Our family is our universe!
Ridge awoke and felt a tingling in his stomach. He turned to the side and looked at his future wife, who was also just waking up. She always reminded him of a cat. Still with her eyes closed, she stretched first, then wrinkled her nose and blinked her eyes sleepily.
"Good morning Doc!"
"Good morning Sweetheart!" She snuggled up to him, he stroked her hair.
"Did you sleep well? Ready for the most important day of our life?"
"I don't think I've ever been more ready." She gave him a soft kiss. "What about you?"
"I can hardly wait. I'd love to marry you right now." Taylor laughed. She looked deep into his eyes.
"Can you believe it? It's really happening, in a few hours we'll be married and we will spend the rest of our life together..."
"Indeed! We will love, fight, make up and love again." He pulled her close and kissed her passionately.
The big day was finally here. Thomas and Steffy had arrived the day before and they had already spent a night together at the hotel. Against the tradition and despite every protest from Steffy and Thomas, Taylor and Ridge had spent the night together. At their last failed wedding attempts, they had slept the night before separately. They had decided to break with that tradition this time in order to defeat the curse.
They lay in each other's arms, tightly embraced. Taylor gently freed herself.
"I have something for you!" She reached into the drawer and pulled out a small gift.
"For me? What is it?"
"Something you will need today. Go ahead and open it!" Excitedly, he opened the package. Inside were beautiful cufflinks. On them were the letters T&R. Ridge was touched by this loving gesture. He thanked her with a big intimate kiss.
"That reminds me. I also have..."
Poch! Poch! Poch! Someone was pounding on the door.
"Who could that be?" groaned Ridge. He rose from the bed and slipped into his robe. As soon as he opened the door, Thomas and Steffy rushed in.
"Good morning! Your wedding committee is reporting for duty. We'll take over from here!" Ridge frowned.
"Since when are you guys in charge of this family?"
"We just fulfill our responsibilities as best man and maid of honor!"
"And what crazy ideas have you come up with?" asked Taylor, slightly concerned.
"Mom, you're coming with me." explained Steffy "I booked us a full spa program. I thought it might do us some good to get a little pampering before the big moment." Taylor beamed, she liked this part of the plan.
"And Dad, you and I..." added Thomas "...we will play some tennis. Sport is just the best way to release your tension and nervousness and maybe I'll even let you win for once to celebrate."
"Excuse me? My dear son, I may not be the youngest anymore, but I can still beat you hands down."
"So guys, we'll give you..." Steffy looked at her watch "... ten minutes to get ready and say goodbye to each other. So hurry up! Vite Vite!" They clapped their hands and were gone. Taylor and Ridge stared at each other, puzzled.
"Those kids!" Ridge turned to Taylor. "Your kids!"
"What does that supposed to mean? They are also your kids!" They resigned themselves to their fate. Once they were dressed, Ridge gave her one last hug. He stroked her face.
"The next time we see each other, we'll be in front of the minister" Taylor wrapped her arms around him.
"And when we kiss, we'll be husband and wife. How about one last kiss for your fiancée." They sank into an endless kiss. The door opened again, Thomas and Steffy relentlessly pulled their parents apart.
For the next few hours, Taylor and Steffy enjoyed themselves in the hotel's spa area. They had a massage and had been in the sauna already. Now they were lying in a small private relaxation room, unwinding with a fruit shake.
"This was a brilliant idea! A perfect start to this wonderful day!"
"Are you very nervous Mom?"
"Let's say, I'm excited. Today is just going to be magical! I feel it. Nothing will go wrong today." Steffy raised her eyebrow, Taylor noticed it. "I know what you're thinking right now, but today is going to be different. Your father and I are getting married for the only right reason this time, because we love each other and because we want to be together and no one is going to stop us."
"Is that why you decided that no one else from the family should be there?"
"Well, sort of. We were just apprehensive about having a big family wedding, also we want to share this special moment with only you guys."
"I understand Mom and actually I think it's fine. I just wonder how the others will react when they find out. Grandma will kill you."
"Does she suspect anything?"
"No, not at all, I mean there's nothing special with Thomas and me coming here to visit you. But lately she's been going on about when you're finally going to get married and the other day she was considering how she could push you in that direction unobtrusively." Taylor screwed up her face and smirked.
"Stephanie will never change. I guess first she will be very disappointed that she had missed the big event, but your dad and I have always done what others expected from us and this time we just want to do what's right for us." Steffy nodded. She hesitated for a moment, but then asked the question that had been on her mind for a while.
"And Brooke is no longer an issue? I mean, she's been keeping her foot still lately, but..."
"Well, your father gave her a hard time when she showed up here in San Francisco. He gave her quite a dressing-down."
"He did?" asked Steffy, dumbfounded.
"Oh yeah! Trust me Steffy, Brooke is no longer a threat to us or our family. Your father has closed that chapter.
"I want to believe it. But it's still an unfamiliar thought, after all my entire life I've never experienced it otherwise. Brooke was always there somehow. Tonight I even dreamed she came flying on a dragon to stop your wedding." Taylor burst out laughing.
"I certainly hope the hotel won't allow dragons in here."
"And no horses either." They broke into another fit of laughter. Steffy raised her glass. "Cheers to a wedding with no Brooke and no other creatures!" Mother and daughter toasted at each other.
Thomas and Ridge had exhausted themselves playing tennis. Now they relaxed comfortably with a soft drink.
"Cheers to your last hours of freedom, Dad!" Ridge laughed out.
"You make it sound like I'm going to jail."
"Isn't it?" Thomas winked at his father.
"No! Not at all, on the contrary. I've never been so free in my life." Irritated, Thomas glanced at his father.
"I'm free from being on the lookout, this back and forth. I've found my place and now I can just let life come to me. That's a wonderful feeling. I wish you'd realize that sooner than your old man."
"And you're really sure about this? Please don't take this the wrong way Dad but..."
"Yes, I know! I'm absolutely sincere this time. I love your mother, there will never be another woman for me."
"And what about Brooke? I mean, you always say you don't love her anymore, but how do you feel about her today?"
"Brooke was a big part of my life, a part of my past that I wouldn't want to miss. We also had good times together. But it's over! I don't have feelings for her anymore, at least not romantic ones. She is still a part of the family, the mother of one of my children. I feel the same way about her as I do about any other family member. But my heart belongs solely to your mother.
"Urgh, that sounds corny, but also beautiful."
"Thomas, I know Steffy and you have been through a lot in the past and I'm sure it's hard for you to trust those words because you've heard them so many times. But I give you my word on it. You two, your mother and I, we are a family and that's what we will remain for the rest of our life! Of course, we hope that someday this family will get bigger and we'll have lots of grandchildren."
"We will see!"
Taylor and Steffy were back in the bridal suite getting ready for the ceremony. Ridge had already taken all of his stuff with him. He was going to change in Thomas' room. Steffy was already dressed. She was wearing a pale green gown. She was finished with her mother's makeup. Now she was busy with her hair. At the top of her head she pinned up some hair and fastened a small tiara in it, the rest of the hair fell in soft curls over her shoulder.
"It's pretty exciting to get your mother ready for her wedding, most daughters don't get that opportunity!"
"That's true! I just hope one day you give me the chance to return the favor and I have the pleasure of getting you ready for your big day!"
"Yes! Someday that day will come. I just hope I will look as happy as you are." Taylor was actually beaming all over her face. She was looking forward to the big moment more with every passing minute.
"It's a weird thing. For years I waited and hoped for this day. Then I was ready to give up this dream and thought I would never see this day, and now all of a sudden it's here!"
"And you always told me to never give up on my dreams and now look at you. I've never seen Dad and you so in love as you are now and in a few hours you'll be husband and wife and then nothing and no one can separate you."
"Yes, this time it's forever and ever!"
"There, I'm done!" Steffy put down the comb. Taylor looked at herself in the mirror.
"Wow, this is incredible! You're really talented."
"Ready for the next big step?" Taylor pondered at her.
"To put on the wedding dress?!"
"I can't wait!" Steffy helped her mother with the gown. Admiringly, she gazed at her mother.
"You look stunning!" Taylor hugged her. "I have Thomas and you to thank for that!"
There was a knock at the door.
"Who is it?" Steffy asked, horrified.
"It's me!" Taylor and Steffy stared at each other, startled.
"Dad? Don't you dare come in here!" she yelled at him. She winked at her mother.
"Don't panic! It's locked!"
"What's he doing here?" She ran around the room, finally she escaped into the bathroom and locked the door behind her. Steffy waited until her mother was safe. Only then did she open the door a crack.
"What are you doing here? You have no business being here!" But Ridge pushed past her into the room without a second thought.
"I have something for your mother. I forgot about it earlier after you came barging in like that." He placed a jewelry box on the dressing table.
"Okay, I'll give it to her, now scoot!" He searched around, then he knocked on the bathroom door.
"Doc, are you in there?"
"Yes, she is but she won't come out until you leave." Steffy tried to pull her father away from the door.
"Doc, tell your daughter not to be so rude to her father!"
"You know the rules, Ridge. You don't want to spoil the surprise do you?!"
"Pah I know what you look like. Actually, I know you and your body very well!" Steffy rolled her eyes.
"Well then, it certainly won't be hard for you to wait a little bit longer. And the sooner you leave, the sooner I can get out of here and become Mrs. Ridge Forrester."
"Will you come out if I tell you I have a very special surprise for you?"
"Don't tempt me. You can't do that until after the wedding!"
"And then over and over again."
Steffy couldn't stand it anymore. She tugged at her father and shoved him toward the door.
"That's enough! Or the wedding will be canceled due to the murder of the groom." She finally managed to maneuver her father out the door and lock it again.
Taylor stuck her head out the bathroom door.
"Is he gone?" Steffy nodded and Taylor dared to come out of her hiding place. Steffy shook her head.
"Can you believe this?! Get Married for the umpteenth time and he is still not familiar with the ground rules." Taylor chuckled.
"I don't think that's the problem. Your father has always had a certain penchant for breaking the rules he didn't like."
"I see."
"So what's this mysterious surprise?"
"Oh that's right!" Steffy handed her the jewelry box. "I'm supposed to give you this." Taylor sat down and opened it. Both her and her daughter's mouths dropped open in amazement. Inside the box was a beautiful golden necklace. Five gold/silver pendants adorned the necklace, a small diamond sparkling in each. Taylor took the necklace in her hand and looked at it more closely. Each pendant had a different shape. In the center was a sun, next to it a crescent moon and a star. On the other side was a shooting star and a sphere that looked like a planet.
"Wow, it's magnificent!" Steffy had regained her speech. Taylor now noticed there was a word engraved on the back of each pendant. As she read the words, tears welled up in her eyes.
Our family is our universe
Steffy also felt a lump in her throat. She glanced at her mother, who was still fighting the tears.
"Careful Mom, you'll ruin all the makeup! It's just a good thing we opted for the waterproof one." She grabbed a tissue and carefully dabbed the tears from her mother's face. Then she put the necklace on her.
"I hope when I get married, my future husband will also give me such a great gift."
"I wish you that!" Steffy checked her watch.
"I think we should go. Ready?"
"More than ever!" Taylor reached for her bouquet.
"Do you have everything?" asked Steffy "Something old?" Taylor nodded and pointed to the earrings that had already belonged to her mother.
"Something borrowed?" Taylor raised the arm on which she wore the bracelet that actually belonged to Steffy.
"And something blue?" Taylor nodded and grinned mischievously. Steffy decided not to ask any further.
"Well, let's go! Before Dad storms up here again and picks you up himself!" They left the suite. Steffy took a few steps ahead of her mother to make sure they didn't accidentally run into her father. But Ridge and Thomas were already in the ceremony room, waiting impatiently for the two ladies. Outside the room, Steffy and Taylor met the minister, the photographer, and the pianist. They were greeted warmly by everyone. Except for Taylor, everyone went into the room and took their seats.