*I don't own The Outsiders.

(Leslie's POV)

Dar scowled as I headed toward the door. "What?" I asked, innocently. I knew exactly what was pissing him off, ugh, Mr. Responsibility here.

"Crutches, Leslie," he stated, giving me a hard look.

I scowled back at him and shook my head in protest. Yeah, it was childish, but who cares. I should probably just go with what he says, butter him up for later on when I pop the question. I almost snorted out loud at my thoughts, I'm making this sound bigger than it is…aren't I? It sure doesn't feel like it, though.

"I don't like them. I know I got a limp, but it doesn't hurt that bad," I lied. It did hurt, but it hurt less than those goddamn pieces of wood! I hated those with a passion.

He rolled his eyes at me, leaving me in the doorway; he headed down the hall, toward the bedrooms.

"Where are you going?"

"Your room to get your crutches, I won't go anywhere with you if you don't use them. You'll just end up hurting yourself worse. I know you have doctor's orders to stay still and rest, but seeing how I know that won't happen, you're using the damn things," Dar said, his tone telling me there was no argument here. Well I disagree and I'm going to make sure he knows it. Ha, we'll never have a problem with communication, maybe we'll have too much…or not, I thought as my mind went to less than appropriate situations.

"You just proved my point! They are damned, I hate them. I'd rather walk than use those!" I crossed my arms and pouted at him as he walked over to me.

"You're worse than Ponyboy. You're a grown woman, pouting like a five year old," he said, exasperated. "Can you not argue with me for once, I'm only doing what's best and you know it."

"But, Darry, they kill my armpits," I whined, taking them as he offered them. I didn't see a way out of this one. Well, I could've put up a better fight than that but, I want him happy for later on. I don't think he'd say yes if he was mad at me.

"You're supposed to hold yourself up, not lean on the crutches with your armpits," he told me.

"Well, oh so smart one, tell me what I should do to keep my arms from hurting then. They're toothpicks, not tree trucks like yours; I can't keep myself up for a long time!" Jesus, he was being dumb. There was no way I could keep myself up. I'd ache for days.

He surprised me by picking me up and throwing me over his shoulder, carrying my crutches in his other hand.

"What the hell, I can walk and do it without the stupid kindling!" I wailed, jamming my little fist into his back.

My body vibrated with his laughter, "Well, I don't want your leg, arms, or armpits hurting. I know how you can be if you're in pain," he mocked.

I groaned, annoyed. This only caused him to laugh harder.

"Please, keep laughing, I'm just planning your death right now," I pretended to cackle evilly. This made us both start laughing. I grinned; everything was going easy and smooth, like always. Did I want to risk losing this?

NO LESLIE! YOU WILL NOT BACK OUT NOW. SUCK IT UP GIRL AND GO FOR IT. I chided to myself.

"Where are we going first?" I asked.

"I was thinking we could pick up some hamburgers and maybe head to the park. What do you think?" Darry asked, giving me the chance to back out if I wanted.

I grinned, "Sounds perfect." That sounds very romantic, eating in the park…

I should've known going to the Dingo was going to be hell. I don't know how, but I forgot that everyone is always there. A whole bunch of our friends were there and of course a lot of them wanted to know what happened to me in 'Nam.

So instead of going to the peaceful park with Dar for a nice day out, I was seated on top of one of the tables. A group, consisting of probably a dozen to two dozen people, sat around me. Darry was sitting beside me, he could see my reluctance. He knew I didn't mind telling them what happened; it was just that I didn't feel like doing it now. Therefore, he was pretty much laughing at my expense.

You can still back out now, I thought as I glared at Darry.

So, after repeating my story for all of these people, I thought I'd be able to go. It ends up, that one of the guys of the group had been drafted and asked me for some more gory details. He wanted to be prepared. I couldn't just leave the guy hanging, so I told him. I didn't edit either.

I don't know if that would really help him or not. At least, this way he knows exactly what he is getting into. I don't know who the kid is, but I definitely feel for him and I hope he makes it out alright. I frowned sadly, the kid was supposed to leave at the end of the week; I could very well never see him again.

Darry pulled my from my thoughts, "What's the matter, doll?"

"I feel bad for the kid going to 'Nam, who knows if he'll make it or not," I confessed.

Darry sighed, "Try not to worry about it. There isn't anything we can do to help him out." I nodded my head, knowing it was true. I hope the war ends soon, fighting is so useless.

Both of us were silent and wrapped up in our own thoughts as we headed into the park. We went past the commercial part of it, with all the kids on the playground and they're parents watching proudly. An elderly couple strolled by toward a bench, at their own pace, holding hands. I smiled at how sweet they looked. They even were laughing at some joke they were sharing with one another.

When we found a sunny semi-secluded spot, we sat down. Well Dar did while I chucked the crutches away from me. My expression must have showed my loathing of the inanimate objects because Darry was laughing his pretty ass off at me. I held my head high and sat with as much dignity as I could.

I huffed at him when his laughing finally ceased. I picked up my chicken nuggets and started eating them. His voice wafted over lazily, "Don't tell me your mad at me for laughing, your face was hilarious."

I kept my eyes on my food, but it was very hard to keep my mouth from lifting into a smile. I worked hard to keep it set into a scowl, hoping he couldn't tell how close I was to cracking. He poked me in the side; I was suppressing laughter now too. He doesn't play fair! He knows I'm ticklish.

"Leslie…"

I stuck my tongue out at him, knowing I looked even more childish. God, I hope he likes that…because I can't really change who I am and he definitely knows what to expect from me by now. I smiled at him, showing him I wasn't upset with him. Though, I'm sure he knew that.

We fought over who got the last of the fries, he won because he complained about me eating some of his hamburger. One bite isn't that big a deal! Well I guess a fry isn't either. We both lay back down onto the grass. Darry yawned and I watched some of the fluffy clouds drift by.

Now or never…

I drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly through my nose. After all of this and planning and practicing what to say in the mirror, I couldn't remember. I didn't know what to do.

"What are you thinking about?" Darry's question caught me off guard.

I blurted out the truth and almost regretted it, well I guess it really is now or never, "You."

"Me? What about me?" I could hear a smile in his voice and…smugness?

"Are you getting cocky on me here, Darry?" I asked, laughing.

He grinned and it was almost cocky. I burst out laughing, it was rare to see Darry's joking side but when it came out, sometimes he could put Two-Bit to shame. Damn, if that cocky little smirk isn't hot!

I rolled to my side and stared at him. I made a split decision right there, I wouldn't tell him how I feel; I'll show him how I feel.

I leaned forward and put a quick chaste kiss on his lips, he froze but then I felt him respond. I started to pull back to gauge his reaction, but he didn't let me. He connected our lips again, pulling me toward him gently. His lips were warmed from the sun and tasted like salty fries and, of course, chocolate milkshake.

He groaned and immediately all my fears and insecurities about us disappeared.

This would work.

We would work.

Yes! They're finally together. Only one chapter left, please review and thanks for reading.