Sorry, this Chapter is a little short but I'm trying to not let too much time before I post a new chapter. Buckle up though, because this will be a story full of plenty of tantalizing chapters. Your reviews this time around made me smile. I'm so grateful, please review if you can peace greasers,

Chapter 3:

Darry took a few deep breaths in and headed to his room, where he expected Ponyboy to be waiting. As he walked in it was a sight for sore eyes, his baby brother's face with tears streaming down his cheeks. He looked five again, caught for something he'd done, and he could hear Sodapop telling his Daddy it was him. Pony gripped that thick piece of leather turning his knuckles white against his denim jeans; it was as thick as Pony's thigh. When Pony turned and looked up at him, his eyes dull and lifeless Darry just about died. He was losing his resolve and he looked away from the guilt he felt in his chest. On top of his dresser in a gold frame was a photo of his Daddy and Ma just laughing. They were younger and it was right after Darry was born. They looked so happy, and Darry knew what he had to do.

"I suppose skipping class and then running away don't look like such a good idea now does it?" Darry asked his voice stern. Pony wiped away his tears with the back of his hand sniffling. His army green t-shirt had tears on it, and he picked at the holes in his worn-out jeans. "No Dar, I just, I'm sorry." Darry put his hand out and Pony put the strap in his hands, "I'm sure you are, now. Stand on up, because I'm kind, you can keep your jeans up unless you try to get up. Then all that's over, you got me?" Pony nodded his head and Darry fixed the pillows for Pony to lean over.

It raised Pony's hips high up and he screwed his eyes shut real tight. Darry knew he had to be fast about this because Soda was upset outside, and he was losing his nerve. He raised his daddy's belt up high and brought it down. The leather-covered his brother's whole butt, and he heard a screech. It must have stung real bad and swung again. This time a scream came out, and he swung faster, and soon he had laid down the planned ten. Pony kicked and cried the whole time; he was sure it hurt something fierce. There was no doubt Soda heard their little brother's screams, and he set the leather down.

He sat next to Pony rubbing his back until the kids crying started to taper off. Pony stood up in front of Darry and felt embarrassed. He must have looked real tough crying like a bawl baby, but he didn't care and looked at Darry. Some days he'd admit he hated his big brother, with all his rules and him hollering at him for every little thing. Yet, he knew Darry loved him and was always there for him. Darry's face was still stern, and his blue eyes were blazing, "Well?" He asked annoyed. Pony took his shirt and wiped his nose with it. "I, am sorry." Pony hiccupped out. Clearly, he was distraught by what had happened. "I've heard this before Ponyboy, like Daddy use to say your actions show, not your words bucko."

Pony felt a tingling feeling on his butt cheeks as the burn started to set in from the strap, but he resisted rubbing. Darry hated when they did that, so he bit his lip hard and nodded his head. Darry stood up, and if it were Soda, he'd pat him on the back, but Pony still expected a hug. So, Darry gently pulled him in and kissed his forehead. "I don't like that none, strapping you, but I will as many times as it takes. Got me?" Pony nodded his head into Darry's shoulder. "Soda, you can come in." The door sprung open, and Soda ran in, hugging his brothers. They stayed this way for a minute and Darry rubbed Pony's hair, lucky for him it didn't have any grease in it. "Go take a minute to get cleaned up, use a tissue for all that's holy. Not your shirt, then get your butt back to the table. Finish your food or I'll skin you again."

Pony knew Darry was all talk, but he did as he was told, and Soda followed him like a puppy dog. "He didn't hurt you too bad, did he?" His voice was laced with concern and Pony smiled. Sodapop just was Pony's favorite person in the world, "It really does hurt something awful, but I know I scared you guys when I left. After Johnny and Dally, everything that happened I shouldn't have run off like that. I'm really sorry, I just was so angry. Why don't ya'll listen to me sometimes though? When I try to explain things Soda?" Sodapop laughed, "That's where your wrong honey, we listen to you, but most of the time you don't listen to us." Pony nodded his head and used a towel to wipe his face off. Then he turned and Soda read his mind-opening his arms up, hugging Pony. "You're okay, now let's go fill that belly of yours." He rubbed Pony's back and guided him to the kitchen.

He dreaded sitting on the hard wooden chairs, but the table was empty. His dinner plate was gone, and Darry turned around. He had made Pony a sandwich, "Just this once, you can take your sandwich to the couch to eat. There's that old western on, Bonanza, then straight to bed after." Pony smiled grinning ear to ear as he took the plate from Darry. He looked up shyly, "Thank you, Dar, you're the best." Soda grinned at Darry and mouthed sucker out. Darry laughed at that, and they all went to go sit down together. Pony snuggled into Darrys side and took a few bites from his sandwich.

"What the hell!? You'll get blood on the couch, Stevie!" Pony stirred awake to a rare occurrence Soda yelling. Soda never had to yell to get his point across to anyone, especially Steve. Pony sat up yelping as his backside connected with the couch. Where was Darry? He saw two shadowy figures coming in from outside and he leaned over clicking on the light….he wasn't prepared for what he saw. He gasped in his breath quickening and a small gasp escaped…