The Inevitable Discussion (Tad)

[Dix C. Martin]

After they'd finished dinner, curled up in front of a movie, and later gotten the kids tucked in for the night, Dixie was in the bathroom washing off her makeup, and thinking.
Tad had kept on a brave/happy face for Kathy and Nolan at dinner but he hadn't fooled Dixie.
It was clear the David thing had shaken him up, understandably so, and now it was high time her husband got the full story.
The problem was the full story was so bizarre and left field Dixie had a hard time believing it herself. The man had gone from offering her a job to threatening her son in one ugly and way too long conversation.
And on top of that her dealing with the bastard the best way she knew, had scared Kathy out of the house.
The whole day had been so hectic and surreal Dixie was wishing it had just been an awful nightmare. Unfortunately it was a nightmare she caused letting David Hayward in the front door, and now she had to deal with it.
After drying off her face with a towel, Dixie heard Tad come into the bedroom. Looking at her reflection in the mirror she took a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to calm her fried nerves. Before finally she left the bathroom, approached Tad and gave him a shy look.
"So, yeah um. You want to start out with your questions or...should I just, jump in with what I got. Answers, explanations, since the kids are asleep even an uncensored recap? I got it all. I just...want you to hear it so, we can get past it."
Dixie said, the look in her eyes turning pleading.

[teamluv08]

Tad looked over his shoulder at Dixie. “I wanna know everything,” he started, putting his belt in the closet and turning. “Starting with why you let him in this house, knowing what that man is capable of doing. Knowing David is to not be trusted even on a good day,” he said. Hell, was there ever a good day where David was concerned, Tad wondered leaning against the dresser and dropping his head. When he realized how he said what he did he regretted it. “I’m not yelling and I’m not angry with you. I’m really not. I’m just all over the place. Kathy running away like she did and then hearing that SOB is back in town… And knowing he was over here. It’s a lot.”

[Dix C. Martin]

When Tad started reminding her everything she knew, and hated, about David, Dixie sighed knowing she couldn't argue with a word he said.
His admission that he was all over the place hurt her more than any of his ranting though.
Crossing the room she gently stroked his cheek before tilting his face to see her's.
"I know it is. And I'm so sorry for letting it happen. But you've got to know it wasn't what I wanted, at all."
Dixie assured before backing away and sitting cross legged on the foot of the bed.
"When I answered the door and saw Hayward I was completely caught off guard. The last time I saw him was years ago, on that video of his we watched at the Chandler Thanksgiving. Remember?"
She asked, getting a nod.
"Then all this time later he just shows up at our door, greets me with some smart comment about my having nine lives. I heard that and sent Kathy and Nolan straight to the nursery."
Remembering Kathy overheard things though Dixie's stomach knotted, and guiltily she looked up at Tad.
"I had no idea she heard a word I said, Tad. I didn't think our voices carried that much. When she went upstairs I calmly asked Hayward what he was doing here, with no plans of letting him in the house. Only 'cause, I knew slamming the door in his face wouldn't do any good. He'd just keep crawling back until he said what he came to. I just figured sooner I let him explain himself the sooner he'd go away."
She sighed.
"He didn't though. The jerk went so far as to say he still cared about me, and that I'd accept whatever he had to tell me. After that I told him to shove off but he just, came right in the foyer, saying if I didn't hear him out he'd just go and find you. I figured at that point he was making one of us miserable, he didn't need to gloat over upsetting us both."
Dixie reasoned. Even though she knew David had managed to upset Tad anyways. And odds were when she finished her story his feelings would be upset times five.
"Anyways...Hayward, offered me a job."
She said quickly, just wanting to spit it out.
"Didn't get specific but said he'd pay me enough to put our kids and grandkids through college. Like money would win me over! Honestly, it's just more proof he never knew me at all."
She bitterly laughed.
"He thinks that I haven't changed one bit since our affair, thinks I need more than you and the kids and our life together...and worse yet that he could give it to me. He was so arrogant and, egocentric. He acted like he knew me better than I knew myself...it was so..ugh! I told him that all he was to me was a mistake not worth repeating, and he could take his chance of a lifetime and, shove it you know where. Then he made a crack about how many chances I'd given you, and said he deserved another from me. And then he had the nerve to call me a hypocrite for thinking I was better than he was.
God, I just wanted to slap the spit out of him. And almost did, until he went and, dropped another bomb in my lap."

Dixie admitted nervously. Thinking about what happened earlier was making her upset, and if she was this worked up she couldn't imagine how Tad was feeling. Or how he'd feel when she told him what ammo David had on J.R.

[teamluv08]

Already on edge, Tad felt himself tipping over the cliff when Dixie went on to answer his questions about David and his coming by their home. “A job?” He asked, looking at her. “What kind of job? I have to know because, how in Sam hill can anyone without a job of their own offer somebody else one,” he spoke in a disbelieving tone only to hear that he didn’t give her any specifics on the offer. “That snake,” he hissed, looking away and scratching his chin.

Tad was about to make a comment on David having the nerve to call her a hypocrite when she said something in a tone that made him cringe. He looked back over and eyed her closely. “What kind of bomb?” He asked, taking slow steps towards her. He was not aware of what kind of bomb this was but something deep inside of him told him it was packing with some heavy stuff. But what else could you expect from a man like Hayward. What else could you expect from Hayward period?

“Dixie, what kind of bomb?” He asked again when she didn’t look at him nor made an attempt to answer him right off. The pregnant pause only sent his already high blood pressure skyrocketing!

[Dix C. Martin]

Hearing Tad call David a snake, Dixie nodded in agreement. She knew that better than most. Then though he took slow steps towards her asking about the other bomb. And even though he wasn't angry with her, the way he was acting couldn't help but make Dixie nervous. All she could think about was Tad ready to beat David to a pulp in a parking garage the last time he'd messed with their family. Now he was back and up to the same tricks. She just hoped it wouldn't set Tad off, she couldn't handle seeing her husband like that again.
"Tad..."
Meeting his gaze she let out a heavy sigh. Knowing she just had to bite the bullet and tell him before he exploded.
"David tried to blackmail me, with the fact that..Babe and Josh Madden are both alive and a couple now. He said if I didn't, do what he asked he'd make sure J.R learned the truth, in the worst way possible."
Dixie spat, growing more upset as she spoke.
"But I haven't done anything or agreed to anything with Hayward, I swear. After he told me his warped plan I threw a question of my own in his face. Asked him why he was so desperate to get me back working for him that he'd threaten me into it. That at least shut him up. He left quietly, said it was far from over but he'd give me space to prove he was a decent guy.
But even so..seeing him again really unnerved me, Tad. More than I thought it would."
She said, her voice cracking a bit as the long day and rehashing it all began taking it's toll.
"When he confronted me at the casino, after I found out Emma wasn't Kate, he made it clear he hated me as much as I did him. He said horrible things, about the boys, you, me. Said that he wanted me to, feel his pain. Even made it happen when I pushed him and he, pushed me right back."
Reflecting on her lunging at Hayward and him lunging right back at her, she rubbed at her wrists remembering when he grabbed them.
"All his talk about J.R though. When our son was in the hospital Hayward gloated at the thought of him dying. Now he's threatening to tell him about Babe! You know as well as I do that's the last thing J.R needs right now!"
Dixie said, half on the verge of tears.
"God...what the hell was I thinking? Letting him in our house?!"
She scolded, putting her head in her hands and feeling more mad at herself than anything.

[teamluv08]

“Wait… Hold on,” he said still stuck on the part about Babe and Josh being alive and not only that, but they were also a couple. When the hell did that happen? He asked himself. “Josh and Babe are both alive? Meaning they are living and breathing and walking this earth?” He asked, getting a nod from Dixie. Seeing as his best friend, his wife and his sister in law, who were supposed to be dead were back, this shouldn’t have been hard for him to believe. Right? But if that was the case why exactly was he shocked to hear about this? Oh! Because Josh’s heart was supposed to be inside of Kendall!

Still not totally wrapping his head around that, Tad gestured for Dixie to continue talking. Tad could tell she was just as unnerved by all of this as he was and why shouldn’t she be. The man threatened to wreak havoc on her son’s life. No the worse was the man even showing up the way he did. Nobody could ever fully prepare for that kind of visit.

“This is the very last thing our boy needs,” Tad sighed, looking back over at her. “Dixie,” he groaned, taking her hand and moving her to sit on the edge of the bed where he soon kneeled in front of her and held her hands. “Stop it. Stop blaming yourself… David would have found one way or another to cause hell. That’s all he knows how to do… And baby I’m sorry about the way I was acting earlier. You know just hearing about that man just brings back up old memories and then right along with them old feelings of wanting to hurt him,” he explained as best as he could.

Tad kissed her hands before sitting before standing and kissing her forehead. “I need to figure this out. Figure out how to keep that bastard away from JR and AJ. Keep him from the family period.”

[Dix C. Martin]

Drying her eyes before shifting to the edge of the bed, Dixie sighed skeptically when Tad told her to quit blaming herself, but a small smile found it's way to her face when he held her hands.
"I know but..if I hadn't.."
She tried to protest before he started apologizing, and now it was her turn to shake her head sympathetically. Not wanting to hear him feeling guilty, knowing he had every right to how he felt.
"You don't have to apologize. Believe me I understand, I...I feel the same way."
After he kissed her hands, then rose and kissed her forehead, Dixie looked up at Tad, focused on him and on fixing this mess.

"Hey, we both can figure out a way to handle this, and we will. We've dealt with lots thanks to that jerk but, we've beat him at his own game before. We'll just have to have a repeat performance. I don't know, what we can do to keep him away. But even if we can't...at least this time we have one thing in our favor. Even if we can't stop him from, sharing this revelation of his, he's shown us his hand already, we know the deep dark secret. It's just a matter of, when he's gonna play it. Come forward with what he knows."
Dixie reasoned.
"I bet anything when the time comes for him to finally go through with his twisted plot, his ego is gonna get huge. I mean he had a hand in saving Babe, what's to say he won't use that to his own advantage, try and, get some credibility back? If he's arrogant enough he could get careless, slip up and let on about something.
I mean, I know J.R isn't in top form right now but, he knows better than most what David's capable of. If he's trying to pull one over on him or, hold something over his head, our son should be able to sense it. Maybe he can have time to, start to deal with things before they happen. Prepare for him and for A.J. If he does get blindsided though, we're there for him. We can help him. Even if Hayward tries to, drag us down to his level or, make us out to be liars or like we kept this secret, J.R trusts us. If he comes to us with the information or...even suspecting things, we'll be honest. We can break it to him gently, just be there for him, maybe avert a total disaster."
She shrugged.
"But, if it starts hitting the fan...sweetie, if we work together, if we're there for the boys, we'll be okay. We're stronger than Hayward and a whole army of his secrets."
Dixie said knowingly, and leaned back against the bedpillows before motioning for Tad to join her, and took his hand in her's.
"And look, I know I said I don't know how to keep him away for good. I may not even be able to stop him from getting in our front door again. But..there is someplace he won't ever get to again. No matter what he tries."
She said knowingly, bringing Tad's hand to her heart.
"You believe me, right?"

[teamluv08]

Tad nodded when Dixie tried to get it through his skull that they could and that they would get David. And when she spoke about JR and AJ and being there for them, being totally honest, he looked at her with a smile. “You’re right,” he said with a chuckle. “You’re so right.” Even knowing that David would work his tail off to not let anyone beat him as his own game, make things harder, Tad believed they could do it.

Smirking, he eased onto the bed. “When did that happen?” He asked getting a confused look from her. “You! It seems you know all the right things to say. You just have the answer to everything,” he teased, giving her one of his best smiles.

Tad was staring down at their hands when he heard her say something that made even him get emotional. Just a tad bit! Closing his eyes he dropped his head and nodded. “There you go again,” he said, referring to what he teased her about just moments ago. “I know… I know more than I know anything else,” he told her, scooting closer and reaching up to caress her cheek. “And no matter what he does, a past happening or whatever, nothing will change us.” After getting lost in her beautiful eyes he leaned in and pressed his lips against her cheek and then moved to her lips. He gave her a tender kiss before pulling back and whispering. “Ever,” he added.

[Dix C. Martin]

"When did what happen?"
Dixie asked, looking puzzled but her eyes were smiling. Moreso when he complimented her, and she couldn't help but blush at the grin on his face.
Then though he dropped his head and she melted on the spot. For all the jokes Thaddeus Martin could turn into a softie in the blink of an eye. Something that made Dixie love him even more if it was possible.
"Good, I'm glad."
She smiled, leaning slightly into his palm. And nodded at his promise before he sealed it on her with a kiss. First on the cheek but finally his lips met her's, and she kissed him back just as sweet.
Then once he pulled back, her eyes were sparkling, full of love and some lust as well.
"I love you so much, Tad."
Dixie whispered, and cupping his face pulled him into a slow, sweet but more passionate kiss. That she kept going til her head spun. Finally she forced herself to pull back, and to just tell him the only thing on her mind then and there.
"I want to make love with you...."

[teamluv08]

Staring into a pair of eyes that matched his own, love and lust filled, Tad felt something in the room change. The tension and anger that was there before was gone and in its place was a sexual, needing and wanting charge. And when she told him how much she loved him Tad knew they were about to cross over into a territory they hadn’t been to in a long time. It’d been so long since they took this step and now more than ever he was ready. Ready to be with her and ready to be with her in every way. He was actually ready a long time before this, but he had a lot of making to do to her and there were still things between them that had been worked out. He refrained from his need and want because he knew one move into something that their marriage wasn’t quite ready for would have messed everything up. And he didn’t want that.

Tad gave his wife a devious smile before moving to cover her with his body and nipping gently at her lips. He wanted to kiss her and he knew when she moved to fully kiss him she desperately wanted the same, but he wasn’t going to give it to her. Nope! He wanted to take it slow. He wanted to hear her body’s plea, explore and learn new things about her. He wanted to remind himself of things that use to make her tick.

“I need to make love to you,” he whispered when his lips moved to her ear. He nipped at her earlobe as his hands reached down and pulled one of her legs up to rest around his waist. Tad teased her a little longer, until she started gripping his shoulders and it was then he nipped his way back to her lips. “Are you sure you’re ready to do this?” He asked, still teasing her in a way that would drive anybody up the wall. “Tell me.”

[Dix C. Martin]

Seeing Tad give her that sly grin that drove her mad, if she couldn't already read his mind Dixie would know they were after the same thing tonight. She'd been wanting him ever since he surprised her walking in their front door, but knew then if they rushed into reuniting they'd live to regret it.
Now though it was different, it wasn't just want it was need as well. And God help her if she didn't need him even more after he whispered and nipped gently, at her ear.
He knew quite well everything he was up to made her melt, and seemed in the mood to tease her. Some night she'd have to make him pay for that. But, not now..

"Oh..oh Tad.."
Dixie sighed softly. Easing her leg around him, as he kept kissing her she tilted her head back, giving him more access to her neck. Finally though she couldn't take the teasing and took a grasp on his shoulders.
Simply nodding at his question, her hand found it's way to the back of his head and her fingers combed his hair.
"Yes.."
Dixie breathed, a gleam in her eyes that locked with his. And pulling Tad into a fiery kiss she repeated herself under it. In the meantime her hands slid past his shoulders to his shirt that she quickly started unbuttoning.
"Mmm.."
She purred, still kissing him while her hands caressed at his chest, shoulders, any of him she could reach was fair game.

[teamluv08]

Had he been the man he was years ago, the cad, her response and the way she rushed to get him out of his shirt would have made him chuckle. Thaddeus reluctantly pulled back from Dixie’s tantalizing lips and sat back on his haunches. “Sit up,” he growled, sliding his shirt off his shoulders and tossing it across the room. When Dixie came up he raised her shirt up over her head and tossed that as well. Moments later he circled his arm around her waist and gently laid her back down. He went down with her and immediately reconnected their lips. The kiss deepened and the flame between them grew, leaving them both panting for air, but also leading them to let it continue on because neither wanted it to end. Both wanted more.

Tad let the hand he had under her travel up and with a flick of his wrist free her. He groaned when he looked down. “You’re so beautiful,” he groaned, kissing his way down to her chest. “So beautiful.” Just as he was about to feed into the desire even more he heard a whimper. Initially he thought it was Dixie so he continued giving her more. Moments later, another whimper broke through his hazy mind and then he heard something knock against something else. Quickly he pulled back and looked at Dixie. “Did you hear that?”

[Dix C. Martin]

Breathless after Tad broke the kiss, hearing him use that tone of voice a shiver ran down Dixie's spine and she promptly obeyed.
After he got her top off and eased her against the bedpillows, when their lips met she kissed him back just as hungrily. Thinking how many nights she'd been alone in their bed wanting and needing him with her, wondering how she'd managed to exist without him.
Letting his skilled fingers find their way to her back, Dixie gasped just at the look in his eyes. But her's slipped shut as he carried his lips all over her.
Reaching up let her nails dig at the back of his neck, more as his hands and lips kept caressing her, getting her crazier by the second.
"Oh..my dear..."
Dixie sighed, egging Tad on even more.
"Don't stop..please.."
But her eyes fluttered open surprised when he did just the opposite and pulled away.
"W..what?"
She stammered.
"N..no I didn't..."
Dixie stammered, until she did heard whimpering, a knock and then a wail.
"Ma..Dada!!"
"I..Tara?!"

Flustered, she went to cover herself up, as Tad was trying to get himself straight, but handed her her top.
"Thanks."
Tossing it on, she got up and opened the door, only to see her littlest girl outside the door, out of the nursery, red faced and puffy eyed.
"Oh..oh honey.."
Scooping her up Dixie held her close.
"Shhh, it's okay Tinkerbell, I got you..what's wrong?"
"Scary!"
"Oh, sweetie what happened, you have a bad dream?"
Dixie asked, getting a nod before Tara whimpered against her shoulder.
"Daddy?"
"You wanna see your dad, huh?"
"Daddy."
"Okay, okay c'mon, you can see him."
Kissing Tara on the head she carried her over to Tad.
"Someone needed to see her daddy."

[teamluv08]

Old ladies and apple pies, old ladies and apple pies, Tad chanted in his head as Dixie went to check on Tara who was sitting right outside of the door. By the time he pulled himself together Dixie had made it over to him. “Oh, is that right?” He asked still a little out of breath. “Come here, baby girl,” Tad said after clearing his throat and easily scooping his girl from her mother’s arms. Before he moved to sit down he glanced at Dixie and slightly shrugged. He imagined that this night was going to turn out another way, but it seemed like Tara had other ideas.

“Who scared daddy’s little girl? Huh?” He asked, running his hands through her hair and sitting on the edge of the bed.

Tara buried her face into the side of Tad’s neck and continued to whimper and say his name. Tad chuckled and rubbed her back. “It’s okay baby… Nothing’s going to get you now that I’m home. Kay? I promise,” he assured. When his soothing words didn’t seem to calm her, Tad stood up and started dancing around the room with her.

“Daddy,” she whimpered, clutching onto his shirt. “No go.”
Tad looked down at her. “Huh?”
Tara pulled back and pointed to the open door. “No go,” she cried, looking like she was about to go into a full fledge break down.
“Okay, okay, okay...” Tad laid her head back down. “Calm down baby,” he whispered, looking toward Dixie for some kind of help or something.

[Dix C. Martin]

Catching Tad's shrug all Dixie could do was shrug right back and shake her head, smiling softly in disbelief. She hoped that Tad could settle Tara down enough to go to the nursery so he and her could pick up where they left off, but had a sinking feeling it wasn't going to happen.
Approaching them after Tad dancing with her didn't do the trick, Dixie looked on concerned. Wondering what had their little girl so upset.
Rubbing Tara's back as Tad held her, Dixie frowned nervously. Reaching to feel her forehead she wasn't hot, just a little sweated up probably from her nightmare.
"Shhh, it's okay sweet girl. Daddy's right here. I'm gonna get her a little water.."
Grabbing a sippy cup from the diaper bag in the corner, Dixie filled it in the bathroom sink and brought it back over. And once Tara looked up and eyed it she grabbed hold and started chugging it.
"Yeah...feel a little better, huh?"
She asked, as Tara sat up a little and gave her a shy nod.
"I thought so.."
Dixie smiled, and joined Tad after he sat back down on the bed still holding her. Rubbing Tara's back they both cooed at her and after awhile finally seemed to relax. Until she squirmed away from her parents towards the pillows.
"Hey...where you think you're going?"
She asked, getting a giggle and playful, far from sleepy, eyes from her daughter.
"Stay here!"
Tara giggled excitedly, hitting the bedspread for emphasis.
"Stay here?"
Dixie repeated, raising a brow.
"Well what about the nursery?"
She asked, getting a stubborn shake of the head.
"No!"
"Tinkerbell.."
"No!"
Tara refused, and when she got a look from Dixie she pouted and turned straight to Tad, mimicking her mother and her sister when they wanted something.