| SMALL BLESSINGS BY TIMA |
CHAPTERS 106 - 110 |
SMALL BLESSINGS
chapter 106:
[Tea is silent for several seconds, unnerving Todd.]
Todd: Hurry up and agree.
Tea: We could wait.
Todd: No way.
Tea: We could try again with Starr, but wait to get married.
Todd: I'm not leaving you on the open market where any guy who wants you can have you whenever he wants. You're mine!
Tea (sarcastically): You're so romantic when you're pledging your heart to me like that.
Todd: I don't want you screwing any other guys. Is that such a bad thing?
Tea: I will be making my own choices. Do you understand?
Todd: Fine! Whatever! As long as you do what I want. Now, hurry up and do whatever chick stuff you need to do. I'll get the kid ready.
Tea: I haven't agreed to marry you today. Your chauvinism seems to be clouding that point for you.
Todd: Stay here.
[Todd grabs the miniature tuxedo he had made for Little Enrique and heads toward the baby's bedroom.]
Tea: Todd...
[Todd turns back toward her as he hears her approaching him.]
Todd: Can't you do one thing I tell you to do? We're not even married yet and you're already disobeying me.
Tea: I'm not a dog. I don't follow commands.
Todd: It would be a hell of a lot easier if you did.
Tea: I need to check his blood, give him his insulin and give him a bottle. After that, you can change him into his tuxedo and I'll take your picture. Okay?
Todd: I remember how to do it.
Tea: It's been a while.
Todd: Not long enough for me to forget.
Tea: We could do it together.
Todd: You don't trust me.
Tea: I don't trust anyone who hasn't done it recently. I'll just observe.
[Todd turns and continues toward the baby's room. Tea follows him.
After entering the room, Tea watches Todd as he watches her nephew sleep. The look on his face melts her heart.]
Todd: I missed stuff.
Tea: Babies are that way. He sits up on his own now, sometimes. He still topples over, though, so you have to make sure he's safe.
Todd: What else?
Tea: He has several teeth coming in. He's very grateful for all those teething items you bought him.
Todd: He doesn't know they're from me. He probably won't even remember me anymore.
Tea: Of course he will. You're his favorite playmate.
Todd: I'm just some jerk who made his aunt cry. He hates my guts, just like everyone else.
[Todd moves passed Tea and into the hallway.]
Tea: Todd, wait! Don't go!
Todd: I thought I could do this. I thought I could just be whatever the hell you wanted me to be and everything would be okay. You won't marry me because you don't want to screw everything up for Starr. I can't marry you because I can't screw things up for that kid. He deserves a hell of a lot better than me. So do you, but you seem okay with settling.
Tea: It isn't settling to follow your heart.
Todd: It is if your heart is leading you to me. Your heart has lousy direction. It should be running from me, not...
Tea: My heart runs towards you because that's where I want to be. I still think that we should wait to get married, but we could try again with Starr...together, as a family.
Todd: Family?
Tea: That's what we are, isn't it? We don't need to be married to be a family. We do, however, need Starr.
Todd: She hates your guts. Not really, but she thinks she does. It's hopeless.
Tea: Nothing is ever hopeless as long as there's love.
[From inside the bedroom, the adults hear the sound of Little E crying. Todd smiles.]
Todd: Even the kid thinks that was way too sappy, even for you.
Tea: I'll give you two a few minutes to become reacquainted. I'll get his bottle ready.
Todd: What about that other stuff?
Tea: We'll do it when I get back with the bottle. Then, we'll change him into his tuxedo so he can look just as handsome as his Uncle Todd.
[Tea walks down the hallway. Todd enters the bedroom. When Little E sees Todd, instead of Tea, as he expected, his cries intensify.]
Todd: We need to get you some of that stuff that helps with memory. You keep forgetting me.
[Todd pulls a toy out of his pocket and hands it to the baby. Little E studies the toy for a few seconds and then places it in his mouth.]
Todd: You're easy to please. I like that about you, kid.
[Todd takes the baby out of his crib and holds him in his arms.]
Todd: You don't have to worry. Your aunt didn't split on you. She would never do that. She just went to get your grub. And, now I know why.
[Todd lays the baby down on a nearby changing table.]
Todd: That aunt of yours is sneaky. She knew you'd have a diaper waiting for her so she pawned it off on me. Chicks!
[Todd continues their one-sided conversation as he changes the baby's diaper.]
Todd: You probably already have this whole diabetes thing down by now. But, just so you know, when I do that stuff that I have to do that I know you hate, it's not because I want to hurt you. People lie all the time and say that they hate hurting you more than you hate being hurt. That's a bunch of garbage, most of the time. This time it's actually true. If I could jab needles into my own flesh instead of yours, to make you better, I'd do it.
[The baby becomes bored with his current toy and removes it from his mouth, promptly tossing it to the ground.]
Todd: You're lucky. You get to throw stuff around and no one yells at you.
[Todd finishes changing the baby's diaper and picks him up again.]
Todd: Don't tell your aunt this, but I didn't come back just for her. Except for the fact that you keep forgetting me every time your aunt gets a little upset about whatever and tosses me out, you're one of the few people on this whole screwed up planet that I actually like being around. When I'm not hanging out here, I live in a town full of people who hate my guts. Everywhere I go, someone's looking at me like I'm a creep, or a disappointment. But, I come here and Tea looks at me like Tea does, and you look at me like you actually like having me around. My kid used to look at me like that. She wised up. So will you. Everyone does eventually...except Tea. I'm not trying to get you to take the place of my kid, and I'm not trying to take the place of your dad. If your old man was anything like his sister, he must have been a really great guy. Although, I have a really great sister...don't tell her I said that...and look at me. Starr could end up being like your sister. She wasn't in a good mood when you met her so you don't know what she's really like. If she gets to know you better, and you don't puke on her, she'll see how cool you are. She'll want to be a part of this family. Keep it to yourself, but I really want that. I hardly ever get what I want, so it probably won't happen, but I'm going to try really hard this time.
[Todd places the baby back in his crib.]
Todd: We'll talk more later. I don't want your aunt coming in here and getting all weepy about us being buddies. I don't think I could handle that right now.
[In the hallway, an eavesdropping Tea wipes at the tears in her eyes before joining her family in the bedroom.]
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SMALL BLESSINGS
chapter 107:
[Minutes later...
Little Enrique is blissfully enjoying his morning bottle.]
Todd: How can he get over it that fast?
Tea: He seems to accept that it's a regular part of his routine now.
Todd: He was just screaming a minute ago.
Tea: He has diabetes. We have to do the things necessary to take care of him, no matter how he reacts.
Todd: Yeah, I know, but it still sucks!
Tea: I agree. The best thing for him, though, is to have a set routine. We need to make certain that, when we visit Llanview, we don't disrupt his routine.
Todd: Aren't you worried about his routine getting screwed up if you abandon him to go back to work?
Tea: Don't even try to throw guilt at me for needing to work.
Todd: You don't need to work. You need to stop being stubborn and start letting me take care of things.
Tea: Little E will be fine.
Todd: What about me?
Tea: You have your own career.
Todd: I'm giving it up.
Tea: I don't believe you. With all the fun you're having, exposing all the secrets of everyone you hate, you expect me to believe that you would just walk away from that?
Todd: For you, I would.
Tea: What's the real reason?
Todd: I'm bored. I liked it better when it wasn't so easy. It's like all those perverts want me to catch them doing stuff. They took all the fun out of it.
Tea: Who will run the newspaper?
Todd: Briggs. He'll drag it down into one of those boring, do the right thing kind of newspapers, like The Banner, but he'll keep it going, at least until Starr's ready to drop out of high school and start running it the way it should be run again.
Tea: Speaking of Starr...
Todd: I have no clue.
Tea: We should have some plan in place before we return to Llanview.
Todd: We'll ambush her. It's the only way. Viki can help us. She says that Starr always does whatever she tells her to do. So, I'll have her tell Starr that she has to spend time with us and give us a chance.
Tea: When were you planning on doing this?
Todd: In a couple of years...maybe...
Tea: Are we leaving tonight, or tomorrow?
Todd: Tomorrow...or the day after...
Tea: We'll go tomorrow. Remember, I need to be back in time to start work next week.
Todd: What's more important, our family or some silly little job?
Tea: My career is important to me. If you want to be a part of my life, you'll need to stop all your Neanderthal comments.
Todd: I just thought you'd want to spend time with the kid...and me.
Tea: I won't have as full a schedule right away. I'll see how it feels. Maybe I'll leave the firm and start my own private practice again.
Todd: You can come work for me.
Tea: I don't think so.
Todd: Why not?
Tea: You already think you own me. If I was your employee...
Todd: Wife...employee...
Tea: Don't you dare finish your thought.
Todd (to Little E): Chicks!
Tea: This chick is going to her bedroom to get dressed.
Todd: Are we getting hitched today?
Tea: No.
Todd: Then, don't bother getting dressed. As soon as the kid takes a nap, your clothes are coming off again.
Tea: Is that what you think?
Todd: That's what I know.
Tea: We could take Little E to visit my grandmother.
Todd: Why would we do that?
Tea: So she can see him in his tuxedo.
Todd: You can show her the pictures from our wedding.
Tea: My grandmother will be at my wedding this time.
Todd: I thought we were just making it legal, not making a big deal about it.
Tea: We could have a small ceremony with just our family present.
Todd: If we invite family, Viki will force me to invite Kevin. You know he'd show up just to tick me off.
Tea: I want my grandmother to attend at least one of my weddings.
Todd: She can come to the next one.
Tea: This will be the last one.
Todd: Stop divorcing me and I'll stop marrying you.
Tea: Deal!
Todd: No way is it that easy.
Tea: You could help by not being such a jerk.
Todd: Me?
Tea: Yes, you.
Todd: I get it. You're trying to start a fight so you won't have to marry me. It won't work. You're stuck with me.
Tea: I want to marry you.
Todd: You change your mind about that a lot.
Tea: I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. We both need to work on our relationship.
Todd: If we have to work at it, what's the point?
Tea: The point is that marriage doesn't come easily.
Todd: It would, if you'd do what I tell you to do.
Tea: I won't be making all of the sacrifices. You have to meet me half-way.
Todd: What you're really saying is that I have to give in to whatever you want.
Tea: I'm willing to compromise, if you are.
Todd: You'll quit working?
Tea: Why is that so important to you?
Todd: I don't want people thinking I can't support my woman.
Tea: I am my own woman. I also happen to be a lawyer. My career is important to me.
Todd: You can be a lawyer for me. Someone's always trying to charge me with something.
Tea: I need a life separate from you.
Todd: I get it.
Tea: I want to spend a great deal of time with you.
Todd: But, you want to spend more time without me.
Tea: I need to work for me. I need my own identity. I need to be more than your wife this time.
Todd: Because you hate being the wife of the town pariah.
Tea: That wasn't my favorite part of our previous marriages.
Todd: What was?
Tea: The intimate times I spent alone with you.
Todd: When the kid conks out, we'll get intimate again.
Tea: I need more than sex.
Todd: You want everything?
Tea: Yes. Can you give it to me this time, without needing to run from how it makes you feel.
Todd: I hate how it feels.
Tea: I know that. But, it's what I need.
Todd: What about what I need?
Tea: What do you need?
Todd: Sex! And, lots of it.
Tea (smiling): Really?
Todd: Really! Are you up for it?
Tea: I think the more appropriate question is, are you?
Todd: I love it when you talk dirty to me.
Tea: Do you love me?
Todd: Not that again.
Tea: Yes, that again. It's important. It's a deal breaker.
Todd: We're cutting a deal here? I get to make demands and you have to meet them?
Tea: We're simply stating what we both want from our relationship.
Todd: What if I can't give you everything you want?
Tea: Are you willing to try?
Todd: Are you?
Tea: Am I willing to have copious amounts of sex with you? The answer is yes.
Todd: What about everything else?
Tea: What else do you want?
Todd: You know.
Tea: I won't stop being a lawyer.
Todd: What about moving back to Llanview?
Tea: No.
Todd: I knew it. You expect me to give in on everything but you don't have to give in on anything.
Tea: I thought you hated living in Llanview?
Todd: I do, but it's where my kid lives.
Tea: We could move closer.
Todd: You'd do that?
Tea: Yes.
Todd: You'd change all the diapers?
Tea: You somehow managed earlier.
Todd: Only because you didn't give me a choice.
Tea: I will change the majority of the diapers. We both already know that.
Todd: That goes for all the diapers of all our kids, too.
Tea: How many children do you want?
Todd: Six.
Tea: Six?
Todd: That's what I said.
Tea: Does that include the two we already have?
Todd: Sure. You only have to pop out four.
Tea: Only four?
Todd: That's not that many.
Tea: It is when you're the one popping them out.
Todd: Five...and that's my final offer.
Tea: Three more children? I'll consider that.
Todd: I'll need it in writing.
Tea: You don't trust me?
Todd: Do you trust me?
Tea: Implicitly.
Todd: You're lying.
Tea: I trust you about the important things. I trust you with my nephew. I trust you with my heart.
Todd: No, you don't.
Tea: I'm trying. The longer you stay this time...
Todd: Forever.
Tea: You can't promise me that.
Todd: Sure, I can.
Tea: Not honestly.
Todd: What does honesty have to do with any of this?
Tea: It has everything to do with this. We need honesty, trust and love. Are you willing to genuinely try this time?
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SMALL BLESSINGS
chapter 108:
Todd: I suck at this. You know that.
Tea: I know that you can do this. You have to want to.
Todd: Wanting has nothing to do with this.
Tea: I need you to really try this time. I know I say that every time...
Todd: But, this time you really mean it. You say that every time, too.
Tea: For Little E, and even for Starr, we need stability in our relationship, whether we choose to be together or apart.
Todd: This isn't all my fault.
Tea: I know that.
Todd: Bull! You think I'm a bastard for whatever you think I did, but you don't think you screwed up at all.
Tea: You didn't call me for days.
Todd: You didn't say I was supposed to. You can't expect me to read your mind.
Tea: I left messages for you, asking you to call me. When you finally showed up here again, you pretended that you hadn't received those messages.
Todd: Maybe I didn't. I'm a busy man. I have tons of messages on my desk every day, mostly death threats. I can't read them all.
Tea: I know that Mr. Briggs gave you my messages personally. I know that you chose not to respond.
Todd: Just because you're my chick doesn't mean that you get to keep tabs on me. I can do whatever the hell I want, when I want.
Tea: With whomever you want.
Todd: I didn't screw anyone, but I should have. At least I could have gotten something out of it, since I'm being blamed for it anyway.
Tea: I'm not blaming you.
Todd: Yeah, you are.
Tea: I'm blaming you for lying to me about not receiving my messages, and for choosing to ignore me for days, not for cheating on me.
Todd: What did you want me to do, Tea? Did you want me to fill you in on how much my kid hates your guts now? Did you want me to tell you that she made it clear that I had to pick either her or you? What the hell was I supposed to do?
Tea: You could have talked to me. No matter how difficult any conversation may be, I would prefer talking about our problems, rather than being ignored.
Todd: I couldn't talk to you. Look what happened when I just looked at some stupid pictures.
Tea: I'm not asking you to choose between being here and being with your daughter.
Todd: You didn't have to. Starr took care of that for you.
Tea: If Starr were the same sweet little girl I remember from when the three of us lived together, I would have some idea how to handle this. But, who she is now...
Todd: Yeah, it kind of threw me at first, too.
Tea: How did this happen? How could she change so much so fast?
Todd: I split on her. She thinks you split on her. She was living in Buchanan hell. Blair was busy being Blair.
Tea: She's been through a lot.
Todd: A lot of it's my fault.
Tea: If only you could explain your reasons for leaving her.
Todd: Never! I'll never be the father she deserves, but I'll never let any of that stuff touch her.
Tea: Your past is a part of who you are.
Todd: A part that Starr will never know about.
Tea: She's bound to learn some of it someday.
Todd: You'll be crying at my funeral if that ever happens.
Tea: You would survive. It may not seem like it now...
Todd: How would you feel if the only person who ever really loved you suddenly started looking at you with total hate and disgust?
Tea: There's more to your past than just the mistakes you made.
Todd: No way in hell will she ever know anything about Peter Manning. Never!
Tea: What he did to you...
Todd: Is nobody's business. Do you understand me?
Tea: I won't reveal any of your secrets.
Todd: You're such a liar. You're just waiting for the chance to spill everything. You're just like everyone else.
Tea: Have I told anyone in all this time?
Todd: Probably.
Tea: I haven't. When you tell me a secret, it stays a secret. I promise. When I tell you that I love you, I also mean that. That's a promise, too.
Todd: Why are you bringing that up?
Tea: You just stated that you feel Starr is the only one who has ever loved you. You're wrong. I love you. I always will. No matter what.
Todd: Prove it! Marry me...today!
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SMALL BLESSINGS
chapter 109:
Tea: I won't marry you just to prove that I love you.
Todd: Because you can't.
Tea: Because I won't. Besides, you wouldn't believe I was marrying you for love, anyway.
Todd: You always were more attracted to my assets than to me.
Tea: The only assets of yours that I want are your love, passion, humor... Shall I go on?
Todd: Don't bother.
Tea: How about trying to respect me enough to believe that I want to be with you for who you are, not for how much money you happen to have.
Todd: I happen to have a ton. You can't pretend that doesn't sweeten the deal.
Tea: We could continue to live in this house. I could continue to pay off the mortgage with my own earnings. I could pay all of my own expenses, including those of my nephew. Your money doesn't have to have any involvement in our relationship this time.
Todd: You want me to sponge off some chick?
Tea: I'm more than just some chick.
Todd: You're a totally stubborn one.
Tea: I don't need your money. I don't want your money. I'll draw up a pre-nuptial agreement. We'll make it clear that I'll have no claim on any of your assets. Maybe then you'll believe that I love you for you, not for your money.
Todd: So, it is all a trick?
Tea: What trick? I want you to feel loved by me. There are no tricks involved. You just need to open your heart to me.
Todd: It would be easier for me to open my bank account to you.
Tea: That wouldn't be as valuable to me.
Todd: What the hell happened to you? You used to value what was really important...cash.
Tea: What happened is that I fell for you.
Todd: You can't blame that on me. I sure as hell wasn't trying to trip you.
Tea: You allowed me to get to know you. We had some good talks...
Todd: Talking is never good.
Tea: I spent a great deal of time observing you with your daughter. That was always when you were your most honest. I see that now with Little Enrique. He touches your heart. It's very endearing.
Todd: I just feel sorry for the kid since his new mom won't give up her little job for him, like she should.
Tea: Don't even try to use Neanderthal tactics to distract me from what I know and what I plan to continue to shine a light on. You need someone who can show you how wonderful you are.
Todd: You think you're that person?
Tea: Yes.
Todd: If you're going to take on that impossible job, you won't have time for any other silly jobs.
Tea: That silly job of mine has kept your butt out of trouble, more than once.
Todd: I said before that you can still be my lawyer, when I need one.
Tea: I need more.
Todd: I'll give you more. I'll knock you up, too.
Tea: I need you to love me.
Todd: Stick to what I can actually give you.
Tea: You can give me love. You have in the past. We both need to put aside our fears and doubts and commit to this.
Todd: I'm trying.
Tea: I'm asking for more than a marriage license.
Todd: You're asking for too much.
Tea: I need your heart to be open to me. I need you to tell me how you feel...not every day, but often. I need to say the words to you and have you say them to me at the same time. I need you not to back away every time the feelings become too scary.
Todd: Wait! I'm supposed to give you everything you want, but you don't have to give me a damn thing?
Tea: I said before that I'm willing to compromise. I'm scared, too. I want to run from what I feel. I want to hide.
Todd: Are you scared of me?
Tea: No.
Todd: Tell me the truth.
Tea: I'm scared of the feelings I have for you, of how strong they are, and how debilitating it feels every time you break my heart.
Todd: You always salsa dance whenever you think you're rid of me.
Tea: I cry every time I fear I'll never have you in my life again.
Todd: Nobody cries because they've gotten rid of me.
Tea: I do.
Todd: Everyone's happy. They all throw parties. I've seen the pictures.
Tea: I love you. I need you. I ache when I'm not with you.
Todd: Because you're laughing so much it hurts?
Tea: I give up. You win. Go back to Llanview. Don't ever come back.
Todd: What the hell are you talking about?
Tea: I'm trying.
Todd: So am I.
Tea: No, you're not.
Todd: I'm here.
Tea: I need more than your presence whenever you're in the mood to fuck me...or, to fuck with me.
[The focus of both adults is immediately brought back to Little Enrique as his illegible jabbering sounds become legible for a brief moment.]
Todd: Fuck, Tea! What kind of fucking aunt are you, teaching your nephew to say fuck? This isn't the first fucking time either. Fuck, you don't see me fucking trying to get the kid to fucking say fuck all the time. What the fuck is fucking wrong with you?
Tea: Enough!
Todd: He only repeats it when you say it. He hates me.
Tea: He adores you.
Todd: He never remembers me.
Tea: He's probably just looking at you, wondering where you were all the time he missed you being here.
Todd: His aunt missed me, too, right?
Tea: Very much.
Todd: She'll show me how much after the kid falls asleep again?
Tea: Maybe we should stick to that. No more talk about having a future together.
Todd: We don't have to talk about it. You just have to marry me.
Tea: Why is this so important to you all of a sudden?
Todd: I've been wanting you to marry me again ever since you divorced me the first time...and the second time.
Tea: Take the baby into the living room and play with him for a while.
Todd: I have to get him into his tux.
Tea: We're not getting married today.
Todd: We will, if you see him in his tux.
Tea: He'll be adorable, but...
Todd: But, if we don't do this soon, it won't fit him anymore.
Tea: You could buy him another tuxedo.
Todd: He wants to be my best man in this one.
Tea: Take him into the living room. I'll make us both breakfast. Then, I'll pack for our trip to Llanview. We'll leave today. If Little E will be your best man, Starr should be my maid of honor. I'll need to win her over again before we get married.
Todd: You really don't want to marry me, do you?
Tea: Is it really that impossible?
Todd: Her childhood sucks. She can't blame the people who really screwed everything up for her so she's blaming you.
Tea: We have to try. You won't be happy without your daughter in your life.
Todd: We'll wait until tomorrow.
Tea: Why?
Todd: I might never see you again after tomorrow.
Tea: It won't be that bad.
Todd: You wore me down, but she's way more stubborn than I am. She's a chick.
Tea: The more time we spend there, the better chance I'll have of winning her over.
Todd: You need me to comfort you first, before we do anything else.
Tea: Including getting married?
Todd: After I've comforted you a couple of times in a row, you'll do whatever I want.
Tea: Is that what you think?
Todd: That's what I know. I'm your weakness. You can't turn me down.
Tea: I've turned you down many times.
Todd: You can't turn me down and really mean it. You'll marry me before the end of today. I know it.
Tea: We'll see about that.
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SMALL BLESSINGS
chapter 110:
[Minutes later...
Todd is on the floor in the living room with Little Enrique. He can tell that the baby is close to crawling for the first time. Wanting to encourage him, he places the baby's favorite toys just out of his reach, hoping that he'll crawl toward them.
Tea enters from the kitchen.]
Tea: What are you doing?
Todd: I'm teaching him how to crawl.
Tea: Give him his toys.
Todd: He doesn't want to be stuck in one place anymore. He wants to start moving.
Tea: He'll learn when he's ready. Stop teasing him. Let him play with his toys.
Todd: You just don't want him moving around.
Tea: That's not true.
Todd: Chicks always want guys to be stuck in one place.
Tea: You're not stuck. You can leave any time.
Todd: The kid wants me to stay. He wants one person around who's fun.
Tea: If I'm not fun, why does Little E laugh so much with me?
Todd: Maybe he's laughing at you.
Tea: Because I'm a chick?
Todd: That's usually a good enough reason.
[Tea moves closer to them. She picks up one of Little E's toys and then picks up the baby.]
Todd: We were in the middle of something.
Tea: Breakfast is ready.
Todd: I can hang out with the kid and eat at the same time.
[Tea hands the baby to Todd.]
Tea: I'll bring the food in here, if you stop teasing him and let him play with his toys.
[Tea leaves the room.]
Todd (to Little E): What do chicks know about kids?
[Todd puts Little Enrique on the floor again. When the baby lets go of the toy in his hand, Todd moves it out of his reach.]
Todd: Come on, kid, you can do it.
[Todd gets on his hands and knees, demonstrating for the baby how to crawl.
Tea returns to the room, carrying a tray of food. She makes a noise, signaling her presence in the room, and also her appreciation of her ex-husband's butt on display for her.]
Todd: Knock it off.
Tea: Only if you do. Pressuring him won't work. He'll crawl when he's ready.
Todd: He's ready now.
Tea: Apparently not.
Todd: You're being too negative.
Tea: Todd Manning is calling me negative?
Todd: At least I think the kid can do it.
Tea: I think he will, when he's ready. Put him in his swing so we can eat.
Todd: He doesn't like being confined.
Tea: Just like his Uncle Todd?
[Todd reluctantly stops playing with the baby and puts him in his electric swing.]
Todd: He wants that uncle thing to be official.
Tea: Did he tell you that?
Todd: He said that, if his aunt has to have a creep in her life, he wants that creep to be me.
Tea: I want it to be you, too.
Todd: Are you calling me a creep?
Tea: I'm telling you that I want you in my life.
Todd: You're sure about that?
Tea: Yes.
Todd: You won't be changing your mind again in a few days?
Tea: Not if you don't give me a reason to.
Todd: So, we're doomed?
Tea: You could stop trying to push me away.
Todd: I don't know how to do that.
Tea: I think you do. I think you're just scared. So am I.
Todd: You want it anyway?
Tea: With all my heart.
Todd: You'll quit your job?
Tea: It didn't work before when I tried to make you my whole world. I won't make that mistake again. I'll be happier if I have a full life.
Todd: The kid and me are full enough, at least until you start popping out our kids.
Tea: Why are you so insistent about not wanting me to work?
Todd: You deserve to be taken care of for the rest of your life.
Tea: What's the real reason?
Todd: If you're wasting your time working on a bunch of stupid cases, you won't have any time left for when I need you.
Tea: I'll always be there for you when you need me. You know that.
Todd: How would I know that? You keep ditching me.
Tea: You keep abandoning me, too. I'm not asking you to give up everything to prove your commitment to me this time.
Todd: You don't have to give up everything...just your job.
Tea: Except when you need my job skills?
Todd: Right. So, we have a deal?
Tea: No, we don't have a deal. I'm a lawyer. That isn't just my job, it's part of who I am.
Todd: So, you're just going to throw away whatever the hell it is that we have, just so you can keep your little job?
Tea: My little job has kept your butt out of jail, more than once.
Todd: Exactly! My butt needs a full-time lawyer.
Tea: You could stop committing illegal acts.
Todd: Stop joking. I'm being serious.
Tea: So am I. We need you to stop endangering your freedom with stupid stunts.
Todd: Who's we?
Tea: Your family.
Todd: You and the kid are all I have left.
Tea: You have Starr.
Todd: She hates me.
Tea: She could never hate you.
Todd: She could, if I don't dump you like she wants.
[Todd instantly regrets his words as he watches sadness cross Tea's face.]
Todd: I'll do whatever I have to so you don't have to feel like scum anymore.
Tea: Scum isn't the right word. Unloved, perhaps.
Todd: That's always been the same thing for me.
Tea: You'll never be unloved.
Todd: Neither will you. You've got the kid now.
Tea: And, you.
Todd: Yeah, whatever.
Tea: When I'm sad, it would feel good to hear your words.
Todd: Let's get it on!
Tea: Those aren't exactly the words I had in mind.
Todd: The kid's asleep.
[Tea looks toward her nephew. She smiles as she watches him sleep.]
Todd: The kid's lucky.
Tea: Yes, he is. He has you for a playmate.
Todd: I meant... You know what I meant.
Tea: Thank you.
Todd: For what?
Tea: For the compliment you were thinking but couldn't bring yourself to say.
Todd: I can say it. He's lucky he's got a sappy aunt who gets all gooey about him just because he's there. He's lucky that he'll always know that somebody gives a damn about him.
Tea: If you don't sabotage this, you could have that, too.
Todd: Sometimes...
Tea: What?
Todd: Never mind. Do you want the kid to sleep here? Or, should I put him in his room?
Tea: He'll wake up if you stop his swing.
Todd: Do you want to do it?
Tea: I want you to feel secure about my love for you.
Todd: Tough.
Tea: Tough is exactly how I'll be from now on. I won't allow you to push me away. You make me happy. I need you in my life.
Todd: You'll marry me?
Tea: Yes.
Todd: Today?
Tea: Yes.
to be continued...
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
2002 COPYRIGHT BY TIMA
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