Thomas tries to convince Gaby to marry him.

At the Forrester guest house, Gaby tells Thomas to get off his knees. Not until she answers his proposal, he says. Gaby says that he doesn't want to marry her. But he wants her to stay in this country, he says, and Connor told him that she needs her green card to do that. If she marries him, he points out, she can get her green card. She tells him again to get up, because this isn't the answer. It's the ONLY answer, he insists. But he'd be marrying someone he barely knows, she says. He tells her that it would just be on paper. But marriage is a sacred institution, she argues. This won't be in a church, Thomas explains; they can get married in a civil ceremony and have a marriage in name only. But it's still breaking the law, Gaby says, so it's not right. And what's happened to her is? Thomas asks. He reminds her that she worked her butt off to make her mother's dream of her going to college come true. He doesn't want to see her lose that dream, so he pleads for her to marry him, for her mom's sake and her own.

Gaby says that she can feel her mother watching over her. And her mother still wants this for her, Thomas says. But even if it worked, Gaby states, his family would freak. He thinks his family would understand if they knew what was happening to her. But no one has to know, he adds, since this would be a marriage in name only. She can keep living here in the guest house, and the two of them could continue to date. But what if they broke up, Gaby asks, or if one of them met someone else and wanted to get married for real? Thomas admits he doesn't have it all worked out. This is nuts, Gaby says. No crazier than her having to leave the country, he replies. He doesn't want to see her give up on her mother's dream. She wonders what her mom would say about her getting married to the wrong reason. Thomas tells her that he wouldn't be doing this if he wasn't crazy about her. And she wouldn't even consider it if she wasn't crazy about him, too, Gaby says. Thomas says he doesn't want to lose her. He tells her that his family thinks he's spending the night with a friend, so they can drive to Vegas and get married tonight and be back by morning. Gaby asks if he's sure; Thomas says he is, so Gaby agrees and thanks him.

Taylor cuddles up with Ridge.

At the Malibu beach house, a swimsuit clad Ridge and Taylor run in, laughing and giggling about Ridge pulling off her top in the ocean. No one would have noticed, Ridge quips. Except the old couple he almost gave heart attacks to, she laughs. He asks if she saw the look on their faces; she says she was too busy looking at him and kisses him. After they dry off, Taylor suggests that they cuddle up in a blanket with a bottle of wine. Ridge thinks that's a good idea and offers to get the wine as soon as he... He kisses her again. Soon after, they're wrapped in that blanket and drinking that wine; Ridge tells his "Doc" that he dreamed of this moment and kisses her. He recalls all the times while she was gone that he's still turn down her side of the bed, or wait for her to come out of the bathroom, ready for bed. He wanted to believe... he HAD to believe that she was still there. Now, when he olds her, he feels like he's in heaven. Wherever they are together is heaven, Taylor says. Ridge says that there's no place in the world better than right here, right now. He tells her how much he missed her and they kiss again.

Ridge thinks about the decision he soon has to make.

Still under the blanket, Ridge tells Taylor that he doesn't know what to do, because someone is going to be hurt. He guesses that this is hard on her. She wants to know what HE'S feeling. He says he's thinking about his kids being raised in a home without both parents, even though he knows there's no way around it. He can't split himself in two, Taylor says, and he can't make everyone happy. That's why she's advising him to do what's in his heart. Whatever he chooses, she adds, she'll always love him. They kiss again. Ridge then goes outside on the porch; Taylor follows. Ridge tells her that they came here to connect, to talk and to touch each other. Touching is important, she agrees. He says that she has all the answers. And he always wants what's best for the people he loves, she says; that's why she's trusting him to make a choice. She just hopes he realizes that this is part of some plan, so it happened for a reason. Trust himself, she tells him. Ridge thanks her; he really needs her, even if he didn't realize just how much until this moment. They kiss again. Taylor says she'll be right back and goes inside, leaving Ridge on the porch, thinking, while thunder claps in the background.

Brooke scolds Stephanie yet again.

In Eric's, Brooke looks at a photo of Ridge; as "Unforgettable" plays, she recalls time she's spent with Ridge. Megan interrupts and asks if Ridge is coming in. He's at the beach house with Taylor, Brooke explains. Megan assures Brooke that it will be OK; Brooke agrees, especially since she'll get he turn with Ridge at the beach house, too. Megan hates to bring this up, but Stephanie called earlier to cancel all her appointments, since she was going to the beach house. Brooke realizes that Stephanie is going to talk to Ridge before she [Brooke] even has any time alone with Ridge. Just then, Stephanie pops in the door and tells Brooke that she's right: in fact, she just came from the beach house and saw how well Ridge and Taylor are getting along. Brooke scolds Stephanie yet again for butting in where she doesn't belong. Stephanie makes no apologies for driving Brooke out of this family so Ridge can be with a woman who knows the difference between right and wrong. Brooke points out how Stephanie's butting in can only work in her favor, but Stephanie doesn't see any way that Brooke can beat Taylor.

Stephanie thinks Brooke has not changed one bit.

Brooke says that it's no wonder Eric doesn't see Stephanie as the woman he married anymore. Now who's butting into a marriage she isn't part of? Stephanie asks. Brooke says she knows this because Eric told her. Stephanie bets he did, right after Brooke turned on the tears and cried to Eric about how his mean old wife is being so unkind. She's just sorry that Eric is such a decent man that he falls for Brooke's crying act. Brooke hates to break it to Stephanie, but she has a relationship with Eric because Stephanie pushed him to her. She knows Stephanie sees her as this evil monster, but the men in her life are only comforted by her. Stephanie wouldn't call what Brooke offers "comfort." Of course not, Brooke says, since she's an unfeeling, pathetic bitch! This from a woman who will spread her legs for any man, Stephanie counters. In fact, she thinks that Brooke's preoccupation with sex is her downfall, because she mistakes sex for love. Brooke insists that she's made Ridge happy. By using her body to hold on to him, Stephanie accuses. She thinks Brooke is still the same little tramp from the valley!