Later in the day…

Stephanie was in her living room when a knock on the door caught her attention. She walked over and answered it, pleased to see it was Taylor.

"Thank you for coming" Stephanie stated as they walked into the living room.

"You know you can call me anytime" Taylor replied seriously.

"I know. I do. I just…I wanted to talk for a few minutes, here, if that is alright" Stephanie said hoping Taylor understood what she was asking of her.

"Professionally, you mean" Taylor asked?

"Yes. If that is alright" Stephanie asked again? She knew Taylor preferred her office.

"It is for you" Taylor reassured her.

Stephanie smiled her thanks.

"What is it that you want to talk about" Taylor asked encouraging her to start?

"Eric…" Stephanie admitted.

"Did something happen…" Taylor asked encouraging her to share?

"I talked to Pammy about Eric and our…problems…with intimacy and she suggested I wear something when I am in…the mood. I remembered you had also suggested this and other things. And, that Eric made me a nightgown because he also thought it could help" Stephanie said hoping her face wasn't red. She found it a bit embarrassing to talk about even if it was Taylor.

"Did you try something" Taylor asked assuming that was what Stephanie was getting at?

"No but I told him that it was suggested that I wear something when I was in the mood. And I told him that I am not rejecting him. That I love him and want to be close to him" Stephanie admitted.

"Stephanie that is wonderful. What made you change your mind" Taylor asked curiously?

"He planned a dinner, and everything was as it was when I was 8 months pregnant for Felicia. He really planned a wonderful night. It was thoughtful. He didn't push me for more and he…he reminded me of how it used to be" Stephanie said smiling as she remembered.

"That is great. So, Eric responded well" Taylor asked?

"Yes…" Stephanie blushed.

"Did you…" Taylor was about to ask but Stephanie stopped her?

"We were not intimate. We talked and kissed, cuddled. Eric asked me to lead and I was not ready for anything else" Stephanie admitted.

"That is intimacy Stephanie" Taylor reminded her.

"Well...yes, I suppose it is" Stephanie replied.

"It isn't only about the act. It is everything that leads to it and after also" Taylor continued to remind her.

"I know you are right. You see Taylor I…I realized that I do not see things like that anymore. I have not in a long time" She admitted.

"Is that what you want to talk about" Taylor asked?

Stephanie nodded her head yes.

Taylor waited for her to continue.

"There are times when I find it hard, uncomfortable to receive and give intimacy. I do think partly it is because of my father abuse but, since the diagnosis it has gotten harder. The surgery and the scars…she sighed…I just do not see myself the way Eric does. I know that it is hurting Eric that I feel this way. He feels rejected and unwanted by me. I tried to reassure him that it is not him. And, I have been thinking and I realize what he has given up…" Stephanie tried to find the words desperately.

"You mean Donna" Taylor asked clearly not happy with that response?

"Yes, Taylor, I mean Donna. I do not nor do I want to understand it, but he does love her. And…she is young and…" Stephanie stopped talking. She looked up and shook her head. She promised herself she would not do this.

"Eric loves you more and he has made his choice. He has chosen you, cancer and all. And, despite the issues of intimacy, he continues to choose you." Taylor reminded her.

"I'm dying Taylor. And he feels guilty. All of the years we fought, and he strayed" Stephanie said finally admitting out loud what she had been thinking for months.

"No Stephanie, that is not why he is with you" Taylor said adamant.

"Maybe not but it is true. He asked Donna for a divorce, but she is fighting him on it and ever since he has been focusing on us getting married again. It is what he wants. He asked me recently. I honestly thought we had already agreed on this when he moved back in, she shook her head. He told me that I clearly do not need or want him because we are not lovers and I do not want to remarry. I tried to reassure him, but it did not work. So, I decided to pay Donna a visit and it seemed that what I had to say got through to her. She signed the divorce papers. Now, I've decided to say yes to his proposal because I can see that I am causing him more heartbreak by saying no" Stephanie admitted.

"You are going to marry him because it is what he wants not what you want" Taylor asked?

"Yes…" Stephanie said as she stood up and began to pace.

"Eric would not want that" Taylor replied as she looked at her best friend in confusion.

"Eric won't know" Stephanie admitted.

"Stephanie…" Taylor stood up.

"I made up my mind Taylor. I am going to marry him, and he will never need to know that I am only doing it for him" Stephanie explained.

"And after Stephanie? You know what he is going to want" Taylor eyed her carefully.

"Yes…and if I can't then I will tell him so" Stephanie reassured her.

"You won't want to, not like this. Not when it is not what you want. Tell him the truth Stephanie…" Taylor pleaded with her.

Before they could continue their discussion, Eric walked in with the entire family.

A few hours later…

"Tell him" Taylor insisted once they had a moment alone.

"Taylor, please…" Stephanie said a bit upset by her persistence.

"Is everything alright" Ridge asked concerned? He knew Taylor and his mother well.

"Everything is fine"' Stephanie lied as she walked over to say good night to the family.

Ridge looked at Taylor knowingly.

"I can't say so don't ask" Taylor warned him.

"Fine…." Ridge gave in.

Taylor sighed as she looked at Stephanie saying goodbye to everyone while Eric hovered over her in a caring way.

"Walk you out" Ridge offered.

"Yes, thank you" She replied as they walked over and said goodbye.

"I love you Taylor please support me on this" Stephanie whispered as they hugged.

Taylor sighed but did not argue.

Ridge walked her out as Stephanie watched.

"He is with Brooke. Do not get any ideas" Eric warned her.

She smiled at him and replied, "I'm past that."

"That makes me very happy to hear that" Eric replied as he took her hand in his.

"Are you sure everything is okay doc" Ridge asked one final time as he walked her to her car?

"Yes…" She lied.

"If something is wrong with mother I need to know" He insisted.

"Nothing is wrong. She is…she seems good" Taylor said honestly.

"She has been tired lately but yes, tonight she is good" He smiled.

"She loves you all, so much" She whispered. Her voice catching with sentiment.

"She loves you too doc" He reminded her as he placed his arm around her and pulled her in close for a hug.

Neither noticed that Brooke was watching them.

"What a long day" Eric said as they lay in bed that night.

"Yes, it really has been" She admitted.

"Is Taylor alright? She seemed distracted tonight" He added.

"Must be work" She deflected.

"I suppose so. It cannot be easy carrying everyone burdens" He replied as he turned on his side to face her.

"I'm sure it isn't" She said feeling guilty for unloading on her this way.

"Stephanie…" He whispered in a low voice.

"What is it Eric" She asked as she turned to face him?

"Why won't you marry me" He asked as he looked into her blue eyes?

"Why do you want to get married" She challenged him?

"I love you" He said simply.

"I love you too. It isn't reason to get married" She replied simply.

"What is" He asked taking her off guard?

"All I'm saying is, love alone cannot make a marriage work. We learned that haven't we" She asked?

"Yes, we have. That is why I want us to get married again. I think we can make it work this time" He said determined.

"We can't change the past Eric" She said looking at him with loving eyes.

"You're right we can't change the past, but we can have a future" He replied lovingly.

"We still can without getting married. I am not going anywhere. I think all of our years together has proven that" She reassured him.

He smiled as he shook his head stating, "you still haven't told me what reason to get married if not love."

"Marriage is…well…" She looked at him.

"It is worth everything…with you" He said his voice catching.

She looked at him lovingly.

"Please let me do this right this time" He whispered.

She closed her eyes and sighed.

"I promise you this is the last time" He said as he continued to try and convince her.

Although Stephanie had already decided that she was going to marry him, something kept her from saying it out loud.

A few days later….

The whole family sat around the living room waiting for the news they had to share. Taylor was the only one who knew what it was. She had wanted to be happy for them but knowing what she knew, it was hard.

"We got married" Eric shared shocking everyone including Taylor. She instantly looked at Stephanie who avoided her eye contact.

"What" Felicia asked shocked? Everyone else thought the same thing.

"It wasn't planned it just sort of happened" Stephanie admitted as she thought of their wedding that Gladys officiated.

"What does that mean" Kristen asked?

"Someone was here that could perform the ceremony, so we did it" Eric replied sheepishly.

"You married mother without any of us present" Ridge said disapprovingly.

Eric and Stephanie looked at one another.

"We're sorry you weren't there" Stephanie said lamely.

"Mother" Thorne said clearly displeased.

Eric and Stephanie looked at one another again.

The look of disappointment on all their faces made her feel guilty although she knew Eric did not feel that way. He had told her so when they celebrated their marriage with martinis prior to the family arriving.

"We really are sorry" Stephanie tried again.

"Stephanie, no. I won't apologize. There was someone here who could perform the ceremony and I asked your mother to do me the honor of becoming my wife again. Of-course she tried to say no and not get married but then she realized, he looked at her, that we belong together" He smiled.

"What he said" Stephanie smiled.

Taylor looked at her sharply.

Stephanie averted her gaze toward Eric.

"We're married and we're happy" Eric said determined.

"Congratulations" Steffy chimed in since everyone else seemed tense.