Author's Notes: Usual disclaimers apply. I don't own any of the characters, except for the ones that I create. The "7th Heaven" characters belong to Aaron Spelling, Brenda Hampton, the ABC Family Channel, the WB Network, and all the creators, writers, producers and directors of this show. But I've written this story, I own this story, and all the others that I write, or have written. Please do not use, copy, post elsewhere, or reproduce it in any way, shape, or form without my permission. Thanks.

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Rating: PG - PG-13 in first few chapters, then may or may not increase to R rating, depending on author's whims:)

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The next day, when Ruthie gets home from school, she is about to run straight upstairs to her room to get online, when her mother stops her in the kitchen.

"Wait, Ruthie!" Annie exclaims. "Where are you going in such a hurry?"

"Upstairs," answers Ruthie. "I need to use the computer."

Annie stares at her youngest daughter. "Don't you think you're spending too much time online?" she asks. "Lately, you're hardly ever around. You're always on the computer. The only time that your dad, and I and the rest of the family see you now is at meals, and even that is only because I've not let you decide to eat in your bedroom. I'm concerned. I never see you anymore!"

Ruthie rolls her eyes. "Mom, I'm fine!" she whines as she turns to go upstairs. "Can I go now?"

"This is exactly what I am talking about." Annie says, shaking her head. "You can't even take two minutes to stay and talk to me! You're in such a rush to get upstairs and get online. I think we need to consider limiting your time on the computer. Maybe it was a mistake to get you that laptop for your birthday."

"No, no, it wasn't!" Ruthie says, looking alarmed. "I'm sorry! Just don't take away my laptop!"

Annie sighs as she looks at her daughter lovingly. "I don't want to take away your laptop," she murmurs. "You just need to have some balance, that's all. Going online is fine, but it can't consume your whole life! Your family and friends in real life are important too! You can't just sit in front of a computer all the time! You're young, and you need to be active, exercise, socialize, and not always cooped up in your room, you know?"

Ruthie nods in understanding. "You're right, Mom."

"Why don't you call Yasmeen, and see what her plans are? Maybe I could drop you guys off for a movie at the Promenade, how does that sound?"

"I don't know." Ruthie shrugs her shoulders. "I don't really think there are any good movies out in theaters right now. At least not any movie that Yasmeen and I would want to see."

Annie sighs dejectedly. "Oh, okay. How about if we rent a movie?"

"No thanks, I'm really not in the mood," Ruthie shakes her head as she turns to go back upstairs. "I'm going to go up now."

"I thought we were going to talk!" Annie calls out after her. "How was your day?"

Ruthie stops on the stairs. "Fine!"

"What you do in school, today?"

"Nothing!"

Annie shakes her head at her daughter's one-word answers. "Ruthie, honey, what's going on?"

"Nothing, Mom! Honest!" promises Ruthie. "What's with the 20 Questions? Can I PLEASE go up now?"

Annie sighs loudly. "Yeah fine, whatever. Go ahead," she mutters, before adding, "But this isn't over. Your father and I are going to talk more about this later, all right?"

Ruthie nods. "Sure, Mom!" she agrees, before running up the stairs. Once she is in her bedroom, she quickly opens up her laptop, turns it on and logs on to the Internet. Once she is online, she signs into Private Messenger, and sees that RedHotPorsche is online.

"Hey, Ruthie!" types RedHotPorsche. "How are you doing today?"

As she gets settled comfortably into her desk chair, Ruthie types back her response. "Hey, Sam. Sorry I'm late. My mom was hassling me, because she is pissed about how much time I'm spending online lately."

"Yeah, parents can be the pits!" Sam sympathizes. "Have you ever thought about running away?"

"Not really." Ruthie types before going back and amending her response. "Well, once, right after my twin brothers, Sam and David were gone, I tried to run away, I ended up in my older brother Matt's car, while he was making fast-food deliveries for the restaurant that he had just started working at. But other than that, I haven't no."

"Well, you know, I wouldn't blame you if you ran away," types back Sam. "It doesn't sound like they appreciate you all that much, and yet they're always bothering you for every little thing."

"It isn't really like that!" Ruthie says defensively. "My family is great. They really love and care about me. They would be worried to death if I ran away."

"Are you sure about that?" Sam challenges. "Your parents have SEVEN KIDS! Plus with all the problems that they are dealing with, I'm sure they hardly pay enough attention to you, and you always wind up getting the short end of the stick."

Ruthie thinks hard for a few moments before typing back. "Maybe your right. I never really thought about it that way before."

"The problem is that they don't appreciate you, and they don't realize that you are growing up. They want to keep you under their thumb forever! " Sam types, hitting the Send button before typing again. "Listen, do you have a digital camera or a scanner?"

"Why?" asks Ruthie curiously.

"I was wondering if you could send me a picture of yourself." Sam types back. "I'd really like to see what you look like."

"Yeah, I guess so." Ruthie types. "I don't have a digital camera or scanner of my own yet, so I'll have to figure something out. Just let me think for a bit."

"All right," says Sam shortly. "Get back to me when you can send me your pic."

Ruthie stares at the screen, confused. "Don't you want to chat with me?" she types quickly. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I just have some things to take care of. Talk to you soon!" types Sam before hurriedly signing off.

Ruthie continues to stare at the computer screen in bewilderment, until she hears footsteps on the stairs. She quickly shuts off her laptop and folds it closed as Lucy steps into the room.

"Hey, Ruthie! What are you doing?" Lucy asks with a smile. "What are you working on?"

"Uh, uh, nothing. Just checking my email." Ruthie stammers nervously. "Why would I be doing anything?"

Lucy shrugs. "No reason. Hey listen, you want to go to Pete's Pizza and a movie with Mom and me? We're going to have a Girl's Night Out! Just us women!"

"No thanks." Ruthie shakes her head. "I don't really feel like it. Maybe another time."

Lucy looks crestfallen. "Ruthie, are you okay?" she asks worriedly. "Are you sick? Did something happen?"

"No, why?" asks Ruthie, anxiously. "I'm fine. Why do you ask?"

"It's just that I've never seen you turn down pizza and a movie before." Lucy comments. "I'm concerned, that's all. The whole family is worried about you. You're changing. We hardly see you anymore. You are always cooped up in this room on the computer. You never see your friends, even Peter doesn't come over anymore. What's going on?"

"NOTHING!" Ruthie snaps, irritated. "Are you deaf? I'm fine. Why can't everyone just get off my back? In case you haven't realized it, I'm growing up. I don't need you all to keep treating me like a little girl!"

Lucy looks hurt. "Okay, fine. Whenever you're ready to talk, I'm always here for you. We're all here for you."

"Yeah, fine!" Ruthie rolls her eyes in exasperation. "Whatever. Will you just go and leave me alone now?"

"If that's what you want," sighs Lucy, as she starts to walk out the door. "Fine, I'm going."

As soon as she is gone, Ruthie turns on her computer and logs back onto the Internet.

To Be Continued…