So, this is what a month and a half of physiotherapy and a lot of hard work got me. In front of the Curtis house, playing with the hem of my shirt as I debated whether or not I wanted to go inside. My leg was weary and a little sore still, so it gave me lots of time to think before I moved again. The doctor, after assessing how well my leg was a day ago, told me that I should take it easy still. I took an hour walk today and believe me when I say my leg was pretty sore.

Nobody had called me or seen me, other than a visit from Katie and Summer, since Steve took me home when Ponyboy was in the hospital. I hadn't been in school for awhile, Serenity said it would be bad if people knew I'd gotten shot by myself because my father told me to. Yeah, that would look real nice. So, it was Saturday and I'd finally worked up the courage to come over here. Pony had to be better by now, right? I mean, it had been a month and half, he couldn't be sick for that long. He was probably pretty sad, grief stricken more like, and I understood that. However, wasn't he at least a little bit worried about me? I mean, we hadn't talked in almost two months… and I was worried about him. Was his reasons the same as mine? However, I literally couldn't get up and go see him, I'm sure he was capable of walking.

Taking a breath, I walked up to the front door, only a slight limp in my step, and stopped there. I didn't know if I could do this. Should I? With a sudden impulse, I rapped my knuckles on the door and dropped it, shifting gently onto my good leg. There was some loud thumping, over the loud music, and then the door opened. Two-Bit stared at me like I'd grown two heads and suddenly his face broke out in a grin.

"Camille!" He exclaimed, picking me up and spinning me. I laughed despite my spinning head, but he put me down a little harshly and I stumbled before picking myself up. "You okay?" He must've noticed.

"Yeah, don't worry." I smiled. I walked into the living room behind him and wasn't graced with that much attention. There was really only Steve and Sodapop playing poker of some sort and they were so engulfed in it, they hadn't noticed me.

"Well," I said, raising my voice slightly over the music, It caused Sodapop to look up and then grin, "I guess I should be leaving then."

"Cammy!" He yelled, hugging me tightly.

"It's nice to see you too Soda." I laughed, hugging him back. He surveyed me over before pulling back.

"Where've you been?"

"Oh, here and there."

"Nice to see you're okay kid." Steve said, twisting in his seat to face me. I nodded in his direction and felt the question in the back of my mind, but didn't say anything. I joined in to poker, or tried too, and ended up losing so severely that they gave me a break.

"You owe Soda seventy-five dollars in one game?" Two-Bit raised an eyebrow.

"What? I went for it." I grinned and set my cards down on the table, leaning back in my chair.

"Um… Soda?" I asked, becoming a little timid now. "Where's, um, where's Pony?" Sodapop gave me a blank stare before slapping a hand to his forehead.

"He's upstairs. I should've realised you'd want to see him." I felt my cheeks burn and then stood up and heading upstairs.

"Keep the door open!" Two-Bit called and howled with laughter. The steps felt like a huge stretch, but I pushed up them and found myself outside Pony's room, the one he shared with Soda. He was sitting at the desk and didn't acknowledge that anyone had come in. I took a few steps in and then stopped, taking in my surroundings. It seemed different, but I wasn't sure how.

"Soda, I'm fine really." Pony said, not turning around, "Don't worry."

"Pony… I'm not Sodapop." He turned around in his seat and gaped openly at me. What? Did I look that bad? There was just a strand of electricity that connected us and then he stood, his eyes not leaving mine. As he came closer, the strand increased in connectivity and sparked with such a ferocity it kept me in my place, despite how I wanted to step back. He stood a foot away from me.

"Where've ya been?"

"At home." I said and he flinched noticeably, looking away.

"I'm sorry I didn't come around…"

"Pony, it's alright. I mean, I'm here now… so." I trailed off as his gaze connected with mine again. I took the next step and wrapped my arms around him, inhaling his scent and snuggling my face into his neck. His own arms came around me and hugged me tight to him, I knew he didn't want to let me go.

"Are you alright?" He whispered, his breath tickling my ear deliciously.

"I'm fine." I murmured, closing my eyes and just enjoying his touch. We stood there for a moment before pulling back and then it was only another moment before I pressed my lips to his, applying slight pressure. He accepted happily and managed to get my mouth open, which didn't take long and his tongue was inside my mouth. Everywhere, leaving a trail of hot magma, just tasting me. I battled him, but he didn't give up very easily and then I pulled away, breathing heavily.

"I missed you." I said, "And there's a lot I have to tell you."

----

When Ponyboy found out everything, about my mother and my father, and everything else I could think of, he didn't act like I thought he would. At first, I thought he was going to stay and comfort me, but his face contorted into something painful and then stood up abruptly and left. I broke down and sobbed into my hands.

"Camille?" Sodapop peeked in through the door and when he saw me he came over to place his arms around me, like he'd done when Ponyboy was away. I sniffled away my tears as fast as I could and pulled back from Sodapop, trying not to look like I'd just been bawling.

"Where… where did he go?" I asked weakly, wanting to know and yet not wanting to find out. Sodapop watched me for a moment without any expression on his face and then spoke softly.

"He went to visit Johnny." My heart clenched and I looked away. I had tried to push Johnny out of my mind, but in every spare moment I had, all I had been able to think of was him in the hospital or Ponyboy. What was it like just before you were about to die? It wasn't an easy question and I doubt even Johnny would've been able to answer me if I asked.

"I'll…" I paused, thinking. "I'll go see him." Sodapop looked like he wanted to say something else, but pulled back from it and nodded before heading back downstairs. I took a deep breath to calm myself; the thought of visiting Johnny's grave scared me, even though I'd told him I would visit all the time.

As I passed the living room, Soda gave me an encouraging smile which I gratefully returned. I tried to walk normally, but I could tell the small limp was still pretty noticeable. It would go away in time, I hoped. The cemetery was farther away then I thought and by the time I got there, my leg was throbbing achingly. It took me another fifteen minutes to locate Johnny's gravestone; no Ponyboy. The air was quiet, except for the occasional hum of cars that went by. His grave wasn't in a favourable spot and was pushed off to the side, forgotten. Around me were small vases or bundles of flowers, which I realized I should've brought with me because his was bare. Nonetheless, I felt compelled to sit down and continued to keep my gaze on the gravestone as I did.

Fiddling with my fingers, I spoke "Hey Johnny." It felt weird when I expected a reply and I closed my eyes when the realization hit me soon after that he wouldn't be replying. "I know I haven't visited you lately when I told you I would, but there's been some stuff going on…"

The wind rushed through a tree nearby and I shuddered when a leaf landed on my shoulder. I went on, "You didn't know my dad, but well… there was a confrontation the other day. You didn't really know that he wasn't around though, did you?" I asked, still expecting an answer. He use to be able to answer. "He hasn't been around since I was twelve, and my mom hasn't really been around for awhile, but for a different reason. I found out recently that… well, my dad left me alone to go off with his other wife. Did you know they had three kids? Three, and one of them is my age. Can you believe that? Aren't fathers suppose to love their kids?" I winced after a moment and closed my eyes to take a deep breath. "Sorry Johnny, I didn't mean it like that."

A bird landed on the small fence surrounding the area and made twitchy movements as it watched me. "Still, I want to meet them. His other kids I mean, my… half-siblings." I took a deep breath and took a shuddering breath. "My dad's going to jail. What's gonna happen to his kids and his wife? They don't know about me or mom, so…" Despite my best efforts, my nose started to prickle, telling me that tears were on their way. "What will happen to them? He's done so many things, but will he be prosecuted for them all? He killed my mom so many years ago, he tried to kill me and abandon me." I didn't let my voice waver and reached out a hand to brush the slab of stone in front of me.

"Serenity and Sam are happy I'm okay and we've become closer, but I don't think… I don't know what will happen when all this gets out. I mean, if my mom is dead, and my dad's going to jail, does that give his wife custody of me?" My suspicions and fear were pouring out of me and into the ground, desperately trying to reach his ears, anyone's ears. "How is this going to change? How will it effect everyone? When Pony found out, he left me all alone. It might sound crazy, but when he left then I felt real lonely." I stopped and let the silence permeate the air for a moment. "I want to tell you everything that's ever happened to me, Johnny. I need someone to listen to everything that's happened to me over the past few years. I hope you're okay with that Johnny, because I can't keep it in anymore."

For the next hour I talked about everything, all my fears, success', all my emotions and feelings. Every little thing that had happened. At the end of it all, I felt like a weight had lifted from my shoulders and I didn't care that my legs were numb, I felt better.

"Thanks, Johnny. " I said smiling and stood up, letting my hand linger for a moment longer on the gravestone before walking away. I felt terrible just turning my back on him, but I couldn't stay out here any longer. Ponyboy had long enough to cool off, and I think I knew where he was now. It took me a little longer to get there, but when I did, it was clear I had been right. He had his back to the sidewalk and the street and was sitting quite still.

"Pony?" I asked and he stiffened before turning slowly.

"I expected you to be here sooner." He replied, his expression thoughtful and sad.

"I was at Johnny's grave." I told him, and I could see his eyes deepen. "I thought you'd be there and when you weren't…I got caught up."

"I'm sorry for running out on you." He said, as if he'd heard everything I'd said to Johnny. "It's not that I'm mad."

"You sure?" I asked. "Because you got out of there really fast."

"I know." Pony said, and turned back around. I walked over to him and sat down in front of him, leaning over to cup his face and lift it up. He made no argument against it and looked up at me.

"It's… I don't want anything to be different Pony." I said, "I don't want you to worry about me all the time. My dad's probably going to jail, Serenity and Sam and I have everything alright now."

"I know."

"No, you don't. Right now, you're sitting there watching me like I might break if you even breath on me." He darted his eyes away from mine, proving I'd hit the spot correctly. Slightly annoyed, I grabbed his hand and held it in mine, while my other hand still rested on his face. "I'm not that fragile. I've made it this far."

"I should've told someone when you told me about those bruises in the hospital."

"No. It would've made things worse. I would've hated you." He looked back at me and I felt tears prickle at my eyes again. I was suppose to be strong, I wasn't suppose to cry. What was happening to me? "I don't want to hate you."

"You sure you don't already do."

"Pretty sure." I said, trying to put a smile on my face, but found I couldn't. "At least, I hope I don't."

"You hope?" He gave me sceptical look, asking me to explain.

"Well, in a way, I want to hate you, but in a way I don't. I mean…" I started to explain at his confused expression. "my mind wants to hate you for leaving me all alone, but my heart doesn't think it can handle it." I laughed at how sappy it sounded.

"Really." He watched me with a blank expression and leaned over to place a gently kiss on my lips, which I gladly excepted. "I'm sorry for leaving you alone."

"I've forgiven you for all that. If I hadn't, I wouldn't be here." I told him and let my head drift forward just a bit so my lips touched his again. It was sweet, full of a promise he couldn't put into words.

"I'm glad." He pulled back and gave me a gentle squeeze to the hand he was already holding. I smiled and started to stand, him following me lead.

"I'll walk you home."

"Alright." I said, gazing up into his eyes and enjoying the smile on his lips. "But no running. My leg's already hurting enough from all the walking I've done today."

"How about a piggyback?" It was my turn to give him a sceptical look.

"You're not that fit."

"Aw, c'mon, I won't drop ya." He promised, giving me his biggest smile. I took a small running start and hopped up onto his back, feeling his arms circle around my legs. He carried me the rest of the way home, without any complaint. When we got there, he let me down gently and turned immediately to hug me.

"I'm not leaving Pony." I laughed as his hug tightened. He stepped back and kissed me again.

"I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Of course." I said, watching him walk down the path to the sidewalk and giving a small wave before continuing on. Stepping inside, I closed the door and leaned against it. Everything was going to be fine, and this time it was going to stay that way.

AU: Guess what? Only one more chapter left. :O The Epilogue and that's it! I hope you all enjoyed it. I know the end was a bit 'happily ever after' like, but hey, this wasn't meant to be a completely depressing story.