As Steve neared the top of the stairs he could hear voices, although he could not make out the words at first. Then he heard it, the voice that lived in his heart. "Shane! What do you mean 'I can be happy again'? Who is this man?"
Unable to hold back any longer, Steve called out "It's me, baby. It's me."
He watched as Shane pulled his hand away from Kayla's and as Kayla turned towards the staircase. He saw the shock register on her face as she saw him and heard her softly say his name. Kayla's eyes and face had always shown her every emotion and this time was no different. He watched as the shock gave way to confusion and she turned back quickly to look at Shane. He could not see her face, but he saw a strange look pass across Shane's face - it almost looked like guilt for a moment.
Before Steve could fully process that thought, Kayla had turned back towards him again. Steve had not even known he was holding his breath, but when he saw the look he had been waiting for - one full of nothing but love for him - he finally started breathing again.
As Steve made his way slowly down the stairs, he took the opportunity to drink in the vision of his wife. She had changed since he had last seen her. Her hair was much shorter and she was wearing jeans and a casual shirt. He could count on one hand the number of times Kayla had worn jeans since he had met her but they looked good on her now. Memories flashed before his eyes with each step he took - their first kiss, the first time they made love, their wedding on the yacht, Stephanie's birth. Yet he could not remember a time when she looked more beautiful than she did right now.
Kayla seemed rooted in the spot as he slowly approached. He saw Kim hand off her daughter to Shane, then quietly approach and take the squirming Stephanie from a seemingly oblivious Kayla. Steve could see how much Stephanie had grown and he smiled as his daughter pointed up at him from the comfort of her aunt's arms.
As he reached the bottom of the stairs, Kayla finally took a step towards him. Her eyes had not left his from the time he had started down the stairs and their gaze remained locked as she approached him. Steve could see the tears in Kayla's eyes and could feel the ones in his own.
Kayla stopped in front of him. Slowly, Steve reached out and cupped her face in his hands, wiping away her tears with his thumbs. "Don't cry, Sweetness," he said softly. "Everything's okay now." Kayla remained silent, but reached her own hand up and placed her hand on his cheek. Steve could feel the jolt of electricity from her touch and knew that she felt it too. He leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her lips, tasting them again after so long.
When they separated, Steve saw a small smile cross Kayla's face. She gave a little laugh and softly said, "Steve."
"Steve smiled back and through his own tears, said "That's right baby, it's really me. Happy Anniversary, Sweetness." He leaned down and kissed her again, wanting to prove he was real. When the kiss ended, she threw her arms around his neck and buried her face in his chest, laughing and crying at the same time.
Steve wrapped his arms around his wife, his Sweetness, and let out a laugh of his own. Holding her close, his face in her hair, Steve finally felt alive again. They might be in some mansion in England, but it didn't matter. He had Kayla in his arms, and he could see his daughter just a few feet away. As far as Steve was concerned, that made this home. Steven Earl Johnson was finally home.