Hi everyone! This is my first story on fanfiction, I am French, and it could be that my English is not very good! So please bear with me if you see a spelling error!

When he opened the door, Soda was surprised by the silence in the living room.

The night at the DX station was quiet and he was anxious to go home. Life with his brothers was settled since he spoke with them in the park. It was happy to see both do much efforts to stop the fighting and they did very well at the moment. Soda smiled at the thought. As he walked into the room, he noticed a person sitting on the couch. His older brother seemed asleep. So exhausted by some last week so hard. Slowly, he approached him and shook his shoulder.

"Hey, don't you think you'd be better in bed," he said. Darry opened his eyes and smile weakly.

"It is you! What time is it?" He asked a little groggy.

"Nearly ten at night, said Soda sitting at his side. Where's Pony?"

"In bed, he was flat! He works very hard on this theme for his class!"

"As you like always!" Soda said, removing a smile.

"Yeah, I guess you're right ! ... Soda ..."

"Yeah!"

"I ... I want to thank you!" Darry came out after a pause. Soda looked a little surprised.

"Why ...?"

"Yes, buddy, if you didn't say all these things, the other night in the park, Pony and I would always fighting on indescribable thing! I ... I don't think I've ever said ... well, you know,how I am grateful ... "

"Stop here, Dar! laughs Soda. You start to be too serious! ..."

"I'm serious, Darry insisted . Believe me! And I want to apologize to you, I feel so stupid for not understand how our shouting matches were difficult for you. I'm sorry ... I'm sorry ... "

Soda could see the eyes of tears border Darry and was surprised to see his brother so overwhelmed by emotion. It was then he noticed the album family hanging out on the couch and had probably slipped Darry's lap while he dozed.

"It is nothing, Dar, Soda smiled gently pressing the shoulder of his brother. The key is that the message is passed, right? "

"You're right, Darry sighed, wiping his eyes with the back of the hand. This album is definitely fills dust! "he said, trying clumsily justify his tears.

"Yes, of course, Dar!" He looked more closely at the photo album and noticed it had maybe eight years ago, at a family picnic in the countryside on a beautiful fall Sunday. Soda smiled softly at the image of a simple and perfect happiness.

Leaning against a tree their father surrounded tenderly their mother leaning against him. Beside them the Little Pony sat quietly, head leaning against his mother and smiling at the camera!

"I remember that day, he said, turning to Darry. Amazing! It is you who took this picture was, right? "

"Yeah, that's it! replied Darry find some excitement in memory. I remember Dad! He said," The best part "," not like that! " or "I 'd better do it myself! "Darry cried the voice imitating his father.

"He insisted that the image is created! Soda added with a sad smile. He was amazing!"

"The best ! Darry sighed. The best ... ". Soda looked at the picture again before asking:

"But where I was, me?"

"Probably in the tree, buddy! Said Darry. Does that surprise you?"

"Uh ... Not really, he said. Mom should not know at this time. It give me a soap, I would remember! "

"Hey, you surprise me! Darry launched before a sad veil covered his eyes again. I miss them," he said.

"Yeah, me too." Soda's eyes then landed on another photo, latest dating can two years or less. The whole band are included. The photo had been taken by their mother. She must have been in her family album, a picture of all "her" boys together. Soda smiled to see each making face break somehow: Darry always serious, neglected arm band firmly crossed over his chest, then Pony and Johnny,inseparable, Two Bits and his clown faces,him next to Steve and the sullen look of Dallas. Soda sighed before looking towards the door. Usually Steve, Dallas ,Johnny could or would open the door at this late hour, seeking shelter for the night. But two of them would never anymore, and even Steve had to spend one night or two at home since that dramatic night. He did not really know why.

"You know, Darry, I ..." he began before the interruption, searching his words .

"What, Pepsi Cola?"

"Oh, uh ... I ... I often wonder how ... how ..."

"How could we get there, Darry finished. Me too,all the time ... I mean ... I ... I know that happened is largely my fault ... "

"Stop, Dar! Soda cut . This is not your fault, it's ... there are several things at once. I mean, ok, you would perhaps not had to play with you, but you were worried! I am well placed to know! But for Dally ... you do not have to feel responsible. And Johnny ... "

Soda stopped,his voice compressed with emotion. Johnny's death seemed so unfair. Not that he forgets Dallas, but Johnny had a so difficult life. He didn't choose to die, he choosen to risk his life for to save others. Soda thought that was so noble, but he couldn't prevent the emotions to submerge him when he thought. But how did all this could happen? Darry realized the wave of sadness invades his brother.

He put his hand on the neck of soda and pulled him on his shoulder.

"Hey, you okay? he asked softly. It is difficult for all of us, you know ..."

"Yeah ... Soda could get hard. It's just ... it's always so hard, that's all ..."

"I know, buddy, I know,Darry sighed, kissing the top of the head of his little brother. We're gonna get through this... right? Why don't you do something with Steve tomorrow night, you don't work, right? You'll have to take Two Bits,it will change the ideas. I 'll intend Pony to watch a movie with him after his homework. "

Soda nodded at the same time a little. There was a time where he embarrassed to cry in front of his big brother, but so many things had happened.

And the fact that Darry wanted to watch a movie with Pony made him to smile. It was a novelty, a good novelty.

"I sometimes wonder how Dad could overcome the death of his friends during the war. I remember it was difficult to talk ... "

"Yeah," came Darry, shaking his head slightly. He clearly remembered his father fleeing the subject, and concern that his sons having to know the horrors even when entering the United States in the Vietnam War.

"But he did it! he added. Through mom,and us to,I think ..."

"You really think ? wondered Soda. Only this?"

Darry gave him an almost imperceptible smile "It was enough for him," he said.

When he thought of his father, what he was remembered thebest was his strength, his laugh, his kindness . He hadn't doubt about how his love for their mother was powerful, how he loved him and his brothers.

Darrel Curtis Sr. loved playing the role of father in which he excelled. He was the best husband, he was hard worker and generous. But that night when Soda was raised this page in the past their father, Darry wasn't very make sure to have given to his brother the right answer. He was not sure that their father had overcome all trauma of war. They haven't left an indelible mark into him . Darrel Curtis Sr. was happy to live ,just happy what that life has offered him. His family wasn't rich, but she had something very more precious, love and respect of each of its members. Darry knew this and thought warmed her heart. But that night, while Soda had gone to bed, the desire to learn more about this period of the life of their father pulled.

He vaguely remembered long ago.

July,1952 .

He was only six years old, shortly before the birth of Ponyboy . He was sitting on the bed in the bedroom of his parents playing with a small object that find so pretty. A silver star topped with a ribbon color American flag. Standing next to ,his father storing objects which he said he wanted to get rid of. Small Darry knew her mother needed rest and promised his father to let her sleep peacefully in the sofa where she slept. Soda sat on the bedroom floor and playing with her teddy plush. At two half years, he was very talkative and said, Darry didn't knew what story, to the old bear wrinkled. Darry noticed the smile appears on the face of his father when he looked at his innocent little guy apply its thousand jokes.

A square of brown paper slipped from his hands fly up Soda that grabs. The little boy looked at the paper and after a moment of reflection ,smiled before entering the sheet with both hands and pull start to tear.

"No, Soda!" Darry shouted, jumping on the floor and quickly snatching the paper from the hands of his brother, who started crying immediately.

"What is happening guys ?their father shouted,forget his arrangements. How many times I must repeat be wise to let mom rest!" He leant over Soda ,pick him up off the ground and hold the little boy in front of him ,wiping his tears with his thumb.

"Darry ... ,sobbed Soda,... is bad, he stole my paper ..."

Darry which froze when his father had raised the voice,exclaimed:

"It is not true Dad ! This thing has slipped out of your hand! ... He wanted to tear!" He handed the paper to his father to prove he was telling the truth.

"And this is for you, Dad!" he added. Darrel did not need to take a look at the sheet of paper that he belonged. He pursed his lips and turned to Soda going to cry.

"But ... it was for to make wings to my bear ..." sobbed the boy. Darrel smiled and kissed her cheek.

"Oh, it is true that Pepsi Cola? Darrel said softly. Teddy wants to make a turn in the air, right?"

"Yes! affirmed Soda. As Dumbo!"

"Ah, like Dumbo, eh? Darrel laughed face the boundless imagination of the little boy who loved the Disney cartoon. Well, we'll help you! "He placed the small Soda on her hip and walked to the door quick and agile not." Let see what you can find in your room ... but shhh! "He said, putting his finger to his lips and Soda imitated immediately." Do not wake up not Mum "A big smile on his adorable mug, Soda nodded vigorously head.

"Son, Darrel turning this time Darry, you will kindly wait on the porch, okay?" Darry nodded timidly asked why father wanted to talk to him alone.

A few minutes later, Darry was sitting on the front steps, the street was quiet on this hot Sunday afternoon in July. Pending return of his father, he began to look more closely at the leaf he had to "save" the hands of his brother. It sagissait an old black and white began to yellow which included five men whose Darry looked at the face. These five men smiled at the target, they were all wearing some sort of jacket and baggy trousers tucked into the base of their heavy boots amount for calves, they have all been accused of various things belt and helmet. Darry smiled acknowledging his father. He seemed much younger and had this smile that he had given some Soda minutes earlier. A sign on his helmet distinguished him from other guys, a red cross and a shoulder bag fell on his hip while the other were carrying a gun. The five men looked like a group of friends, but can be shown a scowl. Darry continued to observe the image with intent when he heard the door open and not on the porch floor creaking. He looked eyes to see his father sitting beside him.

"I'm sorry, Dad, he said immediately. I do not wanna cry Sodapop ! And I did not want him wake up mom.

I'm sorry ... "

"Hey, this is nothing, son, Darrel rubbed over the head of his son. I know you did not want it! If I cried, it was because the baby is coming soon and mom needs rest, that's all ... I'm not angry against you ... "He tapped gently his back and smiled tenderly. Then his eyes fell on the picture between the small hands of his son.

"Hey, Dad! Darry handing him the photo. This is to you!" Darrel grabbed the yellow sheet on which he had a look before sighing out interrogators green blue eyes, he launched his boy.

"You wonder what it is, right?" he asked, knowing the answer.

"Uh ... yes! Darry replied, nodding. Wh ... Who are these gentlemen with you, Dad? "

A shadow passed in the eyes of Darrel, but he leaned against the steps and reached for Darry catched around the waist and sat on his knees. Darry put his little hands on the arm of his father and still observedthe photography that he held.

"You see this guy, Darrel said, pointing to a dark young man with blue eyes on a dirty face and smiling quite right of the photo . He is Danny Walters! He was one of my best friends. Then the one with the big gun there, you see, it's John Timmons! Look! he said, pointing to the young blond man, He take a packet of biscuit in his hand, he always had in his bag, always! It was called "cake" or "Brownie"! "Darry smiled laughed before turn his eyes to the third man, the one who showed that scowling.

"This is John Randle!"

"Why he not smiled like any other,dad? asked Darry. He is not very nice! "

"Well, you know, my son, I guess he had reason to sulk,Darrel explained before resuming presentations. Whoever is accoupit in front,it's Harry Glaswell! He was a very nice guy, he was like mom, very very believer! "Darry nodded and looked at the fifth and last rights.

"And it is you Daddy!" he exclaimed .

"Uh ... So you recognized me, huh? Yeah, it's me, my God, it all seems so far away! "

"Why are you wearing a red cross on your helmet? asked Darry. And you don't have a weapon like the others ...?"

Darrel smiled at his son and then went on:

"This is because, you see, I was a soldier a little bit special, I was called the" doc "..." Darry is vigorously up to his father and cried interrupting:

"A soldier!"

"Well, yes, my son, we were all soldiers! Darrel said. This photo was taken in France, it is also when we fought for the war! "He was not sure of his son six and a half years can understand all the basics of war. What it meant really, and he preferred somewhere.

"So,you see ,the" doc "meant that I had to deal with the others guys when they were injured. You know, a little like when you play Indian and cowboys with friends ... "Darry thought for a minute before approval. When he played with Keith Matthews and his friends, sometimes they said they were injured by evil.

"And where are your friends now, dad, why I've never seen? They live far away?"

Darry noticed that his father's face, the face he had always seen happy, and very rarely angry,had become strangely pale, and his eyes shone as if he could cry. He stood there for a long minute to observe. "Dad?" He said finally.

"Uh ... Yeah, buddy ... Darrel pulled himself together.

"I could one day meet your friends?" Darry asked. Darrel had felt a shiver travel request his son, he couldn't tell him the truth. He couldn't say that of the four men with him in the picture only two, including himself, could have come home.

"Yeah, maybe ..." he replied evasively.

"Yeah ! cried Darry. When?"

"Uh ... well ... ,Darrel stammered before seeing a colored ribbon protruding from the front pocket of his son's combination. It then has the opportunity to change the subject. "Where did you find that?" he said, pulling the ribbon, silver star extirpating the pocket.

Darry who had completely forgotten to front pocket the little object before to save the image ,reduces the guilty and sheepish an air head.

"In your things, he said. You forgot to bed earlier ... I ... I forgot that I had take ..."

"You want to know what it is? Darrel suggested, amused by the childish guilt of his son. Okay, Darry ... ,he laughed. I will not scold you. But if you do not want ... "

"I want to know!"

Darrel hanging the star between his fingers, causing flickering sunlight.

"It's a gem, right, Dad? supposed Darry, staring at the pretty object. As Mom loops in her ears!"

Darrel laughed. "No, son, you see this little object is given to the soldier who has committed an act of bravery . Who are the heroes ... if you want."

"Oh yes, like Superman! cried Darry. You are a hero like Superman!"

"No, my son, not really." Darrel sighed sadly. He knew how and why he received this medal. He had always thought didn't deserve it.

"It is very nice, Dad!" Darry sprung.

"Really! So listen, when you grow up, I will give you, okay? "He ran his hand through his son's hair who looked bright eyes.

"Oh, great! Thank you, Dad!"

"You'll thank me when I give! Come on ! And if we want to see that manufactures Soda, now?"

Darry nodded and went to his knees. He began to climb the steps of the porch when he felt something grab the straps of his overalls and pull back, and before he realized he was in the arms of his father, who leaned heavily against him. He wrapped his little arms around his neck.

"I love you,little man ! Darrel murmured, pressing his face against the hair of his little boy. Very very strong! "

"Me too Dad!" Replied the little Darry.

Darrel kissed the head of his little boy. Darry,Sodapop, the baby would come soon and his loved Emma ,remembers every day how grateful he was to be back in this war in which he had paid a heavy price.

His hand in that of his father, Darry had returned to the house where they discovered that Soda rip dozens of sheets of paper that Darrel had given him, and covered the floor of the boys' room with a multitude of stuffed animals he had put wings, and covered the room in the running. Darry had exchanged a smile with his father and both joined to his game and took every soft toy that spins. The game had silent quickly turned into big laugh, which fortunately did not wake their mother.

Subsequently, some were times Darrel Curtis had discussed the war in front of his sons . Of course, over time, Darry and his brothers have learned that some of his friends were dead. Darry also remembers the wrath of his father when Soda, Steve, Two Bits and Dallas have once time to explode firecrackers in a pot when they were nine or ten years. The noise was heard explosions echo bullets. Darry was fourteen years old, he realized that his fear of noises had cause to his mother, and the fear that Pony and Johnny enjoyed at proximity. When they told his father they were playing war, Darrel Curtis yelled, which was rare for him, and told them that the war was far from transparent.

Looking back now, Darry included the presence of John Randle, Steve's father, at the funeral of his parents . He stayed away but he was here ,maybe for the duty. John Randle, he was with his father, the only one of five young men in the photo to be taken in this war. The two men had never especially not really talk to evoke the past. When Steve came the Curtis home to find refuge , Darrel and his wife took care of him . Darrel doesn't could help John Randle, but he could take care of Steve, in this way, is that John who he helped,because Darrel would never have said thatRandle did not like his son. It was simply lost. It was lost long ago. And even then it did not help knowing.

Darry knew that, like his father, John Randle had lost his friends. He knew what was Steve could feel when Johnny and Dallas death . This is what had surprised when he was take back Steve and Two Bits at home after that,with Soda, they were made a last goodbye to Johnny. Darry had not attended, he was considered more reasonable to stay with Ponyboy and watching over him, he knew that Johnny would have understood. But at their return Soda was too shattered for to drive. He left him with Pony and led silently in the homes of Two bits and Steve.

Mrs Matthews emotion hadn't surprised. Seeing her son back to the house, she hugged and Two Bits who didn't hide his tears. Steve,him, struggled to hide his pain, he tried to keep a straight face, but Darry knew them all as devastated by the loss of their friends. He remembered the reaction of each of his brothers and his two friends in front Dallas collapse on the floor under their eyes. When he parked the truck in front of the cottage Randle, he noticed that John expected near the screen door. Darry had pressed Steve's shoulder before he leaves the truck without a word. This is where, against all odds, John Randle had seized the arms of his son, who passed him by ignoring it, and drew against him in an awkward hug. Darry would have sworn that Steve was all also surprised when he put his hand into the back of his father. John Randle gave to Darry a very slight nod, as if to thank, Darry don't really know what. But it was perhaps his way to thank Darrel Curtis.

Darry felt tormented by this mixture of questions and memories. He didn't know if he could sleep a wink, even gnawing tiredness. He opened gently the bedroom door of his brothers and found them sleeping both the closed point. He smiled, happy that they are there with him safely.

Then he couldn't help entering the room of his parents. The premises were borrowing their presence remains strong. Darry felt his heart when he saw their wedding picture, carefully laid on the dresser of his mother.

It captures a moment. They were both so young, so beautiful, so happy. His mother smiled, her golden hair wearing half a loaf, and covered with a white veil embroidered. She was so beautiful in her wedding dress in long sleeves and lace collar slightly. She looked like an angel. An angel, is what had been telling his father to see her . She had to be for him the perfect contrast with the horrors of war. The light of hope, which enabled him to see the future. Darry looked like his father. He looked like him so much, it was almost disturbing . Darrel Curtis was his age in this photo. He wore a military uniform, and seemed proud, so proud! But this pride wasn't what he had accomplished as a soldier. It was given at the fact that he married this wonderful girl.

Darry knew how his parents have met, he knew many things about their history. But there are things he didn't know about them, no doubt, but especially on his father's past as a soldier.

Now he wanted to know. He needed. He ran his fingers on the picture of his parents and he rested frame gently on the dresser. Then he went to the cupboard at the back of the room and knelt.

Running her hands under foot, he pulled out a small iron chest rust on top of which included a registration wide black letters SOLDIER DARREL S CURTIS.