And moving right along to chapter three...
Disclaimer: The usual.
Layne's POV
The bus station was crowded with people when we found a place to stand and wait for the buses to come in. There were two that had come in since we'd been there, but neither had been carrying the boys. I was getting antsy by the time the third one came into view.
Darry just stood beside me the whole time, trying to be calm, but throwing off excited waves. If it wasn't for the fact Soda was bouncing on the balls of his feet, and literally jumping all over Steve when he thought he saw the bus coming, I would have said Darry was the most excited to see the boys come home.
For his part, Steve was putting up with Soda, and feeding off his energy. Two-Bit was even standing with us, looking like he wasn't doing anything out of the ordinary by waiting for a bus. For all I knew, this was perfectly ordinary for him. Sometimes, I wished I could have his adventures for one day. Dallas and Sevrin hadn't come. Instead, they were back at the house with Charlie to make sure the food got put out – which it should have been by now. I thought it was probably a good thing they had chosen to stay with Charlie. Things were far too busy for him to be underfoot, especially with the large buses passing by so close to where we were standing.
"You think this is the one?" I asked Darry, watching as the third bus rolled to a stop not far away.
"Well, there's only one way to tell," he offered, craning his neck to get a better look through the windows of the bus.
I knew he was right, but I couldn't help asking. I hadn't had the chance to talk to Aries since he left and I was anxious to see him. I had spoken with Pony every time we called, but I was still anxious to see him, too. I had been in New York. I know what it did to people. It would be good to have both of them in my sight again.
That settled it. The next time I got the bright idea to let them go anywhere, I was going to remember how hard it was to have the pair of them gone this time.
The bus settled and the engine cut off before the doors opened, and people started to pile off the bus. Two-Bit craned his neck a little and smirked.
"Why, I do believe this is the pumpkin bringing home Cinderella."
"You think you're funny," Steve huffed, shaking his head.
"Correction, my dear Steven - I know I'm funny," Two-Bit assured him.
"Pony!" Soda yelped, maneuvering his way to the bus.
Darry and I followed, seeing that Soda had Pony in a bear hug when we came over. They both looked happy to see each other again, and it brought a smile to my face. Darry reached out to hug his brother and ruffle his hair before I finally got my chance to wrap my arms around Ponyboy. He didn't feel any different, and I grinned at him.
"Well, I see Will fed you up right."
Pony grinned. "Yeah, he really did. Not like home, but good all the same."
"Well, now you're home," Darry declared.
"Where's Aries?" Soda asked, still pressed as close to Pony as possible.
"Still on the bus," Pony offered with a shrug.
I frowned, making my way towards the door as I heard Two-Bit loudly greet Pony. I nearly walked smack into my little brother. I wasn't going to be able to call him little anymore. He was taller than me by a few inches now, and he was filling out through the shoulders, even though he was still thin. He looked even thinner than when I had seen him last. Had Rock even fed him?
Before I could say anything, my brother had me in a tight hug, his forehead buried in the crook of my neck. I hugged him back, having missed this. See, even with the rest of the boys around, it wasn't the same as hugging the one person in the world you could take credit for raising into adulthood.
When he pulled back, he looked terribly anxious, and I smiled at him, placing a hand on his cheek.
"Oh, I missed you," I told him, watching guilt shine in his eyes. "You have no idea how quiet it has been without you."
"Layne, I –" he started, but I continued on.
"But you're home now. And not a moment too soon. Look at you! I'm going to have to work on fattening you up before I send you out into the world," I told him, and he smiled just a bit. "People are going to mistake you for a bean pole."
"Or Dorothy's Scarecrow," he jested, and I smiled.
"Believe me, I doubt you need a brain," I assured him, even if I thought he could have used it better this summer. "C'mon, I'm sure everyone wants to say hello."
Aries nodded and followed me over to where everyone was still greeting Pony. Two-Bit caught sight of Aries, and beamed.
"Well, if it isn't Count Dracula returned from the big city."
"Hey, Hobbit," Aries replied, accepting the hair ruffles, and back slaps in greeting from the boys.
I watched, amazed at how different things were now from what they were four years ago. Then, Aries would have ducked under the arms, shyly backed away from the affection, and found some way to distance everyone with a very analytical comment. Now he was smiling, returning the joking comments, and shoving the boys back when they got rough with him. God, he was growing up.
Darry slipped an arm around my waist, as Steve threw an arm around Pony's shoulders, making him hunch down to Steve's height. Pony had hit a growth spurt that made everyone around him, except for Darry, look short. I tried to think of this as a positive thing – now every time I needed something off the top shelf, I knew who I was going to call. Aries, on the other hand, was maybe 5'10 – short for our family.
"Ok, we got the kids, and we got grub waiting on us at home. Can we go now?" Two-Bit asked and I shook my head.
Some things never changed.
When we got the boys home, Sevrin had the house tidy, but absolutely covered in decorations from every random holiday you could think of. I frowned, wondering where she had found them all. The dog must have been outside, but we could hear him yelping and whining because he knew someone was at the house. Dallas was cursing after him, and Sevrin was loudly informing her husband that he was going to ruin the surprise. Darry shook his head while Pony and Aries smiled, dropping their bags in the entryway. I frowned. They had been spending far too much time with West.
"I don't think so," I chided.
Both boys immediately picked up their bags, and headed for the stairs. Now, that was much better.
"Wow, Layne," Two-Bit commented, looking like he was a little surprised. "The boys are gone for months, and months, and months, and they can't even catch a break when they walk in the door."
I glanced at Two-Bit, wondering what he was going on about. If we let them 'catch a break' it would be utter chaos around here. That was why Two-Bit got policed more than anyone else.
"Pick your battles," Darry advised him with a friendly pat to the shoulder as he passed.
"It was not that long," I informed Two-Bit before he could follow Darry.
Even though it felt that long…
"Hey, I know that. I missed 'em, too." He smiled gently, patting my arm as he did follow Darry.
I sighed. Now, if it was going to be this hard with them gone to New York for a few weeks, it was going to be that much harder to have them gone for the entire school year…
With the boys upstairs, I went to the kitchen window and peered out at the backyard. The entire yard looked amazing. Darry had mowed the grass and trimmed the bushes, making everything look crisp and clean. Soda and Steve had painted the fence, and the deck – which was newly completed. Sevrin had paper lanterns and streamers tastefully hanging from the edges of the deck rails, while the table had a cloth on it, and was covered in dishes. Dallas was sitting at the table with the dog's collar – still around the dog's neck – in one hand, and a beer in the other while Charlie was sitting beside him, using his knee as a race track for his toy car. Soda, Steve, Two-Bit, and Darry were already outside and helping to arrange the food. Or rather, Soda and Darry were helping, while Steve was picking at the food, and Two-Bit sounded like he was complaining about something.
I shook my head, and went to the fridge, pulling out the potato salad. It seemed like they always forgot the potato salad. To be fair, I spent years cooking terrible potato salad, and the boys were justified in hiding it away in the house. Mike had taught me well, though, and it wasn't half bad now. In fact, it was easy when you didn't mix the ingredients when they were hot.
I carried it out onto the back deck, Sevrin grinning at me like mad.
"They're going to be SO surprised!" She gushed, looking behind me. "Where are they?"
"Throwing their laundry into the bin, probably," I replied, setting the potato salad down, and running my hand over Choc's head when he whined.
"Well, that's nice," Sevrin offered. "Wish some people would learn where the laundry basket is."
I watched Dallas tighten his lips a little, not replying to that.
"It helps when you have a Darry," I said, offering Dallas a shrug.
"They better get down here before she pops a fucking screw." Dallas gestured at Sevrin who only glared at him briefly.
I ignored him, hoping that Dallas and Sevrin could get along for one night. The boys would want to turn right around and straight back to New York if they started in with that.
"Oh! Here they come!" Sevrin hissed. "Everyone be quiet."
I had to grin when Charlie pushed a finger to his lips and shushed his father, and then Steve. Steve only rolled his eyes. He had little patience for the little boy who strongly favored his mother in looks. His blue eyes were a match to his father's, though.
"Surprise!" Sevrin yelped when the boys finally stepped out onto the deck.
"Prise!" Charlie threw in loudly.
"Well, that was a great group effort," Sevrin offered, giving all of us a disgusted look.
Dallas snorted in agreement. It was one of those rare moments where I could see why they were married. Sevrin had picked up a lot of Dallas's attitudes over the years, where Dallas had been more at peace than I could have imagined him before Charlie was born. I just wished he would cut back on the language. It was a miracle that Charlie's first words hadn't been swears.
For their parts, the boys tried to look surprised. I honestly think they were when the noticed that the deck was brand new.
"We go away, and look what you do to the place," Pony offered.
"We had to do something to keep busy," Soda replied with a smile.
"Choc," Aries greeted, seeing the mutt tugging at his collar in excitement.
"Here, have him," Dallas declared, letting go of the dog. "Damn mutt."
Choc pranced, and whined at the boys' feet, demanding attention from them. Aries dropped to one knee, scratching at his neck and chest. Pony let the dog lean against his leg, scratching at the floppy ears.
"The dog?" Sevrin huffed. "You two…come on over here and give me a hug!"
Aries got to his feet, letting Sevrin hold him tight. Sevrin frowned at him.
"You got thinner? How was that even possible? Pony, come let me hug you, too," she ordered.
Pony was next, receiving a frown, as well.
"You're thicker, if anything. Did you steal all his food?" She accused.
Pony opened his mouth to protest, but Dallas spoke for him. "Sev, leave it alone. Layne's probably said something about it already."
Sev looked like she was going to start something with Dallas, when Charlie walked over to Pony and held his arms up.
"Pony!" He greeted loudly.
Pony scooped up the little boy and tossed him into the air, squeals of laugher filling the yard.
Aries watched for a moment, before looking around the group, and making his way over to where Darry was standing at the barbeque with Two-Bit. I smiled a little. Darry had terribly intimidated my brother when they first met. Now, they didn't seem to mind each other's company. Darry even went as far as to squeeze his shoulder, and offer him the flipper, making Aries really smile for the first time since he had gotten home.
"You alright?" Soda asked softly, coming to stand beside me at the table.
"Yeah," I replied, straightening some of the dishes on the table. "I'm just happy to have everyone together again, you know?"
Soda nodded. "Yeah, I know."
I offered Soda a smile. He had missed the boys just as much as I had.
"Hey, this potato salad isn't half bad," Steve offered and Sevrin leaned over to taste it herself.
"Not half bad at all," she threw in with a playful smile.
"Say what you will, I have always liked my potato salad."
Sevrin shook her long blonde curls, clearing a space on the table for the plate of burger patties Two-Bit was carrying from the barbeque.
"Get 'em while they're hot," he advised. "Hey, Count Dracula! Put down that flipper and come get some meat on your bones!"
Aries waved him off and Two-Bit dug in beside Steve. Both were eating with fervor and I could only watch and wonder where they managed to put it all.
"Sit down, Layne," Dallas ordered, motioning to the seat beside him.
I did sit, leaning my elbows on the table and smiling contentedly as I heard both Pony and Charlie laugh on the grass. Now this was the kind of noise the house should always have. It was what made it…home.
Any comments are welcome and flames are accepted.
See ya in the funny papers!
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