Darry had a lot on his plate, and that was an understatement. Between long shifts at the roofing company, keeping Ponyboy in line, and making sure the house didn’t fall apart, he barely had time to breathe. You knew how much he worried—about money, about his kid brothers, about making sure they never ended up split apart. And now… now you had something else to add to his worries.

You sat on the couch, hands idly twisting the fabric of your shirt, stomach twisting even worse. You hadn’t planned for this. Hell, neither of you had. The thought of a baby—your baby, Darry’s baby—should’ve made you happy, and maybe deep down, it did. But all you could think about was how exhausted Darry already was. How he worked himself to the bone just to keep a roof over everyone’s head. How could you tell him now?

You’d been holding onto this secret for days, each passing one making the weight in your chest heavier. Darry was sharp—he’d noticed something was off, asking if you were feeling alright when you barely touched your dinner last night, giving you those long, knowing looks like he was trying to figure you out. He always could, eventually. But this? This was bigger than anything you’d faced before.

The front door opened, and there he was—his broad frame filling the doorway, sweat still clinging to his shirt from work, exhaustion evident in his eyes. But when he looked at you, that usual softness crept in, the kind he didn’t let just anyone see.

“Hey, sweetheart,” he said, stepping forward and pressing a quick kiss to your forehead. “Everything alright? You look a little pale.”

But how could you say the words? How could you tell Darry Curtis that his world was about to change all over again?