AN: PLZ R/R

STEVE'S POV

It's been a few months since the tornado. We got lucky. Very lucky. The state paid for most of the damage and we only had to pay one forth of it. They thought some of the damage that was already there was from the storm and fixed that up for us too. We wern't sayin' nothin' though. Hell, this was a chance of a life time for us to fix some of that shit up and we wern't gonna miss it!

I can't stop thinking about how lucky we were. If Soda didn't wake me up that night, I wouldn't have been able to get Lilly in time and who knows what would have happened. It scares me to think about anything bad happening to my happy baby.

It's Tuesday and I'm off of work. Pony's off from school because of some teacher meeting so we're home alone with Lilly. Darry and Soda had to work.

I walked into the living room at 10am. I have no clue how I slept through Darry and Soda getting ready for work a few hours ago. Soda especially. He makes so much noise, the neighbors from down the road hear him. But that's Soda for ya.

Lilly was on Pony's foot, holding on too his hands as he moves his foot up and down lightly, making Lilly laugh. Thankfully he got Lilly dressed for me. She was wearing her favorite shirt. It's red, long sleeve with Winny the Poo (i have no idea how to spell the name of the bear who eats honey.) on it and she's wearing the matching blue jeans which has Tiger on the pants leg. She has matching socks on and pink converse shoes on. I have no clue how Pony did it, but he put part of the back of her hair in pig tails, leaving some of her hair down on the sides, back, and the bangs that went to her eyebrows. I can't help but wonder how long it must have took, since Lilly hated putting her hair up.

"Hey, Baby Girl." I said as I took a seat next to Pony. We had made up after the tornado hit about him hitting me.

"Daddy!" She sqealed as Pony let her go. She jumped on my lap and wrapped her arms around my neck, hugging me.

I hugged her back, patting her on the back. "Hey darling. You bein' good?"

She smiled at me and nodded. "Etty alled."

"What?" I asked her confused.

"Betty called." Pony said. "Just a minute ago. She said for you to call her back."

I nodded and got up, placing Lilly back on the couch. "I'll be right back."

I picked up the phone to call her back in the kitchen.

PONYBOY POV

Steve left to call his girl back, leaving me with his daughter. I was glad I was out of school today. Even more glad that Steve was home. That way I could go out with Cherry today and not have to bring Lilly along. Not that I don't like watching her, it's just, I can't really do anything with Lilly there. I don't want to be a bad example for her.

"Pony?" Lilly said as she climb in my lap.

"What?" I asked her.

"Pay!" She said as she bounced up and down.

I growned. "Do I hafta?" I whinned. All this kid wants to do is play.

"Yep." She said as she got off and tried to pull me up. When she saw it was no use she looked at Steve through the dinning room door frame that led you through the kitchen door frame.

Steve was just hanging up when Lilly yelled. "Daddy! Daddy!"

Steve ran in the living room. "What's wrong?"

"Pony 'ont pay." She whinned pointing to me.

Steve laughed. "Pony, why won't you play with her."

I just looked at him like he was stupid. "I've been playing with this kid all morning. I'm tired and need to get ready to pick Cherry up. Why don't you play with her, after all she is your daughter?"

"Come on Lilly, Pony's a grouch today." Steve said as he took Lilly's hand and led her to her room.

Lilly looked back at me. "Gouch."

Steve laughed and I grinned. This baby could make anyone grin.

I got up and got dressed and yelled to Steve I was leaving before I left.

SODAPOP POV

I was walking inside after talking to a mob of girls out back. Man, it never seemed to amaze me how many girls I attracted. It seems like the older I get, the more they multiply.

I grabbed a pepsi out the cooler and sat on the counter. It was a slow day and I was dying to get out of here. I turned my head to the door as I herd the little bell above the exit ring. Standing there was the girl who stole my heart and crushed it.

"What are you doin' here Sandy?" I asked her as I hopped off the counter.

"I came to see you." She said sweetly as she walked up to me, getting close enough for me to feel her breath on my neck.

"Sandy, I can't do this." I said in a shakey voice. "Not if you're gonna be leaving soon. I'm not gonna let you break my heart again."

She looked at me with sad eyes. "I'll be here for four months. Don't ya want to make the best of it?"

I shook my head. "Not if you're gonna leave. I wont be able to stand it." I said softly. "I love you Sandy, but I can't go through that again."

Sandy's eyes flared; something I had never seen. They had always been sweet and loving. She turned her head somewhat upword and backed away. "Find then Sodapop Curtis. I don't want to spend any time with a greeser like you! In Florida, I'm a soc and everyone loves me. I thought you loved me but I guess not. All you are is selfish. You're so selfish you don't want to spend time with me just because I'll be leaving in a few months and you don't want to cause your heart the heartach. Your so selfish you would want me to stay with you and marry you, just like a year ago. Well, let me tell you somethin' Mr.Curtis, I ain't your girl. I'm everyone's gal and you can't just have me all for yourself!" With that said, I watched her storm out of the DX, completely stunned. I had never seen Sandy like that before.

Before I knew it, tears were running down my face. I wipped them away but they kept coming so I just let them. Everything she said was true. Everything. I was a selfish Jackass.

PONYBOY POV

It was around noon and me and Cherry decided to go see Sodapop at the DX. We walked on in joking around. Today was a lot of fun.

What I saw made me stop smiling though. Soda was leaning on the counter with his face buried in his hands. You could hear him sobbing from the doorway.

I ran up to him and put a my hand on his shoulder. "What's wrong Soda?" I asked calmly. The complete opposite on how I felt. I had only seen Soda cry like this one time and that was when mom and dad died.

Soda looked up and saw me, and before I knew it he buried his face in my chest, leaning over since he was taller than me. I gently stroked his hear and whispered soft words of nonsince, much like him and Darry do for me.

He calmed down a few minutes later but didn't make a move to move. "What's wrong?" I asked him again. He then told me about Sandy dropping by and all she said to him.

Both Cherry and I were quick to argue with him. He was not selfish. He never has been and never will. Sandy's the one who's selfish. After about an hour or so it it was time for Soda to clock out and we walked him home. Cherry's friend came driving by so she got a ride home from her.

I never wanted to kill someone before. But right now I wanted Sandy's blood for what she did to my brother. I wanted to kill her. She better hope we don't run into her on the way home or there's no tellin' what I'd do.