Monday, November 27, 2006, Episode #4943

Donna talks with Nick about his empty victory in taking over Forrester.

At the Marone mansion, Donna sees Nick brooding and offers to leave, but he asks her to stay. Donna wishes she knew what to say and reminds Nick that he's lost Brooke before. But this time, Nick points out, he did lose Brooke by standing his ground and holding Stephanie accountable. Donna guesses it's an empty victory, since he lost Brooke, but Nick says he didn't just lose it to that. Donna wonders if maybe they both were fighting losing battles - she with Ridge, him with Brooke - but she respects him for putting Stephanie in her place. Although she pities Eric when Stephanie finds out what he's done.

Nick thinks it's time he started treating Forrester like it's his.

Donna supposes she should have known Brooke and Ridge would reunite. She wonders if she should go back to San Francisco now that it's happened. At the same time, she knows it will be a while before Jackie's well enough to help Nick run Forrester, and Brooke won't be around to help as Nick had hopes. While she hasn't been at Forrester that long, she knows the Bedroom line is currently its strongest asset, so she offers to step up and help Nick up where needed. She thinks Nick could do a lot with Forrester - that is, unless he hopes Brooke might change her mind and come back. Nick doesn't want to talk about this, but Donna reminds him that Brooke will always be in his his heart. That's why she thinks Nick needs to show some strength and face the situation head on. Nick doesn't feel very strong right now. That, Donna points out, is why she is offering him her help. She reminds him that the Forresters are convinced that he'll fail; and that's why she urges him to prove them wrong. Nick considers her words and admits that she's right. It's time that he stops wallowing in his pity and starts treating his new company like it's his own.

Ridge spends time with Hope, R.J. and Brooke.

Brooke is at her house in the bedroom with Ridge, Hope and R.J., where Hope reads her and R.J.'s favorite bedtime story all by herself. Ridge praises her for getting through the whole story, which he likes, too, because of its happy ending. He thinks he and Brooke have found their own happy ending. Brooke and Ridge then put the kids to bed and return to the bedroom. Ridge asks Brooke if she thinks Hope understands about Nick. Brooke asks if he means the fact that Nick will still be in Hope's life, even though Nick is no longer married to her. Ridge hopes Nick doesn't let Hope down after what he did today. Brooke states that she never dreamed that the Forresters would be forced out of the company, but she has to admit that what should be one of the saddest days of their lives... Ridge agrees that they found a bunch of joy from this, since it brought their beautiful family back together.

Brooke tells Ridge that she never stopped believing in him.

Ridge takes off his shirt and lights some candles as he waits for Brooke, who changes into some sexy lingerie. When she returns to the bedroom, Ridge asks Brooke if she feels how right this is, too. Brooke tells him that he's the first man she loved, the first man she wanted to spend her life with. She always believed in what they shared in her heart, even when she told herself she should stop believing. And now here they are, looking into each other's eyes again. But this time will be different, she declares, because this time it's forever. They look at each other for a moment and tell each other, "I love you so much." Ridge then lowers them to the bed and they start kissing.

Eric fumes that Stephanie doesn't appreciate what he did for her.

In the Forrester CEO's office, Stephanie is livid with Eric for giving in to Nick and selling the company. She asks what kind of a man caves in that way. The kind of man who loves his wife and wants to protect her, Eric retorts, angry that Stephanie is belittling and emasculating him yet again for trying to save her! Stephanie says he did those things to himself long ago, so he won't get any gratitude from her. "I'm never going to forgive you for this! Not while I draw breath!" she fumes. Eric reminds her that she's the one who put them in this position. If he and the children hadn't stepped in, he points out she'd be on her way to jail. He finds it ironic that she's accused him of having no backbone for years, yet here she is, condemning him when he stands up for her. He's spent years building their family and company up, but he sacrificed it all, because he loves her. He thinks she should be thanking him, but instead, she's crucifying him. He thinks it's par for the course with their marriage, in which they've always been just partners instead of lovers. "And the children came here by Immaculate Conception?" she asks. Eric says he's not talking about procreation: he's talking about intimacy, which their marriage has always been lacking because Stephanie pushed him away. Stephanie is astonished that he brings this up after he made such a huge mistake. And that's the problem, Eric surmises; he thinks she believes that he's made one mistake after another, to the point where their marriage is just riddled with mistakes!

Stephanie admits that Eric is not a bad man.

Stephanie tells Eric to stop acting like "Dr. Phil" when they should be trying to salvage this. Eric tells her about all the times he looked into her lives, hoping to see love. But instead, he sees disappointment, since something keeps her from letting him get close to her. He doesn't even know if she knows or cares why she does that. He's tired of being shut out of his own marriage. Stephanie reminds him that he sought what was lacking in their marriage elsewhere over the years. Eric tells her not to make him out like some shameless philanderer when he felt stifled by her control of him and their family. He tells her that he's not a bad man. He worked hard for their family in their business, and he tried to be a good father and husband. All he needed was to know that she cared, but he must have failed miserably, since she was never able to love him that way. But at least he can look in the mirror every day and not hate the person he sees, even though he thinks she can't do the same. Stephanie tells him that she loves him. "Then why can't you show it?" Eric asks. Stephanie says she doesn't know. At least she's admitting it, Eric states, even though he thinks he deserves better. Stephanie admits that he does, but she's let her anger eat away at their marriage. She admits that he's not a bad man. He's a kind, loving man, but she's abused him, and she's sorry. She thanks him for selling the company. Standing in the doorway, Eric says he'll see her at home and leaves.