A/N: Okay, first, I just have to comment on the scenes we got today with "TM"! Was that Classic Todd or what? The more we see of him, the more convinced I am that he's Todd! I really don't care about the photo flashbacks or memorized facts or whatever. I think it's just to throw us off because it was so obvious at first that he was Todd. I mean, I still have my moments of doubt but the more I see that, no matter what, RH is actually playing Todd Manning, the more convinced I am. Brainwashing can only implant facts NOT a personality or mannerisms! And how much do you guys love the little bond they're creating with him and Sam? It's SO a copy of CJ/Sarah! Didn't he even save their lives too? Wasn't there some car crash or something with them and Jessica and Marty that he saved them all from? I haven't actually seen that, I've just heard of it.
Anyway, onto the story. You guys blew me away with reviews for the last chapter! More reviews for that one than any other! Nine reviews! And I'm over 3,000 hits! I really can't believe how much attention this story is getting and I can't thank you guys enough! It means so much, because I take my writing seriously, and I'm glad you like it! So, onto my responses to my reviewers:
Kbradley926: A new reviewer! Thanks so much for commenting! Am I writing him well? Thanks so much! And don't worry, there will be plenty of Starr/Todd in the story, the following chapters just won't be solely them after this one. I just had to get him fully caught-up on what's happened.
XSweetAshesx: Well, as you can see, Todd figured it out, but Starr does still state it in the opening line. Friday's episode was great! This story is definitely JPL's best work to date and Austin and Ilene Kristen (Roxy) did some great work as well! Honestly, your desired outcome for the Two Todds story is how I believe it will end up. I don't think TSJ is Todd, but I feel he will somehow be redeemed and Tea will still end up with him. A lot of people love the chemistry that FL/TSJ have so I think that's how it will end. And Blair will end up with RH's Todd; apparently in an interview from the Emmys, KDP even said she thinks Blair will end up with RH's Todd lol. Anyway, thanks for the review as always!
Jarrfan: Thank you! I try! Well here you go!
Melissa: Another new reviewer! Thanks! : ) Well, I think what we're seeing onscreen will be much better this time next month. Hard to imagine what it will even be a few months from now. I'm curious where this is going; the clock is ticking now. Time's running out.
Jeremy Shane: Thanks! Here's more!
Arty60: Haha thanks! Yeah, I know the show definitely won't be this in-depth, and it's not completely necessary, but at least now we have some idea what it would've been like. As long as you think I wrote it well enough, these can be like the deleted Starr/Todd scenes or something lol. And starting to get into it? You weren't before? Should I be offended? Lol
Onesmartgoalie: I know! I was just dying for them to revisit those stories (especially the Starr/Cole/Hope stuff) with RH's Todd, because I'd just love to see how he'd handle the story. Because, whether or not people were fans of Starr/Cole as a couple, them as a storyline were BRILLIANT! Having Todd's daughter and Marty's son end up together and have a child, bonding Todd and Marty forever: poetic! Just beautifully written. Can't get over it. I had to touch on it in the story, obviously, and I can't wait for the show to get to this stuff!
Crimsonprincess99: Aww thank you! Well, you'll find out soon!
ThePhoenixandtheDragon: ANOTHER new reviewer! Thanks so much! And we'll see…
Chapter Twelve
Starr- Cole, is Cole Thornhart; Patrick Thornhart and Marty Saybrooke's son…
Todd is frozen. All he can do is blankly stare at the atmosphere displayed through the glass doors. Starr knows about Marty. She knows what he did. He never wanted her to find out who he was back then. It was one of the reasons he almost thought she'd be better off never knowing him. No kid should have to go through finding out something like that. Even though he should've known that this day was eventually going to come, he didn't. Starr had always been his buddy, his pal, and most importantly, his friend. He always knew, deep down, that it was partly because she was so pure and innocent, and unaware of his demons. She only knew the good parts of him; she only was the good part of him. She never knew about the ugliness, and that was why it was always so easy to be around her. Now that she knows about this, could that change? Could he lose their relationship for good? Is his past finally coming back to haunt him again?…Of course it is. And, of course, another innocent kid had to become involved in this mess. He and Marty Saybrooke share a grandchild. Marty's son ended up with his daughter. Oh yes, the past has come back with a vengeance this time. He will never be free of it. This is only the proof. Starr and Cole Thornhart's daughter is the proof. He is shaken from his dark thoughts as Starr breaks the silence. He still cannot bear to face her, so his gaze remains fixed on the landscape in front of him.
Starr- …I know this isn't the first time you've heard either one of those names…
Starr gets up and walks towards the same doors her father is facing. She stands behind him, as he still stands with his back to her, not making any sound or movement.
Starr- Nothing to say?…I just poured my heart out to you, telling you all about the hell I've been through the past few years, and you can't even look at me right now? I put it out there, and now we need to deal with it. I know. I know what you obviously never wanted me to know. Just please say something so we can start to move past it.
Todd-(still with his back to her) …You're right. I never wanted you to have to find out.
Starr- Well, you had to know it was inevitable. There was no way I'd never find out, especially because of my relationship with Cole. Although, I found out before I even met him.
Todd finally turns around.
Todd-…Just go.
Starr- (confused) What?
Todd- Thank you for even seeing me in the first place, but I'm sure it was hard for you. I won't make you stay here any longer. So, just leave. It's okay to leave now. I understand.
He walks over the bookshelves, making sure not to pass Starr or even go near her as he did. He stands with his back to her once again. He wants to make this as easy as possible for both of them; a clean break and then she can forget all about him. Starr stands there, looking perplexed for a moment, and then follows him, and stops once she is a few steps away.
Starr- No, I don't think you do understand actually. I'm not going anywhere…I still love you, dad.
Todd slowly turns around again.
Todd- Starr, you don't have to say that.
Starr- It's the truth. I do love you. I'm not sure how sometimes, but I do. I have made peace with your past, but it doesn't mean that I forgive it. I'm not sure that's even possible, especially considering that it involves my daughter. She's has to find out about it someday too, and I'm going to have to answer a lot of hard questions. I have to tell her what (on the verge of tears) grandpa did to grandma. And that does make me want to hate you sometimes…but I can't. I just can't hate you, no matter what you do, and no matter how much I've wanted to, at times. I mean, I thought you caused me to fall down a flight of stairs when I was pregnant, and I thought you were going to steal my daughter, yet I still loved you. And, now, it's only easier because I know you didn't do those things.
Todd- (quiet) Yeah, but it doesn't make what I did do, any better.
Starr- No, it doesn't…I'm not afraid of you, you know. I can see that you think I am, or that I should be and you're trying to be careful around me, but you can stop. I'm not scared of you. I know that you would never hurt me.
Todd- I wouldn't. I would never hurt you, Starr. I'm glad you know that. But, come on, you must think I was a monster.
Starr- Well, I know you're not now. I know you wouldn't do anything like that now. What gets to me is the fact that you used to be like that. You were capable of doing something that…terrible…(looking at the floor) Maybe, in the past, you would've scared me.
Todd decides that it's finally time to somewhat explain himself. As he does, he still feels too guilty to even look at his daughter. Instead, he looks past her, and off to the side, and down at the floor; his gaze slowly shifts around.
Todd-…I was a different person back then. I was violent, and angry…angrier. I really didn't care about anyone or anything. I only knew how to hurt people.
Starr- Because you were hurt? I mean, your dad, he hurt you, right?
Todd looks at Starr, surprised that she knows that. He doesn't want to get into details of that right now, so he just lets her know that she is right.
Todd- …Yeah
He swallows hard, and then looks away from her again.
Todd…But, over time, somehow I learned to care. I met people who helped me see that I could be good. That I could care, and that I did.
Starr- (quiet) Did mom happen to be one of those people?
Starr looks up at her father, awaiting her answer, as he finally manages to look into her eyes, knowing he had made it through the worst part of this.
Todd- Yeah. Yeah, she was one of them. But then…then I met you…You made me realize that there really was some good in me. There had to be, because you were from that part of me. You were the good. You are. You still are. You have it in you to still be able to look me in the eye and say you love me, knowing what you know. I don't understand it.
Starr- I can love you because I know that you love me. I've always been able to see how much you've loved me, and now I have a better idea of why I mean so much to you…When I look at you, I don't see someone who would do that. I never did. I really do know that you were a different person back then. I know you've changed…(teary-eyed) You're not an evil person, dad. You do have good in you. I've seen it my whole life. And no matter what you've done, that hasn't changed. It won't, okay? I promise.
She surprises him as she wraps her arms around him.
Todd- (teary-eyed) I don't know what I ever did to deserve you, Starr…
Starr pulls away from him and looks up at him.
Starr- You let your guard down. You let yourself care about people, like you said. You know, people can see when you care about them, and love them, because your love runs deep, believe it or not…And you might've done some really ugly things, but you weren't beyond redemption. You were never all bad. The good was always there. I think you just needed some help. And I'm really glad people were there for you when you needed them. Otherwise, I might not even be here…
Todd- You're pretty wise for a teenager.
Starr- I'm not just any teenager. I'm "Oh Great One," remember?
Starr gives him a small smile. Todd just looks at her, in disbelief. How did she turn into this incredible young woman in front of him? So kind and loving and forgiving…such the opposite of him. She amazes him.
Todd- Yeah. I do…Well, Oh Great One, I do love you. More than you could ever know.
A few silent seconds go by, as they both have tears in their eyes. Their moment is interrupted when they hear the doorbell ring in the foyer. They both immediately look to the closed double doors. They are somewhat worried, so Starr steps over to the doors, to see if she can hear who it is, and make sure that whoever it is doesn't come into the living room. Starr is surprised as she recognizes the voice talking to Viki. She seems confused as to why this person is here. The confusion is evident on her face, as she tells her dad who it is.
Starr- It's mom.
A/N: Ah, I had to leave you a little cliffhanger to get the story moving again haha! How do you like that? :p So what did you guys think of how I dealt with the rape? I left their dialogue about it very vague because, obviously, neither one of them would be comfortable talking about any of it in specifics, so I tried to keep it as realistic as I could. And I made Starr so comforting and forgiving because I had to take it into account that Starr has known about this for years, and she has already come to terms with it. However, it is of course, still difficult for Starr to talk about it at all. But, overall, it was more about Todd dealing with her now knowing. But what did you think? PLEASE let me know what you thought of it, and maybe some predictions! Keep those amazing reviews coming! I love them!
