~*~Month 2~*~
Two-Bit stretched out his arms as he got out of bed. As he walked out of the bedroom, he was immediately greeted by Ally's wails and Pony's calming voice trying to soothe her.
"What's wrong with 'er?" Two-Bit asked as he scooped her up in his arms.
"She's teethin', her first tooth's about t'come in."
Two-Bit immediately started searching the bag for some teething rings. After a while, he found some. He gave them to Pony.
Pony handed them to Ally. "Uh, Two, I think we're supposed to freeze 'em..."
"What do we give 'er till then?"
"Ice, I guess..."
Two-Bit grabbed some ice cubes from the freezer and stuck the rings in there as well. He handed the ice to Pony, who gently rubbed it over Ally's gums.
Ally's cries reduced to whimpers. Her fingers clamped over Pony's big hand and she stared up at him with big eyes, grateful for whatever he was doing.
"That feel good, huh, precious?" Pony cooed softly, gently placing a kiss on the top of her head. She started to gnaw it as it melted.
Pony smiled softly and walked out to the living room with her. Two-Bit watched with a twinge of jealousy.
Ally smiled and gnawed on the cube some more, looking up at Pony.
Two-Bit stood in the background, not quite sure what to do as Ally's gaze locked on Pony's and his on her.
He then heard the one word that made his blood boil with rage, for some odd reason, escape from her lips.
"Mama."
Pony looked down at her and grinned from ear to ear.
Two-Bit looked at him and Pony smiled smugly. "I won the bet. You owe me five bucks."
"To hell with your five bucks." Two-Bit grumbled.
"What's up with ya?"
Two-Bit just grabbed his daughter from his partner, walking into the bedroom with her.
Ponyboy followed Two-Bit and held his hands out for his daughter. "Mama!" She said again, holding her arms out to Pony, wanting to be held by him.
"Two-Bit, give 'er back!" Pony shouted angrily.
"No, damn it!" He yelled back. "Can't I just have five minutes with her?"
Pony rolled his eyes and sighed. "Five minutes, ya hear?" Then, he sauntered out of the room.
Two-Bit smiled at Ally. She whimpered as Pony walked out of the room but soon her focus was back on Two-Bit.
"He's clingy, huh?" Two-Bit asked, pulling up her shirt and blowing a raspberry into her tummy. She giggled and smiled at him.
She babbled and cooed as Two-Bit picked her up, then laughed with delight as he tossed her up in the air a few times.
Ponyboy heard them having fun and couldn't help but feel left out. He caught her in mid-toss and balanced her on his hip, walking out of the bedroom, simple as that.
Two-Bit followed after him, frustrated.
"What gives?"
"Five minutes, Two. I gave ya five minutes."
"So what?! You spend most of the damn day with her anyhow, how come I only get five minutes with 'er?"
"I don't wanna answer that."
"Whatever. Have fun doin' the damn project on yer own cuz I'm outta here." Two-Bit slammed the door behind him as he stormed out of the house.
Ponyboy followed him out after setting Ally on the couch.
"Hey!" He screamed. Two-Bit spun around.
"You love Ally, don't you?! She's grown on you too, yeah?"
"What does it matter?! All you do is hog her!"
"It matters because-" Both of their shouts were interrupted. There was a hard thud followed by a loud wail from inside.
"Pony, where'd ya set her down?!"
"The couch!" They dashed inside.
Ally was lying on the floor crying really loudly. Pony scooped her up in his arms and bounced her gently.
"Give 'er to me!" Two-Bit said. Ponyboy complied and searched frantically for something to calm her down.
He dug through the supply bag and took out a pacifier, sticking it in her mouth.
Ally spit it back out and her cries rang throught he house again Two-Bit was just about to pull his hair out when he remembered:
The teething ring!
He pulled it, completely frozen, out of the ice box and gave it to her.
Her cries died down as she gnawed at the frozen ring.
"That," Pony said, "is why I need you here. Not for the damn grade, for her."
Without a word, Two-Bit crushed his lips against Pony's.
"Would that be another reason?"
Pony nodded, stunned and speechless, to say the least.
Two-Bit stayed up for most of the night caring for Ally while Pony got his sleep.
