Summary: After the death of Dally and Johnny Pony starts to loose touch with reality. Who can bring him back after 5 years?

(A.N. This one is kind of long. THere will a break until the new chapter. This is as far as i had prewritten)

Chapter 3-

Soda was happy to see his brother acting like his old self again. He was smiling and that bright look in his eyes was back. He was reading and going out to movies. He even went out with two-bit the other day and asked Soda and Darry to watch Nick while he was gone.
"-Soda. I got to get back to work" Pony's voice said as he entered the store.
"Here" Soda smiled at his kid brother.
"Good. I gotta work, yeknow."
"Yeah. Golly, who would have thunk that you would be the first one of the gang to have a kid" Soda joked.
"Go home" Pony shooed off his family.

"Nicholas, I am Miss. Lynn, I believe Ponyboy had told you about me?" The lady in a skirt and button front top said to the four year old.
"Yes." Nick said looking to the zipper of his jacket.
"Can I ask you some questions?"
"Yes."
"Who is Ponyboy?"
"He is my Father." as the lady opened her mouth, Nick assumed to argue he continued "He takes care of me. He tells me he loves me" Nick defended.
"I see. What do you call him?"
"Ponyboy, Pony. He doesnt tell me what to call him." Nick touched his head, it began to hurt.
"Are you alright?" Asked Miss. Lynn.
"Yes." Nick looked to her, he didnt want to leave Ponyboy and Sodapop and Darry. He liked his new room just fine. He liked when Sodapop told him a story or Darry played with him. Or when Steve came over and told him about magic people.
"Who else are you around when with Ponyboy?" Asked the lady. Her light hair covered one eye. Nick didnt like it.
"Uncle Steve, Two-Bit, Ooh, and Heather" he smiles when he adds the female name.
"Who is Heather?"
"Two-bits baby. Only she isnt a baby. she is a big girl. Like me. Sometimes she says things that i dont know yet. Only because she is a whole year older than me. And she reads to me her books from school about dogs and cats. She's got blue eyes like Steve's car. Steve's car is tuff." Nick beams.
"Tuff?" Lynn asked.
"Yea. Tuff, like cars are tuff."
"Whats not tuff?" Obviously Lynn wasnt smart like Nick. She didnt know what tuff meant.
"work. Pony going away. Tim."
"Tim? Whats wrong with him?"
"He steals my cookies" Nick huffed.
"Oh..." Lynn smiles. "You have lots of friends with Ponyboy?"
"Yes, sometimes Soda brings me to see Pony at work. He works at a car place. Where you feed cars. Do you know what i am talking about? Soda works there too with Steve"
"Yes. Sounds like you have fun with Ponyboy."
"I do!" Nick nodded enthuastically. "i love being with all my friends. You wont take me away will you?"
"Oh no. It seems you need to stay with Ponyboy . Can you do that?"
"Yes, Ma'am"
"Awe, who tought you manners?" Lynn smiles jokingly.
"Darry. He says i gotta be nice to people. I cant be mean or else they wont like me. Do you like me?" Nick asked hopefully.
"I sure do" The lady laughs before standing. "Now lets get Sodapop so he can take you home"
"Okay!" Nick jumped up to follow the lady to Sodapop.

"A-and she asked me about Tim" Nick adds with a mouthfull of chicken.
"Dont talk with your mouth full" says Darry from across the table. Nick finishes chewing his food, making a big deal about his swallow.
"what did you say?" laughed Steve, who had stayed for dinner.
"That he stole my cookie" Nick snorted, taking another bite.
"Good dinner, Pone" Steve says, setting his plate in the sink. Nick laughs, as he always does when someone calls Ponyboy 'pone'.
A knock on the door made the group look to the said door.
"I got it" Nick struggles to get up, sitting on a phonebook.
"I got it" Pony puts his hand on Nick's head to stop him. The four year old pouts but sits back down. Once Ponyboy was out of the room he slummed into his seat.
Pony opened the door, wondering who would knock.
"Pony?" a breathy voice said.
"No, I am not-"
"Please, let me talk" pleaded a voice Nick recognized.
"Curly, I'm not-"
"Please, Pony. I really like you and i want to really date you. We were starting something then you just stopped answering my calls, talking to me. Is it that kid?"
"That kid is mine." Pony hissed
"How?"
"I got custody of him. And he is part of my life now. I know you said you didnt ever want kids, that you hated them..."
"I said i hated Ange's kid. I could give yours a try, and if it doesnt work out i will leave"
"Fine. Prommise?" Pony asked, his voice soft.
"I promise. Lets all go to the drive in friday"
"Alright" Pony said. Everyone heard the door close and Pony comes back in, running his hand through his hair, balling it in a fist and tugging sligtly.
"Stressed?" Steve observed with a smile. "Shepards do that to ya"

Nick hummed as he waited for Pony's friend to pick them up. They were going to see a movie outside. Nick was so excited.
"What is your friends name?" Nick asked, trying to tie his shoes.
"Curly"
"He's Tim's brother" nick remembers. "Shepard"
"Yes he is. And you know. Tim's not bad. he was just playing around"
"He stole my cookie. He's a bad boy" Nick waves Pony off and focus's on his laces.
The sound of a door closing made both boys jump. Thier green eyes darted to the door. Curly stepped through, smiling at the pair. His black hair was grown down the nape of his neck, greased back slightly.
"Hi" Curly smiles dazzling at Pony. Nick stands up, laces still untied.
"Hi, My name is Nicholas Shaynee Curtis. Who are you?"
"I'm Curly Shepard" Curly laughed at the five year old.
"I know you" He cocked his head, trying to remember. It hurt his head.
Pony smiled at the boy. Nick offered his hand to his guardian. Pony took it and they went to Curlys truck.
"Do all the people here own trucks?" Nick asked, hopping into the vehicle.
"No. Its just more convient if we get trucks, can hold more and work longer, ya dig?" Curly asked, looking out as he backed out of the drive way.
"I savvy" Nick giggled, hopping into Pony's lap. He watched the other cars go by. "Thanks for taking me out, Curly" He added, taking a second to glance at the driver.
"No problem, kid"
"Whats your real name?" Nick asked suddenly.
"Charles." Said Curly with a small smile.
"Charles?" Laughs Ponyboy "I cant imagine calling you Charles"
"I am going to call you Charles from now on" Said Nick with some finalilty to his voice.

To Be Continued...
-AndrewStorm