"Hi, Uncle Soda!"

Soda opened his arms to four-year-old Emily, who jumped right into them, her light brown eyes shiny with excitement. "Hi, sweetie! I told you I was coming over."

Emily hugged Soda, her arms wrapped around his neck. "I missed you! I thought you'd be here sooner."

Soda kissed Emily's forehead, before letting her go. "I was. But I got tied up doing some stuff. You know how me and Uncle Steve can be."

Emily giggled, her curly blond pigtails bouncing up and down. "I do. Especially with you and Daddy."

Soda touched Emily's cheek, her smile doing what it always did to his heart. "So what now, Emily Beth? Don't you got some coloring books for us to get into? Or maybe we can have some chocolate pudding?"

"Yes to both, Uncle Soda! Mommy got me some new magic markers the other day after she took me swimming."

"You swim as good as a fish?"

"Yep! I love the water. I like to hold my breath and go under. I even open my eyes too! Can you do that?"

"Why, I don't know, Emily Beth. Maybe that's your magical talent."

"So what's yours then?"

"I can be in two places at once. Can you believe it?"

"No, you can't! That's silly. You're so silly, Uncle Soda."

"All right then. So what do you say? You get the markers, and I'll be right back with the chocolate pudding."

"Dad, it's fine. I was busy at work anyway. You know how it gets."

Nicholas handed Steve a cup of coffee, before stirring some cream into his own mug. "I do know. So are you going to move to full-time there once you're done with school?"

Steve picked up packet of sugar and poured it into the coffee, along with enough cream to take the edge off the taste. "I think so. But some days, I'm not sure, you know? It brings stuff back sometimes, as much as-"

"What, Son?"

"I was going to say as much as I love it. But I hadn't said that before. So I guess, yeah. I'll probably end up staying."

Emily swung her legs from where she sat at the table beside Soda. She spooned chocolate pudding into her mouth, as she looked over at him, patches of light shining through the kitchen curtains. "Uncle Soda?"

Soda stirred his chocolate pudding around it the container, the box of markers and their finished pictures on the table in front of him. Emily had colored a picture of a purple cat, while choosing one of a car for him, both complete with doodles of hearts. He smiled at where she had written her name at the bottom of her paper, a mix of lower and uppercase letters all of a different size, her identity without a trace of insecurity. "Yeah, sweetie?"

"Tell me the story again. Tell me the story of how we know each other."

Samuel picked up the picture of Matthew that was on his desk, finally able to smile without tears filling his eyes just at the thought of his beautiful son. "I'll always love you, buddy. Thank you for sending me some hope."

"It's great to still be able to be part of her life, Stevie."

Steve sealed an envelope and put it in the stack to be mailed the next day, as he listened to Soda. "Yeah, I know, man. She's a great kid too. By the way, are you ever going to quit calling me 'Stevie?'"

Soda rolled his eyes good-naturedly, giving his best friend a grin. "Nope. I'll call you Stevie for the rest of your life."

"Speaking of the rest of your life, you hear from Penny lately?"

"Yeah. She's wrapping up the last of school, and she just took her licensing exam."

"So is she moving back here after she graduates?"

"Yeah. She's just working on getting a job lined up at one of the hospitals first."

"So are you going to move in together then?"

"You trying to get rid of me?"

Steve chuckled at Soda's mock offense, as he gave him a shove. "Of course not, buddy."

Soda winked at Steve. "Maybe you should cause then you can move Katie in."

"That could happen down the road, but I really ain't lookin' to just move in with a woman, you know? I want to at least be about to put a ring on her finger first."

"Aw, Stevie's getting all traditional on me now."

"Shut up, man."

"Nah. I'm just kiddin' anyway. I really agree with you on that one. Moving in's a big deal, and it doesn't make sense if you ain't planning to get married soon."

"You think you and Penny will get married?"

"Maybe. She's going to be a nurse now, and that's always been her dream. I'll just have to see what else she wants."

"Nicholas, you're treating me like we're still dating."

Nicholas set the bouquet of roses in Audrey's waiting hands. "Well, I have to. So you never forget I know how lucky I am."

Audrey breathed in the scent of the roses, then kissed Nicholas' lips. "Oh, I'm the one who's so lucky to be your wife."

"Of course I'll be there, Ponyboy! What the hell are you even thinking anyway?"

Soda listened to Darry's side of the telephone conversation, as he reached for one of the chocolate chip cookies his brother's wife had left out on top of the stove. "Hey, Pony! You better call me later too!"

Darry spoke into the phone receiver. "You hear Sodapop, Pone? Okay. Yep. I'll see you then. I love you, little brother, and I'm so proud of you. Bye."

"Daddy! I had so much fun swimming today!"

Samuel scooped Emily up into his arms, his chosen child smiling at home, so that her eyes sparkled. "Hey, Emily Beth! Mommy took you to the pool, huh?"

Emily nodded, as Samuel set her back down, his gaze still level with hers. "Yep! Then, I saw Uncle Soda. You have to come swimming with me one day, Daddy."

Samuel stared at the little girl, his heart overwhelmed with gratitude, even as his mouth went dry at her suggestion. "Sure, baby. I will one day. You can count on it."