didn't want her to think he wanted to sleep with her again.

He did but not like that. He wanted to build a foundation with her. Become a family. But he felt it was too soon and he didn't want to frighten her away with his wishes. So Ryan decided to bide his time. Perhaps after the baby was born he would ask her out. That should give them plenty of time to get to know each other more.

With that in mind, Ryan kept a smile on his face.

Upon arriving at the doctor's office, Ryan intended to stay and wait for her in the waiting room. He didn't expect Belle to ask him if he would join her once her name was called.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"Yeah." She smiled at him.

With such a lovely invitation, how could he say no?

So that was how Ryan ended up in the room with Belle, sitting beside her, as she laid in the bed waiting for her turn.

Then the moment arrived.

The ultrasound equipment was wheeled in and as they waited for the technician to set up, the doctor asked Ryan if he was the father.

"No," Belle answered quickly before Ryan could open his mouth. "He's my friend."

"Oh. Well, it's nice that Belle has someone here with her. Ready Mommy?" The doctor lifted up Belle's shirt and squirted the blue gel onto her belly.

Belle shivered at the cool touch but she gave Ryan a reassuring grin. He winked and settled back to see the image.

"Ah, there's your baby!" The doctor swiveled the screen so both Belle and Ryan could get a better look. Belle's eyes widened in amazement at how much her baby had grown since her last visit. She couldn't believe how detailed the image was. She saw the head, the arm, the little hand with five fingers, the leg, and the five toes on one foot… The baby was so beautiful that a few tears leaked.

"Do you want to know the sex? I know you didn't want to last time, but did you change your mind?"

"No. I still want to be surprised," Belle told her.

Ryan couldn't tear his eyes away. The baby was beautiful. He was instantly transported back to when he had seen a similar picture with Bae. It was a habit but he counted all the fingers and toes he could find and just took in every second of it. He loved being a father and he felt the inklings of the desire to be one again the longer he stared at the ultrasound.

Without thinking, he asked, "How old is the fetus?"

The doctor grinned. "Twenty-seven weeks."

He frowned as he mentally calculated the time. Twenty-seven weeks would put the fetus at six months and five weeks. Exactly the time he had first met Belle.

The sharp intake of breath had Belle looking at him with worry. "Ryan… Are you all right?"

"Sir?" Even the doctor took note of his sudden pale features but Ryan assured them he was quite well.

"I was just remembering when Bae was that old. Sorry to cause any alarm," he said.

Belle nodded but the doctor didn't seem convinced, but who was she to judge?

The rest of the appointment went well and Belle was given high marks for keeping up with her vitamins and diet. The doctor reminded her that she should sign up for Lamaze's class soon and Belle said she would.

As for Ryan, he was quiet but when they got into the car, he was back to his usual chatty self. Belle had no reason to suspect he knew something.

Yet, Ryan could not stop hearing what the doctor said about the age of the fetus. And that meant only one thing…

Yes, I'm gonna stop there. Muhahaha! Prompt me. You know what you guys want. The next couple prompts are requests for A Long Fatal Love Chase and Edward Scissorhands. You know the drill!