Alright. So, here's the epilogue. It isn't super long and is just basically just an end to the "father's other family" thing. If I do decide to write a sequel, it will probably be awhile because I'm working on another story right now, but truth be told… there probably is going to be a sequel at one point. I just gotta get my thoughts together and such. Anyway, enjoy:D

I cleared my throat experimentally as we slowly made our way down the unfamiliar street. Serenity was tense beside me in the drivers seat, her face trying to stay neutral. The car trekked along at a slow pace, and both of us, I'm sure, wanted to simply turn around and leave. Leaves floated down and pressed gently against the window before falling down to the ground softly. It made the street look like a sunset, a mural of gently oranges and rebellious reds. Serenity suddenly turned and pulled slowly into the driveway of a larger house. I watched the door of the garage sullenly and waited for Serenity to say something. I didn't want to be here, she didn't want to be here, and I didn't understand why this even had to happen.

"Well…" Serenity said, her voice shaking slightly, but still professional, "We better go in. They're expecting us." I placed my hand on the handle of the door, but find I didn't have the will to push it down and swing the door open.

"We could just leave and say we couldn't find the address…"

"Camille…" Serenity warned, "She'll come get you, she is your family."

"No, she's not."

"Those are you're half siblings." Serenity soothed, "and your step mom." I let my hand drop from the door.

"It's my life, I don't have to meet them."

"They won't want to do anything against your will. Give them a chance."

"I can't." I said, staring at my hand as I fiddled with my fingers. It was quiet for another minute or so, and I stole a glance at Serenity. She stared out the windshield as a small bug scuttled along it. Her eyes were hard, concentrated, and I watched as it crumbled painstakingly. It hit me then that this all could've had a larger effect on her. She had to take care of two kids, when I was suppose to be helping her. I had created more problems than I'd been fixing. It made my heart drop and impulsively I opened the door forcefully. Her eyes glanced over at me, blank.

"Let's go." I said, despite how dry my mouth seemed to be. When I stepped out, the cool air bit at my cheeks and I shifted my jacket, my hand brushing against a piece of paper in my pocket. A smile lit across my face at the thought. Pony had written it for me. It was a poem and I loved it. I hadn't told him what was going on, I'd only assumed it wouldn't have been a good idea. Serenity was watching me from the other side of the car and I cleared my throat again, strident purposely towards the front door. I let my hand knock and Serenity laid a hand on my shoulder, but let it fall back to her side when the door opened.

"You must be Camille." The woman said, wiping her hands on an apron she wore. I expected her to be someone more elegant, more fragile. There was no doubting the beauty she did possess, since her warm brown eyes matched her hair in a comforting form that was like hot chocolate. Her nails were chipped, I noted, and there were scars on her hands. None the less, her fingers were slender.

"Yes." Serenity said behind me, "And I'm Serenity." The woman reached a hand and I watched them shake hands, my own shaking. They pulled back and for a moment, there was silence, before the woman stepped back into her home and spread an arm out before her.

"Come in." I closed my eyes and when I opened them, the woman was watching me with concern, but Serenity pushed me forward before I could say anything. The house was surprisingly messy, toys strewn all over the floor and the carpet had dark patches from stains. When the door snapped shut behind me, I suddenly felt trapped and tensed noticeably. A hand was placed on my shoulder and over my shoulder I smiled, expecting Serenity, but it wasn't. It was this woman, smiling at me caringly. I pulled away. I didn't want this woman near me. A squeal interrupted the next moment and a little girl ran into the room, followed by an older boy, around my age, who picked her up and spun her as she laughed. I watched and suddenly imagined the boy as my father and tears sprung to my eyes. I bet he did that with these kids, I bet he cared for them.

"Damien." The woman said, "put your sister down, we have visitors." Damien glanced over and suddenly a frown marred his features.

"So what." Damien said, and carried the girl out of the room.

"Sorry." The woman said, although I knew she didn't mean it. She couldn't mean something she probably wanted to say herself. "Let's go sit down in the living room." I followed her, kicking my shoes off by the door, leaving them in a dishevelled pile before following behind Serenity. A second later, I spun on my heel and kneeled down to rearrange them. I kneeled there for a moment longer and then stood, taking a deep breath as I faced the wall. I then turned and walked to the right, almost hitting someone.

"Woah." The boy said, dragging it out as he stumbled back. Looking up, which wasn't much of a stretch, he was tall for a ten year old, he smiled. "You must be my other sister." Half-sister. I wanted to remind him. I didn't.

"Yeah." I said, scuffling my socked foot against the carpet.

"You staying long?" He spoke differently than the people I knew. He pronounced his 'ing' fully and didn't pronounce it 'in'.

"No, not really. Just for a few hours."

"Too bad." He said, waving a hand. "You seem okay." I've said three sentences too him and he thinks I'm 'okay'? This kid trusts easy.

"Leave 'er alone, Mark." Damien came around the corner, still frowning. "Don't make her stay longer than she wants to." He sneered and I flushed again. Mark watched his brother before shrugging and turning to me.

"I don't care what he says." Mark scowls, and I watched Damien's face, as it stayed neutral and watching me. "I don't listen to him."

"Good." I said, "It's good to not let others control you."

Damien snorted, "Control him? Keep him outta trouble is more like it. How long a record do you got, hood?" I froze and looked up at him. He talked the same as I did, but he wasn't involved in any of the experiences I had.

"I don't have one." I said, trying to keep the anger out of my voice.

"Bullshit." He said, Mark rolled his eyes.

"Say what you want, it's true."

"So you're a liar as well as a thief." I was about to retort something back when Serenity and the woman, who I assumed to be Rose now that I thought about it, came back.

"Just giving our guest a proper welcome." Damien said, before running up the stairs. Mark followed, giving me a wave before he did.

"Sorry about that." Rose said, and once again I knew she didn't mean it. "Now c'mon."

----

Serenity and I were on our was back to Tulsa and I felt my heart beat slow and my muscles slowly unravel. Rose had been nice about everything and even though I wasn't talking, she said she wanted me to come visit again. Serenity said we would, but I wasn't sure how much of a deal we could keep that up. She could always come visit us too. We hadn't mentioned anything about my father and Rose made sure to only talk about the kids and what she knew about me. When I managed to ask her what she wanted to do with me, she'd given me a strange look.

"What do you mean?"

"Are you going to make me come live with you?" I asked, eyes starting to glaze with tears. Her face stayed passive, but she shook her head gently.

"No, but I want you to come visit." I hadn't been so tense for the rest of the visit, but I couldn't help wanting to get out of there. I wanted to be back home with Ponyboy and the gang, living with Sam and Serenity. I wanted to be nowhere near my problems when I thought they were already solved.

Serenity was still beside me, not speaking, just staring at the roads. I was thankful that she left me to my own thoughts. We arrived back in Tulsa an hour later and I finally breathed a sigh of relief I hadn't been holding. My mind had been so put on the fact that Rose would've made me stay there with her, that I never would've seen Tulsa again. I'm glad I was wrong.

We drove up to the Curtis house and I felt a smile lift onto my face. Pony was outside, smoking a cigarette, and watching the car. In the next moment, before either Serenity or I could open our doors, Sam came running out and opened the back door. I opened mine and got out, telling Serenity I would be home later. Sam waved encouragingly from the backseat as they pulled away and I smiled, waving back as they drove out of sight. Turning to Ponyboy, I saw he was still watching me, the cigarette in his mouth. Walking over, I grabbed it and gently took it out of his mouth, but quickly.

"Hey!" He said, jumping up to grab it, he was taller than me so I quickly through it on the ground and stepped on it. He shoved his hands in his pockets and scowled. I gently put my hands on each side of his face and made him look at me.

"Pony, that can't be good for you." I pointedly stared at him, but he rolled his eyes and leaned in for a kiss. I pulled back and stuck up a finger in front of his face.

"No way, you smell like smoke!" I grinned and Pony grabbed my wrist gently, leaning in to capture my lips anyway. We kissed softly for a moment before he pulled away.

"Where do you want to go?" I tilted my head up at him and took a step in so I could wrap my arms around him.

"Anywhere really." I answered. I felt him sigh and laughed a little. I didn't care where we meant, just as long as we stayed together. I had him, Sam, Serenity, and the rest of the gang. My father was in jail. I'd found out the truth about my mother's death. All the pieces fit.

"Thank you Ponyboy." I whispered into his chest, but he heard it anyway.

"For what?"

"For…" I paused and looked up. "being here." Then I sealed my words with tenderness he gladly accepted.