Todd: So, are you...are you glad I came?

Tea: You have no idea. Speaking of that, though, I should probably go upstairs and clean up a bit.

[Tea quickly moves passed Todd as he's refastening his pants and goes upstairs. Todd plops down on the sofa as he waits for her return.

When Tea finally returns to the living room, Todd is disappointed to see that Tea put on clothing while she was upstairs.]

Todd (standing up and moving toward the door): Yeah, okay, I'll see you.

Tea: Wait a minute. Where do you think you're going?

Todd: Well, if we're done here...

Tea: Who said we were done?

Todd: Well, you got dressed.

Tea: I've done that before. Extra clothing has never stopped us in the past.

Todd: You made it clear earlier that sending that poor sap to prison is more important to you than spending time with me. So, I'll just be going.

[Todd slowly walks toward the door, knowing that Tea finds him irresistible and won't be able to let him leave. As he turns the doorknob, he's disappointed that Tea hasn't stopped him yet.]

Tea (speaking softly): Todd?

Todd (turning toward her): Yeah?

Tea (approaching Todd): Are you sure you don't want to stay?

Todd: What for?

Tea: For this.

[Tea takes Todd's hand in hers and places it under her shirt so he can fondle one of her breasts.]

Tea: Good enough reason?

Todd (smiling slightly): It's a pretty good one.

Tea: The reason or the breast?

[Todd's smiles even more as he raises her shirt and places his mouth on her breast.]

Tea (pulling away and pulling down her shirt): Let's eat!

Todd: Come on, Tea. Let's quit the games. We both know we're going to do it again. It's been our pattern ever since that first night.

Tea: What pattern is that?

Todd: Give it up, Delgado. (speaking softly) I know what you want and what you like.

Tea: What I need?

Todd: Yeah, I know that, too.

[Todd places his hand gently behind her head and brings their lips together in an incredibly slow and erotic kiss.]

Todd (keeping their faces touching): We did it once really fast so we got that immediate need out of the way. Now...

Tea: Now, we still need to make love...slowly and tenderly.

Todd: Don't forget about length.

Tea: I've always enjoyed the length.

Todd: You've found it satisfying?

Tea: Very. I really love our pattern, Todd. I really love you.

Todd: I seem to recall a few nights when our pattern was a little different.

Tea (smiling): I have fond memories of those nights.

Todd: Let's make some more memories.

Tea (pulling away from him and walking toward the kitchen): Let's eat first.

Todd (following her): Are you sure you want to wait?

Tea: We'll eat fast.

[Minutes later...

Tea is sitting at the table watching with amusement as Todd quickly shoves food into his mouth.]

Todd (with his mouth full): What?

Tea: Nothing. I was just thinking that if you make yourself sick from eating like that, I don't think either of us will fully enjoy the next couple of hours.

Todd: I was just trying to speed things up. I don't want you to suddenly decide you have to start working again right when we're getting to the good part.

Tea: Which part is that?

Todd: Why aren't you eating?

Tea: I ate a little.

Todd: You nervous about something?

Tea: This is an important case for me.

Todd: Is that all you're nervous about?

Tea: Are you nervous about seeing Starr again on Christmas?

Todd: Why are you changing the subject?

Tea: If you can change the subject so can I.

Todd: I'm not nervous. What else are you nervous about?

Tea: Nothing. Everything will be okay. Your daughter will be so thrilled to see you. You know that.

[Todd finally finishes his food and leans back in his chair. He places his feet up on the seat of one of the unoccupied chairs at the table as he stares at Tea, who is picking at the food on her plate.]

Todd: Why aren't you eating?

Tea: I told you...

Todd (interrupting): You haven't told me anything, Tea. Don't you think maybe you should?

Tea: Things will go great when you see Starr on Christmas. I know it.

Todd: Look, I'm terrified about it, okay? I know I messed up leaving her and staying away so long and I know there's no way I'll be able to explain it to her in a way that she'll understand and be okay with.

Tea: It'll work out. Your love for your daughter is one thing that I have never doubted about you. Starr doesn't doubt your love either. She made that clear when we spoke on Thanksgiving.

Todd: Yeah, well, I like kids, you know? If I have to be around other people I'd rather be around a bunch of kids than a bunch of adults.

Tea: Sometimes so would I, especially Starr.

Todd: The last couple of weeks I've been thinking about when she was really little. Sometimes I'd be holding her and she would just fall asleep. That blew me away sometimes that she trusted me so much. I remember so many times watching her sleep and all I could think was that she was this incredible gift that I knew had been given to the wrong person. I didn't deserve her.

[Todd looks down at the table, refusing to allow the tears in his eyes to fall. Tea places her hand on top of his on the table.]

Todd (returning his gaze to her eyes): I don't deserve this, Tea...but you do.

Tea (feeling speechless as tears come to her eyes): Todd...

Todd: Do you feel sick? Is that why you're not eating?

[Tea squeezes his hand tightly for a moment. Without speaking, Tea leaves the room for a minute and returns with a small paper bag that she places on the table in front of Todd.]

Todd: Is this my Christmas gift?

Tea: It could be. I don't think you have to worry about giving me a gift this year because I think you may have already given it to me.

Todd: You'd be happy with that gift?

Tea: I'd be very happy...extremely nervous and scared...but very, very happy. (gesturing to the bag) Are you going to open it?

Todd (pushing the bag toward her): If it's what I think it is then shouldn't you be the one opening it?

[Tea opens the bag and removes a home pregnancy test kit, placing it on the table. They both stare at it for a moment in silence.

They both have had their suspicions for a couple of weeks now that Tea could be pregnant but neither has spoken of it out loud. Now, the box in front of them is speaking very loudly for both of them.]

Tea (picking up the box and standing up): Come with me.

Todd: Um, Tea, you know I like doing stuff with you but I don't really want to watch you doing what I think you need to be doing to make that thing work.

Tea: You don't have to watch that part but I want you to sit with me while we wait for the results.

[Tea and Todd go upstairs together.]

TO BE CONTINUED