A/N: After the responses I received for The Best Man? I was going to have to add one more! This will be the final one for this set too. Thank you so much for reading and reviewing!

The Best Man?

Popular Request Prompt: We last left Alistair in a predicament involving Belle and a possible cheating husband. Truths will be told, feelings will be known, and of course, a happily ever after. (Rated M)

Alistair couldn't believe this was real.

The last thing he ever expected was to wind up in bed with the woman of his dreams. Even now his mind was returning to those delicious memories of being entwined with Belle. Heart still racing, he glanced over his shoulder as she slept peacefully and with a smile curving her lips.

His blood was starting to sizzle again and he wanted to wake her up so they could make love once more.

His appetite for her hadn't waned; instead, he hunger for more.

But he didn't have the heart to wake her. Not yet at least.

Of course, winning Belle came with a price.

xxXXxx

"What do you think I should do?"

Looking into her pleading blue eyes, Alistair's throat was very dry. She was coming to him as a friend on what to do about her cheating husband.

Well, allegedly cheating.

For all they knew was that Jefferson responded to the flirtatious text messages. There was no actual physical proof he was sleeping around. But the other part—the part that wanted Belle for himself—wanted to tell her to leave Jefferson and be with him. However, he was a friend to both and he would be a terrible one if he pushed them towards divorce.

"Belle…" In the end it was the friend that won. "You need to talk to Jefferson. Clearly there was a misunderstanding."

"There was no misunderstanding over this." Belle showed him the phone with the messages. His eyebrows hit the top of his head as he swallowed thickly over the explicit content on a particular suggestion of body contortion.

"Well, I—that is—Is that even possible?"

Belle groaned, rolling her eyes, as she closed the phone but the blush could not be mistaken that yes it apparently was possible.

"Right. Okay… no misunderstanding but Jefferson's crazy about you. It was a lapse of insanity and he's probably regretting what he said. Have you seen him yet?"

"…No."

"See? I bet he's at home now mentally kicking himself in the arse for even considering doing those things with another woman."

"Maybe." Belle played with her fingers, gaze avoiding him as she pondered the situation. Then hope took hold as she got to her feet. "Thank you Alistair. I don't know what I would do without you."

"I don't know about that…"

She took several steps forward so they were face-to-face. "I do know." Then she wrapped her arms around him and kissed his cheek.

The contact had Alistair instantly frozen as he gaped at her with wide eyes. Her rosy perfume infiltrated his senses, overwhelming him and causing other parts to stir to life. Thankfully, she had moved away before she could have felt anything but her arms were still around his neck, her blue eyes staring into his with a question in them.

His lower lip trembled. He was going to blurt out his feelings if she kept looking at him in that manner. However, Belle unwrapped herself and cleared her throat.

"I'm going to head home. Thank you again."

Losing the ability to speak, he merely nodded and Belle was gone. The realization he drove her back to her husband's arms had him regretting his advice and the yearning to call her back to confess had him running to the door.

At least in his mind's eye he did. The truth was… Alistair Gold was a coward and he couldn't bear to expose himself to her. Not when his friendship mattered.

And yet… something changed. He didn't know how or what but it was only the beginning.

xxXXxx

The next day he heard about the incident from the horse's mouth. Jefferson stopped over and Alistair was tortured over how the two patched things up.

"I don't know what I was thinking texting that woman like that."

Well, somewhat patched. Belle never told her husband that the texts came from her and why she didn't disclose that tidbit Alistair couldn't say. But Jefferson seemed remorseful enough.

"I haven't told you this but… Belle and I… we miscarried and it was Hell to deal with it."

And Belle didn't tell him that she told this to Alistair. It was unlike Belle to keep secrets, but he wisely kept his mouth shut as his best friend poured his soul out.

"Belle is the best thing to ever come into my life. I know that and I was a fool to have almost lost it. Fuck. I need to cut back the drinking."

Paradise restored.

Appearance-wise it seemed.

Alistair didn't pick up on the discord until a month later. The three of them were having dinner out, and afterwards they went to the pub for a nightcap.

Jefferson noticed her first.

"Hey, Alistair. Check that number out." He motioned with his little finger as Alistair looked at the auburn-haired woman. She was wearing a tight-laced green dress and heels that made her long legs even longer. "You ought to go to her and get her number because she is fine."

Before Alistair could respond a "no thanks," Belle interjected. "Leave him be Jefferson. If Alistair cared, then he would have noticed her already. Besides, she looks more like a high end prostitute."

"So? He can talk to her anyways."

"Why so she could rip his heart out?" Bell snorted. "No offense but that woman is out for one thing only. Alistair can do better."

"What? It's okay for you to try and set him up, but I can't?! My own best friend!?" Jefferson's voice grew louder and started to attract a couple bystanders, but Alistair jumped in to keep the peace.

"She's lovely but not my type."

"Not your type?" Jefferson scoffed. "You have something against hot women?"

"I'm not all that into redheads," Alistair said, knowing brunettes with bright blue eyes was his type. Yet to make amends with his friend, Alistair did spot a brunette in the corner of the bar. Nodding to her, he remarked, "She's cute. I'll talk to her."

Belle took one glance and wrinkled her nose. "No not her either."

"Why not Belle?" Jefferson asked curtly and even Alistair had to admit he wondered too.

"Trust me. Women's intuition."

Jefferson mumbled "bullshit" and Alistair was feeling pretty confused. The way Belle kept discarding the other women… Funny. She didn't seem all that upset with her husband's comments but when Alistair was thrown into the mix it was almost like she was jealous.

Jealous—why?

Of course, Alistair figured he was misinterpreting the situation. Belle was his friend and she had his best interests at heart. But something seemed off and while he assumed she was right in her assessment on the redhead… he couldn't pinpoint what was wrong about that brunette.

There was one way to find out.

Alistair excused himself and he felt Belle's eyes on him as he began moving to that woman. Her hair was short—just going past her chin—with two bright, full red lips. Her eyes were dark and magnetic and in them seemed like a lifetime of sorrow. He couldn't help but notice the appletini she was drinking.

Sophisticated.

"Is this seat taken?" he asked politely and without missing a beat she motioned "go ahead" without speaking a word. Just picked up her drink and sipped.

He had a feeling this was going to take a while and with both Belle and Jefferson watching… Alistair felt he had to make a point. But to whom and why, he couldn't say.

"My name is Alistair and—"

"Let me guess," she replied dryly. "Your friends are making you uncomfortable with setting you up and you want me to pretend I'm interested so they can back off, right?"

"Well… not exactly. I mean you are attractive…"

"Thanks but I'm honestly not in the mood. My boyfriend decided to give it another go with his ex and I would rather wallow in my own misery than help some stranger with relationship troubles."

"I wouldn't say stranger. I did introduce myself."

She smirked. "That you did." Looking past his shoulder, her lips continued to twitch in amusement. "Fine. Buy me another drink and I'll play along. The name is Regina." Her hand was held out and Alistair shook it.

"Nice to meet you Regina."

The next several minutes were spent in conversation and flirtatious laughter as Regina took it upon herself to touch his hand, arm, and even kneecap (not necessarily in that order) as she lowered her eyelids and batted her lashes. Alistair was having fun, enjoying her company, in fact and not faking it, when he felt a hand clap his shoulder.

"Hey Alistair. We're going to take off. Don't do anything I wouldn't do." The last part Jefferson whispered with a wink.

"Are you sure you don't want us to drop you off?" This from Belle and her expression was somewhat queer and her tone wasn't quite happy. It seemed amiss in some way.

Before Alistair could reply, Regina leaned over, ensuring her chest rubbed against his as she purred, "I'll make sure he's home in one piece." Her words held a suggestive overture and he couldn't help the tremble that it elicited.

Oddly, Belle paled at this before she concealed her disapproval and gently squeezed his shoulder. She stared into his eyes as if trying to convey a message but Jefferson was tugging at her arm.

Alistair watched them go and Regina whistled softly.

"She has it bad."

"Excuse me?"

Regina nodded in the direction his friends left. "She really likes you. I would even bet to say she's in love with you. Shame really since she's married. Do yourself a favor and break ties. It will only end in heartache. Believe me."

Alistair sputtered. "Belle—in love with me? Oh no. We're just good friends."

Regina wasn't buying it. "Look if looks could kill, she would have cut me opened when I touched you."

Could it be? Was it possible? Alistair didn't want to hope it was because as Regina said… it would only end in heartache.

Belle was married to his best friend and he couldn't do that to Jefferson.

But… if his friends weren't happy together…

"Hey, don't say I didn't warn you," Regina told him with that knowing grin.

If what Regina said was true, then what was he going to do about it?

xxXXxx

Alistair thought about testing his theory and he didn't have long to wait as Belle showed up at his shop the next day. Naturally, she came in the guise she was going to buy a gift for so-and-so from work's birthday. Playing along, Alistair was showing her his latest inquisitions when Belle finally blurted:

"How was your night with that Regina woman?"

There was no jealous note he could detect. Just genuine curiosity from a friend.

Perhaps Regina was wrong… but there was avoidance in her expression like Belle was purposefully not looking. Was she afraid of what she might see?

"We talked. And drank. It was nice."

"Oh. So you didn't hook up?"

"Didn't say that. I am a warm blooded male and she was attractive." Truthfully, he and Regina went their separate ways but Belle didn't know that.

"Are you going to see her again?"

"Maybe." Alistair watched her carefully and he noticed the slight twitch of her eye and the intake of breath as she sucked in her bottom lip. "Belle, are you all right?"

"What? Yes! Of course I am." She was quick to reply and she finally looked at him. Her smile was forced despite the cheeriness in her tone. "Why would you ask?"

"From the last time we spoke. All is well with you and Jefferson?"

Belle lowered her gaze. "We're trying. I shouldn't say anything. He's your best friend."

"You're my friend too," Alistair said. "I care about you as well."

"I need to go. Thank you Alistair."

She was gone before he could say anything else.

xxXXxx

Alistair started studying Belle much closely. It was the way she was going out of her way not to be near him or be alone with him. Not that anyone noticed, even Jefferson, but Alistair did.

However, he knew things weren't not as "fine" as Belle said.

For one, Jefferson was constantly calling him to go to the pubs and taverns. There Alistair watched him flirt with any available woman. It was harmless at first but it steadily grew worse until Alistair caught Jefferson in a lip lock with some girl.

Jefferson was remorseful and he begged Alistair not to tell Belle. As much as he was loathed to do, Alistair didn't. It was only a kiss. Not that he had sex with her.

But then Jefferson confided in him:

"I think Belle is in love with someone else."

This taken Alistair aback and he had little time to prepare when Jefferson made another startling confession:

"And I'm not upset. Funny, right? I'm her husband but I'm not mad or jealous or anything. I'm not heartbroken. Just relieved. I was only fooling myself in thinking I could be married."

He went on to tell Alistair that the miscarriage as tragic as it was made him realize he wasn't ready for children. He wasn't ready for that commitment like he thought he was when he proposed to Belle.

"I'm telling Belle tonight," Jefferson told him. "I could use a good stiff drink after."

Alistair said he would wait. It was the least he could do.

xxXXxx

The divorce proceedings didn't take long. It was a mutual affair and very amicable. Belle and Jefferson drifted apart. It happens sometimes.

Yet they were his friends and while he felt bad for what was lost… he was overjoyed.

Belle was free.

And Alistair wanted to tell her but he couldn't. Something was holding him back.

Until Jefferson came over.

"I know you have feelings for her. How could anyone not? Yet I know you did nothing to act on it and I am grateful for you being a true friend. But things have changed. Go to her. Tell her how you feel. Don't let me be the one to ruin things."

Then he left and Alistair's mind was blown away. Jefferson was giving him his blessing and he was torn what to do until he heard a knock and he found Belle behind the door.

"Belle…"

"Alistair." She licked her lips.

He grabbed her or she grabbed him. Either way, they were in each other's embrace and were falling into bed and tugging their clothes off. The rest was bliss.

Sometime later, he held her as she explained to him what changed.

"It was the night I came to you and told you about Jefferson's affair. I kissed you and it felt so right that it startled me. Then I couldn't stop thinking about you and our past conversations and it was then I realized how much time we spent together and how well you really knew me. Then I knew… I had feelings for you and I was mad at myself because I was married and shouldn't feel this way. I tried to ignore it but when I was with my husband… I wished it was you. Jefferson saw through me and it was then we knew we weren't made for each other. He gave me his permission. In fact, he told me that you were the first to see me but apparently you were nervous. Alistair, why didn't you tell me?"

"I don't know. I was a bloody fool but I'm not going to make the same mistake."

And Alistair kept that promise.

Months later came another wedding, but this time, Alistair was the groom and Jefferson was the best man.

Alistair and Belle lived happily ever after.

So ends this set of prompts. You know the drill!