Author's Note, "Hey, Thanks to my last reviewer, Jenn! Please read and review this chapter. Was a bit sad I only got one review last time. Anyway, sorry the story is moving a bit slow. It speeds up impeccably soon! Read & review please. And thanks again!"

Tori, was sitting with Kirsten talking, while they were waiting for their English lesson to start. Soda was working today and so was missing school.

The door opened. A greaser girl walked in. The girl was called Christie Mathews. She was tall and pretty, her long blonde hair hung to the lower of her back. Everyone knew she was a slut; she was one of those girls who were totally into themselves and would do anything to get what they wanted, no matter how nasty they had to be. She was what most people called a bitch and no matter where she was, she always liked being the centre of attention especially with the boys.

She spotted Tori at the back of the room and walked over.

"Hey Tori. Is it true?" Christie asked sporting a huge grin across her face.

"Is what true?" Tori answered calmly.

"You. Are you pregnant?" Christie laughed as if she didn't believe the new current rumour.

"Yeah I am. Why?" Tori replied. She locked eyes with Christie. Christie stopped laughing. This girl was trouble. Why was she even speaking to Tori?

"Whose is it?" She asked uneasy.

"Sodapop's." Was all Tori said.

"Sodapop Curtis?" Christie's voice became shill, and her eyes widened with horror. "But Soda's a doll. There's no way he will be staying with you. I bet he ditches you the day it's born."

"He's already said he's staying with her." Kirsten piped up. "So back off Christie. He's taken. And anyway he doesn't go out with sluts."

"Yeah? Just you wait. Sodapop will be with me by the end of the year. Just you wait Tori, you guys won't be playing happy families for long." And with that she flicked her long blonde hair and walked away.

Kirsten looked at Tori. "She's just jealous. She's been after Soda for months. She used to go to the DX all the time. Well until she got barred for shouting the odds, just 'cos Soda wouldn't go out with her. He hates her. So you, have nothing to worry about."

Tori smiled. "I hope you're right."

A few days passed. Everyone was sat in Soda's.

"Soda, I've decided I'm going to tell my mom. Today." Tori told.

"Good. It's about time." Dally stated.

"Can I come with you?" Soda asked. "I mean, I'm gonna be her grandchild's dad."

"If you want." Tori sighed. "I'm not going until John's out."

"John schmon. He can't do anything. You're pregnant. And if he does he'll have to answer to me." Dally said crunching his knuckles. "Plus Soda will be there."

Dally had a point, John probably wouldn't hurt Tori in front of Soda, but that doesn't mean he wouldn't find a way to hurt her. Pregnant or not, Tori had to watch herself with John. Even though Dally was tough, he was no match for John, but no one really understood that yet.

"I'm sure your mom will be fine. Nathan's been really supportive." Kirsten suggested positively.

"Yeah. You'll be fine. And Dally's right. If John tries anything he will have to answer to us. And you know you'll always have the support of the gang. Whatever your mom says, Tori, I'm here for both of you." Darry explained.

"Thanks Darry. That means a lot." Tori smiled. She had the support of her friends, if her mother disapproved, at least she wasn't alone.

Later that day; Soda and Tori made their way down Lingford Road. Tori stopped when they reached her house.

"Come on Tor, it will be okay." Soda smiled. His smiled warmed Tori and made her edge forward. She knocked on the door. Her mother opened it.

"Hello dear. You've just missed John. Come in."

"Hey mom. This is my boyfriend, Sodapop Curtis. Soda this is my mom, Janet." Tori explained.

"Hello dear, come in, sit down. Would you like a drink?"

"Hi. No, I'm fine thanks. This sure is a nice house you got here Mrs Jameson." Soda looked around the spacious living room. Compared to his small house this place was like a palace. How could he give Tori this? The immaculate tiled floor gleamed. This house was pristine. Soda could tell Janet was very house proud.

"Thanks Sodapop. And please call me Janet." She turned to look at her daughter who was glancing around the room. "What brings you here, Tori?"

"Just visiting." Why was her mom changing the way she spoke? She had grown up as a greaser. Why was she acting like a soc?

"Heard you stopped at Nathan's, is everything okay?"

"Yeah fine." Tori's eyes jerked towards an empty space on the wall, where her school photo used to hang, and then at the empty space where Nathan's picture used to be. "Mom, where are mine and Nathan's pictures? Why have they been taken down?" Tori was anxious. Surely John wouldn't have made her take them down.

"Oh those old things? John took them down." Janet brushed the conversation as if it was no big deal.

"I gathered that. But why? Why did you let him?"

"Well, it's his house too and you two don't live here." Janet looked at Soda as if she wanted sympathy off him. He felt awkward; life must have been shit for Tori when she was at home, he thought. What kind of woman let a man take her children away from her?

"Yeah. But that's not our fault. Besides, we're still your children." Tori began to loose her temper.

"Oh Tori, stop it. It's just a photo. Now, Sodapop, do you work? Or go to school?"

"Both. I, I, err work at the DX gasoline station, and go to school."

"Oh my, you must get awfully tired." Janet had an evil look on her face. Tori was trying to anticipate what was going to happen next.

"Yeah well, sometimes I miss school to work. So I don't get tired very often." Soda explained.

"You miss school? Oh my! What does your mother think of that?"

"Mom!" Tori shot a look at her mother, having already explained Soda's parental situation she was angry her mother had brought it up.

"It's okay Tori. My mom and dad died. My brother looks after us."

"I see." Janet looked up towards the ceiling.

"Mom. I'm pregnant." Tori finally spilled the beans.

Janet looked at her with a look of horror. "What? To him? And I suppose you've come here, to ask for me to pay for an abortion, because you cant afford one?"

"No." Tori replied.

"NO? You mean, you're not getting rid of it?" Janet screamed.

"No, were keeping it." Tori could feel herself begin to back down.

Soda began to feel a disappointment grow in the pit of his stomach, which rapidly turned to anger.

"You're what? No daughter of mine is having a baby while she's at school! Christ, what will the neighbours think!" Janet was fuming. Tori could see distinct changes in her mom.

"Who gives a fuck what the neighbours think! You don't even like them! I'm your daughter. There is no way you would have been like this if you weren't with John. And if dad was still alive. Why are you being like this?" Tori sobbed.

Soda put his arm around her. Geez, Soda sometimes thought his life was bad… compared to this it was perfect.

"Well for starters… You're pregnant, with his baby. What's that piece of trash going to give you? He isn't going to support you. He can't even support himself." Tori's mom pointed at Soda.

"Hey. That's out of order! I'm not trash and I will support her. I'm here aren't I?" Soda felt hurt. He was anything but trash, and it wasn't his fault, his parents had died and he wasn't well off. He was a greaser. Greasers weren't supposed to be well off.

"You shut your filthy trap! You can look after her. And the stinking baby. Take her. Go on. John was right about you Tori. You are a dirty whore. Get out of my house and don't dare come back. Either of you!" Janet screamed as her eyes filled up.

Tori looked into her mothers eyes, they looked hurt and somehow she felt sorry for her. "Mom, I know you don't mean that. You've been brainwashed. Please take it back. Geez, you're my mom. You're meant to give me unconditional love." Tori sobbed as Soda lead the way to the front door.

"I'm not your mom." Janet slammed the door shut on Tori as tears started falling from her eyes. If she didn't outcast Tori, then John would, except he would probably start the violence again, and Tori might not even have a baby to look after. It hurt Janet deeply to see her daughter like this, hurt, and heartbroken when she most needed her help, but Janet feared for her life and now the life of her grandchild. And that was the way it was to be from now on. As long as Tori and Nathan weren't in her life, John was happy, and when John was happy, Janet was safe.

Tori turned around to face the front door and kicked it.

"Hey calm down babe. It will be okay." Soda said putting his arm around her.

"I can't calm down. I, can, hardly, breathe." Tori said amid sobs.

"Come on. Deep breaths. Calm down. Tori, it will be okay. I promise. I know you're hurt, but it will be okay. We'll manage. You never know she might come round." Soda said trying to convince both himself and Tori.

"Maybe." Tori said, her breathing was under control and she had calmed down considerably. "I'm sorry. I'm going on stupid. I knew she would be like that… I just hoped… that maybe something might have changed."

"You're not going on stupid. But I want you to promise me you're going to try not to think about it and concentrate on keeping yourself and our baby healthy. Yeah? You could do with a lie down Tori. Come on lets go to mine." Soda suggested. Tori just nodded. She was too upset to argue.

The walk to Soda's was full of apologies.

"Soda I'm so sorry about my mom, she's stuck up. She's not normally like that. She's just brainwashed. She, she's changed. I'm sorry. But it doesn't matter what she thinks. She never has to see this baby. She won't have anything to do with it." Tori was embarrassed. Her mother had mocked and insulted Sodapop, and disowned her.

"Tori, forget about it. Yeah, she shouldn't have said it, but it's over and done with. I don't care about her, I care about you. About us, and our baby. That's all that matters now. Please don't think about it." Soda put his arm around Tori and kissed her on the head.

The weeks passed and the months came faster. Tori was four month pregnant by now. Social services had come up with a furnished flat on an estate near the DX. Tori had been living there a few days now, and was beginning to feel really happy. Sodapop had stopped there each night, and the gang had all been round. It was like a new start. Soon, Soda would be moving in, and they would be a proper little family. Tori just hoped nothing else would spoil it.

"Soda, you okay?" Darry asked as Soda began packing his things, to take to Tori's flat.

"Yeah, I just guess I'm getting cold feet. It will be weird, not living here. Not living with you guys. I just keep thinking about when Tori told her mom. I wonder what mom and dad would have said. I wonder if they would have stood by me. It's going to be strange; this kids not going to have any grandparents. Darry, what if I'm making a mistake?" Soda asked.

"Soda, only time will tell. I'm sure you've made the right decision. Don't worry about it. And in regards to mom and dad, Sodapop, you know they would have stood by you. It was an accident. And mom loved kids. They might have been a bit disappointed, but just because you're still young, just the way I was a bit disappointed. But once it sunk in, I know they would have been happy. Soda, you know there will always be a bed here and a roof over your head if you ever need or want it. And if you ever need any help, financially or anything else, just ask, I'll do my best. You know that little man." Darry smiled at his younger brother. "Geez Soda, your child's gonna have the best two uncles ever. You know, Ponyboy's dead excited."

"Yeah, I know. Wish I were as excited as him! Guess I can't stop worrying, that's all." Soda sighed as he packed. Was he really making the right decision?

Soda moved into Tori's flat and as the weeks crept past the pair became inseparable. Soda started to see less and less of Steve and the guys. He was working more and his schoolwork was slipping. The stress had begun to build up on him, and as the days passed he became less and less happy. Tori had also got a part time job in a shop, just so they could get a little extra money.

"Sodapop, you fancy doing something tonight? After work?" Steve asked his friend, as they worked on a car.

"I don't know. I'm a bit tired." Soda said, as he yawned and put down a wrench.

"You're always tired. Don't you think it's about time you had a night off being a dad-to-be. Soda, you've changed. It's been over two weeks since I saw you outside of work. It's like were not even friends anymore." Steve explained attempting to control his temper. He and Soda had been friends forever. How could a girl and a baby change everything? Steve had been there for Soda through everything, he had been the best friend he could be. Why was Soda trying to push him out?

"We are friends. I don't think you get it. I'm going to be a dad. I just want the best for Tori and my kid. I didn't know you felt like that. We will do something tonight then." Soda sighed. He had already told Tori he would cook her a meal tonight, for when she got in from work. He guessed he would just leave a note instead.

"Yeah that would be good. Don't worry; about Tori and your child, you will all be fine. Don't worry." Steve smiled. After tonight, Steve thought, he wouldn't see Soda for another couple of weeks, so he best make the most of it.

After work Soda went back to the flat to get changed. It was empty, and for some reason he felt guilty. He walked past the spare room, which had been converted into a nursery for his baby. It was a light and airy room with pastel colours on the walls. Inside was a pine cot. It had been Ponyboy's, when he was younger, but Darry and Pony said they could have it. Soda paused and stared into the empty room. Why did he feel guilty? It's not as if he was doing anything wrong. He was only spending time with his best friend. Tori still saw Kirsten regularly, and in fact Tori saw everyone regularly. But Soda worked too much to see anyone. Soda got changed and wrote a note; "Tori, hey, I know I said I would cook you a meal, but something's come up. Steve's feeling a bit down. He's complaining because he hasn't seen me. I wont be in late. Relax. Love you. Soda x" He left it on the settee, and left to meet Steve.

"Where we going?" Soda said as Steve walked towards him.

"Nowhere in particular. Were just going to Buck's for a while. Dally's invited us, he wants you to go, since he heard you've been allowed out!" Steve laughed. "He's been getting stalked you know. Off Shelly. Well he thinks it's her. Been getting dodgy phone calls, the lot."

"Right. Do we have to go to Buck's, could we not just go to The Dingo and grab something to eat?" Soda asked reluctantly.

"See you have changed." Steve stopped and looked at Soda, "There is no way the old Sodapop Curtis would turn down an invite to Buck's. You seem sad all the time now, Soda. Not your usual self, not your happy-go-lucky self. It's not right. No ones seem your award-winning smile for weeks. What's up?"

"I don't know. I am happy, some of the time. Like when we go to the hospital, and I know everything's okay. Steve, I don't know if I'm doing the right thing. I'm shit scared. I really am. I don't think I'll be a good dad. At the minute I cant even be a good friend. Tori's great, she really is, and I know that if she wasn't pregnant I wouldn't be thinking like this, but I don't know if it's going to work. I don't know if everything will be okay. Every morning I'm waking up to the same thing. School. Work. Sleep. That's all I ever do now. I used to have fun. Then what's it gonna be like when my baby's born? I'll get even less sleep! We wont have any money. And… I just don't know Steve." Soda's eyes started to fill up as he spilled his worries and fears to Steve.

"Hey, Soda, we don't have to go to Buck's. Shoot, I've been so ignorant. I thought you two were getting on just fine. You know if you don't feel happy you could talk to Tori, she would understand. She said at the beginning if you didn't want to be apart of it. If you didn't want to be with her, she would understand." Steve recalled. He smiled, even though he knew he shouldn't, deep down he didn't want Soda to be apart of it all, he missed him, and since he found out about this baby, he was spending less and less time with Steve. Maybe it was a bit of a selfish thing to think, but to Steve, it seemed like all Soda cared about was Tori and this darn baby.

"Yeah Steve, I know. I love Tori, I really do. But I can't handle it. I really can't. I'm too young. I want to be apart of my child's life. I need to be. But I don't think Tori and me are gonna last much longer. I keep shouting at her, and being a dick. I don't mean to, but I get so stressed. If I keep upsetting her like this, she, she wont want me to be part of the kids life." Soda explained.

"Why don't you tell Tori, you need a bit of time for yourself, and go and stop at home for a bit. It might help." Steve suggested.

"Maybe. We keep arguing. Like, the other day, she said, she was sure she felt it kicking or something, I told her, I didn't care. But I do. I was just cranky I was trying to get to sleep, and I couldn't because she kept talking. What am I gonna do?" Soda looked up to Steve. He shouldn't really expect Steve to answer all his problems, but at the moment he felt so alone.

"Right. This is the plan; you are going to talk to Tori, either when you get in or in the morning. Then we will talk about it from then. But as for tonight, you are going to forget about all your responsibilities and have fun! Like we used to. Okay?" Steve instructed.

"Yeah okay." Soda smiled, Steve always made him feel better, even though it seemed he always has his own interests at heart. "Come on then, we going to Buck's?"

Hours later, and the drinks were flowing at Buck Merrill's house. This small gathering lasted until late the next morning, when Soda and Steve staggered their way home. Soda was in high spirits and realised how much he actually missed life without any responsibilities.

It was six thirty am when Soda staggered up the stairs to the flat. He rang the doorbell repetitively. Tori opened the door. The look of concern on her face soon faded when she realised Soda was absolutely ripped.

"You're drunk? Where have you been?" Tori asked, as Soda fell through the door. He ignored her questions and ran for the bathroom. He was sick. Tori followed him through. "You okay? I guess you've had too much to drink." She laughed.

"For fuck sake! I can't even go to the toilet without you following me, just piss off and leave me alone!" Soda shouted. Tori's face dropped she looked scared.

"Shoot, I'm sorry, I, I was just worried about you. You said you wouldn't be in late, and you didn't call… I was just worried." Tori stuttered.

"Yeah well, you won't need to be for much longer. I can't take this, Tori. I can't. You, the baby. All of it." Soda shouted.

"What? What do you mean?" Tori's voice became shaky and her mouth was open. She could feel everything was about to fall down on her.

" I don't know. I don't know if I want this. I don't think were gonna be okay. And I don't think I want to be with you."

"Fine, you don't have to. I never asked you to stay with me. I never asked you once to be apart of this baby's life." Tori tried to fight back the tears and stay calm but she couldn't. She started to cry. Why was Soda being like this? Sure things hadn't been brilliant, but they never expected it to.

"I'm sorry but I can't do it anymore." Soda got his wallet and walked out leaving Tori heartbroken and alone.

He needed somewhere to cool off, somewhere to stay, so he went home. He started to bang on the door. Two-Bit answered.

"Hey pal. Do you know what time it is?" Two-Bit asked rubbing his eyes.

"Yeah. I do. It's Saturday so I don't give a fuck if you were sleeping, maybe you should find somewhere else to sleep." Soda said as he pushed passed Two-Bit.

"You're drunk aren't you? Shoot, why you here so early?" Two-Bit asked shutting the door.

"It's my house. And me and Tori just finished." Soda said pacing the floor.

"What? Why? I thought you guys were happy." Two-Bit woke up, his eyes were wide open. He wondered what had happened.

Darry came down the stairs rubbing his eyes. He spotted Sodapop.

"Shoot, Sodapop, do you know what time it is?" Darry asked pulling on his shirt.

"He's fucked Dar, he's split with Tori." Two-Bit looked at Darry anxious to what was going to happen.

"What's happened Soda. Sit down." Darry said.

"I don't know. I can't take it anymore. I don't want it. At the minute I feel like I don't want her. But I do, but nothing makes sense. I'm sick of been told what I should be doing, what should happen. I had to get out of there."

Darry and Two-Bit stared at Soda.

"I'm sure you guys will work things out." Darry stated. Hoping he was right.

"No. I don't think so. I've screwed it up big time. We're starting to argue loads and she, she I don't know. Darry it's gone. It really is." Soda slurred.

"It's not gone. You're pissed. You can't solve anything in this state. Go to bed, and when you wake up you go to the flat and talk things through. Okay?" Darry instructed. Soda nodded. Darry and Two-Bit watched as Soda fell up the stairs.

"Geez, it must have been some fall out for him to get that pissed." Darry stated.

"I think he was pissed before they fell out." Two-Bit looked around the room.

It was three o'clock before Sodapop emerged. Everyone was out, except Ponyboy.

"Hey sleepy head." Pony laughed as Soda walked downstairs. "Must have been some night, huh, if you couldn't even find your way to the flat." Ponyboy giggled.

"Not really. Went to Buck's. Got pissed. Finished with Tori, came here. That's about it really." Soda explained rubbing his head. "But you know what the weird thing is, I can't even remember what was said between me and Tori, yet I know that it's over."

"No. You can't be!" Pony exclaimed in astonishment. "You have to get back together. What about the baby?"

"Yeah I know. But we are finished." Soda sighed. "Guess I'm gonna have to go around there and see what I said."

"Yeah. I guess. It can't be good though. You always say stupid things when you're pissed." Pony looked at Soda. He had always admired his older brother, he was one of those guys who could cheer anyone up, he always made everyone smile, and here he was, sad himself. Pony didn't know what to do.

"I know. I hope I didn't say anything too bad." Soda grabbed a bottle of apple juice and headed for the door. "Wish me luck Pony."

"Good luck."