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

"Speak to me, when all you got to keep is strong
Move along, move along like I know you do
And even when your hope is gone
Move along, move along just to make it through
Move along"

Ponyboy was discharged. It was time to go home. Sodapop carried him carefully in his arms as his brother wrapped one arm around his neck. The broken one would heal up more quickly then expected. He walked down the hallway along with Darry by his side. The lawyer was outside with the Social Worker shouting at him how this was all wrong, that Ponyboy shouldn't be going with them, that he should be going with her to place him in a new foster family. Mrs. Jones glared at the Curtis brothers, the lawyer sighed once more after already explaining the situation. It's doctors orders, the child, Ponyboy Curtis, has to be placed in his home with his family where he finds it secure. If you place him in a new foster home, that would cause trouble. Now please calm yourself. Security! Darry cracked a smile when he saw 2 security guards lead her away.

On the drive home, which wasn't really long, Ponyboy began to drift off to sleep. The nurses gave him some pain medication appropriate for his age which started having an effect on him by getting drowsy. Sodapop hugged him tighter knowing Pony would be asleep any minute. The car stopped parked nearby, Twobit's rusty old junk was there too. Darry was the first one out of the car, Soda with Pony still in his arms, stepped out. Inside were Twobit, Steve and Johnny waiting for them. He wondered where Dally was, Johnny had said he was going to search for Dallas to tell him the good news.

Darry warned everyone to be as quiet as possible for Pony to sleep. He needed to rest for some days until his head felt better, couple of weeks for his arm. Soda placed him on the bed gently covering him up with the blankets. Pony yawned turning to his side snoozing off. Darry closed the door slightly going into the living room with his friends who were now into a game of poker except Johnny, he was only watching attentively. Soda smiled plopping himself on the couch next to Steve. Darrel went into the kitchen to cook feeling hungry himself. Taking pans from under the sink he was processing everything that had just happened. Pony in the hospital, the death of Bob Sheldon, the news media wanting an interview, and the disturbing revelation he read in the copy of the masked man's diary. Turning on the stove, Darry pressed his lips into a straight line as he remembered reading Bob's dark thoughts written.

The night he stayed with Ponyboy, just before he fell asleep completely, the nurse that had helped out on the social worker situation she handed him the copy saying how one of the janitors found it laying on the ground of the cafeteria. The diary in his hands felt heavy, opening it was a challenge. Turning the page to where the words began was hard. Page by page he felt sickened recognizing who the person he was mentioning. Pony...Also, the fact that Bob had a smaller brother dying in the same accident as his parents. Poor kid, I don't know how I would have coped if Pony had also died in the accident, even now that this is the second time death almost took him. But I do know I would have never reacted the same way as this guy.

The phrase 'Thirds time's a charm' made him shudder, No way, I'm going to take care of him more from now on.

One thing popped into his head that night, he remembered a boy named Charlie.

"Excuse me nurse, did a boy named Charlie come here in the hospital?"

The nurse frowned sadly shaking her head, "I'm afraid he died from stab wounds back in the-er-house. His father reclaimed the body today. He never said anything about a funeral to anyone."

Darry nodded slowly, "Thank you." In his head he thanked the boy Charlie for being with Ponyboy, taking care of him, just being nice while he wasn't around. That meant a lot to him. He sighed, "Thank you too Charlie, for everything," he whispered.

Red tomato sauce sizzled in the pot from losing himself in his thoughst and memories, Darry turned his head around looking at Soda, a laugh on his face at hearing Twobit goof around. His brother as well suffered a lot in this hole dilemma. Further into the diary, it brought up a girl. Soda's girl, how he had used Sandy as a source with money and even impregnated her. When he read it, his heart broke imagining his brother's shocking reaction to this. The pain he already gotten himself into when she broke up, now finding out about this was too much.

"-lo?"

"Huh? O-Oh hey Soda."

"You spaced out, just wanting to tell you that if you keep this up the spaghetti will get burnt. I'm starving Dar!"

"Sorry sorry...Hey Soda. We need to talk."

Middle Curtis shrugged, "What about?"

"I read the diary."

"...What about it?"

Turning off the stove, Darry glanced behind Soda making sure none of the guys over heard this conversation, "I know Soda. I read what the crazy bastard wrote."

Sodapop sighed sitting down on one of the kitchen's chairs putting his face on his hands, "When-when I read it...I couldn't believe it Darry. I really couldn't. I never knew Sandy could be like that ya know? Just when you think you know a person... And the kid she's having...It's his! He's dead for Christ's sake...It was so fucked up Dar."

Darry nodded, "The damage that guy did is a lot for both of us but we'll get through this. Lucky for him he's dead or I'd be already beating the daylights outta him."

Chuckling, Soda nodded in agreement, "Me too."

For the middle brother it was going to take some time for him to heal. A very deep wound on his heart. Loving another girl will be mighty hard, for now all he cares about is Ponyboy. The happiness he felt for having his baby brother back home restoring his health was enough. Another death in the family would have been devastating, fortunately for them there was life instead.

The court date arrived soon some days after, Ponyboy was a little better. There were people who testified on behalf of the Curtis's.

Mrs. Mathews. After their parent's death it was clear that the boys had to go to a boy's home. Darry on the other hand, gave up all his dreams of going to college just to get custody for his brothers. Can you imagine a 19 year old doing that? Well I can, and there's a good example right here in this room. Darry has been doing a wonderful job keeping these boys safe, it wasn't his fault that this-this masked person started attacking.

Darry's boss, After that unfortunate fatal crash, Darrel Jr. came to my office. He asked me to give him a full time job. I was very surprised, I even asked him if he was sure. I mean, I remembered he was heading off to college soon but you know what he answered me? He told me, 'my brothers come first sir, they are what is left of my family and I'll do anything in my power to have them home. It's what my parents would have wanted.' In my opinion, Darrel makes a very good guardian. A good man.

Laura, Ponyboy has been my patient some time ago for having nightmares. In that short amount of time I observed that Ponyboy is an extraordinary child. He can read some words, play with others very well. Why? Because of his loving family, maybe his parents aren't here with us but I know that his brothers care for him as much as any other person will. If he gets placed in another foster home or a boy's home his nightmares will get worse, staying home is the only option for him. That is my professional opinion.

An hour passed, Darry and Soda were anxious for the final decision. Mrs. Mathews assured them it was going to be fine. Ponyboy was sitting next to Laura who was trying to keep him calm. Pony was looking around for his brothers his lip quivering feeling a little sick with a headache bound to grow. Finally the answer came. The judge cleared his throat quieting everyone in the room, "I hereby give full custody to Darrel Jr. Curtis of Ponyboy Michael Curtis."

Moments later Darry ran his hand through his hair, Sodapop cheered running towards Ponyboy, "Ya hear that Pone? You get to stay with us!"

"Weally? No mowe bad lady?" He was talking about the mean social worker.

Darry ruffled his hair, "No mean ladies Ponyboy until you're old enough to date."

Mrs. Jones starting arguing with the judge but got sent away by the security guards. Soda narrowed his eyes at her, Stupid bitch.

Getting back at home the gang celebrated, without Dally though. They started asking where he was, Johnny didn't know the answer. He saw him that night the good news was given but afterwards he kind of disappeared. Beers were drank after Ponyboy was asleep, barbecue, poker games, wrestling, arm wrestling, the radio music was on. The whole house felt alive once more, no more depressing moods.

The next day Ponyboy woke up first, his brother didn't feel him leave the bed having a hangover from last night. The kid yawned walking down the hallway to the living room. There was Steve on the couch his arm covering his face and Twobit sprawled on the floor snoring. Pony giggled poking him on the face only to get a burp out of him. The door then opened with Dally walking inside, he raised an eyebrow seeing his small friend looking back. Ponyboy cocked his head to the right asking, "You haven't been awound..."

Dally smirked, "You're the one to talk, pipsquick...You're up early."

"Uh-huh. I think Steve and Twobit awe sick."

"No they ain't, believe me...Hey c'mere kid." Dallas took Pony outside on the porch, they sat down on the couch placed outside. It was still chilly since it was morning, Dally took of his leather jacket covering up the young Curtis knowing he was only wearing his foot pajamas. It was rare for him to do anything nice at all but he cared for Pony very much.

"I heard you got better in the hospital..."

Dally was at Buck's getting drunk. Johnny knew where he was so he went inside knocking on his room's door. Inside Dally was a mess yelling incoherent stuff about how life was unfair. To another person it would have looked ridiculous but to Johnny it was good. The thing is, Dally blabbered about Ponyboy being very sick, how he wished it was him instead of the pipsquick. Throwing a beer bottle against the wall shattering into small pieces, Johnny said that Pony wasn't going to die. He was going to get better.

Pony nodded smiling, "I am beddew, my head doesn't huwt no more. I get to stay with my brodews. But I'm a little sad."

"Why?"

"Pepsi is gone...Dawy says he died."

"You know what dying means?"

Pony gazed up at the sky, "All I know is dat Pepsi is in cat heaven."

His friend chuckled to himself, "Kid you're one of a kind."

The front door opened, it was Soda whose eyes were wide open filled with worry, "Pony! Pony! Po-Dally? Oh, there you are Pony!" He let out a breath of relieve.

"Luuk! Dally's hewe!" Soda carried Pony planting him a kiss on his forehead.

"Morning Soda, I bet you had a fine party last night."

Soda rolled his eyes, "You better believe it, hangovers suck but it was worth it. Why doncha come inside?"

"Sure."

Twobit was already awake poking at Steve's ribs, "Rise and shine sleeping beauty!"

Darry was in the kitchen cooking breakfast, "That's what you get when you over do yourselves with beers."

Ponyboy on the ground, ran to Darry hugging his leg, "Good mowning Dawy!"

"There you are little buddy,good morning to you and careful with the arm. Dally, how have you been?"

"Been all right, heard the kid's ok. That's good...very good."

Steve groaned, "Jesus, Twobit, you act worse than a 3 year old!"

Everybody laughed, Johnny walked inside timidly, "Hey ya'll."

Soda sat Pony on a chair stacked with books for him to sit on so he could reach the table, "Just in time for breakfast Johnny Cakes."

The gang sat around the table chatting about last night. Darry gave each their plate, Soda the cups. Milk, juice, bacon, eggs, toast was served. Ponyboy smiled contently as he watched his friends eat. Darry nudged him gently, "You ok Pone?"

"I'm ok Dawy."

"Then what is it? What's that big smile for?"

"I'm just happy. Vewy happy."

(Sorry for any grammar mistakes)

=PS: Next one is the final chapter. Thank you for your wonderful reviews & keeping up with the story! I appreciate all of you reading this fanfic. I enjoyed writing this. (=