HOLD BACK THE RAIN - PART ONE

December 2000 – days before Christmas 36,000 feet over the Atlantic Ocean

Todd stared out the window thinking of the past days event's. He couldn't believe he'd been held hostage – that he'd been the one kidnapped this time. And he couldn't believe it was his wife who had come looking for him. He looked at Téa. She stirred. She was laid out over the seats of the jet, resting peacefully. She would do anything for him.
"You're different… you've hung in there like no one else…"
For once, he was looking forward to Christmas.
Blair had elected to stay with Del as he waited for Reyes's recovery. He didn't know why, but he was glad he didn't have to give Blair a ride. After all, it was just him, Téa, and the two pilots. He got up and walked to the cockpit.
"What brings you here Mr. Manning?" asked the pilot sipping on a cup of coffee.
"How far out are we?" asked Todd.
"We've just past Ireland and are over the open ocean," said the pilot.
"Good. I want some privacy for a few hours. Don't come back into the main cabin until I give the word," directed Todd.
"Sure," said the pilots. They looked at each other with a smile as Todd left. They had a clue.
Todd went back into the cabin and sat down beside Téa. She was wearing a short skirt and a matching top. He began to rub her legs and she stirred.
"Todd?"
"Shhh. Just lie there for now. Let me do this."
"All right."
There was silence between them as Todd continued to rub her legs. Slowly, he could feel himself become aroused.
"Uummmmm," muttered Téa.
He fell down on this knees before her and began to kiss her legs, lightly, moving up her thigh.
"Ummm, Todd," she mummered again.
"How do you feel?"
"Good. I've missed your touch," she replied.
"I didn't mean to disturb you."
"You haven't."
"I've missed you. I need to touch you – to feel you next to me…" said Todd between kisses.
"I'm glad you weren't seriously hurt," she said.
He laughed, "I didn't think I'd see you – or Trevor, again." "We'll be together for Christmas," said Téa softly.
"Yeah. We will. I want to make love to you. Here. Now."
He found her eyes. They were responsive.
She smiled, "I want you too."
He sat up facing her, "Take your clothes off. Leave your bra and panties on. And then close your eyes."
"Todd, what do you have in mind?" asked Téa sitting up.
"It's a dream…I had once…" said Todd.
She smiled. Their eyes met and slowly Téa complied with his request. He watched intently as he sat on the floor of the plane. His eyes alive…. burning for her as she undressed for him.
As soon as she sat down and closed her eyes, he got up and took off his own clothes so he was naked before her.
The hum of the plane's engines droned on in the background.
He got on his knees before her, rubbing her legs with his fingertips and then his lips found her thighs.
"Ummm" muttered Téa.
"Keep your eyes closed," said Todd dangerously close to her pantyline.
"Are you dressed?" asked Téa.
"No," said Todd going up – planting delicate light kisses on her stomach, his hands on her thighs.
"I feel you – next to me…" she said.
"Good," said Todd, "Slide forward a bit. I'm going to sit behind you."
She did as he instructed taking off her remaining garments. She could feel him – how hard he was for her – up against her lower back.
Todd was sitting up against the seat and Téa was sitting in front of him.
His arms were around her – his hand on her breasts and his mouth kissing her neck – her shoulders – his body reacting to hers – moving with hers. He didn't want to stop. She tasted so good. Her deep moan set him off. He had to have her.
"I need you, Téa," he said. She turned around and without hesitation became one with him. Her mouth found his – their kisses intense – passionate – burning – his hands roaming her body…
"You're on fire…" said Téa breathlessly.
"Only for you. I love you Téa," replied Todd.
"I love you Todd," she said.
He could feel how hot she was…and all he could think of was pleasing her…filling her….
Her moans set off his own passionate desires and his head began reeling as he went off…
"Téa…oh, Téa… don't ever leave…" he muttered.
She fell into his strong, waiting arms.
"I won't leave… if you don't…"
He smiled at her and held her tight. They didn't get much sleep that night.

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December 2000, Christmas Eve Llanfair, Pennsylvania

Viki answered the door and was pleasantly surprised to see Todd and Téa.
Both looked alive and vital. They exchanged hugs.
"How's Trevor?" asked Téa yawning.
"He's fine," said Viki, "No problems. Tired?"
Todd yawned as well, "Yawning is contagious, you know."
"We didn't get much sleep on the plane," said Téa taking her coat off. Todd took his off as well and they hung them up.
"Christmas dinner is at two tomorrow and then we exchange gifts. You will come by? Jessie, Will, Sam, Roseanne, Joey, Carlotta, Kevin…" started Viki as they walked into the den.
"Kevin? Don't know about that," said Todd.
Viki shot him a look.
"We'll be here," said Todd.
"Mommy!" exclaimed Trevor running up to Téa. She took him into her arms and gave him light kisses on his face.
"Mommy missed you T.D.," said Téa smiling.
Trevor nodded his head in agreement.
"I can tell you missed me too, huh?" said Téa taking his hand in hers.
Jessie walked up holding a stuffed bear, "He was great while you were gone."
"Thanks, Jessie," said Téa, "Trevor, did you miss Daddy too? He missed you."
Todd smiled at Trevor.
Trevor grinned and pointed to Todd, "Daddy."
"Can I hold him?" asked Todd.
"Sure," said Téa yawning again. She gave Trevor to Todd.
"Hey, T.D., I missed you too," said Todd softly holding the boy in his arms, "I missed your smile… just like your mother's…"
"Daddy go bye-bye…" said Trevor looking into his father's eyes.
"Yeah. But I promise you I will always be here. I'm not going anywhere ever again," said Todd firmly to his son.
Téa's cell phone rang. She dug into her purse and opened it as she sat down on Viki's couch. Todd and Trevor sat next to her and Viki and Jessie sat across from him.
"Hello?" said Téa.
pause.
"Who is it Téa?" asked Todd.
"It's Del," said Téa.
pause.
"Good," said Téa.
pause.
"Just a minute," Téa put her hand over the receiver, "Blair wants to talk to Starr."
Viki motioned for the phone. Téa gave it to her.
"Blair. It's Viki. Starr's not here right now. Cassie, Kelly, and River took her out Christmas shopping," explained Viki.
pause.
"I will," said Viki. She hung up.
"Kelly!" exclaimed Téa, "I need to talk to her. It's been a while."
"Kelly Cramer? Why?" asked Todd making faces at Trevor, causing Trevor to giggle.
"Well, when you left, you left me the Sun," stared Téa, "And I didn't know the first thing about running a newspaper so I hired Kelly as the acting publisher. We still own it but Kelly oversees the day to day operations."
Todd paused, "We still own the Sun? And Kelly's in charge?"
Téa made a face, "Kelly's done a fine by the Sun."
"Todd," said Viki, "Kelly runs the Sun very efficiently and effectively."
"Well, we still own it?" questioned Todd.
Trevor made a face at his father.
"Yeah, Todd," said Téa.
"Hey you guys want a drink?" asked Jessie getting up.
"None for me," said Téa.
"I'll have a beer," said Todd.
"I'm fine Jessie," said Viki.
"So what did Del say?" asked Todd taking Trevor's hand in his.
"Vincent's better. They'll be leaving Berlin a few hours and should arrive in time for dinner tomorrow," said Téa, "And Vincent will not bother us again."
"Daddy – smile!" said Trevor.
Todd's frown turned into a grin.
"Good," said Todd through his teeth.
Jessie returned with the drinks.
Todd felt good to be with his family.

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Téa put Trevor down in his playpen. Todd was sitting on the couch. Trevor played with the bear Jessie had given him. Téa walked over to the couch and sat down next to Todd resting her head on his shoulder.
"I'm exhausted," said Téa.
"Well, we didn't get much rest on the plane…" said Todd.
"Yeah… and the adrenaline high I've been on is wearing off," finished Téa.
"I see you got the Christmas tree up while I was gone…" started Todd.
"You should have seen Trevor's face Todd, when I turned the lights on for the first time. His eyes grew wide and his mouth fell," described Téa.
"Well, I get to watch him open his gifts. And I noticed there are plenty for Trevor and Todd but none for Téa. I need to go shopping…tonight…for tomorrow," said Todd.
There were three knocks on the door.
Todd turned to Téa, "Who is that?"
"Roseanne," said Téa, "C'Mon in!"
Roseanne and Joey walked in.
"Heard you guys were back. I'm glad things went…well," said Roseanne walking over to Trevor. She made faces at him, "Hi…T.D."
"Rosie!" said Trevor.
"Hey Uncle Todd," said Joey.
Roseanne picked Trevor up.
"Hey Joey," said Todd.
"Are you guys stopping by tomorrow?" asked Joey.
"Yeah," said Todd standing up, "Junior put T.D. down. We're going Christmas shopping."
"What?" asked Roseanne facing Todd.
Téa giggled.
"I gotta go Christmas shopping for Téa. You're Téa's niece. You know what Téa wants. It's simple," said Todd grabbing his coat.
Roseanne looked at Téa and Joey.
"A bit abrupt isn't he?" asked Roseanne, "What do you see in him?"
Roseanne put Trevor back down in the playpen.
"Oh, you mean besides his handsome good looks, winsome smile and devil may care personality?" inquired Téa standing up.
Roseanne put her coat back on. Joey walked up beside Roseanne.
Todd stopped, "Go on…. I'd like to know."
Téa got serious, "A soulmate."
"Heavy," said Joey looking at his uncle and raising an eyebrow.
Todd went up to his wife and kissed her on the cheek.
"Ditto Delgado," he said softly before walking out with Roseanne and Joey.
Téa went up to Trevor in his playpen and smiled at him, "Guess what T.D?"
"What? Mommy?" said T.D. smiling at her.
"We got the best Christmas gift of all this year. We got your Daddy."
Trevor smiled.

TO BE CONTINUED

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