Chapter 2

Bill POV

Bill loved to look at his beautiful Steffy. He didn't care that she wasn't wearing any make-up or the fact that she looked natural and comfortable. Steffy had to be the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. No other woman compared to his queen. Yes, Steffy would be his, his queen as well as his wife. She'd always belonged to him. Never Liam who'd failed Steffy in every way. It was time for him to make it better.

He was dying to see Kelly, his granddaughter. However, he wouldn't push the issue. He didn't want to cause Steffy anymore stress. She had been through enough. It wasn't his intention to cause her any more pain.

He'd wanted to see her, wanted to see Kelly. He cared deeply about the both of them. Steffy had no idea how much Bill loved them. He accepted that Steffy and Kelly were a package deal. He didn't mind it. To Bill, having Steffy and Kelly under his roof, Steffy's childhood home, was a dream of his. Bill wasn't a complete fool. He knew Steffy was healing emotionally as well as physically.

Bill wasn't a patient man, but for Steffy, he would be. She needed him to be. He wouldn't let her down. His foolish son had done a number on Steffy's self-esteem. Bill no longer recognized the fierce girl from all those many years ago. Being with Liam had taken some of Steffy's edge away. He would rectify that problem in due time. The old Steffy was still in there, buried deep down inside.

For so long Steffy had allowed Liam to call the shots. She'd allowed him to treat her unjustly. Like a speck of dirt wedged at the bottom of his shoe. Liam didn't deserve Steffy. Liam hadn't been good enough for someone of Steffy's magnitude. Being with Liam meant Steffy had to hide certain aspects of herself. Who she was. Steffy had always been a passionate intense person, just like Bill.

Bill and Steffy were so much alike. They were impulsive and went after anything they wanted. No one could stop them. They didn't care about what people thought of their less than stellar personalities. Steffy and Bill made no apologies for the type of people they were. They didn't live by other people's standards. It just wasn't in their nature. Steffy had made the mistake of conforming in order to be with his do-gooder no good flakey son.

But in Steffy's defense, she just didn't fit the mold of Liam's ideal woman. She wasn't Hope. Hope would forever be Liam's ideal woman. Hope the dope couldn't do any wrong in Liam's eyes. The sad truth was that Liam held Hope on a pedestal. Both of which were idiots and hypocrites. Bill wished the happy couple a long life filled with misery. He despised them both for constantly judging Steffy.

Bill followed Steffy into the cliff house, his eyes avidly watching Steffy occupying herself in the kitchen. He spied the bags under her eyes. She wasn't sleeping. She looked tired but happy nonetheless.

Bill was never one for sentiment, but Steffy was his weakness. She'd always been his other half, his missing piece. He did everything and anything for her, all to make her happy. Sadly, he thought manipulating Liam and Hope's relationship along with Steffy to give Steffy Liam had been right. How wrong he'd been. Regretting two things in his life, Bill felt the weight of their impact. Pushing Steffy toward Liam, and then choosing to remain with Katie out of obligation had caused him so much, mainly Steffy's love.

"How's Kelly? She's eating good, gaining weight?" Bill asked with concern as Steffy made some kind of pasta dish. Whatever it was, it smelled delicious. Bill couldn't help salivating, but he wouldn't push himself on Steffy. Steffy had to want him around. He couldn't make her want his company. "What about you, Mama. You sleeping any? You know I don't mind helping you out. In fact, I want to. You know I'm always here for you as well as Kelly".

Steffy did know. She could count on Bill for anything. He'd never let her down. He had her back. He defended her so many times. He never let her feel unworthy. She mattered and Steffy loved that about Bill. She could always count on him to tell her the truth.

"Kelly's good. She's a little angel. She's nursing okay and she's gaining weight," Steffy told Bill, displaying a huge smile as she told him about Kelly. "Aside from losing sleep, I'm perfect. Kelly is my top priority".

Bill understood without a doubt. Steffy chose to put her daughter ahead of her needs. Bill admired that. There were a lot of things he admired about Steffy. He would continue to be her rock. He would be whatever she needed.

"You know, I always loved that about you, Steffy, your commitment, "Bill said before making his way into the kitchen. He had to be near her, but he didn't crowd her space. "You know I'm a tough hard to read type of man, but there are many things I admire about you".

Steffy lost the smile on her lovely pouty lips. Her eyes had dimmed just a little. She was no longer radiating with happiness. Bill had screwed up, almost forgetting that Steffy's wounds were still raw, fresh. He knew the mistake he'd made. Bill had spoken of love, admiration, and commitment. Those three things were seen as the enemy by Steffy. Pretty soon Bill will make her see they weren't.

"Well, Bill, I've changed since then. You can thank Liam for that, Steffy said bitterly as she drained pasta and dumped in the red tomato sauce. "I honestly don't get what you see in me that make you care so much".

Releasing a heavy breath as he tried to reign in his temper, he took a step closer to the woman he loved. Liam had broken her. Bill was confident that he would be able to put her back together again. He placed a large but callous hand on her slender shoulder, adding pressure to ease the tension residing in her body. Steffy seem to relax under his ministrations. It was a good sign. At least she didn't mind his vicinity.

"Steffy, don't let Liam take anymore from you," Bill encouraged fiercely. "Don't allow him to win. You will get over this in time. You have me. Lean on me".

Bill never stopped amazing Steffy. He was loyal, particularly to her. Trusting Bill wasn't a hard sacrifice. Steffy didn't have to give up too much of herself, at least not at the moment.

"You should stay for dinner," Steffy told him subtly, peering back at him. Gasping a little. After all these years, Bill held the title for the most attractive man in Los Angeles, California. "I want you to spend time with Kelly and me".

Bill couldn't hold off his smile. He could certainly work with this. Offering him an olive branch, Steffy was inviting Bill into their lives. He'd take it. At the present moment, he wasn't going to pass up a chance to be with Steffy nor Kelly.