I promised, so here it is! Thanks to

Mmeggy999, Paul's Hot-Headed Diva, RabidHamsterOnTheLoose, StayAlways, White Lies Save The World, goyankeesgo, HaleyJean1230, artistreilly421, agentcherricola16, pillow1235 and reaction-to-stevrandle and anyone else new or existing!

Two weeks later, Mother returned. I couldn't decide whether I was pissed at her or whether I was happier then I've been in my entire 14 years of life.

She made a big deal about it and of course Pony, Soda and Darry were all revved up to see her. They'd always been momma's boys while I was a daddy's girl. She kissed everyone's cheek like we had suddenly become proper or something and she gave me the biggest hug of all.

"Oh all of you are getting so tall and handsome!" She lied to the boys, who were probably all done growing- 'cept maybe Pony. And then she looked at me,

"Ally Curtis! Aren't you just becoming a bombshell." At this time, I was already expecting she'd lie to me like she lied to the boys. So I figured I was butt-ugly.

"Well, there's no one to see how much of a bombshell I'm becoming when I'm locked up in here... is there?" I shocked even myself with this catty sort of behavior and to my complete and utter surprise, mother started to cry.

"Al, what the hell?" Soda cursed and hugged our mother, patting her back and rubbing it like he did to mine when I was upset.

"I'm so-sorry. I wish I could let you all come out.. but father's still a little mad-huh huh- at me." She gulped in a few breath's and wiped at her sopping face.

"Well, get him to like you again!" I shot back, angry at my mother's childish display. Her beautiful face morphed into Grandmother's in an instant.

"Little girl, don't you think its hard for me too? When all my sweetheart's are locked up here. I have to go to all these parties and shopping sprees and pretend like I'm happy when I am truly miserable." She went back to crying and Pony sat next to here, patting her leg.

Suddenly, she was smiling again and hopped up from the bed.

"I brought all of you presents!"

She pulled a few bags from next to the door and took out a few packs of cigarettes. She threw them to Dally and he smugly stuck his tongue out at the rest of us.

For Two-Bit she had gotten a whole prank set- with weird puke and fart noises and such. The kid in Two-Bit rejoiced and he glanced at the lot of us mischievously.

Steve got a whole book about cars with pictures and antique parts and terminology and such, and I could tell that he would be busy for months with that hulking thing.

For Johnny, she got him his own copy of Gone With the Wind, since it was his favorite book.

Ponyboy got a whole volume of Edgar Alan Poe, Robert Frost and Robert Burns.

Soda had already started flipping through a magazine about some 40's and 50's tv starlets. I tried not to think of what he would do with it in that blanket fort.

She gave Darry a new football for all of us to play with in the attic.

"Ally, come here. Let's go to the bathroom. I got you a present too."

I followed her into the bathroom wondering why we needed to go in there for my present.

"I want you to try it on right now! I also got you some strawberry shampoo and body wash and some Jasmine bubble bath."

She procured these items from her bag and grinned widely at me like these bottles of sweet-smelling things could fix everything in the whole wide world.

"Oh Ally! We can afford such gorgeous things now! I got you the most wonderful dress and you can have many more just as lovely soon!" Mother clapped excitedly, and I tried to emulate her joy.

"Thank you!" I replied, too cheerily.

"You haven't even seen it yet." Mother frowned and pouted. Then she took a box out and removed the lid.

The dress was magnificent. Scarlet red, it was paneled over by black lace and the sleeves were cut off to accentuate shoulders, though the neckline was brought up. I held it against me and just breathed it all in. It smelt like roses and sunlight and everything we couldn't smell up here. I was in love with it.

"You can wear it to a party."

"A party? A real fancy one?"

"Yes. A real, real fancy one. With Caviar."

I laughed girlishly despite my self and spun around with the dress.

"Well, come on, try it on."

I hesitated for half a second and then ripped my clothes off and got into the dress. It fit everywhere almost perfectly, except the bust. I frowned.

"You'll grow into it. Just wait. You'll be the loveliest girl at any party anyone ever throws."

"Maybe." I came back down from my cloud and took the dress off, changing into my old clothes. I didn't want the smell of the dress to wear off, so I stuck it carefully back in the box and closed the lid.

We left the bathroom and mother fawned and flirted with her sons and the other boys.

"What else can I bring all of you next time?"

Everyone started shouting demands and mother tried to quiet them. Suddenly, Grandmother entered the room with a look of pure poison.

"Mother..." My mother trailed off and looked down.

"Diane. Get out now." Grandmother sounded unfaltering.

"No, please."

"Girl!" Grandmother motioned to me and pulled a thick belt from behind her.

My eyes were wider then saucers and my mother yelped.

"She didn't make any noise! It was all us!" Steve Randle of all people came to my defense first and the others nodded, scared looks in their eyes.

"Mother, don't. Please. Not my baby."

Grandmother lowered the belt and beckoned to mom, "Go on, show them then. Show them what happens when you break rules in this house."

She gulped visibly and closed her eyes. Then my mother turned and started to unbotton her top. When she had finished with all of the buttons, she lowered it from her shoulders to reveal a back full of deep, marred scars and bubbled surface.

I gasped and held my tongue. Soda came forward and clamped his hand over my mouth, dragging me backwards with him.

"Now leave." The Grandmother admonished mother, and she quickly buttoned her top. In a moment, both were gone leaving us with empty gifts and dark spaces.