*just a small portion to see how it does... review:)*

There was a knock at the door. Simon stood up and walked slowly to the door. Opening it, his breath caught in his throat. "Ruthie?" He managed.

Ruthie was standing on his doorstep, a backpack and suitcase in hand. "Hey Simon, mind if I come in?"

"Do I mind?" Simon laughed, taking her suitcase and giving her a one-armed hug.

Ruthie took in Simon's apartment. The small kitchen was plain but welcoming; the brown wood café table sat covered in books. The counters were clean and dishes were stacked neatly in the sink. The yellow walls reflected the pale evening light filtering in through the shuttered windows. Ruthie walked over to the living area: two couches sat around a coffee table covered in more books.

"So it's safe to say you have a lot of school work?"

Simon smiled, "What are you doing here? Is everything okay at home? How's it been?"

With Simon leading her to the couch in his living area, Ruthie laughed at his bombardment of questions, "Is it so wrong that I wanted to see my big brother?" Ruthie smiled, "Everything's fine at home. Dad's still home-schooling the boys and, you know, I think they're going well. The house has been pretty quiet otherwise… Shocking isn't it?" She gave an empty laugh.

Simon noticed how quickly the smile faded from her face, "Ruthie." She looked up. "What's wrong- why are you really here?"

Ruthie looked back down at her hands, focusing on an invisible spot on her thumb. "Um," her voice broke, "I'm pregnant."

She looked up after a moment of silence, "Simon?"

He stood up, running a hand through his hair he paced around the kitchen and came back to sit on the couch. "What? Are you serious? How did this happen?" His voice started to get louder.

Ruthie stood up too, "Simon I do not need this right now. I can leave!"Her voice shook with anger, shame, and desperation. She couldn't believe that she'd let her family down. She was disappointed in herself- she couldn't imagine how disappointed they were in her.

Simon took her by the shoulders, "You're right I'm sorry. Just sit down." They both resumed their places on the couch. "Are you sure?" His voice sounded pained.

A tear ran down her face. Reaching into her backpack she pulled out the positive pregnancy test and handed it to Simon. He took it and stared at it for a long time. Ruthie stood up, went into the kitchen and got glass of water. She felt thirsty all of a sudden- probably from all the crying. She took a shuddering breath and took a sip. Filling up another glass she took it over to Simon and put it into his hand. He downed the water and set both the glass and the pregnancy test on the coffee table. Simon stood up and gathered Ruthie into a hug. Kissing the top of her head he whispered, "Don't worry, Ruthie. You'll get through it. I'll help you. You'll always have me. 'Kay? I love you, Ruthie."

A sob escaped her and she just clung to Simon. "I'm sorry."

"Shh. It's okay Ruthie. I mean, it's not okay… But it'll be okay." Letting go of Ruthie, he wiped her cheek with his thumb. "Can we talk about it?"

She nodded.

"Do you want something to eat? We can wait for take-out while we talk."

"No, I'm fine. Haven't been hungry lately."

"I'll just have cereal then." He filled up a bowl and came to sit down on the couch again. "How long have you known?"

"I've known for a week. It's been three months total."

"And how's it been?"

"Funny thing is, you tend to lose weight at first." She mumbled with a hollow, short laugh.

"Sorry it's been hard on you."

She shrugged, pulling at a loose thread from her sweater. "What can you do." She said more as a statement rather than a question.

After a moment of silence, Simon asked quietly, "Who else have you told?"

She shook her head.

He paused again then looked up, "Why'd you come here then? Why'd you tell me first?"

"Because. Because you understand what it's like to make mistakes. To experience the aftermath of a split second that ruined your life."

Simon uncrossed his legs, "Ruthie, this is not going to ruin your life. It'll make it harder sure, but it won't ruin it."

"Whatever, but I thought that you would be the person wouldn't judge me as harshly. You know? People who understand how life can deal you such misfortunes are less judgemental; they understand the complexities of people and the reality that mistakes are just that: mistakes." She sniffed and they sat in silence for a long time.

Finally, Simon sighed and leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees.

"Who's the father?"

She shook her head again as more tears ran down her face.

"Fine you can tell me later." He checked his watch, "It's close to 8:00. You must be tired- you can take a shower and then just hang out in your room."

Ruthie sighed and stood up, wiping her cheeks with the backs of her hands. "Thanks Simon, that'd be great."

Later that night, Ruthie was lying in bed showered and recovered from their earlier conversation. She folded the blankets down to her waist and ran her hands across her still flat abdomen. She couldn't believe that she had gotten herself into this. And she still hadn't even told her parents yet! Before it used to be, Well at least it's not like Mary! Now it would be about Ruthie. Feeling a lump in her throat, she pulled the blankets up to her chin and closed her eyes. A tear eased from the corner of her eye and caught in her curls. "Good night, Ruthie! Love you." Simon called from the hallway and turned out the apartment's lights. "Love you too, Simon." She turned her back to the door and quickly fell asleep.