Hi everyone I'm back with a new Chapter. I hope you like it. Please let me know what you think. Happy Holly Days.

"Soda? Sodapop?" Pony spoke quietly.

"Yeah Honey?" Soda looked at him.

"Why didn't Mama want me? What did I do wrong?"

You could have hard a pin drop as the room went silent. Soda jumped up as Darry came in.

"Mama did want you. Why would you think she didn't?" He asked.

"Pony, you can't listen to Rachel. Mom wrote that letter when she and Dad were having problems. Mom would never say she didn't want one of us." Darry told him.

"I guess." Pony finally agreed.

Later that evening there was a knock on the door. Darry answered it. Mr. Jax and Mr. Jones stood on the porch.

"Darry, we thought we'd come by and give you the good news. Rachel dropped her petition for custody."

Mr. Jones told him with a smile.

"Would you like to come in?" He stepped aside to let them enter the house. Pony and Soda were on the couch, for once the rest of the gang was gone.

After offering their guests something to drink, they started talking. Pony wondered over by Darry and leaned against him.

"I think your little one is tired." Mr. Jax commented when he noticed Pony fighting to keep his eyes open.

Darry shifted his little brother so e was on his lap, cuddled against him. After a while Mr. Jax asked if he could talk to Darry alone. They stood up and he settled Ponyboy on the couch.

"I'll be back in a few boys."

"I'm glad things worked out for you. If you ever need a lawyer, let me know."

"Thank you Mr. Jones."

"You're quite welcome son." He said.

"I'll see you at home, Ben." Mr. Jax told his brother-in-law.

"Bye." They watched him leave before Darrys boss turned to him.

"I know the last few months have been really rough on you and your family. Just keep in mind that your parents would be proud of how you handled things. Darry, you are a very good worker and I like to reward hard work. As you know, every so often I pick an employee and send him and his family on a well-deserved all expense paid vacation for two weeks."

"Yes I've heard about you doing that."

"This year the guys and I decided that you get it."

"I don't know what to say." Darry sputtered.

"Don't say anything. Just enjoy. I think your boys need some time with you. Since it's just the three of you, you can take four other people if you want to."

Darry stared at his boss.

"Here is some money." Mr. Jax handed him a envelope. "It's two weeks pay, plus the vacation money. I figured it for a family of seven. If you like camping, I have a cabin that you can use. That would leave more money for other activities."

"Thank you sir."

"Your welcome. Now we'll see you back at work in a few weeks."

Mr. Jax drove away smiling. Darry sat on the porch stunned. He was thinking wow! He had two weeks off and got paid to. The guys except for the to youngest joined him and he told them what Mr. Jax wanted. Then left with Dally to get groceries.

"They forgot what day it is Johnny."

"Maybe they didn't bring it up so you wouldn't be sad."

"Maybe. Let's go outside." The boys left the room.

"Soda, where's Darry?" Pony asked.

"He went to the store. What's up?"

"Do you know what today is?"

"Yeah, I do. It's Father's Day." The other boy replied.

"I made Dad a card, I also made Darry one."

Soda turned around.

"That's stupid." Steve said.

Soda gave his friend a sharp look.

"I just thought...I mean I know he's not Dad, but he does a lot for us." Pony finished weakly.

"Geez Pony, you're 12 not three. You should know you don't give your brother a Father's day card. You suck it up and go on." Steve blasted the younger boy.

"Steve, lay off! If he wants to give Darry a card, what will it hurt?" Two-bit asked.

"I think it's time the kid grew up and stopped being a baby."

"Leave Ponyboy alone." Johnny told Steve as Pony left the room.

"See the little baby's gonna go cry." Steve taunted. Soda watched as his brother came back and threw something away.

"Come on Johnny." Pony called from the porch.

"Sodapop, how can you let him talk to Pony that way! He wasn't hurting anyone. Your little brother is lost, he needs you and Darry to help him find his way again." The normally quiet greaser turned to Steve.

"If you bother Pony again, you'll have to deal with me." Then he followed him out where they went to the cemetery so Ponyboy could leave his Dad's card, after that they went to the park and sat down.

It was quiet, almost to quiet when Darry and Dally returned.

"Where's the boys?" Dally asked.

"I'm not sure." Soda admitted.

"What do you mean, you're not sure?" Darry asked calmly.

Two-Bit filled them in before Soda handed Darry a folded piece of paper and read it with him.

'Darry, I know you didn't plan on raising me and I don't always use my head, but I wanted you to know I love you and appreciate everything you do for me. I just want you to love me and I'll make you proud. Love Ponyboy.'

"Dammit." Darry ran out the door, Dally stared at Steve.

"Randall, leave the kids alone or I'll back Johnny's words up."

Darry saw the kids at the park.

"Johnny, Pony, you know you shouldn't be here alone."

"We know. We went by the cemetery." Johnny told him.

"I figured it out. Ready to go home?" He asked.

When they reached the house, Johnny went in leaving the brother's alone on the porch.

"Come sit by me Pony." Darry held out his hand. When the boy did as asked, he wrapped an arm around and pulled him even closer. They sat in silence a long time before Darry finally spoke.

"Soda gave me the card you made."

"I don't know why I did it. Darry, I'm sorry. Please don't be mad."

"I'm not mad little man. Do you want to know how I felt reading that card?"

"I guess." Pony muttered.

Darry gently lifted Pony's head so he could look into his brother's bright, green eyes.

"First, I want you to know I will always love you and I am very proud of you." Pony tried to look away, Darry wouldn't let him.

"Now about your card. That was the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me. I was missing Dad and feeling like I was messing everything up, but you made my day better. I'm not trying to take his place. I was hoping there was a special place in your heart for me. When I look at my card, I'll know there is." He said hugging Pony to him as he finished.

"I'm glad you liked it." Pony whispered.

"From now on if there is something you want to show me, tell me, give me, or ask me, come to me. Don't listen to anyone, just come talk to me. OK Little man?"

"I will." Pony promised.

"Now did Soda tell you our news?"

"No."

Darry told him about the upcoming camping trip as his eyes lit up.

"Run in and tell Johnny, we're all going."

The rest of the night was spent getting ready for the next morning.

The two cars left at dawn, getting a head start before rush hour. They went down Highway 80. Each was loaded with camping gear. Tents, sleeping bags, and fishing poles were piled in the trunk of one, the other filled with food and other supplies.

There had been a tense moment when Soda asked Pony to ride with him and Steve, but Darry quickly said Pony was going with him. So Steve, Soda, and Two-Bit were in one car. Darry, Pony, Johnny, and Dally in the other. The two boys in the backseat were excited and chattered away until they fell asleep.