And I’ll stand by you, through our rocking years…

When his mother had died, Darry Curtis had set aside her ring and hid it in a cheap safe he got from the thrift. Out of Two-Bit’s grubby hands.

Each of the Curtis boys had grieved differently. Sodapop had bawled for weeks, Ponyboy had cried, but mostly relied on his sunsets and books, but Darry had gone from older brother to dad. He didn’t cry. But he did take everything he had left of his parents, and clung onto it like a life raft.

His parents had loved you. They had both known that one day, their son was going to marry you, and Darry was now sure of it as well. You had never left him. You loved him through it all. And he would do the same for you.

In fact, his mother’s precious ring that he had held on to was meant for you. He was going to propose with it, he swore to god.

So he had asked you to go with him on a picnic by the river. A pretty typical date with Darry. He did those kinds of sweet things.

So you thought nothing of it, and he picked you up later that day—like a gentleman—and brought you to the picnic site. Darry was freshly shaven, his hair combed neatly, and had his hands shoved deep into his pockets, a nervous look on his face.

“What’s going on? You look awfully nice for a picnic.” You said, grinning gently.

Darry exhaled a short laugh, scratching at the back of his neck.

“Look, I got something to ask ya.” He murmured, trying to keep his hands from shaking and his voice from cracking. It was real hard, though.

And out of nowhere, he dropped to his knee, looking up at you in pure adoration. Your eyes widened.

And then he pulled it out, his mother’s ring.

“I love you. {{user}}, you’re everything to me. Will you… will ya marry me?”