[Setting: Pine Cone Motel]

The hotel room is filled with silence as Todd enters. Looking at his surroundings Todd Manning throws his overnight bag on the arm chair to his left. "Man, this place is really a dump," he says glancing around. There is a layer of dust on the curtains that seems to have been there since the Regain era. The arm chair that holds his bag is so old it looks as if it will fall apart at the slightest touch. However, none of this matters as a smile comes to his face. All that matters is that in a little while he will be able to be happy for just a little while.

Todd flips on the television, an old Sony, to give himself a little noise. He retrieves his overnight bag and begins to go through its contents: a pair of jeans, some clean underwear and a T-shirt are in there . That is not what he is looking for though. "Damn," he mutters to himself. "Don't tell me I forgot it," he says. Finally, he pulls out what he is looking for, a small gift-wrapped box. I hope she likes it he thinks.

Placing the gift back in his bag , he glances at his watch. He notices that it is almost 10:30. He decides to take a quick shower before his guest arrives. He grabs his clothes and heads to the bathroom. Once in there he turns the water on and begins to undress. As the steam from the shower begins to fog up the room, Todd stares at his naked form in the mirror,on the back of the door. Why does she want me he thinks. I don't get it. She could have anyone but she wants me. There's nothing special about me. So, why on earth does she stick around? Not able to find the answers he is looking for Todd enters the shower. As he begins soap himself up, he hears a noise from the other room. He looks at his water proof watch and notices that it is not time for his guest to be here yet. What the hell? Who could be out there? He hears the Television being turned off. Then a knock at the bathroom door. He jumps slightly.

"Excuse me, sir? I brought you some towels," the voice says. Todd notices a slight French accent.

"Um, okay fen, whatever. Just leave'em on the bed and get out," he says. He wants this woman to leave. God only knows what she'd think if she came in here and saw another woman in his hotel room.

"Are you sure? Is there anything else you need? Anything I can get or do for you?," she asks with a seductive tone.

"What? No! Look just get out," he says stepping out of the shower and turning the water off. He looks around and realizes there are no towels in the bathroom, to dry off with. "Damn," he mutters. "Um, hey, do you think maybe you could hand me one of those towels, out there?," he says with dread.

"Of course. I could dry you off to if you want," the maid says with a giggle.

"Excuse me? Look lady, what the hell is your problem? Who told you that you could come in here in the first place?," Todd says with exasperation.

"I'm so sorry. I saw you come in here and I couldn't help myself. You are an extremely attractive man. I wanted to see you up close, to touch you," she says seductively.

"Well, sorry to disappoint you but I have a woman. Frankly if she sees you in here she'll kick your @ss and then she'll kick mine. So, just get out and don't come back," he says with matter-of-factness.

"Well, this woman of yours sounds very jealous. Do you often give her reason to be jealous?," the woman with the French accent asks.

"What? No, of course not! She knows everything I do! Why, why am I even having this conversation?," Todd says exasperated.

All of the sudden Todd hears a burst of laughter from the other side of the door. Laughter he knows extremely well. Throwing the bathroom door open, he stands their, stark naked, and dripping wet. With a scowl on his face he stares at the woman in front of him.

"Would you like your towel now, Monsieur," Tea says through a fit of giggles.

"You, you, I don't believe you," Todd says as he playfully dives at her.

"No. Todd, stop, you're gone get me all wet," Tea says laughing her head off, as Todd grabs a hold of her, shaking his dripping hair all over her. Todd too is laughing. Giving her a sweet kiss, he looks into her eyes. "Getting you wet, was definitely one of my plans tonight," Todd says seductively.

"Down boy, we still have a few things to discuss," Tea says wiggling out of his grasp.

"Ah, Delgado...It's Halloween, I really don't feel like talking," he says wiggling his eyebrows at her.

"Exactly. It is Halloween, which means it's been 3 weeks since we've each other." Tea is cut off by Todd.

"Exactly MY point. We haven't seen each other in 3 weeks. I've missed you. I can think of alot better things to do than talk about how much I've missed you," Todd says walking towards her. Tea sidesteps him.

"Todd, I wanna know what's going on in Llanview," Tea says seriously, crossing her arms, "and put some pants on. I can't concentrate when you're naked like that".

Todd crosses his arms. "Well than maybe I'll just leave them off," he says with a smile.

"Todd," Tea says dragging his name out, but smiling.

"Okay, fine! Party pooper!" Todd says. He goes to the bathroom and returns wearing his boxer shorts. "I'm not putting on anything else, so you'll just have to control yourself," Todd says stretching out on the bed. He leans up on one arm and pats the side next to him, gesturing for Tea to join him.

"Fine. I'll come over there but no hanky panky till we've finished talking, got it?," Tea says.

"Got it," Todd says seriously. Tea walks over and lies down next to Todd. She gets comfortable by lying on her stomach and placing her chin on his chest.

"So? What's happening? I'm dying to know," Tea says.

"Truthfully not much. You already know we've got the Sun back. Right now I'm working on, Blair and Max. I've just about got them where we want them, Delgado. We just have to be patient," Todd says stroking her hair.

"Patience is not one of my strong suits, Todd. You know that. By the way, just how close are you having to get to Blair?" Tea asks, slightly upset.

"Not THAT close. Trust me, huh?," Todd says.

"Your not the one I don't trust. Once it comes out that Max isn't really a Buchanan she's gonna be looking for money again, cause she'll be cut off. If that means cozying up to you, she'll do it," Tea says.

"Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence, Delgado," Todd says extricating himself from her and getting off the bed.

"Todd, I'm sorry. I do trust you. Really I do. It's just you having to be so close to her, it scares me. I don't want to lose you," Tea says sadly.

Todd walks back over to the bed and leans down beside her. "Hey, look at me. Look at me Delgado. I'm not going anywhere. I'm right here, with you. I love you, not Blair," Todd says softly touching her face.

"It's just the idea of another woman touching you, Todd. It, it," Tea starts.

"Makes you sick. I know. Now you know how I felt when we were apart and all those bums we're pawing you. Look, I'm not doing this to hurt you. We agreed this was the best course of action, for our agenda," Todd says.

"I know, I know. That doesn't mean I have to like it. Any ideas on when I get to come home and join in on the fun?" Tea says smiling and trying to lighten the mood.

"Soon. I promise. There are just a few other things I have to take care of before we spring you on everybody. By the way, I am one hell of an actor. I've convinced everybody that you split," Todd says.

"Gee, that's wonderful, Todd. I'm so glad everyone thinks I'm such a flake that I just up and walked out on you," Tea says sarcastically.

"Actually. I think everybody thinks I offed you and I'm covering my tracks," Todd says grinning.

"Oh, well, then that's okay," Tea says reaching up and playfully kissing him. Pulling away Tea looks at Todd and says, "Oh, I almost forgot. I brought you something".

"Tea it's Halloween not Christmas," Todd says climbing back on the bed and reaching for Tea as she gets off the bed. Todd grabs a pillow and yells into it, tossing it away he looks at Tea, "Woman what are you doing to me?"

Tea laughs, "Trust me Todd. When you see the present I brought, your gonna be glad you waited," Tea says smiling and winking. Todd watches her as she walks over and grabs her bag and seductively walks towards the bathroom. As she closes the door she says, "You already got tricked Todd. Now you get to have your treat".

To be continued.........