"Deacon we can't." She protested. She stopped short and dropped his hand. "How can I be even thinking about going off with you when my baby is inside that house crying her heart out over you? I must be insane."

He looked into her eyes and took her hand again. "I can't explain it any more than you can Brooke, but can you honestly deny that you want to be with me?"

"It's not about what I want anymore. It's about doing the right thing, and that is not sleeping with my daughter's husband."

"I have no intention of sleeping." He said in a voice that went through Brooke like a bolt of lightning.

"Where's Brooke?" Amber asked to no one in particular.

"I don't know." Rick answered. "Why?"

"Well, if we're supposed to be here to help Bridget why isn't her own mother here?" She said quietly to him. "She shows up for like six seconds and then disappears. Something weird is going on Rick."

"Nevermind about my mother." He said. He turned and looked at his sister. She was sitting on the couch with Eric looking miserable. Her eyes were bloodshot and her cheeks stained by mascara and tears. Taylor was at the stove boiling water for tea and Ridge was on the phone. Rick was curious about where his mother had gone too, but he wasn't about to give Amber the satisfaction. He wasn't going to be put in the middle again.

"You'd just think she'd be a little bit more help." Amber said with a deep sigh. "I guess she can't deal seeing Ridge and Taylor together and happy."

"That's cruel." Rick told her. "My mother is okay with that now. She and Taylor talked. Don't go making problems."

"I didn't make them, your mother did." She said. "You know Rick, maybe I should call Deacon and see if maybe he'll change his mind."

"What?" Rick shouted, practically jumping down her throat. "This is the best thing that could possibly happen. None of us want that idiot anywhere near this family."

"Sorry Rick, but he still is part of the family. He's Eric's father and this doesn't change it. I am not going to keep him away from his son."

"Maybe he'll stay away on his own." Rick said hopefully.

"No Mother, I think we have it all under control right now. You can see her tomorrow, I don't think she needs another scene and that is what will happen if you and Brooke are in the same room." Ridge said into the phone as he switched it from one ear to the other. "Yes, she is upset but she'll be alright. She has Brooke and Dad and Taylor and I are here. Yeah, Rick and Amber too." Ridge listened for a moment. "No Mother, I doubt Deacon will show his face now. Besides, if he does Brooke will kill him. Actually she seems almost as shocked as Bridget is. She seems to be in a daze. Yeah, yeah. No Mother, Brooke is not like that, she'd never gloat to Bridget about this. Look, I don't want to talk about this now. I'll see you tomorrow." He looked over at Eric and Bridget. "No, Dad is with Bridget right now, but I'll ask him to call you. Okay Mother, I'll see you tomorrow." Ridge said. He disconnected the call and walked to the stove to Taylor. "Where did Logan go?" He asked his wife.

"I have no idea Ridge, but she certainly is taking this badly. Do you think she wanted this marriage to work?" She asked him. She reached for the sugar bowl and creamer.

"No way Doc, she hates the guy. I'm sure she is just upset at seeing Bridget like this. But I am proud of her for letting you take over. It was the best thing at the time. Bridget really looks up to you." He kissed her on the cheek and she smiled at him.

"But it isn't like Brooke Ridge, it isn't like her to just stand aside like that. Something isn't right here." She told him. She looked over at Eric and Bridget.

Amber had gotten up and had listened to Taylor and Ridge. She too thought it very odd that Brooke had let Taylor comfort Bridget. After all it wasn't that long ago that Brooke had declared she would steal Taylor's husband and the hell with her children. Amber didn't like Brooke, she made no bones about it but she did know that Rick loved her so she tried her best to get along with her but now she wanted to know what was going on. If she had a chance to have one up on her she was going to take it. She walked over to Rick and hugged him. "I'm going to look for your mother." She told him.

"Leave it alone Amber, it's best if you two stay as far away from each other as possible." Although he did want family unity he knew that Brooke and Amber were like oil and water. He was angry enough at Amber himself to have his mother come down on her too.

"No Rick, I'm a little bit worried about her. I just want to make sure she's alright."

"She is Amber." He said with a sigh.

"I'm going to see if her car is still here." She told him.

"She'd never just leave Amber, not with Bridget so upset."

Brooke looked into Deacon's eyes. They were glassy with passion and desire as were her own. "I must be insane. I should be back with Bridget. I swore this would never happen again." She said.

Deacon took his thumb and touched her swollen lips, lips well kissed and hungry for more. "Don't go Brooke. Please."

"There's no future for us." She whispered as his mouth moved to her neck, lightly kissing and biting her. "Deacon no." She begged. But she found herself moaning in pleasure and leaning back further as he suckled and kissed her. This man made her feel more like a desirable woman than any man had ever done before and she was relishing every second of it. Her body was on fire with want but somehow she was able to pull back from him. "Deacon this is so wrong, we have to end it, we have no future."

"I'm not looking for a future, I just want the now Brooke." He stepped back and took both her hands in his. "My God you are so beautiful." And she was. She was wearing a white sleeveless turtleneck sweater that barely met her waist. She wore tight, faded jeans that hugged her shapely hips. His hands slid under the sweater and were pleasantly surprised to find her hardened nipples. She moaned and pressed close to him. His hands gently kneaded her breasts, playing with her erect nipples. "No bra. I like that." He laughed.

"Deacon don't do this." She said. But her pleas weren't genuine. Her mouth moved to his in a deep soul kiss. She raised her arms as he pulled the sweater off of her.

"Beautiful." He told her. His mouth left hers to explore her breasts. The pleasure was intense and she felt a warm wetness starting between her legs. She twitched slightly and he grinned knowing the affect he was having on her. With his mouth still on her breasts his hands popped the small snap on her jeans. Brooke gasped as he slowly lowered the zipper. She spread her legs slightly as he started to pull them down. A chuckle came from his lips. "You came commando." He laughed. "You were hoping to see me weren't you?"

"Shut up Deacon." She whispered. She moved one foot and then the other as he slid off her jeans and then she stood gloriously naked in front of him.

"The things I am going to do to you." He moaned.

"Don't talk about them, just do them." She begged. She reached for his jeans and opened them. He moved her hands from him and quickly disbursed of his own clothes. He took her hand and led her to a small yet soft rug. Gently he lowered her down. "I'm crazy, you're crazy, Deacon we're both crazy. I should be with my, oh God." She moaned as he spread her legs and his head disappeared between them. All words and arguments were ended as Brooke lay back and enjoyed his administrations. His mouth zeroed in on her nub and she stifled a scream. He moved around it and away from it and she writhed as she tried to guide his mouth back. He moved away for a moment and laughed. "Don't worry Brooke, I'm just taking my time." He told her. He went back to her and used his hands to separate her delicate folds. His tongue dove down on her and she gasped. "Ohhhhhh." She moaned loudly. He then stopped again and took her legs and lifted them over his shoulders and Brooke pushed herself even closer to his mouth. "Deacon, oh Deacon." She moaned. She squirmed under him as the pleasure began to be too intense and still he wouldn't stop. She had never experienced anything like this. Deacon Sharpe was a lover with no rivals. Suddenly Brooke's body convulsed and shuddered. She was embarrassed by the strength of her orgasm but Deacon would still not let up. He continued to torture her until she screamed in the ultimate release. He then gently moved his head away and took her into his arms, stroking every inch of her body, preparing her for the second round of his lovemaking.

"You're the most responsive lover Brooke, your body melds to mine like no other." He said as he started to place butterfly kisses all over her.

"Make love to me Deacon." She said in a throaty voice. "Hurry."

"Amber?" Rick called out. He looked up and down the beach for his wife and suddenly spied her at the water's edge. "Amber come on." He called.

"Rick." She called back and ran towards him.

"Where were you going?" He asked.

"Looking for your mother." She explained. "I saw footprints on the sand. Did she come back?" She asked him.

"No, but Ridge is calling for pizza. I want you to come back to the house with me."

"Rick, honey, aren't you worried about your mother?"

"No." He said. But suddenly he was concerned. He looked at Amber and she saw the confusion on his face. "Maybe. But Amber, she can take care of herself. She's taking this really hard. Maybe she just needed a little time to herself."

"I just thought." She started.

"Okay, I got two plain, two pepperoni, one sausage and one extra cheese." Ridge announced to the group.

"That's quite a lot of pizza son." Eric said to Ridge.

"No one's eaten today. We're all hungry." He said as he put a protective arm around Taylor. "Besides, Catherine is coming over with the kids. She had an emergency and she has to leave."

"Your kids can't eat that much pizza." Bridget said in an attempt at humor.

"You'd be surprised." Taylor said with a smile. "Thomas can eat more than I can and the girls aren't far behind them."

"Is Stephanie coming?" Bridget asked.

"She will if you want her here honey." Eric assured his youngest child.

"The only one I want is Deacon." She said with a sigh as she lay her head against his shoulder.

"He's not coming back honey. I know it hurts Bridget, but it will get better."

"How can you say that? You know how much I love him." She said as fresh tears came to her eyes.

"I found her." Rick said as he and Amber came back inside.

"Mom?" Bridget asked hopefully.

"No, just me Bridget." Amber smiled. "I looked for her but I can't find her."

"Son, why don't you go see if you can find her?" Eric asked Ridge. "I'm getting concerned."

"So am I." Taylor agreed.

"Maybe she went home." Ridge suggested. "She was acting really funny before at the office. Like she was feeling unwanted or not needed."

"I need her." Bridget said sadly as she looked at Eric.

"Well, I just walked up and down the beach but I couldn't find her." Amber announced. "And she didn't go home cause her car is still here."

"Ridge? What do you think?" Eric asked.

"I have to get back." Brooke said to Deacon. She was lying in his protective arms, her finger tracing patterns across his chest. "But I don't want to leave."

"Then don't." He told her. "Brooke she's got the rest of the family. Who is there to worry about you?"

"They don't have to worry about me. I'm not the one with a broken heart." She smiled.

"Not that long ago Brooke." He said.

"Yes, yes you're right Deacon but you've given me hope again. Somehow, someday I will find a man who loves only me and I will have everything I've ever wanted. I never really believed that until you." She leaned over and kissed him, her breasts against his hard chest. They were both still very aroused.

"Brooke I know we promised we'd stop." He said as his hand went once more between her legs. She opened for him, almost instinctively.

"And we have to." She said as she closed her eyes, not wanting it to stop at all.

"No, no I can't." He told her. He caressed her breasts and kissed one and then the other. "I can't stop seeing you. Not now." He started to stroke her harder but she pulled his hand away.

"No! Bridget has to come first." She said as she struggled out of his grasp. "And I need to get back before they all get suspicious. I don't know what I'm going to tell them now." She looked at him and sighed. "Maybe they won't even notice I'm not there."

"You really need to work on your self confidence Brooke. No one would not know that you aren't there. You're the brightest light in the room. It's dull and dark without you."

"You're really good for me." She smiled and kissed him. "But I do have to go."

"Brooke." He started.

"No Deacon, don't spoil it with words. Let this be our final goodbye." She smiled and kissed him. "I have to go to her now and you have to leave too."

"You're right. I was dreaming, there is no future for us is there Brooke?"

"No." She said as tears filled her eyes. "But I will cherish every single memory." She got up and grabbed her jeans from the floor. Deacon watched her as she slipped them on. Then she stood and looked for her sweater.

"Brooke?" He called to her.

"Yes?"

"I'll never forget either." He said sadly. She spied the sweater and pulled it over her head.

"Where is Amber now?" Eric asked his youngest son. "First Brooke disappears and now her."

"I don't know Dad. She seems to be preoccupied with Mom. Shall I go look for her now?" He asked.

"No. Let's not all abandon Bridget." Eric looked across the room where Taylor was holding Bridget in her arms. He was grateful to Ridge and his wife and he hoped Taylor's being there wasn't the reason for Brooke's disappearance. He knew she had been terribly disappointed that Ridge had remained in his marriage and a part of him sympathized with her. Brooke had loved Ridge almost her entire adult life and finally letting go was hard. He vowed that when things calmed down with Bridget he would be there for Brooke. Eric still cared deeply for her and only wanted her happiness. He was deep in thought when Ridge walked over to him and put his arm around his shoulder.

"Hey Dad."

"Ridge. Thank you so much for coming, and for bringing Taylor. She really seems to be helping Bridget."

"We both love her Dad. We wouldn't want to be anywhere else."

"But I'm afraid Taylor's appearance is upsetting Brooke and that's not good right now. Bridget needs her very much." Eric turned and looked at Ridge. "I know she's still hurting. I hope she can snap out of it. For both her own sake and for Bridget's."

"Brooke and I talked Dad. She's okay really. I think she's just upset about Bridget. She wants so badly to help and she just doesn't know how to do it. And she was the one who asked me to bring Taylor. She knows that she can help."

"I guess I've underestimated her son. And you too. I'm glad you haven't turned your back on her."

"On Logan?" Ridge asked him. "Never. She and I will always be close Dad. I think we've reached a new place in our relationship, a really good place."

Brooke walked quickly towards the beach house. The moon had gone behind a cloud and it was suddenly very dark. She squinted to see the way and almost found herself plowing into her daughter-in-law. "Amber? What are you doing out here?" Brooke asked in a stunned voice.

"I could ask you the same thing Brooke." Amber replied in a sugary sweet voice filled with sarcasm.

"I needed air and I went for a walk, not that it's any of your business." Brooke told her.

"Everyone was worried about you and Bridget, poor Bridget needs you. Some mother you are."

"You little snot!" Brooke shouted. "How dare you criticize my parental skills!"

"What skills are those Brooke?"

"Some day Amber, some day Rick will open his eyes to you and you will be history!"

"Don't count on it Brooke, you may have found a way to get rid of Deacon but I'm here to stay." She said rubbing her flat belly. "This baby cemented my marriage forever. Rick and I will always be together and you'd better just get used to it."

"Never." Brooke said. She frowned at the girl and started to walk away. She then turned and looked back at her. "Aren't you coming Amber?"

"In a bit." She said.

Brooke snarled at her and stormed towards the beach house leaving Amber alone.

"Mom." Bridget said as Brooke entered the house. She ran and threw herself into Brooke's arms. "Where did you go? I was worried."

"I'm sorry baby. I was just feeling a little sick and I just needed to get some air." She smiled and pushed a strand of Bridget's hair from her face. "I should have stayed. But I wasn't really needed and not too sure I was welcome either."

"Mom you are always needed and always welcome." Bridget hugged her tightly. "Is this about Taylor?"

"A little." Brooke admitted. "Sometimes I feel like she's more important to my own family than I am. But I guess I'm letting what happened get to me."

"We both lost the men we loved didn't we?" Bridget asked. "But Mom, it was so different. Ridge wasn't ever really yours and Deacon and I are married. I want him back, I have to think of a way to change his mind."

"Honey." Brooke said taking her daughter's hand. "What you and Deacon had was never real. You know he only married you to get back at everyone for Amber and to stay close to Eric."

"No, he loves me!"

"He does care about you baby, how could he not? But that's not the kind of love that you base a marriage on. It's not the kind of love that lasts a lifetime. You've learned a really important lesson Bridget, but you can take that lesson and move on. Somewhere out there there is a man for you, a man who will love you and cherish you and put you above all others." She smiled as Deacon's face flashed before her eyes but was quickly embarrassed by her own thoughts. "But Deacon Sharpe isn't that man. Not for you baby."

"No Mother." Bridget started to protest.

"Listen to me honey. I've lived a few more years than you have and I've been through some really bad relationships. I know how hard it is to love someone and not be loved in return but you know what? You do survive and you do come out of it a little stronger. You have so many people here who love you Bridget. Focus on them and not on Deacon."

Amber saw someone walking towards her and she stepped back behind a tree. Who was this? Was Brooke with this person? She waited as he came closer and was more than shocked to see who the man was.

"Deacon?" She whispered.

"Amber." He said in shock. Why hadn't he waited longer? Why hadn't he just left instead of heading back to the house?

"What are you doing here Deacon?" She asked him.

"I'm worried about Bridget. I wanted to make sure she's alright." He said almost too quickly.

"You saw Brooke didn't you? Was she giving you trouble? God I hate her. I can't believe you let her destroy your marriage like this. She keeps trying to break me and Rick up but I won't let her. How can you be so stupid?"

"This has nothing to do with Brooke and you know it Amber. You know why I married Bridget, you know I never would have married her if you had left Rick like I begged you!" He shouted.

"I love Rick! I don't want to be with you Deacon. Yeah, we have something between us but nothing that is worth giving up my marriage for."

Deacon looked at her and started to snicker. At first it was a tiny laugh but suddenly he was howling and couldn't seem to contain himself.

"What the hell is your problem?" Amber asked angrily. "Deacon!"

"You are so full of yourself." He laughed. "You found a way to turn this whole thing around so it was about you? Amber I am so over you. Bridget has more class in her pinky toe than you have in your entire body." He looked at her and started to laugh again.

"Won't you come home with me tonight?" Brooke begged her daughter. "You shouldn't be alone."

"Maybe I won't, maybe Deacon will come home." Bridget said hopefully.

"He's not coming back honey, and you need to realize that. Come home with me, we can do things together. I want to be there for you."

"No. I don't think so." Bridget said.

"Well then why don't I stay here with you?" Brooke suggested.

"I appreciate it Mom, but no. Not tonight." She said.

"Then go home with your father. He and Stephanie will keep you company." Brooke suggested, grasping at straws.

"I want to stay here. Deacon will come home, I know he will."

"I have an idea." Taylor said walking over to join them. "I could really use your help Bridget. Catherine had a family emergency. Will you come home with us and help me with the kids?" She looked at Brooke who gave her a smile of appreciation.

"I know you guys all love me and care, but I want to wait. I know he's coming home. He needs to get his head together and he will be home." Bridget took Taylor's hand and Brooke's. "But I am so glad that you both can forget your own problems for me." She smiled at the two older women.

"Your mother and I both want what's best for you Bridget. We will always agree on that right Brooke?"

"That's right Taylor." Brooke agreed. Suddenly the door was flung open and Amber stormed in.

"What's her problem?" Taylor asked. Brooke took one look at Amber and felt sick in the pit of her stomach.

"I, I'll go see." She said. She walked away from Bridget and Taylor and went up to Amber. "What's wrong?" She asked.

"You were talking to Deacon weren't you?" She growled at her.

"So what if I was?" Brooke was not in the mood for Amber and her childish fits. "I want to protect my daughter!"

"Protect her by chasing her husband away? You're such a bitch Brooke!" Amber looked at her with hatred. The effect was lost on Brooke who only smiled at her and started to laugh. At this point Amber had had enough with being laughed at. Brooke grinned and tossed back her hair and this is where she unknowingly lost the upper hand. Amber stared at her neck, at the telltale sign of Brooke's betrayal.