Hector tells Stephanie that she doesn't run his life.

Hector is at home, looking at a photo of him and Taylor (although I can't recall when this photo might have been taken). Just then, Stephanie arrives and tells him to stay away from Taylor. Hector says he doesn't know if he can do that. He better do it, Stephanie insists, or he will regret it! Hector tells Stephanie she doesn't run his life. Stephanie says she's trying to save Taylor and Ridge's marriage.

Stephanie gives Hector a stern warning.

Hector asks if she's blaming Ridge and Taylor's problems on him. She accuses him of taking advantage when Taylor was vulnerable, but Hector says that he helped Taylor by making her come to terms with who she is. And he calls that helping? Stephanie asks. She tells him that Ridge and Taylor don't need help from him. She asserts that Taylor is in love with her husband, who she has a family with. If Hector interferes... She stops herself and warns Hector to just stay away from Taylor... or else!

Brooke tells Nick that she won't -- and can't -- go back to Ridge.

On the Shady Marlin, Brooke asks Nick if he really wants her to promise him she won't go back to Ridge if Ridge and Taylor split. Nick tells her that the thought of her with Ridge tears him up inside. He can't stand to think about the vicious cycle that occurs when she's with that man, which is why he's urging her not to get back with that man! Brooke tells him that even if Ridge and Taylor's marriage is in crisis, it doesn't mean she'll end up with Ridge. Then what did Ridge want when he showed up on her doorstep? Nick asks. Understanding? Forgiveness? Brooke admits that Ridge wanted forgiveness, but that doesn't mean she and Ridge will end up together. Nick says that's exactly what it means. That's how Ridge operates; Nick has seen it before, and that's why he wants Brooke to promise him that no matter what Ridge does... Brooke stops him and tells him not to worry. She isn't going back to Ridge, because she can't, and she thinks Nick should know why.

They go above deck, where Nick laments how hard it is. With a slight smile, Brooke says that she'll be OK. She learned the hard way that she can't always follow her heart. Ridge will always be a part of her life as RJ's father, she tells Nick, but she doesn't think she can love Ridge or anyone else when she's... She stops herself and goes down below. Nick follows. Brooke tells him that they're both committed to giving Bridget the life she deserves. Nick, however, thinks Brooke deserves to be happy, too. Brooke says that she was happy, right here on this boat, for one very brief magical moment. When she thinks of the comfort and peace she felt from the time together, she feels honored by his love. And even though they can never be together, she'll never forget that, ever. Nick stares at her as she starts to cry. She apologizes, but Nick says that she never has to be sorry with him. She can tell him anything, because she can always depend on him. And he'll always want... he pauses and says that he'll always want what's best for her, and that's not Ridge. She asks if he thinks that Ridge isn't good enough for her. Nick says that no one is good enough for her. Brooke says that Ridge isn't trying to... she stops herself, realizing what Ridge is trying to do. He's trying to end his marriage! She races for her cell phone. Nick asks what she's doing. She says that she's trying to call Ridge; when she gets his voice mail, she leaves a message that she knows that he's trying to talk to Taylor, bus she pleads with him not to end his marriage!

Ridge tells Taylor that she was right about his feelings.

At the Big Bear cabin, Taylor tells Ridge that she's fighting for their family. She doesn't want to lose what they have. What they HAD, Ridge states. Is he saying that he doesn't love her anymore? Taylor asks. Ridge says it's a question of character, not love. Taylor asks if he means her hypocritical treatment of Brooke. Ridge explains that he was so overwhelmed when she returned. That night in the cemetery, it seemed like it was only the two them. But that wasn't true, because he had moved on with Brooke. It didn't mean he loved Taylor any less, since she still understood him like no other woman ever has, or ever would. And now he sees that she even saw things he didn't want to see, like his feelings for Brooke. He knows he told her that he had put his feelings for Brooke behind him, but he hasn't. Taylor starts to cry. She doesn't understand. Ridge says he's sorry, but he thinks the reason things haven't been right between them is that he's still in love with Brooke. Taylor recalls that he told the therapist... Ridge thought he was being honest with himself, but he sees now that he wasn't. So it's all about Brooke? Taylor asks. She says that it can't be. His feelings for Brooke can't be real, because he has a family with Taylor. Ridge reminds her that he has a family with Brooke, too. But they renewed their vows, Taylor says as she grabs him. On his mother's deathbed, he reminds her, or so they thought. He says that he's sorry; he didn't want to hurt her and he doesn't want to hurt her now. But life moved on while she was away, and he found happiness with Brooke, a happiness that intensified when RJ was born. As much as he wanted to pick up where they left off when Taylor returned, he sees now that he belongs with Brooke and RJ.