Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It wasn't that Elizabeth Sheldon hated Tulsa. She didn't, really, but it'd been so long since she'd seen the familiar skyline that she couldn't help but shudder at the sight. Her hands gripped the steering wheel tighter and tighter as she drove through the familiar streets.

Almost five years had passed since she'd been driven out to live with her Aunt Carol and Uncle Mark in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. They'd left in a rush, so Elizabeth hadn't had time to savor the city that she grew up in, but it was clear that not much had changed in the half-decade she'd been gone. There was still a stark divide between the greasers and the socs as seen through the state of the houses and businesses.

Elizabeth came from one of the most influential families in Tulsa. Her grandfather had been the mayor in the 30s, and her father, Richard Sheldon, was vying to be the next candidate. Anne Sheldon came from another rich family, the Bakers, so she was once called the 'princess of the socs'. She wondered who had taken over that title when she'd left. Tulsa ran on the separation between the socs and greasers, so someone had to take her place.

Soc was short for 'socialite', so they were all spoiled rich kids who thought that they were better than everyone else. Greasers, on the other hand, were the poor kids who would never get out of the city. The two groups constantly jumped one another and had frequent rumbles over the smallest things. From her brother, Bob's, letters, which hadn't changed since she left.

"Mama?"

That was one thing that had changed. Elizabeth had only been fifteen when her parents announced that she'd been accepted into an early college program and had to leave Tulsa to continue her schooling. It had all been a lie, of course. There's no way that they'd announce that she was actually knocked up, and with her grades, everyone had believed their lie.

"Yeah, baby. What's up?" Elizabeth asked her daughter, glancing back in the rearview mirror. Margaret had abandoned her picture book to look out the window. They were now in a very small middle-class neighborhood, so Margaret was enjoying looking at the houses and fall foliage.

"Almost there?"

"About ten more minutes, Mags. Are you excited to see Grammy, Gramps, and Uncle Bob again? Do you remember them from Christmas last year?"

"Uncle Bob is fun," Margaret nodded.

Her parents and brother had only made the trip out to Louisiana twice: once when Margaret was a month old, and the Christmas before. They exchanged letters every three months or so and had quick phone calls every other month. Margaret barely knew who they were, but she could remember Bob lifting her up to spin.

"Don't forget what I told you, baby. Uncle Bob is hurt, so he can't pick you up like he did at Christmas. We're going to take care of him."

"Alright, Mama. I understand," Margaret confirmed with a nod. Her legs kicked anxiously, and the small girl shuffled in her seat with a huff. They'd been driving for six hours so far, a few breaks in between, so they were both getting restless. It had been a long few days of packing, shipping a few boxes to Tulsa, and driving in Elizabeth's old car that sounded close to breaking down. She grimaced when she saw all the new cars parked in driveways the closer they got to home.

In addition to sending her off, the Sheldon parents had only given her $100 for baby supplies. Her aunt and uncle had charged her rent once the baby came, and her parents never sent her any money. Elizabeth had barely been able to save up enough to get a car, and it was always on its last leg.

"Okay, sweetie, here we are," Elizabeth announced five minutes later, interrupting her daughter's rendition of a Beatles song.

"It's big, Mama! Bigger than Aunt Carol and Uncle Mark's house!" Margaret exclaimed.

"Just wait until you see your room," Elizabeth grinned as she helped Margaret out of the car. She kept a small smile on her face even as her stomach twisted with anxiety. Her feet felt like they weighed a hundred pounds each, but she put one foot in front of the other until she reached the front door. She realized that she didn't even have a key anymore, meaning that she had to knock on her own door.

"Elizabeth, we wondered when you'd be here," Anne greeted. The woman hadn't been the most welcoming to Margaret at Christmas, so the girl partially hid behind her mother's legs.

"We hit some traffic on the interstate," Elizabeth explained. The pair hesitated for a moment before they both leaned forward for a quick hug.

"And you, Margaret, are getting so big," Anne said as she squatted down to be on the girl's level. "I see you're wearing jeans. How about we go shopping soon for some dresses?"

"Mother, she likes jeans. She can play in them better than in a dress," Elizabeth said with an edge to her voice. Anne cleared her throat and stood up, her hand smoothing her tan skirt down.

"Dinner is ready. I'll send your father out after we eat to help you with the boxes. The ones you sent arrived earlier today, and we've put them in your room."

"Thanks," Elizabeth muttered. She smoothed Margaret's dark brown hair down some because the curls tended to get crazy, and followed Anne inside. The house looked exactly the same, other than the new photos of Bob on the walls. Elizabeth clicked her tongue at the sight of a new family portrait hanging in the foyer and tried not to make the practiced smile fall.

Richard barely looked up from his newspaper at their arrival in the family room. He glanced up and then looked back down as if she were simply a new housekeeper, not that it was okay to treat anyone like that.

"Mags, the bathroom is right here. Go wash up. Call me if you need help," Elizabeth instructed.

"Okay, Mama," Margaret agreed. She happily skipped off so that Elizabeth could sit across from her parents. Richard finally put his newspaper down and cleared his throat.

"One month, Elizabeth. That's all you get here, and then you're out again. Your arrival will risk my mayoral campaign when people realize that you had a child and didn't graduate. The story is that you dropped out of school because you got pregnant in Baton Rouge. That's what I've already started telling my friends."

"Okay, Father. If you could watch Maggie tomorrow, I can go ahead and start applying for jobs. I'll be out of here sooner than a month if I can get one," Elizabeth requested.

"I'll be here. Bob still needs help," Anne assured her.

"That's the other thing," Richard said. Elizabeth already knew what he was going to say, making her clench her teeth. "While you're in my house, you stay away from those dirty greasers. I won't have another incident."

"It wasn't-"

"I don't want to hear it again," Richard interrupted. Elizabeth blinked away her tears and stood up in a rush to knock on the bathroom door.

"Almost done, Mags?"

"Yeah! I can't reach the sink."

Elizabeth helped Margaret wash her hands, and then she took the time to look at herself in the mirror and fix her hair some more. She hadn't been home for more than ten minutes, and she already felt her past ways catching up to her. With a child and a full-time job, she now wore her natural curls because she didn't have time to straighten her hair like she did as a teen.

"Alright, let's go eat," Elizabeth said, holding out her hand for Margaret to grab. The family room was empty, so the pair went into the dining room, where everyone was sitting.

"Hey, sissy," Bob said with a grin.

"Don't call me that," Elizabeth said with no real heat to her voice. She helped Margaret into a seat and then grabbed her little brother into a hug, holding onto him tighter than normal. Bob seemed to do the same.

One month ago, Bob had been involved in a jumping gone wrong. With some of his friends, he'd jumped Ponyboy Curtis and Johnny Cade, two greaser kids, and he ended up getting stabbed. Ponyboy and Johnny had run away because they thought that Bob was dead, but he ended up making it to the hospital, where he got emergency surgery. A week later, Ponyboy and Johnny finally came home, and there was currently a trial in the works. When Aunt Carol and Uncle Mark announced that they were moving to Florida and Elizabeth wasn't welcome to join them, she decided to head back to Tulsa because she had gotten sick at the idea that her brother had almost died and she hadn't been there.

As part of their agreement, Elizabeth had to help Anne take care of Bob. He still couldn't lift anything too heavy, and he had lots of medications to take. Talking about the jumping or the trial was strictly off-limits because everyone knew that Bob had a real chance of going to prison.

"How are you?" Elizabeth whispered. She'd never been particularly close to her little brother, but she still loved him. She wrote to him more than to her parents, although she hadn't written quite as much lately because she could tell that he was turning more and more into the same type of man as their father.

"I hurt, but it's alright," Bob told her as they sat back down. He smiled at Margaret and tickled under her chin, making her giggle.

"It's not alright!" Anne exclaimed. "Those greasers-"

"Not in front of Margaret, please," Elizabeth requested. Anne pursed her lips, but didn't argue.

Dinner was a tense affair. No one said much of anything, which clearly confused Margaret. She was used to talking with her mother at dinner since they had a little apartment down in the basement, but she was smart enough to realize that there was some tension. Her eyes kept drooping the longer they sat at the table.

"Not yet, baby," Elizabeth said softly. "We've got to shower and get your bed set up before you can sleep."

Margaret let out a whine that made Elizabeth's heart break. She hated that she had to take her daughter away from what she was used to, but there was no other choice. The only apartments that she could've afforded in Baton Rouge were in the most dangerous part of town, but she could get something decent in Tulsa. Plus, it was hard for her to find a job because she hadn't graduated from high school.

"I made your beds for the night. If you have any sheets, just put them in the closet. I'll bathe Margaret while you and your father get your boxes. Robert, you need to take your medicine," Anne instructed.

Margaret looked hesitant to go with her grandmother, but Elizabeth's smile and nod made her take the woman's hand. Bob ruffled his sister's hair to show that he was now taller, and headed upstairs where his medicine must be. Elizabeth watched him go and was glad to see that he could walk just fine.

"The Floyds are coming over tomorrow night," Richard announced when he put the last box into Elizabeth and Margaret's room. Since it was short-term, they were sharing Elizabeth's old room, but it had enough space that it wasn't too bad.

"Then we won't be here tomorrow night," Elizabeth said simply, not looking at him as she started pulling out clothes and putting them in the drawers.

"Elizabeth."

His tone made the girl freeze for a moment before she sighed and turned her attention to Richard. He had always been hard to read, and this was no different. In a move that shocked her, he sat down on the edge of the bed and took his glasses off to run his hand down his face.

"Charles has been my friend since we were kids. I find it hard to believe that he'd raise a son who would assault someone. It seems convenient that you blame Brian for your problem when you spent all your time with that greaser."

"My problem is your granddaughter. And I've told you a thousand times that-"

"Mama! Look!" Margaret exclaimed happily. Elizabeth plastered a smile on her face and opened her arms for Margaret to run into. The girl giggled and showed off her towel with a hood that made her look like a frog.

"What sound does a frog make?" Elizabeth asked. Margaret made a ribbit sound and then cuddled into her mother's arms.

"She's incredibly smart for her age. You've done a great job," Anne congratulated.

"Thanks," Elizabeth said softly. "It's past her bedtime. Thanks for your help with the boxes, Father, and for bathing her, Mother."

"Breakfast is at seven, like normal. I-I'll see you then, Elizabeth."

That was the closest she'd get to an 'I love you' from her mother.

 

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"I look like a grandmother."

"Well, you are wearing Mother's clothes," Bob noted. Elizabeth sent him a glare and straightened her mother's blazer. Since she had worked as a server before, she didn't have any clothes that worked for an interview. Without a high school degree, she probably wouldn't be able to do anything other than serve again, but her parents insisted that she look professional.

"She's barely a grandmother," Elizabeth muttered under her breath.

"She's taking care of me," Bob defended. Elizabeth bit her tongue before she could remind him that her poor parenting had left him stabbed, and two other boys on the run for a week.

"Park in the garage when you come back. I don't want anyone seeing your car," Richard said without a glance in their direction as he walked out the front door.

"What time will you be home?" Anne questioned, Margaret holding her hand.

"I'm not sure. I'm going to go everywhere I can think to interview," Elizabeth answered.

"Alright. Meet us at the supermarket at two so you can get Margaret whatever food she likes. We're going to her her some more appropriate clothes for a girl her age."

Once again, Elizabeth bit her tongue. She gave her daughter a kiss on the cheek and then headed out. She didn't even bother staying the in the soc part of town, knowing that her best chance would be heading closer to greaser territory. The first two restaurants were in the middleclass part of town, and it was clear that she wouldn't get the job. The convenience store and car wash were both fully staffed, so she ended up at the Dingo.

"Well, well, if it isn't Miss. Elizabeth Sheldon. I didn't think I'd see you again in here. Come give me a hug."

"Hey, Mrs. Owens," Elizabeth greeted with a true smile as she hugged the woman. Nina Owens had ran the Dingo for the past forty years with her husband, Ernest. It was the first Black owned business in Tulsa, but they'd been able to keep it running this whole time. In middle school and high school, the pair had spent countless hours talking about books and cooking.

"What are you doing back here? You got out," Mrs. Owens inquired as she guided Elizabeth to a back booth. Luckily, there weren't that many people in the restaurant, but she could still feel their eyes on her.

"I didn't get out of Tulsa. I got sent out because I got pregnant."

"With-"

"No, not with him," Elizabeth interrupted. Mrs. Owens blinked in surprise and motioned for her to continue. "My parents sent me off to live with my aunt and uncle, but they moved to Florida, so now I'm back. I have a month to find a job, so I need something for Margaret. No one else will hire me."

"You have that big degree," Mrs. Owens reminded her.

"That was all a lie. I had to drop out of high school to work. All I can do is serve."

"Alright. You can start tomorrow, but I need to meet this daughter of yours," Mrs. Owens said kindly. "Ernest is off the stove, so he just hangs about. If you need childcare, he loves kids. Rodney had twins, you see, so-"

Elizabeth and Mrs. Owens sat and talked for another two hours. By the end, Elizabeth was so thankful for the woman that she basically melted into her hug before she left, even though she'd be back the next day. Her mother wouldn't be happy with the job, but it gave Elizabeth the freedom that she needed.

"There you are. You're late," Anne greeted when Elizabeth parked next to her and got out.

"It's two minutes past," Elizabeth argued.

"Late is late. You got a job?"

"At the Dingo."

As expected, Anne's lip curled, but she didn't say anything else. Elizabeth did the same thing when she saw that Margaret was now wearing a bright pink dress. While she didn't mind wearing dresses, the child preferred to wear jeans so she could play outside. Anne grabbed the sleeping girl before Elizabeth could.

"Head to the snack aisle and get about $10 worth. We also will need some ground beef, so get that too," Anne instructed before they went their separate ways.

Elizabeth was completely lost when she got to the snack aisle. $10 was what she usually spent in two weeks for groceries, so spending it on snacks made her anxious. She had never paid attention to the cost of anything before she'd been left on her own, so she was careful to buy cheap items so she could get more options.

She headed over to get ground beef next. The store had been remodeled since she'd left, so it took her a while until she found the new section. In the confusion, she narrowly managed not to bump into a tall man.

"Oh, sorry," Elizabeth excused. When she looked up, the breath suddenly got caught in her throat and her heart felt like it stopped beating for a moment. The familiar grey eyes widened for a moment and it felt like all the air disappeared before he cleared his throat and spoke.

"Hey, Liz."

"Hey, Darry."

Chapter Text

Darrel Curtis Jr. had always been attractive, but he had somehow gotten even more attractive in the five years that she'd been gone. He'd grown into his features with a strong jaw and piercing eyes that seemed unable to leave hers. The only new things were the bags under his eyes and the muscles that were now twice as big as before.

"It's been a while," Darry finally said to break the silence.

"Five years," Elizabeth noted. Darry had gotten quite a bit taller, so Elizabeth had to look up a bit. When his eyes seemed to pierce through her, she had to hurry to look away.

Darry Curtis came from a greaser family, but there was only one preschool in Tulsa, so they'd become fast friends at the age of two. They were so close that the Sheldon family allowed Darry to come over for playdates, although they switched to the library or the Curtis house when they got older. Thanks to his good grades and football skills, everyone treated Darry like a soc in high school, but the Sheldon parents couldn't see past his family. Elizabeth couldn't remember how often they'd fought over the friendship, but she'd never been able to break the friendship.

Until she had to.

"How...how have you been?" Darry asked awkwardly.

"Good. Pretty good," Elizabeth responded with a quick nod. For the first time since they'd met, the air was awkward between the two. Darry nodded too, and then a flash of sadness crossed over his face.

"You heard about Mama and Dad? They-"

"I heard," Elizabeth interrupted when she heard Darry's voice grow tight. It had been about nine months since Elizabeth had gotten the news that the Curtis parents had been stuck on the train tracks, unable to get out of their car before the train came. She'd almost written Darry a letter since it happened on his twentieth birthday, but she figured that he hadn't wanted to hear from her.

"I didn't know how to reach out to you, and I didn't think your parents would like to hear from me, but Mama left you her pearls in the will. D'ya want them?" Darry asked.

Elizabeth's breath got caught in her throat, and she had to blink away tears. Over her time as Darry's friend, the Curtis parents had become a second set of parents to her. There were multiple times that she'd gone over to their house to spend time with Darry, only to end up spending the whole time talking with Mama Curtis and learning how to sew or cook.

"I-no. I couldn't," Elizabeth declined. Mama Curtis had shown Elizabeth her wedding pearls once and had apparently remembered how the young girl had looked at them.

"They're yours," Darry shrugged.

"I don't need them," Elizabeth lied. She'd had to sell all of her expensive jewelry, and the pearls could probably pay a security deposit on a new apartment, but she couldn't stand the idea of selling them.

"Alright. If you change your mind, my number has stayed the same," Darry said with a hint of bitterness in his tone.

"How's Ponyboy and Sodapop? I saw in an article that you took them in," Elizabeth inquired. Knowing how close they had been, Anne was nice enough to send her daughter the newspapers so that she could stay informed.

"Yeah, I did. They're alright. Ponyboy is...well, you know what happened and how he is. Johnny's still in the hospital, and Ponyboy got pneumonia that he just can't get over. That's what happens when you get drowned at the start of winter."

At the bitterness in Darry's voice, Elizabeth was suddenly reminded that her brother had almost killed his brother by holding his head under water in a fountain. After that, Ponyboy and Johnny had jumped a train to Windriville, a nearby town, where they'd stayed in an old church until it burned down with kids inside. The pair had saved all the kids, but Johnny had gotten hit in the back with a burning beam, and the newspapers hadn't been optimistic about his recovery.

"I'm sorry," Elizabeth whispered.

"Why are you back, Liz? It's been five years, and you just suddenly show up without a word. You didn't even tell me that you'd applied to the college program, much less gotten accepted."

Before Elizabeth could answer, the sound of running footsteps made them both turn around.

"Mama! I missed you!"

Elizabeth smiled at Margaret and groaned when her daughter launched into her arms to be held. Margaret was small for her age, but Elizabeth was also small, so it was getting hard to hold her. Anne's face turned into a scowl at the sight of the greaser, and they both heard the surprised noise from the man.

"Darrel," Anne said with a tight and fake smile.

"Mrs. Sheldon. How's your son?" Darry asked kindly, his eyes flickering over to Elizabeth and Margaret.

"In pain," Anne said simply before turning to her daughter. "I'll go check out. Meet me up front in a few minutes."

Elizabeth nodded and handed over the snacks and a package of ground beef, putting Margaret down to do so. The girl held her hand and gave Darry an anxious look. She wasn't always a fan of new people, and Darry could look intimidating.

"You're...I didn't know-" Darry stammered out once Anne walked away.

"This is Margaret."

This time it was Darry's turn to blink away tears. Margaret had been named after his mother, and he seemed to realize that as he kneeled down and stuck his hand out with a small smile.

"Hey, Margaret. I'm Darry, an old friend of your-your mom," Darry greeted. Margaret gave his hand a quick shake and then hid behind her mom's legs. Darry slowly stood up with a small groan and a wince.

"She doesn't like new people," Elizabeth explained.

"How old is she?" Darry asked, clearly doing the math in his head.

"Four. She'll be five in May."

"You didn't tell me."

"I couldn't."

The pair looked at each other for a long moment until Margaret started pulling on her hand, and Elizabeth knew that she'd start getting fussy.

"I need somewhere to go tonight. Mags would have to go with us, but maybe we can go out to our spot again. I think we have a lot to talk about," Elizabeth said softly.

"Yeah, I think we do," Darry confirmed. He seemed to think for a moment before he sighed. "I can make it. Soda gets off at five, so I can meet you there around six, after I cook. Meatloaf works for you?"

"I can feed the two of us," Elizabeth argued.

"Mama'd kill me," Darry said with a sad laugh.

"Alright. Meatloaf works."

"See you then."

"See you then."

 

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Darry could feel his headache growing with every passing second. It was his only day off that week, and his plans of relaxing disappeared the second that Elizabeth bumped into him. He couldn't get the image of her holding her daughter out of his head.

To say that there was no one close to Darry than Elizabeth would be an understatement. They'd been attached at the hip until she was suddenly missing from school one day and it was announced that she'd been accepted into an early college program in Baton Rouge. Her parents wouldn't give him any answers when he called, and she never wrote to him after that. Darry quickly grew bitter because it was clear to him that she had just seen him as a disposable friend, and it'd really pissed him off that she didn't even say bye to Ponyboy or Soda. The two of them simply adored her, and they'd both cried over her sudden disappearance.

Now, he understood better.

Darry didn't know who the father might be. Margaret was basically a carbon copy of Elizabeth, so he couldn't see a resemblance to anyone else, and the girl hadn't been dating anyone. Or maybe she had been and just hadn't told him. His ramblings thought were interrupted by the door slamming. He hadn't even noticed that it was 5:45 already, a good thirty minutes after his brothers should have been home.

"Don't slam my door!" Darry yelled for the thousandth time.

"Sorry, Superman!" Steve yelled back, no hint of apology in his voice. Based on the amount of footsteps, the whole gang was there. Sure enough, the sound of Mickey Mouse made him roll his eyes because he knew Two-Bit had grabbed the remote.

"Hey, Dar. How was your day off?" Soda asked as he came to sit on the counter.

"Pretty good," Darry lied. "How's Johnny? Is that why you're late?"

"Yeah, Pony wanted to see him. Mrs. Mathews slipped him another inhaler, too, so we don't have to worry about that. Anyway, Johnny's doin' good. He could wiggle his toes today! The doc said that was a good sign."

"Yeah? Good for him. How was Pony?" Darry checked, lowering his voice.

"He's alright. Seein' Johnny raised his spirits like always," Soda answered. The sound of Ponyboy laughing at one of Dallas' jokes made them both smile.

It had been a rough month. When Ponyboy ran away, Darry had thought that he'd never see his baby brother again. Once he came back, it had been a rush of dealing with Johnny in the hospital, Ponyboy getting sick, a rumble, and Dallas trying suicide by cop. He'd narrowly survived with a bullet in the shoulder, two weeks in lock up, and mandatory community service considering his age and the situation. Having always been sensitive, Ponyboy had fallen into a depression that the elder brothers couldn't afford to fix.

"So, I've got plans tonight. I'm goin' out with an old friend. I shouldn't be home too late, so make sure that Pony goes to bed early. He's got that math test tomorrow, and he can ace it if he gets a good night of sleep," Darry said casually.

"You're goin' out? With who?" Soda gasped, his eyes lighting up.

"No one special. An old friend," Darry lied.

"Guys! Darry's goin' out!" Soda exclaimed as he jumped off the counter. Darry rolled his eyes and held back a sigh at his brother's antics.

"Woah, with you?" Two-Bit asked. Before he knew it, everyone was in the kitchen. Dallas wiggled his eyebrows suggestively and sat down with his feet up on the table until Darry's glare made him sit normally.

"An old friend," Darry repeated.

"A girl?" Steve teased.

"I'll whip you," Darry warned. Steve snickered and grabbed a beer from the fridge, passing one to Two-Bit before he could even ask.

"When are ya gonna be home?" Ponyboy asked softly. He could only fall asleep if his brothers were home, although they wouldn't say that in front of the gang.

"Not too late. I'm not sure how long I'll be gone. I want you all to eat and do the dishes. And someone clean the fuckin' counters like I've asked ten times."

With that, Darry grabbed the bag of food that he prepared and headed out the door, ignoring the gang's continued teasing. He wasn't ready to tell them that Elizabeth was back in town, and he definitely wasn't ready to tell them that she had a daughter. Rumors spread fast in Tulsa, but he still had some time before they would find out.

They had found an old clearing in the woods when they were eleven, and it quickly became their spot. Darry hadn't been there in years, but the couch they'd found on the street was leather, and it had been covered with a tarp, so it shouldn't be that bad. He'd brought some towels and blankets just in case since it was cold outside. A battered old car that made Darry's truck look new was already parked there, and Elizabeth was sitting in the couch watching Margaret play with some sticks. She stood up when she saw the truck pull up, so Darry knew that he couldn't sit and put off the conversation any longer.

"The couch is still nice. I had to wipe it down, but it'll do," Elizabeth told him when he walked up.

"We had the same idea," Darry responded. Elizabeth gave him a smile that made his heart stop in his chest for a moment. They sat down on the couch, and Darry could see the deep exhaustion in Elizabeth's eyes for the first time. He'd been too much in shock at the store to really notice.

Darry couldn't lie and say that he hadn't had a crush on Elizabeth before she'd left. They had spent all their time together, and she'd always been the most beautiful girl. She looked older and tired, but still had the same smile that made Darry's stomach erupt into butterflies and his palms start to sweat.

"Here's the meatloaf. I hope it's good," Darry said awkwardly. Elizabeth mumbled a thanks, and made Margaret a plate first. They made polite conversation until they were done eating, and then Darry couldn't help but look at the little girl. Elizabeth realized his hesitation and gave him a quick nod of understanding.

"Mags, Mr. Darry and I need to talk. How about you go build a fort over there?" Elizabeth suggested.

"Alright, Mama," Margaret agreed, stumbling a few times as she went to where two trees were leaning together in the perfect direction to build a stick fort.

"That's weird to hear," Darry noted.

"Yeah. Sometimes it's weird for me too," Elizabeth admitted.

"You didn't tell me," Darry said for the second time that day. "I-I didn't even know you were seein' anyone, much less someone you'd sleep with."

"I wasn't," Elizabeth said softly. Her eyes were trained on her hands, and he could see that she'd been biting her nails again. "Brian Floyd came into my room one night during a party of my dad's. At first, he just wanted to talk. Out of nowhere, he forced me down on the bed and there was nothing I could do."

"Liz," Darry whispered, his heart breaking and anger coursing through his veins. Brain Floyd came from a big soc family that was friends with the Sheldons, and he was a good five years older than the pair.

"I didn't tell anyone. When my monthly didn't come, I went to Mama Curtis. She got me an appointment, and it came back positive. After that, I had to tell my parents and they drove me out to Baton Rouge the same day. They thought...they wouldn't believe that Brian would do that. They thought you were the dad, and they couldn't stand that idea."

"But we never-"

"I know that, and I told them, but they didn't care. In their eyes, you were a dirty greaser," Elizabeth reminded him.

"That must be why they wouldn't give me any information," Darry sighed. "I can't believe Mama never told me. She'd always defend you when one of the guys mentioned you disappearing, but I never knew why."

"We kept in touch. I wrote with her more than my own parents, and she met Margaret a couple of times," Elizabeth admitted.

"You were Bethany, weren't you?" Darry guessed with a sad smile. Elizabeth raised her eyebrows in surprise and nodded. "Mama suddenly started getting letters from an old college friend named Bethany that we'd never heard of before, and then she was taking trips every once in a while. We always thought it was weird."

"She would've been an amazing grandmother, Darry. Your dad was great with Margaret when he met her, too," Elizabeth assured him. Darry blinked away the tears and sniffled a few times. Margaret was still building her fort, although she wasn't old enough to really know how.

"Yeah, I bet they would've been great grandparents. They were great parents," Darry confirmed.

"I wanted to tell you, but I thought you'd hate me for leaving like I did. And I didn't want everyone to know that I got knocked up."

"I would've understood. I would've helped you."

"I know," Elizabeth whispered. She quickly wiped away a tear before it could finish its path.

"Does he know? Brian?" Darry questioned.

"I assume he has his theory about my disappearance, but he's never contacted me. My dad had a business dinner tonight, and he's there, so I'm not going home until they're gone," Elizabeth said bitterly. Darry hated hearing that tone in her voice, so he decided to change the subject.

"Tell me about Baton Rouge."

They talked long enough that Margaret gave up on her fort and crawled into Elizabeth's arms to fall asleep. Darry tried not to stare, but it was still weird to see the person that he used to be closest to in the world suddenly reappearing with a kid in tow. They lost track of time until Elizabeth had to shift Margaret down because her arm was too tired.

"Shit," Darry hissed when he looked at his watch. It was already 10:30, and both of his brothers would be anxious.

"What? What's wrong?" Elizabeth questioned when Darry jumped up.

"Pony and Soda, they don't like it when I'm gone too long. I told them I'd be home around 9:00," Darry explained.

"Right. No, I should go put Maggie down, too," Elizabeth confirmed. "Are they going to be okay?"

"Ponyboy is getting nightmares just like he did as a kid, and Soda just gets super anxious. I really should get home," Darry told her apologetically.

"It's fine, Darry," Elizabeth assured him, standing up too. Darry nodded and wanted to pull her into a hug, but he didn't want to disturb the sleeping girl in her arms. He awkwardly cleared his throat and told her what he'd been avoiding all night.

"Um, before I go, I just wanted to...we're still recovering from our folks and Windrixville. I know that the boys are gonna find out that you're back in town, but I don't want you reachin' out to them. I can't have them lose another person."

"I'm here to stay, Darry. I've missed them," Elizabeth argued, hurt crossing over her face. At one point, she'd been an older sister to Ponyboy and Sodapop, but that was over five years ago.

"You left once without a word. I know why you did, but I can't do that to them again. They were destroyed, Liz. I was, too."

"Right," Elizabeth said, a stormy expression crossing over her face. "Well, don't let me hold you any longer. Goodbye, Darrel."

Darrel.

Elizabeth had never called him that before. As she slammed her car door shut, he knew that he had majorly fucked up.

Chapter Text

The party had cleared out by the time Elizabeth made it home. As requested, she parked in the garage, which was helpful since Margaret was still completely passed out asleep. The drive hadn't been long enough for her to fully process Darry's request, but she knew that someone would come looking for her if she didn't go inside soon. As expected, Anne was sitting and reading a book in the living room.

"It's late."

"Sorry. I had to catch up with some friends," Elizabeth explained.

"That Curtis boy, am I right? Did you tell him?" Anne asked. Elizabeth closed her eyes and took a deep breath to regulate her anger.

"Darry isn't her dad, Mother. I've told you this a thousand times. She doesn't even look like him."

"Whatever you say," Anne dismissed as she stood. "Let me have her while you finish cleaning. Your dad is having a meeting for his campaign in the morning, so we need to make sure it's spotless."

Elizabeth wasn't given any time to argue. Fortunately for them both, Margaret was so tired that she just let out a whimper at being woken up and then settled down on Anne's shoulder to fall back asleep. The only mess left was a few cups and plates, so it didn't take long for her to clean the room. She was about to head up when her brother made an appearance.

"Father will lose his mind if you don't sweep and mop," Bob noted as he plopped down on the couch with a barely hidden hiss of pain.

"Are you alright?" Elizabeth checked.

"It's just getting colder. I'm fine," Bob assured her. Elizabeth hesitated for a moment and then sat down next to him.

"Why'd you do it, Bob? You could've killed Ponyboy."

Bob curled his lip and started biting his nails until Elizabeth reached out and forced his hand down. It was a bad habit that they both shared. The teen took a deep breath and then groaned a little, avoiding looking at her.

"I don't know, Elizabeth. What am I supposed to say? That I was jealous of a dirty greaser and wanted revenge? Is that what you want to hear?"

"Why were you jealous?" Elizabeth questioned, making her brother scoff.

"You were never home. I don't think you realize just how little you were actually here with me. And when you were home, you just talked about Ponyboy and Sodapop, and how they were just perfect. Then, we start middle school, and suddenly, even though he's a grade below me, everyone talks about how pretty Sodapop Curtis is. Then we get to high school, and Ponyboy is in advanced classes when he's still supposed to be in middle school. I saw Cherry talking with Ponyboy at the drive-in, and I got jealous. I was holding him under that water, and I felt like I was getting payback for him stealing my sister."

"Bob..." Elizabeth whispered, her eyes filling with tears. She hadn't realized all that her baby brother had been holding in for years.

"Don't, Elizabeth. I know it's stupid," Bob spat.

"I wasn't going to say that," Elizabeth said calmly.

"I mean, I can remember you going over to their house to celebrate every little thing, but you just looked miserable when you were here. I didn't even want you coming to stuff because you made me feel bad. You ruined my tenth birthday by getting into an argument about desegregation. So what if Uncle Adam thinks it's a bad thing? It wasn't the time to get into an argument. And I bet you can't remember my seventh-grade award show? You barely told me congratulations before you went to comfort Sodapop for not winning anything. I got boy of the year, for crying out loud!"

"Bob, I'm sorry. I didn't know you cared that much. You never seemed like you wanted me around all that much, and I felt so suffocated here. I can look back and admit that I should've been around for you more, but you have to think about how I felt here, too. Don't blame me for your anger," Elizabeth countered. She could admit that she had been a bad sister, but she didn't want him implying that it was her fault that he'd tried to kill Ponyboy.

"Well, it is your fault. When I felt him stop kicking, I thought about you, and I felt that I finally got vengeance."

Elizabeth's stomach twisted when Bob stormed upstairs. She couldn't hold her tears back as she finished her cleaning, taking as long as she could to think through everything that had happened over the last few hours.

Like Bob had said, she'd taken Ponyboy and Sodapop under her wings, and they had been like brothers to her. She had been there when they'd learned how to ride a bike, throw a football, go to their first school dance. One of the things that she had looked forward to coming back to Tulsa was seeing them again, and now Darry had requested that she stay away. The thought made her bite back a sob.

On top of that, Bob admitted that he'd tried to kill someone because of her. That thought made her rush to the bathroom to throw up Darry's meatloaf.

Elizabeth crawled into bed, wondering what she had done to deserve the last five years of her life.

 

---------------------------

 

"Mama, I'm bored."

Elizabeth sighed and then kneeled down to look at Margaret with a stern expression.

"Margaret, do not bother me again. Mama is workin', and I need to focus. If you can be still for two more hours, I'll give you a milkshake. Deal?"

"Deal," Margaret said with a grin that made Elizabeth think that she'd planned to annoy her mom just to get a treat. The girl skipped over to the booth at the back of the Dingo and started coloring again.

"She's alright," Mr. Owens said with a laugh.

"I'm going to save up to get a babysitter, or put her in daycare. She can't start school until next fall," Elizabeth assured him.

"Elizabeth, it's nice havin' some joy around here. Things have been tense over the last few months. Now get ready for the after-school rush. You're on your own for that one."

Her first day of work at the Dingo had been going smoothly so far, other than Margaret getting increasingly bored. Elizabeth had worked with another waitress for the first part of the day, but she had experience serving, and she remembered the menu, so she was able to get her own tables rather quickly.

"Welcome to the Dingo! My name is Elizabeth. Come sit right over here," Elizabeth greeted with a smile to get to the next table.

Over the next half hour, two other servers came in to start their shift. She didn't miss their looks or whispers since she was now the oldest server, and most everyone remembered her. Tim Shepherd came in with his friends and made a point to stare at her. He was friends with Dallas, so they'd spent some time together before she had disappeared. Based on his expression, he wasn't happy that she was back.

"Hey, Mary, want to take that table? You haven't had any big groups yet," Elizabeth offered to the teenager.

"No way in hell," Mary declined with an amused snort. "It's your turn. I'll take your next two."

Elizabeth sighed and made her way over to the table. The conversation ended suddenly, and Tim's eyes seemed to pierce her. Tim's sister, Angela, was the only kind face, so Elizabeth looked at her.

"Y'all know what you want?"

"How long you been back in town? Winston didn't say nothin'," Tim responded.

"I haven't seen him yet. What can I get you to eat? Or somethin' to drink?" Elizabeth tried to pivot.

"Y'know, he was mighty pissed. I told him from the start not to trust you. Told him that you were a normal soc who used us greasers for one thing or another just to leave. Guess thirteen-year-old me was right," Tim said with a shrug. Elizabeth hadn't liked him as a teenager, and she definitely didn't like him now. Based on the scar running down the right side of his face, the years hadn't been kind to him.

"What would you like to order? Or do you need more time to read over the menu?" Elizabeth said firmly.

"I want-"

"Where's my milkshake?" Margaret interrupted loudly, stomping her foot. Elizabeth's eyes widened at her daughter's attitude, and she whipped around with an expression that made her daughter realize that she'd made a mistake.

"Margaret Jane Sheldon, go sit back down. You just lost your milkshake, and you don't get any television for two days. I told you not to bother me while I'm working. Now go."

"But, Mama! I'm bored!" Margaret pouted. Tim and his brother, Curly, started snickering with their friends, making Elizabeth's cheeks burn.

"I need to finish with this table, and then we can go home. Now go sit down, or it'll be three days," Elizabeth threatened. Margaret stomped her foot again, but stormed back to her booth without another word. Tim was smirking when she turned back around.

"So that's why you left? I bet Daddy wasn't too happy that you got knocked up. Y'know, us greasers know how to prevent that. Or were you whoring around to try and win back some soc friends so you could get rid of your greaser friends?"

"Go fuck yourself," Elizabeth sneered.

"Mighty big words. I'd like to speak to the manager," Tim teased. Elizabeth's bottom lip wobbled despite her fight to keep her emotions to herself. The younger adult seemed extra pleased with himself at the sign of emotion.

"Go take a breather. Ernest is entertaining Maggie for now," Mrs. Owens whispered before she gave the Shepherd gang a displeased look. Elizabeth didn't waste a second to storm outside and squat down to cry into her knees. It couldn't have been more than two minutes before she smelled a mix of alcohol and cigarette smoke, and the sun was suddenly blocked.

"Need a smoke?"

Two-Bit Mathews had definitely grown up. He'd apparently gotten his growth spurt because he was a good six inches taller than she remembered, and he now had intense sideburns. He didn't look surprised to see her as he handed down a cigarette that Elizabeth gladly took, wiping her cheeks with her free hand. Two-Bit, or Keith, was closest in age to her and Darry, so they'd grown up together. Thanks to his Polynesian heritage, they hadn't been able to go to school together until middle school, but they were still plenty close thanks to their time at the Curtis house.

"Thanks," Elizabeth croaked out.

"All I've got is some vodka, and that'll just make it worse," Two-Bit quipped in response to her voice.

"You're eighteen," Elizabeth noted.

"And?" Two-Bit smiled, sitting next to her. They sat in silence for a moment before Elizabeth spoke.

"You don't look surprised to see me."

"Darry told me," Two-Bit admitted. "And if you ask me, it was might stupid of him to tell you to stay away. We all miss you, y'know. No one else could help me annoy Darry like you, although Dally is awfully close."

"It's his call. I understand," Elizabeth said with a shrug.

"I don't. When do I get to meet Margaret?" Two-Bit asked with a smile.

"She's inside. I needed a break. Tim Shepherd is still a dick."

"I'll handle it," Two-Bit shrugged.

"Don't. Please. It'll just cause more problems."

"If you say so," Two-Bit shrugged again before he grinned once more. "So, is Darry the dad? He stayed awfully tight-lipped about that, and you two were awfully close."

"God, why does everyone always ask that?! No, he's not the dad. And don't go askin' me who it is," Elizabeth warned. She wasn't ready to tell the whole town how she'd been assaulted, and she knew that she'd be turned into a liar. Her cheeks turned a little red, too. She couldn't lie and say that she hadn't had a crush on Darry before she'd left. How could she not? He was handsome, kind, and intelligent, and he got her better than anyone else. Part of her wished that she had told him because she knew that he would have raised Margaret like his own, but the other part was logical enough to know that she would have ruined his life.

"Well, it seems there isn't a dad in the picture, and Margaret needs a place to go while you work. Mama still runs a daycare. Susie is old enough to help out, too. She's thirteen! Glory, Beth, she's old enough to get her period. I was the only one home when it started, and I about lost my mind. Fortunately, Mama Curtis came over and helped."

"I can't afford daycare right now. I have to save up for an apartment," Elizabeth declined, choosing to ignore Two-Bit's other topic of conversation. He wasn't known for polite topics.

"Y'know, we have a basement. It's small, and you'd have to deal with the laundry machines, but Mama was lookin' into renting it out. It's old furniture, but it's there. Of course, you would have to share a bathroom with me, but I've gotten better. She only wants $50 a month," Two-Bit offered.

"I-I can't," Elizabeth said after a moment of thought. Most apartments that she'd looked at were $100 a month, or more, so the Mathews had a deal.

"Darry's a big boy. He won't mind if you move in down the street," Two-Bit said knowingly.

"Yes, he will. You didn't hear him, Keith. He doesn't want me around."

"He does. Just think about it. And think about the daycare, too. Mama is lookin' for more clients," Two-Bit said, patting her knee and then helping her stand.

"Come meet Maggie," Elizabeth suggested. The young adult looked like he'd won a prize as he followed her until they found Margaret babbling away to Mr. Owens.

"She's mighty talkative," Mr. Owens said, looking eager to get away. He still ruffled the girl's hair and told her he'd see her soon. A quick glance showed that the Shepherds were gone and their table had already been replaced by a new group. Mrs. Owens caught her eye and nodded to let her know that she was good to go home, making relief fill her body. All of Elizabeth ached, and she wanted a hot bath.

"Well, aren't you pretty?" Two-Bit greeted. "I'm Uncle Two-Bit, and you must be Margaret. We're gonna get along real well."

Margaret gave Two-Bit a distrustful look and scooted over. Elizabeth sat down next to her in the booth so that the man could sit on the other side.

"This is one of my friends. I met him when I was about your age, Mags," Elizabeth explained.

"That's a funny name," Margaret noted.

"It's 'cause he never shuts up," Elizabeth said truthfully. "You can call him Uncle Keith."

"That makes me sound old," Two-Bit complained.

"You are," Elizabeth laughed.

"Hey, I'm still a junior. I'm not old."

Elizabeth's eyebrows jumped up, and she gave him a questioning look. He should already be done with school, not halfway through. Two-Bit shrugged a little and suddenly looked serious.

"They're draftin' kids. I wouldn't be a good soldier. And Mama wouldn't be able to keep the house without the money I make helpin' out at Buck's. I don't mind school none, either. It's a bit boring since Soda dropped out, but-"

"Soda dropped out?" Elizabeth interrupted.

"Uh, yeah," Two-Bit said awkwardly. "Not long after their folks passed. Said he wasn't good at it, and Darry was about to lose them and the house. It was a big fight, but they've figured it out. He works at the DX full-time. Steve is part-time up there."

"Glory," Elizabeth whispered. She'd tutored Soda some when he was younger, and she knew that he was smart, but his mind moved a thousand miles an hour, and letters jumped around the page. As a result, he never got good grades.

"Eh, he's happier now. His hatred of school grew while you were gone," Two-Bit dismissed.

"Mama, I gotta go potty," Margaret announced.

"That's my queue," Two-Bit laughed. "I'll see you guys soon. Give me a call when you decide."

"Alright. Bye, Two," Elizabeth said.

"I like him," Margaret noted once they were in the car. "He has pretty hair. It's curly! Like yours, Mama."

"It is, baby."

"I hope I can make friends, too," Margaret said hopefully. She had been less than pleased to leave her friends in Baton Rouge. Elizabeth hesitated for a moment before asking the question she was dreading, already knowing the response.

"Yeah? What would you think about going to a daycare like before?"

"I'd love to! Mama, please!" Margaret gasped.

Elizabeth grimaced, knowing that she was about to make Darry even more upset than he already was.

Chapter Text

Darry had been up for twenty hours straight by the time that he finally made it home. Ponyboy had a parent-teacher conference midday, which meant that Darry had to start work earlier than normal to make up for the lost time. On top of that, a winter storm was predicted for Friday, so they only had a day to finish a roof before they wouldn't be able to work. Their boss had kept the team late to complete it, which meant that Darry was practically swaying on his feet when he got out of the truck. His displeasure grew when he saw Dallas smoking on the porch.

"Put your sling on," Darry said as a greeting. Dallas' doctors wanted him to wear a sling all the time, but the teen rarely wore it. The gang would know that Dallas' wound was hurting if he put it on. Tonight, the teen scowled a little, but did as he was told.

"I talked to Tim. He said girl Sheldon is back in town," Dallas said simply.

"She has a name. It's Elizabeth," Darry retorted.

"She lost her name when she disappeared without a word. I warned you guys," Dallas shrugged. The native New Yorker had been the last addition to the gang, so he hadn't grown up with Elizabeth like the others. He had stayed wary of the soc until the day she left, and then he told anyone who would listen that he had called it from the beginning.

"I'm tired, Winston. Unless you have somethin' more to say, I'm goin' inside," Darry responded, not up for an argument.

"Is the kid yours?"

"God fuckin' dammit, why does everyone keep sayin' that?" Darry groaned, running his hand down his face. Two-Bit had asked him the same question when he'd told him about Margaret.

"Can you blame me? All I remember is how you two were always together, and you'd always be touchin'. You used to hold hands and all that shit," Dallas explained. "Tim said the kid's a brat. Figures with who her mom is."

"Watch your mouth," Darry warned. Dallas tried to show a tough face, but he looked since he knew that he'd messed up.

"Is she gonna start comin' around?" Dallas questioned.

"Glory, Dallas, I don't know. She just got into town this week, and I've only had one real conversation with her. I told her not to come around 'cause Ponyboy is still dealin' with too much shit, but I know Soda's gonna freak when he finds out. I'm putting that off as long as I can. Don't bring them to the Dingo unless you see she's not there."

"Got it, Superman. A bit of advice: don't let her trick you again."

Darry bit his tongue so hard that he tasted blood in an attempt not to punch Dallas as he strolled into the house as if it were his own. He took a few deep breaths before he stepped inside the house and headed to the kitchen. He hadn't eaten more than a few peanuts since breakfast, so he was close to ravenous.

"Soda cooked?" Darry guessed. Ponyboy smirked a little and barely looked up from his book to nod.

"Why else would we have green spaghetti?"

"Right," Darry sighed. The food coloring that his brother was so fond of didn't change the flavor, and he kind of looked forward to seeing what Soda made. As always, the food was a little over-baked and under-seasoned, but it was passable.

"Like it?" Soda asked as he slid into his chair. Darry bit back a groan when the kitchen table was suddenly full with Steve, Two-Bit, Dallas, and Ace.

"Of course, Pepsi. Thanks for cookin'. Did you do the dishes, Ponyboy?" Darry asked. His little brother scowled and shook his head a little. The rule was that whoever didn't cook had to do the dishes, which his littlest brother was well aware of.

"He was nose deep in the book! I didn't mind none," Soda insisted.

"You can cook and clean tomorrow," Darry said simply.

"Nah, I got some extra cash. We're goin' to the Dingo for dinner tomorrow," Ace announced, ruffling the cash in Steve's face to tease him. As step-siblings, the two loved to tease one another. Panic gripped Darry's throat at the idea of them going and Elizabeth being there, but Two-Bit stepped in before he could think of an excuse.

"Nah, stay home tomorrow. That storm's gonna close everythin' anyway."

"Damn, I keep forgetting about that," Ace sighed.

"We'll go see Johnny in the mornin' before it gets too bad," Steve offered. "I just got new snow tires."

"Can we, Darry?" Ponyboy asked hopefully. With the storm coming, he wanted to say no, but everyone said the ice and snow wouldn't start until the night.

"Of course. I have some accounting to do from home, so you guys have fun. Tell him I miss him," Darry instructed as he stood with a firm look at Ponyboy to clean his dish. A quick shower was all his achy bones could handle. The boys and Ace were still up front, so he yelled up to tell them goodnight, and then collapsed onto his bed once he was in his most comfortable pajamas.

He'd only seen Johnny a few times since his accident. When Ponyboy came home and told them that Johnny was dead, Darry had only felt guilt. In an argument over Ponyboy staying out too late, he'd slapped his brother and sent him running, which ended with Ponyboy and Johnny hiding in an old church and getting caught when it came burning down. The older boy had gotten a beam to his back, and such severe burns that his heart had stopped. The doctors were able to bring him back to life, but they couldn't fix all his issues. Darry had thrown up from guilt every time he'd gone to see the sixteen-year-old, so he always found excuses to not go.

Darry was almost asleep when someone lightly knocked on the door. He expected it to be Ponyboy or Ace, but Two-Bit was the one who entered. It was unusual for his friend to be so quiet because he loved to make an entrance.

"You alright?" Darry croaked out through a yawn. Two-Bit made sure the door was firmly shut and looked hesitant before he spoke.

"Word is spreadin' around town about Beth and Margaret. It's only a matter of time before the boys find out," Two-Bit warned.

"I know. Dallas and I talked about her," Darry sighed. "I know they'll find out, but I want to prolong it."

"Is that the best idea?" Two-Bit questioned. "I think Pony and Soda would take it best comin' from you. Pony especially might get upset that you didn't tell him."

"I'll think about it," Darry assured him. One good thing about roofing was that he had plenty of time to think, and he'd already considered that possibility.

"Um, I also...I figured you should hear it from me. Beth is sendin' Margaret to Mama's daycare, and she's movin' in to our basement. Apparently, things are worse at home, and she can't do it anymore. I'm movin' her in on Sunday if the snow is cleared up."

Darry felt like he'd been punched. He could forget that Elizabeth was back in town if he didn't see her, but Two-Bit would drag her over when he came, and the Mathews house was only five doors up. Whether he'd like it or not, Elizabeth would now be part of his life again.

"I'll help. Move them in," Darry offered before he could think it through.

"Sure?" Two-Bit checked.

"Yeah. I'm sure."

He was lying to them both.

 

---------------------------

 

"I know it's not much."

"It's fine. I promise," Elizabeth assured Mrs. Mathews for the thousandth time.

The basement apartment was definitely small, but there was enough space to put up a small dividing wall so they could both have their own space, some dressers, and a couch. Margaret didn't look quite as pleased, but she would have to learn to deal with it.

Mrs. Mathews had immediately called Elizabeth the same day that she'd talked to Two-Bit to offer her a spot in the daycare, and to reiterate that she had an apartment for sale. At first, she'd declined the apartment, but then she'd gotten into it with her dad and she decided that it was better to leave. Her dad wanted her to basically become a maid for them, which she couldn't do while also working full-time and raising a child. It had ended up turning into a screaming match where he'd accused her of being a whore, and she decided that she was done. The Mathews just needed some time to move some boxes out, and then they'd be ready for their new guests.

"Where's my bed gonna go?" Margaret asked. The room was full of their old furniture, so there were two twin mattresses, but only one bed frame.

"You'll get this one," Elizabeth answered, pointing to the bed frame. The wind howling above made them all look to the tiny window with worry. The snow was coming in faster than predicted, and the wind was already picking up.

"You ought to get home before this gets worse. I need to head to work, as well. The bar gets lots of business when the weather is bad, believe it or not. We'll be over on Sunday if this clears up," Mrs. Mathews said. They'd only swung by after Elizabeth's shift to get a quick tour and work out Margaret's daycare.

"Thank you so much. I really appreciate it," Elizabeth said earnestly.

"Anytime."

Elizabeth's car was a real piece of shit, and it was used to warmer weather. She had already noticed that it wasn't liking the Tulsa temperatures, and it seemed to be protesting extra loud now. She winced with every sound the engine made, and gripped the wheel tighter when her tired skidded against the icy road.

"Mama?" Margaret said worriedly.

"It's alright, baby. I'll get us home," Elizabeth promised, but her voice wavered. She hadn't gotten snow tires, and her tread was already low, so she could barely stay in her lane. The strong wind and blinding snow weren't helping.

"I'm scared!" Margaret exclaimed.

"I know, I'm sorry," Elizabeth tried to say calmly. It wasn't two seconds later that her tires skidded her so that she was completely turned around, and her engine let out another sound and then completely shut down. "Shit. You've got to be kidding me."

Margaret was quietly crying in the backseat, and Elizabeth didn't feel far behind. Her engine just sputtered when she turned the key again, and she knew there was no hope of it turning back on. There was also no way that she could drive home with her tires and the current conditions. As if the universe was cursing her, she's spun around to be right by the Curtis house.

"Alright, baby, I'm gonna go get help. You stay in the car or I'll ground you for a whole month. Understand?" Elizabeth said shakily.

"Yeah, Mama. Hurry back," Margaret whimpered. Elizabeth turned to gently rub her knee and then she headed up the familiar driveway. She was glad for the cold because it gave her an excuse to hide her shaking hands after she knocked. Darry opened the door almost immediately, his face pale and panicked. It relaxed when he saw that it was her.

"Thank God," Darry breathed out, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"I-I'm sorry. I was visiting the Mathews, but my engine gave out, and my tires need replacin', and I don't have snow tires. If it were just me, I'd walk, but Maggie is with me. Mrs. Mathews headed to work, Susie is with a friend, and I can't leave her," Elizabeth rushed out.

"Hey, you're fine. It's alright. Was that you I heard?" Darry asked, looking back at the mess of a car behind her.

"Yeah," Elizabeth said bashfully. Despite her best effort, a tear fell down her cheek. Almost by instinct, Darry reached out to wipe it away before he caught himself and awkwardly pulled his jacket tighter instead.

"Sorry, I just...no one ever knocks. The boys are stuck at the hospital with Johnny, so I'm a little on edge. I had to tell Steve not to drive, and part of me panicked and thought you were gonna be a cop givin' me more bad news," Darry admitted.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be."

Elizabeth gave him a soft smile and then glanced back at her car where Margaret was dutifully sitting.

"Can we come in? I'll call for a tow, and get a ride home. We'll be out of your hair in no time," Elizabeth assured him.

"Right! Yeah, of course," Darry said immediately. Elizabeth smiled in thanks and headed down the steps, but her shoes weren't made for the snow. The only reason she didn't bust her head open was because Darry caught her.

"Shit! Ow," Elizabeth hissed through her teeth, holding onto Darry's bicep and wincing.

"You alright?" Darry checked.

"Strained my back. It's fine," Elizabeth explained. Darry helped her stand straight, but they kept a hand on one another.

"If you don't mind, I'll get Margaret from the car and bring her in. All your car needs is to be put on neutral and I can push it into the driveway. You spun out perfectly for that," Darry offered. Elizabeth had never said this out loud, but she hated when anyone else held Margaret. She was always scared that they would drop her or fall. With how she could feel Darry's muscles through his shirt, she wasn't scared of that.

"Sure. If you don't mind. I-thanks."

Darry grinned a little and ushered Elizabeth inside so he could put his shoes on. It took her a moment to realize that the major difference in the house was the absence of rose scented perfume that Mama Curtis always wore. She didn't have time to ponder on that before Darry was headed out. Anxiety still forced her to watch to make sure that everything was okay. He kneeled down by the backdoor and spoke to Margaret for a moment, and then she watched him put her car in neutral and push it into the driveway like it weighed nothing. When he grabbed Margaret from the car, the girl looked ecstatic.

"Did you see that, Mama?! He pushed the car with his hands!" Margaret exclaimed.

"I saw," Elizabeth confirmed. She couldn't help but think that Darry looked like a natural with Margaret in his arms, but she pushed that thought away before it could fully form. The man put the girl down on the floor and headed into the kitchen.

"Where are we?" Margaret inquired.

"Remember Grandma and Grandpa Curtis? This is their house," Elizabeth explained quietly, pointing to a picture on the wall. Margaret shook her head and the woman had to blink away tears when she realized that her daughter didn't remember the Curtis parents. They'd met her when she was three, but that had been the last time.

"Earl grey, two sugars, one milk," Darry announced when he came back into the room with three cups. He handed Elizabeth some chocolate milk and then settled into his dad's chair with a coffee.

"You remembered," Elizabeth said softly.

"Well, yeah," Darry said with a small shrug. Elizabeth grinned to herself and took a sip of the tea before Margaret yawned and rubbed her eyes.

"Oh, it's nap time. Can she sleep somewhere?" Elizabeth requested sheepishly.

"Sure. Soda's room is free."

Soda's room hadn't changed much in the last five years. A few posters of girls had gone up, but it mostly focused on cowboy culture and cars. Margaret wasn't a fan of the decor, but she was tired enough that she fell asleep in minutes.

"Let me call for a tow," Elizabeth said when she came back.

"Don't-don't worry about it," Darry rushed out. "Steve just called. The roads just got cleared, and the snow is calmed down enough that they're on the way home. He and Soda can look at it."

"Darry, you said-"

"I was wrong," Darry interrupted. He looked so sad that Elizabeth sat down and decided not to argue. "I shouldn't have...you were their sister. I'm not going to blame you for what happened, because I know it wasn't your fault. I wish that you would've written us to explain, I really fucking do, but that's in the past. I-I missed you, and they did, too. If you're comfortable, I want you around. I want you here."

"I want to be here, too," Elizabeth whispered before she cleared her throat and spoke up. "I missed you guys so much. Leavin' was the hardest thing I've ever done, and I hated missin' so much."

"You promise that you're stayin'?" Darry said seriously.

"Promise."

The smile on Darry's face made everything okay. He tried to calm his face, but he ended up grinning still. Elizabeth couldn't help but copy.

"You can spend the night, too, if you need. No offense, but I don't think your car will get through the snow how it is," Darry offered.

"Alright, but I get to cook dinner."

"Deal."

The call home went as well as it could. A quick lie that she would be staying in her new apartment appeased her mother, so she avoided a major fight. After that, she looked through the fridge and pulled out some chicken to roast. Mama Curtis had gotten her into the habit of turning the radio on while she worked, so she found a station that she liked and turned the volume on. It wasn't long before Darry made an appearance.

"We haven't listen to that since the accident."

"Shit, sorry! I didn't know!" Elizabeth gasped. Her rush to turn the radio off was thwarted by Darry reaching out to block her.

"No, it-it's fine. Maybe it's time we listen to it more," Darry shrugged, a far off look in his eyes. She wanted to ask him how he was doing, but she didn't think they were quite there yet. She got him started peeling some potatoes, and they made polite conversation. They'd go back and forth between easy conversation and moment of awkward silence as they both tried to figure out their new relationship. They both froze for a moment when they heard car doors slam, and then the sound of multiple footsteps. When the front door opened, Darry headed to the front first while Elizabeth made herself presentable.

"Hey, Dar! Johnny says hi. Who's car is that?"

It took Elizabeth a moment to realize that Soda was the one talking. He had still been pre-puberty when she'd left, but now he was days shy of his seventeenth birthday, and had a deep voice. When she stepped into the doorway, she could see that he was now almost as tall as Darry, and much more muscular than before. Ponyboy was at his side with poorly bleached hair, a thin frame, but he was much older than before. The sight of them made Elizabeth tear up once more.

"I have somethin' to tell you boys," Darry said softly. Both Soda and Ponyboy furrowed their eyebrows until Ace spotted Elizabeth in the doorway and let out a surprised gasp.

"Holy shit," Soda whispered. She couldn't read his expression until he suddenly broke out into a bright smile and rushed forward. He had barely reached her shoulder before, but now he was a head taller than her and could easily pick her up to spin.

"Oh, I missed you, Soda," Elizabeth whispered back when he put her down and held her for a moment longer. Soda had always been the bawl baby, and he wasn't even ashamed to wipe away happy tears. He looked at her like he thought it was a dream, and then grabbed her again.

"Don't hog, Cola!" Ace complained, shoving the boy away to get a hug. As the only two girls, the pair had been able to bond quite a bit. When they let go, Steve gave her a nod while Two-Bit grinned like he had won the lottery, and Dallas glared at her. Elizabeth finally turned to Ponyboy and sent him a small smile. His face was pulled tight, and his shoulders were hunched in like he'd been punched in the gut.

"Hey, Colt."

"Don't call me that."

"Ponyboy," Darry tried to warn. Elizabeth had picked up on Mr. Curtis' nickname, but it seemed like that was over with. She couldn't blame him, but she thought the nostalgia might give her brownie points.

"It's alright," Elizabeth assured him. Darry sighed and clenched his jaw, crossing his arms, too. Ponyboy had always held a grudge, and he wasn't one to hide how he was feeling unless he was sick.

"Pony, it's just Beth," Soda tried to soothe. Ponyboy took a step forward, raised his chin, and looked her straight in the eye.

"I will never forgive you. I hope I never have to see you, ever again."