Later that day . . .
Deacon glances up and see's Taylor walking over to him, he smiles and rises, pulling out a chair for her as she reaches the table.
"I've ordered us some lunch if that's okay?" he asks as she sits.
"Well, I suppose that all depends on what it is now doesn't it," says Taylor with a smile.
"Just a pizza, extra cheese, no anchovies, and I even got some of those sweet cherry peppers you said you like and had them put some on."
Taylors eyebrows rose in surprise, "Wow, and what have I done to deserve al this? Or, what have you done that you think I deserve all this?" She asks suspiciously.
"Nothing, I promise you," says Deacon holding up his hands in mock surrender. "It's just that after yesterday, well, I thought it might be nice if we got off on the right foot, you know, with-out our kids and their problems coming between us."
He reaches out and grabs Taylors hands in his, "Honestly Taylor, these last few weeks I've been happier than I have been in years. I feel . . . I don't know . . . just . . . good, and I can't tell you what that means to me, what you mean to me. I don't want to lose that."
Taylor smiles as she gazes into his eyes, so earnest, almost pleading with her.
"I feel the same way, Deacon. I don't know where our relationship is headed, but no matter what is ahead, and no matter what happens, I want us to always be friends. We're really kinda good at it you know."
Deacon smiled and tilting his head as he let out a dramatic sigh, "I'm not sure whether to be pleased or worried over that admission, I'm going to choose pleased, because you're still here, and you're right, we make great friends, and that's something I haven't had in a long time either." He leaned over conspiratorially, "But we're even better lovers, even if I do say so myself."
Taylor was saved from answering as a waiter arrived with their food.
They ate in silence for a while before Taylor said, "Do, do you want to talk about it?"
Deacon shrugged, "Not really, look, I love Hope, she's my daughter and I want to do what's right by her, but Taylor, Brooke has done such a number on that kid over the years."
He shook his head in frustration, "I honestly think the only thing I can safely do for her is just to be there for her when she falls, because she won't listen to me, all she wants to hear is Brooke, and her advice, because with Brooke, nothing is her fault, she's basically blameless. So, on that rather horrifying note, how'd it go with Steffy?"
Taylor pursed her lips, "She's going the whole I'm strong, I can handle anything routine, as usual. She's hurt, but I actually think she's doing okay, well, much better than I expected anyway. Believe it or not, Marius, Forresters new designer, has been there for her, and he's given her some pretty good advice, all I can do is hope she takes it. I've organised a couple of appointments for her with Thomas' therapist because I think she still needs to vent a little, she still needs to get everything sorted in her own mind. I texted her the dates and she's texted back that she'll go, which is a relief, that's about all I can do at the moment."
"Well, that's good, right? At least she's on the path to recovery, now all I have to do is to try to get Hope on a similar path." Said Deacon with a curl on his lips
He hesitated a moment before adding, "There's more that happened."
At Taylors questioning look he breaks down and tells her about the confrontation between Ridge, Brooke, and Hope.
Taylor frowned and shook her head as she listened. "I can't say I'm surprised; this is what usually happens with Brooke and Ridge. Don't worry, in a few weeks he's bound to be back in her bed, trust me, I've seen it way too many times to count. Brooke does, or says, something totally outrageous, or morally reprehensible and Ridge reacts badly, even to the point of leaving at times, then before you know it, he goes crawling back, and he's sucked back into the Logan vortex once again, until the next time."
Deacon shakes his head, "I don't think so, not this time, he handed back his wedding ring and when he said goodbye, I can't explain it, it was like this time it was real, you could see it in his eyes, he looked utterly done."
He shook his head as he tried to articulate what he'd witnessed, "it was like he had a realization, that he suddenly knew that nothing was ever going to change, and he just couldn't keep doing it anymore. As I said, he just looked - done. Done with Brooke, done with Hope, done with the whole sorry mess."
Taylor snagged another piece of pizza as Deacon asked, almost reluctantly.
"Will this change things between us? I mean, I'll understand if it does, you and Ridge have such a long history together, and Steffy and Thomas are your kids, while I have Hope, so, I mean, I totally understand if you'd want to call it quits between us, now that he's free again and all."
Taylor shook her head incredulously. "Honestly, Deacon, is that what you think I'd do? Although, given my track record I can't say I blame you, but no Deacon, despite all the potential problems we have in front of us, and there are more than enough for any couple, I'm not giving up on what we have. I'm not giving up on you. Not for Ridge, not for anyone . . . unless you're thinking of going to Brooke now that she's free?"
"Oh hell no! No way, lady!" said Deacon with a relieved grin. He grabbed Taylors one free hand. "For the first time in my life I have a chance at everything I want, everything I could ever need, and she's the most beautiful, caring, intelligent woman I could ever ask for, even if she does have a bit of a sweet cherry pepper addiction.
Taylor eyes lit up in delight at his heartfelt words, she didn't know where this was headed, but with words like that, she was going to enjoy every moment of it while it lasted.
She dropped the pizza slice she still had in her hand, A saucy smile spreading across her face. "Good, now that we've got that settled, you wouldn't happen to have your old room that you used to sleep in free, would you. I'd like to explore our relationship a little further?"
Deacons eyed Taylor for a moment as her suggestion slowly filtered through his mind. "I say we go find out, shall we?" He jumped up and offered her his arm, and together they hurried out of the restaurant.
Meanwhile at R.E.B. Designs . . .
Brooke walked into Erics office as he's just finishing up signing some papers, the lawyer sweeps everything into his briefcase, thanks Eric and then leaves, leaving Brooke and him alone.
"I came to see if Ridge is with you? Oh Eric, we had the most terrible misunderstanding over Hope, he got so upset he gave me his wedding ring and just walked out. I thought maybe if I gave him last night to cool down a bit we could talk reasonably and get everything sorted out today, but he's not in his office, and I can't find him, and when I try to ring him, I keep getting a number disconnected message. Eric, I'm scared, where on earth is he?"
Eric quickly came around his desk and grasped Brookes shoulders, "Brooke, I'm so sorry but, he came to me yesterday after he left you and demanded I buy his shares in the company."
Brooke gasped, her hand going to her chest. "No Eric, he wouldn't, he'd never just leave like that, not after everything that we went through to start our company together."
Eric gently tells her what Ridge threatened to do to them both if he didn't buy him out, as he stares into Brookes disbelieving eyes he says, "I couldn't let him do that to you Brooke, I love you, so I bought his shares and have hired him on a short-term contract until we can find someone else to take over from him."
Brooke shakes her head in disbelief. "He left? Just like that he just up and left us? Eric, what if we can't find anyone to fill his shoes, we'll both go bankrupt! What are we going to do? I must talk to him, he'll listen, he'll understand, we always get through these upsets, always! Do you know where he's gone?"
Eric shook his head, disappointed in Brooke's reaction, she seemed to have totally glossed over what he's just done for her, the risk he'd taken – for her!
He shook his head. "He wouldn't tell me, he just said that he was going to work from home, and that he'd send his designs in to us when they're completed."
He sighed loudly, "Brooke, he refused to work here because he doesn't want you bothering him, I'm sorry, but they are his exact words. He insisted that it was over, that you made your choices, and now he's made his."
"Oh my god, Eric, why is this happening? Cried Brooke as she grabs her head. An ugly look seeps onto her face as she looks back up at Eric. "This is all because of Steffy! This is all her fault! We were happy, everything was fine between us until she attacked Hope and tried to destroy her, this isn't fair, I can't lose him Eric, I won't!"
She turned and rushed out of the office leaving Eric standing there alone. Tears began building in his eyes as he finally realised the futility of his hopes, that Brooke, his great love, wouldn't turn to him in her hour of need. That she wouldn't see him as her saviour, and in turn she would never finally love him, as he loved her. Now all he had left was a barely afloat company. His life savings were now gone, and for the first time in his life he felt truly old, and worse still, truly alone.
He looked up at the ceiling unconsciously as he muttered bitterly. "Are you happy Stephanie? I know you're out there somewhere laughing at me; you knew, didn't you? You've always known I was never enough for her, that I was never what she truly wanted. You tried to warn me, but I was so in love I refused to listen."
He wiped his eyes ferociously, "I still have my talent though, and I will make this company a success, and when she has no-one left to turn to, I'll be there – waiting! You haven't won yet Stephanie, you just watch and see, I'll make Brooke love me."
He turned back to his latest design and began to draw.
Meanwhile over at Felicias . . .
"I missed you last night, you must have got in very late," said Dom as he brought out a lunch tray to the dining room table where his mother sat with her computer.
Felicia glanced up, "Feeding me? Thanks Dom, but just coffee will do, I have to finish checking the morning blogs to get their take on last night, and I'm already way behind, I slept way too late."
Dom grinned. "I know, I sneaked into your room last night and turned off your alarm."
At Felicias angry look Dom held up his hands, "I'm sorry mum, but you didn't get home until after two thirty, and with everything else that's been happening lately, and all the pressure you've been under, well, you needed some sleep, especially since you're going to need to be on your toes to face the reporters that are sure to be skulking around, just waiting for one of you to show your face. Besides, you only slept until ten, and you've been going through the reports on the buyers' reactions as well as the papers and news media since then. Have some lunch and you'll be ready to face the office and everything that goes with it."
Felicia took a deep steadying breath and nodded. "I'm sorry Dom, you're right, I did need a good night's sleep, and to tell the truth I do feel a lot better for it."
"How's it looking so far?" he asked curiously.
Felicia smiled. "Way, way, better than I expected, it seems not only did Steffy hit a nerve with people out there, but so did her new line."
"Did you know what she was going to do? I mean, seriously mum, that was some pretty heavy stuff, and there's gotta be some blowback for using those video's and stills of Hope, I mean, she's half naked!"
Felicia shook her head at Doms question, "I had no idea, I mean, she told us all about what Hope did, and that she was going to tell the world and then fire her at the same time at the launch, but she never said anything about the video's. Still, they made everything so painfully real to everyone that saw them. I think they are what shifted the audience onto seeing her side of things, the pain on her face when she walked in on them, I mean . . . "
"Yeah, I know what you mean," said Dom sadly. "It was brutal! She looked so hurt, so . . . broken."
Felicia nodded, "and that's why I better get to work right now, I'll finish listening to the blogs at the office. Things may be going our way at the moment, and the public opinion certainly seems to be fully sympathetic towards Steffy, but her using those video's might just have been our undoing if Hope realises what she might be able to do to us because of them, and given her grasping mother, I'd say she'll realise pretty darn quick!"
She leant over and kissed Doms cheek.
"By the way, you start next week, accounting need a new clerk, and I volunteered you." She said with a smile.
Dom grinned, "Great, money at last, now I won't have to ask you for a loan."
Felicia laughed and headed out the door, she had work to do.
Meanwhile . . .
Thomas sat with Douglas eating breakfast, he wasn't quite sure how to raise the subject but he knew it had to be done, and done before Douglas found out from the press or the kids at school.
"Douglas, there's something we need to talk about." As Douglas looked up he launched into his explanation of why he hadn't let him watch the HFTF show last night, and that his aunt Steffy had fired Hope because she'd done something bad with Finn.
Douglas frowned, "I know, I kinda watched it on my phone last night. I know you asked me not to, but they're your and Uncle Zende's designs dad, I wanted to see them, I wanted to see everyone clapping you, but then . . . that happened."
Thomas was shocked, he wasn't sure where to go from here, his first instinct was to ask. "Are you alright bud? Are you angry at Aunt Steffy, me or Hope about what happened?"
Tears began to build in Douglas's eyes as he asked, "Why is she like that Dad? I thought she was good. I thought she loved me and would protect me, but she isn't good, she's bad, she's bad to everyone, you, aunt Steffy, Liam. I don't want to talk to her ever again dad, ever!" he finished on a stifled sob.
"How about I make another appointment with the Dr Harris and you can tell him everything you're feeling, I will too, I think we both might need to sort some things out, what do you say?"
Douglas sniffs and wiped his nose on his sleeve. "Okay, as long as you go too."
Thomas nods in agreement at his sons request and takes out his phone, he quickly rings the Dr to make their twin appointments. For the first time in his adult life, he thinks he might just be getting a hang of this parenting stuff. He is finally getting confident that he and Douglas were going to make it, and all because he'd finally had the courage to leave his toxic wants behind him and finally begin building a new, healthier life.
With a shock he realised he might actually be – happy!