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October 31, 1999
Penthouse, 9:00 PM

Téa reaches again into the bag of bite size Milky Ways. The trick or treaters had been few and far between, which left plenty of chocolate for her to drown her sorrows in.

Sorrow? Maybe not the right word. Depression, confusion would be more accurate. Especially confusion. Because ever since her wayward ex-husband had returned to Llanview two months before, confusion seemed to rule her life.

She would never forget the day she had seen him again. She had been defending a client, having dumped the ADA's office for the more thrilling and familiar job of defense attorney. Halfway through her opening argument, she had whirled around to walk back towards her table, when almost instantly her eyes met his. Losing her train of thought completely, she stared at him...as if he were a dream. Remembering where she was and what she was supposed to be doing, she had dug her nails into her palms and continued. But his face never left her mind.

Since then, Todd had been relentless in his pursuit to win her back. He had told her he had spent months in therapy while he was gone. Not at all willingly either. He told her he wanted to make it up to her for hurting her last year. He had gotten an apartment down by the docks, leaving her to live in the penthouse.

She sighs, popping another candy bar into her mouth. Her defenses were weakening for sure. She was terrified of going another round with him. Not just because he had hurt her, but because she had hurt him. They had done so much damage to each other she wondered if they would survive another go at it.

But then, her mind switches to the good times they had together...and they did have a lot. Grinning, she thinks of the Halloween she, Todd and Starr spent together...the pirate family. A family. She wanted one so bad. She was tired of being alone. Closing her eyes, she realized how badly she really wanted a family with Todd.

God, he was impossible.

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Hallway outside the Penthouse....

Todd kneels down and fixes Starr's princess crown. His daughter looked absolutely adorable in her costume. He couldn't believe he had been lucky enough for Blair to be out of town with Max this weekend...and that Blair had relented and let Starr stay with him...provided he stayed at Viki's with her. Todd chuckles. Clearly Blair's brain had been addled by Max.

Starr had wanted to go trick or treating, and Todd was hungry for any time he could have with his daughter. After a few hours of collecting loot around Llanview, Todd casually mentioned to Starr that he thought Tee would love to see her in her costume. The mere mention of her stepmother caused Starr's face to light up. He was well aware that Blair had not let Starr see much of Téa while he was gone, which ticked him off. He knew how much Starr and Téa loved each other. Not to mention he felt guilty enough for leaving his daughter in the first place, and then to find out that Starr had not only lost her father but her stepmother as well...it only added to his guilt.

Todd grins at his daughter. "Now, remember Shorty...this is all your idea, okay?" Starr nods, smiling back. She could tell that Daddy missed Tee a lot. And she did too. She missed living at the penthouse with Daddy and Tee. Clutching her bag of candy, Starr smiles to herself. She'd have to do something about that.

Todd stands up and leans against the wall. Starr knocks on the door.

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Téa looks up at the sound. Laying the half eaten bag of candy on the coffee table, she gets up to answer the door. Taking the large pumpkin of candy from Todd's old desk, she opens it.

"Trick of treat, Tee!" Starr beams at her.

Téa looks down at her, and then up at Todd. Their eyes meet, a grin adorning Todd's handsome face. That heart stopping grin. Blinking quickly, she snaps herself out of it.

"And who is this beautiful princess?" Téa kneels down, smiling at Starr.

Starr laughs. "Tee!! It's me...Starr!"

"Ohhhhh...Starr!! I didn't recognize you....you look beautiful," she says, brushing Starr's cheek with her fingertips. She looks up at Todd. "Hey Todd."

"Hey Delgado."

Starr looks back and forth between them. Tee and Daddy had that mushy look they used to get all the time. She smiles, looking back at Téa. Téa breaks eye contact with Todd and stands up. "Umm...well why don't you two come in? Have you gotten a lot of candy Starr?"

"Tons!"

"Yeah, some dentist is gonna get very lucky with you kid," Todd quips. He walks over and flops down on the sofa. Starr walks over and sits on the floor, while Téa sits on the opposite end of the couch from Todd.

"So...um...I'm kinda suprised to see you guys here," Téa says, glancing at Todd.

Starr looks at her father, who is looking at Téa. She smiles. Here's her chance. "Well....Daddy REALLY wanted to see you Tee!" Starr says, smiling sweetly at her father. Todd's eyes shoot to his smiling daughter. Kids. What was she trying to do? Hadn't he just told her in the hall way to make sure and tell Téa it was HER idea to come over here? Rolling his eyes, he dug his fingers into the couch. Starr was supposed to playing a princess...NOT Cupid. Todd glances at Téa out of the corner of his eyes. He can see her looking at him.

"Um...well you know...figured you living in a big fancy penthouse...you'd have some good loot for the kid," he mumbles, looking down. He wasn't exactly making a big secret out of the fact that he wanted Téa back...but he certainly didn't need his kid advertising just how badly he wanted that. Starr looks back and forth between them. Grinning the grin that had crossed her father's face many times throughout his life, she began to think of a plan. A plan to bring them all back home where they belonged.

To be continued...