Hello readers,

I'm sorry I took so long to get this one out, life has gotten very busy lately. I'll try to post more often in the future. Thank you to everyone for sticking with this story. I hope it does not disappoint.

A dense mist swirled around me, curling and twisting in puffs of smoke. I reached out and ran my fingers through the tendrils but they evaded my touch. I squinted into the blackness, trying to will my eyes to see something other than this all consuming fog.

"Ponyboy!" My head snapped to the left, my eyes trying desperately to make out the shape of my brother. "Pony!" Sodapop's strained voice echoed again through the dim. My muscles clenched in return wanting to spring towards him, to find out why his voice is so high and panicked.

"Ponyboy!" I turned to my right now, half expecting to see the broad form of my eldest brother.

"Darry!" I called out in return. "Soda!" My head swiveled between the two voices, my heart pounding as they continued to call, not hearing me at all.

"Ponyboy!" Soda screamed, the pain buried in the sound reverberating inside my head. I stumbled forward, my feet deciding for me to brave the unforgiving fog before my heart could even acknowledge the frantic need to get to my brother, to calm his fears.

Something smooth brushed by my legs, suddenly tightening to capture them in its grasp. I was barely able to call out before the ground rushed up to greet me.

The first thing I became aware of as I blinked against the sunlight that is peeking around the edge of the curtain is that my face hurts. There was a dull throb in my right cheek as I slowly pushed myself off the floor. I blinked blearily around as I brought my hand up to cup my cheek.

I was lying on my stomach on the floor of my bedroom at Donovan's, my feet still tangled up in the sheets.

A groan escaped from my lips. I'd had many nightmares over the years but there was a novelty to falling out of bed that I was too annoyed and sore to appreciate. I grunted as I tried to pull my feet from the coils of the crisp white fabric that trapped them. I gave a final hard yank and fell back over onto my back as my legs were finally freed. For a moment I lay there staring up at the ceiling as the images from the dream came back to me.

It wasn't often that I remembered a dream. It used to freak my brothers out, being woken out of a dead sleep to my screams then for me to have no idea what it was that had scared me so badly. I remembered the wrinkle between Darry's eyes that always seemed deeper in the middle of the night and how Soda's arm would curl protectively around me as if he could physically keep the dreams away. Now that I think of it, I guess he did. I always slept better with him by my side.

I wondered what they'd think of this new kind of nightmare that left me in a pile on the carpet? I threw my arm over my eyes and sighed. I wouldn't say anything to them about this morning, they had enough to worry about today.

Moving my arm aside, I squinted at the clock on the nightstand. It was almost 10 to 7. My alarm would be ringing in a few minutes. I needed to be ready to go by 8, if Mrs. Donovan was gonna get me to the courthouse in time.

I swallowed down the rising lump of dread that things weren't going to work out in our favour. Mrs. Wilson had assured Darry that our case looked good and that the judge wasn't one for separating family when there was no good reason, but my heart still began to pound in my chest.

I tried to shake it off as I made my way to the bathroom to get myself ready. I needed to trust Darry, he had been so sure when we'd spoken on the phone two nights ago. I'd focused on the rumble of his voice as he'd talked about getting me registered back into my school and how hopefully the teachers would accept the work I'd completed here. To him I was as good as home and I needed his surety right now, because I was a nervous wreck.

Soda's excitement had been palpable even through the phone. I could clearly picture him bouncing on his heels as he twirled the phone cord around his fingers, until he'd get it so tangled that Darry would bark at him to cut it out or he'd get his hand stuck in the loops. He had done it more than once in the past and I'd been a kind enough brother to set him free, though I'd ragged about it the whole time. He'd just beamed at me and shrugged it off, pulling me into a headlock once I'd finished.

Glory I missed them so much. I couldn't wait to me home again tonight.

I stared at myself in the mirror wondering if I should put grease in my hair or if that would make the judge think that I was just some hood. I ran the comb through my hair trying to tidy it, but it kept sliding into my eyes. Huffing out a sigh, I opened my hair grease. It seemed to me that it was better to look like a presentable greaser than to look like a mess.

Once I was dressed in my old suit that Darry had dropped off earlier this week, I hopped down the steps and into the kitchen.

I bit down on a scowl when I saw that Daniel wasn't at the breakfast table yet. No matter how much I disliked the youngest Donovan's presence, I was starting to dislike being alone in the same room as Mrs. Donovan more.

Over the last few days, she'd started asking me more and more pointed questions. I hadn't thought much of them at first but as they continued they left me feeling queasy. How was it living with Darry? What kind of mischief did the gang get up to? Was there enough food in the house? Did I feel safe with my brothers?"

I remembered looking up at her from my plate of roasted chicken that suddenly tasted dry and stuck in my throat. The dinner table fell silent as the question rang in the air like the echo of a bell.

"Mary," Mr. Donovan scoffed. "We've met Darrel and Sodapop. We know that they are responsible, hard working young men. Now leave the boy alone so he can eat in peace." His voice was sharper than his carefully chosen words warranted. I keep my eyes fixed on my plate, robotically scooping the food into my mouth. I tried to pretend that I didn't see the glare that Mrs. Donovan sent her husband or the heat of Daniel's hatred projecting into the side of my head. I didn't think she'd appreciate my answer that I sure wished I was my brothers away from them right now.

"Morning Ponyboy," Mrs. Donovan's chipper greeting pulled me from my daydream and I muttered a quiet morning back at her. She smiled widely and moved to pass me a plate full of buttered toast. I nodded my thanks, pulling a few slices onto my plate before slaughtering them in peanut butter.

"You look very handsome this morning, but why are you dressed up?" She asked as she pushed a tall glass of orange juice towards me.

I stopped chewing my toast and looked up at her for the first time. Her face was unreadable, though she seemed to be honestly waiting for an answer.

I swallowed the too big mouthful of toast, wincing as I grabbed the juice to wash it down. "Uhh, today's Darry's court date, I thought you were gonna drive me there….?" I let the sentence hang in the air, my stomach suddenly wanting to revolt.

Understanding dawned on her face and she slapped her forehead letting out a light chuckle. "Oh, I must have forgotten to tell you. The judge's secretary called yesterday saying that he was sick and had moved your date to Monday. Sorry Ponyboy, I must be getting old or something."

I shook my head, and she patted me on the shoulder gently. My worry had been steadily growing all week and I had been glad that today we'd know where we stood. Now I was looking at a whole weekend without answers. I crumbled a chunk of toast between my fingers, I sure could use Soda about now. He knew how to calm me like no one else did.

My head popped up and I allowed a smile grin. "Can I go stay with my brothers for the weekend like I usually do?"

Mrs. Donovan's face frozen, hardening for a moment before she blinked and smiled apologetically this time. "I'm sorry honey, but Mrs. Wilson said that it would be better if you stayed here for the weekend. Something about the judge not having any reason to act against her recommendation." She waved her hand in the air as if brushing aside the statement. "I'm not sure what she meant, I'd have to ask Mr. Donovan to explain it to me."

My shoulders slumped and I grimaced into my juice. Here I was hoping that I'd wake up tomorrow morning with Soda's warmth pressed into my side and the scent of chocolate cake drifting from the kitchen where Darry would be on his second cup of coffee already. Now all I had to look forward to was another few days of trying to dodge Mrs. Donovan's questions and Daniel's glares.

I groaned and pushed my plate back with more force than was necessary.

Daniel chose this moment to trudge into the kitchen, grumbling under his breath the whole time that it was too early to be awake yet. His mother shot him a warning glance before softening and running her hand gently over his hair. I stood up, trying to leave the room quickly enough that he would notice my monkey suit and come up with some smart remark about it.

"Sorry," I heard him mumble to her. "What time are we leaving, mom?"

"As soon as you and Ponyboy are ready."

I froze in the doorway and looked back over my shoulder, my brows furrowed in confusion. "Get ready for what?"

Mrs. Donovan stepped towards me. "We had plans to watch Philip in his college basketball tournament this weekend and you're coming with us."

I took a step backwards, shaking my head. "No, I don't want to go. Can't I stay with Darry and Soda?"

Mrs. Donovan shook her head in return. "I told you what Mrs. Wilson said, I'd hate for Darrel to lose custody completely because we didn't listen."

I clenched my jaw and my fist so hard that I could feel my nails digging into my palms. Shoot, this wasn't right, I was supposed to go home today. Now I had to sit through a bunch of stupid basketball games for a team that I cared nothing about.

Soda's voice from my dream echoed in my ears and the tension drained out of my hands. I couldn't risk losing my brothers forever, no matter how much I wanted to tell Mrs. Donovan that I wasn't going anywhere. I'd put up with this last obstacle and soon I'd be back with my brothers where I belonged.

"Can I call my brothers before we leave?"

She glanced at the clock, then nodded her head slowly. "Yes dear, I think that would be okay."

Smiling, I jogged over to the living room phone, snatching it up and dialing the number. I tapped my fingers against the table as I listened to the ringing drone on and on. After a few minutes I gave up, frowning down at the phone as I hung it back on it's cradle. Where were they? Now that the court date was moved they should be home.

An invisible hand was squeezing my heart. I needed to hear their voices. The memory of them calling my name in the dark of my nightmare was still fresh and the yearning to make a connection to them was painful.

"Any luck?" I turned to see Mrs. Donovan watching me from the doorway, her fingers twisted and untwisted a dish towel.

"No, I don't know where they'd be?" I started to bite my nail, wracking my brain for an explanation.

She shrugged. "Maybe they picked up extra shifts since they now need to take Monday off?"

I paused, my finger still hanging from my mouth. That did make sense. Darry wasn't one to give up a day of work for no good reason and Soda had been picking up all the shifts he could get his hands on. Soda said he liked the extra dough but Darry said the house just didn't feel right without me there. Tears pricked my eyes at the thought that I wouldn't be home today like I'd hoped but I clenched my teeth and forced them down.

Mrs. Donovan frowned and placed her hand on my shoulder. "You can call them once we check into the hotel in Oklahoma City. I'm sure they'd want to hear from you."

I bobbed my head without meeting her eyes. I wasn't gonna turn into a bawl baby, not in front of her if I could help it. "I'm gonna go change." I muttered and dashed towards the stairs as fast as I could manage. I was slowly losing my fight against my emotions and I needed to get into my room before the tears won.

Already this day that had promised to be so good was turning into a nightmare.