Can't speak for anyone else, but I would lose respect for DS as a writer if he made Ned the father, just bc of a fan poll. It would signal that he actual is just writing what the fans want to read vs telling the stories he wants to tell.
Psiber@mauvais (you'll have to imagine this in Darth Vader's voice)
The shadowy figure loomed over Brooke's bed as she was awakened in the night. "Brooke, I...am the father of your child." rasped Ned. "That's not possible! I don't even know you!" said Brooke, scrambling backwards in disgust. "Search your feelings, Brooke. You know them to be true." countered Ned. "Nooooo!!!!! Not possible...not possible!" said Brooke shaking her head in denial before continuing "When did we fuck?"