Author's Note: This is the love story of Marty and Todd. It also includes several other characters as well as their storylines. This story will be submitted in several parts and is based off the hit soap One Life to Live, yet the "history" has been changed somewhat to suit the purposes of this story. Not all the parts of this story will contain erotic sex scenes as there is a plot. First and foremost, this story is a romance/drama, not a sex story.
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.
Please don't forget to vote...
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"It wasn't easy," Marty told Todd. "But you're welcome. I dunno what Blair will say, but at least if she has a chance to think about it maybe she will do what's right and let you see the boys."
Then she laughed hearing Todd say he wanted to repay her in some way. "And what might that be?" she asked.
"I'm nearly there," she said while pulling up in the drive.
Todd grinned as he walked into the foyer and heard Marty's car pulling up into the drive. She hadn't been kidding when she said she was nearly there. "Well, all morning long as I sat in that jail cell, all I could think about was that wonderful French toast breakfast you made for me that I did not get to enjoy. I say we go out for lunch together and then maybe do a little shopping. We could get some things for the baby.... and you know I'd like to spoil you, too," suggested Todd as he stood in the foyer, waiting for Marty to come walking through the door.
"I am sorry you didn't get the breakfast," Marty said, getting out of the car, then walking up the stairs.
"Yes, lunch would be fabulous... and you're right, the baby does need a few things," she said as she came through the door.
Todd laughed when Marty came through the door and inside his foyer holding the phone while speaking to him. He took the phone from her hand and in the same moment he swept her into his arms, gazing into her eyes. "Hi there," he said, reaching down to give her a soft lingering kiss on the lips. "I can't believe you're really here, back in my house again.... back in my life again. It's a dream come true...."
"I am really eager for lunch as well as shopping, but one thing first...." said Todd. "Marty, are you sure... absolutely sure you can forgive me for everything I have done? And I do mean everything... I really need to know..."
Marty laughed and returned his kiss. She looked up at him and smiled. "I am sure. I trust you enough to believe you're changing, so I forgive you for everything. Let's bury the past and forget about it. We have a future now to build together," she said. "Starting with lunch."
Todd stood there in amazement when Marty told him she wanted to bury the past and put it behind them. "I think that might be difficult, cause everything we have been through is still a deep part of both of us.... But you know, everything we have been through has bonded us in a way that no one can truly understand. The same event has tortured both of us for nearly 20 years, but in different ways. We will never forget, but we must forgive. Forgiving myself is going to be so hard, Marty... but I must do it... so I can get better and be the man you need and deserve me to be," spoke Todd. "I'm glad that you trust me.... but remember, that man that I was 20 years ago is still inside me somewhere... and there are times when rage overtakes me and he wants to come out.... making me do bad things, like when I nearly kidnapped my daughter's baby. From the very beginning, I never wanted to be that man. I loved you, and I wanted you, but I had no way of expressing that to you... the only thing I ever knew how to express was anger, power, and hatred. But seeing how I hurt you and becoming a dad, that changed me... it made me want to be a better man."
"I'm not saying it's going to be easy, but if you can't change then this can't happen, Todd. Because this child deserves a good life, and I can't subject a child to that man. I know he's inside somewhere, but if you try hard then I think you can beat him, and he'll just stay there, and not want to come out."
"It's you who gives me hope that I can do this, Marty," said Todd as he took her hand into his and lead her outside to his car. After he helped her inside the vehicle and took a seat at the wheel, he said, "Knowing that you love me despite all my faults, knowing that you can forgive me, it gives me what I need to fight the rage that seethes deep inside me. On New Year's Eve, I had just about lost all hope. I thought we were over.... I thought there was no hope for my redemption, so I jumped into that icy water. I nearly took my own life... Now I see that maybe there is a life out there for someone like me." After those words, Todd started the car, and then drove to the mall with Marty by his side, thankful that she had returned to his life once again and that the two of them were about to embark on a journey together that hopefully lead toward happiness.
Marty was glad; she was happy that Todd was all for starting this new life together. "Gosh, there is so much that we need!" Marty laughed, as they were on their way to the mall. "I don't have a list but just thinking of all the things that we need is like so overwhelming!"
"I'm actually looking forward to this whole shopping-for-the-baby thing. I have never been this excited in the past when thinking of a new baby on the way. I think it's cause my other kids are getting older now... and I have missed out on so much with them due to my own stupidity. Things will be different with this kid. I'm going to be a great dad... and give the kid lots of attention. I might even spoil him or her," Todd said enthusiastically as he and Marty left the car and entered the mall. With Marty's hand in his, Todd came across a small shop called Everything for Baby. "Here we go," he said, holding up a little bib that said, "I coo and poo. That's what I do."
"Do you think the baby wants this?" he asked Marty.
Marty couldn't help but laugh at the words on the bib. "It is definitely accurate," she said.
"There should be one that says I drool too," she said with a laugh.
"I think he or she will like it," she said with a smile as she picked up a soft baby blanket.
Todd placed the bib into their shopping basket. He watched as Marty browsed the shop, checking out all the adorable little baby things. Todd looked over a rack of tiny clothes, wondering what they should buy. After all, they were uncertain as of now whether or not they were having a boy or a girl. "I'm not really sure what all we need, so you get the stuff you think the baby's going to need in the very beginning. Later, when we find out the sex, we can come back for more clothes," Todd suggested.
Marty nodded her head. "That's a good idea," she agreed. She picked up other essentials, like bottles and pacifiers and such as well as other neutral items that the baby would need.
Todd saw Marty gather the items for the baby and he too added a few things to the basket. He picked up a small brown teddy bear and a rattle that said "I Love My Mommy." He grinned at Marty, still feeling awe but mostly extreme happiness when he thought of this tiny life they had created together. "What about a crib?" asked Todd. "We could set it up in the extra bedroom..... right next to mine... I mean ours..." Todd did hope that Marty intended to move in with him now that they were back together. Recently he had had enough lonely nights to last a lifetime. He missed spending time with Marty and having her be there with him every moment of the day. Surely now, she would want to come stay with him at his place.
Marty smiled at the teddy bear. "Yes, a crib would be good," she said.
"Ours?" she asked with interest.
"I could get used to that," she admitted. "Except I was hoping that Cole would want to move back in with me wherever I decide to move," she admitted.
After a few moments, Todd had found the perfect crib. It was made of solid oak and had a built-in changing table which would come in quite handy. It would look great in the baby's room, whether or not it was a girl or a boy. "Is this crib okay?" Todd asked Marty.
When Marty mentioned Cole's name, a small muscle twitched in Todd's cheek. He did his best to make his expression appear calm and collected, for Marty's sake. "Sure, Cole's welcome to come and stay as well. There's plenty of room. I know he doesn't think much of me, but I will do my best to be civilized to him and make him feel at home, after all, he is your son," spoke Todd, trying his best to be "nice," although decency was something quite foreign to the man most of Llanview regarded as a monster.
Marty sighed softly, "I know neither of you is a fan of the other, but this is his little brother or sister, too, and I just hope that everyone will get along with each other. Though I fear that'll never happen."
"I wouldn't worry about Cole wanting to live with us; he's not exactly speaking to me right now," she said.
Todd told the sales lady that he and Marty would like the oak crib along with the matching dresser and the yellow and cream-colored bumper pads and bedding set featuring adorable teddy bears. The sales lady took Todd's credit card, tallied up all the items, then told Todd and Marty that the crib would be delivered in a couple of days. "Thanks," Todd said to the sales woman, putting his credit card back into his wallet.
As they walked out of Everything for Baby, Todd carried the large bag of baby items for their little one. "I'm sorry that things aren't going so well right now for you and Cole. Now that your memory is back, things should get better. Though I fear he's not going to like the fact that you and I are together," Todd spoke. "I hope you can eventually work things out between the two of you. I know it's stressful right now, knowing he would rather live with Bo and Nora, but in time, hopefully you can make amends with him and he can come over to spend time with his baby brother or sister."
"It won't be easy," she said of Cole. "But I'd like very much for him to welcome this little brother or sister into his life and maybe even one day the two of you will at least be on civil terms."
Taking Marty's hand, Todd then lead her into a jewelry store. At the counter, Todd said to the clerk, "I'd like a locket for the beautiful lady here.... Gold and sapphire along with a pair of matching earrings and a bracelet." Todd then turned to Marty and smiled.
