AN: Family reunion time!

Ponyboy's POV

I did it. I finally made it back to Tulsa. It took long enough. On the way here, I had a lot of time to think.

Wow. This is just like that time with Johnny, when he stabbed bob. But this time, I stabbed someone, and I'm alone. No. I'm not alone. I have my gang. They will back me up on this. But what about my brothers, and Two-Bit and Steve? Oh, that's right. Chris told me not to say a damn word. Chris. He acted like Johnny back there… taking charge, and telling me what we were gonna do. I hope this ends well.

I shook my head. I really have to stop doing that. So here I was. Trying to decide how to confront my brothers. I was driving through town, in my bike.

How are they going to react? Will they hate me? No. They never would hate me, I'm sure of that. I know soda wouldn't at least… NO! Darry loves me just the same. I guess I could just walk in, and see what happens.

Its pretty cold tonight. All I have on is a black leather jacket (which I shopped on the way here) and blue jeans. My white T-shirt is real thin, so that doesn't count. Well, at least my motorcycle helmet is full faced.

I only got pulled over once on the way here. The cop pulled me over because he thought I looked a little young. He was right. But that's not what my license said. Ha.

Well, here's my street. And there's my house.

I parked my motorcycle by Darry's old pick up truck, and took my helmet off. All the lights were on in the house. It was only eight o'clock at night. Everybody was probably there, by the looks of it.

I climbed off my cycle, and set my helmet down on the seat. Now I started to feel excited and nervous at the same time. I felt like I was on a roller coaster. You know, when you get on, and the ride starts. That feeling of excitement and nervousness hits you all at once, and its just a little overwhelming. That's how I feel now.

I made sure I was real quiet walking up the front steps to the porch. I looked in the window. Sure enough, everyone was there.

I saw Steve and Sodapop playing a game of poker on the coffee table, and Two-Bit sitting on the floor in front of the TV. I saw Darry walk out of the kitchen and sit down in his recliner. He grabbed the newspaper on the armrest and started reading.

Everything looked the same, but I can tell it wasn't. There was some kind of tension in the air. I didn't like that.

Time to make my move. Time to show myself. As I reached for the door knob a thought came to mind. A thought I was dreading to come across.

Am I ready?

Am I ready to face my past? Am I ready to see my brothers? Did New York do anything for me? Yes. Yes. And, yes. New York did a lot for me. I feel more in control. I don't feel all confused or sad. I feel free and wild. I love the way I feel. I think I made the right choice. I changed completely, but that's all right. I'm still Ponyboy. I'm just a new Ponyboy.

Its time to see my family.

I grabbed the door knob, and turned slowly…

Sodapop's POV

The night was going good, and I was winning this poker game with Steve, when the front door opened.

Everyone was here tonight, so there's no one else to come over. I looked up, expecting Tim, or maybe curly even, to be standing in the door way, but instead, I found myself looking into the eyes of someone I didn't even recognize.

It was a kid that looked to be about fifteen or sixteen, a little shorter than me, with a scar on his cheek. He was wearing this real tuff looking leather jacket. He was pretty well-built, and it showed through the jacket as well. He had light brown hair, almost red, with grey-green eyes.

Wait a second. Grey-green eyes. Those eyes looked real familiar. The answer flew out of know where and it was like a slap to the face. Oh my god. That's Ponyboy. As soon as I thought this, I knew it was 100% true. Holy crap! I barely recognize him!

We stared at each other a couple seconds, before I flew across the room at top speed, and tackled my baby brother with what has to be the biggest hug in the world.

"PONYBOY!" I yelled, my voice nothing but joy.

The next thing I know, Darry's hugging the daylights out of him too. Ponyboy hugged us back the same.

We brake apart, after what seemed like an eternity. We all had huge smiles on our faces. Two-Bit, Steve, me and even Darry.

"Hi guys! I'm home!" Ponyboy yells.

Two-Bit laughs. "Ya sure are, kid! I cant believe it!"

Ponyboy says, "Well ya better believe it! I didn't drive all the way down here for nothin!"

Wait. Did he say drive? Before I can say anything, Steve beats me to it.

"Drive?" Steve asks, almost in disbelief.

Ponyboy nods his head. "Yup. My bad boys parked outside. I drove all the way from New York."

"New York?" everyone shrieks at the same time.

I shake my head. This was a lot to take in.

"Come on, Pone. Sit down and tell us where in the almighty universe, you've been." I say, and gesture to the couch.

He sits down and we all do the same. We wait patiently for the story to begin.

Ponyboy looks relaxed and content with all of us staring at him. He sure looks different, and acts it too. He looks back at us and starts his story.

"Well I left here, and went to New York. Nothin to it." he says, like it obvious.

Darry sighs. "Yes we know you went to New York, but tell us details." he says, little irritation detected.

Ponyboy grins at him. "I know. How bout you guys ask a question and I answer it. Yes or no only."

We all sigh loudly, and I speak up. "Okay, Pone, fine. But you have to tell us the story eventually." my little brother can be very stubborn.

He nods, and I ask first. "Is New York the only place ya went?"

"Yes."

This is going to be a long night…

AN: Yay! Happy! The next chapter awaits! Please review! The more the reviews, the faster I update!