.::I do not own The Outsiders::.

"Dreaming of screaming
Someone kick me out of my mind
I hate these thoughts I can't deny"

She was in a white gown, his friends in suits, even his little brother in a small cute suit staring happily at Soda gazing dumbly at his bride Sandy who was getting closer to him. Her face showed an excitement he couldn't even describe. Soda didn't hear the priests words he only concentrated on his wife to be.

"Sodapop Patrick Curtis, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

He didn't hesitate one bit, "I do."

"Sandy Bennett, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

After hearing this Soda quickly stole a peak at the priest then at Sandy, her face was suddenly gloomy, he also noticed his friends or brothers weren't there with him. The sun was covered by awful black clouds. Then a woman's voice that sounded raspy said, "No." His eyes wide realizing it was Sandy who had said it.

"N-No?"

"No!"

"Soda wake up!"

Soda bolted right up from his sleeping position sweating a bit after his nightmare. It was so beautiful at the beginning but it turned ugly pretty quick. He faced Pony who was tilting his head confused at Soda's panicky attitude.

"Soda...Happy birday!" Pony said hugging him.

Soda took a couple of seconds to comprehend that today was his 16th birthday. There was a knock on their bedroom door, Darry walked inside smiling messing up Soda's morning hair.

"Happy birthday Pepsi-Cola."

"Thanks guys. I totally forgot though. 16? Geez I feel so old."

Pony giggled, "You aw old. 16 years is too big."

Sodapop took a quick shower, Darry was warming up milk for Pony who was reading a very short book about a bear and his family. Breakfast was served, bacon with eggs, for Pony, his chocolate milk and some piece of cake. Soda felt a little disappointed not having some sort of party planned out today, even Darry wasn't talking about doing anything special that night after work. Steve walked inside grabbing a piece of chocolate cake from the fridge, "Hurry your ass up Soda or we're gonna be late."

Ponyboy grin had a sheepish grin, "Ass."

Darry narrowed his eyes at Steve, "Watch your mouth Steve."

"Oh c'mon, he'll talk like us when he grows older. What difference does it make?"

Soda interrupted before it the discussion got messier, "All right let's skedaddle."

Work was slow, Soda had turned on the radio trying to keep sane tapping his fingers on the counter to the beat. Steve was flipping through a magazine mindlessly reading not really paying attention to Soda or anything around him, Soda was wondering why he hadn't said happy birthday or anything. It somewhat hurt but he didn't want to admit it thinking he sounded like a whiny baby. Not even his girlfriend Sandy came by to visit. It was beginning to get depressing, memories of birthday parties celebrated with his parents came up. How his mother would make cake, his father take him out for ice cream. His eyes began to sting but he cleared his throat looking around realizing it was the first birthday they'd miss. And more to come.

Steve pressed his lips from blurting out a big secret, "Um you ok?"

"Yeah yeah I'm ok. Hey it's almost time to leave, um, where are we going today after work?"

Steve raised an eyebrow, "Home. Right?"

Disappointed yet again Soda nodded slowly resting his head on the counter. When it was time to leave, the other workers that had the late shift entered. One of them patted Soda's back, "Happy birthday kid."

Hey! Finally somebody remembered apart from my brothers, "Thanks!"

Steve drove back home, he remembered the plan, Don't say a word about his birthday, act if you don't care and bring him straight home. He grinned make an effort to control his excitement for Soda who had noticed that he was down in the dumps. He knew his friend was gloomy even though he tried to hide it. Soda sighed getting out of the car walking up to his house, before he got inside Steve stopped him.

"Hey Soda..."

"Yeah?" Soda asked almost eagerly.

"I wanted to ask you if...You had a smoke on you."

Soda frowned getting out a cigarette from his back pocket mumbling something. He stomped frustrated inside. I can't fucking believe him! Not even my buddy remembers! Not even my girlfriend! Geez Louise what a great fucking day!

"Surprise!"

Soda stood dumb struck in the living room with his mouth shaped 'o'. There was the gang in the kitchen gathering around the table with a big chocolate cake in the middle with 16 candles. Steve came inside softly smacking his head joining the group. Twobit smirked throwing him something in which Soda caught quickly.

"Happy birthday man!" Twobit said.

"What the-gee thanks Twobit." Soda said rolling his eyes. He caught a pack of condoms.

Ponyboy ran to Soda squishing him, "Hewes your present! Happy biday!" It was a drawing of Soda in his DX shirt, the D and the X were drawn a bit too big. Pony had drawn a big crooked smile on him.

"Aaawe Pone this is great, thank you." His lips pressed his forehead.

"Here ya go, from Johnny and I," It was Dally giving him something small wrapped in newspaper.

"Sorry 'bout the wrapping..." Johnny muttered with a hint of embarrassment.

"No no it's ok," unwrapping it he found inside a new shiny switchblade, "Holy crap thanks!"

Darry hugged his brother, "Not much but I hope you still like it."

"Darry c'mon you didn't have to...Glory! Darry it musta been a for-"

"Shut up and try them on."

It was a pair of new shoes, Soda's eyes shone trying them on. Pony poked at them, "Didya say thanks?"

Johnny put an arm around Pony, "C'mere."

Soda walked around showing them off, "I almost feel like a Soc."

Everybody laughed, it was Steve's turn for present time, Soda grinned giving him a slight punch to the arm, "You knew this all along huh?"

Steve rolled his eyes, "Yes and believe me it was hard to keep my mouth shut, here."

Soda received 10 dollars in an envelope, "What? Why did you give me money?"

"Oh trust me you'll need it soon. Very soon."

Then there was a knock on the door, everybody was silent. Pony clapped his hands, "Is the surpwise hewe?"

Steve groaned, "Pony you weren't suppose to say it."

"Uups."

Soda smirked, "Guys..." He opened the door to find Sandy dressed in a very nice dress smiling, "Happy birthday Soda."

The gang snickered behind him, Pony being a small child eagerly made his way through to Sandy, "You wook pretty Sandy! Are you gonna kiss my broder now?"

She smiled showing off her white teeth, "Hey there Ponyboy."

Darry snatched him away, "All right 'lil man it's nap time."

Steve pulled Soda away for a minute whispering, "Go take a shower quickly while we stall Sandy hurry up!"

The guys weren't too rough when a girl was around, they had manners. Well at least some that they knew for example no cussing, burping or wrestling. Sandy smiled at Twobit's jokes, Dally talked to Johnny about a party going on tomorrow asking him if he wanted to go. Steve turned on the television, Darry told him to keep down the volume for Pony. Sodapop changed into his finest clothes excited about his nightly date, Sandy was already at the door waiting for him.

"Psst hey, take my gift ok?" Twobit whispered.

"Yeah yeah, good night." Soda hissed not wanting his girlfriend to hear.

Darry shouted, "Be back by 2 all right?"

By 2? God I'm so happy it's my birthday... "Sure thing Dar!"

The door closed, Twobit snickered, "Oh I think he is going to have a very good night today."

Darry growled, "Lord all mighty I just hope he's careful...Guess you gift does come in handy."

Dally stood up, "Well let's take a bite out of that cake shall we?"

Hello sweetie!

Mama!

How you doing champ?

Daddee!

A sudden shadow appeared behind them, monstrous like getting bigger by the second. Pony shook his head backing away pointing behind his parents.

Mama! Daddee! Wook! A monster!

They turned around, his mother slowly looked back at Pony and with a severe look she said, Pony don't talk to strangers. Looks can be deceiving.

His father pointed at Pony, Be careful son. Be. Careful.

Abruptly the large shadowy figure covered the whole room making it dark then loud screams were heard everywhere, Pony breathed heavily crying out for his parents. Blinded by the darkness he desperately ran around searching for any light. His soft cries turned to loud panicked ones.

Be careful!

"Pony! Ponyboy! Wake up! It's all right..shh is all right baby."

Pony struggled to get out of his grasp, "Noooo, noooo don't hurt me!"

"No baby no, I ain't gonna hurt you. Nobody is going to hurt you."

Darry barged inside the room slamming the door open, "What's going on?"

Soda sighed rocking his baby brother in his arms, "Pony had another nightmare...Darry I don't like this. It's starting to get worse."

His older brother leaned against the wall running his hand through his hair nervously, "I don't like it either, believe it or not it's starting to scare me. He-he's not...He's just a... Maybe we should send him to a head doctor," he gently rubbed Pony's cheek, "You feeling better now Pone?"

Pony nodded his eyes drooping, "Uh-huh."

Darry walked to the kitchen for another warm bottle of milk, it always helped calm him down after a bad nightmare. Soda rested his chin on Pony's head realizing his hair was damp from sweating. His little brother sniffed, "Hey Sodapop."

"Yeah honey?"

Pony tightly gripped his pajama shirt, "Don't let the shadow take me."

Soda held on to him protectively, "I won't let anybody take you away from me. From us."

"You pwomise?"

"I promise."

(Sorry for any grammar mistakes)