Chapter 14

Pony was devastated to learn about Two-Bit. It was bad enough Johnny was still jumpy from his own attack a few years ago before the whole church accident. Steve was keeping an extra close eye on him, going where ever he went. Even after a few weeks of calm all the guys were still up tight going anywhere by themselves.

"Steve, we have to leave now. I'm going to be late for the appointment." Pony said calling from the living room. Steve walked into the room with his shoes in hand.

"Alright, Alright Ponyboy. I'm coming." Steve said throwing the shoes on the floor and slipping them on. "Are you ready?" Pony only nodded and strolled out the door with Steve in tail.

"Hey babe!" Some guy screamed from across the street. Pony gave him the finger and got into Steve's car. Steve started the car and the made it to the hospital without incident.

*In the Doctor's Office*

"Ponyboy Curtis" The nurse yelled and smiled when Steve helped Pony stand up. She took both into a room telling Pony to sit down and took his blood pressure. A few minutes later the doctor came in smiling.

"Hey Ponyboy, Are you ready to know what your having?" Dr. Hampton asked. Pony nodded enthusiastically.

"Well then let's get going. Lift up your shirt." Pony did as asked and the doctor put the gel on his now bulging stomach. She started the sonogram looking at the picture intensely.

"Well guys looks like you're going to have a beautiful baby girl." Both men looked at each other happy as can be.

"A girl!" Pony exclaimed. Steve leaned down and kissed Pony passionately.

"Is she healthy?" Steve asked.

"Yes, Steve she is a perfectly health looking baby." She said wiping up Pony's stomach.

"Thank you so much Doc." She smiled and nodded. "Absolutely no problem, you both have a good day."

*Later at the Curtis Household*

"Hey babe do you think we should pick up some clothes for the baby?" Steve asked Pony. All the guys were lounging around the room. Soda and Curly were snuggled up on one corner of the couch, Johnny was in Darry's lap dosing in and out, Pony and Steve were on the other end of the couch, and Dally was laying on the floor next to Two-Bit him getting out of the hospital that morning. The doctor's didn't see any reason to keep him longer but he was under direct orders: no sex and to rest a lot. Dally was holding him to that too.

"Yea I guess we could now. It is getting closer. Maybe even a few pink dresses." Pony replied keeping one eye on the gang. This was their way of telling them the sex of the baby. "More importantly we need to come up with a name for the little princess."

"Yea maybe…Clara?" Pony scrunched up his nose and shook his head. By this time they had the attention of the entire room. Pony was smiling looking at Soda and Darry. Both of their faces had lit up at the mention of a little girl. In all truth all the brothers had wanted a little sister to protect. Now they were glad they didn't have one because of all the drama with their parents and the soc's; but that all was going to change there was going to be a little girl in the house.

"Really Pony it's going to be a girl?" Soda asked Pony nodded. Soda crawled out of Curly's arms and leaned down to talk to Pony's stomach.

"Hi princess, you're going to be spoiled rotten by me." Soda said rubbing Pony's tummy. He was rewarded with a small kick. Soda looked up at Pony with tears in his eyes. "Has she ever done that before?"

"Nope, but I hope she it doesn't last it's not the greatest feeling." Pony said perplexed.

"What happened?" Steve asked.

"She kicked the second one went into my kidney though." Pony said relaxing back into Steve. Soda moved Steve's hand to where he had felt the kick.

"Hey Princess why don't you let daddy feel you kick again…. Please for Uncle Soda." A few seconds later both men felt her kick his hand again. Steve smiled and kissed Pony's cheek softly then buried his head in his neck. Pony could feel the tears on his neck and knew that the little princess had successfully wrapped her daddy around her finger with just a little kick.

Within minutes names for a little girl were flying out of everyone's mouth.

"Heather" Darry offered. "Stephanie" was Dally's "Sarah" Darry when Pony shot down Heather. "Alexa" Soda's idea. "Alyssa" also Soda's. "Amanda" Johnny's option as well as "Courtney". "Becky" "Danielle" Curly offered after the rest had been shot down.

"I got a good idea for her name." Two-Bit said. "How about Serenity?" Pony looked at Steve, they both smiled.

"Yea Two-Bit I really like that. What do you think Steve?" Pony asked.

"It's perfect." Two-Bit smiled.

"What are we going to do about all the things we need for the baby?" Pony asked Steve.

"Well I have been saving up for a while, and I think we can handle it. I have been pulling a lot of shifts at the DX. I just hope it will be enough." Steve said.

"How much?" Pony asked curiosity about how much overtime Steve had actually worked.

"Around 600 dollars almost 700." Pony looked surprising at him.

"Wow babe, that's a lot. I think you can calm down on the working." Steve shook his head.

"I want to give our little girl everything I can." Steve said.

"I understand that but you will have to start calming down I am going to need you around here." Steve thought about it but nodded.

Darry picked Johnny up and placed him back down in the chair and nodded to Steve. Steve followed him to the kitchen. Pony could not hear what they were saying but it didn't sound like anyone was angry.

*Kitchen*

"I am really proud of you Steve I didn't honestly think that you could handle this." Darry said.

"By the way Darry you didn't mention the money I was giving you to Pony did you?" Darry shook his head.

"No you said you didn't want him to know just yet but I appreciate it. I have gotten caught up on a lot of things and now the bills don't seem so bad." Soda nodded his head and smiled.

"Well it's the least I can do, I am the reason Pony is eating for two and I am staying here. I should help out but honestly Darry I have you to thank. You pushed me to step up and I like being responsible. I know that if anything happened to Pony I could take care of him. I was thinking of getting a better job though." Darry nodded.

"Maybe I can get you in at the construction company I work for. It's a lot of hard work though." Darry said.

"I can do it. Thank you Darry this could help a lot." Steve said smiling. They both returned to the living room. Pony gave Steve a questioning gaze but Steve just smiled and Pony relaxed.

** As always read and review. Thank you to all that reviewed the last chapter. I was more cautious to keep it in one view instead of bouncing, so let me know if there is any mistakes.**