Thomas wonders why Gaby is so upset.

At the Forrester guest house, Gaby frets about how furious Ridge was. She frets to Thomas that his dad will have their marriage annulled. Thomas says that he won't let him. Gaby doesn't want to come between him and his parents. They got caught, she points out, and it's over. He tells her not to give up; he's sure they'll figure this out. She tells him to stop. He's only making this harder. A confused Thomas asks what he did to upset her. He couldn't upset her, she cries, because she's falling in love with him! She can't believe she just said that. She knows that they only got married to get her a green card, but these past few weeks have been incredible, and she can't hide her feelings anymore. Thomas is glad she told him, as husbands and wives shouldn't have secrets from each other. He tells her that she's so beautiful; she replies that he makes her feel special. She is, he says softly, to him. They kiss, and the kiss turns to a hug. Gaby tells him how excited she was making dinner for him, because she felt like a real wife. She wants him to know that she's never met anyone like him, and she wishes this marriage didn't have to end. Thomas tells her to take things one day at a time; first they'll deal with his parents and then with the INS. But his parents don't want him to do this, she says. When he made those vows to her, he says, he made her a promise, and he intends to keep that. He hugs her and assures her that things will work out.

Taylor tries to calm Ridge down about Thomas's marriage.

Ridge is at home with Taylor, fuming that their son got married. He tells her that he spoke to their lawyer, who is drafting the annulment papers. He still can't believe their 18 year old son ran off to Vegas to get married. Taylor agrees and wishes Thomas had talked to them about this. Ridge thinks Thomas should have known better than to try to trick the INS. Taylor tells him to calm down, as their son wasn't trying to trick anyone. She knows Thomas didn't think things through, but she thinks his intentions to help Gaby were good. That's what worries Ridge; he knows their son is mature, but he fears that Gaby manipulated the situation. Taylor doesn't think so. Then why didn't Thomas come to them for help with this? Ridge asks. At least they know now and can deal with it, Taylor says, so she wishes he would stop worrying. Ridge frets that this happened behind their backs, even with Thomas living under his roof, where he can keep an eye on him. And if he doesn't know what's going on in his own house, how is he supposed to watch over RJ, who doesn't even live with him? Taylor gives him a concerned look.

Downstairs at Brooke's, Bridget tells Dante that he can't be serious about her running off with him. He says that he is, since he knows that Nick can never make her happy. She laughs that he, like most Italians, can be a bit dramatic. He thinks he's being realistic; after all, where is her fiance now? He's upstairs with Hope, she says. And with her mother, he adds. He reminds her that she invited him to dinner to see how in love with her Nick is, but Nick isn't by her side where he belongs. She says that Hope is having a rough time. And so is her mom, he adds. Bridget thinks it's getting late, so they should call it a night. He tells her that he'll call a cab to take him to her family's beach house, where he's staying. She says that she'll drive him. She goes to write Nick a note telling him where she is. As she writes, she tells Dante that he's a wonderful man, but she loves Nick. She finishes the note, pauses, and adds that Nick loves her, not her mother. They leave the house.

Dante tells Bridget that she deserves better than Nick.

Soon after, Bridget and Dante arrive at the beach house, where Dante has already made himself at home, with paintings, easels and art supplies spread out across the room. [pretty quick given that Massimo just told him to move in tonight]. He asks if she's still angry. She tells him to let it go, but he can't: she's an intelligent woman, and he wishes she would just listen to him, rather than endure the pain she's feeling. He thinks Nick will hurt her, just like Deacon and Ridge did. She says that she's sick of hearing this from him, and from everyone else. Her father, her future mother in law and even Taylor all think they know better, but she knows that Nick loves her. Perhaps everyone else isn't as close to it as she is, Dante suggests, so they can see more than she does. What's to see? she asks. That she can't hold a candle to her mother? That's what she's hearing, and she's tired of it. She knew full well when she started this relationship that she was getting involved with another man who was involved with her mother. And while Nick *WAS* involved with her mother in the past, that's over; he's committed to her now, not her mother. She sees it every time Nick looks at her; he doesn't look at her mother that way. All Nick's passion and desire are just for her, she tells Dante, as she walks out.

Nick reads to Hope.

Upstairs at Brooke's, Hope sits on Nick's lap as he reads to her about a pirate and a princess mermaid. When he gets to the end, Hope demands more. There is no more, Nick says, but Hope insists. Brooke tells her that Uncle Nick has to go find Bridget. Nick makes a deal with Hope; if she goes to bed, he'll find out what happened to the pirate and the princess and tell her about it tomorrow. Hope agrees, so he takes off her slippers, helps tuck her in and says goodnight. Brooke, sitting behind him on the bed, reaches out to him and thanks him. He gets up and starts to make funny faces at Hope. Hope starts giggling, so Brooke turns to him and tells him to go. As he starts to leave, Brooke turns to Hope and laughs about how silly Uncle Nick is, while Nick pauses in the doorway and watches them.

Nick comes downstairs and looks for Bridget. He finds her note and guesses that she won't be coming back here, so he decides to meet her at the Marlin. He starts to call her cell phone, but he then hears Brooke's voice in the room, calling him. He looks around and sees the voice is coming from a baby monitor on the table. He picks it up and asks what's wrong. She tells him that Hope is upset, so he heads back upstairs, where he finds Hope frantically worrying about monsters in her closet. Nick sits on the bed and tells Hope that there are no monsters there, but she says that they're hiding. He tells her that he'll chase the monsters away, but she is still worried. Brooke tells him that this has happened a few times since they moved back, but never this bad. Hope tells Nick that she wants to sleep in Mommy's bed. Brooke says that Hope doesn't want to be alone. Hope tells him that Daddy's not here, so there's lots of room for him to stay. Nick makes another deal with her; he tells Hope that she can lay in Mommy's bed, between mommy and him. Then he'll go back and chase the monsters away. He asks how that sounds; she nods and says, "you stay." He looks at Brooke, and then at Hope and says he'll stay. Brooke smiles at him.

Brooke thanks Nick for his help with Hope.

Soon after, Hope lies on Brooke's bed between a fully clothed Nick and Brooke. Once Hope falls asleep. Brooke tells Nick he can leave, but he says he has to throw the monsters out first. She suggests that he go tell Bridget; he tells her that Bridget took "what's his name" home. Brooke looks at Hope and prays that the girl stays asleep; she's worried about these tantrums, which started since Hope hasn't had Ridge around. She never thought that Ridge would let them down. Nick tells her that she'll get through this. She says she's trying to believe that, but it's hard on nights like this. The hard part is over, Nick says. Thanks to him, Brooke replies. He says he's just a good monster killer. And a story teller, she adds. Just then, Bridget arrives and slowly opens the door, just in time to hear Brooke tell Nick what a life saver he's been for her and the kids. He tells her to think of it as payback, for all the happy times she's given him. Looking at her, he says that some of the best times of his life were with her. He then looks at Hope and says that he loves her more than he can say.