Disclaimer: I wish I did, but I don't, sadly enough. 7th Heaven is not and will never be mine.

Okay, this is where the PG-13 label comes in effect. Some racy topics, but nothing too big that won't shock people over 13.

Also I was unaware that people actually read this part. Usually I just skip to the story and then scream at the author to update faster (I think I do a pretty good job, myself).

Anyway, enjoy! Oh and because I've always liked Chandler, I decided to include him in the story, with Kendal (even though I loved him with Roxanne) unless he broke up with her? Someone please explain!

As I edited this in a hurry, I might've missed something. Do tell me, so I can fix it.

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"Chandler! Kendal!" Annie hugged the four new arrivals, "Do you have any idea how late you are?" She put her hands on her hips

"We're sorry," Jeffery said cheerfully, "Jai's having a hard time with his wheelchair," He pointed to his adopted younger brother, Jai.

"I am not!" The wheelchair-ridden boy countered. He had been adopted by Chandler and Kendal a few years back and recently became paralyzed from the waist down.

"Hush Jeffery," Kendal said, taking Jai's coat off, "Dinner didn't start did it?"

"No," Ruthie said, looking off to the side, "Lucy's just taken the roast out and then Dad's planning on doing Midnight Mass while Lucy and Kevin have some time to themselves," She explained

"I never thought Lucy would let someone do something for her," Chandler commented, "She always wanted to prove she could do it just fine by herself,"

"Yeah well, you try having three young children and a church to run," Lucy appeared out of nowhere, frazzled, "Kendal, Jai, Jeffery, so nice to see you three again! Chandler" She said gravely, "Dinner's on the table,"

"I forgot about that little spat Lucy had with you," Annie said, "She can hold a grunge when she wants to,"

"Its fine," Chandler smiled, "Kendal and Jai wanted a change of pace and Jeffery wanted to come here anyway,"

"Well sit down, the four of you!" Annie insisted, ushering them in.

Chandler took a seat next to Jeffery, giving his trademark confused grin to the people he recognized. Ruthie was about to take a seat next to Savannah and Kevin, but Annie butted in saying,

"Since there's not as much space," Annie smiled, "We have a separate table for the children, and name cards everywhere,"

There was a bunch of bustling and muttering about stupid name cards. Sam was upset at having to sit with the little kids as well as Jeffery and David just looked lost. He was lost a lot these days.

Ruthie ended up sitting next to Chandler, who she was avoiding (for Lucy's sake) and her father, who was at the head of the table. Since Eric was talking animatedly to Lucy about theology that Ruthie could understand if she took the time to listen, but decided against it. She didn't want to bother them, because Eric rarely got to participate in such discussions anymore.

Kevin, next to Chandler was talking to Carrie and Simon, both next to Martin about how difficult three year old boys are.

This left only Martin for her to talk to. Ruthie willed herself to just look at his reflection in her glass, scolding herself for the blush it produced when he glanced in her direction.

Since everyone was pushed together, knees kept touching. The first time Martin just innocently brushed it against hers as he was trying to sit in his seat a little better.

Next he dropped a fork on the floor and reached down to pick it up. He saw Ruthie's leg. Perfectly shaved with the exception of a tiny nick and nicely toned to him, he, without thinking about it, ran a hand on it, feeling the soft, silky, skin that belonged to Ruthie.

She was about to jump when she realized it was Martin and decided on payback instead. Showing no notice that he had even touched he when he sat back in his seat mouthing a sorry only she could see.

This was the first time she had tried this, but she had seen and heard about this so many times, she didn't think anyone would notice them.

Daintily, she pulled one of her heels off and made sure no one was paying attention, including Martin. She slyly ran her foot up and down inside his pant leg.

His glare was obvious. It meant that they were in an unspoken war. For now, at least.

Ruthie put her foot back into the heel, a small smirk on her face. She hadn't expected him to grin right back at her. He hooked his foot, now shoe-less into hers and grabbed it. It was now in his lap and he started to massage her foot, eating with his other hand.

Ruthie wrestled it away from Martin before an idea sparked in her mind. To this date, she had no idea why she did this out of anything else, but it seemed to make sense to her.

Stealthily she ran her foot, this time on the outside of his pant leg, slowly darting up. Reaching his lap, he looked at her, as if daring her to go any farther.

She met this challenge with a grin and began making him slowly feel tortuous and hot, two things he never felt at a dinner table before. She quickly took her foot out, after a minute, feeling even more mortified then when he accidentally brushed against her knee.

Martin had a slightly bigger problem to get rid of. Seeing Kevin he muttered,

"Err, I have a little problem," in his ear. At Kevin's questioning glance, he sighed and whispered the details in Kevin's ear, leaving Ruthie out, saying he was daydreaming.

Kevin laughed long and hard, everyone staring at him oddly.

"Kevin, what's so funny?"

"Nothing, But why don't you tell Martin about these abandoned kids? I'm sure it'll sober him up, he's a little drunk," Kevin patted his back lightly, "Don't worry about it, man," He whispered, "Just think about the poor orphans,"

Sure enough, five minutes into Lucy's lecture it had disappeared. Worse though, Ruthie couldn't look at him. He needed a cold shower.

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"So Carrie, do you celebrate Christmas?" Annie asked, all the girls in the kitchen chatting and setting up the desserts.

"No," She admitted, "This is my first Christmas. When I lived in Africa, we usually just celebrated Kwanzaa," She explained, "So far, Christmas seems like fun,"

"Where did you and Simon meet?" Mary asked, curious

"My job sent me to Los Angeles," She explained, "Simon and I crashed into each other and took the wrong cell phones with us," Laughing, she added, "He called and made a date for lunch to exchange phones and we ended up exchanging our hearts as well,"

"That's a wonderful meeting story," Ruthie said, smiling, "How long have you and Simon been together?"

"Five months," She said, after thinking, "Time has passed so fast since we first met," A small blush appeared under her soft brown skin.

"Don't you worry about me being, well," She looked down nervous, "Black?"

"Hey," Sarah grinned, "I'm Jewish and so is Matt," At her questioning glance, "He converted,"

"Yeah, and Kevin's Catholic," Lucy pointed out, "I'm a Protestant minister,"

"Carlos was Puerto Rican," Mary added, "Only we divorced because I fell in love with a different guy,"

"We hated Rose, and she was white," Ruthie grinned, "Bossy, that was Rose in a word. You seem perfect for Simon, because it shows that you care for him and he cares for you,"

"Hey, sweetie," Simon came into the kitchen, hands around Carrie, "Dad sent me here to tell the girls to stop gossiping and send out some pie," He pecked Carrie on the cheek, "You are the prettiest thing I've ever seen,"

"Aw shucks, Simon," Ruthie said, fluttering her eyelashes, pretending Simon was talking to her, "But look at Carrie!"

He glared at her and Carrie laughed, "Simon, your family is so funny,"

"Yes, they are Camdens for a reason," He admitted, "Do you want to come to Midnight Mass or?" He looked at her, "I'll be with you, no matter what,"

Ruthie sighed. Now her stupid brother had to be a lovable rock? What about her? Mean as it may sound, she wasn't the one that killed a kid or caused her father grief...much.

"I think I'm too tired," She admitted, "The trip wore me out,"

"I bet it did, trying to find the presents I got for you," He teased her good naturally.

It was so unfair. She wanted someone to tease her like that!

Not Simon, though. That was just gross.

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She ended up going to Midnight Mass with David, Sam, Mary, Robbie, Charlie, and Martin. The others had preferred to sleep in, promising to come over straightaway to open presents.

She ended up sitting next to Martin and Robbie. Since Robbie was holding Mary's hand and being all lovey-dovey with her, that left Martin for her to talk to during the prayers.

She hadn't been to church in a long time. The last time she was in a church, she had broken down and gone to a Christian church and confessed everything in her life starting from when Sam and David were born.

That priest had certainly heard an earful.

Martin's hand was on the bench as he dutifully kept his eyes on the hymn. Ruthie's eyes traced the stray hand with her eyes and before she could control herself, she put hers on top of his.

His eyes showed a look of surprise changed to warmth. He inched closer to her, still holding her small hand firmly and smiled, thinking that she was over her bashful stage. Ruthie let out a smile, a dazzling smile that made Martin want to do anything just to keep it there longer.

Christmas songs were certainly infectious, as Ruthie listened to Robbie's booming baritone as he matched the choir line for line. Martin kept silent and Ruthie leaned on Robbie shoulder, saying loudly enough for Martin to hear,

"I love it when you sing,"

Robbie raised an eyebrow but wrapped an arm around her shoulder. Martin suddenly began to sing along to Amazing Grace, making Ruthie smile and mutter 'thank you' to Robbie before grasping Martin's hand again rocking back and fourth with him.

Martin's lilting voice was strong and never ended to Ruthie as her eyelids drooped.

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"Oh my," Annie chuckled, looking at Ruthie, Sam, and David sound asleep, "Poor children must be so tired,"

Martin yawned, "I can carry Ruthie," He lifted Ruthie up the way a groom carries his bride to their room, causing Annie to sniffle, "Can you see the two of them getting married?" She whispered to Mary, smiling.

"Ruthie's only twenty two, Mom," Mary reminded her, "And Martin twenty three,"

"Oh tosh," An older churchgoer said, "What does age have to do with a couple like that?"

"They aren't dating," Sam pointed out, before following David out to the church.

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Martin set Ruthie on his bed, noting that Chandler's family had the third floor. Simon and Carrie were also fast asleep in one bed and everywhere else was full. This time, he grabbed Ruthie's pajamas and quickly changed in the bathroom.

She was fast asleep by the time he came back and showed no signs of waking up any time soon. Martin knew she would be cranky in the morning if she slept in an expensive looking dress and drooled on it or something.

He gently turned her over, unzipping her dress. He tried not to peek as he put her pants on, his mind burning a picture of her in the lace thong in his mind.

He wanted to know badly what she wore for a bra but scolded himself and kept his eyes shut and miraculously got Ruthie's baggy shirt on without seeing her actual upper torso. He resisted the urge to open his eyes and look at the bra, instead putting it right under her dress before he tucked her in.

She was too asleep to tell him to stay with her. This time, he stayed without her urging him. Martin Brewer had fallen hopelessly in love with Ruthie and despite their escapades, he didn't think that she knew yet.