Chapter 1 All Life Has To Offer

Since the day we slept together my thoughts surrounded Martin. I hadn't slept with anyone slept with anyone since. Hell Martin was the first time without protection ever. Though I hadn't slept with anyone since because I found a new way to get through. Cutting helped in ways that nothing else did. If I felt better if even for a moment It was worth it. Now I wasn't sure. Waiting for the timer to go off seemed to drain all of my energy from me. How could one little stick tell me my future? It just didn't seem right. I love Martin, but he was the first time without protection. I knew if I was pregnant it would be with his child. Would he ever forgive me though? Could I forgive him?

Flashback

Kissing me, Martin was kissing me. I couldn't believe it, and my thoughts were nowhere else. For a minute he was mine, and I savored it. We had just finished having sex for the third time that night.

"Ruthie, I'm so sorry! I forgot to wear a condom. Hell I've never had sex before you! I….I know it's a stupid excuse, but It's true! I have to go I'm sorry. See you around ok? Our friendship will never change because of this one transgression I promise you that." Martin mumbled out, and fled from the house quickly.

End Flashback

The timer buzzed, and I knew it was the moment of truth. Flipping the stick over I saw my life flash before my eyes. The test was positive. Picking up the phone I knew there was only one thing I could do. The right thing. Would Martin hate me for ruining his life?

"Hello?" Martin answered on the first ring.

"Martin I know we haven't hung out since you and I you know. Can you meet me at Pete's Pizza in 45 minutes?" I asked quietly.

"Yeah, sure. I've missed hanging out with you!" Martin said enthusiastically.

We both hung up. I slipped my jacket on, and put the test in my purse. The drive to the promenade seemed to take forever. I went to the pharmacy first, and bought 8 tests. Two of the tests were made by Clearblue, and could tell you how far along you were. The last thing I did before heading to the bathroom was buy a plastic cup.

After going inside the bathroom I peed in the cup, and dipped all of the tests in. After 3 seconds I pull them out, and put the caps on them. I waited the 3 minutes, and then looked down at them. They were all positive. I dumped the cup in the toilet, flushed, and walked out with the tests in my purse. The Clearblue one said pregnant and 3+ meaning at least 3 weeks from conception. This meant I was between 5 and 7 weeks pregnant. Seeing Martin sitting at our normal table I walked over. Sitting next to him was a girl I knew from school. Her name was Meredeth.

"Ruthie this is my girlfriend Meredeth." Martin said smiling.

"Martin can we talk in private for a minute?" I asked calmly.

"NO, whatever you have to say you can say with me present." Meredeth said glaring at me.

Fine if she wanted to be that way I will. I pulled the pregnancy tests out minus 2, and set them on the table.

"Martin I'm pregnant, and the baby is yours." I said calmly.

"It could be someone else's baby. She could be just tricking you!" Meredeth said giving me a scathing glance.

I pulled out the final 2 tests, and laid them on the table beside the rest. I noticed Martin mentally counting back the weeks. He gave a gruff nod.

"I believe you, but I'm with Meredeth now. You need any help call me, and call me when the baby is born."Martin said.

I didn't fight the tears that were ready to fall. I just let them. Tears streamed down my face.

"Hell no! You're not with me! NOT anymore! We were still dating when you slept with that tramp. Have a nice life!" Meredeth snarled before turning on her heal and walking away.

Ruthie took off for her blue Ford explorer. Opening the car door my hands started to shake. Suddenly someone touched my shoulder. I turned around still crying into the arms of my big brother Simon.

"What's wrong Ruthie? I love you, and I'm here to talk should you need to. I've been looking for you for a bit now. I hate seeing you upset. What's wrong?" Simon asked with wide eyes.

"Promise me you won't tell anyone, and don't kill him. I need someone to talk to. SO please promise me!" I begged.

"Alright, alright I promise! Now what is it??" Simon asked.

"I had sex with Martin last May. Only once with him. I'm pregnant, and plan on keeping my baby. Please don't hate me, or Martin. It's bad enough Martin hates me." I sobbed looking at the floor.

Simon lifted my chin up so he could look me in the eyes.

"Ruthie I love you, and know that it will be ok! Why do you say Martin hates you?" Simon asked calmly.

"Martin wants nothing to do with me." I began more tears slipped out of my eyes.

I told Simon everything, and handed him the tests. When I was finished Simon gave me a big hug and told me everything would be alright. I didn't know how much I had missed my big brother till now. Simon put the tests in his coat pocket, and walked to my Explorer.

"I'll talk to him, but first let's get you home! Cecilia can drive my car to the house, and I'll drive. We will follow Cecilia to the house. We'll talk on the way home. I'm so excited though to be an uncle again! I graduated from my college so I'm home for the summer till I start work. I will look for work around here so I can be around to help you. I love you Ruthie, but you know that already. I also promise not to hurt Martin when I talk to him, but I can't promise not to lose my temper." Simon said serious.

Simon helped me into the passenger side, and he got behind the wheel. I had to laugh because I am petite he had issues trying to fit into the seat. I grumbled when he adjusted everything for himself.

"Have you heard from mom, or Lucy?" I asked curiously.

"No but Matt has. He told me their flying in today. They decided to come home because Lucy is 5 months pregnant. That shocked the hell out of me. Matt, Mary, Sarah, and Carlos are all at the house. They decided to stay for the week and visit with everyone." Simon said conversationally.

We pulled up beside Cecilia, and told her to meet us at the house, and handed her his car keys.

"So there all coming home to visit huh? Or do they have a surprise up there sleeve?" I asked enthusiastically.

"How did you know?" Simon asked curiously.

"Woman's intuition." I replied with a smile.

"Well Matt, Sarah, and Mary have a surprise for everyone. The wont tell me till they tell you first! It's not fair! I did notice though that Sarah seems to be glowing, and that she picked up a little weight, but not much. There all waiting for us. Your 18 now! I still can't believe it. You should probably tell them about the baby when we get home. That way you have more support when mom and Lucy come home with the boys and Savannah." Simon said as we pulled up in front of the house.

Walking in Matt told us that Lucy, and mom had arrived home early. Simon pulled Matt to the side with me, and pulled my pregnancy tests out. Matt seen them and looked at me.

"I slept with Martin. Please don't hate me, or be mad at me! Besides where are mom, and Lucy?" I asked while the tears from earlier came back, and flowed freely.

"Ruthie mom had a heart attack in the Glenoak airport." Matt said seriously.

The expression on his face frightened me so I asked, "What hospital is mom in? Let's go see her! I missed her like crazy."

"Ruthie I have to talk to Matt in the other room quick." Simon said not quite looking me in the eye.

I nodded, they left the room, and Sarah answered my question for me, "Ruthie, Mom didn't make it. I'm sorry she has passed away. Lucy and Kevin are busy making the funeral arrangements."

Suddenly I got a cramp in my stomach so powerful it took my breath away. I noticed the blood soaking through my pants, and it was then that I let loose a scream. Matt was beside me forcing me to lie down in a couple seconds from my scream, and started issuing orders.

"Sarah call 911, and tell them we have a 18 year old female, 8 weeks pregnant, bleeding with stomach pain. Simon use your cell, and call Martin. Tell him to meet us at the hospital. Mary get a hold of Lucy and Kevin. Explain what's happening to them. Cecilia get to the hospital, and please watch the kids there. I'm riding with Ruthie in the ambulance. I think Ruthie has something called Placenta Previa." Matt said worried.

What scared me was the initial fear that showed on Sarah's face when Matt had said Placenta Previa.

"Matt it really hurts! Please save my baby!" I begged.

"Don't worry Ruthie you both will be fine if I have anything to say about it! Finally!" Matt yelled as we heard sirens pull up to the house.

Carlos let the paramedics in with the stretcher. Matt lifted me up onto the stretcher. I clutched on to Matt's shirt so he wouldn't leave me to go alone. Matt gave me a sad smile. He grabbed my hand and held it walking alongside the stretcher to which I was laying. Matt sat in the chair closest to my head. I said a silent prayer to thank God for having Matt with me. I felt my heart start pounding. Black spotted my vision, and I felt my eyes closing. The last thing I heard before everything going black was Matt yelling for me to stay awake.

When again my eyes opened I was in the hospital. One of my hands had an IV in it, and the other was being held by Martin.

"Hey! You're awake! The doctor did an amniocentesis, and when he gets back he will be doing another sonogram. He already did one, but he needs to do another. I'm sorry I wasn't here for you like I should have been. I was scared, but I plan on being here for you in the present, and future." Martin said as my doctor walked in with a huge machine.

"We can talk about that later. I love you!" I said happily.

The doctor told me to raise my shirt to which I did. He put a warm gel on my stomach and moved a probe around on my stomach. It felt weird and slimy. I however was watching the screen, and heard a sound similar to a horses hooves striking ground in cadence. The baby was very tiny, but he or she was still there. I sighed in contentment at the blob on the screen that was my baby.

"I'll print you off copies of each baby for you both. That sound your hearing is your babies' heartbeat. We got the results back from your amnio would you like to know the sex of your babies? That is one of the things that show up on the test results." The doctor asked.

I was in shock but still happy about the twins. Martin looked at me and nodded.

"Yes we would like to know." I said happily.

"The results from the amnio show that you are having twin girls. I'm releasing you today. You have something called Placenta Previa. There are a couple variations of this disorder. What you have is called complete Placenta Previa. What Placenta Previa is, is where the placenta is over shadowing, and blocking off the cervix. Your bleeding was because of that. Hopefully the placenta will move on its own, but if it doesn't later on in your pregnancy you will have to have a C-section. The problem with Placenta Previa is that it can cause hemorrhaging during childbirth. It is your choice. We can surgically remove the fetus, or you can carry to term knowing the risks. From what I can tell I will save my breath, and just tell you what you can do for now. I want you on bed rest for the next 3 months. I do not want you up for more than 35 minutes a week on your feet. This is the equivalent to 5 minutes a day. If your out of bed for more than that a day it should be deducted from the weeks tally. At your mother's funeral you will be sitting for most of the time so you should be fine to go. Here is some paperwork on Placenta Previa, your prenatal vitamins, and your pictures. Please sign here. Ok you are free to go. I want to see you back here next week." The doctor said calmly.

I couldn't believe I didn't ask the doctor his name. Martin wheeled me out of the room in a wheel chair. My brothers and sisters burst out from the waiting room. They all gave me hugs, and were ecstatic about the pictures. We all left the hospital together.

PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!! Hope you like the chapter. I looked up some of the info to make sure I was giving you the correct info. Well READ and enjoy! Don't forget to REVIEW!!!