Chapter 3: Martin and Ruthie become very close as they take the kids a train trip to New York. But Ruthie doesn't want to be the mother to Martin's daddy. Sorry, very little action.

This chapter is for jade-snake, and TheSouthernBelle, who requested some more Ruthie/Martin "action". The next few chapters are for them, because of Martin. But don't worry you Peter lovers, he doesn't give up that easily. Ooops. I never said that.

Ruthie and Martin were sitting with Simon at the kitchen table that afternoon. There was a companionable silence as they ate their eggs. The radio playing softly in the background and Eric pacing in his study, all was well.

"Eric! Eric!" Annie's voice rang out from downstairs. Eric ran from his study through the kitchen and upstairs.

Ruthie and Simon ran upstairs after him, followed by Martin who stopped only to drink his last sip of coffee. The sight when they got to Lucy's room was one of joy, not one of sadness as they had thought. Annie sat on a wooden chair to the left of Lucy, on the right was Eric kneeling on the floor. Lucy sat up in the bed, her hair had been brushed and even in her raggedy old sweatshirt she looked beautiful. In her hands was a list of baby names.

"I was thinking maybe James if it's a boy, and Mary-Elaine if it's a girl," Lucy smiled at her parents. "But then I thought, I really should name the baby after the two people who I love the most. So I have decided, and Kevin agrees that the two best names are Eric Kevin Kinkirk and Annie Ruth Kinkirk."

"Oh honey, this mean so much to me," with tears in his eyes Eric gave Lucy a gentle hug. "Thank you so much."

"Why Ruth Lucy?" Ruthie asked from her place in the doorway.

"Because it is the name of my favorite little sister, who has always been there for me," Ruthie smiled and blew a kiss at Lucy, who returned it.

"So when are you going to have a kid named after me?" Simon asked sliding to the ground just inside the doorway. "Or what about Matt and Mary?"

Lucy grinned, "I'll name my next kid after you Simon. If it's a girl it'll be Simona. Is that all right with you?"

Everyone laughed and Simon, Martin and Ruthie went back downstairs to finish their lunches. After words they sat and thought about what they could do to help out Annie in caring for the house.

"I'll finish packing up the kids," Simon volunteered. "If need be, I can fly to New York with them so they won't be scared."

Annie, upon hearing this chimed in. "No Simon, you're already way overspent. There is no way you can afford to fly. Besides I thought the kids would take the train." Annie walked down the stairs and sat at the table with them.

"I could take them," both Lucy and Martin said simultaneously. Everyone chuckled, then turned to Annie for her decision.

"Yes, that'll be good," she smiled. "You both can take them. The twins are at the point where they don't like being bossed around by a woman, and Lucita will need a mom figure. That'll be good."

"All right," Martin appeared to be pleased.

Ruthie on the other hand was not so easily swayed. "But Mom, won't you need at least one of us around to help?"

"With Matt and Sarah having just arrived I really can spare you. Besides you haven't seen the colonel in forever, and Martin I don't recall if you have ever met him."
With that Ruthie had no choice but to concede. Simon went off to help Annie finish packing the twins and Lucita up, and Martin and Ruthie went back to the garage to pack their bags.

"We should stay a night or two in New York," Martin said on their way to the apartment. "Do some tourist things."

"Or we could rush back here to help out."

"What is your problem?" Martin sat Ruthie down on the bed, then sat next to her.

"What are you talking about?" Ruthie scooted away from him.

"This! Ever since we went inside you have been doing anything you can to get away from me. What happened?"

"Nothing happened," Ruthie turned away and prayed that he would drop it.

"No, something happened. Even this morning you were responsive. You can't tell me nothing has changed," Martin stared at the back of Ruthie's head, willing her to turn and talk to him. "Talk to me Ruthie."

"I messed up with you," Ruthie shuddered then straightened her back and turned to face Martin. "I really fucked this one up."

"How?"

"Before I left school I ran into Peter," Ruthie looked at her hands. "We got back together. Then the first thing I do is come home and sleep with you."
"So," Martin rested his hand on hers. "Peter never has to know. Besides you guys saw each other for how long? How do you know you guys are back together?"

"I know we're together! We're meant to be together!"

"Then why were you forced to come back here, sounds like maybe this was supposed to happen."

"No, this was never supposed to happen," Ruthie shook Martin's hand off. "I love Peter, we're together. Which leaves you out of the picture!"

"If you are so in love with Peter, why did we have sex last night, and this morning?"

"I was drunk."

"This morning?"

Ruthie stood and walked over to her suitcase. "I don't want to talk about this anymore." They packed in silence. At about three they walked downstairs. They found Simon and the twins sitting in the living room watching TV.

"Hey guys!" Sam and David waved without turning from the TV. Simon smiled.

"I made the mistake of telling them that the colonel doesn't let people watch TV. So they're determined to watch a lot of TV to make up for it."

Ruthie tried to smile then sat down on the couch next to Simon. "When does our train leave?"

"At six, Lucita is saying good-bye to Lucy. Then you two can go up. I guess I'll drive you to the station."

"Thanks Simon," Martin said.

"Sure, say hi to the Colonel for me. I haven't seen him in a long time."

"Of course," Ruthie closed her eyes and leaned back. "Martin, when you bring your suitcase down could you bring mine two?"
"Yeah, did you not sleep well last night."

"Actually I didn't. Something kept bothering me."

Martin left to go get the bags the same time Lucita walked downstairs. Holding on carefully to the banister and her little doll. Lucita had pale blonde hair, lighter then both her mother and her father. Her big expressive green eyes were defiantly from her father's family, as was her calm temper and peaceful demeanor. But she got her love of people, everyone even if she didn't know them from her mother.

"Auntie Ruthie, Mommy says to tell you that she wants to talk to you."

"Ok Lucita," Ruthie knelt so she was face level with Lucita. "You and I are going to take a train trip. It's going to be a lot of fun. Then you and Sam and David are going to stay with the colonel for awhile. He is really nice."

Lucita nodded and walked over to where Sam and David lay on the ground. They immediately scooted over to make room for her to sit between them.

"They'll take good care of her. They practically worship Lucita," Simon placed a reassuring hand on Ruthie's back. "It'll be all right."

"I know," Ruthie stood and smiled shakily. "I just can't help worrying."

Ruthie walked upstairs and said good-bye to Lucy. After hearing Lucita's favorite bedtime stories, and how she can't eat peanuts but loves crunchy peanut butter Lucy let Ruthie go.

"I'll take good care of her Lucy!"

"I know you will Ruthie, I love you."

"I love you too, see you in a few days."

"Bye," Lucy stared at the empty doorway. Waiting, patiently as she did every day, for Kevin to enter it and brighten her day.

The car ride was silent except for an occasional outburst from Sam or David on how they wanted to stay with Lucy and it wasn't fair. Since Ruthie wasn't up to talking or settling twin 12 year olds down Martin was forced to calm them. Which he did, unfortunately with bribery which did not hold well in Ruthie's book.

At the train station Simon and Martin carried the bags in, while Ruthie carried Lucita. Sam and David trailed behind. They all walked in silence, Simon thinking about how much he wished he was on a train home to see his girlfriend, then quickly reprimanding himself for not wanting to stay and help Lucy. Martin was think about the previous night and how long it had been since he had felt such desire and passion between him and a woman. Ruthie was also thinking about the previous night, however her thoughts were more of regret and shame, however she did find herself remembering quite longingly how wonderful it felt being held in Martin's strong arms. Lucita was wondering how long it would be till she saw her mommy again, and silently praying for god to make her sibling all right. Sam and David were respectively thinking about how much they loved train rides and how sad they were that there was going to be no TV.

After saying good-bye to Simon Ruthie stepped on to her second train of that week. She and Lucita walked up the aisle looking for their compartment, Martin, Sam and David's compartment was located in the opposite direction. When they arrived Ruthie took a few minutes to show Lucy the fold out top bun where she would be sleeping and how the bathroom worked.

"Auntie Ruthie, why is our room so small?" Lucita asked.

"Because they need to have lots of rooms for many people, and this trip will only last a little bit of time. So people are not going to need a lot of space," Lucita nodded and went back to her doll, Susan.

Ruthie sat staring out the window at the people loading onto the train. She stared out the window at the train pulling out of the station. She stared out the window at the countryside that rolled by. She would have stared out the window for the whole trip had Lucita's doll not felt claustrophobic and hungry. They, Lucita, Susan and Ruthie, walked t the dinning car where they ran into Sam and David. Sitting alone at a booth drinking soda.

"Where is Martin?" Ruthie asked as she settled Lucita down across from the boys.

"He's sleeping," Sam answered.

"Yeah, he said to come down here and grab a bite to eat," David added.

"He did, and left you all alone?" Sam and David nodded as they continued to eat their burgers. Ruthie's face clenched, after relaxing her muscles she bent down so she was eye to eye to the boys. "You two listen to me, I need to go have a quick chat with Martin and then I'll be back. Don't go anywhere and watch Lucita."

"Fine," Sam said as David nodded.

Ruthie walked from car to car, standing outside of the boy's room she set her face and knocked. There was no reply. She knocked again, and again, and again. She raised her fist to bang again when the door opened and her fist collided with Martin's bare chest.

"What's up Ruthie?" Martin yawned scratching his head. Ruthie pushed him inside and closed the door behind her. "Wow, I thought you weren't speaking to me."

"What possessed you to leave the boys alone in the dining cart?" Ruthie yelled. "They're very young and shouldn't be left alone! You needed to take a nap? So what! The kids come first! You are so irresponsible!"

Martin placed his hand over Ruthie's mouth. She made a strangled noise in her throat and pushed it away.

"How dare you! Who do you think you are that you can do that to me? You are such a ass!"

"Ruthie."

"I'm not through! Never touch me again!"

"Ruthie."

"Did you actually think I'd suddenly stop talking just because you wanted me to?"

"Ruthie!"

"What?"
"Where are the boys now?"

"In the dining cart, stop changing the subject."

"Are they alone?"
"Of course, we're together in here; who could be with them?" Ruthie's mouth fell open in a silent 'o' as she realized what she had said. "Oh."

"What were you saying about responsibility?"

Ruthie turned to leave, just as she was opening the door Martin grabbed her arm and held the door closed. Ruthie felt her self spun till she was facing Martin, then sat down on the bed/couch. Martin leaned against the bathroom door, crossing his arms he stared down at her like she was an unruly student and he a wise professor.

"What?"

"We are going to have to talk about what happened."

"Not now, poor Sam and David are all alone watching Lucita."

"We're going to talk eventually, why not right now?"

"Because there are two twelve year old boys out there in charge of Lucita!" Ruthie stood up. "And I am not going to let them get in trouble or hurt, especially little Lucy!"

"Fine, but this is not over!"

Ruthie walked out the door and turned to close it, "fine."

Martin lay back down on the bad, hands under his head he stared up at the compartment ceiling, and grinned. "God, she is so fine."

To my darling readers,

Thank you to all my reviewers, i am so very, very,very,very sorry that this did not get up sooner. You all have been so sweet to me and my little baby and i let you down. I could give several bullshit excuses but the truth is i just couldn't write. I had ideas, i had time (though i was very stressed) my mind was just not putting these ideas to paper. I love you all, expect the next chapter to go up asap and i hope you had a happy new year.

Brooke Monroe

P.s. I'm looking for someone to BETA this story, please email me at if you are interested in the job.