A/N: All right, here's the last chapter! I hope I did okay with this story. Some things were kind of hard to write since the original author lost some of the chapters that used to be up.

Chapter 21

Home

There was a crash and Darry ran into the room. Tears filled his eyes as he grabbed us both in a tight hug.

"I'm so glad you guys are all right!" Darry sobbed. He took a step back and tears started falling down his cheeks as he looked at us. "I thought I lost you guys…" He put his hands on my shoulders. "Oh, Ponyboy, I'm so sorry… this is all my fault! I shouldn't have yelled at you like I did. I overreacted and I made you run away again. Soda almost ran away too, and I almost lost you both." I felt really bad. This was now the second time I caused Darry to cry. And it wasn't all his fault… I should've stopped our argument from becoming a fight. I mean, maybe I didn't care about chemistry and math and I thought I would never need them for anything in my life, but if I tried I knew I could get A's. I guess I should try, even if all it would do is make Darry happy. And right now, that was all I wanted. A lot of people usually laugh when they think of a big, tough guy crying, but to tell you the truth, seeing Darry cry was just really upsetting. I hugged Darry and started crying too.

"I'm sorry too, Darry. It's not all your fault either… I overreacted too. I'm sorry I made you worry so much, too. I would've come back if it wasn't for Chase… don't cry…" Darry sniffed as he let go of me. He smiled as he wiped his eyes.

"Darry…" Soda began, "I'm sorry I got so mad at you. I was just worried about Pony. I wish I could've told you about what was going on sooner but Chase didn't want me to tell anyone. And about me planning to run away before… that wouldn't have lasted long. Listen, I forgive you for fighting with Ponyboy. And I'm sorry for making you feel so guilty…" Darry gave a small smile.

"You guys don't hate me, then?" Soda and I looked at each other in surprise.

"Of course not!" We both shouted at the same time, which actually made Darry laugh a little. I frowned at what Darry said, though. Maybe we don't always get along and get mad at each other sometimes, but I could never actually hate my brother. Neither could Soda. And besides, we'd be stuck in some boys' home if it wasn't for Darry. I guess sometimes I just forgot how much we really needed him. We both hugged Darry again and as his tears vanished I knew he was happy again and I promised myself I would never let any of our arguments go this far ever again.

Two-Bit came through the door then and as soon as he saw us a huge grin appeared on his face.

"Hey, the kid's back! So it looks like we're all friends again, huh?" I smiled over at Darry.

"Yeah, we are," I said. Darry grabbed me in a headlock and gave me a knuckle sandwich.

"Aw, Darry, cut it out!" All of a sudden both of my brothers tackled me to the ground and started tickling me mercilessly.

"G-guys!" I managed in between laughs. "S-stop! T-Two-Bit! H-help!" He just stood there, looking quite amused.

"Well, I would, but… I don't really want to!" I tried to glare at him but I was laughing too hard. My stomach started to hurt and I could barely breathe.

"Ow!" I complained, still laughing uncontrollably. My brothers finally let up and I laid there, trying to stop laughing and take deep breaths. When I finally got my air back I sat up and gave Two-Bit a dirty look.

"Thanks for all your help," I said sarcastically. He just smiled and gave me a thumbs up. I rolled my eyes at him and Soda helped me up.

"Hey, you deserved it. You gave us all quite a scare! By the way, though, what was-or is the future like anyways?" Two-Bit asked. I was about to answer him when Johnny came in.

"Any news about…" He stopped mid-sentence when he looked up and saw me. His eyes lit up. "Ponyboy! You're back!"

"Yeah," I said. Soon Dally and Steve showed up.

"Sodapop! You guys are back!" Steve yelled happily.

"It's about time," Dally said, lighting a cigarette as he started to smoke. Darry didn't look too happy about him smoking in the house, but nobody can tell Dally what to do.

"What's the future like?" Two-Bit asked again.

"It was a lot different. They didn't have Greasers or Socs, the cars looked different, everyone always seemed to be in a hurry, everything costs more money! I got a small Pepsi at McDonald's and I had to pay a dollar forty-nine!" The gang could hardly believe it.

"What? That's ridiculous!" Steve exclaimed.

"Yeah, I know. I thought it was stupid too," Soda scowled.

"There was this thing Anna showed to me called a cellphone…" I started, but Two-Bit interrupted me.

"Wait, wait, wait. Anna? You met a girl?" Soda grinned and I sighed inwardly. Here it comes…

"Yeah, he did. You shoulda been there, man! He kissed her, and she said, 'you know how weird that actually was? You should technically be sixty by now'!" He imitated her voice and batted his eyelashes at me. My ears got really red and everybody was cracking up.

"That's just too good!" Two-Bit laughed. I waited until everyone calmed down a bit and tried to change the subject.

"Anyway," I said loudly, "there was this box thing called a cell phone. You could call people on it like a regular phone but it was small and it didn't have a cord. It had a little screen on it too… she also mentioned something called texting… she said you could talk to someone else without calling them. It was weird. She said you could take pictures and videos with it too!" Everyone looked really surprised.

"A phone can do all that in the future? Wow…" Steve said.

"I guess a lot of things can happen in 45 years…" Darry mused. Dally looked like he was thinking about something.

"What did that Chase guy want anyways?" he asked, changing the subject again. Everyone looked at me and Soda.

"He said that somehow by sending Ponyboy to the future, it would bring his own brother back to life. Apparently his brother was murdered… but Anna said that she heard that he was the one to kill him…" Soda answered as the rest of the gang just stared at him. "I know, I don't really quite understand it all either. It's really complicated."

"Do you think it worked? That he got his brother back, I mean?" Darry wondered. Both me and Soda just shrugged.

"I know one thing, if Ponyboy here ever tries to run away again he's gonna have to go through me first," Dally said, to everyone's surprise. "What? It's quiet and boring around here whenever anyone goes missing." I smiled a little.

"I don't think I'm gonna run away again."

"You better not," Soda and Darry said at the same time. I laughed.

"I won't."

"Well, I don't know about you guys, but I'd like to hear more about this girlfriend of yours." Two-Bit elbowed me. I rolled my eyes. It was good to be home.

~b~

Chase POV

I watched as Ponyboy and Soda disappear into the black hole. I almost felt bad that I had chosen to use Ponyboy for this but he said he wanted to get out. It seemed like he and his brothers were really close. Like me and Jacob… I really hope this worked. I want my little brother back. I just want to see him and apologize. I couldn't apologize enough for what I did, though. Will he even be able to forgive me? I still can't believe what I had done. I shot and killed my own brother. I didn't mean to, it just happened so fast… I should've stopped myself. I didn't deserve to have him back. I shut my eyes. There was no use in beating myself up. I need to try and make things right if I can, somehow. The man in the grey cloak appeared and stood before me.

"Chase Solace."

"Yes," I answered.

"You succeeded in bringing a boy of your younger brother's age who was willing to come from his time to yours in order to bring Jacob back to life. You no longer need your powers." There was a flash of light. "Here is your brother," he said as he disappeared. Jacob now stood in front of me.

"Chase!" he shouted. Tears filled my eyes and I hugged him tight.

"Jacob, I'm so sorry!"

"It's okay, I forgive you. I know you didn't mean it." I smiled into the sky when he said that. I was lucky to have him as a brother, and I promised myself I would never hurt him again.

~b~

Ponyboy POV

I was sitting on the couch with Soda watching TV. It was getting kind of late and I yawned. Darry came in.

"Don't you two think it's about time for bed yet?"

"No," Soda said sleepily. Darry gave him a skeptical look.

"Oh no? Come on, I know you guys haven't had a good night's sleep for a while." Soda looked at him for a second, then back at me.

"All right. Good night, Darry."

"Good night," Darry said back. Soda started to walk to our room but stopped when he noticed I wasn't following him. "Ain't you comin' Ponyboy?" I stood up.

"Yeah, just give me a minute." I needed to talk to Darry. "Hey Darry."

"What is it?" he asked.

"I'm sorry about my failing grades…" Darry interrupted me before I could finish.

"Pony, can't we talk about this tomorrow?" He looked really tired.

"I just wanted to tell you that I'm going to do better next time." Darry smiled.

"I'm glad." I hugged Darry and he ruffled my hair. "Good night, little buddy."

"Good night, Dar." I went into my room and I was going to climb into bed but I noticed the book I had been reading before all this happened was gone. Just disappeared. It was strange, the same thing happened to me as the boy in the story. I never got to read the ending, but I think I know what it was anyway. There was no place like home.