Marius and Thomas

Marius looked up at the knock on his door, he was just getting ready to leave after staying a little later than usual to finish up with some fabric choices he was making for one of his designs, and he still wasn't happy.

He was surprised when Thomas poked his head in and asked "Hey Marius, you got a minute?"

At Marius's nod he entered.

"I was just wondering if you were going over to see Steffy tonight?" He checked his watch, "Her plane should be landing soon."

Marius raised an eyebrow in amusement, he and Thomas had struck up an off-hand friendship of sorts since Steffi's departure two and a half months ago. He wasn't sure whether this was Thomas's way of keeping an eye on him for his little sister, or whether he was truly trying to make an effort to know him, either way he was alright with, as he found he quite enjoyed his company.

He shook his head negatively, "No, not tonight, I imagine your sister will be tired after such a long flight, especially with two young children, the last thing she will need, or want, is some idiot barging into her home when all she wants to do is settle her children down for the night then kick back and relax a little before she even thinks about unpacking."

He grinned at Thomas, "even I am not that abominably stupida, close at times maybe, but not quite there yet. By the way, how did Douglas and Hopes visit go?"

Thomas frowned at the quick change of subject but decided Marius was probably right, there was nothing like a long flight to totally wipe you out, and add two young children to that equation, and Steffy would most definitely just be looking to curl up on her sofa with a glass of wine and a movie.

He looked at Marius and smiled, "surprisingly good, Hope kept her word, she didn't raise anything controversial to him, they just talked about his school work and sports at first. I think it was good for both of them. I know Douglas has missed Hope a lot more than he has let on, but we both had to let his anger at what happened settle, his therapy has helped with that tremendously though and the Dr thought it was time if he wanted. As I told you, we started out slowly with a couple skype sessions with her before this, so most of the initial awkwardness was already out of the way."

Marius smiled and patted Thomas's shoulder, "this is good, yes? This is what you wanted, a healthy relationship between Douglas and Hope."

"Yeah, but it wasn't easy, especially when Douglas came right out and asked Hope why she slept with Steffi's husband, again," said Thomas as he shook his head in amazement at Douglas's bravery, audacity, and lingering anger.

Marius's mouth popped open in shock, "Well, that was definitely unexpected . . . how did she take it, and was Douglas happy with her answer?"

Thomas took a deep breath before saying, "believe it or not, she was honest with him."

At Marius's look of disbelief Thomas snorted, "I know, I was surprised too, but she thought about it for a moment before calmly saying that she was drunk and angry. She said that at the time she thought she was angry at Liam and Steffy, but after she thought about it for a while, she finally realised that she was angry about a lot of other things that had happened in her life in the lead up to both times."

Thomas frowned before adding, "she asked him if he'd ever buried things so deep that he thought those feelings were gone forever, and when Douglas nodded, she said that, that was what she did too. She had buried a lot of things, lots of hurts and embarrassments, and lots of anger, and finally it all came bubbling to the surface, and she never even knew it was happening, not until she was forced by her dad to really examine her life, and everything that had happened to her, and all the hurt that had happened because of her actions. She told him that she was now deeply ashamed of everything she had done, and of what she had let herself become because she had been afraid, but that she was now working really, really hard on being true to herself, and to becoming a more honest, open version of she really is."

Thomas snorted, "After that revelation Douglas just went over and hugged her, they're still not back to how things were obviously, but so far, things are looking good."

"You believe her words then?" asked Marius quietly.

Thomas looked thoughtfully at Maries for a moment before quietly saying, "yeah, yeah I do, there was something in her voice, something in her eyes. I don't know whether it was losing her baby on top of the pain of losing Beth and Liam, but something fundamental has changed in her. The fact that she's even skyped with Beth last month, well, that was major."

Marius nodded, "perhaps, finally, things will now settle down and start to look up for you."

Thomas grinned, "and you too, I know my sister, and I'm pretty sure what her answer will be when it comes to taking a chance on the two of you. If you heard how pissed off she was about how sweet you were to organise all that food after the storm, well, you'd know that there's more at work than just two ships that pass in the night."

Marius grinned, "lets hope so my friend, let's hope so."

Steffy, Ridge and Liam

Steffy dropped her bags next to her fathers as Kelly and Hayes walked over and plonked themselves on the sofa, Kelly grabbing the remote to switch on the television.

"Not so fast you too, I know it's only six thirty, but I want both of you to go to your rooms and put your p.j.'s on and then brush your teeth."

"Muuuummmm" they both whined in perfect unison.

"Right now, while you still have some energy, neither one of you slept much on the plane and you are both tired, now scat."

Both turned and trudged up the stairs just as Ridge came in with the second lot of suitcases.

"He put them down by the door and smiled at Steffy, "I've left my bags outside, but that's all of yours and the kids."

He walked over and kissed her forehead, "I've ordered some pizza for both of us, yours will be delivered up here and mine will be delivered to the guest house, now go, grab a glass of wine and sit down for a moment, it's been a long trip, for both of us."

"You're not going to eat with us?" Asked Steffy in surprise.

Ridge chuckled, "I think we both need to relax after the flight, some quiet time is exactly what we both need I think."

Steffy smiled and hugged her father, "thanks dad, thanks for coming with me, for just being there, it was good."

Ridge held her for a moment before gently pushing her back and looking at her, for both of us Steffy. I benefitted every bit as much as you, perhaps even more, now, I'll see you tomorrow, I want to show you what I've been doing while I've been sketching."

With that he turned and left. After a brief moment She walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge, there was still a bottle of Chardonay left in the fridge and a half a dozen beers. Thankfully Thomas had done as she asked when she'd rang him the day before she'd left Australia, he'd fully re-stocked her fridge either yesterday or today with fresh food, some wine and beer-(that she figured was more for when he visited), and milk for her and the kids, as well as airing the place out so it didn't smell musky. Shrugging, she grabbed a beer, she was tired and needed a shower, and it was just a beer kind of night, then she plonked herself down on the couch and closed her eyes in contentment. There was nothing important that she needed to do right now, and with the pizza that her father had ordered due soon, she could finally relax.

A short time later there was a knock at the door just as Kelly and Hayes, now in their pyjamas', came back down the stairs. As Steffy went to grab their pizza she told them to grab some plates from the cupboard and go to the table while she grabbed their dinner.

She walked to the door, hearing the muffled voices of someone talking, when she opened it Liam was standing there with the pizza, his hand outstretched to the door to open it and let himself in, and the delivery driver was heading down to the guest house.

"Liam? What are you doing here?" she asked in barely suppressed annoyance.

"I missed you and the kids, when you rang and told me you'd be back today I decided to surprise you all."

Before Steffy could say a word there was a joyful shout of "Daddy," as Kelly, upon seeing her father, put the plates she was carrying onto the table and ran to meet him.

Steffy sighed, "Come in, as you can see, we were just about to eat if you want to join us."

Liam smiled and walked over to the table with Kelly whilst Steffy followed behind trying not to say something nasty to him in front of the kids – still, he could still prove to be useful.

"Okay, while you guys eat and catch up, I'm going to go and have a nice long shower, when I get out it's going to be bedtime for you two."

At Kelly's automatic frown Liam piped up, "Your mums right, you've both had a long day, it's time for some dinner, then it will be up to your rooms for an early night, we can catch up more a bit later."

"Okay daddy," said Kelly, then both her and Hayes took a plate and put a slice of pizza on it from the now opened box.

As Liam turned his smiling face to Steffy she said, "thanks, I'll be back in a bit," and wandered off before he had a chance to open his mouth.

It took her over half an hour before she re-emerged, she took her time in the shower, washing her hair and giving it a good condition, then after towel drying it and giving it a loose comb, she slathered some moisturiser on her face and neck, put on her most comfortable (ugliest) clothes and then padded back out to join them.

In her absence Liam had been busy, after the kids had eaten a slice of pizza each – something they both yawned repeatedly through, and Kelly had told him a of an adventure between her and a goanna in Australia, he'd taken them both up to bed and got them settled down for the night, then he'd headed back down to the lounge/kitchen area, put the dishes in the dishwasher and tidied up.

When he heard Steffy getting dressed, he brought the pizza box and its remains over couch along with two fresh beers and turned on the television, he quickly selected an old movie, one of Steffi's favourites, and had it poised, ready to play. He wanted her to see just how well he knew her, and how easy it would be for him to fit straight back into her life again.

"Hey," he said, casually handing her a beer as she came over to the couch.

"Where are the kids?" she asked as she took the proffered drink before she sat down and curled her legs up underneath her.

Liam laughed, "both of them only managed to eat one slice of pizza before they started to fall asleep, so I took them up and put them to bed. Hayes was pretty much asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. Kelly protested a little, but I think that was more on principle, because she was pretty much the same as Hayes."

"Liam, what's this about, really?" asked Steffy waving a hand around as she took a mouthful of her drink.

Liam frowned, "I just wanted you to see how right we are together, how easy it is between us. Steffy, we fit, we're amazing together, and the kids would have their father back. Steffy, I love you, I want you back, I want us to be a family again. Please, I'll do anything you want, if you just give me a chance and let me come home!"

Steffy shook her head, "Liam, we've been through this, numerous times, nothing has changed between us, I'm sorry but, we're over, and this time it's for good."

As Liam went to protest Steffy held up her hand.

"No Liam! We had our chance – several actually, and every single time we ended up splitting up, and then you would go running back to Hope, or Ivy, or Sally Spectra! You made your choices Liam, YOU! And yes, I know I'm to blame too, especially for putting aside my pride and self-respect and taking you back, even after you cheated on me, but not this time Liam, this time it really is over . . . I've finally moved on."

Liam scowled, "the designer? Marius?"

"If he still wants me, but it's more than just Marius" said Steffy honestly. "If he doesn't want me than the answer is still going to be the same, it's over between us, for good, I simply refuse to go there again."

"But . . . . " began Liam.

Steffy smiled sadly and put a hand on his cheek, "I'm sorry this isn't what you wanted Liam, but it's what I want, and from now on, when it comes to my heart, that's all that matters."

Liam's eyes searched her face before he stood abruptly. Tears of pain and regret threatened to fall as he looked at the woman he loved, the woman he'd betrayed and let down over, and over, and for the first time he saw the truth of what she was saying in her eyes. He'd finally managed to destroy everything that really mattered to him, his family, and the love of this incredible woman.

He was too late!

He turned and walked slowly out of the house they had once shared.

Steffy watched him go, she closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath, before she swung back around, turned the movie that Liam had lined up on and reached for a slice of the now cool pizza.