A/N: Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of you who wrote such awesome reviews! I hope I don't disappoint.

A knock came on Ruthie's door, but she ignored it. Her parents had been trying to break through the wall she had erected all week. Ruthie wasn't about to give in any time soon.

"Ruthie?" came Lucy's quiet voice. "Can I come in?"

Ruthie sighed and got up from her bed to unlock the door. She stood in the doorway, leaning against the frame. "You were with them, weren't you?"

Lucy gave Ruthie a confused look. "With who?"

"You agree with Mom and Dad about not letting Martin and I see each other, right?" Ruthie rephrased.

Lucy nodded her head. Ruthie went to slam the door in Lucy's face, showing her exactly what she thought of her betrayal, but Lucy caught her foot in the door. "Ruthie, stop it! I just wanted to come and see if you were okay?"

Ruthie gave up the struggle, knowing that Lucy could be just as stubborn as she was, and returned to her bed. Lucy walked into the room slowly, cautiously, taking a seat at Ruthie's desk. It seemed like only yesterday that Lucy herself was living in this room.

"I don't want to talk to you, traitor!" Ruthie said plainly, turning away from her older sister.

"Fine. So you'll listen and I'll talk," Lucy returned. "Ruthie, Mom and Dad only have your best interests in mind here. Martin is older and he's experienced. You're still new to this whole dating thing. Being with someone who might be moving at a different pace than you can push you into situations that you don't want or need to be in."

"Well thanks for the warning, Reverend Kinkirk, but I'm still not interested," Ruthie retorted.

Lucy sighed. It was so much easier to talk with people who actually wanted your advice than with someone who hated you for it. "When Kevin and I first started dating, things were hard for us too. There were times when I even thought about breaking up with him and there were even more times when Kevin wanted to break up with me."

Ruthie, not meaning to show interest, snuck an incredulous look at her sister, before returning her gaze to the wall behind her bed. It was impossible to think of a time when Kevin and Lucy had been anything but in love.

"It's true, Ruth. Kevin was older and he'd been with other girls. There were plenty of times when we would be together, doing the normal things that couples who are in love do, and I would put on the breaks, Kevin would get frustrated and we'd usually go home angry and dissatisfied. But I was old enough and mature enough and sure of my convictions not to fold under Kevin's pressure. And our marriage, our life together is so much better for it."

Ruthie finally turned toward her sister. "Do you really think Martin's the type of guy to pressure a girl into sex?"

Lucy raised an eyebrow. "Do you think that Kevin is?"

Lucy was right. Kevin was the sweetest guy ever. But when things between a guy and girl heat up, morals and character can sometimes go out the window.

"Do you understand what I'm saying, Ruthie?" Lucy asked.

Ruthie nodded her head. "Yes, but I am sure of my convictions and Martin is sure of his. Yes, he made a mistake with Sandy. But does that mean that he can't still be firm on his beliefs?"

Lucy shook her head. "Of course not. I'm sure that Martin has learned his lesson and right now he's probably positive that he won't have sex again until he's married. But… let's say that you and Martin are alone, at his house, and you're… together. Things are great. You're in love and doing nothing more than expressing that love. It takes a really strong, united team to walk away from that and not get carried away. Can you honestly say that you and Martin would be able to be that strong team?"

Ruthie thought about what Lucy was saying. Then she thought about the kiss she and Martin had shared. She thought about how brazen she'd been, practically throwing herself at Martin. She also remembered how Martin had denied himself another such kiss.

"I just think that everyone is being stupid not letting us have the chance to prove you all wrong!" Ruthie shouted. "Martin included!"

Lucy got up from her chair and went over to Ruthie. She hugged her sister. "Give it time, Ruthie. If you and Martin are meant to be together, things will work out. But respect Mom and Dad's decision and see it for what it is; they're just trying to protect you."

"How'd it go?" Kevin asked, throwing the dishtowel over his shoulder, as he put the last dinner plate away.

Lucy sighed and hung her jacket up on the hook beside the door. "I don't know. I think I got through to her, but I think she's still pretty upset with my parents."

Kevin hugged his wife, resting his chin on the top of her head. "It was good of you to try. And Ruthie's a strong girl. She'll get through all of this and be on to the next guy in less than a month."

Lucy smiled up at Kevin. "I don't know. I think she really likes Martin. I think she's convinced herself that Martin is the be all and end all."

Kevin walked his wife into their bedroom, arm still across her shoulders. Lucy sat down heavily on their bed. Kevin turned to Lucy. "So what did you tell her anyway?"

Lucy blushed. "I used a little bit of our personal experience actually."

Kevin stopped what he was doing and stared at Lucy. "What personal experience?"

"Remember when we first started dating and we would be making out in your car? I told Ruthie about how hard it was for you to stop, since you'd already experienced sex."

Kevin's jaw dropped open. "You told Ruthie that? About me?"

Lucy shrugged. "It's the truth and if it helps her to see why my parents don't want her dating Martin, then it's no big deal."

"Maybe not for you. You just made me look like some sex fiend to our little sister!" Kevin defended. "Did you tell her that there were plenty of times when I was the one to put on the brakes and tell you to stop?"

Lucy blushed again, the color deepening as Kevin walked toward her and sat down beside her on the bed. Kevin leaned in close and kissed her tenderly. Lucy smiled and kissed Kevin back, the two of them falling backwards onto their bed.

Martin shifted nervously from one foot to another. He hadn't rung this particular doorbell in ages and felt a little weird doing it now, but it was something that couldn't be avoided.

Eric opened the front door and gave Martin a surprised look. "Martin? You rang the doorbell?"

Martin nodded, taking a deep breath before saying, "I'm here to talk to you, sir."

Eric held the door opened for Martin, allowing him access to the house. Instead of finding his own way, Martin stood, waiting for Eric. "You want to go into the kitchen?"

"Can we be alone there?" Martin asked.

Eric pointed to the dining room. "I'll get us something to drink. Make yourself, well, at home."

Eric quickly moved into the kitchen, drawing close to Annie and whispering, "Martin's here! He wants to talk. He rang the doorbell. What do you think this means?"

Annie smiled at her husband. How he had made it through two teenage girls was beyond her. Annie began to pour two glasses of milk and fill a plate with some homemade cookies. She placed them all on a tray without saying a word. She handed Eric the tray, smiled, and pointed him to the dining room. She felt best staying out of this one. If Martin had wanted to speak with her, he would have asked.

Eric smiled nervously at Martin as he placed the tray on the table, between them. Martin looked just as nervous, with a mix of determination.

"So you wanted to talk?" Eric asked.

Martin nodded his head and took a deep breath. "I made a mistake with Ruthie, Reverend Camden."

"A mistake?" Eric asked. There was that chest pain again! "You mean in wanting to date her?"

"No. I mean in not fighting hard enough for your permission to be able to date her. Instead I thought about all of the nice things that you and your family have done for me. And while I appreciate your generosity and kindness, I shouldn't have put that ahead of my feelings for Ruthie," Martin finished, taking another gulp of fresh air.

Eric sighed. "I do appreciate your honesty and your willingness to fight for my daughter. But my wife and I have made up our minds. We just don't think it's a good idea."

"I think that you're judging me based on what happened with Sandy. I think that if there had been no Sandy and Ruthie and I came to you both, asking for permission to date, well I think you'd give it to us. Am I wrong?" Martin asked, hoping in his eagerness to be forceful, he wasn't being rude.

Eric took a long drink from his glass of milk. Then he picked up a cookie and began nibbling away. He was stalling, trying to find the right words. He cared about Martin like he was his own son, but he was disappointed in the boy's mistakes. He didn't want his baby girl dating this boy, and it was the worst feeling he had ever experienced.

"Reverend Camden, I know that you and your family are disappointed in me. I understand why," Martin said easily. "But the thing I don't understand is how you can be so unforgiving. Aren't people allowed to have second chances?"

"Martin, you're like a son to Annie and I. We regard you in the same sense we regard all of our children. We were disappointed that you chose not to wait for marriage before having sex, but we were more disappointed that you refused to step up and assume responsibility when you thought you were going to be a father," Eric explained. "That girl, although she was being deceptive, needed you and you blew her off. That surprised me more than anything."

Martin swallowed hard and took a sip of his milk. It didn't help to lubricate his dry mouth and throat. "I got scared and acted like a coward. I wasn't ready to accept that I might have gotten someone pregnant. I was ashamed that I had lost my way so easily. I'd always said that I would wait until I was married and then I didn't. I knew that as soon as I accepted the fact that Sandy might be pregnant, I'd have to admit to myself that I had sinned against my own beliefs. And more than anything, I didn't want to do that."

"I understand and I'm glad that you've seen all of this and have worked through it. I don't, however, think that moving on to the next girl is the right choice at this time," Eric pointed out.

"I would normally agree with you. But this is Ruthie we're talking about. I didn't even realize that I liked her until it was staring me in the face. And now that I know, I can't just pretend like I don't."

Eric rubbed the top of his head, in deep thought. He wanted to believe this boy. He wanted to trust that Martin would never harm Ruthie or put her in any danger. He wanted to have faith in his youngest daughter and in the lessons he had taught her.

"Reverend Camden, if you were to let Ruthie and I date, on a trial basis, I think we could prove to you, I could prove to you, that we can be trusted. I would never do anything to hurt Ruthie, sir. I care about her a lot. All I'm asking for is a chance," Martin pleaded.

Eric slumped his shoulders. "This goes against my better judgment, Martin, so please don't disappoint me."

A smile spread across Martin's face. Eric hadn't seen that familiar glow in a while and was happy it was back. Getting up from the table, Eric and Martin shared a quick hug. Eric hoped he was making the right decision.