Todd's Saga 10: Suspended Reality (Mild Adult)

         They talked almost until dawn and then both drifted back off to sleep.  Todd slept without dreams, his hand lightly touching Blair and the baby.  It was mid-morning when Blair awoke.  Luckily the master bedroom was at the back of the house, facing the setting sun.  The room was still relatively dark because of that.  Not wanting to disturb Todd, Blair slipped out of bed and decided to take a quick shower before brunch.  She was trying to scrub her back when she felt a breeze and a hand took the sponge from her.

“You should have awakened me.  We’ve lost half the morning already.” he began to scrub where she had left off.

        From the tone of his voice, Todd’s mood had definitely improved, and she soon discovered that he was very skilled with a sponge. Before she knew it, she was fully aroused but to her surprise, Todd stopped taking it further and dropped the sponge into her hands.

        “My turn,” he said and turned his back to her.

         “OOOH, you jerk!  Well, two can play this game.” Blair said, frustrated.

          “That’s what I’m counting on.” Todd laughed at her tone but was unprepared when she squeezed the sponge over his head and water cut off the laugh.  “Hey!”

           “You wanted me to clean you, now hold still.”   She started out scrubbing rather vigorously and then she found herself noticing his scars.  She had never really paid much attention to them since they were just a part of Todd and his life.  Now she paused, her hand gently touching the scars on his back that were the reminder of Ireland.  As she came around to the front of him, she saw his matching bullet wounds from the state trooper and Irene, as well as the knife wound from Powell and Nora’s stab wound.  Her hand settled on the wound from Irene and she recalled digging the bullet out of him.   “She was a monster.  How could she shoot her own son?”

          Todd reached for Blair’s face and raised it, meeting her eyes. “Don’t think about it.  You have no idea how often I asked myself that after I found out she was the one who held me all those years.”

          Blair saw the hurt in his eyes, and she reached up to hold his wrist.   Under her fingertips, she felt strange lines encircling it. For the first time, she realized there were faints scars around his wrist she had never seen because of his watch.  She didn’t know why but she grabbed his other hand and held it up and saw matching scars on it too.  “What are these?”

        Todd freed his hands and wrapped them around her waist.  “Stop.  They’re unimportant.   All that matters to me is the fact that the causes of all my scars are behind us now.  I’m alive, and you’re standing here in front of me.”  He then cupped her face, his eyes intent on the prize in front of him.  He lowered his head and tasted her lips, his tongue flickering out catching the droplets of water caught at the corners.   His mouth moved slowly off her face and trailed kisses down her neck.

         Blair let out a soft moan and soon found herself back to full arousal, as Todd strove to take her mind off his scars and back onto the track he had started when he washed her.   His kisses and hands were all over her body.  His fingers played lightly across her nipples,  then made their way enticingly down her exposed belly as his lips took over at her breast.  She could feel him against her poised and ready, waiting for her to reach a certain level of pleasure.  His hand probed between her legs, and she felt herself getting ready to topple.  “Now,  Please! “ she pleaded.

        That was what he had waited for.  “God, I love you.” he huskily whispered in her ear as he spilled himself into her.  He cradled her close, loving the feel of her body against his and the way they fit together.  He wanted the moment to last as long as possible.  Just the two of them, without a care.

        Blair just held him.  She didn’t want to break the moment either.  They had wasted so many months, and now they couldn’t seem to get enough of each other.   After a few more moments, Blair felt the water turning cold, and a shiver ran down her.

        Todd felt it also, he lifted his head off her shoulder and smiled.  “Not really in the mood for a cold shower.  Let’s get out of here.”  He released her and quickly turned off the water.  He grabbed a dry towel and started drying her as she stepped from the shower stall.  “Wouldn’t want you to catch a cold,” he said by way of explanation as he knelt to dry her legs.

        Blair laughed as he turned her and started drying her back.  “Oh really,  I thought you just wanted to get in another feel.”

        Todd shrugged grinning, “Hey I’m human, remember.  Can’t blame a guy for copping one.”  He paused and began to dry himself off and his face got serious.  “Besides, I won’t let anything happen to you, not even a cold.”

        Blair removed the towel from him and finished drying his shoulders and face.  “I understand Todd.  I intend to take very good care of myself and this baby.  No matter how I tease, I love that you worry about us.”  She kissed him gently and grabbed a second towel, wrapping it around herself. “I’m famished.  Let’s get something to eat and then I’ll catch you up on what’s been happening in Llanview.”

        Todd followed her out of the room and soon they made their way down to the buffet already set out for them.  They could hear activity in the kitchen.  Blair turned to Todd, “You get started, I just want a word with the cook.”  Todd nodded and moved toward the food.  Blair opened the door and saw the woman she had met the day before. “Good Morning,  I wanted to apologize for the mess I left last night.”

        The cook looked up in surprise and smiled.  “You don’t need to apologize.  I’m getting paid very well by Mr. Butler.  I hope you’re enjoying your stay.  I tried to remember your favorites when I set out breakfast today.  Mr. Butler was quite insistent about some of the items.  He said he wanted you to feel at home here.”

          Blair laughed.  “My goodness, I caught a look at that spread you put out.  Sometimes, I think he’s just trying to fatten me up.”

        “Well, it’s obvious he cares deeply for you and that baby you’re carrying.”

         Blair looked at her in surprise. “What?”

          “Oh, forgive me.  That was a little personal.  But anyone who looks at you can see how happy you are and you’re glowing as they say.  Do you have a due date yet?”

          Blair smiled.  “The doctor is thinking it will be around Mother’s Day.”

          At that moment Todd walked in the door.  “Blair, enough talking, you should eat.” He nodded to the cook, took Blair’s hand, and tucked it in his arm.

         Blair smiled apologetically at the cook as Todd cut her conversation short and led her back to the food.  Viewing the table, she watched as Todd grabbed a plate and began putting various fruits and some of her favorite pancakes on it.  “Todd, I can’t eat all that.”

        “Yes, you can.  You’re eating for two.  Now sit and get started.”

         He sat down opposite her, and she noticed his plate had twice as much food.  He had a healthy appetite, but it never seemed to affect his weight.  She could testify to that.  There wasn’t an ounce of excess fat anywhere on his body.

        “So, tell me, what’s been happening in Llanview?”

        “Where do I start?  After you left all hell broke loose during the Man of the Year award.  They took Clint Buchanan to the Llanview Hospital.  The way I understand it, he was put in the psychiatric ward.  What little I’ve been able to find out from Natalie, it seems he’s still there.  No one has seen him since the first night.  Natalie said he’s not allowed visitors because it sends him into rages.”

        Todd nodded, he had heard about the meltdown.  “How is Viki holding up?  First, this Pelligrino Fund collapsing and now Clint.  I’m worried about her.”

         Blair looked at Todd. “I won’t lie to you.  Viki’s having a rough time right now.  When she heard you disappeared it almost sent her into a tailspin but your sister is made of some stern stuff.  She rallied and has poured herself into trying to get The Banner back on its feet.”  She paused when the cook entered the room to refresh the coffee.  It was awkward to call Todd, Tony, so Blair had made it a point to refrain from using his name when other people were in the room.  Now it gave her an idea.  As soon as the woman left she leaned forward excitedly  “Todd, maybe there’s a way you can help Viki without giving anything away to the Organization.”

        “I don’t know.  I want to help her, but I’m afraid she’s being watched, too.  Remember her name and Natalie’s were also on the list.  I won’t do anything to jeopardize them.”

        “Todd, why couldn’t Tony Butler help her out?”

        “How?  He doesn’t know her, nor she, him.” Todd figured he was missing something.

        “But he’s my lover and she’s part of my extended family.  Don’t you see?  Your alter ego is supposed to be an entrepreneur.  He’s wealthy, but not well known and a man who has been coming up in the world because he has his fingers in a lot of pies.  He’s just the sort of guy who might be interested in expanding his businesses by adding a newspaper to his investments.”

         Todd sat there for a moment and picked up his coffee.  “What you’re saying might work but I’m not sure Viki would accept the investment.  She hated the fact that Clint went behind her back and put his money in her account after the Pelligrino fund collapsed.”

         “Let me tell her about Tony and hint that he’s always looking for challenges.  She’s struggling right now.  I can suggest she approach him for some additional backing.  If I know Viki, she’ll at least consider it.”

         “You know, that might do it.  Talk me up to her.  Viki’s shrewd.  She’ll check into my background, but it’s solid.  If you’re right and things are as tough as you claim, I think she’ll take the risk.”  Deep down, Todd hoped his sister would take the chance and contact him.  He owed her and wanted to help her if it was at all possible.

          Blair nodded, and they discussed how she would bring up the subject to Viki,   Once they had it ironed out, the conversation turned to Sam and Jack.  Blair pulled out her cell phone and handed it to Todd, showing him the pictures of Sam and Jack in their Halloween costumes.  Surprisingly, Jack had stepped forward and offered to take his little brother out.  The boys had decided to become characters from one of their favorite video games. 

          Todd couldn’t help, but raise an eyebrow at the picture.  “Blair, who made the costumes?”

         “Jack did.  Aren’t they marvelous?  I was so surprised at the detail that he put into them.”

          Todd shook his head and smiled.  “You really have no idea which video game Jack took these from, do you?”

           “No, but David said they were great characters.  Why? What game are they from?”

          “ Call of Duty, Black Ops.”  Blair’s blank face told him all he needed to know.  “Let’s just say, I think you need to monitor what Sam’s playing for a while.   The costumes are pretty creative though, I have to hand it to Jack.  He outdid himself.”  He handed the phone back to Blair and got up and poured himself another coffee.  He took a sip and then asked the question that he had held off asking for the last couple of months.  “Has Jack said anything about me since I left?”  One look at Blair’s face told him the answer.

           Blair’s heart went out to Todd.  He had worked so hard to make headway with Jack when he was in Llanview and then had been forced to leave.  His departure had just caused Jack to dislike him more.  She stood up and went to his side.  “Todd, I’m sorry.  I’ve tried so many times to talk to him about you, but he’s put up this wall and refuses to listen to anything I say about you.  He’s convinced that you hurt me again, and because of the organization, I can’t tell him the truth.”  She took the cup from Todd’s hand and set it down, then grasped his hands in hers.  “You will get another chance with him.  I’m certain of it.  There’s so much he doesn’t know, and one day we’ll be able to tell him.”  She kissed him softly, her lips lingering around his mouth and then moving to his cheek.

          Todd allowed her to lead his mind away from reality.  This was their time alone, and for the remainder of the weekend, he was going to make the most of it. Within moments, his arms wrapped around her, and he recaptured her lips.  Their kiss deepened, and all unwelcomed thoughts were banished.

****

It was late Sunday night.  Todd and Blair mingled with the rest of the tourists and crowds down on Bourbon Street.  After stopping in at some of the more popular jazz and blues clubs on the street,  they ended up at a smaller club a little off the beaten path called The Spotted Cat. Walking into it brought back all sorts of memories of Rodi’s when they first met.  Todd found a table for them and they sat down to enjoy the music.   Blair was enjoying her virgin fruit drink when the band suddenly played a very familiar intro.  It was a rendition of Somewhere There’s Hope.  Blair stood up and moved in front of Todd. “I want to dance?”

  Todd smiled, he had recognized the song instantly.  Todd looked at Blair standing in front of him in the short vibrant blue dress he had purchased for her.  It struck him as coincidental that he had picked the dress because it was an off the shoulders style, and he had been reminded of her dress the night of the Christmas gift. The hair was different now, but she was still stunning. She was waiting for his answer, and he played along. “With me?”

         Blair smiled and licked her lips. “I’m a big girl and I know what I want, and I want to dance with you. Right here, right now.  How about it Todd?”

        Todd stood up and carefully moved around her the way he had done that night.    A little more at ease he gripped her waist with his right hand and rested his other hand on her arm.

         She put her hand on his head and after taking a moment to slip some of his hair behind his ear she rested it around his neck.  “I don’t feel like being alone tonight.”

         “Me either,” he responded.

          “I was hoping you’d say that.” She looked him directly in the eyes, waiting.  The next move was his.

           Todd didn’t hesitate the way he had all those years ago, this time he kissed Blair first, then they danced until the music ended.  He was still holding her close when the baby decided to move.  Both of their hands touched the spot for a brief moment.  He grinned, “Thanks for the memory.  It’s getting late.  We should head home.”

          She hugged his arm and laid her head on his shoulder.  “Home.  It has a nice ring to it.  Too bad it’s not truly ours.  I don’t want this night to end.  Maybe Henry could take the long way back to the mansion.”

          Todd heard the wistfulness in her voice and covered her hand with his. “Sure, Babe, whatever you want.”  He made a vow right then and there to end the limbo he and Blair found themselves in.


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