Todd sauntered into the hospital, holding a small jewelry box in his hand. Today was his one-year wedding anniversary and he had gotten Téa a very special gift to celebrate. However, he thought it paled in comparison to the recent gift she had given him, their daughter, Faith, born two days ago. As he briskly approached her door, he noticed another guy approaching her door from the opposite direction. He was young, dressed up in a suit, holding a briefcase and a bouquet of flowers. They both reached for the door at the same, stopped and looked at each other.
Todd made a face, “Who are you?” a sudden burst of jealously flooded his body.
“Michael Batton Rudney, Esquire…” said Mike a bit breathlessly, “Are you Téa’s husband?”
“Yeah,” replied Todd as the jealously festered, “What’s an esquire?”
“A lawyer. Well, I’m glad to meet you. Téa…speaks…fondly of you. I’ve been working with her concerning an extradition,” explained Mike.
“Oh,” said Todd feeling a little relieved, “She’s mentioned you too…” Todd opened the door and motioned for Mike to go in.
Téa was lying down on the bed picking at her breakfast, wishing Carlotta had brought over some diner food. Her face lit up to see Mike and Todd. Todd waltzed over to the bed and gave her a possessive kiss on the forehead.
“Good Morning Dear,” he said defensively.
Téa just smiled, recognizing that tone of voice, “Hi Todd. Hey, Mike!”
“Hey Téa. Got you some flowers. Congrats to both of you,” said Mike uncomfortably thrusting the flowers at her.
She took them and smelled them. Todd crossed his arms and glared at Mike.
“They’re nice. Thank you,” she said sweetly.
“Yeah. Thanks,” said Todd.
“Your welcome,” said Mike.
“What brings you by Mike?” asked Téa.
“I’ve got a flight to catch - in an hour - the document is finished and I’m on my way to Sacramento to get Gray’s signature…” explained Mike.
“Gray?” asked Téa putting the flowers on her nightstand.
“Gray Davis - California’s Governor,” said Mike.
“Oh,” said Téa smiling, “Give me a few weeks and I’ll be making a trip to Harrisburg myself to talk to Tom…”
“Tom?” questioned Todd.
“Tom Ridge…Pennsylvania’s Governor,” said Téa grinning.
A look of relief passed over his face.
Just then a nurse walked in carrying Faith who was squirming and crying. Looks of concern flooded Todd and Téa’s faces.
“Is she all right?” asked Todd.
“She’s fine, Mr. Manning. She’s just hungry…” started the nurse.
“Well, give her a bottle…” said Todd.
The nurse made a face, “I thought…you were going to breast feed…”
Todd and Téa looked at each other, their mouths dropped. Téa looked at the nurse who gently handed a fussy Faith over to her.
“Ah, I guess…we never discussed it…” said Téa shyly.
“Ah, Téa…” said Mike, “I gotta’ go. Plane to catch. I’ll see you in a few weeks…”
“Yeah…see you in a few weeks…” said Todd waving good bye.
“Bye,” said Téa not looking up from her daughter.
Mike rushed out the door.
“So, ah, what do I do?” asked Téa a bit nervously looking at her young, fussy daughter.
“Here…” said the nurse sweetly showing Téa what she needed to do. Todd looked on completely fascinated but his face was a mask to his true feelings.
As Faith began to suckle, Todd moved closer, gently placing his hand on Téa ’s shoulder. The nurse left.
“I…ah…guess she’s hungry, huh?” said Todd awkwardly looking at Téa and his young daughter.
Téa’s face ran a gambit of emotions from fear of doing something wrong to the happiness of having such an intimate connection with her daughter.
“Wow. It’s a really weird feeling Todd,” she said glancing at him.
“I bet. Ah…you sure you got…enough…you know…stuff?” he asked nervously.
“I think so,” said Téa, “Honestly, I’ve been leaking for a bit but I never gave breast feeding a thought…”
“O.k., Look, here’s the deal…” said Todd, “You are not doing this feeding thing in public…”
Téa looked up and smiled at him, “I would hate to ruin my rep as an ice queen after all...”
Todd smiled, “Look, I’m gonna talk to the doctor and see when you can be released…”
“All right,” she replied.
Todd walked out.

That Evening…

Dr. Clayton had released Téa and Faith and Todd was excited to bring them home. As they walked into the front door, Téa, who was holding her sleeping daughter, was overwhelmed by how Todd had decorated the house. Flowers were everywhere along with balloons and baby stuff.
“Todd…it’s great… Faith loves it…” whispered an emotional Téa.
“Ah, Téa…Faith’s asleep…” said Todd nervously.
“Trust me, she loves it…” said Téa.
“C’Mon,” he said reaching for her shoulders. He guided them up the stairs and directed them to the nursery. Again, Téa was overwhelmed. Slowly, she placed Faith down in her roomie and comfy baby bed. Téa covered Faith up and Todd watched from the other side of the bed, gently covering Téa’s hand with his own. Slowly, they looked up into each other’s eyes as they left their hands touching their newborn daughter.
“Téa…she’s great…just like you…” whispered Todd.
“Todd…” said Téa blushing, lost in the moment.
“You know Téa, you know what today is?” he asked.
“What?”
He dug into his pants pocket and held up his gift box, “Happy Second Wedding Anniversary…”
Slowly she raised her hand and took the box, “I got you something too…it’s in the bedroom…”
“We should…ah…celebrate…a little…” said Todd shyly.
“O.k.,” she smiled.
Todd grabbed a walkie talkie and turned it on, leaving one next to Faith, “Ah…Sam recommended we get these…”
Téa nodded her head and they walked into their bedroom. Todd put the walkie talkie down and walked out. Téa put Todd’s gift on the bed and took out her gift to him from her nightstand. Then she leaned back on the bed, closing her eyes, as she let her body relax.
Todd walked in carrying glasses of sparkling beverage…
Téa smiled, “It’s not ah, alcoholic…?”
“Nah…ginger ale…” said Todd, “I know you shouldn’t have any ah, alcohol if you’re a…doing the feeding thing…”
She smiled as she took the glass, “Happy Anniversary Todd,” she said as she held it up. They clinked glasses and enjoyed a sip.
He sat down next to her, seeing the fatigue in her eyes.
“Tired, Delgado?” he asked.
“I’m pooped…” said Téa smiling at him.
“So’s Junior,” he said gently placing his hand on her back.
She reached over and handed Todd his gift. He smiled and like an impatient child he tore into it, revealing a man’s gold chain necklace.
“It’s ah…different…” said Todd making a face.
“I think it’ll look good on you,” said Téa smiling, “I’d like to see it on you.”
“Sure,” he said.
Téa smiled and placed her hands on the bottom on his shirt, pausing. She knew it had been quite a while since they had allowed themselves to be freely intimate with one another and she wanted to know this was…all right with him. Todd sat there and silently nodded his head. She reached up and slid his shirt off of him, revealing his well defined bare chest. He watched her intently, enjoying her - enjoying the moment. She reached over and put the chain on him.
“Well?” he said. He slid close to her so they were touching…leg to leg…
“I like it,” said Téa, “I’ve missed…”
“Missed what?” he said as he enjoyed her admiration…
“I’ve missed looking at you like this…” said Téa.
“Don’t tease me Delgado. We both know…we’ve got to wait…” he said picking up his gift, “Your turn…”
She smiled and took her gift and opening it, revealing a dazzling gold wrist bracelet.
“It’s gorgeous Todd,” she said.
He smiled and placed it on her wrist. They shared a tender kiss and leaned back on the bed, clinging to each other.
“So - what’s up with this Mike guy?” he asked.
“Todd…C’Mon. Mike’s a co-worker. In a few weeks we’ll be extraditing a criminal back to California when I get off of maternity leave…” explained Téa really not in the mood to fight with him.
To her surprise he snuggled her and snuggled his face into her neck, gently kissing her, “Fine. Now let me enjoy this - and you…”
“Sure…” she said with no hesitation.
They fell asleep.
At 0200 a.m., Faith’s cries over the walkie talkie woke them up. They exchanged worried and anxious glances and ran into their daughter’s room.
“Is she hungry?” asked Téa.
“Maybe. I know her diaper is wet,” said Todd checking, “I’ll change it.”
Téa watched on anxiously as Todd changed the diaper. Then Todd handed Faith to Téa. They took Faith into their bedroom and Téa got comfortable on the bed before feeding Faith. Todd lay down next to them, totally enthralled as he watched his wife breast-feed his daughter.

Two weeks later…

Todd paced his office at the Sun. He had interviewed a ton of potential nannies but no one worked out. And another potential nanny had just called canceling their interview.
Kelly walked in, “Todd…we took a dip in our circulation numbers…”
Todd fumed, “Go find a scandal Kelly. What’s Asa up too? He’s good for headline or two…”
Téa walked in carrying Faith who was happily smiling. Todd’s face lit up and he waltzed over to them drinking in her presence.
“All right Todd…I’ll go see what Asa’s up too…” said Kelly walking out. Kelly paused and made baby faces at Faith before leaving.
“Téa…the nanny canceled - again,” said Todd, “They must have heard about me…”
“Oh Todd…It’s not you…” said Téa softly.
Todd smiled at Faith and she returned the smile.
“Yeah…it’s me…and you know it…” started Todd.
Just then Viki walked in followed by Judith.
“Look who I found…” said Viki grinning.
“Judith!” exclaimed Téa, a big grin coming over her.
“Hello Mrs. Manning. I heard that you and Mr. Manning might be needing my services…” said Judith smiling.
Todd grinned too, “Judith. Great. C’Mere and meet Faith…”
Judith grinned.

The Palace…

Asa joined Kelly at her table.
“What do you want Cramer?” asked Asa taking a seat, “Do you like playing second fiddle to Manning? How dark is the dark side?”
“Take a pill Asa. What are you up too? What’s this I hear you’re thinking about running for Mayor?” asked Kelly playfully.
“What I’m thinking about is driving Manning insane…” replied Asa.
“Don’t go there. Him and Téa got a cute little girl now…” said Kelly.
“Oh - Manning’s Ice Queen,” said Asa, “I heard through Bo who heard through Hank she’ll be coming off maternity leave soon…”
Kelly mouth dropped, “What are you planning Asa? You’re not planning at getting at Todd through Téa are you?”
“Be a shame if something happened to Manning’s family…” said Asa.
“Asa, if you’re planning on hurting Téa, I’ll go to them right now…” said Kelly.
“It’s your turn to take a pill Cramer. I don’t like seeing people get hurt,” said Asa wickedly smiling.
Kelly got up, “Look Asa, leave Todd and Téa alone. They won. They got the Sun - get over it…”
Kelly walked out.
Renee walked up to Asa, “Are you causing more trouble cowboy?”
“No, who me? I just thought of the perfect way to get back at Manning and the perfect man…who could melt an ice queen’s heart…” grinned Asa forming a plan in his head.
“Huh?” asked Renee.