"This can't be...I was certain that Todd was the one who had killed Eddie," John stated as he stared at the doctored evidence in front of him.
"I've been trying to tell you for months. Marty's a psychotic and dangerous women. She needs to be locked up somewhere where she can't hurt anybody," Natalie ranted as she took another drink.
"Marty's been through a terrible ordeal, she doesn't deserve to be punished Natalie," John stated as he stood up and walked away from Natalie.
John had always believed that a good cop followed his instincts despite the evidence and right now his instincts were telling him that something was terribly wrong with the evidence. He knew Marty and he just simply couldn't believe that she was capable of stabbing Eddie to death. He had to find a way to clear her name.
XOXOXO
Todd stood at the alter next to Reverend Carpenter and gasped as Marty followed Starr down the aisle. Her hair was up in an elegant twist and she had never looked so beautiful.
Marty tried her hardest not to flinch as Todd grabbed her hand. She knew that she would have to be affectionate towards Todd and to even kiss him so that the ceremony would look real. She knew in her heart that she was safe with him, but she still flinched as he grabbed her hand as images of Eddie touching her bombarded her mind.
Todd could see the fear in Marty's eyes as he grabbed her hand and he felt sick. He hated Eddie for hurting Marty and damaging her and he hated himself far worse then he could hate anybody. He would do anything to take her pain away from her and somehow he would find a way to help her and to make her smile again.
"Do you Todd Manning promise to honor and cherish Marty in sickness and in health, to place her above all others for the rest of your life?" Andrew asked.
"I do. Please take this ring as a token of my love and comittment to you," Todd stated as he placed the ring on Marty's trembling hand.
"Do you Marty Saybrooke take Todd as your lawfully wedded husband, in good times and in bad, placing him above all others for the rest of your lives?"
"I do...please take this ring as a token of my love and devotion," Marty stated as she placed the ring onto Todd's finger.
"Does anybody have any reason to object to this union?" Andrew asked.
"By the power invested in me I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.
Todd slowly pulled Marty closer to him and gave her a brief, gentle and passionate kiss and even though her entire body was shaking with nerves, she felt a little sad when the kiss had ended.
XOXOXO
"So what now?" Marty whispered as the kiss ended.
"I kept up my part of the bargain, so now you got to keep up yours. I'm going to take you home with me and take care of you," Todd stated.
"I can't go home with you tonight."
"Why the hell not?" Todd asked as he let go of Marty's trembling hands.
"I'm still under police custody and I still have to be seen by a psychiatrist," Marty stated.
"Well, I'll call Tea, there's got to be something that she can do so that I can take you home," Todd stated as he pulled out his phone.
"It's already been taken care of," Tea stated as she walked into the room.
"I can go home with Todd?" Marty asked.
"I met with a judge and he agreed to grant you bail if you post a million dollars, cash not bond. I also spoke with your doctors and they agreed to release you for the night, but you'll be required to come back in the morning at nine a.m. for your psychiatric evaluation," Tea explained.
"Thanks Tea. I know that couldn't have been easy for you," Todd stated.
"I'm a lawyer first and foremost and you and Marty are still my clients, besides I'd do anything for you. Post Marty's bail and take your wife home," Tea stated as she teared up.
"I'll see you in the morning," Marty stated as she walked away towards Reverend Carpenter and Starr.
"Thanks so much for marrying us, I know that couldn't have been easy for you," Marty stated as she shook Andrew's hand.
"I just want you to be happy Marty."
"Thanks for coming Starr. I really appreciate you agreeing to be a witness."
"Your welcome Marty, I've never seen my dad happier then he is right now and I know that a big part of that is due to you," Starr stated as she leaned in and hugged Marty.
"Marty, I've paid your bail, let's go home," Todd stated as he held his hand out for her.
"Okay," Marty stated as she placed her hand in his.
XOXOXO
"What's going on John?" Anna Devane asked as soon as she opened her door and saw him standing there in the rain.
"I need your help," John stated as he walked into her house and sat down on the couch. "I need you to double check the forensic evidence of one of my cases and I need you to tell me if any of the evidence has been tampered with."
"I can do that...do you suspect that the Forensics agent tampered with the evidence somehow?" Anna asked as she sat down next to John.
"I don't want to believe it, but my instincts are telling me that Natalie is lying to me. I know Marty and I can't believe that she killed Eddie Ford."
"You love her, don't you?" Anna asked.
"Natalie...god no, I care about her, but I don't love her. What we had ended a long time ago."
"Not Natalie, You're in love with Marty aren't you?"
"Yeah, I think I am, but I've hurt her and I don't think she'll ever forgive me."
"She might if you clear her name. I'll double check the evidence for you John, but you owe me," Anna stated.
XOXOXO
"Home sweet home," Todd stated as he opened the front door and turned on all the lights. "You look tired, and it's been a long day, let's go to bed," Todd stated as he headed up the stairs.
"You can sleep in this," Todd stated as he opened up the drawer and handed Marty her old nightgown that he had bought her when she last lived with him.
"You kept this?" Marty asked.
"Yeah, after you left...I just couldn't part with it...It was all that I had left of you."
"I'll go and change," Marty stated as she grabbed the nightgown from Todd, feeling the electricity as their fingers briefly touched.
Marty headed into the bathroom. She removed her dress and put on the nightgown as she remembered the day that Todd had first given it to her. She had loved him so much back then...she still loved him, but things had always been complicated between them and she wasn't sure if they would ever be able to have a real marriage.
Marty opened the door and climbed into bed.
"Goodnight Marty," Todd stated as he began to head out of the room.
"Where are you going?" Marty asked.
"I thought that you would be more comfortable if I slept in my room down the hall."
"We need to make our marriage seem real which means we can't have separate bedrooms."
"Are you sure? It wouldn't make you feel uncomfortable?"
"I don't want to be alone."
"Okay, I'll sleep on the chair," Todd stated as he grabbed a spare blanket and tried to get comfortable on the chair.
"It's a big bed...I can share it with you," Marty stated as she scooted over and made room for Todd.
Todd climbed into bed and shut off the lights. "Good night Marty," he whispered.
"Good night Todd," Marty stated as she closed her eyes, hoping that the nightmares wouldn't come.
XOXOXO
"You thought that you could escape me, but, I won't let you," she heard him say.
She tried to move, but she couldn't. She was frozen by her fear...he was coming for her and when he found her then she knew that he would really make her pay.
"Come out, come out wherever you are," he called as he opened the door. He was covered in blood as he staggered towards her carrying the bloody knife in his hand. "You are mine forever," he stated as he grabbed her roughly and plunged the knife into her heart.
Todd woke up to the sound of screaming. "Marty...it was just a bad dream," he stated.
"Where is he?" Marty asked as she sat up in bed and looked around the room.
"Where is who?" Todd asked fighting his urge to take her in his arms and wipe away her tears. Despite how much he wanted to comfort her, touching her would be the worst thing that he could do.
"Eddie was here...he had a knife, he stabbed me," Marty stammered as tears streamed down her face.
"It was just a bad dream. Eddie's never going to hurt you again. You're safe here with me. Close your eyes and go back to sleep. I won't let anything happen to you," Todd promised.
"I can't...if I close my eyes then I'll see him again. He's always going to haunt me...I'm never going to be able to sleep," Marty whimpered.
"Yes you will, once I teach you the secret of sleeping when you're scared."
"What secret?" Marty asked. She was desperate and tired enough to try anything.
"When I was in prison, the first week was complete hell. I was too scared to go to sleep at night, but I had a roommate that slept through anything. I used to watch him sleep, he looked so peaceful and I wondered why he wasn't afraid like I was, so one day I worked up the nerve and I asked him how he could sleep in that hell hole."
"What did he say?"
"He said that the nighttime was the only time that he was free. He told me that when he closed his eyes at night he thought about the place where he had been the most happiest. He told me that if I wanted a good night's sleep that all I had to do was close my eyes and imagine up a world where I could be free."
"I don't know if such a world exists for me," Marty stated.
"Sure it does, but I'll share my happy place with you until you create your own. Close your eyes and listen to my description."
Todd watched as Marty closed her eyes.
"You're standing on a beach looking out on the sun setting over the Atlantic Ocean. It's completely peaceful and quiet and then you feel the embrace of the person that loves you most. You know that you are completely safe with them and you let yourself get lost in their love."
"Marty?" Todd asked to see if she was still awake. "I hope that you can feel how much I love you," he added when she didn't respond. He leaned over and kissed her on the forehead as he covered her up with blankets.
XOXOXO
When Marty woke up, she was completely alone. "Todd?" Marty called out.
"Hey, how did you sleep?" Todd asked as he came in carrying a tray of French Toast and Bacon.
"It was the best night of sleep that I've had since..." Marty looked away...she couldn't finish the sentence.
"I'm glad that you were able to sleep. Are you hungry?" Todd asked.
The sight and smell of the food made her stomach twist and turn. She was so nauseous and the last thing that she wanted to think about was food, but she didn't want to hurt Todd's feelings after he had gone to the trouble of making them breakfast. "A little bit," she lied as she dished up a tiny plate of food.
She ate a couple of bites of French Toast and Bacon and then pushed her plate away. "I'm going to go shower since we have to meet Tea soon, Marty stated as she headed into the bathroom.
She took a shower and was getting dressed when the bout of nauseousness was too much to handle and she threw up in the toilet over and over again.
"Oh god...it can't be," Marty said to herself as she realized that she hadn't had her period since she was raped.