THE CONTRACT - PART THREE

PREVIOUSLY

"With Blair's impending nuptials, our being married will no longer be enough to ensure sole custody of Starr. We need something else. Something big. Something that'll make the courts see that kind, loving man that I see when Starr is around. And I think I've come up with just the thing that will do that."

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"So, are you going to tell me your big idea, or are you going to leave me hanging?" Todd starts to pace nervously, a little suspicious of Tea's plans. He watched her facial expressions changes as it became more and more obvious that she had something huge in the works. He loved how her mind worked. And even more, he loved watching her at work, although he would never admit to that.

"In time, Manning," Tea finally says, her jumbled thoughts slowly making more sense to her. "There are a few details I haven't really thought about yet."

"Well, excuse me for being impatient, but time is not exactly a luxury for us. I mean . . . well, you know what I mean." He looks down, ashamed again of his slip. That was the second time that happened in one day. He needed to be more careful of getting too comfortable with the situation. Sometimes when he's not really thinking, he almost forgets that the marriage was merely an act. But it wasn't real. There was not an 'us'. They were no more a real couple than Todd was a priest. He almost chuckles at the very idea of that prospect.

"Yeah, I know what you mean. But you were right the first time. We don't have much time. I told you before, I'm in this thing for the duration. You don't have to feel like you're going through this alone. I'm here to help you, and that's what I intend to do."

"How, Tea? How can you help with this latest stunt of Blair's? I don't see how we can top that."

"Do you remember what I said earlier, Todd? When you're with Starr, you become a completely different person."

"Thanks. But what does that have to do with anything?" Todd asks, starting to get confused by Tea's logic.

"Everything. In order to get that extra edge over Blair, the courts need to see you as that devoted family man. We have to show them how much of a loving father you are. But not only to Starr."

"Okay, now I'm really confused. Tea, who else would the courts want to see me being a loving father to?"

"Our baby." She pauses a moment to let what she just said sink in.

"Our baby? What baby would that be, Tea? That kind of relationship isn't outlined in our contract. And the last time I checked, you weren't exactly a virgin named Mary. How exactly do you expect this blessed event to occur?"

"I know it sounds a little hokey, but just hear me out, Todd." Tea paces across the floor. The idea of having a child with Todd was never at the top of her to do list. But it seemed to make plenty of sense now. At least it made plenty of sense to her. Todd was going to take a little convincing.

"First of all, you can stop worrying. I wasn't planning on some big seduction. I know that for many reasons, our being together physically isn't . . .well, it isn't . . . convenient, for lack of a better word. For either one of us. I was thinking along the lines of artificial insemination. Secondly, given the option of artificial insemination, the baby wouldn't even have to be yours. So as you see, adding another baby to our little family scenario would not only be fairly simple, but it just seems like the next logical step." She stops pacing and looks over to see what's going on in his mind. She's surprised to see that he seems to be actually considering the whole thing, so she continues. "The only thing to consider would be whether or not you'd be able to pretend this baby was your own. My whole plan hinges on that, Todd."

"Believe me, Delgado. That is so not the only thing to consider. All I have to say right now is that I'm flattered. And grateful to you. You really are in this thing with me for the long haul. To even consider having a baby to help me keep Starr is far beyond the scope of the contract."

"Well, maybe it's about time we stopped looking at our marriage as only a contract." As soon as the words left her mouth, Tea wanted to take them back. She sees that's she's scared Todd by his reaction to that last statement. "Don't panic, Todd. I'm not trying to say that this is a real marriage or anything. I just feel that we're more than business associates. The way you supported me after Blair pushed me out of that window showed how good a friend you can be. And this is a way I can be a friend to you. So how about it, Manning? What do you say?"

She looks at him, suddenly feeling nervous over what he might say. This has become more than a mere addition to the contract. This event has changed their lives forever. Somehow throughout the course of the conversation, Tea realized that there was more to their relationship than what was on paper. And his reaction to the baby proposition would show his feelings towards their marriage. She knew that Todd had a hard time opening up to people, especially after his failed marriage with Blair. She didn't expect that he would love her, but she did hope that he would think of her as more than his employee. He looks up at her, ready to tell her his decision.

"I say . . . ", he starts slowly, as if still thinking about his decision. "I say let's go have a baby."

TO BE CONTINUED