PoV Darry

I walked into the house after Johnny's funeral, eyes still a little wet. I looked back at Ponyboy, his cheeks wet from his tears, his eyes red. I wrapped an arm around him, and felt him shaking. Soda wrapped his arms around us, resting his head on my shoulder.

"I'll make us something to eat, yeah?" he said, letting go of us. "Two-Bit said he'd stop by after a while, see how things are goin'."

He walked to the kitchen, his shoulders drooped.

I turned back to my baby brothers, his shoulders shaking with silent sobs. I hugged him proper, feeling his tears soak into the front of my suit shirt. I rubbed the top of his head, ruffling his bleached blond hair. I smiled a little. His roots were showing. I sat him down on the couch and let him lean on me. He curled next to me, and cried until he couldn't.

Ponyboy stood and went to our old record player, picking out one of dad's old records. He set it playing, and the sultry tunes of Billy Holiday drifted through the house. He walked back over, looking out of place in a greaser's house in his suit. It was an old one of Soda's, a little too big around the shoulders, a little too short at the ankle. I could see another growth spurt in him, taking him up past Soda, maybe to my height. But he'd always be skinny.

A few hours later, Ponyboy was reading in his room, and Soda was watching TV, leaving me to myself in my room. There was a knock on the door of my room.

"Come in," I sighed.

It was Two-Bit, a shy smile on his face.

"Howdy," I mumbled, sitting up on my bed.

"How you?" he asked.

"I been better." I shook my head. "Pony's taken it the hardest; you know how close he was to Johnny."

"Some might say they was even lovers," Two-Bit said.

I prodded him in the chest with a finger. "Hey. My little brother ain't no queer."

Two-Bit nodded. "I was just sayin', people might have gotten the wrong idea. I know some people at school thought they were."

"Well, that's bull shit, they weren't." But I wasn't so sure. "You don't think they were, do you?"

"I dunno, Darry, they sure did love each other."

"But they weren't… Oh, like I would know, I don't talk to him enough to know."

Two-Bit placed a hand on my shoulder, scooting a little closer. "You're a great big brother, you know that. Pony's just a tough kid to know. He's so quiet and shit."

"Yeah." I nodded, placing my head in my hands.

"Hey, you're alright." Two-Bit wrapped his arm around me, sitting right next to me, our hips touching. I looked up at him, sitting up straight. There was this weird feeling in my stomach, and I leaned forward, softly placing my lips on his. He responded quickly, his lips moving with mine, soft and warm. He moved his hand to the back of my head, where his fingers played with my hair. I put a hand on his knee, and the other on the small of his back.

"Darry, could you-" Ponyboy had walked into my rom. He didn't even bat an eye lash, just turned around, saying, "Oh, sorry," like it was something he came across every day.

Two-Bit laughed, resting his forehead on mine. "See? Weird little kid."

I laughed, wrapped my arms around him. "Well, at least he ain't no queer. They're so strange."

"But, Darry…" Two-Bit clued in to my sarcasm. "Oh." He laughed.

I placed a kiss on his forehead, letting myself get lost in him. I felt free, for the first time in a long time. I felt at peace.

"Darry?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

"I love you, too, Two-Bit."