Chapter 7

"You have everything?", asked Ruthie.

Martin looked around the small hospital room that he had spent the last 3 weeks.

"Yeah I do, can you get my bag over there I would get it but", said Martin.

Ruthie looked at him with tears in her eyes. She walked over to him hugging him around the waist gently. His chest still hurt at times.

"Don't cry baby I'm alright", whispered Martin running his fingers through her longer hair.

She was growing it out for him because he loved long hair. She would giggle at him and say that he loved her hair more than he loved her. He would laugh at that.

"Martin, I almost lost you, do you understand?", asked Ruthie holding his waist and running her hand up and down his back

. "I know baby but it's over now, they caught the guy that did this and everything will be better now and you can adopt Lillian, she can be your legally now", said Martin leaning his chin on her head.

Ruthie sighed. Martin hated talking about it. She knew he had nightmares but he didn't want to feel week in front of her. She wanted to talk to him about it but he seemed not to want to at all. She was scared about that. Ruthie remembered being there one night and him had a nightmare.

Flashback…………………….

"No, get away from them, leave them alone", whimpered Martin in his sleep.

Ruthie was startled out of her seat. She had been sleeping in the hospital with Martin every night. She walked up to him and shook him a little bit. He seemed to be tossing and turning in his sleep though. She wiped the sweat from his forehead and whispered,

"Martin, baby get up it's just a dream", said Ruthie.

He whimpered more before shooting up in the bed almost knocking Ruthie down. He was panting and sweating.

"Martin its okay its okay", said Ruthie over and over again holding him to her.

He lay back on the bed and shivered. Ruthie looked at him kissing his forehead. He held onto her arm.

"Don't leave me, please I can't lose you, you can't leave me", said Martin looking into Ruthie's face. He was close to tears. "I'm not I promise, I'm always here, baby, me and Lillian and all the other babies we will have, together forever baby forever", said Ruthie cupping his face kissing his lips gently.

Martin nodded his head and shivered once more. Ruthie wanted to ask what he was dreaming about. She had an idea though. But she also knew that Martin wouldn't talk about it.

"Stay with me", whispered Martin.

Ruthie nodded her head getting on the bed with him. She held him and soothed his hair. He fell asleep a little while later. Ruthie stayed awake though holding her man.

"I love you Martin", whispered Ruthie.

End of Flashback……………………

"Let's get out of here", said Martin smiling down at Ruthie.

Ruthie smiled and squealed. She was happy that he was coming home to them. It had been so hard to be in the apartment by herself. She missed him so much. Lillian had been staying with her parents while she stayed at night at the hospital with Martin.

"Let's go get our daughter" said Ruthie smiling.

Ruthie drove towards the Camden home while humming along with the radio. Martin teased her constantly about her singing.

"I can sing", said Ruthie pouting.

"Aww baby I love your voice", said Martin kissing her as they walked up to the Camden home.

They didn't even ring the bell before the door was opened.

"Luce", said Ruthie laughing.

"I saw you guys pull up", said Lucy smiling sheepishly.

Ruthie giggled. The Camden family was still as nosy as ever. Martin walked in behind Ruthie smiling at Lucy.

"Lillian is in the living room", said Lucy smiling.

Martin walked towards the living room and jumped back.

"Welcome Home", yelled out everyone.

Martin was shocked looking at everyone.

"Welcome Homes Daddy", yelled Lillian running towards them.

"Lily Bean, don't jump on daddy, his chest still hurts baby", said Ruthie catching the little girl.

Lillian nodded her head. She walked towards her dad wrapping her arms around his legs gently. Martin smiled down at his little girl. Ruthie came and picked her up. Martin wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

"Thanks it's good to be home", said Martin.

He went to greet everyone. Kevin looked at Martin giving him a signal that he needed to talk to him. It was important.

"Excuse me baby, I have to talk to Kevin, alright I'll tell you later, promise", said Martin kissing her forehead knowing she wanted to know what was going on.

Ruthie nodded her head kissing him gently before letting Martin walk into the kitchen with Kevin. Ruthie sighed.

"It's alright baby", said Annie rubbing Ruthie's back.

"I know it's just Martin, he doesn't want to talk about his nightmares, I know he is having them. I'm scared that he is not opening up to me. I hate that he doesn't talk to me", said Ruthie looking down.

Annie kissed her daughter's head.

"Tell him, tell him what you just told me. He is probably scared to talk about it, talk to him then", said Annie.

Ruthie nodded her head turning her head to watch her little girl. Lillian gave her a small smiled and turned her attention back to Savannah.

"She is going to be completely mine Mom, Sandy gave up her rights, mom", said Ruthie smiling.

Annie smiled as well. Another grandchild to spoil.

Martin sat down at the table in the kitchen, while Kevin took a seat across from him.

"He tried Martin for attempted Murder and Kidnapping, Sandy will testify against him, she copped a plea so she doesn't have to do time, she might get probation and community service though", said Kevin.

Martin nodded his head but said nothing.

"Martin you need to talk to Ruthie, to somebody", said Kevin looking at the young man.

Martin's head snapped up at this.

"About what?", asked Martin.

Kevin lifted his eyebrows kind of like saying are you kidding me.

"I can't, I just I can't be weak", said Martin running his hands through his hair.

"She is your girl, she is going to be your wife, Martin. She won't think of you as weak, this woman is supposed to be your best-friend. You can tell her anything. Talk to her, trust me I know she wants to probably talk about it too", said Kevin.

"I know I know I'm hurting her by not telling her, it's hard I'm usually this strong person in front of her. No that's a lie. What was I thinking? Ruthie would understand", said Martin more to himself than to Kevin.

Kevin just smiled.

"Yeah she would, she does", said Kevin patting his back before getting up and walking into the living room.

The party continued for a while until everyone saw that Lillian had fallen asleep and Martin looked tired too. Ruthie drove them home, opening the apartment door. Martin smiled at what he saw. Ruthie added some of her things to make it more home-like. Most guys would be upset but not Martin. He loved that she stayed here. They didn't tell their parents that they were like living together. Ruthie still had a dorm room but she never used it.

"Let me put Lily Bean to bed", whispered Ruthie.

Ruthie opened the door and gasped. Flashes of that day entered her mind and she stood frozen at the door. Tears ran down her face unchecked. Martin walked to the hallway to see Ruthie standing at Lillian's room door frozen in place. He walked towards her and touched her shoulders. As soon as he did, she broke down in sobs. Martin pulled her into him. Lillian was nestled between them.

"Give me a minute", whispered Martin taking Lillian from her arms.

He took a deep breath and walked into that room. He just walked to the little bed and put his daughter to sleep on it. He checked all the windows in the room before walking out and closing the door. He then leaned his whole body against the door. He was trembling. He knew he had to get help. He needed to talk to Ruthie about it. He had to or he would lose his mind.

"Let's talk baby", whispered Martin taking her hand into his and walking towards the bedroom.

He sat her down.

"I'm scared Ruthie, my mind it just, it's playing tricks on me, I keep seeing the gun and it's not pointed at me it's pointed at you and Lillian. He came to take my family from me. I just god, he just pulled out the gun", said Martin seemingly lost to the world as he spoke to Ruthie about his fears.

His hand was trembling trying to keep his composure. Ruthie took his hands bring it up to her cheek and rubbing her cheek gently over his fingers.

"I know I felt like I lost you, I couldn't breath and god, I just wanted to", whispered Ruthie crying in his arms.

Martin held onto her.

"That night was the best night of my life and then it turned into a nightmare the next morning, Martin. Baby you scared me. I thought I lost you again", whispered Ruthie looking up at him with her big brown eyes.

"You never lost me", said Martin kissing her gently.

That night they spent all night talking to each other. They talked and talked trying to heal from the pain. They knew one night wasn't going to ease the pain but it was a start. They had things to worry about though. Like the trial against Tony, going to court to get Lillian to be Ruthie's legally. And most important their wedding. But for now they would heal each other's wounds and hearts.