A/N: Thanks for the reviews to the previous chapter... I'm glad that you guys are liking the story!

Disclaimer: I don't own 7th Heaven...

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Matt had thought that he had himself prepared to see his sister battered and bruised but nothing could prepare him for the sight of his sister when he saw her lying across the couch. His heart stopped beating and then started beating rapidly in his chest. He couldn't stop the gasp from escaping his lips when he saw just how many bruises she had on her. He felt his heart break as he took in her appearance.

His blood boiled at the sight of all the bruises around Ruthie's neck and he knew that whoever had hurt his sister had tried choking her to death. He saw the bruises on her face and it made him sick to his stomach to think about what she had been through since she left home. He looked over at Sarah and saw that she had tears in her eyes and he gave her a reassuring smile before slowly making his way to Ruthie who appeared to be asleep. "Ruthie."

Ruthie's eyes flew open when she heard someone call her name and she sat up fast and then cried out in pain. She heard running footsteps and looked towards the sound and she saw Sarah and Matt frozen to the spot and then she saw Simon running in. She sighed and closed her eyes because now she felt bad.

"What's wrong? Ruthie what happened?" Simon demanded once he came to a stop right beside the couch.

Ruthie took in a shallow breath and let it out and shook her head ruefully. "I must have dozed off because I woke up when I heard someone call my name. I didn't think that it could be Matt or even you and I sat up to quickly and it caused me some pain. Where's Autumn at Simon?"

Simon sighed and knelt down beside the couch and gently pushed Ruthie back so that she was lying down on the couch. "Autumn is okay Ruthie. She's actually asleep in Aaron's toddler bed and I put pillows up around her to keep her from falling off. Sandy is also just across the hall in case Autumn wakes up. Are you okay?"

Ruthie sighed. "I'm fine but I'm in a lot of pain."

Simon nodded and looked over his shoulder at Matt and Sarah and said "Well are you two going to stand there all day or are you going to come over here and see our sister?"

Matt nodded and then slowly finished making his way to Ruthie as he kept his eyes on her in concern. "Hi Ruthie. Do you mind if Sarah and I look you over?"

Ruthie gave Matt and then Sarah a slight smile and shook her head. "I don't mind at all Matt. In fact I'd really like you both to look me over. I want to know if my baby is okay."

Matt nodded again but this time it was Sarah who said "Do you know how far along you are Ruthie?"

Ruthie couldn't stop the shudder from racking her body but she nodded. "I'm about six months along. I know that because I got pregnant when Evan raped me and beat me. I wasn't pregnant before then and since then while Evan beat the shit out of me he never slept with me again after raping me."

Matt's blood started to boil when he heard what Ruthie had to say. "Okay sis I'm going to check you over. Do you want to do it out here or would you rather go to one of the bedrooms?"

Ruthie thought about it for a minute and then sighed. "I guess we should use one of the bedrooms. This way you don't have to move me a whole lot on this couch."

Matt nodded and looked at Simon. "Which bedroom do you want me to use?"

Before Simon could answer Sandy who had came in during Matt's question said "Use Simon's and my bedroom Matt. It has the bigger bed on it and the bed isn't against the wall."

Matt nodded and then took in a deep breath. "Can you walk Ruthie or would you like me to carry you?"

Ruthie smiled a little and said "Could you carry me Matt? I'm in a lot of pain."

Matt smiled and stood back up and handed his medical bag to Sarah and then bent down and lifted Ruthie gently off of the couch. He followed Sandy and Simon out of the living room and down the hall to their room and then gently laid Ruthie on the bed. "Okay Ruthie I hate to tell you this but I'm going to need to exam your whole body so I'm going to need your clothes off. If you want Sandy and Sarah can help you undress and Simon and I will step out into the hall."

Ruthie bit her lip a little and nodded. Just as she finished nodding a cry sounded making Matt and Sarah both look towards where the cry came from and Ruthie said "Simon can you take Matt with you and go and check on Autumn?"

Simon smiled and nodded. "Of course Ruthie. Just have Sandy or Sarah come get us when you're ready. Do you think Autumn is hungry?"

Ruthie nodded. "She probably is. Just give her an orange or something."

Simon laughed and nodded and then pulled a shocked Matt out of the bedroom and closed the door. Once he had the door closed he turned and looked at Matt. "Go ahead and ask I know that you're wanting to."

Matt nodded and swallowed. "Who is Autumn?"

Simon smiled and led Matt into Aaron's room to the little girl who was lying on the toddler bed crying and picked her up. "Matt this here is Autumn. Autumn this here is your Uncle Matt. He's Mommy's oldest brother."

Matt's mouth dropped open in shock but as he stared at the little girl in Simon's arms he could tell that she was indeed Ruthie's daughter. "How old is she? Why didn't Ruthie tell any of us she was pregnant?"

Simon sighed. "She told me that she was pregnant Matt but made me swear not to tell anyone other than Sandy. Sandy and I both flew to Scotland for Autumn's birth. Before you ask because I can tell what you're thinking yes Martin is the father and no he doesn't know about Autumn just yet. I've been trying to get Ruthie to tell him but so far it hasn't worked. As for how old this sweet little girl is she's thirteen months old."

Matt nodded and then looked at Autumn and said in a gentle tone "Can I hold you?"

He smiled when he saw Autumn grin and reach out for him. He took her from Simon and then followed Simon to the kitchen so that they could get her something to eat. He couldn't believe that his baby sister had a daughter and that she was about to have another kid. He smiled at Autumn and tickled her stomach gently as Simon pulled out some yogurt from the fridge and opened it. He then took it from Simon and preceded to feed his niece who ate it like there was no tomorrow. He couldn't help but chuckle at her enthusiasm.

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Ruthie saw Sarah's questioning look as she got helped getting undressed and she sighed. "Before you ask Sarah yes the little girl crying you heard is my daughter. Her name is Autumn and she's thirteen months old. The only person who knew I was pregnant when I left was Simon but I swore him to secrecy."

Sarah nodded and gave Ruthie a smile. "I'm not going to judge you Ruthie. I'm sure that you had your reasons for not telling anyone that you were pregnant. Just remember though now you're not alone and you don't have to go through this alone. Let all of us help you. Please?"

Ruthie sighed but nodded and then thought for a minute. "Can I ask a big favor Sarah? I don't want to have to go over everything more than once so can you call Mom and Dad's house and have everyone come over? I don't mind them knowing as much as I thought I would. Plus I think I would love to have Mom and Lucy here while Matt checks me over."

Sara nodded and with a smile she stood up from the bed after giving Ruthie a gently hug and she said "I'll go let Matt know the change of plans and meet my niece for the first time. If you need anything in the next twenty minutes or so you either yell or have Sandy come get one of us."

Ruthie smiled and nodded and then looked at Sandy. "Can I have a blanket to cover up with for right now? I feel kind of weird lying here in my bra and panties."

Sandy laughed and got up off the bed gently and then got a blanket and covered Ruthie up. She sat back down beside Ruthie and ran her fingers gently through Ruthie's hair. She smiled when she saw that Ruthie was getting in a little nap. She leaned back against the headboard and closed her own eyes for a few minutes. She knew that she was going to need the energy in the next hour or so because she knew that she had to be there for Ruthie while Ruthie told everyone what's been happening to her.