Feisty, loyal, intelligent, beautiful.... are words that accurately describe Téa Marisa Manning (née Delgado). A native of Puerto Rico, she was raised primarily by her 'Poppi' Leon since her mother Annarosa abandoned the family when she was five. She was seven when her mother passed away never returning to her daughter or her family. Her younger brother José and her grandmother Maria Delgado, who she affectionately calls Abuelita, were the other main influences in her young life.

She grew up on Park Avenue in Manhattan in the basement of a high rise, near the rich and powerful but not really one of them. Aspiring for bigger and better things, she worked her way through college and graduated NYC Law School summa cum laude. Immediately after passing the bar she acquired a position with Howell and Maguire, a prestigious, top ten law firm.

Though her priority was her job, in her leisure time she occasionally trysted with fellow career-obsessed, fast-trackers. This fast track life was exciting but unfulfilling. So when Carlotta Vega, an old friend now living in Llanview PA, asked Téa to help her son, Antonio she leapt at the chance. (Antonio was accused of killing mobster Carlo Hesser.)

From the minute Téa blew into town she fell right in a groove. Veteran co-defense attorney Nora Gannon admired her talent but questioned her ethics. The two clashed but Téa's "tough" approach had witnesses wilting and soon their collaboration led to Antonio's acquittal. Téa went to extreme lengths to elicit testimony from one of Antonio's former friends, putting her safety on the line in the process, but her client (as always) was her top priority. But her "methods & approach" piqued Nora and some of the Llanview establishment.

Meanwhile Téa continued her playful sexual habits. She began a relationship with ace reporter Kevin Buchanan. At first it was strictly a game, but soon she fell hard for the handsome heir to the Buchanan fortune. However gratifying the sexual aspect of the relationship was for Kevin, he was in love with someone else, his reporter-partner, Cassie Carpenter. When Cassie made it plain that she was willing to desert her husband to be with him, Kevin rejected Téa. She was hurt by this rejection but covered her true feelings from everyone.

Todd Manning, Sun Publisher arranged a meeting with Ms. Delgado in his office on April 13, 1997. After an engaging conversation, he decided to hire the rogue lawyer to defend the "latest" accused murderer of Carlo Hesser, Alex Olanov. Téa pulled out every trick in the book and successfully defended Alex using a technicality to her full advantage. Mr. Manning was so impressed with his legal eagle that he hired her to sit with him as he was questioned in the bombing murder of Guy Armitage. Surprisingly, the two became friends. Téa surprised herself by confiding in Todd. She was "Park Avenue bred in address alone" and she would never again fall for a charmer like Kevin Buchanan. “It’s as easy to be with a rich man who can open doors for you as it is a man who will slam them in your face” she disclosed to Todd.

Todd's respect for her legal savvy and the fact that she was single allowed him to ‘propose’ the perfect solution to his problem. Blair's Aunt Dorian was threatening a custody fight over his beloved Shorty while his ex-wife languished in a coma. “I’ll give you five million dollars if you marry me." It was to be a marriage of convenience, a business deal, no sex involved he explained. Téa deliberately researched Todd Manning’s past, including his felony conviction as a rapist then decided to take him up on his offer. Delgado (as he would come to affectionately refer to her) agreed to marry him. They married on July 15, 1997 at the Llanview County Courthouse.

Téa easily disposed of Dorian's bid to wrest Starr away from her father. But once Blair recovered and realized what Todd had done as she lay on her sickbed she was angry. And she missed her daughter and wanted her back. Often Téa urged Todd to reconcile with his ex-wife, even promising to back out of the picture. She realized that Todd still loved his ex, although he refused to admit it.

Blair accepted her old job back at The Sun as Assistant Publisher when Todd offered it to her. Téa encouraged this move at first though it was clear that she was becoming increasingly attached to her husband and even more enamored of his daughter. Meanwhile Todd continued to obsess about Patrick Thornhart, the man he unreasonably blamed for losing Blair and for all his other problems. This obsession led to a confrontation in the Penthouse between Téa, Todd and an Irish terrorist. As the terrorist moved toward the staircase to go upstairs where Starr lay sleeping, Téa blocked his path putting herself between him and her step daughter. He promptly pistol whipped her knocking her out. After the ordeal, Téa and Todd struggled to deal with these events. Todd whole-heartedly thanked Téa for her attempt to save his daughter.

Blair decided after the terrorist incident that her daughter was no longer safe in Todd's home so she launched an all out assault to obtain custody. Téa devised a plan to needle Blair in public, to encourage her to be physically hostile. She took advantage of the Charity Auction, co-sponsored by Blair’s company, to set her plan in motion. With perfect timing, Téa provoked Blair. Blair’s hostile capabilities far exceeded Téa’s expectations, however, and Téa went flying out a second story window!

Suffering massive injuries, Téa lay comatose as Todd poured out his heart to her. When she came to, he promised revenge upon his ex-wife. Téa, the ever conniving lawyer (even on her sick bed), convinced Todd to downplay the incident for future use at their next child custody hearing. Todd agreed and let Blair off the hook. But the following day Todd went against Téa's advice and decided to represent himself at the custody hearing. Naturally his experienced opposition, Blair's custody attorney, made mincemeat of him in the courtroom. Just when all seemed lost.... in limped his wife, his lawyer Delgado, crutch in one hand, caseload in the other; ready to defend her family.

Over the holiday season Téa began to feel more and more like a real family with Todd and Starr. She packed her bags at one point telling him "Human up, or I'm gone". So to try and keep her happy and in the marriage, Todd agreed to try too.... and they went away to The Bayberry Inn together. There, though the attraction was evident, Todd could not relent and allow himself to trust and grow closer to his wife. Téa again decided to leave... but when Blair regained visitation rights she changed her mind and, once again, remained by his side. In the New Year, Blair conspired with billionaire Ian Armitage to take The Sun away from Todd. Through careful plotting and a cleverly devised plan Téa and Todd were able to thwart this effort and save his newspaper.

Now Téa decided to try and seduce Todd. There was a blizzard outside and she wanted to be with her husband. But she did not realize the depth of his despair and self loathing as he denounced her attempt, to the point of forcing her out of their home naked into the snow. Téa ran to the comforting arms of her friend, Andrew. Todd, during her absence, rushed his daughter to the hospital. Desperate to find Téa, Todd tried Andrew’s home. Andrew denied Téa’s presence, but all the while Todd knew better. As he hid in the shadows of Andrew’s porch, Téa exited the home, with Todd stalking in the background. When Téa arrived at the hospital an ugly confrontation occurred during which Téa slapped Todd across the face.

Later at home Téa announced to Todd that she was leaving him for good. Saddened by this, Todd immediately put up his guard and acted like it meant nothing to him if she departed. Commissioner Bo Buchanan arrived at the penthouse to take Todd in for questioning for a rape which had occurred at the hospital that fateful night. Since Blair was Todd’s alibi the situation became extremely complicated. She made Todd an offer - An alibi for full custody of their daughter Starr. When Todd would not agree, Blair made her way to Bo to tell him her story. Later in the cell Téa tried to calm Todd down. After his confrontation with Blair he had driven his fist into the cement wall. As Téa bandaged his wounds, Todd pleaded with his wife not to leave him.... "Don't leave me". She asked him what had changed. He looked into her eyes deeply and said “If you stay"... (long, dramatic pause)... I’ll give you another five million dollars". By this time, Téa was deeply in love with Todd and his offer of money stung her heart. Blair, in the meanwhile did the right thing and told the truth. Todd was released to try and salvage his life.

Téa remained strong willed and determined to get her divorce from Todd. Her feelings for her friend, Andrew, had grown stronger and she now knew that he was in love with her. She felt that Todd could never return the feelings she had for him. This was not true.... and now Todd was finally ready to admit those feelings. Finally, in a witty argument at The Sun offices, Todd told Téa that he loved her. Believing that he was using this as a way to manipulate her and too afraid to accept what Todd had just told her, Téa ran out of his office. Desperate now to save his marriage, Todd called upon the legal services of an old friend, lawyer Sam Rappaport.

Sam convinced Todd to offer Téa a "four week trial reconciliation" with an uncontested divorce her prize at the end of that time if she didn’t want to remain in the marriage. Before entering the trial reconciliation, Téa finally slept with Andrew. She agreed to the terms as long as Todd clearly understood that for Téa, it was a mere formality towards her divorce. Todd clarified that for him, it was a chance to save his marriage. During their time together, Todd and Téa shared some wine, some laughter, and both shared stories of their childhood. Todd admitted to being abused and Téa opened up about her loneliness, confiding in Todd about her step brothers Enrique and Delmonico. She was the only girl in this small place she shared with her three brothers and her father. Sharing her remembrances of her mother and the desperation to belong to a family brought Todd and Téa closer. Circumstances continued to bring them even closer together.

Knowing Téa would approve of a shared custody agreement with Blair, Todd granted her unsupervised visitation with Starr on weekends and an evening a week. When Téa and Todd arrived back at the penthouse from dropping Starr off at Blair’s, Todd was overwhelmed. He missed his daughter and was feeling very lonely. Téa tried to comfort Todd, placing her hand on his arm. Todd drew Téa closer and embraced her tightly. As he slowly pulled back, their eyes met and they shared a "First Kiss".... "soft, sweet, tender passion".... almost a year to the day of their first meeting. Overwhelmed by her own emotions Téa runs upstairs. Later she attempts to explain that she ran because of what she was feeling not because he had hurt her in any way.

Todd and Téa continued to grow closer. One night on the docks he accidentally dropped her mother's necklace into the river. He heroically dove in after it in a very "un-Todd-like" gesture and Téa was beside herself when he didn't surface immediately. It was this in these few seconds that Téa finally realized that Todd was the man she truly loved. Later at the hospital, Téa discovers her brother who, is an undercover cop posing as a wino. When she meets him on the dock later Todd, the quintessential stalker, witnesses their affectionate encounter and flies into a fit of jealousy.

Todd, desperate to learn the identify of the new stranger in Téa’s life, took it upon himself to rescue her from the ‘wino’s’ hotel room, where he was promptly arrested. After a serious and poignant discussion on "Trust", Téa told Todd that the stranger was her brother, Del.

Todd decides to set Téa free so that she will choose to be with him on her own. So he reluctantly agrees to the divorce. Téa, surprised yet agreeable, accepted Todd’s decision. Todd tries to tell her how much she means to him, that her love "untwists" his tortured psyche but he is still unable to commit himself to giving her what she needs (emotionally and physically) to remain in the marriage.

Later in the Palace Bar, when Todd kneels and asks her to marry him, Téa is amazed and beside herself with pure, unadulterated JOY... He promised her it "all... the gown, the thing in front of your face...music... I love you Téa," he whispers. Overwhelmed with emotion, Téa quickly says yes!

Téa's newfound bliss did not last long. Todd regressed into his usual pattern and threw himself passionately into his work. There was a murder and Commissioner Bo Buchanan was the number one suspect. Téa struggled to make things work. She even finally admitted to Todd that she loved him, but because of his past and abused psyche, Todd was still "terrified" to take their relationship to a physical level. They shared a few happy times together, but most of his energy was spent trying to prove that Bo Buchanan was the murderer. As circumstances changed and evidence began to appear, another person was being cast as the murderer...Todd.

Téa, depressed by Todd’s obsession with Bo and her own obsession with Todd, decided to get involved - as Bo’s defense attorney. When Todd learned of Téa’s treachery (his perception), he pulled out all the stops to get her fired from the case. Téa and Todd drifted further and further apart. As the Buchanan’s plotted and planned to have Todd charged with the murder, Todd struggled to get Téa back. He became paranoid and desperate enough to take his child and run away. On their way out of town, they stopped at the diner and he asked Téa to accompany them. She couldn't bear to say goodbye forever to both of them so she agreed.

That night Téa spied a pair of bloody gloves in Todd’s overnight bag and frantically called Sam Rappaport for help. She feigned a gall bladder attack to forestall Todd until Sam's arrival. Feeling betrayed Todd took Starr and disappeared. He concocted a dangerous plan. Wrapping his body in dynamite, he took 14 people hostage, including Téa. He threatened to kill everyone unless the real murderer confessed. Ultimately Rachel Gannon did step forward, and although he had immediately evaded authorities, Todd was also eventually arrested for the felonies he had committed in an attempt to clear his own name.... but not before some very excruciatingly painful events occurred between Téa and Todd.

Stressed and upset over the hostage situation and Todd's subsequent kidnapping of her, Téa screamed the "unthinkable" at Todd, saying "Why don't you rape me, Todd?!" and Todd (on the edge of a mental breakdown and physical exhaustion) responded in a manner that was even more "unthinkable"... and punched Téa!... Téa would retaliate by hitting Todd over the head with a shovel! Afterwards, Todd was taken into custody because Téa would eventually alert the cops of his whereabouts.

At the pre-trial hearing Téa testified that Todd should be held accountable for all his crimes and should be punished to the fullest. Todd feared that the information about his devastating childhood sexual abuse was about to be made public and he collapsed on the floor in a catatonic state. Téa stood by him during the catatonia. She stayed by his side and listened intently as Sam and Vicki shared with her the trauma of his childhood sexual abuse. Although she was struggling with her own emotions Téa decided to stand by her husband.

When Todd woke up he was "different". He was acting as a child and called himself Tom. Téa tried frantically to prove him a liar. She set up a fake 'lovemaking' session with her old flame and Todd’s arch enemy, Kevin Buchanan. When Todd weathered that test, she determined to let her heart lead her and stick with him through his illness.

Todd "confessed" to Blair that he was faking. Téa remained loyal and supportive and even enjoyed her time with Tom who was openly affectionate, kind and sweet. More alters appeared in due course and one - Rodd - threw her completely off guard. He smothered her with sexual innuendoes and physical attention!

As usual, the brilliant young lawyer came up with the perfect ploy to get Todd acquitted. As Todd's wife she claimed that he had abandoned her and in fact no longer existed, thereby legally creating a precedent for his DID defense. The court agreed and Todd and Téa were divorced on October 2, 1998.

At the trial Todd is acquitted due to his DID. But there were stipulations. He is ordered to undergo therapy and he must live with a responsible adult, and relinquish custody of Starr. Whenever Todd began acting like his condition was improving, he pushed Téa for a remarriage. When the doctor confirmed that the integration of the 'alters' was progressing well, Todd again kneeled, publicly proposing to Téa, who accepted happily!

Friday, the 13th of November.... at midnight, Téa and Todd would begin their second wedding ceremony, but later Todd allowed his fear to control him and he left Téa at the altar, declaring that he could not marry anyone. He was clearly terrified of hurting Téa. Eventually realizing he couldn't stand to lose her, he used his irreverent sense of humor and charmed her into going through with the wedding.

So Téa and Todd remarried, this time for love. The couple went to the cabana to begin their new life together and as they started making love Starr convinced Sam to play a special tape for her Daddy. (Starr had inadvertently recorded the conversation where Todd confessed to Blair that he was faking.)

Viki and Sam were crushed. And Téa most of all. Todd had betrayed her and there was no forgiving him this time. She left the cabana for the safety of the ladies room and there Todd discovered her and forced her to accompany him back to the cabana where he tried to convince her that he really did love her. But she told him she didn’t love herself. She told him that she loved him and that he allowed people to love him but was incapable of returning it. He responded, “I did, and I tried! But you know who I am and you know what that means!” Then Todd left Téa, and that was the last time Téa saw him until the present day.

Viki never disclosed to Téa her suspicions that Todd's DID is "real" (unbeknownst to him) and Téa moped around Llanview, obviously depressed by the entire situation. A few days after Todd’s departure, she received an envelope from Todd. The only thing inside was her wedding ring. She didn’t know how he had found it, but she decided to keep it as a symbol of their relationship. A great big empty hole as she told Carlotta. To help her forget she makes a drastic career change and accepts a job working for the city as an Assistant District Attorney. Following the holiday season a devastated, abandoned Téa signs the annulment papers. However, to this day it is uncertain whether she ever filed them or if the second marriage between Téa and Todd Manning has ever been legally dissolved.

Before Todd left town a Llanview cop Detective John Sykes began hanging around Téa, advising her and berating her for loving Todd. She begins a friendship with him but is never able to relax or be herself because he is totally judgmental. Therefore he never sees who she really is though she does have sex with him eventually. During this time she also moves back into the home she shared with Todd, trying in some small way to maintain their connection. A secret from her past surfaces and she decides that she doesn't want to be critically judged and found wanting yet again by this "paragon of virtue" that is John Sykes (or so everyone keeps telling her) so Téa categorically refuses to share it with him. Instead she confides in her friend RJ. Since John does not understand her need for privacy she breaks it off with him. Out of the blue.... RJ decides that he is "in love" with Téa. She is lonely and flattered by his attention so to fill the growing void inside her she decides to give a relationship with him a chance.

March 2000 .... Todd briefly returned to Llanview and set out to convince Téa that they "were born to be together" and could be each other's "whole world". Reaching for his heart and the hand Todd held out for her, Téa left Llanview behind as she and Todd immediately left town together. Todd has since returned to Llanview without Téa. His story is that she left him but Todd has not shared any other "explanations". To date, Téa's whereabouts or the sequence of events that lead to yet another separation of Téa and Todd... is still unknown. However, few would be surprised to see Téa making her way back to Llanview and to Todd in the not so distant future!

*Téa Delgado Manning*

[Bio.... by Carol and Louise] [Webpage.... by jackie]