Okay, the next two chapters may be a little controversial. I make no attempt to hide my opinion on abortion but I'm not writing this to make a public service announcement. I would appreciate that reviews would stay focused on the work and not your opinion on abortion.

Chapter 17: Pro Life (Part 1)

"Ding. Dong" The doorbell rang out pushing its annoying noise into Ruthie's ear.

Moaning Ruthie rolled over and squinted at her clock. 10:00 am it read. Moaning again she flopped back over. She knew it was time to get up but she was still upset over another failed date with Martin because Aaron had to come along. After planning a great romantic night to celebrate the beginning of spring break, it all fell apart when the babysitter fell through and Martin didn't want to disturb Sandy's date so he decided it would be fine to disturb their date.

"Ding. Dong." The bell rang out again.

Ruthie grunted throwing the blankets off herself and staggering out of bed. "I'm coming. I'm coming." She muttered not even bothering to throw something over her knit shorts and tank top as she stumbled down the stairs.

Rubbing her eyes, she opened the door.

"Hi, Ruthie."

Stunned, Ruthie stood there a second. "Peter. What are you doing here?"

"Uh, it's a long story." The blonde-haired boy responded. "uh, can I come in?"

"Oh, yeah. Of course." Ruthie motioned him in through the doorway. She blushed suddenly realizing what she was wearing. "Uh, why don't you go in the kitchen. Treat yourself to anything while I go change my clothes."

"Okay. Are your parents here?" He asked.

"No. They, Sam and David went up to do some spring cleaning at my mom's teenage mothers' home."

"Your mom has a teenage mothers' home?" Peter looked confused.

"Oh yeah. I guess you didn't know. I guess we haven't talked in a while." Ruthie looked apologetic.

"Yeah. You could say that." Peter agreed. "But we'll catch up. Why don't you go changed?"

"Right. I won't be long." Ruthie smiled but stilled blushed especially when she realized that Peter was purposely averting his eyes from her body.

"So your parents are fine. Your brother is fine. School's going well." Ruthie commented tapping her finger on her coffee mug. "When are you going to tell me what's really going on?"

Peter laughed a little. "You were always the one to cut to the chase."

"What can I say? It's a gift." Ruthie smiled with fake pride.

Peter smiled before looking sadly down at his coffee.

Ruthie was struck by his sudden change in mood. "What is it?"

Peter looked up. "My girlfriend had an abortion."

Ruthie froze. She gulped. "Was he yours?"

Peter nodded with tears in his eyes. "I didn't even know she was pregnant. She didn't even tell me until my baby was dead." He broke down.

Ruthie felt consumed wishing desperately that her father was here. She just got up, moved to the other side of the table and took Peter in her arms.

"Do you want any more coffee?" Ruthie asked pouring herself another cup at the counter.

"No." Peter said solemnly sniffing the last of his tears out of his body.

Ruthie sat down across the table looking at him sympathetically. "I'm sorry I don't have more to say. I don't know what to say. Why'd you come to me instead of my Dad?"

Peter looked up. "Because you're Ruthie. I used to tell you everything. I wished we had stayed friends maybe then none of this would have happened."

Ruthie felt a little uncomfortable under Peter's intent gaze onto her face but she wasn't sure this was the best time to bring up Martin. "So am I the only one you've told?"

Peter nodded. "Yeah. I don't know how to tell my parents. They don't even know I've had sex."

"Well, I'm going to sound like my Dad right now but I think the first step is telling your parents."

"Yeah. I know."

At that moment, there was a knock at the door. Ruthie got up slowly distracted with how to deal with Peter. She was greeted with Martin's smiling face.

"Hey. I'm sorry about last night." He came into the kitchen and gave her a peck on the lips before he even noticed Peter sitting at the table wide-eyed.

A flash of jealous came across Martin's eyes. "Peter. Long time no see. What are you doing here?"

Peter eyed Ruthie questioningly before turning his attention back to Martin. "Uh, I needed to talk to Ruthie about something. It's kinda personal."

"Oh." Martin uttered which a tinge of anger. "Then I hope you don't mind if I steal my girlfriend away from you for a minute or two."

Intimidated Peter said, "No. Not at all."

Martin faked a smile and grabbed Ruthie's arm steering her into the dining room.

"Jealous much?" Ruthie smirked pulling her arm from Martin's grasp.

Martin was not amused. "I'm not jealous. I'm just curious as to why your ex-boyfriend is currently sitting in the kitchen talking to you about something personal."

Ruthie rolled her eyes. "Okay. First, you could never really call Peter an ex-boyfriend. It was just a middle school friendship. And second, he's going through something right now and really needs a friend to talk to."

"A middle school friendship?" Martin raised an eyebrow. "You two made out when you were supposedly in love with me."

Ruthie paled. "How'd you know about that?"

"So it's true?!" Martin was triumphant.

Ruthie paled even more realizing Martin didn't really know.

"Mac just told me that you had said you rather be with Peter than him back in when I first left to be with Aaron. I took a guess on the making out thing." Martin admitted.

"Okay. Fine. I made out with Peter. But it was three years ago and I was confused and I wasn't with you." Ruthie confessed. "Martin. Please. For me. Just this time, don't be the jealous boyfriend. If Vincent or T Bone show up, you can be the jealous boyfriend. Heck you can beat them up if you want. But Peter has always been a friend to me more than anything and he's going through something really hard right now. I wish I could tell but can't until he says so. Just trust me."

Martin softened reading Ruthie's serious face. "Okay. I'm sorry. I'll leave." He bent down and kissed her shortly. "I love you."

Ruthie smiled. "I love you too. I call you later."

Martin walked toward the front door as to avoid Peter and Ruthie returned to the kitchen.

"So you and Martin…?" Peter said smirking.

Ruthie blushed. "Yeah."

"It's about time. I knew I didn't have a chance when he came into the house that day." Peter joked.

Ruthie laughed. "Was I that obvious?"

Peter nodded and then shrugged. "What's a guy to do? I knew I'd never have those 'dreamy eyes' you so adore."

Ruthie took a seat at the table. "It's good to see some of the old Peter's still in there."

He looked down. "I'm sorry I came here and ruined your perfect little life."

"My life's far from perfect." Ruthie scoffed. "And you didn't ruin anything. I'm glad you came to me. But afraid I'm gonna have to refer you to my father. He would have the information on how to deal with this; how to help you talk to your parents and your girlfriend. All I can do is be a shoulder to cry on."

Peter looked at the brunette he once considered to be his future wife. "Believe me Ruthie. That's the best thing I need right now."

Ruthie laid on her bed staring at the picture of Martin and Aaron that sat on her bookshelf. Martin looked so happy with his son in his arms. Why couldn't she be happy for him? Why couldn't she love Aaron? Peter loved his unborn child yet she couldn't love the child of her boyfriend. Would Martin be feeling the same way as Peter if Aaron had been killed?

"We're home." Eric knocked on the doorway bringing Ruthie out of her daze.

She jumped up. "Dad! I'm so glad your back."

"I'm assuming your enthusiasm to see me has something to do with the fact that Peter Petrowski is currently asleep in our guest room."

"Sorry. He was really tired. I thought he should get some sleep." Ruthie explained.

"Well, what is he doing here?" Eric asked a little impatiently. "Because right now, your mother is taking it upon herself to assume that you broke up with Martin."

Ruthie looked down muttering, "Of course she would think that." She looked back up. "Peter really needs some help."

Eric looked at her expectantly.

She took a deep breath. "Peter's girlfriend aborted their child without even bothering to tell him she was pregnant."

Eric didn't blink. "Peter? Peter Petrowski? The same Peter who declared he was in love with you at age twelve."

Ruthie nodded. "Can you help him, Dad?"

The patriarch ran his hand through his hair. "I'll do what I can but this is just one of those tragedies in life that he'll have to bare through. There isn't an easy remedy."

"Just anything that can give him some comfort." Ruthie pleaded.

Eric pulled his daughter into his arms resting his chin on her head. "Sometimes I wish I could have kept all of you children forever. Then none of you would have had to go through all these heartbreaks."

Ruthie tapped her foot on the carpet staring impatiently at the door of her father's office. I guess them talking a long time is a good thing right? Ruthie wondered.

"Ding. Dong." The doorbell rang through the house.

"I'll get it!" Ruthie yelled pulling herself up from the couch and heading toward the front door. Turning the knob to open the door, she found a brunette girl about her age standing in front of her.

"Hi. You must be Ruthie. I'd recognize you anywhere." A fake smile was plastered on the girl's pretty face.

"Uh, yeah. That's me." Ruthie's eyebrow rose suspiciously.

The girl didn't get a chance to explain who she was when Peter and Eric walked through the office doors.

"I'm glad you talked to your parent's. You can talk to them more tomorrow but right now I'd advise that you get some sleep." Eric said not even looking up.

"Peter." The stranger said from the front door. "I should have known you'd run to the precious Camdens." She rolled her eyes.

"Stacy." Peter froze.

"Or maybe you won't get that sleep." Eric commented as he and Ruthie realized this young woman before them was the girlfriend.

Next week on Far Away: Peter talks to his girlfriend. Ruthie apologizes to Martin about her feelings about Aaron.