I'm sososososososososo sorry about not updating. I've picked up another project, joined a certamen team, and with finals around the corner, I'm completely swamped. Thank you to everyone who has stuck to this story faithfully. This is the last chapter and I hope to do it justice (sob). My other Outsiders story is on an indefinite Hiatus, and I'm writing a Harry Potter fanfic next (title TBD).

I also want to apologize for something else. On my last chapter, I got reviews saying that the gift exchange was "laundry-listy." I'm sorry. This is how I viewed it writing though. There were four tough teenagers who don't really show emotion. Three gifts to be received. The whole thing in reality would probably have lasted about twenty minutes, thirty at the most.

I hope that cleared a little of the air. Without further ado, the final chapter is up. (P.S.- I do not, have not, and won't ever own the Outsiders, but I will say that S.E. Hinton is a genius!)

Chapter V (Sodapop POV)

The whole scene would have been hilarious if it weren't so serious. Two-Bit still had the cap to the beer bottle in his mouth and everyone looked like they had been hit in the face with a frying pan. Pony was turned on the piano bench in a position that I thought would kill his back later. Darry was standing next to him, his hand resting brotherly on Pony's shoulder. Steve was on Pony's other side, leaning against the piano like a stone sculpture.

It was either seconds or hours that they stood there, frozen in shock. I put my bag down, hoping that my movement would cause a reaction. It did.

"SODA!" Ponyboy screamed. He pushed himself off the piano bench with such force, and I winced, preparing myself for the collision that was about to ensue. Surprisingly I realized that his hug was gentle. Thank God he had paid attention to the cast that covered my entire arm, because truthfully, it still hurt like a mother.

"Soda, I thought you were dead," he sobbed into my shoulder. At some point I lost it too, letting tears fall down my face.

"Hey, I'm your big brother. I ain't going anywhere," I told him quietly while stroking his hair with my good hand. After a couple of minutes, we broke apart.

Darry, of course, was the next one to hug me. If you've ever been engulfed by a rock wall, then you know what an emotional Darry-hug feels like. Obviously he had put on more mass of muscle, if that was even possible. Darry's hug made me feel safe, it felt like home. I cried harder.

"It's ok, Pepsi-Cola. You're home," his gruff voice was muffled by my hair. He let me go, mumbling about grabbing me a plate of food and a chair. I knew better. He wanted to hide his face.

Steve and Two-Bit still hadn't moved. This time, I was feeling a little better so I poked some fun at them.

"Two-Bit," I said, "you're gonna to choke on that bottle cap if you're not careful." He immediately spit it out, but now his mouth was gaping wide open. Steve, on the other-hand, had a grin spreading big and fast on his face.

"Steve, you look like a kid on Christmas morning," I stated. He rolled his eyes in response.

"Technically I am a kid, it is Christmas morning, and my best friend just fucked the statistics of war." And with that, he hugged me. I was overjoyed to see my best friend, and Two-Bit could make anyone laugh.

Man, it felt great to be home.

Pony's POV

After Sodapop got settled on the couch, I went to see if Darry needed any help in the kitchen. Truthfully I didn't want to see anyone's face. I was feeling more emotion than I thought was even possible for anyone to feel. Darry was trying to scrub the burnt bits of turkey off the pan and it looked like he finally found a piece of dinnerware that could equally match him.

"Hot water and soap will probably make it come off easier," I offered. Darry spun around as if I startled him. There was a most peculiar expression on his face, one that I couldn't really place.

"Yeah, you're probably right," he responded, running the pan under the sink. While he was turned away, I walked up behind him.

"I guess you're pretty overjoyed, huh?" I asked him. I really wanted to tell him how much of a jerk I've been, but the words weren't forming right.

"Yeah. You too, huh? It's good to finally see some happiness on your face." Darry said, not looking at my face. We stood in a tense silence for what seemed like a quarter hour.

"Darry?" the timidity was apparent in my voice. I guess he heard it too because he turned and bore his icy blue eyes into my green ones. The pressure was getting to me, and before I knew it, my feelings were coming out faster than two greasers drag racing on the strip.

"I'm sorry. I've been completely selfish. I've ignored everyone and it's completely unfair. I never really stopped and appreciated the fact that you're also my brother and, and…" that was when my voice failed for the second time that day. I felt Darry wrap his arms around me, which only made me feel guiltier.

"Hey Pone, it's okay. Sometimes I forget too that you're my other special brother, and I'm sorry too." Another set of arms surrounded our hug, but it didn't take a second to recognize who they belonged to. There our family stood for a long time. At one point I remember looking to the cracked ceiling and mumbling a "thanks".

"Hey guys, I'm hurt. Why didn't I get invited into the group hug?" Two-Bit asked. It kinda snapped us back into reality, and with a laugh, the Three Musketeers, the Three Curtis', the three that could conquer it all, replied with a laugh,

"TWO-BIT SHUT UP!"

OMG, WTF. IT'S DONE! I'm sorry again for the wait, and hopefully my next story will be underway before Christmas. Happy Holidays to everyone. I love you (even though I don't know you personally) and I wish you the best of luck in all of your endeavors in life. Bye!!!