Decget
Decget was a fictional relationship between Declan Napier and Bridget Parker in the Australian soap opera Neighbours. The couple were portrayed by actor and actress James Sorensen and Eloise Mignon.
Decget Name
The name Decget is the name used amongst fans of the Australian soap opera Neighbours to refer to the relationship between the characters of Declan Napier and Bridget Parker in the soap. The name, which is pronounced deck-jet, is derived from combining the first three letters of the name Declan with the last three letters of the name Bridget.
Media Controversy
Decget caused a lot of controversy in the media when Colin Vickery published an Article in The Herald Sun (Sydney, Australia) Entitled "Plot Sickens Soap Critics" which featured conservative groups claiming that the storyline of Bridget Parker played by Eloise Mignon becoming pregnant with India shortly after loosing her virginity at the age of 17 to her boyfriend Declan Napier played by James Sorensen was 'inappropriate for a G-rated show with a young fan base and could lead to more promiscuity and teenage pregnancies.' With Pro-Family Perspectives director Angela Conway saying "It (teenage pregnancy) is not something that should be considered the norm. Programs like Neighbours can make the behaviours that lead to teenage pregnancy seem normal and acceptable," She also said "A lot of kids just aren't ready to get their head around details of explicit sexuality."
These claims lead Neighbours Executive Producer, Susan Bower to Defend the show saying 'it doesn't gloss over the harsh realities. Scenes have already shown Bridget being persecuted at school because of her pregnancy, and traumatised when Declan runs away, unable to face his responsibilities.' Also 'a devastated Declan decided to give up a potential AFL career to be with' Bridget. 'In coming months, the financial, education and career ramifications of the pregnancy will be addressed. "I am quite sure a lot of people are not happy with this storyline," Ms Bower said. "We decided we would show the ramifications on the teenagers' lives."' Eloise Mignon also defended her role as Bridget Parker saying "I wanted to do this story if it did the Emotional spectrum (of pregnancy) justice," she said. "It would be disappointing if it was to be done in a shallow, trite, vulgar or simplistic way - and it hasn't been."
Darren Rowe, Soaps Reporter for www.digitalspy.co.uk also published an article entitled "'Neighbours' attacked for teen pregnancy plot" which featured the many of the same claims and quotes as The Herald Sun Article.
Storylines
First Decget encounter
The first time that Bridget saw Declan, was after her younger cousin Mickey went missing. Declan fitted the description of the teenager who was last seen with Mickey so when Mickey was found in Declan and Rebecca's house Bridget thought that Declan was a creep, retaliating "Maybe he's never been caught before,” to Rebecca's comment that "Declan has never done anything like this before".
Rock climbing accident and budding romance
Declan took an instant interest in Bridget and flew to her rescue when resident bully Justin Hunter was picking on her footy skills. Bridget threw this kind gesture back in Declan's face stating that she didn't need his help anyway. Later that day the year 10 class went rockclimbing, Declan was paired with Bridget as he climbed up the wall but didn't miss the opportunity to rub it in her face as he said "Don't forget to keep your eyes on me the whole time to see how it's done" to which she retaliated "You might want to shut the hell up". Bridget then let the rope slip by accident and Declan fell to the ground, he was rushed to hospital but thankfully he was ok, Bridget visited him afterwards and apologized to him.
Drag Racing
While Didge was having family problems Declan invited her out to have a ride in the car his brother Oliver got him for his seventeenth birthday. After one ride this became a usual thing for the two to do together. One day they were out together in the car when Justin and his mates pulled up next to them and invited them to drag race down the street. After Justin almost ran them off the road Bridget drenched them with her drink bottle, Declan took off and they pulled up the car before jumping over a fence and hiding behind a bin. This resulted in an almost kiss between the pair before Declan noticed a cut on Bridget's neck, he seemed really concerned over it and told her to go get it looked at. When the pair returned to the car they found that it had been spray painted, Declan blamed this on Bridget and left without her. Bridget then emptied out her savings account to give him money to repair the car which he accepts gratefully. Justin then found them driving again and asked for another drag race. Declan accepts and Bridget hops into the car with him, unfortunately for them the police were on the same road and they wrote down Declan and Bridget's number plate whilst chasing Justin and his mates. Bridget returns home afterwards believing that her parents were going to buy the story that she was out studying, she soon realizes that they don't when she wanders into the kitchen and Declan+Rebecca+police were all sitting in there together. Steve is quick to blame it all on Declan's influence and he bans the pair from seeing each other.
Hit and Run and Kidnapping
Declan soon convinces Bridget to meet him in Lassiters Park where he attempts to kiss her again, she pulls away and they fight. Whilst driving Declan's car Susan Kennedy fell asleep at the wheel and hit Bridget without knowing. Whilst all of this was going on Declan got kidnapped by twosome Nick and Laura. Laura being the sister of Gus Cleary whom Paul had killed three years prior. Nick had found out that Declan was Oliver's little brother so he held a ransom for the teenage boy. When Declan was found eventually his first words to his mother were "How's Didge?". Declan also began to harass Susan Kennedy at school about her running Didge over. After coming home from hospital Bridget was paralyzed down one side of her body, she was swimming with Rachel Kinski one day when Rachel went inside. Bridget jumped up to grab her phone as her mum was ringing her but slipped and almost drowned, If it had not been for Declan who jumped in fully clothed to rescue her, another almost kiss resulted in this kind gesture.
First Date
After this Declan asked Bridget on a date to the movies, although neither wanted to call it a date both stating that it was just a movie with a friend. Once they got there Declan became increasingly uncomfortable with Bridget's new disability and after an awkward hour of accidental hand touching and glances both left the cinema thoroughly disappointed in the days proceedings. Once at the steps of Bridget's house she had expected Declan to kiss her, but he didn't which left Bridget more unhappy about the date she had just shared.
Declan's Mix of Sorry Songs
After the disaster date Bridget began seeing Josh Taylor, a friend she had met at rehab, he was in a wheelchair. Declan made a CD for her and taped it to her locker, she threw it straight in the trash. After a few more attempts to give her the CD Ringo finally told Declan to go talk to her with his own mouth. He walked in and told her she had to listen to the CD before she made up her mind about which guy she should date, then he kissed her.
Roof collapse
After attending an underage party in an abandoned warehouse the roof collapsed on Declan and Bridget trapping the pair and their friends inside. Whilst trapped Declan and Bridget mended differences and became friends again, even though Declan stated that he'd much rather be more than friends. He then leant in for a kiss when Dan found them.
Chris Knight
When Bridget was escorted to the formal with Chris Knight Declan's jealousy reached melting point. But when Chris turned up terminally ill at Erinsborough Hospital Declan was accused of hurting him after it was revealed that he had slashed Chris Knights tires. It turns out however that Chris had tried to take advantage of Bridget and she had pushed him away in self defense. When Chris eventually died in hospital Declan became Bridget's rock and she turned to him for support as her dad took the blame for his daughters actions.
Kissing Booth
Declan and Ty began a competition of who could sell more tickets to a kissing booth, although Declan's tickets sold out he was worried about who may have bought them. People were telling him that it was his mother who had bought them. Although on the day Bridget finally revealed that she had bought all fifty tickets and the pair finally initiated their relationship with their kisses.
Aftermath of the Bushfires
After the bushfires Declan revealed to Bridget that he loved her for the first time, in the middle of Harold's store he yelled "I love you Bridget Parker, I love you". After Marco's death the pair took pictures together and vowed to never waste a moment together.
Bridget sleeping over and the short break up
When Bridget was having family troubles Declan invited her to sleep over at his house for a few nights, She was sleeping in his room. When Josh Taylor caught up with Declan he decided to stir up trouble asking Declan whether he and Bridget had had [...] yet to which Declan replied that they had in his room as she was sleeping in his room at the time. When Bridget found out about his lying she was less than impressed and refused to talk to him. He then met her in Harolds store where he had flash cards that asked her to forgive him, she said she would and he jumped up to kiss her.
Sleeping together
In September 2008 Declan and Bridget took their relationship to the next level when she came home from Sydney, and admitted that she had missed him so much while she was away and she didn't want to be like her brother, running away from everything. Declan was meant to have been playing footy that same day and when Steve caught up with him there was an awkward few moments when Steve asked Declan where he had been all day.
Pregnancy
Declan completely flipped out when Bridget revealed to him that she was pregnant with his child, she then decided that an abortion would be the best option when Declan cheated on her then left in order to move to Alice Springs. He came back just before she went through with the procedure and they decided to commit to raising this baby together. A few dramas occurred while Bridget was pregnant including the rafting disaster, Bridget contemplating giving the baby up for adoption after meeting her own birth mother, stage props falling on Bridget who fell on her stomach and the birth which was at the Winter Cool Festival.
Engagement
After Declan was electrocuted while rescuing Elle Robinson's cat from under a house he decided not to waste any more time, he proposed to Bridget whilst still in hospital. Bridget then began to have doubts about getting married to Declan and the topic of marriage became taboo.
Marriage
Whilst searching for Paul Robinson after he said that he was leaving the country Declan's car broke down. The pair walked up the road and took shelter in a deserted church from a storm. The church organist gave Bridget the advise that she should hold on to Declan as much as she could which convinced her to marry Declan that very same day in an impromptu ceremony.
Birth of their daughter India
India Napier made her entrance at the Winter Cool Festival as her parents celebrated their honeymoon. She was born with the cord wrapped around her neck and she was rushed to hospital, thankfully she was fine and Bridget and Declan were able to see their little girl for the first time.
Baby Blues
When the pair brought their daughter home for the first time, India began crying non stop, this left the couple irritable with themselves and each other. When Declan suggested godparents they began examining their friends, after their friends overheard their thoughts on them from the baby monitor they were less than impressed. So the day that Bridget was due to leave for Oakey with her family and their daughter Declan and Bridget were fighting about godparents. Bridget's parents decided to leave the pair for a sleep and they made up.
Bridget's death and Aftermath
Declan got the news of his wife and daughter being missing late at night and headed to the hospital to await their arrival. Bridget had a vision of her and Declan sitting together with their daughter on India's first birthday in a park. Later in the vision she walks up to a clock which chimes at 12pm then she woke up. She then made Declan promise to look after India if she died, knowing fully that she would. Tragically at 12pm she did die leaving Declan a single teenage father and India without her mother. After Bridget died Declan's grief was inconsolable as he kept to himself and refused to look at his own daughter because she had her mothers eyes. Eventually he came to realize the promise he had made to his wife to look after India and he decided to keep her with him, as she was meant to go to Oakey with her grandparents. After Steph Scully believed that she was to blame for the accident and had told Declan this. He smashed up her car windows with a baseball bat before starting a lawsuit against her. He was told after this that she was not to blame but Johnno, a poker buddy of Lucas' was, Declan then got Johnno to admit what he had done on a tape and gave this to the police, Johnno was later arrested and Declan was left to properly grieve his wife's death.