Tuesday, March 28, 2006, Episode #4773

Jackie tries to reassure a frustrated Eric.

Eric is in his basement office at Forrester when Jackie stops by with coffee and finds him frustrated over not getting much done. She puts her arms around him and says that he's still grieving for Felicia, but he says that it's more. He feels like his life is slipping through his fingers, including her. He misses her. She says that she misses him, too, but his family needs him. Eric disagrees, especially since Stephanie has been so distant, always keeping to herself. Meanwhile, Jackie has been more than patient, so he thinks time to end his marriage to Stephanie so he can be with Jackie. Jackie thinks it might be too soon, but Eric is sure that this is what he wants. Stephanie and he only got married to give their dying daughter some peace, so he sees no reason to continue the charade now that Felicia's gone. They hug.

Bridget tells Stephanie how she and Dominick are becoming a family.

Stephanie is at home, remembering how Felicia's vital signs rose once Dominick was by her bedside. She tells Dominick that all it took was him, Felicia's baby boy, to help his mommy. Bridget comes by to pick up Dominick and is surprised to hear that he's still sleeping. Stephanie apologizes for keeping him up late last night. Bridget asks if they had a good time; they did, Stephanie replies. Bridget admits that the baby is pretty amazing. Stephanie agrees. Bridget wants to apologize for last night; she realizes how much hope Dominick brings to Stephanie, since he brought that to her when she lost Nicole. Stephanie realizes how attached to the boy Bridget has become. He's the most important thing in her life, Bridget says, but she wants to be clear that Stephanie can see the baby whenever she wants. Stephanie then brings the baby to Bridget, who tells him that "Mommy" missed him. Mommy? Stephanie asks. Bridget says that she's still "Mommy Bridget," but won't be long before it's just "Mommy," since they're becoming a family. Stephanie says they are already family, since she is Bridget's aunt. And it's not like Bridget is in a relationship with Dante, she notes. But they are, Bridget explains, telling Stephanie that Felicia and Dante signed papers naming her and Dante as the baby's legal guardians. Stephanie is surprised and asks Bridget if she's ready to give up her career for the baby.

Eric enters and overhears that last comment; he asks Bridget what this is about giving up her career. Stephanie tells him that she doesn't want Bridget to give up her career to raise the baby. Eric asks if that's what she's doing. Bridget says she's not, although she talked to her supervisor to cut back on some of her hours. She knows it won't be easy, but she'll do anything for Dominick. Stephanie says she's concerned Bridget is too attached. Bridget wants to know why she's saying that, since it's obvious that Felicia wanted the baby with her. "I'm his mother now," she states, then turning to Dominick and telling him how much she missed him.

Stephanie feels the need to unburden herself to Eric.

Eric sees Bridget and the baby out and then returns to Stephanie. He wants to know what just happened. She says that she was just concerned, because Bridget has suffered a lot of loss lately after the miscarriage and the divorce, and... Eric thinks they should be grateful she has the baby to love, but Stephanie thinks Bridget is becoming too focused on the baby. But she's just giving the baby everything he needs, Eric counters, just as Felicia wanted. What Felicia wanted. Stephanie says, was to raise her own child. But she can't, Eric reminds her. Stephanie replies that it isn't that simple. Why not? Eric asks. Is it because Bridget and Dante aren't really a couple? That's not it, Stephanie says. Then what is it? Eric asks. She says that he wouldn't understand. Then explain it to him! he insists. Seeing how distraught his wife looks, Eric tells her she can't keep this up. She must accept what happened. She refuses. She has to tell him something. She says that Felicia didn't fight, because she couldn't see clearly. Felicia just accepted what was happening, he says, like they have to. He knows it's hard, but they have to move on. Stephanie tells him that she can't carry this burden any longer. He suggests that she talk to Taylor. She says she has to talk to him, but she's afraid how he'll react. She thinks he'll hate her, as she's done something. Eric looks worried and asks what she's done. She says that she can't tell him. She'll have to show him.

Dante and "Dino" spend some time with Bridget.

Bridget arrives at Dante's and brings the baby over to "Daddy." Dante greets his little "Dino." Dino? Felicia asks. Dante explains that is his new nickname for the baby. That's cute, Bridget says. Dante takes the boy and asks how he's doing. Felicia notes that he obviously missed the baby. More than she knows, he answers. She knows what he means, because she's found that she always has Dominick on her mind, too. Dante comments that it's tragic that the baby lost Felicia, but at least he has Bridget for a mommy now. After they put Dino down for a nap. Bridget says that she should get going. Dante asks her to wait; he says that he doesn't have to go to the office today, so he was hoping she could spend some time with Dino and him. She doesn't want to intrude on his time with his son, but he says it's fine, as he doesn't want Dino getting bored watching Daddy draw. But he has art in his blood, Bridget notes. Maybe he'll be a doctor like Mommy, Dante suggests. Bridget reminds him that Forrester has a daycare program, but Dante thinks it's important that Dino spends time with both his parents. Speaking of that, he has an idea: he has a spare room he's been using as an office, so why doesn't she take it and live there. Bridget is touched and kisses him. Maybe some day he'll get his office back, he says, but for now, it's more important to have her here with him and Dino. She cries and they embrace.

Dr. Ramirez wants to help Felicia live.

At the clinic, Dr. Ramirez checks on Felicia's vitals. He places Dominick's baby blanket on her arm to encourage her to fight for what is most important to her, her beautiful son, who is just as beautiful as his mother. He watches the slideshow DVD that Stephanie sent him again, looking at everything that Felicia was and all that has to live for. He then goes over to her bedside, takes her arm and tells her she can do this. He's going to help her live. He won't let her die, because he wants her to come back to her baby boy. But for that to happen, she has to fight! Once again, we hear Felicia's disembodied voice in her head, replying, "I am fighting!"