| SMALL BLESSINGS BY TIMA |
CHAPTERS 81 - 85 |
SMALL BLESSINGS
chapter 81:
[One month later...
Todd is slumped on the sofa in the living room of the mansion once occupied by his former aunt-in-law, Dorian Lord. As his first ex-wife sits across from him, babbling, he has no idea what she's talking about since he hasn't been paying attention for the last several minutes of her non-stop chatter. To his astonishment, he realizes that he'd rather have Dorian herself sitting across from him in this moment, despite how much he dislikes her most of the time. That realization causes Todd to stand up and pour himself a drink.
As he gulps the liquor in his glass, his mind wanders to the one person he most wishes he were sharing this evening with, along with the rest of his life...Tea.
He quickly shakes his head, trying to eliminate the unwelcome thought. He gave her a chance and she blew it. He won't go back to her and make a fool out of himself ever again. He won't even allow himself the pleasure of stalking and spying on her from a safe distance. He's determined to cut her out of his life completely, no matter how much it feels like cutting his very heart out.
Without any word to his other ex-wife, and without acknowledging that she's in the middle of conversing with him, Todd turns and walks from the room.
Blair follows him into the foyer, chastising him for being so rude to her, insisting that, for Starr's sake, he needs to start treating her with respect.
She then proceeds to remove her robe and tries seducing him again. She expects, as she has for the last month, his attraction to her to be so great, particularly with the new nightie she's modeling for him tonight, that she'll finally manage to entice him back into her bed, despite his lack of interest since he moved into the mansion. Her ego refuses to believe that the only reason he moved in was due to Starr's manipulations.
Todd rolls his eyes at his ex-wife's latest desperate attempt. He has done everything he can to make it clear that he is only living with her because Starr threatened not to see him anymore if he didn't. He's tired of having to push his ex-wife off him all the time. He's through with women, especially ones that play emotional games with him.
As Blair coos to him, trying to soften his armor, his cell phone rings. With relief, Todd answers it, hoping that it's one of his employees, so he can use work as an easy excuse to get away from his ex-wife. Even if the caller isn't an employee, he still intends to spend yet another night at the office, to avoid anymore game playing by his ex-wife.
As Todd answers the call, he's stunned to find that it's Tea calling him. He doesn't have a chance to act on his instinct to angrily hang up on her, as he recognizes the serious tone of her voice.]
Tea: Todd?
Todd: What?
[There is silence on the other end of the phone, concerning Todd even more. His words are cold, but his voice refuses to cooperate and his continued compassion for her comes through, despite his attempts to prevent it.]
Todd: Spit it out.
Tea: I shouldn't be calling you. I know you don't want to hear from me. I just thought...
[There is silence again.]
Todd: Is something wrong?
Tea: Yes. I thought you would want to know. Despite everything, I know you did develop genuine feelings for my nephew.
[Todd's heart sinks, thinking that something horrible has happened to Little Enrique.]
Todd: He's okay, right?
[Blair questions who he's talking to. Todd waves her off with a motion of his hand and turns away from her to continue his conversation with Tea.
Tea, having heard Blair's voice, assumes that Todd must have reunited with his other ex-wife, if he's spending time with her so late at night.]
Tea: You're back with Blair?
[Were it not for the concern he has for Little E, Todd would enjoy the slight hint of jealousy in Tea's voice.]
Tea: I'm glad. Your family has always been the most important thing to you. I hope you've found happiness, Todd. That's what I've always wanted for you.
Todd: Tell me what's wrong.
Tea: He'll be fine. It was selfish of me to call you. I just needed... You're right where you've always belonged. I really do wish you all the happiness you can find.
Todd: Tea, wait! Don't hang up.
[Blair is outraged that it's Todd's other ex-wife that he's ignoring her to give his full attention to. In a fit of jealous rage, Blair grabs Todd's cell phone from him and presses the button to hang up on Tea. She then throws the small phone across the foyer, causing it to smash into the wall, before landing on the floor in broken pieces.
Todd picks up the pieces of what had been his cell phone and turns in blinding anger at his ex-wife. He informs her that since the mansion is technically owned by Starr and since he controls Starr's assets, she is no longer allowed to live there. He tells her to take her baby and get out immediately...Starr is staying with him. Blair questions why he isn't also threatening to steal their baby from her, the way he's threatening to steal Starr. Todd reveals the secret that he's been keep for over a week now. He secretly had the baby tested and knows it's not his. He only kept it quiet because Starr wanted the baby to be his and he didn't want to disappoint his daughter by telling her what a slut her mother is for fucking two guys and not knowing which one knocked her up. Blair screams at him that he's no better since he's clearly been lying about spending every night at the office and has really been spending his nights cheating on her with his other ex-wife, which is clearly why he hasn't shown her a moment of affection, despite all her attempts to rekindle their relationship. Todd spits in her face that he hasn't been with Tea because they had a misunderstanding, but that he'd rather spend every night alone in his office remembering what it felt like to make love to Tea, rather than fuck Blair ever again.
Todd rushes upstairs. Blair follows him. He wakes up Starr and quickly begins packing some of her things in a suitcase.
Blair flails and cries, trying to convince Starr to refuse to leave with Todd. Forced to choose between her parents, Starr chooses Todd. A smug smile is on Todd's face as he leaves the mansion with his daughter, as the police arrive to remove Blair from what is no longer her home.
Todd drops Starr off at Viki's house, promising to explain everything to her soon. He speeds off in his sports car, desperate to get to Tea and Little E.
He has tried several times to call Tea but she hasn't been answering her phone or responding to the messages he's left on her answering machine. He speeds through the night, needing to see Tea again, and needing to know that Little E is okay.]
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
SMALL BLESSINGS
chapter 82:
[Todd goes directly to Tea's house. He uses the key that he had previously secretly acquired and enters her home.
He rushes through the vacant rooms, calling out her name. After he determines that Tea and Little Enrique are gone, he tries to find anything that will give him a clue where they are.
As he's rampaging her bedroom in his quest, Tea walks through the front door he left wide open, and calls out his name.]
Tea: Todd? I know you're here. Todd?
[Todd storms into the foyer of the house and yells at her.]
Todd: Where the fuck were you?
[Todd stops as he realizes that they're not alone.]
Tea: You remember my grandmother, don't you?
[Todd stares at the elderly woman, completely thrown off balance by her unexpected presence.]
Tea: Wait outside for me, Todd, and we'll talk.
[Todd turns his attention back to Tea.]
Todd: Where's the kid?
Tea: I'll explain in a few minutes. First, my grandmother needs to lie down. Then, we can talk...outside.
[Todd stays where he is as Tea and her grandmother move passed him.
Minutes later...Tea returns to the foyer.]
Tea: If you hadn't hung up on me, you wouldn't have needed to destroy my bedroom to find out where we were.
Todd: I didn't.
Tea: I just saw the damage.
Todd: I didn't hang up on you. Blair did.
Tea: Why am I not surprised?
Todd: Because you know her.
Tea: Why are you even here? You could have just called.
Todd: I did. You didn't answer.
Tea: That's why you came?
Todd: Is there really something wrong with the kid, or is this all just some game you're playing?
Tea: He has diabetes.
Todd: What?
Tea: He'll be fine. You can go back to your family. If I had known...
Todd: If you had known...what?
Tea: I wasn't trying to interfere. I thought you would want to know. Now you do. Now you can leave.
Todd: The kid's in the hospital?
Tea: Yes.
Todd: So, it's really serious?
Tea: He'll probably be coming home in a couple of days. I shouldn't have called and worried you. You didn't need to come. I have everything under control. You need to leave now.
Todd: No way.
Tea: I don't have time to play any games with you. I need to get back to the hospital. I only came home so my grandmother could get some rest.
Todd: You look like hell, Delgado.
Tea: You're always full of such sweet compliments.
Todd: I'm not joking. You really do. You look like you need to do that resting thing, too.
Tea: I don't want Little E to be alone for too long.
Todd: At least take a shower. Then, you can tell me how to get to the hospital and you can crash while I drive us there.
Tea: I appreciate your concern for my nephew, I really do. You need to think about what's best for your family right now, that's what I'm doing for mine.
Todd: Is that why you called me?
[Tea looks away and doesn't respond.]
Todd: Seriously, Tea, I think it's best for the kid if you don't scare the hell out of him by letting him see you looking like that.
[Tea runs her fingers through her hair, aware that her appearance must not be very impressive right now.]
Todd: Pretend you're not a chick. Instead of taking an hour, be like a guy and take a one minute shower. Then, I'll take you to the hospital. I brought one of my sports cars. You know how fast I can go in them.
[Tea genuinely smiles for the first time since rushing her nephew to the hospital the day before.]
Tea: I remember.
Todd: We had some good times together back then.
Tea: We had some lousy times, too. We always do.
Todd: So?
Tea: So...I can't do this.
Todd: Why'd you call me? You knew I'd show up...for the kid.
Tea: What happened to the man who was fearlessly showering me with words of affection?
Todd: He got his brain back. This thing with the kid shows why you should never give a damn about anyone. You always get screwed over.
Tea: Why did you come?
Todd: Because...
[Todd decides that this conversation is moving into too emotional an area and determines to change that.]
Todd: ...you're just a chick. Chicks can't handle this kind of thing. You need a man. I'm the best you've got...and the best you've ever had, apparently.
Tea: Don't start.
Todd: I'm not starting anything. I'm just stating a fact.
Tea: If I were to take a quick shower, you would stay out here?
Todd: I took a shower last month. I'll let you know when I need another one.
Tea: We can't do this.
Todd: Pay attention. We're not doing anything. You're on your own.
Tea: Exactly! I'm on my own, and I will continue to be on my own. I can't allow you to distract me right now with your temporary reappearance in my life. I finally found someone more important than you.
Todd: Dick Head's back?
Tea: This is not about Richard. This is not about Bill.
Todd: Who the hell is Bill?
Tea: I thought I mentioned him.
Todd: I would have fucking remembered it, if you told me you were fucking some guy named Bill. Who the fuck is Bill?
Tea: Watch your language, and lower your voice. My grandmother might hear you.
Todd: Maybe she can tell me who the fuck Bill is, and how long he's been fucking you? You didn't waste any time, did you, Delgado? You dump me and then you instantly start bouncing yourself on some other guy's fuck stick. You're just like...
Tea: I'm just like...who...what? Throw all the insults at me that you've been storing up and then get the fuck out. I don't need this now. You don't see me insulting you about your renewed relationship with that...with Blair.
Todd: You keep trying to shove me at her. If that isn't punishment, I don't know what is.
Tea: So, you had a fight again and you thought you'd come and play with me until things cool down? Forget it! I'm too busy. I'm too exhausted. I'm too worried about something other than you and your constantly changing feelings. Frankly, I don't care if you go back to Blair this time, if you find someone else, or if you turn to self-satisfaction. Just do whatever you're going to do somewhere else. I already have one little boy that needs my attention. I can't handle another one right now.
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
SMALL BLESSINGS
chapter 83:
[Minutes later...
Tea emerges from the bathroom, following her shower. She finds Todd lounging on her sofa and shoving crackers into his mouth while he watches television.]
Tea: You're still here?
Todd: I haven't seen the kid yet.
Tea: Are you sure you want to?
Todd: Does he look scary?
Tea: No. I just thought you might prefer not to visit him in the hospital.
Todd: You want me to hang out here with your grandmother instead?
Tea: It would probably be better if you didn't.
Todd: Are you afraid she'll fill me in on your new guy?
Tea: What new guy?
Todd: Scum...Bill...whatever his name is.
Tea: Forget about him. He's nobody important.
Todd: He's just one of those guys that's nothing but a body part to you? You know...like I am.
Tea: You are definitely more than a body part to me.
[Tea sits down next to him on the sofa.]
Tea: I made Bill up. I wanted to make you jealous. You've spent our time apart with someone. I wanted you to think I had too. It was juvenile. I'm sorry.
Todd: You don't get how this works. You're not supposed to admit what you did, take the blame for it and apologize. You're such an amateur.
Tea: I'd prefer not to be a professional when it comes to deceiving you.
Todd: You're a disgrace to all chicks.
Tea: All chicks do not lie and play games.
Todd: All chicks I've ever known do.
Tea: This chick would rather have an honest friendship with you.
Todd: Friendship? Is that another word for marriage?
Tea: I take it that's the real reason you're here. You want me to be your lawyer in your custody battle again. My advice is the same as it has been for years, work something out with your ex-wife, for the sake of your children.
Todd: I'm trying, but my ex-wife is being a real bitch.
Tea: You had better be referring to Blair and not to me.
Todd: Whatever. And, that kid thing is singular, not plural.
Tea: You still think the baby isn't yours?
Todd: I know it's not mine.
Tea: What happened?
Todd: Blair got knocked up with another guy's kid. When she realized he wasn't interested in her anymore, she tried to dump the kid off on me so she could steal even more of my money.
Tea: But, several weeks ago, you didn't know if the baby was yours. What's changed?
Todd: I had the kid tested.
Tea: With Blair's approval?
Todd: Why would I need her approval?
Tea: Because, it's her child.
Todd: But she was trying to pass it off as mine. If it's my kid, I can have it tested for any damn thing I want to, including finding out it never was mine to begin with.
Tea: How did Starr react to the news?
Todd: She doesn't know yet. I only told Blair after she hung up on you and broke my phone so I couldn't find out what number you were calling me from.
Tea: You just got the test results?
Todd: I've known for a while.
Tea: But, you didn't want to lose Blair to Max again so you kept it to yourself?
Todd: We don't technically know it's Max's kid.
Tea: Who else could it be?
Todd: How many guys are there in Llanview?
Tea: It doesn't matter who the father is. What does matter is that you were willing to raise another man's child as your own because of how you feel about Blair.
Todd: I did it for Starr.
Tea: I don't buy that excuse.
Todd: It's not like I was planning on letting her scam keep going forever. I was only keeping my mouth shut for a while, because I had to. Starr wanted that kid to be mine. Believing Blair's lies made her happy.
Tea: What about Blair?
Todd: What about her?
Tea: You could have told her you knew the truth as soon as you learned it wasn't your child. Obviously, you didn't want to.
Todd: You think I wanted to live in Cramer Hell?
Tea: You've been living with Blair?
Todd: If the only way I could see my kid was if I moved in with the Wicked Witch of the West, I would do it. I did do it. I hated every second of it. I hate living in Llanview. I'm moving.
Tea: Where are you moving to?
Todd: In here with you.
Tea: You haven't been invited.
Todd: You gave me a key.
Tea: I did not. You stole it.
Todd: Not technically.
Tea: Technically, however you acquired it was illegal because I, as the homeowner, was unaware of your possession of that key.
Todd: Legal talk bores me. I'll move my stuff in as soon as we bring the kid home and everything's settled.
Tea: Nothing is settled. You can't live here until I invite you. I haven't done that.
Todd: Well, hurry up. You know you will. Stop playing around like you won't.
Tea: What about Starr? The last time I saw her, she wasn't exactly my biggest fan.
Todd: If she doesn't want to live here with our family, she can go back to boarding school. She liked it there.
Tea: You sent her to boarding school?
Todd: It wasn't one of those horror places that force kids to make their own bed and spend all day learning useless junk in school. It was for rich kids who know how to be spoiled.
Tea: We don't have time right now to talk about what a mess you've made of your life.
Todd: What mess?
Tea: I need to get dressed and go to the hospital. Go back to LLanview and I'll call you in a few days and let you know how Little Enrique is doing...that is, if your woman allows you to use the telephone.
Todd: In a few days, I'll be busy doing certain things to my woman that will prevent both of us from speaking.
Tea: I don't want to hear the details of your...relations...with your ex-wife.
Todd: You don't have to...you'll be there living out the agony.
Tea: We're not getting back together this time. That's final!
Todd: As final as it was the last time, the time before that, and the time before that?
Tea: I'm not doing this with you anymore...and I mean that in every sense. You have to leave right now so I can go to the hospital.
Todd: You're not getting rid of me. You should stop wasting time and accept that. Unless, you're really using me to stay away from the hospital.
Tea: I wish I never had to take E there to begin with, but this is something we have to deal with now. It just breaks my heart to see him suffering. I feel so helpless.
Todd: I didn't even know kids could get that thing at his age.
Tea: Diabetes is rare in infants as young as he is, but it does happen. I'm just beginning my crash course, trying to learn everything I can.
Todd: Are we going to have to jab him with a bunch of needles all the time?
Tea: There is no we. You're not a part of this.
Todd: Like hell I'm not. I'm the kid's step-uncle, or whatever.
Tea: You're not his uncle. We're not married. We're not getting married.
Todd: You don't have to marry me to be married to me.
Tea: What's that supposed to mean? What have you done?
Todd: Nothing...yet.
Tea: What do you have planned?
Todd: I plan to live with you, buy you tons of stuff, raise our kids together and fuck you every chance I get. I wasn't stupid enough to waste part of my life going to law school, but even I know that if I do all that junk long enough, we'll be married.
Tea: A common law marriage? It's not that simple. We would have to live in another state, since this one doesn't recognize common law marriages.
Todd: We can move.
Tea: I would have to agree that our relationship is equal to a marriage...which I don't.
Todd: You think our legal marriages were more marriages than this thing we've got going now?
Tea: Maybe they were. At least we were friends during our first marriage.
Todd: We're friends now. Friends that fuck...but still friends.
Tea: We entered that marriage in an open, honest way.
Todd: Honestly, I'm willing to live with you again, even though I know what you look like in the morning. I'm willing to fuck you daily. I'm willing to put up with your relatives, in exchange for you putting up with mine. Did I mention that I'm willing to fuck you a lot?
Tea: You won't even try to control yourself, despite my grandmother being here, will you?
Todd: I'm not doing you right now, am I?
Tea: Thank you for that.
Todd: How much longer before you cave and kick Granny out?
Tea: Maybe I'll ask her to move in with me, now that I need more help with Little E.
Todd: You don't need more help. You've got me.
Tea: If I agreed to give you another chance, I would definitely need help...professional psychiatric help.
Todd: I don't have time to put up with your stubbornness anymore. I have to get to the hospital to see my nephew. Unless, you want me to carry you out of here in that robe, you better throw some clothes on. Since it would tick you off with an elderly person snoozing in another room, I'll do my best imitation of a gentleman and not even comment on watching you while you get dressed.
Tea: Todd Manning...a gentleman?
[Todd leans closer to Tea and brings his face close to hers, whispering to her.]
Todd: I'll always try to be gentle with you, Delgado. That much I promise you.
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
SMALL BLESSINGS
chapter 84:
[Todd places his arm around Tea's body and pulls her closer to him. Tea quickly pulls away from him and stands up.]
Tea: This isn't the time.
Todd: You don't want me to comfort you?
Tea: Is that what you were doing?
Todd: Did you think I was putting the moves on you?
Tea: It's hard to tell with you sometimes. You can be so erratic and inappropriate.
Todd: You like that about me.
Tea: Not all the time. Not now. Right now, I need...
Todd: Tell me what you need and I'll try to give it to you.
Tea: I need stability. I need strength. I need someone I can trust, who won't get bored and leave again in a few days...or weeks.
Todd: I didn't leave because I was bored. You shoved me out the door because you were scared.
Tea: And, you let me, because you were scared. I need someone who isn't more scared than I am right now.
Todd: We both should be scared right now. We should be terrified. The kid's got something that could kill him.
[Tea raises her voice in anger and fear.]
Tea: Don't say that! Don't ever say that! Do you understand me? If you ever say those words again, you will never be allowed in this house again.
Todd: The way you've been talking, it doesn't sound like you want me here anyway.
Tea: I might have before, but everything has changed.
Todd: Why?
Tea: Because, now I know you didn't just leave me, you went back to Blair. That's the real reason you were happy to see our relationship end again.
Todd: Fuck yeah, I was happy! I just love the way it feels when chicks dig their heels into that empty space in my chest.
Tea: You must...you're back with Blair.
[Tea turns and faces away from him, hating that she can't control her jealousy at thinking of Todd being with someone else.
Todd stands up and approaches Tea. He walks in front of her. She tries to turn away from him again but he places his hand on her arm and prevents her retreat.]
Tea: I'm not interested in being your mistress. You can forget that idea right now.
Todd: I don't want a mistress. I want a wife. And, before you really start pissing me off, it's not Blair that I want to marry me. My proposal from before is still on the table.
Tea: I rejected your proposal weeks ago. It's no longer on the table.
Todd: It stays on the damn table until you stop being a bitch and start telling me the truth.
Tea: The truth is that I'm not equipped to deal with you right now. That is the truth. That's the honest truth. I couldn't do this before. I certainly can't do this now.
Todd: You have to, Delgado.
Tea: I can't. It's too much.
Todd: I know what it feels like. You want to shut it all down. You want to stop feeling everything. You can't.
[Tears fill Tea's eyes, breaking Todd's heart as he watches the woman he loves suffer an unbearable pain that he wishes he could take away, but agonizingly knows that he can't.
As Todd continues to speak to her, his voice lowers.]
Todd: You have to feel this, Delgado.
Tea: No.
Todd: For the kid.
[Tears flow down Tea's cheeks.]
Tea: He needs me to be strong.
Todd: Yeah, he does. But, he also needs you to totally love him. If you let yourself get so scared that you'll lose him that you shut off how you feel about him, you won't be doing what's best for him. You'll only be doing what's best for yourself and you'll hate yourself for it later on.
Tea: Did you shut down when Starr was sick?
Todd: We're talking about you, not me.
Tea: How did you do it? How did you keep your heart open for her?
Todd: I slammed it shut on everyone else. If she died, I was going to die, too. I didn't need all those ties to everyone else getting in the way of that.
Tea: But, you didn't shut your heart off from everyone else.
Todd: I tried. I keep trying. Most of the time it works. But, there are some people who keep getting inside there no matter how much I try to keep them out.
[Tea places her hand on his chest, over his heart.]
Tea: You have such a special heart. You shouldn't keep it hidden.
Todd: It sucks when people screw around with it.
Tea: Stop letting your fear get in the way of being with the person you love the most. Tell Blair how you feel.
Todd: You want me to tell her that I'm totally, and disgustingly, in love with you?
Tea: Stop running.
Todd: You're the one who's running, Delgado. You've been running for a long time now. Ever since we left Llanview together, you've been running to get away from me.
Tea: I tried to make it work between us. You were the one who ensured that my efforts would be for nothing.
Todd: What efforts, Tea? Sex was all that you wanted from me then. It's all that you want from me now. You used to want more. You used to want to see inside of me. You used to want me to show you everything, even all the ugly junk that no one else ever wanted to deal with.
[Tea tries to look away. Todd places his hand on the side of her face and brings her gaze back to his.]
Todd: Stop running, Delgado.
Tea: I can't.
Todd: I won't split on you.
Tea: You always have. You always will.
Todd: Not this time. I hate the way it feels when I'm not around you. It sucks. I'm tired of feeling like nobody gives a damn about me. I want to be with you, Tea. Tell me that you want to be with me.
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
SMALL BLESSINGS
chapter 85:
Tea: I want to be with you...but I can't.
Todd: You'll marry me?
Tea: I said I can't.
Todd: You said you want to be with me.
Tea: I can't be with you.
Todd: You won't toss me out again. We both know that.
Tea: I won't have to. You'll leave on your own, like you always do.
Todd: Not always. When we left Llanview together, you were the one who split on me.
Tea: Because I had to. Because you wouldn't allow us to truly be together.
Todd: What about now? I'm giving you everything you say you want and you're still telling me to get lost.
Tea: I want someone I can trust. That's not you.
Todd: You trust me, Delgado. More than any chick ever has.
Tea: Not with my heart...not anymore.
[Todd brings his body to hers and surprises her with a tender kiss. She allows his actions for several seconds before pulling away from him.]
Tea: Don't.
Todd: I can do this. I can help you forget. I can do that comforting junk. I can listen to you talk. I can be the one who jabs the needles in the kid, so you don't have to. I can love you more than anyone's ever loved you.
Tea: You can break my heart.
Todd: Yeah, I can. I'll try not to.
Tea: You don't really want this. You don't want all these feelings. You don't want the burdens being with me would place on you.
Todd: You've always been willing to put up with my burdens.
Tea: That's different. I didn't have any other option. You do.
Todd: You had options. You could have chosen one of those other pieces of scum that were sniffing around you. You could have chosen to be alone, like you're trying to choose now. You could have chosen money, instead of me. You were always choosing me. You'll choose me this time, too.
Tea: Why are you so sure of yourself?
Todd: I'm sure of you. I know you'll come through for me.
Tea: For you?
Todd: Did you think this was all about you? How many times do I have to tell you -- I'm a selfish bastard. This is all about me. This is about me wanting to be around someone who doesn't make me feel like stuff on the bottom of their shoe that's starting to stink the place up. This is about me wanting someone I can fuck who won't fuck me over the first chance she gets.
Tea: This is about Blair.
Todd: This is about you.
Tea: You were hurt by Blair and you only want to be with me as a way to lick your wounds.
Todd: It's not my wounds that I want licked.
Tea (surprised): Todd Manning!
Todd: Do you see what you've done to me? You've got me saying junk I would never say and wanting stuff I didn't want before. Okay, maybe I wanted it, but I always thought it was just something sluts did. I don't think that with you.
Tea: Are you sure?
Todd: I definitely want it.
Tea: Are you sure you don't view me that way?
Todd: No way.
Tea: How can I be sure that's not the only thing that you really want from me?
Todd: I won't fuck you for a while if you want me to prove it's more than your fuckability that I like about you.
Tea: I didn't say I wanted that.
[Tea feels guilty for thinking about, and especially for wanting to have, sex with Todd right now.]
Tea: I shouldn't be thinking about this right now.
Todd: Because it makes you ill?
Tea: Because my nephew is ill. I need to focus fully on him. I can't do that when you're around me.
Todd: I won't jump you when the kid's awake. When he's asleep, you better watch out.
Tea: I really shouldn't allow this.
Todd: It's okay for you to get the stuff that you want. I'll even knock you up so you can have everything that you've ever wanted.
Tea: We can't even discuss that right now.
Todd: We don't need to discuss it. It's easier when you stop talking anyway.
Tea: There's no room for a new baby right now.
Todd: Sure there is.
Tea: Little E needs all of my attention.
Todd: You're not going to pop the new kid out right away. By the time our kid's born, I'll have already bought our nephew a cure.
Tea: I wish you could use your fortune to buy a cure, but it's not that simple.
Todd: I'll try.
Tea: I'm not ready, Todd. I'm not even certain that I'm ready to commit to you yet. I know I'm not ready for another life to be added to this complicated situation.
Todd: You didn't think you were ready to be a mom when you inherited your nephew and look how that worked out. It sucks that's he's got what he's got but you totally love being his mom, right? So, don't even try pretending that you think having kids sucks.
Tea: I love my nephew. I just...
Todd: You just don't want my kid. That's it, right?
Tea: This isn't about you. I'm not ready for anything more right now.
Todd: Are you telling me to fuck off again?
Tea: I'm telling you that I'm not getting pregnant right now.
Todd: Well, not this very second, but...
Tea: Not any time soon. I'll live with you. I'll marry you. I won't get pregnant...not now.
[The smile that appears on Todd's face, melts Tea's remaining defenses and her face also lights up in a smile.]
Todd: You'll marry me?
Tea: Yes.
Todd: I get to live here with you and the kid?
Tea: Yes.
Todd: I get to knock you up?
Tea: Can you be patient and wait for that?
Todd: Nine months?
Tea: I need time to deal with everything before I make that commitment, okay?
Todd: Do I at least get to try to knock you up a lot?
Tea: You can try, as long as you understand it won't happen until I'm ready.
Todd: What if it does?
Tea: It won't.
Todd: What if I fuck you so much, you forget to take that junk and it happens?
Tea: I'm not ready. I don't feel ready for you, either. I'm willing to put aside my doubts and try this again anyway. I won't bring a baby into this until I know I'm ready.
Todd: You think I'll split on you?
Tea: I know you will.
Todd: I get it. You're only agreeing to marry me because you want to see the kid in his tuxedo.
Tea: He will look adorable.
Todd: Me and the kid in matching powder blue.
Tea: In that case...the wedding's off.
Todd: Seriously, Tea, do you really want to marry me?
Tea: Yes. I missed you.
Todd: So, why'd you put me through all that hell?
Tea: I was scared. I'm still scared. Despite everything, I can't help it...I love you, Todd.
[Tea notices as Todd's body tenses up.]
Tea: Why are we never on the same page at the same time?
Todd: We're getting hitched. We agree on that.
Tea: But, you were so full of the words before when I wasn't able to handle them. And, now that I need those words and want to share my own with you, you can't handle it.
Todd: I can handle it.
Tea: You just can't say it now.
Todd: I'm here.
Tea: Is this truly where you want to be?
Todd: No.
Tea: Okay. I won't hold you to anything you've said. You're free to go.
Todd: Not until you put some clothes on. I'm not letting all those people at the hospital see my woman completely naked under some flimsy little robe that's totally see-through.
[Tea looks down at her long, thick terry cloth robe and then back up at him, a smile on her face.]
Todd: Well, I wish it was see-through.
Tea: I'll be sure to do some special shopping before our wedding night.
Todd: You know, Delgado, I'm not very good at being a normal guy with a normal chick, but I think when a chick finally agrees to torture a guy for the rest of his life by marrying him, she's supposed to let him cop a feel, or something.
Tea: What am I going to do with you?
Todd: You're going to marry me.
Tea: Yes, I am.
[They come together in a tender kiss, as Todd's hand playfully rises to her breast.]
to be continued...
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
2001 COPYRIGHT BY TIMA
FanFiction Home
Home
