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"Shawn, what's wrong, why is he crying like that?" Belle asked, concerned.
"I don't know" Shawn admitted. His eye caught sight of the clock as he tried to think.
"I've got it" Shawn said, jumping up and reaching for the diaper bag.
"What?" she asked.
"He's hungry" he said. "Do me a favor and watch him while I go and warm this"
"Ok...but hurry!" Belle said, standing up and started to pace with the baby. Shawn ran into the kitchen with the bottle as she tried to calm him. "Shh, calm down, Shawn's getting your bottle" she cooed. But John just cried harder and squirmed in her arms. Shawn came running back a minute later.
"Here!" he said, handing her the bottle. She put it in his mouth and he immediately quieted down and settled himself in her arms, staring up at them with his big eyes. Belle settled back down in the couch and Shawn slid in next to her. They both watched him for a minute before Shawn broke the silence.
"Mind if I put the tv on?" he asked.
"Nope, go ahead" she said, as he reached for the remote. He flipped through the channels for a minute before he decided on a show. John had finished drinking his bottle so she took it from him and gently lifted him up to her shoulder and began patting his back. Shawn laughed as he let out a tiny burp.
"C'mon, you're a Brady, you can do better than that" he joked. A few minutes later Belle laughed as John let out another, louder burp. "That's my boy" Shawn said, laughing, and John gave him a toothless grin when Belle lowered him back down to her lap. They were interrupted by a slam at the front door as Brady came in.
"Hey dork" he said, coming to the couch.
"Hey loser" she retorted. "Say hi to Shawn too"
"How's it going, Brady?" Shawn asked.
"Not too bad, how about you?" Brady answered.
"Pretty good" Shawn said, settling back on the couch.
"Brady, this is Shawn's little brother, John" Belle said. Brady leaned over to look.
"Cool" Brady said. "It's a good thing he didn't come out looking like you, Shawn"
"Brady!" Belle exclaimed but the boys just laughed.
"Yeah, but it could've been worse" Shawn said. "He could have looked like you, Brady". The boys both laughed again.
"Well, I gotta run...you kids be good" Brady said, heading to the kitchen.
"Later" Shawn said. He settled back against the couch again and stretched his right arm across the back of the couch, lightly touching Belle's back. He held the remote in his other hand and Belle suddenly became conscious of her hands. She twisted the ring on her finger but stopped when she realized that she probably looked nervous. She eventually settled on putting her one hand on the baby's tummy, who immediately grabbed her fingers, and the other resting on her leg. Shawn suddenly turned to her, his nose wrinkled.
"I don't want to be rude or anything...but do you smell that?" he asked.
"Smell what..." Belle started and then stopped. She leaned over and breathed in close to John and quickly pulled away. "Looks like your little brother left you a little present"
"Smells like more of a big present" Shawn said. He got up and grabbed the diaper bag. "And guess who doesn't know how to take care of it? That would be me"
'Here, I'll teach you" she said, getting up and handing him the baby. She led him to the floor where she laid out a blanket and took out a diaper and some wipes. Shawn laid the baby on his back and started to undo his outfit. Just then they heard Marlena and Brady arguing in the kitchen.
"Should I leave?" Shawn asked, stopping mid-act.
"Cause they're arguing?" she said. "No, it's cool, they do it all the time"
"Ok..." Shawn said. Belle showed him how to unfasten the diaper and he pulled back. "Nasty" he remarked and Belle laughed as he stiffly cleaned the baby off and started to put on the new diaper. Suddenly, Brady came flying out of the kitchen and slammed out the front door again.
"See? It's all good" Belle said.
"Right..." Shawn said. Belle snapped the bottom of John's pants back up.
"There you go" she said, picking the baby up again.
"Great...thanks Belle" he said, as they went back to the couch.
"No problem" she said, sitting down and lying John back down on her lap. They sat in silence for a minute.
"So, how's your mom doing?" she asked.
"Good, good" Shawn said. "But I feel bad, she spends so much time taking care of Johnny and worrying about him that it's exhausting her. I try to help but I have so much other stuff to do myself"
"I'm sure she's greatful for any help you give her" she said.
"Yeah, I just wish there was more I could do..." he trailed off. Johnny let out a little sigh and they both looked down to see him sound asleep.
"He's so cute when he's sleeping" Belle said, lightly touching his hair.
'And quiet" Shawn added.
"Must be something the Brady boys have in common" she joked, with a grin.
"Ha ha" he said. "Hey, do you mind if I use your phone real quick? I'm going to call and order a pizza so mom won't have to make dinner"
"Sure, it's right there" she said, pointing to the table.
"Thanks" he said, taking it and going into the hallway to make the call. He was put on hold and could hear Belle talking softly to the baby so he listened.
"You're so lucky to have Shawn as a big brother" he heard her whisper. "And I'm sure someday you'll grow up to be as smart and talented and nice and handsome as he is. You know, Shawn just asked me to the Halloween dance and I'm really lucky to be going with him. And someday, another girl is going to be very lucky to be going to a dance with you". The man came back on the line and Shawn absent-mindedly gave his order, his mind racing with thoughts of what Belle had just said.
*Wow, I never knew she felt that way* he said. *If only she knew that I was the lucky one* He heard her still talking to the baby so he made noise to make his entrance known.
"Did you call?" she asked, once he came back.
'Yup" he said, sliding in next to her. "But it's going to be about 20 minutes-mind if we wait here till it's ready?"
"No problem" she said. "So, anyway, how are the rest of your classes going?"
"Surprisingly well" he said. "The only thing I'm worried about is that English paper we have due next week. I can usually write it but I have trouble with all the grammatical stuff"
"I can help" she offered. "I'll proof-read it for you"
'I don't wanna be a bother" he said, a little embarrassed.
"No, not at all" she said. "I'll read yours and you can read over mine. It'll help both of us"
"Well...ok" he said, with a grin. "If you insist"
"Yes. I do" she said, playing along.
"Well, far be it for me to go against your wishes" he said. "But as much as I know you enjoy spending time with little Johnny, I have to take him back home before my mom starts to worry"
"Ok..." she said. "But Shawn, you don't think I just enjoy spending time with him, do you?"
"Well...what do you mean" he asked.
"I like spending time with you too" she said.
"Well, thank you" he said. "I enjoy being with you also. But I have to take my sleepy little brother home"
"I'll carry him out for you" she offered. He helped her slide his jacket on and they started out the door. They went down the elevator in silence and walked over to his truck. Shawn opened the door and took the baby and placed him in his carseat, without him waking up. He gently shut the door and Belle stood next to him, watching. She shivered and pulled her sweatshirt more tightly around her.
"Thanks for the help" Shawn said, quietly. He reached over and brushed some of her hair off her face. She smiled up at him.
"Sure thing" she said. She shivered again and he laughingly pulled her under his arm and rubbed her shoulder.
"Better get inside now" he said. "I don't need my date coming down with pneumonia right before the dance". She laughed.
"I wouldn't hear of it" she said.
"Then get inside, Perfect Girl" he said, with a laugh, as he opened his side of the truck.
"Be careful driving home, Tuff boy" she said. He climbed in and shut the door and started up the engine. He waved after he had backed up and she waved back. He drove off and Belle turned to go back inside-even though it suddenly wasn't so cold out.