When Dreams End
AN: The following story is written in Todd's point of view. The last thing I remembered was being at Rodi's with John. Somebody was shooting at us and then everything went black. When I opened my eyes again I was at the Palace Hotel with Marty. I knew then that this wasn't real and that I had somehow recreated the New Year's Eve date we had. That night Marty had gotten even with me for all the lies that I had told her when she told me that she could never love me and had convinced me to kill myself. I stared at Marty wondering if I was in hell. Would I have to repeat the worst night of my life over and over again? "I love you Todd more than I hate you, that's why I have to forgive you. I can't walk away from you, from what we have. I've tried but I can't do it," Marty said to me. I knew that it was most likely a dream and would end or worse she would take it all back the way that she had that night but I couldn't help it. She was so beautiful and I realized that I had never gotten over losing Marty. I was still in love with her. I leaned in to kiss her fearing the rejection that would most likely come my way and was pleasantly surprised when she kissed me back. "Where do we go from here?" I asked. "I don't know but we should take things slow. It will give us a chance to rebuild some of the trust that we lost." "I think that's a good idea," I said as I hugged Marty. She felt so right being in my arms, I never wanted to let her go.
I was once again reminded that this wasn't real. This was all just a dream that could end if I decided to go back to my life. Tea was waiting for me to go back to her but if I left I would automatically go back to a world where Marty Saybrook hated me. I decided that existing in a fantasy with Marty was better than living in a reality where she hated me. Tea's pleas faded in the background as I left the Palace Rooftop holding Marty's hand. - It had been two months since then and Marty and I had rebuilt our relationship on honesty and trust, two concepts that I could never follow in reality, but here I found it surprisingly easy. I think it had a lot to do with Marty's forgiveness. She stood by my side and she would talk me down whenever a doubt would creep in. I had never been happier. Every once in awhile I would hear Tea and Blair's voices begging me to wake up, but I couldn't. I had made the right decision. In reality I was a haunted, scarred man but here I was free from all my baggage, I was free to love Marty the way I had always wanted to. I pulled out the engagement ring I was planning on giving Marty tonight. When she walked in, I hurried and shoved it back in my pocket. "What do you got there?" Marty asked as she walked over to me. "I'll show you later, it's a surprise." "Okay, Starr and Cole are on their way over with Hope, but before they get here, there's something that I need to tell you." "Okay, I'm listening. What's going on?" "I went to my doctor's appointment today and he confirmed that I don't have the flu like we thought." "What is it? What did he say?" I asked as the fear began to grow within me. What if Marty was really sick? I had almost lost Tea to cancer; I couldn't go through that with Marty. I wouldn't survive losing her. "I'm pregnant Todd." My fear was instantly replaced with overwhelming joy as I took her in my arms and swung her around. "You're pregnant. We're pregnant; we're going to have a kid." I said as I placed her back on her feet. "I was going to surprise you with this later, but what the hell, Marty Saybrooke, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" I asked as I got down on one knee and held out the ring to her. "Of course I'll marry you. Do you know how happy you've made me?" "Not nearly as happy as you've made me." "Did I hear correctly? Are you two engaged?" I heard Cole ask. Marty and I turned around and saw Cole, Starr, and Hope standing in the entrance. "Yeah we are Cole, and I hope that you can find a way to be happy for us," Marty stated. Cole turned to me. "I know that we've had our issues in the past, but if my mom can forgive you then I will do my best to see the good in you. You better treat my mom right or you'll answer to me." "I will Cole. I promise that I will do everything I can to make your mother happy." Cole handed Hope to me, "Starr and I got to get going. Take care of my girl for me," Cole said as he hugged Marty and walked out with Starr. Marty and I played with Hope until we were both exhausted. Marty put on Sleeping Beauty as we all fell asleep on the bed. - Eight months went by. Marty was due any day now. Sometimes I wondered how much time had passed in reality. It had been almost a year since I came here, but time seemed to pass by quicker here then it ever did when I was awake. Marty's pregnancy had been difficult so we hadn't gotten a chance to get married yet. Marty had been placed on bed rest when she was two months along and the doctors wanted her to avoid stress at all costs. The rain was coming down hard as I rushed home to Marty. I didn't like leaving her side, but Dani was in the school musical that Starr and Cole were directing. It was the last night of the play and Marty wanted at least one of us to be there for our kids. Blair agreed to stay with Marty while I went because she had already seen the play. I walked in the door and instantly knew that something wasn't right when I heard Marty's screams. "Marty, where are you? Are you okay?" I frantically asked. "Todd, we're in the living room," Blair called. I walked in and nothing could prepare me for what I saw. Marty was lying on the floor propped against some pillows. Marty looked so pale and there was so much blood. Blair was with her getting ready to deliver the baby. "Okay Marty, I need you to push one more time. The baby is almost here. I can see the head." "I can't. I have nothing left in me," Marty said in a weak, defeated voice. I went over to her side and grabbed her hand, "you can do this Marty. You're a fighter. You're the strongest person I know. I want you to push one more time for me." Marty gave out one final scream that was shortly followed by our child's cries. "It's a girl," Blair said as she wrapped the baby in a blanket. "Is she okay?" Marty asked. "She's perfect," Blair said as she handed the baby to me. Just then Marty passed out. "Todd we need to get them to a hospital. Marty's losing too much blood. I think something's wrong," Blair said as she tried to stop Marty's bleeding. "Have you called for an ambulance yet?" I frantically asked. "Yeah. They should be on their way." I heard the doorbell ring and I opened the door for the EMT's. They came in and placed Marty on the stretcher. "I'm coming with you," I said as they loaded Marty on the back of the ambulance. When we got to the hospital, they rushed Marty to surgery so that they could try to stop the bleeding. - Marty's uterus tore during the delivery and the doctors had to remove it, it broke Marty's heart that she would never be able to have more kids but she was alive and our child was healthy and we were grateful that Blair had been there. "We have to come up with a name for our little angel. Have you thought of any names?" I asked Marty as she cradled our baby in her arms. "I was thinking that we could name her Megan Blair Saybrooke-Manning. Do you think it suits her?" Marty asked. "I think it's perfect." "What's perfect?" Blair asked as she brought in a big vase of flowers. "We named our child. Blair I would like you to meet Megan Blair Saybrooke-Manning." "You named your daughter after me?" "It's only fitting since you helped her come into the world, but don't worry about us bonding. I'm sure we'll be fighting in no time," Marty teased Blair. "You promise, cause all this bonding with you is making me sick." "I promise." The doctors came to take the baby back to the nursery and Blair left so that she could get back to the boys. I watched Marty sleeping as I realized that I had everything that I had ever wanted. Not only did Marty forgive me but she had become my family. I had never been so happy, but I had an unsettling feeling that I would lose everything that I held dear. - A month passed and Marty and I were finally getting married. I stood at the alter and watched as the Bridesmaids: Vicky, Jessica, Blair, Starr and Tea each took their turn walking down the aisle. Marty looked stunning in her white flowing dress as my eyes gravitated towards her sparkling eyes. She placed her hand in mine as we turned towards Reverend Andrew Carpenter. "Todd, do you take Marty Saybrooke to be your lawfully wedded wife, to honor her above all others in sickness and in health until death do you part?" "I do. Marty please take this ring as a symbol of the vows I have taken," I said as I placed the wedding ring on her finger. "Marty do you take Todd to be your lawfully wedded husband, to honor him above all others in sickness and health till death do you part?" "I do. Todd please take this ring as a symbol of the vows I have taken," Marty said as she placed the ring on my finger. "I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride," Andrew stated. I leaned in and kissed Marty. The reception was held at our home. Marty and I shared our first dance as husband and wife. I left Marty's side for a minute so that I could go and get the wedding present that I got for her. When I walked back to the yard where the reception was held I saw somebody that I didn't recognize talking to Marty. They wore a hooded black sweatshirt and I had a hard time seeing their face. When he walked away from Marty, I saw a red blood stain that had started to spread covering her once white dress and I knew that she had been stabbed. I dropped the present and ran to Marty's side. I looked around the room for the hooded man that had snatched my happiness, but he was nowhere to be seen. I placed my hand over her side to try and stop the bleeding but it was too late. She closed her eyes and died in my arms. - Marty had been gone for a week. I wanted a chance to say goodbye to her, to mourn for the life that we could have had and now that I had done that I needed to go home. This place had once been heaven but now it felt like hell. Everywhere I looked I saw memories of Marty and I decided that I would rather live in a world where Marty Saybrooke hated me then in one where she was dead.
I grabbed Marty's hand and slipped the ring on her finger.