Thank you to everyone who took the time to read my story! Your support is what keeps me going! That and Ultra Red Mosnter. XD

Disclaimer: I still don't own The Outsiders. My girl S.E. Hinton does.

PART II

The first thought that came to Ponyboy's mind when he woke up was I fell asleep? He knew he had wandered away from home following what he had been calling "the incident". But he hardly remembered making his way to the park and passing out one of the benches, of all places. Closing his eyes again, he frowned at the feeling of cold and damp wood pressing against his cheek. The strange ridges and cuts of the wood would certainly leave marks all over his face, whenever he decided to get up.

Not like the ones you left on Steve, Soda's voice growled in his mind. Ponyboy shivered at the thought of Steve lying bruised and broken at the bottom of the porch steps leading to their house. Dark eyes staring up at him. Once upon a time, he dreamed of replacing that cocky and condescending look once and for all. But never in a million years did he imagine that look becoming the haunted gaze that Ponyboy had etched onto his face. He couldn't believe he was responsible for that. Or for the fury that would permanently be painted on Soda's face because he let his emotions get the best of him. Because he couldn't control himself.

I can't even look at you, His brother had said to him. Somehow those few words brought about a hurt he hadn't felt since the accident.

Ponyboy swallowed the lump in his throat as he hugged his arms. Really should have worn a jacket. He thought. No sooner than that, a warmth had settled on his right shoulder. Not the wind dying down. It had a weight to it and was firm and calloused against his skin.

A hand.

Someone was touching him.

He lurched forward, upper body springing into an upright position. The motion gave him a headache, but he couldn't worry about that right now. He wasn't about to let some soc jump him. Except it wasn't a soc. In fact, it was the last person he expected to see at the park in the middle of the night; besides himself.

"Darry?" Ponyboy said in disbelief as he looked up at his brother. He was standing over him, pale blue eyes bloodshot from what must have been lack of sleep. Despite the cold, there had been beads of sweat dropping from his hair and down his brow.

How long has he been looking for me? I can't believe he actually cared enough to look for me. Ponyboy thought. On the one hand, Ponyboy felt something tug at his heart. He felt…well he felt reassured. Sure, he knew that his brother loved him and Sodapop, but sometimes that love seemed halfhearted. He always felt like he had to fight to get any kind of feeling from him, so it was nice to know that he actually mattered to him for once. On the other hand, the fact that it was him and not their other brother had once and for all cemented into Ponyboy's mind that Sodapop truly did not care about him anymore. That revelation brought tears to Ponyboy's eyes.

And of course he came looking for you. Do you have any idea what kind of trouble he'd get in with the state if he hadn't? The older man looked like he was about to have a heart attack. Ponyboy watched as he took a breath, no doubt preparing to unload onto Ponyboy another speech about how he never used his head. How he was ruining everything. Ponyboy beat Darry to the punch.

"There's nothing you can say that will make me feel worse than I already do. So if you're going to yell at me or hit me just do it already." Ponyboy said lying back onto the bench. He curled his knees towards his chest, awaiting the barrage of shouts.

Whatever words Darry had in mind, had melted at the misery that had taken over his brother. He sighed heavily, puff of vapor punctuating his stress. When he had woken up to raised voices in his house, he expected it to be over something trivial like a heated poker game. Not the fight that had apparently taken place right outside the front door. Between Ponyboy and Steve. He knew the two weren't buddy buddy with each other, but a goddamned smackdown was the last thing he expected. He wasn't happy to hear that his youngest brother had gotten into a fight, but was glad that he was able to hold his own. Pony, as tuff as he tried to be, was one of the kindest people in the world, he wasn't one for conflict. So it wouldn't have surprised him if Steve was the one started it all. What did surprise him was that Soda had the nerve to, not only choose Steve over Ponyboy, his brother, but to run him off as well. They were going to have a long discussion when they got back.

Darry shook his head as he returned his attention to his youngest brother. He leaned down before slowly putting his hands under Ponyboy's arms. He gently pulled him up so he was sitting upright. Darry kneeled in front of him, so they were face to face then.

"I'm not going to yell at you." He promised. That was the last thing his brother needed right now. When Ponyboy wouldn't meet his gaze, he used one of his knuckles to tip his chin up until he was peering into dull grey-green eyes.

"And I'd never hit you."

"I wouldn't blame you if you did," Ponyboy moaned, burying his face into his hands, ashamed, "I deserve it, after today."
"Hey now—" Darry frowned. Ponyboy leapt from the park bench.

"It's true!" His voice cracked before he let out a sob, "God I messed up bad, Darry! Really, really bad." Darry watched concernedly as Ponyboy began to pace, pulling a nervous hand through his hair every now and then.

"I didn't mean to hurt Steve like I did. I just wanted him to leave me alone. But he kept saying all these horrible things and I just couldn't take it anymore. And now," Ponyboy was hyperventilating, fumbling with his hands, "well Steve already hated me, but now Soda hates me too and—I—I don't know what I'm gonna do!"

"Pony. Breathe, honey." Darry says taking a hold of his arms, before drawing him into hug. He placed a firm hand on his back and another on the back of his head. Ponyboy wrapped his arms around his waist, hiding his face in Darry's chest as he began to cry. Darry watched sadly as the events of the past few hours finally began to take its toll on his brother. They stayed like that for a while and Ponyboy was really grateful, in that moment, that Darry was with him.

"I want you to listen to me okay?" Darry said. He waited for his brother's nod before he continued, "I know you didn't mean it. You're not a bad person Ponyboy. No one thinks you're a bad person. But you're not perfect either. You're going to make mistakes, like today. You, Steve, hell Soda too, let your hearts run away with your heads and now…" Darry finally drew away from Ponyboy, he thumbed away the remnants of his brother's tears, "I know things seem kind of hopeless now, but you can't beat yourself up about it forever. It'll destroy you." He looked at him meaningfully. "You've got to move on."

"I know." Ponyboy whispered, "I just—where do I even start?"

"Forgiving yourself maybe? That's always a good place." Darry smiled sadly. He guided his brother back to take a seat park bench, settling down beside him.

"Yeah" Ponyboy sniffed, leaning his head on Darry's shoulder. They didn't say anything for a while and just watched the fountain.

"Do you think he'll ever forgive me?" Darry didn't need to know who he was to answer his question. Darry slid and arm across Ponyboy's shoulders, pulling his closer.

"I know he will," Darry says confidently, "He loves you more than life itself."

"I love you, Darry." Ponyboy said. He meant it.

"I love you too, baby." Darry said kissing his forehead, "Now can we go home? Its freezing out here and you're not the only one that didn't bring a jacket." Darry said rubbing is arms rapidly.

Huh, didn't expect this to become this long. But I guess this is a three-shot now! Thanks for reading! Stand by for part III.