So, I changed the baby's name to Melody Lynn in case you didn't already know. I want to thank everyone that has read and/or reviewed this story. I appreciate it. =) I want to thank everyone that has helped me as well.
Disclaimer: The Outsiders is not owned by me.
Sodapop explained everything to Darry and Ponyboy. It hadn't went as bad as he thought it would. Darry hadn't killed him...yet, so that was a somewhat good sign so far. After about half an hour of explaining everything they needed to know, they all sat in silence.
"I knew when she showed up at the house it wasn't for a friendly visit," Darry said breaking the silence. He sighed and leaned forward in his seat. "It's gonna be hard, Soda. We can barely get by with just the three of us. Imagine with a baby."
"I know, Darry," Sodapop said. "I couldn't say no though. Imagine if I hadn't taken her where she'd be."
"Maybe you should put her up for adoption..." Darry suggested.
Soda shook his head firmly. "No. I already told you, she's my flesh and blood. I'm not turning her away."
"Yeah, but Soda you need to think about this," Darry said. "We barely have any money, we work so much that we'll hardly have time to take care of her, and you're only 16. You don't know how to take care of a baby."
"I'll be 17 soon," Soda snapped. "If you turn you're back on her, then you're turning you're back on me too."
Darry was going to respond, but their discussion was suddenly interrupted by the loud cry that suddenly broke out. The baby was fully awake and crying. A worried look crept upon Soda's face as he rocked the baby gently trying to soothe her. Darry finally took Melody from him when she wouldn't stop crying.
"She's either hungry or needs a diaper changing," Darry said after a minute. "I'm guessing neither of you know how to do either one do you?"
Soda and Pony both shook their heads at the same time. Darry went over to the diaper bag and brought out a bottle that already had milk in it. He went into the kitchen to warm it up as Soda and Pony followed him. When Darry thought it was done, he checked to make sure it wasn't too hot. He put the bottle in her mouth after he examined it and fed her. The crying stopped as she drank from it.
"That's how it's done, my boys," Darry said as he took a seat at the table with Sodapop and Ponyboy.
"How do you know how to do all this stuff?" Ponyboy asked.
"One of my ex-girlfriends had a baby brother," he said. "I used to help her babysit him."
Ponyboy nodded. "Oh."
Darry stared down at Melody. "I'm sorry, Soda. I should try to be more understanding. It's just..."
"It's okay, Dar," he said. "I know."
"I understand that she's your daughter, I can tell that by looking at her, and if you don't want to give her up, then you don't have to," Darry said to him. "We'll manage somehow." He couldn't believe how calm he was staying about all this, but Melody was his neice and Soda made it clear that if he turned her away, he was turning him away with her.
Sodapop smiled at what his brother had just told him and looked down at her. She had a mix of his and Sandy's eyes, making them a hazel color. Melody stared back at him. He held out his hand and stroked her cheek gently. She grabbed onto his finger and held it with her tiny little hand. Sodapop grinned real big.
After Darry was done feeding Melody, he got a little towel and put it on his shoulder. He gently padded her back until she burped and spit up a little bit. After that, he changed her diaper.
"Can I hold her?" Ponyboy asked when Darry was done.
Sodapop smiled. "Sure you can, Pone. You are her uncle after all."
Ponyboy smiled and cautiously took Melody from Darry. He stood up and carried her around the kitchen, rocking her gently.
"Look at you," Sodapop said grinning.
"What?" Ponyboy asked smiling down at the baby.
Sodapop just shook his head. "Nevermind. Oh, I forgot to tell you, Darry, Sandy did leave some money." He walked into the living room to get the diaper bag. When he had it, he carried it back into the kitchen with him. He layed it down on the table and searched all through the bag, until he finally found the money. Sandy had left him $50. Not a whole lot, but definitely enough to get them by for a little while.
"At least she had enough of a heart to do that," Darry said.
Ponyboy sat back down at the table still holding Melody. "I could get a job and help out."
Darry shook his head. "You have school and other stuff to be worrying about."
"I can work after school," Ponyboy said. "Plus, I don't have track yet, so I won't have practice after school."
Darry and Sodapop looked at each other.
"It would help, Darry," said Soda.
Darry nodded. "Yeah, it would. You can get a job, Pony, but don't let your grades drop. You've got a bright future ahead of you and those grades is what's getting you there."
Ponyboy nodded. "They won't drop. I promise."
"I think you should take off work for a couple of days, Soda," Darry said. "You never take vacations so the boss shouldn't mind."
"I don't think he would," Soda said. "He's always trying to get me to take some days off. Says I work too much and need to go out and be a teenager more."
"Well, you can call him tomorrow then. He has other people that can come in for you. Just tell him you need a break. Nothing about the baby."
Sodapop nodded his okay.
Darry stood up and stretched. "Well, I think it's about time we hit the hay. Looks like the little one's already fallen back to sleep."
"Where will she sleep?" asked Ponyboy.
"She can sleep in the bed with Soda and you can bunk with me. We just have to put pillows around her so she won't roll off the bed or anything."
They all went into the room Sodapop and Ponyboy shared. Ponyboy laid Melody down on the bed and Sodapop covered her with one of her blankets. Darry walked in with more pillows and layed them gently around her, shielding her from the edge of the bed. When they were done, they observed the tiny baby.
"Good night," Pony said and kissed her cheek. Melody stirred a little, but didn't wake up.
"Good night," Darry whispered.
As Darry and Ponyboy were walking out of the room, Sodapop told them good night and they said the same to him.
After he was ready for bed, Soda layed down slowly and gently, so he wouldn't wake Melody. He turned around to face her and watched as her blanket rose up and down gently from her breathing. She looked so peaceful. He was glad she was clueless as to what was going on in her life. A mother who abandons her for a man and a father who never knew she existed until several hours ago and hardly knew how to take care of her. He knew it was a learning process for him, but still, he couldn't help but feel bad that he didn't know how to raise her. He hoped it would work out though and he would turn out to be the best father he could possibly be.
I hope all of you liked this chapter. I hope I didn't make Darry OOC or anything. Reviews are appreciated =).