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We'd been home for about an hour and a half devising a plan to tell my brothers, Emily, Steve and of course Mrs. Matthews when Soda, Pony and Steve rocked up. All our plans at that stage to put it pretty bluntly sucked. I mean, its one thing telling the people you love that you're going out with someone they don't know but its positively weird even thinking of telling them you're going out with your best friend. Therefore neither of us had a clue and for me panic sort of set in when they came home.

I mean, we couldn't lie because now we were talking to each other it'd be pretty impossible to even attempt lying since we'd basically gone five days without communicating, now we talk? Ugh, yeah lying would be hard. That and the fact Sodapop could read me like a book. Stupid twin things!

"Honey, we're home!" Sodapop called out cheerily as a feeling of dread overcame me. "How come you didn't walk home with Ponyboy?"

Two-Bit immediately focused all his attention onto the TV and I shifted to the other end of the couch just as my two brothers and Steve walked in and stared at the two of us weirdly, giving each other this look then without question, to my relief, they sat down.

"You two made up then?" Steve asked and Sodapop threw his shoe at him. "What did you -" Then a look of comprehension dawned on his face. "Oh," he muttered rolling his eyes.

I giggled slightly and Sodapop cleared his throat loudly.

"Anything you wanna share, Pixie?" he asked.

I thought for a moment and shrugged. "Not that I know of, why is there something I should?"

"Well I just thought you might," said Sodapop studying my face so I averted my gaze to the television. "'Cause lying is a nasty habit."

"I agree, Sodapop."

I quickly leant on my palm covering the smirk on my mouth and to hide my obvious attempt to giggle at Sodapop's very disgruntled looking face. Biting my lip I composed myself as best as I possibly could and sat up properly to watch the game show that was just starting.

"Whose cooking tonight?" Ponyboy asked absently from the floor where he was scribbling down what looked to be some homework.

"Ah, Darry?" Sodapop shrugged but I shook my head.

"Nice try, handsome," I grinned, "But its our turn to suffer the perils of your, ah, cuisine."

"I don't make cuisine!" Sodapop retorted indignantly, "You do!"

I burst out laughing and Ponyboy looked up from whatever he was writing to stare at him with a very amused looking grin plastered on his face.

"Sodapop, cuisine is food," Ponyboy said calmly, his mouth twitching slightly as he tried not to laugh. "So really you've just admitted you're not giving us food."

Even Sodapop had to grin good-naturedly whilst the other two, who probably had no more clue than Sodapop, started laughing quite loudly. I chuckled to myself but gave him a smile.

"Well it does sort of explain why the foods been discolored before!" I teased him but he just grinned.

"I like colorful food, gives everything a better taste," he said and I raised my brows and he quickly added. "It adds to the decor?" said Sodapop hopefully and I shook my head chuckling.

I diverted my attention back to the TV and glanced at Two-Bit who was gaping slightly at the busty blond on the television. Scowling I kicked him slightly with my foot and he looked away pretty fast. But as I started to focus on the show once more I felt Sodapop's eyes burning into my face and I got this really funny feeling he saw and had put two and two together because he decided to start a new round of questions.

"So are you and Two-Bit talking?" he asked bluntly then swore rather loudly as his own shoe hit him in the head. "Why the hell did you do that, Steve?"

Steve, who looked quite impressed with his shot, smirked. "'Cause you threw it at me for asking her!"

"Yeah, but," Sodapop said but gave up on a reason to yell at him more since Steve's point was well, quite a good one.

"Yeah we are," I answered quickly half hoping the three had forgotten. I shouldn't have even hoped, like they would.

"Why?" Pony asked abruptly.

"Aren't we allowed to?" I asked him coolly.

Sodapop opened his mouth then shut it quick and opened it again before closing it. After doing this a few times I must say I was reminded of a goldfish but then he seemingly figured out just what he actually wanted to say and spoke.

"I'm not telling Darry," he said bluntly but gave me a faint smile. "But I swear, if he touches you, I don't care if we're friends, I will kill him,"

I snorted derisively. "You wouldn't dare,"

"Well," Sodapop paused with a grin. "Maybe not, but you get the gist."

"I'm sure he does," I replied kicking Two-Bit with my foot who was staring at Sodapop looking gob smacked. "Right?"

"Yeah," he said softly then grinned. "I'm not telling Darry either,"

"Tell him what?" Ponyboy and Steve both demanded looking irked.

I poked my tongue out to them, "Wouldn't you like to know."

"Yeah, that's why we asked," Ponyboy said.

I looked at him oddly. "He gets mouthier with age, doesn't he?" I asked absently shrugging. "Suppose it's his age,"

"I think we should be told," Steve replied.

I grinned. "Nah,"

"I want to go out," Two-Bit announced standing up.

"You know, so do I." I said swinging my legs off the couch and standing up, "But give me a sec,"

"I can't believe it took you that long," Sodapop muttered as I walked past him and I hurried up the stairs rolling my eyes.

I quickly grabbed my jacket and my scarf and untied my hair so it lay along the back of my jacket. I pulled my shoes on and ran down the stairs quickly as Ponyboy and Steve grinned at us, clearly having comprehended what it was.

"See, we were right!" Steve shouted punching the air with happiness. "I knew it all along!"

I opened my mouth to retort but found myself just grinning happily instead, totally speechless, and Ponyboy looked up at me with such a genuinely happy smile on his face as Two-Bit slipped his hand into mine and Sodapop beamed.

"I love seeing you smile like that, Pixie," Ponyboy told me.

I couldn't say anything once he said that, I smiled happily and felt like I was going to cryso Ilet go of Two-Bit's hand and hugged Ponyboy tightly. Much to the bewilderment of all of them but I was suddenly overcome with emotions and I sniffed and wiped my eyes whilst the all gawked at me.

"Sorry," I muttered feeling my face flush as I fanned myself. "Okay, I'll see you later,"

"Behave yourselves!" Sodapop called out cheerfully as I walked out the door with Two-Bit trailing behind me. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do!" I giggled. "No wait!" he said hurriedly running to the door as we stepped out onto the road. "Don't do anything Ponyboy wouldn't do!"

"Hey!" Ponyboy shouted.

I laughed at them and took a deep breath and wiped my eyes once more before I took Two-Bit's hand again, looking at him with slight nerves but he gave me a reassuring smile and I felt relaxed suddenly. A wave of warmth overcame me suddenly as a thought dawned on me and my mouth dropped open suddenly and then I started grinning and laughing and hugged him impulsively.

"Pixie, you okay?"

"I just realized something!" I exclaimed excitedly. "It was something I was thinking back in September, you know the day Ponyboy was jumped?"

"Yeah?" Two-Bit asked cautiously.

I beamed at him happily, "I figured out where you fit into it all!"

"Fit into what?" he asked cocking an eyebrow.

"The puzzle!" I said enthusiastically. "Dally and Darry were older brothers, Steve and Sodapop were equals and Johnny and Pony were little brothers! But I mean you didn't fit into it at all, I mean now I think of it Emily does too," I mused, "She's sort of an equal too, but in a different way…" I said trailing off thoughtfully.

"Pixie, you don't make much sense,"

"Well you never fitted in," I told him happily squeezing his hands. "You didn't fit in because you weren't someone that I love like family," Two-Bit frowned slightly but I kept beaming. "Because all along I loved you more than family Two-Bit!" I said in a whispered voice as I felt my face flush.

Two-Bit suddenly grinned at me happily. "What are you getting at?"

I took a deep nervous breath. "That you fit into it, because I reckon you're, you know, the one."

"Cool," he laughed bending down to kiss me softly. "Cool."

"That's all you have to say?" I demanded slightly annoyed.

"Yeah, 'cause that's what I've felt since you turned sixteen."

I flushed furiously and reached upwards to kiss him. "That's good then."

"Yeah, it is rather."

A/N: Go the soppy romantic ending. I promise not to have any more of them. : P I am SO sorry I didn't update earlier like I said I would but I couldn't upload the chapter onto my account for some reason. : ( I'm really, really sorry about that but it wouldn't work, and I was really annoyed about that too since I'd told everyone I would update. -takes deep breath- Again, I am really sorry. And thanks to everyone for reviewing and keep them up please!

Rachel