Everthing off the chest!
The next morning they all slept very long. It was already around noon when Taylor and Ridge climbed out of bed, still tired. While Ridge showered, Taylor went downstairs to check on the kids. All three sat in their pajamas in the living room, watching the Roadrunner cartoon and eating cereal.
"Is this your breakfast or your lunch?"
A triple "Shhhh" was the only response. Taylor went to the kitchen to prepare some lunch for Ridge and herself.
Later, everyone got ready to take RJ to the airport. Ridge asked his son if he didn't want to stay a few more days, he could talk to the principal and that way he could also see his mother again. However, RJ just said he wants to go back, his team had an important hockey game coming up and he didn't want to miss practice. Besides, his mother had stopped by his boarding school before her Paris trip. So they all said goodbye to him and invited him to come back soon.
After the airport, they drove to Forrester Creation. They needed to clean up the mess in the showroom and take down the decorations. Eric and Stephanie joined them and pitched in as well. Later Thorne, Felicia and Kristen with Tony also popped in. They had learned from Ridge via text message where the family was. Kristen, Tony and Felica were all going to fly home today and wanted to say goodbye.
Meanwhile, Pam entered the company. She wanted to take advantage of the quiet Sunday and get some work done that had been left behind. In the entrance, she met Katie and Donna.
"What are you guys doing here today?"
"We're waiting for Brooke. She's coming back from Paris today and wants to meet us here."
"Well then! Oh, by the way..." she gave them a mocking look "...too bad you weren't at the party yesterday. The welcome home party for Ridge and Taylor was great. Where were you anyway?" She made a mocking thoughtful face and then snapped her finger. "Oh that's right, I forgot! It was a 'Logan-free' party!"
"Very funny Pam, Now do me a favor and get lost!" But Katie's ears perked up.
"Did you say welcome home party for Ridge and Taylor?"
"Yes, of course! They came back together!" Donna and Katie glanced at each other in shock. They knew this news would not please Brooke at all. The latter had lulled herself into the hope Ridge would come back to LA alone. Pam guessed that she had hit the bull's eye with her message. Grinning, she added. "And they had some great news with them as a surprise, that was the scoop of the night!"
"What?" the two asked, curious and tense.
"Oh I don't know if I'm even allowed to tell you!" She was about to go on, when Donna stepped in her way.
"Come on Pammy dear, tell me! You're going to burst anyway."
"All right, you'll find out sooner or later. Ridge and Taylor are married!"
"What?" Donna and Katie's jaws dropped.
"No, Pam, that's not true! It's just another one of your jokes, admit it!"
"I swear it's true! They got married in San Francisco a few weeks ago. It was a secret wedding. None of us knew about it, just Thomas and Steffy. Then yesterday they announced it to all of us."
"Oh my God, this can't be possible!" Katie and Donna immediately knew this news would come as a shock to their sister. Brooke would be devastated. Just then, they heard the clatter of high heels behind them. Brooke walked up to them.
"Hi, I am back! It's good to see you again. I'm pretty worn out after this flight. But Paris was great, I should go there more often. And what's new?" Brooke was in a great mood, looking curiously at her sisters.
"Um...well, any news here? Nothing important, right?"
"No, not at all! Business as usual!" But Pam was really getting into it now.
"I'm sure Ridge has some news for you, now that he's back!"
"I picked up on that already. Apparently Thomas and Steffy organized a welcome party for him. It's typical of them to have the party on a day when I'm not around. But anyway, Ridge and I will celebrate his homecoming in private then, just the two of us! Speaking of Ridge, is he here right now? I thought I saw his car in the parking lot!"
"The whole family is gathered in the showroom!" explained Pam. Brooke's face was beaming.
"Fine, I'll give him a proper welcome right now!" She hurried off, Donna and Katie hissed angrily at Pam.
"What are you doing? You know damn well it's going to be a disaster if Brooke runs into Ridge and Taylor!" But Pam just shrugged and hurried after Brooke.
"Hey, where are you going?"
"Like you said, it's about to be a huge spectacle and I don't wanna miss the show." Katie and Donna, on the other hand, decided they'd rather wait up here for Brooke.
In high spirits, Brooke stormed into the showroom, not paying much attention to the others, she immediately rushed up to Ridge and fell around his neck.
"Ridge, it's so good to finally have you back! It was time for you to come back. I've missed you terribly!" Alienated, Ridge broke away from her embrace.
"Hi Brooke, it's nice to see you." He greeted her, a little uncertain.
"I'm sorry I couldn't make it to your party, but as you know, I was still in Paris!" She cast a venomous sideways glance over at Thomas and Steffy. "But it doesn't matter, we can celebrate your return all by ourselves. What do you say about dinner at my place tonight?" She smiled seductively at him.
"Over my dead body!" Brooke turned around, startled. Taylor was standing in the doorway. She had just taken some bowls and plates back to the staff kitchen and had returned just in time to overhear Brooke's invitation. Her eyes sparkled dangerously and she approached Brooke with slow, menacing steps. The latter stared back at Taylor with an icy stare. Everyone in the room held their breath. They sensed that there was about to be a blowup. Thomas and Steffy were somehow impressed, Brooke held their mother's gaze. If she would come to them in this mood, they would run away as fast as they could. Taylor stepped toward Brooke.
"Hi. You seem surprised to see me?!" Brooke struggled to keep her composure.
"No, why should I be surprised? I just didn't know you came back, too."
"Oh, I can't leave Ridge alone." She stood at his side and leaned against him. Ridge put his arm around her shoulder.
"I see!" Brooke realized Taylor and Ridge were obviously still together. But unfazed, she turned back to Ridge with a sweet smile.
"So how about tonight? Of course, if your girlfriend doesn't mind." She smiled mockingly at Taylor. Everyone else in the room shook their heads, unable to believe Brooke was blatantly flirting with Ridge.
"I don't think I'm free tonight. I already have a date with my wife!" He smiled at Taylor.
"Now come on Ridge..." Then it dawned on Brooke what Ridge just said.
"Your wife?"
"That's right! Taylor and I got married recently. So that makes her my wife." Taylor waved her hand triumphantly in confirmation. Brooke was now completely speechless. She had to collect herself for a moment, then angrily snapped at Ridge.
"How can you do something like that? How can you actually marry her? How can you just throw us away?" Ridge groaned in exasperation.
"Brooke, please not again. Our marriage is over and you know it! Don't start all over again, please!"
"Ridge, you just can't be serious?! You don't even love her!" She then turned to Taylor with a bitter look on her face. "What did you do? How did you get him to say yes? Did you drug him again? I mean, wouldn't be the first time!"
"Brooke, stop it right now!"
"No, Ridge! Don't you see what she did? She pushed you into this marriage! A marriage you don't even want and doesn't make you happy."
"That's not true Brooke! Ridge married me of his own free will, because he wanted to! It was his choice, I didn't force him to do anything!"
"You don't believe that yourself?! Ridge only married you because you manipulated him. Your entire so-called relationship is nothing but a farce. A set-up between you and your brats. You knew very well that he would never break up with you once you are married, because he has a great sense of responsibility and you shamelessly exploited that and lured him into the trap. Besides, he must be afraid, if he leaves you, you will lose control again. I mean we all know how unstable you are. You'd probably start drinking again and the question would be who has to pay with his life this time."
A horrified murmur could be heard in the room. Everyone was shocked by Brooke's last remark. Pam and Eric struggled to hold Stephanie tight before she could lunge at Brooke. Thorne, Felicia, Kristen, and Tony stared disapprovingly at their former sister-in-law. Steffy and Thomas were ready to pounce on Brooke immediately, but before anyone else could react, Ridge intervened. Steffy and Thomas had never seen their father so angry.
"Shut up Brooke, you take that back right now!"
"No, it's the truth and everyone here knows it!"
"Get out of here!" He grabbed her forcefully by her arm and led her out of the room. She struggled to follow him and nearly fell several times. All the while she was screaming.
"Ouch Ridge, you're hurting me! Let me go!" but he relentlessly dragged her out into the hallway. Only there he let go of her. Steffy and Thomas rushed to their mother's side. The door was only ajar and every word spoken could be heard in the showroom. Brooke rubbed her sore arm.
"You hurt me! Have you lost your mind?!"
"You're lucky I have my principles and once swore never to get violent against a woman. Otherwise I would have punched you in the face." Brooke gazed at him with wide eyes. "What you said was cruel and way beneath you and I'll tell you one thing. I'm not speaking one decent word to you until you apologize to Taylor and I mean an honest apology!"
"Why should I apologize to her? Because I told the truth?! I should demand an apology from her for everything she did to me! She, Thomas and Steffy!"
"They haven't done anything to you!"
"Oh yes they did, they broke up our marriage so they could go back to their 'perfect happy family'!"
"The only responsibles for our marriage falling apart are you and me! Neither Taylor nor Thomas and Steffy had anything to do with it! How many times do I have to tell you that?!"
"Ridge, I'm begging you! Take the blinders off for once and see what a nasty game they're playing with you. Thomas and Steffy tried everything to break us up and when they succeeded, all they had to do was lure you to San Francisco, where Taylor was waiting for you, what a coincidence! The whole thing was planned right from the beginning!"
"No, it wasn't! I broke up with you because I realized my feelings for you weren't strong enough anymore. We lost sight of each other through all these fights and arguments and this eternal silence between us. I realized I just don't love you anymore and that wasn't Thomas's or Steffy's fault. As for Taylor, she cut off all contact with me back then. I didn't even know she lived in San Francisco and she didn't know I was coming. Thomas and Steffy hadn't told her because they were afraid she'd pack her bags and leave immediately. And she didn't wait for me either, quite the opposite! When I spoke to her the very first time, she was pretty angry with me at first and didn't want any conversation with me and when I first showed up at her place, she even slammed the door right against my head." (there was an appreciative murmur in the showroom, everyone glanced over at Taylor surprised, she on the other hand was trying to make herself disappear. She was quite uncomfortable with Ridge spilling this story to everyone) "And we didn't just get back together that easily, it was a long process. At first we were just friends until we realized how we really feel about each other. She didn't push me into this marriage or forced me. To tell you the truth, it was my idea. I proposed to her and even if she had said no, I would have asked her every day until she would have said yes. And I said my vow with all my heart because I love her and I want to be with her!"
"No, I don't believe you! I know you still love me and we would still be married if it wasn't for those three."
"Please stop twisting the facts and always blaming others. You should rather take a look at your own nose! Because the only problem we ever had with Thomas and Steffy was that you never wanted to accept that they are my children and need my attention. You could never stand the fact that Taylor and I have a family."
"Ridge, that's not true and you know it! It was those two, who have shown me all the time that they won't accept me as your wife!"
"I'm not denying that, God knows I'm not trying to say they're both innocent angels, but Brooke, you're the adult. After Taylor left, did you ever seriously try to make a move on them? No, you just wanted to get rid of them as quickly as possible, first from the company and then from our life!"
"Have you forgotten what Thomas did to me? What he did to us?"
"No, I haven't. Thomas made a terrible mistake and he knows that himself better than anyone, but you've never been willing to forgive him for that mistake, not only one bit."
"There are things you just can't forgive!"
"Amazing to hear these words coming out of your mouth!"
"What are you trying to say?"
"There are a lot of people who wouldn't play a role in your life anymore if they had the same view as you and hadn't forgiven you for your mistakes! Think about Bridget, think about Hope, don't even get started about myself. Do you think it was easy for Bridget to forgive you for jumping into bed with her husband and having a child with him and then to make it even worse the whole story repeats itself years later with Nick. And Hope, do you have any idea how hard it was for her to reach out to you after you had nothing better to do than make out with her boyfriend at a night that should have been a special night for her! Or do you really think it's funny to be the laughingstock of the entire company just because your wife is too stupid to realize she's involved with an inexperienced teenager instead of you!" (Again murmurs were heard. Many of them had had the same thoughts like him or said the same to Brooke, but never would they have expected to hear those words ever come out of Ridge's mouth.)
"Now what's all about this old stuff Ridge?"
"Well, all of us and many more people have forgiven you for your mistakes over and over again, every single one of us has been willing to reach out to you, but you can't seem to muster that magnanimity yourself. You know Brooke, I finally see you for who you really are! I no longer have any splinters of the magic mirror in my eyes. (Only Taylor knew what Ridge meant by this remark).
"Ridge, you have an image of me that Taylor, Thomas and Steffy have talked you into. Those are their words coming out of your mouth."
"No Brooke, I just finally have the courage to tell you all my true feelings, everything I have always swallowed and suppressed during the years of our marriage! I don't want to hurt you Brooke, I never wanted to. But you have to finally face reality. I don't love you anymore and there will never be a coming back for us!"
"No, Ridge, I will never accept that! I know one day you'll wake up and realize who you really love and then you'll come back to me!"
"That's not going to happen. Even if you wait another hundred years! I am awake and I'm as clear as I've ever been about the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with and it's not you!"
"We will see!" Brooke walked away.
Once she left, Ridge took a deep breath. When he re-entered the showroom, everyone acted as if they were extremely busy or just engaged in an exciting conversation. Just as if they hadn't noticed what had just happened in the hallway. The only, who didn't go along with this charade was Taylor. As soon as she saw Ridge, she ran up to him and hugged him tightly. She was incredibly proud of him for standing up to Brooke and for his commitment to her and their family. At the same time, she knew how nerve wracking the conversation must have been for him and she wanted to comfort him. Ridge held her tightly, enjoying her warmth and love after the grueling confrontation with Brooke. She kissed him over and over again, always whispering "I love you!" Ridge stroked her face and returned her kisses. The two seemed to have completely forgotten that the entire family was gathered around them.
"Knock it off!" grumbled Thomas finally. Steffy and he joined their parents. "I'll admit, Dad's words were very touching, but that's still no reason for all this fuss!" Taylor and Ridge broke away from each other, he spread his arms and took both of his children in his arms. Everyone watched them emotionally. Thomas nudged his mother.
"Did we just hear that right Mom? You slammed your door on Dad's head?" Taylor immediately blushed.
"Yeah...um well...just a little ...not very hard at all."
"Not very hard at all?" Ridge stared at her feisty. "Excuse me, I had a huge bump on my forehead!" Taylor glared back at him.
"That was your own fault! I warned you, you didn't listen to me, you wanted to assert your thick skull and besides..." she turned to the others "...just in my defense, I took care of him right away. I checked him out to make sure he wasn't seriously hurt and I even gave him a cool pack for his bump!"
"Yeah, which froze my brain and you only did it because may I quote, "I'm only doing that so you can't press any charges against me for failure to render assistance!" he mimicked his wife. Everyone burst out with laughter. Steffy could hardly contain herself.
"It's really hard to believe you started from there and now you're constantly stuck together like two gummy bears"
"Well, your dad can be an idiot sometimes, but he's also very charming and delightful and he always manages to sweep me off my feets."
"And your mother can be quite demanding and edgy at times, but she's also the most beautiful, adorable and loving woman I know." He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her devotedly.
"Here we go again!"
Later, it was time for Kristen and Tony, as well as Felicia, to leave for the airport. Thorne offered to drive them. Thus began a general goodbye. Pam also departed, wanting to finally get to her work. Stephanie and Eric also said goodbye, they had dinner plans for the evening. Steffy and Thomas followed their grandparents. They wanted to give their grandfather some of their latest sketches so he could look over them briefly. Taylor and Ridge were left alone in the showroom. She hugged him and he pulled her close.
"Are you okay?" she asked him, concerned.
"Yeah, I'm fine! I feel really relieved. It was good to finally get all this off my chest. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted." Taylor kissed him tenderly.
"I'm so proud of you for the way you stood up for us and our family!"
"I only did what had to be done! I just hope you didn't take Brooke's insults too much to heart." Taylor hesitated for a moment, but then shook her head vigorously.
"No, okay, at first she hit me hard with what she said. But I don't want to give it another thought!"
"That's right, you really shouldn't give a damn about what Brooke said to you. We all know it's not true. I love you Doc and that's why I married you!"
"I know Ridge!" Again their lips melted into a heartfelt deep kiss. He pulled her even closer, she hugged him tighter. They were in their own world they didn't even notice Thomas and Steffy returning. When Thomas caught sight of his parents, he rolled his eyes.
"You really can't leave those two alone for five minutes."
"Mom! Dad! We're back, we can go home now." Her parents showed no reaction. "Hello, didn't you hear? We're back and we want to go home now!" But Thomas waved her off.
"Come Steffy, we are not wanted here! We'll go ahead, let them see how they get home!" Steffy followed her brother. As she left the room, she demonstratively turned off the lights.
"Do you think they're really leaving without us?" asked Taylor when they were alone again. Ridge smirked. "They can try, but if they really want to go home, they'll either have to take a cab or walk home. Because they forgot something!" He reached into his pocket and waved with his car keys. Taylor chuckled as well and sank into his arms again.