Disclaimer: I don't own The Outsiders.

Warning: 4 year old Curly.

Cute little Pony/Steve moment for Awesome22

Steve's POV

I love Wednesdays. Mainly because I don't have to work today or go to school. Well I could go but why bother? And someone has to be with Pony. In the case of today someones.

Sodapop was off today too. Darry was also a bit reluctant to let both of us stay with Pony but I wasn't going anywhere and Soda kinda lives here so. . .

I was jolted from my thoughts when I heard someone knocking on the door. I grumbled and put my slice of cake back on my plate and walked to the door in the living room.

"I'll get it!" Soda cheered, rushing over to the door nearly knocking me over in the process. I just grumbled some more and sat on the couch.

Soda grinned and opened the door to reveal Tim Shepard and his younger brother Curly. Oh great, I thought sarcastically, do we have to watch him now too? Pony, I can handle but another kid? I don't think so.

"Hey Tim. Hi Curly." Curly glared at Soda's 'baby talk' towards him. Unlike Pony Curly hated being treated like a kid. But Soda being Soda ignored him and continued to smile and pat Curly's head. He just continued to glare and shook him off, crossing his arms.

"Hey Curtis." Tim nodded then pushed Curly forward. "Can I leave him here today." It wasn't a question it was more like a command.

I sent Soda a pleading look, which he either missed or simply ignored because he smiled wide at Tim and said, "Sure." Great. Just great.

"Nice one Soda," I mumbled to him before going back to the kitchen.

"Hey Pone." I rubbed his head then looked back at Curly then away then turned back in a rush and saw him eating something familiar.

"Woah! That's mine you little-!" Soda rushed over before I could say what I really wanted to say.

He held me back and calmly asked, "What happened?" But his brown eyes held a frantic look. Well I guess an evil looking Curly, a frightened looking Pony, and me looking pissed triggered that.

"He ate my cake! Cake he shouldn't even have!"

"So? Get another piece." Soda tried to reason but I wasn't having it.

"No!"

He sighed. "Why?"

"Because. . ." I trailed off, not having a good excuse.

Soda realized this and let go of me and went into the other room.

Curly stuffed the last of the cake in his mouth then jumped out of his seat and ran into the living room.

Pony must've taken my angered expression as a sad expression because he pushed his bowl of cereal toward me with a smile.

I smiled too. "Thanks kiddo." I ate some of it to make him happy and so my stomach would shut up.

"Ponyboy!" It was Sodapop. I had no idea what he wanted but apparently Pony did cause he jumped out of his seat and ran over to the sink, opened the cabinets under it and hid inside. I raised an eyebrow at his antics then turned to see Soda looking at me confusedly.

"Hey Steve? Where'd Pone go?"

Figuring Pony didn't want me to say anything I just shrugged. "I don't know. Did he go to his room?" Wow. I'm better at this than I thought.

He breathed out a sigh in relief. "I don't know, probably." He turned around and ran back upstairs to Pony's room. I felt a bit bad for leading him on but I at least knew Pony was perfectly fine. I walked over to the cabinet and opened it.

"Hey buddy what're you doing in here?" I crouched down to his level.

"He wants to give me a bath." He stuck his tongue out in disgust.

"Oh. Now I get it." I ruffled his hair and shut the door and stood up straight.

"Steve! He isn't up there!" I heard Soda yell frantically while he ran back to the kitchen. "Get the phone! Call the police! Call Darry! Call Two-Bit! Call Johnny, Dally, anyone!" I looked at my stricken best friend carefully. He wasn't joking.

Pony giggled and I immediately heard his hand clamp over his mouth.

Soda stared at me and caught on. He knew Pony was in the kitchen but he didn't know where. He checked under the table, behind the fridge, and by the sink. No Pony. Soda looked a bit frustrated so I gave him a hint.

"You're close. . ." I didn't even need to say that because Pony hiccuped and Soda opened the cabinet and picked him up.

"Found you," he smirked. "Guess where you're going?"

Pony gulped and hiccuped again. "Bath?"

"It'll be quick. Don't worry." Then Soda took him to the bathroom.

Well I may as well check on Curly. . .

I walked back to the living room and saw him jumping on the couch.

"Hey get down kid!"

"No!" He stuck his tongue out at me and crossed his arms. I silently groaned, Pony better not be like this when he's four. Which reminds me. . . I gotta get him a present for his birthday for next week. I can't believe he's almost four. . . I wonder what Soda and Darry are thinking.

"C'mon kid, please?"

He considered me for a brief moment before shaking his head no. I was pretty sure my eye was twitching right now. Taking care of kids is Soda's thing definitely not mine.

"Why not?"

He just crossed his arms and jumped harder. My patience is running out. . .

"What's going on Steve?" Soda. I could hug him right now.

"Ask him." I gestured to Curly who was now jumping as hard as he could. Hell I was just happy to have a break.

"Oh c'mon kiddo get down from there you're gonna hurt yourself." Soda walked over to him cautiously and lifted him down.

Not too long after did I hear Soda yelp. "Ow!"

I looked back at him and saw that he was sucking on his finger. "What happened to you?"

"He bit me!" It was muffled because of his finger being in his mouth.

"Soda can't we just send the kid somewhere else?" He's getting on my nerves...

"No. As much as I'd like to we can't."

"Why? Where are you going?" I asked a bit frantically when he turned around. I did not want to be left alone with Curly. Where'd he go anyways?

"I gotta get Pony." Then he ran off to the bathroom, thankful to get out of here. Hell I would be too.

I was about to look for Curly when the phone rang. I groaned and walked over to it. If this is something stupid...

"Hello?" I asked pleasantly enough.

"Hey Stevie! Enjoying your day?" Two-Bit. I was sure my eye twitch was back.

"That was you?" I asked incredulously.

"Woah what'd I do?"

"Curly! Did you send him here?" Because if you did.. The threat was lingering on the tip of my tongue.

"Um.. What's that mom?" I rolled my eyes. "Okay! Sorry gotta go Steve." Then I heard the click and put the phone back down.

I walked into the kitchen and saw Curly. I backed away from him slowly and ran into the bathroom, throwing the door open and slammed it shut.

"Steve?" Soda asked confused, in the middle of helping Pony get dressed.

"I can't be alone with that kid Soda!" I plopped down beside him and patted Pony's back. "Thanks for being a good kid Pone."

He looked up at me and beamed. "Is Curly still here?" Pony and Curly are practically best friends. I didn't understand though, they're night and day.

"Regretfully yes." I mumbled.

Soda finished getting Pony's shirt on and tickled his stomach and picked him up. "C'mon Pony let's go find him." Thankfully Pony never acted like Curly. No matter how much they hang out.

I walked out behind Soda, a bit afraid to go near Curly unless Soda's there.

When we got to the kitchen Soda put Pony down and watched him run over to Curly.

"Hey Pony!" Curly smiled. To me that smile meant more trouble ahead to anyone else it was just a cute innocent little four year old smile. I silently moved closer to Soda and whispered,

"What if he turns Pony into another Curly or worse?"

He shook his head and whispered back, "Pony's fine."

My twitch came back yet again when Curly held a slice of cake to me offering it to me. Soda patted my back and grinned at me a bit smug.

"See? He's a good kid." He told me before going further into the kitchen to make something for lunch.

I looked back down at Curly noticing that his smile turned into an evilish smirk.

I sighed "what kid?" He just moved the cake closer to me.

Then I got an idea. "Why don't you guys go play with Pony's blocks?"

Curly stared at me like he thought I was the biggest idiot ever. Thankfully Pony pulled him into the living room.

Bless him.

"Soda are you almost done? I'm starving!" I complained to him.

Even though I couldn't see his face I knew that he was rolling his eyes. I walked over to him to see what he was making. Hot dogs. I didn't know Pony could have that...

"Can he have that?" I asked him while trying to steal one but he slapped my hand away.

"Yeah it just has to be cut for him." he told me like it was the most obvious thing ever.

"You almost done?" I questioned again.

"Yes." he answered carelessly. "Can you get Pony and Curly for me?"

"Why don't you?" I had enough of that kid and its only twelve.

"I'm cooking!" he argued.

"You're finished cooking!" I retorted.

He turned to look at me and sighed. "There's only one way to do this."

I shook my head. I knew what he meant. "No.."

He just continued. "The fair way. Whoever loses has to get Curly."

I groaned. This was never a fair game. I don't know how but he cheats. I just know it. "Fine."

He grinned while I stifled another groan. We balled one of our hands. . .

"Rock, paper, scissors shoot!" When I looked down we were both shocked to see that I won. I smirked, rock never fails.

"Oh would you look at that?" I smirked again as he grimaced. "Here I'll help you out." And with that I went into the living room and lifted Pony up and brought him to the kitchen.

"Go ahead Soda." I nodded at him.

He gave me a pleading look but went in to get the kid.

I smiled smugly and sat down and waited for him to come back. It wasn't long before I heard Soda's new tactic of pleading to Curly about going into the kitchen. Eventually he just quit and came back into the kitchen.

"Soda you were supposed to get him."

"That kids impossible. I can't do it." he shook his head in disbelief. "I give up." And with that he went to finish our lunch.

"So what are we like that kids bit-"

"Steve!" Soda cut me off motioning to Ponyboy. Oops... I forgot about him and I'm holding him! How could I forget?

Soda walked back over to the table and set the cut up pieces of hot dogs in front of Pony who started eating right away.

I just glanced up at Soda in mock disappointment. "Where's mine?"

"You have to get it yourself. What do I look like to you? Your personal servant?"

I shrugged and smirked at him. He rolled his eyes good naturedly and walked to the other room and picked up the phone.

"What're you doing?"

"Calling Tim. Sh." Then he dialed the number and waited for about a minute. I just listened.

"Hey Tim it's Soda... Yes! Can you come get... Why not?... What about Angela? Can't she... But I need to stay... Yeah he's here... Fine! Just give me ten minutes... Yeah whatever... Bye." Then he hung up the phone with a groan and came back over to the table.

"Steve can I use your car?" I gave him a quizzical glance but grabbed the keys to my car and tossed them to him.

"Where're you going?"

"Taking Curly home. Unless you want to do it?" he asked a bit hopefully.

"Nah I'm good man. Oh and could you pick me up some kools on your way back? Thanks."

"Yeah whatever. Pone you need more?" he asked looking at his brother's finished plate.

I put Pony on the seat next to mine and got up, grabbing his plate. "I'll get it for him Soda."

Soda laughed. "You? Helping? Okay who are you and what've you done with Steve?"

"Just go. I can do it." I told him while pushing him out the door and closing it.

He knocked on it, just to spite me, and I opened it. "Yes?"

"Well I kinda need Curly to leave." He tapped his foot impatiently.

"Oh right. Curly!" When he came over I pushed him outside too. "Drive safe!" I slammed the door again.

I rushed back into the kitchen and cut up more hot dogs for Pony and set them in front of him. "Here you go buddy."

"Now who's gonna make mine?" I mumbled to myself. Pony must've heard me because he picked up one of his hot dogs and held it up to my mouth. I smiled and took a bite.

"Thanks kiddo." I ruffled his hair and went to make my own. Once I finished I had about four hot dogs on my plate. Pony's eyes widened as I sat back down beside him. I just grinned at him and dug in.

After another few minutes passed we both finished our lunch and went into the living room. I flipped through channel after channel on the tv while he watched with wide green eyes filled with curiosity as the channels suddenly changed. Soon I became bored and threw the remote on the coffee table and lifted Ponyboy up on the couch with me and put him on my stomach. He shifted around and finally became comfortable. I smiled while watching him, also thankful that no one else was here to see this. They'd never let me hear the end of it. My smile quickly turned into a smirk when I remembered that Pony was extremely ticklish especially.. well.. everywhere. He titled his head at my expression. Still smirking, I raised a finger and poked his ribs. His eyes widened as he tried to squirm away but I held him firm and continued to tickle-attack him.

I cocked my head when he smirked and had a look of mischief on his face. My eyes widened in shock when I felt his fingers digging in my sides. We continued this for a few more minutes before Soda came back in grumbling to himself but when he saw Pony and I he grinned wide.

"Aww Stevie! You're getting soft!"

"Am not!" Pony giggled at our banter and I grinned at Soda who grinned right back and we both started to tickle torture Pony. I grinned to myself.

Maybe I am turning soft..