Spidey Sam: Chapter 32

Todd stood outside of the house watching as Dorian and David pulled out of the garage. He looked at his watch it was passed the boys bedtime. He could see into the house most of the light were still on. He had given Blair a few days to digest the news the Tomas was the one that had attacked her. He had completely lost it when she ended things with him, and he just wanted to hurt her plain and simple.

He could he could hear Viki's voice playing over in his head asking him to talk to Blair to get things straight between the two of them, if he was planning on staying in Llanview.  Which is what he was planning to do.  No more running away.  He was going to be the father that his boys needed, and the friend that Blair may not want, but definitely needed right now.  He knew Blair, and she would now for sure want what he wasn't ready to give, but he still wanted to be there for her.  He knocked at the door softly hoping she would hear him.  She did and opened the door.  She stood there in her night clothes at the door.

"Todd what are you doing here?  Its late and the boys are already asleep."

"I'm not here to see the boys, Blair.  I heard about Tomas, and I wanted to see if you were okay."

"You mean you wanted to gloat.  I know you suspected  him even though you never said anything to me.  Bo, told me that you suspected him from the start."

"Blair, believe or not, I didn't want to be right."

"Yes, you did, Todd, you just love to say I told you so."

"I didn't come here to say I told you so, besides I didn't tell you about what I suspected because you wouldn't believe it anyway.  Blair, I didn't come here to fight.  I came here to check on you and to talk about us."

"Todd, there is no us.  You have made it very clear more than once to me that there is no us."

"Yes, Blair there is an us, just not the us that you want.  I'm still here in your life and in the kids' lives.  I plan on staying here in your lives in Llanview.  It was a mistake for me to leave, to run away, to spend so much time away from you and the boys.  I'm sorry for that, I don't think I have ever told you that."

"No, Todd, you have never said you were sorry for leaving me and the boys."

"Well, I am, Blair, but that doesn't change my feelings about you or what you did.  I can't be with you Blair, not after you were with him.  I have no idea if I will ever be able to be with you after you were with him."

"So, you are going to punish me for it for the rest of our lives!"

"Blair, you know me well enough to know that this isn't me punishing you.  You know I could do a lot worse to you than just not sleep with you.  I have done a lot worse to you, for you doing a lot less to me.  I don't want to go back into that old pattern.  I would like to think that I'm better than that, Blair."

"So, what, Todd?  We just stay friends until you are ready to take me back into your bed?"

"I guess that is one way you could look at it."

"We have never been good at being friends, Todd."

"It's better than the alternative Blair.  The alternative almost got me put away for kidnapping for the rest of my life.  I don't want to spend my life in prison when I can spend it here with you and the kids.  It's up to you Blair, we can be friends or I can just drop kids at the front door and not come in, and we can talk just about the kids and only on the phone.  I think being friends sounds a lot better don't you?"

"So, I'm supposed to just do what you want?"

"No, you can do whatever you want but, I thought my way would be better for the kids, better for them to see us as friends than at each other throats or all hot and heavy than we explode right in front of them.  I don't want that for them.  I won't willingly create that type environment for them again.  It's up to you, Blair.  We can be friends and parents to our kids or we can just be parents.  You know what I want."

"What about what I wanted, Todd?"

"You can't have me the way that you want, and you know why, Blair."

"What if, I decide that I don't want you at all?"

"Blair, just as long as I have my kids in my life that is fine with me."

"You really do hate me that much, Todd?"

"I don't make friend's with people that I hate Blair, not anymore.  I love you, Blair, you are the mother of my children.  I just don't love you the way you want me to and, you have to see if you can live with that.  I'm not saying its forever, it for right now.  Can you deal with that?  Because it is the best that I can do for right now."

"So, your not saying that we are done for good, Todd?"

"Blair, we have kids together we can never really be done for good."

"You know what I mean, Todd."

"Blair, I need time and I don't know how much of it, I'm going to need.  You have to love me enough to give it to me, can you do that?"

"I can do that, Todd, just as long as you know I want a forever with you, Todd Manning."

"I know that, Blair, but you have to know that right now I'm not sure I can promise you a forever not the kind you want."

"I can live with the promise of a forever and have enough faith for the both of us right now that we will have it."

the End

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Spidey Sam: Chapter 31

Todd was sitting down resting after an early morning run at the park. Viki was just taking her morning walk when she spotted Todd sitting down resting. She thought about going over to talk to him. They hadn't seen or talked to each other since Todd had been to Llanfair for dinner. Todd had his eyes closed and he had his head resting again the bench, so he didn't see Viki approach the bench.  Viki took a seat next to Todd.  Todd felt someone sit next to him, opened his eyes and lifted his head.

"Oh, it is you, Sis."

"Who were you expecting Todd?"

"I don't know, not you Sis.  I didn't think you were speaking to me after our little dinner party."

"It's not the dinner party that has me mad at you Todd, I'm used to your little outbursts."

"I know.  It's me killing our dear brother, Victor."

"You may have hated him, Todd, but he still was my brother!"

"Viki, did you sit next to me just to scream at me yet again about Victor because if you did, I have to go."

"Sit down Todd, I'm not here about that."

"You are always here about that"

"Well not today, smart ass!"

"So, what are you here about today, darling sister of mine?"

"I want to talk to you about Blair."

"I'm leaving."

"Why do you keep running away from your problems with her?"

"I don't have problem with Blair.  She is the mother of my children we are getting along just fine."

"Todd, are you ever going to forgive her for what she did with Tomas?  You know everybody makes mistakes.  You have even been known to make a few yourself."

"Yes, Viki we all know I have made my fair share of mistakes, are we going to go over all of them one by one because I don't have all day."

"Really?  You think it would just take one day?"

"I know what have done in the past, but I'm trying to change."

"Yes, by avoiding your issues with Blair instead of facing them head on."

"I don't want to get into another big messy fight with Blair.  It's not good for me or her and it's especially not good for the kids."

"So you just want to keep burying your head in the sand?"

"Blair and I talk, for your information, all the time."

"Really? About what, the kids?"

"Yes, we talk all the time about the kids, the kids are all that really interest me."

"So, your not interested in being with Blair?"

"I'm not having this conversation with you Viki, I'm not talking to you about my sex life with Blair."

"Well, from what I hear their isn't much to talk about."

"I'm not interested in Blair that way anymore."

"Really, since when Todd?"

"Since, Blair slept with the man that had me put away from nine years and almost married him even though he was beating on her son!  I don't want to talk about this with you Viki!"

"Good, because I'm not the one you should be talking about this with, you should be talking to Blair about it."

"What if I talk to her and I still can't forgive her or give the kind of relationship she wants?"

"Well, then, you at least know you cleared the air and told Blair where she stands with you."

"I thought I already did that more than once when I told her I couldn't be with her."

"Well from what I have heard, Blair still doesn't get why."

"I don't understand why she would want to be with me anyway.  I killed Victor.  Why can't she be more like you, you can barely stand share a park bench with me."

"Blair loves you, you idiot.  That is why she can't just leave things the way they are, and for the record, I love you to."

"I know love me but you can't stand to be around me."

"Todd, if I couldn't stand to be around you I could have kept walking you had your eyes closed you wouldn't even seen me walk by.  You are the one that stopped coming by."

"I didn't think you wanted to see me anymore."

"Todd, are you staying in Llanview?"

"Yes, I'm going to try and be a better father to my kids and live my life the best way I know how for right now."

"I think your life would be better with Blair in it."

"Blair is in my life as much as can handle right now."

"Ok. Todd if you say so.  I'm going to leave you now.  Please stop Llanfair anytime you would like. I do miss seeing you believe it or not.  Oh and one thing and I won't make you promise that you will do it just think about it.  Please, talk to Blair.  I think you two have more to talk about than you think.  If think you are going to fight than just go when the kids are at school."

"I guess I can think about it, but no promises."

"Thank you, Todd."

"Thank you, Viki."

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Spidey Sam: Chapter 30

Todd was spending his first night in his new place. He was just about to turn in for the night when their was a knock at his door. He thought to himself, "who could that be?"  It wasn't really late, only nine thirty, but Todd  had just spent the last two days moving into his new place with help from Jack and Sam and he was tired and looking to turn in early, not to entertain. Todd walked over to the door and answered it.

"Shorty, what are you doing here?  Is Hope ok?"

"Hope, is fine, Dad, she is with Mom and the boys tonight.  I just thought I would stop by after being out with some friends.  Is it a bad time, Dad?  The place looks great."

"No, Shorty, you know I always have time for you and Hope.  Yeah, the boys and I worked really hard on the place the last two days.  I'm sorry Shorty come on in."  Starr walked into the house and took a sit on the couch in the livingroom.

"What about Mom, Dad?"

"What about your mom, Starr?"

"Did she help you and the boys get things together?"

"No, Starr your mother sat this one out, but than again you already knew that.  You have been talking to your mother."

"It's just that Mom was kind of hurt that you didn't ask her to help."

"Starr, my back and my feet ache, I'm bone tired and so are your brothers, your mom should be happy I didn't ask her to help."

"Dad, really, how much help was Sam?  You could have used an extra hand."

"Your little brother was very helpful."

"Dad, seriously what is going between you and Mom?"

"Why don't you tell me what she told you so, I can accurately defend myself."

"Dad, there is nothing to get defensive about.  I was just curious."

"What if I told you it was none of your business, Starr, what goes on between your mom and I."

"I would say that never stopped me from asking before."

"Very, true.  Your mother and I are just friends Starr, and I want to keep it that way.  I'm not so sure your mother does, though."

"What do you mean, Dad?"

"Starr, that means that your mother has told me that she wants to be more than friends with me."

"You mean Mom came right out and told you that she wanted more from you than just being friends?"

"Yes, Starr, that is what I'm telling you."

"Starr, I want to be the smart one for a change.  I want to be the one who does what is right for you guys for a change, you and your brothers.  I don't want to do what is right for my libido."

"So, you still want Mom?"

"Starr, your mother is a beautiful woman.  Any man spending more than five minutes with her would want her."

"So, I take that as a yes, you still want Mom?"

"Starr, your mother and I are not good for each and we wouldn't be good for you or your brothers."

"Well, that never stopped you and Mom before."

"Well, what can I tell you Starr, I'm older and wiser now and I want to be a good father to you and Jack, and a good Uncle to Sam and a good grandfather to Hope.  I don't think I can do that if I'm with your mother."

"You know, you and Mom could be good again."

"I know Starr, for a little while anyway, besides there is that whole Tomas thing to and I'm not sure I can really forgive her for that and not just what he did to me but, what he did to Sam.  I don't ever want to see any of you kids hurt like that.  I know what it feels like to be hurt, that and it feels lousy, Starr."

"Dad, Tomas is gone and Sam is fine."

"Well, I'm not Starr, I really still very angry at your mother and if we were to get back together that anger would destroy us, Starr and the mistrust.  I don't want that for you guys, I don't want that for me, Starr."

"So, you and Mom are just going to be friends?"

"Yes, I'm going to try and the best friend that I can to your mother, in this situation."

"So, you and Mom are over forever?"

"Starr, your mother and I will never really be over.  We share too many things.  I just want peace between the two of and right now this is the only way that I know how to get that.  I'm not trying to hurt your mother.  If I was I would get back with her."

"Dad, have you told Mom that you aren't trying to hurt her?"

"Yes, Starr of course I have, I have had this conversation with your mother more than once.  I don't know why she is having such hard time with this."

"Dad, she is having hard time with this because she still loves you - because she is still in love with you.  I think you are, too, but you are afraid."

"You damn right I'm afraid, Starr!  Your mother was going to marry the man that had me locked up in Irene's torture chamber for eight years.  I just don't know what to do with that, how to react to that!  I know he was just doing his job, is that what you are going to say, like everyone else says.  You have no idea what him just doing his job cost me and your mother, the woman that claimed to love me for so many years.  She was going to marry him!  I just don't know what to do with that Starr, I don't know how to process that."

"I think the first place for you to start, Dad, is to maybe talk to Mom about the way that you feel, tell her how much it hurt you to see her with Tomas."

"I shouldn't have to talk to her about it.  She should already know that it would hurt me to see her with Tomas.  I could deal with your mom not wanting me and moving on, but with Tomas?  I lost eight years of my life because of him and she was going to marry him and let him have a hand raising my son and my nephew.  I'm just not sure I could or would want to be with a woman like that.  Yes, I love your mother but I'm in love with her anymore Starr, I just don't think that I am."

"Dad, I think you should be having this conversation with Mom and not me, Mom needs to know how you feel.  I think you should also talk to someone about what happen to you while you were gone."

"I hate shrinks, Shorty."

"I know you do, Dad, but you might just need one right now."

"You sound like Marty, now."

"You should listen to her."

"Marty, wanted to be my shrink, or maybe not my shrink, but she did want me to talk to her."

"Well maybe you should Dad."

"I can't go complaining to Marty about my problems after what I did to her."

"Marty, forgave you for that a long time ago, I think you should work on forgiving yourself for it now.  If you don't to talk to Marty and not to Mom, then someone Dad, I think it would be good for you."

"I think it would be stupid and a waste of time and it won't change anything that happened to me."

"I have to go, Dad, but please promise me you will at least think about talking to someone."

"I don't know Starr, I will try that is all I can promise you."

"I can live with that.  Bye Dad, I love you."

"I love you, too, Shorty."

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Spidey Sam: Chapter 29

Todd pulled up in front of the old Penthouse building with Sam and Jack sitting in the back seat. "What are we doing here" Jack asked? "We use to live here with Victor before he bought the house that Tea now lives in."

"I bought a Penthouse apartment in this building."

"Is it the same one that we lived with him?"

"I never lived here with my Dad," Sam said.

"Sure you did, you just don't remember because you were really young when Victor bought the house."

"Jack, to answer your question, no, I didn't buy the same apartment, I bought a bigger one.  The biggest apartment that they had."

"You mean the one on the very top floor?"

"Yes, that is the one Jack."

"The place in huge and its so cool!"

"So does that mean that you guys want to see my new place?"

Jack and Sam bolted out of the car in excitement. They entered the building and without waiting for Todd boarded the elevator. When in the elevator Sam turned around to Jack said, "you don't even know what floor."

"Yes, I do, Sam, it's the top floor, like I said in the car." 

"Okay, then you don't know the apartment number." 

"I do so, its apartment 2006." 

"Well, you don't have the key that is for sure." 

"Ok, you got me on that one.  We are going to have to wait for Todd to get up here." Sam laughed at Jack as they stood outside of the door of Todd's new apartment. Todd came off the elevator and walked over to the boys standing outside his door.

"So, you do remember the place?"

"We lived here with Victor for a few years after you were gone.  I was eight when we moved." Todd opened the door to his new apartment and walked in with the boys.

"Wow! Uncle Todd this place is huge."

"I told you it was!" Jack said.

"Uncle Todd are you going to live here from now on?"

"Yes, Sam that is the plan for now."

"Will Jack and I be living here with you?"

"Yes, sometimes, that is if you want to."

"What about Mom and Starr?"

"Sam, there is plenty of room for Starr and Hope to spend as much time as they want here."

"What about Mom?"  Sam asked.

"Sam, your mom and I are just friends."

"Well, sometimes friends live together."

"Yes, Sam you are right sometimes friends live together but your mom and I aren't that kind of friends?"

"Todd, I'm going to check out the rest of the place while you explain to Sam what kind of friends you and Mom are."

"Jack, I think you should hear this too."

"Todd, I'm not a kid.  I know what kind of friends you and mom are.  You are the kind of friends that don't sleep together or live in the same house together." Jack was off to explore the rest of the apartment with that last comment without waiting for a response from Todd.

"Sam, let sit over here and have a little talk." Sam sat on the floor next to Todd.

"Sam, you know I love you and your brother and sister very much and Hope."

"Yes,  Uncle Todd you tell us that all the time."

"Well, its true I do love you all very much."

"We, know,  Uncle Todd.  Uncle Todd, do you love Mom, too?"

"Yes, Sam, I do love your mom but not that kind of love where people live together."

"What kind of love is that, Uncle Todd?  Do you love mom the way you love someone when you want to make a baby with them?"

"No, Sam I don't love your mom like that." 

"But you did Uncle Todd you did at one time because you made Jack and Starr with Mom."

"Yes, Sam but that was a long time ago."

"So, how do you love my mom now?  Is it like Jack said?"

"Well, your brother wasn't wrong but he left a few things out."

"What did he leave out Uncle Todd?"

"Your mother and I are the type of friends that want what is best for our kids.  We want to see you guys happy.  We want to do all that we can to make sure of that."

"So, you and mom aren't going to fight anymore about who gets to keep us and you aren't going to run away with Jack and me anymore?"

"Your mom and I have agreed that what is best for you and Jack is for us to share you guys.  So, you and Jack are going to be staying with me here at the penthouse sometime and with your mom at Dorian's sometimes.  You, would like that Sam, right?"

"I will have my own room here an everything?  I will be one of your kids?"

"Sam, you are my nephew that makes you my family, you are always welcome in home.  So, yes that means that you will have your own room."

"Do, I get the biggest room?"

"No, I get the biggest room, I'm the oldest!"  Jack said.

"Your, not the oldest Dummy, Starr is the oldest."

"I'm the oldest boy."

"So, that doesn't matter your still not the oldest."

"He has got you there, Jack.  I think I will let you guys fight it out among yourselves when Starr sees the place."

"So, when are you moving in, Todd?"

"This, weekend Jack.  It is the last weekend before school starts and Blair said, I could have you guys all weekend so that you can help me move in."

"Fun!"

"Yay! it will be fun!"

"Sam, you would think it would be fun to help Todd move all his junk into here."

"It not only my junk that we will be moving in here, its your and Sam's and your sister's too." "I'm going to take everyone shopping for new junk to put in there rooms."

"When, Todd?"

"As, soon as you stop complaining about having to move my junk in here."

"I'm done complaining can we go now?"

"Sounds, good to me, what about you Sam, do you think your brother is done complaining?"

"No, but if we wait for him, I will be fifty and you will be too old to help us, Uncle Todd."

Todd picked Sam up and carried him out of the apartment. "Well, I guess we better go then."

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Spidey Sam: Chapter 28

Todd and the boys got back to the house around nine they had spent the day school shopping and just hanging out. The boys were due to start back up at school in a little over a week and Todd needed to get started on working on the paper.  It might be a while before they would spend an entire day together, so they made the most of the day. Todd didn't take boys home until after dinner. The boys said their goodbyes to Todd and headed upstairs to unpack the bags Todd had bought them. Todd was about to walked out the door when Blair stopped him.

"So did you and the boys have a good day?"

"Yes, we sure did, Blair."

"Did you get everything that was on their lists for school?"

"Yes, we sure did."

"How was your day?  We had a nice little lunch with Marty."

"Oh, so you went along to the lunch as well, Blair?"

"Yes, Todd, and Marty came by after lunch and we talked for a bit alone."

"I don't know what you want me to say to that, Blair."

"You don't have to worry Todd, Marty didn't tell me what you two have been talking about."

"I wasn't worried Blair.  Marty is a shrink she is used to keeping things to herself that other people tell her.  Blair are you seriously jealous of Marty and I?  Have you forgotten that I raped her?"

"Todd that was a long time ago, and Marty has forgiven you for it."

"It doesn't mean that she would want to me my friend or even my shrink, not that I would want her to be my shrink.  I don't need a shrink.  We just talked once or twice about what happened to me while I was away.  She seemed to be interested if only to compare my experiences to Patrick's, so she could better help him.  I'm not going to see her again or talk to her again, she has gone back home.  We are done."

"What if I wanted to help you deal with what happened to you while you were gone?"

"Well, that would be weird."

"Why would that be weird, Todd?"

"Well, Blair you were once engaged to the man that took me away from everyone and everything that I love for eight years.  I know Blair, he was only doing his job.  I just wish that he didn't do his job so well."

"I'm just saying if you ever wanted to talk Todd, I would be willing to listen."

"Thanks, Blair but it would be just too weird for me, besides Blair you should be dealing with your own trauma."

"I'm fine Todd."

"I'm, glad to hear it.  Do the polices have any leads?"

"I have been working with them, but there isn't much to go on."

"I think you should concentrate on working with the police and dealing with your own trauma for the sake of the kids."

"What if I told you, you should be doing the same?"

"I know who locked me up, Blair, and did those things to me.  I don't need to work with the police on it."

"Todd, that isn't what I meant and you know it.  

"I know what you meant.  You think I should be talking to someone about what happen to me and, that someone should be you."

"It doesn't have to be me Todd.  What about Vicki?"

"What about her, Blair? The last couple of times we talked it didn't go so well.  You know what, it's been a long day and I'm tired I'm going to go."

"Todd why won't you talk to me?  You used to be able to talk to me about anything."

"That was a long time ago."

"Todd, don't you trust me anymore?"

"No, Blair, I'm sorry but I don't trust you with my heart or my thoughts not anymore.  I'm not sure if I ever will.  I'm sorry but I need to be clear about things between us.  I'm here for the kids and the kids only.  They ask me to me to be here and that is why, I'm here.  I don't want to hurt your feelings but that is just the way that I feel.  I want us to get along an be civil for the kids.  I don't hate you, I don't think I ever could but I'm not interested in a relationship with a woman I feel I can't trust.  It just hurts too much the both of us when it blows up in our faces and it will.  I'm here for the kids, and that is all.  I hope that we can be friendly for the kids and that is all I'm hoping for right now."

"I'm sorry that you feel that way Todd.  I'm sorry if I made you feel that way."

"Good night Blair, I will be back in the morning to spend sometime with the boys, if that is ok with you?"

"I think they would like that." Blair said with her voice cracking. Todd walked out of the door without looking back. He knew that he had hurt Blair and even if he didn't trust her, he didn't mean that he wanted to see her hurt. Todd didn't want to be the one that hurt her, he just couldn't be with her right now, even if he wanted to be.  Blair stared at the door for a long time after Todd walked out of it. She then took a sit on the couch in the sitting room.  She had a familiar ache in her heart for Todd that she wasn't sure for the first time in over twenty years would be filled.

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Spidey Sam: Chapter 27

Todd stood outside of the house thinking about the last time he was there, and how things had went wrong.  It had been a week since his fight with Dorian, and he had made point of seeing the boys outside of the house since that night. Todd didn't want to run into Dorian. The only reason he was at the house today was to take the boys school shopping.  He had promised that he would, and somehow ended up having to pick them up at the house.  Todd took a deep breath and rang the door bell.  To his relief, Starr came to the door holding Hope.

"Grandpa Todd!" The little girl called out as she reached out for him. Todd took Hope from Starr's arms.  
"I want to go out with the boys Mommy and Grandpa Todd."

"Hope, Honey it's Grandma Marty's last day in town and we are going to have lunch with her."

"I want to go with Grandpa Todd!"

"Peanut, you don't want to hurt Grandma's Marty's feelings do you?"

"No, Grandpa."

"We have to go now Hope, kiss Grandpa Todd good-bye and Grandma."  Starr walked out the door with Hope, leaving Blair and Todd alone to wait for the boys to come down.

"I heard that you had a little run in with Marty, the night you had a fight with Dorian."  Blair said.

"Yes, we met on the docks.  I was about ready to punch out a crate and Marty stopped me.  We have been staying at The Palace."

"So, you have seen her since that night?"

"We have talked a few times, Blair, why?"

"You never mentioned it."

"It's no big deal Blair.  Are the boys almost ready?"

"Yes, they are, just a few more minutes.  You know Jack needs more stuff than Sam, because Sam goes to Catholic School?"

"Yes, Blair you told Sam he doesn't need any clothes because he wears a uniform, just the supplies on his list.  Why doesn't Jack go to Catholic School like Sam?"

"He did until his freshman year of high school, then it just wasn't for him anymore."

"What happened, Blair?"

"Who said anything happened Todd?" 

"What did he do, Blair?"

"It was a long time ago, Todd, and he was punished for it."

"He is my son, Blair, and I want to know why he got kicked out of Catholic high school!"

"Todd, I don't want you to..."

"What, Blair?"

"I don't want you to over react Todd, I punished him for what he did."

"You punished him, what about my brother who was pretending to be me.  What did he do to Jack for whatever he did?"

"I handled it Todd, now, I don't want you to spoil this time I'm giving you with them."

"Blair, I'm paying for their school and their school supplies, I'm the one doing the giving this time."

"Todd, Jack is a senior in high school and this is the first time ever you are paying for his school."

"You can't blame me for that one Blair."

"I guess you are right, I probably can't."

"So, are you going to tell me or what, Blair?"

"Todd, the boys will be in a minute."

"You're right, they will be, and I can ask Jack myself."

"No, you won't Todd!"

"I have a right to know, Blair, whether you or anybody else likes it or not, he is my son!"

"Keep your voice down Todd, I thought you didn't ever want a repeat of last week." Blair led Todd into the sitting room, so they could talk without the boys hearing them.

"He must have done something pretty bad, Blair."

"It was a long time ago, Todd, he is very sorry for it.  I don't want you of all people getting on his case for it."

"Me of all people, Blair!  You either tell me or I will go up those stairs and straight into Jack's room and ask him myself!" Blair took her time deciding whether to answer Todd or not. "Ok, fine, I'm going." Todd walked out of the sitting room and went up the steps to Jack's room as he promised he would. Sam was coming out of his room as Todd was coming the step but Jack's door was still closed.

"Hi Uncle Todd," Sam said as he knocked on Jack's door. "Uncle Todd is here, Jack."

"Hi, Todd."

"Sam, can you do me a favor and go downstairs with your mom and wait for me, I need to talk to Jack alone."

"Todd, this isn't your place."

"He is my son, Blair, I have the right to know why he got kicked of his first high school and if you won't tell  me than he will!" Jack stood in front of Todd with a look of sheer panic and terror in his eyes.

"Mom, I thought you said he would never find out."

"Jack whatever it is, I won't be mad, I promise." Todd went to reach out to Jack but he backed up against the wall.  "Jack, Son, I would never hurt you."

"Mom, take Sam downstairs, Todd and I need to talk."  Jack said.

"Jack, you don't have to if you don't want to."

"Yes, Mom, I think I have to.  He isn't going to stop asking."

"Todd, don't make him do this, you don't have any right to make him do this!"  Blair said.

"Mom, it's fine, just take Sam downstairs, Todd and I will be down in a bit."

"Uncle Todd, are you still going to take us school shopping?"

"Yes, I'm, after I talk to Jack."

"Uncle Todd, are you going to give it to Jack?"

"No, Sam, I would never hurt you or Jack, now go down with your mom and Jack and I will be down shortly." Blair took Sam by the hand and walked with him down the steps and into the sitting room.  Jack led Todd back into his room and closed the door behind them.

"Take a seat, Todd." Todd took a seat on Jack's bed, and Jack took the chair from behind his desk and set it in front of Todd so that he could be face to face with his father.

"I was a freshman at Saint Mary's Academy for Boys. I was half-way through the school year, and there was a dance.  I went with this really pretty girl named Anna.  We were just friends but she was really pretty and I was well, fourteen, and we snuck out of the dance and went some place we could be alone.  I thought I was reading all her signals right.  I didn't think I was doing anything wrong.  We were doing what you do when you're alone with someone you like.  I guess things got a little too intense for her.  I stopped, I swear I did, when she asked me to.  We were about go back to the dance and we got caught by one of the teachers.  They called Mom and Victor and Anna's parents.  Anna was afraid of her parents and she knew who I was and who you were.  She lied about what happened.  I got kicked out of school, but I swear Todd, I didn't do anything to that girl that she didn't want done."

"Did you have sex with her Jack?"

"No, I didn't have sex with her!  I was only fourteen!" Jack said with tears in his eyes. "You don't believe me do you Todd?  We just were making out, maybe a little bit more than that, but we had most of our clothes on.  I wouldn't do that to a girl."

"What happened to this girl?"

"I don't know, I never really saw her after that night.  Mom and Victor made sure of that."

"Did you want to see her Jack?"

"Yes, I wanted to tell her I was sorry."

"Jack, it sound like you got punished for who you are and not for what you did."

"I got punished for what you did to Marty and now you are friends with her."

"Jack, I'm sorry that you got punished for what I did to Marty.  It wasn't fair that you got kicked out of school.  It's not fair that no one believed you."

"Mom  believed me until Victor told her about what you did when you were in high school.  He encouraged her to punish me, but he wouldn't do it himself."

"Jack, I'm sorry that you got punished for what I did to Carol Swift and Marty.  It's not fair because I didn't really get punished for either."

"Todd, are you sorry for what you did to them?"

"Yes, Jack, I'm very sorry for hurting both of them.  I have never had the chance to tell Carol, but I have told Marty."

"You and Marty, are you friends now?"

"No, Jack not really.  We talked a few times since she has been back in town, but friends, no, not really."

"Does she forgive you?"

"Yes, Jack, she forgave me a long time ago."

"Do, you forgive you?"

"No, Jack, I don't I ever I think I will either.  Jack, I know I have no right to ask you this but do you forgive me for you being held more responsible then I ever was for what I did?"

"Mom and I talked about this when it happened, I forgave you back then."

"No, Jack, you forgave Victor, and it turns he didn't do those things, because he wasn't me."

"I forgave Todd Manning a long time ago."

"You, Jack, you are an amazing kid, but than again your not really a kid anymore, are you?  We'd better get downstairs before your mom and Sam get really worried about us."

"Do you still want to take us school shopping Todd?"

"Yes, of course Jack, lets go and get your little brother."

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Spidey Sam: Chapter 26

Todd was standing on the docks looking up at the night sky. He was thinking about what had just happened at the house. He had just gotten into it yet again with Dorian. He knew the woman didn't like him but to attack in front of the kids like that. Todd was furious he had to get out of that house and clear his head. Todd had his fists clinched and was about to hit a crate that was standing next him on the docks when he heard a voice from the past call out his name 

"Todd." Todd turned around to find none other that Marty Sayebrooke standing in front of him 

"Marty.  What are you doing back in town and alone on the docks at this hour of the night?"

"I could ask you the same thing, Todd."

"I'm a big boy, Marty, I can be out on the docks as late as I want."

"Well I'm a big girl, Todd."

"The docks aren't safe place for you to be walking around alone."

"Yeah, you never know who I might run into." Todd put his head down in shame at Marty's last comment.

"Sorry that was a cheap shot, can we start again?"  Marty said.

"I'm in town for a doctor's conference and I got bored just sitting in my hotel alone so, I thought I would go for a walk.  How is Hope?"

"Hope is fine, I just saw her."

"I was going to call Starr in the morning and let her know that I'm in town and would love to see her."

"I'm sure Starr and Hope would love that."

"So, what are you doing back in town Todd?  The last that I heard is that you moved to a small town in upstate New York after Victor's murder trail."

"Yeah, well the kids asked me to come back.  So, I thought I would give it a try but after tonight at Dorian's I starting to think that wasn't such a good idea."

"Dorian still getting on your case about, well, everything?"

"Yes, and I almost lost it tonight in front of the kids, something I really try not to do."

"So are you staying with Blair and the kids at the house?"

"God, no I was just there for dinner, I'm staying at The Palace for now.  I was just trying to clear my head before I went back to my room."

"I'm at The Palace as well."

"Yeah, I saw a bunch of doctor types checking in.  I'm sorry about what Victor did to you."

"You aren't responsible for your brother's actions, Todd."

"Yeah, but he thought he was me when he was doing that stuff."

"He wasn't you though, Todd, you were locked up some place."

"Yeah, my crazy mother had me locked up for eight years.  You . . . its funny, well not really funny."

"What Todd?" 

"I was locked up for eight years, that was how long I was suppose to be locked up for raping you."

"Well if your experience of being locked up was anything like Patrick's, you paid your debt to me and to anyone else you wronged before Irene locked you up.  Patrick told me about that woman and what she was capable of." Marty could see that Todd was becoming uncomfortable by the subject of Irene and what she might or might not have done to him.  "Todd, have you talked to anyone about what happened to you?"

"I hate shrinks."

"I'm not talking about a shrink.  What about Blair, or Viki?"

"My time away wouldn't make for a good subject matter since she just got out of a relationship with the man who had me locked up and Viki would say that I was trying to use what happen to as an excuse for what I did to Victor."

"What about you and Blair, Todd?"

"What about us, Marty? I'm not in a relationship with her, not the kind she wants anyway.  Blair and I are just friends.  I think the only reason we are just friends to begin with is the kids.  If it wasn't for the kids, I'm not sure I would even be speaking to Blair."

"You and Blair, just friends."

"Yeah, what about it, Marty?"

"You, and Blair have never been just friends."

"Yeah, well Blair has never been engaged to a man that had me locked up for eight years before.  Blair and I, like I said, wouldn't even have a relationship if it wasn't for the kids.  I want to be a better father to them and a better grandfather to Hope.  I don't need to be romantically involved with Blair to do that.  I do, however, need to be at least friendly with her and that is what I am, friendly with her."

"So, you won't talk to Blair and, you won't talk to Viki."

"And, I'm not going to talk to you about my time away."

"Oh I have a pretty good idea what went on at that place you and Patrick were locked up in."

"You have no idea what went of there and I have no intention of telling you either.  You may be a shrink, but you're not my shrink!"

"I'm sorry, Todd, I didn't mean to push you."

"No, I'm sorry.  I didn't mean to get so upset, it just that I don't see the point in talking about something that has been over for a while now.  My mother is dead and so are most of cohorts.  I'm not in any danger from her organization anymore and neither are Blair and the kids.  I just want to put in behind me.  I don't want to be accused of using as an excuse for my behavior."

"You mean what you did to Victor?"

"I killed my brother you can say it, everyone else doesn't seem to have a problem reminding me about it."

"The doctors that testified at your trial seem to think you killed Victor because you were suffering from PTSD.  You don't believe that Todd?"

"I paid those doctors a lot of money to say that."

"Just because you paid them doesn't mean that they were wrong."

"I'm tired, I'm going to walk back to the hotel.  Do you want me to walk you back, it's late?"

"Yeah, thanks that would be great, Todd." Todd and Marty walked back to The Palace without another word between them. Marty didn't want to upset Todd anymore than she already had. When they arrived at The Palace Todd walked with Marty all the way back to her room.

"Thanks, for walking all the way back to my room," she said.

"Todd, I know you said you didn't want to talk and I swear I will respect that but if you change your mind, here is my card."  Todd took Marty's card without saying another word to her.  He walked away and boarded the elevator to his floor in the hotel. Todd arrived at his room he opened door and sat on the bed.  He tossed Marty's card on to the nightstand next to his bed.  Todd took a nice hot shower than climbed into bed.

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Spidey Sam: Chapter 25

Todd and Blair walked into the house with the kids following close behind. Dorian was due back home with David in just a few hours. Blair wanted to be back at home before they got there with kids settled back in. Todd and Jack carried the suitcases in from the car. Once everyone was back in the house and all the suitcase were in as well, Starr offered to get the kids settled, leaving Todd and Blair to talk.

"I guess you will want to get out of here before Auntie Dorian gets home?"

Todd was standing at the front door not sure of what to do next. "No Blair I was going to stay."

"No you weren't Todd, I know the last thing you want to do is have it out with Dorian."

"I can handle your Aunt Dorian, besides I promised Sam I would help him hook up his new gaming system."

"You, know you didn't have to buy that for him, he isn't the one that you have to win over."

"I know Blair, I wanted to buy it for him besides he didn't ask for it, I saw him eyeing it the other day when we were downtown shopping."

"What about Jack, Todd?

"What about him Blair?  He won't let me buy his love, I'm going to have to earn it."

"So, are you up for that challenge Todd, that is quite a challenge and all the way from Port Charles?  I heard you and the kids talking the other morning about you moving back to Llanview."

"Yeah, so?"

"So, have you given any thought to it?" Before, Todd could say another word Dorian and David blew threw the door. Dorian took one look at Blair and asked Todd, "What Hell did you do to her now?" Todd just stood there glaring at Dorian.

"Todd didn't do this to me Dorian, Todd would never do this to me!"

"Sure, he would he is a violent sociopath!  Get the hell out of my house before I call the cops Todd, not that Blair would press charges!"

"I didn't do that to Blair so go ahead and call the police, Bo can show you the police report and my name is no where in it."

"Just because my niece didn't pressure charges doesn't mean you didn't do anything Todd!"

Jack came barreling down the stairs at the sound of Dorian's voice and her accusations at Todd.

"My father didn't do this to my mother, Aunt Dorian, he was with us when it happened!"

"Jack, you have no idea how violent your father can get when he doesn't get what he wants."

"I'm old enough to know about my father's past, Aunt Dorian and I do know all about it.  I also know that my father was with us kids all night the night that my mother was attacked."

"How do you know that he didn't sneak out when you and your brother and sister fell asleep?"

"My father wouldn't do this to my mother, he loves my mother!  I'm sorry Todd, I didn't mean to just blurt that out."

"Its, ok Jack, I do love your mother and, I would never hurt her like this and I'm glad that you know it."

"Jack will you please go upstairs and check on you everyone and make sure they are ok.  I want to talk to Todd alone."  Blair said.

"Blair, you can't be serious!"  Dorian said.

"Yes, Dorian, I'm very serious.  I have been with Todd for a week now and he has been nothing but kind and gentle, I'm not afraid of him because I know he didn't do this to me.  I know I told everyone I was grabbed from behind and didn't see who attacked me but, I think I have a pretty good idea who it might be"

"Who, Blair?"

"I didn't want to say anything to you before because I didn't want you to leave and take off after this person.  I didn't want you to get hurt again, so when you left me with Starr and Viki the other day I had them take me to the police station to talk to Bo.  I told him who I thought did this to me, he said their wasn't much he could do because I didn't see the person's face."

"Who, do yo think did this to you Blair?"

"I didn't want to have to tell you until Bo or I could come up proof."

"Blair just tell me now, tell us all."

"Todd, I don't want you to get crazy now."

"Too, late."

"Dorian, please!"

"I think it might have been Tomas."

"I will kill him, first Sam and now you!"

"Jack go upstairs now I want to talk to your father." 

"But Mom, Todd is right."

"Jack, now please before your brother or Hope come down." 

"Ok mom." 

"Dorian and David please, I need to talk to Todd alone." To Blair's surprise everyone went up the stairs without anymore fighting. Todd was standing with his fists clinched.

"Todd, I need you to calm down, I need you to listen to me.  I don't want you going after Tomas.  I want you to stay here with me and the kids.  I don't want you to go back to Port Charles.  I need you here with me and the children.  I know you don't want to be with me, and that is fine, I just need you to be here with me though.  The kids need you too.  I know I have no right to ask you to give up your life in Port Charles after what has happened between us."

"Blair, stop.  I love you and the kids.  I'm not ready to be with you again and I don't when I will be but, I want to be here for you and the kids.  So, yes I will move back to Llanview for now."

"What about Aunt Dorian?"

"What about her she is always going to think the worse of me.  She always has and she always will, that is partly me fault though, I guess.  I'm not going to live here anyway that would just be too much stress on everyone.  I will find a place near by, in the mean time I still have my suite at The Palace."

"You won't go after Tomas, Todd, you promise me?"

"I'm going to talk to Bo tomorrow Blair."

"I will make you a promise that if I do go after Tomas, I promise to come back to you and the kids.  Now I have to go back to the hotel and make some arrangements for the paper.  Blair, please don't tell the kids, I thought we could both tell them together tonight at dinner."

"Ok, Todd that sounds great."

"I will see you later Blair."

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Spidey Sam: Chapter 24

Todd woke up in a bed that wasn't his own.  He was wearing his pants but not his shirt, shoes or socks.  He looked over to find that he had a bed mate. He could tell that his bed mate was a woman, he let out a sigh of relief for that.  His head was killing him, and he didn't remember how he got from Viki's house to what seemed like a strange bed at first.  He then gave his bed mate a second look only to realize it was Blair.  "What the hell Blair!" he bellowed.  Blair sat up in bed at the sound of Todd's voice. "How did I get in your bed and why I'm half naked?"

"You were super drunk last night."

"So, you thought it would be a good idea for us to have sex?"

"Relax, Todd, you passed out way before that could happen."

"Oh God!"

"I guess your dinner with your sister didn't goes so well.  What do you remember, Todd, about last night?"

"I remember going to Viki's."

"What else Todd?"

"I remember us fighting, Viki and I."

"What did you fight about"

"What else Blair, me killing Victor.  I stormed out and had way too much to drink at the bar downstairs.  How did I get in your bed and why did you let me stay?"

"I heard you come in the door and came to see how your night went.  I could tell that you were drunk."

"So, what you invited me into your bed!"

"No, of course not Todd!"

"Well how did I get here?"

"You walked into the wrong room and before I could follow you, Sam called out. He had a bad dream so I went to check on him.  When I got back you were in here passed out on the bed like this."

"So, nothing happen?"

"Todd you were too drunk for anything to happen even if either one of us wanted anything to happen.  You made it very clear the other night anyway that you don't want anything to happen between the two of us."

"Blair we have been there and done that.  I want to focus on the kids now.  We had our shot and we blew it.  We had lots of shots and we blew them all.  I want to be a father to our kids and grandfather to Hope.  That is what I want now."

"Todd are you with someone in Port Charles?"

"No, Blair, not that it any of you business."

"What about Carly?"

"What about Carly, Blair.  We are just friends."

"It didn't seem that way to me when I was in Port Charles last summer."

"Blair, if I was sleeping with Carly, which I'm not, it wouldn't be any of your business."

"So you haven't been with anyone since the last time we were together?"

"Blair, my sex life isn't any of your business.  It hasn't been for a really long time now.  So, lets just drop it"

"I'm sorry, Todd"

"For what Blair?  That you think that I haven't had sex since the last time we were together or, for prying into my personal business?"

"I said I was sorry Todd, we can drop it." 

"Good.  How is Sam after his nightmare lasts night?"

"He is fine."

"I'm going to go to check on him." Todd picked his clothes up off the floor and got dressed as Blair watched. "Blair, I know you think I'm being mean or punishing you for what happened over the passed few months.  I swear I'm not, I just being careful with my heart and the hearts of our kids.  I think we can agree they have been through enough, they don't need to see us implode yet again." Todd walked out of the room without another word leaving Blair to think about what he just said.

"He buddy you ok?" Todd said to Sam, who was already up and sitting up in his bed.

"I heard you and mom talking."

"Uncle Todd."

"Yes, Sam?"

"Don't you love Mom anymore?"

"Oh so you heard, heard what your mom and I were saying."

"I wasn't eavesdropping, I swear Uncle Todd."

"Sam, your mom and I love each other in our own ways."

"So, you don't want to be with mom?"

"Sam, what I want is to be a good dad to Jack and Starr, a good Uncle to you, a grandfather to hope and a good friend to your mom.  Your mom told me you had a nightmare last night, are you ok Sam?"

"I'm fine Uncle Todd.  Uncle Todd can ask you question?"

"Yes, Sam you can ask me anything."

"Uncle Todd, if you just want to be friends with mom, why were you in her bed?"

"Oh you know about that too." 

"Yep".

"I wasn't feeling so good last night when I got home from Aunt Viki's house and I got confused.  I went to the wrong bed."

"Why, did mom let you stay, does she want to be more than friends with you?"

"Sam, this isn't really something we should be talking about it is kind of grown up stuff." 

"Ok, Uncle Todd, but your not leaving are you because of you and Mom?"

"No, Sam, I'm not leaving until your Aunt Dorian gets home with your Uncle David."

"Uncle Todd will you go back to Port Charles?"

"Yes, Sam, Port Charles is my home."

"I think your home should be where your family is Uncle Todd.  I think you should move back to Llanview."

"It's complicated, Sam."

"No, it's not Uncle Todd, we are your family and you say you want to take care of us, so you should live here."

"I did a lot of bad things here in Llanview and Port Charles is like a new start for me."

"Uncle Todd, Llanview can be like a new start for you too, Jack would like it, I think."

"He is right, Todd, I would like it," Jack said as he walked into Sam's room.

"You would, Jack?"

"You aren't so bad to have around.  Mom likes it too, Todd.  It makes Mom happy to have you around, and Starr too."

"It would make a lot of other people not so happy to have me around."

"Aunt Viki would be fine with it, she is just giving you a hard time."  Jack said.

"Yes and she is doing a very good job of giving me a hard time.  My head is killing me."

"Will you at least think about it?"  Jack asked.

"Uncle Todd will you think about?"  Sam asked.

"Yes, I will think about it."

"You, promise, Uncle Todd?"

"Yes, I promise, now you guys go and get ready for today.  We only have two more days of fun before your Aunt Dorian gets home."

Todd knocked on Starr's door, "Hey are you up?" "I would like to be out of here in about an hour, it's the boys day to pick what we do."

"What are we doing to do, Dad?"

"I'm not sure.  Ask your brothers."

"Hey, Dad, you know Hope and I agree with the boys."

"God the walls in this place must be really thin.  I'm going to tell you what I told the boys, I will think about it."

"Ok, Dad, Hope and I will be ready in a half hour."

Todd walked into his room to get ready for the day, whatever it held.  As Todd got ready, he couldn't help but think about his conversation with the boys and Starr.  What it would be like to once again live in Llanview. It's not like he wasn't used to being the town pariah.  He would have his kids this time though and he had to admit that didn't sound that bad to him. He was pretty lonely in Port Charles and with the kids going back to school soon he knew he wouldn't see them that much. So what did he really have to lose by moving to a town that had his family in it?

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