One Step At A Time

Summary: When he was only two, a car accident took his leg, and his mother. Now, Ponyboy must learn to deal with life as a fourteen year old with only one leg. With the help six brothers and dad, he's just going to have to take it one step at a time. (Mr. Curtis is alive!)

Disclaimer: No, silly, I never have nor will I ever own The Outsiders. S.E. Hinton owns The Outsiders. *sighs* :( I simply borrow them for my own creative enjoyment purposes.

Guest: I smiled so much when I read your review! I'm glad I got to show some brotherly love. And I will make sure Dallas is included in one of the next few chapters! Thank you so much for reviewing. :)

White collar black wolf: Thank you so much for always sending in a review, and being so quick. They are MUCH appreciated.

Kas3y: Thank you for your idea! I will do my best to fit it in, it's a lovely idea, but I just want to do to later because I have involved the Socs a lot lately. Thank you so much for your review!

HappierThanMost: I'm so glad that you enjoyed the last chapter. Thank you so much for your kind reviews!

Amanda (Guest): You are so welcome, thank you for suggesting it! I'm so happy you enjoyed the chapter, thank you so much for reviewing as well!

Chapter 8: Newly Seventeen

~ Saturday, October 8, 1966 ~

Sodapop jerked awake at the sound of singing (more like screeching in an off-key, off-tempo tune, but Soda was willing to give the benefit of the doubt and call it singing). He opened his eyes to find his little brother sitting on his stomach, his fingers poised and ready to pounce with their building attack, while his older brother stood in the corner of the bedroom, his pale blue eyes twinkling with a mischievous gaze.

"...Happy birthday to you," his family finished, their voice bursting with happiness as Ponyboy's higher-pitched voice mixes with Darry and his father's deep and husky voice.

As they finished, Sodapop was suddenly assaulted with violent tickling. He choked on his own laugh, his body desperately trying to wiggle away from the torture. It was all in vain, however, because the attack didn't cease until his dad and brothers got bored with the torture they were inflicting. Ponyboy rolled off of Sodapop, lazily flipping back down on his pillow next to his older brother. He then turned to face him, a carefree smile lighting up his face.

"Come on, lets go get some food," Soda suggested. The four boys happily jumped up and raced into the kitchen, where a stack of freshly made pancakes sat on the counter top. Of course, they were chocolate chip pancakes, Sodapop's favorite. They were a rare, but delicious delicacy in the Curtis household. Sodapop claimed three to begin with and soaked them in syrup to the point where when he picked up a piece with his fork it could barely hold itself together due to the amount of syrup that had soaked into the piece, which was just the way Soda liked it.

He knew right then it was going to be a great day, and he was excited to spend it with his family.

"Hello, Curtis family!" Two-Bit hollered as he flung open the screen door, his husky voice ringing throughout the tiny house. Two-Bit entered the kitchen, followed by the rest of the gang that Two-Bit had somehow wrangled up before he came over. Sodapop was wished happy birthday times four to which he grinned at.

"Thanks, guys."

Mr. Curtis interruption the younger boy's conversation to offer breakfast, to which Steve and Dally excepted while Two-Bit assured him he had already eaten, and Johnny wordlessly shook his head.

After eating their breakfast and playing a few rounds of poker, (Mr. Curtis won two of five games) it was decided that it was time to open presents. Johnny sat in the living room with his back against the wall while Dally lazily sprawled out on the floor, with Steve and Sodapop on the couch. Darrel took his place on his chair with the family camera in hand, while Ponyboy sat at his father's feet.

"You've got to be kidding me," was the first thing Sodapop said when he opened up Steve's present, laughing. Rolled up in familiar blue and green wrapping paper, (it had been sitting on a shelf across from the register for a solid three months) to find two "gentlemen's magazines" and a couple of condoms.

"Happy birthday, idiot."

Soda slugged his best friend, laughing, but he was smiling just the same. Steve chuckled, shrugging his shoulders. Soda set the present aside, expecting nothing less from his best friend.

"After you open it, Soda, I'm going to have to explain a little," Darrel informed his son as Sodapop picked up his present next. Sodapop nodded, slicing open the box with a nearby pair of scissors. Inside was an old watch, looking to be from around the 1920's.

"It's from your Uncle Patrick. He left each of you boys something, and so I figured I would give you yours this year," Darrel said. Sodapop's grin was humongous as he inspected the watch intently, his brown eyes sparkling with curiosity. After he finished and thanked his dad, he picked up red next person's present, a soft smile still present on his face.

"Johnny and I went in on your present together," Dally explained.

"Thanks, Johnnycake. Thanks, Dal."

Johnny smiled shyly and Dally just nodded before Sodapop began opening his present, tearing through the newspaper wrapping. As the present opening progressed Soda got continuously more anxious to eat cake, so the present opening began to get more and more messy and the wrapping began getting torn into more and more pieces. But by the end of it, Soda had a new football from Darry, a butterfly knife from Johnny and Dally, and a new leather wallet that Soda had been eyeing from Two-Bit. Lastly, Sodapop carefully opened up Ponyboy's. The younger Curtis looked embarrassed as Sodapop handled the box's contents.

"I know it's not much...and I wasn't really sure-"

"I love it, Ponyboy," Sodapop breathed, meaning every ounce of what he said. Wrapped inside the wrapping was a brand new wrench, the kind that Soda had been hoping for since he started working at the DX. And underneath the wrench was a notepad, but not just any notepad. At the bottom of every page was a calligraphy of Soda's name, looking extremely professional. He didn't know how his little brother had afforded all of the stuff, the wrench alone must have cost him a fortune.

"I know you ain't goin' to school no more, but I thought you could use the notepad when you opened up your own shop," Pony explained quietly. Sodapop grinned, throwing an arm around his little brother to give him a hug.

"Thanks, kiddo."

Sodapop was right; it had been a great day. That night, Sodapop fell asleep with a smile on his face.

A/N: Thank you so much to HappierThanMost for her help on this chapter. She is my savior, and also one of the most talented, but humble writers on this site. Thank you a billions, sweetheart. You rock girl, seriously.

P.S. Th next chapter should be up around either tomorrow or Wednesday. :)

Stay Gold,

~ Alee XxX