Stronger with You

In the End

Peyton
August 18, 1976

"Soda, let's go!" I called from the living room, he was in the bathroom getting ready, "You've been in there an hour!"

"Mommy, why does Daddy always take so long?" Nolan asked sighing slightly.

I laughed pushing his blonde back a little bit, so didn't hang over his green eyes, "That's a good question."

"I do not take that long!" Soda claimed, joining us in the living room, he ruffled Nolan's hair then bent down to my stomach, "Don't listen to them, squirt. Your dad is the greatest, taking the shortest amount of time to get ready."

I rolled my eyes, placing my hand on my growing baby bump, "That's just what he wants you to think. I'm really the coolest."

"I agree with Mommy," Nolan said.

Soda's jaw dropped as he placed a hand over his chest, "Ouch. That hurts, that really hurts."

"I'm just kidding. You are definitely the cool parent." I pulled Soda up kissing him gently on the cheek.

I was wearing a light pair of jeans with a white t-shirt and of course, one of Soda's flannels over top. We may be married and 27 years old, but it will forever be my favorite outfit.

"Okay! Let's go! We're gonna be late." I said shooing my boys out the door.

"What are we even doing?" Soda asked as we helped Nolan get into the backseat of the Jeep. Soda helped me then rushed over to the drivers side.

"I don't know, Darry just said to meet him at the park at 4:30. I don't know what's happening," I said, shrugging my shoulders.

"Hm." Soda said, tapping his fingers against the steering wheel. He pulled out of our driveway and started the short drive to the park.

"What're you ideas for baby names?" I asked, when we named Nolan, Soda was away in Vietnam, it took forever, but I would write a letter with my top favorites and Soda would write one back. I thought we would never choose.

"Hear me out, if the babies a girl, we would name her Lizard, but nickname her Liz. So, everyone thinks it short for Elizabeth, but it's actually Lizard." Soda had a wide grin on his face, like he just solved World Peace.

I stared at my husband in shock, I was all for original names, I adored the name Sodapop and Ponyboy, but I would not be naming my child Lizard.

"Oh, honey," I reached out putting my hand on his thigh, "We are not naming our daughter Lizard."

"I like that name!" Nolan shouted from the backseat, Soda gave me a look before turning back to the road.

"Oh, Jesus please help me." I covered my face with my hands, sighing deeply.

"Okay, okay. We won't do Liz. What about Bunny?" Soda asked pulling up to the park, where are all our family was.

"Bunny can be a maybe." I nodded, that wasn't as bad as Lizard.

Soda hopped out of the jeep coming over to open my door as I help Nolan unbuckle his seatbelt, then helped him get out of the car after Soda helped me.

Darry stood next to his wife, Ashley. Darry met Ashley about two years ago, we forced him to go out with us when Johnny convinced Maya and I we needed a night out and he would watch the kids. They were married last year with a beautiful ceremony. I knew Darry gave Soda their Ma's ring to give to me, but I still felt bad. He was the first born. Darry was thirty-one now, Ashley was thirty.

Pony and Tyler stood next to a picnic table, Tyler was arranging what looked like food and plates. I remembered catching the two in his room years ago, he was now twenty-five, Tyler was twenty-five also. The two got married as soon as graduating from OSU. They now lived in a house a few blocks away from us.