"Dad? He's...he's here?"
Eric walked into the living room. Brooke stood up. "Eric? What are you doing here? I thought you weren't due back until tomorrow?"
"I decided to come home early." smiled Eric. "I thought I would stop by to see how things are."
"Everything's fine." replied Brooke. "We were uh..we were just going to have dinner."
Eric looked and saw Deacon sitting there on the sofa next to Bridget. "Oh...I see you have company." He stated. "Who might you be?" He asked.
"Dad...this is Deacon." Bridget said nervously.
"Nice to meet you." Eric said shaking his hand.
"You too." Deacon said returning his hand shake.
Eric turned back to Brooke. "Listen the reason I stopped by is that I wanted to let you know that I'm going to throw the annual Forrester Creations pool party next week and I'm going to need your help planning it."
"Of course." said Brooke. "Not a problem. I'll talk to Megan and have her get the invitations made."
"Sounds good." replied Eric. He then looked at Bridget. "I'm assuming you are going to be bringing Jason."
Bridget looked at Deacon and then back to her father. "No Dad. I'm not." She answered.
"But I thought you always brought him to these things...What happened? You're not seeing him anymore?"
Bridget sighed. "Dad...there's something you need to know. I don't know how to tell you this."
"What is it?"
"I was never really seeing Jason. Yes it's true we've gone out a few times but they weren't romantic dates. I think of him as a friend. I don't love him."
"But you seem so happy..."
Bridget shook her head. "I wasn't happy with him Dad. Not like that."
"I see." frowned Eric. "So that's what you wanted to tell me?"
"Well there's more to it than just that. You remember about a month ago when I went to Vegas for a few days?"
"Yeah I do."
"I was feeling awful...after what happened with Dante...I didn't think I would ever be happy again. I thought I was going to walk around in misery for the rest of my life but....then I was in the casino and I was walking and...someone bumped into me...spilling their drink on me...when I looked and saw who it was...I can't explain it....something hit me..I just fell in love....I know it sounds crazy but I did."
Eric looked at his daughter and then looked at Deacon. "I'm guessing that person you are referring to is Deacon." He said.
Bridget nodded. "Yes."
"So you've been dating him all this time?"
"Not exactly. We've talked on the phone and we e-mail eachother. I did go out to see him a little while ago. I didn't tell you about him because I didn't think you would understand and to be honest I didn't know how to tell you. But it doesn't matter anymore because..."
"Because...what? Bridget what is it?" asked a concerned Eric.
Bridget clutched Deacon's hand tightly in hers. She looked up at her father. "I'm pregnant."
Eric stood there in total shock. Pregnant? Bridget? His little girl was pregnant? He didn't know what to say.
"Dad...I love Deacon. I do. And...he loves me."
Eric looked at Deacon with anger. "You got my daughter pregnant?"
"Look...I know what you are thinking and I swear to you it wasn't like that."
"Oh really?" fumed Eric. "How exactly was it? You seduce my daughter...you take advantage of her..."
"I didn't do that." Deacon said trying to remain calm. "I love her. She's the best thing that ever happened to me."
"I can't believe I'm hearing this!" shouted Eric. He turned to look at Brooke. "Did you know about this?"
"Yes. Bridget just told me a few days ago."
"And you're not upset?"
"Eric...Bridget is grown and I think we should be supportive."
"Supportive?" laughed Eric. "You think we should be supportive?"
Alex spoke up. "Well to be fair...you were supportive of Dante and Felicia."
Eric shook his head. "No No..that was different'
"How is it different!" exclaimed Bridget. "She had a one night stand with him! A one night stand that produced a child that she USED to..."
"Honey." said Eric walking over to his daughter. "I know how upset you were when things didn't work out between you and Dante and I'm sorry. He wasn't right for you. He belongs with Felicia. They share a child."
"Deacon and I share a child. Don't you think we belong together?" Bridget said through her tears.
"Bridget you are different than her. She lives her life a certain way..."
"So it's okay for her but not me? You'll let her live her life anyway she wants but want to control how I live mine."
"I'm not trying to control how you live your life. I want only the best for you."
"Deacon is the best for me." Bridget replied wiping her tears. "He was there for me. He listened to how hurt I was when Dante....He cared. He pulled me out of my misery. When I'm with him...I feel loved. He loves me."
"It's true." said Deacon. "I love her. And I'm going to marry her."
Eric looked at Bridget and Deacon in disbelief. "Married? You're getting married?"
"Yes." said Bridget. "Deacon asked me to marry him and I said yes."
"So that's why you did this?" He snapped at Deacon. "That's why you got my daughter pregnant? So you could find a way into this family....get your hands on...."
"I don't want your damn money!" shouted Deacon angerly. "I didn't set out to get Bridget pregnant on purpose. I know this is not the ideal situation and I'm sorry for that but I don't regret a thing."
"You are going to regret this!" fumed Eric. "Mark my words!" He then turned and stormed out slamming the door behind him in a fury. He stood outside still feeling angry. That son of a.....No. No way was he going to allow this. He was not going to allow that man to marry his daughter. It simply wasn't going to happen. Eric didn't care what Deacon said. He knew that he did it on purpose. He seduced poor innocent unsuspecting Bridget only to insure that he would have a piece of the Forrester family fortune. Well it wasn't going to happen. He didn't care what it took. There was no way in hell Deacon was going to be a part of the family. Bridget deserved better than that. Deacon couldn't possibly provide a good life for Bridget. No...he would find a way to get him out of her life. And he knew just the person who could help him.

Bridget sat on the sofa after Eric had left. Deacon sat down next to her and held her hand. "I'm sorry baby." He said kissing the side of her head. Bridget shook her head. "Don't apologize. If anyone should apologize it's my father." She frowned. "How could he do that? He didn't even give me a chance to explain..."
Brooke sat on the coffee table across from the sofa. "Honey it'll be okay. Just give him some time to cool off...You can try talking to him tomorrow when he's calmed down. I'm sure it was just the shock.."
"Oh bull!" exclaimed Bridget standing up. "It had nothing to do with that! If I told him that I was pregnant with Jason's child he would be thrilled! He would think it was the greatest news and couldn't wait to throw me a grand wedding! But it's not Jason. It's Deacon. He doesn't like that Deacon doesn't come from such a wealthy family. He judged him without even knowing who he is! He doesn't care who he is. All he cares about Deacon doesn't have some big important family name!"
"Bridget sweetheart...I know you are upset." said Brooke. "This is not easy for your father."
"You know I'm right.' Bridget said sternly.
"Maybe." Brooke said. "But honey he knows Jason. He doesn't know Deacon."
"He doesn't want to know Deacon. He just wants to go by his preconceived notions of him. He doesn't care that Deacon means everything to me."
"Bridget your Mom is right." said Alex. "It is a big shock for him. It would be for any father to hear that his daughter had gotten pregnant but some guy she just met."
"Deacon's not 'some guy'." snapped Bridget. "I thought you understood that."
"I do understand. I'm just trying to get you to understand where your father is coming from. Yes you are right. If it was Jason...he would be thrilled. He would think it was the greatest thing and would want to throw you your dream wedding. He had no idea about Deacon. You didn't tell anyone and Bridget you can't just expect everyone to think it's great news when no one knew anything."
"So what are you saying?" asked Bridget. "You don't think it's great news?"
"No that's not what I'm saying. I do think it's great I'm just saying that..."
"You know what." said Bridget. "I don't want to hear anymore. I think we should go." She took Deacon's hand and lead him out of the house.
They got into the car and Bridget slammed her door shut.
"You okay baby?" asked Deacon.
Bridget said nothing. She was still fuming. She felt like everyone was against her.
"Baby.." He said reaching over and caressing her cheek.
She turned to him. "I love you." She said. "And I don't care what anyone else thinks. I love you."
"I love you too Bridget." He said leaning over and kissing her.
He then started up the car and drove off.

Brooke and Alex remained back in the living room.
"That went well." remarked Alex.
"I've never seen her that upset." said a worried Brooke. "I should call her.." She went to pick up the phone to call Bridget's cell.
"No." said Alex taking the phone away. "Just let her be. She's very upset and I don't think she's going to want to talk to anyone."
"I suppose." sighed Brooke as Alex put the phone down.
"I think everyone just needs to cool down." said Alex.
"That's the thing." said Brooke. "I know Bridget will be fine. I can talk to her and she'll be okay. It's Eric that I'm worried about. He's very protective of Bridget and I'm afraid of what he's going to do."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean once Eric gets something in his head...there's no telling what he'll do."