Friday, April 13, 2007, Episode #5038

Stephanie wants Brooke to stay away from Nick.

At Forrester Originals, Brooke asks what else Stephanie wants now that she left Ridge and the company. Stephanie says she wants Brooke to stay away from Nick. Brooke can't believe Stephanie is OK with Nick being with Taylor. Stephanie admits she'd rather Nick sail off the face of the earth with Brooke, but the sailor makes her good friend Taylor happy. So she doesn't want Brooke seducing Nick, especially if Taylor is pregnant. Brooke argues that her life is none of Stephanie's business now, but Stephanie insists that she is worried about Taylor and hopes that Brooke would back away if Taylor is pregnant. Brooke doesn't intend to answer a loaded question like that, since she doesn't believe Taylor is pregnant, so she refuses to consider what she'd do about a baby unless Taylor is in fact pregnant. Stephanie accuses Brooke of destroying another family, as she's prone to do.

Brooke guesses Stephanie is bothered by her lack of control.

Brooke guesses Stephanie is dying over her inability to control Brooke anymore. Stephanie argues that Brooke would be in the valley on Ventura Boulevard if she could control Brooke. But instead, Brooke is here, threatening another family. "It's not your family," Brooke states. Stephanie argues that Taylor is like family. "Only when it suits you," Brooke counters. Stephanie urges Brooke to accept that Nick is building a family with Taylor, who may be pregnant already. Brooke suggests Stephanie call to find out if Taylor is in fact pregnant.

Phoebe tells Nick and Taylor about her fight with Rick.

Outside Taylor's house, Shane sits in his car and watches Phoebe pull past the gate. As he follows, he declares, "I waited a long, long time to talk to you." Inside the house, Taylor urges Nick to wait until after they eat to take the pregnancy test. Nick asks if there's something she's not telling him. Taylor admits it doesn't help knowing Brooke is circling around. Nick assures Taylor that he's committed to her and suggests they just enjoy their evening. Phoebe walks in; Taylor is surprised to see her daughter, who offers to leave to give her mom and Nick time alone. Taylor senses something wrong, so Phoebe explains that she and Rick had a fight. "About sex?" Taylor asks. "No," Phoebe replies, offering again to leave. Nick offers to go instead, but Taylor asks Phoebe what the fight was about. Phoebe explains that she and Rick disagreed about whose mom would be better off with Nick. Nick assures Phoebe that it's a moot point, as he's committed to her mother. Taylor tells Phoebe to make it clear to Rick that they're not going to discuss this. Phoebe wants to be alone tonight. She offers again to leave, since she doesn't want to interrupt. Nick suggests that she spend the night on his boat if she wants to be alone. Phoebe thanks him and accepts, telling her mom and Nick to go finish what they started. Taylor and Nick step outside.

Shane shows up to see Phoebe.

As Phoebe is leaving, she finds Shane by the door. She asks how he got in; he admits he followed her in when she came through the gate. He wants to apologize for walking out on her at Cafe Russe that night; he confesses that he wanted things to turn out differently for them, but he blew it and he's sorry about that. But as he thought about that, he realized she wasn't taking him seriously, and he thinks he deserves to be taken seriously. Meanwhile, outside, Taylor thanks Nick for showing respect for her daughter. She can't believe Phoebe and Rick fought over them and supposes that each of them feels protective of their mother. Nick jokes that when their kid is born, she can handle the early years, with him jumping in for the tough stuff. Taylor explains that if they're going to have a child, they're both in for the whole ride. Back inside, Shane pulls out a copy of EYE ON FASHION with Rick and Phoebe on the cover and asks Phoebe if she's seeing that guy. Phoebe doesn't want to answer, but Shane presses her. Taylor comes in and is stunned to see Shane, who asks for just a moment with Phoebe. Taylor asks Shane if he was invited; when Phoebe says he wasn't and points out that Shane followed her in, Nick suggests that Shane follow him out.

Nick and Taylor anxiously wait for the test results.

Shane pleads for Phoebe to listen. He tells her that he turned his life around for her, but everything fell apart since he hasn't see her. He asks Phoebe to help him, but the only help he gets is from Nick, who shows him the door and orders him to leave! Shane calls for Phoebe to listen, but Nick tells him to just get off the property. After Phoebe leaves, Taylor wonders if she should have let Phoebe go after learning that Shane was watching the house. Nick tells her that mothers to be don't need stress, so Taylor decides to find out if she is a mother to be and leaves the room. When she comes back, she and Nick anxiously wait as she explains how the kit works. Nick notes that they should know for sure in the next 15 seconds. Taylor doesn't want to look, so she covers her eyes as Nick counts down and looks at the stick from the test kit. Taylor asks what it says.

Ashley has a talk with Rick.

Rick is at Ashley's hotel, where she has just put her daughter Abby down. After talking about how Abby is adjusting to life in L.A., Ashley gives Rick the marketing plan report he came from and offers to discuss her notes. She suggests they open a bottle of wine, unless he wants to go find Phoebe. Rick guesses that Phoebe needs space and decides to stay, so Ash opens that wine bottle. They go over her notes, but after a while, Ashley senses that Rick is distracted. He claims he just feels funny about listening to her defend her thoughts on this plan when she is the fragrance expert. Ash thanks him for the compliment and admits she's glad to be working here in L.A. Rick asks if she's meeting new guys, but she says she has no time to socialize, although she did talk with his sister and got locked in the closet with Ridge. Rick seems bothered by her mentioning Ridge; she reminds him that even though Ridge was wrong to punch him, he had a right to worry about his daughter. She also points out that Ridge paid a price in losing Brooke. Rick thinks it serves Ridge right after all the times he walked out on Brooke. Ash guesses she can have more sympathy as a newcomer in town, since she has no ties to anyone here but Rick. Rick asks if she's made any new friends; Ashley says she hasn't, although her starting over here reminds her of when she first met Rick in Paris. She flashes back to those times, including one where she and Rick had some wine, leading Rick to sing along with an accordion player all night.

Rick tells Ashley that Phoebe called to apologize.

Rick agrees that the night Ashley is remembering was a great one and offers to fill in some gaps she forgot about. Before they can go any further, Rick gets a call on his cell from Phoebe, who wants to apologize after their fight. She suggests that they shouldn't be arguing about their parents and Nick, even though Rick points out that what happens to their parents affects them. Phoebe tells him she's staying on the Marlin tonight and suggests he come by to talk about it, but Rick suggests they talk about in the morning. After he hangs up, Rick tells Ashley that Phoebe called to apologize. Ashley likes that Phoebe called first and asks Rick if he is put off by a woman making the first move. He says not at all. He stands up to leave and Ashley reminds him to take the marketing report. Rick thanks her and leaves.