AN:

I do not own a thing!

Things happen

Chapter eighteen

~Things happen~

November 5th

Forrester Jet

Steffy Forrester stretches her legs as the pilot announces that they'd be landing in Miami in just a few minutes. She walks over to the bed and wakes Michala up from her nap, as they'd all need to be seated for the landing.

At twenty-four weeks, it was the best time for Michala to take this trip with all of the women she had started to consider to be her friends, her energy wasn't at its highest, but it wasn't at its lowest either and she knew that it would only get worse in the months to come. She had also been included in the Caroline´s measurements scheme that her future sister in law and current best friend was orchestrating at the moment.

Aly and Hope were oblivious of anything other than the fact that they were going on a trip and they were celebrating Michala´s engagement, pregnancy and future wedding. Bridget had an inkling that something was going to be happening soon, but not exactly what.

Steffy gives a small smile as she thinks about what's happening in LA and New York at the moment. Rick had taken a commercial flight to go and see Karen and Danielle about asking their daughter to marry him and he should be asking the question right about this minute and there should be a text coming through to Steffy´s phone any minute now.

As the plane touches down on solid ground again, Aly releases the seat she's sitting on and breathe a sigh of relief.

"See, it wasn't that bad was it?" Bridget looks over at her niece from the other side of the aisle.

Hope on the other hand can feel Aly shaking. "You're alright!"

"So, should we get going to the hotel?" Steffy says as she rises from the seat and then helps Michala up from hers. "Do you want to rest for a bit?"

Michala nods her head.

"I know you had plans to go to that underwear store, but do you think I could stay behind with Michala? I think I'm still a bit shaken up and need some time to calm down." Aly wonders.

Bridget, Hope, Steffy and Caroline look at each other before Steffy answers her cousin. "Yeah, if that's what you want, I won't force you to come with us! There's so much else we'll be doing during this trip."

Aly gives a big smile her cousins way. "Thank you!"

As the women get off the plane, they see a man waving a sign with Steffy´s name on it and Steffy frowns. "Wasn't this supposed to be in Michala´s honor, why is the sign in my name?"

She turns and looks at Bridget, who just shakes her head and Steffy nods her head. "Mystery continues."

Steffy turns around to gather up the bags and Bridget turns around and helps her. Caroline turns around as well, but sees that the bags are already on a cart and so they move towards the man with the sign. Bridget pushes the cart and Steffy walks over and greets the man and introduces the other women.

"Welcome to Miami! My name is Robert Micha and I will be your driver the whole trip, except between ten PM and six AM, which hotel will you be staying at?"

Caroline looks at the papers and tells him. He then turns to Michala. "If you want to, you can sit in the passenger seat of the car, because it's easier to get in and out there than in the back."

Michala gives him a small smile and accepts the offer. "Now, if everyone would like to take a seat in the car, I can get these bags loaded up and then we'll get going as I'm guessing some of you might be a little tired?"

All six of the women nod their heads before getting in the car.

When they arrive at the hotel, both Aly and Michala has fallen asleep, so they decide to put them in the same room until the other four women come back to the hotel.

Bridget and Caroline lead Aly and Michala up to the rooms and get the situated, Steffy and Hope bring up the bags and then the group leaves Aly and Michala behind to go shopping.

~Things happen~

Karen´s office at Spencer Publications New York

There's a knock on her door and her wife peaks through the door when it opens. Karen´s smile reaches her eyes. "Hi! What are you doing here?"

Danielle opens the door wider and then walks inside the office. "Hello! I had a visitor this morning who was hoping to talk to the both of us about something, he wasn't sure if you were home or at the office and figured it would be easier to take me to your office then dragging you home from the office, so here we are."

Rick walks through the door with a nervous expression on his face. He grinds his hands together and then he takes a deep breath. "This is harder than I thought, so I'll just show you." He gives them a little smile and then places the tiny little ring box on Karen´s desk.

Danielle picks it up and looks at the slim rose gold woven band with the small gem stones adorning it, she hands it over to her wife and waits for her reaction before showing her own.

Karen looks inside the jewelry box and then lifts her head up to look at her daughter's boyfriend.

Rick takes a deep breath. "I would like to know if I have your permission to marry your daughter?"

Both women look at each other and have what can only be described as a silent conversation with their eyes.

"We need to make a call as we don't know the entire nature of your relationship!"

"Okay, should I leave the room?"

"Yes please! Thank you for understanding!"

Rick leaves the office and Karen dials one of her nephews.

"Hello?"

"Hi Liam!"

"Hi Karen! How are you doing?"

"I just had a visit from your brother in law and I was wondering how you see his relationship with your cousin?"

"Why are you asking me this?"

"Do you feel like Caroline and Rick´s relationship is strong and steady?"

"I would say so yes, they seem very comfortable with each other and I know that Caroline has been dropping hints that she wants to marry him. Is that what this is about?"

"Maybe, maybe not."

"Okay, I hope everything is alright!"

"Yeah, everything is fine!"

They can hear the smile on Liam´s face. "That's good!"

Karen looks over at her wife and nods her head, Danielle goes to open the door and call Rick back inside.

Karen places her elbows on the desk and looks him right in the eyes. "Yes, you have my permission to marry our daughter!"

"Mine as well!" Danielle says with a smile on her face.

"Thank you! I'll make both of you proud!"

"So, when will you be asking her then?"

"The plan was for the day before Christmas eve, but I don't know if I can wait that long."

"Good luck!"

"Thank you!" He gives them a big smile. "Now, I need to get back to the airport, there is a bachelor party happening soon and I'd like to be there!"

"Really?" Confusion spreads on Karen´s face. "Who's getting married?"

"Thomas and Michala are getting married in January and Derek is going to ask Bridget to marry him soon. Derek has asked Stephanie if she'd accept him marrying Bridget and she said that she would, then he asked me and I said that I would love for him to marry Bridget. I believe Carter and Katherine are on their way towards a wedding as well, although probably not next year. So, there are a bunch of weddings happening next year!"

Karen looks over at Danielle. "Seems like we're going to LA a number of times next year!"

Rick nods his head. "I hope you have a great weekend!"

"Likewise, and have a good flight back and a good time at this bachelor party you were talking about!" Karen says with a smile on her face.

Rick waves his hand and then walks out the door.

~Things happen~

Los Angeles

Ridge Forrester walked into the bakery and headed straight for the counter. The woman behind the counter recognizes him and walks out back and brings a box with her as she comes back out. Ridge smiles and then pays for what's in the box.

"Thank you! Have a nice rest of the week!"

"You're welcome! I hope your wife liked that cake you bought for her last week!"

Ridge smiles. "Oh, she did, I did too!" He winks at her and then waves his hand as he leaves.

As he's standing on the sidewalk, he looks around for his next stop, he finds it and then spends the next two hours doing errands and then he runs into Thorne who had been living in the cliff house for about two weeks now, he had asked his daughter to move in with him again, but she had declined the offer in favor of the guest house she was living in on the Forrester Estate.

"Hi! Are you ready?"

"A little worried about my daughter, but she's in the capable hand of your daughter and our sister, but other than that, I am ready for this celebration. By the way, why haven't we had a celebration to welcome Katie into the family as our sister?"

Ridge thinks this over. "Well, she did just expand her family by two a few months ago and she's probably exhausted. Maybe we should have some sort of welcome to the family at some point. But I think we should let her tell us when she's ready!"

Thorne nods his head. "Yeah, that's probably a good idea."

"Well, we should get going then?"

"Do you know where Rick is by the way? I went by their apartment to find him, but he wasn't there."

Ridge gives one of his mysterious smiles. "I do know where he is, but I'm sworn to secrecy by him and my daughter so I can't tell you!"

"You don't think him and Steffy are having an affair, do you?" Thorne says with concern in his whole being.

Ridge bursts out laughing. "Oh, trust me, there's nothing going on between those two that would translate to an affair."

"But they've been spending so much time together and being secretive about something and I can tell on Caroline that it's starting to affect her. She's not the same as the girl I saw when I was here over Christmas and the New Year."

"Yeah, I've seen that too and what Steffy and Rick are doing is going to affect her even more, but what they're doing is not bad. Trust me!"

Thorne sighs. "I guess there's nothing else I can do right now."

"You'll find out soon enough!"

The two brothers then take their cars and drive over to the Spencer-Forrester-James-house.

~Things happen~

On the other side of town, at Ridge´s children's house, there was chaos. Derek and Wyatt were cooking up a storm, while Thomas and Eric were putting up tables in the Hall of the house, you could say they were rehearsing the reception of Thomas and Michala´s wedding.

Thomas looks up from putting a chair in its rightful place. "You know, when we first started drawing up the plans for this house, I was pretty sure that Steffy was insane for wanting this room and the kitchen behind it. It just didn't make sense."

Eric laughs. "It seems your sister can see into the future."

Thomas nods his head. "You are right about that. I mean, you've seen the landscaping behind the pool, right? It's the perfect house to get married in."

"So, what's going to happen when your baby comes or when Jessica moves in with Wyatt? She seems to be getting fed up with living with her friends as well."

Thomas sighs. "I was planning on getting married to Michala first and then bring up the subject of moving out to my sister, I'm pretty sure Aly would want to move in since living in the guest house at mom and dad´s seems to have her slowly go mad. I'm thinking Wyatt and Jessica might move out sooner than Michala and I."

"So, you're perfectly fine with leaving this house in the hands of your very capable sister?"

"Yeah, this house has always been Steffy´s dreamhouse, Michala and I are only living here to help her out. Wyatt is as well. There was one more reason, but I'm not the one to tell that story."

Eric just smiles as he goes back to putting the chairs out.

Eric had fit right in with the group once Steffy got over the shock of him being there and while Derek and Jessica were building his house, he lived with Steffy and Kelleigh, Wyatt and Michala and Thomas, bunking out in the guestroom/office´s daybed, there had been talk about buying an actual bed, but he wouldn't be staying longer than a few months, so he had rejected that idea.

Liam on the other hand was at home with Kelleigh, Jack and Logan. All three kids would later migrate over to Taylor and Ridge´s place to spend time with Taylor, Katie, Will and the twins, but for now, they were spending time with their father/brother in law/uncle in law.

Things were progressing well on all ends of the spectrum.

~Things happen~

Miami

The car stops in front of Steffy´s most favorite lingerie store in all of Miami and the four women in the car get out and sends Robert out to eat lunch or something telling him to be back in four to five hours.

They watch as he drives off and then turn around and walk through the door. A woman greets them with a big smile of recognition on her face as she sees Steffy standing there.

"Welcome back, Steffy! It's been a while!"

"Thank you, Marielle! I've had my hands full for the last two years." Steffy smiles big at the little redhead in front of them.

"I've heard! Congratulations!"

"Thank you!" Steffy starts looking around. "Should we get started?"

Marielle winks at Steffy to show that she remembers what she's supposed to do. "Let's get started. Who wants to go first?"

"I can just walk around and look by myself since I know the store, but Caroline would probably want some help, Hope and Bridget would probably want some help as well? Bridget might be getting married soon and Caroline is living with a man that's seen all of her lingerie already! You know since most of it is a Forrester Design." Steffy laughs a little at her own joke. "Hope is probably just in need of some new lingerie as well! We have two more women with us, one who is currently pregnant and one I don't think is really in the market for lingerie since she didn't want to come. The one who's pregnant is also getting married in January."

"Sounds good to me!" Both Hope and Bridget agree.

"Well then, should I start with Caroline then and get her situated?" Marielle smiles in Caroline´s direction knowing that today, Caroline is the important one.

Caroline nod her head and then she and Marielle walks over to the changing rooms, Marielle reaches over to find a tape measure. She turns around and winks to Steffy.

Both Bridget and Hope sees this and turns to Steffy with curiosity on their faces. After making sure that Caroline is out of hearing range, Steffy turns towards the two sisters.

"I'm scheming!" She says and then turns to walk over to a display that had caught her eye. Bridget and Hope turns to one another and shake their heads before walking over to Steffy.

"What do you mean?" Hope reaches over towards Steffy´s arm to get Steffy´s attention again.

Steffy turns around and just smiles. "You'll find out sooner or later, just play along and whatever Caroline asks you about in regards to the measuring going on right now, just tell her that Marielle did the same thing with you two!"

At this particular moment Marielle walks out and hands Steffy a piece of paper. Steffy smiles at her. "Thank you!"

This just causes more confusion, which Steffy sees. "Don't worry, you two just do your part when it's your turn and you'll find out later!"

"Does this have anything to do with why you've been spending so much time with Rick lately?" Hope looks Steffy dead in the eyes.

"Yes and no I am not having an affair with Rick, so how about you two just trust me on this!" Steffy can still see the doubt in both their eyes. "Oh, get over yourselves!"

The two can see the change in Steffy´s eyes and know that it's time to let it go.

Caroline walks out wearing a corset with a matching pair of underwear and a pair of thigh highs in a beautiful burgundy color. "That is gorgeous!" Steffy exclaims.

"Do you have that set in another color?" Bridget asks.

"We have it in a dark green with a lighter green trim, a nude version with white trim, a black version and a purple version." Marielle lets them know and winks at Steffy.

"I want to try on the dark green version!" Bridget says. "If you have it in my size!"

"I'll have to measure you to see that, but it'll go fast!" Marielle smiles. "I'm not done with Caroline yet, but I'll get to you in a little bit!"

"Sounds good! Take your time!" Bridget watches as Caroline and Marielle goes back into the changing room and Steffy watches Bridget as the light goes off in her head.

The look on Bridget's face is priceless. She turns her head towards Steffy and sees Steffy nod. She brings her hand up to cover her mouth. Hope watches Bridget walk over to Steffy and whisper something in her ear. Steffy smiles. "Yes!"

Bridget picks herself together and then just goes about the rest of the trip to the lingerie store like her normal self, leaving Hope really confused.

When they leave the store four hours later, at the bottom of Steffy´s bag, there's an additional set of lingerie.

~Things happen~

LA

Ridge and Thorne Forrester walk through the door and look around.

"I'll go help Derek and Wyatt in the kitchen!" Thorne said and grabbed the box from his older brother.

Ridge nods his head. "I'll go help my son and Eric in the Hall."

When he walks through the door to the kitchen, he stumbles upon a massive amount of plates and bowls containing a number of different deliciousness. "Well, I see you've been productive?"

"Yes! We're almost done!" Derek looks up as he hears his girlfriend's older brothers voice.

Wyatt peeks out from the fridge. "Hey Thorne!"

"Hey Wyatt! Where's Jessica today?"

"She's overseeing the placement of the second floor of Eric´s house, it's also why she's not in Miami with the others."

"Well, that's nice, that means that Eric will be moving out, soon right?"

"Yeah, they're expecting to be done by February at the latest!" Wyatt nods his head.

"So, when is Jessica moving in with you?"

"We're taking it slow, spend as much time as we can with each other before taking that step."

"Sounds like a good plan to me!" Thorne looks over at Derek. "Take as much time as you need!"

"How are you feeling about your sister´s boyfriend?" Thorne directs the question towards Derek.

"Isn't it a little early for Maribeth to date? She's what, not even three months old?" Wyatt looks out from the fridge again. "Ah, you weren't talking to me!" He says before laughing.

"Carter Walton must be very special if he could get Kath to change her mind about having children of her own and that means he's more than good enough for my sister, I'm happy they found each other."

"There's a reason for that!" Wyatt laughs from inside the fridge while pushing things around to find what he's looking for.

"What do you mean?" Derek says with a frown.

"Oh please, like you didn't know that their relationship started out as a plan in Steffy´s head? Just like yours with Bridget?" The expression on Derek´s face was priceless and both Thorne and Wyatt start laughing so hard.

Ridge, Thomas and Eric walk through the door to the kitchen at that same moment. "Why are you laughing so hard and why does your face look like that Derek?"

"He... I... What.. I'm.. What?" Derek is so confused so Ridge turns towards the two men who's laughing.

"I may have just exposed your daughters plans in regards to Derek and Bridget as well as Katherine and Carter." Wyatt says causing Ridge and Thomas to start laughing as well. Eric still doesn't know what that's all about.

"Why is that so funny?" Eric asks.

"Had Steffy not been working in PR at Forrester Creations, she would've excelled at having her own match making service." Thorne has calmed himself down enough to answer the question. "If you're not careful, you'll be dating someone within the end of the year!"

Eric goes white at the thinly concealed vague threat. Wyatt´s face takes on a mysterious look and then Thorne looks at him.

"She's already got a plan for him, doesn't she?" Thorne asks his step nephew. "Who is she pairing him with?"

"That is not my secret to say." Wyatt says while looking at Eric who's going even paler.

"Oh, don't worry, if Steffy has set her sights on getting you together with someone, it's more than likely the woman you'll spend the rest of your life with." Thomas says.

Eric turns completely white. "But.. But... But.. But I'm gay?"

Every other jaw except Wyatt´s in the room drops and he just laughs. "It's a good thing she has a man in mind for you then don't you think?" Then the other men in the room starts laughing.

"Steffy´s intuition when it comes to love just knows no bounds." Ridge says with pride in his voice.

"Except when it comes to herself." Thorne says with a sad look on his face.

"Yeah, but hopefully that'll end soon. She's not looking for love right now so she'll end up with a boyfriend soon." Thomas runs his hand down his father´s back, who just nods.

"Yeah, we'll make sure it's a nice fit."

Thomas starts smiling. "Have you heard what happened in the design studio yesterday?"

"No?"

"Apparently Kelleigh got away from her yesterday on the way to make lunch plans with everyone and she toddled her way to the design studio, Caroline looked up when she heard Kelleigh coming and got a good view of a very suspicious moment."

This has the attention of everyone. "So?"

"Well, apparently baby Kelleigh has a crush!" Thomas just laughs. "And her crush seems to be 'crushing' right back!"

Ridge raises his eyebrows. "Huuh?"

"After Kelleigh got to the design studio, she made a bee-line towards Nathan and upon hearing her coming, he bent down to her level and got a big hug, then he picked her up and started showing her what he was working on. Caroline then looked over at the door and saw Steffy standing there watching her daughter and Nathan look over his designs, then she disappeared." Thomas takes a breath. "When Caroline asked Steffy about it at the end of the day, Steffy just said that she knew Kelleigh would be safe with Nathan and as far as Caroline knows, Nathan has never complained about Kelleigh coming to see him. It sounds as if it's happened more than once."

"Those three would make a good-looking family, wouldn't they?" Derek asks.

"They would, but I'm not sure either of them is really looking for a relationship."

"Steffy told me about a conversation she had with Caroline a while back, back when she showed the dress design for Michala´s dress, where Caroline had asked if Nathan couldn't be the one. Steffy said that if that happened, it would happen, but she wasn't going to force it. Seems like Kelleigh has other ideas though!"

"We'll just see what happens then." Ridge says.

~Things happen~

Miami

They came back to the hotel room and put their bags down, Michala still hadn't woken up, but Aly was up and about. She had even ordered room service and was munching away on apple slices and other fruits when they walked through the door.

"Have you had a great shopping trip?" Aly asks.

"We did, very productive." Bridget says with a smile on her face, Aly smiles back and nods her head.

"What is the plan for the rest of the trip then?" Hope asks turning her attention over to Steffy.

"Well, tomorrow is Disney World, the day after is another shopping day, pool day and then the day after that is free to do what you please." Steffy looks at her phone, she still hadn't gotten a text from Rick and was getting worried. "The only day with any real plans is tomorrow."

Hope nods her head.

"Hey Bridget, have you gotten any texts from your brother over the last three hours?" Steffy turns her attention towards Bridget.

"I have actually, I think it is for you though!" Bridget had gone to fetch her phone when Steffy asks.

"Can you forward it to my phone?" Steffy can see the curiosity on Caroline´s face, Bridget can too, but she just nods her head, after the sound indicating that Steffy had gotten a text had been sent through she reads it and smiles before looking up to her aunt. "Thank you!"

"What did it say?" Caroline says with a slight angry tone to her voice, directing it to Bridget.

Bridget looks towards Steffy and sees her nod. "Tuesday, 1600, three days ago."

All women present, except Steffy and Bridget look at each other with confusion on their face. "What does that mean?" Caroline glares at Steffy.

"That is for me to know and you to find out!" Steffy just shrugs her shoulders. "Don't worry. Everything will be fine!"

"No, tell me what happens on Tuesday at 4 PM!" Caroline growls at Steffy.

Steffy just shakes her head and leaves. Caroline runs after and grabs a hold of Steffy. "Tell me!"

"No and you need to let it go!"

Caroline slaps Steffy, who glares at Caroline before leaving again. Caroline turns around and looks back into the room and sees Bridget looking at her before shaking her head. "You really should let it go, she told you everything would be fine and that you'll find out, but not right now and you should trust her, she's done nothing to you that would lead you to believe she'd do anything that would end up causing you harm!"

"But she's keeping secrets from me with my boyfriend, I deserve to know what that is!"

"You'll find out when it's time for you to find out, get over it!"

Bridget then leaves and goes to the room she believes Steffy is currently in. She knocks on the door and tries the handle, it opens so she walks right in, finding Steffy sitting in one of the arm chairs by the window. Steffy turns her head when she hears someone come through the door and smiles.

"I understand the reasoning behind that slap, I can also see why she'd think I'd deserve it, but I know the truth and I know that I didn't, but I'll let it go, she'll regret it enough when it all comes out!" Steffy says in a low voice, trying to keep anyone else from finding out, knowing very well Caroline is probably standing by the door.

Getting frustrated by not getting the answers she wants, Caroline had gone back to the room and taken a seat with Hope and Aly.

Hope gives a big sigh. "You know you can trust Steffy right?"

Caroline is taken back by that question. "I never thought I'd hear you defend Steffy like that!"

"Oh, I didn't either, but I have a feeling the secret she's keeping is a really good one and that it won't lead to you and Rick breaking up!" Hope stands up and leaves the room and Caroline turns towards Aly looking for support.

"You might be my uncle´s girlfriend, but you're wrong about this and Steffy is my cousin. Let it go!"

~Things happen~

Flash forward

December 16th 2014

Los Angeles Music Center

Caroline was sitting in her seat watching her favorite Opera next to her boyfriend, Rick Forrester. There had just been an intermission and the two had taken the opportunity to stretch their legs.

They had walked outside to one of the big stair cases in the building and at the top of the stair case, Rick had placed her so that she could look at the wonderful architecture that was the structure of the building, then when she turned around, he had dropped down on one knee and held out a box with a ring in it. Small tears had started to fall down her face.

"Caroline Spencer, I know you've been under a lot of stress lately and that I haven't done much to elevate any of it, in fact I've probably only piled more on, but, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

And it clicks in Caroline´s head. "Monday, 15:00, two days ago!"

"Really?" The sparkle in his eyes is just too cute to resist, so she nods her head and puts her hands on his cheeks and kisses him.

"Yes, I'll marry you!"

As applause were heard, they turn around and see a whole bunch of family standing there.

"See! I told you, you were wrong about this!" Aly says before going back to watch the ending of the opera.

She looks at her hand and a smile appear on her lips.

End flash forward

~Things happen~

November 5th 2014

Paris

Forrester International

He packs up the rest of his office and then checks his flight plan again, he should be in Los Angeles by Sunday evening at the latest. He realized that booking his flight on a Saturday had been a bad idea, but it just had to be done.

Pictures had been circulating the office of Steffy Forrester´s little girl and he had been so proud of his boss for making the trip back to LA that late in her pregnancy and she had flourished once back home, it seemed as if everything had worked out for her, especially after Brooke Logan had realized her defeat after Steffy´s parents had remarried and left the city.

Two days ago, he had been given the option of coming back to the states to work at the mother company again and he had jumped on it. It would let him work with one of his best friends again and let him be close to the family once again.

While Steffy had been in Paris, he'd been the one who protected and shielded her from the paparazzi´s to help her keep her secret and during this time, they had formed a bond that more resembled siblings than anything else.

It was a surprise, Steffy had no idea he was coming back, but he was sure she'd be happy, but, right now it was time to back up his apartment and send his things back to the US.

As he walks by the mirrors on his way from the office, he sees his own reflection. A pair of golden-brown eyes look at a slightly crocked nose, a pair of full lips and bushy eye brows set perfectly apart and the cause of so many women sighing when they see him, the smile his lips forms is probably the most perfect thing about him, not counting his dimples. Steffy had always teased him about the length of his dark brown locks, but his hair completed his look and when you combine it with his muscular build, strong legs and small hips, he looked like a Greek God.

As he walks away, everyone wishes him good luck and hopes that the plane ride goes well and that he should tell Steffy "Hi!" from all of them and that they miss her. He just smiles and says he will with that deep voice that Steffy called a blend between honey and coffee.

He gets all the way home and in through the door before letting himself cry, because he was going to miss everyone and the city as well, but he also knew that going back to the states was a good thing. He looked like a bad ass, but when you got to know him, he was just a big teddy bear.

It could make you wonder why nothing had happened between him and Steffy, well, their tastes in significant other had one thing in common and that being that their significant other was going to be a man, then add to that that the last time he saw her in person, she had been almost eight months pregnant with another man's baby.

He laughs a little while packing up all of his personal belongings from the apartment and putting them in boxes.

Ridge Forrester had called him and asked if he wanted to fill in for Michala after she goes on maternity leave and he'd accepted without hesitation, they also needed to expand the PR-staff by one and letting him ease into it while Michala was at home with the baby would be a good thing, then when Michala comes back, his job would turn into a 'Until further notice'-position.

~Things happen~

November 10th 2014

Los Angeles

Forrester Creations

PR-department.

Steffy walks through the doors to her work place and is almost scared to death.

"Good morning!" Honey and coffee spilling over her ears and chills of excitement flows down her spine as the fear disappears. "How is everything going?"

She hands her daughter over to Michala and runs over to him to jump into his arms. Kelleigh somehow remembers that voice and stops struggling in her future aunt-in-law´s arms.

"So, I see the introduction went well?" Ridge says from the door.

Michala walks over to Ridge. "Who's that?"

Steffy turns around and the smile on her face beams all over the place.

"This right here is my bestest bestest friend in Paris, Graham Gregory! Also known as GG."

"Oh, I thought you said Gigi, when you talked about him. Makes sense now!" Michala chuckles then she turns back to Ridge. "Hey, could you maybe take your granddaughter for a while. Baby is having a blast with my ribs and having her laying against them as well just caused even more unease. So, I take it this is the person you talked to me about taking over while on maternity leave?"

Ridge just nods his head.

"You're going to work here with me?" Steffy turns towards Graham again and when he nods again, she just throws herself at him and he catches her with ease.

"We haven't done that in a while! I like it!"

Two people had decided to join the group in the PR-department though.

"Who are you?" Liam asks with a tiny hint of jealousy in his voice at the sight of Steffy´s blinding glittery-ish smile and the joy in her eyes.

The other one just gets the wind knocked out of their chest.

~Things happen~

AN:

So, not much about the trip to Miami, or the bachelor party that turned times three there, what with Thomas already having his fiance, Derek almost having his and Rick almost having his as well, but, nothing much happened during any of those events other then what has been read by you and mostly that kind which happens on a girls trip where one girl is pregnant and about to get married and in Los Angeles all that happened was that there was food eaten, cake cut and sleep overs since nobody should drive after drinking alcohol. Steffy´s knack for finding future couples reared its head again and scared the crap out of Eric.

We had an appearance of family friend living in Paris, a proposal and a surprise for Steffy, productive chapter don't you think?