Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers!

"Why am I here?" Stephanie moaned to her husband.

"Because Brooke asked us to come," Eric reminded her.

"She was doing such a great job at distancing herself from the family. Why is she trying to worm her way back into this family again?"

"Steph- -"

"Are you, Ridge, or Thorne conspiring or talking to her behind my back?" the older woman questioned angrily.

"No, Stephanie. We're not. Brooke only talks to us about business. Whether you like it or not, she is part of this family. She is the mother of my children- -"

"Reminding me of your infidelities isn't going to make me feel any better about being here."

Taking a deep breath, Eric counted to ten. Did she really wonder why he cheated? Not that it was right, but sometimes he just needed a break from her and her obsessions with Ridge and Brooke. Maybe it was time for him to start laying down the law or maybe it was time for him to strike out on his own. "Imagine you're here for the sake of the children you love, Bridget, Ric, Amber, and Little Eric. Maybe that will help you get through this day. I'm going to go spend some time with my grandchildren."

He could be so useless at times, she thought as she watched her husband walk away. It was sometimes hard to remember why she married him and what she ever saw in him. She wondered what Brooke was up to.

"Hello, Stephanie," Taylor greeted, walking up behind her soon to be former mother-in-law.

"Taylor, darling. What are you doing here?"

"Brooke invited me."

Stephanie hugged her daughter-in-law and humphed. "What is she plotting?"

"I don't know. Do you think she's ready to forgive us?"

"Taylor, really. Forgive us for what- -"

"What we did with Stephen- -"

"He went along with the plan because he too is sick of his daughter jumping from Forrester man to Forrester man. He tried to raise a good, upstanding moral daughter, like Katie and Donna, but with Brooke instead he got a family-hopping tramp. He wants his family away from this family as much as we do."

Taylor knew it was useless to argue with Stephanie when she was in this mood. She deeply regretted the pain she caused Brooke and not just because her marriage ended partly because of her participation in the scam. She knew first hand the pain of losing a parent. She saw the effect losing her mother had had on her brother, her family. Once her mother was buried, even before she had been laid to rest, her family had been damaged and was tearing apart. Years later, they still hadn't healed as a family.

The things insecurity and jealousy led you to do. But she couldn't put the blame all on Ridge and Brooke; she manipulated, lied, and also plotted to stay on the merry-go-round. At any point, she could have ended the ménage-a-trios. But she loved Ridge, and in her heart she knew he had loved her, too. Maybe not the same way he loved Brooke, but that was okay. She didn't love him the same way she loved her first husband.

"Taylor, Taylor, are you listening?" Stephanie asked.

"Sorry, Stephanie, you were saying," Taylor said apologetically.

"I asked you if you had seen Brooke's new lover."

"Brooke is seeing someone?" Ridge wasn't going to stand for that.

"Yes, shameless at her age. He's young enough to be her son. And to top it off, he is quite rude. Though I should be grateful at least he's keeping her away from Eric, Ridge, and Thorne."

Ridge hadn't made any headway with getting Brooke to forgive him or take him back, interesting, Taylor thought. She would have thought Brooke would have jumped at the chance to have a free and clear Ridge all to herself. Maybe they were both working hard on being Ridge-free. Well, at least Brooke didn't have any children to tie her to Ridge. Because regardless of what Ridge said, Ric and Bridget weren't his and she was pretty sure Ric and Bridget would be the first two to agree with her. For Brooke's sake and for those of her children, Taylor hoped Brooke would be able to make this new relationship work.

"There he is."

Taylor followed the older woman's finger to see a shirtless stud, his swimming trunks riding low on his hips. She had to stop herself from drooling. Wow! For all Brooke's faults, the blonde did have great taste in eye candy. Maybe that's what she needed to help herself get over Ridge, a hot younger man for some meaningless, hot, fun times. She should ask Brooke if her stud had a friend. She smiled at the thought.

"How dare he walk around here like that? Doesn't he know there are children present?"

Hearing Stephanie mention children, her eyes immediately searched for her three. She found them happily playing in the pool with Bridget, Ric, and little Eric. Her gaze moved on from them and settled on Brooke. Who were those two children Brooke was trying to entice into the pool? "Who are those kids with Brooke?"

"Hmm, I don't know. Friends of little Eric's, possibly?"

"Probably so," she replied, dismissing the unknown children from her mind and setting her sights back on the eye candy.

It was time. Everyone had eaten, swam, and played in the pool. They were relaxed. The kids were inside the house watching a movie. Now would be the perfect time.

"Ladies and gentlemen, can I get your attention, please?" Matt requested.

Stephanie quickly moved closer so she could hear exactly what this disrespectful pup had to say.

Ridge scooted towards the edge of his chair. Logan had been avoiding him all day so maybe now he could get some answers on who this young man was and who those kids were that stayed by Brooke's side all day.

Her son did have a flair for the dramatic, she thought as she put down her plate and took her place at his side.

Ric, in support of his older brother, went and stood at Matt's side. He assumed Budge must have figured this was coming and had easily avoided the situation by watching the kids inside the house.

Eric watched his son and ex-wife stand beside the young man who had been so rude to him. He prayed Brooke wasn't announcing her marriage to him. The company wouldn't survive Matthew and Stephanie.

"Thank you all for coming and for being so patient about why you are all here. To reintroduce myself, my name is Matthew Olsen. But many years ago, my name was Baby Boy Forrester. LF, you could have at least named me," Matt said to Brooke, mindless of the bomb shell he had just dropped.

"Excuse me, did you just say Baby Boy Forrester?" Felicia questioned, amazed. Brooke hid a pregnancy from the hawk eyes of her mother. She was thoroughly impressed.

"Brooke, this idea of a joke is tasteless and classless. Though why I would expect anything differently from you is- -" Stephanie began.

"Old woman, I suggest you shut your trap. You don't talk to my birth mother like that. Out of the goodness of LF's heart do you stand here; I wasn't going to invite you to hear the good news. Well, that's a lie. I did want to see your face turn red when you found out the woman you love to hate had another tie to your dopey son."

"Don't you dare talk to my wife like- -" Eric reprimanded.

"Explain to me how you choose which wives get defended by you? The ones who carry your balls around their neck as a prize get defended, but the ones who let you be a real man get the crap beat out of them?" Matt shook his head. "I know I'm just a simple, farm boy but that seems backwards even to me."

Kristen and Felicia's eyes connected and they quickly lowered their heads to keep the others from seeing the smiles on their faces.

"You can't be- - I would know- -" Ridge stuttered, shocked beyond belief.

"You would know what? How could you possibly know anything about Brooke's pregnancy when you ran out of the hospital faster than the speed of light as soon as you found out my twin died? You didn't want to know anything about Brooke back then. You were thrilled you could go back to your precious Caroline and had no ties to remind Caroline of your affair with Brooke."

Taylor didn't know what to think. Brooke had lost one twin, but had maintained the pregnancy of the other twin and didn't tell anyone? Why would she do that? Then she gave up the child for adoption without telling Ridge? What kind of mother would do that to the man she supposedly love?

"Was this your way to punish Ridge, Brooke, deny him his son?" Macy asked accusingly, as if reading Taylor's thoughts.

"Macy, only real Forresters can speak during this Q & A, so why don't you shut your mouth and sit down- -"

"My wife is a Forrester- -" Thorne said.

"Another Forrester male defending the wife, he really loves, but the wives they tolerate they leave to the sharks. This is so touching," Matt commented. Turning towards Stephanie, he asked, "You're a shrew. Your husband is a coward for never standing up to you to keep you from becoming a shrilling shrew. Your sons are spineless wimps. So the only people in this family worth meeting seem to be Kristin and Felicia."

"Thank you," Felicia said.

"Felicia," Kristin reprimanded with a slap on the hand.

"What, he's right. Why are we all going to pretend like he isn't?" the youngest Forrester child questioned.

"Felicia, now is not the time for this," Ridge said tersely.

"When is it the time, Ridge? Never. We like nothing better than shoving things under the rug like nothing ever happened. Ridge, how would you have ever known Brooke was still pregnant? You avoided her like the plague. I know you were hurt, I saw the wistfulness and the tears in your eyes when you saw a baby. I know you avoided Brooke because it hurt too much to see her and be reminded of all you'd lost. Was it right for Brooke to not tell you about Matt? No, but I understand why she wouldn't. I've been married to Alan James Quartermaine, Junior, for the past eighteen months, but I haven't said anything to any of you because of the way this family operates. He's already part of one crazy family, he doesn't need to be thrown into our madness too. Why do you think I don't live in this city? I love LA, but I can't take all of us being together. LA is too small for all the Forresters."

"You're married and you didn't say anything," Eric exclaimed.

Felicia pulled her necklace out from underneath her t-shirt and showed the wedding ring dangling from it.

"Felicia," Stephanie shouted.

"Mother," she retorted. "Now you have two things to ponder, but since I'm not Ridge you'll soon forget about my revelation. I'm outta here." Picking up her bag, Felicia paused at Matt. "Thank you for inviting me and telling me about your existence. Brooke, when and if you want to tell me the whole story, call me."

Brooke nodded as she watched her favorite Forrester woman leave.

"Brooke, I'm sorry you felt your son was better off being reared by strangers than to be around us. Matt, it was nice meeting you, maybe we can talk sometime but right now I have to go catch up with my sister," Kristin commented, chasing after her sister.

Brooke looked around at the remaining speechless and confused Forresters: Eric, Stephanie, Ridge, Macy, Thorne, and Taylor. The fun ones were left, oh joy.

"Why, Brooke? Why?" Ridge cried, finding his voice.

"I was too young to be a single mother- -"

"I would have helped you."

"Yes, Brooke, we would have supported you- -" Stephanie reaffirmed.

"You mean like the time I was lost with no memory of my life, my kids, and you and Eric sued for custody of my babies. Like that?" Brooke demanded.

"We did what was best for Ric and Bridget."

"You didn't ask us what we wanted, Stephanie," Ric inserted.

"You were children," Stephanie answered dismissively.

"I would have done anything for our son. The pain of losing you," Ridge declared, looking directly at Matt, "losing your twin is always with me. The pain. The hurt. I would have gladly given my life for yours and your twin."

Matt laughed.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Macy asked.

"I should let you guys on in on another secret. I'm a private investigator so I've thoroughly investigated all of you."

The gasps were audible.

"It's amazing what you learn working janitorial at a company, but that's another story. Ridge, your speech would have been touching if I didn't know any better, but I do. My twin died, I was adopted, yet for some reason God saw fit to give you a second shot at raising a family with LF. He gave you two, Ric and Bridget. Eric, I'm sure with his wife's prodding, would have happily signed away all rights to his son and daughter. You married Brooke, played daddy to her kids, but the minute your biological child was dangled in front of you, you ran out on them like a bitch in heat."

"That's not true."

"It isn't? Did you or did you not annul your marriage to Brooke?"

"Yes, but- -"

"Yes, you did. Ric, did Ridge and Taylor invite you and Budge over to their house every other weekend so you could get to know your new little brother?"

With glee, Ric shook his head.

"Did you get to spend every other Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter with them?"

Once again, Ric shook his head.

"Wow, that's strange because usually in divorces, Ridge, that's usually how good parents work the custody arrangements. But maybe annulments are different, you tell me."

Ridge was flabbergasted. What could he say to this young man? Matt's words were a direct hit. Bridget and Ric had been his second chance to raise a family with Logan and he had blown it once again. He had made no attempts to blend his new family with his old one. He had failed Ric and Bridget just as he had failed Brooke and now Matt could be added to that list.

"He did what was best for his family," Stephanie bellowed.

"Ric and Bridget had a father- -"

"You know what I love about you guys is how you can justify every little thing to fit your whim. Thorne hears Brooke admit that Ridge is her soul mate and suddenly she's an untrustworthy whore. Though she wasn't one when you fell in love with her, knowing the connection she had with Ridge. I guess it didn't fit your purposes to see her in the Stephanie light then, did it? And don't you dare open your mouth, Miss-I-tried-to-kill-Brooke. Wait, let me clarify that one so you won't be confused as to whom I'm speaking to. I'm talking to Macy, the one who tried to kill Brooke in a car crash. As opposed to Stephanie, who tried to choke her. Or as opposed to Stephanie and Taylor, who hired a hit man to push Brooke off the Eiffel Tower. Or as opposed to Ridge, Eric, and Thorne, who let their mommy emotionally and psychologically abuse the woman they all supposedly loved at one time for over the past two decades."

"You hired someone to push Brooke off the Eiffel Tower," Eric yelled at Stephanie.

"Of course not," his wife yelled back.

"You're right. You didn't. The thug was actually hired by Massimo, your new little puppet."

Eric staggered backwards. She hired someone to kill Brooke? She hated her that much? She tried to choke Brooke to death? Who was he married to? Who were these people surrounding him? His baby was married but didn't want her husband to know them. His eldest grandson kept hitting homeruns of truth out of the park as he spoke with disdain about their family. With disdain and no emotions. Matt didn't care enough about them to hate them. Based on the things Matt had found out about the Forresters, the young man had condemned them and he could see why. He had to get away from them. "I'm sorry," he said to no one in particular as he ran out of the backyard.

"Eric! Eric!" Stephanie called after him, but he kept running and never turned around. Useless man.

Taylor felt ill and ashamed having her misdeeds aired for public viewing. During Matt's stinging speech, she had an epiphany about herself, her kids. Was this the future she wanted for her kids? A future where they were too embarrassed to bring home their spouses home for her to meet? Too fed up with the family to even live in the same city or to come home on a regular basis to visit? A future where they hated Brooke so much they tried to hurt her if not physically, then emotionally and psychologically. She had contributed to all three. She couldn't allow her children to follow her path or Ridge's and most especially not Stephanie's. Her life needed a radical makeover, maybe Ridge divorcing her was the first step. Quietly, she snuck into the house to be with her children. She desperately needed to be with them right now.

"In the short while I've been talking and listening to your excuses, I've become more disgusted with the lot of you, which I honestly was thinking wasn't possible but you've exceeded my expectations. I'm done. You know I exist; that was one of my goals, along with LEAVE BROOKE THE HELL ALONE or you will answer to me. Okay, now I'm done. Please get out?!"

"You can't kick us out," Stephanie and Macy said in unison.

"LF, can I kick them out?" Matt asked.

"I'm going inside to give my grandchildren a bath," Brooke answered, walking away from the remaining Forresters.

"Mom, wait up, I'll help you," Ric agreed, running after her.

"That was a yes, she was just being nicer than you deserved. Get out. And if you don't have kids in the house, please take the gate exit."

"You are an ill-mannered young man. You're definitely Brooke's son," Macy spat.

Matt winked at her. "I'll take that as a compliment. Ya'll have a nice day."

Macy and Thorne turned toward the back gate and left.

"Old woman, you can leave now, too. I've said my peace and I don't want to hear your tirade now or ever. So run along. I'm sure Massimo is waiting for you at some sleazy motel to have his way with you. Stephie, really at your age, meeting your lovers at a motel is so tacky."

Stephanie gasped as her face turned red. How did he know about her private meetings with Massimo? "I- -"

"You need to leave." Taking her hand, Matt escorted Stephanie out of the back gate then closed and locked the gate in her face.

"Ridge, you need to leave, also."

With tears streaming down his face, Ridge stared into the face of the man, the stranger whom he had just met. He thought he could see traces of himself, but he wasn't sure. The tears blinded him as did the pain. "Can we talk before I go?"

"About?"

"About you. How you got here? Why you decimated my family, yet obviously wanted to meet us? What have you been doing all these years I didn't know you existed?"

"You could have known about me, if you had put forth the littlest of efforts. But I'm glad you didn't because then I wouldn't have been raised by the greatest parents ever. They were far from perfect, but I knew they loved me and would walk to hell and back for me. I have a family complete with great-grandparents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. When my parents died, I decided to search for my birth parents. You can imagine my horror as the reports came to me about the Forresters and how they operate as a family. I didn't even think it was possible for a family to be that dysfunctional and still operate, and I was a cop so that's saying a lot. I'm not a complete insensitive lout, I know this is a lot for you to take in. I'm sorry if my not being moved by your pleads and tear hurts you. But we don't have a built-in history like you have with Ric and Budge. When I was a kid whenever I got a new toy, the first thing I would do was take it apart then put it back together. I was always curious as to how something worked. It probably explains why I became a cop, then a PI. I love figuring out why people do what they do, which was why I doubled majored in Psychology and Sociology."

"But Brooke, Ric, you- -"

"I've come to like them. Don't get me wrong, LF isn't some innocent in all of this. But she has taken more crap from you and your family than any person should have to take in three lifetimes. My parents told me I should always help out the abused and LF, as of late, has really been getting her head kicked in by your mother and wife. She's a tough woman, but even the tough ones need a helping hand now and then. I'm her helping hand because unlike Ric and Bridget, I don't care if you like me," Matt smirked.

"Can we get together- -"

The younger man shook his head. "I don't think there's anymore to tell you. I don't want a relationship with you. I just wanted to meet you in the flesh with all my cards on the table and I've done that- -"

"But what about my side of things- -"

"What side?" Matt sighed. Talking to these Forresters was like talking to a brick wall. He now finally understood his mom's numerous complaints about trying to get him to see reason was like banging her head against the floor. He hoped he didn't choke saying this. "Man to man, Ridge. I get it. Brooke was a hot piece on the side who ruined things by getting knocked up- -"

Ridge's fist flew at him, but luckily he had seen it coming. Matt grabbed the fist, spun Ridge around, pinning Ridge's arm to his back in a tight, firm hold.

"Don't you dare talk about her- -She wasn't something on the side, I love her. I loved her. I have loved her from the moment we met."

"Well, you sure as hell didn't act like it for more than five minutes at a time. Ridge, my parents taught me marriage was forever. Through the good times, the bad times, the hard times, the fun times, the rough times, the loving times, the get out of my face I don't want to see you any more times, and the I can't stop touching you times, they were all a part of marriage. And maybe, just maybe, before you try to woo Brooke into another relationship or marriage, you should think about that. Though I pray to God she doesn't give you the time of day. That's all I have to say to you." Matt let go of Ridge and walked towards the house, then paused. "Okay, I was lying - one more thing. From what I've heard, you've gotten your balls back from your mom and your wife. Keep em and maybe Ric and Bridget won't hate you so much."

Ridge watched as his newly discovered son walked away from him and his legs gave out as he cried his heart out.