Here it is, the squeal to Something Golden. It takes place almost ten years after Ponyboy and Matty graduate high school. But there will be flashbacks to things that happened between now and then. I hope everyone likes the first chapter (its kind of a long one) and for anyone who wants it, here's a list of the kids:

Ponyboy and Matty:

Angel-4

Darry and Laura:

James-8

Nathan-6

Dahila-3

Sodapop and Emily:

Xavier- 9

Rachel-7

Dane-5

Wendy-2

Two-Bit and Kathy:

Mickey-5

Steve and Evie:

Melissa-7

Ben and Hannah (OCs):

Georgia-8

Michael-5

Ok here it goes!

Prologue

It was the morning after Matty and I made love for the first time. The sun was in the middle of rising, so the run was light with a bright yellow light. I woke up before Matty, I just stared at her for the longest time. I didn't wanna wake her, she looked so peaceful and happy when she was sleeping. She had the blankets pulled up above her chest, and her hair hung loose and it spread out around her on the pillow. I remembered how she was last night. She was playful but affectionate. I remembered hearing how when a girl does it for the first time, it can hurt. I was a little worried at points if I was doing that to her, but she didn't complain, she mostly said my name and at one point she said she loved me.

I don't know how long I watched her for, but her eyes finally began to flutter opened. I leaned over and kissed her cheek. She looked over at me and smiled. "Good morning." I greeted her. "Morning." She answered. "You ok?" I asked.

"Perfect. Why?"

"I just didn't want to have "The Morning After" regrets." I explained. Matty made a tiny chuckle.

"Ponyboy, you're seriously too sweet. And no, I lost it at the right time with the right guy."

"Good." I said. She then came closer and kissed me. "I love you," She said quietly. "I love you more," I replied playing our little game. She then kissed me again, this time longer. I let her roll over on top of me. For a minute I thought we were going to do it again. But we finally stopped before we went any farther.

"I should probably take a shower." Matty told me.

"I'll start breakfast." I said. Matty crawled off of me and pulled the blankets off. I got a sneaky peek before she found my shirt on the floor, put it on and walked down the hall. I watched her, and as I did, I thought to myself, "She's the only girl I ever wanna make love to. I'm gonna marry her someday."

Chapter 1

It was Saturday morning, two days before we were moving to San Diego, when Darry called me up and said he was having a goodbye BBQ for us that night. Although we had lots of packing to do, but I couldn't say no. Sides it's not like Darry to do a spur of the moment thing like that, so I wasn't gonna back it down. I was gonna miss Darry, and his wife Laura. And they're kids. After Sodapop moved to live with Emily I got closer to Darry. Now we're rising kids together. I remember the time when my daughter Angel was 6 months old and both me and Matty got sick . Darry and Laura took care of Angel for us. So I would definitely miss them.

When I told Matty about the BBQ she was laying back on the couch watching Sesame Street with Angel. But Angel wasn't really watching, she was sitting on the floor flipping through a picture book. She likes reading too, just like her parents. One of us always reads to her before bed. Then in the morning she picks up the book from the night before and tries to remember the words the best she can. She really wants to learn how to read. Since she's 4 but starting kindergarten in September, she's worried all the other kids will be smarter than her. But I don't think she has anything to worry about.

When I walked in and she came running over to me. Angel can be a daddy's girl a lot. But she also loves to be around Matty, it really depends on her mood. When she got to me I picked her up.

"Wanna go to Uncle Darry's and Aunt Laura's tonight for a BBQ?" I asked her. She nodded. "James doesn't wanna play with us anymore though. He says he's too big, cause he's going into the 3rd grade." She informed me. For Angel, anyone pass 6 seems very old to her. I remember thinking like that.

"That's ok, you still have Nate and Dahlia, and Mickey." Two-Bit's son Mickey is her best friend. She also plays well with Steve and Evie's daughter Melissa whose 7, but they don't see each other too much.

"Daddy, can they come with us to San Diego?" She asked. "I'm sorry honey, they have to stay with their mommies and daddies. But you're gonna to meet your Uncle Sodapop and Aunt Emily, and their kids." I reminded her. "How come he's named after a drink?" Angel asked. She likes to ask a lot of questions.

"You're name after one of God's helpers." I told her, and she blushed. Matty laughed, while Big Bird counted to 5 on TV.

I love Angel from the bottom of my heart. When I met Matty, I didn't think I could love anyone as much as I love her. But then Angel was born. And she became the other love of my life. She was me, but she was also Matty. She was so beautiful. I know everyone thinks that way of their kids, but I literally haven't seen anything as precious as Angel.

I finally put her down and then went over and sat down next to Matty. I kissed her forehead and rubbed her cute little pregnant belly. It was already getting big since she was having twins. Although pregnancy can wear her out, she stays beautiful and can take care of Angel without breaking a sweat. She's just the perfect woman.

Angel came walking over with the book she was looking trough. "Hey Daddy, I know that word." She said pointing to the word the. "What is it?" Matty asked her.

"The." She answered proudly. "Very good." I praised her. "It's in there a lot." She said. She then looked at Matty's stomach and changed subjects.

"Mommy, can the babies breathe in your belly?" She asked Matty. "Uh-huh, they can." Matty answered her. "What if one baby breathes all the air and the other baby gets none?" Angel asked, concerned. "That won't happen." I promised her.

"When will we find out if they are boys or girls?" Angel asked moving on. "When they're born." Matty answered since we decided to be surprised. "I want them to boys." Angel declared. "Why not girls?" I asked. "Cause we already have a girl. And if they were boys we could name them Nate and Mickey and then it will almost be like the real ones are living in San Diego with us." She explained.

Me and Matty laughed. We don't know where she comes up with this stuff. But then again you can't really tell what's going on inside a four year old's head.

Angel went back to her book while keeping one eye on the TV. Matty rested her head on my shoulder, I felt like a teenager again. She use to do that a lot when we first started dating, she doesn't as much anymore.

"You ok?" I asked her. "Yeah, just tired. You know, the babies and the moving and being a mom." She answered. "Think you'll be able to go to the BBQ tonight?"

"Yeah I'll be fine." I then kissed her head and watched Angel try to learn more words in her book.

…

We got to Darry's around 5:30. Him and Laura are doing good. Laura is still a teacher, she had to take a couple of maternity breaks but besides that she doesn't plan on stopping anytime soon. Darry is still is in the roofing business, but now he's co-owner of the company. He makes more money now. About 6 years ago him and Laura sold our old house that they were still living in and got a new one near ours.

Actually, one by one all of us moved out of the old neighborhood. It was getting more rough. More rumbles going on, stuff like that. Definitely not like the neighborhood we grew up in, and even that wasn't the best. We all bought nice houses, just not in the South side. We were pass the whole Socs rivalry, we were too old for that now. We just didn't wanna forget our roots.

We were the first ones there. Laura and Matty hugged and Darry and I shook hands. Now that we're both dads, our age difference doesn't seem as big as it use to be. Angel ran out to the backyard to find Nathan and Dahlia splashing around in a wadding pool. "Can I get into my bathing suit now, Mommy?" She asked Matty. "Sure, I'll help you." She answered.

"No, I'll help her, you sit down Matty." Laura said.

"C'mon Laura I'm not that pregnant yet." Complained Matty. She's still as headstrong as she was at 15.

"Yeah, but you are pregnant with twins, and a guest. Plus this BBQ is for you, so just take it easy. You're gonna be very busy pretty soon."

Matty sighed. "Fine, but I'm at least making a salad." She stated and Laura didn't put up a fight. She just lead Angel to the bathroom who was telling her about moving San Diego.

Darry and I started the grill up. Then his oldest James walked down from his room. He had an action figure in his hand. He walked out to the backyard and glared at his younger siblings.

"They're such babies Uncle Ponyboy." He said to me. "I know it seems like that now, Jamie, but it won't soon."

"No it always will. You should 'em, they really are babies. Nathan is still learning how to read, and Dahlia still wets the bed sometimes."

"Hey, James, stop. Why don't you go play in your fort?" Darry said. He pointed over to some bushes near a fence that had a opening in them that James used as a little hideout sometimes. James thought about it. "Fine, just don't let the little kids in there." He warned then began walking towards it. Darry shook his head.

"He's been acting like that a lot lately. He thinks he's too tough and old for them. But you know what? He's actually pretty protective of them at the same time. The other day at the playground some kid tried stealing Nate's truck and James scared him off for him." Darry explained to me.

"Kinda sounds like you." I teased him. He playfully punched me. He then started making burgers when Two-Bit and Steve showed up with their wives and kids. Both of them are doing pretty good. Steve is now the owner of the DX him and Soda use to work at. For whatever reason the original owner left it for him in his will. Probably cause he worked there the longest. And Two-Bit works part time. Kathy ended up going to college and now has a full-time job, so most of the time Two-Bit is at home taking care of Mickey. He may sound strange since he is the man of the house, but if you ask me he likes it that way. He's a great dad. He's already teaching Mickey jokes too.

When Angel saw Mickey she ran out of the wadding pool to hug him, getting him all wet. But neither one of them cared. When Steve's daughter Melissa showed up Jamie let her into his fort. She's the only one he considers grown up enough, even if she is a girl. Kids are just silly.

The kids all played together while us adults talked and got food ready. When it got too cold to swim anymore, Matty was able to get the four little kids out of the wadding pool and dried them all off. When it was time to eat, we all sat outside. It was the beginning of June, so it was finally nice to stay out late. There was one table for the kids and another for the adults. James and Melissa sat with the four younger kids without complaining. Once they started talking to them they forgot they were suppose to be babies.

At one point, we got quiet and I just said sub-consciously, "I'm really gonna miss you all." and everyone got real sympathetic looks. I could tell we were all flashing back to good times we had with each other. I thought of the day I met Matty. On the first day of school. How captivated I was by her hair. It was still the same color. But now it was cut differently and she didn't wear it like she use to. Then I thought of the night we made love for the first time, then the morning after, when I decided I was gonna marry her someday.

"We'll miss you guys too." Said Two-Bit. I could then feel Matty's hand intertwining with mine. "You guys really helped us through a lot. We can't thank you enough." She said.

"Don't need to, we're here for you. Weather your living in Tulsa or San Diego." Steve answered. "You guys will do great out there." Darry encouraged us.

I looked over at Angel. She was sitting in between Mickey and Dahlia. Her and Nathan were having a sword fight with French fries. She was laughing as James told everyone a joke. Angel plays well with other kids, I think she'll be able to make friends once she starts kindergarten. And I'm sure she'll like Soda and Emily's kids.

Then I looked at Matty. Matty has been through so much in her life, moving a lot is one. She's learned to adjust to things quickly. And even if she has not one but two other lives depending on her, she can handle it and wake up with a smile on her face. And she's good at her job. The kids she gets homes for really like her, she really relates to them too. She'll do great in California.

Me, I'm not so sure. I know I'm a good father and writer, and it will be easier to be in contact with my publisher now. And I miss Soda a lot, so I'll be happy to see him. And I always wanted to live in California. But I was gonna miss all my friends here. And this is where I lived my whole life. Although there are some bad memories here, there's also so many good ones. I would miss it, but it was time for a new place.

I kissed Matty's head then agreed with Darry. "Yeah I'm sure we will."