The boat came to a halt. The anchor lowered and Brooke moved to the aft of the boat. This was it. This was her son's and daughter's final resting place. This was possibly where they struggled to survive, prayed that help would come, reminiscened on their pasts and all they could have done differently; all the things they would never get to do or see or say, repented for all their wrong doings, and cried out for their mom. They cried out to her and she hadn't heard them. Her babies needed her and she wasn't there for them. What kind of a mother did not know when her kids were in trouble? What kind- -

No, no, if she learned anything since their passing it was that she couldn't think of the what ifs or condemn herself for not knowing when Ric stood in the doorway of Hope's room and said his quick "Good morning and don't wait up" as she struggled with Hope to get her dressed for daycare that she would never see her son again. Her automatic and absent-minded, "I love you," in response to his "I love you," were the last words they would ever speak. Or when she hugged, kissed, and whispered in Bridget's ear "Sorry and I love you" and Bridget replied, "I forgive you and love you" in the parking garage of their therapist's office that would be the last time she would see her precious Budge. Life could change in a heartbeat.

"Brookie," Stephie called to her as she squeezed in between Brooke and the railing.

"Yes, Stephie."

"Why did they die?"

"Stephanie Anne Forrester," Phoebe reprimanded as she came to stand beside Brooke.

"No, Phoebe, it's okay. Stephie can ask me anything. You all can. Tommy, you can stop lurking and come over too," she said gently, seeing him out the corner of her eye. Now how to answer her? "I'm not completely sure why other than God wanted two more beautiful angels with him."

"But so young, Logan?" Thomas questioned.

"I like to think it was just their time to be angels again."

"Are we going to be angels again soon, too, then?" Phoebe asked frightened.

Wrapping her arms around all three kids, she kissed the top of their heads then rested her head on Phoebe's. "You are all going to live to be older than your grandma."

"You can be older than Grandma?" Stephie asked in blatant disbelief.

Brooke laughed and on this solemn day, it felt good. "Yes, it's very possible. My own Grams lived to be ninety-six."

"Wow!" the trio exclaimed in unison.

She turned her head and saw Ridge changing Will's diaper on his lap like the pro that he was while simultaneously making Hope, Ricky, and Dawn laugh.

Sensing her, he looked up and they shared a bittersweet smile. Finishing and putting Will back in the stroller next to his sisters, he and Ricky made their way over to the other side of the boat. He locked the wheels on the stroller and reached in the basket below and took out roses. He handed Thomas, Stephie, Phoebe, and her dethorned roses with Ricky in his arms.

"One year and nine months ago, our lives changed forever. Bridget and Eric Forrester, Junior, were two great people that I had the privilege to know and love with al my heart for nineteen and twenty-one- years, I wish it could have been longer. I wish I could have apologized. But it's too late for wishes now. Buts it's not too late to pledge that I will make sure your brothers and sisters know all about you two," Ridge vowed, looking at each of his children, "Our grandkids and great-grandkids will know about the fantastic aunt and uncle they never had the pleasure of meeting." Kissing his two red roses, he tossed them into the water. "I love you."

"I love you, Budge and Daddy. I miss you," Ricky said, throwing his two roses into the water also.

Thomas took his roses and flung them into the ocean. "Ric when Ricky and Will get older, I'm going to teach them how to dive. And Bridget, I'll keep reading Encyclopedia Brown to them."

Phoebe smelled her roses and solemnly said, "Bridget, I miss you braiding my hair, and if Hope ever sits still long enough I'll braid hers." She held her hand over the railing and gently let go of the flowers.

"And when I get older, I'm going to dye my hair strawberry blonde like yours was, Budge. And I'll keep annoying my brothers and sisters, like you taught me Ric," Stephanie added, throwing her precious flowers over the rail.

As Brooke took time to compose herself, Thomas took some smashed flowers, now reduced mostly to petals, out of his pockets and gave some to each of the girls and together they threw them into the water.

"Thomas, what were those flowers for?" Ridge asked curious.

"They were for our brother and sister who died before Budge and Ric," his oldest living son answered.

"Yep," the twins concurred.

The tears welled up in Brooke's eyes now flowed freely.

"Logan, we didn't mean to make you cry," Thomas tried to assure Brooke.

Reaching out his free hand, Ridge rubbed Brooke's back and stroked her hair.

"No, Thomas, you didn't. I'm just- -"

"We are so proud that the three of you remembered your other two siblings- -" Ridge jumped in.

"Ridge Junior and Brooklyn," Stephie informed the two adults.

"Ridge Junior and Brooklyn?" Ridge inquired.

Stephie nodded.

"You named your siblings?"

"How can you be angels without names?" Stephie explained as if talking to a simpleton.

Ridge and Brooke laughed.

Stephie beamed.

"Those names are perfect," Brooke smiled. She was ready now. She took a deep breath. Kissing her roses, she inhaled their light, sweet scent as she gathered her thoughts. What could she say in this final moment? Nothing. She hadn't yelled and screamed before and she wasn't going to start now. An electrical fire killed her kids. A simple electrical fire that spiraled out of control swiftly brought her here.

Storm had wanted to hire private investigators to investigate the captain, his first mate, the company that owned the ferry, and anyone directly or indirectly involved with the ferry. But she refused. What was the point? None if it was going to bring Ric or Bridget back. Plus it was an accident, a freak accident. And although Donna had called her a martyr, she was glad that ferry exploded when it did, instead of happening when the ferry was packed with people. She didn't wish this mind numbing grief and heart wrenching pain on any other mother or father.

It was time. Time to say goodbye.

How do I say goodbye to what we had?

The good times that made us laugh

Outweigh the bad

I thought we'd get to see forever

But forever's gone away

It's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday

And I'll take with me the memories

To be my sunshine after the rain

It's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday

And I'll take with me the memories

To be my sunshine after the rain

It's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday

"I love you, Eric Junior and Bridget," she whispered, kissing the roses again and squeezing Stephie. She tossed a rose into the Pacific. "I love you, Ridge Junior and Brooklyn. Sleep well my angels and watch over your brothers and sisters." Releasing the final rose, they all stood there and watched the roses float away in different directions.

Ridge put Ricky on his own two feet. "Why don't you guys take the babies inside?" he requested of his older kids.

Giving their dad and Brooke a hug, Thomas pushed the stroller inside as Stephie, Phoebe, and Ricky followed.

Ridge pulled Brooke into a fierce embrace, both allowing themselves to let go of all the tears they had been holding back, afraid to frighten the kids with the tumultuous emotions. As they cried, they felt themselves healing as the water that was their children's final resting place gently rocked the boat they were on. The water that had once been Ric's and Bridget's friend and playmate became their enemy and took their lives. What was it that Nick once said, the sea was a demanding, fierce, unpredictable, and jealous mistress. He was right. He was so right.

As their grief threatened to overwhelm them, a piercing scream brought their emotions to a manageable level and to the present. The past was the past and the present needed them to guide the children they were left with into the future. Letting go of each other, they quickly raced inside without a glance backwards to the water.

Lunch was filled with stories of the past and the present, laughter and joy filled the air. How could she have ever gotten through this without the kids? As she burped Will, Stephie, Phoebe, and Thomas unveiled the cake they had been dying to eat. Brooke glanced at the pink frosted cake and then did a double take.

"Do you like it, Brookie? Do you like it?" the children questioned with excitement.

She was stunned. Speechless. On top of the cake sat a ring sparkling with jewels. She looked to Ridge as the room fell silent with nervous anticipation.

"I never told you this, but Storm and I hired a P.I. to retrace Ric and Bridget's day on Catalina. They were on the island overseeing the finishing touches on your mother's ring, but the jeweler had some problems setting Hope's birthstone so they had to leave without it. When I found the jeweler I had him add Ridge Junior's, Brooklyn's, Ricky's, and Dawn's- -"

"And we told dad to add ours too since you'll be our new other moth- -" Stephie interrupted.

"Stephanie Anne Forrester, Dad is suppose to ask her," Phoebe reminded her twin.

"Well, Phoebe Marie Forrester, he's taking too long," Stephie replied.

"Logan," Thomas began, "you need to be a Forrester like everyone else in this family."

Brooke didn't know what to say. She watched as if in slo-mo as Ridge took her hand and got down on knee with the ring in his hand. Thomas took Will from her.

"Brooke Logan, you are the love of my eternal life. Our past is our foundation, a testament of where we've come from and to remind us of our mistakes so we are not doomed to repeat them. We have walked through hell and back, separately and together. And there is no one else I would rather have walk beside me as I continue this journey we call life than with you my best friend, confidante, and mother to our seven kids. Will you marry me?" Ridge asked.

Once again time stood still for Brooke. It was as if she were in a dream world.

No one else on earth

Could ever hurt me
Break my heart the way you do
No one else on earth

Was ever worth it
No one can love me like
No one can love me like you

I shivered once you broke into my soul
The damage is done now I'm out of control
How did you get to me?

She honestly didn't know what to say. Somehow she had never seen this coming. Not at all which was odd because they were closer now then they had ever been, even when they were married. Ridge, her new and improved best friend, father of her children was asking her to marry him. Was she in love with him? Yes, she loved him and a small part of her would always be in love with him due to all they shared, both the good and the bad. But was that enough to sustain a marriage or a family? Did she trust him enough to believe that he would stay with her until death took one of them away? There was so much at risk and once again kids were involved, though strangely enough she felt Thomas, Phoebes, and Stephie were more involved than Ric and Bridget had ever been. Their hearts so fragile along with Ricky's, Hope's, Dawn's, and Will's could be so easily broken, shattered if she and Ridge couldn't make it work.

"We'll take it slow, Logan. We'll go to pre-marital counseling. It can be a long engagement," Ridge pleaded.

"I'll design the bridesmaid's dresses," Phoebe announced.

"Phoebe, I want to be a princess," Hope declared.

"I'll stand guard at the door to make sure the witch and her evil crony don't stop the wedding, and mom too," Stephie added.

"I'll walk you down the aisle, Logan," Thomas informed her. "And Ricky can be the ring bearer and Hope the flower girl."

"Brooke, everything I am and will be, I'm laying before you. I hope that's enough," Ridge proclaimed.

Did she love him enough? And she also made a quick note to herself to keep a closer eye on whatever Stephie was reading and watching. She gazed into his brown eyes and saw love shining back at her, along with trust, hope, and fear. She looked at the ring that sat in his palm. The old Ridge never would have gotten her a gift this thoughtful or meaningful. He would have never rented a boat on the anniversary of their children's death so she could spend time at their final resting place. He would have never spent two hours under her kitchen sink trying to unclog whatever Ricky and Hope threw in the drain. He had never slept on a roll-away bed in her room to wait on her hand and foot when she had the flu and take care of Ricky, Hope, and Dawn by himself. He never would have told the kids about her two miscarriages. And he never, ever would have proposed with all the kids around and Dawn's mango and peaches desert staining his shirt.

"I love you, Brooke Logan."

"I love you, Ridge Forrester."

He slowly pulled her to him and kissed her thoroughly with Hope and Dawn banging their high chairs and the older kids clapping and yelling. "Don't make me wait too long before I can make you my wife in every way," he whispered.

"You're willing to wait until we're legally wed?"

"God, help me, but yes. I want to do this right in every way and I want to set a good example for the kids. And I want you to know this isn't about the incredibly, hot love we make."

She laughed and kissed him again.

No one else on earth

Could ever hurt me
Break my heart the way you do
No one else on earth

Was ever worth it
No one can love me like
No one can love me like you