<Dallas's POV>

One week later.

She wakes up every night screaming or crying and all I can do is hold her in my arms. It's clear she is afraid to die. All of her life she has wanted to die, she almost did so many times and she didn't even regret it. Now as cancer threatens to consume her she doesn't want to face death. Not to mention she is with child. If she dies so does the baby if the doctors form perform an immediate c-section. I don't know if there is anything I can do besides struggle to pay the treatment. I wish there was a way for me to help though. That's all I want.

I walk into the living room and see Skyler holding Tibby as she just stares at a wall. I put a hand on her shoulder and she jumps a bit. I shush her fear. "It's just me." She seems to calm down but I can't help but worry. "We gotta go to the doctors to talk about what we are doing ," I say. I've always hated hospitals and especially doctors. They say they can help but they can't always. Now they are the only hope for Skyler. She nods mindlessly and continues to coddle Tibby.

"It's a week old," she says quietly. I kneel in front of her.

"What is?" I ask. Skyler blinks away a few tears.

"The baby," Skyler says clearly. I smile slightly and look at Skyler's tiny excuse for an abdomen.

"What do you think it is?" I ask. She shakes her head.

"I don't wanna get attached," Skyler claims. I take her free hand that isn't holding Tibby.

"You can guess a gender Skyler Elizabeth," I claim. She stays silent. Sighing I take a guess myself. "A boy, I'd like a boy," I say smiling I myself. I can picture helping my son grow up to be a great greaser. Greasing his hair back for him until he is able to himself. Just the thought makes me smile.

"What would you name him?" Skyler asks. I think for a minute. Our life has been either set on fire with excitement or our hearts were burned into a pile of ashes. Even when things were good there was a little flame burning, simmering in our hearts waiting to either tear us apart or make us better. My mother told me once I was going to be named Aiden because it means little fire in Gaelic. She would have but my father refused.

"Aiden," I say confidently. She smiles and Tibby giggles.

"Well if I don't make it and the baby does, his name will be Aiden, if it is a boy," Skyler decides. Finally I loose it and just lay my head in her lap. Tears fall onto her black leggings. My stomach moves around like a water wheel. Churning over and over to the point of nausea. Skyler rubs the back of my head as I finally let everything loose. "Hey Dallas, I'm okay, and I've been thinking, I don't want the chemo," Skyler reveals. I look up at her with teary eyes as my arms lay still on her legs.

"Skyler, that's a big decision, one that may cost me your life," I say sadly. She sighs.

"I know it's just we don't have the money and it's just going to make me weak," Skyler claims. I smile at her sadly.

"Let's go see your doctors then we can decide what we are doing for you," I say as I tuck my tears away for a later time. Skyler and I begin walking to the hospital with Tibby happily humming to herself in Skyler's arms.

It's nearly winter and the air is beginning to become colder than the normal crisp fall air. Every morning there is a thin layer of frost across our small yard and all the sidewalks. Tibby's cheeks are red from the cold air but she doesn't seem to care as she giggles and squirms in Skyler's arms. Her mouth opens but a mere squeak comes out of her mouth. I smile I bit and try to get her to speak.

"Greaser," I whisper clearly to her. She giggles and Skyler smiles disdainfully. Tibby opens her mouth and something that sounds like ear emerges from her lips. I laughs bit and say it slower. "Greaser." Tibby looks determined as she opens her mouth again. I think she will get it this time just to realize she only manages to say 'rease'.

"Try something easier like hood or gold," Skyler suggests as we continue our walk to the hospital. I look at my baby and speak slowly.

"Stay," I say. Tibby smiles and repeats what I said almost perfectly. Skyler and I smile and laugh. "Good girl, now... gold," I say breaking apart each letter sound. She struggles with this word but after a few tries she gets it.

"Gol-d," Tibby. I smile and nod.

"Yes baby." Now Tibby repeats over and over 'stay gold' quietly to herself. Great now I'm never going to hear the end of it.

Eventually we reach the hospital and are quickly led into a small room with a rectangle table. The doctors sit on one side and my family sits on the other side facing them. They try and act calm and the oldest looking doctor keeps making little hand motions towards Tibby.

There are three doctors. One man in his forties with graying hair, a woman with a platinum blonde bob, then the nurse who looks about sixty. She has this small smile on her face, clearly displaying her feelings towards us. The man speaks. "Alright so we are here today to talk about you disease plan, I'm doctor Morgan," he gestures to the blonde," that's doctor summers," and lastly that's your new nurse, Ms. Jane Kelly." Skyler nods but doesn't smile or introduce herself. Instead the male doctor looks to me. "Mr. Winston-"

"Dallas, just Dallas."

"Dallas, would you care to address your wife and child?" I hate being formal this is terrible. I can't even take this anymore- wait did he just say wife?

"Uh this is my girlfriend Skyler obviously and that's Tibby, she's about eight months, her birthday is February 15," I say uncomfortably. I really hate hospitals. Skyler holds Tibby closer to her chest.

"So we have a few things to discuss about what you will be doing."

In the end Skyler will be going through chemotherapy but if she is put on a life support machine they are to turn it off and if she can't survive on her own, then rest in piece Skyler Elizabeth Hills. Skyler wasn't very fond of the idea of chemotherapy. She had begun to cry when the topic came up and protested the idea because of money issues. We once again reassured her that money would be obtained.

Of course we had to discuss the baby. Chemo won't affect the fetus but the cancer may so that we will just have to wait and see. Skyler also requested that her body be donated to research so doctors could find out more about the affects of drug use if she does end up dying. We were told her odds of surviving. It's the alarming percentage of 45% chance of survival.

<Soda's POV>

Josh hiccups slightly as I hold him in my arms. I can't wait to have more kids so I can play with them and everything. But the guilt that I wasn't there for the birth eats away at me every time I look at my son.

Chris comes into our room recklessly with the largest smile I have ever seen spread across her face. I place Josh into his crib and just in time to because Chris jumps into my arms and tightens herself around me. Her legs gripping my waist and her head nuzzled into my shoulder. I hold her back, not understanding what is so great. "Alright calm down babe, what's up," I say while laughing a bit. Chris plants a short sloppy kiss on my lips and shrieks happily.

"So I took a pregnancy test at Skyler's and she called me to go over there and when I did she handed me the test, IT'S POSITIVE!" She screams while showing me the stick after telling me the news at a million miles per hour. A certain type of happiness fills me up and I hold Chris closer to me. Shouts of glee escape my mouth. I'm screaming by now but I don't care. Darry comes into our room with a worried look on his face. I place Chris on the ground and sprint to my brother. Pulling him into a hug I scream the news.

"I'M GOING TO BE A DAD AGAIN!" I shout as loud as possible. Darry grips my back and says congrats. Pony joins the crowd and hugs me as well. I go back to a Chris who looks pleased with herself. I pick her up by her waist and plant a long meaningful kiss on her lips. I only gave her a split second to smile. After we come up for air Darry and Pony have already left the room.

"Just you, me, Darry, Pony, and Skyler know about it," Chris says. I pull her to me.

"Then we shall inform everyone else tonight," I say, unable to stop grinning like an idiot. I don't care though. "DAR RALLY UP THE GANG AND PREPARE A CAKE!" I scream downstairs.

"Got it kid brother!" Darry yells back. I smirk and then run back to Chris again. Picking her up once more I plant another kiss on her lips then lead her downstairs. Darry has the phone in his hand as Pony gathers food for dinner.

-----------------------

Steve and Lena come in first. Lena dressed casually and Steve in his work uniform. This of course only consists of jeans, a denim vest, and no shirt. Two-Bit comes in next alone and a little tipsy. But that was to be expected. Skyler, Dally, Tibby, and Johnny all come together. Dally explains they picked Johnny up so he could leave his abusive parents without being suspicious.

Upon their arrival Skyler places Tibby next to Josh on the floor so they can play. Skyler looks as if she has been crying but she puts on a happy face. Dally looks like he is doing the same thing.

Darry has some food set out on the table. Nothing formal and he is saving the cake for later. Skyler is sitting with Lena at the table talking along with Two-Bit who has cracked open another beer. Dally and Darry are conversing over beers in the corner of the living room. Dally takes occasional glances at Tibby to make sure she is always alright.
Pony and Johnny are watching tv together on the couch. Once in a while one of them has to get up to move one of the babies out of the way so they can see the screen. Steve and I are talking as I lean against the counter carelessly. Steve is drinking a beer but I don't need to drink to be drunk. I'm just drunk on life. Chris is on the floor playing with the kids after she turned the small radio on. It's playing at a soft hum but loud enough to hear it through the laughter and talking.

After awhile we all sit at the table. It's as crowded as ever but we manage to fit everyone. We all talk and eat for a bit and then I look to Chris. She nods and I take her hand. I clear my throat and everyone quiets down. Skyler, Darry, and Pony look at the pair of us knowingly.

"So... how do you all feel about another baby?"

A/N I truly love this story. I must admit it has been getting really hard to write. I've had an extensive amount of writers block but I'm really trying because this story is everything I think is valid in life. Some stuff funny and some stuff sad but all is necessary. There is family, best friends, new friends, sadness over true situations, stress, mistakes, sex of course, love, hard decisions that young adults and teens actually need to face in real life. It's a true story and that's all I ever wanted it to be. I couldn't of done it without you guys.

Stay Gold💛

Vote and Comment