Hey Yall! What's up! Happy NEW YEAR! :) Sorry it's been a while since I've updated. I hope you enjoy.

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The bed shook gently, rousing Darry from his sleep, he kept his eyes closed though, and through his eyelids he could tell the sun was shining. He took a deep, silent breath and cracked one eye open. He checked the time without moving his head, and inwardly sighed. 7'o clock on a Friday morning, and of course his littlest brother would be awake. Darry had been hoping to sleep in, for one day at least.

He tossed that idea out of the window, as he felt the bed shake again. He then heard a small giggle, and turned his head slightly to look down at his little brother who was still laying beside him. Ponyboy was laying on his back, with a small smile on his face, and when he felt Darry watching him, he looked at his big brother with a smile.

"Ponyboy" Darry started with a deep firm voice, aware of what Ponyboy had done. The boy had chocolate icing in a ring around his mouth, and Darry knew he had been in the leftover cookies from the day before.

"I didn't do nothing Dar!" Ponyboy started, and Darry sat up a little bit, trying to hide his amusement. His little brother sure was cute sometimes. Ponyboy was still smiling as he tried to pretend he didn't do anything.

"Don't lie to me Ponyboy" Darry said, his voice was still deep and firm, but inwardly he was laughing at the cute little boy beside him. "What did you do?" Darry asked, trying to make it seem like he was clueless.

"I may have eaten a cookie or two" Ponyboy said in a small voice. He knew better than to lie to Darry, and he knew they had the weekend to do anything they wanted, and Ponyboy didn't want to mess it up before the fun could start.

"Thank you for being honest with me. I'll remember that later when it's time for cookies" Darry said and Ponyboy frowned, but then smiled again. "Now go get cleaned up, and you can help me make breakfast" Darry continued, and Ponyboy jumped out of the bed quickly, and ran off toward the bathroom.

Darry shook his head, and chuckled. Today was going to be interesting for sure. Darry stretched as he got up, and changed into jeans and a t-shirt before he left his room, and walked to the kitchen in silence.

The other boys, except for Mike, were still asleep, and Darry intended to keep it that way, at least until he had his coffee. Mike was nowhere to be found, and Darry could only assume he had gone running again.

Darry poured himself a cup of strong black coffee, and leaned against the cabinet as he sipped on it. Soon Ponyboy was quickly walking through the living room, and Darry smiled at him as he entered the kitchen.

"You knew!" Ponyboy said with a frown and Darry shrugged.

"I knew what?" Darry asked, playing dumb.

"You knew I ate cookies before I told you! Why did you even ask?" Ponyboy asked. He was confused if he was anything.

"It's called integrity kiddo" Darry answered, and waited to see if that needed further explanation.

"What's integidy?" Ponyboy asked, and Darry smiled.

"Integrity baby boy. Integrity is being honest. You showed integrity when you confessed. Even though I knew what you did, you didn't lie to me, and that's showing integrity."
"Do you have integrity?" Ponyboy asked as he looked up at his older brother.

"I try to have integrity. It's very important that you always try your hardest to have integrity, and to do your best" Darry said and Ponyboy nodded.

"Did dad have integrity?" Ponyboy asked and Darry took a breath he didn't know he was holding.

"Dad? Dad had the most integrity of any person I've ever known. We owe it to his memory to have integrity. He taught Soda and I integrity, and now I'm teaching it to you kiddo" Darry said with a smile, and Ponyboy slightly grinned back at him. Darry knew something was up.

"Do you think dad and mom would be proud of me?" Ponyboy asked as he looked down at the ground. His fingers were shaking nervously, and he felt kind of sad.

"Look at me baby boy" Darry said gently, and Ponyboy did. Darry almost didn't notice when Mike entered in the doorway, and was watching the two of them. "Mom and dad are so very proud of you. They are watching from heaven, and I know they are proud of you. Why do you ask?" Darry asked and held Ponyboys fidgeting hand.

"I get nervous sometimes that I don't make them proud. I mean, after all I've done, how can they be proud of me? And sometimes I forget them. I don't mean too, but sometimes, when it's you, me and Soda having a good time, I forget about mom and dad. Do you think they're mad at me?" Ponyboy asked sadly.

"Ponyboy Curtis. Mom and dad are very proud of you. They love you very much, and they would never be mad at you. Ponyboy, you're young, and I'm sorry to say, but you will forget with time. As time passes we'll think less and less about them, but they won't be mad. Want to know why?" Darry asked and Ponyboy nodded "They would want us to continue with our lives. They will never be forgotten baby boy. They will always be right here" Darry said and pointed to Ponyboy's heart. Ponyboy nodded, and smiled at Darry before holding his arms out.

"Thanks Darry. You're a swell big brother" Ponyboy said as he tightly hugged Darry. "I love you" Ponyboy mumbled into his shirt, and Darry smiled. He leaned down to kiss his little brother on his head, and smiled wider.

"I love you too baby boy" Darry said, and let Ponyboy pull back when he was ready. Ponyboy frowned again, and sighed.

"I'll be right back. I've got to go make something right" Ponyboy said and ran out of the kitchen. He bid Mike a good morning as he ran by, and Darry looked confused for a second before he shook his head. Nothing surprised him anymore.

Mike stepped into the kitchen and patted his best friend on the shoulder.

"You're real good with him Dar. Him and Soda too. Your parents are proud of you too ya know? Don't you forget that either" Mike said as he stepped past him to grab a cup of coffee. Darry was going to say something, but got cut off with a yell and laughter from the living room.

"PONYBOY!" A voice yelled from the living room, and Darry sighed.

"Thanks Mike. They're proud of you too. Let's go see what this is about" Darry said, and quickly went into the living room where Steve was angry as a bull who was seeing red.

"Alright, alright. What's going on?" Darry asked as he stepped into the living room. Steve sat on the couch angrily, and Ponyboy stood in the living room doorway that led to the hallway. He had a frown on his face.

"I was trying to fix it before he woke up. I was trying to have integrity Darry" Ponyboy said quietly. Darry was confused, that was until he got a closer look at Steve's face.

Someone had drawn on Steve's face with a marker. Steve was now a proud owner of a pink mustache and a beard, as well as glasses, and by what Ponyboy had just said, he was the criminal in this case.

"Ponyboy" Darry started, but Ponyboy stepped toward Steve with his hands up, holding a wet washcloth.

"I'm sorry" Ponyboy said, and handed the cloth to Steve, who stood up. He glared at Ponyboy as he walked past him.

"Brat" Steve said, then walked down the hallway and into the bathroom. He shut the door with a loud slam.

Soda, and Two-bit were too busy laughing to notice the sad look on Ponyboy's face.

"Ponyboy, that was not a very nice thing to do" Darry said, Soda and Two-bit quietened down a little bit, but they were still laughing at their friend's misfortune.

"I said I was sorry, and I tried to fix it" Ponyboy said, and Darry sighed.

"But you still did it" Darry continued softly.

"Am I gonna be in trouble?" Ponyboy asked, and Darry sighed once more.

"I'm afraid so kiddo. Go to my room, and shut the door. You need some time to think about what you've done. I'll come talk to you in a minute" Darry said, and Ponyboy lowered his head, and walked to Darry's room silently. He tried to fix it, but things don't always work out. Ponyboy sat on the bed with tears in his eyes, and he waited quietly for Darry.


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