PREVIOUSLY

"Get out," she murmured, pointing to the door. "Get out before I say something we'll both regret."

Todd blinked.

"Out," she repeated, sensing her composure was beginning to slip.

He stood slowly and shuffled to the door.

"If it's what you really want," he said quietly. "But I will be back first thing tomorrow morning."

The door shut softly and Tea cried herself to sleep for the second time that day.

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Part 6: Misery

The next day, after informing Dr. Lancaster of her decision, Tea was released from the hospital.
Standing at the pay phone by the elevators, she popped in a quarter and dialed Viki's number.
The phone rang six times. "Hi, you've reached 555--"
Tea hung up the phone. Inserting another quarter, she dialed Rachel's number.
It was answered on the third ring.
"Yes?" Tea's brow wrinkled in confusion at the gruff male voice.
"I-is Rachel Gannon there, please?"
"Uh...she's a little...busy at the moment," the man snickered loudly. "Is there a message?" Tea wrinkled her nose in disgust when she heard the unmistakable sounds of retching in the background.
"Just tell her...never mind," she said, hanging up.
Flipping through the phone book, Tea found a list of taxi services and was dialing the number when a strong hand clamped onto her shoulder.
"I told you I'd come back," he whispered in her ear. "Need a lift?"
"No," Tea replied coldly.
Todd's voice softened. "Tea, look at me." He turned her around to face him. "I've been thinking a lot about....you know...what we talked about last night--"
"So have I," she interrupted, "And I haven't changed my mind."
"Yeah, well I have," he finished quickly, gazing into her eyes, searching for any sort of response.
She looked hopeful. "What did you...."
"I decided that you're right, Delgado. This baby....this baby is a part of the both of us. If there's a chance it can be born healthy, I say we take it."
"So you're....you mean..."
"Yup."
Tea smiled, slipping her arms around him. "Well it's a good thing because I've already told Dr. Lancaster my decision," she said, her voice muffled against his shoulder.
Todd grinned. Hand-in-hand, they left the hospital.
Together.

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Starr's eyes glittered as she stared, in wonder, at the Christmas tree standing like a monolith in front of the picture window. Tea had never seen such a beautiful tree. Todd had spared no expense.
It was a spruce, standing over eight feet tall and almost five wide. Todd had adorned it with golden lights, which blinked on and off in a random sequence, making the gold-coloured garland sparkle. Small ornaments of angels and wisemen and bells and scrolls of musical sheets hung on every branch.
"You ready?" Todd asked Starr, placing in her hands an angel dressed in a white robe with a golden halo.
"Yep," she affirmed.
Todd lifted her easily over his head and she stuck the angel on the topmost branch of the tree.
He set her on the floor and she ran to Tea, who was sitting on the couch, and climbed into her lap.v "Isn't it nice, Tee? Isn't it the perfect Christmas tree?"
Tea smiled. "It sure is, Starr. But now it's time for you to go to bed."
Starr put on her best pouty face. "Can I sleep down here tonight?" she begged, "I want to see Santa bring the presents."v Tea looked to Todd. "What do you think?" she said with a grin, "Should we let her?"
Todd grinned back. I don't know. Starr will have to be extra good tomorrow...."
"Oh, I will!" Starr cried, "I really will!"
"In that case," Tea said, "It's fine with me."
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Starr exclaimed, throwing her arms around her parents.
Tea set a blanket and a pillow on the floor. "Your daddy and I are going to sleep upstairs, though," she warned. "You won't be scared down here, all by yourself?"
"Nope." Starr shook her head vigorously, her brown curls bobbing from side to side.
Tea walked slowly up the stairs, pulling herself up with difficulty, Todd clutching her arm tightly to keep her from falling. At the top, she paused to catch her breath and then continued on to the bedroom.
Todd went to the closet and pulled out a large black garbage bag filled with presents.
"She'll be out like a light in about five minutes," he said, "And then I'll put these under the tree."
Tea's eyes glowed with anticipation. "I can't wait until tomorrow, when she opens them. She's going to be in heaven."
Todd grinned mischeviously. "And I can't wait 'til you open the gift Starr and I picked out," he said as he stepped into a Santa Claus suit.
Tea crawled into bed, falling asleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow.

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Almost an hour later, Todd clunked down the stairs, a big black garbage bag slung over one shoulder, his Santa beard itching like crazy.
Opening the bag, he made no effort to keep quiet as he pulled out present after present and stuffed them under the tree.
Starr stretched on the floor and sat up, blinking owlishly in the blinking lights from the tree.
Squinting, she peered at Todd. "Santa?"
Todd turned around, stifling a smile. "Ho ho ho, little Starr. Have you been a good girl this year?"
Starr nodded, standing up and pulling the plate of cookies off the coffee table. "Oh, yes, Santa. Would you like a cookie? Tee and I made them today."
This time, Todd couldn't hide his grin.

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Tea struggled to sit up as a tremendous pain ripped through her abdomen.
Moaning, she propelled herself with her legs and swung them over the side of the bed.
"Todd..." she whispered, her pain too severe to do much else. Summoning up as much strength as she could, she tried one last time before fading into blackness. "Todd!"

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Munching on the cookie Starr had offered, Todd could hear, very faintly, the groaning and moaning of the bedsprings as Tea shifted in her sleep. He had to hurry; he didn't like to leave her alone for too long.
He was sure his heart stopped in his chest when he heard her call his name; a pained, terrified sound.
"Tea!" he screamed, ripping off the Santa beard and taking the steps three at a time.
His half-eaten cookie lay upside-down on the floor, a frightened Starr left to wonder what had happened.

TO BE CONTINUED

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