Surprises*

Marty spent hours at the piano recreating the song that Todd had hummed to her the night before. It was hard to recreate the song based on the pieces that she had heard as she drifted in and out of sleep, but she was certain that she had it right.

She put the CD in the player and pressed record as she played the song. When she finished she looked at the CD, she would never have another nightmare again, but what about Todd? Peter had destroyed his only copy of his mom's song. Perhaps he deserved nightmares after the way that he chose to live his life. Why should she care anyway after the way that he had damaged her? She grabbed another blank CD and stared at it as she contemplated what the right thing to do was.

XOXOXO

Todd sat outside of Vicki's as he waited for Marty. He sighed as he looked at the clock, she was late, perhaps she wasn't coming at all. He knew that he had to tell Vicki and Tina that he was their brother, the lawyer would be contacting them soon if he hadn't already, but the thought of telling them haunted him. What if they rejected him? He couldn't go through another rejection. He needed Marty with him when he told his new family the truth, but why wasn't she here? He had made such great progress with her, or at least he thought that he had, but perhaps some scars would never heal.

He was about to turn around and go home when he saw her getting out of her car.

"You're late," he said.

"I know, I'm sorry, but it took awhile for me to get it just right," Marty said as she pulled out the CD.

"Get what just right? What's that?" Todd asked.

"I made you something," she said as she handed him the CD.

"What is it?" Todd said.

"Just listen for yourself," Marty said as she handed him her Walkman.

Todd put the CD in and pressed play. Tears came to his eyes as he heard his Mother's song being played beautifully. He never thought that he would hear it again after Peter had destroyed it. He thought that he was cursed to have nightmare after nightmare because that's what he deserved."

"How did you, where did you find this?" Todd asked.

"I have a photographic memory. Once I see things or hear things it stays with me forever. I recreated the song on my piano from the memory of you humming it to me last night. Did I get it right?" Marty asked.

"It's perfect, but why would you get me anything?"

"No one deserves to have nightmares, not even you," she said.

"This is the nicest thing that everyone's ever given me and for it to come from you...thank you," Todd whispered as his voice broke.

"You're welcome, let's go tell your family the truth," Marty said as she wiped her own tears away and headed towards the front door.

Todd knocked on the door.

"Marty, were we supposed to have our piano lesson today?" A girl around thirteen or fourteen asked.

"No Jessica, this is...my friend Todd Manning, there's something very important that he needs to tell your mom. Is she here today?" Marty asked.

"She is, come on in," Jessica said enthusiastically. "Mom, Marty's here to see you with her boyfriend," Jessica called out.

Todd looked over to see Marty wincing at the word boyfriend and wondered if he should correct the little girl, but he liked the idea of being her boyfriend and then the moment had passed and neither he or Marty had corrected Jessica. He wondered why Marty hadn't said anything when Kevin came out of the Living Room.

"Jessica, you know that mom's not feeling well and didn't want visitors," Kevin said chiding his little sister.

"But it's Marty," Jessica said.

"It's okay Jessica, perhaps we should come back at another time," Marty said as she looked at Todd.

"Don't go," a blond haired woman said as she came running down the stairs while she was on her cell phone.

"I have to go," she said into the phone and hung up. "Vicki's going to want to meet you," she said as she reached out her hand to him.

"You...you know who I am?" Todd stammered as he took her hand.

"That was the attorney on the phone, he told me everything and I always wanted a little..."

"What is going on down there? How am I supposed to rest with all that ruckus Tina?" Vicki asked as she came down the stairs. "Marty, it's so good to see you again? How are you feeling?" Vicki asked.

"As well as can be expected thank you. This is Todd Manning," Marty said as she introduced him.

"Right, Kevin's fraternity brother," Vicki said.

"Hardly, he's Kevin's uncle not brother," Tina blurted out.

"What?" Kevin gasped.

"I just found out that I was adopted. My birth parents were Irene Manning and Victor Lord," Todd said.