IN THIS SECTION
2.) Weddings

MOMENTS
6.) BeLieF
7.) Thomas
8.) Bridget's paternity

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At the time Bridget was conceived, Brooke and Eric were still married. Brooke learned that she was pregnant with Bridget on the same day that Ridge and Taylor were married. She assumed at first that Ridge was the baby's father, since she and Ridge had made love illicitly on the laboratory floor at Forrester Creations, but there was an equally strong possibility that Eric might be the father. When Brooke gleefully told Ridge that he was going to be a dad, she was quickly disappointed by his reaction. Ridge asked that the baby be subjected to a paternity test, since Brooke had slept with Eric.


Brooke eventually gave birth to Bridget at the Forrester cabin in Big Bear. Ridge arrived at the cabin just as Brooke was going into labor. Ridge acted as midwife, as Taylor, via telephone, guided him through delivery. Ridge accompanied Brooke and the baby girl to the hospital, where the infant was diagnosed with jaundice. The doctors suggested that the paternity test be delayed until the baby recovered, and Brooke held off on naming her child. Meanwhile, Sheila, the Forrester company nurse, conned a hospital security guard named Mike Guthrie into getting her access to the paternity test lab. Sheila, who was mentally unbalanced, had her own romantic designs on Eric -- and therefore did not want him publicly declared the father of Brooke's baby. With Mike's help, she sneaked into the lab and began to switch the tags that identified Eric's and Ridge's blood samples. Just then, Mike entered and spun the carousel that held the unlabeled vials. A furious Sheila quickly reaffixed the labels, uncertain as to which vial contained Eric's blood. Brooke, Eric and Sheila, Ridge and Taylor and Stephanie met in Dr. Peters' office to hear the paternity results. Dr. Peters announced that Ridge was the father. Brooke revealed to Ridge that she was naming their daughter Bridget, a combination of their names.


Several years later, when Ridge and Brooke were romantically involved once more and about to get married, Bridget's paternity came into question again. Ridge came across a letter addressed to Brooke, from Dr. Peters, who had performed Bridget's paternity test several years earlier. In the note, Dr. Peters acknowledged that she would agree to Brooke's request that Ridge be revealed as the father -- whether he was or not -- in exchange for $1 million. Brooke maintained that the letter was a fraud and Eric insisted that they run another paternity test. This time Eric was announced as the biological father of Bridget. Eric was eager to build a relationship with Bridget and become more involved in her life, but a decision was made not to immediately break the news to Bridget.
As a result of the paternity news, Ridge was not emotionally ready to marry Brooke, which devastated her. Ridge, too, was devastated by the loss of the daughter whom he loved so much. Moreover, he continued to suspect that Dr. Peters' accusations about Brooke might be true. Brooke was deeply hurt by Ridge's lack of faith in her. In an effort to give Brooke the benefit of the doubt, Stephanie suggested they have the letter authenticated. Brooke stated that the letter had mysteriously disappeared.


Brooke left for Paris with her mother and while she was away, Stephanie arranged for Eric, Rick and Bridget to stay at her mansion. After observing Eric with his children, Stephanie suggested he seek full custody of Rick and Bridget. The Forresters didn't understand why Brooke had stopped making daily phone calls to her children from Europe. Ridge decided to fly to Paris to try and track Brooke down, but she was nowhere to be found. Ridge followed a lead that pointed to Barbados, where he eventually found Brooke in a dazed state, clutching two stolen dolls that she thought were Rick and Bridget. Brooke was suffering from a condition called "brief reactive psychosis," brought on by the stress of the paternity results. Brooke soon recovered, and she and Ridge enjoyed a romantic reunion in Barbados and returned to Los Angeles.


Meanwhile at home, Eric sued for custody of Rick and Bridget and he was awarded custody. Upon Brooke and Ridge's return from Barbados, Stephanie made it impossible for Brooke to see her children. Brooke violated the custody agreement by running off to Big Bear with Rick and Bridget. Stephanie found out about Brooke and the children's whereabouts and told the police, who arrested Brooke for child abduction. Brooke managed to convince Eric to post her bond and free her. At Brooke's hearing, Eric spoke on her behalf and the judge agreed to release her. Brooke was eventually granted custody of Bridget and Rick.