Wednesday, April 04, 2007, Episode #5031

Taylor asks Nick to be honest with her.

At the Marone Mansion, Taylor asks Nick to be honest and admit if he felt anything when Brooke was there. Nick admits that he felt something: he felt an intense fear of the past repeating itself, especially since he's not about the past. He's about the now, he explains, assuring Taylor that she's "the now" for him because she makes him feel alive. He promises Taylor that he loves her, and that he had nothing to do with Brooke being here. Taylor says that she knows that and she trusts him, but she was put off by Brooke telling them that her wedding was off. She wonders what might happen if Ridge doesn't want Brooke back now. Nick doesn't think Ridge's huge ego will let him back away from Brooke; Taylor however isn't so sure since she spoke to Stephanie earlier. She tells Nick about Stephanie's call to warn her that Brooke is on the loose, adding that she told Stephanie all about how Brooke was already there trying to make her move on Nick.

Nick tells Taylor that they can't get caught up in the Forresters' drama.

Nick wishes Taylor hadn't told Stephanie all the details of what she walked in on. Taylor realizes that Stephanie will go straight to Ridge with that information and only make matters worse. Nick tells Taylor that they can't let Brooke and the Forresters turn their lives upside down anymore by dragging the two of them into their family dramas, because all that has nothing to do with either him or Taylor. Taylor likes how that sounds and kisses him.

Rick tells Phoebe that it's really over for her dad and his mom.

Rick finds Phoebe in the cutting room and asks if she's been avoiding him. She says that she's just been busy preparing for tomorrow's opening, and she thought he'd be just as busy. Rick doesn't know what to expect for the opening. Phoebe reminds him about the wedding, pointing out how their parents have come back together before, but Rick is confident that their parents' relationship is over for good this time. Phoebe admits that her dad was wrong, but she points out that Brooke has also made many mistakes. Rick thinks his mom finally understands that it wasn't right with Ridge, but Phoebe points out that things were right between them until her dad caught them in the honeymoon suite. While Ridge was wrong, she suggests that she and Rick might be, too, and she hates thinking that she made things end between Ridge and Brooke.

Phoebe wonders if she and Rick have what it takes to stay together.

Rick concedes that Brooke and Ridge loved each other, but that doesn't always guarantee happy endings. If that's true, Phoebe asks, then what's the point of her loving Rick if they won't be happy? Rick tells her that she just witnessed a scenario he's seen many times between their parents, where things fall apart. That makes Phoebe wonder if she and Rick have what it takes to stay together. Rick thinks they do and advises Phoebe not to be dragged down by what happened between his mom and her dad. Now that things are over between Ridge and Brooke, he sees no reason for him and Phoebe to keep hiding their relationship, and he wants the whole world to know how he feels about Phoebe. Phoebe says she loves him, too, but it seems so impossible between them. Nothing is impossible, Rick assures her as they kiss.

Felicia worries about her brother's attitude.

Felicia checks in with Ridge in his office to go over some last minute wedding plans and asks where Brooke is. Ridge tells her that there isn't going to be a wedding and lets her know what happened in Sydney. He laments that he did the one thing that he knew Brooke couldn't live with by hitting her son. So what happens now? she asks. She reminds Ridge that he and Brooke have found their way back to each other time and again, so she suggests that he track Brooke down. Ridge says he doesn't have to find Brooke, since he knows exactly where Brooke is. "Then what are you waiting for?" Felicia asks. Ridge tells his sister that there isn't waiting this time, and there isn't any next move for him. Feeling like he needs to clear his head, Ridge tells Felicia that he's going for some air and will be back soon.

Brooke refuses to take orders from Stephanie.

In Eric's office, Stephanie scolds Brooke for running straight over to seduce Nick right after breaking up with Ridge. Brooke says it wasn't like that. Stephanie quips, "Eskimos have 15 words for "snow". I bet you have twice as many for dropping your pants." Brooke bets Stephanie went right to Ridge to tell him; Stephanie says that Ridge was there when she talked to Taylor, but she didn't tell Ridge what Taylor said, as he was already heartbroken. She thinks Brooke has overplayed her hand this time with both Ridge and Nick and is out of luck. Brooke wants to find Eric to plan for tomorrow's opening. Stephanie has the perfect plan in mind; she tells Brooke to find Rick so Brooke and her son can both clear out their offices today. Brooke points out that she has a financial stake in this company, including mortgaging her home to provide financing, so she has no intention of either her or Rick leaving. Stephanie asks how they can work together without fist-fights breaking out, like the one that gave Rick his comeuppance. Brooke isn't surprised that Stephanie condones that kind of violence. Stephanie tells Brooke to accept that it's over with Ridge and bow graciously out of this family and this company, since it's best to put some distance between Brooke and Ridge after what's happened. Brooke doesn't know how to handle this, but she certainly doesn't intend to take orders from Stephanie.

Stephanie tells Felicia how Brooke rushed to seduce Nick.

Felicia walks in and is surprised to see Brooke, since Ridge suggested... Brooke asks where Ridge is. Stephanie tells Felicia to keep mum, but Felicia reveals that Ridge went to get some air and guesses he is on the roof. As Brooke rushes out, Stephanie scolds her loose-lipped daughter and brings Felicia up to date about Brooke's running over to Nick's as soon as she got back to L.A. Felicia thinks it's no wonder Ridge was upset. Stephanie points out that Ridge doesn't know all the details, so she warns Felicia not to tell him. Felicia is more worried about the wedding and the launch. Stephanie thinks they should just put as a positive spin on it and say that the wedding was called off for personal reasons; she's not even really concerned with what they say, since she's thrilled to have Brooke out of the family. Felicia accuses her mom and being cold, but Stephanie asks if Felicia would prefer that something like this had happened after Ridge and Brooke were married. Felicia is frankly stunned that Nick rejected Brooke; Stephanie however isn't surprised, since she knows Nick and Taylor are not only getting married, but are trying to have a child. Felicia predicts that Nick will never look back at Brooke if Taylor gives Nick a child, and she's sure Brooke knows that, so she bets Brooke is patching things up with Ridge as they speak. Stephanie however isn't as sure.

Ridge wonders how to say goodbye to Brooke.

Brooke finds Ridge on the roof and approaches him. Ridge admits he didn't see this coming and asks Brooke how this happened, after all their promises not to let anything come between them. Brooke thinks he should know what changed between them. Ridge thinks of all the times his love for Brooke drew him back to her, even when it seemed like that love wasn't there. But now he feels like that love is gone. Brooke says love doesn't go away that way. Then how can he just run back to Nick like she did? Ridge asks. Brooke doesn't know how to answer that, any more than he can explain to her why she had her son's blood on her hands in Sydney. Ridge reminds her how she ended with Nick because Nick slept with her daughter and asks why she's ending things with him because he doesn't want her son sleeping with his daughter. Brooke says it's more than that, because there is a gap between them, and their cries to each other are getting lost in it. Ridge looks over the ledge and wonders how many stories down it it; Brooke tries to stop him from saying that, but he assures her that he has no intention to jump; it's touch on the clothes, he quips. He then tells Brooke how much he wanted to raise R.J. with her. Brooke says she wanted that, too.