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.

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

Téa clears her throat and looks up at Todd. God, he is so handsome. And this was unbelievably difficult...to resist him. "So...uh...are you guys thirsty?"

Todd jumps up off the couch, looking for a momentary escape now that Shorty had outed his true motives. "Yeah...drinks..I'll get drinks," Todd mutters, making a beeline for the kitchen. Téa watches him, a small smile on her face. She looks back over at Starr. Sliding off the couch, she joins her on the floor.

"So...did you get some good stuff?"

"Yeah...look!" Starr says, beaming. She opens the bag and begins to take out her candy.

Todd walks back in, stopping momentarily at the sight of them. His heart twists painfully as he thinks about how close he was to having this...a family.

He walks over to them, leaning down to hand Téa a beer. He sets down a glass of soda for Starr, then sits down and takes a swig of his own beer. Téa secretly thanks God that he brought something alcoholic.

"What's this?" Téa asks Starr, as she picks up a strangely folded piece of paper. Starr's eyes light up, sensing an opportunity.

"Oh...it's a fortune teller," she replies, grinning at Téa.

Todd rolls his eyes. "All this Halloween junk is going to your head Shorty."

"No Daddy," Starr says defiantly, "it really works! Me and Katie made them in school. Wanna see how it works Tee?"

Téa smiles. "Sure."

"Ask it a question."

"Umm...okay...will I win my next case?"

"Pick a number."

"4."

Starr opens and closes the fortune teller four times. When she stops, she peers in for the answer. "It says yes!"

Téa giggles. "Good....I guess I don't have to worry too much about preparation...it's in the cards," she grins, looking at Starr.

"Okay...you're turn Daddy."

"Okay....if you kiss Fred the frog...will it turn into a prince?"

Starr giggles. "Daddy!"

"I'm serious...I wanna know," Todd replies, grinning at his daughter.

"Pick a number."

"Three."

Starr opens and closes the fortune teller three times. "It says no."

"Good thing....I like Fred...I'd hate to have to get tough with him for getting fresh with my daughter."

Starr and Téa laugh. Starr looks back and forth between Todd and Téa, her laughter subsiding into a grin. "My turn!"

"What's your question Starr?" Téa asks.

"Fortune Teller, will Daddy and Tee be married again?" Todd and Téa both look at her, surprised. They glance awkwardly at each other.

"One...two....yes!" Starr smiles, looking up triumphantly at Todd and Téa. They both look at her, slightly embarrassed.

"The Fortune Teller is always right," Starr says, grinning.

Todd clears his throat, his eyes fixed on his daughter. "I think you've gone into sugar shock," he mutters.

"Tee," Starr says sweetly, eyes wide with feigned innocence, "can I go see my old room?"

Téa smiles slightly, still a little surprised. "Of course, sweetie."

Starr gets up and gathers the skirts of her princess costume, carefully making her way up the stairs. As she enters the hallway leading to her old room, she stops and quietly slides down the wall, making sure she was hidden. Grinning, she waits to hear what Daddy and Tee would say. Downstairs, Todd and Téa continue to glance at each other awkwardly.

"Kids," Todd mumbles, glancing at Téa.

"Yeah," she replies, looking down. She stands up and walks towards the large window.

"God, I feel guilty," she says quietly, "we ripped her family right out from under her."

"Hey, it's my fault Delgado."

Téa turns to face him. "Don't kid yourself Manning. I certainly did my share of screwing up. At least she has you back now."

"She wants you back too," he says quietly.

"She has me."

Todd walks over and sits on the spiral staircase. "Yeah....but I mean I know you barely got to see her while I was gone."

"You can't be surprised at that Todd."

"No...but see now...we have the chance to make up for that...both of us."

"Todd..."

"Delgado just listen..."

"No..you listen. She has you and her mother. I'll always be her friend. But I was always replaceable, you know that. That was the whole idea, remember?" As she is talking, she walks over and sits on the step below Todd.

"Is that really what you think?"

"It's the truth!"

"Okay...look when we first made that deal...you're right...it wasn't permanent...but Delgado that changed and you know it. You are part of Shorty's family now, regardless of what happened with us. She loves you."

Téa's eyes mist up. "I love her too. I just wish things could have been different."

"They still can be."

"Todd..."

"Come on Delgado....okay so we both screwed up in the past. But....I love you. You may not believe it but I do. And I think they're may even be some part of you that cares about me still."

Téa looks up, her eyes meeting his. "Yeah," she says softly.

"So...why can't we just admit we screwed up and move on? Why do we have to do this thing where we continue to go around in circles because we both did stupid things in the past? We've already wasted a lot of time, you know." Téa is silent, looking down at her ringless left hand. "Besides," he continues softly, staring intently at her, "I promised Shorty it was gonna be you, me and her."

"Well," Téa says, looking up at him, "we can't have you breaking a promise to Starr."

Todd slides down a step so he's sitting next to her. He reaches up and places his hand under her chin, tilting her head so her eyes meet his. "Look Delgado...I'm still screwed up, you know? But I do promise to try and make this work. I want it to. So....you up for it?"

A tear slips down her cheek as she smiles. "You always know exactly what to say to me Manning."

Todd grins, and slowly leans his head closer to hers. He gently presses his lips to her, savoring the feeling of being close to her again. They break off the kiss, their foreheads still touching. Téa reaches down and intertwines her fingers with Todd's.

Starr had quietly crawled out of her hiding place just in time to see them kiss. A big smile lights up her face. She tries to keep quiet, but a small giggle escapes.

Todd and Téa both look up and see Starr standing there. With wide, innocent eyes, she looks at them. "Daddy, can Tee come and finish trick or treating with us?"

Todd looks at Téa, who looks up at Starr. "I'd love too...just let me get some stuff," she says, jumping up and running up the stairs. When she is out of sight, Todd motions for his daughter to come down the stairs. When she gets to him, he pulls her on his lap.

"So....I thought you were supposed to tell Tee that it was YOUR idea to come see her?"

Starr just smiles in response, batting her big eyes at Todd. "And that whole fortune teller thing...and then going upstairs to leave me and Tee alone....you know Starr...that was a very sneaky, underhanded thing to do to me and Tee," he finishes, a note of feigned sternness in his voice. Starr's eyes grow wide.

Todd's eyes soften as he looks at his daughter. His face breaks into a grin. "Thanks Shorty," he says, pulling her into a hug.

"Hey...you two ready?" Téa asks, coming down the stairs. Todd and Starr stand up. Todd grabs Starr's hand, and Starr holds out the other one for Téa. Over her head, Starr watches as Daddy and Tee get that mushy look again.

Mission accomplished.

THE END.