Here it is, the promised epilogue to this story. It took longer than I'd expected but this story is complete. Thank you to everyone who supported me, those would gave feedback, those who reviewed and and those who followed or favourited it. You all kept me writing though I'm sure not as quickly as you'd have hoped. It meant so much to know you were reading my writing.

I hope you enjoyed this story and please if you want leave one final review.

I hopped up the front steps and entered the house, dropping my backpack on the floor. I fished out my novel and opened it as I toed off my shoes.

"Ponyboy, that you?" Soda called, sticking his head out of the kitchen doorway.

"Yeah," I answered and slid past him to grab a glass of water.

Soda went back to stirring the pot on the stove. "How was practice?" Soda didn't look away from the pot but his tone was too nonchalant to fool me.

"It was fine. Coach barely let me run. Said I need to ease back into it." I took a big gulp of water. I wasn't thrilled about Coach's plan but I knew that it made both Soda and Darry feel better to know I wasn't going to overdo it. It had been a month since I was stabbed by that tree branch and I felt fine but my brothers still worried. It had been tough going at first and I'd hurt too much to be able to move around much but just being home had done a whole lot of good.

My brothers hadn't been far from me whenever they weren't working and even when they were they had one of the guys nearby. Even now that I was healed enough the doctors had cleared me to go back to track practice, their nerves showed. Usually their hovering would chafe but I was still so glad to be home that it didn't bother me much.

"Good." He nodded before catching himself. He turned to me and clasped my shoulder. "You'll be back into shape soon enough kiddo. Don't rush it, yah dig?"

"Sure, I dig." I answered and batted away his hand as he reached for my hair.

I went to the couch and settled down with my book for English class. My teacher had us reading Frankenstein and at first it was a little slow but since he made the monster it was getting good. I lost myself in the pages, ignoring Two-Bit's quip as he and Steve slammed the door a few minutes later. Two-Bit ruffled my hair and I grumbled as I tried to fix it.

He smirked at me as they both made their way into the kitchen where Soda was cooking. I couldn't stay mad at the guy. His words from the hospital echoed in my head.

I was wrong, Ponyboy. We can't get along without you, so you've got to stick around, you hear?

I'd almost forgotten that he'd said that about us needing Johnny, that felt like a lifetime ago. The reminder had choked me up. Two-Bit was a good buddy and I'd missed him when I'd been living with the Donovans. I'd even missed Steve though I wasn't able to tell him that any time soon.

I tuned out the noise from the kitchen that followed. Those guys were loud enough to wake the dead but it was a comforting noise that I'd missed when I'd been gone.

I paused as a cheery sound from outside caught my attention. I froze and blinked at the door. Was that…?

Soda stuck his head out the kitchen with a look of confusion on his face. I wasn't sure how he'd heard anything over the racket they'd been making. "Is Darry whistling?"

I shrugged as the man himself entered the door, whistling. Soda and I just stared at him. He hung up his tool belt and sat down in his chair to tug off his boots. He looked up and noticed us then. "What?"

"You're whistling." I blurted out before I could think of something else to say.

"I guess I am." He answered as he put his boots by the door. "I had a good day."

I met Soda's eyes and he shrugged in return. "Anything happen today?

Darry leaned back in his chair and put his hands behind his head. "As a matter of fact it did."

Soda perched on the end of the sofa. Steve leaned against the doorway and Two-Bit straddled a kitchen chair.

"Oh goodie, story time fellas." Two-Bit crowed.

Darry rolled his eyes. "Well, I told you that Mr. Canfield has been getting me to do some management duties recently, right?"

We all nodded. We were sure proud of Darry. After all his hard work, he finally had a boss that saw his brain as well as his muscles. Mr. Canfield had told Darry that he was going to make him foreman and he'd been slowly training him for the job.

"He had me interview some new grunts for my crew this afternoon." Darry fell into silence with a self satisfied look on his face.

Soda leaned forward. "And? That can't be what's got you so giddy."

Darry chuckled. "No, one of the guys was one Bill Franklin."

I frowned and tried to place the name but nothing came to mind. The matching lost looks on the guys faces told me that they didn't recognize it either.

Darry was looking even more pleased with himself though.

"Geez! I'll bite." Steve grumbled. "Who's Bill Franklin?"

Darry grin was sly. "My old boss' nephew."

We sat there in silence for a beat then Soda jumped off the couch.

"No! You mean the guy that we beat at Buck's? The hippie cowboy that fired you?"

I sat forward in surprise. The guy that had started everything when he'd fired Darry because he was sore about Soda beating him at poker. He'd single handedly spun our lives out of orbit.

Darry's smile widened. "The very same."

Soda burst out laughing and danced around in place before he grabbed me around the neck. "Just think of that Pony! That hippie cowboy having to come to Darry with his tail between his legs asking for a job. I'd have sure liked to see that."

I chuckled. "Get off me you big lug." I smiled too, it was something I'd like to have seen too.

Darry stood up and stretched. "It sure was satisfying to have the tables turned."

"Did you hire him, Superman?" Two-Bit asked with a Cheshire Cat grin.

"Are you kidding?" And we all burst out laughing again.

Darry hooked an arm around Soda and my shoulders and we returned the gesture. We stood there linked together for a moment. My heart felt light. After all our troubles, we were together again and this was where we were going to stay.

Mrs. Wilson had come by once after I was brought home and apologized for the Donovans. She couldn't believe that she'd placed me in the house of a family that had tried to kidnap me. It wasn't her fault and I told her so because I could see that the situation had shaken her up a lot. It wasn't her fault really, she had been doing her job before but I was sure that she wouldn't ever separate us again.

The state was charging Mrs. Donovan for kidnapping but she probably wasn't going to serve any time. She was in a facility getting help and I heard she'd be there for a while. Philip lost his scholarship and had to do a bunch of community service. The cops figured Daniel was too young to be blamed and they spun a story that Mr. Donovan was just trying to bring me home. I didn't correct them. As long as I never saw them again I'd be happy. They probably felt the same about me.

Darry squeezed us close then let go. "Did one of you make dinner?"

"Spaghetti is almost ready." Soda answered as he returned to the kitchen.

"It's green." Steve said dryly and Soda punched him in the arm.

Darry rolled his eyes heavenward. "For the love of Pete Soda, can't we eat normal food just once?"

"Where's the fun in that?" Soda called back.

Darry shook his head fondly before hooking his arm around me again. "How are you feeling, kiddo?"

I sighed, I don't think they'd ever stop worrying about me. "I'm good Darry, you don't need to worry."

"Sure, cause you ain't a danger magnet." Steve muttered as he walked towards the front door. I stuck my foot out and he tripped. He snarled as he went to take a swipe at me but Darry stepped between us, leveling Steve with a glare. Steve rolled his eyes and stalked out to the porch for a smoke.

Darry turned his glare on me and I gave him my best Soda grin. He shook his head in exasperation but his smile was soft.

"Dinners ready!" Soda hollered and the guys all disappeared into the kitchen. I scooped up my book to put it in my backpack when the view from the window caught my eye.

The sun was setting and the sky was a mixture of bright pinks, oranges and golds. I watched it in silence for a minute. What was it that they said? Pink sky at night sailors' delight. That meant that tomorrow was supposed to be a good day.

"Come on Pony, your dinner's getting cold." Soda called.

"I'm here." I answered and entered the kitchen.

Yeah, tomorrow would be a good day.

Thank you,

-jem

*S.E. Hinton owns these characters, I'm just playing in her world.