Disclaimer: I do not own The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, or "Love is a Battlefield" by Pat Benatar.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Monday, March 13th, 1967

We are strong,
No one can tell us we're wrong.

Henry Phillips had been glaring at him for weeks. Steve knew it wasn't constant, but it sure felt it; in auto shop, in the parking lot, at the Dingo, at Buck's, in the hallways at school. The guy hated his guts and didn't have a problem with showing it. In fact, Steve was just waiting for the day he found his car scratched to shit in retaliation for having taken Phillips' hubs months ago.

Or, of course, for getting Anna back.

Steve smirked. Phillips was across the Dingo parking lot with a couple of other guys from Shepard's gang, and Steve had been ignoring the glaring for the last half hour. Now that he thought about it, scratching his car was probably a bit tame. Phillips might be a nice guy in general, but he was still a part of Tim's gang; he was tough and cool and, if the hate radiating from him was anything to go by, about ready to kick Steve's head in.

He knew Phillips was a good fighter, but still looked forward to the fight. He'd been aching to rip into the guy for months now, and all he'd managed was to take those damn hubs. He hadn't even bothered to fight back the night Phillips winded him at Buck's, knowing it would just piss Anna off even more.

Pissing Anna off wasn't a problem anymore. She might get a little annoyed with him, but he knew damn well she'd be more worried about his injuries than his fighting her ex-boyfriend. He didn't need her to worry, but it was nice that she did. Even nicer when it meant she didn't hold a grudge at him for fighting her ex-boyfriend.

"Phillips looks ready to jump you, Stevie," Soda said.

"I was just thinkin' the same thing." Rubbing his knuckles on his jeans, he looked at Soda. "You think I should start somethin'?"

"Nah, let him do it. Anna ain't gonna be pleased about it either way; at least if he starts it then she can't blame you."

Steve smirked again, liking how he and Soda were on the same page. Anna might be his again, but with their 'taking things slow' plan, the last thing he needed was to piss her off. She wouldn't be happy about him fighting with Phillips, but so long as he didn't start it, she wouldn't complain. Much.

Leaning back against the car, Steve sighed. She was his again. Finally. Things were going slow, but they were going and that was what mattered. They dated, they hung out - not as much as they used to, but that was okay - and they made out. A lot. He smirked. Even if Anna wasn't willing to put out, he couldn't complain about a damn thing. Kissing her sent him damn near crazy, and he'd spend all night doing it if she'd let him. Which she never did.

He didn't know her exact reason, but she hadn't stayed with him once since getting back together … or starting to spend time together, or doing whatever it was they were doing. He wasn't about to push it - not now that he finally had her back - but he did think it was an unfortunate waste of time they could spend alone, what with her brother getting locked up the same day they sorted their shit out.

"Hey, man," Two-Bit said loudly, joining Steve and Soda by the car, "you seeing Anna tonight?"

Steve nodded, gaze set on Phillips' glare. He didn't have to say anything, just the mention of Anna, and Steve's confirmation was obviously enough for Phillips. He slipped off of the car hood he was sitting on, and headed straight for Steve. Clenching his fists, Steve stood straight.

"I should've kicked your ass weeks ago," Phillips spat, still glaring.

"Right. I'm sure that would've gone over real well with your girlfriend at the time. Jumping the guy she really wanted … yeah, good thinking."

"She'll come to her senses. She might not come back to me, but she'll realise what a fuck-up you are and leave you."

Steve wished he could deny being a fuck-up, but after the shit he'd put Anna through, it was too true. "Maybe," he said. "But she won't leave."

"Danny'll make her," Phillips said, eyes narrowing. "Can you imagine how pissed he's gonna be to find out she's back with you?"

He could imagine it far too well, but he smirked anyway. "She won't leave me. For some reason, that girl loves me."

It was the mention of love that really seemed to set Phillips off. He lunged at Steve, grabbing his T-Shirt in his fists and shoving him back against the car behind him. The trunk pushed uncomfortably into his back, but Steve wasn't going to give up without a fight. He'd been waiting to really have it out with Phillips for months.

He threw a punch at the other boy's face, feeling the satisfying smack of skin on skin as his fist connected with Phillips' jaw. The bones in his hand hurt like a bitch, but hitting him like that sure felt good. So good, he wanted to do it again. Raising his fist, he doubled over as Phillips got him in the stomach again.

"Son of a bitch," he said, gasping for breath.

"You're a fuckin' asshole," Phillips said, still holding onto his T-Shirt with one hand. Steve vaguely wondered if Anna had ever seen this side of him. "Don't ya know it's rude to go after another guy's girl?"

"Fuck you," Steve said, and charged at him.

They fell to the ground, and Steve was happy with the two punches he got into Phillips' face before he was thrown to his back. They rolled, both getting in punches and the occasional kick. It wasn't until Phillips got in an awfully good punch to Steve's left temple that he began to fade. His vision blurred, and he rolled off of the other guy. Not willing to give up that easy, he grabbed a hold of the only thing he could see, and pulled Phillips' fingers back as far as they'd go.

There was ringing in his ears, blood in his mouth, and it took him a moment to realise that Soda and Two-Bit were pulling him up. He blinked, trying to focus on Phillips'. He was being led away by Jack Hennings and Terry Armstrong.

"What the fuck?" Steve muttered.

"Cops are on their way, man," Soda said. "Ain't no need for you to be getting hauled in again."

Even though it hurt like hell, Steve nodded. Soda was right; cops turning up was one damn good reason to give up the fight without a winner. Making his way to Two-Bit's car, he spat blood from his mouth and wondered what Anna would make of his injuries. Phillips' had got him a whole lot better than he'd expected.

He turned around to see how Phillips' was fairing, but cursed quietly. Pulled into the parking space next to Phillips', Tim Shepard had just arrived, and climbing out of the passenger seat was Danny Harris.

XXXXX

Anna hated it when Danny got locked up. Other than the worry of him getting really hurt, it was her biggest concern about him being in Tim's gang. She was always wondering if he was about to get himself sent away for longer than the few weeks he usually got. It was only a matter of time, she was sure of it. She didn't know what kind of business he and Tim got up to, but was damn sure they'd both end up in jail for it if they weren't careful.

She sure hoped she was wrong, but every time Danny got locked up, a part of her expected Tim or George or whoever it was who told her about it, to tell her it was for good this time. A few weeks she could handle, though quite unhappily, but a few years was another story. A few years was too much.

But, this last time almost came as a relief. She didn't consider it good luck to have her brother locked up, but last time was an exception. Last time happened to be the same night she and Steve got back together. She had been hoping for a couple of days, maybe a week, and couldn't help the guilty relief that had coursed through her after finding out it would be a few weeks.

A few weeks gave her time to figure out what to say, how to say it, and whether she should say it at all. A part of her truly thought that ignorance might be her best bet.

Until now.

Locking up the door to the bakery, she tried for a grin as she turned toward her brother.

"I didn't realise you were out already!"

He scowled. "Don't pull that bullshit with me, Anna. Get in the damn car."

She did as he told her to, muttering the whole way. "You could at least pretend to be happy to see me."

Danny waited until he was in the driver's seat before replying. "I'd be a whole lot happier if what I heard today wasn't true."

Anna said nothing, knowing he was waiting for her to elaborate. Screw it. She was going to play innocent for as long as she could. It sure beat the alternative.

"Actually, fuck what I heard. You wanna know what I saw?"

She flinched, pretty sure saying no wasn't an option. "Sure."

"I saw your ex-boyfriends trying to kill each other at the Dingo," Danny said. "Fuckers were goin' at it good and proper."

Still silent, Anna tapped her fingers on her skirt. She knew who he was talking about - Ricky was history, and that only really left Steve and Henry - but she was just a little confused about his anger. It sounded as though it might be directed at Henry and Steve, but she knew it should be at her. She also knew it would be before they got home.

"Who won?" she asked.

Danny scowled at her. "What do you care?"

"I'm pretty sure you already know why I care."

"You're fucking right I do! Shit, Anna. I don't wanna be one of those brothers who has to threaten every guy you date, but when you pull shit like getting back with Steve fucking Randle, what the fuck else am I s'posed to do?"

"Nothin'."

"Nothin'? Are you fucking kidding me?"

Anna wasn't sure she could remember the last time she'd heard Danny swear so much. It would be funny if he weren't so angry at her. Sighing, she watched as he pulled into the driveway at home.

"You don't have to do anything," she said, hand on the door handle. "In fact, I'd really prefer it if you didn't."

Danny climbed out, slamming the door behind him. Anna followed suit, not willing to back down.

"He's just going to screw you over again."

She was pretty sick of hearing that. She could understand why everyone was worried, but they didn't all have to butt in. Her dad had made some comment after finding out she was back with Steve, Henry had said almost the same thing Danny had even before she was back with Steve, and even Anita had asked her if she was sure she was doing the right thing.

Yes, Steve had screwed up, and yes these people were just worried about her, but she could look after herself. The only time she had needed Danny last time she was with Steve was when he had cheated, and he had assured her that wouldn't happen again.

Instead of snapping like she wanted to, Anna tried to stay calm. "You don't know him like I do."

"Thank fuck for that."

"And I don't care what you say; you can't convince me to break up with him."

"Fine," Danny snapped. "Don't bother coming to me when he does hurt you again, because I ain't gonna sit around and pick up the fucking pieces."

As much as she believed Steve wouldn't hurt her, she couldn't deny that Danny's words did.

"Whatever. How about I don't come to you, and you save me the goddamn lecture." Not bothering to wait for a reply, she headed inside.

Her dad and Anita's aunt were sitting at the kitchen table, eating lasagne and drinking wine.

"Sorry," she muttered. "I hope I'm not interrupting."

"'Course not," her dad said. "You want some food?"

Even as her stomach grumbled she shook her head. Her dad might say she wasn't interrupting, and being around the two of them together was almost nice, but she didn't want to be their third wheel. She liked Meredith, and she liked her dad when he was with Meredith. She wanted them to have some time alone.

"I'm just here to change my clothes, then I'm going to Steve's," she said, wondering why she hadn't gone straight to Steve's in the first place.

Still angry at Danny and liking the way Steve's eyes darkened when she wore a particularly short skirt, she changed into something Danny would be furious at and Steve would be desperate for. Smirking, she touched up her makeup and left her bedroom.

"Where're you goin'?" Danny asked, the moment she closed the door behind her.

"Where do you think?"

"Dressed like that?"

Anna grinned. He was too easy.

"Just be glad it's still cold out," she said, tugging at the sleeves of her sweater.

Danny said nothing and she started to walk away. She was stopped by his next words.

"I'll save you the lecture," he said, sounding miserable. "And you can come to me anyway."

Turning to look at him, Anna gave him a small smile. "Thanks. But I won't need to."

XXXXX

Leading Anna to his bedroom, Steve waited for her to bring the fight up. She knew, of course. He wasn't stupid enough to think her words 'I had a fight with Danny' meant she'd had a fight with Danny that wasn't about him and his fight with Phillips. He could only be glad she'd come to him after her fight with her brother. That had to mean Phillips was wrong and Steve was right.

"Did you win?" she asked as he closed the door behind her.

"Nah, the guys had to pull us apart before anyone could win. Before the cops got there."

Not saying anything, she stepped closer and took his chin in her fingers. She stared at him, tilting his head so she could see the bruise forming around his eye.

"Does it hurt?"

Yes. "Nope."

"Did you ice it?"

He smirked. "Nah."

"You should, you know?"

"I know. You've told me so plenty of times."

Anna let him go and sat on the bed. "But you never seem to listen."

"I would've iced it if you'd been here to make me," he said, sitting next to her.

She smirked. "I think that's because you like havin' me look after you."

"Yeah? Well I think you're crazy."

"Wanna tell me what happened with Henry?" she asked, changing the subject.

Steve scowled. "No."

"Will you do it anyway?"

Only because he couldn't say no to her. Shrugging, he told her what had happened - the glaring, the taunting, and the actual fight. He didn't bother leaving anything out.

"You're not a screw-up," she said softly. He liked how she hardly ever said fuck. In fact, he could only remember hearing it from her twice before.

"Maybe not, but I've definitely screwed up. More than once."

Anna shrugged. "Henry didn't want anything to do with me when I tried to apologise. He doesn't get to butt into something that's none of his business."

"What about Danny?" he asked.

She was there, and he was sure Phillips was wrong, but if there was one person who could take her away from him, it was Danny.

"What about Danny?"

"I'm sure he ain't too thrilled about us."

"He's not, but I told him it doesn't matter. Nothing he says is going to make a difference."

Not sure there was anything to say to that, Steve leaned forward and kissed her. He was sure he could feel her smiling against his lips as she kissed him back, but it soon turned into a breathy sigh as their kiss deepened. He wanted her to stay - always. Anna never leaving would be perfect and make every day worth it, but it wouldn't happen. Not yet, anyway. All he could do for the moment was kiss her harder and hope she got caught up in it enough to stick around for a while.

Her fingers were in his hair, his were spreading across the skin of her stomach, and they were lying sideways across his bed when she finally stopped him. He let her pull back, but continued scattering small kisses at the corner of her mouth and across her jaw.

"I should go," she whispered.

"Or you could stay."

"I can't stay."

"Sure you can." Steve placed a kiss right behind her ear. "You had a fight with Danny; why would you even want to go home?"

She shuffled away, grinning. "Because it's much safer at home."

"It's colder, too," he muttered. "Colder, lonelier, much less fun."

"Maybe. But I can't stay."

Giving up on the teasing, Steve leaned up on his elbow. "Staying doesn't mean anythin'. Just because you stay doesn't mean anythin' has to happen. We can just sleep." He looked at her carefully. "You know that, right?"

She slowly nodded. "I know that."

"But you still won't stay?"

"I shouldn't."

"I won't do anything you don't want me to."

She blushed, looking away. "I know, I'm just not sure there's anything I don't want you to do."

"Oh." Steve couldn't help but smirk. "In that case you should definitely stay."

"Just because I want to doesn't mean we should," she said, sitting up. "Once we finally got together last time, everything happened so fast. And I know we … did it after Danny got hurt, but this is different. I don't wanna rush anything."

"We won't rush anything," Steve assured her. When she said nothing, he sat up. "I'm serious. It doesn't matter what happened last time. We're not going to get back to what we once had by hurrying anything."

Anna looked at him, surprised. He supposed he was a bit surprised by his words, too. Not the promise to not rush anything, but his want to get back to what they used to have. He'd told her he loved her at the hospital, but since then had kept all serious talk to a bare minimum. It didn't matter anymore, though. He was done hiding from Anna. If he wanted to keep her, if he wanted her to spend more time with him than the small amount that she was, he had to stop keeping things to himself. Sometimes.

"You're right," she said, sitting up. "But that could be because I already said something awfully similar at the hospital."

Ignoring her teasing, he pushed a strand of hair behind her ears. "Guess it stuck with me."

Instead of replying, Anna leaned forward and kissed him again.

Searching out hearts for so long,
Both of us knowing.

A/N: Thanks to RileysMomma for beta-reading, and thanks to everyone who's reviewed :)