Soda walked in through the door only to find Darry and Pony arguing about Pony's report card. The boy rolled his eyes and walked into the kitchen, finding the doll in an old carseat that used to belong to him when he was a little one.

He smiled a bit. It sure looked cute when it was sleeping…

"Well, who the hell says I wanna go to college, anyways?!" Ponyboy yelled, snapping Soda out of his little trance. He heard their bedroom door slam.

Darry sighed and glanced over at Soda. "Your turn to make dinner tonight." He said calmly, sitting down in the armchair. Soda nodded, taking the sleeping baby out of the carseat carefully and walking into the bedroom.

"Pony? You okay, baby?" He asked, lying down next to his lover. Pony looked up, his face tear-streaked. Soda sympathetically stroked his cheek, kissing him.

"I'm sorry, honey… I know Darry sometimes gets a little tough on ya for your grades, but ya gotta remember that he just wants you to do good in school so you can get a scholarship and go to college, help him with the bills and stuff." Pony sniffled.

"Well, who says I wanna go to college?" He snapped softly, turning his body around so he could face his lover a little better. Soda's lips curled into a small smile.

"Babe, no one's forcin' ya to go."

"It sure seems like Darry is…"

"Pony, baby, Darry only wants you to go to college 'cuz he never got to." Soda responded softly, wrapping his arms around the fourteen-year-old.

"Those are his dreams, not mine." Pony mumbled into his older brother/lover's chest.

Soda sighed, kissing the top of his head. "I know.." He said, not knowing how to cheer his little Pony up anymore.

They both fell asleep, the baby doll inbetween them.