Steffy hadn't been well-advised to stop by Spencer Publications on her way to the office after a business meeting in town-center. Now here she was having lunch with Bill and knowing she would have to bear with him while he gave her his unrequired and blunt opinion about pretty much everything.

Bill had caught her as she blew into Liam's office to say a quick hello and insisted that she have lunch with him. He wanted to "catch up" according to his own words and had a lot that he wanted to say to her. It was true that they hadn't talked in a while, so Steffy had ended up reluctantly agreeing. At least, that's what she told herself; the reality was that she hadn't had a say in the matter.

Given her current living situation with Liam, which Steffy was sure Bill knew about, she could only imagine what her future father-in-law had to say to her. Something told her she wasn't going to like it.

"Steffy, you look as beautiful as ever. Pregnancy looks good on you." Bill complimented.

She smiled. Bill always had a kind word for her. How could she not be fond of him? "Thank you."

"You're welcome. I'm just stating the truth." He returned her smile. "How are you? How is your pregnancy going?"

"Pretty good. Much better than a couple months ago."

It was true. Over the morning sickness, over the nausea, over the intolerance to certain foods and smells... All of that pregnancy-related unpleasantness was behind Steffy. She was at the good part of her pregnancy, and she was enjoying every bit of it.

She couldn't wait to know if she was expecting a boy or a girl. She was finding out really soon, and it was all she thought about. The same could be said for Liam. Although, he was hoping for a boy and Steffy for a girl, they were both excited to find out which one it was and would be thrilled either way.

"We're finding out the gender of the baby next week." Steffy said.

"I know. Are you as excited as Liam?" Bill asked.

"More."

He laughed.

"I swear to you I can't wait. I'm dying to know." Her appointment couldn't come soon enough.

Bill smiled, remembering how glowing Katie was when she was expecting Will and how excited they both were to welcome this new life into their own. Marrying Katie and knowing her medical history, having a child was something he completely excluded. It was a blessing he thought he'd never have.

Today, not only was he the proud father of two perfect boys, but he was also about to become a grandfather. It was crazy how life could surprise you sometimes.

"Don't you have a minor idea already?"

"Well, I would like to have a girl, but my intuition sort of tells me it might be a boy." Steffy admitted.

"Of course, it's a boy." He said matter-of-factly. Steffy raised a surprised eyebrow at him, and he explained. "It's what we do best in the family."

She laughed. "That's not false." She conceded. "However, maybe it's time to break the cycle, don't you think? You wouldn't want a sweet, pretty granddaughter?" Bill was good with boys for sure. He was mostly used to them, but Steffy was convinced that if she was expecting a girl, the little princess would conquer her grandfather Bill's heart in a snap of fingers.

"Why not? If she's as gorgeous as her mother, I cannot wait to welcome her into the family."

Bill's foolish compliments brought a smile to Steffy's face.

"Yeah, let's hope this baby has more Forrester genes than Spencer's."

Bill narrowed his eyes in a glare. "Watch it."

She giggled. "I'm just kidding. I hope this child looks just like his or her father." She assured him.

"Speaking of whom, what exactly is going on between you and the father of your child?"

"What do you mean?" Steffy asked and took a sip of her glass of water.

"I heard you were taking some time apart…"

"We are." She confirmed.

"Do you think that's smart? Mere months before giving birth to your first child?"

Steffy had explicitly told Liam how little she appreciated him telling Bill all about their private life, which she considered was private. She thought he had heard her. Boy, did he ever!

"As a matter of fact, Bill, yes, I think it's smarter to take a break now rather than after the baby is born. We're not making such a huge commitment as marriage unless we are a hundred and one percent sure of ourselves and our couple." She answered.

"That's what you're doing?" Bill asked. "Taking a break?"

"Isn't that what Liam told you?" Now, she was confused.

He sighed. "Liam didn't tell me much actually." At Steffy's confused expression, he continued, "He was preoccupied and upset, and I asked him about it, but all I managed to get out of him is that you're sleeping apart."

Steffy nodded. Gone away were the golden days. She and Liam were facing a storm at the moment. Only time would tell if they would make it out alive and stronger. "It's true. I moved into one of the guestrooms."

"Why?"

She raised a brow at him. "You have no idea?"

Bill looked at her intensely as though contemplating what to say. Eventually, he advised, "Don't let her come between you."

"I'm not." Steffy said firmly. "I understand why it may seem like I am, but I promise you I am not."

"Well, at least you didn't move out…"

/

"Well, at least she didn't move out."

Liam who didn't miss the implicit reference to Hope forced a small laugh. "Yeah. At least, I still have her around, and I'm not missing anything of her pregnancy."

"I'm sorry, Liam." Taylor said apologetically.

"Thank you. I appreciate it." He acknowledged. "But don't be. I don't get to blame this on anybody but me. I really, I brought this on myself."

Taylor pressed her lips together and nodded imperceptibly, silently agreeing. "You kind of did." She reluctantly told him.

"I acted like an idiot. I completely disregarded Steffy's feelings and I almost lost her."

"But you didn't." She quickly reminded him. "She's still living in that house with you. She still loves you."

"I know. I love her too. And I am going to fix this." Liam said with determination.

His resolve brought a smile to Taylor's face. She was confident that Liam and Steffy's love story wasn't over. She had faith in them. They had been through way too much for this to mark the end. This was just a break, a respite, which –Taylor was sure of it –would only strengthen their love.

"She fought like a lioness for you, you know? She refused to give up, in spite of her father's, her brother's and my advice." She reminded. "Now, it's your turn to fight for my daughter."

Liam leaned forward across the restaurant table and looked at Taylor straight in the eyes. "I have every intention to."

Taylor was right: Steffy had fought very hard to win him back. Why? He still didn't know. For the fact was that she could have any man she wanted. She was the most beautiful, alive person that he had ever met. She walked into a room and eclipsed everything… She made no apologies for being who she was, and she was a hundred percent comfortable with herself. Steffy Forrester was truly one of a kind, and the craziest thing was she was completely unaware of it.

But for some reason, he was the one that she had chosen. He was the one that she wanted. She saw something in him that he didn't see himself. She never gave up on him. She never lost faith in him, even when he gave her every reason to. Liam never knew that someone could love him as truly, as unconditionally as Steffy did, and he was realizing more and more every day that he loved her just as much. And he had the firm intention of proving it to her.

/

The rest of Steffy's day unfolded smoothly. After returning to the office, she spent a while working on Hope for the Future's new promo. She selected photographs from Oliver's prior selection and sent them to Hope via email for approval. It was the blonde's campaign after all, and she had the final word. Then, Steffy went to the shooting room to prepare for her photo-shoot for Fashionable Moms, and overheard a very interesting conversation between Oliver and Liam. She didn't even know the latter was in the building.

The two men were discussing their most obvious common point: Hope. And Steffy was pleased to see that Liam didn't seem so bothered by the growing relationship between the ingenuous blonde and the photographer anymore.

"You really about care her, don't you?" Liam asked.

"I do. I have for a very long time."

"So what? You were just waiting, lurking in the shadows?" There was a bit of teasing in his voice, but Steffy knew Liam well enough to know it was an actual question. He had always felt more or less threatened by Oliver because he was Hope's first serious boyfriend.

"Well, I wouldn't say that, but I think we can both agree that Hope hasn't had the most peaceful couple of years." Oliver said. "She's been through a lot, and her ability to forgive and stay strong has been greatly tested."

Liam nodded in agreement. "That's true."

"She deserves to be happy, and I believe I can make her happy."

"That's all I want for her. That's all I wish her. To know a love as great and real as the one I share with Steffy."

A wide smile spread onto Steffy's face at Liam's words.

"And if you can do that for her, then I'm all for you two."

Oliver smiled and nodded. "Good. I'm glad we see eye-to-eye about this. You know Hope's the only one I've ever wanted."

"I do know that. I trust you to make her happiness your first concern."

Steffy took a breath, pushed the door open, and casually entered the room. "Oliver, is everything ready for – Liam! Hi. What are you doing here?"

"Hi, uh, my father owns shares of this company, remember? I have to keep an eye on his investments every once in a while." Liam justified his presence.

"Right." She nodded.

He chuckled. "No, I'm kidding. I'm here for you."

She had told him about her upcoming photo-shoot the night they babysat Will, and wanting to physically support her, Liam managed to clear his afternoon to attend the shoot. She hadn't made a great deal about it, but he knew this line was particularly important to Steffy, and whatever was important to Steffy was important to Liam.

"I didn't think you remembered. I barely mentioned it."

"I listen to everything you say, sweetheart, and I do remember." He teased her nose with his index.

Steffy showed her perfect white teeth in a broad smile.

"Sorry to break this sweet little moment, but there's another shoot after yours, Steffy, so we have to get started." Oliver interrupted.

"Sure. I'm sorry. I'll go change." Steffy said and went to do just that.

The photo shoot went very well. Motivated and driven by Liam's presence and compliments, Steffy got more confident in front of the lens and took fabulous poses. For someone who isn't naturally at ease in the spotlight, one could have thought she had done this her whole life.

Later, Liam confided to Steffy that he thought she was amazing during the shoot.

"In all impartiality of course." He added.

She laughed silently and smiled. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. You were."

Steffy shook her head and rolled her eyes. He could be silly sometimes. "I meant for coming. For attending the photo shoot." She explained. "It meant a lot to have you there. It helped."

A grin spread across Liam's face at her admission. He was glad to have done something good for the woman he loved. He didn't feel incredibly helpful to her lately. She didn't ask much of him. As a matter of fact, she barely spoke to him or noticed him. If he didn't know better, he would have thought Steffy was avoiding him. It was almost as if it was hard for her to be in the same room as him.

The thought was depressing. But he was solely responsible for this situation. He truly was in no position to blame Steffy or to have any expectations. He was trying not to pressure her and to let her deal with everything at her own pace.

He really was.

He reached out for her hand across the table and leaned down to kiss the back of it.

"Anytime." He ran his thumb along Steffy's knuckles.

She looked and smiled tenderly at him.

Sighing, he released her hand. "I have to go back to the office."

"Ok. Thank you for coming." Steffy said, trying to conceal her disappointment at Liam's leaving.

"You said that already."

"I know." She had a moment's hesitation before she asked, "So you liked the photos?"

Liam frowned. "Yes! I told you that already. Didn't you like them?"

She shrugged and looked down. "They were ok."

"Steffy, they were amazing."

"I'm fat in them." She raised her gaze to him. "I'm fat."

"Baby, you're pregnant. It's a good thing that you've gained weight."

She narrowed her eyes at him. What an idiot. "You are such a guy." She said, shaking her head.

"I didn't mean to -" he cleared his throat. "I should go."

"Yeah, you should go." Steffy nodded.

He kissed her forehead before leaving. "See you tonight."

"Uh-huh."

"Love you. You look beautiful by the way." He added on his way.

An embarrassed but happy smile spread across her face. "Thank you!" she screamed so Liam would hear her.

/

Steffy entered Eric's office.

"Quinn, hi." She greeted as she closed the door behind her.

Quinn briefly turned around to face her. "Hi Steffy. How are you?"

"Fine, thank you. And yourself?"

"Good, thanks."

Steffy nodded. There was a brief moment of awkward silence during which Steffy just contemplated leaving. "Uh, have you seen my brother?" She ultimately asked.

"Um, yeah, he was here a moment ago. I don't know where he went though. You should ask Pam. She may know where he is." Quinn suggested.

Steffy chuckled. "Yeah, she probably does. Pam always knows where everyone is. That's not even what she's paid for."

Quinn smiled.

"I'll catch up with Thomas later, it's nothing urgent." The truth was Steffy had been wanting to talk to Quinn, and this was the perfect opportunity. This whole Wyatt-not-knowing-his-father-situation was really getting to her. It was all she could think about lately, and she needed Quinn's input to see things more clearly and either confirm or weaken her suspicions.

"So how do you like Forrester Creations? Is everything going the way you want?"

"Yes. Everything is going very well. Everybody is nice and warm, and I think Hope likes my designs, so... Thank you for asking." Quinn answered.

Steffy nodded. "Sure. I'm glad you're enjoying your time here."

"I am." Quinn paused before admitting, "I don't handle authority very well. I'm not used to working for anybody but myself, and I'm definitely not used to having to answer to anyone, but I like Forrester Creations. I like the spirit around here, how united you all are."

"How united we all are." Steffy corrected, stressing the "we". "You're part of the team now."

Quinn smiled, feeling content and grateful.

"I really like your designs by the way, for what it's worth." Steffy complimented her. "My grandmother, Stephanie, who is also my namesake, had quite the jewelry collection. I used to admire it from afar. She wouldn't let anybody around it." She recalled. "Your designs somewhat remind me of her style. A little."

"Thank you. That's a huge compliment." Quinn acknowledged. "I'm actually working on new designs right now. I'd appreciate your opinion if you have a moment."

"Sure." Steffy said, approaching the desk to take a better look at Quinn's work.

She was talented, and she obviously had a very good idea about what Hope was looking for regarding her line.

"What do you think?"

"I like them. They're very elegant but simple. Bright but classic. I think Hope will love them. From what she told me the other day, the whole idea is to –" She stopped mid-sentence as she felt a blow in her stomach and cringed.

"You ok?" Quinn made sure, sounding alarmed.

Steffy nodded, reassuring her with a small smile as she took a seat next to her. "Yeah, I'm fine." She ran her hand over her stomach. "It's just this little monster mistaking my stomach for a dance floor." She said sarcastically, making Quinn laugh with amusement.

"It's not easy, is it?"

"No, it is not. It's very strange being pregnant. I don't think there's anything quite like it." It truly was the strangest feeling. She hadn't felt like herself in months, with all the mood swings, the crying one minute and then laughing the next, her heightened touchiness, etc… She gave props to Liam for putting up with her to be honest. She would have gladly taken a few days away from her pregnant self if she could have. Unfortunately, that wasn't an option.

"There isn't. It's your first baby?"

"Uh-huh." Steffy nodded. "For both Liam and me."

"Liam, that's your boyfriend?"

"Yes. Liam Spencer, first son of Bill Spencer." Quinn nodded, and before she could refrain yourself, Steffy asked, "Do you know him?"

Quinn jerked her head towards her, and Steffy caught a flash of something undecipherable in her eyes. She wouldn't have been able to put a name on it, but she thought it resembled fear.

"Who? Liam or his father?"

Steffy looked at her intently. "Either."

"No."

"Are you sure?" she insisted.

Quinn narrowed her eyes and tilted her head to the side, giving Steffy a weird look. "Yes, I know who I know."

"It's just surprising you've never heard of them. Spencer Publications is pretty big in the corporate world."

"The name vaguely rings a bell."

Steffy nodded. "Well, my boyfriend, Liam, is around the same age as Wyatt."

Quinn's eyes grew wide. "Wyatt?"

"Fuller."

It took Quinn a few seconds to find her voice again. "How do you know my son?" she inquired.

"We're friends."

That only puzzled Quinn even more. When the hell did that happen? And why was she finding out from Steffy? "He's never mentioned you."

"Well, we've been friends for like five seconds. We met a couple weeks ago." Steffy explained.

Quinn made a face. "That's funny." She looked disconcerted.

"It is?"

"I mean, you two don't exactly mix with the same crowd…" She really wondered where the hell those two could have met.

"And how do you know with what crowd I mix?" Steffy snorted.

"I, I -"

"Obviously," Steffy cut her off, irritated. "I'm not as snob as you think I am."

"That's not what I meant." Quinn began.

"He seems like a good person." Steffy interrupted again, not wanting to hear an insincere apology, catching Quinn off guard. "Wyatt… You did a fine job all on your own. I can't imagine ever doing that."

Quinn looked at her impassively, not betraying any emotion, before she replied, "Thank you."

"It must not have been easy."

"It wasn't, but I love my son, and a mother's got to do what she's got to do. It was all worth it."

"Did you have to raise Wyatt alone?" She emphasized on "have". "You didn't have a choice?" she was not dropping it until she got something out of Quinn. The latter took a deep breath as though to calm herself down.

"Steffy, if there's something you would like to say to me, say it before I lose my patience and become rude."

"Wyatt told me about his father, that he's in LA looking for him."

"Wow, he's known you for five seconds and he's already told you his life story." Quinn snorted. "And you say I raised him well."

Steffy smiled sardonically at her. "Perhaps, he knows a good nature when he sees one."

"And you're the good nature?" Quinn asked impertinently, making Steffy scowl.

"You don't even know me."

"Neither do you! And yet, here you are: judging me."

"I'm not judging -" Steffy began and stopped when she realized that she had in fact judged Quinn, even if just a little. "I'm trying not to judge you, but your actions are not making it easy. Why do you refuse to help your son?"

Quinn merely stared at her, silently.

"Listen, you don't have to explain anything to me."

"Oh, thank you for saying that, Steffy. I feel so much better now." Sarcasm dripped from her voice.

"But you do owe Wyatt the truth." Steffy added pointedly. "He has the right to know where he comes from."

"He comes from my vagina, Steffy, that's all he needs to know!"

Steffy's eyes widened as she was taken aback by Quinn's outburst and sudden vulgarity. Clearly, this was a very sensitive topic.

Quinn gathered her stuff and stood up to leave.

"He is determined to find his father, Quinn." Steffy said, and Quinn stopped to listen, although she didn't turn around. "He won't give up. And I will do whatever I can to help him." she informed.

Without a word, without so much as one last look at Steffy, Quinn opened the door to Eric's office and left.

/

Steffy left the office earlier than usual so she could prepare a home-cooked meal. She felt like having lasagna. Actually, her baby felt like having lasagna. He or she also felt like having strawberries with whipped cream. This kid was already very demanding. She couldn't imagine what it would be like in the future.

She stopped by a farmer's market to get some groceries and then drove home.

She was cooking the Bolognese sauce Taylor Hayes style when her phone rang. She answered without checking the appellant and brought the phone to her ears.

'Hello?'

'Hi beautiful.'

'Good evening, Wyatt. Give me one second.' She took her earphones from the dining table and connected them to her phones. 'Yes. What's up?'

'Oh, not much. I'm surviving…' He trailed off. 'Without you.'

Steffy chuckled. He was stupid.

'How are you?'

'Pretty good, thank you. What can I do for you, Wyatt?'

'Entertain me.' Wyatt answered.

She raised an eyebrow. 'Entertain you?' she asked, surprised.

'Yes. I just got off work, and I was thinking of you, so I thought I'd call.'

A gentle smile spread over her face. 'Thank you, that's sweet.'

'Yep, that's me: very sweet guy.'

She laughed.

'See that's why I called you.' He declared.

'Why?' Steffy asked, still laughing a little.

'To hear you laugh.'

Wyatt's words had the effect of weakening Steffy's mirth. As nice and flattering as they were, they remained mostly inappropriate, and they made Steffy feel uncomfortable.

Wyatt reminded her of his presence at the other end of the line. 'Hello? You still there?'

'Um, yeah.' She poured some salt and pepper into the Bolognese.

'So… Entertain me!'

Steffy opened her mouth, trying to think of a subject that would not lead to more sweet talk–a safe subject, at least for her anyway.

'Did you talk to your mother recently?' She inquired.

'This is you entertaining me?' he asked in a perplexed voice.

'Just answer my question.'

Steffy heard a small sigh before he answered, 'No, I haven't. She called and left some messages, but… she failed to mention what's most important.'

Steffy hesitated. The sensible part of her was really telling her to stay out of this. It was a family business, which was none of her concern, but if what she suspected turned out to be true, it was in a way her business too. 'Maybe you should call her back.'

'Why? She won't tell me what I need to know. I don't need to talk to her.'

'Mmh.'

'What?'

'Nothing. I just think it's a shame.'

'I agree, but there's not much that I can do about that. She's the one who's been lying to me my whole life.'

True. 'Mmh. I understand.'

'Anyway, let's talk about something else. What are you doing?' Wyatt asked.

'I'm cooking some lasagna.'

'Ooh, now, that sounds appealing. Can I come over?'

She pretended to hesitate. 'Uh, I don't think so.'

'Oh, come on, I can finally meet the boyfriend. Liam, was it?'

'Liam, it is.' She confirmed. 'Finally? You make it sound like you've been dying to meet him.'

'Well, I would like to meet the guy who capsized your heart… and who doesn't really seem to take care of it.'

'Hey! Watch it! I don't allow you. This is my fiancé you're talking about.'

'Sorry.'

'See, this kind of comment is exactly why I'm not particularly eager for you to meet Liam.'

'And if I promise to be on my best behavior?'

Her lips curved into a thin smile. 'Maybe some other time. It's date night tonight. You don't want to be the third wheel.'

'Oh, I could be persuaded.'

Steffy made a face. 'Ew, gross, I'm hanging up on you now!'

'I was kidding.' Wyatt said, laughing.

'I know. I gotta go though.'

'Ok.' He reluctantly agreed. 'I'll let you get back to your cooking. Have a good evening.'

'Thank you. You too. Thanks for calling. Bye.'

'Bye.'

/

"This is really good." Liam appreciated as he put another forkful of Steffy's lasagna into his mouth.

"Thank you. I think it's a little overcooked." She made a face.

Liam finished swallowing not to talk the mouth full. "It tastes perfect to me."

Steffy smiled.

"I didn't tell you, I uh, I had a very lovely conversation with your mother today." He told her, summoning a sexy British accent. He knew how sexy Steffy found that accent and how hot she thought British men were. Every single time she watched a movie in which Robert Pattinson appeared, she smiled like an enamored fool throughout all of his scenes.

Steffy laughed loudly at Liam's pretty good imitation of the British accent. "Did you? That's funny. I had a not so lovely conversation with your father."

"Oh." He was surprised. His father hadn't mentioned it, what was not like him and caused Liam to think that he had more than likely done or said something he knew Liam would not appreciate.

"Mm-hm." Steffy nodded. "We had lunch together."

"Did you? What did you talk about?"

She shrugged and answered casually, "You know… Bill just wanted to give me a piece of his mind about our current living situation."

"Please tell me he didn't."

"Yes, he did."

Liam sighed internally and looked away, trying to contain his annoyance.

"It's ok, Liam." Steffy tried to reassure him.

"No, it isn't." He countered. "It's really, really not, Steffy. He had no place doing that."

"He was just concerned… like I'm sure my mother was when she spoke with you."

"Perhaps, but for some reason, I don't think my conversation with your mother was anything like your conversation with my father."

"Obviously. Your father and my mother's way of operating are very different, but the fact is they are both just concerned parents, what will be as well pretty soon."

Liam didn't say anything and just looked at her, not completely convinced.

"Listen, I happen to be glad Bill asked me upfront what was going on between you and me." Steffy declared. "I think I appeased him."

He raised a brow at her. "You do?"

"Yes. He was concerned, Liam, that's all. He needed to know that I wasn't bailing out on you, that I was still committed to you… that I wasn't giving up on you." She looked at him intently. "…which I'm not by the way."

Her admission brought a smile to his face. "That's what you told my father?"

She nodded.

"I see. Ok, I guess that must have reassured him, but still, Steffy, he had no right to corner you like that, especially now that you're pregnant." Liam persisted. "You don't need that kind of stress."

"No, I do not." Steffy agreed.

Liam shook his head in disbelief. "When will he learn that he doesn't get to interfere in our private matters?"

She raised a sassy eyebrow at him and scowled. "Liam, please don't be delusional. This is Bill we're talking about. That's never going to happen."

"Unfortunately, I think you're right."

"Of course I'm right. As always." Steffy smiled playfully at him. He returned her smile. "He's a good father though, right?" she asked, curious of Liam's opinion on that. He and Bill had a very complicated relationship, with Bill always trying to impose his beliefs on his eldest son, but as dysfunctional as their relationship, Steffy could clearly see the love between them.

Liam tilted his head from side to side, hesitating. "Yes, he is. I mean he can get so overbearing." He said, shaking his head for emphasis. "…to the point where I want to cut all ties with him, and I really wish he would just let me live my life sometimes, but –you know, he's my Dad. And yeah, he's a good one. I know there isn't anything he wouldn't do for me… or Will, or Katie."

Steffy nodded. That's what she thought. Bill was a very complex character, but he was definitely a family man.

/

Liam watched from the salon, seated on the couch, as Steffy rinsed the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. He volunteered to do it, but she insisted she was fine doing it. She claimed she wasn't made of sugar and could still put plates into a dishwasher without falling apart, and because he didn't want to get beat, he let her.

She launched the machine and wiped her hands on a dish towel. He watched her walk towards him hesitantly.

"I'm gonna… take a shower and go to bed." She told him.

"Steffy, wait. Please…" He called after her.

She turned around and walk back towards him, stopping at the corner of the couch. "Yes?"

"Sit down with me one minute please." Liam asked.

Steffy complied and took a seat next to him, leaving more distance between them than Liam would have preferred.

Steffy's entire demeanor signified unease. She had her eyes cast down, inspecting the carpet, going round and round, looking anywhere but in Liam's direction. He observed her fidgeting with her hands as she avoided looking at him.

He decided to put her out of her misery and bluntly asked, "Is it that uncomfortable being around me?"

At least, that got her to look at him.

For a second, Steffy contemplated lying, out of fear of hurting Liam, but she decided to go with the truth, "Yes."

Liam nodded, crestfallen, accepting the reality of that answer.

"But not for the reason that you think." Steffy added. She sighed. "It's difficult being with you without being… with you. It's difficult denying myself of what I want –of what I need –when it's right in front of my eyes. It hurts." She confessed. He had no idea the amount of strain this was putting on her, how much of a torture it was for her to maintain this distance between them.

Liam listened to Steffy attentively, and saw the pain audible in her voice reflected in her magnificent blue eyes. He shook his head and sighed. He had everything wrong. "I am such an idiot."

He raised his eyes to Steffy and met her disconcerted look. "I thought you were bailing out on me. I thought –you were this close… to walking away."

She knit her brows together in confusion, so Liam hastened to explain, "When we're surrounded, everything's ok, I feel like we're fine, but once we're alone, you get so distant. I feel like you'd rather be anywhere but here with me." It was like she dressed this invisible wall between them.

"And you think that's because I don't love you?" she understood.

"I don't know." He wouldn't look at her.

She stared at him. "Liam, do you think this is easy for me?"

He didn't respond.

"Liam, please look at me." Steffy asked gently.

He turned his head in her direction and raised his eyes to hers.

She moved closer to him. "There is nothing that I want more than for you to wrap your arms around me and tell me that everything's gonna be ok, and kiss me senseless, and just –make me feel whole again…" She spoke from her heart, knowing that deep down, in his heart, Liam already knew this. "But I know that would only be a temporary relief and I would only feel worse afterward."

Liam fought back the tears that threatened to swell in his eyes. He hated himself for making Steffy go through this. She was pregnant –they were pregnant. This was supposed to be one of the happiest times of their lives, and because of him, it really wasn't.

After everything he had done lately, Liam wouldn't have blamed Steffy for leaving, but she hadn't. She was still here, living under the same roof as him. It was more than he deserved and he still had the audacity to complain. "I'm sorry." He apologized.

She looked at him with a mix of sadness and incommensurable love in her eyes that made Liam's heart break. "I'm sorry too." She breathed.

He would have done and said anything to make her pain go away. "I really want to be the man you deserve, a man you can be proud to call your husband and the father of your children."

Steffy raised a questioning eyebrow. "Children?" she asked, smiling.

"What? You thought we were done?" he asked only half-jokingly, enjoying the lighter mood. "We're just getting started. You owe me at least three children, woman."

Her eyes widened. "Three children, wow! Well… let's see how it goes with this one first, alright?" she suggested.

"Ok, fine."

"Thank you."

They looked at one another and broke into laughter at the same time.

Steffy shook her head, mentally laughing at them. "We're stupid..." She mused.

Liam stared at her. "Why do you say that? It could happen." It would if he had anything to say about it. It had taken him so long to realize it –far too long –but this was where he wanted to be.

As wonderful a woman as Hope was, she didn't belong with him. Steffy did. Steffy was his home, and he never wanted that to change. He wanted a lifetime with her and more.

She turned her gaze to him. "Yeah… It could."

'It will.' Liam thought to himself.

"I'm trying to be worthy of you." He gazed into her eyes. "I really am."

"I know. I've noticed." And she loved him so much more for it.

"I realize I still have a lot of work to do, and I -"

"Hey, we, ok?" Steffy cut him off and placed her hand on top of his. "We have a lot of work to do." She corrected him. They both had a lot to work through before they could find their way back to one another with peace of mind

Liam may need to get Hope off his mind, but so did Steffy. She needed to stop thinking of the pretty blonde as the source of all her problems with Liam and getting so damn insecure whenever the names Hope and Liam were used in the same sentence. She had to learn to trust Liam again, to regain confidence in their couple. It was a process.

"The roots are still there. It just takes time." Steffy provided the only words of comfort she could.

Liam nodded.

She let out a sigh of fatigue, as mental as physical. "I should go to bed. I have to be at the office early tomorrow." She made to stand up but Liam's hold on her hand retained her and she turned back to him.

He brought her hand up level to his face and Steffy silently gasped as he kissed her knuckles, touching her engagement ring. "Goodnight." His voice was a mere whisper.

He raised his hand to touch her stomach but hesitated and looked at her for consent. As she didn't protest or move, he settled his hand on her stomach and stroked it. "Goodnight, my angel." He wished his little one with emotion in his voice, making Steffy's heart flutter and break at the same time.

She covered his hand with her own and he intertwined their fingers on her lap as they pressed their foreheads together. They simultaneously heaved a sigh full of love and longing.

Steffy moved her right hand to the back of Liam's head at the nape of his neck and caressed the hair there. She pressed a long, tender kiss on his temple. "Goodnight." She whispered and disappeared into her current bedroom.

Othfangirl, did you spot the Naley line in the Chapter? That was for you.

Thank you all for reading and being patient with me.