When Todd returned from the "dead" in August 1996, Leah Laiman continued the story of Todd & Blair until February 1997. During this time, Todd kidnapped Starr after seeing Blair on the floor with Patrick Thornhart. When Blair finally confessed to sleeping with Patrick, it looked like Todd & Blair were on their way to being how they were before Ireland. However, Carlo told Blair that Todd was the one who kidnapped Starr and Blair tearfully left Todd. Blair found out she was pregnant with Patrick's baby which devastated Todd. Starr's illness brought Todd & Blair closer.
In April 1997, Claire and Matt Labine took over. Blair & Patrick were in a car accident and their unborn baby died. Todd wanted to get back at Patrick for what he did to Blair and Starr (The baby was a match needed for Starr's bone marrow transplant). Blair went to Philadelphia to recover from her injuries. When Blair found out what Todd had done to get back at Patrick (He blew up Guy Armitage's boat dressed up with a Patrick wig!), she said she wanted a divorce. Blair soon went into a coma. Todd wasn't going to let himself lose Blair and Starr so he paid a woman he didn't love $5 million to marry him so he could get custody of Starr. Todd's plan worked -- he won custody.
Starting in April 1998, Pam Long wrote. Todd let Blair see Starr more. He also hired her back at The Sun. Todd held many Llanview citizens hostage at the Buchanan Lodge. To prevent himself from going to prison for his crime, Todd faked DID. While everyone thought Todd really had the disorder, Blair knew Todd well enough to know that he was faking! After his secret was exposed accidentally by Starr's pink tape, Todd left town in December 1998. Starr and Blair stayed in Llanview.