{ edited }

Johnny keeps his ground, standing in front of his husband and the little boy he now knows as 'Zachory'. His job now, at this moment, was to protect the both of them.

No matter what, no matter what happens. He needs to protect this little boy.

"Zachory," a woman calls out again, the voice getting closer. "Where are you?"

"D-don't let her take me," Zachory whimpers into Ponyboy's chest. "I-i don't wanna go back..."

"You aren't going home with them," Ponyboy says. "I won't let you be taken away. It's okay."

Finally, a middle-aged couple walks up to Ponyboy and Johnny, gawking at the sight of their son in Ponyboy's arms. The father growls.

"Why do you have our son," he yells. "Give him back!"

"We're not giving him to you," Johnny says. "You aren't going to hit him or hurt him anymore! You can't treat children like that!"

"You told them, you little shit," he screams, pointing at his son, face red with rage.

Zachory whimpers again and tightens his grip on Ponyboy's shirt. The mother of Zachory walks forward and balls her fists up.

"Give us our son," she yells. "You don't get to tell us how to parent!"

"I can in this situation because everyone well knows, except you obviously, that it's not okay to hit a child! You don't beat them down, you don't abuse them!"

Ponyboy looms around at the group of people forming around the two couples. He looks at someone.

"Call... Call the police," Ponyboy says quietly. "Please..."

The person nods and gets on their phone, dialing the police and calling them. Ponyboy nods thankfully at them and turns back to his husband.

"I said," the mother seethes. "Give my son back!"

Johnny shakes his head and stays close to Ponyboy and Zachory. The young boy in Ponyboy's arms peeks at his angry parents.

"Why do you want a child that you beat," Johnny asks. "Why would you birth a child that you didn't want?"

"Just shut up," the father yells. "You wouldn't understand!"

"I don't understand," Johnny questions. "I understand fully! My parents were the same to me as you are to Zach! They beat me until I couldn't move, until I felt like nothing! They would scream at me and neglect me like I didn't exist! They told me I was a mistake that was never meant to happen!"

Johnny's eyes well up at the frustration and memories. His breathing goes heavy.

"I-i hurt myself because of them," Johnny screams. "They m-made me feel like I-i was nothing a-and I won't let you m-make this child feel that w-way! I will make sure y-you never touch him again!"

Johnny stops talking and starts sobbing, just as the police arrive. They get out of the car and intervene.

"What seems to be the problem here," one of the police officers ask.

"This couple is abusing their son and tried to ditch him here," Ponyboy says, holding the boy closer. "He has bruises on his arms and I'm sure he has more under his shirt."

The police officer looks at the couple before looking at the sobbing Johnny. Johnny slowly moves next to Ponyboy and takes a shaky breath.

"Can I look to see if he has bruises," the police officer asks.

"I-is it okay, Zach, if he looks," Johnny asks between breaths.

Zachory slowly nods and loosens his grip on Ponyboy's shirt. Ponyboy sets him down and the officer kneels by him.

"How do you know this boy," the police officer asks.

"He just walked up to us and started talking," Ponyboy says. "Then his parents yelled his name and he freaked out, saying he didn't wanna go back to them."

The officer nods and lifts up Zach's shirt carefully, seeing all the dark bruises as well as light ones mixing across his skin. It was bad, sickening.

"Cuff that couple," the officer says, motioning the other officers behind him.

They nod and walk over to Zach's parents, putting handcuffs on them. Zachory's parents try and squirm under their grasps but fail to be free.

"Is there anyone you can stay with," the officer asks Zach.

Zachory thinks for a minute before shaking his head. He didn't have any relatives to stay with.

"H-he can stay with us," Johnny says.

"Really," Zachory asks, looking up at Johnny with wide eyes.

Johnny looks at Ponyboy who nods slightly. The older boy of the couple nods again and gives a small smile.

"Okay," the officer says. "He can stay with you until this whole situation is figured out."

Zachory pulls away from the police officer and hugs Johnny's leg tightly before doing the same to Ponyboy. They were now temporary parents.

-  -  -  -  -

How was this?

This chapter was a little angsty (pretty much as angsty as my soft heart will let me get). I hope you enjoyed this