When I lived with the Camden's 6.

Martin's POV

I dropped my fork as Ruthie's head snapped up. We looked at the three adults who were calmly staring back at us.

"Why?" Ruth finally asked as I grabbed her hand under the table.

"Because we need outside help" Annie finally admitted as I looked at them and asked "you don't expect me to go as well do you?"

"Well yes Martin" My dad began as he continued "You've also been suffering. The last three days have been horrible for you as well as everyone around you"

"Well thanks Dad" I said slightly miffed.

"Martin, I'm not trying to hurt your feelings but obviously you need Ruth as much as she needs you and we need to figure out why"

"We'll do it" Ruth finally said as I turned to her with my eyebrow raised. Eric looked at me, the question in his eye as I nodded my confirmation.

Ruth then stood up pulling me up beside her. "We'll be back later" she replied as she headed towards the back door, dragging me along.

"We're going to the batting cages after we get dressed" I called out.

"Have fun" we heard Annie say before I closed the door behind us.

We walked into my house and Ruth went upstairs to the bathroom to take a shower.

Back at the Camden's

"So how do you think it went" Eric asked as he looked at his wife and Bill.

"Better than expected" Bill replied smiling slightly.

"I'm surprised they agreed so quickly" Annie confessed as Eric replied "Well I think they both realize something is off"

"Was it really hard for Martin these three past days?"

"It definitely wasn't a picnic. Gone was my coolheaded, helpful, agreeable son and in his place was an angst-ridden, miserable young man. The first night he stayed up studying and the last two nights he has been sleeping in our guest room"

"Why?" Annie asked intrigued.

"Because he claimed his bedroom had her scent. That's when I realized we were really over our heads with this"

"So who's going to make the call?" Annie asked a few moments later.

"I know someone who will be able to get them to open up" Eric said as he stood up "I'll give her a call"

"So for now what are the sleeping arrangements?" Bill finally asked the dreaded question.

"For now they sleep together"

Ruth's POV

Once I got out of the shower, I threw on jeans and a shirt and went in search of Martin. As I was passing his room, I saw him step out of his dad's bedroom, freshly showered and dressed.

"Ready?" he asked holding up his car keys.

"Yes, I'm just going to grab my books"

"Okay, I'll meet you in the car"

Once we arrived at the batting cages, I was surprised to see Mac and Zoe already there.

"Well it seems as though the fight is over" Mac commented as he glanced at our linked hands before saying "It's about time. Martin was turning into a real jerk"

"Hey be nice" Martin admonished as he pulled me closer to his side.

Zoe looked over at us, jealously flashing in her eyes before saying "well now we can double date"

I glanced up at Martin to see how he would respond and without missing a beat replied "Sure, that would be fun" as he looked down at me for confirmation and I nodded.

Mac looked at me once more before saying "Next time will you warn me when you have a fight?"

"Okay" I replied laughing as Martin and Mac walked over to the cage. I smiled hesitantly at Zoe before taking a seat and opening my bag.

"So" Zoe began as she sat next to me "I'm glad you and Martin made up. He really wasn't a nice person to be around. He's really rude sometimes"

"Yes he can be" I replied laughing as I looked over at her before asking "Are you and Mac dating? I thought you were interested in Martin"

"Well plans changed and I only have a week and a half" she replied somewhat bitterly as my heart stopped beating for a second. The anniversaryof myrape was a week and a half away.

Once Zoe saw my face she said "Are you okay? Do you need anything?"

"I'm fine" I replied shakily before smiling a bit. Maybe I was being overly sensitive. At that moment, we heard Mac and Martin shouting at one another as they tried to outdo themselves at bat.

Zoe smiled suddenly and said "Mac is a lot of fun, you know?"

"Yes he is" I agreed smiling as Zoe lowered her head and softly said "I really like him"

A few minutes later her cell rang and she said "Excuse me" as she got up. I heard her say "Hello?" and then she paused and said "It's back on, but there needs to be a different plan" she made a face before replying "That's right. The lion is back in the cage and is fiercely protective of his lioness. We'll deal with it later" and she promptly hung up.

"Sorry that's my cousin. He's planning a surprise get together with his girlfriend"

"Well that's romantic" I replied as she agreed and said "In some ways it is, but tell me about you. Are you and Martin officially together or what? You two are so much in sync with each other that it's frightening"

"Well it's kind of hard to explain, we're soul mates. That's the only way to describe the connection we share"

"So you date other people? Cause that's not the impression I got from Martin"

"No, I guess at the end of the day it is this simple. Martin belongs to me and I belong to Martin. There is no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Our connection with each other is emotional and spiritual"

"What about the physical aspect?" she asked me as I blushed and replied "In time that will come as well"

"Why not now?" she badgered on as I turned to her and snapped replying "because in exactly a week and a half from now, it will be three years that I was brutally raped and a part of my soul was taken away that night. I'm still trying to heal. Making love to Martin would be unfair to him. I can't give my body away to the man I love until I am complete again. Until I feel that this is my body and I am making the conscious decision to share it with someone else. I am still working on that"

Zoe looked at me, surprise etched on her beautiful features before moving over to embrace me and said "Well you should probably seek some help"

"My parents have already taken care of that"

At that moment Martin and Mac walked up to us. Martin took one look at my tear stained face and turned to Zoe angrily "What did you do to her?"

"Nothing" Zoe replied stuttering a bit, reeling from the cold tone and steely look in Martin's green eyes.

"I'm fine" I interjected as Martin walked over to me, giving me a hug as I clung tightly to him.

"So I'm guessing pizza is out?" Mac asked a few minutes later, breaking the tension as I laughed a bit and said "Pizza would be great"

"Go on without me" Zoe said as Mac started to protest but she silenced him with a kiss and said "We'll meet up later"

A few minutes later, Zoe watched as the three of them walked off. Ruthie was in the middle of Mac and Martin, though anyone could tell that she was with Martin. Their bodies were turned toward one another and moments later Martin's arm was around her shoulder.

"What the hell is going on?" Zoe heard a voice behind her. As she turned around, she was surprised to see Brian standing in front of her.

"What are you doing here? What would have happened if she saw you?" Zoe demanded as Brian merely smirked. No wonder she was so attracted to Mac. He looked a bit like Brian, at least the same built and height.

"They're back together"

"I see that Zoe. The question I have for you is why?"

"I don't know, besides I changed my mind"

"What?" he asked moving closer.

"I want out Brian. Ruth is still suffering because of you"

"Oh, I see. Now you want to be accepted and liked by miss goody two shoes?"

"Miss goody two shoes? If you think of her like that, why do you want to be with her?"

"Zoe, Zoe, Zoe. Beautiful yet dense. No wonder Martin doesn't want you" Brian replied before saying "Ruth is mine. She gave me her virginity, she belongs to me"

"She didn't give you anything Brian. You took that from her. You took away her choice"

"Give, take, what's the difference? At the end of the day, she's mine. Not some motherless freak to have his hands all over her as though she's his personal property"

"Well I won't help you. Ruth is way too nice."

"Zoe, you can't back out just like that. I need you"

"Well you are going to have to find someone else because I am done." and with that walked away in the opposite direction.

"You're going to regret this Zoe" Brian yelled after her. Now what was he going to do? He only had a week and a half left.