STOLEN CHANCES - PART FIVE

PREVIOUSLY

Todd was crushed. His entire world had just come crashing down around him. He didn't know who he was anymore because the one person he depended on had just deserted him. That Todd died that day. What emerged was the monster that lived within. The monster created by years of Peter's abuse. The monster created by a lack of a mother's love. The monster that Michelle's love had been able to tame and control. The monster set free by Judge Lincoln Westlake that made its way to Llanview, Pennsylvania and changed it forever.

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The weekend had gone by too quickly. Starr's visit was like a dream for Todd and Tea, but Blair's arrival Sunday evening woke them all up. The little girl's visit sparked a light in Todd's eye that Tea hadn't seen in a long time. Todd has spent the past year rebuilding his life after the hostage situation at the Buchanan Lodge. It was a long road, but he made it because he knew Tea was waiting at the end. They led a content life, but Starr's absence in the household was evident. Starr being gone only served as a reminder to all that Todd had lost in the past.

It was obvious that Todd missed out on having a mother, and there was a darkness in a part of his heart that Tea still could see. A darkness that had made it so difficult for him to accept Tea's love. His time in therapy healed him enough to be able to return the love that Tea so willingly gave, but Tea still didn't understand why it had been so difficult for him to love in the beginning. She had a feeling it had something to do with his past. Not so much his mother leaving him or his father raping him, but something equally as heart breaking.

Tea's thoughts were interrupted by Todd coming back in the door. He had walked Starr and Blair down to their car just to spend every moment possible with his daughter. Tea could see the pain on his face from having to let Starr go, so she went over and tried to comfort him.

"It's going to be alright, Todd," she said, reaching her arms out to him. "I know it was hard on you letting her go."

"Things just seemed like they were back to normal when she was here. I almost forgot that Blair was coming back for her. Tea, I never realized how much I missed Shorty. And her next visit isn't for another month."

Tea knew how much Todd was hurting and wanted to help him. She had to get his mind off of Starr somehow before he sank into that dark hole of depression waiting for him on the outskirts of their lives.

"Well then Mr. Manning. I guess we're going to have to find something to do with ourselves until then," she says, looking seductively into his eyes.

"Sounds interesting, Delgado. What do you have in mind?" Tea moves close to Todd until their lips are almost touching.

"I figure we can start off with a little of this, " she says, reaching up and allowing her lips to brush his briefly. "Then we can move on to this."
This time she puts her arms around him and holds him close before pulling him into a long, deep kiss. "And finally...."

"I think I can figure out the rest," he whispers breathlessly before swooping her up in his arms and carrying her upstairs to their bedroom.

They spent a passionate night losing themselves in each other. No thoughts of the past. No feelings of sadness from missing Starr. Todd forgot about everything else in the arms of his love. She had a way of making all of his worries disappear. Loving her was his way of fighting off the memories that still haunted him from time to time. Just for that night, he wanted to forget about the past and enjoy being with her.

The next morning, Tea awoke to an empty bed. This was the usual routine. After a passionate night, Todd generally needed time alone. Therapy was helping him learn how to accept and express love, but he still was distant at times. Times like this. He probably went in early to work, she thought to herself. She threw on a robe and went downstairs, expecting to find an empty penthouse. But instead, what she found was a surprise breakfast waiting for her.

"What's all this?" she asks, as she walks over to the table, amazed.

"Oh, you're up," he says, looking up at her surprised. "I was trying to get everything finished before you came down. Have a seat."

Todd holds a chair out for Tea as she looks at the table. Her eyes begin to get misty and before she can stop it, the tears begin to flow. Todd looks curiously at her, worried that he did something to upset her.

"Delgado, you alright? Why are you crying? Is this some weird hormone thing that pregnant women do?"

"Todd, this is just so sweet and romantic," she says between sobs. She walks over and kisses him on the cheek on her way to her chair. "But, what's the occasion?"

"Well, it's kind of an apology. I kind of freaked out a few days when you mentioned that judge from Chicago. It's just, you caught me off guard talking about him. Back then . . ."

"You don't have to explain," she interrupts. "I know you have a lot of bad memories from your childhood that you don't like talking about. I'll wait until you're ready. That was a lifetime ago. And when you're ready, we'll deal with it. Together." She smiles at him as she grabs his hand and strokes it lightly. They finish their breakfast in blissful silence.

"You have an appointment today, right? Want some company?" he asks her.

"You want to come to the doctor with me? What's gotten into you, Todd? Nevermind, don't answer that. I'm just going to enjoy your giddy mood," she says giggling. She playfully blows him a kiss as she skips up the stairs to get dressed.

Todd watched smiling as Tea went upstairs. The pregnancy agrees with her. He doesn't remember ever seeing her so content with life.

"She deserves to be happy," Todd says to himself. "I deserve to be happy. I've finally found true happiness and I'm not going to let anything destroy that. Not the memories. Not the ghosts. Not even Judge Lincoln Westlake." With that declaration, Todd resolves to bury the past and live in the present. He clears the breakfast dishes and prepares for the first day of the rest of his life.

TO BE CONTINUED