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-ˋˏ ༻✿༺ ˎˊ-
Ten Years Later
A scream tore through the Curtis residence as an older Sodapop spun a pretty three-year-old with light brown curls and eyes, the brightest shade of blue they had ever seen, around playfully.
"Mama! Papa is spinnin' me again!"
Minnie Curtis giggled, taking a sip from her glass of lemonade, wiping the counters of any leftover residue from breakfast earlier that morning, watching her husband chase down their youngest child, Lily, with a mischievous grin on his features.
"Pepsi-Cola, leave her be."
Soda halted, scooping the young girl into his arms before planting a sloppy kiss on her cheek, which made her squeal in delight. He approached his beautiful wife and bent down to catch her lips in a sweet kiss.
She smiled into it, kissing him back quickly. "Pa!" An older boy with wild black hair barreled downstairs, clutching onto a stuffed animal tightly, brown eyes scanning the kitchen area curiously, searching.
Soda chuckled. "C'mere Johnnycakes." He set their daughter on the ground before picking up his ten-year-old son. Johnny smiled toothily before spotting his mother standing beside his father, waving energetically.
"Hi, mama!"
"Hey, stud." She greeted, blowing him a playful kiss. Johnny pretended to catch it, making smacking sounds with his lips for extra effect. It never ceased to amaze Soda how much the boy resembled his Uncle Johnny with his black hair and sweet brown eyes. When he smiled, those dimples popped and reminded him exactly why his wife insisted they name him Johnny.
He placed him on the ground beside his sister, who latched onto his leg automatically. The duo made their way into the living room together to play.
"They've gotten so big," Soda commented once they disappeared behind the wall, eyes landing back on his soulmate. "How's my girl?"
"Pregnant." She grinned warmly, resuming cleaning the dishes and putting away left-over plates. He wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, rocking back and forth subtly.
Another baby would be joining the Curtis family. Darry and his wife's baby girl was now four, and Ponyboy had a little boy with his girlfriend. Steve remained single and planned on staying that way. Two-Bit occasionally brought home dates, but sometimes, they were nothing severe or permanent.
They visited the graves every year on the anniversary of their deaths faithfully, paying respect. They still missed the duo terribly.
Margaret Cade quit drinking and sobered herself up completely. On good days, she babysat the children when Minnie needed a well-deserved break from motherhood. Surprisingly, it worked. The tension that used to exist between parent and child eventually dissipated. They moved on eventually, finding themselves healing with each passing day spent together, enjoying what they had right before them.
Every second mattered. No second should be taken for granted.
"What're ya thinkin' about baby?" Soda hummed curiously, brushing his nose along her nape tenderly.
"Just about everything. Life." She shrugged half-heartedly. He nodded silently. "About how lucky I am." Minnie continued after a pause, sighing contently when she finished drying the last dish, wiping her hands off.
She turned to face him. Soda smiled, cupping her cheek in his hand, thumb rubbing the soft skin adoringly. "Love you, kid." He whispered.
She hummed, then leaned in closer. "I love you too, Pepsi-Cola."
Their lips met in a brief, loving kiss before they pulled apart and headed toward the living room to watch over their children and enjoy the little moments spent together.
To enjoy life.
There was no more pain in Minnie's life. Nothing haunted her anymore besides old memories fading, becoming blurrier by the minute as if shrouded in mist.
Besides, if ghosts did exist and if Dal and Johnny were indeed spirits roaming the streets of Tulsa watching over their fellow members, then she believed they would've protected them from anything bad.
But they weren't afraid of anything anymore—not one bit.
