This Fic is a continuation to my Halloween Fic: The Masquerade. Although some references have been made to the first story, it should stand on its own, meaning you don't have to read the first one to follow this one, although you might want to..I have been told it's good (smile). Again, I will classify this FIC as Alternative Universe, meaning something things on the show have not taken place. My thanks to The Goo Goo Dolls for "Iris", which makes an appearance in this story.

Standard disclaimers apply: The characters aren't mine, just borrowing them, don't sue. The story, however, is mine. Feedback is greatly encouraged…flames will be used to light the fireplace (smile). Enjoy!

Whlwtcher

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Tea was going to ignore the phone, content in sitting by the fire, a glass of chilled chardonnay in her hand. But a little voice inside her wouldn't let her be so she reluctantly answered it. "Hello?" "Hey dollface, it's me, Benny." "Benny?" Tea asked, a crease wrinkling in her forehead. Doll face? Who did this guy think he was? She had recognized Benny as the man whose mask she ripped off at Asa's Masquerade ball, thinking it was Todd. She saw him at the park one day and stopped and spoke to him, thanking him for the dance, apologizing for being so rude. The clueless look on his face told her he had no idea what she was talking about and after 20 minutes of grilling him, in her best attorney like voice, Tea realized that it wasn't Benny whom she had danced with. It was, indeed, Todd. An hour later, Benny had spilled his guts, telling a stunned Tea how Todd had paid him to pretend to be Todd to throw Tea off the track. But the surprise wasn't over. Benny told her that Todd had been in touch with him recently. He wanted another favor, willing to pay twice as much this time as last time.

"When?" she asked him, her mind reeling from the news.

"I don't know," Benny told her. "He said that he would be in touch."

"When he does," she said, taking out her checkbook, scribbling. "You call me, no matter what. Here. I doubled his price." Benny smiled, as he looked at the $2,000 check, written out in his name.

"Benny, do you know what time.."

"Yeah, sorry I didn't call earlier but I got held up," Benny interrupted. "I can't go to your sister's house with you tonight, I got a meeting."

"My sister's?" Tea asked confused. "I don't.." Todd. "Benny, is it Todd?"

"Yep," Benny answered his voice even. Todd was there and he was trying to make it seem like he was talking to someone other than Tea. Tea's heart started to race, her palms growing moist. She clutched the phone as if it were her lifeline. "Anyway," he continued. "Like I said, I got a meeting at the docks tonight so since I'll be in the area, I could stop by later."

"Your going to the docks? Now?"

"Sure thing, doll face."

"I'll be there in a minute," Tea blurted out, jumping up from the couch, grabbing her shoes. "Stay there, stall if you have to."

"Oh, yeah, I will love, love you too." Benny smiled before hanging up the phone on the expensive hotel room desk, turning around. His eyes focused on the tall, young man lounging in the chair before him, his long legs stretched out before him.

"Is she on her way?" Todd asked, his voice trying to sound bored. But he was anything but bored. The thought of a face to face with Tea terrified him, yet thrilled him. That one dance, at The Masquerade ball didn't do anything but add fuel to his desire for her. He missed her so much; his body ached with fear and desire.

"Yeah, she's on her way to the docks now. Look, man," Benny started, stopping to watch as Todd took out a white envelope with Benny's money from his jacket pocket. "Why don't you just ask her to meet you?"

"She wouldn't come if I did." Todd answered simply. Benny smiled, thinking how she had said the same thing when he asked Tea that question when she gave him the check in return for the phone call. Rich people were so funny. But who was he to judge, right? The lady gave him two grand and now he was getting a thousand from Todd for making a phone call. Damn, he sure was going to hate it when they got back together. He'd have to find some other way of making money.

Tea got to the docks a few minutes after the phone call. She must have broken every traffic law in the books to get there on time. She didn't know why she was in such a hurry to see him. But that night at the ball kept playing in her head; the way she knew she felt him there even though her mind told her it wasn't him; the way he held her in his arms as they danced; the way his hazel eyes flickered with desire; all of it brought her back here, hoping to get a chance, one chance to see him again.

"You must have broken every speed limit to get here this fast, Delgado." Todd chuckled, behind her, watching as she stood before him, scanning the docks. Tea whirled around, her eyes finding his and they both stopped breathing for a moment. He's here...

Damn, she's beautiful...Each caught up in their thoughts, watching each other. "Todd!" Tea stammered, surprised. "But, where's…"

"Benny? He isn't coming." Damn, she had been tricked. Todd watched as the fire began to burn in her eyes at the realization of her being tricked into coming here. I missed that fire, Delgado. "

What's all this Todd? Why?" she asked, spitting out the words. "I am so sick of your games! How dare you waltz back into my life after everything you put me through."

"I needed to see you," he told her simply. Even as she yelled at him, he knew he had made the right decision to come home. He still loved her.

"Why Todd?" she asked, shaking from anger and desire. He was so beautiful, she thought, dressed in all black. His hair, shorter, was hanging just at the collar of his black wool coat, just a slight curl at the end. His goatee was neatly trimmed, his eyes bright, despite the dark, foggy night on the docks. You still love him, Tea, you fool, she thought to herself as she watched his face. "Why all the games? Like at Asa's party? Why didn't you just ask me to meet you?"

Todd watched her for a moment, then shrugged. "When you didn't show up the last time, I didn't think you wanted anything to do with me."

"The last time? What last time? You mean the wedding? Oh, I showed up for that Todd, don't you remember?"

Now it was Todd's turn to look confused, a frown crossing his face. "What?" he asked, "No. When I…" Todd stopped, his eyes looking down, deep in thought. Tea waited for a moment, her anger at this impossible man lessening. "You mean you didn't…"

"Didn't what Todd?" Tea asked impatiently. What game was he playing now, she wondered, watching as his eyes lit up again.

"Where's the key, Tea?"

"The key? What.." The key! Goodness, she hadn't thought about that key since she went to the bus station and found that note: What took you so long Delgado? Where was that damned thing anyway? She couldn't even remember where it was. She didn't know, he thought, his lips forming a smile as he watched her puzzle over what he was asking. All this time he thought she hadn't come because she didn't love him anymore and it was because she hadn't known. He still had a chance.

"I sent you a key," he started, watching her, a slight smile on his face. "I know you got it and I know you went to the bus station to open the locker. But you didn't go any further, did you?"

"Todd, just tell me, what is all this about? I'm tired of the playing games." With a twinkle in his eyes, Todd smiled at her, Tea's heart leaping at the sight. God I still love you, she thought, her heart melting.

"No games, Delgado. Just the truth. Get that key and it will lead you to what you want to know."

When he started to turn and walk away, Tea thought she would scream, hell, she did. "Todd! Don't you dare leave me again!"

Todd turned towards her, his hazel eyes echoing the deep desire for her that he had in his heart. "I never left you Delgado. Find the key and what it holds and then you will find me."

"Find you?" she yelled as he was walking away from her. "You're here!"

Todd turned once more, a sad look in his eyes. She didn't know now but she will. "No, no, I'm not. Just find the key, ok, Delgado? Find the key and then you'll know." And with that he was gone, disappearing into the fog. Tea tried to run after him but the fog was too think, too dark. Damn him, she cursed, knocking over a wooden crate. He left me again. Find the key and you'll know. Where was it? Where was that damned thing? Tucking her purse under her arm, Tea raced back to her car, to find the key.

Two weeks had past and Todd heard nothing. But he knew, she had found it, he thought to himself, as he looked out onto the expansive green range of the Hubbard Ranch. Wiping his face with his bandana, Todd took a long gulp of the cold water Mrs. Hubbard had brought out to him earlier before she went into town to get the rest of the Thanksgiving meal for tomorrow while he mended the back pasture fence. She found it and now she was giving him her answer; she didn't want to belong to him anymore. He knew it was a possibility, remembering the glimmer of hope he had as he stood on the docks, realizing she didn't know what he was talking about. But he had to try and so he did. And now, the one Thanksgiving wish he ever made wouldn't come true, she wouldn't be with him when Thanksgiving came or any other day for that matter. Todd felt so sick he wanted to cry, to rip someone apart but he did neither. He just sat in the peaceful meadow and thought of his future, one without Tea.

Hours later he saw Mrs. Hubbard's truck drive up to the house. Finally finished with the repair, Todd decided to call it a night. Mounting his steed, Todd rode up to the house, around to the side where the mud-room was. Once inside, Todd took off his boots, dusted what dirt he could off his well-worn jeans and then entered into the kitchen. Mrs. Hubbard smiled at him as she snipped beans for that night's dinner. "All finished?" she asked as she watched Todd go over to the sink and wash his hands.

"Yeah," he told her. "I think its fine now. I'll go back out and check it in the morning. What's for dinner?"

"Pot roast, mashed potatoes and gravy, string beans, and hot biscuits."

"Wow." Todd smirked, drying off his hands, his stomach rumbling from the mention of all the good food. "I thought tomorrow was Thanksgiving?"

"It is," Mrs. Hubbard smiled "but I wanted something special for dinner tonight. We are having a guest."

Todd smiled, "Ah! The doc, maybe?" Todd watched as she blushed at the mention of her gentleman friend which made Todd chuckle. "Ok, fine, I know what that means. I'll be on my best behavior, no belching at the table…and for you, I'll even take a bath tonight." Mrs. Hubbard laughed as Todd made his way to the bathroom, a tub of hot water already waiting for him. She was so good to him, Todd thought with appreciation as he peeled off his dusty clothes and slipped into the hot, soapy tub. He had often thanked his lucky stars that he had found her and this place, her kindness and generosity a welcome action after all his months of loneliness. Todd trusted her and her 'gentleman friend', as she liked to call Doc, who was now his doc. He was glad she had taken him in on that cold, rainy night when his rental car had broken down. And he was equally thankful that his stubbornness hadn't kept him from saying yes when it was suggested he stay for a while, to help the lonely widow out on her ranch.

After his bath, Todd got out of the tub, put on a fresh pair of black jeans, a gray Henley, sweeping his still wet hair into a ponytail. As he came out of the bathroom, Todd walked into the dining room, gazing at the pretty festive table Mrs. Hubbard had set, smelling all those delicious aromas. "Doc is one lucky guy," Todd told her as she came out of the kitchen with an armful of food. "Is he here? I thought I heard the doorbell ring."

"No, Todd, it was me."

Whirling around, Todd almost dropped the bowls he was holding as he saw Tea in the entryway that divided the dining room and living room. "What are you doing here?" he heard himself ask, his voice low. If he spoke any louder, he was sure it would have shook with emotion. Tea held up a black, spiral bound book Todd instantly recognized. It was the book, one of 30, he had put away for her, and locked with a key she had obviously found again.

//And I don't want the world to see me
Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am //

Todd watched as Tea flipped to the end of the book, reading in a soft, emotion-filled voice:

…And now you know the truth, Tea, you know me. I wasn't able to tell you these things out loud and maybe risk seeing you see me as the monster I always thought I was. So Delgado, it's up to you. If you can deal with the truth and see me for what I really am, I'm in…

Tea stopped, watching him.

"I think this is my cue to leave. Tea, it was nice meeting you. Todd, the food is here if you want it. I will be out until tomorrow. Be nice." Mrs. Hubbard told the couple as she set a bowl down onto the table before leaving to let her gentlemen friend the latest developments with Todd.

"You read it?" he asked to which she nodded. "All of it?"

"Yes, Todd, all of it." Tea whispered, fighting back the tears as she recalled reading the diaries, Todd's diaries, each page chronicling in painful detail his life as Peter Manning's son. Tea remembered reading them some nights, not wanting to go on it was so heart breaking, but she did. She read all of Todd's words and felt all of his pain.

"I couldn't say it out loud," he told her looking away, ashamed. "Doc told me to write it if I couldn't say it, so I did. When I started writing it all down, I couldn't stop. Then he'd read it and we'd talk about it. He's a good doctor, Tea. He's not some fancy headshrinker with degrees up the ying yang but he's good. I like him. And Mrs. Hubbard kind of likes him too," he added, raising his eyebrows for effect. Tea smiled, the tears she held in her eyes spilling onto her cheeks. Todd saw her cry and the smile disappeared, his heart aching again. "After we finished the first book, he asked me if I wanted to destroy it." Todd continued, softly. "I told him no. Since it was all down there, I…I wanted…you to read it, to explain what I couldn't, so you'd know the truth. So I sent it to you, and the others, with the key to the P. O. Box it was delivered to." Tea nodded, it was true. After he left two weeks ago, she found the key and with help, tracked it to a P.O. Box. She opened it and found the diaries. "So now what?" he asked, watching her, waiting, hoping. Please God, don't let her be so cruel as to come all this way to say she doesn't want me anymore.

"So now," she told him, touching his face, watching as he leaned into her touch. "I take my husband home, to be with me, where he belongs."

"To dance forever," he breathed, before claiming her mouth to his.

The End…

Thank you kindly for reading.

Happy Thanksgiving!!