A/N: Another chapter! This is a really short one, showing how the guys are dealing with life after 'Nam. As you can see, Soda doesn't really like to think about it. Austin would be ten in this. Just so ya know... :)

Disclaimer: I don't own the Outsiders.

*1977*

Dallas was leaning up against the wall of the police station, smoking a cigarette. He could've smoked it inside the building, but he didn't really want to deal with some of the jackasses he worked with. Some of them didn't like the fact that Dallas Winston, hood extraordinaire, was now a cop.

Dallas took a moment to think about his life. While he was in the army, during basic training, Dallas began to respect his drill sergeant. He only mouthed off to him once; boy did he learn his lesson. Soda had been the guy who cheered everyone up, even while they were in Vietnam. Steve, on the other hand, mouthed off to the drill sergeant a lot and scrubbed the bathroom with his tooth brush on more than one occasion, along with a shiner or bruise once in a while. Dallas's superiors either respected him or hated him, never an in between. During his time in the army, Dallas began to respect the law more.

After coming home, all three boys had their problems. All three still had flashbacks from the war, but Steve was the worst. He had seen both Dallas and Soda get shot, and he'd seen quite a few of his new buddies die in battle. He hadn't left the field once, unlike Dallas who was sent home and Soda who had been in the hospital for two months.

Dallas hated hippies before but he really hated them now. He hated the "Make love not war," signs he saw when he got home, and how people treated the Vietnam vets like shit. He beat up a stoner once for saying some shit about how the war was "bogus," or some shit like that. The Stoner didn't understand what was happening over there. He didn't know a damn thing!

Soda liked to show off his scar, but he still didn't like to think about Vietnam. Even Sodapop Curtis couldn't get past the flashbacks of war. Dallas hated those flashbacks. Sometimes, he felt like he was there. He could smell the skunk-like aroma of marijuana lingering in the air, and he could hear the cries of pain from his fellow soldiers. The thought made him shudder. He'd seen so many of his fellow comrades killed in battle.

"Dallas," Dally turned around to see none other than Steve Randle. He looked like he hadn't gotten much sleep last night. Flashbacks, Dallas thought bitterly.

"Hey man," Dallas took a drag from his cancer stink. "What'd you want man?" Steve leaned up against the wall, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it. Dallas looked at the tattoo on Steve's shoulder. "Never forgive, never forget," it read with a tattered American flag waving in the wind. It was a truly beautiful tattoo, something that Steve had gotten as soon as he got home. Dallas and Soda didn't get tattoos, they already had scars from when they were shot; they didn't need another reminder.

"Nothing, Soda and I had a meeting, but the guy called it off." Steve took another drag from his smoke. Dallas looked back at his tattoo.

"Man, how'd you come up with that phrase?" Dallas asked. Steve looked at his own shoulder and shrugged.

"Ain't like it matters, Dally, the war ended a few years back." Dallas took a drag from his cancer stick.

Steve didn't stay much longer. Dallas stayed outside to smoke another cigarette before he had to go back to work. His brain was still thinking about the war.

Two Bit had flat feet, so he wasn't drafted. Johnny wasn't drafted because he had murder on his record; Ponyboy had been in school and had gotten married right after school. Married people and students were the last to be chosen in the draft. Since Darry was the guardian of Ponyboy, he wasn't in the draft either, he'd also gotten married so….

Dallas finished off his cigarette and went into the station. He had a bunch of paperwork to do; it was one of the things he hated about his job. But Dallas had to confess (well only to his wife or Johnny, never any of the guys), he did love his job. He liked to help out with the troubled kids, kids who were a lot like him.

"Winston," Dallas turned around to see the chief, the same guy who'd been chief when Dallas was on the other side of the bars.

"Hey Frank," the Chief scowled at this, "what's up man?"

"You have tomorrow and Sunday off." Dallas nodded before he went back to work. He hated paperwork…..

*Steve*

Steve made his way home, the war on his mind. He couldn't get past it, images of people being blown up and shot were etched in his brain, and he'd never be able to get past it.

He walked onto the porch of his home and unlocked the door. Everyone locked their doors now; it wasn't safe around here anymore.

He found his beautiful wife, his Elizabeth in the kitchen. People often wondered how they could stay together, they were so alike. Sure they fought a lot, but Steve really loved his wife. She was the only thing that kept him going after he got home. She might be a bitch sometimes, but whenever Steve wakes up from flashbacks, she's always there to hold him, to tell him that he's safe at home. Elizabeth stayed up with him until he fell asleep, and she was the mother of his beautiful children. She's the most incredible woman he's ever met, even if she can be a total bitch.

Steve came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her middle. Elizabeth tensed at first, not knowing who it was, but once she caught the scent of Steve (a wonderful mix of aftershave, car oil, and fresh cut grass) she realized into his chest.

"Why hello Miss. Lizzy, do you know you make me dizzy?" Steve teased. Steve wasn't much of a Beatles fan (he was an Elvis man), but he thought the song fit her.

"Oh hush, Randle," Elizabeth said, still washing the dishes. Steve started to kiss her neck.

"Steve, I'll never get anything done with you kissing my neck," Elizabeth sounded irritated, but the shiver running down her back betrayed her. Steve smirked against her neck.

"How about I make you dizzy, Miss. Lizzy," Steve said with a sly grin. By the time the kids got home, the dishes still weren't done.

*Soda*

Soda rubbed the bridge of his nose, sighing. Steve was having flashbacks again. Of course, Steve would never tell Soda this, even if they were best friends, but Soda knew is best friend like the back of his hand.

Soda noticed the time and decided to go home. He had all his paperwork done, and the kids would be home soon, maybe Candy would be playing her sax. For only being eight, that girl sure could play a mean sax.

It didn't take long for Soda to get home. The Curtis house looked like it did when the Curtis brothers lived there, but with a fresh coat of paint and it was fixed up a bit (thanks to Ponyboy).

As soon as Soda walked into the house, two five year-olds attached themselves to his legs. "Daddy," They cried. Soda smiled and pick up his two sons, only to find that they were heavy.

"Either I'm getting old or Mommy has to stop feeding you," Soda teased. The boys giggled and hugged Soda. Soda hugged his boys back before placing them back on the floor. They ran off to make so more mischief.

The next person Soda was attacked by was a beautiful eight year-old with beautiful curly blonde hair. "Daddy," She cried. Soda's heart melted as he hugged his little girl, and part of him wished she'd never grow up. She was his little princess, his baby girl. But he knew she would grow, and he had a feeling that she'd end up with Austin Winston somehow, the two were just so close.

Once they pulled away from their hug, Candy began to tell her father about her day. The girl could talk your ear off if you let her, but Soda loved that about his daughter.

"…And then Aunt Alyssa's fourth grade class, the class Austin is in, did a play for us! Austin was the main character! He looked funny in his paper hat…" Soda listened to his daughter go on and on about the play Alyssa made her class preform. Finally, Anne came to his rescue.

"Candybar, why don't you go change, we're going to Uncle Two Bit's for dinner." Candy pouted, but left her parents alone. Soda pulled his wife into a kiss.

"I love her, but her talking can make any sane person go crazy," Anne said. Soda laughed, knowing it was true.

"Yes, thanks for saving me." Anne smiled and kissed his lips once more.

"You can thank me tonight when the kids are at Ponyboy's." Soda laughed and nodded. Their children would be staying with their uncle Pony and Aunt Alyssa for the weekend, leaving Soda and Anne home alone for the whole weekend.