Jack and his siblings!

Taylor and Ridge sat together for a long time. They had a lot to talk about. Both were glad that their relationship had changed for the better. In the last months the atmosphere between them had been rather cool and distant with a lot of tension. But this afternoon they returned to their old closeness.

As far as Jack was concerned, they were broadly in agreement. Ridge wanted to play an active role in Jack's life. As soon as possible, he wanted to sort out the formalities and officially acknowledge the paternity. Taylor and he agreed to share custody. The arrangements regarding contact and visiting should be regulated among themselves without any court. Taylor made it clear, Ridge could see Jack at any time. She advocated he should spend as much time as possible with Jack in the next weeks so the two could bond with each other. Her only demand was, Jack should spend the nights with her at home. It was important that he get used to his current home and develop a feeling of security and safety. Ridge agreed with her on this point. .

While they discussed everything, Jack got hungry and it was time to feed him. Ridge decided to take care of their own dinner in the meantime. He left and returned a short time later with Chinese food. They were both eating, when Jack, who was in his baby bouncer, protested loudly. Taylor tried to calm him down by rocking him with her foot and tickling him.

"Sshh Jack, Mommy wants to eat!"

"What's wrong with him?"

"Oh that's a tic of him. Whenever I'm about to eat, he starts to grumble and wants attention."

Ridge snorted and grinned until Taylor gave him a significant look. Jack continued to whine until Taylor finally picked him up. She held and rocked him in one arm. The food box between her legs. With the other hand, she tried to continue eating with the chopsticks, which was rather difficult. Ridge wasn't able to stop laughing. He teased her, she could become famous with this act.

Finally they were full and Jack was getting tired. Taylor asked Ridge if he wanted to come along when she put Jack to bed, so he could see the nursery she had decorated with the kids. Ridge was impressed when he saw the room. He helped Taylor get Jack ready for the night. They had hardly laid him down when he fell asleep.

"He looks so cute and how quickly he fell asleep."

"Yeah, usually it takes more time, but today was an exciting day. After all, it's not every day you get to meet your daddy."

They quietly left the room. Shortly after, Ridge said goodbye.

The next day, Taylor and Ridge called for a family conference. Taylor contacted Thomas and the girls and asked them to come over. The three of them didn't know yet that their father was also Jack's father. She hadn't told them, because she wanted to tell Ridge first.

Thomas was the first to appear. He lugged several bags of groceries into the kitchen. He had agreed to run some errands for his mother, so she wouldn't have to rush through the stores with Jack in tow. Taylor arrived with Jack in her arms. Thomas took the little guy and she started putting the stuff away.

"Thanks a lot Thomas. You're a sweetheart!"

"You're welcome mom! And how are you baby brother?" He looked at Jack with skeptics.

"He's still so small, I thought babies grow much faster? Are you sure everything is okay with him?"

"Jack has a perfect normal size for his age."

"Really? I think he could grow a lot faster!"

"Well, I hope he takes his time, right Jack?! Sorry Thomas but I'm afraid before you can make him the next basketball star, you have to wait a little while." Thomas was not happy with this answer.

"Do you feed him enough? I mean Jack is a man, he needs to be fed properly!"

"Of course Thomas! You can trust me. I know what I'm doing. After all, I raised you and your sisters and you didn't exactly turn out small and puny."

"That's right!"

"By the way, where are your sisters? I thought you were all going to come together?"

"Oh you know those two. They always change plans at the last minute. They're at Insomenia 'studying' with some friends, Trisha volunteered to drop them off here."

"Well then, they'll certainly be here any minute."

"I wouldn't count on it."

Thomas walked into the living room with Jack and made himself comfortable, at that moment the door burst open.

"Mom we're here!" shouted two girls' voices.

"Sshhh!" Jack had been startled by the unexpected noise and had begun to whine. "Can't you guys keep it down a little! Jack will suffer serious hearing damage from all your yelling!"

He rocked the little one gently to snooze him. Phoebe also wanted to hold Jack and the two wrestled with each other. Reluctantly, Thomas handed her Jack over. Phoebe now rocked Jack in her arms herself.

"Better our yelling than your mindless dribble!"

"Exactly!" agreed Steffy with her sister. "The day Jack understands your nonsense, he'll voluntarily go deaf!"

"You take that back right now!"

Thomas and Steffy started a fight, hitting each other with pillows. Phoebe put Jack back in his bouncer and came to her sister's rescue. Suddenly, a loud whistle sounded.

"Stop it! What do you think you're doing? You're young adults and you're acting like the worst toddlers. I thought you'd finally gotten over this phase."

"Thomas started it!" retorted Steffy and Phoebe pointing at their brother.

"And two against one is unfair!" defended Thomas himself. "Mom, that's just not okay. Why am I not a twin and instead have to deal with these two creatures?"

"Well Thomas, that's easy, Faith had mercy. One of your types is quite enough." Thomas was about to go after his sister again, but Taylor intervened.

"That's enough! You should be ashamed of yourselves, all this in front of Jack. You really should be better role models." Steffy tried to calm her down.

"Don't panic Mom! Phoebe and I will teach Jack everything he needs to know."

"Excuse me, like I said before Jack is a guy, he has no interest in your girlie stuff. Teaching Jack is a task for the big brother. I will make sure Jack learns the useful stuff."

"Oh great, that means Jack will slide down the banister before he can even pronounce the word 'slide'!" retorted Taylor in a mocked horrified tone.

Steffy and Phoebe chuckled, while Thomas was slightly offended. He decided to change the subject.

"You'd better tell us Mom why we all had to show up here today. What's so important, you wanted to discuss with us?"

"I'll tell you any minute, but we're still waiting for someone."

The kids looked at each other,stunned. Steffy finally said.

"We're all here!" Who's missing?"

Ridge, who had walked in the door just then, had heard his daughter's words.

"You're not going to have a family conference without the head of the family, are you?"

"Dad? What are you doing here?"

His children were surprised to see him. Steffy and Phoebe jumped up to greet their father.

"Have you met Jack yet?" wanted Phoebe to know.

"Of course, I've already greeted the little munchkin!"

In fact, Ridge had spent the entire afternoon with Jack, but just before Thomas had arrived, he had to make a quick stop by the office. Now that everyone was there, Taylor began the talk.

"You all know about the irritation around Jack's paternity, but what I haven't told you yet is who Jack's actual father is."

"You know Jack's biological father?" asked Steffy in surprise.

"How so?"

"Well, we have Bridget to thank for that. She got on the right track."

"Okay, and who is it?"

The three looked expectantly at their mother, who in turn gave Ridge a definite glance.

"Me!" announced Ridge. "I'm Jack's father!"

Thomas and the girls' jaws dropped. Thomas was the first to somewhat regain his composure.

"Huh, what are you trying to tell us Dad, you're Jack's father? That can't be true, I mean you guys didn't...?"

He didn't even dare to finish his sentence. Both Taylor and Ridge blushed.

"No, it's not like you think." his mother countered. "The story is a little more complicated."

Ridge told his kids about Brooke's desire to have a baby and the plan the two had come up with. Thomas, Steffy and Phoebe stared puzzled from one to the other, suddenly they all started to laugh very badly. This whole scenario seemed completely absurd to them.

"This is really insane, something like this usually only happens in a tv show, but not in real life."

"You're right, the story is crazy, but we should focus on the basic facts. Jack is my son and therefore a full member of this family and that's the main point. Not the particular circumstances of how he was conceived."

" 'Particular circumstances' is a nice way to describe it." Steffy commented. "I just imagine when Jack will start to ask questions about his delivery. When he hears that story, he'll be ready for his first therapy session."

Ridge and Taylor scowled at their daughter, but also couldn't suppress a grin.

"Well I have to agree with Steffy on that one, you guys could have had another child together much easier and by far with more fun."

"Thomas!"

Now it was their son, who was feeling their stares. Steffy and Phoebe looked at their brother flabbergasted about his chutzpah to make such a joke. Phoebe struck a more serious note.

"And what are you going to do now? Where do you want to go from here?"

"Well, your mother and I have agreed to share custody and we both want to take care of Jack together."

"Exactly! We think as parents we could make a good team."

That wasn't quite the answer Phoebe was looking for. Secretly, she hadn't given up her dream of seeing her parents reunited one day. In her opinion, Jack was just the miracle they needed to make this happen.

Soon it was time for all of them to leave. Thomas had offered his sisters a ride. They discussed what they just had heard. Phoebe came up with a firm conviction.

"I guarantee you, Jack is the push, our parents need to get back together."

"You don't really believe that, do you? Face it, Mom and Dad will never be a couple again, even if it's over with Brooke." Steffy agreed with her brother.

"I see it the same way. Those two had their chance and they blew it up."

"But the two of them belong together and if they see each other regularly now and take care of Jack together, that will create a bond. I'm quite sure it could reunite them. I swear to you, before Jack will be able to walk perfectly, Mom and Dad will be married again."