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I returned back home that Friday night at about eleven thirty. Half an hour before the curfew Darry had been continuing since our parents died, it's probably the closest I've ever come to being late. Being the goody two shoes that I am of course.

I slowly creeped up the porch steps and ran my fingers through my hair as I pushed open the door and slipped inside closing it behind me cautiously. But my first step creaked and I could have screamed but I just laughed and walked into the lounge room and threw Darry a grin but he remained stony as he checked me over.

"Where were you? Sodapop and Ponyboy wouldn't say," Darry said scowling, I didn't tell them not to tell they just didn't 'cause they're wimps, but I doubt he'd believe me. "It's eleven thirty!"

"Yeah, so I'm not out late," I pointed out still standing by the wall.

"You were out alone,"

I took a deep breath and shook my head. "Actually I wasn't."

"What?" Darry asked staring at me. "Pixie, Emily doesn't count, you wouldn't have been able to defend yourselves."

I snorted, "Darry, I wasn't out with Emily, she'll have better things to do on her Friday than hang out with girlfriends now I imagine,"

"Who were you out with then?"

"I was trying to tell you that before," I replied rolling my eyes slightly.

"You're acting sarcastic,"

"I'm being normal then," I told him with a grin and Darry laughed.

"True,"

"Well," I began taking another deep breath. "Two-Bit and I made up,"

"I heard,"

I nodded, "Yeah, sort of thought you would," Darry nodded with a smile, which I shared. "Yes well, you were right, on Sunday I mean," I blabbered on. "About what you all said and that,"

"Huh?"

"I-like-Two-Bit." I said in one breath turning red slightly. "Er, and he likes me."

Darry stared at me slightly and then a grin broke through his face. "Took you both long enough,"

"You're not…annoyed then?" I asked him cautiously.

"How could I be?" Darry demanded with a smirk. "Knew it all along I did,"

"Did everyone know?" I sighed loudly as he caught me in a gruff hug. "Was I that naïve?"

"Pretty much," Darry laughed as he beamed down at me happily. He looked so much like my dad like that, like a really proud dad and that weird feeling overcame me again as I grinned up at him. "Well, at least you look really happy, no more moping now, you hear?"

"I hear," I said saluting him jokingly as he gave me a shove. "Ohh, getting nasty, are we?"

"Yup!" Darry laughed.

I flashed him a smile and flopped onto the couch and took my shoes off. "They hiding upstairs?"

"Nah, Ponyboy went to see Emily or something and Steve and Sodapop went off on the prowl," Darry snorted his attention tuned into the television now, "Apparently Evie and Steve are on a break,"

"Did she cheat on him again?"

"Probably,"

I rolled my eyes. "I don't mind Evie, but honestly."

Darry nodded in agreement absently. Pulling off my shoes I tossed them into the corner and Darry muttered something like 'You'll lose them like your twin does' but I ignored him and tossed my jacket over the arm of the couch and curled my legs underneath me. Then I found my green eyes staring at Darry with interest.

"Darry?" I asked him but I didn't wait for a response, "Darry, why didn't you go out tonight too? I mean, looking for a girl?" I asked him trying to contain myself to jump up and shake him and tell him he needs to stop worrying about the rest of us. "Its just, you need more of a break than the rest of us,"

Darry snorted slightly and looked at me. "Not until Ponyboy is eighteen, then I'll relax,"

"That's three and a half years." I stated raising my brows. "No way Darry, that's just...weird."

Darry laughed at me. "Who said I haven't noticed anyone?"

"Who is it?" I demanded.

"You're nosey,"

"Darry!" I wailed as he grinned. "Oh come on, please tell me!"

"I never said I had, I just said nothing was saying I hadn't," he pointed out.

I rolled my eyes obviously and stood up. "Gosh you're annoying, you know?"

"Not really,"

"Goodnight, Dar," I said shaking my head. "Hey, Dar?" I said pausing slightly by the doorway.

"Yeah, Pixie?"

"Pretend you don't know," I said with a smile. "I'll tell you tomorrow and overreact, just to, just to give them a bit of a scare," I giggled.

"Pixie, you are so evil."

I laughed and turned to look at him. "Well it'd be funny, don't you think?"

"Yeah, it would rather," Darry grinned. "I'll think about it. Goodnight, Pixie."

"'Night," I said with a wave of my hand as I yawned and dragged my feet up the stairs.

Yawning I shut my bedroom door and I flicked my light on, creating an eerie square pool of light on the gravel road below my bedroom window. As the curtains snapped shut I changed into a pair of pajamas and sat on my bed, a pen and a piece of paper on my hand as I knelt on a book. The pen to my lips my eyes were glazed in thoughtfulness as I slowly lowered pen to paper and started to write, flowing naturally from my hand.

Dear Mom,

I know I haven't written to you in awhile, but there's hardly been anything good to say, except that we're all back on track, well as best as can be expected after They died. Sorry I didn't keep in touch, that I didn't even visit you either, its just things have been busy lately, especially with school. Darry would be making you proud with that, he's worse than you are, Mom! It's homework this and homework that before a 'How was your day, Pixie?'

Sodapop and I turned seventeen, as you well know, in October, Mom. It was great, well as great as could be expected. Emily made us a cake, well Mrs. Matthews apparently made it from the sounds of it but Emily claimed to help. It was good fun, the boys even had a special game of football to celebrate one last year of childhood as Darry called it, but Emily and I just watched on ignoring what they said, I mean, even if we did join they'd just complain about our lack of skill! I mean, Mom, you know how they are!

But that wasn't why I decided to write to you again. It's because when I write to you, even though you can't read this, it's the intention that makes it feel like you and Daddy really are here with us today, and if you were you'd know about our lives so I have to tell you about it. Because talking to where you are now makes me feel like a nutcase, it's like people look at me, and I don't like it. So I write toyou likethis instead, like you would've wanted. You always said to me whatever made me comfortable is what I should do. I never understood what you meant then, I guess I do now.

Well what I want to tell you I think you might already know, but I never knew so chances are you do, since you were always better with these things, I wish I was too. It's about me and a boy, it's Two-Bit actually, well we had a fight but we made up, and the thing is I really like him, Mom. I mean okay; it's been what, a day? But it feels right, we've been best friends our whole lives and it just clicks. It doesn't feel like it did with Jason. It's different because we already know each other and the others secrets and stuff, the boys have all taken it good too but its still weird, a good weird though. It's like the weirdest sensation inside me when he kissed me and when they say they're happy for me. It just feels so right, was that like it was with Dad? You know, perfect? I know you can't really reply, but still, I hope that's how it felt. Because then maybe I'll be able to better understand it, knowing that you felt it too when you were my age with Dad.

I'll keep in touch, well as best I can.

Love,

Pixie Elizabeth Curtis

My green eyes quickly scanned over what I wrote and a smile was slowly forming on my lips as I folded the letter and placed it in an envelope before sealing it. I stared at the back of that closed envelope for awhile, pondering if I should have even bothered, I bit my lip slightly but grabbed the pen and scrawled 'Mom' on the front of it before placing on my bedside table, the pen resting on top, the cap closed. Without hesitation I crawled to the bottom of my bed and reached forward and flicked the light off. Then I quickly crawled under my sheets and closed my eyes with that smile on my face as I drifted into a sleep full of dreams of smiling, laughing faces staring down at me happily.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I must admit I can remember when I wrote that letter I got real emotional...I'm such a sissy. : P Thanks to everyone for reviewing and please keep them up!

Rachel