Here's another chapter. I think this story will be coming to an end shortly. I'll be writing a third part to this series, so no need to worry about any unfinished business in this one. I think maybe only one or two chapters left. Hope you enjoy this. Please R&R.

I don't own the Outsiders.

Chapter 7: Bridget (about 8 ½ months pregnant)

I was woken up to something being put on my bulging stomach. I opened my eyes to see Bella standing there with a cassette player, the headphones on my belly. "What are you doin'?" I asked.

"I read somewhere that babies can hear things outside of the womb after a certain amount of time. So I'm introducing your kid to the legends of rock."

I leaned over to listen to what was playing. "The Rolling Stones."

"Yup."

"If the first words outta my kid's mouth are 'I can't get no satisfaction,' I'm gonna kill you."

"Don't worry 'bout it."

"I'm completely serious."

"Yeah, yeah. So what do you say we go shopping?"

"What, you outta all your rebellious clothes already?"

"No, I figured we could get some stuff for the nursery. I mean it's all done, but it's not very personal. Too clean cut. Doesn't look much like a child's room."

"Alright. Lemme just get dressed."

"Yeah, I realized that you weren't exactly ready for the day. Those are some cute penguins on those pants though," she said smiling.

I stuck my tongue out at her and grabbed some clothes. I went into the bathroom and changed into a white, below-the-knee, spring dress and a light yellow cardigan. I walked out of the bathroom. "Well, don't you look pretty," she said as I slipped on my flip flops.

"Glad to know. I thought I looked like a balloon."

"Nah, it's more like a blimp." I glared at her. "Only joking. You aren't that big."

"Let's go." I grabbed my bag and headed out.

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We were walking around the mall, eating ice cream cones, after a few hours of shopping. We had already bought some clothing and decorations for the nursery. I had to admit that my feet were getting sore. So when I found an empty bench, I sat down and put my bags down next to me, licking my ice cream.

"I'd have to say we did pretty good today," I said, looking at all our bags.

"Yes we did. This is one lucky baby," she said.

"Okay, so I have something to talk to you about."

"Shoot."

"Well, you know I can only bring one person into the delivery room with me, and I really don't wanna go in there alone. So I was wondering if you'd be that one person, since neither Tim nor Two-Bit is here."

"I'd be honored to let you squeeze the hell outta my hand and give me a major headache," she said smiling.

I smiled, too. "Great. Let's get outta here. I'm sick of shopping."

"Alright, let's go."

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After putting away everything in the baby's room, we went back to my room to hang out. I put some music on while she climbed on my bed. "Can you get that?" I asked as the phone started ringing.

"Bridget Matthews' private line. Her personal assistant, Bella, speaking." I laughed. "Oh, hey Sodapop. What's up?"

"What's he calling for?" I asked.

"Says he's calling to check up on the mommy-to-be. He's asking if you're anxious with the due date coming up so soon."

"A little."

"She said a little."

"Let me talk to him." I grabbed the phone from her. "Hey Sodapop. How're you?"

'I'm good. How you doin'?'

"I'm alright. Can't wait to have this thing outta me."

He laughed. 'I'm sure'.

"So how're all those girls?"

'They're great. Couldn't be better.'

"Pleasin' all of 'em?"

'I try.'

I laughed. "Yeah, right. Darry and Pony told me you've only been on one date. You can't hide it from me."

He laughed, too. 'Fine, fine. One date. At least I went out with someone.'

"Yeah, you did."

'So, the whole gang is here and they're dyin' to talk to ya. So I gotta pass the phone onto someone else.'

"Okay, who's next?"

'How 'bout Pony? Then we can get the baby talk over with.'

"Alright, put him on."

'Hello?'

"Hey Pon. How're you?"

'I'm good. You get our letters?'

"Yup. It kept me busy reading all of 'em. It was funny seein' all the different handwritings. I didn't even know Two-Bit knew how to write," I joked.

He laughed. 'So you been takin' pictures?'

"Of course. Bella, Greg, and Maria have been helping me. I'll send them to you soon."

'Okay, good. How's the baby?'

"He or she is doin' good. Still kickin' hard. Only a few more weeks."

'You must be happy.'

"Oh yeah. I want it outta me."

'Soon enough.'

"So what's goin' on with you and Angela?"

'Nothing. We're both just worried about Tim.'

"Sure, you were. Worried 'bout Tim. Did you kiss her yet?"

'Bridget, nothing happened. We're just friends.'

"C'mon, you can tell me."

'Yes, alright? Happy now?'

"Aww, Pony, that's cute. Bella, tell Pony that's cute." I held the phone in front of her mouth.

"Down right, adorable."

'Aww, Bee, you didn't tell me she was there with you.'

"Well, she's the one who answered. I figured Soda would've told you."

'Oh boy. Guess it slipped his mind.'

"Apparently."

'Okay, everyone else still wants to talk to you, so hold on.'

"Alright Pony. Talk to you later."

'Bye.'

I waited for the next person to get on the phone. 'Bee?'

"Hey Stevie."

'I really am tryin' to be nice to Pony. I hope you know that.'

"I do. I'm glad that you are."

'Good. How's Cali?'

"It's good. Hot still, even in February. So it's kinda like Tulsa."

''cept you got the beach.'

"Yeah, I do." Not like I'd been to it. Pregnant me, plus bathing suit, really didn't produce a great image. "How's Evie?"

'She's good. We're goin' out tonight. Drive-in. It'll be fun.'

"I'm sure. I know what you boys do there."

He laughed. 'Who doesn't know what we do there?' I smiled. 'Alright, Darry wants a turn.'

"Okay, See ya, Stevie."

'Hey Bridget.'

"Hey Superman. How's Kaylyn? You ask her out yet?"

'Actually, yes. Goin' out tomorrow night.'

"That's great, Dar. I'm happy for you."

'Thanks.'

"You also gotta work on getting that house clean."

'I'm tryin'. It's gettin' better.'

"That's good. It's probably as clean as it's gonna get with three boys living there."

'More like six.' I laughed. 'How's things there?'

"They're good. Me and Bella just got back from shopping."

'And what'd you spend your money on?'

"Clothes and food. What else is there?"

He laughed. 'Glad to hear you haven't changed.'

"I'll never change. C'mon now, Superman. I'll always be Bridget."

'Yeah, I know. Okay, I'm gonna give the phone to Two-Bit. He's buggin' me for it.'

I laughed. "Alright. Talk to you later."

'Hey Little Sis.'

"Keith? KEITH?"

'Ha ha. I knew that'd get a rise outta ya.'

"Of course it did. Who in the world calls you Keith besides Mom?"

'I don't know. So have you knocked some sense of humor into any of those Californians?'

"I don't think so. Me and my friends are the only ones who can crack jokes."

'Well, that sucks. You better get workin' on them. How's our evil stepmother and siblings?'

"Still evil. Sarah and Susan I can kinda stand. But Travis gets on my nerves and vice versa. We don't get along too well."

'Who cares? You don't need him for a brother anyways. You got me.'

"Yes, I do. And I'm glad for that."

'What else is goin' on there?'

"Well, I'm sure you want me to answer your questions, so no, I haven't met any guys except for Travis's friends and they're all idiots. I haven't been to the beach, but I've seen it. It's beautiful. And you guys called, so now you don't gotta come drag me home."

'That would've been fun though. Tying you up and throwing you in the trunk of my car.'

"Yeah, if you car could even make it here."

'You're probably right.'

"I know I am."

'So, Dallas is here next to me begging for the phone like a hound begging for a treat. I think I oughta give him it.'

"Yeah, you better before he starts whimpering."

He laughed. 'Love you.'

"Love you, too. Bye."

'Hey Doll.'

"Hey baby. What's shakin'?"

Dallas laughed. 'Baby, huh? You haven't called me that since we dated.'

"Well, I thought I'd reminisce. You break up with Sylvia yet?"

'Actually yes. Caught her two-timin' me again. Stupid broad.'

"Not all girls are that bad, Dallas. You'll find someone worth your time and effort."

'Yeah, you think so.'

"No, I know so. There are plenty of girls that would be more than willing to date you."

'More like fuck with me,' he said bitterly.

"C'mon Dallas. There's someone out there who doesn't just want you for a good time in the sack, you just haven't found her yet."

'Yeah, whatever Bee.'

"I'm serious. You'll find her." He didn't say anything. "I guess you're the last one for me to talk to."

'Actually, no. There's one more person. I'm gonna give him to ya. Love ya, babe. Talk to you later.'

"Yeah. You too." I waited in anticipation as the phone was passed to the last person.

'Hey.' I melted at the sound of his voice.

"Hey Tim," I said more quietly and more unsurely than I had talked with the others. Bella looked at me at the mention of his name. "How are you?"

'I'm really good actually. You?'

"I'm alright."

'You know you were right.'

"About what?"

'You said I'd find someone else and I did. Actually, a few someone's, if ya know what I mean.'

Tears started coming to my eyes. Bella looked at me worriedly. "Oh, good for you," I said, struggling to keep the tears out of my voice.

'Yeah, I actually gotta go. Gotta go meet one of them. Kara, I think her name is. Don't really remember. Whatever. Later.'

Now, I couldn't control the tears that were pouring down my face. Soda came on the line. 'Bridget, I'm so sorry. I didn't know he was gonna say that stuff.'

"No, its okay, Soda. I'll talk to you later. Bye." I hung up the phone and wiped at my eyes.

"Aww, Bee, what's wrong?" Bella asked, coming over and putting her arms around me. I buried my face in her shoulder.

"T-Tim said h-he's got m-multiple g-girls now. H-he's m-meeting one of them t-tonight."

"Oh, Bridget, I'm sorry."

"I-I thought he l-loved me. I-I didn't t-think that he'd f-find so m-many girls."

"I hate to say this, but you did dump him."

"But n-not by choice. I-I should've just t-told him. T-then none of this w-would be happening."

"I am sorry. But you'll find someone else right. You couldn't expect him to wait around for you forever."

"Yeah, b-but I guess I t-thought it'd be a little l-longer."

Bella sighed and rubbed the back of my head. "You'll get over it. I promise. Everything will get better." I really wanted to believe her, but I couldn't. I didn't want it to get better. I just wanted everything to go back to the way it was.

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After Tim left the Curtis's, he went straight home and up to his room, where he spent the rest of the night. He didn't have a date with anyone named Kara. He had come up with that off the top of his head. He hadn't met a lot of girls. Hell, he hadn't even met one. Sure, he'd gone to Buck's every now and again, but nothing happened. All he did was drink and get into the occasional fight.

He had only said those things to hurt her as much as she had hurt him. Part of him hoped that it had, and the other part was feeling sorry he had said that. He knew it had hurt her. He had heard the tears in her voice, even though he could tell she was trying to hide it. He could read her like a book, whether she was in front of him or not. He could just picture her after hearing that: her beautiful green eyes filling with tears, overflowing and streaming down her cheeks. She would be wiping at her eyes, trying to keep them from filling over. Her hair would be falling into her face and he'd brush it away and tuck it behind her ear.

Frustrated, he punched his wall. He wouldn't be pushing her hair away from her face. He was the one that had caused her to cry. He couldn't help but feel bad now. He had gone a little far with that. The first time he can talk to her on the phone and he lies to her. He should've just told her how he was really feeling. He should've told her how he wanted her home, how he still loved her and couldn't get over her, how whenever he closed his eyes he saw her face behind his eyelids. He should've told her how it was becoming almost impossible for him to live without her. He couldn't concentrate on the gang, or his family. All he'd been doing lately was getting plastered and getting in trouble, more likely than not, with the police.

If he had told her the truth, she might've been on her way back to Tulsa, coming to be with him. He'd go meet her at the train station, and, when she'd get off the train, she'd see him and run into his arms, planting kisses all over his face. He'd drive her back to his place and show her how much he'd missed her. She'd finish high school with all her friends, and, when she'd graduated, he'd propose to her and she'd say yes. They'd move in together and start a family after awhile. He could just picture her, round with motherhood. She'd be glowing, and he'd love her no matter what. He'd forget about the cooler and getting in trouble and just be home with his family. Everything would be perfect.