Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Outsiders.

DUDES, sorry for the delay. I'm having a few rough weeks. I'm not sure when I can update again, sorry

-Kathrine

(Language, alcohol for warning)

Keep Moving

Forth of July

"Come one Lucy, you have six more minutes before you beat Darry's time." Steve cheered for me while I held myself from the pole in our back yard. Today was the forth of July, so we were having our normal family games and cook out.

"You can do it, baby girl." Darry yelled for me. He was even cheering against himself. I was holding myself up to beat Darry's time, he had beaten everyone else before that. It was getting more difficult to hold my tiny body up, I had my eyes squeezed shut.

"Three more minutes." Steve called. Ponyboy looking over his shoulder to make sure he was accurate.

"I don't think I can hold on any more." I admitted, feeling my hands twist farther off the bar.

"Let's go Twiny!" Sodapop screams at the top of his lungs. Just as he finished his sentence, I went tumbling to the ground. Everyone groaned at me as I looked up at them.

"You had a minute and thirty-two seconds left." I scoffed at myself, falling to lay my back against the ground. Everyone looked down at me, smiling.

They scattered after a moment as I closed my eyes. It had been a while since the day I had sex with Dallas. Truth be told, I haven't seen him since. Tim said he left out of town, but didn't know where he was going. It really pissed me off that he did that. So much, I went on a rampage through the town. Screaming at anyone who got in my way. Darry was the only one who got me to calm down. He brought me home, telling me he knew this would happen. It wasn't exactly the best inspirational words, but it got me to thinking. Well not really, I just got over myself. Sodapop was right. I needed to wake up… so that's what I did.

Since I've improved, says Ruth, we don't have the rules anymore. Darry still enforces some of them, but not very strictly. We all talk every few days still, only now we don't write everything down. They are healing me, they really are. I don't spend as much time in my room as I used to. I've gained more weight. I'm stronger. I guess I could say having sex for the first time was the best and worst thing I've ever done. It's made me wake up, as Soda would say."Lets go, Luc. It's potato sack time." I opened my eyes to a smiling Ponyboy. He had his hand reaching down to the ground for me. I took it and he hoisted me up with a smile. We slung our arms around each other as we walked over to the far side of the yard. Everyone was jumping into an old potato sack that we've been using for years. I stood next to my younger brother near the fence. Once everyone was in a sack, Darry stood in front of us. It's been a few years that he hasn't been able to fit into a potato sack, but he likes to be referee.

"Up to the lines girls." we slowly hopped over to the makeshift line. "No shoving, punching, or any sort of cheating. First one to the end of the yard wins."

Darry has always been a good sport, always stating the rules. Of course, us being greasers, we cheat anyway. Ponyboy and I shove each other with our elbows as we waited for the go. "Five. Four. Three. GO!" Darry said not really counting.

Immediately, everyone charged forward through the yard. Ponyboy quickly got the lead because he shoved me to the ground. Quickly thinking, I grabbed his sack from the ground. He fell as well, causing Johnny to trip over him. I hurried to get up, to catch up to the rest of them. Two-bit was in the lead, only to get double teamed by Steve and Soda. I hopped faster, but Soda was the first to touch the fence. He through his arms up in victory with a loud holler.

We all cheered for Sodapop as we gathered the potato sacks. When I placed mine in the pile, I smiled at Darry across the yard. He smiled back, waving at me. My sweet smile quickly turned into a devilish one. Darry turned his head to the side in question. As he did, I sent out a battle cry. My legs dashed towards him. His body turned, bracing himself for the impact of my body. I leapt on top of him, but he didn't budge. He playfully tossed me to the ground, sitting on top of me.

"Haven't you learned by now that doing that doesn't benefit you in the least." I smiled at him. He gave me the devilish smirk and began to tickle me.

"NO!" I screamed through my laughter. "Sodapop! Twiny! Save me."

Sodapop screams as I hear him run over from across the yard. "No one does that to my twin sister!" he grabbed Darry around the neck, pulling him away from me. The two of them wrestled around for a few seconds as I sat up. The boys were watching the fight with interested eyes. It isn't every day that Darry joins into the wrestling matches. I cheered for Sodapop, because he saved me from being tickled. The two of them quit after a few minutes of play fighting. Sodapop rolled over to me as I sat giggling at him.

"Thanks for saving me, Soda." he laughed at me as we both got up.

"So what's next?" Two-bit asked. It was getting farther in the day and we have done everything imaginable. Bobbles. Pull up competition. Chin up time competition. Lemonade drinking contest. Bloody knuckles…well I wasn't allowed to play. I was never allowed, it's a tradition Ponyboy laughed in my face. That's pretty much it. We still have the cook out, football game, marshmallow roast, and fireworks. Just as I was going to suggest we play the football game, we heard a call from inside the house."Hello! Anyone home! Curtis!" it was a female's voice. Everyone looked around at each other confused. Just as I was about to move to see who it was, Natalia's face popped outside of the door. Her smile was wide as she saw me. I was ecstatic and overjoyed as I jogged up the steps to hug her. We didn't pull apart for a while, I felt her tears on my shoulder. The hug felt…crowded but I didn't pull away.

"Oh my God…where have you been?" I asked her in a low whisper. After a minute, she pulled me out to see what I've become. I looked her over as well. Her brown eyes were twinkling next to her deep tanned skin. Her dark brown hair was curled into lovely waves. It was than that I noticed the hump on her stomach. I jumped back slightly, holding a shocked expression.

"What the fuck?" I pointed to her pregnant belly. My eyes glanced over at the guys in the yard, openly staring as was I. She giggled at me."Yes, I'm pregnant." I put my hands into my short hair, still staring. She grabbed my arm, pulling me to the yard with her. She wattle over to Darry, who gave her a brotherly hug. He placed his hand over her stomach lovingly.

"Congrats, Nate." he told her. Everyone hugged her after that, not sure how to react to her pregnant self. When she turned back to me, she was still grinning.

"Hey…umm." I stammered looking at everyone. "Why don't you guys go down to the park for the football game. I'll start cooking everything. Natalia, would you like to stay for a while."

"Hell yeah!" she said pumping her fist in the air. My old friend walked over to me, holding my hand. I looked down at our entwined hands, grinning ever so slightly.

"Yeah, that's a good idea." Johnny said running over to grab the ball. They all slowly walked away, as I helped Natalia into the house. I got everything out to make homemade coleslaw. I pulled a chair over for her after turning on the radio. As I chopped up cabbage, I sipped on a beer. She eyed it angrily but smiled when I would looked at her.

"Explanation please." I told her. She frowned with a serious expression. The song Lollipop by the Chordettes was playing in the background. She ignored my question."Later. You look different." she told me.

"You look the same, minus progoness." I said as I continued to thinly cut the cabbage.

"It happened why I go raped." I gasped at her mentioning it, shit I had almost forgotten about that. I wasn't expecting it, my finger slipped. Blood quickly rushed out of my finger, I sliced the tip off. As I quickly as possible, I moved to the sink. I dripped blood all over the tile as I ran over there. The water turned a sickish pink color as I ran my finger under it. Stomping my foot, I hissed at the pain of my finger. Natalia came over, pulling a towel from the second draw she looked in. She wrapped my finger turning off the water.

I held my hand up in the air, wincing at the pain. Our eyes glanced at each other, locking gazes. She frowned deeply at me. We didn't even mention me getting cut as I quickly hugged her. "I'm so sorry Natalia. I should have been there. He…the fucker…I'm sorry."

"I'm over it. After a lot of out of town therapy, I've accepted it." she was quiet as she pulled apart from me. After a moment, she giggled at me."You always manage to hurt yourself." I didn't listen to what she was saying.

"Boy?"

"Girl." she corrected. "I've decided to name her after someone that deserves to have their name carried on." a lump went into my throat.

"Margret." she told me. My mother's name. uncontrollable tears rolled down my cheeks. With my finger all wrapped up, I screamed at the top of my lungs. Even with my finger wrapped up, I through my hands in the air. She giggled at me."Are you serious!" she nodded, so I hugged her again.

"Why are you doin this to me girl?" I asked her.

"Your mother was a great woman. A strong woman. I'm doing it for her, not you." I hugged her tighter. Pulling apart, I did a small happy jig. Tears still spilled down my face as I did so. She grabbed my by the shoulders.

"It's not that big of a deal Lucy." she smiled."It's the best fucking thing that I've heard in the last year!" she took my face in her hands, squeezing my lips together. Natalia would always do this if I was getting out of hand, which I was."You need to chill." she giggled. "Let me see the cut."

Unwrapping the towel, I wiped my eyes of my tears with the opposite hand. The towel was soaked in my finger blood, it wouldn't stop bleeding. We shouldn't of taken the towel off because it was pouring out fast. Her eyes grew big, motioning towards the door.

"I'll go get Darry…you8 need medical help." I grabbed her shirt with my good hand.

"I am the medical help." I said with a chuckle. My feet shuffled out of the kitchen, Natalia in toe. In the bathroom, I looked around for a small tube of liquid wax. It's the weirdest stuff I've ever seen, but it really fucking works. I'm not sure who brought it home, but I used it on Ponyboy's cut arm once. It works for small but deep wounds. Rinsing the cut again, I quickly applied a little bit of liquid wax. It closed the wound, but it stung. Blowing air onto it, my finger relaxed. I held it up to her.

"Good as new." she smiled.

"What is that stuff?" she asked with the smile.

"I have no idea." we giggled as I place a bandage over my finger. In the cabinet, I also pulled out a plastic glove so I could still cook. Slapping the glove to my wrist, I turned the light off in the bathroom. We walked back out to the kitchen, she sat down again. I cleaned up all my blood off the floor and counter. Sighing, I threw all the cabbage in the garbage.

"Mom's coleslaw will have to go a year without being made." Natalia was quiet, but bobbed her head to the song Oh, Pretty Woman by Roy Orbinson. I started to boil noodles as I mixed and melted three different cheeses. Mom's homemade macaroni and cheese was everyone's favorite, it was the biggest part of the meal. As I waited for them to cook, I seasoned ground beef for cheeseburgers.

"You seem different." she said, almost repeating herself.

"I am different. A lot of things have happened in the last year."

"Like what." I explained to her about everything after she left. When I ran away. I told her about my travels, only to hesitate on New York. She asked more about it, but I just told her about the drinking I did. Nothing more then that, even though there was a lot to be said about New York. I told her about the tattoos too. She giggled at me was I showed her each. Then I explained about my emotional breakdown before Dallas came to get me. She understood, it was so easy to talk to her again. I remembered how much I trusted her before she left, she was my best friend.

Then I explained getting sick. Then getting better. Then getting sick again and now here I am. I told her how I've been dating Dallas since I've been back. She asked where he was so I explained that he has been gone for a while. It was a long line to cross, but I think I could tell her about…

"Can you keep a secret, I mean are we still…" I twisted my middle and pointer finger together on my good hand as I looked over at her from the stove. I was mixing the cheeses with the macaroni. Putting it into a casserole bowl, I stuck it into the oven to cook into amazingness. She smiled as I cut up pineapple, bananas, apples, and strawberries for a fruit salad.

"You know you can trust me with anything… I'm here to help you." she said with a smile.

"I mean this came leave your lips ever! This is so big…MASSIVE!" I said clenching my teeth together.

"Whatever it is Lucy, I'm sure it's not that big of a deal."

"It is for me!" I pointed the knife at myself as I moved the fruit to the bowl. I was washing the grapes in the sink before mixing the fruit salad, I added them as I looked at her. "It was a mistake. I've gotten over it, but it's still a big…thing to me."

"What is it? You didn't loose your virginity or anything like that." she commented with a giggled. When my face was serious and unemotional, she quit that shit out. Putting a hand up to her mouth, she gasped."With Dallas." she commented quietly. I nodded with my eyes closed.

"Fuck, Lucy." she said. "You would be the last person I would think to do that at such an early age."

"I know…." I bite my lip. "I can't take it back."

"It's over with." she agreed. My pregnant teenage friend smiled at me evilly.

"How was it?" I cringed."It was stupid." that was what I said as I brought the burgers to be cooked on the small grill. I lit the coals easily, slapping the burgers on there.

"Ya okay?" I nodded as we went back inside. Everything was ready and out of the oven and fridge, except the burgers. My mood quickly recovered as I smiled at Natalia."Hey, Nate." she smiled back. "Flip those burgers in two minutes. I'm going to go jog over to get the smelly boys. She giggled with a nod. I ran out the door towards the lot. Halfway there, I whistled two good fingers. The boy's looked over from their play as I waved to them to come home.

"Dinner is served, boys." I jogged back over to the house, going to the backyard with cheese. When I walked over to the grill, I smiled.

"I forgot all about the hot dogs. Thanks for remembering Nate."

"That's what I'm here for." she said as she turned the burgers. I rolled the hotdogs slightly. As I placed the cheese onto the burgers, I heard the boys barge around in the house. I yelled out to one of them, hoping they would hear me.

"Could someone bring me a plate!" Steve came out with a large plate, holding it as Natalia and I put the food onto it. Natalia and him walked inside was I closed the lid to the grill. Everyone was placing the food onto the table, sweating all over my good food."HEY!" they stopped what they were doing. "Clean everything that sweats before you sit down to eat."

All the boys rushed for the bathroom, even Darry. Natalia and I sat down, waiting. I grabbed my lukewarm beer off the counter before resting into a seat. The boys came in, one by one, looking a lot better then before. Darry was the last to sit down. He pulled his chair close after coming form turning the radio off. Before everyone dug in, I wanted to say a few words.

"I know we don't say grace." I said quietly. "In fact, we haven't said grace since Mom and Dad have passed." everyone smiled weakly at me."I just want to take a moment…" everyone nodded at me.

"I know I could be doing this later at the bonfire, but really…I wanted everyone to understand my words." I've been thinking about this for about three days. Here goes nothing."I know I haven't been…myself. But I'm getting better. The reason why I'm getting better is because of all of you. Each of you." I trailed off with a nervous gulp. I felt Sodapop put his hand on top of mine on the table. Smiling I continued. "I just want to thank you guys. You saved my life."

"You've saved ours." Natalia said sincerely.

"I just want to say a prayer." I admitted. Everyone bowed there heads in respect.

My eyes were getting watery, but I looked up to God for a minute. "God. I haven't talked to you since before my parents died. I blamed you for what happened to them. I blamed you for what was happening to me and my family. But really I shouldn't have. I'm sorry…" I trialed off again but continued. "I want to thank you for Natalia. You're giving her a healthy child to bring into this world. I know she will do a good job raising…Margret."

Everyone opened their eyes to glance at Natalia, who didn't noticed they looked to her. When everyone closed their eyes, I continued. "I want to thank you for Johnnycakes. He's a good buddy to have, better than most. He understands me, even if he doesn't say it much." I smiled sweetly at him.

"Thank you for Steve. He's like my twin's twin." they laughed at that. "I love how he's gentle…but tough. Don't let him forget how much he's loved by me." he smiled at me smugly, not liking being called gentle. Sticking my tongue out, I continued.

"God, thanks for Two-bit…even though he is the most random person I've ever met, I love his humor. He's one guy that can always make me smile, despite my situation."

"Ponyboy!" I said loudly, making everyone chuckle. "Thank you for keeping him safe. I don't know what I would do without my favorite little brother."

"Sodapop…There's not much I can say…because there is too much to say…except I love him more than life." he smiled.

"Thank you for Darry…" I looked at him. "He's my hero." Darry's eyes shot open but I waved him to close them, he obeyed.

"As much as I am reluctant to say. Thank you God, for Dallas. Keep him safe wherever he may be." I scoffed slight but quickly gained my mood.

"Tell my parents we love them and miss them." I went quiet, causing everyone to look at me. "I don't blame you anymore. I'm free now, God. And right now, I want to thank you for the family I do have left. Please help me protect them. Amen." Sodapop rubbed my hand with his thumb.

"That was beautiful Luc." Darry told me. Two-bit added."And long…can we eat!" we laughed at him as we began to serve ourselves. I thanked God one last time before digging into my food.