A/N: If there's anyone else who would like to help me finish editing and proofing my novel manuscript, please send me a PM!:) I'd love more feedback!

"Hey, Curtises! What's for breakfast on this lovely morning?"

Soda shuffled into the kitchen to find TwoBit raiding the refrigerator. "I think we're stickin' with cereal today, man. Unless you plan to be the one cookin'."

TwoBit closed the refrigerator with a huff as he mocked offense. "Me? Cook? Do I look like I belong in a kitchen?"

Soda laughed, giving his friend's shoulder a shove, as he reached for the box of Captain Crunch. "Yep. You look just like Chef Boyardee."

"That sounds good. Ya'll got any?"

"You can check."

TwoBit searched the cabinet above the stove, finding only cans of soup and fruit. "Nope. Better add it to the shopping list. So where's Darry and Pony at?"

"Pony went out for a run, and Darry's gettin' ready for a date with Maryanne."

"A date? This early?"

"Yeah. She's gotta go to work later this afternoon. I have a date with Penny tonight too. Well, I guess it's a date anyway. We've got some stuff to talk about."

"Ooh, I bet you'll be doing a lot more than just talkin'."

"Aw, shut up. We ain't like that lately. I went to visit Emily yesterday."

"You're allowed now?"

"Yeah. It's been three months since the adoption became official."

"Wow. So how was it seeing her?"

"I haven't even come up with any great words for it yet. It's like my brain is still tryin' to process it."

"Process it? That makes you sound like you're a machine or somethin'."

"I think our brains are kind of like that. I mean, they take stuff in and figure it out."

"Not mine. It's always confused. My process must be broken."

"Naw. I'm sure it ain't broken, TwoBit. You think of plenty of things. Mine are probably just more emotional."

"Are you sayin' I'm not emotional, Sodapop Curtis? I'll have you know, my heart beats for feelings and everything that comes along with them."

"No, of course I'm not sayin' that. I'm just thinkin' I've got more emotion inside than almost anybody else, and the feelings get a lot bigger. So it's like I need somethin' to straighten them out before they have a chance to get too tangled up."

"Which is where your talks with Steve-O come in, right?"

"Yeah. Pretty much. Sometimes, he knows what I need even when I don't."

"That makes sense. Ya'll know each other inside and out, and I guess that's just part of the territory."

"What territory?"

"Well, it's not like I'm a fly on the wall during your conversations or anything ,but I do have some idea of the heavy stuff you talk about. And that has to mean you get to know each other in a real deep way."

"Yeah. We do. When we talk, we go in the deepest places there are, and we keep diggin' till all the darkness is gone and everything shines."

"That's a pretty good metaphor, man. I like it."

Soda turned to face Steve as he held up two shirts, one blue with thin silver stripes and the other a deep red. "It was really TwoBit who said it. I just helped it make sense. Which one should I wear tonight?"

Steve was quick to make a choice, pointing to the blue shirt. "That one. I can't even see you in red, buddy. Not unless it's plaid or something like that."

"Yeah. I think you're right." Soda put the red shirt back in his closet, hanging it up along with the others Darry had given him. "Blue's always a good color for me. No matter what's going on."

"Of course. Not like Penny could ever think you looked bad anyway though."

"She always looks amazing herself. I got real lucky. Well, not just 'cause of her looks. I didn't mean for it to sound like that."

"I knew what you meant. You got lucky all around. Penny's a great woman."

"She is. The best."

"Which must mean you found a match since you're a great guy, the best one I know."

"You always think so highly of me, Stevie."

"Of course I do. It's the truth, and I think the truth is something you need plenty of right now."

"You always have lots of it too. You always talk to me with your heart."

"And that's all you have to do with Penny tonight, buddy. Talk to her with your heart, and there's no way you can go wrong."

"Honeymoon? We haven't even set a date yet, Nicholas."

"That doesn't mean we can't think a little further ahead. Besides, it's part of the wedding planning. Where would you like to go?"

"I don't know. But I think something simple would be the most ideal. Maybe the beach?"

"Since we're getting married in the summer time, that should be perfect. We can take long romantic walks and just relax."

"And have picnics in the sand. Swim in the water. I haven't been to the beach in a rather long time."

"I haven't either, but I sure can't wait to enjoy it with you."

"She's already the sweetest baby, Penny. She really took to me too. Like she was comfortable in my arms, even though this was the first time I've seen her since she was born. It was like we'd never been apart."

Penny wore jeans and a lavender shirt, her hand linked with Soda's as the couple strolled through the park. "So it sounds like the timing was just right for you then."

Soda's eyes glanced over at Penny as he contemplated what his next words should be. "Yeah. It was. I couldn't have asked for a better moment."

"But wasn't it hard to give her back after you held her? Wasn't it hard to leave?"

"It actually wasn't. 'Cause I kind of felt like I was on this high, you know? And I couldn't feel anything else. Nothin' that would hurt could get through."

"I don't think I could ever be like that. In fact, I know I couldn't. Every time I think of her, an ache goes through me. It's still too fresh."

"Of course it is. It's only been a few months. But I want you to know she's doin' great, and she's cared for just like we hoped she would be."

"Do you think you'll see her again soon?"

"I mean, I'll probably see her at church tomorrow, but I don't know when I'll go over to visit again."

"Whenever I do decide I'm ready, I think I'd like just my parents to come with me. The idea of the two of us seeing her together bothers me."

"It does? Why?"

"Because it's like putting together the family that couldn't happen. I think it also reminds me of being in the hospital after giving birth, and I don't want to relive those memories. As incredible as it felt to look at Emily and realize I'd brought a life into the world, it's still painful to remember."

"And havin' both of us there with her at the same time would be a lot like when we saw her together then. I understand what you mean, and I won't try to visit when you do."

"I really believe we should keep our relationships with Emily as separate as possible too. I know they will be anyway since you have a different idea of how close you'd like to be, but I think it's still worth talking about because I don't want her to see us as a unit."

"A unit? Why?"

"Because that's how children see parents. We're her birth parents, but I think she should see us as two individual people."

"Oh. I guess that makes sense."

"I'm nervous about leaving for school. I know that's not till the end of August, but it feels like that time is coming fast."

"What are you nervous about? I know you'll do great in college, and it's what you've always wanted."

"It is. But I'm worried about being so far away from Emily. Even though I didn't keep her, it almost feels wrong to not be nearby. When I was pregnant, I kept picturing giving birth, then following my dreams. Like it could be that simple. But maybe it isn't. Because, even though I'm not her mom, I still had a baby. I have a child, and that makes me a different person inside."

"I'll write and call and keep you updated on everything with her. I'm sure Samuel and Vivian will even send you pictures too. It won't feel like you're too far away."

"I love that about you."

"What?"

"How you always want to make things better."

"Oh. Well, I guess it's in my nature 'cause I love you, and no matter how much this hurts for me sometimes, I still can't imagine how it feels to be in your shoes."

"I'm getting married, Son."

Steve stood nearby, already dressed for church, as Nicholas was putting a tie around his neck. "Yeah. That's what happens when you propose and get engaged."

Nicholas created a knot, looping the tie through. "Yes. But I keep thinking about what marriage means."

"What does it mean?"

"That I'm joining myself to somebody else. We'll be legally bound together. Our lives will become one."

"Yeah. Holy matrimony, as they call it."

Nicholas tightened the knot on his tie, feeling the pressure at the collar of his shirt as he made it secure. "Right. Legal and spiritual. We'll be partners and spouses in every sense there is. Husband and wife."

"Is that just now hitting you or something? You gave it so much thought before you proposed that I was sure you'd been through this already."

"I have. I've thought about everything. Maybe even too much."

Steve went closer to Nicholas, putting his hands over his dad's as they still gripped the tie. "So what then? Is something wrong?"

"No. Nothing's wrong. I just think that I" Nicholas paused, looking down at Steve's hands that steadily held on to his own as his son listened for an answer. "I think I might be completely out of my element."

"I think he's just getting cold feet, you know? Like pretty much anybody would."

Soda sat in a third-row pew, Steve next to him as they waited for the service to start. "Yeah. He's probably nervous. I know I would be."

Steve turned around to see Samuel coming through the door of the sanctuary. "Hey, it's about time, preacher guy! You're delaying the whole church!"

Samuel held the door open for Vivian as she pushed the baby carriage inside. "Well, Steve, you could get up there and play the piano yourself. I'd sure love to hear it."

"Oh, yeah. I'll even sing a few notes. How about that?"

"The Bible does say to make a joyful noise."

"It would be noise all right." Steve felt Nicholas take the seat on his other side as he nudged Soda. "I'm surprised you didn't have anything to say about that, buddy."

Soda didn't speak as his eyes followed the baby carriage down the middle aisle, Vivian then parking it next to a front-row pew.

"Soda? Hey, what is it, man? I-" Steve followed Soda's gaze, easily putting the pieces together. "Oh. I guess it's different to see her here, huh?"

Soda watched as Samuel peeked at the baby, then kissed Vivian on the cheek before taking his place in front of the piano. "They're a family."

Nicholas heard the beginning of a worship song and stood to his feet, noticing that neither Steve nor Soda had followed suit. He saw his son lean closer to his best friend as he also gripped his shoulder. "Everything okay, Son?"

Steve looked up at Nicholas as he slipped his arm around Soda's shoulders. "The baby, Dad. He's having a hard time."

Soda heard the notes from the piano as Samuel played, the preacher's voice joined by the rest of the congregation. He stared at the baby carriage, seeing Vivian take a moment to tend to the child inside before she began to sing as well.

Steve felt himself hum along with the chorus, his eyes remaining fixed on Soda, as he gave his best friend a squeeze.

"I'm okay. You can stand and sing if you want."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. I know you're here."

Steve slowly released Soda as he stood up and joined everybody else in worship.

Soda leaned forward, scooting to the edge of the pew, as he bowed his head.

Steve remained on his feet at first, his hand reaching down to rest on Soda's shoulder. Yet, when he saw his friend cover his face, he sat on the pew once again, choosing to stay right next to him. "I'm sorry it's so hard, man. Do you need to go outside or somewhere else for a little while?"

"No. I want to be in here. Runnin' away won't make it better."

"Okay. I had to ask just in case. I'll support you either way."

Soda uncovered his eyes as he lifted his head up, feeling Steve's grip on his shoulder tighten. He looked toward the stage, his gaze locking with Samuel's, as the preacher turned the page on the hymnal that was in front of him. "I know you will. That's one reason I want to stay. "'Cause I know that, even if it's tough, there's actually nothin' I need to fear."

"Hi, Emily. I haven't seen you in a while, so I hope you didn't forget me."

"I don't think anyone could forget you, Steve. Not even a little baby."

Soda could hear Steve and Samuel talking as he stood close by, the two on either side of Emily's carriage.

"I can't decide if I should be grateful or offended."

"I meant it as a compliment, even though it didn't completely sound like one. Vivian, you said you fed her at 10:00, right? I think she's getting hungry again."

Soda saw Samuel pick Emily up, then rock her back and forth as she cried.

"It's okay, baby. Daddy's here."

Steve turned to speak to Soda, his mouth opening just in time to see his friend flee the sanctuary.

"I don't know why it's this hard. I knew she'd be here with them today."

Steve had found Soda behind the church building and was now kneeling down beside him. "But I think it's just what you said, buddy. They're a family. It's different to see the three of them together here, and you're just not used to it yet."

Soda looked down at the ground, feeling Steve touch his shoulder as he brushed his fingers over blades of grass. "He's Daddy, and I'm not. It ain't like I didn't already know that, but hearin' it was somethin' else."

Steve shifted so that he was sitting down, then drew closer to Soda, his arm wrapping around his friend. "That's another thing you're not used to yet, man. And I think this is where you being open with Samuel needs to come in. I bet he'll want to know if you're struggling."

"But what can he do? They've got a right to come to church together, and he should call himself Emily's daddy. What I want or feel about that stuff ain't supposed to be important."

"It is important though, buddy, and you know Samuel will listen. I'm sure he already realizes something is up anyway, and I wouldn't be surprised if he comes to you first."

"Lunch? You mean today?"

Audrey smiled as Nicholas was picking his Bible up off the pew, the two about to head out of the sanctuary. "Yes. Do you have other plans?"

Nicholas went toward the door, then held it open for Audrey to go ahead of him. "Other plans? No. Steve will probably be spending some time with Sodapop this afternoon, so that leaves only me. And I have no plans. Well, not yet anyway, though it sounds like I'm about to have them with you."

"Is everything all right? You're sounding like you're nervous."

"Oh. Everything's great. It couldn't be better."

"I was really glad to see Emily in church this morning. That must mean the process with the adoption is settled, right?"

"It is. Sodapop and Penny are free to see her now, so Samuel and Vivian can both come on Sunday mornings."

"I thought it was so gracious of them to make it where Sodapop could come every week. I know that must've meant a lot to him. The whole situation is more unique than anything I've ever seen before, and there's just no blueprint for it at all. I can't help but admire the kindness they've shown to each other, especially since it doesn't seem like things are awkward."

"I think they're all pretty comfortable with how it's turning out. It is an unusual situation, but they make it look like the best kind of answered prayer."

"I just want to forget about it for a while, Stevie. I ain't accomplishin' anything by going around in circles all the time."

Steve followed Soda into his room as his best friend grabbed a deck of cards off the dresser. "You are if talking is what you need. I wouldn't call that going around in circles when things are changing so much right now."

Soda sat down on the floor, then started shuffling the cards. "But that's still how it feels to me. I went through all this grief when it first hit me that Penny was pregnant, but we weren't keepin' the baby. I went through even more when we had to decide if we'd let Samuel and Vivian adopt her. And now, she's here. She was born three months ago, and I get to see her. That means I need to stop grieving."

Steve took the spot across from Soda as the other man finished the shuffle, then began dealing the cards. "I don't know how you can do that. You feel how you feel. It's not like you can just flip a switch, especially since the emotions you're been having aren't exactly simple."

"Well, they are now. There's just no reason for me to-" Soda stopped when he heard a knock on his bedroom door. "Yeah?"

Darry opened the door and poked his head inside. "Hey, Soda, Samuel's here to see you."

"You're not having doubts, are you?"

"No. Not at all. Not about us anyway. Maybe about myself."

"If it helps, I have no doubts about you whatsoever. I know you're the man I want to marry."

"And I know you're the woman I want to marry. It isn't that. I know we both love each other, and I know we're great together."

"So what's going on then?"

"I'm just realizing that, even though I've been married before, I don't really know what I'm doing. Years ago, after Rose died, I nearly stopped being a father. I just figured that out again within the last two years, and now, I'm wondering if I remember how to be a husband."

"It's not your problem. You didn't have to come and try to fix it."

Samuel sat down on the Curtises' porch swing as Soda remained standing near the railing. "I want to talk to you though. I'm not looking at it as some kind of obligation. I'm just trying to be a friend."

Soda leaned on the railing, his elbows pressing into the metal that separated the porch from the yard, as he fought with a wave of both pride and anger. "I know. But I don't need your help. If I did, I would've asked for it at church. You've got the right to bring your family wherever you want. Vivian's your wife, and Emily's your daughter. Any feelings I have are my problem."

"I disagree. It's important to me to talk about these things with you."

"Why? You can't do anything about it. I just have to get used to the way stuff is."

"But this situation can't work if you're getting hurt or resentful."

Soda turned around then, facing Samuel. "Resentful? I never said I was that."

"No. You didn't. But I can hear it in your voice. Usually, we can have conversations, and we're both kind to each other."

"I ain't bein' so kind right now, am I?"

"I didn't say that. But you're not acting much like yourself."

"'Cause you've never seen me when I'm pissed- or well, when I'm mad. I think only Darry and Steve have seen me like that. They both know how I can be if somethin' hurts, and I get angry about it. But I guess now you do too." Soda sat down on the swing beside Samuel, almost expecting it when the preacher laid a hand on his arm. "I'm sorry for actin' like I was. You've been nothin' but nice to me since I've known you, so you don't deserve that. I'm really glad you came over 'cause it feels good to know you care about me too and that it ain't different now that Emily's here."

"No. It isn't in the least. Now, tell me, what made you leave earlier? I thought you'd want to hang around inside the church and visit with Emily a little. It's okay that you didn't, but I got the impression that there was a reason. Especially since you looked so overwhelmed at the beginning of worship time."

"I saw you pick her up and then I heard-" Soda looked down at his lap, then back up at Samuel, as he felt tears fill his eyes. "I heard you say 'Daddy's here.' That was why I ran outside. I mean, you should be able to say that or anything else you want. You are her daddy, and it's somethin' she needs to hear. But it still hurt me. 'Cause she's not mine, and I'm still tryin' to be all right with that. It's like there's still this pain in my heart when I realize I'm not her dad. I feel weird sayin' that to you, but it's the truth."

Samuel pulled Soda close, the younger man's arms also going around him, as his head rested on his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Sodapop. I'm going to be more mindful of what I say around you right now, I promise."

"But you shouldn't have to do that. It's my problem, not yours. You shouldn't have to apologize either."

"I'm not doing anything because I have to. I apologized because I care, and I said I'd watch my words for the same reason. Just like I told you, there's no obligation here." Samuel felt Soda hug him back even tighter than he already had been, the older man doing the same in return. "Everything I do, all of it is out of love."

"The more I get to know him, the more I think that life doesn't have any coincidences. Not when it comes to the stuff that matters anyway."

Steve stood on the porch with Soda, the pair watching Samuel's car as it drove away from the Curtis house. "Yeah. Things happen for a reason, buddy. It's never just random circumstance."

Soda saw Samuel's car pause at the end of the street, brake lights flashing, as it came to a stop. "No. It sure can't be. With the way this all fits together, I think it must've been written in the stars."