DISCLAIMER ;; I don't own anything, so don't sue me.

Stone

Martin sat down gently on a bench. He looked across the park at Ruthie, who was pushing David on the swings. He smiled when she laughed at Sam, proudly telling her how he went down the biggest slide all by himself. He pushed the sand beneath the bench around with his toes, drawing little designs. He watched her some more, laughing and smiling, before standing up. He wanted to walk over, but he didn't want to interrupt their fun. He started to walk away, when he heard rustling behind him.

"Where are you going?" A familiar voice asked. Martin turned himself around.

"Nowhere. I'm just walking." He smiled at the tiny brunette. She pushed her hair behind her ears.

"Come sit with me."

"You have to watch your brothers."

"They'll be fine." Ruthie smiled, faintly. She turned and began to walk, never waiting for a definite answer. Martin followed her, and sat carefully beside her. Not too close, not too far. Ruthie rolled her eyes, and lay back into the grass. Martin turned his head, and looked into her eyes. She tugged softly on his shirt, and he fell backwards, resting beside her. The springtime air was still warm, but a cool breeze gave the air a biting chill. Martin noticed Ruthie playing with a white stone.

"It looks like a heart." She observed, looking at him questioningly. He reached a hand gently over her and traced the stone's shape.

"Yeah." He agreed. No one said anything for a while after that, Martin just sat tracing the shape of the stone, his arm over Ruthie, who lay watching the twins. It felt perfect. Martin wasn't sure how long they lay that way, but he knew some time had passed, because when he noticed the shape of a young boy coming in to view, he saw that the light behind the child was beginning to fade.

"It's getting dark." David whispered, to his sister. She smiled at him and nodded. Martin moved his hand, and Ruthie stood, not bothering brushing the grass off of her. Martin stood as well, and paused as Ruthie took Sam and David's hands and walked off into the fading sun. He ran his hand through his hair, and grinned, following her into the sunset.