A/N: To those of you reading Stand by Me I'm so sorry I haven't updated! I promise I will soon! I hope you guys enjoy this chapter! :) Thank you guys for reading and for your reviews!

Chapter 12

"The Curtis House"

June, 1968

"Are you nervous?" Two-Bit asked softly, pushing his gear shift into park. Lucy sat with her hands in her lap, wringing them together, eyes wide and distant. Two-Bit smiled to himself. "Lucy."

"What?" Her head jerked up and she looked at him.

"Did you hear anything I just said?" he said patiently. He gave her an amused smile as her eyes widened slightly. He could see her backtracking, trying desperately to remember what he had been saying. Finally, she bit her lip and shook her head.

With a small laugh, Two-Bit said, "I asked if you were nervous."

"No. I'm not nervous."

"Really?" He cocked an eyebrow, watching her continue to wring her hands.

"Really." She cast him "the look" teenagers often set on their guardian when they feel like you aren't listening to them and got out of the car. Still chuckling, Two-bit got out.

"You'll be fine."

"I know."

"Oh, do you?"

"Yes- no." She changed her mind the moment the first word was out of her mouth, shaking her head. "I don't know. I've never fit in anywhere. Why will here be different?"

"Because. You're around Soda and Steve and me. We're already your friends. You're just getting to know the others. Hmm?"

She bit her lip again and gave a small nod. "Let's do this. I'm ready." Two-Bit offered his hand and his sister looked at it for a moment before taking it. Together, they went up the stairs onto the porch and went inside.

As usual, they walked into chaos. Music was playing loudly over a radio. Steve was standing on a dining room chair, brandishing a wooden spoon at Soda, who was dancing around the table, singing along loudly to Hound Dog by Elvis into a spatula. Ponyboy was standing in the doorway of the kitchen with his arms crossed over his chest, looking as if he were trying and failing to be annoyed. Darry was sprawled over the couch, failing completely to look stern and laughing.

Two-Bit glanced at his sister, half of him was trying not to laugh and join in and half worried about overwhelming her. But Lucy's face had split into the biggest grin he had seen on her in a long time as she gazed around. Feeling satisfied that she would be okay (probably more than okay really), Two-Bit raced into the mess.

Ordinary people would be wondering how in the world this mess had started. But this group was not ordinary and that was how he knew his sister would fit in. Neither of them needed to know. They were simply glad it was happening.

"You cannot be Elvis!" Steve was shouting over the music and Soda's rendition. "You ain't talented enough!" Sodapop, of course, ignored this and kept singing. Two-Bit shoved Steve off of the chair and then hopped onto it himself, leaping in to join Soda in the singing. Soda grinned at him delightedly.

"Is it over yet?" Pony asked dryly, his voice cracking with suppressed laughter. The moment Pony spoke, he would have been wishing he hadn't. Soda grabbed him by the shirt and yanked him between himself and Two-Bit. Both boys turned on him, raising their voices until they were nearly shouting the words.

As the song went off, Soda shoved Pony away from him, throwing his arm with the spatula out dramatically. Two-Bit hopped off the chair with a whoop and Steve tackled him to the floor in revenge for shoving him. The music volume immediately went down but the noise level in the house stayed the same. Steve and Two-Bit were hollering curses at each other as they rolled on the floor. Soda was cheering loudly and Ponyboy had finally caved to laughter.

Steve finally got Two-Bit down and grinned around the room. "This is what happens when you mess with me!" he announced.

Two-Bit kicked him off and leaped to his feet, grinning from ear to ear. "Aw, shut up."

Steve threw a grin at Lucy. "Regretting your decision yet?"

"Surprisingly, I'm not." Laughter bounced in Lucy's voice as she spoke, her eyes bright with joy. Two-Bit felt his heart swell happily as he took in the scene. Soda was grinning at Ponyboy, who was getting his laughter under control, Darry was getting to his feet with a grin as long as the block on his face, Steve was still on the floor, his eyes dancing with mischief, and Lucy was in the middle of it all, looking like she had been there all along.

"All right." Darry stretched. "How's dinner coming, Ponyboy?"

"It'd be better if these clowns would give me the spatula and spoon back."

"What are you making that needs both?" Two-Bit asked, collecting the wooden spoon from the ground.

"Nothing but I'd appreciate them back anyway you hoods." Pony snatched the spatula out of Soda's hand.

In unison, Soda and Steve chorused with a low "Oooooh."

"Kid sure is mouthy," Steve observed, arms crossed. He had a calm smirk playing at the corner of his mouth.

"He's gotta be to deal with greasers like you," Lucy said.

"She's only sayin' that because she's mouthy herself. She's gotta defend that little sibling habit of theirs," Two-Bit told them. "Here, Pony, I'll help you." Pony rolled his eyes and muttered something about how he couldn't possibly be much help as he ducked back into the kitchen. Two-Bit went after him, grinning. "I'll have you know that my cooking experience has grown."

"Oh, so now you can make cereal with milk?"

Two-Bit laughed loudly. "That's a good one. You must be real proud of your wit there, kid."

"I am." Pony grinned back at him.

Two-Bit's grin grew as he shook his head, muttering swear words affectionately under his breath.

Lucy looked after Two-Bit as he vanished into the kitchen. A small part of her, almost just a flicker, wished he'd stay put and not leave her. But the rest of her knew that she was just fine.

"If you're wondering if it's always this loud," Darry said, "it is." He reached to the dining room table and began picking books off it. "How many books were you planning to read today, Ponyboy?" he called into the kitchen.

"All of them probably," Soda said before Pony could say a word. His entire face was lit with a mischievous light, something she was used to seeing in him, Steve, and Two-Bit. She had a feeling it was a familiar thing to every member of this gang. Being raised with a brother and a mother with the same sense of humor (a sense of humor that she had herself), it was something that made them feel even more like home.

"Wouldn't be surprised," Darry muttered, shaking his head. He looked up at Lucy curiously. "Are you a reader? Or are you like your brother who has never picked up a book?"

"I read!" came the loud protest from the kitchen.

"I love books," Lucy said. "I've read a lot this past year." Soda, who never read, made a face and mouthed something she couldn't quite make out, although she knew him well enough now that it wasn't difficult to guess the point.

Steve, however, nodded his head in agreement. He, as usual, seemed to have understood exactly what Soda meant. "Yeah, Dare, you should have seen this big ol' thing she was dragging around school a couple of weeks ago. What was it again?"

"War and Peace," she muttered. "I didn't actually get through that one yet. My mom liked it but I don't think I'm old enough for it."

Sodapop shuddered. "Who reads during summer? I didn't even read during school."

"It's true, he didn't," Steve agreed. "I was there. I saw it."

Lucy rolled her eyes, grateful for the familiar banter of the DX boys. "Everyone knows he doesn't ever pick up a book."

"Can you imagine if he actually sat down with one?" Steve asked with a grin.

"Yeah," Darry snorted, "the house would be quiet for a few hours."

"You would miss it." Soda shot him an accusing, although playful, look.

"Oh, yes, I'd miss Elvis being so loud that I had to worry about complaints from the neighbors."

"Ah, they don't care." Soda waved a hand. "And you don't either so don't act like you do. You're a grease just like us."

Darry only grinned at him, he didn't have to do anything else. Lucy watched them with a quiet curiosity. Would she and Two-Bit have that relationship back? That ability to communicate without words? She could see it in this entire gang and, even though it was her fault the connection had faltered, felt a horrible pang for it.

I'm going to fix this, she decided. I'll fix it, Two-Bit. Don't worry. I've got it covered. I ain't gonna let us do anything but grow closer.

"You excited to start driving?" It was Darry, jolting her back to reality. I have got to do something about my wandering mind.

"Yeah," she answered. "But I ain't too sure I want to learn from Two-Bit."

"Hey! I'll have you know I am a great driver!" Two-Bit declared.

Lucy grinned, glad to have gotten a reaction from him. "I drive with you every day. You can't lie to me."

"I can teach you," Soda declared, getting that mischievous glint to his eye again.

Lucy scoffed. "That's even worse."

Soda gave her a wounded look (although the grin he was fighting rather ruined it). "Ponyboy, back me up."

There was a long silence.

"That's Pony's way of not backing him up," Steve said. "The kid worships him so he ain't gonna say anything but…"

"Will someone remove these knives from my back?" Soda asked loudly.

"Sorry, little buddy," Darry said. "You've been out voted."

"Even my big brother!" Soda grinned and shook his head. "Oh well."

"You're tickets speak for themselves, man," Steve replied.

Soda stuck out his tongue. Lucy grinned as she gazed around. It was so rare to see a group of people completely unguared, completely themselves. But this was it. They were genuine and relaxed. They were family and they were willing to let her be a part of them. Who was she to turn that opportunity down?

With that thought, the last of her defenses lowered.