Best Times Of Our Lives

Epilogue

Disclaimer- I do not own the Outsiders.

It had been a beautiful day. The sun had been shining bright with not a cloud in the sky. It was a warm spring day, but not too warm, with a light breeze that wasn't too cold. The grass was green and the sky was blue and it couldn't have been any better. It was the perfect day for a wedding.

The wedding was over now, though. We were all sitting in the hall that had been rented for the reception. All the guys looked so good, dressed up in suits and rented tuxedos. And all us girls looked beautiful in puffy dresses, especially Caryn, in her beautiful white wedding gown.

The reception had long since ended but the gang was all still there. We were laughing and talking and I couldn't believe that it had only been four years since Andy and I had moved to Tulsa. We were all sitting around one of the tables, all, that is, except for Johnny and Carrie. They were on the dance floor, the DJ had left awhile ago but the radio was on now.

It was the first time we'd seen Carrie in a few months. She was only down for a few days for her brother's wedding. She'd gotten that scholarship. We really missed her when she wasn't around, especially Johnny, but we knew that this was what she had to do and we were all really proud of her. None of the rest of us had gone to college and we were still waiting to see if Pony was going to get a scholarship for being so smart. We wouldn't know until the end of the school year.

I don't know how exactly the conversation got there, but suddenly Steve asked, "So, who's next?" He was referring to getting married.

"Well," Soda began. "It's either those two," he pointed at Johnny and Carrie as they twirled around the room. "Or those two," he pointed at me and Dallas.

I felt my jaw drop a little and I didn't know how to respond. I looked up at Dally and he quickly looked away. We had never talked about marriage. I always kind of thought it was still too far off, after all, I'm only twenty and he's only twenty-one. I looked down at my hands. Dallas' ring was there again, my mother having long since given us her blessing.

"Marie," Dally's voice cut into my thoughts. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"

I agreed and followed him outside into the parking lot. It was a little chilly, being that it was nearly four in the morning, but I was fine. We stood there for a moment before Dally said anything.

"About what Soda said in there," he began. "Is that what you want?"

I thought about it for a minute, and, yes it was. It had always been my dream that I would find my prince charming and fall in love and live happily-ever-after. It's almost every girl's dream.

I shrugged my shoulders. "I dunno," I answered, I didn't want to scare him or anything, truth be told, I was a little surprised it had lasted this long. "I guess, maybe. But if it's not what you want it's okay."

"Marie, I love you," he told me.

I smiled at him, "I love you, too."

He smiled back at me and suddenly dropped to one knee. I gasped and my hands flew to my mouth. He dug his hand into his pocket and pulled out a velvet box. He opened it to reveal a small diamond ring, it wasn't much but it was gorgeous.

"Will you marry me?" he asked nervously.

I nodded my head, tears in my eyes. "Yes," I told him. "Yes!"

He stood up and slid the ring onto my finger. I had never been happier.

We went back inside and everyone looked up at us expectantly. I held up my hand. "We're getting married!" I announced. Everyone cheered.

"Finally," Steve called.

"We've been waiting all night for this!" Carrie exclaimed. I looked around at them all.

"You were all in on this?" I asked.

"Yup," Two-bit laughed.

These truly are the best times of our lives.

What can I say? I'm a sucker for a happy ending! I really hope you enjoyed the gang's endeavors with Marie, Andy, Carrie and Caryn. It's over now and it makes me kinda sad...but, who knows, maybe they'll be back...?

Thanks to all those who read and reviewed!

Rachel