Ruthie looked at Martin tears blurring her vision. She couldn't believe that he was actually sitting there telling her he loved her after all those years. She couldn't remember a time when all she wanted was for him to say that to her and now it made her love him even more. She wanted so badly to tell him she loved him but it hurt to talk and breathe. She just squeezed his hand hoping to get her message across. The tears she was holding fell with such fury that she could feel that he started to cry too.

They sat in silence for some time before she drifted off to sleep dreaming of Martin and the future to come. When she woke up she saw Martin sitting in the chair next to her with a box in his lap. She tried to sit up but failed miserably she sighed before giving up and falling back onto the bed. Martin woke up and smiled at her before sitting on the edge of the bed handing her the box.

"Open it." She nodded as he helped her sit up. She opened the box and all the memories she had pushed to the far corner of her mind flooded back. She lifted each picture out carefully remembering every detail of when the picture was taken. She looked up at Martin with questioning eyes but he urged her to continue. She finally reached the end of the box and found the one picture that she hadn't burned that night she finally got over Martin.

Martin looked at Ruthie in her light blue prom dress. Her hair was down in her natural curls, bouncing with each step she took. Her heels made her 2 inches taller but still shorter then Martin.

Martin had on a tuxedo with her corsage in his hand. They were attending his senior prom. He decided that he should go and thought that Ruthie was the best person to go with. That night they danced and laughed, taking pictures of everything and everybody.

When they finally arrived home at 1 in the morning Martin gently kissed her. Both would always remember their perfect night. That night Martin realized that there was something between him and Ruthie.

A solid tear slid down Ruthie's cheek as she relived that moment, the moment when she fell in love with Martin. She finally understood why he had shown her the box. Taking a deep breath she slowly shut the box and looked at Martin seeing the passion and love in his eyes.

"I love you." She whispered as he smiled for the first time since she first saw him after the accident. He inched towards her and gently kissed her like the night of his senior prom.

Soon her whole family came in and out checking on her and decided that Martin should stay with her when he could and Simon and Sandy would rotate. Martin was more than willing to stay with her all the time but Ruthie wouldn't allow it. Hours later Martin and Ruthie were sitting on her bed playing a game when Simon walked in.

"Hey Martin."

"Hey Simon, what's up?"

"Well I have to talk to you."

"Okay about?"

"Can you come out in the hall?"

"Sure." He followed Simon to hall softly shutting the door behind him. "What's up?"

"We have a problem."

"What's that?"

"Peter wants to see her."

"What!"

"He called my mom the minute he found out from Heather then she called me and told me to warn you."

"Where is he?"

"He's on his way with Heather."

"What are they dating now?"

"I don't know, what do you want to do?"

"Let me talk to Ruthie and you be ready to stall him."

"Okay." Martin sighed before walking back into Ruthie's room. Her smile soon vanished when she saw him.

"Ruthie honey I have to tell you something." She sighed but nodding for him to continue. "Peter's on his way here." Her eyes got wide as his gaze fell to the floor. "He's bringing Heather too." Ruthie's mouth formed an 'o'. "I can make them leave if you want." She took a deep breath not feeling the constant pain she felt when she tried to breath or talk.

"No I wanna see them. I want them to see how happy we are together." Martin's head shot up as Ruthie actually spoke a full sentence without any trouble.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes Martin I'm sure. I want you here when I see them too."

"Okay." He sat in the chair next to hers and kissed her hand. "I love you."

"I love you too."

"Does it hurt to talk?"

"Not as much anymore." She stroked his arm as her door flew open and Peter and Heather burst through the door. Ruthie looked up and smiled her forced smile.

"Ruthie! Are you okay baby?" Peter asked looking her over from the opposite edge of the bed from Martin.

"I'm not your baby." She snapped at him as he pulled his hand away.

"Ruthie now is not the time." Heather warned at the foot of her bed.

"So are you two together?" Martin asked as he sat in the chair next to Ruthie's bed.

"What makes you think that?"

"I don't know just wondered aloud." Heather's eyes fell to the floor while Peter cleared his throat. "I thought so. So what are you guys doing here anyway? Did you come to rub your relationship in to Ruthie? Or did you just want to use her again?"

"Martin stop."

"No. I wanna know, I'm not gonna let you hurt my girlfriend anymore."

"You guys are dating?" Heather asked locking eyes with Ruthie.

"Yes Heather we're dating." He shot back at her.

"Martin that's enough." Ruthie sat up in bed and shot Martin a warning glare. "Now I appreciate you guys coming to see me but if you have any intentions of screwing with my happiness with my boyfriend then we'll have a problem."

"Ruthie we weren't gonna do anything."

"I'm sure now I'll state this once and once only: I love Martin and don't accuse him of just trying to break my heart because I know he won't, got it?" They both nodded and Martin beamed at her. "Now when did you two start dating?"

"Two days ago." Heather confessed lighting up almost matching Ruthie's smile. The girls talked while Peter and Martin glared at each other. When Heather and Peter left Ruthie looked exhausted and she patted the bed next to her and Martin climbed in next to her both instantly falling asleep.