Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters of 7th Heaven so don't sue me. I only own my plot and all the characters you don't recognize. TAR

Chapter 2

"Where's Ruthie?" Eric asked after kissing his wife and looking around the full kitchen. Lucy, Kevin, and Savannah, were there along with Sam, David, Martin, Simon, Matt, and Sarah.

"She said she was taking a nap. I'll go get her up." Martin stood up and headed up to Ruthie's room.

Martin quietly crept up to Ruthie's door and knocked lightly. "Ruthie time to get up. Dinner's ready." He listened to see if he could here her but he heard nothing. He opened the door and saw her sleeping on her bed. He walked over to her bed and sat down on the edge. He gently shook her.

Ruthie could hear someone call her name. She couldn't recognize the voice. Someone's arm was gently shaking her awake. Ruthie turned and opened her eyes. Martin was sitting next to her. She sat up. "What are you doing in my room?"

"Dinner's ready. I called you from the hallway but you didn't answer me so I came in and woke you up that's all." Martin rambled on.

"Thanks. I'll be right down. I gotta go splash cold water on my face first." Ruthie got up and headed to the bathroom. Martin went back downstairs.

"She'll be right down." Annie just nodded and continued dishing out dinner to everyone. Ruthie walked into the dining room a few minutes later and took her usual place between Martin and David.

"So Ruthie how was school?" Annie asked.

"Fine. I got my English report back today. I got an 'A'."

"That's great honey!" Ruthie smiled and soon the conversation was off of her. She was grateful for that. She never really liked so much attention. Well okay…when she was little she craved all the attention she could get but as she got older she was happy not to get noticed.

"Ruthie, mom, dad, Sarah, Matt, Kevin, and I want to catch a show tonight and I was wondering or hoping that maybe you could watch the twins and Savannah." Ruthie groaned. She loved her brothers and her niece but did she really want to watch them for an entire night?

"Sure. It's a Saturday night…what else would I be doing?" Everyone looked up at her. Ever since she and Vincent broke up she had been rather distant. "What?"

"Nothing," Lucy sighed. "Thanks for watching Savannah and the twins. We'll be leaving in about an hour. Sarah and I will do the dishes as a major thank you."

Ruthie smiled. "Thanks." She'd do anything to get out of doing the dishes.

After dinner Martin went upstairs to start on his math project. He heard the front door close about an hour later just when Lucy said they were gonna leave. He heard what sounded like a stampede running up the stairs. He opened his bedroom door in time to see Sam and David run into their room. Ruthie, who was holding a crying Savannah was right behind them.

"I didn't say you have to go to bed now! I just said make sure your homework is done and get ready to take your showers." Ruthie tried to calm Savannah down. She looked over at Martin's room and noticed that he was looking at her. "What?"

Martin laughed. "Sounds like your having a really fun time." Ruthie threw Savannah's spit up towel at him. "Hey what was that for?" He asked in mock anger.

"Well since you're the one laughing at me I figured you can help me watch the kids." Martin backed up into his room.

"Oh no, I've got to start on my math project."

"Come on Martin…I already told you I'd help you with your project at least you could help me keep an eye on the kids. Oh…and let me go with you to the party next Friday night." Martin sighed. He was trapped.

"Oh all right. What do you want me to do, and we'll talk about the party later" Ruthie mischievously smiled.

"Well I want you to coax Sam and David from their room while I walk Savannah around to hopefully get her to sleep." Martin walked out of his room and knocked on the twins door.

"Come on boys. Wanna go downstairs and watch baseball?" The door opened and Sam looked out.

"Okay." Sam and David walked out of their room and headed downstairs.

"How'd you do that?" Martin just shrugged and went downstairs.

"That boy amazes me with everything he does." Ruthie said aloud to Savannah who just cooed in response.

Ruthie walked downstairs a few minutes later. Savannah was sleeping peacefully in her arms. Ruthie placed the baby in her bassinette then turned to Martin and the twins. "Savannah's asleep, how's the game going ?"

"Good but I think someone's a bit tired." Martin cocked his head to the right where Sam was sleeping at the other end of the couch." I'll bring the boys upstairs. Get the stuff for your math project and we'll start that down here so that I can keep an eye on Savannah till everyone gets home."

Martin woke up Sam and helped get him and David up the stairs. Ruthie helped the twins get into their pajamas while Martin got his math book and laptop and set it up in the kitchen.

"You have everything you need?" Martin nodded. Ruthie sat next to him and looked over his notes. "So what do you need me to do?"

"I just need you here incase I get caught on something." Martin started to type. As Ruthie looked at the screen her leg accidentally brushed against Martin's. He looked over at her and she suddenly got all flustered and moved away from him.

"I'm thirsty. I'm gonna grab a water. You want anything?" Martin nodded and went back to typing.

Why did I get all flushed? I just barely touched him and I suddenly feel all weird around him? How pathetic is that? Ruthie got her glass of water and put one for Martin on the table. "I'll be right back I'm gonna check on Savannah."

Martin looked up as Ruthie retreated to the parlor. He thought it was kind of weird that she suddenly moved away from him after their legs accidentally brushed against each other.

When she came back she made sure that she sat far enough away from Martin so that they would not touch in any way. She need to figure out why all of a sudden he was making her feel this way…

A/N: How will the project turn out? What will Martin do about the party? What are Ruthie's new feeling's towards Martin and does he feel the same way? Thanks for all the reviews and keep them coming please! TAR