If You're Reading This

by CriminalOutsider'sGirl14

One night, while Pony lay over his English homework, a surprise is left outside his and Darry's door: Sandy's baby. With Soda's death in 'Nam still raw in the brothers' minds, Sandy's surprise is like salt in an open wound. Will the toddler help them slowly heal, or will it all far apart? Who's the baby's father? "When I looked into his eyes, I saw Soda." Rating may change to T.

4. Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Waking Up The Boys And Baby Shopping Sprees

Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I do not own "The Outsiders" or any of the Curtis' Gang. :( Sad. The real owner of "The Outsiders" is my favorite author, the fabulous S.E. Hinton. I also do not make a profit from the stories that I write here on this site.

A/N: If you like it, love it, or even if you hate it, you know what to do. Tell me in a review. I would love it if you favored, followed, and/or if you gave me (a) suggestion(s). Thank you. :)

Ponyboy's POV (February 3rd, 1968; 4:42 a.m.)

I shot out of bed, breathing hard. I glanced around quickly, looking for I have no idea what. I felt my entire body shaking as I laid back down and tried to steady my quick, pounding heartbeat. I thought I was going to wake up Darry, he could probably hear my heart beating.

I bundled myself into the covers, but I couldn't close my eyes, I kept scanning the room in paranoia.

The bed still felt empty, even after so many months with him gone.

I'm not sure which was worse, letting him go that day in September or saying goodbye at the funeral recently. Or even the months in between when I didn't know what was going to happen to him. Now I know that ignorance is blissful. Brett doesn't realize that his dad is dead. Dead in a foreign country thousands of miles away.

Hours later, Darry came in and shook me awake. I didn't even realize I had fallen asleep.

"What time is it?" I mumbled, my voice thick with sleep. I coughed into my fist.

"Just a few minutes after seven. Listen, I'm going to go try an' find a crib for Brett, and some other things w'ere gonna need," Darry told me.

"Don't you gotta work today?" I wondered aloud.

"No, I don't work today," Darry gave me a sideways, amused yet concerned look.

It was Sunday. Darry never works Sunday's. Oh yeah. Right.

Darry laughed and ruffled my hair. "Are you tired, kiddo?" I shoved his head away, mock-angrily, but I grinned so he knew I wasn't really annoyed.

I got up, calling goodbye to Darry and walked into Brett's room. I tried not to look around in it much. It was Soda's old room. I haven't been in that room for months. I picked up Brett and quickly got him out of the room. He balled my shirt into his small fists and rested his head on my shoulder.

I sat him on the floor and let him walk around while I cooked breakfast. I made sure to keep a close on him while I cooked him and myself pancakes, but before I finished he had fallen asleep. I aimlessly flipped through the channels while he slept, eating my pancakes alone in silence.

Guest: I'm going to try to make them longer. Maybe not 2,000 words tomorrow, but I'm going to try to keep getting longer chapters. Thanks so much for the advice! I hope I keep improving.

Aufenthalt Gold,

~Alee xXx