I apologize to my faithful readers for not updating this fic sooner. I have been working on my other, Fire and Ice, a lot and got caught up in it. So this is dedicated to my reviewers and those who have sent me messages wishing me to update, I hope you enjoy it. Happy 4th of July weekend to everyone!

Chapter 4

It was a rather chilly walk back to the Curtis house, but I paid it no mind. In all of my hopes, dreams and fantasies I had never imagined it would be like this. Sure I knew I would feel happy, I mean I just got the boy I've been pining after for years….who wouldn't be? I didn't know I would feel like I was floating, like nothing could go wrong. Looking back I see now how naïve I was, believing our road to love would be easy.

I blame my naiveté on youth, thinking everything would be this perfect fairytale. I should never have believed that real life was a storybook, but like I said I was young and naïve. But I digress.

Walking down the sidewalk, my arm around Steve's waist and his around my shoulders, I felt like I was on top of the world. The night was perfectly quiet, no sound shattering the stillness of the late evening. The stars were brightly shining, the full moon illuminating the landscape and giving everything a ghostly aura.

We were almost to the Curtis' when we heard it, the shrill sound of a frightened scream shattering the peaceful night. It only took a moment for me to recognize it, the voice belonging to my adopted little brother Ponyboy.

Breaking away from Steve I ran, grabbing my switch out and opening it at a run. When I got there I saw them; three older socs, ganging up on Ponyboy and beating him to the ground. Steve ran past me, grabbing one soc while I closed my blade, tucked it in and ran and attacked the smallest one. Between the two of us we chased the boys off, but not after getting in a few good hits.

Turning around, I knelt beside Ponyboy, noticing the blood running down his face onto his clothes, his eyes closed and breathing unsteady. Using my shirt I wiped his face gently before running my hands ober his arms, chest and legs. Not feeling anything broken, I turned to Steve.

"We need to get him home. Can you carry him?"

He nodded his assent and leaned down, slinging Pony's arm over his shoulder and picking the boy up as carefully as he could. It was a grim picture we made, Steve carrying the unconscious boy while I trotted beside him in my blood stained shirt.

I ran in front of Steve, opening the door and standing aside to let him in. We were greeted with questions and Soda running to take his brother from Steve. Darry questioned us, his tone loud and angry. We told what we knew and we had just finished when Pony moaned and opened his eyes.

Pony was stretched out on the couch, blinking his eyes slowly and moaning under his breath from the pain. I knelt beside him, Steve behind me, Soda and Darry kneeling down by his head. Darry cleaned him off with a wet washcloth, getting what I couldn't before laying it down on his forehead.

After cleaning him up, Darry sat beside the couch on the floor, so the rest of us did the same, watching over Pony and waiting until he was ready to tell us what had happened. For some reason, I had the feeling that his story was going to be a doozy. I had never been more right.

I'm finishing here for the night. I know this isn't my best chapter, but the next one will be better, explaining why Pony was by himself in the park. It will also be a lot longer. I should have it finished after the 4th and will post it before the weekend, I promise. Thanks to my loyal readers. Please r&r, let me know what you think. Until next time, my friends.