Return to Youth Chapter 7: Any Parent's Nightmare, an outsiders fanfic

Title: Any Parent's Nightmare

Updated: October 5, 2004

A/N: Kinda quick, right? Thanks to those who have reviewed!

Tensleep – Yeah, I thought so too. And it makes sense... kinda... I think you were right. The muses (or at least one or two of them) have come back to keep me company until the end of this story! knock on wood This one should get back into that little kid cuteness that's been lacking lately. You've inspired me!! Enjoy!!

Jessie13 – Thanks, and I think I managed it.

klblue19 – Thanks. And none of my cliffhangers are truly evil. If I leave it with a cliffhanger then I can't help but write more quickly... Huh. That knowledge would have helped me a few months ago...

soda-staygold16 – And here's another one. Alert the media! Two reviews in one week! Thanks for the support! Hope you enjoy.

harryptaxd204 – Thanks... ï

MrsHoldenCaulfield – I've got the rest of the story planned out, but that would have been fun to write... Maybe I'll find a way to work it in... Hope you enjoy!

Flour Chief – Hey Childe! I know you have homework up to your ears, so I decided to write a thank you to you. This is a thank you for getting me to try and write again, and for previewing this chapter! See you tomorrow!

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"What's goin' on?" Johnny mumbled sleepily as he walked into a wall. In his defense he was extremely tired and had been woken up after only about an hour and a half of sleep. Steve snorted as he headed down the stairs to Darry's room; living with his father made it easy for him to adjust to small amounts of sleep.

"Took you guys long enough!" Dally snapped when they finally entered the room. He was cradling the Curtis baby against his chest, desperately trying to hush the boy's pitiful whimpers. Soda was wrapped around Two-Bit, making it clear to the world that he was miserable. Darry was whimpering slightly, and looked like he was struggling not to cry.

Johnny walked over to the bed and scooped the eldest Curtis into his arms, mentally apologizing to all of his physical therapists. He had been less than kind to them during the therapy, and now it gave him the upper body strength to easily hold an eleven-year-old in his arms. Instead of fighting Johnny off like he had done to Two-Bit and Dally, Darry curled up into the tallest Greaser's arms.

When he looked down at the boy in his arms Johnny was surprised by what he saw. "Spots? Guys, I may not know much about kids, but they ain't s'posed to have spots on them, right?"

Two-Bit lifted an amused eyebrow at the dark Greaser. "Ever heard of Chicken Pox, Johnnycakes? All three of these kids got 'em."

"But how did they get them? And how do you know?" Steve asked, feeling helpless among all the crying children.

"They're kids. Kids get diseases. 'Specially if they're Grease kids. And my sister had them not too long ago."

"So what do we do?" Dally asked, gently rocking Ponyboy.

"Um... warm baths... soup... no scratching at the spots... Lots of attention maybe."

The nest week or so passed slowly for the Greaser babysitters. Some combination of the kids were crying every time they turned around, and it was wearing on Dally and Steve's last nerves. Ponyboy was constantly sniffly and clingy. Soda was a royal pain in the neck no matter what was happening. Darry would let no one come near him except Johnny. Finally, after what felt like a year to the exhausted teens and young adults, the kids began to get better. It was slow at first, as if the children didn't want to get better. They were finally healed eventually though. And then, typical childish behavior began in earnest.

"Dally?"

"What do you want kid?"

"How awe babies made?"

"I think you're a little young for that one, Pony."

"Why?"

"'Cause you're barely four years old."

"Why?"

"Because you got hit with some mojo and turned into a midget."

"Why?"

"You ate Soda's cooking."

"Why?"

"I don't know! You were hungry?"

"Why?"

"'Cause you don't eat like a normal person."

"Why?"

"How should I know that?"

"Can I go outside and play now?"

"Please. Stay in the front yard, though."

"'Kay!"

Dally slumped back in the chair, mentally slapping himself for getting outsmarted by a kid who couldn't even tie his own shoes yet.

... ... ...

"Soda, go take your bath."

"I don't wanna."

Steve raised an eyebrow at the petulant child. The boy simply raised the same eyebrow... or tried to. Steve had to give him points for making a valiant effort.

"Take your bath," Steve ordered.

"Take your bath," Soda mimicked.

"Get up there."

"Don't make me come over there."

"When I get my hands on you..."

"Stop copying me."

"Sodapop..."

"I'm serious brat."

"Fine."

"Two can play that game."

"I'm stupid."

"You're stupid."

From around the corner, both child and teen heard Johnny's deep, rumbling laughter. Steve scowled at Johnny's obvious pleasure at his expense.

"Shut it Johnny."

"Shut it Johnny," the little boy parroted.

"You got outsmarted by a six-year-old. That's priceless man."

"Then you get him in the tub."

"Hey Soda?"

"Yeah?" Sodapop Curtis looked straight in Johnny's eyes.

"Would you please go take your bath now?"

"Do I hafta?"

"Yep. 'Specially if you wanna keep bugging Steve."

"'Kay." Soda ran up the stairs to get ready for his bath. The two older Greasers exchanged a look. They heard the water turn on in the tub and Johnny smirked at his elder.

"Shut it, Johnnycake."

"I didn't say a word."

... ... ...

"Darry, all I'm askin' is that you eat all of your dinner."

"No."

"C'mon, man. Soda and Pony ate everything."

"So?"

"I thought the rebellious thing wasn't supposed to hit until he was a teenager."

"I already went through all of that."

"When?"

"When I was actually that age. Y'all said that I was older and got turned younger. Then I went through it before."

"Why again does he hafta be so smart?"

"'Cause he's Darryl's son?"

"Then what's with Pony? He don't have any common sense to speak of."

"All his smarts is in books."

"Don't talk about my brother that way!"

"Chill, Darry."

"No! Not until you start being nice to my little brother."

"What? And helping take care of three kids who should all be well past this age is mean of us? Helping you keep them from a boys' home was not nice? What more do you want us to do? Never admit to any of y'all's faults? You never cared about it before."

"Well I do now!"

"Good for you. Will you please just eat your dinner now?"

"No!"

"Fine! Then you aren't allowed up from the table until your plate is clean!"

"You can't make me stay!"

"Oh no? Why not?"

"You're not my parents! You're just a bunch of freaks who claim to be our older friends. You're probably not even our friends! Friends wouldn't do this to each other!"

"Friends would try to help you grow up right!"

"That ain't your job!"

"Darry..."

"No! Shut up Johnny! You too, Dally! I hate you all!"

With that, Darry pushed himself up from the table and ran to his room, slamming the door behind him. From upstairs the younger two Curtis' cries could be heard. The door had startled both of them awake. Steve headed upstairs with a grimace. He never thought he could be this tired at only 9:30 pm.

Two-Bit made his way towards Darry's bedroom. He knew the boy was upset with them, but that was no reason to let him fall asleep thinking that no one cared about him. He knocked softly on his minuscule friends door. He didn't move until he heard the soft 'Come in'.

"Hey Superboy, how 'ya feelin'?"

"'M fine."

"Okay, then why are you crying?"

"I'm not crying."

"Fine, you ain't crying. Why do you have tears runnin' down yer face?"

"I didn't mean it, Two-Bit."

"I know. I'm glad you didn't."

"I want my mom and dad."

"So do I. We all do. Everyone misses them. That's why no one ever talks about them."

"But wouldn't it help to talk?"

"Sometimes... but this is one of those hurts where it's too painful to talk about. Maybe in another couple of years we'll be able to, but not yet."

"Do you ever miss your dad?"

"Not anymore."

"Why not?"

"He ran off before my mom even knew about my sister. I waited for him for years, but I'm older than you are, and he still hasn't come back. I just... can't feel anything more for him than a dislike. I don't like what he did to us, and I'm not thrilled with the childhood he forced on me and my sister, but I can't even feel enough for him to hate him anymore. You and your brothers taught me that."

"Taught you what?"

"To let go of the things I can't change. I saw what was happening all around us, and I guess I kinda... took it to heart."

"Why are you being so serious?"

"Because this isn't a time for jokes."

"Oh... Thank you, Two-Bit."

"Anytime, Kiddo. You wanna go to sleep now?"

"Yeah. G'night."

"Night." Two-Bit got up and walked towards the door, but was stopped by the tiny, drowsy voice coming from the direction of the bed.

"Love you..."

"I love you too, Darry. You're one of the best friends anyone could have..." He turned and closed the door behind him. Steve was just walking into the kitchen when he was. "How'd yours go?"

"Pretty easy. Pony wanted me to sit with him while he fell back to sleep. What about you?"

"He doesn't hate any of us and misses his parents."

"We are so whipped!" Dally blurted. Two-Bit did his trademark raised eyebrow. "Think about it! A few months ago we were all scaring kids for the fun of it. Now if one so much as whimpers we have to go and make it all better!"

"Eh, it's not as if that's the worst thing that could ever happen," Johnny laughed.

... ... ... ... ... ... ...

A/N: Well, there's the latest. I think the muses may slowly be coming back... knock on wood I hope you guys all enjoyed this chapter. I actually had fun writing this one. I know they were all very OOC, but they needed to be to fit with what I wanted to happen. Besides, all that time as parental figures may finally be taking effect. Oh, and the next chapter is the last one of this series! Unless I decide to come back to it at another time. I don't know. I only planned for this one to be eight chapters, so it's almost finished. Please review and let me know what you've thought of everything (and especially this chapter) so far!