Monday, April 02, 2007, Episode #5029

Stephanie assures Ridge that he did the right thing.

In his office at Forrester Originals, Ridge tells Stephanie about what went down in Sydney. Stephanie is aghast that he wants to find Brooke to apologize when he was just defending his daughter from Rick. Ridge reminds her that he and Brooke were supposed to get married tomorrow. Stephanie suggests that he let Eric handle the press backlash, but Ridge reminds her that this is his wedding and not just some publicity stunt. Stephanie suggests that Brooke is just overreacting, as is Ridge, but Ridge then tells her that Brooke returned his engagement ring. Stephanie admits she's relieved to hear that, although she says we won't matters worse by jumping for joy. It can't get any worse, Ridge says. Stephanie assures him that he did the right thing, reminding him of all the times he asked Brooke to keep Rick away from Phoebe. Ridge hopes Brooke will feel the same way - assuming he can find her, since she hasn't called. It dawns on him that Brooke might have gone to see Nick. If Brooke is with that son of a bitch, Stephanie states, then she doesn't deserve an apology. Ridge thinks he can work this out with Brooke if he can just talk to her before the wedding. He then realizes he has to make a statement with the wedding just a day away. Stephanie sees how bothered he is and again suggests that Eric handle that. She tells Ridge to go home and get some sleep, because she knows how hard he worked on his relationship with Brooke. Disturbed that she just talked about him and Brooke in the past tense, Ridge tells his mother to either be supportive now or leave him alone, so Stephanie choose the latter and leaves.

Rick tells Ashley what happened in Sydney.

Rick pops into Eric's office and sees Ashley there. When she sees his eye, she asks what happened. Rick fills her in on what Sydney. Ashley suggests that maybe he got what he deserved. Rick insists that Ridge overreacted, recounting how Ridge found him and Phoebe lying on the bed and hit him before he had a chance to explain. Ashley admits she wouldn't be so understanding, either. She points out that Rick claims to be waiting to make love to Phoebe and wonders how long he intends to wait: until Phoebe graduates from school? Until she moves out of her parents' home? Five years? Ten years? Rick says he hasn't given it much thought. Obviously not, Ash responds, suggesting that Rick hasn't thought about it because he really has no plans to wait. Or is hoping that Phoebe might decide to take the next step and force her dad to cool off?

Ashley tells Rick that she understands Ridge's concerns.

Rick says she's wrong, but Ashley admits that she might be as concerned as Ridge if it was her daughter Abby in this situation. Rick asks if she's taking Ridge's side. Ash says she's not taking anyone's side. But she is pointing out that Phoebe is 18 years old, and that he and Phoebe are sneaking around behind Ridge's back. She reminds him what kind of tension that can cause between Ridge and his mother. Rick tells her that Brooke broke her engagement. Ashley is surprised that he seems happy about that. He says it's for the best and tells Ashley not to worry, as he's sure they'll find a way to use this big, ugly public scandal to promote their new stores and fragrance. Stunned at how cavalier Rick is being over this, Ashley walks out, leaving Rick alone to think about his actions.

Ridge asks Ashley if she's seen Brooke.

Ashley walks by Ridge's office and sees the door open, so she pops in as he's leaving a message for Brooke. She asks if he's trying to track Brooke down. Ridge says he is and asks Ashley if she's seen Brooke; Ash says she hasn't, but she assures Ridge that everything's going to be OK.

Jackie offers Taylor her support.

At the Marone mansion, Jackie and Taylor chat over coffee. Jackie admits that she's always been fond of Brooke, but she sees how happy Nick is to be engaged to and planning a family with Taylor, so how can she not be supportive of her son's newest relationship? "Because of the baby?" Taylor asks. Jackie says she supports them because Taylor has made Nick happy, although a baby is of course part of that. Taylor says that Nick has made her happy, too. Then they're a prefect match, Jackie says, admitting her surprise at seeing how quickly Nick's feelings for Taylor eclipsed those he once had for Brooke. She assumes that there will be another wedding in town following Brooke and Ridge's tomorrow. Actually, Taylor admits, Nick wanted to elope with her yesterday, but she wanted to wait until their families could be there for their special day. Jackie admit's she's surprised, since everything else in her son's relationship with taylor has been so fast. She just hopes there have been no bumps in the road for the happy couple. Taylor responds that she and Nick just want to enjoy the ride now. Jackie thinks their willingness to go slow shows how committed they are. Taylor then realizes that Nick is probably wondering what happened to her, so Jackie lets her go back up to Nick.

Nick is stunned by what Brooke is telling him.

But upstairs, a stunned Nick is facing Brooke, who tells him that she's all his. Nick reminds her that she's engaged, but she tells him that she isn't. Nick tells her to back up a bit and explain how this happened, so she tells him about the events of the last day in Sydney. Nick is stunned that she broke her engagement, hopped a jet home and came straight here. He thinks she must be exhausted and tells her to go home, since he's sure this will look different to her after some rest. Brooke says she's not leaving. She wants him to know that he was right along. He warned her that she would never be happy with Ridge, but she went back to Ridge anyway in the belief that he was her soulmate, her destiny. But what happened in Sydney opened her eyes to the facts that Stephanie would never really accept her and that Ridge would always let her down. She just wonders why she couldn't see that clearly until now. But now that she sees it, she knows things will never happen for her and Ridge. Nick thinks that's good for her. "It's good for both of us," Brooke responds. Nick tells Brooke that he'll do anything he can to help her, but she doesn't think he's hearing her. She's telling him she made a mistake by walking out on him, she admits.

Brooke apologizes to Nick.

Nick reminds Brooke that he's moved on with Taylor and is engaged now, but Brooke doesn't care. And even though she knows he doesn't want to hurt Taylor, she doesn't think he cares, either. But he does care, Nick states, which is why he's committed to Taylor and plannign a family with her. Brooke reminds him of the family she shared with him and apologizes for taking that away from him. Nick pulls back and tells ehr to stop right now, because he's not doing this again! It's too late. Brooke doesn't believe that, but Nick says he's heard all this before and isn't going there again. He's sure it's only a matter of time before Ridge comes after again, and he's not getting drawn into that drama again. Brooke thinks there are only three words that matter now: "I love you." Nick tells her to cut it off and asks what's wrong with her? Does she think he has "stupid" written on his forehead that he would believe her promises? Brooke admits that this isn't the time for promises. She takes off his robe; Nick tells her not to do this, but Brooke says she loves him, forever and ever. She then pushes him on the bed and staddles him. Nick calls out her name over and over, trying to make her stop...