Wednesday, May 17, 2006, Episode #4809

Brooke isn't sure if she can believe Stephanie's change of heart.
In the hospital hall, Stephanie begs Brooke for a second chance, even if she doesn't deserve it. Nick tells Brooke that it's time to go. Stephanie offers to take Brooke for dinner and drive her home, but Nick says he'll take Brooke now that Ridge is doing better. Stephanie asks why he doesn't let Brooke speak for herself. He replies that she makes it tough for anyone to get a word in, but Brooke wants to talk to Stephanie. She thinks she owes it to Ridge. Stephanie thanks Brooke for bringing Ridge back, just like baby Dominick did for Felicia. Nick says this isn't about Ridge, Felicia or even Brooke. It's about Stephanie's guilt over chasing Brooke away from Ridge, and now Stephanie will do anything to make Ridge happy. Brooke asks him to stop. Stephanie tells Brooke that she and Ridge are meant to be together. Brooke isn't sure if she can believe her. She let her guard down so many times, hoping to hear those words, but she lived to regret it each time. She can't do that again. Stephanie says she won't do those things again. Brooke agrees, since she won't go there again. She loves Nick, she declares, and her future is with him. Stephanie shakes her head no, pleading with Brooke to embrace her destiny with Ridge. A destiny that could have happened if Stephanie hadn't interfered, Brooke laments. She predicts a wonderful life for Stephanie and Ridge, but it will without her. Brooke and Nick then leave, with Stephanie shaking her head.

Jackie tells Nick that they all want him better, including Nick.
Jackie drops by Ridge's room, nearly colliding with a nurse on her way out. She asks the nurse if it's true that Ridge is improving. He is, the nurse replies, but he's still weak. She invites Jackie to stay as long as it's not for too long. Once the nurse leaves, Jackie tells Ride that she's glad he's recovering. She thinks he still has a lot to give to his children and to Forrester, so she wants him to get better, as do Nick and Brooke. Ridge just rolls his eyes. She reminds him that Nick is still his half-brother; she knows he and Nick have had their differences, but Nick does care about him. That's why Nick brought Brooke back from Mexico to be with him, because Ridge needed her. That's not to say that Brooke didn't want to be there, or that Stephanie would have taken no for an answer. But her point is that they're all pleased that he's recovering, whatever the future might bring. After Jackie leaves, Ridge fitfully dreams of Brooke telling him that his Logan is here, and of his mother telling him how wrong she was to take what he wanted most in life away from him.

Stephanie asks Jackie why she's there if she's so sure Brooke loves Nick.
Stephanie steps into an exam room and calls Sally. She explains that she wants to make a statement about Ridge's health, and she also has a major announcement to make, so she needs Sally to call a press conference. Just then, Jackie comes in, so Stephanie ends her call. Jackie asks if this is Stephanie's new office. Stephanie asks Jackie if she can help her. Jackie replies that she wants to talk some sense into Stephanie, who quips that she didn't think Jackie had any to spare. Jackie tells Stephanie that it's all great that Ridge is doing better, but he's not out of the woods yet. She doesn't think it's a good idea to let Ridge have false hopes that Brooke is going back to him, since Brooke is now committed to Nicky. Stephanie points out that sometimes, marriage plans don't work out as planned, citing Jackie's engagement to Eric as an example. Jackie accuses her of using her dying daughter to sink her teeth into Eric, but Nick won't allow that with Brooke. Then why is she here, interfering? Stephanie asks. Jackie points out that Stephanie doesn't even like Brooke and recalls watching Stephanie inflict pain on Brooke time again; she won't let Brooke get dragged back to that insanity and neither will Brooke's father! Brooke hardly cares about her father, Stephanie retorts, so if Jackie will excuse her...

Jackie says that she was wrong about Stephanie: she always thought Stephanie was defined by her children, specifically Ridge. But now she sees how Stephanie has defined herself by Brooke, who gave Stephanie a reason to live. And now that Stephanie doesn't have Brooke to humiliate... Stephanie states that Jackie wouldn't be here now if she was so sure Brooke was committed to Nick. Jackie admits that Brooke is vulnerable to Stephanie, having craved Stephanie's acceptance for years. That's why Brooke tried so hard to prove herself at Forrester over the years. So she is worried that Brooke will fall for Stephanie's smarmy gratitude. But is she worried that Brooke would walk away from a loving, supportive mother in law and a father who wants the best for her, just to go back to Stephanie? "Not on your life!" she replies to Stephanie before leaving the exam room.

Nick hopes that Brooke's not buying Stephanie's pitch.
At Brooke's house, Nick comes down after giving the kids some souvenirs they bought in the hospital gift shop that he passed off as coming from Mexico. Brooke kisses him and says she's glad they came back. He says he missed the kids, too, but she says she was thinking about what might have happened if Ridge died. But he didn't, Nick says. Brooke knows, but when she thinks about how she might not have done something when she had the chance. Nick hopes she's not saying she's buying Stephanie's pitch. Brooke knows it sounds crazy, but Stephanie was right that Ridge needed her, and she even felt something wrong. Nick tells her that he's glad that Ridge is doing better, and that Stephanie has her son back. But even so, he doesn't trust Stephanie's sudden change of heart. Brooke doesn't trust Stephanie, either, but Stephanie sounded so sincere, so she wonders if Stephanie really means it. As Nick has some wine, he points out that Stephanie's true colors will show in time. He reminds Brooke that she agreed before. Brooke knows, but Stephanie said things she waited years to hear. That almost sounds like she wants to be back in the Forrester family, Nick points out. Brooke assures him that she's with the man she wants to be with, but she also hopes that he can see how intoxicating it would be for her to hear Stephanie say those things. If Stephanie had said them years ago, Brooke points out, things would have been so different. Nick agrees, pointing out that she wouldn't be here with him right now. She assures him that she's right where she wants to be. The Forresters are part of her past, she says, and he is her future, her everything. She smiles as they start kissing.

Ridge is surprised by his mother's attitude change.
Stephanie enters Ridge's room and finds the nurse checking his vitals. His vitals are strong and he's stabilizing, the nurse states. Stephanie thanks her for the good news. Once the nurse leaves, Ridge asks if Brooke is there. Yes, Stephanie replies. He asks where Brooke is. She was here, Stephanie says, but she went home to the kids after her long day flying back from Mexico with Nick. She knows he blames her for losing Brooke, and he was right. She doesn't expect him to just forgive her because she brought Brooke back, but their argument before his collapse made her see that he was right. With not accepting Brooke, she had taken his life away, and now she's going to get it back for him. She still doesn't love Brooke, and she can't change her feelings overnight. But she understands now how much he loves Brooke and intends to support that, as she should have years ago, by welcoming Brooke into the family as if she were her own flesh and blood. "Who are you, and what have you done with my mother? Ridge asks. She says that she's been gone a long time, but she's back. She hopes he will forgive a foolish old woman and her jealousy, hatred and anger. She wants him to let her make it right and get Brooke back for him. He rolls his eyes again and then reaches for his mother's hand as they look at each other.