A/N Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

"If you feel like you need to get out of here, we can, sweetheart. We don't have to stay."

Penny sat with Soda in the ice cream parlor, a partially-finished sundae in front of her, as she stared at the baby carriage parked a few booths over. "No. It's okay. I can't run away every time I see a baby somewhere. It's part of life."

Soda followed Penny's gaze, hearing a soft cry just before the woman beside the carriage picked the baby up and began to rock the child back and forth. "Yeah. I'm just sayin' it's still all right if that's what you want for now."

Penny resumed eating her ice cream, her eyes moving back to Soda, as the scene so reflective of motherhood continued to unfold nearby. "I know. But it's fine. I made my choice, and it's been a month. Our baby is safe and well-cared for, so I can't keep grieving forever."

"Yeah, I just came from seeing my counselor. I told Soda I'd visit Emily once I was done there."

Samuel ushered Steve inside, then glanced down the hall toward Emily's nursery, as he went to the kitchen. "I just got in from work myself. But Emily's awake. Vivian's in with her right now. Is counseling still going well?"

Steve accepted the glass of lemonade Samuel poured for him, immediately taking a few swallows of it. "Um, yeah, I guess so. It helps me to have that time to talk and figure stuff out. Sometimes, Laura can see things I don't. Really, just saying my thoughts out loud makes them feel not as heavy too."

"Of course. That's also been true in my experience." Samuel poured himself a glass of lemonade, using the temporary lull in the conversation to think for a moment. "Forgive me if I'm not respecting the boundaries here, but is Sodapop doing better than he was on Sunday?"

"Oh. Yeah, I think he is. Are you asking that just because of how he was worried, or is there something else?"

"Mostly that, but I felt more, I guess you could say. Emotion is quite visible on him."

"It is. And I wouldn't say you're not respecting the boundaries. You've got every right to ask since Soda's been one to share quite a bit with you. I know he wouldn't mind either."

Samuel started to reply, only to be interrupted when he saw Vivian come out of Emily's nursery, the nearly six-week-old infant in her arms. "Well, here she is now. Did she nap all right, honey?"

Vivian handed Emily over to Samuel, then took an empty bottle over to the sink to wash it. "Yes. Two hours this time. How are you, Steve? I thought I heard your voice from the other room."

Steve replied, though his gaze had shifted to focus on Emily, who was also looking at him. "Um, I'm good. Just came over here to visit."

Samuel led Steve to the living room, where he took a seat on the floor, then put Emily down on the play mat. "Emily, this is Steve. I'm sure you'll be seeing plenty of him. If all goes the way I'm expecting, he'll be your cousin."

Steve sat down beside Emily and touched the baby's small hand, her fingers grasping one of his own. "Now, that is a weird thought. I'd realized you would end up being my uncle if Audrey and my dad get married, but I didn't go any further."

Samuel smiled, as he noticed the way Steve was staring at Emily, knowing the wonder was also on behalf of his best friend. "Would you like to hold her?"

"Huh? Oh. Yeah, sure." Steve awkwardly held out his arms, as Samuel placed the baby in them. "I don't really know what I'm doing, in case you can't already tell."

"Just relax, and make sure you're supporting her head."

Steve looked down at the baby he held, as he felt Samuel's hand on his shoulder, the touch helping him to be more at ease. "Yeah, Emily. I'm looking forward to seeing you a lot. Not that I think you understand anything I'm saying yet."

"She will before we know it. I remember, with Matthew, there were times I realized how much he truly soaked everything up. That starts early."

Steve only barely managed to blink back the tears that had filled his eyes, as he imagined Emily growing into a child, who would be the sponge Samuel described. He thought of how she would develop into a human being with a personality of her very own, both nurture and nature working together to create all she would become. "Yeah. I'm sure it does. I'm so glad she's here."

Samuel moved his hand from Steve's shoulder to the top of Emily's head, smoothing down the little bit of blond hair she had. "She seems to like you."

"Did you think she wouldn't?"

Samuel saw Steve's grin, returning it with one of his own. "No. Babies are great judges of character."

"So she must know I'm good then." Steve looked back down at Emily for a moment, feeling himself beginning to connect with her. "You were talking about respecting boundaries a few minutes ago, and I'm not sure if what I'm about to say does that. But when I look at her, I think of Soda. Just seeing her makes me remember when he told me Penny was pregnant. Not that it's a time I could forget anyway. I couldn't when he was so worried and sad. I know it was confusing for him to be in a place where what he wanted and what was probably best could never match. I told you he wanted me to come visit, but what I didn't say is I wasn't sure about it at first. He asked me not long after you guys brought Emily home, and I was too worried it would hurt him if I did."

Samuel took Emily from Steve, laying her on the play mat before putting some rattles and stuffed toys within her sight and reach.

"Did I say something wrong? I'm sorry if-"

"No, Steve. Of course you didn't say anything wrong. I'm just letting her play since our conversation seems to be getting more in depth."

"Oh. Man, my sensitivity must be hitting a high again."

"Or you're just feeling everything for Sodapop right now. You didn't disrespect any boundaries either, by the way. I expected nothing less than what you were saying. I realize I still haven't known you for a very long time, but I have been around enough to get how close you two are, even if that is such an understatement. You and Sodapop are invested in one another in a way that can't be undone, so of course looking at Emily makes you think of him, and of course that makes you emotional as well. I may not have been here for the start of the history the two of you share, but I can appreciate how far of a reach it has and what it still means now."

Steve looked over at Emily, seeing how calm she was, as she got to remain blissfully unaware of the seriousness that often characterized life. "I have a question though."

"Okay. What is it?"

"When my dad and Audrey get married, do I have to call you Uncle Samuel?"

Samuel laughed, as he got up off the floor, sitting down on the edge of the couch. "No. You don't have to do that. Not unless you want to. As you may have noticed, I haven't gotten to be an uncle yet. The first time is actually right around the corner though. Vivian just found out yesterday that David and Grace are expecting."

"Aw, so you'll have a little one calling you Uncle Samuel. As much as I know my dad and Audrey aren't even technically engaged yet, I think realizing them being married will make us related to Emily is pretty emotional for me too. I mean, I'm glad about it, but it's sort of bittersweet."

Samuel patted the cushion beside him, beckoning Steve over. "Since you're backing up to where this conversation was a minute ago, please come sit with me."

Steve moved from his place on the floor, taking the spot beside Samuel just as the older man once again put a hand on his shoulder. "You want to know why it could be bittersweet, don't you?"

"I think I can make a pretty good guess, actually. You'll be legally related to Emily when Sodapop can't be. You can claim her as your cousin, but he can't claim her as his daughter, regardless of biology."

"Yeah. That sums it up. It feels sort of bad to me, but I like having the connection too. Me and Soda don't need blood or DNA or anything that would make us related. He's my brother without any of that."

"But if you're related to Emily somehow, that gives you a bit more."

"It does. He's her birth father, so it means we'll always have something else in common. I don't want to make too much of it though cause the bond we have is already there. No matter what gets added along the way, the proof is in us."

"I'm fine, Stevie. Don't let me interrupt the day."

Steve closed the Ford's door, then walked over to where Soda sat in the Chevy. "You're not interrupting anything, man. We're both still clocked out."

Soda didn't make a move to get out of the car, as he ducked his head and fought to keep the wobble out of his voice. "Yeah. So you should go punch back in then. I'll come inside in a minute."

Steve went around to the passenger side of the Chevy and got in, not hesitating to join his best friend in what appeared to be a moment of emotion. "We've still got about ten minutes. I hope you haven't been sitting here like this the whole time. You could've come with me."

"And done what? Cried with you instead of by myself?"

"Yeah. Exactly."

"It hasn't been long. I did eat in the break room before I came out here too."

Steve leaned closer to Soda, the proximity letting him get a better look at his best friend's tear-stained face, as he also took his hand. "Every second, remember? I'm not going to stop being here for you."

Soda squeezed Steve's hand, allowing himself that, as he forced back the rest of his tears, resolving to lift the perceived burden from the shoulders of his loved ones. "I know. I remember cause you never let me forget."

"Of course I don't. I'm in it for the long haul, buddy."

"Yeah." But it has to stop here, Soda thought. "I know that too." Cause I can't keep this up either. "Just like I am with you." Except you're doing better. So is she. Yet, I'm still getting nowhere.

"So did you do it, Stevie? Did you go see Emily?"

Steve barely had a chance to get out of the car and begin making his way up the front walk before Soda rushed over to him, the eagerness clear on his best friend's face. "Yeah, buddy. I did. Have you been here waiting for me?"

Soda stayed close to Steve, as the two went up the porch steps, then into the Randles' house. "Yeah. I guess I just got real anxious, so I wanted to be here when you came back."

Steve set his keys and wallet on the counter, then opened the refrigerator. "Good thing I didn't go to your house first then, huh?"

Soda watched Steve reach into the refrigerator, emerging with two canned drinks, one of which he tossed his way. "So how was it?"

Steve popped open his Pepsi, as he closed the refrigerator, then sat down at the table. "Like you were wanting it to, I guess. I held her for a little while. I talked to her too. And to Samuel, of course."

Soda took the chair across from Steve, as he also popped open his drink. "Oh. But what was it like? What was Emily doing?"

"She'd just woke up from a nap and had a bottle that Vivian fed to her. After I held her, she played on the floor with some toys. Well, she looked at them anyway cause Samuel put them close by. She seemed pretty content while I was there."

"Oh."

"What are you looking for here, man? You seem disappointed."

"I ain't disappointed. I guess I just expected to feel somethin' more than I am."

"Which sounds like a disappointment. Look, it was a good visit. I'm glad I saw her, and I might as well tell you I sure felt something when I looked at her. There's no way I couldn't."

"What did you feel?"

"Something nice, buddy. I kept just staring at her. I hardly even know how to hold babies, but I did all right. It was pretty tuff to sit there and reflect, you know? Cause Emily's just this tiny person right now, but she was born for a reason."

"Yeah. So Samuel and Vivian would have a baby to adopt."

"Sure. Not just that though. She was born to be part of everything. To be in the world and have a life. I don't know too much about the way God decides stuff, but I like to think she's part of his plan."

"All right, Dar. I'll see you when you get home."

Darry pulled on his jacket, replying to Soda, as he grabbed his keys that hung from a hook near the front door. "That should be around three or four, little buddy. What do you think you'll be doing today?"

Soda stirred more grape jelly into the eggs he was having for breakfast, as he answered. "Steve and me are going to hang out later, but Penny's comin' over real soon. I ain't sure yet what we'll do." He then started eating again, the expression on Darry's face making him pause a second later, his fork in mid-air. "Aw, don't look at me like that, Darry. She just had a baby barely five weeks ago. We're not doin' anything you're thinkin.' It's too soon."

"Okay. I just can't help that it crossed my mind. Especially not when I know how you feel about her. Plus, I understand how that kind of intimacy-"

Pony's voice interrupted Darry's thought, as the freshly-showered teen came out of the bathroom. "Aw, man, what kind of conversation did I just walk into?"

Soda was the first to reply, as he grinned at the shade of red on Pony's face. "Our big brother's teachin' me what he knows about women."

"Oh. Well, I think I got enough from that sex talk you gave me last week."

Darry's mouth opened, as he looked down at his watch, seeing that he was on the edge of being late. "I've really gotta go now, you two. Soda, tell Penny I said hello, and Pone, whatever he told you last week, I'm inclined to hope you listen to him."

"So what do you think, man? Do you feel all right about it?"

Soda remained in the chair across from Steve's, his best friend's question one he had been anticipating. "Yeah. I'm glad you saw her. I'm glad your dad did too. I like knowin' she's got people in her life."

Steve waited, as he took a swallow of his Pepsi, uncertain whether or not Soda needed to go any further. "Me too. Cause, honestly, I wasn't going to tell you this part, but I couldn't look at Emily without thinking about you. It made me get kind of teary. So Samuel and me had a bit of a heart-to-heart."

"Why weren't you going to tell me that part? It ain't like I couldn't have guessed that lookin' at her would make you think about me. She is my kid."

"I just wanted to be careful since I know this with the adoption and all is still hurting you. But, at the same time, I'm really sensing that you need to know me visiting with Emily meant something. I'd look at her and think of how she's going to grow into this mix of what comes from you and Penny being her birth parents and what comes from Vivian and Samuel raising her."

"She's got a lot going for her, huh?"

"You bet she does, buddy. So I'm not trying to create a sappy moment, but are you feeling anything like what you expected now? I could be imagining it, but you seem like you're kind of numb. Or maybe what I'm seeing is just you trying to process things. I can't really be sure, so I need to say that it's okay to let yourself feel whatever's there. I don't want you to try shoving it inside or handling it by yourself. I'm here for you, even if it does make me sound like a broken record."

"I think you are tryin' to create a sappy moment, Stevie. But that's all right. My heart could sure use it. I thought I'd be relieved or happy about you seein' Emily, but I'm honestly not feelin' much of anything. I am glad, like I said, and it's not hurtin' me. There's nothin' else besides that though. It's weird cause I'm used to feelin' stuff so deep, but this time, it almost seems like I can't."

"I'm definitely not ready for anything like that yet. Physically or emotionally."

Soda wrapped his arm around Penny to draw her closer, as the couple cuddled on the Curtis' couch, the TV playing in the background. "I figured as much. We sure don't have to do it any time soon. To be honest, I don't think I'm ready either. Maybe that sounds strange comin' from a guy, but it's true."

Penny laid her head on Soda's chest, fully immersed in the moment that only included her and this man she loved. "I don't think it's strange. You haven't gone through what I have physically. But, emotionally, it's been a lot for you, so that's a kind of recovery too."

"Yeah. It is." Soda wrapped his other arm around Penny, soaking in the time he could spend just holding her. "But I'll be ready whenever you are. I always want the chance to show you how much I love you."

"I don't think you need sex for that, Sodapop. You're doing it right now. You do it all the time by listening and supporting me. I can feel your love every time we're together."

"I can feel yours too." Soda pressed his lips to the top of Penny's head, finding comfort in the most basic intimacy that existed. "And it's something I know I never want to lose."

"It's okay if you can't, man. Don't try to force it."

Soda had moved from the table to the nearest window, Steve's hand clutching his shoulder. "But I have to. If I don't, it'll get worse."

Steve could hardly quench his building anxiety, as he rested his head against Soda's. "It's all right if you're just not feeling a lot. What I was saying a minute ago didn't mean you need to panic if that's how it is right now. Give yourself some time, and let your head sort everything out. You've said what you can, so it's fine if there's nothing else."

Soda's eyes stared out the window, his chest barely rising and falling, as his hand moved up to touch Steve's. "But there is. I know there's more. There has to be. We've been sittin' here and talkin' about my baby."

"Yeah. We have. But maybe you're not needing to have a big reaction. That's not the same as keeping feelings inside and letting them get worse. Maybe you're okay because you've been so open already. Maybe you're in a place where it's more than all right for you to relax and let them be."