Friday, July 07, 2006, Episode 4846

Jackie tells Bridget to have a little faith.

At Chuck's Bar, Bridget catches Corky looking at Brooke's ad in the paper and snatches the paper away. Corky says he was just checking the baseball scores, but Bridget doesn't buy it. She joins Jackie and says she wants to be optimistic, but she doesn't know what her mom was thinking. Jackie is sure Nick will see that this was Stephanie's doing, but Bridget remarks that Stephanie didn't pose in those photos. She thinks her mom must have known how Nick would react. Jackie urges Bridget to have faith, pointing out how Brooke and Nick are together because of Bridget. Bridget then takes Rick aside to mess up the documents so Walter, the Justice of the Peace, can't leave, even though he has another wedding to get to. They then approach Walter, who is telling Jackie he has to go. Bridget tells Walter that she and Rick signed the documents; but that indicates they witnessed the wedding, Walter states. "Oops," Rick says. Walter says it doesn't matter, since there was no wedding. As Walter turns to leave, Jackie asks him for a favor. Meanwhile, Rick tells Bridget and Dante that he has to get to the airport. Bridget protests that their mom might still get married, but Rick says she's the only one who thinks so.

Massimo reports to Stephanie that the wedding is off.

In the Forrester CEO's office, Ridge and Stephanie look at one of the Brooke's Bedroom ads. Ridge fears that Brooke will blame him for this, but Stephanie assures him that she'll take full responsibility. She asks Ridge why he doesn't seem happy, since the wedding is now off. "Is it?" Ridge wonders. Stephanie tells him that she takes no delight in hurting Nick, but she thinks this showdown was inevitable. Just then, Massimo calls to tell Stephanie that Brooke and Nick are still on the Shady Marlin. Stephanie thinks that's good news, but Mass doesn't agree, since no one has left yet. it's like the wedding is on hold, he laments before hanging up. Stephanie tells Ridge to get down to the marina, to be there to comfort Brooke after Nick walks out on her. Ridge refuses, preferring to honor Brooke's one request of him. If Brooke is going to come back to him, she'll have to do it on her own. Massimo calls back and tells Stephanie that saw the Justice of the Peace just left, so there won't be a wedding today. Stephanie tells Ridge that it's official; the wedding's off.

Aboard the Shady Marlin, Nick tells Brooke that he never asked her to be someone she's not. Then why does she feel like she's always apologizing for things she doesn't think are wrong? Brooke asks. She suggests that if Nick is ashamed of her, then they shouldn't get married. He asks why it's wrong for him to want to keep private things private. She reminds of him that he knew of her public persona, and of her history at Forrester. And Stephanie and the dressmaker are using that against her, Nick exclaims. Brooke tells him that sex sells, and the slogan for the lingerie line was meant to be tongue in cheek. Nick doesn't care about the slogan. he just wants her to explain why any man would support her exposing herself this way. But he's not just any man, she points out. He's the man he's supposed to love and trust her, and if he can't do that, then she can't marry him. Nick asks when he became an anti-sex freak who wants to keep her under his thumb, since he always enjoyed her thumbing her nose at the world. He thinks the problem is Ridge. Brooke says Ridge doesn't tell her what do to. Nick wants to know why Ridge can plaster her naked butt all over town, but he can't object, She says that Ridge didn't do that. Nick asks why she's always defending Ridge, like she's doing now. Brooke asks if he'd object to the ads it they were her idea. But they aren't, Nick says. He loves her unpredictability, but things like this make him want to go to Fiji, alone. That's why they have to draw the line somewhere, so he asks Brooke what it's going to be.

Brooke asks Nick why they have to draw lines or make sacrifices, since all they should want is to make each other happy. Nick wants that, too, but he won't have "those people" messing with their lives. Brooke tells him to accept that "those people" are part of her life, even is she doesn't always handle them well. She feels good to be back on top at Forrester, so she has no plans to stop pushing the envelope to be a success. And she especially doesn't want to come home to a barrage of threats. That depends on whether she's dancing nude in front of her ex-, Nick says. Brooke tells him that has Ridge has no chance with her, and while Stephanie can be stubborn... Stubborn doesn't describe that woman, Nick says, since she'll be barking orders at Brooke from the grave. He asks Brooke if she just wants to keep him on his toes. She replies that she wants him to know she loves him, but she doesn't want to have to do everything his way. Nick points out that she throws him a curve-ball or two, and then they discuss things, but she does whatever she wants. She assures him that Stephanie and Ridge don't run her life, which is why she can't understand why she and he needs all these rules. She can be respectful of him when they disagree, she states, so isn't that enough?

Brooke tells Nick that he's "it" for her, too.

Walter pokes his head in; he tells them that Jackie suggested that he tell them he was leaving. Brooke apologizes for the trouble. Walter asks if he can do anything else for them. Nick pauses and then says Walter may not want to leave just yet. He looks at Brooke, and the three of them make their way to the gazebo. Brooke asks Nick if he's sure he wants to do this. Not really, Nick says, but he asks Walter to begin. Walter starts a traditional wedding, but Nick asks him to cut to the "meat and potatoes. Nick then senses Brooke hesitate; she says they haven't resolved anything. Nick answers, "Really? Well, I love you, and I'm not going to let you go. And if we're still having this argument when we're old and helping each other glue our teeth in, well then so be it." Brooke asks, "So we're going to argue 'til death do us part'?" Nick responds, "No. You're going to be you, and I'm going to be me, and mostly we're going to get along. You are 'it' for me. That's all I know, and that's all I need to know." He asks if Brooke has anything else to add. She doesn't, so Walter asks Brooke if she takes Nick to have and to hold, 'til death do them part. Brooke looks into his eyes and says, "I do love you. I never imagined loving anybody this way, and I never imagined anybody loving me the way that you do. It is kind of scary though, because you see me so clearly. You've taken me seriously like nobody ever has. But you understand my sense of humor too. I want to make you happy. I want to make you really happy, and I know you're going to be a great father to my kids. So, yeah. Yeah, you're 'it' for me too, Buster. Nothing in this world can make me happier than marrying you right now." That sounds like she does, Nick tells Walter.

Nick tells Brooke why he loves her.

Walter asks Nick if he takes Brooke. Looking into Brooke's eyes, Nick responds, "Did you know I fell in love with you the first day I met you? You know, I always think I have all the answers, but you – you challenge me. You make me wiser and freer, more giving and forgiving. No day is the same with you, and I like that. I've been looking for you my whole life, and I'm never going to let you go." "Sounds like he does," Brooke tells Walter, who asks for the rings. After Brooke guides Nick as to which rings go on first, the rings are on, and Walter pronounces them husband and wife. "We did it!" Nick shouts as he picks Brooke up off the ground and kisses her.

Stephanie tries to comfort Ridge after Jackie's phone call.

From a distance, Jackie watches. Bridget comes over and says she couldn't find Nick or her mom on the Marlin. Jackie points to the gazebo, where the bride and groom are still locked in an embrace. Jackie steps away and takes out her cell phone to call Stephanie, who's still at Forrester, telling Ridge that there's no one in the world for Brooke but him. Stephanie answers and listens to Jackie tell her that she did her worst, but it was no use, because Nick and Brooke are married. Stephanie is silent; "Cat got your tongue?" Jackie asks. Stephanie hangs up and tells Ridge that something happened. "Something like...?" Ridge asks. Stephanie tells him that it's only a matter of time before he gets Brooke back. Ridge gets what she means and sits down on the edge of the desk. Stephanie tells him that Nick can never make Brooke happy, but Ridge just looks at his wedding ring and then slowly takes it off. As he looks at the ring, Stephanie puts her hand on his shoulder and leans her head against his to comfort him.

Bridget watches as...

As the sun sets in the park, as the saxophone version of "Going Back Again" plays in the background. Bridget approaches the now empty Gazebo and watches Brooke and Nick board the Marlin. Bridget picks up her mom's bouquet from the bench where she placed it earlier and watches as the Marlin slips out of its berth.