By Loyalbrookie
CHAPTER 1
It had been almost 15 years since Eric and Stephanie divorced and over 10 years since he and Brooke divorced. In between that time and now, he had found his way back to Linda. Linda, a woman he had loved for so long, but lost his way from her for so long that he never thought they'd find each other again. It had been 5 years since he made her his wife. 5 years to the date he finally married the woman he truly loved. But there was more for Eric to celebrate, much more. Ridge and Taylor were happily married, all their troubles seemed to be behind them now. Thorne and Brooke were happily married, coming up on their 1st anniversary. Which was a record in itself for Brooke. Thorne and Brooke were also awaiting the birth of their first child. Eric thought it was the perfect way for them to celebrate their love. Brooke was also finally over Ridge. Thorne truly believed that when he overheard Brooke telling Deacon that Thorne was her soulmate. Deacon, how Eric wished he had never walked into Bridget's life. But for the moment, he seemd to truly care for Bridget. He had been trying so hard to prove it, that everyone, including Brooke had decided to give him a chance. And so far he hadn't blown it. Then there was Rick and Amber, a marriage by all logic should have crumbled by now. They had recently renewed their vows and for them it was a new beginning for them. Which was exactly what they needed. And finally Stephanie. Who would believe they were finally at the stage where they were better friends than lovers?
Linda, 'You look lost in your thoughts. Mind if I interrupt?'
Eric, 'Not at all. I was just thinking about everything that's happened to our family.'
Linda, 'We do have a lot to be grateful for.
Eric, 'Yes, we do.'
Linda, 'Thorne called. Wants us to keep an eye on Brooke.'
Eric, 'She'll love that. She bout bit his head off before he left for watching over her too much.'
Linda, 'Oh yes, I remember that. Poor guy.' They thought back. Brooke had been in her office and Thorne was trying to get her to go home early.
Thorne, 'Honey, why don't you go home?'
Brooke, 'Because I don't want to.'
Thorne, 'You can use the rest.'
Brooke, 'I'm not tired.'
Thorne, 'I don't want you overdoing it.'
Brooke, 'Thorne, I'm pregnant. I'm not an invalid.' She snapped at him.
Linda, 'Who can forget that? I can easily see why Thorne fell in love with her. She has a fire and passion about her that goes perfectly with his mild mannerism.'
Eric, 'She is one of a kind. Just like someone else I know.'
Linda, 'And who would that be?'
Eric pulled her into his arms. 'That would be my lovely wife'
Linda, 'What? I don't eve rate a sexy?'
Eric, 'You would, but I thought we were saving that for me.'
Linda, 'Oh, you...' She leaned over and kissed him.
Helen, 'Mr. and Mrs. Forrester? Brooke's here.'
Eric, 'Well, show her in.' Brooke went into the living room. They all hugged. 'Hello Brooke.'
Brooke, 'Eric, Linda. How are you two today?'
Eric, 'Oh, same as always.'
Linda, 'How about you? You look like you're about to burst.'
Brooke, 'Feel like it too.'
Linda, 'Thorne called us. He asked us to watch over you.'
Brooke, 'Oh, he's driving me crazy. I keep telling myself that he's never gone through this before. It's the only thing keeping me from screaming.'
Eric, 'He means well.'
Brooke, 'I know. But my hormones are all out of whack.'
Linda, 'And people fussing over you is the last thing you need.'
Brooke, 'Ah, someone who understands.'
Linda, 'Look at it this way. You get to make him suffer in the delivery room.'
Brooke, 'And suffer he will. If...' She quickly sat down as a pain tore through her.
Eric, 'Brooke?'
Brooke, 'Any way to get Thorne back home? Now?!'
Linda, 'Let's get you to the hospital and then worry about Thorne.' They helped Brooke out to their car and drove to L.A. General. Brooke was taken inside and up to a room.
Eric, 'I'll try and get Thorne back in time.'
Brooke, 'I'm not having this baby without him here.'
Linda, 'I don't think we can control that.'
Brooke, 'You just watch me! I am in complete control of everything my body does.'
Linda, 'I don't doubt you are.'
Eric went to one of the pay phones and called the place where Thorne was supposed to be. 'Can't you get him on the phone? Yes this is very important. Tell him his wife is in the hospital.'
Thorne was informed that Brooke was in the hospital, he rushed out of the meeting he was in and went to the phone. 'Dad? Please tell me Brooke's alright.'
Eric, 'She's fine.'
Thorne, 'Oh god, the baby?'
Eric, 'Both are fine. Well Brooke will be. She's gone into labor.'
Thorne, 'What? I gotta get there. I can be there in about 20 minutes. Which hospital.'
Eric, 'L.A. General.' And before he could say another word, Thorne dropped the phone and made his way to the hospital. Eric went back into Brooke's room. 'He'll be here shortly.'
Brooke, 'Good. He just better get here.'
About 25 minutes later Thorne walked into Brooke's room. 'Honey?'
Brooke, 'This is all your fault.'
Thorne, 'I know. I take full responsibility.'
Doctor, 'She's ready.' Thorne walked with them as they took Brooke up to the delivery room.
Eric, 'I'll make some phone calls and let everyone know.'
Linda, 'I'll wait over here while you do that.'
Ridge was at home with Taylor. They're marriage was finally back on track after the whole Morgan fiasco. Taylor took Ridge back, but he was still re-earning her trust all over agian. Taylor at times wasn't sure if she could ever trust Ridge again. After all the warnings everyone gave her about Morgan; Stephanie, Ridge, Brooke; she didn't heed any of them and it almost cost her her marriage. She couldn't put all the blame on Morgan though, Ridge was a willing participant in his affair with her. Taylor had to credit Brooke on one thing. Even after the ordeal Taylor, Ridge, and Eric put her and Thorne through in Venice, Brooke was Taylor's strongest ally against Morgan. She couldn't believe after all the times Brooke tried breaking up their marriage, that she actually helped save it. Taylor still hadn't trusted Ridge enough to allow him to sleep in their bed. She was making him sleep in one of the guest rooms. She wasn't even sure when she'd be able to trust him enough to share a bed with again. Taylor found Ridge outside with their children. 'Ridge?'
Ridge, 'Yes?'
Taylor, 'Your father just called. Brooke's gone into labor.'
Ridge, 'She has? You wanna go?'
Taylor, 'No, let's wait until after she has the baby. There's nothing we can do anyways.'
Ridge, 'Alright, we'll wait.'
Taylor watched Ridge with Thomas, Steffy, and Phoebe. If she couldn't say anything esle about him, at least she could say that he's a good father. Which is why, despite her own feelings, she was supporting him in going for full custody of his and Morgan's son. And a part of her wished he did get full custody, but another part was hoping he didn't. She wasn't sure if she could handle the constant reminder of her husband's affair.
Stephanie was living with Massimo, a man from her past that she had never forgotten. When her marriage to Eric crumbled, she had turned to Massimo for support. And when he came to L.A. seven years ago, they rekindled the romance they had in college. She loved Eric, she wasn't denying that, but she fell out of love with him a long time ago. One thing she had trouble with all those years was his constant affairs with younger women. It wouldn't bother her so much, but she had to endure the constant gossip from the people at the country club she was a member of. But when Massimo came back into her life, it somehow made things better for her. Her and Massimo married 3 years ago. When Eric told her he was marrying Linda, she was surprised that she wasn't upset or hurt, but rather she was happy for him. Her only hope was, that for Linda's sake, he didn't screw this marriage up. Massimo, 'Stephanie?'
Stephanie, 'Yes?'
Massimo, 'Eric just called. Brooke's gone into labor.'
Stephanie, 'Okay. Well, let's get over there so we can be there when Thorne brings him out for everyone to see.'
Massimo, 'You seem to be more for Brooke being married to Thorne than you used to.'
Stephanie, 'I said she'd break Thorne's heart and hurt him. But so far she hasn't. She seems to truly love him.'
Massimo, 'Perhaps it's true what they say, everyone can change.'
Stephanie, 'Yes they can. Although I never dreamed I'd say that about Brooke. Though I do worry for them.'
Massimo, 'Because their child will have Down's Syndrome?'
Stephanie, 'Yes. They're going to need a lot of support from the family.'
Massimo, 'And they'll get it. Now, let's go to the hospital.' They left.
Bridget and Deacon were still living at the beach house. There were in bed, enjoying their time alone. Which, because of Bridget's schooling and Deacon working, didn't come very often.
Bridget, 'Whoever said that my husband isn't wonderful...'
Deacon, 'Hey now, I'm not the only one. So, how are we enjoying our day home today?'
Bridget, 'We are enjoying it just fine. When do you want to get started on that family?'
Deacon, 'Let's hold off on that. We're just getting our marriage back on track. Besides, you have your schooling to think of first.'
Bridget, 'It is bad timing right now. Besides one new arrival is enough for the time being.'
Deacon put a hand on her chin and brought her face up. 'When we both are ready, we will have that family. I promise you.'
Bridget was about to say something when the phone rang. 'Yes? She is? That's wonderful. Yea, I'll let Deacon know. Which hospital is she at?' She hung up. 'Mom's gone into labor.'
Deacon, 'Well then, let's get to the hospital so you can meet your new brother.' They got out of bed, they got dressed, and headed for L.A. General.
Rick and Amber were living in their new apartment. Both thought it best to not live under any family member's roof. They knew the only way to start over with their marriage was to live away from all member's of Rick's family. So far it was working out real good. After the whole Deacon fiasco with Amber, they renewed their marriage vows in private in Hawaii, with only Little Eric there with them. And from that day forward, it was a new beginning for them. Almost like they were never married before. Rick was on break from school and he and Amber decided to spend the day alone with Little Eric. 'Ready Amber?'
Amber, 'Just a minute.'
Rick, 'Alright, just hurry up.'
Amber, 'You're impatient.'
Rick, 'One of my better qualities.' He answered the phone. 'Yeah? Really? Which hospital? Alright, thanks.'
Amber, 'Who was that?'
Rick, 'Dad, mom's gone into labor.'
Amber, 'Why don't we go to the hospital? We can do this tomorrow.' They both left, taking Little Eric with them.
Everyone was in the waiting room at the hospital when Thorne came out. 'Good, you're all here.' He showed them his and Brooke's son. 'Here's the newest member of the family, Steven Eric Forrester. Named after both his grandfather's.'
Stephanie, 'He is a handsome little boy.'
Bridget, 'Just like his father.'
Everyone congratulated Thorne. 'It might be best to see Brooke maybe tomorrow.'
Rick, 'How come?'
Thorne, 'She had a really rough delivery and she's pretty out of it.'
Eric, 'What happened?'
Thorne, 'Well at first, the cord got stuck around Steven's neck.'
Linda, 'Oh no.'
Thorne, 'She was just having trouble making it through the whole delivery.'
Eric, 'Alright. We'll come see her tomorrow. She needs some rest without all of us hovering over her.'
Stephanie, 'And you three need to start bonding as a family...in private.'
Thorne, 'We'll see you tomorrow.'
Eric, 'And we expect you to take at least two weeks off from Forrester.'
Thorne, 'That, I plan to do.' They all left, the nurse came to take Steven up to the hospital nursery. Thorne went up to Brooke's room.
Brooke, 'Hey.'
Thorne, 'How you feeling?'
Brooke, 'Tired, sore, but incredibly overjoyed.'
Thorne, 'He is one beautiful little boy.'
Brooke, 'I looked down at him and I didn't even see he has Down's Syndrome. All I saw was this beautiful little boy. Our son.'
Thorne, 'I know. I felt the same way, still do.'
Brooke, 'He's going to need a lot more of our attention than Rick and Bridget did of mine.'
Thorne, 'I know. But we've got a whole family full of support. Taylor's offered her support if we need to talk to anyone.'
Brooke, 'I know. I just don't want to burden them too much.'
Thorne, 'Hey, they're family. They'll always be there for us. Now, how bout you get some rest? You had a rough delivery.'
Brooke, 'Alright.' She closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.
Thorne sat down beside the bed and watched her sleep. He thought about how lucky he was and how because of his stupidity he almost lost her. *I can't believe that I ever believed you could of done something like that to me Brooke. I never should have questioned your love for me. But it all worked out, perhaps not under the best conditions, but it did. And now, we have a beautiful son as evidence of that love.* He thought to himself.
Beth walked into the room. 'Hey.' She said softly.
Thorne, 'Hi. This is a surprise.'
Beth, 'I know. I was going to surprise you and Brooke. I called Eric when I couldn't get an answer elsewhere. How is she?'
Thorne, 'She had a real rough delivery. But everyone's doing just fine.'
Beth, 'Good. Now, where's my newest grandchild?'
Thorne, 'He's in the nursery. His name is Steven Eric Forrester.'
Beth, 'I'm happy for both of you. I know how much you've both wanted this. I'm going to to, come back tomorrow. I'm going to head down to the nursery and see him.'
Thorne, 'Alright, see you tomorrow.'
Beth, 'Bye.' Beth left and Thorne sat down beside Brooke's bed. Keeping watch over her.
Linda, 'Well the day ended on a very good note.'
Eric, 'Yes it did. Looks like this family is finally seeing more happiness than heartache.'
Linda, 'I say it's about time. Come on, let's go on up to bed.'
Eric, 'But it's still early.'
Linda, 'Now, did I mention anything about sleeping?'
Eric, 'Let's go.' They both went upstairs.
But that happiness was soon to be tested. Arriving in L.A. was David Marone, son of Linda and Massimo. And David was a replica of his father...too much like him. David owned his own fashion company as well -- Marone Fashions. Though a very successful one, it often played second fiddle to Forrester Creations. David had been waiting on the right moment to hit Forresters and hearing from his mother all the happiness the family was finally having, he decided it was the right time to strike. 'Happiness is but a veil over the harsh reality of life. And I'm going to crush that happiness and rip that veil off your eyes.' He made his way to Spectra Fashions and walked in. 'Ms. Spectra?'
Sally, 'Yes?'
David, 'You don't know me, but my name is David Marone.'
Sally, 'Marone? As in Marone Fashions?'
David, 'The one and same. I have a little business proposition for you. One that's worth your time.'
Sally, 'Oh?'
David, 'We both want the same thing.'
Sally, 'And what's that?'
David, 'To see Forrester Creations destroyed.'
Sally, 'It's been tried and everyone's failed.'
David, 'I can guarantee it'll happen. And I'm willing to by Spectra Fashions to do so.' He pulled a check out. 'Would you say Spectra's worth $2 million dollars?'
Sally, 'I do believe we can do business. Please, sit down.' David sat down and they started talking.
