Darry's POV

"Stop laughing." I finished my coffee but the laughing continued, "Seriously, Soda, stop it." I turned my back on him as he sat at the kitchen table doubling over with laughter.

"You really took our little brother to go and buy condoms?! That's hilarious!"

"No it's not, I was being thoughtful and looking out for them both!" I washed my mug out with a little more force than was really necessary.

"Darry think about it, you went out and made a seventeen year old buy condoms for his girlfriend. The girlfriend he lives with! You've practically given them your blessing to go at it like rabbits!"

"Oh for god's sake, Soda, don't be so vulgar! Pony knows it's not an open invitation I just don't want any surprises when they decide to get more serious."

Soda stopped his laughter as he looked at me but when Pony walked in the room he took one look at him and started sniggering. Pony stopped in the doorway and watched him for a few seconds before turning to me, "You told him didn't you?"

Soda burst out laughing again and Pony grinned at him as he made his way over to the fridge.

"This is hilarious! How do neither of you understand how hilarious this is for me? It's just so absurd! It's like Darry has given you free rein to maul your girlfriend whenever you want."

"Soda can you try and be a little more civil." I said but Pony was shaking his head and laughing at him.

"Since you two are both so invested in my love life I'll have you know that Sam and I talked last night and we aren't ready to 'maul' each other as you so eloquently put it." Pony said as he gestured at Soda, "But Sam will be up soon and she was kind of embarrassed so if you can't get yourself together then maybe you should leave." Pony stated a little more seriously and I saw how much he really cared for Sam.

"Okay fine, I'm going." Soda held his hands up in defeat as he headed down the hall, "We carpooling today, Darry?" he called back.

"Sure why not, we're both only working half days." I called back but as I turned to Pony I realised he and Sam would be home alone for half the day and here I'd gone and made him buy condoms, Jesus what was I thinking? They were teenagers, of course they'd jump at the opportunity. Pony glanced up at me and smiled.

"Calm down, I can see you overthinking. I just said we're not ready and I'm not going to lie to you. I may not want to come and talk about it when we're ready but I wouldn't lie to your face and then turn around and do it anyway." I breathed a sigh of relief as he buttered his toast. "I don't know what we're doing today but tonight we're going to meet up with Jerry and Aaron before finding something to do remember? I want to enjoy the last few weeks of summer vacation before school goes back."

"Right, school. Has Sam said anything to you about that?" I wondered as I took a seat across from him.

"She changes the subject when it comes up but I think she really wants to attend for her final year, she's too smart to entertain the thought of dropping out." I smiled as I heard the pride in his voice.

"Maybe I'll see what I can do about getting her enrolled."

"Can you do that? Won't she need ID and paperwork and stuff?" I sighed at his hopeful tone.

"I can't promise anything but I'll at least look into it and see what I can do. If she wants to study then I want to help her achieve that."

"Thanks, Dar, I won't say anything to her yet just in case but she'd love that."

"No worries. I'm heading to work, if you and Sam are here when I got home I'll see you then otherwise I want you both home by 1am, you know the rules."

"Yeah I know, see ya Darry."

I met Soda at my truck and we climbed in, I could still see him smirking as I drove down the street and sighed, "Enough Soda, seriously."

"Sorry. You know he was being serious right? I don't think they're ready to take that next step yet so we have nothing to worry about for a while."

I ran my hand through my hair as Soda relaxed in his seat, "Yeah I know that, he's got a good head on his shoulders. Just do me a favour and don't go saying anything to Steve, that'll send Pony over the edge."

"Sure, sure. Meet you out the front at lunchtime?" he asked as I pulled up to the DX and I nodded.

"I'll be here. Have a good day, little buddy."

XXXX

Sam's POV

I stretched and rolled over in bed squinting at the sunlight that filtered through the window. I'd overslept. I knew that much instantly. I rolled out of bed and headed down to the kitchen where Pony was sitting at the table reading the paper. I leant in the doorway and smiled as I watched him until he noticed me.

"Morning, beautiful. What's got you grinning?"

"You. You look just like Darry, sitting there with your breakfast and your paper looking all serious." He chuckled as he opened his arms and I made my way over to sit on his lap as I took a bite of his toast.

"What are we doing today now that I'm finally awake?"

"You say that like you've slept half the day away, it's only 9am."

"Yeah well that's late by my standards." I laughed as he tickled my side, "Alright I give in! So, today?"

"What did you wanna do? I told Jerry and Aaron we'd meet them later tonight to do something."

"Sounds good to me. But today, what to do today?"

"You know I'm up for just hanging around at home if you are? We don't always have to be go, go, go."

I wrapped my arms around his neck, "I like that idea." I gave him a quick kiss, "But first I'm going to shower and get dressed."

"Don't you want breakfast first?" Pony asked. I jumped up off his lap and went to leave the kitchen, leaning back at the last minute to snag his piece of toast.

"Thanks!"

Pony's laugh followed me down the hall and I smiled, I loved that sound.

We spent the day lounging on the couch watching TV, occasionally we made out and we both napped for a bit but it was one of those perfect days of doing absolutely nothing. At 2pm Darry and Soda sauntered through the front door, Darry headed straight for the shower but Soda dropped down on the couch with us.

"So what did you two lovebirds-"

"Soda!" Pony warned sharply and I glanced between the two of them confused but Pony just shook his head slightly and rolled his eyes.

"What? I was just wondering how your day was. You got any plans for tonight? Steve and I are heading down to the Ribbon if you wanna come."

"Yeah maybe, we're meeting Jerry and Aaron later but maybe we'll come down. Who's racing tonight?" Pony asked.

"Not sure yet. Steve and me worked on Shepard's ride all week so I think he was keen. Maybe I should, what do you reckon?"

I laughed and Soda pretended to look offended as Pony said, "Uh Soda, no offense but we'd be pushing your car over the finish line." That made me laugh even harder as Soda jumped up from the couch.

"That's it! I'm completely and utterly offended! I'm never driving you anywhere again!" Soda mock raged around the living room and I continued to laugh. Pony just chuckled and shook his head as Soda stormed down the hallway before returning, "Unless you say please."

"Cut it out Soda, what time are you heading to the Ribbon?"

"Steve's coming here later then we'll go after dinner, what time are you two heading out?"

"The same, after dinner, thought I'd do casserole tonight."

"Sounds good to me." Soda said as he glanced over his shoulder at Darry exiting the bathroom before heading in there himself.

Darry came back out of his room a few minutes later and settled in his armchair with a heavy sigh.

"Rough day, Darry?" I asked as he closed his eyes and tipped his head back.

"Just tired." He smiled with his eyes still closed. I got up and headed around to the back of his chair, massaging his shoulders as hard as I could.

"You work too hard, you'll put yourself in an early grave."

"I got too much to take care of here to check out anytime soon." He moaned as I rubbed his shoulders trying to do as good a job as Soda always did but I knew I didn't have the muscle to put behind the kind of massage he really needed.

"Why don't you come out for a bit tonight, Darry? Have some fun! Sam and I are probably going to meet Soda down at the Strip." Pony offered and Darry nodded and sighed.

"Yeah maybe."

I stayed rubbing Darry's shoulders as Pony and I finished our movie. When it ended Pony got up to get started on dinner. Darry must have been waiting for him to leave because he whispered, "I'm glad you two aren't rushing in to anything."

I paused in the shoulder rub I was giving Darry with only an awkward sounding, "Uhhh" as my response. Darry reached up and patted my hand, "I don't want to embarrass you, I just think it's very grown up of the two of you. It's not a decision many 17 year olds would make."

"Yeah, are you saying you didn't have that self-control at 17?" I asked cheekily as I continued to rub his shoulders. When he just chuckled I continued, "How old were you?"

"I'm not having this conversation." Darry made a move to get up but I wrapped my arms around his front and laughed.

"Come on Dar, you brought it up and now I'm curious, where does Pony's self-control come from? Soda then?"

Darry swivelled his head to meet my eyes and snorted, "Have you met Soda? I don't think he has any self-control. I don't know where Pony gets it from but it's not from me and it sure ain't from Soda, we'd both lost control well before 17 and that's all the information you're getting." Darry unwrapped my arms and stood up before turning to face me, "Have fun tonight and stay safe won't you."

"Of course we will."

Darry tapped my chin, "That a girl." I watched Darry move to the kitchen to give Pony and Soda a hand with dinner and I headed out to the front porch. I took a deep breath of the warm summer air, I loved this time of year. I was sitting there lost in my thoughts when Steve pulled up, got out and came walking up the front path and took a seat next to me.

"Heading to the Ribbon tonight I hear?" Steve nodded as he lit a cigarette, "Soda invited Pony and I too, but we don't have to come if you don't want us to."

"Any chance I can get you without Pony?" Steve asked and I knocked my knee into his playfully.

"Why do you say things like that? You two have been alright with each other the past few weeks. Besides how can you dislike someone you've known your whole life, you grew up together. I just can't understand the animosity between you two, and I know Soda can't either." Steve ran a hand through his hair and sighed.

"Look I don't hate him, Pony has good qualities but he's also mouthy, cocky and too confident for his own good." Steve stared at me as I laughed. I couldn't help it, I held my stomach and laughed even more at the look on his face, "What are you laughing at?"

"So the things that bug you about Pony the most are the qualities you yourself possess? That's hardly fair." Steve stared off with a slight frown on his face.

"Huh," he murmured, "I guess you're right. I never thought of it that way."

I didn't like the pensive look on his face so I ducked my head to get him to meet my eyes and smiled reassuringly at him, "You're not a bad person, Steve."

"Yeah tell that to my old man." He chuckled but it had an edge to it and I knew it was a sore point for Steve.

"Screw your old man!" I said vehemently and Steve raised his eyebrows at me, "I mean it! What a piece of work to make you feel that way! His own son!"

Steve threw an arm around my shoulder, "Awww, are you going to go all hero and defend me?"

"I would if I thought it'd do any good." I met his eyes and made sure he could see how serious I was, "You're a great guy Steve. You're loyal and smart and funny and you care about those you love."

"Are you hitting on me?" Steve teased and I elbowed him.

"I'm serious! I know I can count on you for anything I need. I'll never forget what you and Dally did to that Soc for me. You make me feel safe."

Steve pulled me in and planted a quick kiss on the side of my head, "Well I guess it's okay if you and Pony want to tag along tonight, I can't very well say no after that can I?" Steve teased and I grinned at him.