Sorry this update took so long, we were out of state for a week and didn't get near a computer the whole time :-)

Darry's POV

Work had been pretty rough. We had mountains to do and just about everything that could possibly go wrong did. I'd had a terrible time concentrating on anything because I kept worrying about Ponyboy. Why did he just up and leave like he did? I loved that kid but, shoot, I sure didn't understand him sometimes.

Somehow I managed to get off by 6:30 but blew a tire on some nails I'd put on the ground and forgotten about. And, of course, I didn't have a spare. We always kept a spare, but not today. Today we didn't have one. Whether someone stole it or Soda used it and forgot to tell me I didn't know. Either way, by the time I got home at 7:30 I was tired and frustrated.

As I got out of the truck and looked towards the house I knew instantly that something was up. Through the window I saw Soda inside pacing the floor, a lit cigarette in his hand. He kept looking at the clock and muttering to himself. I took a deep breath and mustered up the last of my energy that I was sure to need if I wanted to deal with whatever he was about to throw me.

I slammed the truck door and headed up the porch. Before I had a chance to reach for the handle, the door flung open and Soda collided with me. Undaunted, he began rambling about Ponyboy without stopping for a breath. I couldn't make heads or tails of what he was saying so I finally grabbed his shoulders.

"Sodapop! Calm down. And what is that paper you keep waving around?"

He shoved the paper at me and took a deep breath before continuing.

"I tried calling him but he was at work and he won't be home until 8:00 and, Darry, I can't wait that long!"

I took the paper inside and he followed me. "Have you read it yet?"

"No I haven't read it yet. You haven't given me a chance." What on earth had gotten into that boy? I took a seat on the couch and Soda came up behind me. I hated when people read over my shoulder.

"Sit down Soda, I can't read with you hovering over me like that."

He did as I requested and sat next to me - almost on top of me. I tried to focus on the letter. It looked official…a court summons? Before I could get any further the couch began to vibrate and I could feel Soda's breath on my neck. I glanced sideways and saw him bouncing his leg, his eyes fixed only inches from my face. Slowly I turned my head and met his gaze.

"Are you done?" His voice was mixed with excitement and nerves.

"No." Exasperated, I put my hand on his leg to stop the vibration. "Why don't you get us something to drink."

While he was gone I was able to find out what the letter was all about. Rachel wanted to take us to court to get custody of Ponyboy. That must have been why he left. But why hadn't he told us? I rubbed the back of my neck in effort to ward off the headache I was getting.

The clock chimed and I heard Soda exclaim "It's 8:00!" Then glasses clattered to the floor as he rushed into his room and picked up the phone.

I groaned and shook my head.

Pony's POV

It was almost 8:00 before I got back to Rachel's Friday evening. "Work always multiplies on Fridays," one of ladies at the office had remarked, and boy was it true. When I arrived there was a white, Chevy pickup parked next to Rachel's car that must belong to Mark.

Once inside, I could hear them talking in the back study. "Ponyboy is staying here? AND working at my office?" Apparently this was the first he'd heard of the matter and he didn't sound too pleased.

"Well, yes." I crept closer to the room so I could hear better. Darry would have accused me of eavesdropping, but they were talking about me so I figured I had right to know what they were saying.

"And you did all this without asking me? Why? Why would you bring him here?"

"Because it's the right thing to do."

"Oh brother." Mark's words mimicked how I felt. "I'll tell you straight up, I don't like it one bit."

Rachel got defensive. "Ponyboy is a very decent young man."

"You never know with boys like that. How'd you manage to get him here anyway? A kid like that doesn't just up and leave his neighborhood." The door was open just far enough for me to see Mark pacing in front of the bed where Rachel sat.

"I told him I'd take him to court."

Mark chuckled in disbelief. "And he believed you?"

"I meant it. I even had the papers drawn up."

So it had been real. Rachel was actually planning to force us to go to court. I didn't understand how she could say she loved us when she was trying so hard to break us apart.

Suddenly the phone on the table next to me shrilled out, jerking me back to reality. I scrambled to the stairs, hoping not to get caught.

Rachel answered on the third ring. "I'm not sure. Let me see." She stuck her head around the corner and saw me heading up the stairs.

"He just came in, hold on just a second." She pulled the phone away from her ear. "It's for you Pony, you can use the phone upstairs if you want."

For me? Who would be calling me? I picked up the phone at the top of the stairs.

"Ponyboy!"

"Hey Sodapop." I really couldn't help but grin. He sounded like he'd just won a million dollars.

"How are you doing? We miss you."

I missed him too, but I didn't say that. "I'm ok. I've got a great job Soda"

He was silent for a minute and I wondered if Darry missed me too.

"Pony…I found the letter. You need to come home."

But I had the letter. It had been in my school books and….oh great, it must have fallen out when I picked them up. I slid the phone off the table and onto the floor. The cord was just long enough for me to sit inside my room and close the door.

"You found the summons?"

"She can't take you Pony. I'm gonna come get you"

"No! Darry doesn't want me. I'm just in the way there. But here…"

"What?!" He sounded shocked, like the thought had never occurred to him before.

"Rachel said that Darry told her to take me."

"Since when did you start believing her?"

I shrugged, and then mumbled an "I don't know."

"Come one, if Darry didn't want you, then she wouldn't have to take us to court. Even I can see that."

I thought that over. Why hadn't I thought about it before? It seemed so obvious now. Maybe Darry did care a little bit.

Soda's voice was excited again. "We're coming Sunday to get you."

"No, I have to work. And what about court?" I didn't want to disappoint him, but whether Darry gave Rachel permission or no I still couldn't go home. Not yet.

"We'll let Darry worry about that."

"I can't do that Soda. That would just be a bother to him. And we can't fight Rachel, we don't have the money."

Soda's voice was soft. "There's more to life than money Pone."

"Not in court. Let me stay. At least until we figure out what to do. We need the money, and Darry can be proud of me." I'm not sure why I cared so much what Darry thought about me, but I did, and this was my chance to prove myself to him.

He couldn't really argue with me because he knew we needed the money too. "I want you to come home now."

"I'll come home when we get it all settled. I promise." I knew if I talked to him much longer I would start crying. "I really need to go, I have to be at work early tomorrow."

"Pony…" He choked out.

"I'll call you again later Soda. Tell Darry I'm sorry." I opened the door and dropped the phone back onto the hook before I could hear his reply.

Darry's POV

When Soda came back into the living room I could tell by the look on his face that the conversation hadn't gone how he wanted.

"What'd he say?" I asked gently.

He sniffed and shrugged his shoulders. "He said Rachel's serious about court and he wants to keep working until we figure out what to do. "

My heart ached but there wasn't much I could do about it. "Ok"

"Ok? That's all you have to say? Don't you care?" Soda sounded irate.

Of course I cared, but what was I supposed to do? I needed time to think about the situation and tonight was not a good time.

"Yes. You know I care. But what do you want me to do? Drag him home and lock him in his room? That would just make him hate me more Soda."

Soda looked startled for a moment. "Pony doesn't hate you." He paused and then spat out angrily, "You know, Rachel told him that you didn't want him anymore."

"What?" Tell him the next time he tries to pawn me off on someone, he should at least let me know first. Pony's words echoed in my mind. So that's why Rachel had come back. I had almost forgotten about that.

Things were starting to make at least some sense now and my anger towards Rachel grow. "How could she do that?"

"How could who do what?" I turned and saw Two-Bit and Johnny standing at the door.

"How could you come in and not slam the door." Soda teased. He seemed to have forgotten some of his anger already. Sometimes I wished I could forget things so easily.

"I slammed it, didn't I Johnny?"

Johnny rubbed his chin. "I don't believe you did Two-Bit."

"Well then," Two-Bit opened the door again and slammed it for good measure. "Any word from the kid?"

I briefly explained the situation to the two, half wishing he hadn't asked.

"Looks like your friend's gonna be a Soc'n it a little longer Johnny,"

Johnny's eyes searched me and I could tell he wasn't any happier than we were.

"Oh Darry, Pony said to tell you he's sorry."

Hearing that made some of the worries from the day disappear. I looked over at Soda and grinned. "How 'bout some football Little Buddy?"

"Football? Ain't it a bit dark to be playing football?" Two-Bit questioned.

"Not tonight it isn't."