0 comments/ 3405 views/ 2 favorites The Doppelganger By: ImmortalRomance 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. This story takes place BEFORE Marty attacked and killed her psychiatrist, stabbed Kelly, and pushed Natalie from the roof at Angel Square. In this story, those events will not happen. This is my take on the two-Todds story including Marty and with an eerie or supernatural twist. Hope you enjoy the story... ~*o*~ After months at St. Anne's, Marty was slowly coming back to reality, although she was far from healed. Her doctors were helping her immensely, yet she was grief-stricken as she very seldom received visitors. Cole, her only child was in prison, and she had no other family. All her friends seemed to have forgotten or deserted her. Only Starr had come to see her, bringing Hope, her precious little granddaughter. For Hope, Marty struggled to get better. She had to get out of this dreary mental institution and return to her grandchild. Cole couldn't be there for his little girl, so Marty longed to be. Marty was sitting in a rocking chair in her room at St. Anne's looking at a photo of Hope when suddenly she felt a strange sensation move through her, stealing her breath. She felt as though someone were there, in the room, watching her. Marty became convinced that someone WAS there in the shadows unseen. Marty was certain she wasn't alone. She was being watched. "Who's there?" Marty called out, looking out the window of her room, searching the shadows of the dying sunlight. Only the eerie sound of the wind whispering through the trees answered back. Marty shivered. She hadn't been this unsettled for a very long time. She had a strange feeling then. A feeling like she wasn't alone... As she stood there at the window, she had dropped Hope's photo upon the floor. When Sister Neena called her to the door to meet with her doctor, Marty didn't even notice the child's photo lying at her feet. She walked toward the door and left the room, going with Sister Neena down the hall to her evening therapy session. Moments later, a hand reached out, grasping the photo. Someone stood in Marty's room at St. Anne's looking at the photo of Starr and Cole's little girl. Later when Marty returned to the room, the man was gone, along with the photo. "That's strange," Marty uttered, looking all around the room for the photo of her granddaughter. It wasn't in its usual place which was upon her dresser. Where could it have gone? Marty looked everywhere, but it was as if the photo had just vanished. Marty shivered, realizing then that her window was strangely ajar. A cool breeze played upon her flesh as she crossed the floor to the open window and attempted to close it. But as she began to press down on the window, it was then she saw a man standing in the courtyard below. Although she couldn't make out the figure because of the distance, something told her she knew the man. Every nerve in her body seemed to be agitated as a quiver moved through her and the breath was stolen from her lungs. Who was he? And why was he watching her? As she slept in her bed that night, Marty was plagued by nightmares. When she woke up, tears streaked her face. Sister Neena had come running into the room to check on her, hearing Marty scream out as though being tortured. "Todd!" was the name that came flying from Marty's lips as she sat up in her bed, her long curls tangled about her face. "Todd's here..." Marty sobbed to Sister Neena. "He's coming for me!" ~*o*~ Despite the nuns reassurances that Todd Manning was no where near St. Anne's, Marty could still feel his presence there like dark clouds lingering after a great storm. "He's here, I tell you... and he's been watching me..." Marty insisted, but the nuns didn't believe her. They thought she was hallucinating again like she had when she had thought a small ragdoll had been her baby. "Marty, you need rest," spoke Sister Neena. "Here, take these pills. They'll help you get some sleep," promised the elderly nun, placing two tablets in Marty's hand and a cool glass of water. "Thank you," Marty said softly, accepting the pills although she had no intention of taking them. Todd Manning was out there somewhere, and she needed to be at full awareness as he might strike at any moment. "Good night, dear," said Sister Neena, patting Marty's hand before leaving. Moments ticked by and Marty remained seated within the wooden rocker. Bits and pieces of last night's dream returned to her, and she could remember hearing his voice as he spoke to her, telling her he was there now, he had come for her. And then he moved out of the darkness, and she saw him... And to her horror and confusion, it wasn't the Todd she currently knew. But the old one. His face was that of the man who had raped her all those years ago. It had been HIS face... and HIS voice. Marty's heart raced in her chest as she remembered the dream. What did it mean? Then she remembered the figure in the courtyard and she froze. It HAD been him, hadn't it? Todd had been the man standing in the courtyard, looking up toward her room. But oddly it wasn't the face of the man she had known as Todd for the past eight years, the man who had tricked her into his home and into his bed when she had lost her memory. His face was now the same as it had been before he had claimed to have undergone plastic surgery. He looked like the man who haunted her nightmares and ruthlessly ravaged her memories. "Noooo... noooo... it CAN'T be him," Marty murmured. Maybe she was losing it after all, going out of her mind. Maybe her fragile grasp at reality had finally snapped. But if it were true, what could he want with her... and what did all this mean? Who was this man who looked so much like the man who had hurt her all those years ago? Was he Todd? And if he was, then who was the man who claimed to be Todd Manning now? As the questions did a wild dance through her traumatized brain, Marty was alerted to a sound coming from the window. Marty stood fearfully, glancing over at the pane of glass. To her surprise and horror, the window began to open as if on its own. Then as she longed to flee, someone left the ledge outside, carefully climbing into the room. "Hello, Marty," he said, gazing at her in the soft lamp light of her room. "Long time no see..." Marty's heart did a flip-flop in her chest. "Todd?" she gasped, staring at him as if he couldn't be. "Who are you?" she demanded. "I'm Todd Manning..." he answered matter-of-factly, his voice resonating in her ears. "You... You can't be..." she gasped. "If you're Todd, then who is he?" she exclaimed, referring to the one who had claimed to be Todd for the past several years. "That's what I'd like to know..." he replied, closing the window and going to stand next to her. "Don't come any closer!" Marty breathed. "You aren't real... this can't be happening..." She pressed her hands up to her cheeks to cool them, looking at the man before her with disbelief. "Marty... listen... I am the real Todd Manning... and that other guy, I don't know who he is, but he's taken over my life. He took my kids... he stole my fortune, my life... EVERYTHING! And I want my life back... you have to help me," he pleaded. "Why should I believe you? And how do I know if you are really Todd?" Marty responded, staring at him in a state of shock. He certainly looked like Todd. And he sounded like Todd. Just being in his presense effected her like no one else ever could. "Obviously, you're lying... or he's lying..." "And if he's not Todd, then he's a very effective liar... because he's had everyone believing he's Todd for the past 8 years," Marty said. "Alright then, Marty...ask me a question... something no one else would know," he offered. "Something only you or I would know, no one else..." Marty thought for a moment, then a question came to her. "When CJ was little, what did he call you?" Marty asked. "Ali, the genie..." he responded quickly. "But that question couldn't count, because not just you and I know the answer, Marty... ask me again..." "Okay," she replied, thinking of another question, something not just anyone could know. "Hmmm.. okay, how about this question..." She paused a moment, lost in the memories that bombarded her from long ago. "The night of the spring fling, after you, Powell and Zach were finished, I lay on Kevin's bed, hugging a stuffed animal, but you ripped it from my arms... What was it?" she quietly asked. He looked at her in disbelief, shocked that she had brought up that moment and that horrid night. But after a short while, his senses returned to him and he responded to her question. "It was a stuffed lion," he replied. "But Zach or Powell could have known that..." "You're going to have to think of something else, Marty... something that only you or I would know..." Hearing him respond that the stuffed animal had been a lion sent a chill through her. Maybe this really was Todd... maybe...? Another question came to her, thinking of another night... and another storm. "One night David Vickers followed me back to my place. He grabbed me and tried to kiss me, right in the middle of a thunderstorm and in my own front yard. You showed up and saved me," she spoke, softly smiling at the memory. "And afterwards, we went inside by the fire with mugs of hot chocolate... and we talked..." she said, looking into his eyes. "And you said something... you said the thing you regretted most was..." Marty's voice trailed off as she waited for his response. "The night we made love, I didn't stay and hold you," he answered quickly, the words falling off his tongue. A moment passed and neither of them spoke. Then to his surprise and shock, Marty threw herself into his arms, hugging him ever so tight. "It's YOU... it's REALLY you..." she gasped, wetting his shirt with her tears. Whether they were tears of joy or sadness, Todd could not be sure. He just couldn't believe she was in his arms, and that she seemed pleased to see him. Suddenly Marty pulled back, looking stunned at what she had just done. Tears were shining in her eyelashes as she moved to put some distance between them. A soft chuckle moved through Todd's chest as he gazed at her. "I don't know what I was expecting, Marty, but I never dreamed you'd have that reaction," he spoke. "Could it be that you've actually missed me?" "Don't push it, Todd," Marty said in an almost growl. "I'm just glad it's really you... and he's not you..." she went on to explain. "He did things to me... He hurt me." "He did?" Todd said as a muscle twitched in his jaw. "What did he do, Marty?" he asked, although silently he was thinking how could this man pretending to be Todd have possibly hurt Marty any more than he himself had hurt her. Looking at Todd, Marty faltered, then eventually she began to speak, the painful memories beginning to spill forth. "I had been in an accident... and I had lost my memory... and he- he took me to his place to care for me and nurse me back to health. And as time passed, I fell in love with him. .. but he didn't tell me he was you, that he was Todd Manning..." Marty said softly. "He didn't tell me he had raped me... He even asked me to marry him. We were planning to adopt a child..." A soft sob moved through Marty as the rest came from her lips in a rush. "But it was all lies... because later I was told he was Todd Manning, the man who had raped me. He had betrayed me, deceived me. And even so, I was still in love with him. And I hated myself for it." "But now I realize he wasn't the man who raped me..." Marty said with a shudder. "He wasn't you. He tricked me..." "He tricked a lot of people," Todd said with a heavy sigh, feeling anger at what the imposter-Todd had done to Marty. No wonder Marty was here and so incredibly traumatized. "He tricked Blair, Tea, Starr, Vicki..." "They all think he's me..." "How could Blair and Tea have slept with him and not know he wasn't me?" "I slept with him, too," Marty said softly. "I had no clue he wasn't you..." "That doesn't count, Marty. Your memory was skewed... and it's been years since you and I have been together," Todd reminded. "But Blair and Tea should have known..." "I don't know, Todd... he's very convincing. There were times, very dark times when he TRULY seemed like you." Looking at Marty, Todd saw the fear lurking in her eyes. He had seen that look before, in the past long ago when he had terrorized her. "He scares you," Todd spoke softly. "Yes... he does. He's full of darkness... like the dark-side of you." "Don't worry, Marty. I'll protect you from him. You're safe now..." Todd promised. She wasn't alone now. Todd was here. And he had promised to keep her demons at bay. How ironic. This man had raped her nearly two decades ago, but now here he stood, vowing to protect her. But for some strange reason, Marty felt oddly safe with him. Somehow, she believed him and knew he was sincere. It was as if all her fears were dissolving now that he was here... "I believe you, Todd... and I will help you..." Marty spoke. "But you have to break me out of here..." Then quietly she added, "And I'm going to want something of you in return." The Doppelganger Ch. 02 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. This story takes place BEFORE Marty attacked and killed her psychiatrist, stabbed Kelly, and pushed Natalie from the roof at Angel Square. In this story, those events will not happen. This is my take on the two-Todds story including Marty and with an eerie or supernatural twist. Hope you enjoy the story... ~*o*~ "Alright, Marty," Todd spoke in agreeance. "Let's get you out of this place..." "And how do you propose to do that?" Marty asked. "I have my ways," Todd said with a slight chuckle. "Sit tight... I'll be right back..." Marty watched as Todd made his way out the window. As soon as he was out of sight, Marty began to feel uneasy. What if he didn't come back? What if he was just an illusion after all? How could ANY of this be real? St. Anne's was a high security facility. How in the world would Todd ever get her out of here? Marty had so many questions to ask him if he ever did come back... Not even a half hour later, there was a soft knock upon Marty's door. "Ummmm... who is it?" Marty asked, her heart pounding in her chest. "It's me, Sister Mary Alice," came a voice. "I'm here to take you to your evening session with your psychiatrist." Sister Mary Alice? Who in the world was that? "Well, alright..." Marty replied, feeling a bit perplexed as she moved toward the door. A moment later, a key turned in the lock, and there stood a tall figure dressed in a nun's habit. Marty couldn't stop herself. She burst into laughter. "Todd?" she murmured, trying to control her soft giggles. "Yes, it's me," Todd replied with a little smirk. "Now let's get the hell out of here." Marty grabbed a duffel bag containing her possessions as Todd motioned for her to join him in the hallway. She just couldn't get over how ridiculous he looked in that nun's habit. "We gotta hurry," Marty said urgently as she gradually got her wits about her. "If anyone sees me, they'll lock me up and throw away the key. I've already escaped St. Anne's once..." "How did you manage that?" Todd asked as they cautiously made their way down the hall and toward the staircase. "It's a long story," she sighed, not wanting to get into it now. "Let's go..." Thankfully it was late evening and most of the nuns had gone to bed. Todd and Marty made their way down to the first floor, only to discover there was a guard standing at the entrance of the building. As they rounded the corner, they were almost seen. Thinking quickly, Todd pulled Marty into a supply closet before anyone saw them. "Shhh... don't say a word," he whispered as Marty was about to protest. Softly he pressed a finger against her lips. Marty's eyes became huge pools of dark blue as she gazed at Todd in the near-darkness. How was Todd going to get them out of this one? And how in the world could she stand TOUCHING him? After a few moments, their close promixity became a bit too much for Marty. She attempted to put some distance between them, but found it to be impossible. They were in such a small space, and any sound or movement they made might alert the guard. "Todd," Marty whispered, feeling uncomfortable. She could feel Todd's warm breath against her cheek along with the constant pounding of his heart against hers. Quietly, she looked away from him, her own heart skipping a beat. "It's alright, Marty," Todd spoke softly. "I'll have us out of here in a moment..." Marty heard footsteps coming closer, then the distinct sound of someone walking briskly down the hall. No doubt the guard. Once again, her eyes widened, seeing Todd withdraw a gun from within the dark nun's habit he had donned. "Todd? A gun?" she gasped, freaking out at the thought of Todd being forced to use the dangerous weapon. The nuns had been good to her here; she couldn't possibly live with the thought of anyone getting shot. "Come on, Marty... now's our chance," Todd insisted, opening the door and tugging her along behind him. There was no one in sight as the two of them made their way hastily down the hallway and toward the front door of the mental institution. A few moments later, Todd was disarming the security code so the door would release without sounding the alarm. "Todd, hurry!" Marty gasped, seeing the guard in the distance, making his way down the long narrow hall they had just vacated. Without a moment to spare, Todd managed to disarm the security system and the door came abruptly open. For the first time in months, Marty was free. She stood outside a moment, inhaling the fresh air and the cooling breeze as it played upon her skin. A slight smile came to her face as she cherished her freedom. Todd, seeming mesmorized with the sweet look upon her face, came to his senses to grab her arm and pull her along toward the car he had waiting in the distance. It was an old cluncker he had hot-wired at the Minute-Man Motel, but at least it had gotten him to his destination. "So, how do you like my wheels, Marty?" Todd asked teasingly as he was starting the engine. "I won't ask," Marty quipped as the car started up and Todd was speeding out of the parking lot. She had so many questions, but before she could ask them, they had to get safely away from St. Anne's. She didn't want to go back there... not now... and not ever. As they were driving back toward Llanview, Todd glanced over at Marty sitting in the passenger's seat. "We have a lot ot talk about," he said to her as though he could read her mind. "Yes, we do..." Marty agreed as she looked at the man beside her, still in awe that he was here... and that this was really Todd. It was a lot to take in, and her fragile mind was still trying to process it all. "We have all night," Todd breathed as they neared the Llanview city limits sign and a moment later they had pulled up at the Minute Man Motel. Marty began to wonder... what were they doing here? "Home sweet home," said Todd as he and Marty left the car, and he unlocked the door to the room where he had been staying. A moment later, they stepped inside the scantily furnished motel room. Marty lay her duffel bag down on the small desk next to the beat-up loveseat as Todd removed the disguise he had been wearing, tossed it aside, and sank down on the bed. "You're safe here, Marty," he murmured, running his fingers through his hair absently, so glad it had gone off without a hitch and no one had been injured during Marty's escape. Marty took a seat on the loveseat, gazing over at Todd. "We need to talk," she said softly, honestly having no clue where to begin. Todd glanced over at her, trying to relax against the very uncomfortable, lumpy bed. "Alright, Marty, you're good at that. I'll let you start..." "First of all, where have you been these past eight years?" she questioned. "What happened to you?" "Mitch Williams was threatening Blair and my kids... and I went to straighten him out. He and his thugs beat me to a bloody pulp, locking me in my dead father, Victor Lord's tomb," Todd explained. "I honestly don't remember much after that." "Only that it was dark in there, very cold, and I was bleeding..." Todd replied. "I thought I was dying..." "...Maybe I did." "Well, obviously you didn't, Todd, because you are here now... and you are talking to me. What happened after that?" Marty asked. "I haven't the slightest clue. My next memory was waking up... and it was eight years later," Todd answered. "And I had no idea at the moment who I was, what had happened... and the strangest thing was that there was this guy standing over me..." "His name is Agent Baker, and he's a bastard. He used electric shock on me. Nearly fried my brain, but eventually the memories began to resurface..." "I remembered Blair, I remembered Starr ... Tea, Jack, and Vicki..." Todd spoke. "And... I remembered you." Their eyes met as Todd continued. "I knew I had to get out of that place, away from that psycho Baker. He kept saying, 'You know where it is... and you must give it to me. We've waited eight long years for you to wake up and tell us where IT is.' And he kept insisting I give him IT, whatever it is. But I had absolutely no clue what the guy was talking about, so he kept shocking me, sending bolts of electricity through my body. Later, when I told him I had no idea what IT was, he became angry, saying if I didn't tell him what he wanted to know, he had no use for me now and he wanted me dead. That's when I knew I had to get out of that place. I had to get free..." "I had to get back here... back to my family... to Llanview..." "To you," he almost said, but he stopped himself before the words burst out. After a moment, Todd then went on to say. "So, I escaped." "It was that easy? You just got up, and you walked out?" Marty questioned. "No, Marty, it wasn't that easy...not at all," Todd responded, not wanting to go into the details of his escape, at least not now. "Anyway, I came back to Llanview only to discover that someone else has been impersonating me for the past eight years, and he's living my life. He has Tea, my ex-wife in his bed, my kids think he's me, and he has his hands all over my fortune. I've been lurking around, finding out what I can, but it hasn't been easy, because one of Agent Baker's little friends followed me here to Llanview. He showed up in Dorian's backyard carrying a gun and nearly shot a little boy I had befriended. The guy's name was Agent Kent, but he's dead now," Todd went on to explain. "I had to kill him, Marty. He nearly hurt Sam..." "Sam?" Marty gasped, speaking of Blair's adopted son. "Are you sure he's alright?" "Yeah, he's fine... Cute kid," Todd said, smiling fondly when he thought of his little friend. "Whose kid is he anyway?" Todd was confused because the child had said Starr was his sister. Obviously, since Sam was just now turning seven, he couldn't possibly be the boy's father. "He's.. He's the son of the imposter Todd, I suppose, his son with Margaret Cochren," answered Marty. "Blair adopted him." Todd appeared almost relieved. "Well, at least I don't have any kids I don't know about," he said with a slight chuckle. "Wait a minute, Todd..." Marty started, not knowing quite how to tell him this. How would she tell him about Dani? "What, Marty?" Todd asked, looking over at her sharply. "I have another kid?" he suddenly demanded. "After the imposter Todd took me to into his home and coerced me into bed with him, Tea came to town to represent him when we went to court. And not long after, her teenage daughter came to Llanview. Her name is Dani," Marty explained. "She's just a year younger than Jack and according to Tea, she was conceived on a desert island..." "Wait... wait! Hold it... now wait a minute!" Todd exclaimed. "Tea? The island?" "Dani's my daughter?" he gasped, remembering that in all these weeks of snooping he had been wondering exactly who this Dani might be. "Yes," Marty answered, knowing it had to be a big shock to Todd, finding out he had a teenage daughter he had never known about. "No way," said Todd. "Why in the hell did Tea never tell me this?" "I guess at first she thought Danielle belonged to Ross Rayburn..." "So now I have three kids," said Todd as it all began sinking in. But then to Marty's surprise and shock, he reached for the photograph he had been holding onto, withdrawing it from his pocket and giving it over to Marty. "So, who is this?" he asked, referring to the picture of Hope. Marty hesitated. How could she ever tell him this? How would Todd take the news? "Todd, Starr is not the same little girl she was eight years ago. She's grown up... and she's a mother," Marty said softly. "Hope is... our granddaughter." "Wait.. wait... did I hear you right, Marty?" Todd spoke with confusion. "You just said, OUR granddaughter." "That's right, Todd. My son Cole and your daughter Starr had a baby. Her name is Hope, and she's our granddaughter, yours and mine." Todd looked at the photograph lying in Marty's hand, trying to wrap his mind around that one. Starr had given birth to a baby. He was a grandfather. And Marty and Patrick Thornhart's son, Cole was the father of his daughter's baby. After a moment Todd met Marty's gaze and he said very softly, "She's beautiful." "Yes, she is," Marty said in agreeance as she just couldn't believe he had taken this news so well. "Are you okay with this, Todd? You aren't mad?" "No, of course I'm not mad. I have a granddaughter. Starr's a mommy," said Todd. "Why would I be mad?" "Well because the imposter Todd was furious. He tried to kill Cole..." answered Marty. "It's been a mess... all of it, but right now my son is in prison. Not because of imposter Todd though. It's a very long story," she said with a heavy sigh. "Starr and Cole were in love, right? Why would the man impersonating me try to kill him?" Todd asked. "I dunno, he said he had to protect Starr, and he hated Cole. He found them in bed together, and he lost it..." "There's more, Todd... I just don't know how to tell you..." Marty spoke, her voice quivering. "You have to tell me, Marty. We have to make some sense of this. I gotta get my life back. Please, help me," Todd nearly pleaded. "Alright... I'll try, but it isn't going to be easy for me..." Marty relented as she struggled to push the painful words past her lips. She was trembling as she looked over at Todd, trying her best to explain the complicated life she had led since her return to Llanview. "Todd, I have lost everything..." she said sadly. "I lost Patrick. I lost Cole... and ..." "It all started when I was in that accident and I lost my memory. I told you how the imposter Todd took me back to his place, he nursed me back to health, and I fell in love with him..." Marty began to explain. "We were planning to be married... and he told me his teenage daughter was expecting a child..." "When he told me about the baby, my heart lept. I wanted that baby to be ours so very much. And he had said that his daughter was planning to give the infant up for adoption, and that the two of us could adopt the baby when it was born. I had no reason not to believe him. I was sooo in love with him... but unfortunately, I had fallen in love with an illusion. I should have known that something was wrong... because I started having these horrific nightmares..." "About that night, about the Spring Fling," Marty spoke. "Eventually, some memories surfaced, and I knew I had been raped. But even so, he didn't say a word. He kept me with him, making me fall deeper in love with him, spinning tales about our life together and the baby we were about to adopt, and I was happy. Blissfully happy. Then came the day when it all came crashing down..." "John McBain came, telling me the truth, although I didn't want to believe it. John said that the man I had fallen in love with was in fact Todd Manning, the man who had raped me all those years ago, and although my memory was skewed, I hated myself for letting him do that to me, for making me fall in love with him... for lying to me all those months... and coercing me into his bed," Marty said softly. "And I think what hurt most was that there wasn't going to be any baby. The infant he had told me we were to adopt was in fact my own granddaughter, Cole's little girl. And imposter Todd had planned to steal her upon the day of her birth..." "So, that night at the hospital after I had discovered the truth, I took these pills, so there would be no chance of me conceiving his child. I was furious with him and I wanted there to be no possible way a child could be born of such a union." Todd didn't say anything, just looked at Marty with horror as she told him all she had been through. It seemed the Imposter Todd had wrecked havoc upon the lives of all the people he cared about with his lies and destruction. "I was a mess after that happened... because despite everything, I was still in love with him. We went through the trial, and Tea came to town. He got off scott-free. And through all of it, he claimed to LOVE me. So, on New Year's Eve night, I lured him to the top of Palace Hotel and told him how he had hurt me... and I-I presuaded him to jump off the roof and into the icy river. " "And I felt absolutely nothing as I watched him fall..." Marty spoke as another shudder moved through her. "I know that night, I was losing it then. My anger and my resentment toward him was controlling me. And from that point on, my mind began to snap... and I probably would have done something awful." "I take it he survived the fall," Todd said softly, stating the obvious. "Yes, unfortunately he did, and not long after, I got my memory back, and John and I found out we were having a child..." Marty said as her voice trailed off. Todd looked at her, not missing the tears shining bright within her eyes. Suddenly then, more painful memories spilled out. She told Todd about Hannah pushing her down the stairs at the hospital, and the loss of her unborn child. "I think after that, I totally lost it... I had lost the baby, and not long after, I had lost John, too, when he went back to his ex Natalie. It was just like before, when I had lost Imposter Todd and the child he and I were going to adopt. And then Cole got sent to prison for stabbing Hannah," Marty went on to explain. "I had a breakdown and ended up in the mental ward of St. Anne's. I had kidnapped John and Natalie's infant son, Liam, thinking he was my own baby with John. So there you have it, Todd... I have been in there for months, trying to make some sense of my complicated and mess-up life..." "I've lost so much. I lost Patrick, I lost John... I lost Cole... I- I lost my baby I was having with John," Marty spoke. "I even lost Imposter Todd and the child he claimed he and I were going to adopt..." "I have lost everything, and ohhh God, I- I even lost you..." Todd shook his head in denial. "No, you haven't, Marty," he insisted. "I'm right here, and you'll never lose me." "You're stuck with me," he said with a slightly sarcastic chuckle. "We need each other... and we always have. We were born under the same star, remember?" Looking at Todd, Marty didn't say something for a few moments, as though she were struggling with her own inner demons. "Todd, there's something I have to tell you..." Marty finally spoke, the breath trapped in her chest. Her eyes were luminous with unshed tears, and Todd could sense she had some sort of huge confession she'd been hiding for God knows how long. He wasn't sure if he could take it. "What is it, Marty?" he quietly asked. "Years ago, something happened... right after the Spring Fling. I was sick; I thought it was my Lupus, but it wasn't. You were in prison then... and I was alone..." Marty drew in a ragged breath. "I went to Larry... and I discovered I was pregnant. At first, I thought it was a result of that awful night... but Larry did an ultrasound and come to find out, I was too far along. It wasn't from the Spring Fling, the baby was conceived earlier." "The baby was yours, Todd. I was pregnant with your baby..." "I was so scared. I didn't want to raise a child all on my own... and after what had happened, I almost... well, I almost didn't go through with the pregnancy. But then... I came to love the child... and I wanted our baby. And after awhile, I was actually happy... because I had already lost so much, my parents, my best friend Megan, Luna... you..." The Doppelganger Ch. 02 "Damnit, I was in love with you back then... hopelessly in love, but you and your frat buddies raped me! YOU, the man I loved, raped me!" Marty cried out as the pain and anger came lashing out. "And not even four months later, I lost our baby! I had lost everything... the baby, you... EVERYTHING!" Todd sat there on the bed, staring at Marty in a state of shock. "You were carrying my baby, and you didn't tell me?" he asked breathlessly. "How could I tell you, Todd? You were in prison, for RAPING me!" she cried out. "Ohhh God!" Todd moaned, running his fingers through his hair aimlessly. He couldn't believe he was hearing this. First Dani... and now a child with Marty he had never known about. Marty had been through so much, and he hated himself for it. The greatest scars on her heart seemed to have come from him. "I'm so sorry, Marty," was all he could say. "Don't be sorry, Todd; it was a long time ago..." she responded. "I have wanted to tell you for so long now... but I couldn't. Sometimes it's just easier to pretend it never happened. But I can't do that anymore. Not after I nearly lost my mind and ended up in St. Anne's. I realize now, that if I am going to get better, I have to face everything and deal with it head-on, so I can finally heal and move on with my life." "I've lost so much, but there's still Hope, our little granddaughter. She's such a sweetie, Todd. And Starr's such a wonderful mommy." "Yes, you do have Hope. And I'm back now; and you and I are going to be here for each other. You aren't alone anymore," Todd promised as he longed to take Marty into his arms and comfort her. He longed to take away the pain she had been through and make her smile again... if only he could. "You have to realize, I have lost a lot, too. Eight years of my life. And my kids. Jack barely knows me... and Dani does not know me at all. I need to get my family back... I need to get my LIFE back..." "We have to find out why this imposter has overtaken my life..." Todd spoke. "We will, and I intend to help you..." Marty responded. "I promise I will." "For a price," Todd reminded. "Marty, what exactly did you mean when you said you wanted something from me in return?" The Doppelganger Ch. 03 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. This story takes place BEFORE Marty attacked and killed her psychiatrist, stabbed Kelly, and pushed Natalie from the roof at Angel Square. In this story, those events will not happen. This is my take on the two-Todds story including Marty and with an eerie or supernatural twist. Hope you enjoy the story... ~*o*~ Marty shook her head, her eyes meeting Todd's gaze. "No, I've had enough talk for tonight. It's after three AM, and all I can think about right now is sleep. We have to get your life back, Todd, and when we do, then we'll discuss what I'd like in return." Todd knew Marty to be very stubborn at times, so he was certain it was useless to badger her if she was refusing to talk. He sighed deeply as he knew they had discussed a great deal tonight and they were both mentally and physically exhaused and in dire need of rest. "Whatever, Marty. I guess we'll talk about it later," Todd said in an almost-growl. He picked up a pillow from the bed and grabbed the spare blanket at the end of the bed. He then stood, walking over to the loveseat. He grumbled, "Get off my bed." Marty stood up quickly, knowing it would do no good to argue with him over which one of them got the bed. It seemed that Todd was quite determined that he was sleeping on the loveseat, so she'd let him have it. She went quietly into the adjoining bathroom to dress for bed, wondering how she would ever survive living in this motel room with Todd in such close quarters. After Marty had slipped into her long white nightgown, she made her way back into the bedroom where Todd had settled down on the very small, uncomfortable loveseat. She glanced over at him as she made her way to the bed. As she crawled beneath the sheets, she heard Todd say, "You know, Marty, despite everything, I'm glad you're here. Thank you for helping me..." She looked over at Todd in the almost-darkness. "I'm glad I'm here, too." "And I'm glad you're back," she quietly admitted. He half-raised an eyebrow, returning her gaze. Marty was glad he was back? He thought he would never hear those words coming from her lips. "Try to get some sleep," he encouraged. "Alright," Marty replied, knowing that wouldn't be too difficult. At this point she could barely keep her eyes open. Sleep would be a blessing after her great escape and all she and Todd had discussed. Long after she had drifted to sleep, Todd lay awake, gazing at her in the near-distance, his thoughts overtaken with their earlier conversation. Her words kept echoing in his head. Marty had said that she had been in love with him all those years ago. It would seem that they had been so caught up in their heated animosity for so very long that perhaps they had forgotten what it had been that had brought them together initially before that one fateful night. As he lay there looking at Marty, Todd knew he would do anything this for woman. He had hurt her beyond what was forgiveable, yet never once had he told her that he too had been in love. He had been a jerk and a fool. He had possessed something powerful and so precious, but he had crushed it carelessly in his hands as though it had meant nothing to him. In that one horrible moment, he had destroyed so much, and he had been paying for it ever since. Todd knew nothing would ever make up for that dark and violent act, but now he'd give Marty whatever it was her heart desired. He vowed he would keep her safe and fight all her demons. Although it was too late for him to have what it was he needed above all else, he would see to it until his dying day that Marty would be granted happiness. ~*The Next Morning*~ Todd 2 sat at his desk at The Sun, scowling at the current edition of the paper which was about to be published. He grumbed as he was ravenous, and he had sent Jack out to get them breakfast over an hour ago, but the teenager had yet to return. "Where the hell are you, Jack? I'm starving!" he snapped, slapping his hand down on his desk. He then put in a call to Vimal in the other room, asking where Jack had gone and then cursed at him because he was dissatisfied with the front page of the paper. "I'm sorry, Mr. Manning. There just isn't enough material. I couldn't come up with any gore, violence, or the usual horrorific stuff you like to print..." Vimal apologized. "Dammit, Vimal, I don't pay you to bring me this-this... GARBAGE!" Todd 2 snarled. "Now find me some sort of scandal, an axe murder or something GOOD to write about!" "Alright, Mr. Manning... Alright," Vimal promised soothingly. "I'll see what I can find." Todd 2 slammed the phone down, spouting a mouthful of obscentities as he looked up, seeing Jack stroll into the office. "Where is my breakfast?" yelled Todd 2. "Sorry, Dad, I got side-tracked," replied Jack as he set a styrofoam tray of food down upon his father's desk. "What's this crap?" sneered Todd 2, looking into the food tray and seeing cold toast and a mound of greasy eggs. "Dammit, Jack, this food is COLD! Can't you do anything right?" Jack didn't say anything as he stood there flabbergasted as he had really tried to get his dad breakfast as he had been commanded. "I'm sorry, Dad..." he said again. Lately his dad seemed angry all the time. He was always yelling and going off on somebody. Jack was often afraid of his dad and now was no exception. "Dad, I just wanna show you something... why I got distracted..." Jack said softly, walking closer to where Todd 2 was seated. "What is it?" Todd 2 growled, making Jack jump. The teenager looked like he might come out of his skin. Jack reached out slowly, placing a newspaper into his dad's hands. It was the today's edition of The Banner. "What the hell?" Todd 2 gasped, as he quickly read the headline. 'Marty Saybrooke Escapes from St. Anne's... Again.' "I knew you would be mad. It looks like The Banner got to the story before we did," Jack said as he plopped down in a chair in his father's office. "I think you should fire Vimal." Todd 2 looked up, glaring at Jack. "Get the fuck out of my office!" he growled. "Did you hear me?" he yelled when the teen just sat there, looking at him. "I said GET OUT!" "Alright, Dad. Okay... sheeesh..." Jack said, getting up and quickly leaving. His dad was really losing it lately. It would seem that Jack could do nothing right in his father's eyes. Jack scurried out of the office, disappearing down the hallway. He couldn't leave the building as his dad might call him back on a whim. If he went too far, his dad would be furious. "I hate my life," Jack was thinking. ~*o*~ John and Natalie were looking at The Banner too in John's office, reading the front page which told of Marty's escape from St. Anne's. "She's out there somewhere, John. What if she tries to take Liam again?" Natalie worried. "Brody won't let anything happen to Liam," John sighed, knowing that both Brody and Natalie had been greatly traumatized by Marty abducting their baby. "I'm calling St. Anne's. I want to know how Marty got out. After her last escape, I thought they had increased her security. I have no clue how she got out again." After calling St. Anne's John had more answers than questions. "Someone helped Marty escape last night..." he said with a heavy sigh. "Now the question is, who would want to help her get out of the mental hospital?" Natalie looked back at John, clueless. "I honestly have no idea." "St. Anne's is having the surveillance tapes sent over to me, so I can try to identify the man," John told Natalie. "Don't worry. Liam is safe... and we'll find Marty and whoever this idiot is that broke her out." A few minutes later, the surveilance tapes were brought to the police station. With Natalie by his side, John began watching the tapes. He fast-forwarded the footage to moments before Marty's escape. A man was seen entering St. Anne's. "There!" John said, pointing to the image of the man on the screen. "Ohhh my God!" Natalie gasped as John paused the tape so they could get a good look at the man. "It can't be!" "Who is that, Natalie?" John asked urgently. "He... He looks like my Uncle Todd..." Natalie said as though in shock. "...Before he underwent facial reconstruction. How-How can that be?" As they continued watching the remainder of the footage, they saw the man in question walking around the halls of St. Anne's as though he owned place. Later the man came out of a supply closet wearing a nun's habbit and not long after, he walked right out the door with Marty Saybrooke. "Unbelievable," John muttered after they had finished watching the tape. "What does this mean?" Natalie gasped, still in shock because the man who had helped Marty in her escape looked so much like her Uncle Todd. "I don't know, Natalie, but I am gonna find out. Your Uncle Todd has been keeping secrets. He's hiding something. And I am gonna find out what it is." ~*o*~ Todd had gotten up early as his stomach was growling. He had went to a vending machine and gotten some chocolate donuts and two cups of coffee. He brought breakfast back to the motel room where Marty was still sleeping. She looked like an angel, her long curls cascading over the pillow. "Uhhh... Marty," he spoke, sitting down on the loveseat and clutching the coffee cup in his hand. She stirred a little, muttering something in her sleep. After a moment, she came awake, looking at him. "I thought you were a dream," she said softly as she sat up in bed, looking at him. "No, I'm no dream. It's me in the flesh in blood," he lightly chuckled. "What time is it?" Marty asked, slightly disoriented. "How long have I been sleeping?" "I dunno, it's somewhere after 10:30," he answered with a shrug. "I got us breakfast. Are you hungry?" "10:30?" Marty gasped. "Why did you let me sleep so long?" "I thought you needed your rest. Let's have some breakfast... and talk about what we are going to do; how I'm gonna get my life back..." "Breakfast? Okay... alright," she agreed, reaching for a steaming mug of coffee Todd had extended to her. She took a little drink, finding it bitter, but since she very much needed the caffeine, she could not complain. "Ohhh, and here are some yummy, nutritious chocolate donuts," Todd said with a little grin, giving her the sugary treats wrapped in clear plastic. "Nice," said Marty, as she accepted the food. "So what are you using for money, considering you can't very well access your bank account right now? This motel is crap, but you had to pay for it somehow as well as this food," Marty observed. Todd took a sip of his coffee, then answered Marty's question. "I found money in the wallet of that Agent Kent guy who showed up in Dorian's yard and nearly hurt Sam. There was also a credit card and I've been using that, too," he replied. "It's not like I had any other choice. I had to survive." Marty nodded. "Yeah, but they can trace the credit card back to you, whoever these people are... It's just as matter of time before they find you. How much cash do you have left?" Marty asked, knowing that she hadn't a penny to her name, and like Todd, she couldn't possibly access her back account or go back to her apartment. If she did, they would find her. Todd pulled the leather wallet from his back pocket, withdrawing a handful of bills. It wasn't much, but it would get them by for a few more days. Marty wasn't sure what they would do once the money was gone. "We need to find another place to stay," Todd said. It was just a matter of time before someone traced him to the Minute-Man Motel since he had used Agent Kent's credit card. In desparation, he had even used the man's cell phone to place a couple of calls. Now he didn't just have himself to protect, he had to keep Marty safe, too. "Where can we go? We have to be careful. If someone sees us, I'll be put back in St. Anne's... and I am scared of what could happen to you. What will HE do if he finds out you are roaming around Llanview?" Marty said worriedly. "I think we need someone to help us, Todd. We need to tell someone." "No! I don't trust anyone!" Todd exclaimed. "I've been wandering around Llanview for days now. No one has seen me. I have been listening... spying..." "I've been trying to find out why everyone seems to think that ASSHOLE is me. There's no one we can tell right now. No one we can trust. Right now, Marty, all we have is each other..." "What about Vicki? She could help us, Todd," Marty encouraged. "We need proof first. Some sort of proof that shows that I am me and that he is a fraud," Todd insisted. "We have to break into his- my office. We'll search it from top to bottom and find out what he might be hiding. And while we are there, we'll place a bug in his phone, so when he makes his calls, we can listen in and find out why he's pretending to be me. Maybe we will find out who's in on this with him and why they have stolen my life." "Alright, Todd. We'll do it your way," Marty sighed after she had finished her cup of coffee. "And when the money is gone or when it isn't safe here anymore, we either gotta go to Vicki for help... or find a safer place to stay." "What's the matter, Marty?" Todd asked dryly. "Don't like the cozy accomidations?" "I think rats have better accomidations," she stated, looking around the room in disgust. "The walls are paper-thin and I bet all sorts of low-lifes hang out at this place." "Yeah, only dirt-bags and scum hang out here, so it was the perfect place for me to hide out. Not like I am gonna see anyone I know here, considering it's on the edge of town," Todd replied. "And you're right about the walls being paper-thin. I swear someone was doing a porno in the room next to this one the other night..." Marty shuddered, feeling uneasy at the topic of conversation. Quickly she moved to change the subject. "Okay, so tonight we break into the office at The Sun... but what will we do till then? Surely we'll do something. We can't very well stay in this room all day..." "First we're going to do a little shopping and get the equipment we need to bug that asshole's phone," Todd stated. "Then we'll carefully check in on my kids; making sure everyone is okay. And if it's possible I'd like to see Hope." "We need to be careful, Todd. If he sees you, I really don't know what he will do. If he finds out you are in Llanview, he just might do something rash. Someone could end up hurt." "By now, everyone's probably heard you've escaped St. Anne's. I wonder, what was his reaction to that?" "He probably doesn't like it much. We had a huge argument when he last came to see me..." Placing his coffee cup aside, Todd looked at Marty curiously. "He came to see you at St. Anne's? What did you argue about?" he asked. "Yes, he showed up there to taunt me because Cole had been sent to prison. And I begged him to tell John that Natalie's baby Liam wasn't Brody's child, but John's. We argued for awhile, then he promised me. He swore he'd talk to John and tell him the truth about Liam's paternity; that I had changed the DNA results," Marty spoke with a heavy sigh. "But I know him too well. He hates me... and he hates John and Natalie even more. I know without a doubt he lied." "So now he thinks you are coming back to Llanview to expose him considering he knew Liam's paternity and chose to keep that piece of information quiet?" "Who knows what he thinks," Marty said with a heavy sigh as she got out of bed and sat upon it's edge. "I think he would do anything to make the lives of others miserable." "I hate that scum more and more every minute," Todd said as Marty was reaching for her duffel bag. She needed to get dressed and shower. She really didn't want to stay in this dismal motel room a moment longer. She and Todd had so much to do if he was going to regain his life, his fortune, and his children. "I'll take my shower, then we can get out of here," she said as she made her way over to the bathroom. Todd sat there on the loveseat, staring down at the package of donuts in his hand. He had lived on junkfood from the vending machine for the past few days. He was ready for some real food and hoped that soon, he'd have a better place for himself and Marty to stay. Marty was right; they couldn't stay here much longer. It just wasn't safe. Maybe after they had placed the bug in the imposter's office, they'd finally have some answers. Who was this man who had overtaken his life? And why had he been locked up for all those years? A few minutes later, Marty emerged from the bathroom, fully showered and dressed. For a moment, Todd just stared at her, thinking she looked so incredibly beautiful. He had to mentally shake himself as he had been entranced, amazed that after all these years she still got to him. "Todd?" she said softly, not missing the faraway expression on his face. "Let's go," he said, taking her arm and leading her from the motel. Marty looked dazed as she allowed Todd to lead her away. The Doppelganger Ch. 04 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. This story takes place BEFORE Marty attacked and killed her psychiatrist, stabbed Kelly, and pushed Natalie from the roof at Angel Square. In this story, those events will not happen. This is my take on the two-Todds story including Marty and with an eerie or supernatural twist. Hope you enjoy the story... ~*o*~ As Todd and Marty drove away from Llanview via Todd's "borrowed" car, he couldn't help the questions which bombarded him. Everything Marty had said the night before went rushing through his mind like a blazing inferno and for once in his life he had no choice but to admit to himself that he and Marty had unfinished business. They were two people still tortured by their tragic past and Marty had been right, they did need to face everything and deal with it head-on, so that they could finally heal and move past it. "Marty, we need to talk," said Todd softly, almost hesitantly. Marty glanced over at Todd as though she knew that this was coming. The questions. She had dropped a bomb on him last night. Of course he would have questions. She didn't mind to give him answers, although her heart had been encased in ice for so very long, stiff, silent, and frozen; and with every word that moved past her lips, it had began to thaw, now suseptable to the blinding pain she had kept hidden for almost two decades. "It's okay, Todd. I am ready to talk... I need to talk," she answered, her voice just barely audible. "Tell me about the baby," Todd encouraged, trying to watch the road when all he really wanted to do was hold his gaze on Marty. "The Spring Fling happened on May 9th. And that summer, you had been sentenced to Statesville Prison. Not long after, I started... becoming sick. I had been taking my medication and following the doctor's orders, yet no matter what I did, I couldn't seem to get better. I started losing weight, and I was unable to keep food down, so I went to Larry for some answers. I was sure he'd say it was my Lupus, give me some more medication, and I'd end up perfectly fine ... but that's not what happened. He did some tests... and told me I was pregnant." "Pregnant..." she said with a tiny laugh. "With my messed-up life, that's exactly what I didn't want to be. Immediately I thought it had happened from that horrible night, the night you and your frat buddies tied me to a bed and took turns raping me, and had that been the case, I would have terminated my pregnancy that very day without a second thought." Marty took a deep breath, struggling with the intense emotions which gradually resurfaced as they were forever coupled with those long-ago memories. "But Larry insisted on an ultrasound and come to find out, I was too far along. I had been feeling so sick and preoccupied with the rape for so long, I had no awareness that I was even pregnant. But by then, I was already in the second trimester." "There was no doubt about it, Todd. The baby was yours because there was no one else I had been with during the three months prior to the Spring Fling. I begged Larry to help me. I didn't want anyone to know. I had already been through so much. My health was fragile, and I couldn't deal with the constant stares and whispers should anyone find out I was expecting a child I had conceived with the man - the man who had... raped me," she said softly. "With Larry's help, I managed to keep my pregnancy a secret. I kept to myself most the time, and nobody seemed to question it. I guess everyone thought I was entitled to some isolation, after all I had been through. I thought I was going to get away with it, that no one was going to find out... " Marty said as she struggled to control the anxiety brought on from the raw memories being awakened. "Probably no one would have, but I had an accident... and Megan found me lying at the bottom of the steps..." "When I came to, I was bleeding and in so much pain. Megan was there, holding my hand as they took me away in the ambulance. I just kept crying, 'Please, please let my baby be okay.' I knew it was too soon. I knew that if I gave birth then, there would be no hope... The pain was so intense, so horrible... like nothing I have ever experienced before. When I got to the hospital, I begged Larry, 'Do whatever you have to do, but please... just save my baby.' Larry promised he would do all that he could, but despite all of his efforts, my water had broken and there was no way he could stop the contractions. The baby was coming and I was only 6 months along..." Glancing at Marty as he drove, Todd looked horrified. The pain she went through struck him deep inside like a dagger ripping through his heart. "My God, Marty... the hell you must have gone through..." he spoke. "I should have been there..." "You were in prison, remember?" Marty reminded as she drew in a ragged breath. At that moment when she had gone into premature labor, she had never felt so alone. Her parents were dead, her aunt was in Ireland, and the man she had loved during the time of the baby's conception was now in prison for having raped her. "I had Megan there... and Larry didn't leave my side. It all happened so fast. All I can remember is blinding pain... and fear. I didn't think I'd survive something so entirely awful, but I did. I survived but our baby didn't..." "I barely made it to the hospital and right when I got there, the baby was born. I begged Larry to let me see her... to let me hold her. I knew she wasn't going to make it, and I wanted to tell her good bye. I held her in my arms. She was so tiny and beautiful. I cuddled her and told her I loved her, and then a few moments later, she took her last labored breaths. Sh-she died," Marty said as hot tears stung at her eyes. "I guess after that, I sort of lost it. I just remember sobbing and screaming and begging Larry to do something, anything to make my little girl better... but he couldn't..." "They practically had to pry her from my arms. I didn't want to let her go," Marty said in a soft little whimper. "Megan held me and we both cried. I cried until there were no tears left. And in that moment of clarity, I became frozen. I encased my heart in the thickest ice, because it was the only way I could stop the horrendous agony. My baby, our little girl was gone..." "And I didn't want to think of it. I absolutely refused to discuss it, because I thought that was how I could protect myself. If I could pretend or convince myself it never happened, I could sheild myself of my own sorrow. Now I realize I was wrong. It wasn't until the loss of my baby with John that those memories I had kept frozen for so long came rushing back..." For a moment Todd was speechless, not knowing what to say. His eyes stung with unshed tears, yet he had no clue what he could possibly say or do to comfort Marty. "I'm so sorry, Marty. So sorry," he heard himself speak, thinking those words sounded meaningless and lame. How could an apology now possibly give her any type of solace after the unbelievable suffering she had gone through? Marty brushed away her stinging tears, looking at Todd. She too was at a loss for words. A thousand disjointed memories of that long-ago tragedy assaulted her as she struggled to take control of her raw emotions. "It's okay now..." she finally spoke. "It was a long time ago... and I made it through it, I survived. And today, we have other worries, don't we, Todd?" Todd realized Marty was closing the door on that subject, at least for now. He let out a long, heavy sigh. "That's right we do..." he responded. "Just one more question. What was her name? What name did you give to our little girl?" "Her name was Megan. She's buried beside Larry and Meredith's baby daughter," replied Marty. "Please, Todd. I can't talk about this right now. It's just too painful. And I've held it all inside for so long. Can't we talk about something... anything but this?" "Alright, let's talk about what are plans are for today then," spoke Todd as they pulled up at a hardware store within a small town near Llanview. "We'll go in and get everything we need to bug the phone in my office. Then I suggest we get something decent to eat. We'll have lunch, then head back to Llanview. I want to see my kids, make sure everyone is okay. And I'd like to see Hope as well..." "Todd, we have to be careful. If he catches us... well, if he does, I don't think it's gonna be good," Marty said nervously as they got ready to exit the car. "HE better stay out of my way," Todd said with gritted teeth. "And if he touches you or does anything to harm anyone I love, I will kill him with my bare hands." Marty's eyes widened, hearing Todd's words. She more than anyone knew that Todd would take whatever measures necessary to keep his family safe. She also couldn't help but notice that Todd had put her first in his statement, and she found herself suddenly wondering, *What exactly does that mean?* "Todd, don't do something stupid," Marty warned, flashing him a look of almost-annoyance. Todd said nothing as they went into the hardware store. A few minutes later, he paid for the necessary equipment he'd need to implant an audio surveillance device inside the telephone at The Sun. After they got the shopping out of the way, Todd drove them to a little drive-in restaurant across town. "I'll have a pizza burger, fries and an extra-large chocolate shake," said Todd as he placed his order. "I thought you said we were having REAL food now," Marty said, gazing over at Todd while rolling her eyes. Todd smirked at her. "Order a salad then if you want, Marty. No one's stopping you," he responded. "I'll have a taco salad and a large Ocean water," Marty finally ordered as she did her best to curb the sudden urge to smack Todd. He continued to smirk, gazing at her in the short distance in between the seats of the car. While they waited for their food, they made light conversation as Marty caught him up to speed about everything that had been going on in Llanview during his absense. He was interested in knowing about what had been going on with Jessica, his sister, Vicki, and everyone else he had been separated from for so very long. He had missed so much, and he didn't like it at all. He blamed the imposter as Marty continued to tell him everything he had missed. Why had that man stolen his life? And the thought of that ... that imposter putting his hands on Marty, making love to her, it made Todd want to pulverize the guy. After their lunch, the returned to Llanview, and Todd headed straight over to Dorian's. "Be careful, Todd. All we need is for us to get caught. I'll end up in St. Anne's... and who knows what they'd do if anyone saw you..." Marty warned. After parking the car, they approached the house on foot as memories started flooding back for both of them. "Remember the night you brought me here, and we...?" Todd started as he and Marty hid in the shrubbery out back by the pool. "Shhhh..." Marty said in a whisper, softly pressing a finger to his lips. At that moment, someone opened the sliding doors out back, coming out to the pool. Todd's heart contracted, feeling Marty's touch upon his lips, his skin elecrified at her tender touch. For a second, he forgot all about why they were here, but then they heard voices. "Let's play in the pool!" a little boy's voice called out. Todd looked over through the tangled leaves of the hedge, seeing Sam walk outside with his sisters. "Dani?" Todd said in a soft gasp. "Is that my daughter?" Todd continued to gaze at the teenage girl who was the perfect blend of himself and Tea. Immediately he wanted to go to her and introduce himself as her father and get to know her, but Marty held him back. She had grab him by his arm to keep him from going to his daughters. "Todd, please... don't get us both caught," she implored him. Todd let out a frustrated groan, looking at Marty as he knew she was right. "Okay, we'll just listen," he said softly with reluctance. Sam got into the pool, playing with a giant multi-colored beach ball as his sisters stood near the edge of the water. "What's going on with Dad and Jack?" Dani asked Starr. "I don't know, but it isn't good. I heard them fighting this morning. Dad came to pick up Jack for work, and as usual Jack wasn't ready. Dad yelled at him and called him a 'little pain in the ass,'" Starr explained. "I know Jack has been frustrating... but Dad is out of control. Treating Jack that way isn't going to help the situation." "No kidding," Dani agreed. "Dad yelled at Mom this morning, too. Something's wrong with him, Starr. Sometimes he scares me..." As they listened to Starr and Danielle talking, Marty could hear Todd's breathing increase. Looking into his face, Marty saw a furious storm brewing in his eyes. "Come on, Todd," Marty urged. "We better go now." It was crucial she got him out of here now, before he did something they'd both regret. "But I haven't seen Hope yet," Todd said regretfully as Marty tugged on his elbow as though to drag him away. "I miss her too, Todd, but we gotta stay hidden," Marty reminded. "Please..." Todd looked down into Marty's face, knowing they had been here long enough. "I want to go check on Tea next," he said as they were carefully making their way back to the car without being seen. "Now isn't the time, Todd," Marty insisted as the two them climbed into the car. "You have a tapping device to get ready back in the motel room, remember?" Todd nodded, although he didn't like it. Not one bit. That asshole had overtaken his life... and very soon, he wanted to take everything back. Everything that had once been his, Todd Manning wanted to reclaim.