Eric tells Brooke that he understands.

In the living room at the beach house, Brooke puts on her robe as Eric enters. She offers him coffee. He asks her to come back to bed. She says she's not tired. Neither is he, he replies. She suggests he check in with the office, as Megan is already fielding calls. He guesses that word is out and confirms it when he sees a photo of them with the headline, "Forrester Fashion Duo Back Together Again" in the newspaper. He asks his bride how she is. She apologizes for not being able to make love last night; she promises to be a real wife to him when she's ready. Eric says he understands and suggests that she make it up to him by making him breakfast... and by staying in her lingerie; Brooke laughs that it's the least she can do. Soon after, she brings him pancakes in the bedroom. She says that she felt silly cooking in this get-up; he says she *IS* cooking in it. She tells him that he's not making this easier and fears that she's teasing him. Eric tells her that it's been a while since he felt this tempted by his wife. She offers to help with the pancakes and dips her finger in the syrup, licking it clean. Now she IS teasing him, Eric says. And he loves it, Brooke laughs. He says he loves HER and kisses her. Soon after, Brooke suggests they get to work and wonders if she should drive in alone. Eric says he already called ahead that they'll be in late. Brooke hopes he doesn't have any expectations. None but being with his wife, Eric says as he kisses her heavily. Brooke pulls away; she's sorry, but Nick's still on her mind and she needs more time. She hopes he's not upset. Eric says he isn't and goes to get some air before they head into the office.

Kristen and Zende come for a visit.

Meanwhile, at Ridge's house, he, Thorne, Darla and Massimo greet Ridge and Thorne's sister Kristen and her adopted son Zende. They're here while Zende is on a school break, while Kristen's husband Tony is home in Florida putting together an AIDS benefit. Spectra, Forrester and Marone Industries are sponsoring the benefit, so Kristen wants to thank them. Thorne, Ridge and Mass all chime in that they're pleased to do their part. Zende explains how important this is: even though he was adopted when his birth parents died of AIDS, there are 12 million kids in Africa who aren't as lucky. Thorne says that Tony told him things are even worse if the Africans can't get the medicine and information they need, as there's a stigma around those kids whose parents die of AIDS. Darla asks if the benefits help; they do, Kristen says, since each vial of drugs can give a child a chance to know its parents. Zende wonders what would have happened had that medicine been available to his birth mother; Kristen hugs him as Ridge chimes in that they all 100% support this. Zende says that he was hoping to ask Grandma to host a benefit here in L.A. Darla says that Stephanie has a lot going on. Which is why it's good they're staying here, Ridge tells Zende and Kristen. Zende says he wanted that anyway, so he could see his cousins. Ridge says the girls are by the pool, so Zende thanks his Uncle Ridge and rushes off to see them.

Thorne and Darla worry about Stephanie.

Once Zende is gone, Kristen asks her siblings about the real reason she's back: she can't believe that their father divorced their mother and remarried Brooke! She asks how Eric could do that. It's not how, Mass says, but why. Ridge says that Eric apparently isn't over his feelings for Brooke. After all this time? Kristen asks. Darla recalls all the things Eric said when he and Stephanie renewed their vows. Thorne scoffs that his dad has another family now. Mass worries about Stephanie's reaction to the headlines, holding up the newspaper. Thorne fears that the image of respectability his mother has always tried to project has been trashed by his dad and Brooke. Kristen asks if anyone's heard from Stephanie. Darla says that Stephanie isn't home or answering her cell. Ridge tells them that Taylor mentioned a therapy session with Stephanie today. Thorne thinks their mom could use that help. Ridge hopes it works, since it won't take much to push their mother over the edge. Thorne thinks Eric marrying Brooke may have done that already.

Ridge worries that Stephanie might hurt Brooke.

Ridge worries that Stephanie might hurt Brooke to retaliate. Then they have to stop her, Thorne says. Kristen asks how they can be sure. Ridge says their mom would never agree to therapy unless she really needed help - and if their mom needs that, Brooke might need an armed guard. Darla and Massimo agree that they have to do something. Kristen says she feared something like this would happen as soon as she heard Eric married Brooke; Mass says it's good that she's here, since her mother will need all the support she can get. She hasn't had a lot of that lately, Darla notes. Thorne wonders if they were too hard on Stephanie about the heart attack, but Massimo thinks it was an accumulation of tension over time. But Eric's wedding was the last straw, Kristen says. Ridge says that their mom hasn't been herself lately. He even tried to convince her to go to Genoa City for Lauren Fenmore's wedding. Kristen thinks a wedding will just remind their mom of Eric and Brooke and push her further over the edge, which means Ridge could be right that Brooke is danger.

Massimo thinks Stephanie needs support from her family and friends.

Massimo worries that Stephanie feels alone, cut off from her family with nothing to hold onto. For good reason, Thorne says. Mass agrees. Darla reminds them how Stephanie led them to believe she was dying. And she asked Brooke to kill herself, Ridge adds. Kristen can't believe her mom would do these things. This isn't the woman they know, Mass says. He thinks Stephanie has lost her foundation. Which is why Stephanie needs them now, Ridge says. Darla asks what they can do. They can keep Stephanie away from Brooke, Ridge says, since there's no telling what will happen if those two get together now.

Stephanie seeks help from Taylor.

Meanwhile, Stephanie is in Taylor's office, explaining how angry she is. Taylor thinks that's natural, since Stephanie's husband left her. Stephanie says the one she is angry with is Brooke: she admits that she wants to kill Brooke, because Brooke keeps bouncing back after all Stephanie's attempts to drive her out of their lives. Those thoughts are destructive, Taylor says. Stephanie says she feels like the family laughs at her any time she even thinks about Brooke. The family is concerned about her, Taylor says. Stephanie wishes they would stop trying to shield her from the headlines about "Brooke & Eric, fashion's Dynamic Duo, together again," since it's in all the papers. Taylor says it's natural to assign blame when things go wrong in life. Things are wrong, Stephanie says, pointing out what Brooke has done to Bridget, to Taylor and to her. Taylor wants to focus on Stephanie, who says she wants revenge. She remembers Brooke with her sons and husband - the introduction of Brooke's Bedroom, Eric and Brooke leaving for their first honeymoon in a hot air balloon, Brooke and Ridge falling out of an elevator, Brooke's wedding to Thorne, her beach wedding to Ridge and her wedding to Eric - and fumes.

Brooke is worried by Stephanie's words.

Brooke is in the bedroom at the beach house when Stephanie comes in, glad to find Brooke alone. Brooke tells her to leave and reaches for her robe, but Stephanie asks why she's ashamed of her slutty lingerie "uniform." Brooke says what happens here is between her and her husband, but Stephanie goes on about how Brooke uses a little skin and some skimpy outfits to turn the men in Stephanie's family to mush. Brooke says that Eric came to her, so she didn't steal him. "You don't love him!" Stephanie argues. She knows Brooke sees this as some noble sacrifice for Bridget's sake, but it won't make Brooke a wonderful mother. Brooke says that she and Eric agree... Stephanie holds up the newspaper, scoffing at the humiliating headlines about the "fashion duo" being together again. Brooke says they didn't know. Stephanie accuses Brooke of not caring, either. She admits she's done some terrible things to her family, like lying that she was dying - but she did them to rid the family of Brooke. She says she doesn't even know who she is anymore, and she's spiraling out of control. As she moves closer to Brooke, she says she's not sane anymore. Brooke tells her to stay back, but Stephanie puts her hands around Brooke's neck and starts to choke her...

Taylor offers to help Stephanie.

...until she hears Taylor call her name, snapping her out of her fantasy. Stephanie tells Taylor she needs help; she's afraid of losing control of herself. Taylor says she'll help her fight this, but Stephanie says she has been fighting so long. She feels like she failed everyone, and all she has is anger and pain. Taylor says there are other ways to protect the family. Not from Brooke, Stephanie says; she thinks Brooke has ruined everything she ever wanted. Taylor holds her.