PREVIOUSLY

Tea sucked back a quick lungful of air as another sharp, stabbing pain shot through her side.

Todd seemed not to notice.

The pain subsiding as quickly as it came, she nestled into Todd's arms and snuggled deeper into the covers as he turned off the light, letting the shadows take over.

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Part 4: Alarm

"How many more days until Christmas, Daddy?" Starr asked for the third time in as many hours.
"Twenty-five, Starr. Twenty-five more days."
Todd bent to Starr's level in the middle of the crowded shopping centre and looked her in the eyes. "Now I'm going to need your help, Shorty. This is very important. I need you to help me pick out the perfect gift for Tea. I'm not very good at....buying presents A-and you're a girl, so....you must know what girls want. Right?"
Starr nodded solemnly.
"So...where should we go first?"
"Logan's." Starr said decisively. "Logan's has lots of nice stuff that Tee would like."
Taking her hand in his, they headed for Logan's.

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"You know, you look happier every time I see you, Tea." Viki said, her eyes crinkling into a motherly smile.
Tea laughed softly. "I am. I never thought it was possible to be this happy, but..." she trailed off, shrugging.
"Well you certainly deserve it." Viki replied. She pulled out a chair. "Care to join me?"
"Thank you. I think I will," Tea said, setting her shopping bags on the floor and sinking greatfully into the chair. "Ahhhh." She sighed, "It feels so good to get off my feet."
Viki smiled, her eyes sparkling merrily. "And it will all be worth it in a few months."
She studied Tea's face. "Are you all right, Tea? You look a little pale."
"Oh, I'm fine. I'm still not used to doing everything for two!"
"That does take some getting used to, doesn't it? But you'd better prepare yourself; you'll be doing *everything* for two until the day your little one moves out."
Tea smiled and nodded.
"So how are things with you?" Viki asked, taking a sip of water.
"Couldn't be better. Starr's beginning to break out of her shell....she's quite a handful, but I wouldn't have it any other way."
Viki nodded. "You really love that little girl, don't you?"
Tea smiled wistfully. "She's everything I want in a daughter. I love her as if she were my own."
"Well soon you *will* have one of your own!" Viki exclaimed, putting a hand on Tea's arm. "Have you picked out any names yet?"
"Actually, Todd and I were discussing it not too long ago, and we decided to let Starr choose the name."
"Oh, how lovely! She must be thrilled to have such an important job."
"She is. She's already got a name picked out but says she won't tell us until the baby's born."
Viki laughed, a happy, tinkling sound. "Isn't that just like her?" she commented. "I remember when my boys were young, before Jessie was born....."
Tea blinked dazedly. It was becoming increasingly difficult to focus on Viki's words. Her eyes became unfocused and the room swayed and danced around her. She gripped the edge of the table to steady herself. She tried to take in a deep breath but found she couldn't get enough air.
All she could concentrate on was the intense pain burning in her side. She was barely aware of Viki calling her name or the people beginning to gather around her barely conscious form on the floor.

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"Great choice, Shorty." Todd grinned, taking the shopping bags and boxes from the cashier. "Tea is going to *love* it!"
Starr beamed happily.
Todd jumped slightly at the staccato chime of his cellular phone and he dug into the pocket of his black overcoat to retrieve it.
Flipping it open, he gave Starr a quarter for the bubble gum machine and watched her dash off.
"Yeah," he answered, ripping open a package of candy corn and popping a handful into his mouth.
He listened intently.
His face blanched and his jaw dropped, several half-chewed pieces of candy corn spilling out of his mouth.
"I-I'll be right there," he said, his voice just above a shocked whisper.
"Hang on, Delgado. I'm on my way."
TO BE CONTINUED

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