Here is another chapter. Please read and review for me. Happy Holly Days.

ANYONE POV

Soda withdrew from school and started working at the DX full-time while Steve worked there part time, after school and weekends. Darry's job was hard and demanding, but he was home at five every day. He spent as much with his brothers as he could. Pony slowly started to get his grades back up and even made the track team. School was almost out for the year and the gang was looking forward to the summer.

School was finally out for the day. Pony, Johnny, and Two-Bit walked out of the building where they were stopped by a group of boys.

"Gee Curtis, guess you won't get to go on the baseball field trip since it's for fathers and sons and you don't have one anymore. Too bad cause it's gonna be cool."

"Shut your mouth, you bum," Two-Bit told him coldly.

"Come on Pony, don't listen to him," Johnny told the 12 year old.

"Did you tell Darry about the trip?" Two-Bit wanted to know.

"No, he's been busy and I really don't want to go anyway," Pony lied walking home. Once there he worked on his homework and got dinner started. It had only been three months since the accident and he was still raw and hurtin.

"Johnny, I'm gonna lay down. You can stay, Soda will be home soon."

"All right," he sat on the couch.

Two-Bit went by the DX to tell Soda what happened after school.

"I'll tell Darry maybe he'll take Pony."

"I'm gonna hunt some action, wanna come?"

"I better head home," Soda replied.

"See ya later," Two-Bit called.

"Bye Two-Bit," The guys walked home to find Johnny asleep on the couch and Pony asleep in the bedroom. When Darry got home, Soda talked to him before the boys woke up.

DARRY POV

"Why wouldn't Pony tell me if he wanted to go?" I wondered.

"Maybe because you're not his Dad," Steve smarted off.

I stood up and Soda gave Steve a look before grabbing my arm.

"I think you should take the day off and go with him, maybe take Johnny too."

"I'll see what I can do Little Buddy," I promised. "Go wake the kids for dinner and Steve, keep your mouth shut.

It was an unusually quiet dinner. After the dishes were done, Soda wanted to go out with Steve.

"Darry, I'll be back later."

"Curfew is midnight," I told him.

"I know," he called as they left.

Soon after Johnny decided to go home. Pony was on the porch reading a book, I sat beside him.

"So I heard there was some trouble today."

"Not really, just some guy running his mouth," Pony remarked rubbing his leg.

"Your leg hurt?" I asked before pulling it across my lap and massaging it.

"A little," he admitted.

"Were you gonna tell me about the field trip or just miss out on it?" I asked softly.

Pony shrugged and pulled his leg away. "I know I can't go so there wasn't any reason to say anything."

"Why can't you go?" I asked.

"I don't have a dad anymore," his voice cracked and he ran into the house.

"Dam, I hate this."

"Hate what?" Dally asked walking to the gate.

"Mom and Dad being gone. I thought Pony was getting better, but he's still hurting so much and I don't have a clue how to help him."

"Use your instincts D.S., you'll figure it out. Go take care of the kid, I'll be around later if you need to talk."

"I might take you up on that Ace," I told him from the door.

DARRY POV

For some reason when my baby brother gets upset lately, he goes to my room. That's where I found him, curled up on my bed.

Ponyboy?" I sat by him.

"I'm sorry," he sat up and swiped at his eyes.

"Why are you sorry Little Man?" I reached over and dried his tears wishing I could make his pain go away.

"For making things harder on you."

"How do you figure that?"

"I just miss them," he cried not answering my question.

"I do to, Soda does. This is normal, don't be sorry about how you feel. I would give anything if I could take your pain away, but I can't. It will fade in time though."

Pony leaned against me, I brushed the hair from his eyes.

"Now about this field trip, do you want to go?"

"Yeah, but..."

"I'm not Dad, but I can still take you if you will let me."

"I'd like that. I guess you are like the Dad now."

"I would never try to replace him, but if that's how you want to look at me."

"Does it bother you?" he asked softly.

"It don't bother me, Ponyboy," I said as my little brother hugged me.

"Now do you want Johnny to come with us or do you want it to be just you and me?"

"You would take Johnny too?"

"Sure if you want. If Johnny wants to go, I might see if Dally will to."

"Cool, can I go tell him?"

"Yeah go on."

"Thanks Dare," he ran out the door and I went to get a cup of coffee.

DARRY POV

"Is the kid okay?" Dally asked joining me.

"He's fine. This is so hard. God, Ace, what if I mess this up?"

"You won't! Superman don't mess up, so about this trip?"

"I was gonna tell you about that. Next Friday you and me are taking the boys to a little league baseball game."

"I might be busy," he committed.

"I suggest you get unbusy. This is important to Pony and Johnny," I snapped then lowered my voice. "Besides you'll get to spend the day with me."

"Geeze don't get all worked up, I'll go."

He touched my shoulder, "You are doing a good job with Pony. The kid will be fine," he hugged me for a minute.

ANYONE POV

"Hey guys," Soda said sitting beside his brother and Johnny on the porch.

"Hey Sodapop, guess what?"

"What Ponyboy?"

"Darry's taking Johnny and me to the game."

"That's good, I'm sure you'll have fun."

"We will. Dally's comin to, I don't think Darry wants to spend the whole day with us boring kids."

"Maybe he wants someone to talk to while you and Johnny pal around."

"Prolly," Pony agreed as they all went inside. Between work, school and other things the week passed pretty quickly. The guys at school were still giving Pony a hard time and although the boy never told anyone, Lisa had called to talk to him about adopting him and Soda. He told her no, but she kept calling. He finally had to talk to someone, so Thursday night he told Johnny when they were in the lot.

"Johnny, remember when we heard the Clarkes talking to Darry about adopting Soda and me?"

"Yeah why?"

"She's been calling asking. I want Darry to. I want Darry to be my new Dad."

"Have you asked him about it? I mean if you think about it, he is."

"Do you think I should? I know Soda will be mad, Steve will tell me to grow up. I don't know what Darry will say."

"Dunno, depends on you and how much you want it. It doesn't matter what anyone says, you have to do what's right for you."

"I guess. You stayin tonight?" he asked standing up. The dark-haired boy nodded.

"Come on, let's go home."

Two hours after dinner Darry carried Pony to bed, while Dally covered Johnny up. He decided to go to bed when Dally left to find trouble. Pony slipped out of bed after Soda was asleep, holding his breath hoping he didn't disturb him, then went down the hall.

"Darry?" He shook his brother to wake him up.

DARRY POV

"Hmmm...Pony, you okay?" I asked sitting up hoping he wasn't ill again.

"I wanted to ask you something."

"Sit down and ask me," I told him wondering what was up with him.

"I don't want the Clarkes to adopt us. If you say no, it's okay, but I wanted to know since you do everything he did and he's gone, but you're here..." he stopped.

"Pony, just tell me," I urged him.

"Well I just thought if I had to have another Dad, could it be you?" He cried looking at the floor as tears dripped down his face. I was stunned at the pain I heard in his young voice and the question itself. I had to remind myself to breathe. I had no idea that he knew about the Clarkes offer to formally adopt the boys.

"Pony, look at me," I whispered quietly. He looked up at me with big, green eyes.

"I'll be anything you need me to be. Don't ever be scared to tell me how you feel, because I will always be here to listen," I pulled him to me and held him a long time. Then he asked another question that hurt just as much.

"Don't you want me?"

I couldn't speak so I just nodded. I knew I would have to talk to the boys in the morning about Lisa Clarke. The idea had never been seriously considered. Pony's arms wrapped around me and he buried his face in my neck and bawled, mumbling something.

"What did you say baby?" I asked.

"I need Daddy."

"I know," I murmured trying to soothe him. "Shh..I want you to go to sleep now Little Man, " I'm not sure how long I rocked Pony, but after he was still I took him back to Sodapop, glad that he'd slept through that conversation.

ANYONE POV

Darry heaved a ragged sigh, he needed to talk to Dally. The young man didn't know what scared him the most, the fact that he always seemed to be crying lately or his growing dependence on Dally.

Shaking his head he stumbled across the room, before realizing he didn't know where the other greaser was.

"He's at Buck's," Johnny told him. Darry nodded and dialed the phone.

"Can I talk to Dally please?' he asked when it was answered.

"Just a minute...Dallas, phone," the man yelled.

"Hello?"

"Ace, I...I

D.S., what's wrong?" he demanded.

"I need to see you. Can you come over?"

"Sure buddy, I'm on the way."

"I'll be in my room," they hung up.

DARRY POV

When I turned to go, I noticed Johnny looking at me.

"Sorry Johnnycakes, didn't mean to wake you up."

"It's all right. Pony asked you about adopting him, didn't he?"

"Yeah, how long has he been thinking this?"

"A while. Lisa has been calling and the guys as school still give him a hard time. They say you're not as good as a Dad. He gets upset. Pony says you do everything your Dad did so it makes sense to him," Johnny told me yawning.

"Go back to sleep," I said going to my room. I heard Dally come in and talk to Johnny then my door opened and closed, the lock turned.

I drew in a shuddering breath, my little brother's innocent question nearly destroyed me. I always tried to be strong around the boys, but when it was just me and Dally, I could let my guard down, like he could with me. I also knew Dal wouldn't think less of me and it wouldn't be the first time I broke in front of him. He lay down and the minute I felt his arms around me, I lost it. When I tried to hold it together, he wouldn't let me.

"Don't hold it all inside," he told me softly. When I shook, he rubbed my back. "That's it D.S., let it all out. You'll feel better, then we'll talk," he said.

DARRY POV

About 20 minutes later, I pulled myself together.

"Better now?" he asked. I nodded and sat up so I could look at him. Dally used his thumb to dry my eyes.

"What got you so upset?"

After I explained, I lay with my head on his chest listening to his heart beating.

"God, Ace, I didn't know what to say," I stood up and paced the floor.

"Sounds like you did the right thing. Come lay down," he said quietly. When I did, he nestled me against him, arms around me, my head on his shoulder.

Desire flamed inside me. It only took the slightest touch from Dally and I was turned on.

"Ace?"

"Go to sleep Buddy."

How? It wasn't possible to sleep.

"I can't."

"Well try," he attempted to sound mad, but I knew he wasn't. Lying there I shut my eyes, but they opened again. I listened to Dally's breathing and knew he couldn't sleep either. Tangled so close together, I could feel him and snuggled even closer.

"Do you remember the first time we kissed?" I whispered.

"D.S., for God's sake."

"Do you"" I pressed him.

"Of course I do, but I'm trying to sleep," he rolled over quickly, leaving me alone. Sighing I stared at the ceiling before curling around his slim waist.

DARRY POV

I slowly pulled the zipper down, he drew in a sharp breath when I took him out to hold and stroke. Dally turned over and pulled me on top of him. His lips took mine in a rough needful kiss, his hands wondered over my body. My heart was beating fast as I tore at his shirt to reach bare chest.

"Undress," Dally growled doing the same.

"All right," I sat up and wrenched the shirt off, followed by jeans and boxers. Then I was back on top of him. Skin against skin. My mouth moved down his body with hot-opened mouthed caresses. My tongue brushed against his nipples while my hand slid down his belly to the thatch of hair beyond it.

ANYONE POV

Dally was breathing hard and there was to much urgency between them for patience or restraint. After making sure the older man was ready, Darry entered him in one possive thrust. Dally spread his legs wider and moaned. Darry was on him, in him, big and hard and that was all either of them ever wanted or needed.

"Oh yeah," Dally groaned raggedly. There was not another person in the entire world who could make him feel this way. Pulling Darry's face to him, they kissed. His hands stroked Dally's dick. Darry's thrusts went deeper, harder, and faster. The lovers knew they wouldn't last much longer and finally clung to each other as they exploded together.

"D.S.," Dally moaned taking his final thrusts. It took a long time for their bodies to calm down so they could drift to sleep.

Pony woke up screaming early the next morning. He'd slept restlessly before the nightmare had taken hold. Soda up to hold him. "She..it's all a dream baby. It's all right."

Pony kept crying, he called for their parents. Darry ran in and dropped to his knees by them. The little boy was repeating one word.

"I'm here Little Colt. She...settler down," he murmured taking the trembling child from Soda, who watched silently. He'd heard Pony call Darry Daddy, and he'd answered him. After he was sleeping again, the oldest Curtis stayed with his brothers until it was time to get up. Soda lay stiffly beside them, when Darry tried to pull him closer, the boy stiffened and jerked away. The next day at breakfast Soda kept staring at Pony and Darry.

DARRY POV

"Something wrong Sodapop?" I asked concerned because my middle brother is usually a bundle of energy. "We all need to talk tonight," he shrugged and jumped up from the table.

"I'm gonna be late," he said before running off.

"Pony, here's your permission slip for the trip."

"What about Johnny's?"

"I have it, Dally signed it," Johnny told us sitting down.

"I'll drop you off at school. We'll meet you there at 12:30. Dally's driving so he'll prolly have Buck's car."

They nodded and piled into the car. I still didn't know why they needed permission slips if they were riding with us, unless it was to get out of class.