Hello all! Sorry it's been a while. I'm going to be out of state next week, and won't be able to upload, therefore I'm giving you a very long chapter! Sorry again it's been a while since I last updated. I've been working on this for yall. So review and let me know what yall think!
I don't own anything.
"Dar, a Pilgrim? What's this world coming to?" Ponyboy asked himself, and pretended to faint back against the couch. Soda laughed at Ponyboy as he handed Darry the pilgrim hat that his dad had worn the year before. Darry glanced at Ponyboy and shook his head, the kid was dramatic sometimes.
"Don't worry Pone," Soda started, and turned to Mike. "What's it gonna be Mikey? Are you gonna be one of us? Or one of him?" Soda asked, cocking his thumb back to Darry before shaking his head and kiddingly rolling his eyes.
Mike looked between Darry, to Soda, and then to Ponyboy. He laughed at the three, but shook his head.
"I really hate being in the middle of these kinda things" Mike started, but Ponyboy cut him off with a loud playful yell.
"Pick one!" Ponyboy was looking at him intensely, which made Mike and Darry chuckle, but not before Darry told Ponyboy to calm down a little bit.
"I really like that Pilgrim hat you got there Dar" Mike started, but Ponyboy cut him off.
"We are not above bribing" Ponyboy started, and Mike let out a laugh.
"Alright kid, I'll hear you out" Mike said, sitting back. Ponyboy looked at Soda for help, and Soda shrugged. After a minute of silence Ponyboy spoke up.
"If you're on our team we'll win the football game" Ponyboy stated, but Darry shook his head.
"You can't promise that" Darry said, and Ponyboy halfheartedly glared at him. Mike nodded his head at Darry's statement.
"He's right. You'll have to do better than that kid if you want me on your side" Mike said, and winked at Darry. He already knew what team he would be on.
"Well, look at it this way. You're either on his team, and you can't beat him, or you're on our team and you might be able to beat him" Ponyboy said, and Darry smiled as he shook his head. That kid was too smart for his own good.
"You know how competitive you two get, and besides didn't Darry win the game yesterday? Don't you have to show him who's boss?" Soda asked, helping his little brother out.
"And, we have cookies!" Ponyboy added smiling. Darry laughed loudly as his little brother tried with all his might to save his chance at winning.
"Well, you two drive a hard bargain, but I think the Pilgrim lifestyle is calling my name" Mike said, and held out a hand as Soda gave him a Pilgrim hat. Mike held out his hand to Ponyboy, and Ponyboy took it with a sigh. "It was a pleasure doing business with you though" Mike said, and playfully shook Ponyboy's limp arm quickly, making Ponyboy laugh as it flopped up and down.
Darry watched with a smile as his little brother and best friend got along. He then looked at the clock, and got up.
"Time to start cooking boys" Darry said and walked into the kitchen. Soda and Ponyboy followed, unsure of what to do, leaving Mike and Steve in the living room.
After waiting a few hours while the food cooked, the group finally sat down around the table. Darry was at the head of the table. To his right was Ponyboy, and beside Ponyboy was Two-Bit. To Darry's left sat Soda, and beside Soda was Steve. Mike sat on the other end of the table, smiling as he watched the dynamics of the group.
"Well I guess we can start eating" Darry said, but Ponyboy shook his head quickly.
"You havta pray" Ponyboy said, reminding Darry of a job that their dad usually did. Darry smiled unsure of what to say, but at Ponyboy's pleading eyes, he nodded.
After the prayer of thankfulness the group started eating, and ate until they were stuffed. They all sat down in the living room, and groaned because they were so full.
After another hour Darry finally got up. He looked at the boys in the indian hats and smiled. Two-bit and Steve were sitting on the floor, while Soda sat on the couch, with Ponyboy leaning into his side. Ponyboy's head was on Soda's shoulder and his eyes were closed. Darry wondered if Ponyboy was asleep, but his question was answered as Ponyboy opened his eyes, and looked up at Darry.
Darry smiled at Ponyboy, and winked at him before Darry decided to rouse the others from their stuber state.
"You boys ready to play some football?" Darry asked, and helped Ponyboy off the couch.
Soon all of them were outside in the lot, and sorted into teams. Darry and Mike were against Ponyboy, Soda, Steve, and Two-bit and the odds were still in their favor.
Two-bit played quarterback for the indian team, and Mike and Darry switched off for the Pilgrim team. The indian team got the ball first. They all lined up, and Two-bit started the game with a firm yell of "hike". Then they started running.
Darry successfully managed to guard his two little brothers at once, and swiftly intercepted the ball as it was thrown at Ponyboy. Darry then ran the distance of the field, managing to make a touchdown, because none of the boys were able to catch up with him. Ponyboy hadn't tried, and was called out on it by Two-Bit, who had a habit of taking games a little too serious, which was the only thing Two-Bit took seriously.
After a few rounds of football Darry decided to go easy on the younger boys, and he and Mike actually let them win.
After a long day of eating and playing football, the Curtis family and their friends sat around the living room. It was 8 o'clock, and everyone sat around doing nothing until finally Ponyboy got an idea. He quickly ran into the study, and looked at the bookshelf that was filled with multiple books, ranging from fiction to photo albums, and games. Although the family never really had much, their mother and father did manage to buy them family games every now and then.
Ponyboy scanned the game shelf, and grinned. He had the perfect game! He grabbed The Game of Life off of the old dark wood bookshelf and he quickly ran back into the living room.
"Watcha got there Pone?" Darry asked from his chair as he sat up a little bit.
"A game we should play!" Ponyboy said as he enthusiastically shaked the box a little bit. Darry looked at the others and shrugged.
"Ya'll wanna play?" He asked and the others shrugged.
"Oh come on you lazy lot! Let's play a game!" Ponyboy yelled as he ran to the dining room where the table sat clean, and reorganized after today's Thanksgiving lunch. Darry followed him in the kitchen and he shook his head.
"Calm down Pone" Darry said as Ponyboy started to set up the game. Darry sat down and started helping his younger brother while the others came in from the living room. Mike stretched as he sat down in a nearby seat, and helped them set it up.
After the game was set up, and everyone was seated the game began.
"I want blue!" Ponyboy yelled and grabbed the blue car before anyone else could grab it. Darry shook his head, but didn't say anything. Ponyboy sat happily as they played the game, and commented when he felt necessary.
The comments started out innocent, such as when Ponyboy was deciding if his character would go to college or straight into the workforce. Ponyboy sat and looked at the blue peg sitting in the "driver's" hole in the little blue car.
"I don't know" Ponyboy started when it was his turn. "College don't sound like any fun" Ponyboy said as he let the spinner spin until it stopped on a number. "I could just get started with my life" he continued, but he felt Darry looking at him.
"Pony, it's best to go to college. Give your character an education. He will be thankful of it down the road" Darry said, and Ponyboy shrugged.
"What if he doesn't want to go to college?" Ponyboy said, really commenting about himself.
"I think his big brother might have another opinion about that" Darry started clearly understanding, but Ponyboy laughed.
"He don't have an big brother Dar! He's an only child, so he gets to make his own decisions, and he aint going to college" Ponyboy said, finally deciding to go left instead.
By the time his character was ready to pick an occupation, he got stuck with janitor, while Darry, who had went to college, was a doctor, and his character made 10 times as much as Ponyboy's did.
"I bet he wished he would have listened to his big brother now" Darry said, smiling at Ponyboy, Ponyboy didn't say anything back to him.
Ponyboy's next comment came when Soda drew a life card before him, and ended up getting a wife. Ponyboy was happy for his own character though, not having to put up with a girl, and it showed on his face. The men at the table watched him with humor as Ponyboy started commenting on it.
"Man, sorry Soda. You havta have a girl hangin around. That stinks" Ponyboy said, and held his breath as he picked up a Life card. "I sure hope I don't get stuck with one"
Ponyboy happily got a pet instead. Ponyboy went into detail about how his pet was a dog, and sat in the front seat beside his character. Two-bit then laughed, as he took a drink of his beer.
"Pone, you sure know what's up! You don't want no broad hanging around" Two-Bit commented with a slur to his words.
"Two-bit, don't tell him things like that" Darry said from across the table, but it was only half noticed by Two-Bit who was up next.
Things continued peacefully as a few rounds passed. Then sometime during the middle of the game it was Ponyboy's time again.
"I had twins! I didn't even leave the car" Ponyboy commented loudly, and then continued under his breath "Man, I am good!"
The table grew quiet, as they looked at Ponyboy with shock. Ponyboy, after placing his life card down with his others, looked up and grinned innocently.
"I meant at the game" Ponyboy started, but Darry raised his eyebrows.
"Ponyboy" Darry started and Ponyboy's smile grew bigger.
"I meant at playing this game Dar! I swear" Ponyboy said, Soda and Steve started laughing as his little brother tried to get himself out of trouble.
"You ain't even married! Glad to know I taught you well young one" Two-bit started, which made Soda and Steve laugh louder. Darry glared at Two-Bit.
"Stop talking to him like that Keith!" Darry only used Two-Bit's real name when he was annoyed. "He don't know nothing about that, and I don't want him to get any wrong ideas from you, so you just hush up when it comes to this subject. Now Ponyboy, that was very inappropriate young man" Darry said firmly, looking at Ponyboy "especially from you".
Ponyboy lowered his head at Darry's words, he really hadn't meant it the way Darry was thinking, well not completely.
"You have been making comments all night Ponyboy. Another crude comment out of you and we'll put the game up, ya hear?" Darry asked, and Ponyboy could only nod.
He was silent for the rest of the game, mulling over what had happened in his mind. Darry was mad at him again. Darry always seemed to be mad at him, and Ponyboy's mind, and body grew nervous.
Darry didn't want to put up with Ponyboy anymore, Ponyboy could just feel it in his mind. As the game continued Ponyboy began to fidget, his finger would randomly tap nervously on the table, and sometime during the game he wasn't paying any attention to, he began to shake his leg up and down in a nervous fit, as his mind spun deeper and deeper out of control.
Darry watched him closely, and noticed the first time he started tapping his fingers, Darry also noticed as his brother grew increasingly more nervous as the game continued. Darry wanted to say something, but he decided he would wait. Ponyboy needed to learn to come to him.
Though it worried and scared Darry as he watched Ponyboy fidget, Darry fought himself to give his brother a chance to come and talk to him, and he believed Ponyboy would in due time.
Finally the game was over, and Darry started to pick up the pieces, as the others left the dining room, and flew toward the TV, everyone except Ponyboy. Ponyboy stayed behind, and tried to stop the nervous shaking of his legs as he helped pick up the pieces. He watched Darry, as he tried to fight the nervous feelings that were growing in his mind and heart.
Finally when the game was picked up, he found the courage and confronted Darry.
"Darry, I'm sorry for being so crude. Please don't" Ponyboy stopped, feeling stupid that he even brought this up. Darry watched him carefully, and felt bad for his little brother, but pushed none the less.
"Don't what?" Darry asked, and very quickly Ponyboy was looking down at the floor. Ponyboy felt his fingers fidget, and then felt a little bit of comfort as they started to tap on the side of his thigh. Darry gently reached out and grabbed his hand. "Don't what baby boy?" Darry asked again. The gentle kindness in his voice forced Ponyboy to look up, and look at his face.
Darry's face was emotionless. He didn't look mad, Ponyboy thought, and then took a deep breath. Darry's faced managed a smile, as he asked the gentle question again.
"Please don't send me away. I don't want to go to a boy's home" Ponyboy said quietly, and Darry sighed. Ponyboy thought he saw anger flash through Darry's eyes for a second. Ponyboy kicked himself, now he was in even more trouble.
"I'm not mad baby boy" Darry said as if he was reading Ponyboy's thoughts. "I will never send you to a boy's home Ponyboy. I told you that last night. Don't you believe me?" Darry asked and before he could control it, Ponyboy felt himself shrug. It was an honest answer. Ponyboy was never certain about his future, he had ruined Darry's life.
If it hadn't been for Ponyboy, Darry would have been able to go to college, and would have been able to actually become a doctor like his Life character. Ponyboy had messed up his life, and Ponyboy sadly understood that, which is why he grew nervous about being sent away.
Darry sadly looked at his little brother and sighed. Why did Ponyboy think he was going to send him away? Didn't Ponyboy know that he was his older brother's whole world. Soda and Pony made life worth living.
Darry looked at the clock on the wall, and quickly made up his mind.
"Sit down right here" Darry said as he pulled out the chair he was just occupying. Ponyboy sat down and looked up at his brother. Darry smiled, and patted his shoulder reassuringly. "I'll be right back baby boy" Darry said and left the dining room. Ponyboy watched him as he took a right into the hallway, ignoring the living room all together.
A few seconds later Darry came back with an open notebook and a pencil. He sat them down in front of Ponyboy, and tapped the notebook paper.
Ponyboy glanced at the paper, and read the single sentence at the top of the page. It read 'Darry loves me, and no matter what I do I, he will never send me away'. Ponyboy looked up at Darry, and Darry smiled.
"I want you to write this sentence until I tell you to stop" Darry started, but Ponyboy started to protest.
"I thought you said you aint mad!" Ponyboy said and Darry sat down in the chair beside him.
"I'm not mad baby boy" Darry said, but Ponyboy cut him off.
"Then why am I in trouble?" Ponyboy said quietly looking down at the paper.
"This is not a punishment Pone" Darry started. He then put his hand under Ponyboy's chin and lifted his face up to where Ponyboy looked Darry in the eyes. "This is a learning exercise. I want you to know deep inside you that I love you honey. Nothing that you ever do, in your entire life, will ever make me send you to a boy's home. I will never stop being your big brother baby. I need you to understand that. This will help you until you do" Darry said, and though Ponyboy didn't want to, he nodded.
"How many times do I have to write it?" Ponyboy asked as he picked up the pencil.
"Until I tell you to stop" Darry said. Ponyboy thought he was going to leave him in the kitchen alone, but Darry stayed, and hummed to Ponyboy as he wrote. Darry also lovingly ran his fingers through Ponyboy's hair.
The two of them got lost like this, until Darry came back from his daze, and looked down at the paper where Ponyboy was writing. he was about to start his second page, and Darry noticed Ponyboy was struggling as the time passed, this was apparent because of the constant yawning Ponyboy had been doing for a few minutes.
Darry glanced at the clock on the wall and read the time to himself. 10 o'clock. Ponyboy had been writing nearly for nearly 30 minutes, and Darry decided it was enough for now. He could always bring it back out of Ponyboy needed reminding. Darry watched as Ponyboy finished the line he was on, and then he cleared his throat.
"I think that's been long enough, what do you say baby boy?" Darry asked, and Ponyboy looked up at him with a small grin. Ponyboy's eyes drooped with tiredness, but Darry knew he needed to talk to him.
"I'm sorry I thought you were gonna send me away" Ponyboy started and Darry pulled him into a hug, which ended up with Ponyboy sitting comfortably on his lap, seeking comfort. "I'm also sorry I was crude" Ponyboy continued.
"Now you know that I'll never send you away right? No matter what you are my baby brother, and I love you with all of my heart Ponyboy. You are my life. I will never send you away. I think you understand that now right?" Darry asked and Ponyboy nodded quietly into his brother's shoulder. Darry continued. "If you need help remembering in the future, we can always do this again. Now about the other subject, I accept your apology, however what you said is still not ok Ponyboy."
"I'm sorry" Ponyboy started, but Darry stopped him by rubbing his back softly.
"Do you even know what you were talking about?" Darry asked, and grinned when Ponyboy shook his head into his shoulder. His baby brother, so innocent. "Then why did you say it?" Darry pushed, feeling as though it were connected to something else, as most things were, when it came to children.
"I don't want y'all seein me as a kid" Ponyboy said quietly, and Darry chuckled.
"Honey, you are a kid. You don't need to know anything about what you said, or what Two-Bit was talking about, for a very very long time. Enjoy your childhood Ponyboy. Be a child while you still can kiddo. Leave the adult stuff to the adults alright?" Darry asked and felt Ponyboy nod into his shoulder. His baby was sleepy, but Darry knew they needed to talk about this now.
"Ok Dar" Ponyboy mumbled, and Darry chuckled. "Sorry" Ponyboy said again, and Darry rubbed his back gently. Darry felt Ponyboy relax in his hold, and he figured he had kept the kid up long enough. With everything going on lately, he didn't want to be another reason his little brother wasn't getting enough sleep.
Darry gently stood up, picking Ponyboy up as he did. Ponyboy laced his arms around Darry's neck and sleepily nuzzled into his comfortable shoulder. Darry walked, with Ponyboy attached to him, into the living room, and tried to control his laughter as best as he could, as he tried not to wake up Ponyboy, or the others who were passed out in the living room.
Darry looked at the group, they were asleep where they sat. Soda and Steve were sitting close on the couch, and both ended up falling asleep on each other. Mike had sat back in the chair Dary had been sitting in earlier, and fell asleep. Two-Bit was the funniest sight though. Two-bit had laid out in the floor, with his beer can sitting beside him, and had fallen asleep.
Darry shook his head, he stepped over Two-bit and went to the front door. He quickly locked the doors and cut off the lights, still carrying Ponyboy, and went to his bedroom. He laid Ponyboy down on his bed, and quickly took the jeans off his little brother, leaving him in his underwear, and t-shirt. Darry then changed his own clothes, and looked back at his baby brother on the bed.
Ponyboy was cuddled up with the blankets because Darry was not beside him, but as Darry pulled the blanket back, and laid down beside Ponyboy, Ponyboy curled up next to him, and though Ponyboy was so asleep that he was gone to the world he laid his head on his big brother chest, and grinned.
Even in his sleep Ponyboy knew where he found comfort, and love: in the arms of his oldest brother, as it had been for all his life.
Thank you for reading! I hope you all enjoyed! Please leave me a review to let me know if you liked it and also to let me know if you want me to continue this story! Also- Merry Christmas!