So, I know I said that this was gonna end back at chapter 6, but I probably really mean it this time. Sorry I haven't written in a while. I can't really think of anything else to say, but I hate incomplete stories, so here it goes. Thank you all for reviewing, following, favoriting, reading, hating, whatever. I was surprised that even after my english class finished this book, it stuck with me. I love the Outsiders...and I hope I always will.

I, (to my dismay) do not own the Outsiders.

Epilogue (about 50 years later)

The old man leaned heavily on the younger mans shoulder. The young man had bright red hair and dancing brown eyes. A girl trailed behind them. She looked slightly older than the man, maybe 35 or so.

"Dad, can we walk any faster?" The boy whined, sounding about 6 years old, although he had the type of face that could have been any age.

The man smiled patiently. "Maybe you can, but arthritis does make it hard for me to move, let alone walk 3 blocks."

"Well then why don't we just drive up to where we're going?" The old looking man smiled gently.

"You'll live." John grumbled under his breath, but made no more complaints for the next 5 minutes.

They arrived at a church. Paint peeled off the sides and the cross had broken off the top. It was, in John's opinion, the most depressed looking place he had ever seen.

The rest of Tulsa had grown exponentially. The part of town that Pony used to live in had long since been torn down, replaced by tall buildings and shops, no remnant of what 'was' left behind.

But this graveyard had not been touched. John stepped confidently towards the church. 'The sooner this is over, the better.' he decided, not all together too pleased on trailing his dad on this useless masquerade.

"Whinny, you ok back there?" The young woman looked up from her phone, which she was checking her email on. she grimaced, knowing her father was not asking her if she was alright, but telling her to show respect.

The trio walked through the creaking gate, the two siblings feeling creeped out, but the old man simply trudging up the hill with more resolve.

In the darkest, deepest corner of the graveyard were 3 head stones. Pony knelt on the middle of the three, picking out a weed that had grown over the body.

Whinny and John looked at each other secretively. 'Dad has finally lost it.' Their look said sadly. Their fathers next words seemed only to confirm their suspicions.

"Do you know what my name is?" After a moment of silence, he repeated the question. Whinny, the braver of the two, answered.

"Of course Dad. Your name is Ponyboy-Pony for short." Ponyboy smiled dazedly.

"Do you know my brothers names?" The two looked more confused.

"Uncle Soda. Your brother. We see him every year on Christmas." Whinny and John were more than a little creeped out by their uncle. When he came over, he would be boisterous. Then he would get roaringly drunk, and sober up towards the end of the evening, finally subsiding into a constant keening wail.

Ponyboy shook his head. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you this before. Soda isn't my only brother. I have 5 others. You are both named for two of them."

Whinny and John looked shocked. Their mouths hung open, comically. Ponyboy chuckled. "Your gonna meet all of them today. Darry, Soda and Steve will be here soon."

The sister and brother both felt like children. They sat with their legs crossed, listening to their dad tell a story, for once not anxious to get out their phones, but compelled to listen.

"Darry and Soda are my blood brothers. But we were- are - all brothers. I had a...falling out with Darry. We had always had a rocky relationship, and one day we had an argument and I moved away. Both of us were too stubborn to just break the silence and apologize. After a while it became habit. Steve became an architect in New York. I talk to him about once a year over the phone, just to check up, but talking to them brings back too many painful memories."

They were silent for a second, then Whinny asked "What about the other 3?" She almost didn't want to hear it. She knew that they must be dead. Why else would they be in a graveyard?

At that moment a voice sounded from behind them, startling them all. "Hey Pony."

Pony struggled to his feet, hundreds of emotions playing across his face. John tried to help, but his father shook him off.

Talking painfully slow steps towards the man, Pony grimaced. The large man looked older than Pony. He was strangely muscled for such an old man, and he moved with surprising speed and agility towards Pony.

He caught the younger, more sickly man in his arms and practically spun him around. Pony laughed like a little kid yelling his brothers name "Darry!"

Coming back to his senses, Pony let go, smiling up at Darry. He motioned for his son and daughter to meet Darry.

"Whinny, Johnny, meet Darry. Darry, meet Whinny and Johnny." Pony exchanged a look with Darry.

John broke the silence. "Johnny?" Pony looked startled, but immediately realized his mistake.

"John. John, not Johnny." Darry shook his head at Pony.

"I see your still as scatter brained as ever." He rubbed the top of Ponyboy's head, making his white hair stick on end and causing the slightly younger man to laugh.

He then turned his attention towards the young adults. His expression changed to sorrow when he saw them. He walked over, almost gravely, to John. He enveloped him in a classic Darry hug.

"Nice to meet you Johnny." Then he looked towards Whinny. His grin widened.

"You look just like Sodapop! Haven't talked to him in...anyways, nice to meet you also, Winston." Whinny looked surprised.

"How did you know my full name?" He was after all, a complete stranger, Whinny reflected, wondering amusedly if Darry was a psychic.

He shrugged. "I assumed Ponyboy named you after Dally-Dallas Winston." Whinny had never liked her full name. It was a mans name, but for the first time since her childhood, she felt proud of her name.

Then a car that Whinny had come to associate with depression and whiskey parked in the church driveway. A tall lean figure came out.

Both Whinny and John were surprised when two other people followed. One another old man (presumably Steve) the other a bouncing little kid, excited after the hours cooped up in the car.

The assembled crowd was silent as the three figures approached. Uncle Soda didn't look drunk today. He was walking perfectly straight, and as he enveloped Whinny in a hug, she smelled no alcohol on his breath.

"Hey uncle Soda." The adults said politely. Darry however barrelled towards Soda, his arms spread wide, just as he had done to Pony.

Soda's face was worn with wrinkles and what hair he had was white and thin, lacking his youthful glow. But his eyes were as warm as ever. A dancing brown that Whinny had seen blaze with hatred and laugh in love.

The other man was shorter and rounder than the brothers. The kid trailing him had dark black hair and tan skin.

Darry reflected that he looked just like Johnny, if not for the tight curls in his hair. Steve shook Darry and Ponyboys hands, then looked inquisitively at Whinny and John.

"My kids. Whinny and John." Steve's face broke out into a grin.

"Would you look at that? Mr. famous-author-adventurer finally settled down with one broad-er- woman." Steve still found it hard to not be offensive in his speech. He was a stereotypical offensive grandfather.

Speaking of which, "This is my grandson, Matt." Darry laughed.

"How original! I really don't know how you and Pony thought of your kids names."

"Grandson." Steve muttered. "My sons name is Keith."

"Hmm...You know what would be cute? If you called him three-Bit. Of course, there was no 'one-bit' but makes sense."

Steve just rolled his eyes. Darry had always had a strange sense of humor.

Pony cleared his throat and pulled from the contents of his bag, a book. One the gang had all read, but one that Whinny, John, and Matt had never even seen.

"Guys, this is my book. It tells about Johnny and Dally but...it was published before Two-Bit..." Pony started tearing up.

A sober Soda put his arm around Pony like they were about six years old again. The children stared un-ashamedly.

"I wrote another book 'even gold can tarnish' and it explains about Two-Bit. I'm not gonna get it published. I have enough money, and I know the world will think it's a fake story, so I'm only letting you guys read it. Or hear it rather. Just so you know...What happened. It's from everyone's point of view this time, 'cuz it's not my story. It's really Two-Bit's."

Darry walked over to Soda and Pony and wrapped them both in a hug, letting go after only a few seconds. Pony cleared his throat again. "Even Gold Can Tarnish. Chapter 1. Ponyboy Curtis strided confidently across the dappled green and brown lawn into the house he occupied with his brothers. He reflected, as he did everyday since the worst day, that is had been a month since the deaths..."

So yeah...That's Even Gold Can Tarnish. Please review! If you guys don't like the ending, I'm sorry. I think it showed reality and what would have really happened to some people like the gang.

I would like to add that this was thought up because of a true story. Pony's attempted suicides are all true (from another person) and I am so glad that my life didn't escalade and end as Two-Bit's did...and neither did my Ponyboy's.

I want to thank everyone who reviewed for me, particularly xXxAngel-With-A-ShotgunxXx and DreadfulStar. Great reviews that were constructive and crap.

Until next time, (and yeah, there's gonna be A LOT of next times)

Stay Gold

ERF10722