Wednesday, December 12, 2007, Episode #5206

Felicia is surprised that Ashley knows about Jack's maternity.

Felicia is in the lab with Ashley, sampling some new scents. When Felicia almost puts a vial back in the wrong place because the labels are similar, she tells Ashley she should watch out for that, because it could lead to big problems. Ashley says she knows, which leads Felicia to guess that Ashley knows about the egg mix-up and worries that the news of Jack's maternity is all over the office. Ashley quickly explains that Ridge told her, so the secret is still safe. Felicia is surprised that Ridge would share a huge family secret about his current fiancee with his ex-fiancee; Ashley tells her that she and Ridge are still friends, so he confided in her when the topic came up while discussing Nick and Taylor. Felicia frets that Ridge talking about Jack means he's worried about the implications for his relationship with Brooke.

Ashley explains that Ridge isn't really worried, because Brooke promised not to have a relationship with Jack. Felicia however wonders if Brooke can really turn her back on her own flesh and blood, even for Ridge's sake. Ashley agrees it would be hard, but that seems to be the solution Ridge and Brooke arrived at. Felicia fears if Brooke can avoid Jack, but she doesn't see that happening with the way their lives cross over. Whatever else she can say about Brooke, Felicia knows she's a good mother, so she can't see Brooke turning her back on a child with her DNA. But she also knows how Ridge feels about Nick, so she supposes that there was no other option. Ashley thinks Ridge was more worried about how this might affect Brooke than how it affects him. Felicia guesses Ridge might feel differently if Nick wasn't that father, but Ashley doesn't think Brooke will risk her relationship with Ridge over this.

Nick makes a suggestion to Taylor...

Taylor greets Nick and Jack as they return home after Jack's first trip to Marlin. Nick sees that Taylor is reviewing some files and asks what's going on. Taylor explains that she wanted to go over some cases, since she's planning on going back to work. Nick reminds her that they're wealthy enough to not have to work, especially since he sold Forrester Creations, but Taylor doesn't want to just sit around at home all the time. She went back to work after Thomas and the twins were born, so she sees no reason things should be different with Jack, and she asks Nick if he thinks she's being selfish with wanting to get back to the office. When she explains that helping people through her work is part of who she is, "Caveman" Nick relents and tells her to get back to her case files while he puts Jack down. Nick takes advantage of a break in the conversation to bring up the baby's christening. Taylor tells him that he can make the arrangements if he wants and offers him the name of her caterer, although she warns that he better not want to have the wedding at Chuck's. Seeing an opportunity, Nick asks Taylor how she'd feel about inviting Brooke, Ridge and their kids to the christening. Taylor thinks he's kidding, but Nick explains that he thought she'd want the father of her other children to be there, since her other kids will be there. Taylor is surprised, since she knows he hates Ridge, but Nick states that he doesn't want his son growing up seeing his father hate somebody. Taylor asks if he is really doing this for Jack, since she fears he's doing it to help Brooke.

...but Taylor is none too pleased by her hubby's idea.

Nick reminds Taylor how convoluted the Forrester family tree is and points out that Hope and R.J. look up to her kids, and how her kids look up to Rick and Bridget. If they can get along, he doesn't see why Brooke and Ridge's family can't get along with his and Taylor's. Taylor reminds him that Broke was the egg donor for Jack and says that she's spent too much time in her life looking over shoulder, waiting for something to hit her on the head because of Brooke. Nick doesn't think Brooke would try to take Jack from them. "I don't believe I'll ever have a drink again," Taylor scoffs, "but I don't go hanging out in bars so I can see if I can handle it." She doesn't want Brooke involved in their life any more than she has to be, so she fears Brooke being around Jack will be too much of a temptation. Nick apologizes for bringing the subject up.

Brooke keeps pleading her case to Ridge.

In Ridge's office, Brooke continues to plead her case for them to attend Jack's christening. She thinks their family is already intertwined with Nick and Taylor's, so she thinks they should use the chance afforded by the christening to come closer together. Ridge sees nothing wrong with how their family is now and doesn't see the need to discuss this, especially since they discussed it already and agreed that she wouldn't see Jack, so he can't understand why that doesn't seem to be good enough for Brooke. Brooke explains that she just wants Jack to be loved, but Ridge says that the baby boy IS loved by his parents. Brooke reminds him that she loved Taylor's kids like her own when she helped him raise them, and she also points out that he never let his hatred for Deacon color his feelings for Hope. Ridge says he has no negative feelings about the baby, but he does about this plan. Brooke thinks they can make it work if they try, but Ridge doubts that Taylor will approve a plan that means sharing her son with Brooke given Brooke's history with Nick, so he thinks the only answer if for Brooke to back away completely.

Ridge urges Brooke to let go.

Brooke asks Ridge if this is about his problems with Nick. Ridge reminds her that she left him for Nick. And that was a mistake, Brooke agrees, but they're back together now and getting married. Ridge asks why they can't just leave it at that, since he fears they can't take her history with Nick out of the equation if they were to spend time around Jack, so he urges Brooke to let this go. When Brooke asks him to be mature enough to see that the two of them and Nick and Taylor can respect each other's feelings, Ridge says he needs her to respect his. When he lets slip that he talked about this earlier with Ashley, Brooke finds it hypocritical that he can talk about this with his ex-fiancee, yet she can't be around Nick. Ridge apologizes for confiding in Ashley and explains that it slipped out in talking. Brooke isn't upset that he let it slip, since she doesn't think this is some dark secret. Ridge agrees and tells her that he told Ashley that the whole thing was a mistake, but Brooke counters that Jack is not a mistake. But this isn't what anyone wanted to happen, Ridge clarifies. Brooke reminds him that she's accepted Ashley working here, even though it was awkward after he and Ashley broke up, and it's gotten to the point where she thinks she and Nick can even be friends some day. Ridge sees where she's going but thinks the situation with Jack can destroy the life they're building and he doesn't want to see that happen, and that's why he needs her to let go of Jack. He then sees that he has a meeting to get to, so he tells her that he'll see her later.

After Ridge leaves, Brooke gets a call from Nick, who asks if she can talk. Brooke says she needs to see him in person and asks if they can meet on the Marlin. Nick says he's on his way. Brooke hangs up the phone, not realizing that Ashley has overheard her conversation.

When Ridge returns from his meeting, he calls Taylor and asks her if she can make sure to leave him and Brooke off the guest list for the christening. He agrees that he wants Hope and R.J. to get to know Jack someday, but now isn't the time for their families to intermingle. Taylor agrees completely but hopes Brooke sees it the same way.