Caitlin is crushed by Thomas's decision.

Caitlin agrees to meet Thomas at Insomnia, where he finally tells her about his mother's return. Once she hears the news, she regrets acting like an idiot after seeing him with Gaby; he could have told her about his mom sooner if she had only returned his calls. She admits she got a bit worried when he stopped calling, but she sees now that he was just spending time with his mom. Thomas says he was doing other things; he thought about their relationship, and he sees now that it just isn't working. Caitlin asks if this is because she overreacted with Gaby. He says it isn't. He knows they both wanted this, but it isn't working. Caitlin thinks they just need time to reconnect. She reaches for his hand, but he pulls it away. He's sorry, but he thinks they're better off as just friends. She asks if this is because she got jealous. He says it's about him. They were there for each other after Rick went to Milan, and after he broke up with Amber. But then he realized that he wanted to go back to how things were when they met, when they were just friends. Caitlin starts to cry and asks if this is about Gaby. He says he cares about Gaby, but he cares about her, too, and doesn't want to lose her. She says she doesn't want to lose him. He takes her hand and asks if they're still friends. Still crying, she pulls her hand away and says, "friends."

Gaby is stunned by what Caitlin tells her.

As Thomas gets to get two lattes, Gaby comes in and asks Caitlin where Thomas is. She sees Caitlin's been crying and asks is she's OK. Caitlin tells her to go away. What's wrong? Gaby asks. Like she doesn't know that Thomas dumped her, Caitlin cries. Gaby is stunned and says she's sorry. Caitlin isn't really surprised; she never sees Thomas anymore, since he's always with Gaby. Gaby swears that she had nothing to do with this. She's just friends with Thomas, who connected with her because of their moms. Caitlin tells Gaby to stop, as it's obvious that Thomas likes her. She warns Gaby not to make the same mistake she did; she had her chance, and she blew it, so she tells Gaby to realize now that guys like Thomas don't come along everyday. Wiping her tears, Caitlin leaves, leaving a shocked Gaby behind.

Thomas tells Gaby how he feels.

Thomas returns and is surprised to see Gaby. He asks where Caitlin is. She left, Gaby says. She tells Thomas that she feels like a jerk. Caitlin told her about their break-up and was really upset. Thomas says he feels awful, but he had to be honest. Gaby tells him that Caitlin blames her. He apologizes for putting her in the middle. She asks if Caitlin was right. She says that things changed after they started hanging out. He likes spending time with her. Because she's fun and happy all the time, she guesses. He says she's been through a lot, after losing her mom. They started spending time together because she needed a shoulder to cry on, but as he got to know her, things changed. They did, Gaby agrees. And that's good? he asks. It's really good, Gaby responds, smiling. He smiles back.

Bridget tries to reassure Brooke.

At Ridge's house, Bridget calls Nick's assistant, Andrea, and learns that Nick left the office after getting a call from Stephanie. And Stephanie called Taylor, Brooke recalls, which means that Taylor and Stephanie are trying to turn Nick against her. That won't happen, Bridget says; she's sure that Taylor can't change how Nick feels about Brooke or the kids. She reminds her mom that Nick knows she's a good mother, and he's also wise to Stephanie's agenda. Brooke laments that she tried to be supportive when Taylor came back, and now Taylor is painting her as some kind of villain. She hates feeling this way, especially since she thought she was past feeling insecure about her marriage. Bridget thinks Brooke has a right to be upset, since this is a stressful situation. Still, she knows Ridge has forgiven Brooke for her mistakes. She's sure things will get better once Ridge gets back from New York. Brooke laments that she's not exactly making marriage look attractive right now. Bridget says that she and Nick know it won't always be easy. Even so, they're still going ahead with the wedding once things calm down. Brooke suggests to Bridget that she and Nick elope, but Bridget wants her wedding to bring the while family together. Brooke says she wants that, too, but she fears if Bridget waits for this family, it might never happen.

Taylor gives Nick her opinion of her situation with Ridge and Brooke.

At the Forrester mansion, Nick asks Taylor not to take Brooke's kids away from their father. Taylor observes that he cares about them, since he once thought they would be his family. That's right, Nick says. And he still cares about Hope and RJ? she asks. Nick says that the kids changed his priorities. He grew up without a family, but being around Brooke and her kids made him the man he is today. Taylor sees that he wants what's best for those kids. So does Brooke, he says. Taylor says that she does, too, but she also has her own kids to think about. But they're grown up, Nick says. And that means they don't need a mother? Taylor asks. But they still have her, Nick says. Taylor accuses him of rationalizing that her kids can cope better because they're older. But in her professional experience, she says, younger children adapt better to divorce than teens. Now she's rationalizing, he says, just like a true shrink. She asks why she should divorce the husband she loves, the man who will search his heart and finally choose to be with her. Nick thinks she's getting ahead of herself. She doesn't think so. She tells him that even before she came into the picture, Brooke had her sights set on Ridge, but she was never able to keep him. She thinks that's because Brooke and Ridge don't share the same goals and values.

Nick feels like he's being baited.

Nick asks if she's done. She suggests that Brooke's behavior can't be excused, even with Brooke's efforts to be a better person. Nick points out that Ridge has made mistakes, too. Maybe that's why he gives Brooke the benefit of the doubt, Taylor guesses - and she might, too, if Brooke's choices didn't affect her children. Nick says that Brooke would never hurt those kids, and he thinks Taylor knows that. So he's defending Brooke? she asks. Yes, he says. Because he thinks Brooke deserves to be happy, she guesses, and because he's Brooke's friend. Yes, he says. And because he loves Brooke? she asks. He doesn't answer. So he does love Brooke, she says. Nick asks if this is some trick she learned in school. She says it's no trick: it's a question, one he didn't answer. It was bait, he says. She says this isn't a game to her; she knows peoples lives are at stake. Including Brooke's, he says. She asks if it's a good idea for him to marry Bridget when he still has strong feelings for her mother. He asks if Stephanie helped write her lines. She asks why he's getting defensive. Because he's not going to let her spin this around, he says: he IS marrying Bridget, he declares. Brooke will need someone who loves her and her kids, she says. She has that, Nick says, and he won't take it away. Taylor tells Nick that Ridge isn't the one with a choice to make: he is, as he has to choose between Brooke and Bridget. Nick glares at her and then leaves.