.::I do not own The Outsiders::.

"A friend in need's a friend indeed,
A friend who'll tease is better,
Our thoughts compressed,
Which makes us blessed,
And makes for stormy weather,"

The next day the lawyer stopped by their house in the morning to talk. His name was Raymond Pearce, once friends with their Dad in high school. He told them it would be difficult to get their little brother back seeing how he was almost hurt 2 times by the masked man everybody in Tulsa feared. Now that he was in foster care if would be harder since the family had the time and money to care for him properly. After speaking with their Social Worker the court date would be held a month from now. The first of August. Soda clenched his teeth, he knew it was a long time from now and it meant it was after Ponyboy's whole month, 31 days without him. Darry nodded, frustrated in the inside, but he had to keep it together. They talked over the beneficial things of why Ponyboy could stay under Darry's roof. Apart from being family they had always taken well of Pony, even his hospital records show how healthy he was aside from the nightmares. Number two, how Darry was very responsible, he had always payed the bills on time. The food was always there, electricity, water, everything. Another was that Darry had no criminal records, he had never been sent to jail. But Sodapop had, once with their friends, they pulled pranks on some Socs by drawing on their cars.

Sodapop cursed closing his eyes feeling very regretful. The lawyer continued saying that there was a very important thing, statements from others to testify that Darry was indeed a good guardian. They thought of three: Mrs. Mathews, Darry's Boss, Sharon and Laura the therapist.

In the end of the meeting, Darry asked how much would this whole thing cost. Raymond smiled shaking his head mentioning a small amount of money. Soda gaped but Darry's pride got the best of him arguing. Raymond explained that it wasn't because he felt bad for them or pity, it was because he knew how money tight is. He was a greaser before now a Soc but will always be a greaser in his heart. Darry thanked him, Soda sighed a little relief inside. The lawyer also mentioned not to go visit Ponyboy (They told him the whole story) because it wasn't allowed and it would cause trouble. He had talked to Mrs. Jones about it, she said that she was too busy to mention any of it but still told Raymond information of where Pony was located, even though they already knew. Darry and Soda could visit him after that week, there was a no contact rule the first 2 weeks . Pony could see them twice a week and phone calls three times.

"Next week? This is bull..."

"Calm down Soda, we got something going on here. We already have a court date."

Soda sighed, "But still...Gosh I just want him to be here already!"

Darry nodded, "I know, me too."

Some days after Dally finally showed up walking inside with Johnny sitting down on the couch. Darry was already at work, Soda had the day off. When he saw Dally he was glad he had finally appeared but didn't ask where he was the whole time, instead Soda asked for Steve and Twobit.

Dally shrugged, "Don't know, saw them leave this morning together."

"Hmm sounds a little...wierd."

"Tell me about it, next thing you know, they're a couple."

Johnny chuckled while Soda laughed, "They'd make a cute couple."

Dally smirked, "So you wanna go out somewhere?"

Twobit exhaled noisily as he kept puffing out some smoke from inside Steve's car tapping the door impatiently. An hour had passed since they were parked in a place where nobody could see them. Steve growled, "I swear Twobit you're worse than the kid and he's only three."

His friend rolled his eyes, "I'm just so bored! What are we waiting for? Let's just go knock and say we're ... selling something. Ya know like those people who go around promotin stuff."

Steve stared at him annoyed, "Like what?"

"Um," Twobit searched around grabbing a pack of smokes, "Smokes."

"Smokes...Sure, we're selling around smokes. Jesus, Twobit!"

"We can they that their magical cigarettes! And that-that if you smoke 'em it'll make one smarter or somethin!"

Steve snorted, "Well you ain't gettin smarter."

"Very funny Steve."

Finally a woman came out of the house rushing into her car and out the driveway. Both didn't see a man come in or out so they supposed he was working. Steve and Twobit got out of the car walking up to the house feeling a little nervous, knocking softly on the door a boy opened it. He tilted his head a little, "Who are you?"

Steve folded his arms, "Is-"

A yell of sheer joy interrupted them, it was Ponyboy pushing a little Charlie aside to get to his friends. Twobit held his arms wide letting Pony jump in them hugging the daylights out of him. Charlie nodded now understanding, he stuck his head out the door looking both ways and let them inside. Steve felt a little uncomfortable but sat down on the couch, Twobit sat on the ground while Pony showed him the drawing he was making.

"You want anything?" Charlie asked.

Steve shook his head, "Nah, you Twobit?"

"You got beer?"

Charlie grinned, "No but I have Coke."

Twobit grinned back, "That'll have to do."

Steve stared at Ponyboy who was busy babbling on about his days there. Then came in a barking dog. Charlie shushed him handing the Coke to Twobit. Steve didn't like animals, he only had tolerance on Pepsi the kitten because it didn't do anything annoying only sat down staying quiet. The dog Cookie sat down wagging its tail seeing new people in the house. Pony patted Cookie's head gesturing Twobit to do the same. Charlie sat down on a chair he had pulled from the kitchen.

"So...Why are you here? You know you can't take Pony away."

"We just came by to visit, we aren't his brothers just ... friends. Names Steve and that's Keith."

Twobit narrowed his eyes smirking at Steve, "Twobit if you will."

Ponyboy frowned, "Whewe aw da othews?"

Steve explained that his brothers would visit next week, Dally and Johnny couldn't come. Ponyboy was saddened but still happy he got to see someone familiar. Charlie told them about Marie and Richard, how she worked as a nurse in the afternoons and Richard owned a small shop so he had to be there almost all day. How Pony was a good kid, of course sad but he was managing well to get through all of this. Twobit asked if Charlie was their only son. He simply nodded not wanting to talk about that anymore. He reminded them a little of Dally how that cold look they had in their eyes and so distant, the difference was that Charlie only looked like that, in the inside he was nice. A couple hours had passed until they heard a car outside parking. Charlie jumped up throwing some trash away pointing behind him.

"Get out by the back door!"

Steve and Twobit quickly stepped out, Pony poked at Steve giving him a piece of folded paper, "Give it to Soda and Dawy." Then Pony turned to leave sobbing. The greaser stopped for a couple of seconds not wanting to leave him there. Snapping out of it he followed Twobit. The friends got in their car unnoticed. It was the same woman they saw hours before. That was a close call. Steve felt a small pang of sadness in his chest seeing how Pony looked so heart broken when they had to leave. Twobit took a deep breath shaking his head, "Damn, I really miss that kid. If it were me I would have taken him right away and bring him back home."

"Yeah."

They drove back home, it was dark by the time they got back to the Curtis house. Inside was everybody. Dally laying on the couch, Johnny on the floor playing poker with Soda and Darry on his recliner relaxing just a little before anything more stressful came up. All of them looked up at them walking inside quietly. Soda stood up asking where they were this whole day. Steve took something from the back of his pocket handing him the paper that Pony had given him.

"We went to go see the kid." Steve stated.

Everybody went quiet, Darry's recliner made a sound as he stood up, "You what?"

Twobit also spoke, "We wanted to see if he was ok. We're his friends not brothers so we didn't get in trouble...Or caught."

Darry felt a little angry thinking it could have gotten them in trouble with everything going on but also thought that they meant well. He asked how was he was, curious in the end.

Twobit answered, "He's fine. Charlie's a good kid."

Steve nodded, "Yup, oh and that's from Pony."

Sodapop carefully unfolded the item in his hands not wanting to tear anything of it, Darry was beside him waiting to see what it had inside. It was a drawing of the whole gang, Dallas, Johnny, Steve, Twobit, Darry and Soda all holding hands. Pepsi was there too sitting down. Now everybody was around them wanting to see what it contained. Darry smiled sadly, Soda bit his bottom lip not wanting to cry in front of his friends. Especially when he read at the bottom of the page, Togeder zoon.

(Sorry for any grammar mistakes)

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