I do not own The Outsiders. All characters used from the book are borrowed with much respect to S.E. Hinton.

"There's nothin' to it really. Once it's all blended it goes in easy. Just make sure you plug the end up or you'll get shit everywhere."

I watched as Two-Bit proceeded to push supper through a tube that ran into my brother's stomach with a big syringe. I cringed a little inside at the sight; the thought of how brutal it was to have somebody poke a hole through your body just so you wouldn't starve to death. A part of me also wished I'd had the same ease when it came to making sure my brother was provided with enough nourishment. He was still small for his age, but his belly was now rounded and swollen especially in comparison to his thin extremities.

Two-Bit continued to push mashed potatoes and gravy through the feeding tube, and I was relieved by how simple it all seemed. I could literally feed Ponyboy whatever was around, provided that Beth and I got one of those blender things. No more depending on Greg to steal formula from the hospital. No more nagging and threatening Ponyboy when he wasn't eating enough. My life had taken a huge turn for the easier, or at least I thought so until I noticed the empty look on my brother's face.

"Ponyboy, you okay?" I asked as I reached over to place my hand on his shoulder.

His eyes met mine; desolate and tired, and when he gave me a shrug as if to say it didn't matter, I was a little ashamed. I'd been so preoccupied with how easy the feeding tube would be for my life, I didn't stop to think about what it was like for my brother.

"He can't eat?" I looked behind me to Greg. "Maybe now that he's lucid we can give it a go."

"Darry, he's got too many issues with his airway and throat. I'm worried about him choking and aspirating. I just don't think it's a good idea."

I looked over at my brother again and watched as he seemed to just disappear into himself. His eyes were blank; staring off at nothing, and I began to realize that my brother's condition was going to be anything but easy.

"Forever?" I asked heartbroken.

"I don't know." Greg answered sadly. "That'll be up to his physician."

"You're his physician, Greg! I mean, throw me a fuckin' bone here!"

The harsh reality of Two-Bit and Greg staying behind stung as it slapped me in the face. Ponyboy looked completely miserable, and though he may have been slow I could tell that he'd figured out what was going on.

We were leaving without our friends.

"It's going to be okay, Darry. You and Beth will be okay with him. You're more than capable." Greg moved to sit beside Two-Bit and across from me.

"Shit, Darry. If I can do this, anyone can." Two-Bit grinned, but the look on my brother's face stole any urge I might have had for happiness.

"It's Ponyboy, not some fucking object or experiment."

"Of course not, Darry." Greg looked at me carefully.

"He's a person, and we're sittin' around talkin' over and above him like he ain't even here. Stop it! Stop it!"

I grabbed the syringe from Two-Bit, and yanked it out of the tube and tossed it aside; watching in despair as stomach contents backed their way out of my brother's body and out of the tube onto his clothing, leaving Two-Bit to scramble to clamp it closed.

"Hey, hey, hey!" Greg reached out to steady me. "It's okay, Darry."

"It's not okay! My brother used to be somebody! He wasn't always like this…broken! He used to be somebody." I broke down.

"Darry, he still is someone! C'mon, Superman. Ya gotta know how much I love him. It's Ponyboy! I didn't mean nothin', I was just tryin' to show you the ropes of this thing. I didn't mean to hurt you or Pony by it." Two-Bit grabbed my knee and squeezed.

"I'm sorry," I grimaced through clenched teeth while shoving my hands in my hair; leaning over to catch my breath.

"It's easy to forget about how traumatic this can be, Darry. That was insensitive of me." Greg started, but I just sat up shaking my head.

There was no use in denial or harping on what was never going to be. My brother's condition had deteriorated in my absence, and this time it was permanent. I had no choice but to accept it.

"I gotta do this," I let my hands fall to my lap; surrendering to the inevitable. "I'm sorry for the mess; let's just feed him and get it over with."

They didn't say anything; only gave each other a look before finishing up with my brother, and we didn't speak of it again.

"God, this place is incredible!"

The mountains are less threatening in the night when they're hidden behind darkness. My brother and I are wrapped up in a quilt together as we share a spot on the lounger in front of Two-Bit's outdoor fire pit. Sandy's gone off to bed early—readying herself for the long trip home that'll start at the crack of dawn.

It's quiet except for the crackling of the fire, as Greg, Two-Bit, myself and Ponyboy gaze up at the night sky and admire the countless stars scattered everywhere. For awhile it's easy to forget about how empty life will be once day breaks.

"How long will you take?" Greg asks.

I shrug in return. "I'd like to take a few days, but Sandy's itchin' to get back to the kid. Can't say that I blame her. I guess we'll see."

"He's gotta be ginormous by now?" Two-Bit grinned, and I returned the expression proudly.

"Yeah, he's somethin' else. To be honest I kinda wished we brought him, but Beth was happy to take him on. I'm a little jealous she gets all this time with him all to herself."

The three of us chuckled lightly. Pony was still staring up into the night.

"He still look like him?" Two-Bit asked hesitantly; maybe wondering if the question would be too painful to answer.

"He's beautiful," I nodded before adding "just like his daddy." I smiled softly.

The truth was, that at first it hurt like hell when Sandy and Jack landed on the doorstep, and not just because he was the spitting image of my brother. It about killed me to know that he'd never remember his daddy. He'd never know how crazy Soda was about him; how much he was loved. He'd never grow up having a daddy that would stop at nothing to make him happy.

It was a dream never realized and even though he was dead, I hurt for Sodapop. I knew he would've been the best dad imaginable; maybe even better then our own. Nobody I ever knew loved more deeply and honestly than my brother Soda.

"Maybe you guys will come up again—spend a little longer. Bring Beth next time."

"I want that," I answered quickly because I meant it.

A part of me was tempted by Two-Bit's idea of just hauling Beth back up north and starting over. It was a comforting idea—starting life over again far away from the past and all of the reminders of everything that tried to tear us apart. But there was also that physical pull—a need to return to Tulsa and to the brother that was buried next to my mom and dad.

"I do too. This ain't the end, Darry. I can't ever go back, but that don't mean it's the end."

I nodded, and managed an actual smile at Two-Bit's words. They gave me hope—hope that even though life had brought about some drastic changes, the important things would remain.

Friendship and brotherhood.

I felt Ponyboy shift, and I looked down to watch as he rubbed his face along my collarbone. His eyes were closed and he was hunkering down to sleep for the night; seemingly oblivious to the fact that his mattress was actually me. His body melted as he let go of consciousness; his right hand holding a fistful of my shirt and I laughed at how sweet he looked.

"See?" Greg's voice broke into my thoughts. "Everything will be okay."

We left before the sun came up. I was barely finished tucking Ponyboy in his side of the bed when Sandy was up and packing her bag. It'd been over a week, and she wanted to be with Jack again, and I couldn't argue—I was missing Beth something awful. The problem was the fact that I hadn't gotten a lick of sleep. The hours zipped by while Two-Bit, Greg, and I were up talking. Reminiscing. Saying goodbye, which was a good thing since there was no time to do that once Sandy was ready to go.

She was at the wheel first so that I could sleep, and Ponyboy was stretched out in the back seat as we headed back to the United States and away from Canada and our friends; part of our family. I wasn't sure if Pony realized that coming home meant leaving Two-Bit and Greg behind, but he didn't ask any questions and he didn't raise a fuss when they both squeezed him tight before saying goodbye.

The stops were few and far between. Gas, bathroom, food to eat while we drove, and one rest stop so I could clean Pony up. We left on a Tuesday and Wednesday evening around supper time, I was pulling the car into the driveway; a sigh of relief as I put it in park and turned off the ignition. I was beat.

Without a word, Sandy bolted from the car and ran for the front door, and I couldn't help but smile softly. I knew she'd missed her son, but it wasn't until that exact moment that I realized how much. She'd never said how much she missed him, in fact she'd barely spoke at all. There was an aura of mystery that surrounded her, and I wondered if I'd done something to make it difficult for her to talk to me—open up to me.

The thoughts disappeared when my gaze drifted back towards the front door, and I saw my wife standing there with a cautious look on her face. I opened the car door and eased my way from behind the steering wheel as she slowly took the steps down from the porch.

"He didn't come."

It wasn't a question, and her eyes welled up as she saw plainly that Two-Bit didn't make the trip back home like we'd both hoped.

"His life is there now." I shrugged as I sighed. "He can't come back or the government will throw him in jail."

"Draft dodger," Beth nodded; her face a grim expression of what she knew and like me, didn't want to be true. "I'm so sorry, baby. I'm so sorry."

I nodded as I quietly shut the car door. I looked at her, trying to hide a grin but failing miserably as I took the few steps backwards to open the back door. Beth frowned, trying to figure out what the hell was wrong with me I'm sure, and I laughed out loud at her expression.

"What exactly are you up to, Darrel Curtis?" Beth looked annoyed; her hand on her hip.

I winked at her before I crouched down enough to be able to pull my brother up and out of the car.

Both of her hands flew up; clasping over her mouth to keep me from hearing her sobs, but the look on her face told me everything. I nudged the back door shut with my hip and carefully walked myself along with my brother closer to her. Her eyes spilled, and I heard her take a ragged breath as I stopped in front of her and leaned in to kiss her hair.

"Darry," I teased, and took a deep breath as my heart throbbed at the sight of her.

Her hands moved to cover her eyes; as though she could hide the fact that she was crying from me. "You found him!" She sobbed.

"Hey," I nudged her wholeheartedly since my arms were too occupied to wrap her in them. "It's okay, doll. We got our family back."

She uncovered her eyes and nodded; her hands reaching for my face before she moved in and kissed me. I felt a peace settle as I felt her lick into my mouth and I tasted the salt from her tears. And once again, just when I thought it was impossible to love her anymore, her hands slipped from my face to hold onto Pony's.

"Oh, sweetie! I missed you so much!"

A few more tears slipped by as she rested her cheek on Ponyboy's forehead before kissing him there, and I clenched my eyes and laughed out loud when I noticed the dusting of pink that suddenly painted his cheeks.

"We're home, little buddy." I announced.

The eyelashes that shadowed the top of his cheekbones fluttered before a pair of grey eyes looked up at me, and then over to Beth, and I couldn't help but think of Sodapop when Ponyboy's face lit up brighter than the sun itself.

"Beth," he mouthed through that smile; and his blush grew deeper as Beth bombarded his face with kisses.

"Yeah, pumpkin. its me!" She cried.

"Let's get him inside. The both of us need to clean up a bit."

"Yeah…yes, okay,"

Beth moved to walk beside me; one hand resting on the back of my arm while the other stroked through Pony's hair. We took the stairs together side-by-side and didn't break contact until we got to the door, when Beth let go of her boys and held the door open for them.

"Babe, where's your cane?" She looked at me concerned.

I shrugged. "Guess I don't need it anymore."