HOLD BACK THE RAIN - PART EIGHT

PREVIOUSLY

"What can I do?" asked Todd. His look of concern touched her.

"Just hold my hand, all right?" she asked quietly.

"After all…" said Todd, "That's what husbands do, right?"

He moved closer to her and snuggled next to Trevor, taking her hand.

Her eyes found his and thanked him.

**************************************************************************************************

February, 2001 The Sun

It was mid-morning as Téa walked into Todd's office. She was wearing a power suit, under her winter coat. Todd looked up from his desk and admired her. She put down her briefcase and took off her coat, placing them on the couch.

"I just got off the phone with Del," said Téa walking up to his desk. Todd leaned back in his chair.

"Oh?"

"Well, it seems he's helping Blair move back to Llanview, this weekend. Starr should be starting classes in Llanview next Monday. And Blair's found a nice place in the high rent district," explained Téa.

"That's great! We'll get to see a lot more of Shorty. No more weekend visits. T.D. misses her," said Todd, "Ah, Delgado…"

"Yeah?" she stood in front of his desk.

"Is something going on with your brother and my ex-wife?" asked Todd slyly.

"I really don't know," replied Téa.

Todd paused and got up from behind his desk, "How are you feeling today?"

"Actually, I feel all right considering how sick I've been lately," Téa remarked.

She turned around to face Todd as he walked up behind her. She was still in front of his desk.

"Good," he said softly finding her eyes, "Think I can get a little tomato on the side tonight?"

"Has it been a while Manning?" questioned Téa smiling.

"Try like two weeks," he replied.

"Maybe you might get lucky tonight," she softly replied.

His lips passionately engulfed hers pressing her back.

"Are you all right?" he asked watching her loose her balance for a bit.

She regained her balance and sat down on the edge of his desk.

"A bit too…ardent there, Manning," she replied, "Try moving in a bit slower for the kill. Make me…hunger for it."

She giggled.

He smiled and slowly complied with her request. His lips gently found hers and his hand slowly went up her thigh and under her skirt while his other hand braced her back.

"Uummm," she mummered.

Just then Kelly and Fiona walked in, startling Todd and Téa. Todd quickly turned around.

"Oh, sorry," muttered Kelly.

Both Todd and Téa were red in the face as they parted.

"Um, Kelly…" stammered Todd, "Ah…what is it?"

Fiona crossed her arms and stood next to Kelly, wrinkling her brow. Téa's eyes caught Fiona's non-verbal cues.

"News just broke. Buchanan Enterprises is settling with the dockworkers.

They go back to work tomorrow," said Kelly.

"Well…" stammered Todd still red, "Go get the copy!"

"One more thing," said Kelly.

"What?" demanded Todd.

"We got a dock worker willing to go on record about the extortion problems going on there…" added Kelly.

Téa thought she'd try something and placed her hand in the small of Todd's back. Fiona frowned. Téa had the reaction she wanted.

"Extortion problems?" questioned Téa.

"Ah…yeah…" muttered Todd turning to face her.

"Todd, you know I've got a client that claims he was extorted. If you've got information on the docks extortion in general, I would really appreciate it," said Téa, her tone firm.

Todd turned to Kelly, "Get that information together for Téa, all right."

"Sure," remarked Kelly.

"Why didn't you mention this earlier?" inquired Téa.

He found her eyes, "Because my mind was on other things… like how sick you' ve been lately," he whispered.

"Oh," she replied. She noticed Fiona struggling to hear.

Todd looked at his watch, "We need to go."

Téa nodded her head and slid off the desk. He walked over to the couch and held up her coat for her.

Fiona looked bothered.

"Another appointment?" asked Kelly.

"Yeah," said Todd, "We get pictures today." He put on his coat.

Téa kept her eyes on Fiona and then turned to Todd.

"Kiss me…"

"Now?"

"Yes…"

He buttoned his coat and walked over to his wife. He went to kiss her cheek but she subtly moved and his lips found hers.

She broke off the kiss, "Well, have a nice day…Kelly…Fiona…"

Todd and Téa walked out.

Kelly crossed her arms and looked at Fiona, "What just happened here?"

"What do you mean?" asked Fiona.

"When we walked in, they were clearly uncomfortable kissing each other in front of us. By the time they walked out…they had none of that uncomfortableness… in kissing each other…" said Kelly.

"Maybe they were trying to tell us something…" suggested Fiona.

"What?"

Fiona shrugged her shoulders.

"You coming?" asked Kelly walking towards the door.

"I need to make a phone call. I'll join you in a minute," said Fiona.

Kelly walked out.

Fiona picked up the phone and dialed a few numbers.

"It's me."

Pause.

"She knows something is up…"

Pause.

"Too slow? You want me to do a good job or what? These things take time…"

Pause.

"Get over it. I'm a professional. Remember that…"

Fiona hung up the phone and left.

Llanview General

Todd and Téa walked into Doctor Clayton's office. Todd was beaming.

Dr. Clayton stood up, "Mr. Manning, you're the only husband I know who comes to every appointment."

"Yeah, well, don't let that get out. I would hate to have my reputation for being a jerk ruined," replied Todd.

Téa giggled.

Dr. Clayton called in Nurse Grahame who escorted Téa into the exam room.

"So, ah, doc…I got something I want to ask you about…" stammered Todd.

"Oh? What?"

"Well, ah…lately Téa and I…haven't been…we've…because she's been feeling sick…" Todd continued to stammer clearly uncomfortable, "And I was wondering…if it was o.k….to, you know, still have…sex?"

"Well, you don't have to abstain from sex – not yet. However, there might come a time in the pregnancy in which you might have too. But I would recommend that if you do have an active sex life to tone it down – try to abstain from frequent sex and to be gentle. It's a very sensitive area right now…" recommended the doctor.

"Right." said Todd.

The nurse walked in, "She's ready."

The doctor and Todd walked into the exam room. Todd walked over to Téa and held her hand.

"I'm going to try and detect a heartbeat first, o.k?" said Dr. Clayton. He positioned the stethoscope and listened intently.

"Odd…" he muttered.

"What?" asked Todd concerned.

"It's all right. I need to look at the sonogram now…" said the doctor.

The monitor faced the doctor and away from Todd and Téa. The doctor smiled at Téa and applied the gel.

"It's cold," said Téa making a face.

"It will warm up," said the doctor.

He looked at the monitor, "I see…"

"See what?" demanded Todd.

"Is something wrong?" asked Téa.

"No, everything is fine," said Dr. Clayton turning the monitor to face them, "Meet your twins."

"Twins?" muttered Todd.

"We're having…Twins?" asked Téa.

"Yep," said the doctor showing them the outline of the twins on the screen.

"Wow…" muttered Todd.

"Boys or girls?" asked Téa.

"I can't determine their sex at this time due to their positions," said the doctor, "Téa, how much weight have you gained?"

She made a face, "I didn't. I lost three pounds."

Todd turned to face her, "Aren't pregnant women supposed to gain weight?"

"I can't keep anything down," replied Téa.

"No need to be alarmed. Weight loss can occur early on, however I'm going to modify your diet, so that you begin to gain weight," explained Dr. Clayton.

"When do we get the pictures?" asked Todd.

"I'm printing them right now, Mr. Manning," said Dr. Clayton.

Téa could see the pride, the love in his eyes for her.

The Banner, That afternoon…

Todd went sauntering into the Banner's newsroom. Mel Hayes raised an eyebrow.

"Screw that drunk…" thought Todd.

Todd walked through the newsroom rather arrogantly until he got to Viki's office. The door was opened and Todd just walked right on it. Viki was talking to Clint and Kevin.

"Todd, this is a surprise," said Viki looking up.

Clint and Kevin glared at him.

Todd smiled, "Guess what, sis?" he teased.

"I don't think I want to hear this…" said Clint making a beeline for the door.

"You can stay if you want…" said Todd.

"Maybe I should go too…" suggested Kevin.

"You're not afraid of big, bad, Todd Manning are you?" asked Todd.

"Todd!" exclaimed Viki.

Clint and Kevin stood still in their tracks.

"Not at all, Todd. What do you want to say?" asked Clint.

Todd held up the black and white sonogram pictures.

"Meet my twins!" he said.

"Twins?" muttered Viki. She took the pictures from him.

"God, Manning…" muttered Kevin, "You need to stop pro-creating…"

"Kevin! That was uncalled for!" said Viki looking up.

Clint raised an eyebrow.

"Well, at least I can pro-create with MY wife," replied Todd smiling.

"Do you know if they're boys or girls, Todd?" asked Clint attempting to be civil.

"Don't know," said Todd, "What do you think, Viki?"

She handed the pictures back to Todd, "Sounds like you and Téa are going to have your hands full."

He directed his laugh towards Kevin and Clint and left.

Later that evening…

Todd walked into the bedroom after putting Trevor to bed. Téa was on the bed, in a nightie, reading a book.

He lit a candle and shut off the lights.

Téa put her book down and followed him with her eyes. He walked over to her side of the bed and unbuttoned his shirt and pants but didn't take them off.

"You're the only girl for me, Téa. You know that, don't you?" he queried.

"Yeah, I know," she said pushing the covers aside.

"You have no one to be jealous about," he said firmly.

She stood up before him, "Did I say I was jealous?"

"You didn't have to say it today, Delgado," remarked Todd.

She slid her warm hands into his shirt and caressed his chest.

"Maybe…it was…insecurity Todd… You're right when you say it's been a while…and I've realized how much I need you – our intimacy…" she said.

There was silence between them as they looked intently at each other.

"I'll be gentle tonight. I swear," he said.

She slid off his shirt and kissed him…passionately…with desire…and he returned that desire…

Their lovemaking last long into the night. It was tender and gentle.

TO BE CONTINUED