This one is a little less Darry/Kate centered, but I still threw in a little fluff.

In this chapter: Kate and Steve have a conversation after Steve shows up at the Curtis house to spend the night

I was startled awake by the sound of the front door opening and closing. The door didn't get slammed like it usually does, but it was still loud enough to wake me.

"It's just one of the guys," Darry mumbled, apparently woken up by the same noise. We shared his bed whenever I spent the night, and he always wrapped and arm around me like he thought I'd disappear if he didn't. He pulled me closer so my back was flush against his chest, and he kissed my neck. "It's alright, Kate. Go back to sleep."

It wasn't uncommon to have late night visitors and overnight guests at the Curtis house, so I was planning on listening to my boyfriend and falling back asleep. However, the grumbling, followed by the sound of someone moving in the kitchen told me it wasn't just someone looking for a couch to lay on. The sound of the freezer opening and closing confirmed my suspicion.

"I'm just going to get some water," I said plainly as I moved out of Darry's grasp. When I glanced at him, I could tell by the look in his eyes that he knew I was lying through my teeth, but both of us let the lie stand. "Go back to sleep, Darry," I said before I walked out of the room.

I went into the kitchen, but finding it empty, I went into the living room. I assumed the visitor would be on the couch, but that was empty as well. I was about chalk it up to Ponyboy being awake in the middle of the night, but then through the window, I saw a familiar dark-haired greaser on the porch. He was leaning on the railing, holding something to his face with one hand, and using his free hand to smoke a cigarette. I already knew what must've happened, and while he never wanted to talk about it, I couldn't just ignore him and leave him outside all alone.

I tried to be quiet as I walked through the front door so the Curtis boys could sleep, but I made enough noise so Steve wouldn't be surprised by my presence. "Hey Steve," I said as I leaned on the railing next to him.

He wasn't startled, but Steve still looked surprised that I was there. I could only see the half of his face that wasn't covered by the ice pack, but I could tell by the facial expression I could see that he was embarrassed and in pain. "Kate? What are you doin' up? It's like two in the morning."

I shrugged. "Just awake I guess."

He let out a sigh and looked towards the street. "Sorry, I tried to be quiet-"

"Hey, no it's fine. I'm just a light sleeper," I said quickly to comfort him. "I can guarantee you that Soda and Pony aren't awake."

Steve smirked at that. "Soda sleeps like a dead man." Then as quickly as the smirk appeared, it vanished, and he sounded disappointed. "Darry's up then?"

"No, he went back to sleep," I said, hoping I wasn't completely lying.

We both stood there silently; Steve smoked while I watched the nighttime creatures run or fly around in the moonlight. I gave him a minute before I prodded at all. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Steve was in the middle of bringing the cigarette up to his mouth, but he froze midway once I asked the question. "Not much to say." He put the ice pack on the railing and continued smoking. "My ol' man's an asshole, and I was in the wrong place at the wrong time."

"What was it about this time?" I asked softly. Steve and I were friends, but we weren't very close, so I wondered how much he'd say before he'd shut me out.

He seemed to debate whether or not to reply, but I was grateful when he answered my question. "He came home from the bar already drunk, and then he got mad that I didn't buy any booze to restock the house." Then he let out a short, dark laugh. "To make his point, he threw an empty bottle at me."

My heart dropped. Sure, Steve had a mouth on him and he could be a bit harsh, especially towards Ponyboy or Socs, but that didn't mean he deserved to live with a man that hurts him. Nobody deserves that. "I'm sorry Steve-"

"Don't," Steve snapped at me, suddenly looking angry. He was completely facing me, and without the icepack obscuring his face, I could see discoloration starting around his eye, along with a large cut on his cheek. "I don't want your pity, or anyone else's. I'm fine."

"I know you are," I said, resisting the urge to roll my eyes. I wouldn't say you're "fine" but whatever. "But I can empathize with you. Nobody should live with someone who-"

"He's still my father," Steve said, still sounding and looking mad. He was pointing at me, looking angry, but somehow, I knew the anger wasn't directed at me; he was upset about his father, and I was sure that he wished his father would at least pretend to care about his son. "I can talk shit about my dad, but you don't even know him!" The tears in Steve's eyes told me that he was overwhelmed with emotions that he didn't know how to control.

"That's enough, Steve," Darry's low voice sounded from behind us. Steve and I both turned around to look at Darry, who looked sternly at Steve. "You yell at her again, I'll skin ya."

"Yeah, I know," Steve said obediently as he took a step away from me. Then he looked back at me. "Sorry, Kate."

"It's alright," I said quickly. I wanted to get back to our conversation, but Darry's presence seemed to make Steve want to crawl back into his shell of defensive self-preservation. I looked at Darry, hoping he'd listen to me and understand that I wanted to talk to Steve alone. "Go back to bed, Darry. I'll be there in a minute."

Darry looked at me carefully, then with a quick and serious glance at Steve, he nodded. "Alright. Don't stay out here too long, you'll get cold." It wasn't cold outside at all, but I knew Darry was just looking out for me and he didn't want me on the other end of Steve's temper. I gave him a small smile before he retreated into the house.

"I'm fine, Kate. I don't wanna talk about it," Steve said, returning to his spot on the railing and going back to his cigarette.

I returned to my spot next to him, and I looked at him seriously. "Yeah, well I think you need to talk about it." He looked at me with raised eyebrows, but he still looked upset as I kept talking. "It's already hard enough to live on this side of town, but to go home to someone like that… it's not fair, and I'm sorry you have to deal with it."

Steve shrugged, but I could tell he at least didn't look at angry. "Life ain't fair. It's just the hand I was dealt I guess."

"You're right, life isn't fair, but it's okay for us to be worried about you or care that things are going on at your house," I said. "If you just talk to someone, it makes it a little better, or at least more bearable. Trust me."

"Yeah? How would you know?" Steve asked incredulously. "You got an awful dad too?"

I sucked in a breath without meaning to. Tell him, Kate. If you expect him to open up, you'll have to share some things too. I let out the breath, and I immediately noticed that my voice got quiet. "No, my dad was great. My step-father, however… he's a different story."

Steve turned to look at me, and the anger he always displayed started washing away, and genuine curiosity replaced it. "Yeah?" He sounded interested, but I could tell if I didn't say anything else, he wouldn't hold it against me.

I couldn't face him as I spoke for fear of him seeing me cry, so I turned to look at the street. There was a rabbit hopping across the pavement.

"My dad died when I was younger. He was the best dad a kid could have," I said with a sad smile. Remembering my dad always brought strong emotions to the surface, and I struggled to keep them down as I continued. "My mom remarried, but this guy is the exact opposite from my dad. This guy is a drunk, he took money from me or my mom when he was short a few bucks, and when he gets angry, he takes it out on whoever is around."

I could feel Steve's gaze on me, but I refused to meet his eyes. I didn't say anything else, already feeling like I revealed more than I expected or planned, but I hoped I made it easier for Steve to open up about his problems since someone would understand.

After what felt like eternity, Steve finally broke the silence. "That guy… he still with your mom?"

I shrugged. "Probably. I moved out as soon as I graduated high school. I haven't spoken to either of them since. Personally, I hope she managed to get away from him one way or another, but like you said, life isn't fair."

"You miss her? Your mom?" Steve asked, his voice sounding so soft and quiet, it reminded me of a little kid.

I sniffed as I nodded. "Yeah, I do. I really miss her, but I can't go back to that house. Not if he's there."

Steve waited a minute before saying something else. "I thought that shit only happened on this side of town. Terrible parents and all… kinda sounds like a greaser thing."

Sure, everyone knew I grew up more middle-class than greaser, but it wasn't like me or my family was immune to problems just because we had a little more money than greaser families. I don't think anyone is immune to problems. With the tears in my eyes mostly dried up, I turned to look at Steve. "Things are rough all over, Steve. Money doesn't decide what type of person someone turns out to be, and it certainly doesn't make parents good people."

Something like understanding crossed Steve's face as he nodded. "Yeah, I guess you're right." He waited a moment before speaking again, effectively changing the subject. "I really am sorry, Kate."

I had a feeling he was apologizing for several things: sorry for yelling at you, sorry for thinking you didn't understand what I'm going through, sorry for thinking you didn't have problems going up just because you weren't a greaser. It didn't matter that he didn't say all of those things out loud, because I knew what he was thinking.

"I know Steve, it's okay. Just know that I'm not pitying you… I know what you're going through, and I just want to help," I said truthfully. "If you ever need to talk, I'm here for you."

He gave me a grin, then a quick nod. "I just might take you up on that."

I smiled back at him, then straightened up and moved away from the porch railing. "I'll leave you to finish your smoke. I'm going back to bed." I took a step towards the door, but then looked back at Steve. "I suggest icing that shiner a little more before you fall asleep. I'll get a pillow and blanket for you."

He gave me a real smile. "Thanks Kate, for everything." I smiled back before heading inside, being sure not to let the door slam.

The moment I walked into the living room, I instinctively glanced at the couch, and I was surprised to see a blanket and pillow already carefully placed right on top of the middle cushion. Before I had a chance to be confused, there was movement in front of me, and my head turned to see Darry standing up from his recliner.

"I thought you were going back to sleep. Don't you work early in the morning?" I knew I sounded annoying and like I was nagging him, but I really hated that he was going to be even more exhausted than he usually is.

"Just wanted to make sure Steve kept his temper in check," Darry said quietly as he walked up to me, wrapping his arms around my waist. He looked down at me with a smile, but then it dropped a little. "You okay? I know it's not easy talking about that stuff."

Since he was my boyfriend and all, Darry was the only one in the gang that knew about my step-father, and he respectfully steered clear of the topic unless I brought it up first. If I ever wanted to talk about it, Darry was the most supportive person on the planet, and he made me feel both safe and loved.

I looked up at him, and the care and concern in his eyes made me instantly relax. I sighed, then leaned forward into his chest as I hugged him back. "I'm alright. I just hope it helps him."

Darry tightened his arms around me and rubbed a hand up and down my back. "I'm sure it will. You did and said everything perfectly." We stood there for a few seconds before Darry kissed the top of my head and spoke again. "We should go back to sleep. I have to be up early and we're kind of standing in Steve's bedroom," he joked. He wasn't wrong; Steve probably slept on the Curtis couch more than his own bed.

I nodded. "Yeah, you're right."

We walked to Darry's room and got settled under the sheets. The moment his arm went around me, he started talking again. "You really are something special Kate," he said, then he pulled me closer to him. "I love you so much."

I felt my face heat up, and I turned my body around to face him. I gave him a quick kiss before nestling under his chin. "I love you too, Darry."

Right before I drifted off, I heard the squeak of the couch, indicating that Steve had come inside to sleep in the warm, safe house.