This story takes place after Todd has gone to Ireland and is presumed dead after taking a bullet meant for Patrick.
~*Llanview University*~
Blair entered Llanview University and walked into Patrick's classroom. He had just finished teaching for the day and was gathering up his books so he could go home. "Hey, Blair. What are you doing here?" he asked as he took her into his arms and gave her a sexy grin.
"I'm here to see you," she said as she gazed into his chocolate-brown eyes.
"Really? I'm just finishing up here... and I was about to head on home," he told her. "I thought you had a busy day; I'm surprised you came by."
"Actually I did have a busy day. I just left the hospital. I needed to see Dr. Larry."
"Dr. Larry? Starr's not sick, is she?"
"No, Starr's just fine," Blair answered. "Patrick, I'm pregnant. You're going to be a daddy."
"You're what?" Patrick gasped, his eyes going huge.
Blair just laughed at his astonishment. "Well, I can't help it you're an animal in bed. It was bound to happen sometime," she teased him.
"Wow, Blair. I can't believe this. You and I are having a baby," Patrick said in amazement. "I am so happy."
"I'm glad you're happy, Patrick. I really wanted to have a baby with you," she told him as she went into his arms.
Patrick embraced Blair and gave her a kiss. "Blair, put a rush on your divorce with Todd. I want to marry you just as soon as you're free," Patrick stated.
"Really? Is that a proposal, Mr. Thornhart?" Blair asked.
"Yes. I want you to be my wife."
"This is all so sudden. I haven't even divorced Todd yet," Blair said to him teasingly.
"Sudden? We've been together for months now... and you're pregnant..."
"Actually I'd be happy to become your wife," said Blair as she pressed her lips to Patrick's in a kiss.
~*Llanfair*~
Marty arrived at Llanfair, hoping to talk to Vicki. The last person she wanted to see at that moment was Todd. Luckily, Todd was at The Sun, so Marty was able to avoid seeing him. After a few minutes, Vicki had answered the door when Marty had rang the doorbell.
"Ohhh Marty, what a pleasant surprise it is to see you here!" Vicki remarked with a happy smile.
"Vicki," Marty said as she wrapped her arms around Vicki in a tight hug.
After moment, Vicki pulled back from the embrace, looking perplexed. Tears were shining in Marty's blue eyes. Vicki could sense that something was troubling her friend. "Marty, what is it? What's wrong?"
"It's Todd..." Marty said in a trembling voice.
Vicki looked at Marty with concern. "Todd? What has he done now?"
Marty just shook her head. "Todd... We... He and I..." Marty began quietly, but she just couldn't get the words out.
"Marty, has Todd... hurt you in some way?" Vicki asked worriedly.
"No... I... hurt him," Marty said softly as fresh tears fell from her eyes.
"Marty, maybe you should come in and talk," Vicki encouraged as she lead Marty into the living room.
~*The Sun*~
Todd was missing Marty, and it was like a sickness inside him. He couldn't sleep; he could barely eat. Why had she rejected him? It hurt just as bad as it did when they were in college, and she had pushed him away. This time he kept his distance. He honestly didn't know what to do. He wanted her back, but he didn't want to push her if she wasn't willing or ready to be with him.
"Love sucks," he grumbled as he sat in his chair, picking at the cheese fries Briggs brought him earlier from Rodi's. Even food did not appeal to him in this horrific state. His cheese fries were getting cold, and he had only eaten a few of them.
He looked up from his desk to see Blair staring at him. "Something bothering you, Todd?" Blair questioned. "You look like hell."
"Well, thank you, Blair. So nice of you to notice," Todd responded sarcastically. "Could it be that my wife is divorcing me and has taken up with an Irish man-stud?"
"You're the one who asked for the divorce and you know it," Blair remarked with a heavy sigh.
"You look like you haven't slept or bathed in days. What the hell is wrong with you, Todd?" Blair prompted.
"Maybe that's none of your business. You have your life now, and I have mine. Go back to Patrick. Go make babies with him or something..."
"I am happy with Patrick; blissfully happy. And you don't know just how right you are," Blair told Todd. "But... I want you to be happy, too. I don't like seeing you like this. If something makes you happy, you should hang onto it tightly... and never let it go..."
Todd gave Blair a questioning look. Did she somehow sense his turmoil with Marty? Should he follow Blair's advice? Should he go over and fight for Marty?
"There's always going to be a special place in my heart for you. You're Starr's father. I don't want to fight with you any more. I'm going to be happy with Patrick. And I want you to be happy, too."
With those words, Blair had left Todd's office. "Maybe love doesn't suck so much after all," Todd said after she had left.
~*Llanfair*~
"Okay, Marty... please tell me what has got you so upset," Vicki said as she and Marty were seated on a love seat in Vicki's living room.
Marty hesitated, trying to find the words to express her feelings. Finally, she spoke. "I'm sure you've heard that Todd and Blair are getting a divorce..."
"Yes, when Todd isn't at The Sun, he's always on the phone with his attorney, working on his divorce proceedings. He's having a really rough time right now, Marty. He barely eats... and I really don't think he sleeps much, if at all. If it wasn't for his visits with Starr, I think he'd totally lose it right now..."
"It's my fault, Vicki. All of it... it's my fault..."
"What are you talking about? How could any of it be your fault?
"I am the reason Todd was in Ireland. He got hurt doing a favor for me. Then Blair became involved with Patrick. Todd came back, and he realized Blair was in love with another man. He lost Blair because of me," Marty spoke tearfully. "And when he came back, I discovered him at your cabin... and our feelings from the past resurfaced. I've always loved him, but I buried it underneath all my pain and anger after he hurt me..."
"And it's no secret how he's always loved me and would have done anything to make it up to me; even risked his own life more than once," Marty said as the tears rushed from her eyes. "I told him I forgave him... and when we got back to my place, we - made love..."
"It was everything I've always dreamed of, Vicki... but I just couldn't handle it. I was sooo scared," Marty admitted as she cried in Vicki's embrace.
Gently Vicki brushed the tears from Marty's cheeks. "What frightens you, Marty?" Vicki asked her. "Are you afraid Todd will hurt you again?"
"I-I am not really sure."
"Maybe you need to talk to Todd. If you love him, and he loves you, then you need to discuss this with him."
"I've been avoiding him."
"It's understandable that you needed some time to work through and come to terms with your feelings... but Todd needs you, Marty..."
"I- I know... I'm just not ready to see him yet."
Vicki gave Marty an affectionate hug. "I'm glad you came here to talk to me. Everything is going to be alright. You will see."
"I pray it will be," Marty's responded. She gave Vicki one last hug before she stood up to leave.
~*Marty's House*~
That evening, there was a knock at Marty's door. She had been lying down in the living room, attempting to rest. She had been trying to keep her mind off Todd, but she hadn't been successful. As she pulled the door open, she found him standing there at her door.
Todd stood in the doorway as he had decided to take Blair's advice. "Marty, we need to talk," he said when he saw the slight frown upon her face.
"I told you to stay away," she said as she attempted to close the door on him.
"I can't stay away; I love you," he implored as he thrust his leg through the doorway so she could not keep him out.
"Todd please..." she said as he made his way into her house.
"You're talking to me, Marty. I have a lot to say," Todd insisted. "I won't let you run from this any longer. I won't let you run from US."
"Todd, I can't..." Marty murmured as she did everything she could to avoid his gaze.
He wasn't about to let her escape him. He took her into his arms and gently raised her chin, forcing her to look at him. "Look into my eyes and tell me you don't love me."
"I do love you, Todd," she admitted softly. "I love you... and I want you..."
"Then why-?"
"Because I'm scared..."
"I'll never hurt you again," he swore.
"What if I lose you? What if-?"
"There are so many 'what if's.' We can't survive like that. You make me so happy, Marty," Todd told her. "I know you were happy when we were reunited. You can't deny that."
"I was happy, Todd. That's what scared me to death. I'm scared to be that happy again... after last time..."
"Things have changed now; I've changed. No, it's not going to be a bed of roses. I can still be an ass. You know me better than anyone. I'll probably disappoint you sometimes and infuriate you, but we have a shot at our dreams, Marty. Remember that dream you had... the one where you were following me into the fog...? You were chasing after me, but you could never reach me..." Todd reminded her. "I'll let you catch me now. I'll hold you, and I'll never let you go."
"Never?" Marty asked in a little sob as she wrapped her arms around Todd. "I don't want to lose you again... I don't."
"I don't want to lose you either. I love you so much," Todd responded as he held her tightly.
Marty pressed her face against his chest as she cried. Gently he caressed her hair. "It's going to be alright now; I promise," he told her. "We can have all we have ever dreamed. We just gotta reach for it."
Holding him close, Marty decided to trust him. She decided to give in to what she felt and pray with all her heart that things would work out for them. She was still scared to death, but letting him go now was not an option.
"I love you, Todd," she whispered to him in surrender.