Written In the Stars

Chapter 22

Chapter 22

"Are you sure this is what you want to do? You can still change your mind," Wyatt posed.

"Yeah, this is what I want to do. I can't thank you enough again for everything."

"You still don't need to do this today."

I sigh, "Steffy is getting married today. She needs this fresh start without me hanging over her head. She needs this fresh start without me in the picture. I just need to be a distant memory. It's a good day for both of us to start anew."

"Liam, you know that you will never just be a memory to Steffy."

"Maybe, maybe not, but I still need to give her that chance."

Wyatt sighs feeling defeated, "Are you sure you don't want me to at least take you to the airport?"

"No, I need this time alone."

"Okay, if you insist. I can't stay though goodbyes aren't really my thing you know?"

I smirk at him, "I get it. I'll leave your key on the table when I leave."

"Don't worry, keep it, maybe one day you'll be back and need a place to stay. At least you will have one."

"Thanks, bro."

*

The car is going to be here in a few minutes. I've wrapped up everything I need to do before I leave. "I think I have everything," I say out loud.

I sit down at the table and go through my important papers. I make sure I have my license and passport within my paper and stick them in a folder. As I am organizing the papers, a picture of Steffy, Kelly, Cooper and I fall out of the folder. It was the picture that we took on the day that I went to say goodbye to Kelly and Cooper. We look so happy. Even though there was so much going on, we still looked like the perfect little family.

Tears start falling down my face, as I recall mine and Steffy's life together. It's still hard to believe that it's over. I don't know how I am going to move forward, but I will do it. I owe it to Steffy.

I touch the picture again, "I'm so sorry that I wasn't able to be what you deserved. You deserved so much more. I will always love you," I sniff softly.

I go to pick up my bags to bring them over to the door, when there is a knock on the door. I couldn't imagine who it was. Wyatt didn't tell me that he was expecting anyone.

There is another frantic knock on the door. "Okay, hold on, I am coming," I yell, walking to the door.

"Yes?" I say as I open the door.

I blink quickly, not sure that I was seeing what I thought I was seeing. Unbelievable, yet I couldn't look away. I was in shock and in an utter state of disbelief. I couldn't even form the needed words. She was here standing in front of me in her wedding dress, looking like a heavenly angel. Her eyes were soft, and she wore a smile on her face.

Finally, I am able to form some kind of words. "Steffy," I whisper. "What—What, you—"

"Did you honestly believe that I could go through with it?" she says smiling at me.

"You—you...How?" I still can't completely form a complete sentence.

"I was fooling myself thinking that marrying Finn was what I wanted and needed to do."

"What?" I say. She just gave me music to my ears with her last words. "What are you doing here? You shouldn't be here."

She sighs and touches my face again, running her thumb over my scruff. I immediately feel calm. "Marrying Finn would be a mistake. I couldn't do it. I thought it was what was best and I was ready. Right up until I met him at the altar. I was smiling and so happy, but as soon as I looked him in the eyes, standing up there, and all I saw was your face Liam. I tried to see Finn's, but no matter how hard I tried, it was just your face. That's when I knew. I knew that I couldn't go through with it. It wouldn't be fair to him, me, the kids...to you."

"Steffy," I say softly.

"Shhh," she comforts, putting her finger up to my lips.

"I was lying to myself about Finn. Yes, I love him, and we could've had a nice life together raising Kelly and Cooper, but my soul would never truly be satisfied and I wouldn't be able to love Finn, the way he loves me or the way that I love you. It wouldn't be fair. Finn is a great guy, but he deserves someone who will fully and completely love him and be devoted to him. I wouldn't call Finn, an obligation, but maybe my safe choice."

"You know our children deserve their father, not a substitute. They need you, they need their family." She holds up a folder.

"The papers," I whisper. "You didn't file them yet? I thought—I thought, you were going to file them as soon as you were released from the hospital?"

"I was," she confirms. "But, after spending time with you and our son in the hospital, I knew I couldn't do it, regardless if Finn and I got married or not. He's your son, and I was wrong to try and take that from you."

"Steffy," I whisper.

She rips the papers up in front of me and tosses them in the garbage.

"I want our life back, Liam. I believe it when you say that you have changed. I want you. I trust you, and I believe that we can have that happily ever after. It may take work, but we are worth it. We have both changed and grown a lot the last couple years, and even though we've had a lot of tough times, I think we are ready to truly start anew and I think that this time it can and it will be forever." She sighs, "It took me almost losing you forever, for me to realize that you are the want I want."

She looks at me tenderly, "this is a new beginning for us. I want this, I want you, I love you, Liam. It's always been you, and it will always be you. We can't deny that anymore. I realized, it's wrong for us to live half a life, to play it safe because we are afraid of the unknown. We may fail again, but what if we succeed? We will never know if we don't take the risk. I'm not too worried about failing. Yes, times may be rough or difficult, but I am now sure that there is nothing that we can't endure and that we can't overcome. You've known for a long time, how I feel about you. I want you to come home to us. This is a new beginning for us. I want this. Tell me, that you want it too, that it is not too late for us."

I just stare at her in awe and amazement. I don't even know what to say. I am afraid to speak in fear that this is all a dream. I can't wrap my head around the fact that she is saying these things to me, or that she's standing in my doorway, as beautiful as ever in her wedding dress. This is all I've ever wanted, hoped and prayed for and now here it is in my reach. She wants to be with ME. I have so many emotions swirling around in my head.

"Well, say something," she prompts, smiling at me, bringing me out of my thoughts.

There wasn't much I could say without breaking down and crying in pure happiness and joy.

"Are you sure that this is what you want, Steffy?"

"I've never been more sure of anything in my life."

"This, us, is what I want. Please, don't doubt that Liam. I love you, Liam, so much," she professes.

I touch her face and study it. She's made my life. I love her so much. There truly isn't anything I wouldn't do for her. I lean in to kiss her passionately, feeling the passion and the fire ignites as soon as our lips touch.

"I love you too, Steffy."