Lyrics belong to Natasha Beddingfield and Luther Vandross

A couple of days before Christmas Eve, Martin walked into the Camden's kitchen. Annie was sitting at the table watching Aaron finish his homework.

"Dad" Aaron greeted enthusiastically as he jumped up to hug him and continued saying "Ruthie invited me and my friends over for a sleep out tomorrow"

"My friends and I" Martin automatically corrected as Martin smiled at him, as Aaron bounced around and asked "Is it okay dad? Ruthie told me I needed permission before I asked my friends"

"That sounds fine" he replied as Aaron gave him a hug and went back to his homework.

"So how have you been?" Annie asked as she offered a plate of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies.

"Good, I've been pretty busy, trying to sort out a few things"

"Really? That's good. Are you and Mac still not talking?"

"No we had a long discussion about everything and Mac realized Amy was wrong for him"

"Well I'm glad that you two are now talking. How is Ruthie doing?"

"Why would you ask me?"

"Well I haven't seen you around lately and I haven't seen Ruthie...so I just figured that maybe you two have seen each other?"

"I believe she is doing okay" Martin replied swiftly not bothering to make eye contact with Annie.

"Are you ready to go buddy?"

"No I'm staying for dinner"

"Is that okay?" Martin asked as he looked at Annie, who smiled at him and replied "Of course it is, since you are all dressed up"

Martin had the grace to blush and as he opened his mouth, Annie cut him off and said "When you are ready to introduce us to her bring her by"

As she glanced over at him, she could see a change in Martin. He seemed content, happy, and secure. His body language spoke volumes of happiness.

"I will" Martin finally promised as he leaned over to kiss her cheek and waved bye to Aaron.

"When exactly are we going to let everyone know about us?" he asked as he started the car. "as soon as we are sure that this is what we want"

"I am sure"

"A couple more days" Ruthie replied soothingly before leaning over and kissing Martin's cheek.

"Besides I have an early Christmas gift for you at the house" Ruthie continued as they drove past the Camden house.

Flashback

A couple of days after the Thanksgiving fiasco, Ruth was in the supermarket trying to find something for dinner when she ran straight into a tall person.

"Oops sorry. I'm always bumping into people"

"Ruth, how are you?"

"Good, how are you and Aaron doing?"

"Okay" Martin replied before looking down and taking a deep breath looked straight into Ruthie's eyes "Actually we're pretty miserable"

"Oh"

"and it's my fault"

"What do you mean?"

"I was so upset and hurt and...jealous. I didn't handle the situation very well and before I knew it, it was too late"

"Too late for what Martin?" Ruthie asked in an exasperated tone.

"For us"

"Us?"

"Well I told you I needed time and then I took much time and..here we are now"

"Well I was just a little blind about it" Ruthie looked up at him in disbelief as she tried to blink back tears. Martin smiled tenderly as he wiped Ruthie's tears away and said "So would you like to join us for dinner?"

End of flashback

Once they got to Martin's house, Martin opened the door for Ruthie and she stepped out of the car and smiled her thanks.

Once they got inside, Ruthie walked straight to the piano and motioned Martin to take a seat.

"So this is one that I wrote a few days after Caleb returned"

I'm not the kind of girl you bring to mother
I'm not the kind of girl you kiss in public
My manners leave a lot to be desired
At least in not a liar
I'm not about the subtle innuendo
More likely to throw rocks up at your window
Won't walk on eggshells so you don't hear the crazy things I'm saying when you get near me
I'd rather disappear than be faking it

Anyway, you like me yeah you know it
You're so transparent
How you stumble 'round those words so well
You like me there i said it
Don't need a dictionary helping me 'cause I can spell
My foot was in my mouth the day I met you
All my friends they said I'd never get you
But they don't know it when they see it
They need glasses to believe it
They don't understand so be it...
What can I say anyway

By the way you turn me on to your favorite band
By the way you lift me up when I'm fading
Breathe me in when I'm suffocating
Don't say that it's just because you can
Don't be stupid thinking I've misjudged you
I know enough to now when someone trusts you
Why fight it now it isn't gonna hurt you...

Once she was finished she looked over at Martin and asked "So what did you think?"

"It was incredible. Are you sure you don't want to do this professionally?"

"Yes. I love writing and journalism is great"

"Well you are incredible, but you already knew that, didn't you?"

"I had some inkling" Ruthie replied coyly before leaning over to kiss him on the lips. When they pulled apart, Martin whispered "I have an early gift for you as well"

"Well don't keep me in suspense" Ruthie replied as Martin grinned and stood up walking over to the stereo system and pushing play on the CD player.

As the music began, Martin walked over to Ruthie and asked "May i have this dance?"

"Certainly" Ruthie replied as she took his hand and moved to lean her head on Martin's chest.

I thought sometime alone
was what we really needed
you said this time would hurt more than it helps
but I couldn't see that
I thought it was the end
of a beautiful story
and so I left the one I loved at home to be alone (alone)
and I tried to find
out if this one thing is true
that I'm nothing without you
I know better now
and I've had a change of heart


I'd rather have bad times with you, than good times with someone else
I'd rather be beside you in a storm, than safe and warm by myself
I'd rather have hard times together, than to have it easy apart
I'd rather have the one who holds my heart
whoo-oo-oo-oo yeah


And then I met someone
and thought she could replace you
we got a long just fine
we wasted time because she was not you
we had a lot of fun
though we knew we were faking
love was not impressed with our connection they were all lies, all lies
so I'm here cause I found this one thing is true
that I'm nothing without you
I know better now
and I've had a change of heart


I'd rather have bad times with you, than good times with someone else
I'd rather be beside you in a storm, than safe and warm by myself
I'd rather have hard times together, than to have it easy apart
I'd rather have the one who holds my heart
who holds my heart
I can't blame you if you turn away from me, like I've done you,
I can only prove the things I say with time,
please be mine,

I'd rather have bad times with (please be mine) you,
than good times with someone else (I know)
I'd rather be beside you in a storm (anytime),
than safe and warm by myself (so sure baby)
I'd rather have hard times together,
than to have it easy apart

I'd rather have the one who holds my heart (my heart)
I'd rather have bad times with you (surely),
than good times with someone else (surely)
I'd rather be beside you in a storm (oh yeah),
than safe and warm by myself (all by myself)
I'd rather have hard times together,
than to have it easy apart (you know it)
I'd rather have the one who holds my heart
I'd rather have the one who holds my heart
I'd rather have the one who holds my heart
whoooo...who holds my heart

At the end of the song, Martin pulled apart slightly and knelt down on one knee and asked "Ruth Camden, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"