This story is AU. In this particular story, Todd hasn't been married to Blair and doesn't have any children with her.
~*~September 1997~*~
After a long day of working at The Sun, Todd Manning returned to his mansion at the top of the hill. It was a solitary place, surrounded by thick, sheltering trees. He spent a great deal of his time alone, and he preferred it that way- at least that's what he told himself. He hadn't dated in months, not since his recent fiasco relationship with Blair Cramer. Since that romance had ended, he thought love must not be in the cards for him. His luck with women in the past had all gone sour. His house was a peaceful and quiet sanctuary, with only his thoughts to shatter the serenity.
Hunger sent him wandering toward the kitchen. He searched through the freezer, finding a package of frozen burritos. He opened the plastic wrapping and lay the burritos onto a plate. He nuked them in the microwave the required time, then added lettuce, diced tomatoes, cheese, and taco sauce to make it more like a meal. He grabbed a beer from the fridge, then carried the tray into the living room. He sat down on the couch to enjoy the food as he switched on the T.V. As usual, he found the evening news broadcast rather boring, and it could not keep his interest. He gobbled down half a burrito with his fingers as he glared the T.V. He was glad his articles in The Sun were far more exciting than this garbage they showed on television. A news broadcast had just came on about the relocation of a cemetary in Llansing, Pennsylvania when there was a sudden knock at the door.
Todd grumbled as he wasn't used to recieving guests. He figured it was probably someone selling cosmetics or perhaps one of those religious nuts. He truly wasn't in the mood for either one. No one came up the hill much as his mansion was the only house located on the steep and winding road. Todd tried ignoring the knock at the door, but unfortuantely it sounded again... this time louder, and he knew he must go answer it.
He stood quickly, licking the sauce from the burritos off his fingertips. *This better be DAMN good if they are interrupting my dinner,* he was thinking.
With bare feet, Todd headed toward the door. He pulled it open, thinking he'd see some stuffy salesperson or maybe a lady holding a bible, but to his surprise, it was neither. A tiny little girl with haunting blue eyes stared up at him. She had pale blond hair adorned with a single bright yellow bow. She wore a matching yellow dress with a crisp white apron. There was something strangely familiar about her. Todd wracked his brain, thinking of his niece's names. She looked as though she could have been part of the family.
"Are you here to sell cookies?" Todd finally asked.
The child stared back at him as though mesmerized. "No," she responded quietly.
"Well, who are you then? And why are you here?" Todd questioned.
"My name is Tabitha. And I am your daughter," the child replied.