OLD HABITS DIE HARD: Epilogue

He stared up at the ceiling. Yesterday, he was in the god-awful mental hospital, ironically losing his mind.

“You okay?” Blair raised her head up from Todd’s chest and stared at him.

They finally made it to their destination and the first thing they did was make love. It had been too long. Todd could tell Blair was second guessing herself all the way here but as soon as he could, he proved to her this is where she belonged. They both just abandoned thoughts of anything else and just felt each-others bodies. They were in the middle of nowhere and all they had was each-other. That’s what made the whole thing all the more emotional. They just lay there in silence for the longest time as their bodies cooled. Todd soaked everything in. There was nowhere else he’d rather be.

Todd looked back down at her and softly smiled. “I’m better than okay. I feel like I’m breathing again for the first time in over a year.”

Blair kissed his chest. There was no turning back now. Blair didn’t want to turn back. Everyone else will be telling her what a mistake she’s making but all she knew was that she never felt as safe or as loved as when she was in Todd’s arms. She’ll deal with the scrutiny later. She was right where she needed to be.

“Go to sleep, Todd.” She could tell he was tired. He looked like he hadn’t had a decent sleep in forever.

Todd took a deep breath. “I don’t know if I can.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t want to wake up.” His voice dripping with hurt. It was true. For the past year, this was all he dreamed about. He’d dream about Blair coming to him and them reuniting only for him to wake up and realize it wasn’t reality. The pain he felt every morning when he looked over on his bed and didn’t see her next to him was unbearable. This all felt too good to be true.

Blair moved closer to him and put her lips against his ear. “Close your eyes,” she whispered.

He was tired. He closed his eyes.  “You still feel me?” She put her hand flat against his stomach.

Todd grabbed her hand and placed it over his heart. “Yeah. I feel you.”

Blair kissed his ear. “I’m right here.”

She was here. Just the feel of her in his arms again was enough. He felt himself again. After months and months of hell, he was in heaven again. Only with her.

He finally felt calm.

He finally felt sane.

He finally felt whole.

He wasn’t sure what the next day would bring. He didn’t know where he was going to go or what he was going to do.

But he knew he had her again and that was all that mattered.

Todd closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

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OLD HABITS DIE HARD Part 4

Todd stayed hidden in that closet for what seemed like forever. He hated confined spaces. He remembered how crazy he got when he got put in solitary confinement at Statesville. However, the floral scent of Blair enveloped him as he was surrounded by her coats and he felt more relaxed. He couldn’t count the number of times when just the smell of Blair’s hair put him at peace. She had that effect on him.

He could barely hear the muffled voices in his position so he pressed his ear firmly against the door to get a better listen.

John was bad-mouthing him. No surprise there. The gall of this guy to think he knew anything about his relationship with Blair. John didn’t know him. John didn’t even know Blair. He just couldn’t keep his big nose out of their business.

Shit! John just told Blair about his part in the baby swap. He could practically heart Blair’s heart breaking. He knew exactly what she was thinking. Mexico. He had thought a lot about it too. It broke his heart to think that Blair was thinking he hadn’t changed. He had! These situations were entirely different. He wanted to barge through the door right now and beg Blair to listen to him. He dealt with so much disappointment in his life. From Viki. From Sam. From Tea. But nothing was more heartbreaking to him more than Blair’s disappointment. She knew him. She knew him better than anybody.

He had to get through to her.

As soon as he heard the door close, he peeked his head out of the closet to make sure John was gone.

Blair was staring into space with her eyes red.

“Let me explain,” she said as he moved toward her.

Blair turned her eyes to him. “You got what you wanted, Todd. Now, just go.”

Blair was about to walk to the living room when Todd stopped her. He grabbed both her arms and pulled her to him.

“I’m not going anywhere. Not until you listen to me.”

“Fine. Explain.” Blair figured the quicker he “explained” himself, the quicker he would leave. Let’s just get this over with.

“I know what you’re thinking. I know…” It was hard for him to even say. “I know you’re thinking about what I did in Mexico, Blair.”

Blair really didn’t want to talk about this. She just wanted Todd to leave her alone. She tried to pull herself out of Todd’s grasp but he remained firm.

“Listen to me.” He looked her in the eyes. “I am not that person anymore. Blair, I swear… I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

“Isn’t it always that way, Todd? It’s never really your fault, is it?” She’s rather be anywhere but here. She didn’t want to listen to another one of his excuses.

“You really think I would have willingly done this again?” Todd pleaded with her.

Blair wavered at that. “So what? Heather put a gun to your head?”

“No…” Todd felt backed into a corner. “I just… Blair, I was lost. This whole past year… I don’t know what I’m doing. I’m just…”

Blair hated herself for it but she felt for Todd. Again. She reached out and touched his face.

Todd grabbed her hand and held it to his face. He closed his eyes and just took in her touched. She was so soft. So gentle with him. No one was ever as gentle with him as she was. Why would anyone be? He was a monster. He hurt Blair more than he hurt anyone in his life but here she was trying to calm him down. Only she could calm him down…

Todd moved her hand to his lips and softly kissed her fingers.

“Todd…” Blair tingled all over. Those lips…

“I love you.” It just came out. Blair had the ability to make him spit out his feelings even when it wasn’t his strongest quality. He looked her deeply in her eyes and refused to let go of her hand. “Oh God, Blair… I love you so much.”

Blair just looked at him wide-eyed. She loved him too. Deep down, she knew she did but she wasn’t going to say. She wouldn’t dare.

This was his chance. He touched her cheek and pulled her in to kiss her. She didn’t pull back. As soon as he felt her relax against him, he opened his mouth wider and pulled her body tighter against him. He could hear her moaning in his mouth. That was a good sign.

Blair knew she should’ve pushed him away. She was planning to but… he just felt so good. She never could resist a taste. Even last summer when she was engaged to another man. Todd just dove in and she was a goner. Now, here they were, making out in the foyer of Dorian’s. Instinctively, her arms went around his head as their kisses intensified. They never had a problem when it came to this stuff. This was the easy part. It was everything else that was hard.

Speaking of hard…

Blair just felt him start to grow through his pants against her hip. She had to stop this. She pulled back and caught her breath. “This is not happening,” she murmured as she wiped her mouth.

Todd followed Blair into the living room. There was no way he was going to let her run from this.

“Blair…” What was he going to say? Blair was a tactile creature. He had to play it right. One wrong word and he’d be on his ass outside of Dorian’s again. One right word and he’d be back in her arms again. He just said what he was feeling, something he rarely did.

“Run away with me.”

Blair whipped around to him. Of all the things she was expecting him to say, that was not it. “What?”

“Run away with me,” Todd’s confidence infinitely grew with Blair’s reaction. She wasn’t yelling at him. She wasn’t pounding on his chest. She wasn’t throwing him out. She just stood there, waiting for him to explain. “I need to go. Blair, I… I need to go now.”

Blair furrowed her brow and tried to take everything in from the last 2 minutes.

Todd stepped forward and lowered his voice. “I need you. I need you with me.”

“I…” Blair was stunned. “Todd… where?”

Todd couldn’t contain his smile from that. She wanted to go with him!

“Doesn’t matter.” It really didn’t. Todd learned years ago that home was wherever Blair was.

When Blair started to shake her head, Todd grabbed her face with both hands. “I just… I need to figure things out. I need to fix this. I need you to be there with me.”

Blair realized her mouth was dry. “What about the kids?”

“Addie can watch them. Look, it’s not forever. It’s just for enough time for us to figure something out.”

“Us?” Blair said in the slightest hope.

Todd smirked. “It’s always been you and me Blair. You know that.” He said that to her the last time they were together. Really together. And he meant it as much then as he did now. There’s been no one else in his heart. “I can’t do this without you.”

Blair’s heart always betrayed her. Even after John’s warning and months of her own head’s assertions to never let Todd back into her heart, all she wanted to do in this moment was jump into his arms and go. Maybe she was weak. She was weak for him.

“I don’t want to be hurt again.” Her eyes were begging him to say what she wanted to hear even though she wasn’t sure she would believe him.

“I don’t want to hurt you, Blair. Never. I just want you.” Todd walked over to the other side of the living room and opened the patio doors. “I have a car. I have money. I have a jet. We could go 

anywhere, Blair. Just you and me.”

Todd lifted his hand and extended it to Blair. “What do you say?”

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OLD HABITS DIE HARD Part 3

John stood outside of LaBoulaie waiting for Blair to answer the door. She was taking a while. Of course Manning would come here. He expected him too which is why this was his first stop in his hurt for the fugitive.

John reached to knock the door again but Blair interrupted him before he could.

“John, what’s going on?” She looked him up and down. “What are you doing here?”

John stuck his hands in his pockets and took in Blair’s demeanor. She seemed to be oblivious. But Blair was a great liar. “Can I come in?”

Blair gestured him inside. “Is something the matter?”

“Yeah, something is the matter. Your ex-husband.”

Blair laughed at that. “Which one?”

“You know which one.” John wasn’t in the mood for small talk, not with Manning on the loose and two steps ahead of him.

“Oh God,” she rolled her eyes. “What did Todd do now?”

“The usual. He fled jurisdiction and I figured this would be the first place to look.”

Blair crossed her arms. “Well, I’m sorry to disappoint, John, but I’ve stopped taking in strays.”

“Manning didn’t come here?”

“Nope.”

John was unconvinced. He knew things between Todd and Blair ran deep. He reeled her in not too long ago when he was lying to her about murder Victor and framing Delgado. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure.” Blair was pissed. John had a way of talking down to her that she didn’t appreciate.

“It’s just that Todd has a way of getting to you.”

He was really starting to piss her off. “After what he did to me? You really think I would give him the time of day after everything?”

“Yes,” he said without hesitation. “Come on, Blair. I know how Manning works. He’s done worse to you before and you always take him back.”

Blair erupted at that. “You don’t know anything about Todd and me, John, so don’t pretend that you do.”

Blair was getting defensive. Manning was definitely here. He just had to find him. John started pacing the room looking for hiding spots. “Didn’t mean to strike a nerve. I just meant that he is a master manipulator.”

“I’m through being manipulated.” Blair could hear the hurt in her own voice. She had spent the last decade or so being manipulated by men. Being used by men. Victor. Spencer. Eli. John even used her. Todd was the most heartbreaking. She opened up her heart to him again after everything, thinking that imprisonment humbled him. Made him realize what was important to him. He would never risk losing his family again, she thought. She couldn’t bear another heartbreak. Not from Todd. Those were the worst ones. But he did it again. Her world came crashing down around her. She felt stupid. She felt used. She felt humiliated. Was Todd playing her again? Was she really that easy of a target now? 

“Is that what Todd did here today?” John knew he was getting somewhere. “Did he come here and beg you to help him? Did he tell you he made a mistake but felt he had no other choice? Did he tell you how much he loved his family? Tell me, Blair.”

Blair looked at the ground. The truth was that Todd probably would have said all those things to her if John hadn’t interrupted them. “Todd isn’t here. Not anymore.”

“He was here? When?”

“Just before you got here,” Blair sighed. “He did just what you said. He came here and looked at me and said he needed my help… I guess I fell for it again.”

John walked towards Blair and lowered his voice. “Where is he, Blair?”

“He’s gone.” She shook her head. “When you were knocking, he wanted me to hide him but I couldn’t. He just begged me to stall you as long as I could so he could escape.” She pointed to the patio doors, indicating that’s where he left.

“Oh, Blair…” John sighed in exasperation and turned his head upward, staring at the ceiling. 

“Where’d he go?”

Blair just shrugged. “I don’t know, John, and to be perfectly honest, I don’t want to know.”

John rubbed Blair’s arm and headed for the door.

“John, wait!”

John turned back around to Blair. “What?”

“Before you go… please tell me. What did Todd do this time?” Todd didn’t get the chance to tell her and she knew John would give her a straight answer. Maybe a harsher version, but Todd surely would have sugar-coated it.

“He helped with that whole baby swap last year.”

That threw her back. “… What?” She knew that crazy woman’s role in Tea’s eventually heartbreak over her son really being dead. But Todd?

“He helped Heather. He had a hand in all of it. Making a mother think her child was dead. Giving it away to a stranger… but this isn’t exactly news to you, is it Blair? I mean it’s certainly not the first time Manning did something this despicable.”

It was like a stab to the heart. Blair couldn’t believe Todd could do that again. Not after Mexico. The most painful day of her entire life and Todd was responsible for it. But after many months, she believed in his sorrow and forgiveness. It was there. Not in the beginning but certainly after being stranded on an island. She saw his guilt. She forgave him. She believed him when he said he would never do that again.

“Oh Todd…” she started to tear up. How could he?

John noticed her heartbreak in her face. In her posture. He felt bad. He knew what she was thinking of. Maybe it was a good thing. Maybe he finally got through to Blair about Manning. About how he’s never going to change and how he’ll always end up hurting her. “I’m sorry, Blair.”

“Don’t be.” Blair quickly regained her composure. She hated showing weakness. She hated pity. She wiped away a tear. “Thanks for stopping by, John.” She walked him to the door.

“I care about you, Blair. I hate to see him do this to you over and over again.”

“Don’t worry. It will never happen again.” Blair gave him a weary smile and closed the door.

She stood there with her back against the front door. She took a deep breath, wondering if she had just made a mistake.

Todd quietly emerged from the coat closet and approached Blair.  “Let me explain.”

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OLD HABITS DIE HARD Part 2

Blair stood there wide-eyed with a hand on her hip, waiting for Todd to make sense.

Todd nervously looked beyond her shoulder to see if there was anyone in the living room. “Are you alone?” The absolute last thing he wanted was to see him there. Last he saw Blair, she went looking for him. What if she found him? Oh God, please don’t be here.

Blair looked back to where Todd was staring at, wondering what he was looking for. Had he forgotten? Todd ran off her fiancé last winter and now he was here, out of the blue, and asks if she’s alone? The nerve!

Blair turned back to him and squared her shoulders. “Oh yeah, I’m alone.” She clenched her fist and punched him in the face. “Thanks to you, asshole!”

Todd was on the ground. He checked to see if he was bleeding and sure enough, his hand showed that blood was coming from his mouth. Damn, his girl still packed quite a punch. He couldn’t help but smile knowing he taught her that. This is the second time she knocked him off his ass with a punch to the face. The first was a case of mistaken identity, Blair was expecting Max. This time, Todd figured he deserves it. Before he could get to his feet, Blair slammed the door shut. There it was. I knew this wasn’t going to be easy.

Todd started slamming his fist to the door. “Blair! Blair, please, open the door! Blair!”

She locked the door and was relieved when she heard him stop knocking. Then she realized Todd’s not that easy to quit… and that there was another door inside on the other side of the living room.

She ran through the foyer and the living room to get to those glass doors leading out to the patio but Todd narrowly beat her and squeezed his way in.

“Dammit!” Blair slammed the door shut as Todd laughed and caught his breath.

I guess all that football paid off. “You should be quicker on the uptake,” he smirked.

Blair crossed her arms. “I’ll remember that next time.”

Todd looked to the floor. “There won’t be a next time.” He wasn’t sure he believed that but he desperately wanted to. He always found himself in this position. On the wrong side of the law. Trying to win back people’s trust. He just wanted to disappear now.

Blair noticed Todd’s somber mood. She couldn’t help but feel for him. She never could. No matter how much hurt, betrayal, anger he arose in her, they were still connected. She took a step towards him. “Todd…”

Todd noted Blair’s change of attitude. Five minutes ago, she looked at him like he was the last person in the world she wanted to see. Now, her eyes were searching into his soul. He never felt as bare, as exposed as when she was looking at him like that. He stepped forward so they were only standing mere inches apart. “Are you alone here?” His voice was soft.

“Yes.” Blair knew he was serious. She tucked her hair behind her ear.

Todd realized Blair was no longer wearing that pitiful excuse of an engagement ring. Finally! Tomas was finally no mas. Not the time to gloat about it now. “The kids?” He found it strange that Blair would be in the house all by herself.

“Sam’s on a school trip. Jack and a few of his friends went up to Viki’s cabin for the week.” She 

noticed Todd take a sigh of relief at that. “What’s going on?”

Todd looked into Blair’s eyes. Her big, green eyes. Those eyes that have destroyed him. Those eyes that have saved him. Sometimes filled with rage. Sometimes filled with love. This time, he saw concern. For him! After everything he had done…

He was staring at her. Damn. She knew how well he could read her… but she couldn’t look away. His eyes locked on hers and she couldn’t escape. He had such gorgeous eyes. They were almost gold. 

They would change color depending on his mood. When he was lustful they would turn a feral black. They’d also turn black in his anger. When he was vulnerable, they would brighten a few shades. Last year just before they had made love, his eyes were so bright. She stopped him from moving too fast, much like their first time together. She held his face in her hands and he looked up at her as he saw on the bed. His face was so vulnerable then, almost like a child begging to be lifted of all the lies that were torturing him. She knew something was wrong then. He had the same face now. Something was very wrong.

Oh God. She felt a pit in her stomach. “Is Starr okay?” She couldn’t bear the thought…

Todd was quick to assure her. “Oh, Blair, no, it’s not that. Starr’s fine.” Todd knew that wasn’t completely true. Starr was very hurt when she found out he lied to her about Cole and Hope. Still, he could explain that later. Right now, he just wanted to calm Blair’s nerves about their first-born.

Thank God. So if it wasn’t Starr, what was Todd doing here? And why was he so nervous? “Todd, what’s going on?”

Todd took another deep breath to prepare to tell Blair everything. Here goes nothing.

They were interrupted by a knock at the door.

Shit.

They both turned to the sound at the door.

“Blair, it’s John! Open up, this is an emergency!” He continued to knock at the door.

John was quickly becoming Todd’s least favorite person in the world. And that’s saying something. 

The fact that John married Blair didn’t help with his opinion of the guy. John and his sanctimonious attitude. He’d much rather deal with the likes of Bo Buchanan or John Sykes. John’s fixation on trying to protect Blair from him was beyond irritating. Didn’t he get it? Blair was no damsel. She didn’t need saving. And certainly not from him.

Blair slowly turned back to Todd. “What have you done now?”

His silence was deafening.

Blair went to go answer the door when Todd grabbed her by the arm and pulled her back to him. “I can explain everything. But first, I need you to help me.”

Blair looked back to the door and back again at Todd. His eyes were pleading with her. “Please.”

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OLD HABITS DIE HARD Part 1

Part I

Thoughts of the past year haunted him as he drove down these familiar streets. He thought it was these streets alone he hated. He fled this town last year because he couldn’t stand the way everyone looked at him. But only in one year, he managed to have the same impact on another place. He hated that place too. Everyone looked at him with disgust. He realized it wasn’t just Llanview. It was him. He caused destruction wherever he went. But at least Llanview was home to the people he loved. He had a lot of bad memories here but he also had the happiest moments of his life in this place.

Meeting a certain blonde vixen at a local dive bar and becoming her friend.  Starting up his own newspaper from the ground up. Now it was the go-to paper in town.  Eventually marrying said vixen at a local church where he made gold balloons fall from the ceiling.  Holding his daughter for the first time while hiding in his sister’s attic.  The other place didn’t have any of that stuff. In fact, he couldn’t think of a single good memory he had there. He lied to his daughter. His son disowned him. His wife rejected him. It was hell. Ever since that goddamn cop burst through the door and ruined one of the happiest moments of his life.

He was thinking of a song to sing to her. He didn’t know many songs though... and it was hard to think of anything when her hand was busy stroking him over the sweat-stained sheets they lay in. He would have crawled across cut glass to continue the sexual paradise he was in. She never disappointed him in their reunion sex. Even after 8 years of thinking, dreaming of this very moment, she always managed to exceed his expectations. That was his Blair though. He wanted her deep down in his bones.

She was amazing. They had already had two incredible round of reunion sex. The first was a quick and frenzies session. He ripped her blouse off. Hands everywhere at once. Heavy breathing. It had been nine long years since he had last touched her like this. Then, she had forgiven him for Jack. Now, she had finally let him back into her life. Back into her bed after months of flirting. They both were overcome with emotion and anticipation. Her body was hot to the touch and she embodied a pinkish glow about her. He smiled as he looked down at her body. Nine years. Still as tempting. Still as perfect as she always was. She is so beautiful. The effect she had on him. The sensation of being with her again, being in her, got him so hot and bothered. His whole body broke out in a sweat. The feel of her…

Afterwards, they just lay catching their breaths. Her head nestled on his chest like they always did after making love. His hand in her hair. So soft. Their bodies cooled off as they engaged in some playful pillow talk. He asked her to sing to him. God, how much he missed her voice… He ached to touch and taste the parts of Blair that he excluded during their previous union due to Todd’s initial need to be with her after an excessively long bought of celibacy. No longer. Their second round of love making was slow and sensuous, almost painfully so. They reacquainted themselves with every inch of each-other’s bodies. Their declarations of love that preceded it encouraged them to spoil the other with their proof of physical adoration. As he went down on her, Blair moaned and panted, driving Todd to the edge. He made her sing alright.

They lay there together – happy, satisfied, smiling. This was supposed to be the beginning of a whole new chapter for them. He was already planning on moving his stuff from Viki’s and picturing what Blair’s next engagement ring would look like. It was going to be the biggest one yet. This one was for keeps.

He and his wife, together at last. He would finally have it all.

How wrong he was…

John arrested him. Not just in any moment. In their afterglow! They forced him out of their bed in handcuffs as he tried to gauge Blair’s reaction. She just stared into space as they removed him from the room.

He went to prison. In his cell, he waited for Blair to visit him so he could explain himself. She never came.

After he made bail, he went to see her but she refused to open the door.

He saw her in that godforsaken city. She told him that their grandchild had died but recoiled when he tried to comfort her.

He saw her in court. She was with him but he could still see the love in her eyes for him. It was under a lot of hurt, but it was still there.

Still, he couldn’t stand the sight of them together. It broke his heart. She knew it too and used that. I guess he deserved it.

He had to get away. But he couldn’t.

She was always there. In his thoughts. In his dreams. He ached for her. He thought he was starting a new life but it was a life not worth living. Not without her. It was harder to breathe. It was harder to sleep. Music didn’t sound as good. Food didn’t taste as good. He’d forgotten to smile. He’d forgotten who he was.

Who was he without her?

He clung on to his daughter – the last bit of his family he had left but even that ended up in smoke. He lied to her. He betrayed her. He hurt her. Something he vowed he would never do. But he saw the disappointment in her eyes. He knew it too well. Her mother had looked at him with those same eyes so many times before.

Maybe he just couldn’t help himself.

The truth was out now. He helped someone do a despicable thing. He knew it was despicable because he had done it before himself. Telling a mother her baby was dead. He played part in another one. He was arrested again. He hated prison. He was desperate. He claimed insanity but that proved too much too. He broke out and now he was on the run again. There was nothing left in that place for him anymore. He was being chased though. He knew it. That cop never could leave him alone. The same man who wrecked his life around this time last year.

He made his way up to the door and knocked. His heart pounding in his chest.

He didn’t know what drove him here – his heart or his head. She’d probably slam the door in his face… but still, deepest down, he knew this was the only place he could go because when push came to shove, there was only one person he could rely on. The one person in the world who truly knew him.

She opened the door.  “What the hell do you want?”

He took a deep breath. “Blair… I need your help.”

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The Alibi

Once upon a time, there was a small city nestled in the rolling mountains outside of Philadelphia. Like its bigger sister, crime, and passion sometime ruled the lives of its inhabitants. This is the story of a couple of those inhabitants.

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He protested loudly as once again he found himself behind bars and this time, he had done nothing to deserve it.  The guard just laughed and walked away.  He gazed out the bars wondering if he would ever get a break. Had it only been an hour since he had actually had a decent conversation with Blair?  When they had parted ways, he had felt like maybe, just maybe, something could grow between them.  She was the first woman in a long time who hadn't run the other way.  He sat down on his cot and tugged at the bandages covering his knuckles.  She had been something else.  Instead of being alarmed that his hand was all bloody, she had been concerned.  "I guess your streak of bad luck is still ongoing, Manning. She'll never give you another look when she finds out you've been arrested again.”

Uptown from the station, Blair answered her door. She frowned as she saw her visitor was one of Llanview's finest.  "To what do I owe the honor?" She slipped her dressing gown up onto her shoulders to provide a little more cover on top of her nightgown.

The officer cleared his throat. "Um Sorry Mam, but the Police Commissioner sent me. Can you tell me where you were this evening between 11:00 pm. and Midnight?"

 "I can, but why should I?"

"We're trying to verify the whereabouts of Todd Manning during that time. He insists that he was with you?”

 Blair responded, "Well not that it's any of your business, but he was."  Blair narrowed her gaze at the young officer.  "Why do you need to know where Todd was this night?”

The policeman dropped his eyes then stammered. "He was brought in for attempted rape."

Without even thinking, Blair said. "You've got the wrong guy. Like I said, he was with me.  He only left me a short while ago.  If you don't believe me, I have the bandages he was wearing when we left the hospital.  That's where I ran into him and it was just a couple of minutes after 11:00.  He had an altercation with that girl Rebecca and put his hand through the wall.  I ran into him coming out of the nurses lounge, grumbling to himself, as he finished wrapping his hand.  I noticed Marty Saybrooke in the room when he walked out and figured they had probably had words.  I offered to keep him company when he mumbled something about waiting for a call back from his therapist.  When the guy didn't call, we decided to take a walk through the park. We sat on a bench and talked and I bought a couple of sodas.  His hand was still bleeding and I suggested he come here so I could clean and wrap his hand better."

The officer stared at her. "Um, I need to call the Commissioner. He might want to see those bandages you say you have."

Blair bristled.  "Look, I'm not lying.  You go ahead and call Big Ole Commissioner Bo.  But you tell him if he wants those bandages, he’ll have to come get them himself."

The young policeman looked around nervously then stepped inside the penthouse doorway. “Mam, I’m going to have to ask you to sit down where I can keep an eye on you while I make this call.”

“If you keep calling me Mam, you won’t have any eyes left to watch me with,” Blair went to the bar and helped herself to a drink. Then she went and sat down on her couch.  She pulled out a magazine and pretended to read, all the while listening in on the officer’s phone call.  As she sat there, she was reminded of the feelings she had felt earlier that night.  Poor Todd, he was so much like her.   No matter what, all the good people in Llanview thought the worst of them and they couldn’t seem to shake their pasts.  The officer put his phone away and faced her.  “Well, what’s the verdict?” she asked.

Clearing his throat and looking even more uncomfortable he said. “The Commissioner is coming, but he said you were to stay put.  I’ve been instructed to make sure you don’t do anything until he gets here.”

Blair looked at her watch and then glanced down at her dressing gown and negligee.  “I guess that means I can’t even get dressed.”

 At her words, the officer blushed.  He had been having a hard time keeping his eyes off of certain parts of her anatomy and now he had been ordered by his boss to keep watch so she couldn’t try anything to get Manning free.   “Um, perhaps I could get you a blanket or something.”

“You’ve  got to be kidding me.  Do I look like I’m cold?” She reached for her drink and proceeded to tease the officer further by running the cool glass down her neck and stopping it right between her breasts.  She smiled as he turned even redder than before and watched as he turned away slightly and studiously began checking his notes on her earlier remarks.   Several minutes later, Blair started to get another drink when the doorbell rang again.  The officer jumped and then hurried to open the door.

Bo and Detective Manzo looked in and saw Blair standing in her negligee.  Bo quickly assessed the situation, noting how nervous his officer was.  “Blair, you might want to go get dressed.”

“I can’t Bo. Your officer said I was to be watched at all times.  I mean I can’t be trusted not to magically produce some bloody bandages while I dress.” She couldn’t help jerking Bo around.  After all, he was the one treating her like she had or was going to do something wrong.

“Blair, that’s enough.  Just tell me where the bandages are and then you can get dressed.”

Getting tired of the game, she pointed towards her bedroom.  “You’ll find them in the hall bathroom in the trash.”

Bo nodded to Manzo, who headed to the bathroom.

“I found them Commissioner,” yelled Manzo from the hallway.

“Bag them and anything else pertaining to them.”  He looked around the living room and spotted a second glass sitting on the coffee table.  “Bag the glass too,” he ordered Manzo and then turned to Blair.  “We’ll check those items for Manning’s blood and fingerprints.  Now go dress, I want you to come down to the station and give us an official statement.  If the lab work comes back agreeing with your story, Manning will owe you.”

****

Todd paced in his cell.  It had been a shock to find out he was being accused of raping Rebecca.  He had seen her filling out paperwork when they brought him in and he had seen Marty with her.  He leaned against the bars.  “Why Rebecca?  Why me?”  After he had smashed his hand, Dr. Ben Price had stopped him from talking anymore to Rebecca.  He’d only wanted to get more answers out of her about the accusation of his stalking her in the park.  Seeing her cowering behind the Doctor, he had chosen to walk away and headed for a phone to try and talk to Ray.  He had been forced to leave Ray a message.  In frustration, he had gone to the lounge to cool off and had a small run-in with Marty.  “I know Marty put you up to this Rebecca, I just don’t understand how you could believe I would hurt you,” he said aloud.

“Oh poor Todd, so misunderstood.  You’ve hurt others, why wouldn’t she believe you attacked her?  You’re not fooling anyone with this innocent act,” Andy Harrison sneered from her side of the bars.  “I need you to sign off on your belongings.”

  “Leave me alone. I didn’t do anything. You have no proof,” snarled Todd.

“That’s where you’re wrong.  You made a mistake.  Dylan saw what you tried to do to Rebecca.  You’re not getting off this time.”

“I’m telling you it wasn’t me,” Todd growled and tightened his grip on the bars.  He wanted so much to wipe that sneer off Harrison’s face.

“Yeah, I heard you had an alibi.  Blair Daimler right?  Forget it. The commissioner knows she’s not to be trusted.  If she’s smart, she better not try anything.  It will only land her in here too.” she said sharply.

Todd was surprised at the vehemence in Harrison’s voice.  “What’s got you so riled up about Blair?   I mean, I know she’s got a reputation here in town, but what did she do to you?”

Andy paused, a little flustered that she had dropped her guard on her emotions.  “Max Holden is my brother and she tried to ruin his life.  She’s trouble and I wouldn’t trust her as far as I could throw her.  Remember that.  She only thinks about herself.  She’s not going to back you up, Manning.”  With that parting shot, Andy Harrison left Todd alone.

Upstairs in the squad room, Marty was anxiously watching Rebecca complete her statement.  “So, it’s finished.  Are you okay, Rebecca?”

Rebecca nodded and looked at the clock on the wall. It was a little after 2:00 in the morning. “I’m just tired.  I can’t believe it was just 11:00 when this all happened.”

Marty was taken aback. “I’m sorry. Did you say 11:00?  You mean more like 11:30 right?”

“No, it was 11:00.  I remember because I looked at my watch and the church bells chimed.  Look, I better turn this in.   All I want to do is get out of here.” Rebecca walked over to turn in her statement.

Marty stood there and realized Todd couldn’t have assaulted Rebecca.  He had been with her at 11:00. Don’t dwell on it, Marty.  He’s where he belongs.  No one else can back his story.   He’ll be going back to Pentonville and you’ll finally be rid of him.

Blair sat a couple of desks over, putting her own finishing touches on her statement.  She had overheard the conversation between Marty and Rebecca.   She watched Marty and wondered if she was going to stop Rebecca and tell her about Todd and the hospital.  Marty did nothing.  Blair then saw Bo call Andy Harrison over.  Andy looked upset by what Bo was telling her.  Blair gave a soft chuckle. If she was right, Bo had just gotten back the results of the tests.  She watched as Andy seemed to deflate and then head towards lockup.  Blair got up and wandered over to Bo.  “Do you believe me now?”

Bo frowned.  It stuck in his craw that Manning had dodged the bullet again.  “The blood matches Todd’s and so do the fingerprints on your glass.  Evidence seems to indicate he was with you tonight.  Hank and I agreed that Manning couldn’t be in two places at the same time. He’s being released.”  Bo looked around the room and spotted Marty.  She now had some explaining of her own to do.  “If you’ll  excuse me, I need to talk to Marty and Rebecca.”

As he moved to join Marty, Andy brought Todd into the squad room and handed him his belongings.

Todd had been totally surprised when Andy had come back down so suddenly and even more surprised when she had unlocked his cell door.  “What happened?”

“You’re free.  Blair backed your story.  Whatever she did, Bo says I have to release you.”

 Todd smiled.  Maybe he wasn’t wrong.  It looked like Blair had felt something too.  When he walked into the squad room he saw her standing there.  Her eyes met his and she smiled at him.  He took his belongings from Andy and started to walk to Blair.

“What’s going on?” Marty shrieked suddenly.  “You can’t let him go.  He tried to rape Rebecca!”

Bo looked at her.  “Did he, Marty?  I have proof that says otherwise.  But I think you already know that, don’t you?”

Rebecca looked at Todd who had joined Blair and back to Bo and Marty.  “I don’t understand?”

Bo kept his gaze on Marty.  “Do you tell her, Marty, or do I?  You were so hellbent on putting Todd behind bars you would have said nothing.  Am I right?”

Marty gulped.  “I didn’t know.  I really thought he had hurt her.  I only found out a few minutes ago.”

“Okay, say I believe you.  Once you found out, you should have told Rebecca and me.  You didn’t.   That tells me you were going to let an innocent man go to jail for something he didn’t do.”

Marty collapsed into the nearest chair.  “He raped me.  Rebecca thought he attacked her.  He needs to be in prison.”

Blair had had enough.  She marched over to Marty.  “I heard everything.  You knew what time the attack happened and you knew you were with Todd but you hate him so much you were determined to just ignore that.  Poor Martyr Saybrooke, if you couldn’t keep him in prison the first time, you figured, this time, would work.  You’ve been trying to beat him down ever since he was released from prison.”  Blair started to slap Marty but a hand caught her and stopped her.  She turned to find Todd.

“Don’t, Bo will just slap you behind bars for assault.  Let’s get out of here.” Blair took his arm. Todd looked down at Marty who had begun to sob.  He knew she had a long way to go to get past what he had done to her and in a way he understood why she hadn’t spoken up.  But deliberately encouraging Rebecca to accuse him, killed any sympathy for her.  As he walked past Rebecca, he heard her whisper, “I’m sorry.”  He straightened his shoulders leaving them both behind him.  Something new had happened and he was looking forward to exploring it.  Blair pulled in closer and they left the police station.

Outside the police station, Blair looked at Todd.  “Well, can I give you a ride back to your hotel?”

Before Todd could answer a guy ran by and snatched Blair purse and took off running.  Todd followed immediately.  The guy was good, but Todd was gaining on him.  The bandit slipped into an alley thinking he had lost Todd, instead he saw a dead end and knew he was cornered.  Todd smiled as he confronted the culprit, “Not too smart, are you?  Snatching her purse when she wasn’t alone.  Strictly amateur.”  He moved closer to the man.  “You shouldn’t have done it.  I’ve been wanting to let off steam for awhile tonight.”

The guy swung the purse with one hand and pulled a knife with the other.  “Stay back.  You come any closer and you’ll be sorry.”

Todd observed the sweat on the thief’s brow and the way his eyes darted around.  The idiot was going to make his move soon.  Keeping a close eye, Todd stayed back and instead crouched down and acted like he was going to tie his shoe, then he lunged forward and drove the guy into the wall.  With a few hard whacks of his hand against the bricks, the thief dropped the knife and purse, then began fighting back.  Todd laughed; it was just what he needed. They were pretty evenly matched, but Todd finally got one good blow and the guy dropped to his feet.  Todd got down and tapped the guy who was groaning at his feet.  “You should’ve just given me the purse, man. I’ve fought guys bigger than you in Pentonville.”  He pointed out his ankle bracelet and then the guy passed out.  He reached over and picked up Blair’s purse  and was about to go find her when he found himself facing another cop.

“Hands up Mister,  Keep them where I can see them.” the cop moved slowly into the alley.  His flashlight and gun still aimed at Todd.

“You’ve got the wrong guy, there’s the one who took the purse.” Todd nodded to the thief lying on the ground.

“Yeah, right.  You’re the one holding it.  It wasn’t very smart stealing a purse in front of the police station.  I saw you running around the corner when the lady cried out.”  The officer started to check on the guy on the ground.  He saw Todd’s ankle bracelet and smirked.  “What happened?  Did this guy try to stop you?  Put your hands behind your back.”  The officer set the flashlight down and pulled some cuffs from his pocket.

Todd sighed and started to cooperate when Blair came around the corner.

“Oh, thank God you’re alright.  Wait a  minute.  What’s going on?” Blair looked from Todd to the officer.  “What are you doing?  That’s my friend.”  She pointed to the man lying on the ground.   “There’s the guy who took my purse.  My friend ran after him to catch him.”

The officer looked skeptical. “You’re kidding, right?  This guy’s an ex-con.”

Blair stared down the cop.  “That’s the operative word:  ex.  Now let my friend go and take the real guy in and you better hurry.  I suggest you cuff him before he runs away.”

The officer looked around quickly.  Sure enough, the thief had been slowly getting to his feet and had been about to make a hasty retreat  while the officer was busy with Todd.  The officer speedily put the cuffs on the thief.  Then he looked at Blair. “You’re going to need to come back to the station and file charges.”

The thief protested, “I want to file charges too.  That guy could have killed me”

Todd raised his hands. “Hey, it was self-defense.  He pulled a knife on me.  It’s over there on the ground.  The only prints you’ll find are his.”

Pointing his flashlight where Todd said, the officer saw the knife.  He carefully picked it up.  “I guess you’ll need to come along and tell your story too.”

A short while later Todd and Blair left the station once again.  Blair began to giggle.  “I thought Bo was going to have a heart attack when he saw us walk in with that officer.”

Todd grinned at her. “He positively turned green when he found out I was there to file charges, not being charged.”

Under the streetlight,  Blair looked him up and down.  “I’m not surprised,  From the looks of you, he probably thought we had gotten involved in a bar fight.  That thief got in some pretty good licks and your hand is all messed up again.  Come on, it’s back to my place.  You can clean up and I’ll fix the hand again.”

It was nearing dawn when Blair pulled into Todd’s hotel parking lot.  He turned in his car seat.  “By the way, I forgot to thank you for having my back tonight.”

Blair shrugged, “What are friends for?”

“Friends huh, I’d like that.  Just one question?  Why were you at the hospital last night?”  With all of his drama, it just occurred to him that if she hadn’t been there, he’d still be in lockup.

Blair got very quiet trying to think of the best answer to give him.  Then she spoke.  “I was feeling down.  I had run into Tina Roberts earlier and she had rubbed it in my face that Max had gone back to Luna.  I don’t know.  I suddenly found myself close to the hospital and thought I’d see if the pharmacy had any sleeping pills.  I just wanted to go home and try to put Max out of my mind.”  She chewed on her lower lip and waited to see what Todd would say.

It wasn’t too hard to put two and two together.  “Did you get what you went there for?”   He had to know.  She called him a friend and strangely, he didn’t want to lose that friendship.

“No, I got something much better.  I got a chance to get to know you better and it felt good to be able to help you.  We’re a lot alike.  I feel more comfortable with you than I have with anyone else in a long time.”

“I feel the same way.  Look, you know I’m not off the hook with the other rapes.  I’ve got to find out who’s doing it so Bo and his play cops will get off my back.  But, I’m here if you just want to talk or have a drink.”

Blair smiled. “With the way my life’s been going, I just might take you up on that offer.”

“You do that.” Todd climbed out of the car. “I guess I’ll see you later. Goodnight Blair.”

She laughed. “I think you better make that Good Morning.”

Todd laughed with her as the sun peaked over the horizon.

Yes, a new day had dawned over Llanview and two lost souls had come away stronger because of their new found friendship.  Would it continue to grow?  Well, that’s another story.



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Todd's Christmas Story

            He sat on the bed watching the fire on the TV screen.  This motel was only one step up from the Quick Stop.  He pulled out what was left of his funds.  “You’re right back where you started, Manning.  No rapes hanging over you, but you’re still a pariah in town.”

             He took out the picture he had stored in his wallet. He had swiped it from Blair’s photo album before leaving Llanview.  He looked wistfully at the picture: Jack, himself, Starr, Blair and little Sam.  Hope was the only one not in the picture that Christmas. His eyes blurred with tears, as he realized his darling granddaughter would never see another Christmas.  Starr would never forgive him for lying to her about Johnny’s part in Hope’s and Cole’s deaths.

             “I hate you.  How  could you keep the truth from me.  You said you loved me but what you did was cruel.  I hope they lock you up and throw away the key.”

              He reached up and traced her image.  As always, he had been attempting to keep himself out of prison and Starr had ended up the one hurt the most by his actions.  Blair was right, no matter how hard he tried to change, he never would.  “You let yourself be pulled into the fantasy.  Fairy tales are for children.  You’ll never get a happy ending, Manning.”  He got off the bed and poured himself a scotch.  He looked down at his foot, seeing the familiar anklet.  This time he was wearing it because John McBain and Anna Devane wanted to make sure he didn’t skip town.  He had been allowed bail but they had insisted on the monitor, John had informed the judge of his little escapade in March and he had agreed Todd was a flight risk.  Little did the judge realize Todd didn’t have enough money to get out of town.  Tea and Clint had managed to get an order to freeze all his assets and the money he had received from Jerry Jacks was now residing with the bail bondsman and Diane, his lawyer.  Like all those years before, Todd found himself hated again and this time he didn’t even have one friend.

          Todd got off the bed, grabbed his coat and headed out.  Before he knew it he was standing outside the Floating Rib.  The place was decorated for Christmas and he found himself surrounded by an assortment of lonely miserable people.  He was in his element: a pariah among the leftovers that nobody wanted anything to do with.  Todd was finishing his second drink when the song “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” began playing.  It was too much, and Todd quickly tossed Coleman enough money for a whole bottle and headed out of the bar.

         Tucking the bottle into his coat pocket he began walking back toward the motel.  He slipped his gloves on and turned his collar up around his face as snow began to fall across the city.  Not quite ready to return to his dismal room, he wandered down to the Landing for Spoon Island.  Across the lake he could make out the mansion.   It didn’t look quite so ominous with a covering of snow on it.   He brushed off the bench and sat down.  It was true he was all alone again, but there was one good thing.  He wasn’t locked in a sterile room  or a jail cell.  He was free to sit and watch the snow fall.

        Todd’s thoughts went back to another snowy evening.  It had been right after his father died.  He had gone to Rodi’s for a drink and the next thing he knew Blair was dragging him out into the cold to go sledding.  He could still picture them sliding down cemetery hill on one of Jonsie’s bar trays.  Blair’s arms had been tucked around his waist until she screamed and deliberately dumped them.  They had stumbled the rest of the way down the hill laughing.  He had needed that probably more than Blair even realized.  It had been just a guy and a girl, having fun.  Normal old fashioned fun and Blair had made it happen.

           Todd was brought out of his reverie by the sound of someone crying.  He got up and tracked the sound, finding a small child huddling behind some crates on the dock. “Hey, what are you doing here all by yourself.”

            The child looked up at him with big hazel eyes.  She couldn’t have been much older than four. She was shivering and only wearing a cotton shift and what looked like slipper socks.  Her little arms were wrapped close to her body and she was trying to get warm.  “My mommy had to go get something and she told me to stay here.”

             Todd could see her socks were already soaked through and he knew it was only a matter of time before she froze, as the temperatures were dropping.  “How long has she been gone?”

             “I.. I...don’t ..know.  I’m... so cold...” the child ’s teeth were chattering so hard she could hardly talk.

             Todd took off his coat.  He heard the clink of the glass from the bottle in the pocket and withdrew it, setting it on the crate.  Then he pulled the child up into his arms and wrapped her in the coat.  He sat back down on the bench with her trying to get her warm.  He was afraid to take her off the dock in case her mother was to come back.  After about twenty minutes, he looked down at the child. “You’re a fool, Manning, the mother obviously just left her.”  There was only one thing to do.  He stood up and began his walk.  The child still was shivering and Todd bundled his coat around her some more and picked up his pace.  He reached the street level and knew it was too long a walk to General Hospital.  “You’ll just have to flag a cab.  Looks like it’s going to be hot dogs and beans for a while.”   He signaled a cab and climbed in with the child.  “General Hospital and make it snappy.”   He welcomed the warmth of the cab and cradled the child against him as he reached for some more of his dwindling funds.  The cab pulled into the emergency bay, Todd paid and then carried the child into the ER.  He spotted Epiphany.

             Epiphany looked up and saw Todd Manning standing in front of her.  He was in his shirt sleeves and it was plastered to his chest and shoulders, wet from the snow.   In his arms was a small child wrapped up in his coat.

           “Can you help me?  I found this child and I’m afraid she might be getting ill.  She hasn’t stopped shivering since I picked her up on the dock.  She said her mother left her there sometime today.  I don’t know how long she was there before I found her.”

             Epiphany led him to a cubicle.  “You stay with her while I go get a doctor.”

             Todd tried to lay the child on the bed but she reached up and wrapped her little arms around his neck and began crying.    “Don’t go, I... I’m scared.”

           “Shh, a big girl like you.  You don’t need to be scared.  It’s bright and warm here and they’re going to take good care of you.  Now come on, sit down on the bed and I’ll stay here until they come back.”  She loosened her grip and let him place her on the bed.  He grabbed a warm blanket and wrapped it around her instead of his coat.  Sitting down next to her, he drew her close and began to tell her the tale of Beauty and the Beast.   She continued to shiver in his arms and her little arms had again wrapped around him as he told his story.  His eyes misted over.  The poor kid was all alone and he knew how that felt.  He gently kissed the top of her head and continued his story.

           The curtain opened and Dr. Webber and Epiphany were greeted with the sight of Todd Manning with a little girl nestled in his arms.  After everything he had put Sam Morgan through, it seemed strange to see him being so protective of a small child.

          Todd once again tried to separate himself from the child but she stubbornly held on.  He whispered into her little ear. “Hey shorty, these people are going to get you all warm and make you feel better.  It’s alright to let go, you’re safe now.”  She looked him straight in the eyes and gave a tremulous smile. Before he even realized what happened, he felt a little kiss touch his cheek and then she let go.  For the briefest moment, Todd didn’t want to let her go.  It was like saying goodbye to Hope all over again.  As Epiphany moved in to take charge. Todd turned back and gave the little girl a thumbs up and a smile.  “It’s going to be okay.”   Slipping his coat back on, he tucked his hands in his front pockets and exited the ER.

         It didn’t take him long to realize how uncomfortable his wet shirt was.  He looked outside the lobby door and saw that the snow hadn’t let up.  He was going to have to do something if he didn’t want to get pneumonia.  Remembering how Carly had gotten him scrubs, to get into see Starr after the accident, he made his way down to the Hospital locker room.   It should be simple enough to borrow a shirt, Manning.

         Upon entering the locker room something caught his eye.  It was a Santa Costume much like the one he wore the previous Christmas for Sam.  An idea took root in his head.  “Why not, no one will know it’s you?”

          A short time later, he stepped out of the locker room and headed for the children’s wing. He spent the next couple of hours going in and out of rooms greeting the children and telling his outrageous stories.  His spirit lifted as he made the rounds and soon the whole wing was filled with laughter.  He was about to get on the elevator when someone snagged his hand.  He looked around and Molly Lansing had it.  She was dressed like an elf.

          “Santa, we’ve been looking everywhere for you.  It’s time to go to the sun room.  Have you forgotten? You have to tell the Christmas story.”

           Todd was trapped, he had no other choice but to go along and continue playing Santa a little while longer.  He let Molly lead him to the chair and watched as the children, he had just spent time with, gather at his feet.

           Todd told the story as he remembered.  In his mind, he pictured CJ and Sara as they played it out that Christmas Eve so long ago.  The children listened with rapt attention and when he was finished, Molly brought him out a huge bag with gifts in it.  He began to dispense the gifts and realized he was under the scrutiny of several more people.  Dr. Webber and Nurse Epiphany, as well as John McBain, were all watching him carefully.

          Todd stood there, the near-empty bag in his hand, as the children dispersed.  He started to reach for the last package as John came up to him.

         “What is all this, Manning?”

          “What’s it look like, John?   I brought in a little girl because I was worried she was sick.  Is that a crime?  Oh, you’re all upset because I dressed as Santa.  My clothes were soaked from the snow and the costume was available.  Sue me.  I haven’t done anything wrong except visit with some sick kids and cheered them up.  Now if you’ll excuse me there’s one gift left in here and I intend to take it to the little girl I brought in.  No kid should be alone at Christmas.”

           Dr. Webber stepped forward.  “That isn’t going to be possible.”

           Todd looked at the three standing in front of him.  “Why not?  Oh, I get it, big bad Todd Manning can’t be allowed near a child like that.  Is that it?”

           Epiphany spoke up.  “You can’t take it to her because she’s gone.”

          “What do you mean she’s gone?  What kind of hospital are you guys running?  Wait a minute, that’s why you’re here, John.  You thought I took her?”

          “Todd, relax, I’m just here because your monitor was giving off strange signals.  I wasn’t even aware of the child.”

          Todd only heard part of John’s explanation.  All his thoughts were on the small child.  He turned back to Epiphany.  “I don’t understand, surely someone saw a young girl wandering around.  How could she just be gone?”

         “That’s the strangest thing, Mr. Manning.  We had gotten her out of the wet clothes and I went to get her some warm cocoa.   When I got back, she was just gone.  The bed was all made up like she had never been there.  If Dr. Webber hadn’t examined her, I would have thought I was losing it.  I’m sorry, we were looking for her when we found you with the children.”

           Todd didn’t know what to say.   He reached into the bag to pull out the last gift.  To his surprise, there was a name attached. The tag read. Merry Christmas Grandpa Todd.  He tore the package open and there in his hand lay Beauty and the Beast.  He heard a bright little laugh and felt the softest touch on his cheek.   “Merry Christmas, Hope,” he whispered softly back.