Téa stands by their bed and begins to gently shake Todd.
"Todd," she whispers.
He mumbles something inaudible, and grabs her pillow. Turning on his back, he hugs her pillow to his chest. Téa giggles. For someone who used to have so much trouble sleeping, it seemed totally hysterical that at this critical moment, she couldn't get him to wake up.
"Todd," she says, a little louder, shaking him again.
"Huh?" he mumbles, eyes still closed.
"My water just broke."
Todd turns on his side, still hugging his pillow. "Don't worry, I'll buy you another one tomorrow, Delgado," he mumbles sleepily.
Téa cannot keep herself from bursting out into laughter as she shakes him again.
"Todd, wake up!" she says, laughing.
Suddenly his eyes open, and he looks at her standing next to him.
"Whatsa matter?" he says drowsily.
"Todd, the baby is coming, my water just broke."
Todd looks at her strangely. "You're not due for another two weeks."
"Hey, this little one is a Manning. Patience is not her strong suit. She's ready now."
Her words suddenly hit him. He sits bolt straight up in bed.
"What happened?"
"I got up to get a drink. My water broke, end of story," she says, smiling.
"Okay...okay....you have to get dressed," he pauses and looks at her, noticing she's already got on one of her maternity dresses. "Okay....I have to get dressed," he says, jumping out of bed. He pulls on a pair of jeans, t-shirt, and a button down. "We have to pack you some clothes," he says, frantically racing around the room grabbing random items of Téa's clothing. Téa sits on their bed, amused at his nervousness. He finally notices her sitting there, a packed bag next to her.
"When did you do that?"
"After it happened, I figured I'd get everything ready and then wake you up. I know you sleep better now, but I still hate to wake you."
He looks at her closely. "You're awfully calm."
"Actually, I'm terrified. At the moment now it's masked as calmness. I can't promise how long this will last, so we might want to get going."
Todd runs his hand through his hair, and nods. He walks over to the bed and attempts to pick her up.
"Todd! What are you doing?" she says, laughing.
"Hey, in you're condition you're not walking."
"Stop! Look I need you in that delivery room with me, not in a room of you're own because you tried to lift up a pregnant woman," she says, still giggling.
He puts her down. "Good point, okay," he smiles nervously at her, "Let's go."

**********************************************************************************

Llanview Hospital, 10 hours later

Sweat pours down Téa's exhausted face. Todd squeezes her hand, gently pushing back her sweat dampened hair. It had been a long night so far. On the way to the hospital, he had called Viki and asked her to bring Starr by the next day so she could meet her new sister. When they had arrived, Todd had managed to get the hospital into an uproar as only he was capable of. He fought with everyone who he came in contact with, his nervousness and worry kicking in. The pain he kept seeing on Téa's face hadn't helped. She tried to reassure him it was normal, but he wouldn't have it. Normal or not, he couldn't stand to see his wife in pain.

Téa had been in labor for hours. She felt like she was going to pass out any second. She looked up into Todd's tired but nervous face. He grinned at her.
"How ya doin?"
"I feel like someone is ripping me in half, why how are you?" she says, closing her eyes as another wave of pain hits her.
Todd can't help but grin. The pain had brought out her sarcasm that's for sure. He leans forward and gently kisses her damp forehead, trying to do anything he could think of to take her mind off the pain. Her iron tight grip on his hand relaxes somewhat as another contraction passes.
Dr. Clayton looks up at them both. "I think we're ready."
Todd and Téa look at each other, both nervous.
He squeezes her hand reassuringly.
"Hey Delgado....breathe," he says, grinning wickedly.
Téa smiles. "Go to hell, Manning," she says, almost breathlessly.
"Okay, Téa, push," says Dr. Clayton.
The next little while seemed to pass in a matter of seconds. Todd watched Téa, a mixture of pride, fear, and love, as she gave birth to their daughter. Before they knew it, a wailing cry could be heard.
"Congratulations, it's a girl!"
Todd stares in shock as the doctor hold up his daughter. His eyes mist up with tears.
"She sounds like you already, Delgado," he says, hiding his overwhelming emotion behind a joke.
He looks at Téa, who has tears running down her exhausted face. Their eyes meet, their connection never deeper than it is in this moment.
"Todd, do you want to cut the umbilical cord?"
Todd stares at the doctor, his fear coming front and center. "Uh...it's all you Doc."
Dr. Clayton smiles and proceeds to cut the cord and run the routine check on their daughter. Finally, Dr. Clayton sets Todd and Téa's daughter on Téa's stomach.
She reaches down and watches in amazement as their crying daughter wraps her little hand around her finger. Todd watches, a tear escaping his eye. He couldn't believe he was here....finally getting to see his child born. Téa struggles to keep her eyes open, to watch her daughter. Todd reaches down and gently touches his beautiful daughter's face. He can't take his eyes off her. In the midst of the moment, Todd hears Téa's soft whisper.
"I'll never leave you," she whispers, and then looks up at Todd, lifting his chin so their eyes meet, "either of you."

**********************************************************************************

Later that morning, Llanview Hospital

Todd stands outside the nursery gazing at his daughter. Téa was sleeping soundly now, he had just left her. He looks at her in amazement. She was so tiny. And she was part of him, and Téa. The best parts of them both. He was blown away by it. He felt the same way when he looked at Starr, that she was the best parts of him and Blair. But that feeling never failed to completely amaze him. That he could be part of something as good and wonderful as his two beautiful girls.
"Daddy!"
Todd turns to see Starr running towards him, followed by Viki.
"Hey Shorty," he says as he bends down to pick her up, "Hey Sis."
"Todd, how's Téa," Viki asks, smiling.
"She's wiped, sleeping right now...but good. So Shorty, you wanna see your little sister?"
Starr nods excitedly. Todd turns back to the window and points.
"See the little one there, second one, in the pink blanket? That's her."
Starr looks intently. "She's little....was I that little?"
Todd blinks back tears, regretting not being around for this moment with Starr. "Yup, you were," he whispers.
"She's kinda wrinkly," Starr giggles.
"Yeah...but she won't always be," Todd says, grinning.
Viki steps up to the glass. "Well, my new niece is absolutely stunning. Congratulations Todd, to you and Téa. Lord knows after everything you two have been through, you deserve this."
"Yeah," Todd whispers, not completely believing her, but at this moment, he was more than willing to give his optimistic sister the benefit of the doubt.

**********************************************************************************

Téa's room, later that day

Todd is sitting in a chair holding the baby, watching Téa sleep. He still couldn't believe that after everything they had been through, he was sitting here holding their daughter. He grins, looking down at his daughter.
"You're mom, you know...she hung in there with me...she hung in there with me like nobody else has..." he says softly. Her big brown eyes, so much like her mother's, stare up at him.
Téa's eyes flutter open, and she spots Todd next to her, holding the baby.
"Hey," she whispers drowsily.
Todd smiles. "Hey, Delgado Jr., look who's up."
Téa grins. "Cute. How is she?"
"She's perfect," he says softly. Téa manages to push herself up so she's sitting. Todd leans over and rests their daughter in her arms.
Téa looks down at their daughter, tears sliding down her cheeks. "Hi," she whispers, "oh...you are so beautiful......wow," she looks up Todd, "I'd never thought I'd be here."
He smiles, his own eyes shiny with tears. He reaches out and strokes her hair. "Yeah...well you deserve it Delgado...all of it."
"You too," she says softly, meeting his eyes.
Suddenly, the door to Téa's room opens a little. They both look over and see a little blond head peek through.
"Can I come in?" she whispers.
Todd grins. "Yeah, Shorty, come on in."
"Hey Starr," Téa smiles at her stepdaughter, "Come meet your sister."
Starr runs over and Todd lifts her up on the bed in between him and Téa.
"Do you wanna hold her?" Téa asks.
"Is it okay?"
"Of course, in fact, as her big sister, it's your responsibilty," Téa says, smiling. She gently hands over the baby to Starr, with Todd behind her to help her out. Starr leans against Téa, holding the baby.
"She looks like me," Starr says, matter of factly.
"Well, she's got her mother's eyes," Todd says.
"And her father's mouth," Téa says.
"And my nose," Starr adds. Todd and Téa laugh.
"You know Shorty, I think you're right, she does have your nose."
"I have to show you something," Starr says, and Todd reaches over to take the baby from her. Starr reaches into her pocket and takes out a piece of paper with a picture on it. She proudly shows it to Todd and Téa.
"This is a picture of the tea party we're gonna have for my sister," she says importantly. It is a picture of people sitting around the table, each person carefully labeled by Starr. "This is Mommy, this is me, this is Daddy, this is Tee, and this is the baby. But I couldn't write her name....cuz I don't know it yet. What's her name?"
Todd and Téa look at each other, eyes locked.
"Faith," whispers Téa.
Todd nods in agreement. "Faith Marisa Manning," he says softly. A tear slips down Téa's cheek. "For her mother," he adds.
Téa smiles. "Sounds good to me."
"Me too. What do you think Shorty?" He looks over at his daughter, but gets no response. Starr has already begun diligently sounding out "Faith" and painstakingly writing it.
"I guess she likes it," Todd says grinning.

*********************************************************************************

Téa's room, later that evening.

Faith had been taken back to the nursery a little while before. There was an enormous bouquet of peach roses next to Téa's bed. Todd and Téa lay on her hospital bed, both exhausted from the day's events.
"I'm glad Viki, Starr, and Jessica came by. And thank God for Carlotta, I don't think I could've handled hospital food," Téa says.
"Sam stopped by while you were sleeping, so did Hank and Roseanne, they said they'd be back tomorrow."
"Hmmm...." Téa responds sleepily. She opens her eyes, and turns to face Todd. "She's beautiful, isn't she?"
"Yeah...she is."
"You are one lucky guy, Manning. You have two beautiful daughters."
"Yup, and one day both Starr and Faith will make beautiful nuns," Todd says, grinning.
Téa laughs. "Oh, God...my papi used to say that about me."
"My point exactly, look who you ended up with."
Téa reaches up and strokes his face. "I wouldn't have it any other way. I love you Todd Manning," she says softly.
Todd looks deeply into her eyes, quite sure that he has never been as content in his life as he is in this moment, laying here with his wife, the love of his life, and the father of two perfect daughters.
"I love you, Delgado," he whispers back, holding her close.