Bridget walked into the board room where her family was gathered. She discussed it with Brooke and decided this was the best way. Everyone would be there so she could tell them at one time. She shut the door behind her and rolled her eyes at Felicia and Dante sitting together at the table. Those two still made her sick but right now she didn't care about them.
Brooke took her seat at the head of the table and Bridget sat down on the chair adjacent to her.
"Okay everyone." said Brooke. "I called you here today because Bridget has something very important to tell all of you." She turned to Bridget. "Go ahead."
Bridget nodded and slowly stood up. "Um...I have some news. Some happy news. At least I think it is. I don't know exactly how to tell you this......but as you know about a month ago I went out to Vegas for a few days. While I was there, I met someone. His name is Deacon."
"Oh well that's nice." Felicia said cheerfully. "You found someone."
Yeah I did. thought Bridget. And this time you aren't going to take him away from me.
"So that's the big announcement?" asked Thorne.
"No...there's more." continued Bridget. "Deacon and I....well...we talked on the phone a lot and e-mailed eachother...that one night we spent together in Vegas...it was...well....we love eachother and we are getting married."
"That's great." smiled Kristen standing up to hug her sister. "I'm happy for you."
"Thank you." said Bridget. "There's also something else you should know...I'm pregnant. Deacon and I are going to have a baby."
Ridge sat in his seat completely stunned. Thorne was stunned as was Kristen. Rick stared at his sister trying to see if he heard her correctly.
"I know this is a huge shock to everyone but...there's even more to it...I'm...I'm going to live with Deacon...in Vegas."
"Live in Vegas!" exclaimed Stephanie. "Bridget why on earth would you....Don't you want to stay here with your family?"
"I love you all I do but....I love it in Vegas. I do. And Brett and Daisy are wonderful people.."
"Who are Brett and Daisy?" asked Ridge.
"They are friends of Deacon." explained Bridget. "Deacon owns a club in Vegas. It's the most popular club there. Brett has a band who plays there and Daisy bartends. Brett also owns a very successful motorcycle shop."
Thorne stood up. "Bridget....this is a little too much to take...you hook up with a guy in Vegas...you get pregnant...you are marrying him and now you are going to move to Vegas to live..."
"I know." said Bridget. "I know it's a huge shock...I'm sorry...I didn't know how to tell you all about Deacon. I'm sorry. But this is what I want. I want to marry him. "
"Why kind of life are you going to have in Vegas?" asked Ridge. "I know that you said this club that Deacon owns is very succesful...but what about you?"
"I can get a job at a hospital there or I can open up my own practice..."
"And how do you plan on doing that?" asked Stephanie.
"Mom and Dad gave me a trust fund. I can use that to open up a practice if I want. And I have some money of my own saved."
"Why can't you live here? This Deacon could easily open up a club in L.A." said Stephanie.
Bridget shook her head. "I can't do that to him. You don't know how hard he worked to make Lucky Hearts a success. He poured everything into it. And I told you...I love it in Vegas. I feel like I belong there."
"You belong here. With your family." insisted Stephanie.
"Bridget made her decision." said Brooke. "Yes I wish she would stay here in L.A. but this is what she wants. And Vegas is not that far away. We can always visit her and she can visit us."
"But what about when the baby comes?" said Stephanie. "Who's going to be there to help you with the baby? Bridget have you thought about that? You say you want to open up a practice but what about the baby? You are going to need to be there..."
"I don't have to open it right now." said Bridget. "I'm not in a big hurry. If you are worried about how Deacon and I will be financially you don't have to be. He does very well. And I can take care of the baby. I'm not helpless...look I know this is all a lot to take in..."
"You could say that." said Rick. "Bridget this...doesn't seem like you...I mean what about Jason? I thought you were going out with him?"
"I wasn't." replied Bridget. "Jason is just a friend. Nothing more."
Eric stood up. "Look everyone, this is a big shock. Believe me I know. I wasn't exactly thrilled when Bridget told me the news. In fact, I was angry. I didn't want this for my little girl. But..what 's done is done. Bridget is going to have a baby and she is going to marry Deacon. I can't say that I like it but I'm going to try....I think we should all try."
"Wait." said Felicia. "Bridget...I know that you were upset that Dante and I fell back in love and I understand that but do you really think this is a good idea? You rushing to get married?"
Bridget glared at her sister. Fell back in love? Is that what she's calling it?
"Sis." said Felicia walking over to her. "Okay look...you had a one night stand in Vegas...you were hurt and you wanted to feel better. This guy obviously did that but you can't be serious about marrying him....you don't know him."
"I know plenty." snapped Bridget. "And who are YOU to tell me anything. You and Dante didn't "fall back in love". YOU had a one night stand with him that produced a child and you used that child because..." Bridget broke into sobs.
Brooke put her arms around her. "Bridget...it's okay."
"No." sobbed Bridget. "It's not okay...You are a horrible sister!" Bridget shouted at Felicia. "You are selfish and cruel! You care about ONE person..YOU!"
"Alright that's enough." Dante said angerly. "Don't talk to my wife that way."
"Your wife." scuffed Bridget with a laugh. "Yeah...I'm sure that marriage will last....I give it less than a year."
"Look I'm sorry I hurt you." said Dante. "I am. I never wanted to...it's just that..."
"Yeah I know. She was a shoulder to lean on...she made damn sure of that too." With that Bridget stormed out of the boardroom slamming the door behind her. She stormed over to the elevator and pushed the button. Felicia came out of the boardroom and hurried over to Bridget.
"Okay I've had it." She said. "I"m tired of you making me out to be the bad guy. I'm sick of you painting yourself as the victim. I'm sorry you can't accept that Dante loves me and not you but you are just going to have to get over it."
"Really." said Bridget. "Get over it...I should just get over it. Is that what you told Dante when you were "consoling" him?"
"Bridget...I didn't set out to..."
"Save it." said Bridget. "I don't want to hear it."
The elevator door opened and Bridget stepped inside. The doors closed and it began it's descent down.
Bridget shook her head. Felicia had some gall. Still acting like the worst thing that ever happened to her was just something she needed to "get over". She should just "get over" it. It was no big deal. It WAS a big deal. It was a very big deal. It was something that cut her in two....and the fact that Dante cared so little and her own sister....that is what hurt the most. They still didn't get it. It wasn't about what they did...it was about the fact that they DID it..the fact that Dante would...after she....did it just not mean anything to him? Was that it? "Who cares." said Bridget to herself. She had something much more now. She had Deacon. And their wonderful baby.
A new life in Vegas. That's all that mattered to her now.
Felicia stood there watching the elevator and sighed. Dante came up behind her. "You okay?"
"She's still so angry at me." said Felicia.
"I see...well she's just going to have to find a way to get past it." He said. "I love you and I'm glad I married you."
"I'm glad I married you too." smiled Felicia turning to face him.

Back in the boardroom.

Everyone left except for Ridge and Brooke. Brooke was gazing out the window.
"You okay Logan?"
"I'm fine."
"You worried about Bridget?"
"No..Bridget will be fine. It's just...well I think she's right. I think that Dante and Felicia were heartless. I mean after what happened...Felicia just...Did they really think that it would be easy for Bridget?"
"I don't know." said Ridge. "I know that it wasn't exactly easy for me."
"What do you mean?" asked Brooke turning from the window.
"I'm talking about when you married Alex."
"Ridge that was different."
"Yes it was different but it still hurt. I'm not saying you did anything wrong because you didn't. It's not easy for me to see you with someone else but I've learned to accept it. I don't like it but there's nothing I can do about it. You made your decision. And I hate to say it but I do like Alex. He's a good guy."
"I think so too." smiled Brooke. "And I know it wasn't easy for you Ridge. But you've been very supportive of both me and Alex and I appreciate it. I just hope everything works out for Bridget. I think she's dealt with enough heartache."
"I agree. So have you met this Deacon?"
Brooke nodded. "I have. He loves Bridget very much. I didn't get that just from him but also from his friend Brett, the one Bridget mentioned earlier. He told me how crazy Deacon is about Bridget. I could tell how sincere he was. He cares about both Bridget and Deacon very much. They are like his family."
"So you think she'll be okay in Vegas?"
"I think so. I'm going to miss her a lot."
"I know. I think we all will." Ridge looked at Brooke and sensed there was something else on her mind. "Logan is there something else bothering you?"
Brooke sighed. "I suppose. But I don't feel right talking to you about it."
"Come on Logan you can talk to me about anything."
"It's kind of personal."
"What is it?"
"Alex and I...we've been trying to have a baby and....I'm getting the feeling that it's not going to happen. I'm beginning to think that empty room in my home is going to stay just that...empty."
"You don't know that. Sometimes these things just take time..."
"That's what I've been telling myself but I'm staring to not believe it anymore."
"Okay...what about adoption? Have you considered that?"
"Yeah but..I don't really want to adopt a child...I know that must sound terrible but I don't. I want a child with the man I love."
Ridge walked over to Brooke. He put his hands on her shoulders. "I know you do. Have you talked to your doctor? Maybe there is something you and Alex can do? What about IVF?"
Brooke shook her head. "Sorry but I just can't think of conceiving a child that way. I know I'm being stubborn but I would just like it to happen the old fashioned way."
"Well then the only thing you can do is keep trying. I'm sure it will happen for you Logan."
"I hope so." said Brooke. She looked at her watch. "Well I should get going...thanks for listening to me."
"Anytime." Ridge kissed her cheek and left.
Brooke stood back wondering why his kiss sent an electric spark through her body.

"How did it go with your family?" asked Deacon.
"Oh great." sighed Bridget sitting down on the sofa. "They are just so happy for me and thrilled and they even jumped for joy."
"That good huh?" He said kissing the top of her head.
"It was a shock. But I think they will recover. Of course Felicia....I could wring her neck."
"Why? What did she say?"
"She implied that what happened between you and me in Vegas was just me wanting to feel better and I should give it up and not marry you."
"I see." frowned Deacon. He wasn't liking Felicia anymore than he did previously. So far nothing Bridget told him convinced him to think any higher of Felicia.
The doorbell rang and Bridget got up to answer it. She opened the door to find Felicia standing there. She was about to slam it shut when Felicia caught the door. "No...you aren't going to get rid of me that easy." said Felicia "We are going to talk about this."
"I don't really have a thing to say to you." snapped Bridget.
"Well I'm going to finish what I have to say to you."
"Get the hell out of here!" exclaimed Bridget.
"No!" shouted Felicia. She brushed past her and walked into the living room. She stopped when she saw Deacon there.
Not bad. She thought to herself. "Hello." She greeted. "I'm Bridget's sister Felicia."
"I'd say nice to meet you but it's not." replied Deacon.
"I see...I guess Bridget told you what a bitch I am and how much I hurt her and ruined her life blah blah blah. Well you know something, there's a lot more to it than what she leads on."
Bridget stormed over. "You shut the hell up." She said gritting her teeth.
"No. I'm not going to stand for you making me out to be some horrible bitch. Making me out to be the horrible slut who "stole" your boyfriend. I did no such thing. YOU are the one who pushed him away. He tried to reach out to you but you refused! His own child dies and you push him away!"
Deacon froze in place. Own child? He looked at Bridget.
Felicia looked at Deacon then Bridget then back to Deacon. "Oh...I see she didn't tell you."
Deacon was fuming inside. He walked over to Bridget and kissed her forehead. "I love you." He said softly.
He then turned to Felicia. "I think you better take your beautiful sister's advice and get the hell out of here." Felicia turned and walked to the door. She softly shut it behind her.
Deacon looked at Bridget. "You were pregnant before?"
Bridget nodded. "Yes." She said in a quiet voice.
"Is that what was so painful that you couldn't tell me?"
Tears formed in Bridget's eyes. "Yes. I'm sorry Deacon...but it still hurts...I know I should have...everytime I think about it...it still cuts my heart in two."
"It's okay." He said taking her in his arms.
"I got pregnant and I lost the baby. Dante found comfort in Felicia. She dangled her healthy baby in front of him. It was like she was saying that she was a success and I was a failure. It wasn't long before he dumped me and went to go be with her. I didn't push him away. I was very hurt and he did little to offer me any comfort at all. He thought I should just get over it and we should just try to have another baby and pretend it never happened. I couldn't do that. So he left me."
Deacon held her tight. He was convinced if he ever ran into this Dante he would knock out all of his teeth. "Bridget I love you. As for your sister, she had no right to just blurt that all out. It wasn't for her to tell."
"You're not mad at me?" asked Bridget wiping her tears.
"No I'm not mad at you. I understand. It is a very painful thing to experience and it's not easy to talk about. You would have told me on your own time. I just want you to know one thing, there is nothing that you could ever tell me that would make me not love you."

Brooke headed to her office still thinking about her reaction to Ridge's kiss. What was that? He just kissed her on the cheek. He's always done that. It was not a romantic kiss. It was a friendly kiss. So why did it set her heart racing? She was married to Alex and she loved him. They were trying to have a baby. She WANTED a child with him. Didn't she? She said to Ridge she wanted a child with the man she loved. Why did she use those words? Was she really saying..."No No. Don't even think it." She said to herself.
"Think what?" asked Alex standing in the doorway.