He Is Sensible & So Incredible

& All My Single Friends Are Jealous

He Says Everything I Need To Hear

& It's Like I Couldn't Ask For Anything Better

Soda was busy running back and forth between babysitting Lily, checking on Jenni, bringing Steve something besides hospital food, and calling Two-Bit to make sure he hadn't had a major relapse and sent Darry and Pony his way.

"Last time I checked, Saturday just happened to be yesterday Sodapop."

"I know Two-Bit, I know, but listen man something came up, alright? I gotta be here right now."

"Don't think I don't know what's going on here man; you wanna disappear and three days later Steve does the same thing? I might not be the smartest kid on the block but I got a little more than a peanut in there."

Two-Bit's mom came up behind him and gave him a curious look. "I hope you're not getting yourself into any trouble Keith Mathews, I don't have any money to bail you out." She warned.

"I'm not Momma." He gave her a reassuring kiss on the cheek and whispered quietly into the phone. "Bring 'em home safe."

Before Soda could answer he heard the phone on the opposite end of the line hit the receiver.

XXX

Jenni was half-way awake holding her newborn daughter.

Steve cleared his throat from across the room, "She looks like you."

Jenni smiled and he wasn't sure if it was at him or Kaylie. The blue-eyed baby was giggling at her mother as Jenni held her hand gently.

She glanced at him slightly, "Poor thing didn't have a chance against blue eyes."

Steve smiled slightly, satisfied that she was trying. "They're more like yours."

Jenni's face turned hard and he instantly regretted saying it; they were more like hers, but only before her mother died and her life turned to a living hell.

He saw it then, the sparkle in her eye when her daughter squeezed her finger slightly and the smile returned. He wondered, just maybe, this could be the thing to bring them back together.

XXX

A nurse grabbed Kaylie from Jenni's arms to bring her back to the nursery; Jenni needed rest. She was hesitant with handing her over, like all new mothers are, but she soon passed the child over with great care, kissing her forehead on the way.

It took her a moment before she wiped her hands on the bed-sheet and kept her eyes from Steve. "I uh, I have to tell you something."

"Jenni-" He began but she cut him off quickly, taking true meaning to the idea of pulling a bandage off faster to reduce the pain. "I sold your engagement ring."

She glanced up quickly to see his reaction and his face showed plain disgust. "You did what?"

"Well I didn't really sell it... I-I pawned it."

He threw his hands angrily and paced back and forth, "Right 'cause that's so much better Jennifer. That was my mother's ring!"

Her eyes widened at that, she knew she recognized it from somewhere... "I'll get it back Stevie, I promise."

He was quiet for a minute. "Is this really all you have to say to me? No 'hey sweetie, sorry I disappeared for 3 months without bothering to say anything to you and oh yeah by the way I sold your mother's wedding ring.' You know what Jenni? I just really can't believe you sometimes."

"It was what was best for the baby." She whispered quietly, only to receive a disagreeing head-shake from Steve as he grabbed his jacket off of the hook hanging on the door and headed outside for a smoke.

Jenni dropped her head into her hands. "I'm sorry." She whispered.

XXX

"I take it Jenni's awake." Soda smiled and handed Steve a cup of coffee.

He took a gulp reluctantly and continued looking into the glass at his daughter. He leaned off of the railing and tapped his foot quietly. "Where's Lily?" He didn't look up.

"Hanging out at the cafeteria; that girl's even tougher to handle than Jenni herself."

Soda had a smile on his face but Steve looked at him seriously. "Thanks man."

Soda didn't need him to explain it to know what he meant. "You don't have to thank me buddy; that's what friends are for."

Steve couldn't get over it; the first thing Soda does when Jenni takes off with his kid is drive across the country to look for her, no questions asked. And the first thing Steve does when Sandy takes off is tell Soda to get over it, he had to be the worst friend in the world.

He Opens Up My Door & I Get Into His Car

& He Says You Look Beautiful Tonight

& I Feel Perfectly Fine But I Miss

Screaming & Fighting & Kissing In The Rain

& It's 2 AM & I'm Cursing Your Name

Credits-

Song: The Way I Loved You

Artist: Taylor Swift

Book: The Outsiders

Author: S. E. Hinton

Thank you so much for all those amazing reviews :) How about I get 5 more and I'll have the next chapter posted by Friday ;) I love you guys; you keep me going!