AN: I am soooooooo sorry I have not updated in a while! Things have been very busy here the last few months! This chapter is short but I am posting another one right after it. Please enjoy!
Chapter Twenty Eight- Double Trouble times four!
"This calls for more celebrating," Annie stated and Ruthie actually laughed a bit.
"I don't know about everyone else but I'm hungry," she stated sitting up a bit but remaining on Martin's lap.
"You just ate," Simon stated.
"That was an hour ago and I'm pregnant with twins, I'm almost always hungry," she returned simply.
"I know the feeling," Mary stated and everyone looked at her in confusion.
"Are you…" Ruthie started happily and Mary looked at Carlos who shrugged.
"Cat's out of the bag," he returned.
"I'm four months along, twins, girls," she answered with a wide smile.
"Actually so am I, only boys," Sara stated shocking the room even more.
Ruthie then noticed Lucy and Kevin sharing looks. "Not you two too!" she shouted shocked.
"We just found out a couple weeks ago," Lucy answered; the four sisters looked at each other and started laughing.
"What the heck are the odds that all four of us would get pregnant with twins at the same time?" Ruthie asked between laughs.
"Well we have a little bit more news," Matt stated and everyone looked at them.
"We found a house; the current owners will be ready to move out by the beginning of May. We made an offer and it was accepted, it's only two blocks from here, on Oak Drive," Sara explained.
"That's great!" Annie said happily.
"Well I guess we should tell everyone we're moving back too, this summer. We're looking for houses and when we find one, we'll be moving back," Mary stated.
"This is wonderful!" Annie cheered happily.
"Uh yeah except that means all of you get to deal with four pregnant women this summer," Ruthie stated.
"What's that saying, it takes a village?" Meredith stated.
"More like an army," Julie stated and everyone laughed. Then the room burst into congratulations and hugs to all the newly expecting mothers.
"Well I don't know about everyone else but I'm still hungry so…" Ruthie started once things had died down again and everyone was sitting among the furniture or on pillows on the floor. Ruthie sat on the couch between Martin and Lucy.
"That must mean it's time for cake," Annie stated standing up and leaving the room with Eric.
"So Ruthie how is home schooling going?" The Colonel inquired.
"Good, I'm actually really enjoying it. I can set my own pace and work when I want to," she answered.
"Is that how you are going to finish out school?" Ruth asked Ruthie shrugged.
"Haven't figured that out yet, it's how I'm finishing out this year. I don't want to go back to Kennedy, I'm not ready and I don't know if I ever will be. My therapist said, returning to where it happened can at some point be therapeutic and provide closure being there every day could prove to be detrimental to my mental health. I would keep reliving it and that's not something that can be controlled. Sometimes it's better to just walk away and never look back. So returning to that school is not an option," she stated.
"So home schooling is the only option?" Ruth asked, Ruthie sighed.
"Well there is always door number two. I can take my SAT's and test out of high school all together. My guidance councilor seems to think I'd pass the test with flying colors. I'm in all AP classes anyways and already taking most of the same classes as the seniors and even some college level classes and still have straight A's" she stated.
"Do mom and dad know about this?" Simon asked Ruthie nodded.
"They said it was my choice. We got a list of places holding the SAT prep classes and actual test and the school can arrange for me to take the graduation equivalence test at the public library. If I take it and pass, they'll let me walk with the seniors in May," she stated.
"So are you going to?" Martin asked she shrugged.
"I don't really see a downside," She answered.
"So you're graduating?" Mary asked.
"I don't know for sure yet, I still have to actually pass the test," She answered.
"You'll pass," About ½ the room stated simply as if it were common fact and Ruthie smiled at her family's confidence in her.
"Ruthie you are the smartest person I know, you'll pass with flying colors," Martin stated and she looked back at him, having to turn a bit since her back was to his chest.
"Would you be ok with me graduating with you?" she asked and he smiled in return.
"I would love it," he answered before bending down and kissing her softly which she easily returned.
"Alright here comes the cake," Annie called and the couple pulled away and Ruthie watched as her mom and dad walked in carrying a large rectangular cake with chocolate frosting and pink and white sprinkles and 'Happy 16th Birthday Ruthie' in pink icing written across it with sixteen candles burning along the four edges, four on each side. They slid the cake on the table right in front of her.
"Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Ruthie, happy birthday to you!" They all cheered.
"Make a wish," Annie added, Ruthie smiled closing her eyes for a second before taking a deep breath and blowing out all the candles as everyone clapped. They then cut the cake that was also chocolate in the middle and passed it out. The four pregnant girls got the large corner pieces that were about twice the size of the other pieces.
"So Ruthie was just telling us she might be graduating," Mary said, the elder Camden's nodded.
"We're leaving it up to Ruthie. She knows no matter what she does, whether it's testing out of high school and moving on to college or finishing up high-school from home she is free to stay living here with out paying rent for as long as she needs and we support whatever decision she makes," Annie stated.
"Have you thought about what you want to study in college?" Hank asked Ruthie nodded.
"Clinical Psychology, I want to council rape and abuse victims, help them through it, make them realize that it's not their fault, they didn't do anything wrong, it's not a punishment for anything, and that they're not alone," she answered.
"Wow," Lucy said impressed as everyone else looked just about as stunned and impressed.
"That's years of training," Matt stated, Ruthie nodded.
"I know, four to six years after my bachelors but I can do it. The only problem will be doing that and raising the twins but I'll figure it out, some how, even if it takes me a little longer," she stated.
"I have no doubt about it, you'll be a great psychologist," Simon stated proudly and Ruthie smiled happily in return.
"Thank you," she stated.
"You know we will help out with the twins while you go to school," Annie added.
"I know and I appreciate it but there's only so much you can do, I won't just shove my kids off on you for eight years while I'm in school. They're my responsibility and I want to be the one to raise them. I'll gladly accept help but I don't want you to feel like you're the one raising them," she stated.
"Well I appreciate that and I promise to tell you if I feel like that," Annie returned and Ruthie smiled in return.
"I'm full, want the rest?" Martin asked her handing her the last ½ of his piece; she smiled and took it happily.
"Thanks," she said.
"You're welcome," he returned.
"Alright I think its present time," Matt stated once Ruthie had finished her cake and they were all just sitting around talking.
"Sounds good to me," Ruthie agreed.
It took a good hour to get through all the presents. She got some clothes, some CDs and some books that she'd been asking for. As well as a charm bracelet from her parents and a charm from each of her siblings. Then they just hung out in the living room for a while, Ruthie cuddled into Martin's side and started drifting off to sleep. She fought it for a few minutes but then finally gave up and allowed herself to fall asleep in to a peaceful slumber cuddled into Martin listening to her family talk and catch up. It was the most content she'd been in a long time.
"I think she's asleep," Simon said and they all looked at Ruthie, sleeping soundly against Martin who had one arm wrapped around her back, his hand resting against her side.
"Yep, has been for about ten minutes," Martin replied simply, he knew the moment Ruthie was fully asleep because she became heavier against him and limp.
"I'll take her upstairs," Matt offered.
"I got her," Martin assured, he carefully moved out from under Ruthie and then scooped her into his arms and carried her upstairs. Even for being five months pregnant with twins, she still didn't weigh too much. He gently placed her down on the bed, took off her shoes and pulled her unmade sheets up over her shoulders. He kissed her head gently. "I love you," he said softly.
"I love you too Martin," she mumbled her eyes opening just slightly and he smiled.
"Go back to sleep," he said.
"Lay with me," she returned scooting over a bit on the bed, Martin didn't need to be asked twice and laid down beside her, only over the covers. When he was laying down he extended his arm and she curled up to his side, her head pillowed on his chest right below his neck, her hand rested right below it, right above his heart and his arm went around her shoulders holding her close, his other hand laid across his stomach, his hand resting on her stomach and they soon both drifted off to sleep.
Shout Outs:
AndreaElizabeth94: Yes she can, hope you enjoyed this chapter, thank you for the review!
sweetchocolate26: Thank you! I did great on my GED, finally passed it in September! Hope you enjoyed this chapter!
emsoreoangel: Sorry I take so long to update at times, it's just life getting in the way! Glad you liked the last chapter, hope you enjoyed this one, the twins will come soon.
clickchick18: Welcome new reader! Glad you're enjoying it! Hope you like this chapter!
Anonymous: Here is the next chapter, babies will come soon!
Sbenny03: Thank you so much! I know it was an odd concept but I'm glad you're liking the way I'm writing it! Sorry this update took a while, hope you enjoy it and more to come very soon I promise!
Lizard84: I will never loose hope in this story, I promise! Sorry updates take so long sometimes. Hope you enjoyed this chapter!
