A/N: So I've received some hate comments from some people when the story isn't even over yet, and I do not appreciate that. You're all over 13. Grow up.

Disclaimer: I do not own The Outsiders.

Rowan's POV

And Dare did. I sat in the front of his car, with the rest of the remains of the gang in the back, besides Soda who was gonna meet us there, hopefully. He was at work and Ponyboy left a note saying that we were at DQ for him. "They shot a kid with an unloaded gun," I ranted on, "It was unloaded! They killed a guy for no reason!" I punched the car door, but Darry didn't say anything. He knew I was going to act crazy for a while.

"Cops are assholes," Steve said. He was my brother now, we've gotten so close. "If it were some Soc, they would've waited for the first shot." I grunted, and we pulled into the Dairy Queen parking lot. I looked at Darry, and decided to go back to normal for a few minutes. "Looks like we're finally at Darry Queen!" I bellowed. The gang hollered and hooted, as Darry slowly clapped his large hands. "Bravo, Bishop, Bravo." I smiled and gave him a mini-hug. "Anytime, Queen. Dally would've loved that one…"

Our gang strutted into the doors, and found a seat in a big booth. I got a barbeque sandwich, Dally's favorite. Soda joined us a few minutes after. We should've just waited for him. "Last time I was here, I was with Dally," I started. "It was the morning after he sent Johnny and Pony out to Windrixville." I put my arm around Ponyboy's neck, and he bent down in order for me to do it. That kid has gotten way taller than me. I remembered the smaller Johnny, and bowed my head. I wish we were closer, he was a good kid. "Dally had let me sleep in his bed with him that night, he practically begged me!" Two-Bit smirked. "You sure it was Dally? Dally Winston?" I smiled. "Yes, of course. He was my best friend…and I loved him."

Soda patted me on the back. Ponyboy sighed. "Last time I was here was also with Dally. And Johnnycake. He just came to get us, before that damn fire…" Two-Bit and Steve exchanged glimpses at each other. "Last time me and Steve were here, was also with Dally. Right after I got jumped," Two-Bit said, looking as if he was reliving the moment. "Two-Bit had it off pretty bad, and Dally paid for the meals, even mine." Even Darry contributed to the conversation. "Last time Pepsi-Cola and I were here was with Dally as well. Just us three hanging out during break." I remembered every moment that was worth something to me with Dally, which was every moment. "Dally loved this damn place, ain't I right?" I asked, getting nods of agreement.

We sat there, talking for hours, until it got out. The manager yelled at us a couple times to get our asses the hell outta here, but Darry handled him real well, by explaining all that's went on in the past week, and he let us stay. Turns out that guy's even seen Dally here many times. Oh, Dally… "So, uh, you all know that Johnny's funeral is tomorrow, right?" Steve asked solemnly. I nodded, and fought back drops of sadness. "Oh, Johnny…," I whispered. I played with a napkin. "So, uh, when's Dally's?" Puzzled faces surrounded me, and Darry spoke up. "We don't know, kid. His Dad keeps everything from us." I huffed in my chair, and Soda got up. "I gotta piss, I can't hold it in longer." Two-Bit chased him, holding his pants as well, followed by Ponyboy, Steve and Darry. "You're all cool, leave me here while you piss your pants!" I shouted at them while laughing and smiling.

Dally's father came to mind. What kind of heartless, cold, bastard wouldn't care about his kid? Wouldn't care about Dally?" I crumpled my napkin in a ball and shot it like a basketball at the trash can, missing it. I slouched in my seat. "I don't even know when Dal's funeral is, if I ever get my hands on Mr. Winston…," I said out loud to myself with nobody around.

"You've gotta work on your basketball skills, Bishop," teased a familiar voice, "and I don't even know when my own fucking funeral is. You planning to kill me?" My head whipped around and standing in front of me was Dally. Dally! He was alive! But how? I reached out, touching his abs to make sure I wasn't hallucinating and I felt that old six-pack. "Dally! You aren't dead, you aren't dead!" I sprang from my seat, giving him a big hug with my legs wrapped around him. He hugged me back. "Careful there, that's close to where I got shot." He squeezed me hard, and I just squeezed him back. "You need to shave, Dal!" I told him feeling his stubble. He smiled, and looked at me. I looked back at his gorgeous face, eye directly looking into eye, moving closer, and closer…

"DALLAS WINSTON, NO WAY!" yelled Two-Bit, running and tackling Dal. The rest of the gang, besides me, pig-piled on top of Dal. Once they were off, Dally wiped off his shirt. "Easy, easy, easy, you guys." He looked back at his gang, then ran in for a big group hug.

"We thought you were dead!"

"What the hell happened?"

"How'd you get out?"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, one at a time, ladies," Dal teased. I looked up at him admiringly, smiling like an idiot, while Steve and Soda snickered at me. I shot them evil glances then went back to admiring Dally. Man, was I one happy motherfucker. I got a second chance at love. I got up, and sat in Dally's lap, resting my head on his shoulder. My Dally was back. Maybe, there was a chance I did save him.

"I got shot twice that night. The doc said if I got one more, I cudda died," Dally told us. He grabbed my shoulders and slowly shook them. "This little woman right here saved my goddamn life, when I wanted to die, man! Didn't anyone tell you Dallas Winston always got what he wanted?" I smiled and got close to his face. "Not if I can help it," I explained, lightheartedly. My Dal was back. Even if he wasn't gone. He continued. "So that weird-ass hospital calls my Dad, and he didn't give a shit. I told him to call you guys, but he said family only. That dick. He made me wear a damn gown, man!" We all laughed, imagining a pissed off Dally in a hospital gown. "He gave me this pad-thing for my torso, and put stitches in my leg from the shot from that store clerk. I should be dead more often, no charges, man!" I messed up his hair the way I like it. "I took a cab to the house to find a note saying you were at DQ, so I told that hairy taxi driver to take me here. By the way, Darry, I may have taken some cash to pay for the cab."

Darry wasn't even mad. He just shrugged it off. "Just glad to see you breathing, man." Dally winked. Soda was in hysterics. "Good thing I didn't take that note off the door!" He seemed very proud. Good for Soda, good for Soda. "So, I come in here and find this broad taking shit-shots and talking of my funeral!" I slugged him. "I thought you were dead, dude! What else would I be doing?" I just embraced him, and we all got up, ready to leave. I was sleeping over Ponyboy's house tonight, better than an empty house for another night. Ponyboy zipped up his coat, and looked at Dally. "You coming, Dal?" he asked. "Yeah, one minute, man. I wanna have one last smoke." I headed out the door with Pony. "Rowan, come here for a sec, will ya?' I shuffled my feet on over to him. "Make it snappy, Winston. It's cold in here," I teased.

"So uh, Johnny's funeral, that's tomorrow, huh?" he asked. My frown made a reappearance and I looked down as I nodded. "Yes," I admitted bitterly. Johnny… He sighed. "I'll be there. Johnny, I wanted to be just like that kid. He makes one mistake and dies, I make dozens and I am still here. What type of shit it that, Row, huh? It ain't fair. He's gone, and I should be too, at least that is what I thought." So he changed his opinion now? "I was sitting in that hospital bed and I remembered how you saved me, girl. And all those other great times we have had." He took a step closer to me, spitting out his cigarette. "I owe you, you're the reason why I now realize that Johnny would've wanted me to keep going. You gave me a second chance at life." He bit his lip. "You were a keeper from the beginning, when you visited me in jail. You changed my heart. Rowan, I think I love you. No, I know I love you." He put his arms around me, and I looked into those deep eyes. "Oh, Dally, I love you too." I wrapped my arms around his neck and he leaned in to kiss me. His lips were so soft, and it was the perfect moment. If only fifteen seconds were longer.

"Let's go, it's cold out here," he said. I smiled at him as he put his arm around my shoulders, and I put mine around his back. We assembled into Darry's car. Dally forced Two-Bit to the front so I could sit with him in the back. We double-buckled together and I rested my head on his chest for the whole ride. "Boys, this is my girlfriend, Rowan," he told the gang. Smiles, snickers, and 'awws' were released, and I just smiled.

We finally got to Darry's house, and Dally carried me inside placing me on the couch. He kicked off his boots and snuggled under the cotton blanket with me. "You know, Dal, I realized I was in love with you before today," I confessed, scared for the reply. He seemed amazed, to my surprise. "I can say the same thing, girl." He kissed me goodnight and wrapped his arm around my torso as we slept. I thought about my day. It felt like I went from Hell to Heaven, and now here I was cuddling with my new boyfriend. My boyfriend, Dallas Winston.

A/N: Stay tuned for Johnny's funeral and the letter! c: