Tuesday, April 04, 2006, Episode #4778

Christian is surprised that he's among Forresters.

At Dante's beach house, a stunned Christian stares at Dino, flashing back to Stephanie sitting with that same baby at Felicia's bedside. He tells Bridget that this isn't her son. Actually, Bridget says, it's her sister's son, but Dante corrects her that Dino is their son. Bridget explains that her sister Felicia gave them custody of the baby when she died. Christian asks Dante if he was married to Felicia. No, Dante says, but he is Dino's father, And that isn't even the most complicated relationship in the family, Thorne laughs. But it's the sweetest, Darla chimes in. Everyone laughs. As Darla offers to put the baby down, Christian figures out that his hosts are all Forresters. "Except me," Dante states. Thorne asks why that surprises Christian, who says that Hector didn't mention any last names. Hector realizes he didn't and explains that he didn't think it necessary, since they're all such good friends now. He tells Christian that Thorne is Ridge's younger brother, recalling his high school soccer rivalry with Ridge. Christian remembers going to a few games to cheer his brother on. Thorne says that Felicia always made him take her to the games to see their big brother Ridge play; he thought it was a drag then, but he misses those days now. Christian gets beeped and excuses himself to go answer the page. Bridget stops him and says she hopes they get to see him again. He looks at her and says that he hopes so, too. He then leaves.

Dante suggests he add some spice to Bridget.

Once their guests leave, Bridget and Dante clean up. She's sorry Christian had to leave so quickly. Dante wonders if his grilling prowess drove Christian off. Bridget assures him that a little ketchup can save even his burnt hot dogs. Dante admits that ketchup livens up that boring American cooking. Bridget hopes that that's the only American thing he finds boring and bland. Dante doesn't know and suggests trying some ketchup on her! She tries to duck away, but he gets a bit on her, only to say that it's a shame to cover up any of her sweetness and charm. They move in toward one another with a laugh and embrace. Soon after, they sit with Dino on the sofa. Bridget tells Dante that she never realized how important he'd become to her. She gets teary-eyed as she thanks him for his support, which means everything to her. She knows she can trust him and what they have. Dante promises she will never lose him or Dino. They hold each other as Dante promises that he and Dino are all hers.

Jackie is stunned by what Stephanie tells her.

Jackie drops by Forrester and looks for Eric in the CEO's office, only to find Stephanie there. Stephanie tells Jackie that she's wasting her time. Jackie says that she knows why Stephanie and Eric reconciled, for Felicia's sake, but she also knows that Eric is ready to end that marriage. Stephanie says that she and Eric talked about a lot of things last night, but a divorce certainly wasn't one of them. In fact, she and Eric are closer than ever. Jackie can't believe it; she thinks Stephanie is either lying or deluded. Stephanie thinks Jackie is the one who's deluded, but Jackie disagrees, since she's the one who's engaged to Eric! She shows Stephanie the ring Eric gave her. But why isn't she wearing it? Stephanie asks. Jackie explains that Eric proposed to her on the day he remarried Stephanie, but he never said anything about it so as not to hurt either Stephanie or Felicia. Even if that's so, Stephanie says, things have changed since then. They have, Jackie agrees, because Felicia is now gone, which means that Eric is free to marry her. She suggests that Stephanie is using her refusal to accept Felicia's death as a way to hold on to Eric. Frustrated, Stephanie tells Jackie to spare her the dime-store psychoanalysis.

Stephanie is torn by Christian's suggestion.

Just then, Christian knocks on the door and asks if he can interrupt. Stephanie tells him Jackie was just leaving, warning him to be wary of Jackie's eye for younger men. Jackie brushes the comment off and leaves. Stephanie asks Christian if anything is wrong. He tells her that Felicia is fine, but he knows now what a hard time the rest of the family is having thinking Felicia is dead. He explains that he met her family and saw the baby, and after seeing how upset they are about Felicia's "death," he thinks they deserve to know that Felicia is alive. He asks if Felicia would want the family grieving like this. Stephanie says no, but he has to understand that the rest of the family watched Felicia die. She worries that they'll have to do it all over if she tells them the truth and then something goes wrong. But Felicia IS alive, Christian says, and meanwhile, Bridget is bonding with Felicia's son. Stephanie wants a guarantee. Christian says there are none. However, he'd like Stephanie to come with him to the clinic now; he thinks when Stephanie sees Felicia, she'll understand what has to be done.

Massimo is upset by Ridge's news.

Ridge barges into Massimo's office demanding to know where Nick is. When Mass asks, "What's Dominick done now?" Ridge tells Mass how he planned to take R.J. to the auto show, until he got to Brooke's house and found no one home. Mass asks how that is Nick's fault, so Ridge shows him the eye patch he found. Mass says it's just a toy, but Ridge thinks it's his "thieving brother's calling card!" Ridge frantically tries to call Brooke, but her cell phone goes to voice mail. It could be off, Mass says. Or it could be out of range, Ridge adds, because Nick has taken Brooke somewhere. If Nick did that, Mass says, then he has crossed the line by interfering in another man's family! Ridge states that it would be HIS family if not for "HIM!"

Mass promises to get to the bottom of this. He picks up the phone and makes some calls. Soon after, he ends a call to the harbormaster and tells Ridge that The Shady Marlin left Marina Del Rey an hour ago. Ridge asks who was on the boat. The harbormaster didn't know, Mass explains, but they did note that the Marlin was flying the Jolly Roger when it left. Ridge is stunned.

Nick tells Brooke that he's happy to make her kids happy.

Meanwhile, the Marlin's Pirate crew arrives at the island where Brooke and Nick were stuck together a few years ago. As they unload the dinghy, Nick tells Brooke, Hope and R.J. to find a special place to make camp. Brooke laughs that she knows just the spot. Nick bets she does and smiles at her. Brooke smiles back and takes the kids, and soon after, Nick is unloading the gear at their "spot." As he starts to make camp, Hope asks to help, but he tells her to save her strength for the treasure hunt while the "master tent builder" puts up their tents. As he fumbles with the tents, Brooke suggests he read the instructions, but Nick is sure he can do without them. Brooke says she's been camping before, so Nick tells her to go ahead and try. She gets the kids to help, and shortly after, she has the first tent set up perfectly. Nick accuses her of cheating! Brooke laughs that reading instructions isn't cheating and offers to set up the other tent. Nick admits that a real man knows when to admit defeat and decides to get the kids while Brooke puts up the tent. He tells Hope and R.J. that they have to start off with an "official pirate song," so he breaks out his guitar and launches into a rousing version of "What Do You Do With A Drunken Sailor?" When he's done, he gives the kids their official treasure maps. Brooke, having finished setting up the other tent, comes over, pleased that he's made the kids so happy. Nick says that he never had anyone to do this for him when he was a kid, so it makes him happy to make them happy.