The music thumped though the house like thunder, people packed into the small space like caged animals. Darry and Two-Bit sat in a far corner, each enjoying the scene without getting too wrapped up in it. Darry had work in the morning and Two-Bit didn't need any more arrests on his record. They laughed as a fight broke out and one of the onlookers was shoved into a lamp sending it crashing to the floor; those were the risks one took when having a house party.

As the night went on, the party dwindled down, drunken partygoers stumbling home or to other parties. Darry and Two-Bit hung around for a while, chatting with Tim and a few other greasers that planned to bum around Tim's house for the night. At around eleven, the two boys headed in the direction of the Curtis household, Two-Bit trailing off in a different direction about half-way there. "See ya Two-Bit." Darry called, the buzz still lingering from the few beers he'd had. Darry wasn't quite of drinking age yet, but he was responsible, and his parents had never asked him to stop. He didn't drink much, never enough to be drunk, and he was walking home, his truck still parked in its usual spot in the driveway.

The house was dark and silent as he walked up the drive and quietly opened the door. He figured everyone would be asleep and didn't want to wake anyone, his parents having been out late as well, celebrating their anniversary. He walked in to find both of his brothers asleep on the couch, Pony sprawled out on one end, Soda sitting up on the other, his head resting on a fist. Darry chuckled to himself as he turned off the television. As he went to wake his brothers, not bothering to wonder why his parents hadn't, there was a knock at the door, startling Darry. He peeked out the window to see two police officers standing on the doorstep. Darry sighed, wondering if Two-Bit had gotten into trouble on his way home. He opened the door, "Good evening officers. May I help you?" After all, his mother had taught him to be polite.

"Darrel Curtis jr?" A tall, lanky man stood before him, his partner seemingly more muscular, his uniform cut to show off his biceps. Brawn and brain? He almost laughed, but caught himself.

"Yes." Darry managed.

"May we speak with you?" Darry nodded, and moved out of the way to allow the officers into the house. By this time, Ponyboy and Soda had woken up and a drowsy Ponyboy asked "What's going on Darry?"

"I'm not sure little buddy." Darry replied, glancing at Ponyboy. Turning back to the officers, he spoke again. "I'll get our parents for you."

The bulkier man laid a hand on Darry's arm, he having turned to head in the direction of their parent's bedroom. "It might be best if you all had a seat." The officer didn't seem angry, just genuinely concerned, which made Darry nervous.

"Shouldn't we get mom and dad?" Pony asked. Soda hadn't said a word since Darry arrived home.

The first officer took off his hat and let out a breath he must have been holding. "Boys, I really hate to be the one to tell you this, but your parents were in a car accident tonight." The officer paused a moment, trying to figure out what to say next. Soda shot up from the couch at the news. Pony crept closer to Darry. Darry found himself sobered up very quickly. Questions from each of them came rapid fire.

"Are they okay?"

"What happened?"

Darry looked at his brothers. "What hospital are they at?" He asked the shorter officer, noticing the man's hair had fallen into his eyes, yet he did nothing to fix it. "I'm not sure I should be driving at the moment, honestly—"

"Darrel." The officer cut him off gently. "Your parents aren't at a hospital. They didn't make it." Darry stared at the older man, his brain trying to figure out what had happened. No. There was no way. He had just seen them a few hours ago…

"Soda its my turn!" Pony lunged at Sodapop, trying to grab the remote Soda held out of his reach.

"Sorry Pony," Soda smiled, clearly not sorry at all. "You have to be faster than that!"

"Yeah, yeah." Pony grumbled, settling himself on the couch next to his brother. Soda grinned and relaxed his arm. Pony looked at his older brother out of the corner of his eye and after a few seconds pounced on him, knocking Sodapop to the floor. The boys laughed as they wrestled around. Darry only stood, leaning against the wall, smirking. Their mother walked into the room and giggled. Her boys, always goofing off with one another. Once upon a time she had hoped for a girl, but when Ponyboy came along, and they were through having children, she knew their little family was perfect as it was.

"Oh boys, stop." Ponyboy and Sodapop obeyed instantly, breathing heavily. "We've got to get going."

The boys all got up to say goodbye to their parents. "You sure look really nice mom." Sodapop told her, kissing her cheek. Their parents had been married for 25 years and were going out to celebrate the occasion. Anyone who saw them could clearly tell they were just as in love as the day they got married.

"Well, thank you darling." She rested her hand on her middle son's cheek. "Make sure you boys finish up your homework. There is a pot roast in the oven. It should be ready in about an hour. Things for a salad are in the fridge." It was her anniversary and yet she had still taken the time to cook for them before she and her husband headed off for an evening together. That was how she worked, their mom in a nutshell. Always doing for her boys before herself. "And please remember to put the rest of the roast in the fridge. I'm sure your father will take a sandwich for work tomorrow." As if on cue Darrel Curtis Senior walked into the room and wrapped his arms around their mother, twirling her once, both of them laughing. All three boys smiled at this, their happiness catching.

"We'd better be off." Their father said, smiling. "You boys be good. And Darry?" He looked at his eldest son. "Don't be out too late okay? " Darry had plans to hang out with Two-Bit this evening, maybe head over to Tim Shepard's house for a while. Darry nodded at his father and the older man pulled all of his boys into a hug before ushering his smiling wife out the door, who didn't stop blowing kisses as they left.

The memory faded as the news sank in. Their parents were here and now they were not. Darry's heart hammered in his chest, and he struggled to maintain his composure, his jaw clenched in determination. Behind him, Pony's face crumbled and tears made their way from his eyes and fell onto his shirt. Whimpers left Soda's body, his shoulders shaking as he fell back onto the couch. They were falling apart; Darry, Soda, and Pony were now all that was left of their family. The tall, thin officer, with reddish brown hair, and a solemn expression may have ushered the two standing boys to the couch and may have explained something about a social worker, but all Darry could hear was the ringing in his ears and the sound of his little brothers hearts breaking.