Good old Brooke

Thomas and Steffi were engrossed in their work, discussing a few ideas for a new PR strategy, when the door to their office was stormily torn open. There stood their former stepmother. Brooke let the door slam shut and stepped toward the siblings.

"Well, well here we are. I guess you're triumphant now, thinking you've finally reached your goal. You believe you've finally accomplished what you've been dreaming about for years. That you've really broken me, don't you?" Thomas and Steffy looked at each other, puzzled. Thomas tapped his sister.

"Could you please translate for me what this woman wants from us?"

"I'd love to do it, if I had a clue myself what she's talking about." She turned to Brooke. "Is it a full moon again or what is the reason for this stunt?" Brooke's patience snapped.

"Now don't play innocent! You know exactly what I'm talking about. You made sure that your parents met again in San Francisco. You're the ones who pushed them back together. This new relationship and this supposedly newfound love, that's your work." Steffy now understood what Brooke was about. She grinned at her gleefully.

"Oh thank you for the flowers. We'd love to take the credit for this miracle, but I'm afraid we had nothing to do with it."

"Tell that to whoever you want, but not me. This whole thing was planned from the beginning, wasn't it? First your mother disappears because she supposedly can't stand it here anymore, then you did everything you could to break up your father and me and finally you steered him to San Francisco. That's how it happened! Am I right?" Thomas shook his head in disbelief.

"Still good old Brooke, always blaming others."

"Come on, it wouldn't be the first time you've done everything you can to get your parents back together."

"But this time, neither Steffy nor I had anything to do with it. It looks like you brought it all on yourself this time. It took a long road, but Dad finally sees behind that pretty facade of yours." Steffy agreed with her brother.

"Exactly, and he's finally settled on the right woman who really loves him and who makes him happy, without any scandals or heartache."

"Yeah, yeah, still the same sermon as ever."

"And you keep proving us right over and over again."

"Yes of course, I'm the bad one and your mother is the saint, the good warm-hearted one who never does anything wrong."

"Mom certainly made mistakes in her life, but she never hurt our father the way you did, she didn't humiliate and betray him repeatedly." Brooke looked at Thomas forcefully.

"Interesting that you of all people say that. You may not know it, but when your mother was pregnant with you, she couldn't even bring herself to tell your father this news. She even made him believe it was his brother's child."

"Seriously Brooke?! How dare you bring that up. Who the hell forced her to keep this secret? It was you and Thorne, wasn't it? And then you married Dad even though you knew about her pregnancy."

"Yeah, that's her version of the story, the fact is she lied to him for months even though she had the opportunity to tell him the truth. But she waited until your father and I were a happy family and then she did everything she could to destroy that happiness." Steffy rolled her eyes.

"And how many times did you try to destroy our family? Or shall I ask in another way, how many relationships have you ruined in your life? And by the way, at least Dad never had to ask for a paternity test to know that Thomas, Phoebe, and I are his children, which God knows can't be said for your kids. You probably never knew yourself who the father of your unborn child was. I bet there wasn't one pregnancy where you didn't trick, lie and manipulate to get the man who was just your destiny!"

Ridge was in his office going through some paperwork when all of a sudden he heard wild screaming. He stepped outside and realized the commotion was coming from Steffy and Thomas' office. He rushed there and yanked open the door. He couldn't believe what he saw. Steffy and Brooke were in a fierce fight. Both were literally wedged into each other, tearing at each other's hair and tugging at each other's clothes. Thomas eagerly tried to break the two fighters apart.

"What the hell is going on here?" yelled Ridge. Everyone in the room froze. Steffy and Brooke finally let go, but continued to stare venomously at each other.

"Your daughter is completely out of her mind. She just attacked me like that. She inherited her mother's hysteria."

Thomas held Steffy tight, before she could lunge at Brooke again. Steffy, completely disheveled, turned to her father.

"That's not true! She started it. She slapped me..."

"And you deserved it. You're nothing but a spoiled little-"

"Brooke, that's enough! Get out of this office now!" Still gasping for air and quite upset, Brooke cast one last scowl at Steffy and Thomas, then marched past Ridge out of the room. Ridge stepped up to his children.

"Could someone please explain to me what happened here?" With Steffy still far too upset, Thomas explained what had happened.

"Brooke just walked into our office with some wild insinuations and then the situation just escalated a little bit." Steffy added.

"I know what you're going to say, I shouldn't have gone after her, but she hit me, so I just ticked off. She also insulted mom and was picking on her." Ridge got an inkling about the scenario. He took Thomas and Steffy into his arms.

"I'm sorry, I should have known, but still this whole thing must not be repeated. We'll discuss this later at home, now try to calm down. He hugged each of them again and then went out into the hallway. Steffy and Thomas crept to the door to listen, what was going on outside.

"Didn't I ask you not to harass my kids?! This is your way of leaving them alone by barging in on them, calling them names and getting violent?!"

"That's not what happened at all. Ridge, please let me explain. I just wanted to talk to them in all calmness."

"That's not what it looked like when I came into the office. I mean you're a grown woman, you're a mother and you have nothing better to do than fight with my daughter?!"

"Ridge please listen to me, this whole situation got a little out of hand and I'm sorry, but Steffy came at me."

"Did you hit her?"

"Yes, but you won't believe what she said to me."

"I don't care! It doesn't matter. I want you to stay away from Steffy and Thomas, for good!"

"Ridge, please. I'm sorry! I'm just so shocked by the whole situation." She looked at him with that heart-warming look she could always wrap him around her finger with. "Can't we talk about this in private. What do you say you come over to my place for dinner. We'll be completely undisturbed, just the two of us." Ridge sighed and looked at her incredulously.

"I don't think that's a good idea. I already have other plans tonight and under the given circumstances, that would be the worst thing I could do." Ridge disappeared back into his office, Brooke watched after him, disappointed. Steffy and Thomas, who had overheard everything, grinned with satisfaction. As Brooke rushed past their door, they let out a sympathetic "Ooohh."

"Looks like your dinner for two is turning into 'Dinner for one', but you still have a little time before tonight. Why don't you call all your admirers, I'm sure you can find four to keep you company." For a moment, it looked like Brooke was about to go after them again, but she changed her mind, gave them one last withering look, and stalked off. Thomas and Steffy high-fived and disappeared back into their office.

Taylor paced nervously around the room and kept checking her watch. She had tried to call Ridge but had only ended up on his voicemail. She even called at Brooke's house, but no one had answered the phone. She had tried hard not to worry too much about it, however, an uneasiness overcame her. In her distress, she called Susan. Susan immediately understood Taylor's problem and went to great lengths to comfort her. Susan knew the complex history between Taylor, Ridge, and Brooke. She found just the right words to give Taylor back her confidence. She assured her, everyone could see how much Ridge was in love with her and what a beautiful couple they made. She reminded her of all the incidents and little things he had done for her over the past few months. Susan vigorously urged her to trust Ridge and not blow things out of proportion. It was simply a conversation between ex-partners. Taylor knew Susan was right. She couldn't have a crisis every time Ridge talked to Brooke. Somehow she had to manage to get rid of those old demons. In a much better mood, Taylor finally hung up. Still, as more time passed, the more anxious she became. She hoped Ridge would finally come home. How long could a debate take? She flopped down on the couch; she had given up trying to work on her research. She just couldn't concentrate. She rummaged through her phone, looking at old photos and videos that had been taken over the past few weeks. One video she watched over and over again. Shortly after Ridge and she had become involved, she had bought this phone. One night, while he was preparing dinner, she had taped him trying out the new camera. Ridge had noticed this and kept urging her to stop. Mischievously, she had asked him what she would get in return. At the end of the video, Ridge had seductively approached her and taken the phone from her. At the very end, all that could be seen was the ceiling, but Taylor remembered the passionate kiss Ridge had given her. In the midst of her revelry, Taylor suddenly startled up. The front door had opened and Ridge was coming in.

Taylor immediately rushed up to him and fell into his arms.

"Finally, you're back!" She gave him a long kiss and snuggled up to him. He clutched her tightly. For a while they stood there in a close embrace. He looked at her lovingly.

"You have no idea how much I needed this right now. If you only knew what I've been through today." Exhausted, he sank onto the couch and rubbed his eyes tiredly. Taylor looked at him sympathetically.

"You look worn out, how about a drink?"

"Yeah that would be great and whatever it is, preferably a double or triple!" Taylor gave him a skeptical look but said nothing. She handed him a glass and he drained it in one go. She sat down next to him, stroking his hair.

"That bad?"

"Worse!"

"Was the conversation with Brooke that awful?"

"No..well actually it was...well it was everything we expected it to be. In fact, Brooke was absolutely convinced that I was going to come back to her and was then devastated accordingly. But that wasn't even the worst of it. Afterwards I drove around for a while, had to clear my head and then I made a stop at the office and you won't believe what happened there. Steffy and Brooke got into some kind of wrestling match." Taylor looked at him in horror.

"No way? Brooke and Steffy? What happened?"

"Brooke is absolutely adamant Steffy, Thomas and you were scheming to get us back together. She believes Steffy and Thomas are responsible for our breakup and then purposely they directed me to San Francisco because they knew you would be there."

"I see, and then I just waited until you were there to shamelessly seduce and nail you."

"Something like that."

"Brooke truly has a vivid imagination!"

"Well anyway, apparently she was going to confront them and then the whole situation escalated and by the time I got there they were in the middle of scratching each other's eyes out, literally!" Taylor couldn't believe it

"Oh my god. I don't know what to say. What has gotten into Steffy? I mean, even if Brooke provoked her, that's still no reason to go after her."

"Yeah that's what I explained to them too. Apparently Steffy must have said something to Brooke and she slapped her across the face and then Steffy, you know her, completely lost it. And I specifically asked Brooke to leave Steffy and Thomas alone." Taylor shook her head apprehensively.

"We have to talk to Steffy, this can't go on, even if I understand her in some way, but this really isn't a solution."

"I think Steffy realizes that by now. I already had the impression that she knows she has gone too far. But we have to talk to her. We won't have one peaceful second, when we're gone and have to fear a bloodbath at any time." Ridge sighed, took Taylor in his arms and played with her hair. "I'm glad to be back here with you."

"I'm glad you're back, too."

"So what have you been doing all the time? Did you make any progress on your article?

"Well, not really. I had a visitor. Your mother was here."

"Oh great, is she still going to dress us up as bride and groom tomorrow?" Taylor chuckled.

"No thank God, Eric must have finally put the brakes on her in that regard. She was just going to stop by and then she noticed you weren't there and wanted to know where you were."

"And what did you tell her?

"Well the truth!" Ridge looked at her, aghast.

"Oha, I can truly imagine how she reacted." He mimicked his mother's voice.

"How could you let Ridge go to Brooke? You know what's going to happen and so on and so on." Taylor laughed very badly.

"Yeah, you portrayed her pretty perfectly. Well, anyway, she didn't stop and in the end I practically had to kick her out." Ridge looked at her, dumbfounded.

"Seriously?"

"Well, I said at the end that we either talk about something else or she should leave and then she took off pretty offended."

"Wow, I'm impressed." He gave her a kiss. "I'm proud of you!"

"Why?"

"Well, because you stopped listening to Mother's pipe dreams and you stopped letting her drive you crazy."

"Mmm." She avoided his gaze sheepishly. Ridge noticed this, he turned her face to him, looking her in the eye.

"You didn't take Mother's tirades seriously, did you?"'

"Nnnno!" He glanced at her forcefully.

"No I didn't. When she was here, I made it pretty clear to her that I trust you and that I'm on your side and that I'm not going to drive myself crazy over Brooke anymore. It's just that... well…as the time passed I got more and more anxious and then I tried to call you and you didn't answer and then I called Brooke at home and no one answered, she was probably already at the office...well..and that's when my mind started racing and I knew on the one hand that it was bullshit and I also talked to Susan on the phone and she reassured me that I had no reason to worry, but..." Taylor played nervously with her fingers.

"But you didn't think just because I didn't answer my phone and Brooke didn't pick up that we were-"

"No! No, it's just..argh I hate this. I love you, I trust you and I know you won't hurt me again, but sometimes those old feelings just come crawling back and they're stronger than me." She buried her face in her hands. Ridge pulled her to him and hugged her tightly. Softly, he stroked her hair.

"It's okay, I understand!" She stroked his face.

"Ridge, I love you and I'm so happy with you. I don't think I've ever been happier than I am right now and the thought of losing it all again..."

"Ssshhh!" He held his finger to her lips.

"You shouldn't even think about that, because it will never happen again...Taylor, I can't tell you how much I cherish and enjoy our life together. Every single day! I love you Doc!"

They sank into a heartfelt kiss. Taylor curled up to him as close as she could.

"Hold me tight!" For a while they just lay there in each other's arms. That's when their eyes met. They kissed softly. Their kisses became more and more demanding. Taylor slid her hand in his shirt. Ridge's hand moved under her blouse and caressed her belly.

"Mom! Dad! We're home! Oh my God!" Startled, Steffy and Thomas turned away and covered their eyes. Taylor and Ridge, embarrassed, straightened up and tugged their clothes into place. Steffy shook her head

"Really, do you have to do this here in the middle of the day? You guys could have at least given us a heads up!"

"Indeed! That's how you get the shock of your life."

"Well, now, don't exaggerate. There are worse things you could witness." Steffy and Thomas stared at their father in disbelief.

"Besides, nothing else happened at all!" Taylor frantically brushed her hair. Steffy and Thomas gave their parents a mocking face. They weren't toddlers anymore, they didn't even want to imagine what scene would have presented itself to them if they had burst in a little later. As much as they were happy that their parents were back together, there are just things you don't want to imagine, like your own parents making love.

"You could have knocked or rung the doorbell!"

"Are you serious?" snapped Steffy at her father. "We're supposed to knock on our own front door?" Thomas shook his head as well.

"So if we're interrupting anything, we can leave again and come back later?!"

"Now stop it! You better sit down, because we need to talk to you." Taylor pointed to the chairs and went to the bar and poured each of them a glass of her homemade lemonade. She herself got a new glass of iced tea and another drink for Ridge. There they all sat together. Before her parents could say anything, Steffy already took the floor.

"I know what you wanna say. That it was totally way out of line to go after Brooke and that I should have controlled myself, but she started it. She just barreled into our office with her weird assumptions and all the things she threw at us and she slapped me!"

"Steffy's right!" defended Thomas, his sister. "Brooke's behavior was more than inappropriate."

"Now listen guys. We all know that Brooke's behavior was not okay, and I don't want to defend her in any way. I am just as upset as you are, especially because I told her to leave you alone. But still I have to ask you to avoid such acts in the future. This should not sound like an apology, but Brooke is in kind of exceptional circumstances right now, and I simply beg you to be a little more lenient and just try to ignore her behavior."

"Exceptional circumstances? Does that give her any right to attack us, insult Mom and hit Steffy?" Now Taylor interjected.

"Look, it's really sweet of you guys to defend my honor, but your dad is right. We should all try to just stay out of Brooke's way if possible and not respond to her attacks. Just do it for our sake. Your father and I won't have a quiet minute in San Francisco if we have to worry that at any time some kind of war is going to break out here." Ridge nodded in agreement. Finally, Thomas relented, as did Steffy.

"All right, fine by me. As long as she doesn't get in my way and tries to ambush me. I'll do my best to treat her like she is invisible," she said.

"Thanks, we really don't want another escalation and certainly not tomorrow at the party!" Thomas glanced glumly at his mother.

"Wait, Brooke's going to be there?!" Thomas screwed up his face.

"Of course she's invited, and I don't know what kind of mood she'll be in. She wasn't too pleased when I told her your mother and I will attend the party together. So no matter what she says or does, don't respond to it further."

"And I was so hoping this would be a Logan freezone for once."

"Steffy! You know full well that's not possible. Donna and Katie are invited because they work for Forrester Creation and Brooke and her kids are family. So I'm asking you to get your act together! You know how important this party is to your grandparents and how much your grandfather cares about keeping the family peace."

"Well, it will certainly be an interesting party!" said Steffy and nobody dared to contradict her.