Also, I'd like to note that I do not own ABC's One Life to Live or the characters and I will NOT be receiving any payment whatsoever for writing this story. It is intended for entertainment purposes only.
This story takes place during the time Blair is carrying Patrick's baby, but BEFORE Starr had developed Aplastic Anemia. AU and NC-17
~*Chapter Four : Proposals*~
Todd arrived at Llanview hospital that next morning, Starr in his arms. Starr was carrying her favorite stuffed pink bunny. Todd headed over to the nursery, seeing Marty through the glass window in the rocking chair, holding baby Brendan. "Hey, Marty," Todd said as he stepped inside, his little girl in his arms.
Marty was giving Brendan his bottle. She looked up, seeing Todd and Starr. "Hi, Todd," she said as she gave a smile to him and his little daughter.
"Starr, this is your baby brother. His name is Brendan," Marty said as Todd walked closer so Starr could see the newborn baby.
Starr looked at her dad, then at Marty who was holding the baby. "Brubba?" Starr said in a soft little voice, trying to give the baby her favorite stuffed toy.
"I think that means she likes him," said Todd with a little laugh.
Marty was all smiles when she saw Starr's reaction to her little sibling. Gently she gave the bunny back to Starr while propping Brendan's bottle for just a second. "No, Starr, this bunny is your favorite toy," she said to the little girl. "We'll get Brendan his own toys."
"She's such a sweetheart," Marty then said to Todd.
"She didn't get that from me," Todd chuckled as he watched his little girl looking curiously at baby Brendan.
"How's he doing?" Todd asked with concern.
"He's doing just great," said Marty as she raised the tiny baby up to her shoulder so she could burp him. "Dr. Sands came in to check on him earlier, and she said he's in perfect health and should be able to go home by the end of the week. He's such a little miracle."
Todd nodded, glad to hear that at least Brendan was doing well. Today he would have to go to the funeral home and make arrangements for Blair's services. He was dreading it. Blair was much too young to have died so tragically. Starr still needed her mother. It was all too painful and unfair. "Marty, I'm going to make arrangements at the funeral home later for Blair... uhhhh... what about Patrick?" Todd questioned.
"I dunno," she answered. "Patrick had no family, and all of his good friends are over in Ireland. I'm all he had."
"I'll probably just arrange for a small service. Just to say goodbye," Marty said softly as her voice broke.
She stood up carefully, putting Brendan gently back into the isolette. Her eyes were bloodshot from crying, and she looked as though she could collapse at any moment. "Marty, go home and rest now. I'll call the funeral home... and I'll take care of everything," Todd promised her.
She looked at him as though she wanted to protest, but she was too tired to do it. "Thank you, Todd," she said quietly. She moved forward slightly, placing a small kiss on Starr's cheek as Todd held her. Her eyes then met Todd's.
"Have you talked to an attorney yet?" she asked him.
"No, but I will make some calls and find the best attorney I possibly can. Dorian Lord is not taking these kids away," Todd said with determination. "I'm keeping Starr and Brendan together. Starr just lost her mother; I'm all she has now."
Marty glanced at Brendan, sleeping peacefully in the isolette. "I'll be here, too, Todd... for you, Brendan, and Starr," Marty promised.
Looking at her, Todd's adoration for her shone in his eyes. He couldn't even find the words to tell her how much it meant to him that she would help him not only care for Starr and Brendan, but fight Dorian in court so he could secure custody of both children. Since words failed him, he did something totally unexpected. He took her hand into his to give it a soft, gentle squeeze. She just stood there, her own voice stolen from her throat. He let her hand go, and the moment was gone. Quietly, she walked out of the nursery, looking tired and dazed.
~*Two Weeks Later*~
Somehow Todd and Marty had gotten through the funeral services for Blair and Patrick. They barely had time to grieve when little Brendan was sent home from the hospital. Todd had a home-office set up at the penthouse so he could work from home, and Marty spent all her free-time helping Todd with the children when she wasn't busy at the hospital. Both were missing sleep as they tried to care for an active toddler plus a tiny baby boy. Marty came over one afternoon after a long day at the hospital, finding Todd in the middle of changing an extremely messy diaper.
"Ohhh myyy God, what did this kid eat?" he groaned with disgust, wrinkling his nose as he attempted to clean Starr's wiggly bottom.
Marty laughed, very amused by Todd's fatherly attempts at keeping it together so he could do what needed to be done. She reached for a clean diaper below the changing table to assist him. A minute later, Todd had a fresh diaper on Starr who now smelt considerably better. Todd handed Starr to Marty, because he didn't want to be late for his meeting with the attorney. He hoped it would go well, and she wouldn't tell him he didn't stand a chance at keeping his kids, because he loved Starr with all his heart and already he had become attached to Brendan.
"I gotta go," Todd said to Marty before he rushed off. "I got an appointment with Tea DelGado, my new attorney. I'll be back later, and we can order Chinese." Before Marty could comment, Todd had swept out the door.
Todd arrived at the Tea DelGado's law office in Llanview. It was his first time of meeting the stunning, dark-haired attorney. "Hello, I'm Todd Manning," he said as he shook her hand. "We talked about my case on the phone."
"Ohhh yes," said Tea as she invited him inside and asked him to have a seat. "Your wife passed away, and you're trying to keep your wife's aunt from taking custody of your daughter and your stepson."
Todd nodded. "So, can you help me keep my kids?" Todd asked.
"Possibly," Tea answered. "But we might have a couple of problems on our hands."
"Alright... whatever it is, we can fix it right?"
Tea sighed heavily. "I hope so, Mr. Manning. I'm going to do everything in my power to help you keep your children... but I do have a couple of concerns. You mentioned your past... four years ago you were convicted of rape and spent time in prison..."
"Yes, but I did my time and attended all the required counseling sessions. I am not the same man I was four years ago. I've changed. I was a monster back then. But I'm not that man now."
"That brings me to my other concern. You told me that Marty Saybrooke, the woman whom you raped has agreed to be your witness in this custody case, so that she herself can tell the judge she feels you are a loving father and capable of caring for two children..."
"Yes," Todd replied.
"That's wonderful, Mr. Manning, but I think your best bet would be to find a woman who is willing to marry you as soon as possible. If you go into court as a single father with a criminal past, the judge might not rule in your favor. I'm sorry, but I really think in order for us to win this case, you will need to provide a stable mother-figure for your children as well."
Todd sat there, absorbing the news for just a moment. A wife? He had to get married? The whole idea of marrying someone else so soon after Blair's death was ludicrous, but he would do it if it meant keeping the kids. "Okay then," he said softly.
"Tea DelGado, will you marry me for 5 million dollars?" he asked her, absolutely dead-serious.
"Mr. Manning... I don't think..." Tea said in a gasp, but Todd interrupted.
"I need to keep my kids. I am asking you... please will you marry me?"
"Thank you for your kind offer, but I am afraid I must refuse," Tea responded. "But surely there is another woman you could ask; someone you actually spend time with, someone who knows the children and would agree to helping you care for them like her own..."
A look of realization suddenly came to Todd and a name nearly fell from his lips. "I gotta go, Ms. DelGado. Thank you. I'll be in touch," Todd said to her before he quickly rushed out.
~*A half-hour Later*~
Todd arrived back at the penthouse just after Marty had put the children down for their nap. Both were recently fed and sleeping peacefully in their cribs. She went back downstairs to see Todd coming through the door. "How did it go with the attorney?" she asked, thinking Todd had an odd expression upon his face...almost as if he was up to something or perhaps as though he had some sort of huge news he would like to share.
"Sit down, Marty," he said softly.
She looked at him strangely but went to do as he requested. She had taken a seat on the couch in front of the fireplace, and Todd joined her there, looking perhaps a bit nervous. "Todd, what's going on?" she asked. "What did the attorney say?"
"She said I have to get married or I'm probably going to lose the kids," Todd stated, gazing deeply into Marty's eyes.
"Marty, I love those kids, and I can't lose either one of them. You promised me you would help me," he softly reminded.
Marty's heart skipped a beat as Todd then did something she thought he would never do. He bent down on one knee, took her hand in his and asked, "Marty Saybrooke, will you marry me?"
