(A/N: S.E Hinton owns the Outsiders. I own Shelley and….I also own the song 'Hushaby Mountain')

Shelley woke up an hour later with bright blue eyes ready to start the day again. Her crying was over and she was ready to forget.

The blue eyed girl looked around and fright seized her body. Where was she? What was this place? She sat to see she had been wrapped in a soft green blanket, and her black shoes lay next to the bed on the floor.

The orphaned girl looked up into green eyes and gasped crawling under the covers.

Ponyboy smiled, laughing slightly. "Hey, it's ok. It's only me." He said trying to calm her down.

Shelley peered over the edge of the blanket, watching him wearily.

Ponyboy then remembered a trick his mom used to do when they were scared or frightened. "C'mere." He said beckoning the girl closer.

Shelley shook her head once. "Please?" Ponyboy pleaded looking at her through sad emerald eyes. The girl then slowly slid out from under the green blanket and to the side of the bed.

"A little closer." said Ponyboy with outstretched arms.

Shelley cocked her head to one side and slid into his arms and onto his lap.

Ponyboy then started to hum a small tune, and sing in a soft voice, "Go away, to Hushaby Mountain, lay awake on lullaby bay, go to sleep on Hushaby Mountain, lay awake on lullaby bay." From there the song unfolded into something more…

Go away to Hushaby Mountain

Lay awake on lullaby bay

Go to sleep on Hushaby Mountain

Lay awake on lullaby bay

Close your eyes and enter
Distant dreams, Deepen

Close your eyes and relief

Washes over your senses

Go away to Hushaby Mountain

Lay awake on lullaby bay

Go to sleep on Hushaby Mountain

Lay awake on lullaby bay

Now this song

Hangs in your dreams

Hang onto it, remember!

Cause as you sleep

And as you dream

The May months flow to December

Shelley curled into Ponyboy, falling into a deep slumber of comfort. A small smile lit her features before she drifted off to sleep.

Soda when in a few hours later to see his brother and Shelley both fast asleep. He smiled before closing the door. Let them dream, let them sleep.

"PONYBOY! HURRY YOUR ASS UP!" yelled a frustrated Darry. "YOU'RE GONNA BE LATE FOR SCHOOL!"

School. The weekly torture all kids have to endure whether it be sun or rain, sleet or snow.

"Comin Dar!" shouted Ponyboy a little agitated this morning. He hadn't gotten a good night sleep from worrying about Shelley and wondering if the little girl's coughing fit would be alright until morning. Pony had guessed the cause of the fit was from her raggedy dress in the conditions of the spring heat. She should have had shorts and a t-shirt on, not a long blue dress. Ponyboy shook his head. He would tell Soda and Darry about it.

"Maybe she's suffering from heat stroke." said Johnny wisely, as they made their way to school. He had decided to tag along that day, since he had nothing better to do. He kicked at the pebbles as they walked along wearing his usual attire. A black t-shirt and jeans. His jean jacket lay forgotten in his room at home.

Ponyboy just shrugged, stuffing his hands into his tattered jeans, examining the small grass stain on his white t-shirt. "I just hope she's ok. She's with Soda and Steve at the gas station today."

"What an adorable little girl!" a flock of girls squealed as their boyfriends filled up the gas in their cars.

Soda grinned, and Shelley who was right in the middle of the mob of girls could only smile and back away when one got too close. She didn't like strangers.

"I could just eat her up!" said a girl with blonde hair and green eyes. The other girls made a murmur of agreement.

Steve who was currently pumping gas for all of the guys smiled shaking his head.

Shelley backed up and clung to Soda's leg as the crowd moved tighter together, each girl trying to get a better look.

Soda looked at Shelley and picked her up and she hugged him close.

"Oh my god! She looks just like you, Soda!" squealed another girl with red hair and way too much make-up.

Steve cocked his head to one side considering this. Shelley with her blue eyes and blonde hair and Soda with his blonde hair and brown eyes.

The hair was the same but the eyes, no way. Steve smiled. There was just something about each of them that made them their own. Shelley was young and innocent while Soda was a teen who needed to not see half of what he saw in that neighborhood.

Soda's eyes widened and he blushed. "Uh- well, you really think- I don't know…" he stammered as they started to chatter animatedly about the subject.

Steve couldn't help but snicker as he finished up.

"Yo Steve, you still with Evie?" said a black haired guy as he handed Steve a tip.

Steve shook his head. "I'm done with that tramp." He said as he caught Soda's eye. Was he staring at him? What the hell…

"Yeah I hear ya, man. That little bitch has got whats comin to her." He smiled and gave Steve a pat on the shoulder before loading up his car and taking off with his girl.

Soda looked quickly away as a blush came to his cheeks. Finally Evie was out of the picture! Soda was nice, but he knew when a girl like that was around for too long. To tell the truth, Soda really didn't like her.

At noon the station was pretty cleared of all the women and customers. That's when Shelley, Steve, and Soda settled down for lunch.

Shelley squealed in delight when Steve bought her an ice cream and gobbled it up like she had never had any before.

Soda looked on in wonder as he snacked on his PB&J sandwich. "Holy cow, Shell! Slow down!" He said afraid the little blue eyed girl was going to choke.

Shelley only giggled, licking at the ice cream that had gotten on her nose.

Steve smiled, wide eyed. "Damn, have you never had an ice cream in your life?" he asked as he wiped off the excess ice cream that was on her cheek.

Shelley shook her head. "Nope." Then she frowned as she thought about what Steve had said, "…have you never had an ice cream in your life?" "I couldn't! Mommy and Daddy never got me one! We were suppwosed to get one after-after they-wah!" she wailed as tears poured down her cheeks.

"Oh crap! Don't cry!" said Steve as he bit his lip.

Soda frowned. "Aw, Steve." He said picking Shelley up and cradling her in his arms. "It's ok, Shelley. It's ok."

Steve nodded. "Shoot, I'm sorry kid. Don't cry. It's gonna be ok…"

Shelley nodded, grabbing at Soda's shirt with one hand and reaching her other hand out to grab a handful of Steve's. As she held onto to them for dear life her tears stopped falling and she closed her eyes, sniffling. Would it be alright?