This chapter is rated M for some adult themes .

I do not own The Outsiders .

An elbow resting against the lowered window of the truck's door, Darry kept his hand on the wheel, waiting for the signal from Mr. Harper to start . The farmer was on his third attempt to start the truck. He wasn't one to admit defeat, especially when the service he rendered to those unknown youngs was for him a way of thanking them for the help they had given to his children.

He was busy for almost an hour already, but Darry doesn't realize it. A cottony fog had invaded his mind since he was getting into the cab of Mr. Harper's truck, Mrs. Harper's words echoed in his head .

God, she was right! The kind farmer had smiles them by seeing, Sue and him,to look down of the same moose whereas an identical smile displayed on the face in both . And for good reason. Perhaps had she realized that she had knew exactly describe what they felt for each other. Even if they did were visibly not confess. It was this conviction that had suddenly given to Darry this impression of floating, that feeling soft and exhilarating. He realized that he loved her, but the words of Mrs Harper had rule out the veil on what he already knew.

He turned his head and caught the eye of Sue who was leaning against the door of the Harper's truck .Her eyes shone with a thousand stars. He had the feeling she had read his thoughts and said, "Me too" and his heart started beating so hard.

"It's good ! Try like this ! Hey !" The farmer's a little bit surly voice of impatience of returned him to his break down pick-up .

Darry gave him a nod and, once again, tried to contact. The engine coughed once, then two ... and finally began to purr, re-engaging the headlights and radio.

"Yahoo !" the farmer whistled before being taken out laughing. "I knew this thing wouldn't have the last word ! So son, what do you think of your old father ?" he asked, wiping his hands, turning to his pick-up where the young boy, who had insisted on accompanying him, was supposed to wait. "Tommy ?" he repeated as he walked toward the truck.

Sue glanced into the cabin and smiled with a finger to her mouth. "Shhh ," she said, making a slight nod to the inside.

Mr Harper leaned in and suppressed a smile discovering his son curled up on the bench, peacefully asleep. "Ha! he exclaimed softly. It looks likehe isn't too old for the passage of the sandman, huh ."

"He had a trying evening," Sue replied softly, touched by the affectionate fatherly look of the rough farmer on his son.

"Yeah, that's for sure ! He will be better in bed ! I'll try to bring him back without waking up ! Well," he said, shaking hands with Darry. "You should be able to return . But you should mount the motor to a good mechanic if you want my opinion ".

"No problem, Darry said. I know a good . Thank you, Mr. Harper ." The farmer swung his hand back.

"Not of what, son ! It is I who thank you ! Go, I leave you ! Miss ! " he said, by greeting Sue with a small blow of hat before to slip behind the wheel,and started throwing softly, careful not to wake his son."Good evening,lovers !" And he turned back his truck, which soon disappears, the dull roar of the engine gradually becoming imperceptible in the clear night sky .

Darry sighed deeply and turned to Sue motionless a few feet from him. "Rather chaotic for a first date, huh ," he smiled apologetically. He grabbed her hand and pulled her against him. Instantly she embraced him tenderly.

"Mmm , she whispered, her face buried in the heat of his shirt. That's exactly what I needed ." They remained silent a minute simply enjoying the comfort of being in the arms of each other, then gently ,Sue looked up and saw the pensive face of Darry. "Hey, there aren't just disaster during that evening, you know ," she said smirking.

"Oh yes ? Because when I count, I don't see what has worked well ! "

"Well , that, for example ." She stood on tiptoe and kissed him passionately, tying her arms around his neck, and suddenly found himself hanging from his giant stature while he raised her by the waist sharing this long loving kiss. "Oh,yes! It was one of the highlights of the evening ," he gushed in catching his breath before kissing her on the head.

"And if I count the number of times we did, Darrel Curtis , it is not a single moment ."

"It's true ."

" Then, thanks to us, the Harper could celebrate as it should be their wedding anniversary ," she said airily. Darry was seized with a laugh.

"You're amazing, you know this ?" he said, running his hand along her sweet smiling face.

"So, I guess we form a good team together," she smiled, raising herself to kiss him again tenderly. Darry leaned his forehead against hers and breathed her floral smell plunging his eyes into hers . It seemed to him that she could pass him want to smile just by posing on her bright emerald eyes, and make him a better person. God, how could it do without it now he had taste?

He didn't want to, but the late hour pushed him to whisper: " Ready to go ?" Sue nodded slowly, she either didn't want that they separate. During this evening, she had felt growing in her feeling both exciting and scary that a link now bounded her to this man, and having to leave him , even if it was to see him again, gave her the feeling that this link would make her feel his absence painfully whenever she would be away from him. But the reason pushed to respond slowly. "Yes, I'm ready ".

Darry nodded and walked to the front of the pick-up to fold the cover. He then heard, covering the sound of old metal, strums a few musical notes rising from the radio and the gritty voice of Ray Charles singing a song he knew well: Hallelujah I love her so. He was surprised that the radio volume has suddenly increased and looked behind him to see Sue jump from the driver's seat. She looked at him, eyes bright, swinging his head and body in the sound of the lively swing.

"What are you doing ?" Darry suppressed a laugh seeing the act.

"You didn't have to take me to dance, Mr. Curtis ?" she smirked taking a few steps toward him. Darry raised his eyebrows.

"Are you serious ? It's not the ideal place to dance this kind of dance ."

"Oh ! Because you're an expert ? She exclaimed, grabbing his hand and pulling him toward her.

"I had a lot of success in the balls at one time ," Darry proudly boasted by leaving gradually the beat of the song.

" In this case, make me enjoy it ." Darry couldn't help but smile, shaking his head at his stubbornness, and began to wiggle, pulling her with him as Ray Charles sang the second verse. Both were laughing merrily while engaging in lively dance, alone again in the world to the edge of the empty road. Sue's blue dress swirled as she twirled in his arms, so dazzling and wonderful it seemed to Darry his little blue fairy was about to fly away. He felt filled and grateful that she insisted that he makes her the dance in this somewhat unusual place. This evening perhaps nearing its end, but Sue couldn't have found a better way to beautifully finish in style .

The pickup sped quietly on the road, while Tulsa's lights began to appear. His left hand on the wheel, Darry kept his eyes on the road, his right arm wrapped around the shoulders of Sue, snuggled against him. Calm reigned in the cabin of the old truck, the radio played softly, and Darry gently smiled at Sues's quiet breathing, silent for several minutes. He struggled against the urge to divert the road to the eyes to look at her, asleep there in the hollow of his shoulder, like a beautiful angel. Of course, he suspected she would refuse, too proud and embarrassed to admit having fallen asleep so. It was not what we were supposed to do on a first date! Slowly, he snaked his fingers along hier neck and rubbed it on her hair gently. "Hey, Sleeping Beauty, he whispered with a smile. You're always with me ?" Sue jumped slightly and groaned before answering drawled: "Why " Sleeping Beauty "?"

"Oh ,well . Because you looked partly to sleep for centuries ."

"No ,she said sitting up quickly. I ... I didn't sleep, just ... I took advantage of this moment ." Darry laughed softly, her reaction was such that he had predicted.

"OK, if you say so !"

"I wasn't sleeping, Darrel Curtis ! she insisted. And then ,I feel more like Cinderella tonight ."

"Why ?"

"Because she must leave the ball before midnight ... then she doesn't want this evening ends ."

Darry cast a brief look at her, and saw her dreamy face. He wanted to tell her that their evening wasn't obliged to finish so, they weren't forced to leave before the door, and God knows he didn't want it . But he would certainly not seem to want to rush or get her what she was perhaps not ready to give it right away. He felt that in spite of her rebel girl's airs, Sue was very respectful of propriety, and he respected that. "Tonight will be completed only when we are left ," he said quietly.

"To meet again tomorrow ,Sue adds, smiling and wrapped his arm with her hands in order to lovingly rub her face. Do you want ? I mean,you'll be free ?"

"Nothing will help but be ," he assured with gusto. Sue sighed contentedly and rested her head against his shoulder. "Sue ?" Darry suddenly said.

"Yes ?"

"I wanted to tell you ,uh ... I found you great with the kids while ago ."

"Me ? she really surprised surprise. You're the hero ! "

"Stop it, I would have anything was able to make without you ! And I spoke also after the history of the tree ... when you took care of the girl ,you ... you knew to be so...I don't know ... so ... so ... perfect . As if you had something special for that ... a gift ."Darry was lost in his words and made her laugh happily.

"I don't deserve you know, I've always loved children ! And,you know, that little girl, Lou ..." Darry nodded briefly. "Well,I was that kind of girl . My parents had a farm and I spent my life to climbing trees and running around ."

"Ha! I have no trouble imagining that !" Darry laughded receiving a little playful pat from Sue who said :

"When they lost the farm, we went into town ,then my father left us . My mother became increasingly authoritarian and she didn't want me to stay especially not this little country girl, this tomboy ... She said I disappointed her,I would never do anything well, it hurts when you have twelve or thirteen ... That's why.. we're drifting away . "

Darry felt her voice cracking slightly and gently pressed her hand. He realized that Sue hadn't really told him about her childhood and how this period still seemed painful for her. "Your mother was wrong, he said, putting her hand to his lips for a kiss. You are a wonderful girl, Miss Dobbins ."

"Thanks ." she smiled blinking, presumably to chase the tears that her memories were rekindled, and sighed deeply. "I always imagined that I would have children ... but I would like for them to be a much better mom than mine has been ."

"I'm sure you'll make a great mom ." Darry asserted with conviction, making reappear her enchanting smile. She leaned over and tenderly rubbed her cheek against his shoulder. Hearing the radio broadcast Don't Think Twice, It's Alright by Bob Dylan, he increased the sound a bit, knowing that this could only allow Sue to relax.

"Hey ! he said suddenly. If you were so good at climbing trees ,you could you could wrestle climbing ."

"I could have go,but I didn't want you to lose face, Mr expert," she replied mischievously.

"Oh yeah ? So wait a minute next time we will have to help kids in danger ... I'll remember ! " Sue chuckled and slipped under his arm to snuggle against him as he kissed her tenderly on the forehead, and they remained silent and to enjoy their last minutes together when the pickup began to gasp again, leaving to Darry the time to park at the corner of a street before stopping completely in a dark cloud of smoke.

Darry quickly came down to have a look to damage and should return by scanning the thick smoke of his passage. "Come! he coughed, holding a hand to Sue. We don't go further with it tonight !"

Sue grabbed his hand and pulled herself out of the cab. "And now ?" she asked innocently.

Darry took one last look at his pickup bad shape and sighed before looking down at her.

"Hey,she said softly by touching his face. Your old pickup will recover ." Darry sighed a smile and nodded slowly, silently reproaching have seemed so overwhelmed for a car out of order.

"You're right ," he said, taking her hand.

"You like it a lot, isn't it ?" he put her hand against his lips and kissed it.

"It comes from my father, you know ."

"I understand ."

"Um . Oh...This is surely not too much serious. Soda will be happy to work on it tomorrow ! Meanwhile,ready for another ballad ?"

Their footsteps echoed in the silent street, while they calmly walked up to the Curtis house, the truck beeing broke down only a few blocks away. Unpholder Sue by the hand,Darry felt her shivered slightly.

"We are still far ?" she asked, trying to contain the tremor in her voice.

"No, not very , Darry said before set eyes on her . Are you cold ?" he asked, noticing that she gently rubbed her shoulders with her free hand.

"A little,she confessed embarrassed. The night cools, no ?"

"Yeah ... It's stupid, but I don't even have a jacket to cover you ," he reproached himself sheepishly.

"It doesn't matter,since we are almost there ," Sue reassured him with a sweet smile.

"I hope that my brothers have returned . I could take you home ."

"With the Ford Mustang, is that ?" she finished with a mischievous tone. Darry sighed and scratched the back of his head, remembering his reaction a few hours earlier when they had approached the subject of the Ford Mustang.

" Uh ... Yes ,he finally said . Soda and I have offered to Pony for his eighteenth birthday . We can say that it cost an arm ! But it was worth ! " he couldn't help smiling as he remembered the emotion painted on his little brother's face that day.

"Darrel Curtis ! she whispered with a bright smile. Have I mention that you're a lovely man ?"

"Um . Yes .But you can start ." Sue chuckled, shaking her head. "Don't exaggerate too much anyway, huh !" Then she noticed "It's very quiet here . From what you had told me I would never have imagined such a silence ."

"Yeah ,but believe me, it was a time you wouldn't like you walk in the streets ." For a split second,it seemed to Darry have a flashback of some September night, there was almost five years ago, when a bunch of Greasers had passed through the area, heading for the biggest fight they had done against their enemies, the Socs. It seemed so distant and so close. So many things had happened that night and since.

"Maybe , Sue admitted. Anyway, it's still quieter than the city center. All these traffic noise .Gladys said she couldn't live without them . She is a citygirl in the soul ! I,I'm still not accustom...Ouch !".

Absorbed in conversation Sue hadn't noticed where she set foot and did could prevent the heel of her left shoe to get stuck in a small crack of the road. She let go of the hand of Darry and sank on the deserted road while instantly crouched beside her. "Ouch ,she whimpered against her will. Oh, that idiot !".

"Let me see," Darry said by gently grabbing her ankle, and undid the fine glittery blue leather straps to give her a little pressure. "Here,it hurt you ?" In the glow of the street lamps he could see her tense although she certainly answered. "No, no . But ... You can't say the same about Gladys 's pumps ." She grabbed the poor shoe whose heel had obviously broken. "Oh no ! She's going to kill me . It's I who insisted for she loaned me ."

"Don't worry about it . For now is your ankle that concerns me ." Darry said very seriously by taking away the second pumps. "This is ! Can you raise you ?" She nodded as he gently helped her to recover.

" Try to rely on it. Slowly," Sue slowly put her bare foot on the floor and gave him a winning smile. "You see, she said. It's nothing ."

"Try to walk," Darry conscientiously continued. She sighed in frustration before executing, her ruined shoes in a hand. "Ouch ! she hissed stumbled and caught in Darry's strong arms.

"That's what I thought ,he then declared. Your ankle is definitely wake ..." And without warning he lifted her in his arms. "Ah ! What are you doing ?" Sue exclaimed surprise.

"I'll carry you to the house ."

"But no ! I ... I'm sure I can walk ."

"I swear to you, Sue ! Darry sighed in mock exasperation. You are the most stubborn girl I've ever met !"

"Delighted to be special !" she exclaimed in a small laugh and wrapped her arms around his neck to snuggle into his arms, enveloped by the warmth of his body piercing his shirt. Darry smiled and breathed in her hair, while his heart began to beat faster again, the same way he had stopped beating all night. He would could explain the electrifying sensation he felt holding her in his arms. She was so sweet, so light and fragile, but also exuded such strength, such a joy. He didn't know how he would do without her for not even a minute. He carried in his arms the precious treasure that fate had (he wanted to believe) voluntarily placed in his way.

"We are there !" he exclaimed when appeared in front of them the angle of the house. Darry quickly swept the driveway to see if the Ford Mustang was parked there.

"Shit ! he let out. Looks like my brothers hasn't come back yet . "

"They hadn't late pass ?" Sue asked mischievously.

"Ha ha ! Very funny ! Darry replied. Well ... we have to wait for them !" Nimbly, he opened the screen door, climbed the few steps to the porch and passed the front door. The house was plunged into darkness, only music, certainly from a radio that the boys had forgotten, was heard.

"It's not locked ? Sue surprised while he made his way to the switch.

"No , Darry replied by giving the light. It's ... it's a long story." He walked to the couch and gently put down her . "Here, Miss !" Sue scrutinized the place, somewhat messy,with attention .

"It's very nice here ," she remarked softly.

"Yes ? Blah,we do what we can ," Darry said, scratching his head and looking around. "When we received the visit of social services, it was necessary to put a point of honor that the house is immaculate . But, now we are a little loose."

"I assure you, it's great. Simple and quiet . like it ! At Gladys, pink curtains and all those trinkets ... And plaid flower .Ugh ! I hate ! " Darry laughed at her disgusted grimace.

"It's true that I noticed the decor a little ... special ! You should tell her ."

"Yeah , Sue admitted by titling the head. But I wouldn't want to hurt her . She's a great girl and a lovely friend ." She bent down to massage her sore ankle.

"I'm looking for something to ease the pain," he decided and walked to the bathroom.

Sue watched him and sighed softly. He was so attentive and considerate, so gentle and respectful...so handsome and reassuring. He was the Prince Charming she had dreamed as a child. Walking her gaze across the room, she stopped at the little table in the corner of the sofa where enthroned few framed photographies . She smiled recognizing Darry as teenager sitting in the park next to two young boys. "His brothers surely," she thought. Then she laid eyes on another apparently representing the whole Curtis family, their smile reflecting the perfect portrait of a happy family. And her eyes slid to a photography that seemed dominated others and she couldn't help to seize the chiselled wooden frame to watch the young married couple who had posed for the camera there were long.

"This is the wedding photo of my parents that absorbs you like that ?" she suddenly heard. Confused, she looked up. Leaning against the door frame of the kitchen, Darry looked at her, a grin appears on his lips.

"Oh ...uh, Sue said embarrassed. Well...Yes ! I wanted to look at it . " Darry smiled and nodded slowly advancing provides with a bowl ice covered with a washcloth and a tube of ointment.

"There's nothing wrong," he said as he sat on the coffee table in front of her.

"Your mother was very beautiful," Sue noticed again contemplating the precious portrait of the beautiful young woman dressed in white on the arm of the sturdy young man in military uniform. "And she seemed so young !"

"She was nineteen years old, Darry explained while dragging the pieces of ice in the washcloth." And my father, twenty . "

"You look like him so much, Darrel ! It's ... It's amazing !"

"That's what everyone always said ," he said, eyes bright with pride.

Sue smiled and took one last look in the photo. "They were a very nice couple," she sighed dreamily.

"Oh yes they were ! Darry proudly exclaimed. It was great to see how they loved each other. I wasn't able to see it when I was a kid . But ... They were one other's one and only love of their lives. I mean ... They were just kids when they got married, although the time was forced them to grow up fast, yet not once I remember having seen them other than incredibly linked to each other. Even at the end ..." He trailed off and quickly looked down. The painful memory of the disappearance of these two people he cherished so much had suddenly resurface, and he had suddenly need to take a few seconds to let him pass.

The tears he had repressed shone in his eyes when he looked up at Sue to find that she was looking at him, painfully concerned. "It's nice to see how much you admire them," she said in a very soft voice.

He smiled to recover completely and whispered: "I miss them so much still ."

Sue gently took his hand. "I would have liked to know them."

"I'm sure they would have loved you ." Darry stated stroking her hand . Feeling blushing, she took one last look at the precious photography before replacing it. By this phrase, Darry proved that she was more than just an affair for him and that made her happy.

"I can ?" he asked, pointing to her bare ankle and slightly swollen while he unscrewing the tube of ointment. She nodded slowly, shivering when he gently grabbed her foot, causing a slight lifting of her dress who discovered her knee. "This may be a little cold," Darry said breathlessly, trying to hide how he felt troubled to feel the touch of her soft skin under his fingers electrified, then began to gently massage the ankle.

Feeling her heart race, Sue furtively looked around in search of some topic of conversation. The radio playing in the background had just begun Warm and Tender Love by Percy Sledge.

Turning her head, she met Darry's unintentionally burning gaze set put on her and looked away towards the small cabinet with photos . "Oh !" she said, taking hold of a photography representing him like the proud footballer in Will Rogers, a victorious smile and a balloon football between his hands. "You had to have all the girls at your feet, tell me ." Darry glanced toward the picture and laughed softly, shaking his head.

"What ?" Sue asked, intrigued.

"No ... nothing, he said, clearing his throat. It's just ... I was thinking about how I was stressed of this first meeting with you ,then this kid thought that all girls could jump into his arms ! "

"I'm delighted of the man he became," she smiled plunging her emerald eyes into his. Darry sighed and leaned toward her unable to resist the urge to kiss her and his hand still holding his ankle slid down her silky skin that he could not help stroking. Her eyes always immersed in his own, Sue leaned toward him, realizing that his hand had stopped above her knees while he brushed his lips. She grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled him toward her, his fingers traveling passionately of his neck to his back, and Darry took hold of her face, his hand straying so slowly to her thigh, both linked with a kiss passionately intense, caught in an atmosphere increasingly inflamed.

Darry slid the table finding himself down in front of Sue, his hands feverishly progressing under her robe and on her hips as she leaned on his knees. Her arms clutched around his neck, she slid her hands over his chest, her fingers crawling exalted by the collar of his shirt to meet his blazing skin.

"Oh,Darrel ," she moaned under her breath. "Take me". Darry stopped and slowly ran his hand over her face, sucked in by her smile. "Are you sure ?" he asked in a whisper, and she nodded. "Yes. Take me ," she repeated sweetly.

Darry felt a huge smile coming to his lips and kissed her ardently going astray up to her neck in the flavor charmingly intoxicating . Then he put a arm under her and the other around her waist as she tied hers around his neck,and he rose cleverly, keeping his eyes immersed in hers and carried her in his arms. In few steps, he reached the door of his room he gave a shove, opening with a squeal. Sue glanced at the room plunged into almost total darkness and turned to him, her face lit the mischievous grin that made him melt and which he returned her before kissing passionately while passing the door he closed with a quick kick .