Disclaimer: I own nothing.

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"Leah, come here, sweetie." She turned around from where she was walking and began to laugh. I held out my arms so I could catch her when she came over. Without hesitation, she slowly trudged over and plopped in my arms. I kissed her forehead softly and laid her on my lap.

"I can't believe she's almost one," Ponyboy said as he sat on the couch with us. "She looks like you," he added. I smiled and let her features sink in. She had dark brown hair like me, and her eyes were a green-ish color. She chuckled and tried to hide her face in my shirt. I stroked her hair and smiled.

"I can't believe how quick this year went," I mentioned. "I can't believe it has almost been a year since Anna died," I said quietly. Ponyboy put his hand on my shoulder.

He hesitated to say something but decided to say it anyways. "I know it's hard but you've always got us," he assured me. Anna was Leah's mother but she died shortly after Leah was born. It was some kind of complication when she gave birth to Leah.

I looked down at Leah who was still snuggled into my shirt, gazing at the tv. "What am I going to tell her when she asks where her Mom is? When she gets old enough to understand it all, she'll think it's her fault while Anna's not around anymore," I explained. I let out a sigh and shifted Leah up closer to my chest.

"We'll deal with that when the time comes," Ponyboy replied. "She'll understand. Don't worry." I knew he was trying to comfort me so I just decided to change the subject.

"So are you happy that school's almost over for another year?" Final exam week just ended and school was over tomorrow.

"Who isn't? Besides, it gives me more time to spend with Leah," Ponyboy said happily.

I glanced down at Leah who was sucking on her thumb and was fast asleep. "You'd think a boy your age wouldn't want to spend his summer with a baby. But I always knew you were different," I joked. He just laughed and offered to put Leah in her crib. After about 10 minutes, Steve showed up.

"Where's Leah?" he asked when he walked in. He searched the room for her.

"She's asleep in her crib, and hello to you too." He grinned and leaned against the wall. Steve loved Leah. He wasn't too happy when I first told him I was going to be a father, but he got used to it, just like I did. "Are you here to pick me up for work?" I asked when I found out it was 4:55. I had to work at five.

"Yeah. You better hurry up or we're gonna be late, again," he warned and went out the front door. I just nodded my head.

"Ponyboy, I'm gone to work now. I'll be home at 10 tonight," I told him as I put my DX shirt on. "Have fun with Leah," I added just before I walked out the door myself.

We arrived at work just on time and when we got there I went right to work on filling cars up with gas. We were actually pretty busy for a Wednesday afternoon. Lots of girls came by and they flirted with me and a few asked me if I wanted to go to their school year-end dance with them, but when I told them I had a child to take care of, they just nodded their heads sadly and got back in their cars.

I missed Leah when I was working. I really enjoyed spending time with her. I was glad that I had most weekends off. I think she liked it better when I was home with her, too. She'd cry sometimes when I'd leave and it would hurt to leave her like that but I had no other choice. I'd just comfort her by telling her I'd be coming back. Thankfully she was asleep when I left for work this time.

The hours seemed to drag on but my shift eventually ended. I told Steve that I'd walk home since it was a nice night out and he just drove off. When I walked through the door Ponyboy was asleep on the couch with Leah in his arms. She was also asleep. I slowly, and quietly, took her from Ponyboy's arms and held her close to me. When I laid her in her crib and covered her up I stood there for a bit and watched her sleep.

I couldn't ask for any better baby. She was adorable. Her cheeks were bright red and her small curls were covering her face. I moved the hair away from her face and tucked her in. Before I left I kissed her head and whispered, "I love you, Leah." I slowly shut the door behind me and went into my room so I could sleep.