Sam's POV

I couldn't take it. I hated seeing them yell at each other like that and when Darry told me to get out I ran. I knew I couldn't stay at the Curtis' forever but I thought that whenever I did leave it would be on good terms. Oh well, if my leaving stopped any more discord from happening then I'm sure it would be fine, so I left. I didn't get very far, not even to the front door before Soda stopped me. He took one look at my face and turned to Two-Bit.

"Get her outta here for a few hours, Two-Bit while I deal with this shit." He threw him the keys to Darry's truck then headed toward the shouting. Two-Bit ushered me out the door and we sped off. He didn't ask questions, just drove. Neither of us said anything until we pulled up outside The Dingo.

"Um, Two-Bit, I can't go in there." He frowned, confused.

"Sure you can, trust me a burger is one of the most effective ways of curing a hangover."

"That sounds good and I am hungry but I'm still in my pj's." I gestured to my short shorts and one of Pony's old shirts that I was wearing. I didn't even want to consider the make-up I'd have smudged on my face and my hair that was still in the terrible bun from Pony last night. Two-Bit just grinned.

"Right, wait here then, I'll be right back." He went into the restaurant and I pondered what I was to do next. I had some money but I didn't know where to go. I wondered if maybe Darry would let me come back to get some of my clothes. Maybe I could sneak in while he was at work. Two-Bit came back with the food then.

"We'll go to my place. You can have a shower and freshen up. I'm sure my sister will have some clothes for you to borrow."

"Thanks." I was silent for a few minutes as Two-Bit drove. "Where am I gonna go Two-Bit? I'm so tired of running." I sighed.

"Hey stop talking like that, you ain't going nowhere you hear? Darry didn't mean what he said he was just angry at Ponyboy that's all."

"But he was right, after all he's done for me; fed me, clothed me, given me a roof over my head and a sense of security and this is how I repay him? By getting involved with his brother. Maybe it's best if I just leave."

"Stop talking like that, what about the rest of us huh? What about Pony? We all care about you."

"Pony would get over me. I could leave now and not even have to talk to him. It was a mistake." Two-Bit shook his head as he pulled up outside his house.

"You don't believe that and neither would he."

"I came into your lives out of nowhere, Two-Bit, maybe it's time I disappeared back there again." Two-Bit sighed.

"Maybe we should just make it through today before you go making any big decisions, okay? For me?" I smiled up at him.

"Okay, just for you."

Two-Bit was right; a burger did help cure a hangover and after a shower and some fresh clothes I felt even better. We passed the morning hanging out in his living room watching T.V. His sister had left to meet her boyfriend (a fact that had Two-Bit grumbling) and his mother had gone into work. It was nearing lunchtime and I was about to mention that we should get more food when Soda and Steve showed up with pizza.

"I'm gonna get fat if I keep eating junk like this." I said as I reached for another slice of pizza.

"Good, you need a little more meat on your bones." Steve reached over to pinch my upper arm and I swatted him away and turned to Soda. "How are they?"

"When I got back from Steve's they'd sorted it out. There are new rules concerning you two now and you've both been grounded for 2 weeks, yours starts as soon as you get home."

"2 weeks? That's a light sentence considering how late they got home last night, and the state a certain someone was in." Two-Bit stated and nudged my knee.

"Honestly I think Darry's forgotten about last night with everything that happened this morning and I wouldn't bring it up either, unless you want your sentence extended. But tell Stevie and I what happened."

"Oh man it was hilarious!" Two-Bit sat up and I knew he was gonna start in on a long story so I cut in.

"You mean he still wants me to come back?" I asked quietly and Soda smiled at me.

"Of course he does. He didn't mean what he said he was just angry, trying to put Pony in his place. He's protective of you both and it shocked him to find you both...like that." he finished awkwardly and I blushed.

"So are we gonna get to know all the juicy details or are you planning on keeping us in the dark?" Two-Bit gestured to himself and Steve but Steve frowned.

"Speak for yourself, some of us don't want to know any details at all." I rolled my eyes.

"Nothing happened really, we were just making out."

"And there's a detail I didn't wanna know!" Steve snapped.

"Why does it bother you anyway?" Two-Bit asked.

"Because I know she can do much better." Steve snapped and he stood up and stormed out.

"Don't mind him," Soda explained. "he and Pony have a dislike that goes way back. I thought they'd improve as Pony got older but no, they can't be that simple."

Steve didn't come back and Two-Bit told Soda all about our night. It kept Soda entertained but I didn't really wanna be reminded how much of a fool I'd been so I retreated into Two-Bit's room early on for some sleep. When I awoke it was 5:30pm and Soda was shaking me.

"Come on, Sam. We should get going." I got up wordlessly, thanked Two-Bit for all he had done and followed Soda out to the truck. The drive back was silent and when we got home Soda gripped my hand. "Don't worry, it'll be fine."

I took a deep breath and headed up the steps. I opened the door and tentatively peeked in before entering. I planned on sneaking quietly straight to my room without having to face anyone and I think Soda guessed that.

"Darry, we're home!" I turned to glare at him but he just grinned and folded his arms over his chest. I turned around just as Darry came out from the kitchen. He stood there drying his hands on a dish towel but I couldn't face him and stared at the ground.

He walked over and stood right in front of me. I glanced up at him and then back down quickly. He didn't look angry or disappointed, he looked blank, like he was carefully hiding all emotions. Maybe he was preparing himself to kick me out, what if Soda had it wrong? Tears stung at my eyes and threatened to overflow. Darry raised his hand and I flinched, waiting for the first blow but it never came. When I opened my eyes he was holding the dish towel out to Soda.

"Go and finish the dishes, Sodapop." He waited until Soda had left the room before placing a finger under my chin and lightly tilting my head back till I was looking up at him.

"I'm sorry, Darry." I choked out when he didn't say anything. "I know we should have told you, it was wrong of us to hide it but it was so new and we didn't quite know what was going to happen. I'm not trying to make excuses I'm just trying to explain." The tears I'd been holding back finally broke free and ran down my face as I sobbed. "If you'll just let me grab a few things I can be gone in a few minutes and I'll never bother you again."

The hand that still rested under my chin slid around to pull me into him and as he wrapped his arms around me comfortingly I placed my face in my hands and sobbed against his chest.

"Shh, it's okay. I'm sorry too. As angry as I was I should never had said that to you. I didn't mean it I promise, you're welcome to stay as long as you need to and longer if you wish. You're a member of this family and this is your home too."

I hadn't realised how much I'd needed to hear those words until Darry spoke them. I started bawling and wrapped my arms around Darry to return the hug. No words were necessary, he knew what those words meant to me. Family. What I'd lost, what I'd ultimately been searching for, unknowingly, since I left my hometown. Most people take it for granted, I know I had. Until the man that was supposed to be the head of mine had stolen that from me. I'd never allowed myself to acknowledge that before, keeping it locked up tightly. But now that wall had been broken and it all came pouring out.

Darry didn't say anything, he just held me and rubbed my back. I don't know how long I cried for but eventually I calmed down and wiped my eyes. I looked up at him and he smiled down at me.

"Hungry?" I nodded and he started leading me to the kitchen. I stopped him.

"Darry," he looked down at me and waited. "Thank you." I whispered, "For everything." He wrapped an arm around me and planted a kiss on my forehead.

"No problem, angel. Oh and by the way, you're grounded for two weeks." I let out a laugh and wiped the last of the tears from my face as he led us into the kitchen.

XXXX

Darry was true to his word and for the next two weeks if Pony and I weren't working we were confined to the house. It didn't bother me too much but after the first few days Pony was going crazy, counting down the days until we were allowed out again. We kept ourselves occupied and I don't know if Darry had really thought it through, leaving us alone in the house for those days. It felt so good to have our relationship out in the open, though we kept the displays of affection to a minimum in front of Darry and we learnt to do the same with Steve.

I'd tried to talk to him about it one night when he was over but he refused to listen. What little friendship we had became strained after that and I hated it. I felt like I'd sacrificed my friendship with Steve for my relationship with Ponyboy. As much as Pony tried to tell me to forget about it, it bothered me and I resolved to find a quiet time to try and talk with him again.

When we were finally free again, as Pony put it, we spent every spare minute out together. We went to the drive-in, to diners, the park even bowling once. We went to the DX a lot but once I realised Pony was doing it more to taunt Steve I put a stop to it. We didn't go to Buck's either. Eventually we'd go back but for the time being we were happy to give it a wide berth. Life was perfect and it continued to be that way for almost two weeks. But all good things must come to an end and one day that perfection came to a crashing halt. Painfully.