Disclaimer: As always, I own nothing, but it is impolite and down right evil to steal anything that has come out of my head. 7th Heaven and anything regarding it belongs to Aaron Spelling, Paramount, and Brenda and Co. However, Natalie is mine. Not that you could do a lot with her, but you are not allowed to take her.

A/N: This is the last story in the "Ruthie pregnant at 12, goes and lives with married Mary and Wilson" trilogy. You all asked for it, so here it is. Don't have the foggiest idea what I am talking about? Go and read "The End of the Beginning" and "Time to Flee the Nest" by myself by clicking on my pen name (KayKayeLLe).

Ten years later, the doorbell rings at the West home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Billy West, 17 years of age, got up from his chemistry homework to answer the door. When he opened it, a young girl somewhere in her twenties stared back at him. She appeared disheveled and worn, obviously inwardly aged well beyond her actual years.

"Is your mother home?" the woman asked, forcing the words out rather than letting them flow freely.

"No, she's not. She's at a PTA meeting but she should be home soon." Billy stared back at the girl. There was something about her that reminded him of something, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. "Do I know you?"

"No, not really."

From the staircase, Wilson saw his son standing at the door talking to someone. He continued his descent to the first floor until he could see the face of the person outside. When he saw her, he immediately froze.

Billy heard his father on the stairs and called out to him. "Dad, uh, could you come here? There's someone here to see Mom."

Wilson quickly composed himself and walked down the stairs and to the door. He looked back at the woman and said nothing to her, but turned to his son. "Go upstairs and finish your homework and make sure you and your sister stay up there."

"Why?" Billy asked. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong. I just have to talk to her," he said pointing in the young girl's direction.

"And she would be…?"

"Don't pry," Wilson reprimanded him. "Just go upstairs and put your sister to bed."

"Do I have to?" he complained. "You know she won't go to sleep unless Mom tucks her in."

"Yes you have to. Now please go."

Billy stared back at the girl one more time before going upstairs. Wilson then focused his attention on the young girl.

He walked over to the couch and motioned for her to follow. "Please sit down Ruthie."

She did as he told her, but did not speak. They sat there for minutes in silence, each of them darting their eyes around the room.

Wilson looked at his watch. "Mary should be home any minute."

Ruthie nodded. "This is a really nice place you've got here," she commented, trying to keep the conversation as light as possible.

"I've gotten promoted, twice in fact."

Ruthie nodded once more as they both heard the sound of the garage door rising. Wilson didn't know whether to go and greet his wife and try to warn her, or stay next to Ruthie. In a split second decision, he chose the latter.

Mary walked into the room from the kitchen, purse in hand and all smiles. When she laid eyes on Ruthie, however, she dropped her purse to the ground with a dull thud.

"Ruthie?" she asked with a quavering voice.

"Hey sis," Ruthie said standing and walking toward Mary.

Mary embraced Ruthie just as she regretted not having a chance to do before Ruthie left. When they pulled away, Mary stared at Ruthie questioningly.

"What are you doing here?"

"Could we start with an easier question?" Ruthie asked.

"OK, how are you?" Mary said sitting on the couch next to Wilson and clutching his hand firmly.

"I could be better. How are you guys?"

"I was OK until I saw you," Mary commented. "Now I'm scared."

"Why? I'm not going to hurt you."

Mary bit her lip. You already have, you're here in my home.

"I don't mean to be rude Ruthie, but what are you doing here?" Wilson asked.

"I…uh…I…" she stammered.

"Do you need our help with something? Are you OK?" he said.

"Yeah, I think so."

"What do you mean you think so?" Mary said.

"I just don't want you to both to be mad at me."

"Why, what did you do?"

"It's not what I did, but what I might do." Ruthie said.

"What are you talking about?" Mary asked slowly. She had a very bad feeling about this, but she wasn't sure if it was just the mere presence of Ruthie that made her nervous, or if it was something bigger than that.

"I…I'm still with Peter you know," she began, "and we were thinking…"

"Yes?" Wilson said.

"We were thinking about taking Natalie. Well, not really taking her, as in taking her from away from you, but raising her ourselves."

Mary felt faint. Her heart began to race, sweat formed on her forehead, and her hand went limp in Wilson's. Wilson noticed this, and knowing that Mary was in no position to answer, he did so for her.

"Well, you know if you want legal custody over her you can get it," he said earnestly.

"I know," Ruthie responded quietly. She looked over at Mary, and she could tell she was still in a state of shock. "You know, maybe I shouldn't have come here."

"She thinks we're her parents…you can't do that to a child. She's ten Ruthie, she'll understand now," Mary blurted out.

"I figured that," Ruthie said.

"I don't know what to say to you," Mary mumbled, her eyes welling up with tears.

"OK. I'll give you guys some time. I just thought I should tell you so that you could start thinking about it."

Wilson looked at Ruthie in disbelief. "Are you married?"

"No."

"Engaged?"

"Almost."

Wilson sighed heavily. This wasn't right and he sensed it as well as Mary did. "I'll show you out."

Wilson stood up and walked Ruthie to the door.

"I'll be in touch," Ruthie said right before she left.

Wilson plastered on a smile to his best ability, but his heart was breaking. Ruthie walked out the door and he closed it behind her, leaning his forehead against it as he flipped the deadbolt. He felt a hand on his back and he turned around to Mary. He tried to put his arms around her, but she moved away from him.

"I'm going to bed," she said morosely. "I don't want the kids to know something is up."

Wilson nodded, forlorn, and followed her with his eyes as she went silently up the steps. He heard the sound of the door closing ever so softly and another one opening from the other end of the hall. Wilson prayed it wasn't Natalie, but alas it was. He watched her, as he remained stationary downstairs, walk over to the bedroom he and Mary shared and knock gently at the door.

"Mommy," she said meekly.

Wilson saw Mary open the door, wrap her arm around Natalie's shoulders, and then take the ten year old girl into the bedroom with her.

"Damn it all," Wilson muttered under his breath.

So, what do you all think? Please let me know. This one is going to be the hardest for me to right, seeing I have negative motivation for it, so your reviews will really make a difference. If I get an overwhelming response, it might just make me spew out a few more chapters.

Please review!