Hope listens to what Nick tells her.

Brooke and Nick bring Hope home, where she's greeted by Catherine and RJ. Nick tries to slow down an anxious Hope and tells her to rest and listen to her very smart mommy; if he had done that, he thinks, she never would have gone to the hospital. She tells Nick she's OK. He says he knows that and kisses her forehead, telling her an old saying that if you save someone's life, you become buddies with them. Hope says that means he has to read her a story every night; Nick agrees and hugs her and kisses her. Catherine then takes Hope up; Brooke says she'll be there in a minute. Uncle Nick, too? Hope asks. Yes, Brooke says as Catherine and Hope go up. Brooke teases Nick that he'll be reading stories for a month. He thinks that's easy after what he let happen. Brooke reminds him that she and Hope forgave him, but he can't forgive himself. He wonders where Bridget is. Brooke wonders if Bridget's busy with her new internship, but Nick thinks it's the fact that he's spent so much time lately with Brooke. With Hope, Brooke corrects him. But did Bridget understand that when she watched them from outside the hospital room? Nick wonders. He decides to make Bridget a special dinner here tonight. Brooke asks if it'll be chicken wings and beer, but Nick has something more in mind. Brooke tells him to ask Marta to help or order from Cafe Russe. He likes the latter idea and goes to order as Brooke goes up. Nick tells her it's good to see her smiling; she says she'll tell Hope he'll be there soon and heads upstairs as Nick watches.

Nick tells Brooke what she and Hope mean to his life.

Brooke soon finds Nick setting up a candlelit dinner for Bridget by firelight. All he needs, he says, is Bridget. Brooke suggests he wait, since Hope will be up for a while. He doesn't want to disappoint the little girl. Brooke doesn't think he can. She has him wrapped around her finger, Nick says, noting that he'd go through fire for that little girl, or her mom. Brooke says she knows that. Nick says he never realized what she and Hope mean to him until he almost lost them, so he's glad to have them in his life. Brooke is sorry for lashing out at him after how kind he's been. She holds his hand and thinks that she'd be lost without him, since he promised to be there for her and has been, no matter what. She can't even tell him that that means to her.

Brooke thanks Nick for showing her life after Ridge.

Brooke reminds Nick how she didn't know if she could go on when Ridge left her life. But she did, he says. Because he wouldn't let her, she says, because he helped her see there's life after Ridge. She wasn't sure at first, but she owes him her life for helping her see that. Nick holds her hand, caresses her face and says that it works both ways, as she's been there for him. That's what friends do, she says; they're there when the other friend needs them. And they tell each other the truth, he says - but right now, he feels like she's hiding how she feels. He asks if she gets scared, sad or lonely. She admits she does. They look at each other. Nick tells her that he knows. She can be strong, but she can also be alone. They sit down and he asks if she wants to be happy. Yes, she says. Then she will be, he says. She'll find her special someone, or that someone will find her, and they'll look into each other's eyes. And when they kiss, she'll know it's right, and she'll have her happiness.

Stephanie urges Bridget to move on.

Up at Big Bear, Bridget cries to Stephanie that she can't deal with this. She has to, Stephanie insists: she has to see her mother for what she is. Bridget doesn't want to see the worst in her mother. Of course not, Stephanie says, because she looks for the best in people. She again urges Bridget to see her mother for what she really is. Bridget bends over and holds her tummy. Stephanie asks if she's OK. Bridget says she's fine and says this isn't her mother's fault. But it is, Stephanie says, telling her not to defend Brooke. But her mom can't help it that men are just drawn to her, Bridget says. Stephanie tells Bridget not to blame herself this way. She thinks Bridget has had enough, and she has to show that she means that by walking away from the pain - which means walking away from Nick! If Nick wants Brooke, Stephanie says, let him have her, since she thinks Bridget deserves better. She thinks the only way Bridget can regain control of her life is to move on without Nick. Bridget doesn't want to. Of course not, Stephanie says, because she loves Nick, and she even thinks Nick loves her. But she doesn't think Bridget can get married knowing what she knows right now.

Bridget isn't feeling well.

Bridget can't give up the man she loves, the only man who makes her safe. Stephanie knows it hurts, but she has to do it. She asks Bridget to consider what would have happened if she had already married Nick, and if she got pregnant. Thankfully, even though she and Nick talked about it, it didn't happen. Stephanie says that Bridget has a chance to make a decent life for herself, but if she wants that, she has make sure that neither Nick nor Brooke could hurt her ever again. Bridget doesn't know if she can do this, or if she even wants to. Stephanie tells her that it seems unfair, but she doesn't want Bridget to be with a man who can't love her completely, because he's in love with her mother. That's why Bridget has to end it now. Bridget takes a photo of her and Nick and lays it down, signifying the end of their relationship, and she cries that it's over. She loves Nick and can't imagine life without him. Stephanie is sure Nick will never let go of Brooke. What if she's wrong? Bridget asks. Even Jackie saw it, Stephanie says. She thinks Nick was never Bridget's to begin with, even if he wanted to be. Now Brooke set her sights on him. She urges Bridget to take this chance to build a happy life for herself by telling Nick it's over.