Buck was surprised to see Tim show up with some luggage and a smile. "Dal is fucking crazy," he said with a shake of his head as he pushed past Buck to drop his suitcase in the living room.

Dally was asleep on the couch, just taking a nap, and Tim sat himself on Buck's chair to do the same.

Dally woke him up about an hour later with the gentlest shake of his shoulder and an equally gentle kiss. "Hey there, Shepard." Tim slowly opened his eyes, rolling his head a little at the stiffness in his neck. Dally rubbed at it a little for him. "Good to see you feel the same way," he said, referring to his confession just a few days before.

Tim melted beneath the touch of the working fingertips. "Well, I never said that."

"You want to stay here in this house, and for more than just one night. Can you really look me in the eyes and say you don't love me? You ain't got anything to lose, you know. I already said it first."

"Harder," Tim murmured, groaning when Dally increased the pressure a little.

"Take your shirt off and I can get at your shoulders and all."

Tim slipped out of his shirt, making another soft sound of appreciation as Dally went behind the chair and pressed and rubbed at his shoulders. "You're good at that, huh?"

"Shit, I'm good at everything. Now say you love me, fool."

Tim didn't say anything, so Dally paused. Tim pressed back into the hands for more movement. "Don't just stop."

"You're such a girl sometimes, Tim. Man up."

"If you already know it, why do I gotta say it?"

"Because you're being difficult." He started working at the shoulders again, then had Tim lean forward a little more so he could get his back. "Buck ain't even around right now, so it's just for me. I swear I'll really fuck you if you don't say it." His left hand's fingertips trailed so low they rubbed over his tailbone. "I wanted to do it, you know. I ain't really into rapin' people, but I wanted to see what it would be like."

Tim was very quiet and, Dally knew, contemplative. He pulled back around the chair for another soft peck on the lips.

"You think you'd never said it before. Even to a broad or something."

"I haven't," Tim said, looking slightly afraid, and Dally's eyebrows rose in surprise.

"Well, to your family, at least. Huh? I mean, you and Curly and Angela, you get along alright."

"We don't say that, Dal. Who says that?"

"I say that!"

"Can you just drop it?"

"No. No, I can't. I only say it when I mean it, and Tim, I love you. I know you love me too. I want to go steady with you. I want to be with you as long as we both still want this, and, right now, we do."

Tim looked down at his lap, not looking at Dally.

"C'mon," Dally said finally, taking him by the hand into the kitchen. "I'll heat some leftovers."

Dally set to work with tupperware and pots and pans and the stove and just barely heard Tim call his name softly.

"Yeah, babe?" He turned slightly to look at him.

"I love you."

Dally's face broke out into a slow grin. "Well would you look at that. You didn't die. You ain't even injured."

Tim rolled his eyes. "I'll be right back. Have to put my stuff in your room."

Dally stopped him on his way out of the kitchen and planted a quick, hot kiss on his lips that took Tim's breath away. "That was a reward," he explained, nuzzling Tim's cheek. "Now go move into my bedroom like a proper man-lovin' fag, Shepard."

Tim did just that.

"C'mon. I bet they all already know anyway. Two-Bit's such a blabbermouth."

"You just like shocking people."

"Don't you?"

"I'd rather scare people."

"Ain't it the same thing in this case?" Dally grinned.

"Are you sure they won't get us in trouble?"

"Naw. Your gang is great and all, but these guys are real. You can trust all of them. They're my family, along with Buck. And you now, of course."

"Of course."

Dally parked out front of the Curtises in Tim's car. "You like playin' cards, so don't whine no more. Free food too. Darry's practically a little housewife with the parents dead. Don't scare anyone too badly, though, huh?"

"I ain't makin' no promises."

"Yeah, well anyone's fair game but Pony. And I don't suggest getting on Darry's bad side. He could rip you apart and then tie you back together with your arms."

"I'll behave," Tim promised with a sigh. "I have a feeling I'll need their approval."

"Shit, I got 'em wrapped around my finger."

"Yeah, sure."

"Shut up. I do." He handed Tim the keys, leading him into the house, where Ponyboy greeted him at the door, smiling at both, before he frowned.

"What happened to your neck, Dally?"

"Tim cut me," he said with a grin, grabbing Ponyboy's hand and getting him to trace it. "Tuff, huh?"

"Yeah, I guess so," Pony said. "Why'd you do that, Tim?"

While Tim was trying to formulate some sort of answer, Dal cut in. "You're better off not knowing," he said with a wink that made Pony blush and lead them into the living room.

"Dally's here, and he brought Tim," Pony said, sitting back down next to Two-Bit.

"Your eye's lookin' better," Two-Bit said to Tim.

Tim nodded. "Yeah. Look what I did to Dal in return. Show 'em, Dal."

Dally tilted his head back a little and everyone looked at the thin, but clearly visible line on his throat. Two-Bit gave a whistle. "Damn bastard probably would've killed me," he said when he thought they'd had a good enough look. He took his seat next to Steve.

Tim nodded in agreement at Dally's assessment, grabbing one of the last few chairs from the kitchen and squeezing between Dally and Ponyboy.

"You should be more careful."

"Aw, lighten up, Sodapop," Two-Bit said. "Ain't you never fought with your broad before?"

"Not with a knife, no. Not even keys."

"Well, maybe if your broad wasn't a broad," Two-Bit replied.

Everyone stared at Tim and Dally for a moment, finally getting it, before Tim said, "Well? Someone deal!"

Ponyboy slowly reached for the cards and started to shuffle them.

Dally glared at Two-Bit, then at the rest of them, and Darry excused himself to check on dinner. "Anyone that has a problem with the idea better keep it to themselves," Dally said, throwing an arm over Tim's shoulders, pulling him a little closer.

"I don't have a problem with it," Soda said quickly.

"Me either," Steve said.

Pony kept shuffling, face a little pink. He already knew about them, but Dally didn't know that.

Dally's hand crossed in front of Tim so he could stop Ponyboy with just a hand. "Pony, are you okay with the idea of Tim and me together?" He just looked so flustered.

"Oh, I already knew about it." Pony looked up, meeting his eyes.

"Yeah?" He pulled his hand back. "Good. Good."

"Hell, when I told Pony you two'd called it quits, he wanted you to get back together!" Two-Bit said with a laugh that made everyone join in, if still feeling slightly awkward.

"You're a good kid, Curtis," Tim said. "A good kid."

"So," Two-Bit said slowly. "Now that it's all out in the open . . . which one's takes it and which one gives it?"

"Keith," said Darry warningly, coming back out now that the awkwardness seemed to be over, mostly.

Tim and Dally looked at each other, deciding how they should answer, if they even chose to.

"We both do," Dal said finally.

"You both do?" Soda asked, a little surprised.

"But he likes it more," Tim said quickly.

"Hey!" Dally elbowed Tim hard in the rib.

"Let's play!" said Pony cheerfully, giving the couple one last fond look.