You guys are so wonderful to write for, thank you so very much for your sweet reviews:) Had so much fun writing tonight I decided to add one more chapter before heading off. Thanks again guys :):)


"Ruthie?" Annie called out from the kitchen as she heard the front door slam shut and the excited chatter from two girls float from the hallway.

"Hi mom, what's up?" Ruthie asked as she and Maggie entered the kitchen and dropped their back packs beside the kitchen table.

Annie smiled brightly at her daughter and Maggie, kissing Ruthie's cheek as she walked past and opened the fridge door looking for snacks. "Just something small Ruthie. Dinner will be ready in about an hour when your dad gets home from the church. Are you staying for supper Maggie? We have plenty."

"I would love to Mrs. Camden. Where are the boys?" she asked, looking around the kitchen for them. "I brought them one of my sister's Mr. Mug's books."

"That was sweet Maggie." Annie smiled and kissed her cheek as well. "I'm sure the boys will love it. Sam and David are sleeping over at their friend Kyle's tonight and Kevin and Lucy are heading to St Luc's for dinner, so it'll just be us four plus Savannah."

"We'll be upstairs mom," Ruthie said picking up her back pack and handing Maggie an apple with a bottle of water. "We have an assignment writing our own version of Romeo and Juliet for Mr. Stallwerts class."

Annie's eyes turned misty and her face wistful as she tilted her head. "I used to love Romeo and Juliet when I was your age. The deep and passionate love of two torn between their families feud…" she sighed, clasping her hands to her chest with a small smile. "Your father and I…well anyways, if you either of you need help, just let me know."

Maggie and Ruthie looked at each other and fought the bubbling laughter from erupting.

"You can count on it, Mrs. Camden," Maggie giggled as they ran up the stairs to Ruthie's attic bedroom.

An hour passed quickly, with Maggie lying on the floor with one of Ruthie's pillow's tucked beneath her chin and Ruthie sitting cross legged on her bed with her back against her headboard. Ruthie yawned and raised her arms above her head and stretched.

"I'm all Shakespeared out right now. How about we take a break, supper should be ready by now."

"Sounds good to me. One more thy and thou and I'll go crazy." She giggled and tossed Ruthie's pillow at her friend when Ruthie crossed her eyes making a silly face.

As if on cue Eric knocked on her bedroom door and stuck his head in. "Girls, dinner is ready. How's your family doing Maggie?" he asked grinning as the girls stretched and tossed their books on the bed.

"Pretty good actually. Ouch," she cried with disbelief as a pillow hit the back of her head.

An innocent looking Ruthie passed Eric and Maggie and started towards the stairs.

"Would it help if Ruthie wasn't given her dessert tonight?" Eric asked a teasing glint in his eyes.

Maggie pretended to consider it and grinned. "Why yes, I think tis quite appropriate."

He looked at Ruthie in question.

"We're working on Romeo and Juliet right now," She said as an explanation.

"Ah." He nodded pretending to understand.

Martin had driven non stop to Glenoak, skipping baseball practice to see and speak to Ruthie, hoping that it wasn't too late for the two of them. Looking down at the picture of the two of them now in his hands he hoped that she wouldn't turn him away and would forgive him for not seeing what was there all along. He took a deep breath and ran a hand through his thick, dark hair, causing its ends to spike up all over before opening the back gate.

Mac stood with his hand poised in the air ready to knock on the door. He'd taken a chance showing up at the Camden's house praying that Martin would take his intention on asking Ruthie to hang out seriously. Martin stomped over to him, his face dark with anger, and his eyes churning so darkly they looked almost black.

"I can't believe that you would actually have the nerve to come here after Ruthie, especially since you know how I feel about her. I thought you were my best friend."

Mac smirked, his insides dancing because he knew he had won, finally bringing his two friends together as they were meant to be.

"Hey man, I'm just a friend asking another friend to coffee. Would have asked her out last year but someone stopped me. Why is that by the way?" Mac asked, cocking his head to the left questioningly.