A/N: Please don't hurt me! -shields self from sharp and blunt objects- I know it's been forever and a day since I last updated. Hopefully this makes up for my absence.

Ruthie's head shot up when she felt her blood run cold. Had she heard the woman correctly? T-Bone had a...gir....he had a girl....She couldn't even allow her brain to finish the thought. He couldn't. No the better word is he wouldn't. Would he? No of course not he would never hurt you she thought hoping that if she said it she would allow herself peace of mind. Of course who was she to talk? Ruthie had come into this relationship knowing in her heart of hearts that she would never be able to give herself to any guy that wasn't Martin. Not that she was physically incapable of it. Emotionally however, her heart belonged to a spikey-haired, soft spoken man who she knew she could never completely let go of.

"E-excuse me?" she asked carefully slowly rising from the visitor's couch that she saw was quickly losing the stuffing. The tall blond only stood stalk still a solid line formed on her face, eyebrows knit together in what Ruthie thought to be disgust. Anger flared when she realized that those baby blues were glaring directly at her. What right did this woman have? To simply walk in here as if she owned the place and take ownership of a guy that wasn't even hers. He's not yours either she thought to herself. Not in the ways that mattered anyway.

"I said I'm Tiffany Johnson, Theo's girlfriend," she said more slowly this time. Each word came out individually when she allowed herself to enunciate each one. She rephrased it like Ruthie was hard of hearing.

"I think I heard you the first time," Ruthie shot back her reply filled with more bite this time. "Last I checked I was the girlfriend," she said sharply. The woman's stiletto clad foot stomped the floor beneath her. And they call me a drama queen Ruthie thought with a smile. "What in the world is your problem?" Ruthie asked calmly.

"I believe you're in my spot," Tiffany said.

"Me in your spot? I don't think so. I didn't even know about you," Ruthie said honestly. T-Bone had never mentioned an ex girlfriend that he was still involved with. Although being involved didn't really make them an ex. She would most definitely constitute that as cheating.

"And you think I had any clue about you?" Tiffany sneered. Ruthie Camden saw red. She strode forward but just as quickly stopped. She wouldn't start it here. She wouldn't fight this, this barbie here in a hospital where her boyfriend-was he even that anymore or could she put him on the list of heart-breaking cheaters already?-slept unconscious to the world around him. Oblivious to the seeds of WWIII starting only feet from his bed. No she would wait. Wait for his story. For all she knew she could be lying to her face just to make her look bad.

"Obviously not," Ruthie shot back, her heart dropping about ten feet to the ground she stood on. She didn't want to believe this, this...she didn't even have a word for her. But deep down she knew that in some ways her words rang true. People say that your subconscious is a stream of unedited true feelings that you weren't even aware of.

She couldn't hide the pain she felt when she knew that his heart and mind laid with Tiffany. That he had lied to her this entire time. She had grown to trust him on some level. They had a level of understanding she thought they could keep. Ruthie Camden felt cheated, lied to and manipulated. This so called relationship they shared had blossomed into a lie she had grown to believe. She felt tears of betrayal beginning behind her eyes. She quickly grew angry. She wouldn't cry. Not here. She couldn't give in. Never would Ruthie Camden give into tears. Not without an honest fight. And even after all this fighting Tiffany couldn't see her like this. Weakness was the last thing she needed to be judged on.

"That's right he just used you. We needed some time apart and somehow T thought it would be best if we allowed ourselves to see different people. Once we were ready we would get back together and act as if the break up never happened."

"You're unreal," she laughed. "He would never..."

"From what we just saw I believe he would." No. She was obviously delusional. They believed in an open honest relationship. At least that's what Ruthie thought. She felt her shoulders drop in defeat. She had lost. Deep down she knew she had lost this argument. Had she the mental and physical strength Ruthie would have fought until the very last straw. Right now all she needed was him.

She turned back around now standing over T-bone's unconscious form. Leaning down so she was close enough to his ear she couldn't help it as a few choice words slipped past her lips. She only hoped God would forgive her for this one. "You lying two-faced bastard," she whispered. Out of the corner of her eye Ruthie could see the smallest smile of satisfaction cross Tiffany's lips. She was barely out the door before she heard just barely;

"Finally now that the witch is gone-" Ruthie barely even knew she was doing this but she felt a slight satisfaction when she heard a crack ignite as she brought her had to the woman's dainty cheek. Seeing the look of shock in her eyes Ruthie turned around, a small smile on her face.

"Did, did you just slap me?" she asked in an airy gasp.

"No I just high fived your face." and with that she stalked out head held high.

***

Ruthie felt a sense of happiness come over her when she saw that Martin and Aaron sat exactly where she had left them. Just as quickly her happy place left. Now she was consumed with a sadness, a weight she thought would never leave her. She had been stupid enough to let another one in and slowly but surely he trampled on her tender heart.

When Martin met her eye his expression quickly mirrored hers. As Ruthie got closer she could see his arms had opened for her. As much as she wanted to she wouldn't take a step further.

"Just take me home," she said, her voice deadpanned. Ruthie couldn't meet his eye. She knew that once she made that mistake the look of disappointment she had put there would be seen clar as clear as day.

"Okay," he said emotionless. "Mom and Dad heard and Kevin was sent to drop off the car," Martin said. Why didn't they stop in and see him? Ruthie thought. "They saw you in there with him and didn't want to interrupt," he answered. It was as though he had read her mind. Somehow that was how they worked. It was times like these she was grateful for the ease they shared in communicating. One knew the other like the back of their hand.

"Oh," was all she said. In the gentle breeze that followed Ruthie felt herself shiver. Martin looked over in concern.

"Cold?"

"I'll live. Keep Aaron warm," she said shortly. He could tell he had hit a nerve. Specifically what nerve he wasn't too sure. He would find out soon though. If he talked her down enough she would tell him what was bothering her. Over time she always did.

Getting to the car he heard the automatic lock he had activated in the distance. Before placing Aaron in his car seat Martin opened the passenger seat for Ruthie. Coming up behind him she quietly closed the door. Having strapped him in Martin looked up at her confused.

"I'll sit with him," was all she said. Martin was about to ask why but seeing the distant look on her face he saw that Ruthie wasn't all her. Her mind was somewhere else. A place that was locked away to which Martin had yet to find the key. He shrugged stepping away for her to slide in.

Ruthie couldn't take the familiar passenger seat. The place that held so many broken dreams. Dreams she thought T-Bone could give her. A future she thought he could be a part of. She couldn't even look at Martin right now. He was right yet again. Somehow he always was. Theodore (as she had agreed to call him now) couldn't help her heal. In her stubborn mindset she was sure he would be the answer to all her problems. Instead he had double crossed her. Theodore held the knife that stabbed her not only in the heart but had also dismantled her pride.

"Help me Aaron," she pleaded to the sleeping infant beside her. "I don't know what to do." Having heard her Martin stayed quiet knowing it was something he probably wasn't supposed to hear.

Getting home Ruthie slid out taking a sleeping baby in her arms. Martin could only follow behind slightly confused. Getting to the landing she never asked him to take Aaron back. She knew Martin trusted her so she found it pointless to ask.

"I'll take him tonight," Ruthie said with finality. Martin knew he couldn't fight her when she was like this. They would talk in the morning.

Up in her room Ruthie released a deep sigh. Now in the privacy of her own space she allowed the tears to come. As she held the little boy in her arms she allowed the tears to flow knowing he would never judge her if he saw. Ruthie knew also that having a little piece of Martin with her it would allow her a peace of mind only he could give her without the pain of having him there.

"They always leave..." she whispered. "They always find a reason to leave me. Maybe I'm just not meant to love someone." By now the two were laid on her bed assuming their previous position. She smiled as Aaron took her two index finders in each one of his tiny hands as he continued sleeping. She didn't know how long she laid there but after some time she heard the door creak open quietly.

"Go away," she whispered, her voice catching in her throat. Soon she felt and heard someone sitting in the open space next to her. "Just go." Martin's heart sank when he heard her broken tone. Little Ruthie Camden always so strong had become so weak and helpless. As much as she begged to be left to her own pain he knew her much better than that. Inside he knew she was begging for someone to care.

"I'm not leaving," he whispered. He heard her scoff quietly.

"You have once. I'm not stopping you from doing it again." Martin knew she was hurting. Still her reply ripped at his heart. It was as if she believed he didn't care about what he had done to her. He still lived with the pain each and every single day.

"What?" he asked hiding the fact that he knew exactly what she was getting at.

"Just-just go. I know you don't wanna be here," she sighed. He saw that Ruthie was no longer facing him. He could imagine her finding the cracks in the wall she faced much more interesting now that he was being ignored.

"What in the world are you talking about?" he asked rubbing his hand along her arm. He frowned when she curled up bringing herself even further away.

"They always leave..."

"Who?" he asked taking her in his arms. For the first five minutes he only sat there as she fought his hold on her. Always so stubborn he thought. The harder she tried to resist his grasp the stronger he fought back. He knew deep down she needed something. As much as she denied it Ruthie needed a sense of comfort. That's what he loved about her. She always held a streak of independence that no one could fight. It took him years to find a way in. "Please don't fight me Ruthie," he whispered. "Tell me what's wrong."

"Everyone. They all abandon me," she admitted, her voice catching.

"I'm not everyone," he told her slightly hurt.

"You never loved me. When you finally did at all I couldn't do it. I couldn't handle it if you hurt me again."

"I never meant to hurt you Roo, never," he said with tears now gathering in his own eyes.

"Didn't stop you from doing it," she said bitterly.

"I'll never be able to forgive myself."

"Why Martin? Why did you do it?"

"I was young and stupid Ruthie but that doesn't solve anything."

"I hope you're happy. He's a cheater. You won again."

"What do you mean?"

"You were right as usual. You must be so happy with yourself."

"Oh sweetheart of course I'm not happy. If anything I'm angry. Angry with myself for ignoring common sense. Wanting to kill that kid the minute he gets out of that coma for breaking you."

"Will there be knives and pitchforks?" she asked trying to hide a smile he knew was there.

"Don't forget the fire," he laughed.

"Wow. You really are mad."

"Of course I am. More than anything I hate myself."

"Why?"

"I let the one thing that meant the world to me slip right through my fingers. The minute I realized it she found herself in the arms of another man. That jerk was the luckiest man alive. He held the world in his hands and stupidly let her go. But at the same time as selfish as it sounds I can't help feeling grateful to him and his idiocy."

"HE CHEATED ON ME!" she said angrily letting the tears fall again.

"And I'll kick him all the way to China for it," Martin said determined.

"Then why in God's name are you so happy? It's not like you still love me!"

'Oh but I do. It only took me losing the best thing I ever had to realize how big a mistake I had made."

"You're lying."

"Would I ever lie to you Roo? I love you more than you could ever know," he whispered.

"You'll just leave again. They always do."

"No honey I'm here to stay. I'm never making that mistake again." Ruthie could hear the ring of sincerity in his voice. She still had to make sure.

"Promise me," she demanded.

"Do I need to make an oath?" Ruthie smiled and nodded. "If you say so. I Martin Brewer to solemnly swear to never abandon Miss Ruthie Camden for as long as she wants me and my lazy butt around," he smiled. Ruthie playfully shoved him with her elbow.

"What?" he asked in mock innocence.

"Always a goof."

"Your point?" he laughed. She had no reply. "I win again," he cheered. The truth was Martin would do anything to see her smile. Even if it meant making a fool of himself.

"I think I'm losing circulation in my fingers here." He laughed carefully releasing his son's chubby hands from the death grip he had on her.

"Doing something I should have been smart enough to do in the first place. Maybe I should be taking notes. You know where he learned that one don't you?"

"Where?" she asked honestly curious now.

"His auntie Roo. Daddy had nothing to do with this one. You always told me to hold on with both hands and never let go." Ruthie smiled releasing a yawn.

"I should let you sleep. I'll be across the hall if you need me." Ruthie gripped his hand tightly and growled.

Martin couldn't help rolling his eyes. "What'd I do now?" he sighed.

"What happened to not leaving?" Martin smiled. "Scoot over and as hard as it might be for you, spare a man some covers please."

"I don't hog the covers. If anything it's always you."

"Oh yes you do. Now scoot already."

"I don't know how in the world I put up with you," she grumbled.

"I ask myself that question almost every day," he sighed bringing the two of them closer towards him. Martin couldn't help noticing how right this feeling was. At this very minute he held everything that mattered the most to him. This is where I belong he thought.

A/N: Again I'm so sorry for the three month wait. Hopefully this makes up for me making you all wait so long. Let me know how it went please!