DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything 7th heaven related.

Happy Holidays everyone! Enjoy:)

Ruthie awoke to the feeling of Martin's arm around hers. She turned slightly to look at him, he was still sound asleep. She smiled; he looked so cute just lying there. She wondered what he was dreaming about. He looked so peaceful. Being careful not to wake him, she removed his arm from around her, and climbed out of bed. Grabbing her bathrobe off the back of her door she headed to the bathroom to take a shower. The shower felt good, and helped wake her up. She headed back to her room, to grab some clothes and her makeup. She started picking through the piles of clothes when she heard Martin say "Good Morning"

She turned toward him "You're awake."

"Yep" He replied. "And you took a shower" he said looking at her.

"Yep" Ruthie answered "I've been up for a while. I don't like to sleep the day away like some people" she teased. Martin retorted, by throwing a pillow at her. "I have to finish getting ready. But if you want to take a shower you can. There are clean towels in the cupboard above the toilet."

"Ok" Martin answered "That sounds great." He climbed out of bed. Ruthie couldn't help but notice how good he looked first thing in the morning. What she didn't know was that Martin was thinking the same thing about her. "I'll be back in a few" he told her. She nodded and watched as he left the room. Turning back to her reflection in the mirror, she sighed. Things were beginning to get complicated. She wasn't supposed to have feelings for Martin. She thought those feelings were long gone, but seeing Martin again everything had come rushing back. What have I gotten myself into? She wondered. She tipped her head upside down and began blow drying her hair.

When she walked into the kitchen about twenty minutes later, she found Martin sitting at the table reading the newspaper and drinking a cup of coffee from a pink mug. She smiled slightly, then poured herself a cup and joined him at the table.

"So what did you want to do today?" he asked putting down the paper.

"Um … I don't mind" Ruthie replied "Wasn't sure what your plans were."

"Well, I do have to go back to my apartment at some point and continue unpacking" He told her.

"Right" Ruthie replied.

"You could come with, if you want" Martin told her. "I mean, you don't have to help me unpack, but you could hang out, come check out my apartment."

"Sure" Ruthie smiled. Martin just smiled back. Ruthie couldn't stand it; the attraction she felt toward him was almost too much. She sighed.

"So you want to go get something to eat?" Martin asked. "I remember you mentioned something about a diner?"

"Oh, yeah" Ruthie answered. "Sure! They have amazing food, you'll like it"

"Great" Martin replied "I'm starving"

Ruthie laughed "Let me just leave a note with Rachel, then we can go." She grabbed a piece of paper and a pen from one of the drawers, and wrote

Hey sleepyhead,

Martin and I went down to Bettie's diner. Then I think we're gonna head over to his place. We'll talk when I'm back, I need to talk to you about this, about the whole Martin being here thing. I'll be back later, call my cell if you need me.

Love,

Your best friend,

Ruthie xxxx

Ruthie smiled then posted the note, on Rachel's door. "Ok all set" she called out to Martin. She left the apartment, followed closely by Martin.

"Wow, this is place is really great" Martin told Ruthie

"I told you" Ruthie replied. The two were seated in a booth in Bettie's diner. The place had a nice charm to it, and the atmosphere and staff were very friendly. Ruthie smiled, glad that Martin liked it. She and Rachel usually came here every weekend, the morning after they went out. "I'm glad you like it."

Martin smiled in return. He was about to say something, when the waitress came over with their food. She put the food down in front of them and then promptly disappeared.

"So" said Martin as he took a bite of his fries "How come you don't have a boyfriend?"

"What?" replied Ruthie, a little shocked at him being so forward.

"I was just wondering" Martin told her "We talked about me and Sandy last night, but we didn't really talk about you. You mentioned that you go out a lot, so I knew you didn't have a boyfriend. Just wondering why that is. Seems like any guy would be lucky to have you." Realizing what he said, he quickly looked at his plate. Ruthie not knowing what to say to that comment, pretended like she hadn't heard it.

"Well I dated a few guys in high school but nothing serious" she told him. "I was pretty devastated after what happened with you. I mean before you Vincent broke my heart, and then you did the same thing." Martin looked sad as she said this. "I didn't really feel like dating anyone seriously, plus I knew I wanted to come out to the east coast for college, so it was like what's the point."

"That makes sense" Martin replied "I didn't really date anyone either, I was too busy raising Julia. And the girls I was interested in didn't want much to do with once they found about Julia."

"That sucks" Ruthie told him "Guess that means you just didn't find the right person. If the person is right, then Julia shouldn't matter. They should be able to accept that part of you life."

"I guess so" Martin replied, staring at her. Ruthie stared back and smiled. She could feel something growing between them, and the way that Martin was looking at her was making her stomach tighten in knots.

"So what about college?" Martin asked breaking the silence

"Huh?"

"No boyfriends in college?" Martin asked.

"Oh … Uh" Ruthie replied "There was one guy. His name was Travis. Um, we dated for about two years."

"Wow" Martin said looking shocked "That's a long time"

"Yeah" Ruthie replied nodding her head "Things were pretty intense with us." She smiled as she thought about Travis. They'd met freshmen year, they'd lived in the same dorm, and had one writing class together. At first they had been friends, then it had just developed into something more. Travis was the first guy after Martin that she'd really loved. She'd never been happier with him. But then everything had changed. Travis's mom had died from cancer, and he'd never been the same after. Ruthie had tried to help him, but he didn't want help, not even from her. They'd slowly drifted apart, and eventually broken up. The next thing Ruthie knew, he'd dropped out of school and moved back home to live with his dad. They still kept in touch via the occasional e-mail, but that was it. Ruthie sighed, as she thought about him. Though things hadn't worked out with him, the way she'd once hoped, she didn't have any regrets. He had helped her become the person she was today, and for that she was ever grateful.

"So what happened?" Martin asked "Why'd you guys break up?"

"Things just didn't work out" Ruthie replied "But it doesn't matter. That was a long time ago."

"I see" Martin was just watching her gauging her reaction

"So are you all set?" She asked him "We've been here a while"

"Yeah" Martin replied "I'll pay" he told her "My treat."

Ruthie didn't say anything, just smiled and nodded. She wished that Martin hadn't brought up Travis. While it had been a long time, and she was over him, it still made her sad to thing about what had happened. Martin had seemed to sense this and hadn't pressed the matter. He'd even offered to pay, which was extremely nice.

"You still up for checking out my apartment?"

"Of course" she replied.

He got up and held out his arm for her to hold onto. Ruthie grabbed his arm and just smiled at him "Thanks Martin" she told him

"Sure, anything for you" he told her, looking ever so serious as he said it. Martin was just staring at her pretty intensely, and Ruthie was aware of how close they were. She just smiled and turned her head away. She was confused about her feelings for Martin. She hadn't been prepared for Martin to suddenly come back into her life. Now that he had, she knew if he left again, she'd be just as devastated. Martin patted her arm and the two of them left the diner.

Hope it's not too long or too boring. Please give me feedback, and suggestions for improvements are welcome. Enjoy!