Authors Note...I do not own anything associated with The Outsiders, in any form of media. All characters belong to SE Hinton
This is the continuation to Splintered Ties That Bind, I hope you enjoy this story as much as its predecessor.
Braided Ties That Bind
Chapter 1
The Reunion
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Ponyboy's family had finally found him. The ad in Horseman's Trader revealed where he had fled to when Soda's erroneous military death notice arrived at his Tulsa home nearly two years ago. Ponyboy had been the only one home that day, and within the hour of reading the words that letter contained, he was packed and had fled his home, abandoning what was left of his family, his friends and basically his entire life.
After a series of stops along the way where he managed among other things to obtain a fake identification card, he settled near Wolf Creek, Montana, getting his GED and then enrolled in college. That's where I met him last summer, and from that moment I was intrigued by him. He seemed younger than the eighteen years he said he was, but was also smart, artistic and engaging. He was never dull, always positive in his outlook and I loved spending time with him. Very quickly, I fell in love with him. Three weeks ago he proposed to me while on a picnic, and I could barely breathe as I said yes.
Of course, since he proposed to me, he also revealed to me all the truths - the many secrets he had to have and all the lies he had to create in order to get away from the painful past he fled from, desperate to not be returned to Tulsa and all the pain that existed there for him. The only thing good left in Tulsa for him was Darry, his oldest brother, and a smattering of friends. I knew Darry was still alive – that fact had never been a secret, but Pony had told me Darry was moving on with his own life and he had to do the same as well. He missed Darry more than words could say, but would never allow himself to contact his brother, fearing he would either ruin Darry's chance at happiness or his own. So he lived with that pain pitted in his soul.
So it was a pretty big shock when over an hour ago I answered a knock on the door to find a group of men standing on the porch saying they were his family and friends, that Soda hadn't died and that they had been searching for Ponyboy every day since he left home. "Did he live here?" They wanted to know.
I was stunned. Everything Pony believed was wrong... but how would he accept the real truth? Since I knew he knew Darry and his friend Two-Bit were alive, I had Pony "find" them first in the living room while Soda and their other friend Steve hid in a back room until Darry could gently break it to him.
Darry was gentle about it, but as I sat alone in the kitchen listening to all these events unfold, I could hear the anguish erupt from my future husband the moment he had to have seen Soda. The sobs I heard pouring from him in the other room pulled me out of my seat, but I held back in going to him. As much as I wanted to, it was his family who could help him the most... not me.
I returned to my seat and wiped my tears that were flowing down my face. The tears flowing in the other room were caused by both the immense love they feel for each other as a family and the massive sadness his absence had left them with.
Now with all the pain being purged from their collective bodies and souls, they could heal and begin again, renewed as a family once more.
A calm began to descend in the other room, and for a few minutes I could hear nothing as I sat alone in the kitchen. Then I heard him call my name and I sat up, nervous. I felt as if I had invaded this reunion, even though I wasn't even in the room. He came around the corner and knelt down in front of me, the others watching at the doorway. I could only look in his eyes and see the settled peace that now lay behind those beautiful green irises and knew he was happier. He was whole again. I love him so much and was glad his family was here, that they had finally found him. He had been without them too long. I kissed him and gave my verbal approval of the events taking place.
He then took my hands and helped me to my feet, guiding me forward a step or two.
"I realize," he said softly, looking into my eyes while speaking to them, "that you guys have already met Ashley, but allow me to introduce her to you again anyway. This is Ashley Benning, the young lady I have fallen in love with and have asked to be my wife." At that, a warm feeling filled my chest and my heart began to flutter. He looked at them now and continued. "Ashley, these are my brothers Darry and Sodapop, and our closest friends, Two-Bit Mathews and Steve Randle." He still had my hand in his, softly running his thumb over my fingers.
I could do nothing except smile, nervous again even though I had already spent a few minutes with them before Ponyboy came home.
"Ashley, again, it's wonderful to meet you." Darry said, smiling at me.
"Ponyboy," I turned to him. I needed to leave - I was only in the way here. Two years would not resolve itself in one night. This would take time and my presence was only going to hinder their reunion. "You need time with your family, to catch up, and I have homework to do. I definitely wont get it done here, not now." I said smiling. "I'm gonna go on home. Will you be on campus tomorrow?"
"Yeah, I will. Lunch tomorrow?" He asked me in a whisper.
"Of course." I went back and collected my books and purse.
"Darry, Soda, gentleman... I am so glad you're here." I looked at Pony. "He's needed his family for so long." I gazed in his eyes finding the full truth of that statement swimming there. With one more squeeze of his hand I turned to go. They had a lot to catch up on.
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Darry was the first one to move, coming over to my side and putting his hand on my shoulder.
"Engaged, huh?" He said. Soda came over next to Darry.
I looked at them. "Yeah, I asked her a few weeks ago and she accepted. I love her." Suddenly I realized who I was talking to, remembering this wasn't the type of conversation I was used to having with my brothers. Girls, as far as I was concerned, wasn't something I had talked about...with them or anyone.
"So you love her?" Soda asked me, his eyes focused on mine.
I didn't hesitate, looking him straight back. "Yeah, Soda. I love her, she's the one."
He smiled at me. "You once asked me what love was like. I take it now you have your answer?"
I thought back remembering that night, years ago, alone with Soda in bed, when he told me he planned to marry Sandy because he loved her. I didn't understand love then, hell, who can when they're fourteen years old, but I do now. "Yeah, Soda, I have my answer." My heart had told me so.
He smiled and shook my shoulders. I grinned. His smile could make anyone happy. I had thought that smile was gone forever.
"Funny, ain't it, Darry? We came here to find our brother and end up getting a sister-in-law too!"
"Do you guys like her?" I asked, wondering what they thought.
"You and I are going to have a lot to talk over later, but not right now. She seems like a nice young lady, Pone. You're eighteen now, and it's your decision, but marriage is a forever type of thing. You'd better be sure." Darry cautioned, but seemed happy enough for me.
"I'm sure, Darry. I'm absolutely positive."
"Congratulations, Ponyboy." Steve said from the doorway. Two-Bit and Steve were just standing there not saying a word but smiling at me.
"Speaking of sisters...she got one, Pony? An older one for me? I don't want to rob no cradle or nothing, I'm sure that's illegal up here just like in Tulsa, but I haven't tried any of these Northern gals yet!" Two-Bit said. He was teasing, at least I hoped so.
"No, she's by herself. And even if she wasn't, I'd warn any of them of your antics!" I went over to Two-Bit, chucking him on the shoulder. "I remember your old ways. I doubt you've changed that much."
Within seconds he knocked me down, wrestling with me like we used to a long time ago, but this time it was on my kitchen floor and I was a better match. I had gotten taller and had developed way more muscle and strength than I ever had two years ago. The guys moved out of the way as he struggled to pin me, rolling over me as I again and again was able to get out from under his pin. I heard Soda shout "Go Pony, Go!" and Steve call out "Aww, hell! Two Bit, come on..." and other assorted sayings as we rolled around.
We knocked over a chair and almost overturned my dining table, but I finally pinned him, my right arm around his neck, his left arm twisted up behind his back and my left leg pulling his left leg backward as I hooked it around his ankle. He struggled some, but couldn't move.
"Well, Two-Bit...Uncle?" I sputtered out, holding him tight.
After another minute of pointless struggle, he finally gave up. "Yeah, Pony...Uncle!" He wheezed out. I released him and stood up, panting and catching my own breath. I beamed down at him as he lay on my floor. The spectators were halfheartedly applauding. I straightened my shirt and put out my hand to help him up. He shook his head then grinned at me, taking my hand and getting up.
"Damn, Ponyboy, you eating your Wheaties or something? Where'd you get those guns from?" he asked, poking my biceps with his finger. I looked at him and then over at Darry.
"From the same place he got his, you moron. I am a Curtis, after all, ain't I?" I went over and stood with my brothers. We three matched closer now, in height and build. Finally, the three of us as one.
"No denying it," he said with finality, shaking his head and smiling in amazement, "you are definitely a Curtis!"
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I would appreciate your reviews!
Calla Lilly Rose
