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Chapter 20

"We have to go back in tomorrow," Martin said. He sat on the couch holding Ruthie in his arms. The reality that they were going to have to leave here and face the Camdens and his dad has just hit him. All he wanted to do was protect Ruthie from the wrath that was sure to come when they got home. He pulled her closer to his chest and kissed her hair.

"I know, I don't want to, I'm so happy here" Ruthie sighed putting her hands around Martin's hand.

"Yes but we have to face the music sometime and you promised Sandy." He said giving her a little squeeze. He knew it was the right thing to do, going home, but everything in him screamed for him to stay here and keep Ruthie in his arms. He was afraid that the Camdens would try to keep them apart but he couldn't let that happen.

"I know, I know" Ruthie said. She knew they had to leave their little haven but that didn't mean that she had to like it.

"You know I won't let them come between us, right" Martin reassured her and himself. "I won't let anything come between us"

"I won't either" Ruthie said to him. And she knew she won't she couldn't she would fight for them. She had love Martin for so long and now that she had him nothing was going to keep them apart. "I love you"

"I love you too," Martin said kissing her on the cheek. Then all of a sudden Martin pushed Ruthie off of him and stood up. Ruthie scowled missing his warm arms around her. "Come with me Ruthie," he smiled at her scowl holding her hands and pulling her up.

"Were are we going" Ruthie asked as she got to her feet.

"Just come with me," Martin said as he led her out of the door.

At the Park

"What are we doing here?" Ruthie asked as they walked over to the park bench.

"I want to give you something, something to show you and our parents that I'm serious about this relationship. I love you Ruthie" Martin said as they sit down at the bench. Ruthie just smiled at him.

"I love you so much Ruthie Camden, do you know that," He said looking into her eyes.

"I love you too" she said taking aback my his intensity.

"And I want you to know that I no matter what happens when we get home I will not let anyone or anything come between us" Martin said taking her hand. Ruthie didn't speak she just looked at Martin. "I will not let anything happen to us do you understand."

"Yes Martin, what is going on?" Ruthie questioned.

"I want to be with you forever Ruthie Camden" Martin said pulling our a necklace box from Zales Jewelers "I know that we can not get married now or even engaged but I want you to have this. This is my promise to you that one day we will get engaged and be married." Martin said opening the box reveling a silver Couple's Heart Birthstone Necklace with a blue zircon and Ruthie on one heart and a blue sapphire and Martin on the other. (Picture on Profile)

"Oh my Gosh Martin. It's beautiful" Ruthie gushed admiring the necklace.

"I saw it when I was out with Mac and it remained me of you. I though about getting a promise ring but I though you would like this more."

"I love it" Ruthie said still studying the necklace. "I love you and I want to be your wife someday. I always have," she said. "Put it on me" she turned round so that he could put the necklace on. Ruthie lifted her hair as Martin took the necklace out of the box and placed it around her neck. She put he hand on the necklace as she let her hair fall and turn back to face Martin.

"Thank you" Ruthie said as she turned around and kissed him. "I can't wait until we are officially engaged and I am Mrs. Martin Brewer" she said when they broke from their kiss.

"I can't wait either but with this necklace I promise you that one day we will be engaged for real and we will get married" Martin said and he kissed her again.

"I love you Martin Brewer"

"I love you too Ruthie Camden" Martin said and kissed her again. "Now lets go get something to eat. Mac and Lisa are going to meet us at Olive Garden."

"OK" Ruthie said and stood up. She grabbed Martin's hand and they held hands as they walked to the car.

Back in Martin's Car

"Ruthie I need to talk to you about this job offer I got."

"What about it?" Ruthie said concerned.

"It is here at the UPS. I went to the interview before we got together and they said that when they get a spot open they would call. They called two days ago."

"So when will you have to start"

"In a week when they old guy leaves. I wasn't going to take it but it is $10/hr for 25 a week. And they are willing to work around my school and practice schedules and with my apartment and saving for our future wedding and house I just think…"

"Martin, Martin" Ruthie interrupted. "It is ok, I understand if you have to stay down here. It is only a little over an hour away you can drive up and see me when you are off."

"Speaking of that" Martin said, "I want to give you one more thing. Well two"

"What now Martin you have already given me this beautiful necklace" Ruthie said placing her hand on her necklace.

"This" Martin said give her some keys on an I love you key chain "This is a key to my apartment" He said pointing to one of the keys "and this, this is the key to my old car at home. You can use it anytime you want until you get your own. My dad won't care, I talked to him about it before all this happened" he said point to the other key. "So now you can drive down to see me too" he kissed her.

"Wow Martin, You are the best boyfriend and future fiancé ever," she said smiling looking at him.

"And about that"

"What?"

"I don't think we should tell your parents we are talking about getting married yet" Martin said starting the car and driving off.

Ruthie sighed "I understand, my parents are mad enough as it is without springing this on them." Ruthie agreed and sighed "But what will I tell them when they ask about the necklace."

"Just tell them it is a promise necklace just don't tell them what it is a promise for. Just long enough for you parent to get use to us dating, maybe a few months we are not getting engaged soon anyway, We will wait at least until you in college. Maybe after I graduated"

"You mean 4 years, I don't know if I can wait that long" Ruthie wined

"No I mean from high school. But I don't think we should get married until you are out of college or at least when I am. I want to be able to give you everything you deserve. Like a house and a beautiful wedding. I want to have a job. Maybe go pro," Martin explained.

"You are going to go pro Martin you are a great player. And I don't need a house of a big wedding all I need is you. I will wait until I am in college at least before we get married. How about this, we will wait until we can afford our dream wedding nothing big just everything that we want. But as for our engagement we will wait for a while before it is official but not until we are out of college. Agreed"

"Agreed"

In Olive Garden

"Oh Ruthie that is beautiful." Lisa gusted over the necklace. "We have two of the most thoughtful guys ever," Lisa said as Ruthie admired the Diamond Accent Heart Link Bracelet in silver that Mac had bought for her. (Picture of Profile)

"I know, we are so lucky" Ruthie beamed.

"No we are lucky, Right Martin" Mac said looking at his girlfriend "Because we have the two most beautiful girls in the room at our table"

"No not just in the room in the whole city" Martin smiled "We have got the whole town jealous"

"Stop it you too" Lisa smiled.

"Yeah because we have the two hottest baseball player of all time in love with us, Lisa how did we do it"

"I don't know Ruthie" Lisa responded. "Then again we are hot too so you know what you guys are the lucky ones" Lisa teased causing everyone to laugh.

"Ok guys lets eat" Martin said as he picked up his menu to see what he wanted to order followed by the others.

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Next Chapter: Ruthie Returns home.