Téa had been put on a special assignment due to her pregnancy. The Llanview PD had caught a man wanted for series of rapes committed in California. California had extradition treaties with several states that boardered it but none with Pennsylvania. She had been assigned duties as Pennsylvania’s extradition liaison and together, with Mike Rudney, California’s liaison, it was their job to prepare an extradition document, to be signed both governors before the extradition could take place. The work had been slow and tedious due to the trial.

Téa’s office was a mess. Books were unorganized and legal pads were scattered everywhere. Mike Rudney sat behind a small desk that was placed in the corner of her office, furiously writing on his legal pad. Téa sat behind her desk typing on her computer. She pressed “enter”, paused, and looked up. She was wearing a professionally tailored maternity suit. Mike put down his pen and looked up at her.

“Did you find the corresponding Pennsylvania statute?” he asked softly.
“Finally! It’s downloading to the printer now. Thank God for Lexis!” she exclaimed. She stood up and stretched.
Mike noticed she wore her pregnancy well, “You’re due soon, aren’t you?”
Téa smiled, “I can’t wait either. I can only sleep on my back. My ankles get swollen too easily - my lower back aches all the time - I eat really weird food. Pregnancy is definitely not glamorous. I’ve gained a million pounds and feel like an elephant."
“Right,” he said softly. He awkwardly smiled at her as she reached behind her with her hand to rub her back.
“Look, Téa,” he said speaking up in a professional tone of voice, “The document is almost ready for signatures. If you want to have someone else take over…” he started.
“Not on your life!” she exclaimed, ‘I’m pregnant - not handicapped. Look - I’m due in a month and then I’ll have six weeks maternity leave - while that ’s happening it will take our governors that long to sign the document, so by the time I come back the only thing left will be the extradition itself and I’ll be able to participate in that…”
“So soon? After having the baby?” he asked.
“Transporting a felon to California is going to take - what? A day? Two the most? I think I can handle it. Besides, I want to see this project through,” she finished sitting back down, “Unless…you don’t want me on the project anymore…” her voice dropped.
“No! No! I’ve really enjoyed working with you so if we can finish it together, I’d like that,” he said, “Besides it would take too long to bring someone else up to speed,” he said.
“Good,” she replied, “I’m going to check the printer.” She took a breath, paused, got up and walked out.

Lunchtime
The Palace

Renee seated Todd and Kelly at a table. This was a working lunch for them, as Kelly brought Todd up to speed with the recent changes he wanted implemented.

Todd and Kelly ordered but Todd couldn’t seem to focus on Kelly’s presentation. His mind was elsewhere. He had a therapy appointment this afternoon while Téa had a check-up. After that, they had a Lamaze class. Blair Cramer waltzed in and spotted Todd with Kelly. She confidently strode to the table and sat down. Kelly stopped speaking and both Todd and Kelly glared at Blair. The waiter brought their lunch.

“How’s the Sun?” asked Blair smiling.
“Great,” said Todd, “I’m in Cramer Hell.”
“Poo on you. I thought you and Kelly were buds…” said Blair grinning.
“Get a life Blair. Todd’s my boss…nothing else…” said Kelly, “We certainly don’t drink beer together or worse yet…go fishing…”
Todd blushed.
Blair giggled as she picked a pickle out of Kelly’s plate and shoved it in her mouth, “Right. Téa would let the two of you go fishing…”
Todd reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone, dialing a few numbers.
“What are you doing Todd?” asked Blair, “We need to talk…”
“Right. While you do…whatever…I don’t know - have what passes for conversation - I’m going to have an intelligent conversation… Hey Téa! It’s Todd…” he started.
Blair frowned and grabbed the cell phone out of his hand, “Hey Téa - It’s Blair. Todd will you call you back. We gotta talk,” She hung up the phone.
Todd grabbed the cell phone from Blair.
“That was rude Blair,” said Kelly.
Blair rolled her eyes.
Todd got back on the phone, “Sorry about that Téa. Can you come down to the Palace? Bail me out of Cramer Hell…?” He paused for her response and hung up the phone.
“Well Todd, for what it’s worth, I’m glad you got the Sun back,” said Blair drinking Kelly’s water.
“Why?” asked Todd.
“For Starr,” said Blair.
“Oh,” said Todd.
“Starr says you and Téa are having a girl,” added Blair.
Todd shoved some lettuce in his mouth, “Uh-huh…Now, do we have something important to talk about? Is Shorty o.k.?”
“Starr is fine…” answered Blair.
“Blair, don’t you have something to do? Don’t you have any stories to cover? Scoops to dig up?” asked Kelly.
“I’ve always got something to do…” started Blair.
Asa strode up to the table, “What’s with you Cramer - gone over to the dark side?”
Kelly looked at Asa, “It’s not what you think, Asa.”
Todd brought a hand to his forehead and briefly shut his eyes, taking a deep breath, “Will you all shut up? You’re making my head hurt…”
Asa got louder, “Whatsa’ matter Manning? Can’t take the pressure? Gonna turn into that little boy alter of yours?”
Todd stood up defensively, his chair tipping over as he stood up.
“I do not have DID anymore!” he exclaimed getting in Asa’s face. He felt angry…so damn angry at Asa…rage flowed through his veins…
Kelly and Blair stood up.
“Calm down Todd,” said Kelly.
“By the time I’m done with you - you’ll have more alters than your kookoo sister Viki. I’m going to take away everything you hold dear and I’ll get the Sun back - on appeal…” goaded Asa.
Todd’s head was clearly throbbing but he got in Asa’s face, “Don’t make promises you can’t keep old man. And don’t make threat you can’t deliver on.”
“It would be a shame if you lost your family Manning…especially because you had a relapse. What’s the bad boy’s name? Pete?” asked Asa.
Todd in a lightening flash, without thinking grabbed Asa by the lapels of his suit, “I won’t let you hurt my family by bringing my alters back,” said Todd coldly and firmly.
“Sure - Pete,” said Asa smiling.
Kelly got between them shoving them apart, “Stop it! Stop it now!”
“Asa,” said Blair, “Cut it out! I won’t let you hurt my daughter’s father,” said Blair getting in Asa’s face.
Todd stumbled back, “Gotta get outta here…” he mumbled, turning around as he took long strides through the restaurant and flung open the patio doors, stepping out briskly into the November air.
“Can it you she-devil! I see I pushed Manning’s buttons,” said Asa all proud of himself.
“What’s going on?” asked Téa walking up to the trio crossing her arms, “Where’s Todd?”
“I drove him insane. Think’s he’s Pete again,” said Asa sarcastically.
Téa’s face dropped and she got upset, “What?” She could feel an adrenaline rush through her veins.
“No Téa…Asa’s being stupid. Really stupid right now. Last we saw Todd he went out on the patio…” said Kelly.
Téa immediately made her way to the patio.
“That was shitty what you just did Asa. Real shitty,” added Blair.
“Any you’re a saint? Weren’t you screwing with Manning in your own little way Cramer?” grunted Asa giving Blair and Kelly dirty looks. He turned around and walked out, past Renee, without saying a word.
Renee walked up to Kelly and Blair, “What just happened?”

Téa walked onto the patio. Todd had his back to her, his hands in his pockets, his shoulders slumped. He was staring out onto the grounds, ignoring the cold. He took a deep breath to help him deal with the headache. He felt her hands on his waist, her presence near him, soothing his wounded soul…
“Todd…what’s wrong?” she asked, “What did Asa say?”
“Nothing,” he muttered.
“Tell her you fool…”
“Don’t do this Todd. Tell me what he said…what’s got you so upset…” she said raising the inflexion of her voice.
“She’s pregnant…due in a few weeks…you don’t want to upset her…”
“It might help…to tell her… she won’t…break…”
“Téa,” he said, finally turning around to look at her, “He was…insulting and I just wanted to hit him…you know…it was impulse…it was a rush…”
“Todd, you can tell me what he said - what was so insulting…” she said.
“You’re pregnant…” he said compassionately.
“And? I’m not…going to go into labor Todd if you tell me,” said Téa firmly.
He found her eyes. There was a silence between them.
“Fine Todd. I’m not playing this game. Don’t tell me. Right now I don’t give a shit…” said Téa turning around, trying hard not to show him how hurt she was. She walked out of the door.
“Delgado! Wait!” he screamed - it sinking that she really was leaving…, “Don’t go!”
She paused just beyond the door. He briskly walked up behind her, placing his hands on her arms, pulling back out to the patio, burying his face in her hair, brushing his face close to her, capturing her presence, drinking her in…
“He was pushing me Téa…” whispered Todd, “And I’ve got this headache…he said he would push me so hard he’d bring Pete back…and that my family wouldn’t be safe…”
He could feel Téa swallow, in their embrace.
“Todd, you will not let that happen…” she replied, not wanting to deal with the thought.
He turned her around, dropping a hand to the baby, pulling her into him, his gestures quick and uneven, “I swear I’ll never hurt her…I’ll keep her safe from harm. Her and her mother. I will always be there for both of you…” he said as his lips quivered his voice full of passion and conviction with a hint of fear.
“I believe you Todd…” she replied, “You’ll take good care of our baby…”
Visibly aroused, he confidently stepped into her, from her side, her pregnant belly preventing a frontal position, and he took a passionate kiss from her lips, moved by the volume of his own emotions…

Llanview General…

Todd had arranged for semi-private Lamaze lessons. He felt…uncomfortable going through lessons with a crowd. Besides, he didn’t want anyone to recognize him and ridicule him…or Téa…for having a baby…her for having a “convicted” rapist’s baby…That thought haunted him as well, but he had not shared it with her.

There was another couple in the lesson. He didn’t know them very well. He had been truly bothered by Asa’s words. He did not want to have a relapse and he didn’t want Téa to think it was possible. He talked to Michaels, his shrink, about it and all though his therapist’s words had soothed him, Asa’s words still haunted him.

“Ah, Todd,” came Téa’s voice, “This is the part were you tell me to breathe…”
He was sitting down in back of her and the instructor was looking at them while the other couple was practicing.
“Oh, ah, I knew that…” he muttered. A strand of hair fell over his forehead and he looked totally befuddled his mind a thousand millions away.
She smiled at him, “You’re so…so adorable right now Manning…” she giggled.
“Just breathe…Delgado!” he exclaimed.
As they got into the routine an overwhelming good feeling came upon him and he enjoyed the rest of the lesson.