"Mom...Alex..I'm back!" Bridget called out as she stepped in the house. She looked and didn't see anyone there. "Mom?" She called again. No answer. "Alex? You guys home?....Hmmm." She put her bags down and shut the door behind her. She decided to check the pool.
Bridget walked outside and saw Brooke lounging by the poolside while Alex was swimming laps.
"Mom." said Bridget walking over to her.
"Bridget...you're back." smiled Brooke taking off her sunglasses. She got up and adjusted her white cover-up over her black bikini and gave her daughter a hug. "So." She said letting go. "How did it go?"
"Well..I explained to him about Jason. I told him that he was a friend and nothing more. I told Deacon that it was him that I loved. It wasn't easy. After what he had been through before..."
"Before?" questioned Brooke.
"There were these two women....they used him. They didn't care about him at all. Hurt him pretty bad. He had a hard time trusting anyone after that. That's why he was upset about Jason. But he knows now that it's not like that. He knows that I love him."
"I'm glad to hear that." said Brooke. "I was a little worried."
"I was too." admitted Bridget. "But it's okay now."
"What about the baby? Did you tell him.."
"Yes I did."
"What did he say?"
Bridget smiled. "He's thrilled. Other women have told him that they were pregnant and he always knew they were lying or if they were pregnant, it wasn't his child. He said that knowing that this child belongs to him. He said we created a miracle."
"Honey.." Brooke said putting her hands on the side of Bridget's arms. "I'm so happy. I'm glad it worked out."
"You could say that." beamed Bridget.
"What do you mean?"
"Look!" Bridget squealed holding out her hand.
Brooke gasped at the gorgeous ring on Bridget's finger. "Oh my...it's beautiful...Honey...you're..."
"Engaged!" exclaimed Bridget with excitement. "He asked me to marry him and I said yes!"
Brooke stood there speechless.
"Mom? You okay?" asked Bridget.
"I'm...I'm just...I...didn't..."
"You're happy for me aren't you?"
"I want to be." sighed Brooke.
"What do you mean you want to be? You mean you're not?"
"No honey...it's not that...I'm just surprised...I mean I've never even met Deacon..."
"I love him." Bridget said sincerely. "I do. He means everything to me."
"I know he does honey. And I can't wait to meet him. If he is as great as you say he is...then I couldn't be happier for you."
"Thanks Mom." said Bridget.
"So when do we get to meet him?" asked Brooke.
"How about tonight? He can come over for dinner or something.."
"That sounds great."
"What sounds great?" asked Alex who had just come out of the pool and was drying off with a towel.
"Honey..Bridget had some terrific news." said Brooke.
Alex turned to Bridget. "What is it?"
"Deacon and I are getting married!" Bridget said happily.
Alex looked at Bridget and then to Brooke and Bridget again. "Married? You're...you're getting married?"
"Yes."
"Wow." said Alex. "I don't know what to say.....except...Congratulations!" He put his arms around Bridget and hugged her. "I'm happy for you."
"Thank you." said Bridget letting go.
"When do we get to meet Deacon?" asked Alex.
"That's what we were just talking about." explained Brooke. "We're going to have him over for dinner tonight."
"Sounds great." said Alex. "Hey..how about I cook some delicious steaks on the grill. Have some corn on the cob...potato...nice salad.."
"Mmmm..." said Bridget. "That sounds wonderful."
"Okay then." said Alex. "I'm going to shower and get dressed. After that I'll head to the store to get everything for our dinner." He kissed Brooke on the cheek and headed inside.
Brooke noticed Bridget was quiet. "You okay?"
Bridget sighed. "I'm fine."
"Honey you don't have to be nervous. I'm sure we are going to love Deacon."
"No it's not that...I'm...I'm worried about telling Dad."
"I see." said Brooke.
"He's not going to be happy. I just know it. He's going to make it out to be like Deacon seduced me and took advantage of me. It wasn't like that."
"Look honey I know your father can be tough...but it will be okay. You can handle him."
"It's not easy." frowned Bridget. "He's going to rant at me about hooking up with "some guy" in Vegas and how could I do that...and then...I know he's going to lay into Deacon. Claim he goes around seducing innocent girls..."
"Bridget no matter what he says...you need to stand your ground."
"I know. You're right."
"Don't worry about it right now okay? We are going to have a nice dinner tonight. You can deal with your father tomorrow."
"Maybe I should just get it over with now." said Bridget.
"You can't. He's over at Forrester International. He's not going to be back until tomorrow."
"Oh. I guess I'll have to wait then."
"Just remember that he loves you and he wants what's best for you."
"I know. I just hope he sees that what's best for me is Deacon."
"He will. Maybe not at first. It might take some time but I'm sure he'll come around."
"I hope so. Listen Mom.." said Bridget changing the subject. "There are two people who I would love for you to meet. Daisy and Brett."
"Who are they?"
"Daisy works at the club Deacon owns in Vegas. Brett owns a successful motorcycle shop and he plays in a band on the side. You are going to love them. They have a little boy. His name is Justin. He's so cute."
"I can't wait to meet them. They going to come to the wedding?"
"Actually they are going to be IN the wedding. I asked Daisy to be one of my bridesmaids. Brett is going to be Deacon's best man. Which brings me to my question....would you be my maid of honor?"
"I'd love to." Brooke said with a smile. The phone rang inside and Brooke headed inside to answer it.
Bridget sat down in one of the chairs and her cell phone rang. She saw it was Deacon. "Hi sexy." She answered with a grin.
"No YOU are sexy." He said on the other line.
"I love you." She smiled.
"I love you too baby. Did you talk to your Mom?"
"Yes I did. She can't wait to meet you. Neither can Alex. So we are having dinner with them tonight."
"Sounds great. Is your father going to be there?"
"No. He's away at Forrester International. He won't be back until tomorrow. We'll have to see him then."
"I see."
"You nervous?"
"I'm always nervous right before I get reamed out for taking advantage of a beautiful girl."
Bridget giggled. "Honey it'll be okay. We'll get through it."
"If you say so. I gotta go. I love you."
"I love you too."

Deacon hung up the phone in his hotel room and sighed. He was not looking forward to meeting Eric Forrester. He knew that he was going to be angry. Who wouldn't be? No father would be thrilled with knowing that some guy knocked up his sweet daughter after only knowing them for a few hours. He just hoped that they could make him see it wasn't like that. He loved Bridget. She meant everything in the world to him. He never in his life felt for anyone like he did for Bridget. She was his angel. A beautiful angel that came into his life and made him feel whole again. That night he met her...he was feeling pretty awful. He was so sick of the women he would meet and their phoniness. And the fact that they dressed like hookers didn't help either. Way too much make-up and their skin tight dresses showing off their huge fake breasts didn't help matters either. One girl looked like she had two beach balls sitting on her chest. There was nothing attractive about it. He was ready to give up when he ran into the most beautiful being he ever saw in his life. Her sweet blue eyes...silky strawberry blonde hair...her gorgeous body in a dress that fit her to perfection and looked amazing on her. No one compared to her. Not Jill. Not Diana. No one. And knowing that this beautiful woman was having his child. He was going to be a father. That was something he never thought would happen. He loved Brett and Daisy's son, Justin. He was a great kid and now...he was going to have one of his own. With a woman he loved more than anything, who he was going to marry. Marriage. Something else he never thought was going to happen. He was a little sad about leaving Vegas but he thought it was the right decision. Bridget was very close to her family and he knew she wouldn't want to leave them. He already put a call in about a place to open a new club there in L.A. It wouldn't be the same without Daisy and Brett there but he was excited about it. He could always have Brett and his band perform at the new club some time. Yes it was going to be hard to leave Vegas, it was a part of him but he was looking forward to starting a new chapter in his life with Bridget.

It was around 6 PM and Deacon stood nervously outside the door of the mansion. He rang the doorbell and waited. All of a sudden he wished he wasn't there. Anywhere but there. He wished he was back in Vegas in his club with Bridget up in his private suite where the world couldn't find them. The door was opened and his fears went away when he saw Bridget standing there in a pretty blue sundress that matched her eyes.
"Hi Deacon." She smiled.
"Hi." He replied. "You look incredible."
"Thank you." Bridget said kissing him. "You look great too. You nervous."
"A little." He admitted.
"It'll be fine." Bridget said taking his hand and leading him inside. "Don't be nervous."
She lead him over to the living room where Brooke and Alex were waiting.
"Mom..Alex...this Deacon." She said putting her arm around him.
Brooke studied him. Well he looked nice enough. "Hello. I'm Brooke." She said shaking his hand.
"Hello." Deacon replied.
"And I'm Alex."
Deacon shook his hand. "Nice to meet you both. Bridget's told me a lot about you."
"Please sit down." said Brooke gesturing to the sofa.
Deacon sat down next to Bridget. There was an awkward silence.
"So...Deacon...Bridget says you own a club in Vegas?" said Brooke.
"Yeah that's right." He replied.
"How long have you owned it?" asked Brooke.
"Little over four years." Deacon answered. There was silence again and then Deacon spoke up.
"Look uh..I know that you are probably not happy with me but I have to tell you...I love Bridget. She means everything to me. I never loved anyone like I love her. I know this is not the ideal situation and the last thing you wanted for your daughter....but I don't regret a thing."
Brooke spoke. "You're right. This is not the ideal situation I want my daughter in but I know her. I know that she doesn't go around...hooking up with just any guy she meets...for her to...she must love you a great deal. I know she does. I can tell by the way she talks about you and the way she looked at you when you two came in. All I ask is that you take good care of her and keep her happy."
"I will. I promise." replied Deacon. "I would never do anything to intentionally hurt her. She the best thing that ever happened to me. I haven't exactly had the best luck you know. I was involved with this girl named Jill. I really thought she was great. I thought she cared about me. All she cared about was using me to make her stupid boyfriend jealous. Then there was Diana. I thought she cared too. She didn't. What she cared about was making me part of the collection of guys she's been with. To be honest..I never wanted to be involved with anyone ever again. Then I met Bridget...everything changed. What I feel for her..it's like nothing I ever felt before."
He leaned over and placed a kiss on Bridget's lips. "She's the best thing that ever came into my life. I'm never letting go of her. Ever."
Brooke smiled. "That's all I want to hear." The doorbell rang and Brooke looked at Alex. "Who could that be?"
Alex shrugged. "I don't know." He got up and went over to the door. He returned looking somewhat solemn.
"Honey who is it?"
Alex looked at Bridget. "Your father is here."