Hello Fanfickers!
On Sunday, we will be posting the first chapter of a new novel, "Brothers" by Monica_Ann.
Also this weekend, expect another update of "Hope from the Ocean," the latest Cloud novel, and Monday, expect Chapter 20 of "Spidey Sam."
And what about Karena, you might ask? She'll be coming around soon enough with her latest and greatest next work. Don't worry!
Stay with us for more Manning Magic!
Not to mention, OLTL's DEBUT on OWN Monday, July 15, 2013, as well as OLTL's newest TnB and Llanview stuff, on Hulu and ITunes, also showing Monday.
Lots to look forward to!
It's always been you and us, so KEEP READING FANFIC!
Your faithful blogowner,
Kim
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Showing posts with label MONICA_ANN. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MONICA_ANN. Show all posts
Friday, July 12, 2013
Friday, June 28, 2013
The Devil You Know: Epilogue
Seven and a half months later, Todd, sitting on the edge of a hospital bed with Blair by his side, marveled at the sight of his newborn daughter. A brief cloud appeared, remembering Jack as a newborn, but the brilliance of this little girl chased it away. She was perfect, ten little fingers and ten little toes. The only problem he was having was the bright red hair. He usually associated it with the more annoying members of his family, Tina or Natalie. But, for a brief instant, he thought he felt as if someone swatted his arm and he smiled, knowing this baby’s namesake was admonishing him still.
“Red hair,” Blair pointed out, a smirk playing on her lips.
“Yeah, well, she’s a Lord. Sadly, I kind of figured that was how it was going to be,” he answered.
“I’m sure everyone is waiting outside to meet her,” his wife said.
“Let them wait. I want a little bit of time with just the two of you all to myself.”
As if to protest his words, the door opened and in stepped Starr, Jack and Sam. “We can’t wait any longer,” his firstborn said.
Todd smiled and nodded for them to come in. Sam, naturally, jumped up on the bed, but Blair calmed him down and he settled against her. Starr stood next to her father and Jack leaned against the bed.
“Hello there, you beauty,” she cooed. In response, the baby opened her eyes and looked at her sister, green orbs staring at Starr in detached curiosity. “She has mom’s eyes!”
“And hair as red as Aunt Tina’s,” Jack commented. “You know that’s what she’ll think.”
“Let her,” Todd growled. Despite his wedding vows, there were still a few family members who he would always barely tolerate and Tina was at the top of the list.
As if reading her father’s mind, Starr reached into her bag. “I thought the baby would like to be able to, well, ‘meet’ her namesake.” Out came a picture from the mantle, of another red-headed Lord.
It was Sam who spoke up. “This is our aunt. She’s daddy’s sister and his guardian angel. And we named you after her!”
“I still can’t wait to see Aunt Dorian’s face when we tell her that. You know she’s gonna have a comment or five hundred on it,” Jack remarked.
“Well, then, I’ll just have to tell her that the baby’s middle name was my idea. That may shut her up,” Blair told him.
“You really think that will stop Dorian?” Todd asked in a sarcastic tone.
Blair shrugged her shoulders. “There’s always hope.”
After another fifteen minutes or so of the Mannings alone with the new baby, Viki poked her head in. “I don’t really want to disturb you or your time with the new baby, but…”
Todd let out a sigh and looked down at his daughter. “I guess it’s time for you to meet the rest of your crazy family, kiddo.” Todd handed the baby to Blair and repositioned himself on the bed as Viki was followed in by Clint, Cord, Tina, Victor, Tea, Jessica, Natalie, Joey, Sarah, CJ, Dani, Cassie, Dorian, and surprisingly, Larry and Dan Wolek. Todd eyed his sister and she smiled, signaling him her reasons silently. “Okay, in order, this is your aunts Viki, Tina, and Tea, your uncles Clint, Victor and Cord, your cousins, and the one right there is the head of the Cramer Coven, Auntie Dorian.” Then he took the baby in his arms and brought her over to Larry. “And this is your Uncle Larry. He was married to the woman you were named after.”
At that Larry looked at Todd. His mouth was forming a question, but he was unable to ask it, as he was becoming overrun with emotions.
Todd nodded. “We decided to name her Meredith,” he answered simply.
Behind him, Blair piped up. “Meredith Victoria Manning, after her aunts and uncle.” Then she turned to Dorian, waiting for the explosion she was expecting. Surprisingly, none happened.
Larry Wolek found his voice as his son, the firstborn of the Lord grandchildren, greeted the youngest. “Hello, my little darling.” He looked her over. “Red hair, just like your aunt. I know she would be overjoyed to know you and know you were named for her.” He handed the baby back to Todd, who brought her back to her mother, as the rest of the family greeted Meredith Victoria Manning.
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“Red hair,” Blair pointed out, a smirk playing on her lips.
“Yeah, well, she’s a Lord. Sadly, I kind of figured that was how it was going to be,” he answered.
“I’m sure everyone is waiting outside to meet her,” his wife said.
“Let them wait. I want a little bit of time with just the two of you all to myself.”
As if to protest his words, the door opened and in stepped Starr, Jack and Sam. “We can’t wait any longer,” his firstborn said.
Todd smiled and nodded for them to come in. Sam, naturally, jumped up on the bed, but Blair calmed him down and he settled against her. Starr stood next to her father and Jack leaned against the bed.
“Hello there, you beauty,” she cooed. In response, the baby opened her eyes and looked at her sister, green orbs staring at Starr in detached curiosity. “She has mom’s eyes!”
“And hair as red as Aunt Tina’s,” Jack commented. “You know that’s what she’ll think.”
“Let her,” Todd growled. Despite his wedding vows, there were still a few family members who he would always barely tolerate and Tina was at the top of the list.
As if reading her father’s mind, Starr reached into her bag. “I thought the baby would like to be able to, well, ‘meet’ her namesake.” Out came a picture from the mantle, of another red-headed Lord.
It was Sam who spoke up. “This is our aunt. She’s daddy’s sister and his guardian angel. And we named you after her!”
“I still can’t wait to see Aunt Dorian’s face when we tell her that. You know she’s gonna have a comment or five hundred on it,” Jack remarked.
“Well, then, I’ll just have to tell her that the baby’s middle name was my idea. That may shut her up,” Blair told him.
“You really think that will stop Dorian?” Todd asked in a sarcastic tone.
Blair shrugged her shoulders. “There’s always hope.”
After another fifteen minutes or so of the Mannings alone with the new baby, Viki poked her head in. “I don’t really want to disturb you or your time with the new baby, but…”
Todd let out a sigh and looked down at his daughter. “I guess it’s time for you to meet the rest of your crazy family, kiddo.” Todd handed the baby to Blair and repositioned himself on the bed as Viki was followed in by Clint, Cord, Tina, Victor, Tea, Jessica, Natalie, Joey, Sarah, CJ, Dani, Cassie, Dorian, and surprisingly, Larry and Dan Wolek. Todd eyed his sister and she smiled, signaling him her reasons silently. “Okay, in order, this is your aunts Viki, Tina, and Tea, your uncles Clint, Victor and Cord, your cousins, and the one right there is the head of the Cramer Coven, Auntie Dorian.” Then he took the baby in his arms and brought her over to Larry. “And this is your Uncle Larry. He was married to the woman you were named after.”
At that Larry looked at Todd. His mouth was forming a question, but he was unable to ask it, as he was becoming overrun with emotions.
Todd nodded. “We decided to name her Meredith,” he answered simply.
Behind him, Blair piped up. “Meredith Victoria Manning, after her aunts and uncle.” Then she turned to Dorian, waiting for the explosion she was expecting. Surprisingly, none happened.
Larry Wolek found his voice as his son, the firstborn of the Lord grandchildren, greeted the youngest. “Hello, my little darling.” He looked her over. “Red hair, just like your aunt. I know she would be overjoyed to know you and know you were named for her.” He handed the baby back to Todd, who brought her back to her mother, as the rest of the family greeted Meredith Victoria Manning.
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Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Letter from Author of "The Devil You Know," (Monica_Ann)
Dear readers:
I thank you for all the warm wishes regarding “The Devil You Know.” There will be an epilogue posted, and this concludes the Manning’s lives in Port Charles. I’m sure they are still there, but you all can continue their story as you see fit. This duology began as a correction to the terrible and ridiculous baby swap story and, since One Life to Live has returned to our screen, so have the Mannings to my writing in those surroundings.
And since Todd has returned, I have written it. I am in the process of a new book. But please, hold on for a bit. The novel will be up here on The Real Todd Manning Fanfiction Hub, but I will be taking my time with it. Quite honestly, the best fanfiction to me as a Todd and Blair fan is playing out on Hulu and iTunes this Thursday and then Mondays starting July 1!
That sadly leaves a week without them each showing, though, so on those off days, stay tuned to The Hub for more and different stories of Todd, Blair, Starr, Jack and Sam Manning and their families.
Again, I appreciate all your comments and am happy you have enjoyed my story.
Till then,
Monica Ann
Your comments are 'payment' for the work of the authors. Our writers like to hear your feedback. Please leave a comment when you read.
Friday, June 21, 2013
The Devil You Know: Chapter 62
Todd was pacing. He couldn’t help it. He had been the picture of calm and serene until Victor had to run through that stupid checklist when he got there. Now, he was getting nervous. What if something happened to Blair and the wedding party on the way to the church? What if she was getting cold feet? Todd could feel the panic attack coming on when a hand touched his shoulder. He jumped a mile in the sky as he came face to face with Carly and Jax.
Carly jump a bit at Todd’s reaction. “A little nervous?” she asked, annoyance in her tone.
“What, me? No, not at all,” he responded, trying to cover.
“You are crap at lying,” Carly answered. She signaled to someone in the church. Jack came out to join them. “I think your Dad’s about to have a panic attack.”
Jack looked him over. “Thanks, I’ll take it from here.” With that, Carly and her date went in and Jack turned to his father. “You okay?”
“I’m fine, Jack, really. It’s just my damn brother. He was recapping all the crappy ways my weddings have blown up in the past. I guess I just…” Todd’s voice trailed off.
Just then, the doors opened and in stepped Jessica and her date, Nikolas Cassadine. She saw the panicked look on her uncle’s face but walked up to him, putting a soothing hand on his arm. “She’s right behind us.”
Todd’s whole body relaxed in that instant. He grabbed Jessica by the shoulders and kissed her cheek. “Thank you,” he whispered in her ear before turning and heading towards the altar. Andrew was there, as was most of the family. Harry was sitting next to Viki, giving his stepson a warm smile. “Okay, Padre, I’m told the bride is moments away. Let’s get this show on the road.” He took his place, but his eyes slid towards Victor. He then faced Viki. “You did take his phone, right?”
Viki rolled her eyes, but held out her hand at Victor. He looked at the two of them, but slapped the phone into Viki’s hand shaking his head as he did so. She took it, shut it down and stuffed it into her purse.
As Todd looked on approvingly, he noticed Dorian and other members of the coven walk down the aisle. She looked at Andrew and gave him a nod with a grimace on her face. The music began and down the aisle came Cassie, followed by Sarah. Then, Starr followed, a grin matching her father’s on her face. Next came little Sam and Bree, tossing petals all the way down towards the bridal party. Lastly came Blair, escorted by her mother.
She took Todd’s breath away.
Her dress was long and flowing, fitted with a train that spread out down behind her. She wore no veil (she never had), and her hair lay naturally back from her face. She was walking way too slowly for Todd’s liking, but when she got to him, she reached out and grabbed his hand. He held on to hers for dear life.
She bestowed him with a brilliant smile.
“Dearly beloved,” Andrew Carpenter began, “we are gathered her today to join this man and this woman, again, in holy matrimony.” Todd just had to roll his eyes. He and Blair had been through this so many times, the whole thing was rather tedious. But he held his tongue as the reverend continued. “Before we begin and knowing their families, are there any here who see cause why they should not be wed?”
Automatically, and in perfect unison, Todd turned to Tina and Blair turned to Dorian. While Tina merely smiled and offered a little wave, Dorian was looking in every direction but Blair’s. After a good two minutes of this, as well as drawing the stares of everyone in the church, Starr cleared her throat, at last gaining Dorian’s attention. “No complaints from me,” she said at last.
Todd was still eying Dorian as he said, “Good, let’s move this along.”
Andrew nodded. “I know many of you know this, but I’ve had the honor of marrying Todd and Blair two times previously. And when I was called and asked to come here for a third time, I was musing on what would bring a couple together time after time. And the answer I found is simply…love.” Andrew smiled at them individually. “And knowing this couple, I am guessing they have their own vows they wish to express to each other and the rest of us today.”
Todd had been caught off-guard as he realized that all eyes had fallen on him. He cleared his throat, though, as he began. “I said to you once, everything in my life that I have that is good is because of you. I don’t think you realize just what that means to me. I’m not just talking about our children, I’m talking about…my family. Because of you, I found out, in the midst of self-pity, I did have a family. Okay, so, I may have had issues with them over the years, but because of you, you and a hare-brained scheme, you gave me a family. And we’ve added to it…and continue to…and that is the most precocious thing that I have ever been given.” A tear rolled down Todd’s cheek, crossing his scar as it went. “We’ve vowed before about truth and love and it’s never really worked out. My fault, mostly. But I think I’ve finally seen what’s been there all along. Your love. It’s what I’ve lived for all these years. When I didn’t have it, or thought I lost it, I’ve been at my worst. But when I was separated from you, it’s what kept me alive. I vow this to you, now, I am going to trust in that love.”
Blair was fighting valiantly to keep her emotions in check. “You swore to me that you would put us back together and you wouldn’t stop. And I knew that day, you would be right. No matter what has happened to us, no matter what we’ve done to each other, there has always been some force that has brought us together. We’ve both been stubborn all these years, all that time apart. I’m going to vow to you, while I may still do things to hurt you, and accept you may do things to hurt me, I’m going to trust in that power that has always brought us together.” The dam burst at that point, and the tears came streaming down her face. Todd moved to kiss them away, giving her time to gather herself together. She knew she couldn’t go on, so she whispered, for his ear’s alone, “I love you.”
After a moment, Andrew began again. “Todd, do you take this woman to be your--”
“Yeah, I do,” he interrupted the reverend.
Andrew merely raised his eyebrows as he turned to the bride. “Blair, do you--.”
“I do,” she stated, loud and clear.
There was a tiny ripple of laughter from the assembled.
At that moment, Sam stepped forward. “Here’s the rings!” he shouted, eliciting more laughter from the congregation.
Andrew nodded and Todd and Blair took the rings off the pillow and slipped them on each other’s fingers. Before Andrew could even announce the happy couple, they mouths’ connected and they got so lost in each other, Todd had no memory of how they had gotten to the Grand Ballroom at the Metrocourt. They were in each other’s arms, dancing slowing as if they were the only two people in the world.
“Mrs. Blair Manning,” Todd said with a measure of satisfaction.
“It’s been a long time,” she responded, a sexy smile touching her lips.
“I don’t know about that. Even when we weren’t together, I still thought of you as that. But then again, I have always been a bit possessive about you,” Todd said.
“Just a bit?” Blair asked him, arching an eyebrow.
Todd cocked his head and was about to respond when he saw Starr and Jack approach them. Reluctantly letting his wife go, he engulfed his eldest daughter in an embrace, as Jack did likewise with Blair. “Thank you so much, Shorty,” he said, kissing the top of her head.
Starr stepped back. “Since you’ve never had a lot of the traditional elements of a wedding, we want to make sure we get some of them in, if in a different way.” She held her arms out to her father and they danced away as Blair and Jack did the same.
As they moved around the floor, Todd began to notice others in the room – the rest of their family. He remembered back to that glorious night at the Palace Hotel when it was just him and Blair and Starr. “Thank you,” he repeated.
Starr smiled that mischievous smile of hers, the one that was so like his. It was at that moment that Starr released him and Jack released Blair and Todd was back in the arms of his soulmate. As they continued their dance, something fell gently on Todd’s head. Mr. and Mrs, Manning looked up and saw they were being showered by gold balloons.
It was under those that they kissed again, sealing their union once and for all.
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
Your comments are 'payment' for the work of the authors. Our writers like to hear your feedback. Please leave a comment when you read.
Carly jump a bit at Todd’s reaction. “A little nervous?” she asked, annoyance in her tone.
“What, me? No, not at all,” he responded, trying to cover.
“You are crap at lying,” Carly answered. She signaled to someone in the church. Jack came out to join them. “I think your Dad’s about to have a panic attack.”
Jack looked him over. “Thanks, I’ll take it from here.” With that, Carly and her date went in and Jack turned to his father. “You okay?”
“I’m fine, Jack, really. It’s just my damn brother. He was recapping all the crappy ways my weddings have blown up in the past. I guess I just…” Todd’s voice trailed off.
Just then, the doors opened and in stepped Jessica and her date, Nikolas Cassadine. She saw the panicked look on her uncle’s face but walked up to him, putting a soothing hand on his arm. “She’s right behind us.”
Todd’s whole body relaxed in that instant. He grabbed Jessica by the shoulders and kissed her cheek. “Thank you,” he whispered in her ear before turning and heading towards the altar. Andrew was there, as was most of the family. Harry was sitting next to Viki, giving his stepson a warm smile. “Okay, Padre, I’m told the bride is moments away. Let’s get this show on the road.” He took his place, but his eyes slid towards Victor. He then faced Viki. “You did take his phone, right?”
Viki rolled her eyes, but held out her hand at Victor. He looked at the two of them, but slapped the phone into Viki’s hand shaking his head as he did so. She took it, shut it down and stuffed it into her purse.
As Todd looked on approvingly, he noticed Dorian and other members of the coven walk down the aisle. She looked at Andrew and gave him a nod with a grimace on her face. The music began and down the aisle came Cassie, followed by Sarah. Then, Starr followed, a grin matching her father’s on her face. Next came little Sam and Bree, tossing petals all the way down towards the bridal party. Lastly came Blair, escorted by her mother.
She took Todd’s breath away.
Her dress was long and flowing, fitted with a train that spread out down behind her. She wore no veil (she never had), and her hair lay naturally back from her face. She was walking way too slowly for Todd’s liking, but when she got to him, she reached out and grabbed his hand. He held on to hers for dear life.
She bestowed him with a brilliant smile.
“Dearly beloved,” Andrew Carpenter began, “we are gathered her today to join this man and this woman, again, in holy matrimony.” Todd just had to roll his eyes. He and Blair had been through this so many times, the whole thing was rather tedious. But he held his tongue as the reverend continued. “Before we begin and knowing their families, are there any here who see cause why they should not be wed?”
Automatically, and in perfect unison, Todd turned to Tina and Blair turned to Dorian. While Tina merely smiled and offered a little wave, Dorian was looking in every direction but Blair’s. After a good two minutes of this, as well as drawing the stares of everyone in the church, Starr cleared her throat, at last gaining Dorian’s attention. “No complaints from me,” she said at last.
Todd was still eying Dorian as he said, “Good, let’s move this along.”
Andrew nodded. “I know many of you know this, but I’ve had the honor of marrying Todd and Blair two times previously. And when I was called and asked to come here for a third time, I was musing on what would bring a couple together time after time. And the answer I found is simply…love.” Andrew smiled at them individually. “And knowing this couple, I am guessing they have their own vows they wish to express to each other and the rest of us today.”
Todd had been caught off-guard as he realized that all eyes had fallen on him. He cleared his throat, though, as he began. “I said to you once, everything in my life that I have that is good is because of you. I don’t think you realize just what that means to me. I’m not just talking about our children, I’m talking about…my family. Because of you, I found out, in the midst of self-pity, I did have a family. Okay, so, I may have had issues with them over the years, but because of you, you and a hare-brained scheme, you gave me a family. And we’ve added to it…and continue to…and that is the most precocious thing that I have ever been given.” A tear rolled down Todd’s cheek, crossing his scar as it went. “We’ve vowed before about truth and love and it’s never really worked out. My fault, mostly. But I think I’ve finally seen what’s been there all along. Your love. It’s what I’ve lived for all these years. When I didn’t have it, or thought I lost it, I’ve been at my worst. But when I was separated from you, it’s what kept me alive. I vow this to you, now, I am going to trust in that love.”
Blair was fighting valiantly to keep her emotions in check. “You swore to me that you would put us back together and you wouldn’t stop. And I knew that day, you would be right. No matter what has happened to us, no matter what we’ve done to each other, there has always been some force that has brought us together. We’ve both been stubborn all these years, all that time apart. I’m going to vow to you, while I may still do things to hurt you, and accept you may do things to hurt me, I’m going to trust in that power that has always brought us together.” The dam burst at that point, and the tears came streaming down her face. Todd moved to kiss them away, giving her time to gather herself together. She knew she couldn’t go on, so she whispered, for his ear’s alone, “I love you.”
After a moment, Andrew began again. “Todd, do you take this woman to be your--”
“Yeah, I do,” he interrupted the reverend.
Andrew merely raised his eyebrows as he turned to the bride. “Blair, do you--.”
“I do,” she stated, loud and clear.
There was a tiny ripple of laughter from the assembled.
At that moment, Sam stepped forward. “Here’s the rings!” he shouted, eliciting more laughter from the congregation.
Andrew nodded and Todd and Blair took the rings off the pillow and slipped them on each other’s fingers. Before Andrew could even announce the happy couple, they mouths’ connected and they got so lost in each other, Todd had no memory of how they had gotten to the Grand Ballroom at the Metrocourt. They were in each other’s arms, dancing slowing as if they were the only two people in the world.
“Mrs. Blair Manning,” Todd said with a measure of satisfaction.
“It’s been a long time,” she responded, a sexy smile touching her lips.
“I don’t know about that. Even when we weren’t together, I still thought of you as that. But then again, I have always been a bit possessive about you,” Todd said.
“Just a bit?” Blair asked him, arching an eyebrow.
Todd cocked his head and was about to respond when he saw Starr and Jack approach them. Reluctantly letting his wife go, he engulfed his eldest daughter in an embrace, as Jack did likewise with Blair. “Thank you so much, Shorty,” he said, kissing the top of her head.
Starr stepped back. “Since you’ve never had a lot of the traditional elements of a wedding, we want to make sure we get some of them in, if in a different way.” She held her arms out to her father and they danced away as Blair and Jack did the same.
As they moved around the floor, Todd began to notice others in the room – the rest of their family. He remembered back to that glorious night at the Palace Hotel when it was just him and Blair and Starr. “Thank you,” he repeated.
Starr smiled that mischievous smile of hers, the one that was so like his. It was at that moment that Starr released him and Jack released Blair and Todd was back in the arms of his soulmate. As they continued their dance, something fell gently on Todd’s head. Mr. and Mrs, Manning looked up and saw they were being showered by gold balloons.
It was under those that they kissed again, sealing their union once and for all.
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
Your comments are 'payment' for the work of the authors. Our writers like to hear your feedback. Please leave a comment when you read.
Sunday, June 16, 2013
The Devil You Know: Chapter 61
As Victor, Tea holding Leo and Dani walked into St. Timothy’s, Victor could not help but be overwhelmed by the memories of St. James’ on the day Todd and Blair got married. While it was usually very uncomfortable having his brother’s memories, he still relished that one, seeing a beautiful bride so deeply in love on her wedding day.
A hand touched his shoulder. “Hey, where’d you go off to?” Tea asked. She had an inkling of what her husband was thinking of and strangely enough, didn’t find herself the least bit jealous. A wave of reassurance swept over her further when Victor turned to her, took her hand and kissed it.
“Just was thinking how the idiot will screw this up,” he answered, a smirk crossing his lips. He had given up any notion of going the day without taking a swipe at his twin, at least without him present.
For once, it was Dani who gave him the admonishing glare. “Really, you’re going to start that now?” she asked.
Victor looked behind his daughter. “Did Viki get here already?” When he saw Dani’s
expression turn even more sour, he held up his hands. “Fine, I’ll stop.”
Just then, CJ walked in, finishing a call on his phone. “Yeah, he’s here now. Okay, Mom, I’ll see you all in a bit. Bye.” He walked up to Victor and Tea. “That was my mom. Uncle Todd is getting ready and they should all be here soon.”
Tea and Dani took their seats as Victor and CJ walked to the back of the church. They waited there in silence for a good five minutes. As they stood there, CJ turned to his uncle. “Is this weird for you?”
Victor gave him a strange look. “Why would it be weird?”
CJ shrugged his shoulders. “Right now, I remembering the last time I was in a church for Uncle Todd’s wedding. And with you having all those memories also…” His voice trailed off.
Victor would never admit it, but there were feelings confronting him. What ones, he wasn’t sure of. He looked back at Tea, his eyes full of love. No, there was no jealousy for Todd and Blair. He turned back as he heard the doors to the church open up. Walking in were Clint and Viki, Tina and Cord, and Todd, Jack and Sam. Looking at Todd, he realized what those feelings were. Todd was positively glowing. He had never seen, nor remembered, a time when Todd seemed this carefree, this positive. Even that day, all those years ago in St. James, Victor had the memories of Todd’s trepidation for the wedding. But not today.
Victor pulled his brother aside. “We should go over some things before, well, this is official, again,” he said.
“Well, Jack, as best man, he and I went over everything in the limo,” Todd informed him. Victor narrowed his eyes as everyone else moved further in. “Just humor me.” Todd scowled and crossed his arms over his chest as his twin began. “Okay, no pregnancy secrets, right?”
“Uh, no, we already know she’s pregnant,” Todd replied.
Victor nodded as he seemed to be counting off on his fingers. “No attempted murder charges hanging over anyone that you can blow out of the water? Or other deep dark secrets lurking around Port Charles?”
“No to that as well,” came the answer. “At least, none that I’m privvy to or would want to use to stop today.”
“Right, no ‘dead baby’ secrets? Or ‘dead nanny’?” A smirk appeared on his lip, now. Todd narrowed his eyes. He could see where this was headed. That look only provoked Victor even more. “No damsel’s you need to go off and help?”
“Victor, I swear--” Todd growled.
Victor held out his hands. “No new identities you are trying to hide or obsessed women ready to swoop in and kidnap you?”
“That never happened,” Todd stated, confused.
“Oh, right, that was to me.”
Todd just turned and walked away. When he entered the sanctuary, he had to marvel at the arrangements. Shorty had done a perfect job, bringing what he had imagined for months to life.
As he looked around, Sam tugged in his jacket. “Is this what the church looked like when you and Mommy got married the last time?”
Todd looked around again. “Yep. Just like this.”
As the Lord side of the family were waiting at the church, Dorian and the Cramers were back at the hotel getting ready. While Cassie, Sarah and Starr were fussing over Blair, Dorian stood back, still not in complete approval of the events. She loved her niece and in some way understood that Blair loved Todd, but she still wasn’t happy. Maybe she could hope he got cold feet like he nearly did all those years ago.
Addie saw Dorian standing off to the side. She approached her sister and asked, “You should come and join us. Today is such a happy occasion. And we have, quite frankly, not had a lot of those lately.”
“But why did it have to be a happy occasion…with Todd Manning?” Dorian grumbled.
“Because she loves him, Dorrie, and he loves her. It’s always been that way, since the first day they met. They have a love that has stood the test of time, though other people, traumatic events, long separations. They truly can’t function without each other,” Addie said eloquently.
As she was finishing, there was a knock at the door. Starr went to answer it and was greeted by her cousin Jessica and Jessica’s daughter, Bree. Her emotions nearly overtook her when she saw the little girl in the flower girl dress that matched her own. Jessica didn’t seem to notice but Bree, observant even at such a young age, tugged on Starr’s dress. “Mommy gave me this angel pin,” Bree pointed to a golden broach on her shoulder strap, “and told me that Hope was in it.”
Starr could feel the tears sliding down her cheek as she bent down and hugged her cousin’s daughter. She couldn’t form any words and then moved to a mirror to retouch her makeup.
Blair was the interaction and walked up to her daughter. “Hey, are you alright?”
“Yeah, I am,” she replied. “No more tears for today.”
Cassie clapped her hands together. “Okay, we have some wedding traditions to continue.” The women gathered around. “Okay now, for the something old. Viki wanted me to give you this,” she said as she handed Blair a jewelry box. Blair opened it and found a diamond bracelet. “She told me it was her mother’s. She wanted you to wear it today and apologizes for not giving it to you five weddings ago.” Everyone let out a chuckle except Dorian, who who rolled her eyes.
Cassie caught her and sent an elbow into her mother’s arm. “Viki also told me she was giving Todd diamond cufflinks that were Joe Riley’s.”
Everyone in Llanview knew the love Viki still had for her first husband. Blair was touched at the thought of the gift from sister to brother. Even Dorian had to admit it was generous of the woman.
“Now for the something new,” Starr chimed in. “Aunt Viki told me about the bracelet and Jack, Sam and I bought you this.” Inside the box her daughter handed to her was a diamond necklace that looked like a perfect match to the Lord heirloom.
“Oh, Starr, this must have cost…” Blair’s voice trailed off.
“Mom, don’t even say it,” Starr said sternly.
After a minute, Dorian piped up. “Well, something borrowed is from your mother and I.” She handed her niece a delicate handkerchief. “It was our father’s. I always remember him folding it into his breast pocket when he went into the office. It’s one of the few things of his that I’ve held onto for all these years.”
Blair held it in her hand and thought she would start crying. She had never had a male figure in her life and the thought of her grandfather’s handkerchief was a connection to that. She walked over to Dorian and Addie and gathered both in her arms.
After they broke the embrace, Sarah called out, “Oh we need to get moving. Don’t want Uncle Todd to get nervous about being left at the altar.” She saw Dorian’s expression and couldn’t help but smirk.
With that, the gathered Cramer and Lord women put the finishing touches on the bride.
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
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A hand touched his shoulder. “Hey, where’d you go off to?” Tea asked. She had an inkling of what her husband was thinking of and strangely enough, didn’t find herself the least bit jealous. A wave of reassurance swept over her further when Victor turned to her, took her hand and kissed it.
“Just was thinking how the idiot will screw this up,” he answered, a smirk crossing his lips. He had given up any notion of going the day without taking a swipe at his twin, at least without him present.
For once, it was Dani who gave him the admonishing glare. “Really, you’re going to start that now?” she asked.
Victor looked behind his daughter. “Did Viki get here already?” When he saw Dani’s
expression turn even more sour, he held up his hands. “Fine, I’ll stop.”
Just then, CJ walked in, finishing a call on his phone. “Yeah, he’s here now. Okay, Mom, I’ll see you all in a bit. Bye.” He walked up to Victor and Tea. “That was my mom. Uncle Todd is getting ready and they should all be here soon.”
Tea and Dani took their seats as Victor and CJ walked to the back of the church. They waited there in silence for a good five minutes. As they stood there, CJ turned to his uncle. “Is this weird for you?”
Victor gave him a strange look. “Why would it be weird?”
CJ shrugged his shoulders. “Right now, I remembering the last time I was in a church for Uncle Todd’s wedding. And with you having all those memories also…” His voice trailed off.
Victor would never admit it, but there were feelings confronting him. What ones, he wasn’t sure of. He looked back at Tea, his eyes full of love. No, there was no jealousy for Todd and Blair. He turned back as he heard the doors to the church open up. Walking in were Clint and Viki, Tina and Cord, and Todd, Jack and Sam. Looking at Todd, he realized what those feelings were. Todd was positively glowing. He had never seen, nor remembered, a time when Todd seemed this carefree, this positive. Even that day, all those years ago in St. James, Victor had the memories of Todd’s trepidation for the wedding. But not today.
Victor pulled his brother aside. “We should go over some things before, well, this is official, again,” he said.
“Well, Jack, as best man, he and I went over everything in the limo,” Todd informed him. Victor narrowed his eyes as everyone else moved further in. “Just humor me.” Todd scowled and crossed his arms over his chest as his twin began. “Okay, no pregnancy secrets, right?”
“Uh, no, we already know she’s pregnant,” Todd replied.
Victor nodded as he seemed to be counting off on his fingers. “No attempted murder charges hanging over anyone that you can blow out of the water? Or other deep dark secrets lurking around Port Charles?”
“No to that as well,” came the answer. “At least, none that I’m privvy to or would want to use to stop today.”
“Right, no ‘dead baby’ secrets? Or ‘dead nanny’?” A smirk appeared on his lip, now. Todd narrowed his eyes. He could see where this was headed. That look only provoked Victor even more. “No damsel’s you need to go off and help?”
“Victor, I swear--” Todd growled.
Victor held out his hands. “No new identities you are trying to hide or obsessed women ready to swoop in and kidnap you?”
“That never happened,” Todd stated, confused.
“Oh, right, that was to me.”
Todd just turned and walked away. When he entered the sanctuary, he had to marvel at the arrangements. Shorty had done a perfect job, bringing what he had imagined for months to life.
As he looked around, Sam tugged in his jacket. “Is this what the church looked like when you and Mommy got married the last time?”
Todd looked around again. “Yep. Just like this.”
As the Lord side of the family were waiting at the church, Dorian and the Cramers were back at the hotel getting ready. While Cassie, Sarah and Starr were fussing over Blair, Dorian stood back, still not in complete approval of the events. She loved her niece and in some way understood that Blair loved Todd, but she still wasn’t happy. Maybe she could hope he got cold feet like he nearly did all those years ago.
Addie saw Dorian standing off to the side. She approached her sister and asked, “You should come and join us. Today is such a happy occasion. And we have, quite frankly, not had a lot of those lately.”
“But why did it have to be a happy occasion…with Todd Manning?” Dorian grumbled.
“Because she loves him, Dorrie, and he loves her. It’s always been that way, since the first day they met. They have a love that has stood the test of time, though other people, traumatic events, long separations. They truly can’t function without each other,” Addie said eloquently.
As she was finishing, there was a knock at the door. Starr went to answer it and was greeted by her cousin Jessica and Jessica’s daughter, Bree. Her emotions nearly overtook her when she saw the little girl in the flower girl dress that matched her own. Jessica didn’t seem to notice but Bree, observant even at such a young age, tugged on Starr’s dress. “Mommy gave me this angel pin,” Bree pointed to a golden broach on her shoulder strap, “and told me that Hope was in it.”
Starr could feel the tears sliding down her cheek as she bent down and hugged her cousin’s daughter. She couldn’t form any words and then moved to a mirror to retouch her makeup.
Blair was the interaction and walked up to her daughter. “Hey, are you alright?”
“Yeah, I am,” she replied. “No more tears for today.”
Cassie clapped her hands together. “Okay, we have some wedding traditions to continue.” The women gathered around. “Okay now, for the something old. Viki wanted me to give you this,” she said as she handed Blair a jewelry box. Blair opened it and found a diamond bracelet. “She told me it was her mother’s. She wanted you to wear it today and apologizes for not giving it to you five weddings ago.” Everyone let out a chuckle except Dorian, who who rolled her eyes.
Cassie caught her and sent an elbow into her mother’s arm. “Viki also told me she was giving Todd diamond cufflinks that were Joe Riley’s.”
Everyone in Llanview knew the love Viki still had for her first husband. Blair was touched at the thought of the gift from sister to brother. Even Dorian had to admit it was generous of the woman.
“Now for the something new,” Starr chimed in. “Aunt Viki told me about the bracelet and Jack, Sam and I bought you this.” Inside the box her daughter handed to her was a diamond necklace that looked like a perfect match to the Lord heirloom.
“Oh, Starr, this must have cost…” Blair’s voice trailed off.
“Mom, don’t even say it,” Starr said sternly.
After a minute, Dorian piped up. “Well, something borrowed is from your mother and I.” She handed her niece a delicate handkerchief. “It was our father’s. I always remember him folding it into his breast pocket when he went into the office. It’s one of the few things of his that I’ve held onto for all these years.”
Blair held it in her hand and thought she would start crying. She had never had a male figure in her life and the thought of her grandfather’s handkerchief was a connection to that. She walked over to Dorian and Addie and gathered both in her arms.
After they broke the embrace, Sarah called out, “Oh we need to get moving. Don’t want Uncle Todd to get nervous about being left at the altar.” She saw Dorian’s expression and couldn’t help but smirk.
With that, the gathered Cramer and Lord women put the finishing touches on the bride.
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Saturday, June 15, 2013
NEW BOOK COMING!!! and other news . . .
Hey all,
I just got word that "Hope from the Ocean," Cloud's 7th Book in the series, is due to be released to readers either late tonight or tomorrow. Additionally, we have a surprise coming from Monica_Ann soon, and Karena is winding down her book, "Port Charles Chronicles."
I'm excited, as I am sure you are, to see the saga of The Mannings continue!
Can't wait!
As always, thanks for reading at The Real Todd Manning Fanfic Hub
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
Your comments are 'payment' for the work of the authors. Our writers like to hear your feedback. Please leave a comment when you read.
I just got word that "Hope from the Ocean," Cloud's 7th Book in the series, is due to be released to readers either late tonight or tomorrow. Additionally, we have a surprise coming from Monica_Ann soon, and Karena is winding down her book, "Port Charles Chronicles."
I'm excited, as I am sure you are, to see the saga of The Mannings continue!
Can't wait!
As always, thanks for reading at The Real Todd Manning Fanfic Hub
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
Your comments are 'payment' for the work of the authors. Our writers like to hear your feedback. Please leave a comment when you read.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
The Devil You Know: Chapter 60
About an hour after the kids had spilled the beans, Starr and Blair walked into the Floating Rib. Like magnets, Todd and Blair came together as the rest of the room ceased to exist for them. Finally, it was Cord’s throat-clearing that separated them.
Todd got the drowsy look on his face when he saw Blair. “We have the best kids, don’t we? Planning our wedding for us and everything.”
“Yes we do,” Blair agreed.
Then Todd turned back to the gathering. “See you all tomorrow, then.”
“What? No, no seeing the bride before the wedding, Dad,” Starr said with a touch of exasperation.
“No, sorry Starr, but that doesn’t work for us,” her mother said.
“Tried it for two weddings at least and look how those ended,” Todd began. He held up one finger. “Your mother had to spend the night with Dorian and I, well, I learned about my family history.” The memory of that still sent a shiver down his spine. Then he held up a second finger. “A few years later, I leave her and she gets compromised by Holden.”
“I think we need to break with tradition this time,” Blair agreed.
“So, you all have fun, watch out for my son the card shark and we’ll see you sometime tomorrow,” Todd said gleefully as he pulled Blair out of the bar. The whole way home, they laughed about how their families, especially the kids, had taken care of the wedding.
“You had to see the look on Dorian’s face after Starr told me about it. I think she had the same expression when we got married all those years ago,” Blair told him.
“Well, at least some things don’t change. Auntie Dorian still doesn’t think I’m good enough for you. Do you think we need to worry about her objecting tomorrow?”
“No, actually, she is fine with it. Her thing is we should wait till the baby is born. But, I don’t want to. I think we’ve waited too long as it is.”
“Yeah, it’s been since, like, September. This is the longest engagement we’ve ever had.” With that, they pulled into the driveway. Once they were in the door, Todd had her pinned to it, his tongue down her throat. She returned the kiss as she started removing his jacket. By time they were in the bedroom, a line of clothes marked their way.
“Reginald is not going to be pleased to see the mess,” Blair gasped between gropes.
“He’s the butler, he’d better just suck it up,” Todd answered, capturing her mouth with his. Then he stopped and looked at Blair. “We really are busting the traditions wide open tonight. Making love before the wedding? How could we!”
Blair laughed as she said, “Like this.”
For time rushing by Todd, the next few hours seemed to pass by at a pleasant pace. Eventually, they had both fallen asleep in each other’s arms. At sevem am, the alarm next to Blair went off and she got up, leaving Todd a note and preparing for the day. She was long out the door when Todd rolled over to find the space next to him empty. He panicked for a moment then found the letter.
My Beloved,
As much as I enjoyed our nontraditional night before the wedding, I agree with our children who think we should be apart before I walk down the aisle. Have no fear, I will be there. But soon, I’m sure that Sam will come crashing into the bedroom. Then Jack will be following him, bugging you to get ready. Then, I know that Viki, Tina and Victor will be showing up, along with CJ and maybe even the Buchanans. (Be nice to them, for the day at least!)
As for me, I have my own preparations to go through, with Starr, Sarah, Bree, Cassie, and and whatever other parts of the Cramer Coven that have shown up.
We are truly blessed by the family we have, considering what starts we had in life. Remember that, if you forget anything about today. I will see you soon at the beginning of the aisle.
I love you,
Blair Cramer Manning
Included in the note was the invitation for the wedding:
Starr, John and Sam Manning invite you
To the fourth wedding of their parents
Todd Manning
And
Blair Cramer
Monday, December 31st, 2012
St. Timothy’s Church
Port Charles, New York
Reception to follow at
The Grand Ballroom
The Metrocourt Hotel.
Todd smiled at the invitation. It was written in gold script, edged in a broad gold frame. Just as he had pictured it. His thoughts again went to that night with Blair, when everything in his world was perfect.
Just as she had predicted, Sam bounced into the room and began jumping on the bed. “Get up! We have to get ready for the wedding!”
Jack waltzed in, eating a bowl of cereal. Todd’s eyebrow went up at the sight of his son so nonchalant at not even six in the morning. “Who brought you home and at what hour?”
“Uncle Clint at just before midnight,” Jack said. “Just in time to hear Reg grumbling about the mess.” He winced at his father. “I so don’t want the image in my head that’s there now.”
“What images is that, Jack?” Sam asked.
Todd chuckled before he answered. “Um, I’m sure that Reginald was very angry with the mess your mom and I made last night when we got home.”
Jack stifled the laugh that was coming when he saw his father’s face turn bright red. “We all better start to get ready. Uncle Clint said something about him, Aunt Viki, Aunt Tina and Uncle Cord being here early.” With that, Sam leapt off the bed and ran downstairs to get breakfast.
Todd and Jack followed, Todd shaking his head. “There is never going to not be a weird time hearing you call Tina ‘aunt’ or any Buchanan ‘uncle’,” he mused on his way down the stairs. As they passed the front door, the bell rung. Todd rolled his eyes and turned towards it. Sure enough, it was the Lord-Buchanan branch of the family tree.
“Good morning,” Viki said cheerfully.
Tina rushed into Todd, wrapping her arms around him. “I cannot tell you how excited I am for this day! I think you’ll love how I put together your vision!”
Todd didn’t like the sound of two of the things she had just said. “Jack told me you just helped.”
“Well, um, yes, Starr asked for my help…” Tina stammered a bit.
“And you have never been excited for my wedding days to Blair. Hell, you wanted to call an exorcist for one of them!”
Jack’s expression was one of confusion. “I know Aunt Dorian has never liked the idea of you and mom getting together, but an exorcist? Isn’t that a bit much?”
“Not for Tina,” Todd retorted.
Viki’s eyes switched back and forth between her brother and sister. She could see the storm clouds forming and step in to stop it. “Alright, enough of that. Todd, have you had any breakfast?” She didn’t even wait for an answer as she headed for the kitchen.
In there, they found Sam eating scrambled eggs and bacon as Reginald set out more plates, knowing the rest of Todd’s family would be coming. They all joined in and things calmed down. Sam kept chattering on about being the ring bearer. “CJ told me I have to hold the pillow real still.”
“Well, he did a good job when he was the ring bearer, and I’m sure you will do just as good of one,” Viki encouraged.
“Where is CJ?” Todd asked.
“He and Victor were going to go straight to the church and make sure everything is going okay there,” Viki said.
With that, Todd got up and headed into the study, finishing his coffee along the way. He was there for a few minutes when he noticed Viki had joined him. She had that all too familiar look in her eyes and he sensed a lecture coming. “What did I do now?” he asked.
“Why do you think you did something?” she asked, out of genuine curiosity.
“You have that look about you. That mothering, lecturing look.”
She rolled her eyes at him. “This is not a lecture,” she said, exacerbated. She reached into her purse and pulled out a small box, handing it to him.
Todd took it and opened it cautiously. Inside were diamond stud cufflinks. He looked up at her. “These aren’t some family heirloom, are they?”
“Not yours, directly.” Her face softened. “I gave them to Joe on the day we were married for the second time. I’d like for you to wear them today.”
He looked back down at them, then gave her a hug. She gratefully reciprocated it. “Thank you…for this,” Todd replied as a lump grew in his throat. “But would Joe have approved of you…?”
“Joe would have loved you. Just like I do,” she assured him.
Todd nodded as Jack came into the room. “We should probably start to get ready, dad.”
Todd turned to Jack. “Yeah, give me a few minutes. I need to jump into the shower then I’ll be set.” As he turned to leave, he looked back at Viki. “Thank you, again, for being here from. Even without the deep, dark family secrets coming out, I don’t think I could do this without you.” With that, he walked out of the room.
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
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Todd got the drowsy look on his face when he saw Blair. “We have the best kids, don’t we? Planning our wedding for us and everything.”
“Yes we do,” Blair agreed.
Then Todd turned back to the gathering. “See you all tomorrow, then.”
“What? No, no seeing the bride before the wedding, Dad,” Starr said with a touch of exasperation.
“No, sorry Starr, but that doesn’t work for us,” her mother said.
“Tried it for two weddings at least and look how those ended,” Todd began. He held up one finger. “Your mother had to spend the night with Dorian and I, well, I learned about my family history.” The memory of that still sent a shiver down his spine. Then he held up a second finger. “A few years later, I leave her and she gets compromised by Holden.”
“I think we need to break with tradition this time,” Blair agreed.
“So, you all have fun, watch out for my son the card shark and we’ll see you sometime tomorrow,” Todd said gleefully as he pulled Blair out of the bar. The whole way home, they laughed about how their families, especially the kids, had taken care of the wedding.
“You had to see the look on Dorian’s face after Starr told me about it. I think she had the same expression when we got married all those years ago,” Blair told him.
“Well, at least some things don’t change. Auntie Dorian still doesn’t think I’m good enough for you. Do you think we need to worry about her objecting tomorrow?”
“No, actually, she is fine with it. Her thing is we should wait till the baby is born. But, I don’t want to. I think we’ve waited too long as it is.”
“Yeah, it’s been since, like, September. This is the longest engagement we’ve ever had.” With that, they pulled into the driveway. Once they were in the door, Todd had her pinned to it, his tongue down her throat. She returned the kiss as she started removing his jacket. By time they were in the bedroom, a line of clothes marked their way.
“Reginald is not going to be pleased to see the mess,” Blair gasped between gropes.
“He’s the butler, he’d better just suck it up,” Todd answered, capturing her mouth with his. Then he stopped and looked at Blair. “We really are busting the traditions wide open tonight. Making love before the wedding? How could we!”
Blair laughed as she said, “Like this.”
For time rushing by Todd, the next few hours seemed to pass by at a pleasant pace. Eventually, they had both fallen asleep in each other’s arms. At sevem am, the alarm next to Blair went off and she got up, leaving Todd a note and preparing for the day. She was long out the door when Todd rolled over to find the space next to him empty. He panicked for a moment then found the letter.
My Beloved,
As much as I enjoyed our nontraditional night before the wedding, I agree with our children who think we should be apart before I walk down the aisle. Have no fear, I will be there. But soon, I’m sure that Sam will come crashing into the bedroom. Then Jack will be following him, bugging you to get ready. Then, I know that Viki, Tina and Victor will be showing up, along with CJ and maybe even the Buchanans. (Be nice to them, for the day at least!)
As for me, I have my own preparations to go through, with Starr, Sarah, Bree, Cassie, and and whatever other parts of the Cramer Coven that have shown up.
We are truly blessed by the family we have, considering what starts we had in life. Remember that, if you forget anything about today. I will see you soon at the beginning of the aisle.
I love you,
Blair Cramer Manning
Included in the note was the invitation for the wedding:
Starr, John and Sam Manning invite you
To the fourth wedding of their parents
Todd Manning
And
Blair Cramer
Monday, December 31st, 2012
St. Timothy’s Church
Port Charles, New York
Reception to follow at
The Grand Ballroom
The Metrocourt Hotel.
Todd smiled at the invitation. It was written in gold script, edged in a broad gold frame. Just as he had pictured it. His thoughts again went to that night with Blair, when everything in his world was perfect.
Just as she had predicted, Sam bounced into the room and began jumping on the bed. “Get up! We have to get ready for the wedding!”
Jack waltzed in, eating a bowl of cereal. Todd’s eyebrow went up at the sight of his son so nonchalant at not even six in the morning. “Who brought you home and at what hour?”
“Uncle Clint at just before midnight,” Jack said. “Just in time to hear Reg grumbling about the mess.” He winced at his father. “I so don’t want the image in my head that’s there now.”
“What images is that, Jack?” Sam asked.
Todd chuckled before he answered. “Um, I’m sure that Reginald was very angry with the mess your mom and I made last night when we got home.”
Jack stifled the laugh that was coming when he saw his father’s face turn bright red. “We all better start to get ready. Uncle Clint said something about him, Aunt Viki, Aunt Tina and Uncle Cord being here early.” With that, Sam leapt off the bed and ran downstairs to get breakfast.
Todd and Jack followed, Todd shaking his head. “There is never going to not be a weird time hearing you call Tina ‘aunt’ or any Buchanan ‘uncle’,” he mused on his way down the stairs. As they passed the front door, the bell rung. Todd rolled his eyes and turned towards it. Sure enough, it was the Lord-Buchanan branch of the family tree.
“Good morning,” Viki said cheerfully.
Tina rushed into Todd, wrapping her arms around him. “I cannot tell you how excited I am for this day! I think you’ll love how I put together your vision!”
Todd didn’t like the sound of two of the things she had just said. “Jack told me you just helped.”
“Well, um, yes, Starr asked for my help…” Tina stammered a bit.
“And you have never been excited for my wedding days to Blair. Hell, you wanted to call an exorcist for one of them!”
Jack’s expression was one of confusion. “I know Aunt Dorian has never liked the idea of you and mom getting together, but an exorcist? Isn’t that a bit much?”
“Not for Tina,” Todd retorted.
Viki’s eyes switched back and forth between her brother and sister. She could see the storm clouds forming and step in to stop it. “Alright, enough of that. Todd, have you had any breakfast?” She didn’t even wait for an answer as she headed for the kitchen.
In there, they found Sam eating scrambled eggs and bacon as Reginald set out more plates, knowing the rest of Todd’s family would be coming. They all joined in and things calmed down. Sam kept chattering on about being the ring bearer. “CJ told me I have to hold the pillow real still.”
“Well, he did a good job when he was the ring bearer, and I’m sure you will do just as good of one,” Viki encouraged.
“Where is CJ?” Todd asked.
“He and Victor were going to go straight to the church and make sure everything is going okay there,” Viki said.
With that, Todd got up and headed into the study, finishing his coffee along the way. He was there for a few minutes when he noticed Viki had joined him. She had that all too familiar look in her eyes and he sensed a lecture coming. “What did I do now?” he asked.
“Why do you think you did something?” she asked, out of genuine curiosity.
“You have that look about you. That mothering, lecturing look.”
She rolled her eyes at him. “This is not a lecture,” she said, exacerbated. She reached into her purse and pulled out a small box, handing it to him.
Todd took it and opened it cautiously. Inside were diamond stud cufflinks. He looked up at her. “These aren’t some family heirloom, are they?”
“Not yours, directly.” Her face softened. “I gave them to Joe on the day we were married for the second time. I’d like for you to wear them today.”
He looked back down at them, then gave her a hug. She gratefully reciprocated it. “Thank you…for this,” Todd replied as a lump grew in his throat. “But would Joe have approved of you…?”
“Joe would have loved you. Just like I do,” she assured him.
Todd nodded as Jack came into the room. “We should probably start to get ready, dad.”
Todd turned to Jack. “Yeah, give me a few minutes. I need to jump into the shower then I’ll be set.” As he turned to leave, he looked back at Viki. “Thank you, again, for being here from. Even without the deep, dark family secrets coming out, I don’t think I could do this without you.” With that, he walked out of the room.
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
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Tuesday, June 4, 2013
The Devil You Know: Chapter 59
One of Todd Manning’s laments about his life was it always seemed to go too slow. It took him too long to heal after Ireland and because of that, Blair had seemingly moved on. He had been gone for eight years, time he would never get back with his family. Time, for him, seemed to stop, or go in reverse.
That was why it felt weird for him to be two days away from his wedding. It felt like yesterday when the kids had shown up at the MetroCourt to get moving on the rest of the wedding plans and now, it was December thirtieth. Todd knew part of the reason it was going fast was to help him cope with the family that was here for it, his and Blair’s. Cassie had shown up a few days ago, not surprisingly with Andrew Carpenter. It was good to see the family priest and Todd had, of course, asked him to perform the ceremony. But there was something in the look Andrew had on his face as he answered that made Todd suspicious.
Something was up and Todd was determined to figure it out. He was sharing his suspicions with Blair in his office when Victor waltzed in, unannounced. “Alright, come on, we got places to go,” his twin said in an annoyed tone.
Todd looked to Blair than back to Victor. “Go where?”
“Don’t ask questions, just move your ass,” Victor retorted.
“I’m not moving my ass until you tell me where to move it to!” He’d be taken away from his family one time to many to trust when someone wanted to take him somewhere.
Victor saw the mild panic in Todd’s eyes and understood where his brother was coming from. “The Floating Rib,” he answered.
“You’re taking me to a dive bar? What for?” He looked to Blair, who rolled her eyes before he understood. “I’m getting a bachelor party? Is that such a good idea for me?”
“Will you just get moving! Don’t worry, there’s not going to be much debauchery,” Victor assured him with a smirk. As Todd stood up and moved to the office door, Victor added, “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure he gets to the chapel on time. No psychos, no car crushers, nothing is going to stop this wedding.”
Blair smiled at Victor before taking Todd in her arms. “Whatever is up, he’s in on it.”
“Yeah, I can tell that,” Todd said. Then he looked deeply in her eyes. “I really don’t want to go with him. I want to spend every second with you before the wedding. Trying it the traditional way hasn’t worked well for us in the past, has it?”
She shook her head, remembering then night before the Gold Balloon wedding, her with Dorian and him finding out the truth about his father. Then, the night before their remarriage, when Max set them up had turned that wedding into a horror show. “No, the traditional way hasn’t worked.”
“Then I’ll tell him to pound salt, and we’ll go back to the house and lock ourselves in the bedroom for forty-eight hours. How does that sound?”
“If necessary, I will pull you out of there by your ear!” Victor yelled.
“Sounds like it won’t happen,” Blair answered wryly. “Go on, get out of here.” They walked into the reception area together as the elevator doors opened and Starr, Dorian and Cassie stepped out.
“You haven’t left yet?” Starr asked anxiously.
“Slow poke here isn’t too enthusiastic,” Victor commented as he pointed to Todd.
“Well, I’m going now,” Todd said. He turned back to Blair and kissed her, deeply and with the point of embarrassing those that were there. It went on for a few good minutes until he was jerked away by Victor into the elevator. They rode down to the lobby and got into the car in silence. Finally, when they got to the Floating Rib, Todd used his cane to keep Victor in the driver’s seat.
“You are going to tell me now what it going on,” Todd demanded.
Victor tried to remove it from across his chest, but Todd put more pressure on it. Victor looked at him and sighing said, “Jack is in there. He’ll tell you.” His then pushed the cane away and went in.
Todd followed and found the place nearly empty. The usual bartender, Coleman, was at his place, along with Jack and three generations of Buchanan men. Clint, Cord, CJ and, to his surprise, Joey were all at the bar. Also there was Jasper Jacks. “Wow, all this for me? You really shouldn’t have.”
Clint offered a narrowed glare. “Well, considering you have so many friends to start with…”
CJ just rolled his eyes at his grandfather. Then he turned to his uncle. “I’m just happy this is happening for you…again,” he said with a smile.
The image of a young, blonde boy walking down the aisle with a ring pillow flashed in Todd’s brain and, by the look on his nephew’s face, it did in CJ’s as well. “Well, this time, it will work out.” Todd moved around and came face to face with his elder nephew. “What, no Kevin?” he asked sardonically.
“I came because…I was there for the first one-“
“Second, actually.” Victor piped up with.
Joey just shook his head. “I guess I wanted to be here for this.”
Todd nodded his head. “Your mom talked you into it, right?”
Joey grimaced without answering then turned back towards the other men. Todd walked over to his son. “You organized all this?”
Jack gave his father a mirror image of Todd’s own smile. “Well, that’s what a best man does, right?”
“Yes, that’s what he does. He also tells the groom when something is going on,” Todd explained to him. “John Cramer Manning, something is up and you are going to tell me what it is.”
As Jack scrambled to figure out a way to throw his father off, Blair was lying on her back getting a facial at the Metrocourt’s spa. Starr was next to her, flipping through a a magazine while getting a pedicure. “How is that feeling, Mom?”
“Heavenly. Absolutely heavenly,” her mother answered. “But we should have done this tomorrow.”
“Oh, the, um, spa was booked up for tomorrow. People getting ready for New Year’s Eve parties and all that,” Starr replied.
“Well, thankfully, we were able to do this today,” Blair said. “And with having everything ready for the wedding, it is a much appreciated relaxation. Thank you, sweetie.”
Starr smiled at her mother. Blair had no idea what was going to be happening in the next twenty-four hours. It seems as though the whole plan was going to work.
“Now, tell me what that little conniving mind is up to,” her mother then demanded.
Or would it? “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said with a hitched breath.
“You and Jack and the rest of the family have been up to something and I want to know what it is.” She looked at her daughter and saw the classic caught expression on her face. “Starr Manning…”
Starr didn’t know what to say. Sure, she had been caught any number of times throughout her childhood in some scheme or another. Usually, she was in cahoots with her father. But now, for some reason, she could feel the walls crumbling around her. She closed her eyes as she said, “The wedding isn’t going to be New Year’s Day.” When she opened her eyes, she saw her mother’s raised eyebrow. “It’s tomorrow.”
Blair reaction surprised her. “Okay then. I’m going to guess you planned it, right?”
Starr nodded. “With help from Jessica and Aunt Tina.”
“TINA?!?’ Blair exploded. “Why Tina?”
“Well, it was just after Dad came out of his episode from the Nurse’s Ball and I needed help, and Tina was there…” Starr began.
Blair waved her off. “Fine, Tina helped you.”
“It was just in the organization. We were working off Dad’s plans,” Starr said to assuage her mother’s obvious concerns. “Dad actually had everything planned down to the last detail. We just put the plans into action.”
The pregnancy hormones may have gotten to her, because Blair’s eyes welled up with tears. It was so like Todd to plan their wedding. She was briefly transported back to the ballroom at the Palace Hotel and gold balloons were floating down around them. “Todd…planned the wedding?”
“He recreated your prefect day. I think he’s been working on it for a while. He just never got the chance to move forward with it all, for some reason,” Starr told her. “But it’s tomorrow night in the ballroom here.”
Blair gave her daughter a watery smile. “And you saw it through. Oh, Starr!”
“It’s my dream come true. I’ve been trying to get you back together for years.”
“And now, it’s going to happen,” Blair said.
Just then, Dorian and Cassie came into the spa and Blair began telling them the news. Neither woman made a good attempt at being surprised but Cassie basked in Blair obvious joy while Dorian remained her usual reticent self with anything to do with Todd Manning.
While the Cramer women talked Starr sent a text message to her brother. Jack had, by then, found a way out of admitting anything to Todd. Nonetheless, when he read the message, he verbalized a curse.
“Bad hand?” Todd asked. The party had evolved into a poker game, one that Jack was cleaning up at.
Jack looked at his father. “The wedding is tomorrow,” he blurted out.
Todd smiled. “I knew something was- -wait, what?”
In as fast a tone as he could manage, Jack spilled about the wedding being the next day and how Starr, Jessica and Tina had used Todd’s own plans. Much like his fiancée, Todd latched on to one piece of information. “Tina helped?” He leaned his forehead in his hand, wincing as he did so. “If there is one scrap of leopard print anything, so help me…”
“Starr found your plans, Dad. It’s going to be just like you envisioned it,” Jack said, trying to calm him.
Todd sat back in his chair as Coleman came up to him. “You look like man who’s about to be led to his execution.” The bartender failed to see Victor’s expression at his crack, but Todd did, feeling a moment of upset for his brother.
The moment passed, though and Todd’s smile slowly grew as the realization hit him. He was going to be getting married tomorrow. Married, again, to Blair Cramer. For the fourth time. The last time. He looked over at Coleman, after eyeing his twin. “If that is a death sentence, I will gladly go through it a hundred times more.”
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That was why it felt weird for him to be two days away from his wedding. It felt like yesterday when the kids had shown up at the MetroCourt to get moving on the rest of the wedding plans and now, it was December thirtieth. Todd knew part of the reason it was going fast was to help him cope with the family that was here for it, his and Blair’s. Cassie had shown up a few days ago, not surprisingly with Andrew Carpenter. It was good to see the family priest and Todd had, of course, asked him to perform the ceremony. But there was something in the look Andrew had on his face as he answered that made Todd suspicious.
Something was up and Todd was determined to figure it out. He was sharing his suspicions with Blair in his office when Victor waltzed in, unannounced. “Alright, come on, we got places to go,” his twin said in an annoyed tone.
Todd looked to Blair than back to Victor. “Go where?”
“Don’t ask questions, just move your ass,” Victor retorted.
“I’m not moving my ass until you tell me where to move it to!” He’d be taken away from his family one time to many to trust when someone wanted to take him somewhere.
Victor saw the mild panic in Todd’s eyes and understood where his brother was coming from. “The Floating Rib,” he answered.
“You’re taking me to a dive bar? What for?” He looked to Blair, who rolled her eyes before he understood. “I’m getting a bachelor party? Is that such a good idea for me?”
“Will you just get moving! Don’t worry, there’s not going to be much debauchery,” Victor assured him with a smirk. As Todd stood up and moved to the office door, Victor added, “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure he gets to the chapel on time. No psychos, no car crushers, nothing is going to stop this wedding.”
Blair smiled at Victor before taking Todd in her arms. “Whatever is up, he’s in on it.”
“Yeah, I can tell that,” Todd said. Then he looked deeply in her eyes. “I really don’t want to go with him. I want to spend every second with you before the wedding. Trying it the traditional way hasn’t worked well for us in the past, has it?”
She shook her head, remembering then night before the Gold Balloon wedding, her with Dorian and him finding out the truth about his father. Then, the night before their remarriage, when Max set them up had turned that wedding into a horror show. “No, the traditional way hasn’t worked.”
“Then I’ll tell him to pound salt, and we’ll go back to the house and lock ourselves in the bedroom for forty-eight hours. How does that sound?”
“If necessary, I will pull you out of there by your ear!” Victor yelled.
“Sounds like it won’t happen,” Blair answered wryly. “Go on, get out of here.” They walked into the reception area together as the elevator doors opened and Starr, Dorian and Cassie stepped out.
“You haven’t left yet?” Starr asked anxiously.
“Slow poke here isn’t too enthusiastic,” Victor commented as he pointed to Todd.
“Well, I’m going now,” Todd said. He turned back to Blair and kissed her, deeply and with the point of embarrassing those that were there. It went on for a few good minutes until he was jerked away by Victor into the elevator. They rode down to the lobby and got into the car in silence. Finally, when they got to the Floating Rib, Todd used his cane to keep Victor in the driver’s seat.
“You are going to tell me now what it going on,” Todd demanded.
Victor tried to remove it from across his chest, but Todd put more pressure on it. Victor looked at him and sighing said, “Jack is in there. He’ll tell you.” His then pushed the cane away and went in.
Todd followed and found the place nearly empty. The usual bartender, Coleman, was at his place, along with Jack and three generations of Buchanan men. Clint, Cord, CJ and, to his surprise, Joey were all at the bar. Also there was Jasper Jacks. “Wow, all this for me? You really shouldn’t have.”
Clint offered a narrowed glare. “Well, considering you have so many friends to start with…”
CJ just rolled his eyes at his grandfather. Then he turned to his uncle. “I’m just happy this is happening for you…again,” he said with a smile.
The image of a young, blonde boy walking down the aisle with a ring pillow flashed in Todd’s brain and, by the look on his nephew’s face, it did in CJ’s as well. “Well, this time, it will work out.” Todd moved around and came face to face with his elder nephew. “What, no Kevin?” he asked sardonically.
“I came because…I was there for the first one-“
“Second, actually.” Victor piped up with.
Joey just shook his head. “I guess I wanted to be here for this.”
Todd nodded his head. “Your mom talked you into it, right?”
Joey grimaced without answering then turned back towards the other men. Todd walked over to his son. “You organized all this?”
Jack gave his father a mirror image of Todd’s own smile. “Well, that’s what a best man does, right?”
“Yes, that’s what he does. He also tells the groom when something is going on,” Todd explained to him. “John Cramer Manning, something is up and you are going to tell me what it is.”
As Jack scrambled to figure out a way to throw his father off, Blair was lying on her back getting a facial at the Metrocourt’s spa. Starr was next to her, flipping through a a magazine while getting a pedicure. “How is that feeling, Mom?”
“Heavenly. Absolutely heavenly,” her mother answered. “But we should have done this tomorrow.”
“Oh, the, um, spa was booked up for tomorrow. People getting ready for New Year’s Eve parties and all that,” Starr replied.
“Well, thankfully, we were able to do this today,” Blair said. “And with having everything ready for the wedding, it is a much appreciated relaxation. Thank you, sweetie.”
Starr smiled at her mother. Blair had no idea what was going to be happening in the next twenty-four hours. It seems as though the whole plan was going to work.
“Now, tell me what that little conniving mind is up to,” her mother then demanded.
Or would it? “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said with a hitched breath.
“You and Jack and the rest of the family have been up to something and I want to know what it is.” She looked at her daughter and saw the classic caught expression on her face. “Starr Manning…”
Starr didn’t know what to say. Sure, she had been caught any number of times throughout her childhood in some scheme or another. Usually, she was in cahoots with her father. But now, for some reason, she could feel the walls crumbling around her. She closed her eyes as she said, “The wedding isn’t going to be New Year’s Day.” When she opened her eyes, she saw her mother’s raised eyebrow. “It’s tomorrow.”
Blair reaction surprised her. “Okay then. I’m going to guess you planned it, right?”
Starr nodded. “With help from Jessica and Aunt Tina.”
“TINA?!?’ Blair exploded. “Why Tina?”
“Well, it was just after Dad came out of his episode from the Nurse’s Ball and I needed help, and Tina was there…” Starr began.
Blair waved her off. “Fine, Tina helped you.”
“It was just in the organization. We were working off Dad’s plans,” Starr said to assuage her mother’s obvious concerns. “Dad actually had everything planned down to the last detail. We just put the plans into action.”
The pregnancy hormones may have gotten to her, because Blair’s eyes welled up with tears. It was so like Todd to plan their wedding. She was briefly transported back to the ballroom at the Palace Hotel and gold balloons were floating down around them. “Todd…planned the wedding?”
“He recreated your prefect day. I think he’s been working on it for a while. He just never got the chance to move forward with it all, for some reason,” Starr told her. “But it’s tomorrow night in the ballroom here.”
Blair gave her daughter a watery smile. “And you saw it through. Oh, Starr!”
“It’s my dream come true. I’ve been trying to get you back together for years.”
“And now, it’s going to happen,” Blair said.
Just then, Dorian and Cassie came into the spa and Blair began telling them the news. Neither woman made a good attempt at being surprised but Cassie basked in Blair obvious joy while Dorian remained her usual reticent self with anything to do with Todd Manning.
While the Cramer women talked Starr sent a text message to her brother. Jack had, by then, found a way out of admitting anything to Todd. Nonetheless, when he read the message, he verbalized a curse.
“Bad hand?” Todd asked. The party had evolved into a poker game, one that Jack was cleaning up at.
Jack looked at his father. “The wedding is tomorrow,” he blurted out.
Todd smiled. “I knew something was- -wait, what?”
In as fast a tone as he could manage, Jack spilled about the wedding being the next day and how Starr, Jessica and Tina had used Todd’s own plans. Much like his fiancée, Todd latched on to one piece of information. “Tina helped?” He leaned his forehead in his hand, wincing as he did so. “If there is one scrap of leopard print anything, so help me…”
“Starr found your plans, Dad. It’s going to be just like you envisioned it,” Jack said, trying to calm him.
Todd sat back in his chair as Coleman came up to him. “You look like man who’s about to be led to his execution.” The bartender failed to see Victor’s expression at his crack, but Todd did, feeling a moment of upset for his brother.
The moment passed, though and Todd’s smile slowly grew as the realization hit him. He was going to be getting married tomorrow. Married, again, to Blair Cramer. For the fourth time. The last time. He looked over at Coleman, after eyeing his twin. “If that is a death sentence, I will gladly go through it a hundred times more.”
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Wednesday, May 29, 2013
The Devil You Know: Chapter 58
After the coffee and dessert was served, Todd and Blair made their goodbyes as they went to their own private Christmas present. They walked into the Metrocourt and headed to the desk. As they approached, Carly looked up and smiled. “How was your Christmas? Get all the presents you wanted?”
Blair smiled. “Not yet, but I will be soon.”
Todd just grabbed the key in one hand and Blair’s hand in the other, heading towards the elevator. He didn’t want to do any small talk with anyone. All he wanted was his Christmas present.
They made their way to the room and walked in. Like all rooms at the Metrocourt, it was luxurious. The furnishings were all tasteful and bespoke that feeling. And yet, off in the corner of the room, there was a tiny, limp Christmas tree. Looking at it almost made Blair laugh. “Are we going to be getting a dog?” she asked.
Todd’s nose crinkled. “Why would you ask that?”
She point to the pathetic tree. “I asked because of Charlie Brown’s tree over there.”
He looked over at, smiling. Carly had managed to do it. He walked over to the tree and fiddled with the sorry excuse for the decoration that were on it. Then he looked back at Blair. “You don’t get it, do you?” Blair gave his a sidelong glance. “I know the accommodations are a little bit better than our first Christmas together. I didn’t want to go all nostalgic and go out to that No Tell motel on the highway, but I would have hoped you’d get it a little bit.”
Realization came to her eyes. “Our first Christmas,” she whispered, a smile tugging her mouth.
“Granted, the Metrocourt is a step up. Back then, I wouldn’t have been allowed within ten feet of the Palace. I was…barely living…just getting back from the damn will reading…”
“I had just had another fight with Cord. He had to go do something for Tina and I got mad at him. Granted, I never wanted to take him away from his kids. But he always had to go after Tina.”
“Then, in the midst of my self-pity, there’s this knock at the door. Some chick looking for a party.” Todd sat down, glancing around the room. He seemed to be avoiding looking at Blair.
She sat down on the other side of the couch doing the same. “A little music, a little dancing.” Then she swept her gaze in his direction. “Very little dancing.”
Todd shrugged his shoulders. “What can I say? At least the night wasn’t a total waste.” He turned to face her. A familiar look was in front of her. It was the one that Todd showed to the world not often enough. “I was just so nervous being with you that night. Even with the dancing, it was…scary to me. I didn’t want to…”
“I know, Todd. I knew it that night.”
“It was a wonderful night,” he admitted.
“Even where it led to?”
Todd knew she meant something specific with that last comment. But he shook his head. “What it led to was the best thing to ever happen to me.” He could see Blair start a counter argument, but he cut her off. “Seriously, think about it. I had just gotten back from Chicago, where my father had cut me out of everything. And then, within three months, I had everything. I had a wife, a baby on the way,” he paused, taking her hand to share the pain of that memory, “a family. And you, coming to my room that night, that was the first domino to fall.” Then he leaned in to kiss her.
After they parted, Blair looked at the tree. “So this is the Christmas present, 2012 edition?”
“Yeah, I figured I owed you a reenactment at a nicer place,” Todd explained. He was about to continue when there was a knock at the door. Room service brought in a tray with strawberries and a bottle chilling in a bucket.
After Todd tipped the guy, Blair came over and looked at the bottle. “Sparkling apple cider?”
“Well, you can’t drink alcohol, so neither will I,” he said as he took it from her. Uncorking the bottle, he poured out two glasses, handing one over to her. Then he raised his. “To the woman who gave me…everything.”
It was something that was usually foreign for Blair’s ears to hear. But coming from Todd Manning, she knew those words were the truth. They did, however, make her blush. “Todd…”
“It’s the truth. And coming from me, someone who has had issues with the truth in the past, I know, but I really don’t know where I’d be if I didn’t have you. And this time, for you and our kids and especially for the newest one, when she comes, I will do better. To you, I vow this.”
She moved closer to him. After she put down the glass, she brought her fingers to his face. He stared into her green eyes, looking like a man adrift in the sea who had found a life raft. When he brought his arms around her back and up to her shoulders, it was as if he was clinging to it. They moved in closer, nose to nose. Blair’s lips grazed over his and, for a minute, she pulled back enough to see his eyes were closed. Then she captured his lips, their tongues exploring familiar territory. The kiss deepened as they, in unison, moved toward the bedroom.
Waking up the next morning in Blair’s arm was better than their first time together. He closed his eyes again and moved his hand to her stomach. Even though it was still early in the pregnancy, he thought he could feel Meredith moving around in there.
“I feel her too,” Blair said sleepily. She opened her eyes and smiled at him.
“She’s what, the size of a pea? You can feel that?”
“Call it mother’s intuition. But I have always felt our children, even when I didn’t know I was carrying them at first,” Blair informed him. “And both Starr and Jack were anxious to get into the world. I have no doubt this one will be the same.”
Jack’s birth flashed through Todd’s memories. At the time, his timing wasn’t as surprising to Todd, because he had believed the baby was Max’s. As Todd thought about it more, a wave of shame, one that would never leave him, washed over him.
Blair noticed the change in his demeanor. She knew just what he was thinking about. “We both made a lot of mistakes there. I don’t want you…I don’t want you going there. Not with a wedding to put together in less than a week.”
Todd grinned. She really did know him well. “Yeah, I guess we should get rolling on that,” he said.
Before another word was spoken, there was a knocking at the door. Todd pulled on his slacks and puttered out to the entrance to the room. Opening it, he found a room service waiter. “Compliments of the hotel,” the man informed him as he wheeled the cart in.
After the waiter left, Blair came out. “Carly seems to know what you like,” she commented.
“Well, I did live here for a few months and I did basically order the same things every morning,” Todd explained as he opened the covers on the plates. “Although, I know I never ordered this.”
A plate of chocolate chip pancakes lay before Blair. “Well, somebody told the kitchen staff about this,” she replied. They ate the breakfast before them and were about to head back into the bedroom when another knock was heard at the door. This time, when Todd went to open it, Starr, Jack and Sam barreled in.
“You’re not dressed yet?” Starr asked. “We have so much to do and so little time to do it. Come on, let’s move!”
“Hey, Shorty, we just finished up breakfast, okay?” Todd said to her, giving Jack a bewildered look.
Jack shrugged his shoulders. “Don’t look at me. She had us up at an ungodly hour because she said we needed to get stuff ready for the wedding. Christmas break, and I’m up at seven am. Not fair.”
“Well, we’ve got a ton of things to do. Mom and I need to go find dresses, which Sarah will meet us for and you three, CJ and Uncle Victor have to go get tuxes.”
“The only way Victor will definitely be in the wedding party, Starr,” Todd told her, “is if Cassie is in it.”
“Aunt Dorian called Cassie last night and said Cassie will be delighted to be there for Mom,” Starr replied, a smile on her face.
“Did you actually hear Cassie say that, or are you just taking Dorian’s word for it?” came her father’s incredulous question.
“I spoke to Cassie myself. Remember, she has barely as much trust in Aunt Dorian as you do, Dad,” Starr said. Turning back to Blair, Starr went on. “Now, come on, we have things to do, dresses to see. She waved both of her parents towards the bedroom.
Once in there, Todd turned back to the hotel’s main room. “She’s up to something.”
“You think?” Blair asked sarcastically. “She’s got that look in her eyes that I haven’t seen since she was a little girl.”
“The one she kept giving me when I was trying to propose to you that Halloween?” Blair nodded to him. “She looks like you when she does that, you know.”
“Actually, I think she looks like you when she does that,” Blair retorted playfully.
“Last time I checked, we were the parents. We should just shove them out the door and tell them that Mommy and Daddy need alone time,” Todd said.
“You don’t have time for alone time,” Starr’s raised voice informed them.
Todd gave Blair another look and she could only reply with a shrug of her shoulders. “Let’s just humor her. I know she’s excited about this. She always has been and you don’t outgrow it.” She stepped closer to Todd and kissed him deeply. “Then, when we finish all the running, we’ll send the kids out for dinner and we can continue with this Christmas tradition, okay?”
Todd’s eyebrows rose into his hairline as he deepened the kiss. When they parted, he offered her a crooked smile. “Sounds like a plan. Let’s get the show on the road. I just finalized the rest of the plans for our day.”
They headed out of the bedroom and herded the three kids out of the room. They had a wedding plan to put into motion.
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Blair smiled. “Not yet, but I will be soon.”
Todd just grabbed the key in one hand and Blair’s hand in the other, heading towards the elevator. He didn’t want to do any small talk with anyone. All he wanted was his Christmas present.
They made their way to the room and walked in. Like all rooms at the Metrocourt, it was luxurious. The furnishings were all tasteful and bespoke that feeling. And yet, off in the corner of the room, there was a tiny, limp Christmas tree. Looking at it almost made Blair laugh. “Are we going to be getting a dog?” she asked.
Todd’s nose crinkled. “Why would you ask that?”
She point to the pathetic tree. “I asked because of Charlie Brown’s tree over there.”
He looked over at, smiling. Carly had managed to do it. He walked over to the tree and fiddled with the sorry excuse for the decoration that were on it. Then he looked back at Blair. “You don’t get it, do you?” Blair gave his a sidelong glance. “I know the accommodations are a little bit better than our first Christmas together. I didn’t want to go all nostalgic and go out to that No Tell motel on the highway, but I would have hoped you’d get it a little bit.”
Realization came to her eyes. “Our first Christmas,” she whispered, a smile tugging her mouth.
“Granted, the Metrocourt is a step up. Back then, I wouldn’t have been allowed within ten feet of the Palace. I was…barely living…just getting back from the damn will reading…”
“I had just had another fight with Cord. He had to go do something for Tina and I got mad at him. Granted, I never wanted to take him away from his kids. But he always had to go after Tina.”
“Then, in the midst of my self-pity, there’s this knock at the door. Some chick looking for a party.” Todd sat down, glancing around the room. He seemed to be avoiding looking at Blair.
She sat down on the other side of the couch doing the same. “A little music, a little dancing.” Then she swept her gaze in his direction. “Very little dancing.”
Todd shrugged his shoulders. “What can I say? At least the night wasn’t a total waste.” He turned to face her. A familiar look was in front of her. It was the one that Todd showed to the world not often enough. “I was just so nervous being with you that night. Even with the dancing, it was…scary to me. I didn’t want to…”
“I know, Todd. I knew it that night.”
“It was a wonderful night,” he admitted.
“Even where it led to?”
Todd knew she meant something specific with that last comment. But he shook his head. “What it led to was the best thing to ever happen to me.” He could see Blair start a counter argument, but he cut her off. “Seriously, think about it. I had just gotten back from Chicago, where my father had cut me out of everything. And then, within three months, I had everything. I had a wife, a baby on the way,” he paused, taking her hand to share the pain of that memory, “a family. And you, coming to my room that night, that was the first domino to fall.” Then he leaned in to kiss her.
After they parted, Blair looked at the tree. “So this is the Christmas present, 2012 edition?”
“Yeah, I figured I owed you a reenactment at a nicer place,” Todd explained. He was about to continue when there was a knock at the door. Room service brought in a tray with strawberries and a bottle chilling in a bucket.
After Todd tipped the guy, Blair came over and looked at the bottle. “Sparkling apple cider?”
“Well, you can’t drink alcohol, so neither will I,” he said as he took it from her. Uncorking the bottle, he poured out two glasses, handing one over to her. Then he raised his. “To the woman who gave me…everything.”
It was something that was usually foreign for Blair’s ears to hear. But coming from Todd Manning, she knew those words were the truth. They did, however, make her blush. “Todd…”
“It’s the truth. And coming from me, someone who has had issues with the truth in the past, I know, but I really don’t know where I’d be if I didn’t have you. And this time, for you and our kids and especially for the newest one, when she comes, I will do better. To you, I vow this.”
She moved closer to him. After she put down the glass, she brought her fingers to his face. He stared into her green eyes, looking like a man adrift in the sea who had found a life raft. When he brought his arms around her back and up to her shoulders, it was as if he was clinging to it. They moved in closer, nose to nose. Blair’s lips grazed over his and, for a minute, she pulled back enough to see his eyes were closed. Then she captured his lips, their tongues exploring familiar territory. The kiss deepened as they, in unison, moved toward the bedroom.
Waking up the next morning in Blair’s arm was better than their first time together. He closed his eyes again and moved his hand to her stomach. Even though it was still early in the pregnancy, he thought he could feel Meredith moving around in there.
“I feel her too,” Blair said sleepily. She opened her eyes and smiled at him.
“She’s what, the size of a pea? You can feel that?”
“Call it mother’s intuition. But I have always felt our children, even when I didn’t know I was carrying them at first,” Blair informed him. “And both Starr and Jack were anxious to get into the world. I have no doubt this one will be the same.”
Jack’s birth flashed through Todd’s memories. At the time, his timing wasn’t as surprising to Todd, because he had believed the baby was Max’s. As Todd thought about it more, a wave of shame, one that would never leave him, washed over him.
Blair noticed the change in his demeanor. She knew just what he was thinking about. “We both made a lot of mistakes there. I don’t want you…I don’t want you going there. Not with a wedding to put together in less than a week.”
Todd grinned. She really did know him well. “Yeah, I guess we should get rolling on that,” he said.
Before another word was spoken, there was a knocking at the door. Todd pulled on his slacks and puttered out to the entrance to the room. Opening it, he found a room service waiter. “Compliments of the hotel,” the man informed him as he wheeled the cart in.
After the waiter left, Blair came out. “Carly seems to know what you like,” she commented.
“Well, I did live here for a few months and I did basically order the same things every morning,” Todd explained as he opened the covers on the plates. “Although, I know I never ordered this.”
A plate of chocolate chip pancakes lay before Blair. “Well, somebody told the kitchen staff about this,” she replied. They ate the breakfast before them and were about to head back into the bedroom when another knock was heard at the door. This time, when Todd went to open it, Starr, Jack and Sam barreled in.
“You’re not dressed yet?” Starr asked. “We have so much to do and so little time to do it. Come on, let’s move!”
“Hey, Shorty, we just finished up breakfast, okay?” Todd said to her, giving Jack a bewildered look.
Jack shrugged his shoulders. “Don’t look at me. She had us up at an ungodly hour because she said we needed to get stuff ready for the wedding. Christmas break, and I’m up at seven am. Not fair.”
“Well, we’ve got a ton of things to do. Mom and I need to go find dresses, which Sarah will meet us for and you three, CJ and Uncle Victor have to go get tuxes.”
“The only way Victor will definitely be in the wedding party, Starr,” Todd told her, “is if Cassie is in it.”
“Aunt Dorian called Cassie last night and said Cassie will be delighted to be there for Mom,” Starr replied, a smile on her face.
“Did you actually hear Cassie say that, or are you just taking Dorian’s word for it?” came her father’s incredulous question.
“I spoke to Cassie myself. Remember, she has barely as much trust in Aunt Dorian as you do, Dad,” Starr said. Turning back to Blair, Starr went on. “Now, come on, we have things to do, dresses to see. She waved both of her parents towards the bedroom.
Once in there, Todd turned back to the hotel’s main room. “She’s up to something.”
“You think?” Blair asked sarcastically. “She’s got that look in her eyes that I haven’t seen since she was a little girl.”
“The one she kept giving me when I was trying to propose to you that Halloween?” Blair nodded to him. “She looks like you when she does that, you know.”
“Actually, I think she looks like you when she does that,” Blair retorted playfully.
“Last time I checked, we were the parents. We should just shove them out the door and tell them that Mommy and Daddy need alone time,” Todd said.
“You don’t have time for alone time,” Starr’s raised voice informed them.
Todd gave Blair another look and she could only reply with a shrug of her shoulders. “Let’s just humor her. I know she’s excited about this. She always has been and you don’t outgrow it.” She stepped closer to Todd and kissed him deeply. “Then, when we finish all the running, we’ll send the kids out for dinner and we can continue with this Christmas tradition, okay?”
Todd’s eyebrows rose into his hairline as he deepened the kiss. When they parted, he offered her a crooked smile. “Sounds like a plan. Let’s get the show on the road. I just finalized the rest of the plans for our day.”
They headed out of the bedroom and herded the three kids out of the room. They had a wedding plan to put into motion.
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