Friday, February 23, 2007, Episode #5005

Brooke begs Rick to end things with Phoebe.

At Bridget's beach house, Brooke begs Rick to end his relationship with Phoebe to ease the tension in her family. Rick thinks she's asking him to do this for Ridge; she asks him to do it for her. Rick fears Ridge will still disapprove, even if he ends things with Phoebe, because he and Phoebe both grew up as Forresters. Brooke asks Rick to see how this looks, even though he and Phoebe are not blood-related, since Ridge feels strongly about it. "So do I! I feel strongly about Phoebe!" Rick argues. Brooke insists that this is creating an impossible situation, but Rick thinks it's only that way for her and Ridge. Brooke admits this has put a strain on her and Ridge's relationship, but she's here to make Rick understand Ridge's reaction. Rick asks why she's changed her mind about his spending time with Phoebe. "Because you kissed her!" Brooke exclaims; she tells Rick that she can understand how Ridge feels, since she felt the same way when Amber got involved with Rick. Rick counters that he would never seduce Phoebe the way Amber seduced him, and he accuses his mom of speaking for Ridge rather than saying what she really feels. He recalls all the grief Ridge caused Brooke, the family and the company, so he doesn't see where Ridge gets off dictating what he and Phoebe should do. Brooke says this isn't about Ridge, but Rick thinks she's making excuses again, just like every other time there was tension between her and Ridge. He asks Brooke why he should give up on a girl he cares deeply about so she can live happily ever after with a guy who hurt her, and he wounder if maybe he should be asking Brooke to give up on Ridge.

Phoebe argues with her father about her feelings for Rick.

Ridge stops Phoebe as she tries to leave Brooke's house and asks where she's going. Phoebe says she doesn't want to argue anymore. Ridge says he doesn't either; he knows she's angry with him, but he's trying to stop her before she gets into something horrible. Phoebe asks what's horrible about hanging out or singing with Rick. Ridge tells Phoebe that she's not old enough to know what love means; he's sorry he couldn't stop things before she got so involved with Rick, but this thing between them has to end now. Phoebe reminds him that she said she didn't want to argue. Ridge hopes she wasn't on her way to see Rick, since Brooke is over there telling Rick the same thing he's telling Phoebe now. Phoebe is stunned that her dad has Brooke on his side now, but she doesn't think it will matter; no matter what he and Brooke tell her and Rick, it won't change how she and Rick feel about each other. Ridge tells her that feelings change. Phoebe asks if Brooke is telling Rick that she's just a stupid kid with a crush; Ridge says she's not stupid, but she's caught up in something she doesn't understands. Phoebe refuses to walk way from what she felt when she kissed Rick, and she doesn't think Rick will walk away from those feelings, either.

Rick considers his mother's words.

At Bridget's beach house, Brooke asks Rick to stop being hurtful. She reminds her of how long she's waited to be happy with Ridge. Rick doesn't see what that has to do with him and Phoebe; he asks if he's supposed to wait a few decades to see how things pan out. Brooke asks if he could, but Rick doesn't think she will even give him and Phoebe a fighting chance. Brooke points out that he's not just going against Ridge, but against the rest of the family, the press and even Stephanie. Rick reminds her how much stronger she was from fighting Stephanie, but Brooke doesn't him or Phoebe to have to feel that kind of pain from their family. Rick thinks the family should want Phoebe to be happy. Brooke thinks he should want that, too. Rick says he does. "Then you know what to do," Brooke states, reminding him of how long she's waited to give Hope and R.J. a stable family. They need Ridge, Brooke argues, and so does she, which is why she's asking Rick to end it with Phoebe. Just then, Rick gets a call on his cell from phoebe, who asks where he is. he tells her that he's at Bridget's. Phoebe asks if his mom is trying to keep them apart. Rick points out how tense this is making things for the family; that's why he needs Phoebe to listen. He tells her that she's an amazing person, and he never wanted to hurt her, but he can't do this anymore. He wishes it wasn't so complicated, but... Phoebe can't bear to hear anymore and hangs up; Ridge tries to comfort her, but she pulls away and runs upstairs. Back at the beach house, Brooke tells Rick she's sorry. Rick tells her that she got what she wanted, so he asks her to please leave him alone.

Ridge assures Brooke that she did the right thing.

Brooke returns home and asks Ridge where Phoebe is. He replies that she's in her room. Brooke tells him that Phoebe called Rick; Ridge says he knows, just as he knows that Rick broke things off. Brooke asks how Phoebe is. Ridge explains that Phoebe's not talking to him. Brooke admits that Rick isn't talking to her, either. Ridge assures her that it will hurt for a while, but Rick and Phoebe will get over it, as will they. Brooke says that Rick did it for her, but Ridge thinks Rick did it because he knew what had to be done. He's sure Rick and Phoebe will thank them some day. They then go up to bed; Ridge tries to knock on Phoebe's door on the way up, but she doesn't answer. Brooke offers to try, but Ridge thinks Rick and Phoebe both need time to cool down. He climbs into bed and tells Brooke that she did the right thing, as did Rick. Brooke points out that Rick really cared for Phoebe. She reminds Ridge that he called Rick a loser earlier and says she can't deal with that. Ridge says he's sorry and admits that he respects that Rick made the right choice, Brooke suggests he tell Rick that. Ridge says he will. Brooke says she can't blame Rick for being drawn to Phoebe, but Ridge thinks his daughter is too young and inexperienced for Rick. Brooke reminds him that people once said that about the two of them. Ridge quips that she stole his innocence, but Brooke asks him to be serious, since their issues with the kids showed how fragile their relationship is. She hopes he realizes what a sacrifice Rick made; Ridge says he does, and he's just glad things stopped before more damage was done. They kiss and make love.

Phoebe shows up at Bridget's beach house demanding answers from Rick. She doesn't buy the cop-out he tried to feed her on the phone and wants to know what really happened, especially since she thought he cared about her. Rick says that he does. Then how could he do this? Phoebe asks. Rick reminds her that her dad doesn't even want him near her, but she tells him that she stood up for them to her dad and told him they were in love. That's why she can't buy that Rick just turned off his feelings for her, just because his mom told her to. Rick tells Phoebe that his mom could lose her dad over this, but Phoebe doesn't think their parents even have to deal with it, because it's not about the, It's about her and Rick and that kiss, a kiss she'll never forget - and a kiss she doesn't think Rick will forget, either. Rick reminds Phoebe that Brooke is mother, and she loves Ridge. Phoebe reminds Rick that he didn't even want his mom to marry her dad, but Rick points out how being with Ridge means everything to his mother. Phoebe asks Rick what that kiss meant to him, wondering how he could pretend nothing happened.