A/N: I wrote an Outsiders fanfic...wow. Well, it was ages ago and after I was banned (CURSE YOU I couldn't post. But I've resurfaced an old account and decided I'll post this little honey, because I actually know where it's going.

Warnings: Slash, smut (in later chapters), alteration of the story, swearing and stuff?

Disclaimer: Don't own. Never will own it.

Pairings: I know it'll either be Two-Bit/Pony or Dally/Pony. If you wanna see any other pairings, just gimme a review and suggest it.

Note: Please review, people. I actually do update pretty quick, but I won't if I don't have any proof that anyone's reading this.

Summary: Johnny didn't die that night and the gang was just in time to save Dally. Everything seems to fall into place until the Curtis family takes in a boarder to relieve their financial problems, who stirs everyone into a frenzy.

Chapter 1: Alright

Ponyboy's P.O.V

It was one of those days when it seemed that everything was going to be alright. A call from the hospital put us all at ease as Johnny Cade made his way to a slow but sure recovery, and the rumble last night had us riled up and feeling good. Even the sun came out for us, peeking through the rain clouds and spilling over our wasteland of a yard. Dally sat on the couch with Soda and Steve, a cigarette hanging from his grinning lips while he brandished his burned arm.

"You know...I think we may have gotten one of those good breaks those Socs are always getting'..." Two- Bit showed up behind me with a bottle of coke, resting it on my head until I grabbed it. Darry kicked back in Dad's old chair, resting his aching muscles. It seemed that time stood still. There was no school, no work, no troubles...Everything was perfect. Or, would be perfect. Johnny wasn't here but we still knew he was okay. He was gonna' be fine. I smiled peacefully and Two-Bit grinned wildly back, fingering his long rusty side-burns.

"You're smiling like an idiot, Pony, what's got you so happy?" He asked, cocking his brow. I laughed a little, watching as he settled into a comfortable position on the floor, leaning against the couch.

"Everything just seems to have...fallen into place. It's nice that for once everything's going our way." I finished, taking a sip of my soda and sighing comfortably. I notice everyone nod or murmur in agreement and it only made me smile brighter. I looked to Dally, who rubbed his arm gingerly, wincing a little. I rolled my eyes at him and stood up, going to the freezer and taking out an ice pack. I went over to Dally, who sat between Soda and Steve, and grinned, sitting on his lap and grabbing his arm. "Idiot. You're only gonna' make it worse, fighting with a burn like that." I scolded him and everyone laughed. Dally gave me a wicked grin before kissing me lightly on the lips.

"Why, thank you honey." He said, somehow managing not to laugh. Soda punched me lightly in the shoulder.

"You're like the mommy, Ponyboy... Or maybe the wife. Always attentively caring to her loved one..." Soda sighed dramatically and I tried my earnest to not be embarrassed. Dally spanked me playfully as I returned to my chair. Two-Bit pouted a bit, making everyone laugh once more.

"Not fair. Dally gets a kiss? I got you a coke!" He claimed and I smiled.

"I was under the impression that it was gift! A most treasured example of your infinite gentlemanly character." I know that Two-Bit, let alone everyone else in the room, didn't understand a word I was saying but Two-Bit seemed to get the gist.

"'Twas a gift until I saw what kind of price I could receive!" He replied, trying to sound smart. I shrugged.

"Then I guess I shall pay this so called price. Pray tell, dear man, what is it?" I asked and Two-Bit extended his arms.

"A hug and a kiss, dear boy. On the cheek if you will, but on the lips would be preferred." I jumped into his arms and he spun me around, stopping so I could peck him on the lips. Even Darry was laughing now as I was settled into the chair by Two-Bit's strong arms. For the first time in ages, I realized how small I really was. Two-Bit, most definitely not the strongest in the group, could lift me and spin my around with no effort at all. I bet Dally, even in his condition could do it.

"How cute." Soda cooed and I blushed, curling into a ball and pulling my long t-shirt over my knees. I finished the bottle of coke quickly and stood up before Two-Bit could to go and put it on the counter. Steve grinned and knocked the back of Soda's head, his arm snaking behind Dally's.

"We have to go out tonight, buddy! Go to a pool house, rake in some cash and maybe get some company." Steve's eyes darted to me for a moment before he turned to look at me fully. "You wanna' come, Pony?" It was the first time Steve had invited me anywhere and had spoken to me in such a friendly way. He didn't even look like he was having any hesitation saying it.

"Sure." I said in nonchalantly, shrugging it off so I wouldn't seem like the eager little kid Steve thought I always was. He reached out and ruffled my hair, which was finally getting some of the ginger back. Darry rolled his shoulders and flung himself out of the chair, stretching.

"Well...I'm off to work." He said and I quirked a brow, a technique I perfected while staying in the church.

"But it's Saturday!" I whined, grabbing the back of Darry's tight t-shirt as he hurried past me. He sighed, giving me a sad smile.

"Money's tight, kiddo. I agreed to do some extra shifts." I slouched visibly, a little upset that Darry wasn't going to be around as much just when he and I started to dig each other. But I really couldn't argue. If not for me and my tuition, Darry wouldn't have to work as hard to make ends meet. But I gave him an obvious grin.

"Teacher's been saying I might be able to skip another year with the grades I've been gettin'. Might be able to graduate early and help you guys out." Darry smiled and ruffled my hair as Steve had just done and I stuck out my tongue. "Gosh, Darry, I just got it the way I liked it too..." I hollered, but Darry was already out the door.

"Well, looky here, we got us a genius amongst the group!" Dally gave a low whistle. Soda joined it, but laughter kept breaking through it and he couldn't keep it going. I became flustered.

"Aw, shut up Dallas Winston. I'd rather be smart than a dumb ol' hood like you." Dally jumped up and got me in a headlock. After a few minutes of struggling, I fell from the chair, my shoulders slumping on the floor as my hips rested at the end of the chair's seat. My legs were held to the chair my Dally's weight as he tickled me mercilessly.

"St...Stop it!" I managed between my half laugh half cry.

"Holler uncle! And admit that I'm the smartest, handsomest greaser in Tulsa!" Dallas made his demands and I considered it for a moment before taking a swing at Dally. "Now that's not very nice." His icy eyes went to Two-Bit and I felt two calloused hands on my wrists, holding me down. "Holler uncle and say it!" He pinched my stomach a little as he tickled me and I laughed, tears running down my face as I squirmed.

"U...un..cle!" I cried, "Uncle!" I was still laughing; even as Dally's slim fingers stopped moving.

"And...?" He asked, looking at me through those icy orbs. I giggled as he tickled me a little more.

"And, Dallas Winston...you are the smartest...handsomest greaser...in Tulsa..." I panted and my wrists were let go and Dallas threw my legs out from under him, letting me slump onto the floor.

"How cute." Soda said again before standing up. "Well, I'm off too." He and Steve went to the door and I frowned.

"What's up today? Ya'll usually have Saturday off..." I asked, furrowing my brow. Soda gave me a sad smile.

"Well...Darry was right...so we kind of talked about it and decided we should take some extra shifts, you know, just until summer when you can help us out and stuff. And it's comin' up soon, Pony, so don't you worry about us. We'll lay off as soon as June comes along. But for right now, I hafta' get going. I'll see ya' later, Pony! Two-Bit, Dallas..." He nodded to both of them and they returned the favor as he and Steve went to the gas station. I looked at my companions and noticed how I was still wearing my 'pajamas' which were really just a four-sizes too bit t-shirt and a pair of shorts that I could get lost in. I looked to Dally and Two-Bit, who for once had decided to shut up, and stood up.

"I'm gonna' get dressed, you two. Don't cause too much trouble now, you hear?" I tried to look mean but it only made Two-Bit bark with laughter and Dally bite his lip as he tried to remain cool. I trailed my fingers down the walls as I hopped into my bedroom, searching for my jeans and a decent shirt.

Two-Bit's P.O.V

Golly. Just thinking of the kid getting dress was doing wonders to my libido. I don't imagine Dally's feeling too comfortable over there either. Funny how I could probably get any blond in the school, but here I am fallin' for the kid brother of the group. But good lord... he's far prettier than any girl I've ever seen. Now, he may have chopped that lovely, lovely hair off but he's still beautiful. He had one of those fine sculpted faces with high cheekbones and milky, unmarred skin. You'd never think he was a greaser, especially with his new haircut. He looked like those middle-class kids who kept their hair not too long and not too short, shaggy and falling in layered wisps over their ears and faces.

It was blond now, but you could see a devil's halo (1) forming at the top where his ginger was starting to come back. He had the best hair too. He was like Darry and Soda mixed together. Smart and athletic like Darryl, handsome and charismatic like Sodapop. It seemed they're coloring were mixed too. Soda's golden locks mixed with Darry's deep brown formed the prettiest hue I've ever seen in hair. Come to think of it now, he looked like his mother. His mother was a real beauty, with long golden hair. Young, too. It seemed that all the best assets of the Curtis family were rolled into one with Ponyboy.

But what I was thinking was forbidden territory. I could do Pony. I couldn't think about Pony like that. He's in the gang. He's the kid brother of my best friends. And he's far too young. Pony doesn't deserve to be a greaser. He's a tuff kid, but he just ain't that tuff. He's too sensitive. Not to mention he's too smart to be stuck here. He should be the one on the west-side (2), not those Socs. He's the one that deserves to be getting' the scholarships and recognition.

"Two-Bit Matthews, you're far too quiet." I heard Dallas comment s he lit up a cigarette, pressing the ice to his burned arm. I winced just lookin' at it. I don't know how I'd handle an injury like that.

"I guess all this stuff's got me thinkin'." I said it with a shrug. I didn't want him to know that I was just as interested in Ponyboy as he was. I don't know if it was because I just didn't want him thinking wrongly about me or if I didn't want to associate myself with him like that. Dallas Winston would, if he had the chance, take Ponyboy in a second with no hesitation. With no morals, he wouldn't mind breaking such an innocent young thing. I'd like to believe that I could be more patient with him and that I wouldn't ever be so animalistic with something so pure as Ponyboy Curtis.

Something so rare as Ponyboy Curtis.

"Maybe this stuff should start happenin' all the time then so you'd start thinkin' a bit more." Dally said tartly, taking a long drag off his cigarette. I rolled my eyes at him. I could never talk much around Dally. I don't think anyone could. 'Cept maybe Johnny or maybe even Pony. Dally just seemed too cold to care much about you were saying anyway.

"Shit, man, I don't think I could handle it." I tried to break a grin but couldn't. "I mean...with all this shit going on... I mean, come on Dally. What if we didn't get to you in time? What if...what if the doctor hadn't called in time to tell us that Johnny was okay? That he wasn't dead? You'd be gone, Dally. Dead, just like that. Do you know what that would do to us? To Johnny? To..." I hesitated, "To Ponyboy? We woulda' lost you. Or if Johnny had died. We woulda' lost both of you. It's just...It's just hard, man. To think of what might actually happened last night." I shuddered at the thought and realized who exactly I was opening up to. Dallas Winston. The hood who was colder than ice. A rock had more feeling than him. But for some reason it just felt okay this time. Dally gave me a bleak grin, cigarette in his fingers hanging loosely and about to fall.

Slender fingers caught as it was raised to those perfect, pouty lips. Lips that I had thought about far too much lately.

Ponyboy took a drag and gave the cigarette back to Dally. He was dressed in a pair of jeans that normally would have fitted him, but now barely clung to his far-too-slim waist. They were worn, with holes at the knees and thighs that gave me a bit more to dream about tonight. His t-shirt, which usually would have snugly fit his thin yet lean physique, now hung loosely from his thin frame. And beneath his blond hair I saw those green-gray eyes, staring at me in question. So I whistled and looked him over.

"You're lookin' better than I've seen you in days, Ponyboy." I could tell that it was what he needed to hear, because he visibly brightened. "C'mon, boys, let's get out of here and hunt some action." They both followed me out of the Curtis home as we jumped down the steps, eager to get out. The sun fell over the so-called lawn and I gave a wild grin. Ponyboy was right. For once, everything fell into place.

For once, everything was semi-perfect.

TBC

A devil's halo is when you dye your hair a lighter color and when you dark roots begin to show...

Am I right with this one? I don't' remember if they were on the west side or the east side, so please correct me if I'm wrong.

A/N: Well...it wasn't too crappy, ne? I tried to throw in a bit of slashy hints at future pairings... But this chappie was mainly for filling in how I changed the ending and such. Be warned that the next chapter takes place at the first day of school after summer break (so about five or six months later). The chapter is pretty much written...but if no one's gonna review I ain't postin' nothing! So review, skanks, I happen to be a comment whore! So review and I'll throw out another chapter. I don't care if you flame, but if you do, it has to be constructive criticism. Meaning, I can't suck because you say I suck. I need reasons so I may somehow better them. Plus, if you want to put in some suggestions as to pairings you'd like to see, I'm cool with that too. Keep in mind that this is not a Mary-Sue. Unless someone specifically asks if the character I'VE created wants to be with some one in the fic, sure. But only if some one wants it. I intend to keep it slash though.