Sorry for the long wait. I do not own the song and but I do own this story. Hope you guys like the last chapter, be sure to review.

Chapter 17: Pocket Full of Sunshine

One year later

"Mommy! Mommy!" Melanie yelled from the slide were she was playing with Savannah. Savannah was trying to teach Melanie how to slide down the slide but Melanie was to scared to go alone.

" Yes, Melanie," Ruthie yelled back from her spot on the grass with Lucy.

" I'm scared"

" Savannah, why don't you go with your cousin down the slide" Lucy said

" Okay" Savannah put one leg on one side of Melanie body and the other leg on the other slide. As soon as Savannah sat down they both went down the slide.

" Yay, Yay, Again. Again!" Melanie taunted

Ruthie and Lucy was setting up for the family picnic that Lucy and her decided to throw this year. The whole family haven't been together in a long time and they thought it was time for another reunion.

Ruthie was setting the plates up when a familiar arm wrapped around her waist.

" Hey, Babe" Ruthie said as she grabbed his chin and kissed him softly on the lips. He returned the kiss and went back to help Simon carry some of the bags out of the car.

Ruthie never thought that this day would come where everything for once in her life was perfect; she had a great daughter, great family, and a great boyfriend.

This year has been the best year ever and her prayers finally came true after so long.

Flash Back:

I got a pocket got a pocketful of sunshine

I got a love and I know that it's all mine (oh oh oh oh)

Do what you want but you're never going to break me

Sticks and stones are never going to shake me(oh oh oh oh)

Ruthie put her face into her pillow as the tears flowed. She turned the volume up on her Ipod more as her favorite song played. She hated the feeling that nobody wanted her. She felt so lonely. All she wanted was one person and that person she could not have. This song always made her feel better.

A smile spread across Ruthie face as her favorite part came on. She began singing and dancing on top of her bed.

Take me away a secret place

A sweet escape take me away

Take me away to better days

Take me away a hiding place

Ruthie Ipod was to loud for her to notice that somebody had come into the room. She was still dancing and singing until he tapped her gently on the shoulder.

"OMG, Martin you scared the crap out of me!" Ruthie said holding her heart. Martin was turning red from laughing so hard.

" You seriously need to take dancing lessons because that was horrible" Martin said still laughing.

Ruthie took her headphones off and sat down on her bed. Martin was still laughing and even tears were starting to form in his eyes.

Ruthie couldn't help but laugh now. She knew she wasn't the best dancer but at-lease she tries.

" What do you want Martin?" Ruthie asked still laughing a little

" I was coming to see if you was going to come to my baseball game or not?"

" No, I'm not"

" Why?" Martin stopped laughing

" Because I don't like your girlfriend and I will not be in the car with her"

" C'mon she is not that bad"

" She always have something negative to say to me, I really just want to sock her"

Martin got on one knee and turned toward Ruthie. He stuck his bottom lip out and sat her on his knee.

" Ruthie Camden, would you come to my baseball game tonight? We made a vow when we were little that we would stick with each other through thick and thin"

Ruthie laughed and got up off of Martin knee.

"Please, god don't ever take Martin away from me" Ruthie thought to her self before grabbing her jacket and following Martin out of the door.

End of Flash Back

The gang was all here. The entire Camden Family. By now they were playing games like: twister, Simon Says, Mother May-I, Duck Duck Goose, etc.

They even decided to put on a little talent show. Everything was going great.

" Hi, Ruthie"

" Hi Adam, I'm glad that you could make it"

It was time to eat and everybody was in line getting their food, Ruthie no longer felt any pain or scared of Adam an anyway that was all in the past.

That night when Martin almost killed Adam, Martin was taken to jail and Adam was taken to the hospital. When Ruthie got a knock on the door and opened it to see two police men standing there her heart stopped.

In the End Adam didn't press any charges against Martin and decided to get help. Adam was all better now. He even have a girlfriend and is about to be a father.

" Time for speeches" Eric Camden yelled out. Everybody spread around in a big circle. They put there names in an hat and when your name got pulled you had to say a speech about anything or anybody.

Sam got the honors of pulling the first name " Mary"

Mary got up and stood in the middle of the big circle.

Well my name is Mary(every one laughed). I don't know where to start . This year has been one of the best years of my life. I have 3 beautiful children and a wonderful boyfriend ( Mary pointed to Ben). Everybody knows that last year for me was not the best year, at all. I almost lost everything.

But I am so grateful to get the chance and stand in front of my family and close family friends today. You all have been and will always be my motivation, I will always have you guys close in my heart. Even though some times this family is a little crazy I will always know that I will have a place to call home.

Flash Back:

Mary came home from work and heard some noises coming from her bed room. She knew that nobody was suppose to be home yet. So she went into her hallway closet and grabbed a baseball bat.

Slowly making her way up the stairs she opened her door slightly and saw a women on top of some dude.

Mary banged the bat against the wall and actually put a hole in it.

Carlos jumped up and looked at Mary as she stood their with tears forming down her eyes.

" Get the hell out of my bed!" She screamed as the woman jumped up to put on her clothes " no you could put them on out side"

The woman ran out of the room with just her panty and bra on.

Mary looked at Carlos as he was still in the bed wrapped up in the covers. With out a second thought she threw the bat at Carlos, thank god it didn't hit him but she did break the bed room window.

A month later Ben knocked at the door. He was there for her through the whole divorce and custody battle.

One day Ben asked to take Mary on a date and the two been together ever since

End of Flash Back:

" Matt"

I just want to say that I am grateful to have a loving family and friends.

" Matt you always say little!" David shouted out as every one laughed

" That's because I like to get to the point"

One after one a Camden or a close friend stood up and said what they are grateful for. Savannah got the chance to pull the next person name.

I have many things to be grateful for. One ( " Here he goes" Simon said as everyone laughed) like I said before I was rudely interrupted , I have many things to be grateful for. One, that at a young age a family took me in as my dad was called to be in the army. I came to love this family as my own but I never really thought I would be really connected to this family. Two, I want to thank every one for putting up with me since I was 9 or 10 I don't remember. Three, I have something I want to say to someone in this circle.

He went to were she was sitting Indian style and grabbed her by her hand. He got on one knee and pulled out a box with a ring and medium size diamond in the center of it.

"I know we been through a lot. Since, we were little I always had a crush on you and I knew you had a crush on me. I never thought that I would be on one knee and asking you to marry me." he paused before continuing " Ruthie Marie Camden, will you take my hand in Marriage? I promise you that I will only love you. I promise that I would never leave you alone unless god calls me to be with him, I will always hold you tight when your scared, never let anything or anyone hurt you. I Love you so Much"

Ruthie looked down at her boyfriend, the guy she always wanted, Martin Brewer. She couldn't believe he was asking her to marry him. The tears was running down her eyes like a stream and her throat was pounding like someone was throwing rock at it.

" Say yes!" the kids screamed

" Say yes" Mr. Camden said with a big smile on his face.

Ruthie looked down at Martin, planted a big kiss on his lips and said the one word he wanted to hear .

" YES"

THE SECRET LIFE OF A PREACHER KID- The End