While Bridget was getting married in Vegas, Eric & Brooke were desperately trying to find her. Eric even called in the police, just to be told that being 18, Bridget is free to do whatever she wants.
The next morning, Eric had the shock of his life when Deacon announced that Bridget is HIS WIFE !!!
Eric, Brooke & Thorne tried everything from arguing to pleading to even using physical force, to get Bridget to leave Deacon and go home with them, but to no avail.
Stubborn Bridget refused to listen, and Eric & Brooke had no choice but to leave their youngest daughter in Deacon's apartment.
Since hurting the Forresters was also on Deacon's agenda, he took advantage of Eric & Brooke being online that evening, again trying to talk some sense into both Bridget and Deacon. Instead of hanging the phone, Deacon put it into a water glass, thus providing Bridget's parents with a real time live audio transmission of their daughter loosing her virginity. Eric & Brooke were so shocked and devastated that they didn't even think about hanging the phone when things started to warm up at the other end of the line.
When the next day arrived, Eric was completely out of his mind and ready to do whatever necessary to keep Bridget away from Deacon. He couldn't get his mind off last night's events, especially off what he heard over the open phone.
That's why when Eric overheard that Deacon is going to be in Insomnia, he drove over there and tried to kill him by running over him with his car.
Fortunatly to Eric, Deacon ended up in the hospital with only a broken leg. The police arrested Eric, but had to release him after Deacon refused to press charges in order to score points with Bridget.
A furious Bridget confronted her parents, refused to listen to either Eric's explanation that he did it for her, or to reason and demanded that for once they are going to listen to her: if marrying Deacon was a mistake then it is her mistake to make and she should be allowed to make it.
After Bridge made her stand, Eric decided to change tactics: instead of continually confronting Deacon and trying to get Bridget to see the truth, Eric choose to step back and give Deacon enough rope to eventually hang himself.
That's why when Deacon was released from the hospital. Eric & Ridge were waiting to fetch him. They took him to Taylor's beach house and settled him and Bridget there to start their life as a married couple. The Forresters were hoping that sooner then later Bridget will see through Deacon's deceit.
Eric's plan worked because dumb Deacon wasn't able to keep his mouth shut. Before long Bridget overheard her beloved hubby telling her SIL Amber, that she - Bridget is nothing but a pawn to him, and that when making love to his wife, he fantasize that it's Amber and not Bridget.
A distraught Bridget confronted Deacon, tore him a new one, rushed away in her car and crashed.
While bridget was busy crashing, her parents + Thorne, Rick & Bimbo, were frantically searching for her around the beach house after learning that Bridget knows the truth.
Eric & co. rushed to the hospital upon Deacon's call, and arrived in time to see Bridget being resuscitated. A devastated Eric confronted Deacon sand broke down crying.
Later Eric sat by the unconscious Bridget bed and prayed. Eric begged God to spare Bridget and give him as a father, a chance to hold his daughter and assure her that everything will be fine.
Eric's prayer was answered and Bridget woke up. Eric admitted that he was crying. Bridget asked him not to cry because she is going to be fine. Eric promised, but couldn't help it and started crying when Bridget fell asleep.
Bridget recovery was fast (Have you noticed that in Lala land they usually go from dying to fully recovered in a matter of hours ???). After couple of days she was back at the beach house with hubby Deacon, to whom she decided to give a 2nd chance in spite of Eric's pleadings to dump Deacon and return home to her parents.
Bridget was sooooooo smitten with Deacon that it took Brooke doing the unthinkable and having sex with Deacon to wake up Bridget.
Overhearing Brooke and Deacon talking about their baby devastated Bridget. She was so distraught that Eric's attempt to calm her was met with Bridget recoiling away from her dad, shrieking at him not to touch her and go away, and forbidding Eric to call her mother.
A baffled and worried Eric called Stephanie for help. He was sure that Deacon is the reason for Bridget hysteria, but agreed to stay put and let Stephanie handle things.
Later after confronting her mother and then helping deliver her baby sister, Bridget returned to the beach house, kicked Deacon out of her life and celebrated her own private 4th of July by burning Deacon's belongings.
On the next morning Bridget told Eric that Deacon is history. She admitted that Eric was right all along about Deacon, and apologized for all the heartache she caused him. Eric was so relived and happy to have his little daughter back, that he agreed not to push Bridget for the reasons to her finally seeing Deacon's true colors.
With no Deacon in his daughter's life, Eric thought that the Deacon Sharpe chapter in his life is over. But with Deacon still in town and him being Hope Logan's daddy, everything is possible …
