Ruthie picked Aaron up and carried him upstairs with her. Once she was in her room she set Aaron down and sat on the edge of her bed.

"What's wrong slugger?"

"Nothing I hidin' from Vannah."

"Why?"

"I don't wanna play tea party anymore."

Ruthie just laughed. She walked over to her desk and grabbed her laptop.

"Do you want to watch a movie?"

Aaron smiled and nodded.

Ruthie played The Sandlot on Netflix for him. While he watched the movie quietly on the bed, Ruthie looked at college pamphlets. She didn't know how much time passed until she heard a knock on her door.

"Come in!" She didn't tear her eyes from the page she was reading as she spoke.

"Hey, I was just looking for Aaron."

Ruthie turned around at the sound of Martin's voice.

"He was tired of playing tea party so I let him watch a movie."

Martin nodded and looked at Aaron who had pink headphones on his head and his eyes glued to the screen.

"Do you need to take him home?"

Martin looked up at her and walked closer as he answered, "No I'm getting ready to go out with Mac. I barely ever get to see him anymore. I just wanted to tell Aaron bye."

"Oh, I'm sure if you shake him it will get his attention." She flashed him her famous grin.

He grinned back, "No I can not interrupt the greatest movie in history."

Ruthie rolled her eyes she will never understand Martin's love of baseball. Luckily then Aaron sat up and took the headphones off. He glanced around and when he saw Martin he jumped of the bed and ran up to his father.

"Daddy!"

Martin picked him up and put him on his hip, "Hey Bud, are you having fun with Ruthie?"

"Roo let me watch a movie!"

"Wow that was nice of her. Did you thank her?"

Aaron turned towards Ruthie and shot her a cute smile that reminded her of Martin.

"Thanks Roo."

Ruthie laughed, "Your welcome Aaron."

She stood up and walked up to him and his father.

"You can come hang out with me anytime your tired of Savannah's games. Okay?"

"Yeah!" He practically shrieked making both adults laugh. Martin set him down and Aaron hugged Ruthie's leg. They watched him run out the bedroom door.

"Thanks for watching him. He gets frustrated not having anyone to play with except Savannah."

"What about at his daycare?"

"He doesn't go anymore. Sandy either takes him with her or she leaves him alone with her dad."

"But what about friends? Every kid needs friends."

Martin shifted a little, "Savannah is his only friend really. Sandy doesn't like having him away from her. I mean she barely lets me take him and I'm his dad."

"That's just stupid she can't baby him forever."

"Well yeah I know that but trying to convince her of that when her fiancé tells her it's the best thing for him is hard."

"Wow, she seriously doesn't let him around other kids?"

"Not really. Even at the park she sticks to him like glue."

"Maybe my mom could talk to her?"

Martin thought for a second, "Yeah she might listen to her."

"Ok i'll talk to my mom about it tonight."

He looked relived, " Thanks Ruthie I appreciate it."

"No pro."

She leaned and gave him a hug. When he wrapped his arms around her too she couldn't help but marvel at the fact she fit against him perfectly. She felt safe and comfortable in his arms. She also tried not to think about the fact one of his hands was working its way lower and lower down her back and she wanted it to keep going lower. He seemed to notice her body language changed as she leaned in closer, but he didn't move. Neither of them did until Ruthie's door opened and they jumped apart. Standing in her doorway was T-bone and he looked beyond furious. Ruthie couldn't even think of what to say before he spun around and ran down the stairs after him.

"T-bone!" He didn't even turn around so she yelled again, "T-bone wait!"

They went through the kitchen and out the back door. When they were out the back gate in the driveway he spun around to face her.

"What? Did you think I would be ok with you practically groping the guy who told you he loved you?"

"It wasn't what you think he was just hugging me it meant nothing!" Ruthie felt as though she had just lied to herself. She knew it meant something she just didn't know what yet.

"It didn't look like nothing! He was practically glued to you."

"No he wasn't. I was just comforting him."

"Oh well you must have done a good job cause he looked pretty damn comfy to me."

"I promise it was nothing...I won't spend time alone with him again."

She could see his face softening, "Never again?"

"Never." Although she didn't know how to keep that promise.

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Before Ruthie knew it over two months past and Thanksgiving break was only a few days away. She was loving her new college classes and she was still pulling top grades in her high school classes. She and Elena had become really good friends since the first day and Ruthie hooked Quinn and Peter together. Plus she and T-bone have been good since the whole hugging incident. Probably because she hasn't seen Martin or spoken to him since then. But she did talk to Sandy for him and thankfully Sandy enrolled Aaron back into daycare. Ruthie was really nervous for this week her mom had mentioned that Martin was going to spend Thanksgiving in Glen Oak and he was going to eat lunch with her family at the church. Ruthie could keep her promise as long as she was busy and Martin wasn't around. But when Ruthie is bored she will do anything that sounds like fun, even with Martin. Ruthie just focused on getting through the test she had in Physics, American History, and Trigonometry. But by the time Wednesday came around she began to get nervous. She just pulled into the Crawford campus when she noticed someone she knew. She hopped out of her truck and walked towards them.

"Hey, Mac."

He spun around and smiled at her.

"Hey Ruthie, how have you been?"

"Fine but you sound like we haven't seen each other forever. I saw you when I picked T-bone off at work on Monday."

"Yeah well I figured I would ask."

They began to walk together towards Ruthie's class. Mac was headed to the library which was that general direction.

"So I was wondering..."

"What?"

"Martin and I were going to hang out at the batting cages Friday afternoon with Jane and Margret and I wanted to know if you wanted to come."

Ruthie hesitated thinking about what T-bone would think, she decided to voice that to Mac.

"I don't know if T-bone would like that." She knew Mac would understand, T-bone is not exactly quiet about making his feelings about Martin known.

"But your not going to be alone with Martin."

"He still will find some reason to get mad about it."

"Or you could just not tell him."

They had stopped in front of Ruthie's class. Mac leaned against the wall and looked at her. He could tell she was considering it. But Mac knew how to get her to agree.

"Unless you don't think you can keep a secret."

Ruthie gave him a smug look, "Of course I can. I'll meet you guys there."

"Awesome meet us at 10."

"Ok see ya Mac."

Mac watched her walk into the classroom and then gave himself a pat on the back.

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When Ruthie got home she wasn't shocked to see Sandy, Lucy, Simon, and Martin's cars in the driveway. She quickly parked and hopped out of her truck and went in through the back door. Matt was digging around in the fridge, Aaron and Savannah were sitting at the counter coloring, and her mother was cooking.

"Aunt Ruthie come see my pumpkin."

Savannah held her drawling up so her aunt could see.

"Wow that's beautiful Vannah."

Savannah looked quite pleased at herself and went back to coloring.

Ruthie ruffled Aaron's hair as she asked, " What are you up to Aaron."

"Trying to color a scarwie pumpkin."

"oh," she turned around and gave Matt and awkward one armed hug. "How are you Matt?"

"Good Sarah and the boys went to visit her parents so I'm enjoying peace and quiet."

Ruthie laughed and went to go upstairs before her mom stopped her.

"I hope you are going upstairs to wash your hands and change before coming back down to help me."

Ruthie sighed, "Yes mom."

Ruthie went into her room and quickly changed out of her school clothes and into a pair of jeans and a light pink long sleeve tee. After she pulled her hair into a pony tail and washed her hands before returning downstairs. It seems her mother had already set Lucy and Sandy to work.

"Ok Ruthie you can go with Martin to pick up the plates and utensils. I made you a list."

Ruthie tensed and open her mouth to protest but the look on her mother's face made her think it was not up for discussion. Martin walked into the kitchen and just raised his eyebrow at her expression.

"Martin, Ruthie will go with you to pick everything up." Annie handed him the list.

"Ok Mrs. Camden," he turned and looked at Ruthie. "Are you ready?"

Ruthie sighed and reached for her coat, "Yeah."

She followed Martin out the back door out to his truck. She hopped in the passenger seat and buckled her seat belt. He copied her and threw the car into reverse. They drove for close to 5 minutes in pure silence. He looked uncomfortable and kept glancing at her as though waiting for her to say something. She felt stupid for not talking she has been friends with him for years. So she sucked in a breath and spoke.

"So...how's school."

"Good I guess. You?"

"Fine I think I passed all three of my test today."

"That's good. So how come you haven't texted me?"

"You haven't texted me either."

"Yeah well...after what happened I didn't know if T-bone wanted me to initiate contact."

"He doesn't own me."

"Well according to Mac he has forbidden you from being alone with me so I guess your going to get in trouble for coming to the store with me."

"Whatever." she tried to act like she didn't care what T-bone thought but he did have an ugly temper.

Martin pulled into a space and they both got out and walked into the store. Martin fished the list out of his jacket pocket while Ruthie grabbed a cart.

"Ok," he read the list before pointing to the right. Ruthie steered the cart towards the direction he pointed as he spoke. "We basically need enough cups, utensils,napkins, and plates for 200 people."

"200 people? What did they do invite the town?"

"Hey they're your parents."

They went into the paper goods aisle and started pilling the cart with everything they needed. They checked out using the church's credit card then loaded Martin's truck. They drove to the church casually talking about school and just life but nothing to prying. When they got to the church they took the stuff into the dining hall. Once they were done Martin started driving back towards Ruthie's house until she grabbed his hand.

"Could we go somewhere and talk?"

"Sure." He started driving towards a forest opening he used to go in high school. As soon as he put the car into park Ruthie started letting some tears fall silently. When Martin saw them he was startled.

"Ruthie what's wrong?"

"Nothing," her voice cracking as she talked. She tried to quickly wipe the tears away but new ones fell.

Martin didn't know what to do for a moment. He reached over to wipe the new tears with his thumb. He half expected her to finch away but she didn't. In fact she leaned into his touch. He waited until she calmed herself before pulling his hand away and trying to talk.

"What did you want to talk about?"

"I've...been thinking a lot about...what you said at the hospital."

Martin waited for her to continue but her expression made his heart skip a beat.

"And I was wondering...if you still mean it?"

"Which part the I'm sorry part or the I love you part?"

"I guess both."

He thought for a few seconds even though he already knew his answer.

"Yes I meant every word."

He tried to read her expression but she gave very little away. When she did speak her words shocked him.

"I lied when I said I didn't have feelings for you anymore. I think I'm in love with you too."

Martin gulped before asking his burning question.

"What do you mean think?"

She turned and looked him in the eye.

"I think about you all the time, it kills me to not be aloud to talk to you, and when we're together I feel like I'm where I belong."

"So do I."

She looked out the windshield deep in thought for a moment, " I don't know where we go from here."

"Well it's kinda hard to be with you if you have a boyfriend."

"I'm just afraid," she turned back to face him. "He has a pretty bad temper when he really gets mad."

"Tell him when I'm close by."

"So are we like together?" She looked like she was surprised all of this just happened.

"Yeah, I guess we're together." He reached over and held her hand.

"Can we just keep this between the two of us?"

"Why?"

"I just don't want my family meddling in our relationship until we know we're stable. With our history I'm just saying give it a couple months."

Martin thought about it and understood he needed to prove himself to her before facing the Camdens.

"Ok just between us then. But I was wondering..."

"What?"

"Could I kiss you again?"

"Sure."

With her permission he leaned in close and sweetly pressed his lips to hers. Ruthie had never had a kiss like this, so full of passion and sparks. As he deepened the kiss her eyes drifted completely closed. Martin put his arms around her waist and pulled her close. She slipped her arms around his neck and tangled her fingers in his soft hair. Ruthie decided that this wasn't close enough so she straddled his lap. Martin slipped his tounge into her mouth so Ruthie tilted her head slightly to give him better access. When Martin heard a small moan escape her and felt his body starting to respond he pulled away. Ruthie tried to pull him back to her but Martin grabbed her hands.

"Ruthie we can't."

"Can't what?"

"We can't have sex. I mean we just got together."

"Oh, I wasn't gonna take it that far...just 2nd base."

Martin smiled at her baseball reference. Ruthie got off his lap and sat back in the passenger seat. as Martin drove her home she felt happy and scared shitless at the same time. How was she going to talk to T-bone about this?