As they continue, Ruthie walks into the room, and looks around for something. She eventually notices Mary and Wilson, and rolls her eyes, but still smiles, happy that Mary is really back. Ruthie coughs to let them know she is in the room, and they quickly sit up, both of them embarrassed.

"Um, Mary have you seen my hairbrush? Its purple."

"Uh…" Mary looks around the room. "is that it over there?" she says pointing to the desk.

"Yeah, thanks."

"You weren't sent up here to check on us, were you?"

"No, I really just wanted to brush my hair. Jake is coming over soon."

"Jake is Ruthie's boyfriend." Mary tells Wilson.

"Boyfriend? How old are you?"

"Almost thirteen."

"Isn't she a little young for a boyfriend?" Wilson whispers to Mary.

"Ruthie is very mature for her age."

"Oh." Wilson says, in a humoring tone of voice. "I see."

"I don't mean to be rude, but I kind of wanting to change." Ruthie says, making reference to her shirt.

"Oh, ok, sure. We'll go."

Mary grabs Wilson's hand, and they leave the room, closing the door behind them. Once down the stairs and into the upstairs hallway, Wilson makes a face.

"What? My parents have met Jake, he's a very nice boy from what I hear. Ruthie is very smart for her age, and my parents have talked with her. And Lucy had a boyfriend when she was 12 and she's not pregnant."

"I know, I know."

"She's just looking to be grown up. She's been the baby of the family for such a long time, and she still is the baby of the older kids. It makes her feel older. She hasn't even kissed him."

"Ok."

"And you have your own problems to worry about, don't stress out over Ruthie."

"I'm not." He says to her.

"Ok."

"So what do you want to do now?"

"Whatever you want to do."

"We could tell my parents that we want to talk to them after dinner."

"Ok." He replies, his whole facial expression turning from playful to sad.

"Look, can I tell you something?"

"Sure."

"I've been wanting to tell you this for a while, but I didn't know whether or not I should."

"Ok…"

"So I'm just going to say it." Mary looks around the hallway to make sure no one is around, grabs Wilson's hands and then continues to speak. "I miss Billy as much as you do. I love that little guy, almost like he was my own son. I just don't want you to think that I don't care about him because I do."

"I don't think that"

"Well I just get this feeling that you think I'm happy Billy's not around. I'm not, I'm just happy you're back in my life."

"I know, I never thought that. I know you care for Billy, but I express my emotions in weird ways. If I made you feel like that I'm sorry, really."

After Wilson finishes his sentence, the doorbell rings, and Ruthie bolts down the stairs to answer the door before her father can get it.

"I remember being like that." Mary says to Wilson.

Two minutes later, Ruthie and Jake walk upstairs. Mary sees Jake look at her funny and smiles.

"Hi Jake, I'm Ruthie's sister Mary. I don't think we've ever been formally introduced."

"Hello."

"And this is my boyfriend Wilson."

Jake turns to Ruthie. "Ruthie, I'm confused. Wasn't she the one who was going out with the old guy?"

"Yeah, but now she's going out with Wilson. He's 24."

"Oh, ok."

"Um…nice to meet you." Wilson says to Jake and shakes his hand.

Ruthie and Jake turn around and go up the stairs into the attic. Remembering what Wilson said before, Mary speaks.

"Uh, Ruthie. Are you and Jake allowed to be alone in your bedroom?"

"He needs to borrow my math textbook, we're going right up to get it and right back down."

"Ok, right back down."

Jake and Ruthie walk up the stairs, as Wilson smirks.

"What?"

"That was positively motherly of you. I thought she was just trying to be grown up?"

"Yeah, but you don't want her to grow up too fast. I guess it's too late for that though. Remember when I first met you? Ruthie wouldn't talk to you because she wasn't allowed to talk to strangers. Now look at her, she has a boyfriend. Everything has changed so much."

"Well change is a good thing."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because you've changed. You've gotten even more kind, and sweet, and beautiful."

"Oh yeah? Well you've changed too. You've gotten even more responsible, and considerate, and sexy. You've become perfect."

Their lips meet in a passionate kiss, and Mary starts to get lost in the sensation. She realizes this though, and quickly pulls herself back to the real world. She puts her hand on Wilson's chest, and pulls back from him. "Not in the middle of the hallway. C'mon, let's go find one of my parents."

"Ok, but after that could we go over to my parent's house?"

"Sure."

They go downstairs, and see Annie in the kitchen beginning to prepare dinner. She looks up and sees the two of them coming.

"Hey you two. Mary, did I tell you how happy I am to have you home for Christmas? And Wilson, we are all very happy to see you, too."

"We know Mom. Um…"

Before Mary can finish, her father walks into the kitchen. "Oh, hello."

"Like I was saying," Mary starts again, sounding a little annoyed, "could Wilson and I talk to you both after dinner? We have something to tell you, its kind of important."

Annie and Eric clutch each other's arms quickly. Annie gulps hard. "Ok, dear."

"Wilson and I are going to go over to his parents house for a little while. We'll probably be back in an hour or so." Wilson nods to confirm the time frame. "Ok?"

"Yeah, sure. That's fine."

Mary and Wilson walk out the back door. Wilson continues walking, but Mary stays by the back door, putting her ear to it.

"What are you doing?" Wilson asks her.

"Shh!" she whispers to him, and motions for him to come closer to her.

Mary is listening to Annie and Eric talk inside.

"You don't think she could be…"

"Could be what Eric?"

"Pregnant?"

Mary opens the door and looks her parents in the eye. "No, I'm not pregnant or anything like that, don't worry. Now good bye, we'll be back in an hour."

She closes the door behind her, and walks to her car with Wilson, leaving her parents dumfounded in the kitchen alone.