*~Chapter Nine~*

"You can't be serious," Todd growled. "You actually want to date Nora Buchanan's daughter?"

"I do," Joe said firmly.

"Todd, remember what we talked about..." Marty reminded.

Todd glanced at Marty as he eventually began to calm. "Alright," he said with a loud, reluctant sigh. "You can date Megan. But there will be strict rules and expectations."

"I'm gonna call Megan right now and tell her the good news," Joe said happily.

"Wait!" Todd cried out.

"I'm going to set up a date with her," said Joe.

*~o~*

When Brendan walked in the door, Patrick and Blair began to question him. "Where have you been?" Blair demanded. "Were you with Marissa?"

"Yes, we are dating," Brendan informed his parents.

"Why didn't you tell us, son?" Patrick asked.

"Because Marissa's dad is a psycho."

"I used to be married to him... so I know how Todd can be," Blair said to Brendan.

"It's not fair," said Brendan. "I really care about Marissa... and I want to date her."

"We'll support you, Brendan," Patrick said as he put his arm around his son's shoulders. "Just be careful. You're dating the daughter of the devil."

"Thanks for listening to me, Mom and Dad," Brendan said as he hugged his parents. "Let's hope Marissa's dad will let her go out with me."

"Yes, let's hope," Blair said. All she wanted was for her son to be happy.

*~o~*

After the kids had gone to bed, Marty and Todd were alone to talk. "I did what you said... I let the kids date," Todd said.

"I'm proud of you," Marty replied as she took his hand and lead him upstairs to their bedroom.

"I don't like the thought of that boy pawing my little girl," Todd grumbled.

"Todd, will you stop worrying about what Marissa and Brendan might be doing? Come over here and paw me," Marty said as she undressed and lay down on the bed.

"I want to concentrate on OUR love life... and less on Joe's and Marissa's," she told him. "Let's have another baby. The kids are growing up... and I miss having a little one around."