Friday, October 7, 2005
Jackie and Stephanie continued their showdown on Nick's boat. Jackie demanded that Steph leave Bridget alone but Stephanie said it was only a matter of time before Nick and Brooke reunited and Bridget had to know. Stephanie vowed she wouldn't let them fail Bridget again and that Bridget will get over Nick eventually. Jackie insisted that Nick was committed to Bridget and that Stephanie's tirade was more about revenge on Brooke and that Steph was a bitter, hate-filled woman. Jackie later found Eric and warned him that Stephanie planned to tell Bridget everything.

Nick recalled his conversation with Brooke in Big Bear, then passionately kissed Bridget when she came into his office. Nick gave Bridget all sorts of gifts for her and the baby and they made love in his office. Bridget told him she trusted him 100 percent and she'll never doubt him again. Meanwhile, Eric warned Brooke that Stephanie knows about Nick/Brooke thanks to his big mouth. Brooke blasted him but he insisted he was just trying to show Stephanie what Nick and Brooke had given up for Bridget. He said he'd fix his mistake and was trying to find Stephanie to stop her. They determined they had to find Bridget before Steph did and that Bridget can't find out anything about Nick and Brooke's night together. Brooke called Stephanie, who told her that she's at the boat and intends to tell Bridget everything. Brooke rushed out and flashbacked to Brooke's previous argument with Stephanie where Stephanie vowed that Brooke would lose Bridget forever. Brooke arrived and declared that Bridget wasn't going anywhere. Bridget and Nick arrived home and groaned when they saw Brooke's and Stephanie's cars parked outside. Bridget insisted that they'll face Stephanie together. On the boat, Brooke and Stephanie argued about Brooke's feelings for Nick and Brooke begged Stephanie not to hurt Bridget.

Thursday, October 6, 2005
Eric insisted that Stephanie was not going to tell Bridget about Nick and Brooke denying their feelings for each other. Eric couldn't believe Stephanie wouldn't recognize Brooke's sacrifice. Stephanie threw their failed marriage in Eric's face but said it wasn't too late for Bridget to get out of a marriage where she wasn't loved enough. During their argument, Eric said that not only was Brooke better in bed than Stephanie, but she is a better mother (ouch, that had to hurt). Stephanie called Eric on how he still lusted after Brooke, but he insisted her actions were more about getting back at Brooke than helping Bridget. Stephanie claimed that Nick had betrayed Bridget emotionally but Eric declared that Nick wouldn't stray. Stephanie accused Eric of wanting Brooke back more than anything. Eric warned Stephanie that if she told Bridget, he would hate her for the rest of his life.

In Nick's office, Brooke flashbacked (again) to their declaration of love on his boat. They hoped that Stephanie wouldn't be able to expose them. Brooke stressed they have no reason to feel guilty. Jackie arrived with wedding photos and they discussed with her what happened between them and their decision to keep it a secret. Nick warned her that Stephanie is snooping around for proof that Nick and Brooke still love each other. Jackie told them that she respected their decision and Stephanie wouldn't get any help from her. At Nick's boat, Jackie and Stephanie ran into each other and Jackie said Stephanie wasn't welcome there. Stephanie started tearing photos out of the wedding album Jackie left for Bridget because she said the wedding never should have happened. Stephanie declared she was going to be the one person Bridget could trust. Jackie vowed she wouldn't let Stephanie ruin her family like she ruined her own.

Dante sketched Bridget's portrait and they discussed Stephanie's allegations. He revealed he went to see Nick and warned him not to hurt Bridget. Later, Brooke found Bridget alone in Dante's office and Bridget told her about the surprise portrait Dante is doing of her for Nick. Since they were alone, Bridget called Brooke on her feelings for Nick. Brooke wondered why they were revisiting this and Bridget said she couldn't blame any woman for being in love with Nick, but that she had to keep her distance. Brooke admitted she loved Nick...for loving Bridget. A relieved Bridget thanked Brooke for telling her the truth and they hugged.

Wednesday, October 5, 2005
Bridget stopped by the manse to remind Stephanie that it was her job to make her own decisions. She called on Taylor and Ridge's unstable marriage as an example of why Stephanie should butt out, but Stephanie denied it was her fault. "Don't you realize you're alienating all the people you love most because of my mother?" Bridget asked and then insisted she'd dealt with "any issues" she had with her mother. She had faith that Nick and Brooke had passed the infamous abortion test, but Stephanie reminded her that they'd lied to her before. Stephanie empathized with her desire to believe in the best and want to create a perfect life with the baby on the way, but she didn't believe it was real. "I think something significant happened," Stephanie said of the "test," pointing to what she saw in Big Bear as proof. Bridget was sure this was all about her anger towards Brooke, but Stephanie "wished to God" she was right. As Bridget made for the door, Stephanie begged her to see the truth before the baby came. That set Bridget off. She walked back into the room and firmly repeated her take on things. "You better watch yourself or you're going to end up a very lonely old woman," she shot at Stephanie, but La Forrester didn't back down, even as Bridget shut the door on her.

At the office, Nick tried to concentrate on paper work, but — surprise surprise — Brooke's voice distracted him. He flashed back to the dinner with Dante and Bridget where Brooke begged him to make the most of his new family. Dante arrived just as he turned back to his paper work, saying he heard Nick needed some help. "With all the distractions you've been having, it's kind of hard to keep an eye on what's really important," he started, but Nick just shot insults at him. Dante was sorry to see that Nick wasn't really coming through for Bridget, referencing the "chance encounter" with Brooke. He told Nick to give himself to Bridget and stop meeting with Brooke. When Nick said he was "committed," Dante noted he hadn't mentioned love. "If Bridget were mine, the whole world would know I love her," he shot out and then wondered if Nick was more concerned about Dante and Bridget's relationship or Dante's and Brooke's.

Busy at work, Brooke actually looked happy. She went to Eric's office to talk business, but he had something else on his mind. He too was curious about the "chance encounter" and Brooke again explained it. "But what about the next time you run into him?" he asked. Brooke again insisted they wouldn't act on their feelings. Eric feared they would give into their infatuation and suggested Bridget should be told the truth. Brooke wouldn't deny her feelings, but said she and Nick would "wean ourselves off of each other." She asked Eric to believe that their daughter would have a great life with Nick. Eric acknowledged the sacrifice she was making, told her he was proud of her and then asked her to keep her distance from Nick. So what does she do? She goes to see Nick! She told him she was worried about Stephanie, sure she wouldn't give up till she got the truth. "She's like a dog with a bone," she said. "She's going to hurt Bridget." Nick insisted Stephanie couldn't hurt them again. While Nick got a beverage for her, Brooke took her turn at the daily fantasies. She of course flashed back on the moment she declared he was the one for her. When Nick returned, she expressed her fear that Stephanie would find out and warp what happened "into some ugly secret." Then Nick filled Brooke in on Dante's visit, but Brooke said they were safe from him. He would never hurt Bridget. Nick said his mother also wouldn't tell and admitted he'd told his father about that night. "I had to talk somebody," he explained. "I was losing my mind. I trust him. So, that leaves Eric." Brooke was sure he was in their corner and wouldn't tell Stephanie, "not in a million years."

Boy, was she wrong. Eric was Stephanie's next stop. She said she'd dig "all the way to China if that's where the truth" was. He was very sarcastic with her, having little patience for her "black and white" world, but when Stephanie started in on Bridget's test, saying she knew Nick and Brooke had betrayed Bridget, he slipped. "There was no sex on that boat!" he cried in annoyance and Stephanie knew she was on to something. He finally agreed to tell her what happened just to prove how much Brooke has grown up and stop Stephanie's witch hunt, but only as long as she agreed to never tell Bridget. She gave Eric her word. Of course, Eric believed it. He told her that Brooke had realized Nick was the love of her life and that they'd even decided to have a life together. "But it was never consummated," because she loved her daughter more. "Your daughter has to be told," Stephanie insisted, but Eric said she should respect Brooke for the sacrifice she made and keep quiet. When he said Nick would get over her, Stephanie was flabbergasted. "It's just a matter of time before this whole thing blows up in her face," she said, and then set out to be the one who set off the fuse.

Tuesday, October 4, 2005
In the wake of Stephanie's attack, Ridge spent some time with Brooke. He asked who she was looking to movie on with, considering she's always had a man by her side and it wasn't him or Dante. "Nobody," she answered. "Does that surprise you? Because it shouldn't. The soulmate/destiny thing didn't really work out for me." She announced she was going to make a go of casual dating, which Ridge found hard to believe. He felt she was "hardwired to care very deeply for the man you're with," and hoped she wasn't falling for Nick. Brooke insisted she was looking out for Bridget, but didn't deny she loved Nick. "Maybe for the sake of your marriage, you should care a little less about me," she said, trying to change the subject. Of course, that was just the problem his marriage has been having. He told her he and Taylor were going to counseling, but that wouldn't change his love for Brooke. "Have you already replaced the love in your heart for me with Nick?" he asked. Instead of answering, she told him that her happiness no longer comes before her children's. Nothing she needed superceded the love Nick and Bridget shared. "Keeping the promises that we've made to our children, so that they’re dreams can come true — That is real happiness," she said, impressing Ridge. He left her with a soulful hug and a kiss on the head. Alone, Brooke sat at her desk and stared at the phone.

On the Marlin, Bridget and Stephanie badgered Nick for "the truth." Nick grabbed Bridget and told her not to doubt his commitment. He reaffirmed that his Big Bear run-in with Brooke was a chance encounter and then told Stephanie, "That golden boy son of yours may let you bully his wife around, but not me!" La Forrester was angry he "dared" suggest she was out to hurt Bridget. "Anger has never clouded my vision," Stephanie insisted to Bridget. "I see your mother. I see how she gets under their skin with every single man that she ever wanted. She wants your husband." Before leaving on Nick's order, she begged Bridget to walk away before she ended up like her. Bridget pushed Nick away, but he wouldn't let up. When she said she hated hearing that he and her mother were in love and the way it made her feel, he answered, "Well, I don't blame you." He went on to explain that he'd gone to Big Bear because it was the place he and Bridget had fallen in love. Then, Brooke called and Bridget filled her in on Stephanie's second attack. Brooke brought up Big Bear, but Bridget cut her off, saying that Nick's story matched hers and she believed him. Brooke begged her to trust in Nick's love and they hung up. Truth be told, Bridget didn't look convinced. She told Nick she wanted to trust him and his commitment to the marriage and he again confirmed his feelings by taking her to bed. In post-coital bliss, Bridget was over Stephanie. "I can completely feel your commitment," she said of their lovemaking and then went on discussing the Brooke issue. She mentioned the fact that Ridge, Thorne and Eric must have planned on being faithful to their wives — before Brooke. Nick stops her and reminds her to think about what they were just doing, which of course turned into more canoodling. Later, they looked at the real estate listings. They were finally doing something other than discussing Brooke or having sex, but that didn’t last long. Bridget went from reaffirming her confidence in the vows Nick made to her into some dirty talk. "Do you know how great it feels to know I'm never going to be disappointed in you?" she asked. As Nick held her in his arms, he looked over her to a photo of himself, Bridget and Brooke.

Brooke stormed into Stephanie's house, furious she'd gone into Bridget and Nick's home, but Stephanie did all the talking. All Brooke got out was that Stephanie wanted her to play the whore. Stephanie, on the other hand, went to town. She pointed out that Brooke had already had her chance at Nick, surmising, "That wouldn't have been any fun. You had to wait till he married Bridget and then go after him. You're the most destructive person I known in my whole life. I promise you, I'll see the two of us in hell before I'll let you hurt that girl again." She begged Brooke to tell the truth before the baby came. She said there was nothing heroic about lying and forcing Nick into a marriage with Bridget. "You love him; he loves you," she screamed. "Take him!" She refused to back down, confident that Brooke and Nick hadn't passed the fated abortion test. She even suspected they'd had sex. "Something happened between the two of you and I'm going to find out what it is," she spat. "When I do, you're going to lose that girl forever."

Monday, October 3, 2005
Eric found Ridge working on the teen line and was impressed with what he saw. He felt Thomas was sure to lose. After Ridge sent the models out, father and son commiserated over being a parent. Then Ridge told him he'd agreed to therapy with Taylor and admitted that he had "a few issues," to which good old dad asked, "Is Brooke one of them?" Ridge promised he'd deal with "all that in counseling." Eric warned that if he didn't, it could fester like it did with him and Stephanie. Thorne interrupted, giving them a few seconds warning so Ridge could hide his designs. He was confident about the runway show, but was there to invite Eric to dinner since he was single. Ridge noted that Stephanie hired a new cook and suggested swinging by there, since she was out in Big Bear. He then told them that his mom was working on a new start and hoped she would let go of "this obsession she's got for Brooke."

Fat chance. In the next room, Stephanie's newest machinations had Bridget questioning her mother about spending the day with Nick. Brooke told her to calm down, for the baby's sake, while Stephanie calmly kept things going. Brooke explained that she and Nick ran into each other and Stephanie spat, "In Big Bear." When Brooke said they were just talking, Stephanie shot out, "I'm sure you and Deacon had plenty to talk about too." She warned Bridget not to "bury her head in the sand" and reminded her of the revelations she'd had up at Big Bear (before finding out she was preggers). Brooke swore it wasn't like that, which set La Forrester off on one of her monologues. The basic gist, as always, was that Brooke was a horrible mother who broke their mother/daughter bond for a role in the hay with Deacon, so why should Bridget believe in her now? Bridget instead turned on Stephanie, accusing her of trying to bring her mom down, but then Stephanie dropped the bombshell: "They thought they were alone!" Bridget turned slowly and asked, "Did you kiss him?" Brooke swore she didn't. Then she told Stephanie she was sick of "the bullying and the manipulation. You destroyed my marriage. Well, I'm not going to let you destroy hers!"

The guys heard the ruckus and rushed over to find Brooke pushing Stephanie toward the door. Stephanie immediately ran by Ridge (for protection?) and told them Brooke was "up to her old tricks again. She's trying to steal Nick." She insisted the Big Bear run-in couldn't be a coincidence. Ridge reminded his mom that she's just sworn she wouldn't act "like this." Bridget stopped her and told her she and Nick were actively planning a future, adding, "For the sake of my child, I am making a choice to trust my husband… and my mother." Thorne shook his head at his mom and then Eric started in on her. "Brooke is a member of the family and of this company," he said. "Until you get your priorities straight, you are not." She left by agreeing that she knew what she had to do to get back into good graces, but you better believe she wasn't thinking the same thing they were! Brooke soothed Bridget and hugged her, but Bridget didn't look convinced. She left to clear her head with a drive. The guys all showed Brooke their support. Eric had Stephanie banned from the building, but hoped this showdown would get through to her.

Meanwhile, Massimo startled Nick, who was back to fantasizing about Brooke at work again. "You may not be strong enough to fight this battle alone," Massimo warned. Nick told him that he was fine when he was focused on or with Bridget, but Massimo knew that the rest of the time he was thinking of Brooke. He warned that Nick wasn't in control of his emotions and feared he wouldn't be able to handle a run in with Brooke. "Too late," Nick sighed and filled him in on their Big Bear run-in. Massimo insisted he, Bridget and the baby needed to leave L.A. to distance themselves from Brooke, but Nick didn't like that idea. Massimo asked why he expected that, unlike the Forrester men, he could get over her, to which Nick said, "Because I'm a man of my word and I gave it to Bridget." He returned to his boat, only to have Stephanie come in and start in on Big Bear. She begged him to tell Bridget the truth before it was too late, saying his good intentions don't help. She told him to be a man and he answered that that's what he was doing. An irritated Bridget arrived and interrupted their conversation. "Nick, tell her," Stephanie instructed. "Tell your wife that you're still in love with her mother." Dun-dun-dun!