Todd fidgeted in the waiting room, waiting for Dr. Michaels to arrive. As he stood up to walk out, Dr. Michaels walked in.
“Sorry I’m late Todd. Are you ready?” asked Michaels unlocking his office door.
Todd grunted and followed Michaels in. Todd was wearing a suit but had taken off the tie.
“You’re dressed up,” commented Michaels.
“Court,” grunted Todd.
Michaels took a seat and motioned for Todd to do the same.
“How’s your family? How’s Téa?” asked Michaels.
Todd swallowed, “Delgado’s starting to show. It’s really…ah…it’s, ah…” he stammered.
“…attractive?” finished Michaels.
“Right, that,” confirmed Todd, thinking of his wife, “I never thought…”
“Thought what?” asked Michaels.
“…that that it could be like this. I mean, I wasn’t around for Shorty or…” Todd paused again.
“What? Pregnancy? You never went through a pregnancy with a woman?” asked Michaels.
“Yeah. I mean…Delgado - Téa - I’ve never seen her so vulnerable. I’ve never seen a woman as vulnerable…” muttered Todd. He made a face and closed his eyes.
“You’re not thinking of Téa right now are you?” asked Michaels.
“No,” said Todd opening his eyes.
“Who?”
“Georgie Phillips…” whispered Todd, “I saw her face. I didn’t know that at the time I found her, she was pregnant. As…vulnerable as my wife is now…”
“Georgie ultimately reminded you of someone else, Angela, I believe?”
prodded Michaels.
Todd stood up, clearly agitated and crossed his arms, “Yeah. Angela. I told you about her.”
“You told me she was your father’s girlfriend. You told me Angela and Georgie looked similar…” recalled Michaels.
“And I told you how Peter Manning abused the people in his life. Me. My mother. Angela...” added Todd, “Except Angela lasted the longest and she was the nicest…”
“I think Angela and Georgie have more in common with each other than what you’re letting on,” prodded Michaels.
Todd paced the office, “Maybe they do.”
“Angela was pregnant too, wasn’t she Todd?” asked Michaels.
“Angela was pregnant. To be honest, I don’t know if it was Peter Manning’s or not,” added Todd, “I just remembered how she tried to take care of herself when Peter got…belligerent.”
“How?”
“I don’t know why Angela came to see him after…she got pregnant. She knew what he was capable of, but she did. Maybe she thought she could save him - maybe she thought Peter wouldn’t hit a pregnant woman. Who knows? But one night my father came home drunk and didn’t like what she cooked for supper. And he…beat her…so bad…” said Todd struggling to spit the words out. He paused to let a tear escape down his cheek, “He beat her so bad…she had to go to the hospital. I didn’t see her for two weeks after that. And I had to track her down.”
“Todd?”
Tears flowed freely down Todd’s cheek, “I found her in a half-way house for women. I begged her to come back but she said no. Said that he had beat the baby out of her and she was never going back…she was so...vulnerable…” There was a long silence between them.
“Todd, is Téa in danger?” asked Michaels finally.
Todd turned on his therapist suddenly, “No! Not from me! I’ve hurt Téa in the past - God help me - but I will never again ever harm my wife. I swear that to you!” said Todd firmly and decisively.
“I believe you,” said Michaels.
“Look - I just never - Téa…she throws up every so often. So bad, she’ll get dry heaves - she’s just very vulnerable and I get worried and scared that’s all…” added Todd looking directly into his therapist’s eyes.
“Todd, pregnancy can be scary. Especially if it’s a first time for both of you,” said Michaels.
Again, there was silence between them.
“Todd, don’t let the images of Georgie and Angela take away from this experience - this beautiful experience you can have with Téa,” said Michaels.
Todd just nodded his head.

That Afternoon,
The Courthouse…

Nora took Asa and Kelly aside and out of earshot from the judge, Sam, and Téa.
“Look you two - you need to calm down and now,” instructed Nora, “Or you will blow it in front of the judge.”
“It’s all ready blown Nora!” roared Asa.
“What does it mean, the judge denied summary judgment, anyway?” asked Kelly full of concern.
“O.k.,” explained Nora, “Todd petitioned the court asking to get the Sun back. He listed as his cause of action that he gave away Téa’s part of the Sun without her consent and now he wants it back. It’s a legal property concept called Tenancy in the Entirety.”
“Manning’s a damn Indian Giver!” yelled Asa.
Nora looked at Asa disgusted, “Calm down. We came back with Todd saying he gave Kelly, Max, and Blair a gift. Todd and Téa rebutted by saying Todd was incapacitated at the time because he was suffering from DID.”
“He looked pretty capacitied this afternoon,” remarked Kelly.
“Yeah… and his little…oh, can I please be excused so I can go to therapy plea really scored big with the judge…” said Asa sarcastically.
“Well, three months ago the therapist filed the necessary paperwork with the judge to have Todd declared legally competent,” said Nora.
“Yeah…I know Manning’s got a full deck now…” muttered Asa catching a quick glimpse of Téa.
“O.k., Kelly, back to your question. We argued that the undisputed facts would should that Todd Manning gave the Sun away as a gift. Sam and Téa argued that there were material disputed facts - Todd’s incapacity - which said he wasn’t in a position to give the Sun away. The judge agreed with Sam and Téa and now we go to trial,” finished Nora.
“So are we going to win this thing or what?” asked Asa.
Nora bit her lip.
Sam and Téa looked at each other and the judge as if annoyed.
“Asa, it’s a case of first impression. We’ve got some things working in our favor. Like if Todd was incapacitated, as they claim, he would have to have gotten Viki’s permission to marry Téa last November, since Viki was his legal guardian. And no permission - no marriage - his whole case falls apart…as I see it,” explained Nora.
“Ms. Buchanan,” came the judge’s voice, “Are you done conferring with your clients yet?”
“Ah, yes, Your Honor,” said Nora looking at the judge and raising her voice. Nora, Asa, and Kelly, took their seats. Asa sneered at Sam. Kelly looked at the table with a sincere look of confusion on her face.
“All right. Now that summary judgment has been denied, we need to set a court date. Jury selection begins in four weeks with a preliminary opening date in eight weeks. Is that satisfactory to both parties?” asked the judge.
“It’s satisfactory, Your Honor,” replied Sam.
“Yes, Your Honor,” replied Nora.
“File the appropriate paperwork with the clerk. This meeting is adjourned. We will reconvene in four weeks for jury selection,” concluded the judge banging her gavel.
Téa turned to Sam, “If you don’t mind, I need to get going. I promised Todd I’d meet him after his therapy session.”
“Sure Téa,” said Sam, “No problem. Is Hank o.k. with this? You being an ADA and all?”
“He’s fine with it. This is a civil action - not a criminal one and as long as I don’t get behind in work - that’s all that matters. Thanks for asking though,” said Téa.
“Sure,” replied Sam.
She walked out.

That evening,
The Manning Estate…

Téa was sitting on the living room floor going over the packages they had bought today after his therapy session and after she finished with court. They had gone to the local mall and bought a bunch of baby stuff and maternity wear. Todd sat beside her and held up a dress.
“Are you sure about this dress? It looks a bit frumpy,” said Todd holding it up.
“Frumpy?” asked Téa making a face.
“Yeah. Frumpy. No wife of mine is going to look frumpy when she’s four months pregnant,” said Todd firmly.
Téa giggled, “O.k. Todd. It’s maternity wear - it’s meant to be comfortable and frumpy. I think.”
“Right,” said Todd. He held up a package of diapers, “Who are these from? Isn’t it a bit early?”
“Del. And I figure you can never have enough diapers,” said Téa grinning at him.
“C’Mon! It’s too early for diapers!” exclaimed Todd.
Téa playfully punched his arm.
“O.k., Delgado, what about baby names?” asked Todd anxiously.
“I hadn’t thought about that,” said Téa.
“Want to name him or her after your family?” asked Todd seriously.
“Ah, no,” said Téa, “My parents don’t deserve the honor.”
“Neither do mine,” said Todd.
“Let’s hold off on the baby names for now o.k. - and just see what inspires us,” suggested Téa nibbling on a cracker.
Todd smiled at her, “Whatever.”
She got up and lay down on the couch. Todd inched his way along the floor and sat down in front of the couch in front of her, grinning at her.
“Tired?”
She nodded her head ‘no.’
“Oh. I wanted to show you this,” said Todd reaching into his pants pocket, “I went over the Banner today to see Viki and Blair was there with Starr. Starr drew this for us…”
He held up a crayon pic of Starr, Todd, Téa, a baby, and Blair all playing in back of a house.
Téa’s heart melted, “How sweet.”
“Starr suggests Prince, Freddy the Frog, and Little Tee,” said Todd, “It’s all on the back.” He flipped the drawing around that had Starr’s suggested names on the back.
“She’ll make a good big sister,” said Téa, “How’s Blair with this?”
“She’s trying. I think she’d like more kids but it’s not wise after how she lost Brendan…” mumbled Todd sadly.
“You do have a big soft spot in your heart for kids, don’t you? Even kids not your own…” observed Téa.
“I guess,” he said, reaching up with his hand caressing her cheek, “You eating enough?”
“Gained two pounds from last week’s check up,” she said enjoying his touch.
“Taking those viat-a-whatever thingies?” asked Todd.
“You don’t let me forget them Todd,” she added.
His hand traveled down her neck - so big over her petite body. He awkwardly unsnapped the buttons on her shirt and untucked it from her pants, not breaking eye contact once. He unsnapped the bra revealing her enlarged breasts and slightly protruding tummy. He began to rub his hand delicately and intimately over the naked, exposed parts of her body.
“Do you feel him inside you? Kicking you?” asked Todd, his lips slightly parted.
“No, not yet. Doctor says soon,” she replied enjoying immensely what he was doing to her, "Do you want a boy Todd?”
“Doesn’t matter. I allready have a girl. Doesn’t matter…” he whispered. His fingers flicked her nipples. She let a small moan escape her lips. His hand traveled lower and he began to lightly rub her slightly protruding tummy.
She reached up and lightly caressed his face, enjoying his sexy five o’clock shadow.
His lips trembled, as he flicked the buttons on her skirt, revealing the rest of her tummy.
Their connection was intense, intimate, and with that, Todd stood over her and finished undressing her, throwing her clothes on the floor along with her recently acquired maternity wear.
Then he stood over her naked body, and undressed for her, watching her eyes sparkle at him - dance all over his body - and burn with desire for him. She sat up on the couch and he sat next to her - brushing his lips on her face - her neck - his hands exploring her expanding body - sending shivers through his own. And he could feel her hands exploring his body - his chest. He could feel her fondle him gently. He could feel how he made her hands so wet in-between kisses that had grown so deep and passionate between them.
With an immediate urgency, he leaned backed on the couch, his back against the back of the couch, sitting down, positioning her so she hovered inches away from his enlarged and engorged manhood that was waiting to devour her.
Eyes connected…
Fingernails brushed up against his chest…
Hands trembled on her waist…
Mouths entwined as she allowed him inside the most moist and intimate part of her body and both let out a small gasp of the pleasure that tore through them.
He placed a loving, protective hand on her waist and the other tender, gentle hand on her slightly protruding tummy as he began an intense but slow rhythm between them - not allowing her to break the kiss - not allowing her up for air. He could feel her wanting…desiring…their rhythm to increase but he wanted it slow so he could enjoy every inch of her.
“You’re so desirable. Now more than ever… he whispered, opening his eyes meeting her gaze.
“You’re so sexy. This is a dream come true for me…” she whispered to him. He swallowed, claiming her once again with his lips and building up the rhythm between them - almost in a fury…her hips, grinding up against him - her soft belly brushing up against his abs…her sweet scent over powering him. Tried as hard as he could, he came before her but soon thereafter, he heard the passionate screams of her own orgasm.
He clutched her arms and looked deeply into her soulful, expressive eyes, “I love fu…no - wrong words… I love what we just did. I love how we…just made love to each other…” he said, hoping his words came out right in his induced euphoric state.
“I loved it too Todd…” she replied.
They basked in the afterglow. Todd desperately desiring the rest of her pregnancy to be just like this…

To Be Continued...