LLANVIEW, PA., 2002

As Tea walked into the penthouse she felt exhausted. Laying her briefcase and bag down on the desk she walked over to the sofa and plunked down on it with a loud sigh, laying her head back and staring up at the ceiling. Her practice in Angel Square kept her so busy that she and Todd hadn't had time alone for weeks. She missed him and the nights of incessant lovemaking that were a part of their spirited life.

Todd! She called out, but there was only silence and stillness.

She checked her watch and noticed it was after six. Reaching for the phone she dialed his private line, but there was no answer so finally she ran up stairs in her sensible lawyer s pumps to find him.

Todd?

On entering their bedroom she noticed a large white box on the bed with a gold silk ribbon tied around it, and on top of it was a peach rose and a hand-written note from her mischievous husband of less then a year.

She smiled, picking up the rose and smelling its musky fragrance as she read the note. It read:

Meet me at the Palace Bar at 7:00. Everything you need is inside this box. Wear your hair up (I like it that way). ~Todd~

Tea looked intrigued as she pulled the golden ribbon on the box and threw open the top. Inside was a white, sequined dress, with matching shoes and bag, along with sheer, white thigh high stockings with delicate lace at their tops. Tea smiled, remembering the damage he did to the last pair of stockings she wore like these. As her mind drifted pleasantly, she noticed a small, blue velvet box at the bottom and picking it up quickly, snapped back the cover. It contained a beautiful double stranded, antique pearl choker.

Tea threw it down quickly and ran off to take a shower to get ready.

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

Todd stood at the Palace bar checking his watch nervously and yanking at his tight collar as he noticed a few people staring at him, so elegantly attired, in his black tuxedo. Todd threw them a menacing and intimidating look till they were forced to look away meekly.

Idiots, never saw a man in a monkey suit, before, he muttered under his breath, checking his watch again. Where the hell are you, Delgado.

He and Tea had remarried 7 months ago. After his fiasco with Blair, and her lying about the baby and then losing it, he had taken off with Starr to live in New York for a while to get away from that scheming witch. One day on a street corner he bumped right into her--into Tea. Todd always tells Tea he remembers that moment as one of the happiest in his life. After chasing her around for weeks...yeah, he even did some serious begging...she finally let him back into her world. And following their first date, they were never apart again. They moved back to Llanview because Starr missed her mother and Todd missed The Sun, and as much as Tea disliked the idea she understood it and finally consented. They married shortly thereafter, much to Blair s chagrin and settled into life in Llanview--as settled as Todd Manning and Tea Delgado could get.

It hadn't t been smooth sailing--they still fought like hell sometimes. He loved to provoke her, and she loved to resist him, and this made for a lethal and explosive combination, but it was different now because the making up was so much better--their peace treaties were definitely worth their little wars. Loving Tea Delgado was an ever-evolving adventure of the greatest trust, the deepest friendship and the most erotic love that Todd Manning had ever known.

Todd gulped his drink down and checked his watch again when he noticed that the noisy bar had become silent and most of the patrons had turned to look toward the door. When he turned to look, Tea was standing there looking directly at him. The room was silenced by her beauty.

She shimmered in a white, beaded, silk chemise dress that clung to her body like skin. Her long, chestnut hair was piled high in sexy disarray, tendrils falling around her face and neck, and at her slender throat was a Victorian pearl and diamond choker that glittered as it caught the light.

His heart jumped and his body filled with warm desire at the sight of her. It still amazed him after all this time that she could still affect him in this way, but she always did.

A provocative smile spread across Tea s face as she walked closer to Todd and noticed he was wearing an elegant, black tuxedo. He had grown his hair and goatee back at her request and combined with the beautiful evening clothes he looked like the cover of some silly, Victorian, romance novel, like the ones most women read secretly. Her attraction for him was fierce.

Aye, querido, you look so lovely, she said, lightly touching his sleeve, knowing how much Todd hated public displays of affection.

Lovely? The guy who sold it to me said I would look handsome!

Tea laughed as Todd looked at his clothing questioningly.

You do look handsome, Todd, she said smiling up at him and pushing his hair behind his ear like she did.

And you look...uhm...all right; Delgado...but I don t like the way these guys are checking you out? Isn t that dress a little too.... little? he asked as his eyes ravished her image.

Well, you picked it out, she said cocking her head and raising one eyebrow daringly, you don t like it on me?

He looked into her beautiful face as her eyes demanded the response she wanted to hear.

Yeah...I like it, he said as his fingers touched the thin spaghetti strap and ran down its length, just grazing the top of her slightly exposed breast and there eyes met.

For a moment the entire room disappeared into a dreamy mist and all they saw was each other, until a waiter dropped a tray of drinks nearby and Todd and Tea awakened and smiled. He took her hand and pulled her toward the terrace.

Come on, Delgado; let s leave these cretins.

Todd walked with his usual brisk gait as she struggled to keep up in her white, scrappy high heels. They passed through the terrace, and went along the pool area until they came to the cabanas where Todd finally stopped and removed a key from his pocket. Tea was quiet as he opened the door and escorted her into the cabana where so long ago their world had fallen apart. Horrific memories of that night came back to her.

Shock defined her face as she looked around. The room was all decorated with pink and white roses and all lit up with candles. There was a silver ice bucket with cold champagne and in the center was a bed all done up with white linens and a white tulle canopy, decorated with more flowers--a replica of their wedding night so long ago.

Tea was confused as she looked around quietly as Todd watched her, trying to gage her reaction.

Do you know what today is? he asked her.

She looked up and shook her head.

It s November 13th.

Tea looked up at him, but her eyes grew misty with sadness. The pain he caused her that day, the day all his lies were revealed, was still somewhere inside her and he had just brought it to the surface.

A day that lives on in infamy... she said with quiet sarcasm, as she turned away from him.

Now she understood Todd s intentions. The dress and necklace, his tuxedo, the cabana, it all made sense suddenly.

Why would you want to replicate that night, she said staring at the floor, not daring to look at him for fear he might see the rising anger in her eyes.

Todd moved closer to her and took her hand.

I don t want to replicate it--I want to re-create it...the way it should have been before my cowardice blew it all to hell. I want to make it up to you. I want to make...restitution. Will you let me, Tea?

She looked up into his shining hazel eyes, eyes begging for her forgiveness, and her anger dissipated into the air. Smiling radiantly she nodded slowly as he kissed her hand.

Todd pulled away from her.

I have a gift for you, but you have to find it, he said, smiling mysteriously.

Tea laughed and started looking around the room. There was very little furniture so she looked in a few drawers here and there, but she couldn't t find anything.

I don t see anything, Todd. Can you at least tell me if I m getting warmer?

Todd nodded.

As she headed for the door she heard Todd laughing.

You re getting colder.

Tea turned around and threw him a curious look, then started walking in his direction.

You re getting warmer.

She smiled and placed her hand on his chest.

You re burning up, Delgado, he said laughing.

Tea laughed as she fished through his pockets and searched inside his jacket, but she found nothing.

I can t find anything, querido!

Come on, Delgado, you gotta look harder.

Tea smiled wickedly as her hand trailed down his chest, over his stomach and headed for the front of his pants, but his hand caught hers before she could reach her intended destination. He smiled down at her.

That gift is for later, he said.

The gift that keeps on giving, she said winking at him and caressing his chest. Well, Todd, I give up. I can t find it!

Oh, come on, Delgado. Look for it, he said impatiently.

Tea looked perplexed until suddenly her eyes opened wide and she smiled knowingly.

As she eyed him defiantly she started to remove his jacket and peeled it off of him throwing it to the floor. Todd smiled as she yanked his bow tie off and flung it over her shoulder. Lifting his wrists up one at a time, she undid his cufflinks, carefully placing them in his pants pocket and then began unbuttoning his shirt. As she undid the last black onyx button, she pulled his shirt out of his pants with exaggerated flare and opened it dramatically as if it were a mysterious curtain revealing the answer to some great mystery.

Todd stepped away from her, letting the shirt slide down his arms to the floor, as Tea stared at his bare chest wide-eyed. Over his heart was a tattoo of a puzzle- piece and her name was inscribed inside it.

That s the piece of the puzzle that was missing that night, Tea. The heart piece. That s you, he said, choking slightly.

Tea started to cry and buried her face in his chest, and he felt her lips and tears as she kissed the tattoo softly over and over again. Todd felt her love and forgiveness pass from her mouth into his body as he held her tightly and closed his eyes.

Do you like your gift? he whispered.

I love my gift, my love...almost as much as I love you, she said pulling his face down and kissing him passionately as her hands glided through his hair.

As Todd kissed her hungrily, his tongue tasting hers, Tea pulled away from him and stared up into his face with a curious expression.

You know, querido, I have something for you too.

Todd looked at her with surprise.

Yeah? What?

You have to find it?

Todd laughed as he stepped closer to her. Reaching up into her hair, he squeezed the hair clip that kept her hair up and threw it behind him as he pulled her beautiful mane down over her shoulders.

Am I getting warm?

Yes.

Looking down at her dress seductively, he walked behind her and found the tiny head of the zipper, pulling it slowly downward, revealing her silky back. He slid his hands inside as her body trembled beneath his touch and slid the dress off her shoulders letting it slip to the floor. His mouth dropped open as he realized she was completely naked underneath except for her stockings, shoes and choker. Walking around her, mesmerized by her natural beauty and completely charmed by her spontaneity, Todd smiled and nuzzled her hair, whispering into her ear.

Where s your underwear, Delgado?

She looked at him with wide-eyed innocence.

But, mi amor, your note said everything I needed was in the box. This is all there was.

Todd started laughing and pulled her into his arms pressing his body against hers hard, with obvious intent. She felt his manhood swell against her body, but again she pulled away from him.

Todd, you haven t found your gift yet, she teased.

Now it was Todd s turn to look perplexed. Looking down at her he realized that she couldn't t hide much of anything. He approached her slowly, examining every inch of her and reaching out his hand touched her breast delicately, rubbing her peachy nipple slowly and watching her face.

Am I getting warm?

Tea closed her eyes and reveled in the beautiful sensation of his touch.

Yes, she gasped.

He moved his hand lower till it reached her stomach. As he started to go lower her hand stopped him and she looked up into his eyes.

You re burning up, querido. Right there, she said not taking her eyes off of his as if she were trying to send him a telepathic message.

Todd looked down at his hand, which Tea held flat across her belly. Staring at it for a few moments it finally registered as he looked back at her.

Tea...are you... pregnant?

Tears rose to her eyes as she smiled and nodded, unable to speak. His hands continued to rub her belly as he fell against her, gasping and crying softly into her hair. They held on to each other tightly, overcome, with happiness.

When they had recovered they smiled with joy at one another and he took her face into his hands and kissed it tenderly. Pulling away for a moment he walked over to a wall panel and hit one of the buttons. A familiar song began to play as Todd walked over and took Tea into his arms and danced with her slowly. It was a lovely, haunting melody of a song by Sarah McLachlan called I Love You which Todd had selected for their wedding night. As Tea and Todd held on to each other, he shirtless and tattooed, and she naked accept for stockings and a necklace, the lyrics and music drifted around the room with the lovers and the candlelight.

Oh, and every time

I m Close to you

There s too much I can t say

And you just walk away,

And I forgot

To tell you I love you

Tea stopped dancing and looked up, her eyes filled with love for him and the child that they had created growing deep inside her.

This will work...I promise you...we ll make it work, she said softly.

Todd smiled, remembering her words from that night long ago, and taking her hand, he sat her down on the bed. As he sat beside her he reached behind her neck, his hands trembling with desire for her as he unclasped her pearl necklace, letting it fall gently into his hand and removing it slowly. He gazed on her perfect beauty as she looked shyly away from him and suddenly overcome with an emotion he couldn't control he closed his eyes and fell against her slender neck, kissing it delicately.

Tea leaned against him, closing her eyes and gasping softly, her lovely face registering perfect rapture.

Todd pushed her gently down on the bed as he slowly fell with her, their eyes locked until their lips connected and their lips melted into a slow, endless kiss. Todd pulled away and smiled down at her.

I love you, Tea Marissa Delgado.

And I love you, Thomas Todd Manning, she said breathlessly, and now I believe you had another gift to bestow on me.

Todd laughed.

Not bestow on you...but bestow in you, he said smiling as there lips met again only this time more urgently.

As their passion intensified the room around them began to disappear, fading into the music and the candlelight, and only their love for each other existed in this moment.

THE END

The song I Love You was written by Sarah McLachlan