Eric is pleased by what Ridge tells him.

Eric enters his office and finds Ridge working with a pair of models on his teen line designs, for the showdown with Thomas. Eric looks over the models and predicts that Thomas made a big mistake by agreeing to compete with his father, Ridge hopes his dad is right, since this is more than just a fashion showdown to him. Eric says he knows how Ridge feels. Ridge sends the models off and asks Eric if there's an easier way to convince his kids to do what's best for them. Eric doesn't think he's one to talk, since he couldn't protect his kids from their own mother. Ridge agrees that his mother did a lot of damage, but he thinks it's time he took some responsibility. That's why he's agreed to go into counseling with Taylor. Eric thinks that's a step in the right direction for Ridge's marriage. Ridge says that Taylor needed it, and he thinks he might, too, since he still has some issues. Like with Brooke? Eric asks. Ridge says that Brooke needs to get on with her life, and he needs to do the same. Eric reminds Ridge of the long history he has with Brooke. Ridge says they'll have to get into that in counseling. Eric thinks that's a good idea, since he doesn't want to see Ridge and Taylor end up like him and Stephanie.

Thorne drops by with an invitation for his father.

Just then, security calls to tell Eric that Thorne is on his way up. Eric and Ridge put away Ridge's designs just as Thorne comes in, pleased to see Ridge hard at work for the showdown. Ridge asks if Thorne has Thomas doing the same; Thorne says there's no need. Actually, he came over because Darla is worried about Eric living alone and told him to invite his dad to dinner. Ridge suggests that Eric try the new chef Stephanie hired. Eric's not to keen on that, since it will mean running into Stephanie. But she's not there, Ridge explains: in fact, he visited his mom at Big Bear earlier and learned how she is trying to move on with her life. In fact, she even put her vendetta against Brooke behind her. Eric asks Ridge if he believed Stephanie; Ridge hopes so, since he thinks his mother needs to let go of this obsession she's got for Brooke.

Bridget has questions after listening to Stephanie.

In Brooke's office, Stephanie tries to convince Bridget that Brooke and Nick are in love, despite Brooke's insistence that they're not. Bridget asks Brooke she was at Big Bear today with Nick. Brooke tries to keep Bridget from getting stressed over this, but Stephanie orders Brooke to answer. Brooke tells Bridget that she was with Nick at Big Bear, but it's not like Stephanie claims. She insists that she and Nick just ran into each other there and talked. Stephanie accuses Brooke of doing plenty of "talking" with Deacon, too. She then reminds Bridget of the talk they had at Big Bear, the day Bridget found out she was pregnant. She thinks Bridget saw exactly who her mother was that night, and she bets Brooke will now tell Bridget, "it's not what you think." It isn't! Brooke insists. Stephanie tells Bridget that she's a mother now, so she can understand the bond between mother and daughter - the bond Brooke broke for a roll in the hay! She urges Bridget not to trust Brooke. Bridget considers Stephanie's words but decides that Stephanie is once again attacking Brooke, like she always does. Stephanie insists that she knows what she saw. Bridget asks Brooke if she kissed Nick; no, Brooke replies. Brooke then grabs Stephanie and tells her to leave! She won't let Stephanie destroy Bridget's marriage like she did hers.

Ridge asks his mother why she is here.

Eric, Ridge and Thorne hear Brooke shouting and rush through the door connecting to Brooke's office. They see Bridget begging Brooke to stop while Brooke pushes Stephanie out, ordering her to get out of this office and out of their lives. Eric demands to know what's going on. Brooke says nothing, but Stephanie tells Eric that Brooke is trying to steal Bridget's husband. She even saw Brooke with Nick at Big Bear today, and even though Brooke claims it was just a chance meeting, Stephanie doesn't believe it. Brooke says she went there to clear her head. And why was Nick there? Eric asks. He wanted to go to the place where he and Bridget fell in love, Brooke explains. Stephanie can't believe what she's hearing. Ridge reminds his mother of their earlier conversation and asks if this is how she puts her hatred of Brooke behind her. He also reminds her that Nick and Bridget are now married and expecting their first child. Stephanie says she knows that, but Brooke obviously doesn't. She won't let Brooke ruin Bridget's life again this way, and she urges Eric to do something to save his daughter's marriage. Bridget says that her marriage isn't in jeopardy: in fact, she and Nick were planning their future together tonight, and she only came here to get some real estate listings to show him. Thorne tells his mother to stop; Stephanie says she knows what she saw. And she ran right to Bridget, Eric says, even though she knew what these accusations would do to his daughter. If this is the way she's going to act, he doesn't want her near Bridget. Stephanie tries to tell him what Brooke is doing. Brooke is a member of this company and this family, Eric tells Stephanie - but she, on the other hand, until she gets her priorities straight, isn't. Stephanie says the family has always been her priority. Then she knows what to do to be part of it, Ridge says.

Brooke thanks the Forrester men for believing her.

Stephanie says she knows what she has to do and leaves. Brooke hugs Bridget and tells her not to believe anything Stephanie said; she hopes Bridget knows she loves her, just like Nick does. Bridget is so overwhelmed that she leaves to take a drive and clear her head. Once she's gone, Thorne says it's no wonder she had to leave after what his mother said. Stephanie is wrong, Brooke says. She hopes they all know that. Of course they do, Ridge says. Eric hangs up the phone and tells Brooke that he had Stephanie banned from the building. Brooke says he didn't have to do that, but Ridge tells her that his mother had no right to barge in and accost her that way. Brooke thanks them all for believing in her, and in Nick and Bridget. Thorne is worried about his mother, since it seems like she didn't learn her lesson after her fake heart attack. Eric hopes that what they all said today got through to Stephanie, so she can put her destructive vendetta against Brooke behind her.

Massimo is worried about Nick.

On the Shady Marlin, Nick has another vision of "Siren Brooke" in her green gown. Massimo comes in and calls out Nick's name to bring his son back to reality. He senses that Nick still has Brooke on his mind. Nick says he's fine when he focuses on Bridget, but when he's alone, his mind drifts back to Brooke. Massimo worries about that, since he fears that Nick might be "ambushed" one day when he and his wife run into Brooke. He doesn't know if Nick will be able to control his emotions if that happens. Nick says it's too late: he even left town to get away and went to Big Bear, the place where he and Bridget fell in love. But then he ran into Brooke there. They said their goodbyes, Nick says, but he still can't stop thinking about her. Massimo says that he HAS to stop, and he fears that there is only one solution. As much as he hates to suggest it, he thinks Nick has to take Bridget and leave Los Angeles before the baby is born. Nick asks how he can do that: he asks how he's supposed to tell Bridget that she won't be able to see her family any more. He suspects Bridget won't want to leave. Massimo offers to be the bad guy by giving Nick a new assignment that will require him to relocate his family. Nick says there has to be another way, other than cutting Brooke off from her grandchild. Massimo asks Nick why he thinks he can succeed when Eric, Thorne and Ridge could not. Nick reminds his pop that he's a man of his word. He'll do whatever he has to in order to make these desires for Brooke to go away.

After Massimo leaves, Stephanie comes on board. Nick says this can't be good. Stephanie says she's glad to see him, too. He says it's been nice not to have her around much. He means for him and Brooke, Stephanie accuses. She tells him that she saw him and Brooke at Big Bear, and she knows that he and Brooke are still in love with each other while they sneak around behind Bridget's back. Nick insists that there's nothing romantic between him and Brooke, but Stephanie doesn't believe him. The only problem, she says, is that Bridget believes him. He reminds her that Bridget is his wife now, and is carrying his child. Which is why he has to tell her the truth now, Stephanie urges, before it's too late. She doesn't hear him denying that he's in love with Brooke, so she presses him to be a real man and tell Bridget that. Nick says that he is being a real man and telling Bridget how he feels, but Stephanie thinks he's only deceiving Bridget and himself.