Thursday, June 22, 2006, Episode #4835

Stephen says goodbye to Taylor.

At the Bel Air mansion, Taylor has received a Notice to Appear from the Superior Court. As she reads the notice, Stephen stops by. She admits that she was thinking of him. He replies that he was thinking of her, too, since he wanted her face to be the last one he sees before he leaves L.A. "You're leaving?" she asks. He says that he needed to see her one more time before he returned to Paris. Taylor seems surprised, so he explains that things didn't work out as he'd hoped for him and Brooke. She reminds him that the healing process takes time. He agrees, and he hopes Brooke will call him someday. But for now, he won't intrude on his daughter's life, and that's what he also wants to tell Taylor. He wants her to know that the time they had together was important to him, and he feels bad that it's caused her some regret. He respects that she thinks that they can't be together. Taylor tells him that he just came into her life at a very difficult and confusing time. He knows that, but he wants her to know that he'll be there in an instant - that is, after a ten hour plane ride - if she ever needs a friend or help. She tells him she'll miss him. They kiss gently on the lips before Stephen leaves to catch his flight.

In the Forrester showroom, Stephanie greets Jill, the minister who will perform the ceremony. Eric looks around and praises Thorne and Darla on their hard, albeit avant garde, decor for the wedding. Dante's family arrives; Filomena gushes that this is the most beautiful wedding. Eric agrees that he couldn't be happier at the joining of their families.

Bridget urges Dante to make Felicia happy.

After seeing Dante kissing Bridget in the CEO's office, Felicia closes the office door. She throws down her bouquet, but then picks it up as she looks at the door. Inside the office, Bridget pulls away from Dante and says that they have to stop. She can't do this to her sister, so she pleads with him to go down and make Felicia happy. Dante turns to the door and opens it, only to find Felicia there. He knows that it's bad luck to see the bride before the wedding, but he thinks she looks beautiful in her black dress. He kisses her on the cheek and says he'll meet her at the altar. After he leaves, Felicia tosses her bouquet on the table. Bridget says that she can't seem to get through a wedding without crying and checks out the lace Filomena gave Felicia on the wedding dress. She tells Felicia how lucky she is that Dante's family loves her so much. "And Dante?" Felicia asks. Bridget says that anyone can see how much Dante loves Felicia, since it's written all over his face. Felicia asks Bridget what she was doing with Dante. Saying goodbye, Bridget replies. Stephanie comes in to tell the ladies that it's time, so she suggests that Bridget go on while she checks Felicia out. Felicia pulls her dress's train from Bridget hands; Stephanie seems surprised, especially when Felicia is dead silent as she watches Bridget leave.

Stephanie worries about Felicia's statements about Bridget.

Stephanie asks Felicia what's going on. Tossing the other bouquet on the table, Felicia asks, "What could possibly be wrong? I'm getting married to the most talented, most handsome man. When I'm around him, I can barely breathe, and he's the father of my son. And as if that isn't enough, I'm surrounded by family who loves me and who wants the best for me. What could possibly be wrong?" Stephanie points out that she can't read minds and asks Felicia to tell her what's wrong. "My dear little sister, little maid of honor," Felicia answers. Eric comes in and tells Felicia how wonderful she looks. This is the kind of happiness every father wants for his daughter, he explains as he asks her if she's ready. Felicia pauses briefly before taking his arm. He says that he has his two daughters - the bride and the maid of honor - there today, so he'll never forget this day. Stephanie picks up the bouquet Felicia left behind and pensively looks at it.

Eric prepares to walk Felicia down the aisle.

Downstairs, the ceremony begins. Felicia watches as Bridget and Dante gaze at each other while Bridget walks down the aisle. Eric then takes Felicia's arm and walks her down the aisle; she coolly looks at Dante as she makes her way to the altar and flashes back to his kissing Bridget earlier. But when she reaches the altar, Felicia has a smile on her face. She then looks at Bridget and her smile fades a bit as she again flashes back to the kiss. She looks at Dante and her smile picks up, but it fades a bit when she sees Dante looking past her at Bridget. Dante then turns his gaze back to Felicia and smiles at her, bringing the smile back to her face.

Minister Jill begins the ceremony.

Jill begins the ceremony, speaking in both English and Italian as she asks the assembled guests to recite the "vows of support" that they, as a community, offer to respect and honor this union, and to support Dante and Felicia. As these are being recited, Bridget recalls happier times with Dante. She stares at Dante and he returns her gaze; Felicia can't help but notice, and a tear streams down her cheek as she again flashes back to the kiss. Jill then asks Felicia to recite her vows; Felicia smiles again as she begins, "Dante, do you promise to be spontaneous, to surprise me every day, to avoid the obvious and celebrate the unexpected?" He says, "I do"; she exclaims that's good by her and says it's his turn.

Dante begins, "Felicia, do you promise to follow, always follow your creative spirit, to bring joy and delight in our home, to be the best mother for our children, and depend on me for love and support so you rightly deserve?" she replies, "I do." Dante then adds, "All of my life, I only thought of myself. But you have changed that for me. By bringing our son into this world. Our son, Dino, has brought me a happiness I never thought existed. And so, I pledge to you, I give myself to you and our son and your well-being from this day forward."

Felicia then asks Jill if she can address her family. The minister says that it's Felicia's day, so Felicia says, "It is our wedding day. And it's proof that miracles can happen. My doctors told me that Dino would never be born alive, and then more doctors told me that I was days away from death. And at that point, Dante and I barely knew each other, much less loved each other. And yet, in spite of everything that's gotten in the way, here we are. I never thought I deserved a man like Dante, but I am going to be the kind of wife and mother that a man like Dante deserves. Because you love me for who I am." She turns briefly to Bridget and continues, "He loves me for me." She then turns back to Dante and says, "Dino, Dante -- thank you for making my dreams come true." Jill asks for the rings; Felicia looks at Dante, then at Bridget, and flashes back to the kiss again. Dante slides the ring on Felicia's finger. Felicia then takes his ring and pauses; Dante looks at her, and Bridget asks if she's OK. Felicia says she can't do this.