Jeff and Megan

The attraction was undeniable. To Jeff, she was friendly, outgoing...and...well...pretty cool! To Megan, Jeff was...well...cute! But previous heartbreaks meant they both needed much more than "cool" and "cute" on their journey toward security. Growing close enough for a lasting relationship would be difficult for these two, particularly with obstacles looming ahead.

"I was definitely skeptical," says Megan. "Even after we talked and I gave him my phone number, I was still asking everybody everything. I'd just been hurt." Jeff was equally wary. "We were both coming from the same place - we'd both been hurt before." In addition to dealing with a painful past, Jeff had an added responsibility:  his six-year-old daughter, Juliette. Introducing someone new, and ensuring that the three meshed, would be hard.

But the most difficult point in the young relationship came when Megan discovered she was pregnant. Maddox was on the way, and the couple faced an overwhelming decision. Yes, they were growing closer, but, no, they were not quite ready for marriage.

"It took me a while," Megan says when asked about their decision to marry. "I didn't feel like we were quite to the point that we would have gotten married if it hadn't been for Maddox. He definitely came before we made the decision to spend the rest of our lives together."

Other factors pointed toward marriage. Jeff recalls, "We'd both been hurt before, and our love for each other helped us overcome that." And then there was Juliette, who Megan says played a major role in the decision.

"It was really to be a good example," she says. "To say you know, this is what happened, but it doesn't have to get all crazy. We can make it and make this work. We are going to get married and become a family, and you're a part of that."

Of course, Jeff and Megan continue to face challenges, but relationship classes have helped reduce their insecurities and have shown them the importance of putting each other first - something Jeff does by helping Megan with bridal shows conducted by Wedding Extravaganza, where she serves as Creative Director. "It's hard work," admits Jeff. "But we make it work for us. I'll help her out at shows, and even though we're working, we're still spending time together. I like to be involved in what she's doing, and after it's all done we feel like we've accomplished something together."

What started as impressions of "pretty cool" and "cute" has turned into a deep commitment - exactly what Jeff and Megan needed. "We wanted to prove to each other that we're in this for the long haul - that we're a family, not just dating."