Pretending, Going through the motions, that's what Steffy was doing. Pretending she wasn't hurting, pretending she wasn't being torn straight down the middle with pain, desire, and conflict. Going through the motions of working every day, surrounded by people who didn't even care about her, going through the motions of denying her past with Liam and her maybe future with Bill. Why was she even thinking about him? He was off limits anyway. He was married and her ex-father-in-law, it would be totally inappropriate to be involved with him. But it wasn't impossible, they had done it before. But they wouldn't do it again.

Bill was about to be a dad, he would no longer be interested in Steffy. 'If these damn Logan's weren't in my life,' Steffy started to think, but she stopped herself. She was moving on with her life, just living. Not focusing on 'what if's' and broken promises. Too many promises broken to her, promises from Bill, Liam, dad, and so many others, why couldn't people just keep their word?

Steffy walked right into the main office and up to her dad's desk. She wasn't going to be in the backseat any longer.

"Look, I know Hope for the Future is hot right now but I think you should give me a chance. Give me a line."

"Steffy," Ridge sighed. He was exhausted. He was up all night thinking about Katie and his baby. Was it best to keep the secret or to come out with the truth? Ridge couldn't help but think that it would all come out eventually and the sooner the better. It would be best to do it before the baby was born. They were running out of time.

"What dad? I'm not as good as Hope? Just because her little abstinence campaign worked out for a while doesn't mean that it will keep up. When all her followers find out that her wedding wasn't perfect and that waiting doesn't always pay off, they're going to stop buying." Steffy was nearly yelling now.

Ridge was getting frustrated. He was tense and didn't want to discuss this now.

"Her wedding wasn't perfect! When are you going to admit that this little crusade is over?" Steffy was almost sure she could be heard halfway down the hall now but she didn't care. She was sick and tired of her dad putting his other family before hers.

"Her wedding would have been perfect if it wasn't for you!" Ridge snapped. From the moment the words left his lips he wished he could pull them back. Steffy's eyes filled with tears. There was a long silence before Steffy said,

"I thought for once," she choked, "That you supported me." Her temper was coming back and her voice was rising. "I thought for once you actually cared about me!"

"Steffy, I didn't mean it like-," Ridge was cut off.

"Guess I was wrong." She said, tears running down her face. She ran out of her dad's office, ran out of Forrester Creations, and ran away from it all.

/\/\/\/\/\ /\/\/\/\/\

Tears were streaming down Steffy's face by the time she pulled onto the highway. Her eyes were hazy and the drizzle of rain outside as the sun was going down didn't help. She fumbled with her phone to call her mom. It wasn't fair. Maybe she was acting like a child but he didn't have the right to lash out at her like that and blame it all on her. It took her mom four rings before she finally picked up. On any other day, this would have worried Steffy because her mom always picked up on the first ring. Not today. She didn't even wait for her mom to say a word, Steffy plunged right in.

"He did it again! He picked Hope over me again! That bastard! Mom, dad did it for the millionth time! His other family over ours! I'm sick of it! I hate him! He walked out on me, abandoned once more! I honestly don't know why I still try. He clearly loves her more! Does anyone have my back anymore? He told me that if it hadn't been for me, Hope and Liam would've had the perfect wedding, they would both be perfectly happy, and Hope for the Future would still be going strong. He doesn't care!" A sob cracked Steffy's voice but she didn't care. "I'm going to go back tomorrow to demand I get a line or else I'm quitting! I'm not putting up with his bullshit anymore! I'll give my shares back to you or I'll sell them to Bill! Wait," Steffy paused, seeing a grand plan unfold in front of her; surprised her mom hadn't interrupted her yet. "I'm not going back tomorrow. I'm not going back to Forrester. I'm not going back anywhere. I'm done! Nothing matters! Nothing matters anymore! My life's a mess, dad hates me, Hope and Brooke hate me, no one has my back, my career is circling the drain, and I can't be with the man I love. I'm sorry mom. I'm not cut out for this lifestyle. I can't do this any longer. It's too damn hard. I love you. Don't forget it. Ever. I really am sorry you have to lose both your little girls. I'll always be your little girl. Only yours." Steffy was still crying hysterically. "Don't bother asking where you'll find me. I don't know where I am, I'm just driving." Her mom still hadn't said anything, which made Steffy feel even worse. Would her own mother not even care if she went off the deep end? "Don't forget that I love you. I'm sorry I can't be stronger. Good-," An unforeseen voice cut her off.

"Steffy, stop, right now!"

"Bill? What the hell? I'm not dead yet!" Steffy sniffled.

"And you're not going to be on my watch," Bill said with rage, the most angry she had ever heard him. "Pull over right now!'

She must have dialed the wrong contact. Oh well, it didn't matter anyway. "You can't make me. I'm not listening to you. I'm doing the deed and you can't stop me."

"I'm not going to sit here while you commit suicide! Pull over I'm coming to get you."

"You don't know where I am. I don't even know where I am."

"I'll track you on my phone. Just pull over and stay there."

"Bill, did you not just hear my speech? My life isn't worth living anymore. It's okay you don't have to fix it."

"So you're just giving up? That's not the Steffy I know. The Steffy I know is confident, strong, and wouldn't give up just because her daddy didn't do what she wanted." Bill knew that if he kept her talking long enough he could get to wherever she was.

"You don't understand the feeling when your own dad abandons you!"

"I'm pretty sure I do. My father ditched me any chance he could get. And if I remember correctly, last time your dad walked out on you I was the one there for you. And I'll be there for you again if you just pull over!"

"You can't fix me Bill. I'm beyond broken."

"Steffy," Bill said, his voice strained and trying to conceal his worry of what would happen if he didn't find her fast enough. He saw that she was only six miles away. He was certainly breaking the speed limit to catch up with her. "Just stop. Remember your happy memories. Remember why you're here."

"All of them are tainted. All about Liam or my family or," she trailed off, not wanting to say Bill.

"Remember when you and I found your brother?" Bill hated to bring up this memory, but he was desperate, and it was one of his happiest memories as well. "Remember when we worked to together? Remember your family, all coming together to find Thomas? Remember what we told each other?"

'Would he say it?' Steffy thought, 'What he said when they found Thomas? Would it fix her? Would she say it back? Would she still be alive to say it back?' Steffy slowly pulled over, maybe; just maybe, there was a candle in the dark.

Bright lights, coming from behind shone in her mirrors. Steffy remained in her car. Her passenger door opened and somebody got in.

"You're one crazy bitch, Steffy Forrester."