A/N: Sorry for the long wait! I'm really having a hard time with this story these days. seems my inspiration has left me for the most part. ideas are always welcome. THANKS FOR THE REVIEWS!! Flames are laughed at. They are quite amusing. Can anyone tell me why, if someone doesn't like a story, they keep reading it? Does that make sense? Not to me it doesn't. oh well. On with the story.

Ponyboy's POV:

I was sitting out on the bench on our front porch reading when I heard someone walking through our gate. I didn't look up 'til the person stopped next to me. I glanced up quickly and then down at my book.

" Hey, Dal."

" What's up, kid?"

That's when it hit me. I looked back up at the guy in front of me. It couldn't be, could it?

" Am I dreaming? Cuz this is just not possible."

" You ain't dreamin' kid. Its me."

He sighed and pushed his hands through his hair.

" How ya been?" He asked, glancing around once in a while, looking nervous.

" Okay, I guess. Alot has happened in the last couple 'a months."

I couldn't look away from him, afraid that if I blinked, he would disappear. My eyes were starting to water slightly.

" Dal!" I choked out. I launched myself off the bench and wrapped my arms around his waist. I felt his arms go around me and he hugged me back for a second, then pushed me away from him.

" C'mon kid. You know I don't like all that mushy stuff."

I grinned at him through my tears. I wiped them off my face.

" Sorry Dally. Just glad you ain't dead."

" So where the guys at?" he asked me.

I shrugged. " Soda, Steve and Darry are all still at work. Soda and Steve should be home soon though. Two-Bit's in the house watching Mickey. Thats probably why he hasn't come out to see whats goin' on." I gave him a curious look. " Why'd you leave Dally? We all thought you died."

He shrugged. " Too much shit was happening with me and I was fucked up for a while after I got outta the hospital. Didn't want to be here anymore."

I nodded. I understood why, but it still hurt. He'd just let us believe he was dead. But I wasn't going to be the one who brought that up.

" Well let's go scare the shit outta Two-Bit." Dally said quietly to me.

We snuck through the screen door and I peeked through the doorway to see where Two-Bit sitting directly in front on the television, staring at it intently. I looked back at Dally and nodded for him to go on in.

Dally reached back and slammed the screen door and sauntered in to the living room with me following closely behind.

Two-Bit didn't even bother to look to see who walked in.

" Hey, Pony, could you grab me a beer from the fridge? I don't wanna miss any Mickey." He hollered at me.

Dally sat on the couch and put his feet up on the coffee table.

" Get one for me too, would ya kid?"

I grinned and nodded and ran in to the kitchen.

When I walked back in to the living room, Two-Bit was turned away from the TV and was staring at Dally. I walked over and handed Dally his beer and then gave Two-Bit his. Dally popped the top off the bottle and took a long swallow. Two-Bit still had his clutched in his hand and was still staring at Dallas like he was seeing a ghost.

" Stop staring at me, ya friggin' clown, or I'll clobber ya."

Two-Bit grinned at this and starting laughing. He was laughing so hard tears started to roll down his cheeks. Although I'm not sure if they were from laughing or because he was glad Dally was back. Coulda been both.

" You sonovabitch. I knew you were damn near indestructable but I didn't know you could come back from the dead! You sly bastard!"

Two-Bit whooped and started jumping around the room. That was when Soda and Steve walked in to the house.

Steve's POV:

Soda and I walked in to the Curtis house to find Two-Bit jumpin' all over the place and Dally sitting on the couch in the living room, acting like this was nothing out of the ordinary. Which I guess it wasn't. Two-Bit was always acting like a nutcase.

I glanced at Soda and he was staring at Dally in disbelief.

" I knew I saw you yesterday!" Soda exclaimed.

Dally smirked. " Maybe."

Soda looked at me. " I was leaving the hospital to go to home and I thought I saw Dally heading towards the hospital. I brushed it off as my imagination cuz dead men don't walk ya know?" He turned to look at Dally and I saw worry flash through his eyes. I knew what he was worried about.

" Did you go see Ami?" he asked.

" Course I did. I figured I should since she was there for me." Dally looked thoughtful for a minute. " Wonder if shes goin' with anyone?"

Thats when I decided to speak. " Ami's Soda's girl now Dal."

Dally threw a dark look Soda's way.

" Bet you swooped right in there as soon as I was gone, didn't ya?"

" Dally, Ami and Soda fell in love. They started dating about a month and a bit ago." Pony answered.

Dally growled and got up off the couch. He walked up to Soda.

" We'll see." The two of them stood there staring each other down then Dally pushed passed us and walked out the door.

I rolled my eyes. Everyone was still staring at the door.

" Dally's back for 5 minutes and already starting shit."

Two-Bit laughed.

" Good ol' Dal."

A/N: Hehe. Whats gonna happen? Nobody knows but me. Muahahaha. lol just kidding. I'll try to update sooner this time. hope you enjoy! Reviews are always appreciated and flames give me a good laugh.