A Happy Family - Liam and Steffy Spencer

Chapter 5

With Liam 

Liam made his way to the entrance of his house, a defeated expression on his face. He had tried everything he could to get into TPS' building to talk to Steffy without any success. Even telling the security guard that he was her ex-husband and that she would want to talk to him hadn't fazed the man. And there was a reason for that. Apparently he knew perfectly well who he was and had been given the express instruction not to let him get in.

It was with a dejected face that he had made his way out of the building and to his car but that didn't mean he had given up on seeing Steffy. She would have had to get out sooner or later so, he had waited patiently on the other side of the road, facing the building. He didn't know how she had done it but Liam had spent hours waiting and perusing the entrance each time someone came out but not once had he seen Steffy or Thomas leave the place.

After the security guard had left and the building had turned dark, he'd had to face the obvious: somehow, Steffy had managed to leave the building without him noticing. Although, Liam was sure that she hadn't left by the front door otherwise he would have noticed her. No, there must have been another way out of there, something he hadn't thought of. Maybe he'd have much luck the next day early in the morning.

Lost in his thoughts, Liam entered his house and mechanically put his things away. He went to the kitchen area, intent on making himself a drink, and a strong one at that.

All this time, he was unaware of the guest following him with scrutinizing eyes. "Liam?"

Jerking around in surprise, Liam dropped his glass on the ground after the gulp he had taken. He was thankful that he had had time to swallow it by the time his guest made herself known, otherwise he'd have drowned on the liquor.

Liam: Hope, What are you doing here?

Hope: I wanted to talk to you so, I went to your office but you weren't there.While she talked, Hope had risen from her seat on the couch and walked slowly to him. However, I did find this.

Liam had followed her with his eyes and when he saw the papers in her hand, he stilled on the spot. He hoped what she had in her hand wasn't what he thought it was, so he simply stared at Hope, confusion and dread in his eyes.

Hope practically put the papers in his face. Liam, what is this?

He took the papers from her and looked at them. He couldn't believe it. After confirming that yes, it was the papers Steffy had sent him, Liam's eyes returned their focus to Hope.

Liam: Where did you get this?

Hope's breath hitched at the look he had sent her way but that faded quickly to be replaced by disbelief when she heard the stupid question. "That's all you're going to say, really?"

It was Liam's turn to look surprised. "What else do you want me to say? You went through my stuff and read something personal and that does not concern you!"

Hope: It does not concern me? Liam, I am your fiancée! Your ex-wife comes back in town, clearly ready to pop up and she's claiming that you are the father of her child and you say it doesn't concern me?!"

Liam: That's not what I meant and you know it. It's just something that I didn't even have time to process and now you're asking for answers that I don't have!

Hope's face softened. Right, have you talked to Steffy then? I guess that's what you were doing when I didn't find you in your office."

He shook his head. "No, I went to her workplace but they wouldn't let me in. They said it was the order they were given."

That was a big surprise for Hope. She was sure that Steffy would have jumped at the attention Liam was giving her. Although, why she waited until now was anyone's guess. "So, Steffy didn't want to talk to you?"

Liam slumped on the sofa and shook his head in the negative with a sigh. "At least not today. I'm going back tomorrow and this time, I won't give her any choice."

Hope: You know, I don't think that the kid is actually yours, otherwise Steffy would have come back earlier, as soon as she learned about it. I'm sure that's why she doesn't want to talk to you.

Liam's eyes, which had been shut a moment before shot open in shock. He couldn't believe his ears. "That's not who Steffy is and I'm sure if she says the baby is mine, then it is!"

His fervent declaration and conviction in it took Hope aback. What are you talking about Liam? That's exactly who she is! Or have you forgotten what she's done to us over and over again? She manipulated and tricked us every chance she got and now she's doing it again!"

Liam sighed at the comeback. "Steffy has changed since then, Hope and if she didn't tell me before that she was pregnant with my child, there must be a reason. I just need to know what it was."

Hope: Liam, open your eyes! This is Steffy we're talking about. Don't you see that her plan is already working? All you can think about is her!

Liam: Well of course I'm thinking about her, I just learned that she's expecting my baby! She will soon give birth and I know nothing about how the pregnancy has gone on until now!" He once again fell onto the sofa in frustration. "To top it all of it seems that she doesn't want anything to do with me if those papers are anything to go by."

Hope: What about us and our wedding?

Liam: Well, you were the one that wanted to postpone the preparations to concentrate on your line so, there really isn't any difference.

Hope's eyes opened in shock. "You actually want to postpone the wedding, because I won't let her interfere in my life again?! She's done enough already and I'm telling you, this wedding is going to happen!"

Liam: Hope, I'm not postponing anything, we haven't even set a date yet! You just concentrate on your HFTF line as you planed and I'll get things in order with Steffy in the meantime.

Hope: Ok. Then before you sign anything, ask her for a paternity test!

Liam: You know what? We'll talk about this again another time, after I talk to Steffy.

Hope wasn't about to let it go. "Liam, you can't let Steffy get you trapped into this. Promise me you'll ask her for the test?"

Hope: Ok, I promise. Now, I think you should go back and finish getting your line ready."

Hope sighed, defeated. "Alright, I'll see you later." With those last words, she gave him a kiss and then turned to make her way out.

Liam looked after her retreating back, once again going to his original problem. He had to think of a way to get Steffy to talk to him and he had no idea on how to get about it.

He saw the papers on the table and went to read them again. He really didn't know how to react to this. To be honest, it wasn't how he had imagined learning about his impending fatherhood, nor the woman he had expected it to be with. Sure they had talked about the future and having children some day but not this soon.

He really was in big trouble now. How was he going to resolve this? Just when he and Hope were planning another wedding, this is what happened. Once again he was going to have to make a choice and this one would be harder than anything before. If the baby really was his, and he had no doubt about that, then he'd have to make things very clear with Steffy. He wasn't about to let any child of his grow up fatherless.