AN: I know it's been a while since I updated this story, but I've been so busy with school and I haven't gotten any reviews so I really haven't felt like writing…But I started this new story called 5 Months and that got me into wanting to write more of what is…sooo I am happy to say that here is part 2 oh ch 5….

Finally after a long day at the zoo the trio is ready to leave and go home. It had been a long tiring day for Aaron, who was now on Martins shoulders with his head resting on his dads. Ruthie looked up and smiled at the little boy who was yawning and rubbing his eyes with his little hands.

A loud hungry gurgling sound came from the Ruthie's stomach as she reached the car. She hadn't eaten since that morning and all that walking had her famished. When Martin had finished buckling Aaron in his car seat he got in the front seat and looked over at Ruthie. He knew something was up from the way she had been acting earlier on at the petting zoo and from the way she was being so quiet. She was never really quiet unless she was sick or she was hiding something. I wonder what's wrong with her, Martin wondered to himself as he started the car and buckled his seatbelt.

"Are you guy's hungry?" Martin asked.

"I'm hungry." Ruthie replied. Turning around to look at Aaron, she asked, "Are you hungry sweetie."

Aaron looked up and nodded his head.

"Someone's tired." Martin looked in his mirror and smiled at his son. "So where are we going to go?" Martin asked. He didn't want to pull out without knowing where he was going.

The only place Ruthie could think of at the moment was the Dairy Shack. It was fast, easy, and the food was good. But the only thing is that Aaron would have to get something light due to his stomach aches he had been having the past few days. So she wasn't sure if she should say to go there or tell him to go to Pete's Pizza. What to do…what to do…ughhh…I'll just tell him to go to the Dairy Shack, Ruthie argued with herself.

"Go to the Dairy Shack I guess. It's right down the road and it's quick and easy." Ruthie said. She knew she would regret saying to go there, but she wanted to get back to Martin's and relax.

"The Dairy Shack it is." Martin announced.

"YAY…I LOVE THE DAIRY SACK…" Aaron screamed with excitement. That was his favorite place to go.

Aaron's little outburst caused the two to laugh. It was so cute that said Dairy Sack instead of saying Dairy Shack. With that, Martin pulled out of the parking lot and drove to the Dairy Shack.

"Did you have a nice time today buddy?" Martin asked.

"I had great time." Aaron exclaimed. He was so enthusiastic about everything.

"That's good to hear Aaron. We're glad you had a great time because I had a lot of fun being with you and your dad." Ruthie stated. She loved spending time with them and enjoyed their little outings.

They pulled into the Dairy Shack parking about five minutes later. "Ok we're here." Martin informed.

Seeing as Martin was fixing his rear view mirrors, Ruthie unbuckled her belt and went to unbuckle Aaron from his car seat. Aaron was playing with his toy monkey when Ruthie opened the back door to unbuckle him. "Can monkey come to?" Aaron asked looking up at Ruthie.

"Of course he can come." Ruthie said. The way he looked up at her made her melt.

"Let's go." Martin said. He took Aarons little hand in his and wrapped his other arm around Ruthie and walked into the Dairy Shack.

Luckily for them it wasn't that packed so they were able to find an empty table. Since Aaron was only he three he had to sit in one of those booster seats, which he didn't mind sitting in. That's what Martin and Ruthie loved about Aaron, no matter where they ate, he never had a problem sitting in the booster seat.

"Do you know what you're getting Martin?" Ruthie asked looking up from the little menu on the table.

The only thing that sounded good to him was a hot dog and onion rings, but he got that every time he went there. This time he wanted something different. "Not a clue. Do you know what you want?" Martin asked.

"Hmmm...I think I'm gonna have a cheeseburger and fries." Ruthie decided.

"I think I will have the same." Turning his attention to Aaron, he asked, "What about you buddy? Do you know what you want?"

"A hotdog and French fries please." Aaron answered politely.

"I don't think he should be eating that. Sandy did say he had been having stomachaches the past two days. I wouldn't risk having him get sick again." Ruthie voiced her opinion.

"What could it hurt? And besides, he's with us." Martin said. It's a hotdog, no one gets sick from a hotdog and fries, Martin thought.

Why does he always under mind me. He knows Sandy didn't want Aaron to have junk and yet, he still allows him to get the food. How am I suppose to be like Aarons mom when Martin keeps doing this, Ruthie questioned herself. She felt insecure and unsure about being a mom. Martin had been acting as though her opinions didn't matter, like she had no say in regards to Aaron because Aaron was HIS son and not hers.

Ruthie rolled her eyes and sat back as Martin went and ordered the food. About five minutes later Martin came back to the table and sat down.

"Food will be ready in a few minutes." Martin announced. He looked over at Ruthie and noticed that something was obviously bothering her. She had this look on her face that he had seen earlier at the zoo. "Is something wrong Ruthie?" Martin asked.

"No…nothings wrong." Ruthie replied.

Seeing that their food was ready, Martin said, "We'll finish this when I come back." With that last statement he got up and went to get their order. Moments later Martin returned and handed everyone what they had ordered.

"I know something is bothering you. I can see it in your eyes." He couldn't understand why she wouldn't tell him what was bothering her. She told him everything. "Please tell me what's bothering you so much?" He pleaded with her.

"Fine…you want to know what's bothering. I'll tell you." Ruthie paused to take a quick sip of her soda. "It bothers me that you sit there and under mind me and don't care about my opinions. I told you giving him junk food would be a bad idea. Sandy even told you he hadn't been feeling good, and what do you do…you get him a hotdog and fries." Ruthie raised her voice.

"It's just a hotdog, nothing will happen….But I know that's not what's really bothering you. It's something else." Martin declared.

When it came to hiding her feelings, Ruthie was good at it. But when it came to hiding them from Martin, she wasn't that good. Martin had gotten to a point that he was able to read her like a book. It was actually kind of scary that even if she tried her best she couldn't keep anything from him.

Taking a deep breath, Ruthie looked into his eyes and admitted, "I'm scared…I'm afraid I wont be a good mom."

This was a total shock for him. He couldn't believe that she was scared about that. Why would she think that? How could she think that? She's great with Aaron and loves him so much. I can't believe she really thinks that, Martin wondered.

"How could you honestly think that you won't be a good mom? You and Aaron are so close. He loves you so much. You've been in his life since he was born; you helped me raise him and everything." Martin questioned.

"But I'm not his real mom." Ruthie confessed. "What if I don't do things right. I mean what if he says my mommy doesn't do it like that or my mommy does it better. What if he doesn't want me to be his step mom? He could get sick and say he doesn't want me, he wants his mom. Do you know how scary that is to think that might happen?" Ruthie asked rhetorically.

Martin had no idea that she felt that way. He thought she was happy that she was gonna be Aaron's step mom, not be terrified. "I had no idea Ruthie…Yes he will say Sandy does things a certain way, but that isn't to hurt you. He's just letting you know what she does differently. There will even be times when he tells Sandy Ruthie does it differently. That doesn't mean Sandy will be upset about it. And why wouldn't he want you as his new mom. He loves and adores you." Martin explained.

"I know that…But I still have this feeling that I won't be good enough. There are so many things that could happen." A single tear rolled down her cheek as she thought of everything that could go wrong. "I've been thinking about this all day, ever since the petting zoo. I could tell him to do something and he could say he doesn't have to listen because I'm not his mom." Ruthie stated. This was hard for her to admit because she really did love Aaron and didn't want to sound like she didn't.

Martin got up from his seat and sat next to Ruthie pulling her into his arms. He lifted her chin so their eyes connected and kissed her tears away. It killed him to see her like this. "Listen to me. You will be a great mom. I don't want you to think otherwise or let anyone tell you otherwise, because you are an amazing woman and you're great to my son. There is no other woman out there I wouldn't want to be my son's step mom than you." More tears formed in Ruthie's eyes as Martin's words comforted her. "Don't think about the bad things that could happen, think about the good things that will come." Martin whispered.

"You always know how to make me feel better." Ruthie smiled and kissed his cheek.

Removing a strand of hair from her eyes, Martin acknowledged, "We'd better eat before the food gets cold."

"Yea, you're right." Ruthie agreed and took a bite of her burger.

Aaron who had been watching the two talk for the past 15 minutes was completely baffled. He had no clue what was going on, all he knew was that his hotdog and fries were yummy. But he suddenly didn't feel to well; his tummy ache had come back.

"Daddy, my tummy hurts." Aaron cried.

"Awww, don't cry buddy." Martin cooed as he picked Aaron up n placed him in his arms.

I told Martin he shouldn't have let him eat the junk food. But nooo, he doesn't listen to me and now Aaron is sick, Ruthie said to herself.

"We should get going." Ruthie sighed.

They left the Dairy Shack and went back to Martins.

Once they arrived at Martin's house, Ruthie took Aaron upstairs and put him in his pj's. Tears were rolling down the three yr olds rosy cheeks as he sat on the marble counter top in the bathroom. His face was a little pale and his cheeks were flushed. "I think I'm gonna throw up." Aaron cried.

She lifted Aaron off the counter and placed him near the toilet just in time because as soon as she did he threw up. Martin came in seconds later to see his son vomiting into the toilet. He knew it was his fault Aaron had gotten sick, if he hadn't let him get the hotdog and fries this wouldn't have happened. Walking over to Aaron's side, he could see the chunks of the hotdog and fries mixed with the soda.

I shouldn't have let him eat that…Sandy told me about his stomach aches, but nooo…I didn't listen. Even Ruthie told me that…She was right though…And now my son is sick because of me, because I wanted him to enjoy himself and have what he wanted. Dammit…, Martin scolded himself.

Ruthie knelt down and began rubbing Aaron's back to calm him down. "Shh…you're gonna be ok." Ruthie comforted. He looked up at her with tears in his hazel eyes for about a moment and then turned to throw up.

"I'm sorry buddy. If I hadn't let you eat what you did none of this would have happened." Martin apologized.

Aaron threw up three more times before feeling a little bit better. Grabbing a wash cloth from the hall closet, Ruthie began to clean the child's face and kissed his little tears away. "Don't cry. I'm here…" Ruthie cooed, as wrapped her arms around him and hugged him.

Leaning against the door pane, Martin watched as Ruthie tended to his son. He knew from that moment that Ruthie was going to be a great mother. The way she handled the situation and the way she was with him, was amazing. Before putting him to bed, Ruthie had Aaron brush his teeth and blow his nose. After that both Ruthie and Martin brought Aaron in his room and tucked him into bed. They put a pail next to him and a cup of ginger ale to calm his stomach.

"Would you like me to stay with you?" Ruthie asked.

The little boy looked up and shook his head no. "Ok, well if you need us we'll be downstairs." Martin said. He leaned down and kissed Aarons forehead. Ruthie kissed his cheek and turned his night light on before leaving.

Once downstairs Ruthie let Martin have it. "I told you he wasn't supposed to eat junk food. I repeatedly told you it was a bad idea. Sandy told you DO NOT GIVE HIM JUNK FOOD…and what do you go and do…you give him junk food." Ruthie yelled, but not too loud.

Martin could see from Ruthie's face just how angry at him she was. Her eyes shot daggers at him and her words roared. "I know I was wrong OK…I just wanted him to have a good time." His eyes fell to the floor. "I didn't think he would have gotten sick." Martin admitted. I made a mistake. She doesn't need to bite my head off over it, Martin thought to himself.

How could he have thought that Aaron wouldn't have gotten sick? How could he take the chance of letting his son eat junk food when he knew what he did? God sometimes I think Martin has his head up his ass when it comes to things like this, Ruthie wondered.

"That's your problem Martin, you never think. Your son is up there not feeling well because of your stupidity." Ruthie retorted.

"Excuse me!" Martin looked at her with shocked. His eyebrows were raised and his face was getting a little red. "I never think…I never think…How are you going to stand there and pass judgment on me when just a few hours ago you were whining to me Oh Martin I don't think I can be a mom…What if I cant handle it." Martin mocked.

Ruthie was stunned in silence by Martins words. She couldn't believe that he would say that to her. Tears began to form in her chocolate eyes as his words replayed in her mind.

"I can't believe you just said that to me." Ruthie said.

He knew what he said was wrong, but what she had said hurt him too. "I'm sorry Ruthie. But what you said hurt me too. You say you're afraid to be a mom and then you turn around and yell at me about bad parenting. Do you know how much of a hypocrite you sound like when you say that?" Martin replied. He hadn't meant to make her cry; he was just trying to get back at her for what she had said.

Now tears were really beginning to fall from her eyes. Ruthie looked away not wanting to look at him, she knew he was right but didn't want to admit it. She was just angry at him for not listening to Sandy or her.

"I'm sorry for what I said. But I told you he shouldn't have eaten it and you disregarded my opinion. It's like you don't care what I think. You want me to be his step mom but then yet you under mind what I say and do what you want." Ruthie threw her arms up to her sides like what do you want from me. "Do you even really what me to be his step mom?" Ruthie asked.

"What…Of course I do!" His mouth dropped and his eyes widen, he was shocked she would even ask him that. "I do care what you think. Your opinion means a lot to me and I'm sorry that I didn't listen before." He pulled her into his arms and titled her face to look at him. "You're right; sometimes I can be hard headed. I'm truly sorry, I really am. You have just as much a say about him as I do because you've been there since he was born. He isn't yours and yet you treat him as though he is. So from now on I want you to tell me when I'm being stubborn and thick headed." Martin stated.

It made her happy to hear him admit that he was being stubborn. She leaned on up and placed a kiss on his soft lips and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I love you." She whispered in his ear.

He wrapped his arms around her pulling her closer to him and leaned down to her ear and whispered, "I love you too angel." And placed soft butterfly kisses on her neck that made her giggle.

After their little kiss and make up, the two went upstairs to Aaron's room to make sure that he was ok. To their surprise, Aaron was still awake and was sitting up in bed with a sad look on his face. "I heard yelling…and my tummy still hurts." He cried.

"Awww baby…" Ruthie cooed softly and went to Aaron's side. Martin immediately joined her and went over to the other side of the bed.

"Want us to stay with you tonight." Martin asked. He couldn't leave him alone crying all night. I hate when he cries,Martin thought.

The little boy just nodded his head and went into his fathers arms. Martin wrapped his arms around Aaron and motioned for Ruthie to come closer. Ruthie grabbed the big, blue, and grey blanket from the edge of the bed and then joined her two favorite men for a night of rest. The three of them fell fast asleep within moments and were lying in the cutest position. Martin had his hand resting on Ruthie's back and Ruthie had her arm around the little boy that lay peacefully in the middle of them.