I do not own the Outsiders.

I'm sorry I haven't written in a while. My brother passed away on November twenty-ninth. This chapter is dedicated to him. I love you…Bro…

I was constantly popping pills and changing ace bandages after the accident. Sure enough when I jumped outta the house, my head split wide open. They stitched it up and said I might have a concussion. The only good thing that came out of it was that Ariela was taking care of me, 24/7. She took off from work, but every free chance she got, she was scribbling down something for one of the two weddings coming up pretty soon. In fact, Steve's was next week.

Johnny wasn't harmed all that bad. He was pretty badly burnt, but nothing like last time. Stephanie practically moved in with us to help out with him and Ariela. Their wedding was pushed back another month because of the fire.

None of the kids were harmed. Just a little traumatized. I was really the only one that was hurt badly. Of course, I was used to it at this point. I'm not only dying physically, I'm dying mentally.

I cannot stand another second of not being Ariela's husband or fiancée. It's absolutely killing me and I just want to shrivel up and stay in a ball all day until then. I'm about to do it without her father's permission. I really am.

"Hey, Pone, how ya doin'?" Sodapop zoomed into the room and dove onto the soft bed I was cocooned in. Apparently, being the father of six doesn't really suck a whole lot of energy outta ya if you're Sodapop.

"Better. Well, I was until you just fell onto my leg," I whined. He quickly lifted himself off my lower half and stood himself straight on the wooden floor.

"Sorry, man…"

"It's fine. Do you know where Ariela is?" I asked. Soda groaned and reclined himself in the wooden chair in the corner.

"Pone, will you give her a break? All it is with you is Ariela, I need this, or Ariela, I need that. Or come kiss me, Ariela. She's exhausted, Pone. E-X-H-A-U-…"

"Don't try, So. I'm asking you that 'cause I need to talk to you about something."

"Well, she's out shopping with Cherry. Said Cherry has some big news," he said.

"Cool. Well, you know how I've been wanting to propose to her for a while now?"

"Yep."

'I don't know when."

"Christmas is right around the corner. Do it then."

"No, that's too predictable…"

"Okay, well,… aren't they having that little veterans party thing down at Bryon's bar Saturday night?"

"Yeah."

"And you're going…?"

"Yes."

"Are you bringing Ariela?"

"Yeah."

"Glory, Ponyboy, ask her then," Sodapop said. My face lit up.

"Perfect. Thanks, Soda."

"No problem," he hoisted himself from the chair. "Just baby-sit the kids tonight and we'll call it even." He winked and ran out of the room, laughing.

OOO

"And that was Mr. James Ford singing 'Love Me Do' by the Beatles," Bryon said into the microphone as the bar clapped and applauded. I wrapped my arm around Ariela's shoulder and kissed her cheek. "And now we honor another survivor from the Vietnam War, Ponyboy Curtis!" The bar broke out into delight and cheers as I made my way to the stage area.

"Hi, everyone," I said into the black foam of the microphone. The crowd clapped again. I looked down at Ariela. She was smiling her beautiful grin with white straight teeth and tears of pride in her eyes. "I just want to thank everyone for coming out here," whistles and the echo of hands slapping each other ricocheted throughout the open space.

"It's a great honor to be chosen to speak here tonight. The Vietnam War was the longest battle I'd ever had to fight; physically and emotionally. I was ripped away my family, friends, and home all in the matter of a month because I had gotten my draft notice. I knew I was needed for my country and I was proud to go out there. While I was out in Vietnam, many things happened back here. My brother's wife left him, my two friends were getting married, and my girlfriend had graduated from college.

"In Vietnam, I had my brother by my side, but I wished a lot that he wasn't with me. And I know a lot of you are saying 'why?'. Well, imagine yourself with your best friend or someone you're really, really close too in a bloody, horrible war where there is a ninety-to- ten chance of dying. It's not really a positive influence. And my other brother was at home, supporting me 100%. But whose support I could've never gotten by without was my girlfriend's, Ariela.

"You see, Ariela was there all the time, everyday and even though we had gotten into a little tiff about our relationship during the war, we soon overcame it to be where we are today. And I'm not happy about where we are today," I said. Her smile faded and her face looked crushed. I stood up from the stool and held the microphone in hand, never taking my eyes off my beautiful girl.

"Ariela, we've been dating eight years and everyday, I praise God that I have you in my life. I was extremely lucky to get you. You're my baby, my sweetheart, and my best friend. And…" I stepped offstage and into the throng to meet her. I grabbed her hand and looked down into her electric blue eyes.

'I can't another second of being your best friend or your boyfriend. So I'm asking you…" I braced myself for this. Last minute thoughts whirled through my head. What if she says no? What if she met someone else? What if she just can't? What if after all these years, she's just not ready? But I forced myself to get on my one knee while the audience gasped and awed, her hand still in mine.

"If you will marry me… Ariela Parkins… Will you marry me?" I said. The crowd screeched and squealed as I just rested my eyes on her, waiting for an answer. Sweat built up on my neck and on my hand and heat overcame my face.

"Ponyboy…"