guarding my angel || "guardian angel" sequel

8

**Bailey's POV**

I wake up and Two-Bit isn't there. This wasn't anything new, he's never there when I wake up.

I get up and take my baggy T-shirt off so I can change for the day. In the process of finding a new shirt, I walk by the full body mirror and do a double take. My stomach is getting really big!

I look at my bare stomach in the mirror and somehow feel slightly comforted. For a second, the baby seems like a lot more to me than just something growing inside of me. It's a small human made of both me and the person I love. I grasp it with my hands and smile.

Then Two-Bit creeps into my mind. I scoff and turn back to the closet. I grab a big sweatshirt and some leggings and a pair of fuzzy socks. I then head out to the living room and turn on Mickey Mouse. I lay down and take a small nap because being pregnant has made me really tired. Plus, tomorrow is the day I find out my baby's gender. My goal was to tell Two-Bit before I found out the gender, so I guess I better rest up: I'll be telling him tonight.

*-*-*

**Soda's POV**

I race the baby back through town, headed home as quick as I can. I know Kayla will still be working since the DX doesn't close for another 3 hours, and Darry won't be home until later. I'm hoping I'll run into Johnny or Ponyboy when I reach the house because I don't know anyone else I could talk to.

Thankfully, Ponyboy is there when I arrive. He looks up from whatever work he was doing at the table when I burst through the door.

"There's my girl!" he says in a loving voice. He's always had a soft spot for Aliyah.

Shit! He thinks the baby is Aliyah!

He reaches the carrier before I can stop him and his eyes grow really wide.

"Soda, you're aware that this isn't Aliyah, right?" Ponyboy says in a very concerned matter.

"Yes. Look, I really need your help, and it has to stay between us," I plead. He nods. "Sandy gave me this baby."

"Sandy, the one who cheated on you?" Ponyboy confirms.

"Yes, but that isn't important right now. I don't have a clue what to do with him," I say. My heart starts beating really fast.

"Okay, we'll figure something out. I'm assuming you don't want Darry involved yet?" Ponyboy says.

"Yes, or anyone else, so please don't tell anyone anything about this," I plead. Ponyboy nods reassuringly and I breathe a sigh of relief.

"Well, do you plan on keeping him?" Ponyboy asks.

"I don't see any other options, I mean I could never forgive myself if I gave him up," I reply.

"Good, I'd be pissed at you if you chose to do something else," Ponyboy says with a laugh. I smile down at the baby.

"Why don't we send him to aunt Tessa's for a little while? We can take him there tomorrow or something, and you can get him back once you get everything squared away," Ponyboy suggests.

"That's brilliant! And she'd be totally willing since she and Gavin are trying to have a baby," I say. "We could take the train there with him tomorrow and be back before anyone would suspect anything."

"Perfect! I'll call her tonight and make sure, and we'll take the first train to Tennessee tomorrow morning," Ponyboy says. I nod and place the baby on the table.

"What's our cover-up going to be?" I ask.

"What do you mean?" he replies.

"There has to be a reason both you and I will be out of town all day that will be believable."

"We'll just say we went to go visit Aunt Tessa and finally meet Gavin since they just got married and all," he says nonchalantly.

I knew I picked the right person to help me with this.

"Okay, just let her know exactly what's going on, and to not get Darry involved. I'll drive us to the station tomorrow before the sun comes up," I say. Ponyboy nods and runs off to the phone. I hurry the baby into my room.

"Oh, and Ponyboy," I yell down the hall. He leans his head around the corner.

"Tell everyone I'm really sick so no one comes in here, especially not Kayla," I say. He nods and goes back to the phone.

I turn back to the baby and he smiles at me. I smile back and pick him up.

This is gonna work, I continuously whisper to myself, and I don't know what happens, but I start to believe it.