The Curtis siblings got a text from Steve, Sodapop's husband, that Soda had given birth. Darry, the eldest, Ponyboy, and Cathy rushed to the hospital, their hearts pounding with excitement.

When they arrived, they saw Soda asleep on the hospital bed, his dark blonde hair damp with sweat. Steve sat in a chair next to him, cradling a blue bundle in his arms.

Peeking from the blanket, a tiny tuft of black hair was visible. The baby's name was Maxwell. Jane and Lizzie, Darry and his husband Tim's daughters, noted that Maxwell was born early.

Cathy, born a month early herself, smiled at the irony. She texted her husband Nathan, who was on his way to the hospital. The siblings awaited his arrival with bated breath.

Soda stirred in his sleep, his eyelids fluttering open. Darry moved to his side, brushing Soda's sweaty bangs out of his face. He asked his brother how he was feeling.

But before Soda could answer, they were interrupted by the unexpected arrival of their deceased friends, Johnny Cade and Dallas Winston. Their spirits had come to celebrate Maxwell's arrival.

The gang greeted their friends warmly, but their eyes were drawn to Dallas. He looked slightly heavier than they remembered. They asked him about it, and he chuckled.

Dallas revealed that he was eight months pregnant with his and Johnny's child. The gang was taken aback, but they congratulated Dallas and Johnny on their upcoming parenthood.

Maxwell stirred in Steve's arms, his tiny fists clutching the soft blanket. The room filled with warmth as everyone admired the new addition to their family.

As they celebrated Maxwell's arrival and Dallas's pregnancy, Cathy received a text from Nathan. He had arrived at the hospital and was on his way to the room.

When Nathan entered the room, he was greeted with a chorus of greetings. He congratulated Soda and Steve, then turned to Dallas and Johnny with a warm smile, congratulating them as well.

Despite their loss, the gang felt a sense of hope and happiness. They were a family, and they were growing. They celebrated the arrival of Maxwell and the anticipation of Dallas's baby.

As the day turned into night, the room filled with laughter and stories. Their friends may have passed, but their spirits lived on, growing with each new addition to their family.

The Curtis siblings, Steve, and Nathan shared a quiet moment, watching Maxwell sleep peacefully in his crib. They made promises to protect and love him, a new generation of their unconventional family.

The spirits of Johnny and Dallas lingered, watching their friends with soft smiles. They were content, knowing they were leaving their family in good hands. They faded away, leaving a sense of peace.

As the Curtis siblings left the hospital, they carried with them the joy of new life and the memory of old friends. It was a day they would never forget, the day Maxwell arrived.

Back home, Jane and Lizzie chattered excitedly about their new baby cousin and the surprise visit from Johnny and Dallas. Their young faces shone with the wonder of life and love.

Darry, Tim, Cathy, and Nathan tucked the twins into bed, promising to take them to see Maxwell again the next day. The girls fell asleep with smiles on their faces.

The night was peaceful, filled with the promise of a new day. As they looked at the stars, the Curtis siblings knew that Johnny and Dallas were watching over them, their spirits forever part of their family.

They knew they would face new challenges and joy with the arrival of Maxwell and Dallas's baby, but they were ready. Because they had each other, and they were family.

As the Curtis siblings fell asleep that night, they dreamt of a brighter future, filled with laughter, love, and the cooing of babies. A future they would face together, as a family.

The next day, they returned to the hospital, carrying gifts for Maxwell. They spent the day with Soda and Steve, taking turns to hold the baby and sharing stories of their childhood.

Jane and Lizzie were thrilled to meet their cousin. They promised to be the best big sisters to Maxwell, making Soda and Steve laugh with their earnest declarations.

As they left the hospital, the Curtis siblings felt a sense of contentment. They had faced loss and joy together, and they would continue to do so, for they were more than just a gang. They were a family.

And as they moved forward, they carried with them the memory of Johnny and Dallas, their spirits a constant presence in their lives. They were a family, bound by love, loss, and the promise of new life.