Soda's POV

"Soda?" Ponyboy was standing in the doorway of Brianna's room watching as I got her dressed. He could have gone out to run errands with Darry, but chose not to. Now, he stood there watching me as I buttoned the shirt I had put on my daughter.

"What is it?" I asked absently.

"It's a nice fall day. A good day to go to the park." Pony said still watching me.

I looked at him. Thinking that he was asking if he could go to the park. Which is crazy since he knows he doesn't have to ask. He could have just left. But then I realized that he was suggesting that I bring Brianna to the park. And it was a nice fall day. But for a baby, it might have been a little on the cold side.

"I don't know, Pony." I said slowly as I pick up Brianna and started to walk out of the room. I stopped where he stood, leaning against the door frame. "It might be a little cold for her to be outside for very long. And since Darry has the truck, I'd have to walk there."

"So, Two-Bit's mom gave you a little coat for her to wear. And you can also wrap her in a blanket." Pony said "I know you don't want to stay here all day."

I had to agree. Even though going out required putting on shoes, I had to admit that it would be fun to take Brianna to the park. "Okay, okay. I'll take Brianna to the park. But only if you come, too."

Pony grinned and nodded.

"Hey, where is everyone?" Two-Bit's voice called from the front porch.

Pony and I went to the living room where Two-Bit stood wearing a faded Mickey Mouse sweat shirt.

"You might as well come with us since you're here." I said handing Brianna to Ponyboy so I could get her coat, a blanket, and anyhting else I might need for a trip to the park.

"Yeah." Pony agreed as he tried to get Brianna to stand. "We're going to take Brianna to the park."

"Sounds good to me." Two-Bit said. He took Brianna from Pony and started to play 'So Big' with her.

An hour later we were at the park. Normally, Steve would have joined us, but he had to work. Which was why we were going out that night to hunt some action. As we walked to a spot under some trrees, I noticed that Pony closed his eyes and avoided looking at the fountain. It was in that fountain that some socs had almost drowned him almost a year earlier.

"Are you okay, kid?" Two-Bit asked.

"Yeah." Pony said. "Just get a little spooked at times. I can't believe it's been a year since Johnny and Dally passed. It doesn't seem like it."

I felt a few tears come to my eyes as I laid the blanket on the ground, took Brianna out of her sroller and sat her down on the blanket. We all missed Johnny and Dally. They had been our friends and losing them had been like losing mom and dad all over again.

"I'm going to talk to those girls over there." Two-Bit announced walking toward some girls who were sitting on a park bench not too far from where we were.

"I think I'll go sit on the swings for a bit. I'll be back in a liitle while." Pony told me before heading off for the swing set.

I sighed and pulled Brianna onto my lap. "Well, kiddo, I guess it's just us."

Brianna just watched as a leaf swirled around us from the tree we were sitting under. She tried to grab for it but couldn't reach it. Then, she giggled slapping her hands on her knees.

She looked around, taking everything around her. I had taken her to the park over the summer, but with the leaves changing color, it was a new experience for her.

I grabbed a leaf that had found it's way to the blanket and handed it to Brianna. "See Brianna? This is a leaf."

She sat there examining the leaf moving it from one hand to the other. Then she tried shaking it like a rattle. When it didn't make noise, she put it in her mouth.

"No, that's not food." I told her as I gently took the leaf out of her mouth. "Leaves are icky. You don't want to eat them."

Brianna just looked at me and grinned.

I reached into my old back pack and took out a few toys that I had brought with. I always keep the back pack with me when I took Brianna out. It's what I use as her diaper bag. And it works just fine.

"See, daddy brought some toys for you to play with." I told her as I handed her a rattle.

Brianna giggled and shook the rattle. She looked at the blocks I had brought with. I tried to show her how to build a small tower, but she just took a block and tried putting it in her mouth. This time, I didn't stop her. She puts a lot of things in her mouth now. Anything she can hold ends up in her mouth. I try to keep any small objects out of her reach.

"Hey, kid, what do you have there?" Two-Bit dropped down on the blanket and took a block. "Is this a block?"

Brianna just wrinkled her nose at him. But, then she laughed. She laughs at almost anything. Of course, Two-Bit always has someone laughing. It's just with Brianna, he doesn't have to try as much.

"Is Pony coming?" I asked. "We should get going soon."

Two-Bit looked across the park. "Yeah, it looks like he's heading this way. And taking the long way, too."

I sighed and handed Brianna to him. "Here, hold her while I put this stuff away. By the time Pony gets here, it'll be time to go back to our place."

We got back to my place just in time for a late lunch.

"Where were you?" Darry asked as I removed Brianna's coat.

"We went to the park for a while." I told him.

Darry nodded. "I see. I was kind of surprised to come home to an empty house. I was sure you and Brianna would be here."

I grinned. "Pony though it would be nice to go to the park. And he was right. Brianna enjoyed watching the leaves fall."

Darry just nodded and grinned. "What time are you leaving tonight?"

"Probably around four. That's when Steve gets off of work. And I should be back between nine and ten." I told him. "Are you sure you don't mind watching Brianna?"

"Pony and I will be fine. Besides, she's a good baby. We'll have a good time." Darry replied and I wondered if he really meant that Pony would have a good time. Pony enjoys watching Brianna. Darry on the other hand, even though he adores my daughter, has never been into the baby-sitting thing. If it were just me and him, he probably would have said no to watching her. I think he's afraid she'll break or something if he watches her for more than fifteen minutes at a time.

I gave Darry a mischievious grin as I picked up Brianna. I carried her over to him, then, sat her on his lap. "Keep uncle Darry company while daddy eats lunch."

Darry looked down at her and just when I thought he was going to hand her back to me or try to give her to Pony, he put an arm around her and showed her the sports page of the paper. Maybe he would be okay with her after all.