Ponyboy's POV

When Soda got home from work, I was sitting on the couch with Brianna and reading her a story. Brianna would look at the pictures. Then she would look up at me and smile. She has Soda's smile. So, naturally, I had to grin back at her.

"Hey, did the mail come yet?" Soda asked as he took off his shoes and headed for the kitchen for a glass of chocolate milk.

"Yeah, it's on the table." I called out as I turned the page and went back to reading.

A few minutes later, Soda sat down next to me on the couch and listened as I continued to read the story to Brianna. Personally, I almost think that he likes looking at the pictures more than Brianna does. He never could stay interested in the words. Even if it was a short story.

"That was good, Pony." Soda said when I had finished. He took Brianna from me and went to her room where he would play with her until Darry got home and we had to eat dinner. As I got out my homework, I could hear Soda shaking a rattle and talking to his daughter.

Soda's POV

"Did you have fun with uncle Pony today?" I asked Brianna as I handed her the rattle. I usually play with her and talk to her after I get home from work. Before she came into my life, I used to hang out with Steve after work. But you just can't spend every waking moment with your friends when you have a child to take care of.

I do try to do things with Steve. After all, he's my best friend. But I think he misses the time we used to spend together. And it's put some strain on the friendship. I guess it's hard to understand what it's like to be a parent if you don't have kids yourself.

As I thought about Steve and our friendship, I heard a soft knock at the door.

"Come in." I said, thinking it was Pony. He's the only person who knocks on a bedroom door before entering. Everyone else just barges in.

"Hey." It was Steve and like myself, he was still wearing his DX uniform. At first he just stood in the doorway. Then, he joined me and Brianna on the floor. "She's getting so big." He commented.

"Yes." I agreed. "She can hold small objects now. And she's a happy baby. Laughs at almost everthing."

"Like her father?" Steve teased. He reached over to tickle Brianna who responded with a giggle.

"You know, I was just thinking about you when you walked in." I told my friend. "We don't spend time together like we used to."

"Soda, we still see each other." Steve replied.

"Not like we used to." I said.

Steve pulled Brianna onto his lap and sighed. "No, but you have a child. It's not like you're not hanging out with me on purpose."

Brianna just shook her rattle.

"See, even your daughter agrees with me." Steve said.

I grinned. "Okay, but we really should do something. Just the two of us."

Steve grinned too. "I'd like that."

"I'll talk to Darry and Pony tonight to see if one of them can watch Brianna for a few hours tomorrow night." I said as Steve put Brianna back on the floor.

Usually, when you place Brianna somewhere without support, she just lays down. But as soon as Steve let her go, even though neither of us was supporting her, she remained seated.

"Steve, do you see that?" I asked. "Hey, Pony, come here!"

"What is it?" Pony asked when he entered the room.

"Look!" I told him. "Did she do this at all today while you were watching her?"

"No." Pony replied dropping down next to me. "Oh, wow! I can't believe she's sitting all by herself."

"I know." I agreed.

"What's going on?" A voice called from the hall. It was Darry who must have just got home from work. He joined the rest of us in Brianna's room.

"Darry, Brianna is sitting all by herself." I said.

Darry just looked down at Brianna and grinned. "Good job, kiddo." He told her.

Brianna just giggled as she sat on the floor playing with her rattle. I watched her play, knowing that it wouldn't be long before she'd be crawling and getting into everything.