Steffy's final days at Forrester went by smoothly, Ivy was out of the office and magically there were no dramas that she needed to solve prior to taking her leave, even if she was slightly suspicious about this. Liam, Ridge and Thomas, along with all the other staff at Forrester had made her last day blissful, showering her with presents for both the twins and their upcoming nuptials.
Reflecting back on her last day at work, while sitting in her daughter's room on the morning of her wedding was a bittersweet moment for Steffy. Liam and Steffy had decided that so many important events in their lives occurred at this very location on the cliffs of Malibu, that it made perfect sense for the wedding to happen here too. Knowing that this was the day that they were committing themselves to the other 100% filled Steffy with love and an enormous amount of pride. She would be able to, once again, officially call Liam her husband.
Steffy's thoughts are interrupted by Taylor knocking on the door frame.
"Good morning sweetheart, I knocked on the front door but there was no answer so I let myself in. I figured you might be lost in your thoughts up here."
"Hmm sorry Mum what were you saying..."
"It doesn't matter, though Liam did tell me to tell you to look in the pocket of the rocker..." Taylor states as she once again leaves her daughter to her own thoughts.
Slowly, Steffy reaches down into the side pocket of the rocking chair to find a small gift from Liam and a note.
To my beautiful bride to be,
How did I know that today of all morning you would spend time up in room, with our daughter. I know you, I know you so well and I love every little detail about you; from your grumpy morning face to the pure love and joy in your eyes every time the twins kick and move. I cannot image anyone else who I would want to spend the rest of my life with. We both know that there have been plenty of others who have tried to claim our hearts but somehow we end up back together, defeating the odds! You my darling are my beginning, you are my end, you are my forever! And today we will commit ourselves to each other and to our family. When writing my vows to you I did a lot of reading, I wanted to find the perfect words to share how I felt about you. I came across this quote and while not perfect for our vows it is perfect for our relationship. 'We come to love not by finding a perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly.' You my love are imperfectly perfect, which is why you are perfect for me!
In this box you will find a special something, it was my mums and one day it will be our daughters, but for now I cannot imagine anyone else having this, wearing this. I know there is the tradition of having something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. Well I thought that maybe these could fill in for your old, since they were my mums, borrowed, because in my heart they are Aspens and one day they will be her sisters, and as for the something blue, well they are Sapphires which also happen to be your birthstone.
My beautiful Steffy, I cannot wait to see you today... only a few hours to go and you will once again my wife. Know that as you read this I am thinking of you and our little family.
All my love and endless devotion,
Liam.
As Steffy finishes reading the letter she opens up the box to find a simple pair or sapphire and diamond earrings, perfect for their special day. With a final tear, Steffy places a kiss on Aspens bear and makes her way down stairs to start getting ready for the wedding.
"So darling girl, was that a nice surprise from Liam?"
"Oh you have no idea mum!"
"I have a feeling that today is going to be full of them!"
"As long as the day is full of nice ones I don't mind one little bit!"
At that moment the doorbell rings, Steffy, who is still standing, makes her way to see who is there, knowing that if it were Ridge and Caroline with the dress they would have come straight in.
As she opens the door her view is blocked by an enormous bunch of red roses.
"Ah I have a delivery for a Steffy Forrester almost Spencer..."
"That would be me. Thank you."
Once the delivery man leaves Steffy reads the card...
'Because I love you! Xoxo L'
"I told you there would be more surprises! Now hand me the flowers and go and eat some breakfast!"
"Hey Mum, just in case I forget to say it later, thank you for everything!"
"You my darling girl are more than welcome! Now eat because the hairdressers and makeup artist will be here soon not to mention your Dad and Caroline with the Forrester Creations Original, one of a kind, Aspen Dress! So get some food into you and go have a shower, we have a wedding to attend!"
The rest of the morning was smooth sailing at the cliff house for Steffy and her family. There moment of truth came when it was time to zip Steffy into her one of a kind dress, fearing that she had grown since the final fitting on Wednesday.
"Steffy don't worry, we purposely made extra belly and boob room, why else do you think I have been getting you measured every single day! I wanted to be able to roughly predict the size of your belly and boobs. I know how important today is to you; I want it to be as stress free as humanly possible! I may be technically your stepmother, but you mean more to me than that, I would like to think that we are friends. Besides your father, Uncle Bill and Liam are the most important guys in the world to me; I know how happy you make my cousin, so for me, it is important that you are happy so he is happy."
While fanning her eyes to prevent another round of tears Steffy quietly thanks Caroline.
"Thank you, you are important to me too, and not just because that is my little sister or brother you are carrying in there!"
As Caroline pulls the zip to the top and arranges the last few gems on the dress, she tells Steffy.
"See I told you that you had absolutely nothing to worry about. Your Mum and Dad are going to flip when they see you in this dress... let alone Liam! I will have to make sure there is a photographer who is focused on his face so they can capture the moment he sees you and you can keep it forever!"
"Thank you for everything, especially this dress! It is perfect and the stones are just the right amount of pink!"
"Shall we go wow your parents?"
Steffy and Caroline make their way out of the bedroom and into the lounge room to be greeted by Taylor and Ridge. Taylor Is wearing another Ridge and Caroline original, a nude lace dress knee length dress with a pale pink underlay while Ridges black suit is paired with a pink shirt and black tie.
"Well what do you think...!"
"Oh sweetheart you look amazing, Liam isn't going to know what hit him!"
"Ridge and Caroline that dress is by far your best work ever. I am so glad our daughter is going to have you by her side today!"
"Steffy I know this is your special day, but I am so glad I am a part of this family in so many ways! Not many can say they have this kind of relationship with their husbands ex wife and their daughter!"
"Okay, do me a favour, no more emotional stuff or I am going to ruin my make up! Caroline do you think you could do something for me? Could you head over to the guest house and give Liam something?"
"Of course."
Steffy hands Caroline a small package, not much bigger than the one Liam had stashed up in Aspens room, with a letter on top.
"Do you think you could maybe make sure his tie is straight and his boutonniere is pinned correctly? I know he has is Dad and probably Katie over there with him but I also know that he is missing his Mum, especially today! She is the reason we chose today, she is the reason we have peonies as our wedding flowers you know, they were her favourite!"
Caroline takes the little package and heads out the side door towards the guesthouse. Upon arrival is seams that not everything is as calm and collected as it is in the main house, Caroline enters to hear raised voices from within the guesthouse.
"Liam what is going on in here and what the hell is IVY doing here on your wedding day?"
"I was just asking her the exact same thing! Well Ivy, come on, tell us, why are you here?"
"Caroline this is none of your business so stay out of it!"
"That is where you are wrong Ivy, not only is Liam my cousin but Steffy is my stepdaughter, and I will do whatever I need to, to keep her and the twins safe."
"Those bloody babies, Liam are you even sure they are yours or that she is even pregnant at all, like seriously, it seems very convenient that Steffy just happened to be pregnant right when I just told you I was still in love with you. How do you know that she isn't just trying to trap you again like she did last time when she killed your precious baby! This is your chance Liam, run away with! We can leave this place and never look back! We can start a new life somewhere else. Please I love you too much to let that bitch ruin your life."
Liam stood there in shock, unable to fully process what Ivy was saying, not believing that she would again bring Aspen up into conversation in such a hateful way let alone accuse Steffy of manipulating him.
"Ivy that is enough! I think it is time for you to leave! Get out before I make a scene and have security throw you out!"
"Ivy wait..."
Ivy turns around with a smug look on her face, thinking she has just won Liam back...
"I need to clear a few things up... You need to know that you are so lucky that I refuse to hit women! First of all, you must be out of your god damn mind if you think I am ever going to run away with you! Secondly, if you ever accuse my Steffy of such horrible things again I may not be so kind to you. As for bringing up Aspen, you are to never mention my daughter again! You have no right what so ever to even utter her name let alone pretend you understand what we went through when we lost her! My wife and I are truly blessed to be given the opportunity to once again become parents. She is the most beautiful pregnant woman I have ever seen! Trust me Steffy has many faults and they are part of why I lover he so much, but her loyalty has never wavered! She has never cheated on me, hell I do not even think her eyes wander! So yes, I am sure that the beautiful babies that she is currently carrying are mine. Now you can leave! Oh and Ivy, if you don't leave the premises immediately not only will you be removed by security and the police will deal with you for trespassing, you will also find that you are no longer welcome at Forrester Creations. So it is in your best interests that you get the hell off my property and stay the hell away from my family!"
Ivy slinks away like a chastised puppy, going to lick their wounds.
"Liam what the hell! If Steffy finds out that poison Ivy was trying to make a play for you on your wedding day she will lose her shit!"
"I know and that is why I am not going to tell her and neither are you! I will tell her tomorrow, once we are married. She doesn't need the stress, especially not today!"
"Well I know for a fact Ivy is one lucky bitch! If I weren't pregnant right now I would have slapped her half way back across the Pacific!"
"Oh Caroline, my ever loving cousin and almost stepmother in law... how on earth are we going to explain our wildly complicated family to our children."
"Liam, I have two Mums, trust me I know complicated! At the end of the day it doesn't matter who is what relation, as long as this little one and your twins know that they are loved and are a part of a big crazy family who love them, that is all that matters. Who cares about labels!"
"When you put it that way, I know you are right! So what brings you over to my humble guest house?"
"Steffy! She wanted me to come and check on you, straighten you tie, fix your boutonniere. You know check in and make sure you are handling the morning. She told me about the peonies... that is such a beautiful touch Liam. I may not have ever met your Mum, but I do know she would be proud of the man you are today!"
"Thanks cus! I needed to hear that today, especially today!"
"Steffy asked me to give you something... I guess you two are more alike than one would like to admit..."
"Yeah we are! Thanks for looking out for us today. Do you think you can tell her I love her and I can't wait to become her husband!" Liam asked while taking the small package from Caroline and sitting on the couch.
"You too are lucky I love you both, one could get sick of playing messenger otherwise! Oh by the way she looks stunning, you are going to lose it when you see her!" Caroline told Liam as she walked out the door and back towards the main house!
"My Steffy always looks stunning!"
Liam made himself comfortable on the couch and proceeded to open Steffy's letter.
To my darling Liam,
If you are reading this it must be our wedding day and I am so excited to start this next chapter of our lives together. Knowing you, the morning of our wedding has probably already been filled with amazing surprises; my guess is probably jewellery and red roses because you know they are my favourite! For most of my adult life I have been chasing one thing, love, to love and be loved in return by someone who completes me! Well baby, it's you. You are my other half, you complete me and I know that when I am with you I am a better person. You make everything right in the world! Heck you and our children are my world. I want you to know that I will follow you to the ends of the earth if that is what you want. We have had an epic love story so far and like a fine wine it is only going to get better as it gets older! One day we will be sitting here, watching the sun set over the ocean telling our grandbabies the tales finding true love and how our love may have been tested but in the end love prevailed. I am so excited to become Mrs Stephanie Forrester Spencer again, not because of the name or the title or any of the prestige that comes with it, purely because of you.
Liam my darling, we have created this day around people who we have lost who mean the world to us; Aspen, your mum and lastly Phoebe. For a while now I have been trying to work out how I too can add my beautiful sister into our day, and as I sat down to write you this letter something fell out of my jewellery case. Now I know of late we have had some bizarre things happen to us and around us that neither of us can explain so I am chalking it up to that. My darling Liam, in the package attached to this letter you will find one of my beautiful sisters wooden bead necklaces. Now as much as I would love to wear it to honour Phoebe, it will not match my dress, and this fashion queen couldn't have that. Which is why I was hoping that you would be able to have it on you in some way... maybe in a pocket, around your wrist or in your jacket. I know my sister is with me, I carry her in my heart but because this is our special day I don't want her to miss out. So will you do this for me, my darling husband to be, let's make this day so special for everyone to see.
You are my heart and soul, my reason to get up in the morning and the reason I go to sleep at night with a heart full of love and belly full of babies. I will love you from now until forever. You Liam Spencer are my forever and nothing will ever change that! It must be almost time for our day to start, keep an eye out for me; I will be the one in white!
Forever yours,
Steffy xoxo
P.S. I just got the biggest kick in the ribs when I signed that so I think the twins are trying to say they love you too Daddy xoxo
Caroline returned to the main house noticing the time.
"Okay so Liam asked me to do a couple of things, the first was to tell you he loves you, and you too little ones and that he can't wait to officially become your husband and the second thing..." Caroline says while wrapping Steffy up in a tight embrace.
"Now if we want this wedding to start on time we best go touch up your lipstick and do the final touches to that hair!"
"Doc I can't believe how radiant she looks. I don't think I have ever seen her looking so happy in all my life!"
"It is like everything has finally fallen into place for our little girl. She is finally being given the life she has always deserved. Our baby has been through more trauma than any child should have to go through and yet she has managed to turn into a very confident, strong willed, complicated, determined woman. Liam makes her happy, he completes her, so knowing that, makes me happy. A mother couldn't ask for more!"
As Steffy, Ridge, Taylor and Caroline do their last minutes touch ups. Liam joins the guests out in the front yard overlooking the ocean. He notices his brother by his side and can see Thomas waiting for Steffy down the back of the aisle. Never being one for too much tradition Steffy and Liam decided that for their wedding party the most important people to them were their brothers so Wyatt was Liam's best man and Thomas would be filling the role of Man of Honour. Liam stops by his father making sure Ivy has not tried to make a return appearance, informing him of her little stunt. As Liam finishes talking to his father he notices both Taylor and Caroline making their way down the aisle, signalling to the guests and the minister that the wedding was about to start.
The opening bars of their song, Next to you, come out over the speakers as Thomas makes his way down the aisle. As Thomas reaches Liam he whispers to him "take care of my baby sis, she is the only one I have left." They briefly hug and the guests rise to their feet. Suddenly Liam can see Ridge starting to come out from around the corner and then he spots her, all the air is sucked out of his lungs, he cannot breathe she looks so stunning. This moment will forever be in his mind. Liam is so transfixed with the beauty of his bride that he does not notice the tear slip from his eye until he feels it rolling down his cheek.
"Oh Bro, you have got it bad! She looks amazing!"
"I am one lucky guy!"
Steffy reaches Liam and Ridge hugs him while telling him to look after his little girl.
"We are gathered here today, in this special location, to witness the union of Stephanie Forrester and Liam Spencer. The couple have asked you, to be their honoured guests, here to help them celebrate the coming together of two families. In the years they have been together, their love and understanding of each other has grown and matured and they have decided to, again, commit to each other, for a final time as husband and wife. Steffy and Liam, you started your day as individuals but you will leave here as husband and wife, blending your lives, expanding your families, and embarking upon the grandest adventure of human interaction. The story of your life together is yours to write, and some of the best chapters are just around the corner. Liam and Steffy have asked Steffy's mother Taylor to say a reading."
"When you love someone, you do not love them all the time, in exactly the same way, from moment to moment. Such is an impossibility, and even a lie to pretend to. And yet this is exactly what most of us demand. We have so little faith in the ebb and flow of life, of love, of relationships. We leap at the flow of the tide and resist in terror its ebb. We are afraid it will never return. We insist on permanency, on duration, on continuity; when the only continuity possible, in life as in love, is in growth, in fluidity - in freedom, in the sense that the dancers are free, barely touching as they pass, but partners in the same pattern."
"Thank you Taylor. Now ladies and gentlemen, the couple have decided to write their own vows as a commitment to each other. Liam has asked if he can go first."
"My darling Steffy, when we had our very first wedding in Aspen all those years ago the minister said to us 'may your love be as strong as these very mountains, may it last the test of time.' Well baby like those very mountains our love has been tested, we have been shaken to the very core, people have tried to come between us, to change us, to change our fate and yet like those very mountains our love still stands strong.
Today, in front of our families and friends, I choose you! I choose you to be my wife, my lover, my wild woman, the mother of our children. You are the end to my beginning, you are my other half and without you, my world does not make sense.
Earlier today, you sent me a letter and you mentioned the day being full of wonderful surprises, well my darling, I know you had picked out some fancy wedding bands but I too am full of surprises. As many of you know this isn't our first time travelling this road, in fact around two years ago our worlds were turned upside down by a tragic accident. We lost our darling daughter, Aspen, that day. She was supposed to enter the world in July. As fate would have it the birthstone for July are rubies and would serve as double meaning, you see rubies are said to represent love and in this case they do. These rings are made up of an endless circle of rubies, a physical representation of the endless love we have for our darling Aspen, her siblings and for each other. Steffy you are maddeningly complicated, you are the sexiest and smartest, most unpredictable woman I know. I adore you my love, you are fearless and you take on the world with such poise and grace! You are everything I want and everything in need. I take you as my wife to share this journey with, a partner on our path, in joy and in sorrow for the rest of our lives."
There is barely a dry eye in the audience as Liam lovingly gazes at Steffy and wipes the tears from her eyes and cheeks whispering to her "don't cry my love!"
"Oh Liam! They are perfect! As you are all aware, I wanted, we wanted Aspen to be a big part of today and you my love, have just made sure that she is a part of it forever! I love you so much!"
"Liam, when we got engaged this time around I knew it was going to be different. We had both grown as people, as individuals. But even with this growth, this maturity to our love, I am still learning. After all these years, I am still learning how to love and how to be loved in return. So Liam, I thank you for being my teacher, my confidant, my friend, our children's father, but most importantly I thank you for being my ever so patient lover. Liam you have made me laugh, you have been the reason for my tears, both the good and the bad and you have wiped them away. You have held me tight more times, than I can count. You have been there for my successes and you have seen me fail. You have kept me strong and I have given you strength. You are my best friend, my other half and without you, my world does not make sense. So here and now in front of everyone who is important to us, I commit myself to you, to be your lover, the mother to your children, your wife. Someone once said to me that no relationship is sunshine all the time, but once you have learned how to play in the rain, you have discovered the secret to getting through the storm. Well Liam we have had our share of rainy days, we have learned not only how to play in the rain but we now know how to dance through the storms. And just like a ship in a storm you are now and forever will be my lighthouse.
Love is more than three words mumbled before bed. Love is sustained by action, a pattern of devotion in the things we do for each other every day. Liam this I my promise to you, while we may face stormy seas in our future, you will always guide me home, for where ever you and our children are I too will be at home. Liam, I take you as my husband to share this journey with, a partner on our path, in joy and in sorrow for the rest of our lives."
"It is at this time in the Ceremony that Liam and Steffy have chosen to symbolised their love for each other and the loved ones who are missing from today by saying a verse and releasing butterflies." Thomas hands the box with the butterflies to Liam as Steffy takes the microphone.
"For now you are in heaven, and heaven is in our hearts, so you are always with us, we shall never be truly apart. Our love for you runs deeper than one could ever know, Always and forever you are ours and we are yours. To our Darling baby girl, we love you oh so much. My beautiful sister Phoebe, not a day goes by where I don't miss you, I lost a part of me when you left us. To Kelly, thank you for raising such an amazing son, I truly wish I could have known the woman who raised the man I love. To Grandma, don't you worry I learned from the best, I am keeping them all in line at Forrester. We miss you all greatly and know that you are here with us in your own special way!"
Steffy hands the microphone back to the minister as she and Liam open the box of butterflies. Hundreds of butterflies exit the box, flying off into the breeze, yet four tiny butterflies stick around. One flies over and lands on Ridge and Taylor clasped hands, the second goes and sits on Erics shoulder, a third lands on Liam's chest, next to his heart and the final butterfly lands on Liam and Steffy's joined hands. Surprising all the guests and the couple themselves, Steffy quietly whispers "Aspen".
"Wedding rings are made precious by our wearing them. Your rings say that even in your uniqueness you have chosen to be bound together. Let these rings also be a sign that love has substance as well as soul, a present as well as a past, and that, despite its occasional sorrows, love is a circle of happiness, wonder, and delight. May these rings remind you always of the vows you have taken here today."
"I Liam give you Steffy this ring as an eternal symbol of my love and commitment to you."
"I Steffy give you Liam this ring as an eternal symbol of my love and commitment to you."
"And now, by the power vested in me by the State of California, I hereby pronounce you husband and wife. Liam, you may kiss your bride. Ladies and Gentlemen it is my great honour to present to you Mr and Mrs Liam and Steffy Spencer."
"Friends and family, to conclude this ceremony, Liam and Steffy have chosen there brothers to bare witnesses, Mr and Mrs Spencer, Wyatt and Thomas would you please come forward and sign your names to the certificate of marriage."
It was at this very moment that Liam noticed the butterfly still sitting on his chest and one sitting on his wife's flowers. In his heart, he knew that everyone who was important to him was present on that day.
"I think I just heard a million hearts from around the globe officially break... you're all mine now, from now until eternity!"
"I wouldn't have it any other way! Hmm do you think we can eat before we get fully into photo mode, baby mumma is hungry!"
"For you my love, anything! I will ask someone to go and find you something to eat, are you wanting anything in particular?"
"Nothing major, just a snack! I am sure Caroline could use something too!"
"I shall send Wyatt into the house to grab you something!"
"Baby, he is your best man and brother, not your slave!"
"And he is also the twins uncle and they already have him wrapped around their little fingers, trust me, he will do it!"
"He will do what?" Wyatt interrupts the newlywed's conversation.
"You brother dearest, will run up to the house and grab something to eat for the twins!"
"Sure no worries, will a banana do or do you want something more than that? Anything for my new sister and those babies!" Wyatt states as he makes his way towards the house.
"What is with you and having the Spencer men at your beckon call? Hmm?"
"I have no idea... If it makes you feel any better I only need one of them!"
"Oh yeah and who might that be?"
"Your father of course, he owns our house! Ha, if you could have seen your face just then! The only Spencer man I need is my Husband!"
"Say it again!"
"I Steffy Spencer love my darling husband, Liam, with all of my heart!"
After countless photographs had been taken of the happy couple, their families and friends the celebrations relocated to the marquee that had been set up on the tennis court. Liam and Steffy mingled with their guests late into the night, partying hard until fatigue got the best of Steffy and she and her husband decided to retire for the night. After a quick farewell to all their guests, Liam picked Steffy up and carried her back towards the main house, carrying her over the threshold of their family home.
"I love you husband!"
"I love you wife!"
"Ouch! I think the little ones are feeling left out! We both love the pair of you!"
"She is right guys, Mummy and Daddy, love you so, so very much!"
"Today, today, was perfect! I cannot believe you surprised me with these wedding bands! They are amazing, just like my husband!"
"I am glad you like them, even if I can't take all the credit! The idea was mine but I did have some help from our jeweller!"
"Who knew I was marrying such a sentimental guy?"
"Who knew I would see my wife cry more times in the past 5 months than I ever had before and almost every single tear shed has been because of romance. I never thought I would see the mushy side to tough girl Steffy Forrester Spencer! I kind of like this good girl side of you!"
"And here I was thinking you were past your good girl phase!"
"Well it just so happens, with you my darling wife, I get to have both!" Liam states as he leans in for a kiss.
"Right answer! Baby can we go to bed now, I am so tired and this dress is getting heavy and tight and your pregnant wife is feeling extremely uncomfortable!"
"Come here my love, let's get you undressed and into bed! It has been a long day and I know you must be tired!" Liam states while unzipping Steffy's dress and helping her to step out of it.
Steffy crawls into bed naked as Liam switches off the lights in the living room and locks the front door. When he returns to their bedroom, he notices Steffy lying seductively on the covers of their bed.
"You look shocked my love, you didn't honestly thing that I was going to let our first night as husband and wife slip past did you! Now be a good husband and get your butt out of that suit and into our bed. You wife may be pregnant but she had needs too. I am sure you can meet them for me can you my love."
"You Steffy Spencer, will be the death of me I am convinced!" exclaims Liam as he quickly strips off and joins his wife in their bed.