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.
*~Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Paradox~*
A couple of months had passed. They had been difficult and tense ones for both Todd and Marty. Todd had taken the day off from working on the paper. Today was Marty's scheduled amniocentesis at the hospital. Todd wanted to be there when Marty went through the procedure. Larry came into the hospital room and explained to Marty what would be done. First she would be given a local anesthetic into her abdomen to relieve any pain she may feel during the testing. Then a long, thin needle wouldbe inserted into the baby's amniotic sac so that fluid could be withdrawn for testing. Todd held Marty's hand as the nurse prepped her as she looked extremely nervous. "It will be okay," he spoke to her soothingly, wishing she didn't have to go through this, but they just HAD to know.
Marty tried to be brave, but she was still scared and worried. Despite her fears, she was glad that Todd was there with her. She was glad that he was holding her hand and being so supportive. She prayed that the baby would be alright, and that the amnio would help them get the answers they sought regarding the unborn child's paternity.
Todd could barely stand to watch as Larry gave Marty a numbing injection into her abdomen and then got ready to insert the super-long needle. He wasn't much for medical procedures or seeing Marty go through anything traumatic. He held her hand tightly, just offering her his presense as comfort. He had to actually look away when Larry inserted the needle and began withdrawing some amniotic fluid from the baby's sac. "All done," Larry then said, handing the syringe to the nurse. Todd was incredibly glad it was over.
"How soon till we get the results?" Todd then questioned.
"I'll put a rush order in the lab, but it's going to be 3-4 days," Larry replied.
Todd didn't like waiting, and he was also hoping that the baby would be okay as Larry had warned them there was a slight chance of miscarriage and infection following the amnio. Seeing that Marty was already showing quite a lot, he knew that it would be horrible if anything at all happened to the baby. After everything they had been through, he didn't know how they would handle such a loss.
Marty just prayed now that the baby would be alright as she placed her hand upon her stomach. In three or four days, they would finally know who's baby she was carrying. She continued to hope that the baby was Todd's.
~*~o~*~
Todd made it through the next four days in sort of a fog. Then finally he and Marty got the call that Larry had the results and wanted to meet them at the hospital. Leaving Samara with Vicki, Todd and Marty anxiously went to see what Larry had to say. In Larry's office, they took a seat and waited for Larry to speak. "The news is good," Larry reported. "The baby belongs to Todd."
Todd looked at Marty as the news started sinking in. He was going to be a dad again. A smile broke out on Todd's face. For the first time since Marty had told him she was pregnant, Todd felt incredible happiness. Todd jumped up out of his seat, reaching for Marty and swinging her around in his arms excitedly. Larry just laughed, glad that everything had turned out well. Little did they know...
Marty laughed with delight as she wrapped her arms around Todd. She was so relieved that she could not stop smiling. Todd was the father; Todd was the father of her baby! Everything was going to be okay now... (or so she thought).
Todd was ecstatic when they had gotten the news that the baby was his. For the first time since Marty had announced her pregnancy, he felt like he could bond with the unborn child. He was hopeful for a little boy this time, but most of all, he just wanted a healthy child. "Let's go home and tell Samara the news," Todd said eagerly. He thanked Larry as he and Marty got ready to leave the hospital.
When they got back to their place, Vicki was there keeping an eye on her little neice. "Hey, Sis. Marty and I have good news. We are having another baby," Todd told Vicki happily. Vicki gave Marty a big hug, expressing her happiness as well. She knew things had been rocky for Marty and Todd since Ireland, so she was overjoyed to hear that now things were becoming much better.
After Vicki left, Todd walked over to the playpen and lifted Samara into his embrace. "Hey, Angel," he said to his daughter, kissing her little cheek. "Mommy and I want to tell you something."
Todd then placed a hand on Marty's baby-bump as he was speaking. He looked into Marty's blue eyes as he let her tell Samara the exciting news. Todd was sure that this baby Marty was carrying was a sign - a sign that he and Marty did belong together and deserved another chance at happiness.
Marty placed one hand over Todd's that was resting on her 'baby bump.' "Samara ~ sweetie," she said with a big smile. "Mommy is going to have a baby. You're getting a little brother or a sister, so that means you'll get to be the Big Sister now. Isn't that great?"
"Baby," Samara repeated.
"Wow, she said 'baby!'" Todd spoke with excitement. "I didn't even know that she knew that word." Samara was very smart and she was picking up new words every day. She never ceased to amaze Todd and Marty.
Samara knew that her parents were very happy about something, but being only one year old, she wasn't really sure what the excitement was all about. She gave a baby-grin to her mommy and her daddy, feeling so loved and so very content. Todd kissed Samara on the top of her head and hugged her tightly.
"I think it's going to be a boy this time," Todd spoke up. "Not that it really matters, because the most important thing is that the baby is healthy... but damn, Marty, you're really showing a lot already..." He was marvelling at the growing mound of her tummy. When she carried Samara, her pregnancy hadn't been as obvious this fast.
Marty smiled when heard Samara's word; it was so cute! Then she turned to smile at Todd. "Yeah, I am, I dunno... maybe? Well, Samara didn't weigh much so probably this one IS a boy," she said with a laugh. "A healthy one obviously."
"Great," Todd said with a grin. "We have to start thinking of some names."
"If we do have a boy, how about Logan Thomas?" Todd asked. He really liked the name Logan and his own name was Thomas Todd although he had always been called Todd. It seemed fitting that their son should be named after him.
"And we should also come up with a little girl's name too, I think... just in case our suspicions aren't correct and the baby is in fact a little girl," Todd suggested. "Does Lilly sound like a cute name for baby girl?"
Marty smiled at Todd's name selections. "Logan Thomas sounds good, and Lilly is a beautiful name for a girl," she agreed. "I'd like to name her Lilly Rose, if we have another girl."
Todd was pleased with the names they had agreed upon for their new baby. As each day passed, he got more excited for Lilly Rose or Logan Thomas to join them. He especially loved the bonding time he had with Marty and the unborn child, often talking to the little one in Marty's tummy and telling him or her how much he and Marty loved one another and couldn't wait to see their new baby boy or girl.
(This is my shortest chapter ever of "New Beginning." Stay tuned to the next chapter which will be all sorts of WILD.)