Marital Woes

Marty and Todd were married now and living on the Manning farm. They had everything going for them. Todd was doing his best to take care of the crops and the animals on the farm, and Marty was trying to settle in to what it meant to be a housewife. Sadly though, she was failing miserably. Every morning she awoke with a horrible taste in her mouth. She would run to the chamber pot to vomit. The vomiting and lack of appetite would continue throughout the day. Sometimes she had mild fainting spells. Despite having lost several pounds, her belly had began to grow. She was dreading the child's kicks that would soon follow. She was tired all the time and depressed. Nearly every meal she prepared for Todd was burned to a dark-brown crisp, but he never complained - instead he tried to do more to help her. He was constantly bringing her wild flowers and once he brought her an adorable baby kitten he had found wandering on the farm. The tiny scrap of fur was cold and hungry. As she cared for the helpless kitten, helping it regain it's strength, Marty's spirits began to brighten.

They were sitting before the fireplace after the evening meal. Marty was stroking the kitten's soft fur when Todd asked, "What are you going to name him?"

"Who?" Marty asked, her eyes huge and haunted. For a moment, she thought he had been talking about the baby, the dreaded little parasite she carried in her womb, but then she realized he was talking about the kitten. Marty gave a tiny sigh of relief as she cuddled her new little friend close.

"I'm going to call him Boston, because that's where we met... and that's what I miss, you and me, all alone in Boston. We didn't have enough to eat... and sometimes we were cold, but we were happy there. You have to admit, we were happy there," Marty stated.

"We can be happy here, too. There's Dr. Larry, Meredith, Danny, baby Hollie Anne, all the friends we met at school and our friends at church," Todd reminded.

"But I hate it here. I want to go back to Boston... before any of this ever happened... before this." She pointed down to the small growing mass upon her lower stomach. Her fingers were trembling and tears filled her eyes.

"I never asked for a child. I never asked for him to touch me... to- to-."

Todd leaned over and caught her in his arms. He spoke soothingly as he kissed the top of her head. "No, babe, you didn't ask for it. You didn't deserve it. But it can be a blessing."

"No, it can't!" she said adamantly as the hot tears began to fall. "I don't want it, Todd. I told you I don't want it. Please! Take me back to Boston! Take me to New York! We'll find someone there that can take the baby... take it and love it, because I can't!"

"Marty, you don't mean that..." Todd said gently. "This baby is a part of you..."

Tenderly he placed a hand over the tiny mound where the little one grew. "And it's a part of me, too. It doesn't belong to him- he doesn't deserve a child. It belongs to US. It's our baby."

"He hurt me... he hurt me so much... and I can't forget it. This... this thing inside of me will always be a constant reminder of how he forced his way inside of me... and how he tore apart my life." Marty was sobbing brokenly. "Please, Todd. PLEASE. Take me to Boston. Promise me."

"Okay, baby, I'll take you to Boston," Todd agreed reluctantly. "I promise."

"Thank you," she said in a whisper. "I need to find Blair and her mother and Mrs. Mendanhall. I need to find Megan. I need to find everyone who was good to me, so I know that somehow, someway, things can get better... and that I will be alright."

Todd nodded, because he had a few people from his past he had to locate as well. He didn't like taking Marty on such a long trip when she was pregnant and frequently ill, but maybe seeing those who loved her would brighten her spirits. Maybe a change of scenery would help Marty come to terms with her pregnancy. He hoped with all his heart that Marty would change her mind. He wanted to keep the baby. He already thought of the unborn baby as their child.

"What will we do with Boston? While we are gone?" Marty asked as Todd held her and tenderly wiped away her tears.

"Danny will look out for him. He'll be safe," Todd said as he tugged Marty closer so she could lay her head against his chest.

She listened to his heartbeat. He was the only thing in the world helping her keep her sanity. She was hanging by such a fragile thread. What would she do when the child kicked, when it moved and stretched inside her? Would she completely lose her mind? She could barely look at her own adopted sister, sweet baby Hollie Anne, because she too was the child of Peter Manning, the monster who had torn apart her world. The only solace she had was that the man who had hurt her was dead. He would never harm another again. He would never have a chance to abuse or rape again.

"Todd, I love you," Marty whispered. She was getting sleepy against his chest, lulled by his strong heartbeat.

"I love you, too, babe. And I would do anything to make you happy. Anything."

She smiled because she knew he would. He had saved her - in so many ways.