Cozy night on the couch!

Indeed it looked like Thomas as well as Steffy were about to start a sincere relationship. Thomas' dream girl was an open secret in the family. Everyone had known for a long time that he had a crush on Maya and recently he started dating her on a regular basis. Steffy often teased him, claiming he had by god taken his time. She herself made a real secret of her new admirer. She didn't tell her parents or anyone else who she spent her evenings with lately.

Taylor showed up at Forrester Creation after work; she wanted to pick up Ridge. Since he was still busy, she chatted animatedly with Pam, swapping the latest gossip. Pam told her about her weekend in Chicago. Brooke, after she had realized what Pam and Ridge had cooked up, had stormed off in a huff. Pam, on the other hand, really had enjoyed herself at the luxury hotel. Pam was just about to give a performance of Brooke's dumb face when Brooke came around the corner and glared at them both. Taylor and she exchanged icy stares. At that moment, the door opened and Ridge stepped out of his office. Brooke turned on her heel and rushed away. Pam and Taylor chuckled, while Ridge asked, irritated.

"What's going on here?"

"Oh, nothing special!" waved Pam off. "It's just that we two seem to be so scary lately that Brooke runs for the hills just looking at us!"

"Okay?!" Ridge walked over to Taylor and hugged her. "What are you doing here Doc?"

"I just wanted to make sure you get off work on time!" The two said goodbye to Pam. On the drive home, Ridge noticed Taylor looked quite exhausted.

"Busy day?"

"Oh actually no more than usual, but I had three marriage counseling sessions today!" Taylor sighed and shook her head. "You can't imagine the ridiculous arguments some couples have!" Ridge was a bit puzzled. "Usually marriage counseling was always your top discipline!"

"Yeah, but lately I really don't know what to say sometimes! Somehow I've lost my touch, maybe because everything goes so smoothly between us!" Ridge laughed.

"I hope you don't suggest we should start arguing more often so you can get your counseling back on track!" Taylor grinned mischievously at him.

"Now that is an interesting idea!"

"Forget it Doc! Get it out of your head immediately! Buy a new reference book or attend some advanced training, but keep me out of it!"

"Okay, calm down! I was just joking!"

"You never know with you!"

Once home, Ridge took care of their drinks. He went to the kitchen and made Taylor's favorite tea. As they sat together on the couch, he addressed her again about her encounter with Brooke.

"Do you have any idea what that was about earlier?"

"Don't ask me! Pam and I were talking, Brooke saw us and when you came out of your office she left again! Maybe she is embarrassed about Chicago and she decided to keep her distance!"

"Yes, that's possible. Actually since her return she had changed her attitude. She literally avoids me now."

"Don't tell me that bothers you?!"

"No, of course not! I guess she finally realized she has no chance with me anymore!" Taylor laughed derisively.

"You don't believe that yourself! I rather think she has changed her tactics!"

"You never trust Brooke!"

"Not in this lifetime!"

Taylor snuggled up to him.

"Was I the same..did I also react so pushy and shameless and deceitful?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well...there were times, when you were married to Brooke, or at least in some kind of a relationship with her and I tried to win you back. Was I as bad as she?" Ridge laughed and embraced her.

"No, your methods were different, you were also very obvious and direct, but still you never were as intrusive as Brooke!" Taylor breathed a sigh of relief. "Still I can't deny, you made no secret of what you wanted and well I don't have to tell you what you thought about my marriage with Brooke but I wouldn't compare it with the stunts Brooke is pulling the last few months. You would never have stooped to that level!"

"I don't know, I had my tricks too!"

"Still Doc, all that scheming by Brooke, you never would have thought of that! Besides, to be fair, I always lead you on. I have always sought your comfort and affection and somehow your advances flattered me. But I think I can say with a clear conscience that I'm doing everything I can to keep my distance with Brooke. I mean, we're all no angels, but Brooke still ticks a little different. Any other woman would have backed off by now. And you shouldn't forget, you had a lot of people around you that gave you extra prodding. The kids, not to mention mom, who was constantly whispering in your ear pushing you to win me back. Brooke, on the other hand, has hardly any advocates on her side anymore. Even Donna and Katie now see things differently.

Donna and Katie had shown up at Ridge's office a few days ago and asked him for a private conversation. They wanted to hear his point of view, calm and objective. Ridge explained to them he would be very happy to have a normal, friendly relationship with Brooke, especially for RJ's sake, but he no longer wanted a romantic relationship with her. Katie and Donna realized after the conversation, Ridge had made up his mind for good this time and since then they tried to slow their sister down.

Suddenly something crossed Ridges mind.

"Oh, by the way, speaking of Brooke, RJ called me today. His boarding school attends their parent visitation weekends soon. He's expecting me to come and he specifically invited you along!"

"Really? Wow! That sounds great!"

"You seem surprised?! I'm not, he likes you!"

"Well, I like him too and I'm really glad he copes with our relationship so well and I'm sure it'll be a nice weekend but...wouldn't it be better if you would go alone? Brooke will probably freak out if she sees me there!"

"You don't have to worry about that, luckily the boarding school offers several weekends for visitors and RJ has asked Brooke and me to come on two different weekends. He said he wants to avoid walking around the school wearing a magic cap afterwards. So we won't run into Brooke at all."

"In that case, I'll be happy to come along! You really do have a very sensitive and intelligent son!"

"Just like his father!"

Steffy came into the living room all dressed up for her date. Taylor hitched her wagon again.

"When are you going to introduce us to the man of your dreams? We'd love to meet the guy who spends so much time with our daughter!"

"Yeah, right!" supported Ridge to his wife. "We promise you, we'll be very discreet plus you have a very loving, kind and presentable family!"

"Oh yeah?!" Steffy made a mocking face. "Does this mean we will lock Thomas in the closet that night?"

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean!" Thomas had joined them and slapped his sister. "I'm not an embarrassment to you! And as for your new guy, are you sure he even exists, or can't you show him off? I bet that guy looks like the Hunchback of Notre Dame!" Steffy stuck her tongue out at her brother.

"No, he doesn't! He's very attractive and unlike you, he's a real man and not a babyface! Now don't bug me, I'm entitled to my privacy!" Taylor tried to placate her daughter.

"Of course, it's still weird that you've been hiding him for so long now!"

"You're one to talk! You and Dad made out for months before you even told Thomas and me. You've practically been living together already." Her parents stared at each other in dismay. "And do you need a reminder how the rest of the family found out about your relationship? I swear, when the timing is right, you will meet him and I guarantee, you won't find it out from the tabloid! I have to go now!" Steffy grabbed her purse and headed out the door.

"Wait Steffy, I can give you a ride! I have to go too!" He waved after his parents. He was as curious as them and he hoped he could get some details on their ride.

Ridge groaned as his two kids left the house.

"Unfortunately our daughter is really clever and she knows all too well how to use the right arguments. We've raised her too good!"

"Yes, I suppose we have!" Ridge noted her melancholy expression.

"Hey, what's on your mind right now?" Taylor curled into his arm.

"I just realized our kids are grown ups. Soon they'll get engaged, married and then they move out and it'll be just the two of us in this big house!"

"Oh, my poor mother hen!" Ridge held her close. "Is the idea of living alone with me so horrible?!" Taylor laughed and tapped his forehead.

"Don't be silly! You know what I mean! They will live their own lifes and I know that's the way it has to be and I'm awfully proud of them but still, I'm having a hard time letting them go!" Ridge stroked her head tenderly.

"I understand, I feel the same way! But you forgot a crucial detail in your vision!"

"Oh yeah, what?"

"Well, what comes after the wedding?"

"The honeymoon?!"

"Yes and after the honeymoon or what happens sometimes during the honeymoon?" Taylor looked at her husband clueless. "Well eventually they'll have kids of their own! You'll see, in a few years there will be lots of little grandbabies running around the house and we can spoil them rotten and do all kinds of nonsense with them. We can stuff them with candies and romp around with them and when they get all exhausted and cranky, we'll call their parents to pick them up!"

"Ridge Forrester, sometimes your ideas are extremely cruel!" He raised his hands.

"So what, I've been waiting for this moment since the day Thomas stuck his jelly sandwich in the VCR or when Steffy embellished my designs with her finger paintings! That's poetic justice!"

"You are impossible, Ridge!" She embraced him. "But that's exactly why I love you so much!" She gave him a deep, intimate kiss.