Love's pov

Stretching I ran a hand through my hair as I took in the clock next to the bed. It was just after six thirty, and I was at my house. I split most my time between here and Tim's so waking up was some times a little bit disorientating. Smiling at the fell of the warm body next to mine I turned to look at Pony. He must have opted to sleep with me instead of Soda last night, but with the way he snores sometimes I didn't blame him. Slipping out of the bed without waking him I headed in to the kitchen to catch Soda before he went to work. Between working and dealing with the Shepard gang I hadn't had much one on one time with my other half. Back at Tim's I'd become some kind of den mother. Listening to the boys when they were upset, loving them when no one else would, and providing them with the female affection most were deprived of. I didn't mind though, it made me feel like I had meaning in life.

I knew at times I was the only thing that stood between some of our boys and jail. I'd been woke in the middle of the night before to keep someone from blowing their stack.. Watching them listen to my voice of reason made me truly feel like my Mother's child. She had been like that with the boys around the neighborhood before she passed. Always making time to listen to them, and give them motherly advice with out coming of as condescending. Padding in to the room I smiled at the sight of Soda making green eggs and ham… literally.

"We never should have introduced him to food dye." I thought smiling as I crept up behind him to wrap my arms around his waist.

"Hey you," I said knowing my smile mirrored his own.

"Hey, did you see your new brother on the couch?" He asked chuckling as I turned to look at Curly sprawled out on the sofa.

Since getting back together a couple of months ago things had changed drastically. Darry knew to keep his mouth shut when it came to Tim, and me and Curly and I had grown a lot closer. He was a common face around the house now, as well as a lot of the boys from the Shepard crew.

" I wonder if he was drunk," I muttered smiling when he added extra eggs and ham to accommodate me with out asking.

" Don't know, what are you up to today?"

"Noplans, the boys are handling business at the house, and its normally tense and boring as hell so I'm steering clear."

"Wanna help me and Steveo fix up his car at the shop today?" He asked as I shadowed his steps around the kitchen the way I had always done as a child.

"Sure, I got nothing better to do," I said ruffling his hair as we sat down to eat. Steve still got under my skin but to spend time with Soda I could ignore him.

I knew my way around a car just as well if not better than Soda. My dad had been huge on making sure I could take care of myself with or without my brothers around. I had actually taken shop in school instead of home ex, which had suited me just fine.

Pony's Pov

In the middle of scrambling eggs I looked up as the front door swung open. Preparing for an attack by Two bit I smiled when I was pleasantly surprised by my girlfriend.

"Hey Ang, you want some breakfast?" I asked frowning when she shook her head and flopped down at the table. She was either in a fowl mood or not feeling well.

"What's wrong?" I asked turning off the stove as I scoped the eggs on to a plate.

" I don't feel to hot, but I didn't feel like sitting at home while they all gathered for their meeting?" She said rolling her eyes at the fact that her brothers gang had taken over the small apartment.

" I'm sorry," I said smoothing her hair back from her fast as I took a seat behind her.

Paling as she took one look at the eggs and ran for the bathroom at full speed looking green around the gills.

"I got you," I whispered holding her hair back as she continued to dry heave. She must have picked up a bug somewhere. Wincing as she shivered I wiped her mouth with a warm washcloth and helped her to sit up.

"I'm sorry," She whispered as he face flushed with embarrassment.

"Glory Ang, don't apologize to me when you're the one who's sick, I've taken care of Love plenty when she was sick, so don't feel bad."

"Here, let's get you in to bed," I said gently lifting her as I took her to my room.

"Just get some rest, and I'll be in the living room if you need anything ok?" I asked tucking her in and placing a kiss on her forehead before leaving.

Love's Pov

Rolling my eyes at the girls who swarmed my brother on lunch break I shook my head at his grin. He was eating it up, but I knew none of this girl's held his attention. The best way to get Soda to act like you didn't notice him. Out right ignoring him would make him go out of his way to talk to you and give you special attention. He liked a challenge, and a girl that could keep him on his toes would win him over every time. Spotting another girl who was watching the show with amusement I decided to introducer myself. She was a greaser girl, but dressed decent like me, with shoulder length chestnut hair, and eyes as blue as the sky. I had never seen her before, and I liked to keep in the know with who lived in our neighborhood.

"Hey your new right? I haven't seen you in here before."

"Yea, my name's Gwen, and the guy over there is my brother Brady we just moved in to the neighbor hood a couple days ago, Brady's real handy with cars, and he thought he might be able to get some work here."

" I savvy, my name's Love, and the cute one over there being mobbed is my brother Soda Pop," I said laughing as her eyes widened.

"Yea, my parent's were real cards for sure, I got another brother names Pony boy."

"Does this happen everyday?" She asked laughing as I rolled my eyes.

" I can see by your expression that it does, its weird when other girl's are so wild about your brother isn't' it?" I asked surprised I was being so candid with someone I had just met.

I didn't take to people easily, especially girl's , but there was something about Gwen that put me at ease.

Gwen's Pov

"Yea, especially since, they'd smash a boy's face in for acting the same way about you in public," I answered laughing when we shared a knowing look.

"So what made you move to Tulsa?" She asked making me tense.

This was the part I hated.

"Our mom passed a month ago, and we just felt like we needed a change of scenery you know?"

"Yea, I dig, we lost out parents a while back, you never get over it, but it does get better," She said making me feel like we had an instant bond.

" Listen, if your brother knows his stuff, I can put a word in with my brother," She said making me feel like things were going to be all right for the first time in months.

"Yea, he's been under the hood since he could walk pretty much, my Uncle was a mechanic back home, and he taught Brady all he knows."

"Brady come here," I said waving him over to meet Love once I caught his eye.

"This Love, her brother Soda pop works here, and they're in need of some help."

"Hey Love," he said smiling in a way that said he approved of her, which was rare for him.

Usually in the places we could afford the girls were loud, and fast.

"Nice to met you Brady, you ever worked in a shop before."

"Yea, with my Uncle, since I was about twelve."

"Let me see what I can do," She said surprising me when she came back a few minutes later with Soda Pop in tow.

I hadn't said anything to Love, but glory did I think he was good lucking. I could see why the girl's were making such a scene over him, but I was too shy to even say hello to a guy on my own. Not to mention Brady nearly scared off any boy that looked at me twice.

"Soda this is Gwen and her brother Brady, he's been working on cars since he was a kid."

"Hey man, the pays not the best, but the management is pretty laid back, and if you want to come back up here tomorrow we could get you started."

"Thanks man, I appreciate it," Brady said smiling the first true smile I had seen in a long time.

" No problem, I know what's it like to have a lil sister to take care of," He said winking at me as they shook hands.

Love's Pov

Seeing the interest in Soda's eyes, and the way Gwen blushed prettily at his flirting I felt the gears in my head begin to spin. It was time he found a girl worth a spit, and I was just the matchmaker who could get them together.

Tim's Pov

Swearing under my breath as the meeting ended I tried to relax my tensed muscles. We had a new gang trying to move in to our territory, and they needed to be dealt with quickly. They called themselves the Spiders, and they were bad news. My boys were no angels, by any means, but these guys were even bigger hoods than we were. Running a hand through my hair I sipped on the beer I had in my hand wondering how I was going to break the news to Love. Rumbles she understood, but I got the feeling this thing with the Spiders was going to turn in to an all out turf war.