I'm not sure how old RJ is during this time of the show. I pictured him for my story a a young teenager!
I hope you enjoy reading this story and I would be happy a out some feedback!

Another move to San Francisco!

The separation of Ridge and Brooke caused some turmoil in the family, the reactions were very mixed. Thomas and Steffy made no secret of how happy they were about it, in their opinion this was the best thing that could happen to their father. They had seen firsthand in the last few months, he had always been frustrated and tense. They were relieved, Brooke could no longer exert any influence on their father and they were also content because after the break up, he spent even more time with them than before. Stephanie saw the situation similarly to her grandchildren. She was rather relieved too about the separation; in recent times she had been considerably worried about her son. During the last months she had tried her best to get along with Brooke, mostly to show her good will and to make up for her ugly scheme but she had remained firmly convinced Brooke was simply not the right woman for her son and now finally it had been confirmed. She fervently this time the breakup would really last and Ridge would not buckle again and return to Brooke. Eric, on the other hand, saw things completely differently. For him, Brooke and Ridge belonged together and he secretly wished the two of them would work out their differences and get back together. He kept telling his son not to throw away such a long and happy marriage. RJ and Hope took their parents' separation in different manners. Hope was devastated and suffered with her mother, trying her best to comfort and encourage her. Hope prayed Ridge and her mother would soon reconcile and they would be a family again. RJ instead seemed rather relieved after all the back and forth and arguments of the past few months.

Ridge was quite confused after he moved out,, he was not exactly unhappy or lonely but it was unusual for him to be alone all of a sudden. However, he did not regret his decision. After months he finally felt like he could breathe again. Brooke was convinced the time apart was only temporary and after a period of reflection everything would be fine again. To make matters worse, Christmas was just around the corner. Ridge had moved in with Thomas and Steffy. He had put up with his parents' guest house for a week, but both had gotten on his nerves terribly with their constant appearances and good coaxing and urging. Moving in with his children was the best solution, they enjoyed it to live with him again under one roof and he was also happy to spend more time with them. Together they threw themselves into the Christmas preparations. They got a huge tree and decorated the house magnificently. Their anticipation of the holiday received a significant damper when Thomas and Steffy learned from their mother, she would not come to Los Angeles for the holidays. Again and again, her children had begged her to come home for Christmas, telling her the entire family would surely be delighted to have her at the table with them. Taylor had given her children's request a lot of thought and it was very hard for her to refuse them, but she didn't feel up to it yet. For half a year she had had no contact with any family member except the children, and it seemed absurd to her to suddenly sit under the Christmas tree with everyone in peaceful harmony again. Instead, she invited the kids to spend New Year's with her.

When Stephanie heard about it she was horrified, she stormed into the office of her grandchildren to convince them to change their mother's mind. But Steffy told her that was pointless.

"Believe us grandma, we really tried everything but it's useless. She's made up her mind and she definitely doesn't want spent Christmas here with us."

"Does she want to celebrate Christmas all alone?"

"No of course not, she told us she had invited some friends over for Christmas Eve and she had definite plans for the others days too."

"I just don't get her, I mean she must know how much you care about having her here at home for Christmas and it would be so good for Ridge too if she would come." Thomas and Steffy looked at each other in dismay, they had told their mother about Brooke and their Dad splitting up. Taylor had taken the news very calmly, certainly not in the way they would have expected, besides Taylor was convinced the separation was only temporary, she didn't believe it was permanent. Thomas looked to his grandmother, pondering.

"To be honest, that's exactly one of the reasons Mom doesn't want to come, she doesn't want to fall back into old unhealthy patterns. She's afraid Dad will just use her as a shoulder to cry on again and seek for comfort and the whole vicious cycle will start all over again."

"Is that what she said?" They both just nodded.

"Face it Grandma, Mom has built her own life, it's taken a lot out of her, she doesn't want to put that all on the line again. She knows full well if she comes home, what would be waiting for her. Among other things, you'd probably be nagging her day and night, Dad and she could finally be a family and so on and she can very well do without that right now."

The holidays were very peaceful for the Forrester family. Ridge spent a fun-filled Christmas Eve with Thomas and Steffy, where they held their own little giveaway. The two had received a huge Christmas package from their mother and couldn't wait to unwrap it. While looking for her presents, Steffi spotted her father's name on one.

"Look Dad, Mom included something for you too." She handed him a gift bag. Ridge accepted the gift in amazement and looked inside eagerly. Taylor had sent him a tin of his favorite Christmas cookies.

"Oh that's really cute!" But Ridge only said dryly.

"Well, she could have at least written something along with it, or wished me a Merry Christmas in person."

Thomas and Steffy rolled their eyes. Their father just couldn't stop nagging, secretly Ridge was incredibly happy about the gesture and saw it as a good sign. As usual, they spent Christmas Day with the entire family at Stephanie and Eric's house. There was plenty of food, even more presents, and the traditional Christmas caroling. Then over New Year's Thomas and Steffy flew to their mother's as arranged. Susan had just returned from the Christmas visit with her children. She and Taylor had organized a gigantic New Year's Eve party together and the whole day all four were busy with the preparations. The party was a great success and everyone had a great time. All too soon Steffi and Thomas had to go back to Los Angeles and their duties.

For Brooke and Ridge, the new year began less pleasantly. Their son RJ confided in them that he wanted to attend a boarding school in Boston after the vacations. The two couldn't believe their ears, their son wanted to get away from them. RJ said after all the stress of the last months he urgently needed some distance and peace, besides, he could no longer bear the situation between his parents, which was still unsettled in his eyes. He didn't want to stand between them anymore, he wanted to concentrate on his own life. Ridge was shocked, he never thought the eternal back and forth between Brooke and him in the last years had had such a negative impact on RJ, in a private conversation he tried to convince his son not to leave. He assured him now after the breakup everything would surely settle down soon, but RJ didn't believe his father.

"Oh come on dad, Hope and I, we've been doing this for years now. Every now and then you guys break up over some argument or other drama, then you're gone for a while, then you come back, it's all good for a little while, and then it starts all over again. I'm sick of it!"

In the end, Brooke and Ridge had no choice but to let their son move, they hoped after a few months away maybe he would get homesick after all.

Actually Ridge could understand his son very well, if he was honest, he also sometimes wished to get out of L.A. and live somewhere else for a while. The relationship between Brooke and him was still very strained, it was not easy for both of them to work together. Especially since Brooke tried to change Ridge's mind and get him to come back every chance she got. In his distress, Ridge confided in his father. Eric thought a change of scenery was just what his son needed.

"I would support you to leave town for a while to think things over. I could arrange it without difficulty; you could go to Paris, for example, or London." Ridge wasn't entirely convinced, there were still Thomas and Steffy he'd like to continue taking care of and Europe in particular was pretty far away.

"Wait a minute, I just thought of something that might be just right for you." Eric rummaged on his desk until he pulled out a folder.

"An old business friend of mine is retiring and since he doesn't have any kids, he wants to give up his business. He contacted me a few days ago and offered me his storefront."

"What do you mean he offered you his store?"

"He had his own boutique in San Francisco which apparently always did very well, he thought the space would be ideal for a "Forrester exclusive boutique". Here's the paperwork he sent me." Ridge took the folder and flipped through the papers.

"That sounds pretty interesting, the store is in a good area in the middle of the shopping district and from what I read, it's always run very successfully."

"Yes, imagine this would be your own project, so to speak. You could design the store completely your way." Ridge was excited by the idea, the notions of opening his own boutique appealing to him.

"Definitely an interesting proposition, I'll talk to Thomas and Steffy about it tonight. I don't want to decide anything without them."

"Ok my son and then let me know what you decide as soon as possible."

In the evening Ridge sat down with his children and told them about his plans to leave the city in order to build up his own store. Both of them were not very enthusiastic at first about having to let their father go as well, but they didn't want to deny him this unique chance.

"Where would you live then?" asked Steffy curiously.

"I wouldn't move that far away. It's just San Francisco so I'd still be close to you guys." Thomas and Steffy thought they had misheard, they both had to try very hard not to laugh outright. Instead, they just looked at their father with eyes the size of dinner plates. Thomas wanted to be sure.

"The store is in San Francisco?"

"Yeah, do you guys mind?"

"No, no! Of course not at all, it's a cool city!"

"So what do you guys say? I really don't want to decide this without you. Should I accept the offer or not?" Steffy and Thomas looked at each other perplexed, neither really knowing what to say. Finally, Steffi pulled Thomas off the couch by his sleeve and said.

"Wait a minute, give us a chance to discuss this with each other for a minute." She pulled her brother out onto the patio.

"I don't believe it, this can't all be true. Dad actually wants to go to San Francisco." Steffi had to laugh in disbelief, the whole situation seemed completely absurd to her.

"Yeah that's really gross! Brooke would probably say now, this is destiny."

"But what do we do now? What advice do we give Dad and should we tell him that Mom lives in San Francisco, too?" Thomas looked at his sister thoughtfully.

"Well, I think it's better if he doesn't know. He might end up deciding against it, plus we promised Mom we wouldn't say anything."

"True, only now we have a totally different situation and what about mom, should we tell her anything about dad moving to the same town soon?"

"No way!" said Thomas energetically. "You know her, she'd end up packing her bags and moving away again, and I certainly don't want that!"

"You're right of course, you know what ?! We'll tell Dad to accept this offer and we'll just say nothing to either of them, if God willing they somehow meet there, then so be it and who knows maybe it will be the push they need to finally talk to each other again." Thomas could only agree with his sister.

"You're absolutely right, that's how we do it!" The two high-fived and went into the living room, where their father was already waiting impatiently.

"Finally, you're back, I was beginning to wonder if you weren't coming back at all."

"Sorry dad, Thomas and I we have been in intense consultation, so we want to tell you we think you should take the offer. We'll support you, we'll miss you a lot but we'll be fine here and as you said yourself, it's only a stone's throw away."

Ridge was very happy to have his children's support and hugged them tightly. The very next day he began his preparations and a few days later he said goodbye in the direction of San Francisco.