The young lovers ( ponyboy fanfic)

30

• Several days later •

Darry offers to drive just me to the train station to pick up my mother. To be honest, I'm terrified. The drive is too short for me, and we nervously await the train on the station platform. Darry taps his foot. 

"You nervous?" he asks. 

"I should be asking you that. But I'm a little nervous."

"I hope she likes us and all."

"I'm pretty sure she already does," I tell him with a laugh. He smiles and looks down at his shoes. "Thanks, Darry."

"For what?" he asks, looking up at me. 

"Everything. We couldn't have gotten here without you. I appreciate you helping with Baby and all."

"Well, that's just what I'm supposed to do, right? But you're welcome I guess. And thanks."

"For what?" I ask. 

"Keeping our family together."

"Darry, I did nothing like that."

"Sure you did!" he says. "Me and Ponyboy don't fight much. Soda aunt run out on us for anything. I ain't exactly lost my head yet. And you help around the house a lot. It really means a lot, and I've always been protective of Pony."

"Yeah..."

"I've never seen him so happy before. Since mom and dad died, I thought he'd be that way forever. You came along and changed him... If anyone was to become my sister-in-law, I'm glad it's you."

"Aw, Darry. I... I don't even know what to say!"

"Yeah, yeah. Mom and dad would've loved you like us."

"That's what Pony tells me," I say. "And mom's gonna love all of you sooner than you think because I hear the train right now!"

As the train finally comes closer, my hair whips around my face, and Darry has to steady me so I don't fall.  Only a few people get off. I don't see my mom yet. I begin to hope she didn't forget. And then finally I see her familiar dark brown hair done in a fancy up-do. We immediately see each other. I run to her. 

"Oh Kaylee! I missed you so much!" she says happily, her voice cracking. 

"I missed you too..." Tears roll down my cheeks. I smile despite them. She pulls away and wipes mine and her face, I laugh. 

"You look so grown up!"

"Yeah. I've done a lot of that lately... C'mon. Let's get to the house. You're gonna love it!" I grab her bags, and we walk to Darry, He takes them. 

"Mom, this is Darrel Curtis. He's my fiancée's oldest brother. He's been taking real good care of me," I explain, She shakes his hand. 

"Nice to meet you, Ms. Vaughn." he says politely. 

"Nice to meet you. I suppose Kaylee's been giving you trouble?"

"Well, she's a handful, but so are my brothers." Mom laughs. So far so good. 

We drive to the house with me sitting in the middle and joining a long conversation about her ride and my life here. My heart is pounding out of my chest. I really hope they didn't plan a surprise party of any sorts. I'd die if they embarrassed me in front of my mother. 

We walk through the front door. Everyone is dressed up nice and Tucker and Baby are upstairs. Food can be smelled throughout the house. Now we're really getting good. 

"Mom, this is where we live," I say, She nods and smiles. 

"Wow, hun. You must love it here!" I nod.