Disclaimer: I do not own the Outsiders. I own the plot, Leah,
part of Jane, and Gwen.
A/N. I can't believe I've come this far. It makes me really happy
to know that you guys like this story. Ok, keep on reviewing.
I hope I didn't leave any words out.
* Pony's POV*
*One week later*
It's finally happened. Johnny has a family. I remember
sitting with him in the lot the night we ran away. We've all come so far
since then. With the girls appearing in our lives, and the birth of Gwen.
I've noticed changes in Dally too. He doesn't seem so cold and uncaring
anymore. I think Leah, in a sense, melted the ice that surrounded him. When Johnny was talking to Leah in the hospital, and the rest of us were
outside, Dally went on and on about how incredible the birth was. Actually,
I'm glad it wasn't me that had to deliver the baby. I probably would've
done something stupid. As Darry always says,
" Sometimes Pony, you just don't use your head".
Gwen came home from the hospital five days ago, and I think Johnny
and Leah are doing all right.
Johnny hasn't fled to the border, anyway. No, in all seriousness I
think they're handling well. Not that I could say if they were doing a
good job or not, but from what I can tell I think they are. The good thing
about this is Gwen is a pretty quiet baby. Of course she cries just like
any other newborns, but she isn't constantly crying. She's a real
cute little thing too. Dally pointed out to us how she has Johnny's eyes
and hair. She does look an awful lot like Johnny.
Speaking of Gwen, Leah and Johnny, they were in the room with us right
now. Gwen was asleep, and Johnny and Leah looked a little tired, but otherwise
ok.
"So how are you two holding up?" asked Steve.
" To be honest, pretty well considering she's only a week old," said
Leah.
" That alarm clock trick we tried worked really well," said Johnny.
" Is it hard to take care of her?" I asked.
Leah shook her head.
" Well, I'm definitely not saying its easy street, but its not incredibly
difficult either."
" I'm actually still getting the hang of it," said Johnny sheepishly
" I remember when Mom let me give Ponyboy a bottle," Darry said.
" How old were you then?" asked Dally.
" About six," Darry said.
" I think there's a difference between six and seventeen, though,"
said Soda.
" No there's not!" said Two Bit jokingly.
Suddenly Gwen woke up and started to fuss a little.
Johnny has holding her, and he started to rock her back and forth a
little saying
" Shhh, shhh"
"I'll be right back," Leah said and went into the kitchen.
" Can I try?" Jane asked Johnny.
Gwen was still crying and Johnny had checked her diaper already.
" Just hungry probably," he told us.
" Sure, just be careful," he told her and carefully handed a crying
Gwen over to Jane.
When Gwen was in Jane's arms, Jane started a sort of slight bouncing
movement with her arms.
Almost instantly Gwen's cries diminished to soft whimpers.
" Ohh, we're ok now aren't we?" said Jane in a voice that was slightly
high pitched to Gwen.
" How did you do that?" I asked in amazement.
" Basic maternal instinct, I think every girl has one," she answered.
Leah came back into the room with a bottle in her hands.
" Who wants to feed her?" she asked.
The really great thing is that we've all been helping out with Gwen.
Because Johnny and Leah are family, and now Gwen is too.
" Can I feed her?" asked Two Bit.
By now Gwen had completely stopped crying, but was still awake.
" Yeah," said Leah.
Gently, Jane handed Gwen over to Two Bit, and then he tilted the bottle
back and put it to Gwen's lips. I saw her make little sucking motions,
and then her one of her tiny hands grasped one of Two Bits fingers.
" She's got a strong grip for an infant," he laughed.
Gwen let go of the bottle and then Two Bit burped her. Steve was staring
at him as if Two Bit had grown another eye.
" Ok, how did you know how to do that?"
"I may be a guy from the East side, but I do know a thing or two about
babies." Two Bit retorted.
" Speaking of which," said Darry motioning to a now sleeping Gwen.
" Here you go, back to your mom," said Two Bit as Gwen was handed over
to Leah.
" What are you guys gonna do if she gets hungry, but you don't have
a bottle?" asked Soda.
" That probably won't happen, we carry bottles around," said Johnny.
" Yeah, but what if it does?" pressed Dally.
" Ummm, well I guess ummm," said Leah.
"What?" I asked.
" I'll just have to feed her the ummm natural way," she said and blushed
a little.
" Natural? What? Ohhhhh," said Two Bit.
" Hey you asked." said Leah.
" Its fine, that won't embarrass us if we're ever near you," said Darry.
" Ahhhh, a women's touch," joked Jane.
"Yeah, damn those maternal instincts," said Leah said.
"Oh, I know. If I see anything that's in the infant stage, I get all
motherly," said Jane.
" That's really strange," said Steve.
" Nope, you get used to it." said Jane.
" I don't think guys have that," said Soda.
" Of course not, its a maternal instinct,"Leah explained.
" Well whatever it is, its definitely helped put Gwen to sleep," said
Johnny.
" Lets try to keep it that way," said Steve.
Yup, that was chapter 26. Please R/R! It makes me happy.
Fyremoon.