Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Outsiders.

DUDES, I want at least two reviews on each chapter starting on fourteen before I add more chapters. I'm not trying to be the bad guy or anything, but I need to know if you guys are liking it. It may sound strange but it is a motivation to me in ways, so please just go along with my one rule :D I would be very grateful.

Okay, so sorry for the delay. Finals are next week and I've been busier than ever! It's a short chapter, so sorry about that too! Things have been kinda stressful, but thank you for the reviews :D love everyone.

-Kathrine

(Language, violence for warning)

Keep Moving

Rough Reality

There was a low pitched scream, but a loud one. The first time it sounded, I jumped up from my sleeping position. Dally sleepily looked over at me in the dark. Another scream was sounded, causing me to jump over Dallas. I pointed to him as I threw the door open.

"Stay here." across the hall, I threw myself into Ponyboy's room. He laid in his bed crying and screaming in the dark. Turning the light on, I rushed over to him. Once on the bed, he clung to me. Darry and Soda were in the doorway the next time I looked over. I cradled my little brother, rocking him slightly. After screaming on last time, he was done. Looking over at my brother's tired worried faces, I shooed them away.

"I've got it, go get another few hours." Darry nodded thankfully at me, rushing back over to his bedroom. Sodapop didn't listen as he came over to the bed. He rubbed Ponyboy's back as he sobbed into my night shirt. Out of intentions, I began to hum to him. Eventually he calmed down enough to talk to us.

"Bad dream." Soda stated to Pony, who nodded very shakily. Sniffling, Pony got more comfortable onto of me. He was fully on my lap now, clinging onto my shoulders. I hugged my baby brother back, wondering what could possibly of happened to bring back the nightmares.

"Don't leave." he told me.

"Never, baby brother." I could feel his tears on my skin as he hid himself in the crook of my neck.

"Get better." he mumbled. "I don't want you to be sick."

"Baby, I'm not sick."

"You are!" he screamed at me. I looked over at Soda, who looked perplexed by the situation.

"Ponyboy, look at me." his teary eyes lifted from my shoulder and looked me in the face. He bit his lip trying to hold in the sobs. Even though he was looking at me, he wasn't really. Something was off about his watery eyes, but I couldn't put my fingers on it.

"I'm fine." he shook his head no. "Yes baby, I am. Don't worry about me, don't worry about anything. Okay? I'm here to protect you. Soda's here to protect you. Darry's hear to protect you. We will take care of you."

He wouldn't stop shaking his head no. I grabbed his head in my hand, stopping his motion. "Pony, we love you. I know I'm not Mom but…I'm here to take care of you.""How can you take care of me when you can't even take care of yourself?" he said somewhat angrily at me. I felt a sting in my chest, a lump in my throat. He was just upset Lucy, it's fine. I shook my head, trying to compose the tears threatening to spill over my eyes. Glancing at Soda, he looked just as surprised as I was. He shook his head at Ponyboy, no sure what to say.

"It's easier to take care of someone I care about than it is to take care of myself, Ponyboy."

"But you left…" he said in a whiny, sobbing voice.

"But I'm back, BB. I'm here to take care of you and Sodapop. Even Darry." he moved off my lap and sat next to Soda.

"You left." I shook my head trying to convince myself it was alright.

"Did you dream about me leaving?" he started to sob louder at the mention of his dream.

"What else?"

"You are sick, you left us. You don't love us. You told Soda to leave you alone." a tear fell from my eye. I looked at Sodapop, he sighed making Pony look at him.

"Pone, Lucy is my twin and my best friend. She was upset when she told me to leave her alone, I understood that. It hurt my feelings but I understood. You should too. You should know that she loves us unconditionally. She's back little buddy, she's not leaving anymore.""She's sick, Soda." he said like I wasn't even there anymore. "She's gonna leave."

I shook my head at them as Soda looked at me, worried for our little brother. "I wont ever leave you again Ponyboy, I promise!" he shook his head no.

"Lucy, you hate us. You said so."

"No, I don't. I love you." I tried to move over to him to kiss his forehead. He coiled away, leaning into Sodapop.

"Don't touch me anymore." I looked into his eyes, he almost looked asleep. Looking at Sodapop, I pointed to Pony's eyes.

"Is he sleeping still?" I asked.

"Pony, are you awake?" Soda received no answer. "Pone, where are you?"

"The living room, why are you asking dumb questions. Soda, look at her! She's sick!" I sighed. He really is sleeping still."Lets go to bed little buddy, we'll talk about this in the morning." Soda said trying to play along in Pony's dream.

"Okay, will you take care of Lucy Soda while I'm asleep."

"Of course Ponyboy." Soda looked concerned at Pony as he laid down slightly. When I went in for a kiss, he didn't coil away from me this time. Sodapop moved Pony so he was sleeping on his pillow, then he covered him up. I was already leaving the room, on my way onto the front porch. My emotions exploded when I reached the cool night air, sobbing heavily.

Even though Ponyboy was sleep walking or some shit, his words still hurt. It's like being called a liar when you know you are telling the truth, aggravating. It's like trying to reach an apple from a tree, but your too short. Pony stabbed me in the heart, shaking my entire body. He's my little brother, he's upset with me and I didn't even know it. Ruth said his dreams are a effect of what's happened and what's happening. I've hurt my baby brother, to the point that he has nightmares about it. He think's I hate him. He think's I'll leave him and wont be there to protect him.

I felt to strong arms wrap around my shoulders. Turning around, I came into contact with Darry's hard chest. Crashing into him, he hugged me tightly.

"I'm sorry Darry." I felt him shake his head against mine, letting me know it was okay.

"He's right, I'm sick. But I wont leave him Darry. I wont leave you or Sodapop ever again. I'm sorry. Please forgive me, I thought we were pasted this months ago. Darry I'm sorry, I love you. I love Pony and Soda. I wont leave you. I wont leave you ever again."

He shushed me. "I know you wont baby girl, Pony's just scared." we stayed outside for a little while longer. Hugging each other tightly the entire time. When I pulled away from him, I had stopped crying. Looking up at Darry, his face was red but covered in his sleepy face.

"I thought I told you to go back to sleep."

"Pony and you guys were still pretty noisy in there. Plus, I heard you crying out hear. Didn't want ya to feel alone, because you aren't." the sun was coming in from the east."Damn." Darry muttered as we both turned towards it. "Oh well, I think I might take the day off."

"What?" I gasped at him. "You never do that."

"Well, I think we should have a family day. Just the three of us, none of the gang. Maybe go to the zoo." I smiled at him.

"The zoo."

"Yeah, we used to go all the time. I miss the old place."

"Okay, I'll make French toast." we turned to go inside."Put some pants on." Darry muttered as he shut the back door. Going into my room, Dally was fast asleep in my bed. I throw on some clothes for the day, ready for the family day despite my lack of sleep. Tiredly I went into the bathroom to wash my face. After sprucing up for the morning, I cleaned my wound again. It had bleed a tiny bit at some point, so I put a bandage over it this time. After fully ready, I went into the kitchen to make French toast. Crack the eggs into bowl. Stir in milk and cinnamon. Soak bread in egg mixture, place in pan. Cook. Repeat. Once I was done with eleven pieces for me and my brothers, I cooked the rest of the egg. The cinnamon eggs was something that my siblings and I have always enjoyed. The rest of the gang always gagged at the thought, pussies Darry would always say.

Darry entered the room after spending a good few minutes getting ready and talking to our brothers. All three of them seemed ready for the day, even Pony. I handed Darry his coffee as he went to sit down. Soda gave me a hug before I could hand him his chocolate milk. But once he was done, he left to sit at the table as well. I shook my head at him as Pony stood, red faced in the door way. He his gaze was one the floor as I handed him his milk.

"I made your favorite." he shrugged at me with an expressionless face. Sighing, I grabbed the food to place on the table. The four of us sat down at the table, looking tired but happy. It was quiet until Darry spoke up with his father voice.

"We are going to the zoo today." he announced. Soda's face immediately lightened up with a grin.

"Really?" Darry nodded. "We haven't been there in forever!"

"I don't want to go." Pony complained with a bite of French toast."Too bad, we are having a family day. We all need it." Darry pointed at Pony with his fork. "Soda and I are taking off just to spend time with you, so be grateful."

I felt like this was my time to shine. If Pony felt all those things about me but never admitted it, maybe I should change his mind. Maybe if I convinced Darry to call off the zoo, Pony would feel that he can trust me again. That's it!

"Dar." he looked at me with a silent question on his face. "Maybe we should do something else instead of the zoo. We should save it for another day."

"Not you too." Darry sighed bumping the table with his palm.

"But it might be good for us to just spend the day at the house, relax a little." I looked over at Pony, who looked at me without emotion. Frowning I turned back to Darry, hoping he would give in.

"Fine, I'll just go to work since it's such a bother for us all to hang out with each other." Darry stood up from his almost finished breakfast. He left the room to grab his tool belt and started towards the door. I jumped up after him.

"Dar! That's not what I meant! Dar." he turned around as I grabbed his arm.

"Don't bother Lucy." he shoved me away rather roughly and I went straight into the wall. Darry hadn't even noticed that he had flung me against the wall, he was already out the door. I chocked out in pain, already feeling blood rushing out of my wound. It seeped into the bandage that I had secured it with. My body fell to the side onto the ground as I held my side. Again I chocked out, spitting on the carpet. To get ride some of the pain, I stomped my foot on the wall. Without composure, I screamed in pain one last time before I felt someone near me.

Sodapop and Ponyboy were both hovered above me, trying to talk to me. Asking me what hurt. Pony's face was infuriated as he turned away, kicking the door. It slammed against the wall as he shoved himself out the front door. I could faintly hear him screaming at Darry over my own cries of pain. Soda was trying to support me, but also fighting with me. He tried to pry my arms away from my stomach but I wouldn't let him. All the way I would heave air through my lips, trying to calm my inflamed side, lungs, and back. Just as Pony turned around, Darry flew through the door. He was trying to get to me, but Soda put his arm out.

"Darry, you've done enough." he said seriously but not meaning in a bad way. Darry's eyes fell more as he stood up next to Ponyboy, who stared at Darry with angry eyes. He punched Darry in the arm, only hard enough to get his attention."What the fuck Darry!" Darry couldn't say anything in return, he just stared back at Pony with ashamed but angry eyes. I shook my head, ignoring the pain as I stood up. Holding my side, I lightly pushed Soda away from me so I could get some air. Breathing through my nose with one big intake, I closed my eyes. When they opened I looked at my angry, concerned, and slightly frightened brothers.

"It's okay, Darry. Don't worry about it, it's my fault." he shook his head like he wanted to tell me it wasn't but the words wouldn't escape his mouth. Soda tried to pull my hands away again.

"Soda." I put my hand up again. "I'm fine!"

They looked at me with worried eyes. Pony still stared at Darry as he was trying to set him on fire with his mind. Soda kept looking to my face, to my hands and than back to my face. Darry stared into my eyes, searching for forgiveness.

"There is nothing to forgive." I told him with a wave of my hand. "I'm going to go lay down now." before any of them could say anything, I scurried off to my room. But before I could get there, I heard a familiar voice at the door. Asking what was going on, I turned around to look at him.

"Not now Dallas." Darry said in a deathful voice. Sodapop continued."Yeah, Lucy isn't feeling well come back latter."

Dally huffed. "Just because Lucy is my girl, doesn't mean I came over to see her." I smiled as I entered my room, not caring if Dally left or stayed. As I locked my door, I went over to the closet.

Once again, I stitched my cut. This cutting thing was becoming more than it was worth. All of this was becoming out of hand, and not in the good way. If I would do anything, I'd just want to live a normal life. I suppose I have to let myself be normal before I can have a normal life. Patching up my side and placing a new bandage on it, I got dressed to impress. Putting on a dress and nice shoes, I went into the bathroom. I breathed out a sigh at the sight of me. Yellow sun dress with sandals, looks okay. Than I tried to make my hair look a bite different than it was, good looking. Placing a small bow in it, I stepped away from the mirror. Feeling satisfied as I exited the bathroom, I waved at who ever was in the living room.

"Lucy?" Darry jumped up first, following me to the door. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, don't worry about it." I started out the door without looking at him.

"Where are you going?"

"To find a job, I've got nothing better to do."

"Let me drive you." Darry offered running out the door after me.

"I've gotta do this myself Dar."

"Oh I get it, your mad. Right?" I turned to look at Darry who was standing by the truck.

"I'm not mad, I just need to be a big girl and do this myself. I wouldn't mind taking the truck though." Darry smirked at me and tossed me the keys from his pocket.

"If you need me, just…"

"Call, don't worry Darry." I said getting in the truck. As I pulled out, I opened the window and Darry came up to it.

"Oh and I'm fine, forget about what happened back there. It was an accident, tell Pony and Soda I said so." with a half smile, he leaned in to kiss my forehead.

"I didn't mean to Lucy, you're just so light now a days and didn't realize my own…"

"I said forget about it, love you." I didn't wait for an answer as I pulled away in our Ford truck, in search for a job.