2 and a half months later- the outskirts of Humpty Doo, Australia. . . . .

Steffy sat on an old bench seat watching her father, he was sketching the morning sun as it rose across the vast plain behind the house where they were staying, his eyes narrowed in concentration as he watched the early morning rays paint the ancient landscape in ever changing colours.

She smiled to herself in satisfaction, this break had done him a world of good, he seemed so much more at peace, so centred, she hadn't seen him like this in years, he had finally found some peace, and she was glad. Coming to the Australian outback had been a lastminute decision, helped along by Dee and Aunt Felicia. They both knew that no-one would ever – in a million years - expect that her and her father would ditch the high life of five star hotels for a couple of rooms at Dee's mothers house, but here they were.

Her father sharing a room with Dee's cousin - and their outback guide – Jiemba, and Steffy having Dee's small room, which still held some of her old things.

"Hey Steff, watcha doin?" asked Jiemba as he came and plonked himself down beside her.

She turned and smiled up at Dee's cousin, and her new friend, he was just so easy to like, friendly, funny, outgoing, and easy on the eyes, just like his cousin. "I'm just watching Dad sketching."

"Yeah, I think he's hooked," said Jiemba with an easy grin.

At Steffy's puzzled look he went on, "Old mans got hooked by the country, it's wormed its way in,' he leaned back, the smile still on his face as he said, "it's what it does, there's no goin back for him now. He's even asked some local painters about designs and paying for their usage yo put on some of those fancy dresses he makes."

Steffy laughed softly, "We were both such wrecks when we got here, but between you and Sandra, oh, and Aunty May, you've helped heal the both of us, especially dad, I haven't seen him so at peace in years."

Jiemba let out a bark of laughter, "Not us mate, it's the country, it's what it does, why do you think we stay out here? It's dry as a bone and hot as hell in summer, or constantly wet with mud and water up to ya armpits, and hot as hell in the rainy season, add the snakes and mozzies which are a giant pain in the arse, and the tele which is also pretty dismal compared to what the cities have got and you'd think we'd leave, But we've still got the country, we've got the magic, and once it grabs ya, nowhere else is quite the same."

He patted Steffy's hand, "You two still goin back tomorrow?"

Steffy nodded, "I have to, I've stayed away longer than I intended to as it is, it's just so simple here, so easy to forget all the problems I left behind."

"So, you decided what ya gonna do with that Marius bloke ya hot on?" He asked.

Steffy shrugged, "I think so."

Jiemba frowned, "Steff, mate, if ya want some advice I'll give ya my two cents worth."

Steffy nodded.

"If you'd be gonna go out with this Marius before all the shit hit the fan, then you should give the bloke a go now, from what you've told us, he seems pretty decent, and from the photo's I saw on the net, ya certainly went all out for him, so you musta thought he was pretty special too. Don't let what your jerk ex did ruin it for you."

Steffy closed her eyes, "It's not that easy though Jiemba, I'm so wary of trusting my judgement in men anymore! My first husband Liam saved my life when I almost drowned, and I honestly thought he was the one. I poured years of love into him and our relationship, yet he constantly waffled between me and Hope for years, and the hurt that caused . . . well, it left a huge scar. Then there was Finn, another man who helped me through one of the lowest points of my life and brought me back to myself. I opened my heart to him too, yet he too betrayed me, and worse, he then he tried to kill me. So now, after the pair of them along comes Marius, he saved our company, and he's handsome, and kind, and generous, and funny, and I can't help but react every time he's near me. But how can I trust what I feel Jiemba, my track record, even before Liam and Finn was pretty damn dismal."

"Mate, Liam and Finn both saved you when you were at your lowest, and it sounds like that made a heap of personal space in ya head. Marius hasn't saved you personally, he helped ya company, and from what you've said, ya didn't even notice him until after all that crap went on with ya sister-in-law, so that's how it's different. Different man, different set of expectations, and I think that's what's really makin ya edgy," said Jiemba matter of factly.

Steffy sighed then slowly looked up, "thanks Jiemba, I think you may just be right. I think I need to see where this thing I have with Marius will head. I need to forget Liam and Finn, and the whole sorry saga of my love life. I have two gorgeous healthy kids, and I may have a sizzling hot man back home waiting for me – if he hasn't moved on by now."

"He hasn't," said Jiemba confidently, "the bloke doesn't look like a total moron, he'll be waiting, you wait and see."

"What are you two talking about?" asked Ridge as he walked up to them.

"Going home tomorrow," said Steffy with a smile.

Ridge looked around, a wistful look on his face, "I'm going to miss this place."

"Countries got ya now old mate, you'll be back," said Jiemba with a confident grin at his new friend.

Ridge smiled with genuine warmth, "Oh, I'll be back alright, I've had so many design ideas for new fabrics, and I definitely want to use some of your country woman's painting designs on fabrics if I can. I mean, the possibilities are endless!"

Steffy stood and brushed off her jeans, "Well, while you two talk I'm going into Darwin and getting you and your family some presents before we go, so I better get going before I get roped into anymore site seeing."

As she sauntered away Ridge looked to Jiemba, and unspoken question in his eyes.

"I think she's gonna be okay, it took her a while but I think she's got there," said Jiemba quietly.

Ridge nodded in gratitude, "Thanks Jiemba, she's stubborn and sometimes it takes a while, but being here among you and your family definitely helped her, even I can see the change."

Jiemba's ever present grin slid back onto his face, "Well, as it's ya last night it's time for a BBQ with the mob, c'mon, we'll make some calls and do a grog run while Steffy does her shopping, time to send ya all off in style!"

And with that the two men wandered off to the land rover to head into town.

Back in L.A. – Eric and Brooke.

Eric hung up the phone, a smile of satisfaction on his face. He'd just got the conformation from the bank that his new, and much larger, overdraft on the companies building had been approved, and they needed it.

At the moment they were cash poor, not even scraping by, the money from completed orders had not come in due to a series of unfortunate incidents. First there had been a leak with their sprinkler system, which had ruined an entire batch of new fabric and over half of a finished order, the insurance hadn't covered it because of their failure on upkeep to the fire suppression system through-out the building, and the "fix" hadn't been cheap.

Worse still, it had put them behind on their orders, resulting in some unexpected cancellations from clients that Eric knew would usually be far more forgiving, it was a problem. And just this week, when everything was nearly done, and after paying an enormous amount of overtime to the cutters and seamstresses they were finally almost caught up, added to that, he hadn't told Brooke about their money problems, not after all that Hope and Ridge had put her through.

Yet just last week something wonderful had happened, Brooke had finally turned to him. She'd been upset and talking to him about Hope and Ridge again, her tears had soaked his shirt as he'd held her tightly to his chest, and then, he smiled to himself in happiness, then she lifted her tear stained face to him and said, "you're the only one who's stood beside me, Eric, you're the only one who truly understands! And then she'd kissed him.

After that they gone to his bedroom and made love for the first time in years, and it was all he'd hoped for, all he remembered and fantasized about. Since then, although they still kept separate bedrooms, they'd made love every night, and Brooke had finally started to stay the entire night with him.

He looked down as his phone buzzed, he opened it to read the text message, it was from Ridge, he was coming home tomorrow. Eric frowned a mixture of annoyance and fear crossing his weathered features. He was still angry that he had been the last to find out about what had happened to Steffy and Liam. Ridge had rung him and told him after everyone else, worse, he'd told him that he was handling it, and that he and Steffy were leaving straight after Forresters lingerie show, to get away from things. Eric had been furious when Ridge had told him that Steffy didn't want to see him, she just wanted to finish up her work at Foresters and get going.

Eric had fumed, Ridge was trying to take over HIS role as the family's patriarch, and that was totally unacceptable. He would have been there for Steffy – despite her betrayal of him – yet his own son had stopped him and usurped him of his rightful place, just as Ridge son had usurped his position at Foresters, and he was seething over it. The ingratitude, the betrayal, to push him -ERIC FORESTER – away, as if he was nothing!

He looked at the message once again, he couldn't risk what was developing with Brooke. What if Ridge decided to start coming back into work? What if he and Brooke reconnected? No, he wouldn't, couldn't, allow that to happen. He quickly typed out a text and officially fired Ridge from his contract, citing dereliction of duty, then satisfied with what he had written, he pushed send, a small thrill of malicious delight accompanying his message. He knew this was a dangerous step for the company, but he had more than enough designs for the new collection now, so that would give him time to hire a new designer, perhaps a female this time?

His phone buzzed again, the message was from Ridge, it had two words – Your loss!

Eric snorted, the arrogant son of a bitch, he really thought he couldn't make this work on his own, he laughed softly.

"Well, I have Brooke now Ridge, and I have the company, and there's nothing you can do about it. Game over, I win!"

The door opened and Brooke walked in, she'd finally started coming back to work a month ago as her depression over Hope and Ridge had slowly started to lesson.

"Eric? How is everything up here? I just thought I'd tell you I have the orders starting to be shipped today. I think another week of hard work and we should be totally caught up."

Eric nodded, "That's wonderful news Brooke, speaking of which, I have some news I think you should know."

At Brookes questioning look he said, "Ridge and Steffy are flying back tomorrow. I know this will upset you, and I'm here for you, whatever you need, we don't have secrets from each other, not like Ridge, Steffy and Thomas with all their secrets, lies, and machinations."

Brooke blinked several times, tears threatening to spill from her eyes as the reminder of all she had lost was put in front of her.

She took a deep breath, "thank you for telling me Eric. I did try to find them in Europe for a couple of weeks, but they were totally under the radar. Once again Ridge treated me with so little respect, it's just so . . . so . . . cruel! I can't believe how viciously he's treated me."

Eric moved around his desk and took her in his arms, "it's over now Brooke, forget about him. You have me, heart and soul, and you know I'd never treat you like that."

Brooke looked up at him as a tear trickled down her face. "Oh, Eric," she whispered.

"Marry me, Brooke! Marry me today, lets show all of them that we don't care about any of them. That they can't break us, because together we're undefeatable!"

Brooke blinked, "Erik?"

"I'm serious Brooke, Marry me, today!" Said Eric before he swooped his head down to kiss her.

When they broke apart Brooke gazed at him thoughtfully for a moment.

"Yes Eric, yes, I'll marry you, but not today, give me a couple of weeks to organize a small wedding for us. Something intimate, I want it to be special, a new start, is that alright?" She asked coyly.

Eric beamed with happiness, "whatever you want, I love you Brooke, just tell me when."

Brooke smiled and patted his chest, "don't worry, I'll organise everything, oh, and before I go, is there any money left in our accounts? I need to make another mortgage repayment as I'm a tad late again, and the bank manager actually had the gall to send me a warning – after all the business we've sent his way! Anyway, apart from that, I'm going to need to organise a dress a celebrant, and some caterers, I want our new life together to be special Eric, and I want it to start off with something beautiful."

Eric grinned, happy that he'd taken out the large overdraft to tide them over, it would give them some breathing space, and although the vast majority of it would be going to upgrading the buildings fire suppression system, new fabrics and workers wages, there should be just enough left to give to Brooke to cover her expenses.

He nodded and leant down and gave her another quick kiss, I'll transfer some money immediately, and Brooke," Brooke looked up at him, "I'll make you happy, I swear, I'll do anything in my power to make you bless the day we reconnected."

Brooke smiled, "I know you will Eric, you've proven your loyalty time and time again, and I love that. You're the only one I can trust, and we will be happy, happy, and successful, now, I have to go and start organising a wedding."

She gave Eric a swift kiss and headed back out the door, leaving Eric smiling happily to himself, he still hadn't realised she'd never once told him she loved him."