Introductions

Love

I fidgeted in my seat at the kitchen table as I waited for Tim to come by. He wanted to "re introduce" me to his gang now that I could move about without too much pain. Two weeks had passed now, and the rumble was set for a couple of days from now. I knew I wasn't allowed to participate, but I wanted to be there any way. Taking a sip of chocolate milk I swung my legs gingerly thinking of how quite the house was now. Pony was off somewhere causing trouble with Two-Bit, Steve and Soda were at work,and Angela was at her own house for once.

The house was more familiar now, and I could walk around with out the lights, but other things were harder to wrap my mind around. Like what Dally was doing out of town, or why they threw funny looks at me when they thought I wasn't looking. It was like something had gone down between the two of us that had left a bad taste in their mouths. I knew there were some connections I was missing, but the harder I tried to remember, the more my head ached, and the more confused I became.

Hearing the familiar purr of the black Chevy I made my outside. I no longer had to use a cane, but there was still more healing left to do.

"Hey," I said smiling as Tim pushed the door open for me to get in.

"You ready?" He asked stroking my face gently.

Despite the bumps and bruises he made me feel beautiful. I got the feeling that he didn't care for many people, and that when he decided to get involved emotionally it was for all the right reasons. I knew what I felt for him was real, but sometimes I wonderedhow two people so different could be so happy together. He had a toughness about him that the boys I hung out with lacked.

A cold stare that would make any one in their right mind back down. I knew the rumble was for me, but I was afraid of what he was going to end up doing to the Soc's in a fight.

The night of the attack was still so hazy I couldn't tell them much, but even when I did remember I wasn't sure I would tell them exactly who did the jumping. Tim had been in the cooler a time or two before, and I didn't want to be the reason why he went back in again.

The car was silent as we made the short drive, and I found myself studying his face. His jaw was masculine, and hard like he was used to having to look tough twenty-four seven. There were various scars that lined his face, but the most notable was the scare that ran along his eyebrow, and down the side of his face. It had faded to a light white now, which told me it was old, but I couldn't remember how he'd gotten it.

"So I guess everyone's wondering why I called this meeting," Tim said standing to address the group of hoods standing in his living room.

" This here is Love, and I know you all know her, but some if you might not be aware of the fact that she's my fiancée now."

" As you can see she got in to some trouble with a Soc."

" I don't savvy anyone messing with what's mine," He said suddenly dangerous as his eyes grew cold, and his voice deepened.

" I know you guys trust me, cause I take care of you, I'd give me life for any of ya, and I know that's mutual, now I'm asking you to think of Love as your Mother, the one female in this life you have to protect next to Angela." He said slowly sweeping the crowd with an icy stare.

"If you see her in the street and someone's talking trash, Greaser or Soc, back her up."

" Now realize this is my woman we're talking about, so she aint no shrinking violet, and chances are in a fair fight she could take on just about anyone."

" But she aint at her best right now, and she needs looking after."

"She's got a mouth on her same as Ang, and she's tough, grew up on the East side , like the rest of us, and has three brothers, so I aint asking you to handle her with kid gloves."

"Just know if you hurt her in any way, I'll rip your heart out of your chest," He said turning to look at me expectantly.

" Ummm… Hi," I said sheepishly looking at the gang who were starring at us shell-shocked.

Tim publicly admitting attachment to some greaser girl from the east side was a huge thing. Especially since for some of them, this was the most they had ever even heard him talk. They all had a vaguely familiar feel to them, but except for a few familiar faces, the boys were a virtual sea of strangers who all happened to be gawking at me.

" So when's the rumble?" Curly asked making me smile at him gratefully.

" Tomorrow night, at elevenin the lot." Tim said relaxing as the boys quickly adjusted to the ideal of another girl among them.

"So mom, you do laundry?" A boy asked making me laugh.

" Well… I guess if you bring it by the house," I said wondering just what the hell I had gotten myself in to.

Tim's POV

I had to hide my grin when the boys slowly made their way over to meet MRS. Shepard. Maybe what we had been missing in this troupe was a little feminine touch. Most of the boys had Mother's who didn't givea shit,died before they were old enough to remember them, or just split the scene. I'd been losing my boys to the cooler left and right over dumb shit; so maybe having her around would slow that down.

"You did good bro," Angela said grinning as she patted my back.

"Maybe," I said wondering just how attached they were going to become, and how much it would hurt when she remembered the truth.

"Maybe when the time comes you won't want to change anything," Ang said making me sneer.

"Come on Tim, its not hard to see she's gotten under your skin, she always did," She said taking in my frown.

"If I was you I'd worry less about when she remembers, and more about what you're going to do tomorrow when you go pick up Dallas, cause he's bound to notice the rock on her finger," Curly said making me swear out loud.

" Yea I get the feeling ole Dally aint gonna be too happy about this," I said knowing he ha never thought any one was good enough for Love except Johnny, and then only because he knew he was never going to hurt her.

Short I know, but there's a method to my madness.

Nex chapter:

The Return of Dallas Winston