Author's Note: You guys I just wanna apologize again for the two year delay especially the readers from the beginning. I thank you for being so patient! Please forgive me. I'm hoping that you guys are enjoying the last few chapters, and sadly the story's gonna end soon! I just wanna say that this is one of my fave chapters and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

P.S.: I've noticed that many of you have asked to elt Johnny and Dally live. I just wanted to let you know that my decision has already been made from the very start and there's no use in asking. There's nothing that can influence me. I have told you that Danny will change a lot of things and this is very true. I hope you guys don't hate me but I do have to ask you to stop asking if they'll die or not :) Thank you.

"Oh Pony, you've got to understand that Darry loves you very much, and that- I guess you can say tough lovin' was just a gesture of his love for you," I said softly.

"He hit me, Danny," he protested. "No matter how you say it, put in a couple of those fancy words, Danny. He doesn't care. I've never seen him yell at anyone like that before, let alone hit anybody."

"He just cares about you. Pony people deal with things differently, he just got so frustrated. You have to understand that you're the most important thing to him in the world."

"Danny he cares about you," he whispered.

"Pony I don't want to talk about that," I said stiffly. I felt very uncomfortable.

"Why are you so scared?" he said shifting his position so that he could get a clear focus on my eyes. I was looking down.

"Pony I don't think you should get too excited-"

"Danny. . . Haven't you ever figured that Darry is crazy about you, ever since he even knew you. Even before I was born. Don't you know you're all he's ever talked about at dinner, all he's ever dreamt about at night? Ever since mom and dad died. . . he thought he couldn't live, but you were still there for him and that's. . ."

I looked at him. I wanted him to shut up. I love Pony, but please shut up right now! I need time, he didn't know how much I had cared for Dally. . .

"When are you going to stop pretending that you really care for Dally? He doesn't care about you."

"He does too care, Ponyboy don't you dare!" I was steamed. I cursed. How could he have thought that?

"Not in that way Danny. Not in Darry's way of caring about you."

I was so scared. Everything, every dream was transforming into a weird nightmare. Nothing will ever do, nothing will ever go as planned to make me happy.

"Daniella Curtis!"

"Mom, dad!"

I ran to my parents and held them tight. I never wanted to let them go. They had come all this way to see if I was all right. We were silent for a while, and I didn't want to say anything. Knowing that my folks were here with me, just holding me, was the greatest exhale. I was so sorry I got them this worried.

"Are you all right? You're crazy, Daniella, crazy!" said Dad.

"I'm sorry, I really am," I said. I truly meant it. There was so backing out. I leaned closer to my dad. "Can you please cheer up Ponyboy?"

Since his brothers hadn't come yet, I was getting worried about him.

"Of course," he whispered. "Pony, son are you okay?"

As he went over to him, my mom held me tighter. "Is Dally okay?"

"He's gonna be all right, but it's over," I said softly. She looked at me with passionate eyes. "It's like every choice I make is wrong. I mean about being there for Pony and Johnny when they ran off, I was there mom. I could have saved them. And when the church was on fire, I was about to do something, but I didn't! And about Dally. . . Every path I take just leads to something worse. I know I can never have him and that's just the worst possible feeling, mom."

We sat down, and just held each other. Her arms of comfort wrapped around my shoulders, and my head. She knew she couldn't tell me what to do about it, because it was my life, and I respected her so much for that. She took tissue from her purse, and dried my eyes with it. It hurt at first, since one was bruised black and blue, but the doctors said it would be all right in a couple of days. They said it wasn't so bad, and the swelling had gone down.

"Pony, thank God!" Soda's voice was heard so near. . .

"Sodapop!" said Pony. I looked up.

Soda ran to Pony and picked him up, swinging him around. He gave him the biggest hug. He pushed his hair back, looking so discouraged about how it looked. Soda had the most beautiful puppy dog eyes. I saw Dally leaning against the doorway, his roughneck exterior and arms folded in a shameful way. Pony looked up at him.

For once my mouth dropped at the sight of Darry's eyes. They were crying, and it was the first time I have ever seen him cry. Pony screamed his name, and ran to him.

"I'm sorry Darry, so sorry. . ." he said in his brother's arms.

I turned to my mom. "Mom. You guys can't afford to miss work. I'll be all right with the Curtis'."

"I don't know . . ."

"Please mom. I promise I'll be fine," I said. My mom looked at me attentively, and nodded. She gestured for my dad and he gave me one last hug. They left quietly.

I stood up, taking a deep breath. I went faint once my legs went straight. I guess I wasn't as well as I thought I was.

"Easy Dan," someone said softly. Darry had taken my side and caught me before I could slip.

"Hold it Dar-"

Ponyboy cleared his throat loudly. Soda looked at him, then looked at me curiously. Ponyboy gave me a funny face, and I glared. He simply folded his arms.

"Darry, can we talk?" I said quietly, and headed out of the waiting room. Darry followed me silently, his head bowed down imploringly. I opened a hospital room, hoping that it was empty. Thankfully it was, and at least we'd have a moment of silence.

I looked up at him, and his eyes was like the ocean, and I never knew he could seem so caring. I couldn't figure out what to say. It was so hard to break the ice.

"Danny, I'm glad that you're okay," he said. He put his hands on my shoulder, and I had to take another breath. I turned around.

"Darry. . ." I said. "I'm- I apologize for being-" something touched my waist.

I jumped, and spun around.

"You sure are jumpy aren't you?" he said, half embarrassed, half grinning.

I froze. So it was true. He was the same person that touched my waist when I slept in his house nearly a week ago. I don't know why, and I couldn't help it, but I smiled.

I touched his hands which were so rough from building all those houses. I intertwined my fingers with his, and looked at his face. He smiled, a sweet, delicate smile that made my heart melt. I splendid, twisty feeling crept into my stomach. I felt a few hot tears tremble down. He let go of one hand, the other one still intertwined.

He wiped away the tears with his thumb, and held my face gently. He leaned close to me, and this time I didn't object. His lips met mine, and he pulled me closer. I kissed back, and wrapped my arm around his neck, and I felt something that I never thought I'd ever feel. He held my other hand tightly, and started pushing me against the wall. Our tongues met, and I knew this was maybe just the right choice. I stopped him before he can go on. I smiled at him, and he smiled back.

"Excuse me?"

We both looked towards the door way. A nurse came in.

"Will you please get another room?" she said a little irritably. "These are for patients only."

Darry apologized and we quickly went out of the room. Outside reporters were asking Sodapop and Pony some questions. I gave Pony a look.

"Hey and there's my heroic, caring brother right now, and Danny, the girl you nearly saved my life!" said Ponyboy. The reporters went flying at us.

"Thanks a lot Pony," I gritted. He just grinned.

After a while we were getting pretty bored, even Soda who loved being in the public eye. For hours, they would be taking his picture, or he would be fooling around with the cops, and they thought it was pretty funny. It wasn't very unnatural for him to do so. Soda was a clown, and very handsome, so the reporters enjoyed him very much. I sat near Soda, and Pony and Darry were just anxiously waiting for news about Dally, and Johnny.

Finally we got the doctors to spill some news. Dally and Johnny would both be all right and that there wasn't much to worry about. Dally's arm was burned seriously, but would recover soon. Johnny also had a bad back, but the doctors said if they kept Johnny in the hospital long enough, no doubt he would survive. Greatly relieved, we thanked the doctors.

"There's nothing else. We should go home," said Darry.

We drove home, very tired, and finally Ponyboy got the rest he deserved.

"I'll take him to bed," said Soda when we were in the house. I decided I would just take the cough, as usual. Soda took Pony from Darry's arms (Pony was too exhausted, so Darry carried him into the house), and went to the room.

"Take my bed," whispered Darry, hugging me from behind.

"No,"I said yawning.

"Don't worry, I won't be in it with you," he said smirking.

I laughed. "It's not that, I still-"

He picked me up before I can say anything else. I was too tired to fight back, so I let him carry me to his room. He laid me on his bed, and tucked me in. That Darry. He really was something else. I never knew a side like his.

He kissed my forehead, and a feeling. . . a feeling I never ever felt before laid with me. "Good night."

"Night," I replied, and he walked out, closing the door. That night I slept with sweet dreams, a girl like me, a greaser, would never have dreamed.

I woke up with a sudden shock. Screaming was heard from the living room. I rushed out of bed, and dashed into the living room.

"Ponyboy, you hero! You blonde, weird looking hero!" Two Bit had Pony pinned on the floor playfully, and Steve was there. Soda and Darry had breakfast going, and everyone was in grins.

"Hey it's Danny! Mornin'!" said Steve when he saw me. He gave me a bear hug, and I was happy to see him. Two Bit looked up and walked over to me.

"Mornin' sunshine!" he said, and I just gave him a sneer. "Man, the cat's out of the bag! Your hots for Mr. Dallas Winston." I stiffened up, and looked at him funny. Don't do this, I thought. Even though I knew he was kidding, it was hard to take.

Darry just looked over grinning. He didn't mind. At least there was that.

"It's all right it didn't work out," said Two Bit, "don't cry Dan, I'm here for ya!" He wrapped my head around arms, and stroke me carefully, making shhing noises. "It's okay, you don't need him! You've got me."

I punched him the stomach, not very hard, but hard enough to let go. "For the thousandth time, when pigs fly!"

"Yeah Two Bit, no matter how she says it, put in a couple of those fancy words, still means no!" said Ponyboy. He winked at me, and I smiled back.

"You up for the fight, Danny?" asked Soda.

"Yeah it's today!" shouted Two Bit excitedly.

"Don't get you panties in a bunch now, Matthews," said Steve jokingly.

"There's nothing stopping me Sodapop," I replied.