Previously on Stairway to No-Mans Land

- Mother/daughter heart to heart

- Rest time teasing

- A wedding dress design was revealed to the bride to be

- Dinner dates with the parentals

****Thanks for all your reviews. In case you are wondering, I have made it that Ridge and Caroline are together and the baby is his (they do not really play a major role in the story so I was not going to mess with them!). Oh and no the Ivy/Wyatt storyline will not play a major part in this FF. Hope you enjoy the next chapter... some are easier for me to write than others!

Over the next two weeks, life had settled down for Steffy and Liam considerably. By some stroke of luck the shift in power at Forrester had managed to stay out of the media and along with it the news of Liam and Steffy's impending arrivals. Steffy had stuck to her word and was now working reduced hours at Forrester, only coming in during the mornings and she was always gone by lunchtime. Today Steffy and Liam have an appointment with Dr Caspery to check on both Steffy and the twins.

"Ah Steffy, Liam it is so good to see you again. I much prefer it when you walk into my office Steffy!"

"Don't worry Doctor, I prefer walking in here to!"

"So Steffy, how have you been feeling since your last visit? Has that nausea settled down?"

"I feel really good, I am tired all the time and super sensitive to certain smells and the skin on my belly feels tight but I mean I don't feel any different to my last visit."

"Well that's good. Your best bet for your belly is make sure you are constantly moisturising it, there is still a lot of growing that needs to take place so it is only going to get tighter. Now what about physically, after you fall, has all the stiffness gone away and the bruising faded?"

"I feel really good actually, every now and then I feel stiff, but that is usually after sitting in the one position for a long time."

"That is to be expected, Steffy you were so lucky that you didn't do any serious damage when you had that fall. Now Liam, I know how stubborn this one can be, has she been following my instructions, getting lots of rest, eating well, relaxing, reducing stress and cutting back at work?"

"You know Doctor, for the first time in our relationship she has been following every instruction given to her to the T! We are in the process of changing the leadership at Forrester temporarily, until Steffy returns to work, so far we have stuck to the half day rule, I have even been about to convince her to take days off completely."

"Steffy that is really great, your body will thank you for it in the long run and so will your babies and husband! Today I would like to run a couple of tests, they are nothing to be concerned about in fact they are standard in any pregnancy let alone a multiples birth."

"You do whatever you need to do Doctor, I will just lay here and be your test subject!"

"You make it sound so dramatic Steffy, I am only going to check your sugar levels and your blood pressure, do some measurements to check the babies growth and finally we will do another ultrasound. But I will ask you now, before I start so you two can think about it, if the babies are playing fairly and sitting correctly would you like to know their genders?"

Liam and Steffy look at each other, the thought of finding out about the babies genders at this appointment having never crossed their minds.

"Liam what do you want to do? I know we found out with Aspen... I kind of want to be surprised this time around, everything about this pregnancy has been a surprise, so why spoil that fun?"

"If you want to wait, my darling, we will wait. I really don't mind either way, as long as we end up with two happy, healthy babies at the end of this journey!"

"Okay Steffy, can you just hold out your finger for me, I am going to do a blood glucose test, just to make sure that your sugar levels aren't too high and then I will get you to take off your jacket so I can access you arm and take your blood pressure."

"Hmm" Doctor Caspery lets out just as she finished taking Steffy's blood pressure.

"Hmm, what do you mean Hmm? Is that a good Hmm or a bad Hmm?" Steffy queries with a slight panic in her voice.

"Look Steffy, your blood pressure is currently 130/92... Which isn't technically in the high range yet, but considering that you are having twins, the rate that it has increased since your last appointment is concerning. I am going to suggest that you come in again next week so I can check it again. Apart from that, it may be time for you to stop work completely, I know you have said that you're on reduced hours with a reduced workload but I can guarantee that there is still a lot of stress involved in those limited hours. I also recommend reducing the amount of salt in your diet. If next week when you come in it is at this level or higher I will order a urine test to rule out a couple of things, but we will cross that bridge if/when we come to it. Now who wants to see their babies?"

"So no stress at all Doctor? Calm and relaxed are your instructions?" Liam queries, making sure he understands what is needed to keep all three of his loves safe.

"Yes Liam and there are lots of ways you can help Steffy relax that aren't work related. Walks on the beach, foot rubs, long baths, massages, even sex, just make sure it isn't too vigorous."

"Oh thank goodness, I was going to ask about that, much to Liam's disgust, I have had some serious needs this time around Doctor, I was worried for a moment that my needs weren't going to be met due to doctors orders."

"Any more questions before I get you to hop up on this bed? If not Steffy I will get you to pull your shirt right up, some ladies find it easiest to tuck it into their bra, and if you could pull the top of your pants down to the top of your pubic bone, right below your bump."

Steffy quickly arranges her clothes so that her bump is fully exposed.

"Now just a reminder Steffy, this gel is cold, before I start commenting on the scan I just want o check that we are NOT finding out what you're having."

"We would like a surprise please Doctor."

"Okay let's see what is going on inside your belly shall we!"

The rhythmical beating of three hearts suddenly fills the room and both parents faces instantly light up.

"I could hear that sound for the rest of my life and never get sick of it, that sound, the sound of life in my wife and our babies gives me life, it gives me strength!"

"He has been really good at the loved up speeches of late!"

"Well from what this pair are showing me, everything is looking really good. There appears to be a nice amount of fluid around both babies, their size is on par with how many weeks you are. The little ones must have known that Mummy didn't want to find out because the way that they are currently sitting would have prevented you finding out today! Alright Steffy, use this to wipe off the gel, I will print out these pictures and have a disc made up for you. I really do need you to seriously consider everything I have told you today, about stress and your body. How many weeks do you have before the change in presidents?"

"It is happening at the end of next week."

Okay so these are the Doctors orders for you between now and the end of next week you are only allowed to be in the office on Thursday this week and next week you can be there on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. That way you will have a day off in between each visit and you will have tomorrow off. Now because I know you so very well, once you are on leave you are not allowed to be at Forrester Creations for longer than an hour my only exception to this rule will be when you are doing your press release! Do you understand?"

"We understand Doctor, is my blood pressure that bad?"

"Steffy it is borderline, you know our aim is for you to stay pregnant for as long as possible, ideally as close to 40 weeks as we can get but realistically, anything over 30 weeks is going to be really great. I want you prepared. I want you to know that there is a high chance these babies are going to be premature, there is also a high chance you are going to be placed on bed rest and depending on your blood pressure that may need to be hospital based bed rest. I am not trying to scare either of you, in fact just the opposite, I want you well informed of what could happen, prepared for the worst case scenario."

"Doctor Caspery, since we are talking worst case... what would be the earliest that Steffy could go into labour and for the twins to be, premature but okay?"

"Well Liam, every case is different but generally if it looked like that was going to happen and we hadn't given an medic intervention to assist the twins to develop, I would be highly concerned with anything under 28 weeks, but in saying that, if Steffy's blood pressure continues to climb we would give the twins steroids to help them develop at a faster rate. Babies have been known to survive from 24 weeks. Every pregnancy is different just like every baby is different, so please do not stress about that for now. Enjoy this time, enjoy your wedding in 2 weeks and most importantly enjoy each other in every sense of the word!"

"So my love it means I need rest, relaxation, love, attention and orgasms! All on doctors orders!"

"Alright my beautiful baby mumma, let's get you home and relaxing. Thank you Doctor Caspery, we will see you next week when we come for that check up."

Liam and Steffy head home from the doctor's office a little concerned about the wellbeing of their twins and a little excited to get home to release built up stress.

"Baby, I think you should stop coming into work, it is time to just let me take over, remove all the work related stress from your life..."

"You get told that you can have sex again with your pregnant fiancé, in fact it is recommended that you do, and all you want to talk about is work! Who are you and where is my Liam because you should know by now I am as horny as hell and if you're not willing to help with this issue I will go and problem solve on my own in the bedroom."

"Hey, whoa there, I never said I didn't want to help you out... if the lady needs stress relief then who am I to object."

"Good answer!" Steffy responds as she heads towards their bedroom while stripping off her clothes.

The next morning while at Forrester Liam asks for Thomas and Ridge to join him in his office.

"Hey Ridge, Thomas, sorry for the short notice."

"Don't worry about it Liam, is everything okay with my sister and the twins?"

"The twins are doing well but Dr Caspery is becoming concerned with Steffy's blood pressure, which is why I have asked that we meet. Doctor Caspery is really concerned about the amount of stress in Steffy's life, which we have tried to reduce but a we all know a large stressor for Steffy at the moment is still Ivy. I know as president I should be the one interacting with all of the staff, but for the sake of Steffy's health and the health of our babies I am going to ask that either one of you take on all interactions with Ivy and the jewellery line."

"Consider it done, son! I have been thinking about this for a little while too. Steffy would never admit that Ivy being around you was causing her stress but we all know if would be bothering her on some level."

"Dad, I know we are looking at expanding the range of stones that we are using, maybe we could send her on a long buying trip so she can source some new suppliers. Her not physically being here at Forrester for a while should help a little bit right."

"Yeah Thomas that should help, Dr Caspery has told her she is only allowed to come in every second day and once on leave she isn't to be here for longer than an hour a week because we all know that Steffy can't help herself!"

"Have you thought about taking over effective immediately? Surely Steffy knows we are not about to let you be thrown in the deep end, this company means too much to all of us!"

"Trust me I have tried that... you know what Steffy can be like once her mind is made up! I think she just wants to see it through, this place; this company it is something she is in control of, she knows what is happening within these walls and can decide the outcome. Once she goes on leave, she has no control of what is going to happen and that scares the hell out of her. So if we can make the next week as calm and stress free as humanly possible, we will be indebted to you all!"

"She is more like Grandma than we realise isn't she dad, she's not just her namesake!"

"That she is son, that she is. My determined, independent daughter!"

"So it is settled, Ivy and the jewellery line will be handled by you Ridge and if you are not around, things are to go to you Thomas. I am to have nothing to do with that woman and she is to not be anywhere near Steffy."

"Sounds like a plan. Now Liam, I am wondering how long you plan to have off just after the wedding, I know we had a brief discussion regarding it, but I couldn't remember if you had a set time."

"Doctor Caspery has advised us to not fly anywhere or to travel to far away so we are going to have a staycation, at home in Malibu. We plan on making the house off limits to everyone and just being at home together. So to answer your question I will be out for the week after the wedding so from the 5th-12th, with me back in the office on Monday the 15th."

"Okay, just checking what dates we will have to deal with being a man down. I am sure we will survive the week without you both!"

That evening when driving home Liam, tries to call Steffy, after several missed called he decides she must be asleep or have her phone on silent. When he arrives home, he searches the ground floor of the house, panic starting to take over when Steffy is nowhere to be seen and her phone is on the coffee table. In a last ditch attempt to maintain his sanity, Liam decided to call Taylor.

"Pick up, pick up, pick up, come on Taylor pick up!"

"Hello Liam, what can I do for you?"

"Is Steffy with you?"

"No, why would she be, I left her at you place around an hour ago, she said she needed some time alone."

"Well she isn't here and her phone is on the coffee table..."

"Liam calm down, I am sure she is alright."

"What happened, why did she need time alone? Did something happen that upset her?"

"She had an emotional day, we did a lot of talking today, she spoke a lot about Aspen, about losing her and she opened up about how she still blames herself, even when she knows that you and Aspen don't. I think she just needed to be with her thoughts so she could feel close to her daughter... Some days are harder than others for her. This may sound silly but have you checked the entire house? Let me know if you don't find her."

"Thanks, Taylor, I think I might know where she is..."

Liam promptly hangs up the phone and slowly makes his way upstairs to their daughter's room. When he walks inside, he finds his sleeping beauty curled up in the rocker, holding Aspens bear and blanket in her lap and a tiny pair of pink and white socks tightly gripped between her fingers while she softly snored. It was evident by the tearstains down Steffy's cheeks that it had been an emotional day.

"Oh sweetheart!" Liam quietly states as he walked closer to the chair, deciding to wake her up with several kisses, not knowing that she had heard him enter the room.

"Oh Edwardo, you need to be more careful, Liam will be home soon!" Steffy responds while kissing Liam back.

"Edwardo hey, I knew I was playing that gardener too much..."

"Oh no our secrets out, however will you punish me?"

"I think I might just have to kiss you stupid, considering I have already knocked you up to lay my claim!"

"Hmm I like the sound of this kissing me stupid business!"

"Well that makes two of us! You had me worried for a little while tonight my love. I tried to call you on my way home, surprise, surprise, there was no answer, so I figured that you were just asleep. Imagine my shock horror when you were not in bed or on the couch! I even called you mum to see if you were with her. I think she knew you were up here; she just didn't want to specifically say so. She did however mention that you have had an emotional day and I can see she was telling the truth. What is going on in that pretty, little head of yours? What is with the socks?"

"I am sorry you were worried! Mum and I go to talking about Aspen today, it just opened up some heavy stuff I wasn't prepared for the raw emotions that came with it today. I just needed to be alone with her, with our daughter up here so I sent Mum home and came to sit here. As for the socks... these were the very first thing I purchased for Aspen when we found out we were having a little girl, Caroline had this idea of, of using something small like this, and stitching it inside my dress, over my heart for our wedding day. She wants to put one inside either your suit or shirt too, I absolutely love the idea but the hard thing is going to be giving up these socks... how silly is that I can't even part with a pair of socks that our daughter didn't even get the chance to wear!" Steffy lets out with a fresh batch of tears falling from her eyes.

"Oh my beautiful, sweet, loving Steffy. I am guessing that you have yet to open the draws over there, because I too have kept every single thing that either I purchased for our princess or that was given to us. I know how hard it is to part with the little things like her socks, which is why this draw is full of them! We should hope that we have a little girl cooking away because we have everything we need for a little girl, and I think Aspen would want her little sister to use her things, that way she too can be close to her sister. Luckily for us dad and I both purchased a lot of white stuff which means baby brother can be close to his sister too if we happen to have one of each. I know that very pair of socks is special to you, but by giving them to Caroline, we are making our little girl a part of our special day in a permanent way."

"How do you always know the right things to say? How is it possible that you can read me so well?"

"I may know you really well, my love, but I know for a fact I don't even know half of the mysterious musing of your mind, but luckily for me, I have from now until eternity to learn every little thing! You are it for me!"

"Gosh I love you, I think I fall even deeper for you every single day!"

"I love you too! Now what do you say we put these things away, head down stairs for some dinner and snuggle on the couch watching Bob Hope movies until you fall asleep in my arms and I carry you to bed."

"That sounds perfect!"

Next time on Stairway to No-Mans Land:

- We have a wedding finally! In my initial plan for this story wedding was like chapter 4 or 5! HA!

- Ivy makes her presents known

- Ultimatums are given and lines are drawn