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

"Pick a star on the dark horizon

And follow the light

You'll come back
When it's over
No need to say good bye"

It's been a week. 7 days, 168 hours, 604 800 seconds since The Curtis brothers have been separated. A week that Pony hasn't been able to sleep well, Charlie helped making him go back to bed. Marie apologized for her mistake the next day making chocolate cake although Pony didn't like it much. His brothers made it better, but he still thanked her accepting the apology. Richard wasn't around much, only gave money to them when needed then headed off to God knows where. In the mornings Pony would stay with Marie, she cooked, cleaned, did all that kinds of stuff. Somehow she already had toys kept somewhere giving them to Pony to play with or tell him to watch TV. She was surprised when he asked for a book (just to try and read big words; practice), in the end he got some books, puzzles, crayons and a notebook with fresh new papers.

While Marie went to the backyard, Pony began drawing. He thought if Pepsi, he drew him laying down with his black spot. Crookedly he wrote: Pepsi, I mis u.

On another piece of paper he drew both his brothers, Darry with a football and Soda holding a chocolate cake. I mis u to Dary and Soda.

In the afternoons after school Charlie got home, Pony closed his notebook wiping his face quickly.

"Hey Pony, how you been?"

Pony shrugged, "I'm ok."

Marie appeared with a purse on her side dressed in her uniform, "Hello there Charles, food is on the stove, I'll be back by 8. You two take care."

When she left Pony stood up cleaning up his small mess, passing the hallway he saw a phone in Marie and Richard's room. It was placed on top of a small dresser next to their bed, he bit his lip. Darry had made Pony memorize their phone number and address the same way their parents had taught them by singing it. After some time of singing it to himself Pony had learned it real well.

"You ok?"

Pony asked timidly pointing at the phone in the room, "Can I...Can you call someone fow me?"

Charlie rubbed his chin touching his scar, "I'm guessing you want to call your family?"

"Uh-huh..."

"All right. I see no harm in it, make it quick though got it kid?"

"Suwe."

"Whas your number"

Pony began singing it in a low voice, Charlie grinned very impressed at how smart the small child was. He punched the numbers seeing the kid's eyes widen with excitement.

Beep...Beep...

oOoOoOo

On the second night without Pony was unbearable to Soda, the first one he had slept on the couch not wanting to get in alone. Too many memories.

That second night he had no choice, Johnny was crashing at their place after his Dad gave him a good shiner. Sodapop got into his pajamas slowly crawling into bed. It felt too empty. He sighed rubbing his eyes tiredly, even though he wasn't sleepy his body ached from working overtime to not think about his little brother.

Gosh Pone you have no idea how much I need you. We need you, everybody. Darry's real torn up, Twobit seems sadder these days his smile not the same. Dally in his own way misses you too, he doesn't come around much. Steve, believe it or not also. I myself miss you something awful it hurts. The ceiling he was staring up at began to blur from tears forming in his eyes, this whole thing was overwhelming. He didn't notice but he began to doze off until he flung his arm around someone that wasn't there, his eyes snapped open. Pony?

Soda gritted his teeth from trying not to bawl, I forgot Pony ain't there...He sat up, then something caught his eye that was sticking under the pillow where his little brother was supposed to be. His hand grabbed it. Bagel?

Their mother had bought it for Pony when he was born, Ever since he had the stuffed toy animal Pony never slept without it. It was a beagle and Darry told him but being so small he always said bagel. We need to give it to him!

The following days Darry had gotten an appointment with the lawyer. He had also called Social Services trying to find out about his brother but no one ever told him saying that Mrs. Jones was out and they couldn't give him information until she came back.

Soda was so angry he almost went down there to beat it out of them, Steve held him back. Twobit tried to lighten up the mood a little when he could. Johnny hung out with him more since Dally wasn't showing up a lot. By the end of the week the gang was slightly better. And by better it meant that now they knew how to hide their gloomy feelings.

It was around the afternoon, the gang minus Dally were hanging around playing poker, watching television. Johnny was on the couch, the phone began ringing...Ring...Ring...

Darry was busy cleaning up the kitchen after Soda's mess. His brother was with Twobit and Steve playing their game chatting about some Socs that were beat up some days ago. Johnny decided to answer it. His hand picked up the phone.

"Um, Curtis residence."

The voice on the other line asked, "Is-Is this..." A small whisper was heard on the other line saying, "Dawy."

Charlie spoke up again, "Darry?"

Johnny called for him, Darry dried up his hands nervously on a small towel getting the phone thinking it was the lawyer or Social Services, "Thanks Johnny...Yes hello?"

"You're Darry right?"

He didn't expect a young voice, "Yes, who am I speaking with?"

The gang stopped what they were doing paying attention to his conversation.

"Charlie, It's just that- just wait a minute hold your...ponies! Lemme just explain to Darry why we're calling."

Darry was confused hearing someone else that sounded like a small child, "Why are you?"

"Anyways, I know your brother, he's Pony ain't he?"

His heart skipped a beat, "Ponyboy? Yes yes how do you know!?"His voice began to rise concerned.

Soda stood up from his seat walking towards Darry whispering, "Pony? Who is it? Darry!" Darry waved him off a little annoyed trying to hear what Charlie had said.

"He's been staying with us in Weatherford about a week ago. Don't worry he's ok, here." Muffled sounds until... "Dawy?"

Darry gulped running his hand through his hair relief washing over, "Pony! Oh Glory, it's you! How are you? Is everything ok? They treating you good?"

Soda's eyes widened as did everybody else's. Finally they knew something! Darry was happy all right hearing Pony but very furious for not knowing that he had been placed in a Foster home so quickly and without the damned lady not notifying them.

"Uh-yeah, Chawlies weal nice. Thewes dis dog named Cookie but he's too big it scawes me. I miss Pepsi. Da people awe...nice."

Soda snatched. the phone not waiting anymore while Darry scowled at him, "Pony? Baby? Is everything ok?"

Pony giggled, "I'm ok. Chawlie sleeps with me like you do! So I don't have nightmawes no mowe."

Soda grimaced feeling suddenly a pang of jealousy since he wasn't the one to comfort Pony in his vulnerable state, "Charlie huh? He don't hit your or anything?"

"Nope, he's ok. Hey can I talk to Johnny?"

Johnny answered, "Pone?"

"Hey Johnny! I'm so happy to talk to you, I miss you. How's Pepsi?"

"I miss you too Pone. But you'll come home soon. And Pepsi is great, he misses you too." It was true, that kitten wasn't acting normal, he usually walked inside to Pony's and Soda's room meowing them. But now he, like Dally, disappears not showing up often. And even when he did all Pepsi did was lay around his ears drooping.

Next was Twobit, "Hey Squirt! Golly, you had us worried there, thank Jesus you called! We thought you had disappeared!"

"Hi Twobit! I dident disaapeaw! I'm just...not dewe..."

Twobit slightly frowned hearing the kid sad, "It's ok squirt. Tell you what. When you come back I'm taking you for ice cream. Sounds good?"

"Yeah!"

Finally Steve, he hesitated but Soda's glare made him pick up the phone, "Sup kid."

"Hiya Steve...Can I ask you a queshton?"

"Hit me."

"Is Soda sad?"

Steve was surprised by this, "Um yeah."

"Can you pwomise me somethin?"

"What?"

Pony sighed sadly, "Can you make him happy again? When I'm not dewe? And if you can, Dawy too. I don't like my broders ow fwiends being sad...Please?"

Steve glanced at Soda who was speaking with Darry about how he was in foster care, "Don't worry. I promise."

"Thank you Steve, you know what? I miss you too."

He caught his breath hearing how Pony's voice cracked at the end, how sad he must be. Christ he's only a kid! Practically a baby! He needs his brothers, damn it. This is a shitty situation.

Clearing his own voice he spoke, "Me too kid, you take care. We need you here in one piece."

He handed the phone to Darry, "Pony can you pass me Charlie?"

Before Pony did that he started sniffling almost crying, "Dawy, I miss you guys. I-I weally wanna go home."

Darry felt a knot in his throat, "You will be soon, I promised you."

Seconds later it was Charlie, "Sup."

"Can you give me your phone number and address?"

Charlie gave him the info, Darry noted it down on his newspaper that was nearby, "Thanks."

"Don't worry too much, I'll take care of him for you. I know about the nightmares, I had to sleep in the same bed but now he's good. For such a small kid he's real smart"

"He is...Thank you...Really, it's just that everything is taking a toll on him and-"

Charlie interrupted, "Uh-Oh gotta go. Don't call here yet until ... Go Pony to your room... We'll call you ok? Bye."

He hung up, Darry was left with that empty feeling again. Falling back to reality. Soda stomped on the ground, "Foster home? A fucking foster home! I cannot believe that bitch didn't tell us! We have to go down there Dar!"

Darry nodded also mad, "First thing tomorrow."

Twobit whistled, "Weatherford huh? Long ride from here to there."

Steve thought for a moment now knowing where Ponyboy was. The promise he kept with Pony would be a secret and he would make it true. He saw Soda's worried face pacing in the room, remembered how torn up both brothers were after Ponyboy had left leaving a huge hole in their hearts. How it wasn't the same without him. An idea popped into his mind. Leaving the Curtis house he told Twobit.

"Sounds like a good plan to me." Twobit said grinning.

"So you up for this?"

"Hell, you don't have to ask me twice!"

"So it's settled. 3 days from now you hear me?"

"Loud and clear."

(Sorry for any grammar mistakes)