Brooke tells Ridge she's on her way to Big Bear.

At the Forrester cabin in Big Bear, Ridge gets a call from Brooke, who's on speaker phone while driving up with Thomas, Hope and R.J. Ridge asks how the fashion showdown went. Brooke and Thomas regretfully reply that they got torched by Spectra. Brooke laments that Eric knew this wasn't his best collection, but they never thought... Ridge is upset by the news, especially since it means that Thorne will get his stock buyout and become Sally's partner. He wonders if they should cut this vacation short to be there for Eric; Brooke says she suggested it, but Eric won't hear of it. Hope calls out to Ridge, calling him "Daddy" and hoping to go skiing. Ridge tells her that she'll stay in to keep from getting cold like Bridget and Uncle Nick did. Brooke's surprised to hear that Nick's there. Ridge says Nick and Bridget have been out on the slopes, even though it's 18 degrees (10 with the wind chill). Thomas wishes they went to Hawaii instead. Brooke hopes Bridget and Nick are OK in the cold; right on cue, Nick and Bridget return from the slopes, so Ridge ends the call.

Ridge makes a point to Nick.

Ridge tells Bridget that Brooke and the kids are on the way and tells Nick that Hope is excited that Nick's here, for some reason. Nick says that's nice, since he gets the feeling Ridge isn't excited he's here. Ridge quips that he's thrilled. Nick asks for some cocoa; Ridge acts surprised that Nick even drinks cocoa, but when Bridget asks for some, too, he goes to get some. Nick tells Bridget that Ridge isn't being very gracious. Bridget thinks Ridge will warm up once he gets over his surprise that Nick's here. And speaking of warming up, she hopes she and Nick can do that after being in the cold. Nick has an idea to warm her up and starts massaging her foot. Bridget says that it's working, but as Nick continues to rub, she laughs that it tickles and tells him to stop. Ridge comes in with the cocoa and sees Nick giving the massage: he forcefully reminds Nick that Bridget said to stop and tells his half brother to quit. Nick does.

Nick says he and Bridget are just friends.

Ridge hands Nick and Bridget their mugs of cocoa. Bridget tells him Nick was only joking. Sure he was, Ridge says. Nick says Ridge might be surprised that two adults can be friends without getting sexual and suggests Ridge try it. Before Ridge can respond, Bridget says she wants to go change, so she asks the two men to wait here and not kill each other. Nick and Ridge both say they'll be fine. Once she's gone, Ridge tells Nick that he shouldn't have come here. Nick asks why not, since he's just spending time with his friend Bridget. Bridget doesn't need new friends, Ridge says. Nick asks why Ridge is being so territorial, especially when Bridget is obviously enjoying herself. Ridge objects to Nick telling Bridget it's dangerous to around him [Ridge]. Nick points out how being around Ridge keeps bringing up memories Bridget wants to get past; that's why he thinks Ridge needs to separate himself from Bridget while Nick helps her as friend. Ridge questions if that's all Nick wants and wonders where this friendship is heading. Nick says he doesn't have a crystal ball to predict anything, but he and Bridget like each other's company.

Bridget eavesdrops on Ridge and Nick talking about her.

Ridge admits he's bothered, since he feels like Nick is using Bridget. He thinks Nick never got over Brooke and is using Bridget as a substitute, maybe even without even knowing he's doing it. Nick insists he's not trying to recapture any feelings for the one who got away and insists that anything between him and Brooke is over. Ridge hopes that's true, since he thinks Nick sees Brooke in Bridget. Actually, Nick says, it's the opposite, in a good way. Just then, Bridget slips into the room and listens as Nick describes her as a beautiful, young vibrant girl who's better than him at skiing and is almost Yoda-like in her being able to handle the aliens she calls relatives. Bridget smiles. Nick adds that Bridget's changed lately and has shown herself to be funny, with a funny smile. Ridge finds it odd that Nick is going on and on about someone who's "just a friend" and again asks Nick what his intentions are. Before he can answer, Bridget knocks over some skis and the men see her. She tells them to just keep going.

Hope plays with her Uncle Nick.

Before the man can get into it, Brooke arrives with the kids. Nick picks up Hope, his little Eskimo and plays with her. Brooke's glad to see them having so much fun. Oh, it's been a barrel of laughs, Nick quips as he carries Hope around like she's skiing down a mountain. Brooke laughs but has to interrupt so her little "Picabo Street" can change into her jammies. Hope's disappointed, but Ridge says it's time for all of them to get to bed and proposes a race to the bedroom. Hope calls out to Uncle Nick to come on, but Bridget tells him to wait. She asks what he meant comparing her to Yoda; couldn't he compare her to one of the Amazon women on Mars, she asks? That's the Moon, Nick says. Bridget asks what he meant about her smile; he says she sounds like Ridge with all the questions and wonders if she's also going to ask about his intentions. Not unless he has something to get off his chest, she says. Before he can answer, Hope calls Uncle Nick again for P.J. time, so he heads for the bedroom.

Thomas still hurts over his break-up with Amber.

Thomas tells Brooke he's going to hang out in his room. Brooke asks why he'd want to do that rather than spend time with the family. Ridge points out that they have lots of BOARD games, but Thomas thinks that's more like BORED games. Ridge and Brooke ask what's wrong. Was it hard to see Amber at the showdown? Actually, Thomas says, she didn't show, probably because she wanted to avoid him. He still feels numb about losing her, even though he knows what she did was wrong. Ridge says he understands, but he really thinks Thomas is better off without Amber and thinks the best thing his son can do is forget that girl.

Clarke asks Amber what she's up to.

In her rental cabin, Amber is peeking through her telescope, thinking about what Ridge took from her. Just then, Clarke arrives. It's about time, she says. Clarke reminds her that he was celebrating Spectra's victory and wonders what was so important to drag him away from that. He hopes she doesn't want him to help bring Ridge down. She says she's not up to anything; she's just trying to undo what Ridge did, to remove him as a factor and get Thomas to trust her again. She shows him her view of the cabin and tells him that the whole family, including Ridge and Bridget, is in there. She's incensed and disgusted that Ridge gets away with his behavior and calls her the cause of their family's troubles, which is why she's determined to bring him down. Thomas won't be too keen on her attacking his dad, Clarke says. Amber says she's not attacking anyone. Then they can leave, Clarke says, getting ready to go and picking up a black case. Amber tells him to put that down!