A Face of True Love

Here is something for original TNT fans.

No copy infringements. These character belong to their owners

My first fan fiction all reviews welcome.

Quick note all memories will be in italic.

CHAPTER THREE: A TRUST REKINDLED

"Tea do you have a picture of Dani?" He asked quietly.

"Yes." She stopped and looked for her purse, "Aye, I have some in my purse. I don't suppose you picked it up."

He shook his head no.

"Todd, I need to go back to the docks. Then I need to get home." Tea said as she started to make her way to the door.

"No!" Todd exclaimed blocking her from leaving.

"Todd?"

"The fraud will be there."

"Todd, are we in danger?"

Todd nodded his head slowly.

"I'm not sure. I have to protect everyone. I just don't know. You believe me Delgado?"

"Yes. Things make sense now." She stated.

"What do you mean?"

"I- just some things make sense to me now. I need to get home."

"No way no how; you are not leaving. Until you help me figure out what's going on."

"And how I am supposed to that?" She asked crossing her arms across her chest.

"Whatever!"

Tea laughed shaking her head walking over to the bed sitting down. She had to figure out what do next. Either way she had to protect her family.

"Tea, how did this fraud convince you he was me?" Todd asked sitting next to her on the bed.

"Funny, my brother asked me the same thing."

"Your brother Del, the FBI guy is here?" Todd asked surprised.

"No." She answered and then asked, "You remember my brother Del?"

"Duh, he was there when I asked you to marry me at the Place. Still testing me, Delgado?"

Tea turned to look at him. She turned her body slightly reaching out her hand to touch his scarred cheek. He slowly leaned into her hand closing his eyes in relief.

"Todd." She whispered softly once again feeling the connection she had always had with him.

Todd opened his eyes and asked, "So Delgado, you still testing me?"

"No. Tomas Delgado, my other brother. He's been living me and T-him." She answered removing her hand from his cheek.

"Wait. You never told me about Tomas? You said you had two step-brothers Del and Enrique and you and Jose." Todd said

"I know. We weren't allowed to speak about Tomas. He ran away right after my mom left. I don't remember much about him. I'm younger than him. Anyways he used to work for the CIA and became an artist. When he came here he told me I had to get a divorce from Him. And asked me if I was sure he was you. I told him that when I first came into town I was very cautious about being anywhere near him. It was already establish that he was you. I-I don't know it was weird at first. I guess I didn't want to see those differences. Todd, he has your memories. He knew me the moment he first saw me. He knew things about us that we would know or at least the minimum. I never thought about it until now. He even said my middle name was Francesca and I never question him about that. After all he chose me instead of Blair. My relationship with him has solely been based on my relationship with you. I thought he was you. So many things have happened since I've been back. Todd, maybe we should call my brother Tomas and have him come here. Maybe he has the answer you need. Tomas had an old picture of yours with a file encrypted when he was questioning me."

"I don't know." He stated uncertainly.

"Todd, I can't stay here. He'll come looking for me. He's just like you." She stated.

"No! He is not me nothing at all like me." He stated angrily.

Tea sadly looked at Todd. My entire marriage has been a lie. How am I going to get through this? She asked herself sadly.

"Tea, are you ok?" Todd asked noticing the look of sadness that showed on Tea's face.

Tea let out a nervous laugh and scratched her head and trying to get her emotions in check. She doesn't know how to respond.

"No, I'm not ok. This hasn't hit me yet. I'm just as confused as you are. I just found out my marriage is based on a lie. I don't know what to feel right now. Can I ask you something?"

"What?"

"Why did you choose me to help you? You could have easily gone to Blair."

"Because I've always have trusted you."

Tea let out a snort, "You've never trusted me."

"Yes I have. You know all my secrets."

"That's a bunch of bullshit and you know it. Why?" She asked standing up from the bed.

"Oh my God you really want me to spill my guts out more. Haven't I've spilled out enough?" He asked with a disgusting look on his face.

"Now that is the Todd Manning I know." She said smiling slowly.

Todd just looked up at her in awe. He stands up as well, and said, "I already told you. I trust you, Delgado. You've always been on my side no matter what I've done to you in the past."

Neither noticed that they were standing so close to one other. Tea looked at him shocked not really knowing what to say. Trust had always been such an issue in their relationship. That was the first time Todd had said anything like that to her.

"What? Stop giving the Delgado bug eye look."

"Nothing, it is just that you have never said anything like that to me before."

"Yes I have." He said looking at the ground and not being able to look at her, he continued, "Look I-I know I've made mistakes with you. I know I've treated you badly. I know I've hurt, disappointed you, but I know one thing I've always trusted you no matter what."

Tea eyes widen as tears begin to flow, she doesn't think about it she rushes into his body throwing her arms around his neck holding onto him. She cries harder as she recognizes his scent. If she wasn't sure before now she is positive that this man is her Todd. She hugs him tighter. Todd not prepare for Tea, almost loses his balance naturally wraps his arms around Tea waist burying his face into the crook of her neck. He lets his tears that he has been holding back begin to fall. He trusts Tea enough to see him like this. He desperately doesn't want to let go. He holds her just as tightly as she is holding him.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I've been wrong about so many things." He whispers in her ear.

Tea shivers feeling his breath against her ear. She nods her head. She doesn't want to let go, but knows he will soon retreat. She is however surprised when Todd doesn't let go. She feels him holding her tighter.

"Todd, I'm sorry too." She whispers. "I should have known he wasn't you. His kisses felt like yours."

Todd straightens up a little to look down into her eyes. Her eyes never lie to him. He keeps his hands on her waist. Tea places her hands on his shoulders and looks up into his eyes. Suddenly one of Todd's hands leaves her waist and grabs onto the back of her head burying his fingers into her hair so she couldn't move. He continues to look into her eyes he looks at her lips then back to her eyes. He lower his head brushes his lips lightly against hers. His first kiss is soft and gentle. Tea responds just as softly. He lifts he head slightly and smiles then he doesn't give her a chance to say anything, he just goes for it. After nine years of not tasting her, he wants to taste what he stupidly gave up. He kisses her with the passion that he has always had for her only kept it well hidden. His tongue invades her mouth intensifying the kiss. He feels her respond. He is thrilled that she hasn't put a stop to the kiss. He ends the kiss looking back into Tea eyes.

He smiles down at her. He continues to look into her eyes telling her with his eyes Delgado, you will always be mine.

Tea stares back in total shock. Todd hardly ever took the first step in showing any kind of affection. Aye DIOS MIO, Todd kissed me, I kissed him back. She thinks to herself.

He quietly says, "Now you know."

Tea nods her head still unable to talk. She also knows where her loyalties lie.

"I am going to take your advice, like I always have done. I'll go back to the docks and get your purse. I want to see what my daughter looks like. I'm gonna trust you not to leave. After I get back I want you to call your brother, tell him to come here alone. I need to make sure all of my family is safe. I'm willing to trust your brother, Tea. Do you think we can trust him?"

"Yes, like I told you earlier he wanted me to leave my husband. Todd I need to get home soon. Please Dani will be home soon."

"Look I know you want to go home and confront him. I can't put you in any danger or anyone else I love. Where's Dani right now?"

"Starr picks her up and stays with her at La Boulale to play with Sam. Starr loves being a big sister." Tea said smiling.

"Wait, you let our daughter stay at La Boulale, what you and Blair friends now?"

"More like friend-enemies." She answered.

"Whatever." He says smiling and kind of shivers a little bit. Things have certainly changed.

"Don't leave ok." He said opening the door.

Once outside he takes a deep breath. He smiles knows in his heart Tea will be waiting for him. He hurries over to the docks noticing no one is there. He picks up the purse and heads back. It takes him about five minutes. He's outside the door to his room. He sees Tea pacing through the small window. He stops for a moment. So many things they have to go over. He needs to make sure Tea, Blair, Viki, the kids are all safe. He even feels he should have Tea call Del too. As much as he and Del don't like each other they will both agree to keep Tea and Dani save no matter what. He is going to get his family back and destroy the imposter with everything he's got. Then he can rebuild his life again. Todd is going to take back what is his nobody is going to get in his way. He gets his key out and enter the room once again.

Tea keeps pacing she is running her fingers through her hair. She is waiting for Todd. She knows that he is near. She is nervous would the Fraud hurt her family. No she realizes the Fraud likes being Todd Manning. Todd is right we need to be careful. What is taking Todd so long? She hears the door open.

"You ok? Here's your purse, Delgado." He said handing her purse, "Come on I want to see what my kid looks like."

Tea takes her purse and gets her wallet pulling out her daughter's picture. She smiles as she hands over the picture face down.

Todd gives a slight grin and takes the picture from Tea.

"Go ahead meet our daughter." She said quietly.

Todd turns over the picture and sees the most beautiful blend of him and Tea. His daughter Daniella has his eyes, smile but has her mother's mouth. She has Tea complexion.

"Oh Tea she is so beautiful."

Tea smiles as tears fall.

"She has your temper. She loves to break things. She has your sense of humor. She even eats like you. I always have to tell her to eat with her mouth closed." Tea said smiling and then continues "She laughs like you. Todd, she knows that you are her father. Even when I was married to Ross she knew. I couldn't keep that from her. I've been honest with her. She doesn't understand why her father looks so different from the pictures I've shown her. I've tried hard to explain it to her the best I can. When she first meet him she didn't like him. She would say that he wasn't the man in the pictures. She asked him once if he can change his face back and he sort of laughed it off. To tell you honestly I don't think she likes being around Him. She does it for me though. She is very possessive for my attention when we are all together at the house. You will be please to know that she is very much connected to Starr, Jack, and Sam. She loves playing with Sam because she gets to boss him around. Jack teases her, but he is very protective of her. She loves and adores her big sister Starr."

Todd smiles at the knowledge his youngest daughter has a close relationship with his oldest daughter and son. He had always been possessive of Tea attention.

"Tea, I want to meet her. I- I want my life and family back more than ever. Thank you for giving me this beautiful gift. I know I have so many things to make up for. I know this is going to be hard on you. Good things we've always been good partners." He said holding back his tears.

"Todd." She said.

"Tea, you make that call to your brother. I'm not wasting anymore time"

Hey I hope you liked it. Please leave your comments.